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West Ham visit Selhurst Park on Saturday to face Crystal Palace and will be hoping for a repeat of their previous meeting – the Hammers ran out 3-2 winners on December – although their chances will be significantly boosted if Manuel Pellegrini makes a simple tactical tweak.

On the chalkboard

There is a feeling of positivity around the London Stadium this season, despite some questionable results – Pellegrini has taken the helm and was backed extensively in the transfer market as he looked to overhaul the mish-mash he inherited from David Moyes.

While a few of the summer signings have failed to make an impact – albeit largely due to injuries – Felipe Anderson has been exceptional in the Premier League and is a threat when given an opportunity to whip in a cross or take a shot on goal.

Playing on the left-flank, the Brazilian has been a standout performer but will surely struggle to produce the goods if he starts in his regular role. He may not like it, but the former Lazio man must be deployed on the right if he wants as much joy as usual.

Avoiding Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka has outshone Eagles talisman Wilfried Zaha this season and his battling performances in defence have surely put him on the radar of the big six.

As the noisy Selhurst Park faithful will tell you, wingers hate playing against the former winger; his pace makes him difficult to get away from and, on the rare occasion that he is beaten, a perfectly-time sliding tackle will often see him win the ball back.

Anderson would surely breathe a sigh of relief if he was tasked with attacking down Palace’s left, guarded by Patrick van Aanholt. The Dutchman is a threat going forward but can be caught out in defence – Pellegrini must switch his speedster over to the opposite wing if he wants to get the best from his star man, even if it means the 25-year-old won’t be able to cut inside, as he loves to do.

Who is West Ham’s worst ever signing? Check out the video below for a pretty strong candidate for the dubious honour…

أكد فرانك لامبارد المدير الفني لنادي تشيلسي الإنجليزي، على تعاقد البلوز مع الحارس إدواردو ميندي السنغالي، من ستاد رين الفرنسي خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية.

يعاني تشيلسي من مشكلة في حراسة المرمى منذ الموسم الماضي، مما جعل فرانك لامبارد يدفع بالحارس كاباييرو بدلًا من كيبا، وخلال المباراة الماضية أمام ليفربول، أخطأ الحارس الإسباني.

طالع أيضًا.. كاراجر ينتقد لامبارد بسبب هافيرتز

صفقات تشيلسي الضخمة خلال ميركاتو الصيف، لم تشمل حارس مرمى، لكن فرانك لامبارد كان مصممًا على تعزيز هذا المركز في ظل تراجع مستوى كيبا، الحارس الأغلى في العالم.

وارتبط تشيلسي بـ إدواردو ميندي الدولي السنغالي، والتقارير الإنجليزية والفرنسية، أشارت إلى أنه قريب للغاية من الانتقال إلى البلوز خلال الصيف الجاري.

فرانك لامبارد، حسم الأمور تمامًا، وأكد في المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بمواجهة بارنسلي بكأس كاراباو غدًا، أن ميندي سيكون لاعبًا لـ تشيلسي.

وقال فرانك في المؤتمر الصحفي: “ميندي سيكون لاعبًا لـ تشيلسي، وبينما نحن نتحدث الآن، هو يجري الفحوصات الطبية تمهيدًا إلى انتقاله للفريق”.

وأضاف: “كان بيتر تشيك له رأي حاسم في صفقة ميندي، لقد كان حارسًا كبيرًا، وكان فعالًا للغاية في الصفقة”.

بيتر تشيك حارس مرمى البلوز التاريخي، وبطل أوروبا 2012 مع النادي اللندني، يعتبر هو المدير الرياضي لنادي تشيلسي الآن.

وأكمل فرانكي: “هناك منافسة ستكون بين ميندي وكيبا وكاباييرو، الأمر بين يدي كل منهم، المنافسة شيء طبيعي، وعلى كل حارس أن يثبت جدارته”.

وأشار: “أعتقد أن حراسة المرمى المركز الأصعب، لابد لي من أخذ هذه النقطة في الاعتبار، نحن نسعى دائمًا للاستفادة القصوى من كل لاعب”.

واختتم: “أعتقد أن ميندي سيخضع لاختبار فيروس كورونا يوم الخميس المقبل، وإذا كانت النتيجة سلبية، سيكون جاهز للعب الأسبوع المقبل”.

تشيلسي سيواجه وست بروميتش ألبيون الأسبوع المقبل في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، بعدما خسر المباراة الماضية أمام ليفربول.

It came as no surprise when the quality of Dusan Tadic shined through in Ajax’s electrifying victory over serial winners Real Madrid – we have seen it all before in the Premier League, after all.

The Serbian playmaker was in full force on Tuesday night dominating the Real Madrid defence like they were schoolboys with their laces tied together.

His exceptional performance to hoist Ajax into the next round of the Champions League will not be forgotten anytime soon. The day the sleeping giants awaking to break the trend – a real David and Goliath story.

And if it was not sweet enough, it was made all the better by the fact that universally despised Sergio Ramos, who was alleged to have received an intentional suspension for the game, had to watch from the stands while his team were hopelessly torn apart (Independent).

But how and why was Tadic so good?

Simply: because he is.

Dusan Tadic was easily one of the most gifted players at Southampton when he arrived in 2014. Ronald Koeman, whose two-year tenure ultimately marked the encore of post-Pochettino liquid football, knew exactly how to play him: drifting around the forward line with an element of freedom to work his artistry.

Conversely, when the staggeringly boring Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino and Mark Hughes governed, Tadic was rarely able to recall the form that he made him so great in previous years.

He needed new beginnings and Ajax, the home of total, uncompromising, free-flowing, free-scoring football, was the place.

As it stands, Tadic has netted 26 times and created a further 15 for his teammates in 40 appearances for the club. Remarkable stuff.

And, yes, the Eredivisie is no way near as strong as the Premier League, and frankly the defending is comical at times, but that is exactly why we have seen the best from the Serbian maestro. His can weave in and out of players, he can strut his flicks and tricks, he can make those compilation worthy passes, and most importantly he can dominate.

From the doldrums of Southampton to the sheer joy and jubilation of Ajax Amsterdam, Madrid and beyond – there is one winner here: Dusan Tadic.

Southampton fans, just how bad a decision was it to sell Dusan Tadic over the course of the summer? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

[ad_pod ]Tottenham Hotspur ensured they stay within touching distance of Liverpool and Manchester City in the title race as they ran out 3-1 victors over Leicester City on Sunday and, while their victory wasn’t as emphatic as the other that day – City battered Chelsea 6-0 – there were plenty of positives to take from the game.Having come under fire in recent weeks for some dodgy showings, captain Hugo Lloris put in a fine performance between the sticks and was deservedly named man of the match. The defenders in front of the World Cup winner were excellent too, namely Davinson Sanchez who also scored his first goal for Spurs – an emphatic diving header.Since completing a £42m move to White Hart Lane from Ajax in summer 2017, the Colombian has never looked out of place in a defence where he competes for a starting spot with Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen – the Belgian duo are regarded by many as the best centre-back partnership in the Premier League.Harry Kane gets his hands on the Super Bowl and Dele Alli gets his hands on a superb owl in the latest episode After 90 below…Staking his claim in the starting XI this season, the 22-year-old has started 14 games this season, with one appearance coming off the bench and looks capable of walking into most defences in the league, if not Europe.Here’s how Spurs fans reacted to his performance on Twitter, with many keen to congratulate the number 6 on his brilliant goal…

فاز فريق سموحة علي نظيره حرس الحدود بهدفين دون رد، في المباراة التي أقيمت اليوم الإثنين، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

سموحة واجه حرس الحدود في إطار منافسات الجولة 30 من عمر المسابقة المحلية، على ملعب الإسكندرية.

وسجل هدف سموحة الأول حسام حسن من تسديدة من على حدود منطة الجزاء في الدقيقة 51، بعد تمريرة من ناصر ماهر.

طالع | فرج عامر: حسام حسن تلقى عرضين من الدوري الإسباني

وأحرز ناصر ماهر الهدف الثاني لـ سموحة، في الدقيقة 68، من خلال تسديدة رائعة بباطن القدم سكنت أقصى الزاوية اليمني لحارس الحدود.

وبهذا الفوز يتواجد سموحة في المركز الخامس في ترتيب الدوري، برصيد 43 نقطة، فيما يحتل حرس الحدود المركز الخامس عشر بـ 30 نقطة. أهداف سموحة أمام حرس الحدود

#سموحة يعبر #حرس_الحدود بثنائية نظيفة ⚽️⚡️
أحرز ثنائية سموحة حسام حسن فى الدقيقة 51 وناصر ماهر فى الدقيقة 68.#الدوري_على_WATCHiT pic.twitter.com/aPnUdcbALB

— WATCH iT! (@WatchiTMENA) September 28, 2020

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West Ham United attacker Felipe Anderson has been talking to BBC Football about life in the Premier League following his club-record move from Lazio last summer, and he has suggested that amount of space he often gets in matches has surprised him.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Anderson was speaking about a range of different subjects including about how his game – which includes having plenty of pace, trickery and being direct – is ideally suited to England.

The 25-year-old told BBC Football: “I have always enjoyed dribbling.

“That has been a key part of my game and you do get quite a lot of space in England. But the game is very intense and it is difficult to keep it up for the 90 minutes.

“Every game is end to end, with attack after attack. I am still adapting to that side of the game and I need to get stronger.”

The Brazil international has certainly made an impact in his debut campaign with the Irons, scoring nine goals and providing a further four assists in 30 appearances in all competitions.

Is Anderson right to be surprised?

Quite possibly, yes.

The Premier League is often known for its intensity and players not having as much time on the ball as in some of the other top European leagues, but the South American winger’s comments go some way to discounting that theory.

The way the 25-year-old talks about how much space he has suggests it wasn’t something he was expecting when he made the move to the London Stadium, and it is probably one of the reasons why he has thrived so much so far.

However, as Anderson mentions he is still adapting and that is great news for West Ham fans, who may have not seen the best of the Brazilian yet.

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Leeds United have recalled goalkeeper Will Huffer from a loan spell at Barnet after an injury to Kamil Miazek, the Yorkshire Evening Post report.

Huffer played three times for the National League side during his spell, in draws with Solihull Moors, Sutton United and in an FA Cup stalemate with Brentford.

What’s the word?

Huffer only joined Barnet on January 25th but is already back at Elland Road.

The 20-year-old made his senior debut for Leeds earlier this season, playing 90 minutes and keeping a clean sheet in the 2-0 Championship win over Bristol City.

Huffer is third in the club’s pecking order of goalkeepers, behind January signing Kiko Casilla and Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

However, an injury sustained by Miazek means that he is needed to play for the club’s Under-23 side.

As well as making his senior debut, Huffer has played for England at youth levels, winning nine caps for the Under-17s and one for the Under-18s.

Development accelerated

Huffer’s development is only going to be helped by training with the likes of Casilla.

He will play for the Under-23s regularly and is also on standby to move into the first-team for Marcelo Bielsa.

The youngster has already made his Championship bow and is clearly seen as a trustworthy deputy by his manager.

The signing of Casilla may well have pushed him down the queue but he has won three Champions League trophies, as well as La Liga and two UEFA Super Cups.

Huffer can only get better and merely working alongside the Spaniard could have a transformative effect on his growth.

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Barnsley are currently in the thick of the League One promotion race, and are trying to hold off Sunderland, who have been resurgent in recent weeks.

The task facing the Tykes, maintaining their place in the automatic promotion spots, was recently made more difficult by the loss of Kieffer Moore. The 26-year-old striker has been ruled out for the rest of the season on medical advice following a recent head injury.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

Moore is the Oakwell club’s top scorer so far this season, with 16 league strikes to his name. His loss surely comes as a huge blow to manager Daniel Stendel, but former West Ham United and England striker and EFL on Quest pundit Dean Ashton thinks the Tykes may still be able to cope in Moore’s absence.

What he said

Speaking to Football League World, Ashton said of Barnsley’s promotion prospects without Moore: “Barnsley have shown so far with Woodrow who has come in and done superbly with his goal-scoring record that they might be alright; they’ve not really missed him!…You’d think over a longer period Barnsley would miss his goals but so far they haven’t.”

Out of reach

Barnsley are unbeaten in the four League One matches they’ve played so far since Moore’s injury. 24-year-old Cauley Woodrow has stepped up to the plate in that time, notching three goals in the last four games.

However, as Ashton alluded to, there is still lots of football left to play, and the Tykes may eventually feel Moore’s absence more keenly. With 11 games of the League One season left, Stendel’s side may find promotion eventually slips out of their grasp without the striker’s goals.

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Aston Villa manager Dean Smith could be tempted to stick with the same starting XI that beat arch-rivals Birmingham City 1-0 in the second city derby at St Andrew’s on Sunday, but one player is really pushing for a start.

On the chalkboard

Following a two-game absence through suspension, key midfielder John McGinn was only named among the substitutes against the Blues with Smith choosing to stick with the trio of Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane and Jack Grealish in the centre after the 4-0 win against Derby County previously.

The scoreline was 0-0 when McGinn entered the fray as a 62nd minute substitute against Garry Monk’s men, and he made a clear difference in the final third as the visitors eventually ran out 1-0 victors to boost their play-off hopes.

Their trip to Nottingham Forest – whom they are two points adrift of in the Championship standings – on Wednesday night will be another key test of their promotion credentials and they need their best players on the pitch.

McGinn to start?

In a word, yes.

The 24-year-old has been a revelation following his summer arrival at Villa Park, and while the Midlands outfit impressed without the Scot when they thrashed the Rams, he is the sort of player you want in your ranks – on the road especially.

He has that grit, determination and willingness to put his foot in that will be needed against Martin O’Neill’s hosts in midweek, and the only thing Smith needs to decide is who drops out of the XI to accommodate him.

Grealish looks to be a certain starter given the magnitude of the game, and the easy option would probably be to leave the ageing Whelan on the sidelines.

However, the 35-year-old’s experience could be key against Forest, and therefore it is Hourihane who should drop out.

The former Barnsley man may have got on the score-sheet twice against Derby, but he was far more subdued at the weekend even if he was unlucky to hit the woodwork with a fine effort from just outside the penalty area.

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Newcastle United face a battle for their Premier League survival.

The Magpies are currently 16th, one point clear of 18th-placed Southampton and level with Cardiff City, but ahead on goal difference, with just 12 games of the season to go.

Newcastle’s run-in: Huddersfield Town (H), Burnley (H), West Ham (A), Everton (H), Bournemouth (A), Arsenal (A), Crystal Palace (H), Leicester City (A), Southampton (H), Brighton & Hove Albion (A), Liverpool (H), Fulham (A).

Newcastle are fortunate that they only play two top-six teams between now and the end of the season.

Games against Arsenal and Liverpool are not likely to glean any points for the Magpies, meaning Rafael Benitez’s side are better off focusing on taking points from the teams around them.

The visit of Huddersfield Town next weekend could well set the tone. The Terriers are rock-bottom and 14 points off Cardiff. In short, they need a miracle. Newcastle should take all three points. Even in their current predicament, it would be a shock if they didn’t.

The visit of Burnley, in 15th, is likely to be a cagey affair and could well be a draw, while West Ham will expect to win at the London Stadium when Newcastle visit.

There is scope for United taking a point off Everton, but trips to Bournemouth and the Gunners are unlikely to see any return.

Crystal Palace, though, could well be a scalp taken, and three points against Roy Hodgson’s men would be a major boost, with tough clashes against Leicester, Southampton, Brighton and the Reds thereafter.

A return of one point from a possible 12 there seems the likeliest outcome – a draw with the Saints, also scrapping, would not do either side a favour but is the most foreseeable result.

A trip to London to face Fulham on the final day could well be full of drama but the Cottagers are already eight points adrift and may well be relegated beforehand. Three points for the Magpies would seem a banker if Claudio Ranieri’s men are already contemplating life in the Championship.

Predicted points: 12 – Newcastle finish on 37 points

Much like Southampton – who Football FanCast predict to end the season with 36 points – Newcastle are set to fall short of the 40-point mark which is routinely said to guarantee survival.

However, there really appears to be only one spot to fill in the bottom three.

Huddersfield and Fulham are surely doomed, barring a miracle or a bizarre twist of fate, leaving the likes of Southampton, Newcastle and Cardiff, as well as perhaps Burnley, Brighton and Crystal Palace, all battling to avoid finishing 18th.

If FFC’s predictions are correct, Newcastle will finish above Southampton, and that may well be enough.

The two sides play each other on April 20th and that game could well determine which of the two drops through the trapdoor into the Championship, provided Cardiff do not implode and take the spot for themselves.