All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Spurs: Tanganga endures England nightmare

Tottenham Hotspur gem Japhet Tanganga endured a nightmare as England U21s crashed out of the Euros on Wednesday night.

Aidy Boothroyd’s young Three Lions side defeated Croatia 2-1 but went out on goal difference having needed to win by a two-goal advantage and hope that Portugal were victorious against Switzerland.

Domagoj Bradaric fired home a heartbreaking 90th-minute consolation goal to dump Tanganga and co out at the group stage.

And the 22-year-old Spurs prospect had a torrid night.

Tanganga was comfortably England’s poorest player as per SofaScore ratings, as he was graded a 6.3 – not only the lowest of any English defender but the worst of all the Three Lions’ starters.

The 6-foot defender was frequently involved throughout the match, tying for the most touches (67) of the ball alongside centre-back partner Ben Wilmot but he struggled to do much with such influence.

His 69% passing accuracy from 55 attempts was the second-lowest of any England starter, whilst he also lost possession 19 times, meaning he handed the ball back to the game-chasing Croatians once every 3.5 touches.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/spurs-latest-news-transfer-rumours-gossip-and-more” title= Read this week’s latest Spurs news, transfer rumours and more…”]

Tanganga struggled to adapt to their passing play, failing to win a single ground duel, on top of being dribbled past on one occasion and committing one foul, via SofaScore.

90min were equally scathing in their verdict of his performance on Wednesday, after giving him a 5/10 for his troubles, they claimed: “Looked a bit stiff and found himself scurrying back on a couple of occasions after being beaten all too easily.”

According to Spurs boss Jose Mourinho, Tanganga’s future in the game lies at full-back rather than the middle, so it was certainly a strange decision from Boothroyd to move him, having featured on the right last time out.

Speaking in November, the Portuguese told reporters, via football.london: “Tanganga for me is a full-back. A multi-functional defensive player but [firstly] a full-back.”

Indeed, the 22-year-old’s last start for the north London giants saw him start, excel and keep a clean sheet on the right-hand side of defence.

Tanganga undoubtedly has huge potential and is likely to play a big part in Spurs’ future over the coming seasons but on this week’s disastrous evidence, it certainly seems like Mourinho knows what he’s doing with the versatile defender.

AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano delivers promising update on Spurs “monster”, Mourinho will be buzzing…

Howey hints Aguero won’t join Man United

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Manchester City centre-back Steve Howey believes Sergio Aguero won’t follow in Carlos Tevez’s footsteps and switch teams in Manchester.

It was announced last month that Aguero would be leaving Man City when his contract expires at the end of the season, and he will leave as the club’s all-time top scorer.

Aguero has been linked with a move to Barcelona this summer but it was Paul Ince who claimed he could see the Argentine making the move to Old Trafford once he left their rivals.

Speaking on if that could be an option for Aguero this summer and if he has the same morals and loyalty to the fans as Tevez did, Howey told FFC:

“He could do, but do I think he’ll go there? Probably not. I’m not too sure what the circumstances were when Tevez left Man United to join City.

“I don’t think Aguero has got that same relationship with the fans that Tevez did, I think he has a much better relationship. So I can’t see him doing the dirty on the fans.”

The £230,000 per week striker has only started a handful of games this season as he struggles to stay fit for long periods of time, such as his age and his need to be explosive on the pitch.

City have been linked with both Harry Kane and Erling Haaland to replace the Argentine.

Celtic edge closer to Eddie Howe deal

Is the hunt to find Celtic a new manager finally coming to an end? It’s the news that everyone at Parkhead has been waiting for but it’s so far eluded the Bhoys.

Neil Lennon departed over nine weeks ago now but the club have struggled to complete a deal for his successor.

What’s the word?

A deal to finalise Eddie Howe’s move to Glasgow has been in the pipeline for the best part of a month now.

News emerged in early April that Howe was in advanced discussions with Celtic over a move to the club but things have stalled considerably in the last few weeks.

He doesn’t actually want to return to management until the summer while issues relating to his backroom staff have been lingering.

The 43-year-old wanted to bring Richard Hughes with him to Glasgow to make him the club’s new director of football but the Hoops want Fergal Harkin instead.

It looked as though hopes were beginning to fade in terms of Celtic’s pursuit of Howe a few days ago. That said, a major update from The Daily Mail on Wednesday says otherwise.

The print version of the newspaper claims that Howe is close to coming to an agreement with Celtic and he is now speaking to people he wants in his backroom team.

Desmond will be delighted

After the arduous two months that Celtic’s majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has had with Celtic’s manager hunt, this will come as fantastic news.

So many issues have plagued their chase of Howe, namely with the manager’s agent and his backroom staff.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-howe-lampard-klimala-ajer-gossip” title= “Read the latest Celtic manager and transfer news!”]

One source revealed last month that the former Cherries boss wanted to bring the ‘kitchen sink’ with him to Paradise but with a move now heading towards its final stages, one of the parties must have loosened the grip on their demands.

Earlier this week, it was claimed that Hughes was no longer a pivotal part of the deal so perhaps it was Howe who finally broke during negotiations, rather than Celtic.

Either way, getting a deal over the line as quickly as possible will be imperative.

Dominic McKay has already got to work on behind-the-scenes matters but without a first-team manager, they cannot carry out a number of important tasks.

Their campaign is done and dusted so they can begin to think about player recruitment and sales.

It’s a crucial point of transition for the Hoops, one they’ll have to absolutely nail if they want to compete alongside Rangers again.

Two of their best players in Kristoffer Ajer and Odsonne Edouard look likely to leave the exit door while Scott Brown is departing for Aberdeen.

There is also the threat that fringe players Leigh Griffiths, Tom Rogic and Ismaila Soro exit too. That’s without considering the number of players due back at their parent clubs after loan spells.

The sooner Celtic can get Howe to put pen to paper, the quicker they can start correcting their incredibly patchy squad. They cannot take any decisions without a manager present.

AND in other news, Forget Howe: Celtic should hire jaw-dropping 47 y/o instead, he’s shades of Rodgers…

Everton will listen to Mina offers

Everton are open to selling Yerry Mina this summer, according to Football Insider.

Their report claimed that the Blues may sanction a £20m exit for the Colombian to partly fund a move for an elite centre-back.

This follows a claim from talkSPORT last week that Carlo Ancelotti was eyeing up a reunion with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, whom he previously described as “the best defender in the world”.

Football Insider added that Ancelotti is impressed by Mina’s physicality but considers him too erratic.

Mina’s Everton career to date

Mina joined Everton in the summer of 2018 for a fee of just over £27m. He has gone on to make 72 appearances for the Toffees and this season he started 22 of the club’s first 24 Premier League matches.

Everton journalist Greg O’Keefe wrote in January that he had ‘found something lacking since his arrival… consistency’. However, the 26-year-old was dropped to the bench for the 3-3 draw at Manchester United at the start of the following month and, having suffered a calf injury, he has not been selected since.

Transfer Tavern verdict

Everton will require a top-level central defender if they are to pursue their ambition of becoming a Champions League club.

This year, it looks as if they’ll have to settle for a place in the Europa League given their inconsistency – see the home defeats against relegation-threatened sides like Fulham, Newcastle and Burnley.

Showing Mina the door would be a little ruthless, but many Everton fans would probably applaud that mindset. However, they would surely struggle to fetch £20m for a defender of Mina’s calibre in this declining transfer market, as he’s about to enter the final two years of his deal.

In other news, some Everton fans weren’t happy with this transfer update.

Celtic: The case for Mikey Johnston

Celtic’s season is done and dusted for another year and the higher-ups at Parkhead can begin preparing for next term.

It has been an arduous campaign for the Bhoys, one they won’t want to relive in a hurry. From Boli Bolingoli’s moment of madness with the pandemic at the start of the season to conceding a bucket load in Europe and protests outside the stadium, it has been a toxic environment.

Neil Lennon may well have now left his post, but it’s going to take quite something to turn this mess around.

On the chalkboard

Celtic should have romped to the title this year. Having won the nine previous SPFL crowns, many thought that there was always only going to be one winner. Though, as the campaign played out, it quickly became apparent that Rangers were the side who were going to win the league.

Indeed, that was confirmed on Sunday after the Hoops drew 0-0 with Dundee United. If there were any positives from that clash, it was that James Forrest was back in action.

The winger has been out injured since last September but is now finally back in action. Given how the season has panned out, it’s a welcome return for a man who offers so much to Celtic.

Forrest scored 16 times last term, racking up 22 assists in the process. Losing a player who offers those sorts of numbers is always going to be tough.

Though, they’ve also welcomed back another forward in recent months; Mikey Johnston. The 21-year-old missed the first half of the season with an MCL problem.

What does the future hold?

Forrest will undoubtedly be a major part of the Celtic rebuild but the future is less clear for Johnston. He has played just eight times this season but interim manager John Kennedy has teased the idea of him returning to the side.

Johnston hasn’t been in the matchday squad over the last four games but there are now hopes he could play a starring role in the not too distant future.

Kennedy commented last weekend: “We’ve certainly missed that [Forrest’s numbers]. There have been periods in games where you need someone who can unlock and have that bit of individual brilliance.

“So between him and Mikey Johnston, we’ve had guys like that missing, they’re your eliminators.

“As much as a team can set up in a structure to block you up, if you get James, guys like Mikey Johnston and your wingers in dangerous areas one on one versus full-backs then that can break any structure.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-manager-hunt-stories-wagner-marsch-martinez-lennon-news” title=”The last stories on Celtic’s hunt for a new manager!”]

Although Forrest will have leapfrogged Johnston in the pecking order, there is a case for Kennedy to unleash him before the season ends.

A vibrant youngster, Celtic are surely better off developing Johnston’s game than someone like Ryan Christie. He has only scored twice in his last 25 outings and has been linked with the exit door. Celtic pundits have even tipped the wide man to leave the club.

The £9k-per-week Johnston has never quite had what it takes to make the senior side on a regular basis but that should change if you heed the words of Kennedy.

Possessing the ability to beat a man – making four dribbles per game in the Europa League last term – he is a dazzling ball of energy. The winger needs to be a part of Celtic’s future just as much as Forrest.

AND in other news, Imagine him & Turnbull: Celtic must swoop for 35-goal star who’s “impossible to beat”…

Celtic: Olivier Ntcham isn’t helping himself

If you could sum up the life of a Celtic player this season, it would be encapsulated in the downcast Olivier Ntcham.

The Frenchman, like many at Parkhead, has had a very disappointing campaign. His numbers – just one goal and one assist – have been terrible and he’s looked incredibly out of sorts.

Questions had arisen over the midfielder’s attitude and thus, he was removed from the team. The midfielder was rarely brought off the substitutes bench and as a result, was moved out on loan in January.

A move to Newcastle fell through but Marseille came calling. A trip back to France seemed an ideal place to revive his career but it’s been nothing short of a horror show so far.

Andre Villas-Boas left his role as Marseille boss in dramatic circumstances after disagreeing with Ntcham’s arrival before he put in a dismal showing last Wednesday.

The 25-year-old was withdrawn at half time having touched the ball on just 22 occasions and making a woeful eight passes. It was a game that saw him earn a 3/10 rating from the ruthless French outlet L’Equipe.

Yet, it’s only gone from bad to worse for Ntcham. At the weekend, he was withdrawn at half-time again as Marseille crashed out of the Coupe de France at the expense of Canet Roussillon, a team in the fourth tier.

This time, French newspaper La Provence gave him a 1/10 rating, describing the performance as “unacceptable.”

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-manager-hunt-stories-wagner-marsch-martinez-lennon-news” title=”The last stories on Celtic’s hunt for a new manager!”]

Journalist Ludovic Ferro added: “A lot of sideways and backwards passes, when they weren’t completely sent into the void. Not helped by the lack of movement in front of him or on the sides, the former Celtic player also missed basic moves and didn’t bring anything to the table. Clearly lacking rhythm.”

Indeed, Ntcham managed just 37 touches during the encounter, a tally that happened to be a lower total than goalkeeper Scott Bain’s touches during Celtic’s 0-0 draw with Dundee United.

Ntcham failed to have a single shot, neither did he make a key pass. Considering the calibre of opposition he was up against, it’s a dismal tally.

This loan spell was meant to breathe fresh life into the £4.5m midfielder’s season. Instead, it’s surely leaving any lingering hope of securing a bigger move completely out of the picture.

AND in other news, 6 ft 4 giant must be at the top of Celtic’s shopping list, he “trains like a monster”…

Rangers fans rage at 55 playlist

Some Glasgow Rangers fans are far from happy with a 55 playlist shared by the Gers on Spotify to celebrate their recent Premiership title success.

The Ibrox outfit are currently still basking in the glory of their title win despite there still being five matches remaining (BBC). It is their first major trophy since 2011, so it is no surprise to see the club enjoying their success, and they are taking advantage of the situation to release a number of products linked to their 55th league triumph.

They have also shared a playlist on Spotify, with the songs all linked to the Gers. However, some of the fans are unhappy with a few of the choices, which includes a song from Gers fan Amy Macdonald and a sea shanty.

The playlist was shared on Twitter by the club’s official account, and it attracted plenty of interest from Gers supporters. These fans took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the Rangers fans had to say below

“Think I can speak for me and many others. Severely disappointed there’s no Rockin all Over the world.”

Credit: @mareorless

“No drifters No joy division No winner takes it all Come on now”

Credit: @Beatthatbeat

“A lot of weird songs tbf. No Tiffany or Zombie nation…”

Credit: @dion_1690

“Get that sea shanty song off right now”

Credit: @StuPollock1

“Sea Shanties and Amy MacDonald, think I’ll pass”

Credit: @samjsneddon

“Amy McDonald? That’s the whole thing ruined.”

Credit: @Ljt10x

In other news, Rangers eye this defender as Filip Helander is linked with an exit.

Man Utd fans slam Rashford vs Everton

Many Manchester United fans were left slamming the display of Marcus Rashford in their 3-3 draw with Everton in the Premier League on Saturday night.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team got off to a great start at Old Trafford, with goals from Edinson Cavani and Bruno Fernandes putting them 2-0 up and in a relatively comfortable position at half-time.

However, Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Rodriguez pegged the Red Devils back to 2-2, while a Scott McTominay goal was cancelled out by Dominic Calvert-Lewin in injury time.

Even though he got the assist for Cavani’s header, his overall performance flattered to deceive several Man Utd supporters.

The England international lost out on no fewer than 10 of his duels in the game, the most lost out of any player to have set foot on the pitch, and also lost possession of the ball the most times (20), earning him a very measly 6.3 overall rating on Sofascore, the third-lowest out of his teammates.

Manchester United fan reaction to Rashford display

These fans slammed his performance on Twitter, with one supporter even going as far to say that the 23-year-old was ‘awful’:

“Maguire, Lindelof and Rashford were awful, shocking. McTominay, Bruno and Cavani excellent, the rest ok”

Credit: @frankle444

“Rashford needs to visit the bench”

Credit: @Marqueage

“Rashford! He needs re-programming, something’s wrong, he keeps repeating the same mistake.”

Credit: @dizzydianajo1

“Still painful. I’m so disappointed in you yesterday, @ManUtd players most, especially @MarcusRashford for wasting those glorious chances. #MUNEVE”

Credit: @i_am_uchenna

“Rashford is just wasteful, poor decision making also. Yep better to deal with City than Liverpool. I don’t even have a single Liverpool player on my Fantasy Premier League team. If it were possible I’d want City and Liverpool to both lose tonight.”

Credit: @tonymillzk

“Still annoyed that Marcus Rashford didn’t take his chances again. He needs to work on his finishing. So poor in front of goal.”

Credit: @AraRedjeb

In other news, find out which ex-EPL referee was left baffled by one VAR decision versus Southampton here!

Man City must secure Tete move in January transfer window

Manchester City and Real Madrid have both been linked with a move for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Tete recently and the Citizens must ensure they are the ones to sign the Brazilian wonderkid.

According to journalist Alex Bage, via Sport Witness, the Ukrainian side are ‘forwarding his sale’ and that Manchester City are keeping an eye on him ahead of next month’s window.

It is no surprise that the 20-year-old is attracting the interest of sides across Europe, after his impressive performances for Shakhtar Donetsk in recent seasons.

In 63 appearances for the Miners, he has contributed 15 goals and 12 assists, which includes the goal and assist he registered in the Champions League group stages against Real Madrid earlier this season.

In the 3-2 win against Zinedine Zidane’s side, the 20-year-old was the star of the show, with BBC suggesting that he ‘tore apart Real Madrid’ with a ‘sensational’ performance that allowed him to announce himself to the world.

If City were to complete a move for the £15.3 million-rated in January, he could well establish himself as a fixture in the Citizens’ first team for the long term, suggesting that signing him early could prove to be a smart investment for the club.

Although City spent big on another young winger in the summer in the form of Ferran Torres, his future could lie as a striker having featured there on multiple occasions this season.

Meanwhile, Bernardo Silva has failed to register a single goal or assist this season for City, so it could definitely be argued that signing another winger such as Tete would increase the competition for the right-wing spot, and potentially force Silva to up his game as a result.

Certainly, it seems clear that Tete has a bright future and won’t remain in Ukraine for too much longer, so hopefully, he would be able to adapt to the Premier League should City beat Real Madrid to his signing.

And, in other news… Manchester City can axe “world class” beast following worrying admission; Pep doesn’t need him

Leeds: Angus Kinnear discusses Elland Road

Leeds United chief executive Angus Kinnear has reiterated his club’s desire to change Elland Road into one of Europe’s best stadiums after their trip to Tottenham Hotspur recently.

What Kinnear had to say

Leeds Live recently reported that he wrote: “The visit to Spurs’ spectacular new stadium reinforced the infrastructure gap we face between where we are and where we need to be.

“The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium generates five times the revenue of Elland Road each and every matchday and this is a commercial advantage that transfers directly to the pitch.

“We left North London having reinforced our ambition to transform our home to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best stadia in Europe.

“The process will start in the summer with the key technical element, a full reconstruction of the Elland Road playing surface.”

Kinnear spoke in the past about these plans and said: “Needless to say, a full pitch reconstruction is in our overall master plan”

This is great news for Leeds

It has been no surprise to hear this news, as the original reports about some improvements came back in February. However, the latest comments from the Kinnear highlight that the club, even in these uncertain times, have great ambitions and this is great news for supporters of the club to hear. It is very important that Marcelo Bielsa keeps them in England’s top flight so that the club get the time they need to progress into a stable Premier League side with the best facilities possible and that would help their future massively.In other news, Leeds have been tipped to sign a Premier League forward – read more about it.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus