Daily Archives: August 2, 2021

Premier League: Can you name the league’s 20+ goalscorers in a single season?

  By O-Posts Team | August 2, 2021 - 20:53 | , , , , , , , , , ,
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The Chicharito-Di Maria Dilemma: Where will they be next season?

  By O-Posts Team | August 2, 2021 - 19:34 | , , , , , ,
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Van Gaal…. has a dilemma to deal with.

The times are finally starting to change over at Manchester United in lieu of the most recent acquisitions made by the Red Devils. Manchester United have bolstered their ranks significantly for this new Premier League season, which begins August 8th.

The likes of Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinstieger have obviously arrived at Old Trafford to aid United’s lackluster midfield. Morgan and Bastian’s arrival along with Nani and Robin Van Persie exodus to Fenerbahce shouts out that Wayne Rooney will be returning to his position as a forward.

The Red Devils will pair Rooney with their new Dutch winger Memphis Depay and Matteo Darmian will bolster the Red Devil’s already leaky defense.

 

Futures of Di Maria and Chicharito 

Questions have been raised recently on the future of two of Manchester United’s attacking options, Javier Hernandez and Angel Di Maria. The most recent reports regarding Angel Di Maria showed growing interest by the French giants PSG.

The Parisians and United seem to be closing in on a deal any day soon with the final sum tallying around £40-£46 million. The rumors are swarming the media after Angel Di Maria was not present in San Jose with the team in their most recent friendly against FC Barcelona.

 

The Di Maria Dilemma: Will he stay or depart?

Usually when players fail to appear when called on by the club it shouts many possibilities. One possible scenario is that in light of reports, Angel Di Maria could be indeed finalizing a deal with PSG and come sometime this week be draped around the city of lights in a dark blue jersey with “La Tour Eiffel” on the crest.

Another possibility is that Di Maria could be taking an extended break, after all the Argentine winger did compete for Argentina in the Copa America before he was injured in the final match against Chile.

The third and other scenario could be that Angel missed the flight on purpose to expedite his upcoming departure from Manchester. Summing things up, Angel Di Maria will more than likely be playing for another team come September.

 

Hernandez to the MLS? West Ham?

Javier Hernandez has really been the big question currently lingering around the Manchester United squad. Chicharito has in fact traveled with the Red Devils to their pre-season tour in the United States.

Although Hernandez did not play in Manchester United’s 3-1 win against FC Barcelona, the Mexican striker has been at the center of a lot of transfer speculation all over Europe and surprisingly here in Major League Soccer.

The most recent transfer rumor circulating Javier comes from Major League Soccer’s Orlando City. With Giovani Dos Santos now at the Los Angeles Galaxy the move for Javier Hernandez to continue his career in Orlando could prove to be profitable for him, Orlando City and Major League Soccer.

Many journalists have also placed two London based clubs that would behoove the club to attain his services. West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur are the two London clubs who seem to be interested in Hernandez’s services.

West Ham United are under the new leadership of Slaven Bilič and the Hammers will be looking to add to their attacking lineup. Tottenham finished in fifth last season mainly thanks to one Harry Kane, will be looking to add to their attacking options since the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado have proven to be rather woefully abysmal for the “Tottenham cause.”

 

Hernandez to return home? Or maybe even stay with the Red Devils?

In fact, there are inklings of Hernandez returning home to Mexico. Club Guadalajara Chivas owner Jorge Carlos Vergara has gone to state that Mexico’s Liga MX would rather see Javier return home instead of playing in Major League Soccer.

There are also talks of Hernandez potentially staying at United since the only attacking options at United are Wayne Rooney, Memphis Depay and Juan Mata. However with Memphis being an attacking winger/midfielder and Juan Mata an attacking midfielder, keeping Javier Hernandez as another striker to partner with Wayne is an actual possibility for United head coach Louis Van Gaal.

 

Conclusion

There are many possibilities looming over Angel Di Maria and Javier Hernandez and their future at Manchester United. Angel Di Maria’s future is about almost certain that it will not be in a red jersey in England.

Chicharito on the other hand is the “million dollar question.” Especially since the concept of adding depth to United’s attacking lineup since two have already left with another about to leave Old Trafford any day.

 

Written by Gio Franco

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Clinton N’Jie: Why the Lyon starlet is on the radar of Spurs and Arsenal

  By O-Posts Team | August 2, 2021 - 17:26 | , , , , , , ,
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Reports in the Le Parisien claimed that Spurs had tabled an offer worth over £7m for 21-year-old Clinton N’Jie, but the Ligue 1 side was holding out for double the money. Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has denied these reports, but interest from London is there and even Tottenham’s arch-rivals Arsenal are said to be interested in the player. Newcastle United have also been linked with the player.

Lyon had a lot of players making headlines for them, especially a certain Lacazette, but the 21-year-old Cameroonian was also extremely impressive for the French side and displayed time and again that he has a bright future ahead of him.

Taking Samuel Eto’o’s starting spot in the national team for the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, N’Jie impressed and showed that the African nation possibly has an extremely talented striker in its team, someone who could go on to do very well in the future.

N’Jie started his career with Lyon as a youngster and spent three years with the club’s B team. He made his senior debut for the club in 2012 in a 3-0 win over Reims. However, he did establish himself in the senior side till last season. Before that, he hardly played a few minutes as a substitute here and there.

Last season though, N’Jie started 15 games and appeared in another 15 from the bench. He showed his capabilities by scoring 7 goals and grabbing another 7 assists.

The 21-year-old averages 2.9 shots and 1.5 key passes every 90 minutes. His direct style of play and speed are especially attractive and can be lethal in a team that thrives on the counter-attack. He likes to dribble and the fact that he is good at holding on to the ball helps his cause. He is also not afraid to shoot from the distance and his long shots are actually pretty decent.

He doesn’t have to play as a central striker and has been used as a “wide forward” and as a number 10 on occasions. The player has done well even playing out of his favoured position making him a valuable, versatile option to have. His ability to play as a wide forward could suit coach Mauricio Pochettino’s high pressing 4-2-3-1 system in which he could incorporate both Harry Kane and N’Jie.

Spurs have so far offloaded unwanted players like Younes Kaboul, Benjamin Stambouli and Paulinho but are yet to add an exciting offensive player. If they want to try and finish in the top four, they would need more firepower up front and it is not surprising that they’ve lined up a move for N’Jie.

The player could prove to be a perfect addition for the side. Pochettino also likes to work with younger players and could get the best out of the Cameroonian.

For the player, however, a move would not prove to be the best option. He no doubt has a lot of ability, but staying at Lyon for at least another season looks like the best bet. The striker needs to establish himself and make sure he’s not a one season wonder.

Moreover, he needs to play more games and he is certainly going to get a chance to do that at Lyon. A move might mean that he adds a lot more pressure on himself at a young age when he is relatively unproven at the highest level.

 

 

Written by Aakriti Mehrotra

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Charis Mavrias: Why the struggling Sunderland winger needs a new lease of life

  By O-Posts Team | August 2, 2021 - 15:55 | , , , , , ,
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Name: Charis Mavrias 

Position: Winger 

Age: 21 

Country: Greece 

Club: Panathinaikos 

 

It has been a chastening two years for Charis Mavrias at Sunderland. The Greek winger has made just six senior appearances during his time with the English Premier League club and looks set to depart the Stadium of Light this summer.

The Black Cats have been active in looking for a buyer for the Greece international, with interest from Championship clubs in England previously having cooled. Mavrias was loaned back to Panathinaikos during the January transfer window, having only joined from the Greek giants in 2013 for £2.5 million.

Panathinaikos have expressed an interest bringing Mavrias back to Athens permanently, though if Sunderland agreed to such a deal it would represent a considerable loss on their investment.

Speaking earlier this month, Mavrias was bullish about his future, despite the speculation.

“I think it’s time to get a chance to show I can count, otherwise if you don’t do this we will see what happens in the future,” the 21 year-old said.  “I need to get playing time under my feet and show what I can offer.  Definitely my priority right now is Sunderland.” 

The above quote can certainly be read as a gentle reminder to the club, who are rebuilding under Dutch manager Dick Advocaat after securing their Premier League survival last season.

Mavrias’ career has stalled substantially in England after he was signed by Paolo Di Canio; the Italian manager didn’t survive beyond the end of the year and opportunities for the player were no better under his successor Gus Poyet.

Having been capped by the Greek national team after quickly rising through the ranks at Panathinaikos, Mavrias remains a talented footballer whose qualities are perhaps not best suited to English football.

A player who offers intelligence, mobility and technical quality over strength and raw pace, Mavrias tends to play as more of an inside forward than an out-and-out winger. Nonetheless, he has a knack for creating goals despite a fairly poor goal-scoring record at club level.

With his career in a state of flux, a return to Greece seems to be Mavrias’ preferred option, despite his failure to recapture form or make any sort of impact during his recent loan move to his former club.

“But, like I said, if I don’t [get playing time at Sunderland] then we will see how things develop and either go abroad or return to Panathinaikos,” Mavrias has said of his current situation. “I want to be somewhere where I will be wanted.”

 

Written by Chris Paraskevas

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Filipe Luis: Can the Chelsea flop be a success on his return to Atletico Madrid?

  By O-Posts Team | August 2, 2021 - 13:37 | , , , ,
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Just a year after Atletico Madrid sold Filipe Luis to Chelsea for a figure close to €20m, the left-back is on his way back to the Spanish club. The return leg of the deal is believed to be costing the team from Madrid around €16m although exact details have yet to be confirmed.

The Brazilian failed to establish himself as a regular first-team at Stamford Bridge having made just nine starting appearances in the league. The player claims that he does not regret the move and will leave with a Premier League winner’s medal to add to the Spanish League winner’s medal that he claimed the year before. However, it is clear that playing a secondary role to in-form Cesar Azpilicueta was not part of the plan when he moved to London.

Having upset many of the Atleti faithful by leaving the title-winning side last summer, he now faces the task of redeeming himself in front of a notoriously vocal audience. But having previously spent four seasons at the club, the move certainly feels like a homecoming.

Luis first signed for the Rojiblancos in 2010 when he moved from Deportivo La Coruna for a €12m fee. At the time, the Madrid team had just won the Europa League but were languishing in mid-table in the domestic campaign. Meanwhile, the player had recently been linked with a move to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. As a result, the signing was considered as something of a coup by the club’s fan base and the Spanish media.

At 29-years-of-age, Felipe Luis is still in his prime and his arrival could prompt the departure of fellow countryman Guilherme Siqueira. The defender was recruited from Benfica last summer as a direct replacement for Luis and soon established himself in the left-back role ahead of versatile loan signing Cristian Ansaldi.

However, Diego Simeone is known to be a big admirer of the returnee and it is likely that he will be his preferred choice ahead of Siqueira barring any injury or obvious lack of form.

Going back to a team where you enjoyed previous success does not always work out, but in the case of Filipe Luis, it feels like a natural step. He always felt at home in Madrid, but was keen to challenge himself outside of Spain. While his spell at Chelsea may not have worked out the way he had hoped, he always remained professional and will certainly have gained from the experience.

As for winning back the support of the fans - that’s easy. He just needs to pulls on the red and white shirt and let his football do the talking.

 

Written by Neil Morris

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