Everton moved into eighth position in the Premier League table courtesy of a 1-0 win over Newcastle United at Goodison Park on Monday night.
Theo Walcott scored the only goal of the match as the Toffees moved into the top eight, and the Merseyside outfit will now look to stay in that position in the final weeks of the season.
Despite the victory, the Everton fans remain an extremely frustrated bunch, with many calling for Sam Allardyce to leave at the end of the season.
Wayne Rooney has also taken a lot of criticism following the Newcastle match, with the 32-year-old struggling to make his mark in the middle of the park.
Rooney has actually scored 10 Premier League goals for Everton this season, but there remain question marks over his ability to influence matches from the middle of the park.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The Everton fans were not pleased with the former England captain’s performance against Newcastle, and took to Twitter to vent their frustration:
After another disappointing year, Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino is set to overhaul the squad yet again.
Tottenham struggled all season, pottering along like an old Skoda with a busted transmission until finally grinding to a screeching halt at fifth place. Star Harry Kane provided some horsepower with 31 goals, but no other player put up even half that.
It’s no wonder Pochettino wants to change out some parts. Reports have already said he plans to sell up to 10 players this summer. When the new campaign begins, however, watch out, Spurs will return a well-oiled machine.
Pochettino has already set about gathering attacking support for Kane. Timo Werner, Anthony Martial, Giannelli Imbula are all rumoured to be very likely signings. None of the three are older than 22. Add that to the 21-year-old Kane, and Tottenham will have a pool of young talent to draw from for years to come.
The Lilywhites have already won the signature of defender Kevin Wimmer on a five-year deal. The Austrian, who this year helped Bundesliga side Cologne avoid relegation, is key in rejuvenating Tottenham’s back line with the potential departures of Younes Kaboul and Vlad Chiriches. At 22 years old, Wimmer is another versatile youngster who can play either left back or centre back.
White Hart Lane will retain the services of Christian Eriksen, Ryan Mason, DeAndre Yedlin and Alex Pritchard, all young players with lots of energy and promise. Pochettino has regularly been hailed for developing youth, and it seems he’ll have a lot to work with following the summer.
So while all the attention may be lavished upon Chelsea and Arsenal, the shiny, sleek sports cars of the league, watch out for the new and improved model arriving soon on the market: Tottenham, revving their engine and waiting for the green light.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
With little left to play for this season you can almost forgive Fulham for already having their feet firmly planted on the beach. The Cottagers haven’t won in the six games since beating QPR on April 1st to safeguard their Premier League status and are playing like a team that already has its mind on sipping sangria and dipping their toes in the Mediterranean. Although a top-half finish is still within reach they must end a goal drought that has yielded one goal in their last four games.
Reading can also approach the run-in free of pressure after their fate was sealed last week as relegation was finally confirmed following a goalless draw at home to QPR. That leaves the Royals playing purely for pride in their final three top-flight fixtures before they drop back into the Championship less than a year after achieving promotion. What their remaining games will give manager Nigel Adkins is an opportunity to assess his squad ahead of next season with the target a immediate return to the Premier League.
Team News
Fulham are without Mladen Petric (hamstring) and the suspended Steve Sidwell, but can call upon top scorer Dimitar Berbatov after he shook off a calf problem. Sascha Riether (ankle) is also available.
Hope Apkan (ankle) is hoping to feature for Reading while goalkeeper Adam Federici has also recovered from an ankle knock. A groin injury prevents Jimmy Kebe from playing.
What the managers said…
We will always find players like Mladen Petric or Hugo Rodallega. But, of course, it’s not easy. I think we had five new players in, so it’s not easy to settle. I’m satisfied we’ve got the points to be safe, although I’m a bit disappointed we couldn’t get more points in the last few weeks and gone even higher.” Martin Jol is already looking towards potential summer transfer targets for Fulham (Express)
“Anyone who knows me will tell you I want to win every game of football that we play in. The players have worked hard on the training ground, we’ve got over last week and there’s a hunger and desire to keep improving. We’ve got three games left in this campaign and we’ve got to do everything we can to give ourselves an opportunity to get that winning feeling again.” Nigel Adkins believes Reading need to regain that ‘winning feeling’ (readingfc.co.uk)
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Pre-match Statistic: Reading have tasted defeat in 11 of their previous 12 away matches, including the last five in a row.
Prediction: Fulham 2-0 Reading
Make your bets ahead of the showdown at Craven Cottage by clicking on the banner below
Relegation from the Premier League is looking like a real possibility for Southampton as they head into the final five games of the season five points from safety.
Mark Hughes was brought in to help save the club from drifting into the Championship but he is yet to oversee a league win since taking over in March.
It is fair to say that the team have played better football under his stewardship following the sacking of Mauricio Pellegrino, but the results have been unwanted.
Against West Ham United, the Saints were beaten 3-0, and they were also on the losing end of 3-2 scorelines against both Arsenal and Chelsea.
[ad_pod ]
On Thursday, Southampton will try to give their survival chances a boost when they face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Three days later, Hughes will take his team to Wembley to go head to head with Chelsea in an FA Cup semi-final.
Some fans are already resigned to relegation, while others are holding on to some optimism.
Since joining Manchester City in 2011 Edin Dzeko has had many ups and downs. His goals helped City win their title last season but less than 12 months later he is finding it hard to even get into manager Manuel Pellegrini’s starting XI.
The Bosnian has scored just six goals this season and considering that his four and a half year contract ends this summer Dzeko hasn’t exactly performed well enough to deserve a renewal.
Manchester City enter the Easter break in second but if both Arsenal and Manchester United win their weekend fixtures then City could see themselves propping up fourth before their Monday evening game. For a club like City winning the league one year and then finishing fourth or even out of the Champions League places the following year is not considered acceptable.
Pellegrini has come under fire for much of the season and numerous reports suggest he may lose his job this summer with several top managers already named as possible replacements.
Likewise with key players like Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany and Dzeko all failing to perform to their typically high levels heads are soon expected to roll.
A big summer clear out has been suggested and Dzeko may well be on that list.
Dzeko has been linked with a move to Italian champions Juventus perhaps along with Steven Jovetic in a bid to lure midfielder Paul Pogba to the blue side of Manchester.
At 29 Dzeko is reaching the latter stages of a forwards career. After 30 many clubs will only commit to giving a player a year-long deal so Dzeko would be wise to pick a club where he believes he’ll get regular playing time rather than big money to sit on someone’s bench for 12 months.
Dzeko has always had to fight for the number one striker role. As soon as Sergio Aguero arrived seven months after Dzeko initially signed he had to take a back seat to a player who is arguably one of the world’s best. Since then most of the accolades have gone to the Argentine. Things have only gotten worse with the arrival of Wilfried Bony from Swansea City as Dzeko is now the Sky Blue’s third choice behind both Bony and Aguero.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Dzeko is a very capable striker but his talent hasn’t always been obvious at the Etihad. For Bosnia at international level the forward has scored 41 times from 71 matches while for City he’s found the net 50 times from 125 appearances.
A move away from England to a less competitive but somewhat respected league like Serie A seems the best option for Dzeko rather than wasting more time trying to win over a club that would rather spend time and money hiring and firing players in their search for the perfect forward.
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has again pledged his future to the club, amid speculation of a move to Barcelona.
The Spaniard has been heavily linked with a transfer away from Merseyside in recent months, with the likes of Barca and Arsenal believed to be keen.
Despite claiming on multiple occasions that he has no desire to leave Anfield, rumours regarding his future have failed to disappear.
La Liga leaders Barcelona are said to see him as the ideal replacement for Victor Valdes, who is set to leave the club sooner rather than later, but Reina distanced himself from the speculation:
“I believe that is conjecture. It’s not in my hands and the rumour mill is part of this,” he is quoted by talkSPORT via AS.
“It’s a great club (Barcelona) but I’m happy at Liverpool.”
Reina has been some way off of his best this term for Liverpool, turning in a number of shaky performances earlier in the campaign, as the Reds struggled to adapt to new manager Brendan Rodgers’ playing style.
But, in recent times the stopper has upped his game, becoming one of the club’s most consistent performers.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
He has also talked of his positive relationship with Rodgers, hinting that his stay at the club will extend beyond this summer.
Not many times this season have Manchester City been seen as the underdogs, but they will have that title when they take on Liverpool in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
Pep Guardiola’s side have been flying high this season, and they are on the verge of wrapping up the Premier League title race as they hold a 13-point advantage.
In the last six days, though, it has been doom and gloom for the North-West outfit as the team were played off the park against Liverpool in the first leg of their tie.
Jurgen Klopp’s men earned a 3-0 victory at Anfield, leaving City with a mountain to climb in order to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.
On Saturday, the club threw away the chance to secure the league crown when they relinquished a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Manchester United on home soil.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
After the first-leg loss, some City supporters prayed that Raheem Sterling would be the hero in the return fixtures, and now they are considering who will make the first XI.
Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.Comment from discussion What should be the ideal Manchester City lineup to face Liverpool?.
When ex-Stoke and Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis arrived, West Bromwich Albion were sat in 16th and only one point above the relegation zone.
Nearly three months later, the Baggies are now comfortably in 13th in the Premier League and look almost certain to have avoided relegation. So how has Pulis turned the club around?
Pulis is a highly respected manager having coached for over 20 years, where he has honed his ability to rejuvenate failing clubs on only a very small budget. This, coupled with his focus on shoring up defensive lines, made him an ideal fit for West Brom. The Welshman can be described as an old school type manager who will endeavour to make each of his players feel valued, focussing on their individual strengths rather than weaknesses.
In a short amount of time the Pulis effect is already apparent at the Hawthorns. February was particularly good for both manager and players as Albion went through the entire month unbeaten, including three clean sheets and a Manager of the Month award.
Now with only a handful of games to go, including fixtures against Liverpool, Manchester United and a final day of the season trip to Arsenal, the 57-year-old will need to keep his squad focussed, particularly in defence.
Considering Albion only just avoided relegation last season by finishing 17th, anything higher after a season of uncertainty can be deemed a success. Pulis is already said to be looking to the future, with plans to reshape the squad come summer where he’ll look to strengthen key areas. After all, it hasn’t been plan sailing recently with the Baggies being knocked out of the FA Cup and suffering a 2-1 defeat, both at the hands of bitter local rivals Aston Villa.
One of Albion’s best signings under the guidance of Tony Pulis has been the acquisition of ex-Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher. Already given the captain’s armband, Fletcher has added some stability to the heart of Albion’s midfield and his arrival has unsurprisingly coincided with their resurgence.
Another positive has been the changes seen in Brown Ideye. The striker cost the club a record fee of £10million last year, but the Nigerian had little impact until Pulis started working with him. Ideye now looks a changed man who is slowly finding the net again, and crucially scored West Brom’s winner against Stoke.
Citing lack of support in the transfer market as his reason for quitting Palace hopefully Pulis will get the money to make the signings he needs in the summer and come the 2015/16 season he can focus less on staying up and more on pushing West Brom up the table.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
If any manager has the experience to guide a club like Albion to stability it is Tony Pulis so the powers that be would do well to keep him happy if they don’t want a new manager come August.
Tottenham are readying a summer move for Braga front-man Eder, after seeing their recent attempts to sign Leandro Damiao rebuffed, according to reports from the Daily Mail.
Spurs are believed to be in the market for forward options, with manager Andre Villas-Boas only possessing Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe for the latter stages of the club’s Premier League and Europa League campaigns.
They made a late offer on deadline day for long-term target Damiao, but a £17m proposal was knocked back by Internacional.
It was expected that the Londoners would return with another offer over the summer, but reports are circulating that they may scrap their pursuit of the 23-year-old.
One option AVB is thought to be considering is Eder of Braga, who has been in fine form for the Portuguese side this term.
The 22-year-old, who has netted nine times this season, is believed to be available for around £8m, a considerably lower sum than Damiao.
His buyout clause is thought to be £26m, but Braga would accept a much lower figure due to financial difficulties.
Eder has also attracted the attention of both Norwich and Swansea, but it’s likely that Spurs would be his favoured destination.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Although he was born in Guinea-Bissau, the striker has represented Portugal at international level, winning four caps.
Champions Chelsea welcomed Tottenham to Stamford Bridge for one of the most important games of the Premier League season so far on Sunday.
The London derby is always spicy but this time it had extra importance as a game that would be decisive in deciding which of the local rivals would take their place in the Champions League next season.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side went into this one with the better form and confidence and were buoyed by the early return of talisman Harry Kane, who was named among the substitutes for the visitors.
Antonio Conte has overseen quite a steep downturn in form in 2018 and knew his side were in greater need of the victory and despite Alvaro Morata putting them ahead, they contrived to lose 3-1.
That loss means that the distance between the two sides is now eight points and gives Chelsea an absolute mountain to climb if they are to get back into the Champions League next season.
In such a crunch clash, it was the performance of Eden Hazard, valued at £90m by Transfermarkt, that took the attention of the home fans and we’ve examined some of the best reaction…