All posts by h716a5.icu

In the end, it was Tottenham and Jose Mourinho who enjoyed the last laugh after a thrilling north London derby against Arsenal.

Just days after one of their lowest points of the season following a drab draw away at Bournemouth, Spurs turned the emotions around by walking away with the bragging rights thanks to a 2-1 win over their fierce rivals.

And whilst Toby Alderweireld might go away with a lot of the fans’ appreciation for his winning goal, it was Lucas Moura who really inspired the Lilywhites’ Mourinho masterclass on Sunday.

Can you name every one of Spurs’ top goalscorers from the past 15 seasons? It’s a tricky one…



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The Brazilian lined up on the left-hand side of the Spurs midfield, and with both Hector Bellerin and Nicolas Pepe trying to make inroads for Arsenal, it was Lucas who stuck to his defensive task with no fuss and no complaints.

As per Sofascore, he made a quite ridiculous ten tackles, which was actually just one short of the total that the rest of his teammates combined for (11), and also won a staggering 16 total duels.

The typical ‘Mourinho masterclass’ has always been about soaking up the pressure, working hard to deny the opposition, and being clinical when in front of goal. Having a more forward-thinking player like Lucas buy into that philosophy rather than worrying about how he could create some magic with the ball, was key to Spurs’ triumph.

His 8.4 match rating was the highest of any player on the pitch, and aside from his defensive contributions, showed his superb vision and craft in trying to set up his teammates too.

He completed three of his five attempted dribbles, provided two key passes, and created two big chances too – including one sumptuous through ball that Harry Kane failed to lift over an onrushing Emiliano Martinez.

If Mourinho demanded an all-action performance, then he certainly got it from his players. And none more so than from his winger come defensive unit, Lucas.

According to Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold, Tottenham are keen on getting a deal done for Kim Min-jae.

What’s the word?

With just two games to go in the Premier League, Tottenham are still very much in the hunt for European football next season.

A north London derby victory over Arsenal was followed up by a win away at Newcastle, and the momentum is with Jose Mourinho’s side as they close out the remainder of the Premier League season.

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

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But for Mourinho especially, attentions may already be turned towards reinforcing this Spurs squad, and according to Gold, the Lilywhites have made “serious enquiries” about Beijing Guoan defender Kim.

Gold adds that whilst the Chinese club are keen to keep a hold of him, Spurs are very much interested in getting a deal over the line, although they will have to fend off interest from rival Premier League sides as well.

Shrewd business

Despite the obvious issues of signing a player unproven in the Premier League, the kind of deal Spurs could get in bringing Kim to north London seems like one too good to refuse.

Gold suggested that the South Korean’s price tag is around £15m thanks to his contract with Beijin ending in December 2021, and that provides Daniel Levy the perfect opportunity to sign a player far below his market value.

Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier League records true or false?

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And judging by the kind of reviews he has earned, Kim seems like an extremely talented footballer at 23 as well. Goal Korea journalist Sungmo Lee said: “He has huge potential. He’s big, strong, and fast. He’s strong in the air, and also has good feet. He has a strong character as well which Mourinho always likes. Therefore, under Mourinho, and especially with (Heung-min) Son, he could settle at Spurs very quickly.”

Would Kim come straight into Spurs and command a first-team place? Perhaps not. But if there’s one thing Son has shown since his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, is that there are hidden gems to be found everywhere.

Newcastle United have potentially been dealt a big blow if they were looking to sign Danny Rose on a permanent deal from Tottenham Hotspur as the player has admitted that his future may be at Spurs with Jose Mourinho.

Speaking in an interview on the Second Captains podcast (via The Northern Echo), Rose said with regards to his future:

“I will just have to wait and see, but for me I would love nothing more than to play for those (Spurs) fans once again.”

Indeed, the 30-year old has dedicated much of his playing career to the team from North London, playing in a rather impressive total of 214 games in all competitions across the last decade, scoring 10 goals and making a further 29 assists in the process, according to Transfermarkt.

However, his playing time was limited in the 2019/20 season to just 16 matches in all competitions, with him completing the full 90 minutes in just seven of those, as per the website.

Thus, he moved on loan to the North East to play under Steve Bruce, as he helped them fight off relegation from the Premier League relatively comfortably in the end as well as to an FA Cup quarter-final against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in his 13 appearances.

Nevertheless, it seems as if the English international is looking to fight for his place at the Lilywhites with fellow left-back Ben Davies, which would be a big blow to the Magpies if they were looking to sign him on a permanent basis.

If Rose departs, perhaps the left-back position is an area to look at strengthening for the Toon, regardless of whether there is a takeover of NUFC or not.

Geordies, would you sign Rose permanently? Comment below!

Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan have entered the race to sign Manchester United defender Chris Smalling this summer, reports say. 

The 30-year-old defender has spent the past season on loan with AS Roma and impressed Paulo Foncesca during his time at the Stadio Olimpico.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, as per @utdreport, Inter are considering signing Smalling in the summer, which would make him the fourth Man United player in 12 months to swap Old Trafford for the San Siro (Daily Mail).

Roma are ready to renew their efforts to sign the United outcast, despite the fact the Serie A side are strapped for cash.

The Red Devils are reportedly demanding £23m for the 31-cap England international, who has fallen out of favour with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Smalling made 28 appearances in the Italian top flight last term, scoring two goals, supplying two assists, completing two interceptions and over four clearances per game (via WhoScored). However, Solskjaer deems him surplus to requirements, and he will be allowed to leave Old Trafford if the right offer arrives in the summer.

Unsurprisingly, lots of United fans gushed over the news surrounding the “deadwood” on social media, with some supporters praising Conte (formerly of Chelsea) for his efforts to try and sign the veteran. One fan urged the board to “erect a statue” while another added “Mourinho in the mud” in reference to the fact the Italian has signed several players who were unwanted by the former boss.

Scroll through some of the scathing reactions so far…

United fans, should Woodward sell Smalling in the summer? Let us know down below!

Key information about Gateshead International Stadium

Gateshead International Stadium was built in 1955 and now houses National League North’s Gateshead FC. The ground is located in Gateshead in Tyne and Wear and is the third-largest sporting venue there.

Its current maximum capacity stands at 11,800 along with a pitch that measures 100m by 64m. The surface of the field is covered with grass and it has a running track surrounding it.

The record attendance for a competitive game at Gateshead International Stadium sits at 8,144 and was set on 4 May 2014 when Gateshead clashed against Grimsby Town in the second leg of the Conference Premier play-off semi-final.

A history of Gateshead International Stadium

The Gateshead International Stadium – or The Gateshead Youth Stadium as it was called back then – was built in 1955 on a site that formerly housed two large chemical works that were demolished in 1932. The ground was opened by Jim Peters and the construction reportedly cost around £30,000.

Still, initially, there wasn’t much to speak of there as the stadium only had a cinder running track and an asphalt cycling track along with floodlights and a stand which were added relatively quickly afterwards. Of course, back then, the main events hosted there were indeed for athletics purposes and races and it wasn’t until 1973 that Gateshead AFC first moved in from their former ground, Redheugh Park.

Unfortunately, the club went bust the very next year and Gateshead International Stadium would soon get a new tenant. Once South Shields football club relocated to Gateshead, they were renamed Gateshead United. That club remained at the stadium from 1974 until 1977 when they too eventually folded, making way for the newly formed Gateshead FC who have been calling the ground their home ever since.

The town actually invested quite a lot into the stadium over the years. Initially, however, it was done in order to boost the image of the city that was quickly fading back in the 1970s. And it was actually Brendan Foster who was the driving force behind the redevelopment after he was appointed the Council’s sport and recreation manager. In 1981, the main stand along with three accompanying stands were erected and the venue was renamed the Gateshead International Stadium.

Over the next years, the infrastructure was improved and the ground received boosts almost on a yearly basis, including the building of an indoor sports hall, outdoor football pitches and a gymnasium. Of course, athletics remained a pivotal feature of the stadium and would play host to many events in the future and to this day.

In Gateshead International Stadium’s more modern history, there were two major projects of redevelopment done. The first one was completed in 2006 when two artificial outdoor football pitches, indoor athletic training facilities, sports science provisions and conferencing rooms were all added. The second project included a general refurbishment and improvement of the existing facilities and was completed in two stages by 2011.

The third and final project was initially mooted in 2008 and was supposed to include further redevelopment and the erection of additional facilities but after delays and rejection by the Council, it seems that Gateshead International Stadium will have to wait for a bit longer to get another improvement.

Tickets to watch Gateshead FC at Gateshead International Stadium

All tickets to watch Gateshead FC play at Gateshead International Stadium can be found on the club’s official website. The prices will vary but an average adult ticket costs around £15.

The club also offers a season ticket scheme for their fans and more information can be found on the aforementioned website.

Related links

https://www.gateshead-fc.com/ – Official website of Gateshead FC

According to a report from La Stampa, via TUTTOmercatoWEB, Tottenham are readying a new and improved offer to sign Torino captain and talismanic striker Andrea Belotti this summer after having their first loan-to-buy bid rejected – with Spurs clearly not done following huge Sergio Reguilon and Gareth Bale developments. 

Belotti, who bagged 16 Serie A goals last season and 22 in all competitions for the Italian club (Transfermarkt), will reportedly cost Spurs a huge fee if they’re to try and get a deal done – especially after their initial loan offer for the season with a £46.2 million option-to-buy next year was rejected.

Now, as per this update, Spurs will come back in for the Italy international with a new and improved offer exceeding their original – with the club still hunting for a prolific attacker who can provide an alternative option to Harry Kane.

Over the last day, deals for both Sergio Reguilon and Spurs icon Gareth Bale have accelerated with football.london correspondent Alasdair Gold claiming Daniel Levy will not be done there.

The Lilywhites still need to bring in a forward despite all the excitement surrounding Reguilon and Bale in particular, and Gold also claims that a centre-back remains on the agenda. 

As this report claims, if Levy and co want to land Belotti, they will need to push the boat out and make an improvement on their initial loan-to-buy offer – and the Italian news outlet claims that is exactly what Tottenham intend to do. 

Whether or not Spurs are eventually able to land the 26-year-old remains to be seen, but this could be an exciting end to the window for supporters.

Should Spurs sign Andrea Belotti for over £46.2 million? Have your say in the comments below…

Whilst the international break is not always ideal for club managers, such as Glasgow Rangers’ Steven Gerrard, it gives them the opportunity to see how their players adapt to a different situation.

There are plenty of Gers players who are currently away with their countries, such as Glen Kamara, who represents Finland. The 24-year-old has 21 caps, the latest of which came against the Republic of Ireland. His performance in that game could be a big one not only for Finland, but also at Ibrox.

For Gerrard, Kamara generally sits in a defensive midfield role, shielding the back four, but against the Irish he was far more of a threat going in the other direction. For example, he completed all three of the dribbles he attempted, had a passing accuracy of 93%, and also contributed with two key passes – he has averaged 0.6 dribbles and 1.2 key passes in the Premiership so far this term.

The likes of Brian Laudrup have demanded more creativity in the Gers midfield, and Kamara could be the man to solve that Gerrard problem. Whilst he may not be the most prolific – he has just one strike in those 21 caps – he still has the ability to provide going forward rather than just sitting in a defensive role. It is time Gerrard took the shackles off the £1.08m-valued man (as per Transfermarkt).

Let us know what you think below!

Goodbye Mbwana Samatta, we barely knew you.

The first Tanzanian to ever play in the Premier League came and went before we had time to even gauge a proper opinion on him, and while Dean Smith won’t be too disappointed to see the striker leave on an initial loan that will become permanent for £5.5m next summer, it should be a bit of an eye-opener for the men in charge of transfers.

Samatta was signed in January to fill in up top after Wesley Moraes was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a serious injury, but he didn’t provide the firepower needed, struggling to bed into the squad, and netting just once in 14 league appearances.

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Of course, this could all have been avoided had the club signed an adequate backup in the summer who had time to gel with the squad and get to grips with how the manager wanted to play.

Top sides make sure to have two players able to play in every position so that they’re not overly-hampered by injury problems, but even though they spent over £100m last summer, Villa were caught short due to injuries.

Fortunately, it didn’t lead to their relegation, and the signing of Ollie Watkins has made sure that they have two attackers ready to fire this term, but going forward the club need to make sure that they don’t make the same mistake again.

Samatta won’t be remembered at Villa Park in years to come, but the people in charge of recruitment at the club must keep this saga in the back of their mind when they are plotting how to build the squad going forward, making sure that every role has a backup or rotation option able to step in if injury or suspension plagues the starting XI.

Villa shouldn’t beat themselves up over Samatta’s failings, but they need to learn their lesson from this one.

Throughout the transfer window, West Ham United have been linked with a move for Championship full-back Rico Henry. However, David Moyes seems to have lost interest in the player for a surprising reason, much to the frustration of many Irons fans.

According to @ExWHUemployee, and as tweeted by @whufc_news, the Hammers manager believes the Brentford left-back is too small and hence is unlikely to make an offer for the player.

The 23 year-old, who is valued at just £1.8m by Transfermarkt, is 1.7 metres tall, and what makes Moyes’ point of view even more surprising is that Irons left-back Aaron Cresswell is the same height. The left-back, who is now playing at centre-back for Moyes, per Transfermarkt, has played in 35 out of the last 42 Premier League games for West Ham.

Therefore the reasoning behind losing interest in Henry, which comes from a trusted West Ham source, seems illogical. The Bees defender performed well in the Championship last season at both ends of the pitch, with an average of 1.6 successful tackles and 1.9 clearances per game, via WhoScored, whilst also supplying two assists.

Some Irons fans were unsurprisingly displeased with Moyes’ “ridiculous” reasoning for apparently turning down Henry, with one supporter feeling that he is “not the best of judges” on a player.

How some West Ham fans reacted to the transfer update on Rico Henry

West Ham fans, is Moyes wrong to disregard Henry because of his height? Comment below with your views!

There was a lot to take in as Leeds United beat Aston Villa 3-0 on Friday night.

The Whites were in fine fettle as they demolished the Midlands outfit with three second-half goals from Patrick Bamford, but the game could easily have gone another way if Marcelo Bielsa didn’t spot one potentially dangerous situation.

Indeed, Pascal Struijk looked like a walking red card in the early knockings of the game, and Bielsa subbed him in the 20th minute, allowing Leeds to continue to play with aggression and intensity in the midfield without the fear of an impending red card.

While that decision may have won the game for Leeds on Friday, it may end up doing more harm than good over time.

Struijk has firmly cemented himself as a first-team option this season, starting half of United’s league games so far, but this early substitution against Villa could seriously dent his confidence.

We shouldn’t forget that the centre-back is still developing as a player and he’s still in the early stages of his career and a cut-throat decision like this could take something away from the way he plays.

Indeed, it’d be understandable if Struijk is fearful of making mistakes or picking up yellow cards in the future due to the looming danger of being taken out of a game early as he was at Villa Park on Friday.

Of course, being wary of making mistakes is a good thing, but overthinking things isn’t and if Struijk starts second-guessing everything he does on the pitch, he will lose some of what made Bielsa describe him as a “complete player” earlier this season.

Hopefully, Bielsa has sat him down and fully explained the decision to sub him and what he should do going forward in order to avoid a similar situation.

Fingers crossed this doesn’t play on the 21-year-old’s mind. It could have detrimental long-term consequences depending on how the 21-year-old reacts.

AND in other news, Bielsa FAVE acted as a brilliant Kalvin Phillips replacement for Leeds…