Sheffield Wednesday lost for the fourth successive time on Saturday, this time thrashed 4-0 away to English Championship play-off hopefuls Bristol City.
Inspired by a Bobby Reid hat-trick, the Robins were far too strong for Jos Luhukay’s struggling Owls side, who looked every bit the relegation candidates that fans fear they are.
Still seven points ahead of the bottom three with 11 games to play, Wednesday need to start picking up positive results consistently if they’re to keep their heads clear of trouble.
Fans were left fuming with the result and manner of performance, aiming particular criticism at defender Liam Palmer, a player who failed to adequately deal with the City attack across the 90 minutes.
It was the player’s first start in the league since 10th February and supporters have made it clear they don’t want to see him get a regular game in the closing stages of the season.
When you take a look at the home and away Premier League tables so far this season ahead of Everton’s trip to face Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday, it is clear to see why the Toffees are currently in ninth position and six points behind seventh-place Burnley with eight matches of the season remaining.
The Merseyside outfit would have been aiming to compete for the top four spots before the campaign got underway considering the money they spent during the summer transfer window, and having comfortably secured a seventh-place finish under Ronald Koeman last term.
They currently have the seventh-best home record in the Premier League with 29 points from their 15 matches, and while it isn’t perfect, if they had come close to replicating that on the road then they would be above sixth-place Arsenal and in a similar position to fifth-place Chelsea.
However, they have instead taken just eight points on their travels and won just once in 15 fixtures, and that is one of the main reasons why their season has been so disappointing.
Koeman was fired at the end of October following a disastrous start to the 2017/18 campaign which had seen them on the brink of exiting the Champions League, as well as hovering above the relegation zone in the top flight with summer additions like Davy Klaassen and Sandro Ramirez struggling to shine.
Fast forward to end of November when Sam Allardyce replaced caretaker manager David Unsworth and things instantly improved, with the Toffees looking stronger in defence and picking up 10 points from a possible 12 in the 63-year-old first four Premier League matches in charge at Goodison Park.
There was a marked improvement away from home too with draws against Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion and their maiden victory against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, but things went downhill from December 30 onwards.
Six straight away defeats in all competitions have followed, including 4-0 and 5-1 thrashings against Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal respectively.
It has been a completely different story at home however, with a 2-0 loss against Manchester United being followed by the Merseyside outfit once again taking 10 points from the last 12 available on their own patch.
That run has included relatively comfortable 2-1, 3-1 and 2-0 successes against Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion respectively, with the likes of Theo Walcott and Gylfi Sigurdsson impressing far more there than they have on the road.
So why have things been so different home and away for Everton under Allardyce in 2018?
Well, the former England boss believes it is a mental problem and he says his players have undergone psychological therapy in order to try and turn their fortunes around.
While this and a general lack of confidence may be partly to blame seeing as they have only one win in 15, at the end of the day it is just another pitch with two goals at either end and it can’t solely be blamed on mental issues.
The fact that they took the lead against Burnley before eventually losing 2-1 earlier this month would make an argument against this point, as the advantage should have given the players a big lift on the pitch.
Of course, them knowing how vulnerable they have been on the road would also have played on their minds, but Allardyce must take some of the blame for many of his decisions too.
Against Tottenham in January, he lined up with an attacking XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Yannick Bolasie, Wayne Rooney and Gylfi Sigurdsson supporting new boy Cenk Tosun on his full debut.
It was tactically naïve from the experienced Allardyce, who divided the opinions of the fans after the game, against an in-form Spurs side who ripped them to shreds, but most confusingly for the visitors was the fact that they failed to muster a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes considering the line-up and individuals they had on the pitch.
It suggested that the players were confused at how the 63-year-old wanted them to play, and he perhaps should have put more bodies in the central midfield area so they weren’t open so defensively and had more control of the ball seeing as they made little impact in the final third.
It also probably wasn’t the best idea to give a player that was new to the Premier League his full debut in such a tough game.
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The former England manager didn’t learn his lesson against Arsenal three weeks later though, beginning with a 3-4-3 formation with three centre-backs and just two players in the middle of the park, which saw them trail 4-0 after 37 minutes.
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They were certainly better in the second half following a change of tactics, but it is something that Allardyce hasn’t quite got right on more than one occasion, and perhaps has shown up his limitations both as a manager and as the man that can lead Everton forward in the future.
Chopping and changing formations and personnel on the road doesn’t work in terms of consistency, and having been in charge since November he should have worked out the system that suits the individuals and the team best on their travels, but he has failed to do so.
That said, their decent home record may suggest to some that he deserves an opportunity to get things right on the road, and if he does the Merseyside outfit could be quite a force next term.
In conclusion, yes the mentality of the players is clearly an issue, but Allardyce must shoulder a fair chunk of the blame as well from a tactical and motivational point of view, and he will be hoping to put an end to the dire run against a struggling Stoke on Saturday.
Throughout the season, rumours have been rife that Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane.
The England international has been in stellar form this season, scoring 35 goals in all competitions.
At the end of 2017, he became Europe’s highest goalscorer in the calendar year having netted 53 for club and country, surpassing the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Kane has also gone beyond 100 Premier League goals, but an ankle injury has stopped him in his tracks.
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With the summer transfer window approaching, some fans may be feeling nervous about the striker’s future, but according to the latest reports, interest from Real Madrid may have cooled.
AS reports that chiefs at the Spanish club are concerned that Kane’s ‘introverted’ personality will cause him to struggle with the demands of playing at the Bernabeu.
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The report claims that manager Zinedine Zidane is now turning his attention to Bayern Munich hitman Robert Lewandowski.
Tottenham fans have been reacting to these reports on Twitter.
As reported by The Sun, Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Swansea City defender Alfie Mawson this summer.
What’s the story?
Spurs’ transfer policy remains pretty simple despite their growing ambitions – sign young talent not yet established at the most elite clubs around Europe and develop them into players capable of competing against the continent’s best.
It’s likely to be the approach again this summer as they prepare to make additions that can help them compete for the English Premier League title next season.
One player they’re looking at is Swansea City’s impressive central defender Alfie Mawson.
That’s according to The Sun, who say the player could be worth more than £25m when the transfer window opens.
Is he the right defender to help enhance Mauricio Pochettino’s squad?
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Can he make the step up?
It’s always difficult to assess whether a player has what it takes to cope with the pressure of a move to one of England’s big six teams, but Mawson’s recent form at least demonstrates he is capable of going up against some of the Premier League’s best when the pressure is on.
He’s been integral to their resurgence under Carlos Carvalhal, helping the Welsh side keep three clean sheets since the turn of the year, most impressively against Liverpool back in January, a match that Mawson also scored in.
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Also produce solid performances against the likes of Leicester, Burnley and West Ham, Mawson is perform well against teams up and down the division.
With the ball-playing abilities to step out of defence, he could fit in well at Tottenham and on the brink of his first England cap is a player with enormous potential at 24 years old.
Patrice Evra’s last season was his worst personally and the club’s worst as well; the abomination under David Moyes.
Yet, there is no doubt that he is still held in very high regard among the Old Trafford fanbase and there was genuine excitement in some quarters when he raised the prospect of returning to the club last year.
The left-back, now valued at £900k by Transfermarkt, is currently reunited with Moyes at West Ham United where the pair are now battling relegation.
Despite the intensity of the situation – on and off the pitch – at the London Stadium, Evra has taken some time out to share some cheer over Easter with ill children at nearby Newham Hospital.
Hammers fans might be slightly concerned by the distraction at a time of intense pressure but Man United fans absolutely lapped it up and enjoyed the reminder of what they were missing at their club.
We’ve taken a closer look at the best of the reaction…
Anthony Martial’s Manchester United career has had its highs and lows since the attacker’s switch from Monaco in 2015.
The Frenchman is a big favourite within the club’s fanbase, but he is yet to fully convince manager Jose Mourinho.
The forward player is yet to cement a regular spot in the Red Devils team having been restricted to 16 Premier League games.
Martial has made a further 10 outings from the bench in the top flight, and so far this season has netted 11 goals and created seven assists in all competitions.
The lack of game time could become a crucial factor in the Frenchman’s future, with reports emerging that the 22-year-old is heading for the exit door.
According to RMC Sport, Martial has turned down a new contract offered to him at Old Trafford, which could potentially attract interest from other clubs.
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Manchester City fans have been discussing whether the club should make a move for the attacker, despite the fact that he plays for their arch rivals.
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Leeds fans have been discussing the future of Pierre-Michel Lasogga, and it seems like a pretty even split amongst fans.
When Lasogga joined Leeds last summer, it seemed like the club had come as close as possible to replacing Chris Wood.
The German got off to an electrifying start at Elland Road, scoring two and assisting two on his debut, but things quickly turned sour for the big German.
After a thigh injury in November, Lasogga managed just two goals in eight league games on his return.
He did score three games in a row during February, but he hasn’t found the net since then and fans are growing tired of his languid style.
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The 26 year-old is of course only at the club on loan from Hamburg, and fans are debating whether they should make the move permanent.
On one hand, Lasogga clearly knows where the back of the net is, and he is a much better finisher than the likes of Caleb Ekuban and Jay-Roy Grot.
However, the German has been downright lazy in recent months, and there is just no place for that in a league as tough as the Championship.
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Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
According to reports, Everton are lining up a summer swoop for red hot Angers striker Karl Toko Ekambi.
What’s the word?
Everton are one of a number of clubs pursuing the striker sensation Ekambi, with Newcastle and Brighton also interested in bringing the Cameroon international to the Premier League.
Ekambi has scored 17 league goals in 34 appearances for Angers this season, an extremely impressive hit rate for a striker in a team that has only managed 39 goals as a whole.
The report claims the three Premier League clubs will battle it out for the £20million move, with Spanish side Villarreal also interested.
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Ekambi for Everton?
Valued at €12m (£10.5m) by Transfermarkt, Ekambi has been nothing short of sensational for Angers this season, adding five assists to his 17 goals.
The 25 year-old is direct and dangerous with the ball at his feet, and seems to have found a clinical touch in front of goal as he enters his prime.
Averaging 1.7 dribbles per game, 2.7 shots and 1.3 key passes, it is perhaps not surprising he has managed such impressive numbers in front of goal this season.
The pacey striker also has 17 Cameroon caps, in which has found the net twice.
While Ekambi is absolutely not the finish product, £20m for a player in the form he is in worth the risk, and his ability to play on the wing as well as up front would give Everton plenty of options.
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Everton are much closer to the finished product of a squad than Brighton or Newcastle, so he would have a much better chance of hitting the ground running at Goodison.
If Gylfi Sigurdsson can find his creative form when he returns from injury Ekambi could be an instant hit on Merseyside, and form a super partnership with Cenk Tosun.
Everton fans, would you back a summer swoop for Ekambi? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
As reported by The Sun, Callum McGregor has emerged as a summer transfer target for two English Premier League sides.
What’s the story?
McGregor has emerged as one of the most important players at the Hoops in recent years, rising from bit part fringe player to a trusted member of Brendan Rodgers squad.
Inevitable then that he would be linked with a move away from Glasgow ahead of the summer transfer window.
The Sun report he is a £10m target for both Bournemouth and Watford this summer.
The paper reckon Cherries boss Eddie Howe is a big fan while the Hornets have been scouting him through former Hoops striker Tommy Johnson.
With three years left on his contract at Celtic Park though, is he likely to be leaving his boyhood heroes anytime soon?
Will he move to the Premier League?
With 11 goals and eight assists this season, McGregor has played a massive part in securing the club’s seventh successive Scottish Premiership title.
With competition for midfield fierce at the Hoops, the Scotland international holds his own with regular starts and appearances, showing huge improvement under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers over the last two seasons.
Fair to say then that he’s likely good enough to play Premier League football for a lower to mid-table side and at the age of 24, has plenty of room to improve even further.
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The problem for buying clubs is that he seems immensely happy at the Hoops, who in turn appear hugely pleased with his progress too. It’s important for the club to keep a Scottish core to their side and McGregor is likely to be a central part of that for years to come, especially with players like Scott Brown at the tail-end of their careers.
This summer seems far too early to entertain a move away and we’re likely to see the hard-working player stay at the club for now.
Fulham booked their spot in the Championship playoff final with a 2-0 win over Derby County in the second leg of their semi-final on Monday night.
Derby took a 1-0 lead into the second leg of their last-four tie, but goals from Ryan Sessegnon and Denis Odoi at Craven Cottage saw the capital outfit record a 2-1 aggregate success.
Sessegnon’s goal and indeed performance took a lot of the attention once again, but there is no question that Tom Cairney’s display in the middle of the park was a key contributor in the Cottagers advancing to the final.
Cairney has been strongly linked with a move away from Fulham, with Newcastle United and Leicester City among the Premier League clubs believed to be interested.
Both would have been watching the 27-year-old closely on Monday night, and it proved to be another fine performance from the midfielder.
Cairney, who is valued at £13.5m by transfermarkt.co.uk, managed two shots and three dribbles during his time on the field, but it was his use of the ball that made the biggest impression on the night.
Indeed, a pass success rate of 93%, coupled with 87 accurate passes and 108 touches are very impressive numbers for a central midfielder in a match of such magnitude.
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Derby did not make it easy for Cairney to find space, but the former Leeds United youngster was so calm in possession, and a lot of Fulham’s good work went through the midfielder.
Fulham will now be bidding to win the Championship playoff final, and they will surely need to secure Premier League promotion this season to stand any chance of keeping one of the most talented players outside of the top flight.