West Ham confirmed the appointment of Mario Husillos as the club’s new Director of Football, and fans have been reacting to the news on social media.
The former Malaga Sporting Director worked with Manuel Pellegrini during a successful period for the club when they reached the Quarter Finals of the Champions League in 2012.
However, the 59-year-old Argentinian was considered by many to be the architect of Malaga’s downfall last season, making eight desperate signings in January who did nothing to prevent them being relegated from La Liga after ten years in the top flight.
In a club statement, co-chairman David Sullivan said: “Mario will take complete, strategic control of all player recruitment and, alongside Manuel, has the full support and confidence of myself and David Gold to lead that department.”
West Ham fans have had a mixed response to the club announcement, with some confident that Husillos can rekindle the successful partnership he had with Pellegrini at Malaga, while others are less happy with the appointment.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”253217″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch The FM18 Two Minute Challenge Pellegrini at West Ham”]
Newcastle United were in desperate need of some attacking firepower during the January transfer window, and they managed to get their wish right at the death.
On deadline day, the North-East outfit completed the signing of Islam Slimani from Leicester City on loan until the end of the season.
The Algeria international struggled for regular game time at the King Power Stadium in the first half of the campaign.
In fact, the 29-year-old started just two Premier League matches and came off the bench in a further 10, scoring one goal and creating one assist.
Slimani, who was also linked to West Ham United, will have to wait to make an impact at St James’ Park as he is expected to be sidelined for a period of time due to injury.
On Friday, the club revealed that the forward will wear the number 13 shirt, which sparked some interesting reactions from fans on Twitter.
Although the Champions League dream has died, Everton fans will still be delighted with Roberto Martinez’s debut campaign on Merseyside. While some feared the Toffees may have suffered with the exit of long-serving David Moyes, the club have excelled and secured fifth place in the Premier League.
Through a combination of astute acquisitions and the progression of young talent, Martinez has moulded a promising attacking side that already reflects his own managerial philosophy. After such a successful season, it is inevitable that the media have linked a number of Everton’s key performers with big money moves in the summer. Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman, as well as emerging starlets Ross Barkley and John Stones, are all rumoured to be interesting some of the division’s elite.
Despite these media links, it surely is a little premature for the two English youngsters to genuinely consider leaving Goodison Park.
Granted, there is a feeling that Everton will struggle to replicate their achievements next season. Martinez needs to keep the vultures circling his squad at bay whilst attempting to replace their impressive loan stars. At the same time, Manchester United and Tottenham will surely strengthen significantly in the summer in order to close the gap that has emerged to the Toffees.
But for Barkley and Stones, both of whom are at a crucial stage of their footballing development, there is no better place to continue their progression than under Martinez’s tutelage at Goodison. The Spaniard has managed their integration into the first team perfectly and will continue to afford them the opportunities to grow in a system which evidently suits both starlets.
Speaking about both players as well as Coleman, Martinez described the development of the youngsters as the “biggest success story” of Everton’s season. With a manager that clearly believes so strongly in the pair, why should Barkley and Stones consider continuing their immediate footballing development anywhere else?
It is a similar situation to the rumours that have been circulating Southampton’s eighteen year old Luke Shaw following the Saints’ impressive form in the current campaign. Having enjoyed a breakout season, Barkley has been linked to pretty much every leading Premier League side, including a speculative £38 million move to rivals Liverpool. Stones has filled in admirably in the latter stages of the campaign and a fee of £20 million has been mooted, with Chelsea and Arsenal reported to be keen on the former Barnsley defender.
Martinez addressed these growing rumours recently by stating “we do not have to sell.” But with such exorbitant sums being discussed, surely there is always the chance that Everton could be persuaded to cash in on one or both of these starlets?
Whilst Wayne Rooney managed to make a success of his move from Goodison at a young age, the transfer of Jack Rodwell should serve as a warning to the current Evertonian pair of the dangers of moving too soon. Still at Manchester City, Rodwell’s promising development has stalled considerably at the Etihad since moving in 2012.
Money and the lure of Champions League football is a tempting proposition for any footballer. But it should not be forgotten that both Barkley and Stones, despite all of the acclaim, are still incredibly raw young talents. Martinez rested Barkley for a period earlier in the year after a slump in form, whilst Stones has only really broken into the first team fold in the last few months. Both starlets, for their respective footballing developments, require at least another season under their current manager in the safer environment that Goodison Park affords them
With some England fans desperately championing for the youngsters’ to make it into Roy Hodgson’s World Cup squad, the Everton manager’s comments on the matter aired caution in the face of these mounting expectations. Whilst stating that he would be pleased if either get selected, the Spaniard stressed the need for both to be looked after and managed carefully in the international set-up.
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It must be said that there have been no suggestions that either Barkley or Stones have had their heads turned by the rumours. But with the starlets’ current trajectory, it is almost inevitable that the pair will eventually look to move on to bigger and better things.
Liverpool are looking to complete an ambitious double swoop for Atletico Madrid’s Arda Turan and Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez.
Brendan Rodgers’ side is short of goals so far this season scoring just nine times in the opening seven games of the Premier League, with five of them coming in a victory against Norwich.
It was the former Swansea boss’s decision, to let club record signing Andy Carroll go on loan to West Ham, but was dealt no luck when Fabio Borini broke a foot while training with Italy, ruling him out of action for up to six weeks.
TuttoMercato are claiming that the Anfield club are making a move for Alexis Sanchez to try and lure him away from Barcelona.
Barcelona boss, Tito Vilanova does not see Sanchez as a first team regular, as the Chilean has failed to start three of the opening seven games this season.
The 23-year-old did impress during his debut season, and could still draw in a transfer fee as much as £29 million.
Reports in Spain suggest that Rodgers sent scouts to watch Turkey’s recent 1-0 World Cup qualifying encounter with Romania, to watch self-confessed Liverpool fan, Arda Turan, who was also heavily linked with a move to Anfield during his time at Galatasaray.
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According to Talksport, Liverpool are eying a move for the Turkish midfielder, as they look to continue to build a strong midfield alongside fellow new signings, Joe Allen, Nuri Sahin and Jonjo Shelvey.
Turan played a big part in Atletico’s European success last season and his performances have made him one of the most sought after midfielders in Europe.
Danny Rose has had a turbulent relationship with Tottenham Hotspur fans over the past 12 months.
After publicly criticising the club’s transfer policy and direction prior to the start of the 2017-18 campaign, many supporters fell out of love with the left-back.
Rose suggested that he was open to a move away, but a transfer never came.
A knee injury kept him on the sidelines for a significant spell, and during that time, Ben Davies became first choice under manager Mauricio Pochettino.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”252976″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch 21 things that will definitely happen at the World Cup”]
Despite starting just 15 games in all competitions last season, Rose was included in England’s World Cup squad for Russia 2018.
In the build-up to the tournament, the 27-year-old, who is valued at £27m by Transfermarkt, earned plenty of respect for opening up about his battle with depression.
For so long, it seemed that Rose would leave Tottenham for Manchester United this summer, but according to The Mirror and The Telegraph, Jose Mourinho has cooled interest and will not pursue a £50m deal.
The publications suggest that the left-back might now seek a move abroad, and while some Tottenham fans find the situation amusing, others have forgiven Rose and want to see him back in the team.
Card
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West Ham United manager David Moyes confirmed on Tuesday night that Michail Antonio was left out of the squad to face Crystal Palace at the London Stadium on Tuesday night due to disciplinary reasons, and Irons fans have been quick to have their say on the news.
The forward was expected to return to the 18 against the Eagles following a spell on the sidelines because of injury, but he was omitted from the side for the 1-1 draw having turned up late to a team meeting – the Daily Mail reports not for the first time, either.
His absence was a big blow for the team who are already missing the likes of Manuel Lanzini, Marko Arnautovic and Andy Carroll through injury, while Diafra Sakho completed a move to Rennes earlier this month.
West Ham supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the Antonio revelation, and while one said “he wants to leave then”, another said “he’s a player who’s had his head turned”.
Aside from the record transfer sale of Gareth Bale last summer, Tottenham’s recent transfer market activity has been ambitious and forward thinking. Daniel Levy appears to have a clear vision for the club as he looks to shake off the unenviable title of great underachievers that Spurs seem to carry year on year.
Premier League form has been patchy, but if Spurs want to have a tilt at the top it will be about building upon rather than dismantling what they already have.
With this in mind, entertaining offers for the club’s most coveted stars would be in my view pretty fruitless. Naturally big money offers are always tempting, but if Spurs want to progress they need to change recent habits and hold onto their most valuable assets. Such resolve may well be tempted during the current window.
According to Le Parisien,PSG consider Spurs’ England international Kyle Walker to be the ideal replacement for the injured Christophe Jallet and will make their move later this month. Monaco’s interest has been known for some time but, with no concrete bid made, they could lose out to their title rivals.
Whether or not the 23-year-old ex-Sheffield United star would be happy to trade London for either Paris or Monaco is a separate issue, and really Spurs shouldn’t be allowing these advances to get anywhere near that consideration.
Walker is a man that divides opinion amongst the Spurs faithful, for some a total liability and for others an undoubted talent. Based on this seasons form, an ever improving and maturing Walker should be placed in the latter category. He is now miles ahead of his understudy Naughton in terms of development, and fans will be glad to see the Englishman adding defensive solidity to what is already a classy attacking game.
Given the fraught search for a left back at Spurs, fans will be well aware of the limited pool of top level wing backs in the world game. Whereas with midfielders you may be able to replace someone quite quickly, in the case of Walker you would be struggling to re-invest the money you make on the player effectively. When we talk about big money for full backs, we are talking £20m mark, and given Spurs’ recent reluctance to sell stars I cannot see this offer even registering with Levy.
Tottenham have for too long been given the tag of a selling club, and if they truly do have ambitions of being something more than thar they need to end this habit fast. The sales of Carrick, Modric and Bale may well have looked good on the balance sheets, but when it comes to footballing success you just have to keep your best players. You can’t place Walker in this bracket yet, but in the future there is a real chance that he could become a leading figure for both club and country
Selling Walker would be a loss anyway, but actually Spurs’ attitude to any advance is a lot more important that just that. It sends a real message out to other clubs.
What happens when Barcelona come swooping for Sandro or Madrid look to snare Paulinho?
They may be underperforming, but Spurs undoubtedly have a plethora of talent on their books and really this January window may just set an important precedent as to how the attitude has changed on a boardroom level.
Do Spurs really have the stomach to put football first and bank balances second?
If Levy is really serious this approach shouldn’t even be a matter of price, flatly refusing to even enter into negotiations about star names would for me represent a huge step up in the club’s transfer policy.
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Bolton manager’s post.
The Norwegian coach has started his career on the touchline in positive fashion, winning the top flight in his homeland with Molde since he took over in 2011.
The former Manchester United attacker knows the English game well and is being touted as one of the most promising young managers in the European game.
Solskjaer has been linked with a number of positions in the United Kingdom, with Aston Villa approaching the Scandinavian in the summer after Alex McLeish was sacked.
Solskjaer refused the option to move to Villa Park, and it is believed that Blackburn also approached him over their managerial position following the axing of Steve Kean.
With Owen Coyle recently being given his marching orders by the Trotters Solskjaer is one of the favourites to step into the Reebok Stadium hotseat, but this will not be the case.
“There will always be speculation when someone in England needs a new manager,” Solskjaer told Norwegian newspaper Romsdals Budstikke, translated to English by Sky Sports.
“There are surely 20 names who have been linked with Bolton now and it’s natural that mine is among them. But it’s not for me.
“Blackburn, Bolton, rumours crop up all the time. But I’m not that bothered about them.
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“I’m absolutely certain I will see out the season here I can promise that,” he concluded.
Many Manchester Untied fans have dreams that their former striker will one day replace Sir Alex Ferguson in the Old Trafford hotseat.
Everton fans are absolutely crucifying Ashley Williams, after the Welsh defender had his say on the Toffees’ “frustrating” season.
Everton fans hated the style of football they played under Sam Allardyce, as the ex-England boss instilled his patented uninspiring, defensive, but impossible to relegate style at Goodison.
The Toffees continued to leak goals once Big Sam’s new manager bounce died down though, most notably on the road, where the 5-1 loss at Arsenal in February saw some of the worst defending fans have seen in a long time.
While Michael Keane’s debut season hasn’t been overly impressive, and the January loan signing of Eliaquim Mangala was a bit of disaster, the bulk of the fans’ criticism has been directed towards Ashley Williams, who was brought in to add leadership and experience to the defence.
The 33 year-old definitely failed in that regard, as his poor discipline and apparent lack of effort infuriated the Goodison faithful.
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“Yes, definitely,” Williams told the BBC when asked if it had been a frustrating season.
“It’s always difficult not being involved and you want to play because playing a game is that bit harder.
“But what can you do? I’ve just tried to stay in shape and on Monday I’ll just try and use my experience as best I can and play as well as I can.”
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The Welsh captain was speaking ahead of his country’s friendly match against Mexico, but Everton fans are not too impressed by the comments.
Williams played 30 times in all competitions this season, and while he clearly wants to be playing more, fans are leaning in the opposite direction, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions below…
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele has had a stuttered season so far, mainly due to injuries.
The 30-year-old has been restricted to just 10 Premier League starts, but has come off the bench in a further six fixtures.
On Saturday in the late kickoff against Everton at Wembley, the Belgium international was handed a place in Mauricio Pochettino’s first XI.
Dembele operated in the middle of the park with Eric Dier and he put on an impressive display.
The midfielder dominated the area and pulled the strings as Spurs ran out 4-0 winners at their temporary home.
Harry Kane is likely to get the headlines as he reached another milestone by breaking Teddy Sheringham’s Tottenham record of 97 goals by scoring twice against Everton.
Son Heung-min was the man to open the scoring, while Christian Eriksen topped it off with the team’s fourth goal in the 82nd minute.
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The Twitter world were understandably raving about Kane’s achievement, but many Tottenham fans also praised the performance of Dembele.