Rangers on course for runners-up medal after smashing Motherwell 3-0 on Sunday.

What a performance from Scott Arfield who bagged his first professional hattrick on Sunday to make it back-to-back wins for Rangers following the midweek victory over Hearts.

Two changes were made to the side who cruised to victory on Wednesday, the suspended Ryan Kent and Joe Worrall making way for Daniel Candeias and Nikola Katic.

The opening minutes produced scant little for the visitors to get excited about, and though Rangers typically saw most of the ball, it was the hosts who enjoyed the initial set of opportunities to take the lead, Jake Hastie shooting over while Charles Dunne fluffed his header wide from a corner.

After 22 minutes, however, it was the Gers who opened the scoring. Arfield, latching onto a move initiated by Daniel Candeias and Jermaine Defoe, kept his composure to silkily finish past ‘keeper Mark Gillespie.

Defoe continued to pressure in the forward positions and very nearly doubled Rangers lead but for the staunch work of Motherwell’s Gillespie, who did extremely well when meeting the Englishman’s low driven half-volley.

Arfield did what Defoe couldn’t minutes later. High pressure from Candeias and Ryan Jack retrieved the ball from the helpless Well defence, gifting the former the opportunity to play through the temporarily lethal Arfield, who again despatched his chance past Gillespie.

More pressing from Rangers rewarded them with their third and final goal on the hour mark. Jack involved again, this time winning the ball from Turnbull, played through Defoe into a one-on-one situation, and though the Englishman could’ve quite easily scored, he unselfishly played through Arfield to round off his hattrick.

Unsurprisingly Scott Arfield claimed the Man of the Match award for his three goals. However, we’d like to give a special mention to Jermaine Defoe as our ‘unsung hero’ on this occasion. The veteran striker was in top form at the weekend, and though he didn’t claim a goal, there was every bit of evidence to suggest that he will be a very important player going forwards for Rangers.

Defoe’s experience allowed him to find pockets of space which would’ve otherwise been neglected, creating more headaches for the Motherwell defenders than they could cope with, and his admirably unselfish assist towards the end of the match helped Scott Arfield create a moment he’ll likely never forget.

Special player.

Rangers fans, do you think the Defoe project is starting to work? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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Celtic are yet to make a decision on who will replace Brendan Rodgers on a permanent basis, and ex-Bhoys defender Mark Wilson thinks Neil Lennon will get the job, on one condition.

Celtic are ten points clear at the top of the league after last weekend’s results, with Rangers now forced to sit and watch as their arch-rivals cruise to their eighth consecutive league title.

The Bhoys of course won’t take their foot off the gas from here, as there is still the small matter of the Old Firm after the international break.

And Wilson, who racked up 98 appearances in the league for Celtic, thinks Lennon should be handed the permanent manager’s position if he can overcome the Gers on March 31st.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

What has he said?

“It’s done and dusted. The big thing is how far can Celtic stretch the lead – and that will be on Steven Gerrard’s mind,” Wilson said, as reported by The Daily Record.

“They are 10 points clear and I think they will make it 13 when the two sides meet at the end of next week.

Continuing on about the gap that has developed between the two rivals since the turn of the year, he said: “If Neil had let the gap slip then maybe questions would be asked but he’s got it to 10 and if he gets it to 13 or more then he has to get the job.

“If he wins the Scottish Cup too then there won’t even be a discussion.”

Is he right?

Celtic have failed to win just once domestically since their defeat at Ibrox at the end of 2018, and it’s fair to say the new year has been good to the Bhoys, despite the departure of Brendan Rodgers.

However, Lennon should not be given the job on the spot for a few good results, especially considering that the “gap” that Wilson repeatedly refers to is down to the sorry efforts of Rangers as much as it is Celtic’s brilliance.

The 0-0 draw against Aberdeen and 1-0 win over Dundee were stark reminders of how dull Lennon’s football often is, and if not for Steven Gerrard’s side failing to win a single game in the month of March then the Old Firm could be an awful lot more important than it now seems.

Lennon has done a great job steadying the ship, but the club should ignore Wilson’s advice and look for someone with greater European pedigree.

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In an interview with Sky Sports, on-loan Everton centre-back Kurt Zouma has dropped a hint that he wants to stay at Goodison Park beyond the summer.

What’s the word, then?

The France international is currently only contracted to stay with Marco Silva’s men until the end of the 2018/2019 season, at which point he’s still due to return to Chelsea.

However, speaking openly about his future with Sky Sports, the 24-year-old discussed being “very happy” on Merseyside, enjoying his season there so far, praised the squad that his current manager is building and stating that he’s heard nothing about his future from Stamford Bridge.

Zouma originally signed for the west London club in January 2014 from St-Etienne and despite picking up two Premier League titles along the way, has been loaned out three times and plagued by injury. However, this term has allowed him to find form, stay mostly injury free and break back into the squad of his national side.

Zouma and Everton are the perfect fit

It’s not hard to see based on what’s happened in their relationship together so far – Zouma and Everton are the perfect fit and Director of Football Marcel Brands needs to act on that.

The way they’ve complemented each other in 2018/2019 has been perfect, the player helping the club to be in European contention ahead of the run-in and the club pushing the player to get back up to the level of his early Blues days.

There’s no secret about the fact Silva would like to keep both of his main loan stars at the season’s end, Andre Gomes from Barcelona being the other.

Pl>ymaker FC’s Matchday with Max caught up with Jamaica’s women’s team. See what happened when he met the history makers in the video below…

And the Blue Half of Merseyside’s central defence is ageing rapidly, 36-year-old captain Phil Jagielka having been a mainstay of it for a long time.

But if Brands and Silva can get Zouma to stay, he can be the future of the club’s central defence alongside Michael Keane. He’s got so many years ahead of him at the age of 24 and has already acclimatised well to life at Goodison Park.

Tying down the 6 ft 3 beast on a permanent deal may be easier said than done when we factor in the west Londoners’ potential transfer ban, though it’s something the Toffees simply have to do keep moving forward.

كشف طارق هاشم عضو مجلس إدارة المصري، أن النادي تلقى عرضًا رسميًا من بيراميدز، لضم مهاجم الفريق الفلسطيني محمود وادي، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية المقبلة.

محمود وادي تألق رفقة المصري خلال الموسم الحالي، واستطاع تسجيل 10 أهداف بمختلف المسابقات “كأس الكونفدرالية – الدوري المصري – كأس مصر”.

وقال هاشم في تصريحات خاصة لـ”بطولات”: “بيراميدز قدم عرض رسمي للتعاقد مع محمود وادي لاعب المصري”.

وأضاف: “تم الاتفاق على قيمة الاستغناء عن اللاعب وهي 20 مليون جنيه، والإعلان الرسمي خلال يومين”.

طالع | محمود وادي يعلن رحيله عن المصري ويكشف وجهته المحتملة

يُذكر أن بيراميدز كان قد أبرم 3 صفقات قوية خلال الفترة الحالية استعدادًا للموسم المقبل، وهم رمضان صبحي وشريف إكرامي وأحمد فتحي من الأهلي.

Newcastle are within touching distance — one victory in Rafa Benitez’s eyes — of Premier League safety. They should reach that goal with games to spare.

After finishing tenth last season, and managing to do a similarly spectacular job this year, it beggars belief that the club have not seen the light, and tied him down to a long-term deal.

Benitez, of course, shuns much of the plaudits, and is usually the first person to pay credit to the players, the back-room team around him, and the fans, for the Magpies’ success — or at least what warrants the term success at Newcastle under Mike Ashley!

But you cannot underestimate the amount of work the Spaniard has put in to transform Newcastle from the doldrums they were in when he took over.

He has gone from a squad that looked bereft of ideas, or being able to raise their game when required. A squad who had dates of paydays circled on their calendars, instead of those of big games coming up, to one of commitment and belief.

It is down to Rafa… no one else.

Speaking to the Newcastle Chronicle about the squad he inherited, he described why the scenario is different now to 2016.

He has reduced niggly injuries within the squad, thanks to his personal fitness regime, and that has played a significant role in the upturn of fortunes.

He said: “It’s not the same and I will tell you why. When we just arrived, we had 13 injuries, something that you couldn’t see.

“I remember that we had to play with [Vurnon] Anita as a left full-back, and after with [Jack] Colback, because we didn’t have a left full-back or a holding-midfielder.

“Now almost everybody is fit, and we have some players that now have some experience in the Premier League.”

But significantly, he added another reason why things are rosier on Tyneside now — because he has a team that “cares” about Newcastle United, and a group where “everybody is focused” on what needs to be done, week in, week out.

He said: “We lost very, very important players when we were relegated. You see they are now playing in the Premier League – [Andros] Townsend, [Moussa] Sissoko, [Daryl] Janmaat, [Georginio] Wijnaldum. They are good players.

“We lost something but, little by little, we were building something new. What do we have now? We have a team that we know, and everybody knows, that every player cares, and everybody is focused – all these things. So it is different.

“I am not saying it is better or worse, but it is different. Those players, they were very good players in the Premier League, but in an environment that was not ideal.”

It is Rafa at his pragmatic, diplomatic best. He will not come out and say it, but his words are there to be interpreted — he inherited a team of individuals who cared about themselves, not the football club.

But the biggest difference, is Benitez himself.

He has single-handedly made St James’ Park a better place. His tactics. His squad management. His relationship with the fans.

It is all down to him.

He has united a club around him, and brought hope back to legions of Geordies who turn up every other week and sing his name from the rafters.

How Mike Ashley has put himself in a position where he might lose him, is beyond the fathoms of every fan, player and pundit alike.

But it is not too late. He can still come to his senses, and realise that he should buy in to Rafa’s vision.

For the future of your football club, you must sign him up, Mike!

What do you think of Rafa’s transformation at Newcastle? Can you imagine what will happen if Rafa leaves? Join in the debate below…

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West Ham United are considering a summer move for Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, per ClaretandHugh.

The Magpies star has been routinely linked with the Hammers over the past few seasons but manager Manuel Pellegrini could finally formalise their interest when the transfer window reopens.

What’s the word?

Shelvey has struggled for game time at St James’ Park this season, making just 14 appearances in all competitions due to a number of injury issues.

Indeed, he last played 90 minutes in the Premier League in October, in a 0-0 draw with Southampton.

ClaretandHugh claim that Pellegrini is keen to strengthen his midfield this summer, with Pedro Obiang almost certain to leave.

The Hammers have subsequently drawn up a shortlist of potential targets and the report states that Shelvey is on it.

The 27-year-old has spent three years at Newcastle, making 108 appearances. He has also won six caps for England.

Noble’s long-term replacement

Mark Noble is approaching the twilight of a storied career.

He is 31 and will be 33 when his contract expires in 2021.

A move for Shelvey, then, could form part of a succession plan for a player who first joined the Hammers in 2000.

He will surely mark 20 years at the club next season – there is precious little chance of the captain being sold on in the summer – but Pellegrini would be wise to bring in his successor before Noble actually departs.

That would allow Shelvey to sit under the learning tree, so to speak, and truly immerse himself at West Ham. He is a better player than Noble is currently; his range of passing, in particular, sets him apart from the Hammers captain, while he is also capable of the genuinely spectacular.

Nevertheless, Noble’s replacement will have a lot to live up to in the eyes of the fans and playing alongside him first is a logical way to ensure that the transition is seamless.

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West Ham United almost appointed Marcelo Bielsa as manager prior to the hiring of Slaven Bilic, according to reliable source Ex-West Ham United Employee.

Bielsa, of course, is now managing Leeds United and is attempting to guide his side to promotion to the Premier League.

What’s the word?

Bilic was appointed to succeed Sam Allardyce after a truly dismal season at Upton Park.

The Croatian was a former player and lasted two years at the helm.

Football FanCast have confirmed that Bielsa was a target prior to Bilic’s appointment, with one highly placed source stating that he had a “reputation for the bizarre”.

Nevertheless, the then-Marseille boss was seen as an attainable, realistic target.

Indeed, at one point, he was considered the club’s top target, though his lack of English was eventually seen as prohibitive.

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Bilic was both fluent in the language and had also played for the Irons before, swaying the board’s thinking and ultimately proving a deciding factor.

Circus avoided

How would West Ham’s team have looked under Bielsa?

It is difficult to envisage the likes of Mark Noble and Andy Carroll thriving under his hard-running, high-pressing regime.

Bilic, though, enjoyed a fine first season and took the Hammers to seventh, though they slipped to 11th the campaign after.

After that, he was sacked and replaced by David Moyes.

Perhaps Bielsa was lucky to avoid the circus at the Hammers – he may not have been given any time at all to embed his methods – and he may well be in the Premier League next season anyway, with Leeds United knocking on the door of automatic promotion.

He can count himself lucky that West Ham moved on to alternative targets.

Arnaud Djoum has bounced back from last year’s nightmare season, with a string of consistent performances for Hearts this season, that has seen him catch the eye of Ligue 1 side, Toulouse.

Having arrived at Hearts as a free agent in the summer of 2015, he was a mainstay in the team, before last season’s horror, which saw the player suffer no less than three ligament injuries.

After recovering from a medial ligament injury shortly into the season — only to suffer an Achilles one a month later — his season was ended with an Achilles rupture which kept him out of action from February until September last year.

But he showed true fighting spirit during his rehabilitation, and after winning his fitness battle, he has gone on to cement his place back in the Hearts midfield.

But the Cameroon international is out of contract at the end of the season, and with no new offer on the table from the Tynecastle club, he is currently able to speak to interested parties ahead of a summer move.

According to the Daily Star via The Scottish Sun, the French club are looking to rebuild their squad next season, hoping to improve on this year’s mid-table performance, and they see Djoum as the perfect man to fill one of their midfield slots.

Even taking into account the 29-year-old’s injuries last year, Hearts fans will still think they got everything they hoped for from the player, and that he arrived at Tynecastle for free, then fans will surely wish him well, when he leaves.

We think it would suit all parties for him to move on in the summer, but it will be essential that a suitable replacement is brought in, as Hearts should be looking to rebuild their own squad, in a bid to close the gap on Rangers and Celtic, and start looking to battle for a Europa League spot next season.

What are your thoughts on Djoum, Hearts fans? Would you offer him another contract? Or is it in everyone’s best interests for him to move on? Let us know…

رغم خسارة برشلونة في الكلاسيكو أمام ريال مدريد، إلا أن الدولي الأمريكي سيرجينيو ديست، ترك شعورًا جيدًا للغاية خلال المباراة، وكان أحد أفضل اللاعبين في النادي الكتالوني.

لعب ديست مباراته الأولى مع برشلونة في مواجهة خيتافي بمركز الظهير الأيسر، بدلًا من جوردي ألبا بسبب الإصابة، لكن أمام ريال مدريد ظهر في مكانه الأساسي كـ ظهير أيمن.

طالع أيضًا.. الحكومة الكتالونية تورط بارتوميو وتوافق على استفتاء سحب الثقة

صحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، أفادت أن اللاعب الأمريكي الأول في تاريخ برشلونة، حصل على إشادة القائد جيرارد بيكيه، بعد المستوى الذي ظهر عليه في مباراة الكلاسيكو.

في منتصف الشوط الأول، أغلق على فينيسيوس المساحة للمرور، بعدما حصل على الكرة في أكثر من مرة أمام مارسيلو أيضًا، وهو ما جعل جيرارد بيكيه يصرخ مشيدًا به بين شوطي المباراة.

بيكيه بعد المباراة تحدث مع ديست بعيدًا عن المجموعة، وأخبره بأن عليه مواصلة تقديم هذا الأداء، وأنه كان أفضل لاعب في برشلونة.

Everton are looking to build a squad for the future, so they should already have their eye on their possible Cenk Tosun replacement, Bassala Sambou from the U23s.

The 21-year-old was brought to the club from Coventry in 2016 and this season he’s really come into his own for the Toffees’ youth team. He’s bagged 11 goals and two assists in 23 appearances for them, with two coming in the open-age Checkatrade trophy.

Cenk Tosun has scored and assisted just three each in the 27 times he’s appeared for the first team this season, and that’s nowhere near good enough for a club looking to break into the top six. He should go in summer and be replaced by Sambou.

Everton have to go out and spend money on wingers to provide their other forwards with opportunities after Theo Walcott and Richarlison just haven’t been up to scratch. Some would argue they need an out-and-out striker too, but why not give this youngster a chance.

It’s risk-free and the Everton faithful will have patience with the German, as all clubs do with players that come through the ranks.

If the decision pays off, it could save the club tens of millions in the long run which can be spent on other areas.

The club need to spend, but they also need to prove to their youth players that opportunities will arise if they play well enough in the U23s. Sambou should be the youngster to set that precedent, and who knows what may come of it?

Everton fans, do you think your team needs to buy an out-and-out striker or could Bassala Sambou be the man? Join the discussion by commenting below.