All posts by rastrear-estafeta.com

Jason Burt has said that Fabio Cannavaro is now a candidate for the permanent Everton manager job, alongside both Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard.

The Lowdown: Hunt ongoing

The hunt to find a new permanent manager at Goodison Park is still ongoing, after Duncan Ferguson was given the job on a temporary basis, with his first game coming at home to Aston Villa in the Premier League at lunchtime.

The likes of Jose Mourinho, Niko Kovac and Lampard have all been linked recently with the vacancy, as it seems that the board have not made their mind up yet over the direction that they want to go in with their appointment.

The Latest: Cannavaro a candidate

As per The Daily Telegraph journalist Burt, Cannavaro has now emerged as a candidate for the job, after holding initial talks with the Merseyside club:

“Conflicting claims as to how Fabio Cannavaro fared in his talks with Everton.

“I am told that not only did he interview well – and speaks good English – but the shortlist may now just be down to him, Wayne Rooney or Frank Lampard.”

The Verdict: Avoid

There is no doubt that Cannavaro had a glittering career as a player, but his managerial CV is not exactly an enticing prospect for Toffees fans.

He has won the Chinese Super League title and Super Cup with Guangzhou Evergrande, but despite over 200 matches of managerial experience under his belt, he has never managed in a top European league before, let alone the Premier League.

At Guangzhou, he was believed to be the ‘protege’ to Marcello Lippi, but his tactics and touchline adjustments were criticised, according to Chinese football expert Zhao Xiaoou (via The Daily Mail).

Nonetheless, it would be a big gamble to hire him, and the board simply cannot afford to get their next appointment wrong.

In other news, find out what manager update has Toffees fuming here!

The career of Mikey Johnston has flattered to deceive on many an occasion at Celtic with several Hoops managers now failing to get the best from him at Parkhead.

Whether that is down to the coaching, the player, or positional rivals is very much a cause for debate.

This term, the 22-year-old has had to compete with the likes of Jota, Liel Abada and even Kyogo Furuhashi on the flanks meaning game time has been severely limited.

However, he has very rarely grabbed his opportunity with both hands. After Jota was ruled out through injury, Ange Postecoglou challenged the young Scot to grab the bull by the horns.

“Ultimately, we need guys like Mikey and Liel (Abada) to step up, that’s why they’re here at the club.

“And if the opportunity exists for them it’s up to them to take it,” the Australian said.

However, just as a chance presents itself, Johnston is out injured again. He missed the club’s last gasp win over Ross County last night and after that, there should really be no way back for the Celtic man in Glasgow.

In the words of Frank McAvennie, this is a problem that’s been going on “for years now.”

He told Football Insider this week: “He’s barely getting a game and when he does play he is really struggling.

“Sell him. I would like to see him moved on for the benefit of his own career. Ange gave him a chance with Jota out and he’s not done anything.

“Some fans might disagree but he’s simply not good enough for what Ange is trying to build.”

It’s hard to disagree with those sentiments. Johnston has scored just 11 times in his Hoops career and is yet to find the net for Postecoglou this term.

In the process of amassing that disappointing number, the attacker has spent over 557 days on the treatment table and has missed around 68 fixtures.

He may only earn a weekly salary of £7.9k-per-week but that money is surely better spent on someone of greater quality or even a player who doesn’t take up so much time with the physios.

It seems harsh but ultimately, the winger has not delivered on the pitch with his performances or with his fitness.

After breaking on the scene in 2018, divisive figure Chris Sutton tweeted the following: “Is Mikey Johnston the new Ryan Christie? Celtic’s fringe players at the start of the season coming to the fore when it counts.”

Sadly, he has not stood up and been counted on too many occasions since and just like Christie, he must seek a new club.

AND in other news, Forget Abada: Celtic gem who won 67% duels proved he’s now someone “Ange can’t ignore”…

Manchester United have been linked to a number of players, especially defensive midfielders, which has been claimed to be the most important area to fix at Old Trafford, however, the club has now been linked to a player in a very different position.

What’s the word?

Journalist, Robin Bairner, has taken to his social media account to further report that Manchester United are “keeping an eye on” Paris St Germain forward, Mauro Icardi.

Bairner tweeted furthering the report with his own perspective on the rumour;

“Man Utd keeping an eye on PSG striker Mauro Icardi, L’Equipe reports. No contact made yet, but said that if Martial or Cavani leaves, they could move.”

“Seems unlikely given his lack of overall contribution to the team. And Icardi would still be firmly second choice.”

The L’Equipe report suggests that United are interested in the striker hailed an “animal” by AC Milan manager, Stefan Pioli, however, they will have competition from Juventus, who have also shown interest in securing his signature.

Fans will be fuming

The Red Devils already signed a new striker in the summer, with Cristiano Ronaldo returning to the club and they also currently have Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial in their ranks too.

As a result, Man United fans would surely be fuming if money was wasted in positions that clearly don’t need to be covered in the team. Arguably the midfield is the weakest area on the pitch in the current squad, and a defensive midfielder in particular to better their ability to keep the ball.

Rangnick’s current midfielders have come under fire for their poor performances over the first half of the season. According to SofaScore the side has lost the majority of their duels this season in the Premier League (50.1%) and lose possession on average a whopping 135.8 times.

Fans have made it clear on social media what position they need to fill in the January transfer window, with one supporter Tweeting after the defeat to Wolves at Old Trafford;

“Clear indication that we need a defensive midfielder this January, that was pathetic from Manchester United, absolutely outclassed in the midfield and attack areas.”

The signing of the £25.2m-rated gem, when they already have the second-highest scoring footballer in the history of the game in their team, doesn’t seem to make sense, and would surely be a waste of money for the Manchester club; Rangnick must focus on other areas during the short transfer window if he plans to make any signings.

In other news: Romano claims Henderson wants a move

Fans of the Sky Sports show Soccer Saturday will no doubt be aware that Jeff Stelling, after 25 years at the helm presenting the live football results and game chat show, is stepping down.

At the age of 66, Jeff has made the decision that it is time for him to step aside and you can clearly see the reason why, when he talks about taking the Abbot Ale ‘slow down’ pledge.

‘Unbelievable’ Jeff (his official title according to Chris Kamara anyway!) explains:

“As I get a little older, I am trying to slow down! Life is still so frantic but I want to enjoy pleasures like a dog walk, a round of golf or especially a good pint! I say cheers to those who have the option of slowing down that bit sooner than me!”

The partnership with Abbot Ale, who are trying to introduce the nation to a new pint drinking concept to the British pub culture, highlights that most Brits aspire to slow down at the age of 43, the theory being, at that point, they will have had 25 fast paced years.

It is interesting that people are starting to see there is more to life than money and working long hours.   In the UK, we work amongst the longest hours in Europe and maybe lockdown and restrictions to going out during this pandemic has made people question what they are doing in life and more importantly, what they want to do.

In light of this, Abbot Ale is on a mission to get the nation to slow down and savour.

And what do we do to slow down?  Well, it will be no surprise that football is on the list of activities we enjoy when trying to switch off from work, and of course, the pub also features – and let’s be honest, the two go hand in hand – we can even throw in a walk (to and from the pub and stadiums to watch the football!), having a pint and a pie and chips to cover even more of the top ten slowing down activities.

Go for a walk Enjoy nature Read a book Listen to music Going for a meal Do some gardening Cook something nice Have a beer or wine Watch sport Going to the pub

Or maybe all of the above, whilst on the way to watching some football?

Despite taking a point at Stamford Bridge last night, Everton have been struggling to find consistency in the Premier League this season, with just one win and three losses in their last five games, but with so much fan ire directed at Rafael Benitez, is the Spaniard truly to blame?

What’s the story?

Sky Sports journalist, Michael Bridge, has revealed where he believes the problems lie in an interview with Give Me Sport: “I think with Everton, it’s more of a board thing.

“I’m looking at Everton, I’m thinking they have spent money in the past and they’re finding it really hard to get players out.”

Benitez has had speculation mounting on the vulnerability of his position and it has been even reported that the Spanish manager could be replaced by Derby County’s Wayne Rooney.

However, after a draw at Chelsea on Thursday evening with up to 12 players missing from the Everton squad due to an outbreak in the camp and injuries, Benitez should be looking safer in his position than he was after the Toffees’ poor performance against Crystal Palace last weekend.

Is Benitez the issue at Everton?

Everton have spent over £500 million since the arrival of owner, Farhad Moshiri in 2016, with five different managers appointed and the signing of more than 30 players in this time, but absolutely no progress – Everton sit in 14th in the Premier League with only five wins from seventeen so far this season.

The most recent behind the scenes drama at the club was the departure of sporting director, Marcel Brands, after three and a half years with the club. In a statement, Brands made it clear that he and the board had a “difference in the vision” for Everton.

“The board and I agreed that there is a clear difference in the vision and direction for this beautiful club and, with that in mind, the decision was taken.”

The idea that Benitez can be blamed for the demise of Everton this season is hardly fair – the manager has only worked with the club for one transfer window, joining Everton in July 2021 and spending pennies in comparison to his predecessors.

Benitez has also nabbed one of the most cost effective and influential signings for the club in a while, with the addition of Demarai Gray at Goodison Park for just £1.8 million, who has since become a key player in the side’s more successful moments this season.

The 25 year old has scored five goals and bagged two assists so far this term for the Toffees, currently joint top goal scorer for the club alongside Andros Townsend, who was brought into the club on a free transfer by Benitez in the summer.

The connection to Liverpool FC is the clear reason why Benitez is unfavourable for the role in Everton management, which is understandable from a fan perspective, but he is evidently making positive steps forward in ending Everton’s reckless spending and could really benefit from being able to work his magic in the January transfer window, both getting rid of players and bringing in new talent to steer Everton in the right direction in the second half of the season.

In other news: Mason Holgate failed Rafa Benitez v Chelsea

Crystal Palace will be hoping their academy’s new Category 1 status will propel them into a prosperous new era, and they might not have to wait too long to bear the fruits of their labour.

Striker David Omilabu has scored an abundance of goals at every level he’s played at for the Eagles after joining the club aged eight.

Although the youngster was released by Palace at 12, he moved across London to local rivals Fulham, before hitting a hat-trick against his former side, prompting them to re-sign him.

Since then, Omilabu hasn’t looked back. He has scored 26 times at U23 and U18 level and capped off a remarkable 2020/21 campaign – where he bagged an incredible 24 goals in 24 appearances – by scoring the decisive spot-kick as the south London outfit beat Sunderland 5-3 on penalties in the Premier League 2 Division 2 playoff final.

The now 19-year-old caught the eye of several impressed onlookers last term, including Palace podcaster HLTCO, who tweeted his appreciation back in February.

He wrote: “David Omilabu: Age: 18 Final Schoolboy season: 41 goals + 23 assists in 26 games U18s this season: 10 goals in 11 games U23s this season: 1 goal in 2 games. Remember the name.”

After scoring the winning penalty for Shaun Derry’s charges, Omilabu was handed his first professional contract by his boyhood club.

His show of faith to the Selhurst Park side pleased the club’s hierarchy, and chairman Steve Parish was quick to laud the 19-year-old after he put pen to paper on a long-term deal.

“It’s fantastic to see those who were amongst the first players recruited at age eight or nine when I arrived now graduate to the full professional ranks. David is a player that has stood out on many occasions – not least when we played in overseas tournaments,” Parish said.

“He has fantastic qualities and I sincerely hope that David uses this achievement of signing as a professional to motivate himself even further to make the most of his talents, by keeping his head down and working harder than ever to help accelerate his development at Crystal Palace.”

Although the youngster has had a relatively slow start to the current campaign by his exceptional standards, recording two goals and three assists in 12 outings, the future looks bright for Omilabu.

With Christian Benteke and Jordan Ayew approaching the twilight zone of their careers, Omilabu could save Palace millions in the years to come, as Vieira potentially looks towards the academy, rather than the transfer market for additional bodies. Evidently, the club’s supporters have every reason to be excited about this young talent.

And, in other news…Parish could discover CPFC’s new Ian Wright by signing 22 y/o with “blistering pace” 

The January transfer window is set to be a frantic state of affairs for Newcastle with the Toon Army recently taken over by the Saudi Prince Investment Fund.

It’ll be an exciting time for Magpies supporters as they can finally look forward to a period of spending, rather than having to sit back and watch a number of uninspiring signings walk through the door as they did under Mike Ashley.

What’s the word?

One of the areas Newcastle should look to strengthen over the winter is in forward areas. They have already been touted with moves for players like Mauro Icardi and Dusan Vlahovic but it’s a Premier League based player who has now caught their eye.

According to French outlet, Jeunes Footeux, Nicolas Pepe has emerged on the radar of the northeast club.

The Arsenal winger is also fielding interest from Crystal Palace and Everton as the Gunners’ £72m record-signing potentially faces the exit door.

Imagine him & ASM

There is no denying that Pepe quite clearly possesses a quite incredible amount of ability. On his day, he has the ability to “ignite” games in the words of Toon legend Alan Shearer, but on other days, he’s “not bothered” to quote Newcastle’s famous number 9 again.

Criticism has impacted his time in north London considerably with the Ivorian even believed to have been left “hurting” according to Mikel Arteta after a barrage of comments from Shearer.

That said, despite his shoddy work ethic, he’s a player that Newcastle supporters could relish seeing in action, particularly alongside Allan Saint-Maximin.

The Frenchman is a bundle of energy in forward areas and has recorded 4.1 dribbles per game this term, the second-highest number in the entire English top-flight.

Coincidentally, that’s an area where Pepe thrives in too. Although his numbers aren’t quite so astronomical, he possesses the ability to beat most full-backs in Europe, recording 1.9 dribbles per match this term.

He is an inconsistent figure, something Saint-Maximin can relate to, but the thought of witnessing the two wing wizards dominating the flanks at St James’ Park is a thought worth salivating over.

Combine that with Eddie Howe’s desire for possession-based football and Pepe would surely feel right at home after his spell at Arsenal.

Although he has flattered to deceive in England, the Ivory Coast international has still found the net 25 times for the Gunners in just over two years. To put that into context, Callum Wilson has scored exactly the same number over a parrel period of time.

Push all of those combinations together and Newcastle could end up having quite the strike force if they can lure Pepe further north in January.

AND in other news, Howe could finally axe Joelinton if NUFC swoop for £31.5m-rated “phenomenon”…

An update has emerged on Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley, regarding Leeds’ interest in his services…

What’s the talk?

According to 90min, the Whites are eyeing up a potential January swoop for the England international to bolster their squad.

The report claims Burnley and Newcastle are also looking at the ex-Everton midfielder, with Chelsea set to allow him to leave Stamford Bridge.

Hernandez 2.0

Leeds chief Victor Orta could find the new Pablo Hernandez by securing a deal to sign Barkley in January, finding a creative magician to open up doors for Marcelo Bielsa’s side in the Premier League.

Hernandez, who left Leeds in the summer, has a career average of 2.9 key passes and dribbles completed per game, showing how he is consistently able to be a creative force in the final third. He has the ability to dribble past players and set up chances for his teammates, which is something Barkley could also bring to Elland Road.

The 27-year-old Chelsea midfielder has a career average of 3.1 key passes and dribbles per game, which is particularly impressive given these statistics are taken from his performances for Chelsea, Everton and England in the top-flight and in Europe.

Premier League legend Alan Shearer lauded the £100k-per-week wizard’s talents whilst he was on loan at Aston Villa last season. He told The BBC:

“Ross seems to have found a system that suits him and a manager who wants to play him. This is exactly what he needs.

“He now needs to find the consistency that has been lacking in his game because this is a crucial stage of his career. Ross has been spoken about in glowing terms since he was very young but he is 27 now and needs to deliver on that potential.

“At his best he is match-winner and Villa is a great platform for him.”

This highlights the quality he could provide Leeds on the pitch, with one of the league’s greats hailing him as a match-winner at his best. Barkley could come in and add some extra creativity to Bielsa’s side and offer him the chance to change formation to accommodate a number 10, or mould him into a central midfielder who will work hard for the side whilst also offering quality on the ball.

Orta must now ensure that he can beat the likes of Burnley and Newcastle to win Barkley’s signature in the winter market. If he can then Leeds could have another diminutive creator to enjoy watching week-in-week-out, just as they did with Hernandez.

AND in other news, Phil Hay drops key update on “top-class” Leeds wizard that’ll delight supporters…

Tottenham Hotspur have now been dealt a double injury blow before their game at home to Manchester United in the Premier League this evening.

The Lowdown: Nuno under pressure?

As per The Sun, there has been some disagreements between Nuno Espirito Santo and some members of his squad, with some in the latest UEFA Europa Conference League team ‘seriously angered’ because of his tendency to think too far ahead.

This has reportedly created a ‘needless chasm’ at the North London cub, and left the side’s morale in ‘tatters’, given it was a largely understrength team against Vitesse.

They ended up losing that game, and then lost 1-0 away to London rivals West Ham United, which coupled up with the dismal 3-1 defeat at Arsenal earlier on in the season, means that Nuno is under some serious pressure already as the manager.

The Latest: Team news

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team, Nuno has now revealed (via Football.London) that Bryan Gil has a ‘problem’, while Ryan Sessegnon will definitely not be involved:

“Let’s see. Bryan we have a problem with. We are assessing. Sessegnon is not involved, still not in the group. Normal knocks after the game.”

The Verdict: Double blow

Sessegnon has been cursed with injury problems throughout his career, and that has not changed since signing for the Lilywhites (Transfermarkt) for a £24.3m fee from Fulham back in the 2019 summer transfer window.

He needs a run in the team to get his fitness levels up and get used to playing regularly, and sadly that will not be the case against the Red Devils.

Likewise, Gil has barely featured at all for different reasons since arriving in the summer, playing in just 57 minutes in the Premier League so far.

The Spurs fans will surely want to see more of their new recruit, but it looks as if he could miss out too.

In other news, find out whose agents Fabio Paratici is talking to about a potential move here!

Many Everton fans have slammed the performance of Salomon Rondon in their 2-0 win at home to Norwich City on Saturday afternoon.

Andros Townsend and Abdoulaye Doucoure ensured that the Merseyside club came away with all three points at Goodison Park, but while there were some very good performances from Rafa Benitez’s team, the 32-year-old seemed to struggle all day.

The Venezuela international lost out on 17 of his duels, by far the most out of anyone on the pitch, and also failed to record a single shot on goal or successful dribble in the match (Sofascore).

Rondon managed just 28 touches of the ball in total, the fewest out of any player to have started the gamr, and also lost possession of the ball on eight different occasions (Sofascore) in what was a really disappointing performance from the striker overall.

Everton fans on Rondon display

These Everton fans slammed his performance on Twitter, with one Blues supporter going as far as to claim that the Venezuelan was ‘shocking’:

“Rumours going Rondon still hasn’t made it off the pitch today”

Credit: @SeanWarren1

“Couldn’t really argue with that. Rondon again showing he’s a pub a footballer at best, Simms and Dobbin must be wondering what they need to do to start over him. An absolute donkey. People say he’s not match fit, I say he’s not fit to wear our shirt altogether.”

Credit: @zodoz9

“Have to disagree but always good to debate. Rondon was shocking, couldn’t even control the ball. Iwobi equally as bad, offered nothing.”

Credit: @SK21878

“Rondon is the worst signing Everton have ever made ever btw. Ever though.”

Credit: @CraigJo02234279

“We want a player who is fit now though, we should give Simms a chance rather than an unfit Rondon who is contributing nothing.”

Credit: @leemolton

“Rondon is up there with the worst players I’ve ever seen at Goodison Park”

Credit: @burrows_andy

In other news, many Everton fans were also unimpressed with this man’s first half display v Norwich