Liverpool: Mohamed Salah has the hallmarks of a club legend, but diving won’t do him any favours

How many times have we seen this. Mohamed Salah goes down soft in the area, Liverpool are awarded a penalty, James Milner slots it in to win the game.

Whether or not the foul on Salah against Cardiff City was a deliberate dive or not is a debate that will be contested between Liverpool fans and neutral supporters for weeks to come, but one thing is for certain, diving is something the Egyptian winger needs to cut from his game.

There’s no questioning that Salah is a genius when it comes to winning fouls in the area. His pace and trickery make the attacker a prime candidate for Liverpool as a player to win penalties from, but more times than not these are won on the basis of the former AS Roma winger selling the contact in the penalty box well.

Salah’s infamous flop against Newcastle on Boxing Day is an example of this claim when the reigning PFA Player of the Year threw himself to the ground after a brief touch by Paul Dummett in the area was enough to convince referee Graham Scott that Liverpool should be awarded a penalty.

Diving is one thing in the game all fans of all clubs can’t get behind. It’s a way of cheating the system to a team’s advantage and is something football governing bodies are finding hard to crack down on, with the newly enforced ‘diving ban’ only handing out a few suspensions since its introduction.

Some players have built legacies for diving from Ashley Young to Neymar to Sergio Busquets, and with Salah on course to become a legend at Anfield, his status will be greater if he cuts out needless diving from his game.

Liverpool fans, do you approve of Salah’s diving? Let us know!

Neves nullified: Wembley showing suggests Wolves shouldn’t be worried about losing key man

[ad_pod ]

Ruben Neves has been near untouchable when it’s come to criticism after joining Wolves. The club raised eyebrows when they were able to prize the midfielder away from Porto in 2017 and he’s more than lived up to expectations.

He was regularly among the goals for the Midlands club last season and set the Championship alight as Wolves romped to the league title.

Although still effective this term too, he’s been far quieter than his debut campaign in English football, scoring three goals and claiming two assists across 29 Premier League matches so far.

But his performance against Watford in arguably the biggest game since he’s joined the club was questionable. This time it will have been raising eyebrows for the wrong reasons as the club were dumped out of the FA Cup in the semi-finals after their opposition sparked a remarkable comeback.

In recent matches, the Portuguese midfielder has arguably been worse than his midfield partners in Joao Moutinho and Leander Dendoncker. It suggests the club shouldn’t be as concerned as losing him as they may have been in the past when he attracted the interest of Juventus and Manchester City last year.

RUBEN NEVES (Watford vs Wolves)

39 touches

69% pass success

0 key passes

2 shots off target

0 dribbles

Stats courtesy of WhoScored

However, Watford demonstrated the perfect way of nullifying the 22-year-old. Javi Gracia played a midfield diamond which allowed the Hornets to essentially man mark Neves. This is exemplified in the fact that during the 86 minutes he was on the pitch, he only touched the ball 39 times.

When he did get on the ball he was hugely ineffective, possessing a poor pass completion rate, which is a rarity for someone usually so composed on the ball.

Wolves Fan TV place the blame for Wolves’ FA Cup semi-final collapse on John Ruddy in the video below…

Going forward he had no effect on the game, failing to make any key passes whilst the fact he failed to find the target with either of his two attempts on goal sums up his performance.

Neves may have come a long way since arriving in the Midlands, but this was one of his most disappointing displays in Nuno Santo’s team. If those huge clubs come calling once more with big sums of cash, it will be very hard to turn down if Neves doesn’t recover his previous form.

Needs to go: Paul Pogba must be moved on for the greater good

[ad_pod ]

According to The Sun, Manchester United are ready to begin contract talks with Paul Pogba amid interest from Real Madrid, although the midfielder is demanding an eye-watering £500,000-a-week to stay at Old Trafford.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Frenchman returned to Manchester from Juventus in a then world-record deal worth £89m, and was put on wages worth £300,000-a-week which made him the club’s top earner before the arrival of Alexis Sanchez.

The Chile international earns a staggering £505,000-a-week, making him by far and away the Red Devils’ highest earning player.

Watch the video below to find out what Jesse Lingard is like off the pitch in the latest Match Of The Bae with Emma Conybeare…

Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, is aware that United are desperate to keep their academy graduate at the club and is reportedly going to push to club all the way when contract negotiations do commence, which may leave the 20-time Premier League champions in a difficult position.

How should United go about this?

Sell him. Plain and simple. The World Cup winner’s demands won’t do anything to help the current salary crisis that the club are going through thanks to Sanchez’s astronomical earnings, which have seen David de Gea and Ander Herrera make extraordinary requests.

It has been reported that Solskjaer is plotting a huge transfer swoop this summer, with Callum Hudson-Odoi, Declan Rice, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jadon Sancho at the top of his wishlist.

Obviously, these players are going to cost a lot of money. A lot. Chelsea turned down a bid of £35m for Hudson-Odoi back in January, and the player’s stock has certainly increased since then having made his England debut.

Also, the Hammers are reportedly unwilling to sell Rice for less than £100m, whilst Wan-Bissaka is valued at £40m – Sancho should also cost in excess of £100m.

The reported fee that Real Madrid are willing to spend on Pogba is set at £125m, which would go some way to helping United acquire the aforementioned targets.

Additionally, getting him off the wage bill would free up more funds to spend on those targets’ salaries; United must cut their ties with Pogba for the sake of a much needed summer rebuild.

الرجاء يعلن تعافي لاعبين جديدين من فيروس كورونا قبل مباراة الزمالك

أعلن نادي الرجاء المغربي، عن نتيجة المسحة الطبية الخاصة بـ فيروس كورونا، التي أجراها اليوم الجمعة.

الرجاء علي موعد مع الزمالك، في إطار إياب دور نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، وكان الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم كاف قد قرر تأجيل المواجهة التي كان مقررًا لها الأحد المقبل إلى أجل غير مسمى.

طالع | الزمالك لـ بطولات: كاف أبلغنا بهذا الموعد الجديد لـ مباراة الرجاء

ونشر الرجاء على صفحته عبر موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “فيس بوك”: “توصل نادي الرجاء الرياضي لنتائج اختبارات كوفيد 19 التي خضع لها صباح اليوم الجمعة مكونات الفريق الأول”.

وتابع: “أظهرت النتائج وجود حالة إيجابية جديدة تم تسجليها ضمن صفوف الطاقم الطبي، وسيخضع للبرتوكول الطبي المعمول به في دولة المغرب”.

وأتم: “وأظهرت كذلك النتائج تسجيل حالتي شفاء جديدين بين صفوف لاعبي الفريق الأول لكرة القدم”. 

يذكر الزمالك كان قد حقق الفوز علي الرجاء، بهدف دون رد، في مباراة الذهاب التي أقيمت بملعب محمد الخامس بالدار البيضاء.

و نتائج المسحة الطبية الثانية والعشرين لنادي الرجاء الرياضي تم النشر بواسطة الرجاء الرياضي في & nbsp؛ الجمعة، 30 أكتوبر 2020

Beyond a joke: Sheffield Wednesday fans left fuming with Forestieri treatment

[ad_pod ]

Late last week, Fernando Forestieri was found not guilty by the courts for racially aggravated assault of Mansfield player Krystian Pearce.

However, the FA have now opened up more investigations into the Argentine’s part in a mass brawl that occurred between Sheffield Wednesday and Mansfield players during a pre-season friendly last summer.

As a result, he could face further sanctions from English football’s governing body.

It’s news that has made a host of the Hillsborough faithful extremely angry that their player is being treated in the way he is despite being found not guilty.

One supporter claimed it was beyond a joke whilst another said it made them feel sick.

Fans launched a scathing attack at the FA, with one fan branding them a laughing stock.

Who would make a combined Sheffield XI? Ingood Nick makes his picks in the video below…

Forestieri had initially received a three-match ban and a £25,000 fine for his role in the brawl that happened last July. However, his punishment may not be fully complete, according to the Sheffield Star.

Here’s the best of the reaction from Owls fans on Twitter.

Sheffield United: Wilder must consider a change in formation against Forest

The manner of Sheffield United’s draw against Millwall on Saturday must have infuriated Chris Wilder.

With his side seemingly heading towards victory at Bramall Lane after Gary Madine had given them a deserved lead, the Blades conceded a 95th-minute equaliser which put a serious dent in their promotion hopes.

As a result of Leeds United’s 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, Wilder’s side are now three points behind their rivals in the race for the top-two and with games running out between now and May, they are in need of a favour from elsewhere.

However, even if the Whites end up dropping points, there is no guarantee that the Blades will be able to capitalise, especially when you consider the issues they face in terms of selection ahead of their clash with Nottingham Forest on Friday. Central defender John Egan is scheduled to miss the next three matches after being sent off against Millwall whilst Chris Basham and Billy Sharp are major doubts for the showdown with the Reds due to injury (Leeds-Live).

In the absence of these three players, Wilder may be forced to change his preferred formation of 3-5-2 due to the club’s defensive crisis. Indeed, by switching to four at the back the club may lose some of their attacking impetus yet it would make more sense to do this than risk fielding players out of position. In need of a spark to get their promotion hopes back on track, the former Northampton Town boss could thrive from the deployment of a new idea in their last four games of the season.

Indeed, it would not be at all surprising if Wilder ends up sticking with the tactics which have put the club in their position that they currently find themselves yet at this stage of the year, advantages can be gained from the most unlikely of scenarios.

What do you think Blades fans? Should Wilder consider switching up the formation against Forest? Or is it too much of a risk to make this kind of change at this stage of the season? Let us know below.

Leyton Orient: Promotion to League Two signals the beginning of a new era for Orient

After two years away from the Football League, Leyton Orient are back where they belong.

Saturday’s stalemate with Braintree Town was enough to secure Orient the National League title and sent them back to League Two after being relegated from the division nearly two years to the day, and now the historic east London club can start planning for a new era.

With owners who are willing to invest money into the club, a group of senior players who have the quality to do well in League Two and talented youngsters who can make an impact in the division, Orient have all the elements needed to be a success.

With only one game left to play this season in the form of the FA Trophy next month, Orient can now begin to lay out their plans for their returning campaign to League Two, and what steps can be made to ensure the club not only remain in the division, but also can continue their journey up the Football League.

Orient have all the tools necessary to succeed in League Two and beyond, and with one of the most passionate fan-bases in the English capital and a heritage and reputation that make them a favourite amongst neutrals, promotion back to the Football League is truly going to be the beginning of a new era for the O’s.

Leyton Orient fans, what are your hopes for next season? Let us know!

Lyle Taylor has been one of English football’s best summer signings

[ad_pod ]

Charlton’s incredible run of results may have ended at Oxford United on Friday but the Addicks were able to bounce back with an emphatic 4-0 win over Scunthorpe United just three days later.

The SE7 outfit are guaranteed a spot in the play-offs but could yet soar to automatic promotion if there are any slip ups above them and everyone in the camp deserves huge credit for the job that’s been done; Lee Bowyer has made the absolute best of some difficult circumstances at The Valley; Naby Sarr and Patrick Bauer have been immense at the back; Igor Vetokele has been resurgent after suffering an injury last year.

Lyle Taylor, though, has shouldered the goalscoring burden after Karlan Grant departed for Huddersfield in January and scored his 20th league goal of the season in the thrashing of The Iron this week. Somehow he hasn’t been recognised appropriately for his exploits despite having justified all the praise possible since arriving at The Valley in the summer for free.

The Montserrat international became a free agent after running down his contract at Wimbledon and Charlton were therefore able to snap him up without paying a penny – neither club nor striker have looked back since and the 29-year-old has to go down as one of the signings of the year across all of English football.

If one of the Premier League’s big sides signed a free agent hitman who then went on to do what Taylor has done this season, then there would be absolutely no discussion as to him being the best addition of the year. Unfortunately though, the London-born forward will evade that kind of recognition while Charlton remain in League One – at least the EFL appreciate his impeccable record, right? Wrong.

There was no room for the number 9 in the team of the season, with Sunderland’s Aiden McGeady, Luton Town’s James Collins and Doncaster Rovers’ John Marquis keeping him out of the front three.

Taylor can rightly feel aggrieved by his omission from the prestigious lineup given how crucial he has been to Charlton’s relentless top-six charge during the campaign as a whole but, in particular, the last nine games in which he has scored an incredible eight goals and chalked up two assists.

With 23 strikes and 10 assists to his name in just 41 appearances in all competitions, the 6 ft 2 striker has been involved in an astounding 44% of his side’s goals this campaign. Meanwhile, the aforementioned Collins, McGeady and Marquis have participated in 31%, 20% and 33% respectively.

Check out what happened when two of Charlton’s best players faced-off in a game of ‘Splat’ in the video below…

It could, of course, be more if not for Taylor’s poor discipline record – the versatile attacker has received 11 yellow cards and one red this season, meaning he has missed four league games through suspension. While some may point to this as a weakness in the prolific journeyman’s game, it’s arguable that he wouldn’t be playing with the same intensity that has helped him become one of the best strikers in the third tier.

Besides, the referee showing him another cautionary yellow may be the only time he’s awarded anything for what he’s done on the pitch this term. It’s a travesty how under-appreciated Taylor is by anyone not at or faithful to The Valley and it’s difficult to see what more he can do to be recognised by the EFL.

مدرب أستون فيلا: تريزيجيه كان يستطيع تسجيل هاتريك أمام ساوثهامبتون

يرى دين سميث، مدرب فريق أستون فيلا أن اللاعب محمود حسن تريزيجيه كان قادرًا على تسجيل هاتريك في مباراة اليوم، أمام ساوثهامبتون في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وتواجه الفريقان في الجولة السابعة من البريميرليج، حيث فاز ساوثهامبتون بأربعة أهداف مقابل ثلاثة.

وشارك تريزيجيه كبديل في تلك المباراة، وذلك في الدقيقة 29 بعد إصابة زميله بيرتراند تراوري. ملخص لمسات تريزيجيه أمام ساوثهامبتون

وقال دين سميث، في تصريحات نشرها الموقع الرسمي للنادي: “كان بإمكان تريزيجيه أن يسجل هاتريك بنفسه بالنظر إلى الفرص التي سنحت له في منطقة الدفاع في الشوط الثاني”. حارس ومدافع ساوثهامبتون يمنعان تريزيجيه من أربع فرص محققة

وأضاف: “لو جاءت أهدافنا قبل توقيتها بقليل، كنت واثقًا من أننا سنحقق شيئًا ما في تلك المباراة، لقد كدنا أن نعود في النتيجة، ولكن الأمر لم يسر بتلك الطريقة”.

وواصل: “الطريقة التي أنهينا بها المباراة كانت جيدة حقًا ونحتاج إلى الاستفادة من ذلك الأسبوع المقبل أمام آرسنال”.

واستكمل: “إيقاعنا في الشوط الثاني كان أفضل مقارنة بالأول، يجب الإشادة بـ ساوثهامبتون وقدرتهم على منعنا من اللعب بطريقتنا”.

In The Pipeline: Manchester United’s Dutch sensation Tahith Chong

[ad_pod ]

Without a standout candidate for the right-wing spot, Manchester United have been linked with a move in excess of £100m for Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho, a transfer that would give them arguably Europe’s most precocious player in his position.

In the meantime, the Red Devils have been squeezing a number of square pegs into round holes in their search for a capable candidate to occupy the position.

Romelu Lukaku, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and Alexis Sanchez have all played out on the right of an attacking three, and all have failed to show enough to prove that they should start in the position.

Watch the video below to find out what Jesse Lingard is like off the pitch in the latest Match Of The Bae with Emma Conybeare…

As a result, Sancho’s potential arrival is a necessity, and one that could solve the problem for the next decade – however, he alone isn’t enough to fill the void. He needs an understudy.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needn’t take to the market again to find one though. United have one within their ranks already in Tahith Chong.

The 19-year-old has already made his first-team debut for the club in the FA Cup tie against Reading, and you simply can’t miss his tall, frizzy-haired appearance running rings around innocent full-backs out on the pitch.

A Holland Under-21 international, Chong is a left-footed right-winger who enjoys cutting in on his stronger foot to great effect – he has seven goals and three assists for the youth team this season.

Chong has also already made his Premier League and Champions League debut this term, coming on in the latter stages of a 3-2 win over Southampton, whilst also playing a role in United’s incredible comeback win over Paris Saint-Germain inside the Parc des Princes.

United’s No.44 is a true throwback of a wide player, a touchline-hugger who is always looking to take on his man and burn past him with ease – his lanky, skinny frame but blistering pace is a strange but effective combination.

He has only been drip-fed first-team football, however, whereas Sancho is leading the assist charts in Europe and is also performing to a ridiculously high level.

In that respect, United would be wise to have Chong model himself on Sancho and become his understudy, whilst the pair focus on repairing the club’s weak right-wing position together.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus