All posts by h79snht.top

Today, Matthew Fogg, (21), Aiden Pryor, (20) and Niahm Rogers, (21), from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, have been crowned the Doritos Penalty Shootout Champions, beating hundreds of entrants from across the country and even putting one past No.1 goalkeeper Joe Hart, in the ultimate Mexican themed penalty shootout.

With the legendary Mariachi Doritos on their side, dishing up numerous comical distractions designed to put Hart off at the crucial moment, the Bucks team remained unfazed, as they battled it out against finalists from Dublin to win a starring role in the new Doritos TV ad – to be aired for the first time tonight, 24th May, in front of millions.

No.1 goalkeeper Joe Hart, who took part in the final stage of the Mexican themed showdown said, “Getting involved in the Doritos Penalty Shootout was brilliant fun, even when the teams of mates had the Mariachi Doritos doing their best to distract me with their mischievous tactics! At the end of the day though, the mates from Buckinghamshire stole the show and deserved all the glory that went with it.”

Bringing together teams of mates from across the country in the ultimate test of their penalty spot skills, the shootout culminated in a nail-biting moment that usually only professional footballers face. However, no Doritos shootout would be complete without some Mexican fun courtesy of the Mariachi Doritos, which led to Hart contending with moving goalposts, hoards of paparazzi flashes and even a vuvuzela organ, as he tried to save as many goals as possible against the two final teams.

Winning mates will not only star in the new TV advert but have also won themselves the ‘Ultimate Mates Football Trip’, travelling by private jet to some of Europe’s most exciting cities to soak up the football atmosphere this summer and receive VIP treatment at exclusive clubs and hotels.

Speaking about the final, Matthew Fogg, from the winning team said, “Putting a penalty past Joe Hart was an amazing moment we got to share as mates that we’ll never forget, but to win the trip of a lifetime round Europe in our own private jet and star in a TV ad as well has made the entire experience better than anything we could have wished for!”

Commenting on the competition, Doritos Marketing Manager Michael Walford said, “The Doritos Penalty Shootout was designed to give groups of mates from across the country the chance to experience the exciting drama of football in a fun, Mexican inspired Doritos way. The finals were great fun for everyone, and Joe Hart was a good sport in the face of all the Mariachi Doritos mischief! We’re sure the winning team will be sharing memories of their Ultimate Mates Football Trip for years to come.’’

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In addition to the TV ad, you can watch the full winner’s story online at www.doritos.co.uk

For any snack-lovers who didn’t make it to the Doritos penalty shootout final, they can still try their luck against Joe Hart from the comfort of their own home. Doritos will be running until the 30th September an on-pack promotion where people can have the chance to win up-to £100 by scoring penalties in the Doritos Penalty Shootout online game at www.doritos.co.uk/shootout. Purchase necessary, 18+ only, T&Cs apply.

“What if?” It is the tantalising sporting question which generates so many unanswerable debates among football fans. What if Frank Lampard’s strike against Germany in 2010 was correctly awarded as a goal? What if John Terry hadn’t slipped in his run-up on that fateful night in Moscow?

For a selection of Arsenal fans, a campaign which bore so much early promise only to fade away once again has prompted a number of these questions. Of course, come May 17th the Gunners could be lifting the FA Cup and ending a trophy drought that has now lasted a staggering nine years. But considering the club’s strong initial showing in the Premier League, Arsenal’s latest collapse has left numerous supporters pondering what could have been.

For the Gunners’ faithful, the injuries to three key personnel in particular at the business end of the season have led them to wonder “what if?” 

Aaron Ramsey’s performance at the weekend against Hull offered a bittersweet reminder of what Arsenal have lacked in his absence. A formerly maligned figure at the Emirates, the Welshman’s performances before his injury had silenced his critics and made the 23-year-old one of the club’s key personnel. With nine league goals, Ramsey has already improved significantly on his previous statistics and has provided a crucial source of goals from midfield.

It isn’t a coincidence that Arsenal’s downturn in form came whilst the Welshman was absent. Had Ramsey been fit and maintained his performance level for the entire season, the midfielder would surely have been a shoo-in for the PFA Young Player of the Year award. Injury deprived Arsene Wenger of one of his best midfield options at a critical stage of the season and Arsenal fans have been left to wonder what difference the Welshman could have made.

Another who returned from injury at the weekend and showcased his talents at the KC Stadium was Mesut Ozil, the club’s record £42.5 million summer signing. The German international had come in for some criticism since the turn of the year for a noticeable dip in form, with the former Real Madrid star’s weak penalty against Manuel Neuer epitomising these struggles.

But it musn’t be forgotten that this is the same player that was said to have inspired Arsenal’s early season form.  Sunday’s confident victory was the first time that Ozil and Ramsey had played together since Boxing Day and the attacking duo reminded the Gunners’ fans of what they had been missing. Wenger noted in his post-match interviews that the pair sharpened Arsenal’s “cutting edge” and supporters on Twitter have been bemoaning the injuries which have kept the two out of action for so many of the club’s crucial fixtures.

Aside from Ozil and Ramsey, the other significant absentee which Arsenal fans have been left to rue is Theo Walcott. The winger sustained a serious cruciate ligament injury back in January which has denied the club one of their most potent attacking outlets at the business end of the season.

During Arsenal’s downturn in form, the club have been criticised for a lack of pace in their attacking play. Walcott’s injury has limited Wenger’s options in the wide areas and deprived the side of explosive pace on the counter and the ability to get in behind.

Ozil. Ramsey. Walcott.

Injuries are part and parcel of the game but the Gunners have inevitably struggled in the absence of three such key personnel. In the same way that United have to an extent suffered in Robin Van Persie’s absence,  Arsenal have seen their attack blunted in circumstances largely out of their control.

But then as always with such speculative questions, where does it stop? Beyond these injuries, a number of Arsenal fans have been citing “what if” moments at a number of points throughout the season. What if Ozil didn’t miss that penalty? What if Wojciech Szczesny hadn’t been sent off in the first leg against Bayern Munich?

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We will never know what Arsenal could have accomplished had they retained the services of Ozil, Ramsey and Walcott for their crucial run of fixtures between February and March. But what’s done is done. Rather than feel aggrieved by what might have been, Arsenal supporters should look forward to what the future may hold for them.

Their season may yet still end in success. Although it may feel like a failure having led the league for much of the campaign, a potential top four finish and FA Cup triumph would have been welcomed back in August and could provide a valuable platform for the club to build upon.

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One of the leading side notes of the summer transfer window has been Arsenal’s apparent attempts to sign AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli.The former Manchester City forward’s controversies and mercurial streak are well-known, but at just 23 years of age and clearly possessing world-class quality, he remains one of the most impressive front-men in world football. At the same time, if the Gunners are to effectively challenge for the Premier League title next season, acquiring the services of a high-quality centre-forward is a transfer must this summer.Recent speculation however suggests a move could be off, with the San Siro side claiming with ‘99.9%’ certainty that the Italian will stay with the Rossoneri next season.But we at Football Fancast think the north Londoners would be mad to pass up on such an impressive individual, and with that in mind, here’s a list of FIVE reasons Arsenal NEED to sign Balotelli.

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Arsenal need a maverick

The idea of Arsenal needing a maverick figure first surfaced last summer when the north London club launched an ill-fated £40million-plus-a-quid-bid for then-Liverpool’s Luis Suarez.

The Uruguayan cannibal was seen as an ideal candidate to add some clinical nastiness to the Gunners’ collective mentality, whilst his ability to pull off the unimaginable, in turn, would be an inspiration for those around him.

Well, Mario Balotelli would certainly be an effective alternative. He too is a rather feisty character…

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Who also has a knack of conjuring moments of individual world-class magic:

Of course, whilst Suarez’s flesh-lust is justified by his consistent potency, the same can’t always be said for the Italy international, who is often just pure crazy:

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But if Balotelli’s talismanic quality and unpredictability can add a new sense of ruthlessness to the Gunners, he will make them genuine title contenders.

Then again. He might just be too insane…

Only a psychopath would have that many stickers of himself!

IMPORTANT GOALS

For a striker of such world-wide recognition, Mario Balotelli is not as prolific as he’s often assumed to be. Rather surprisingly, the 23 year-old is yet to reach the twenty-goal mark for all competitions during any of his six seasons as a senior player.

But the Azzurri star’s ability to score important goals, or at least play a significant part in them, against high-quality opponents cannot be overstated. I’m sure we all remember his integral role in this historic strike for Manchester City:

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Or this effort against Germany at Euro 2012:

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Juventus, Manchester United, Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Udinese, Napoli, Germany, Brazil, England – Balotelli has netted past them all, including this header against the Three Lions at the World Cup:

Compare that to Olivier Giroud, who is yet to get on the scoresheet against Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea since arriving the Premier League two summers ago, it’s easy to see why Balotelli would become an important player for Arsenal.

A POWERFUL STATEMENT

Interest in Mario Balotelli isn’t as high as the AC Milan star would like to think. PSG, Monaco, Chelsea Bayern Munich and Barcelona have all invested in new front-men over the last two summers yet none have turned to the Italy international.

That being said, there’s no doubt securing the 23 year-old’s signature would make a major statement of Arsene Wenger’s intentions in the transfer market.

After all, he is a world-class striker, that since the departure of Robin van Persie in summer 2012 has been the glass ceiling between the Gunners and the Premier League title. Just take a look at his Top Ten goals:

//www.youtube.com/embed/hZ2GEP2pPX8?rel=0

Likewise, Balotelli is a huge name, renowned around the world for his quality, and that alone will significantly improve the north London side’s transfer clout.

Following the signing of Mesut Ozil last summer and Alexis Sanchez in the current window, the striker’s north London arrival will undoubtedly confirm that Arsenal are once again amongst the European elite when it comes to attracting the world’s top talents.

DESPERATE NEED VS LACK OF ALTERNATIVES

Arsene Wenger is a manager who refuses to be cornered when it comes to transfers. He, more than any top Premier League manager, has shown a continual restraint in signing the right players for the right price, even if Arsenal squad’s is left short in certain departments for a few seasons.

But few can dispute that the Gunners desperately need added netting prowess, this startling statistic says it all:

And a quick look at the Premier League’s top goal-scorers:

Just one player in the top 15 is not good enough for a club that’s meant to be challenging for the title. Likewise, the number of top strikers potentially available to Arsenal this summer is exceptionally slim.

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Robert Lewandowski, Diego Costa and Luis Suarez have already joined Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Chelsea respectively this transfer window, whilst Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani made their big-money moves to Ligue 1 last summer, along with previous Emirates target Gonzalo Higuain, who moved to Napoli instead.

Even hotly-tipped Gunners target Mario Mandzukic – formerly of the Bavarians – has already made his move to Atletico Madrid this summer:

Through necessity rather than design, the Gunners have little option but to turn to Balotelli this summer, or else spend another season without a top-class front-man.

A GOOD DEAL

For a striker of such established quality and world-wide recognition, recent speculation suggests Mario Balotelli could be available to Arsenal for exceptionally cheap this summer:

The price-tag appears to be dropping all the time, and in my opinion, anything under £20million is a sensational steal, considering Balotelli has already proved his worth in the Premier League after netting 20 goals in 54 league appearances at Manchester City.

Wenger has understandably refused to spend big on risky striking acquisitions before, but the Italy international represents fantastic value for money.

His alleged wage demands however, aren’t quite so justifiable:

According to reports on Friday, Man United have lodged a whopping a £55m bid to bring Real Madrid’s Angel Di Maria to Old Trafford this summer.

The Argentine has been told he can leave the Bernabeu following the arrival of Gareth Bale last summer and has hinted that the Premier League is a likely destination.

Louis Van Gaal has already started imposing his footballing philosophy on to United but is still in the market for some creativity and pace to shore up his attacking options.

And Di Maria looks like he could be the man chosen to fill the void and replace the the likes of Antonio Valencia and Shinji Kagawa at the club. But do they really need to spend so much money him?

Of course they do! Here’s FIVE reasons why…

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Click on Louis Van Gaal to reveal

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Creates chances

David Moyes struggled to get his United side to create much last season, which resulted in the worst season in the club’s Premier League history.

But Van Gaal has already got them looking dangerous going forward this summer and has got people getting excited about seeing how different they look compared to last term. But they’re still lacking some real quality out wide, which Di Maria would no doubt bring at Old Trafford.

The Argentine created 90 chances for Real Madrid last season, with 17 of them resulting in goals. If doesn’t get you Man United fans excited, I don’t know what will…

He’s got pace

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Antonio Valencia has got pace, without doubt, but he does lack the end product at times. Di Maria is exceptional at combining the two and getting results, which is exactly what Louis Van Gaal will be demanding from his players throughout the season.

Huge improvement on current stock

As you can see from the above statistics from last season, Di Maria eclipsed both Valencia and Kagawa in absolutely everything. With Van Gaal expected to be implementing an attacking and hugely effected style of football, the Real Madrid man will offer a lot more threat than the current options available at the club.

Passing ability

We’ve already seen the early stages of Man United’s tiki-taka style football under Van Gaal, which is a far cry from what the players and fans at United are normally used to.

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But as a new era begins, LVG is going to need the very best passers in the game at his disposal, and Di Maria has to be one of them.

Versatility

Di Maria is naturally a winger, but he most played in the middle of the park for Real Madrid last season and got most of his impressive results from there too.

With no European competition to worry about – meaning less emphasis on strength in depth – and plenty of cover in central midfield, there’s no need for him to play there. But it’s always nice to know you’ve got more than adequate cover should you need it.

Liverpool chief Brendan Rodgers believes that the way his team that faced Real Madrid on Tuesday has been branded ‘weakened’ is disrespectful.

The Reds manager opted to rest a number of key first-team stars for the clash at the Bernabeu, including captain Steven Gerrard, youngster Raheem Sterling, Mario Balotelli and Jordan Henderson.

Although they slipped to a 1-0 loss, the ‘back-up’ side performed admirably well, and could have nicked a result against the reigning European champions – who, in truth, dominated large periods of the game.

WANT MORE? >> Liverpool transfer news | Latest transfer news

Rodgers’ call was said to be based on his side’s lunchtime clash with Chelsea on Saturday, with the Northern Irishman desperate to get a result against the unbeaten league leaders as he plots to get a top four charge back on track.

The Anfield chief, however, says that his XI against Real was not a weak one and that such claims are not fair to players such as Adam Lallana, Kolo Toure and Lucas:

“I put out the best team that I thought could get a result,” he is quoted by The Express. “My players were magnificent. I know there is a little bit of criticism about the selection, but it does a disservice to the players who played.

“We went into a game against the best team in the world at the moment with a plan and the idea was to make sure we stayed in the game and then in the last 20-25 minutes open up the game.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t get a goal, but I was proud of the players as were the supporters. You take criticism as a manager, but for the players I didn’t think it was fair.

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“To call Kolo Toure a reserve or Lucas Leiva or Adam Lallana a reserve player … I felt they deserved more praise.”

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Oh Arsenal! At the turn of 2014 a title push looked on the cards, but the Gunners slipped away from the summit, claiming fourth place instead… déjà vu! The trophy drought ended with the FA Cup, but this season has again been one of lows, with fans even calling for Arsene Wenger’s head already.

We’ve been manning the terraces with Gooners for all of the year, and here are ten of the best articles to have popped up along the way…

Six to follow Draxler to Arsenal

Way back in January 2014 Draxler was the man Arsenal wanted… but he wasn’t the only player on the agenda!

Arsene Wenger remains coy on any transfer activity this month, despite Arsenal being heavily linked with a move for Julian Draxler, with reports even suggesting Lukas Podolski could go the other way to Schalke.

Nevertheless, the consensus is that Arsenal need another striker this month if they’re to maintain their stay at the top of the Premier League table. Beyond that, there is also a need to inject pace into the side and look a little further ahead with a contract or two coming to an end this season.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Has Wenger already ruined Arsenal’s season?

Bang up to date here, has Arsene ruined Arsenal’s season already? Maybe…

Arsene Wenger’s never been particularly fond of the January transfer window. He’s spent, on average, just £3.6million per window since it’s incarnation eleven years ago – with Jose Antonio Reyes and Andrei Arshavin constituting his only noteworthy winter signings as Arsenal boss – and has even discussed the notion of eradicating it completely on rare occasions.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Five budget strikers for Arsenal

Back to the summer now, and this article came from Wenger’s love of a bargain!

Arsenal need a proper striker, but how many times have we heard this criticism only to see the Gunners do nothing about it in the transfer window?

Way too often for any fan’s liking.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Arsenal’s dream midfield for next season

Psssssst… Coquelin isn’t in there!

Arsenal may have finished their season by claiming the club’s first trophy for nearly a decade in the form of the FA Cup, but if the Gunners are to have a significant impact on the Premier League title race next season they’ll need to add quality to their roster this summer.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

The player who should have replaced Fabregas at Arsenal

Fabregas’ success at Chelsea has been a blow, but this fella was lined up to replace him at one point…

A year on from reportedly being on the brink of a transfer out of Serie A, there’s now no longer any doubt about Miralem Pjanic’s importance to Roma.

Back then, Pjanic was being forced out for comments he made following Roma’s Coppa Italia final loss to city rivals Lazio. He, rather than Erik Lamela, looked destined for the exit at the Olimpico.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Have Arsenal signed their own Phil Jones?

PJ is known for his scary faces, but Sanchez is not far from taking his crown…

Phil Jones’ face has been the laughing stock of the Premier League for a few years now.

It’s difficult to believe that anyone in the world would have the ability to replicated the complete randomness of Jones’ face muscles whilst playing football. It’s as if his face forgets where it’s meant to be and what it’s supposed to be doing half the time.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

The dream starting XI for Arsenal next season

There seems to be an orthodox back four in this one…

Arsenal’s title challenge for this season looks to be over, with Stoke delivering a potentially decisive blow this past weekend.

It’s been made even more frustrating by Arsene Wenger’s refusal to enter the market for attacking reinforcements midway through the season.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

The reason for Arsenal’s poor performance?

A hammering from Dortmund raised questions…

It has been brutal viewing for Arsenal fans tonight, as their heroes out on the Westfalenstadion have been comprehensively out-foxed, out-battled and out-scored by their opposition, Borussia Dortmund.

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Arsenal went into the game with huge defensive worries after summer signing Mathieu Debuchy was ruled out for up to three months, Nacho Monreal was ruled out of tonight’s Group D clash with back problems and Calum Chambers’ tonsillitis meant he was only fit enough for the substitutes’ bench.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Six transfer Arsenal could secure in January

An interesting look ahead to the eventual disappointment that is the January transfer window…

The past few months saw some big-name players make big moves in the transfer window, with the dead-line day signing of Radamel Falcao to Manchester United making the headlines.

There were also early deals which sent a clear message of a club’s intentions, such as Chelsea signing La Liga’s Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas to make them favourites for the Premier League title.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Podolski runs new Arsenal signing through his paces

Still a better centre-back than Nacho Monreal!

While the Arsenal faithful bask in the glory of winning their first trophy in nine years, the Gunners’ No. 9 has been hard at work getting the side ready for the new campaign.

With all the euphoria surrounding the FA Cup win over Hull, many will be forgiven for missing the news of Arsenal’s new signing.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Fail to beat Basel on Tuesday night and Brendan Rodgers’ role at Liverpool may well be under the biggest threat it’s faced yet.

The Northern Irishman almost brought the holy grail that is the Premier League title to Anfield last season, however the exciting brand of football produced on Merseyside just a matter of months ago is now a distant memory.

A few big managerial names have been linked with the post should Rodgers be ‘relieved of his duties’, with the latest coming in the shape of ex-Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas – currently plying his trade with Zenit St. Petersburg in Russia. The divisive Portuguese coach could be a dodgy option, though, and here are FIVE better choices…

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CLICK ON RODGERS TO REVEAL THE FIVE

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Jurgen Klopp

Even though Dortmund are languishing in the lower reaches of the Bundesliga, Klopp’s stock is still high. The German chief has been the key cog in BVB’s rise over the course of the past few years, but rumours of a move away from the Westfalenstadion have really gathered momentum of late. A change of scenery could suit Klopp, and Liverpool is seemingly a good fit.

With the Reds set up to play his brand of explosive counter-attacking football, the Dortmund chief could transfer across the style he’s employed of late, which would be spearheaded perfectly by talents such as Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and, when fit, Daniel Sturridge.

Rafa Benitez

A romantic one for some, Benitez could be the man to come in and solve Liverpool’s issues. Exciting football has never really been the Spaniard’s forte, yet ironing out the errors in the Reds’ defensive game is the major issue at the club right now. ‘Rafa the gaffer’ knows Anfield, knows the fans and is held in high regard by Kopites for his successes during the mid 2000s, and could be welcomed back, even though he’s since had a brief spell with Chelsea.

Eddie Howe

A somewhat left-field option could be Eddie Howe. At 37, the Bournemouth chief is young in the realms of management, but after his playing career ended early he moved straight into coaching, which means he has experience already.

A brief stint with Burnley ended in disappointment, which eased his passage back to the South Coast, where he has transformed the Dean Court outfit into promotion candidates in the Championship.

It may be early days, but Howe looks destined for a top tier opportunity.

Garry Monk

To keep the Swansea connection going, Monk could be a name worth considering. The Liberty Stadium chief was an unfashionable choice upon taking over in South Wales, but after a difficult 2013/14 season, he really seems to be coming into his own as a Premier League manager.

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The Swans have maintained their attractive brand of football under Monk, who may be attracted to one of the biggest jobs in English football. With a similar philosophy to Rodgers, the Swansea boss could make a smooth transition, but the egos and status of some of the current Anfield stars may make stamping his authority an issue.

Diego Simeone

If Liverpool are lacking bottle, then one man to provide the solution could be Simeone. Luring him away from Atletico Madrid – whom he won the La Liga title with last season – may be tricky, yet a decent offer from Merseyside and the promise of funds may sway the feisty Argentine.

There is much more to Simeone than buster, with the South American astute tactically and good in the transfer market. To boot, he may be able to lure a few of his stars from Atleti to Anfield…

New Crystal Palace chief Alan Pardew’s decision to quit Newcastle may have been influenced by the club’s transfer failings, with missing out on Bafetimbi Gomis key.

The former Magpies chief endured a tough time in the North East, with his allegiance to owner Mike Ashley having frustrated fans and contributed to “Pardew out” chants and banners at St James’ Park.

His spell on Tyneside ended recently, with the former Charlton and Southampton chief opting to return to the club he once played for, Palace.

WANT MORE? >> Newcastle transfer news | Latest transfer news

The decision to leave one of the nation’s most followed sides for the Eagles – who are entrenched in a relegation battle – raised eyebrows, and Zapsportz Editor, Bill Bradshaw, believes that transfer failings, in particular with now Swansea ace Gomis, had a big impact on his choice:

“Why, oh why, would the Premier League’s second-longest serving manager give up his job in charge of the Geordie nation’s beloved club – complete with its 52,000-capacity sell-outs in its sparkling citadel perched proudly above the city – for a much smaller, unfashionable outfit on the fringes of south London?” he wrote.

“Well, dear reader, I can enlighten you. Rewind to early October and I was having a spot of lunch in Soho with a good friend and mutual friend of Pardew when the smooth grey fox walked in and joined us.

“He looked remarkably chipper for a bloke at the centre of a campaign by his own fans to have him fired. Some Toon fans even set up a website: Sackpardew.com – but he had just had a break. His team had snatched an unlikely 2-2 draw at Swansea from the jaws of defeat, having trailed 2-0.

“I congratulated him on the point and also for the finishing of striker Papiss Cisse who had claimed both Newcastle goals. That got Pardew talking about his lot on Tyneside.

“Yes, one goal in particular was well taken, but Pardew had reservations. He had wanted to sign French striker Bafetimbi Gomis in the summer but had missed out to Swansea who bagged him on a free transfer. When Pardew led his team into the Liberty Stadium for that game, Gomis was there to remind him, taking his place on the Swans bench.

““How can it be that Swansea, with crowds of 26,000, can outbid us on Gomis’ terms?” he queried, “I can’t get my head around that.”

“There was more. Pardew wanted to sign the big Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld from Spanish champions Atletico Madrid. Lightning struck twice as the summer window closed with Alderweireld choosing to join the Saints on loan ahead of Newcastle.

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“Personal terms again were the crucial factor, not a fee. The player visited both Tyneside and the south coast and Pardew was snubbed again.”

Palace have been linked with moves for Gomis is the past few weeks, with Swansea rumoured to be ready to consider £6m offers for the Frenchman.

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When Liverpool were forced into sanctioning a move for top scorer Luis Suarez to Spanish giants Barcelona everyone knew the club would miss his goals, but there was always the next best option in Daniel Sturridge.

So, when the 25-year-old picked up an injury that eventually ruled him out for half of the season, manager Brendan Rodgers had no other choice but to dip into a summer transfer market that wasn’t really all that inspiring.

Some would forgive Rodgers for giving Mario Balotelli a chance, but not many Liverpool supporters have been inspired by his arrival and, if their team fails to make top four on something minor like a couple of points, or even goal difference, it wouldn’t surprise me if the blame was placed firmly at his door.

From the day he signed it was obvious that bringing Balotelli back to England was not the smartest decision, as the immature forward’s previous stint in the League had proved. A very public falling out with ex-Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini should have been warning enough. But now with the Italian scoring only one Premier League goal from 13 appearances Rodgers, who almost masterminded Liverpool’s first ever Premier League league trophy last season, looks like he has one of the divison’s most expensive flops on his hands.

Super Mario, as he is affectionately though quite inaccurately called, has been so ineffective that it is a wonder how he can possibly stay on Liverpool’s books beyond this season.

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With experience for Manchester City, AC Milan and Inter Milan at club level and senior caps for Italy stretching back to 2010, Balotelli is a player who should be producing more for his side. He is a striker after all and one league goal just doesn’t cut it.

No-one was demanding that the 24-year-old score 15+ goals in his first season but as someone who spent three years getting to grips with the League and was playing at the highest level in last years World Cup, Balotelli should have more to say for himself.

If Liverpool do hang onto him they are likely to continue paying the wages of a player who brings much controversy on and off the pitch while failing to work flat out to support his team mates on it.

Rodgers, just like everyone else in England, knew of Balotelli’s checkered past. His antics and petulance is common knowledge and yet, at the time, the Northern Irishman must have believed that having a difficult forward was better than not bringing one in at all. Daniel Sturridge has seemingly rescued his club’s season but Balotelli’s lack of impact still looks bad on both Rodgers and Liverpool.

If they had just bared in mind that Mario never fully adapts to any club he goes to – even his beloved AC Milan – then they could have saved themselves £16million by buying a less billboard worthy signing who would have at least had the work rate worthy of playing for one of England’s most successful teams in history.

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Instead Liverpool have a player who spends his free time sending inappropriate tweets when he’s not setting off fireworks in his bathroom. Time to move him on!

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Newcastle United have been on a slippery slide and it’s no surprise the Magpies fans have simply had enough at St. James’ Park.

St James’ Park has had many a protest in it this season and Newcastle players have become so scared of the fans that they have told their family’s not to come to the home games.

The Toon Army have been on an alarming run of eight successive defeats, which has seen them drop to just two points above the relegation zone with three games left to play – two of which are held at home, including the last game of the season.

The Magpies have only won one game at home since the turn of the year, but desperately need to improve that if they are to stay in the top flight. Many are fearful that Newcastle could take a leaf out of Blackpool’s book if the bottom three is already decided by the last game of the season.

On the last day of the Championship season, Blackpool were forced to abandon their game against Huddersfield after hundreds of fans stormed the pitch and protested against owner Karl Oyston and his family.

Newcastle fans have been showing their distaste to the way their club has been run and in the weekend’s loss to Leicester, with a section of the fans unveiling a banner that read: “We don’t demand a team that wins, we demand a club that tries!”

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That perfectly summed up how the Newcastle fans are feeling.

Newcastle fans have become more fed up, and understandably so, after player performances have become worse as the season has gone on. There have been protests and boycotts of games over the past month, and head coach John Carver was involved in an altercation with supporters during the 3-2 home defeat to Swansea.

The Telegraph reported that Captain Fabricio Coloccini was involved in a heated bust-up with team-mate Tim Krul after the weekend’s game, which has just added yet another embarrassing incident into a forgettable season.

Things seem to be slowly falling apart on the East Coast after manager John Carver went on a rant after their 3-0 loss to the Foxes. Many were surprised when it was announced he would be staying as Newcastle boss after such an outburst.. A statement issued by the club said: “Following the result at Leicester City on Saturday, there has been two days of frank dialogue with John Carver and senior players.

“The outcome of those discussions is that the board, John Carver, his staff and players are absolutely focused on our current situation and the three hugely-important fixtures that remain this season, two of which are at St. James’ Park.”

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Many fans are not happy with this decision, as they believe he has not shown any form of leadership qualities. The Toon Army are an army of angry fans who feel they have been let down by their owner Mike Ashley, and the team.

The similarities between the way they have been treated and the way Blackpool fans have been treated is staggering and now, after they see the worldwide attention that the Championship side received, the fans may take a leaf out of their book.

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