All posts by z3u9t.icu

Many Liverpool fans have been left to flock to a transfer admission from Sasa Kalajdzic.

Speaking to Sport Bild, the Stuttgart striker admitted that he would find it hard to turn down a move to the Anfield faithful should the Merseyside club come in with a bid in the summer window.

Kalajdzic has scored no fewer than 13 goals and made a further four assists in 26 games in total over all competitions so far in the 2020/21 term (Transfermarkt), and has a whopping six-foot-six-inch frame, which would certainly offer Jurgen Klopp’s team something a little bit different in the attacking third of the pitch.

Given that he is so tall, the Austria international should have no problems at all whatsoever coping with the physical demands of the Premier League, and so he may be a player that the Reds should certainly want to keep an eye on.

Liverpool fan reaction to Kalajdzic transfer admission

These Kopites urged LFC to go out and buy the 23-year-old on Twitter after his transfer admission:

“Oh my god this would be a dream move aaaaahhhhh”

Credit: @Bennet24_LFC

“Take him all day to add something to our game.. when things aren’t happening on the floor we can go long an he’d be a threat on corners. Looks like he knows we’re the net is as well”

Credit: @Paul_Dicko_LFC

“Sell Origi and get this guy in”

Credit: @HarrisonLukeW

“If we signed a 6ft7 lad and had Trent whip high balls in we wouldn’t lose a game”

Credit: @ROBSON_THE_RED

“200cm striker get him”Credit: @DannyZuko03″Don’t fail me LFC.”Credit: @salim9081In other news, find out what Liverpool man is nearing a return from injury here!

After seeing him limp off in the closing minutes of Leeds’ 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League last time out, Marcelo Bielsa would have been hoping that Kalvin Phillips’ injury was nothing too long-lasting.

And after Bielsa’s press conference ahead of the game against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, The Athletic’s Phil Hay tweeted that Phillips is a “doubt” but that “no decision on him (has been) made yet”.

Former Premier League striker Darren Bent made it clear just how important Phillips is to this Leeds team, saying: “It is a unique role, and you think who else can they get in that position who can do the job effectively. The answer to that is no one.

“He’s that good of a player that it’s hard to replace him. You don’t just get players like that, it’s not that easy. Who’ve they got to come in there? Klich’s really impressed me this season but he won’t play that role. Shackleton might be able to step in but the drop off would be massive.”

With an average WhoScored match rating of 7.06, Phillips ranks third among his Leeds teammates this season in the Premier League, with only Patrick Bamford and Liam Cooper scoring higher.

And when you look at some of his underlying numbers, it’s easy to see why he’d be such a massive miss for Bielsa if he fails to pass a late fitness check against the Gunners.

He ranks top for tackles made (2.7 per game), fourth for interceptions (1.6), fourth for key passes (1.3), and top for crosses (1.2).

Phillips plays his part in everything in that engine room for Leeds, and like Bent says, it’s almost impossible for Bielsa to try and find a like-for-like replacement, particularly with the squad he’s got on his hands right now.

The Leeds boss will be extremely worried about his side’s chances of clinching victory against Mikel Arteta’s side.

Meanwhile, Leeds could sign Kalvin Phillips’ perfect midfield partner in this starlet…

It remains to be seen how John Kennedy fares in the Celtic job. He began his tenure as interim boss at Parkhead with a 1-0 win on Saturday.

It wasn’t the most convincing of wins over Aberdeen but just securing three points is an achievement for the Hoops right now.

Rangers will go on and win the title regardless of what Kennedy does in the job but what’s important is finding out whether he is equipped for the role full time.

Of course, the Hoops hierarchy may well have more ambitious ideas. Given the size and stature of the club, they should have other suitors up their sleeve.

Managers from Roberto Martinez and Frank Lampard have been in the discussion but a name brought to their attention this week has been RB Salzburg boss Jesse Marsch.

The American coach was Leipzig’s assistant and has now swapped German shores for Austrian ones. He has done exceptional things since taking charge at Salzburg in 2019. They have given Liverpool a run for their money in the Champions League, losing 4-3 at Anfield, and he has brought players like Taki Minamino and most notably Erling Haaland to recognition.

He oversaw the Norwegian’s development last term, a season where he ended up with 16 goals in 14 Austrian Bundesliga games. That was before his January switch to Borussia Dortmund.

Though, as others will tell you, there are further plus points to his managerial skills than just player development.

Speaking recently, Celtic legend Packie Bonner reserved fine praise for Marsch, urging Celtic to move for the 47-year-old: “I want to put up Jesse Marsch as a contender. He’s the man for me,” he told BBC Sportsound.

“Of course, he has the experience now being with Salzburg. He’s got good English, good communication skills, but he thinks outside the box. That’s what I like. He is in a Brendan Rodgers-mould, that’s where I think the club needs to go,” Bonner concluded.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/check-out-the-latest-on-celtics-managerial-vacancy” title=”Check out the latest on Celtic’s managerial vacancy!”]

Any manager that’s similar to Rodgers is a major positive. The Northern Irishman was a huge influence on Celtic and took them to seven trophies, developing young players like Kieran Tierney and going through the 2016/17 domestic campaign unbeaten.

What’s crucial, though, is Marsch’s ability to think differently – a primary reason for why Bonner holds him in such high esteem.

It’s hard to suggest that Lennon ever really thought outside the box. He tinkered with his formation towards the end of his tenure but as the 1-0 defeat to Ross County will tell you, it didn’t always pay off.

Marsch has lost just 15 of his 78 matches as Salzburg manager; a win success of 65%. With that in mind, it’s hard to ignore pleas for him to become the new Celtic manager.

Importantly, he could offer something completely different to Lennon. That’s not just because he’s like Rodgers but because he takes every situation differently. After becoming the first American coach to win a Champions League match in September 2019, he told The Athletic:

“I have my philosophy on leadership and I have my philosophy on playing and I try to bring them together and create something unique to every club I’m at, and to honour that (club), but also something that’s unique to me.”

Somewhat unique to Marsch is his pressing, something born out of the Ralf Rangnick and Red Bull school of how to play football. Also unique to him is how his players attack space.

He is a meticulous and progressive thinker, something that already outweighs Lennon’s capabilities.

He’d be an astute appointment for the Bhoys.

AND in other news, Move over Edouard: Celtic gem who took 105 touches already “influential” for Kennedy…

According to Sky Sports, new West Bromwich Albion manager Sam Allardyce is eyeing at least a trio of new signings during the January transfer window.

Allardyce wants three new arrivals

Allardyce replaced Slaven Bilic in December, with his appointment appearing to be very unpopular amongst the Baggies supporters.

The new man in charge did pick up an unlikely 1-1 draw with Liverpool in his second game, but that was sandwiched by a 3-0 defeat against Aston Villa and and a 5-0 loss to Leeds United. In an attempt to put his stamp on the side, it is being reported that Allardyce is eyeing a new centre-back, midfielder and striker as part of a ‘lengthy list’ to improve the spine of the team.

However, West Brom may not have the finances to complete all of these deals.

Changes needed

There is no doubt that change is needed. Bilic may have been the fall guy for the Baggies’ poor start to the season, but the fact of the matter is the squad itself is far from equipped to deal with the challenges that the Premier League presents.

With just eight points from their first 16 games, West Brom are in the bottom three – it is going to take something special to keep them from the drop. While spending during the transfer window does not guarantee success, it does at least give Allardyce and co a fighting chance.

In other news, West Brom fans hammered this man against Leeds United. 

Jack Clarke’s time in the Leeds senior team was an arduous one. From a moment of pure euphoria in the 2018/19 season to a hellish nightmare he couldn’t wait to escape, it’s been a difficult few years for the winger.

The youngster first broke through under Marcelo Bielsa during the Argentine’s first season at Elland Road. He caught the eye too, scoring against promotion hopefuls Aston Villa.

However, that was about as good as it got for the 20-year-old, someone who played 28 times for Leeds and scored on two occasions.

If that record tells you that he’s a £10m player, you’d find it hard to believe. Yet, with just a season of senior football under his belt, that’s the price Mauricio Pochettino paid to take him to Spurs.

Unfortunately, his career has taken a turn of the worse. Since arriving in north London, Clarke has played just three times and is now on loan at Stoke City.

That follows half a year where he was completely neglected by Leeds. Following his permanent transfer to Tottenham, he was loaned back to Elland Road.

Bielsa seemingly didn’t like his qualities, though, and he featured for only 19 minutes of their Championship-winning campaign. Clarke spent the majority of the term in their U23 side, where he cut a large pillar of frustration.

After being substituted against Stoke U23s, he refused to even shake the hand of the player replacing him. If anything summed up his attitude during that woeful loan spell, it was that.

Unfortunately for the Whites, they’ve now got a player in a similar situation – Crysencio Summerville.

Signed for a fraction over £1m last summer, the young Dutchman left regular first-team football behind for a big move – just as Clarke did when he signed for Spurs.

Yet, it has turned out much the same way. A man ready for senior action, he’s not played any since penning terms at Thorp Arch.

He hasn’t been in a single match day squad under Bielsa and despite his huge talent, he is being neglected.

It was something Dutch press picked up on towards the end of 2020. De Telegraaf (via Sport Witness), stated: “For Summerville there were opportunities as a winger, all the more because Feyenoord was not well occupied on the wings. But Summerville preferred to play for a Leeds United youth team. There he has not even played in the first team for a minute.”

It was a damning review for a player who like Clarke, is seeing his progression stalled significantly at Leeds.

There are positives in his performances for the academy side, but if anything, that just elevates why he needs to get a chance in Leeds’ first team.

Last week, he netted a fabulous hat-trick as the U23s dispatched Burnley 4-1. Summerville was the beating heart of that victory, showcasing dazzling dribbling skills and ferocious pace.

That kind of performance will come as no surprise to many, including Chris Powell. He worked alongside Summerville when he was Alan Pardew’s assistant at ADO Den Haag and had the following to say: “He’s quite a free spirit out on the wing, in a good way. He’ll excite you, he’s a bag of tricks, there’s some talent there, it’s just how it’s harnessed and what the coaches demand from him.”

Based on the two goals and three assists he registered in the Eredivisie last term, he’s certainly ready for a lot more first-team football.

Bielsa needs to unleash him before he really does mirror Clarke’s stay in Yorkshire.

AND in other news, Leeds must swoop for “unique” £75k-p/w ace, Byram bullied him in 2013 – opinion…

Tottenham Hotspur’s perennially injured star Erik Lamela is set for a return in January, according to reports, but maybe it’s time to finally offload the long-serving wage thief…

Injured again

The 28-year-old has been on the treatment table since early November, the latest of a successive string of injuries dating back to his maiden season in 2014/15.

He’s had everything from back trouble to hip pain, to his latest problem, a calf issue.

Jose Mourinho claimed earlier in the week that the Argentine winger had been doing work in the gym before training on the pitches after the camera had left.

He added: “We have lots of games coming up and in January and hopefully Lamela will be back for that.”

Time to go?

It’s going to be a tall ask for Lamela to even break into the first-team fold let alone the starting XI at the minute.

Heung-min Son is truly undroppable on the left flank whilst Steven Bergwijn is being preferred to Gareth Bale, who himself is a very worthy option to start matches.

There’s also Lucas Moura who has been getting the preference in the Europa League, a competition that’ll now break for a bit before the knockout stages.

It is very hard to envisage where the £25m Andre Villas-Boas signing fits in.

Lamela is thought to be among the highest-earners in north London, bringing home a cool £85k-per-week, and this would simply be a waste of money to have sitting on the bench or in the stands, so perhaps, it’s time to cash in.

Throughout last season, the winger’s future was thrown into doubt amid a lack of game time under Mourinho, so it’s clear to see that the issue of him not justifying his wage has long been a problem.

Earlier in the current campaign, Graeme Souness launched a scathing attack on the Spurs man, calling him “pathetic” for getting Anthony Martial sent off during their 6-1 drubbing of Manchester United.

Whilst the Portuguese boss has dubbed him an “amazing guy,” though, despite this, it’s still time to get rid of the injury-prone disaster.

Indeed Lamela appears to be robbing Daniel Levy and ENIC blind right now and should be moved on to garner some vital funds in January.

AND in other news, Worse than Davies: Anonymous £36m-rated Spurs lightweight let Mourinho down yet again…

Crystal Palace return to Premier League action for the second time in three days when they take on Leicester City at Selhurst Park on Monday afternoon.

Fresh off the back of their disappointing defeat at Villa Park, the Eagles are getting ready to greet Brendan Rodgers’ side in their final game of the year.

Roy Hodgson has never been one to tinker with his side too much, but with games coming thick and fast over the next few weeks and months, he may have very little choice but to make a number of changes to keep some of his key players fully fit and fresh for the second half of the season.

Here is Football FanCast’s predicted starting XI, which sees Hodgson make three changes from their previous game against Aston Villa.

Vicente Guiata will keep the gloves with a back four of Scott Dann, Cheikhou Kouyate, Tyrick Mitchell and Joel Ward in front of him.

At centre-back, Kouyate is all but nailed on to start, while Gary Cahill’s recurring hamstring problem could pave the way for Dann to keep his place in the starting line-up for the foreseeable future.

Alongside them, Mitchell will be expected to fill in for Patrick van Aanholt, with the Dutchman due a break having started every game in the Premier League since he made a full recovery from a dislocated shoulder.

Moving further afield, there’s bound to be changes made to the midfield, with James McArthur expected to replace Jairo Riedewald after he was rested for the trip to Villa Park.

Similarly, Andros Townsend could come in for Jeffrey Schlupp, with Eberechi Eze lining up on the left wing.

Upfront, Zaha has been in sensational form since the start of the season and scored a crucial double against his former club Manchester United at Old Trafford, so is likely to start.

There may be some rotation at the top of the pitch after Christian Benteke drew a blank against Aston Villa which means Hodgson could hand Michy Batshuayi a surprise start for the first time since the 1-0 defeat to Burnley back in November.

AND in other news, Steve Parish must look to cash in on Crystal Palace defender James Tomkins in January…

What a week it has been to be a Leeds United fan.

The Whites have just beaten Aston Villa 3-0, and to make things even better, reports are emerging that Marcelo Bielsa is more than happy to stay at the club beyond the end of his current deal.

The Argentine hasn’t been one to stick around in a job, never lasting more than three years with any club side before, but if Graham Smyth’s article is to be believed, he is open to a fourth season at Elland Road.

While this is an undoubted lift for anyone involved with the club, this is the best news imaginable for Kalvin Phillips.

The Yorkshire Pirlo has been the biggest beneficiary of Bielsa’s arrival at Elland Road, being transformed from a mid-table Championship midfielder to a bona fide England international.

Phillips has always had the talent, with Neil Redfearn speaking highly of him when reminiscing about the time he spent working alongside the midfielder.

“He’d hit the ball with no backlift, as clean as you like. The sort of technique you can’t teach. His attitude was good for the players around him. Don’t get me wrong, it helped him to be part of a very good group but I looked at him as the glue,” Redfearn said.

However, that talent hadn’t quite materialised on the pitch, with fans actually calling for him to be sold before Bielsa arrived.

Now, he’s one of their most important players, and that’s down to the coaching and tutelage that Bielsa has provided, making him the lynchpin in his 4-1-4-1 formation.

If Bielsa stays for another season, that will be a huge boost for Phillips as the 24-year-old still has a lot to learn in the game and having the Argentine there to help him navigate what he will hope will be another season of Premier League football will be a massive boost.

Aston Villa defender Ahmed Elmohamady has revealed that the club refused to sell him at the start of the Premier League season.

What’s the story?

The 33-year-old has been a peripheral figure in Dean Smith’s first-team this campaign, making just two appearances in the top-flight and playing just 33 minutes of football.

Speaking on Egyptian TV, the right-back opened up on his current situation at club level, and revealed that despite there being offers to leave, there was only place he wanted to be.

He said: “I had offers at the start of the season but Aston Villa refused to let me go. I also refused because I wanted to stay with the team. Aston Villa is a historic team in England and I’m happy to be part of this club, I feel like I’m at the right place. And whether I play or not fully depend on the coaching staff but I know it will come with time and effort.”

Dean Smith may regret it

Elmohamady is a veteran presence in the Villa dressing room, and journalist Gregg Evans has gone on record to reveal just how much of an influential figure he is behind the scenes.

Speaking after the club’s win over Crystal Palace earlier in the summer, he said: “Everybody tells me he’s a reliable leader, somebody who you can basically always turn to and you know what you’re going to get from him. Another thing I noticed was that right at the end in those last sort of five or 10 minutes when Villa were really trying to cling on and just dig in deep and keep Crystal Palace back, he was like the chief organiser, he was pulling the defence into different positions.

“He was getting quite rough and tough with (Wilfried) Zaha and not letting him have his own way. And I just thought now I can understand why so many managers rate him and why so many managers have played in regularly.”

However, at 33, and with the fact he’s earning a reported £25k-a-week, Elmohamady just isn’t playing regularly enough this season to warrant Dean Smith blocking offers for him.

Matty Cash’s arrival from Nottingham Forest has given Villa a sure-fire starter in that right-back slot week-in and week-out, and cashing in on Elmohamady instead of just letting him walk away on a free would have been the smart business move. Whilst the Egyptian may be a reliable performer like Evans says, they may rue not taking more of a ruthless call on him.

Celtic will look to continue their rich vein of form when they return to Scottish Premiership action later this afternoon.

Neil Lennon’s side welcome Livingston to Celtic Park knowing a two-goal win would take them to the top spot in the table ahead of their arch-rivals, who play on Sunday instead.

Last time out, the Hoops nudged past St Mirren with Shane Duffy and James Forrest bagging two first-half goals to counteract the home side’s opener.

So what sort of side will the 49-year-old select? Here’s what we are predicting…

We could see Lennon stick with the 3-5-2 system but there may be a trio of interesting changes across the pitch.

Vasilis Barkas will remain between the sticks as the Bhoys’ new first-choice option, though there’s a change in the back three in front of him with Christopher Jullien coming back in for Hatem Abd Elhamed.

He’ll partner both Kristoffer Ajer and fan-favourite loanee Shane Duffy.

Greg Taylor and James Forrest keep their places at wing-back after both making an impact vs St Mirren.

In midfield, there could be a shock alteration with skipper Scott Brown dropping to the bench. It means Olivier Ntcham, who has been linked with a £15m exit this summer, gets the nod instead, partnering Callum McGregor.

Ryan Christie could slot in behind the two-pronged attack of Odsonne Edouard and Alban Ajeti, who replaces Patryk Klimala. The 22-year-old has been better from the bench and Ajeti’s three goals in four SPFL matches should surely warrant a start.

AND in other news, Bhoys should reignite interest in £22.5m “big, big talent”…