At the start of the season, Leeds United made an early case for promotion contenders under Thomas Christiansen.
As the campaign progressed, the wheels began to fall off and in February, the Yorkshire outfit sacked the manager and replaced him with Paul Heckingbottom.
Since the new leader’s arrival, the Whites have picked up just one victory in eight Championship matches.
The problems began before Heckingbottom took charge, though, and it has now been revealed that Leeds are at the bottom of the form table taking into account the last 14 fixtures.
Leeds’ hopes of challenging for Premier League promotion have all but disappeared as they reside 14th in the standings, 12 points adrift of the playoff places.
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Since Boxing Day, the Yorkshire outfit have suffered eight league defeats and during that spell they have conceded 26 goals.
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On Saturday, the pain continued as the team were beaten 2-1 by Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road.
As expected, fans have been left dismayed by the form table.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has stated that although Balotelli hasn’t performed to his potential, Liverpool have much bigger problems, Express reports.
The two sides will meet in Tuesday’s Champions League clash at the Santiago Bernabeu and while Real are firing on all cylinders after 11 straight victories, the Reds have already lost four out of six away games.
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And many have pinned Mario Balotelli as the scapegoat for Liverpool’s disappointing performances, but Ancelotti claims Brendan Rodgers shouldn’t focus on the Italian’s form as much as the club’s other weaknesses.
“Balotelli is spoken of a lot, maybe too much, he has quality,” said Ancelotti. “He is at a side where they’re not playing well having lost Luis Suarez who scored a lot.
“They need another solution, but I don’t think all of Liverpool’s problems are Balotelli. He needs to do his work for the side. That’s all that can be asked of him.”
Meanwhile, Ancelotti has a fine dilemma to solve with the return of Gareth Bale, who could replace Isco on the left side of the Los Blancos midfield.
“Gareth Bale is ready to play and is back from injury, but I don’t know if he will play from the off or be on the bench,” said Ancelotti, whose side have plundered 46 goals in 11 straight victories in all competitions.
“The side is fine and right now the football is intense. The side are fine now, we have things to improve and rotation is important to help prevent problems and injuries.
“The side fills me with confidence because we’re playing well, especially in big games. The players know better than me that all games are an examination and we can improve or take a step back.
“We have been on a good run and that helps us, we have a serious side and I don’t think that we will lose. The team’s professionalism is total.”
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“I know people will boo me but I love that. The more you boo me the more power I get. I don’t want people to love me – I just want them to respect me.” (Daily Record)
El-Hadji Diouf is no stranger to controversy. His attitude, conduct and general demeanour invite a weekly dose of abuse that rains down from the stands. However, is the Leeds United winger the only man who enjoys such unfavourable attention? It appears that a growing number of players are developing an addiction to the hatred that comes their way. Is it fair to suggest they can only produce their best performances to an unrelenting chorus of boos?
Luis Suarez carries the weight of an entire city on his shoulders. The footballing Mecca known as Liverpool is a breeding ground for hope and expectation, desperate to relive the glory days of decades gone by. The current strikeforce is so bereft of options that if he doesn’t find the back of the net, it’s difficult to see the club picking up three points. The heavy feeling of responsibility must be overwhelming.
Liverpool’s new number 7 – a digit with royal connotations – is perhaps the only recent acquisition on Merseyside to have justified his hefty transfer fee. However, he has still attracted more criticism and ridicule than the likes of Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson combined. Putting aside the race row with Patrice Evra, there’s no denying his frequent niggles at defender’s heels coupled with his apparent lack of balance have further damaged his reputation.
However, with the Uruguayan now pigeonholed and seemingly forced down to a path of no return, is it any wonder that he persists with this playing philosophy? When supporters focus all their attention on hurling insults, they neglect supporting their own team, which serves to benefit the victimised player and his team-mates.
The club’s supporters have stood by him, singing his name with the same gusto that was once reserved for fellow adopted striker Fernando Torres. It seems that the more boos he receives, the further he is pushed into the arms of the Liverpool faithful. This love-hate relationship he shares with English football seems to be an effective motivational tool and has propelled him to the top of the goalscoring charts this season.
Another player rapidly accumulating an undesirable reputation is Gareth Bale. The Tottenham winger is seemingly desperate to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo, right down to his egotistical nature and distinctive free-kick technique. Having once been confined at left-back, Bale is now relishing his free role at White Hart Lane and all the attention that comes with it.
Tottenham’s recent victory against Fulham saw Bale pick up a hamstring injury as well as a second consecutive booking for diving. Ashley Young has distanced himself from the ‘serial offender’ tag since attracting criticism last year, but it will be interesting to see if Bale follows suit upon his return. If not, will the Welshman seriously pursue his desire to play abroad, perhaps in Spain, where theatrics are praised rather than persecuted?
Joey Barton is certainly a man who thrives on the negative attention. It’s unsurprising that he has decided to resurrect his career in one of more notoriously ‘intense’ regions of France. Unlike Bale and Suarez though, Barton is no world-beater – despite what he might say – and therefore resembles a pantomime villain. A successor to Robbie Savage.
The tenacity of Barton’s playing style will inevitably stir a negative reaction from opposing supporters, but as we’re all aware from his thought-provoking if slightly preachy website, the man likes the sound of his own voice – even if it is followed by a string of expletives. Barton may have failed to fulfil his potential, but there was certainly a time during his stint with Manchester City and Newcastle, when you would rather have him on your team than line up against him.
As much as it pains me to say it, football needs these characters; they provide an unpredictable element to a game built on raw emotion. Gary Speed once told the aforementioned Diouf that ‘people never boo a bad player’, and while I have definitely booed a few in my time, there is still an element of truth to his words.
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Supporters are unlikely to be unsettled by those who cannot make an impact on the game. When such players hear their name associated with all manner of derogatory terms, it’s like adding fuel to the fire. They thrive on the attention and strive to silence their critics by raising a single finger to their mouth or cupping their ears after putting their name on the scoresheet.
The West Ham fans in and around the Transfer Tavern are happy to see that the owners are working hard to recruit some real talented players this summer in the hope that their league position will improve.
West Ham are amongst the busier clubs in the Premier League thus far, having already secured the signings of Lukasz Fabianski, Issa Diop and Ryan Fredricks. However, their strong hopes for next season were dealt a big blow when Manuel Lanzini sustained an injury whilst away with Argentina, which some feared was career-ending. Luckily the little jewel insists that he will be back early 2019 but even so our punters are keen to suggest buying Max Meyer, (who is valued at £16.2 million on Transfermarkt) as a big-name replacement.
The German international is soon to be a free agent after failing to agree a new deal with Schalke. Already, Meyer has accumulated great interest from many teams but none necessarily have the need for him as much as West Ham now do. The 22-year-old is very highly-rated even though his time at the German club wasn’t all that successful. Meyer found it hard to cement his place in the team, resulting in only making 21 starts.
Some of his better football was presented in the 2015/16 season, a memorable season for the Hammers that ended their 112 year stay at the Boleyn Ground. It was that Bundesliga campaign where Meyer showed his undoubted talent, scoring 5 times and providing 8 assists in the Bundesliga.
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West Ham are known to like free deals and given his potential, Max Meyer could be a magnificent buy on a free transfer… do you agree?
As reported by The Daily Mail, Arsene Wenger’s long-term future at Arsenal is in doubt with the club set to review his position at the end of the season, already drawing up a shortlist of potential replacements.
That list includes the likes of Germany manager Joachim Low and Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, according to the paper, as the Gunners attempt to find a man that can return English Premier League success to the club.
However, Arsenal fans are not at all happy with some of the names being linked, taking most issue with Rodgers.
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They feel he is absolutely the wrong candidate to take over from Wenger, with some even suggesting to not to bother sacking the Frenchman if that’s the standard of manager waiting in the wings.
Rodgers has found great success at Celtic and brought Liverpool close to a league title but doubts remain about his European credentials, which is obviously a big priority for Arsenal.
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Supporters took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the rumours…
Had it not been for a good run of form during the second half of last season, it’s likely Sam Allardyce would have been moved on from his post as West Ham manager. But for now, the club have (perhaps reluctantly) stuck by the manager but made clear their desire for something a little more interesting in the way of attacking football.
The club have, however, done some positive transfer business this summer, with Enner Valencia looking the most promising of the forward signings. But the transfer activity shouldn’t end there, as the club are short of quality at centre-forward and could do with a creative option in the centre of midfield.
With a little under a month left in the transfer window, here are FIVE players who could contribute to West Ham’s attacking play next season…
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Wilfried Zaha
With players coming into form, and their transfer business unlikely to be over, Manchester United suddenly look to have plenty of options in attack, which means Wilfried Zaha may have to look for a move away to secure regular first-team football.
The winger is said to be a target for West Ham and would prove to be an exciting signing for the club, having shown plenty of promise for Crystal Palace.
With Sam Allardyce needing to bring in players who can offer a little more imagination in the final third, a move for Zaha would make a lot of sense. Having already picked up an England cap, the youngster has an exciting future ahead of him.
Scott Sinclair
Scott Sinclair would have enjoyed a quiet past two years sitting on the sidelines at Manchester City, but if the winger is serious about kick starting his career, he’d be wise to seek a move away this summer.
Sinclair was part of an attacking Swansea side that won promotion to the Premier League under Brendan Rodgers. Despite his career stagnating at the Etihad stadium, Sinclair can be effective in the final third, both with goals and assists.
It shouldn’t take too much to prise him from Manchester City, but Sinclair, provided he can rediscover his best form, would be of great use to West Ham this coming season.
Peter Crouch
Peter Crouch may be coming to the end of his career, but at 33 he still has something to offer in the Premier League and would help to ease the loss of Andy Carroll to injury.
Stoke are said to want £3 million for the former England international, which may prove problematic for West Ham, but Crouch, despite his target man tag, was part of a Tottenham team who played good, attacking football in the recent past.
For the right price, Crouch would prove to be a good short-term investment for Sam Allardyce.
Lewis Holtby
Lewis Holtby may be looking to restart his Tottenham career under new manager Mauricio Pochettino, but considering the midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Fulham, there may be a possibility of landing him this summer, especially of Daniel Levy makes a late move in the market.
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Holtby would act as the hub of West Ham’s midfield in the team’s bid for a more attractive brand of football. He’s already played as a No.10 at a high level for Schalke and should link up well with the club’s newest arrivals.
The signing of Holtby, whether permanent or on loan, would prove to be a coup for Allardyce this summer.
Samuel Eto’o
Rumours linking Samuel Eto’o with a move to West Ham have come and gone, but that doesn’t mean the striker still wouldn’t be a good signing for Sam Allardyce’s side.
The Cameron forward knows the Premier League well and would help to play a more attractive brand of football, able to play just behind the striker or as the furthest forward.
Eto’o may have slowed down from his days at Barcelona and Inter Milan, but he’d still be of great use to West Ham, who need someone with the striker’s inspiration to provide the goals.
manager Andre Villas-Boas admits he knows all about the importance of the north London derby.
Spurs visit Arsenal this weekend in Villas-Boas’ first derby game since his arrival at White Hart Lane in the summer.
And with just a single point separating the London rivals in the Premier League table, the Portuguese boss knows how important the game is, not only for the teams involved, but for the fans as well.
He told Sky Sports: “People have been speaking about it quite often, between the staff and the chairman.
“You understand the importance of it. This is a game where passion is extremely high. It is a game which represents three points.
“But in the league it represents more than that in the history of north London derbies.”
Villas-Boas also believes Tottenham are slowly closing in on Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal and hopes they can achieve the same kind of success as their rivals in the future.
“Arsenal have accumulated recently an amount of trophies, which is important, including being Premiership champions,” he added.
“I think recently they have also obtained more Champions League qualifications. This is a step up to where we want to be in the future.
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“We have been within their reach for the last couple of years, so we are certainly getting nearer in terms of what we are doing as a club.”
Crystal Palace fans are hopeful Ruben Loftus-Cheek, currently in Russia on international duty, will join them on a permanent transfer from Chelsea. Chelsea are believed to value the energetic midfielder at £25m.
After spending a highly successful season on loan at the Eagles, ‘RLC’ looks like he is on the move. An engine in the middle of the park, Loftus-Cheek can beat players with pace and skill, and has a great ability to pick a pass. Roy Hodgson will certainly be assessing his midfield options this summer, with Frenchman Yohan Cabaye likely to be show the Selhurst Park exit door.
Crystal Palace are by not the only club interested in the young English star, with German clubs Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich showing interest, as well as Premier League rivals Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Eagles fans are hoping Palace spend what is necessary to bring Loftus-Cheek back to an environment he knows, and thrived in last season. It would certainly be a huge capture for the club if they can secure his services.
Here’s a selection of the best Crystal Palace fan reaction on the Loftus-Cheek news..
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Wolves have reached an agreement with MLS side Colorado Rapids that would send injury-maligned stiker Joe Mason to Denver, according to BirminghamLive.
What’s gone down?
Mason was on loan at Burton Albion at the start of this season, but hasn’t played for Wanderers since the end of their last Championship campaign.
He has been out of action since he was struck down by illness and injury while with the Brewers, but this latest development promises to open an exciting new chapter in Mason’s career.
Rapids manager Anthony Hudson said: “We’re really pleased that we’ve come to an agreement with the club and the player.
“It’s a great signing for us. He’s a top player. Played at a really high level.
“He’s going to suit how we play, going to suit the League so now all we’re waiting for is the formalities – visas and these types of things.”
Much of a loss for Wolves?
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The answer to that question is pretty simple – not particularly. Wolves have experienced roaring success this year, especially with their front line three of Diego Jota, Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro.
Mason was the odd one out – hence the loan move – but his departure will be a shame for Wolves given his fanfare arrival to the tune of £3.5m back in 2016.
Arsenal look ready to replicate last season ahead of their upcoming campaign and with some big name reinforcements, they look stronger than ever. If they can keep all their star players fit, then there is no stopping Arsene Wenger and his men.
The English Premier League will start in due course but the Gunners will first get a warm up match with current champions Manchester City in the Charity Shield today.
So, with that in mind, here are SIX things to expect from Arsenal this season.
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CLICK ON ARSENE WENGER TO SEE THE FULL LIST
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A Top Four Finish
Arsenal have always been part of the top four and this season will be no different. With Arsene Wenger going through yet another spending spree following last season’s huge splash on Mesut Ozil, the Gunners are looking even stronger.
Whether first, second, third, or fourth, Wenger will at least have to guarantee a place in the UEFA Champions League in their upcoming campaign. Anything lower than that, then a change in management may need to be considered. Straight back to training they go!
New Signings Will Shine
Matheiu Debuchy and Calum Chambers will be expected to shine as the pair will already have Premier League experience, but expectations will be even higher for their £35 million signing Alexis Sanchez. Despite the former Barcelona star not having any experience in England, his time with the La Liga giants should have already prepared him for what’s to come.
Debuchy will most probably become the club’s first choice right back, so expect him to replicate his Newcastle form from day one. Arsene Wenger has shown a lot of trust in Calum Chambers, and with the young Englishman expected to start in place of Per Mertesacker in the heart of defence, there is no room for error.
More Silverware
Arsenal recently ended their nine year trophy drought after beating Hull City 3-2 to be crowned FA Cup champions, so everyone should be expecting them to add more silverware to their cabinet. What better way to start their campaign than to come out victorious in the upcoming Charity Shield match versus the current Premier League champions Manchester City.
Whether it’s another FA Cup repeat, the Carling cup, the Premier League, or even the UEFA Champions League, Arsene Wenger will surely be targeting to win at least one of their many upcoming tournaments.
Serious Title Contenders
During the first half of last season, Arsenal were actually title favourites after starting the campaign on a very high note. However, with injuries holding back the squad, they began the second half of their Premier League run with a slow decline in form and not enough adequate cover in various positions.
This time around, with a few important additions to the squad, Arsene Wenger will surely not allow any more mishaps in this back line. Expect a title push from the Gunners in the upcoming campaign as squad depth looks to not become a problem anymore.
Ozil Will Be Back to His Best
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Last season, during the tight match schedule in December, Mesut Ozil looked tired as he was not used to the busy Premier League campaign. However, with an entire season to get used to the game, we expect the German play-maker to score even more as well as create even more.
Last season we saw him net six and provide 10 in 26 league matches, but more will be expected of him as he is the main link up between the midfield and the attacks. The addition of Alexis Sanchez will give him yet another attacking outlet he can provide a killer pass to.
Competition for Places Between the Sticks
The acquisition of David Ospina means that Wojciech Szczesny’s place between the stick is no longer safe. Any mistakes or howlers that he causes could pretty much be his last appearance. With Ospina performing brilliantly for his national side, his quality is there; all he needs now is a chance to prove himself to Arsene Wenger.
This can also mean that the goalkeeping pair may be rotated between league games and cup matches as Wenger will finally have to decide on who will be his new number one. The plus side to this is that both of them will be on top of their game in hopes of retaining a spot in the Gunners starting line-up.