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Former Everton striker Marcus Bent has thrown out the idea of two of his former teammates Duncan Ferguson and Tim Cahill teaming up in management to take the reins at Goodison Park, amid reports that Nuno Santo is the favourite to replace Carlo Ancelotti.

Ferguson is already part of the coaching staff, having joined in 2014, and was Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant manager before his recent departure.

Meanwhile, 41-year-old Cahill, who spent eight seasons at Goodison Park before leaving for the MLS, is yet to take his first steps into coaching, but was meant to take up a role during his time with Melbourne City. However, he continued playing with both Millwall and then in India, and never had the opportunity.

But Ferguson has already had a taste in the hot seat when he took charge of four matches as caretaker manager when Marco Silva was sacked back in December 2019.

The Toffees fans’ favourite put together an inspiring unbeaten run, which included games against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, with his reward a promotion to Ancelotti’s coaching staff.

“Tim has got to go in as assistant manager, Dunc [Duncan Ferguson] would be the manager,” Bent exclusively told Football FanCast.

“Tim is currently in Dubai getting a little more intelligence around the game and around the world. The fans adore him. But Dunc has been there a while since Moyesy left, and had that little stint, so maybe give him a chance.”

The Atletico Madrid loanee pushed for a move to Catalunya all summer long, and he couldn't have asked for a better start to life with the Blaugrana

The stats speak for themselves. Robert Lewandowski spent the first four games of Barcelona's campaign on an island. He was, by his standard, starved of chances, forced to move into the wrong areas. Lewandowski did not get the ball enough, so Lewandowski could not do Lewandowski things.

But last Sunday, that changed. Lewandowski, who was involved in three of Barca's five goals against Real Betis, had a partner in the final third, a buzzing creative presence that offered everything he needed. That player, once the second-most expensive teenager in the world, and subsequent Chelsea reject, was Joao Felix. He has wanted a Barcelona move for some time now, having admitted in July that Barca would be his "dream" destination were to get his wish and leave Atletico Madrid.

How, exactly, it would all work, though, was up for debate. Barcelona were a rather rigid side last year, and didn't seem to have room for a mercurial attacking talent, a player who has historically had limited interest in concepts of 'defending' and 'off-ball work.' On Sunday, though, Felix ran the show as the Blaugrana battered Betis, scoring once and orchestrating a rampant attack.

He was at it again on Tuesday, too, getting on the scoresheet twice and assisting Lewandowski yet again, pulling the strings in a performance against Antwerp that suggested Barca's Champions League blues might just fade this year.

These may be early days, and the opponents may have rolled over, but this "dream" transfer might just be a stroke of magic for both parties.

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  Misery in Madrid

  Felix's move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a €126 million (£111m/$143m) fee made little sense. He was an imperfect fit, the kind of weightless but skilful attacking midfielder that Diego Simeone loved to beat rather than having in his own team. But Atleti were flush with cash, having been handed a ridiculous €120m (£107m/$134m) by Barcelona after they paid Antoine Griezmann's release clause in what, ironically, was also another immensely unsuccessful piece of business.

  So, Felix was the panic buy, a team that looked at its lack of attacking talent and decided to buy the most attacking, most expensive option out there. It certainly helped that plenty of other clubs were after Felix — and the midfielder himself admitted that the Metropolitano offered "the best conditions to progress." But this was always something of a questionable signing.

  So it proved to be. Felix scored 34 goals and added 16 assists across four years at Atletico — he was too good not to contribute — but never really became a crucial first-team player for Simeone. He was often benched for big games, and publicly disagreed with his manager. Simeone, meanwhile, used the media to question the player's commitment. Felix never really took the criticism well, and ended up languishing on the sidelines while inferior talents took to the pitch ahead of him. The detractors, it seemed, were right.

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• Getty Images
  

  Lengthy saga after loan struggles

  It was clear, in the 57th minute of Felix's Chelsea debut, that the forward was never really going to work. He might even have been cursed. The tackle that saw him sent off against Fulham was something of an unlucky one. Here was a player, in effect, trying too hard, throwing his legs at an opponent in frustration. He could have no complaints when David Coote gave him his marching orders.

  And Felix never truly improved from there. He scored four goals, and turned in a series of promising performances — but never enough to rescue a languid Chelsea side. There was, for a few weeks, something of a vision that he might be able to fit into the Blues' messy attack, as he certainly had something of an understanding with Enzo Fernandez. And if nothing else, his silkiness in possession also made for a good watch, especially for a fanbase who needed something to get excited about.

  But the Blues didn't have the funds, or, more importantly, desire to bring him in on a permanent deal — not for the €100m (£87m/$110m) fee Atletico demanded. It was assumed, at that point, that Felix would return to Atleti and begin another cycle of discontent in the Spanish capital.

  What happened next, changed things. Felix gave an exclusive interview to journalist Fabrizio Romano, covering a range of topics. But the quote that stuck regarded his desire to join Barcelona: "Barcelona has always been my first choice and I’d love to join Barca as my next club."

  Of course, it worked. Simeone, outraged, slammed Felix in an interview, while the player remained on the fringes of the Atleti squad throughout pre-season, and was stripped of his squad number. It quickly became clear that Barca were simply getting their finances in order to sign him on loan. The Blaugrana had to wait until the last hours of the window — such are their budget constraints — but they eventually got the deal over the line.

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  An interesting tactical fit

  His arrival in Catalunya seemed an interesting — if imperfect — tactical fit. Xavi has assembled a strange Barca squad, unlike most successful Spanish sides of recent years. Last season, they were a tight, disciplined unit. They scored fewer goals than second-placed Real Madrid, and found the back of the net at the same rate as Atleti. Instead, they were immense at the other end, buoyed by Europe's most effective backline.

  It made some sense to bring in a fluttering creative presence to counter that, but Felix's lack of bite seemed to be outside Barca's tactical fit. The logic was that he would fit into Barca's box midfield, fighting with Gavi, Pedri and Ilkay Gundogan for minutes — none of whom are easy to leave on the bench. Besides, all of them seemed better tactical fits.

  Gavi is a buzzing midfielder, a pest who flies into tackles, nibbles at ankles, and is arguably at his best when he doesn't have the ball. Ilkay Gundogan is equal parts No.10 and No.8, a talented passer with a penchant for finding the killer ball and operating in tight spaces. Pedri, shoulder drops, croquetas and all, is the closest thing to Andres Iniesta that Barcelona have had in years.

  Still, Felix can add a spark in the final third. It's something that Lewandowski was adamant that Barca have missed, as he criticised his team's system after their draw with Getafe on the opening weekend of the campaign, claiming that "sometimes we don't play with enough attacking players, I don't have support."

  And he had a point. Lewandowski was caught on an island, with no real options. For all of their talents, the rest of Barcelona's midfielders aren't used to playing off a striker. And that's where Felix comes in. The Portuguese is at his best operating as a second striker, doing the creative stuff around a bigger, more direct forward. His problem, for some time now, has been that those systems don't really exist anymore. Europe's best increasingly play with two wide players and perhaps a No.10. Felix can certainly occupy those spaces, but doesn't thrive there.

  It is to Xavi's credit, then, that Felix has found a role. On Sunday, he was rarely more than 15 yards away from Lewandowki, staying high up the pitch and linking up with him constantly. Their combination play was vital in the build-up to Barca's second goal, as Felix's delightful dummy will go down as a pseudo-assist for Lewandowski's fine finish.

  It was much the same in the Champions League a few days later, Felix again assisting Lewndowski, and also ghosting into the left channel to link-up with the striker for a goal of his own. These, Xavi will hope, are merely glimpses of what could be an ideal partnership.

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  How long can this last?

  And perhaps this is where Felix's career, at 23, finally takes off. Maybe this reinvented role in a unique system will allow the once-world-beater to realise his potential. A brief glimpse at Felix, in any fixture, for any side, makes his quality undeniable. There are very few players who are technically better than him. This might be the place where that skill, the stuff that looks good on highlight reels, translates into something beyond the realm of YouTube compilations.

  There are complications, though. Felix looks like a perfect situational player, ideally used for La Liga contests against dogged defences. Betis was a perfect trial run. Granada, Las Palmas, even Atletico, will offer similar opportunities. But how he fares in Champions League football, and in bigger La Liga games, remains to be seen. These are the kind of fixtures that demand teams defend with 11, or risk getting exposed. Barca will have to be better defensively in those situations, and will perhaps be better suited turning to Gundogan or Pedri to round out their preferred system. Felix will have to live with that.

  There also remains the looming financial issues in Catalunya. Barcelona have made some shrewd moves to slash their budget, and spent very little in the transfer market this summer. The usual slew of renegotiated contracts have also freed up some space. Still, they will not be able to meet Atletico's expected asking price for Felix. They weren't willing to put a buy option in his contract, and there have been no reports of an amicable transfer fee reportedly on the table for next summer. This is no longer a player whose value reaches €100m, but he is still an expensive commodity that Barcelona cannot afford.

  And that, more broadly, is Xavi's real problem. Felix could be an impact player for the Blaugrana, the kind of option that will be useful to beat the bad teams, and provide a moment of inspiration against the good ones. For a side that has ambitions to defend its La Liga crown from last year, and push deep into the Champions League, he could be crucial.

  But for all of that, there is an overwhelming feeling that he could only be a temporary fix. Barca's best bet is to enjoy him while they can.

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Discover our top six streaming devices and why they should star in your gadget lineup

Calling all cable cutters! It’s an exciting time to be you. 

Streaming devices are the top tier of flexible viewing, bringing all the streaming services you use into one neat location. Whether you’re looking for live coverage of the Premier League or some pithy life lessons from Jose Mourinho in Netflix’s “The Playbook”, you’re covered with the click of a button. If that's not enough, any device worth its salt features 4k and HDR content, so you've always got a front-row seat.

There are a lot of streaming devices to choose from. To fast-track you to the right one for your budget, we've put together our six best and brightest.

What to consider: 

Essential 

• Visual Quality
• Interface 
• Apps in the device library 
• App and content Loading speed
• Pricing

Additional

• Smart device functions 
• Advertisements
• Dolby audio and visual compatibility

Our Top Six Streaming Devices

1. Roku Streaming Stick 4k [$49.99]
2. Roku Express 4k [ $39.99]
3. Nvidia Shield TV [$149.99]
4. Chromecast with Google TV 4k [$49.99]
5. Amazon Firestick 4k max [$54.99]
6. Apple TV 4k [$129.99]

We've weighed up the merits of each, so you can decide which gets the sacred spot in your living room.

Whether you're buying on a budget, or on the hunt for premium visuals that put you a hairbreadth from the action, there's something for you.

RELATED

• Best Cable and Satellite providers for live sports streaming
• Best streaming services for live sports in 2023

You can also find league and competition schedules for your favorite teams using GOAL's streaming services.

FAQS

Do I have to pay monthly for my device?

No, your streaming device is a one-off purchase. However, streaming services and channels accessed via your streaming device (e.g., Netflix, Amazon Prime, Peacock, Paramount+) will require you to pay a monthly subscription. 

Will I have access to every channel?

Most devices have access to the big streaming apps you need. However, if you’re looking to stream specific leagues and games, it’s essential to check which services broadcast them and whether those services are available through that device.

Are additional features worth the extra cost?

That depends. For most people watching the big game in 4k with HDR is more than enough to feel close to the action. But if you want a cinematic experience with every watch and are willing to invest, the likes of Dolby Audio and visuals will provide a more immersive viewing experience. 

• Best streaming devices

   Best for under $40

  Roku Express 4k

  GOAL / various Get Roku Express at Sam's Club

  Roku Express 4k is hands down the best on the market for those wanting quality streaming on a budget.  It’s one of the only 4k services available for under $50, offering good app variety and loading speeds. Express includes Airplay, so it can be synchronized across Apple devices. It’s an affordable all-rounder. 

• Best all-rounder

  Nvidia Shield TV 4k

  GOAL / various Get the Nvidia Shield at Walmart

  The Nvidia Shield 4k is an accomplished all-rounder. It’s one of the pricier dishes on the menu as a result, but well worth it if it fits your budget. Nvidia Shield TV is an Android device that comes with 4K streaming and HDR, lightning-fast loading, and a responsive, user-friendly dashboard. Its extensive app library gives you up to 5000 channels.

  If that’s not enough, you get all the smart features you could ask for, with built-in Google Assistant, smart home control, network data storage and file sharing, and DVR storage for live TV recording through HDHomeRun.

• Best for under $50

  Chromecast with Google TV 4k

  GOAL / various Get Chrome Cast at Walmart

  Say hello to smart streaming. Chromecast offers 4k, HDR and is a reliable option for live TV.  However, its greatest strengths are its smart device features, offering Google assistance via the voice-controlled remote and smart home control. Chromecast also integrates seamlessly with other Google-run platforms, such as YouTube and Google Photos.

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• Best for speed

  Amazon Fire Stick 4k Max

  GOAL / various Get the Amazon Fire stick at Amazon

  Supporting Wi-Fi 6 and Dolby Vision, the Amazon Fire Stick 4k Max offers impressive loading speeds and high-quality visuals if you have the appropriate router. Similarly to Google Chromecast, the Amazon Fire Stick is well integrated with other services from the provider.  The Fire Stick 4k Max features Alexa to help you search for your favorite channels, as well as smart home control and a huge variety of apps.

Plenty of Crystal Palace fans have been reacting to an update regarding the futures of five first-team players.

The Evening Standard shared a story revealing Joel Ward is in talks over a new Palace deal.

However, the report also dropped hints on the future of five other members of Palace’s squad, all of which are out of contract in a matter of weeks.

Mamadou Sakho, James McCarthy and Connor Wickham are all expected to leave Selhurst Park, whereas Gary Cahill and Andros Townsend are set to stay at the club.

Transfermarkt claim Palace have 15 players whose deals expire at the end of June, and it seems as if the club are starting to make some big calls, despite not having a manager in place.

The five mentioned plus Cahill and Townsend were signified as a “free transfer” in the Premier League’s official released list on Friday, however, it is not definitive they will leave.

Palace fans react

@cpfc_xtra shared the news on the Palace quintet on Twitter on Thursday afternoon.

These Eagles supporters seemed to be in agreement with the club’s decision, with one describing it as ‘wonderful news’.

“Getting rid of deadwood finally”

Credit: @cpfc_sean

“Perfection.”

Credit: @Phillyconcarne

“Wonderful news!”

Credit: @IlerReed

“Sounds ideal”

Credit: @msvfagottfan

“I’ll be happy with them”

Credit: @benh199225

“I’m absolutely fine with that. Those three off the wage bill – especially Sakho – will be good.”

Credit: @SuperSySez

In other news: Many CPFC fans buzz at links to 22 y/o European defender, find out more here. 

Everything you need to know about the Belgian magician!

One of the most visually appealing things when it comes to football is the on-ball wizardry and deadly dribbling of some players: the nimble footwork, the slick one-touch passing, the sheer audacity to get past a barrage of defenders through clever dribbling.

One player who mastered the aforementioned traits is Eden Hazard, who is, without any qualms, one of the best dribblers of this generation.

Born on January 7, 1991, in La Louviere, Belgium, Hazard joined his hometown club Royal Stade Brainois at the age of four. He spent eight years at the club before moving to Tubize, which is where Lille scouts spotted him.

Hazard moved to France to join Lille's youth academy in 2007 at the age of 16, where he initially played for the reserve team. He made his first-team and professional debut on November 24, 2007, in a Ligue 1 match against Nancy, where he came on as a substitute in the 78th minute.

He quickly established himself as one of the most talented young players in France, helping Lille win the league and cup double in the 2010-11 season.

In 2012, Hazard moved to Chelsea for a reported fee of £32 million. He went on to win two Premier League titles, two Europa Leagues, one FA Cup, and one League Cup during his seven-year spell at the club. Hazard was also named Chelsea Player of the Year on four occasions.

In 2019, Hazard joined Real Madrid for a reported fee of €100 million, which, according to Hazard, had always been his dream club. However, the Belgian's move to the Santiago Bernabeu didn't turn out to be beneficial to either party as he has had an injury-ridden time in Madrid and continues to be out of favour for current manager Carlo Ancelotti.

When it comes to his international career, Hazard represented Belgium at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, as well as the 2016 and 2020 UEFA European Championships. He has been named Belgian Player of the Year on three occasions (2017, 2018, 2019) and led the Red Devils to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup, where he won the Silver Ball.

Known for his dribbling skills, creativity, and eye for goal, Hazard is widely regarded as one of the best attacking players of his generation. He has won numerous individual awards throughout his career and is considered a legend at both Chelsea and Lille.

Although we have come to witness Hazard's absurd talent week in, and week out for a long time, what are some of the most interesting facts about the Belgian that you absolutely must know?

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  A footballing family

  Eden's mother, Carine and father, Thierry were both footballers.

  Carine was a striker in the Belgian Women's First Division from age 20 to 26. When she was three months pregnant with Eden, she stopped playing and never resumed.

  Thierry was a defensive midfielder for La Louviere in the Belgian Second Division.

  Meanwhile, Eden is the eldest of the four brothers. His three brothers, Thorgan, Kylian, and Ethan, are all professional footballers.

  Thorgan arrived at Chelsea in 2012, shortly after the Blues signed his brother Eden. Thorgan currently plays for Borussia Dortmund.

  Kylian is currently playing in the Belgian First Division B, the second tier of Belgian football, for RWD Molenbeek, while Ethan is presently playing for the under-21 team of Tubize, Eden's former club.

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• Youngest goalscorer for Lille at the time

  Hazard had to wait for the commencement of the 2008-09 season to be promoted permanently to the first team.

  On September 20, 2008, he was brought on as a substitute against Auxerre. With Lille trailing 2-1, Hazard was the difference-maker as he scored the equaliser in the 88th minute. Lille would win the game 3-2 thanks to Tulio de Melo's stoppage-time winner.

  When Hazard made it 2-2 to score his first-ever senior goal, he became the club's youngest goal scorer ever at 17 years and 257 days.

• First international footballer to win the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year

  Hazard became the youngest goal scorer in club history, but that did not warrant him a starting spot.

  However, his name started appearing often on the team sheet in the second half of the season, and Lille benefitted as a result.

  In games against Sochaux and Monaco, he scored and contributed to the winning goals, and in Coupe de France, he scored against Lyon to eliminate the reigning champions.

  Later in the season, as it became more evident that Lille had a genuine diamond on their hands, he resumed his streak of scoring in crucial games with a goal against Marseille.

  Hazard became the first international player to win the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award for his breakthrough and performance.

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• First player to win the Young Player of the Year award twice

  In the 2009-10 season, Hazard started garnering interest from some of the biggest clubs across Europe due to his influential displays in the Europa League.

  But it was not just Europe where he was causing problems. In France, he picked up right where he left in his debut season and scored in games against Lens, Montpellier, and Le Mans to prove his mettle during the big games as Lille continued to push for the Ligue 1 title.

  finished the Ligue 1 season in fourth place, just one point below Auxerre in the Champions League positions, but the developing forward had greater success personally.

  He was up for both the league's Player and Young Player of the Award nominations, becoming the first to win the latter two seasons in a row while losing out on the former to Lyon's prolific goal scorer Lisandro Lopez.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has been handed a major blow ahead of their Premier League clash against Crystal Palace, with Matty Cash set to be ruled out.

The right-back was forced off at half-time in Villa’s 0-0 draw against Everton earlier in the week, with Ahmed Elmohamady coming on to replace him.

And now, speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against the Eagles, the Villa boss said: “Whether it’s a re-occurrence of the hamstring, I don’t know but, if it is, then that will rule him out of the season now. Someone spoke to him and he said he doesn’t feel too bad so we’ll see.”

The right-back has been a virtual ever-present for Smith this season following his arrival from Championship side Nottingham Forest last summer.

He’s played 28 times in the Premier League, and has proven to be an incredible signing for the club and also a bit of an unsung hero amid the likes of Jack Grealish and Ollie Watkins stealing the show.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/villa-dean-smith-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-premier-league-buendia-berge-mcneil-trezeguet-villa-park” title=”Read the latest Villa transfer rumours and news!”]

With Cash now ruled out for at least this game, and academy star Kaine Kesler having been involved in Villa’s FA Youth Cup victory over West Brom, Smith will have to turn to the 33-year-old Elmohamady to take his place.

Given Cash’s reliability and consistency this season, news of him potentially missing the rest of the season will have Smith absolutely gutted ahead of the game against Palace today.

Meanwhile, this Villa star must never play again…

The Blues are huge underdogs heading into their Champions League quarter-final against the Blancos – but they do have the talent to upset the odds

There was no new manager bounce for Chelsea at Wolves on Saturday, as Frank Lampard watched his new team suffer a dismal 1-0 loss that leaves them closer to the Premier League's relegation zone than it does the top four.

"I was relying on the players on Saturday a little bit and giving some messaging, which we did as much as we could," the Blues caretaker boss admitted after the game.

Lampard inherited an extremely bloated squad from Graham Potter on the back of the club's unprecedented January transfer splurge, and he's ready to experiment with the line up in order to deliver a turnaround in fortunes.

"It’s a clean slate for everyone and that’s the challenge to all the players over the next few weeks," he added.

A lack of goals is the biggest concern for Lampard, with Chelsea having failed to find the net in eight of their last 13 games across all competitions.

It's fair to say, then, that Real Madrid won't be quaking in their boots when the Blues arrive at Santiago Bernabeu for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday. The reigning European champions saw off a much better Chelsea side at the same stage of last season's competition, and are many people's favourites to win the European Cup again come June 10.

However, Lampard will be out to turn the script on its head, and he has unfinished business in the Champions League, having been sacked by Chelsea in January 2021 before their unlikely run to glory under Thomas Tuchel.

A perfect game plan will be needed for the Blues to edge the heavyweight tie, and GOAL has assessed how they can really hurt Real across the two legs…

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  Unleash James & Chilwell

  Chelsea only recorded one shot on target against Wolves as they offered little to no attacking threat after setting up in a 4-3-3 formation.

  Lampard ditched Potter's preferred 3-4-2-1 system in an attempt to freshen things up, but in doing so, he restricted the two most dangerous players in his squad.

  Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, who just so happens to be Lampard's uncle, pointed out the issue after the game, telling : "I think they’re perfect to set-up with three at the back. They've got [great] wing-backs in [Ben] Chillwell and [Reece] James, you’ve got centre halves galore."

  James and Chilwell are both finally back to full fitness after a nightmare time with respective injuries, and they carry a huge threat in the final third when deployed in their favoured wing-back positions, which is where Lampard must use them against Real.

  The two England internationals can provide the width that Chelsea sorely need, and create space for the likes of Joao Felix and Kai Havertz to really make an impact.

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  Let Sterling lead the line

  Chelsea only have one natural centre-forward on their books right now in the form of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but he was exiled by Potter before his sacking.

  Unfortunately for Lampard, he can't even bring the Gabon striker back into the starting line up against Madrid because he was left out of Chelsea's final squad for the Champions League knockout phase.

  Felix and Havertz have been favoured to lead the Blues' attack as a result, but Raheem Sterling should get the nod when they travel to Spain in midweek.

  “Raheem has been there and done it and there’s history of producing,” Lampard has said ahead of the first leg. “I think he’s a fantastic player."

  That history includes a trophy-laden six-year spell at Manchester City that saw him score 131 goals in 339 games. Sterling often operated as a false nine under Pep Guardiola, showing off an impressive knack of getting in behind defences and finishing with aplomb.

  With Havertz's confidence low, Sterling is the best option Chelsea have through the middle right now, and he could have plenty of joy against a Real backline that was torn apart by Villarreal in their latest La Liga outing.

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  Keep Vinicius Junior quiet

  If Chelsea are to have any hope of progressing to the semi-finals, then they have to stop Madrid's new main man: Vinicius Junior.

  Karim Benzema is still the Blancos' top goalscorer and has been in fine form since the March international break, but Vinicius is the one who puts the chances on a plate for the veteran French forward.

  He is also the player that sparks Real into life at the top end of the pitch, whether by skipping past defenders or playing one-twos in and around the box to open up space.

  The Brazilian is almost unstoppable in full flow, and has a useful habit of delivering in the biggest matches – as evidenced by his match-winning display in last season's Champions League final.

  James even named Vinicius as one of his toughest-ever opponents in a Q&A session on social media in December, but the full-back did a stellar job of restricting his impact in the second leg of Chelsea's clash with Real last term.

  Lampard will need a repeat performance from James this time around if the Blues are to pick up a positive result at the Bernabeu to take back to Stamford Bridge on April 18.

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  Target Real's weak left-side

  Madrid were already out of the Spanish title race prior to Saturday's home encounter against Villarreal, but the manner of their defeat should be a cause for concern for Carlo Ancelotti.

  Samuel Chukwueze scored a double for the visitors, including a sublime winner that saw him ghost past Nacho before rifling the ball into the far corner of Thibaut Courtois' net.

  The Nigeria international was a menace throughout the contest as he exposed Real's glaring deficiencies on the left.

  Nacho, Eduardo Camavinga and David Alaba have all filled in at left-back in the absence of the injured Ferland Mendy since the turn of the year, with underwhelming results.

  Camavinga is set to get the nod again against Chelsea, and although he is improving gradually, he is not a natural fit for the role.

  Chelsea would be wise to target that side, with James likely to get a lot of joy if he's given the freedom to bomb forward.

The Gunners are eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table, putting them in an excellent position to win their first title since 2004

So, here it is, then, the home stretch.

The international break is over and for Arsenal the cup competitions are done. Mikel Arteta’s side have nothing else in front of them other than their remainingPremierLeaguefixtures.

The Gunners are effectively 10 matches away from immortality.

It’s been 19 years since Arsenal were last crowned champions of England and they've not had a better chance to end that run over the past two decades.

After a quite remarkable 28 games, they are eight points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table going into this weekend’s game against Leeds United.

But now they are faced with arguably their toughest task to date: finishing off the job.

Some, like Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and Jorginho, have been in this type of position before. But the majority haven’t, and nor has Arteta.

Whether that makes a difference remains to be seen, but so far Arsenal have shown little sign of feeling the pressure.

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When they were beaten by City last month and kicked off top spot in the process, many expected them to fall away. It was assumed that City would just go on and cruise to the title like they always do.

But Arsenal won at Aston Villa the following weekend in dramatic fashion to return to the summit and have followed that up with a further five straight wins.

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  'The right level of competition and cooperation'

  “We have really good people and we have really good players,” Arteta said. "We have people and players who are curious all the time to improve, to learn, to be better. 

  "We have the right level of competition and cooperation because they really want to help each other, but they have to challenge each other as well to benefit the team and lift everyone to the standards we want.”

  Arsenal begin their final push on Saturday, against Leeds.

  With a trip to Anfield – a ground the Gunners haven’t tasted success at in the league since 2012 – looming large on the horizon the following weekend, three points are vital against Javi Gracia’s side.

  Thomas Partey is hoping to be fit, despite sitting out Ghana’s game with Angola on Monday, but William Saliba is out with a back problem which is causing growing concern.

  Jesus could be handed his first league start since November, however, and the Brazilian’s return to full fitness could be crucial over the next two months.

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  'We cannot control the outcome of other clubs'

  “I think it’s about what we do every single day,” Arteta said when asked the most important thing his side can do to maintain their advantage in the title race. “That’s what is going to decide our outcome. 

  “We cannot control the outcome of other clubs. What we can control is what we do every single day. How we behave, how we train, how we communicate, how our energy is.

  “Now, it has to be about enjoying the last part of the season with a real hunger to continue to do what we’ve done and, if possible, better.”

  The way Arsenal bounced back from the disappointment of losing against City says a lot about this young team.

  They could easily have folded after that defeat, especially as it came on the back of the loss at Everton and the controversial draw against Brentford.

  But instead they found a way to go again.

  The last-minute winner at Aston Villa, the Reiss Nelson goal against Bournemouth – whenever it has started to look like things might be slipping away, they have managed to pick themselves up off the floor and keep fighting.

  “The secret is probably the unity and togetherness that they have between them,” Arteta said. “They love to spend time with each other, they love to play with each other and they love to play in front of our people. 

  “They really have that sense of belonging to the club and that’s really powerful.”

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  The motivating factor

  Few would ever have expected Arsenal to be in this position when the season started back in August.

  The collapse at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, when they let a top-four spot slip away, was still fresh in everyone’s minds.

  But while many believed there would be a hangover from that disappointment, Arsenal’s squad instead used it as motivation.

  And, with the signings of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko adding proven winners to the changing room, the momentum has just continued to build from that opening-weekend win at Crystal Palace.

  “It’s something that has been part of the journey,” Arteta said of the painful end to last season. “I really liked what I saw the first day when we got back from holidays. People were hungry. 

  “The signings we made had a big impact on the team, they generated belief, they took the quality and leadership of the team to a different level. 

  “Then it was about trying to build that up every single day to a level where you start to believe you can be at the top and that you can sustain that level.”

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• The final sprint

  For Arsenal now, it’s about keeping their nerve; continuing to do the things that have got them into this position.

  They have some difficult games coming up, not least the trips to Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle.

  But they have faced those types of challenges already this season and more often than not, they have managed to come out on top.

  They have won at Chelsea, they have beaten Spurs home and away and they have overcome Liverpool and United at the Emirates.

  So, they don’t need to fear what is to come over the next 10 games; they need to relish it.

  Arteta’s side have led from almost the first kick of the season and now the finishing line is in sight.

  The final sprint is about to begin…

Ryan Mason will be sweating on the fitness of one of his key Tottenham Hotspur stars ahead of kick-off this evening…

What’s the latest?

Gareth Bale has emerged as a major doubt to feature in their clash with Aston Villa in North London, meaning the 31-year-old may not receive a send-off in front of the fans for one last time before he is due to return to Real Madrid.

The 29-year-old interim revealed his concerns in his pre-game press conference ahead of tonight’s encounter. When asked about Bale’s involvement, he told reporters, via the Evening Standard:

“I am not sure. Gareth was probably the best I have seen him all season at the weekend. He was sharp, he was running at players, he has that confidence back of playing in repetitive games and he feels confident in his body,” Mason claimed.

“He also knows his body. He is a question mark for tomorrow. We are not sure whether or not he is going to be ready. It is down to the player, he is experienced enough.

“We’ll see. Like it was with Serge [Aurier against Wolves], if a player doesn’t feel 100 per cent, I don’t feel confident enough, we have enough players ready, enough players competing, that want to play.

“If a player doesn’t feel 100 per cent and it is not right then he won’t play.”
[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/spurs-managerial-latest-update-transfer-rumours-gossip” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, managerial gossip, transfer rumours and more!”]

Cause for concern

If he’s absent, it will come as a massive blow to the interim head coach as he has relied on Bale’s exploits immensely since he took over from Jose Mourinho a month ago.

Indeed, the £18m-rated beast has found the net four times, having started every single league game under Mason, taking his total for the campaign to 14 goals, as per Transfermarkt.

10,000 supporters will get to attend the match this evening, so it will also be a gutting blow to them, with Bale’s future still up in the air. The Evening Standard claim it is unclear whether he will return beyond his one-year loan agreement from the La Liga giants.

After another 89 minutes in the bank on Sunday afternoon, it was only the second time that Bale had started four or more consecutive matches but the first involving so many minutes on the pitch, so understandably he may be a little jaded.

Spurs also know that a win over Villa would seal a place in Europe next season as they won’t be able to finish worse than seventh place, and their chances of clinching all three points are damaged if Bale is sat in the stands.

Heading into 6pm, Mason will surely be worried as he mulls over who could replace him in the starting XI.

AND in other news, Mason must unleash “unplayable” £45m-rated Spurs beast today, could be a game-changer…

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Sometimes all you want are classic, no nonsense black soccer cleats

Are you looking for a brand-new pair of soccer cleats? Whether you're going to grace the soccer field for the first time or are a regular player in your local team – having a good pair of soccer cleats makes all the difference. But style has also become increasingly important.

With players like Messi and Mbappe donning the latest colorway from big brands like adidas and Nike, it can be a feast for the eyes when trying to search for your next pair of cleats. From luminous color options to the simplicity of a pastel offering – there are so many options out there.

But, arguably, you just can't go wrong with a pair of black soccer cleats. It's classic and has been the go-to for so many soccer legends in the past. So, we've rounded up the best black cleats you can get on the market today, depending on what you want out of your game.

Click here to skip ahead to our round-up of the best black soccer cleats.

Our top three:

Best overall black soccer cleat: Nike Zoom Mercurial Superfly 9 Elite

Best budget black soccer cleats: adidas Goletto VIII

Best Firm Ground soccer cleats: adidas Copa Pure.1

FAQs:

What are the best soccer cleats?

There is no "best" type of soccer cleats – with so many ways to play the game these days, the best kind of footwear is all down to the player's individual needs.

That said, several brands have emerged over the past half-century as leaders in the industry – Nike, adidas, Umbro, and more. While there are many manufacturers to choose from, these headline names have built their brands into global success stories because they know how to deliver the goods.

What type of soccer cleats do I need?

The individual type of cleats will depend on what you hope to achieve with your game and where you will play. Soccer pitches can be split into roughly half-a-dozen different categories. Depending on which one you play on, you'll want to purchase a cleat that best enhances your performance on those particular surfaces.

What kind of surfaces are there for soccer cleats?

You can buy soccer cleats for five different surfaces – firm ground, soft ground, artificial grass, astroturf, and indoor courts – while in addition, you can purchase a sixth type, multi-ground, which covers varied combinations of the above. On tougher grass that's frozen in the winter? You'll want firm ground. On grass that's soaked in the rain overnight? Soft ground is your best bet. Five-a-side at the local sports hall? Indoor courts are the way to go.

• Shop: Best black soccer cleats

  Best overall black soccer cleats

  Nike Zoom Mercurial Superfly 9 Elite

  Nike$275.00 at Nike

  Want to deliver at the top of your game, with all-around control and command on and off the ball? Look no further than the Zoom Mercurial Superfly 9 Elite, a superior shoe that delivers on all facets of the game with intelligent construction and breathtaking mastery.

  To help you dominate on the pitch, Nike has included a Zoom Air unit that adds a gripping texture for a special touch. You can feel the explosive speed with Nike's speed cage inside the design. It's a light but durable material that locks the foot to the outsole for excellent lockdown without adding extra weight.

• Best budget black soccer cleats

  adidas Goletto VIII

  adidas$44.99 at Soccer.com

  You don't have to break the bank to buy yourself a pair of black soccer cleats, as these sleek, modern adidas Goletto cleats demonstrate. They include a complete lace closure for a snug fit, and the cushioned insole and padded ankle collar offer constant support and comfort.

  The cleats are finished off with stitched detailing, adidas' iconic three stripes in a glossy finish, and molded studs to provide excellent grip on firmer pitches.

• Best firm ground black soccer cleats

  adidas Copa Pure.1

  adidas$229.99 at Soccer.com

  The adidas Copa range is perfect for players who take more touches on the ball and are more creative. Think strikers and midfielders. The brand new Copa Pure.1 takes it back to the basics so that there's less fussing around with the cleats and more time enjoying soccer.

  They feature an elevated FUSIONSKIN upper, which is enhanced for a soft touch and a unique leather experience. The U-Throat collar constructions allow for ease of entry for all foot types and sizes, so you can rest assured that these are an option for everyone.

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• Best multi-ground black soccer cleats

  Nike Tiempo Legend 9 Academy

  Nike$74.99 at Soccer.com

  Channel your inner Rooney with the classic Nike Tiempo, a football boot that is straight to the point and worn by many iconic names in the sport. An all-black design with blue accented studs is completed with Tiempo text and an emblem on the back of the boot.

  The Nike Tiempo Legend 9 Academy is great for players who like playing the beautiful game, whatever the pitch surface. It's one of Nike's lightest Tiempo's to date and features a soft leather upper to give you the classic soccer look. A cushioned insole guarantees maximum comfort so you can concentrate on refining those essential skills.