Celtic fans have taken to Twitter to react after James Forrest was named as the PFA Premiership Player of the Year.
The Scottish international has enjoyed an remarkable season for the Bhoys, scoring 17 goals and recording a whopping 20 assists across all competitions as Celtic won the title for the eighth year in a row.
Controversial. Uncompromising. Leader. C’mon the Hoops’ Keith talks the future of Celtic’s evergreen captain Scott Borwn in the video below…
Impressively, the 27-year-old also scored five goals for his country in the UEFA Nations League in just three games, including a well taken hat-trick.
Forrest’s form has been one of the main reasons behind the Scottish giants’ success this season, and he could yet end the season with a treble of trophies under his belt – Neil Lennon’s men can secure a domestic clean sweep of trophies if they beat Hearts in the Scottish Cup final.
Kristoffer Ajer, Dedryck Boyata, Callum McGregor and Scott Brown were also honoured at the awards ceremony with a place in the PFA Team of the Year, but let’s see what the Celtic fans on Twitter were saying about Forrest’s accolade…
Tottenham Hotspur fans will have been keeping a close eye on Jack Grealish on Saturday afternoon as Aston Villa kicked-off their play-off campaign at Villa Park.
What’s the word?
Spurs have been repeatedly linked with the 23-year-old playmaker since last summer.
His decision to sign a new deal in September 2018 temporarily eased speculation, but the Daily Mail claimed on Friday that Grealish will leave the club if Villa fail in their bid to reach the top-flight.
Tottenham were identified as one of the clubs expressing an interest in his services, while Crystal Palace were also mentioned as they scout the market for a potential Wilfried Zaha replacement.
Perfect for Pochettino
Saturday represented a perfect opportunity to take a closer look at Grealish’s credentials to make the switch to north London.
This was not Villa’s poster boy at his scintillating best but he still managed to provide two moments of quality as the hosts suddenly turned the game on its head. Firstly, he provided a perfectly weighted ball for Conor Hourihane to smash home an equaliser from the edge of the area, and just moments later he lured Kieran Gibbs into a dangerous lunge inside the penalty area and won his side a penalty to complete the turnaround.
But it was his movement throughout the game which pointed towards his suitability to Tottenham’s free-flowing system.
The attacking midfield contingent at Spurs, regardless of the personnel, are allowed to interchange and roam as they see fit, leaving defenders with the unenviable task of trying to mark specific individuals.
Take Lucas Moura, for example, a player who was renowned for his expertise on the right-wing when he arrived at the club who now regularly operates at centre-forward, number ten or in a vague attacking midfield position which allows for seamless fluidity and flair.
Against the Baggies Grealish was allowed the freedom to roam across the pitch as he dropped deep, oscillated from left to right and pushed closer to Tammy Abraham in the second half.
This was a quintessentially free-roaming performance from a man who has been unleashed by Dean Smith, and his license to play wide, central, deep and advanced has prepared him for the style he would be expected to adhere to at Tottenham.
Like Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, Lucas, Erik Lamela and Son Heung-min, Grealish would be willing and versatile enough to thrive under the Argentine.
So then, another season of the Premier League is done and dusted and it’s time for the 20 teams to start reviewing their campaigns and putting plans in place for the 2019/2020 term.
Little has changed at the top of the league with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City marching to back-to-back English top-flight titles after the title race went right down to the wire.
However, the battle to be the best of the rest and to secure the first place outside of the top six, seventh, was just as absorbing. West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton, Leicester City and Watford were all vying for what would become the final UEFA Europa League spot after Man City defeated the Hornets in the Emirates FA Cup final.
Although the Hammers would eventually come up five points short and finish in tenth place, they still enjoyed an admirable first season under new manager Manuel Pellegrini. Ultimately, filled with more ups than it was downs, and laying the foundations for a potentially very successful reign in East London for the 65-year-old.
In light of all this, today we review the Irons’ campaign, from who the unsung hero was, to the best signing, and which player takes the unlucky crown of Flop of the Season…
Unsung hero – Lucas Perez
Every team in every campaign has their unsung hero. That player who contributes in a big way, but isn’t noticed or given as much attention as some of the other stars in the team, and in the case of West Ham’s in 2018/2019, was actually criticised by the masses.
Lucas Perez came under fire a fair amount in what proved to be his only term at the London Stadium, though in reality, defied his critics by chipping in with some crucial goals. Examples of the unsung hero’s key strikes include those in the Cardiff City and Leicester City encounters.
But despite his vital touch in front of goal on those occasions, Pellegrini felt the Spaniard had no future in his plans, and allowed the 30-year-old to join Deportivo Alaves on a permanent deal less than a year after he joined the club.
Goal of the Season
Fighting off competition from stunners such as Andriy Yarmolenko’s strike at Everton, Marko Arnautovic’s Arsenal hit and his own goals against Manchester United and Southampton, Felipe Anderson’s worldie at home to Crystal Palace takes the Hammers’ Goal of the Season crown.
Receiving the ball on the edge of the box from Javier Hernandez, the Brazilian club-record signing got it out of his feet and magnificently stroked it into the far top corner with the shape of a golf shot. The hit sent Pellegrini’s men well on their way to a third successive league win.
Turning point – Newcastle United victory
Whether good or bad, subtle or major, every campaign has its turning point, no matter what club you are. And the Irons’ arrived on the first day of December.
Up until their trip to St. James’ Park in the Premier League, the East Londoners had only managed three victories in the league and were staring down the barrel of another relegation battle. However, a 3-0 triumph in the North East sparked a run of four consecutive wins and from then, Pellegrini only ever looked up rather than down.
Success or failure? – Success
All in all, West Ham’s season has to be looked back on as a success, with the club securing a top-half Premier League finish for the first time since the 2015/2016 campaign, and achieving their highest points tally since then.
Yes, it was marred by poor performances in both the Carabao Cup and the Emirates FA Cup, with the Hammers knocked out by Sky Bet League One strugglers AFC Wimbledon in the latter of which. But there’s been clear improvement under Pellegrini, and the Claret & Blue Army couldn’t have asked for much more from the Chilean’s first term.
Most controversial moment
If you’re familiar in any way with West Ham United Football Club, you’ll know that controversy is never far around the corner and it reared its head in January when the club’s most controversial moment of 2018/2019 arrived.
Star striker Marko Arnautovic was linked with a move to the Chinese Super League throughout that transfer window, and appeared to wave goodbye to fans in the home win over Arsenal. However, after missing matches while he tried to force his move away, the number seven eventually signed a contract extension and is still in Claret & Blue. The side’s first victory following the saga wouldn’t come until late February.
Worst result – AFC Wimbledon (A) – 4-2
The low point of the campaign for the Hammers, without doubt, came in the wake of FA Cup Fourth-Round exit down at the Cherry Red Records Stadium – after their worst result of the season.
West Ham travelled to South London expecting to breeze through to the Fifth Round of football’s oldest competition against the basement boys of League One, having overcome them in the Carabao Cup already. They were met with a scintillating Wombles outfit who dispatched them 4-2, Kwesi Appiah, a Scott Wagstaff double and Toby Sibbick rendering Perez and Anderson’s goals meaningless.
Best signing – Lukasz Fabianski
Pellegrini’s first transfer window in charge was a very busy one indeed, with no fewer than 11 arrivals – two more being added in January – and just shy of £100million spent.
The pleasing thing for the board will be that there was no shortage of contenders for Signing of the Season after the splurge. In the end, it can be no other than Lukasz Fabianski, though.
At a mere £7m, the Polish international was an absolute steal, and the Irons can only imagine how many points they wouldn’t have secured if he wasn’t their number one.
Is the manager safe? – Yes
In modern football, managers are arguably the most dispensable thing, and had Pellegrini not delivered any signs of improvement in his first campaign in East London, he may well have been making way. Luckily for him, he did.
Under Slaven Bilic first and then David Moyes in 2017/2018, West Ham finished 13th on 42 points and weren’t far away at all from dropping into the Sky Bet Championship. Under the Chilean, however, they eclipsed that by three places and ten points, playing a much more attractive brand of football. So yes, Pellegrini is safe but must keep improving to remain that way.
Who should be sold?
Soccer Football – Premier League – Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain – April 27, 2019 West Ham’s Arthur Masuaku in action with Tottenham’s Son Heung-min Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.
While a mass exodus isn’t required after a much better season, the Hammers could still do with selling at least three of their current squad members and those stars are Arthur Masuaku, Robert Snodgrass and the aforementioned Arnautovic.
The first of those names has reportedly attracted interest from the likes of Spurs and Borussia Dortmund, and some fans would snap your hand off to see the back of him for a decent fee. The second, in spite of an excellent first half of 2018/2019, is now past it and West Ham must cash in. The third name, Arnautovic, is a bad egg and the club can’t risk him damaging the squad harmony anymore.
Interesting stat – Perfect Fredericks
When one of those summer signings, right-back Ryan Fredericks, looks back on his maiden season in East London, he will have mixed feelings having only really got into his groove in the latter part amid injuries and poor form.
But the 26-year-old did contribute to the most interesting club stat of the season. In the early-May 3-0 London Stadium beating of Southampton, Fredericks became the first defender since Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen in October 2009 to receive a perfect 10/10 match rating from renowned stats website WhoScored for his fantastic goalscoring display.
It has been an incredible year to be a Barnsley supporter, hasn’t it?
Having seen their club’s fortunes completely transformed by the arrival of Daniel Stendel, the Oakwell faithful will be excited to see just how well their club can do in the Championship next season following their promotion from the third tier last month.
Although the German already has a fantastic squad of players at his disposal, it will not be at all surprising if he decides to bring in a number of additions this summer to help boost his options.
With the right-back position being hotly contested by Jordan Williams and Dimitri Cavare throughout the 2018/19 campaign, the Tykes may benefit from bringing in a player who could take their defence to new heights next year.
According to Football Insider, Barnsley are one of a number of clubs who are keeping tabs on Sunderland defender Adam Matthews whose current deal at the Stadium of Light runs out next month.
An exciting player, the £1.35m-rated ace (via Transfermarkt) has impressed this season for the Black Cats when given the opportunity to express himself by Jack Ross and carries a clear threat going forward having provided five assists for his team-mates in League One.
Yet despite delivering a number of promising performances for Sunderland in recent months, the emergence of Luke O’Nien as Sunderland’s number-one choice at full-back could mean that Matthews may have to move on for the sake of his career.
Considering that the former Celtic player will cost the Tykes nothing in terms of a transfer fee, it could turn out to be quite a coup if they can convince him to make switch to Oakwell.
Having previously played in the Championship for the likes of Cardiff City, Sunderland and Bristol City, Matthews knows exactly what it takes to thrive at this particular level and therefore could turn out to be the perfect signing for a Barnsley side looking to prolong their stay in the second tier.
However, if Stendel is considering a move for defender, he must act fast to beat the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Queens Park Rangers to his signature.
What do you think Tykes fans? Would you welcome a summer swoop for Matthews? Is he an upgrade on what your side already have at their disposal at Oakwell? Let us know below.
QPR fans have seen plenty of players come and go in their time but, for most, none come close to Adel Taarabt, who was an absolute world-beater at Loftus Road until things turned sour.
The Moroccan managed 164 appearances for the W12 outfit, chalking up 34 goals and 42 assists, while also dazzling with his close control and trickery.
Unfortunately, the fan-favourite would be criticised for his weight and attitude before having his contract terminated by mutual consent in 2015, when he crossed the channel to Benfica.
Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…
The midfielder has made just seven appearances for the Portuguese outfit since, though, and has lined up for Genoa (on loan) and Benfica’s B-side more frequently.
It’s a shame when a player who possesses such natural talent goes to waste but some just aren’t meant for the big time – you can check out the best of the discussion on Twitter below as messages poured in on the former fan favourite’s 30th birthday, with some saying he’s the best they’ve ever seen in blue and white…
Liverpool are reportedly chasing Lille sensation Nicolas Pepe.
What’s the story?
According to Sunday Times reporter Duncan Castles, Pepe is a target for the Reds as they look to boost their attacking depth.
“From what I’ve been told, Liverpool have been in contact with Pepe’s agent to discuss a deal, his interest in coming and what it would cost to come. Lille are aware of this and are waiting for a bid,” Castles said on the The Transfer Window podcast.
Xherdan Shaqiri has been linked with a £22.5m move to West Ham, so could Pepe be the perfect replacement for the Swiss international?
Has Alisson been Liverpool’s most important signing of the season? Check out the video below to find out why Jurgen Klopp thinks so…
Perfect upgrade?
Shaqiri had a good debut season on Merseyside, but after signing the winger for just £13m (BBC) last summer, the Reds may well be tempted to cash in while they have the chance.
And in Pepe they would have not just a replacement for the former Stoke City wing wizard, but an upgrade.
The Ivory Coast international just enjoyed a stunning breakout season, firing Lille into a second-place finish in Ligue 1 with 22 goals and 11 assists in 37 league starts.
Contributing to a goal nearly once per game, the 24 year-old can play on either wing, has explosive speed and a knack of scoring outrageous goals, so he is basically a younger, better version of Shaqiri.
The Reds need to build depth if they want to challenge Manchester City again, so selling Shaqiri for nearly double the fee they paid for him only makes sense if a better player arrives instead, and Pepe is exactly that.
Christian Eriksen is a top-class player without a doubt, but Tottenham should bite Real Madrid’s hand off if they can get £62m for him this summer.
It might sound crazy, agreeing to let your best player leave for a fee less than £70m in today’s market but if AS’ report is true and £62m is the figure being touted, then it’d be hard to resist. Indeed, he’s currently got one year left on his contract and is open to an exit, according to Ekstra Bladet, via Sky Sports News.
The report claims that Los Blancos wouldn’t be willing to go above €70m (£62m) but, frankly, even that is a great price considering the contractual circumstances.
If there’s no way of making him sign a new deal this summer to raise that fee, then they’ll have to accept that or keep an unhappy player until his contract runs out at the end of next season. To be honest, there’s no point in keeping him if his head is elsewhere. When he’s not 100%, as perhaps he wouldn’t be if Tottenham were to keep him, the Dane can often look like somewhat of a passenger in our eyes.
Obviously, they signed him from Ajax for just £12.15m and the value they’ve had from him since 2013 has already made that price worthwhile. So, if they can get just under £50m more by selling him, then that’s great business.
As a result, maybe Mauricio Pochettino would have the chance to splash the cash on a replacement and even still have money spare to use somewhere else. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the north London club need some investment in their squad this summer after two transfer windows without a signing, so the funds would surely be helpful.
Spurs could potentially replace the 27-year-old with a much younger player willing to grow into the role and cement a place in the team for the next decade, as Eriksen did following the departure of Gareth Bale in 2013.
Spurs fans, how much would you want Real Madrid to pay for you to sell Christian Eriksen? Join the discussion by commenting below.
Leeds United fans on Twitter are split as to what the club should do with Jay-Roy Grot next season.
The Dutchman spent last season out on loan in his home country at VVV-Venlo where he has been quite impressive.
He scored six goals and created three assists for teammates in the Eredivisie during his loan spell, and that has prompted Leeds fans to wonder if he should return next season.
He didn’t reach those types of levels when he pulled on the famous white shirt of Leeds during his first season at the club where he scored only once in 20 appearances for the Yorkshire outfit.
Aged just 21 there is plenty of time for the youngster to develop as a player, and while some supporters want to see him given a chance next season others want him to go out on loan again.
Here’s what the Elland Road faithful have been saying on Twitter…
Fulham youngster Ryan Sessegnon has told the club he wants to join Tottenham Hotspur this summer, per The Guardian.
What’s the word?
The versatile full-back, who can also play as a winger, has a contract that expires next summer.
And the report claims that he has told the Cottagers he will not be renewing that deal following their relegation to the Championship and has instead set his heart on linking up with Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs.
The Argentine, who guided his club to a top-four finish in the Premier League and to the Champions League final, hopes that the club can complete a deal for the 19-year-old by the beginning of July, as he wants Sessegnon to play a part in pre-season training.
Levy time
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is about to take Fulham to task.
With the England Under-21 international showing his hand, Spurs have a unique opportunity to drive the price down.
The report claims that Fulham hope to receive £45m for the youngster, who made a total of 38 appearances in 2018/19.
However, Spurs are not said to be willing to pay over £25m and one feels that even that price could fall following his declaration that he will be moving on.
It is harsh for Fulham, who face a season in the Championship without perhaps their most saleable asset.
But this is where Levy thrives, in securing deals for knockdown prices.
Expect that to happen here; Fulham, really, are powerless. If they resist Spurs’ overtures they risk Sessegnon leaving on a free transfer next summer.
They had better take whatever Levy offers them, then, or have him snatch the star away for absolutely nothing in a season’s time.
Leeds United are not having much luck in the summer transfer market, with the main news so far being reports of a planned approach from Aston Villa for star midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Today’s Leeds transfer roundup includes interest in a Premier League goalkeeper as well as a 21-year-old Italian midfielder, and a knockback in the pursuit of two Liverpool youngsters.
Leeds monitoring Travers
According to the Irish Sun, Leeds are interested in Bournemouth shot-stopper Mark Travers. The 20-year-old has two years left on his current contract but, whilst he was expected to be offered a longer deal following his promotion to the senior side, an extension is yet forthcoming. Norwich City are also pursuing Travers.
Fonorunsho tops wishlist
TuttocalcioPuglia are reporting that the Whites are in pole position to sign Virtus Francavilla’s Michael Folorunsho. The 21-year-old scored seven goals in 31 games for the Serie C outfit last season, and is apparently at the top of Andrea Radrizzani’s wishlist.
Blows in pursuit of Kent and Wilson
Leeds have suffered a huge blow in their pursuit of Liverpool duo Harry Wilson and Ryan Kent according to Football Insider. Marcelo Bielsa’s side had made an approach to the Reds to take the two for next season, but they are both looking to move permanently rather than spend another season away on a short-term basis. Leeds can’t afford their price-tags.