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Many football fans have given their thoughts on Micah Richards’ belief that Jordan Henderson is world-class.

The England international has been the Liverpool captain for a number of years now, but it seems he hasn’t convinced everyone of his quality.

Richards was speaking on BBC 5 Live Sport when he said: “Henderson is world-class & a lot of his work goes unnoticed”.

Henderson, 29, lifted the Champions League back in June and was the first Liverpool man to do so since Steven Gerrard. However, a Manchester City fan has alluded to the idea that Gareth Barry was never thought of as world-class, whilst another fan believes he is at the same level as Mark Noble.

Many other supporters have touched on how the Englishman can’t be in the category of world-class if he does not start every game. Indeed, despite wearing the armband, Henderson only started 21 Premier League games and eight Champions League ties last year.

The midfielder is certainly a player that splits opinions and here’s what the fans have had to say in response to Richards’ claim…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Since leaving Liverpool earlier in the summer for £6.4m, Simon Mignolet appears to be rebuilding his career with Belgian outfit Club Brugge.

The shot-stopper was a regular for the Reds for much of his time there, making 204 appearances across six years, and he managed to keep 66 clean sheets along the way. Now back in his homeland, he appears to be doing rather well, having not conceded in 11 of his first 20 games for his new club.

In the north of England, though, there were portions of the club’s fanbase who often lambasted him for his displays, and it was not without justification.

During his time at Liverpool, he made 18 errors that led directly to goals in the league. For context, that places him at joint-sixth on the Premier League’s official website. That makes his claims that he was unfairly treated by Liverpool rather bizarre. He told Het Belang van Limburg (via The Daily Express): “If I could really fight for my place, I might have stayed. But if I had ended up in goal if Alisson picked up injury, I would be allowed to push ten shots out of the box.”

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Jurgen Klopp wanted a top-class goalkeeper, and he went and signed one in Alisson. The Brazil international cost £67m, but has since repaid the money spent on him with his impressive performances. Across one-and-a-bit campaigns, he has an average save percentage of 76.8%. Mignolet could only manage 64.7% during his time there, and he never matched the 27-year-old’s 77.8% last time out in one campaign.

The fact of the matter is, Mignolet just wasn’t good enough to be a member of a title-challenging side like Alisson is.

These comments about him being unfairly treated are nothing short of delusional. Had he proven his worth to Klopp when he had the chance prior to the former Roma man’s arrival, it may have been a different story, but his failure to impress is no-one else’s fault other than his own. As Liverpool now top the Premier League table, it is unlikely any sleep will be lost over these quotes.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking at a Sportsmail event, Martin Keown has revealed only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would make it into Arsene Wenger’s best sides out of this current crop of Arsenal players.

What did he say?

The Gunners have endured a difficult start to the season, going on a run of five games without a win, including a demoralising 2-0 defeat to top-four rivals Leicester before the international break.

Amidst their struggles however, Aubameyang has continued to shine for the north Londoners. He finished as the joint-winner of the Premier League’s Golden Boot award last season, whilst this year, he has already netted nine times in 14 games across all competitions.

And now, Keown has insisted that such is the Gunners’ plight, only the Gabon international would even make it into Wenger’s title-winning sides of yesteryear.

He said: “I know people say you need good players and yes you do, but when they need direction when they go on to the pitch, there needs to be good tactics, each player needs to be hungry for success, be determined. I think Aubameyang is the only player who would get in Wenger’s three title-winning sides.

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“Everyone was in touch at Arsenal during my time there. The work rate was unbelievable. (Fredrik) Ljungberg chasing back, Ray Parlour making tackles, (Patrick) Vieira, everyone is competitive, they are in there with a mindset where they believe they are winners. How do we get that back? The manager has to make the right decisions first. The current team is not in touch with each other. “

The bitter truth

Make no mistake about it, Keown’s dire declaration is difficult to argue with. Whilst Unai Emery’s debut campaign in charge at the Emirates had some promising signs – they reached the Europa League final and finished just one point off the top four in the Premier League – there have arguably been none this season. They are struggling to score goals in general with just 16 to their name in the top-flight, and are conceding plenty too (17).

Looking back to the last time Arsenal won the Premier League, back in 2003/2004 and the famous Invincibles, the Gunners were rock solid at the back, and devastating going forward. They scored 73 times and conceded just 26 – both were the best in the division. So for Keown to say only Aubameyang would make those successful sides of Arsenal’s past is a real tough pill to swallow. The north London side have regressed considerably, and their lack of quality is telling thanks to their former star’s harsh truths.

Leeds may well be headed to the Premier League next season, but that doesn’t mean that the club are going to spend big on every player they bring in.

The Whites’ transfer strategy has always been heavily based around signing young players for the future, just look at last summer where the likes of Rafa Mujica, Liam McCarron and Guille Amor joined the club.

It looks as if the Whites will once again be in the market for another youngster this summer after being linked with Gillingham’s Jack Tucker, but what should they expect if they sign him?

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Tucker has been working with former Leeds boss Steve Evans over the past couple of seasons at Gillingham, and the manager quite clearly thinks very highly of him, stating that he’ll go for millions one day.

“We knew we had less resources so what did we do? We found an Alfie Jones, we found a Tom O’Connor, we found Jack Tucker who we were told was being released from the football club and we gave him a new chance – and he’ll go for millions,” Evans said.

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Evans may think that Tucker is due a big move, but Leeds shouldn’t be the team to break the bank for him.

The defender has had a decent campaign, putting in 1.5 tackles per game, and making 1.3 interceptions per game, but there is one metric he’s really struggling in that United should be wary of.

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His pass success rate is just 46.9 per cent, meaning that the majority of passes he makes are wayward, and that will be a huge hindrance in Bielsa’s side where playing out from the back is so important.

Indeed, three of Leeds’ top five most accurate passers amongst players who’ve played at least 10 games are centre-halves, so it’s clear how important a ball-playing defender is to Bielsa’s side.

Tucker is only 20, so this could be coached into him, but the fact of the matter is that he doesn’t seem to be a Bielsa player, so Leeds may be best off avoiding this one.

In other news, Leeds should be buoyed by this Andrea Radrizzani revelation.

Lots of Manchester United fans have responded to Leicester City star James Maddison’s comments on Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire. 

As the summer transfer window approaches, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have been linked with some of the biggest stars on the planet, and the England international is reportedly at the top of the list.

Answering a fan Q&A via his Instagram story, Maddison hailed United duo Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire as two of the best he’s ever played with.

Having moved to the King Power Stadium from Norwich City for £22.5m in 2018, the 23-year-old has scored 6 goals and provided 3 assists in the Premier League this season, and the attacking midfielder has been tipped to make the switch to Old Trafford before the start of next season.

While Maddison’s opinion may be a cause for concern amongst the Foxes fan base, it is well worth remembering Maguire is a former teammate. Regardless, his post has fuelled the rumour mill, and it will be interesting to see whether or not he will move to the Theatre of Dreams.

Naturally, a large section of United supporters shared their views on his thoughts via Twitter, after a couple of fan sites uploaded his reply. One Red Devil admitted they would “take him over Grealish” while another simply commented “what a joker.”

Check out some of the different reactions down below…

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Whilst Jadon Sancho has been the main name being linked with a high-profile switch to Manchester United this summer, it appears Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is also keen on strengthening the centre of his midfield.

Of course, the future of Paul Pogba remains up in the air, with the Red Devils star the subject of intense transfer speculation last year when he was linked with a potential move to either Real Madrid or Juventus.

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Now, The Daily Mail claim United, along with fellow Premier League sides Chelsea and Tottenham, are amongst the sides who have enquired about the availability of Lazio powerhouse Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

The report suggests that the Serbia international “is looking for his next challenge and the chance to step up to one of Europe’s biggest clubs”, and that United could also face competition from the likes of PSG.

After hearing about the links to the midfielder, United fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on their rumoured transfer target.

Some United fans seemed to be shaking their heads at the links with Milinkovic-Savic once again – a player who they have been previously touted with signing.

If Pogba does end up going, then Milinkovic-Savic would certainly represent a more than viable replacement for the former Juventus star.

He has built up considerable experience in his time with Lazio, and at just 25-years-old, is set to enter the prime of his career.

So whilst some United fans appear to be hesitant about making a move for him this summer, it may not be the worst signing to make.

Celtic are officially the 2019/20 Scottish Premiership champions after a decision was made on Monday to cut short the season amid the pandemic.

The season was declared over and settled by a points-per-game system which saw Neil Lennon’s side top the standings with a 13-point margin.

Celebrations and tributes have poured in on social media from Hoops players past and present as well as long-time fans of the club but footage posted by the club’s official Twitter feed of Leigh Griffiths has supporters talking.

The 29-year-old is seen in full kit with the medal around his neck in brilliant nature and much of the Bhoys faithful have been absolutely loving the TikTok clip.

Griffiths has been at Celtic Park since the 2013/14 campaign so this will be his seventh straight SPFL title and he has certainly played his part this term.

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In 21 matches, he has provided nine goals and four assists despite only ten of those games being starts, via Transfermarkt.

Here’s how fans have reacted to the video…

AND in other news, Celtic fans react as Scott Brown celebrates 9th straight title…

Former Tottenham star Dimitar Berbatov has shed light on his time in North London.

The Bulgarian provided insight into life at Spurs during a fan Q&A on Instagram over the weekend, and went on to talk about his plans to take up coaching in the future, as well as how he is coping with the pandemic.

Berbatov was asked to name his favourite memory from his two-year-spell at White Hart Lane, and he revealed the League Cup victory over bitter rivals Chelsea is his best moment wearing the famous Lilywhites jersey.

He answered “winning the cup in 2008, beating Chelsea at Wembley, I scored in that game. My first trophy in England, it was a special moment.”

“Every game for Spurs was special for me. I loved it! I have so much respect and gratitude for the team.”

Popular site @thespursweb shared the clip on Twitter, prompting lots of replies from a large section of the devoted fan base.

After arriving at White Hart Lane from Bayer Leverkusen for £10.9m all the way back in 2006, the striker scored 46 goals and created 24 assists in over 100 appearances for the club, before infamously leaving for Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United in 2008 (Transfermarkt). He finally hung up his boots 10 years later.

Unsurprisingly, plenty of supporters still haven’t forgiven the ex-Bulgaria international for his departure, as many slammed his latest comments on social media. One fan branded Berbatov as a “snake” while another added he is a “massive tool.”

Scroll through the rest of the scathing reactions down below…

Tottenham fans, do you think Dimitar Berbatov is a club legend? Have you forgiven him for leaving White Hart Lane? Let us know in the comments section!

According to The Times’ Chief Sports reporter, Martyn Ziegler, Newcastle’s takeover plans faces a fresh stumbling block posed by the Football Association.

What did he say?

Amid suggestions that the club’s takeover could be given the go-ahead very soon, Ziegler has revealed that the FA has now threatened legal action against Saudi Arabia’s state-owned TV station for the “the illegal broadcast” of FA Cup ties involving the Magpies.

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It’s suggested that English football’s governing body have sent a letter to KSA Sports, “saying the broadcasts infringe the FA’s property rights even though they are old games”.

Ziegler adds in his report that the “development will be another concern” for the Saudi consortium trying to buy the Tyneside club.

Another hurdle

Just when you thought things were beginning to edge towards a satisfying conclusion for Newcastle fans, think again.

Ziegler’s report is just another spanner in the works that threatens to delay the Magpies’ proposed takeover even further, and the waiting game will surely be getting frustrating for fans hoping for some good news.

The Tyneside club will just have to sit back and see whether the Saudi consortium’s legal team can put the matter to rest so that they can press ahead with actually finalising the takeover once and for all.

Key information about Bramall Lane

Bramall Lane was built in 1855 and is now the home of Sheffield United. The stadium is located in South Yorkshire and remains one of the oldest grounds in football history that’s still used for professional football matches.

Its current capacity is 32,702 and has a pitch size of 112m x 72m. The field doesn’t have a running track and is covered with a hybrid surface that’s part natural grass and part artificial fibre.

The record attendance of 68,287 was set at an FA Cup clash between Sheffield United and Leeds United on 15 February 1936.

A history of Bramall Lane

Being one of the oldest stadiums in the world that is still used for professional football, it doesn’t surprise that Bramall Lane has a rich history. It was built in 1855 on a Sheffield road named after the Bramall family. Interestingly, however, the ground was initially built for cricket, not football, and has been used for both sports over the years.

In the 19th century, Bramall Lane was used by both Sheffield F.C. and Sheffield Wednesday, but since 1889 and the club’s inception, it has become the home of Sheffield United, which is true to this day. The first football match to be played there was actually the clash between Sheffield F.C. and Hallam F.C on 29 December 1862, seven years after it was first built.

Intriguingly, that was possibly the first charity match in football history as the game was used to raise money for the ‘Lancashire Mills Distress Fund’. And what’s even more interesting is that the match lasted for three hours and finished in a 0-0 draw.

But Bramall Lane continued being the first in many things and in October 1878, it registered the first official floodlit match in football. Of course, they wouldn’t stop there either as the ground is only one of two on the planet to host an England football international match, an England cricket test match and an FA Cup Final. Needless to say, it drips with history and significance in the world of sports.

The 1890s and 1900s were when the stadium went through a series of improvements as they got two new stands, a roof and also an increase in capacity, eventually recording its highest ever attendance in 1936 when 68,287 spectators watched the FA Cup clash between hosts Sheffield United and the visitors Leeds.

In 1975 they added the South Stand, in 1991 the Kop and in 1994, the stadium became an all-seater. There were more developments over the following years and Bramall Lane also got expanded on two occasions after the turn of the new millennium, once in 2001 and once in 2006.

Bramall Lane is a football and cricket stadium first and foremost, which also gives it a unique shape, but it’s been a host to many different sports such as cycling, rugby, basketball, baseball, tennis, archery, crown green bowling, skating, athletics and boxing too.

Tickets to watch Sheffield United at Bramall Lane

All the tickets to watch Sheffield United at Bramall Lane can be found on the club’s official website. They offer different categories of tickets but the average adult ticket costs around £40.

Sheffield United also have season tickets and memberships that can give you significant discounts over a larger number of games played throughout the season.

Related links

https://www.sufc.co.uk/ – Official website of Sheffield United

https://tickets.sufc.co.uk/ – Sheffield United Ticket Office