بعد يومين من اختياره.. استبعاد الحكم ديفيد كوت من مباراة ليفربول وليستر سيتي

قرر الاتحاد الإنجليزي لكرة القدم عدم إسناد مهمة تقنية الفيديو في مباراة ليفربول وليستر سيتي الأسبوع المقبل إلى الحكم ديفيد كوت.

وكان الاتحاد الإنجليزي قد أعلن قبل يومين أن ديفيد كوت سيكون مسؤولًا عن الـVAR، في مباراة ليفربول وليستر سيتي يوم الأحد القادم في الجولة التاسعة من الدوري الإنجليزي.

وتسبب ذلك الأمر في إثارة غضب جماهير ليفربول، بعد ما فعله ديفيد كوت في مباراة فريقهم أمام إيفرتون الشهر الماضي، في البريميرليج.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ليفربول متفائل بشأن مشاركة هندرسون أمام ليستر سيتي

وتعادل الفريقان بهدفين لمثلهما في جوديسون بارك، في مباراة شهدت جدلًا تحكيميًا كبيرًا.

وتعرض فيرجيل فان دايك لتمزق في أوتار الركبة بعد تدخل حارس إيفرتون جوردان بيكفورد ضده، ولكن لم يحصل الأخير على أي إنذار.

وسيغيب فان دايك لأشهر طويلة نتيجة خضوعه لعملية جراحية بعد تلك الإصابة.

وحسب صحيفة “ديلي ميل” الإنجليزية، فإن الاتحاد الإنجليزي قرر استبدال ديفيد كوت بزميله أندري مارينير في مباراة ليفربول المرتقبة أمام ليستر سيتي.

وأشارت إلى أنه بدلًا من ذلك، فإن ديفيد كوت سيكون حكمًا لمباراة مانشستر يونايتد ووست بروميتش ألبيون يوم السبت القادم في الجولة نفسها.

وأكدت أن الاتحاد الإنجليزي لم يكشف أي سبب وراء استبدال ديفيد كوت، وما إذا كان له علاقة بما حدث في مباراة ليفربول وإيفرتون أم لا.

Truly awful: Manchester City fans slam Aymeric Laporte after disaster-class vs Spurs

[ad_pod ]Manchester City fans have taken to Twitter to slam Aymeric Laporte’s performance against Tottenham on Wednesday, as the Cityzens crashed out of the Champions League on away goals.The former Athletic Bilbao made an error for Son Heung-Min’s opening goal after he inadvertently prodded the ball into the South Korean’s path.442oons have charted the entire career of Man City’s main man Sergio Aguero through song in the hilarious video below…Immediately after his mistake, the Frenchman’s loose touch allowed Lucas Moura to nip in and put Spurs on the attack, where Son doubled his and Tottenham’s tally just two minutes after scoring his first.Despite a spirited attempt to get back into it, crushed at the hands of VAR in the final moments, Laporte’s two moments of madness ultimately cost his side their chance at a spot in the semi-finals for the first time in their history.

Understandably, the City fans on Twitter didn’t hold back in their criticism of the 24-year-old (he even had to private his account after the game)…

Chris Mepham is spot on about Bournemouth team-mate David Brooks and his massive potential

This season, recent weeks in particular, Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser have been winning most of the plaudits at Bournemouth — and deservedly so.

But as well as the duo, David Brooks has also come in for a lot of recognition, with the 21-year-old having just been nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

And team-mate Chris Mepham is now tipping the midfielder to make it to the very top after an impressive debut campaign at the Vitality Stadium.

The Breakdown

“He’s been very good. I speak very highly of David as a player and as a person,” Mepham told the Bournemouth Echo.

“He works hard every day on the training pitch, wants to learn, wants to improve and I think that’s got him to where he is at the minute. If he keeps that attitude, then the sky is the limit and he could play anywhere.”

Up against the likes of Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling for the award, it is hard to see Brooks winning the prestigious accolade.

But with this being the Wales international’s first season in the Premier League, he has done well to get his name in the conversation, regardless.

And if he can maintain the level he is currently playing at, as Mepham suggests, his future is set to be a bright one.

The former Sheffield United man has been directly involved in over 10 Premier League goals for the Cherries this term, showing the sort of productivity in the final third that could attract some serious interest in the future.

Until then, though, Brooks must continue to improve, with Bournemouth being an environment where he can do just that.

Bournemouth fans, just how far do you think Brooks can go? Join the discussion by commenting below.

West Brom supporters continue to debate managerial situation

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The debate over the managerial situation at West Brom looks as though it’s never going to end as fans reacted to the news that the club may wait until the summer before appointing a permanent boss.

In recent weeks the club has held talks with Slavisa Jokanovic and targeted Alex Neill but might be coming to the conclusion that James Shan, currently acting as caretaker, is the best option for the time being.

Baggies supporters have been left frustrated with developments but some believe it would be a sensible and logical choice to wait until the end of the campaign.

However, there were questions asked by one individual, who was still baffled that the club sacked Darren Moore when they did. Another was concerned that the calibre of managers they were waiting on didn’t exactly have great reputations.

Was Darren Moore’s sacking unfair? The Pl>ymaker FC squad name which Championship bosses should have gone instead in the video below…

Fears were also shared over what would happen if Shan got the club promoted, with a certain fan saying things could become dangerous.

At the moment, West Brom sit in the playoffs but might be at risk of not returning to the Premier League unless owners can surround him with more experience.

Here is the reaction on Twitter…

Newcastle United: Goading Jordan Pickford into submission

After a weekend that saw unsavoury incidents of ‘fans’ approaching and attacking players on the field of play, Newcastle supporters showed others how to behave in the face of provocation.

After Tweeting his pleasure at the Geordies’ demise in previous seasons, Jordan Pickford has always since become public enemy number one. He knows as much, and spent much of the first three-quarters of the game at St James’ Park on Saturday taking pleasure in winding the home fans up with his team two goals to the good.

But for Toon fans, there were no thoughts of running onto the pitch. They just gave it to the England keeper continuously and vociferously throughout the game.

His every touch was jeered, and his wayward kicks up-field mocked persistently.

The situation was made worse when he blatantly took out Rondon to concede a penalty, but remarkably was not even booked, let alone sent off. And fans were apoplectic when he then saved the penalty that most thought he should never have been on the pitch to do.

But still fans remained in the stand and continued to goad the ex-Sunderland man. The fact that he was reacting and retaliating merely meant that he was aware of the fans’ chants and thus the status quo between crowd and player remained.

The fact that Pickford seemed to become more embroiled in the crowd than the game led to his downfall and becoming Everton’s pantomime villain.

Despite a brilliant move for Newcastle’s opening goal, he could well have done better with the resulting volley. As for his parry for the second, well it was not the goalkeeping of a Premier League stopper.

By now, he must have wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole, but when the inevitable happened, and the winning goal screamed past him, the decibel levels were off the chart, and it was no surprise whose name was being serenaded by the Gallowgate End.

This is how to get under the skin of an opposition player, not running onto a pitch and physically assaulting them.

The incident in Birmingham only seemed to galvanise the Villa players, and make them more determined. The Newcastle fans showed their true value and how to act as the twelfth man on Saturday — and it was all done from the comfort of their seats behind the goal.

Were you at the game on Saturday to witness the comeback? Were you one of the fans getting under the skin of Jordan Pickford? Let us know what you thought of the incredible atmosphere and on the comeback below…

Matchday plan: Everton

What on earth happened last weekend, Evertonians? Indeed, Marco Silva certainly has a lot of thinking to do after last weekend’s dreadful lapse of concentration. Goes to show what happens when you have nothing to play for… 

With a poor position in the league, and a huge lack of ambition currently flowing through the club, a game against Chelsea later today is the last thing the Toffees need. Well, on paper anyway.

Claiming a scalp at home – in front of the trusty Goodison faithful – could be exactly the kind of boost everyone involved at the club need right now.

So, with Kurt Zouma already ruled out due to loan rulings, Marco Silva has some other decisions to make around his squad. With that in mind, here we take a look at a couple of changes the Portuguese could make.

Drop Bernard 

Only bagging 4 assists all season, Bernard really hasn’t hit the heights that were expected of him at the start of the season. Then again, have Everton as a whole? Perhaps you could say his performances have been well on par with Everton’s, which is the main reason for the fans’ discontent this season.

With the season finished for Everton this year, despite there still being eight games remaining, Silva may feel this is the perfect time to introduce some new faces into the starting line-up.

With this in mind, it could be time we see Bernard sitting on the bench a little more during the last few games.

Start Ademola Lookman 

Surely something has to give for this man to get another start?

Only managing 3 starts this season under the Portuguese, Lookman has been yet another player who has been a victim in not getting enough game time. Which seems strange because when picked to play, the young Englishman has looked sharp and always up to fight from the front, even bagging himself two assists with the small amount of playing time given.

Everton and England fans alike have been praying for the winger to get more game time, as underneath all the other players there may be yet another truly special young homegrown talent waiting for a run of games to prove himself.

Not just become a cameo player no one remembers.

Tottenham: Toughen up for trophies

It’s been a strange old week for Tottenham fans, hasn’t it? Brushing aside the Bundesliga leaders in the Champions League then losing at Southampton on Saturday shows just how mentally weak this squad is.

You’d think such a mid-week thrill would lift the squad and pull them out from the Premier League hole they dug themselves after defeats to Burnley and Chelsea. Their title chances were killed by those losses and the continuation of poor league form suggests a complete lack of spine from Mauricio Pochettino’s men.

It seems the squad can’t link their momentum in one competition to the other, and that’s worrying because Spurs clearly have the quality to beat anyone on their day, as they’ve proved at times this season. They’re high on confidence in the Champions League, so they play well, but they’re low on confidence in the league, and that means they play poorly.

Whether it’s Pochettino’s fault for not being able to motivate the team to finish the season strongly or if it’s the players’ fault for lacking interest, there’s clearly an issue here. Spurs’ squad falls short of being capable of taking City and Liverpool right to the last couple of games, but even if they did have the depth and quality, would the club’s mentality ruin their chances even then?

As Manchester City have found in the Champions League and Liverpool in the league, if there’s no precedent of recent success in a particular field, the mental side of challenging for honours often trips players up. Spurs are, and will be, a victim of this until they do finally win their first Premier League. The hardest trophy to win is the first, and Spurs have to toughen up to rise to that challenge.

Aside from the clear spending requirements in summer, their best existing players, if they stay, have to realise the quality they possess and add some arrogance to their game. Being mentally fragile kills title chances, and Spurs shouldn’t let that affect the quality they have in their ranks.

Spurs fans, who do you think your club needs to sign in the summer to mount a title challenge? Join the discussion by commenting below…

Permaul picked for Bangladesh Tests

Veerasammy Permaul, the Guyana left-arm spinner, is the only new face in the 15-man West Indies squad for the two Tests in Bangladesh next month. He has led and performed for the A team throughout 2012, on top of an impressive first-class record.Permaul, 23, recently troubled the Bangladesh batsmen during the West Indies High Performance Centre’s tour, taking 12 wickets in the two four-day games. He has played 45 first-class matches since his debut as a 17-year-old and taken 152 wickets at 24.59. He will play the role of secondary spinner to Sunil Narine, who made a huge impact against New Zealand – his first home Test series.The selectors dropped Adrian Barath and Fidel Edwards from the squad that was picked for the second Test against New Zealand in August.*Those recalled include Darren Bravo, who missed the New Zealand series due to injury, and Kirk Edwards, who gets a recall after he lost his place in the third and final Test against England. The squad includes ten players who toured Bangladesh last year, when West Indies had won the Test and ODI series, but lost the tour-opening Twenty20 international.West Indies have won two out of eight Test matches this year, which includes the series win over New Zealand at home. It will be Bangladesh’s first Test series this year. The two Tests, five ODIs and one Twenty20 International on the tour are scheduled between November 3 and December 12.Squad: Darren Sammy (capt), Denesh Ramdin (vice-capt), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Kirk Edwards, Assad Fudadin, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Veerasammy Permaul, Kieran Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels* 14 October, 10.20am GMT This article had incorrectly stated that there were only two out-and-out fast bowlers in the squad

James Milner and Leeds really need reuniting

Leeds remain top of the Championship table heading into Friday’s crucial fixture against Frank Lampard’s Derby County.

Marcelo Bielsa has hit the ground running after taking charge of the Whites in the summer. The Leeds squad adapted immediately to the Argentine’s methods and their early form has seen them installed as favourites to finally secure a return to the Premier League. Leeds are top of the table, two points ahead of Norwich, heading into a difficult game against Derby County on Friday at Elland Road.

The January transfer window is now open and Bielsa isn’t expected to strengthen his squad significantly. A new goalkeeper is wanted by the former Chile manager to add competition to young Bailey Peacock-Farrell but Bielsa remains confident in his current crop of players. Should they secure a return to the Premier League, the Yorkshire club will be able to attract a higher calibre of player.

One man they must consider signing is Liverpool powerhouse – James Milner. Valued at £13.5m by Transfermarkt, the former England international has been a crucial player for the Reds since joining from Manchester City on a free transfer. However, the 33-year-old is out of contract in the summer and a return to the club where he started his professional career could be on the cards.

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Milner remains as fit as ever and his experience at the highest level could be crucial to Leeds staying in the division. The midfielder can cover various positions and is a model professional – his knowledge could be of great value to youngsters looking to break into the first-team. Always willing to work hard and perform at his best, Milner is a manager’s dream.

If Leeds manage to complete their Premier League comeback, Milner should be the man to lead them out.

Leeds United fans, thoughts?

Rice contract conundrum is a cause for concern for West Ham going forward

Despite their 1-0 loss to Brighton at the Amex last Friday, things have picked up significantly for West Ham since the beginning of the season.

Prior to their defeat away at Brighton, the Hammers picked up brilliant results against Chelsea and Manchester United with the latter falling to a 3-1 defeat when they made the trip to east London.

And at the heart of West Ham’s improvement has arguably been young midfielder Declan Rice, who the club are now struggling to tie down to a new contract.

The Breakdown

According to insider @ExWHUemployee, who was speaking on the West Ham Way show, Rice is likely to reject the club’s latest contract offer of £21,000-a-week (rising up to £40,000 including bonuses) in what could prove to be a massive blow to the Premier League outfit.

During the summer, the east London side brought in Jack Wilshere and Carlos Sanchez to improve their midfield, but neither player has looked particularly impressive when playing.

Rather, it has been Rice who manager Pellegrini has turned to, and the Chilean has not been let down by the 19-year-old.

The West Ham youth product has put in confident and reassuring performances versus the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United and looks well on course to becoming a top defensive midfielder in the Premier League.

With the additions of Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko, the Hammers’ overall work during the summer transfer window was good and an indication of the club starting to move in a more positive direction under its current management following a couple of very disappointing seasons both on and off the pitch.

Failing to get Rice to extend his current deal which expires in 2019, though, will send a worrying message and be a step backwards for the club after making good process over the last few months.

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