What an embarrassment that was! Manchester United’s 4-0 loss at Everton was one of the lowest post-Sir Alex Ferguson moments, and it should wake up Ed Woodward to the mess he has to sort out in summer.

The squad is full of players who don’t look like they’re putting their all in for the club, and the prime suspect is probably (in our opinion) the supposedly world-class Paul Pogba. Most blamed Jose Mourinho for their lack of desire, but it’s clear now that it wasn’t his fault at all.

Aside from some genuinely below-par players such as Ashley Young and Phil Jones, there’s clearly toxic talent in the dressing room spearheaded by Pogba. The club need to get rid of him and anyone else who isn’t fully committed to the club, and that includes Anthony Martial and David De Gea.

It’s laughable that arguably the biggest club in the world seems to be run like an old circus with the animals’ cages left unlocked. It’s not been the ringmaster’s fault in the case of Jose Mourinho or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but it’s certainly been the man with the keys, and that’s Ed Woodward.

The club will struggle to move forward with him at the helm, but if he is to stay, there’s one hell of a job to do in summer. If he didn’t realise that last May, he certainly knows it after that defeat on Easter Sunday. United are a laughing stock, but the players don’t seem to care.

To challenge for the title, half the squad needs to be changed, and that’s no overstatement. The players with the quality haven’t got their heads in it, and those that aren’t good enough can’t even force performances despite trying. What a job Woodward has on his hands!

United fans, who needs to leave United in the summer before the club can be successful again? Join the discussion by commenting below.

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The Fixture In Focus Podcast returns this week in a slightly revised format, with two season-defining clashes in the Premier League title race at the heart of the agenda.

Manchester City’s destiny rests in their own hands as they travel to Brighton for what should be a routine victory. However, City fans will not be taking anything for granted after they almost conspired to throw the title away under similar circumstances in 2012.

Vincent Kompany’s thunderbolt on Monday evening put them into this glorious position and that earth-shattering moment is naturally on the agenda.

Liverpool, meanwhile, face a Wolves side who seem to have an insatiable thirst for upsetting the top-six clubs. Can Jurgen Klopp’s side hold their nerve and steal the title on the final day with a hard-fought victory?

Host James Jones is joined by #FIFpod regular and Man City fan Chris McMullan and George Dagless, who is still flying high from Liverpool’s stunning midweek comeback against Barcelona.

The agenda also includes discussion on how much difference 24 hours makes to the atmosphere at Anfield, why the smartest kid in class is always under huge pressure, and who will win the other epic battle of the weekend… the fight for 9th place at Vicarage Road.

If you love what we do and don’t want to miss another episode, don’t forget to subscribe on your preferred podcast platform by clicking here.

https://fixtureinfocus.podiant.co/e/3754927677f02e/

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Gary Lineker has claimed that Mauricio Pochettino knows Tottenham Hotspur must splash the cash this summer, per The Times.

What’s he said?

Spurs last signed a player in January 2018, when they secured Lucas Moura from French giants PSG.

The club, despite their self-imposed transfer ban, have finished in the Premier League top four and reached the Champions League final, where they will play Liverpool in Madrid on June 1.

Nevertheless, Lineker, an ex-Spurs striker, claims that Pochettino told him of the club’s need to invest in the squad.

He said: “He’s a very engaging character, clearly massively knowledgeable, insightful on the game, and he’s clearly one of the best managers or coaches in world football.

“But they do need investment, he said that to me himself. And he needs to be backed. I suspect, if he’s not backed, they’ll probably find it quite difficult to keep hold of him. So it really is a seminal moment for Tottenham.

“They’ve got to decide what they are. Yes, they’ve got a great new stadium, which perhaps halted expenditure to a degree, but whether they’re going to move forward and be a club that can compete in other Champions League finals, rather than just a one-off against all the odds, remains to be seen.”

Smash through the ceiling

Lineker is spot on; Tottenham stand on the precipice of something truly magnificent.

Winning the Champions League would go a long way to matching Leicester City’s Premier League triumph but that is the next question: can Spurs go on and topple both Manchester City and Liverpool in the top-flight?

Without investment, the answer is clearly no.

But if chairman Daniel Levy believes that Pochettino can mould this side into challengers every single season, he has to put his hand in his pocket.

There are numerous players out there who can come in and potentially take Spurs to the next level but will Levy pay the money?

One thing is for sure: Spurs’ rivals certainly will. Tottenham have to start following their lead.

Tammy Abraham’s return from injury will be crucial if Villa are to secure promotion through the play-offs this season. It’s looking like he’ll be back soon, and if he is, they’ll be a Premier League team next season.

Jack Grealish took to Instagram last week to update fans on his teammate’s recovery, and he’s looking in good shape. If he can make it back for the play-offs the boost it’ll give the squad shouldn’t be underestimated. It’d be perfect timing for the Villans.

He’s scored 25 goals and made three assists in 37 appearances in the Championship this season, and what a tally that is. Premier League clubs will surely be sniffing around him in the summer when he returns to Chelsea, but for now, he has to get fit and take Villa back up.

If he returns and gets back firing in time for the play-offs, the opposition will go into the game with their heads down. West Brom are their probable opponents in the semi-final and if Abraham isn’t up to scratch they’ll feel they have a real chance of beating the tie’s favourites.

It’ll be devastating for the Villa faithful if they miss out on promotion because their main man is still recovering from an injury. Their rise since the 4-0 win against Derby has been stunning and there are not many people who could argue they don’t deserve to take that third promotion spot.

Abraham’s influence is huge, and, if he’s back on form in May, Villa will have enough to return the club to where the fans feel they belong, the Premier League.

No pressure then, Tammy!

Villa fans, how do you think you’ll fare for the rest of the season? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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Youri Tielemans could have a big decision to make this summer with his future being far from clear following a loan spell with Leicester.

Speaking about what’s next in quotes relaid by Leicestershire Live following an interview with Belgian television, Tielemans hinted that the quality of life in England is better than in Monaco. The midfielder also claimed he wanted to remain in a positive environment.

What’s he said?

The 22-year-old was a joy to watch after his January loan move to the King Power and as a result, he quickly became one of the best creative outlets in the division.

His impressive performances for the Foxes saw him attract interest from the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United, per The Daily Star.

Tielemans hasn’t been shy of media attention and in quotes relaid by Leicestershire Live, he commented on his future, talking about the quality of life in England and also speaking about the type of environment he wants to play in. He said:

“The life you have here is very similar to that in Brussels and Belgium. That is a normal life I would say, unlike with all the money and the bling that is in Monaco.

“I want to stay in a positive atmosphere, that’s normal.”

Between the lines

Reading into this it’s easy to see that Tielemans prefers England, and as such, this is perhaps the biggest indication yet of the midfielder’s potential return to Leicester.

Brendan Rodgers admitted last month the club would do everything they can to sign the player so these latest quotes could have supporters of the Foxes rubbing their hands with glee.

The laidback life in England certainly seems to have suited the youngster as he discovered an extra level of quality after arriving in the Premier League.

However, it’s comments about a positive atmosphere that will be most pleasing for Leicester fans. With Monaco embroiled in relegation trouble under Thierry Henry just before Tielemans left, the atmosphere was extremely negative.

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

But under Rodgers, he and Leicester have thrived. The Northern Irishman has instilled a phenomenal mentality and the positivity around the King Power at the back end of the season has been immense.

Looking at the atmosphere at United, a team he’s been linked with, Tielemans would be a lot better off joining Leicester again. It’s now over to the club to make a deal happen.

ذكرت تقارير صحفية ألمانية، أنّ نادي آرسنال الإنجليزي، يُخطط للتعاقد مع أحد مدافعي فريق لايبزيج الألماني، في نافذة الانتقالات الشتوية القادمة.

ميكيل أرتيتا المدير الفني للجانرز أصبح مؤخرًا يركز على التعاقد مع اللاعبين الشباب في بناء مشروعه مع آرسنال.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ليفربول يستهدف التعاقد مع مدافع آرسنال في ميركاتو الشتاء

وبحسب صحيفة “بيلد” الألمانية، فإن آرسنال يدرس إمكانية التعاقد مع الدولي الفرنسي، إبراهيما كوناتي، من صفوف لايبزيج.

وأوضحت الصحيفة أنّ كوناتي يملك شرطًا جزائيًا في عقده قدره 50 مليون يورو، ولن يوافق لايبزيج على الحصول على أي مبلغ أقل من قيمة الشرط.

كوناتي صاحب الـ”21″ عامًا، لديه عقد مع لايبزيج، حتى 2023، وشارك في 5 مباريات هذا الموسم، بواقع مباراتين في الدوري الألماني، وثلاث لقاءات في دوري أبطال أوروبا وسجّل هدفًا.

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Aston Villa suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Norwich City on Sunday afternoon in what was their final league match of the 2018-19 Championship campaign.

The result mattered little, though, with an excellent few months seeing Villa finish in the playoff positions.

Dean Smith’s side have ended the regular season in fifth spot, meaning that they will take on fourth-placed West Bromwich Albion in the semi-finals of the playoffs.

The battle to join Norwich and Sheffield United in the Premier League next season is absolutely fascinating, with Leeds United and Derby County also in the hunt.

Jack Grealish took to social media in the aftermath of the Norwich defeat to send out a message ahead of the playoffs.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

And that led to a number of Villa fans calling on the 23-year-old – not involved against Norwich – to inspire the team to the top tier.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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Mauricio Pochettino motivates his Tottenham Hotspur players by “touching our minds”, according to Lucas Moura, per Goal.

What’s the word?

Pochettino has taken his Spurs side to third in the Premier League, while they are also playing in the Champions League semi-finals against Ajax. A 1-0 first leg defeat means they will have to win in Amsterdam to qualify for the final.

And Lucas has revealed that, while Pochettino was angry at half-time of the first leg encounter, he attempted to turn the tide with a team talk that did not involve the hairdryer treatment.

The Brazilian said: “You know Mauricio. He loves to touch our minds and to motivate. That’s why we changed in the second half and played much, much better.”

Spurs were, indeed, the better team in the second half but were unable to find a way through Ajax’s imposing defence, led by superb skipper Matthijs De Ligt.

A peek into Sissoko’s transformation

Moussa Sissoko was a key part of Spurs’ excellent second half and has been indispensable to Pochettino this season.

When signed in 2016, he endured a rocky start to his White Hart Lane career, playing 90 minutes in the Premier League just twice and generally turning in a number of appalling performances.

This season, however, he has been reborn, providing an invaluable outlet on the counter-attack and emerging as the club’s best midfielder player.

That simply has to be down to Pochettino and his motivational techniques, with the Argentine perhaps “touching his mind” and providing him with the tools he needed to overcome his own limitations.

After all, Sissoko’s confidence must have been left in tatters after his initial struggle in north London, one which earned him scathing criticism from fans on the terraces on social media.

Memories of a bygone reputation make his current popularity all the more staggering.

As the fans regularly sing, perhaps Pochettino really is “magic” after all.

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Sheffield United fans have backed David McGoldrick to win the Player of the Season award after his heroic debut campaign at Bramall Lane.

Certain fans are hoping McGoldrick prevails in what is to be a tightly contested voting process with Billy Sharp, Enda Stevens, Dean Henderson and Oliver Norwood all getting shouts in the replies section on Twitter.

Despite Sheffield United having so many outstanding players this season it was David McGoldrick who got the most love amongst fans on Twitter.

Recency bias may well play a part in the Twitter responses on Monday night as it came just hours after a McGoldrick brace against Hull City all but secured promotion to the Premier League for the Blades.

Chris Wilder’s side have had an incredible season and it is a testament to McGoldrick’s ability that he is the fan’s pick to win the award. The Ireland international has hit 15 Championship goals this season after joining on a free from Ipswich last summer.

Here’s what Sheffield United fans had to say on Twitter…

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According to the Daily Mail, Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze is amongst a list of candidates that Liverpool are considering this summer, along with other names such as Ryan Fraser and Bertrand Traore.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Reds are in the market for a new forward in the summer window, but Jurgen Klopp does not want to spend big on an addition as they would only really be coming in to challenge the first-team stars as a backup option.

Daniel Sturridge will be leaving on a free transfer once his contract expires, and Klopp wants another alternative to Champions League hero Divock Origi and the talented young Rhian Brewster.

Luis Suarez certainly had no qualms about celebrating against his former employers in the video below…

Chukwueze, a 19-year-old Nigerian Under-17 World Cup winner, is one of the hottest prospects in Europe after enjoying a breakthrough campaign with the Spanish side; he has been compared to Arjen Robben for his dribbling technique.

The ideal backup forward

Chukwueze fits the bill entirely in terms of what Klopp is looking for in a backup frontman.

The teenager can play anywhere across the frontline, and presumably wouldn’t be demanding a first-team place immediately after joining Liverpool given his lack of experience and status in the game; the season just gone was his first in the Villarreal first-team, and just his second as a senior footballer.

It would also be a signing that would allow the youngster time to develop his substantial potential under the wing of one of Europe’s best coaches, whilst learning on the job from world-class attackers such as Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

Despite being a relative baby in the game, Chukwueze did manage to bag a respectable 10 goals and four assists in 2018/19, a decent enough return to suggest that he could make an impact from the first whistle in domestic cup games for Liverpool.

Everything about this deal seems ideal for Klopp and the Reds.