Rangers’ performance on Tuesday looked pretty spineless, right? It didn’t seem they were up for the small matter of keep their Scottish Cup hopes alive, and the post-match interviews reflected the whole night.

Jermaine Defoe, who only played 20 minutes on the night and signed in January, was sent out to be interviewed by RangersTV. Now forget all the usual media-trained answers he and every other player provides, the fact one of Rangers’ top players wasn’t available to talk speaks volumes.

Where was captain James Tavernier, or centre-back Connor Goldson who should have been keeping Aberdeen out all night? Rangers fans expect better at Ibrox and to have their most influential players hide in the dressing room after the defeat was gutless. High expectations are at the club for a reason, and the players must understand that or move on.

All credit to Defoe for coming out to speak, but he came on when Rangers were already 2-0 down. Why should he be acting as a spokesperson for the dressing room after that disappointing performance. Of course, Gers fans will stick by the team no matter what the result, but there was clear discontent at the full-time whistle and someone who had played the full game should have faced the music.

There’ve been positive steps forward this season by Steven Gerrard and his squad, and enthusiasm has been as high as it’s been since their return to the Scottish Premiership, but the last thing the club need is a disconnect between the fans and the players.

They play Kilmarnock next at home on Saturday, so there’s a clear opportunity to work towards redeeming themselves from Tuesday’s disappointment. Defeat can be tolerated, but a lack of heart and accountability won’t be.

Rangers fans, what do you now see as success for your club this season? Join the discussion by commenting below.

It wasn’t really that long ago Saido Berahino was being touted for big things in the Premier League.

After impressing at West Bromwich Albion, fame seemingly got to his head. Berahino wanted to reach the top quickly and disrupted his relationship with the Baggies in order to force a move to Tottenham Hotspur.

However, after not being allowed so, his downfall began. Berahino’s discipline was questioned, as rather than trying to keep on improving himself to become a top striker, he continued living a precarious lifestyle. His poor attitude coupled with lack of discipline caused big problems, as he started gaining weight and losing match-fitness.

While Tony Pulis rejected his bad attitude, Mark Hughes tried to reignite his flame upon joining Stoke City. Things turned worse when Berahino was handed a lengthy suspension for failing a surprise drug test by the FA. It turned out as the deathly blow on his international career for England.

However, rather than getting back on his feet and trying to find back his lethal touch, Berahino only delved into the darkness. Recently, he was arrested in London for drinking and driving at 3 AM, as per the Daily Mail.

Having scored only three league goals for them in over 50 appearances, Berahino’s Stoke City career is done.

They’ll surely sell him in the summer and considering his reputation, no prominent side will take him. However, Berahino’s downfall is all due to his recklessness, which killed what could’ve been potentially the career of a star England striker.

كشف جناح وصانع ألعاب منتخب الجزائر الأول، يوسف بلايلي، عن وجهته المفضلة المقبلة بعد فسخ تعاقده مع ناديه السابق أهلي جدة في الساعات القليلة الماضية.

وأصدر فيفا قرارًا أمس الثلاثاء لصالح بلايلي بفسخ تعاقده بعدما تأخر النادي السعودي في دفع راتبه لمدة 3 أشهر. (طالع التفاصيل)

وأجرى بلايلي حوارًا مع مجلة “فرانس فوتبول” الفرنسية يتحدث فيه عن مستقبله بعد الرحيل عن السعودية، وقال: “الأمر بسيط للغاية، أريد الانتقال إلى مستوى عالٍ من كرة القدم وأولويتي هي العودة إلى أوروبا”.

وتابع: “تستهويني فكرة العودة مرة أخرى إلى الدوري الفرنسي، لأنه مسابقة مميزة وتتمتع بمنافسة قوية بين الأندية، لذلك أتمنى العودة وإظهار قدرتي الفنية”.

وكان بلايلي قد انتقل في موسم 2017/2018 إلى صفوف أنجيه في الدوري الفرنسي في الدرجة الثانية، لكنه لم يشارك كثيرًا ثم عاد إلى الترجي التونسي.

وبرر الجزائري عدم مشاركته مع أنجيه في ذلك التوقيت، وقال: “هذه هي اختيارات المدرب في النهاية، عليك أن تسأله”.

وبسؤاله، لماذا عدت إلى الترجي بهذه السرعة، أجاب: “كان السبب وراء ذلك هو استعادة مستواي الفني والبدني في أسرع وقت ممكن للمشاركة مع الجزائر في كأس أمم إفريقيا 2019، ولم يكن لدي وقت للانتظار في فرنسا، وبالفعل نجحت في تقديم أداء جيد في تلك البطولة”.

وعن طموحاته مع المنتخب الجزائري: “هدفنا الوصول إلى كأس العالم، هذا هو الهدف الكبير الذي أطمح للوصول إليه في مسيرتي، عندما ألعب بقميص المنتخب، أقدم كل ما لدي للدفاع عن هذا الشعار”.

الجدير بالذكر أن يوسف بلايلي هو هدف الأهلي بطل الدوري المصري في الفترة الحالية، ولكن يبدو بعد تصريحات الجزائري سيكون بعيدًا عن العملاق القاهري في المستقبل.

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Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to discuss their team’s woeful form at Selhurst Park this season.

The Eagles have scored just six goals from open play at home this season, with one of them an own goal, and only bottom-placed Huddersfield have a worse record at home than the south London-based side.

Which player with “no potential” has just been named Crystal Palace’s worst ever January signing? Find out in the video below…

In stark contrast, Palace’s away form is excellent, but fans who regularly attend the fixtures at Selhurst Park will be continuously left feeling hard done by as a result of the toothless performances.

Palace have lost eight games at home already this season, and have just one win in their last seven fixtures on their own turf.

With eight games left to play and having already amassed 33 points, the general consensus is that Palace will stay up, but the fans are getting more and more frustrated at watching their team constantly suffering defeat at their own place.

Let’s see what the Eagles supporters are saying on Twitter…

أكد الجنوب إفريقي بيتسو موسيماني، المدير الفني الجديد للنادي الأهلي، أنه يعلم جيدًا الإيجابيات والسلبيات بالفريق، مشددًا على أنه يقوم باعلمل عليها في الفترة المقبلة.

وكان موسيماني وجهازه المعاون قد وصلوا إلى القاهرة صباح أمس الجمعة؛ لتولي قيادة الأهلي، حيث بدأ الجنوب إفريقي مهمته بقيادة مران الفريق مساء أمس؛ استعدادا لمواجهة المقاولون العرب المقرر لها بعد غدٍ الأحد ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري الممتاز.‏

أقرأ ايضًا.. موسيماني: أطالب الجماهير بدعمي مع الأهلي ولم أدرب فريقًا أقل من 7 سنوات

أضاف موسيماني خلال لقاءه عبر قناة الأهلي: “أعلم الايجابيات والسلبيات للنادي الأهلي وشاهدتها واعمل عليها، ولكن الأهم بالنسبة ليٌ الآن هي بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا”.

تابع: “أعلم الفريق جيدًا ولكن معرفتي به عن قرب شيء أخر، وبيبو اتاح ليٌ الفرصة أن أكون هنا، ولا أحد يستطيع أن يقول لا لنادي القرن”.

وواصل: “أنا سعيد وسوف أجعل الشياطين الحمر ايضًا سعداء، أعلم أنهم يقدرون كرة القدم والفوز ولكن الأهم أن نلعب جيدًا”.

استكمل: “أود أن اقول لجمهور الأهلي أن الفوز وحده لا يكفي ولكن الأداء المذهل مهم ايضًا”.

اختتم: “الأهلي فريق قوي ولكن الأهم في الفترة الحالية هو الفوز ببطولة إفريقيا، ليس فقط هذا العام ولكن لـ 7 أو 8 أعوام قادمة”.

يذكر، أن الأهلي مقبل على مباراة هامة أمام الوداد البيضاوي المغربي، في نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، حيث من المقرر أن تقام مباراة الذهاب في المغرب يوم 17 من شهر أكتوبر الجاري، على أن تُقام مباراة العودة في مصر يوم 23 من الشهر نفسه.

[ad_pod ]Charlton’s Josh Parker became the sixth Addick to earn a call-up to his national side this month with Antigua and Barbuda naming the forward in the squad for their CONCACAF Nations League qualification match against Curacao this weekend.The 28-year-old January arrival from Gillingham joins club teammates Josh Cullen, Chris Maxwell, Krystian Bielik, Lyle Taylor and Igor Vetokele in receiving the call every football player dreams of, and will be hoping to fire the Benna Boys to victory on Saturday.Regardless of the options available to Antigua and Barbuda boss Rolston Williams, 5 ft 11 Parker may count himself lucky to be included having endured a pretty poor season.Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…The number 10 has netted just four times in 24 league appearances this campaign and is yet to score for Charlton, with the aforementioned Taylor and Vetokele stepping up after Karlan Grant’s January departure instead.Here’s what the Valley faithful had to say in response to the update, with many taking the opportunity to make jibes at the Slough-born player…

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Rangers fans have taken to Twitter to react after Alfredo Morelos recorded a stunning four-goal haul against Kilmarnock, as the Gers hit them for five in the Scottish Cup.

The Colombian international’s four goals sandwiched an effort by Andy Halliday to give Steven Gerrard’s men a resounding victory, but Morelos will obviously grab all of the headlines after a masterclass in finishing.

‘El Búfalo’ has now hit 25 goals in all competitions this season, as well as picking up four red cards in what has been a true blockbuster of a season for the 22-year-old.

The former HJK Helsinki forward has been the star man for Gerrard this season, and whilst his disciplinary problems look to have cost them the title – they are now eight points behind Celtic – Morelos is worth his weight in gold to the Scottish giants.

Let’s see how the Rangers fans on Twitter reacted after the four-goal haul…

After exactly 30 games of the Premier League it is quite clear to see the massive difference Unai Emery has made as the new Arsenal manager this season.

After years of turmoil and disappointment, the Arsenal faithful was desperate to get someone in charge who could steer the club to a new direction with new belief amongst all involved and Emery has certainly delivered that, or at least started to change the course and goals set out to achieve.

Arsenal are 12 points better off at the moment compared to exactly the same stage last season, while they are only three points behind reaching their total points of the whole of last campaign.

Those stats might not indicate that success is destined to reach the club soon, but is a sign that Emery has a plan which he believes could maybe reap rewards in the near future.

For the Arsenal fans, it was a case of showing improvement from last season and to be honest it probably isn’t that difficult seeing how bad they were in Wenger’s last season.

But, Arsenal have now won nine consecutive home games in the league, currently posing with the second-best home record in the competition, while they have shown a great deal of improvement against the ‘top six’.

Having already played all the other ‘big’ five clubs twice in the league, Arsenal have managed ten points in total against their rivals, double of what they achieved last season.

And, they have managed to pick up valuable wins at home by grinding out games against quality opposition.

The 4-2 over Tottenham Hotspur in December was followed by 2-0 victories over both Chelsea and Manchester United this year.

In the past, these were the matches where the Gunners might have slipped up or maybe settle for a point.

But, in all three of those matches did Emery show the ambition he has brought to the club and why there is a proper reason to be optimistic about the future.

Arsenal fans, how happy have you been with Unai Emery this season? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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Adam Reach hit a first-half brace as Sheffield Wednesday recorded a 3-1 win over Swansea City in the Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Wednesday raced into a three-goal lead before the interval, with Steven Fletcher joining Reach on the scoresheet in what was an incredible first 45 minutes.

Oliver McBurnie netted for the Swans in the 69th minute, but it was a case of too little, too late as the home side secured all three points.

Ahead of the clash with Swansea, Reach – a 2016 arrival from Middlesbrough – had actually gone eight Championship games without finding the back of the net.

However, the 26-year-old was back to his brilliant best against the Swans and that led to a host of praise from the Wednesday fans on social media.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

Reach has now managed eight Championship goals for the campaign and certainly played a key role in Steve Bruce’s side winning for the first time since February 2.

A selection of the Twitter reaction to Reach’s double can be seen below:

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Newcastle are reportedly eyeing a summer move for Hoffenheim striker Joelinton, and it looks like something that the club has been working on for quite some time.

What’s the story?

According to Florian Plettenberg, chief reporter for Sport1, Newcastle are set to land Joelinton this summer for a whopping €60m (around £52m).

He even goes so far as to claim the Magpies have been in negotiations with Hoffenheim for “weeks” and that those talks are close to a conclusion.

The full report also claims that the move depends on Newcastle staying in the top flight, though that is seemingly obvious anyway.

The 22 year-old has scored ten times this season, and if the move comes to fruition then Mike Ashley and the Magpies’ transfer team deserve immense credit.

Rondon upgrade?

West Brom named their price for Salomon Rondon recently, telling the Magpies they must shell out £16m to make his loan move permanent this summer, per The Northern Echo.

The powerful Venezuelan got on the scoresheet again on Saturday in the win over Huddersfield, taking his tally to seven league strikes this campaign, and he is adored by both Rafael Benitez and the Toon Army.

However, he will turn 30 towards the start of next season, and the 22 year-old Joelinton represents a much better investment.

Able to play anywhere across the front three but at his best through the middle, the Brazilian youngster is an excellent dribbler, and will get fans off their seats every time he has the ball.

He has excellent pace, good link-up play and you won’t find many strikers around Europe that press and harass the opposition defence quite so intently.

£52m would blow the record-breaking Miguel Almiron fee out of the water, but if the pair can form a long-term pairing packed with pace, creativity and goals, it would be worth every penny.