Charlton fans are full of pride for their away support at Wycombe

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Charlton’s unbeaten run extended into double figures on Tuesday night, with their hard-fought win over Wycombe at Adams Park their third in a row, having also got the better of Bristol Rovers and Doncaster.

The Addicks needed absolutely every man and woman in the away end behind them as they fought tooth and nail for a brilliant three points and got exactly that.

The Charlton faithful were in excellent voice even before the first whistle and continued strongly until well after the match concluded, much to the delight of Lee Bowyer, who described them as ‘unreal’ after the game.

Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…

Automatic promotion has become a real possibility for League One’s form team, now, with just four points separating the Valley outfit from second-placed Sunderland. At this rate, the fans could carry their team all the way to the Championship without the need for play-off football.

Here’s what they had to say on Twitter as the club posted a spectacular video….

Rangers should consider reigniting their interest in Jack Simpson

It’s no secret that big changes are being lined up at Rangers this summer and although that could be unsettling for players, fans are excited at that prospect.

Steven Gerrard hasn’t enjoyed the best of seasons in his first-in-charge of the Light Blues but only improvements can be made from him, so long as he gets sufficient backing over the summer. New faces will be largely beneficial to Gerrard and his team, with each capable of bringing new ideas and talents to the team.

Whilst securing second spot in the league, it’s about time Rangers went one step further and beat Celtic to the title for the first time since 2011.

The services of a talented defender will have to be acquired in order to fulfil that ambition and reigniting their interest in Bournemouth’s Jack Simpson wouldn’t be a bad idea at all. Simpson, (who is valued at £450k on Transfermarkt) was a player of interest – according to the Sunday Mail via the Scottish Sun back in August – to Rangers last summer but after a deal failed to materialise, the two went their separate ways.

For Jack Simpson, it’s been yet another season of false hope with only six appearances to his name.

As a highly-rated 22-year-old, it goes without saying that he needs more time on the pitch than that. Why not offer him the chance to do that at one of the biggest clubs in Europe?

Indeed, with Joe Worrall returning to Nottingham Forest and Gareth McAuley out of contract, the need for a new defender at Ibrox is obvious and that is a role Jack Simpson can fulfil. Yes, it’s an ambitious move but that’s the thinking required to get the club back on the up.

A big money move for Hearts star John Souttar has been touted but why waste the money? Gerrard needs short-term success if he’s going to wholly convince during his time in Glasgow and cannot afford not to win a trophy. Save the money, get a loan in and work on strengthening the attack.

Rangers fans, are you still interested in Jack Simpson? If not, why not? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

Chris Mepham is spot on about Bournemouth team-mate David Brooks and his massive potential

This season, recent weeks in particular, Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser have been winning most of the plaudits at Bournemouth — and deservedly so.

But as well as the duo, David Brooks has also come in for a lot of recognition, with the 21-year-old having just been nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

And team-mate Chris Mepham is now tipping the midfielder to make it to the very top after an impressive debut campaign at the Vitality Stadium.

The Breakdown

“He’s been very good. I speak very highly of David as a player and as a person,” Mepham told the Bournemouth Echo.

“He works hard every day on the training pitch, wants to learn, wants to improve and I think that’s got him to where he is at the minute. If he keeps that attitude, then the sky is the limit and he could play anywhere.”

Up against the likes of Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling for the award, it is hard to see Brooks winning the prestigious accolade.

But with this being the Wales international’s first season in the Premier League, he has done well to get his name in the conversation, regardless.

And if he can maintain the level he is currently playing at, as Mepham suggests, his future is set to be a bright one.

The former Sheffield United man has been directly involved in over 10 Premier League goals for the Cherries this term, showing the sort of productivity in the final third that could attract some serious interest in the future.

Until then, though, Brooks must continue to improve, with Bournemouth being an environment where he can do just that.

Bournemouth fans, just how far do you think Brooks can go? Join the discussion by commenting below.

Leeds fans have faith in Berardi after Cooper injury

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Leeds United fans have been undeterred by an injury to Liam Cooper as they have complete faith in Gaetano Berardi who looks set to start against Wigan on Friday.

Cooper limped off during the warm-up before the Sheffield Wednesday game on Saturday and the centre back remains a doubt heading into this fixture.

Easter brings about fixture congestion in the Championship and with Leeds playing on both Friday and Monday they won’t want to risk Cooper if he isn’t 100%.

Cooper has been exceptional for Marcelo Bielsa’s side this term with his performances earning him a spot in the Championship Team of the Season. The Englishman will undoubtedly be a huge miss for Leeds but luckily they have a ready-made replacement.

Berardi stepped in brilliantly last weekend as Leeds kept a clean sheet whilst beating their Yorkshire rivals 1-0.

And fans are optimistic about Berardi putting in a repeat performance against Wigan on Friday as Leeds look to continue their promotion push, with many expressing their faith in the tough-tackling Italian.

Here’s what Leeds fans are saying on Twitter…

Liverpool: Selling Marko Grujic will be Jurgen Klopp’s biggest transfer mistake on Merseyside

Since joining Liverpool in 2015, Jurgen Klopp has often been praised for his transfer dealings at the club for both the players he has brought in and the profit he has made.

The signings of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson have ensured Liverpool future profits in the future, whilst the departures of Dominic Solanke, Jordan Ibe and Danny Ings have seen Klopp recoup a substantial amount of money over the years.

And another player who could be set to leave Anfield for big bucks is Marko Grujic, who according to ESPN is a £35 million target for Atletico Madrid should midfielder Rodri make the move to Manchester City this summer.

The Serbian midfielder, who is out on loan at Hertha Berlin, joined Liverpool as an 18-year-old from Red Star Belgrade in the 2016 January transfer window for a reported fee of £5 million as Klopp’s first signing as Reds boss, however, his time on Merseyside has been frustrating.

Grujic has only made 13 appearances in total for the club and has spent the majority of his time out on loan, and although it might be tempting to offload the 23-year-old for a fee seven times of that what Liverpool paid for him, selling the Serbian would be Klopp’s biggest transfer mistake yet in England.

His time on the pitch in Liverpool colours has been limited, but in Grujic the Merseyside club have a player who can control the midfield for years to come.

Although Hertha have had another underwhelming season, Grujic has seen his stock rise massively in the German capital, with manager Pal Dardai even claiming the Serb has been the best midfielder who has played for the club in 20 years.

With James Milner entering the twilight years of his career and Jordan Henderson not showing any signs of improving, Grujic could be the next long-term answer for the club in midfield, and selling him would be a mistake Klopp will regret down the line.

Liverpool fans, should Grujic be given a chance to impress Klopp? Let us know!

Liverpool: Xherdan Shaqiri must rise up in final games to save Anfield career

The good thing for Xherdan Shaqiri is that he’s quickly reaching his peak.

The bad thing is it collides with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane’s best form.

Indeed, despite his decent contribution, Shaqiri is seemingly yet to properly win over Jurgen Klopp. Now is his time to do so.

The 27-year-old has two matches remaining to prove himself worthy of a place in this world-class team. Making only his third substitute appearance in the last 10 Premier League matches, the Swiss magician finally bore fruit to help Liverpool keep their title flame alive.

Indeed, his sumptuous free-kick was too menacing to defend for Newcastle United. The inspired moment proved how dangerous his left-foot can be. As Mohamed Salah could be sidelined after being stretched off at St. James Park, Shaqiri could finally get his moment of fame.

There’s surely a good chance he starts in both remaining games against Barcelona and Wolves. While winning either the Champions League or Premier League looks bleak, Shaqiri needs to perform at his best in order to save his career. Like he did against the Magpies, he needs to put in inviting crosses for Sadio Mane, using his creativity to light up Anfield.

Despite his inspired substitute performances, there are no guarantees Shaqiri gets many chances next season. Ryan Kent will return and the competition will get stronger.

Unless he can influence Liverpool into retaining their sizzling attacking style in Salah and Firmino’s absence, it could be the end of the line at Anfield for the temperamental Swiss superstar.

Liverpool fans, do you think Shaqiri can make an impact in the remaining games? Join the discussion by commenting below…

The Verdict: Would Southampton move for Moussa Djenepo spell end for Elyounoussi?

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According to reports in Belgium, Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is keen on a £20m move for Standard Liege starlet Moussa Djenepo having been impressed with the winger’s exploits this campaign.

With 11 goals and six assists to his name in 39 appearances across all competitions, the 20-year-old has surely won plenty of admirers all over Europe, so the Saints could have their work cut out bringing him across the channel in the coming months.

Austrian Hasenhuttl’s desire to bring through and develop younger players has been evident in his tutelage of Yan Valery, Josh Sims and Michael Obafemi this season; Djenepo could benefit in a similar way should he decide to trade the Jupiler Pro League for the English top flight.

A versatile player but predominantly a left-winger, Malian Djenepo’s arrival at St Mary’s Stadium for a reported £20m could spell the end of Moi Elyounoussi’s time at the club, with the Norwegian having had a dismal first season in red and white. Below, Football FanCast’s writers give their verdicts on what Djenepo signing for Saints could mean for 24-year-old Elyounoussi…

James Beavis

“That move wouldn’t spell the end for Elyounoussi, because the Norwegian has already sealed his own fate. His performance against West Ham was the final straw, as he failed to take the opportunity he was given by Ralph Hasenhuttl. In terms of Djenepo, he is a youngster who is still raw and isn’t proven in a top European league, but Saints fans would rather have him in the XI than the constantly ineffectual Norwegian.”

Has Jack Stephens unfairly been made a scapegoat at Southampton? The Ugly Inside discusses in the video below…

Harry Sherlock

“It should. Elyounoussi has never been good enough for Southampton and, while Djenepo is something of an unknown quantity, there is no point in keeping the Norwegian at the club if the Mali international finds his way to St Mary’s. In 19 games, Elyounoussi has not scored or laid on an assist for the club. Bomb him out this summer and hope Djenepo offers more of a threat further forward; really, he can’t be much worse.”

Jack Saville

“Mohamed Elyounoussi has been an incredibly underwhelming signing for Southampton and the writing may well be on the wall regardless of whether they sign Moussa Djenepo. The 20-year-old prospect would add some extra competition in attacking midfield and that certainly won’t aid the struggling Norwegian in his endeavour to transform his career. Either way, Hasenhuttl has a massive decision to make on Elyounoussi this summer and Southampton’s interest in Djenepo could be a sign that the wheels are already in motion for his departure.”

Absolute rock: West Brom fans pay tribute to Ahmed Hegazi

[ad_pod ]West Bromwich Albion recorded a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the second leg of their Championship playoff semi-final at the Hawthorns on Tuesday night.The Baggies lost the resulting penalty shootout, though, and are now facing another season of Championship football.It will be a very interesting summer transfer window for the club, with a number of players expected to depart and indeed arrive.One of those who could leave is Ahmed Hegazi.The 28-year-old has had an impressive season for the Baggies and he was brilliant on Tuesday night.Indeed, according to WhoScored, Hegazi made eight tackles and won three aerial duels against Villa, with on-loan Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham struggling to make his mark for the visitors.

It was a frustrating finish to a good performance from Albion, and a number of their supporters were keen to pay tribute to Hegazi.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Pundit View: Prutton under estimating Roofe’s influence ahead of playoff clash

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Leeds United will be playoff finalists according to David Prutton, who has predicted a tight game between the Whites and the Rams in the semi-final second leg on Wednesday evening.

The Yorkshire club were victorious at Pride Park on Saturday meaning that as long as they don’t lose at Elland Road midweek, they will be headed to Wembley

What’s been said then?

Prutton predicted a draw between the two sides when writing up his predictions for this week’s playoff games.

“Kemar Roofe scored the winner at Pride Park, but he’s out of the second leg, and it will have been a frustration for Leeds fans that he’s not been available for so much of the season due to injury. I think he’ll be a big miss.

“I think it’ll be a feisty game, which is what we all like to see in the play-offs, and I can see Leeds sneaking through. That would set-up a final against Villa, which would be decent given how we’ve seen them go up against each other during the course of the season.

“All four teams have been fantastic, and regardless of who reaches the final, it’ll be a packed out Wembley, but a Leeds-Villa final would have a really nice edge to it. Villa had wonderful form to get into it, and Leeds, the frustration of missing out on the automatic places could give them the added impetus to get through in the play-offs.”

The former midfielder signed off his prediction saying that he thinks the game will finish as a 1-1 draw.

Worrying

Even though he talks about how much he will be missed, Prutton still seems to be underestimating how much Kemar Roofe’s absence will affect Leeds in this match.

Roofe was the difference maker at Pride Park in a rather unconvincing performance from the Whites.

If it weren’t for a dodgy penalty decision this tie would be level heading into Wednesday, and Prutton seems to be too optimistic about his former club’s chances.

Remove Roofe from the team last Saturday and Leeds don’t win. Now that the striker has been ruled out of Wednesday’s game there is a high chance that they may fall to Derby in midweek.

Leeds United: Bielsa should steer clear of permanent swoop for Jack Harrison

It has been a mixed year for Jack Harrison at Leeds, hasn’t it?

A highly regarded talent at his parent club Manchester City, the winger’s move to Elland Road last summer was positively received by the majority of the club’s supporters.

Despite clearly having all the ingredients needed to thrive in the Championship, Harrison was initially made to wait by Marcelo Bielsa who initially preferred Samuel Saiz over the England under-21 international.

However, following the Spaniard’s departure from Elland Road in January, the winger was given the chance to prove himself to his Argentine manager.

By delivering several impressive performances for the Whites against the likes of Swansea City, West Bromwich and Sheffield Wednesday, it seemed almost certain that Harrison would be leading the club to promotion at the end of the season.

Yet this, unfortunately, wasn’t the case as the winger was one of a number of players who cracked under the pressure of expectations in a horrendous four-week spell that saw Leeds blow their chances of securing a return to the Premier League after 15 years away.

Although Harrison would provide an assist in the first leg of the Whites’ dramatic play-off showdown with Derby County on May 11th, he saw anonymous during the return clash last Wednesday as his side crashed to a 4-2 defeat in-front of their own supporters.

With his loan spell at Leeds set to expire at the end of this month (via Transfermarkt), Harrison’s immediate future is unclear.

Whereas he showed glimmers of promise for the Whites during his time in West Yorkshire, a lack of consistency resulted in him being directly involved in just eight goals for Bielsa’s side in all competitions.

According to reports in The Sun, City reportedly value Harrison at £20m which is a fee that Leeds should not even consider shelling out.

By wasting chairman Andrea Radrizzani’s money on a player who is far from the finished product, Bielsa could risk harming the club’s future as would not be a financially sustainable decision.

Instead of focusing his attention on bringing in Harrison, the former Athletic Bilbao coach could use the funds available to him this summer to bolster his squad in other positions ahead of next season.

What do you think Leeds fans? Should Bielsa avoid signing Harrison this summer? Or does the winger deserve another opportunity to impress next season? Let us know below.

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