All posts by h79snht.top

Phil Parkinson has revealed that he is interested in signing former player Ben Alnwick, per the Sunderland Echo, a player whom he has previously managed during his spell at Bolton.

What’s the word?

The goalkeeper played a part in the Trotters’ defence which won promotion from League One in 2017 after conceding just 36 goals in the league, and the Black Cats’ boss will hope he can replicate that success if he signs.

Alnwick has been training with the club but Parkinson admitted that offering the 32-year-old isn’t a priority due to already having two first-team goalkeepers at the club in Lee Burge and Jon McLaughlin, both of whom have featured this season.

However, if the £315,000-rated keeper proves his quality and his fitness, having not played for a while, then he could gain a contract even if it is only for the short-term – and that is an option Parkinson should certainly consider.

Watch Tranmere Rovers Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Familiar face

One of the most important factors for Parkinson to make a success of his time at the club is to build a strong team spirit, as he alluded to in his Doncaster post-match press conference.

He has made a big step to do that by removing Aiden McGeady from the first-team squad, but the personnel he brings in will also be vital to achieving that goal.

Sunderland also need quality, however, and that is why Alnwick ticks a lot of boxes.

The manager will be aware of the attributes he brings to the squad on and off the pitch and that could be why he was keen to bring him in, even if it’s only on a non-contract basis at first to train with the team.

However, the former Spurs shot-stopper is a hugely experienced League One player and knows how to deal with the pressure of a promotion campaign, if Sunderland ever get round to mounting one of their own. He has made 125 appearances at this level, keeping 35 clean sheets in the process.

Whose Line Is It Anyway: Roy Keane, Graeme Souness or Adrian Durham?

Lee Burge and Jon McLaughlin haven’t exactly hit top form this season either, with the latter at fault for Doncaster’s equaliser on Sunday. Meanwhile, the fact they have made 11 and 20 appearances respectively suggest their manager is not reassured by either player.

Parkinson was assured in his belief when speaking about the spirit of the squad, find out what he had to say here and what it means for Sunderland’s chances of success.

Goal.com is reporting that Liverpool are interested in signing Leon Bailey from Bayer Leverkusen.

What’s the story?

It looks as though the Reds will not be completing any more transfer business during this window – at least that’s what Jurgen Klopp says – so now they will look towards the summer to see how they can strengthen their squad.

One of those on their shortlist is said to be Leon Bailey, who currently plays for Bayer Leverkusen. As the Anfield outfit look to add more squad-depth, the Jamaica international would be a cheaper alternative to Jadon Sancho, the report states.

Not good enough

The 22-year-old has long been talked about in the Bundesliga as a future star – there have even been comparisons to former Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben due to his ability to cut inside from the right-wing and onto his left foot – with the 2017-18 campaign being his breakthrough. Despite starting the season at just 20 years of age, he scored nine goals and provided six assists in 25 starts in the German top flight, putting himself on the map.

However, he has not been able to hit those heights since. Last season, he scored just five times and provided one assist in 21 starts, and this term under Peter Bosz, he was included in the first XI just five times in the initial 17 matches.

Call yourself a Liverpool expert? How much did each of these big-money January signings cost?

There are still signs of his fascinating ability – he has three goals and one assist in those starts so far, including a brace against Bayern – but there will be worries that he has not really progressed. He has become more and more selfish with each passing campaign – in 2017/18, he had two key passes per match and 1.9 dribbles, whilst this season those figures have been 1.4 and 2.1 respectively.

With a current Transfermarket value of £33.3m, he would certainly come cheaper than Sancho – the 19-year-old is valued at £100m – but he is no match for the England international. In 24 matches in all competitions this season, the former Manchester City man has 12 goals and 13 assists. For context, Bailey has just eight more goals and has managed only as many assists in 71 more matches during his Leverkusen career.

Yes, Sancho will be expensive, but in today’s footballing world, you get what you pay for. Liverpool should not be looking for the cheap option. In their position, as Premier League leaders and European champions, they can target the best in the world.

In other news, the verdict is given on Liverpool’s interest in this £70m Premier League star.

Speaking on The Ornstein and Chapman Podcast for The Athletic (at 33:40), David Ornstein has provided a major update on what Arsenal’s plans are for this January transfer window.

What did he say?

The Gunners have yet to do any business this month in terms of incomings, but have been linked with a number of players, particularly at centre-back. The likes of Nathan Ake and Dayot Upamecano have been mentioned, whilst their interest in midfielder Bruno Guimaraes was also confirmed by the Brazilian club’s president.

Now, Ornstein has revealed that whilst the Gunners are on the look-out for reinforcements, they will be operating predominantly in the loan market, and don’t have the financial resources to make a major splash at this moment in time.

Watch Arsenal Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

He said: “Arsenal are looking to make one to two loan signings during this January transfer window. They’re not close to any of them at the moment, and it would be a maximum of one to two loans from what I’m told. Arteta feels he has a strong squad especially when players come back from injury. My information about one of the positions they are looking to fill, is left centre-half with a loan deal.

“There is also possible suggestions of a central midfielder and maybe someone to cover at the full-back areas with the injuries they’ve got there. They spent heavily in the summer and that has to be factored into the equation with the issue of FFP. They, like many other clubs, prefer the summer window, so you can expect them to spend again next summer. It’s more likely there will be a couple of outgoings in the immediate term.”

Smart choice

Whilst new signings would undoubtedly be welcome at Arsenal, or indeed at any club, such is the buzz that it creates, the Gunners would be wise to avoid simply splashing the cash for the sake of it. Going for short-term fixes when they could quite conceivably ride out the season and go for their number one priorities rather than panic-buying now, seems like a wholly more logical business strategy.

Can you get full marks on the Ultimate Arsenal Quiz? Test your knowledge below…

So whilst “one or two loan signings” isn’t exactly the most exciting of news, it is encouraging in the sense that the north London side are planning for further forward, and not just for the here and now.

Meanwhile, this Arsenal starlet can provide a glimpse of what the future could be like without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

It seems that Leeds United will need to pay to sign a striker.

The Daily Mirror (January 9, page 56) state that Cauley Woodrow will cost them £7m while Alan Nixon has stated that Dwight Gayle would cost £8m. While The Athletic claim that Adams would be a loan with an obligation to buy for at least £10m.

Adams and Gayle are clearly the better options at those prices as both men have proven that they can bang in the goals at this level, each scoring more than 20 times last season.

Watch Leeds United Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Both men would do a job, but which is the better option?

Adams is six years younger than Gayle, but he’s also more expensive, so it’s going to be tough for Leeds to decide on which forward they want to go for.

We asked out writers to give their verdicts on which player the Yorkshire club should opt to go for.

Kealan Hughes

“This is certainly an interesting decision to make and if Leeds do just have to pick between the two then they are in a very fortunate position, as both players should allow them to strengthen and gain an advantage over their rivals.

“As mentioned above the club could look long-term by plumping for Adams, but given Gayle’s consistent record in the second tier he would be the more reliable option.

“All Leeds need to do this month is sign players to push them over that promotion line, and the Newcastle striker should be able to do that, as he was on fire last year in the Championship with 24 goals.

“As a poacher he is also the most like-for-like replacement for Eddie Nketiah, and that means he adds something different from Patrick Bamford, which will be very useful for Marcelo Bielsa.”

James Beavis “Adams’ struggles at Southampton this season – no goals in 19 appearances – suggest that his impressive 2018/19 campaign with Birmingham City in which he netted 22 times could be nothing more than a flash in the pan, whereas Gayle is a proven goalscorer over a longer period of time at this level with 59 goals in 100 Championship outings.“The Newcastle United man has already found the net regularly with 24 in 40 in England’s second-tier for a team under pressure to win promotion last term when he was with West Bromwich Albion, and he could be a similar success story at Elland Road.“Marcelo Bielsa needs a striker he can rely on to do the business on a regular basis, and you would have to back the experience of Gayle over a clearly lacking in confidence 23-year-old right now.“Gayle is a proven poacher and the better option for Bielsa as he targets promotion for the Yorkshire outfit.” Vijievan Jeevathayalan

“In what could turn out to potentially be a promotion-defining decision, Leeds should go all out for Dwight Gayle.

“Whilst Che Adams is the younger of the two being linked with the club at just 23, his failure to score this season for Southampton would surely have dented his confidence levels. On the other hand, despite not finding the back of the net himself this campaign, Gayle’s greater experience means he will no doubt find it easier to get his career back on track, and Leeds desperately need someone to hit the ground running to boost their promotion hopes.

“The striker would walk into the side at the expense of Patrick Bamford, whose performance against Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend once again drew the ire of the Leeds faithful. Gayle represents more of a sure-fire guarantee that he can do the business for the Whites, with 59 goals in 100 Championship games. Adams on the other would just be too much of a gamble”

Charles Jones

“This is a really tough one to judge, and I don’t envy Victor Orta in this scenario one bit.

“Financially, it probably makes more sense to sign Adams. Aged just 23 the forward’s resale value could increase in the future if he rediscovers the form that saw him score 22 goals for Birmingham City, but you have to bear in mind that the 2018/19 season was the only time Adams has broken the 20 goal barrier in the Championship whereas Dwight Gayle did it in 2016/17 with Newcastle.

“Overall, I think that Gayle is the safer bet here, but Adams has the potential to be the better signing.”

Meanwhile, Danny Pugh has shared his excitement for one of Leeds’ post-promotion plans.

According to RMC Sport, Tottenham Hotspur are in negotiations with the representatives of Islam Slimani over a potential move to the club before the end of the January transfer window.

The 31-year-old is currently on loan at Monaco from Leicester City and has been in impressive form this season, scoring seven times and registering seven assists in 14 appearances for the Ligue 1 club.

According to RMC Sport, though, the Algeria international could be returning to the Premier League to link up with Tottenham, who are seemingly determined to sign a new centre-forward due to Harry Kane’s absence.

However, it would be fair to say that a lot of the Spurs fans are not interested in the attacker arriving at the club before the end of the month.

Money talks: How much did Levy pay for each of these Spurs stars?

RMC Sport have also linked Manchester United with a swoop, and many of the Tottenham supporters have said that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are more than welcome to sign him ahead of their club.

Meanwhile, one Tottenham player is seemingly on the verge of leaving the club as the transfer window moves closer to its deadline.

Christian Eriksen has been a wonderful servant to Tottenham over the years with 69 goals and 89 assists in 305 games for the club, so it is a little sad to see his time in North London end in an unsanctimonious fashion.

The Denmark international has been a shadow of his former self this campaign with six goal contributions in 28 appearances, and his attitude has made him no stranger to criticism from fans.

However, now his time as a Spurs player finally appears to be coming to an end – with the midfielder arriving in Milan ahead of a proposed move to Inter – a number of fans have reacted with sadness.

They have taken the opportunity to send him positive goodwill messages, showing their appreciation for the 27-year-old and what he contributed across a significant period of time, forming part of the teams that made the Champions League final and twice finished second in the Premier League.

It is a shame that Eriksen doesn’t have the silverware to show for his efforts over the years, as he is certainly worthy of it, often producing magnificent assists and goals during his time in North London, such as the countless free-kicks which found the back of the net.

A move to Italy should allow him to reinvigorate a career which has tailed off in recent months, and the opportunity to fight for the Serie A title could be good motivation.

Some supporters believe the move is exactly what he needs, and suggest it won’t take the playmaker long to recapture his previous form, and given he will be playing under a talented manager in Antonio Conte it is likely he will do exactly that.

The big fat Tottenham quiz of 2019 – how much do you remember about the last year at Spurs?

Meanwhile, Spurs fans have also been reacting to the latest transfer target to be linked with a move to the Tottenham Stadium.

With 29 days of the transfer window behind us, Southampton are yet to make a signing.

This comes despite the promise of Ralph Hasenhuttl, who said towards the end of December that the Saints “will do something” about the full-back positions in the market.

It may have taken almost the entirety of January, but that declaration may be about to come true after The Sun revealed that Southampton have beaten Crystal Palace to the signing of Kyle Walker-Peters.

The 22-year-old’s arrival would be a welcome one at right-back, seeing as Cedric has been sidelined with a knee injury whereas Yan Valery has been missing since November with an ‘ongoing illness’.

However, while he would provide much-needed depth, there are some concerns over the England U21 international.

For a start, Tottenham’s willingness to let him depart, despite the fact that his exit would leave Serge Aurier as the club’s only natural right-back, is alarming.

The Ivorian isn’t the most assured player in the world, and is liable to the odd brain-fart or two, so the fact that Jose Mourinho has played the former Paris Saint-Germain full-back in all of his games as Tottenham boss and hasn’t given Walker-Peters a single second of Premier League action since his arrival on November 20th is telling.

Even under the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss’ predecessor Mauricio Pochettino, Walker-Peters was not fancied – in fact, the Spurs academy graduate has played just 242 league minutes all season.

The former Southampton manager handed the Tottenham No.16 just three Premier League starts – all coming in the first three outings of the campaign – before sticking him back on the bench in preference of Aurier.

Who is that?! Nobody has been able to name the teams all of these obscure managers were once in charge of…

For the north Londoners to be happy to leave themselves in a rather precarious position in terms of right-back depth and wave goodbye to Walker-Peters should signal red flags for Hasenhuttl over his impending arrival.

Why on Earth was he not fancied by either Pochettino or Mourinho? Well, the St Mary’s faithful could be about to find out…

In other news, these Southampton fans were left fuming at this “embarrassing” & “disgraceful” news…

Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to react after The Express revealed that Roy Hodgson wants assurances over transfers before signing a new deal.The former England manager’s contract at Selhurst Park is set to expire at the end of the current campaign, and a one-year extension worth £4m plus bonuses is believed to be waiting for him on the negotiating table.

However, The Express report that Hodgson has posed the Eagles with an ultimatum – ensure that money is spent in the summer on bolstering my squad, or I won’t sign a new deal, effectively.

The 72-year-old has struggled to get the best out of his Crystal Palace side recently, having won just three games from his last 18 outings across all competitions.

The south Londoners also find themselves just six points off the relegation zone, and made only one first-team addition in January as Cenk Tosun arrived on loan from Everton.

Let’s see what the Crystal Palace fans on Twitter have been saying about this ultimatum…

To kick off the reaction, these two supporters both mentioned club chairman Steve Parish.

Sam Waters said that Parish is playing Hodgson “like a game” while Mark Jones added that “this was Parish’s plan all along”.

Elsewhere, James F Johnson said that he wants assurances of his own that the former Liverpool boss wasn’t going to spend any money on ageing players, and also that he would actually “try and win games” or “play exciting football” – ouch.

Meanwhile, Ryan and @tobylarone11 also had something to say.

For away day veterans only: Can you name all of these defunct stadiums?

Ryan said that he doesn’t blame Hodgson for wanting such assurances, while the other fan believes that the Crystal Palace manager “won’t get the backing” he deserves and that he should leave with his “head held high”.

Lastly, Stuart Gibbon implied that if Hodgson leaves, the Eagles can prepare for the Championship.

In other news, these Crystal Palace fans have been discussing a former transfer target who is “better than Zaha”…

Rangers suffered a crushing defeat in midweek at Rugby Park as Kilmarnock overturned a first half deficit to clinch all three points on the night.

It was a demoralising and familiar story for the Gers who looked bereft of ideas for long spells.

Ryan Kent was willing to drive with the ball at his feet but often found himself running down cul-de-sacs and stifling Rangers’ attacking threat as a result.

And, rather ironically, this result arrived the evening after Jamie Murphy notched his third goal in five games for Burton Albion.

The 30-year-old winger joined the Brewers on loan from Rangers in January and has immediately made an impact in League One, as his goal scoring record attests to.

Given Steven Gerrard’s struggle to squeeze anything by way of creativity out of his side in recent weeks, it was no surprise that certain fans were calling for Murphy to return to Ibrox.

Similar sentiment were echoed by other supporters who suggested he was the type of player they needed to unlock the door at Killie.

Not only was his technical quality required but his passion too.

Finally, three fans slated the club’s decision to let him leave the club on loan.

One fan labelled Sheyi Ojo and Brandon Barker as frauds who amazingly remain at the club while Murphy thrives elsewhere, and another claimed the loanee is the the perfect inside forward.

How Rangers could do with one of those right about now…

In other news, a Rangers player’s recent display has exposed one of Steven Gerrard’s biggest problems…

Newcastle fans have taken to Twitter to slam Sean Longstaff for his performance in the 4-0 defeat to Arsenal.

The Magpies academy graduate was making his 12th Premier League start of the season at the Emirates on Sunday, but delivered a display which was met with criticism by a number of fans on Twitter.

The 22-year-old had three shots against the Gunners – only one of which was on target – while his set-piece delivery throughout the game was pretty poor, in truth.

Longstaff also made one key pass and was fouled twice, but had two unsuccessful touches.

From a defensive aspect, the midfielder put in a decent shift, making three tackles, three clearances and one interception – he did, however, commit two fouls.

His statistics from the 4-0 defeat were not awful in all honesty, but he clearly didn’t do enough to impress the Newcastle fans on Twitter who took to their keyboards to aim their frustrations at him…

To kick off the reaction, both of these supporters criticised Longstaff.

Phyllis said that the Newcastle No.36 is “fairly mediocre” before admitting that he was over-hyped by the St James’ Park faithful because there was “precious little else to cheer” – ouch.

‘DBaines’ then said that the Englishman is “very average at best” – harsh indeed.

Elsewhere, @toondave2015 said that Longstaff has “lost his form”.

Then, Brendy was baffled as to how the midfielder still starts games, saying that it is “beyond” them.

Lastly, these two fans kept their verdicts short and sweet, but also hard-hitting.

Gavin simply said Longstaff is “struggling” whereas Dean said the midfielder is “too inconsistent” when rating each player’s performance against the Gunners.

Is life under Ashley really that bad? Maybe this quiz will change your minds, Newcastle fans…

In other news, these Newcastle fans were livid with this “absolute disgrace” after his performance against Arsenal…