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Crystal Palace host Huddersfield this weekend in a clash that presents the Eagles with a perfect opportunity to right the wrongs of recent weeks – they have endured a difficult period with their defeat at the hands of Brighton compounded by their elimination from the FA Cup by Watford.

Vicente Guaita will have had sleepless nights over the international break after some questionable decision making between the sticks cost his side and the Spaniard will be put to the test again this weekend.

On the chalkboard

The former Getafe goalkeeper has been a solid addition for Palace and undoubtedly an upgrade on Wayne Hennessey, but he let himself down against the Hornets – the 32-year-old flapped at a number of crosses and was left in no-man’s land when Etienne Capoue fired the hosts ahead.

There are no questions over his shot-stopping ability – the scoreline could have been very different but for some excellent reflex saves – but his judgement when it comes to claiming crosses in particular has to be better, starting with the Terriers game on Saturday.

Testing Terriers

Jan Siewert’s side might be rock-bottom with just 14 points to their name but the Premier League is an unpredictable competition – indeed, the Yorkshire-based outfit nearly upset West Ham last time out – so Palace will need to be on top form if they are to get back to winning ways. Starting with Guaita in net.

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

The £4.5m-rated ace will undoubtedly be in the wars this weekend – Huddersfield have scored more goals from set-pieces (9) than they have from open play (8) this campaign and they will feel that they can cause Guaita problems from such situations.

The Palace custodian will have to be assured when dealing with balls into the box from free-kicks and corners as this is where Huddersfield pose their biggest, and perhaps only threat..

And considering he has probably been mentally affected by his recent errors, the clash represents Guaita’s biggest challenge of the season yet. Can he bounce back?

Normally after a loss, a player will post an image and message to their social media asking for the fans to get behind the team and to apologise for the defeat, not for Javier Hernandez.

After West Ham’s 2-1 loss to Manchester United in a game where the Hammers yet again should have walked away with nothing, the Mexican international took to Instagram to give his thoughts on the game, or as he put it, praise the Red Devils for the reception he received.

Hernandez posted: “Coming back to Old Trafford and to having a standing ovation is not easy to digest… thank you to all the Manchester United fans today for doing that. A day I will never forget.”

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the Mexican striker making such a post. Man United are the club that gave Hernandez the chance to play in Europe and gave him the platform to become the player he is today, but making a post after losing to them for your new club whilst not acknowledging the result is poor.

The club you play for should always come first no matter how much love you have for a previous team, and this affection for the Manchester club will stop Hernandez from becoming much of a fan favourite at West Ham.

The east London side pride themselves on having players who want to play for the badge, but if Hernandez is out here making almost romantic messages to his former team after just losing to them, it won’t do him any favours with the fans who have already been displeased with his time at West Ham.

Hernandez’s time in the English capital has not been successful, and his comments to his former side aren’t winning him any favours too.

West Ham fans, has Hernandez been a success at the club? Let us know!

Taking a risk with Ryan Yates has certainly paid off, hasn’t it? Since Martin O’Neill gave him a chance in the Forest side, he hasn’t looked back, and what a decision it was the manager.

It was a brave choice to give the 21-year-old an opportunity in the centre of the park where usually experience is key, particularly in the Championship. However, since making his first appearance against Reading he’s fit in well and has solved an issue the club could have spent millions fixing.

Yates wasn’t in a single matchday squad until their 4-1 victory over Leeds in January, but here he is, having now started the last eight games. He’s a product of the youth academy, and that’s endeared him to the fans even more, bringing more positivity to the City Ground than there was before Martin O’Neill.

Forest sit 11thin the Championship and don’t have much of a chance at reaching the play-offs, so it’s obvious investment is needed in the summer to catch up with clubs above them. By promoting Yates into the first team, it means the club don’t have to buy someone like him in the summer, and instead they can concentrate on other areas.

His success also sends out a great message to the rest of squad, saying ‘if you work hard enough, you’ll get your chance’. This will keep existing first-choice players on their toes and give confidence to other young or out-of-favour players.

The Forest fans will always have a greater connection with one of their own, so promoting him, while saving money and sending out a positive message to the rest of the squad is a masterstroke that can gift O’Neill success in the long run.

Forest fans, how high do you think your club can finish this season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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Leeds United fans on Twitter have been unalarmed after the club’s financial accounts showed a £4.3million annual loss. The £4.3million loss comes twelve months after Leeds made a profit of almost £1million the previous year.

The most recent accounts published show that Leeds were working at an operating loss of £20million before the sales of players such as Chris Wood offset some of that.

The update was posted by Leeds journalist Phil Hay on Twitter. It hasn’t startled the Leeds fanbase though as their eyes are firmly set on promotion and the fortunes that come with it.

Despite the fanbase living through money worries at Leeds they don’t see the hefty deficit as too much of an issue as they are confident that Premier League football will be coming to Elland Road next season

With the Premier League being within touching distance for the Yorkshire club, some fans haven’t considered the consequences of these financial reports and have instead brushed them off as Leeds head towards the top flight where clubs’ incomes increase substantially.

Here’s what Leeds fans had to say on Twitter…

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Supporters of West Brom have been left absolutely fuming with the FA’s decision not to charge Brentford man Julian Jeanvier for spitting in their direction.

The incident occurred during the club’s 1-0 win over the Bees earlier this month but upon reviewing footage, the FA have decided no punishment was needed for Jeanvier.

Baggies supporters are incensed and feel that he should have been charged, claiming that he didn’t just spit in their general direction but it was actually at them.

Many fans have slammed the FA’s decision arguing that had it been the other way around then they’d have been given banning orders.

There have been a number of fan and player incidents lately with Jack Grealish being punched during the Second City derby in March. Similarly, a fan ran on the pitch during Arsenal’s win over Manchester United recently.

They were more extreme cases but it seems strange not to charge the Brentford defender for a situation that has clearly made the Hawthorns faithful incredibly angry.

What makes the FA’s decision not to charge him even more bizarre is the fact that the Frenchman has actually admitted to spitting towards them.

Brentford conducted their own investigation and reminded the player that his behaviour was unacceptable.

Here’s the reaction from Twitter.

[ad_pod ]Sheffield United swept a poor Nottingham Forest team aside at Bramall Lane on Friday, and fans are once again delighted with the progress of Enda Stevens.While Leeds dropped points, Sheffield United took care of business on Friday afternoon, with several key players putting in superb performances in a 2-0 win.Jack O’Connell was monstrous at the back, Mark Duffy and David McGoldrick caused plenty of problems up front while John Fleck and Oliver Norwood ran the show in midfield.No one was more impressive than Stevens though, whose transition from traditional left-back to left-wing-back since joining the Blades has been remarkable.Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…Chris Wilder has turned the Irishman into one of the best full backs in the league, and his strike in the win takes his tally to two for the campaign, along with an impressive six assists.Fans are delighted with the 28 year-old’s form and Wilder deserves huge credit for getting the best out of him in a role he did not play at Portsmouth.You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

رد جوسيب ماريا بارتوميو رئيس نادي برشلونة على الانتقادات التي تعرض لها من قِبل جيرارد بيكيه، فيما يتعلق باستخدام أموال لتحسين صورة الإدارة على عكس اللاعبين.

وكان بيكيه قد ألمح إلى أن إدارة برشلونة تدفع أموالًا لشركة لتحسين صورة مسؤولي النادي برئاسة بارتوميو، وتوجيه الانتقادات إلى اللاعبين.

وقال بارتوميو في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية: “لن ننفق يورو واحد لأي مستشار أو موقع لانتقاد اللاعبين، لقد أوضحت ذلك لـ بيكيه، أحد قادة فريقنا”.

وأضاف: “بيكيه هو واحد من قادة فريق، لقد مدد عقده وخفض راتبه لمساعدة النادي، في بعض الأحيان عليك تقبل ما يُقال”.

وواصل: “لن أجادل اللاعبين في العلن، فقط على انفراد، لديهم أبوابي مفتوحة وأحيانًا أذهب إلى منازلهم”.

وعاد بارتوميو للحديث عن ميسي مجددًا، حيث قال: “أتفهم أنه كان غاضبًا، لكن لم نتمكن من السماح له بالرحيل لأنه مفتاح مشروعنا، ونأمل أن يقول في الأيام القليلة المقبلة إنه يريد البقاء وتجديد عقده”.

We’ve really had some problems on the road this year, haven’t we? So much so, that some Hammers may be beginning to question Manuel Pellegrini after a few poor performances which then means the summer transfer window is of the utmost importance to West Ham.

Having spent over £100 million in the summer, fans had every right to assume the Irons would be on course to push on up the table but now in 11th, that hasn’t happened.

Clearly, many are still keen for Manuel Pellegrini to get the full backing he deserves and rightly so but this summer could prove to be make or break for him and the club as a whole.

As ever, the rumour mill has already started and it will be unsettling to hear that Felipe Anderson (as per Bleacher Report earlier this month) would be allowed to leave for huge money. If worst comes to worst and he does leave, West Ham should act fast to get Nice forward Allan Saint-Maximin in his place.

Allan Saint-Maximin, (who is valued at £22.5 million on Transfermarkt) was previously a rumoured (as per the Sun) target for West Ham before they went and acquired Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko in the wide positions instead and again (according to the Sun via HITC) after the latter’s injury earlier in the campaign.

The speedy playmaker has once again enjoyed a successful season with Nice, going on to provide six goals and four assists in Ligue 1. Imagine the sight of him tearing up the London Stadium, bringing goals from all over the pitch.

The 22-year-old is used to changing positions frequently and could be used on either wing, as well as down the middle as a supporting striker. His electric pace and trickery makes him an absolute nightmare to defend against, so he could prove to be a real handful in the Premier League.

Indeed, he’s got the makings of a fan favourite and you Irons would be in for a real treat.

Again West Ham would have to take the risk in signing a player that has never played in England before but in certain cases like Felipe Anderson, that has worked out well this season.

Saint-Maximin is without a doubt someone who could quickly help fans forget about Felipe Anderson, should he leave this summer. We’ve been here before with Dimitri Payet, after all.

West Ham fans, do you agree? If not, why not? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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Loads of Newcastle fans have been reacting to a promising update on Rafael Benitez’s future.

Newcastle fans went into meltdown mode on Twitter on Thursday after L’Equipe (via GFFN) claimed Benitez has employed a Lyon-based football agency to explore job opportunities in Ligue 1.

While some fans were distraught at the news others just dismissed it completely, and now Luke Edwards from The Telegraph has given the update that everyone wanted to hear.

Does Newcastle’s infamous title collapse of 1996 mirror what is happening at Liverpool right now? The Magpie Channel discuss in the video below…

“I’m told the claim Benitez has signed up with an employment agency to look for jobs in France are not true and his priority is to continue working in England,” Edwards tweeted.

The gaffer himself has since been asked about his future as well, and has effectively placed the ball in Mike Ashley’s court, per Damian Spellman.

Of course, losing Benitez would be a total catastrophe, as there are very few managers in world football, and probably none that are available, who could produce his results with such an underwhelming squad.

Fans are unsurprisingly going wild over the update from Edwards, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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Charlton extended their unbeaten run to eight games with a 1-0 victory over relegation candidates Bradford at the weekend – a clash which saw Jonny Williams return to the starting XI behind goalscorer Lyle Taylor and Igor Vetokele.

The former Crystal Palace man has yet to notch or tee up a teammate since signing for the Addicks in January but is still an asset to Lee Bowyer in a team that lacks creative ability beyond Joe Aribo.

Like many of his teammates, though, the 25-year-old’s future at The Valley is uncertain; his deal at the club expires in the summer and so it’s unclear as to whether he will be plying his trade for the Addicks next season.

Fortunately, the 18-cap Welsh international has moved to ease any tension surrounding his commitment to the club – or has he? Here’s what Williams had to say to London News Online:

“I’m trying to focus on Charlton and getting the club back in the Championship. Trying to focus on staying fit. Seasons go quick and fast so it will soon be the summer and I’ll be looking at my next step in my career wherever that may be. I just want to enjoy my football again. I’ve really enjoyed my time here, so who knows.

“Of course [I’d be open to staying at Charlton]. There would be a real feel-good factor if we were to get promoted. It’s a real good bunch of lads. I’ve enjoyed working under the manager, I think he’s improving me. I’m getting into better goal scoring positions and making an impact higher up the pitch. He is helping me improve my game. We’ll see come the summer. I’m enjoying my football here and I don’t see why not if everything is good. So, we’ll see.”

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

Williams’ career has been plighted by injuries but he’s finally been able to string some displays together at Charlton given the promise of regular starts. The Welshman reserved his promises for the summer, though, instead leaning on the ‘who knows, we’ll see’ approach. Would you like to see Williams remain at The Valley next season? Let us know in the comments below…