Sign him up: West Brom fans react as James Shan shows off his football technique

[ad_pod ]

At the moment it appears as though James Shan can do no wrong. Having masterminded a 4-1 last weekend over Preston, the 40-year-old was then made West Brom manager until the end of the season.

And in the build-up to the busy Easter Bank Holiday fixtures, the Baggies boss was filmed in training taking part in his own crossbar challenge, striking a wonderful left-footed effort back off the upright.

It provoked quite the response from West Brom fans as one fan urged the club to now announce him as player-manager.

A further individual claimed he was after Chris Brunt’s spot who of course is renowned for his dead ball technique. Another was quick to compare Shan to the great Zinedine Zidane.

Unfortunately for Shan, his playing career never took off, initially spending a small period in Walsall’s youth academy. However, looking at the footage perhaps a club should have taken a gamble on him when he was younger.

Was Darren Moore’s sacking unfair? The Pl>ymaker FC squad name which Championship bosses should have gone instead in the video below…

Either way, the Albion manager’s focus will now be firmly on getting them promoted with the club sitting in the play-offs.

Here’s the best of the reaction.

Rangers fans react as Stewart deal edges closer

[ad_pod ]

Loads of Rangers fans have been running the rule over their latest transfer target, as the Gers reportedly want to sign Aberdeen loanee Greg Stewart.

According to The Daily Record, Stewart’s move to Ibrox is “edging closer”, as the club have stepped up their pursuit of the forward in the last 24 hours.

Stewart, who has joined Aberdeen on loan in January, will be out of contract this summer, effectively making him a bargain regardless of what wages are on offer.

Check out the video below to see how Brazil fans reacted to being asked how Cristiano Ronaldo would perform for them in a hilarious prank by Pl>ymaker FC…

The Birmingham ace has spent time with four different Scottish sides now, but has only managed to rack up 22 appearances in England since joining the Blues in 2016.

This, combined with the fact that he has not exactly been a sure-fire starter with the Dons this season, has got plenty of Gers fans turning their noses up at the prospect of bringing him to Glasgow.

However, the forward does possess that little bit of craft and guile that could help Steven Gerrard’s side unlock deep defences, something they have struggled with this season.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where fans are split on moving for Stewart…

Injury News: Spurs receive the Harry Kane update they were fearing

[ad_pod ]

Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Harry Kane will miss the second leg of Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League semi-final against Ajax, per Football.London.

What’s the word?

Kane sustained ankle ligament damage in Spurs’ quarter-final first leg tie against Manchester City and subsequently missed the decisive leg at the Etihad Stadium.

Spurs, of course, progressed thanks to a controversial 4-3 loss on the night, qualifying for the semi-final against Ajax.

Hopes among fans have been high that Kane may return before the end of the season but Pochettino, after some help from assistant Jesus Perez, confirmed on Monday that it is almost impossible for the England captain to play in the Netherlands.

Quoted by Football.London, Pochettino said: “He’s doing well. He’s working, starting to run a little bit inside.

“His rehab is so good but we cannot create any ideas that after we cannot maybe achieve.

“The most important thing is he’s good and in a good place, so focused and we see what happens, we assess him every day. We are happy but we will see.

“Is there chance he could play in the second leg?

“No chance Jesus? Jesus says no chance.”

Saving him for the final

Spurs may well be saving Kane for the unlikely eventuality that they are in the Champions League final.

They have to negotiate a tricky two-legged tie with the Dutch giants first; Ajax have already knocked out both Real Madrid and Juventus in this season’s competition.

Spurs are undoubtedly underdogs but rushing Kane back makes little sense if their eyes are on the bigger prize.

After all, they will surely need him if they take on either Liverpool or Barcelona in Madrid.

Their hopes of completing one of the most dramatic European triumphs may rest on it.

The Chalkboard: Woodrow’s renewed purpose is key to Barnsley’s promotion charge

[ad_pod ]

In England there has been a tendency to overhype young players. Cauley Woodrow was once someone who received that treatment. The striker made his Luton debut just 12 days after his 16th birthday and three years later found himself making his Premier League bow for Fulham.

A series of loan spells followed but the now 24-year-old never really found a way to get his career off and running.

However, the 2018/19 season has proven to be different for the Hemel Hempstead-born player. He’s managed to find consistency, changing his game to become a key figure in the Daniel Stendel regime at Barnsley.

And after scoring against Coventry last weekend, he only proved his worth once more to the Tykes.

Key to promotion

In 29 matches this season, Woodrow has 15 goals, 12 of which have come in League One. Barnsley needed a goalscorer and after struggling to find the net on a regular basis in the Championship last season had to look elsewhere.

Step forward the former Fulham man. He initially signed on loan from the recently relegated Premier League club last summer, but his move to Oakwell was made permanent in January. Having a settled club has benefitted Woodrow considerably, who rather than potentially playing for a contract at the Cottagers has his sights firmly focused on his current team.

But this season looked as though it would be another typical one for the forward. He didn’t play until November 2018 because of injury but he’s bounced back in some style since.

Career turnaround

What is it about his game that’s changed? Well, he’s certainly benefitted from the confidence Stendel has in his players. He’s generated a fantastic atmosphere around the club and Woodrow is someone who has fed off of that tremendously.

Before finding the net against Coventry on Saturday, he’d gone four matches without scoring. In the past, he may have dwelled on that but a renewed attitude and sense of composure in front of goal is what has seen him stand out so often this term.

He’s become more resilient and most of all, at such a young age, a leader. Speaking to The Yorkshire Post in February after the Reds beat Wycombe, Stendel said: “He takes his responsibility and played very well. He is a leader in our team.”

With Barnsley being closely followed in the race for promotion by Portsmouth and Sunderland, they will need Woodrow’s renewed purpose and attitude more than ever.

Tottenham fans on Twitter blast ex-target Leicester City’s James Maddison

[ad_pod ]

Tottenham Hotspur fans on Twitter have been blasting ex-target James Maddison this weekend, as the England man starred in Leicester City’s Premier League victory over Arsenal.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed an impressive maiden English top-flight season with the Foxes, scoring seven goals and collecting seven assists in 34 appearances.

And now Spurs supporters, perhaps aggrieved that their club are yet to sign the attacking midfield talent and angry about his past of being an Arsenal fan, are slating him on social media.

Their arguments seem to centre around the quality of the player, how much they claim to not want him plying his trade at White Hart Lane anytime soon and the fact that he was a boyhood Gunners supporter.

One wrote “no better than anything we have,” whilst others commented about how much Maddison, valued at £27 million by Transfermarkt, reminds them of ex-Lilywhite David Bentley, how he’s a “poor man’s Aaron Ramsey”, they “can’t stand him” and “he’s a Gonner anyway.”

Check out the pick of their Tweets taking aim at the former Norwich City sensation, below…

Spurs have to do all they can to keep star man following Man United update: Opinion

Spurs are looking like they are set to make their new home a fortress to be reckoned with based on their performances there so far.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men have been putting on some displays for their home fans, and are on the brink of a place in the Champions League semi-finals if they can ensure they do the business in the return leg against Manchester City.

However, the summer looks set to once again be a big one for the club, with a host of their top stars being eyed up by some of Europe’s biggest and best clubs.

One man who could be on his way out if Manchester United get their way is midfielder Christian Eriksen, who could be set to be offered triple his wages if the Old Trafford club can convince Spurs to agree to the sale of the Denmark star.

We here in the Tavern though feel that Spurs need to be meeting any approaches for Eriksen with a resounding no if they are to continue to build and grow as a serious force in the Premier League.

Eriksen has been in superb form ever since he made the move into the English game, and he has really developed his craft to become one of the finest attacking midfield players in all of Europe.

If he was to move on to United, there is little doubt he would settle in nicely and improve things for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men, but it would be Spurs who would be left counting the cost of seeing one of their brightest and best talents being lost to a rival.

Some players are simply irreplaceable, and Eriksen falls right into this mould for Spurs given everything he offers to the cause.

حسين الشحات يخضع لفحص طبي لتحديد موقفه من معسكر منتخب مصر

خضع حسين الشحات لاعب فريق الكرة الأول بالنادي الأهلي، لفحوصات طبية على يد محمد أبوالعلا طبيب منتخب مصر الأول.

وجاء ذلك بناءً على طلب حسام البدري، من أجل تحديد موقفه من الانضمام لمنتخب مصر لمعسكر مواجهتي توجو في التصفيات المؤهلة لنهائيات أمم افريقيا 2021.

ويسعى الجهاز الطبي لـ منتخب مصر لمعرفه مدى تطورات إصابته الأخيرة التي لحقت به وأبعدته عن لقاء فريقه في ختام مسابقة الدوري الممتاز.

ومن المنتظر أن يعلن البدري عن قائمة منتخب مصر من لاعبي الأهلي والزمالك خلال الساعات القليلة المقبلة، قبل انطلاق المعسكر في التاسع من نوفمبر الجاري.

Utterly inept: Leeds fans bash official after Villa game

[ad_pod ]

Leeds United fans on Twitter have been slamming Stuart Attwell after his disaster of a refereeing performance at Elland Road on Sunday.

The clash between the Whites and their fellow playoff contenders Aston Villa was one of the most heated games of the season, and Attwell struggled to deal with the feisty nature of the clash.

Supporters of the Yorkshire club have commented on his lack of ability to control the game and his failure to spot alleged simulation from Jack Grealish.

In all fairness to the referee he didn’t have the easiest job – a brawl broke out after Leeds’ opening goal due to its controversial nature and he had to hand out one red card and five yellows in a game that proved almost impossible to officiate.

Attwell utterly lost control early on and the controversy after the goal didn’t help matters either.

Despite being an established Premier League official the 36-year-old looked out of his depth when officiating at Elland Road.

Here’s what Leeds fans have been saying on Twitter…

Leeds United: McKinstry move could be disastrous for player if Bielsa’s side are promoted

Leeds United’s academy has produced its fair share of talented players in recent years.

The likes of Danny Rose, James Milner, Aaron Lennon and Jonathan Woodgate have all come through the ranks at Elland Road before achieving distinguished careers at the highest level. Therefore, the excitement surrounding the current crop of players is understandable as it could easily be a start of another golden generation for the Whites, especially if they are promoted to the Premier League at the end of the season.

Jack Clarke, Jamie Shackleton and Bailey Peacock-Farrell have all been handed their debuts by Marcelo Bielsa during the current campaign whilst Ryan Edmonson and Clarke Odour could be the next players to break through to the first team squad.

However, despite the abundance of prospects in the club’s academy, Leeds are on the verge of signing one of Motherwell’s brightest teenagers. According to Football Insider, Stuart McKinstry is expected to join the Championship club in the summer for a fee expected to be in the region of £400,000 after agreeing personal terms earlier this week. The wonderkid has yet to make his bow in senior football but has been very impressive for the Steelmen’s youth sides with his performances earning him a call up for Scotland’s U-17’s outfit in February.

McKinstry will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Gary McAllister who also began his career at Motherwell before winning the First Division title with Leeds in 1992. Unfortunately, though for the 16-year-old, a move to the Whites may end up being disastrous for his development.

If Marcelo Bielsa’s side seal promotion to the top tier in May, McKinstry will have to fight off an intense level of competition in order to make his way into his new manager’s plans for the immediate future. Clarke, Shackleton, Stuart Dallas and Pablo Hernandez have all operated in the wide areas this season for Leeds and a top-two finish for the club could see them strengthen further in the summer.

With this in mind, McKinstry must approach a move to Elland Road with caution as if he gets lost in the system, he may not fulfil his potential.

What do you think Leeds fans? Is McKinstry taking a risk by moving to your club? Are you confident that he will be giving the chance to impress by Bielsa next season? Let us know below.

James Chester sends message to John McGinn on Instagram

[ad_pod ]

Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn scooped both players’ and supporters player of the year at the Villa awards dinner this week.

/Bw9XUs1nv_4/

McGinn was signed from Hibernian last summer and has proved to be an excellent signing.

He also seems to have made a positive impression on the squad, as James Chester’s comment indicates.

The nickname of meatball shows signs of affection from within the Villa squad and indicates that the Scot has settled well into the team.

McGinn also won supporters player of the year and the 24-year-old has endeared himself to the Villa faithful, especially after a goal of the season contender against Sheffield Wednesday.

The Villa players have clearly been impressed by the Scottish international and he has deservedly taken the award after registering six goals and ten assists.

The Villa man is a a key part of the team and, if The Villains are to go up via the playoffs, they will need him to be at his best in the midfield.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus