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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.

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.

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Since Simon Grayson left Leeds United in February of 2012 after four years at the club. Hardly a long-serving manager but in comparison with the more recent managers at Leeds, he’s a real veteran.

The Whites have gone through four permanent managers who have all failed to to be in charge for more than 10 games – quite a tragic record.

Darko Milanic is the latest departure from Elland Road and the Slovenian was the club’s first non-English manager since Gary McAllister in 2008. Milanic was given only six games in charge of Leeds United, which is not enough time for anyone to make a substantial impact. He may have failed to win any of his six and may therefore have not been the correct choice, but it’s still farcical – but then again what would you expect from the modern day Leeds United?

The glory days have long since departed Elland Road. But despite this, the club is still considered to be ‘big’ in stature and so the Whites’ are still an attractive proposition for rich foreign businessmen looking to make an investment. They believe as much as we believe that the return to the top is surely inevitable for Leeds United – yet still the wait continues.

Leeds’ current owner Massimo Cellino has overseen three manager departures since he became owner in April – not exactly a masterclass in patience. When you consider that Cellino would have had a large part to say about choosing these managers and then he would have had a similar part to play in only allowing them a short stay with the club. An attitude much like a child in a toy shop. He picks one then discards almost immediately when it’s not as good as his imagined it would be – a ridiculous attitude for an owner of a football club.

You simply cannot expect to sign a manager, give him little-to-no resources to change anything and then on top of that produce the goods in the space of less than ten matches. If that’s his way of doing things he no longer deserves to be in charge of any football club, let alone a popular club with a fan base like Leeds.

The Yorkshire based club have an incredible fan base who would no doubt hold their own in the Premier League. Of course it’s ludicrous to say that a set of fans deserve to be in the Premier League but they certainly deserve some consistency – something which they may have thought they had with Brian McDermott before he was sent packing after just over a year in charge. McDermott was looking to build, and although Leeds have an already impressive set of foundations, it’s a slow and steady process if it’s to be done right.

Cellino has previous too – in his previous ownership of a football club with Cagliari he dismissed 36 managers in 22 years – certainly a Gung-ho approach – if you don’t succeed as well as he imagined you’ll be lucky to reach 10 games in charge. It would be nice for him to make a calculated decision and stick by his decision for a decent amount of time or he could at least sell up to someone who isn’t favourable of a kamikaze style.

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Leeds United supporters deserve better but unless he strikes lucky, they won’t get it whilst under the guidance of Massimo Cellino.

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Growing up, I had the pleasure of playing both football and rugby union at a high, competitive level. Both very different sports with completely opposite types of people who both watch and play the sports.

It was by playing these two very different sports every Saturday and Sunday that enabled me to learn and recognise how far apart each game is in terms of respect, competitiveness and sportsmanship. It is at grassroots level where traits that become ‘part-and-parcel’ of the game are learned, and that’s where football seems to be getting it all wrong.

Firstly, respect for the officials is extremely important in rugby. The referee is known as ‘sir’ and the captains of each side are the only ones allowed to speak to him during the 80 minutes, while there are no prizes for guessing what a football referee is addressed as during his 90 minutes of officiating.

However, it is not just the players who are taught to show respect to the referee in rugby. The supporters, or parents in the case of grassroots rugby, are also encouraged to show the same amount of respect. No swearing, no arguing with decisions, no name-calling, and that’s how it should be.

I remember, during one game of rugby against a bitter rival, a parent of one of my newest team mates questioned a refereeing decision and began an obscene rant towards the man in the middle. The game was stopped by the referee and, without any hesitation, he walked over to said parent, showed him a red card and ordered him to sit in the club house for the remainder of the game. Needless to say, we never saw his child again and were told that he had decided to play Sunday league football instead. He and his child can swear, fight and be disrespectful when ever they want now. How nice.

Secondly, the respect shown between both sets of fans are a world apart in football and rugby. In football parents will stand at opposite sides of the pitch and scream at each other and their the players, with every other word being a swear word.

In rugby, opposing fans/parents, mingle before during and after the game. At professional level, they sit together and enjoy the game and the banter together. It’s the word ‘together’ that says a lot about how different these sports are in this respect. Football fans are only together when they are with their own fans hounding opposing fans from across a wall of policemen. Rugby fans are together when they are enjoying a few pints with each other, exchanging light hearted banter and sharing their love for the sport no matter which team they support.

Additionally, there seems to be a very different pain threshold between footballers and rugby players. Footballers fall over a ball or get kicked in the ankle and they are rolling around in absolute agony. Rugby players run at each other at full pace, bounce off each other and then just get up and carry on. Some will have their fingers and noses broken during a game and they will continue playing without any complaint.

People will argue that it’s like that due to the nature of how each game is played, but we must not forget that the professionals who play these sports are all fully grown men all the same. Just how pathetic must these footballers feel when they see themselves rolling ar0und the floor in absolute agony when, in reality, they’ve simply been shoulder barged off the ball? We all know it’s an attempt to influence the referee in to punishing the opposing player but, simply, it’s embarrassing.

Of course, another thing football could learn from rugby is the use of a video official, which is something that has been of increased debate over the years and has been partly put in place with the imminent introduction of goal line technology. A pat on the back for football for that one at least.

I think the main thing I am trying to get at with this post is that, if respect and sportsmanship is not adopted and endorsed at grassroots level then the sport will suffer at all levels all the way up to the highest stage.

I have always loved football and I always will do. But, I owe my parents a lot for introducing me to rugby from such an early age and giving me the opportunity see what sport really should be like.

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But there’s no reason why football can’t be the same. All it needs is for parents and coaches a like to take a leaf out of rugby’s book and think “Do you know what? Rugby does it so much better than us, let’s do it their way from now on.”

Only then will we see a big change in football, it’s culture and the way it is played because, at the moment, the old saying “Football is a gentleman’s sport playing by hooligans, Rugby is hooligan’s sport played by gentleman” could not be more true.

What do you think? Does football still have so much to learn and can it use rugby as a role model? Leave your comments below.

Crystal Palace supporters in the Transfer Tavern are eagerly anticipating the 2018/19 Premier League season, what with their team seeking to improve upon their solid 11th place finish last time round.

The Eagles were in serious trouble very early on in the campaign after losing their first seven league games, all of which without scoring, although the appointment of former England chief Roy Hodgson certainly changed their fortunes. The 70-year-old, drafted in as Frank de Boer’s replacement just four games into the season, may well have lost his first three matches in charge, although he then led the London club to 44 points from their last 31 Premier League games to eventually end up 11 points clear of the bottom three.

As such, there are many optimistic and expectant Palace fans in the Tavern at present, several of whom are hoping that their team can replicate the transfer masterstroke of midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek this summer.

And many reckon that fellow Chelsea youngster Jeremie Boga, valued at £2.25 million by Transfermarkt, should be the one they target in a bid to repeat the Loftus-Cheek success story.

Ultimately, England international Loftus-Cheek played a crucial role in helping to steer the Eagles away from the bottom three last season, with the 22-year-old netting twice and laying on four assists in all competitions for the London-based outfit.

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And while those figures are hardly ground-breaking, much of what good Hodgson’s side did in the final third of the pitch came through the Englishman, who was subsequently rewarded for his efforts by England manager Gareth Southgate, who included him in his 23-man squad for this summer’s World Cup.

And while Loftus-Cheek had appeared fleetingly for Chelsea prior to his move to Selhurst Park, he certainly wasn’t a household name, much like Blues teammate Boga, who will also be waiting for his moment to shine after a few loan spells in his career to date.

The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Birmingham City and made 31 Championship appearances for the second tier strugglers, while he has also spent time on loan at Rennes and Granada in his bid to accumulate much-needed first team experience.

But he is clearly highly-rated by the Chelsea hierarchy given that he appeared in the opening game of their Premier League season last term, and after seeing the rise of Loftus-Cheek at Palace last season, they may feel that Boga needs a move of that ilk to realise his potential.

And with Palace likely to be eyeing further reinforcements in the attacking third of the pitch, what with Andros Townsend one man in particular that could move away, the 21-year-old Ivory Coast international could be someone they target.

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Obviously, there will be some concerns among our resident Palace fans that Boga has little experience of Premier League football, but Loftus-Cheek was hardly a Blues regular, while the meteoric rise of Andreas Christiansen in the Chelsea first team suggests that there is genuine quality to come out of the Blues ranks.

Thus, the Eagles should seek to replicate the transfer masterstroke of Loftus-Cheek by moving for his Chelsea teammate Boga this summer.

Palace fans… what do you think? Let us know!

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.

They took to Twitter to share their frustrations…

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This Saturday Queen’s Park Rangers travel to Southampton in the Premier League.

When the final whistle blows on that game QPR could be languished at the bottom of the table and, in some people’s view, a good bet to go down. What a difference almost 40 years make. This week in 1975, QPR were riding high in the old First Division.

By the end of the 75/76 season the Hoops would claim second spot (just two points off being crowned champions) behind Liverpool and above Manchester United. How Rangers manager Harry Redknapp must wish he could turn back the clock.

That season the likes of Derby County, Ipswich Town, Birmingham City and Sheffield United (relegated to Division Two for the 76/77 season) were all plying their trade in the top flight.

The ways things are in game today’s game, where only a handful of moneyed clubs can guarantee remaining at the apex of English football, it’s probable that the likes of Derby and Co. would face a battle to stay in the Premier League; always assuming they have the financial wherewithal to reach that pinnacle in the first place.

Which is exactly the point Harry was making recently when he said: “Fair play would be everyone having £30m a year to spend.”

The sentiment behind that comment was; hasn’t football got too big, financially speaking, for its boots..? Not according to all those top clubs who are doing very nicely thank you very much, from this cash cow.

And I’m sure fans of those teams with big backers, with even bigger wallets, would not wish their club’s to forsake the chance of glory by reigning in their spending. Just ask the followers of Manchester’s Reds.

In the QPR squad who were runners up in the mid-70s were the likes of goalkeeper Phil Parkes, midfielder Gerry Francis and flamboyant forward Stan Bowles.

In those days this small, unfashionable club took English football by storm and is still remembered fondly by Hoops fans of a certain age.

Would the club have been able to hang on to such mercurial talent today or would they have been sold to balance the books? How much would they fetch in todays over inflated market?

English football is a global business with lucrative markets spread across the world – one reason why the Premier League was set up in the first place.

But in all this what damage is being done to those clubs further down the football pyramid?

And before fans of those elite clubs say “we are here to stay” I would simply say; Leeds United.

In all of this we should be careful for what we wish for, or there could be tears before the final whistle.

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@RichardBowdery

Richard Bowdery writes for BobbyFC, the football website with a retro twist. www.BobbyFC.com

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Last October I was lucky enough to visit Stamford Bridge and bask in the unfamiliar glow of football’s elite, as Chelsea cruised to a 4-1 demolition of Norwich City. These were certainly happier times for Blues fans, but that didn’t mean the team and indeed the manager were devoid of criticism.

As Grant Holt fired in the opening goal of the game, the crowd reacted as if he’d just consigned the club to relegation. A cascade of abuse broke the initial wave of silence, which was a strange response considering Chelsea had been in complete control and were surely only moments away from finding an equaliser.

Now, before I attract the same batch of insults, I remain convinced this is a familiar theme right across the Premier League, especially among fans that are accustomed to success. However, it does strike me that an overwhelming number of people demand perfection as standard and therefore place their expectations on an unattainable plinth.

It stands to good reason that once you’ve witnessed something utterly incredible, take Arsenal’s invincible season or Chelsea’s Champions League triumph, it’s almost impossible for anything else to resemble that same euphoric feeling. Of course, no one expected Arsenal’s silverware drought to last this long or Chelsea to crash out in this year’s group stages, but it’s not unusual for surreal highs to be swiftly followed by all-time lows.

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In the past, Liverpool fans have found themselves tainted with a reputation for harbouring unrealistic expectations, thanks largely to their decorated history. Gerard Houllier has even previously claimed their craving for former glories has mutated into an unrelenting obsession.

“There is too much expectation at Liverpool – they expect you to win the Champions League every year.

But the obsession is the league. Rafa finished second and I finished second once but, for all the cups we won, they wanted us to win the league.” (This Is Anfield)

Things do appear different on Merseyside these days, with fans now relaxed and composed, much like the patient build-up play installed under Brendan Rodgers. However, this also demostrates that winning on its own simply isn’t enough anymore, you have to win with style. Barcelona and indeed Spain have set standards at a worryingly high level, with scores of supporters oozing with jealousy as their own team struggles to replicate the same precision passing.

Perhaps fans are fully justified to expect more with each passing year. As ticket prices continue to soar it’s only fair to request that the enjoyment factor of watching football improves as well. It’s natural to expect world records to be smashed every four years at the Olympics, because it is advertised as the pinnacle of physical and mental strength. But if the Premier League wants to merit its title as the best in the world, surely it has to display a similar level of progression?

As a fan of Crystal Palace, I have experienced my fair share of elation and misery. We are the clichéd ‘yo-yo’ club, having been relegated a record four times after achieving promotion to the Premier League. We’ve endured administration on two separate occasions and repeatedly witnessed our most talented prospects poached by clubs with a bigger bank balance.

However, I feel eternally grateful that I get to watch my team on a weekly basis, having nearly faded from existence almost three years ago. The club may sit second in the table at the moment, but I won’t be calling for Ian Holloway’s head should the club fail to gain passage to the top flight.

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I find an increasing number of supporters take their club for granted and I almost pity the likes of Manchester United, because they are unlikely to ever experience the joy of snatching an unlikely last-minute equaliser, against a distinctly superior team. Likewise, now Manchester City have won their first title in 44 years, anything less this season – especially at the hands of Manchester United – will be considered a failure.

Many of you may argue that it’s the new breed of football owners that expect too much, unwilling to share the same tolerance levels as a lifelong supporter. However, when results go awry on the pitch, it is the reverberation of boos around the stadium that prompts the chairman to wield his axe. Unless you’re Roman Ambramovich of course, but no one appears capable of living up to his expectations.

Does the modern football fan expect too much? Leave your thoughts below.

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When Emre Can confirmed his move to Juventus earlier this week, it would have come as no surprise to Liverpool fans.

For months now, speculation has been rife that the German international was planning to leave Anfield.

The midfielder’s contract was due to expire this summer and he had no intention of penning fresh terms.

Now, Can will be plying his trade in Serie A for a club who have won the league title every season for the past seven years.

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Understandably, plenty of Liverpool fans have expressed disappointment in the 24-year-old opting against staying on Merseyside.

The majority, though, are relieved that the saga is now over and the Reds can focus on moving forward.

Before embarking on his new career in Turin, Can posted a farewell message to Liverpool and the fans via an Instagram video.

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Supporters have given mixed responses to the midfielder’s parting words, with some wishing him well and others still feeling bitter about his decision to leave.

Graeme Murty’s Rangers crave major silverware but it’s been a long time since there’s been a genuine title race in Scotland with Celtic romping to the last six league trophies.

Brendan Rodgers’ side produced one of the most dominant title wins yet last season, remaining unbeaten for the entire league campaign.

This season though they’ve dropped plenty of points and after another draw at the weekend, their seventh of the season, Rangers have moved to within nine points of the reigning champions with eleven games remaining.

With Aberdeen also looking to capitalise on any mistakes, Celtic trying to progress further in Europe and big matches between the trio ahead in the next few weeks, are we shaping up for an exciting end to the Scottish Premiership?

Our writers have had their say below…

Christy Malyan

No. With goal difference included, Celtic are essentially ten points ahead with just eleven games left to go, so for Aberdeen or Rangers to catch them, they’ll have to average a point more than Celtic per game to overtake them by the end of the season.

When Celtic have the best players and probably the best manager in the league, that’s an unassailable margin.

Perhaps if Rangers had started the season on the front foot rather than keeping Pedro Caixinha in the job, they might be giving Celtic a serious challenge right now but it’s just too late in the day to make a serious comeback.

Chris McMullan

Nine points might be the gap in the table between Rangers and Celtic, but the reality is that the real gap is much wider. The difference in quality between the two sides is marked, but more importantly, you get the feeling Celtic can step up if needed.

Perhaps Rangers should be hoping for Celtic to qualify for the next round of the Europa League at the expense of their own former conquerors from the 2008 UEFA Cup final, Zenit, on Thursday night. The further Celtic go in the competition, the more change the Gers have of a comeback, but those odds are very slim for a reason.

With two derbies to come there is at least some potential for this to get interesting – but win them both and then we can talk.

John McGinley

The chances of there being something of a title race in Scotland heading into the final few fixtures are greater this season than they have been for years, but you’d still have to consider Celtic heavy favourites.

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The matches away to Aberdeen and Rangers in the coming weeks will determine a lot and neither are easy for the Hoops. The trip to Pittodrie comes just days after a gruelling trip to Russia and Graeme Murty’s side are showing enough form right now for that match at Ibrox to be a well-contested affair.

Oddly it’s the run-of-the-mill matches with less at stake that seem to trip Celtic up, recent games against Kilmarnock and St Johnstone as an example, so if Brendan Rodgers can keep his team focused and motivated, they should win their seventh title in a row.

From David Beckham to Jamie Redknapp to Alex Song, many footballers are known as much for their style off the pitch, as their prowess on the pitch.

But what about the fans? Is it possible to look chic in the stands, when the temperatures hit sub-zero? Following London Fashion Week, League Cup sponsor and credit card company Capital One commissioned research to find out who are football’s most fashionable fans.

The survey revealed Manchester United fans are flying highest in the fashion stakes this season, with Merseyside rivals Liverpool in second place. Fans decided that Jose Mourinho would be equally at home walking the catwalk as prowling the dugout after voting the Chelsea boss as football’s most fashionable manager. They also named Liverpool new-boy Mario Balotelli as the Premier League’s most fashionable footballer.

Bum-bags topped the poll as the biggest football fashion faux pas on match day. The research also found that 57 per cent of the fans surveyed wore their club shirts when they went to watch football matches, showing a high level of unity and support for the clubs.

Capital One understands it can be hard to make a fashion statement at a match, so has teamed up with a panel of fashion gurus to come to the rescue of fans who are prone to scoring a fashion own goal or two. Two deserving fans will win a professional fashion make-over with 10 runners up each receiving £250-worth of Arcadia Group (Topshop, Topman, Burtons, BHS, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Outfit and Wallis) vouchers.

The expert panel, which includes style editor Charlie Parrish, football influencer and director at online youth broadcaster SBTV Liam Tootill, and renowned stylist Gary Moore, have joined forces to help make two lucky fans the talk of the terrace.

Liam said: “Having been to Old Trafford a few times on my travels, there’s no doubt that United fans are a fashionable bunch. However, be it socks and sandals, bum-bags or a high-vis jacket, football fans are guilty of the occasional fashion hiccup. It’s great to team up with Capital One to help fans tackle their wardrobe woes.”

To enter, fans simply need to tweet their football fashion faux pas photos to @CapitalOne_Cup using #FootballFashion #promo between Tuesday, September 23, 2014 – Friday, September 26, 2014. Terms and conditions apply.

Jason Carr, sponsorship manager at Capital One, said: “As an avid football follower myself I completely understand how fans get so caught up with displaying their love for their team through what they wear, that often all sense of fashion flies out of the window. So, hot on the heels of London Fashion Week, we are aiming to give those most in need of style guidance a helping hand in outwardly supporting their club but looking good at the same time.”

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For more information about the competition and T&Cs please got to www.capitalonecup.co.uk

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