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West Brom already have the perfect manager to get them back up should they face relegation from the Premier League this season, says Marlon Harewood.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, the former Villa and Wolves talisman tipped the Croatian for redemption at the Hawthorns with them staring down the barrel at the prospects of going straight back down.

The Baggies have not won since gaining promotion from the Championship, picking up just three draws from their opening nine matches, which leaves them second-from-bottom going into a crucial fixture against basement boys, Sheffield United, on Saturday.

Despite their poor form, Harewood believes the 52-year-old is the right man to get them promoted for a second time under his stewardship.

He told FFC:

“If they go down, then he will be the man to bring them back again.

“It’s so easy to always go on to the manager. Sometimes it is that situation, but he’s a top-class manager, top-class guy, the lads love him there, so hopefully, he can turn things around.”

The former Besiktas and West Ham boss has an impressive win percentage just shy of 41% having averaged 1.56 points per game, via Transfermarkt.

This is currently Albion’s best record since Roberto Di Matteo’s stint from 2009 to 2011.

According to the Mirror, Bilic’s position is currently under jeopardy with the club’s hierarchy eyeing up a move for Charlton Athletic boss Lee Bowyer should things not improve anytime soon.

It is believed that tensions between the Croatian boss and chairman Guochuan Lai have heightened since the summer amid the Baggies’ lack of finances in the transfer market.

Only time will tell over Bilic’s future in the west Midlands.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Guochuan Lai: West Brom decision could well save their season…

Wolves have Jorge Mendes to thank in some way for their success having brought many of his clients to Molineux, but the latest name linked with a move to the Midlands is one they should look to swerve completely…

What’s the word?

According to French outlet Le10 Sport, Nuno Santo’s side are thinking about a swoop for Atletico Madrid flop Thomas Lemar this summer with Premier League rivals Everton also keen.

It’s claimed that Mendes’ relationship with both the player and the club could help clinch the 24-year-old ahead of the Toffees.

Two years ago, the France winger joined the La Liga outfit for a whopping £52.7m but he has failed to hit the ground running under Diego Simeone.

Hero-to-zero

Perhaps it is quite a surprise to learn that Lemar is still only 24 given that he was tipped for such great things from an early age, and whilst he undeniable still can turn it on at the click of a finger, those days have been far and few between.

He made his first-team debut for Caen aged just 17 and had grown up with comparisons to his childhood hero Andres Iniesta for his ‘vision and footwork.’

Lemar has also received plenty of plaudits from managers and teammates.

Ex-Monaco Leonardo Jardim boss called the winger a “top player,” former Gunners legend Robert Pires believed he’s a player “who can make a difference” and Spurs skipper Hugo Lloris lauded him as “extremely talented and lethal in front of goal.”

But this season, the 5 foot 8 speedster has failed to deliver, providing zero goals or assists for Atletico. Across La Liga and the Champions League, Lemar averaged just 0.9 dribbles, 0.6 shots and 0.4 key passes, via WhoScored.

Now valued at just over £21.5m by Transfermarkt, the French winger just doesn’t seem like a plausible option for Nuno at Molineux – even if Adama Traore is sold, they could do a lot better than this Mendes client.

AND in other news, Wolves can forget Matt Doherty with move for “formidable” £31.5m starlet…

Glasgow Rangers have had their difficulties in more recent years, but many fans still remember the glory days prior to 2011.

The ‘Gers encountered financial difficulties in 2012, entering administration as they ended up being relegated to League Two. Since then, they have had to work their way back up the footballing pyramid  and only now are they beginning to look like they could once again challenge for major silverware.

Before 2011, though, there were plenty of fantastic moments, such as when they beat St Mirren in the 2010 Scottish League Cup final despite being down to just nine men, with Kenny Miller scoring the only goal for the Ibrox outfit in a 1-0 win (as per BBC).

The fans have been reminded of this match following the response of the club’s official Twitter account responding to comments from PSG manager Thomas Tuchel, who said following his side’s 1-0 victory over Metz that he cannot remember if a team with nine men has beaten one with 11.

Naturally, many ‘Gers supporters loved this interaction and they took to Twitter to share their thoughts – you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below:

‘Gers fans, did you like the club’s response to Tuchel’s comments? Let us know what you think by commenting below!

Tottenham Hotspur had every right to celebrate after Jose Mourinho’s side beat Arsenal 2-1 at home.

Bouncing back from a disappointing draw with Bournemouth, it was clear right from the start that Mourinho had set Spurs up in a very different formation to previous games.

Moussa Sissoko was pushed out wide while Lucas Moura took up position on the left.

Moura basically played as a wing back for large parts of the game, and Mourinho found a way to win, as is often the case.

Although Spurs enjoyed less possession of the ball, they had more shots at goal, more efforts on target and more corners than Arsenal (via football.london).

A day after Tottenham’s hard-fought victory, Manchester City’s European ban has been overturned by the Court of Arbitration.

As Alasdair Gold notes, the Lilywhites have been looking to find some much-needed confidence, and a win in the north London derby might just do the trick.

Spurs still have quite some way to go if they are to reach Europe next season, as they still have to travel to Newcastle (where Mourinho has never won), Leicester City and Crystal Palace.

Tottenham have now climbed above their arch rivals into eighth in the Premier League, seven points behind fourth-placed Leicester, and six points behind his old club Manchester United.

Gold pointed out that while the battle isn’t over yet, the situation could become quickly become a “nightmare”, as the court’s decision has severe ramifications for the rest of the chasing pack.

Once again, the top four and Europa League winner are guaranteed Champions League football. Pep Guardiola’s side have also won the Carabao Cup, which means whoever finishes sixth will earn a spot in the Europa League.

On the one hand, if City, Chelsea or Man United win the FA Cup, seventh place will be enough to qualify for the European competition.

However, Arsenal could snatch that coveted spot if they win the trophy and finish outside of the top six, although they will have to beat City in order to do so.

Nevertheless, this has put Spurs in quite a predicament, as despite their latest triumph, they still find themselves adrift of a potential place in European football.

Of course, everything hinges on whether or not the Gunners will actually beat the Citizens, but a similar scenario has happened in the past.

Indeed, Chelsea’s Champions League triumph denied Harry Redknapp one last European hurrah in his final year in charge at White Hart Lane.

Spurs fans will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself as Mourinho’s side gear themselves up to face Newcastle on Thursday.

Tottenham fans, do you think Spurs will qualify for the Europa League? Let us know down below!

According to Sky Sports, Everton have joined the race to sign Wigan defender Antonee Robinson this summer.

What’s the word?

The Toffees let Robinson go on a permanent basis just last summer, but it now appears that they are keen on bringing him back to Merseyside.

Sky Sports claim that despite seeing fellow Premier League side Sheffield United have a £2m bid accepted for the defender, “late interventions” from both Everton and Fulham have held up any move to the Blades.

How big of an Everton fan are you? Can you spot Mikel Arteta from Graham Stuart? This quiz will test your knowledge, try it if you’re brave enough…



World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

The report adds that Carlo Ancelotti’s side are keen on securing a replacement for the recently retired Leighton Baines, although Robinson’s potential arrival would see him more likely join as a back-up to first-choice option Lucas Digne.

Fixing Marco Silva’s mistake

The fact that Everton are in for Robinson just a year after letting him go on a permanent deal, really shines a light on just how much of a major mistake former boss Marco Silva made.

Whilst of course it’s unlikely the Portuguese man would have known about Baines’ retirement at the end of the season, the fact the Toffees hero was set to turn 35 during the middle of the campaign should have set alarm bells ringing.

Silva should have taken the decision to give Robinson another year away on loan, before recalling him and throwing him into the first-team picture. But with Wigan’s recent financial struggles, Everton have the perfect chance to take advantage and fix last summer’s error.

Robinson’s former manager at Bolton, Phil Parkinson, said of him back in 2017: “He’s so dynamic going forward. Antonee is a real character. He doesn’t give in. And that kind of attitude can take you places.”

At 6 foot, Robinson doesn’t appear to be the typical full-back. But if the Toffees are looking for someone to provide competition for Digne, then they need to look no further than someone who was one of their very own.

There is a lot to be positive about in West Yorkshire currently and the team’s new training kit is another thing which fans have taken a likening to.

The new-look attire has a splash of light blue but it exemplifies Leeds’ professionalism, and many fans appreciate what they see, with some talking about purchasing it.

A true test for any Leeds fan: Can you match these iconic images with the right results?

Leeds had already released training wear in the summer, sporting a light grey outfit which has coincided with tremendous success so far, but with fans liking the style they see little reason not to purchase more.

Some fans are also interested in those captured in the new training gear. Ben White has been a fan favourite for most of the season but it is Eddie Nketiah who is attracting attention, having just returned from injury.

The Arsenal loanee spent about a month out injured but returned to make cameo appearances against Middlesbrough and Huddersfield, and his involvement is pleasing for some.

Others have simply taken the time to compliment the style and think it is a nice addition, though there has been little comparison between it and the current grey kit.

Instead, one fan has expressed their hope that it helps lead to promotion, as the grey kit has certainly been a lucky charm in that sense, and come the end of the year both could be memorable if Leeds manage to lift the Championship trophy after wearing it.

Meanwhile, Leeds fans have also been discussing an important player and the new attributes he has added to his game.

Premier League champions Liverpool welcome strugglers Aston Villa to Anfield on Sunday, with both sides needing a result for different reasons.

Jurgen Klopp’s side looked understandably tired against Manchester City on Thursday following their celebrations, but nonetheless they will not have enjoyed suffering a 4-0 defeat at the hands of one of their biggest rivals.

Villa, meanwhile, are struggling at the other end of the league and are sat one point adrift of safety in 18th position.

They narrowly lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last fixture and have not won since January, so any points out of this match would be seen as a huge bonus.

Form

Liverpool are in their worst run of form of the season, having lost two of their last five Premier League matches, while they have only won once since the resumption of football.

However, their home form has been incredible all season with Klopp’s team taking a maximum 48 points from their 16 league matches at Anfield this term.

At the other end of the spectrum, Villa are winless in the league since January and have picked up three points from their last six matches.

Away from Villa Park they have lost three of their last four and have the second worse record in the division on the road, taking nine points from 16 matches.

Team news

Long-term absentee Xherdan Shaqiri is still a few days away from his return from a calf problem and Dejan Lovren remains a doubt.

Joel Matip has been ruled out until August with an ankle injury, but youngsters Curtis Jones and Neco Williams and new signing Takumi Minamino could all be in line for more minutes now the title has been secured.

Tom Heaton and Wesley are both likely to miss the rest of the season with knee injuries, with Bjorn Engels and Matt Targett also a few days away from a return.

Frederic Guilbert and Henri Lansbury are both doubts, but John McGinn could return to the starting side after a lengthy absence.

How to watch

With Liverpool looking get back to winning ways and Aston Villa in desperate need of points, this match is an exciting prospect.

Kicking off at 16:30 UTC at Anfield on Sunday, the game is being broadcast on Sky Sports and football live streams will also be showing the match online.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Loan Watch series, which takes a closer look at those players who are aiming to galvanise their careers away from the spotlight of their parent club.

Southampton’s out-on-loan centre-back Wesley Hoedt has fared inconsistently since signing for Royal Antwerp on a season-long loan deal back in the summer.

The 6-cap Netherlands international has made 14 appearances for the Belgian side this term, but has kept a clean sheet in just one of those games.

That isn’t to say that Hoedt has been solely responsible for such a terrible record of shutouts, but if his last outing is anything to go by, the former Lazio man – who cost Southampton £15m – really isn’t having a good time out on loan at all.

The 25-year-old was involved in a thrilling Belgian Cup tie against Genk on Tuesday evening, in which both sides scored three goals each before the game went to a penalty shootout to determine the winner.

Hoedt – who was described as “impressively driven” by the Southampton official website during a feature interview – scored an own goal in the 81st minute when it looked like his side would see out their 2-1 lead.

“It’s rare to hear a team sportsman accept such personal responsibility, but Hoedt is impressively driven to improve himself as well as Saints.”

So, having cost his side the win in normal time with just eight minutes remaining, Hoedt was forced to try and make amends in extra-time.

Unfortunately, he could not, and the cup affair went to penalties as aforesaid.

After having such a wobbly moment in the final ten minutes of normal time, you wouldn’t have expected Hoedt to pick the ball up and take a penalty himself, but that’s exactly what the Dutchman did – perhaps in a belated effort to make amends for his own goal.

However, the situation went from bad to worse for Hoedt.

The Southampton outcast missed his kick from 12 yards, and Genk went on to win the tie after scoring four penalties to Antwerp’s three.

Hopefully, for the sake of Hoedt’s own confidence and consistency, he can do something significant to help his side in the next game, or the pressure may soon begin to mount on the £15m man.

In other Southampton news, take a look at two Newcastle players who could cause some damage to the Saints on Sunday afternoon…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking after the game, Freddie Ljungberg hailed Gabriel Martinelli’s impressive performance on his first ever start in the Premier League.

What did he say?

The Brazilian only arrived in the summer from Ituano, but has made a stunning start to life in north London. The 18-year-old has predominantly been restricted to making appearances in the Europa League and Carabao Cup, but has delivered consistently in the opportunities he has been given.

His seven goals in six appearances in cup competitions no doubt played a part in Ljungberg handing him first Premier League start against West Ham on Monday night – and the teenager made the most of it. He scored the all-important equaliser as the Gunners came from behind to end their win-less streak of nine games.

And speaking after the conclusion of the game, Ljungberg was quick to pay tribute to the starlet for his overall display. He said (as quoted by The Independent): “Gabi is a fantastic player, very, very young, but he has that energy about him and he goes and he goes. There is no fear and he just keeps on going. It is a pleasure to see him on the pitch and for him to get the success he did, it puts a smile on your face.”

Breath of fresh air

Whilst Martinelli’s goal was worth its weight in gold in terms of inspiring his side’s comeback, it was his hard work and relentlessness off the ball that made his debut Premier League start all the more impressive. As per Sofascore, he made a team-high three tackles, and won five ground duels too, despite playing on the wing. His willingness to track back and help out his teammates by chasing back everything was a breath of fresh air.

Can you name all of these obscure Arsenal signings? Give it a go now!

As per Sky Sports, Martinelli made an incredible 20 high-intensity sprints – more than double that of the man in second for the Gunners, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Even in the closing stages of the game, the Brazilian was busting his gut to make runs in behind the West Ham defence, and closing down people. It was no surprise therefore to see Arsenal fans flood to Twitter after the game to hail their new Brazilian star.

Meanwhile, this Arsenal ace changed the course of the game for a Gunners side desperately lacking in confidence going forward.

Leeds United remain well in the hunt for promotion this season as we get into the final international break and then head towards a hectic Christmas period.

The Whites have enjoyed this season very much indeed and look a side capable of challenging for the top two between now and the end of the campaign.

Indeed, Marcelo Bielsa is once again underlining why he could be the best manager in the league with his approach and the fact that he is so willing to use young players.

The latest benefactor of that has been Leif Davis with a new contract being signed earlier this week and, indeed, that news has lent itself to the wheeling out of this clip – which is fast making the Argentine a bit of an online meme:

Whites fans rightly love Bielsa, and this clip has only served to increase that affection by the looks of the responses on Twitter.

Let’s look at them now: