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Many Reading fans were left slamming the display of Everton youngster Lewis Gibson in their 2-0 away loss at Watford in the EFL Championship on Friday night.

The 20-year-old, who is a central defender by trade, had a torrid time at left-back up against Ismaila Sarr, who scored both goals as the Hornets pushed ever closer to automatic promotion back up to the Premier League, and subsequently dealt a blow to Reading’s chances of gaining a play-off spot.

Gibson failed to make any dribbles, accurate crosses or block any shots, while he also lost possession of the ball no fewer than on 18 separate occasions in the game, the second-most out of any of his teammates to have set foot on the pitch, earning him a very poor 5.9 overall rating on Sofascore.

While he was playing out of his natural position, this could perhaps paint a bad picture for Gibson’s hopes of a future at Everton – if he is struggling in the second tier it will prove extremely difficult to break into a top flight side.

Reading fans on Gibson display

These Royals supporters slammed his performance on Twitter, with one RFC fan even going as far as to claim that the Blues starlet was ‘useless’:

“How does Gibson get payed to play football?”

Credit: @gamerniran

“Terminate Gibson’s loan”

Credit: @kylehowell2001

“Drag Gibson right now. Way out of his depth League 2 player at best”

Credit: @SamGardner04

“Why we ever got Gibson in on loan I’ll never know”

Credit: @ANorrish1

“Get Gibson off, absolutely useless! What is he doing!!!”

Credit: @JamieCollis1995

“GET GIBSON OFF NOW”

Credit: @HarryParkerDye1

In other news, find out what injury blow before Brighton Carlo Ancelotti has dealt here!

Leicester City have been handed a huge boost in the fight to keep Brendan Rodgers at the King Power Stadium.

The Northern-Irishman has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur in recent days following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, it not being the first time that he has been rumoured to be in the running to take over a North London club with Arsenal also thought to be admirers in the past.

However, Rodgers has allayed any fears over his future with the Foxes, insisting that he is “very happy” in the East-Midlands.

Those sentiments will surely be a huge boost to Leicester as they aim to keep hold of a man who has taken the club from mid-table mediocrity to consistent challenges for the UEFA Champions League positions.

Since arriving from Celtic, the 49-year-old has overseen a total of 103 matches at the club in all competitions, winning 56 of those and racking up the best win percentage of any permanent manager in the club’s history.

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Having finished ninth in his first season at the club, the Foxes claimed fifth in Rodgers’ first full campaign in charge, whilst they have consistently been in the top four throughout 2020/21.

Meanwhile, Rodgers has also been able to create history, too, by leading Leicester to their first FA Cup Final since 1969 having beaten Southampton 1-0 at Wembley.

That aforementioned work has certainly drawn praise within the Premier League. Current Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp labelled his influence on Celtic, where he lifted seven trophies, and indeed Leicester as “incredible”.

It will, therefore, be a relief to note then that Rodgers is seemingly not tempted to continue that work at Tottenham Hotspur, instead being content with staying at Leicester – a huge boost for the future of the club considering their current trajectory under the former Liverpool manager.

AND in more news, take a look at which current Premier League forward could replace Jamie Vardy…

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Newcastle United Hall of Famer Rob Lee says he hates the formation and system the Magpies are persisting with, and feels sorry for the likes of Dwight Gayle having to play as a winger.

Since Graeme Jones joined Newcastle they have adopted a split striker system which sees the two strikers play wider and allows midfielders to arrive into the box unmarked, however Lee doesn’t believe the Magpies have the players to play this way.

Lee would like to see players deployed in their natural positions for the remainder of the season, stating that Gayle is a goalscorer and if he’s on the wing, he won’t be able to get the goals Newcastle desperately need.

Speaking on the split striker system which has become the norm on Tyneside and why he feels for Gayle at the minute, Lee told FFC exclusively:

“I don’t like the formation they play. I don’t think we’ve got the players to play it and I know it’s Graeme Jones’ preferred way of playing, he likes his two strikers to split, but personally, I hate it.

“I feel sorry for the likes of Gayle because they barely touch the ball and you have to realise what Dwight Gayle is. He is a guy that can score goals and he’s brilliant at doing that.

“He’s very quick and plays on the last defender but he has to be around the box not wide because he’s not going to give you anything there.

“They seem to be persevering with this system and it’s not for me to say, but from looking inside and from what I’ve seen we haven’t got the players to play that way.”

Dwight Gayle was signed to help get Newcastle out of the Championship in 2016 and over his career, he’s proved his ability in the box having scored 165 goals in 248 games.

The Magpies lost their potential six-pointer against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday evening, and have to bounce back when they host Tottenham Hotspur on April 4.

Many Sunderland fans have been left unhappy with the display of Callum McFadzean despite their 1-0 home win over Swindon Town on Tuesday evening.

Lee Johnson’s men managed to pick up all three points to climb up the EFL League One table thanks to yet another goal from Charlie Wyke with 20 minutes left to play at the Stadium of Light.

However, while there were some very good performances in a red-and-white-striped shirt, McFadzean’s flattered to deceive several SAFC supporters.

The former Sheffield United man lost possession of the ball no fewer than 26 times in total over the course of the game, by far the most out of any player to have set foot on the pitch, as he also lost out on four of his duels (Sofascore).

McFadzean also failed to make a single successful dribble, tackle, key pass or accurate cross in the match (Sofascore), and may well be fearing for his starting place with Jake Vokins among the subs on the bench.

Sunderland fan reaction to McFadzean display

These Black Cats slammed his performance on Twitter, with one fan even going as far as to call the left-back a ‘liability’

“Play constantly breaking down when McFadzean has it, he’s truly awful #SAFC”

Credit: @LdoubleE_87

“Please for the goodness of my sanity take McFadzean off and put the lad out his misery. I wouldn’t let him sell match day programmes #safc”

Credit: @Kingy78_

“O’Nien for #safc digging McFadzean out of one again there. God how is this kid playing professional football?!?!? He’s consistently terrible”

Credit: @Fantanafest73

“Power & McFadzean are a big problem. Both are terrible fullbacks. Why is Jones in the centre and Gooch on the wing? Baffling #safc”

Credit: @mksavage73

“McFadzean knocking out consistent 7/10 in favour of the opposition every week. If he passes to a Sunderland player, I’m celebrating like a goal. #safc”

Credit: @bradsafc

“We’ve played 10 mins and so far I’ve counted 3 loose passes from McFadzean and he’s tripped over his own feet once. The guy’s a liability #safc”

Credit: @AlexSeaham

In other news, find out what Johnson comments Sunderland fans are delighted with here!

Danny Mills has been discussing Illan Meslier following his agent speaking quite openly on a Leeds United podcast recently.

Mills fumes at agent

The goalkeeper’s agent insisted there are some “top clubs” taking an interest in the young player. Speaking to Football Insider, Mills said: “His agent is just stirring things up saying ‘I want a better deal because there are other people sniffing around.’ You know what? Agents should just pipe down.

“We’ve all been there, we’ve all done it. I’ve done it myself. All of sudden a story emerges in one of the newspapers saying ‘such and such are going to offer this amount a week and another club is interested.’

“He’s got a lot of potential but he’s still a young goalkeeper. He’s still in his first season in the Premier League. He’s been good but he’s not been off the scale.”

Agents showing their ugly side again

Meslier has been inconsistent this season, making two errors leading to goals in his first campaign in the top flight, but showing superb form at other times.

In the 25 appearances he has made in the Premier League, he has helped the club pick up 11 wins as he has made 99 saves, and kept eight clean sheets (Premier League), hardly a poor start for such a young player.

He is only 21 years-old, and this is quite a young age for a goalkeeper, but Marcelo Bielsa clearly has complete faith in him.

Mills is right to be disappointed in the agent as well – the £10.80m-rated ace is in a great position playing consistently in a great division, and so his agent should be a bit more careful with what he says next time.

In other news, the club have been linked to this Championship player!

Celtic are playing the waiting game over any possible deal for Airdrie winger Thomas Robert.

According to the Daily Record, the Hoops will hold off on offering the 20-year-old a contract at Parkhead until a director of football and manager are put in place.

Robert’s Celtic trial

The French winger, son of former Newcastle star Laurent, had a trial at Lennoxtown recently after first being linked with Celtic back in December.

Head of recruitment Nick Hammond watched Robert in action against East Fife towards the end of 2020, but it seems as if Celtic will now delay over a potential summer swoop.

The latest report adds that fellow Premiership sides Dundee United and Aberdeen are now also keeping tabs on the youngster ahead of the summer window and could step in to beat the Hoops to a deal.

Transfer Tavern take

To us, this latest development is a cause for concern in regards to any move for Robert.

With Aberdeen and Dundee United keen, Celtic’s vacant off-field roles could come back to haunt them, should either side make a concrete move.

Karamoko Dembele is also reportedly set to leave the club in the summer, so bringing in Robert to replace the teenager could be a shrewd call in the long run. However, it looks as if they may have to act fast.

In other news: Club in talks with Celtic over deal for £7,500-a-week ace, find out more here. 

Former Scotland international* (headline error) Davie Provan believes that Alfredo Morelos will soon leave Ibrox after his latest show of indiscipline.

Morelos set to leave

Morelos was lucky not to be sent off against Hibernian for a stamp on Ryan Porteous, and he has now been charged retrospectively for the incident (BBC).

Speaking to Go Radio (via The Daily Record), Provan believes that Morelos will soon be out of the door at Rangers. He said:

 “He deserves every one of them. This is a guy who just will not learn.

“Lashing out at Tannadice, and what he did the other night at Easter Road wasn’t just a case of getting himself needlessly suspended.

“It was also a kick in the teeth for Steven Gerrard who has stuck his neck out for him continually despite his indiscipline.

“I would imagine that once Rangers get this league title won, and it will happen pretty soon, then Rangers will look to move him on.

“He is a player who does not learn.”

Days are numbered

At his best, the Colombia international is a hugely important player for Gerrard. His brace against Aberdeen helped the Gers to a 2-1 victory, and he netted the only goal of the game at Easter Road to earn his side another vital three points.

However, it is getting to the point where he is not worth the trouble. Whether it is throwing tantrums when being substituted (Glasgow Live) or incidents such as the one against Hibs, he is too often in the headlines for the wrong reasons. The Gers have been by far the best team in Scotland this season, which means that he has not been too much of a distraction. In the long run, though, that is exactly what the £10.8m-valued 24-year-old (Transfermarkt) will be. You feel his days at Ibrox are numbered.

In other news, Rangers fans are livid at this author’s comments.

If West Brom boss Slaven Bilic’s job is truly hanging by a thread, then visiting Manchester City in the Premier League is probably the last game he needs, though he ought to do himself some favours over his team selection.

The Baggies have won just one game all season with their latest defeat coming on Saturday afternoon as former loan sensation Dwight Gayle scored on his return to action following injury.

They now sit second from bottom, three points from 17th-placed Burnley, who defeated Arsenal a day after.

Only two teams in the top-flight have scored fewer goals than Albion and Bilic’s task in changing that have been made harder as Matheus Pereira serves the second of his three-game suspension.

Summer signing Karlan Grant has hardly hit the ground running either, so might it be time for a change upfront? We certainly think so…

Grant’s current form

The 23-year-old forward has managed to find the net once in eight starts, that goal coming seven matches ago in a 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion.

At St James’ Park, Grant was hooked at half-time, the first real sign of Bilic losing his patience with the former Huddersfield Town star and as such, he must show no mercy and leave him on the bench against Pep Guardiola’s men.

The £13m-rated Englishman has struggled immensely in the big time, averaging just 1.5 shots, 0.8 dribbles and a 69.9% passing accuracy per appearance, via WhoScored.

This is a striker that was lauded by ex-boss Lee Bowyer, who claimed he’s a “kid who causes problems and scores goals” whilst another former manager of his, Nicky Cowley, dubbed him “ruthless.”

Replacements?

Bilic is hardly short on options in attack either.

Until the weekend, Charlie Austin was practically frozen out at the club but given his experience in the Premier League – playing 107 times, scoring 34 goals – he ought to be helping their cause.

There’s also joint-top goalscorer Callum Robinson and Hal Robson-Kanu as potential alternatives.

Either way, there’s only so long you can stick with the faltering Baggies flop. It is indeed still early days in his career at the Hawthorns, but he has done nothing to warrant a continued place in the starting XI.

Bilic must show no mercy and desperately hand the reins to someone else.

Grant will have plenty of time to turn it around after signing a six-year deal upon arrival too. At least the Baggies will be extremely well-equipped if they do return to the Championship.

AND in other news, Worse than Sawyers: Pathetic Albion ace who lost 84% of his duels badly let Bilic down…

Newcastle United’s FA Cup third round exit at Arsenal exposed Steve Bruce for shamefully wasting Andy Carroll in the absence of Callum Wilson on Saturday.

Bruce took the precautionary decision to omit Wilson and Jonjo Shelvey from his matchday squad in order to prevent either sustaining an injury at the Emirates Stadium, but he expects both to be involved in Tuesday night’s Premier League trip to Sheffield United.

Carroll was given only his fourth start of the season as he was picked to lead the line in north London, and he came close to sending the Toon through to the next round too, but he squandered two glorious chances in closing stages as the tie went to extra time.

Arsenal would have had little time to recover had Carroll sent Newcastle into the lead inside the final minute of the second-half, yet the former England international saw Bernd Leno react quickly to smother his shot.

The forward had already been made to rue his wasteful shooting moments earlier, with Carroll timing his run to perfection to stay onside only to side-foot wide an effort that Alan Shearer would later claim “can only be defined as an absolute sitter”.

Despite his shooting proving costly for Newcastle, who failed to match last season’s FA Cup campaign that saw the Magpies reach the quarter-final, Bruce was pleased with Carroll’s overall performance at Arsenal.

“I thought Andy did fantastically well. If he had topped it off by scoring a goal, it would have been good for him. There were a lot of pleasing things,” Bruce said, via quotes by The Shields Gazette.

In truth, however, Bruce wasted Carroll at Arsenal and the Newcastle United boss’ defensive tactics proved costly against a Mikel Arteta side that is often unable to present any forward threat.

Too often throughout the north London affair, Carroll was forced to drop deeper and deeper in search of possession or to help United defend, capped off by a first-half charge that saw the 32-year-old target man aid Emil Krafth at right-back.

Bruce and Newcastle eventually saw the best of what Carroll can bring to the table in the closing stages of the second period when he was presented with chances to seal a rare win over Arsenal, who have now beaten the Toon in 15 of their last 16 meetings.

If United are to retain Carroll against interest from West Bromwich Albion in the January transfer window, Bruce must act now and deliver a drastic change to his system by pairing the £75,000-per-week gem, who Kevin Phillips feels “can be unplayable”, with another striker.

Bruce often favours a one-striker system but he will struggle to see the best of Carroll over a full 90 minutes if he continues to focus on defensive stability over an attacking threat, and he must pair the 6 ft 4 target man with Wilson to lay claim to a better forward balance that may finally see Newcastle snap their seven-game winless streak across all competitions.

Bruce is setting the Magpies up defensively, but the fact is, they aren’t winning games in this set-up, so a change is needed.

AND in other news, a Newcastle gem embarrassed his teammates as Steve Bruce’s only positive at Arsenal.

It could be looking more and more unlikely that Carlos Vinicius’ stay with Tottenham Hotspur will become a permanent one in the summer after he failed to get on the pitch against West Brom last weekend.

After making his first start of the Premier League season in the 1-0 defeat against Chelsea recently, the Brazilian was relegated to the bench for the visit of the Baggies, with Harry Kane selected ahead of him, despite having only just recovered from injury.

Whilst the decision paid off, with Kane scoring Spurs’ opening goal in the 2-0 win, it is slightly worrying that the on-loan Benfica man didn’t feature at all in the 90 minutes, even though Mourinho’s side were comfortable in the second half.

In fact, 16-year-old Dane Scarlett was brought on ahead of Vinicius with Kane staying on for the whole game, which suggests that the 25-year-old might not be in Mourinho’s good books at this moment in time.

Whilst the Brazilian has impressed with his Europa League and FA Cup appearances this season, he has been limited to just one start and five substitute appearances in the Premier League, with no goals or assists to his name.

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Although it was always unlikely that he would be able to usurp Kane from Mourinho’s starting eleven, you would have perhaps expected him to have more opportunities in the top-flight, especially with Kane having spent the last couple of weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

The £18 million-rated striker was prolific last season with Benfica, contributing 18 goals and five assists in Liga NOS, but he has been unable to replicate that form in England’s top-flight, and he may well be fighting to save his future with the North London club after being snubbed against West Brom.

Mourinho did suggest in a recent press conference that Vinicius and Kane could play together up top but certainly so far, he has arguably not shown enough to convince the Portuguese manager, and Daniel Levy, that he is worth paying the £40 million required to make his move permanent in the summer.

And, in other news… £80k-p/w Spurs gem showed he can still be key under Mourinho with superb WBA display