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أكد كالوم هودسون أودوي لاعب فريق تشيلسي أنهم قدموا أداءً جيدًا في مباراة اليوم أمام كراسنودار الروسي، في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وتواجه الفريقان في الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات، حيث فاز تشيلسي بأربعة أهداف دون رد.

وأحرز أودوي هدف كتيبة فرانك لامبارد الأول.

وقال أودوي، في تصريحات نشرها الموقع الرسمي للبطولة: “لقد كانت مباراة رائعة بالنسبة لنا، بدأنا بشكل جيد، عملنا بجد منذ البداية واستحقينا أهدافنا بالنظر إلى الطريقة التي لعبنا بها”.

وأضاف: “لقد تطورنا في المباراة ونجحنا في استغلال فرصنا ودافعنا كفريق، وتقدمنا سويًا، نحن نستحق ما حصلنا عليه بشكل جماعي”.

واختتم: “أي هدف يأتي في طريقي أنا سعيد به، أريد أن أستمر في التحسن وأسجل المزيد من الأهداف وأقدم المزيد من التمريرات”.

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Amid the era of Youtube highlight reels, FIFA ratings and ridiculous transfer fees, it’s incredibly easy for a player’s hype to spiral beyond all proportion, leaving reality in the rear-view mirror. And after a summer spending spree at West Ham, followed by notable improvement in performance, there’s an obvious danger in some of the stars at the London Stadium featuring a little too highly in our estimations.

So, Football FanCast’s writers have answered a curious question: Who is the most overrated player at West Ham? Check out their verdicts below…

James Beavis – Felipe Anderson

“It might be a controversial shout but he just doesn’t do enough for me given how much he cost West Ham in the summer. Yes, he has eight goals and four assists in 31 Premier League appearances in his debut season in England, but in his previous 12 top-flight outings he has produced just two assists. That simply isn’t good enough for a player of his quality given he started all of those games, and the fact he was taken off at half-time against Cardiff shows you all you need to know about how he is doing at the moment.”

Billy Meyers – Jack Wilshere

“Admittedly, the hype surrounding the England international has worn off over the years, but the fact that he is still as highly rated as he is – hence the Hammers’ decision to offer him a three-year contract – is baffling. Of course, he is a decent player, but his crippling injury problems should see his status reduced to that of merely a Premier League also-ran, unless he can prove his fitness.”

Jack Saville – Javier Hernandez

“He may not be the most widely praised or popular player at West Ham but the Little Pea has been stealing a living at the top level for years. The predatory instincts he offers are a useful weapon to have from the substitutes bench, but he doesn’t possess the complete skill set which strikers need to thrive in the Premier League. Pellegrini needs an upgrade to take the Hammers to the next level.”

Maddison? Wan-Bisakka? The Pl>ymaker FC squad name who they think were unfairly overlooked by Gareth Southgate for his latest England squad…

Christy Malyan – Mark Noble

“He’s not rated particularly highly but the point remains that if Mark Noble wasn’t West Ham through-and-through, he probably would be playing at a lower level. Relentless on his day and a clinical penalty taker, however those days have petered out somewhat in recent years and his passing has become increasingly passive. He’s great value and of course, every team needs players who embody the heart and sole of the club. But in terms of actual ability, sometimes it feels as though he’s being carried but those around him.”

[ad_pod ]Manchester United fans on Twitter are riled after Paul Pogba spoke of his admiration for Real Madrid in the media, saying that they are a ‘dream club for every player’.The France international has been at Old Trafford for three years now since returning to the club in 2016 for a then world-record fee of £89m, having been let go by the Red Devils in 2012 – Pogba ended up joining Juventus on a free transfer.Which “global superstar” has just been named Man Utd’s worst ever January signing? Find out in the video above…Talk of the World Cup winner being unhappy in Manchester was rife towards the end of Jose Mourinho’s tenure in charge of the 20-time Premier League champions, and whilst he appears happier under the tutelage of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, that hasn’t stopped him flirting with the Spanish giants.Understandably, United fans aren’t too happy with the 26-year-old’s comments, especially at a time where it looks like the club is heading in the right direction under Solskjaer.Many have questioned his commitment to the cause, so let’s take a look at what some of the United fans on Twitter are saying about Pogba’s silly comments…

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Crystal Palace face Leicester this weekend at the King Power Stadium and, having won their last three clashes with the Foxes without conceding a goal, Palace will be hoping that they can continue their unprecedented run of good results against the 2015/16 champions.

However, BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson, though, thinks that the game could be won or lost depending on whether one Leicester remains benched or not.

What did he say?

Discussing his predictions for the weekend’s round of football in his regular column, the former defender said:

“There always seems to be speculation over the future of Foxes boss Claude Puel, and he really needs to return to winning ways here.

“A lot depends on Puel’s line-up – and whether Jamie Vardy starts this time – but I actually quite fancy Leicester here.

“Crystal Palace are having a good run in the FA Cup and have taken five points from their past three games too.

“The Eagles have been playing quite well and creating loads of chances, but they are still hovering just above the relegation zone and they will have to be careful they don’t get sucked in.”

Lawrenson tipping Vardy to get Leicester back on form

As Lawrenson says, the Eagles have been putting in solid performances but their finishing needs to be far better if they are to fly away from the relegation zone. They will fancy themselves against the Foxes considering the results from their last few meetings and the possible absence of lynchpin James Maddison, but former England international Vardy will cause them problems should be given the nod.

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…

The hitman was surprisingly left out of the starting XI in the 3-1 loss to Spurs last time out, with Demarai Gray deputising up front, but came on to score the consolation for his side. Selhurst Park outfit Palace will have to be wary of the 32-year-old’s pace if they are to get the win but also pray that their forwards’ finishing is as exemplary as Vardy’s typically is.

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According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham Hotspur are prepared to offer Premier League strugglers Fulham £20 million to sign Ryan and Steven Sessegnon in the upcoming summer transfer window.

What’s the story?

Ryan Sessegnon has been in and out of the Cottagers’ starting XI this season. Last year, in the west London club’s promotion campaign from the Championship, the 18-year-old was an integral part of the side, scoring fifteen goals and racking up six assists over the course of the league season.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

The left-sided starlet has failed to truly find his feet in the top flight so far though. However, his efforts to acclimatise to the Premier League have been hampered by Fulham’s wider issues on and off the pitch – which has led them to the their current position in the relegation zone.

Sessegnon’s twin brother, Steven, is also on the books at Craven Cottage. The right-back is highly-rated by the club’s academy staff, but is yet to make his Premier League bow.

A double steal

Whilst Ryan Sessegnon has struggled to really shine this season, the England under-21 international remains a hugely exciting talent. He certainly belongs at the top level, and should Fulham get relegated this season then there ought to be plenty of Premier League clubs interested in his services. 

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has already demonstrated his ability to aid the development of young English talent with Dele Alli and Harry Winks. Ryan Sessegnon could be the next man on the conveyor belt.

What’s more, the Fulham ace could also prove to be the answer to Spurs’ left-back woes. Ben Davies lacks attacking quality whilst Danny Rose is inconsistent and injury prone. If Sessegnon were able to mature defensively then he could become a key weapon in Pochettino’s arsenal.

His brother is also a talent and worth a punt, especially if he helps Ryan settle in north London. All in all, £20 million for the pair would have to be considered an absolute steal.

Gerald Majola, the suspended CSA chief executive, has been found guilty on all nine charges laid against him at his disciplinary hearing, including accepting bonuses, not declaring them to the board and wrongdoing around travel claims. The sanction against him will only be decided on Friday, although it is likely he will be fired.Majola’s hearing took place without him after he withdrew from proceedings last week. He was invited to appear before chairperson Karel Tip for the decision today but chose not to. He could still make an appearance tomorrow to make submissions on the sanction that will be handed down.When that takes place it will bring to an end an almost three-year long saga over which has centred on R4.7 million (then US$ 671,428) in bonuses that were paid to Majola and 29 other staff members after the hosting of the 2009 IPL in South Africa. Three separate investigations found that the money was not properly declared to the board and contravened principles of corporate governance.Suspicion first emerged when CSA’a auditors picked up the payments as an irregularity in August 2009. At the time, sources close to the body maintained that the payments were made in accordance with precedents set during other non-CSA events, such as the 2007 World Twenty20. The then-president Dr Nyoka called for a more thorough look into the matter. CSA initially said they would have an external enquiry but decided to exhaust their internal mechanisms first and moved the matter in-house.AK Khan chaired the commission and cleared Majola of any wrongdoing but reprimanded him for making an error of judgement in not declaring the money. On Nyoka’s insistence – after having votes of no confidence passed against him twice and winning a court battle – CSA had to subject itself to an audit by major firm KPMG. Their investigation recommended CSA seek legal advice on whether Majola broke the law. After hearing testimony from a lawyer, the board chose to reprimand Majola severely in response.The action was deemed to be unsatisfactory by the country’s sports minister Fikile Mbalula. He stepped in and ordered that another investigation be conducted under Judge Chris Nicholson. Hearings were held from December last year to February 2012 and in March, Nicholson issued his findings. The two most notable ones were that Majola be suspended pending a disciplinary hearing and that CSA restructure its board.The latter is almost complete. On Tuesday CSA announced the five independent directors who will sit on the new board and will appoint five provincial presidents to join them at the AGM on October 27. They may also have to appoint a new chief executive if Majola loses his job after the sanctions have been announced. Jacques Faul, the acting chief executive, and Haroon Lorgat, the former ICC boss, are believed to be in the running.Majola’s hearing was due to be complete by the end of May but it was delayed when he contested the appointed chairperson. The challenge was successful because John Myburgh, who was to hear the proceedings, made an advisory award against Majola and he was believed not to be impartial in the matter because of that.Tip was then appointed and the hearing started last Wednesday. Majola has since launched a challenge in the country’s Labour Court. He is challenging the legitimacy of the action taken against him over the last year, particularly the decision to hold a disciplinary hearing against him.

According to journalist Graeme Bailey, the agent of Chelsea forward Olivier Giroud is attempting to “engineer a move” to Tottenham Hotspur for his client.

Giroud had been widely expected to leave Stamford Bridge this month due to his lack of football in the first half of the 2019/20 campaign.

Indeed, the 33-year-old has only featured on five occasions in the Premier League this season and has made just seven appearances overall.

As it stands, though, the France international is still with Frank Lampard’s side.

Bailey has claimed that Giroud’s agent is attempting to take his client to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before the end of the month.

Spurs are light in the final third of the field having lost their talisman Harry Kane until at least April following hamstring surgery.

Money talks: How much did Levy pay for each of these Spurs stars?

And now the 6 foot 4 Giroud is being linked with a potential move to Jose Mourinho’s side.

Bailey’s tweet on the subject can be seen below:

Meanwhile, Tottenham are also believed to be in talks over a move for this striker before the end of the month.

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We are almost midway through the January transfer window, and Crystal Palace have had no luck in the market as of yet. A number of names have been linked with a move to Selhurst Park, including the likes of Michy Batshuayi and Oumar Niasse, but two other players have also been linked who would represent a huge shift in Palace’s scouting qualities.

20-year-old duo Josh Maja and Ebere Eze, who play for Sunderland and QPR respectively, have been linked with a move to SE25 to help ease Roy Hodgson’s woes in front of goal, both of whom are a far cry from Palace’s usual targets – past names such as Emmanuel Adebayor and Kevin Doyle show that they do opt for the cheaper, washed up option at times.

However, by being linked with the duo, it shows a shift in momentum in the transfer department. Maja would be an impressive coup, given his 14-goal haul in League One this season and his huge ceiling for growth – he has also recently rejected a new contract from the Black Cats.

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In Eze’s case, he is an electric forward who is reminiscent of a young Wilfried Zaha, in the way that he takes people on and looks to make things happen.

It is a tough choice, but we recently asked Palace fans which of the two they would prefer to sign if they could only have one.

As shown by the results below, it was a narrow vote, but 55% of those who partook in the poll would rather see Eze sign instead of Maja…

Manchester City are top of the Premier League heading into the international break after a goalless draw at Anfield against Liverpool.

The Citizens had a glorious chance to extend their lead at the top of the table, but Riyad Mahrez blasted his penalty well over the crossbar. The Algerian was the only major signing that Pep Guardiola made during the summer transfer window and has made a decent start to life with the Citizens. But with Chelsea and Liverpool keeping pace at the moment, Guardiola may be tempted into the market in January.

One man the Spaniard should be monitoring is Ajax wonderkid – Matthijs de Ligt. Valued at £45m by Transfermarkt, the Dutchman has reportedly attracted interest from City’s rivals – Manchester United. The Red Devils wanted to sign a central defender in the summer but failed to sign a number of targets leaving Jose Mourinho extremely disappointed.

Reports suggest de Ligt has emerged as a target, but a move has been plunged into doubt due to Mino Raiola. The super-agent represents the youngster and Paul Pogba – he is unwilling to allow his prized asset to fall into the hands of Mourinho given Pogba’s treatment at Old Trafford. Therefore, Guardiola should make his move and bring de Ligt to the Etihad Stadium.

The 19-year-old has made seven appearances in the Eredivisie and would slot seamlessly into the ex-Barcelona manager’s system. De Ligt has completed 91.5% of his passes this season meaning he would have no issues in his possession-based philosophy. The Dutchman loves spraying balls from the back, averaging 2.9 long balls per game (WhoScored).

City have the funds to pull this huge deal off and could deal their rivals a significant blow in the New Year.

Manchester City fans, thoughts?

Celtic are through to the next round of the Champions League following a comfortable 6-0 aggregate win over Alashkert.

The Hoops are aiming to reach the group stages of the competition for the fifth season in a row. Manager Brendan Rodgers will be hoping for a better performance than last year, as they finished third in their Champions League group to thus qualify for the Europa League, where they bowed out in the last 32. Nonetheless, the win over the Armenian champions last week sets up a showdown with Denmark’s Rosenborg.

Rodgers has added just two players to his squad this summer, landing Scott Bain on a free transfer and signing Odsonne Eduoard on a permanent deal from Paris St Germain.

The Northern Irishman is in the market for a new centre-back and a playmaker to bolster his midfield, and the former Liverpool boss should look to Manchester City youngster Brahim Diaz in a bid to solve the latter problem.

Valued at £4.5 million by Transfermarkt, the 18-year-old is highly regarded at the Etihad Stadium, but is unlikely to break into the first team due to the abundance of talent available to Citizens boss Pep Guardiola.

He made 13 appearances in Premier League 2 last year, scoring four and assisting four, yet a loan move may be his next move in order to get regular first-team football, and thus start fulfilling his undoubted potential at senior level.

Celtic have loaned players from City in the past and should aim to be first in line for Diaz. The youngster can play through the middle or out wide and would be a stellar addition to the squad.

Blessed with excellent technical ability, Diaz has the ability to unlock defences and bring the best out of the Celtic attackers, which is why they absolutely must seek to lure the 18-year-old wonderkid to the SPFL this summer.

Celtic fans… what do you think? Let us know!