West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest faced each other at the Hawthorns on Tuesday night with the home team looking to overcome a pretty poor patch of form against recently rallied Martin O’Neill’s Forest side.

The first-half was dominated by the visitors, who looked like a new team under former Ireland boss Martin O’Neill, and Roy Keane, and their efforts were duly rewarded when a nicely conducted moved was luckily dispatched by Ryan Yates, whose wayward shot deflected into the back of the net via West Brom’s Stefan Johansen.

Forest headed into the break deserved leaders.

With the prospect of losing their grip on the top three, the home side headed into the second half with far more conviction than the first. A nicely struck volley by Rekeem Harper in the 54th minute, which bounced off the crossbar, was followed up by Jacob Murphy who tapped home his first for the club and the West Brom’s vital equaliser.

Their forward efforts were quickly negated however, following another Ryan Yates’ contribution. 2-1 to the visitors.

The three points looked all but secure until a pinch of last-minute controversy helped the Baggies secure a much-needed lifeline through a Jay Rodriguez penalty.

2-2 final score as the spoils were shared in what was a thrilling game.

Indeed, special credit should be given to Rodriguez who, above anyone else, looked most certain to make an impact on the day. The pressure of the penalty in the dying moments of the game could have gotten the better of any player, but he was calm and composed and executed it well.

West Brom fans will be concerned with the general performance of their players, however, with most turning out fairly abysmal ratings for their lacklustre efforts in both defensive and offensive play (ratings via Birmingham Live).

No one player truly deserved this award – Rodriguez was just the best of a bad bunch.

ذكرت تقارير صحفية ألمانية، أن هانزي فليك المدير الفني لفريق بايرن ميونخ تواصل مع ماريو جوتزه، لاعب بوروسيا دورتموند السابق خلال الفترة الأخيرة.

جوتزه صاحب 28 عامًا يعد حرًا بعد انتهاء عقده هذا الصيف مع دورتموند.

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وقالت صحيفة “سبورت بيلد” الألمانية: “إدارة بايرن ميونخ ترى أن عودة جوتزه للفريق ستضع مزيدًا من الضغط على النادي، في المقابل يضغط فليك لاستقدم الدولي الألماني السابق”.

وأضافت الصحيفة: “مع ذلك، هناك العديد من الأمور التي تجعل عودة جوتزه إلى بايرن ميونخ منطقية، أهمهما أنه لاعب مجاني”.

وتابعت: “جوتزه يستطيع اللعب كجناح أو صانع ألعاب وفليك يريد لاعبا رابعا، لتدعيم الثلاثي كومان وجنابري وساني، كما يرغب في بديل لتوماس مولر مع ازدحام جدول المباريات هذا الموسم”.

يذكر أن فليك كان مساعد المدرب للمنتخب الألماني في مونديال 2014، والذي ساهم جوتزه في الفوز به بفضل هدفه في المباراة النهائية أمام الأرجنتين.

On November 26th 2014, Tottenham Hotspur announced that Paul Mitchell had joined the club as Head of Recruitment and Analysis, which received a number of positive reactions.

Indeed, loads of supporters were delighted with club’s decision to appoint Paul Mitchell, as they took to Twitter to express their delight over the announcement.

Paul Mitchell began his scouting career at Milton Keynes Dons as a 27-year-old after being forced to retire through injury. He was soon promoted to head of recruitment by Karl Robinson before moving to St Mary’s in January 2012.

His eye for talent was soon apparent as he developed young British stars Luke Shaw, James Ward-Prowse, Calum Chambers and Nathaniel Clyne during his time at Southampton. He also managed to help bring in the likes of Sadio Mane, Dejan Lovren and Toby Alderweireld, who have gone on to become stars in the Premier League.

The Englishman had a very close relationship with Mauricio Pochettino during his time at St Mary’s and Daniel Levy decided to reunite him with the Argentine in North London. It’s safe to say this was a brilliant decision as he helped sign a number of talents, including the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Dele Alli and Kieran Trippier.

However, Mitchell resigned from his role at Spurs in August 2016 after less than two years in the role, with The Guardian suggesting he fell out with club chairman Daniel Levy.

It comes as no surprise that fans were delighted to see Paul Mitchell join the club as he made a name for himself on the transfer front, with Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld and Kieran Trippier all starring in Pochettino’s current side. It’s just a shame that they couldn’t hold onto him as he’s already worked wonders since moving to Germany.

Manchester United’s season has turned round for the best it would be safe to say since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took the reins from Jose Mourinho.

Firmly in contention to seal a Champions League place and playing some free flowing attacking football which the United fans have craved since the Sir Alex Ferguson days, things are certainly on the up for the Red Devils.

However, there remains a notion around the club that they are failing to attract the top stars in world football when it comes to the transfer market, and we here in the Tavern feel as if one or two big name signings this summer could well put that to bed.

And we think they don’t need to look too far away from home to make a statement, with a summer move for Spurs and England man Dele Alli very much something we feel the club should be considering if they want to strengthen properly.

While Alli is happy at Spurs and is something of a hero to the London club’s fans, he is yet to win anything with Pochettino’s men, and when a club like United come knocking, it can be very hard to turn down.

Alli possesses natural talent in abundance, and his form for Spurs since making himself a permanent fixture in the team has been nothing short of brilliant.

A move to United would give him the platform to prove himself at one of the world’s genuine giant clubs, and would give United that marquee player they have been craving this season.

United fans, what do you think? Would Alli make a good addition? Let us know in the comments!

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Loads of Liverpool fans have been reacting to a worrying piece of pre-Bayern news, as Roberto Firmino was absent from training on Monday.

Firmino did not participate in Liverpool training on Monday, reports The Liverpool Echo’s James Pearce.

The Brazilian international is suffering from a virus, per Pearce, and the Reds are sweating over his fitness for Tuesday night’s epic Champions League showdown.

Firmino has not been ruled out completely, but it seems very unlikely that he will be 100 per cent by Tuesday evening if he was unable to train on Monday.

With Virgil van Dijk suspended and Joe Gomez still out injured, that makes three Liverpool regulars that are expected to miss the game.

Of course, the last time Liverpool welcomed a European giant to Anfield without Firmino it was Daniel Sturridge who got the nod, and the striker bagged the opener in a 3-2 win over PSG.

Still, Liverpool fans are fearing the worst about facing one of Europe’s biggest and best teams without another star man, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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Loads of Tottenham fans have been reflecting on the week’s action, and they’re full of praise for midfield maestro Harry Winks.

When Winks bossed Real Madrid in a 3-1 win at Wembley back in November 2017, Spurs fans expected the youngster to explode onto the scene and cement his place in the starting XI.

While that didn’t happen immediately due to injuries, just 15 months later and the 23 year-old is back and better than ever, dropping yet another midfield master-class in the Champions League.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side had to weather the storm a little bit in the first half against Borussia Dortmund, but there was only one team in it in the second half.

The Lilywhites scored three deserved and well-worked goals thanks to Son Heung-min, Jan Vertonghen and Fernando Llorente, and yet Winks stole the show in midfield.

The thrice-capped English international was facing off against experienced and composed internationals in Axel Witsel (101 Belgium caps) and Thomas Delaney (34 Denmark caps) but he kept his cool and completed a frankly ridiculous 93 per cent of his passes.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where fans are full of praise yet again for their emerging star…

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Morgan Schneiderlin’s resurgence at Everton could potentially alter Marco Silva’s summer transfer plans, but should save the Toffees a whole load of cash.

What’s the word, then?

Well, since signing from Manchester United in a deal potentially rising to £24m, the Frenchman has failed to convince the Goodison Park faithful that he has been worth the money.

He has been booed by the club’s supporters following an alleged training ground row, and has seen his confidence become shot under both Ronald Koeman and Silva, the latter of whom is convinced by his quality and is keen to help him rediscover his mojo.

In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

Recently, however, the former Southampton man has two successive starts against both Cardiff and Liverpool – the fact that he was trusted to start the Merseyside derby speaks volumes of how his fortunes with the Toffees are starting to change.

Transfer plans ripped up

Everton were reportedly in for Lyon midfielder Lucas Tousart back in the summer, and again in January, but were rejected twice by the defensive midfielder who they are obviously intent on landing – one would assume that they will make another move for him in the summer.

However, what Silva and the Toffees perhaps weren’t banking on is Schneiderlin to turn his Toffees career around impressively in such a short space of time, a factor which could potentially see the club bin their plans to sign Tousart or in fact another defensive midfield option.

Idrissa Gueye has also performed admirably since his attempts to force a move to Paris Saint-Germain in January failed.

So, with the pair bang in form and in the prime years of their career, Silva should perhaps focus on recruiting in another area which needs some investment, such as the right-back position, and trust his current options to do the job in the defensive midfield areas.

علق حارس مرمى نادي ريال مدريد الأسطوري، إيكر كاسياس، الذي اعتزل قبل أشهر عالم كرة القدم بعد سنوات طويلة حقق خلالها العديد من الإنجازات على قرار الرحيل عن “سانتياجو برنابيو” وعلاقته مع المدرب، جوزيه مورينيو.

ورحل كاسياس عن ريال مدريد في صيف عام 2015 وانتقل إلى بورتو بعد الاتفاق مع النادي الإسباني على فسخ التعاقد بالتراضي، وهو ما تلقى عليه رئيس الملكي، فلورنتينو بيريز، انتقادات عنيفة من الجماهير التي طالبته بالاستقالة.

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ورد الحارس الإسباني السابق على سؤال “هل كنت تستحق هذا الوداع من ريال مدريد؟ وهل كنت مخطئًا؟!”: “كنا مخطئين، لكننا تعلمنا من الدرس، لا أحب تذكر تلك الفترة واعتقد أنها لم تكن جيدة بالنسبة لي وللنادي، لكني متأكد من قدرتنا على تصحيح هذا الأمر في المستقبل”.

وعن قرار مورينيو باستبعادك من التشكيل الأساسي وهو ما حدث مع ديل بوسكي من قبل: “الوضعان مختلفان تمامًا، لأن أحدهما له ما يبرره على المستوى الرياضي والآخر على المستوى الشخصي، كنا شخصين على ما يرام لمدة موسم ونصف وفي اليوم التالي كانت هناك مشاكل وأزمات لكنها كانت طبيعية بين مدرب وقائد للفريق”.

وأضاف في النهاية: “اعتقد مورينيو أنني لست جيدًا بما يكفي لأكون في التشكيل الأساسي للفريق، وعلاقتنا لم تعد جيدة كما كانت لذلك لم يكن قرار استبعادي صعبًا بالنسبة له، لكن الآن، تحسنت علاقتنا مرة أخرى ورأيته عدة مرات وتبادلنا الحديث بطريقة جيدة”.

Liverpool are looking to win their first Premier League title this season and are in a fine position to do so under Jurgen Klopp.

The Reds sit top of the pile after a blistering campaign and they will be gutted to throw away the title now with Man City hot on their heels so to speak.

However, the January window passed them by without anything to shout home about, and we here in the Tavern feel that some more players might be needed in order for Liverpool to sustain any success they have, especially in the central midfield areas.

And one man we feel fits this mould is Brazilian midfielder Walace, who has been plying his trade over in Europe with Hannover following a move in the summer from Hamburg.

However, the Premier League can be an enticing place to play your football, and Liverpool remain a global force who Walace will be well aware of.

A natural ball winner and someone with a fantastic engine in the middle of the park, the Brazilian would be ideally suited to Liverpool given how he would compliment the attacking players that the Reds currently boast.

Some of the central midfielders at Anfield are beginning to slow down a bit, and signing the 23-year-old would be a big boost for sure. Put him alongside fellow Brazilian Fabinho in the middle of the park, then Liverpool might just have the foundation to build on for years to come.

LIverpool fans, what do you think? Good signing? Let us know in the comments!

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Everton fans have taken to Twitter to ridicule Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, after the German was taunted by a ball boy following the 0-0 draw with the Toffees at Goodison Park.

Klopp’s Reds missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League table as a result of the Merseyside Derby stalemate, and they are now sat just one point behind Manchester City with nine games to go.

The former Borussia Dortmund manager watched his side squander a number of decent chances, including a glaring one-on-one miss from Mohamed Salah who kicked his effort straight at Jordan Pickford.

Klopp’s day went from bad to worse after the final whistle had sounded, as he was the subject of sarcastic clapping from one of the Everton ball boys on the day – the fact that he even reacted to the jibe is embarrassing enough for the Liverpool boss.

After appearing to give the child a stern talking to, the 51-year-old walked off laughing, and the Everton fans on Twitter wasted no time in giving their opinions on the matter…