All posts by n8rngtd.top

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Jake Forster-Caskey is yet to feature for Charlton this season having sustained a nasty knee injury days before the first game, although Lee Bowyer was able to provide positive news in his pre-Plymouth Argyle press conference this week.

The Addicks boss was visibly pleased to be able to give an exciting update on where the midfielder is in his recovery, although he was quick to warn the player that he must be careful not to rush back, regardless of where their season may take them.

What did he say?

Speaking in the days before Charlton’s trip to Home Park, the 42-year-old said:

“Jake is back training properly now, contact. We have to be careful with him. It will have to be a steady process with him but I think we’re full strength. Whether Jake plays depends on him. Without being stupid, if he can get to the level that the other lads are on then he will be in amongst it. Jake has got a lot of catch-up to do in a short space of time.

“I hope that he can, because I’d love to have him in and around the squad by the end of the season but it’s something we have to tread carefully with and just judge day-by-day, week-by-week and see where he gets to. He’s got to play for the U23s, there is still a way to go but the good thing is that he is back training with us.”

Be careful, Jake

Indeed, when it comes to long-term injuries like the one Forster-Caskey sustained, it is paramount that a return to each stage is timed perfectly, otherwise he runs the risk of a recurrence either in the long term or immediately.

The 24-year-old is understandably keen to return before the end of the campaign – something which could be greatly aided by the Addicks reaching the play-offs – but Bowyer has stressed that he must not be stupid as he fights for full fitness.

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

It would be a huge shame if the former Brighton man didn’t feature once this campaign but it’s clear that Bowyer would prefer for that to happen and have the star back at full strength for next term than to risk him too early and be without him for a number of months, once again.

It was his 23rd goal of the season, and it was undoubtedly one of Macaulay Bonne’s most important in his lifetime.

Bonne’s 57th-minute strike against Eastleigh took the game to 2-2 before James Brophy tapped in the eventual winning goal four minutes later to send Orient back to the top of the National League table and to put promotion to League Two in their hands with four games left to go.

After a blistering first half of the season, Bonne’s goals have dried up significantly since the start of 2019, only scoring five compared to his 17 from August to December, but his striker against Eastleigh could signal a return to form for the striker.

With Orient realistically needing to win every remaining game this season in order to clinch the National League title and promotion back to the Football League, Bonne’s impact on the squad needs to be greater than ever, and his goal against Eastleigh on Tuesday night could give the striker the confidence to carry on scoring until the end of the season.

The old adage ’every game is a cup final’ rings true for Orient going into their massive games in the run-in for this season, with their game against third-place Solihull Moors potentially being the promotion decider on the 22nd of April, and if Bonne is able to rack up a few more goals against Sutton United and Harrogate Town, the O’s will be heading into their hardest remaining game of the season with a striker back to his best.

Bonne, who is valued at £90k (by Transfermarkt), has been one of Orients best players in their time in the National League, and he out of anyone in the squad will want the east London side to be promoted back to the Football League, and him finding form will be crucial in the club achieving this goal.

Leyton Orient fans, how important will Bonne’s form going into final games be? Let us know!

Remember that player Denis Suarez? We struggled.

Despite being one of the biggest clubs in world football, Arsenal have precious little resources to spend in the transfer market. Which means when a flop flops, it really hits hard. And Denis Suarez has most certainly flopped.

The Spaniard joined from Barcelona in the January transfer window but has only made six substitute appearances since arriving at the club. His last appearances coming over a month ago in the 2-0 victory over Manchester United. Which makes for pretty poor reading, really. Not that Arsenal fans were ever particularly excited about the deal. But it still hurts.

According to Daily Mail, Suarez has struggled with pain during training sessions over recent weeks and Arsenal’s medical team are now suggesting that he take a more passive role in practice in the coming days to see whether his injury can be managed better. Promising end to an utterly shocking period.

Arsenal have the option to sign the player in a permanent deal worth an estimated £20million this summer but we doubt very much that they will take up this opportunity given just how little he has played and how average he has been when he has.

If you consider that fellow top-four candidate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer probably has a huge transfer kitty to play around with summer, the measly £45millon Unai Emery has at his disposal will need to stretch very, very far if he wants to compete next term, and Suarez’s expensive flop surely will not have helped (Express; Daily Mail). Especially with wages and fees accounted for – which we are sure weren’t exactly cheap.

Arsenal fans, would you like to see Denis Suarez join on a permanent deal next season? Let us know in the comments below…

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Former Rangers striker Ally McCoist and former Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray have both highlighted Patrick Bamford as a key man in Leeds’ promotion push.

Bamford netted twice against Preston on Tuesday night, McCoist and Murray were clearly impressed with what they saw from the striker at Deepdale.

What’ve they said?

Both Murray and McCoist pointed Bamford out as a key player for these final five games of Leeds’ campaign.

Bamford had been at the centre of a lot of criticism recently after missing golden chances against both Millwall and Birmingham City.

The 25-year-old silenced his critics this week by netting a brace against Preston to put Leeds back into second place.

The former Middlesbrough striker has netted eight goals in 18 appearances in the Championship this campaign and the Sky Sports pundits believe this goal-scoring record will help Leeds in their promotion charge.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ the debate podcast (38:00) Murray and McCoist were singing Bamford’s praises.

Murray stated: “Bamford’s key for them.”

McCoist agreed with his fellow pundit and said: “Oh massive. He’s absolutely massive.”

And when Geoff Shreeves asked McCoist if he was a fan of the centre-forward’s talents the Scotsman left listeners and viewers in no uncertain terms: “Oh I do, I absolutely do.”

Bamford the man

Ally McCoist knows better than most what makes a top class striker having scored over 350 Rangers goals, and it’s hard to disagree with his opinion that Bamford will be key for Leeds in the coming weeks.

Bamford is certainly a form player. When the striker is on song he is amongst the best players in the Championship. Leeds fans have to be hoping that his showing against Preston can push him to go on a goal-scoring run similar to the one he put on last year.

The 25-year-old scored eight goals in five games in the space of just a few weeks for Middlesbrough last year, and if he can replicate that in the final weeks of the season it will go a long way towards helping Leeds get promoted.

The English forward may well be the key to Leeds United getting promoted and despite the criticisms he has faced, a return of eight goals in just 18 appearances is an incredible record this season.

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It’s been quite the season for Aston Villa. Last summer the club found themselves in somewhat of a financial crisis, but having had backing from new owners, they’ve flourished in 2018/19, confirming their play-off place on Easter Monday.

A 1-0 win over Millwall was good enough for the Villains who also secured a record-breaking tenth victory on the bounce.

Pictured at the game were the club’s owners, Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris, and as a result, Villa fans were quick to offer their thanks to the American and Egyptian businessmen.

One supporter claimed they had saved the club from near extinction whilst another said they could easily have ended up like relegated Bolton this term.

The word heroes were uttered by two fans, as one of them said Villa had been one of the favourites for relegation.

It represents quite the turnaround for Dean Smith’s side, with the club now on the verge of potentially competing in the Premier League once again next season.

Edens and Sawiris both took over the club in July last year from Tony Xia, a figure who wasn’t liked in the Midlands.

Here’s some of the gratitude Villa supporters have shared towards their owners on Twitter.

Nottingham Forest fans will be hugely disappointed at how their season has petered out, but one positive is the revelation that Joao Carvalho is capable of being their next star! Indeed, he now requires more chance to prove what he can do.

He’s played 36 times in the Championship this season, making seven assists and scoring four goals. He’s been given a great run in the team and all credit to Martin O’Neill for presenting him with that opportunity.

Now, he needs the same next term.

He impressed again in Forest’s 3-0 win against Middlesbrough on Easter Monday. And then some. A result that ended the club’s run of four straight defeats and Carvalho was key until he was subbed off.

With that in mind, next season’s starting 11 should be built around him.

At only 22-years-old, he’s shown magnificent maturity to play at such a big club under such pressure. He’s proved he has the quality to become their main man if he’s given the time to grown into the number 10 role and to fulfil his potential.

The club will look to go one step forward next campaign and continue their early season form into the second half. The play-offs are a minimum requirement for the club and Carvalho has the speed and trickery to guide them there.

There’s no need for Forest to look anywhere else for a number 10 when they have one right in front of them. This season he’s proved he’s capable, and next season’s he’ll be crucial in their bid for promotion.

Forest fans, what have you thought of Joao Carvalho this season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

After letting Cesc Fabregas leave for AS Monaco, it was well-documented that Maurizio Sarri wanted to bring in another man for the middle of park.

“The club knows very well my opinion. I need a player there,” the Italian told Sky Sports back in January.

And one player who Sarri had identified was Cagliari’s Nicolo Barella, a player the club came close to signing, according to Chelsea assistant coach Gianfranco Zola.

The Breakdown

“I gave Barella his debut in Parma in the Coppa Italia. At the age of 17, he had the means and personality of a great footballer but to play in a big team he must grow,” Zola told Gazzetta dello Sport (via Calciomercato).

“He was very close [to joining Chelsea]. He is strong and was always liked by Sarri but things didn’t work out.”

Technically, Barella looks like a very good footballer and one capable of playing in Sarri’s system.

But having been identified as a mere back-up option for the undroppable Jorginho, signing the 22-year-old for the £45m (Goal) would have been a waste of money.

Had Sarri had plans to play him further forward on the left-hand side of that midfield three, things might have been a different.

But with a player of Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s calibre at disposal, there was never really going to be a need for the west London club to make significant investment in the above area.

The Blues do need cover for Jorginho, but not in the form of a £45m-rated player.

Chelsea fans, were you disappointed to see your club miss out on Barella? Join the discussion by commenting below.

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On Thursday, Crystal Palace legend Julian Speroni announced that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season after an illustrious 15 years at Selhurst Park and with plenty of club records to his name.

The 39-year-old custodian has made a record number of appearances as a goalkeeper (405), has kept 112 clean sheets and has also won Palace’s player of the year award four times. Wilfried Zaha comes in second with three gongs and Speroni is hoping that the Ivorian’s trophy cabinet will outshine his own in the coming years.

What did he say?

Well, having announced his exit this summer, Speroni had this to say in an interview with Palace journalists:

“If someone is going to break (my record of four player of the year awards) it will be Wilfried and I will be so pleased for him. If someone is going to break it I hope it’s him because he deserves it, he’s done fantastically for us. Records are there to be broken so it will be broken sometime, and I hope it’s him, but who knows? We’ll see.”

Agent Speroni

With the electric number 11 surely earning admirers all of Europe, Palace could be set to lose not just club legend Speroni but a legend-in-the-making in Zaha, who has blossomed into one of the best players outside the top-six.

With 10 goals and six assists to his name this campaign, the former Manchester United winger would normally be a shoe-in for the player of the year award which went to Aaron Wan-Bissaka, although the 21-year-old Englishman is certainly a deserving winner.

Should Crystal Palace keep hold of Max Meyer this summer? Harvey Jones discusses in the video below…

If both stars remain at SE25 next season, Zaha will have to pull off something truly special to swing the end of season vote in his favour, with Wan-Bissaka having established himself as one of the most consistent defenders in Europe.

Regardless, Speroni’s prediction that Zaha can beat his record indicates that the veteran shot-stopper is also hopeful that the 26-year-old speedster doesn’t follow him out the door this summer.

It’s doubtful that Palace fans could manage two doses of heartbreak in one transfer window, so hopefully Speroni can have some influence on Zaha’s decision whether to remain at or depart Selhurst Park in the coming months.

There are few players in world football that at face value look perfect for Arsenal, and Youri Tielemans is certainly one of them.

The Belgian international has been thriving with Leicester City this season since his move to the Foxes from Monaco on loan in January, and Tielemans’ performances have many fans across the Premier League hoping their team will go in for the midfielder this summer, and none so more than Arsenal supporters.

The Daily Star have also reported that the Gunners, as well as Manchester United and Tottenham, are interested in signing the 21-year-old midfielder from Monaco this summer, and with a valuation of £19.8 million on Transfermarkt, Tielemans is well in Arsenal’s price range.

As well as being affordable, Tielemans would be a game-changing signing for Arsenal. The Gunners have lacked a midfielder who can control the tempo of the game and create chances for attacking players in the final third, and the Belgian would be a signing that could keep Alexandre Lacazette at the club.

The Frenchman has recently been linked with a big money move to Barcelona by the Express, but if Emery is able to court Tielemans over to north London it could open Lacazette’s mind up to stay with the Gunners.

Emery faces a massive rebuilding job this summer with new figures a must at the club as well as under-performing players needing to be moved on, and Tielemans would be a player that will solve not only an existing problem but also keep one of Arsenal’s most important stars in north London for the future.

Arsenal fans, should Emery make Tielemans a priority this summer? Let us know!

It was a truly awful night to be a Leeds United supporter on Wednesday, wasn’t it?

With Marcelo Bielsa’s side entering the second leg of their play-off semi-final clash with Derby County as overwhelming favourites to progress in the competition having won 1-0 at Pride Park on Saturday, the Elland Road faithful must have been extremely confident about the showdown.

However, with the pressure of expectancy proving too much for the Whites, they produced a dreadful defensive display which resulted in them conceding four goals to the Rams.

Although Stuart Dallas managed to fire in a double for the hosts, Jack Marriot’s strike in the 85th minute for Derby was enough to bring Leeds’ season to a halt.

Now facing the prospect of another year in the Championship, the Yorkshire-based outfit will almost certainly have to kiss goodbye to any chance they had of signing Dan James from Swansea City.

According to Football Insider, the Whites’ director of football Victor Orta was considering a move for the winger but only if the club were able to secure promotion to the Premier League later this month.

Yet with their dreams of top-flight football being shattered by Derby, it is unlikely that James will be willing to stay in the second tier next season with top-flight suitors lining up for the £2.7m-rated ace (via Transfermarkt).

Having missed out on signing the 21-year-old in the January transfer window after Swansea pulled out of a deal on deadline day (via the Telegraph), Leeds will understandably be very disappointed if he does indeed move on this summer to another club, especially if it ends up being arch-rivals Manchester United.

What do you think Leeds fans? Are your hopes of signing James all-but over following your play-off defeat? Would you have been able to secure promotion if Swansea had allowed the winger to leave in January? Let us know below.