Manchester United fans absolutely hated Anthony Martial’s performance against West Brom, after the winger made little impact off the bench in Sunday’s defeat.
Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United suffered yet another incredible setback on Sunday as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to West Brom.
The Baggies are almost certain to get relegated this season, but nonetheless came away from Old Trafford with all three points courtesy of Jay Rodriguez’s second half goal.
Fans were furious this week when reports broke that Anthony Martial wanted to leave the club, but some are actually now yearning for his departure after his cameo in Sunday’s defeat.
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Martial replaced Paul Pogba in the second half, but couldn’t make the desired impact as United struggled to create any sort of attacking structure.
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While plenty of fans have defended the talented Frenchman amidst rumours of his possible departure, he might not want to check social media for the next couple of days.
Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
When Vincent Tan, owner of Cardiff City, announced that he was going to make the Bluebirds red everyone thought they had misheard him. Despite the massive protests by everybody involved in the club, Tan carried on his mission to change Cardiff City’s kit and badge to red.
But why was he so against the colour blue? They were nicknamed the Bluebirds so having a red bluebird just seemed more than a bit stupid. In Asia, blue is seen as an unlucky colour and tan believed that to get to and survive in the Premier League they needed the lucky colour: red.
Tan was determined to make Cardiff City one of the most famous teams in Asia alongside Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. And what colour do they all play in? Red.
After two and a half years playing in red, fans have never taken to the colour change and they have carried on their protests. However, it looks like Tan has finally bowed down to the pressure as from next season Cardiff’s first shirt will go back to blue with a badge redesign.
The new badge has been now revealed – with the old bluebird being in the centre of the crest – but there is still a dash of red with the Welsh dragon at the bottom of it.
So what made Tan change his mind? Did he decide that red was unlucky after all?
Let’s take a look at the two and a half years spent in the ‘lucky’ colour.
When Cardiff changed their home colours to red and black in 2012 they went on to have the best start to a league campaign ever. With a club record of nine consecutive home wins it looked like the lucky colour was working.
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That season the luck continued for Cardiff. They won the Championship and were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in the clubs history.
When you look at that it seems the lucky colour had certainly done something right.
Sadly the luck ran out next season as they struggled in the top flight. Tried as they might there just didn’t seem to be so much as a lucky sock for the Welsh side.
After a difficult season Cardiff were relegated back into the Championship after only one year at the top. So that is one lucky season and one unlucky season – the finally decision on the colour’s lucky potential lies with the current Championship season.
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At the beginning of the season the Bluebirds were one of the favourites to be promoted with many believing they could bounce straight back. But, things didn’t quite go according to plan. Cardiff currently sit 15th in the league table in what is quite a poor season for them with no hope of even reaching the play-offs.
Verdict: Red is an unlucky colour for Cardiff!
Lucky or unlucky, Cardiff fans look like they are finally getting what they want and maybe it’s time to remember football form usually comes from skill and determination – and maybe just a little bit of luck.
After what could only be described as two of the most disappointing weeks for the club this season a win at bury was the only thing that could put smiles back on people’s faces. The team duly delivered though and a 2-0 win saw City climb closer to them potentially lucrative playoff spots.
It was a performance of a team that despite the loss of their manager was still full of confidence and after taking an early lead with an assured finish from Clarke, the team never looked back. It wasn’t all our own way but we were pretty comfortable throughout the game. City continued to push throughout the match and a clever little turn and shot from Baker secured the 3 points.
It was a match against a side who are really struggling and look highly likely to be relegated come the end of the season. Most people would have looked at that game and said it was one that we had to win and they were probably right but we had to turn up and do a job which we did.
It is a good advert for any new potential manager as it shows the squad is good enough to cope with the loss of a great manager. A few potential candidate have been snapped up by others but my personal favourite is still out there. I am of course referring to Nigel Adkins who I still can’t quite believe lost his job at Southampton.
The realistic favourite for the job is still Phil Brown in my eyes, he came close last time round and the board clearly liked what his plans were. I still remain a little sceptical if we were to make this appointment but I think he is a manger who someone needs to take a gamble on and maybe that gamble will pay off for us.
Another name that has entered the fray is that of Di Canio. Personally I don’t like his management style and whilst he did do a good job at Swindon he did it with a lot of financial backing something which Coventry clearly don’t have. As a match I don’t think he is the right man for this club and I personally feel that we will end up taking steps further back if he was to be appointed.
A final name that I feel is worth a mention is that of the man currently in charge. There is no doubting that Lee Carsley was a great player and a leader on the pitch and whilst this can lead to a successful career in management I’m not sure this is the right time for him. He is doing a great job with the youngsters right now and I feel that time spent as someone’s number two would be better for him. I wouldn’t be totally against his appointment but it would be a huge gamble from the club and one I don’t think we need to take right now.
Turning our attention back to football matches and Wednesday night’s trip to Crewe is going to require another miracle. 3-0 down after the first leg means city have s huge mountain to climb. There seems to be a wide acceptance within the footballing world that this game is over which was confirmed when sky decided to drop the match and instead show the other are final which is more finely balanced at 1-0. This is understandable but is a real kick in the teeth to us Coventry fans.
There are still plenty including myself that haven’t written this tie off yet. Our away record this season has been fantastic. We have not only won more than we have lost but we have scored a lot of goals on our travels with us in fact being the highest scoring team away from home. It is goals that we need against Crewe and having scored 3 or more away from home on 6 different occasions this season I find myself still believing we can turn it around.
This club needs some positivity after all of the recent negativity which has surrounded it in the last few weeks. A miracle turn around in this 2nd leg tie could be just the medicine city fans need. A trip to Wembley for any team in any competition is a truly special occasion and I just feel with everything that has happened at our club in the recent past that it will be that extra little bit special for us Coventry fans.
Realistically I know it is a long shot but as the saying goes it’s not over till the fat lady sings and whilst she might have been warming up her vocals ever since that 1st leg defeat she has not started singing yet. We need to believe, the players need to believe and we can do this, we can win and we can have our day in the sun at Wembley.
PUSB!!
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As reported by The Scottish Sun, former Celtic midfielder and current ESPN pundit Craig Burley has backed his old teammate at Chelsea, Steve Clarke, to take charge of Rangers this summer.
What’s the story?
With Graeme Murty failing to convince fans he has what it takes to pick up results on a consistent basis at the Light Blues, all thoughts are on who could potentially replace the interim boss this summer.
One man who is catching the eye is Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke, who has performed superbly with Kilmarnock this season.
And he’s been backed by Craig Burley for the post, the former Scotland international believing he’s shoo-in.
As quoted by The Scottish Sun, Burley said:
For what he’s done at Kilmarnock, he should be a shoo-in for the Rangers job.
If they want a manager who’s got experience at clubs like Chelsea, Newcastle, Liverpool and West Ham, taken West Brom into the top half of the Premiership and now done well in Scotland, who else do they look at?
To me, it’s a no-brainer. You’ll get the halfwits who’ll object because he was a Celtic fan as a kid, but do they want someone who has a proven record or don’t they?
Does he deserve a chance at Ibrox?
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Should he be in the running?
Clarke may not have had a full season in charge of Kilmarnock but has taken them from almost certainties to be relegated to a side challenging for a top six spot in the Scottish Premiership, in just five months.
Although making an excellent signing in Youssouf Mulumbu, the Killie boss has mostly inspired the existing talent at Rugby Park, perhaps a sign that he could do an excellent job on limited resources at Ibrox.
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He’s brought organisation and belief to the Ayrshire outfit, two things that Rangers lack right now.
With scalps against Celtic, Rangers and almost every other club in the division, he must be a contender for manager of the year in Scotland and, as such, the Gers would be crazy not to consider him this summer if he’s willing to make the switch.
Manchester United flop Anderson has blamed his disappointing career with the Red Devils on injury following a move to Brazilian club Internacional, according to the Guardian.
Anderson joined United in 2007 for £26million, but never lived up to his massive price tag, despite winning four Premier Leagues, two League Cups, the FIFA Club World Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.
The former Brazil international made only 70 starts during his 8 years with the Red Devils and finally left the club this winter by joining his hometown team.
The 26-year-old thanked United for his time at Old Trafford, before blaming his niggling knee injuries as the reason behind his failed Manchester United career.
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“I played for eight years for Manchester,” he said.
“I would like to thank the club. In my first four years I won everything there, Champions League, Premier League and Club World Cup. I had a knee injury and returned to play again too fast. I played but the knees were not equal and I got myself injured again.”
Anderson was sidelined on six separate occasions because of his knee, and the most serious came in February 2010 as he ruptured his ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) forcing him out for the rest of the season.
The ex-Porto ace was also criticised over his weight, to which he replied: “Do you think I’m not fit? A player will always be criticised. I had injuries in the past, but I have to be quiet right now and answer in the field.
“It will be a pleasure play in a club such as Internacional. I want to be happy as I was in other clubs. I’m coming back to Porto Alegre because Inter went after me. The president gave me attention. I was training [at United] but not playing.”
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The prospect of watching your beloved team in unfamiliar surroundings is often as daunting as it is rewarding. The three points on offer certainly aren’t worth any more and yet they feel special, perhaps because expectations usually favour the home side.
In the school playground, your status as a ‘true supporter’ is determined by how many home matches you regularly attend, but as we grow up we realise the true dedicated followers are those who follow their club up and down the country.
In some cases it can resemble the perfect weekend getaway – just think of how many fans were gutted to see Blackpool relegated – but some places really do test your commitment to the badge on your chest.
With this mind I have decided to collate the top ten most repellent away days. The stadiums that are more dirty than Joey Barton and Ben Thatcher combined or produce pies that look like they belong on I’m a Celebrity.
Click on Selhurst Park below to get the ball rolling
It has been difficult to get away from news reports about Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld.
The Belgian international’s future has made headlines in recent weeks as he is yet to sign a new contract at the club.
The situation has attracted interest from rival supporters, with Manchester United fans keen to snap up the 29-year-old.
Some Tottenham supporters are worried at the prospect of losing Alderweireld, but others have begun to question why his centre-back partner is not regarded as just as important to the team.
Jan Vertonghen has been a reliable figure at the back for the North London outfit, and he has been playing alongside his fellow Belgian since 2015.
The 30-year-old joined Spurs from Ajax in 2012 and has become a regular feature in Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
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This season, Alderweireld has been restricted to just 10 Premier League starts due to hamstring problems, while Vertonghen has played in all but one of the club’s top-flight fixtures.
During a discussion on Reddit, Tottenham fans debated the individual importance of the defenders.
Comment from discussion Why do people seem to rate Toby more than Jan?.Comment from discussion Why do people seem to rate Toby more than Jan?.Comment from discussion Why do people seem to rate Toby more than Jan?.Comment from discussion Why do people seem to rate Toby more than Jan?.Comment from discussion Why do people seem to rate Toby more than Jan?.Comment from discussion Why do people seem to rate Toby more than Jan?.Comment from discussion Why do people seem to rate Toby more than Jan?.
Radamel Falcao stole all the transfer deadline day headlines over the summer as he completed a shock loan move from Monaco to Manchester United. With a stellar record at Porto and Atletico Madrid, many predicted that the £6m loan fee would be just the start of a £49m permanent deal – a £43m clause is in place – but the honeymoon is now over, and the doubts are really kicking in.
Another goalless display at Spurs got us thinking… is Falcao worth the gamble? Erm…
Not scoring…
Falcao has scored just twice for Manchester United this season… For a player with such a reputation and a pedigree at the very top of the game, that return is not good enough. He had chances today against Spurs, whose defence hasn’t been excellent this term, but failed to find the back of the net.
Lots of effort, but £43m deserves more than effort
Effort is a key part of football. Running the channels, pressing defenders and making yourself available are all key traits for a striker. But a £50m forward needs to offer more than just lung busting runs. Falcao’s heat map was impressive, but the Colombian offered very little in the areas that matter.
That injury…
Lingering in the background is that knee. Falcao has missed much of 2014 with a torn ACL, which is, as injuries go, a bad one for an attacking player. Once so explosive, the 28-year-old no longer has that burst, which has robbed him of the cutting edge that once left defenders with brown stains in their shorts…
Last season’s Premier League Champions Manchester City have a squad which is the envy of nearly the whole of the Premier League sides and the days of wholesale changes at the Etihad stadium appear to be over. They remain firmly hanging on to the coattails of bitter rivals Manchester United at the top of the Premier League. All Mancini appears to want to find is that final piece or two to complete the puzzle as City look to create the ultimate team ready to defend their title and be capable of Champions League superiority next season.
They notably were pipped to the post on the elite players this summer in the shape of Eden Hazard and Robin Van Persie and won’t want to settle for second best again in January. Sheikh Mansour’s financial backing means that money is no object as ever, as City look to exploit the transfer market for an elaborate gem before the financial fair play rules kick in.
Click on Marouane Fellaini to see which players will solve the Mancini Mystery
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Newcastle fans are impressed by their on loan goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, after the World Cup hero saved three penalties to put Aberdeen into the Scottish Cup semi-finals.
Newcastle’s Freddie Woodman was the hero for Aberdeen on Tuesday night, as the on loan keeper saved three shootout penalties to beat Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.
Woodman has yet to make his Premier League debut for Newcastle, but has impressed in loan spells at Crawley Town, Kilmarnock and now Aberdeen. He joined Aberdeen in January, and dumped his former loan club out of the cup with three huge penalty saves on Tuesday night.
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The 21 year-old keeper had taken some flak from Aberdeen fans before the game, but he is surely in their good books now. Woodman was the World Cup hero for England’s U20s last summer, saving a penalty in the final and winning the tournament’s golden glove.
Newcastle fans are impressed by what they’ve seen so far, and some are hoping for a complete overhaul of their goalkeeping situation to put Woodman as permanent back-up to the impressive Martin Dubravka.
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Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…