All posts by n8rngtd.top

Plenty of Crystal Palace fans have been reacting to Harry Redknapp’s comments on Frank Lampard possibly replacing Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park.

Lampard, who was sacked by Chelsea back in January, will reportedly wait until the summer before getting back into management.

He has been linked with Palace in recent months, as well as Scottish giants Celtic and Championship side Bournemouth.

Lampard to Palace?

Hodgson’s deal with the Eagles expires at the end of the current campaign, with the 73-year-old ‘undecided’ over his Palace future. The Englishman has taken charge of 153 games as Palace boss, averaging 1.25 points per game.

By comparison, Lampard earned 1.75 points per match during his 84-game stint in charge at Stamford Bridge between July 2019 and January 2021.

Redknapp, who is the 42-year-old’s uncle, spoke to talkSPORT (19 March, 9.50am), cited by HITC, praising Hodgson before labelling Lampard as ‘the red-hot favourite’ to possibly take over in London.

“Roy’s done a great job at Palace. If he doesn’t stay, I think Frank could be the Palace manager.”

“I would think Frank would be the red-hot favourite.”

Palace fans react

These comments were shared on Twitter by @CPFCtransfersHQ on Friday evening.

As to be expected, the post received plenty of interaction, with these Eagles supporters giving positive thoughts on Lampard.

“I beg”

Credit: @CPFC_Ollie_

“Oh my word this is a dream”

Credit: @babyboyjimoh

“get him in the club cmon now”

Credit: @aburgos1812

“Please”

Credit: @jeffreyschIupp

“I swear Redknapp is Lampard’s uncle? Maybe he knows something we don’t”

Credit: @Callum_CPFC_

“Mason Mount on loaaaannn”

Credit: @CPFC_GH

In other news: Palace keen on Championship ace who has £8m release clause, find out more here. 

Ahead of his final game for the Catalan club on Sunday, a look at some of the highlights from a wonderful career spent entirely with the Blaugrana

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  Debut under Louis van Gaal

  Andres Iniesta made his Barcelona debut in a competition he would go on to win four times, the Champions League. With Louis van Gaal as coach in 2002-03, the midfielder was handed his Barca bow in a group game away to FC Brugge and played the 90 full minutes in a 1-0 win, with Juan Roman Riquelme scoring the game's only goal. A star was born.

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  Winning the Champions League in Paris

  Iniesta has admitted on many occasions that being left on the bench for the 2006 Champions League final against Arsenal in Paris was one of the most difficult moments of his career. "I was furious, my blood was boiling," he said later. Nevertheless, with Barca a goal down, he came off the bench to change the game and the Blaugrana won 2-1. "If you hadn't come on," Samuel Eto'o said on Sunday, "Barca would have one European Cup less."

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  The 'Iniestazo' at Stamford Bridge

  Iniesta is known not as a prolific scorer but as a scorer of important goals, and there are not many more important than his strike away to Chelsea in the 2008-09 Champions League semi-finals. Barcelona were on the verge of elimination when the midfielder popped up with an injury-time strike from the edge of the box to send the Catalans through on away goals. A historic treble followed, and then a sextet too, but none of it would have been possible without Iniesta's immaculate intervention.

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  Midfield masterclass in 5-0 Clasico win

  Many of Iniesta's most memorable moments came in the Clasico and even though he did not score against Real Madrid in the 5-0 win in November 2010, it is the match in which perhaps the Blaugrana were at their peak under Pep Guardiola. Alongside Xavi and Sergio Busquets, Iniesta put on a midfield masterclass in a performance and a result which will be remembered by generations of fans watching at Camp Nou and around the world.

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Steve Bull, who scored 306 goals for Wolves during his career, believes Rayan Ait-Nouri is out of his depth in the Premier League and has bemoaned his lack of strength.

Ait-Nouri has made 13 Premier League appearances for Wolves this season, and managed to score his first senior goal of his career on his Premier League debut in a 2-0 win against Crystal Palace.

The 19-year old has started just eight league games this term though despite regular left-back Jonny being injured for a lot of this season, which has seen him average a 6.43 WhoScored rating as Wolves continue to think about signing him permanently.

Speaking on if the 19-year-old has been a good addition for Wolves and what he is lacking to succeed in the Premier League, Bull told FFC:

“In my eyes, he just looks a bit out of his depth.

“I’ve watched him a few times and he does get up and down the wing a bit, but he just looks a bit lightweight to me and I don’t think he’s getting a lot of chances so his confidence is low.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/exclusive-andreas-sondergaard-wolves-premier-league” title=”Exclusive! Andreas Sondergaard talks all things Wolves”]

“Whether they keep him or not beyond the end of the season I don’t know because he just looks young and a bit immature.

“In a team, you need someone who is a like-for-like replacement when somebody else drops out the side like and he just looks a bit lightweight to me.”

Ait-Nouri had only played 23 senior games of footballer before his loan to move to Wolves this season and they may think there are better options than the £36k-p/w full-back.

In total, the French defender has made 16 appearances this season but has failed to offer a consistent attacking threat as he’s returned to just one goal and assist.

Some Liverpool fans have been expressing their love for Nathaniel Phillips after the centre-back revealed how he celebrated the Reds’ Premier League title win.

Jurgen Klopp’s men clinched glory in emphatic fashion last season, topping the table with 99 points and sealing one of the biggest successes in Liverpool’s history.

It ended a long and painful 30-year wait for league glory, as Klopp and his players ensured they will forever go down as club legends.

[freshpress-poll id=“346743″]

Someone who didn’t play a part in that success was Phillips, who has become something of a cult hero this season, filling in at the back in the absence of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.

The 23-year-old has been one of the few bright sparks during an awful run of league form, performing consistently at the heart of the defence and excelling with his aerial presence, averaging a monstrous 5.1 aerial duels per game in the Premier League this season.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Phillips has brilliantly revealed that he listened to You’ll Never Walk Alone in his car after Liverpool won the title, while he was enjoying a loan spell at Stuttgart:

“When the lads officially won the League last year, I was still in Germany. I drove into the (Stuttgart) training ground blasting You’ll Never Walk Alone from the car. Philipp Klement, who used to sit next to me, was a Man City fan so I wanted to make sure he knew what had happened!

“I saw how much it meant to those guys. I was jealous they got to experience that moment. I want to feel something like that one day.”

Liverpool fans show their love for Phillips

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to reveals their thoughts on the story, with some joking that it is worthy of an immediate long-term deal for Phillips.

“Lifetime contract just for this”

Credit: @Boromir_FR

“Make him stay forever!”

Credit: @KangAnfield8

“Give the lad a nice long contract with a good pay rise”

Credit: @bootlebuck2

“Love him”

Credit: @englishjen2

“Give this man a 6 year contract, right now!”

Credit: @Usman_LS6

“My hero”

Credit: @acockneyscouser

“King”

Credit: @GuineaMaestroV3

In other news, Liverpool have been reacting to transfer claims linking the Reds with an exciting summer addition. Read about it here.

Many Crystal Palace fans are reacting to a big update at Selhurst Park which could suggest big changes are on the way in the imminent future.

According to the Evening Standard, and tweeted out by @cpfc_xtra, US-based investor Robert Franco has injected funds into the £20million redevelopment of Palace’s academy and has been listed as a person with “significant interest” in the club alongside chairman Steve Parish and American owners Joshua Harris and David Blitzer. One fan called this update ‘pretty big news’.

Looking to youth is something that the club need to start doing, as they had the second oldest squad on average in the league last season, (101 Great Goals). Palace do have a strong history when it comes to developing young players, with the likes of Wilfried Zaha, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Moses and Nathaniel Clyne all previously coming through their academy.

If this report is true, then the club could be set to have a very exciting future and it is understandable to see why this news is receiving a lot of reaction.

Here is how Palace fans reacted to the update:

“Another yank? Oh great! Coz we’ve done so well since the others have got involved haven’t we…”

Credit: @85Gilds

“Should never underestimate the importance of a good academy. We are a selling club and always will be and this is important for survival, regardless of what division we are in.”

Credit: @audreysprayer

“We have had our longest stretch in this top flight under various incarnations of this key owner (SP) and US investors. I’d say we have done quite well. Yes, I’d like to be polishing my passport but it’s Palace.”

Credit: @martinbrowni

“This seems like pretty big news”

Credit: @erictwigs

“20m injection into the academy? Huge if true”

Credit: @jaseiles

“Hello Mr Franco please buy the Sainsbury’s land”

Credit: @liamb0117

In other news, Palace fans reacted to this Zaha update!

West Brom are closing in on the addition of a new forward, according to manager Sam Allardyce…

What’s the word?

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of Albion’s bottom-of-the-table clash with Sheffield United, the 66-year-old revealed that his side could finally bring free-agent Ahmed Musa in for checks over his current fitness.

He told reporters, via the Express & Star’s Joseph Masi: “We’ve been waiting patiently. All of the problems have been due to the controls & Covid. I’m probably due my injections soon, I’ll feel a lot better when I get mine. It’s been protocol but hopefully, if we see the player very shortly, it’ll be good news.”

The Athletic’s Steve Madeley has also claimed that the 28-year-old “could sign” after tonight’s transfer deadline passes as he is a free agent, so that’ll ease the pressure on the need for desperate and late reinforcements.

Imagine him & Diagne

Whilst it would still be a last-gasp move, should he pass all imminent checks, the addition of Musa would be a smart and cheap decision from Allardyce and the club.

The 87-time Nigeria international has been unemployed since October after leaving Saudi side Al-Nassr and he would arrive at the Hawthorns with a decent career record and some versatility.

Valued at £5.4m by Transfermarkt, Musa has scored goals wherever he’s been – most known for his stint in Russia, the 5 foot 8 speed demon bagged 61 goals and 33 assists in 184 appearances for CSKA Moscow.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/west-brom-deadline-day-latest-news-transfer-rumours-and-more” title=”Deadline day is here: Read the latest West Brom news, transfer rumours and more!”]

That form earned him a move to Midlands rivals Leicester in 2016, and despite rarely starting (13 of 32 appearances were starts), he still found the net five times, per Transfermarkt.

The decision to bring him in after already sealing a move for Galatasaray colossus Mbaye Diagne could hint towards a much-needed change in system as, after all, the Baggies hold the third-worst goalscoring record in the English top-flight.

Perhaps Big Sam wants to pair the diminutive forward alongside his 6 foot 4 colossus.

“I’m big and strong, I can hold up the ball and lay it off, I’m good in the air and I’m a finisher,” explained Diagne, via the Express & Star.

Karlan Grant is also a candidate to fulfil the ‘little man’ role off a target man but given he’s only scored once in 14 appearances since his move in the summer, it can’t hurt to throw the experienced Musa into the deep end to play alongside Diagne.

With finances very tight at Albion, securing someone of Musa’s pedigree and quality without paying a transfer fee is a surely shrewd financial decision. If Big Sam can get him to click with Diagne, just imagine the returns in front of goal.

AND in other news, West Brom handed setback in pursuit of 38-cap monster…

David Moyes should unleash Jarrod Bowen in a striker position when West Ham visit Manchester United in the FA Cup on Tuesday night amid doubt over Michail Antonio’s fitness.

The Irons boss has confirmed he wishes to name as strong a side as possible at Old Trafford, as he continues to build on the east London outfit’s strongest run in the competition since 2015/16.

But Antonio faces a late fitness test to see if the striker can play his part, having been taken off with a quarter of an hour to go against Fulham on Saturday amid suspicions of fatigue.

Antonio looked laboursome at Craven Cottage as he struggled to lead the line for the second time in the space three days, after also playing the full 90 minutes as West Ham beat Aston Villa 3-1 on Wednesday night.

The Villans affair was only the third occasion that the 30-year-old has played a full 90 in any competition since returning from a second hamstring injury this term, with Moyes opting to withdraw Antonio early in four of his seven starts and twice introduce him from the bench.

Antonio was also left an unused substitute as the Hammers beat Doncaster Rovers 4-0 to book their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup, but Moyes has confirmed he will make a late decision over whether or not the £11m-rated beast will feature against Manchester United.

“He’s still fatigued, so it’ll be a close call whether he makes it or not,” Moyes said. “I’ll see how he is today [Monday]. We’ll need to assess him tomorrow to see if he’s able to play or not.

“I think we’ve picked strong teams against Stockport and Doncaster. We’re certainly not picking a weakened team.

“We may have one or two changes through injury or suspension, whatever it may be, but we plan to go there with a really strong team and [see] if we can get through to the next round of the FA Cup.”

Andriy Yarmolenko was tasked with standing in for Antonio against Doncaster in the previous round of the FA Cup and scored West Ham’s second goal of the day, to net his first strike since bagging a brace against League One Hull City in the Carabao Cup in September.

It was not the only occasion this season that Moyes has started the Ukraine winger in a central role, after featuring through the middle against Tottenham Hotspur and in both Premier League meetings with Liverpool. He also took over the reins at Fulham on Saturday but offered little impact during his half an hour on the pitch.

Thus it should be Bowen who starts at the top of the attack against Manchester United if Antonio cannot, in a move that may also allow Ryan Fredericks to replicate his Aston Villa showcase on the right-wing in front of Vladimir Coufal.

Moyes has experimented with Bowen playing centrally twice this season, having looked to the £25m-rated maestro against Brighton in December while without Antonio and at home to Newcastle on the opening day of the season.

The decision did not return any goals on either occasion, but Bowen had proven to be a creative force in the middle with Hull by netting four and providing an assist in six games as a centre-forward.

He also offered three goals and three assists in six games as a shadow striker for the Tigers before his move to the London Stadium last January, which Noel Whelan lauds as a “really shrewd” piece of business by the Irons. Proving that he has the track record Moyes needs with no senior striker available after Sebastien Haller’s winter farewell.

AND in other news, West Ham failed to offload a £70k-p/w outcast in January despite a manager’s intent efforts…

Nottingham Forest continued their good form in the Championship as of late, with a 1-0 victory away at Rotherham on Tuesday night.

Chris Hughton’s side took home all three points thanks to a goal from Ryan Yates in the second-half, but while the midfielder may take a lot of the headlines for his match-winning strike, it was Cyrus Christie who arguably his manager’s true hero.

The right-back, who arrived on loan from Fulham back in the summer, has been a permanent fixture for the club, playing the full 90 minutes in all but two Championship games this campaign.

And on Tuesday, he looked at his formidable best, being a really strong presence defensively, and getting forward time and time again to try and test the Rotherham back-line with his crossing.

As per Sofascore, he sent in four crosses on the night, which was the most of any player for Forest, while his total of 86 touches was by far a game-high – the man in second, Gaetan Bong, had just 57.

It was a testament to just how much of an influence Christie had on proceedings, with a lot of Forest’s good work on the night coming down the right flank as the full-back charged forward.

But it wasn’t just offensively that the £20k-a-week earning ace stood out, instead also sticking to his task defensively. He won an impressive ten duels, which again was the most of any Forest player, while he also put his body on the line by blocking two shots, another team-high.

After the game, Rotherham boss Paul Warne couldn’t help but express his admiration for Christie, saying: “‘Wowza, their right-back can run. What a game he had.”

Yates may have scored the match-winning goal, but it was Christie’s contributions that really stood out for Hughton.

West Ham United target Oleksandr Zinchenko gave David Moyes plenty of reasons to walk away from a potential deal for the Manchester City left-back, by producing a shaky display in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final win over rivals Manchester United.

Pep Guardiola kept the 24-year-old in his starting line-up for the midweek meeting at Old Trafford, having recalled Zinchenko for Sunday’s win at Chelsea after more than two months out of the Sky Blues’ Premier League side.

Reliable insider ExWHUemployee revealed last month that Zinchenko was a potential target for the London Stadium outfit in the January transfer window after Moyes lost Arthur Masuaku for the foreseeable following knee surgery, while reports claimed Guardiola is open to offers.

Man City were believed to be prepared to listen to bids for Zinchenko this month after initially falling out of favour at the Etihad Stadium, with Southampton and Leicester City also keen to monitor the former Wolverhampton Wanderers target’s situation.

Zinchenko now appears to be back in Guardiola’s good backs after two successive starts across all competitions for the first time since October, yet was far from the star of the show as the Citizens secured their place in the Carabao Cup final.

The £18m-rated left-back endured more than his fair share of shaky moments up against Marcus Rashford, Scott McTominay and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with Zinchenko often lacking the physical presence needed to contain Manchester United’s right-sided options.

He struggled to contain Anthony Martial at set-pieces, too, but produced a bright moment in the 24th-minute to feed Phil Foden through to score, only to see the strike ruled out for offside.

All in all, Zinchenko ended the night with success in just one of his eight combined duels for a measly success rate of 12%, having lost each of his three battles on the ground and four of his five aerial contests, per SofaScore.

He additionally lost possession 12 times, failed to complete his only attempted dribble, made no successful tackles, was dribbled past twice, recorded no clearances or blocked shots and registered just one interception.

The defender was often safe in possession with 79 completed passes from 89 attempts having seen the ball frequently for 102 touches, but struggled to offer any real accuracy at range with six of his nine long balls failing to find a teammate.

Zinczenko’s performance will have offered Moyes plenty of reasons why West Ham should walk away from any interest in the Ukraine international, should the former Manchester United boss look to acquire a new left-back to replace Masuaku.

AND in other news: “Problem in the dressing room” – Exclusive: Pundit issues stark warning on £9m-rated West Ham target…

Celtic continue to have their hat thrown into the ring as talks of new recruits swirl around the January transfer market. One of their latest links sees them in the running for Preston North End midfielder Ben Pearson as Neil Lennon hopes to bolster his options in the middle of the park.

The Hoops have severely lacked creativity this half of the season and as a result, have been knocked off their perch atop of the Premiership table. Runaway leaders Rangers now dominate the stats and have forced a mammoth 20-point gap between them and the reigning champions.

Additionally, with the likes of Mohamed Elyounoussi only on loan from Southampton and Odsonne Edouard linked to a move away, now is the time for Nick Hammond to prioritise new creative signings.

Would Ben Pearson fit in at Celtic?

Although Pearson isn’t always directly involved in the goals Preston score, he has shown promising statistics in the engine room. According to Sofascore, the 26-year-old’s main strength is his positioning, which will help keep Celtic tight and compact in the heart of the squad.

Pearson also averaged an 88% passing accuracy in his last three appearances, more than Scott Brown’s more disappointing 72%. Indeed, the PNE man has actually been tipped as a candidate to succeed the Hoops captain, who is nearing the end of his current Celtic tenure.

Speaking to Football Insider, Noel Whelan admitted that he could be the right person to replace the ageing skipper.

“Watch this space because he [Pearson] has been linked with Celtic,” the pundit said. “If there is an imminent move on the cards it is going to happen this week or next, that is for sure.”

Pearson is currently valued at £1.4million, which wouldn’t require Peter Lawwell to break the bank in order to sign him. Neil Lennon could work his magic on the midfielder and turn him into real Celtic talisman. He has already shown he can develop players like David Turnbull and Ismaila Soro, so Pearson could be an exciting new asset for this struggling Glaswegian side.

In other news, Celtic must avoid making any further moves to sign Tom Ince…