All posts by n8rngtd.top

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Loads of West Brom fans have been running the rule over their FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton, and they’re extremely impressed by debutant Morgan Rogers.

West Brom were knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton on Wednesday night, and it’s safe to say fans weren’t too happy with Darren Moore.

The boss has taken stick for his substitutions and game management on several occasions this season, and the Baggies were forced to play extra time with just ten men as Hal Robson-Kanu picked up an injury after Moore had used all three substitutions.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

While the manager’s decisions have come under fire though, fans are pretty happy with the performance of the youngsters, as the likes of Rogers and Rekeem Harper shone in the Baggies’ rotated XI.

Harper looked exhausted by the final whistle, having started the match, but Rogers showed some serious promise in his short cameo, replacing Wes Hoolahan with ten minutes left in normal time.

The 16 year-old was unlucky not to grab a debut goal when he couldn’t quite get his head to a mis-hit shot, and his overall impact on the game was very positive.

Loads of fans have been discussing his performance, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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Aston Villa’s play-off hopes fell further out of view with a 1-0 defeat at Brentford on Wednesday night, and fans are fuming at the performance of Conor Hourihane.

Dean Smith’s return to Griffin Park didn’t quite to go plan on Wednesday, as his side were quite simply outclassed by Brentford.

The Bees had 62 per cent of the possession (Whoscored), racked up 23 total shots to just six from Villa, and eventually got their deserved winner when Neal Maupay curled a stoppage-time finish into the top corner.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

The Villans have now won just once in their last eight Championship games, a 2-1 win over Ipswich in January.

While none of the players will be particularly proud of their performance, fans are particularly unhappy with Hourihane, who simply failed to influence the match whatsoever.

The 28 year-old has nine Championship assists this season and is in the team to create chances, but he failed to complete a single key pass on Wednesday and managed just one accurate cross (Whoscored).

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, look away now Conor…

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According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham have joined the hunt for Birmingham’s in-form hotshot Che Adams, along with a number of other clubs who have taken a keen interest in signing the Championship marksman.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Adams is currently enjoying the season of his life right now, and his form has not gone unnoticed.

The 22-year-old has hit 19 goals in 29 Championship starts so far this season, as well as recording three assists, with his form a large reason for Birmingham’s unlikely push for the play-off positions – they are just seven points away right now, with plenty more games still left to play.

Spurs’ north London rivals Arsenal along with Manchester United have also been credited with an interest in signing the English forward, whilst Burnley and Southampton saw bids rebuffed for Adams in the January window and Celtic and Watford have scouted the goal machine recently (as per The Mirror).

Do Spurs really need Adams?

Given the fact that Mauricio Pochettino hasn’t made a single signing over the last two transfer windows, one would only assume that there isn’t too much money to spend at the club – the debts from the construction of the new White Hart Lane may also be a contributing factor.

In that respect, the aforementioned TEAMtalk article states that Birmingham want £20m for Adams, which could be a lot for Spurs right now. Is it really worth splashing that much on a player who will only be used as Harry Kane’s understudy?

You may argue that Pochettino needs another forward, but we have seen by Heung-min Son’s blistering form and Fernando Llorente’s resurgence in the absence of Kane that there are plenty of players at the club who can step up in a time of need.

Perhaps any money afforded to Pochettino by Daniel Levy should be spent on a new right-back, as all three of Kyle Walker-Peters, Kieran Trippier and Serge Aurier have failed to nail down a place in the team on a consistent basis.

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James Scott was the villain of Celtic Park and Twitter with a complete lack of sportsmanship to bring Motherwell back into the game at 2-1 against the champions on Sunday.

Gboly Aribiyi became the first domestic player to score against Celtic in 2019 when he slotted the ball into the net once the home defenders realised that they weren’t getting the ball back.

That incident happened in the 52nd minute. It took Celtic until the 90th minute to restore their two goal advantage as an angry home support bayed for retribution.

An injury to Ryan Christie kicked off the controversy as the ball was knocked out of play to allow the midfielder to leave the pitch for treatment.

As Celtic waited for the ball to be returned, the throw-in reached Scott who headed down the wing at full pace and squared to Aribiyi who netted from a tight angle.

Dedryck Boyata was booked for protesting and the ground was in confusion as the fans realised that the goal was standing with Motherwell far from apologetic.

Manager Stephen Robinson could have instructed his players to allow Celtic to score from the restart. He didn’t and over 30 minutes of anger followed before Odsonne Edouard and Oliver Burke scored later on to maintain Celtic’s eight point advantage at the top of the SPFL table.

Manchester United look well on course for a fine end to the season which could well see them end up with a top four finish.

The sort of finish looked very unlikely under previous manager Jose Mourinho, but new man Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves all sorts of credit for turning things right around at Old Trafford.

The January window though passed by for the club without much to shout home about, and it will be very interesting this summer to see if the Red Devils do indeed make a move in the market to try and compete with the likes of City and Liverpool next term.

Indeed, we here in the Tavern feel one or two players won’t go amiss, and one man we feel would be a fine addition is Napoli midfielder, Allan.

The Brazilian has developed into one of the finest midfield players in the game, and with United lacking someone right in the middle of the park who can boss games and take them by the scruff of the neck, Allan might be just the sort of signing they need.

Tough tackling but also excellent on the ball, Allan would provide a platform from the middle to allow the likes of Paul Pogba to keep playing in an advanced role, and he’s certainly a step up from certain players already on the books at Old Trafford.

Now 28, if Allan wants to prove himself in the Premier League then the time is now, and what better way to do so than joining one of the biggest clubs in the world and becoming a star for Manchester United.

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Since Marcelo Bielsa’s summer appointment as Leeds United manager, the Elland Road club have been transformed from an underachieving, mid-table Championship outfit into genuine promotion contenders.

The Whites are currently in the thick of a title race, and Premier League football next season – after a fifteen year wait – is a real possibility. The Argentine coach deserves great credit for this rapid progress, as he does for the scintillating football he’s brought to the Yorkshire club.

Are fans being priced out of the Championship as well as the Premier League? The angry Bolton fan in the video below certainly believes so…

However, his squad – which remains largely unchanged from last season’s group – deserves plenty of plaudits too. To a man, they’ve stepped up this season. Right-back Luke Ayling has paid tribute to one man in particular he feels has led the way on the pitch.

What he said

Speaking to LUTV, Ayling said of club captain Liam Cooper: “He’s been our captain and been a rock at the back. I think now players and fans are starting to see what a big player he is for us.”

Leader on the field 

Cooper has certainly been a key figure for the Whites this season. The 27-year-old centre-back has been a consistent starter when fit, and has forged an impressive partnership with Pontus Jansson in the heart of the Leeds defence.

The former Scotland under-19 international has led by example all year. He has fully committed himself to the intense, relentless, high pressure style of play instilled in the side by Bielsa and has often shown great character and leadership to defend stoutly and bravely when his side have come under pressure.  

Cooper is often overshadowed by the form of Jansson and the skipper took loads of stick for both his leadership qualities and his individual performances last season, but he deserves immense credit for his turnaround this campaign, credit that Ayling is clearly itching to give him.

[ad_pod ]According to talkSPORT, Leeds United are interested in signing QPR playmaker Luke Freeman in the approaching summer transfer window.

What’s the story?

The Whites are apparently keen on the 26-year-old, whilst they’re also monitoring Loftus Road youngster Ebere Eze too.

Are fans being priced out of the Championship as well as the Premier League? The angry Bolton fan in the video below certainly believes so…

Freeman would certainly be the more high-profile arrival of the two though, and would arrive at Elland Road expecting to become a regular starter under Marcelo Bielsa.

The midfielder has been in fine form this season for the Rs, and has racked up eight goals and four assists in the Championship, as per Transfermarkt’s stats.

The Arsenal academy product would certainly be an interesting target for Leeds to pursue. Considering the Yorkshire club are currently in the thick of a title race, they may well be identifying transfer options with promotion on the cards, in which case, they would be looking to Freeman to make the step up to the Premier League with them.

The next Saiz?

Whether or not they go up, Leeds will still need a new playmaker this summer to replace Samu Saiz, who joined Spanish side Getafe on loan in January, and according to trusted journalist Phil Hay, has no interest in returning to Elland Road.

The 28-year-old Spaniard was a key player for the Whites. He brought a great deal of flair and creativity to the side, and his influence is something Bielsa must find a way to adequately replace ahead of the new campaign.

It could well be that Freeman has been earmarked as the man to take up Saiz’s berth.

Newcastle chiefs are finally ready to sort out Rafa Benitez’s contract extension in a move that fans will have fans hoping for a positive outcome following months of wrangling between the club and manager.

The Newcastle Chronicle reports the club are worried about agents pushing their client’s name forward to replace the Spaniard in the Newcastle hot-seat, and the knock-on effect this may have with other clubs approaching Benitez about next season.

It is claimed in the report that Mike Ashley and Lee Charnley are ready to sort things out as soon as he is ready to talk.

Of course, Rafa knows that he holds all the trump cards in any negotiations, with many fans having indicated they are ready to walk away from the club if he is allowed to leave.

But signs that the club are ready to give way to Rafa on some, if not all, of his demands, are already there, with an academy overhaul in the offing, and noise coming out of the boardroom that big-name signings will be sanctioned if Rafa commits.

But until budget guarantees are put in writing, and the back-room plans come to fruition, it is unlikely that Rafa will agree to any deal.

But with the club clearly aware of the fan dissent that will come their way if they let the Spaniard slip from their grasp, they will be eager to have everything settled sooner, rather than later.

Rafa has always said that he will talk when relegation is no longer a possibility, but with safety looking a strong probability, the Magpies have not yet reached the point total that the manager has set, and it will take another victory until they do.

But with the amount of names being thrown around about potential Rafa replacements, such as Lyon manager Bruno Genesio recently in L’Equipe, it appears the club feel the need to act now, if they are to hang on to their man.

It remains to be seen if Benitez is ready to start negotiations before the 38 point mark is reached, but all the signs point towards a solution being sought, and it would appear that all parties are wanting the same outcome, which can only be good news for the club, players and fans alike.

What do you think Newcastle fans? Will Rafa sign on for an extended stint at St James’ Park? Are Newcastle now doing enough to convince him to stay? Let us know below…

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After going five months without a Championship start for Leeds United following injury issues, Gaetano Berardi has been back in contention in recent weeks and has spoken in depth to BBC broadcaster Adam Pope about his problems this season, with Whites fans quick to give their reaction after the well-known reporter posted a clip of the interview on Twitter.

The enigmatic Swiss player says he has had worse moments in his career and has no complaints after battling back from the long-term hamstring tendon injury he suffered in 2018.

Berardi has become a popular figure among the Elland Road faithful over the years because of his committed performances on the pitch and the fact that he comes across as something of a warrior for the club, as can be seen from the replies to Pope’s tweet.

Many of those who commented said that they love his attitude and his clear love for the team, while one wants him to start in what could be a feisty encounter against Millwall at the end of the month – something that is a real distinct possibility given Pontus Jansson has been ruled out for up to three weeks after an injury last weekend.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction from supporters…

It is fair to say that if Portsmouth fans were asked at the start of the season whether they would be happy with a trip to Wembley and a spot in the play-offs, they definitely would have taken it.

Indeed, that transpires as their reality right now, with a Checkatrade Trophy final on the horizon and promotion back to the Championship remaining a possibility at the very least. Despite derailing at the beginning of the New Year, crashing down from first to fourth, Portsmouth have now restored their form and look to be a healthy candidate for promotion and cup victors, although next season could be very different.

Whether it’s Championship or League One football still, the right players added over the summer could prove to make all the difference with it sure to be a much harder campaign.

Although far from a household name right now, Blackburn forward Joe Nuttall could present himself as a brilliant option for Pompey as they aim to bolster their forward line.

Nuttall, (who is valued at £90k on Transfermarkt) is a 22-year-old that has failed to really establish himself within the Blackburn first-team this season, instead becoming a regular for the U23’s. Still. at this important stage in his career, Nuttall will surely want to be settled at a club where he plays week in, week out at a good level.

With that in mind, Portsmouth could provide him with that opportunity seeing as next season, they will lose Omar Bogle and James Vaughan as they head back to their parent clubs.

Joe Nuttall isn’t yet the finished article but with time, Portsmouth could learn to love him.

Portsmouth fans, would you back a move for Nuttall? The Sun (via HITC) linked you with a move for the player last week! Join the discussion by commenting below…