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Premier League clubs tend to have drastically varying approaches when it comes to managers: some may stick with their boss for a decade while others go through one, sometimes even two, per season. Until the current campaign, Watford have fallen under the latter category, with Marco Silva, Quique Sanchez Flores and Walter Mazzarri having taken the helm since June 2015.

Now, though, the Vicarage Road outfit are surely done with chopping and changing bosses and will build for the future with Javi Gracia in charge – I say ‘surely’, as Flores guided them to an FA Cup semi-final in the 2015/16 term and was surprisingly given the boot, so there may yet be a sting in the tail for the current Hornets boss.

Gracia arrived at Watford in the summer and has turned the Hertfordshire outfit from relegation battlers to one of the best teams outside the top-six – if not the best.

The Hornets currently sit eighth in the standings and got the edge over one of their closest competitors for seventh spot, Wolves, last weekend, while also progressing to the FA Cup final at their expense.

If you offered potential qualification for Europe and an FA Cup final to managers who haven’t had the privilege of managing one of the big six prior to the start of the season, they would surely bite your hand off – not Gracia though.

The former Rubin Kazan manager said in January, when the prospect of meeting Manchester City at Wembley Stadium was little more than a fantasy for most fans, that he has greater ambitions for the Hornets:

“If you ask Watford supporters whether they want to reach the final or finish seventh, they will say they want to be first in the league, and to win the FA Cup, not seventh. That is our ambition, and that is our target.”

Fortunately for the 48-year-old, Leicester’s phenomenal feat in 2015/16 is the only thing preventing absolutely everyone from labelling him delusional. Instead, Gracia’s ambition is admirable and perhaps the genius behind Watford’s brilliant season.

Many managers are aware of what they should be expecting or aiming for before the first ball of the term is kicked and some aren’t afraid of telling the fans that they are in a relegation battle after just two games – we’re looking at you, David Moyes – although Gracia is showing exactly why you should shoot for the moon.

While the Hornets are a long, long way from challenging the footballing powerhouses for the title, there is no reason why you can’t attack the season as if you are going for glory; as Gracia has shown, you will more than likely land among the stars.

Of course, having millions upon millions to spend on your squad helps massively, but your Mohamed Salahs and Raheem Sterlings are nothing without a manager behind them who is pushing to be their very best – Gracia is doing just that at Vicarage Road but with Troy Deeneys and Craig Cathcarts.

Wolves Fan TV place the blame for Wolves’ FA Cup semi-final collapse on John Ruddy in the video below…

Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola will likely dominate conversations regarding who should be awarded Manager of the Year, but Gracia deserves far more credit than he is getting for the remarkable job he has done with a squad that he has had no part in building and has had for just one season.

There is something fundamentally wrong with the system if Gracia’s name doesn’t make it alongside Klopp and Guardiola come the end of the campaign.

وضع نادي مانشستر يونايتد لاعب فريق ولفرهامبتون أداما تراوري ضمن أبرز أهدافه، في موسم الانتقالات الشتوي المقبل.

ونجح تراوري في جذب انتباه العديد من الأندية الأوروبية بعد تألقه مع الذئاب، في الموسم المالي.

وارتبط اللاعب الإسباني بأكثر من نادِ، مثل ليفربول ومانشستر سيتي ويوفنتوس وغيرهم.

وحسب شبكة “كالتشيو ميركاتو” الإيطالية، فإن مانشستر يونايتد لديه رغبة مماثلة في الحصول على خدمات تراوري.

وأوضحت أن إدارة الشياطين الحمر قررت وضع تراوري ضمن أهدافها، في فترة الانتقالات الشتوية القادمة، خاصة بعد فشلهم في ضم جادون سانشو من بوروسيا دورتموند هذا الصيف.

World Cup winner Steven N’Zonzi was a big fish in a little pond when he played for Blackburn Rovers between 2009 and 2012.

Blackburn have caddied a few players into the starry lights of top-level European football, including FC Koln’s Anthony Modeste and Atletico Madrid’s Nikola Kalinic, and Steven N’Zonzi is no different.

The Frenchman arrived a relatively unknown prospect from Amiens SC on a four-year contract in June 2009.

The national media struggled to find much to say about the prospective Premier League player other than the fact he was a France youth international with just a single season worth of experience at senior level and 35 appearances to his name.

After just a season in England, however, his profile expanded exponentially – not that it was hard in the first place, we suppose – and he soon announced himself on the big stage as one of the leagues hidden gems.

A physically strong and tactically astute defensive midfielder, N’Zonzi helped guide his team towards 10th position in the Premier League – their best finish to date – and earned a well-deserved Player of the Season award.

Unfortunately, his second term in English football would prove fruitless.

Sam Allardyce, the man who recruited him, was immediately sacked by the much-loathed Venky’s London Limited group, who had bought the club that year, and replaced by Steve Keane. A controversial appointment since the Scot’s agent Jerome Anderson had overseen the Venky’s takeover in the preceding months.

The toxic environment off the pitch seeped into the squad’s performances on it, and after a disastrously poor run of form Blackburn Rovers were eventually relegated – despite the midfielders best efforts.

N’Zonzi was subsequently picked up by then-Premier League side Stoke City.

During his time at the Potters, the Frenchman really homed in on the talents that had earned him the plaudits through the years – skillsets that far outweighed, not literally, of course, the talents of pub footballer Charlie Adam and the rest of the drivel at Stoke

He handed in a transfer request not once but twice in an effort to force a move to club who could match his ambitions, and despite staying both times – for reasons unknown – he eventually got his big opportunity with a move to La Liga side Sevilla in 2015.

N’Zonzi excelled in his new environment adding a Europa League title to his collection as well as countless quality performances that drew credible comparisons with one of the game’s best Sergio Busquets (as per Goal).

Having won the World Cup with France last year, we expected something a little more…zesty than his move to Roma. Not that they are not a good side – because they are – it just feels like a bit of a sideways step in his career considering all the promise and earlier ambition he showed. Italy is a bit of a graveyard for those seeing out their careers – and N’Zonzi just is not one of those. Not yet anyway.

A parade of rumours have emerged as recently as February linking him with a return to the Premier League this summer with both Tottenham and Arsenal interested (Calcio Mercato).

أكد مرتضى منصور رئيس الزمالك أنه يتعرض لمؤامرة هدفها التخلص منه، بسبب شروعه في تأسيس فرع النادي الجديد في مدينة 6 أكتوبر، بجانب الاستاد الجديد.

وكانت اللجنة الأولمبية قد أصدرت قرارًا بإيقاف مرتضى منصور عن مزاولة أي نشاط رياضي لمدة 4 سنوات، مع إلزام الزمالك بانتخاب رئيس جديد.

وقال مرتضى منصور خلال لقاء من داخل مقر القلعة البيضاء أذاعته قناة الزمالك: “عندما شرعنا في بناء نادي 6 أكتوبر والاستاد قالوا (اخلصوا منه)، ولكن لن يقدر أحد على ذلك لأن (مستر إكس لا ينتهي)”.

وتابع: “سأذهب للجنة الأولمبية الدولية لسبب بسيط لأنني حاصل على أعلى الأصوات في الأندية المصرية، والجمعية العمومية هي التي اختارتني، واللجنة الأولمبية الدولية تُعظم دور الجمعية”.

وواصل: “ربنا فوق كل البشر، والمقصود من كل ما يحدث هو ضرب مرتضى منصور لأنه يحصد البطولات ويبني الاستاد ويسب قطر”.

أردف: “لو لم أكن خائفًا على بلدي كنت سأدعو لجمعية العمومية وسيأتي 100 ألف عضو، ولكن أخاف أن يندس بينهم أحد”.

واستأنف: “اللجنة الأولمبية أوقفتني لمدة 4 سنوات ومتبقي لي سنة في الولاية الحالية، هل ستوقفني 3 سنوات في المستقبل؟ هذا يدل على أنك مجرم”.

استكمل: “نريد أن يستقر نادي الزمالك قبل نهائي إفريقيا، لدينا لاعبين أجانب من الممكن أن يقولوا رئيس النادي الذي يصرف مستحقاتنا وملتزم معنا من الممكن أن يرحل”.

أوضح: “لدي رسالة لفخامة رئيس الجمهورية وهي أن مرتضى منصور وطني ومحترم وله مواقف وطنية كثيرة ولم يخف قبل ثورة 30 يونيو”.

اختتم: “أنا أمثل 50 مليون مصري يشجعون الزمالك، و200 مليون عربي وإفريقي وفي أوروبا وأمريكا وكندا، كل هؤلاء ينتمون للنادي العظيم، لذلك من فضلك نريد أي جهة تحقق فيما يحدث، ولو أخطأت حاكموني”.

[ad_pod ]Celtic hero John Hartson has described the timing of Brendan Rodgers’ potential move to Leicester City as woeful.Claude Puel was sacked on Sunday morning but on MondayÂHartson was still discounting the prospect of Rodgers leaving Celtic for the English side.At breakfast time on Tuesday the situation changed dramatically. By 10am Celtic issued a statement confirming that Rodgers was in talks with Leicester.

Celtic cancelled their planned lunchtime media conference, with first team coach John Kennedy taking training on Tuesday.

Leicester face Brighton on Tuesday and an update will be expected from the club on their managerial vacancy.

Celtic’s statement made it clear that Rodgers wanted to speak to Leicester which would make it almost impossible for the Irishman to return to the dugout.

Neil Lennon has been tipped to be appointed as caretaker manager of Celtic, with the former Hibs boss cancelling his plans to fly to the Middle East for media work.

Villa Park was left distraught on Saturday when West Bromwich Albion won the bragging rights for the West Midlands Derby by ousting them at their own yard.  

Indeed, even the fire of a derby couldn’t work to get Aston Villa back in form, as it did when they clashed with bitter rivals Birmingham City earlier in the campaign.

Dean Smith’s future may be questioned amongst certain sections of support after being winless in four. Once looking close to possibly attaining a play-offs position, that dream is over, as the Villains are seven points behind the cut-off having played more games. However, Villa shouldn’t become trigger-happy in letting him go.

Even at Brentford, where incidentally they lost recently, Smith needed time to get going. He unearthed some gems from their system and despite working on a meagre budget, did a splendid job in helping them defy the odds and finish in the Championship’s top ten for three consecutive seasons.

Smith’s attacking philosophy’s working at Villa. He’s elevated Tammy Abraham into enjoying his best goal-scoring season having scored 20 already (stats via WhoScored), while Conor Hourihane and Jonathan Kodija are also improving. The Villains have played sleek, attacking football under him. However, his kryptonite at Villa’s been their woeful defending.

The Villains have been too leaky in defence, hampering their rise under Smith. The gaffer needs to be given some time and resources to sign better defenders to try and challenge for the title next season. Aston Villa just needs to be patient with Smith, who can not only have them playing winning football, but could lead them back into the Premier League soon.

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Leeds United earned a draw against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in dramatic circumstances on Saturday, as Kalvin Phillips headed in an equaliser for the Whites in the 11th minute of stoppage time. 

The point took Marcelo Bielsa’s side back to the top of the Championship table. However, the Argentine coach will know, although a draw was a fair result, it was for from a perfect performance from his side. 

Leeds wasted plenty of goalscoring opportunities and at times struggled to be effective on the ball. A number of players looked fatigued and out of ideas, none more so than right-back Luke Ayling. 

The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…

The 27-year-old has been in fine form this season but could do with some time out of the firing line now. What’s more, 19-year-old Jamie Shackleton has impressed this season and could offer Leeds a new dimension if given the chance to fill in for Ayling at right-back for a while.

If Bielsa is to guide his side successfully to promotion he must rotate his ranks smartly, bringing in Shackleton for Ayling would be doing exactly that. 

The Telegraph’s JJ Bull has given an interesting take on Rangers’ clash against Braga in the Europa League, suggesting that the Ibrox pitch could give the home side an advantage.

Braga travel to Ibrox for the first leg of this round of 32 encounter, and Bull believes the condition of the pitch at the stadium could be problematic for the visitors.

Speaking on The Totally Scottish Football Show podcast (18/02/2020), the football writer said: “I think weirdly as well the other thing that might go for them because the games at Ibrox, the pitch looks like a paddy field at the moment. I think that might go in their favour against Braga.”

Regardless of the state of Rangers’ pitch, Braga are likely to be a difficult test for the Gers. Ruben Amorim’s men are sitting in third in the Portuguese top flight, recently beating top of the table Benfica.

However, having already beaten another Portuguese outfit this season in Porto, who sit in between the two previously mentioned teams in the Primeira Liga, Rangers will surely fancy their chances as they look to make it to the next round of the competition.

Rangers fans, how do you see this one going? Give us your thoughts in the comment section below!

Liverpool recorded another imperious victory on Thursday night as they dispatched of Sheffield United at Anfield courtesy of goals from Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.The result takes the Reds 13 points clear of Leicester with a game in hand. Indeed, just after the halfway stage of the season the Premier League title appears to be decided.

Another domineering team display has left the media waxing lyrical about this supreme outfit, but the supporters still managed to pick holes in the display.

One individual who came in for criticism on social media was Roberto Firmino, who may well be in need of a rest following a hectic month of fixtures and travelling.

His lack of conviction in the first half prompted one fan to suggest he should have been taken off at half-time and replaced by Divock Origi, while another simply suggested the 28-year-old hadn’t turned up.

Plenty of other supporters waged similar complaints in the striker’s direction, accusing him of having a shocker following his struggle to make any impact on the game – he failed to make a single key pass or contribute a goal involvement on the night, per Whoscored.

And one fan even went as far to suggest that this was his worst game in a Liverpool shirt.

This fan, meanwhile, made his criticism topical by suggesting the Brazilian was still suffering the effects of a heavy New Year’s celebration .

Finally, one supporter went as far to suggest that Firmino should be sold in light of his recent performance, though that is certainly not an opinion shared by the majority of supporters on social media.

In other news, Gary Lineker has labelled a Liverpool star as “the most underrated player in Premier League history”…

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Sofiane Boufal’s Southampton career looked to be over when he fell out with Mark Hughes last season, was frozen out and then sent away on a season-long loan deal to Celta Vigo.

The Morocco international had flattered to deceive following his highly-anticipated move from Lille in the summer of 2016, but he found regular starts hard to come by and departed St Mary’s in the summer with four goals and three assists to his name in 59 appearances in all competitions.

The 25-year-old had a disagreement with Hughes during and after the 3-2 defeat to Chelsea back in April as Saints battled against the drop, and was subsequently sent to train with the U23s.

But now Hughes has gone and Hasenhuttl has arrived, what does the future hold for the African?

On the chalkboard

The 51-year-old’s preferred formation throughout his managerial career including at Red Bull Leipzig has been a 4-2-2-2, and he demands that his attacking players in that system press and provide high-energy to the team.

While the Austrian coach looks to have plenty of options up top to do this role with the likes of Danny Ings, Shane Long, Nathan Redmond and Michael Obafemi, he may have fewer options for the two wide attacking midfield roles.

Could Boufal fill that role?

He certainly could do.

The Moroccan showed when he was on the pitch for Saints that not only is he willing to help out defensively and track back to help his team, but also that he can dribble forward from deep positions – see his stunning solo goal against West Bromwich Albion.

The south coast outfit struggled to find a position that really suited the 25-year-old prior to his loan move to Celta Vigo, but the potential new formation means Boufal could finally have a role that suits him and can bring the best out of him, and he can save a Southampton career that looked all but over.

Olivier Giroud is set for a starring role in the new Spiderman and it’s easy to see why! Check out the video below to find out more…