Leeds fans are not impressed by Pontus Jansson after the big Swede praised the atmosphere at Elland Road.
There are plenty of problems at Elland Road right now, and fans are growing increasingly frustrated with current crop of players. One thing that will infuriate the Leeds faithful more than anything is the apparent lack of effort, especially at home.
All too often the current side collapses under the pressure at Elland Road, and when the going gets tough the players seem to perform even worse.
Fans have now been annoyed by the comments of Pontus Jansson, who applauded the atmosphere from the fans.
“They support me and the rest of the team all over England in huge numbers – but there is nothing like playing at home,” the 27 year-old said.
“The noise you get when Elland Road is rocking is amazing and we have shared some great memories together which will live with me forever.”
Jansson’s comments have been met with scepticism from more than a few fans, who were amazed last week by an embarrassing statistic on the side’s home form.
Leeds welcome Bolton to Elland Road after the international break before a difficult trip to Fulham. Any hopes of a playoff push have completely evaporated, but a positive end to the season could lift spirits ahead of an important transfer window.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Fans have been reacting to Jansson’s comments on Twitter, and let’s just say they’re not particularly optimistic…
We’ve seen some fantastic goals in the Premier League since its inception in 1992.
The goalscoring charts is filled with legends of the game, both past and present, and from a wide range of clubs who have enjoyed a mixed bag success throughout the years.
But who makes up the top 50 Premier League goal scorers of all time? Can you name them all? Have a go below and see how many you can get in 15 minutes.
Then why not challenge you mates by sharing your results via Facebook?
Go on, do your worst. NO CHEATING!
[ffc-quiz ]
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Both Liverpool and Newcastle United will make a January approach for Valenciennes centre back Nicolas Isimat Mirin according to the Metro.
The French club are happy to talk to admirers if a bid of £4million or more is placed in the January transfer window.
Both the Reds and the Magpies are desperate to sure up their failing defences with the pair massively underachieving this season after so much expectation in the summer.
Newcastle have had numerous injury problems this season with Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor both being affected while Liverpool are planning for life without club legend Jamie Carragher.
The French centre half is just one of a batch of impressive young Ligue 1 players that have blossomed this season, sparking an Arsene Wenger style raid of the French League in January.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Valenciennes are happy to do business with regard to Isimat Mirin but they would want to keep the defender on loan for the rest of the season.
Everton are on high alert after Jack Wilshere told TalkSport he has yet to talk to Arsenal about a new contract.
What’s the word?
Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast this morning, Wilshere said he has not yet decided on a contract and will discuss it in the summer.
“When the time is right we’ll have a conversation and see how we go from there.”
Everton and West Ham have both been linked with moves for Wilshere recently, and these comments will only further the speculation of a summer switch for the 26-year-old.
Wilshere may or may not be at the world cup with England this summer, but with his contract set to run out and no signs of a new one to come, it could be a bidding war for wages between Everton and West Ham.
Wilshere is reportedly on £90,000 at Arsenal, so Everton should be careful about entering a bidding war for the midfielder this summer.
Should Everton pull the trigger?
There has never been any doubt about Wilshere’s quality when he’s fit, but his injury record will be a major concern for both interested parties, even if he is prepared to take a reduction in wages.
Everton will be at a sort of breaking point this summer. Make the right moves and strengthen the squad, and they could challenge for a European birth next season, but overpay for unproven and unreliable talents and it could be a disaster. This is exactly why Wilshere would be a huge risk.
Wilshere would make a handy partner to Idrissa Gueye in the heart of Everton’s midfield, but the Englishman has only started ten league matches this season. In fact, in his last five Premier League seasons, Wilshere has only started an average of eight games.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Bringing in a player who will miss most of the season and making him one of the highest earners at the club will annoy the fans and could even upset the dressing room. Everton should only pursue Wilshere if he is happy to take a significant pay cut, and base his bonuses around playing time.
Everton fans, would you like to take a punt on Wilshere? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
In the same fortnight Jose Mourinho declared “there is no racism in football” amid his staunch, strong-fisted rejection of the Rooney Rule, UEFA fined Levski Sofia just £7,750 after supporters of the Bulgarian side held up a banner stating ‘say yes to racism’.
One can understand where the Chelsea manager was coming from, his perspective is simple; football is a sport too competitively pure to let such superficialities as skin colour or creed prevent the best of the best reaching the game’s summit. There may be some politically diverse views amongst the terraces, but that’s more representative of societal issues than it is the culture of football itself.
Yet, racism is still clearly a problem in football, even in the leftie-liberal, politically-correct realms of England, and especially in the management racket.
There’s just two black managers throughout England’s top four divisions – Chris Powell and Keith Curle – and both of them were only given jobs this month after spending the summer unemployed. That’s just two black managers out of a possible 92, 2%, in a sport where nearly 30% the playing contingent in England are black or from an ethnic minority, in a country where nearly 6% of the population are black or mixed race.
It’s not a question of reluctant participation either, an apathy if you will; 18% of those who attend coaching courses are black according to the PFA, yet they’re represented by just 3% of coaches, managers and technical directors at senior, academy or junior level throughout the country.
The numbers simply don’t add up. Mirror Football’s Darren Lewis believes the disparity is due to old stereotypes surrounding black players still persisting in the English game; “Years ago it was stereotype (and ignorance) used to justify the lack of progression for black players from the pitch to the manager’s office.
“Black players’ “thing” was speed and athleticism. You couldn’t rely on them – supposedly – to be strategists but they could beat you for pace (when it was sunny of course) and they could jump higher than their white counterparts in the box. Who’d have thought that in the 21st century the lazy, tired thinking would not be as overt but the discrimination, the glass ceiling would continue to exist nonetheless?”
The fact that just 13% of captains throughout the Football League and the top flight are black further supports this theory.
And even if you’re a stato-sceptic, consider the qualitative evidence – only in August this year was former Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay exposed for sending a series of racist and homophobic texts to Sporting Director Ian Moody.
“F**kin’ Chinkeys. There’s enough dogs in Cardiff for us all to go around,” “Not many white faces amongst that lot but worth considering” and a picture entitled ‘Black Monopoly’, with every square saying ‘go to jail’, are just some of more notable messages sent from his work phone.
His colleagues and counterparts claim Mackay to be a rare bad apple, but the statistics suggest there are other managers in England who also employ this EDL-inspired vocabulary behind closed doors, even if it’s used, on the most part, in ill-tasting jest.
The League Managers’ Association knew about the allegations for three months and did nothing, before describing the text-gate affair as an episode in ‘friendly banter’.
Clearly, racism – be it benign and tacit in the safety of offices, or screamed from the terraces by mobs of Ultras – is still a major problem in football.
Finally, it appears, English football is prepared to do something about it, with Football League chairman Greg Clarke leading an ‘all-encompassing review of black and ethnic minority coaches’. At the centre of the investigation will be a discussion over the introduction of the Rooney Rule – the equality legislation that has transformed the NFL, and for whatever reason, appears to have discovered an enemy in Jose Mourinho.
The rule, making it mandatory for all teams to interview minority candidates for senior management and coaching positions, has seen the number of black coaches rise from just three in 2003, when it was established, to eight in 2011. That’s a dramatic shift from 9% to 19% in just eight years, although admittedly, there are now just five minority representatives in the NFL this season.
It may not be the ultimate solution to English football’s problems – positive discrimination and affirmative action always come with their negative stigmatisms. Likewise, if we were to extrapolate the experiences of the MLS to the English game, the figure of black managers would rise from only two to 13.
But former FA chief Sir Trevor Brooking claims; “given the number of players from all backgrounds, it would be madness if in five or 10 years’ time that’s not reflected in the coaching. I’m sure we’ll have 10 out of 92, 20 out of 92, that over a period of time will be from the different ethic mixes,” believing the management system is capable of evolving naturally without the help of the Rooney Rule.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
But that’s precisely the point Sir Trev – the situation English football’s already in, with just two minority representatives out of 92, already constitutes institutional insanity. Clearly, the process needs to be accelerated. It requires a catalyst, specifically in regards to placing black role models in high positions that younger generations can hope to one day emulate. The longer the game goes on without black managers, the less black players will consider it a plausible career path.
The Rooney Rule is by no means perfect, and as Jose Mourinho obviously feels, a foe to the competitiveness that makes football thrive. A very capitalist point of view, I must say.
But to paraphrase Dan Rooney himself, recently quizzed on the issue by BBC Radio, British football has nothing to lose. We either adopt a radical policy that at least attempts to improve the situation, and comes with a proven record from the US – a country that still upheld Jim Crow laws, including lynching, until the 1960s – or maintain the status quo until the next Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson or Pep Guardiola just happens to be black.
Arsenal’s main transfer target, Wilfried Zaha, has mockingly tweeted his frustration at watching the Gunners during their 2-1 Champions League defeat against Olympiakos Tuesday night.
Finishing behind Schalke 04 the Gunners have to settle for a tough knockout tie in the next phase of the Champions League against a group winner.
They took the lead against the Greeks in the first half when Tomas Rosicky side footed from the penalty spot after a clever cutback by Gervinho. Arsenal’s collapse came in the second half after conceding two goals to Giannis Maniatis and Kostas Mitroglou respectively.
Championship striker Zaha admitted that he stopped watching the tie after Arsenal fell behind, tweeting, “I swear I’m not watching Arsenal anymore.”
The Crystal Palace forward then retweetd Mark Bright’s comment, saying, “’Arsenal are poor. Plain and simple. Sorry @IanWright0 its so annoying watching them, used [to] be made of steel. Now, papier mache!”
Zaha’s comment alone merely playfully mocks the North London side, however, his retweet of TV pundit Bright gave his view a more caustic quality.
The playful swipe, made in the public sphere, has the potential to isolate the youngster if a move to his boyhood club Arsenal ever transpires this January, or this summer.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
As reparation for his earlier tweet Zaha admitted that “I am a[n] Arsenal supporter but they do stress me out.”
Arsene Wenger has already admitted admiration for the player’s footballing acumen, but his social media savvy is certainly a work-in-progress.
This time last season, Ander Herrera was a terrier.
Perhaps Manchester United’s most effective outfield player, the Spaniard is last season’s player of the year. Indeed, he is the first outfield player of the year United have had since Robin van Persie in 2013, the last time the Red Devils won the league.
Last season, he wasn’t just an effective football player, though, he was also a teacher’s pet. He was the on-field propagandist for the Mourinho regime, committing the niggly fouls, embodying the hard-working defensive mindset and executing the game plan. In their FA Cup sixth round defeat to Chelsea last March, the fact that it was Herrera who was sent off was apt: he was the victim of referee Michael Oliver’s wrath when the man in the middle simply got fed up with United’s clear and obvious gameplan, which was to kick Eden Hazard. Herrera was only following orders, your honour.
This season, though, the Spaniard is inexplicably out of the team. And it would make a lot of sense for him to be there.
It’s not just his form from last year. Nor does it seem strange because of the fact that, in a side where Paul Pogba is at loggerheads with the manager over his defensive contributions, you’d expect a player like Herrera to be a failsafe option for the manager. Instead, the main reason he should be in the side is because on paper he appears to provide the perfect balance to the midfield: Matic to hold, Herrera to keep busy scuttling around the middle and Pogba to provide the link to the attack.
And yet despite the obvious need for a Herrera-like player, it’s Scott McTominay who is routinely given the nod, or else the manager elects to play a midfield two. Tying Pogba to Nemanja Matic serves only to stifle the Frenchman’s creativity and infuriate Mourinho because of his lack of defensive discipline. Herrera is the obvious solution.
This is a moot point at the moment, of course, because the Spaniard is currently injured. Picked ahead of Paul Pogba so Mourinho could make a point in the first leg of United’s Champions League last 16 tie, Herrera was subbed off in the first half after suffering an injury.
But it’s striking that he’s not been as good as he was last year, especially given he’s the player United so obviously need. In fact, there have been reports this week – hardly the most concrete evidence, but whispers nonetheless – that Herrera might be on his way out of the club, possibly to Atletico Madrid, which would certainly make sense for a Diego Simeone team. But as he is a similar sort of manager to Mourinho, why doesn’t he just keep Herrera instead?
It could be a case of extra-curricular problems. Outside of football, players have lives and are human beings like everyone else, and so poor form could be set off by that. Indeed, this week it’s been reported that Herrera could be caught up in a match-fixing investigation in Spain from his time at Real Zaragoza. The United midfielder stresses he knew nothing of the alleged infringement, but it’s only natural to be anxious when such a serious allegation is aimed at you, even if you know it to be false.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
But whatever the matter, it seems to add up yet again to another Jose Mourinho tantrum. And if even Ander Herrera, the perfect player in the perfect position for the perfect manager, doesn’t match up to the his standards, you have to wonder just how much better Mourinho can make this team.
Next weekend, Manchester United will play Swansea in their first match of the new campaign hoping to put the ghosts of last season to bed. With a very convincing USA tour, expectations are high, whether from the fans, the players, or even the club itself.
They need to pick up all three points and convince their new manager that they’ve got what it takes to challenge for a top place finish and bring glory back to Old Trafford. The first match will be very important because it will eventually set the mood and tone for their entire season.
Until the whistle is blown on match day, here are SIX things to expect from Manchester United this season.
[ffc-gallery]
CLICK ON LOUIS VAN GAAL TO SEE THE FULL LIST
[/ffc-gallery]
Newly introduced 3-5-2 formation
Forget all the pre-season victories as the Manchester United squad will now need to test their new 3-5-2 formation where it really matters, in the English Premier League. We have all seen it work wonders for the Dutch national squad and with Louis van Gaal facing Swansea in their first game, there is no room for error.
Jonny Evans, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling will need to be at their best to ensure no previous season mentality comes back to haunt them. The fans are expecting a victory, so three points is the only option Van Gaal has.
UEFA Champions League spot
Seventh place in the previous campaign means completely nothing now. With a clean slate, Manchester United are expected to compete for the top four spots or even more, top two. Throughout the pre-season, we have seen a completely different team from the one fielded by David Moyes, from their movement all the way to their mentality.
Louis van Gaal was given a huge transfer budget solely for the reason of returning to European football the next season. Anything less than a top four finish will pretty much put the Dutch boss under huge amount of pressure. Based on what we know of him, the Red Devils may have finally found someone who can replace the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.
Unbeaten at Old Trafford
Last season Manchester United lost seven matches at home, something that hasn’t happened since the 1973/1974 campaign. However, with a complete chance in management with the introduction of Louis van Gaal, things are expected to be looking up. Based on their pre-season form, they have produced some outstanding plays, hinted that they will be back to their best.
Therefore, for United to compete for a Champions League spot as well as the entire Premier League, they should be expected not to drop any points at Old Trafford. When it comes to away matches, Van Gaal will surely urge his players to go for the victory no matter what. Whatever happens, they will need to avoid what smaller teams did do them the previous season.
Become a feared side once more
There were times last season when nobody was afraid of Manchester United anymore. Either home or away, teams took the game to them, focusing on trying to break down their weak midfield and exploiting their unconvincing defence.
However, this time around, Louis van Gaal looks to have reinforced all aspects of the squad and if other Premier League teams saw what they are capable of during their USA tour, they should begin fearing them once more. Their first match against Swansea will be a very important one as it will either make them or break them.
Solid Defence, Lethal Attack
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Whether Louis van Gaal is capable of adding another centre-back or defensive midfield to his ranks or not, he will make sure the squad is tight and composed at the back while also capable of inflicting serious damage on the break. With reference to the Dutch squad, Arjen Robben seemed to be given to freedom to roam around and break on the counter, something many expect the likes of United’s more attacking players to do as well.
The strike pairing of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney has yet to be tested during pre-season, but even without the Dutch forward, the Red Devils were causing mayhem wherever they went. A key to Van Gaal’s formation will be the stability of his wing backs in defence and their pace and vision on the counters.
Sir Alex Ferguson watching from the stands
Finally, something or rather someone, who can always be expected to keep a huge lookout from the stand, is former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. It was believed David Moyes was under pressure from his close scrutiny and it looks to be no difference when Louis van Gaal leads his squad on the pitch in two weeks time.
The only difference is that the Dutchman has a die-hard attitude, with one thing in mind, victory game in game out. Whether he is pressured from all angles of Old Trafford, he will be able to keep a cool head and make the appropriate changes in order to guide his team to victory. All we can do now is wait and see.
Liverpool FC manager Brendan Rodgers is hopeful that changes at Chelsea won’t damage his chances of securing a deal to sign striker Daniel Sturridge in January.
The Chelsea forward has emerged as Rodgers’ prime target in the Premier League transfer window as he looks to strengthen a forward line heavily reliant on Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez.
However, the appointment of Rafa Benitez could complicate matters if he sees Sturridge as more of an integral part of his squad than his predecessor Roberto Di Matteo did.
“You never know when new managers go into clubs, but we will see what happens over the course of the market for us,” Rodgers told The Telegraph.
The player himself is said to be keen on the move and has made no secret of his desire to play as a striker through the middle, something which he has not really had the opportunity to do at Chelsea with Fernando Torres being preferred in that role.
Rodgers is also reported to be keen on unsettled Arsenal forward Theo Walcott, and after he was left out of the club’s 2013 calender it has sparked further indications that he is nearing an exit from the Emirates.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Both of these players added to the likes of tricky winger Raheem Sterling and the imperious Suarez would give Liverpool more depth in their attacking options, but it remains to be seen whether Rodgers can get the players he wants come January.
According to ESPN, Everton are one of a few Premier League teams interested in landing Huddersfield Town midfielder Aaron Mooy this summer. The 27-year-old enjoyed a fine season at the John Smith’s Stadium last time round to thus attract interest during the close season, and were new Toffees boss Marco Silva to indeed land the Australia international, it would finally solve a key midfield issue at Goodison Park.
The Breakdown
Ultimately, the Toffees endured a testing and disappointing Premier League campaign last time round given the investment made last summer, with many areas of the squad clearly lacking in the sufficient depth and quality to sustain a challenge to the top six teams.
And one of those areas in question was the central midfield department, as other than the influential Idrissa Gueye, both Ronald Koeman and Sam Allardyce found it hard to fall upon the ideal partner or indeed system to get the best out of the midfield ranks.
Morgan Schneiderlin, other than a few fine performances at the rear end of the season, was below-par for much of the campaign, to the point that he could be sold this summer, while Wayne Rooney clearly didn’t enjoy playing in a slightly deeper role, although he will join DC United next month – James McCarthy’s campaign was also decimated by injuries.
And while Tom Davies deserves credit for his efforts in the middle of the park, it’s clear that Silva’s team are lacking in that area of the field, which is why they must seek to do a deal for the mightily impressive Mooy.
The 27-year-old has played as big a part as any in the Huddersfield fairy-tale in the last few years, firstly in helping the Terriers win promotion from the Championship back in 2017, before going one better and inspiring them to Premier League safety last time round.
With four goals and four assists in all competitions for the Yorkshire side last term, it’s clear that he would complement the skills of Everton’s Gueye, with the latter slightly more industrious and strong off the ball, and while Mooy does have that in his locker, he is arguably more effective with the ball at his feet and seeking to move it forward.
Who do you think will win the World Cup? Let us know here
And if Silva is to take his new club forward next term, and indeed in the years to come, they have to address the obvious problem in the middle of the park – the addition of Mooy would do just that.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
And with reports also suggesting that Manchester City are not to trigger a buy-back clause in the 27-year-old’s contract, Silva must take advantage by bringing the £9 million-rated lynchpin (as per Transfermarkt) to Goodison Park.