This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
Patrick Bamford’s fortune at Leeds is a sorry one and if anything summed up his spell with the Whites, you need to look no further than Saturday afternoon.
The former Chelsea academy product came into the new campaign as their main centre-forward.
Initially it looked as though he’d deputise for Kemar Roofe after the striker was injured but now he’s departed for Anderlecht, Bamford is the main man.
A goal against Bristol City on the opening weekend will have done his confidence the world of good but his rather untidy performance against Nottingham Forest last Saturday was anything but confident.
The 25-year-old is a player who has lacked fortune at Elland Road. He scored nine times in 2018/19 but was forced to miss 22 games through injury.
Following his move from Middlesbrough, it wasn’t an ideal start to life in Yorkshire for the striker.
2019/20 could have served as a new dawn for Bamford and indeed he may still have an impressive season. However, he still has work to do if he’s to ever be the man capable of taking Leeds to promotion.
His stats from the weekend tell a rather sad tale. On numerous times he was slipped through but just couldn’t find the back of the net, striking the bar as well as seeing a lobbed attempt head wide of the target despite being one-on-one.
Per WhoScored, he was presented with six opportunities in total but three of them were off target completely as he endured a torrid outing.
Bamford was caught offside twice too, as his afternoon never looked like improving.
And with that display, he has put one of his teammates under huge pressure to perform straight away.
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Eddie Nketiah arrived on loan from Arsenal on deadline day and judging by Leeds’ inability to find the net last weekend, he’ll have to hit the ground running quickly.
Leeds’ number nine looks a player short on confidence and composure and there is only so much time you can give him.
Nketiah’s addition looks as though it’s come at the right time but Saturday proves just how much pressure he’ll now be under to score goals.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…
According to Sky Sports, Everton are in talks with Manchester United over a move for centre-back Marcos Rojo.
What’s the word?
Reports in recent weeks had suggested Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was keen on shipping some of his defenders out before the end of the transfer window were a move for Harry Maguire to be completed.
Following the world-record move for the 26-year-old, Rojo’s future is up in the air, and Sky Sports now claim fellow Premier League side Everton are keen on tying up a permanent deal for the Argentina international.
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The report adds Rojo was at United’s training ground on Thursday morning along with a member of his representatives, and held talks over his long-term future at the club.
Fresh hope for Tuanzebe
One man who will certainly benefit from the departure of Rojo is Axel Tuanzebe. The United academy prospect spent the entirety of last season on loan at Aston Villa, and helped the side clinch promotion to the Premier League.
However, the Red Devils’ abundance of options in central defence meant there were concerns over whether he would be set for another loan spell away, but Rojo’s possible exit could see Tuanzebe come back into the reckoning. The 21-year-old impressed at the heart of defence for Villa, and his blend of pace and power could see him become an intriguing centre-back partner for Maguire.
The one thing youngsters need – particularly at big clubs – is an opportunity. For Tuanzebe, the door potentially closing on Rojo’s injury-ravaged career at Old Trafford, could well be the opening of his.
Arsenal have officially released their 2019/20 away kit and it is a thing of beauty.
The Gunners’ new colours are said to be inspired by the legendary away strip the Londoners wore during the early ’90s, so this is a throwback and a celebration of the club’s rich history, but with a modern twist.
The bright yellow palette is definitely something the fans can immediately associate with Arsenal, and the added modernised “bruised banana” graphic gives it a retro touch.
The Gunners will wear it in action against Bayern Munich in the International Champions Cup in Los Angeles and it could be introduced to the Premier League against Newcastle United on August 11.
Their stars have already been showcasing the new colours on social media but Ian Wright, the ex-Gunner, has done so in a rather hilarious way.
Wright has been playing with the new app that lets the users see what an older version of themselves would look like.
With that in mind, Wright experimented and came out with hilarious results in his latest
Having joined from Benfica in the summer of 2017, Victor Lindelof has enjoyed a rather mixed career at Manchester United.
The Sweden international has had his bright moments and his not-so-bright moments, but rallied well last season to see him eventually be named runner-up in the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year poll at Old Trafford.
Reports in recent weeks and months had suggested however he could be on his way out of Manchester, with comments from his agent about interest from Barcelona adding fuel to the fire.
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But speaking ahead of United’s latest pre-season clash against Leeds, Lindelof appeared to put those transfer rumours to bed, stating that he is “very happy” at the club and that he is “excited” for the new season to start.
After hearing the Swede’s comments on the speculation surrounding his future, United fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the matter and many were seemingly delighted.
Red Devils supporters revealed that they were “proud” of the 24-year-old for ending the Barcelona links, and even suggested that Paul Pogba should take notes amid the transfer saga surrounding the Frenchman’s future at the club.
Check out some of the reaction of United fans below:
أصدر الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم بيانًا رسميًا للرد على الانتقادات التي وجهت للتحكيم خلال الفترة القليلة الماضية، مؤكدًا أن مصر تملك ذخيرة قوية من الحكام.
وكان نادي الزمالك قد أصدر بيانًا رسميًا للمطالبة بالعدالة التحكيمية، سبقه بيان من الأهلي يطالب بتوقف الأخطاء التحكيمية الفجة.
بيان رسمي | الزمالك يطالب بالعدالة التحكيمية ويرفض تخفيف “بعض” العقوبات بيان اتحاد الكرة
“يؤكد الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم تقديره للنقد بشكل عام وهو ما جعل أعضاءه يتحملون بصدر رحب ما يتعرضون له يوميا من موجات وصلت إلى حد الهجوم غير المبرر في بعض الأحيان، وذلك منذ أن تولت اللجنة الثلاثية المكلفة بإدارة الاتحاد مسئولياتها، ملتزمة الصمت حيال ذلك، إلا أنه في الوقت نفسه لا يمكن أن تسمح اللجنة باستمرار ما يتعرض له التحكيم المصري لهذا الكم من التشويه المتعمد بعد كل مباراة، وهذا الكم من اختلاق الأخبار والإدعاءات غير الصحيحة التي تنال الحكام المصريين.
ويهم الاتحاد المصري في هذا المقام أن يؤكد على ثقته في التحكيم المصري الذي يعد الأعرق والأفضل على مستوى القارة الإفريقية، ويمتلك ذخيرة من الحكام الأكفاء سواء من الدوليين وغير الدوليين.
ويدعو الاتحاد المصري جميع العاملين في الوسط الكروي التحلي بالموضوعية لدى تناولهم شئون التحكيم بعيدا عما تجرفهم إليه المنافسات الرياضية، وأن يبقوا أحد عناصر الدعم الرئيسية لهذا العنصر المهم في العملية الكروية، وأن يضع الجميع في اعتباره أيضًا أن أخطاء التحكيم في العالم أجمع ستظل جزءً من لعبة كرة القدم مهما اتسعت مساحة الاستعانة بالتقنيات الحديثة.
كما يناشد الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم الإعلام الرياضي على وجه الخصوص الاستمرار في دعم الحكام المصريين كما اعتدنا منه، والتمسك بمصداقيته التي تميزه والتأكد من صحة الأخبار عقب كل مباراة.”
After Leeds failed in their bid for promotion last season, some of their star men have garnered interest from the top flight.
It’s been widely reported that Tottenham want to sign Jack Clarke, while Bournemouth and Norwich are reportedly interested in Kalvin Phillips.
Both players were brilliant last season, so it should come as no surprise that they are being looked at by Premier League clubs.
Another player who has been linked with a move away from Elland Road is Pontus Jansson. Years of good performances from the Swedish centre-back has led to many speculating that his time at the club is up.
The Whites will certainly struggle to hold onto all three of these players, but it’s hard to choose which individual would be the most important to keep.
Football FanCast’s writers have had their say as to which player of the trio should the men in charge at Elland Road be focused on keeping.
Billy Meyers
“The young prospect should always be prioritised, in my opinion, as they are the future of the club. Of course, Tottenham look likely to offer a fair chunk of cash for Clarke, but his value could more than double with another good season next year – the teenager should be Leeds’ main priority to keep hold of this summer.”
Luke Glanville
“If they can, Leeds United will want to keep all three as it’s hard to choose which one out of the trio is the most important to them. However, keeping the youngest in Clarke undoubtedly makes the most sense. As well as promotion back to the Premier League next season, the Whites need to be thinking about the future and can’t get too sucked in looking at the short-term. Clarke is one of the brightest prospects in English football and he is vital to Leeds’ lofty ambitions.”
Matt Dawson
“Out of the three men in question then Jansson should be the choice to depart Elland Road this summer. He’s one of the most enigmatic members of the Leeds squad and if an offer comes in they’d be doing the right thing by accepting it. However, Clarke is clearly the priority here. He is someone that the club can build their future around and simply has to be kept at all costs.”
Unai Emery’s men finished the season in fifth place and all of their Champions League eggs now sit in one basket; winning the Europa League.
The Gunners take on Chelsea in the final but, regardless of the result, the squad needs a major overhaul this summer.
Reports suggest that Emery will only have £40million to work with if they don’t qualify for Europe’s premier club competition, but who should the club keep around and who should they bin off in a bid to boost the coffers?
Football FanCast has taken a look…
[snack_break title=”Goalkeepers – Bernd Leno, Petr Cech, Dejan Iliev “]
Soccer Football – Premier League – Southampton v Arsenal – St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, Britain – December 16, 2018 Arsenal’s Bernd Leno looks dejected as he applauds the fans at the end of the match 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
Bernd Leno – The best goalkeeper Arsenal have had in a really long time. Keep him.
Petr Cech – Already gone – retiring at the end of a distinguished career.
Dejan Iliev – Nobody knows. Keep him and play him in the Carabao Cup.
[snack_break title=”Full-backs – Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal, Sead Kolasinac, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Carl Jenkinson “]
Soccer Football – Premier League – Arsenal v Huddersfield Town – Emirates Stadium, London, Britain – December 8, 2018 Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin prepares to take a throw in REUTERS/Hannah McKay 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 further
Hector Bellerin – The best defender Arsenal have but injuries have ravaged him this season. Keep him but wrap him up in cotton wool.
Nacho Monreal – Ageing but has another year on his contract. Sell him if a bid comes in.
Sead Kolasinac – Has struggled to nail down the left-back position and seems unsuited to the Premier League. Would be a wrench to sell him after such a short Gunners career but it makes sense if he can be replaced.
Stephan Lichtsteiner – He’s too old for the Premier League. Sell and replace.
Carl Jenkinson – Amazingly still on the books at the club. Sell him and give him the chance to reignite his career elsewhere.
Laurent Koscielny – The only defender to emerge from this season with any real credit. Keep him but ensure that a succession plan is put in place as he turns 34 in September.
Rob Holding – He does not appear good enough but he’s just 23. Keep him and hope he delivers on his long-held potential.
Shkodran Mustafi – An absolute disgrace of a defender, crowbar him out of the club.
Konstantinos Mavropanos – Loan him out and hope he gets the minutes he needs to improve; has looked out of his depth at times this season.
Sokratis – He’s not quite as good as Koscielny but he’s nowhere near as bad as Mustafi. Keep him.
[snack_break title=”Central midfielders – Mohamed Elneny, Aaron Ramsey, Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Joe Willock, Denis Suarez “]
Soccer Football – Premier League – Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers – Emirates Stadium, London, Britain – November 11, 2018 Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey reacts Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley 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 further
Mohamed Elneny – Sell him and bring in a defensive midfielder who can actually, you know, defend.
Aaron Ramsey – It’d make sense to write ‘keep him with bells on’ here, but he’s already gone after perhaps the worst transfer decision in the club’s recent history. Juventus will love him.
Granit Xhaka – He has shown signs of becoming the midfield general Arsenal thought they were signing this season and deserves another shot next season.
Lucas Torreira – A pleasingly effective terrier of a midfielder, keep him and give him some support in midfield.
Matteo Guendouzi – Perhaps the best signing the Gunners have made in recent years, given the fee and the context of his rise, Guendouzi has a high ceiling and should be kept.
Joe Willock – Loan him out and ensure he gets some minutes under his belt; sometimes cup competitions don’t cut it.
Denis Suarez – Already gone. A waste of a signing, he’s injured and he’s off. Bye.
[snack_break title=”Attacking midfielders and wingers – Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Mesut Ozil, Alex Iwobi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Danny Welbeck “]
Soccer Football – Europa League Semi Final First Leg – Arsenal v Valencia – Emirates Stadium, London, Britain – May 2, 2019 Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil looks dejected after Valencia’s Mouctar Diakhaby scored their first goal REUTERS/David Klein
Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Played his part in perhaps the worst transfer in Premier League history, joining the Gunners as Alexis Sanchez went to Manchester United. Both teams lost; if a buyer can be found, sell him.
Mesut Ozil – His £350,000-per-week wages are an albatross around Arsenal’s neck. Sell and ensure no such luxury players are bought again.
Alex Iwobi – He’s got the raw talent to be a success. Give him another season and hope he starts to deliver.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – Nail down his best position and give him a run of games there; stop chopping and changing between playing him in defence and on the wing.
Danny Welbeck – Already gone with contract expiring. He doesn’t have the ability to score regularly and he’s too injury-prone.
[snack_break title=”Strikers – Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Eddie Nketiah “]
Alexandre Lacazette – Reports claim that Barcelona could come knocking this summer; if they do, extract a massive fee, sell and reinvest. If they don’t, hope he keeps banging them in next season.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Keep him but teach him to score the gilt-edged chances as well as the difficult ones.
Eddie Nketiah – Promote him to the first-team and start playing him; his pace and finishing ability is frightening.
If Leeds are promoted (yes, we know), they’ll need firepower to keep them up, and if they’re not, they’ll need the same to keep excitement high. To that end, Reece Brown can replace Samu Saiz and keep the Marcelo Bielsa project alive.
Football Insider believe Samu Saiz will be rejected by his loan club Getafe this summer, so Leeds are looking elsewhere to make sure they get some money for the attacking midfielder. Indeed, the same outlet also believe Reece Brown could move in to replace him.
The 23-year-old has scored 10 goals and made 14 assists from 41 appearances for League Two outfit Forest Green this season. That’s a very impressive tally at the 5th-placed side, and it proves he can add more killer instinct to the Whites’ line-up next season.
He can play in attacking midfield or down the left or right flanks, and Bielsa will be excited about his flexibility. In his fluid system, players able to cover different positions allows for quicker, more successful attacks, so he seems like a perfect fit.
He’ll be available on a free this summer, so there’s little risk to the transfer at all. That means the club can spend more of their money on buying defenders, which is certainly an area they’ll need to improve in if they do go up or even if they are forced to try for promotion again next season.
If the report is right, and Leeds have made an approach for Brown, it’ll be a decision they won’t regret. Getting rid of dead wood and replacing it with young talent will stand them in good stead for next season.
Leeds fans, who do you think should start in Leeds’ midfield next season? Join the discussion by commenting below…
Liverpool may be dominant now, but if Jurgen Klopp neglects his duty and fails to rebuild for the future then he could find his side slumbering to the depths from which he dragged them.
Developing youth is an essential part of the programme. It helps develop a clubs identity, excites fans to the prospect of ‘one of their own’ ‘making it’ and has countless financial benefits – be that through selling players or saving in the market.
Liverpool, at the moment, have a lot of young talent making waves in the game, the likes of Ryan Kent and Harry Wilson, for example, are turning heads at their respective loan sides.
Then there is Ki-Jana Hoever, Bobby Duncan, Rhian Brewster and Rafael Camacho kicking about in the youth system – waiting for their big opportunity.
For the latter, Rafael Camacho, however, ‘pending star’ status may be the only thing he achieves at Anfield.
He’s produced nine goals and eight assists in all competitions for the Under-23s this season.
Indeed, despite Camacho being handed a club debut in Liverpool’s ill-fated FA Cup tie against Wolverhampton Wanderers and a substitute appearance in the league, there appears to be no future in Merseyside for the Portugal under-20 winger, with contract negotiations reported to have stalled (as per Sky Sports).
To allow top class talent to so easily slip through the net is a major concern. If Liverpool are to win the Premier League this season, which is looking likely, Klopp will want to build on upon that success for years to come, but this simply will not be possible if he keeps throwing away his brightest young players.
Liverpool fans, should tying Rafael Camacho down to a new contract be your priority? Let us know in the comments below…