Loads of Rangers fans have been reacting to Wednesday’s win over Ayr United, and they’re absolutely delighted with the form of Ovie Ejaria.
Rangers eased into the semi-final of the League Cup on Wednesday night, as goals from Nikola Katic, Alfredo Morelos and a brace from Glenn Middleton wrapped up a comfortable evening for Steven Gerrard’s side.
Joe Worrall and Katic were dominant together at the back, Middleton seems to get better every week and fans were delighted to see Graham Dorrans back in form.
No one was more impressive than Ejaria though, who despite not getting on the scoresheet was the star of the show.
The 20 year-old midfielder announced himself at Ibrox when he scored an absolute stunner in the Europa League against FC Ufa, and he was practically toying with the Ayr midfield on Wednesday.
Fans are now calling for Gerrard to make his loan move from Liverpool into a permanent one, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…
Manchester United fans are all heaping praise on Anthony Martial, after the Frenchman helped lead a dramatic comeback on Saturday evening.
Manchester United looked on the brink of total disaster at six o’clock on Saturday evening, as early goals from Kenedy and Yoshinori Muto gave Newcastle a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils were all over the place defensively, and if truth be told it probably could have been three or four nil by half time.
The second half was a completely different story though, due in no small part to Martial.
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The French wonderkid has taken plenty of stick for what some fans deem to be lazy performances, but the majority of fans still feel he has unique talent.
Juan Mata got the Red Devils back in the game with a cultured free kick, and Martial levelled things up after some lovely interplay with Paul Pogba.
The 22 year-old scored in the recent win over Young Boys, and fans are delighted he is finally starting to show his potential.
You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…
According to reports in The Daily Star, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in landing Manchester United centre-back Eric Bailly during the January transfer window.
What’s the word, then?
Well, The Daily Star says that Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino is an admirer of the Ivory Coast international, although he could face competition from arch-rivals Arsenal for his signature.
The Daily Star says that the 24-year-old has become disillusioned with life under Jose Mourinho, who personally criticised him following the Carabao Cup defeat to Derby County, and in his first Premier League start since August against Newcastle United last weekend he was taken off before half-time.
The report adds however that it isn’t clear whether the Red Devils would be willing to sell a player that cost £30m from Villarreal in 2016.
Would he be a good signing for Tottenham?
While he has Premier League experience under his belt and has shown his quality previously, the fact that he isn’t considered good enough to start ahead of the likes of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling right now should be a worry for Pochettino and Spurs.
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The 24-year-old clearly has ability, but the fact that he has really struggled to kick on following a positive start at Old Trafford is concerning, while his injury problems suggest that he could be a risky buy for Spurs.
If the north London outfit do eventually need a replacement for Toby Alderweireld – and indeed Jan Vertonghen – to partner Davinson Sanchez in the future, they would be better off buying an older player who is more of a leader than Bailly is.
Jack Wilshere was thrown straight into Manuel Pellegrini’s first XI when he signed for West Ham United in the summer.
The midfielder decided not to renew his contract at Arsenal as he wanted regular game time.
The England international was handed that to him by the Hammers, but in his four Premier League starts he failed to inspire.
In fact, the club lost all of the matches that Wilshere started in, and matters were made worse for the midfielder when he added another injury blow to his long list of fitness troubles.
Since being on the sidelines, Declan Rice, Mark Noble and Pedro Obiang have been manning the middle of the park and they have picked up some decent results.
The club recorded league wins over Everton and Manchester United, as well as a draw with Chelsea.
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Before the international break West Ham were dealt a setback when they were beaten by Brighton away.
If any of the midfield three pick up an injury, Pellegrini does not have many options at his disposal.
This led us to ask you if the club should revive their alleged pursuit of Porto midfielder Hector Herrera, who according to CM Journal has turned down three new contract offers.
Judging from the outcome, the Mexico international would be warmly welcomed at the London Stadium if he were to sign.
According to Football Insider sources Aston Villa are considering a swoop for Sheffield Wednesday left-back Matt Penney, with Premier League duo Brighton and Bournemouth also interested.
What’s the story?
Wednesday academy product Penney has impressed on the left side of defence and attack since his breakthrough into the Owls’ starting XI after just a few games into the season. He has made nine appearances and played 726 of a possible 810 minutes, recording an assist too.
His performances have caught the eye of not only his current club but fellow Championship side Villa and top-flight teams Brighton and Bournemouth.
Amidst the interest from the aforementioned sides, the Wednesday hierarchy are keen to tie down the versatile defender and are looking to renegotiate the terms of his contract to keep him at the Hillsborough.
Why Villa want to spend on Penney
Dean Smith has quickly identified that Villa’s defence is in dire need of reinforcements; the West Midlands side have conceded eight goals in previous last four Championship games.
Due to injuries and suspensions, former boss Steve Bruce was forced to assemble makeshift backlines that couldn’t help leaking goals and he ultimately paid the price. After nine games without a win Bruce was sacked and thus paved the way for Smith to take up the mantle with John Terry at his side.
The Villans current first choice left-back is Neil Taylor, with the 33-year-old Alan Hutton also able to play there despite naturally being a right-back; Smith is smart to line up a young, hungry replacement in 20-year-old Penney.
His versatility and attitude would be welcome at Villa Park, where Smith and Terry are looking to build the side back up from the foundations and restore the Claret and Blue to former glory.
Speaking on Show 109 of The West Ham Way, West Ham insider ExWHUemployee expressed that the club are targeting Loftus-Cheek for a January loan deal.
What’s the story?
A slew of injuries to the Hammers’ starting eleven has seen Manuel Lanzini, Jack Wilshere, Pedro Obiang and Andriy Yarmolenko sidelined, reducing Manuel Pellegrini’s options in midfield to the bare bones. The Chilean’s side have struggled to find the net in recent weeks as they took zero points from clashes with Brighton and Spurs, and with an injury list that just seems to keep piling up the London club are in dire need of reinforcements, despite spending big in the summer.
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Chelsea, meanwhile, have the luxury of choosing between a number of talented midfielders. The signing of Italian Jorginho in the summer and the resurgence of former Everton man Ross Barkley has seen Loftus-Cheek slip further down the pecking order and the 22-year-old may be regretting his decision to decline another loan move this season. West Ham are looking to give the England international a lifeline.
Could it happen?
The move would make sense for all parties; Loftus-Cheek’s performances at Crystal Palace last season saw him called up to the Three Lions senior squad for the first time, but the marauding midfielder has been forced out of the frame as Gareth Southgate sticks to his promise to pick players in form – you can’t be ‘in form’ if you don’t play.
The 6 foot 3 Blues academy graduate has been limited to only 33 minutes of Premier League football this season and will be relishing another loan spell in January to remind Southgate and Maurizio Sarri what he can do.
With West Ham’s injury crisis, Loftus-Cheek would walk into the lineup and is a perfect replacement for the likes of Wilshere, Sanchez and Obiang while offering West Ham’s midfield much more going forward. Valued at £16.2m by Transfermarkt, he could be one of the signings of the window even if it just a short term loan deal.
After just ten La Liga games, Real Madrid have terminated the contract of Julen Lopetegui with immediate effect.
Madrid went into Sunday’s El Clasico with three league defeats in their first nine games, so losing 5-1 to their arch-rivals Barcelona was always going to end in tears for somebody.
Lopetegui’s sacking means he has lost two of the biggest jobs in Spain in the space four months, after being let go by the Spanish national team before the World Cup.
So now attention turns to who will replace him.
Real Madrid B coach Santiago Solari has been named the interim boss for the club’s upcoming fixtures, but who will be given one of world football’s most lucrative jobs full time?
From ex-Premier League winners to World Cup winners and former Madrid bosses, the bookmakers have put together a list of the favourites up for the job. The favourite will most likely surprise you.
Louis van Gaal – 40/1
Britain Football Soccer – Crystal Palace v Manchester United – FA Cup Final – Wembley Stadium – 21/5/16 Manchetser United’s manager Louis van Gaal and assistant manager Ryan Giggs after Manchester United’s Chris Smalling was sent off Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or s
The Dutchman hasn’t been seen on a touchline since he was sacked by Manchester United in 2016.
At 67 years old, van Gaal isn’t too old to take the job, but considering he had two spells at rivals Barcelona, it is unlikely the Madrid owners will want him in charge.
Gareth Southgate – 50/1
Soccer Football – World Cup – Third Place Play Off – Belgium v England – Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia – July 14, 2018 England manager Gareth Southgate applauds fans after the match REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
First of all, what a guy! If anyone deserves to be linked with one of the greatest jobs in world football, it’s Gareth Southgate.
It is unlikely though, not only has Southgate just signed a bumper new deal with England, Madrid will surely be looking for someone with more pedigree.
Zinedine Zidane 40/1
Re-appointing Zinedine Zidane wouldn’t be the most surprising thing to happen in football, but is still very unlikely.
The Frenchman only left in the summer, after winning three straight Champions League titles with Los Blancos and is reportedly holding out for a new challenge.
Xabi Alonso – 40/1
Alonso retired from playing in 2017, from a career that saw him play for Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
The Spanish midfielder who played more than 150 games for Los Blancos, recently completed his UEFA coaching badges and is currently working in the youth set-up in Madrid.
Jurgen Klopp – 40/1
We are clutching at straws here with Jurgen Klopp, who is enjoying Liverpool’s best start to a Premier League season under his management.
If approached by Madrid, he will surely consider it just because it’s Madrid, but we very much doubt he will think about it for too long.
Everton defender Michael Keane has received a call-up to the England squad for their upcoming internationals with USA and Croatia.
Keane has not represented England since 2017, and was not included in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the 2018 World Cup.
The former Manchester United defender struggled for form at Goodison Park last season following a move from Burnley in the summer of 2017, but has been impressive in the opening months of the 2018-19 campaign.
And a number of Everton fans have taken to social media to lavish praise on the centre-back’s form after learning of his call up to the Three Lions squad.
The 25-year-old will now be hoping to be given the chance to play against either USA or Croatia as he eyes a potential spot at Euro 2020.
England are not exactly blessed when it comes to options in Keane’s area of the field, and there is a spot open for the 6ft 3in ace if he wants it enough.
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A selection of the Twitter reaction from the Everton supporters can be seen below:
Birmingham City forward Isaac Vassell is nearing a return from an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury he sustained against Aston Villa in October 2017, according to reports in the Birmingham Mail.
What’s the latest?
More than 375 days will have passed since the Newquay-born goal-getter last took the field when he next steps out onto the pitch for Birmingham.
In nine appearances, mostly off the bench under Harry Redknapp and Lee Carsley, the 5ft 7in striker featured for 399 minutes and scored a single goal.
He had only joined the St Andrew’s side in the summer on a four-year contract from Luton Town, but found his Blues career derailed early on.
Vassell now has a chance to return for the latest Second City derby at the end of the month as he nears a return to full fitness.
As quoted by the Birmingham Mail, current Blues boss Garry Monk said: “Isaac should be joining us for training in the international break, after the Hull game [on Nov 10].
“That’s so far, so good in his rehab.”
What will he add?
Despite only scoring once in his brief Birmingham career to date, the Plymouth Argyle product has shown throughout his career that he can score at different levels – his stint at Luton resulted in 10 goals in 42 games.
At present, Birmingham finds themselves in 10th place, just a win outside the play-off positions, but goals have not been all that easy to come by with 20 in 16 games.
The club’s highest scorers so far are strikers Lukas Jutkiewicz and Che Adams who together have netted a combined 14 of the 20, and that has meant there has been more pressure on the likes of Jota to contribute, although the Spaniard has only got one goa.
The return of Vassell will give Monk another option to play up top and alternate with the current strikers who are heavily relied upon, and give the Blues that extra threat to ease some of the burden on their midfielders.
Croatia managed to put themselves in a great position heading into their final UEFA Nations League group game against England after beating Spain 3-2 last night at Stadion Maksimir.
And following the match, Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren had some very interesting words to say about his side’s opponent on the night.
The Breakdown
“Haha! 3-2! Go ahead and talk now buddy. Buddy! They are a bunch of p******,” Lovren said on his Instagram Live (via the Metro) in a rant many believe to be aimed at Spain and Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos.
There is still clearly bad blood between the two following Ramos’ behaviour both during and after Real Madrid’s 3-1 defeat of Liverpool in last season’s Champions League final with Lovren having also recently criticised the 32-year-old for the defensive mistakes he can be prone to committing.
Considering Liverpool’s loss came all the way back in May, though, it would be an understatement to say now is the time for Lovren to move on.
What the Croatia international is currently doing is childish and does no one any favours.
Lovren is unnecessarily putting himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons at a time where Liverpool cannot afford any needless distractions.
For his sake and that of his club’s, it is time for the 29-year-old, who can be a solid defender on his day, to put this saga to bed.