Everton seem to be closing in on the capture of another attacker in a bid to solve their woes up front.According to widespread reports, includingÂBBC Sport, Theo Walcott is on the verge of finalising a £20m move to Goodison Park from Arsenal.The 28-year-old is believed to have undergone a medical today and it seems that it will only be a matter of time before a deal is announced.Walcott has been an Arsenal player for the past 12 years, and even though he has picked up two major trophies and scored more than 100 goals, the feeling is that he has never quite fulfilled his potential at the Emirates.This season, the attacker, who can play anywhere across the front three, has not started a single Premier League game for the Gunners.Kevin Campbell, who played at Everton for six years in his career, gave his verdict on the transfer while speaking to fans on Twitter.
Atletico Madrid are taking La Liga by storm this year, level on points with Barcelona and playing with the confidence and swagger of genuine title contenders it isn’t surprising that a host of top clubs are courting their star names.
Koke has been at the centre of everything good at Atletico, the industrious young starlet has bags of technical ability and the craft and industry to make things happen at any level. David Moyes was a high profile visitor to the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday night and Manchester United find themselves amongst a number of other top Premier League sides tracking the 21 year olds progress.
The Spaniard only recently signed a long-term deal, but there are strong suggestions emerging that a €30m buyout clause exists within his contract. The existence of such a clause will put a number of clubs on high alert and it is likely come January that many will see that as the time to make a move.
That said there seems little logic in moving away from a side with as much potential as Atletico’s. Through to the Champions League knockouts and riding high in the league, are there any clubs that can offer any more than that? Regardless of the Atletico’s position the Premier League still provides a significant draw for a foreign born footballer and a potential move to England shouldn’t be readily discounted.
So of the interested parties which is the better option?
Spurs and United are apparently the front-runners, and for me the decision is quite an easy one. The North Londoners invested heavily last summer; in young midfield talent primarily; therefore being linked to Koke hardly comes as a surprise. That said the likes of Sigurdsson and Capoue are already struggling to get games and for that reason I just cannot see a £20m plus bid for Koke making much sense.
By contrast United are woefully short in creative options from midfield, still clawing onto the remnants of the Ferguson era it is time to move on. The move for Fellaini on deadline day was one of desperation, in January it is time to right those wrongs by investing in the creative quality that they need.
Koke may have to trade the upper echelons of Spanish football for a less than convincing United side, but in terms of his future development there are few better places. United remain a far bigger club with a history of developing young prodigious talents. It is one of the few top Premier League clubs where someone like Koke would be guaranteed to play week in week out and for me that is why this is the prudent move for the player.
These creative outlets are few and far between and it is for that reason that I can see United making an ambitious big money move for the youngster this January. Koke was quick to dispel an suggestions he was one the move when he was asked about Moyes’ presence this week:
“I don’t know anything about it. I am very happy here [at Atletico]. I renewed my contract only this summer and I am very happy. This is my home and there is no better place to be.”
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This is the issue for me; United undoubtedly want and need the player, but surely he is much better set where he is already?
January could prove to be quite interesting. The club will no doubt be under pressure to cash in on their man considering the financial troubles that so many La Liga sides are in. In my opinion though this should be a no-goer if Koke has any say in the matter at all.
Andre Villas-Boas says that Tottenham’s next match against his former club Chelsea will give them the opportunity to ‘join the elite of the Premier League.’
Despite just getting two points in the first three matches with Villas-Boas as manager, Tottenham are now gaining momentum, and moved forward again yesterday with a 2-0 victory against Aston Villa.
Spurs’ next game is against Villas Boas’ former club Chelsea, who sacked him as their boss in March after just spending eight months in charge.
However, Villas-Boas insists that his desire to win is not about settling personal grudges against Chelsea, but for the team. He says: “It’s not on an individual sense that I’m looking forward to the match, it’s on a collective level. When you play the unbeaten leaders of the league, you can use the motivation towards the game. It will give us a chance to finally break into the top four and join the elite of the Premier League. That’s what we’ve been wanting for quite some time. Chelsea are a tremendous attacking force, something that is surprising everybody. There are a lot of creative players in that team offering lots of solutions, movements. We understand this mobility behind Fernando (Torres) can cause you problems.
“It is going to be a difficult game but we are showing a good level of competence. We hope to profit from the fact that we are at home and against an unbeaten league leader.”
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Tottenham are currently fifth in the Premier League table.
With the World Cup just round the corner the manager of the Brazil national team, Tite, has confirmed that he plans to start Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus ahead of Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino.
“It is true that Firmino did better than Gabriel Jesus, who was injured in the season,” Tite confessed. “But Gabriel in the Seleção plays very well. So yes, today he is our No.9.”
Brazil are blessed with options in the attacking department as both players have been in fine form this season.
Jesus, despite suffering a medial collateral ligament injury, chipped in with 13 goals and 3 assists in his 19 league appearances while Firmino enjoyed the best season in his career. Sensational form in the Champions League saw him score 10 and assist 7 in 12 appearances in Europe’s elite competition.
Both strikers are undeniable talents and completely warrant a place at the World Cup. But it seems that Jesus’ past performances for Brazil and his close relationship with Neymar has given the City forward the advantage.
Neymar and Jesus starred as Brazil won the 2016 Olympic gold.
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The decision has sparked a feud on Twitter as Liverpool and City fans debate whether Tite is right to shelve Firmino in favour of Jesus…
West Ham United secured a last-gasp 2-1 victory against fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion at the London Stadium on Tuesday night, but Irons fans weren’t impressed with Winston Reid’s performance at the heart of the defence.
The hosts fell behind when the New Zealand international failed to do enough to prevent James McClean’s effort that deflected past Adrian in the Hammers’ goal, but a brace from Andy Carroll gave David Moyes’ men a crucial three points.
The centre-back and captain on the night has struggled to replicate the dominant displays he has shown in the past this term, and he only came into the starting line-up against the Baggies because of an injury to James Collins.
West Ham supporters were quick to have their say on the 29-year-old’s showing via social media, and while one said he “needs to go”, another said he was “starting to worry about Reid”.
Arsenal v Chelsea games don’t do ordinary and don’t expect their Capital One Cup Round 4 tie to be any different. Take October 2011 for example. In an almost mirror reflection of current form Arsenal went into that Premier League game on the back of seven wins out of eight but it was the Blues who took the lead just before the interval through Frank Lampard.
Robin van Persie netted the equaliser on his way to a hat-trick. John Terry restored Chelsea’s lead before Santos made it 2-2. Theo Walcott put the Gunners ahead for the first time on the night only for Mata to level at 3-3. Two goals in the last five minutes from van Persie gave Arsenal the points and took their skipper`s scoring tally to an amazing 28 in 27 Premier League games.
The 2009 FA Cup semi-final between the two sides was eminently forgettable in terms of a football match but a narrow win saw Guus Hiddink close in on an unlikely, possible, treble. An early deflected goal from Walcott gave Arsenal the edge but Florent Malouda equalised just past the half-hour mark, beating a dodgy Fabianski at his near post. Arsenal looked dangerous only on the break while Chelsea were hardly pulling up trees in terms of chance creation, BUT they had Drogba. Poor game or good game the Ivorian always gave 100% and played as if his life depended on scoring a goal. And that`s exactly what he did six minutes from time to ensure another FA Cup Final. Lampard set Drogba clear with a high pass and when he drifted around Fabianksi the inviting empty net welcomed the striker’s finish.
Chelsea secured a top three finish, and entry into the following season`s Champions League, with a 4-1 thrashing of Arsenal on their own patch, in May 2009. An Alex header and a 25-yard rasper from former Gunner Nicolas Anelka set Chelsea on their way before halftime. Although Chelsea didn`t need any help they got it from a Kolo Toure own goal four minutes after the restart. Gooners knew it was a bad night because even Nicklas Bendtner scored to reduce the deficit. But when Anelka rattled the post it was Malouda who responded quickest to ensure an embarrassing outing for Wenger`s wayward side.
Just before Christmas 2004 Jose Mourinho was feeling less than seasonal towards Thierry Henry as the French maestro scored one of the most audacious goals in Premier League history that helped earn Arsenal a point from a 2-2 draw.
There were only 75 seconds on the clock when Henry opened the scoring with typical Gallic flair, chesting the ball down before firing home. A typical John Terry header earned Chelsea parity before Henry`s party piece. With Cech lining up his wall Henry took a free- kick so quickly that Gudjohnsen had his back to the ball and Petr Cech wasn`t even looking as the ball bounced once, in front of the flailing Czech, before bouncing over the line. Protests did no good for Chelsea but Gudjohnsen made amends to level at 2-2. Even then Henry squandered a late chance for a hat trick and all three points.
The Chelsea v Arsenal game at Stamford Bridge on 23rd October 1999 produced one of the all time great Premier League comebacks. Goals either side of the interval, from Tore Andre Flo and Dan Petrescu put Chelsea firmly in the driving seat but then up stepped Kanu, remember him. He reduced the arrears on 75 minutes, equalised eight minutes later and right on full time completed a most memorable hat trick to bring the curtain down on a quite remarkable capital derby.
In 2004, in the days when English clubs were still rampant in Europe, Chelsea and Arsenal met in the quarter finals of the Champions League.
In the first game at Stamford Bridge ten-man Chelsea avoided a fourth consecutive defeat to Arsenal. Eidur Gudjohnsen put Chelsea ahead early in the second half but six minutes later Robert Pires equalised when he headed home an Ashley Cole cross.
Marcel Desailly was sent off ten minutes from time for a second yellow card but unimpaired Chelsea hung on to set up a terrific second leg at Highbury.
The second leg was as thrilling as all the build-up hype indicated it would be.
Reyes fired Arsenal ahead in first half stoppage time but Frank Lampard only needed six second half minutes to equalise after an error from Jens Lehmann. The game then hinged on 120 seconds between the 85th and 87th minutes. With five minutes remaining Ashley Cole made a terrific goal line clearance to deny Gudjohnsen to set up a sensational finish two minutes later. Wayne Bridge raced along the left flank and played a perfect one-two with Gudjohnsen before rifling an unstoppable shot past Lehmann.
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Arsenal hosted Chelsea in the 1998 League Cup and ended up wishing they hadn`t. Frank Leboeuf put the visitors ahead from a 34th minute penalty and it was all down hill from there on in for the Gunners. The next four Chelsea goals were shared equally between Gianluca Vialli and Gus Poyet as the visitors claimed an emphatic victory. Vialli made it 2-0 early in the second half. Poyet made it 3-0 just past the hour and they each scored again before the 80th minute.
The two sides met in the 2002 FA Cup Final, the first all-London final for 21 years, and the poor quality of the game didn`t distract from either the quality of the two Arsenal goals that gave them victory or their historic significance. The Gunners were given a massive boost before a ball was kicked with Chelsea`s surprise inclusion of the decidedly unfit Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Never the less it took until 20 minutes from time for Arsenal to open the scoring but it was worth the wait. Ray Parlour scored a stunning long-range goal and ten minutes from the end Freddie Ljungberg became the first player for 40 years – Bobby Smith of Spurs was the last- to score in successive finals. When Tony Adams lifted the trophy it was a fitting way for the skipper to mark his 669th appearance for the club which also clinched the `Double`,
It was 1976 when Arsenal and Chelsea first met in the League Cup and the circumstances could not have been more different than 2013. A financial crisis at the Bridge forced Chelsea boss Eddie McCreadie to field a side of youngsters, 10 of the 12 man side were home grown. And this was in the days BEFORE top flight clubs fielded below strength teams as a matter of course. Chelsea were in financial disarray since relegation from the top flight. Things weren`t much better at Highbury, five years after their first `Double` they were struggling under Terry Neill. On the night the fourth round tie went to Arsenal 2-1, with Trevor Ross and Frank Stapleton scoring. David Hay got Chelsea`s goal.
James Milner looks set to spend a prolonged period on the sidelines after injuring his toe in training, ESPN reports.
Milner will reportedly see a specialist regarding the problem and is likely to be out of action for several weeks.
But Manchester City claim they are not certain how long the midfielder will be out for, until the result of the scan is revealed.
“Milner has a problem in his toe. He has pain. He will see a specialist on Monday and after that we’ll decide what to do,” City manager Roberto Mancini said.
The 26-year-old has been ousted to the fringes of Mancini’s squad making just one start and one substitute appearance in the Premier League so far this season.
Despite a lack of opportunities at City in the early part of the season, Milner has impressed on international duty with England and put in a selfless performance as the Three Lions defeated Moldova 5-0.
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It is a major blow for the former Aston Villa player, who now faces increased competition in midfield since the arrivals of Scott Sinclair and Jack Rodwell.
Meanwhile, Maicon looks set to miss the Capital One Cup clash with Villa due to a foot injury picked up in the Champions League defeat at Real Madrid.
Everton have become the latest club linked with a move for Yaya Toure, but fans are completely against signing the Manchester City legend.
According to Oddschecker, Everton are the standalone favourites to land Yaya Toure on a free transfer this summer.
Toure will be available on a free transfer after not renewing his Manchester City contract, and there will certainly be plenty of clubs lining up for his signature.
The 34 year-old isn’t the midfielder he used to be, and it seems Everton fans are not too fond of the links to the man who has played just over 500 minutes in all competitions this season.
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Everton have of course got their own problems in midfield, with Wayne Rooney struggling in the deeper role and Morgan Schneiderlin struggling to add consistency to his definite ability.
Despite this, fans are concerned about Toure’s age and mobility, something that has prevented him from getting more playing time under Pep Guardiola.
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The Ivorian certainly has quality though, and has scored 62 times in the Premier League, winning a remarkable 151 of his 230 appearances.
This winning mentality would surely go a long way in the Toffees’ dressing room, but fans are only swaying one way on this one, and some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
A large number of Liverpool fans would have rejoiced when the summer transfer window slammed shut and Philippe Coutinho was still at the club.
The Brazilian had been coveted by Barcelona throughout the window, but the Reds stood their ground and kept hold of their key player.
Five months later the saga has reopened, and judging by the widespread reports, Coutinho still harbours a desire to move to the Camp Nou.
The Guardian claims that Barcelona are prepared to pay £140m – the second-highest transfer fee in history – to land the playmaker, who hopes that the sum will be big enough for Liverpool to accept.
The next few weeks are expected to be tense for fans who are desperate to keep Coutinho at the club, but former midfielder Paul Ince thinks that the supporters should not be too worried.
In a column for Paddy Power, the former Liverpool and Manchester United player claimed that already having the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Adam Lallana at Anfield softens the blow of losing Coutinho.
“We’ve seen with Salah’s form, Lallana is back fit and Mane back to his best that Liverpool will be okay without him. Of course, Coutinho will be missed because he’s an outstanding player, but Klopp’s bought well enough for his side to be alright without him. Squad wise Liverpool have enough there to not miss Coutinho.”
Great managers make the difference, whether it’s during the 90 minutes or over the course of a season. They add that extra 10 per cent when it’s clearly lacking on the pitch.
No one could seriously argue that Manchester United’s squad last season was great, because it clearly wasn’t. Alex Ferguson won the Premier League title in his final year in management, but the team were not up to the high standards set by those in Europe – and that’s completely dismissing Nani’s sending off against Real Madrid. If it wasn’t to be the Spaniards, then one of the German teams would have ended United’s European campaign.
So it was for good reason that David Moyes dove into the transfer market in search of a player who would compensate, who would add that extra 10 per cent that is evidently not present in much of the current United midfield. Cesc Fabregas was more than just a star name, but one who would have legitimised the team’s place in the race for the title. The football community may joke that no great player will want to play for David Moyes, but that humorous shot at the former Everton manager is based on a truth: Moyes is inexperienced at this level and may not have the tools to compensate.
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And who can really argue that Moyes isn’t experiencing a tough time? There was a naivety about his team selection against Manchester City. Instead of crowding the midfield – incidentally the Robin van Persie/Wayne Rooney/Shinji Kagawa problem solved itself – Moyes opted for two strikers, with little to no supply line to either of them.
This Manchester United group isn’t great, but it is capable of far, far better than what we’ve seen. Ferguson was not in the business of buying big, star names in these final few seasons, bar van Persie. There was a leaning towards developing younger talents and offering chances to those he deemed good enough for the step up. If some of the players weren’t technically up to standard, the fear he generated among his team was more than enough to force them to raise their game in another manner. But there isn’t that fear factor now. We don’t know how David Moyes handles his team behind the scenes, but he doesn’t have the reputation of his predecessor.
Both Antonio Valencia and Marouane Fellaini offered weak performances throughout the game at the Etihad, both culpable for a City goal each. You have to ask whether such half-hearted defensive work would have been on display if Ferguson were in the dugout.
And much of the same can be said for the entire defence. Again, this isn’t a bad squad, and it shouldn’t be forgotten that a largely unchanged team still went on to capture the league title last season. Sure, other contenders were the architects of their own downfall, but United could have gone down a similar path and didn’t. A lot is owed to Ferguson, but the team were still efficient if not always attractive.
United’s form, and the one that is a far more accurate representation on them this season, is echoing the shambles of a summer the club had. If there was £28 million to spend on a player who clearly wasn’t deemed a high priority, why wasn’t there means or action taken to address the weakness in the squad? Wide play, creativity; do United even need Fellaini?
United’s current form and displays speak of the manager at this time. Why, when the game looked up and a gamble needed, didn’t Moyes throw on Kagawa? It’s a question that deserves greater discussion and it’s certainly one that was asked by many on Sunday. Why is this team looking so lifeless and uninspired, even overwhelmed? A win against Bayer Leverkusen in midweek should have been the perfect precursor to the derby, so what went wrong? The squad isn’t great, but this one is on Moyes.
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Do the problems at United lie with the squad or the manager?