All posts by n8rngtd.top

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Callum McGregor is the latest man to weigh in on Celtic’s managerial hunt, and the popular midfielder thinks Neil Lennon should get the job.

Lennon has done a fantastic job steadying the ship since arriving at Parkhead in February, but there are plenty of doubts whether “Lenny” is really the man to take the club forward.

There have been two 0-0 draws in the last five games and even the matches the Bhoys have won recently have not exactly been exciting, and plenty of fans want to see someone younger and fresher at the helm.

McGregor however, has tipped the interim boss to get the permanent gig, but only on one condition.

What has he said?

“Obviously the club have to get the appointment right,” McGregor told The Herald.

“It is whatever way they want to go about that and get it done but the players and staff and everyone around the club want to know as soon as possible so you have the continuity going into next season.”

Asked about Lennon getting the nod, he said: “Would the players like it? I think so. The transition since he has come in again has been excellent. He has the players hungry for success. It can easily peter away. But he has been great.

“He is a born winner as well and he’s bringing that out in the team. The stats and the performances and the results have been excellent.

“If you see the success with Solskjaer at Man Utd – people were talking about if get into the top four he will get the job. People will ultimately judge you on success. If we manage to do it (win the treble again) then he has a great shout. And he would have deserved it all well.”

No-brainer?

Confirmation of Marco Rose’s move to Borussia Mönchengladbach rules one possible candidate out of the job and Andre Villas-Boas, a name being thrown around regularly by the Twitter rumour mill, is not the right fit due to his tendency to only stay at clubs for a short time.

With that said, it may be tough for the club to find an upgrade on Lennon, particularly if he locks up the historic “treble treble” as McGregor said.

Check out the video below to see how Brazil fans reacted to being asked how Cristiano Ronaldo would perform for them in a hilarious prank by Pl>ymaker FC…

Fans always want their club to move forward, and for that reason they may not like appointing Lennon on a long-term basis, but if he adds two more trophies to the League Cup this season, how could he possibly not get the job?

The players clearly love him and love playing for him, and there will not be another candidate out there who understands what it means to lead Celtic quite like Lennon does. So, Bhoys fans, do you agree with McGregor? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

Man Utd have a rich history of developing young players, and on the 28th of February 2016, another young Red Devil made his first Premier League start. With Louis van Gaal’s team taking on Arsenal, the Dutch boss had a shortage of attackers, and he turned to a young Marcus Rashford in pursuit of glory against the Gunners.

What followed has since gone down as a huge moment in the modern history of the Red Devils, with Rashford emerging onto the Premier League scene with a bang. Scoring two goals, he was later nominated as the Man of the Match, and unsurprisingly, lots of Man Utd fans hailed their new boy wonder.

Sometimes, initial impressions can be deceiving. There have been countless players that have made one fantastic appearance as a youngster and failed to follow it up with further quality. After all, it’s easy to make an initial impression; it’s a different task entirely to keep it long-term.

Loads of Man Utd fans were quick to pass judgement on Rashford, touting him as the next big thing in England, and in hindsight, they weren’t wrong.

The attacker is now a regular at Old Trafford, and he’s apparently on the verge of earning a contract worth an astonishing £300,000-per-week. Not bad for a player that was originally brought in just to plug a gap.

It’s a testament to not only his quality, but also the power of the Man Utd Academy. There’s clearly so much talent there, and Rashford serves as evidence for the suggestion that all a player needs is a chance. In a period of one game, Rashford went from an unknown to a Premier League wonderkid – and now he’s taken it to the next level.

Who knows how far he will go. He’s got all the tools to make it to the top. And the signs were there when he made his Premier League debut against Arsenal just over three years ago.

Man Utd fans – what were your first impressions of Rashford? What is next for him? Let us know below!

There are very few clubs in English football whose supporters would react to an impending relegation in a similar fashion to those at Bradford City.

Despite the fact that the Bantams are expected to be playing in the fourth tier for the first time in six years, rather than turning their back on their side, fans have instead flocked to get their season tickets. According to the Telegraph and Argus, Gary Bowyer’s side have already sold 13,108 despite the new season still being four months away.

Although it is fair to point out the fact that the pricing of the ticket (£150) would have been one of the main reasons for the club’s fans to commit to the new campaign, it is overwhelmingly clear that Bradford now need to repay them for their loyalty.

In order to do this, Bowyer must be given the necessary funds to build his own squad of players when the transfer window opens in June. Since the 47-year-old’s arrival at Valley Parade last month, he has inherited a team which lacks quality in all areas and if he is not given the opportunity to address this in the summer, the likelihood of success next season will not be high whatsoever.

Relegation to League Two can typically go one of three ways if previous history is anything to go by. Whereas some sides thrive in the fourth tier and achieve immediate promotion, others have to rebuild over a number of years whilst the third scenario is one that Bradford will want to avoid at all costs.

Both Chesterfield and Leyton Orient both suffered terrible transitions when they went down in recent years which resulted in them falling out of the Football League altogether. Given the fact that the Bantams were a Premier League club just 18 years ago, it would be a disaster if they follow in the footsteps of the Spireites and the O’s.

Not only would it throw the club into financial difficulty but it would also test the resolve of their supporters who have backed them throughout the tough times and are in desperate need of some positivity next season.

What do you think Bradford fans? How important is it that Bowyer is given the sufficient funds to build in the summer? Are you concerned ahead of next season? Get in touch below.

What a run Aston Villa are on! Dean Smith’s side made it ten consecutive wins against Millwall earlier today, but if Tammy Abraham’s injury keeps him out for the remainder of the season, the run will be pointless.

The Villans need to be on top form to cement their place as high up the Championship as possible ahead of the play-offs. Without Abraham though, the team will struggle to link up like it has been doing for the past couple of months and the season will end in disappointment.

The Chelsea-loanee has scored a whopping 24 goals in 36 Championship appearances this season. Even the best teams in the world would miss a striker that ruthless. He and Jack Grealish have been key to Villa since their 4-0 win against Derby in March and they need to stay fit.

Jonathan Kodjia may have saved their bacon earlier today but the flurry of missed chances should be a major concern.

The club can’t afford for Abraham to miss any more. Although they’ll probably still finish in the play-offs if the odd result went against them, they need to keep this run going.

If they enter the play-offs on a 12-game unbeaten run, they’ll believe they can go all the way, but more importantly, the opposition will fear what they’re coming up against. Without Abraham, other teams see there’s a weakness up top and it’ll give them confidence.

Villa need the 21-year-old back as soon as possible before their winning run ends. As soon as it does, the whole season could come crashing down around them. It’d be a shame for an injury to ruin such a great end to a campaign, but it might do exactly that.

Villa fans, how do you think your team will cope if their winning run ends in the next three games? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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Loads of Manchester United fans have been reacting to the weekend’s action, and they’re once again stunned by the sheer quality of Jadon Sancho.

It seems like every single week Sancho does something even more incredible than the last, and the English international was at it again on Saturday.

Borussia Dortmund suffered a big setback in their title challenge against Bayern Munich, losing 4-2 to a Schalke side battling relegation.

However, Sancho set up the opening goal with a truly wonderful assist, which you can view here, chipping a ball in behind the Schalke backline for Mario Gotze to meet at full flight and nod past the goalkeeper.

The teenage sensation has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, and to say fans are drooling at this most recent flash of brilliance would be an understatement.

Sancho has 12 goals and 20 assists in all competitions this season, and the Twitter reactions down below are desperate to grab him this summer…

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Following Leicester’s drubbing of Arsenal last weekend, there’s been some potentially worrying news on the transfer front for fans of the Foxes.

The Sun claimed at the beginning of the week that Manchester City were showing an interest in central defender Harry Maguire.

There was also a concerning update regarding loanee Youri Tielemans, who according to The Daily Star has Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham all chasing him.

Tielemans has been an instant hit at the King Power whilst Maguire has transformed Leicester’s defence in the two seasons he’s now been at the club. They’d both be huge loses, but with their possible departures looming, we came up with two alternative Leicester starting XIs for if they left.

Plan A – Choudhury benefits

This is quite a traditional Leicester formation that’s been deployed in recent years. However, it sees two main beneficiaries with Maguire possibly leaving and Tielemans not completing a permanent move.

One of which is Filip Benkovic. The young Croatian has starred on loan at Celtic this season and thrived under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers when the Scot was still with the Hoops. His progression has already been impressive and Foxes fans can look forward to him returning next term.

Hamza Choudhury also benefits from Tielemans leaving. His performances this season have been hugely promising, no less so than against Arsenal. He comes in as a like-for-like swap for Tielemans with James Maddison now being the creative outlet. This formation hangs on Harvey Barnes and Damarai Gray both realising their potentials.

The pair have the quality to be stand out players for the Foxes next season and could help provide the creative spark that will be missing if Tielemans isn’t signed permanently.

Plan B – three man defence

This is a very different looking side and would rely on a complete change of system. Again Benkovic and Choudhury benefit from the departures but it could see Rodgers utilise a three man defence.

Ricardo Pereira and Ben Chilwell are both exceptional going forward which would make them excellent wing backs. Meanwhile, Caglar Soyuncu also gets a chance. He’s had a very unproductive first season in English football, but with Maguire potentially on his way out, this could be the ideal opportunity for the Turk to step up.

In this system, it sees Jamie Vardy paired with Kalechi Iheanacho in attack. He is another player who has struggled since making the move to the King Power but the potential he showed at Manchester City means it shouldn’t be too long before he thrives once again. At 22, he still has the world at his feet.

Both Maguire and Tielemans are huge players for Leicester, but these two predicted XIs show they aren’t irreplaceable.

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Eyebrows were raised when Leicester signed Ricardo Pereira in 2018. Whilst at Porto, the right-back was one of the best emerging talents in Europe, and therefore, it was quite the coup that the Foxes were able to bring him to the King Power.

The Portugal international has had a stellar first season in England and has cemented himself as one of the first names on the Leicester teamsheet, displaying remarkable consistency right the way through the season.

Where players dropped off under Claude Puel, he still looked impressive and now under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers, he’s improved even more.

His performance against Manchester City last Monday night displayed the typical characteristics we’ve become accustomed to from Pereira, proving a danger in the final third with willing runs down the right.

He’s been exceptional going forward and his six assists across the current term tells you all you need to know.

However, it was his defensive game that stood out the most against City. He was tasked with keeping one of the best players in the division in Raheem Sterling quiet and he did it superbly well.

Going forward he completed two dribbles, but in defence he won 100% of his tackles, repeatedly stopping the England winger in his tracks.

City looked out of ideas for large parts of the game and the performance of Pereira was a large factor in that.

Throughout the match, he displayed a completely new characteristic though. The Portuguese defender isn’t familiar for his prowess in the air, winning on average 1.9 aerial duels per game. To win six against City was, therefore, phenomenal.

The sheer number of clearances he also got his boot on showed just how resolute the Leicester side were.

And had it not been for a thunderbolt from Vincent Kompany, Pereira may well have been staring at a clean sheet.

Given his prowess in attack, to now know he can perform this well defensively against the best side in the country could be game-changing ahead of next season.

Joining a new team midway through the season is bound to disrupt any side’s rhythm, but not in George Moncur’s case.

The 25-year-old midfielder joined Luton Town on a permanent deal from league rivals Barnsley in the January transfer window, and although signing a player from a title competitor sounds like a risky move, it has proven to be a shrewd piece of business for the Hatters.

Although Moncur against Oxford United sealing the League One title for Luton to kick-off their promotion party.

Luton have dominated the division for the majority of the season, and Moncur’s signing solidified that dominance in League One.

The midfielder has proved to be a good acquisition for the Hatters who will be heading into the Championship next season with the belief that they can make an impression in the league, and the former Barnsley player’s impact in getting the side there should not go unnoticed.

Whilst the likes of James Collins and Jack Stacey receive all the plaudits for getting Luton promoted, Moncur’s influence on the team has been just as important for the side. The midfielder’s goals ensured the Hatters the title and got them wins against the likes of Portsmouth and Fleetwood.

Moncur’s impact on Luton has been massive, and heading into the Championship next season, the midfielder will be hoping for more success with the Hatters.

Luton fans, how successful a signing has Moncur been? Let us know!

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Wilfried Zaha has, per the Daily Mail, asked to leave Crystal Palace.

The winger is keen to play Champions League football and, following a season in which he scored 10 goals and laid on 10 assists, he has reportedly now requested a transfer.

The Daily Mail previously claimed that Tottenham Hotspur held an interest in the 26-year-old, but state that the Eagles value Zaha at £80million.

Should Spurs break the bank to bring the winger in, then, as doubts persist over the future of Christian Eriksen, who has been linked with Real Madrid?

Football FanCast’s writers have their say…

Luke Glanville

“In my opinion, whether or not Spurs should break the bank to sign Wilfried Zaha in the summer should depend on what happens with Christian Eriksen. If Tottenham Hotspur’s key man leaves north London in the summer, the club will have bags of money to find a replacement. Instead of signing multiple stars who mostly failed to live up to their billing like when Gareth Bale left, the north Londoners should this time look for one ideal replacement. It would be a gamble to sign Zaha for this purpose. However, Mauricio Pochettino must take risks and this is one that could well end up paying off. If Eriksen doesn’t leave, however, Zaha should not be an option for Spurs.”

Billy Meyers

“Tottenham definitely shouldn’t break the bank for Wilfried Zaha. The Ivorian is a great talent – his 20 goal involvements in the league this season prove that – but would he get into Mauricio Pochettino’s starting eleven? Zaha is also a massive confidence player who needs to be shown love and especially lots of time out on the pitch if you are to get the best out of him; the reported £80m fee could be much better spent elsewhere.”

Matt Dawson

“Personally, I don’t particularly rate Wilfried Zaha. But that being said, he’d be a very good signing for anyone who snaps him up this summer. For Spurs, he could be game-changing for their attack. We’ve seen the influence Lucas Moura has had on one flank and by bringing in another high-class winger it could be devastating for the opposition that comes up against them. The concerning factor, though, is whether they’d pay the monumental fee that has been quoted.”

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Crystal Palace secured a 12th-placed finish with their thrilling 5-3 victory over Bournemouth on the final day and, having ended their term on a solid run of form once again, will be targeting a much stronger start to the 2019/20 campaign in the hope that they can make the top ten next time around.

With Michy Batshuayi returning to Chelsea, it’s clear that the Eagles need a new striker this summer if they’re to realise their ambition of competing with the likes of Leicester and West Ham, although club legend Clinton Morrison has indicated that the key to such an achievement is already at the club.

What did he say?

Well, speaking to Football London, the former striker said:

“I feel we are good enough to finish in the top half of the table, but I think we have got to try and keep hold of Wilf (Zaha).

“He is the key to everything. I know people put a lot of onus on him, but he is a special player.

“The fans love him, the young kids love him and he is a role model and everyone looks up to him. He is a nice guy too.”

Keeping the ‘key’

The culmination of the season at Selhurst Park a week-and-a-half ago means Zaha exit rumours have begun to rear their ugly heads again, although this time the player has added fuel to the fire by expressing his desire to play Champions League football.

Currently in his prime, the 26-year-old will undoubtedly have no shortage of suitors in the coming months having had another excellent campaign in red and blue, but the Eagles won’t let him fly the nest that easily.

Has this guy found the worst stadium in English football? Decide for yourself by watching the video below…

The south London outfit reportedly value their star man at an eye-watering £100m – a fee Spurs have already baulked at – and Morrison seems to think that Palace must not budge on their big asking price if they want to improve on their 2018/19 campaign next season.

The number 11 proved his indispensability to the Eagles in the term just gone, scoring 10 goals and recording 10 assists – tallies Palace will struggle greatly to replace should they lose him for anything less than their reported nine-figure valuation – so they can hardly be blamed for setting what is seen as an astronomical price by anyone outside the club.