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Middlesbrough have offered fans the chance to vote upon a new name for the Riverside Stadium, to be in effect for one match only, when Boro take on Norwich City at home on Saturday March 30th.

The club have offered four possible name options for supporters to choose from: Captain James Cook Stadium, Endeavour Stadium, Discovery Stadium and Resolution Stadium.

All four names are meant to serve as an homage to the iconic 18th century explorer Captain James Cook, who was born in the local Teesside area. Endeavour, Discovery and Resolution were the names of three of the ships Cook navigated on his three famous voyages.

The results of the vote will be unveiled by the club on Friday March 15th.

Not all Boro fans have been impressed by this venture from the club though. Many feel that there are other figures in the club and region’s history worthy of recognition, including Ali Brownlee. Brownlee was a broadcaster who passed away in 2016, having covered the club for BBC Tees for many years – earning him the nickname ‘Voice of the Boro’.

Following the club’s announcement of the plans to temporarily rename the Riverside, plenty of supporters took to Twitter to give their views on the matter…

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Aberdeen could be set for a major transfer boost this summer, as Ryan Fraser’s form at Bournemouth could bank the Dons a hefty seven-figure sum.

What’s the story?

According to The Daily Record, Aberdeen have a sell-on clause that will see them net 20 per cent of any money Bournemouth make from Fraser.

The Scottish international has been linked with a move to Arsenal due to his incredible performances this season, and the Daily Record expects his starting price to be around £20m.

They even go as far as to say a source has claimed: “Derek (McInnes) is keeping an eye on things, the interest seems genuine. That cash could make an enormous difference.”

Check out the video below to see how Brazil fans reacted to being asked how Cristiano Ronaldo would perform for them in a hilarious prank by Pl>ymaker FC…

Massive for McInnes

Even if Fraser’s price does not extend beyond £20m, that would still add £4m to McInnes’ transfer kitty this summer.

To put that in perspective, the Dons’ total spending last summer didn’t even come close to £1m, per Transfermarkt.

There is of course no telling what the club will do with this money, or how much of it will go directly towards funding incoming transfers, but even half of it would provide a massive boost for McInnes.

The boss currently has no chance of properly competing with the likes of Rangers and Celtic due to financial differences, but £4m can go an awful long way to at least bridging that gap a little.

Make no mistake about it, Bournemouth cashing in on Fraser will provide a massive boost for the Pittodrie outfit.

Duncan Watmore experienced the high and low of football within a frantic few minutes at the end of the Black Cats draw at Wycombe Wanderers two weeks ago.

He scored his first goal for the Wearsiders for over three years deep into stoppage time, before being crudely fouled, suffering ligament damage and being ruled out for at least two months.

It is not new for flame-haired winger, having suffered two ACL injuries in as many years, but this latest setback will see him miss Sunderland’s Wembley outing in the EFL Trophy final on Sunday.

Watmore’s dad, Ian, the thought of missing that game, as well as his belief that he had finally found a run of form, were the two things that “dawned on him” after the extent of the injury was confirmed.

Ian told the Sunderland Echo: “What really annoyed him about it was he’d just had his high. You can imagine scoring that goal in front of the fans, the equaliser in the 94th minute is the sort of high that you dream of when you’re doing those endless hours of rehab.

“He’s had two years of that and then he finally comes out and does it and then it’s two minutes later and he didn’t really get the chance to enjoy the moment.

“The second thing that dawned on him was he wasn’t going to be able to play at Wembley which is one of the things he’s never actually done.

“Much more importantly he really thought he was just coming into a bit of form and that goal would have spurred him on just at a critical time with games coming up to get to automatic promotion.”

Ian went on to describe the “unbelievable” support of manager, Jack Ross, who has challenged him to regain his fitness by the end of May.

“The club has had a good couple of games and the manager has given him a target to get himself playing fit again by the end of May so he can have a proper pre-season.

“I think probably in the back of his head, he hopes he doesn’t have to play again this season because it means automatic promotion, but if there was a need to go to Wembley for the play-off final, he might just be fit for that.”

It is unlikely that the player will feature again this season, with managers and medical departments preferring to err on the side of caution regarding major injuries nowadays, but setting himself a target like that can only help him in his rehabilitation.

If it turns out that Watmore is being considered for a play-off final appearance, then it would mean that Sunderland’s finish to the season has not panned out as planned.

The play-offs will be the last thing anyone at the club is hoping for, or even thinking about, with automatic promotion the sole focus on everyone’s mind.

Failure to go up in one of those two spots would still be considered a failure by many within, and associated with, the club.

To endure a nightmare scenario that involves the lottery that is the play-offs would be an impending disaster for the club that must go up at the first time of asking.

A club like Sunderland should not end up in a position where they are one bad performance away from staying in League One.

What are your thoughts on the luckless Sunderland winger? Would you see promotion via the play-offs as something of a failure this season? Let us know below…

أشاد عماد متعب مهاجم فريق الكرة بالأهلي المعتزل، بالمستوى الفني الذي ظهر عليه الأحمر تحت قيادة موسيماني في مواجهة الليلة أمام الوداد المغربي بدوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وحقق الأهلي فوزًا مهمًا على حساب نظيره الوداد، في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما في ذهاب دور نصف النهائي بالبطولة القارية بهدفين دون رد.

وقال متعب في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “أون تايم سبورتس 2”: “موسيماني لديه رؤية وكنت أتمنى أن يدرب الأهلي منذ زمن، والفريق في تطور مستمر في كل مباراة مع المدرب الجديد”.

وأكمل: “تعامل اليوم بخبرة كبيرة جدًا هو يحب أن يلعب كرة قدم، ويحب اللاعبين الذين يلعبون بحماس، مباراة كبيرة جدًا وأتمنى أن تستكمل بمباراة العودة وأتمنى التوفيق للزمالك غدًا أمام الرجاء، ويكون النهائي مصري خالص”.

وتابع: “موسيماني مذ توليه إدارة الأهلي (مبيفتيش)، فايلر في الفترة الأخيرة تغير وكان (بيعك)، موسيماني اعتمد على أفشة وأجاي وحسين الشحات، لأنه كما أشرت يحب اللاعبين الذين يلعبون كرة قدم، والفريق أصبح ممتعًا”.

طالع | محمد يوسف يحذر لاعبي الأهلي بعد الفوز على الوداد المغربي

وأوضح: “الأهلي مع فايلر كان يفوز في آخر ربع ساعة، لكن الأهلي يضغط الآن على أي خصم، ولم يعطِ اليوم مساحة للوداد”.

وأردف: “كرة جنوب إفريقيا لها هوية، كل الأندية والمنتخبات يلعبون بطريقة واحدة ويبدأون الهجمة من الوراء”.

وأضاف مهاجم الأهلي الأسبق: “لاعبو الأهلي في حالة فنية وبدنية عالية جدًا، والمدرب تعامل بذكاء، وإن شاء الله الفريق سيفرح جمهوره، وأتوقع الموسم القادم أن الأحمر مع موسيماني سيقدم كرة حلوة”.

وعن تقييمه لمروان محسن لاعب الأهلي؟، أجاب: “دائما أقول لمروان طالما تتحرك بشكل صحيح ستكون أساسيًا، اليوم بذل مجهود كبير، في المباريات الخارجية يكون للمهاجم مجهود كبير جدًا”.

واختتم: “مروان طالما تركيزه في استغلال المساحات وتسجيل الهدف، فسيسجل، لكن عند نزوله لوسط الملعب دون تركيز لن يسجل الأهداف، والفكرة تتلخص في كيفية وضع نفسك في المكان الصحيح”.

What was Tottenham Hotspur’s joy in their inaugural match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium turned out to be another nightmare for Crystal Palace.

Indeed, the Eagles were once again extremely poor against an out-of-form Spurs side and laid down their weapons way too easily.

However, what gave even more shocking proof of their lacklustre attitude was Roy Hodgson’s comments after the game. For one, he blamed the pitch for being a “bit slippery” and stated his players struggled as a result. An utter joke.

Moreover, he also explained how his players had “played their part” in the result and “didn’t lay down and surrender”(via Sky Sports).

Hold on, that is exactly what they did.

The Eagles showed little signs of their exhilarating attacking style, bowing down too easily and never really looking as if they’d spring all too much of a surprise. Hodgson’s nonchalant attitude when it comes to such games is quickly becoming a reason for concern and, while he’s done a fantastic job at the club he supported as a boy, is looking his age as football moves forward. Indeed, even after Palace’s disappointing FA Cup exit, he dismissed the loss by blaming the “difficult conditions” at Vicarage Road.

It’s high time he stopped giving excuses and realized his side’s decline. Despite possessing some terrific players and clinical attackers, Palace has a poor record against top-six opposition, which could improve with a change in attitude. The likes of Wilfried Zaha or Andros Townsend could easily penetrate top defences, but Hodgson’s wary attitude doesn’t allow them.

A big ask granted but these are big players, who have the potential to take the team to the next level.

Unless Hodgson instils a fearless demeanour to bring consistency into Palace, their unfortunate cycle of mediocrity will continue. It’s high time the experienced gaffer uses his knowledge, changes their mentality and get the Eagles playing attractive, fast-paced football which is expected from the blooming unit.

Palace fans, are you disappointed with Hodgson’s approach on big occasions? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

It seems crazy to think that Gareth Bale left Tottenham nearly six years ago.

The Welsh international, who left north London for a then world-record fee of £88 million, was tipped to be the next British superstar to take over Spain. However, things haven’t gone exactly to plan.

Despite a breakout first year where the winger scored the winning goal in both the Copa del Rey and Champions League final, Bale has yet to really remain settled in the Spanish capital.

Injuries, feuds with players and managers and not embracing the Spanish culture are just a handful of reasons as to what many are calling “The Fall of Gareth Bale”. And with the reappointment of Zinedine Zidane, it is looking likely this season may well be the last in the Spanish capital for Madrid’s record signing.

If this is to be the case, a move to the Premier League will seem the most logical of moves for the 29-year-old. Manchester United have been the side strongly linked with Bale since the fallout of his presence and importance in the Real Madrid side, however, it has been revealed this week that former club Spurs are interested in bringing back their former star.

AS report that Daniel Levy was keen to bring the Welshman back to north London on loan for the 2018/19 season with the idea of Real Madrid paying the majority of Bale’s massive £10 million annual wage, but the demand was too much for Los Blancos to fulfil.

The prospect of a return to Tottenham is something Spurs fans will be excited about. Bale was the last player to win the PFA Player of the Year for the club and his final season in the Premier League is often regarded as one of the best individual seasons in the history of the league, with the Welshman scoring 21 goals and assisting a further nine in 33 league appearances.

Bale is a beloved figure at the club, but would a reunion with Spurs be ideal for both club and player?

Tottenham have changed A LOT since Bale’s departure in 2013. Under Mauricio Pochettino, Spurs have gone from consistent fifth place league finishers to a genuine top-four side and one of the most productive teams in the country. The club has also changed a stylistically.

Although the club still favours a 4-2-3-1, the formation Bale thrived in at Spurs, Pochettino’s use of the system is completely different to what the 2012/13 PFA Player of the Year played in. The Argentine’s high-pressing, build from the back approach is something that Spurs players have adapted well too, and Poch favours players that can adapt to his style.

The likes of Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Dele Alli have all been transformed into bonafide superstars under Poch and his tactics, and introducing someone with the star calibre like Bale could disrupt the balance the Spurs boss has spent years trying to build.

Bale might have a strong place in the hearts of many Spurs fans, but it might be in the better interests of the team if they leave his memories in the past and look to move the club forward without him in the future.

Tottenham fans, would you like Gareth Bale back at the club?

انتقد مايكل أرتيتا مدرب آرسنال تقنية الفيديو لعدم احتساب ركلة جزاء لصالحهم في مباراة الأمس أمام مانشستر سيتي بسبب تصرف كايل ووكر.

واستضاف ملعب الاتحاد مباراة الفريقين في الجولة الخامسة، والتي انتهت لصالح مانشستر سيتي بهدف دون رد. هدف فوز مانشستر سيتي أمام آرسنال

وطالب آرسنال قبل نهاية الشوط الأول بالحصول على ركلة جزاء، بعد قيام ووكر لاعب الخصم برفع قدمه في وجه اللاعب جابرييل، في تحدٍ قوي بينهما.

وكان أرتيتا غاضبًا طوال الوقت بعد أن اختارت تقنية الفيديو عدم مراجعة الواقعة.

وقال أرتيتا في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ديلي ميل” الإنجليزية: “كان على تقنية الفيديو التحقق من ما حدث”.

وأضاف: “أخبروني إنهم فحصوا الواقعة، ولكني تسائلت كيف بحق الجحيم استغرق الأمر ثانيتين فقط؟!”.

وواصل: “من الواضح أن هناك شيئًا ما”.

وبعد ذلك قيل لـ أرتيتا أن شبكة “سكاي سبورتس” العالمية أكدت أن تقنية الفيديو قررت عدم النظر في الأمر، وهنا رد المدرب: “نعم، أعتقد أن هذا ما حدث بالفعل”.

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West Ham United are lining up a summer move for long-term target Gary Medel, per Claret & Hugh.

The Hammers were tracking the Besiktas midfielder in January but no move materialised.

What’s the word?

Football FanCast reported at the start of January that Medel was on the club’s radar as a potential signing.

Indeed, sources at the club told FFC that he was being considered as a back-up to Declan Rice.

He will be out of contract in 2020 and Claret & Hugh report that manager Manuel Pellegrini remains wary of the lack of depth behind the 20-year-old.

Indeed, the story claims that were the England international to pick up an injury, there is no obvious replacement at the club.

Medel has subsequently been identified and a fee of around £5million has been touted.

A sensible move

Medel would be a solid if unspectacular signing for the Hammers.

He has experience of English football, having played for Cardiff City in the 2013-14 season, and is a national compatriot of Pellegrini.

With Rice shouldering the burden of being the only natural defensive midfielder at the club, a bargain move for Medel makes all the sense in the world.

He would only play sporadically but, at the age of 31, he is unlikely to care, while he will surely be heartily compensated.

Rice will of course be delighted that the Chilean will only be a reserve for him, but also be pleased about his arrival as he can learn from a player with huge experience in a position he is still learning about.

Craig Levein saw his Hearts side play well in the Edinburgh derby at Tynecastle last week, but ultimately come away from the game with nothing, but he is looking to the upcoming Scottish Cup Semi-Final to provide the perfect pick-me-up for his team.

With their chances of snatching a European spot via the league receding, the Cup offers them their best chance of continental action next season — albeit in the early qualifying rounds.

Levein admitted the derby defeat was a “difficult one to take” having seen his side perform well, but is determined to use it as “motivation” for the Semi-Final on Saturday.

He told the Edinburgh News: “Playing well and losing is the thing I hate the most. If we play poorly and lose, you have to take that on the chin. Playing well and losing is a really difficult one to take.

“It’s done now. If we didn’t have the semi-final next week then it’s a different conversation [with the players]. This game is done, finished. The important thing now is that we don’t allow any negativity to dwell in our heads.

“We will take the good things out of Saturday’s game and use them as motivation for this coming Saturday when we go to Hampden. The positives we had were plenty of effort, lots of good passages of play, good performances and chances created.”

The Cup must now be the top priority for Hearts, and if they can see off Inverness, and Celtic beat Aberdeen in the other Semi-Final on Sunday, then Levein’s side will know the Europa League awaits, due to the Glasgow sides Champion’s League ticket that will accompany their imminent title win.

Of course, all the ‘what ifs’ will be irrelevant if Hearts just do what they need to, and win the Cup outright.

Any thoughts of the derby should have been swept aside by now, particularly as they have so much on the line this weekend.

The main worry for Levein will be their sudden slump of two consecutive defeats. But — with all due respect to Cally Thistle — games at Rangers and against your local rival, always looked more difficult on paper.

It will be a fantastic atmosphere on Saturday, and both the Hearts fans and players will be looking forward to their big day out, but none of them must let it distract them from the important task at hand.

Nothing less than a win, and the place in the final that comes with it, will do for the Jambos this weekend.

What do you think of your chances in Saturday’s semi-final Hearts fans? Are you excited for the day out, or nervous about slipping up? Let us know your thoughts below…

Neil Warnock believes that Sheffield United and Norwich will claim the two automatic promotion spots in the Championship, leaving Leeds to slug it out in the play-offs.

After praising the job Marcelo Bielsa has done, and lauding the fans on TalkSport, he then claimed that the Whites will miss out, due to their “soft belly” at the back compared to their rivals.

Warnock, who managed the Blades for 288 games and Leeds for 62, said: “Leeds, what a club. They fill the stadium every game whatever division they’re in and they’re just so desperate to get back into the Premier League.

“He’s done a good job, Bielsa, but I think Leeds will miss out.

“I just think Leeds have got a soft belly at times at the back when they’re under pressure, in comparison with the other two.”

It is a bit galling to hear Warnock criticise Bielsa’s defence, when his Cardiff City side sit third from bottom of the Premier League with only Fulham (70) and Burnley (59) having conceded more goals than his team’s 57.

Of course, he enjoys courting controversy, as he did earlier in the year with his “can’t wait to get out” Brexit remarks.

He went on to praise the job Chris Wilder has done at Bramall Lane, and it seems clear where his loyalties lie.

“I think Sheffield United will be very, very difficult to push out of that top two,” he claimed.

“Chris Wilder has built a good side, they were one of the best teams we played last year and he’s got a way of playing that’s very difficult to play against.

“I think Norwich and Sheffield United are the favourites.”

It may well be that his Cardiff side will play none of them next season, with relegation still looking likely.

What do you think of Warnock’s disparaging comments Leeds fans? Will your side prove him wrong? Let us know what you think…