All posts by n8rngtd.top

[ad_pod ]

Jamie Redknapp posted a belated Instagram snap thanking everyone for the great birthday wishes on Wednesday.

His actual birthday was on Tuesday, and the Liverpool legend decided to celebrate it with a big ticket giveaway for his “A League of Their Own” show, and a chance to meet the big man and the whole crew themselves.

But despite his 46th birthday already being a couple of days behind past, many stars were keen on replying to Redknapp on his

/BzLoqjdFdmL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link” data-lasso->Instagram snap and either bantering him or simply wishing him all the best.

Some of the most interesting and funny stuff actually came from people who already congratulated him before, so were here mainly for the laughs. One of those people was Eidur Gudjohnsen, the ex-footballer who was quick to compare the Liverpool legend to Gordon Ramsey, the famous chef.

Redknapp’s partner in crime and the stand-up comedian who is also a part of the aforementioned show, Romesh Ranganathan, was naturally all for laughs so he just pointed out that he did not agree to meet anyone despite the birthday announcement.

Apart from those two jokesters, the rest were pretty much in serious mode and either congratulated the ex-star again or did it for the first time, apologising for forgetting in the process.

Redknapp was one of the Reds for a total of 11 years and is still well regarded in those parts.

[ad_pod ]

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In The Pipeline series, which takes a look at some of the most promising young talent either linked with clubs or emerging from their academies…

Josh McPake’s future at Rangers has been in the balance recently.

The Daily Record reported in June that big teams such as Liverpool, AS Roma and Borussia Monchengladbach had all registered interest in the player, with just a year left on his contract at the club.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

All that though appears to be settled, with The Evening Times stating over the weekend that a new contract has been verbally agreed with the club.

The paper say that he will sign a three-year extension to his current deal that will keep him at Ibrox until 2023.

It’s a big boost for manager Steven Gerrard, who is said to be a “huge admirer” of the youngster.

Now that his future appears to be settled, the teenager has a great chance of pushing towards the Gers first-team.

The winger was a stand-out for the club’s development and reserve sides last season as they stormed towards a league and cup double.

Watch Rangers Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

He won the Academy Player of the Year award back in April and followed that up with a man of the match performance in a Scottish Youth Cup Final that was broadcast live on BBC Scotland, giving fans a proper glimpse of his future.

Most recently he’s been part of Gerrard’s pre-season training camp squad in Portugal, getting action in a closed door training game against Mansfield on Saturday alongside established stars such as Alfredo Morelos and Daniel Candeias.

Still just 17 years of age, patience is required when it comes to his development, but he’s on the right track and, reported to have decided on his future, doesn’t appear far away from making an Ibrox impact.

[ad_pod ]This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…According to BBC Radio Solent’s Sports Editor Adam Blackmore on Twitter, Southampton could look to sign a No.10 during this summer’s transfer window.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Blackmore was responding when asked to validate whether a Twitter rumour doing the rounds that Saints were closing in on a deal for Hull City’s Jarrod Bowen was true, and listed the south coast outfit’s remaining transfer priorities following the additions of Moussa Djenepo, Che Adams and Danny Ings already this summer.

The BBC man responded by saying that a new centre-back and full-back were next on the club’s list, as well as potentially a ’10’.

Watch Southampton Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The addition of a player in that position would certainly be surprising for a few reasons.

Why?

Well, manager Ralph Hasenhuttl’s preference when it came to formations last season was a system incorporating three centre-backs and wings-backs – something he has used in 18 of his 25 matches in charge to date, as per Transfermarkt.

Southampton fans! Would you want Adam Lallana back at St. Mary’s this summer? One fan has his say in the video below…

However, previously at RB Leipzig he preferred a 4-2-2-2 system – one he utilised in the final two Premier League matches of the 2018/19 campaign once safety was confirmed which looked to be a signal of the Austrian’s future intent.

Given the additions of Djenepo and Adams this summer, as well as Ings making his stay at St Mary’s permanent, Southampton seemed perfectly set up to play 4-2-2-2 with that trio joined by Nathan Redmond in a new-look front four.

However, Blackmore’s tweet has thrown a spanner in the works slightly, as there is no place for a No.10 in that system, and only really in a 3-4-1-2 or 3-5-1-1 formation.

Perhaps the Austrian wants to be flexible and have plenty of different options to choose from next season, but the potential addition of a No.10 places some doubt over whether his previous preferred 4-2-2-2 is going to be his first-choice formation in 2019/20.

[ad_pod ]

Lots of Sunderland fans have been reacting to some bizarre news on their former player Wahbi Khazri, who is facing a ban after reportedly punching a rival manager.

Khazri’s Tunisia were knocked out of AFCON 2019 in an incredibly entertaining and controversial encounter with Senegal on Sunday.

Tunisia had the chance to take the lead in the semi-final, but missed a 75th minute penalty, only for Senegal to do the same six minutes later, sending the game to an additional 30 minutes of action.

Senegal then took the lead ten minutes into extra-time, only for Tunisia to be gifted another penalty. This time however, the spot kick was taken away by VAR in the 115th minute.

And after the disappointment of losing in extra-time, reports are claiming Khazri punched Senegal boss Aliou Cisse.

If the alleged offence is proven true, the former Black Cat will face a serious ban from international football.

Khazri scored just three goals in 42 appearances on Wearside, particularly frustrating given he clearly has talent, racking up 16 strikes in 48 caps for his country.

Plenty of Black Cats are discussing the 28 year-old’s alleged act, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

[ad_pod ]

Hatem Abd Elhamed is looking like he could be the next through the door at Celtic and fans are optimistic about the reported swoop.

The defender is expected to sign for Neil Lennon’s men with a fee in the region of £2m agreed between Celtic and Hapoel Be’er Sheva, according to The Daily Record – who describe the move as looking ‘imminent’. The 28-year-old can play at both of centre-back and right-back, two areas of the pitch that the club are light on bodies in.

The departures of Filip Benkovic, Dedryck Boyata, Emilio Izaguirre, Jeremy Toljan, Cristian Gamboa and Mikael Lustig have left Celtic thin on the ground at the back. Yet Abd Elhamed would join Christopher Jullien and Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo in reinforcing the defensive ranks at Parkhead this summer.

Abd Elhamed’s potential signing would come at a good time for the Bhoys in Green as Jozo Simunovic picked up an unusual domestic suspension. The 24-year-old will miss the opening two games of the Premiership season after being sent off in a pre-season for a high boot. The incident was reported to the SFA and now the defender will be unavailable against St. Johnstone and Motherwell next month.

Here’s what Celtic fans had to say to the rumour on Twitter:

[ad_pod ]

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Arsenal have signed William Saliba from St Etienne for a reported £27m, though the defender is set to return to the French club on loan for the 2019-20 season, and it could have big implications for Calum Chambers.

On the chalkboard

Saliba, the 18 year old French centre-back, joined the North Londoners just hours after the Gunners confirmed the signing of Dani Ceballos from Real Madrid.

The defender was also a reported target for Tottenham Hotspur, but the Gunners have managed to get the deal over the line and can look forward to seeing him in an Arsenal shirt from the summer of 2020.

Arsenal have needed to strengthen at centre-back, so the arrival, although delayed by a year, is a very welcome one. However for the upcoming season, Unai Emery will already have one extra name to pick from when choosing his defensive line, and that is Chambers.

Now or never for Chambers

Chambers made a very good start to life at Arsenal and looked to be a regular at first, but an injury to Mathieu Debuchy saw him switched to right-back before the emergence of Hector Bellerin. He’s since been loaned to Middlesbrough and Fulham where he’s played a variety of positions in his time at both clubs.

Arsene Wenger first introduced Chambers to the prospect of playing in midfield, and it’s this exact role that he thrived in at Craven Cottage. Despite playing for a club who ultimately suffered relegation, the Arsenal man was the stand-out player that season for his impressive displays in the middle of the park.

Saliba’s immediate arrival might have scuppered any chance of a future in defence for Chambers, with Rob Holding and Sokratis also proving to be reliable options. However, the loan-back in the deal suggests there’s still an open gate for a future in the back-four, and it’s in this position that Emery has used his man so far in pre-season.

Check out 5 things you need to know about Arsenal’s new man William Saliba in the video below…

Chambers has one year to truly discover where his future belongs and to focus his development in that area. It’s no use being moved around and continuing as a squad player – he was given a long-term contract last summer which suggests Emery believes in him, and now he’s got to truly have that breakthrough season.

There’s no better opportunity for Chambers to prove his credentials, because next year Saliba will return, Guendouzi and Willock will be a year older, and the door on any first-team opportunity may be firmly shut for Arsenal’s number 21.

[ad_pod ]

[ad_pod ]

Loads of Crystal Palace fans on Twitter have one major concern after the club was linked with a move for CSKA Moscow striker Fedor Chalov.

The first link came via Russia-based website Championat, with Sky Sports later reporting that the south London outfit had submitted an offer in the region of £14m for the 21-year-old.

The two-time Russia international certainly enjoyed an impressive 2018/19 campaign, scoring 17 goals and providing a further seven assists in 37 appearances in all competitions, while he has one goal and one assist in three outings already this term.

Watch Crystal Palace Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Should he end up arriving at Selhurst Park the attacker could easily end up being a replacement for Alexander Sorloth, who Palace are reportedly looking to use as a makeweight in a bid to sign Brentford forward Ollie Watkins.

Sorloth’s time at SE25 has been extremely disappointing, and he is yet to find the net in 16 Premier League appearances having arrived in a £9m deal in January 2018.

Given Chalov has also never played in England before and would be coming from an inferior league, Eagles supporters on the popular social media platform are clearly worried that he could follow in the Norwegian’s footsteps given some of their comments.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

[ad_pod ]

[ad_pod ]This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…The Yorkshire Evening Post’s former Leeds United writer Phil Hay is still in the loop with goings-on at Elland Road, and he has provided a four-word response on Twitter when questioned by a fan about whether the Anderlecht-linked Kemar Roofe would be replaced if he left.

What did he say?

Well, reports broke late on Thursday that the Belgian giants were in talks over a move for the 26-year-old, whose current contract with the Championship club is due to run out next summer.

Hay took to Twitter to confirm Vincent Kompany’s men’s interest in the attacker, and was quickly flooded by a deluge of comments from supporters.

One asked the journalist if Leeds would replace Roofe if he did end up going before the deadline next Thursday, and he replied: “They would have to.”

No surprise

All of Leeds’ summer transfer incomings so far this summer have been loan deals – although the one for Helder Costa is going to turn into a permanent £15m deal next year and they have an option to do the same with Jack Harrison – but there has been no sign of a new centre-forward.

Watch Leeds United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Some frustrated fans on Twitter believe they needed a striker even if they had Roofe and Patrick Bamford in their ranks, so it will be a relief for them to know that if last season’s top marksman does leave a successor would be brought in.

Given the duo missed 15 and 22 games respectively between them in 2018/19 because of injury, there is no way that Bielsa could rely solely on Bamford going forward, with only youngsters Ryan Edmondson and Kun Temenuzhkov to back the former Middlesbrough man up.

It could be interesting few days ahead for the Yorkshire outfit then, who were linked with a big-money move for SPAL centre-forward Andrea Petagna earlier this week.

[ad_pod ]

Mikey Johnston has been ruled out of Celtic’s Premiership clash with Motherwell tomorrow and Hatem Abd Elhamed could also miss the trip to Fir Park.

Celtic’s official Twitter channel reported quotes from manager Neil Lennon saying that the Israel defender “is a doubt for tomorrow” and that the young Scottish winger “will just miss out” before adding that he “should be okay” for Tuesday night’s Champions League qualifier against CFR Cluj.

Abd Elhamed was substituted after 51 minutes in last week’s win over St Johnstone with a dead leg but played 87 minutes in the 1-1 draw against CFR Cluj on Wednesday, while Johnston was not in the matchday squad for the game in Romania.

Abd Elhamed may have had an abortive debut for Celtic, but still did enough to leave these Hoops supporters waxing lyrical about his performance, as reported by The Scotsman.

He also helped to set up James Forrest’s equaliser against CFR Cluj on Wednesday, with Sourav Mahanty of The Celtic Bhoys saying that he “looked shaky defensively early on” but “improved as the game settled”.

If Abd Elhamed isn’t fit enough to face Motherwell tomorrow, Lennon could face a dilemma as to who will start at right-back.

Anthony Ralston, the only natural alternative to Abd Elhamed in that position, has started just one game for Celtic so far this season and came on for the Israel defender last Saturday in his only other appearance.

Lennon could also decide to play Kristoffer Ajer at right-back, with the Norway international adopting that role for both legs of last month’s Champions League qualifying tie against Sarajevo.

Johnston has had a very encouraging start to the season, scoring twice and supplying two assists in his four appearances thus far.

His goal which initiated the 7-0 thrashing of St Johnstone last week was a thing of beauty, running his marker ragged by shuffling the ball from one foot to the other before coolly dispatching a shot to the far corner of the St Johnstone net. [via SPFL on YouTube].

Johnston could have done damage against Motherwell given his current form, although it is encouraging that Lennon has given him a chance of being fit for Tuesday’s clash against CFR Cluj.

The stakes are far higher for Celtic in that game than they are tomorrow, with a win or a 0-0 or 1-1 draw needed to progress to the Champions League play-offs whereas they will still have 36 Premiership matches to play after the trip to Fir Park.

Therefore, Lennon could be tempted to give Abd Elhamed a chance to recover fully for Tuesday and instead go with Ralston or Ajer at right-back against Motherwell.

Celtic fans, how do you feel about Abd Elhamed and Johnston missing tomorrow’s game provided they are both fit for CFR Cluj on Tuesday? Comment below with your thoughts!

[ad_pod ]

Tottenham welcome Newcastle to their new stadium for the first time this weekend, and there could be an absolute slaughter on the cards.

The Magpies conceded three at Carrow Road on Saturday, and they were lucky not to concede even more, allowing Norwich to take a whopping 15 shots, eight of which were on target.

Steve Bruce’s side travel to north London to face a Spurs team filled with confidence after their draw at the home of the champions, and it is surely the perfect time for Mauricio Pochettino to hand one of his summer signings a first start.

The back four will surely stay the same after being so resilient against Man City, while the midfield duo of Harry Winks and Tanguy Ndombele pretty much picks itself.

In attack is where things get interesting though, with plenty of options to choose from now that Son Heung-min is back from suspension.

We suspect the wing wizard to come straight back into the XI, while Erik Lamela simply must keep his place after he played a part in both goals at the Etihad.

The two offer excellent width, speed and work rate on the flanks, which should afford new signing Giovani Lo Celso plenty of space to work his magic behind Harry Kane.

The Argentine registered 16 goals and six assists in all competitions last season, and while Christian Eriksen may be the more obvious pick, the new man will never get an easier opportunity to open his Tottenham account than against a disorganised and fractured Newcastle side.

Oh, and Kane will start, but you probably didn’t need us to tell you that.

[ad_pod ]