Tottenham Hotspur winger Lucas Moura produced an impressive display and picked up two assists in his side’s 6-1 FA Cup fifth round replay win over Rochdale at Wembley on Wednesday night, and Spurs fans are all making the same shock claim that the Brazilian should start over Dele Alli at home to Huddersfield Town on Saturday.
With Alli, Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen on the substitutes’ bench, it gave the likes of Lucas, Erik Lamela and Fernando Llorente an opportunity to impress against the League One strugglers, and they didn’t disappoint.
The January signing from Paris Saint-Germain has scored once and provided two assists in two starts and two substitute appearances for the north London outfit so far, and the Wembley faithful are seemingly keen for him to make the XI ahead of Alli against the Terriers.
That is despite the fact that the 21-year-old was one of their most important players last season and has five goals and eight assists in 27 Premier League outings this term – although he has none of either in his previous five top flight appearances.
Tottenham supporters have been quick to have their say on the duo via social media, and while one said “tonight’s game showed why Lucas Moura should start ahead of Dele Alli”, another said they ‘would seriously consider leaving Alli on the bench against Huddersfield and have Son and Lucas on the wings’.
Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
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The opening game in Group D tonight was suggested by many as the game that would give us an indication as to which team would finish top. If that is to be the case, then it will make pleasant reading for Borussia Dortmund after they comfortably overcame an Arsenal side lacking ideas, desire and defenders.
Arsenal missing Olivier Giroud
Often a figure of ridicule, however, Arsenal fans would’ve loved to have seen their injured Frenchman leading the line tonight. The jury is still out on Deadline Day signing Danny Welbeck and, after that performance, the former Manchester United striker won’t be keeping Oli G out once he returns from the sidelines.
Mesut Ozil needs to be dropped
When you’re a club’s record signing, the pressure to deliver is greater than anything they will have experienced before.
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Since his arrival from Real Madrid, Ozil has been on the decline which has brought out the critics in full force.
Maybe a few games on the bench will help the German international recharge his batteries and rediscover his devastating form?
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini claimed that his side’s 3-2 Premier League defeat to Manchester United was undeserved.
The Sky Blues went behind to a last minute Robin van Persie free-kick after fighting back from a 2-0 deficit.
Mancini felt his team’s efforts over the 90 minutes deserved a share of the points:
“For 20 minutes they didn’t touch the ball and the first chance they got, they scored a goal,” The Italian told SkySports after the game.
“We recovered very well and we dominated the second half.
“We wanted to win the game and we had chances.”
Despite the relatively early stage of the season, speculation had been rife in to the build up to the game that the winners would have a clear advantage in the title battle.
The Red Devils moved six points clear of their rivals at the top of the table, but Mancini feels that the fight is far from over:
“We have showed we are a really strong team and we can win this title again. We can’t win always.
“There is a moment when you lose at home and it happened today. But the season is a long one.
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“We won the league with the last touch of the ball last year. But we didn’t deserve to lose this game. We played very well.”
Wayne Rooney struck twice to give United a 2-0 lead, before goals from Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta levelled.
Van Persie provided the winner as his deflected free-kick evaded Joe Hart.
Liverpool fans are absolutely crucifying Lyon owner Jean-Michel Aulas after the 69 year-old contradicted himself, and they have a feeling the Nabil Fekir saga is not over yet.
Not too long ago, Lyon’s Fekir looked all set to become Jürgen Klopp’s second big money signing of the summer.
A midfield trio of Fabinho, Naby Keita and Fekir would be quite the transformation from the Reds, and fans were getting excited about their new look team.
The deal for the young Frenchman fell through just before the World Cup though, and after weeks of speculation about what happened, Aulas has finally had his say on the saga… and we’re still none the wiser.
“I am not in discussions with Liverpool anymore,’ Aulas said.
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“Nabil was supposed to join Liverpool, I gave the green light. It didn’t happen because things went on too long.
“I have always listened to what players want, because in terms of relationship for me they are very much my children, my sons.”
Many fans suspected the deal died because of a medical issue, so Aulas’s comments that the deal “went on too long” are confusing to say the least.
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After seemingly ending any hope of a move though, the Frenchman went on to say “nothing is ever dead in the footballing world,” and fans are now confident a deal is still on the table.
You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…
Liverpool are among five clubs that have table offers for Real Madrid attacking midfielder Marco Asensio, according to Diario Gol.
What’s the word?
The 22-year-old is believed to have attracted plenty of interest due to his impressive performances this season.
Even though the midfielder is not a regular starter in Zinedine Zidane’s side, he has still managed to score 10 goals and create five assists in 35 appearances in all competitions.
According to Diario Gol, Liverpool have made their interest known, while Chelsea, Arsenal, Juventus and Bayern Munich have also tabled offers.
The Spanish publication adds that Asensio is frustrated by the fact that he is lower in the pecking order and is prepared to leave the Bernabeu if Zidane remains in charge.
Would he fit in at Liverpool?
The Merseyside outfit are yet to bring in a replacement for Philippe Coutinho, who moved to Barcelona in the January transfer window.
Asensio would certainly be a welcome addition to the squad if the Reds were to get a deal over the line.
The Spaniard can play in a variety of attacking positions, including the left of midfield, the centre, or further forward.
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Jurgen Klopp’s style of play would certainly suit Asensio, and even though the team have other areas of the pitch that they could do with strengthening first, the attacking player would boost the current trio of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
The problem that Liverpool face is competition for his signature as it appears that a number of big-name clubs are interested in luring him away from the Bernabeu.
Sitting atop the Conference League table on 15 points with 16 goals scored and just 2 conceded, Barnet are back stronger than ever.
It’s early days and of course throughout the season there will be obstacles, but fans should be buzzing around The Hives Stadium at the moment with optimism.
Kicking off the new campaign with a thumping 5-0 away victory Barnet have been impressive to say the least.
Here are five reasons I believe the Bees are better equipped this season than ever to return to the Football League.
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Five Clean Sheets Already
Behind the rotation of goalkeepers too many cheap goals were conceded at The Hive Stadium and on the road last campaign. If Barnet are to earn a promotion this season the goalkeeper is key and Graham Stack has been in great form thus far.Bringing the experienced goalkeeper back into goal for all the games so far has helped maintain the balance in what was a leaky defence last season.
Regaining the number 1 jersey from former coach Edgar Davids looks to have also motivated the Irishman. Managing to keep Stack fit will be one of the most important things Barnet need to do this season. He saved numerous points for the team last term so to keep him in at the number 1 spot and less time out injured will surely gain the Bees promotion.
A More Mature, Consistent Squad
When Barnet were relegated from League Two the youthful squad failed to help them bounce back with promotion. The team was in need of a leader but it didn’t seem there were many players being vocal in the dressing room. Too many games were lost through a simple lack of concentration.
This season has seen a number of transfers in and out of the squad balancing a healthy range of ages throughout the squad. A new level of maturity can be seen throughout the squad. As harsh as it seems 22 year old Harry Crawford needed to move on with a lack of consistency in front of goal, the new look Barnet has opted for a necessary experience over youth this term.
Fire Power Upfront
Last season Barnet’s top scorer wasn’t Harry Crawford or Jake Hyde but midfielder Keanu Marsh-Brown. Knowing that information the Bees knew that they would need to be in the market for a new striker. They signed two and they’ve managed to strike a prolific partnership already.
New boy’s Lee Cook and Charlie MacDonald have been outstanding accounting for 10 of the 16 goals so far this campaign. In their early 30s, both have been around the block sharing invaluable experience playing at the top levels. To bounce back at the second time of asking these two will prove vital.
No more over-reliance on Edgar Davids
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When Edgar Davids joined Barnet Football Club it shocked everyone. His decision to join his ‘local’ club was a big statement and should have led to a lot more but ultimately didn’t go as planned. The Dutchman became player-manager but left earlier in the year in January.
What should have propelled Barnet to League One football with the leadership of one of football’s greatest players seemed to do more damage than good. As great as it seems sometimes having a legend among the staff can be overwhelming which was definitely the case for Barnet last season. Not forgetting the ‘trend’ the Dutch midfielder set by claiming the number 1 jersey as an outfield player.
Martin Allen, again!
Lastly, which looks to be a part of Barnet Football Club culture is the reintroduction of manager Martin Allen. It’s like every other season Allen is back managing Barnet. A man who is very familiar with most players and the club set up itself.
Having his familiar face around the club will do the Bees a world of good plus he knows his way around the Football League. With previous experience of guiding Barnet to safety in past seasons he will only prove to be a timely boost for the club. That’s hoping he doesn’t leave any time soon.
It hasn’t exactly been a dream start for Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool as he attempts to wake the sleeping giant and return them to the top of English football. The reds mixed results have highlighted Liverpool’s lack of firepower and Rodgers’ need to improve the squad if he wants his side to finish anywhere near the top seven this year.
So who is Rodgers’ top target that is going to turn around the fortunes at Anfield? Is it super strikers Demba Ba and Klaas Jan Huntelaar or flying wingers Theo Walcott and Dries Mertens?
No. In fact Rodgers is setting his priorities on a 3rd choice goalkeeper from the Championship.
Former Swansea goalkeeper and current Wolves number 3 Dorus de Vries is the man that Brendan Rodgers is after in January as he believes the Dutchman could be just as valuable to the squad (link).
Rodgers’ advances in the summer were both turned down by Wolves but now it seems the Liverpool manager is more intent than ever to link up with his former number 1 both at Chelsea and Swansea.
The Dutchman has failed to make an impact between the sticks at Wolves and now with his recent falling out with manager Stale Solbakken he could well be on his way out of Molyneux.
Rodgers will be hoping he can take De Vries to Anfield in January as he sees him as genuine competition for Pepe Reina and he is a goalkeeper that already understands the managers philosophies and style.
De Vries is certainly competent enough to play in the Premier League and is well drilled in acting as a makeshift sweeper, but surely this signing is not the priority for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool.
The Dutchman may add a little more stability and comfort to Liverpool’s defence when they are on the ball but realistically Liverpool should be sorting out some other areas of the team before the goalkeeping situation. Rodgers should be focusing on finding a new goalscorer or a player that is going to improve the reds options going forward, not trying to sign a goalkeeper that can’t even get a game in the Championship.
The Liverpool manager really needs to improve his record in the transfer market, especially after the Andy Carroll and Clint Dempsey situation, and signing fringe player like Dorus de Vries is only likely to get some Liverpool fans foaming with fury.
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In one way you can see why Rodgers wants to reunite with De Vries as he is a former student and advocate of his style, but surely there are more pressing matters for the Liverpool manager to contend with and he should address those problems first before it is too late.
Manchester City expect to sign Napoli’s Italian international midfielder Jorginho by the end of the week, according to Sky Sports.
What’s the latest, then?
Sky Sports report that City’s long-running pursuit of the Napoli man is set to come to a conclusion before the end of the week.
They claim that while a medical is yet to be arranged, a £46.5m deal will be concluded as soon as the final details, which include the payment of a five per cent sell-on fee to Jorginho’s old club Verona, are ironed out.
They also report that Jorginho has concluded his family holiday and is ready to jet to Manchester to have a medical as soon as the agreement is finalised.
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City are already streets ahead
It was a procession for Manchester City in the title race last season and even without any additions, it would be tough to bet against Pep Guardiola’s men clinching glory at a canter this time around as well.
The Spaniard has his pick of Europe’s players in some ways, because the prospect of joining his revolution is so appealing and the arrival of another technical maestro, to replace the disruptive and ageing Yaya Toure will only make them even tougher to beat.
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Guardiola’s recruitment at City has been immaculate so it is tough to picture Jorginho being anything other than a perfect fit.
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Andrea Radrizzani took full control of Leeds United in May last year, and the news was met with widespread joy from the club’s following due to the tumultuous period under Massimo Cellino’s rule.
Since then, the Italian businessman has tried to keep up-to-date with the fans’ needs and he often interacts with the supporters on Twitter.
This week, the Yorkshire club gathered Radrizzani, managing director Angus Kinnear and director of football Victor Orta for a Q&A session with the fans via Twitter.
The supporters were asked to send in their questions to the trio, using the hashtag #ASKLUFC.
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More often that not, football fans make a mockery of online Q&As by posing tongue-in-cheek questions, but on this occasion, Leeds fans had a few serious things on their minds.
The club’s winless run came to an end on Saturday as they earned a 1-0 victory over Brentford – the club’s first league triumph since Boxing Day.
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As it stands, the Whites are 11th in the table, five points adrift of the playoff places.
The player in question galloping forward, brushing off their opponents with a single stride, leaving them behind as if they were a childhood memory best forgotten, and then either rounding the keeper before sliding the ball home or executing the perfect finish past a helpless keeper.
They are a rarity but, when they come along, they are wonderful to watch. Seeing Gareth Bale out sprint Barcelona’s Marc Bartra from inside his own half before scoring the winner for Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final a few months ago was a thing of pure beauty.
But was it the best? Not a chance. Well, you could argue that they’re all the best in their own right. But here’s FIVE I’d say top it.
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New Brazilian BBQ Steak Flavour! In stores now!
Neymar vs. Flamengo (2011)
This makes the list purely for the bit of skill he uses to beat the last defender, which earned this goal the FIFA Puskas Award in 2011.
The Brazilian played a one-two with his teammate before collecting the ball about 30 yards from goal at pace, did something ridiculous with his feet to knock the ball past the defender, and then poked home past the goalkeeper.
He may not have ran almost the entire pitch, but the tekkers he uses makes it a wonderful addition to the list.
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Michael Owen vs. Argentina (1998)
Many England fans questioned whether it was right to take an inexperienced 18-year-old in Michael Owen to the World Cup in France.
But he put all the doubters in their place with one of England’s greatest ever goals at a major tournament.
With a second-round tie with rivals Argentina locked at 1-1, Owen collected the ball on the half-way line and started running, mazing in and out of the Argentina defence before smashing past keeper Carlos Roa.
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Ryan Giggs vs. Arsenal (1999)
With the scores level at 1-1 in this FA Cup semi-final replay, everyone watching was expecting the game to go to penalties.
But when Ryan Giggs collected a misplaced pass in the 109th minute, that all changed with a mazy run, emphatic finish and a ridiculously hairy chest.
United went on to win the treble that year to make history, but memories of his shirt swinging, bare-chested celebration will no doubt live longer in the memories of those lucky enough to be there.
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Lionel Messi vs. Getafe (2011)
You can’t have a list like this without Messi’s name being mentioned. The solo goal is almost a trademark of his record-breaking career.
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But it is the one against Getafe in 2011 that had fans talking the most, and even had supporters across the world comparing him to Argentine legend Diego Maradona.
You don’t get much better than this, particularly with him starting in his own area and having to hold off two brutal opponents before beginning his goal-bound onslaught.
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Diego Maradona vs. England (1986)
He will always be remembered for the ‘Hand of God’ goal against the Three Lions, but he did produce the ‘Goal of the Century’ in the same game.
He picked up the ball well inside his own half, did a cheeky little turn to throw three England players off the scent, and then he was off.
He may have cheated England out of a World Cup semi-final in Mexico, but this goal was worthy of winning any match.