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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

The last couple of months have been an absolute rollercoaster for West Brom and it doesn’t look as though things will be slowing down.

After it was confirmed Dwight Gayle wouldn’t return, Albion were always going to have to be in the market for a forward but with Jay Rodriguez now looking as though he’s about to leave too, things have gone from bad to worse after failing to achieve promotion.

The appointment of Slaven Bilic and a new contract for Rekeem Harper had the potential to change the mood but after reports emerged regarding Rodriguez’s possible departure, their plans for the new campaign have taken another setback.

Watch West Bromwich Albion Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

However, last week, the club were linked with Famara Diedhiou. The Bristol City striker scored 13 goals last term and although that is some way off the 22 Rodriguez netted in 2018/19, it could help to soften the blow.

In short, the forward can give the Baggies a completely new dynamic in attack.

Last season they relied on the more technically-gifted Gayle and Rodriguez, but Diedhiou is a different player.

The Robins striker is a more physical option, possessing phenomenal aerial prowess, standing at 6 foot 2.

Last season, he won a remarkable 5.6 aerial duels per game. To put that into context, Craig Dawson won only 4.3 for West Brom in the Championship last season which was the most of any Albion player.

In terms of their forwards, Rodriguez won the most but that was a measly 1.8 per game compared to Diedhiou’s supreme efforts.

The 26-year-old could significantly improve their ability to compete in the air and they could find themselves scoring more goals from crosses.

Watch fans explain why the Football League is better than the Premier League in the video below…

Nine of his 26 goals in the last two seasons have been from headers which provides plenty of evidence of how good he is in those types of situations.

In away games against Nottingham Forest and Preston last campaign, he won 12 aerial duels whilst he won a further 11 in the home fixture against the latter too.

If West Brom have desires of achieving promotion in 2019/20, they may have to take an alternative approach. Landing Diedhiou would certainly give them that and it could be game-changing in the way they attack.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

For Slaven Bilic, he could well be wondering why on earth he decided to take the hot seat at West Bromwich Albion.

Upon arrival, the Croatian expressed his excitement at the challenge of managing in the Championship but the harsh realities of the division may well be setting in.

At the start of July, Mark Jenkins revealed that the Baggies would have a competitive budget to spend but beyond his remarks, there haven’t been too many signs of putting that money where his mouth is.

West Brom have reportedly had an £8m bid for Cardiff forward Kenneth Zohore accepted, however, despite that, Bilic is still left with a major problem.

Watch West Bromwich Albion Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

On the chalkboard

During West Brom’s 3-0 defeat against Villarreal last weekend, Albion played with two strikers.

With a lack of genuine forwards among their ranks after the departure of Dwight Gayle and Jay Rodriguez, they were left having to play Oliver Burke and Matt Phillips in those areas.

It was a strange call from the Croat but he didn’t exactly have much choice.

Therefore, it was arguably even stranger that after the game he explained that he wanted to play with two up top over the course of the upcoming season.

But with West Brom failing to dip their toes into the market, only signing Filip Krovinovic on loan, Bilic is in real danger of not being able to test this system out.

Already, he is facing a huge task in being able to have a new strike force ready for the new campaign and after their two main goal scorers left, this is arguably one of the biggest priorities.

The addition of Zohore, if it goes through will be beneficial but ultimately, this summer has been a struggle. The fact Bilic can’t even practise the system he wants to deploy efficiently rather sums up their naivety in recent windows too.

Their business has been poor and after those on loan departed it feels like they’re down to the bare bones.

Watch fans explain why the Football League is better than the Premier League in the video below…

At present, Hal Robson-Kanu is their only recognised striker and as a result, it must be incredibly difficult for both Bilic and the players to pick up the formation and style in which he wants to play.

Having to field Burke and Phillips in attack means they’re also likely to miss out on valuable minutes in a different system in their preferred positions.

Zohore, who scored nine goals in Cardiff’s promotion campaign is a good start, but Albion need more options if they’re to really benefit from a 4-4-2 formation that Bilic opted for in Spain.

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Manchester United are slowly but surely burning through their first 2019 summer pre-season challenges.

After a strong showing in the land Down Under, the Red Devils travelled to Singapore which was the next stop on their tour.

There they faced Inter and were once again victorious on the night, snatching a tight 1-0 win in a game that flattered the losing side. The Englishmen were dominant throughout but in the end, they only managed to beat the man between the sticks once.

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Still the boss, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, was happy and rightly so.

The team is now enjoying some downtime as their next challenge looms just around the corner. Paul Pogba recently shared a brilliant team snap on

/B0LXIFellGJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link” data-lasso->Instagram showing the gang relaxing in Singapore after a long day’s work.

The snap depicted the Frenchman with many of his teammates, including David de Gea and Juan Mata, and they, including Pogba who has been in the centre of attention the whole summer, looked in good spirits.

The transfer rumours linking him to a potential move away from Old Trafford still persist but the latest reports suggest Manchester United are not ready to give up on their coveted midfielder just yet as they are lining up a new lucrative contract that would keep the Frenchman at the club.

One way or the other, we most likely haven’t heard the last of Pogba this summer.

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It would be fair to assume that Aaron Wan-Bissaka will start the 2019-20 campaign as Manchester United’s first-choice right-back when considering how much he cost.

Wan-Bissaka has been in impressive form for the club during pre-season, but Diogo Dalot will also be hoping to continue his development in the 2019-20 campaign.

The 20-year-old made 25 first-team appearances for the Red Devils last term, including 16 in the Premier League and four in the Champions League.

Although largely considered to be a right-back, Dalot has played left-back, left midfield and right midfield since arriving at Old Trafford.

Dalot might have to be a utility player once again in the coming season as Wan-Bissaka will surely keep hold of the right-back spot providing he is fit.

The United fans are expecting big things from the young Portuguese, though, with many taking to social media to lavish praise on him.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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Today’s Liverpool transfer roundup brings you three stories about the Reds that have recently broken. Jurgen Klopp and co reportedly agree a fee for Nicolas Pepe, Idrissa Doumbia is scouted and the Anfield outfit’s German boss speaks about Gareth Bale.

Liverpool agree Pepe fee

Report: According to L’Equipe, Liverpool have agreed a fee for Lille’s Nicolas Pepe. They are said to be one of four clubs to have done so, along with Arsenal, Napoli and Internazionale. The accepted offer is €80m (£72m).

Verdict: No-one can doubt that Pepe is an exciting player and provides an attacking threat – he scored 23 goals for Lille last season – but do Liverpool really need another winger? Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah ended the past campaign as joint top-scorers in the Premier League alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and the two African wide men scored over 50 goals in all competitions between them. Yes, it could be argued that the Ivory Coast international would provide top-quality back-up but, not only would a place as a reserve be a waste of his talent, it seems unlikely he would accept it. A move to any of the other three options would appear to have more legs.

How likely is the deal? 5/10

Reds scout Doumbia

Report: Today’s print edition of Record (via Sport Witness) is reporting that Liverpool are scouting Idrissa Doumbia. Apparently, the Reds have asked their scouting team to look at the 21-year-old more closely after noticing him during their pre-season game against Sporting Lisbon.

Verdict: Bruno Fernandes is the Sporting player that the Reds were said to have had their eye on (Journal de Noticias via The Daily Express), so this claim comes a little out of the blue. His career in Portugal is only just starting – he has made 14 appearances for his current club’s first team – but the Verde e Brancos clearly think a lot of him having included a €60m (£53.8m) release clause in his contract, which runs until 2024. His signing would be one for the future, so perhaps Liverpool would be best served by following his development before making a formal approach.

How likely is the deal? 6.5/10

Klopp rubbishes Bale link

Report: Jurgen Klopp has rubbished claims that Liverpool would be interested in signing Gareth Bale this summer. “Bale is a Real Madrid player and if he leaves it will be outstandingly expensive and big wages. He is an outstanding player, I like him a lot but it is not about him. You have to create a team. A team is not a collection of the best individual players, they have to work together”, said the former Borussia Dortmund boss.

Verdict: Of all the places where the Wales international could end up, Liverpool is far from the top of the list. Much like Pepe, he would be too big a name to be used as a back-up option – he would not provide an upgrade to Salah or Mane in terms of goal contributions based on last season either. Add on the fact he has a miserable injury record and it is 100% clear why the Champions League holders should avoid the former Tottenham man at all costs. China would welcome him with open arms, though.

How likely is the deal? 2/10

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Scott Arfield thinks his Rangers side’s work on their mentality will be key this season, admitting that Steven Gerrard focused on his side’s mental toughness over the summer.

What’s he said?

Arfield was speaking after his side’s dramatic 2-1 win over Kilmarnock. A last-minute Connor Goldson header gave Gerrard’s men a winning start to the Premiership season.

As well as a strong start to the domestic campaign, the Canadian’s side are well-placed to replicate last season’s journey to the Europa League group stages.

The late heroics at Rugby Park led to Arfield praising the Gers’ belief and mental capabilities. He said: “Mentality. That is the thing that we spoke about at the end of last season, that we spoke about during the season.

“That is what he [Gerrard] has been banging on about, to go as long as possible. It has come to fruition today and we are really happy with it.”

Mentality is key

Gerrard had spoken before the Kilmarnock match of how his side struggled to see out games last term. He highlighted the fact, as reported by The Daily Record, that if the games had finished on 86 minutes (rather than completing the 90) Rangers would’ve won the league last season.

While he didn’t directly blame his players for mental fatigue or weakness, it’s pretty clear he’s sought to get players thinking in the right way over the summer, never giving up until the final whistle goes.

The heroic win on Sunday is just a small signal that Gerrard’s methods are paying off. The Gers struggled against Killie last season and with another scrappy draw looming, they found the extra ounce of effort required to squeeze out three points.

There appeared to be a belief in the players that they could win this game, despite a 2018/19 season packed with near misses and late setbacks, as Gerrard alluded to.

The game itself was played in the backdrop of Celtic laying down a marker by walloping St. Johnstone 7-0. Titles aren’t won on the first day of the season, but that result could’ve been playing on the minds of the Rangers players.

Yet they appeared unburdened by such an emphatic result and stuck it out in Ayrshire to ensure their own three points.

The will to win at a ground they previously hadn’t won at in the league under Gerrard shows the gaffer’s desire to sort his side’s mentality is already starting to pay-off.

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West Brom had the pleasure of hosting Millwall twice in a week but only come away from the two fixtures with one result as they draw in the league before their Carabao Cup outing ended in defeat.

There was a debut goal for Charlie Austin, who Slaven Bilic poached on deadline day for £4m, but Tom Bradshaw and Aiden O’Brien hit back to send Millwall into the next round.

Bilic also gave starts to a number of fringe players including Oliver Burke who has struggled to make much of an impact in the West Midlands since joining in a £15m move from RB Leipzig in 2017.

The 22-year-old once dubbed the next ‘Gareth Bale’ has only registered one goal and three assists in 23 appearances.

It appears patience is wearing thin at the Hawthorns with a number of supporters sharing similar thoughts on the Scot.

A couple of fans compared the winger to Luke Moore claiming he was ‘the laziest’ and ‘most disinterested’ player since the former striker was at the club back in 2008-11.

Others blasted the young winger for being a waste of a shirt as well as a waste of money.

One supporter even hoped it would be the last they see of the 6 foot 2 winger in Baggies colours going forward.

Here’s the best of the reaction:

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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…

It may be stating the obvious but Raul Jimenez was a star for Wolves last season.

Initially being signed on loan from Benfica, the Mexican’s stay at Molineux was made permanent in a transfer that shattered their transfer record as he became a £30m player.

For someone who would go onto score 17 goals in all competitions during Wolves’ first campaign back in the top-flight, it was richly deserved.

Jimenez took to English football like a duck to water, using his physical prowess and finishing ability to become a favourite under Nuno Santo.

He was one of the main reasons Wolves managed to sustain their form throughout the season and finish in seventh place.

However, if Nuno’s men are going to break into the top six or even challenge in the Europa League, their fortunes could be down to another player very quickly surpassing Jimenez as the club’s main man.

That individual is Diogo Jota, someone who after struggling at the beginning of 2018/19, has started the new season in emphatic fashion.

The Portuguese is a special player and ended last term as their second top scorer despite not finding the net before December.

The 22-year-old scored ten times throughout the season but it wouldn’t be a great surprise if he bagged more in 2019/20.

After all, he already has two goals to his name in the Europa League, as well as finding the net twice against Newcastle in a pre-season win.

What typified the player Jota has become though occurred on Thursday night. The opposition may only have been Pyunik but the acrobatic shot he beat the ‘keeper with in a 4-0 win was phenomenal.

It bordered on the ridiculous and as Jimenez still battles back to full fitness following an arduous Gold Cup, Jota is arguably now the main man.

The arrival of Patrick Cutrone may well have put Jimenez’s place as the main centre forward slightly under threat, even if he has scored four goals in qualifying. Yet, it’s the more dynamic nature of Jota that implies the Mexican could be the man who drops out on a more regular basis.

If you don’t know the words to the Joao Moutinho chant in the video below, are you even a real Wolves fan?…

If you take into account he travels back to North America during the international break too, this is a feasible suggestion.

Against Leicester last weekend, Jota had three shots, completed five dribbles and made one key pass, per WhoScored.

The dynamism of his play is simply unrivalled in the Wolves team and he’ll be hugely important against Manchester United on Monday.

He ended last season with four goals in his last ten matches and he’s showed no indications that form will drop off this season.

At the age of 22, Jota has huge potential and has even been touted as someone who could replace Cristiano Ronaldo in the Portugal team once he retires.

For the time being, he is Wolves’ go-to man when they need something special.

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Manchester City were able to record a 3-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon but it didn’t come without yet more VAR drama.

City looked good value for their victory but it could have been more comfortable if the visitors were given a penalty for a challenge on David Silva.

The Spaniard went down under a challenge from Jefferson Lerma but the video assistant referee judged that it wasn’t a foul, thus no penalty was given.

Despite being 2-1 up at the time, supporters of Pep Guardiola’s team still weren’t happy as VAR were again against City after their disallowed goal against Tottenham a weekend previous.

One supporter claimed that it was a joke whilst a further individual labelled it corruption. It was even said that the decision was rigged.

Fortunately for City fans, however, it wasn’t to matter as they still came away from the Vitality Stadium with three points.

Sergio Aguero notched a brace whilst Raheem Sterling also got on the scoresheet.

Here’s some of the reaction from Twitter.

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[ad_pod ]Everything Gary Neville does nowadays comes under scrutiny.Now more than ever the former full-back is under the microscope of the public as his post-retirement ventures have seen him become one of the most famous pundits and football club owners in the country.It must’ve been a tough week for the former England international. He’s seen his beloved Manchester United pick up only one point from a possible six and he’s had to sit by as the fanbase he cares so deeply about hit a new low by racially abusing Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford.Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Luckily the Sky Sports pundit has been able to bookend this week by watching one of the greatest cricket matches of all time, and after the conclusion of the third Ashes test he took to Twitter to hit back at some of his critics.

Neville stated that Ben Stokes’ heroics provided a great finish to an otherwise hellish day as he’s been unfairly accused of multiple wrongdoings.

Fortunately, this hasn’t gotten to the pundit too much as the Manchester United legend sarcastically stated that it had been the best week of his life.

Realistically, it’s time for fans to get off of Gary Neville’s back. He may be a great pundit, and one of the highest-profile football club owners in the country, but he’s not a divine entity who can solve these issues, nor is he the root cause of any of these problems.