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Scott Brown has finally had his say on the media backlash directed at him after March’s Old Firm, and Celtic fans will surely love his verdict.

Never before has a player been the victim of three separate red card incidents in one match, two of which were correctly penalised by the referee on the day while Ryan Kent was banned after the fact, only for the media to paint said victim as the bad guy.

That’s exactly what happened with Brown after Celtic’s 2-1 win against Rangers, so much so the Bhoys skipper was even cited by the SFA for “not acting in the best interests of the game”, whatever that means.

And now, the 33 year-old has hit back at the bizarre reaction to his involvement in the incidents involving Alfredo Morelos, Kent and Andy Halliday.

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What has he said?

Asked about winding up his rivals, he told The Daily Record: “I’m doing something right! If people hate me it puts a smile on my face. It must mean I’m either playing well or I’m noising somebody up in the wrong way.

“I don’t care. I think for me I celebrated with my team-mates and a fight kicked off and I walked away from it.

“Somebody elbowed me in the face and I walked away from it. Somebody punched me in the face and I walked away from it. If I was a hooligan I’d have started a brawl in the middle of the pitch.

“But I just walked away from it all, I didn’t want to get myself booked or suspended. I think I acted quite well on the day.”

Never change!

Brown’s first four words that “I’m doing something right” should be music to the ears of Celtic fans, because it means he has no intention of changing his ways.

There is nothing wrong with a bit of extra bite, especially in derbies, and Brown’s ability to get under the skin of opposition fans and players is all part of what makes him such an effective player and leader.

If the Hoops ace was to sacrifice that in the hopes of placating some moaning media members, then he wouldn’t hold anywhere near the level of adoration he currently gets from the Parkhead faithful.

In short, he is never going to change, and that’s the best news Celtic could possibly get.

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Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham United venture to the new White Hart Lane for the first time on Saturday to face the daunting task of trying to cause a shock against an in-form Tottenham Hotspur under Mauricio Pochettino, but there’s four key starting Xl changes the Hammers should make to give themselves some hope.

What are they?

The quartet of alterations would mean changes in the defence, midfield and attack from last weekend’s disappointing Premier League home draw with Leicester City at the London Stadium.

At the back, it’s time for summer signing Ryan Fredericks to return at right-back in place of veteran Pablo Zabaleta and to the left of him at left centre-back, Issa Diop to do the same by replacing Angelo Ogbonna.

Looking further forward into the left centre of midfield, a rethink is also a must for Pellegrini here, giving Jack Wilshere his first start since early September 2018 by ousting Robert Snodgrass.

And finally, up front, lone striker Marko Arnautovic needs to be replaced by Lucas Perez.

How will they give West Ham a chance of pulling off an upset?

Suggesting these changes to the starting team is all well and good but how exactly are they going to give the Irons a chance of pulling off an upset in north London?

Well, Fredericks at right-back rather than his mentor Zabaleta will give West Ham that much-needed pace to be able to cope with Heung-min Son.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the back four, centre-half performances have really let the side down in recent weeks. Pellegrini’s tried to make Ogbonna alongside Balbuena or Diop work and but it just hasn’t with at least two goals conceded in each of the last six matches.

It’s time to reunite Balbuena and Diop in the partnership that was working so well up until the former’s injury prior to Christmas.

Snodgrass started the term well in Claret & Blue but has since faded away and offered little more than the odd deadly set-piece. With Wilshere back, the 27-year-old desperately needs starts and the Scot will have to be the unlucky one to drop out in the centre – the weakest link.

Another incentive for Wilshere’s inclusion is his willingness to beat Spurs, bitter rivals of his former club Arsenal, and the same will apply for Perez, who should replace an out-of-sorts Arnautovic and bring form to the table after what should have been two goals against the Foxes.

Despite four alterations, Pellegrini shouldn’t waver from the 4-1-4-1 that was effective on home soil last time out as these are like-for-like changes, ones that will give his team the best possible chance of taking something back to east London.

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According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle United are ‘reluctant’ to spend more than £12m on Salomon Rondon in this summer’s transfer window.

What’s the word, then?

Rondon joined Newcastle on loan from West Bromwich Albion last summer, with Dwight Gayle moving in the opposite direction.

The Venezuela international is enjoying a fine season for the Magpies, finding the back of the net on nine occasions in the Premier League.

According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle are keen to land the striker on a permanent deal, but do not want to spend more than £12m.

Rondon has a £16.5m release clause in his current deal with West Brom, which will expire at the end of the 2019-2020 campaign.

It seems difficult to believe that the Premier League club will potentially miss out on the South American over a difference of £4.5m, but that could well occur.

Should Newcastle hold firm?

No, pay the £16.5m. The simple fact of the matter is that Newcastle will not be able to sign a player of Rondon’s quality this summer for that price.

It is not exactly as if the forward is entering the final stages of his career. Indeed, he will not turn 30 until September and arguably has another three or four seasons left at the top level.

Rondon’s nine Premier League goals this season have helped the team, but his overall work rate has been clear for everyone to see and will have been much appreciated by the supporters.

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It is not difficult to understand why Newcastle are reluctant to meet the buy-out figure due to the fact that the striker’s deal with West Brom will expire next summer.

However, to potentially miss out on a move for Rondon over a relatively small figure would be poor business when considering the player’s quality.

Owen Hargreaves, the man who won it all but could have done so much more.

The tale of Owen Hargreaves is a mightily sad one. Indeed, it is the kind of story we know the start, the middle and the end to. The kind that still shocks us when we learn of the unrelenting tragedy that befalls the protagonist and prompts us to say ‘surely something has to go right for him now, no one can be this unlucky’. The kind where the main character comes out on top at the end, but loses a leg, two arms, one eye and an ear. A manifestation of the true meaning of the phrase ‘bittersweet’.

The Canadian-born sensation made his way into the spotlight as a teenager and under the bullish leadership of Bayern Munich’s Ottmar Hitzfeld, as well as some of the finest proponents of the beautiful game the nation had to offer, in Lothar Matthaus and Oliver Kahn, embarked on his journey to international stardom with typical German efficiency.

Hargreaves likely thought he had stepped into a new stratosphere when he signed for Manchester United in 2007, and he did…to an extent.

The midfielder etched his name into the history books when he scored the winner against Arsenal to send United cruising at the top of the table with a six-point lead, but it was his performance in the Champions League final that really had the Red Devils salivating.

The Englishman managed 120 minutes against Chelsea and had to composure to score Manchester United’s fourth penalty in the shootout. Hardly surprising given the time he spent in Germany.

Hargreaves had peaked.

A reoccurring knee problem described by a surgeon with 35 years of experience in the field as the worst he had ever seen (as per the Independent) saw him out of action until his departure in 2011, and though he experienced success with Manchester City, he retired at the age of 31.

Truly one of the greatest talents this country has seen, just one that was unfortunately marred by injury.

أوضح طبيب نادي ليفربول الإنجليزي جيم موكسون السبب وراء الكشف عن هوية اللاعب تياجو ألكانتارا بعد إصابته بفيروس كورونا المستجد، كوفيد 19.

وكان بطل الدوري الإنجليزي قد أعلن، مساء اليوم الثلاثاء، إصابة اللاعب الإسباني بالفيروس المستجد (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

وكانت الأندية في بياناتها لا تكشف عن هوية الأشخاص المصابين لديها بفيروس كورونا، حيث تكتفي بذكر وجود حالات إصابة فقط على خلاف ما فعله ليفربول اليوم.

وقال جيم موكسون، في تصريحات نشرها الموقع الرسمي للنادي: “لكل شخص حرية اختيار ما إذا كان سيكشف هويته علنًا بعد ثبوت نتيجة اختبار فيروس كورونا”.

وأضاف: “لقد اتبعنا جميع البروتوكولات وتياجو بخير، سيعزل نفسه الآن وفقًا للإرشادات ونأمل أن يعود معنا قريبًا”.

وانتقل تياجو ألكانتارا إلى ليفربول قادمًا من بايرن ميونخ، في موسم الانتقالات الصيفي الحالي، في وقت سابق من هذا الشهر.

وشارك تياجو في مباراة واحدة فقط وذلك كبديل أمام تشيلسي، في الجولة الثانية من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

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QPR fans are surely in dire need of positive news amid a woeful run of form that has seen them lose six of their last seven games in all competitions, save for a shock 1-0 victory over promotion hopefuls Leeds United.

Fortunately, the Hoops will soon be boosted by the return of Angel Rangel, who was filmed in training on Thursday – the former Swansea man hasn’t featured since the start of December having torn a tendon in a previous loss to Leeds.

Prior to the nasty setback, the 36-year-old had been a fixture for the Loftus Road outfit, making 17 starts and scoring two goals, both of which came in a 2-2 draw with Stoke in November.

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Darnell Furlong has deputised at right-back while the veteran Spaniard has been out and he has impressed; it might not be a straight-forward return to the starting XI for Rangel, then.

Here’s what the QPR fans on Twitter had to say…

Manuel Pellegrini has changed up West Ham United’s system for (mostly) the betterment of the Hammers. 

However, one player he’s been unable to get the best out of is Arthur Masuaku, that’s for sure. Indeed, the left-back was quite the revelation for the Irons last season, igniting their attack with his commendable work down the left flank as David Moyes steadied the ship.

Yet, for one reason or another, the experienced manager has not seen that much potential in him. Masuaku’s made 17 Premier League appearances for the Hammers this season but hasn’t improved defensively. In fact, his disastrous display in their 3-0 battering away at Wolves looks the boiling point of Pellegrini’s patience.

Not only has he not started a match since, Masuaku is apparently being readied for being sold off. According to reports (according to the Daily Mirror via HITC), the Hammers are looking to offload him due to his defensive weakness.

However, this could be a mistake.

Masuaku might not be the best defensively, but his attacking contribution cannot be disregarded.

Also, apart from Aaron Cresswell (who has the knack of picking up injuries), the Hammers don’t have enough cover at left-back right now. Other issues must be addressed over the course of Pellegrini’s second summer in charge and they shouldn’t waste money buying defenders.

Indeed, while Felipe Anderson has made the left-wing role his own, Masuaku can be an effective squad player for The Hammers. Furthermore, rotating him with Cresswell and reigniting his competitive nuture can help him and mitigate the amount of times he’s left on his own defensively.

While Masuaku needs to improve his defensive knowledge, his attacking contribution cannot be undermined. In games where West Ham’s attack is nullified, he can be Pellegrini’s trump card due to his electric, tricky nature and crossing ability.

Letting him go for cheap can come back to haunt West Ham next season.

Sheffield Wednesday suffered their fifth defeat in six league outings on Tuesday night, but during the match, fans were hit with a fresh slice of transfer news.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, the Owls are set to sign Parma winger Alessio Da Cruz on loan with the news emerging right before kickoff at Wigan Athletic.

Garry Monk’s side went on to lose 2-1 after Jamal Lowe snatched a point from their grasp in the 90th minute.

Sheffield Star reporter Dom Howson has since confirmed the interest in Da Cruz and expects an announcement to be made imminently.

As a result of this latest revelation, fans have been responding in their droves as the club finally appear to be doing business ahead of Friday’s 11pm deadline, although that elusive new striker still evades them.

Here’s what they have been saying…

Some supporters saw the potential in the deal with one comparing it to summer signing Julian Borner, suggesting that it could be ‘another gem signing.’

Da Cruz’s pace, passion and flair were also noted by further members of the Hillsborough faithful after it was revealed that he would be arriving with plenty of baggage – three red cards this season as well as spats with fellow teammates.

Although not everyone was pleased with it…

In fact, the vast majority were particularly negative about the Dutchman as one supporter labelled him a “hot head” who isn’t what the club needed.

A couple of other fans were underwhelmed by the news with one claiming that one or two new players aren’t going to fix the squad.

There was also a shout for the season being over whilst that member of the Hillsborough faithful also suggested that these sorts of deals tend to be more miss than hit.

Plenty of others used the revelation as a reason to take a swipe at the rest of the Owls squad.

Some wanted to see more signings, even if they were from the ‘dog and duck’ league whilst others wanted the 23-year-old to go straight into this weekend’s starting XI vs Millwall.

One supporter even said he would drive Jordan Rhodes back to Scotland.

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And in other news, Dom Howson delivers promising Sheffield Wednesday transfer update…

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Dean Smith must make an unthinkable decision and drop James Chester for the visit of Hull City, after the 29-year-old’s woeful game at Wigan.

On the chalkboard

No player has started more for Villa so far this season, with central defender Chester only missing one starting XI of a possible 27 in the Championship.

The Welshman has been a key man for both Steve Bruce and Smith since his appointment, but against Wigan showed a side of himself that would be best kept off the field.

Chester is suffering from a niggling knee issue, but it showed massively on Saturday, as the 29-year-old put in his second-worst performance of the season – only his 54 minutes against Preston in October returned a worse WhoScored rating.

WhoScored deemed the 35-cap international to only be worth a 5.9 at the weekend after he failed to register a single successful tackle and lost more aerial duels than he won – his only redeeming feature against Wigan was a game-high six clearances.

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Finally has an alternative

Part of the reason why Chester has featured so heavily for Villa this season is through a lack of alternatives.

Axel Tuanzebe, who is currently out injured, has been his most regular partner, but until Tommy Elphick was recalled heading into the New Year, the next men up were Mile Jedinak, who is a defensive midfielder, and right-back Alan Hutton.

Now that Elphick is back in Birmingham and the loan signing of Kortney Hause from Wolverhampton Wanderers has gone through, Smith can finally take Chester out of the starting XI and let his knee heal.

Smith must be careful

It would be a seriously risky move for Smith to take out the rock in his defence, but with Chester’s injury causing the defender to struggle, he would be better off trying his luck with Hause and Elphick as a partnership.

Besides, Smith has already accepted that the Wolves man struggled on his debut and thought his performance showed signs of rustiness. That is only natural when you are playing your first game in a back four since May 2017 and first match in general since September.

After a poor run of form, Everton have since picked up in the last few weeks following back-to-back wins against Fulham and Leicester City.

And the Toffees could be about be handed a massive boost as they look to carry their momentum into upcoming fixtures versus Crystal Palace and Manchester United.

The Breakdown

Summer signings Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes are expected to be fit for the visit of Crystal Palace with manager Marco Silva confirming just before the international break that the pair should be ready for Sunday’s game.

“Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes are okay,” Silva told Sky Sports prior to Everton’s 2-1 win away at Leicester.

“Gomes trained this week and is progressing as well as we hoped. They will both be available for the match against Crystal Palace after the next [international] break.”

Mina and Gomes have yet to feature for Everton since arriving at the club from Barcelona on deadline day but, now that the duo appear to be fit, they both have the ability to come in and make an impact.

Everton have looked shaky at the back for some time now, but Mina possesses the type of attributes that can help the team out drastically in that department.

Meanwhile, in midfield, the introduction of Gomes will add more creativity and control to the side with the Portuguese playmaker’s passing a tool that should prove to be a real asset to Everton as the season progresses.

The sooner Silva can integrate Mina and Gomes into the Everton starting XI, the better.