Tag Futebol

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas believes his team did enough to deserve their 1-1 Premier League draw with Manchester United.

Spurs levelled the scores in second-half injury time, with Clint Dempsey slotting the ball past David de Gea.

Robin van Persie had given United the lead early on with a fine header in the first-half.

Although his team left it late, AVB believes that they did enough across the 90 minutes to deserve at least a point:

“It was important for us. We dominated the whole game – possession and shots,” he told Sky Sports.

“We controlled the game and played well. We deserved to win, to be fair.

“But Manchester United made the most of their opportunity and we were chasing against them, which is very difficult.

“But 60 per cent possession against United and 15 shots against four – we should have gone out with a win. We deserved this last-minute goal.”

The Portuguese coach was also delighted with the performance of his defence, who kept the league leaders’ attack very quiet:

“It might be the game where United have the least opportunities ever in the Premier League.

“It gives you a boost playing so well and getting the goal in the last minute.”

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Van Persie opened the scoring after 25 minutes, heading home at the back post from Tom Cleverley’s cross.

Tottenham pressed for long periods of the second-half and found the equaliser with moments to spare. Dempsey poked home from close range from an Aaron Lennon pass deep into injury time.

[cat_link cat=”tottenham-hotspur” type=”grid”]

Sunderland fans have pretty much given up on their side escaping relegation, and are now suggesting replacing the first team with schoolchildren.

Chris Coleman’s side fell to yet another home defeat on Saturday as Preston North End left Sunderland with just about the easiest three points they’ll ever get on their travels.

Chelsea loanee Jake Clarke-Salter was sent off for the Black Cats, and goals from Sean Maguire and Callum Robinson gave the visitors a comfortable 2-0 win.

Sunderland are still in with a shot of escaping the drop thanks to the form of teams around them, but fans don’t seem to be holding much hope of a revival.

The Black Cats travel to Derby after the international break before hosting Sheffield Wednesday, and fans have come up with an interesting suggestion to get some better performances.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

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 club posted some pictures of Chris Coleman and his backroom staff visiting Ryhope Junior School on Tuesday, and let’s just say the fans don’t seem to think the kids will learn too much from it.

Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…

Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette has the quality to play for clubs of Liverpool and Arsenal’s stature, according to ex-team-mate and now Aston Villa star Aly Cissokho.

The 23-year-old French star has been one of Ligue 1’s standout performers this term, topping the division’s scoring charts with a stunning 17 goals.

His electric displays have alerted a host of clubs across Europe, with Liverpool and Arsenal thought to be very keen on the pacey hit-man.

Although Lyon are adamant that he’s not for sale, financial issues in French football may render then unable to resist decent offers, with bids in the region of £15m having been mooted.

Although some players in the past have struggled to adapt following moves over the Channel, Cissokho – who played alongside him at the Stade Gerland – believes that Lacazette has the work ethic and ability to thrive with Arsenal or Liverpool:

“It’s great, I’m happy for him. He’s a player who, when I was there, came from the reserve team to train with us, but you could see he had a future.” He is quoted by Squawka.

“He was serious in his work, and showed his determination in each session. He steadily grew in confidence, and has established himself in the team. I think he’s starting to show his potential to the whole of Europe. He has quality, and is going to get better and better.

“What he is capable of doing now is very good for Lyon and France. He’s a young player, and clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool have a lot of competition for places up front, and as a foreigner it’s also different because you have to leave your home town and those close to you.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“It’s a challenge, it’s up to him to see if he’s ready to take it on. We’ll see what happens in the summer, but he easily has the quality to play in teams of that stature.”

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp is hoping to bring Fulham defender Brede Hangeland to Loftus Road in January according to the Express.

Redknapp is desperate to sure up Rangers’ leaky defence that has conceded 33 goals in 19 games and sees them bottom of the Premier League table.

Redknapp has been critical of some of QPR’s high earning players this week and bringing a model professional like Hangeland to club would be a sign of intent from the former Spurs and West Ham manager.

Norwegian defender Hangeland is mulling over a contract extension at Craven Cottage as his current deal expires at the end of the season, so a move in January could be beneficial to all parties if he wants to leave.

The 31-year-old has been superb for the Whites since his arrival in 2008 and has turned down moves away from Fulham in the past.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

A short trip down the road to QPR could be an option though as they will be able to offer him better wages and a longer contract than Fulham.

As reported by The Scottish Sun, Rangers defender Russell Martin is a major doubt for the visit of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership this Sunday.

What’s the story?

The upcoming derby is Rangers’ biggest match of the season by a distance and coming off the back of six wins in all competitions, there’s a confidence coming from Ibrox that hasn’t been seen for years.

However, it looks as if they’ll have to contend with an injury or two heading into the match, with defender Russell Martin struggling to make it.

That’s according to The Scottish Sun, who say that the 32-year-old was ruled out of training on Thursday with a back injury, instead receiving intensive physiotherapy treatment.

While still clinging on to some hope he could make the fixture, the paper say that Bruno Alves is set to start in his absence.

How big a miss will he be?

Martin has brought experience and quality to Rangers’ defensive line at a key stage of the season and his loan signing from Norwich City has been a definite success so far.

Graeme Murty’s side have lost just once in the matches he has played and alongside David Bates has built an effective partnership for Scottish Premiership level.

Bruno Alves is still getting back to full match fitness after a significant period out and supporters definitely have their doubts about the decorated Portuguese star.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

David Bates coped well at Celtic Park in the last match between the two sides so, alongside Alves, Rangers might not miss Martin too much, but Murty would undoubtedly have preferred the Scotland international to be available.

[ad_pod ]

Adnan Januzaj is determined to get off of the Manchester United bench and take on the likes of Wayne Rooney, Angel di Maria and Juan Mata for the No. 10 role in Louis van Gaal’s side, according to his agent.

The Belgian starlet was one of the few bright sparks in the Red Devils’ woeful 2013/14 season, with his emergence under David Moyes blisteringly quick.

But despite the signs of promise from the versatile attacker, Van Gaal has, on most occasions this term, overlooked the 19-year-old – he is yet to start in the Premier League playing just 122 minutes from the bench.

WANT MORE? >> Manchester United transfer news | Latest transfer news

And with the likes of Rooney, Mata and Di Maria all fighting for advanced roles in Van Gaal’s midfield, Januzaj’s chances of game time appear slim.

However, his agent, Dirk de Vries, says that the teenager is determined to gain experience in his favoured position at United:

‘We want to stay,’ said the teenager’s agent Dirk de Vries. ‘Adnan wants to gain experience in England as No 10 — he doesn’t fear the competition.” He is quoted by the Daily Mail.

“Just like anyone else he wants to play but he will wait for his opportunity. He is a super professional and he is still motivated, even when he has to play for the Under 21s.

“We’re not angry. We know the club is very happy with him and they want to keep Adnan for the rest of his career at Old Trafford. They believe in him, otherwise he wouldn’t be handed the No 11 of Ryan Giggs.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“We have to wait until Van Gaal gives him a chance. But we cannot look into the Dutchman’s head and know what he thinks. I believe Adnan plays well at this moment and I’ve heard that he could start the game on Monday.”

[ad_pod ]

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

In 1660 Samuel Pepys began to pen one of the most famous diaries of all time; the finished article granting historians with an unrivalled insight into the English Restoration period.

Centuries later, amidst the horrors of World War II; a young Anne Frank documented her family’s haunting ordeal living in hiding from an anti-Semitic regime.

Today, a new literary masterpiece is being produced. You may not have read it, nor even heard of it. That it is because it is the closest of closely guarded secrets. Always the master of rhetoric; André Villas-Boas has been keeping a personal account of his musings, feelings and personal life since his humble beginnings in charge of the British Virgin Islands.

Today, Football FanCast is very excited to reveal that it has exclusive access to this elusive window into the mind of everyones’ favourite auburn-stubbled Portuguese tactician. Click the video below to listen to a reading of the first of many instalments from The Secret Diary of André Villas-Boas.

[youtube jpQz-5Etr7w]

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Roberto Firmino has had to play a bit-part role for Brazil at the World Cup, much to the dislike of Liverpool fans.

The 26-year-old was a key player in the Reds’ season as he formed part of a scintillating attack alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

In total, Firmino scored 26 goals in all competitions, including 15 in the Premier League to help Liverpool finish fourth, and 10 in the Champions League to push them to the final, which they lost to Real Madrid 3-1 in Kiev.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”262625″ player=”12034″ title=”England (2018) vs. England (Experienced) Football Manager Simulation”]

Despite the forward’s fantastic campaign in front of goal, Brazil coach Tite has opted to select Gabriel Jesus in all four of the nation’s matches so far.

Firmino has only played 37 minutes of competitive action in Russia across three fixtures after coming on as a substitute.

What do you think of the World Cup so far? Let us know and win any World Cup shirt of your choice.

The Liverpool star opened his scoring account on Monday after Neymar slid the ball across for his teammate to knock into an open goal, which signalled a 2-0 victory over Mexico in the last-16 stage.

Somewhat bizarrely, a handful of Brazil’s players ran to Neymar first instead of the goalscorer.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Some Liverpool fans took note of this and criticised the Paris Saint-Germain star on Twitter.

Manchester United recovered from 2-o down to beat Crystal Palace 3-2 last night, thanks to Nemanja Matic’s stoppage time stunner.

It was an abject first half from United, who struggled to cope with Palace’s front two of Christian Benteke and Alexander Sorloth and failed to offer any cohesion in attack.

After Patrick van Aanholt’s strike caught the Red Devils cold early in the second half, there were signs of improvement from many players but one man who still struggled to influence the game was Paul Pogba.

There has been much discussion about Pogba’s best position in recent weeks, with many observers feeling that he was stifled as part of a two-man midfield alongside Matic earlier on in the season.

[ad_pod ]

Recently, Pogba has been freed up to play on the left of a midfield trio in a 4-3-3 system, where he shone at Juventus but it failed to make any impact last night as the game largely passed him by, even when United launched their fightback.

Pogba posted a message of celebration on Twitter which drew a mixed reaction from fans. Some feel he is showing signs of improvement and giving his all but others are still not impressed and are calling on the French superstar to up his game ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash at home to Liverpool.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

We’ve taken a closer look at some of the reaction from United fans…

While Manchester United, Southampton and Hull fans, among others, were enjoying watching transfer deadline day unfold, Leeds supporters’ experiences were a little less inspiring.

The go to place for fans of the Whites was the club’s own Twitter account, but those who followed with baited breath may wish they hadn’t bothered as they were met with a barrage of disappointing updates.

It all started on a promising note with the permanent capture of loanee Souleymane Doukara, which was quickly followed by calls to stay tuned for big deals and a retweet from their excited captain, Jason Pearce. A top striker coming in? An Italian wonderkid plucked by Massimo Cellino?

Erm… not quite. The following hour saw Matt Smith’s move to Fulham unfold before talented youngster Dominic Poleon slipped out of the door to join Oldham.

But was there a last minute deal to save the day? Not quite. Take a look at the tweets below and try not to laugh or cry, depending upon whom you support…

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]