It’s the news Portsmouth fans didn’t need to hear going into their final and most important games of the season.
The news that loanee Omar Bogle will miss the rest of the season due to a leg injury is on the surface a massive blow to Portsmouth’s automatic promotion chances in League One.
Since joining from Cardiff City on loan in the January transfer window, the striker has been pivotal in Pompey’s promotion chances, scoring five goals for Kenny Jackett’s side and making seven starts for the south coast club.
Bogle’s absence will be felt in the remaining three games of the season, but it’s not all doom and gloom for Portsmouth as in the wings they have Brett Pitman, who is more than capable of stepping up for the club in the final matches.
The Portsmouth captain has quietly been one of the best players in the Pompey squad this season, scoring 13 goals in all competitions for the team and has come up big for the team already this season, scoring vital goals in both the league and EFL Trophy.
Pitman’s goalscoring record alone is enough to make Portsmouth fans comfortable that they have a striker who can get the goals that can lead them to promotion, and with a massive game against Sunderland coming up next for the club, it will be a big statement if the 31-year-old striker can do some damage on their league rivals.
Portsmouth fans, are you confident in Pitman starting for the remainder of the season?
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola handed Gabriel Jesus a surprise start and chance to impress in Saturday’s FA Cup final at Wembley, and the Brazilian didn’t let him down, as shown by the comments from City fans on Twitter.
The 22-year-old has largely had to play second fiddle to Sergio Aguero, especially in the Premier League and the Champions League, this term, but the Spaniard placed his faith in his second-choice striker for the 6-0 thrashing of Watford.
The South American rewarded Guardiola with a brace and an assist, despite Raheem Sterling’s best efforts to take his first goal off of him, and put in an all-round impressive display up top for the English domestic quadruple winners.
His second goal showed his composure in front of goal as he ran through, feinted to shoot before sliding the ball under Heurelho Gomes.
City supporters were clearly impressed with what they saw from Jesus judging by their reactions on Twitter, with many clearly believing the Brazil international has sent a strong message to his manager ahead of the 2019/20 campaign.
Which iconic Premier League team from the past would be a match for the Man City of today? The Pl>ymaker FC squad discuss in the video below…
While one said “not sure why he’s been written off for the future”, another said “he has a future at this club”.
Wolves face Liverpool this weekend and they could play the role of spoiler.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are not the story going into this weekend’s clash at Anfield, with the Reds still vying for the Premier League title, but they will have a major part to play.
After all, Jurgen Klopp’s side need to win and they also need to hope that Manchester City slip up against Brighton & Hove Albion.
But can Wolves ensure that the inevitable doesn’t happen? How can they poop the party?
Football FanCast takes a look at some suggested solutions for Santo as he goes in search of a famous win at Anfield.
Play for set-pieces
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Ruben Neves is a wizard from free-kicks.
Only James Maddison, the Leicester City playmaker, has scored more goals from dead-ball situations and Neves is capable of both scoring and assisting when given such a situation.
Indeed, all four of his goals in the Premier League this term have come from set-pieces: he netted free-kicks against Everton and Arsenal and penalties against the Toffees and Tottenham Hotspur.
With the likes of Conor Coady and Willy Boly always willing to get in the box for his deliveries, giving Neves the chance to deliver could unsettle the Reds defence.
Or, better yet, give him the chance to shoot; he netted a brilliant long-range strike against Liverpool in the FA Cup and they will be wary of a repeat this weekend.
Exploit the flanks on the counter
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Both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson love to bomb forward.
If Wolves can win the ball back and spring a counter-attack down the wings, they have every chance of fashioning a goalscoring opportunity.
Diogo Jota will be key to this tactic; he is an excellent dribbler of the ball and, while he nominally plays up front, he is adept at drifting to the flank and taking his man on. If he can play slightly off-centre, Wolves can get him in behind.
This is definitely something Santo will have in mind, particularly if Liverpool are getting desperate towards the end of the game; they could well be there for the taking.
Start as quickly as possible
Liverpool pulled off a miracle in midweek as they somehow beat Barcelona 4-0 to overturn a 3-0 deficit and progress to the Champions League final.
But those exertions will surely have been tough on the legs.
If Wolves can race out of the traps and get in the faces of the Reds early, they have a chance of taking advantage of their expected fatigue.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are always remarkably fit, of course they are, but the Barcelona game will have taken its toll emotionally, too.
Wolves could well use that to their advantage this weekend.
Liverpool fans must be in dreamland right now as their side breezed past FC Porto in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie last night.
It’s safe to say that Liverpool are now one of Europe’s elite as Jurgen Klopp continues to bring fans’ wildest dreams to life, with the Premier League title and silverware in the Champions League well within their reach.
The Reds’ midfield has been the driving force at times but you can’t help but feel as if there’s a creative spark missing. Of course, Philippe Coutinho’s exit last January certainly didn’t help and the Merseyside club are still yet to really find their next Steven Gerrard, despite Jordan Henderson’s rise in form.
However, FSG could bag themselves the next Gerrard if they’re willing to spend in the summer.
One player who may be able to fill the void at Anfield is Cagliari’s Nicolo Barella, who is valued at £27 million (by Transfermarkt).
Liverpool were reportedly (as per Football Italia, via The Mirror) interested in the midfielder ahead of the most recent January transfer window but he ended up staying in his home country.
Interestingly, the 22-year-old was once dubbed as the ‘next Steven Gerrard’ by Gazzetta dello Sport (via Anfield Edition), so there’s already an incentive to go out and bring him to England.
It’s safe to say that his playing style is very similar to the Liverpool legend’s as he loves to get on the ball and make things happen, with his passing ability often unlocking the oppositions defence. He may not be as prolific as Gerrard when it comes to finding the back of the net but he’s already shown he can produce in the final third.
Henderson lacks creativity at times as he’s gotten so used to playing in a defensive role that he looks a bit rusty in the final third, so bringing Barella to Anfield must be a no-brainer as he could be the missing spark in the Reds’ midfield.
He’s only 22 years of age with his best years ahead of him and he’s already managed to earn five caps with the Italian national side, so he could be the real deal.
Liverpool fans, do you think Barella could follow in Steven Gerrard’s footsteps? Join the discussion by commenting down below!
Here to stay: Rangers close in on a deal to sign Steven Davis on a permanent contract.
SunSport understand that Rangers are close to agreeing a deal to sign Steven Davis on a permanent contract for next season.
The 34-year-old veteran Northern Ireland midfielder has spent half a season on loan at Ibrox since joining from Southampton in January.
Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard, who evidently had a preference for youthful talent, initially only used Davis as a squad player, with the midfield playmaker’s future at the club looking uncertain.
However, SunSport has recently suggested that talks have already taken place over a new deal with an agreement close to being agreed, as Gerrard looks to bolster his options with an experienced player who can shepherd the club’s brightest prospects into stardom. One of whom being Jake Hastie, Scotland’s Young Player of the Year, who Rangers have recently captured on a four-year deal.
As great as it is recruiting Davis – his experience and wealth of knowledge are undeniable – the ex-Premier League man must improve his game if he is to show that Gerrard’s faith in him is justified.
The 34-year-old, who hardly fits the current youth intensive model Gerrard is currently enforcing at Ibrox, will now be under pressure as one of few veterans at the club to perform.
That means a major improvement is required on his pretty average looking three assists in 22 games this season, especially for a side as free-scoring and intensive as Rangers, who will be chasing Celtic again next term.
Rangers fans, how much do you think Davis can contribute next year? Join the discussion by commenting below…
According to the Daily Mail, Crystal Palace are interested in signing Aston Villa star Jack Grealish if Wilfried Zaha does depart the club this summer.
The Ivory Coast international recently revealed that he is keen to experience Champions League football.
If the Eagles No.11 did depart Selhurst Park this summer it would be a real blow to a fanbase who have watched him develop into a player of real pedigree since swapping Manchester United for Palace but, having said that, Grealish is a real talent himself and would be a great signing.
Has this guy found the worst stadium in English football? Decide for yourself by watching the video below…
Let’s take a look at the potential consequences of the Villans academy graduate arriving in south London…
Immediately high expectations and potential failure
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If the 23-year-old is signed with the Zaha money and deployed in place of where the Ivorian once stood, it may not bode well for Grealish. Zaha is the club’s talisman, the one who makes them tick, and any man signed as a ‘replacement’ for the former Cardiff winger will immediately find themselves under a lot of pressure to perform to his level.
This definitely won’t be an ideal scenario, especially as Grealish has spent a few years out of the top-flight, and it could potentially see him fail at Palace as a result.
Other problem areas not sorted
It is no secret to the Selhurst Park faithful that the club still haven’t adequately replaced the talents of Yohan Cabaye, a calming presence in the middle of the park alongside Luka Milivojevic.
Additionally, when Michy Batshuayi returns to Chelsea this summer at the end of his loan spell, Roy Hodgson will have just the goal-shy Christian Benteke and the injury-prone Connor Wickham as his striking options – both of the aforementioned areas need investment.
United shrewdly inserted a sell-on clause when they sold Zaha back to Palace, which would entitle them to 25% of the profits if the Eagles did sell the forward – as a result, there may only be enough money for Grealish, who Spurs saw a £25m bid rejected for back in the summer.
Still no game time for Max Meyer?
The majority of Max Meyer’s few appearances since arriving on a free transfer last summer have come as an attacking midfielder, predominantly on the left where Grealish usually plays for Villa.
It has been a source of constant frustration for the Palace fans this season that the Germany international has not started more games, and if Grealish, a man who plays in the same position as him, arrives in a big-money deal, it would almost certainly push him even further down the pecking order.
That isn’t to say that the former Schalke man will leave the club, but he most certainly won’t be happy if Grealish does arrive.
It is rarely a dull affair when Gaetano Berardi is involved for Leeds United, is it?
A maverick of a central defender, the Switzerland international has developed a habit of creating all sorts of headlines for the Whites in the last five years.
Although he has let down his side on numerous occasions due to his lack of discipline, since the arrival of Marcelo Bielsa last summer, Berardi has looked more composed this season.
Yet with Pontus Jansson and Liam Cooper forming a solid defensive partnership for Leeds this season, the 30-year-old has been limited to just 14 appearances in all competitions in which he has played as both a full-back and as a central defender.
Despite demonstrating his versatility this year, Berardi may become surplus to requirements in the summer if Bielsa can secure a deal to bring Yoann Barbet to Elland Road.
A rock of a defender, the £900k-rated ace (via Transfermarkt) was released by Brentford last week and is reportedly subject of considerable interest from Leeds (according to L’Equipe).
Available on a free transfer, Barbet has demonstrated his talents on plenty of occasions for the Bees over the past four years and could prove to be a valuable addition for the Whites if they can fend off the likes of Norwich City, Montpellier and Angers to secure his signature.
If the Yorkshire-based outfit do indeed manage to secure a deal for the 25-year-old, it could result in Berardi having to leave in order to play regular first-team football.
Although the Leeds ace has lacked consistency during his time at the club, his outstanding performance against Derby County on Saturday outlined just what he is capable of producing at his very best.
By replicating this particular standard in the second leg of the play-off semi-final on Wednesday, Berardi could prove to Bielsa why he should remain part of the Whites’ plans for the future.
What do you think, Leeds fans? Should Bielsa sign Barbet if it results in Berardi leaving in the summer? Or should he give the Switzerland international another chance to impress next season? Let us know below.
Charlton put Rochdale to the sword on Saturday, with goals from Lyle Taylor, Joe Aribo and Krystian Bielik, as well as some fortunate results elsewhere, meaning that the Addicks soared into third place in the standings.
Aribo has been a huge part of Lee Bowyer’s side’s success, chipping in with nine goals and five assists from midfield, and his exploits have seen him even linked with a move to Arsenal – a switch that could easily come to fruition, with the 22-year-old’s contract running out in the summer.
The Londoner’s all-action displays in the middle of the park have won him plenty of admirers at The Valley and elsewhere, clearly, although it could well be his last term in Charlton red if Roland Duchatelet and co don’t put a new deal in front of him as soon as possible.
The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…
The number 17 took to Twitter to express his delight at another great win and a fantastic season overall – a message which the SE7 faithful responded to in their numbers. You can check out the best of the reaction below…
Manchester United are reportedly monitoring the situation of Adrien Rabiot, but the Frenchman is just one more headache Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could do without.
What’s the story?
According to The Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils are still interested in Rabiot despite failing to qualify for the Champions League.
The PSG ace is out of contract this summer, meaning clubs can effectively snap him up for free.
Check out the below above to see football played as you’ve never seen it before… in a maze!
While the report claims both Real Madrid and Barcelona have shown interest, United are still in the race and want the 24 year-old to replace Ander Herrera.
Disaster waiting to happen
There is no question Rabiot is a gifted player. The 6 ft 2 in ace would provide physicality, composure and balance in the United midfield.
He is a fantastic passer of the ball and loves striding forward from deep, and should perhaps be seen more as a replacement for Nemanja Matic than Herrera.
However, the last thing Solskjaer needs right now is another mercenary with attitude problems.
Last summer, Rabiot refused to be a part of France’s standby list after missing out on the World Cup squad, per BBC.
Earlier this season, he effectively ruled himself out for the remainder of the campaign, refusing to pen a new contract and resigning himself to the bench, per AS.
When the Red Devils knocked the Parisiens out of the Champions League, the midfielder was spotted later that night partying in a Paris nightclub, per GOAL.com.
The mentality at Old Trafford right now is a far bigger issue than the actual talent on offer within the squad, and signing Rabiot to what will no doubt be massive wages, for free signings are able to negotiate huge salaries, will only worsen an already fractured mindset around the club.
If this is the type of signing Ed Woodward is offering up, then Solskjaer has no chance of mending the mood in the red half of Manchester.