Connect with us

Sport

Aston Villa predictions: Villa can impress again under Emer

Published

on

Aston Villa experienced an exceptional inaugural full season under the management of Unai Emery, achieving a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, which secured them a spot in the Champions League, and advancing to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.

This season presents an even greater challenge as they aim to balance their league commitments with the demands of competing in Europe’s premier tournaments; however, a top-six finish seems to be a realistic target.

The previous season began with a disappointing 5-1 defeat to Newcastle, but the team quickly rebounded and maintained a strong trajectory thereafter.

Their impressive home performances kept them in contention for a Champions League position, highlighted by notable victories against title challengers Manchester City and Arsenal in consecutive matches during December.

Aston Villa gained significant European experience through their journey to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League. Although they did not secure a win in their last six matches across all competitions, they remain eager to build on their fourth-place finish in the Premier League.

Regarding the manager, Unai Emery has successfully revitalized his career following less favorable tenures at Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. He led Villarreal to a Europa League triumph in the 2020-21 season and has made remarkable progress since his appointment at Aston Villa in October 2022.

In May, he signed a five-year contract extension, ensuring his presence at the club until 2029.

Aston Villa has focused on recruiting young talents with high potential during the summer, with most of their new signings being 23 years old or younger.

Under Emery’s management, Villa has become an entertaining team to watch, especially with the defensive stability provided by Pau Torres and Lucas Digne. Additionally, Ezri Konsa’s impressive performances earned him a spot in England’s squad for Euro 2024.

The team significantly increased their goal tally in the Premier League from 51 in the 2022-23 season to 76 last season, with Ollie Watkins emerging as one of the league’s top goal scorers.

Watkins finished joint-fourth in the goal-scoring charts last season with 19 goals and showcased his abilities on the international stage by scoring a crucial last-minute winner for England against the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.

While Watkins, Leon Bailey, and the departed Luiz were the top three assist-makers and goal scorers for the club, Emery would likely prefer to see a more balanced distribution of goal creation throughout the squad.

Last Updated on August 3, 2024 by News Time

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sport

Tottenham eye swoop to sign Lille star Angel Gomes

Published

on

Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in signing Lille’s Angel Gomes is quite intriguing. Gomes, a highly talented attacking midfielder, has shown great promise with his performances at Lille. His creativity and skill on the ball could be a valuable addition to Spurs’ squad, especially as they look to bolster their attacking options.

If this move goes through, it could be a smart acquisition for Tottenham, adding both depth and flair to their midfield. It’s always exciting to see promising young talents make a move to bigger clubs, and Gomes has the potential to make a significant impact if he joins Tottenham.

After coming through Manchester United’s youth system, the 24-year-old opted to leave Old Trafford having found it difficult to break into the starting eleven.

So, after running his contract down with the Red Devils, he decided to sign for Les Dogues as a free agent back in 2020. Upon moving to Stade Pierre Mauroy, the midfielder has managed to flourish his career in recent times and he was even selected to play for England in the Nations League in this international break.

Gomes was used as a second-half substitute against Ireland last week before playing a full game versus Finland earlier this week and displayed an excellent performance.

Now, TalkSPORT states that having been impressed by Gomes’ displays for England in recent matches, Tottenham have expressed their interest in signing him and are now planning to make a swoop for him next year.

The potential signing of Angel Gomes by Tottenham Hotspur makes a lot of sense given their recent transfer strategy and current squad needs. With Gomes valued at around £21 million, the possibility of securing him on a free transfer next summer could be an attractive option for Spurs.

Gomes’ versatility and technical abilities make him a fitting candidate to bolster Tottenham’s midfield. His proficiency as a deep-lying playmaker and his comfort with both short and long-range passing would be valuable assets, especially given the recent departures of Oliver Skipp, Giovani Lo Celso, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Adding Gomes could help fill the void and provide additional creative options in the midfield.

Tottenham’s recent acquisitions of young talents like Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Wilson Odobert align with their strategy to invest in promising players, so Gomes fits well into this approach. The key will be whether they choose to act on this interest and make a concrete move once he becomes a free agent. Keeping an eye on how negotiations and contract discussions with Lille unfold over the coming months will be crucial in determining if Spurs secure Gomes’ signature.

Last Updated on September 13, 2024 by News Time

Continue Reading

Sport

Liverpool Eye Ambitious Move for Jamal Musiala

Published

on

Liverpool are reportedly planning an ambitious bid to sign Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala next year, according to Caught Offside.

Since joining Bayern from Chelsea’s academy in 2019, the 21-year-old Musiala has made a significant impact, establishing himself as a key player for the Bavarian giants. He has chosen to represent Germany at the senior level after playing for both England and Germany in youth teams, and has become a crucial part of Julian Nagelsmann’s squad.

Musiala, regarded as one of the world’s top young talents with the potential to become a world-class player, is set to enter the final year of his contract next summer. While Bayern Munich are keen to retain him, they have not yet reached an agreement on a new deal. As a result, several top European clubs, including Liverpool, are preparing to make their move.

Liverpool are set to make an ambitious move for Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala in 2025, aiming to capitalize on his potential desire to return to England and play in the Premier League. However, Bayern Munich is expected to demand around £152 million for Musiala, which could pose a significant challenge for Liverpool.

The report also notes that Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain are interested in the talented 21-year-old. Liverpool will face strong competition from these top clubs.

Musiala, primarily a number ten but also effective on the left wing, is known for his speed, technical ability, dribbling, finishing, and playmaking skills. His addition would be a major coup for Liverpool, but it remains to be seen if the club will formalize their interest and navigate the competitive and financial hurdles to secure his signature.

Last Updated on September 13, 2024 by News Time

Continue Reading

Sport

Federico Chiesa Set for Liverpool Debut? Predicted XI vs Nottingham Forest

Published

on

Liverpool will aim to extend their perfect start to the Premier League season as they host Nottingham Forest at Anfield this afternoon.

Arne Slot’s side have been dominant, winning comfortably and remaining the only team yet to concede a goal so far.

Here’s a look at their potential lineup against Nuno Espírito Santo’s team:

**Goalkeeper** – Alisson Becker, who made three key saves against Manchester United to keep his clean sheet streak going, will start. Despite Caoimhin Kelleher’s recent wish for more regular playing time, the Brazilian will remain the first-choice keeper.

**Defenders** – Liverpool’s unbeaten backline is expected to remain unchanged for the visit of Nottingham Forest. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson will continue as right and left full-backs, respectively, with Ibrahima Konaté partnering Virgil van Dijk at center-back. The defense has yet to face a serious challenge this season and may have another relatively easy afternoon.

**Midfielders** – Alexis Mac Allister, who returned late from international duty, is set to start alongside Ryan Gravenberch in a double pivot. Both have been outstanding together this season. Dominik Szoboszlai will again play as the attacking midfielder. Mohamed Salah, with three goals already this season, will keep his place on the right wing, while Luis Díaz, also in fine form, will start on the left.

Federico Chiesa is expected to make his Liverpool debut at some point during the match following his £12.5 million move from Juventus. He recently featured for Italy in the Nations League, marking his first appearance of the season.

**Forward** – Diogo Jota will complete Liverpool’s unchanged starting eleven from their victory over Manchester United, leading the attack.

Here’s how Liverpool might line up against Nottingham Forest:

Last Updated on September 13, 2024 by News Time

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending