All posts by n8rngtd.top

Manchester United are undeniably one of the greatest clubs in the history of the game, and as such their stature often precedes them. Whilst many players dream of playing for Real Madrid and Barcelona, in England it is often the Red Devils who hold such an allure, despite their recent struggles.

However, under Erik ten Hag, it seems like they are poised for a return to the top of the game, as all signs point towards their continued success following his first major honour and the progression made in all other competitions they have played in.

Most of his early-reign success can be attributed to his intelligence in the summer transfer market, where he welcomed a blend of youth and experience among his six acquisitions.

With a year of progression under his belt, the Dutchman will look to bolster a squad that has already proven its worth to him and outlined its weaknesses.

Perhaps the outstanding issue remains in finding a perfect partner for Casemiro, given Christian Eriksen's injury woes and age; but ESPN seem to think they have identified one in youngster Gabriel Veiga.

Who is Gabriel Veiga?

Despite ongoing links to Frenkie de Jong and Jude Bellingham, two of the hottest properties in Europe right now, it seems like the Manchester club are plotting a different game plan for this summer than in the past, where they would usually spend ludicrously over the odds.

Although a €40m (£35m) release clause is touted, this presents a far cheaper alternative for an underrated 20-year-old who has taken La Liga by storm this season.

Featuring for a Celta Vigo side cemented firmly in mid-table, the midfielder boasts an astounding nine goals and a further three assists in just 25 appearances.

As such, when compared to other midfielders across Europe, he ranks in the top 1% for total shots and non-penalty goals per 90. However, he also is outlined as a hugely progressive influence from the engine room, sitting in the top 2% for successful take-ons and 7% for progressive carries (via FBref).

His manager, Carlos Carvahal, has heaped praise on the youngster too, claiming: "He knows how to play, he is intelligent and very strong."

To pair this with the solidity Casemiro brings, as the Brazilian has enjoyed a stellar debut campaign at Old Trafford, could mark a perfect partnership.

His experience and defensive work rate would allow Veiga to shine, whilst his youth and energy would offset some of the running that the 31-year-old is forced to undertake.

Boasting a 7.15 average rating underpinned by 3.1 tackles, 1.3 interceptions and 2.2 clearances per game (via Sofascore), an injection of attacking impetus beside the former Los Blancos stopper could curate a wonderful midfield to hopefully take United to the next level.

Leeds United have had to offload some high-profile players over the years for a cut price, whether it be due to the ambition of the player or just general financial issues.

Often they would mark a slight profit, but compared to what their actual value was, the club have often walked away feeling hard done by. The squad that was ransacked around their 2004 relegation comes to mind, where many elite individuals left Elland Road at far below their worth. It was a dark time for the club.

However, being an up-and-coming club in the Championship can often be a good thing, as it offers a springboard for youngsters to play with far less pressure than in the Premier League. This inflated level of performance can then tempt bigger clubs into spending big, only to find out they were not getting what they bargained for.

It seems the perfect example of this was just before the Whites' final season before they earned promotion, when Tottenham Hotspur came calling for Jack Clarke. An academy graduate, and thus signed for nothing, the Lilywhites were forced to pay a premium for the forward who had done little to merit such a price tag.

This marks one of the few moments where a player has sought to leave, only for it to actually benefit the selling club.

Where is Jack Clarke now?

Whilst the 22-year-old might be performing now for Sunderland, it still marks a return to the second division for a youngster who once promised so much.

Having played just 28 times for Leeds, scoring twice and assisting another two, there had been glimpses of real quality but without any consistency. As such, when Spurs came crashing in with an offer rising to £11.5m, it was a no-brainer.

Clearly a Mauricio Pochettino signing, his sacking not too long into Clarke's move to north London seemed to completely curtail his budding career at the club.

Just four short appearances for their senior squad would see him shipped out on loan to Wearside, where he has featured ever since. To mark his fall from grace, he would sign permanently at the Stadium of Light just last summer.

Having left Championship Leeds only to end up back there himself, whilst his old club enjoy their third consecutive season in the top flight, offers some delightful irony for fans of the club.

Whilst the 5 foot 11 wizard is admittedly impressing under Tony Mowbray, with seven goals and six assists in the league this season, he remains a great example of what could have been had he just stuck around at his boyhood club.

His current manager seemingly still sees that bright future ahead of him, branding him a "diamond" just last year; but even if he does fulfil his potential, it will still remain a striking piece of business from the Yorkshire outfit given how his career has stalled in recent years.

Luis Enrique has been touted as the best possible candidate for the Real Madrid job, if Carlo Ancelotti leaves his role this summer.

What's going on with Real Madrid and Ancelotti?

The Italian has been heavily linked with the Brazil job, and with Los Blancos 12 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, he could depart Real Madrid.

Real Madrid can explore a number of options to replace him, with former club heroes Raul And Xabi Alonso currently in management roles, but the former Barcelona manager has now been suggested as Ancelotti's successor.

Enrique played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid in his career, but managed the Blaugrana to a treble in 2015, and during his spell as Spain manager he was accused of selecting players with a bias towards Barcelona by fans.

Speaking on ESPN FC, Nicol claimed that the Spaniard is better suited to the role than other linked candidates Mauricio Pochettino and Julian Nagelsmann, because of his experience at the top level.

"There are no question marks over Luis Enrique. For me, you're talking about a guy who's been there seen it, done it, That to me is a Real Madrid manager," he stated.

"I don't think Real Madrid is a team that wants to gamble. They want to be assured, they're a team that has to win trophies every year. Now, it's not enough to be in and around titles, they have to be winners.

"Luis Enrique has won pretty much everything that's going, and it was with Barcelona, and the only thing I would say is, what would the feeling be?

"Of course Luis Enrique played for Real Madrid and Barcelona. He left Real Madrid to go to Barcelona, is there still a bitter taste in the fans mouth and the board's mouth? So to me that would be the only drawback, because when it comes to CVs, between the three of them, it's an absolute no-brainer."

Could Luis Enrique succeed at Real Madrid?

Whether the fans, and indeed players and staff at Real Madrid, would be willing to accept Enrique back as a result of his Barcelona links, remains up in the air.

If he is accepted, then he may be the best possible candidate on a pure footballing level. His previous experience in Spain was a highly successful one, and he is capable of managing big-name superstars, a requirement at Real Madrid.

Whilst Nagelsmann and Pochettino have had successful spells elsewhere, Enrique has more experience at the top level of La Liga and the top level of Europe, and his spell as Spain manager means he is well acquainted with some members of the Real Madrid squad.

If he is willing to take the role, he could prove to be an excellent successor to Ancelotti, but he may need to bring instant success in order to win the fanbase over.

Sunderland player Luke O'Nien has jokingly mocked rivals attacker Ashley Barnes after the two clashed in a recent Championship game.

What's the latest on Luke O'Nien and Sunderland?

In their latest outing, the Black Cats managed to do their pursuit of a potential top-six finish a favour as they picked up an impressive point on the road.

Indeed, travelling away to Turf Moor to take on Championship leaders Burnley, Sunderland fought well to keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw.

As a result, Tony Mowbray and his side are now seven points behind Blackburn Rovers who are sitting in the last promotion play-off spot.

During the game, however, Barnes and O'Nien challenged for the ball and it seems the Burnley man left his mark on the Sunderland 28-year-old.

Indeed, in a funny post made on Instagram, O'Nien shared a picture of the potentially painful incident.

He also added the caption: "Lads dug deeper than Ashley Barnes fingers up my nose last night."

Did O'Nien play well for Sunderland?

It's safe to say O'Nien – who earns around £6000 per week – was actually pretty important in this draw as he was praised for his efforts with an eight out of ten score in the Chronicle Live player ratings (which was the best in the team).

Indeed, journalist James Hunter was keen to dish out the plaudits, noting O'Nien "moved back into central defence and was outstanding alongside [Danny] Batth."

The same couldn't really be said for Burnley forward Barnes who didn't impress quite as much during his battle against the Sunderland players.

For instance, he was handed just a 6.5/10 in the Burnley Express player rating as journalist Dan Black explained his troubles on the night.

He wrote: "The striker's reaction said it all after he'd lifted an effort over the crossbar from Josh Brownhill's hooked pass in the first half. He's now without a goal in six appearances, but brings far more to the team than his finishing alone. Uses the ball well, influences play in the number 10 role, though he came up against a determined competitor in Danny Baath."

In the end, it's not a bad point for both teams as the Clarets remain 11 points clear at the top of the table while SAFC performed well and got their reward at a very difficult venue.

And it's great to see O'Nien was able to see the funny side of things after the game, despite this potentially painful incident.

Leeds United's injury woes may have gotten worse in the 5-1 defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend, with Patrick Bamford forced off in the second half as he continues to struggle with a knock.

What's the latest on Bamford's injury?

According to the BBC's Adam Pope on the Don’t Go To Bed Just Yet podcast, the 29-year-old forward was playing with a bit of an injury in the defeat against Roy Hodgson's side and had to go off in the second half when he "wasn't moving well."

Javi Gracia has favoured the Englishman in his attack during his time at Elland Road, with top scorer Rodrigo often left on the bench as he returns to full fitness following a spell on the sidelines through injury.

While the extent of Bamford's injury is not yet clear, the Spanish manager could be without his number-one choice for upcoming fixtures, which could prove to be a big blow in Leeds' hopes of remaining in the Premier League.

This could leave the former Watford boss with a dilemma of whom to select up front for Leeds' game against Liverpool on Monday but given the Reds' recent defensive struggles, as well as their woeful record away from Anfield which has seen them win just three of their 15 away games, Gracia should see the game as an ideal time to pick up some points.

Therefore, with a counter-attacking style likely to cause problems for Jurgen Klopp's side, Gracia should consider unleashing the rarely-seen Georginio Rutter, as the Frenchman's pace could make him the ideal man to step in for Bamford in the attack.

Should Rutter be given another chance at Leeds?

Rutter's time at Elland Road so far has been something of a disaster, with the 20-year-old starting just once in the Premier League following his club-record £35.5m move from Hoffenheim in January.

Leeds and Victor Orta clearly saw something in the young striker, who hit 11 goals and eight assists in 64 appearances for Hoffenheim, but his 11 outings for the Yorkshire outfit have so far produced no goals or assists.

However, Leeds cannot afford to give up on him so early into his career, especially as he is just 20 and had no previous experience in English football, so surely he should be given another chance to impress if Bamford is sidelined.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig certainly has faith in Rutter's ability and potential, as he described the forward as a "clinical striker" with "blistering pace" in his assessment of the Frenchman in 2022.

With tough fixtures to come against Manchester City, Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur before the season's end, Leeds may find that counter-attacking is their best chance of picking up points, and Rutter's pace and finishing ability could make him the ideal man to keep Gracia's side in the Premier League if he is given another opportunity by the Spanish manager.

There will be a third round of bidding when it comes to a possible Manchester United takeover, Sky Sports reports.

What’s the latest on a Manchester United takeover?

News of the Glazers potentially selling up first emerged back in November, however, the process has proven to be a slow one ever since.

Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe appear to be the frontrunners when it comes to any full sale by the American owners, with both eventually submitting second offers for the club last month.

Bidders were growing frustrated at the silence after making revised offers, but there has now been a further update, with a final round of bids planned.

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth provided an update on Tuesday evening regarding a possible takeover at Old Trafford. Shared on Twitter, the reporter said:

“Bit of breaking news to bring you and developments on the Manchester United takeover process. We’re told that there’s going to be another round of bidding in the sale process of Manchester United.

“The two leading bidders – the ones we’ve been reporting for the last couple of months who want to buy out the Glazers – are Sheikh Jassim and Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Both are expected to put in final offers before the deadline. We're told that the Glazers want at least £6bn for the club.”

What will the Glazers do now?

Offers on the table at Old Trafford were thought to be worth around £5bn, so it looks as if the Glazers are holding out for bids closer towards their £6bn valuation.

Gary Neville wasn’t exactly thrilled at the latest update, describing it as “classless” and said it will be “toxic” if the Glazers remain at the club.

However, it looks as if the Glazers haven’t exactly all been on the same page during the process either, with previous reports suggesting that Avram Glazer doesn’t want to sell up, whereas Joel Glazer could be persuaded to cash in and the other four siblings are in favour of selling at a big profit.

Therefore, this final round of offers could prove to be key over any full sale, and we may know more heading into May, where Erik ten Hag's side could still be on the hunt for two more trophies to go alongside their Carabao Cup triumph.

Tottenham Hotspur are also keen to open talks with Feyenoord boss Arne Slot amid their serious interest in Luis Enrique, according to reports.

Who could be the next Spurs manager?

It's been over a month since Spurs and chairman Daniel Levy mutually decided to part ways with former boss Antonio Conte, with the search still well and truly on.

The Lilywhites have been linked to a host of manager options in the last month alone with Mauricio Pochettino, Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann and Zinedine Zidane standing out as their most prestigous options who are readily-available.

However, there are certain obstacles behind-the-scenes standing in the way of immediate appointment as interim boss Cristian Stellini takes charge until the end of this Premier League season.

Pochettino, for instance, is reportedly wanted by members of the Spurs squad but Levy and club officials have different views on who should replace Conte.

Meanwhile, Spurs will have to compete with London rivals for the signature of Enrique, given he is also a firm candidate to succeed Graham Potter at Stamford Bridge.

One coach who presents a solution is Slot, with the only other English sides in contention being West Ham and Crystal Palace (The Times). Tottenham could arguably have better pulling power than their city neighbours and reports suggest they're willing to invest in his capture from Feyenoord.

Now, as per 90min, there has been a further update on their interest in Slot as they also seek talks with Enrique. It is believed that Levy and co are 'also keen to speak' with the 44-year-old on their managerial vacancy.

His impressive work in the Netherlands, where Feyenoord are on the brink of an Eredivisie title, appears to have earned him credit at Spurs as the club eye negotiations. It's said in the report that Burnley boss Vincent Kompany and Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim are two other names being considered.

What could Slot bring to Spurs?

Barring his brilliant season at Feyenoord, Slot oh so nearly brought home a UEFA Conference League title at the end of last season – just losing out in the final to Jose Mourinho's Roma.

The 4-2-2 boss has been called an 'ultra-attacking' tactician by Dutch football experts and other members of the media hold Slot in very high esteem. Indeed, reporter Karan Tejwani even called him one of the best in his country, saying this before Feyenoord's Conference League final last year:

"Arne Slot’s done an impressive job with Feyenoord this season, and with AZ in the years before. One of the best coaches in the Netherlands. Adding a European trophy to a fine league season would be a brilliant first campaign."

Even before his title-chasing campaign, Slot was already highly regarded, and repeated links suggest he could be considered for the long-run.

Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier was slammed by members of the media for his performance against Bournemouth in the Premier League this afternoon.

What was the Bournemouth v Leeds score?

Leeds suffered a real blow in their bid to avoid relegation from the Premier League today, falling to a 4-1 defeat away against Bournemouth, which leaves them just one point above the relegation zone, having played one more game than Everton and Leicester.

The Cherries raced into a 2-0 lead inside 24 minutes, with Jefferson Lerma scoring a quick-fire double, and Meslier was accountable for the Colombian's second, after flapping at a corner.

Patrick Bamford's goal just after the half-an-hour mark offered the Whites a route back into the game, however second-half goals from Dominic Solanke and Antoine Semenyo secured three points for the hosts.

Taking to Twitter during the first half, Phil Hay slammed the Leeds goalkeeper for his "awful" error in the build-up to Lerma's second, with journalist Sam Street adding:

"Normal service resumed from Meslier after a rare solid display for Leeds in midweek."

Should Meslier be dropped against Manchester City?

It is not the first time this season the Frenchman has been criticised this season, with Jamie Carragher claiming he has "never been convinced" by the Leeds shot-stopper as he has "no presence" between the sticks.

Although he cannot be held solely accountable for the Whites' very poor defensive record, it is alarming that the £30k-per-week keeper is now ten Premier League games without a clean sheet after today's result, and his performance was very concerning.

The 23-year-old received a Sofascore match rating of just 4.5 – the lowest of any player on the pitch – having made two errors leading to goals, leaving Javi Gracia with a big decision to make before the trip to the Etihad Stadium.

It would be a very bold move for the manager to drop Meslier heading into such a difficult match, particularly considering backup option Joel Robles is yet to feature for Leeds in the Premier League season.

If he does stick by his first-choice keeper, Gracia will need a much-improved performance, after his involvement in the "complete and utter disaster" down at Bournemouth today.

Newcastle United's return to the Champions League is so tantalisingly close.

With just five matches left of the club's 2022/23 Premier League campaign, Eddie Howe's men know that seven points from a possible 15 would be enough to secure a spot in the coveted continental competition, even if in-form Liverpool win their remaining four fixtures.

While this might seem more than attainable, tests against title-challenging Arsenal, high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea await, while an away encounter against relegation-threatened Leeds United could be a hectic and cacophonous occasion.

The overriding emphasis will be crossing the finish line in apt time and treading water above Jurgen Klopp's Reds and the Seagulls, who are both snapping at the heels of Howe's unit in third and Manchester United in fourth.

To ensure opponents are left with minimal opportunity to flourish and assert control into the remaining fixtures, wily winger Allan Saint-Maximin must be unleashed to add a fresh dimension to Howe's well-oiled outfit.

Should Howe unleash ASM?

When Saint-Maximin signed for Newcastle from Ligue 1 outfit Nice for a fee potentially rising to £20m in 2019, there was optimism surrounding a deal for an exciting and fleet-footed wide player, capable of blitzing even the most resilient of defences.

The enigmatic "wizard", as described by journalist Graeme Bailey, scored five goals and assists apiece in the previous campaign from 31 starts, and played an instrumental role in the transformative fortunes following the lucrative PIF takeover and Howe's appointment.

This season, with Newcastle on the rise, the Frenchman has been more of a utility figure at St. James's Park, starting only 11 times in the Premier League.

Despite this, Saint-Maximin has supplied five assists and scored one goal, but has definitely failed to live up to the "breathtaking" – in the words of Gary Neville – heights that left supporters awestruck across the past several seasons.

The £70k-per-week gem has been injured for the past five games after spending the early phases of the term hindered by muscular setbacks, but with an ostensible return in the coming days, he could return with an emphatic bang.

As per FBref, the maverick ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers for successful take-ons and the top 2% for progressive carries per 90, as well as in the top 4% for rate of assists. Meanwhile, £63m talisman Alexander Isak is in such free-flowing form, scoring seven goals across his past seven league starts and ranking among the top 7% of forwards for rate of goals himself.

While Newcastle are in fine fettle and on track for a return to the Champions League after a 20-year absence – boasting eight wins from the past nine matches in the top flight in the process – with a testing run forthcoming, spicing up the starting ranks with Saint-Maximin's high-octane approach could add the desired dimension to cement this formidable new stature.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had an impressive turnaround this season, going from bottom of the league in November to edging closer to the top ten as the end of the campaign beckons.

A lot of credit for Wolves’ switch in form goes to Julen Lopetegui, who took over from Bruno Lage in the winter when the side were threatening relegation at the bottom at the time of his appointment.

With three games remaining, the ex-Real Madrid manager will look ahead to the summer break with a chance to review his short time in charge and propose changes to take forward to the 2023/24 campaign.

The end of the season is an exciting time for the academy also, as players that have ventured on loan make their return to Molineux at vital moments of their budding careers. The most excitement to walk back through the gates at Compton will undoubtedly be Luke Cundle.

Who is Luke Cundle?

The 21-year-old Cundle has said his farewells to Swansea City now after a year-long loan in the Championship.

The youngster made a strong impression on the South Wales side, making 32 appearances in the second division, contributing to an impressive eight goals from central midfield.

The Warrington-born starlet showed "real promise" – as per journalist Josh Bunting – scoring three times and registering four assists during his time with the Swans, asserting himself as a regular starter, starting 21 games.

Having now returned to Wolves after averaging a Sofascore match rating of 6.78 this season, he will be looking to impose himself in Lopetegui’s plans for the first time.

With the speculated departure of Ruben Neves looking likely this summer, there is an opportunity for the Englishman to break into the first-team squad, with the two having a range of similarities to their game.

The youngster in fact topped the Portuguese star for a number of attributes in midfield this season as per Sofascore’s average numbers per 90.

Cundle maintained a passing accuracy rate of 89%, with Neves scoring 84% and racked up three more assists than the 26-year-old, showing his ability to control the midfield.

On that evidence, they are both fine playmakers who display radiant composure. A further boon is that the youngster has already been well received by the Molineux faithful after scoring against bitter rivals West Brom in his final game in Wales.

Swansea boss Russel Martin has lauded the 21-year-old’s “willingness to work” and explained his playing style as one where he can "show people how good he is" through his desire to be involved so often.

A successful loan spell has come at the perfect time for the midfielder, who now faces the opportunity to impress Lopetegui this summer before the Premier League season gets back underway in August.

Time will tell if Cundle can imprint his talent on the Spaniard’s plans, but there is little to question regarding the talent he possesses. He could well be the perfect man to replace Neves should he leave.