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Let’s face it, Crystal Palace aren’t going to go much further if Roy Hodgson stays at Selhurst Park. The former England and Liverpool manager, who is the oldest manager in Premier League history, has done a good job at keeping the Eagles in the English top flight, but it might be the perfect time for Palace chairman Steve Parish to starting thinking about his replacement.

Alright, we get it, maybe we’re being too harsh. It’s not all that long ago since Palace stunned Manchester United away at Old Trafford. But Hodgson’s side suffered back-to-back defeats against Everton and Chelsea before the international break, before they struggled to break down Brighton in the A23 derby, despite the summer spending spree.

In fact, Palace haven’t kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since the opening game against Southampton. Granted, Hodgson has had to deal with a defensive crisis due to injury, which has seen Joel Ward shift to the right wing.

Still, the fact remains that they have still conceded seven goals in their past three games, which is a rather worrying statistic. With Wilfried Zaha reportedly ready to leave at any given opportunity, surely the timing couldn’t be any better to start searching for Hodgson’s successor, if and when the time arises.

Reports in recent times suggested that Steve Parish was eyeing Burnley boss Sean Dyche as Hodgson’s replacement after a poor run of form following the Premier League restart in the summer. And the former centre-back could be the right man for the job, having had another impressive campaign with Burnley the previous season, as the Clarets finished tenth in the table.

Albeit, Burnley have lost three and drawn one this season so far, but they will be expected to turn things around even if it proved to be a quiet transfer window. Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder once described Dyche as “exceptional” ahead of Burnley’s clash with the Blades last term.

He even guided the Clarets to seventh place in 2018, which is their best finish since coming sixth in 1974, whilst they were eligible for the Europa League qualifying rounds.

One thing’s for sure, Dyche should be able to shore up the leaky Palace defence, as he has developed a reputation for building sides who are difficult to break down. And that’s exactly what Palace need at the moment.

AND in other news, Steve Parish must return for Crystal Palace target Ismaila Sarr in January…

Brighton boss Graham Potter has been hailed as “one of the best English managers I have met” by none other than his Manchester City counterpart Pep Guardiola.

The Spaniard paid the notable compliment to the 45-year-old following his team’s 5-0 win at the Amex Stadium on Saturday night and he thinks that Potter will make the Seagulls even better if given time to do so by the club’s board.

As per The Argus, Guardiola said: “It is the first season for Graham. The manager will need time. Graham is one of the best English managers I have met in the country with all respect to the other ones.

“He is and will be a successful manager because I have noticed how he is as a human being and as a manager. I am a big fan of the managers who try to play their own way and not just wait for circumstances or one moment to win the game.

“Sometimes you need more time because the way he wants to try to play is attractive, is seductive but it’s not easy. I’m pretty sure next season if the club follow him, he is going to build.”

Potter has so far had a reasonably impressive first season in charge of Brighton, who are 15th in the table on 36 points, five clear of the relegation zone with three matches left to play (as per premierleague.com).

At the same stage last season, the Seagulls were 17th on 34 points and only three clear of the drop, while are 35 games of their first Premier League campaign in 2017/18 they also had 36 points and were 13th but only four ahead of the relegation places. That points to slight improvement under the current manager.

Potter has also made Brighton slightly more potent and better defensively than they were at the same stage of last season, when they had scored 32 goals and conceded 54. They have so far found the net 36 times in the 2019/20 Premier League and shipped 52 goals, another sign of his progress with the Seagulls.

While Manchester City comfortably won both meetings with the Sussex club this season, Potter has been close to getting one over on Guardiola in the past. His Swansea side stormed into a 2-0 lead against Manchester City in last year’s FA Cup, only for the Premier League club to score thrice in the final 20 minutes and squeeze through (as per BBC).

Potter has made some gentle steps forward with Brighton this season and, assuming they don’t implode in their final three games and lose their Premier League status, they can feel that they have made some progress under the Englishman this season.

For a manager like Guardiola, who has won 29 trophies in his career (including eight league titles and two Champions Leagues) to describe the Seagulls boss as one of the best English managers that he has encountered is a tremendous compliment, and the signs from the current campaign are that Potter could make further strides with Brighton if he is shown patience by the club’s board.

Brighton fans, what did you make of Guardiola’s praise of Potter? Have your say by commenting below!

Cody Drameh looks set to join Leeds United.

The 18-year-old has just one year left on his deal at Craven Cottage, and it looks as though United will land their man

£1m is the reported fee that the Whites will pay for the teenager, and in a few years that could begin to look like an absolute bargain.

Landing a defender that has previously been coveted my Manchester City will always look like a good move, but the fact that he’s also been likened to former Fulham teammate Ryan Sessegnon is what should really excited Leeds, considering Sessegnon got a £25m move to Spurs last year.

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Indeed, the future looks bright for Leeds at right-back, but let’s not forget who they have coming through at left-back as well.

20-year-old ace Leif Davis is still developing and his prospects look to be fantastic as he has previously been linked to Liverpool and compared to Gareth Bale.

Full-backs are so vital to the modern game, just look at Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson at Liverpool who put up 25 league assists between them this term, and if Leeds can build a squad with Drameh and Davis as two key men down each flank, they could have one of the best partnerships in the country.

A left-back compared to Bale and a right-back compared to a man often touted as the next Bale spells danger for any opposition at Elland Road, and the best part of this is that this could realistically be United’s full-back pairing for the next decade, with both players being under the age of 21.

Of course, Leeds may have a job on their hands keeping hold of the pair in the coming years with Liverpool and City both being keen in the past, but if they can form this partnership and keep them both at the club for a long time, there’s no reason why United can’t have two of the most threatening attacking full-backs in the division.

Newcastle United’s takeover continues to rumble on into June, and there still may yet be a decision for several more weeks.

The anxious wait for news has often left supporters at St James’ Park questioning whether or not the deal will go through – even more so after the Guardian’s revelation.

They claim that a World Trade Organisation report has found the Saudi Arabian state to be behind pirate streaming service beoutQ, which illegally broadcasts Premier League matches amongst other global sporting events.

Which is supposedly why the top-flight are taking their time with their owners and directors test.

This week, the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards appeared on the ‘Everything is Black and White‘ podcast where he delivered a confident verdict over the prospects of Mike Ashley being in charge of the Magpies past 2020.

He said:

“It will be sold this time.

“If it’s not these [buyers], the only grain of comfort that I will offer Newcastle fans is that if this collapses, it will be sold this time.

“It will go – I do not think Mike Ashley will be Newcastle United owner in 2021.

“I’m going to say that.

“I’m not going to bet my house because that would stupid but it will be sold this time.

“He wants out, he wants to go and I think he will be gone by 2021.”

Edwards believes that the Sports Direct mogul “wants out” and that United will be sold this time – whether that means to the Saudi-backed consortium led by PCP Partners’ Amanda Staveley remains to be seen.

The Times’ Henry Winter revealed that there is another US group waiting in the wings alongside another consortium fronted by Henry Mauriss.

Think you’re a big Magpies fan? Can you name these former players by looking at their careers? Go on, give it a go…

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Newcastle is a prized asset and will surely be sold regardless of the outcome of the Premier League’s decision.

You’d imagine many supporters would be thrilled by this bold claim as Edwards is rather assured that Ashley will no longer be associated with the Magpies by 2021.

AND in other news, Newcastle fans furious with Miguel Delaney takeover update…

Sheffield United are starting to pick up some important points as they have beaten Tottenham and drawn against Burnley in their last two games.

They now face a big clash against Wolves, and a victory against the side means they would only be one point away from the sixth placed team, via BBC Sport.

This game could be a huge statement of intent for Chris Wilder’s side and so the starting eleven he picks is one of his most crucial selections this season.

Here is the Transfer Tavern predicted Sheffield United starting XI, which sees Chris Wilder make one change for the fixture from their last outing against Burnley in the league.

Even though the back five didn’t get a clean sheet, they still played well, and centre-back John Egan scored the equaliser for the Blades which saw him get a 7.4 rating from SofaScore.

However the big news was the fact that in the 55th minute Jack O’Connell was subbed on for Jack Robinson. He had been injured since football had returned, and this will please Blades supporters massively. The fact he got subbed on quite early possibly hints that Wilder wants O’Connell to start in the Wolves fixture.

Meanwhile Ben Osborn has really adapted well since coming in to replace the injured John Fleck, and this was highlighted by the fact that in the last game he picked up a 7.0 rating whilst making one key pass and winning two ground duels. A trio of Osborn, Norwood and Berge has seen the Blades undefeated in the last two and with John Lundstram and Fleck looking like they are still injured, then the midfield should remain the same.

Billy Sharp showed that he can still make an impact at this level as he came off the bench and picked up an assist in the Burnley match. Oliver McBurnie and David McGoldrick  still played well upfront as they picked up a 7.5 and a 7.1 rating so Sharp may have to play the role of ‘super sub’, at Bramall Lane on Wednesday.

Blades fans, what are your thoughts on this lineup? Comment below!

A former Championship manager has made a rather intriguing claim about Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa this week.

What’s he said?

The Argentine is already a cult hero amongst the walls of Elland Road and Thorp Arch, having a major effect on players and fans alike.

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He’s also bred through many a great manager in his time, most notably as a mentor of both Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino.

And it appears he has another admirer in Ipswich Town boss Paul Lambert, who revealed to talkSPORT on Friday morning that he had been reading his counterpart’s book.

He said:

“Tell you what I’m reading. I’m reading Marcelo Bielsa’s book at the minute. It’s really interesting and very good reading.

“I quite like reading that stuff that the other managers, especially the bigger ones – Pep, Jurgen [Klopp] and Bielsa – and Bielsa is a fascinating one, you know Pochettino, all fascinating guys in the backgrounds.

“I always think you learn, no matter what you’re reading or what, you’re never too good not to learn. You see these guys, the way they’ve come and how they’ve done, it’s really interesting factually how they go about it, you know.

“The job he’s doing at Leeds is fantastic.”

Paul Lambert to talkSPORT.

No wonder

You never really hear about this sort of thing from members of management staff, so it is certainly interesting to learn that the Tractorboys chief is always trying to improve.

It is perhaps even less of a surprise to learn that he’s leaning on the tactical nous of Bielsa, considering he’s merely nine games away from steering Leeds United into the Premier League for the first time in 16 years all whilst Lambert’s Ipswich languish in League One following relegation last term.

The last meeting between the two sides saw the Suffolk side come out on top in a thrilling five-goal encounter at Portman Road, but clearly, their fortunes have taken drastically different paths ever since.

Bielsa is certainly a “fascinating” figure and despite lacking any real European glory, it’s clear to see he has a huge influence on many managers across the globe.

AND in other news, Leeds fans are loving this Luke Ayling footage…

If and when Newcastle’s proposed takeover goes through, Steve Bruce’s future at the club promises to be one of the main topics for discussion.

The current Magpies boss took on the difficult task of trying to replace fans favourite Rafa Benitez, and to his credit, has ensured the Tyneside club are well clear of the relegation zone – in fact, at the time that all football was postponed, they were just two wins behind eight-placed Tottenham.

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Now, The Sun claim that Newcastle’s players are very keen on seeing Bruce stay at St James’ Park, and that he remains very popular among his squad “who are determined to prove to the new owners that he should be kept on beyond this season”.

After hearing about the update on Bruce’s future, Newcastle fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation.

One Newcastle fan simply suggested that as well as getting rid of Bruce, the Magpies should get rid of the entire playing squad too.

Whilst Bruce has done a fine job in the circumstances, surely Newcastle won’t turn down the opportunity to potentially bring in someone like Mauricio Pochettino?

The ex-Spurs manager is of course available following his sacking from the Lilywhites earlier this season, and based on the work he has done in rebuilding the likes of Southampton and Spurs in the Premier League, he appears to be the perfect fit for Newcastle.

It remains to be seen how things pans out.

Meanwhile, Newcastle fans react to Craig Hope’s update on the future of this ace.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Amazon Prime’s Leeds United documentary series was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, but the season finale concluded with an interview with CEO Angus Kinnear that will have given every Leeds United fan hope.

Indeed, the United chief made it very clear that Leeds aren’t going to be cutting any corners in the 2018/19 season.

“The goal next season is automatic (promotion),” Kinnear said (via The Athletic).

The executive would go on to make it very clear that he wasn’t interested in mucking around in the playoffs next season as he used some rather colourful language to further hammer home his point.

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However, the club may be about to betray this departing message from the 2018/19 season.

Victor Orta has confirmed that Leeds are set to have a ‘quiet’ January transfer window, and that goes against everything the CEO said at the end of their previous campaign.

Leeds currently sit third in the table, and without any reinforcements in January, there is a real possibility that Kinnear’s worst nightmare could come true as Leeds could end up back in the one position he vowed they wouldn’t be in.

The problem is made even worse by the fact that it’s so glaringly obvious where Leeds need to improve.

They obviously need a striker as the xG table once again shows that they’re simply struggling to finish the chances they’re creating. The fact Patrick Bamford went ten games without a goal is also damning.

If they don’t end up earning promotion there will be a lot to answer for, especially after Kinnear made his ambitions clear at the end of the previous campaign, and fans would have every right to be fuming with Andrea Radrizzani, Orta and Kinnear.

It’s the same scenario as last season, Leeds’ problems could easily be solved if they made the right moves in January, but they’re seemingly continuing with what they already have, and that could hugely backfire.

In slightly more tasteful words than what Kinnear said, they may end up having to compete in the playoffs if they fail to strengthen. After all, the Championship is especially tight this term.

Having signed from Benfica, Raul Jimenez has proven to be an incredibly shrewd acquisition for Wolves. The Mexico international has been banging in the goals, left, right and centre, and has spearheaded the attack for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.

As per Transfermarkt, the striker has been in prolific form this season, scoring 13 goals in 22 games, with eight of them coming in his side’s forays into the Europa League.

And the 28-year-old took his excellent form into Saturday afternoon’s Premier League clash against Bournemouth, netting what proved to be the decisive goal in their 2-1 win.

After seeing Jimenez’s goal-scoring display, Wolves fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the £31.5m-rated forward.

Many supporters of the Molineux side were left raving over his goal, with one excited fan in particular claiming that he is the “best striker in the Premier League”.

Check out some of the reaction of Wolves fans after their win over Bournemouth, below:

Aston Villa suffered defeat at the hands of Manchester City on Saturday, going down 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium (via BBC Sport).

Dean Smith’s side had held the Citizens for the first half, but second half goals from Raheem Sterling, David Silva and Ilkay Gundogan condemned the Villans to defeat.

It was the first defeat for Aston Villa in four matches, having drawn against Burnley and secured back-to-back wins against Norwich City and Brighton prior to the game against the champions (via Transfermarkt).

It was also the first time that the Villans have failed to score in a league match since their 0-0 draw against West Ham on 16th September (Transfermarkt).

One reason for them firing a blank was the fact that centre-forward Wesley failed to have much of an impact on the game at the Etihad.

The Brazilian really struggled and failed to have a shot on target in the game, whilst also having one unsuccessful touch and one offside before being substituted after 70 minutes. He finished the game with a low WhoScored rating of just 5.83, mustering just one shot off target.

After game, several Villa fans were unhappy with Wesley’s performance. Many of them called his work rate into question, whilst some were also not happy with his attitude in the game…