Tottenham fans are spot on: Mauricio Pochettino’s side must target Carabao Cup success

Tottenham supporters have been in fine voice in recent times after seeing their side end a tricky run of form which victory in the Premier League over the weekend.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men went into their trip to Brighton on Saturday having lost each of their previous three games in all competitions, two of which coming in the league at the hands of Liverpool and Watford. Yet the North Londoners returned to winning ways at the weekend as goals from Harry Kane and Erik Lamela inspired them to a 2-1 success at the AMEX Stadium, a result which moved Pochettino’s side up to fifth place in the Premier League table.

As such, there have been many thrilled Spurs fans up and down the country in recent times, several of whom have taken to Twitter to call upon manager Pochettino and his team to take the Carabao Cup seriously this season, starting with their clash with Watford this evening.

And those Tottenham supporters are absolutely spot on to demand full focus from their team, as it has been a long time since their club lifted any sort of silverware.

Ultimately, manager Pochettino has earned rave reviews for the job he has done at Spurs since taking over back in 2014, although the Argentine does not have a trophy to show for his efforts.

They have come reasonably close to ending that drought, losing in the League Cup final in 2015 to Chelsea alongside semi-final exits in the FA Cup in the last two seasons, but it does appear that Pochettino has, on the whole, been prioritising winning either the Premier League or the Champions League, as evidenced with his comments little over a year ago.

And while those two competitions are undoubtedly more prestigious than the two domestic cup competitions, Spurs haven’t won a trophy since 2008 when they lifted the League Cup – they surely aren’t in a position to be picky when it comes to what silverware they want to win.

In fact, their barren spell without a trophy, which now stands at over ten years, is longer than Arsenal’s infamous stint without silverware between 2005 and 2014 – and we all know how much criticism Arsene Wenger got in those years.

Thus, while Pochettino appears not to be too fazed about the Carabao Cup, it’s a competition Tottenham must seek to try and win – they have the squad and the players to do so, so why not go out and try and get the job done?

Their start in the Champions League, in losing 2-1 to Inter Milan in their opening match, suggests that glory on the European stage will be extremely difficult this season, while they are already six points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool to suggest a title challenge may evade them – the domestic cup competitions seemingly represent their best chance of success.

As such, starting against Watford tonight at the stadium:mk, those Spurs fans are absolutely right to demand Pochettino somewhat alters Spurs’ priorities, and thus shows genuine ambition to win the Carabao Cup this season.

Tottenham fans… what do you think? Let us know!

Revealed: Majority of West Ham United fans hope Pellegrini doesn’t start Snodgrass

[ad_pod ]

A few weeks ago, West Ham United fans may have been dreading their upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester United.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side had lost four top-flight games in a row – the only club in the division not to have picked up a point in that time.

However, the tide has turned as they earned a 3-1 victory over Everton and followed that up with a goalless draw against Chelsea.

In midweek, Pellegrini fielded a much-changed side that ousted Macclesfield Town from the EFL Cup with an 8-0 triumph.

Robert Snodgrass made his return to the first XI and scored twice in that clash, receiving plenty of praise in the process.

Given his contribution on the pitch, we asked you whether Pellegrini should throw him into the lineup against United this Saturday.

Snodgrass started the early league matches, but Andriy Yarmolenko has since taken his place, and it seems from the poll results that the majority of West Ham fans want the winger to be on the bench.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”301458″ player=”12034″ title=”The Problem With Paul Pogba”]

Moving for Djibril Sidibe would give Tottenham an instant Trippier upgrade

It’s been a tumultuous campaign for Tottenham so far, with the Lilywhites suffering from a poor run of form at present. They started the season so well, but quickly fell off, and it’s quickly becoming apparent that the Lilywhites are struggling after what was a very poor summer for the club.

They were the only club in the Premier League not to sign a single player, and given that everyone around them improved their team, it’s no real surprise that they look a step below their rivals – with many individuals underperforming.

One player that hasn’t looked as good as expected this term is Kieran Trippier. The Englishman had a fantastic summer with his country at the World Cup, but like many of his international teammates, he’s struggled to make an impact following that. In fact, he was even dropped for the club against Inter Milan a couple of weeks ago – and justifiably so.

Perhaps, then, it would make sense for the club to improve their options in this regard, and one player that would be a perfect fit and a certain improvement is Monaco ace Djibril Sidibe, who is rated at £20.7 million by Transfer Markt.

Trippier, on his day, is tremendous, but it’s fair to say that he hasn’t been as good this season. Lacking the offensive flair and defensive solidity that he has become known for, perhaps he’s a little bit burnt out after such a prolific year.

For Sidibe’s part, he’s another player that has spent the last few years on the Monaco production line, and though he’s 26-years-old now, he’s a player that is improving every single year. He’s a rare player in that he offers brilliant quality at both ends of the field in equal measure. He’s fantastic at bursting forward, passing the ball into dangerous areas and crossing from deep, but he’s also a great tackler and he rarely gets caught out of position.

Always involved in the game, Sidibe is an aggressive and determined player, and Spurs have lacked that kind of inspirational presence at points so far this season. He’s also got the flair that makes his former teammate, Benjamin Mendy, so deadly.

For Spurs, then, especially if Pochettino is having second-thoughts about Trippier, Sidibe would be a significant upgrade on the defender – even if he would be pricey.

Tottenham fans – thoughts?

Let us know below!

Leeds United should spend big on Brentford attacker Neal Maupay in January

[ad_pod ]

Leeds United’s recent troubles in front of goal continued on Tuesday night as they secured a narrow 1-0 victory against Yorkshire rivals Hull City at the KCOM Stadium, and they should look to spend big to bring Brentford striker Neal Maupay to Elland Road during the January transfer window.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Whites started the Championship campaign in outstanding form – attacker Kemar Roofe was finding the net on a regular basis – but injuries to Roofe and Patrick Bamford has left Marcelo Bielsa short up top, and it has shown on the pitch.

Leeds have scored just seven times in their previous six league games, and while they continue to be relatively strong defensively, a lack of threat in the final third could prove to be their undoing as they look to finally secure a long-awaited return to the Premier League.

Bielsa and owner Andrea Radrizzani may already be looking ahead to the New Year and thinking about strengthening their high-flying squad to ensure they stay in automatic promotion contention until the very end, and a striker could be near the top of their wanted list.

Why should they sign Maupay?

Following a decent debut campaign in English football with Brentford, the 22-year-od has taken his game to another level so far this season having scored nine goals and provided a further three assists in nine Championship appearances.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”302265″ player=”12034″ title=”Rafa’s Pub Facts The Icelandic Coutinho & The Scottish Ronaldo”]

The Frenchman has been playing as a centre-forward for the Bees despite his small frame, but his pace and upper body strength mean that he has still been a huge threat with the west London club knowing how to play to his strengths.

Maupay has proven that he has all of the attributes to fit into Bielsa’s style at Leeds, and while he could come at a big cost, the Yorkshire outfit shouldn’t think twice about paying more than the £10m they paid for Patrick Bamford this summer to sign a player who is also versatile and can play out wide, and could be a big player for them for years to come.

Sanctioning Cenk Tosun’s exit an unwise move that could come back to bite Everton

According to a recent report from MyNet (via talkSPORT), Cenk Tosun could be set for a move away from Everton in the near future. The Turkey international only made the move to Goodison Park back in January of this year after hugely impressing at Besiktas, and while he made a fine start to life in the Premier League, things have since tailed off for the 27-year-old.

And reports suggest that ex-employers Besiktas are interested in luring him back to the Turkish giants in the January transfer window, and while it may appear that a move away could be in his and indeed Everton’s best interests, it would be an unwise move by manager Marco Silva to sanction the 27-year-old’s departure.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, there is little doubting that things aren’t quite going to plan for Tosun this season, what with the striker having netted just once and laid on two assists in eight Premier League appearances for the Toffees, to the point that he has lost his starting role in their last three matches.

And with the Merseysiders struggling in that area of the pitch as it is, and having done so for a while now, Tosun’s form was always likely to be magnified this season given they didn’t bring another striker in during the summer – and while he hasn’t quite got going yet, one mustn’t forget his start to life at Goodison Park earlier this year.

Yes, it took a bit of time the 27-year-old to get ready for Premier League football, but once he was given the nod by former boss Sam Allardyce, he delivered the goods with five goals in their last ten league matches last term, four goals of which contributing to Toffees victories.

And in netting in three matches on the bounce, one wonders whether one goal may be enough to get Tosun going again and thus reinstall that confidence in his ability in front of goal – he may have netted against Fulham last weekend, but he hasn’t really had the chance to shine since then.

Add in Everton’s desperate lack of options in the striking department, and there is no doubting that it would be a bold move from manager Silva to let Tosun go in January, as it’s arguable that he is actually the best striker at the club.

Oumar Niasse hasn’t proven to be the forward many expected him to be upon his arrival from Lokomotiv Moscow back in 2016, while young Englishman Dominic Calvert-Lewin has many key attributes to succeed in the forward role, but again there are question marks over how many goals he will actually score.

As such, while things aren’t happening for Tosun at present, Everton must seek to persevere with the striker – he did well last season, and may only need a goal or two to return to those heights in the coming weeks.

That, alongside the Toffees’ lack of genuine options in that area of the field, suggests that letting him go in January would be an unwise move from Silva, and one that could come back to bite him as the season wears on.

Everton fans… what do you think? Let us know!

Tottenham must try and sign Youri Tielemans for the second time in January

According to a report in The Daily Mail, Tottenham Hotspur had serious interest in signing Monaco midfielder Youri Tielemans during the summer transfer window, and they must attempt to get him for a second time in January.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Spurs infamously failed to bring in a single new player throughout the whole summer, but manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed via The Daily Mail that it wasn’t through the want of trying.

The Daily Mail says that the north London outfit really pushed for a deal for Tielemans even though he endured a tough debut campaign with the Ligue 1 outfit following a move from Anderlecht, where he scored one goal and provided two assists in 35 appearances in all competitions.

In his final season with the Belgian side, the highly-rated 21-year-old scored an impressive 18 goals and provided a further 15 assists in 53 outings in total.

Why should Spurs try and sign him?

It is looking more and more likely that Tottenham will lose Mousa Dembele either in the New Year or next summer, and with Victor Wanyama also surplus to requirements a new central midfielder should be one of Pochettino’s priorities.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”308991″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch Fixture in Focus West Ham v Tottenham”]

Tielemans is certainly a good option because of the fact he can play a range of roles – defensive, central and attacking – in the middle of the park, and he has shown his goalscoring and creative exploits in the past.

While he may have generally struggled at Monaco thus far, two goals in eight games this term show he is improving, but the Belgium international would surely jump at the chance of a move to England to link up with compatriots Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld in north London – although new Monaco boss Thierry Henry may have something to say having worked with the 21-year-old when he was Roberto Martinez’s assistant.

Liverpool fans urge Klopp to move for Juventus star Dybala following goal against Manchester United

The Champions League encounter between Manchester United and Juventus was arguably the biggest draw of Tuesday night.

Some Liverpool fans watched from the comfort of their homes as Juve put in a dominant display at Old Trafford.

The visitors sealed a 1-0 victory, with Paulo Dybala netting the goal in the 17th minute, but the scoreline could have been by a bigger margin.

Juventus enjoyed the majority of possession and Liverpool fans were left admiring the performance of Dybala.

The 24-year-old has scored five goals in 10 outings in all competitions this season, and his strike on Tuesday night caught the attention of Merseyside.

Liverpool are currently second in the Premier League table, level on points with leaders Manchester City but they have been lacklustre up front.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”310054″ player=”12034″ title=”Rafa’s Pub Facts Fake Madrid & Ross Barkley Emulates… David Ngog”]

Having someone of Dybala’s quality would certainly bolster their attacking strength, but given that his contract does not expire until 2022, the Reds would have to table a hefty offer.

There are no indications that Liverpool are interested in signing Dybala, but some of their fans certainly are.

Tottenham fans crucify Son display vs PSV

[ad_pod ]

Loads of Tottenham fans have been giving their verdict on Wednesday’s defeat, and they’re not happy with the performance of Son Heung-min.

You’d be hard pushed to find a more popular player in North London than Son, who Tottenham fans love for his positive attitude, electric attacking play and his unrivalled passion for the club.

“Sonny” had a spell of red-hot form in the second half of last season, and proved his worth over the summer by helping South Korea knock Germany out of the World Cup.

[ad_pod ]

The 26-year-old then carried his international team to a gold medal in the Asian Games, but he just hasn’t looked himself since returning to club duty.

Tiredness could very well be a factor, as the explosive winger just looks a step slower than he did last season and through the summer.

He has the lowest shot accuracy of any Tottenham player in the league this season (14.3 per cent), and was poor in the 2-2 draw against PSV on Wednesday night.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, look away now Sonny…

Lumley admission shows QPR’s turnaround in fortunes

According to The Telegraph, QPR goalkeeper Joe Lumley had said that he has ambitions of making Gareth Southgate’s England team. 

The 23-year-old has been in sensational form for The Rs so far this season, after coming in while the club were in a crisis. Since his call up to the team at the end of August, he has kept seven clean sheets in 12 appearances for the club.

This is a great indication of where QPR are now as a club, as, had the ‘keeper made these comments two months ago, it would have been seen as ludicrous. Such ambition from a player in a team that were struggling so severely would have been laughed at by fans and pundits.

But now that Steve McClaren’s men are only three points from a play-off place, there is no reason why the man between the sticks cannot start dreaming of representing the Three Lions.

However, the worrying thing about this kind of ambition is that the player may need to move away from Loftus Road to realise his dream. If QPR fail to earn promotion this season, it seems unlikely that Lumley would be able to work his way into Southgate’s plans from the Championship.

Nonetheless, this is still a clear indication of how far QPR have come in the past weeks in the Championship. A club that were bottom of the table when Lumley was called up can now legitimately stake a claim for a top six, or possibly even a top two finish in the league this season.

HYS: Is QPR goalkeeper Lumley good enough to break into England fold?

[ad_pod ]

Queens Park Rangers had a dismal start to the season as they lost their opening four matches.

23-year-old goalkeeper Joe Lumley had to watch from the sidelines until matchday five when he was selected by manager Steve McClaren to start ahead of Matt Ingram.

The shot-stopper has been the club’s first choice ever since and results have certainly picked up.

QPR’s worst start to a season in over 50 years has turned into a possible promotion charge.

Currently, the club are 11th in the Championship, three points off the final play-off spot after 16 games.

The club’s form has been partly down to Lumley’s heroics in between the sticks as he has kept seven clean sheets in 12 outings.

In a recent interview with The Telegraph, the goalkeeper spoke of his rise to the number one spot and his ambitions of receiving an England call-up.

At the moment, Gareth Southgate’s first choice is Everton’s Jordan Pickford, but Lumley believes that the manager’s willingness to give young players a try might work in his favour.

“It’s hard not to think about that, really – and now especially. Southgate takes a different approach, he’s bringing a lot of youngsters. He’s got Jack Butland in the squad regularly – he’s a different class – and he’s playing in the Championship.

“A lot of Championship players are getting into the England squad which is brilliant because it gives you that confidence to think I’ve got a chance to impress here. It’s hard not to think about it, but you stay humble and keep trying your best every day.”

With that in mind, do you think it is realistic for Lumley to be targeting an England call-up?

Let us know by voting below.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus