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Loads of Tottenham fans have been reacting to their defeat at Burnley, and they’re fuming with at Moussa Sissoko for falling back into his old tricks.

Spurs were rightfully beaten by Sean Dyche’s Clarets on Saturday, not so much because the hosts were good but rather because Mauricio Pochettino’s side were incredibly poor.

After a superb performance to thrash Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, only the returning Harry Kane showed any sort of life for the Lilywhites, as the other ten players just seemed to let the game pass them by.

Chris Wood put Burnley in front in the second half with a wonderful header that came down off the crossbar, before Kane equalised with a smartly taken low finish.

Ashley Barnes won it for the Turf Moor outfit though, tapping in from close range after the ball rather luckily found its way to the Austrian in the box.

Pochettino will be furious with most of his side after such a woeful performance, but Sissoko was particularly poor, a huge concern given how crucial he has been over the past few months.

If the inconsistent French international reverts to the all-action but no substance player he was at the beginning of this season then the midfield is going to become a major problem for Pochettino, given the constant injury problems for Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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West Ham United fans have been interestingly debating whether Middlesbrough’s Britt Assombalonga would be a good signing for the club.

Assombalonga’s application and work-rate have previously been called into question, but the striker has registered 12 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions during the 2018-19 campaign.

The forward’s 10th league goal of the season saw Boro overcome Blackburn Rovers on Sunday afternoon.

And that led to a number of West Ham supporters offering their views on whether the 26-year-old could be an asset to the Hammers.

The debate was kicked off by one particular account on Twitter and it would be fair to say that many struggled to agree whether their club should be looking at the forward.

It looks set to be an interesting summer transfer window for the Hammers, particularly when it comes to the final third of the field.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the West Ham fans can be seen below:

January has been a worrying month for Leeds United supporters mostly for reasons off the pitch.

The whole spygate saga has had some feeling uneasy as they wait to see if the club are punished in any way, while Jack Clarke has constantly been linked with a move away from Elland Road this month.

According to Sky Sports, Southampton, among other teams in the Premier League, are keen on signing the 18-year-old winger in this transfer window. However, with deadline day fast approaching and a big player having seemingly cooled their interest, things are now looking good for Leeds.

The Breakdown

The Evening Standard reports Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is not fully convinced with Clarke, which will come as a huge relief to Leeds.

The Yorkshire club will undoubtedly fancy their chances of fighting off a side like Southampton but, with Tottenham, it becomes a different ball game.

Given how well the developments of Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Harry Winks among others have gone, joining the north London club, who now find themselves among the Premier League elite, will sound like an attractive proposition to another young, talented English footballer such as Clarke.

With a transfer to Tottenham now seemingly unlikely, though, Leeds supporters should be able to rest easy, or at least until the summer.

Whatever the case, Clarke looks set to remain at Elland Road for the time being and, at 18, there is no need for him to rush and force a move, especially when you are already getting a good football education from an astute coach like Marcelo Bielsa.

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Everton are stuck in a bit of a rut right now, with boss Marco Silva overseeing a dismal run of form that has yielded just three wins from their last 12 fixtures in all competitions – something must be done to amend the situation, and some key players at the club need to step up.

What’s the word, then?

In the Merseysiders’ last outing, an FA Cup fourth round defeat against Millwall on Saturday, there were certainly a lot of negatives to take from yet another disappointing defeat, and one that signalled the end of any silverware hopes for the Toffees.

However, one feature from the game at The Den showed that there are a couple of players who could be key to an immediate response against bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield Town in the Premier League on Tuesday night.

Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin may be out for the season but it’s given him a chance to show off his new accesory. Check out the video below to see for yourself…

Ademola Lookman’s performance against the Lions on the right of midfield, ahead of Seamus Coleman at right-back, provided a slight glimmer of hope from an otherwise abject showing in south London, but Silva should definitely focus on the pair’s link up and see how he can utilise that against the Terriers.

Why should they start against Huddersfield?

Lookman and Coleman both made one key pass against Millwall, as per WhoScored, and their partnership down the right was arguably the only positive for Silva on the day.

Many Everton fans have criticised Coleman at right-back this season, and feel that he is perhaps past his best with young Jonjoe Kenny taking his place at times throughout the current campaign.

In Lookman’s case, the 21-year-old has made just three Premier League starts this season, according to WhoScored, as he has struggled to dislodge the underperforming Theo Walcott from the right of midfield, but he is now getting a chance and grabbing it with both hands.

His dribbling skills and ability to attract a number of defenders make him an attractive option to play ahead of the Irish defender, who frequently overlaps down the right flank – by playing the pair together, there will be some excellent opportunities to get in behind a sturdy Huddersfield backline, who may see Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson as Everton’s main two danger men.

تحدث أندريا بيرلو المدير الفني لنادي يوفنتوس، عن حالة الفريق قبل مواجهة سامبدوريا غدًا الأحد، ضمن الجولة الأولى من الدوري الإيطالي موسم 2020/2021.

يوفنتوس حامل اللقب، يفتتح مواجهاته في الموسم الجديد أمام سامبدوريا غدًا الأحد على ملعب أليانز، في أول مباريات أندريا بيرلو الرسمية مع الفريق.

اقرأ أيضًا.. بيرلو يوضح حقيقة اقتراب سواريز من يوفنتوس

وقال بيرلو في المؤتمر الصحفي للمباراة: “أشعر أنني بحالة جيدة، الشيء المهم هو أن اللاعبين يشعرون بالرضا، ولدينا عدد كاف من اللاعبين لمباراة الغد”.

وأضاف: “سنرى ما يجب القيام به لتعويض اللاعبين المصابين، حيث أن ساندرو وديبالا ودي ليخت يغيبون للإصابة”.

وأكمل: “أنا أقوم بتدريب فريق مليء بالأبطال، الثنائي كولوسيفسكي وبيليجريني، يعرفان الأجواء في الدوري الإيطالي، لأن كلاهما لعبا أكثر من موسم هنا، بينما ماكيني وآرثر بحاجة إلى الاستقرار”.

وعن طريقة لعبه، قال: “لدي أفكاري، وساري لديه أفكاره، في حالات معينة يمكن أن نكون متشابهين، لكنني أريد التحكم في اللعب ولعب كرة القدم بطريقة هجومية”.

وواصل: “كريستيانو رونالدو وكولوسيفسكي سينسجمان مع بعضهما البعض مع الوقت، لدينا عدد من اللاعبين الرائعين في وسط الملعب الذين يمكنهم إمداد الهجوم بالتمريرات الرائعة”.

واختتم بالحديث عن إمكانية التعاقد مع مهاجم: “نحن ننتظر التعاقد مع مهاجم، لكن هناك طريق طويل في المفاوضات، وكل فريق يتعامل مع مشكلات مماثلة، لكننا لسنا في عجلة من أمرنا”.

Brendan Rodgers was extremely active during the January transfer window as Celtic look to strengthen their grip on the Scottish Premiership title.

The Hoops barely added to their ranks in the summer transfer window and lost Mousa Dembele on transfer deadline day. Eager to make up for lost time, Rodgers made no mistake when the window reopened in January. Celtic signed both Vakoun Issouf Bayo and Marian Shved on permanent deals as well as completing loan moves for Timothy Weah, Oliver Burke and Jeremy Toljan.

Attention will now turn to getting past Valencia in the Europa League and beating Rangers in the race for the title. The Northern Irishman must also keep one eye open for summer recruits given the improvement made by their rivals in the division over the last year.

One man who could take Celtic to the next level is Liverpool outcast – Daniel Sturridge. Valued at £13.5m by Transfermarkt, Rodgers was the man to bring the former England international to Anfield from Chelsea back in 2013 with great success. However, the 29-year-old has since slipped down the pecking order and has been forced to settle for a substitute role. His contract is set to expire in the summer and Liverpool are unlikely to offer him new terms.

Luring a player of Sturridge’s quality to Scotland would be a massive statement of intent from the reigning champions and could help improve their fortunes in the Champions League next season. Sturridge remains a top forward with deadly finishing ability who would cause plenty of problems for Scottish defences. He will be eager to get regular football under his belt and working with his former boss could help him rediscover his best form.

Available on a free, this move should be a no brainer.

Celtic fans, thoughts?

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Loads of Sheffield United fans have been reacting to their big deadline day signing, as Scott Hogan has joined the club on loan.

Hogan has joined the Blades on a temporary deal until the end of the season, the club confirmed on Thursday.

The 26 year-old has made just seven appearances in all competitions for Aston Villa this season, per Transfermarkt, due partly to the incredible goalscoring form of Tammy Abraham.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

While he hasn’t found the net in his limited playing time this season, Hogan’s work rate and versatility will be a huge boost for Chris Wilder.

The three-cap Irish international is of course primarily a centre forward, but he can play on the wings as well, and his tireless running down the channels and constant harrying of the opposition defenders will add another element to Wilder’s arsenal.

He will be an brilliantly shrewd signing if he can rediscover his Brentford form, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions to the signing down below…

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Spurs find themselves unlikely challengers for the Premier League title with Liverpool and champions Manchester City. Their chances of keeping themselves in the running were slimmed, though, as Harry Kane succumbed to a recurring ankle injury in January, yet they still remain very much in contention.

Kane’s goalscoring exploits have led to Spurs being wrongly labelled a one-man team and they have begun to prove that they are anything but during his absence, as Heung-min Son and Fernando Llorente deputise capably.

There was once another striker at White Hart Lane, though, who was billed as the man to fire Spurs to glory: Roberto Soldado. The Spaniard moved to north London from Valencia in 2013 for £26m as Spurs looked to reinvest the money received from the record sale of Gareth Bale, but flopped spectacularly – the striker, now plying his trade with Fenerbahce, scored just 16 goals in two seasons.

But what could have been if he had won the golden boot, or at the very least returned consistent double figures for Spurs? It’s fair to say that there could have been some huge consequences…

No Harry Kane

Perhaps the most important. Kane, having spent much of his Spurs career out on loan at various EFL clubs, was given his chance in the first team on 7th April 2014 as Tim Sherwood gave the then-20-year-old the nod over Soldado. Kane netted in his first game and scored again the week after, soon he had ousted the lacklustre senior striker from the lineup.

Sherwood has said this on his decision to give the young hitman a chance:

“It didn’t feel a gamble at all to give Harry that start. It was almost overdue to be honest,” says Sherwood.

“Roberto Soldado was in front of him in the team, and nobody wanted Roberto to do well more than me – but every single day in training Harry was outperforming him.

“After probably three weeks, I decided I had to make that change and I had to bring Harry into the team. He didn’t let me down.

Had Soldado been amongst the goals more often, Kane would likely have been loaned out season after season or, even worse, sold. But after breaking into the team under Sherwood, Kane ousted Soldado for a second time under Pochettino by scoring a last-minute winner against Aston Villa.

The rest is history.

Better used Bale money

The ‘Bale Seven’, as they became known, comprised current Spurs Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela, as well as Nacer Chadli, Vlad Chiriches, Etienne Capoue, Paulinho and, of course, Soldado.

While Eriksen and Lamela remain key players for the White Hart Lane outfit, the others were pretty poor and didn’t survive in north London for too long.

Soldado, in particular, ensures any mention of the ‘Bale Seven’ puts a bad taste in the mouth of Tottenham fans who surely feel that the £85m received from offloading the Welsh star could have better used.

Had the not-shot been a hit, though, then the balance could well surely have swung, considering the impact Eriksen in particular has made in white. In any case, it’s likely the rest of the Bale Seven would have been given a bit more of a chance if Solado had lead the way from the off.

No Pochettino

Andre Villas-Boas was at the helm when Soldado arrived at Spurs and, despite the Portuguese’s inability to fix up a defence, he may not have been sacked so soon if his star striker was putting the ball away more frequently.

He likely wouldn’t still be in charge today, but the appointment of Tim Sherwood may have been delayed by some time, potentially until a different club had snapped up Mauricio Pochettino, who was impressing in charge of Southampton.

The Argentine has done an incredible job with Spurs, signing and developing the likes of Dele Alli into top class talents, but may have been doing it in different surroundings had Villas-Boas been at the helm for a while longer.

Who will be the next ‘Big 6’ manager to be sacked? The Pl>ymaker FC squad all seem to agree on one name. Find out who in the video below…

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West Ham United may well hope that Declan Rice does not turn in another brilliant performance against Manchester City on Wednesday.

The Sun reported earlier this month that City were lining up a raid on English talent in the summer, with £50million-rated Rice on a shortlist also including Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell.

On the chalkboard

Rice has been in exceptional form for the Hammers thus far this season, turning in superb performances against both Arsenal and Liverpool.

In the former game, he scored his first senior goal for the Irons as they won 1-0 but another sterling display could be something of a double-edged sword.

City will have scouted Rice prior to Wednesday’s game, of course, but he could offer Pep Guardiola a timely reminder of his attributes if he repeats his previous displays against top-six opposition at the London Stadium.

With Fernandinho injured during the Carabao Cup final, defensive midfield appears to be the one position where City lack the depth so prevalent across the board.

A move for Rice makes all the sense in the world, then, but he remains the jewel in the Hammers’ crown this season.

Indeed, he has made himself indispensable to manager Manuel Pellegrini, playing 28 times in all competitions, and finding himself in contention for an England call-up after declaring his intention to play for the Three Lions over the Republic of Ireland.

Per WhoScored, Rice makes an average of 2.8 tackles per game, along with 1.6 interceptions and 0.4 fouls. On the ball, he averages a pass completion rate of 86.2%, from 44.3 passes per game.

Proving his worth to City on Wednesday, then, would benefit the Hammers on the night but may ultimately see him exit the London Stadium this summer.

Perfect for City

Rice appears to fit the exact profile of player that City need.

Fernandinho is injury-prone and will be 34 in May, with Guardiola needing to bring in fresh blood to compete in the position.

West Ham are sure to demand a pretty penny but the champions have the resources required to buy practically any player in world football.

A £50m move would thoroughly compensate the east London side but they are unlikely to find a replacement any time soon.

Ultimately, they may have to hope Rice flops on Wednesday and that City decide to turn their attention elsewhere, such is the pricelessness of the midfielder to the Hammers.

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Sadio Mane struggled for form as Liverpool drew 0-0 with Bayern Munich in the Champions League Round of 16 on Tuesday.

The Reds had the chance to take advantage of home comforts in the first leg but drew a blank, with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino also in frustrating form.

But it was Mane who seemed to be at the centre of every major chance that fell Liverpool’s way.

Indeed, he showed signs that it might not be his night in the 15th minute, as he faced up Joshua Kimmich, turned him inside out and worked an angle for a shot. It was a wild effort and flew wide.

In the 32nd minute, he twisted to shoot first-time after a Naby Keita shot was deflected into his path, but he scuffed the effort and it did not trouble Manuel Neuer. An overhead kick in the second half was not even close.

Late on, a fine diving header drew an excellent save from the Germany goalkeeper but it was his only shot on target in the game.

While a member of a trio, when Mane fails to fire, Liverpool often struggle to create genuine moments of danger.

This was true on Tuesday, too, as, per WhoScored, Mane touched the ball just 37 times, the fewest of any Reds outfield player.

He completed just one dribble throughout the game, too, and was dispossessed five times, the most of any player on the pitch.

In total, Mane also committed three fouls, the joint-most of anyone except for Robert Lewandowski.

The Senegal international attempted a mere 17 passes, the least of any Liverpool player that started the game, and 13 lower than Alisson, who had the second-lowest tally for the home side.

Mane’s misfires ultimately stunted Liverpool’s attacking rhythm and robbed them of the dynamism that usually defines their forays forward.

Because of his poor form, the Reds could not sustain their pressure and now find themselves in need of a classic performance in Germany if they are to progress to the next round.