Posted on

Leeds United’s Ultimate 25-Man Squad of the Premier League Era

There was a time when Leeds were 90 minutes away from a Champions League final. There was also a time since that they were in the bottom half of League One. To say the Premier League era has been a mixed bag for Leeds would be an understatement.

They began life in the Premier League as reigning champions of England, after winning the last First Division title. They’ve since found themselves mid-table, big money title contenders, European giants, relegated, relegated again, promoted, and now on the cusp of a return to the top flight under Marcelo Bielsa. All of this alongside more playoff heartbreak than any sane fan should be able to handle.

But through it all, the Yorkshire club have had their share of brilliant players and cult heroes as they’ve bounced around the leagues. The big question is, which 25 most deserve to be in their ultimate squad?

Goalkeepers

Nigel Martyn was a colossal figure at Leeds

Nigel Martyn – One of the best keepers the Premier League has ever seen, Martyn never gets the recognition because he happened to be at his peak at the same time as David Seaman. His place in Leeds history was cemented when he was chosen as keeper in their all-time XI back in 2006.

Paul Robinson – The man who replaced Martyn, Robinson showed in two seasons the ability that would give him something his predecessor never had – England’s number one jersey.

Capser Ankergren – When Leeds were relegated, they needed a new hero. This Dane stepped in and kept a clean sheet at Old Trafford, back when Man Utd were the best in the country. Enough said.

Centre Backs

Lucas Radebe

Lucas Radebe – A true Leeds legend, Radebe was everything you’d want in a captain and a defender. He wasn’t just the hero of everyone at Elland Road either – he was Nelson Mandela’s!

Pontus Jansson – Another true Leed’s legend, Jansson was everything you’d want in a captain and a defender. But seriously, Jansson was incredible for Leeds, and the embodiment of a cult hero.

Rio Ferdinand – When Radebe’s knees went, Leeds signed Rio. What a defender, the rock around which Alex Ferguson built his last great Man Utd team, which says everything you need to know about a defender who could do absolutely everything.

Jonathan Woodgate – Became a bit of a joke after his move to Real Madrid, but let’s not forget, he got a move to Real Madrid! If not for injuries, Woodgate could have been truly special.

Right Backs

Mr. Leeds, Kelly dropped down the leagues with his club

Gary Kelly – If anyone could hold the title of Mr Leeds, Gary Kelly would be up there with 531 appearances over 16 seasons. Won many plaudits across the country for choosing to stay with Leeds after relegation to the Championship.

Sam Byram – He’s struggled to adapt to the top flight, but Sam Byram was excellent for Leeds after coming through the youth set up. He was a real star for them in the Championship for four years.

Left Backs

Alioski is a versatile option for Leeds on the left

Ian Harte – One of the finest left backs of his era, and unfairly left out of most conversations of greatest free-kick takers, Ian Harte was a shoo in for this position. How many people knew he was Gary Kelly’s nephew? Strange.

Ezgian Alioski – Mainly deployed as a winger, Alioski has all the flair to stand out in the Championship, though his lack of consistency may leave his position under threat if Leeds were promoted. He certainly has top-flight credentials though, that’s clear to see.

Central Midfielders

How long can Leeds hold onto their star man?

Olivier Dacourt – As far as game-changers go, Dacourt was that for Leeds. He added the steel to the side which saw them make the Champions League semi finals, and cement themselves in the top four. The reason Terry Venebles preferred Paul Okon will forever be a mystery.

Jonny Howson – A cult figure wherever he’s been, Howson came through the Leeds academy and captained their League One promotion team. Lived the dream with his boyhood club.

Kalvin Phillips – Leeds’ current star man, they’ll do well to hold onto Phillips in the summer. Considering the Whites were one of the best teams in the country for a long time, it’s a credit to his ability that he features in this side ahead of Gary McAllister and Gary Speed.

David Batty – One from the glory years who does make it in, Batty spent two successful spells in Yorkshire, improving the midfield greatly both times. The screams of ‘SHOOOOT’ when he was 35 yards out never fazed him – he’d just play a killer through ball instead.

Right Midfielders

Snodgrass has risen through the leagues since breaking through at Leeds

Robert Snodgrass – On his day, Snodgrass is unplayable, and he was one of the key figures that helped Leeds to promotion from League One back in 2010. He’s a proven operator in the Premier League these days, and inspirational at his best.

Stuart Dallas – Extremely versatile, Stuart Dallas has endeared himself to the Leeds faithful with a string of great performances all over the pitch. A natural right winger, he’s the type of player every manager wants in their squad, and Bielsa is no different.

Left Midfielders

The Wizard of Oz, Harry Kewell lit up Elland Road in the late 90’s

Harry Kewell – Gerard Houllier bought him at Liverpool instead of Cristiano Ronaldo. It made sense at the time, the Aussie favourite was the key man in Leeds’ successful side at the turn of the millennium. What did Ronaldo ever do for Leeds?

Kemar Roofe – A reliable goalscorer all over the park, his form over the last couple of years was enough to earn a move to… Anderlecht. Roofe had to be in here, if he hadn’t gotten injured at the end of last season Leeds would have probably been back in the Premier League already.

Attacking Midfielders

A common sight in Yorkshire, Hernandez is a classy operator

Pablo Hernandez – Magnificent midfielder who’s added real Spanish class to the front line in recent years, Hernandez is easily one of the best players outside the top flight. Nearly put Alan Smith here, but to our knowledge, Hernandez hasn’t offended the whole city… yet.

Lee Bowyer – Oh Lee Bowyer, what should have been. For every magic performance against Barcelona, there was a GBH charge. Let’s focus on his ability though, he may have lacked morals, but never ability.

Strikers

Leeds legend Viduka scored for fun in white

Mark Viduka – With a good claim to be among Leeds’ greatest ever centre forwards, Mark Viduka combined power and clinical ability in dominant performances during his days at Elland Road. He kept the club up by himself in 2002/03.

Jermaine Beckford – Scored the goal in the 1-0 FA Cup win at Old Trafford, hit 30 goals two years in a row, was the star of Leeds’ time in League One. Tell us why Beckford shouldn’t be here?

Luciano Becchio – When Beckford left, Becchio stuck around. If you asked any Leeds fan who their favourite player was between 2010 and 2013, there’s a good chance it would be Becchio. Swore on Sky Sports once. What a lad.

Tony Yeboah – If history was kinder, Michael Bridges would have probably taken this slot, but Tony Yeboah can’t be overlooked. His stay in Yorkshire was short, but my word was it memorable. Those two volleys against Liverpool and Wimbledon are as iconic as goals come.

Posted on

谢菲联主帅：亨德森留队在道德上是正确的

虎扑5月8日讯 在接受BEIN体育采访时，谢菲尔德联主帅克里斯-怀尔德表示，他将尊重任何选择不参加比赛的球员的决定，并表示希望留下从曼联租借而来本赛季发挥出色的门将亨德森。

在英超准备在6月份回归的背景下，一些球员表示了可能会被冠状病毒感染的担心。

关于球员的想法

“如果任何一个球员做出了这样的决定，然后对我说，‘这不适合我’，我会尊重他的想法。”

统筹信息的重要性

“有点令人失望的是，人们已经明确了自己关于足球回归的立场，我认为我们必须着眼于大局。关于联赛如何重新开始的细节，俱乐部之间的争论仍在继续。”

对比赛回归的看法

“我想我们会完成这个赛季，不管需要多长时间。球队的首席执行官对足球回归表现出了极大的热情，这不仅仅是因为我们现在的处境。我想每一个知道内情的人都知道，如果这个赛季被取消意味着什么。不论是从经济的角度，还是从社会和道德的角度。”

“很明显，我有在足球各个层面工作的经验，我也理解如果英超联赛不重新开始，将会对(足球)金字塔产生怎样的影响。我们必须照顾足球的方方面面。”

谈门将亨德森

“我个人认为让他在谢菲尔德联队打最后10场比赛在道德上是正确的，但我们都知道，由于租借合同到期的情况，我们还需要和曼联商议共同做出决定。这并不是我们对曼联的威胁，我相信他们会很高兴看到亨德森度过自己的完整赛季。”

到目前为止，从曼联租借到谢菲尔德联的亨德森发挥出色，但是随着赛季的重新开始，他的未来也存在着疑问，因为他的租借合同将于6月30日到期。

Posted on

Cane dilantik kapten baru All Blacks

SAM Cane dinamakan sebagai pengganti Kieran Read untuk mengetuai pasukan ragbi New Zealand, All Blacks.

Pemain berusia 28 tahun itu membuat kemunculan pertama ketika menentang Ireland pada 2012 dan sejak itu telah mewakili negaranya sebanyak 68 kali dengan 48 daripadanya berada dalam barisan utama.

Cane, yang sudah tiga kali muncul sebagai ketua pasukan New Zealand, merupakan pemenang Piala Dunia Ragbi edisi 2015 dan merupakan sebahagian daripada pasukan yang menduduki tempat ketiga di Jepun tahun lalu.

“Ini adalah satu cabaran yang sangat menarik memandangkan saya telah lama bersama All Blacks dan berkembang sebagai pemain, saya semakin selesa untuk pemimpin pasukan ini,” katanya.

“Perkara yang hebat tentang All Blacks ialah kehadiran ramai pemimpin dan pemain berpengalaman, jadi saya amat berharap dapat bekerjasama dengan kumpulan pemain ini dan melakukan yang terbaik untuk memimpin mereka dan yang lain. “Pendekatan selaku kapten tidak akan sama sekali mengubah cara saya melakukan sesuatu. Saya hanya mahu menjadi diri sendiri dan terus begitu. Saya sudah berusaha membina hubungan terutama dengan pemain-pemain muda skuad ini termasuk individu yang berkaitan dengan pasukan ini, jadi ia akan diteruskan.

“Walaupun kami belum tahu bagaimana baki cabaran tahun ini buat All Blacks, saya sudah tidak sabar-sabar lagi untuk bertemu dengan jurulatih dan pemain senior lain dalam merencanakan perancangan kami.”

Sementara itu jurulatih baharu, Ian Foster, berkata Cane yang telah membuat 116 penampilan bersama The Chiefs dengan memenangi dua gelaran Ragbi Super adalah seorang pemimpin semula jadi dan akan memainkan peranan penting.

“Dia amat dihormati dalam kalangan pemain dan pengurusan dan dia berada di tempat yang sempurna untuk memimpin All Blacks pada masa depan.

“Kami ingin mengesahkan bahawa Sam akan memainkan peranan penting untuk membantu kami membuat perancangan masa depan dan dia akan bekerja di belakang tabir di samping pemimpin-pemimpin lain.”

Posted on

队报：马赛想租借瓦伦西亚中场小将李刚仁

虎扑5月7日讯 根据《队报》的消息称，马赛正在考虑租借瓦伦西亚中场小将李刚仁，据悉，瓦伦西亚打算在今夏通过出售、租借球员回收资金，然后进行补强，瓦伦西亚也有意将李刚仁租借到其他球员。

李刚仁本赛季为瓦伦西亚出战了18场比赛，包括5场欧冠的比赛，李刚仁目前和瓦伦西亚的合同将在2022年6月到期。

Posted on

5 thủ môn đắt giá nhất lịch sử Premier League

Premier League là giải đấu khắc nghiệt nhất thế giới, vì thế những cầu thủ thi đấu tại đây phải là những người tài hàng hàng đầu, vị trí thủ môn ở các đội bóng là vị trí vô cùng quan trọng, quyết định thành bại của cả đội. Hôm nay, hãy cùng 90min tìm hiểu về 5 thủ môn đắt giá nhất lịch sử Premier League tính đến thời điểm hiện tại.

1. Kepa Arrizabalaga: 71,6 triệu bảng

Kepa Arrizabalaga đang là thủ môn đắt giá nhất Premier League

Thủ thành Kepa Arrizabalaga chính là thủ môn đắt giá nhất Premier League hiện tại, anh chuyển tới Chelsea vào mùa hè năm 2018 với mức phí chuyển nhượng vào khoảng 71,6 triệu bảng từ Athletic Bilbao, đây là mức phí phá vỡ hợp đồng của thủ thành này.

Chelsea khi đó rơi vào đường cùng khi thủ môn Thibaut Courtois
quyết tâm ra đi, The Blues đưa Kepa về trong những ngày cuối cùng TTCN. Tới bây giờ, Kepa chưa để lại nhiều dấu ấn tại Chelsea.

Mùa giải năm nay, anh thậm chí còn phải ngồi dự bị phần lớn thời gian khi phong độ giảm sút, lý do là vì Kepa chia tay cô bạn gái lâu năm, ảnh hưởng tới phong độ trên sân. HLV Lampard không hài lòng và giờ không còn nhiều sự tin tưởng cho thủ thành đắt giá này.

2. Alisson Becker: 65 triệu bảng

Alisson Becker là cầu thủ rất quan trọng của Liverpool

Alisson Becker giờ có lẽ là một nửa sức mạnh của Liverpool, anh đầu quân cho The Kop với mức giá 65 triệu bảng và ngay lập tức để lại dấu ấn của mình. Hai năm liên tiếp lọt vào Chung kết Champions League trong đó có một năm vô địch, Alisson là một trong những nhân tố chính đưa Liverpool đến với thành công đó.

Có lẽ, các CĐV Liverpool hài lòng với mức giá 65 triệu bảng năm nào, thậm chí còn cho rằng nó quá rẻ so với những gì Alisson mang lại. Bây giờ, nói Alisson là thủ thành xuất sắc nhất thế giới, có lẽ không nhiều người phản đối.

3. Ederson: 34,7 triệu bảng

Ederson là thủ thành dùng chân tuyệt hay ở Premier League

Thủ thành Ederson được đưa về sân Etihad sau sự thất vọng mà Claudio Bravo
đem lại. Ban đầu, những ánh mắt nghi ngờ đổ dồn vào Ederson, không nhiều người biết tài năng của thủ thành người Brazil này khi anh chơi bóng ở Bồ Đào Nha trước đó.

Man City thể hiện sự quyết tâm của mình khi đồng ý chi 35 triệu bảng mua đứt Ederson, tài nhìn người của Pep Guardiola một lần nữa phát huy tác dụng, Ederson chơi tuyệt hay, đặc biệt là các kĩ năng dùng chân chơi bóng, không ít đường chuyền dài vượt tuyến chính xác, giúp ích cho Man City.

Lúc này, Ederson đã 2 lần vô địch Premier League, 1 FA Cup, 3 League Cup và 2 Siêu Cup Anh cùng nửa xanh thành Manchester.

4. Jordan Pickford: 30 triệu bảng

Jordan Pickford là thủ môn đắt giá thứ tư ở Premier League

Jordan Pickford đang là thủ thành số một của Everton, mùa hè năm 2017, trong kế hoạch nâng tầm CLB, Everton đưa về rất nhiều cầu thủ tài năng trong đó có Jordan Pickford, họ chấp nhận chi 35 triệu bảng để có thủ thành này từ Sunderland.

Jordan Pickford đã không làm cho Everton phải thất vọng, thủ thành của tuyển Anh chơi bóng rất hay, chiếm hoàn toàn sự tin tưởng của BHL cũng như các CĐV. Mùa này, anh đã có 6 lần giữ sạch lưới ở giải Ngoại hạng.

5. Bernd Leno: 19,3 triệu bảng

Bernd Leno là thủ thành số một của Arsenal

Bernd Leno gia nhập Arsenal vào mùa hè năm 2018 từ CLB Bayer Leverkusen với mức giá 19,3 triệu bảng, trở thành thủ môn đắt giá thứ 5 trong lịch sử Premier League. Leno tới sân Emirates với sứ mệnh thay thế vị trí của Petr Čech
trong khung gỗ.

Leno có tài năng, tuy nhiên đôi lúc vẫn mắc những sai lầm hết sức ngớ ngẩn, thủ thành người Đức có khả năng phản xạ tốt, nhưng ra vào đôi khi chưa hợp lý, anh vẫn chưa thể quán xuyến được hàng thủ Arsenal, mùa này đã phải vào lưới nhặt bóng 36 bàn thua ở Premier League.

Posted on

ไปเคลียร์กันเอาเอง ! ฟีฟ่า สั่งสอบดีล แมนฯ ยูไนเต็ด คว้าตัว บรูโน เฟอร์นันเดส

ฟีฟ่า จ่อตรวจสอบดีลที่ สโมสรฟุตบอลแมนเชสเตอร์ ยูไนเต็ด แห่งศึก ฟุตบอลพรีเมียร์ลีกอังกฤษ คว้าตัว บรูโน เฟอร์นันเดส มากจาก สปอร์ติง ลิสบอน ด้วยมูลค่า 47 ล้านปอนด์เมื่อ ตลาดซื้อขายนักเตะ เดือนมกราคมที่ผ่านมา

รายงานจาก แมนเชสเตอร์ อีฟนิงนิวส์ ระบุว่า สหพันธ์ฟุตบอลระหว่างประเทศ ได้รับข้อร้องเรียกจาก ซามพ์โดรีย อดีตต้นสังกัดของ บรูโน ว่าพวกเขาควรจะได้ส่วนแบ่ง 10 เปอร์เซ็นต์จากดีลดังกล่าวเมื่อทัพ ลาซามพ์ มีเงื่อนไขดังกล่าวระบุไว้ตั้งแต่ปล่อยแข้งรายนี้ให้กับ สปอร์ติง เมื่อปี 2017

จากเงื่อนไขที่ว่าทำให้ ซามพ์โดเรีย ต้องได้รับเงินมูลค่า 4 ล้านปอนด์ซึ่งคิดเป็นสัดส่วน 10 เปอร์เซ็นต์ที่ สปอร์ติง ได้รับมาจาก แมนฯ ยูไนเต็ แต่จนถึงตอนนี้พวกเขายังไม่ได้เงินจำนวนดังกล่าวแต่อย่างใด

“เราสามารถยืนยันได้ว่า ซามพ์โดเรีย ได้ยื่นหนังสือร้องเรียนมาถึง ฟีฟ่า ในวันที่ 3 เมษายน จากกรณีประเด็นเงื่อนไขในสัญญาผูกพัน สปอร์ติง ลิสบอน กับการขายนักเตะ บรูโน เฟอร์นันเดส” โฆษก ฟีฟ่า แถลงการณ์

“ประเด็นดังกล่าวจะถูกสอบสวนก่อนที่เราจะสามารถชี้แจงเป็นลำดับต่อไป”

ทั้งนี้ บรูโน เคยเล่นให้กับ ซามพ์โดเรีย เป็นเวลา 1 ฤดูกาลและทำประตูได้ 5 ลูกจากการลงสนามทั้งหมด 35 นัด

Posted on

COVID-19: Nadal anggap saingan tahun ini hampir mustahil

RAFAEL Nadal meluahkan kesangsian Jelajah ATP boleh diteruskan pada tahun ini apabila sudah memikirkan mengenai Terbuka Australia tahun depan.

Jelajah ATP dan WTA ditangguhkan sekurang-kurangnya sehingga pertengahan Julai depan akibat pandemik COVID-19 yang telah menjejaskan kalendar sukan global.

Kejohanan Wimbledon tahun ini sudah pun dibatalkan sementara Terbuka Perancis ditunda ke September depan, namun perebutan kejuaraan di Roland Garros itu termasuk Terbuka Amerika Syarikat (AS) tetap dalam keraguan.

Nadal, yang masih berhasrat untuk beraksi secara kompetitif sebelum akhir tahun ini, bagaimanapun menganggap pendekatan yang lebih realistik ialah merancang untuk mengharungi musim 2021, yakni Grand Slam pembukaan, Terbuka Australia.

“Saya harap kami dapat kembali sebelum akhir tahun ini tetapi, sayangnya, saya tidak rasa begitu,” katanya kepada El Pais.

“Saya akan menganggap keperluan ketika ini adalah membuat persediaan bagi 2021. Saya lebih bimbang dengan nasib Terbuka Australia daripada apa yang berlaku pada akhir tahun ini.

“Saya berasakan saingan 2020 hampir pasti tidak dianjurkan. Saya harap kami dapat beraksi lagi tahun depan, saya amat berharap,” katanya.

Posted on

Tak Dapat Messi, Moratti Harap Inter Milan Gaet Dybala

MILAN – Mantan presiden Inter Milan, Massimo Moratti, memiliki satu keinginan. Jika Inter Milan gagal mendatangkan Lionel Messi dari Barcelona, Moratti berharap Nerazzurri –julukan Inter– dapat mendaratkan playmaker Juventus, Paulo Dybala.

Dalam beberapa waktu terakhir, Moratti gencar mengutarakan keyakinannya. Pengusaha minyak itu berharap presiden Inter saat ini, Steven Zhang, berhasil mendapatkan megabintang Barcelona, Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi

Menurut Moratti, peluang Inter mendapatkan Messi cukup besar. Sebab, Messi memiliki hubungan yang kurang baik dengan jajaran manajemen Barcelona saat ini, termasuk sang presiden yakni Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Akan tetapi, Moratti tidak muluk-muluk jika Inter tak bisa mendatangkan Messi. Pria 74 tahun itu memberi alternatif kepada manajemen Inter untuk mendaratkan La Joya –julukan Dybala.

Secara gaya permainan, Dybala dan Messi tak jauh berbeda. Mendatangkan Dybala pun jauh lebih menguntungkan, mengingat La Joya enam tahun lebih muda ketimbang Messi. Namun, yang jadi pertanyaan, maukah Dybala melanjutkan karier bersama Inter yang notabene rival abadi Juventus?

“Jika Messi tiba tentu sangat bagus. Namun, jika Leo (Messi) tidak memungkinkan, Dybala layak dijadikan alternatif,” kata Moratti mengutip dari Football Italia, Kamis (7/5/2020).

Untuk Dybala, pemain asal Argentina ini baru saja mendapatkan kabar gembira. Setelah sejak 22 Maret 2020 dinyatakan positif terinfeksi virus corona, Dybala akhirnya lepas dari Covid-19 pada Rabu 6 Mei 2020.

Posted on

Kieran Tierney’s Arsenal Return Solves More Than One Problem for Mikel Arteta

It dragged on a bit, didn’t it? A whole summer (and beyond) of speculation and hearsay saw Kieran Tierney’s protracted Arsenal move ebb and flow to the point where it seemed as if the Gunners’ insistence of undercutting Celtic’s valuation – by what one can, based on history, assume was pound each time – was never going to come to fruition.

For all their bartering, the north London side eventually coughed up the £25m asking price, and in doing so, finally secured one of Europe’s most highly thought of left-backs.

At this point, both Sead Kolasinac and Nacho Monreal were already at the club, meaning there was going to be an inevitable departure for one of the pre-existing crop. That eventually saw Monreal depart the Emirates, with the currently injured Tierney merely waiting in the wings to usurp the criminally inconsistent – rather bang average – Kolasinac.

A slow and steady integration into the side began to take place, with Europa League and Carabao Cup outings signalling the beginning of what was hoped to be a hugely successful season for Tierney.

Only 11 first team appearances into his Gunners career and the desperately unfortunate cloud of injury, that had cursed the Scot before he’d even made the move down south, befell him once more. A dislocated shoulder, an issue completely unattached to his previous setbacks, saw his season all but end.

As if being thrust into a side putting in abject performance week after week wasn’t grueling enough, he’d now have to watch his new teammates sink further without his intervention.

What was clear from his brief spell in the side, though, was an abundance of quality. It’s never easy to turn the tide of a sloping tidal-wave of tragedy, but his athleticism and outstanding crossing ability were there for all to see.

Fast forward from that December night at the London Stadium, and there is a player now fit and available who is about to offer his new manager much more than just added quality to his squad.

The bubbling rumours of a move for Layvin Kurzawa have refused to dip under the surface, as it’s become painstakingly clear that the once limited finances at the Emirates Stadium have now reached piggy-bank smashing levels of despair.

Yet, free agents are not free. Kolasinac is one of the highest earners at the club following his own free transfer, and you can expect any player at Paris Saint-Germain will be asking for a decent pay packet.

The Bosnian left-back isn’t great, but has improved slowly (very slowly) since Arteta took the reins, and as backup to the Scotsman, that leaves that area of the pitch pretty much sorted. Do you really need three left-sided full-backs in a squad? Unless they’ve got injury records on the Jack Wilshere scale, then no.

If such a cruel fate were to rear its head, then this season’s surprise package Bukayo Saka has shown he’s capable of filling in the role. For all his excellent work this term, there are still question marks over his defensive positioning, which is absolutely understandable, since he quite clearly is not a defender.

He is, in fact, a left winger. Which, once again, will be an area that is nicely stocked up after Tierney returns to the fore. As already seen, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has taken up that mantle under the Spaniard’s tutelage, finding the net with points-tally saving efficiency despite the noticeable fact of being played out of position.

With new-kid-on-the-block Saka able to now move further up field and into familiar territory, alongside fellow teenager Gabriel Martinelli, you’ve got two – if not three – forwards in that position. Even if Aubameyang playing on the left persists – which we’ve no reason to believe he won’t unless, well, he leaves – Martinelli has played the majority of his career down the middle and can also be utilised on the opposite flank.

These are areas that would likely have needed strengthening, hence the links to Ryan Fraser and Willian, but while transfer fee-less additions are the port of call this summer limiting the number of those signings with Tierney’s return will lessen the load on the already restricted purse strings.

The areas of improvement are clear as day at Arsenal: right-back cover, at least one central defender and a combative midfielder are a necessity, so leave the left hand side can be left well away.

Tierney’s influence on this Arsenal side has not yet been fully witnessed. Under the (mis)guidance of Unai Emery, his impact was lessened, but even without kicking a ball with Arteta in the dugout the praise his manager has already showered him with bodes well for the future.

“I’m really looking forward to working with him and giving him the opportunity to play,” Arteta told Ian Wright as part of the adidas #hometeam campaign. “His attitude, his commitment, his willingness, it’s incredible.”

“I think he’s going to bring something special to us. It [the injury] has been a shame, but it’s part of his development. During your career, you go through these moments.

“Okay, the level of pressure now is a little bit higher, you have to deal with it, you’re playing with a top club, top expectations, deal with it. You have everything to be successful here. You have the best possible attitude that I’ve known from a player, go and live your profession and enjoy it.”

Even in his brief cameos this season, the early signs are there that Arteta has a player in his squad ready-made for his footballing philosophy.

Ability-wise, Arsenal have craved additional quality at left-back for many a year. Monreal performed the role admirably, as did Gael Clichy before him (ignoring Andre Santos), but at a crucial point in the club’s history, knowing that there is a young, exciting, ambitious, hungry and simply talented player in that position will offer Arteta plenty of encouragement.

Tierney’s return will ease the burden of the (likely) mountain of issues Arteta is tackling at the moment – financially, in the recruitment department and with on-field matters. The 22-year-old re-entering the fray offers one of few notes of excitement for Gunners fans when football returns, and provides Arteta with a gratefully depleted to-do list.

Posted on

Jurgen Klopp ‘phũ phàng’ với thương vụ Mbappe và Sancho

HLV Jurgen Klopp mới đây đã lên tiếng nói về những tin đồn Liverpool đang theo đuổi chữ ký của Kylian Mbappe và Jadon Sancho.

Thời gian qua, The Kop bị gán với nhiều thông tin chuyển nhượng khác nhau. Kylian Mbappe và Jadon Sancho là 2 tài năng trẻ hàng đầu của bóng đá thế giới và Liverpool có thể nhắm đến cả 2 hoặc mua 1 trong 2 nếu có thể.

Mbappe có thể không phải là mục tiêu chuyển nhượng của Liverpool

Mohamed Salah và Sadio Mane đã làm rất tốt trong thời gian qua. Hai cầu thủ này là nhân tố chính giúp HLV Klopp gặt hái thành công ở giải quốc nội và Champions League mà đỉnh cao là chức vô địch châu Âu mùa trước.

Klopp có những chia sẻ thẳng thắn và có phần phũ trước thông tin chiêu mộ 2 ngôi sao trẻ trên. Ông trả lời trên beIN Sports: “Sadio Mane và Mo Salah đều còn đủ trẻ để tiếp tục đóng vai trụ cột của đội bóng trong những năm tới. Tôi hoàn toàn hài lòng với các chàng trai mà tôi đang có, và tôi không hề nghĩ đến những cầu thủ khác ngoài kia”.

“Khi tôi ở một CLB nào đó, tôi sẽ làm việc với các cầu thủ tôi có, tôi không bao giờ mơ mộng về các siêu sao ngoài thị trường. Nếu chúng tôi có thể chiêu mộ ngôi sao nào đó trong tương lai thì các bạn sẽ thấy thôi, nhưng tôi chắc chắn rằng chúng tôi chỉ thực hiện các quyết định tốt nhất trong phạm vi hoàn cảnh của chúng tôi”.

Sancho được xem là tài năng số 1 của bóng đá Anh hiện tại

Ngoại hạng Anh đang cân nhắc việc trở lại thi đấu vào tháng 6 tới. Sau khi giải quyết xong mùa giải 2019/20, thầy trò HLV Jurgen Klopp sẽ tính đến các phương án chuyển nhượng khả thi nhất bởi tình hình tài chính bất ổn trong “mùa dịch” tiềm ẩn nhiều nguy cơ khủng hoảng.