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Glasgow Rangers fans have been reacting to the news that Slavia Prague’s Ondrej Kudela will not travel with the Czech squad to play Wales amidst the ongoing storm surrounding his altercation with Glen Kamara.

The Gers faced the Czech champions in the Europa League round of 16, and were beaten 3-1 on aggregate after losing 2-0 at Ibrox. However, the match was marred by allegations of racial abuse, and the fall-out continues to rumble on.

Kudela and Slavia (slavia.cz) have released a statement denying the claims, while Kamara has also moved to back up his claims. The 34-year-old Slavia defender was set to be a part of his country’s squad to travel to Wales for their 2022 World Cup qualifying clash, but it has been decided that he will stay in his homeland amidst fears of a backlash.

The news was shared on Twitter by The Daily Record, and the fans took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the Kudela news below

“Big man i gaurentee he now regrets his actions and i bet he never thought this reaction would happen”

Credit: @aris_donald

“Coward”

Credit: @joe_black1509

“Coward, surely that proves his guilt”

Credit: @JayTeeFife

“Wonder why??”

Credit: @stevoboyle

“Hopefully UEFA step in now and deal with this vile player”

Credit: @andy_brennan72

“That says it all”

Credit: @PaulCampbell97

In other news, Rangers fans react to this latest injury news.

Rangers’ first title in 10 years was confirmed on Sunday as their Old Firm rivals failed to beat Dundee United away from home, and Steven Gerrard deserves immense credit for the way he has transformed the Ibrox outfit in his time with the club.

The Liverpool legend was appointed Rangers boss in the summer of 2018, replacing Graeme Murty, who was placed in interim charge following the sacking of Pedro Caixinha.

It is easy to see the impact the 40-year-old has had during his two years with the club, as during his first season in charge, Rangers would finish just nine points behind their Celtic, whilst they would lose just once at Ibrox.

Strong home form has been a staple of Rangers’ identity during Gerrard’s time in charge, as last season saw them lose just twice there, whilst they have won every single game at home so far this season.

It is often said that titles are won with a strong defence and the improvements in Rangers’ defence under Gerrard has been superb, as they conceded 27 goals in 2018/19, 19 goals in 2019/20, and have shipped just nine goals in the league so far this season.

For context, under Caixinha and Murty in 2017/18, Rangers would finish third behind their Old Firm rivals and Aberdeen, conceding 50 goals across the season.

Whilst a lot of credit has to go to Rangers’ superb defence this season, with the likes of Connor Goldson, Filip Helander and Leon Balogun all impressing in central-defence, the way in which the Gers have been instructed by Gerrard and his coaching team has clearly had a huge influence.

The weekend’s results also means that Rangers should receive a guard of honour when they visit Celtic Park next week, which will no doubt delight Rangers players and fans alike, as they prevent their rivals from winning ten titles in a row this season.

Given their sheer dominance, added to the plethora of problems at Celtic, the players in Green and White facing the humiliation of clapping the champions onto the pitch next week will be a perfect illustration of how this season has gone for both teams.

Although few would have predicted it to be so comfortable, the results in the past few seasons under Gerrard have suggested that this title win was always on the cards.

And, in other news… 125 touches, 92% pass accuracy: £7.5k-p/w Rangers beast ran the show at Ibrox

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Newcastle United defender Steve Howey believes Steve Bruce and Scott Parker could not be further apart in how they carry themselves.

Just before Fulham’s impressive win away to Liverpool on Sunday where they rarely looked troubled, Newcastle had drawn 0-0 away to 19th placed West Bromwich Albion.

Howey believes the way Parker conducts himself and how upbeat he is in interviews is a big factor as to why they are playing good football now, and have given themselves a great chance of escaping the drop.

Bruce has been under immense pressure with fans wanting and expecting him to be sacked after the draw against West Brom, however, he remains and is set to be the manager for the foreseeable future.

The former Sunderland manager has never been a fan favourite and Howey believes it’s all getting a bit too much for Bruce both physically and mentally.

Howey was full of praise for their relegation rivals’ manager Parker in comparison, telling FFC exclusively.

“I can totally understand the manner of Steve Bruce and the demeanour when he gets interviewed.

“You look at the way he is and you look at Scott Parker, and they’re just polar opposites. Scott looks very positive, very upbeat and Steve looks kind of defeated, really.

“You just hope that doesn’t affect his mental health because he just doesn’t look well. The pressure is obviously getting to him, unfortunately, that then gets to his family.”

Bruce seems to be facing a new crisis or talking point every week at Newcastle whereas Fulham appears to be galvanised and able to give any team a competitive match.

If Newcastle are to stay up this season, Bruce will require a thick skin and find a way to get a tune of his team, who seem to be sapped of confidence.

Steve Bruce will be without Paul Dummett, Ciaran Clark and Federico Fernandez when Newcastle United host Leeds United on Tuesday night.

The Toon are searching for a first win since beating West Bromwich Albion 2-1 at St. James’ Park last month, after losing eight of their last 10 fixtures to be eliminated from the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and be dragged back into the Premier League relegation fight.

Pressure is mounting on Bruce with every game that the Toon’s winless run continues, and that has sparked rumours in The Sun that former AFC Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is being lined up to replace the under-fire 60-year-old.

So, as Bruce seeks to stop the rot with a side that he admits is low on confidence, here’s a potential line-up the Magpies could field against Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites on Tuesday night…

Goalkeeper Karl Darlow was once again one of the few player who could keep their head held high after Saturday’s sorry 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa, and he faces yet another challenging fixture against Leeds with Bruce’s defensive miseries deepening.

Dummett, Clark and Fernandez were all absent from Saturday’s defeat to Dean Smith’s side and they will still be unavailable against Leeds, per Chronicle Live, while DeAndre Yedlin also continues to be missing due to issues with the right-back’s visa.

Bruce will now have to mull over sticking with the same five-man backline that faced Villa in Jamal Lewis, Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles, Isaac Hayden and Javier Manquillo. Though the Toon boss may be expected to bench Schar, after the Swiss centre-half made a host of errors at Villa Park beyond his sliced clearance that led to Ollie Watkins opening the scoring.

Jonjo Shelvey will be expected to face Bruce’s axe after lacking purpose in the engine room against Villa, with a lethargic and disinterested display indicative of how Newcastle performed as a team in their 10th defeat in 19 Premier League games.

Jeff Hendrick also proved to be a complete dud once again with an anonymous showing, having brought effectively nothing to the side, and he must be dropped to afford the Longstaff brothers, Sean and Matty, a recall after being overlooked in recent weeks.

Bruce may decide to hand Allan Saint-Maximin a first start since November against Leeds after the Frenchman – who has vowed to “give everything” to help spark a turnaround – made his return from a lengthy spell out at Villa Park.

But Newcastle will likely favour being cautious with the 23-year-old to avoid Saint-Maximin burning out like Fernandez, and instead start £42,000-per-week winger Ryan Fraser after he momentarily showed glimpses of posing a threat against the Villans following his introduction from the bench.

Dwight Gayle also entered the action as a late substitute against Villa but will likely continue to wait for his first start of the season in any competition, with Bruce currently favouring a two-man frontline of Callum Wilson and Andy Carroll.

AND in other news, Steve Bruce must axe an £8m-rated total dud holding Newcastle back…

Ed Woodward must cash in on AC Milan’s interest in Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot as he has fallen out of favour under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford.

What’s the word?

Reports have emerged over the past week that Norwich City starlet Max Aarons finds himself on the Red Devils’ radar.

Solskjaer himself is reportedly eyeing a move for the Canaries defender as he seeks cover and competition for first-choice right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

And such a move could push Dalot closer towards the Old Trafford exit door, with the Portugal U21 international currently on loan at AC Milan.

Get rid

While it is noted the Red Devils are yet to reach a decision on Dalot’s future amid the Rossoneri’s interest in signing him in a £15m deal, Woodward must accept that the time is right to give the right-back the boot once and for all as he will never be the perfect backup to Wan-Bissaka.

Solskjaer has shown throughout his time at Old Trafford that he doesn’t think much of Dalot’s talents as he has been constantly overlooked by the club legend, having made just 29 appearances across all competitions in the past three seasons alone.

The Norwegian manager has even restored to fielding the likes of Axel Tuanzebe and Timothy Fosu-Mensah at right-back at times this season whilst Dalot himself has been shipped out the door.

It’s no surprise then that Solskjaer has been linked with a number of replacements after deciding to use the winter transfer window to find an alternative to Wan-Bissaka, with Aarons and Atletico Madrid’s Kieran Trippier among the names mentioned.

Dalot faces a difficult road back to Old Trafford, and AC Milan’s firm interest in the loan signing could be their best bet of getting him off their books for a reasonable fee.

AND in other news, Manchester United handed huge Jadon Sancho boost as Dortmund reduce demands…

With no new contract agreed, it is looking increasingly likely that Georginio Wijnaldum will leave Liverpool in the summer, with foreign clubs able to negotiate with the Dutch international from January. Fortunately for the Merseyside club, they look to have a ready-made replacement for the former Newcastle man in Curtis Jones.

The academy graduate has established himself as a regular in Jurgen Klopp’s side so far this season, having made 10 appearances in the Premier League, averaging a solid 6.68 rating. He has also appeared four times in the Champions League for the Merseyside club, in which he has averaged a superb 7.33 rating.

The 19-year-old has three goals to his name this season, which takes his tally to six goals in 30 first-team appearances for the club.

Klopp is certainly a fan of the academy graduate too, having been full of praise for the youngster earlier this season after his two goals against Lincoln City in the League Cup, saying:

“There is still space for improvement but everyone knows my opinion of Curtis Jones, he is an exceptional talent and we will have some fun with him I am pretty sure in the future.

Whilst Wijnaldum has been a hugely important part of Liverpool’s success in recent seasons, he has never been a prolific goalscorer with the Reds, with just 20 goals to his name in the 208 appearances he has made for the club thus far.

Therefore, from a goalscoring perspective, it certainly seems as if Jones can replace, and even surpass, the numbers Wijnaldum has contributed if the 30-year-old does end up departing when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Of course, playing in midfield is not just about the ability to score goals, as Wijnaldum is also an excellent passer of the ball, whilst his defensive contribution has also been impressive since joining, with the Dutchman having completed an impressive 1045 recoveries during his time in the Premier League with the Reds.

This season has seen the Dutch midfielder average 48.8 passes in each game in the top-flight, resulting in a pass success rate of 92.3%.

Jones, meanwhile, has averaged 58.1 passes per game in the Premier League, with a success rate of 92.9%, which again gives him the edge, and suggests that he is more than capable of stepping up to replace Wijnaldum.

Whilst the 19-year-old is perhaps seen as more of a creative attacking midfielder, he has impressed with his tackling at times this season, averaging 1.1 tackles and 0.6 interceptions per game, whilst the 30-year-old has averaged 0.8 tackles and 0.9 interceptions.

Therefore, it can definitely be argued that Jones can be Klopp’s replacement for Wijnaldum in midfield, and if he continues to improve, there seems no reason why he can’t surpass the Dutch international’s legacy with the Merseyside club.

And, in other news… Jurgen Klopp must unleash £120k-p/w beast vs Newcastle; he can provide the missing spark

It’s been more than two weeks since Aston Villa last played in the Premier League, and on Tuesday night, they finally return to action when they take on Manchester City’s side.

Villa were forced to field an academy side for their FA Cup third round clash against Liverpool earlier this month, but have now got the majority of their first-team squad back.

And whilst the two to three weeks off might see a little bit of rust creep into their game, it could also have the opposite effect too.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the City game, Smith revealed: “I don’t think we’ll be hamstrung by it at all. We’ll have a few players who’ve been affected by it, but we’ve also got a lot of players who’ve had a so-called winter break.

“Some of our players needed the rest, players like Jack Grealish and John McGinn who’ve been regularly away on international duty. Hopefully it’ll do them the world of good and we can come back fresh and firing.”

The likes of Grealish and McGinn in particular have been virtual ever-presents under Smith for more than a couple of years now, and the toll of having to play week-in and week-out must be huge.

Aside from the sheer physical exertions of having to play big games non-stop, the mental pressures and burden that it can put on a player is similarly seismic.

It’s exactly why this mini winter break that Villa have had could be the catalyst to ensuring they enjoy just as successful of a second-half of the campaign.

The lay-off may not bear fruit immediately against City tonight, but over the long run, Villa fans should see a team far more energised and able to keep up their intensity.

The Premier League this year has been one like no other. This mid-season rest has come at the perfect time for Villa as they look to maintain an incredible push for a European spot.

Meanwhile, Villa must start this “match-winner” tonight…

Ross Wilson must answer Steven Gerrard’s call amid reports that Ryan Kent has complicated contract talks with Glasgow Rangers by switching agents.

What’s the story?

According to Football Insider, Gerrard is putting pressure on the Rangers hierarchy to continue negotiations with Kent’s representatives. Ibrox bosses want to give him new and improved terms which would bring him in line with some of the club’s highest-paid players like Alfredo Morelos, Jermain Defoe, Scott Arfield and James Tavernier.

However, it’s since been revealed that the 24-year-old is no longer represented by the Crown Football agency. Instead, his family are now looking after his affairs.

Whether this will have any impact on the discussions between the two sides remains to be seen but the fact remains that Leeds United maintain a long-standing interest in the former England U20 international.

Rangers rejected a £10m bid from Marcelo Bielsa’s side in the summer whilst Gerrard has insisted that he is not for sale, with reports suggesting that he has a £20m release clause in his contract, which will run out in 2023.

But this latest development could cause seismic changes, with the likes of Kevin Phillips talking about how difficult it will be for him to ignore a big money move south of the border.

A “fantastic” Rangers beast

Whilst Kent’s form has arguably taken a bit of a dip in recent weeks, as he has failed to find the back of the net since the 4-0 win over Dundee United at home in the Scottish Premiership, the Englishman remains a player who has become an integral part of Gerrard’s side.

In 14 appearances in the Premiership, the left winger has scored four goals and supplied four assists so far this season, whilst he is averaging 2.9 shots, 2.3 key passes and 2.3 dribbles per game, via WhoScored, which is a pretty impressive return, especially when you consider the fact that he has barely managed to catch a break, having accumulated 1584′ minutes of football in total.

Rangers signed Kent from Liverpool for £7m on a four-year-deal after he impressed in an initial loan spell at Ibrox. Since then, he has bagged 19 times and 19 assists in 95 games for the Gers in all competitions under Gerrard’s tutelage, and club legend Peter Lovenkrands believes he is the best player in Scottish football.

“Kent is the best player in Scottish football this season,” he told the Daily Record.

“No-one is doing what he’s doing right now. He started the season in fantastic form, scoring goals and his end product has got better.

“Every time he gets the ball it looks like Rangers will create or score a goal. When I was on a good run against Celtic, I felt I would score in every game against them.”

It remains to be seen if Kent will be able to repeat his heroics against Aberdeen after scoring the winner against the Dons at the Pittodrie Stadium at the start of the season, but we wouldn’t put it past him if his recent form is anything to go by, as he picked up an assist in the 8-0 thrashing of Hamilton Academical at home before the international break.

Now Wilson must convince him to sign a new contract to ease the pressure on Gerrard before it’s too late. Whilst a tantalising offer from a Premier League club could ultimately prove to be too tempting to ignore, he may also find it difficult to resist a lucrative contract as he was keen to remain in Glasgow in the summer. Get it done, Gers.

AND in other news, Glasgow Rangers must unleash Bongani Zungu vs Aberdeen at expense of Steven Davis…

For Sunderland, they are staring at a streak where three games have been postponed.

It’s not exactly how the players saw their Christmas turning out, but it might bring some light relief to a squad that have been through the wringer over the last few years.

That being said, the club’s hierarchy should still be busy on the transfer front.

What’s the word?

Lee Johnson has made it clear that he’s looking for players that can stretch the play in January.

As a result, it’s incredibly likely that Sunderland will dip their toes into the attacking market next month. One player linked so far is Barnsley’s Luke Thomas.

However, if William Storey seals a deal to buy the club from Stewart Donald, there could be a whole host of new targets.

Speaking to The Chronicle this week, he opened up on the club’s transfer strategy and name-dropped former Black Cat Fabio Borini as an example of someone they could sign.

He stated: “There are financial fair play rules which we have to adhere to, so clearly in the early days in terms of getting new talent in, there’s a big requirement for new players, we would look to be doing various deals with either free agents – and I quoted [Fabio] Borini as an example – and there are multiple players who are available that I think would inject some excitement into the club.”

Disaster for Sunderland

Storey is quite right that in the early days of his potential reign at Sunderland they’d have to look at cost-effective deals.

Borini would certainly be an exciting signing for a League One club, but the fact of the matter is that his wage demands would surely be too big, especially when you consider the EFL’s salary cap for players over the age of 21.

When he was still at Verona last season, the Italian was on a wage of £79k-a-week. Alarm bells immediately start ringing when you see Sunderland interested in a player like that.

You only need to look at the huge burden Jack Rodwell had on the wage bill when he was still earning £70k-a-week at the Stadium of Light when they were in the Championship.

Furthermore, Aiden McGeady still earns around £31k at the Mackems.

Of course, Borini would take a wage cut but there is no way they would be able to reduce it to sensible terms. The Italian is a player with “big energy” according to David Moyes so certainly fits the type of profile that Johnson wants but financially, this would be a disastrous deal.

Not even in the Championship should the Black Cats consider Borini. They need to take their transfer strategy in a different direction.

AND in other news, Sunderland must unleash ace who “ran his socks off” under Coleman…

In the end, Unai Emery’s time in charge of Arsenal ended in disaster. The Gunners had missed out on a place in the Champions League once again, and the Emirates was becoming more and more of a toxic place – the incident with Granit Xhaka during the Crystal Palace game last season was a testament to that.

One thing the Spaniard did do however, was give some opportunities to a few of the club’s young talents, with Bukayo Saka in particular reaping the rewards of his manager’s faith.

The now England international played 15 times under Emery, scoring once and providing four assists too, and he was never shy in praising the former Arsenal boss for the work he did in developing him.

He said earlier this year: “For starters, I just want to say I have to mention Unai Emery because of the amount he believed in me. The opportunities he gave me. I’ll forever be grateful for them.”

But whilst Emery holds a lot of credit for the way he exposed Saka to first-team football at the Emirates, the same cannot be said of how he allowed another young starlet in Yunus Musah, to leave the club.

The 17-year-old has been touted as a “phenomenon”, and by starting for new club Valencia earlier in September, he became the first English player to represent the Spanish side.

Musah spent seven years with the Gunners before making the move to the Mestalla in the summer of 2019, and has also captained England from U15 to U18 level. The fact Emery had the academy product on his books, but failed to convince him that a route to the first-team was on the horizon, is a major blunder on the Spaniard’s part.

The north London side could have had yet another Saka-esque success story, but instead, are watching on as he makes waves in La Liga.