All posts by n8rngtd.top

For those in the Celtic reserve side, their chances of securing regular first-team action seems difficult to envisage.

That was certainly the case under a stubborn Neil Lennon. Very rarely did the northern Irishman change his methods and it eventually led to his downfall.

An underlying problem at Parkhead has been the lack of opportunities for their young players. Cameron Harper has headed back to America as a result, while the likes of Armstrong Oko-Flex and Karamoko Dembele look set to depart when their contracts expire in the summer.

With that in mind, they have to start handing more minutes out. Adam Montgomery has been on the bench since John Kennedy was put in interim charge but someone who must join him is Luca Connell.

The 19-year-old joined in 2019 from Bolton Wanderers but has, rather bizarrely, never been given a chance in the senior side.

The teenager arrived with 12 appearances for Bolton in the EFL to his name, something which makes his lack of football in Glasgow even stranger.

When he put pen to paper two years ago, he surely wasn’t expecting to sit in the reserves. With the Bhoys signing Liam Shaw in a few months time, another with a similar level of experience under his belt as Connell, he will be hoping his career doesn’t follow in a similar path.

The Hoops have little to play for between now and the end of the season so throwing in players like Connell wouldn’t be a bad idea. By giving him minutes, it could help Kennedy and co. prepare for Scott Brown’s potential exit.

The veteran is out of contract in the summer and thus, there will be a vacancy in the middle of the park to fill. Ismaila Soro will be at the front of the queue but following behind should be Connell.

He is strong in the tackle and assured with his passing, earning numerous positive reviews in his short career to date.

Connell was given a chance to train with Ireland a few years ago and earned the following appraisal from Mick McCarthy, someone linked with the Celtic manager’s seat: “He’s a breath of fresh air around the place,” he began.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-transfer-news-onuachu-edouard-dembele-turnbull” title=”The latest Celtic news and views!”]

“He’s left-footed and he can certainly find a pass. He hits it with a bit of authority and lets people have the ball. He doesn’t mind putting his foot in either so he’s fitted in pretty well,” McCarthy concluded.

That final passage is what should excite Celtic supporters. As Brown and Soro have shown, you can’t play in this Hoops midfield without having a bit of bite about you. Despite his tender age, Connell possesses plenty of that.

With the Hoops skipper potentially on his way out, it is surely now or never in terms of the teenager’s Celtic career. Kennedy needs to give him a chance.

AND in other news, 109 dribbles: Celtic could seal huge Ryan Christie upgrade by signing 18-goal wizard…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Leeds United midfielder Carlton Palmer has revealed how George Graham forced him out of the Yorkshire club back in 1997 and shed light on his overall relationship with his ex-boss.

Palmer spent three seasons at Elland Road, making just over 100 appearances in the Premier League before joining Southampton.

The retired England international scored five goals in those appearances while playing alongside the likes of Ian Rush and Tony Yeboah, players who also had their difficulties with Graham.

Speaking exclusively to FFC about his Elland Road exit, Graham and former team-mates, Palmer said:

“From the first day he [Graham] came into the football club, he made it clear to me that I wasn’t in his plans. I don’t understand the reason why. I don’t understand how you can walk into a football club and just make a decision based on nothing.

“And it wasn’t just me. He made this about Ian Rush, Tomas Brolin, Tony Dorigo, Brian Deane. He made those judgements even with Tony Yeboah, so it was an uncomfortable time for me, and the club allowed him to do it.

“This is what he did. He’s a bully and I’m not afraid to say that. He couldn’t bully me, but he’s a bully.”

Focusing on the move to Southampton specifically, Palmer went on to add:

“You’re saying to me I’m not good enough, right? Harry Redknapp comes in for me at West Ham, Joe Royle comes in for me at Everton, and you’re not going to sell me to those two clubs?

“He told me you can either go to Southampton, who were seven points adrift at the bottom of the league, or in the Championship. And even when I [eventually] went to Southampton, he put in a clause that I couldn’t play against Leeds United.

“If I was that bad of a player, and he thought I was that bad of a player, why are you putting in a clause that I can’t play against you? So it shows you that move was nothing about football. That was about control, controlling the dressing room.”

As well as Leeds and Southampton, Palmer also enjoyed top-flight spells with Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest and Coventry City.

Present day, it has been contrasting seasons for two of Palmer’s former clubs Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday. While the Whites have impressed in the Premier League this term under Marcelo Bielsa, the Owls have been extremely disappointing in the Championship.

Graham Roberts has told Football FanCast that Daniel Levy was left with no other option but to sack Jose Mourinho because of the bizarre team selections he made, and the way he upset so many players, including Steven Bergwijn.

The Netherlands international was signed from PSV Eindhoven in January of 2020 and made an instant impact, as he scored on his debut against Manchester City.

However, the 23-year-old was in and out of the team in the final weeks of Mourinho’s reign, sparking confusion from the ex-Spurs captain.

Bergwijn played in five successive games between January and February but was then suddenly dropped and has played just 24 minutes since, in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

He has been on the bench twice but other than that, the £22.5m-rated ace, per Transfermarkt, had not been included in the squad leading up to Mourinho’s departure.

Roberts thinks that decisions such as this from Mourinho alienated squad members, and ultimately left Levy with no other alternative but to pull the trigger.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, he said: “If you look at it, starting off the season, you had Bergwijn in the team. But Bergwijn’s not even on the bench now.

“So what’s happened there?

“I think you just start to upset that many players, that I don’t think the chairman had any option but to sack him.”

Former Glasgow Rangers manager Alex McLeish believes Ianis Hagi is unhappy at Ibrox due to his lack of playing time.

McLeish makes Hagi claim

Hagi has been in and out of Gerrard’s starting line-up so far this campaign. He has made 42 appearances in all competitions this term, of which 33 have been starts – the Gers have been involved in a total of 52 matches throughout the season (Transfermarkt).

Speaking to Ibrox News, McLeish believes the £5.4m-valued Romania international (Transfermarkt) will be upset. He said:

“He’s played cameo roles for most of the season. There were doubts about him at Genk, they thought he was just ok, but he’s a young lad.

“For a young player like that, I would say that a lot of the games he has contributed more in than at the beginning which shows his improvements. He’ll probably be upset that he’s not started that much or played.

“Steven has obviously got a game plan, and he is a little reluctant to disrupt that too much.”

More expected

This campaign has been far from a total disappointment for the former Genk man. He has managed seven goals and 12 assists in the matches in which he has played, and his performances have contributed to the Gers winning the Premiership title.

Having said that, he will most likely have expected to be a crucial player for the 55-time Scottish champions, and that has not really been the case. He has also come in for criticism from the club’s supporters, which will not have done his confidence any favours. He has been linked with a move to Lazio (Sport.ro), and that may well be on the back of his mind.

Hagi, though, still has plenty to offer. He is just 22 years of age, and there have been plenty of signs of his talent. If both he and Steven Gerrard can remain patient, the youngster could have a fantastic career at Ibrox.

In other news, Rangers are favourites to sign this striker.

Frank McAvennie has exclusively told Football FanCast that West Ham captain Mark Noble would be “annoyed” if David Moyes ever opts to pick a youngster instead of him while Declan Rice is out.

The Hammers have one of the most settled midfield partnerships in the Premier League in Rice and Tomas Soucek, but the former has been ruled out for around four weeks with a knee problem sustained on international duty.

Prior to West Ham’s game with Wolves last week, the pair had played every minute in the Premier League season, with that run finally coming to an end at Molineux.

Mark Noble was the obvious choice to replace Rice, with 21-year-old Conor Coventry, who was an unused substitute for the recent defeat to Manchester United, their only other senior recognised central midfielder in the squad following the summer departures of both Carlos Sanchez and Jack Wilshere.

But McAvennie told Football FanCast that playing a youngster ahead of Noble wouldn’t sit well with the Hammers skipper:

“Nobes would be annoyed at him because you automatically want to get in.

“Sometimes you say ‘right Nobes, you go and sit in in front of the centre-halves and don’t let them get in’. But it’s so defensive. Because it’s so good to watch West Ham at the moment because they’re so quick and lively.

“They’ve got players there, it’s how they do it. Do they bring Nobes in or bring a youngster in and play the same way, that’s why David Moyes is given the big bucks. I know for a fact that Noble will want to play, but whether he can or not I don’t know.”

A number of Liverpool fans have been left frustrated by James Pearce’s update regarding the Reds’ summer transfer business at centre-back.

Jurgen Klopp’s side returned to winning ways against Southampton on Saturday evening, securing a vital 2-0 win at Anfield. It was a must-win game in the Premier League top four battle as Liverpool made the most of Leicester City’s shock 4-2 defeat at home to Newcastle United 24 hours previously.

[freshpress-quiz id=“355458″]

The Reds may have kept a clean sheet at Anfield, but they had a patched-up defence including Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams, highlighting the issues they have had at centre-back this season. Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are all long-term absentees, and Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies have also joined them on the treatment table in recent days.

It is vital that at least one new central defender comes in this summer, but in an ideal world, bringing in another wouldn’t go amiss.

Speaking in a post-match Q&A for The Athletic, however, Pearce revealed that he only expects the one central defender to arrive before the start of next season, saying: “I was told it’s likely that only one CB will be signed permanently this summer.”

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/all-the-latest-liverpool-news/” title=”All the latest Liverpool news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Liverpool fans fume at Pearce’s update

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to reveal their annoyance at the transfer update from Pearce.

“If you are making the same mistake again, you aren’t learning”

Credit: @svkShailendra

“FSG OUTTTTTTTT!!!!!”

Credit: @JoelYNWA8

“It would be an absolute joke if Kabak isn’t made permanent. The guy’s been absolute class since he arrived”

Credit: @Strictly_Scouse

“Does that mean Konate and no Kabak? Because if it is so then FSG are a disgrace”

Credit: @Thiago_vision

“This better be wrong. Kabak deserves the contract”

Credit: @_euanito

“Another bad season ahead”

Credit: @medguen

In other news, one journalist has dropped a double Liverpool contract update. Read more on the story here.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Wolves striker Steve Bull has heaped praise on Rui Patricio, hailing the Portugal international as a great goalkeeper.

Patricio, who joined Wolves from Sporting Lisbon back in 2018, has made himself the team’s No.1, rarely disappointing manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

Last season, the 33-year-old kept 13 clean sheets in the Premier League, helping the Midlands club to build a solid foundation from the back.

Bearing that in mind, Wolves will be desperate to have Patricio available after the international break, with the ex-Sporting Lisbon shot-stopper picking up a horrific head injury in the recent 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Discussing Patricio in an exclusive interview with FFC, Bull said:

“He’s a great goalkeeper. A Portuguese international goalkeeper coming to Wolves, that’s class and just shows the ambition. And when you see him, he’s like a cat flying left, right and centre.

“He’s a big pillar as well, he’s demanding in the box, he knows what he wants. He was unfortunate [against Liverpool] because he was being brave to try and get the ball, which you want a ‘keeper to do. He’s a world-class goalkeeper and I’m glad Wolves have got him.”

Last season, Wolves recorded one of the best defensive records in the Premier League as they went on to finish seventh in English football’s top division. Across the 38 games played that term, Nuno’s men conceded 40 goals, with the Portugal No.1 playing his part.

Should he recover in time, next up for Patricio is a tough game against in-form West Ham. David Moyes has the Hammers flying high this term, guiding them to fifth place and just two points behind Chelsea and that final Champions League spot.

According to reports, Leeds are still interested in Reading’s Michael Olise ahead of the summer transfer window.

What’s the story?

Reports back in January suggested that Marcelo Bielsa’s side were very much interested in bringing the 19-year-old to the Premier League, and now Football Insider have delivered a major update on the situation.

The report claims that the Whites are still closely monitoring Olise, but are facing strong competition from a number of Premier League clubs, including the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool.

Game-changer for Bielsa

With five goals and ten assists, Olise has been an absolute revelation in the Championship for Reading this season, and it’s no surprise that so many of the Premier League’s biggest clubs are keen on seeing him play at a higher level.

His teammate at Reading, Sam Baldock, said early last year: “Michael is a real talent, he’ll get on the ball in any situation. He’s fearless, if you ask him today I’ll guarantee that he had no nerves. He’s a lively character and one who I’ve noticed a real change in the last couple of months.”

Hailed as “super talented” by Reading boss Veljko Paunović, the 19-year-old has already earned rave reviews for his ability, with his former manager at the Royals, Jose Gomes, adding: “Michael is really special. He can see, even before receiving the ball, more options than regular players. His technical ability and speed, decision capacity is really, really good.”

His tally of ten assists is significantly higher than anything that any of Leeds’ players have produced this season, and given his ability to play as a number ten or even out wide, could be a real game-changer for Bielsa.

Not only would he offer support for the likes of Raphinha and Jack Harrison, but he could really give Rodrigo a run for his money for that attacking midfield role.

As those who know him well have attested to, Olise has got that ability to take players on and create a moment of magic. And that’s exactly the kind of match-winning quality Bielsa would surely love to have in his side.

Meanwhile, Bielsa should unleash this Leeds starlet next season…

Liverpool could make a major transfer error in the summer, with right-back Neco Williams being linked with a departure to Southampton.

According to The Athletic, the Saints hold a long-standing interest in the 19-year-old and could make a swoop on a loan-to-buy deal.

Whilst Liverpool could rake in a fair amount for the youngster with him being rated at £9m, it would be a mistake for Michael Edwards to let him go so soon.

Williams, a nine-time Welsh international, has certainly displayed his promise after progressing through the Reds’ youth system.

He has now made 24 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, turning in some extremely competent displays on the right side of defence.

It would certainly seem bizarre for the Reds to cut him adrift so soon considering that he is finally finding a route into the first-team under Jurgen Klopp.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-news%2c-transfer-rumours-and-more” title=”Latest Liverpool news, transfer rumours and more…”]

Any potential deal would look even more of a mistake considering the faith put into the defender by the Anfield hierarchy and of course the German. As recently as August 2020, he put pen to paper on a brand-new five-year deal at the club, with the player himself going on to suggest that there was “no better place” for him to play football.

To then sell the youngster having committed him to a new contract would be a huge error from the Reds.

It would also be baffling to see Williams sold considering the current right-back options available to the Klopp at Anfield.

Fellow academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold is the undisputed first-choice in that position, with Williams providing back-up as the only other natural right-sided defender in the squad.

Should the former suffer with injuries or poor form at some point in the future then that would see Williams promoted to first-choice so it would be remarkable to see the youngster jettisoned.

Despite Southampton’s interest, Liverpool then should not put any deal under any real consideration. It would be an unforgivable howler from Edwards to once again leave the Reds short of genuine cover in a key position, and it would have Klopp absolutely fuming.

AND in more news, the Reds might have found their perfect Georginio Wijnaldum replacement…

A number of Liverpool fans have been reacting to Patson Daka’s record-breaking hat-trick at the weekend, urging the Reds to sign him this summer.

The RB Salzburg striker was on fire on Sunday, inspiring his side to a 3-1 victory at home to Sturm Graz. Incredibly, Daka had already scored a hat-trick with just 11 minutes on the clock, registering an eight-minute treble – the fastest in the history of the Austrian Bundesliga.

It means the Zambia international has now scored 64 goals in 115 appearances for Salzburg, also chipping in with 23 assists for good measure.

Liverpool have been linked with a summer move for Daka, with Jurgen Klopp potentially seeing him as ideal backup to the Reds’ first-choice attackers.

At just 22, he would represent not only an immediate squad option, but also a long-term addition who could eventually take over as a star man at Anfield once the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino drift past their peak.

His hat-trick was further proof of his pedigree and he should only improve even further as the years pass.

Liverpool fans call for Reds to sign Daka

These Liverpool supporters on Twitter provided their thoughts on Daka’s “amazing” feat, urging the Reds to make a move for him this summer.

“He has an amazing work attitude. He would be a major asset for Liverpool”

Credit: @MinistryOfPeac3

“Sounds like an FSG kinda deal”

Credit: @Reza_Gasant

“Yes please. Get him now before he ends up at Dortmund going for £90M in a years time”

Credit: @MritalkApple123

“I could get behind Patson Daka to Liverpool”
Credit: @abowling4ua

“Do it”
Credit: @CalvLyfeson

“Sign him”
Credit: @SerikiDaniel

In other news, one Liverpool player’s performance against Arsenal was criticised by some supporters. Read more here.