All posts by n8rngtd.top

It can be all too easy to look at two teams league positions and make some false prejudices. That’s the exact case here too, as with Swansea hosting Middlesbrough later today, the side 15th in the Championship is surely going to be the favourites over the 8th placed bottlers, especially when you factor in the recent form.

At times this season, we’ve seen Swansea playing some incredible football under Graham Potter. It may have taken the ex-Ostersunds manager time to adapt to the Championship, but his brand of football is much better than Tony Pulis’ anti-football.

As the two sides clash, it will be an interesting match-up, and one that if Potters’ side gets going in then they will surely edge it.

TONY PULIS

Tony Pulis is undoubtedly the more experienced gaffer going into this clash, but with experience doesn’t always come advantage, and it’s easy to argue that the Welshman’s football is stagnant and behind the times. Stints with Stoke City, Crystal Palace, West Brom and now Boro in recent times have all brought the same set-piece orientated football, and it’s time he had a rebrand or got out of the game.

In a world where the likes of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are passing teams off the park, Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds are high-pressing their way to glory and Mick Harford’s Luton Town are playing scintillating stuff in the third tier, hoof-ball has no place anywhere in the football league. The EFL is starting to see beautiful football, and whilst Pulis can’t adapt his sides will struggle, as we’ve seen with Boro losing their last four games.

TT GRADE: D

GRAHAM POTTER

There was very little hype and media attention around Graham Potter when he came to Swansea City, especially considering how well picked up on his time at Ostersunds was. The once-unheard of 43-year-old made his name in Sweden, where he miraculously took Ostersunds from a fourth tier club all the way through the Swedish footballing system, into the top flight and even into the Europa League, which he qualified for through winning the Svenska Cup.

His achievements have been incredible, and whilst he may only have Swansea in 15th, the signs have been there. Consistency has been his side’s problem, although he’s shown that his Swans can roll with the punches against the best sides in the country, with their recent FA Cup clash with Manchester City, an unjust 3-2 loss, proving just that. It’s the football that has them standing out, though, and should he add consistency then promotion is a real possibility next season.

TT GRADE: B

TT VERDICT

When comparing Potter and Pulis, it quickly becomes apparent that league position is never a safe barometer with which to compare managers in the Championship.

If given the chance, plenty of Boro fans would be rid of Tony Pulis in a heartbeat, and whilst Swansea may be taking their time to adapt, Potter is certainly the man for the job and is certainly a more apt manager given the current footballing climate than the dinosaur that is Tony Pulis, and that’s why he wins this battle.

Tottenham Hotspur fans will be pleased with how their side performed earlier on today as they managed to get the better of Huddersfield Town at the new White Hart Lane. 

Spurs remain unbeaten at their new stadium and will be hoping that they can keep it that way from here on in until the end of the season, with a perfect finish to the season possibly resulting in a top four spot and silverware.

But, things aren’t all perfect for Spurs as a big worry at this moment in time is the future of Christian Eriksen, as his contract is set to run out next summer and according to Calcio Mercato (via HITC), Tottenham Hotspur could sell the Denmark international for €100 million (£86 million) this summer.

Of course, Spurs fans will want to see him stay in North London but that could change if Joao Felix was to rock up in the English capital in the summer. According to Football Insider, Spurs sent scouts to run the rule over the youngster during Benfica’s Europa League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

Felix is arguably the hottest prospect in the whole of world football having produced an incredible 22 goals & assists in all competitions, with 15 goals and seven assists to his name.

The attacking midfielder put in an eye-catching performance in front of Spurs’ scouts on Thursday as he grabbed a hat-trick and set up a goal for his team-mate. If that isn’t enough to warrant a summer move then something clearly isn’t right as he was absolutely sensational, but the crazy thing is that he’s only 19-years-old.

And, Benfica’s sporting director Rui Costa even hailed the youngster as ‘extraordinary’ (as per Tuttosport, via Chris Burton of Goal), so it’s clear to see just how highly-rated he really is.

Sadly, Christian Eriksen is reportedly (as per Tuttosport, talkSPORT) attracting interest from Inter Milan with the Italian club’s director of football Piero Ausilio, kicking off preliminary talks to try and get Eriksen to the San Siro.

So, it’s important that Spurs start planning for the Dane’s potential exit with Real Madrid reportedly (as per reports from Spain, via The Mirror).

Daniel Levy could land Spurs’ Christian Eriksen heir with a move for the Portuguese playmaker as they’re very similar players, with both of them looking to create in the final third and they both possess the ability to find the back of the net from almost any angle.

The Dane joined Spurs as a 21-year-old and Felix is set to turn 20 this year, so he could start off in a very similar position in England if he makes the move. He could definitely fill the potential void left by Eriksen and he even has the potential to go one better than the 27-year-old, so Spurs must act quickly.

Tottenham Hotspur fans, would you rather see Eriksen or Felix in North London? Join the discussion by commenting down below! 

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Charlton Athletic supporters have criticised striker Josh Parker after Friday’s defeat to Oxford United.

The Addicks lost 2-1 and sit in fifth in the League One table.

They are now six points behind Barnsley in second, with just three games of the season remaining.

Lee Bowyer’s men are guaranteed to finish in the play-offs, however, and will have the opportunity to win promotion to the Championship.

Charlton can still finish third, but Portsmouth and Sunderland both have a game in hand on them and have 83 points to their 79.

Fans have been left disappointed with Parker, who was brought on at half-time with the club already losing.

The 28-year-old has scored just four goals this season in 31 appearances in all competitions and many believe he is not the player that the club need in reserve up front as they attempt to win promotion back to the second-tier.

Parker joined the club on a permanent deal from Gillingham in January, but it appears he’s failed to win over most Addicks supporters.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

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A number of furious Manchester City fans have taken to Twitter to slam James Milner, after the Liverpool midfielder said he’d be cheering on Manchester United in the derby on Wednesday.

Milner spent five years at the Etihad Stadium, winning the Premier League title twice, the FA Cup and the League Cup, but has angered the Citizens fanbase with his comments.

442oons have charted the entire career of Man City’s main man Sergio Aguero through song in the hilarious video below…

The 33-year-old said: “First time in my life,” when asked if he’d be supporting the Red Devils in the Manchester derby, as City sit two points behind the Reds albeit with a game in hand.

Obviously, the former England international wants to see his former side drop points as it would massively help his current employers in their bid for the Premier League title, although despite that logic, City fans aren’t happy that their former player has openly said he’ll be cheering against them.

Let’s take a look at how the infuriated City supporters on Twitter reacted after hearing what their former No.7 said…

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Leeds United fans have taken to social media to lavish praise on Mick Jones, who made more than 300 appearances for the club in all competitions.

Jones, who operated as a centre-forward, turned out for the Whites between 1967 and 1975, having moved to Elland Road from Sheffield United.

The three-time England international scored 111 goals for Leeds and won a host of trophies during his time at the club, as shown by the tweet below.

A number of Leeds fans took to social media to hail Jones as the club posted a special birthday message for their former player.

Some asked if Jones was available to play against Aston Villa this weekend, whilst others claimed that the team could have used him this season.

Who do you want to see promoted this year? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have picked their 3 favoured teams in the video below…

Indeed, Marcelo Bielsa’s side have dropped to third spot in the Championship after losing their last two and are now facing the possibility of having to go through the playoffs if they wish to earn promotion.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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Athletic Bilbao have confirmed that Ander Iturraspe will not be at the club next season after his contract expires which may see Leeds United move for the player.

The Spaniard has reportedly been a target for the Whites, but the Yorkshire club must tread carefully if they are to move for the 30-year-old.

Reunited with Bielsa

The Basque defensive midfielder has made over 300 appearances for Bilbao during a career that has spanned 11 years at the San Mames Stadium.

Iturraspe was a vital part of the team which reached the Europa League final under the management of Marcelo Bielsa so it is no surprise that the Argentine would want to work with him once again.

The current Leeds boss had great success at Bilbao, and perhaps he is looking to emulate that squad by bringing in one of his midfield generals from his time in Spain.

Tread carefully

There are signs to say that Iturraspe isn’t the player he was back in 2012 when Bilbao famously knocked Manchester United out in Europe.

The defensive midfielder has made only three appearances in La Liga this season, potentially indicating that he is regressing as a player. Bielsa’s style at Leeds commands a lot of running from his midfielder so signing a 30-year-old with a lot of miles on the clock may not work out.

There are also trends in recent years supporting that defensive midfielders such as Iturraspe brought in from La Liga don’t thrive in the English leagues. Jozabed at Fulham and Vicente Iborra at Leicester both didn’t work out for several reasons and returned to their native country very quickly after moving to England.

Leeds mustn’t rush into this transfer if they are to pursue their reported interest, as Iturraspe would undoubtedly become one of the highest earners at the club if he was brought in. The deal could very easily backfire, but if they get the best out of the midfielder, it could be a very shrewd free transfer.

Rangers fans have seen some fantastic players signed on amazing deals down the years, and as they continue to work on a tight budget compared to the size of the club, they’ve worked themselves some bargains. One of the more recent impressive coups is that of Glen Kamara, the Finnish midfielder who bossed the Old Firm yesterday.

Steven Gerrard struck up a deal with Dundee to sign the young Kamara, with the initial deal being one that meant he would join this summer. However, a deal was agreed for him to join early and now both the player and the club are reaping the rewards of having him at Ibrox, with Celtic probably wishing he had waited until summer after his performance against them.

The former Arsenal academy man will be loving life at Ibrox as he’s found a new gear to kick into. At his young age of just 23-years-old there is plenty for the youngster to do in football, and learning off of one of the best midfield players of the previous generation in Steven Gerrard will be just what he needs as he looks to develop and kick on in Glasgow.

Scottish football is already proving to be a good leveller for the classy youngster. He looked like one of the best players on the park against Celtic, keeping things neat and tidy in the middle of the park as he chipped in at both ends of the pitch. In truth, Neil Lennon’s side just could not handle the former Dundee man, and they will be signs that the Gers have a real player on their hands.

Should Kamara stick it out and decide to stay at Rangers then the Bluenoses could have themselves a legend in the making. Goals and assists may be few and far between for the workhorse midfielder, but Ibrox knows when they’ve got a quality player in front of them and Glen Kamara is just that. Whatever happens in the future is yet to be seen, but the midfield man could become an icon if he plays his cards right.

Do you think Kamara could become an Ibrox hero, Rangers fans? Comment below!

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Leeds United announced on Monday that teenager Mateusz Bogusz had been selected in the Poland squad for the Under-20 World Cup.

Bogusz only arrived at Elland Road from Ruch Chorzow in January.

The 17-year-old has already shown his huge talent for the club’s Under-23 side, though, and was praised by the supporters earlier this season.

Bogusz is yet to make his first-team debut for the Whites, but surely head coach Marcelo Bielsa will be keeping a close eye on the teenager’s development.

The attacking midfielder has previously turned out for Poland at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-19 level.

Thogden has ranked his top 5 sets of Championship away fans for Pl>ymaker FC. Did your club make the list? Find out in the video below…

However, the fact that Bogusz has been named in the squad for the Under-20 World Cup – which will be held in Poland – is an indication of how highly he is rated at international level.

A number of Leeds fans took to social media to comment on the 5 ft 9 ace, and a selection is available to view below:

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Speaking on talkSPORT (May 14), former England manager Sam Allardyce has handed out a piece of free advice to Leeds United on what they should do if they are promoted to the Premier League.

Big Sam believes that the club must learn from the mistakes made by newly promoted sides in recent years by spending their windfall wisely.

What’s been said then?

The experienced manager believes that Leeds should spend their transfer budget this summer on a small number of quality players rather than splashing out on a brand new squad.

“I think you look at the spend of Fulham and Huddersfield. Huddersfield managed to stay for one season and then failed miserably. Fulham went past £100m and failed,” Allardyce said (Via HITC).

“You have the fans and then you have the owners, and then the owner and manager. If you’re looking at relegation are the owners going to stick by the manager to bring them back?

“You’ve got to try and put together a team and buying 10 players who don’t know each other won’t work. If I had £120m I would spend the money on four or five players that were quality, not 10.”

Absolutely right

If only more promoted clubs would listen to Allardyce. The 64-year-old is a master of keeping teams in the Premier League for a reason, and Leeds must heed this advice.

The Whites can’t follow in Fulham’s example by splurging their cash on a long list of inexperienced players.

Bielsa has already transformed this group of players from mid-table level talent to genuine promotion contenders, and there’s no reason he can’t push a lot of them further.

The Argentine must stick with his core players while finding great replacements in the areas that need improving if his side are promoted to the Premier League.

The likes of Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper and Kemar Roofe look ready-made for a shot at the big time, whilst other areas of the squad certainly need improving.

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Bournemouth’s summer has got off to a flyer, with the Cherries securing Bristol City’s Lloyd Kelly for £13m, furthering their obvious intentions to build for the future. The 20-year-old becomes the Vitality Stadium outfit’s sixth signing in the past three windows and, in the aftermath of Kelly’s arrival, Eddie Howe has summed up how he thinks each has gotten on.

While there was praise for the Spaniard’s fellow summer arrivals – Jefferson Lerma and David Brooks – Diego Rico clearly hasn’t made the desired impact on the south coast.

What did Howe say?

Well, speaking to Bournemouth’s media this week, the 41-year-old said:

“The three players we signed in the summer I think did really well throughout the season, so Jefferson and David Brooks became regulars in the team, Diego hasn’t instantly played as many games as he’d like but we still believe that he could be a big player for the future.”

Dire Diego

As Howe says, Brooks, 21, and Lerma, 24, have been instant successes at Bournemouth, although 26-year-old Rico is seen as ‘one for the future’ – this should be concerning for the former Leganes man, particularly considering the impression Tyrone Mings has made on loan at Aston Villa this season.

How much money could you make busking for a week as a freestyle footballer? Find out in the video below…

With the gigantic Mings now returning, it could soon be a truly uphill climb for Rico to secure a spot in the first team, particularly if he doesn’t hit the ground running upon his eventual return from an ankle injury suffered in early April.

At a club that places so much importance on bringing in young talent that will shape the future of the club, time is surely running out for Rico to make an impression before another youthful face steps in to succeed Charlie Daniels the way he was meant to when Bournemouth signed him just under a year ago.