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Everton will battle with Southampton at St. Mary’s today in what has turned into a must-win game for Marco Silva. The Toffees boss is under immense pressure, as his side now sits 17th in the table, with just three league wins all season.

Should Everton lose on the south coast, it would put the relegation-sitting Southampton on the same points as the Merseysiders after 12 games. Thankfully for Silva, the Saints’ 9-0 loss to Leicester City may save him from the relegation places even if they suffer a defeat.

However, if the former Watford boss drops any more points, these next two games could be his last in English football.

Silva is expected to make one change for the trip down south, with the injury to Andre Gomes keeping him out of the team for many months.

In replace of him, Tom Davies and Fabian Delph are expected in the centre of the pitch. Elsewhere, Theo Walcott has had a change in fortune over the past month, with a goal and one assist over the last four games.

The form of Alex Iwobi in this time has also kept Gylfi Sigurdsson out of the side. However, his display against Spurs suggested that they’re missing the Iceland international, and he should come back in. Although, the injury to Bernard and Richarlison’s use up top could keep Iwobi on the left side of the attack.

At the back is where Silva has endured most of his problems. The form of Michael Keane has been woeful this season, as opposed to Mason Holgate who has one goal, one assist and a clean sheet in his past four starts. Alongside Holgate will most likely be Yerry Mina, who remains Everton’s main man at the back.

At right back, Djibril Sidibe has begun to push Seamus Coleman out the side on a permanent basis.

The Frenchman has started the past three games and showed his worth with his 7.35 rating against West Ham United last month.

The left-back spot is Silva’s easiest spot to choose from, with Lucas Digne once again proving to be one of Everton’s best players.

His fabulous assist for Cenk Tosun’s goal against Spurs was his fourth of the league season, which matches his total for the last campaign.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Eric Dier should have been nowhere near Tottenham Hotspur’s defence at the weekend.

On the chalkboard

The former Sporting Lisbon ace is something of a Swiss army knife and has been deployed as a midfielder and a defender during his time in north London.

Throughout his Spurs career, he has played 122 times as a defensive midfielder and 67 times at centre-back.

However, this season he has been used somewhat sporadically. He has played 90 minutes four times: against Colchester United in the Carabao Cup, Brighton & Hove Albion and Sheffield United in the Premier League and Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League.

Spurs have won one of those games – the 4-0 thumping of a genuinely atrocious Red Star side in Serbia. They were beaten 3-0 by Brighton, drew 1-1 with the Blades and lost on penalties to Colchester.

One assured performance against some European whipping boys should not have led to his inclusion against Chris Wilder’s men.

Dier was actually booked in the second minute at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which subsequently cast something of a cloud over his performance, all while Toby Alderweireld watched on from the bench.

Per WhoScored, Dier did not win a single tackle and, while he made seven clearances, his pass success rate of 77% was significantly lower than Davinson Sanchez, his centre-back partner.

It is baffling, then, that Mauricio Pochettino picked him.

A poor footballer

Dier isn’t really good enough for Spurs anymore.

Per WhoScored, his best defensive attribute in the Premier League is his ability to clear the ball; offensively, he rarely shoots, averages 0.3 key passes and has a passing accuracy of under 75%.

Dier has been quite open about his struggles with injury and illness, but one has to feel that it has had a negative effect on his overall skill as a footballer.

There are better options at centre-back; Alderweireld, a player who can tackle, block, clear and pass the ball, was sat on the bench, watching on as Dier struggled through the game.

Jan Vertonghen, too, is currently injured but as soon as he comes back to full fitness, he has to be back in the starting XI.

In midfield too, Moussa Sissoko and Tanguy Ndomble are simply far more mobile and dynamic, while Harry Winks offers far superior retention of possession, completing 91% of his Premier League passes this season.

Either way, Dier is no longer a viable option for manager Pochettino and the longer he keeps playing him, the less likely Spurs are to return to winning ways.

Tottenham Hotspur are embarking on a new era with Jose Mourinho at the helm.

And it will definitely be interesting to see what kind of changes does the Special One enforce now that he has officially replaced the sacked Mauricio Pochettino at the club.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

According to The Independent, the Portuguese manager has his sights set on two players he would like to bring in the near future: Sporting Lisbon’s Bruno Fernandes and Benfica’s Ruben Dias – both Portugal internationals.

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Mourinho seems to be a fan of both players and feels they would make for quite strong reinforcements, and judging by the recent activity on social media and Twitter, many of Spurs fans seem to agree with their new boss.

Loads of them were drooling over both players, calling them sensational and unreal as well.

It seems that new boss Mourinho would make quite a lot of them happy if he was able to land the aforementioned duo.

You can see some of the fans’ reactions and replies down in the collection of tweets below.

Check them out…

Leeds United loanee Jack Harrison has been making waves at Elland Road this season, so much so that it should be an absolute must to clinch him permanently in the summer…

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What’s he said?

Reliable Whites scribe Beren Cross has been giving out his reviews of the campaign so far for each member of Marcelo Bielsa’s league-leading side.

There have been many highlights amongst the current Leeds crop; Kalvin Phillips who is touted for homegrown international stardom, and the relentless and durable utility man Stuart Dallas are just two names you could tout for ‘Player of the Season’.

But what about City loan star Harrison? This is what Cross had to say about him in a recent column, he said:

“Eight out of ten.

“Picked up a nine out of 10 in a losing team at Emirates Stadium in January. An outrageous showing against the Premier League’s elite.

“Can still frustrate and go missing, but in the main Harrison has been a tireless, gifted outlet down the left wing for Bielsa’s Leeds.

“Has the engine to do the job of two players and the flair to embarrass opponents. End product is slowly being added to the flicks and tricks.”

Beren Cross, LeedsLive.

£8m bargain

The 23-year-old has been an influential member of Bielsa’s attack, contributing five goals and seven assists from 37 Championship starts, per WhoScored, and he’s also been averaging 2.1 key passes, 1.9 dribbles and 1.7 shots each game this term.

He’s particularly come on leaps and bounds before the suspension to the division, managing a match rating of at least 7.00 in each of his last four outings, the highlight being a 8.97 against Hull City where he ran the show.

Harrison racked up a massive six dribbles, four key passes, three shots and even three interceptions as Leeds won 4-0.

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According to the Manchester Evening News, Pep Guardiola’s City are willing to sell the ace for £8m this summer and this is something that Bielsa needs to do, irrespective of the division they find themselves in.

As Cross eludes to, Harrison put in an “outrageous” display against Arsenal in the FA Cup, which only goes to show his possible credentials in the top-flight, thus making him even more of a must in the second tier.

Leeds must do everything in their power to land the winger on a permanent basis ahead of next season – £8m is an absolute snip, considering.

Call yourself a Leeds expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

AND in other news, Rarely-seen Leeds man tipped to make PL impact…

Everton fans have revealed the players they did not like seeing leaving the club over recent times with names such as Gary Speed and Duncan Ferguson being mentioned.

With football at a standstill due to current events, Toffees fans have been busy of late taking part in various club polls.

Reacting to a latest question from fan account @thetoffees_com, who asked: “Which player leaving the club hurt you the most?” – fans selected some of the club’s favoured former stars.

Duncan Ferguson was one of the most mentioned names by fans, having left Goodison Park in 1998 for Newcastle United, the Scottish striker left behind a successful five year spell with Everton.

Returning to the club in 2000, Ferguson would have a further six years at the club before taking up a coaching role which would eventually see him named caretaker manager for four games in December.

Former midfielder Speed joined Everton from Leeds United in 1996, but he would join Ferguson in making a move to Newcastle, a move that would see his perform to a very high standard, making 265 appearances for the Magpies.

Aside from Ferguson and Speed, Wayne Rooney was another name mentioned, having left Merseyside during the younger years of his career for Manchester United.

Below are just some of the fan responses:

Everton fans, which departure hurt you the most? Let us know below…

Leeds United’s decision to pass on the youthful talents of Oliver McBurnie back in 2010 has turned out to be an absolutely mindless piece of business.

The 6 foot 2 forward failed to impress whilst on the books at Elland Road as an academy product where he played alongside the likes of Lewie Coyle and Tyler Denton, who too have moved on from the west Yorkshire outfit.

McBurnie was released by the club at U14 level in 2010, and ultimately, he hasn’t looked back since.

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He found himself down in League One at nearby Bradford by 2013 where he had to endure a gruelling spell in non-league football at Chester, but this would have only shaped him to become the top-flight star he is today.

The frontman would go on to sign for United’s Championship rivals Swansea City for a measly £250k in 2015, but how has he fared since then?

Where is McBurnie now?

Well following a 24-goal campaign at the Liberty Stadium, McBurnie attracted the interest of the Premier League, which is where he finds himself today.

He joined Sheffield United in a whopping £20m deal in the summer and has become a frequent presence in leading the line for Chris Wilder.

McBurnie has made 26 appearances in the big time this term, scoring four goals, including a strike against Manchester United – a team he once featured for in the Milk Cup, three years after his Leeds exit.

The striker has been averaging 1.5 shots, 1.2 clearances and one tackle per game, via WhoScored, so he’s been having an influence at either end of the pitch with the Blades sat contending for Europe in seventh place, just two points behind the top five.

But it’s not just Bramall Lane that has seen his exploits first hand this campaign as he’s managed to earn nine caps for his national team, Scotland – starting two of their Euro 2020 qualifiers.

With McBurnie arguably surpassing his £20m value in the Premier League, Leeds have undoubtedly missed out on a massive opportunity. Not just because of his goalscoring prowess, but such figures would have landed the club some lucrative finances.

AND in other news, Phil Hay names Leeds’ PRICETAG for STAR midfielder Kalvin Phillips…

A number of Manchester City fans have voiced their dissatisfaction at the club’s reported planned tribute to David Silva.

As reported in the Daily Mail and shared on Twitter via @City_Xtra, it is understood that the Spaniard will be honoured for 10 years of service to the club after his departure this summer with a mosaic at the club’s training ground.

The 34-year-old came to the Etihad Stadium from Valencia in a £24m deal in 2010 and has gone on to make 424 appearances for Manchester City, with 74 goals and 137 assists to his name. He has won 13 trophies in his decade at the club, including four Premier League titles and five League Cups.

Indeed, such is Silva’s standing within English football that, when he announced last summer that he was to leave Manchester City in 2020, he received glowing plaudits not just from his own club’s supporters but from some rival fans (as per Daily Mail) as well. He was also hailed by Ally McCoist on talkSPORT as one of the best imports in Premier League history.

These City fans on Twitter feel that a mosaic at the club’s training campus is meagre recognition of the midfielder’s service to the shirt, with one supporter calling for the Etihad Stadium to be renamed in his honour:

Man City fans, do you feel that a mosaic is inadequate recognition for what Silva has brought to the club? Comment below with your views!

A number of Manchester City fans have reacted to a transfer report linking them with a move for Fulham teenager Cody Drameh.

As noted by @City_Chief on Twitter, The Mirror reported that the Premier League champions are tracking the 18-year-old right-back as a potential signing for the future, viewing him as an ideal player to boost their home-grown quota.

According to The Mirror, Drameh is regarded as one of the London club’s brightest prospects and has also attracted the attention of Liverpool and Leeds. The youngster has yet to feature for Fulham’s first team but has stood out at Premier League 2 level for their under-23 side, with a goal and seven assists this season (as per TransferMarkt).

If he were to come to the Etihad, he would have Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo ahead of him in the right-back queue, while Manchester City have also been linked with a potential summer move for Barcelona’s Nelson Semedo (Sport via Sport Witness) to add to their options in that position.

These City fans on Twitter gave their views on the transfer reports involving Drameh, with some perplexed as to why the club have been linked with another right-back:

Man City fans, do you think the right-back area needs strengthening and would Drameh be an ideal purchase in that regard? Comment below with your views!

Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is set to give his squad two tests within 24 hours ahead of the Premier League clash with Manchester United, according to an exclusive from football.london.

Football correspondent Alasdair Gold revealed Mourinho has organised back-to-back friendly matches, as Spurs will face Norwich City on Friday, before making a quick turnaround to play Reading a day later.

The Portuguese is keen to ensure as many players as possible are fit and ready to line up against the Red Devils next week.

As a result, this latest development could be bad news for Tottenham talisman Harry Kane.

Before the pandemic brought the Premier League to an abrupt halt, the Lilywhites had suffered from a terrible slump in form, dropping to eighth in the table, four points behind United.

It is fair to say Mourinho has been plagued by constant setbacks, as Spurs have been hit by a number of injuries over the course of the season so far, with Kane, Son Heung-min, Steven Bergwijn and Moussa Sissoko all spending lengthy spells on the sidelines.

As it turns out, the COVID-19 crisis has arguably given the club an unexpected bonus, as the players have recovered from injury before football resumes later this month.

However, former Spurs star Paul Robinson has urged Mourinho to tread carefully with Kane, and the veteran has suggested he should not be rushed back into action ahead of a busy schedule.

Although the Portuguese will probably rotate the players for the two friendlies, questions still remain over Kane’s fitness levels.

Indeed, it is worth pointing out the 26-year-old has not played a competitive match for almost six months after sustaining a hamstring injury against Southampton on New Year’s Day.

While the England international has insisted he is eager to get back on the pitch, Mourinho must tread with caution, as Kane runs the risk of suffering from fatigue.

Ultimately, the decision lies with the manager, but playing every few days could be detrimental to both the player and the club if he is unable to cope with the physical demands of Premier League football.

Tottenham fans, are you concerned about Harry Kane’s fitness heading into Project Restart? Let us know down below!

The proposed takeover of Newcastle United has been put into doubt by David Sugden, director of corporate affairs at the beIN Media Group, after he claimed that if Saudi Arabia secured a place in English football’s top table, it would be like “letting the fox into the hen house”.

The company’s response to the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) report on the Middle Eastern country’s protection of intellectual property rights was published by the Financial Times as the outlet explained why the piracy ruling from the body raised a new doubt over whether the prospective deal between Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-led group and current club owner Mike Ashley would still be approved by the Premier League.

Sophie Jordan, general counsel at beIN Media Group, also added her tuppence worth into the ruling by claiming that Qatar’s accusations of the Kingdom were “not allegations” and she described the WTO as “one of the most important international tribunals” as they made their decision on the accusations against the Saudis.

Indeed, the crown prince of the country and head of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is one of the main front runners in trying to get the £300m bid over the line alongside businesswoman and head of PCP Capital Partners Staveley as well as the billionaire Reuben brothers, who are based in London.

However, due to MBS’s associations with Saudi Arabia, in addition to the pirate television channel beoutQ – which broadcasts and streams English top flight games illegally – also being accused of being associated with the country, the Premier League now have a big decision to make as to whether they should approve of the takeover at St. James’ Park given the findings.

Geordies, are you worried that the takeover won’t go through? Comment below with your views!