[ad_pod ]

A few weeks ago Leeds United looked to be favourites to finish in second in the Championship table.

However, heading into the final game of the season finishing in fourth is a real possibility for the Whites, but that may not be the end of the world.

On the chalkboard

With Derby County drawing against Swansea on Wednesday night their spot in the playoffs is now up in the air as they travel to the Hawthorns on the final day of the season.

For Leeds to finish fourth they would have to lose against Ipswich and West Brom would need to beat Derby. Which would leave the door open for Boro to sneak into the playoffs as they travel to already relegated Rotherham.

The Whites come up against Ipswich Town on Sunday, and they will have to lose that game if they are to finish fourth, but that may be the preferable route if West Brom and Middlesbrough both win.

Avoid Middlesbrough at all costs

Playing Tony Pulis’ side over two legs would be the worst outcome possible for Marcelo Bielsa.

Of all the teams in the running for the playoffs, Boro are the only side the Whites have been unable to beat all season, their systems clash in a way that favours the north-east club.

Middlesbrough’s defensive resilience can frustrate Leeds no end. Patrick Bamford will be missing for the first leg so their attacking threat will already be reduced and on top of this, they have been the most wasteful team in the league in recent weeks.

If the Whites are to win in the playoffs, they will have to create chance after chance and against Boro that will be almost impossible.

Finishing fourth would set up a semi-final clash with Aston Villa, a team who Leeds have extra motivation to beat after their last meeting.

On top of this Bielsa knows how to nullify the Midlands club’s main threat. Jack Grealish had an incredibly quiet game the last time the two sides met as Kalvin Phillips didn’t allow him to play his own game.

The likely scenario is that Leeds finish third and if Derby end up in the playoffs on Sunday that would be their preferred matchup.

Though if this weekend plays out in a way that leaves the Whites in fourth it may be favourable if it means avoiding Middlesbrough.

There cannot be too many players in Middlesbrough’s illustrious history who can rival the impact that Stewart Downing has made during his 12-year association with the club.

The former England international burst onto the footballing scene as a teenager with the Smoggies and went on to help his side win their first ever major trophy in 2004 as they defeated Bolton Wanderers 2-1 in the League Cup before eventually leaving the Riverside Stadium five years later to join Aston Villa.

After spells at Liverpool and West Ham United, Downing moved back to North Yorkshire in 2015 and has since made over 150 appearances in all competitions for his boyhood club.

However, despite being worshipped by the club’s supporters for his contributions over the years, it may be time for Tony Pulis to bring in a replacement for the 34-year-old in the summer as he has been relatively ineffective this season.

With Boro being linked with a swoop for Celtic winger Scott Sinclair, (according to The Sun), it could be worth bringing in him, especially when you consider that he will be available for a cut-price fee in the summer despite the reigning Scottish champions opting to trigger a one year extension to his current deal on Thursday (via the Scottish Sun).

Since moving to the Hoops in 2016, the 30-year-old has arguably enjoyed the best spell of his career to date and has been extremely impressive this season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions whilst also providing six assists for his team-mates.

Having been part of a Celtic side who have dominated football in Scotland in recent years, the £3.6m-rated ace (via Transfermarkt) may be seeking a new challenge.

Therefore, regardless of what division they find themselves in next season, Boro should do all they can to convince him to move south of the border as he could provide the attacking threat that they have been missing this year.

What do you think Smoggies fans? Should Pulis try to secure the services of Sinclair in the summer? Or should he steer clear of the 30-year-old? Let us know below.

[ad_pod ]

According to The Sun, Roy Hodgson is keen on making Jordan Ayew’s loan move at Crystal Palace permanent this summer having surely been impressed with his utility – a deal which will set the Eagles back just £4m.

With top flight status for the 19/20 season all but confirmed, Hodgson is looking forward to next term and plans to make the Ghanaian his first signing. It’s a move that’s been met with mostly negative reaction from the Selhurst Park faithful, although perhaps they’re looking at this the wrong way.

What’s the word?

Well, The Sun reports that Palace believe the striker, who has netted just once for them in the league, would make a solid squad player – his current role in the team is as much.

The former Aston Villa man might not have got the goals he and his Palace colleagues would have been hoping for, but he has impressed with his tireless work-rate. These Eagles fans are all too familiar with misfiring strikers though, and would be opposed to the 27-year-old remaining at SE25 beyond the summer:

Why it’s a smart move

With Christian Benteke getting further away from the goals and Michy Batshuayi set to return to Chelsea after his loan deal expires, Palace will undoubtedly be on the hunt for a striker once again this summer, although the fans mustn’t be fooled into thinking that Hodgson sees Ayew as the solution.

If The Sun is correct, the number 14 will be nothing more than a back-up, perhaps even third or fourth string, and for just £4m he could be a real bargain. He has proved in previous spells with Swansea and Villa that he can score goals in the top flight and if Palace are to spend frugally once again this summer, then he’s a smart buy for the price.

There’s some exciting changes happening at Crystal Palace next summer. Find out what in the video below…

What do you think, Palace fans? Would you be happy signing Ayew for £4m? Let us know in the comments below…

[ad_pod ]

April 27th 2014 is a date that has gone down in Premier League folklore. Its events are burned into our retinas. Its highlights – should you not be of a Liverpool persuasion – has since been memed more times than a piano-playing cat.

It was on this sunny afternoon that Jose Mourinho brought his Chelsea team up to Merseyside with the devout intention of spoiling a party while much more significantly – and an aspect so often over-looked with the passage of time – putting themselves firmly back into that year’s title race.

At the start of that memorable day Liverpool were on 80 points with Chelsea chasing on 75. Manchester City trailed on 74 but had a game in hand on both. After a frenetically competed fight at the top there were but a handful of games left.

At lunchtime, ahead of the 2.05pm kick-off the Liverpool supporters welcomed their team coach with a sea of red and fire. A victory here and they were surely champions in waiting. Two weeks earlier, following a highly dramatic see-saw win over Manchester City, their captain had spoken: “We don’t let this slip. We go again at Norwich”.

We all know what happened next. We all know how the Liverpool captain’s words became cruelly portentous.

What we perhaps don’t remember so sharply – again another aspect lost to time – is that later that day Manchester City then had to travel to Selhurst Park to fully capitalise on the Reds’ (sorry) slip. They did so by winning 2-0 with an early Edin Dzeko strike calming the nerves.

It is a strange quirk of fate indeed that has brought these two exact fixtures to the fore again this weekend with Liverpool once more ahead of Manchester City with mere games to spare. And considering what happened last time it is a legitimate question to ponder whether the heightened and dramatic events of 2013/14 have any relevance to the present-day title scrap?

Does the ghost of Demba Ba still haunt the fans, if not the team who are a completely different composition now to then, bar Jordan Henderson? Undoubtedly so. Liverpool fans truly believed that was going to be ‘their year’ and invested a great deal of heart and soul into the contest, particularly as the finish line neared. To have it snatched from them in such bizarre circumstances must have been gut-wrenching.

Nerves therefore will be even more spiked this Sunday, with a clear need to exorcise a dark day and very public failing. It is nerves that will manifest itself as fervour and tremendous noise. But what about if the stalemate is not broken as half-time approaches? Might the memories then come flooding back?

As for City – who incidentally have three remaining players from that time in Kompany, Silva and Aguero – any positive learned behaviour from that day is lost due to them playing first this time out. The seasoned pros might well think back and smile but more so for the squad as a whole the memory of last season’s tight 0-0 draw will be much more prominent.

قرر ربيع ياسين المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر الشباب تحت 20 عامًا، ضم الثنائي محمود صابر لاعب خط وسط فريق النجم الساحلي التونسي، وبلال مظهر لاعب الرديف في نادي باناثانيكوس اليوناني، لقائمة شباب الفراعنة التي تستعد لخوض فعاليات بطولة شمال إفريقيا، المقرر لها الشهر المقبل في تونس، والمؤهلة إلى كأس الأمم الإفريقية بموريتانيا.

ووصل بلال مظهر إلى مصر فجر اليوم للانضمام لصفوف شباب الفراعنة، على أن يخوض مرانه الأول بقميص المنتخب غدًا الأحد على الملعب الفرعي لاستاد القاهرة، وسيبقى اللاعب في معسكر منتخب الشباب حتي موعد عودته للفريق اليوناني.

طالع | قائمة منتخب مصر الأولمبي لمباراتي كوريا والبرازيل.. ضم ناصر ماهر وصلاح محسن

ويخوض بلال وديتين بقميص منتخب الشباب للوقوف علي مستواه الفني والبدني مع منتخب شباب الفراعنة، بينما يصل محمود صابر إلى مصر نهاية الأسبوع الجاري عقب موافقة ناديه التونسي على الانضمام لصفوف شباب الفراعنة، استعدادًا لخوض فعاليات بطولة شمال إفريقيا.

ويرسل مسؤولو المنتخب خطابًا إلى مسؤولي النجم الساحلي غدًا الأحد لطلب انضمام اللاعب لصفوف الفراعنة وحجز تذكرة الطيران في أقرب موعد ممكن، ويخوض محمود صابر وديتين بقميص شباب الفراعنة خلال فترة انضمامه لصفوف منتخب الشباب، للانسجام مع باقي اللاعبين قبل خوض فعاليات البطولة الهامة.

علّق وليد العطار المدير التنفيذي للاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، على إمكانية تأجيل مباراة نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا المقررة بين الأهلي والزمالك في نهاية الشهر الجاري.

ويواجه الأهلي منافسه الزمالك في المباراة النهائية من البطولة القارية مساء يوم 27 من نوفمبر الجاري.

وقال وليد العطار في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس”: “نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا سيكون في برج العرب، ولو هناك أي تغيرات جوية شديدة تمنع لعب المباراة أو تأجيلها سيكون الأمر في يد لجنة المسابقات بالاتحاد الإفريقي”.

طالع | مباراة الأهلي والزمالك في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا مهددة بالتأجيل

وتابع: “نحاول أن نتيح حضور الجماهير للمباراة ولكن لا يوجد قرار حتى الآن”.

وبسؤاله هل الأهلي والزمالك طلبا تأجيل القيد إلى بعد مباراة النهائي؟، أجاب: “نحن نحاول بقدر الإمكان مساعدة الأندية المصرية كما فعلنا في تأجيل القيد الأول، لأن هذا أمر داخلي، أما القيد الخاص بالموسم الجديد أبلغنا به فيفا وصعب تغييره”.

وكان اتحاد الكرة قد أعلن عن تمديد فترة القيد الأولى الخاصة بالموسم الجديد للأندية إلى يوم 11 نوفمبر الجاري.

وأردف: “تم تحديد مواعيد مباريات الكأس المتبقية، ونأخذ الموافقات الأمنية وسنخطر الأندية، وستنتهي مبارايات الكأس بحد أقصى أول أسبوع في شهر ديسمبر”.

هل الأندية ستشارك بالصفقات الجديدة في الكأس؟، أجاب: ” نعم الأندية تستطيع أن تشارك بلاعبيها الجدد”.

Whisper it quietly but Barnsley are now within touching distance of an immediate return to the Championship.

A fantastic Easter weekend for the Tykes saw them grind out a crucial 2-1 victory over Shrewsbury Town on Friday before they sent out a signal of intent to the rest of League One by dispatching Plymouth Argyle 3-0 on Monday.

Six points from a possible six saw Daniel Stendel’s side move further clear of Sunderland with their nearest challenge for a top-two finish now coming from Portsmouth who matched their results. Although Barnsley currently have an advantage of two points over Pompey, their rivals still have one more game to play between now and the end of the season.

However, when you considered that Kenny Jackett’s men still have to face the Black Cats and Peterborough United, it is clear that if the Tykes can extend their current winning run to five, they will be in a superb position to secure automatic promotion.

One of the biggest positives that the club’s supporters can take from Barnsley’s recent performances is that they have seemingly fully recovered from their defeat at Burton Albion at the start of the month and are showing no signs of letting the pressure get to them. Whereas Sunderland have floundered in recent weeks under the weight of expectations, Stendel has kept his players grounded and focused on the task in hand which has in turn produced positive results.

Indeed, the race for the top-two is far from over and there is still time for the Tykes to slip-up yet if they can take their recent form into their clashes against Blackpool and Bristol Rovers, they should have more than enough to take their tally for season to 94 points, a total which has guaranteed promotion for the last 20 years in the third tier.

What do you think Barnsley fans? Are you confident that your side now have what it takes to seal automatic promotion in May? How impressed have you been with Stendel’s impact since the German joined the club last summer? Get in touch below.

[ad_pod ]

Charlton recorded a sensational 3-1 win over league leaders Luton Town at the weekend – their fourth consecutive victory – and thus extended their unbeaten streak to 11 games, with goals from Igor Vetokele and Lyle Taylor (2) bringing an end to the Hatters’ own excellent run.

Taylor’s brace took him to 21 goals in all competitions this season – a feat very few manage – but for Vetokele his strike and assist for his partner up front are an indicator that he is perhaps getting back to his best again after a difficult season plighted with injury.

The 27-year-old had this to say after a fantastic result:

“We have a chance (for automatic promotion) but we just have to focus on ourselves and try to win the remaining games and then we’ll see what happens.

“It gives us a massive boost and gives us confidence. It shows that we are capable of beating top teams and that’s what we’re going to have to do if we are going to get promotion.

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

“It’s not really in our hands, so all we have to do is win every game that’s left and that will put pressure on the other teams.”

With four games to go and just three points separating the Addicks and second-placed Sunderland, the race for automatic promotion is on and if Charlton can keep up this kind of form then the Black Cats should be very worried indeed.

For most teams, winning your next four games seems like a big ask but, for a team on such a streak as the Valley outfit find themselves enjoying, it’s certainly possible if not likely. As Vetokele puts it, it’s all they have to do, with other results needing to go their way if they are to soar above the play-off places.

[ad_pod ]

Mauricio Pochettino wants Tottenham Hotspur to spend £150million this summer, according to the Daily Mail.

Spurs are seemingly set to invest in the playing squad when the transfer window reopens, having gone the past two without signing a single player.

What’s the word?

The Mail report that Pochettino will be given an initial kitty of £60m to spend before player sales are considered, but the report states that the majority of transfer revenue will be retained and spent on the playing staff.

Doubts persist over the futures of both Toby Alderweireld and Christian Eriksen.

The defender, of course, has a £25m release clause embedded into his contract, while the report states that Spurs could cash in on Eriksen, with his deal set to expire at the end of next season.

Full-back Danny Rose, midfielder Victor Wanyama, winger Georges-Kevin N’Koudou will all reportedly be sold if bids come in, while Kieran Trippier and Fernando Llorente could also depart.

The Mail believe that could raise upwards of £100m to boost Pochettino’s spending power, with the club hoping to sign two central midfielders as well as an attacking player who can inject some creativity into the forward line.

Back him

Daniel Levy is absolutely right to throw some cash behind Pochettino.

The Argentine has worked miracles this season, with Spurs in the Champions League semi-finals and also fighting to finish in the Premier League top four.

Quite frankly, Pochettino deserves to be backed to the absolute hilt.

And while he may not have a say in the future of Alderweireld, his targets have to be brought in this summer.

Spurs stand on the precipice of something massive; major investment, then, is absolutely key if they are to take the next step.

When Caleb Ekuban joined Leeds United from Serie A side Chievo Verona in 2017, the club’s supporters had every right to be excited about the forward.

Having fired in 17 goals in the Albanian Superliga whilst on loan at FK Partizani, the 25-year-old seemingly had all the ingredients needed to become a cult-hero at Elland Road.

However, with expectations high, Ekuban ultimately failed to deliver for the Whites in his debut season in England as he struggled to adapt to the pace of the Championship.

Although he showed glimpses of his ability throughout the year, a myriad of injury problems resulted in the Italian-born ace featuring in just 21 games in all competitions for Leeds in which he only scored two goals for the club.

Following the arrival of fellow forwards Patrick Bamford and Izzy Brown last summer, Ekuban was loaned out to Trabzonspor in order to have a better chance of playing first-team football this season.

A regular starter for the Turkish side, the former Chievo forward has been directly involved in 11 goals this year with his performances causing a positive impression on Head Coach Unal Karaman.

With the transfer window scheduled to open in just under two months time, it is of little surprise that Trabzonspor are trying to secure a deal to sign Ekuban on a permanent basis. According to Football Ghana, the Super Lig side are close to sealing an £860,000 move for the forward.

If Leeds do indeed receive a healthy sum of money for Ekuban, Bielsa could use it to bolster his squad in the summer.

In the absence of the Ghanian international, the Whites have enjoyed a fruitful year which could be capped off by promotion later this month if they can successfully navigate their way through the play-offs.

Regardless of what division the club finds itself in next season however, it is certain that they won’t miss Ekuban if he leaves as they already have better attacking options at the club in the form of Bamford and Kemar Roofe.

What do you think Leeds fans? Will you be glad to see the back of Ekuban in the summer? Or do you think he was harshly treated at Elland Road? Let us know below.