Charlton fans react as Josh Parker receives international call-up

[ad_pod ]Charlton’s Josh Parker became the sixth Addick to earn a call-up to his national side this month with Antigua and Barbuda naming the forward in the squad for their CONCACAF Nations League qualification match against Curacao this weekend.The 28-year-old January arrival from Gillingham joins club teammates Josh Cullen, Chris Maxwell, Krystian Bielik, Lyle Taylor and Igor Vetokele in receiving the call every football player dreams of, and will be hoping to fire the Benna Boys to victory on Saturday.Regardless of the options available to Antigua and Barbuda boss Rolston Williams, 5 ft 11 Parker may count himself lucky to be included having endured a pretty poor season.Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…The number 10 has netted just four times in 24 league appearances this campaign and is yet to score for Charlton, with the aforementioned Taylor and Vetokele stepping up after Karlan Grant’s January departure instead.Here’s what the Valley faithful had to say in response to the update, with many taking the opportunity to make jibes at the Slough-born player…

Luton Town fans on Twitter have been celebrating latest incredible news

Whilst moving into a new stadium can be a stressful affair, just ask Tottenham fans about that, Luton Town fans cannot wait for work to start on their new ground. Yesterday was a historic day for the club as they edge towards their move too, as Luton Council approved plans to develop land off of junction 10 of the M1 to help pay for the Hatters new stadium.

Whilst you’ll struggle to find a Luton Town fan that doesn’t love Kenilworth Road, the famous ground is over 100 years old and the club has tried and failed in the past to move away and find a new home. Now, though, it looks like the Hatters will finally be granted their wish as after having plans approved for a new 17,500 seater stadium in January, yesterday’s news now means that the club has a way to fund it.

This update comes as massive news not just for Luton Town Football Club, but for Luton as a whole. The Newlands Business Park will bring over 10,000 jobs to the town as well as £250 million to the economy annually, according to this report from ITV. The Hatters will still be celebrating this news today, and as they sit atop the League One table with dreams of a new ground becoming a reality, it’s not hard to understand why the supporters on Twitter are so jubilant.

In response to all of that, you read those jubilant fans’ tweets here:

As you can see, the Hatters couldn’t be happier with this massive development and will now be dreaming of one day enjoying Premier League football at their new stadium to be.

Huddersfield Town: Erik Durm deserves Championship stay next season

The 2014 World Cup must seem like being a lifetime away for Erik Durm.

The full-back, who is valued at £1.35 million (by Transfermarkt), was called up for Germany after an impressive season with Borussia Dortmund and despite not actually featuring in the tournament, he received a winner’s medal following Joachim Low’s side victory over Argentina in Rio de Janiero.

Considered an impressive signing when he joined Huddersfield Town last summer, Durm has ultimately failed to live up to expectations this season yet hasn’t be helped by the lack of quality on show at the John Smith’s Stadium.

In what has been an utterly dismal campaign for the Terriers, relegation to the second tier was confirmed last month and with five games to play, they could still set a record for the second lowest points total in Premier League history.

Manager Jan Siewert will undoubtedly launch an overhaul of his squad in the summer but he should consider giving Durm a second chance to impress. At the age of 26, the full-back still has plenty of time to fulfil his potential and could thrive in the Championship having spent the majority of his career at a higher level.

Whereas players such as Steve Mounie and Laurent Depoitre are expected to leave when the transfer window opens in July, Huddersfield have the option to extend Durm’s deal for another a year (via Goal).

With the main competitor for his position, Chris Lowe, failing to shine it may be worth keeping the defender next year, especially when you consider just how competitive the Championship has become in recent seasons.

What do you think Terriers fans? Should the club extend Durm’s deal at the end of the current campaign? Or should his one year stint be brought to an end by Siewert? Let us know below.

Everton face £60m payout on two underperforming stars

[ad_pod ]

Everton will have to pay £60million if they wish to keep both Kurt Zouma and Andre Gomes at the club next season, per The Times.

The two loanees, from Chelsea and Barcelona respectively, are highly rated at Goodison Park and the club has already told Chelsea that they wish to buy Zouma.

What’s the word?

Zouma and Gomes have both featured prominently at Goodison Park this season.

The three-time France international’s future is, per the report, complicated by Chelsea’s transfer ban but there is a chance that an appeal against FIFA’s judgement could be successful, leading to the possibility of the Blues being allowed to buy players this summer.

That would surely leave them more open to the sale of Zouma but, even so, the Times report that he would cost around £30m.

The same goes for Gomes, who had been struggling to find his way into Barcelona’s team in La Liga.

For the Toffees to keep both players, then, and before considering any further additions to the squad, they face a payout of £60m.

The report also claims that the futures of defenders Phil Jagielka and Leighton Baines remain up in the air, with their contracts set to expire in the summer.

A ruinous deal

These deals could set Everton back significantly, and not just in monetary terms. There is a major rebuild needed at Goodison Park after a season of stagnation under Marco Silva.

A new striker, a couple of new midfielders and a defensive overhaul is required, but paying £60m to keep two players who have hardly set the world alight seems a poor start. It’s more than they forked out for £45m club-record signing Gylfi Sigurdsson two years ago.

Zouma and Gomes are clearly talented but the risk here is Everton spending most of their summer budget on two players who have already proven that they are not superstars and subsequently ignoring the bigger issues at play.

For starters, Everton still haven’t found a convincing replacement for Romelu Lukaku, an issue which has plagued Ronald Koeman, Sam Allardyce and now Silva. The wing berths remain conundrums too, while Jagielka and Baines’ potential departures will leave a huge leadership void throughout the first team squad.

Those problems need addressing this summer, so the question has to be asked: How much money would be left to fix them if both players joined permanently?

Everton should be very wary of paying £60m just to maintain the status quo.

Legend! Liverpool fans all highlight one moment from charity match

[ad_pod ]

Loads of Liverpool fans have been reacting to a legends game that took place at Anfield on Saturday, and they’re full of praise for Istanbul hero Jerzy Dudek.

Dudek gave six years of his career to Liverpool, but there’s only game that fans remember the 60-cap shot-stopper for.

His double save in extra-time of the 2005 Champions League final is perhaps the only thing more memorable than his crazy legs in the penalty shoot-out, and it’s no surprise he was drafted in for Saturday’s legends match.

The Reds took on a team comprised of AC Milan legends, winning 3-2 courtesy of a late winner from Steven Gerrard… sound familiar?

Robbie Fowler and Djibril Cisse had given the Liverpool legends a 2-0 lead but goals from Andrea Pirlo and Giuseppe Pancaro levelled things up.

Gerrard’s late winner would perhaps be the talk of the town if not for something Dudek did earlier in the match.

The 46 year-old forced the other 21 players on the pitch to wait for a moment while he collected a ball from behind the goal, stopping to play catch with members of the crowd.

You can see the wonderful gesture from Dudek here, and check out some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

تشكيل الرجاء أمام الزمالك.. بدر بانون في الدفاع ومالانجو مهاجم وحيد

أعلن جمال سلامي المدير الفني لنادي الرجاء المغربي تشكيل فريقه أمام الزمالك اليوم في مباراة الذهاب بنصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا 2020.

ويلاقي الزمالك منافسه الرجاء على أرضية مركب محمد الخامس ضمن منافسات دوري الأبطال. تشكيل الرجاء أمام الزمالك في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

حارس المرمى: أنس الزنيتي.

خط الدفاع: عبد الإله مدكور، بدر بانون، إلياس الحداد، فابريس نجاه.

خط الوسط: سفيان رحيمي، عمر العرجون، فابريس نجوما، محسن متولي، عبد الإله حافيظي.

خط الهجوم: مالانجو.

طالع أيضًا.. مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة الزمالك والرجاء في ذهاب نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا

ومن المقرر أن تقام مباراة الزمالك والرجاء في إياب نصف النهائي يوم السبت المقبل في القاهرة.

يذكر أن الفائز من لقاء الزمالك والرجاء سيواجه في النهائي المتأهل من الأهلي والوداد المغربي.

West Brom should move into new era by cashing in on Salomon Rondon

[ad_pod ]

Loanee Salomon Rondon has been attracting Everton interest since February. But with the Daily Star reiterating that week, should West Brom considering selling the striker?

What’s the word?

West Brom may have a job on their hands convincing the Venezuelan to stay at the club over the off season, particularly if they don’t go up. It has been reported previously that he has a £16.5m clause should the Midlands side stay in the Championship but would cost more if they were to gain promotion.

It’s something that would a hugely interesting proposition for a club like Everton who have had their issues with finding someone good enough to lead the line throughout the current campaign.

The player is on loan at Newcastle for the time being and has previously hinted that he would be happy to remain with the club beyond this season.

However, it isn’t clear whether the Magpies have a desire to keep him or even have the will to pay for the 6 ft 1 robust forward.

Cashing in

From the outside, keeping a player like Rondon at West Brom seems a good idea, especially if they were to go up. He has nine goals this season and has thrived under Rafa Benitez.

But at the Hawthorns last season, he struggled with the system, only scoring seven across the entire campaign. After being relegated with the club already, it’s time for West Brom to sell the player and move into a new era.

Rondon’s stock is arguably higher than ever, which as a consequence would mean there is no better time to ditch him than in the summer. At 29, he isn’t getting any younger and if they are to recoup any of the £12m fee they paid for him they need to show him the exit door.

Using the money they could bring in from the sale, they’d be able to find an alternative better suited to their system, or rely on Jay Rodriguez to continue his good form and spend the money in other areas.

Spurs fans don’t expect Carter-Vickers return

[ad_pod ]Tottenham Hotspur fans have rubbished the idea of Cameron Carter-Vickers playing for the club again.The central defender is currently on loan at Swansea City and has made a total of 23 appearances in all competitions for the club this season.

Carter-Vickers has played just four times for Spurs in total, with his last appearance coming on January 28, 2017 in an FA Cup victory over Wycombe Wanderers.

A United States international who has won seven caps, the 21-year-old went on loan to Sheffield United and Ipswich Town before his move to the Liberty Stadium.

One supporter on Twitter asked the question on Monday as to whether other fans felt Carter-Vickers could still make his way into the Spurs team.

Indeed, the likes of Harry Kane and Andros Townsend made their breakthroughs in north London after numerous short-term stints away from the club.

But the majority of respondents believe that the defender will never get the chance to prove his worth to Mauricio Pochettino, as he lacks the basic ability to usurp the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez in the starting XI.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

Aston Villa: Tyrone Mings is quite clearly a level above the Championship

Tyrone Mings has proved he’s good enough to play in the Premier League during his spell at Aston Villa, so he must be in England’s top flight next season no matter who he plays for.

The Sunday Mirror (page 72 and via HITC) reported Southampton are keen to buy the 26-year-old from his parent club Bournemouth in the summer, while Villa have an option to match any bid that comes in. Where in the Premier League Mings goes is less important, but his age means he can’t afford to be stuck in the Championship.

If Villa reach the play-offs and are promoted it would be a great decision to stay at Villa Park and grow in a team he’s comfortable with. He also wouldn’t have the burden of having to prove himself to his new fans if he remained where he is. Their form at the moment suggests they have every chance of reaching the play-offs, so it’s not impossible and the two could be great for each other.

If Mings was five years younger it would be the best decision to make a permanent move to Villa even if they stayed in the Championship, because he’d be able to grow into a player capable of playing in the top division later in his career. That ship has sailed though, and he must make the step up now or risk being overlooked.

Football moves quickly and Southampton will have other targets in mind for the position. All it takes is for his form to drop early next season or for him to have a lengthy spell injured and his top-flight prospects are ruined. Southampton, meanwhile, are famed for their belief in youth and they could give him the break he never got as a youngster.

Mings must keep his head down for the remainder of the season and keep his form up, so the Premier League move he deserves, whether that be with a promoted Villa or Southampton, becomes a reality.

Whatever happens, he’s far too good for the Championship.

Villa fans, how do you feel Tyrone Mings would cope against Premier League opposition? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Celtic fans debate bringing Roberto Martinez to Glasgow

[ad_pod ]

Loads of Celtic fans have been giving their verdict on the latest  managerial candidate to do the rumour rounds – Belgium boss Roberto Martinez.

Celtic fans are riding a rollercoaster of emotions as they hunt for a new manager, as it seems like every day there is a different name in the mix.

Marco Rose has been confirmed as the new Borussia Mönchengladbach boss so that rules the 42 year-old out of the Parkhead gig, and Andre Villas-Boas does not seem like the right fit either, despite fans yearning for him on Twitter.

Callum McGregor said this week he hopes Neil Lennon keeps the job if they win the treble, but Martinez now appears to be the favourite to take over.

As reported by Celtic Bible, the Spaniard is the odds-on favourite to replace Lennon, with Paddy Power slashing odds down to 4/11 at time of writing.

It should be noted that “next manager” odds tend to fluctuate with even the most tenuous rumour, but that hasn’t stopped Celtic fans spreading the rumours like wildfire.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where fans are split on the Belgium boss…

Game
Register
Service
Bonus