According to the reliable @ExWHUemployee on the latest episode of The West Ham Way radio show, West Ham United have made Jonjo Shelvey their top midfield target during the January transfer window, and Irons fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.Hammers boss David Moyes is keen to bring in a new central midfielder this month after former boss Slaven Bilic failed to get Sporting Lisbon’s William Carvalho during the summer, and Shelvey is rumoured to be his priority target.The likes of Pedro Obiang and Cheikhou Kouyate have struggled for form this season, but the same could also be said about the Magpies midfielder, who has been sent off twice already this term.West Ham supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the potential addition of the 25-year-old, and while one said ‘I rate Shelvey more than N’Zonzi’ after the Sevilla man had been linked previously, another said he would be an “awful signing”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
The FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) 2014 kicks off today, with the tournament set to come closer to the FIFA World Cup™ than ever before. The FIWC is now open to millions of competitors from all over the world who will be battling to secure one of 20 coveted places in the Grand Final of the event, which will be hosted in Rio de Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ by FIFA and Presenting Partners EA SPORTS™ and PlayStation®.
This will be the first time ever that the FIWC Grand Final has taken place in the Host Nation of the FIFA World Cup, adding an extra incentive for the eventual winner to be crowned world champion in the same country as the world’s best team in July 2014.
A ceremonial first game of the FIWC 14 tournament was played yesterday at the Maracana by Brazilian FIWC champion Andre Buffo, a past Grand Finalist, and 2014 FIFA World Cup Official Mascot Fuleco. FIFA World Cup Champion and 2014 FIFA World Cup LOC Board Member Ronaldo also sent a good-luck message to all FIWC competitors:
“To be crowned a FIFA World Champion is an incredibly special moment” said Ronaldo, who scored the winning goals in the Final of the 2002 FIFA World Cup™. “Usually this honour is limited to the very best professional football players. I think it’s fantastic that the FIFA Interactive World Cup makes that dream a possibility for football fans all over the world and I’m looking forward to experiencing the event next year in Rio”.
Last year’s edition of the tournament attracted more than 2.5 million competitors from across the globe, climaxing in Madrid where French star Bruce ‘the machine’ Grannec secured his World Champion title as well as 20,000 USD and the chance to meet the world’s greatest football players as a special guest at the FIFA Ballon d’Or in January.
Qualification for this year’s event will take place over six separate 1-month-long seasons. In keeping with the tradition of previous editions, the top two online players from each season will qualify for the Grand Final. Additionally, for the first time in FIWC history, a third ‘best-placed’ qualification spot will be handed out every season to the player deemed the winner of the Community Qualifier. This new online format ensures that the FIWC Grand Final is more accessible than ever before and emphasizes quality of online games over quantity. FIWC Players are awarded a win/lose ratio based on a minimum of 30 games played over an online season. The player with the best win/lose ratio at the end of a season wins the Community Qualifier seat.
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In addition to the 20 Grand Final participants, FIFA and PlayStation will also be offering other competitors the opportunity to travel to Brazil, experience the FIWC Grand Final and watch one of the FIFA World Cup™ matches live in the stadium. For more information on the FIWC and to become part of the FIWC community please visit www.fifa.com/fiwc andwww.facebook.com/fiwc or follow the event on Twitter @FIWC.
According to The Telegraph, it was evident during Stoke City’s 2-2 draw at Wigan Athletic on Saturday that the introduction of Charlie Adam affected the way the Potters went about their game.
The Scottish international Adam replaced Andy Wilkinson in the 36th minute with Stoke 1-0 down in the match. The 26-year-old would have been keen to make a good impression after a disappointing season at Liverpool where he failed to make a real impact at Anfield at was surplus to requirements by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
Adam had said on Friday that he would adapt his technical style of play in order to suit Stoke’s direct style, “the club has been successful in the way that it has played in the last five years and the manager wanted to bring me in to add to the quality that he has. I’m not going to change the way Stoke play. I’m just another part of the jigsaw.”
This piece of the jigsaw appeared evident during the draw at the DW Stadium on Saturday. Adam was at the very core of all the set-pieces and of moments of innovation from Stoke City. Pulis feels that Adam will provide the creative spark that perhaps has been lacking from their play in recent seasons. The Stoke manager will also be hoping that Adam will bring the best out of 6 foot 7 striker Peter Crouch, who, with his aerial ability is the model target man in the Premier League.
Stoke have mustered just one league win in their previous 14 outings. The central midfield area is a position where Pulis has definitely looked to strengthen his squad. As well as signing Adam from Liverpool on transfer deadline day, the Potters also brought in Steven N’Zonzi from Blackburn Rovers and Maurice Edu from Rangers.
In addition, Pulis also signed American defender Geoff Cameron from Houston Dynamo, who is reportedly a long-throw specialist. In an attempt to overturn Stoke’s recent dismal run, the Stoke manager may arguably be looking for upgrades on players such as Glenn Whelan and Rory Delap.
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Adam began his career at Rangers where he never managed to break into the first-team. Subsequently, he had loan spells at Ross County and St. Mirren before coming to England to join Blackpool on loan. It was at the Seasiders where Adam enjoyed the happiest spell of his career, scoring arguably the greatest goal in a play-off final against Cardiff City in May 2010.
Adam almost made the perfect start for his new side, when in the dying embers of the game, a deflected free-kick forced Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi into making what many pundits are already arguing as a contender for save of the season. The Latics manager Roberto Martinez was full of praise for Al-Habsi’s crucial save, “We see him making those saves as something normal. And that’s the best compliment I can give him.”
James Chester played every minute of Aston Villa’s 2017-18 Championship campaign, which is some achievement.
The 29-year-old has really come into his own over the last couple of seasons, and is now widely recognised as one of the best centre-backs outside of the Premier League.
Chester will be hoping to help Villa gain promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs, with Steve Bruce’s side taking on Middlesbrough in the semi-finals.
The centre-back has worn the armband in the absence of John Terry this term, and he will be key to the team’s chances of winning a spot in next season’s Premier League.
If Villa fail to return to the top flight then they will surely face a battle to keep the former Manchester United youngster in this summer’s transfer window.
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The Villa supporters absolutely love the defender, and many have taken to social media to express their views on his form during the 2017-18 campaign.
A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:
Man United were forced to battle from 2-0 down at home to Burnley to draw 2-2 on Boxing Day, much to the delight of Man City fans all over the world.
While City enjoy a record winning streak and sitting comfortably at the top of the Premier League – currently 12 points clear of second-placed United – Jose Mourinho’s side are struggling for points having had to settle for 2-2 draws twice four days.
It means City can go a huge 15 points clear at the top of the league with a win against Newcastle on Wednesday night and would all but secure them a third Premier League crown.
It really has been a big shift in power in Manchester over the few years and Pep Guardiola’s City are setting a benchmark not many will be able to reach, regardless of how much money is spent on players.
City fans are enjoying the downfall of their once great rivals, as you can tell by the Twitter reaction below…
The scope to criticise the Gunners this summer is becoming so vast that even Tottenham fans are getting bored of the customary once-per-day Arsenal-bashing articles that circulate almost every mainstream newspaper and the World Wide Web.
We are now just a matter of days away from the midpoint of the summer transfer window, and the Arsenal management are yet to fulfill their mid-to-late season promises of serious revamping at the Emirates, as the North London outfit look to reassert themselves in the Premier League title race.
But I would pledge, and prove me wrong if you can, that no squad has ever won the domestic title in England after coming fourth place the year previous, without changing a single member of playing personnel, which is the current situation at the Emirates, assuming that Arsenal’s one purchase of the summer, Yaya Sanogo, brought in on a free transfer from Ligue 2 side Auxerre, very much the human epitome of the Gunners transfer policy for the last decade, will rise from complete obscurity to rock the English top flight with a 30 goal haul next season.
I have my doubts, as do the vast majority of the Arsenal faithful. The £70million transfer kitty, rumoured to exist according to Arsene Wenger, is most likely in a sweaty gymbag, gathering rust and cobwebs somewhere under a desk in the backrooms of the Emirates, and has certainly not been put to good use as of yet this summer, and holes in the first team, most namely up front, in defensive midfield, at the heart of defense and in goal, are yet to be filled.
The Gunners gaffer continues to bear the brunt of the vast majority of criticism thrown Arsenal’s way. Perhaps that’s the ultimate responsibility that comes with the monolithic style of Wenger’s management, but there is little doubt Chief executive and Wenger ally Ivan Gazidis deserves his fair share of the negative limelight.
The South African-born businessman took over from Keith Edelman on January 1st 2009, whilst his new role as Chief Executive also incorporated the former duties of Vice Chairman David Dein, and in that time, the Gunners have failed to finish a Premier League season with more than 75 points, or higher than 3rd. Of course, it would be wrong to suggest Gazidis is the ultimate cause of Arsenal’s recent malaise, considering the last time they bettered such a league standing was 2004, but he has headed up the club’s transfers for the last four years – an area where the Gunners have hardly excelled.
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And in that time period, we’ve seen Arsenal’s three biggest stars leave the club for unsatisfactory fees, only to be replaced by unworthy understudies. Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri left the Emirates in the same transfer window, to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively, for a combined total of £50million, and last summer, Robin van Persie jumped ship to Manchester United as he stalled over a new contract, for £20million, a miserly sum considering the Dutchman’s efficiency in front of goal, and proven record in the Premier League. All have gone on to claim titles and auxiliary silverware since leaving North London, whilst the Gunners management have replaced them with second-rate counterparts of a similar mould. Every Arsenal acquisition throughout Gazidis’ tenure as Chief Executive has left the club worse off than it was previously, and they now look further off the title race than ever.
Yet again this summer, the Arsenal executive has failed to deliver on explicit promises. In May, coincidentally before the Gunners season tickets – the most expensively priced in the English top flight – came on sale, Gazidis gave his annual rousing speech, giving his word to the Arsenal faithful that the club’s ambitions were not limited to Champions League qualification and as a result, the North London outfit would be spending big this summer.
But the business man has already let ample business opportunities pass him by over the last two months, most notably, his failed pursuit of Gonzalo Higuain. At this point, it’s hard to tell fact from fiction with the Argentine’s transfer saga, but it was only a few weeks ago when it was reported that the Gunners were discussing a £23million deal with Real Madrid, with the striker on his way to London for a medical. Now however, Higuain is on Napoli’s doorstep, with a £32million fee already agreed; it’s not the price Gazidis was looking for, but we’ll never know what could have happened had he been more pro-active, rather than dither and haggle with Los Blancos over whether their for-sale forward was worth £19million, £21million or £25million.
Meanwhile, long-term target David Villa opted for a switch to Atletico Madrid, for just £5million, French prodigy Clement Grenier has signed a new contract with Lyon, despite the Gunners launching a £6million bid earlier in the season, potential stop-gap solution Jeremy Toulalan has joined Monaco for a pittance, and we are yet to see any movement on a host of players previously linked with a move to the Emirates, including Marouane Fellaini, Julio Cesar and Ashley Williams.
Similarly, the slow pace of their hunt for Luis Suarez is becoming tedious. Gazidis has headed bids of £30million, £35million and £40million plus £1, to trigger possibly the most irrelevant contract clause of all time, despite it being common knowledge that Liverpool are reluctant to sell, especially to a divisional rival, and will only be convinced by offers that exceed £50million, with Edinson Cavani’s move to PSG being this summer’s benchmark. Reds owner John W Henry’s twitter response – “What do you think they’re smoking over there at the Emirates?” – was an incredibly fitting reply.
And despite the potential Suarez deal currently being the most pressing matter on Arsenal fans’ minds, the South African couldn’t be further away from his base in London, or Anfield, as he’s currently riding the tour bus with the Gunners roster as they continue their pre-season schedule in Japan. Say what you want about Manchester United’s failed attempts to sign Leighton Baines and Cesc Fabregas so far this summer, but at least Ed Woodward has returned to England in the hope of getting some serious business underway.
Perhaps it’s wrong of me to suggest that the entirety of Arsenal’s transfer woes, this summer and those previous until 2009, can be attributed to the club’s Chief Executive; Arsene Wenger’s spendophobia has undoubtedly played an integral role. But Gazidis’ biggest crime throughout his tenure is his inability to challenge the Frenchman, despite Arsenal’s continual stagnation.
Rather than insisting Wenger’s transfer policy, which is yet to spawn a single purchase that exceeds the £20million mark, is too far adrift from Arsenal’s domestic rivals, or inform the Gunners gaffer that the club are letting numerous transfer targets slip into the hands of other Premier League or European clubs, or even go against the Frenchman and dish out competitive salaries to the club’s biggest stars, Gazidis has disturbingly toed the line throughout, despite the duties of his job tacitly implying that he should be doing otherwise.
My humble opinion on Arsene Wenger is not too kind. The Frenchman’s arrogance and insistence on his own ethos of how Arsenal should be run and play their football has held the club back since their last title win a decade ago. But there is no doubt that those closest to him, those whose purpose it is to keep Wenger accountable, have equally failed, and the biggest area of disappointment at the Emirates has by far and large been the transfer department.
Recently, Ivan Gazidis stated the Gunners board needed fresh blood, as Chairman Peter Hill-Wood stepped down for health reasons. Club legend Tony Adams applied, but instead, the role went to 73 year old Sir Chips Keswick, who has been on the board since 2005. It sums up how the Arsenal Executive talks a good game, but is yet to follow through with his actions.
Arsene Wenger will take the ultimate responsibility for the mess at the Emirates, but there are other guilty parties too, and one of them is Ivan Gazidis.
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Should Ivan Gazidis receive a fairer share of the blame at Arsenal?
Martin Dubravka’s January move to Newcastle United did not exactly capture the attention of the club’s supporters.
Indeed, little was known about the 29-year-old ahead of his arrival at St James’ Park on transfer deadline day at the start of 2018.
Newcastle acquired his services on loan from Sparta Prague, and it did not take long for the stopper to make an impression, with his debut coming in the club’s 1-0 win over Manchester United on February 11.
Dubravka has continued to impress between the sticks for Newcastle, and kept another clean sheet against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
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There was one outstanding save from the Slovakia international against the Blues when he tipped an Olivier Giroud effort over the crossbar.
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Dubravka’s future is still unclear, although it is understood that Newcastle have the chance to make the loan move permanent this summer, and the club’s supporters are absolutely desperate for that to occur.
A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:
West Ham have a new boss, a new approach, a new formation and new players . Slaven Bilic is in the process of transforming Big Sam’s West Ham squad to his own, but he is still short in some areas.
The Croat is well known for utilising a 4-2-3-1 formation and in many of his games in charge of the Hammers this pre-season, it is a set up he has chosen to continue with.
It hasn’t always been successful, though, as the Hammers have drawn 3-3 and 0-0 with Peterborough and Charlton respectively, and have beaten League 2 Southend 3-2 .
Whilst pre-season results should be taken with a pinch of salt, it is clear there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to Bilic’s new style to get it up to scratch.
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And when you go through Bilic’s squad, he has already built the basis of a good 4-2-3-1 playing team. His defence and keeper are solid. Adrian is a quality Premier League stopper, and then in Angelo Ogbonna, Winston Reid, James Collins and James Tomkins he has four good centre-backs. Aaron Cresswell and Carl Jenkinson provide the perfect attacking full-backs for the formation, who can get up and down and give support to the attack.
Then in front of them he has good defensive midfielders in Cheikhou Kouyate, Mark Noble and new signing Pedro Obiang, who will all shield and control the game.
Then he has talented play maker Dimitri Payet, who will play in the no.10 role for the Hammers this season, then wide right or left he has Enner Valencia supporting main striker Diafra Sakho.
But there is one player missing, and that is a real quality out-and-out winger, someone like Kevin Mirrallas for example. Someone who can provide real pace, real width and some quality in the wide areas.
It already has been well documented that the Everton man could be bought this summer as he is in his final year of his contract at Goodison Park, and the Hammers have already reportedly put in bids for the winger.
He is valued at around £8m and a deal for the winger could certainly be done, considering that he has fallen down the pecking order on Merseyside, reportedly because of his frosty relationship with Toffees boss Roberto Martinez.
That’s largely down to the winger’s attitude, and when Mirallas stole penalty duties off Leighton Baines against team orders last season, which certainly did little to help the pair’s relationship. Especially as he went on to miss the subsequent spot kick.
Given that, and the fact he is in the final year of his contract, the Hammers could do a deal for Mirallas providing they match Everton’s valuation of the winger.
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The Belgian would be a great signing for the Hammers, too. He would add some pace on the wing, an added goal threat and would be someone capable of providing something different out wide. Mirallas is player who is a dangerous in dead ball situations, which the Hammers may be missing following Stewart Downing’s departure to Middlesbrough.
The Hammers need a winger and Mirallas is certainly the right man for them. He’s the right age, experienced in the Premier League and has the quality needed to improve Bilic’s new look side.
It was announced in the past fortnight that Arsenal could launch a bid to bring former Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas back to the Emirates. According to The Metro, the North London outfit have a £25million buy-back option, which could now be activated as speculation grows over the Spain international’s future at the Nou Camp, with Man United in particular sniffing around.
The midfielder may edge upon world-class, but he will be not enough alone to propel Arsenal back towards the Premier League title race, with solid additions required in all departments.
With that in mind, we look at the FIVE players from across Europe who could follow Cesc’s lead this summer and join up with the Gunners.
Click on Tim Krul to reveal the FIVE possible transfers to follow Cesc to Arsenal
Newcastle fans have been discussing a possible return to Tyneside for Andy Carroll, and most fans are in agreement they would not take the towering striker back.
According to reports, Andy Carroll has been sent home from West Ham training after a dispute with David Moyes, and the rumour mill is already churning out possible landing spots for the ex-Magpie.
Carroll has managed three league goals in just seven starts due to injuries this season, and the training ground bust-up could certainly mean the 29 year-old is on his way out of West Ham.
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Capped nine times by England, Carroll made 80 league appearances on Tyneside before moving to Liverpool in 2011, grabbing 31 league goals during that time.
Newcastle are having their own problems in the striking department, with none of Islam Slimani, Dwight Gayle or Joselu able to consistently find the net.
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The Magpies have been linked with a move for Hull City’s Abel Hernandez, but could Carroll be a better option?
Fans don’t seem to think so, thanks mainly to his injury record, and some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…