Adam Armstrong is once again forcing himself into Newcastle fans’ minds, after the young striker scored another brace for Blackburn Rovers on Monday.
Newcastle fans can’t decide what the future holds for Armstrong, as the 21 year-old kept his sensational run going with two wonderful goals against MK Dons.
Blackburn are now top of League One, and it’s no surprise given the form of Armstrong, who has nine goals and two assists in his last nine games.
The 21 year-old opened the scoring on Monday with a lovely finish, racing onto a long through ball before firing past the keeper. He added his second just before the break, once again finishing with aplomb after receiving a through ball.
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Armstrong has struggled in two Championship loan spells in between two fantastic spells with League One sides, prompting comments from some fans that he has “found his level” in League One.
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February’s League One player of the month will surely want to force his way into Rafa Benitez’s plans next season, as the youngster is reaching the age where he needs to produce at the top level.
Fans have been discussing his future on Twitter, and some of the best reactions can be found below…
Well, there you have it, Arsenal are the third English team to crash out of the Champions League this season following a crushing away goals defeat to Monaco.
Despite bagging the victory in France, Arsenal couldn’t undo the damage done during a hellish 90-minutes back in north London – how Arsene Wenger must look back on that late Monaco third goal as the game-changing moment.
If anything, the two-legs sum up this Arsenal side; you just never know which one will turn up. You can get the pathetic and weak XI that played at the Emirates or you can get the side that dig deep, that take their chances but, ultimately, always just fall short.
Fair play to Monaco, though, who know what they’re good at and stick to it – a friendlier Stoke City perhaps?
Anyway, Arsenal’s Champions League campaign is over for another season at least but before they return home, let’s have a look at what we learnt from tonight’s game
Aaron Ramsey is getting back to his best
It was a welcome sight for all Gunners when Aaron Ramsey was named in the starting line-up against West Ham last weekend. And that sight got even sweeter when the Wales international bagged Arsenal’s all important second goal to kill off the Hammers.
Ramsey’s performance was so impressive that Gooners were gutted to see him back on the bench for tonight’s game against Monaco.
When Ramsey did eventually come on, he changed the game with his forward-thinking play and, of course, his well taken goal.
Mesut Ozil will forever be a scapegoat
The anti-Mesut Ozil brigade is a bizarre one and one that isn’t going to change its agenda anytime soon. The German international was in his usual subtle genius form against the Ligue 1 outfit tonight. However, as soon as the cameras picked up the World Cup winner swapping shirts at half-time with Kondogbia, that was it for the attacking-midfielder.
Scapegoat; now, forever and always.
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Arsenal will forever be valiant losers
We all knew what to expect from Arsenal tonight; it is what the Gunners do time and time again, ‘heroic failure’. They came close against Bayern Munich in the previous two seasons, however, ultimately, the damage was already done and they had left themselves with too much to do.
When will it change for Arsene Wenger’s side? Something has got to give? Something has got to change? They’re in a cycle and don’t know how to break it.
Disbelief and disappointment have been etched on every Coventry city supporters face since Tuesday’s 3-0 defeat to Crewe in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy area final. In front of a packed out Ricoh Arena with nearly all being behind the Skyblues it was a game that if u were there would have left you with very mixed emotions.
Huge disappointment was the obvious overwhelming feeling when it comes to the result with City now very unlikely to make the final at Wembley. However the result wasn’t even half of the story. It was in fact a brilliant performance from all of the city players who dominated the match up until the 3rd goal went in for Crewe when their heads clearly dropped.
There is no question that we were by far the superior side and created the majority of the chances but it turned out to just be one of them days in front of goal. We pushed and pushed to get a goal and in the end his may have been what cost us. A 1-0 defeat would have been disappointing but also would have been easily rectifiable in the second leg. Instead with the huge crowd urging them forward the players went all out to get level and ended up leaving themselves short at the back and it cost us two more goals which almost effectively kills the tie.
The players gave it everything and you could see they were hurting come the end of the match and I for one felt for them especially our captain Carl Baker and the younger lads. None of them deserved that, they have been brilliant all season and are putting this club back on the right footing. I really felt that our luck was changing but it seems like the Coventry curse is not quite over yet and we now have a mountain to climb if we are to get to the final and keep our hopes of a trophy alive.
It is an extremely difficult but not impossible task. We created more than enough to have easily scored 3 goals in that game and maybe it will fall for us in the next leg. We replicate that performance and we do still have a chance.
Crewe came to the Ricoh with a clear game plan and I don’t think in any of their wildest dream that they would come away with a victory like that. It will have definitely changed their mind-set for the second leg where I expect them to set up exactly the same. Sit back, soak up pressure and hit us hard on the counter attack. We will have to defend better hats for sure and hope our luck changes in front of goal.
Right now I am still feeling gutted and finding it hard to believe that we can turn it around but I know there is a chance and until it is over I will still believe as every fan should. We can still do it and I for the first time in many years I am confident that the players will give it everything in an attempt to turn it around.
Moving away from the cup though which has been and hopefully will continue to be a nice addition to city’s league form. The league is city’s bread and butter and after Friday’s victory away at Sheffield United the playoffs are looking like a real possibility.
We went to Sheffield united and dominated for large parts of the game especially in the first half when we should have scored more than the one we got. We showed we could soak up pressure in the second half and in the end it was a lack of concentration that allowed Sheffield united the equaliser.
Robins though has brought in a never say die attitude and once again Coventry found something extra in the last few minutes of the game to grad the winning goal which put us within a point of Sheffield united.
We are up there now and a playoff challenge is definitely on. The teams in and around us do still have games in hand and for that reason we may have to win a bigger proportion of our remaining games than our closest rivals. This is by no means out of the question though and we have games against these teams in the coming weeks including Brentford, Doncaster, Swindon, Bournemouth and Yeovil who we play this coming Saturday.
This means our playoff destiny is still very much in our hands and a win on Saturday against Yeovil may well be the biggest step towards the play offs we are yet to take.
It is time for Robins to truly show if he is going to be a great manager for us. He has already done some wonderful thongs with this squad since his arrival but I is going to take a great manager to pick the players up from the defeat to Crewe. Having put so much in and played so well to get beaten by 3 goals to nil the players will need that push from their boss that many managers often struggle to deliver.
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The motivation shouldn’t be an issue with the playoffs in sight but the players will still be hurting come Saturday. It’s a big game and could be a defining one. Our season is at the point where it is on the brink. To fail to make the Johnstone’s paint trophy final and then to fail to make the playoffs will be seen as a failure by many. This is h vital moment and the next couple of matches will show us whether our season will have a chance of success or to be a failure once more.
Tottenham fans have been sweating on the fitness of Harry Kane ahead of this weekend’s clash with Chelsea.
With five points separating the London rivals, this weekend’s clash between Spurs and Chelsea could effectively decide the top four race.
Of course, Spurs fans have been biting their nails waiting for updates on Harry Kane’s fitness, after the 24 year-old injured his ankle against Bournemouth.
Many fans were hopeful of a return for the Chelsea clash after Kane was pictured enjoying a joke with Gareth Southgate, notably without his protective boot.
Fans are now coming to terms with the idea of resting the striker this weekend though, with the risk of damaging him further deemed just too great to take.
Last night, Alasdair Gold, Tottenham correspondent for football.london, said Kane has had one eye on the clash with Chelsea but it would probably be too soon.
Though it’s not the news fans would have wanted to hear, the excellent form of Heung-min Son might ease some of the pain, and fans are now hoping Kane does not rush back.
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Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
James Milner is said to be targeted by Liverpool in planning for life after Gerrard, and he appears to be a worthwhile acquisition.
The England international’s contract at Manchester City expires this summer, the Red’s are capable of attracting Milner to Anfield and they should certainly look to do so.
From a financial viewpoint Milner appears extremely good value as he would be a free transfer, despite his obvious qualities and experience. In an age where Financial Fair Play is becoming increasingly prominent in club’s transfer dealings, Milner would not be one to worry the books at Anfield.
Though he would probably command a high salary, Milner appears a worthwhile investment, particularly considering he is probably currently worth circa £20million were he not be nearly out of contract.
Tactically Milner would be an ideal fit at Liverpool, particularly given that Brendan Rodgers likes versatile players. The way Manchester City have used Milner has led many to forget his creative qualities, most obvious when playing as an attacking midfielder when at Aston Villa.
This form earned Milner a £26m move to the Etihad, which fully demonstrated his versatility, capable of playing at full-back, as a holding midfielder and on the flanks.
Milner would surely appreciate the opportunity to play regularly in his preferred position in the centre of midfield, something Liverpool can offer, particularly given the upcoming absence of Steven Gerrard. Joe Allen is currently struggling, whilst Lucas Leiva looks set to depart relatively soon, meaning Milner would undoubtedly start whenever he was fit.
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Title winning experience, from two successful Premier league campaigns with City, is also something Milner can offer that is currently lacking throughout Liverpool’s squad.
Mental scars will still remain with both players who came so close to lifting the title last season, making Milner a valuable asset, particularly given how young Liverpool’s squad is. Regular starters such as Emre Can, Philippe Coutinho, Alberto Moreno, Lazar Markovic and Raheem Sterling are all under 23, with new captain Jordan Henderson just 24.
At 29, Milner is in the peak years of his career and perfectly placed to complement these youngsters’ potential through being a proven winner with extensive international experience. The ex-Leeds midfielder would also, similarly to Daniel Sturridge, want to prove that he can be the focal point in a top side rather than just a squad player.
Milner is an asset to City, partially through assisting with the completion of the home-grown quota required in the Champions League. Moreover, City have few players who are particularly tactically versatile, or midfielders that truly appear to understand their defensive duties.
Milner is often criticised for a lack of creativity, though at Manchester City he is compared with some outstanding attacking talent, such as Samir Nasri, Yaya Toure and David Silva. Unlike those names, Milner is a true team player who understands his role within a squad.
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Milner is also more creative than often given credit for, managing six Premier league assists this season, despite often being used out of position and as a substitute. This is still more assists than any Liverpool player in the League this campaign.
Milner’s role at Anfield might well be the understated hero – experienced, supposedly ‘boring’ and often criticised. However, to understand his true worth, notice how highly valued he is by managers and fellow players.
As his brilliant parody Christmas video showed, James Milner might be ‘boring’, but given their current troubles Liverpool should do everything possible to sign him.
Mohamed Diame has warned West Ham he will report the club to FIFA if they fail to honour the release clause agreement in his contract, the Daily Mail understand.
The defensive midfielder is free to leave the Hammers if a club meets the stipulated £3.5 million fee that was written in when signed on a free transfer from Wigan in the summer.
A number of Premier League sides have been alerted to the Senegal international’s situation this month after a blistering start to life at Upton Park.
Arsenal, Newcastle and Tottenham are all known admirers of Diame but the 25-year-old harbours suspicions that his current employers are trying to halt a potential move by getting him to sign a new contract and remove the release clause.
He has so far resisted putting pen-to-paper on a fresh deal and is reportedly cross with the club for using such underhand tactics in an attempt to force him into staying at the club.
And its expected that Diame will take severe action against West Ham by taking the matter to FIFA should they fail to comply with the contractual agreement.
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Reports indicate Arsenal have already lodged their interested in signing the midfield enforcer with Arsene Wenger recently signing his praises: “He has a great presence in the games, I have seen him have a big impact.”
Southampton midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has paid tribute to the impact of the club’s new head coach Mark Hughes.
Hughes was confirmed as Southampton’s new manager on March 14, with the Welshman signing a contract at St Mary’s until the end of the 2017-18 campaign.
The 54-year-old oversaw Sunday’s 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, which set up a semi-final clash against English champions Chelsea.
The Saints still have big problems in the Premier League, however, with a total of 28 points leaving them in 18th position in the table.
Hojbjerg, who scored his first Southampton goal against Wigan, has hailed Hughes for making an immediate impact at the struggling club.
Hojbjerg told Southampton’s official website:
“I think I speak on everyone’s behalf when I say it has been positive. It is a new impulse, new energy, good vibes, a fresh start. He worked a lot on intensity and discipline, and the desire to go the extra yards as individuals and as a team.
“We have some really good players and maybe this is the perfect fit, nothing is perfect in this world but it’s a good start, let me just say that.”
Hughes, who has recently been blasted by outspoken pundit Joey Barton, left his position with Stoke in January following a poor run of results.
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Next up for Southampton is a huge game away to fellow strugglers West Ham United in the Premier League on March 31.
Liverpool spent a club-record £117million this summer in the wake of Luis Suarez’ departure to Barcelona, but Brendan Rodgers’ prolific spending spree hasn’t quite had the desired effect.
Indeed, with the Reds in eighth place in the Premier League, five points off the top four, it’s believed the Merseyside outfit will look to splash the cash again when the transfer market reopens in January.
And purely because huge transfer fees leaves us at Football Fancast screaming with excitement like little girls watching vines of Justin Bieber, we’re hoping Liverpool’s coming transfer window is as lucrative as the last.
So with that in mind, here’s a list of five well-known, highly-priced targets Brendan Rodgers should break the bank for in January.
SAIDO BERAHINO
He may cost an arm and a leg, or £23million to be precise, but from a tactical perspective, Saido Berahino would be the perfect January signing for Liverpool. Unlike misfiring forwards Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert, he’s blessed with pace, agility and trickery and would constitute a step back towards the fluid counter-attacking football that defined the Merseysiders last season.
The West Brom forward can play out wide, in behind or as an out-and-out poacher; the notion of him, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling operating as a roaming front-three leaves one foaming at the mouth. 12 goals in his first 50 Premier League outings is a decent return, but Berahino’s attitude away from the field has often drawn criticism.
EDINSON CAVANI
Another costly striking option for the Reds to consider is PSG front-man Edinson Cavani. The 27 year-old boasts healthy returns at both club and international level – 104 in 138 for former side Napoli, 38 in 65 for current club PSG and 24 in 69 for the Uruguayan national team – and looks a good fit for the Premier League, through the height, power and strength of his 6 foot 2 frame.
And it seems the South American is on his way out of the French capital, having failed to dislodge Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the star front-man since moving to Parc de Princes 18 months ago, instead often settling for an unfamiliar role out wide. £50million is a lot of moolah however, and Arsenal are believed to be leading the race for Cavani’s signature.
MATTIA PERIN
Having recently dropped Liverpool No.1 Simon Mignolet for ‘an indefinite period’, it’s quite clear that Brendan Rodgers is on the look-out for a new goalkeeper. One of the names believed to be in the mix is Genoa’s Mattia Perin.
Many have labelled the Serie A starlet as ‘the next Gigi Buffon’, having already represented the Italian national team at just 22 years of age. His 6 foot 2 frame isn’t the tallest compared to Premier League standards (in fact, it’s the average height for PL goalkeepers) but the Italian stopper looks like a real prospect. That being said, £16million is a rather sizeable fee for such a young and unproven goalkeeper.
MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN
Liverpool fans have probably endured enough of Southampton players turning up at their club for ridiculous amounts of money, but it could be worth making one final exception for France international Morgan Schneiderlin.
The 25 year-old has continually proved himself to be one of the Premier League’s top enforcers since the Saints’ top flight ascension in summer 2012, this term ranking in fifth in the division’s tackle charts. Additionally, he’s tall, powerful and ever consistent on the ball – boasting a 90% pass completion rate this term – and looks more than ready to ply his trade at a higher level.
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The Reds need an upgrade on Lucas Leiva and Schneiderlin fits the bill perfectly. Ronald Koeman recently failed to quash rumours that the tough-tackling Frenchman could move on in January, but even so, he’ll likely set the Reds back around £25million.
JUAN CUADRADO
Another signing who could revive the intensity of Liverpool’s waning attack comes in the form of Fiorentina star Juan Cuadrado.
The South American’s blend of pace, stamina and tenacity has seen him tear apart Serie A over the last 18 months, amassing 16 goals and eight assists in his last 45 league outings. He brought his form to the World Cup in Brazil too, finishing up with the joint-most assists of any player alongside Daley Blind.
Brendan Rodgers isn’t too fond of wingers but could make an exception for the 26 year-old; he’s notoriously versatile and has featured in virtually every position for the Florence outfit, ranging from right-back to left winger and defensive midfield to No.10. His £27million release clause should be within the Reds’ financial reach, but long-term interest from Manchester United, Manchester City and Barcelona could prove problematic.
On August 29, the Premier League elite were limbering up for another enthralling transfer deadline day, when Tottenham Hotspur somewhat jumped the gun and swooped to sign Moussa Dembele. The club activated the £15m release clause in his contract at Fulham, forcing their way past the more desirable outfits of Real Madrid and Manchester United to secure the Belgian international’s signature.
Despite Dembele’s obvious potential, his reputation in mainstream circles was rather subdued, as if the platform at Craven Cottage didn’t do justice to his excellent skill set. His arrival at White Hart Lane drew the same concerned looks and surprised expressions akin to when Brendan Rodgers spent a similar fee acquiring Joe Allen.
However, the 25-year-old has spent the past two seasons gradually transforming into one of the most desirable deep-lying playmakers in modern football. He has slowly been shuffled from his natural position as a striker, deeper into the heart of midfield, where he flourished alongside Danny Murphy last season. The transition has been remarkable and has allowed Dembele to have a greater impact on games, despite the fact he is now further away from goal.
In a Tottenham midfield that has been depleted by the departures of influential duo Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart, Dembele has thrived along the spine of his new team. While he has been keen to distance himself from comparisons with the creative Croatian, there are certain traits that suggest the club have obtained a superior replacement.
Although Modric now plies his trade in La Liga – in surroundings far removed from the intensity of the Premier League – it’s still worth analysing their statistics this season. In a similar number of league appearances, both players have clocked up over 400 passes with Modric averaging 41.3 per game and Dembele 46.2. The accuracy rates are also particularly impressive with Dembele boasting a completion rate off 88.9% compared to Modric’s 86.6%.
The parallels continue when you notice that Modric has made 17 interceptions compared to Dembele’s 15, but the stark contrast occurs in the tackling department. Whereas Modric has made 16 successful tackles, Dembele has instigated nearly double, 30, which suggests the new man in North London is a better fit for the typically more combative midfields that epitomise English football.
This season has hailed the rise of the dominant box-to-box midfielder, with the likes of Marouane Fellani and Yaya Toure hauling their respective clubs up the table. In Dembele, Spurs have their very own midfield general, blessed with the energy levels of Chelsea’s Ramires and the composure of Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere.
Without wanting to commit the crime of sensationalised reporting, Andre Villas-Boas now has the complete package at his disposal, a prized asset that every club in the league will rue not taking a gamble on. He is Mikel Arteta on steroids, Gareth Barry with pace and the player that Anderson should and may well one day become. The only real task for Spurs is to keep him away from the treatment table or he risks becoming just another unfulfilled talent in the club’s recent history.
Daniel Levy has come under fire for failing to provide better support for his new manager, most notably in the pursuit of Joao Moutinho in the summer. However, few can argue with his track record in the transfer market, with Moussa Dembele the latest name to be etched into his profitable portfolio of purchases. If he can repeat the same feats in January, a place in the top four looks even more likely than this time last season.
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Southampton appointed Mark Hughes as their new manager on Wednesday night, and some of the comments from the Welshman in his first interview since the announcement will be gladly received by out-of-favour striker Manolo Gabbiadini.
While the Italy international made a blistering start to his Saints career more than a year ago, he has found form harder to come by in more recent times and he quickly fell down the pecking order under former boss Mauricio Pellegrino during the current campaign, with the likes of Charlie Austin, Shane Long and now Guido Carrillo ahead of him in the pecking order.
The 26-year-old has only started one Premier League match since December 16, much to the annoyance of the St Mary’s faithful, and despite scoring the equaliser as a substitute in the 1-1 draw against Burnley last month, it wasn’t enough to earn him a spot in the XI for the following match against Stoke City at St Mary’s.
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Hughes will know Gabbiadini well having tried to sign him – along with many other of the south coast outfit’s stars – when he was in charge of the Potters, and that should bode well for the attacker’s chances for the remainder of the season.
Speaking to southamptonfc.com, the 54-year-old said: “If I’m honest I’ve probably tried to sign half of them so I know a lot of the quality that these players possess, and it’s going to be good to get the opportunity to finally work with some of the players that I missed out on at previous clubs.”
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Gabbiadini will be hopeful that those quotes from the Welshman ensure that he will get more playing time between now and May – starting in the club’s FA Cup quarter-final tie against Wigan Athletic on Sunday.