All posts by n8rngtd.top

West Bromwich Albion will surely be looking to the end of the domestic transfer window to secure a new striker and if they do, we’ve predicted how Slaven Bilic could line up his starting XI from there on out.

The Baggies have made new fewer than six new additions this summer but they have started the Premier League season with just one point from their opening four matches.

It leaves the Croatian with plenty to think about over this international break, so if he gets his reported top target, this is how Albion could look against Burnley…

Sam Johnstone is one man who will certainly keep his place as West Brom’s first-choice goalkeeper but will Bilic stick or twist with a back three?

It’s likely that he reverts back to the formation that won them promotion from the Championship, so Kieran Gibbs comes in at left-back with Darnell Furlong taking up a place on the other flank.

Whilst through the middle is likely to be first-choice pairing of Kyle Bartley and Semi Ajayi.

The changes started to begin in midfield where skipper Jake Livermore holds an anchorman role with summer arrivals Filip Krovinovic and Conor Gallagher taking up a slightly advanced position.

It means Matheus Pereira is pushed out wide with Grady Diangana also played out wide.

Then it comes down to Albion pushing through a deal for Huddersfield Town striker Karlan Grant – the Express & Star believe he could join on a £5m loan which would only be made permanent for an additional £13m if they stave off relegation.

AND in other news, West Brom must sanction £10m move to finally end striker headache…

What a start to the new Scottish Premiership season it has been for Rangers.

Steven Gerrard’s side have yet to taste defeat in the league, and enjoyed yet another comprehensive victory as they dispatched Dundee United 4-0 at Ibrox on Saturday afternoon.

The Gers looked in cruise control for the entire game, with the visitors managing to register just one shot on target during the contest. And one man who certainly impressed, was James Tavernier.

Are you a massive Rangers fan? Know everything about the club? Well do you know your Gary Stevens from your Michael Ball? This quiz will separate the loyal from the fake…

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

The full-back got himself on the score-sheet in the first-half, and it was the icing on the cake for what was a well-rounded performance from the 28-year-old.

As per Sofascore,

And after seeing his performance, Rangers fans took to Twitter to share their reactions.

A couple of Gers fans hailed Tavernier’s display, but admitted that some supporters wouldn’t have their minds changed about him.

With two goals and three assists to start the league campaign off, Tavernier has been a very useful attacking weapon for Gerrard down the right flank – in total, Tavernier has delivered 77 assists in just 249 games for the club, truly world-class numbers for an attacking player, never mind a full-back.

Earlier this year, the Rangers boss looked to defend him from fans’ criticism, and insisted it was part and parcel of being one of the leaders of the team.

He said: “When you are the captain and leader of this club, when results don’t go as well as they should go, you are always going to be in the firing line. James accepts that. That’s the way it is.”

More performances like the one on Saturday, and Tavernier will be more than fine.

According to The Evening Standard, Tottenham remain interested in Benfica defender Ruben Dias.

What’s the word?

After a disappointing start to the new season on the pitch last weekend against Everton, things are looking far more rosier in north London. Jose Mourinho’s side bounced back with a Europa League victory in mid-week, which was then followed up with the news Real Madrid duo Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon are set to join.

Is it Mido or Pedro Mendes? This Spurs quiz will separate the loyal from the fake…

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

Now, The Evening Standard claim that Spurs’ transfer business in this summer window isn’t done just yet, with the Lilywhites in the market for another centre-back.

It’s suggested Dias is among Mourinho’s preferred options, and that whilst Benfica refused to sell him in January, Spurs’ chances of signing him have been boosted with the financial impact of the shutdown, and the Portuguese side’s failure to qualify for the Champions League potentially forcing a rethink.

Daniel Levy’s Spurs revolution

Well, well, well. It’s safe to say that Spurs fans haven’t exactly got the greatest of relationships with Daniel Levy, with there being numerous times of the club’s chairman being called out for his seeming unwillingness to spend big money.

But with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Matt Doherty already through the door, and Bale and Reguilon set to follow, you can’t question Levy’s desire to strengthen this time around.

Adding Dias would arguably be the icing on the cake for what has been a terrific window for Spurs. Delivering a player who Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold revealed “Mourinho likes” would be the latest evidence that Levy is prepared to back Mourinho to the hilt.

The 6 foot 2 defender won the Man of the Match award in the 2019 Nations League final for Portugal, and already boasts plenty of top-level experience at Benfica by playing regularly in European competition. Dias could be another Levy masterclass.

Victor Orta could land Leeds an absolute bargain this summer if latest reports are to be believed.

According to LancsLive, reported United target Bright Osayi-Samuel is available for just £5m amid interest from Burnley and fellow Premier League new boys West Brom.

Back in May, AllNigeriaSoccer claimed that the Championship winners were keen on the winger, also citing the likes of Everton and West Ham too.

On the face of it, a new wide option isn’t something the Yorkshire giants necessarily need, especially considering Jack Harrison’s extended loan deal and the recent emergence of former Man City starlet Ian Poveda.

But strength in depth in the top-flight shouldn’t be frowned upon, particularly in these sorts of positions and at just £5m, it would be a filthy robbery.

Just think, West Brom splashed £22m on Hull City talisman Jarrod Bowen in January whilst Neal Maupay cost Brighton £16m last summer.

This season, the 22-year-old has provided an inconsistent QPR side with six goals and nine assists and has also racked up better figures than Leeds’ mainstay right-winger Helder Costa.

He’s just a third of the price of the £15m Portuguese ace.

The young Nigerian starlet has averaged more dribbles (2.9) and key passes (1.2) per game as well as a better passing accuracy (83.9%) than Costa. In addition to that, he’s won his side more free-kicks as he’s fouled 1.9 times per appearance (via WhoScored).

Osayi-Samuel’s Rs boss Mark Warburton has regularly waxed lyrical about his exploits throughout the campaign, claiming that the winger is a “real handful,” is “outstanding” and has “sheer pace which terrifies defenders”.

You’re not going to get a better talent at a cheaper price, so even if he doesn’t hit the ground running, at just £5m, it’s such low-risk – Orta must land Bielsa the tricky speedster this summer.

AND in other news, Leeds could regret selling this STAR 12 months on…

Name: Jack Scott

Club: Wolverhampton Wanderers

Date of Birth: 22 September 2002

Position: Right-back, Right midfielder

Jack Scott – his career so far

Jack Scott is still a fairly fresh signing for Wolverhampton Wanderers, having only joined the team at Molineux in the summer of 2019. But regardless of that, the now 17-year-old lad has already established himself as one of the best young talents Wolves currently have in their roster, and since we’re yet to see him feature regularly and prominently, that’s already saying a lot about his potential.

But before joining up with Wolves last summer, Scott was playing his football at Linfield Rangers and before that, as a very young lad, at Tandragee Rovers. He joined the Premier League outfit as a first-year scholar and then quickly signed his first professional contract upon turning 17 years of age in October last year.

Scott has been spending his time playing for the U18 squad, already tallying a total of 13 games and bagging one assist on the side as well. He was called up to the U23s once so far, starting and finishing the game that ended up a 1-0 defeat to Southampton. Of course, all of that was happening in the current campaign, making it quite an eventful and hectic start of his Wolves career.

But the youngster is also enjoying his national team exploits as he became the second-youngest player to ever feature for Northern Ireland U21 squad behind Liam Donnelly when he featured against Finland in September 2019 aged only 16 years and 353 days.

He can also boast with a total of 15 appearances for his nation’s U17 squad, even registering one goal in the process as well. Needless to say, Scott’s career is already well underway despite the fact that we’re still talking about a 17-year-old lad.

Of course, he is still waiting for his senior call up under Nuno Espirito Santo but given his talent, that one should definitely only be a matter of time. Once he is given the right environment and the necessary time to grow, the young defender should be able to demonstrate his full potential sooner rather than later.

Transfer latest

At the moment, Scott seems to be enjoying his stay at the club and no transfer rumours or transfer news are suggesting otherwise. But it will be interesting to follow his progress. He’s had half a season to adjust to his new life at the Molineux and while the season was then abruptly put on hold by the outside circumstances, it should’ve provided the club with at least some initial impressions of the kid.

But as of right now, no Wolves news can tell us more about his immediate future or the chances of a fast-tracked progression up the ranks. Still, he is only 17 years of age and despite his talent, expecting him to already break into the older squads or even the senior team would probably be pushing it a bit.

Player profile

Scott is a right wing-back who has the power and the pace to dominate his flank and run up and down the pitch for the full 90 minutes. His natural speed and great acceleration mean he can beat his marker and exploit the space behind the opposition’s defensive line with ease.

And apart from his great technical abilities that include a good first touch and decent passing skills, a lot of his success seems to stem from the mental edge he has over his peers. Determined, composed and with a good dose of work rate, Scott has what it takes to keep improving and getting better with time.

Even though he is not much of a finisher and excels more at linking up and combining with his teammates, he does have a decent shot from distance and can be an asset from set-pieces, either by crossing the ball himself or heading it inside the box.

Key Information about Carrow Road

Carrow Road is the home of Premier League side Norwich City, and it has been since 1935.

The all-seater stadium holds a capacity of just over 27,000 and comprises four famous stands; the Regency Security Stand, The Barclay, the Geoffrey Watling City Stand, and The South Stand.

It is located in the East Anglian county of Norfolk, and it was opened following insufficient capacity due to constant growing crowds.

A history of Carrow Road

The Canaries lifted the Division Three title in 1933-34, and a year later they moved into their current home of Carrow Road. On 31 August 1935, Norwich moved from their previous home of The Nest as it was no longer deemed suitable for the number of fans wanting to attend matches.. The first match played in the new stadium was a seven-goal thriller between West Ham United, and the Canaries came out triumphant with a 4-3 victory – a game that will always go down in club history.

It is named after the road which it is located and was incredibly built by the football club in just 82 days. The name “Carrow” originates from Carrow Abbey which once stood on the riverside, and there are possibilities the name has Norse origins.

The club notably described the opening of their new stadium as “the largest construction job in the city since the building of Norwich Castle” and “the eighth wonder of the world”.

Over the years, the stadium has been altered and upgraded several times, and at the time of its opening the ground’s capacity was a massive 38,000 with an amazing 44,000 record overall crowd before the introduction of seating only.

This record-high attendance was set by fans who watched Norwich take on Leicester City in the FA Cup Sixth Round in 1963. Famously, King George VI watched twenty minutes of the Canaries home game against Millwall at Carrow Road which was the first time a ruling monarch had watched a second division football match.

Floodlights were introduced to the stadium just over 20 years after its construction, and the £9,000 cost in 1956 almost sent the club into bankruptcy, only to be saved by an FA Cup semi-final appearance two seasons later. In the wake of the Ibrox Stadium tragedy in 1971, Carrow Road’s capacity was lowered to just 20,000 with many dangers associated with standing, and nine years later, seats replaced the terraces around the ground.

The Barclay stand is famously named after former Captain Evelyn Barclay who was also a former vice-president of the club, and The South Stand is named in honour of former chairman Sir Arthur South.

Tickets to Watch Norwich City at Carrow Road

Norwich have capped their season ticket allocation for Carrow Road as 22,000, and there is currently a waiting list.

The canaries typically sell out of their home allocation of tickets making it very hard for supporters to watch their team live. Despite this, it is advised for fans to visit the clubs site (canaries.co.uk) to purchase tickets online or by phone when advertised by the club prior to a fixture.

For a regular Premier League game, the Canaries price their adult tickets at around £26, 65+ and under-18s at £11.25, and under-16s at £10. Coach travel is priced at £25 with a £1 discount for away members and season ticket holders. The cost of a regular adult season ticket is around £500 if paid before 21 February, and for under-12s they are as low as £70.

Related Links

https://www.canaries.co.uk/ – Official website of Norwich City

https://www.canaries.co.uk/tickets/home-away-tickets/ – Norwich City Ticket Office

It speaks volumes of just how highly rate Steven Gerrard rates Alfredo Morelos, that the Rangers striker who has been linked with a move away all summer, has started in each and every single Scottish Premiership game of the new season.

The Colombia international has struck two goals and provided a further two assists in his opening four league games, but whilst that return is more than respectable, the simple fact is that Gerrard must surely be planning for life without the 24-year-old.

Lille, one of the clubs who are reported to be interested in him, are said to have bid £16m for him, whilst Football Insider have recently claimed that Morelos’ exit this summer is “almost inevitable”.

Are you a massive Rangers fan? Know everything about the club? Well do you know your Gary Stevens from your Michael Ball? This quiz will separate the loyal from the fake…

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

It’s exactly why Gerrard must not waste any time, and unleash of the forwards he brought into Ibrox in the off-season: Kemar Roofe.

The former Leeds man enjoyed a fine year whilst at Belgian side Anderlecht in the 2019/2020 campaign, scoring seven goals in 16 games before a calf injury ended his season short.

His former manager at Elland Road, Thomas Christiansen, waxed lyrical about his abilities, saying: “Kemar is able to push forward, defend with it and still turn up in the sixteen. His height seems a disadvantage, but that is it is not. Kemar is strong and jumps high. He will score with his head. He is a goal-getter. He will score at least twenty. Kemar is cold-blooded for the goal. And he can also finish with his left and right.”

That ability to score off either foot makes him a dangerous striker for defenders to stop, not knowing which way to force him. And plus, being the journey man player he has been – Roofe has already played for eight different clubs all across Europe – he will inevitably be motivated to make sure he can be a success at a massive club like Rangers.

And motivation is something Morelos just seems to be lacking at the moment with all the speculation linking him away with a move, with Alan Hutton claiming after the goalless Livingston draw: “He just looked back to his previous self if you want. Even the way he came off the pitch, it’s been well highlighted that he looked angry, he didn’t look interested, it just didn’t go down well for everybody looking on.”

Roofe may not be similar in playing style to Morelos, but he could similarly rip defences to shreds. His best season at Leeds, in which he netted 15 goals in the Championship, saw him average an impressive 3.1 shots and 0.8 key passes per game. The 27-year-old comes alive in the final third, and with that chip on his shoulder, could see him wreak havoc in Scottish football.

Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold has earmarked Tottenham prodigy Jamie Bowden as someone who will be “looking to impress” when football makes its return.

What did he say?

The 18-year-old has predominantly featured for Spurs’ youth sides this season, featuring 16 times across all competitions, and scoring three times.

Bowden has yet to make a senior appearance for the north Londoners, but Gold has tipped him to enjoy a bright future, even comparing him to the likes of Harry Winks and Michael Carrick.

The Greatest Bargains in Premier League history – How much did they cost?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

He said: “The 18-year-old has been unfortunate with injury problems this season but boasts plenty of talent. The Ireland U19 international is a clever passer of the ball and there are shades of Winks and Carrick about him in his ease in the anchor man role.

“Bowden’s face might be familiar to Spurs fans even if they can’t work out why. That’s because he was the 19th man as Spurs edged past Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League quarter-final last season. He was photographed celebrating with the players after the final whistle, shown in many of the shots alongside Fernando Llorente. Injury problems have limited him this season but he’ll be back looking to impress when football returns.”

Trust

One of the big talking points at Spurs this season has been the reluctance to throw Troy Parrott into the first-team on a regular basis. Jose Mourinho has repeatedly insisted that the academy starlet simply isn’t ready to make his mark, and it’s why expectations about Bowden have to be tempered too.

But with Eric Dier seemingly now being seen as a bona-fide centre-back, Bowden may well get some more opportunities to shine in the senior side sooner rather than later.

If, as Gold suggests, he can get back to full fitness, then Spurs could well save millions in the transfer market by turning to Bowden instead of splashing the cash on a new big-money central midfielder.

Meanwhile, Alasdair Gold names the Spurs starlet akin to Marcus Edwards.

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

Manchester United drew with Sheffield United on Sunday and it could have been a lot worse but for the contribution of their young players.

On the chalkboard

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sought to deal with the Blades’ threat by matching their 3-5-2 formation, but his side were outfought and dominated for far too long, a point Marcus Rashford admitted post-match.

In many ways it was a typical away performance from the Red Devils this season. They have won one match from seven on the road in the Premier League, and though they dominated possession and were leading up until the last minute, victory would not have been deserved.

Though the team were without some first-team players, the fact they went 2-0 down wasn’t just a result of a lack of quality, but because the intensity, desire and attitude of their opponents bettered United in each department.

That is a poor reflection on the manager, but also the senior players in the team, particuarly as it was youngsters Brandon Williams and Mason Greenwood whose goals got them out of trouble.

Watch Newcastle United Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Hope in youth

Since coming to the club in December 2018 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has looked to give young players a chance at every opportunity.

It seems that Williams and Greenwood are the latest breakthroughs, joining the likes of Scott McTominay, Alex Tuanzebe, Andreas Pereira and Dan James as young players to be given game time.

[ad_pod ]

Part of the Norweigan’s approach has been to get rid of underperforming players. Senior players whose performances have declined have seen their game time diminish – like Nemanja Matic – or ended up leaving, such as Marouane Fellaini, and the match on Sunday proved it was the right step to make.

However, the team’s overall performance should trouble their manager, with just two shots on target other than the goals suggesting there was a lack of leadership and spark aside from the young players – Dan James being relied on as the main source of creativity once again as he assisted the first and third goals.

Solskjaer can at least take comfort in the fact that Williams justified his decision to start him once again, and with Greenwood making the desired contribution from the bench in a matter of minutes there are positives to be taken.

The pair showed they can deal with the pressure of playing for the club and with more minutes under their belt they could become more important in the manager’s plans, and United’s chances of success.

Their strong showing is further evidence that Solskjaer was right to place faith in young players, as it is not only helping him now but should serve the club long-term, particuarly as they can also use negative experiences to their benefit.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

The situation over at Borussia Dortmund is currently pretty bleak.

The Germans are struggling to keep up in the Bundesliga table and recorded a three-game winless streak leading up to the weekend, losing twice and drawing once in the process, though they returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win at Hertha Berlin on Saturday.

To add to their woes, their latest defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League has also put them on the edge in Europe and they will now have to fight until the last game to secure a place in the knockout stages.

Needless to say, this is a huge fall from grace for a team that was dominating Germany last season and came this close to snatching the crown away from Bayern Munich.

Still, one way to get out of the slump is to add fresh blood into the system and according to some recent reports coming from Sport Bild (via the Sun), they are looking to do exactly that.

The same report suggests they are planning to snatch Emre Can, a Manchester United target, away from Juventus as the midfielder is currently out of favour and could be an attainable player in the market.

His current value according to Transfermarkt sits at £29.7m but since he can only boast with 170 minutes across five games for the Bianconeri in the ongoing campaign, his value might be dropping along the way.

Still, this doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t be a good addition for Borussia Dortmund, who could definitely use his presence and strength in midfield.

Can managed to bag four goals and one assist in 2018/19 Serie A campaign when he was getting more regular game time and also averaged 1.1 shots and 0.7 key passes per game.

But it’s actually his defensive work combined with the attacking prowess that make him such a commanding persona in the middle of the pitch.

In 2018/19, he averaged 2.2 tackles and one interception per game while also maintaining 87.1% passing accuracy, confirming that he’s a well-rounded and safe option on the pitch.

Borussia could definitely use someone of his calibre in their ranks and the same goes for Manchester United, who are in a rather similar, but possibly even worse, situation.

The Red Devils are currently occupying the middle of the Premier League table and with one win in their last three games, could very well use some reinforcements themselves.

Can looks like someone eager to prove himself since he hasn’t been getting any real game time as of late and Old Trafford might also be a tempting challenge for him.

Don’t miss out on MASSIVE savings with Fan Deal Drops – shop now for the latest deals (USING LINK HERE) on TVs, laptops, football shirts & much more.