All posts by z3u9t.icu

[ad_pod ]Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to state their desire to see Selhurst Park favourite Scott Dann remain at the club, amid reported interest from 19th placed Fulham, according to Bleacher Report’s football insider Dean Jones on Twitter.The Eagles defender has only recently recovered from a serious knee injury sustained in the 0-0 draw against Manchester City at Selhurst Park last season, and has made just two starts in the current campaign in the FA Cup games against Grimsby and Tottenham – he performed excellently in both games, playing 90 minutes and keeping two clean sheets, as per Transfermarkt.However, given his undoubted quality, the 31-year-old perhaps deserves to be starting week in, week out, and he probably would be but for the formidable partnership of Mamadou Sakho and James Tomkins.Which player with “no potential” has just been named Crystal Palace’s worst ever January signing? Find out in the video below…As a result, relegation threatened Fulham are interested in bringing him to Craven Cottage to solve their defensive woes according to Dean Jones, although fans of the Eagles aren’t too up for the idea of seeing such a pivotal figure depart the club, if their reactions on Twitter are anything to go by…

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Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has fired a warning to his squad that any negativity regarding his team selections will not be tolerated, as reported by The Herald.

What was said?

The former Liverpool and England midfielder was speaking ahead of the Gers’ clash with St Mirren and after the closure of the January transfer window.

Gerrard was busy over the winter window, with five players arriving at Ibrox Stadium ahead of the second half of the campaign – Jermain Defoe, Steven Davis, Glen Kamara, Andy Firth and Matt Polster. 

Be sure to check out the incredible story of the man who rose from a Tanzanian refugee camp to become one of Australia’s biggest football stars in the video below…

In his first managerial post since his retirement as a player, the 38-year-old is currently impressing, with his side in the thick of the title hunt. He will be hoping that the fresh faces in his ranks will increase competition for places. However, he was clear that a negative reaction to this from anyone in his squad would be punished. 

“I had to pick a starting XI and an 18 for the St Mirren game and there are a few people going to be outside that. It’s not personal. It doesn’t mean I don’t rate them…

…At times someone’s ego might be a bit dented, but they have to accept that and get on with that. I will try and manage that. That is my job. The man management side is really big and important…

…What I won’t have is someone’s ego getting in the way, is a bad influence around the group or spits the dummy out. I don’t mind players being disappointed if they are not in the 11 or 18. I actually respect them more for that…

…But if I feel it is affecting the group then they won’t be around. It’s as simple and blunt as that. I won’t have any bad eggs around.”

What he meant

Gerrard is clearly keen to ensure that his players prioritise the collective good of the team, rather than solely being concerned for themselves. 

His threat that anyone not reaching his expectations in this regard “won’t be around” is evidence that he is willing to be ruthless and rule with an iron fist if he must.

The Rangers squad ought to take note of their manager’s words and ensure that no complacency creeps into their games, and if they find themselves out of the team, they must know that hard work is the only route back into Gerrard’s plans. 

Wolves fans will be hoping the club can secure European football in their first campaign back in the Premier League.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men comfortably lifted the Championship title last season and their excellent form has continued in the higher division. Wolves currently occupy seventh place in the standings, four points clear of Watford and nine points behind Arsenal. European football is a real possibility if the Midlands side can maintain their form for the rest of the campaign.

Finishing in a European place would also give Wolves a welcome boost to their finances ahead of the summer transfer window. More money to spend on recruits will greatly increase their chances of making their recent success sustainable in the long-term. However, Nuno should also be on the lookout for deals that don’t break the bank.

Therefore, Wolves should be keeping tabs on Rotherham dynamo – Will Vaulks. Valued at just £675k by Transfermarkt, the 25-year-old has been one of the Championship’s most consistent performers this season. Despite his increasing importance to his current employers, his contract at the club is set to expire in the summer meaning Wolves could look to secure his services for absolutely nothing.

Vaulks is a fantastic defensive midfielder who adds another layer of protection to the back four, averaging an impressive 2.5 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game this season. Not only does he excel defensively, but the Englishman also has the quality to dictate the tempo of games, chipping in with five goals and three assists this season. Adapting to the physicality of the Premier League should be no issue with Vaulks winning an incredible 4.3 aerial duels per game in the Championship (WhoScored).

Potentially available on a free, this move should be a no brainer.

Wolves fans, thoughts?

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Everton have hardly had the season the fans were surely hoping for after Marco Silva took the helm and the Toffees recruited three Barcelona players in the summer. A string of poor results have seen the Goodison Park outfit lose five of their last six and the pressure mount on their Portuguese manager.

The same problems seem to be cropping up time and time again and there is little doubt that they are underperforming. There have, though, been occasional bright-sparks provided by a select few, although there are also a couple of players who have flattered to deceive throughout the season.

So, who has improved and who has declined the most on Merseyside over the course of the campaign?

Most improved: Lucas Digne

The Frenchman is one of very few players who can confidently say that their starting spot will be guaranteed beyond the summer and looks set to hold down the left-side of Everton’s defence for the foreseeable future – a rapid turnaround after starting the season behind Leighton Baines in the pecking order.

The Toffees may have struggled to find a way through their opponents’ defences in recent weeks but Digne is not for the want of trying – the former Barcelona man has attempted a league-high 197 crosses, while also chalking up three goals and as many assists in 24 league appearances.

Possessing a wicked left-foot, the left-back has even ousted Gylfi Sigurdsson from some set-piece duties and has frequently shown his lethality from dead-ball situations as he goes from strength to strength.

Far removed: Seamus Coleman

On the other side of the Toffees defence, Seamus Coleman is having a campaign to forget. The Irishman has regularly looked off the pace and has shown nothing but glimpses of the calibre of performance that have made him the first name on the Everton team sheet over the years.

Besides the obvious need for a winger and striker, Coleman’s place looks most under threat if Everton decide to conduct another squad overhaul in the summer.

The Merseysiders were linked with a move for now-Leicester man Ricardo Pereira when he was still at Porto and, considering the impact the Portuguese has had at the King Power and the lacklustre figure cut by Coleman, they will surely rue their inability to win the race for his signature last year.

How much money could you make busking for a week as a freestyle footballer? Find out in the video below…

At a point where Tottenham Hotspur needed to save every possible penny, you’ve really got to question the abominable decision to sign flop Vincent Janssen.   

Yes, the man who Spurs fans should have forgotten about but probably never will.

According to Sky Sports, Tottenham signed Dutch forward Vincent Janssen on a four-year deal back in 2016 for an eye-watering £18.6m.

Since then, what has Janssen achieved?

Well, absolutely nothing.

This is a man whose time in the first-team has been reduced by such significant proportions we’d genuinely be surprised if he managed to bounce back from his time at Tottenham, such is the impact of seeing almost everyone, including the mascot, preferred head of him.

There was a glimmer of hope for Janssen following reports he was due to be welcomed back into the first-team picture by Pochettino, who was faced extensive injury problems earlier this month,

There was a glimmer of hope for Janssen following reports he was due to be welcomed back into the fray earlier this month (source: Standard). But, like waking from a pleasant dream on a Monday morning, Janssen was rapidly slapped in the face by his nightmarish reality. A reality in which he couldn’t even manage a single minute in an injury-laden Tottenham team.

Only six goals in 39 appearances say it all really.

There’s genuinely very little to his game that could in any way provide something different to what they already have, even at the lowest level of academy football. Other than perhaps experience scoring penalties. All £18.6m worth of excellence from the spot.

Like us, commentators at Football.London (Alasdair Gold at 4.20pm yesterday) can’t see Janssen kitting up for Tottenham ever again. Baring an injury crisis of ‘epic proportions’, the Dutchman is reportedly highly unlikely to ever feature for the club and the blame has to go on Pochettino. He’s the one who spent the money. He’s the one who wasted it.

So ends the tale of one of Levy’s worst ever signings.

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Tottenham Hotspur’s four games in April will all air on Sky Sports, the club have confirmed on their official Twitter account.

Spurs play Brighton & Hove Albion, Huddersfield Town and West Ham United at home, while also travelling to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City.

And the club have announced that three of those games – Huddersfield, City and the Hammers – will be 12:30 pm kick-offs. The clash with Brighton will start at 4:30 pm.

It remains to be seen whether the home games will be held at Wembley or at the club’s newly-built stadium.

The London Evening Standard reported earlier this week that Spurs are hopeful of playing Brighton on April 6 at their new ground, but the game may well be rescheduled if the Seagulls beat Millwall to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.

The Huddersfield game, the report states, subsequently appears to be the most likely fixture to raise the curtain.

And Spurs fans have reacted to the news of the television picks with cynicism – many believe Sky Sports are trying to air the opening of the new stadium so are hedging their bets, while others are less than enthused about three early kick-offs in a row. Take a look at some of the best reaction below!

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Loads of Tottenham fans have been running the rule over Saturday’s derby draw, and they’re not too happy with a decision that Mauricio Pochettino keeps making during recent games.

Tottenham kept a safe distance between themselves and Arsenal on Saturday, rescuing a point from a dramatic affair at Wembley.

The Gunners took the lead in the first half through a superb finish from Aaron Ramsey, and Bernd Leno made an excellent double save to deny both Christian Eriksen and Moussa Sissoko.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he would have snubbed Tottenham for Arsenal if they’d come knocking in 2005…

Harry Kane then levelled the scores from the penalty spot, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang couldn’t match the Englishman’s accomplishment, as his late spot kick was saved by Hugo Lloris.

While Lloris and Jan Vertonghen, who cleared off the line after the Frenchman’s penalty save, were the heroes, fans aren’t too happy with Pochettino for using Erik Lamela off the bench instead of Lucas Moura, something he has done in three games straight.

Lucas started the season in scintillating form, producing one of the performances of the season at Old Trafford, but the Brazilian speedster has played just 12 total minutes across the last three matches.

Fans would match rather see Lucas introduced for a late spark than the walking yellow card that is Lamela, as you can see from the Twitter reactions down below…

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The prospect of playing Premier League football next season is becoming a more and more realistic possibility every single week for Leeds United at the moment.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side are currently in the thick of the Championship title race, and have been in the mix for promotion all season. On top of that, the Whites have also been regularly producing scintillating football throughout the campaign.

Are fans being priced out of the Championship as well as the Premier League? The angry Bolton fan in the video below certainly believes so…

The Argentine coach deserves plenty of credit for the dramatic changes and improvements he’s instigated at Elland Road. Now, inevitably, speculation is turning to how his side might cope in the top flight. Bielsa himself has given his verdict on this.

What he said

In his press conference on Monday, as quoted by Leeds Live, the manager was asked if his current squad are capable of making the step up to the Premier League.

Bielsa said: “I haven’t analysed the Premier League so I’m not ready to make this kind of comparison now. But I can tell you any player that plays for Leeds now, they could play without any problems in the two European teams that I trained for some time, Marseille and Bilbao. I can make this comparison because I know both teams.”

A huge vote of confidence

This is a huge compliment for Bielsa to pay his squad. Athletic Bilbao and Marseille were in La Liga and Ligue 1, respectively, when he was in charge. When he was at the helm of the French club, Bielsa had the likes of Benjamin Mendy, Dimitri Payet, and Michy Batshuayi at his disposal.

These comments from the head coach ought to give the Leeds squad a massive confidence boost, which fans will hope can give them a lift heading into the all important Championship run in.

That was a relief, wasn’t it? Manchester City looked leggy at times in the FA Cup on Saturday, and it was clear they just can’t carry on at the intensity they have been to win the unprecedented quadruple.

Pep Guardiola’s men know they’re now 15 games away from winning everything, but that task looks to be too much for City’s squad, and probably any squad that’s played the English game. On Saturday, passes were going astray and tempers flared.  It almost seemed like a pre-season friendly, not in intensity but in how sloppy the Blues were.

This is the result of quite the opposite of a summer break though. It’s a by-product of playing nearly every three days since Christmas, something even a squad of City’s size simply can’t cope with. If they do manage to win every trophy, it won’t be in the emphatic style we saw them win the Premier League in last season.

It could get scrappy.

City most talented player, Kevin De Bruyne has only started seven times this season, their captain Vincent Kompany is injury prone and defensive partner John Stones is out injured. The club’s only natural left-back Benjamin Mendy acts more as a social media co-ordinator than a defender and their most influential player, and only trustworthy holding midfielder, Fernandinho, is out too.

City seem like the walking wounded at the moment, but they’re battling on somehow. Saturday was a near miss, but they’ll have plenty more as they chase immortality. The performance proved they need the international break desperately, so they can regroup and prepare for the most difficult month of the season.

The signs aren’t looking good, so despite only 15 games lying between them and the quadruple, it looks impossible for the club to live up to inflated expectation dumped on them by the media.

City fans, how close do you think City will get to winning an unprecedented quadruple this season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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It’s been a pretty miserable month for Rangers fans, and some are taking their resentment out on the women’s team after they were beaten 4-0 by Hibernian this weekend.

Rangers have not won a match this month, as the Gers have been forced to stand idly by and watch as Celtic walk towards their eighth consecutive title with relative ease.

Steven Gerrard’s side have completely lost the ability to break down packed defences, although some fans may argue they haven’t really had that ability at any point this season.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

Back to back 1-1 draws with Aberdeen and Hibs were followed by a shock exit in the Scottish Cup at Ibrox, before a 1-1 home draw against Kilmarnock all but handed the title to Celtic.

Now, the club’s misery has been compounded by a humiliating defeat for the women’s team, who were thrashed 4-0 by Hibs on Sunday.

Fans have been reacting rather hilariously to the club’s update announcing the result, releasing their frustrations about the Gers’ general state in response to the club’s tweet.

You can find some of the best reactions down below…