Chelsea had to settle for a point in the English Premier League on Saturday, labouring to a 0-0 draw away to Everton at Goodison Park.
A determined Toffees defence just about managed to keep the visitors at bay with last ditch defending and some smart stops from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
With Eden Hazard left to lead the line in attack due to Alvaro Morata missing out because of suspension, Chelsea lacked their usual attacking vigour in the Spaniard’s absence.
Fans were left frustrated with a lack of creativity in the Blues side, especially from wide areas with players like Pedro singled out for sharp criticism after an ineffective display.
After a strong 2016/17, Pedro is struggling to replicate that this term, scoring just three times in 16 top-flight appearances so far.
Some supporters are even calling for him to be sold or replaced in the upcoming January transfer window.
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Most of the time, the January transfer window is used for football clubs to recruit fringe players that bulk up the squad or members to step in as injury cover.
This year, though, indications are that there could be some big spenders.
Liverpool have already made waves with the £75m capture of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton.
The futures of Arsenal’s key duo Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil remain uncertain due to their current contracts expiring at the end of the season, while Philippe Coutinho’s transfer saga has reignited.
BBC pundit Robbie Savage believes that Manchester United should make a statement of intent by swooping for Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane.
The England international had a stellar 2017 by surpassing Alan Shearer’s record of 36 Premier League goals in a calendar year.
The 24-year-old is also leading the charts this season with 18 strikes in 19 games.
On top of that, Kane has netted two hat-tricks in a row following trebles against Burnley and Southampton over the festive period.
United spent big in the summer by bringing in Romelu Lukaku from Everton, but Savage thinks that Jose Mourinho’s club should splash out on Tottenham’s key man.
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The former footballer told BBC Radio 5 Live:
“If I was Manchester United, I would chuck everything at Harry Kane. I would break the bank.”
Even though still in its early stages of development, United London FC has seen good success in its fledgling campaigns and already has some very special qualities that make it a enticing club to support.
The defining feature that separates United London FC from your typical football club is that ULFC puts the fans in the dugout. There is no Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, or Arsene Wenger to scapegoat. Fans of United London FC are given the opportunity to select their own personal XI for each match that the club plays.
Like many sports fans, I will occasionally take my emotions out on my team’s manager when the side isn’t playing particularly well. We all know that there is actually a reason that our favourite clubs choose the people in charge (or so we believe when they’re initially hired). It’s because they are qualified to do what they do. But that doesn’t mean I can’t think I know every correct formation or squad selection that needs to be made (and usually never is).
Anyway, I wanted to check out what it really means to be put in the manager’s hot seat. So I created my starting XI for United London FC on their mobile app.
When you open it up you’ll see a newsfeed that features stories about the club, stats and a leaderboard for fans of the club based on the total points they’ve received for their respective XI.
Navigating through the app is very simple. You will be asked to login via Facebook or through your email. Then, there are four main modules to choose from while using the app. The ‘Manager’ tool is where you will be able to choose your own XI. When clicking on the football icon, you are brought to a screen that has a countdown clock for United London’s next match.
To create your XI, click ‘manage your team’. You’ll then be asked to choose your formation for the match – I decided to go with a 3-5-2 with the idea of having my left and right mids drop back (or stay forward) when needed. This formation always seems to work well for Conte at Chelsea and we’ve seen what they’ve done over the past year!
After I selected my XI, I was asked to choose my captain for the match against London APSA in the Essex Alliance Football League. I decided to make things interesting and elect goalkeeper Charlie Howson to wear the armband. Why? I like seeing the contrast of the band on the often-outrageous kits that the keepers wear! (OK, so maybe that’s not taken straight out of the book of ‘How to be a top Manager’! You can decide based on any number of stats ULFC has on their site).
How did I select my starting XI you say? Simple. Adjacent to the manager module is the team. You can scroll through the entire club to familiarise yourself with the squad.
After checking out the players and staff, I explored the rankings module. Here you will find stats for every player in the club and rankings for the club’s “managers” – other players like you and I who play the game. As you can see from the picture above, I decided to pick forwards Harry Chalk and Billy Texeira as my main men up front. Chalk and Texeira lead the club in goals scored. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Becoming a Manager of United London FC is that simple. You’re just a few easy steps away from being given the keys to a young and fast growing club. The app is available for both Apple and Android products and is free to download and play. No in-app purchases required.
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Having the opportunity to become a manager of a real life football club is obviously something that was very hard – if not impossible – to achieve just a few short years ago. The chance to pick the team is great, but seeing the XI you’ve voted for run out on the pitch during post-match highlights is a real thrill – and one you can’t get anywhere else. To know that I had an influence on the match from my sofa is incredible.
This is a ground-breaking innovation and, in a time when the beautiful game is dominated by prawn sandwiches, seemingly-million pound season tickets and hairstyle-obsessed players, it’s refreshing to find a new club which is really all about the fans (‘Managers’). Their players are also hilarious, if you follow the club’s social media accounts.
It’s the perfect chance to invest your time in an ambitious football club from scratch.
Tottenham’s 2-0 win over Manchester United will mostly be remembered for a Christian Eriksen goal in the first eleven seconds that inspired a frantic, frenetic and fantastic first half between two top Premier League sides who essentially traded blows for 45 minutes.
But it shouldn’t be forgotten how drastically different the game was after the interval; the home side suddenly moved into complete control, producing thirteen shots to United’s one, and much of that owed to Jan Vertonghen’s consistent imperviousness at the heart of defence.
Indeed, the 98-cap Belgium international won the most aerial duels, made the most interceptions, completed the most clearances and won the second-most tackles of any Tottenham player, without committing a single foul, in a formidable defensive display.
Equally tellingly of how effective Vertonghen was, is how ineffective his compatriot Romelu Lukaku was for the Red Devils; he produced just one effort at goal throughout the entire ninety minutes, without completing a single dribble or creating one chance.
Perhaps those are the types of returns you’d expect from a top-quality centre-half, which Vertonghen certainly is. But as United afforded more and more space in desperate hope of getting back into the match, the 30-year-old made contributions offensively as well – creating one chance, registering two dribbles and completing 86% of his passes.
While Toby Alderweireld has been a huge loss to Tottenham, a loss that has affected results at times, it has also provided copious reminders of what a talented centre-back Vertonghen is as well; a real rock defensively and a class act on the ball.
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According to Sport Bild, Manchester United have entered the race to sign Borussia Dortmund attacker Christian Pulisic at the end of the season.
What’s the story?
Pulisic, 19, has long been linked with a move away from Dortmund.
The United States international has scored three times in 19 Bundesliga appearances this season, and has previously expressed a desire to turn out in the Premier League.
Liverpool were believed to be the English club in the running for the teenager, but according to Sport Bild, Man United are very much in the argument.
The report claims that the bitter rivals will lock horns in a battle for Pulisic at the end of the current season, although Dortmund will put up a fight to keep hold of one of the brightest young attackers in world football.
The fact that Pulisic, who is valued at £40.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, would bring huge marketing potential in the United States is also believed to have played a role in Man United joining the race.
What would Pulisic bring to Man United?
Pulisic does not turn 20 until September, but he has already made 81 first-team appearances for Dortmund – scoring 11 times in the process.
Previously, Man United boss Jose Mourinho has spoken of the need for specialist players for each position on the field, but the Portuguese has been a fan of the more versatile operator in recent years.
Capable of operating in the number 10 role or on either wing, Pulisic would bring that versatility and indeed quality to the 20-time English champions.
His low centre of gravity would make him absolutely perfect for the fast-paced nature of the Premier League, and his personality would also fit in at Old Trafford.
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Pulisic, who has scored nine times in 20 appearances for his country, will seemingly have to choose between Man United and Liverpool at the end of the season.
It would be extremely exciting to welcome the United States international to the Premier League, and whoever manages to secure his signature would be acquiring a serious talent.
Leeds United will look to keep their faint Championship promotion hopes alive when they face fourth-placed Derby County at the Pride Park Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Whites were top of the standings back in September, but they have struggled for results and for consistency since then and they have now slipped to 11th place in the standings, eight points adrift of the play-off positions.
New manager Paul Heckingbottom picked up his first point since he succeeded Thomas Christiansen earlier this month as his team came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with sixth-placed Bristol City at Elland Road on Sunday, with Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Kemar Roofe scoring the second-half goals.
It could prove to be a vital draw considering the Yorkshire outfit would have been 11 points off of the top six if they had been beaten by the Robins, but things certainly won’t be easy against the Rams.
Gary Rowett’s men jumped up to second following an impressive run of form, and although they only have one win in their last five matches they are still well positioned going towards the end of the campaign.
Heckingbottom made three changes to his team against Bristol City at the weekend, and he will perhaps be thinking about making at least a couple more in the east Midlands to give his side the best possible chance of winning.
Here is how Leeds must line up against Derby on Wednesday…
Defence
Felix Wiedwald started the season as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, then was dropped for Andy Lonergan, and then came back into the team.
However, after his performance against Bristol City on Sunday his place in the starting XI should be under threat again.
The German stopper was at fault for the Robins’ first goal as he came to punch the ball and completely missed it, and it does seem that his presence between the sticks isn’t filling the defence with too much confidence.
The experienced Lonergan should replace him at the Pride Park Stadium, and while Liam Cooper is back from suspension, Heckingbottom could choose to stick with the back four that started against the Robins – Vurnon Anita, Pontus Jansson, Matthew Pennington and Laurens De Bock.
Midfield
Heckingbottom went with four across the middle of the park against the Robins, and he may stick with the same system against the Rams seeing as it is one that he used on a number of occasions when he was Barnsley boss.
Stuart Dallas, Adam Forshaw, Eunan O’Kane and Pablo Hernandez were the quartet on Sunday, and the Leeds boss may have some big decisions to make on Wednesday as Samu Saiz returns from a six-match suspension.
The Spaniard seems more likely to start on the substitutes’ bench on the road however, and Heckingbottom could go with the same four again even though Kalvin Phillips and Hadi Sacko both came on against Bristol City.
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Attack
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Heckingbottom decided to go with Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Caleb Ekuban up top together against Bristol City on Sunday, and if he wants his team to be a serious goal threat against Derby on Wednesday night he should go with two again.
While Lasogga got a goal against the Robins and looks to be a certain starter given his strength, Kemar Roofe staked his claim for a spot in the starting XI at the Pride Park Stadium after replacing Ekuban and scoring the all-important equalising goal against Lee Johnson’s men on Sunday.
Ekuban is quick and may be more effective on the road against Derby than Roofe would be, but goals are more important for Leeds now and Roofe should get the nod considering he has nine in 29 Championship outings this season.
Southampton face West Bromwich Albion in the fifth round of the FA Cup at the Hawthorns on Saturday, and given the current predicament they find themselves in in the Premier League, under-fire manager Mauricio Pellegrino may see it as the perfect opportunity to make a few changes to his starting XI.
While the south coast outfit will want to progress to the latter stages of the prestigious competition and gain some much-needed confidence, they could probably do without the fixture in all honesty given they dropped back into the relegation zone in the top flight following the 2-0 defeat against Liverpool at St Mary’s on Sunday.
Saints have 11 Premier League matches left to save themselves and they have five huge fixtures – against Burnley, Stoke City, Newcastle United, Swansea City and West Ham United – to come following the clash in the west Midlands, and given they have only won once since November they face a tough task to pick up the points they need.
With his team not exactly firing in goal and with some of his key men likely to be rested against Alan Pardew’s side in order to keep them fresh for the upcoming games, Pellegrino may look to some of the club’s youth players to provide some inspiration this weekend.
Here are two Saints youngsters the Argentine boss must bring into the starting XI vs West Brom…
Josh Sims
The winger burst on to the scene when he made his Premier League debut for the club against Everton at St Mary’s in November 2016, and assisted Charlie Austin in the first minute of the match.
The attacker stayed in and around the first team for the following couple of months – making 13 appearances – and it was his brilliant run and pass that saw Shane Long send Southampton to Wembley, as they beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final tie last February.
However, he then picked up an injury that kept him on the sidelines until December, but he has now returned and is playing regularly for the U23 side, while he came on as a late substitute in the 2-2 draw against Watford at Vicarage Road last month.
Given Saints’ wide players and attacking midfielders like Dusan Tadic and Sofiane Boufal aren’t exactly excelling right now, Sims deserves a chance in the side and his pace and directness could prove to be key not only against West Brom, but also in the hugely imporatnt upcoming fixtures.
Jake Hesketh
The attacking midfielder made his Southampton debut as a substitute for Dusan Tadic against Manchester United back in December 2014 when he was just 18 years of age, and he went on to get his first start against Burnley in the south coast outfit’s next match.
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He didn’t feature for the first team again until September 2016, when he scored in the 2-0 win against Crystal Palace in the League Cup at St Mary’s – Saints of course went on to reach the final of the competition.
Like Sims, Hesketh is another that suffered from injury in 2017 but he has been a regular for the U23 side this season and he should be in contention to be part of the 18-man squad against West Brom.
Given the fact that Tadic is struggling for form in the central attacking midfield role right now, Pellegrino should look to give the 21-year-old his opportunity to shine, as he could still play an important part in the club’s important Premier League run-in if he impresses at the Hawthorns.
Who do you want to see, Saints fans? Let us know below.
West Ham United will look to boost their Premier League survival chances when they face fellow strugglers Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday, on the back of a 4-1 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield last weekend.
The Irons started the day four points above the relegation zone but their heavy loss – coupled with other results – mean that they are just three points clear the 18th-placed Swans going into the big clash in south Wales on Saturday.
David Moyes’ side were already trailing 3-0 on Merseyside when Michail Antonio scored straight after coming off of the substitutes’ bench in the 59th minute, but Sadio Mane added a fourth later in the second half to round off a resounding victory.
It was a tough day at the office for the east London outfit and it certainly won’t be an easy task against Carlos Carvalhal’s men, who have won their last six matches in all competitions on their own turf.
The Hammers’ form on the road isn’t great, and while only six teams have bettered their record of 19 goals on their travels, only Stoke City have let in as many (33) as they have, with just two wins on the road all season.
Moyes will be considering making some changes to the XI that were beaten by Liverpool given a number of players produced below-par showings, and the Scot will regret if he fails to make a couple of alterations.
Here are two big changes the 54-year-old must make to his West Ham side when they face Swansea…
Michail Antonio for Patrice Evra
Moyes chose to line up with a 3-4-2-1 system against Liverpool, but it didn’t really work out as they struggled all over the pitch.
The Scot may well be considering changing formation for a match they can’t afford to lose – and will ideally win – against Swansea, and while Evra wasn’t the worst West Ham player on the pitch at Anfield, he should be the one sacrificed if Moyes switches to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 system.
Antonio came off of the substitutes’ bench and almost instantly found the net against the Reds last weekend, and his strength and directness could be a key factor in helping the Irons pick up a positive result against their relegation rivals, and he should come back into the team on the right-hand side as a result.
Javier Hernandez for Joao Mario
Hernandez was left on the substitutes’ bench for the defeat against Liverpool despite scoring three times in his previous four Premier League appearances, with Manuel Lanzini coming straight back into the XI having recovered from injury.
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It is a decision that Moyes probably regrets in hindsight given the Argentine struggled before being taken off in the 58th minute, and Hernandez simply has to start against Swansea because of the goal threat he brings and the form he is currently in.
With Antonio coming in on the right and the undroppable Arnautovic moving to the left, that leaves Moyes with a choice between Lanzini and Joao Mario in the middle.
While the latter has done well since he joined the club during the January transfer window he is yet to really excel, and he should be the man to drop out if Lanzini is fully fit to start again given the impressive link up he was having with Arnautovic prior to the duo picking up hamstring injuries.
According to reports in the Chronicle Live, Newcastle United are set to sign loan goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on a permanent deal in the summer.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Magpies brought the stopper in on a temporary deal until the end of the season from Sparta Prague during the January transfer window, and the Slovakia international has made a huge impact at St James’ Park.
He has quickly established himself as the Rafa Benitez’s first-choice goalkeeper ahead of the likes of Rob Elliot and Karl Darlow, although the Chronicle Live says he faces a tiring travelling schedule later this month when his country compete in the King’s Cup in Bangkok, when they will face the United Arab Emirates on March 22 and then the winners of the clash between Thailand and Gabon later in the week, before returning to England for the huge Premier League clash against Huddersfield Town on March 31.
How well has Dubravka done?
He has done well, and his performances haven’t gone unnoticed by the supporters.
The 29-year-old enjoyed a brilliant debut as kept a clean sheet in the 1-0 win against Manchester United last month, and as well as making some good saves he commanded his area well.
The stopper is yet to concede at St James’ Park after keeping another shut-out in the 3-0 success against Southampton last weekend, although he has conceded four in two matches on the road against Liverpool and Bournemouth.
Would he be a good permanent signing?
Benitez was desperate to sign a new number one last summer and now it appears that in Dubravka, he has got the reliable stopper that he wanted.
The 29-year-old has already made a huge impression and looks to give the defence in front of him the confidence that perhaps Darlow and Elliot failed to previously, and that is really important.
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Newcastle aren’t a club that can go out and buy a top goalkeeper for lots of money, and having a international number one like the Slovakian is exactly what they should be aiming for.
Hector Bellerin has a contract at Arsenal until the summer of 2023, but it has been suggested that the defender could consider his future at the end of the season.
Like a number of his teammates, the 23-year-old, who is valued at £36m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has struggled for consistency this term.
That said, there is no doubting the quality of the former Barcelona youngster, who previously showed signs that he could develop into one of the best right-backs in world football.
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Bellerin has made 37 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal this season – scoring three times and providing two assists, which are pretty good numbers for a defender.
The Spaniard, who has been linked with a shock move to Manchester United, took to Twitter earlier this week to welcome French forward Alexandre Lacazette back from a knee problem, but the Arsenal fans were more interested in talking about Bellerin’s future in London.
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A selection of the reaction on social media can be seen below: