Rangers have been chasing Aberdeen all season and that chase is all coming to a head over the next few weeks. Still well adrift of the Dons, Rangers know their best chance of somehow hauling them in is only possible if they win both of the remaining fixtures against Derek McInnes’ side.
The first match-up comes on Sunday when the two sides face-off in a massive clash at Pittodrie. Aberdeen were the victors when they welcome the Gers up North earlier in the season and will fancy their chances of obtaining a positive result again. They’ve won their last five matches in all competitions, including a 7-0 thrashing of Dundee last Friday night.
That’s the form Pedro Caixinha’s team are up against in the Portuguese’s first taste of one of Scottish football’s regularly most anticipated games.
Where will this match be one and lost?
Here are the THREE big battles on the pitch that will decide the outcome of this one…
Adam Rooney vs Rob Kiernan
With Rob Kiernan rested for Rangers’ match against Kilmarnock, specifically for this game, Pedro Caixinha obviously sees their defensive set-up as a key part to gaining a result at Pittodrie.
Kiernan has had a difficult season for the Light Blues, not exactly endearing himself to supporters after a string of poor performances and defensive mistakes.
In Adam Rooney he faces a striker that his heading towards his third consecutive 20+ goal season at the Dons, a fantastic record that highlights his important to Derek McInnes’ side over the last few years. He’s due a goalscoring spree too, having scored just one goal in Aberdeen’s last six matches.
At home, backed by his supporters, he’ll fancy hitting the headlines again and if he can exploit the weaknesses of Kiernan, it could be a long day for the travelling support.
James Tavernier vs Niall McGinn
The debate on whether Rangers should play James Tavernier or Lee Hodson at right back rumbles on at Rangers but after illness ruled Hodson out of their last match, it’s a decision that may not have to be made.
Regardless, Tavernier would likely get the nod anyway, despite supporter’s concerned that he is not disciplined enough to be an effective defensive performer, especially against the better teams in the Scottish top-flight.
Up against Niall McGinn that will be important, given he is one of the most accomplished wingers in the country. Aberdeen are hoping to hold on to him beyond his contract expiration in the summer but with 13 goals so far this season, that may not be possible.
He has the ability to really punish Rangers, especially if Tavernier takes it on himself to commit to the final third. If his time is indeed limited at Pittodrie then he’ll be wanting to give everything in the final games of the season for the fans and it doesn’t get much sweeter for Dons supporters than a victory against Rangers at home.
Kenny McLean vs Emerson Hyndman
Emerson Hyndman has made quite the impact since joining Rangers on loan from Bournemouth this January. With four goals in twelve appearances, he’s rapidly made himself a hero with the Rangers support. Sunday represents his first trip to Pittodrie and all that entails but he has shown he can thrive in volatile atmospheres already and that shouldn’t phase him.
In Kenny McLean he’ll be pitted against a versatile midfielder who likes to express himself in the final third just like Hyndman. However, he also has the ability to impose himself on the game from deep and counteracting the threat of Hyndman will be key for the Dons midfield this weekend.
Whoever can dominate this midfield area will likely go on to inspire their team to a victory, the question is which midfielder with an eye for goal will it be?
When Ronald Koeman signed on the dotted line at Everton, he spoke of ambition as the main factor in his departure from Southampton. The implication was that the Merseysiders had plenty of it.
They have a strong squad targeting a place amongst English football’s elite places, whilst new stadium plans look more and more substantial. Everton seemed a good fit.
After the guts of a season in the job, things are looking up from where they were before Christmas, too. Stranded in the no-man’s land between the top six and the bottom 13, Everton could have gone one of two ways; but instead of joining the wretched masses on the teeming shore, the Toffees have clambered their way to the safe haven of the European spots.
And yet, if Everton really are ambitious, now is the time they have to prove it.
The new stadium move certainly shows some, but their ability to keep Romelu Lukaku and add more quality to make their team even stronger will show more about their desire to compete than the stadium will. Long-term financial stability isn’t the same as grabbing a sporting chance while you have it. This is arguably the best side the Toffees have had in quite some time, and building on the best platform to compete at the top they’ve had in decades is crucial. Wasting it would be criminal.
But there is a jarring gap between Everton’s ambition and the reality of the situation.
No one could accuse a team of lacking ambition for playing young players, and Tom Davies and Ademola Lookman seem like fabulous prospects whose development is being expertly managed by the Dutch coach. It’s also true that Everton’s side is, by and large, too old. Gareth Barry, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka are all in the twilight of their careers, and new blood is necessary. There is a nice mix of young talent, players in their prime like Schneiderlin and Ashley Williams, and the older heads mentioned above.
A look, though, at some of the recent transfer rumours emanating from Goodison is a little more worrying, though. At least on the superficial ambition front. Recent links to Chris Wood and Stuart Armstrong – arguably the stand-out players from the Championship and the Scottish Premiership so far this season – have come at the same sort of time as rumours of Romelu Lukaku’s departure.
Transfer rumours are just that, of course, rumours. They are often meaningless and rarely correct, but for a club who are supposedly trying to break the top six stranglehold on the Premier League and break into the big time, that doesn’t look good. Replacing Romelu Lukaku with Chris Wood, as prolific as he’s been for Leeds, is a massive step down.
And yet there’s something nice about the squad Koeman is creating. Like Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs, there would be no discernible stars in the side should Lukaku leave and be replaced by someone of a lesser stature – though surely not Chris Wood, replacing one of the strikers of a generation with an unproven Championship striker doesn’t seem right.
And if there is a desire to progress, a desire to be ambitious, then Everton may need to look beyond the squad strengthening signings, the young starlets and the sale of their best talent. Balance is crucial – but in an era of big spending and superstar managers, you wonder if it’s the best policy Everton could take.
Newcastle United’s quest for automatic promotion from the Championship could get a much-needed shot in the arm tonight as they host Leeds United at St. James’ Park.
Having struggled somewhat of late, the Magpies can maintain their 10-point advantage over Huddersfield Town in third place with a win over the Whites, though home form has been an issue for Rafa Benitez’ side.
Desperate just to see their beloved Toon Army over the line and in the Premier League next season, fans online have been praying the injury crisis to have dogged the Spaniard on Tyneside starts to clear up ahead of tonight.
Indeed, an interesting statistic in regards to one of the men forced to sit out of Newcastle’s recent games has emerged. Curiously enough, the Magpies are a much better team with right-back DeAndre Yedlin in the starting XI, losing out on 0.8 points PG without the searingly quick American in the ranks.
Following the news that he would be in contention for the game tonight, Newcastle fans have taken to Twitter to pray Yedlin is available for Leeds’ visit.
According to reports in the Northern Echo, Everton are confident of completing a £17m deal to sign Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford this summer.The highly-rated stopper is one of the players expected to leave the Stadium of Light at the end of the season after the Mackems’ relegation to the Championship was confirmed following their 1-0 home defeat to Sunderland last weekend.The 23-year-old has been one of the standout performers for David Moyes’ men in a difficult campaign, and he looks set to stay in the Premier League having impressed Toffees manager Ronald Koeman this term.Everton supporters were quick to have their say on the rumour via social media, and they were divided with their opinions with some believing he would be a good addition, but others far from convinced that the England international is the answer to their issues.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction to the story…
Chelsea will win the Premier League title with victory over West Brom on Friday night.The arrival of Antonio Conte this summer has completely revolutionised the Blues, who made a huge mess of their title defence last season by finishing 10th.This season, though, they’ve been superb under Conte and will be well deserved title winners if they’re able to get the job done at The Hawthorns.Some of their success can be credited to the summer signing of N’Golo Kante from Leicester City, who has been the midfield workhorse we all fell in love with last season.The France international is about to become the first player to win back-to-back Premier League titles with two different clubs this weekend and the good news is that he is expected to feature against West Brom after sitting out of the Blues’ 3-0 win over Middlesbrough on Monday night.Journalist and injury expert Ben Dinnery confirmed on Twitter today that Kante has indeed recovered from a minor hamstring problem while Antonio Conte has admitted there are no fresh injury concerns ahead of Friday’s night’s game..
It leaves Conte’s side with a clean bill of health as they bid to secure the double in the Italian’s first season in England.
It’s rather incredible to think that just four years ago, Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful manager in the history of English football, hand-picked David Moyes as his worthy successor at Old Trafford.
It’s also rather incredible to think that decision was largely backed by not only Manchester United fans but the wider Premier League audience and pundits alike. Moyes had shown a miraculous consistency in the top flight with limited resources at Everton and sharing Ferguson’s Scottish grit, he seemed like the natural heir to the throne.
But fast forward to present day and Moyes is unemployed, resigning as Sunderland manager yesterday after leading the Wearside club to 20th in the Premier League table and consequentially relegation to the Championship for 2017/18 – finishing a staggering 16 points away from safety.
In the hyperbolic world of the Premier League, Moyes will inevitably be branded a failure, past it and tactically primitive – the labels that accompany practically every British manager when they leave a club on unsatisfactory terms – such has been the spectacular velocity of his sudden decline.
Yet, Moyes proved he’s a talented manager during his decade at Everton and although the beautiful game moves forward at a relentless pace, it really hasn’t changed that much in the last four years. In any case, Moyes has remained highly involved throughout that time, so it’s clearly not a matter of him being somehow left behind.
More than ability, career decisions have cost Moyes dearly, transforming him from arguably the Premier League’s most in-demand manager ahead of summer 2013 to the jobless mastermind behind a staggeringly apathetic relegation four years later. Moyes’ last three appointments have all proved disastrous, but that’s as much a consequence of his inability to pick the right jobs than his failings as a manager.
Football – Manchester United v Everton – Barclays Premier League – Old Trafford – 12/13 – 10/2/13 Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson looks at his watch as Everton manager David Moyes looks on Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Ple
Take his torrid spell at Old Trafford, for instance. On the one hand, few managers in world football – let alone one who’d qualified for the Champions League just once previously and never actually won a trophy – could have turned down Manchester United in 2013, when they were still near the summit of their powers. He was inheriting proven Premier League champions, a squad with an abundance of experience and a club in strong health. Furthermore, Ferguson had requested him directly.
On the other, however, Ferguson was an impossible act to follow, especially for a manager treading new ground and without the help of retiring chief executive David Gill. Seven months later, after attracting only two of his own signings to Old Trafford, both of which were bought somewhat reluctantly, Moyes was relieved of his duties. Perhaps a shrewder careerist would have bravely waited, opting to be the successor’s successor. Then again, even that role has proved tough for Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, two of the best managers of their respective generations.
Seeking sun and shade from the media spotlight, Moyes went to La Liga to lick his wounds, taking over Real Sociedad. But it’s hard to think of a tougher place to relaunch your career than in a new league and a new country at a club that had just sold their talismanic entity, a certain Antoine Griezmann, to a La Liga rival. The odds were stacked against Moyes and he lasted just a calendar year.
Looking back, it’s clear the Scot rushed into the decision. British managers have rarely made an impact abroad since the turn of the millennium and the move came just six months after his dismissal at Old Trafford – a significant spell out of the game, yet probably not long enough considering Moyes’ next job after leaving United would always be the most important of his career.
Whilst it would be unfair to criticise Moyes for accepting a difficult challenge, it was also naive to add the extra dimension of cultural barriers to a job that would confirm or disprove the negative opinions created from his nightmare spell at United. He attempted to implement a Premier League philosophy at Anoeta and failed spectacularly, winning less than 29% of his 42 games in charge.
And thus, after nearly a whole season unemployed, Moyes was sucked into the Sunderland job under equally unaccommodating circumstances. He inherited a squad that had relied upon shock therapy and miracles to cling onto their Premier League status for four consecutive seasons and arrived with just a month of the summer transfer window remaining as Sam Allardyce answered the call from England.
Once again, the Scot put himself under uniquely testing stipulations, further added to by Ellis Short’s ambitions to sell the club. Moyes was allowed a net spend of just £13million yet was asked to pull off another miracle on Wearside with Sunderland’s weakest squad since their promotion to the top flight in summer 2007. It proved too much for him.
Not every Sunderland fan has been pleased with Moyes’ performance, essentially writing off his squad just a matter of weeks into the season as he made the self-fulfilling prediction of a tough relegation battle. But once again, he chose a job where factors obviously outside of his control would inevitably work against him.
Britain Football Soccer – Sunderland v AFC Bournemouth – Premier League – Stadium of Light – 29/4/17 Sunderland manager David Moyes looks dejected Action Images via Reuters / Lee Smith Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further de
That’s not to exonerate Moyes of any blame for Sunderland’s season. For a manager with the fourth-most wins in Premier League history, you’d expect a more convincing resistance regardless of the level of quality at his disposal. Likewise, since looking lost in the headlights during his first press conference as Manchester United manager, Moyes has lacked that passionate aggression which made him such a feared force at Everton and such a natural candidate to succeed Ferguson. He used to always have fire in his eyes and a ferocious tongue ready to lash – that can’t be said of his last three tenures.
Yet, there is still a talented manager in there somewhere, the same talented manager who took Everton from the peripheries of relegation battles to a regular spot in the top six, and he’s been around so long it’s often forgotten Moyes is just 54. He’s seen a lot of football, he’s endured incredible highs and lows, and has a wealth of experience to offer, but still plenty of years ahead of him.
The reality, however, is a perception of failure created by three poorly-selected jobs, none of which particularly lent themselves to the strengths Moyes had shown at Everton; consistent results with limited financial backing by playing organised and physical if somewhat unspectacular football.
It now begs the question of where Moyes will actually get the chance to revive a career sliding into the abyss. The Championship, the SPL, the Scottish national team? All are rather spectacular falls from grace for a manager who left Manchester United just three years ago and won a third LMA Manager of the Year award in 2009.
The worst thing Moyes can do now is rush into his next job. He can’t afford picking the wrong one for the fourth time in a row. Perhaps equally importantly, he needs time to rediscover that infectious angst that once made him British football’s brightest management hope. As Moyes has proved, however, four years is a long time. Who knows what heights he could return to by the time 2021 comes around.
According to reports from German media outlet Sportbild, Southampton are one of five Premier League clubs tracking Werder Bremen striker Max Kruse this summer.
After enjoying an impressive season for the Bundesliga outfit and helping them to an eighth-place finish, the 29-year-old attacker is said to be a target for Saints, Everton, West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City.
Whether manager Claude Puel leaves or not this summer, the south coast outfit will be looking to strengthen their squad as they look to qualify for the Europa League again next season following an eighth-place finish in the top flight themselves.
After scoring just 17 goals at home throughout the league campaign and just 41 in 38 matches in total, a new striker could be a priority as the club look to solve their goalscoring issues.
Here are three reasons Southampton must win the race to sign Kruse…
They need a striker
With the futures of Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long in doubt and with the goals drying up for Manolo Gabbiadini towards the end of the campaign, it is clear that Southampton need to bring in a new striker this summer.
There is no doubt that more competition is needed up top, and while Charlie Austin may provide that on his return from injury, the south coast outfit may feel that they need another option to ensure that they don’t have another disappointing campaign in front of goal.
He has a decent goal record
While Kruse didn’t enjoy a particularly good 2015/16 season with Wolfsburg before joining Werder Bremen, the striker has been consistently prolific elsewhere.
He scored 37 goals in three consecutive Bundesliga seasons from 2012 to 2015 while he enjoyed his best campaign in the German top flight this term after netting 15 times in just 23 appearances for Werder.
Southampton know they need goals if they are to qualify for Europe next season and the 29-year-old looks to be a guaranteed source.
He could be available for a good price
Football – Manchester City v Southampton – Barclays Premier League – Etihad Stadium – 14/15 – 24/5/15Southampton owner Katharina Liebherr Action Images via Reuters / Carl RecineEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Werder Bremen could sell Kruse for just £10.5million this summer as part of a clause inserted in his contract when he joined them last year.
Having scored 15 goals in 23 league games this season and shown how he is able to consistently find the net in recent years, he’s an absolute bargain for that kind of money.
Southampton are yet to break the £20m barrier when it comes to buying players, so Kruse certainly fits their profile of potential signing.
According to reports from Mirror Football, Southampton are interested in signing defender Kevin Wimmer and Tottenham Hotspur are more than happy to sell.
The Lilywhites signed the two-cap Austrian international as a promising prospect in summer 2015 but his progress over the last two seasons has been limited, making just 15 Premier League appearances.
The Saints, meanwhile, are in need of more options at central defence after parting with Jose Fonte in January, leaving them to depend on Jack Stephens and Mayo Yoshida for the remainder of the campaign amid Virgil van Dijk’s absence through injury.
The problem, however, is Tottenham’s valuation of the 24-year-old, rating him at a whopping £20million – more than four times the original fee they paid FC Koln.
So, Spurs fans, is that a fair price for the young centre-back, or should your club reduce their demands to ensure a deal takes place before the summer transfer window slams shut? Let us know by voting below…
According to Guardian Sport deputy news editor Ed Aarons on Twitter, Arsenal remain in the hunt to sign Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri this summer with AS Roma unwilling to pay his €40m (approximately £35.2m) release clause.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the 25-year-old has become one of the most wanted central midfielders in European football following an outstanding campaign for Nice in Ligue 1, as they finished third in the table behind Paris Saint-Germain and the champions AS Monaco.
The Guardian reported in May that he was a target for Gunners manager Arsene Wenger, and now the French manager could make a move with Roma stalling on a deal as he looks to strengthen his squad to ensure that they don’t miss out on Champions League football again.
Just how good was Seri last season?
Football Soccer – Nice v Schalke 04 – UEFA Europa League Group Stage – Group I – Allianz Riviera Stadium, Nice, France – 15/09/2016. Nice’s Jean Michael Seri in action against Schalke 04’s Leon Goretzka. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier
He was outstanding.
A box-to-box player, the Ivory Coast international showed his attacking threat by scoring seven goals and providing a further nine assists for Nice in 34 Ligue 1 appearances, while he also showed his ability to get past players by successfully completing 33 of the 39 take-ons he attempted.
He is also useful from a defensive point of view too having made 28 interceptions and 21 clearances, to show the impact he can make at both ends of the pitch.
Would he be a good signing for Arsenal?
He should be, yes.
Seri is probably most similar to Jack Wilshere in the current Arsenal squad in terms of his style of play, and the fact that he can create and provide bundles of energy from the middle of the park would make him a useful addition to the team.
Where would he fit in?
It’s difficult to say really.
In the 3-4-2-1 formation that Wenger deployed at the end of last season he would probably sit alongside a more defensively-minded player, but that would usually mean Francis Coquelin or Mohamed Elneny rather than Granit Xhaka or Aaron Ramsey.
However, the latter duo did play together in the middle of the park during that period and Seri would likely replace one of them, or more likely they would alternate due to the fixture congestion caused by their involvement in the Europa League in order to keep things fresh.
Would they pay more than £35m?
It’s difficult to say.
Links to the Monaco duo Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Lemar, as well as Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette, suggest that Wenger is keen to use the majority of his budget on attacking players, but if he really wants Seri he knows what he has to pay.
The frustration felt by Chelsea supporters with regards to the club’s search for a new striker is not easing following news about Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
It was widely reported that the Gabon international could become a target for the Premier League champions after missing out on Romelu Lukaku.
However, the London Evening Standard reports that the 28-year-old will stay at Dortmund for the upcoming season.
If this proves to be the case, then there is one less striker for the Blues to target.
Media outlets in the UK and around Europe have also listed Real Madrid forward Alvaro Morata, Torino hitman Andrea Belotti and Manchester City star Sergio Aguero as possible targets.
However, as it stands, the club do not seem to be any closer to bringing in a new attacking player.
After hearing the news about Aubameyang, Chelsea fans have taken to Twitter to express their annoyance, and some are worried that the board are struggling to get deals over the line.