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With Roy Hodgson looking to gear up for yet another Premier League season, how do you Palace fans feel the 71-year-old manager will set up for the new campaign? Do you think you will still have the likes of Wilfried Zaha to play in your attack? It certainly is a big summer ahead.

Of course, a 12th-place finish isn’t amazing, but it wasn’t a relegation battling season and that is hugely positive for a club like Crystal Palace. But is it time we begin to see the Eagles fly up the table and make more of a challenge for those top 10 places?

Here we are going to take a look at a couple of players we feel are going to struggle in trying to step up next season.

James Tomkins 

After having a fairly busy season, the 30-year-old defender may just have seen the end of his last ‘busy’ season. With players like Jairo Riedewald and Ryan Inniss coming into the side, it may be time to see some fresh new blood in their defence come the start of the new term.

There is no doubt that the English centre-back will want to continue for as long as he possibly can but, with young blood coming through playing the modern way of football, it may just be too much for him to overcome.

It will be interesting to see how a player like Tomkins handles being second choice in defence.

Wayne Hennessey 

The arrival of Vicente Guaita shook the goalkeeper pecking order, leaving Wayne Hennessey in an unfavourable position.

After being shoved out after 18 games in goal, it looks as if we are going to be seeing a lot of Hennessey on the Crystal Palace bench next season, should the 32-year-old not try and move away from Selhurst Park during the summer.

We are finally seeing a Premier League proven Crystal Palace side, and it’s time for them to starting pushing for a higher finish in the Premier League table.

[ad_pod ]Loads of Crystal Palace fans on Twitter have been sharing their happy memories of a historic club outing on its 30th anniversary.Monday spelt 30 years to the day since an Ian Wright and Mark Bright-inspired Eagles team came back from two goals down in the second leg of the Football League Second Division play-off final to defeat Blackburn Rovers and get back to the big time.

Goals from Wright (2) and David Madden on the day sealed a 3-0 victory for Steve Coppell’s men, enough to overturn the 3-1 deficit from the first leg at Ewood Park just a couple of days earlier.

And to celebrate, the club’s official account on the social media platform Twitter posted highlights from the thrilling game, featuring two famous pitch invasions at Selhurst Park.

This caused masses of the Palace faithful to drool over the landmark day, a vital one in the history of the South London club and one they’ll never, ever forget.

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…

Below is a list of their best reactive Tweets…

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Football is about comebacks, character, resilience and drive.

These traits can get a player to levels that their talent shouldn’t normally see them reach. It can make a player who is far from world class become a cult hero at a club, and that is exactly what has happened to Divock Origi at Liverpool.

The Belgian arrived at Anfield as a skinny, unassuming young striker who had played only one full season of professional football when Liverpool splashed out £10m to sign him, before loaning him back to Lille for the following campaign.

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

He has since scored goals that will go down in the club’s history and will live long in the memories of Liverpool supporters, but it hasn’t always been plain sailing for the man who wears the No.27 shirt at Anfield.

Let’s take a look at some of the setbacks that Origi has had to overcome throughout his Liverpool career…

Voted into Ligue 1’s Worst Team of the Season

At the end of his first season as a Liverpool player – despite not pulling on the shirt yet – Origi was named in L’Equipe’s Ligue 1 Worst Team of the Season.

This unfortunate incident happened after his campaign on loan at Lille. Having signed for the Reds in the previous summer, he went on a 20-game goal drought and scored just eight goals in 33 league appearances.

Humiliated by Wolfsburg 

In what was Origi’s second spell away from Anfield on a loan deal, he suffered yet another setback, this time in the Bundesliga.

The Belgian signed for Wolfsburg in the summer of 2017, and started off well with four goals in his first nine league appearances. However, things quickly went sour.

After Martin Schmidt replaced Andries Jonker and Origi was moved from a central position to the right-wing, his form nosedived.

He managed just one goal in his last 17 games, but was humiliated after being subbed off with just 42 minutes on the clock in a 3-0 defeat to Hoffenheim.

Origi’s father later revealed that his son was ‘very disappointed after the game.’

Transfer listed by Liverpool 

The Reds may not have added a sixth major European Cup to their trophy cabinet if someone had submitted a suitable offer for Origi.

The Merseysiders were reportedly willing to listen to offers for their seemingly surplus to requirements frontman, but after no such bid arrived, the 24-year-old knuckled down and eventually played a humongous role in their 2018/19 season.

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Celtic fans are keen to see the club make a summer transfer move for Erik Sviatchenko, after he was linked with a move away from current side FC Midtjylland.

Turkish outlet Aksam reported over the weekend that the player could be making the switch to Trabzonspor this summer for a fee as low as €2m (£1.8m).

Sviatchenko left Celtic last year after falling out of favour with then manager Brendan Rodgers.

Leigh Griffiths is ready and raring to go for Celtic next season. One fan discusses what we can expect from him in the video below…

He was ultimately replaced by Jack Hendry and Marvin Compper, who have both since flopped at the club, and many Hoops fans are still baffled as to why the club got rid of the Danish defender.

Some feel he is still absolutely a viable option to be one of Neil Lennon’s centre-backs next season, with the squad badly needing strengthening in that area after the departures of Dedryck Boyata and Filip Benkovic.

These supporters have taken to Twitter over the last 48 hours to share their thoughts…

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Gareth Southgate has transformed the fortunes of the England national side to a degree that very few would have expected when he took the reins.

The popular figure has taken a nation that often underperformed on the biggest stage – quarter-final defeat against Iceland in Euro 2016 being a pertinent low-point – to one of the most promising countries in world football, as evidenced during the 2018 World Cup.

From Trent Alexander-Arnold to Callum Hudson-Odoi, there seems to be a rich collection of talent waiting to be plucked off the conveyor belt, and they’re just the ones who have actually earned their first senior cap.

Beyond that is a plethora of talent that could one day help England end their trophy drought, and one name who has caught the eye this season is Leicester City man James Maddison.

Watch Aston Villa Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

After swapping Norwich City for Leicester in a £20m deal, the exciting playmaker had an incredible debut year in the Premier League and showcased a level of quality that hints he could yet blossom into a top player on the international stage.

But, despite his obvious ability, Southgate has remained hesitant of giving Maddison a full crack at senior international football, with the 22-year-old sent to the Euro Under-21 Championships this summer.

Southgate left him out of the England squad who were eliminated from the UEFA Nations League at the semi-final stage, and suggested that the opportunity to claim silverware at the youth tournament was the most beneficial option for his long term development.

The young, English and captivating playmaker has naturally drawn comparisons to Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish, who was involved in a messy tug-of-war before he eventually pledged his allegiance to the England national side.

He has since represented the Under-21 side but the senior squad continues to elude him. Now he is back in the Premier League, however, he is well placed to catch Southgate’s eye at the highest level.

Considering the stylistic similarities between Grealish and Maddison, it seems apt to compare their respective statistical returns from the most recent campaign, with stats from Whoscored providing evidence to suggest that Villa’s crown jewel is still some way off earning a call-up.

When it comes to goal contributions, there was little to separate both players last season, with Maddison managing just one more assist than Grealish. However, it must be considered that the Fox in the hole was playing at a considerably higher standard, and their respective statistics must be considered with that acknowledgement at the forefront of the analysis.

In terms of creativity, Maddison outperformed one of the star’s of the Championship season, completing the highest number of key passes in the Premier League during the 2018/19 campaign with 100, two more than Eden Hazard and seven more than Ryan Fraser.

Despite playing two more games and plying his trade against weaker opposition, Grealish completed just 76 key passes, a stellar contribution but still significantly less than a player who he looks set to be in direct competition with for a place in the England squad.

It’s this creativity that suggests Maddison will eventually make his England bow, but the fact he was overlooked at the end of an exceptional season is a worrying omen for the newly-promoted man.

Grealish clearly has excellent numbers, though, with the Villa star completing eight more dribbles than Maddison last season. But with the likes of Raheem Sterling and Jadon Sancho providing plenty of flair and dynamism from the flanks, Grealish will need to prove he can offer something unique in England’s midfield.

Last season Maddison proved to his England rival that one outstanding campaign in the top-flight is not necessarily enough to merit a place in the Three Lions squad, and that in itself underlines how far away Grealish could be from finally making a landmark step forward in his career.

Arsenal have had a number of legendary figures as their captain over the years.

The likes of Patrick Vieira, Tony Adams, Thierry Henry, Mikel Arteta have all had the armband and did extremely well in their capacity as the list continues to go on and on.

However, in recent years the Gunners have been crying out for an individual to lead the pack and get things back to how they used to be in north London – on top of the pile and getting their hands on silverware.

Leadership has been a real issue for Arsenal over the years and instead of going down the route of picking one individual to carry the responsibility, Unai Emery decided to give the armband duties to five members of the squad he inherited (Telegraph).

Petr Cech, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny and Granit Xhaka were all picked as players who could carry out the leadership tasks required – but 12 months down the line and the Spaniard needs to have a re-think.

The first two men have since left the club and the following three have all been linked with moves away from the club this summer.

Koscielny has been linked with a switch to Olympique de Lyonnais and reportedly has a two-year deal on the table according to Get French Football News. Ozil’s future is hardly secure after the publicised criticism he has received whilst Xhaka had been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid, although it is suggested they could appoint him as the main man to fend that interest off from the Spanish side.

And, in regards to the final man in the trio, the Switerzland international is probably in the best position to become Emery’s main captain next season.

Xhaka has already openly spoken about being handed the role and what it would mean to him by telling Blick (via Metro): “Would I be incredibly proud & like to lead the team as captain? Absolutely, but I try, even without the armband, to be a leader & take responsibility.”

Now, it seems the 26-year-old is already saying the same things, but would he be suited to the role on the pitch when it matters? You bet he would.

Firstly, he has the personality and characteristics necessary to be a captain and the type of leader Arsenal are desperate to have. Never shy, he has a no-nonsense attitude and will tell his team-mates exactly what he needs to in order to make them better and is always seen shouting at them on the pitch. Xhaka has the experience of leading his national side as well, so that should play right into his hands.

Note, we are not comparing their ability here, but he and Vieira are very similar in a positional sense and in regards to their ability to read the game. The Swiss star, who is valued at £40.5million by Transfermarkt, can sit in front of the defence or play slightly further up, putting him in a position of the field where his whole team will be able to hear what he has to say. He also appears to have matured as the years have gone by, although his aggression can let him down at times, which would make him better suited to the role than perhaps others could be.

According to Squawka, Xhaka had some of the better stats in the side with his all-around play as he made the most successful passes (1916) and had the most touches of the ball (2784), whilst he also shone with his defensive duties when required – he was third in the whole squad for making tackles (52) and interceptions (36).

Admittedly, he is error-prone and does have a bit of a hot-head at times, however, with the options that Emery currently has at his disposal, perhaps there are not many better than Xhaka at the club at the present moment.

Arsenal fans, do you think Xhaka could be the next main captain for the club? Let us know your thoughts below!

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

After arriving from Lorient last summer in a £8m deal, not much was expected of floppy-haired Frenchman Matteo Guendouzi. The 20-year-old shone in a team in France’s second division and no-one really could have predicted the kind of impressive debut campaign he would have in England.

Such was the impression the midfielder left on Unai Emery in Arsenal’s pre-season though, that he was handed the full 90 minutes against Manchester City and Chelsea in the opening two games of the Premier League season last year.

Pl>ymaker FC’s Bhav runs down his Arsenal transfer wish list in the video below…

Guendouzi’s rapid rise saw him named in France’s squad for the U21 European Championships this summer and despite his side exiting the competition in disappointing fashion against Spain, he showed a real glimpse during the game of what he could potentially bring to Arsenal’s future.

On the chalkboard

When Les Bleus were on top in the clash, it was Guendouzi who was truly at the heart of everything that was good. The midfielder’s 55 passes were a game-high for France and came at an impressive 83.6% accuracy; the kind of figures enjoyed by a deep-lying playmaker.

But for someone of Guendouzi’s age, it was his defensive contributions that impressed the most on Thursday night. His two interceptions were the second-highest of any of his teammates and the three times he was fouled were often on occasions where he was deep inside his own half and relieving Spanish pressure.

Watch Arsenal Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

One sumptuous through ball that eventually led to an awful miss from Jean-Philippe Mateta was a major highlight of how progressive his passing can be at Arsenal, with the attacking side of his game still in need of development. After Aaron Ramsey’s departure to Juventus, this could be key.

Indeed, his calmness and composure on the ball are reminiscent of Granit Xhaka and it was little surprise to see Emery employing the two in the middle in order to control the tempo of matches last season.

After taking in a full campaign of English football, Guendouzi will fancy his chances of stepping up another gear for Emery’s side next year. So if he plays as a deep-lying playmaker like a Xhaka, or more of a box-to-box presence like a Ramsey, the Frenchman has shown he has the tactical astuteness at just 20 years of age to be anything and everything his manager wants him to be. The ultimate modern midfielder.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to Wolves Bite, Derby County want to sign forward Ivan Cavaleiro this summer as they look to prise him away from the Midlands outfit.

What’s the word?

Wolves have already agreed to let one fringe player leave this summer, seeing Helder Costa depart for Leeds on an initial loan deal.

However, another individual they seem keen on letting go is Cavaleiro.

The Portuguese, who was once the club’s record signing, could leave either permanently or on loan during the course of the transfer window.

Per a report from Wolves Bite, he is said to be wanted by Derby but he’s also attracted the interest of both Fulham and Huddersfield in the past too.

Wolves need to pause

If Nuno allows Cavaleiro to leave imminently it could be a huge risk.

The 5 foot 9 winger was incredibly inconsistent last term, scoring just three goals and claiming a solitary assist despite starting just six times in the league, but Wolves need to park this potential exit for the time being.

The reason behind this is the fact that they’ve yet to add anyone to their squad.

In a few weeks’ time, the Midlands outfit will embark on their Europa League voyage but having used just 21 players in the top-flight last term, could struggle for numbers in the early parts of their season.

Therefore, unless a replacement is signed, they could be making a blunder by allowing him to depart ahead of their European qualifiers.

The fact of the matter is that unless Wolves decide to go with young players, they are lacking many genuine options in forward areas. Even then, solely relying on academy products could be a risk.

Gareth Bale to Wolves? Wolves Fan TV discuss how ambitious Nuno Espirito Santo will be this summer in the video below…

Cavaleiro had a poor 2018/19 but with Raul Jimenez only just finishing international duty with Mexico at the Gold Cup, it’s likely he’ll need an extended break before returning.

That will again further limit their options in attack.

Behind Diogo Jota and Jimenez, the 25-year-old was their third-highest-scoring attacker. With three goals it’s hardly an outstanding number but he could prove useful in the early stages of continental competition.

Nuno, therefore, must avoid taking a risk and wait before agreeing to a permanent or temporary transfer.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Gareth Bale’s agent, Jonathan Barnett, has rubbished the idea of his client returning to Tottenham Hotspur this summer, per talkSPORT.

What’s the word?

A report from Marca on Tuesday claimed that Spurs are interested in the possibility of re-signing the Wales international, who left the club in a world-record deal in 2013.

He moved for £85m, eclipsing Cristiano Ronaldo as the most expensive footballer on the planet at the time, and the piece reported that Spurs would be willing to pay between €50m (£45.1m) and €60m (£54.2m) for the 30-year-old.

However, Barnett gave short shrift to the rumours when asked.

He said: “I don’t comment on rubbish”.

Bale scored 56 goals and registered 58 assists in 203 outings for Spurs.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

A nonsense story

Bale’s return was never going to happen, particularly not in this transfer window.

Spurs have already broken their transfer record to secure the signing of Tanguy Ndombele from Lyon and have also bought Jack Clarke from Leeds United.

A deal to sign Bale for a minimum of £45.1m looks decent on paper but Marca also claimed that they would be willing to pay half of his €17m (£15.3m) salary. That’s £7.65m or weekly wages of £147,000.

If he signs a three-year contract, that would come to an outlay of £22.9m on wages alone, and a total of £68m when the transfer fee is included.

For a club like Spurs, those sums simply don’t add up, not now and probably not ever.

Bale has also just turned 30, meaning there is precious little chance of chairman Daniel Levy being able to turn a profit on his investment.

It simply doesn’t make any sense.

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On Wednesday morning, Leeds United’s official Twitter account posted a trailer of the club’s upcoming documentary based on the 2018-19 campaign.

However, it would be fair to say that it has not gone down too well with the fans.

For long stages of last season, Leeds looked very well placed to secure a return to the Premier League, with the team impressing under Marcelo Bielsa.

Watch fans explain why the Football League is better than the Premier League in the video below…

The Whites were ultimately made to settle for the playoffs after dropping out of the top two in the Championship, but they lost to Derby County in the semi-finals to stay in the second tier for at least one more season.

The documentary, which will be released in August, is based on the campaign just gone, with behind-the-scenes footage set to air.

Watch Leeds United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

However, it has brought a poor reaction from the club’s fans on social media, with not too many keen to relive the pain – as shown in the tweets below: