Tottenham Hotspur fans will be jubilant with how things are going within the Champions League after they booked their place in the quarter-finals of the competition, although there will be question marks over their ability to win silverware as a whole.
Spurs were dumped out of the FA Cup in the fourth round, they were just penalty kicks away from a League Cup final and have seen their title race for the Premier League fall flat after a couple of disappointing results.
Mauricio Pochettino has been adamant things will change for this side in the future and it appears he is looking ahead with one of his potential transfer targets this summer.
What’s the news?
According to a report by Calciomercato, Lazio’s Thomas Strakosha has been identified by Tottenham as a possible long-term replacement for Hugo Lloris.
The 23-year-old Albania international has been a standout for the Serie A side this season and appears to be emerging as one of Europe’s most promising goalkeepers.
The Verdict:
There is no doubt Lloris has been a huge servant for Tottenham during his time in north London, however, the France international shot-stopper has drawn criticism for his performances recently and has not helped his side’s chances of obtaining silverware.
If his displays were disregarded, it must also be remembered that the World Cup winner is 32-years-old now, so it makes perfect sense for Spurs to look at their options and consider someone for the long-term future of the club.
Strakosha could be an excellent replacement as he has shown that he is capable of playing at a top-level, as he has helped Lazio to an impressive Champions League campaign, as well as having conceded just 27 goals in his 26 Serie A appearances.
However, the Italian outfit are unlikely to be willing to let him go unless they receive a large fee for the 23-year-old, but they could also be prepared to offer him a new deal to stay in Rome.
Tottenham fans, do you believe Strakosha is the ideal long-term replacement for Lloris? Join in with the discussion by letting us know your thoughts below.
Paris Saint-Germain are interested in signing on-loan Everton forward Henry Onyekuru at the end of the season, according to TEAMtalk.
What’s the word, then?
Everton completed the signing of Onyekuru from Belgian club KAS Eupen in the summer of 2017 before sending the Nigerian on loan to Anderlecht.
The 21-year-old managed 10 goals in 28 appearances for Anderlecht, before joining Galatasaray on loan ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.
The forward has struck nine times in 32 games for Galatasaray, but it had been thought that he would return to Everton this summer to compete for a first-team spot.
That scenario would rely on the Toffees securing a work permit for Onyekuru, but it has previously been reported that the Premier League outfit are confident of presenting a strong case to the Football Association this summer.
According to TEAMtalk, though, the winger might not actually get the chance to play for Everton as PSG are preparing a £20m offer.
How will this one end?
It is a complicated scenario due to the fact that Onyekuru has not even made his debut for Everton despite joining the club 18 months ago.
According to BBC Sport, the attacker cost the Merseyside club £7m, meaning that £20m would represent a tasty profit for the Premier League side.
The report has also claimed that Galatasaray want to keep him, whilst Marseille, Monaco, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli and Sevilla are all said to be in the hunt.
Onyekuru has been impressive during his two loan spells thus far, whilst he struck 30 times in 60 games for Eupen ahead of a move to Everton.
PSG have incredible pulling power, though, and there is no question that the seven-time Nigeria international’s head will turn if the French champions make a bid.
Tottenham Hotspur have been on a downward spiral since they recorded a phenomenal 3-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. Rather than standing on top of the peak, enjoying the view and perhaps even hanging around for a little while, they have since plummeted back down to earth with a floor-splitting thud.
Nothing screams title contender quite like a domineering win in Europe over the starkest of dark horses. But rather than using victory over the Bundesliga giants as a springboard for domestic success, Mauricio Pochettino’s side have since found themselves blinded by the lights and proceeded to flunk what should have been a routine victory over Burnley in the following match.
A thoroughly mellowing afternoon at Turf Moor set the wheels in motion for a string of results which have seriously jeopardised their top-four credentials.
Just a few weeks ago, Tottenham’s trip to Anfield was pencilled in as a day when the pendulum could take an almighty and unlikely swing in the visitors’ favour; now the Lilywhites are 15 points adrift and have three clubs breathing down their necks as the race for two European qualification spots becomes a four-horsed affair.
Spursy Spurs at it again. But this fixture is about much more than just claiming another three points towards a top-four finish for Pochettino: this is an opportunity to outsmart one of the best managers in world football.
Tottenham arrive on Merseyside with a dismal record of just two wins from 26 previous Premier League visits. Considering the hosts are yet to lift the ultimate prize in English football and have regularly finished outside of the top-six, that return is simply abysmal.
How can the Argentine change history and potentially condemn Liverpool to another season of chronic disappointment and regret? Well, the secret regards a memorable night at Wembley back in February.
Pochettino’s men lined up against a scintillating Dortmund side whose tactical setup is comparable to that of Liverpool. Mario Götze spearheaded the attack in a deep-lying forward role, just as Firmino does under Klopp, while precocious, pacey sensations Jadon Sancho and Christian Pulisic provided jet-heeled invention either side of the World Cup winner.
Sound familiar? Well anybody who is anybody in football will be aware that Liverpool’s attacking success predominantly revolves around Firmino’s ability to drop deep into space and seamlessly connect with Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.
As a trio they are the deadliest in Europe on their day, but Pochettino has a blueprint for stifling them courtesy of a blend of ingenuity and pragmatism. Without a recognised left-wing-back, Jan Vertonghen was drafted into the position against Dortmund last month, paving the way for Juan Foyth to make his maiden Champions League start.
The Belgium international stole the show as he provided a sumptuous assist for Son Heung-min, terrorised Dortmund with his bulldozing style of dribbling, and then staked a claim for a rarely seen 10/10 performance by notching Tottenham’s second.
Soccer Football – Champions League Round of 16 First Leg – Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – February 13, 2019 Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
But it was the robust solidity of Tottenham’s back-five which was especially impressive. Sancho conspired to double his reported £100 million valuation in the first-half with a handful of slaloms through the heart of the defensive unit.
Occasionally he would squeeze through a crevice and threaten to cause serious damage, but his threat was effectively neutralised as the game continued and the hosts became increasingly familiar with the system they were operating in.
With a lack of space in the channels and even less room by the touchline, Dortmund were devoid of penetration, and that is a realisation which should be playing on Pochettino’s mind ahead of the weekend.
Vertonghen started at left-wing-back out of necessity last time; now Pochettino must repeat that decision out of tactical choice, with Danny Rose’s nightmare against Southampton underlining his frailties and Ben Davies likely to be torn apart by Salah.
That decision would pave the way for Foyth to return to the starting XI for the first time since his side were humbled at Turf Moor. He is a player who, despite being on the fringes for the majority of the season, is no stranger to occasions of grandeur: three of his 11 starts this season arrived against Arsenal, Chelsea and, of course, Borussia Dortmund.
It would be a testament to Pochettino’s faith in his compatriot’s ability if he opted to start him in a central defensive trio this weekend, but history suggests it’s a decision which could enable the Argentine to outsmart the title-chasing German on his own turf.
Jordan Pickford. A man who is far from the calming presence you want your keeper to be. Whether he’s goading the Newcastle fans before making a match-losing error, or having ‘Get the rave on’ stitched into his boots (yes, really), the England international is proving to be far too erratic for his teammates to rely on him right now.
It has been a while now since he has endured a spell out of the firing line – the Sunderland academy graduate has started 81 consecutive Premier League games over the course of the last three seasons with the Black Cats and now with the Toffees.
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Whilst that is obviously good news in terms of him being able to develop his obvious potential, it hasn’t really allowed him to take a step back and analyse the things that he could perhaps be doing better with – being England’s number one on the way to a World Cup semi-final won’t have helped that either.
Against the Magpies last time out, Pickford gave away a stupid penalty which he then saved, only to goad the home support after and again throughout the game.
The 25-year-old then bundled the ball into the path of Ayoze Perez for Newcastle’s equaliser – Everton were 2-0 up – before the Tynesiders went on to win 3-2.
He looked visibly distracted by the back-and-forth goading that he had instigated with the St James’ Park faithful, and that isn’t the first mistake he has made this season – his last-gasp blunder at Anfield against Liverpool also backs up the fact that he allows himself to get caught up in raucous atmospheres.
Maarten Stekelenburg represents a solid back-up option for Marco Silva and one the club seemingly trust having offered him a new contract back in the summer, and the Dutchman should be drafted in for the last eight games of the season in order to bring Pickford back to reality a bit.
تلقى المدرب الألماني يواخيم لوف المدير الفني لمنتخب ألمانيا، خبرًا سارًا في تدريبات الماكينات الألمانية، قبل مباراتي أوكرانيا وسويسرا في دوري الأمم الأوروبية.
ألمانيا تستعد لمواجهة أوكرانيا وسويسرا يومي 10 و13 من شهر أكتوبر الجاري، ضمن لقاءات الجولة الثالثة والرابعة بالأمم الأوروبية.
وبحسب صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية، فإن لوف سيعتمد على لاعب الوسط توني كروس في المباراتين القادمتين.
وأوضحت الصحيفة أن نجم ريال مدريد تعافى بالفعل من إصابته التي تعرض لها قبل مباراة ليفانتي في الليجا، وسيكون قادرًا على التواجد مع المانشافت.
In his biggest challenge since the change of guard, he aims to prove himself worthy of the job by derailing the Hoops closest title challengers and eternal rivals.
It’s also his biggest opportunity to prove himself to the Bhoys faithful. Since his hurried arrival, Lennon hasn’t really had Celtic dancing to his tunes like Brendan Rodgers did earlier this season, despite a fairly good run of results. Indeed, the Hoops haven’t been anywhere near as dominant as before, only scoring three goals in his three league games in charge, largely flattering to deceive.
Rotating players, benching some important ones, Lennon’s made radical decisions to no end. However, all can change in the Old Firm Derby. Having lost their last one in December, Celtic must be desperate for revenge, with a win all but ending the Gers’ season in March. Obviously, Lennon himself is no newcomer to the game, he knows the magnitude of the fixture and also will fully realise just how much his stock can rise up if Celtic are to put on a special showing.
With Parkhead watching, Lennon could win back the fans’ love and trust with a fiery display against Rangers. While Steven Gerrard’s side are themselves hell-bent on breaking their rivals dominance, they also come into the game, not in the best of form. If Lennon makes a few adjustments to his system and motivates his boys to get revenge, a spectacle could unfold.
A memorable derby win can be solid proof of Lennon being the best man for the job. If he gets goals galore and fans roaring again at Celtic Park, he’ll take a step closer towards making his reign permanent.
Celtic fans, would you accept Lennon as a permanent manager with a dominant derby win? Join the discussion by commenting below.
أعلن فريق الرجاء البيضاوي لكرة القدم، عن طرح تذاكر افتراضية للجماهير لدعمهم في مباراة الزمالك في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.
الزمالك يلتقي مع نظيره الرجاء المغربي المقرر إقامتها الأحد المقبل، في ذهاب نصف نهائي البطولة الأكبر قاريًا.
طالع أيضًا.. الرجاء يعلن غياب 3 لاعبين عن مباراة الزمالك في دوري أبطال إفريقيا
وأفاد أحد مسؤولي الرجاء في تصريحات نقلها موقع “le 360” أنه بعد إسدال الستار على البطولة الوطنية وانتهاء موسم تكلل بتتويج الرجاء الرياضى بطلا للمسابقة، ينصب تركيزهم الآن على مسار الفريق في دورى أبطال إفريقيا.
وأضاف: “وفي إطار هذه المسابقة، يواجه نادى الرجاء نظيره الزمالك ولا تسمح الإجراءات الحالية بحضور الجماهير”.
واختتم: “لكن النادي يضع تذاكر افتراضية رهن إشارة الجماهير، من أجل دعم نادي الرجاء في هذه المرحلة الحاسمة، مباراة أخرى وتحدي آخر فى هذا الموسم المليء بالإثارة والتشويق”.
Tottenham Hotspur fans have expressed their disappointment at Moussa Sissoko missing out on the Man of the Match award after his performance against Crystal Palace.
Son Heung-Min won the award after scoring the first goal at the club’s new stadium, seeing his effort from the edge of the box deflected into the bottom corner after he cut in from the right flank. Christian Eriksen netted the second.
But Sissoko turned in an excellent midfield performance versus the Eagles, having been transformed under Mauricio Pochettino this season.
Indeed, per WhoScored, Sissoko made two tackles, two clearances, one interception and won three aerial duels.
Sissoko also made one key pass and had a pass completion rate of 81%.
Spurs confirmed on Twitter on Thursday that Son had won the accolade but a number of fans replied indignantly to their tweet, insisting that his French team-mate was the rightful winner.
Jan Valery was rewarded for his fine development at Southampton with a new contract this week, and his comments in light of the deal suggested that two senior figures have positively influenced his development.
What’s the word?
Following a string of fine performances at right-back, Valery was handed a new deal on Thursday which will keep him at St Mary’s until 2023.
In light of his decision to sign fresh terms with the club, Valery spoke to Southampton’s official website about his progression and how a handful of senior figures have catalysed his notable improvement.
Naturally, Ralph Hasenhuttl was singled out for individual praise, but the academy product also made an intriguing revelation about Charlie Austin and Nathan Redmond.
“Before the games they talk to me always and tell me ‘Be confident,’ ‘Do this, or do that,’ – against Man United, on the pitch, Charlie and Redders told me ‘Next time, when you’ve got the ball, take one touch and sometimes cross or shoot’ and I actually did that and scored.”
Redmond could be key to Sims’ development
That Redmond, valued at £16.2 million by Transfermarkt, is actively helping less experienced individuals on the field of play points towards a wider overarching theme.
The 25-year-old is not the finished article himself but, as someone who has struggled to fulfil his potential in his career so far, he is well placed to appreciate how vital it is for the next generation to receive advice from senior figures within the squad.
With that said, it’s fair to assume that Redmond will be offering a similar level of wisdom to Josh Sims, who was a game-changing substitute for Southampton in their second-half turnaround against Tottenham last week weekend, as the 21-year-old winger bids to break into the first-team.
Like Redmond, Sims is a dynamic winger who possesses the type of explosive flair which Hasenhuttl likes to see from his forward players, and their stylistic similarities suggest the former is an ideal role model for the latter.
If he also listens to Redmond’s advice, just as Valery did against Man United, he could blossom into a fantastic talent in the coming years.
Wolves and Brighton and Hove Albion are interested in signing Leyton Orient academy product Dan Happe, according to The Sun.
The 20-year-old has made 12 appearances for the O’s this season as they look to secure a return to League Two from the National League.
What’s the word?
Happe has emerged as a genuine talent for Orient this season and was recently called into England’s ‘C’ squad, which represents Under-23 players from the non-league.
He made his debut two years ago and is being tracked by a number of clubs, per the aforementioned report, with Championship high-flyers Norwich City also interested.
Steve Davis, who previously managed Orient, is currently working with Wolves in a behind-the-scenes role and The Sun claim that he has recommended Happe as a potential signing.
Happe, who has twice been named the club’s Player of the Month this season, has a contract that expires at the end of next season and could be available for a fee of £200,000.
However, Orient are said to be hopeful that he will opt to stay at Brisbane Road under Justin Edinburgh, with the club currently two points clear of second-placed Solihull Moors in the National League, while holding two games in hand.
Rip their heart out
Happe has become a genuine Orient success story.
An exceptional ball-playing defender, it was little surprise when he was recognised for his performances by England’s ‘C’ team.
With Orient on the verge of promotion, seeing an academy kid depart would break the hearts of many supporters, especially when he has the potential to develop into a Championship or, perhaps, even a Premier League player in future.
Happe would be central to Edinburgh’s plans if he stayed around for the 2019-20 season, which is almost certain to be in League Two.
A move to a top-flight club would surely come with a succession of loan deals and no guarantee of first-team football. He must weigh the possibilities carefully.