All posts by z3u9t.icu

Nottingham Forest will take on Arsenal in the FA Cup after the draw took place on Monday evening.

And a number of Forest fans have been giving their thoughts to the confirmed news on social media, delighted at the prospect of another ‘cupset’ like their clash with the Gunners in 2018.

Forest began their busy December schedule with a 2-0 win over Peterborough United on Saturday and still have five Championship fixtures to fulfil before attention can be turned to a meeting with Mikel Arteta’s side.

Forest and the north Londoners were the final two teams to be drawn, with the tie set to be scheduled between January 7-10.

Arsenal have won the FA Cup 14 times but were dumped out at the third round when they last visited the City Ground, losing 4-2 with right-back Eric Lichaj an unexpected hero for the Reds, scoring twice back in January ’18.

Forest fans react

Forest shared the news regarding the third-round tie on their official Twitter page. This is what these Reds supporters had to say in reply, with one labelling it as ‘beautiful’ and others referencing Lichaj.

“Here we go……. coyr”

Credit: @bdosanjh_9

“JUST DO IT”

Credit: @Jose_J95

“beautiful”

Credit: @aamyy_xox

“Bring @EricLichaj back for 1 game only. Let’s do it again”

Credit: @Joel_Bryan1999

“Tasty”

Credit: @Timgledstone

“Love it”

Credit: @AWRads94

Everton are now on the hunt for their new manager after sacking Rafa Benitez on Sunday afternoon, following a series of awful performances that has left the club in a vulnerable position in the Premier League, currently sixteenth in the league table and six points off a relegation challenge in the drop zone.

What’s the word?

Everton insider and journalist, Alan Myers, has given his perspective on who should be the next manager at Goodison Park, revealing his number one choice that hasn’t been reported as one of the clear favourites by Sky Sports.

Myers tweeted:

“My choice would be Christophe Galtier, wins the title with Lille, takes over a mediocre Nice side and now has them 2nd in the division, no ties, something fresh, passionate?”

The French manager is currently working at Nice as their head coach, in a rebuild project, and the club currently sit just behind Paris Saint Germain in Ligue 1.

Better than Rooney

Galtier is famously known for his incredible work at Lille, going into the club halfway through the season in 2017, saving them from relegation and finishing 17th in the table during his first six months in charge.

However, what followed was nothing short of miraculous as he led the team to the club’s fourth Ligue 1 title in their first title win in a decade in 2021, when they finished one point ahead of PSG.

The Frenchman left Lille in the summer of their title victory, in search of a new challenge which he found at Nice, who finished ninth in the table last season by injecting his philosophy of youth and development into the club.

He is currently flying high in the top flight French league again, sitting second, taking points from 16 of the last 21 games he has managed the side so far this term.

Wayne Rooney has been a favourite for the manager’s position at Everton long before Benitez was even sacked from the role, but Farhad Moshiri must not overlook or underestimate the success and impressive work Galtier has done over the last few years.

His influence and experience in taking teams in vulnerable positions and transforming their trajectory is fitting for the Toffees current situation, with that being said, he is a far better fit for the role than the Derby Country boss. Although he is striving to save them from relegation at the moment and is doing an impressive job of doing so, he still lacks experience, especially at the top table.

Everton are yet to reveal if they have began speaking to or have made an offer of appointment to any manager, but with the side involved in the early kick-off against Aston Villa, they will surely be looking to appoint somebody as soon as possible.

In other news: Graham Potter not interested in becoming Toffees boss

Charlton Athletic extended their unbeaten run to nine matches but did little to bolster their chances of reaching the League One playoffs as they drew with fellow promotion-chasers Ipswich Town at The Valley on Saturday afternoon.

The Addicks dominated the second half, recording 61% possession and recording nine of their 12 attempts at goal, though ultimately, they could not find the net and that largely came down to Jayden Stockley, who proved wasteful in attack.

Nigel Adkins’ side now remain two points adrift of a playoff position but with two games in hand, they could quickly gain ground – however, the manager will need his frontman to be far better, especially in the absence of injured duo Chuks Aneke and Conor Washington, who have combined for 23 of Charlton’s 57 goals.

The 27-year-old Preston loanee was certainly not starved of chances, as he recorded 45 touches of the ball, which was more than playmaker Alex Gilbey (40) and ball-playing defender Jason Pearce (35).

Of the Addicks’ 12 shots, Stockley accounted for three of them and 33.3% of their shots on target were from him too, so evidently, he was particularly careless in front of goal.

In possession, the 6 foot 2 striker was equally reckless as he made only 53% of his 30 passing attempts and lost the ball a squad-high 19 times, meaning he handed the advantage back to the Tractor Boys once every 2.3 touches – or once every 4.7 minutes, as per SofaScore.

Adkins would have deployed the £810k-rated star as a target man once again but he struggled in that sense too, losing five of 15 aerial duels, also committing three fouls, the joint-most of anyone on the pitch.

A win would’ve put the south-east Londoners in a very strong position going into the final few matches of the season and had Stockley not been so wasteful on the day, then he may well have been the match-winner.

Charlton best hope they don’t come back to regret this outing come to the end of the campaign.

AND in other news, Charlton must wave goodbye to “exciting” 29 y/o dud this summer…

An update has emerged on Newcastle United and their interest in Stade Reims gem Hugo Ekitike…

What’s the talk?

Transfer insider Dean Jones has revealed that the Magpies are set to pursue a deal for the French centre-forward at the end of the season.

PIF came close to sealing a swoop for the youngster in the January transfer window only to fall at the last hurdle on deadline day.

They reportedly agreed a fee of £33m with the Ligue 1 side, but the player decided that he was better off waiting until the summer before making a decision on the next step in his career.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: “Ekitike, I think they’re going after him no matter what. So, I’d say that he is the most likely striker that they’ll sign.”

Eddie Howe will be buzzing

The Toon boss will surely be buzzing by this update as the attacker would be a fantastic addition to his squad heading into the next Premier League campaign.

Goalscoring has been a cause for concern throughout the season for the Magpies in the sense that they have not been able to rely on one, or two, players to find the back of the net on a regular basis. Callum Wilson has not kicked a ball in anger since December and leads the charts for the club on six strikes in the division, with Allan Saint-Maximin’s tally of five the next best.

Chris Wood was brought to Tyneside in January to bolster Howe’s depth at the top end of the pitch and he has been unable to showcase the best of his abilities. He has scored twice in 14 starts, once from open play, as he failed to hit the ground running in front of goal.

Ekitike, meanwhile, has scored nine goals in 14 Ligue 1 starts for Reims this season, whilst also contributing two assists. He has been able to show off his finishing ability in the French top-flight and Howe would surely love to have a player with that level of quality in the final third as an option next season.

The ex-Cherries coach will also be excited by the gem’s potential. At the age of 19, he is in the infancy of his career and is already proving that he can make an impact in a top European league. This suggests that he has the scope for a vast improvement in the years to come and Howe will want to be the one who helps him explode in Europe as a striker.

AND in other news: Howe can unearth his own Ginola in Newcastle’s rarely-seen 19 y/o “bright talent”…

Marcel Brands must block any attempts by Atletico Madrid to sign star left-back Lucas Digne this summer, after the publication of a report suggesting that The Blues could cash in on the defender in order to fund a transfer of their own.

What’s the word?

According to Gol Digital, La Liga leaders Atletico are keen on signing Digne in the summer transfer window as boss Diego Simeone strives to improve his options at left-back.

Digne is considered to be a player who meets Simeone’s checklist as the Frenchman is fast, strong and plays with an offensive threat that can make the 27-year-old an extra forward.

Everton are expected to value the former FC Barcelona defender at no less than €30m (£25.5m) after Digne penned a new £119,000-per-week contract last month, keeping him tied down at Goodison Park through to June 2025.

But despite his new deal, Carlo Ancelotti is said to be open to parting ways with the full-back, as the Italian would like to sign Tottenham’s Sergio Reguilon just a year after he left Real Madrid in a deal that could reach £32m.

Digne would also be expected to have admirers from clubs in the Serie A and Bundesliga if his time on Merseyside is set to end this season, while Atletico would need to find new homes for Kieran Trippier, Santiago Arias and Sime Vrsaljko to fund their pursuit.

Should Everton replace Digne with Reguilon?

It certainly seems questionable that Ancelotti would be looking to replace Digne just weeks after he signed a deal to extend his spell at Everton for a further two seasons from the five-year terms agreed upon his £18m arrival in 2018.

But, if true, Everton’s Director of Football Marcel Brands – who Ancelotti claims he enjoys a “beautiful relationship” with – must step in and block the Italian coach from a potentially huge blunder of trying to move Digne on and replacing him with Reguilon.

Everton would be taking a step backwards by parting with Digne, who has six assists in 20 Premier League games this season, for Reguilon, who has offered three assists in 17 top-flight matches since joining Tottenham last year.

Reguilon has talent, no doubt, with Jamie Redknapp claiming the five-cap Spain international was “fantastic” for Spurs before being sidelined with a muscle injury in his right leg at the end of January.

“When he was playing, he was fantastic. He had great energy, was crossing the ball, good in one-on-one situations – he had it all. It’s no surprise that their performances have not been as good since he has not been playing. He offers so much to this team,” the Sky Sports pundit said, via quotes by The Boot Room.

But Reguilon would not be an upgrade on Digne, who averages 1.6 key passes and 1.6 accurate crosses (22%) a game in the Premier League this season to the Tottenham man’s 0.6 chances created and 0.5 accurate crosses (24%), per SofaScore.

Signing Reguilon would also see Ancelotti acquire an inferior aerial presence at left-back with the £48,000-per-week 24-year-old offering 1.0 duels won (40%) a game to Digne’s 3.1 (67%). Although the pair are evenly matched for defensive contributions, with two and 2.2 successful tackles, 2.2 and 2.3 clearances plus 1.2 and 1.0 interceptions respectively.

Though it is in Digne’s offensive contributions that Ancelotti relies on the Frenchman the most, with only James Rodriguez offering a higher volume of key passes (1.7) than the full-back who offers the highest number of accurate crosses per league game at Everton, per WhoScored.

Tottenham would be expected to strive to acquire a substantial figure for Reguilon, as well, so there would not be a financial benefit to replacing Digne with him, making it even more puzzling why Ancelotti would be considering making this change in the summer.

AND in other news, a £15k-p/w Everton dud who gives “absolutely nothing” has been tipped to seal a summer transfer…

Some Wolves fans have been flocking to a transfer update involving Joao Moutinho.

According to A Bola (via Sport Witness), FC Porto are eyeing up a move for the central midfielder in the summer transfer window, with the veteran reportedly available on a ‘lower salary’.

There is a ‘mutual desire’ from both the player and the club to make the move before the start of the new season, and Porto manager Sergio Conceicao is a big admirer of his.

Moutinho did not exactly have his best campaign in 2020/21, scoring just one goal and supplying one assist in 36 games across all competitions (Transfermarkt) as some Wolves supporters grew frustrated with a few of his performances towards the back end of the season, most notably against Tottenham and Everton.

However, the 34-year-old has been a loyal servant to the Midlands club, playing in 137 matches across all competitions across the last three seasons (Transfermarkt), and some Wolves fans are sad that he could be leaving.

Wolves fans on Moutinho transfer update

These Wolves supporters flocked to the transfer update as it was shared on Twitter, with a couple claiming that the Portugal international has been ‘fantastic’ for them and wishing him well if he were to leave Molineux:

“Glad for him. Will be great for him to finish his playing career back in his home country. Will always be thanking for his fantastic efforts for our club!!”

Credit: @SteveWiles20

“Moutinho has been a revelation for #wwfc but to play in the Premier League in his position you need legs. Sadly he is no box to box player anymore. Time for fresh legs in our midfield.”

Credit: @Earlknudsen

“Be a good move all round, he’s been fantastic in his time here but it’s time to look for a more dynamic midfield”

Credit: @fle07tch

“So we’re thinking it’s ciao to Joao”

Credit: @GoldenPalaceWW

“Joao is the best technically gifted player that I’ve EVER seen in a Wolves shirt. I’ll be sad to see him go. But, I do think he went missing last season at times. I thought it was more to do with how Nuno set up with him. His set pieces were dire at times as well.”

Credit: @eddylooksfrench

“Just not sure about selling Moutinho, Neves, Rui and potentially Coady in one summer – that’s a lot of leadership and experience gone and not easily replaced.”

Credit: @tommartin5

In other news, find out what transfer update has left these Wolves fans buzzing!

Leeds could deliver a big message to Marcelo Bielsa by landing AZ Alkmaar ace Teun Koopmeiners this summer amid reported transfer interest from Liverpool.

What’s the story?

In a list of options suggested by The Athletic’s Phil Hay as potential cover for Kalvin Phillips, Koopmeiner’s name came into the discussion, with the suggestion that he could be set for a move away from his native Netherlands in the summer.

Italian publication Calciomercato have now claimed that fellow Premier League side Liverpool are keen on signing the Dutchman, who they see as a potential replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum.

Could be big message to Bielsa

In some player analysis done by The Athletic, it was suggested that: “Koopmeiners has more of an attacking profile than Phillips (something that might fit with Bielsa’s standards of versatility) and there is a lot to like about him. He stands out as a very good all-rounder in top-flight terms: an extremely strong tackler who mirrors Phillips in his constant attempts to look for forward passes rather than lateral balls.

“While the match with Phillips is not perfect, it is close enough to suggest that Koopmeiners is an asset Bielsa could refine with coaching.”

Described as a “leader” by his former coach Koen Stam, Koopmeiners is AZ Alkmaar’s captain, and as well as being a talented footballer, would be another important voice in the dressing room.

Perhaps just as importantly on a bigger scale, his signing would show that Leeds mean business. Fending off competition from outgoing Premier League champions Liverpool to his signature would signal to Bielsa that the Whites are intent on taking that next step forward – a vital message to convey when you consider that the Argentine’s current contract is coming to an end this summer.

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While Bielsa seems more than happy at Elland Road, landing a key target like this would be the perfect way to prove to the manager that the club are ready to back him in the transfer market.

It’s all in Victor Orta’s hands to beat Liverpool to the 1.83m (6 foot) Koopmeiners now.

Meanwhile, Leeds could sign an ideal partner for Kalvin Phillips in this star…

Leeds United have emerged as contenders for the signing of West Brom star Matheus Pereira in the summer.

What’s the story?

The Baggies saw their relegation from the Premier League confirmed at the weekend after suffering defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates.

And now, The Daily Express claim that Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds are interested in signing the Portuguese winger this summer, although they are set to face significant competition from the likes of RB Leipzig and Leicester.

The report adds that with West Brom’s Championship status now confirmed, Pereira’s exit from the Hawthorns is now likely, with the Foxes currently at the head of the queue to sign him.

Bye-bye Costa

Dubbed as a “genius” who “who has a technical ability that I have never seen before” by former Nurnberg coach Nate Weiss, Pereira has emerged as one of West Brom’s standout performers since his arrival at The Hawthorns.

Weiss added: “How am I going to tell a player like that how he is supposed to shoot, how he is supposed to pass or how he is supposed to use his body? The things he is doing are so natural. How do you train that? How would you train Lionel Messi?”

That natural ability has been on display all season for the Baggies, with the £17m-rated star scoring ten goals and providing another five assists in the Premier League alone – including a sparking display at Chelsea when he scored two and made two in a thrilling 5-2 win.

With Helder Costa’s future at Elland Road very much uncertain at the moment amid claims that he could be one of the players Leeds look to sell this summer in order to raise some much-needed transfer funds, Pereira could be the perfect replacement for him.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-leeds-transfer-rumours-and-news” title=”Read the latest Leeds transfer rumours and news!”]

His performances at Premier League level show that the Baggies’ wing wizard is more than capable of shining in the top-flight, and it’s no surprise Bielsa is eyeing up a move for him.

Pereira’s arrival could then well be the move that sees Costa wave goodbye to Elland Road as well.

Meanwhile, this Leeds United transfer target would be a major upgrade for Marcelo Bielsa…

A source from Newcastle United has suggested that Steve Bruce could leave this summer if the proposed takeover goes through.

The Lowdown: Arbitration awaits

A date has now been set for the pending arbitration case between the Tyneside club and the Premier League over the failed deal between Mike Ashley and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group.

The arbitration hearing has been set for July on an expedited basis, and Lee Ryder, writing in his latest piece for The Chronicle, has shared that some observers of the bid believe that the result of that will come much sooner than the one on the separate anti-competition lawsuit launched against the top flight.

The Latest: Bruce could leave

As per Football Insider, Bruce has been given assurances by chiefs in the North East that he will remain as manager next season, so long as Ashley is still the owner.

However, a source from the Magpies has also claimed that that is dependent on the proposed takeover falling through.

The former Aston Villa and Sunderland boss would then face an uncertain future if it was to be revived, and given that the arbitration case is set for July, if the results of that quickly fall in the favour of the Toon, then it may pave a pathway for its swift resurrection.

The Verdict: Bruce will go if takeover goes through

Given that Bruce is not the man that the proposed new owners would have hired, it is likely that they would look to appoint somebody else as a coach to fit in with their own vision for NUFC.

He was also recently booed by many members of the Toon Army despite their 1-0 home win over Sheffield United, showing that his relationship with the fans is at an all-time low, and perhaps not something that the new owners would want as they build up their project.

Nonetheless, there would certainly be question marks over Bruce’s future if the takeover is completed, whether that would be before or after the new season starts.

In other news, find out whose display was slammed versus the Blades here!

It seems that football has been around for ever and has come along way to the multi-million pound transfers that we see now. The game has its roots firmly stuck in mid-nineteenth-century England. Earlier versions of the game do exist but are not quite the same as the game that we have all grown to love today. The precursors to what would one day become football originate in Mesoamerican cultures more than 3,000 years ago. The ancient Aztecs used the word “tchatali” to describe the game, which by 1600 BC had spread far and wide across the Americas. Some Mesoamerican cultures conducted elaborate rituals of sacrifice and splendour. In their ancient traditions the football represented the sun, so in order to appease the gods, a sacrifice was made – in most cases the losing team’s captain!

One of the reasons why Mesoamerican culture had such an appetite for football goes far beyond chance. The landscape at the time was covered by vast swathes of rubber trees, which gave the indigenous cultures everything they needed for a sustained exploration into the game. It was only after first contact was made by European colonists that they discovered the staggering benefits of the rubber tree and along with it the football.

Let’s Not Forget China

China has records dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC that detail a popular kicking game. It was called “cuju” and like the Mesoamerican version seemed to have religious and cultural importance. The ball was made out of a type of stitched leather and was generally stuffed with animal fur or feathers. The game consisted of a small square, usually etched onto an elaborately decorated paving stone, with the objective being to “score” a goal. The Chinese Han dynasty is credited with inventing the first goalpost-like openings, providing the basic structure and netting practises we see today.

One of the reasons why European civilisations of the time were not holding football with significant cultural importance is likely because the Ancient Greeks prohibited ball games in their amphitheatres. So the humble ball was banned from the larger arenas and was confined to the back alleys of the burgeoning city of Athens. The problem was the stigma attached to football; the game was seen as a sport for the lower classes. The fall of Ancient Greece saw the rise of Roman dominance in Europe. The Romans had an affinity for football and found the game amusing. They exported the game to Britain, along with much of Europe, who all developed their own versions. Surviving Roman texts and manuscripts speak fondly of the game and described epic matches taking place on palace grounds. These matches are described as lavish occasions with the whole family taking part in the fun. The game would have been played on top ornate mosaic tiles, which depicted the grandeur of the families playing their own versions of ancient football.

Punching Not Kicking

It is more than likely that the first versions of football saw players using their fists to punch the ball. The game saw dramatic development during the 12th century and was most likely played on streets and meadows before a designated pitch would become the norm. Football during this period was a lot more hands-on than it is today. Without many rules, the game often spun into complete chaos, with multiple football-related brawls recorded throughout the ages. The resulting violence of the daily brawls may have been a direct reason why using hands would eventually be outlawed. The lawmakers at the time often associated the sport with drunkenness and tomfoolery, so removed the use of one’s hands to provide some much-needed respite.

Football as we know it today was conceived by Charles Goodyear in 1844, after filing a patent for the invention of vulcanised rubber. For a while, there was no formal difference between football and rugby. This caused a problem for both the football association and the rugby union who wanted clear distinction to be made between the two sports in order for them to happily coexist. The guidelines at this time were sparse, which resulted in several different versions simultaneously hitting the streets of eighteenth-century England. There was a call for proper rules to be developed during a meeting in Cambridge during the winter of 1848. The administration set out to establish the fundamental rules and principles that would go on to govern the game. Everything from ethics, game length, and team size were all discussed, and a uniform structure was agreed upon.

Some of the first bets to take place in England during the 1800s were likely to have been informal in nature. This means that these bets took place between friends, with little or no securities for their wagers. This soon developed into often illegal back-alley bookmakers who would happily take bets on upcoming football matches. Fixed-odds sports betting wasn’t legal during this period and could land you a hefty fine and significant jail time. The football odds and bets we place today, and so love by the way, evolved over time, just as football itself has done over the course of many centuries.