All posts by h79snht.top

Here at the Transfer Tavern we are blessed to welcome a diverse range of football fans through our doors on a regular basis, from punters with thick Geordie accents reminiscing the days of Beardsley and Shearer, to West Country folk amazed by the form of Lee Johnson’s Bristol City.

However at this current moment in time, we cannot find a group of fans more excited by the January transfer window than our Southampton boys from the south coast.

In high spirits following the £75 million windfall acquired from the sale of defender Virgil van Dijk, Saints fans have been drinking long into the night, discussing exactly where their new-found fortune must be spent if the club are to begin their rise up the table towards the European spots.

Keen to hear their transfer opinions, our landlord pulled himself a pint and joined the South coast boys for a late jar before closing to discover exactly who they wanted this month.

Many areas of the squad were discussed, but a quality creative midfielder appeared to be high on the wishlist of fans.

Dusan Tadic has proven a success since his arrival from FC Twente in 2014, but it is clear the Serb needs some help.

An expert in the Dutch leagues, our landlord recommended another return to the European nation, and a swoop on capital club, Ajax.

Midfielder Hakim Ziyech proved sensational during his own stretch with Twente, before being picked up by Ajax in 2016.

Continuing his fine form with the Amsterdam-based side, the 24-year-old has already registered an impressive four goals and eight assists this season, and is likely to be on the plane to the World Cup in Russia next summer alongside Saints winger Sofiane Boufal with the Moroccan national side.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Ziyech is one of the most exciting young creative midfielders on the continent, and for Mauricio Pellegrino to secure his signature would be a real coup for the club.

The Dutch-born attackers appears ready for a Premier League move, and with his raw pace and eye for a pass, our landlord cannot help but feel that the player has all the necessary attributes to make a name for himself in the English top-flight with Southampton.

Saints fans, where else do you feel your squad needs strengthening with the van Dijk money? Have your say below…

Marcus Rashford is supposed to be the future of Man United, a modern day symbol of everything the club stands for and a sign that youth will always play a role in the former Premier League champions’ success.

When the youngster arrived on the scene he was the saviour, a breath of fresh air and a player who could do no wrong.

But that’s all changed now after a string of poor individual performances as Man United head in to their Boxing Day fixture with Burnley on the back of conceding injury time goals in consecutive games last week, both of which cost them a place in the Carabao Cup semi-final and precious ground in the title race.

Rashford has seemingly become a scapegoat in this current run of poor form and United fans are calling for the 20-year-old to be dropped, and even sold by some, for Boxing Day’s game v Burnley. It does seem a bit harsh on the youngster, who has scored 28 goals in 100 first team appearances for the Red Devils since his debut in November 2015.

However, Rashford, who is valued at £27m by transfermarkt.com, now has a job on his hands to rebuild his relationship with the Old Trafford faithful judging by the tweets below…

[ad_pod ]

As reported by The Daily Record, Manchester United are considering making an offer for Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred.

What’s the story?

With the January transfer window hotting up, the biggest and best clubs around Europe are on the hunt for elite talents that can improve their squad in the second half of the season when major silverware is up for grabs.

Manchester United are no different and it seems that Jose Mourinho is planning to prioritise his central midfield areas.

The Daily Record report that the Portuguese is hoping to bring in Brazilian international Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk.

The paper say Mourinho is planning the future direction of the Red Devils’ midfield with the futures of Marouane Fellaini, Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick in doubt at Old Trafford.

Rated at £17.1m by Transfermarkt, is he the right man to partner the likes of Paul Pogba?

Anchor man

Pogba has been effective this season but arguably doesn’t have the midfield freedom to truly focus on supporting the Manchester United attack first and foremost.

Bringing in a player like Fred would certainly go a long way to solving that problem, his style of play focusing on winning back the ball and protecting his side’s defensive line.

He has plenty of experience under his belt despite being just 24 years of age and was integral to the Ukrainian’s progress to the Last 16 of the UEFA Champions League this season.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

He could be a perfect accompaniment to the French international and forge a successful career at Old Trafford, especially with ageing defensive minded midfielders potentially on their way out of the club.

[ad_pod ]

Thomas Lemar is a player well-known to Liverpool fans given that the Monaco star is regularly linked with a move to Anfield.

Last summer, the Frenchman was touted in the media as a possible target, and this month following Philippe Coutinho’s switch to Barcelona, the 22-year-old’s name emerged again.

In recent weeks, the speculation has quietened down, but now a report by Yahoo! Sport has claimed the Merseyside outfit have agreed a deal with the player, who has also been linked to Arsenal.

The sticking point, though, is that the Premier League club are refusing to meet Monaco’s asking price of around £90m.

The Ligue 1 giants let a number of first-team stars leave the club last summer, including Tiemoue Bakayoko, Bernardo Silva and Kylian Mbappe.

If Lemar is to join Liverpool, then it is likely that Monaco will try to squeeze as much money out of the deal as possible.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

These latest reports have got Liverpool fans talking.

Tottenham Hotspur host Arsenal in the latest episode of the North London derby at Wembley on Saturday, and Manchester United fans have made some surprise predictions ahead of the clash that will shock Gunners fans.

Fifth-placed Spurs welcome their sixth-placed local rivals to their temporary home knowing that a draw will be enough to take them into the Champions League spots – at least until Chelsea face West Bromwich Albion on Monday night.

However, a win would extend their advantage over Arsene Wenger’s men to seven points, and considering Arsenal have only won three of their 13 Premier League matches on their travels this season that certainly wouldn’t be a surprise result.

Despite that, Man United supporters all seem to have confidence in Wenger and his side – perhaps buoyed by the fact they now have Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in their ranks – and believe they will pick up the three points.

While one said “Arsenal will win”, another said “I think Arsenal will win”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

[ad_pod ]

There may have been only two instances thus far, but Manchester United’s two biggest talents – Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba – are yet to play well together in the same starting XI. However, we probably shouldn’t be all that surprised; especially under a manager who prides himself on balanced and formulaic football, it was never going to be as straightforward as simply attaching Sanchez onto the left-hand side of the Red Devils’ usual game-plan.

Indeed, fitting any Premier League team together with the right balance is always something of a puzzle, but even more so when they have the talent United boast in attack through the likes of Sanchez, Pogba, Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Jese Lingard. Jose Mourinho’s proposed solution is to play the powerful Frenchman deeper in midfield, but that has lead to another debate in itself of whether Pogba has the discipline for that role and more crucially, whether the holding slot alongside Nemanja Matic truly showcases his dynamic and creative qualities.

The early signs suggest its a flawed idea; tellingly, Pogba has been subbed off midway through the second half during his last two Premier League appearances, while Sanchez has only shown his revered quality in small doses. So we’re proposing three alternative setups – courtesy of lineupbuilder – to get the best out of Pogba and Sanchez, and then giving United fans the chance to have their say on the biggest conundrum currently facing Mourinho.

Solution A – 4-2-3-1

The simplest and most obvious solution – move Pogba further forward into the attacking midfield berth. It would have no effect on Sanchez’s current role in the side, maintain Mourinho’s preferred formation and push Pogba into a position that gives him the freedom to roam and link up with Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku in more advanced areas of the pitch. Ander Herrera is more than capable of doing a study job alongside Matic and is probably a better candidate than Pogba anyway for taking the ball off the centre-halves and spreading the play.

If there’s one lingering concern, however, it’s that Pogba and Sanchez could end up getting in each other’s way. Pogba likes to surge forward into the left channel, but that’s also the space Sanchez looks to cut into when he’s playing on the left wing.

Solution B – 4-3-3

Unquestionably Pogba’s preferred solution, because it would put him in the role that has produced the best form throughout his career – the left-sided slot in a midfield three. That’s the position he took up in Juventus’ midfield diamond, providing the performances that made him a world-record signing, and the one many expected him to be handed upon returning to Old Trafford.

It’s also a system Mourinho knows inside out, having used it famously during his first spell with Chelsea and at Inter Milan, and seems to put everybody in the right places with Matic anchoring, Herrera partnering Pogba just in front and Sanchez and Martial coming inside from the respective flanks.

[ad_pod ]

However, the concern over Sanchez and Pogba looking to occupy the same space once again persists, and that role still requires some discipline on the France international’s part – he can’t simply bomb forward at every given opportunity. The other question, too, is whether Lukaku holds up the ball well enough. He’ll have less support than in a 4-2-3-1 and although the Belgian has improved on that aspect of his game this season, he’s still not an effective target man of the Didier Drogba calibre.

Solution C – 3-4-3

United toyed with three at the back earlier this season and they certainly have the wide players for it, with Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young perfect for the wing-back roles. Nemanja Matic won the Premier League title playing in the exact same setup last season at Chelsea too and will understand what he needs to bring to the midfield, while Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo both have the speed and experience at full-back to snuff out one-on-one situations either side of Chris Smalling.

More importantly though, it would completely take the leash off Pogba, making him part of the attack instead of the midfield and putting him in incredibly close proximity with Sanchez and Lukaku to finish off what would be a formidable, powerful and potent forward triplet.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

However, Pogba would be starting in the space he likes to explode into, so it remains to be seen if he can have the same kind of impact, not to mention if he can deliver the level of goals and assists expected of players who take up that position – think Eden Hazard and Pedro at Chelsea, or Sanchez and Mesut Ozil at Arsenal last season.

Nonetheless, 3-4-3 remains a tempting concept and would certainly fit the tactical direction the Premier League appears to be heading in at the moment.

So, Man United fans, which formation would you choose to get the best out of Pobga and Sanchez? Let us know by voting below…

Southampton Football Club posted a tribute to former defender Dean Richards on the seventh anniversary of his death via their official Twitter account on Monday, and Saints fans were quick to follow in their club’s footsteps.

The centre-back passed away at the age of 36 following a long-term illness in 2011, having featured in the top flight for the south coast outfit and Tottenham Hotspur, before he retired in 2005 having been told that he could suffer from a brain haemorrhage if he continued playing.

Richards made 79 appearances in all competitions for Saints in just over two years at the Dell and then briefly following their move to St Mary’s, forming a strong partnership with Claus Lundekvam at the heart of the defence.

Southampton supporters took to social media to pay tribute to their former star, and while one said “always a Saint”, another labelled him as a “great player”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod ]

Facing a £25million release clause that comes into effect in summer 2019, Tottenham have a big decision to make over Toby Alderweireld as the in-demand centre-back continues to hold out on signing a new deal with the north London outfit.

There is little doubt the Belgium international has been an intrinsic influence behind Tottenham’s rise under Mauricio Pochettino. During the Argentine’s first season at the club, Spurs conceded 53 times in 38 Premier League games. Since signing Alderweireld a year later, the Lilywhites have finished up with the top flight’s healthiest goals conceded record in two consecutive seasons – the former Ajax man missing just eight Premier League fixtures during that time.

And yet, there is an argument to suggest Alderweireld isn’t the gem in Tottenham’s defence at all, with the crown truly belonging to his regular centre-back partner Jan Vertonghen. The Belgian has never quite matched the superfluous attacking form of his first season in north London, when he scored six times across all competitions and made his marauding runs from the back a defining feature of Tottenham’s forward play.

But aged 30 and delicately combining natural ability with improved physicality and the experience yielded from over 200 appearances for the Lilywhites, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more reliable centre-back with and without the ball in the Premier League, and a better left-footed centre-half throughout the whole of Europe. That subtle differentiation shouldn’t be overlooked; having a natural left-footer gives Tottenham vital balance in possession that most of the continent’s top sides can’t replicate. When utilised fully it’s a distinct advantage.

Of course, the counter-argument to Vertonghen’s proposed illustriousness is how lesser his reputation was before partnering Alderweireld. From his second season until Alderweireld’s arrival in summer 2015, Vertonghen wasn’t revered quite so admirably and many felt he’d flattered to deceive during a stunning debut campaign. But there is a simple explanation for that; the calibre of defenders Vertonghen found himself partnered with – Michael Dawson, Younes Kaboul, Vlad Chiriches and Federico Fazio – left much to be desired.

Thus, we reach the crux of the debate over Vertonghen – he’s the perfect centre-back partner, but not the domineering centre-half you’d expect to physically confront strikers and battle them in the air. That’s where Alderweireld comes in, and why the two Belgians have forged such an impenetrable combination in recent seasons. However, it doesn’t mean Vertonghen’s only at his best when put alongside a world-class stopper, a category Alderweireld arguably belongs too. As Davinson Sanchez has proved this season, Vertonghen only needs someone physical, promising and willing.

And the summer signing’s form this season is perhaps the most convincing argument as to why Tottenham can afford to let Alderweireld leave. The Colombian international is still a little raw, but he’s proved worth every penny of his club-record transfer fee so far; fast, powerful, imposing in the air and (usually) composed with the ball at his feet.

Vertonghen too is the ideal partner as an experienced defender who can talk him through games, who will naturally cover the space behind Sanchez through his own style of play, and who will demand the 21-year-old improves on the ball. Sanchez will develop quickly alongside Vertonghen.

That’s not to say there aren’t obvious downsides to parting with Alderweired. Blessed with a powerful frame, a fantastic reading of the game and an exceptional passing range, there’s a reason Barcelona are reportedly keen on signing the 28-year-old. He’s the finished article that Sanchez can only hope to become and has at least another five seasons ahead of him at top level barring injuries.

The other concern too, is that Tottenham are setting a dangerous precedent; when coupled with Kyle Walker’s move to Manchester City last summer, a clear pattern emerges – refuse to sign a new Spurs contract and you’ll soon be sold to a team who offer better wages and a better chance of silverware. Suddenly, for players like Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane, it becomes difficult to remember what the incentives to stay loyal Tottenham actually are.

But we’re also talking about a defender who has made just 10 Premier League appearances this season, his absence only truly felt in occasional doses, that could still command a fee exceeding the £75million record sum Liverpool paid for Virgil van Dijk just a matter of months ago. After all, although Transfermarkt value him at just £31.5million, Alderweireld is proven at a higher level, can play out of the back as well and fees in the transfer market have only escalated with every window.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod ]

That money would be an invaluable investment in the squad, especially bearing in mind how moving stadiums may affect Pochettino’s transfer budgets in coming summers, and if the Argentine has proved anything during his time with Spurs, it’s that he has an incredible knack for bringing new signings and young players up to speed with the rest of the team. Alderweireld may seem an indispensable talent at this moment in time, but Pochettino will ultimately find a way to fill his void.

So, Tottenham fans, would you cash in on Alderweireld this summer? Let us know by voting below…

Southampton sacked manager Mauricio Pellegrino on Monday night following a run of just one win in 17 Premier League matches and huge calls from the fans for him to go, and those fans have picked former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti as the man they want to replace the Argentine.

The south coast outfit may look to bring someone in on a short-term basis until the end of the season as they look to secure their top flight status in the final eight matches of the campaign, with Stoke City’s 2-0 defeat against Manchester City on Monday night meaning they stayed one point above the relegation zone.

Ancelotti has been out of work since he was sacked by Bayern Munich in September, while he has managed the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea, Juventus and AC Milan previously, but that hasn’t stopped the St Mary’s faithful hoping that their club can offer him a lucrative short-term deal to try and keep them up.

Southampton supporters have been discussing the 58-year-old via social media, and while one said “Les, go and get CARLO ANCELOTTI”, another said ‘Ancelotti please and offer him a massive bonus if he keeps us up’.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod ]

England’s upcoming friendlies with the Netherlands and Italy give Gareth Southgate a vital chance to experiment before he draws up his World Cup squad for the tournament in Russia, and the Three Lions gaffer must take that opportunity with both hands.

Indeed, he’s clearly picked an experimental squad with the likes of James Tarkowski and Alfie Mawson involved for the very first time, and Oranje and Azzurri represent decent enough opposition to really test Southgate’s various potential game-plans against.

But how can Southgate take full advantage of this opportunity? What various forms should this England squad take on the pitch to adequately prepare for the tournament in Russia? Which setups require further testing before they’re used at the World Cup?

While the players picked remain largely interchangeable, Football FanCast lay out four formations Southgate must attempt at some point during the current international break – and then give you the chance to tell us your favourite.

England’s attempts to adopt 4-2-3-1 at the last World Cup failed spectacularly, but it feels much less a case of square pegs being shoved into round holes this time around with conventional options in every position.

Most pivotal of those are the front four, with the formation allowing all of England’s most potent goalscoring entities on the pitch at the same time; Marcus Rashford, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling and Jamie Vardy – the latter being replaced by Harry Kane when the tournament in Russia comes around.

And in comparison to the last World Cup when Steven Gerrard looked a little lost in deep midfield, Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson offer adequate defensive protection behind that flying front four.

Southgate appears determined to use a three-man defence at least once during the World Cup and 3-4-3 appears the likeliest setup, with Alli and Sterling either side of the central striker.

England certainly have the wide men for it in the likes of Kyle Walker, Ashley Young, Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose, all of whom offer fantastic dynamism and attacking threat and have lined up in this system on at least a handful of occasions since Euro 2016.

The real concerns, however, are in the more defensive-minded positions. Southgate is yet to settle on his perfect back three, but Joe Gomez could proved an inspired solution alongside Harry Maguire and John Stones. He’s quick and versatile enough to defend one-on-one situations and shares their ability to play out of the back.

Perhaps the key though is the two men in front of them. Henderson and Dier are practically interchangeable as midfield enforcers, but the question for Southgate is whether England can afford a more creative player like Jack Wilshere alongside them without leaving the engine room too open.

Two of the Premier League’s top three sides have stuck with 4-3-3 almost religiously this season – Manchester City and Liverpool – and while England may lack creative players at the level of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, they do have a few likeminded midfielders who fill the gap between No.10s and No.8s.

In fact, Adam Lallana and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have both filled those offensive-minded central midfield berths in front of Henderson at Liverpool this season and the familiarity in the engine room would give Southgate a starting point to build the rest of the system around.

England are luxury to the crucial pace and positional flexibility in attack too, not to mention the attacking full-backs to provide the width when the forwards tuck inside.

But of course, City and Liverpool’s success using this system has hinged on their ability to press high and win the ball back. International football probably doesn’t allow enough time on the training pitch for Southgate to really drill his team on a similar approach.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

While England do boast pace and goal threat in wide departments, depth in that area isn’t the strongest and the most creative members of this Three Lions squad seemingly prefers more central positions, namely the likes of Adam Lallana, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Dele Alli and Jack Wilshere.

So why not try and get as many of those on the pitch as possible in a bid to play to England’s strengths? A diamond would be an interesting option, one that Hodgson used briefly with good success in Euro 2016 qualifying, and the Three Lions still have the players for it – in addition to the aforementioned midfielders, all of the full-backs are more than capable of bombing forward to provide the width.

Likewise, it will allow for two central strikers which, especially when Kane is fit again, could give England a distinct advantage through their ability to play direct at the World Cup. How many countries at the tournament will boast a front two as potent and physical as Kane and Vardy?

So, England fans, which formation would you like to see used most against the Netherlands and Italy? Let us know by voting below!