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The Everton fans are in no mood for a laugh and a joke at the moment.

Ahead of next week’s Premier League clash with Cardiff City, a tweet from Everton’s official account made a joke about Toffees goalkeeper Jordan Pickford recently becoming a father.

However, the Everton supporters were not having any of it.

The Merseyside outfit are on a rotten run of form at the moment, losing five of their last six matches in all competitions, including their last three in the league.

Many expected the team to make a challenge for the top-six this season, but they have not been victorious in the league since an unconvincing 1-0 success away to struggling Huddersfield Town at the end of next month.

Pl>ymaker FC’s Matchday with Max caught up with Jamaica’s women’s team. See what happened when he met the history makers in the video below…

As a result, there is simply no downplaying the importance of Tuesday’s trip to Cardiff, which will be Everton’s first match since they lost 1-0 at Watford on February 9.

Everton’s Twitter account are doing their best to raise the spirits at the moment, but the club’s supporters are just not interested. Earlier this week, fans trolled a Twitter post showing off Lucas Digne’s skills in training and once again, the club’s account has been targeted for abuse from unhappy supporters.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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West Ham United are a club moving in the right direction. David Gold and David Sullivan have showcased a willingness to back Manuel Pellegrini in the transfer market, but the club’s finances could be working more efficiently.

If the Hammers want to move up to the next level, they need to continue attracting players of Felipe Anderson’s and Issa Diop’s calibre. That’s an endeavour which, particularly given how the transfer market has developed in recent years, can be financially crippling.

There are no shortcuts to the top, but a handful of smart decisions could help Pellegrini in his bid to challenge the top-six next season.

Those decisions concern his current squad of players, which is littered with players who, for one reason or another, should leave the London Stadium this summer.

Based on figures provided by Spotrac, we’ve taken a look at a selection of players who Gold and Sullivan could offload to free up the wage bill in the summer transfer window.

Players who look destined to depart

Perhaps rather reluctantly, the Hammers faithful may be forced to wave goodbye to one of a dying breed: Pablo Zabaleta, a genuine warrior whose exemplary attitude has enabled him to perform beyond his means at the top level.

The Argentine is 34-years-old and out of contract in the summer. He is a fan-favourite and still a decent squad player, but the opportunity to slash £3.9m from the yearly wage bill could tempt Pellegrini to usher his fellow South American out of the exit door.

Paradoxically, Marko Arnautovic’s decision to sign a contract extension in January injected an extra layer of substance to the general feeling that he will leave in the summer. It seems clear that the saga has only just begun, and his potential departure would wipe £5.2m off the wage bill.

Andy Carroll’s exit, however, should be more straightforward. He is out of contract in June and his torrid record with injuries has sprayed the writing firmly on the wall. To compound the situation, his style of play is antithetical to Pellegrini’s philosophy. £4.68m saved.

One would assume that backup goalkeeper Adrian, earning £2.6m per year, will also be released when his contract expires in the summer, with a desire for first-team opportunities likely to force the Spaniard’s hand.

Players who aren’t earning their wage

If Gold and Sullivan can find a buyer for Javier Hernandez, they would be foolish not to send him packing. The Mexico international is the highest earner at the club on £140k per week, equivalent to £7.28m per year. West Ham would surely be able to sign a superior talent on a lower wage.

The decision to sign Lucas Perez was a low cost gamble which hasn’t paid off. It seems his style is incompatible with the Premier League, so the Hammers should trim his £4.16m salary if possible.

Pedro Obiang and Sam Byram earn £2.86m and £1.56m respectively, and both players have failed to build a compelling case to remain in east London beyond the summer.

Results of West Ham’s clear-out

Allowing all of the aforementioned players to leave the club would put Gold and Sullivan in a much healthier financial situation. A total of £32.24 million would be removed from the yearly wage budget, which equates to £620k per week – enough to pay Manuel Lanzini’s weekly wage of £70k nearly nine times over.

Celtic fans must be reeving following Brendan Rodgers business end bail, but the news that rumoured replacement David Moyes could be heading to the Chinese Super League instead of Glasgow will surely improve their mood slightly.

According to The Sun, Manchester United, Real Sociedad, Sunderland and West Ham flop David Moyes has announced his interest in returning to management and has set his sights on former club Celtic, alongside the CSL.

The man he wants to replace, Neil Lennon, is currently on his second managerial stint with the Hoops having been drafted on an interim basis but has made a decent enough case for succeeding as the permanent coach with two wins out of two – the most recent guiding Celtic into the final four of the domestic cup.

A win against Aberdeen at the week would surely leave Lennon in good stead.

Moyes, on the other hand, has been out of a job since being sacked by West Ham and has scantly achieved any kind of success since his Everton days.

Conveniently, we have a warning from history which reminds us that David Moyes is a poorly qualified candidate for handling the pressures of succeeding a very successful manager at a club.

As far as we are concerned, and likely anyone else who have endured his management style, he is regressive in his tactics and exists as a prominent reminder of how far the game has come in recent years.

Fortunately, there is every chance the Chinese Super League could be the next home for David Moyes as they continue their mission to boost the profile of football in the country.

Regardless, the Celtic faithful will surely be hoping that the board are looking at forward-thinking coaches who could drive the club on a similar trajectory as their former man Rodgers.

As one of the biggest clubs in England, it probably comes as no surprise when we say that Arsenal possess serious quality in every department. But who, out of everyone on the squad, really stands out as the finest of all?

Starting from the bottom, we could not gift either ‘keeper with this title. As much of a serviceman Petr Cech has been to the club, and Premier League football in general, he is past his best.

Bernd Leno has been decent enough since arriving at the start of the season, but with Arsenal’s goal being one of the leakiest in top-half of the table we could not possibly suggest him either.

The same goes for the defence.

All decent enough players on the day but are yet to bond collectively.

However, you could probably argue that Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding deserve credit for some exceptional performances before their injuries.

Midfield is a tough one. Matteo Guendouzi has been a revelation since arriving from Lorient for a bargain fee earlier and has genuinely turned a lot of heads in the process. Indeed, there is no doubting that he could become one of the best midfielders in the world providing his progress is monitored correctly. Lucas Torreira looked to be Arsenal’s answer to N’Golo Kante before his form dropped off slightly, but there is a major player in there.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi, as far as we are concerned, are team players who occasionally turn up.

Lacazette has improved massively this season and alongside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang forms one of the most formidable offensive partnerships in the Premier League.

Arsenal have been poor at the back this year leaving their attacking players with it all to do, and for the most part, they have done well. The Gabon international is the third top scorer in the Premier League as it stands, behind Manchester City’s Aguero and Liverpool’s Salah, and he has been good value for this position.

Vital player.

With another win under their belts, what’s not to love about West Ham at the moment? Manuel Pellegrini has got the boys playing brilliantly and with a bit of consistency from now until the end of the season, their European aspirations may still be a possibility.

Whether you want Europa League or not, it would be a terrific achievement for West Ham to finish in seventh place, having stumbled out of the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, making their season looking utterly miserable at times.

Disappointment has now turned to positivity, surrounding the brilliant unveiling of the Billy Bonds Stand and the football on the pitch has improved as well.

Having spent an eye-watering £100 million on new players last season, West Ham aren’t finished yet. Clearly, they’re on the hunt for constant improvement and the players they’re linked never seem to dry up.

One of those is reportedly (as per the Daily Mail) Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, a player that seems to fit the billing of a West Ham player.

Shelvey, (who is valued at £13.5 million on Transfermarkt) still remains an attractive proposition for West Ham, despite Rafa Benitez seemingly dropping him to Newcastle’s fifth-choice midfielder.

Having made 12 appearances this season, Shelvey has gone from being the Magpies main man to someone who can’t get a game.

A transfer to the Hammers has always been discussed amongst fans but never fully come to fruition, which could all change this summer.

Although there might be doubt, what cannot be argued is the Englishman’s work-rate, determination and skill.

Getting the best out of Jonjo Shelvey would make for a very happy set of West Ham supporters because he could be the missing man in their current set-up. Alongside Declan Rice and Mark Noble, Shelvey could complete the Irons’ midfield, making the team a lot easier on the eye and giving Jack Wilshere something to think about.

The capture of the former Arsenal hasn’t worked out at all and Shelvey’s potential arrival would go some way into capturing some of the talents Wilshere can no longer provide consistently enough.

Do you agree… Let us know!

Blackburn Rovers fans will look back on the era of Roque Santa Cruz fondly as the days before the dawn of their collapse.

The exotic talent that was Roque Santa Cruz is something Blackburn fans scantly enjoy nowadays stuck in midtable Championship purgatory, which is why this douse of nostalgic relief will come as a welcome surprise.

Before making his reported £3.5 million switch in 2007 (as per The Guardian) Santa Cruz had accumulated quite an extensive trophy collection at Bayern – consisting of six domestic cups, five Bundesliga titles and a Champions League winners medal.

So it may have come as a bit of a surprise when former manager Mark Hughes recruited him to work alongside the likes of Benny McCarthy, Jason Roberts and a young Matt Derbyshire (appreciate McCarthy was a player in his day).

Hughes said at the time (The Guardian): “Santa Cruz is a young player, an international with a good reputation who is playing at a top European club.

“The good thing from our point of view is that his fitness levels are fine as he has been playing in the Copa America.”

And Hughes was not wrong. Santa Cruz bagged 19 goals in 37 Premier League games earning the Lancashire a 7th placed finish in the Premier League – something they have not managed since.

Indeed, it is no coincidence that their form deteriorated following his big-money move to Manchester City in 2009 – who were just beginning to flex their muscles in the transfer market at the time.

Despite his move, however, the Paraguayan was unable to replicate his earlier form and after just 24 appearances for the club was quickly shipped off to Real Betis on loan, which was shortly followed by a loan and permanent move to Malaga CF.

26 goals in 109 appearances later Santa Cruz found himself on a plane to Mexican outfit CD Cruz Azul, but, in a bizarre turn of events, was returned just half-a-year later on loan.

Now 37 and back playing in his native Paraguay, the forward is a distance relic of the good and bad times for all those clubs he represented.

After eight years away, Portsmouth will be making their return to Wembley Stadium on March 31st when they face Sunderland in the EFL trophy.

With the game close to being a sell-out between two of League One’s biggest clubs, Pompey supporters will be hoping that their side can replicate the success of their FA Cup triumph in 2008 which made one player a cult hero at Fratton Park.

Having impressed during a five-year stay at Arsenal, Nwankwo Kanu spent two seasons at West Bromwich Albion before Harry Redknapp decided to bring him to Portsmouth in 2006.

An instant success at the club, the Nigerian marksman top-scored in his debut season with 12 goals in all competitions as the south coast side finished ninth in the Premier League standings ahead of the likes of Newcastle United, Manchester City and Aston Villa.

Yet despite displaying his talents in the league albeit sporadically during a six-year stint at the club, Kanu’s exploits in the FA Cup saw him play a significant role in leading his side to the final as his goal against former side West Brom secured a first final appearance in 69 years.

Despite Portsmouth entering the clash as favourites against Championship opponents Cardiff City, the game was very even until the 37th minute when the ex-Arsenal forward made his mark, firing past keeper Peter Enckelman, sparking incredible scenes amongst the club’s supporters. Redknapp’s tactical nous ensured that his side kept the Bluebirds out for the remainder of the game, securing their first, and only major honour of the 21st Century.

Far from being just a goal, Kanu’s crisp strike also secured a UEFA Cup place for the following season which provided a number of famous nights at Fratton Park. Arguably the best European tie occurred against Italian giants AC Milan who had the legendary Ronaldinho playing for them at the time. In a superb game of football, Kanu added to his legacy by scoring the second of his side’s goals before the aforementioned Brazilian and Filippo Inzaghi secured a draw for I Rossoneri.

The forward’s relationship with the club, however, could have been remembered for different reasons if he had decided to continue his pursuit of suing (as per the Sun) the club for the money that he believed he was owed. Pompey’s financial difficulties saw the club enter administration during Kanu’s time at the club yet he decided to drop the case after his retirement in 2012.

Undoubtedly a hero at the club for his exploits on the pitch, the Nigeria international created a memory that Portsmouth fans will cherish for years to come, setting a benchmark for the current crop of players to try and reach.

Leeds United have been a level above pretty much everyone in the Championship this season but they’ve failed to secure the right result in key games, which has halted their promotion pursuit. 

The Whites have the perfect opportunity to redeem themselves against Millwall at Elland Road tomorrow, with three points piling the pressure on the likes of Norwich City and Sheffield United who both face tough sides.

Although, with promotion on the line it appears as if Marcelo Bielsa is already eyeing a possible summer transfer window move, as according to Tuttomercatoweb (via HITC), Leeds are interested in Nahitan Nandez.

And, according to a more recent report from Tuttomercatoweb (via HITC), Leeds have received a boost in their pursuit of the midfielder, as his agent has shared that he wants to leave this summer.

However, the one factor that could affect a potential move for the Uruguay international is the hefty price tag that Boca Juniors have slapped on him, which stands at €20 million (£17 million).

Leeds could definitely do with bringing in another central midfielder if they manage to secure promotion to the Premier League as Adam Forshaw doesn’t look good enough to make the step up, while the likes of Kalvin Phillips and Mateusz Klich could attract transfer interest in the summer transfer window.

Indeed, Leeds have been linked with a move for Ander Iturraspe (as per AS, via Sport Witness), but Nandez has more life left in him and all the attacking qualities to cause problems in the Premier League if the Whites were to taste promotion, so Bielsa should forget about the Spaniard.

So, Andrea Radrizzani must pay the hefty price to sign the midfielder as he could turn out to be an Elland Road hero if his performances in recent years are anything to go by. He’s quick on the ball, can create in the final third and he has a knack for finding the back of the net, so he could be a force in attacking areas, as well as in the defensive third.

The Whites would make a huge statement by bringing the midfield star to Elland Road as they would have pipped the likes of Roma, Cagliari and Newcastle to the signing, which would speak volumes as Roma can offer European football and the Magpies are a guaranteed top-flight club. Also, the Leeds owner would highlight the club’s ambition by spending a large fee on the Uruguayan, as you have to pay the price if you want to bring in top players.

Leeds United fans, do you think Radrizzani should splash the cash on Nandez this summer? Join the discussion by commenting down below!

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Jack Grealish has revealed via his official Twitter account that he is raring to go ahead of Aston Villa’s return to Championship action this weekend.

The Midlands outfit will be looking to put their fifth straight Championship win on the board when they welcome Blackburn Rovers to Villa Park on Saturday afternoon.

Grealish has been in outstanding form since returning from injury and the Villa supporters are hoping that the 23-year-old will put in another impressive performance against Rovers.

There continues to be speculation surrounding the future of the attacker, which is not a surprise when considering his talent.

Grealish is currently leading his side’s charge up the table, however, and he will be fully focused on helping his team secure at least a playoff spot in the coming weeks.

To be honest, the Villa fans absolutely adore the 5 ft 9 ace and a selection of their Twitter reaction to his post on social media can be seen below:

As with every other club in football, West Ham United will be on the lookout for new recruits in the summer as they look to build on their rather successful season.

Manuel Pellegrini made a number of solid signings last year, with the majority of them having worked out rather well, and with a year under his belt at the club, the Chilean will be in a better position to be able to assess his squad properly and identify where he needs to make improvements.

Inconsistency continues to be a problem for the Hammers, as they constantly leak goals, whilst they struggle to create and score a number of opportunities themselves, with their midfield options sometimes coming under scrutiny.

Naturally, it would appear that Pellegrini could use the summer to try and improve the area, however, questions must be asked about whether one of his reported transfer targets would be the right man for the club to bring in and solve the issue.

Turkish media outlet Super Haber have claimed that West Ham are closing in on signing Besiktas’ Gary Medel – a player that the club appear to have been tracking for ages as links about a move to the London Stadium were rife in the winter.

The Chile international is very experienced – having won 118 caps for his country’s national side – and has also had a taste of Premier League action with Cardiff City back in 2013/14.

Medel could be available on a cut-price deal as his contract with the Istanbul outfit is set to expire in 2020, however, those positives may be the only ones that West Ham can potentially take from bringing him to the London Stadium.

Yes, the Hammers have looked poor defensively at times when it comes down to the middle areas of the field, but whether Medel is the type of player that they should be looking to bring in is questionable as there are doubts about whether he will be able to help the club go to the next level.

He may be a good passer of the ball and psychically tough, however, that can sometimes get him into trouble, as his discipline is something that leaves plenty to be desired. Although his love of a tackle is admirable, he has the tendency to pick up a number of yellow cards throughout a campaign and could end up missing a number of games through suspension.

Another question that many would be forgiven asking is whether Medel would be any better than the options that the club already have. With the likes of Declan Rice, Mark Noble and Pedro Obiang already in the squad, it would be difficult to see the Chilean being much better than them.

Also, does a transfer for the experienced midfield-general also match the ambition West Ham are supposedly trying to show? It would be hard to suggest he does.

West Ham fans, do you thin Medel would offer something different to the team? Or do you think the club should avoid signing him in the summer? Join in with the discussion below by sharing your thoughts with us.