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[ad_pod ]Some Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter in fury over their side’s ratings on FIFA 20.The popular EA Sports game is almost out, and with that comes the revelation of player ratings, something that doesn’t always go down too well.

In this case, the Palace fans on Twitter really haven’t taken their side’s ratings too well – in fairness to them, they have a decent case.

To name a few peculiar ratings, the Eagles’ £27m striker Christian Benteke is 75-rated, one rating from being a silver card, whereas Jeffrey Schlupp, who made 30 Premier League appearances last season is a 74-rated silver.

One fan asked: “Is this what the world thinks of us?”

Another asked why a number of the Palace players had been downgraded despite amassing a club-record amount of Premier League points last season.

Let’s take a look at some more of the Twitter reaction from the visibly annoyed Palace fans…

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After the success of Vincent Kompany’s testimonial match last night, which saw a team of Manchester City legends take on an all-star Premier League XI at the Etihad, many Chelsea fans are calling for their former captain, John Terry, to have one at Stamford Bridge.

The likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Ashley Cole and Mikel Arteta all featured for the Premier League legends last night, as they drew 2-2 with a City side which included current stars David Silva and Sergio Aguero for the opening 25 minutes.

Robin van Persie’s stunning second-half strike stole the headlines, as the Dutchman rolled back the years by curling a perfect shot past ex-City shot-stopper Joe Hart just after the interval. The game finished level, though, after Benjani’s last-minute equaliser.

Watching on at home, Chelsea legend John Terry posted a picture of his TV screen showing the game, alongside the caption: “Who thinks I should do a testimonial?”

Needless to say, Blues fans are all for the idea. Here’s how some reacted on Twitter:

Chelsea fans, do you think JT deserves a testimonial? Let us know by commenting below!

علّق البرازيلي نيمار دا سيلفا لاعب باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي، على الفوز العريض لفريقه أمام برشلونة بدوري أبطال أوروبا.

وفاز باريس سان جيرمان على برشلونة بنتيجة (4-1)، في ذهاب دور الـ16 لدوري الأبطال على ملعب “كامب نو”.

وسجل كيليان مبابي ثلاثة أهداف “هاتريك” لباريس سان جيرمان، وأحرز مويس كين هدفًا، بينما جاء هدف برشلونة الوحيد عن طريق ليونيل ميسي من ضربة جزاء (طالع تقرير المباراة من خلال الرابط).

نيمار يغيب عن المشاركة للإصابة، لكنه تفاعل عبر موقع “تويتر” مع فوز بي إس جي على فريقه السابق برشلونة.

وغرّد نيمار: “مبابي يلعب كثيرًا، هاتريك لابني!”. أهداف مباراة برشلونة وباريس سان جيرمان

Mbappe JOGANDO MUITO….. HAT-TRICK do meu menino 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 — Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) February 16, 2021

وأضاف في تغريدة أخرى: “يالها من مباراة جماعية، كل شيء جيد جدًا، باريديس مثل الوحش، نجم”.

Que partida da equipe, todos muito bem👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 PAREDES um monstro, CRAQUE — Neymar Jr (@neymarjr) February 16, 2021

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Jon Flanagan made his return from injury in Rangers’ impressive 4-2 win away at FC Midtjylland on Thursday night.

Rangers fans were delighted to see Flanagan back in the starting XI for their Europa League qualifier and it’s safe to say he didn’t disappoint.

It was a hectic 90 minutes that saw Steven Gerrard’s men earn a great advantage ahead of the return leg at Ibrox next week. Goals from Alfredo Morelos, Joe Aribo, Nikola Katic and Scott Arfield gave the Gers a more than handy lead in the penultimate round before the group stages.

Flanagan was making his first start of the season after a groin injury kept him out for pre-season, and he caught the eye of the supporters.

The former Liverpool full-back filled in on the left-hand side of defence as Borna Barisic dropped out after starting the season woefully.

The 26-year-old’s no-nonsense, physical style has enamoured him to the fans, not just against the Danes but throughout his time in the Light Blue jersey.

Here’s what the supporters had to say about his return on Twitter…

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It seems like yesterday that last season came to close, but for the 24 clubs in the Championship the new campaign is less than two weeks away. If the second-tier managers aren’t close to getting their squads ready, it is about time they got a move on. Today’s Championship transfer roundup includes Leeds’ pursuit of an 18-year-old, West Brom’s interest in a Sporting Lisbon winger and Fulham’s signing of a Premier League forward.

Leeds impressed by Valentim

Leeds have already done well during this transfer window, with the capture of Wolves’ Helder Costa on a loan deal being their best bit of business so far. However, there is still some work to be done, it seems, with the defence a priority following the departure of Pontus Jansson to Brentford. The Whites have been scouting Stade Reims’ Enzo Valentim according to Football Insider, and the recruitment team has been “blown away” by the centre-back. Marcelo Bielsa and co are keeping tabs on the 18-year-old as they line up a bid for him.

West Brom eye Pereira

Portugal has been a happy hunting ground for West Brom so far this summer, with Benfica’s Filip Krovinovic signing for the Baggies on a loan deal. And they are now returning to the country in their attempts to sign Sporting Lisbon’s Matheus Pereira. It was originally reported last week (Record via Birmingham Live) that Slaven Bilic and co were eyeing the 23-year-old. Sunday’s print edition of Record (via Sport Witness) reported that there could be a development soon in regards to the Midlands club’s pursuit of the winger, but Schalke 04 are also looking at taking him to Gelsenkirchen.

Fulham loan Knockaert from Brighton

Fulham will have been disappointed at getting relegated last season, especially having spent so much last summer as they prepared for their first campaign back in the Premier League. Whilst this transfer window will not be as busy, they are still hoping to bring in some quality to boost their promotion push. They had already signed one top-tier winger in Ivan Cavaleiro, and now they have added another in Anthony Knockaert. Like Cavaleiro, the 27-year-old has joined the Cottagers on a season-long loan. Fulham also have the option of a permanent deal should they wish to keep the Brighton man beyond the end of the current campaign.

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Reports from SportBible this week have linked Leeds United with a move for young Fulham right-back Cody Drameh.

The 17-year-old may not come in as a starter for the Whites given he has never made a senior appearance for the Cottagers, but he will allow one of their top talents to feature in his more natural role.

Won’t be a starter

With Drameh, Leeds would be paying for his potential rather than the player he is right now.

The 17-year-old is yet to play for Fulham’s first team, and it is unlikely that he would become the first choice full-back at Elland Road.

Luke Ayling is coming off the back of one of the best seasons of his career as he created six assists and played 40 league games as Leeds finished third and were beaten in the play-offs.

The Fulham teenager’s game isn’t at the level where he could be considered an option to displace the 27-year-old at this time.

Affects Shackleton

One immediate effect that Drameh’s arrival would have is that Jamie Shackleton would be free to play in a midfield role.

The youngster was often used as a backup right-back last season when Ayling was suspended or unable to play due to injury.

The Fulham man would be able to step into that role next season, allowing the 19-year-old to play more in his favoured midfield position.

Shackleton is rated as one of Leeds’ most promising young talents, and he may well be given a key role in the squad next season as the Whites battle for promotion.

Are fans being priced out of the Championship as well as the Premier League? The angry Bolton fan in the video below certainly believes so…

If Bielsa does want to utilise him next season, then he must play him in his favoured role rather than using him as a makeshift defender.

Drameh’s arrival may not have a huge impact on the squad next season, but the depth he brings in the full-back position may allow Shackleton to flourish.

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According to The Daily Mail, Aston Villa are expected to bid £10m for Joe Lolley this summer.

With the news coming just days after the Villans secured promotion back to the Premier League, it appears they aren’t wasting any time in looking to improve their squad.

The report claims that Villa boss Dean Smith has put the 26-year-old at the top of his list for a spot on the right wing, a position that clearly needs improving ahead of a return to the top-flight.

Lolley was in superb form for Nottingham Forest this term, finding the net on 11 occasions, so he certainly knows where the goal is.

Per The Daily Mail, Lolley is also a fan of the club, watching matches from the Holte end when he was younger. As a result, that could well hold an advantage in negotiations if the club follow up in their interest for the winger.

But with a potential move on the cards, Football FanCast writers have given their verdicts on whether he would be a good signing. Here’s what they’ve had to say.

Luke Glanville:

“It would be easy to suggest that Joe Lolley impressing so much for Nottingham Forest this season proves that he’s found his level in the Sky Bet Championship. However, the 26-year-old right winger was never really given enough of a chance with Huddersfield Town in the Premier League. So for me, the jury remains out, which means there’s no reason why Aston Villa shouldn’t go for the Englishman. And if it’s going to cost them a mere £10 million, it’s undoubtedly a risk worth taking.”

Jack Saville:

“It’s rarely easy to predict how a player will make the jump from Championship to Premier League football, and Lolley is certainly no exception to the rule. However, considering his versatility and the fact he managed to grab 22-goal contributions this season, it could prove to be a cunning piece of business from Villa if they can seal a £10 million deal. Smith clearly has to bolster his options in wide areas to have any chance of surviving next season and bringing Lolley in would be a great place to start.”

James Beavis:

“He probably would be a good signing, but Aston Villa simply don’t need him now. Anwar El Ghazi proved at Wembley on Monday that he is good enough to be Villa’s first-choice winger in the Premier League, and signing him on a permanent basis should now be Dean Smith’s priority. They would be throwing money down the drain if they sign Lolley as well as El Ghazi, so should stand by their promotion hero instead.”

Celtic fans haven’t seen as much from Tom Rogic as they’d have liked to this season. The 26-year-old has managed just five goals and six assists in his 34 games and with those stats, seeing another #10 linked is no surprise, as Voetbal international have claimed, via Ninety Minutes Online, that the Bhoys want Mark Diemers this summer.

The chances are, you won’t have heard of Mark Diemers, so let us help you fill in the blanks. The Dutch midfielder is currently plying his trade in the Eredivisie with Fortuna Sittard. The midfielder is one year younger than Rogic yet his numbers have been much more impressive. Having started every single game for the Eredivisie club in the domestic league he’s returned seven goals and seven assists.

Those numbers are impressive in themselves, but considering this is the Diemers debut season for Fortuna Sittard having moved to Sittard from De Graafschap last summer it makes his minutes and goal involvement all the more incredible. Just 12 months on from his move to Sittard, though, he could be on the move again, this time potentially swapping The Netherlands for Scotland.

Rogic may have had a tough season as both injuries and spells away with the Australian national team have held him back, but in truth, it looks like his time at the club may be coming to an end soon. Despite contributing 11 goals and assists this season, he just hasn’t looked himself, and if you were to remove his influence on the Bhoys season they would sacrifice just two points and still complete the treble.

With Diemers, it’s been very different. The Dutchman has helped to earn his side a number of valuable points in a season where they narrowly avoided having to partake in a relegation play-off by just one point. It looks like Diemar could be ready to trade relegation scrapping to title-winning, though, and what better place to do it than at Parkhead with the serial winners Celtic?

Do you want to sign Mark Diemers, Celtic fans? Let us know, comment below!

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Henri Lansbury might well have given Aston Villa boss Dean Smith a dilemma ahead of the club’s Championship playoff semi-final first leg against West Bromwich Albion this weekend.

The midfielder has only just returned to the fold following a period on the sidelines through injury.

However, the 6 ft ace played 80 minutes of the 2-1 defeat at home to Norwich City on Sunday afternoon and will be like a new signing for the club at this stage of the season.

Lansbury has made just three Championship appearances this term, but could yet reach six for the campaign if Villa make the playoff final.

According to WhoScored, the 28-year-old had a pass success rate of 88% against the Canaries, who secured the league title at Villa Park.

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Lansbury is certainly an interesting option for Villa in the playoffs, and a number of the club’s fans have been debating how involved he could be in the battle for promotion and indeed heading into next season.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

It’s fair to say that Arsenal’s glorious night at the Mestalla certainly showcased the best and worst of Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

The 21-year-old registered an impressive assist after dancing past defenders and putting in the perfect ball for Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang. Indeed, what a talent he looks like going forward. Yes, going forward, where he belongs.

Because, up until that point, he was having a complete nightmare defensively. With little to no cover in the right-back position, Maitland-Niles was forced to face the mite of Los Che’s attack and crumbled under the pressure as a result. Goncalo Guedes repeatedly dribbled past him, while many long balls went over him as the youngster could only watch players go around him.

Thankfully, the Spanish side’s final delivery was poor and his centre-backs were solid in thwarting away whatever came their way. However, in a celebratory night in Spain, Unai Emery must’ve been worried to see his defence exposed like that. While Arsenal have little options to turn onto, the 21-year-old shouldn’t be kept as a wing-back beyond this season.

Maitland-Niles is not at all defensively stable, not having the knowledge or instincts of a top defender. The wing-back is a natural winger who loves to run at defences, bamboozle defenders and create through the right. With that in mind, he should be developed as a winger, as his one moment of magic proved him to be the Gunnars’ best right-winger right now.

It’s not as if Emery is blessed with options in wide areas either, so the academy graduate seems a natural fit there.

Emery should aim to reinforce the right-back slot with a proper cover for Hector Bellerin next season, despite how limited his transfer funds may actually be.

Frankly, the 21-year-old versatile winger should only be unleashed as one, where he clearly feels more comfortable in being a menace for opposition, rather than his own team.

Arsenal fans, do you think Maitland-Niles should be used in a more attacking role? Join the discussion by commenting below…