Everton assistant manager Steve Round expects new signing Kevin Mirallas to keep improving as the season continues following a man-of-the-match performance in a 5-0 Capital One Cup victory over Leyton Orient last night.
Belgian international Mirallas converted two and provided two assists on his full debut for the Merseyside club in what proved to be a one-sided affair over League One Orient. Mirallas, 24, joined Everton in the summer from Greek side Olympiakos for £5 million and has impressed the Goodison Park faithful with a string of exciting displays from the bench.
Round told the club’s official website that he was impressed by Mirallas’ performance: “Kevin gave us an example of what he’s about with his speed, movement and finishing. He showed why he was one of the top goal scorers in Greece.”
The Toffees’ assistant boss believes that once Mirallas reaches full fitness, there will be even more to come from the wing-forward: “He tired quite badly in the second half but we expected that. He missed quite a chunk of pre-season with a knee injury. He’s not really up to speed yet but he is getting there.”
The 5-0 victory for Everton continued what has been an excellent start for a club who are notoriously slow starters. Everton currently lie in 3rd place in the Premier League after victories at home to Manchester United and away at Aston Villa.
Round believes the key to Everton’s early success this time around has been their ability to keep most of the squad fit; a luxury they haven’t enjoyed in previous seasons: “The players all want to play; they’re fit, injury free and enjoying playing with each other. Because of that we are getting some real flow and cohesion.”
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Manchester United fans are eager to sign Real Madrid star Gareth Bale after the Welshman’s stunning equaliser against Barcelona on Sunday.
The El Clasico derby is the biggest club football match in the entire world and all eyes were on the two sides this weekend as they went toe-to-toe in La Liga.
With Barcelona leading in the match thanks to goals from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, Bale scored a beautiful top-corner equaliser ensure his side didn’t lose to their eternal rivals.
Bale has been consistently linked with a move to Old Trafford this season, so the goal prompted a flood of discussion from United fans who are hopeful of doing a deal for him when the summer transfer window opens.
Many believe he could be the missing piece of Jose Mourinho’s puzzle when it comes to their attacking balance.
Rated at £63m by Transfermarkt, the winger has scored 16 goals and provided four assists for the Spanish club this season.
Should Man United make a move for him?
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Manchester United legend Edwin van der Sar has claimed that Real Madrid-bound goalkeeper David de Gea is replaceable, according to reports from the Daily Mail.
De Gea has been heavily linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu the past season, and Van der Sar believes that the Spain number-one is close to securing the switch.
WANT MORE? >> Manchester United transfer news | Latest transfer news
“There’s been a lot of talk lately and if he wanted to stay he probably would have signed a new contract by now,” Van der Sar said.
“At the start of the season you start with 11 players…nobody is irreplaceable, that’s always the case.
“I’m sure United, if David is going to leave, they are going to find a good successor.”
The former Red Devil shot-stopper is adamant that De Gea can be replaced, but hopes that United do not come bidding for Ajax star Jasper Cillessen this summer.
“I hope United aren’t getting him!” said Van der Sar.
“Luckily I have some influence on that part, being on the board of Ajax. But of course, Jasper is a fantastic goalkeeper.
“In the winter break I went to Qatar for a week and I trained with the goalkeepers there and had a session with them. He has also improved immensely.
“He played great for the national team in the World Cup and is, like David here, a very reliable goalkeeper for us in Amsterdam. We would like to keep him for a while.”
Van der Sar went on to add that United manager Louis van Gaal may not even need to go and find a replacement, with three-time Champions League winner Victor Valdes capable of manning the posts for the first-team.
“Louis also likes a goalkeeper who can play with his feet also and just behind the defence,” he explained.
“Victor Valdes has also played like that at Barcelona for a while,’ he said. ‘Or maybe they are looking for different one also.”
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Despite this, United have been monitoring goalkeepers to succeed De Gea this summer, with Chelsea’s Petr Cech, Tottenham ace Hugo Lloris, and Stoke City star Asmir Begovic joining Cillessen on Van Gaal’s wishlist.
Neil Taylor will return to the Swansea first-team before the end of the season if he suffers no setbacks, Michael Laudrup has said.
The defender is on his way back after suffering a dislocated and fractured ankle which kept him on the sidelines for seven months and Laudrup says the plan is to give him a run out in one of the remaining games.
Taylor will make his fourth appearance for Swansea’s under-21 side against Millwall at Stebonheath tonight and Laudrup says the next step could be a return to the first team.
“I think physically Neil is more or less there now,” Laudrup revealed. “He played 90 minutes for the under-21s last week and he will play again tonight.
“After that it will just be about getting back up to Premier League level.
“It’s good for him. He is looking forward to coming back and I think we will see him in the first team before the season ends. That is our plan at least.”
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The return of Taylor will give Laudrup a huge selection headache as Ben Davies has been a revelation at left-back and will be fighting hard to keep his place.
Everton could be set for another busy summer in the transfer market following a largely disappointing campaign, which started with them flirting with the relegation places in the Premier League, and looks set to end without them qualifying for European football next season.
Owner Farhad Moshiri will have been disappointed with some of the club’s transfer business last summer – Sandro Ramirez and Davy Klaassen spring to mind – and he will be determined to get things right this time around, to ensure the Merseyside outfit challenge the top six in the top flight next term.
One player that could help the Toffees to achieve that would be AS Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan, rated at £40.5m by Transfermarkt, who was one of the few positives in his side’s 5-2 defeat against Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie at Anfield on Tuesday night.
The tie looked to be over when the Reds marched into a 5-0 lead, but the Belgium international crossed for Edin Dzeko to sweep home, before he won a penalty that Diego Perotti converted after his effort had been handled by James Milner.
The 29-year-old certainly made a big impact in the final third for the Serie A outfit throughout, and as well as the two assists, he made four key passes in total and had three shots at goal, as per WhoScored.com.
Nainggolan also showed his quality on the ball with two dribbles and a passing accuracy of 88%, and there is little doubt that he could add some real quality to the Everton midfield next season, as well as being a really popular figure with the fans, who have urged the club to re-sign former defender John Stones.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
While it would be an ambitious move, the Merseyside outfit are an ambitious club and they should be targeting players like the Belgian if they want to progress, and bringing him to Goodison Park would surely be Moshiri’s best deal yet.
So, Everton fans, do you think your club should attempt to sign Nainggolan? Let us know what you think by voting on our poll below…
When former Atletico Madrid star and long-term Chelsea loanee, Thibaut Courtois, finally made his return to Stamford Bridge at the beginning of the 2014/15 campaign, it became clear that Jose Mourinho had a huge task on his hands in when it came to sorting out his goal-keeping department.
Would the fresh faced young Belgian come in straight away and oust club hero Petr Cech from the first team squad almost immediately, or did the experienced Czech Republic international still have a meaningful future left with the Blues in the Premier League?
As we are all well aware by now, the latter outcome seemingly never took place for Cech in the end, with this season so far turning out to be not much more than an extended bench warming exercise for the 32-year-old shot-stopper.
So, with a number of Europe’s most high profile clubs, including Arsenal, reportedly expressing a clear interest in ending the keeper’s somewhat stagnant time at Stamford Bridge, just where will Chelsea’s Petr Cech eventually end up plying his trade next season?
Well for one thing, it must be conceded at this stage in the debate that the player is still more than capable of doing the business between the sticks at the highest level. His very best days may in-fact be behind him at the moment, but even at the peaking age of 32-years-old, Cech still has what it takes to represent his team in the Premier League and Europe.
[ad_pod id=’ffc-video-small’ align=’left’]
On his day he turns his respective goal-mouth into a simply impenetrable proposition. The former Sparta Prague man often displays sheer confidence when claiming the ball in and around his penalty box, he is able to organise the Chelsea back-four into a more than solid unit worthy of testing any strike-force in Europe – and with a strong emphasis also placed on shot-stopping and quick distribution – Petr Cech still has to go down as one of the best all-rounders currently occupying the talk of the modern goal-keeper’s circuit.
Despite the many plaudits that have gracefully come the no 1’s way throughout the years however, it must also be admitted that Jose Mourinho made a tough, but ultimately correct call by favouring Thibaut Courtois over the Czech Republic star. Cech remains a reliable option no doubt, but Chelsea’s up-and-coming new boy simply has to go down as one of the best keepers in European football at the moment.
With that in mind then, perhaps an emotional move away from Stamford Bridge has now become a necessity for a player who was once considered to be completely un-droppable. As Arsenal will reportedly be in for the famous shot-stopper across the summer transfer window – with their own history of chopping and changing things around in the goal-keeping department at the Emirates – maybe a switch to North London could be the perfect answer for Cech in this somewhat transitional phase of his career.
The Gunners certainly need someone with the experience and know-how that the Chelsea star brings to the table, the Emirates faithful would likely be satisfied with the keeper’s own individual skill-set and match winning qualities – and even though Petr Cech has been representing one of Arsenal’s major London rivals throughout his Premier League career so far – the player in question still seemingly arrives as a very viable option for Arsene Wenger.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
There is nevertheless one unavoidable spanner in the works within this potential deal however – and that simply comes in the form of Colombian World Cup star, David Ospina. The South American has been in impressive form for his new side since successfully ousting Wojciech Szczesny for the no. 1 spot this season, so even though it’s still certainly early days for the newly acquired keeper in his Arsenal career, a bright Emirates future is nevertheless expected of the promising 26-year-old.
A move to either Real Madrid or PSG, with both teams also recently being linked to the notorious shot-stopper, could therefore represent a more plausible outcome for the skull-cap wearing Stamford Bridge hero – even if the prospect of warming the substitutes bench once again raises its head for the ever ready and determined Petr Cech.
Manchester City started life without Roberto Mancini with a comfortable win over already relegated Reading at the Madjeski Stadium.
Just 24-hours after Mancini was dismissed City turned in one of their more efficient performances of the season to see off the Royals in a match that took was overshadowed by events behind the scenes.
Nigel Adkins post-match…”We have got a lot of players who have played in the Championship. We know the demands of Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday, the mental side of it. There is a lot of positivity about the place. On the training ground the players are certainly in a positive mind set and everyone wants to be in and is looking forward to the future.”
Bryan Kidd post-match…
Man of the Match…David Silva: There hasn’t been enough of this from Silva this season. This was a performance in which the Spaniard oozed his creative juices and was a buzzing hive of innovation for City.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Flop of the Match…Pavel Pogrebnyak: Isolated up front by himself for a large majority of the evening but cut a disinterested figure when the ball did come into his vicinity. One suspects this will be penultimate, if not, the final match of Pogrebnyak’s brief stay at Reading.
Leeds fans are absolutely delighted for Paudie O’Connor, after the youngster made an impressive debut in the 1-1 draw against Sunderland.
Leeds fans were impressed by young debutant Tom Pearce when the 19 year-old made his debut against Sheffield Wednesday, and now Paudie O’Connor has added himself to the list of exciting youngsters coming out of the Leeds youth setup.
With no relegation threat to worry about and no realistic chance of making the playoffs, Leeds fans have been hoping to see more of the young talent on offer at the club, and O’Connor showed exactly why on Saturday.
[ad_pod ]
The 20 year-old Irishman was calm and composed despite the sometimes calamitous state of the back four as a whole, and fans are extremely impressed by the young star.
O’Connor signed for the club in 2017, and has been fantastic for the Under-23 side this season. Jack Clarke and Sam Dalby have also been in superb form for the U23s, so fans may be hoping to see those two added to the list of Paul Heckingbottom debutants.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Heckingbottom has had a pretty miserable start to his time as Leeds manager, but he certainly can’t be accused of not giving youth a chance.
Some of the best Twitter reactions to O’Connor’s debut can be found below…
What a few weeks it has been for Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez. His loan move to Real Madrid had seemed like a massive waste of an entire season as he had spent the vast majority of it on the bench for the current Champions League holders.
It was Chicharito who sent his side through to the Champions League semi-finals, in an attempt to retain their title.
Karim Benzema has been sidelined for the last two weeks due to an injury he picked up in the first leg against Atletico Madrid. Benzema will always be the first choice for the lethal front three of Real Madrid. It is unfortunate that it has taken an injury for Chicharito to prove himself, but he has used his time wisely. One massive goal against Atleti to knock them out of the Champions League, and two in La Liga against Celta Vigo.
Chicharito’s rediscovered talents as a preadtory goalscorer drum up many questions and criticisms. For one, Thierry Henry voiced his opinion in regards of Chicharito’s goal celebration vs Atletico. “What I don’t like is Chicharito seems like he’s won the World Cup with that celebration.” Seemingly, Chicharito should have used his hand to score, judging by Henry’s footballing standards.
And, let’s be honest, the Mexican spent so long on the bench it probably had his own indents on it, so can we really blame him for being elated? It is a huge goal to come out of a dire season. Forgive the guy for being proud of himself.
Next on the list, of course, is whether Hernandez has a future at Manchester United or not. In hindsight, their goal difference could have been higher had Chicha stayed. We all know Falcao has not delivered what we all had hoped. Chicharito scored almost the same amount of goals in the week as Falcao has for the season. But is the Mexican still deemed relevant under Louis Van Gaal or still part of a surplus? And how would the current formation work around him? Because no matter what happens, Wayne Rooney cannot drop back into the midfield.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Has this revival of Chicharito’s career come just a little too late for him? It will bring him to the forefront of the minds of various clubs, but he must make his next move wisely. Ancelotti believes if Chicharito can hold his form, his inclusion in Real’s starting XI will be non-negotiable. Easy to say now, but what happens when Benzema returns from injury, and returns to form?
Mexican head coach Miguel Herrera thinks the best thing for the Little Pea is to find a smaller club to showcase his talents. This of course is in order to get the minutes he needs. Let’s not forget, Chicharito became a super sub at the World Cup because of this role in United. Benzema is likely to be back for the clash with Juventus; what Ancelotti decides to do will be detrimental to Chicharito.
Ricky van Wolfswinkel answered his Portuguese critics as the Canaries’ £8.5m capture hit a hat-trick for Sporting at Braga last night.
The Dutch striker, 24, scored a stoppage time winner to complete his triple as 10-man Sporting won 3-2 in Braga to dent the hosts’ Champions League qualifying hopes.
That took his tally for the season to 16 and shut up those fans and media commentators who had suggested his mind was already in Norfolk following City’s move to set up summer deal worth £8.5m with Sporting Club last month.
He told Record: “I know it’s hard to explain to people, many think I’m ‘in England’. I want the best for the club, I want to give the best I have and to give the maximum. The fans deserve as much. It’s always bad to leave a club you like, but it is a new step in my career development.
“The season is not over, I don’t want to think too much about the Premier League.”
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.