According to The Chronicle, Newcastle are likely to reignite their summer transfer interest in Manchester United defender Phil Jones.
What’s the word?
Reports in recent months had suggested that the England international was a potential target for the Magpies as they sought to reinforce the centre of their defence.
In the end, Jones stayed put at Old Trafford, but The Chronicle now claim that Steve Bruce’s side may revisit their interest in the former Blackburn Rovers starlet come the start of the January transfer window.
The report adds that with the defender yet to feature for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team this season, it’s likely that United will look to offload him, and that Newcastle could reignite their interest in him.
Would be a total disaster for Bruce
When you’re looking to strengthen your defence, you make a move for Jones. Sounds logical.
But in all seriousness, the Englishman has unfortunately endured a nightmare time of things at Old Trafford, both in terms of his record with injuries, and actual on-pitch performances too.
In fact, it was just last year that former Magpies boss, Graeme Souness, tore into the defender for his calamitous 45 minute display against Sheffield United (he was taken off at half-time).
Souness said: “Jones has done everything wrong for the goal. Protect the ball. Try and get your team a goal kick or at worse put it out for a throw in. He just gets it all wrong. Jones isn’t a cute player – he hasn’t got a great touch, so he should just put it into row Z at worst.”
Earning a reported £75k-a-week, Newcastle would just be heading for a disaster both on and off the pitch with the kind of player they would be getting, and the money that they would have to pay him as well.
It’s one that they desperately have to avoid in January.
Top Chelsea transfer target Kai Havertz has reportedly told Bayer Leverkusen he wants to leave this summer.
According to Bild (via Metro) the German star has handed in a transfer request amid huge interest from the Premier League side. Chelsea are allegedly willing to meet the £89 million asking price to sign Havertz and are the only side in a position to pay that kind of money.
Frank Lampard and Co have been linked to Havertz for some time now, but his future has been uncertain with the likes of Manchester United also very keen on him. Clubs are chasing the 21-year-old after his blistering 2019/20 season, tallying 17 goals and nine assists across all competitions (via Transfermarkt).
Due to the financial effects of pandemic, a lot of clubs are being forced to end any interest in potential big money signings this summer. However, with Chelsea coming off the back of a transfer ban, they aren’t afraid to splash the cash ahead of next season. The Blues have already signed Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner and are showing no signs of settling just yet.
Bild believe there’s really only one team left in this race and it comes down to who can afford Havertz’s mammoth asking price. With Roman Abramovich also personally contacting the midfielder, it seems Lampard has the green light to get his man.
Now Havertz has voiced his desire to leave Leverkusen, surely there’s only one destination he will find himself. The chance to play with fellow German international Werner will also be a huge lure for the 21-year-old. If club and player want each other, all that’s left is to tie up any loose ends and snap a picture of Havertz at Stamford Bridge.
Do you think Chelsea will sign Havertz this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Chelsea have made it their mission to sign left-back Ben Chilwell this summer transfer window.
Frank Lampard has identified his defence as an area of concern heading into the new season. The 42-year-old has highlighted the fact that in order to challenge next campaign, the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga need to be replaced.
The Spaniard has been a disappointment in between the sticks this term, with Lampard doubting his ability to perform for the team.
Another position with room for improvement has turned out to be the left-back position, with an exit for Marcos Alonso looking to be on the cards. A report from The Times revealed that the 29-year-old has been named amongst four defenders who are up for sale this summer. Chelsea are looking to make up funds to further kit out their squad.
Football Insider claim that the Blues are confident they can sign top target Chilwell for less than the original asking price.
After selling Harry Maguire to Manchester United for £80million, Leicester have valued their left-back as even higher than the record centre-back. (via The Mirror). However, Chelsea believe they can seal the deal for £50m instead, knocking a huge chunk off the original fee.
The report states ‘extensive negotiations’ have been held between the two clubs and it’s looking positive that the Blues can chisel as much as 37.5% away from the mammoth price tag.
Do you think Chelsea will sign Ben Chilwell this summer? Join the discussion in the comments below…
The common belief is that a goalkeeper is like a fine wine, maturing with age and reaching their peak years in the latter stages of their careers.
This theory is well-supported by acclaimed shot-stoppers Edwin Van Der Sar, Brad Friedal, David Seaman, David James, and of course Gianluigi Buffon who have produced brilliant displays at club and international level deep into their thirties and early forties.
However, in more recent times the likes of Buffon now appear to be the anomaly rather than the norm.
It is widely regarded that the top ‘keepers across the globe currently are Ederson, Alisson, Jan Oblak, and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen who are all aged between 26 and 28. This is no coincidence.
The trend of goalkeepers being in their prime during their mid-twenties to early thirties, rather than the commonly perceived early to late-thirties has been evident for longer than many may realise.
Iker Casillas, Victor Valdes, Joe Hart, Manuel Neuer, and David De Gea lead a growing number of keepers to peak in their mid-twenties before falling away in their early thirties or sooner in Hart’s and De Gea’s case.
Whilst it may be harsh to brand United’s number one with the same brush as Burnley’s number two given the chasm between their current status’ it is important to put it into context.
Hart was Manchester City’s first-choice keeper at just 23-years-old and won the Golden Glove for keeping the most clean-sheets throughout the season for three years in a row, claiming two Premier League titles along the way.
But by the age of 29, he was public enemy number one in England after disappointing displays in the 2016 European Championships heavily contributed to the Three Lions embarrassing early exit.
New City boss Pep Guardiola didn’t fancy him either, and he was shipped out on loan to Torino just a few months later.
The similarities to De Gea’s career are striking but the Spaniard’s dip in performance has been much less severe.
Despite initially struggling to adapt to his new surroundings for the first couple of years De Gea helped United to win their last Premier League title back in 2013 aged just 22.
After his transition period was over, De Gea blossomed into one of the best keepers in the world and won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award three out of the next four seasons, as well as being included in four consecutive PFA Team of the Year sides.
In December 2017, in a 3–1 win over Arsenal at the Emirates, De Gea recorded 14 saves and equaled the Premier League record for the greatest number of saves in a single game. In the same campaign, he won his first and, so far only Golden Glove.
But just like Hart, it was a major tournament that started the decline.
Disastrous errors against Portugal and Morocco in the group stages were compiled by his failure to save a single spot-kick in the last 16 as hosts Russia dumped the Spaniards out of the 2018 World Cup.
De Gea kept just five clean sheets in his first 25 appearances the following season. He was criticised by fans and pundits for the atypical mistakes made in losses to Barcelona, Everton, Manchester City and a 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
He ended the season with just seven clean sheets in 38 Premier League appearances, his lowest tally during his time at United. At only 29-years-old many believe De Gea has already begun a steady deterioration.
His lack of ability with his feet is in stark contrast to those of his Premier League rivals; City’s Ederson and Liverpool’s Alisson have added another dimension to Neuer’s evolution of the position.
The imposing Germany and Bayern shot-stopper has suffered somewhat of a decline himself though since a recurring foot injury in 2017.
Neuer won the Champions League, World Cup, three Bundesliga’s, two DFB Pokals, as well as being named in the UEFA Team of the Year for three consecutive seasons during his prime. This resulted in him finishing third in the 2014 Ballon d’Or voting behind only Ronaldo and Messi when he was 28-years-old.
However, at just 31, Neuer began his own decline in unfortunate circumstances. A fractured left foot in April 2017 ended his season early and a recurring fracture in September of the same year restricted the once invincible German to only four appearances for the entire 2017/18 campaign.
Neuer has found it impossible to regain the form he once produced with alarming regularity since his initial injury setback and at 34 is fighting a losing battle to keep Barcelona’s Ter Stegen at bay in the national side.
Iker Casillas is perceived as Neuer’s predecessor as the best goalkeeper in the world and his record-breaking run of six consecutive UEFA Team of the Year awards from 2007 to 2012 (aged 26 to 31) before the Bayern man took over lay’s testament to that.
He played a crucial part in the all-conquering Spain side that won the 2008 European Championships in the same year that he finished fourth in the Ballon d’Or. The Spaniards went on to claim their first World Cup title in 2010 where Casillas kept a record five clean sheets. Two years later they managed to retain their Euro’s crown, where the Madrid man set a new record by going 509 consecutive minutes without conceding.
Casillas never returned to his previously dizzy heights after a serious injury in January 2013. Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho signed Diego Lopez from Sevilla and Casillas’ compatriot kept his place for the remainder of the campaign despite the iconic ‘keeper’s return from the sidelines.
Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Iker Casillas (L) greets Barcelona’s goalkeeper Victor Valdes at the end of their Spanish first division soccer match at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona, October 7, 2012. REUTERS/Sergio Carmona (SPAIN – Tags: SPORT SOCCER)
Even when Carlo Ancelotti replaced the enigmatic Mourinho in the dugout, Casillas found himself limited to cup competitions and went 238 days without starting a Los Blancos match.
Casillas managed to reclaim the Madrid number one jersey the following season, but he was no longer the player he once was and left his boyhood club for Porto aged just 34.
Victor Valdes, Casillas’ former international deputy, suffered a similar fate leaving his boyhood club Barcelona at just 32 to embark on a road to nowhere. Disappointing spells at Manchester United and Standard Liege led to a relegation campaign with Middlesbrough and subsequent retirement at 35.
Not the send-off one the most highly decorated goalkeepers in the world deserved.
It was Bayern’s Neuer that was the catalyst for the evolution of what is expected of the modern-day goalkeeper.
It is now a prerequisite for ‘keepers to be able to play with their feet to an exceptional standard, a proficiency less essential before the German giant ripped up the rulebook.
It was not by chance that Neuer replaced Casillas in the UEFA team of the year in 2013. It marked a huge shift in what is now expected.
The onus is now on goalkeepers to be as astute on the ball as they are with their hands, as comfortable sweeping up loose balls and starting attacks as they are clawing a 30-yard strike out of the corner of the net.
It’s a young players game between the sticks where technique, pace, and ball control are as important as balance, agility, and a commanding presence.
Pirelli Stadium was built in 2005 and is now the home of Burton Albion. The stadium is located on Princess Way in Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire, which is also quite near where the club’s old Eton Park home was before it got demolished and replaced with new housing.
It has a capacity of 6,912 but only 2,034 of those are currently seated. The pitch measures 110 by 72 yards and is not surrounded by a running track while the surface is covered with natural grass.
The ground’s record attendance of 6,746 was set during an EFL Championship clash when the nearby Derby County came to visit.
A history of Pirelli Stadium
Despite serious investment of nearly £1m to bring their old ground, Eton Park, up to standards to match their ambition and rise both on and off the pitch, Burton Albion decided it was time to abandon the stadium and construct a new one worthy of their new image. For that reason, in 2003, the plans for the development of Pirelli Stadium were first announced and the proposal included an increase in capacity, a new training pitch to be available for community use and also the relocation of the Eton Park Bowling Club and Football Tavern.
In that proposal, it was also outlined that the old ground of Eton Park would be demolished and turned into new residential properties, which would also help them fund the new stadium along the way. Construction started in December 2003 by Burton firm Bison – who were also the club’s shirt sponsors at the time – and would finish in time for the 2004/05 campaign.
The first match to be played at the new ground was held on 16 July 2005 with a pre-season friendly against Chester City, a game the hosts ended up losing 1-0 in front of a crowd of 1,341. The first competitive clash arrived with a Football Conference fixture against Grays Athletic on 13 August 2005, ending in a 1-1 draw.
Still, it wouldn’t be until 14 November that same year that Pirelli Stadium would officially be opened – the cutting of the red ribbon included – once again with a friendly clash, this time against Manchester United in front of 6,065 people who witnessed the home side beat a young Red Devils team 2-1.
In 2006, the stadium’s capacity increased to 6,200 and a new electronic scoreboard, placed in the Eastern side of the South Stand, was installed, albeit for only that special occasion, not to be used again. Following some acts of vandalism in the following year, CCTV was installed around the perimeter of the ground and they also got a new electronic board prior to the 2008/09 season.
Some years later, in June 2009 and prior to the promotion to the Football League, they got the permission boost the capacity of the stadium by an additional 712 places and following that, they also funded a toucan pedestrian crossing on the adjacent Princess Way which was acknowledged with a renewal of the stadium’s safety certificate on 12 July 2010.
There were multiple proposals and plans to modernise the ground ever since but no major works have been done on the Pirelli Stadium in recent years. But that hasn’t stopped it from hosting various high-profile events such as the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification clash between the Czech Republic and the Netherlands and an England C European Challenge Trophy game against Netherlands C.
Tickets to watch Burton Albion at Pirelli Stadium
All tickets to watch Burton Albion at Pirelli Stadium can be purchased on the club’s official website. The cost of an adult ticket in the seated area is £24 but if you buy the ‘Earlybird’ one, you get a £4 discount.
Season tickets are also available for purchase on the aforementioned website.
Related links
https://www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk/ – Official website of Burton Albion
Loads of Celtic fans have been reacting to a tweet from Christopher Jullien, as the Hoops colossus is clearly missing football.
If there’s one sure-fire way to etch yourself into Celtic fan favourite status or at the very least cult hero status, it’s scoring a winner in the Old Firm. Now, scoring an Old Firm winner in a cup final when your team is down to ten men? That right there is the stuff of legend.
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No matter what happens for the rest of his career, fans will always remember Jullien’s composed finish in the League Cup final this season, a match in which they were quite frankly dominated by their old foe.
Neil Lennon’s £7m (BBC) summer signing has been an excellent acquisition for the club, featuring in 28 Premiership games and using his 6 foot 5 frame to good effect at set pieces, racking up seven goals in all competitions (Transfermarkt).
The 27 year-old shared an image on Twitter this week along with a message to fans that football will be back, and you can find some of the best reactions down below…
Peter Lawwell may have the perfect buyer for Odsonne Edouard…
Liverpool are certainly enjoying their glory days at the moment, having already won their sixth European title and scooping both the Club World Cup and Super Cup this season.
With their first ever Premier League win also on the horizon, it’s hard to imagine a time when the Reds weren’t cruising. But Liverpool have had a lot to fume about over the years; here are just three moments that really stirred the pot.
Philippe Coutinho’s ‘back injury’
Not long after signing a new five-year deal with the club, Coutinho was heavily linked to his dream move to Barcelona and eventually put in a transfer request. Of course, everyone knows how that story ended, and some Liverpool fans still haven’t forgiven him – but it’s the build-up of events that stung the worst.
The Brazilian was out of action for the Reds following an apparent back injury he had sustained ‘due to stress’. However, the sympathy from fans soon turned into hostility after Coutinho netted a goal for his country against Ecuador in the World Cup qualifiers.
Apparently never injured at all, the 27-year-old went on to complete the move to La Liga shortly after. His actions leading up to his departure still leaves an extremely sour taste in the mouths of Liverpool fans.
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Despite devoting 17 years of his career to Anfield and leading his side to one of the club’s most historic ever wins in the 2005 Champions League, fans still can’t forgive Gerrard’s Chelsea temptation.
It was during a dark time in the Scouser’s career and Liverpool simply weren’t performing well enough in the league. After Chelsea showed interest, Gerrard handed in a transfer request just weeks after that night in Istanbul and the red half of Merseyside went into turmoil. Photos of shirt burning filled the media as Kopites prepared to see the back of their captain.
Of course, it all had a happy ending, but it was perhaps one of the most outrageous events in the club’s timeline.
Mamadou Sakho and Christian Benteke celebrate
One moment that really ruffled the feathers of the Liverpool fans was following recently departed Benteke’s goal against his former side in 2017. The Belgian’s goal secured an equaliser against the Reds which he relished in front of the Crystal Palace fans.
Sakho was on loan with the Eagles at the time prior to his permanent move and made the mistake of joining Benteke in his celebrations by performing a handshake on the touchline. Naturally, Liverpool fans hit the roof over the disrespect to the club he was still legally tied to.
Despite his apologies since the incident, Reds fans haven’t forgiven him over his complete lack of regard and professionalism.
England fans on Twitter have been ripping into Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings after his less than impressive performance for the Three Lions on Sunday evening.
Mings’ performance was judged to be so bad that his name was actually trending on Twitter for a little while, and a little look at the reaction to his performance shows that it wasn’t for a positive reason.
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The Villa centre-half was making only his second appearance for his country, but there are some fans that seemingly don’t want to see him lining up for Gareth Southgate’s side again in the near future as they’ve been slamming him after his performance against Kosovo.
It may seem strange for a centre-back to be so heavily criticised during a game in which his team kept a clean-sheet, but fans were incredibly displeased by what they saw from the former Bournemouth defender.
Here’s what Three Lions supporters have been saying on social media…
They might have left it late, but Liverpool got the job done in the end. An away game against Crystal Palace in the Premier League has one particular nightmare the Reds would be keen to forget ever existed – that unbelievable 3-3 draw back in 2014 which effectively ended their title hopes.
This season, Jurgen Klopp’s side are once again desperate to end their title hoodoo, and would no doubt have been itching to ensure they didn’t suffer a repeat of what has happened before at Selhurst Park.
After Wilfried Zaha netted an equaliser with less than eight minutes to go, there may have been fears that the Merseyside club were set to lose some crucial points. But, Brazil international Roberto Firmino stepped up to the plate, to poke home what would end up being the winner.
After seeing the 5 foot 11 star’s goal-scoring display, Liverpool fans took to Twitter to hail the former Hoffenheim man for rising to the occasion.
Many supporters of the Anfield side hailed his abilities as a number nine, with one fan, in particular, insisting that he is the greatest Brazilian to have graced the Premier League.
You can certainly make a case for him being the best in the world in terms of creation from a centre forward position. He’s assisted eight goals already in 2019/20 which is ahead of players like Lionel Messi.
Check out some of the reaction of Liverpool fans below:
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
After all the murmurs of Manchester United looking into appointing a sporting or technical director to help ease some of the club’s off-the-pitch concerns, it appears that objective is dead in the water.
The club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has been the target of much of the Old Trafford faithful’s criticism when it comes to the team’s transfer business, and so a director of football or a backroom role would have brought a welcome change.
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Instead, it looks as though the Red Devils have chickened out. According to The Manchester Evening News’ Tyrone Marshall (entry 13:06), United are apparently quite content by the club’s current approach to recruitment.
He said: “There is a concern within the club that an appointment could act as a lightning rod for criticism, with worries they would be seen as the saviour given the issues around the club at the moment and could end up being ‘annihilated’.
“The word recently has been that United are happy with their recruitment structure. Ed Woodward has been on the front foot over the last few weeks when it comes to criticism of recruitment and Solskjaer has also praised the way it’s been working, so there would seem to be little immediate desire to add a new body into that way of working.”
The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…
For United to reportedly turn away from such a landmark appointment because they feel the individual would act as a “lightning rod criticism” smacks of serious cowardice. Surely the entire point would be that there is an added element of responsibility and accountability to the Red Devils’ transfer approach.
The club have had a mish-mash policy when it comes to recruitment since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill. Numerous different managers with Woodward effectively kow-towing to their varied philosophies and methods instead of sticking with someone that is in the best interests of the club.
Getting a specialist in the job would bring about huge rewards; United’s stubbornness and reluctance to make a commitment to a director of football is a major and, quite frankly, criminal oversight.
It will simply mean more of the same transfer failings that have plagued the club in recent seasons, like Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku.
The club desperately need a more stream-lined approach with one knowledgeable figure driving things in one key direction. Woodward’s decision is now only likely to cause more misery in the transfer market.