Aston Villa have won their last three Championship matches to move to within two points of the play-off positions with plenty of football still to play this season.
Villa are on a bit of a roll at the moment and it does appear that they are finding some serious form at just about the perfect stage of the campaign.
On Wednesday, Dean Smith’s side recorded an impressive 3-1 victory away to Nottingham Forest, which followed wins over Derby County and Birmingham City.
A number of players impressed, but the Villa supporters were very pleased with what they saw from Ahmed Elmohamady.
The right-back assisted John McGinn for the equaliser whilst according to WhoScored, he had a pass success rate of 72% and made one tackle.
Alan Hutton’s recent injury has seen the 31-year-old drop into defence and the Villa fans were delighted with his display against Forest.
A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:
Sheffield United failed to move into the automatic promotion places on Monday night as they could only secure a goalless draw against their bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City derby at Hillsborough.
Chris Wilder’s side were by far the more aggressive, and played on the front foot throughout. However, Steve Bruce’s Owls defended diligently, and as such the likes of Billy Sharp and Gary Madine failed to really threaten the opposition.
The Bramall Lane club have now lost the initiative in the Championship promotion race, with Leeds United and Norwich City still ahead of them. However, there’s still plenty of football to be played.
Did Chris Wilder get it wrong in the Steel City derby? Check out the thoughts of Ingood Nick below…
If Wilder’s side are to get back into an automatic promotion spot though they have to show more penetration and incision than they did on Monday. In order to provide the injection of creativity they need, Mark Duffy should come back into the starting XI. The 33-year-old midfielder has been benched for the Blades’ last two games with Kieran Dowell preferred.
Plenty of United fans want the Liverpool-born man back in the side. After the derby disappointment, lots of supporters took to Twitter to appeal for Duffy to come back into the fold…
Loads of Aston Villa fans have been reflecting on the week’s Championship action, and they already think Kortney Hause was a wasted signing.
Hause was one of five January signings for Dean Smith, but of those five only Tyrone Mings has left a positive impression so far.
Hause joined on loan from Wolves for the remainder of the season, and the 23 year-old’s versatility will have appealed to Smith and the club.
Hause, like Mings, can play centre back or left back, and was chosen on the flank for Wednesday’s clash against Brentford.
Smith’s side were utterly dominated though, as the Bees had more of the ball, created more chances and defended better, eventually grabbing their deserved winner through a late Neal Maupay strike.
While no one in a Villa shirt covered themselves in glory, Hause was particularly poor, completing just 62 per cent of his passes.
The youngster’s lack of ability on the ball is a huge problem when playing as a full-back rather than through the middle, and fans are bashing the signing.
You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…
As a team, Manchester United have come on leaps and bounds since Jose Mourinho’s departure and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s subsequent arrival – the Norwegian has won 10 of his 12 games since taking the helm in December – but there are some players in particular who have made huge improvements themselves over the course of the season.
Equally, though, there is one who has steadily declined and is currently a shadow of the player we saw last season under Mourinho. So, who are the Red Devils’ most improved and far removed players?
Most Improved: Marcus Rashford
Soccer Football – Premier League – Manchester United v Fulham – Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain – December 8, 2018 Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring their fourth goal Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your
It is a close one between the England international and Paul Pogba, who have both undergone extraordinary transformations in 2019 but, considering the lack of opportunities afforded to him prior to Solskjaer’s arrival and the extent to which he is now capitalising on the regular minutes granted by the ‘Baby Faced Assassin’, Rashford takes the title.
The 21-year-old has scored six goals and chalked up two assists under new management, shining in the centre-forward role which he was very rarely deployed in while Mourinho reigned and deservedly won January’s Player of the Month award having had a sensational month.
Far Removed: Ashley Young
The absence of Luke Shaw saw ageing winger Ashley Young deployed at left-back last campaign and he was excellent, recording 30 Premier League appearances and contributing to seven goals as United finished second place – albeit 19 points behind centurions and local rivals Manchester City.
However, the 33-year-old has been pretty poor this season and, as he enters his twilight years, may find that his Old Trafford days are numbered, particularly as his contract runs out in the summer.
Shaw signed a new deal in October which saw his wages boosted to £195,000-a-week, making him one of the club’s highest earners, and so it seems unlikely that the United bosses will grant Young a new deal if Shaw is to be their number one choice going forward.
Young has been a faithful servant to the Red Devils since his switch from Aston Villa but, should this indeed be the 39-cap international’s last season at the club, he is hardly going out with a bang – a dim fizz, if anything.
Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…
Loads of Rangers fans have been discussing their performance against Aberdeen on Tuesday, and they’re crucifying Daniel Candeias for yet another woeful display.
Rangers were beaten fairly comfortably by Aberdeen on Tuesday if truth be told, which doesn’t happen too often at Ibrox.
The Dons are now responsible for both of Steven Gerrard’s two managerial defeats at Ibrox, and the Gers’ performance on this occasion was really worrying.
The visitors took an early lead thanks to a dreadful mistake from Glen Kamara, whose square pass went right to Niall McGinn, who finished well.
Connor McLennan doubled the lead in the second half after a well-worked move, and Gerrard’s side never really looked like getting back in it.
While he wasn’t the only one who had a poor evening, Candeias’ inability to pick out a good cross has become really frustrating.
The 31 year-old is a hard worker and has managed six goals and ten assists this campaign, but he missed a golden chance to put one on a plate for Ryan Kent in the first half.
You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…
Davie Hay has warned Celtic not to concede an early goal to Valencia or else they are in for a long night.
Brendan Rodgers takes his side to the Mestalla on Thursday night looking to overturn a disappointing 2-0 defeat from the first leg a week ago.
Getting the first goal would open the tie up for the visitors but Celtic have taken a few European hidings in recent seasons and Hay has warned to put safety first in the opening stages.
In the Evening Times he stated:
“I think it will be a difficult night, but what you will find out in the opening 15-20 minutes is whether or not Celtic can go and cause a little bit of unrest within Valencia.
“If they lose an early goal, it is an exceptionally long night. The only thing that might work in their favour is the fact that Valencia and their support will expect this game to be little other than a walk into the next round.
“Publicly, of course, the Spaniards won’t come out and say that but there will be a feeling that they pretty much sealed their progress with the first leg win last Thursday night. Their support will be turning up expecting to see them turn on the style.
Rodgers has no fresh injury worries to deal with tonight with his biggest decision being over whether Timo Weah gets a place in his starting XI.
The on-loan Paris Saint Germain forward has made a big impact as a substitute in recent matches including the late victories over St Johnstone and Kilmarnock.
Getting Weah in from the start would pose a fresh threat to the Valencia defence, with Celtic toiling last week to make in roads on the Spanish defence.
In the last few years, Roy Hodgson has been on the receiving end of some heavy criticism.
Many have called his tactics outdated, accusing him of being too old to keep managing at the top, especially after England’s exit at the hands of Iceland at Euro 2016. However, despite all his ups and downs, Hodgson has kept on defying odds at every level, reaching the pinnacle of a very unique Premier League record.
The 71-year-old boss became the oldest ever manager to manage in the competition and, if the terrific 4-1 win over Leicester City proved anything, his style is anything but outdated. Hodgson’s work with Palace ever since he arrived following a cursed England reign has been exemplary.
He managed to help the Eagles finish 11th last season, despite coming into the job with them having lost their first seven league games. In his second season as Palace boss, he’s yet again done a great job despite having very limited resources and weak signings in the summer.
They’re only four points behind the Bournemouth at 10th place and a top-half finish seems possible, while the Eagles have the opportunity to rise high in the FA Cup after progressing into the quarter-finals.
Hodgson’s given rise to Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jeffrey Schlupp while turning Wilfried Zaha into a world-class forward. He’s infused an attractive, fast-paced style into the club and instilled a fearless attitude, as shown in their games against the big sides.
He may be old, but Hodgson’s excellent work in elevating Palace proves why he deserves more respect at the top.
أبدى حسام البدري المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر، اندهاشه من محاولات البعض تناول تصريحاته عن مهاجم الزمالك مصطفى محمد إلى أمور أخرى بعيدة عن الواقع والمنطق.
وقال البدري خلال تصريحاته للصحفيين، إنه سبق وتحدث أكثر من مرة عن مصطفى محمد وأكد أنه خامة طيبة ومتميزة وينتظره مستقبل كبير.
طالع.. حسام البدري: ثنائي الأهلي والزمالك مرشحان لـ منتخب مصر.. ومصطفى محمد “خامة مبشرة” ولكن!
وأوضح أن تصريحاته الأخيرة بأن اللاعب في حاجة إلى تطوير وعمل وجهد ليست معناها خروجه من حسابات وترشيحات منتخب مصر، مشيرًا إلى أنه يسعى لتشجيع اللاعب ووصوله إلى أفضل حال لاسميا وأنه ما يزال في بداية مشواره ويحتاج للنصيحة حتى يطور من نفسه.
وشدد: “إذا لم يكن اللاعب في حاجة للنصيحة والاجتهاد ليتطور مستواه فلماذا يتدرب يوميا ليصبح أفضل؟، وأي لاعب يحتاج للتطور والتدريب والاجتهاد ومن يتقبل النصيحة يصبح لاعبا مميزا مستقبلا”.
A big game is to be held later today at the Vitality, with Newcastle United looking to go level on points with Bournemouth after what has been an unbelievable turn around from Rafa Benitez and his men. The run can’t end now, right?
Finally, it looks as though the Spaniard and his squad are on the same page and performing the way a Newcastle side should be. The Toon Army will be travelling down south with all the confidence in the world after their incredible come back last week against Everton. Indeed, it truly was a Premier League classic.
Still, Benitez must answer questions against an Eddie Howe side who are looking to build off their solid 0-2 away win against Huddersfield, in what is a huge game for the Magpies. Win, and that might just be survival guaranteed.
With that in mind, we take a look at a couple of changes the gaffer could make.
Drop Matt Ritchie
Matt Ritchie has been suffering from a run of poor form of late, and after being subbed against Everton before the magic began, missing a penalty. To be honest, he has looked the shadow of his former self lately, largely because he’s been performing two roles at once.
Not having scored since the memorable 2-1 win over Manchester City, the Magpies will need to look elsewhere in the squad until the Scottish international can get back to being devastating in the final third.
Start Kenedy
Despite struggling to get a real foothold in the squad this season, Kenedy will be looking to his past performance against Bournemouth earlier this season to inspire him. Grabbing his only assist this season against Bournemouth in the 2-1 home win, he will be hoping that a start would help provide the same sort of lift to bring all three points back to St. James’.
Newcastle fans will be remembering the form of Kenedy towards the end of last season, a form that lifted the Toon up and helped pave a way for survival. Is it too late for the 23-year-old to push on and recapture that same late-season form?