Everton fans have been reacting to the news that Idrissa Gueye has torn a muscle, and they want 19 year-old Beni Baningime to replace him.
If there was one player Everton fans wouldn’t want to lose against the attacking flair of Manchester City and Liverpool, it’s Idrissa Gueye.
Gueye played the full 90 minutes against Stoke City last weekend, but Senegal boss Aliou Cisse claims the midfielder arrived on international duty with a muscle tear.
“My squad is almost complete, but Gana had a muscle tear when he came over,” he reportedly said. “I had wanted him to be in my team, but I think he will be out for three weeks.”
If Gueye is indeed out for three weeks, he will definitely miss the clash with Manchester City and could miss the derby against Liverpool the following weekend as well.
Morgan Schneiderlin is one of several Everton players to take a lot of flak from fans this season, and fans are now desperate for the Frenchman to be left on the sidelines to make room for 19 year-old Beni Baningime.
Baningime has impressed through the youth ranks at Everton and has had a few good performances for the first team as well. In three Europa League starts this season, the youngster averaged an incredible five tackles and two interceptions per game.
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Everton fans are desperate for the young defensive midfielder to get his chance in light of Gueye’s injury, and have been sharing their thoughts on Twitter.
Playing host to some of the most naturally gifted players to watch throughout the years, South American football runs like a factory conveyor-belt for world class talent. European giants, in the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga and more, are constantly monitoring the progress of Latin talent with a view to bring their quality to new shores.
Despite the success of their international scene, where South American teams remain very popular across the board for their samba style and touch of all things flair, the continent’s domestic leagues never really get the same attention as their European counterparts.
For that reason, just who are the stars of South American football? And which faces, from the notorious ‘spiritual home of football’, can we expect to see rubbing shoulders with the big boys of Europe in the near future?
Ganso
Once considered a near contender for Brazil’s most exciting talent alongside Neymar, Ganso has since seen his fortunes reverse in recent seasons. The now 25-year-old attacking midfielder may have dropped off the boil of late, but that won’t stop fans of South American football remembering just what a player Ganso was supposed to be.
After he was left out of Brazil’s 2010 World Cup squad, many were shocked but believed his time would come four years later. Ganso was also left out of this summer’s tournament as well however, and now, despite his effortlessly classy style of play, the silky Brazilian is watching his stock fall considerably.
He now holds the no. 10 shirt for Campeonato Brasileiro high flyers Sao Paulo. Having saved the club for near destined relegation last season however, perhaps a sly move from Harry Redknapp could bring Ganso to the Premier League, and see him play a vital role in keeping QPR up in the absence of Adel Taarabt.
Santiago Damian Garcia Correa
Despite never representing Uruguay on the international stage, Santiago Garcia has been around the block at club level and is now trying to consolidate his career at home-town club, Nacional (Montevideo).
In the Uruguayan domestic league, Garcia is known as a determined goal-scorer with bags full of pace and strength in equal amounts. He may not be the most technically gifted of players, and he still seems very much like a raw diamond in need of a good polishing up, but this Uruguayan talent does possess several qualities that hold him in good stead.
At 24-years-old, now is the time for Santiago Garcia to really find his feet if he is ever going to challenge Luis Suarez or Edison Cavani for a place in the Uruguayan national side. Whilst a move this January may come too early for the exciting prospect, Garcia’s skill-set could see him fit in perfectly to the English game.
Eder Alvarez Balanta
At only 21-years-old, Eder Alvarez Balanta is one of the most converted players in South American football at the moment. The River Plate centre-back has taken plaudits from many directions, and will soon likely be challenging both Mario Yepes and Cristian Zapata as the main man in Colombia’s back line.
The young defender, who has already been part of Colombia’s 2014 World Cup squad, has all the qualities of the perfect centre-back. He is powerful in the air, fearless in tackles and has the pace to make up for any error that may fall his way. Balanta is also known for his quick feet and use of daring skill in tricky situations.
Whilst Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United could all do with a centre-back of Balanta’s quality right now, Barcelona have reportedly been keeping tabs on the River Plate man, with a view to buy in the near future.
Leandro Damiao
As was the case with fellow Brazilian star Ganso, Leandro Damiao is another man who initially burst onto the scene, only to see faith in his talents diminish after a series of disappointing performances. The 25-year-old had previously attracted attention from the whole of Europe as a teen, but now the Santos man is forced to prove himself once more.
The skillful forward is most commonly recognised for his ability to score goals. Whilst his record at Santos doesn’t shine too brightly in comparison with his goal tally at Interacional, Leandro Damiao remains a strong forward, who is both good in the air and adept with his feet.
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If any side were to sign Leandro Damiao this January, it would purely be on the speculation that the striker can somehow discover his form of old. Tottenham Hotspur have been persistent admirers of Damiao in the past, but nowadays Inter Milan seem most keen on signing the unpredictable forward.
Teofilo Gutierrez
Whilst at 29-years-old Teo is no spring chicken, the Colombian forward has nevertheless gained attention for his goals at domestic level and impressive spells at the 2014 World Cup. Within the realm of South American football, Gutierrez is known simply as a dangerous finisher with a keen eye for goal.
His turn of pace coupled with his burly nature make Teo another strong contender to make a name for himself in English football. The likes of Radamel Falcao, Adrian Ramos and Jackson Martinez have so far dominated the Colombian striker circuit however, but fans of River Plate will certainly be aware that their star man should not be ignored.
Teo’s goal-scoring record has been mostly consistent in the Argentina Primera A, and despite his off-field antics perhaps rivaling that of Liverpool’s ever-controversial Italian forward, Brendan Rodgers could certainly use the Colombian hit-man this season if Mario Balotelli’s form continues to slide.
The late great soul singer Sam Cooke was well known for his beautiful voice, but his namesake, glamour model Sam Cooke, is famous for her beautiful eyes and jaw-dropping figure. The Page 3 girl, who has also worked for lads’ mags including FHM, Zoo, Nuts and Loaded is romantically linked with Manchester United’s Chris Smalling.
The Manchester-born model isn’t your typical sexy WAG however, she has brains too. Before her career in semi-nudity kicked off, Cooke – the tastiest Cookie on the planet – was considering a future in Bio-Chemistry, having studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Psychology at college. Luckily for us, and perhaps to the detriment of the field of scientific research, the 27-year-old bombshell decided to enter into The Sun’s ‘Page 3 Idol’ competition, which she won in 2006. Ever since, Cooke has been making the days of men around the world slightly brighter by showing off her goods and wearing skimpy outfits.
I’m sure her bedside manner and companionship made Chris Smalling’s recent recovery from a broken metatarsal bone, which saw him miss the start of the season, much easier and the England and United defender was probably gutted when he had to return to the training ground and swap Nurse Cooke’s tender touch for Sir Alex Ferguson’s hairdryer treatment.
In her spare time, Sam Cooke DJ’s around the world, and has performed in clubs in Malaysia, Egpyt and Ibiza. But for now, lets just concentrate on her modelling work.
Here’s a gallery of the sexy dame’s best photos
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Wolverhampton Wanderers suffered their heaviest defeat of the season so far on Saturday, thrashed 4-1 away to Aston Villa in the English Championship.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side knew victory would give an almost unassailable lead over the Villans and almost ensure automatic promotion to the Premier League, but Steve Bruce’s outfit have now moved to within seven points.
The first half was competitive, with both sides heading into the interval level, but a second half collapse ensured victory for the home side, leaving away supporters bitterly disappointed.
Much of their criticism was aimed at defender Danny Batth, whose sliced clearance led to Villa’s first goal of the afternoon. The defender looked off the pace throughout before eventually being hauled off in the 68th minute.
Fans are now calling for him to be dropped in the run-in, believing he is not good enough to be trusted.
Leeds United are a club with a very rich history, appearing in both semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in the 1999-2000 season and the Champions League in the 2000-2001 campaign.
They enjoyed spells in the Premier League up until 2004 when financial troubles led the club in a crisis as continue failed attempts to get back to the top tier pushed them even lower, deep into League One.
However, as they continue their battle to the top of the English Championship, here are five interesting Leeds United articles we’ve combined altogether as we wait for them to return to their former glory!
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CLICK ON MASSIMO CELLINO TO BEGIN READING!
Football – Watford v Leeds United – Sky Bet Football League Championship – Vicarage Road – 8/4/14Prospective new Leeds owner Massimo Cellino arrives at Vicarage Road before the gameMandatory Credit: Action Images / Frances LeaderLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please cont
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Leeds United’s top five WAGS
What better way to start the list than to meet the top five wives and girlfriends of the Leeds United players. Behind every great footballer, there has to be a great woman supporting them, mainly seen sitting on the stands along with other family members and friends.
We aren’t going to name names or even give you a hint on who you could expect to see when you think about all the WAGS related to the club, meaning the only way to find out, is to continue reading from the link below!
Find out who makes the cut by CLICKING HERE…
FIVE free agents Leeds United would be mad to ignore
For a team that isn’t financially secure and not playing in the top flight, securing top reinforcements is rather hard, and for a club like Leeds United, they should really consider a few more.
In light of this, Neil Redfearn may need to begin his shopping list a little early in a bid to beat the rush of clubs interested in signing free agents, ones that can make a difference with almost no finances needing to be sacrificed.
So, if you are wondering which five players Leeds can consider, CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT…
SIX players how could join Leeds United
Having only joined Leeds United this year, Neil Redfearn is bound to make some changes to the squad, tactics, as well as his formation in bids to get the very best out of what the club has to offer.
Therefore, if the current crop of players aren’t actually up to the required standard, Redfearn may need to recruit some new players to fill the last minute gaps and create the perfect squad.
If anyone is wondering exactly who could follow the manager to the club, CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT!
FIVE men to take the helm at Leeds United
Although Leeds United have already appointed Neil Redfearn to manage the club, any struggles could prompt the board to consider new, or even previous candidates to replace the current one.
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With Leeds currently sitting in 15th place after 17 games, hopes of promotion to England’s top flight look rather bleak as Redfearn may still be on probation over his abilities.
If anybody is wondering who is in line to replace the current boss, CLICK HERE…
SIX emergency loans for Leeds United to consider
In addition to considering a move to sign free agents, Leeds United could surely be boosted if they can negotiate the perfect loan move for some quality players that just aren’t getting enough playing time at their clubs.
Although free signings brings in experience, loaning players could lead the side to discovering some hidden gems, especially from upcoming youth players.
Wondering who some notable loanees are? CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT…
have announced that they have been chosen as the LLDC’s Highest-Ranked bidder for the use of the Olympic Stadium.
The Premier League club have made it their number one priority to secure a move to the Olympic Stadium well before it was finished being built for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
And the club’s owners, David Gold and David Sullivan, have always insisted that the move would be in both the club’s and the city’s best interests.
A statement on the West Ham’s official website reads: “West Ham United are extremely pleased to be announced as the Highest-Ranked Bidder to be the anchor concessionaire of the Olympic Stadium – a decision that guarantees a true and lasting legacy for east London and the best possible outcome for the British taxpayer.
“We commend the LLDC and its Chair, Boris Johnson, for their vision in appointing West Ham as Highest-Ranked Bidder. In doing so, London is well on the way to being able to showcase yet another major destination and visitor attraction in the Olympic Park, further strengthening the capital’s place on the global map.”
The move, which is not expected to happen until at least August 2015, is one that the club feels can not only improve the club’s stature, but can also create employment opportunities within the area.
“We are already working with key strategic partners to ensure that unemployed east Londoners in key target groups will have access to sustainable employment in the Olympic Park via the 700-plus job opportunities that West Ham’s tenancy will create,” West Ham’s vice-chairman Karen Brady says in the statement.
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“We guarantee millions of visitors and customers, which will galvanise the Park and act as the catalyst to spark a thriving economy in this part of east London.”
Everton fans are baffled by reports linking the club with a move for Arsene Wenger.
According to the Daily Star, Everton are hoping to convince Arsene Wenger to take over from Sam Allardyce at the end of the season.
The pressure on Wenger has increased ten fold in recent weeks, as Brighton heaped more misery on the Frenchman at the Amex stadium on Sunday.
Wenger’s men lost 2-1, their third loss in a week, and are now 13 points adrift of the Champions League places.
Everton aren’t exactly in top form either, the Toffees made it five away defeats on the bounce at Turf Moor on Saturday, crumbling in the second half after showing some good signs to start the match.
Much like Wenger, the pressure on Allardyce is at an all time high, as fans have been left angered by both his tactics and demeanour.
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It would seem that Farhad Moshiri is already planning for life without Allardyce. The Iranian-born businessman was supposed to usher in a new era at Goodison Park, but his big money signings have far from convinced.
While some Everton fans have been welcoming the links to Wenger, most have been left bemused by the news. Some of the best twitter reactions can be found below…
It doesn’t take a Hammers fans to tell you that West Ham appear to be taking a huge risk by sticking with manager Sam Allardyce. Allardyce was heavily criticised for his style of play last season, despite eventually steering the club to Premier League safety, and he hasn’t exactly done himself any favours in pre-season either. The same ol’ style with the same ol’ results. Until their 3-2 win over Sampdoria last weekend, that is. The big man took a leaf out of Louis van Gaal’s book with a 3-5-2 formation that excited the Hammers faithful, even if it did include Carlton Cole up front. And that, I suspect, is exactly what the Hammers fans will be craving when arch rivals Tottenham arrive in East London on Saturday. So here’s a look at West Ham’s dream starting XI for Saturday’s big kick-off… [ffc-gallery]
Click on Big Sam to reveal all
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Goalkeeper – Adrian
The Spanish keeper didn’t take long to become something of a cult hero at the club following his arrival from Real Betis last summer. After spending the first half of the campaign playing second fiddle to veteran Jussi Jaaskelainen, the 27-year-old eventually forced his way in as the Hammers’ number one with a number of impressive displays between the sticks. He ended the season as the club’s Hammer of the Year runner-up, but did win ‘Save of the Season’ for a superb fingertip effort from Oscar against Chelsea, ‘Best Individual Performance,’ for his role in the same game at Stamford Bridge and ‘Signing of the Season.’ The West Ham faithful took to Adrian from the offset, mostly because of his clear passion on and off the field, as well as his regular compliments towards them via his twitter page.
Defender – James Tomkins
James Tomkins is another product of West Ham’s famed youth academy, although he’s never been about to reach the heights of the likes of Rio Ferdinand et al. Needless to say, he’s been a solid member of the Hammer’s first team for a number of years now and is as consistent as they come at his level. He’s had a solid pre-season and has developed something of a solid understanding with fellow centre-halves Winston Reid and James Collins in recent seasons.
Defender – Winston Reid
Once an unknown Kiwi defender playing in Denmark, Winston Reid is now regarded as one of the hottest defensive prospects in the Premier League. Avram Grant is the reason why West Ham fans are able to admire his solid defensive performances each week, but back then he was no where near ready for first-team football and regularly struggled when called upon. But now he’s one of the first names on the team sheet, with many Hammers fans putting his lengthy injury last season down to their poor run of form over the Christmas period. With him at the heart of West Ham’s defence, they can always be confident of shutting out the opposition. He netted the first in a 3-0 Hammers vicory over Spurs last season, which the Upton Park faithful will be hoping he can do again on Saturday. Trouble is, he’s now running in to the final year of his West Ham contract and, according to reports, is turning down contract renewals for fun. Arsenal reportedly want him, which would be something of a steal if they manage to get him on a bosman.
Defender – James Collins
Not the most fashionable of centre-halves, but he gets the job done. Now in his second spell at the club, he has had his shaky moments that have arguably made him the club’s third choice option in his defence. His relationship with Reid and Tomkins means not much will get past them on their day, which will be bad news for a Spurs side eager to put last season’s dreadful results against the Hammers behind them.
Midfielder – Stewart Downing
Downing was one of West Ham bright sparks last season, despite only managing one goal (against Spurs on the final day). His consistently good displays for the Hammers put to bed all the negative comments surrounding his arrival at the club last summer, with many fans uninspired by his average performances for Liverpool the season before. That said, he offers a lot under Sam Allardyce and will be a threat from dead ball situations – he scored a free-kick in a 2-0 win against Spurs last term.
Midfielder – Morgan Amalfitano
The Frenchman impressed during a loan spell with West Brom last season and, if reports are to be believed, he’s on the verge of completing a permanent move back to the Premier League with the Hammers. Many will claim he’ll offer a lot more than Matt Jarvis currently does out wide for West Ham. And if he can replicate this for Allardyce’s side, West Ham be hoping he starts against Spurs on Saturday… //www.youtube.com/embed/crAih_j1AU8
Midfielder – Cheikhou Kouyate
The £7million arrival from Anderlecht this summer initially appeared to be something of a gamble for the Hammers. But his pre-season performances this summer have hugely impressed West Ham fans, and they growing increasingly excited about seeing him more often this season. He’s something of a defensive midfielder and a bit of a ‘beast,’ which means Spurs’ midfielders could be in for a rough afternoon at Upton Park on Saturday.
Midfielder – Mark Noble
Mark Noble is West Ham through and through, and you can see that come out of him every time he’s on the pitch. He’s a West Ham favourite and seen his stock rise immensely in recent seasons, particularly under Sam Allardyce. Most fans want him to be handed the armband ahead of Kevin Nolan, and it’ll be an accolade he will deserve 100%. Another West Ham player whose name is one of the first on the team sheet each week, and he’ll no doubt be just as up for this weekend’s clash with Spurs as his fellow Hammers fans.
Midfielder – Mohamed Diame
Rumours of the midfielder’s Upton Park exit this summer appear to have died down, which is surprising considering his recent pre-season performances for the Hammers. Last season saw him played mostly out wide, which not only frustrated the West Ham fans who knew he was more effective in the middle, but also Diame himself as he went on to hint at a possible exit this summer. But his performance off the bench for the Hammers last weekend showed that he’s still got the ability to change a game with something outstanding…
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Attacking Midfield – Mauro Zarate
Another one of West Ham’s summer arrivals that has impressed during pre-season and one that could cause Spurs some serious problems on the opening day. If he’s played in his favourite position, which is just behind the striker, he can be very effective. He’s not afraid to shoot from range, either…
Hammers fans are looking forward to seeing more of that this season and he’d no doubt earn hero status if he can do that against Spurs this Saturday.
Striker – Connor Wickham
With Enner Valencia not yet match fit following the World Cup, Andy Carroll sidelined with an ankle injury for four months and Carlton Cole not quite good enough anymore, Sam Allardyce will need to bring someone in pretty quick if he’s going to have someone to score the goals against Spurs on Saturday. The person appears to be Sunderland’s Connor Wickham, with a £4million offer rejected and another bid expected to come in imminently. The 21-year-old hit five goals in nine games at the end of last season to help the Black Cats avoid relegation, and the Hammers could well need him to pull a few of these out the bag this season…
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce singled out Kevin Nolan for special praise following their 1-0 Premier League win over Newcastle.
The midfielder got the only goal of the game against his former club, diverting Joey O’Brien’s effort into the net.
Allardyce took time after the game to credit his player’s recent form:
“That’s five he’s got now and the enormity of Kevin’s goal record for us means he’s our top scorer.” He told SkySports.
“Our frontmen are not really scoring at the minute but we’re sharing the goals out.
“And the way he played off Andy is what I liked the most. He really does sustain the attacks by holding the possession up.
“He read the situation well in the box. It’s a tap-in but you’ve got to be there and Kevin always seems to get in the box at the right time.”
The former Bolton and Blackburn coach was also delighted with the performance from his team and the result:
“It’s a fantastic victory for us and a second away win,” Allardyce told Sky Sports. “With Newcastle being one of the top six boys these days after last season it put some pressure on us.
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“I said to the lads, it’s a great time to come here as they played midweek on Thursday in Europe and I experienced it myself at Bolton that the hardest game to win is the next one.
“That gave us an opportunity here today and we took the opportunity with both hands.
“It was a great performance and a great three points from us away from home, especially after losing three players through injury. I couldn’t ask any more from the players today.”
Gareth Barry had a strong reputation at Everton for his hardworking efforts on the pitch, but since moving to West Bromwich Albion, the midfielder’s status has dropped.
The former England international, who earned 53 caps for his country, moved to The Hawthorns last year.
During the 2017-18 season, Barry made 29 appearances in all competitions, and he recorded one goal and one assist in that time.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”255574″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch Four World Cup myths debunked”]
His most memorable moment of the campaign is a negative one, though, as he was one of four players who stole a taxi from outside a fast-food restaurant after breaking curfew during a warm-weather training trip to Barcelona.
The group had called the cab to take them to get food before deciding to get behind the wheel while the driver was picking up their order.
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The quartet apologised for their actions in February, but some fans have not forgiven them.
On Monday, the Express & Star reported that Barry had triggered a one-year extension on his contract, and plenty of supporters were not best pleased.