All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

After going down 2-0 to Chelsea last weekend, the very least Newcastle fans will be hoping for is a bit of fight and intent from their side when they take on Crystal Palace at St James’ Park on Friday night.

The Magpies fell to Frank Lampard’s side with nothing more than a whimper, and face a Palace team also smarting from defeat – the Eagles lost 1-0 to Burnley last time out thanks to an early Chris Wood goal.

In respect to team news, Bruce delivered a mixed bag in his pre-match press conference, that whilst his side is set to be boosted by the return of a couple of key players, there is some major uncertainty over others.

And with that in mind, below is a look at how the Tyneside club might line up for the clash against Palace on Friday.

In front of Karl Darlow, the big injury concern for Bruce surrounds captain Jamaal Lascelles who was forced off against Chelsea last weekend. The Magpies boss confirmed that he is a “doubt” to make the Palace game, but if he can come through a late fitness check, expect the 27-year-old to keep his place alongside Federico Fernandez and Ciaran Clark.

And after experimenting with moving Jacob Murphy further forward and into a more natural winger role, Bruce may opt to stick with that, particularly with the emerging news that Allan Saint-Maximin has been seemingly ruled out of tonight’s clash with a late injury.

That could open up a spot for Miguel Almiron to come into the team, and the Paraguay international will surely feel like he has a point to prove given everything that has happened between his agent and manager.

And in the last change Newcastle could make, is the return of Callum Wilson. The England international missed out against Chelsea due to injury, but Bruce delivered a huge boost in his pre-match press conference by confirming his star striker’s fitness, and that will surely see the £18m-rated Joelinton drop back to the bench – the Brazilian has yet to score in the Premier League this season.

Predicted XI: Darlow; Manquillo, Fernandez, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis; Almiron, Longstaff, Hayden, Saint-Maximin; Wilson.

West Brom are back in the big time despite a less than impressive title run-in and they may well have to compete without one of last season’s popular stars, but Luke Dowling can soften that blow with one new addition…

What’s the word?

According to Aksam (via Sport Witness), the Baggies continue to be linked with a move for Besiktas attacker Adem Ljajic this summer.

It’s claimed that the Serbian international could leave the Super Lig outfit as they want him off the wage bill – Andreas Iniesta’s Vissel Kobe are also interested.

Albion boss Slaven Bilic has previously managed in the Turkish league with the Black Eagles and has been linked to both Domagoj Vida and Vedat Muriqi too.

Soften the blow

The Hawthorns faithful may have seen the last of loan star Grady Diangana after he delivered eight goals and six assists on their way to the runner-up spot.

It is thought that David Moyes wants the 22-year-old to play a key part in east London next season, which would seemingly close the door on a fairytale return to the west Midlands.

But in Ljajic, Dowling and Bilic can soften that blow.

The 28-year-old is capable of playing anywhere behind the striker, so that’s one tick in the Croatian’s one-up-top system and despite Besiktas struggling for third place, Ljajic was more than impressive.

Per WhoScored, the playmaker provided seven goals and six assists, averaging 2 shots, 2 key passes and 1.1 dribbles per game whilst a passing accuracy rate of nearly 90% for his position is pretty outstanding.

It’s no wonder Serie A powerhouse and ex-Rome teammate Radja Nainggolan described Ljajic as “different class” back in 2014.

As per Fanatik, he could cost the Baggies just £6m, which is quite the bargain considering he’s valued above that by Transfermarkt and has racked up 45 caps on the international stage.

AND in other news, Bilic eyeing potential transfer for 25-year-old forward…

Former Everton defender Luke Garbutt has officially signed for Blackpool on a one-year deal.

The 27-year-old joins the Seasiders after being released from his boyhood club in the summer. He will be managed by former Liverpool under-23 coach Neil Critchley in their bid to improve on last season’s 13th-placed finish in League One.

Blackpool announced their new signing by using an inside joke that a lot of Everton fans have appreciated. Their screenshot of Carlo Ancelotti during a recent press conference comes from his reaction when asked about Garbutt.

The left-back departed the Merseyside outfit earlier this year after 11 years and the Blues boss was asked about his decision to release him. However, Ancelotti was none the wiser of the situation and simply replied by saying: “Who?”

Many Toffees fans are loving Blackpool’s tongue-in-cheek tweet and have flocked to the comments to applaud the joke. One fan has said the announcement is ‘brilliant’, whilst another thinks that the Seasiders’ media team is ‘class’.

Read more replies from the Goodison faithful below:

Everton fans, what do you think of Blackpool’s announcement? Join the conversation in the comments below!

Ex-Spur Michael Brown insists it is “unbelievable” that Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is still trying to figure out his best starting lineup. 

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Spurs star believes tactical changes and a busy schedule have prevented Mourinho from working out his favourite starting XI.

The Portuguese once again defended his team selections and queried why other managers like Frank Lampard, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are not questioned on their choices after Tottenham beat Newcastle 3-1 in the Premier League to mark the first time he has won at St James’ Park.

Spurs slumped to a shock 3-1 defeat at Sheffield United, but have begun to turn things around, and they are now on a four-game unbeaten run.

Brown told assistant editor Russell Edge “Mourinho’s come out this week and said about his team selection, why journalists don’t ask other people – it was a good win to ease the pressure but he’s still trying to find his team, isn’t he?

“I just can’t find out what their settled side is and I keep saying the same thing. It’s unbelievable, isn’t it? I don’t know if he is closer to finding out. I think sometimes it’s tactical, I think sometimes it’s the run of games, the loading.

“It’s changing people’s opinions, you’re getting judged against different teams. I don’t think you’ve got much choice so I don’t think you’re getting a true reflection of who he wants. The thing you can say is the likes of Alderweireld, Vertonghen – why weren’t they playing?”

It is hard to argue with Brown on this one, as several factors have played their part in Mourinho’s team selection in recent weeks.

Questions remain over Tanguy Ndombele’s future as the club’s record signing has been in and out of the starting lineup lately, and he has now been ruled out for the rest of the season after picking up a knee injury.

Mourinho has messed around with his preferred formation since the Premier League restart, kicking off proceedings with a 4-2-3-1 system, before alternating between a 4-3-3 and 4-4-1-1 structure.

In fairness, matters have been taken out of his hands, as Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Juan Foyth have all missed matches for one reason or another.

Dier, who has established himself as part of Mourinho’s first choice pairing, has been missing for the past three games as a result of the four-match ban the FA imposed on him for his actions after the Norwich FA Cup defeat back in March.

Meanwhile, Alli was suspended for one game over a post on social media about coronavirus, before suffering a hamstring injury which ruled him out of the last four games.

Tottenham find themselves in the mix for a Europa League place after picking up three points against the Magpies, with both Wolves and Sheffield United also in contention with only two games remaining.

The Lilywhites next welcome Leicester City to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, knowing they need to win both games to qualify for the competition next season.

Tottenham fans, do you think Mourinho has been forced to tinker with his team selection? Let us know down below!

Steven Gerrard is in the midst of reshaping his Rangers side in an attempt to finally break Celtic’s domestic dominance with a title for the Gers. And while bringing new players in might be a big part of that rebuild, the Liverpool icon will have to sell as well.

According to the latest exclusive update by The Scottish Sun, Dundee United are set to make a transfer bid for Jamie Murphy. The veteran forward has been out of favour at Ibrox for quite a while now and only has 12 months left on his current deal with the club.

This could indeed make him a very attainable target for the Tannadice side who are reportedly desperate to strengthen their squad. Gerrard won’t exactly oppose this transfer in any capacity.

Murphy has largely struggled to establish himself in the Scottish Premiership giants following his horror cruciate knee injury back in August 2018. Since then, he has made the full recovery but his game time has drastically diminished and now, it seems he has no future at the club anymore.

Seeing how his contract is slowly but surely running out and he’s also getting older, Rangers will likely allow him to leave for a cut-price fee.

Verdict

Even though he may be struggling for continuity at Ibrox, Murphy has had a decent second half of the season on loan at Burton Albion, bagging seven goals in ten games for the League One side. This does suggest that the outcast winger just might have something to offer after all.

But even with that being said, Gerrard is looking for much younger options with a higher ceiling who can have an immediate effect on the incoming title race with the Hoops.

All in all, this is a win-win situation for all parties involved.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to Football Insider, West Ham are interested in signing Stoke City’s Jack Butland.

What’s the story?

The England international is currently playing in the Championship with Stoke City, who are struggling at the wrong end of the table.

As such, it is being said the Hammers are looking at bringing in the 26-year-old. However, the Potters currently value him at £25m, which is said to be a major hurdle for a January signing.

Good player, but West Ham should wait

This season, Butland is not having the best of times, both under previous manager Nathan Jones as well as new boss Michael O’Neill. In 14 starts in the second tier this term to date, he has a save percentage rate of just 49%, which is easily the lowest of any shot-stopper in the division.

However, on the whole, that is something of an anomaly. In the two full seasons, he has appeared in the Premier League, he has picked up a ratio of over 70%, picking up 16 clean sheets across those two campaigns. Last time out, albeit in the second tier, there were 18 games in which he did not concede a single goal even though Stoke could only finish in 16th position in the league.

A football legend: How much do you know about the late, great Bobby Moore? Test your knowledge below…

He also has nine caps for England, which is more proof of his credentials. And considering his age, he would likely be a long-term number one for the Hammers should he make the move to the London Stadium. That price tag, though, is not really viable. For a start, it would be one of the highest-ever fees paid to a Championship club, which would make little sense considering his form.

Not only that, Stoke are in real danger of getting relegated this term. They have just 18 points so far, and are currently two away from escaping the drop zone. If West Ham wait until the summer to make a bid for him, he could very well be a League One goalkeeper, which would automatically reduce his price tag. And even if they didn’t drop down a division, he will have just one year left on his contract by then, which would again likely mean the London outfit would not need to pay such a price.

Either way, waiting until the summer will represent a win-win situation for the Hammers. Lukasz Fabianski should return at the start of 2020, and David Martin can hold down the fort until then – in his first four games, he has two clean sheet. Then, come the end of the season, West Ham can pounce.

Meanwhile, West Ham fans react to one man’s accolade.

Glasgow Rangers midfielder Jason Holt looks set to leave Ibrox permanently at the end of June once his contract runs out, although he harbours no grudges against Steven Gerrard about his impending exit from the club.

Indeed, the 27-year-old has praised the manager’s honesty in telling him straight-up that he would not be guaranteed regular action under the Liverpudlian, with Holt spending time on loan at Fleetwood Town and St Johnstone over the last couple of seasons.

He told The Scottish Sun: “You never want to leave a club like Rangers but you have conversations with managers and there comes a time when you need a move for the benefit of your career.”

Holt added: “When he (Gerrard) got the job, the first thing I did was speak to him to find out where I stood in his plans. I was aware he was going to bring in new players, he was fair with me and said he can’t guarantee me the games I’d had in the past.”

Holt had been a regular presence for the ‘Gers in the three seasons prior to Gerrard’s arrival at Ibrox in 2018, making 115 appearances for the club. However, once the new manager told the midfielder that he couldn’t guarantee him a fixed starting place, he linked up with ex-‘Gers team-mate Joey Barton at Fleetwood for the 2018/19 campaign.

The 27-year-old has managed to feature regularly during his loan spells at Fleetwood and St Johnstone, although he was unable to make a significant impact for either club. He netted just twice in 36 games for the English League One side and failed to register a single goal involvement in his 17 appearances in Perth this term. [via TransferMarkt]

Also, with the ‘Gers having an abundance of more potent midfield options in Joe Aribo, Scott Arfield and Ryan Jack, along with Ianis Hagi being signed permanently, Holt would surely have found opportunities very hard to come by had he remained at Ibrox.

Holt now faced the unenviable task of trying to find a new club, although his experience of more than 170 SPFL games could make him an enticing free transfer for prospective suitors over the summer.

Irrespective of where he ends up next, it has been clear for some time that he had no future with the ‘Gers and, to Gerrard’s credit, he did not make any false promises to a player who has been left behind by other midfield options at Ibrox.

‘Gers fans, are you disappointed that Holt was never given a chance by Gerrard at Ibrox or was the manager right to trust in other players instead? Join in the conversation in the comments section below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

After fielding their youngest ever starting eleven in major European competition on Thursday afternoon against FC Astana, order will no doubt be restored when Manchester United return to Premier League action on Sunday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side already find themselves nine points off the top four, and anything but a victory against newly-promoted Aston Villa will not suffice. The Red Devils boss will surely therefore re-introduce all his key first-team stars who missed out on the long trip to Kazakhstan in the Europa League, and with a week’s rest under their belt, should be raring to go at the weekend.

With that in mind, below is a look at how United may potentially line up against Dean Smith’s men.

Having opted for a formation with a back-three against Sheffield United last weekend, Solskjaer may return to a four-man defence against Villa. David de Gea will undoubtedly come straight back into the team as the Red Devils’ first-choice goalkeeper, whilst in front of him, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Brandon Williams are all likely to return too.

In central midfield is where the United boss may be tempted to look at Thursday afternoon’s clash against FC Astana and reward someone who performed impressively. Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba are both out injured, whilst Andreas Pereira had a game to forget against the Blades last week (he managed just a 6.4 match rating as per Sofascore – the joint-second worst of any Red Devils player).

That could mean James Garner – who had an incredible 97% pass accuracy and had 97 touches against Astana – retains his place for the game against Villa, and partner Fred in the middle of the park. Ahead of the duo, Jesse Lingard’s rare goal may tempt Solskjaer to throw him straight back into the starting line-up as a massive vote of confidence in the attacking midfielder.

[ad_pod ]

And once again, United’s three amigos of Daniel James, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial will be looking to do all the damage as they spearhead the attack.

Meanwhile, Manchester United fans have hammered Tahith Chong after his horror showing against FC Astana.

Well, well, well. Talk about making an introduction. Having shown glimpses of his enormous potential in the Carabao Cup and Europa League, Gabriel Martinelli put the Premier League on notice with a terrific performance on his first start in the competition.

The Brazilian arrived to relatively little fanfare in the summer, but had gotten his Arsenal career off to a flying start with seven goals in his first 13 appearances. He had yet to make the breakthrough into the team that featured in the league however, and fans of the north London side had even been clamouring for him to play from the off against Brighton in mid-week.

They may not have seen that come to fruition, but after his goal-scoring display against West Ham on Monday night, it was well worth the wait. The Brazilian scored to haul his struggling side level, before the Gunners went on to secure an impressive 3-1 victory away from home. And having seen his performance, Arsenal fans flooded to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the teenager.

Some Gunners fans were keen on hailing not just his goal, but his overall work ethic and hunger, with the Brazilian often seen haring after West Ham players in an attempt to win back possession – as per Sofascore, he actually made a team-high three tackles.

Understandably, some Gunners fans were so excited about the 5 foot 11 man that they couldn’t help compare him to some of the north London side’s talented and iconic forwards of yesteryear.

Lofty praise indeed. But in such a difficult season that led to the sacking of Unai Emery just a couple of weeks ago, Martinelli’s performance offered a rare silver lining. And that is something for the Gunners to desperately cling on to.

Meanwhile, Arsenal turning to this man who masterminded a humiliation of Tottenham would be a smart move.

When George Baldock scored Sheffield United’s equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur, he didn’t bother to really celebrate it.It was the 26-year-old’s first-ever Premier League goal, having scored at every other level between the Championship and National League, so it should have been a special moment, especially as it was a well-worked strike that had brought the Blades level.However, VAR overshadowed the occasion, as he was made to wait for confirmation of the goal, just minutes after David McGoldrick was robbed of his season’s first:

While Blades fans were happy to see their team back on level terms, they were still furious with the decision that went against them, as well as how long it took for the goal to be confirmed.

VAR has been a big talking point so far this season in the Premier League, due to the controversy that has often surrounded it, which is the case with this game.

Many at Sheffield United feel they have been robbed of a win, as well as the enjoyment of getting their equaliser.

A selection of Twitter reaction to the goal, including frustrated Sheffield United fans, can be seen below: