Category Uncategorized

After crashing out of the FA Cup fifth round in mid-week to fellow Premier League side Norwich, Tottenham were in desperate need of a pick-me-up on Saturday.

And whilst they didn’t manage to claim all three points against Burnley, Jose Mourinho’s side did put in a battling display to secure a draw at Turf Moor.

They made almost double the amount of clearances as the home side (37 to 19), and had to produce a strong rearguard action to ensure Hugo Lloris wasn’t beaten more than once.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

But one man who appeared to go missing during his time on the pitch, was Erik Lamela – even despite him being the man to win the penalty for the north London side’s equaliser.

The Argentine has been in and out of the team in recent weeks in the top-flight, and has completed the full 90 minutes just once in Spurs’ last ten games.

And against Burnley, he cut a isolated figure. As per Sofascore, he had just one shot on goal, attempted no crosses whatsoever, and made a measly 18 passes in 78 minutes worth of action.

No clues whatsoever: Which seasons do these iconic Spurs images belong to?

The game just seemed to pass Lamela by, and he struggled to get involved in Spurs’ attacks. His total of 37 touches reflected how little influence the Argentine had on the wider context of the game, whilst he lost ten of 13 total duels.

Barring him coming to life just minutes into the second-half to win Mourinho’s side a penalty, the ace was virtually anonymous on the day. With the Lilywhites without both Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, they desperately need their remaining attacking options to step up to the plate in the duo’s absence.

Instead, Lamela failed to take his chance, and it wouldn’t be any surprise at all if Mourinho decides to drop him back to the bench just as he has done in recent Premier League fixtures.

Meanwhile, Tottenham’s potential swoop for Ryan Fraser could be bad news for this player.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

As quoted by Goal, former Liverpool man Jason McAteer has said Takumi Minamino would be “perfect” for the Reds.

What did he say?

Recent reports have suggested the 24-year-old is in advanced talks with Liverpool over a possible £7.25m move in January, with the RB Salzburg’s sporting director Christoph Freund even confirming that there have been discussions with the Merseyside club.

Watch Liverpool Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

And according to ex-Liverpool ace McAteer, Minamino’s performances against the Reds themselves showed exactly what he can bring to the table, and simply labelled him as a “perfect fit” for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

He said: “If Liverpool are planning to make a move for Salzburg’s Takumi Minamino then I think it’s a perfect fit. They’ve seen the Japanese star up close and personal in the Champions League and, like me, they’d have been impressed.

“In the first game between the sides, the 4-3 win, Minamino was absolutely integral in Salzburg’s second-half improvement. He played in little holes, was quite clever and was a bundle of energy. He scored, taking his chance really well. He was probably their most impressive player on the pitch that night and in the return, he was a constant thorn in Liverpool’s side.

“He would certainly strengthen the squad. I wouldn’t say he’s going to displace any of the front three but if I was looking to throw someone on for half an hour with the energy and the brain he’s got, he’d be perfect.”

Fits into the jigsaw

Whilst Minamino may not be a Jadon Sancho in terms of his reputation, the Japanese ace has shown that he is an exciting talent this season with his performances in the Champions League. As per Transfermarkt, he has scored twice and provided three more assists in European football’s elite competition, and as McAteer points out, was particularly effective against Liverpool in their clash at Anfield.

Can you name the result these iconic Liverpool images belong to? Give it a go now…

He scored one and made one as Salzburg fell 4-3 in a dramatic encounter, and proved his ability to perform on the big occasions, something Klopp no doubt would have taken note of. Add to that his incredible versatility – already this season he has played on the left and right wings, as well as at centre-forward and attacking midfield – and the Liverpool manager would have a player who can perfectly fit into his jigsaw. Wherever the German needs him to play, Minamino can essentially offer him that option, and as McAteer suggests, he really does seem like the “perfect fit”.

Meanwhile, Liverpool fans react to this injury news regarding one of their first-team players.

After Liverpool’s loss to PSG in the Champions League this week, very few players did themselves proud at the Parc des Princes. 

One player that can hold his head high is midfielder James Milner, who came away with a goal on his 150th appearance for the club. He was the only midfielder in the Liverpool setup who made an impactful contribution throughout the match, as he was at his usual tireless best.

Milner has consistently been one of Liverpool’s best performers over the past few seasons. Of course players like Mo Salah have stolen the headlines, but Milner has never put a foot out of line in red. The fact that Liverpool signed him for free from Man City makes this even more remarkable.

What’s even more staggering about this signing is the players around him. In Liverpool’s game in Paris, Milner was partnered alonside Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum, neither of which played well. The latter was largely anonymous all game, but still cost Liverpool £25m when he signed from Newcastle.

Then again, at least Wijnaldum was able to make the starting XI. On the other hand, Liverpool’s summer signings Fabinho and Naby Keïta were on the bench. The two of them combined cost The Reds almost £90m. That means between three midfielders, Liverpool spent well over £100m, but they have consistently been outshone by a player they bought for free.

Milner is the perfect example that money does not always buy a team success. He bucks the trend in this modern era of football and has shown the character and attitude to become a huge success at Liverpool- shown by his willingness to play at left-back. Milner is a clear example of how a team can be shrewd, and don’t need to spend money for the sake of it.

Manchester City continue to rack up the points in the Premier League after seeing off Newcastle United 2-1 at the Etihad yesterday.

Despite dropping points at Wolves last week, the Cityzens still look good value to defend their title come May, and manager Pep Guardiola will be confident of wrapping up another league title if his team can maintain their level of performance.

The summer window was a quiet one for City really, with only Riyad Mahrez coming in as a big name signing to join an already talented squad of players.

However, with the winter window the next time clubs can buy players, we at the Tavern think that the club could add some more attacking talent to the ranks in the form of Italian striker Lorenzo Insigne.

The £60m-rated forward has been in sensational form for Napoli over the course of a number of seasons now and he has the ability to really make an impact in the Premier League for a club like City.

Quick, tricky, and excellent in front of goal, 26-year-old is one of the top talents in the Italian league, and might well turn out to be a superb addition to the Premier League if a move could be engineered.

City do have a wealth of attacking talent, but in terms of forwards, if Sergio Aguero or Gabriel Jesus was to get an injury, then they could well look lightweight come Champions League time.

Insigne would be a tremendous signing for the club, and someone who could immediately improve an already talented squad at the Etihad.

City fans, what do you think? Would you take Insigne? Let us know in the comments!

With ten matchdays of the new Premier League campaign already gone, we’ve probably received enough evidence by now to start considering the signings of the summer. And while we saw some eye-watering fees tabled during the last transfer window for some top-level players, arguably the best signing in terms of both quality and value for money didn’t cost a penny – Arsenal’s bosman bargain Sead Kolasinac.

The Bosnian international arrived in the Premier League with a preceding reputation from his time with Schalke, but his opening outings for the Gunners have shown how talented a player he truly is, excelling in the left wing-back role, and the north London outfit’s 2-1 win over Swansea City on Saturday provided yet another shining example.

Although Arsenal have been dominant at the Emirates Stadium this season, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Swansea were seventh in the away table before the weekend, conceding just once and taking five points from their four games. The Gunners did well to get back into the match after going a goal down and their 2-1 comeback owed much to Kolasinac bombing down the flank.

Alongside the dainty flicks and tricks highlighted by Danny Murphy on Match of the Day, the 24-year-old played a crucial hand in both goals, applying a powerful finish for the first that curled away from Lukasz Fabianski and into the inside netting before setting up Aaron Ramsey for the second with a calculated cutback.

He also completed 92% of his passes – not an easy task when you’re trying to make such an impact in the final third – and had the fourth-most touches of the ball of any player on the pitch despite coming off in the 77th minute with a hip complaint. Arsene Wenger will be desperate for Kolasinac, who Transfermarkt value at £13.5million, to recover in time for the huge clash with Manchester City in the Premier League next Sunday.

But as things currently stand, few players who arrived in the Premier League last summer have already proved to be such fantastic value-for-money.

Wales and Aston Villa defender Neil Taylor has been handed a two-match ban from international football for the challenge that broke Seamus Coleman’s leg in March.

The incident happened in the second half of the crucial 2018 World Cup qualifier between Wales and the Republic of Ireland in Dublin – which ended in a goalless draw – with the tackle from Taylor breaking Coleman’s leg in two places.

The left-back will now miss his nation’s qualifiers against Serbia and Austria later this year, while the Everton right-back will certainly miss the start of next season and possibly the rest of 2017 as he continues his rehabilitation.

Toffees supporters were quick to give their reaction to the punishment via social media, and they were understandably unhappy with the decision because if the same incident had happened in the Premier League, he would have likely been disciplined more severely.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

“I am tired of being portrayed as an idiot” – Nicklas Bendtner, December 6, 2015.

These are the words that finally suggested everyone’s favourite footballing clown might be about to turn a corner. But months later he had left Wolfsburg after posting a picture of himself alongside a Mercedes. Innocent enough? Wolfsburg’s main sponsors are rival car manufacturer Volkswagen.

It’s been never-ending outbursts of public attention that have kept Nicklas Bendtner’s footballing career ticking along over the past few years. Nothing he’s done on the pitch has reminded us of the talent he once showed during his time with Birmingham City. When he was released from the Wolfsburg, many wondered if that might be it when it came to his professional career.

But one club stepped up and took a huge risk and it was Phillipe Montanier’s Nottingham Forest. They’re paying the Dane big wages and there is quite a bit of pressure on his shoulders.

Forest are in need of some quality players and after the departure of Oliver Burke to RB Leipzig earlier in the summer, supporters have become frustrated with the emerging selling mantra at the club. Mustapha Carayol was brought in as somewhat of a replacement but we’ll see whether the former Boro man can cut the mustard, just as we will with Bendtner.

Atmosphere in the dressing room is always a huge part of success and Forest will be looking to press for the promotion places come the end of the season. Bendtner is a notorious outcast who often blames his team-mates for his inability to score. This is the sort of player that has replaced young star and fan favourite Oliver Burke and it’s safe to say there is a real air of concern breezing around the City Ground.

But putting fun, games and controversies to one side for just a minute, what exactly can the Dane, who has been capped over 70 times for the Danish national team, bring to the Forest side?

Well, if we’re being honest, we’re not really sure. His strongest season came back in the 2008/09 campaign where he played over 50 times for Arsenal, scoring fifteen goals. He had a decent loan spell with Birmingham City a couple of years previously, but apart from that we haven’t seen much from Bendtner since.

He’s scored on 19 occasions in the past five years, in spells at Sunderland, Arsenal, Juventus and Wolfsburg. It doesn’t make for fantastic reading and Bendtner has plenty of people to convince in the couple of years ahead, not least the Forest supporters.

There are many hoping he can settle and show some good form in the season ahead. If Forest are to push for automatic promotion they’ll need all the help they can get from their new signing, who will need to switch on right away.

Bendtner says he’s here for the love of the sport and not the cash. Do you believe him?

[ad_pod id=’writeforus’ align=’center’]

With Mbappe set to stay at Paris Saint-Germain for at least one more year, Real Madrid may have to look elsewhere

It wasn't supposed to be like this for Real Madrid; they were going to wait patiently for Kylian Mbappe to be exiled this summer, readying themselves for a last-minute bid, coaxing the France captain to the Santiago Bernabeu at a cut price. Mbappe, they assumed, would diligently wait for his long-anticipated Madrid move.

Instead, the striker has tentatively agreed to stay in Paris for at least one more year. The specifics of his deal are clouded, but it seems that the winger will make some kind of concession in order to stick around — and ensure that PSG will get an agreeable fee for him when he inevitably leaves next summer. This is a very kind thing for a player who has spent six years holding his club hostage.

Meanwhile, Madrid are left with a conundrum. Although they scored twice against Athletic Club to open their season, chances came at a premium. They were, as perhaps expected, worryingly lacking a central striking presence. It always figured that Mbappe would fill that void for the 2023-24 season. But now, Madrid are left with 33-year-old Joselu as their sole striking option — which hardly inspires confidence for a side hoping to compete for the league title.

So, Madrid might have to make a foray into the transfer market. And who to get? It's a suddenly dwindling talent pool, with some of the big names already making moves. Still, there are some options out there. GOAL takes a look at who Madrid might be able to sign with Mbappe out of the question…

• (C)Getty Images
  

  Randal Kolo Muani (Frankfurt)

  This would be an interesting acquisition on multiple levels. First of all, Randal Kolo Muani would give Madrid some much-needed versatility in attack. He is not exactly one to drop deep like a certain Karim Benzema, but he's a reliable enough link-up player and passer to serve as a focal point. Furthermore, his experience playing alongside Mbappe for France's national team has ensured he can work effectively with pacey forwards who like to get in behind — something Vinicius Jr could benefit from. Add his 15 goals in the Bundesliga last year, and you have a well-rounded forward.

  The added bonus here is Kolo Muani has been one of PSG's main targets for some time now. The Parisians were expected to sign him this summer, but elected to bring in Gonaclo Ramos instead. There could still be room for him at Parc des Princes — Mbappe might insist on it — but he doesn't seem like a surefire addition anymore. The transfer market can be a petty thing, especially for Madrid. They might just take some satisfaction in stealing PSG's top target.

Advertisement

• (C)GettyImages
  

  Romelu Lukaku (Inter)

  Romelu Lukaku could've sorted his next club by now. Inter seemed ready to negotiate with Chelsea for the striker, but he entered personal negotiations with Juventus when he was on the verge of sealing a move to his former club — something that didn't sit well with any of the parties involved. That move has failed to materialise as of yet, with Chelsea's €50 million (£43m/$55m) asking price proving too high for the Bianconeri.

  It leaves room for Madrid to swoop in. Los Blancos were briefly linked with the Belgian earlier in the summer, including him on their shortlist to replace Benzema. And with other suitors dwindling — rumours of a Tottenham switch have been quashed — there's certainly an opportunity here.

  He might be something of an awkward fit, though. Lukaku isn't the playmaking forward that Madrid covet and typically functions more effectively in a two-striker system. Asking him to play with his back to goal would be an immense waste of his talent. Still, some Carlo Ancelotti magic could be worked here.

• Getty Images
  

  Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)

  Dusan Vlahovic has never quite worked out at Juventus. The Serbian sealed a €70m (£61m/$75m) move from Fiorentina back in January 2022, and has only scored 17 goals in 42 games since then. But there's clearly a player in there.

  It seems strange, in that sense, to suggest that a 23-year-old needs a change of scenery to start banging them in. In this case, though, it might just be true. Vlahovic is an ideal central striker at his best, and feasts inside the box. With Vinicius and Rodyrgo either side of him creating chance after chance, he could thrive.

  Price might be an issue, though. Juventus repeatedly rebuffed Chelsea in player-plus-cash talks over Lukaku, and will look to recoup a hefty chunk of their investment — if they do indeed elect to let him go at all. Their economic situation may necessitate his exit.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  Victor Osimhen (Napoli)

  Victor Osimhen was arguably the best striker in Europe last year, leading the line for a Napoli side that battered its way to Serie A and captured a historic Scudetto. The Nigerian striker scored 26 goals in the league and added a further five in the Champions League. Add the fact that he is still only 23 — and poised to improve — and this would be incredibly difficult to make happen.

  But it would also be a dream addition. Osimhen became a more well-rounded attacking presence last season, serving as a valuable playmaker, and combining effectively with Napoli's pacy wide players. Kvara Kvaratskhelia may have grabbed the headlines, but Osimhen's five assists are nothing to be sniffed at. It all amounts to a player Madrid would love to have. Whether they can afford him, though, is an entirely different question. Consider it unlikely – especially as he is finally about to sign a new contract.

MatériaMais Notícias

Matheus Babi vem sendo alvo de elogios internos no Botafogo. O atacante, que chegou ao clube de General Severiano durante a quarentena, vai conhecendo as filosofias de Paulo Autuori e se entrosando com o elenco aos poucos. O jogador de 23 anos foi alvo de elogios de uma das principais promessas do Alvinegro.

O Glorioso publicou um vídeo de Matheus Babi em um treinamento de finalizações. Com gols de perna direita e esquerda, o atacante foi enaltecido por Matheus Nascimento, atacante que vive os primeiros meses de treinos na categoria profissional.

– Ainda nem sei se ele é destro ou canhoto – escreveu Nascimento, via Twitter.

O Botafogo continua treinando visando o começo do Campeonato Brasileiro – o Alvinegro estreia no dia 9 de agosto, contra o Bahia. Nesta quinta-feira, a equipe comandada por Paulo Autuori, mais uma vez, realizou atividades no campo anexo do Estádio Nilton Santos.

RelacionadasBotafogoMatheus Nascimento avalia adaptação aos profissionais do Botafogo: ‘Aprendendo muito’Botafogo23/07/2020BotafogoTrês anos depois… Saiba como Victor Luís retorna ao BotafogoBotafogo22/07/2020BotafogoKevin revela felicidade em acerto com o Botafogo: ‘Não pensei nem duas vezes’Botafogo22/07/2020

MatériaMais Notícias

Dudu, Lucas Lima, Gabriel Veron, Raphael Veiga, Gustavo Scarpa, Zé Rafael e agora Rony. O setor de criação do Palmeiras ganhou um novo reforço nesta sexta-feira com a confirmação da chegada do atacante de 24 anos, um dos destaques do Athletico Paranaense nas últimas temporadas.

Autor de 9 gols em 2019, Rony foi apenas o 3º principal goleador do Furacão, ficando atrás de Marco Rubén (13) e Marcelo Cirino. Porém, nem só de bolas na rede vive o atacante. Jogador de lado de campo, o novo reforço palmeirense foi o 5º maior garçom do último Campeonato Brasileiro, com oito passes para gol – 10 em toda a temporada. Dudu, com 11, foi o único do elenco alviverde a dar mais assistências na competição.

RelacionadasPalmeirasPalmeiras encerra novela e anuncia contratação de Rony por cinco anosPalmeiras21/02/2020Athletico ParanaenseRony se despede do Athletico e revela ansiedade para defender o PalmeirasAthletico Paranaense21/02/2020PalmeirasDudu tem aposta de gols com Luxa e avisa: continuará batendo pênaltiPalmeiras21/02/2020

Capaz de criar e também de concluir, Rony terminou a competição nacional como o 10º jogador com mais participações diretas em gols. O veloz atacante ficou empatado, por exemplo, com Soteldo, do Santos, e Michael, do Goiás, que cumpriam funções parecidas em suas equipes. Foram 6 bolas na rede e 8 passes, totalizando 14 interferências positivas em gols.

Nos últimos cinco Brasileiros, Dudu foi o maior garçom palmeirense e um dos principais do Brasil, com 46 assistências no total (6 em 2015, 10 em 2016, 5 em 2017, 14 em 2018 e 11 em 2019). Rony chega, muito provavelmente, para dividir essa responsabilidade com o camisa 7.

MAIORES GARÇONS DO BRASILEIRÃO 2019
​- Dados do Footstats

1º – Arrascaeta – Flamengo – 14 assistências
2° – Dudu – Palmeiras – 11 assistências
3º – Gabigol – Flamengo – 9 assistências
Carlos Sánchez – Santos – 9 assistências
5º – Rony – Athletico – 8 assistências

JOGADORES COM MAIS PARTICIPAÇÕES EM GOLS NO BRASILEIRO 2019
– Dados OGol
– Participação = gol + assistência
​
1º – Gabigol – Flamengo – 34 participações diretas
2º – Arrascaeta – Flamengo – 27participações diretas
3º – Bruno Henrique – Flamengo – 25participações diretas
4º – Carlos Sánchez – Santos – 21participações diretas
5º – Dudu – Palmeiras – 20participações diretas
6º – Gilberto – Bahia – 17participações diretas
Sasha – Santos – 17participações diretas
8º – Everton – Grêmio – 16participações diretas
Wellington Paulista – Fortaleza – 16participações diretas
10º – Rony – Athletico – 14participações diretas
Soteldo – Santos – 14participações diretas
Michael – Goiás – 14participações diretas
Everaldo – Chapecoense – 14participações diretas