Never quite at full physical fitness, Tottenham Hotspur will have to manage Mousa Dembele’s game-time this week as they take on Manchester United at Wembley and face Liverpool at Anfield in what will likely be two high-intensity games that could have a huge bearing on the Premier League table come the end of May.
Indeed, the 70-cap Belgium international has lasted the full ninety minutes on just four occasions since September and has been brought off in all of his last three appearances.
But the 30-year-old is still a key player for Tottenham, someone who offers them vital control in central midfield through his physicality and technical quality, so it’s essentially a question of which fixture needs him more and which game should take priority.
Manchester United will undoubtedly provide a tough test at Wembley, where Spurs have struggled against defensively-organised teams this season, but beating fourth-place Liverpool is arguably more important to the north London outfit’s hopes of Champions League qualification.
So, Tottenham fans, which opponent would you start Dembele against? Let us know by voting below…
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Fulham are ready to step up their attempts to sign West Ham star Ravel Morrison, by making a second offer for the player this week, according to the Daily Mirror.
The Cottagers saw a bid of £4million rejected for the former Manchester United prospect last week, and are now set to return with an increased offer of £4.5million, after Fulham owner Shahid Khan gave the go-ahead.
Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen believes there is still a chance for Fulham to sign the England under-21 midfielder, and is hopeful his strong relationship with the player will play a big part.
Meulensteen coached Morrison during the pairs time at Manchester United, and are understood to have kept a good working relationship.
West Ham only paid £650,000 for Morrison when signing him from the Old Trafford club in 2012.
Fulham are also willing to increase Morrison’s wages, with the 20-year-old currently earning £15,000 a week at Upton Park.
Fulham’s attempts to complete the deal have outraged West Ham, and have sparked a row between the relegation rivals.
The Hammers insist Morrison will be going nowhere, and have accused the Cottagers of tapping up the young midfielder.
Click below to see Arsenal, Fulham and Everton in action this weekend!
Wayne Rooney bounced back from scoring an early own goal to score twice for Manchester United as they beat Stoke in a six-goal thriller at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side bounced back from a disappointing home defeat against Tottenham with an impressive win away at Newcastle before the international break. The Red Devil’s hadn’t lost successive games on their own turf since 2003 but must have been fearing the worst after Rooney handed the Potters into a shock 11th minute lead.
Paul Scholes, making his 400th Premier League start, gave away a free kick that was delivered by Charlie Adam and indadvertedly headed into his home net by Rooney with former United youngster Ryan Shawcross lurking behind.
Adam then forced David De Gea into a smart save and Jonathan Walters fired wide as the visitors looked to capitalise on their shock lead but were pegged back just before the half hour mark. Rooney atoned for his error to score head home his first Premier League goal of the season from a fizzing Robin Van Persie cross.
Van Persie then steered in Antonio Valencia’s centre to deservedly put United in front heading into the break extending their lead just a minute after the restart as Rooney took advantage of a napping Stoke defence to set up Danny Welbeck for his first of the campaign.
But the home sides defensive frailties were once again brought to the fore in the 58th minute as Michael Kightly bulldozed his way through four challenges before finding the net via the post to give Stoke hope of mounting a stunning comeback.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Luckily for Ferguson and his players the visitors switched off again and Rooney was on hand to restore United’s two goal cushion and score his second of the game to ensure they stay hot on Chelsea’s heels at the top.
Jurgen Klopp is so keen to bring Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele to Liverpool this summer that he wants to meet the Frenchman’s mother, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.
What’s the story, then?
The report claims that Klopp wants more attacking options and depth and sees Dembele – valued at £72m by Transfermarkt – as a perfect option as he has tracked his career since his arrival at Borussia Dortmund.
It goes on to say that the German wants someone who does not constantly come inside but can beat his man on the outside with the pace that is the hallmark of this Reds team.
It also warns that Liverpool’s ever-intensifying pursuit of a new goalkeeper may be a stumbling block as the Reds struggle to find the funds for an elite stopper and the signing of Dembele.
Dembele’s pace would suit Liverpool
Nabil Fekir has been linked with Liverpool in recent days but the Lyon man is a playmaker, he would offer an alternative to what Liverpool already have but doesn’t have the devastating pace that Klopp has built this Reds team on.
Dembele certainly has that and just needs confidence after a debut season with Barcelona where he was charged with replacing Neymar after coming in for a bumper fee but did not set the world alight.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The Frenchman looks a dream fit for Klopp’s style of play and Liverpool should be able to find the money to transform their squad into an elite one with greater depth and options.
FA Cup holders Arsenal were dumped out of the third round of the competition on Sunday, beaten 4-2 by Championship side Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.
The Gunners were the victims of the one of the weekend’s big cup upsets, deservedly losing to a managerless Forest side.
The home side never really looked like losing the encounter, ahead for most of the 90 minutes and eventually pulling ahead to secure a comfortable victory.
The result is a bitter blow to Arsene Wenger, who has prided himself on a fantastic record in the FA Cup over his lengthy reign as Arsenal boss. Sunday’s defeat was actually his first ever third round exit.
Supporters were left disappointed with the result and performance, let down by fringe players in a much changed line-up from the Gunners last match.
Their attacking players got the brunt of criticism, with fans losing patience with the likes of Alex Iwobi, believing he has had far too many chances to impress in the Arsenal team without much of a contribution in return.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his performance…
It is an odd feeling for Ipswich fans right now, normally it is the time of year that the Tractor Boys call out for big changes to be made in the squad to try and prevent disaster.
However, the table right now makes for pleasant reading with Mick McCarthy’s side sitting nicely in the top six with an impressive unbeaten run still going.
Of course we are all guessing who will be targeted by the Suffolk side but another question we have to ask first is; should Ipswich be looking to sign anyone?
It may seem like madness at first to even suggest it but given the nature of the January transfer window the wrong signing could do more harm than good for Ipswich.
The mid-season window has a reputation for tempting managers to pay over the odds for players that are likely to disappoint. The price of any half-decent player will soar because of other clubs throwing silly money around in order to try and salvage their season. Ipswich have over-paid in this window a number of times and Marcus Evans will no doubt be reluctant to splash out this month.
Secondly you have to consider the effect of new signings on the squad harmony. When the team were under the control of Roy Keane and Paul Jewell there was no sense of togetherness within the squad and it showed on the pitch.
Under McCarthy there is a completely different vibe coming out from the dressing room that can be seen in the player’s body language and the way they interact with each other. I firmly believe that a large part of Ipswich’s success this season has been down to an improvement in the team chemistry so it would be careless to make a move that could potentially disrupt the dressing room.
The Tractor Boys boss has sent two defenders out on loan though so naturally he will have to bring in one or two faces. I can’t imagine McCarthy bringing in any top signings though as he won’t want to break up his current centre back partnership and it would be harsh to remove either of the two full-backs from the first team.
It has been rumoured that Richard Stearman could make a return to Portman Road but the rumours are far from convincing at this stage. The Wolves defender has six months left of his contract and the talk is that if he is not willing to sign a new contract soon then McCarthy’s former employers will cash in on Stearman instead of losing him for nothing in the summer.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
I wouldn’t rule it out from happening but it is worth noting that Stearman has expressed his happiness at Wolves and with them looking as though they are set for promotion he could easily stay put.
Personally I believe that the addition of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and the retention of Ryan Tunnicliffe are good enough positives to take from the January transfer window. It will be great to see the squad strengthened with one or two back-up signings but I am not expecting anything close to a spending spree from the Tractor Boys this month.
England have installed Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney as the nation’s captain for the upcoming World Cup qualifying clash with San Marino on Friday night.
With Steven Gerrard injured and Frank Lampard struggling with injury and unlikely to feature, Roy Hodgson needed another skipper to call upon.
It is believed that Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart was also in the running to wear the armband against the eastern European minnows, but Hodgson has given the talented attacker the nod.
Rooney has amassed 76 caps for the Three Lions, but this will be the first time that he has skippered the nation in a competitive fixture.
The Red Devils forward has expressed his delight with the decision, and is hoping to lead his side to a win at Wembley.
“It is a great honour. I’m really proud and excited. It will be a big night for me and my family,” he is quoted as saying on Sky Sports.
“It is a big challenge for myself. I don’t know what sort of captain I am and I already speak with all the players whether it is younger or older.
“But I will try and get the best out of myself and the other players – and hopefully they can get the best out of me.
“Hopefully it will be a great result for us and I’m looking forward to the game,” he concluded.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Steven Gerrard will most likely return to the team against Poland and retake the captaincy, as his suspension for being sent off against Ukraine will have been served.
Jose Mourinho looks to extend his record of never having lost a cup final in normal time when he lines up for his 15th as Manchester United take on his former club Chelsea in the Wembley showdown for the FA Cup on Saturday.
As the anticipation builds, ESPN have given Reds fans some early team news – England duo Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are in pole position to start at centre-half against the Blues.
The pair are still waiting to realise their potential, both capable of making a mistake and neither particularly trustworthy, especially on the big occasion.
That is the view of the club’s fans, who are raging that the pair – both remnants from the Sir Alex Ferguson era – look set to be preferred over Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof.
Those two big-money central defensive additions are clearly still not trusted by Mourinho – the man who brought both to the club – but when Jones and Smalling are the alternative, United fans are understandably raging…
Just one week ago, Football FanCast lamented James Ward-Prowse’s failure to consistently grab games by the scruff of the neck after scoring the only goal in an FA Cup win over Fulham. The one-cap England international may have done it against Championship opposition, but that only epitomised the infuriation that accompanies him; Ward-Prowse boasts all the technical ability a Premier League player could want but during his 155 top flight appearances to date, he’s very rarely transitioned it into match-winning prowess.
And thus, the curse of the commentator – or in this case, the writer – strikes again. Rather than being a rare reminder of what the 23-year-old is truly capable of, the winning goal against Fulham appears to have been something of a turning point for Ward-Prowse, who followed it up with a vital brace against Watford in Saturday’s 2-2 draw.
His opening strike was delicately placed into the bottom corner, but it was the previous movement rather than the finish itself that made the goal happen – ghosting into the box to feed off a backheel from Dusan Tadic. For his second goal, meanwhile, the midfielder became the spare man on the counter-attack, another well-timed run leaving Ward-Prowse with little to do but slot past the goalkeeper as Saints marauded up the pitch on the break.
The other aspects of Ward-Prowse’s game remained predictably solid; completing the most tackles, taking the most shots and launching the most accurate crosses of any Saints player. So if Ward-Prowse can combine that technical consistency with the movement and instinct to regularly find the net, he’ll no doubt become a crucial player for Southampton in the coming weeks – especially as the south coast side find themselves only one point clear of the relegation zone ahead of Stoke City’s visit to Manchester United.
With just nine top-flight goals to date, however, that’s still a very big if – but one Gareth Southgate will no doubt be taking a huge interest in as he prepares England for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This coming stretch of games could well prove to be Ward-Prowse’s coming of age, the moment he transitions from merely a tidy footballer to a genuine match-winner.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Andre Villas-Boas’ goal to bring Champions League football to Tottenham could be helped with the possible signing of FC Basel winger Mohamed Salah for £15million, according to the Daily Mail.
Tottenham had the opportunity to sign Salah earlier in the year, but, Villas-Boas declined the offer, as he wanted the young starlet to continue with his progress, but now the Tottenham scouts saw his performance against Chelsea last month, a deal could be back on the table.
Salah, 21, who can play as a winger/striker, could cause headaches for AVB as he has got the likes of Aaron Lennon, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela, Andros Townsend, Mousa Dembele and Nacer Chadli to choose from as his creative options in midfield.
Salah has scored three goals in 13 appearances so far this season for Basel, which includes the equalising goal against Chelsea, in the first Champions League group game of this season, which of course Basel famously won at the Bridge, 2-1.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.