Paul Heckingbottom’s underwhelming reign as Leeds manager hit another bump in the road on Tuesday night, but should the ex-Barnsley man stay at Elland Road this summer?
When Paul Heckingbottom replaced Thomas Christiansen in February, Leeds fans were hopeful but not overly confident that the inexperienced 40 year-old could save their season.
Leeds looked nailed on for a playoff place around Christmas, but a torrid run of form in the new year cost Christiansen his job and could well do the same to Heckingbottom.
The 3-1 loss at Preston on Tuesday encapsulated everything that’s gone so wrong this season, as the side failed to capitalise on the early lead grabbed by the returning Kemar Roofe.
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A Paul Gallagher penalty levelled things up after the break, and Leeds were behind three minutes later when Sean Maguire found the net.
Despite Heckingbottom’s protests about the referee on Tuesday, fans are not even remotely impressed by the performance, as once again the side completely lost control when the going got tough.
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The argument for keeping Heckingbottom would be that he hasn’t had even one transfer window to shape his team yet, but the lack of improvement in the current squad has already made plenty of minds up.
Do you think Paul Heckingbottom should stay on as Leeds manager this summer? Let us know by voting in the poll below…
Over the years Liverpool have been graced with immense talent, from Kevin Keegan to Kenny Dalglish and Steven Gerrard, to name a few.
Joey Jones was never widely regarded in that bracket of elite stars, and he may not have grabbed the headlines, but he earned cult-hero status among the fans for his passion and dedication.
The Bangor-born footballer was a tough-tackling left-back whose loyalty on the pitch was never questioned.
It is easy to romanticise Jones’s hard-working, no-nonsense approach to matches for his boyhood club, but his CV is not to be sniffed at.
During a three-year spell with the Reds, the left-back won the First Division title, the UEFA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and two European Cups.
In fact, Jones was part of club history in the 1976-77 season when he helped Liverpool lift their first ever trophy in Europe’s elite competition with a 3-1 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Forty-one years and four more European titles later, the Merseyside outfit are preparing to return to the famous Italian stadium to take on Roma in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Firstly, both clubs will show their cards at Anfield on Tuesday night, with the Reds aiming to be in a strong position for the decider at the Stadio Olimpico.
Jones knows all too well the magnitude of the challenge that awaits Jurgen Klopp’s men, and in an exclusive interview with FootballFanCast.com, the 63-year-old wound back the clock.
“We lost the FA Cup final on the Saturday before – Liverpool were going for the treble at that time. Unfortunately we lost to Manchester United. [The European Cup final, though,] was a great occasion.
“It was like the whole of Liverpool was there, they must have outnumbered the Gladbach fans by at least 4:1. To walk out and see that amount of fans gives you that extra lift. You can’t lose this game, you’ve got to do it for the fans because they’ve made so many sacrifices to get there.”
In the modern game, aside from winning the league crown, reaching the Champions League final is the pinnacle in club football, but interestingly, Jones has admitted that he felt more anxious ahead of the FA Cup final, which Liverpool lost 2-1 to United at Wembley.
“I knew how big the [European Cup] was and how great an achievement it would be to win it because some players – better players than me – go throughout their careers not getting past the qualifying rounds of the European Cup, let alone the final.
“I was very fortunate to play in every round and play in the final as well. It was a big occasion, but I felt less nervous in that game than I did in the FA Cup final.
“I felt more nervous walking out for that game because as a youngster growing up, when we were kids that used to be the only game on TV. Straight after the Cup final we’d go out and replicate which teams had been playing on the local field. I had it in my head that the whole of the country is watching this game and I was part of it. I can definitely say I was more nervous for that game than I was for the European Cup final.”
Perhaps the nerves were greater when Jones’s boots connected with the Wembley turf, but his heart was warmed when he spotted the now-famous banner that was unfurled in the crowd at the Stadio Olimpico.
Liverpool fans playfully referred to their left-back’s performances against Saint-Etienne and FC Zurich from earlier matches in the European tournament, and made a bold prediction for the final against Gladbach by proclaiming: ‘Joey ate the frogs legs, made the Swiss roll, now he’s munching Gladbach.’
“Seeing that banner behind the goal when I walked out, it made me feel 10ft tall,” Jones recalled. “I think of much as that banner as I do the medal. It’s now back with one of the people who actually made it. I had it in my garage!”
Liverpool fans are expected to be out in full force in both legs against Roma over the coming days, and it is safe to say that they embraced the challenge of being the 12th man at Anfield in the quarter-final showdown against Manchester City.
Not many would have predicted that Klopp’s Reds would have made it into the final four alongside Roma, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, but alas they have upset the odds, and Jones hopes that will continue.
Throughout the season, Liverpool’s defensive frailties have been difficult to ignore, but there was a shift in January when the arrival of Virgil van Dijk gave Klopp’s back line more structure and discipline.
“There is no coincidence that they’re playing better since he’s gone there,” said Jones.
“Up until he went there, they looked like they would concede. They looked great going forward but we always looked like we were going to concede. I think they have tightened up and it could be down to Van Dijk. In any position, it’s confidence anyway. In any sport, it’s all about confidence – football, tennis or cricket – people who do a half-decent job at any stage, confidence is one of those things that you need.”
Another player that has certainly impressed Liverpool fans is Andy Robertson, who grasped his opportunity following Alberto Moreno’s injury and never looked back.
The Scotland international has made the left-back role his own and his hard-working nature has even drawn comparisons to Jones.
“I think he’s better than what I was! The way I look at it is that he needs to keep going out and do his best. I knew my limitations, but I must have offered something to the team otherwise Bob Paisley wouldn’t have played me.
“People talk about players and say ‘he’s a great passer of the ball’ but nobody ever says, ‘he’s a great tackler’. Tackling is as much a part of the game as passing the ball. For people to pass the ball, you need people to go on and win it. The passer of the ball might not be able to win the ball. So, you need a mixture in your team. You couldn’t have 11 Glenn Hoddle’s in one team, you have to have a mixture.
“I think Andy Robertson, and myself when I played, are not flair players. All I wanted to do was tackle people, and don’t get me wrong I never always got that right because I got sent off a number of times. It’s like a misplaced pass – you can be the best passer of the ball but at times they all make a misplaced pass, which is like when I mistimed a tackle! I’d like to think I got it right more than I got it wrong, though.”
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The impressive attack that Jones has mentioned is spearheaded by Mohamed Salah – once a Chelsea reject but is now lighting up the Premier League with 31 goals and 41 in all competitions.
Salah is not the only figure adored at Liverpool at the moment; Jurgen Klopp’s charismatic nature and tactical approach is warmly welcomed by the fans and Jones alike, but the former left-back believes that the Reds cannot afford to stand still.
“I like [Klopp’s] personality on the side of the pitch,” said the former Wales international. “He gets them playing with a high tempo. I just hope, like every Liverpool fan, that he can improve on this season and go and win the Premier League. You need to push on – that’s what Manchester City have done, look at the players they have bought. It will be silly season again in the summer. Liverpool need to improve the team in certain areas.
“[Salah’s] been brilliant. I think it’s important that they keep hold of him if they want to progress and win the Premier League. They have every chance next season if they get the right recruitments – it doesn’t matter which team you have, they all often need recruitment at times. Try to strengthen the team.
“They’ve sorted out the defence and they’re getting goals going forward. They have a young lad, I had him in the youth team [while coaching] at Wrexham – Danny Ward. I think he’s a half-decent goalkeeper.
He played for Huddersfield Town on loan last season, and he was an important part of their team. Will he get a chance? I don’t know. They might look to get another goalkeeper, maybe that’s one area where they can improve. I’m not having a go at [Simon] Mignolet or [Loris] Karius. I don’t think they’re up to Ray Clemence’s standard, though!”
While the transfer window will certainly be in the back of the club’s mind, the next 10 days are all that matters for Liverpool as they try to navigate their way to their first Champions League final in 11 years.
“Certainly going forward, attacking teams, they can beat anybody,” said Jones. “I don’t think they have anything to fear against Roma, or even if they played Real Madrid or Bayern Munich – they could defeat any of them. I think they’ve got a great chance [of reaching the final]. I certainly hope they win.”
One of the most fascinating aspects of Arsene Wenger’s impending departure from Arsenal is what a fresh pair of eyes will make of the current squad at the Emirates.
With it being a World Cup year, there isn’t a huge amount of time for the new man in the hotseat to run the rule over his squad and decide which areas to focus his recruitment drive on.
One man who has been linked with a move to north London is Djibril Sow, the youngster who has been a fixture in the Young Boys side this season over in Switzerland.
A swoop for the man valued at just £2.7m by Transfermarkt feels like exactly the kind of move that Wenger would make but with the Frenchman of course leaving the club this summer we asked you whether the swoop would still be a good one for the club.
The vast majority – 90 per cent in fact – think that the club should press on and sign Sow, despite the fact we don’t know who will be at the helm by the time next season starts. Check out the full results below…
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Liverpool booked their place in next season’s UEFA Champions League with a dominant win over Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield on Sunday.
Needing a result to confirm a top four finish in the English Premier League, the 4-0 victory was also the perfect preparation for their mammoth European final against Real Madrid on 26th May.
Mohamed Salah hit top form again, his opening goal setting a new Premier League scoring record. That was followed by goals from Dejan Lovren, Dominic Solanke and Andy Robertson, the latter two netting for the first time in their Reds career.
Fans were absolutely delighted by Robertson’s contribution in particular, who also provided an assist.
It was a man of the match calibre performance and the perfect way to end his league season, with his breakthrough performances thrilling supporters throughout 2017/18.
The Scottish international has been a revelation at left-back and fans are looking forward to him being a firm fixture in the position next term.
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As reported by The Evening Times, Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko is on the brink of a permanent move back to his homeland after a successful loan spell at FC Midtjylland.
The paper say he is closing in on a four year deal at the Danish champions after falling out of favour at Celtic Park.
Sviatchenko moved to Glasgow in 2016 and went on to make 63 appearances for the Hoops, initially establishing himself as a first-choice centre-back.
That continued under Brendan Rodgers for a while, partnering Jozo Simunovic, until he was eventually replaced by the likes of Dedryck Boyata and Kristoffer Ajer.
He made just two appearances in the 2017/18 season before heading to Denmark in January, missing just one match on FC Midtjylland’s march to the Superliga title.
Fans aren’t exactly delighted to hear he is leaving with many feeling he deserved a second chance at Celtic Park.
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Gareth Southgate’s choices to be England captain essentially came down to a two-horse race between Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane and Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson.
At the time he made his decision to appoint Kane, Southgate knew that he could well have shunned a man who would come into the World Cup as the captain of the Champions League holders in favour of a player who does not even captain his club side.
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Gareth Bale’s excellence, Loris Karius’ blunders and Sergio Ramos’ ruthlessness ensured that Henderson had to be content with a runners up medal in Europe’s elite competition and perhaps eased some potential pressure on Kane.
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We asked whether Kane was the best choice as England captain and the response was overwhelming, as 89 per cent felt that Southgate got this one right as you can see from the full results of the poll below…
According to TEAMtalk, Newcastle United are considering a move for Sporting Lisbon winger Carlos Mane in this summer’s transfer window.
What’s the story?
A number of Premier League clubs are on high alert due to the current situation at Portuguese club Sporting, which is quite incredible in modern-day football.
Indeed, a number of the club’s stars are looking to move on this summer after they were attacked by a mob at their training ground in May following a string of poor performances.
Goalkeeper Rui Patricio has already departed, whilst the likes of William Carvalho, Gelson Martins and Bruno Fernandes are keen to follow suit.
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According to TEAMtalk, however, there is another Sporting player drawing Premier League interest, with Mane, who is valued at £2.7m by transfermarkt.co.uk, on Newcastle’s shortlist ahead of the new season.
Who is Carlos Mane?
The former Portugal Under-23 international has been with Sporting since 2003 – progressing through the youth system before representing their B side.
The attacker has scored 14 times in 87 first-team appearances for the Portuguese giants, but has actually been on loan with German side Stuttgart since 2016.
New Everton boss Marco Silva has previously worked with Mane during his time in charge of Sporting, and it is believed that the Toffees are also interested in the 24-year-old.
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Stuttgart reportedly have the option to buy Mane outright this summer, but Newcastle’s interest could well turn the attacker’s head.
As well as racking up a solid number of appearances at a relatively young age, Mane also has experience of playing in the Champions League, which will be another attraction for a Newcastle side that will not exactly have bundles of cash to spend this summer.
Wolves fans have been getting into a frenzy over the news that they are in talks with Valencia right-back Joao Cancelo.
The Portuguese defender has been on loan at Internazionale this season and Wolves are preparing to make a £35million bid for the 24-year-old, according to reports.
Cancelo was previously a transfer target for Manchester United, but Nuno Espirito Santo is hoping to add another of his Portuguese compatriots to the Wolves squad, to join star players Diogo Jota and Ruben Neves.
Nuno previously worked with Cancelo at the Mestalla and the player is also managed by super-agent Jorge Mendes who has had a big hand in many of Wolves’ recent transfers.
If Wolves pull off the deal, it will smash the club’s current transfer record of £15.8million for Ruben Neves.
Understandably, Wolves fans have been getting rather excited about the transfer news and have been making their opinions known on social media.
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Tottenham Hotspur have been linked to numerous midfielders over the last few weeks and months.
One of those individuals is Inter Milan’s Matias Vecino, who is valued at £18.9m by Transfermarkt.
The 26-year-old made 31 appearances in all competitions last season, and in that time he scored three goals and created three assists.
The midfielder predominantly plays centrally, but can drop deep or further forward.
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At the moment, Vecino is in Russia representing Uruguay in the World Cup, and judging by reports in Italy, Tottenham are interested in signing him.
According to Tuttosport, Inter are prepared to sell the midfielder if they receive a decent offer for the player.
Chelsea and Everton were also named in the report, and it seems that the majority of Tottenham fans would prefer if the Uruguayan chose another club.
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Vecino only moved to Inter from Fiorentina last season, so from his point of view, it would be odd to depart so soon.
Tottenham fans took to Twitter after hearing the speculation about the Uruguayan midfielder.
Marouane Fellaini will soon be a free agent with his Manchester United contract situation set to be resolved in the coming days, according to a report in the Independent.
What’s the story, then?
The Independent report that the Belgian international has failed to agree a new deal at Old Trafford after United refused to offer him his demanded wages of over £125,000 per week.
They go on to say that Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is the top target to replace Fellaini in the engine room, with new signing Fred brought in to fill the gap left by retiring captain Michael Carrick.
Arsenal and AC Milan are named among the clubs reportedly interested in securing the services of Fellaini, who has failed to convince United fans of his worth since arriving in 2013.
Lingard can move inside to replace Fellaini
Jesse Lingard has floated around in positional terms since breaking into the United first team; he has played on both flanks and as a number 10.
However, at this summer’s World Cup, he has played as a number eight, bursting forward into attacking areas and scoring an absolute peach in the 6-1 drubbing of Panama.
Pep Guardiola has fielded traditional number 10s Kevin de Bruyne and David Silva in a deeper role across the city, and Lingard – valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt – is now a viable option in that role for Jose Mourinho at United.
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That means that Fellaini need not be replaced by a big-money signing as Lingard can fill the role now, with his new-found maturity.
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