Racing Post create new Grand National generator for football fans

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The biggest day of the year is almost here for horse-racing enthusiasts nationwide. No day in the horse-racing calendar attracts the level of hype which Aintree’s Grand National ritually evokes every year, and the 2019 instalment is absolutely no exception to the rule.

Punters will be studying the form guides and the history books ahead of the race, clinging on to every piece of vital information which could help them choose the winner.

However, the Racing Post have created a unique generator to help football fans make their selection.

It’s very simple. You select which football team you support, the celebrity who you would most like to see in charge of your club, and the player you consider the greatest of all time or, to the average social media user, the GOAT.

The generator then throws up your selection for you and details the expected odds.

For example, if you’re a Leicester City fan who wants Donald Trump to manage the club and considers Zinedine Zidane to be the greatest of all time, Folsom Blue at 66/1 is the horse for you.

You can find access to the generator here.

Best of luck!

Legend! Liverpool fans all highlight one moment from charity match

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Loads of Liverpool fans have been reacting to a legends game that took place at Anfield on Saturday, and they’re full of praise for Istanbul hero Jerzy Dudek.

Dudek gave six years of his career to Liverpool, but there’s only game that fans remember the 60-cap shot-stopper for.

His double save in extra-time of the 2005 Champions League final is perhaps the only thing more memorable than his crazy legs in the penalty shoot-out, and it’s no surprise he was drafted in for Saturday’s legends match.

The Reds took on a team comprised of AC Milan legends, winning 3-2 courtesy of a late winner from Steven Gerrard… sound familiar?

Robbie Fowler and Djibril Cisse had given the Liverpool legends a 2-0 lead but goals from Andrea Pirlo and Giuseppe Pancaro levelled things up.

Gerrard’s late winner would perhaps be the talk of the town if not for something Dudek did earlier in the match.

The 46 year-old forced the other 21 players on the pitch to wait for a moment while he collected a ball from behind the goal, stopping to play catch with members of the crowd.

You can see the wonderful gesture from Dudek here, and check out some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

More pulling power? Wolves fans discuss potential Europa League qualification

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If you told a Wolves fan at the start of the season they’d be in with a realistic chance of securing European football in their first season back in the Premier League they would have probably laughed in your face.

However, that is the now a realistic aim for the club, who can qualify for the Europa League if they win the FA Cup. Another route into Europe would be by finishing seventh and hoping Manchester City win the FA Cup instead.

Reacting to what the permutations are on Twitter, supporters shared mixed opinions, as some sceptics are not overly enthused by the prospect of a season in Europe.

One individual claimed three summer qualifying rounds could wreck their season whilst another said they’d rather have a few more years in the Premier League to establish themselves before securing qualification.

But one fan was excited by the pulling power the club could have if they were competing in Europe.

At the moment, Nuno Santo’s men are flying high in the table, sitting seventh after being promoted last term.

It has been a magnificent season which has seen them earn plaudits aplenty and, of course, reach the semi-finals of a major domestic trophy.

Here’s the best of the discussion concerning the prospect of qualifying for Europe…

Wahbi Khazri is now reportedly worth £13.8 million

One man who the Black Cats may now regret losing is Wahbi Khazri. 

The attacker has reached new heights since moving to France as he continues to impress at current club AS Saint-Etienne, having produced 14 goals and eight assists in 30 appearances.

And, the crazy thing is that his worth has more than doubled, according to CIES Football Observatory, with his value now standing at €16 million (£13.8 million).

Sunderland only sold the attacker for £6.3 million (as per Transfermarkt) back in the summer, but that was quite a good fee for the Wearside club to receive at the time as he completely flopped at the Stadium of Light. However, seeing that he’s now reportedly more than doubled his value may fill Stewart Donald with regret.

Fans certainly won’t have fond memories of the winger as he contributed towards the Black Cats’ downfall during their last couple of seasons in the Premier League. He offered absolutely nothing on the field most of the time and went on to produce very little during his time in England.

His first season at the club was hugely disappointing as he only managed to bag two goals in 14 appearances. And, the Tunisia international failed to help Sunderland avoid relegation back in the 2016-17 season as he somehow managed to disappoint even more, producing just one goal and one assist.

Jack Ross has certainly improved things this season and the players he currently has at his disposal are working towards getting the club back to where they belong, with Khazri now erased from the minds of supporters.

Sunderland fans, surely it must come as a shock to see Wahbi Khazri doing so well? Join the discussion by commenting down below! 

Welcome back: Nottingham Forest fans excited to see Figueiredo return to training

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It’s been a long road to recovery for Nottingham Forest defender Tobias Figueiredo but he could be about to make a comeback after posting a picture of himself in training on social media.

The Portuguese defender has been missing since last year so after making a reappearance on Twitter, fans are already dreaming about a return for the 25 year-old.

One supporter gave the centre back heavy praise, calling him the best defender at the club. Another spoke about how having him and Michael Dawson back could help the team challenge for promotion.

The Midlands club currently sit in 11th place, but are just three points off the play-off places going into the final few months of the campaign, and how special a return it would be for Figueiredo to aid his team’s surge towards the play-offs.

The defender played 13 times earlier in the season, impressing in the back line. However, he hasn’t been seen on the pitch since a 1-0 defeat to QPR before Christmas.

The 6 ft 2 man signed permanently for Forest back in the summer following a loan spell from Sporting Lisbon last season.

Here’s what some members of the City Ground faithful have been saying about the 25-year-old ahead of his return…

فيفا يعلن تصنيف المنتخبات لشهر أكتوبر.. تراجع مصر وتقدم الجزائر والمغرب

أعلن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “الفيفا” عن تصنيف المنتخبات خلال شهر أكتوبر الجاري، وذلك بعد خوض عددٍ من المباريات الودية خلال الأجندة الدولية الماضية.

وشهد التصنيف الجديد، تقدم منتخبي الجزائر والمغرب، فيما تراجع منتخب مصر في الترتيب.

طالع مستشهدًا بأداءه مع الأهلي.. فيفا يتوقع تألق محمد الشناوي في تصفيات كأس العالم 2022

وصعد المنتخب الجزائري خمس مراكز بعد فوزه وديًا على نيجيريا، وتعادله مع مكسيك ليقفز من المركز 35 عالميًا إلى المركز الثلاثين.

وفي الوقت ذاته، احتل المنتخب المغربي المركز الـ39 بعد تعادله مع الكونغو الديمقراطية وفوزٍ على السنغال وديًا.

وتراجع منتخب مصر مركزًا واحدًا ليحتل المرتبة 52، إذ لم يخوض أي مواجهات ودية خلال الأجندة الدولية، ليصبح ترتيب المنتخبات الافريقية، يتصدره المنتخب السنغالي في المركز 21، ويليه تونس في المركز 26،  ونيجيريا في المركز 32، ومنتخب غانا في المركز 48.

أما عالميًا فبالرغم من فقدان بلجيكا 8 نقاط على خلفية خسارتها أمام انجلترا في دوري الأمام الأوروبية، إلا أنها حافظت على تصدرها برصيد 1765 نقطة.

Absolute disgrace: West Brom fans react angrily to latest managerial update

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After James Shan had won his opening three games in temporary charge of West Brom, the Hawthorns seemed a more positive place compared to when they sacked Darren Moore.

However, all it has taken for negativity to seep back in was one defeat.

The Baggies suffered a big setback against Millwall last weekend but despite the loss, Shan will remain in charge for West Brom’s match with Bristol City on Tuesday.

Reacting on Twitter, the fans aren’t too pleased with the decision as it was also revealed the appointment of a new interim boss would not be ruled out.

Supports launched a scathing attack on their own club, with one fan labelling them a joke and another calling West Brom an utter shambles.

Other reaction included someone calling the club a laughing stock whilst one also branded the situation as tinpot management.

Affairs at the club have become somewhat of a circus in recent weeks with the Albion board clearly unsure of what action to take after sacking Moore.

Was Darren Moore’s sacking unfair? The Pl>ymaker FC squad name which Championship bosses should have gone instead in the video below…

With the team’s promotion on the line and no plan of action, the decision becomes more bizarre as the weeks go by.

Here is the best of the reaction from supporters.

Phil Foden a symbol of Manchester City’s imminent domination

Manchester City’s Phil Foden is a legend in the making after turning down reports to move to Germany.

Phil Foden has committed himself to the grind of trying to break into one of the most star-studded line-ups of the modern era, despite receiving offers from elsewhere.

The Daily Mail understand that the Englishman has drawn interest from a number of German clubs, including Champions League candidates Red Bull Leipzig, who have previously housed Everton starlet Ademola Lookman, intending to take him on a season-long loan move.

Jadon Sancho has singlehandedly set the bar for young players moving abroad. Indeed having seen the current Dortmund star and the likes of Callum Hudson-Odoi both making their England debuts this season, Foden must surely be wondering why he has been given so few opportunities to shine, especially when he has performed so well in the past.

Pep Guardiola has apparently drawn criticism for providing too few chances to the 18-year-old, despite claiming a piecemeal approach is necessary for managing the player.

His admission from the Manchester City set up is yet to affect his future plans at the Etihad, and the youth international is said to already be planning for an ambitious breakthrough during the 2019-20 campaign, with club sources claiming he will be adopting extra responsibility from the closely managed David Silva (Daily Mail).

‘It’s important he knows he is able to play with us and he knows we can trust him,’ Guardiola said. ‘Every season he will be stronger and stronger. He’s an incredible talent but he still has a lot of things to improve.’

The City prodigy, who is a lifelong supporter of the club, and values living close at home, is said to have no intention of moving anytime soon – and this news should excite fans no end.

Very few prospects have made it from the academy into the senior team, the last significant one being Micah Richards over a decade ago, and fans are surely desperate to attach themselves to another ‘one of their own’.

Manchester City fans, how important is Phil Foden to your club and what does he represent to you? Let us know in the comments below…

Leave him alone: Everton fans defend Jordan Pickford after pub brawl

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Everton fans have taken to Twitter to defend Jordan Pickford, after the goalkeeper was involved in a brawl outside of a pub.

Videos online emerged of the England No.1 caught in the midst of a scuffle, although another video has shown the Sunderland academy graduate merely out enjoying himself and taking pictures with fans, only for a few individuals to throw insults and slurs towards him.

In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

Whilst a professional football player should conduct himself better than Pickford has in allowing himself to be wound up by the taunts, it is unfair on the 25-year-old to be subjected to this kind of stuff whilst he is simply spending time with friends and engaging with fans.

Whilst some Everton fans have called on him to be more professional, the majority of Everton supporters have defended their keeper after the incident.

Let’s see what the Toffees fanbase on Twitter have been saying about the situation…

Mark Lawrenson says Arsenal still same away from home as they were under Wenger

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BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson has ripped into Arsenal in his latest set of Premier League predictions, and while he has tipped the Gunners to see off Newcastle United at the Emirates on Monday night he has been far less impressed with their form on the road.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the former Liverpool player believes that Unai Emery’s men will take all three points against the visiting Magpies, but he took the opportunity to also speak about the north London outfit’s sketchy away performances and results.

While only Manchester City and Liverpool – the latter only by goal difference – have better records on their travels in the top flight this term, Arsenal find themselves as the 10th-best team when they aren’t on their own patch.

Their displays away clearly haven’t gone unnoticed by Lawrenson, who told the BBC: “It is a worry the Gunners are so different on their travels, though. What that basically says is that everything is good at home when they have loads of the ball and that is the strength of the team when they are going forward – like they should be on Monday.

“But, when they are away, and under the cosh more, they can’t seem to cope with that. They don’t seem to be able to pick up points on a regular basis, and their results in Europe have been disappointing too.

“Unai Emery has made plenty of changes after replacing Arsene Wenger as manager but in that regard, it is still ‘same old, same old Arsenal’.”

Have Premier League grounds become “lifeless tourist attractions”? Decide for yourself by watching the video below…

Emery won’t want to see this

The Spaniard has clearly made plenty of changes since replacing the experienced Frenchman at the helm last summer, but one thing that hasn’t drastically improved is club’s away form.

The 47-year-old will be well aware of that and will know that a big improvement is needed next term, but he still won’t be happy to see his reign compared to Wenger’s in a negative sense nearly a year after the managerial change was made.

Whatever the case, Arsenal need to find a winning formula on the road if they want success in the Premier League and in Europe in the future.

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