All posts by h716a5.icu

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

West Bromwich Albion face a trip to Hull City this afternoon as they look to continue their spell at the top of the Championship table.

Slaven Bilic’s men currently have a two-point cushion over a trio of teams in second place, including Leeds United, who are the only team to put a loss on the Croatian’s record this season.

Watch West Bromwich Albion Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The Baggies will want to extend the gap at every opportunity, and on Monday, they showed they are more than capable of thriving despite the pressure of needing three points.

Goals from Matty Phillips and Hal Robson-Kanu secured a 2-0 win at managerless Stoke City, and one man highlighted his increasing worth to the team.

On the Chalkboard

Conor Townsend has been very much a forgotten man in the west Midlands at times this season.

Former Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs began the season as Bilic’s first choice in the role before his injury saw versatile starlet Nathan Ferguson switch from the right-hand side.

He has impressed since breaking through into the first-team from the academy, so much so that he’s been linked with moves to Juventus, Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur.

Against Charlton Athletic, he showed signs that he still has a lot of maturing to do as his horror challenge on Chris Solly saw him pick up a red card and a subsequent three-match ban.

In his absence, Townsend has quite remarkably stepped up to the mark, as seen on Monday night.

Per SofaScore, the 26-year-old recorded two interceptions, one tackle, and one successful dribble while contributing to only their third clean sheet of the season.

As the more natural left-back, it would make perfect sense for him to continue to operate in the role until anything significant happens – even on Ferguson’s return.

Townsend hasn’t just impressed against the Potters, as fans noticed with his game-changing impact in Albion’s draw over Barnsley a few weeks ago.

Ferguson should have to fight to regain his place amongst the Croatian’s starting line up as a lesson for such recklessness, especially as summer signing Darnell Furlong has been more than astute at right-back.

He has averaged 1.7 tackles and 1.6 clearances per game, where he ranks third in the Baggies squad for both metrics.

It would just be too harsh to drop Towsend after his surprise rich vein of form – he had only played for 19 minutes on the opening day until featuring in three straight matches, per Transfermarkt.

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… 

When Manchester United fans and scouts alike tuned in for England’s clash with Montenegro on Thursday night, the likes of Jadon Sancho and James Maddison would probably have been the players they may have kept a particularly close eye on.

A report from ESPN in recent weeks have claimed the duo are amongst the club’s leading targets for next summer, and so seeing how they performed on the international stage would have been a great look-out. But in the end, neither of them were who caught the eye.

Instead, it was fellow rumoured target Ben Chilwell who stole the show from left-back, and showed United exactly what they would be getting if they were to sign him from Leicester. In a truly dominant team display, the 22-year-old produced an all-action masterclass that showed his credentials as a top-quality defender with some very impressive attacking attributes too.

Despite operating as a full-back, Chilwell delivered an incredible display going forward. As per Sofascore, his number of touches were second only to United centre-back Harry Maguire, and in being so involved in the Three Lions’ play, it was little surprise to see him rack up a hat-trick of assists.

His delightful little chipped ball for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to rifle home was arguably the pick of the bunch, but he was a constant thorn for the Montenegro defence with his runs both on the inside and outside. His five key passes were a game-high – two more even than fellow Red Devils transfer target Sancho. But not content with showing how good he is with the ball at his feet, Chilwell also made four tackles – the highest of any England player on the night.

His all-action display delivered a major message to any United onlookers, and particularly to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Whilst the Red Devils already have their very own England left-back in Luke Shaw, Chilwell’s virtuoso performance proved he could well be better than him.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

The Telegraph is reporting that Liverpool want to extend Fabinho’s contract at Anfield.

What’s the story?

The 26-year-old joined the Reds from AS Monaco last term for a fee of £43.7m. Since then, he has gone on to make 58 appearances for the club.

[ad_pod ]

Such has been the level of his displays, it is now being said that Jurgen Klopp and Co want to extend his contract with the Merseyside outfit.

Finally a Mascherano replacement

Clearly, the nine-time Brazil international has made a big impact. He already has a contract until 2023, after all, so it is not as though there is any urgent need to get him committed to a new long-term deal in order to convince him to stay with the team.

Watch Liverpool Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Liverpool have not had the best of luck in the past decade when it comes to defensive midfielders. Javier Mascherano was arguably the Reds’ last great defensive midfielder – for example, he averaged an astonishing 5.2 tackles per game in his final full season before moving to Barcelona, whilst Pepe Reina admitted that the club had a “big problem” in replacing him – and, ever since he left, a host of players have come in to try to replace him.

However, they have failed to match the required standard. Jordan Henderson has perhaps been the most successful, but he has spent most of his time on the pitch for Liverpool further forward in central midfield according to those Joe Allen and Emre Can were unable to cement their place as the first-choice defensive midfielder, whilst Christian Poulsen is a signing many would rather forget.

Fabinho, though, may just be two-time Champions League winner Mascherano’s successor. He has been called the best in the world in his position by Gary Neville (Sky Sports via This is Anfield), whilst he has also earned the nickname “Dyson” in homage of the famous vacuum cleaner thanks to his ability to clean up in front of the back four. It seems as though he has already made the position his own, having made 17 appearances in the role this campaign. Giving him a new deal is exactly what he deserves.

Meanwhile, this Liverpool youngster could facilitate Trent Alexander-Arnold’s transition into midfield.

Leeds United fans have been reminiscing about a former player on social media this week after the club’s official Twitter feed posted a highlights reel of Ross McCormack and his best ten goals for the club.

The 33-year-old, who is now without a team, enjoyed a very prolific four years at Elland Road after scoring 58 goals in 157 appearances, which also included 31 assists before he joined Championship rivals Fulham in an £11m deal.

McCormack went on to play for Aston Villa and two Australian A-League sides but has been a free agent since the summer.

There are many mixed opinions on the Scotsman in west Yorkshire, some would love to see his attacking exploits under Marcelo Bielsa whilst some are still slightly hurting by his 2014 exit.

During his time at United, McCormack won the players’ and fans’ ‘Player of the Year’ award in 2013/14 where he also clinched the Championship’s Golden Boot and was named in the PFA ‘Team of the Year’.

Are you a Championship expert? How much did each of these big-money signings cost?

Here’s how fans have been reacting to the throwback video…

Missing football!? There’s still plenty of Leeds discussion going on in the Vital Leeds Forum! Click here to get involved!

AND in other news, Leeds urged to sign Aston Villa colossus…

After Premier League rivals Liverpool got criticised for their decision to furlough the club’s non-playing staff (something that they have now reversed), it seems Manchester United are keen to learn from the Reds’ mistake.

According to The Daily Mail, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s are unlikely to make use of the current scheme, and are “set to tell around 900 non-playing staff they will be kept on by the club on full pay with no request for government cash.”

Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier Legue records true or false?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

After hearing about their club’s reported stance on the matter, United fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the situation.

A couple of fans gave credit to the likes of the Ed Woodward and the Glazers for the club’s reported decision.

One United supporter meanwhile took a dig at rivals Liverpool and Spurs and insisted that this is “how a club should act”.

If this report is accurate, and it does turn out to be the case, then Solskjaer’s side should be applauded.

Both Liverpool and Tottenham have shown what not to do, and have been roundly slammed for it, and the Red Devils have simply learned from their mistakes.

Meanwhile, Man Utd would be making a foolish mistake by snubbing this star.

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has sent sections of the Emirates Stadium faithful into raptures this week after he posted an image of a former player to Twitter.

Best of the Decade: Top scorers & creators – Can you name them?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

The 31-year-old uploaded his old teammate Serge Gnabry in an Arsenal shirt with the caption “once a Gunner, always a Gunner?” which has left many fans going wild in the responses.

Gnabry has become a sensation in European football since his exit from north London in 2016. He’s clinched a Bundesliga title with current club Bayern Munich, where he also won their Player of the Season award.

This campaign, the electric German winger has found the net 18 times and has even laid on 11 assists in only 33 appearances, via Transfermarkt, becoming one of the most dangerous attackers in the game.

Arsene Wenger let him leave Arsenal for just £4.5m and plenty of supporters are absolutely desperate to see him return home in the near future.

Although, he’s now valued at £81m and without the prospects of Champions League football next season, a move for the 24-year-old would seem rather unlikely.

Here’s a glimpse at what fans have been responding to Ozil with…

AND in other news, Bukayo Saka update has lots of Arsenal supporters FUMING…

Many Aston Villa fans have heaped heavy praise on club captain Jack Grealish after news emerged of a £200k gesture he has made to the NHS.

The young attacking midfielder was in the press for all the wrong reasons as the United Kingdom went into lockdown due to the recent pandemic in March, flouting advice by attending a house party.

The 24-year-old has since apologised via a video link, but a recent raffling of a match worn Villa shirt has now gained him some plaudits, seeing him donate the money to the NHS.

The shirt gained £55,000 as fans of the club and the midfielder bidded for the item, whilst Grealish also handed his two-week fine of £150,000 for his lockdown rule break, straight to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Grealish’s future at Villa is not yet known after being linked with a move to both Manchester United and Everton.

Whilst the midfielder could leave the Midlands based club this summer, Villa’s own future is not yet known, sitting 19th in the Premier League as things stand.

Reacting to the former England U21 international’s gesture via @PreeceObserver, fans handed Grealish a response…

Villa fans, will Jack Grealish stay at the club beyond the summer? Let us know below…

Ever since Tottenham’s new stadium was first opened, one of the big questions has been what it could be potentially called if Daniel Levy managed to sell its naming rights.That hasn’t happened as of yet, and now, The Daily Mail have provided an insight into why that’s been the case.

Hilariously obscure Premier League players – Can you name them all?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

The report claims that Spurs have been attempting to sell naming rights for the stadium for five years, but that any interested parties have been put off by Levy’s £25m-a-year valuation.

And with the Premier League potentially hosting the rest of the season at neutral venues, The Daily Mail claim Levy has “expressed fears” that this would “further hinder” his attempts to get a naming rights partner.

After hearing about the update, Spurs fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation.

One Spurs fan urged Jeff Bezos to just “sign the stadium” and then take over from Levy.

With the current situation taking its toll, Levy’s insistence on holding out for the price he wants may have cost Spurs in the long-run.

Instead of guaranteeing an annual revenue over these next couple of seasons already, Spurs could realistically be without a value-for-money sponsor for their stadium for the time being, particularly with the issue of where Premier League games are to be played in major doubt.

A recent tweet from Sky Sports’ Pete Graves has angered a lot of Newcastle United fans this week.

The Magpies correspondent responded to one supporter asking why there wasn’t any coverage about the northeast outfit taking payment for next season’s season tickets.

Graves responded with a light-hearted joke, but it hasn’t gone down well with some sections of the St James’ Park faithful.

Currently, their prospective £300m takeover is still in the hands of the Premier League – as it has been for nearly two months now, which has led to growing frustrations.

Graves believes that this is also the reason behind the club taking money for next term.

Many supporters hammered Sky Sports for their lack of coverage, claiming that the takeover was no excuse for lack of coverage on such a matter.

Whilst others lambasted the situation as “shameful” as well as “laughable”.

Think you’re a big Magpies fan? Can you name these former players by looking at their careers? Go on, give it a go…

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

There were plenty of Magpies fans who took aim at Ashley as well as the current board at the club, which is hardly a surprise given how poorly the Sports Direct mogul has run the club during his 13-year tenure.

There were also a number of United supporters who pondered the influence of the takeover and how it could affect things as many believe they are due a refund.

One member of the Magpies faithful even suggested that the takeover isn’t happening which is why the club appears to be continuing as normal.

AND in other news, Luke Edwards makes damning Bruce claim amid Newcastle takeover…

Tottenham might have been just nine minutes away from restarting their Premier League campaign with three crucial points against Manchester United – but if it wasn’t for a captain’s performance from Hugo Lloris, it could have been a whole lot worse for Jose Mourinho’s side.

By the time Steven Bergwijn had notched his third goal in Spurs colours, the French World Cup winner had already made the first of six saves, showing fine reflexes to deny Marcus Rashford from close-range before holding onto an awkward effort from Bruno Fernandes on the stroke of half-time.

Lloris, who has been less than inspiring for Tottenham since returning from a dislocated elbow in January, went one better midway through the second-half when he produced stunning one-handed save to prevent Anthony Martial from leveling.

It was a performance that warranted three points, but Lloris couldn’t do anything about Bruno Fernandes’ 81st-minute penalty – with the Portuguese midfielder sending the 33-year-old the wrong way from 12-yards.

And despite receiving a fair amount of stick throughout this season, Spurs fans were full of praise for their goalkeeper after one of his best performances of the campaign – and took to Twitter to express their delight at their skipper…