Wolves took a fabulous point away from Stamford Bridge today as they held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw.
But for a moment of magic from Eden Hazard too, Wolves would have been heading back up to the Midlands with all three points, but it was once again a fine display on the whole from Nuno Santo’s men.
Wolves have been something of a breath of fresh air to the top flight this term, and we here in the Tavern feel that with a few tweaks here and there, they could well be challenging for the top four in the coming couple of seasons.
Santo is doing a superb job, and it got us thinking a bit more in depth about if Wolves can indeed challenge for those top four spots.
With that, we looked at TWO reasons why Wolves can challenge for the Champions League places from as soon as next seaso…
They’re a well drilled unit
One thing Santo has got his team doing is playing to a system which suits and all the players are recognisable with.
This means they can grind out points just like they did today by sticking to a game plan.
With a bit of added quality to the ranks, this is a solid foundation to build on going forward and could prove very fruitful for Wolves in the long run.
They’ll spend if they need too
Backed by mega rich owners, Wolves won’t be afraid to splash the cash if they feel Santo can get them into the Champions League spots.
They’ve already shown that they are willing to go into the European market and make big money plays, and they might well just do so again.
A top striker, and another midfielder wouldn’t go amiss, but they certainly have the financial muscle to compete if needed.
Arsenal are keeping tabs on Newcastle United goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, according to Chronicle Live.
The Gunners are among a clutch of clubs keeping tabs on the 22-year-old.
What’s the word?
Woodman has just one year left on his contract and the aforementioned report claims that a number of clubs, including Everton, Fulham, Celtic and Arsenal are monitoring his situation.
The England Under-21 international has not played in the Premier League thus far this season, though he has played three times in the FA Cup.
Woodman, the report claims, was keen to leave St James’ Park on loan in January, though the deal eventually fell through due to a contract dispute.
The stopper has made a total of four first-team appearances for the Magpies and has been on four different loans since 2014; he has played for Hartlepool United, Crawley Town, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.
Intriguingly, Woodman’s father, Andy, currently works at the Emirates Stadium as the head of academy goalkeeping, so there is no question that nepotism could be at play here.
A typical Gunners signing
Signing Woodman would be a poor piece of business from the Gunners.
The goalkeeper does not appear to have any kind of top-level experience and this may well be a case of a familial recommendation.
The stopper has yet to prove his worth but the fact that his contract is expiring at the end of next season suggests that Arsenal are simply looking for a bargain.
Woodman would likely become third-choice straight away and there is a very real question as to whether he would ever actually play in north London.
If he does make the move to Arsenal, one would expect that even more loan moves would follow.
The Gunners should just move on and forget about this Newcastle youngster.
Everton fans have taken to Twitter to discuss Henry Onyekuru’s form whilst out on loan with Galatasaray.
The Toffees signed the Nigerian forward back in the summer of 2017 from KAS Eupen for a fee of £7m, after he hit 22 goals in the Belgian top-flight as a 20-year-old, before immediately loaning him out to Anderlecht.
In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…
Onyekuru scored nine goals in 19 appearances last season, whilst also gaining Champions League experience, but it is his form in the current campaign that has got the Everton fans talking.
The now 21-year-old has netted 12 goals in just 21 starts for the Turkish giants, with plenty of games still to play.
One thing that Marco Silva lacks at Everton is a diminutive frontman who can offer something different to the taller, more physical forwards such as Cenk Tosun and Richarlison, so Onyekuru’s decent form whilst out on loan could earn him a pathway into the first-team at Goodison Park.
Let’s see what the Toffees supporters are saying on Twitter about his form…
Harry Kane might’ve become Spurs’ all-time European scorer on Tuesday night as Tottenham valiantly stood against the relentless yellow tide of Borussia Dortmund but he wasn’t the man who stuck out in our eyes.
The onus to attack was quite visible on the hosts who had to overturn a deficit of three goals having been embarrassed on Tottenham’s turf two weeks ago and they certainly looked the most likely in the opening exchanges dominating 70 per cent of possession.
Marco Reus missed an excellent opportunity to open the scoring for the hosts, having been denied by a valiant challenge from Jan Vertonghen the German managed to release a shot forcing Hugo Lloris into a save.
Spurs had an opportunity of their own to close things off early on when Son was released into a one-on-one, but the forward failed to make the chance pay.
Lloris was called back into action soon after, first stopping Julian Weigl’s headed off the line, before preventing World Cup hero Mario Gotze’s placed effort from inside the area.
There is a reason Harry Kane is Spurs’ all-time top European scorer and he showed that a few minutes into the second-half, latching onto engine-turned-playmaker Sissoko’s through ball to finish delightfully around Roman Burki.
Lloris would provide one more class save before time, saving low to prevent Spanish marksman Paco Alcacer from scoring Dortmund’s only goal of the tie.
For his heroics, Huge Lloris was quite rightly rewarded Man of the Match, but we think Moussa Sissoko deserves extra credit.
The former bumbling midfielder has come on leaps and bounds this season and has really stepped up when it matters.
Of course, his technical shortcomings are there for all to see, but he has really focused on his strongest assets to compensate and that was evident on Tuesday night.
He was tireless in midfield, shielded his defence well and provided a rare assist for Harry Kane.
Really turned a corner.
Tottenham fans, who do you think deserves the most credit if not Moussa Sissoko?
أكد الجنوب إفريقي بيتسو موسيماني، المدير الفني لـ الأهلي، أن فريقه خاض مباراة صعبة أمام بيراميدز، مشيدًا بالالتزام الخططي للاعبين خلال اللقاء.
وتعادل الأهلي مع بيراميدز سلبيًا في إطار منافسات الجولة الثالثة والثلاثون من منافسات مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز.
اقرأ أيضًا.. تشاتشيتش: راض عن تعادلنا أمام الأهلي.. وهذا الثنائي جاهز لمواجهة طلائع الجيش في الكأس
وأضاف موسيماني خلال المؤتمر الصحفي للمباراة: “كانت مباراة صعبة والخصم قدم مباراة قوية لكن الأهلي قدم مباراة جيدة وظهرت روح الفريق مع التزام تكتيكي وحافظ على نظافة شباكه للمباراة الثالثة على التوالي ولكن للاسف لم نسجل”.
تابع: “التزامنا الخططي ساعدنا على الظهور بشكل جيد رغم النقص العددي وخلق العديد من الفرص للتسجيل، وأنا سعيد باللاعبين وعقليتهم”.
وواصل: “لاحظتم أن الخصم الذي واجهناه اليوم هو أصعب من الخصمين في المبارتين السابقتين، لكن الأهلي يلعب بشكل جيد وبروح وملتزم خططيا، ولم يدخل فينا أي أهداف خلال الثلاثة مباريات الماضية، بالتأكيد نحن محبطون من أننا لم نسجل أهداف اليوم”.
استكمل: “لعبنا بروح ووحدة واحدة، طبعًا تم طرد لاعب مبكرًا ولكن الالتزام الخططي ساعدنا، والأهم ما حاولنا فعله خلال المباراة من خلق فرص كثيرة، الحضور الذهني وسلوك اللاعبين والتزامهم في الملعب كل ذلك كان مهمًا جدًا”.
أوضح: “كهربا خرج من الملعب محمولا لأنه مصاب، لكن تغيير بادجي كان خططيًا، كنا نلعب ناقصين ولكن كنا نؤدي وكأنه لا ينقصنا أي لاعب”.
أردف: “لعبنا جيدًا رغم طرد لاعب وخروج كهربا مصابًا، الشوط الأول كان صعبًا جدًا، والشوط الثاني كنا نتقدم وللأسف مجدي أفشة أضاع ركلة جزاء، وللأسف أنه سدد كرة في القائم كنت أتمنى أن يحرزها حتى تتحسن نفسيته ولكنه أدى بشكل جيد جدًا”.
أشار: “أنا تحدثت معه ووجدته محبطًا نوعًا ما، ولكن في عالم كرة القدم مارادونا وميسي وكريستيانو يضيعون ركلات جزاء”.
وبسؤاله هل فوز الرجاء بالدوري على الوداد سيساعدك في المباراة القادمة، رد قائلاً: “هذه الأمور لا نهتم بها، نحن نؤدي ما علينا هنا ولا نشغل ذهننا بما يحدث هناك، وأهنئ صديقي مدرب الرجاء على فوز فريقه بالدوري”.
وواصل: “نريد المحافظة على الهدوء والثقة، منذ قدومي هنا لم نلعب مباراة بدون إيقافات أو إصابات، كل مباراة أخسر لاعب، ولكن نحن نعمل كما نحن”.
وعن إهدار الفرص خاصة من جانب أجاي: قال: “هل أجاي لعب بشكل سيء؟، جونيور لعب وحارب من أجل الفريق، وبالتأكيد عندما يعود معلول في هذه الجبهة ستكون أقوى، إهدار الفرص أهم من عدم صناعتها والنقص العددي والغيابات كان لهم تأثيرًا”.
اختتم: “دفعت بلاعبين ناشئين وهذا أمر إيجابي، العربي بدر يبذل مجهودا كبيرًا، ومروان محسن غاب اليوم بسبب معاناته من الحمى”.
Liverpool fans have taken to Twitter in disagreement after a mix-up between Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk allowed ex-Red Ryan Babel to steal in and grab an equaliser in the 2-1 win over Fulham on Sunday.
Of course, a late James Milner penalty earned Jurgen Klopp’s side all three points, but the defensive howler between the aforementioned pair had the away section inside Craven Cottage quaking with nerves.
Jurgen Klopp has gotten quite inventive with his excuses this season. FFC’s James Jones think he has no one but himself to blame for Liverpol’s poor form in the video below…
After a slice from Milner, Van Dijk attempted to head the ball back to Alisson with Babel lurking in search of an opportunity, and his luck was in after the Dutch international headed awkwardly towards the Brazilian stopper, who allowed the ball to squirm past him.
Whilst both were somewhat at fault, as well as Milner, the Reds fans on Twitter are undecided as to who was mostly to blame for the error.
Let’s see what the Liverpool fans are saying about the situation on Twitter…
Sheffield Wednesday revealed on Tuesday – via their Twitter account – that Achraf Lazaar was back in training for the Championship club.
Lazaar joined Wednesday on loan from Newcastle United during the January window, having not featured for the Magpies in the first half of the campaign.
The 27-year-old made his debut for the second-tier side against Swansea City on February 23, before starting against Brentford three days later.
Lazaar pulled up with a hamstring problem against the London club, however, and has missed Wednesday’s last five Championship fixtures.
The 6 ft ace has been pictured back in training, though, ahead of what is a huge game at home to in-form Aston Villa this weekend.
It would be fair to say that the Wednesday fans are absolutely delighted with the news regarding Lazaar’s fitness, with many taking to social media to comment earlier this week.
A selection of the Twitter reaction from the supporters can be seen below:
Sheffield Wednesday fans on Twitter have been reminiscing after the club posted footage of a classic match at Hillsborough.
The video was shared on Twitter for World Theatre Day and featured a dramatic last-gasp winner from midfielder Kieran Lee, which was celebrated with a mini pitch invasion in the late-night Yorkshire rain.
The strike was the decider in a 3-2 Sky Bet Championship victory over Bristol City for the Owls in September 2016 and was scored after the visitors had led 2-0 at the break and the hosts had mounted a remarkable second-half comeback.
And Wednesday supporters were absolutely loving the clip, sharing memories from that evening on the social media platform in their droves.
Some simply posted comments such as “loved this game,” whilst others were just proud to say that they were there.
One fan even went as far as saying it was his “favourite home game in these last few years.”
Check out a selection of the best reactive Tweets from fans of the Sheffield club below…
The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…
Arsenal and Chelsea both hired new managers in the summer. In north London, Unai Emery arrived at the Emirates Stadium to take over from iconic long-serving boss Arsene Wenger. Meanwhile, ex-Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri usurped Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge.
In many ways, the situations both clubs found themselves in were comparable. The Blues, like the Gunners, had fallen out of the Champions League, both were looking to their new coaches to implement a new style of play, and both were undergoing something of a shift in identity.
Now, as both bosses come towards the end of their first campaign in charge, it’s time to assess their work so far.
Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…
For both the Spaniard Emery and the Italian Sarri, this has been a season of many ups and downs, with progress and setbacks both occurring in almost equal measure. Both have come under pressure at times, and also had great triumphs. However, the question of which set of fans ought to be happier with their lot so far remains.
This report card seeks to asses both managers’ impact and influence so far, in order to decide which club made the smartest appointment in the summer.
Emery – Arsenal
Soccer Football – Premier League – Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur – Emirates Stadium, London, Britain – December 2, 2018 Arsenal manager Unai Emery gestures Action Images via Reuters/Matthew 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. Please contact your account representative for furthe
Arguably, Emery came into the bigger job – in terms of the scale of the task ahead of him. The Gunners were replacing a legacy manager, whose power at the club was almost unrivalled and whose ideas and philosophies were ingrained in the very foundations of the Emirates Stadium.
Towards the end of Wenger’s tenure, the club’s fanbase were divided and tensions were running high as the attendances slowly dwindled. Emery’s first task was to restore some positivity, togetherness and goodwill at the ground, which he achieved by virtue of the clean slate that his arrival provided.
The 47-year-old also had to update and upgrade the team on the pitch in terms of playing style and personnel. His budget was limited, but summer signings Bernd Leno, Sokratis, Lucas Torreira and Matteo Guendouzi all must be considered a success. Tactically, the Gunners have also been far more versatile this season.
However, several old weaknesses still remain, including the club’s frailties when playing away from home, and a general lack of defensive solidity. There’s also still plenty of deadweight in the squad to shift, with the likes of Shkodran Mustafi, Mohamed Elneny and Carl Jenkinson still on the payroll but offering little in terms of return on investment.
Soccer Football – Premier League – Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal – Wembley Stadium, London, Britain – March 2, 2019 Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil with manager Unai Emery as he prepares to come on REUTERS/David Klein 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. Please contact your accou
Much of Arsenal and Emery’s season has been overshadowed by the Mesut Ozil saga. The talismanic German playmaker is the club’s highest-paid player, having signed a lucrative new deal mere months before Emery’s appointment. For £350,000-a-week, the 30-year-old No. 10 ought to be leading by example on the pitch. Instead, he’s on the fringes of team.
Rumours of a bust-up between player and coach have been reported, Ozil has been mysteriously absent from the matchday squad on more than one occasion, and he is serially benched for high-profile games. Considering the World Cup winner is such a superstar and on astronomical wages, Emery’s handling of this situation could define his tenure.
Whilst there’s been plenty of progress, and encouraging performances against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, there remains a lot of work to do and kinks to iron out. However, the fact that Arsenal are still in the top-four race is positive and offers hope to expectant supporters.
FFC rating: 7/10 Sarri – Chelsea
That Chelsea won the Premier League title in 2017 and were reigning FA Cup champions when Sarri took charge suggests that the west London outfit were already much closer to being a top team this summer than Arsenal. However, that assessment would neglect certain key factors.
The likes of Willian and Pedro are ageing, whilst the lack of a clinical striker – given Alvaro Morata’s woeful form – meant that the Blues were in dire need of a major overhaul. What’s more, the level of funding Roman Abramovich once supplied was no longer available. Chelsea now needed to operate on a budget.
The arrivals of Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and Kepa Arrizabalaga laid the foundations of Sarri’s new-look side, but the failure to bring in a prolific forward until the January loan arrival of Gonzalo Higuain hampered the Stamford Bridge outfit.
Sarri’s main issue, though, has been successfully integrating his preferred style of play. The 60-year-old is not a versatile coach – which Chelsea would have known when offering him the position. He will not change his ideals to suit the squad, instead, they must bend to his will, meet his demands and execute his instructions.
These tactical shifts have caused some ripples of discontent amongst the fanbase, as Sarri’s side have wrestled to get to grips with the manager’s philosophy. For instance, Jorginho’s deployment at the base of midfield has forced N’Golo Kante – perhaps the world’s best defensive midfielder – into an unfamiliar, advanced role.
Performances have been inconsistent, and the Blues have been on the end of some embarrassing defeats, including a 4-0 home loss to Bournemouth and a 6-0 defeat at the hands of reigning champions Manchester City.
Perhaps Sarri’s greatest low, though, came on the night that may have provided his greatest high. Chelsea produced a fine performance in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City – a mere fortnight after their six-goal drubbing – to take the game to extra time. As penalties approached, Sarri attempted to substitute ‘keeper Kepa – who had twice gone down injured – with back-up shot-stopper Willy Caballero.
The £71 million glovesman refused to come off. In an extraordinary, irate exchange, the 24-year-old No. 1 refused to back down until a furious Sarri relented. The game went to a shootout and City prevailed, with Kepa failing to keep out a weak Sergio Aguero effort that he got a hand to. The whole affair overshadowed a fine performance and was an undignified public flouting of Sarri’s authority.
Chelsea’s form has been solid since this incident, but the manager’s situation remains on a knife-edge. However, the Blues are on course to compete down to the wire for a top four spot, have already reached a cup final, and are progressing comfortably in the Europa League. Yet, it all feels very tenuous.
FFC rating: 6/10
With Arsenal and Chelsea both fighting each other on so many of the same fronts this season, the battle between these two coaches could be season-defining. Whilst in the race for the top four and in terms of Europa League progress both clubs are neck and neck But, due to what’s been seen on the pitch in general, Arsenal fans have just a few more reasons to be cheerful.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder’s rotation has been in full effect recently and saw Aston Villa loanee Scott Hogan secure his second successive start against Brentford on Tuesday night, but his substitution at half-time surely ensures once and for all that he has no future at Villa Park.
On the chalkboard
Well, the 26-year-old may well have been buoyed by the fact that Dean Smith arrived as Steve Bruce’s successor in 2018, given he enjoyed the best form of his career under the former Bees boss at Griffin Park previously, but it didn’t work out positively.
He had only played 90 minutes for the Blades prior to last weekend following his January loan move, but he doubled that total against Rotherham United before starting again for the visit of Brentford to Bramall Lane on Tuesday.
Being named on the team-sheet ahead of players like Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick was probably a tactic by Wilder to ensure that none of his strikers suffer burnout during the run-in, but it went badly for Hogan.
The 26-year-old was largely anonymous in the first half and despite the hosts going down to 10 men when his strike partner Gary Madine was sent off in the 35th minute, he was still pulled at half-time in place of David McGoldrick, who went on to find the net.
Who has been the Championship’s best player this season? The Pl>ymaker FC squad discuss in the video below…
What next for the striker?
He faces a battle to break back into the starting XI at Sheffield United, let alone at Villa.
The Republic of Ireland international was nowhere near to dislodging Jonathan Kodjia and Tammy Abraham if truth be told, and while the latter could return to Chelsea following the expiry of his own loan spell, it might not make too much difference to Hogan.
It is difficult to see him turning his career with the Midlands outfit given how badly his move has worked out so far, no matter what division they find themselves in next term.