A number of Everton fans have lavished praise on midfielder Tom Davies and defender Mason Holgate for their recent contributions to the team.
Holgate only featured in one of Everton’s first eight matches of the 2019/20 Premier League campaign but has now started the last three.
Davies, meanwhile, has now started the team’s last four in the league.
Both played the full 90 minutes against Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon, where Marco Silva’s side ran out 2-1 winners to pick up a much-needed three points.
And many Everton fans have taken to social media to lavish praise on the duo.
Neither were in Silva’s first-choice XI in the opening weeks of the campaign but it is funny how quickly things can change, particularly in football.
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And it will now be difficult for the head coach to leave the youngsters out moving forward.
A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Everton supporters can be seen below:
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Manuel Neuer’s legacy will most likely never be surpassed at Bayern Munich.
The now 33-year-old German goalkeeper needs no special introduction.
After all, we’re talking about a player who’s won everything there is to win: from the World Cup to the Champions League, Neuer has done it all and has achieved it all.
But just like every other legend of the game, there will come a time when his performances will simply not suffice anymore, especially given Bayern Munich’s appetite and their aspirations in the world of football.
The Bavarians only have the best and will only accept the best.
For many years, Neuer was exactly that and most likely, he was the very best at what he does in his peak as almost no one in the world could compare to the fantastic German.
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But time is cruel and he is already 33 years of age and quite frankly, it is showing.
Of course, injuries have played their part and Neuer has been on the wrong side of them for years now, suffering from multiple setbacks going multiple campaigns back.
And just recently, Bayern were actually linked with a man that could potentially take over the mantle and dethrone Neuer from his spot between the sticks – Bernd Leno.
Arsenal’s shot-stopper, for all his qualities, has also struggled in recent times but his misfortune doesn’t really stem from individual errors.
The Gunners are a shadow of what they used to be back in the day and despite having the 27-year-old in goal, they just can’t seem to stop conceding, having done so 17 times in the ongoing campaign already.
But even with all of that being said, Leno still managed to average 4.1 saves per game, which actually even edges out Neuer’s 2.8.
The quality is certainly there and even though the 27-year-old is not the first name on Bayern’s list – that spot being reserved for Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen if The Sun’s report is anything to go by – he definitely has what it takes it to start a new era with the Bavarians.
Overall, he has 11 clean sheets in 48 games with Arsenal but as we’ve already said, that is mostly down to their issues as a team rather than his individual struggles.
If Bayern really do pull the trigger, they will not be disappointed.
And neither will Leno, who might also want to abandon a sinking ship while he still can.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
Uncertainty hangs over Tottenham Hotspur as they prepare to face West Ham United this weekend.
A report from The Daily Telegraph prior to the international break claimed that Mauricio Pochettino could be sacked if Spurs lose at the London Stadium.
But it doesn’t seem to make sense, to make that kind of change at this point in the season.
A separate Football.London report has claimed that there is no sense of “impending change” at Spurs as they prepare for this weekend’s derby.
And with the January transfer window looming that seems like the more accurate of the two.
Indeed, whenever there is upheaval at a managerial level, a club suffers. There is a period of uncertainty over who will take over and there are also questions asked of the playing staff.
Will the new manager take to the old manager’s signings? Is he likely to implement a completely new style of play? Will he want to splash the cash himself?
The issue with this at Spurs is that they are in a phase of rebuilding. Three first-team players – Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon – were signed in the summer but one feels that January could be a perfect time for them to continue that and attempt to bring in one or two more.
That is not to mention the problems that Pochettino is currently being forced to deal with in terms of contracts, with replacements likely to be needed for Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Christian Eriksen. The trio’s contracts expire this summer.
Thus, one has to feel that Pochettino is the man best placed to steer Spurs through this period, at least until after the January window.
If the form turns around and he is backed, then everything looks rosy.
If not, if Spurs are still in mid-table come the turn of the year, then they will have an excuse to spend.
Either way, Pochettino is the man who should be allowed to shape this squad as he wants and to identify the new players that are required.
Bringing in a new boss after this weekend would be madness and could lead to a high turnover of players this January.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
Tom Lockyer has been an instrumental player for Charlton Athletic this season, having signed from Bristol Rovers during the summer.
He has played every minute of the Addicks’ 16 games so far, completing 1.1 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 3.9 clearances and 0.6 blocks per game.
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The centre-back carried that level of influence onto the international stage recently, as he played the full 90 minutes of Wales’ matches against Azerbaijan and Hungary over the international break.
This offers an indication of how much Ryan Giggs trusts the 24-year-old and he didn’t disappoint.
He wasn’t called into too much action against Azerbaijan, but went on to make 2 blocked shots and won 5 out of his 7 contested duels.
The 6ft defensive enforcer was also impressive on the ball during this game, as he completed 1 dribble and 85% of his attempted passes.
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By winning that game 2-0, through goals from Kieffer Moore and Harry Wilson, Wales got themselves in a position where a victory against Hungary would see them through to Euro 2020.
It was a brace from Aaron Ramsey that earned the victory, but Lockyer played a part of his own, making 6 clearances throughout the game’s duration, while he also won 4 of his 10 duels.
Again, his ability on the ball came through and was a useful tool, as he completed 85% of his passes again, with 5 of his 7 long balls finding a teammate – something that will have helped Wales relieve any pressure.
The performances from both of these games show just how influential the 24-year-old can be, which will be an encouraging sign ahead of the Cardiff City match on Saturday.
Louis van Gaal’s spell at Manchester United was a memorable one, if not for the right reasons.
The Dutchman spent just two years at Old Trafford and, whilst he did win one trophy, he will likely be remembered for his antics on the touchline and in and around the club – from his hilarious “dive” to his drunken speech at the club’s End of Season awards.
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His transfer record was far from funny, though.
Several of the new recruits brought in by the former Netherlands manager flattered to deceive, such as Angel Di Maria and Memphis Depay.
The latter, though, is now flourishing in Ligue 1 with Lyon.
Let’s see how he is getting on…
Time at Manchester United
When van Gaal took his compatriot to the Premier League, he was one of the most exciting young prospects in European football. He had just scored 28 goals in 40 matches for PSV, whilst he bagged two in four appearances at the 2014 World Cup as a 20-year-old.
The £25m they spent on him looked to be a sound investment, but that proved not to be the case. His first campaign, the 2015/16 season, saw him make 45 appearances but score just seven goals, whilst he managed only seven assists as well.
As van Gaal left at the end of the term, Depay’s playing time was to be considerably reduced under new boss Jose Mourinho – he played just eight times before being sold to Lyon in January 2017.
Les Gones paid £16m, meaning the Red Devils made a 36% loss on his sale.
Where is he now?
Soccer Football – Champions League – Group G – Olympique Lyonnais v Zenit Saint Petersburg – Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France – September 17, 2019 Olympique Lyonnais’ Memphis Depay celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Emmanuel Foudrot
Straight away, the 26-year-old started making up for lost time in France, scoring five times and providing eight assists in 17 Ligue 1 fixtures in the second half of the season.
The next term, his performances went up another level. His 36 appearances in the league saw him bag 19 times and provide 13 assists, whilst he managed three of each in the Europa League in 10 games.
All in all, his season tally stood at 22 goals and 17 assists in all competitions.
There was a slight decrease in the quality of his performances in the next campaign, but he still managed an impressive 12 strikes and 17 goals created in 47 matches. And this term was arguably his most eye-catching before his cruciate ligament rupture in December. In 16 games, he picked up 14 goals and two assists, with him bagging five in as many Champions League clashes.
The fact he is now captain of the club says all you need to know about his stature in France.
Now valued at £49.5m by Transfermarkt, United will be kicking themselves that he failed to hit those heights in Manchester.
Loads of Aston Villa fans have been remembering an iconic goal from former star Lee Hendrie, after the club’s official account tweeted a video of his spectacular strike against Everton at Goodison Park in 2004.
You can say what you like about the Claret and Blue academy graduate, but the Englishman produced some sensational goals throughout his career. Hendrie is best known for scoring from long-range, and this memorable example definitely fits the bracket.
The left midfielder picked up a loose header from Juan Pablo Angel, before letting rip with an absolute rocket past the Blues’ goalkeeper Martyn from 25 yards out into the back of the net (BBC Sport).
Hendrie made 288 appearances for the Lions, netting 29 goals and providing 4 assists, before being loaned out to Stoke City, and eventually leaving Villa Park for Sheffield United in the summer of 2007 on a free transfer.
Regardless, it is fair to say plenty of Villans still have fond memories of the 42-year-old, with a couple of supporters describing the footage as “cracking” and a “great goal,” while another simply added he was a “class player.”
Scroll through the rest of the best reactions down below…
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Newcastle United’s imminent takeover may only be just a few days from an official announcement, but it is still not written in the record books as officially confirmed and that hasn’t stopped the transfer rumour mill circulating around the north-east.
And fans have been reacting to the latest reports on Twitter this week.
According to the Foot Mercato, the Magpies are keen on making an audacious splash in the summer for a trio of players competing for some of Europe’s biggest clubs currently, one of which is Napoli colossus Kalidou Koulibaly.
It’s claimed that the 28-year-old could be available for €80m (£70m) with club president Aurelio De Laurentiis open to selling him at the end of the season.
Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed consortium is set to take the reigns at St James’ Park in a takeover deal thought to be worth around £300m, so United could soon have very wealthy financial power in the transfer market.
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Newcastle currently have an array of central defenders on their books including Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark, Fabian Schar, Federico Fernandez and Florian Lejeune, but you’d imagine the Napoli man would be a considerable upgrade given his previous links to Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Here’s what supporters have been saying…
AND in other news, Report: Prospective Newcastle owners set to replace Bruce…
With their Premier League survival still somewhat in doubt, planning for the summer is unlikely to be David Moyes’ priority right now.
The Hammers currently sit 16th in the Premier League table, but are only clear of the bottom three on goal difference.
A porous defence has perhaps been their biggest weakness so far this term.
Only Norwich City, Aston Villa and Southampton have conceded more than the Hammers in the league this term, who have let in 50 goals from their 29 fixtures.
Their offensive play has been slightly better, but their remain doubts about the form of Sebastien Haller.
Signed for big money last summer from Eintracht Frankfurt the striker has scored seven goals from 27 league appearances, but has managed just three goals since October.
In midfield, the signing of Pablo Fornals has not yet borne fruit, with the Spaniard making just 15 starts, while injuries have continued to plague Jack Wilshere.
Here, we look at five players the club should target this summer…
Hirving Lozano
A player that has been linked with the Hammers in recent weeks, Lozano is an exciting talent that can play across the front line.
The 24-year-old was highly rated prior to his move to Europe, but has managed just two Serie A goals for Napoli in 16 appearances so far this season.
However, prior to his move to Italy he was prolific for PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie and would hope to rediscover that form at West Ham.
With Felipe Anderson scoring once this term for the Hammers and injuries restricting Yarmolenko to just nine starts, Lozano could add quality in area Moyes needs it.
Serhou Guirassy
Reportedly available for around £15m, Amiens forward Serhou Guirassy is name that has been linked with the club recently.
With nine goals in 23 Ligue 1 appearances this term he has not been prolific, but with Amiens relegated after picking up just 23 points from 28 matches, he was a bright spot.
An able hold up man who excels in the air, Guirassy really found his best form towards the end of the season and scored five times in his last seven matches of the year.
If he was to come to East London he would likely play back up to Haller, but with the ability to also play out wide, he offers a good value option.
William Carvalho
A name that has been linked with a move to the Premier League for many years is William Carvalho, but with the Portugal international apparently keen on a move to England, the deal could finally happen.
Despite his injuries concerns Carvalho is a player of plenty of talent and in the current environment could be available for less than the £20m Real Betis paid for him in the summer of 2018.
The 28-year-old has been restricted to just nine league appearances this term and with Wilshere’s injuries proving a real difficulty for the club, they may want to avoid signing another injury prone midfielder.
However, if they can secure him for a cut price and get him fit, he is an international with plenty of quality that could make a difference.
Tim Krul
With Lukasz Fabianski now 35 years old, finding a solution in the goalkeeper position must be a priority for the summer.
The addition of Roberto Jimenez did not work last year, with the Spaniard making a number of high-profile errors.
If money is short this summer one player that could represent a good option is Tim Krul, who has made the fourth-highest number of saves this term.
The Dutchman’s form this season saw him earn an international recall and with Norwich City likely to be relegated, he could be available at a cut-price.
Gonzalo Montiel
Soccer Football – Copa Libertadores Final – Second Leg – River Plate v Boca Juniors – Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain – December 9, 2018 River Plate’s Gonzalo Montiel reacts REUTERS/Sergio Perez
One player West Ham already look to be closing in on is Argentine defender Gonzalo Montiel.
According to reports in Spain, the River Plate man already agreed to join the Hammers, with a work permit the only potential stumbling block.
At 23 years old, he will bring some much-needed youth to the back line and having just made his national team debut, he is highly-rated back home.
With Pablo Zabaleta now 35 and a potential departure this summer and Ryan Fredericks managing just 19 starts this season, Montiel looks to be a smart deal.
Newcastle United fans are going to love the latest news coming out about the prospective takeover of the club after a journalist provided a new update over the situation.
Manu Lonjon tweeted that the £300m deal could be official within the next two days, according to his close source.
He said:
After several weeks of speculation and apparent bumps along the road, it appears this is all finally coming to a head.
At one stage, the takeover looked to be in doubt after reports emerged suggesting that there had been new evidence against the case of piracy involving Saudi Arabia, who will control 80% of the club, and then, it was claimed that several Premier League clubs were against the takeover.
Think you’re a big Magpies fan? Can you name these former players by looking at their careers? Go on, give it a go…
It left some at St James’ Park worried, anxious and quite angry that they’d had another attempt at getting rid of Mike Ashley fall through at the final hurdle but if Lonjon is to be believed, supporters can begin to get the cans ready for a big, big week.
AND in other news, George Caulkin downplays Newcastle return for Rafa Benitez…
Plenty of Leicester City fans have spotted some similarities to footballing legend David Beckham in James Maddison.
The Foxes midfielder has posted a photo to his
/CBQ8IW2FCaf/”>Instagram, sporting new colours for a Puma advertisement campaign. The picture has attracted a lot of attention from Leicester fans, with a few likening him to the England legend in the comments on the image.
Maddison joined the Midlands side from Norwich in 2018 for a fee of £20m (via BBC Sport). Since his arrival, he has caught the eye of top Premier League teams including Manchester United, who are reportedly looking to sign him this summer.
The midfielder has tallied six goals and three assists in the league this season and he is on track to beat his debut campaign with the Foxes where he totalled seven goals and seven assists (via Transfermarkt).
Maddison has just the one senior England cap so far but, with the way he is making a name for himself in the Premier League, it will be hard for Gareth Southgate to ignore his ability in the middle of the park.
He may not be the next Becks in terms of his international status and goal count but the 23-year-old is certainly on his way to making a name for himself as a top-quality midfield talent.
What is your favourite James Maddison memory so far, Foxes? Have your say in the comments below!