Everton are reportedly lining up a summer swoop for Catania defender Luka Bogdan.
What’s the story?
According to reports in Italy, Everton are hoping to secure a summer deal for Bogdan, a towering defender who has enjoyed an excellent season in Serie C for Catania.
Everton fans might have their doubts about signing a player from Italy’s third tier, but Bogdan is highly regarded and has been a huge part of lifting Catania to second place, conceding just 24 goals in 28 games along the way.
It is no secret Sam Allardyce is lining up potential summer deals for defenders, and Bogdan is not the first name linked and he won’t be the last. Still, a cut-price deal for the up and coming star could be on the cards for the Toffees this summer.
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Should Everton chase a deal?
Bogdan is only 21, but has enjoyed a fantastic season for Catania, starting 24 games in their quest for promotion. He stands at 6’4”, so could bring a towering presence to the Everton back line.
The young defender is a real threat in the air, and has grabbed a goal this season from the back. He has represented Croatia at U15, U16 and U19 level, but is still waiting for his first senior call-up.
Of course, any move for Bogdan would be a long-term plan. Valued at just £270,000 on Transfermarkt, the 21 year-old could be a bargain deal just waiting to explode in the right environment.
That said, the best option for Everton would surely be to loan the defender back to Catania if they get promoted, as the immediate jump from Serie C to the Premier League could just be too much.
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With Ashley Williams and Phil Jagielka reaching the end of their Everton careers, there is certainly a need for a long-term defensive force at Goodison. Still, any move for Bogdan must be accompanied by a more immediate star to partner the likes of Michael Keane and Mason Holgate in the near future.
Everton fans, do you think a move for Bogdan could be a shrewd investment? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
Laurent Koscielny returned to the Arsenal matchday squad for the Gunners’ 2-0 midweek win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.A lot of the Arsenal faithful were begging Arsene Wenger to rush back the Frenchman and actually start him alongside Per Mertesacker against the German opposition, however, he wasn’t needed as Nacho Monreal was comfortable in keeping Dortmund’s frontline quiet.Koscielny did return for Arsenal today in their early kick-off against West Bromwich Albion, with Nacho Monreal moving to his more recognisable position of left-back and Kieran Gibbs dropping to the bench.There’s a real feeling amongst Arsenal fans that with their Frenchman back at the heart of their defence, things will improve quickly, meaning the Gunners can hopefully go on a decent run of form to kick start their flagging Premier League campaign.Don’t believe me? Well, Twitter does!
West Brom are looking to end their alarming decrease in form. They are winless in four and will be eager to get back to winning ways against the Canaries in this fixture. Norwich are flying though, they are unbeaten in 10 Premier League games and this is the best run in the side’s history in the Premier League.
Steve Clarke’s men still remain dangerous opposition for anyone and it wasn’t all that long ago they sat 3rd in the table.
The West Midlands outfit will be sure that this Saturday is the time where they turn it round and ensure they secure all 3 points and a vital victory.
Chris Hughton’s men though fear nobody at the moment and a run of six wins and four draws from their last 10 league games has lifted Norwich into the top half of the table.
A win would take Norwich to within touching distance of the top four and above this weekend’s opposition.
Youssouf Mulumbu remains suspended for Saturday’s clash with the Canaries at the Hawthorns. Claudio Yacob also remains a doubt due to a hamstring injury. There is better news for the Baggies on the goalkeeping front with Ben Foster returning to full training this week.
Norwich captain Grant Holt is a doubt for the West Brom game with a hamstring problem. Steve Morison is expected to lead the line in his absence and Harry Kane is back in contention following 2 months out with a metatarsal injury.
Ryan Bennett is also set to resume full training but Andrew Surman and John Ruddy are out for the long term and will miss out on this one for sure.
West Brom have kept eight clean sheets in their last 13 Premier League home matches, but will hoping not for another 0-0 like last week this time round.
Prediction: West Brom 0-1 Norwich
Check the odds ahead of the game at the Hawthorns with William Hill here
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As reported by The Mirror, Liverpool are closing in on a £40m move for Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland this summer.
What’s the story?
A big priority for many Liverpool supporters this summer is signing a top quality goalkeeper to complement their improving defence and it seems that’s also a priority for Jurgen Klopp and the club.
The Mirror report that Liverpool are ready to offer a massive £40m for Stoke City’s Jack Butland, a fee which would be a world record for a goalkeeper if it comes off.
The paper say the shot-stopper is keen on a move to Anfield, rather than making a switch to Arsenal.
Is he the answer to Liverpool’s goalkeeping problems?
A new number one?
Jurgen Klopp has struggled to find a reliable goalkeeper during his time at Anfield and this season has been no different with both Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius struggling to make the number one spot their own.
Despite Stoke’s problems this season, Jack Butland is seen as one of the division’s finest between the sticks and on his day has won points for the Potters, examples being their 1-0 win over Arsenal in August when he put in a man-of-the-match calibre performance or against Southampton just last week when he helped keep another clean sheet.
His best season so far came in 2015/16 when he kept an impressive 10 clean sheets for Stoke, conceding just 37 goals in 31 appearances.
The England international’s side may be shipping goals an at extraordinary rate and struggling to stay up this season but few have been his fault and he has the ability to come in and provide stability behind the Reds’ defensive line.
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He should be definitely considered as a solution to Klopp’s goalkeeping woes this summer.
Brendan Rodgers is adamant that his Liverpool side’s stuttering start to the season has not been the disaster it’s widely been made out to be, and that the Reds are still on course to achieve a top four finish.
After coming so close to a first Premier League title last term, the Anfield side were highlighted as trophy favourites alongside champions Manchester City and Chelsea in the build-up to the campaign.
Yet after the loss of last season’s top player Luis Suarez, and a raft of new additions, Liverpool are some way off of the pace and have been roundly criticised by their own fans and pundits.
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Heading into 2014/15 Rodgers insisted that finishing in the top four and making it into the knockout stage of the Champions League were his major goals, and the Northern Irishman is confident that they remain distinct possibilities:
“I think perspective is something that will be lost because of the nature of our rise,” he told the Liverpool Echo.
“When I hear people talk and I hear people criticise the team, that’s fine as you expect to get criticism when you lose games.
“But if you look at where we were last season and what has happened over the summer and in the early months of this season, if you are someone who works on logic and reality you will understand that it’s not a simple process.
“Unfortunately, there is another little period of transition with so many new players coming in. We’ve had injuries and we also lost a world-class player in Luis Suarez.
“I repeat we’ve lost nearly 75% to 80% of our goals from the team in terms of Luis leaving and Daniel Sturridge not being available. We have to find different ways in order to replace that.
“I think at this moment in time with everything that has been thrown at the team, a sense of perspective is very important.
“In the league we are equal fourth on points and we’re playing in the last 16 of the League Cup next week.
“Our objective in the Champions League was to get out of our group and that’s still in our hands. Everyone saw up close just how good Real Madrid are and it looks like it will be a fight for second place between three clubs.
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“It’s how people want to spin it, but for me our season is very much on track.
“There’s still a lot of great work going on here. We’re working harder than what we did last season and eventually we will get the same results.”
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert celebrated the performance of Andreas Weimann after his side’s 4-1 Capital One Cup quarter-final win against Norwich.
The Austrian netted twice to help the Villains book their spot in the final four of the competition, after replacing the injured Darren Bent on the 35 minute mark
Lambert praised the 21-year-old’s hunger and determination after the game:
“He was brilliant, one thing about Andi is he is a natural finisher and his work ethic for the game of football is absolutely brilliant.” He is quote by the club’s official website.
“If Andi was getting X amount of money, you’d get the same out of him in every game.
“That is a testament to him. I left him out just to give him a rest in the last couple of weeks but Weimann is a natural goalscorer.
“He ran himself into the ground, especially in the two Manchester games and the Arsenal game, but he came back tonight and he certainly knows where the goal is.”
The Scotsman was also happy with the overall performance of his team:
“I thought in the whole game we were excellent,
“Their goalkeeper made some terrific saves. Norwich had chances as well.
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“But I thought the lads were excellent. We’ve been playing like that since the Sunderland game.
“We’ve been playing really, really well and not had the results we might have had. I’m delighted for the team, I really am.”
Steve Morison opened the scoring for the Canaries, before goals from Brett Holman, Weimann and Christian Benteke decided the tie.
The Chelsea fans in the Transfer Tavern are hoping that following the World Cup, the Blues will finally look to spend some money. They’ve been quiet thus far, and that could have terrible consequences for them next season.
They’re already quite a long way behind their Premier League rivals, as evidenced by their poor form last season, and the longer they wait to sign players, the worse that gap is going to become.
This summer is about rebuilding the team, and so a few big names are needed. Fortunately, the World Cup offers a fantastic chance for managers to get a glimpse of who they could target ahead of next season, and our landlord thinks that the Blues would struggle to do better than Xherdan Shaqiri.
What do you think of the World Cup so far? Let us know
Shaqiri, who was recently relegated with Stoke City, was at the times the only member of the squad that looked good enough to remain in the Premier League – and he finished the campaign with a team-high eight league goals.
A dazzling attacker with great pace, energy and technical ability, the Swiss winger offers a lot going forward, and given the struggles that the likes of Willian and Pedro had last term, a move for him would certainly add some much-needed quality. He scored 8 league goals for a team that looked poor – so you’d expect that record to improve for a side like Chelsea.
He’s continued his fine form over to the World Cup this summer, too. He’s picked up 1 goal and 1 assist in just three games thus far, and he’s been an influential figure for Switzerland.
For Chelsea, then, a move makes a lot of sense, and his form in the World Cup should be catching the eyes of the Blues’ brass.
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According to reports, Everton have joined AC Milan and Valencia in the race to sign Porto defender Ivan Marcano.
What’s the story?
Marcano has moved around a lot in his career, having spent time in Spain, Greece, Russia and now Portugal. Calciomercato claims that AC Milan have identified the 30 year-old defender as a summer target, but face competition from Everton and Valencia.
According to the report, Marcano will have his pick of the clubs when his contract runs out in June, allowing him to choose his next destination based on wages and guarantees of playing time.
The central defender, who can also play as a left back, has been at Porto since 2014 and has been instrumental in their fantastic form this season.
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Should Everton pursue him?
Everton could do a lot worse than look to Marcano to solve their defensive woes. The 30-year-old Spaniard is valued at £7.2million on Transfermarkt, so getting him for free when his contract runs out would be a steal.
He has Champions League experience and title winning experience, having won the Greek Superleague in both 2012 and 2014 with Olympiacos. His age should not be a factor as it would be a free transfer, so even if he only served the Toffees for two or three years the move would be worth it.
Marcano has started 21 games for Porto in the league this year, and has grabbed three goals and an assist. He is superb in the air, rarely loses concentration, and has a knack for finding a forward pass to get his team on the attack quickly.
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Whether or not Sam Allardyce will be Everton manager next season is still up in the air, but whoever is in charge at Goodison would be foolish not to pursue Marcano on a free transfer.
Everton fans, would you like to see a swoop for Marcano? Let us know your thoughts…
The formula for success for any football club, from the early amateur days of the game to the multi-billion pound industry that it has become today, is strength in every area of the team. While the attackers may make the headlines and more often than not grab the awards, the old-fashioned centre backs, the anchor men and the sweeper keepers – though less glamorous and show-stopping than those who score the goals – are equally as important. For every Lionel Messi there needs to be a Gerard Pique, for every Andriy Shevchenko a Paolo Maldini, and if an equal degree of emphasis is not placed on defence, midfield and attack, then the chance of glory at the end of the season is slim.
The crazy world of the Premier League likes to do things a bit differently, however. After five successive seasons in which more than 1,050 goals were scored – only the 1999/2000 campaign can match this in the league’s 38-game format – the Premier League’s lust for goals shows no sign of resting. The memo this year seems to be a wilful disregard of all notions of defence and protecting one’s own net in favour of simply scoring more goals than the opposition. With a current average of 2.86 goals per game, this season is on course to being the highest-scoring Premier League campaign ever.
José Mourinho’s league leaders Chelsea – who once prided themselves on their parsimonious defence, especially during the Portuguese’s first spell in charge – have already conceded seven goals in their opening five games, three more than 19th placed Burnley. Liverpool and Manchester United, two clubs with serious top four aspirations, have conceded eight apiece, while Everton – who impressed many last season with their record points total – top the charts, having let 13 goals slip past Tim Howard.
The fact that the teams who usually occupy the top positions of the league have come to mind first when talking about defensive incompetence is significant, as it suggests that the fight for the top four is going to be tighter than ever. Whilst it is usually the teams that possess the greatest firepower or world-class talent that manage to qualify for the Champions League, this season it seems to be a case of the teams who can actually be bothered with defending effectively.
Liverpool’s defensive shortcomings were evident last year despite finishing as runners-up, and the departure of Luis Suarez has exposed this to an even greater extent. Based on their performance in the League Cup victory over Middlesbrough, Kolo Toure and Mamadou Sakho are like the Laurel and Hardy of English football, with the constant potential for cringe-inducing calamity and slapstick blunders just around the corner. Fortunately, this is not Liverpool’s first-choice centre-back pairing, though Martin Skrtel is no stranger to gaffes either.
Meanwhile over at Manchester United, Louis van Gaal has adopted an extreme laissez-faire approach to his defence, pinning all his hopes instead on his star-studded attack to score enough goals to win the game. While this can work at times against toothless opposition such as Queen’s Park Rangers, it is a recipe for disaster against any team who shows the slightest amount of attacking intent. The sight of the hapless United backline – bearing no structure or shape whatsoever – being trounced by a rampant Leicester City attack was compelling and will surely encourage other teams to take the game to the Red Devils.
At Everton, Roberto Martinez seems to be engaging in some well-intentioned yet defensively costly act of philanthropy, giving the old timers of Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin and Tim Howard one last season to stretch their ageing legs on the turf of Goodison Park – with not a care in the world about the industrial quantities of goals that are shipped into the net – before they are handed their zimmer frames and nudged gently towards the exit door.
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This unprecedented, almost comic disinterest in one of the most rudimentary and vital aspects of football means that the fight for the Champions League spaces may be more unpredictable than ever this season. If teams vying for the top four simply remember to close one door – the all-important defensive door – then a more lucrative door may very well open in May.
It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…
Oh how I miss Alan Curbishley. Every Friday I watch Curbs analyse the weekend’s coming matches on Sky Sports News and reminisce back to when I was a young man sitting in the stands at the Valley, singing “Valley Floyd Road” with my pre-pubescent voice-box, spoilt rotten with two Premier League promotions and privileged with high quality football. Little did I know the pain I would suffer as a result of the demise of Charlton Athletic.
Watching your club drop two divisions in three seasons is truely heartbreaking, and leads to internal discussions within one’s own head as to why and how you ever came to support such a club, when friends seem so much happier supporting Manchester United or Chelsea. I eventually worked it out by the way – a Charlton fan supports Charlton because their dad supports Charlton. Failing that, they support United but like the idea of watching a team in red play on a Saturday.
Chris Powell has certainly restored some faith and pride in the club amongst fans. A former player who always gave his best, Powell was the perfect fit after the club’s failure to get itself out of league 1. But following a successful promotion campaign, can the once-capped England international take Charlton any further than their current role as a middle to lower, possibly to much lower, Championship club? Or considering this is a similar position to where Alan Curbishley found the Addicks when he took over with Steve Gritt in 1991, was Curbs’ 7th place finish at the end of the 2003/2004 Premier League season the best a small club from South East London could ever hope for? Was he truly the Messiah? And now his time has passed, will we be forever banished from the promised land of top flight football.
It does seem, following the departure of “the cockney great one”, the solution was simply to find another Curbishley. Although Iain Dowie was given a fair amount of money, which he may as well have stood in the Valley centre circle and set fire to, we have forever been a club without finance.
Part of the reason for the Robins’ eventual demise was a lack of investment into the team. Players such as Claus Jensen, Scott Parker and Danny Murphy were replaced with the ageing Matt Holland, Amdy Faye and Bryan Hughes – the most passive midfielder in footballing history (i’ve never seen a single player play so many consecutive games without touching the ball).
Charlton’s record signing still stands at £4.75million for Jason Euell, although future incentives for Darren Bent’s £2.5million transfer from Ipswitch have probably now exceeded that deal. The Red Robins have always been a club that relies on their manager to get the best out of their players, with limited financial backing or resources. Even the fan base is relatively small compared to the majority of Premier League and many Championship clubs, who have stadiums far exceeding the Valley’s 27,000 capacity.
Looking back, it feels we bit off more than we could chew. Perhaps it didn’t seem so at the time, but expectations remained too high in the seasons following our relegation from the top flight, and huge pressure was installed upon Alan Pardew and the players for results. Charlton took a gamble on their first season in the Championship to keep the majority of players and maintain the team’s quality. Unfortunately, this didn’t work out as the club finished six points short of the play-offs. The following year, the Premier League quality players left, to be replaced by youngsters and players from the lower leagues. Instead of pushing for promotion, we finished bottom of the table.
By the way, a warning to all Newcastle fans about Alan Pardew – when things are going well for Pardew, they tend to go very well. But when the wheels come off, the man becomes somewhat powerless. It is not only his record at the Addicks that suggests this trend.
Charlton’s story isn’t the only case study of former Premier League teams that have had a spectacular fall from grace. Both Sheffield clubs dropped to League 1 following spells in the top flight and Leeds United we’re once a competitive European team who also dropped the third tier of English football.
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This year’s Championship is filled with former Premier League clubs, many of whom are finding life difficult at the moment. Bolton, Birmingham and Wolves are occupying the places above the relegation zone, and similarly Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough continue their long stay in the Championship despite once being top-flight institutions. Leicester City continually struggle with promotion but once finished in the Premier League top ten four years in a row. All of the above mentioned clubs outweigh Charlton in terms of resources.
I remember disgruntled Charlton fans moaning about Curbishley’s difficulty in getting the club into the top ten, often ending the season with relegation-form ten game runs, but considering the club’s finances, fan base, facilities and likelihood of attracting quality players, was a bid for Europe ever an achievable dream? I fear we are now feeling the hang-over for our success-addicted binge.
Charlton fans are pessimistic by nature, but I would like to end on a positive note. Chris Powell is a good manager, despite recent disgruntlement at the start of the season from the Valley faithful. We are in a league where anything could happen – we are currently 14th, but are just five points from sixth. I am yet to be convinced that Powell is the next Curbishley, or that we have the quality in depth required to gain promotion. But should the Addicks return to the Premier League, i’ll remember to count my blessings.