Loads of Rangers fans have been reacting to a video message from Scott Arfield, as the Canada international urged supporters to stay at home and delivered a thank you to the NHS and key workers.
Arfield joined Rangers in July 2018 on a free transfer, and is valued at £2.25m by Transfermarkt.
The 31 year-old has bags of experience at the top level and has proved to be an astute signing for Steven Gerrard, always giving 110%, which is exactly what fans expect from anyone who dons the light blue shirt.
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Across 94 appearances he has managed 21 goals and 12 assists from midfield, finding the score sheet on nine occasions this season.
The veteran posted his message on the club’s official Twitter account this week, reiterating the government’s lockdown guidelines, wishing supporters the best and thanking NHS workers.
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You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where the Ibrox faithful were full of praise for Arfield…
Rangers fans are loving Mark Walters’ latest tweet…
Leeds United fans on Twitter have been feeling incredibly smug after the EFL released a statement revealing that Derby County have been charged for breaching the league’s Profit and Sustainability rules.Watch Leeds United Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below
So why are Leeds fans so happy? Well, the Whites and the Rams have had an ongoing rivalry ever since last season’s spygate incident that saw the Yorkshire club fined by the EFL, despite not breaking any actual rules.
Of course, that rivalry was further fuelled by their meeting in the playoff semi-final last term, and even recently the Whites have had complaints about the treatment the Midlands outfit have received from 32Red in the deal to sign Wayne Rooney.
Ironically, the EFL’s statement came one year to the day since Marcelo Bielsa’s infamous PowerPoint presentation in the wake of Spygate, and that irony wasn’t lost on the Elland Road faithful as they relished in the fact.
Others used Frank Lampard’s words after the Spygate incident against them as they parodied the manager’s ‘we do analysis too’ statement as well as his rant about the etiquette in this country.
Others offered the EFL a solution by saying that they should be handed a 32 point deduction, in keeping with the sponsorship they received from 32Red and the fact that Wayne Rooney wears that number for the Rams after the gambling company helped finance that deal.
Others were just happy to see the Rams receive their just deserts as they believe it was karma for getting Leeds into hot water last term.
In other news, Leeds may be well-prepared for one departure if they can land this signing.
This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
Jack Harrison has been in scintillating form as of late.
Indeed, the winger has assisted four goals in his last five appearances for Leeds United as the Whites have continued to mount their assault on the top two.
The Manchester City loanee has shown a marked improvement since his first spell with the Elland Road outfit, and one former United player believes that his value will skyrocket if he keeps up these good performances.
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What’s been said then?
Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds man Noel Whelan stated that he believes Harrison will worth a substantial amount next summer if his good form continues, hailing his impact and the areas of his game that have seemingly got better.
“Harrison’s turning into a gem. He’s fitter, stronger, more confident and has more belief in his ability. You need to have belief in your ability to shine at the highest level and we’re starting to see that from him.
“He works tirelessly and does superb things for the team. Now he is adding assists to his game, and is starting to win matches.
“Marcelo Bielsa has showed enormous faith in him and he’s been transformed. I expect him to be worth £15million by the end of the season if this continues. He’s unlikely to be in Man City’s squad next season so he could make a permanent move.”
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Must exercise option to buy
If Whelan’s prediction rings true, Leeds simply must exercise their option to buy Harrison.
At the moment, it’s unknown what the price tag attached to making the winger’s loan deal a permanent one is, but it’s hard to see it being any more than the £15m that Whelan reckons he’s worth.
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After all, that’s the fee Helder Costa is set to move to Elland Road on a permanent basis for next summer – a value that’s quite considerable for a side in the Championship.
Aged just 22 there’s even more scope for the former NYCFC man to grow and improve, and if his value increases even further Leeds will be kicking themselves if they don’t tie him down permanently.
His form in recent times has shown just how crucial he is, becoming one of their most consistent players. On that evidence, securing his services for the future is of utmost importance.
After a whole summer of the media having a go at Real Madrid and dooming them before they could even set foot into the new 2019/20 La Liga season, it seems that Zinedine Zidane and his troops are out to prove a point.
At least, that’s one of the takeaways from last weekend’s game against Celta Vigo that ended in a pretty convincing 3-1 victory for Los Blancos. It was not really a statement game or a game that showed total domination over their opponent but it was a hard-earned victory at a tricky stadium against a well-oiled outfit.
And considering how their last campaign went and how it all looked bleak and gloomy just weeks ago, they did more than just fine. Another thing worth noting is how thin their bench currently looks like with multiple players sidelined by injuries, including their prized new signing, Eden Hazard.
But Real Madrid were still strong and they stood their ground, clinching all three points and jumping to the top of the table for the time being. This, however, does not indicate that all of their problems have magically disappeared now that the new campaign has started.
Not in the slightest, no. But if there is one thing Zidane should note going into the next game, which will be against Real Valladolid on Saturday, then that’s that he should stick to the basics for the time being.
A lot has been said about his squad not being good enough and his tactics being obsolete, but despite no shortage of criticism and question marks, it still worked.
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Sure, they were not outrageously flashy and they didn’t set the world alight with their innovative and incredible skills, but they did win in a rather vintage 2017 Real Madrid-esque way.
The way they set up their lineup, the way they attacked and the way they structured their overall gameplan was very much reminiscent of the Real Madrid from a couple of years back; the one that won the Champions League three times in a row and the one Zidane set up to succeed.
And maybe, in a way, that is the “secret formula” for them at the moment, and not just for the weekend but for the season ahead in general. As the saying goes: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Maybe it didn’t really work out for Santiago Solari or Julen Lopetegui but then again, they don’t really have Zidane’s pedigree and knowledge of this team.
Everyone has been very vocal about Real Madrid needing this rebirth, the resurrection and a clean slate that will magically pull them out of the gutters but that kind of a change doesn’t really happen overnight, does it?
With that in mind, maybe a slower transition could be the solution to their problems. So looking ahead to the game on Saturday, Zidane really shouldn’t tamper too much with the things that obviously still work.
Eight players out of 11 against Celta Vigo were among Real’s most used in Zidane’s last season. Some will undoubtedly criticise the Frenchman for it but there is some wisdom in it as well.
A team that is still trying to find its feet should not plunge head-first into the unknown and the next game, the first one at the Santiago Bernabeu in the new season, should not be an exception either.
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Zidane, and the whole team for that matter, can certainly use some familiarity and stick to the basics that they know work for sure. If that means once again fielding the same lineup or using the same tactics, then so be it.
For some, innovation might be the only way forward but for Real Madrid, it’s very much the opposite. After all, you have to master the basics in order to become better, right?
Even if the Galacticos are going through a transitional period, they will first have to learn how to walk before they can run off with all the trophies once again.
Southampton fans are hoping for a much better season next term, with Ralph Hasenhuttl having a full summer to get across his philosophy and sign the players he wants.
Already, there have been plenty of names linked with making the move to St. Mary’s after the Saints managed to move up and away from the relegation zone once again.
The idea is that with new faces brought in over the summer, the better Southampton’s chances are of pushing even further up the table.
The South Coast club have an illustrious history with bringing through youngsters and one player who was with Southampton for eight years and could now re-sign for the club is Adam Lallana.
Lallana (who is valued at £13.5 million on Transfermarkt) moved to Liverpool in 2014, becoming one of many to switch the South Coast for Merseyside.
Fans understood his decision to move and accepted that Liverpool would give him a better opportunity to obtain some silverware, but that is still something he is yet to achieve.
Making just five starts in the Premier League this season, Lallana has really been cast aside by Liverpool because of his injuries.
The now 31-year-old will be hoping that a move away from Anfield will allow him to re-find his best form, so going back to Southampton is surely the best thing for him…
Since his departure, Southampton have not had a midfielder quite like the England international. An attack-minded, goal provider is something that the Saints have desperately missed and could get back with his arrival.
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For an affordable fee of £13 million (per the Express on May 19th), the two could be re-united in a move that once again, could bring out the best of Lallana.
Do you agree… Join the discussion and let us know!
Sheffield Wednesday full-back, Liam Palmer is in line to make his debut for Scotland in Kazakhstan on Thursday — seven years after last pulling on his national side’s under-21 jersey.
Palmer has been in brilliant form for the Owls, and has played every minute of Championship football for the side since the arrival of Steve Bruce.
Speaking to the Sheffield Star, the defender said his thoughts would be firmly on his late grandmother, if he gets the nod tomorrow, and it is through her Lanarkshire roots that the 27-year-old is eligible to represent Scotland.
Referring to her influence on him, he said: “My nan was a massive part of my life. She lived on the road opposite the school I went to as a little boy so every day after school I went there until my mum finished work.
“She loved football and she loved sport. If I had a game for the school she used to walk up the road and come and watch and then get me some food after and things like that.
“She never saw me play for the Scotland youth teams. She passed away just before that. My family on my mum’s side are all obviously really proud and she would have been really proud as well.
“I will definitely think of her. It was a shame towards the end. I went every day to visit her in intensive care. But it would be a great moment if I did make my debut.”
Like the rest of the Sheffield Wednesday side, Palmer has had a resurgence of confidence in the current unbeaten run that the Owls find themselves on and topping it all off with a Scotland cap is thoroughly deserved for the hard-working former academy graduate.
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That Wednesday players are being recognised for their scintillating form in the Championship is thanks to the Bruce effect, but the Geordie manager will be hoping that his right back comes through the international break unscathed with such an important stretch of games ahead.
What do you think of your latest international player Wednesday fans? Join in the debate below…
Leeds United have confirmed that attacking midfielder Samuel Saiz is set to join Spanish outfit Getafe on loan in the upcoming January transfer window, with the switch likely to be made permanent at the end of the season.
A report in the Yorkshire Evening Post suggests that Leeds have allowed the Spaniard to leave Elland Road for personal reasons, as he felt unsettled in England and wished to return to his home city of Madrid.
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Whilst it is admirable of the club to accept these demands, should Marcelo Bielsa’s side fail to sustain their current promotion push, then the decision to allow their talented playmaker to leave in the winter will be looked back upon as a mind-blowing misstep by chairman Andrea Radrizzani.
The Whites will certainly have to replace Saiz in January, as they cannot do without his creativity and technical ability throughout the remainder of the gruelling Championship campaign.
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After the club made the announcement, many Leeds fans took to Twitter to react to the news…
Leeds United have done incredibly well to cope with their injury problems so far this season, but their resilience was finally broken on Saturday afternoon as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Birmingham City at Elland Road.
Marcelo Bielsa’s decision to hold off on a handful of signings during the summer in favour of keeping his squad as a tightly-knit group appeared to backfire recently when a handful of players fell victim to injury problems.
The likes of Patrick Bamford, Kemar Roofe and Pablo Hernandez were all ruled out within a short space of time but, despite the concerns of some supporters, the Whites have coped well with the growing injury list and they remain top of the pile after 9 fixtures.
But a recent update on the club’s website makes for unfortunate viewing as both Roofe and Hernandez will remain sidelined for two-three and four-five weeks respectively.
Although Hernandez’s absence represents a huge blow for the club as a whole, it has given summer signing Harrison (valued at £3.15 million by Transfermarkt) an opportunity to showcase his potential on the right-wing and, despite a slow start, he is beginning to impress.
Plenty was expected of Harrison when he arrived at Elland Road from Manchester City, but he looked a level below what is required after coming on at half-time against Swansea City in August.
Fast-forward a few weeks and Harrison looks like a new player with the confidence and technical ability to become an integral part of Leeds’ promotion push.
With Hernandez ruled out for another month at the very least, Harrison has a dream opportunity to cement his name on Bielsa’s team sheet but he will need to step up another level in order to prove he has what it takes to keep the Spanish veteran on the substitutes bench upon his return to fitness.
The 21-year-old’s strike against Millwall provided a brief glimpse of what he can provide at Elland Road and with Hernandez sidelined he must showcase that level of quality on a consistent basis if he wants to prove himself to Bielsa.
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The future of Schalke midfielder Max Meyer has been discussed in the transfer gossip pages numerous times over the last few months.The speculation is expected to intensify following the club’s confirmation that Meyer will leave the German outfit this summer.The 22-year-old has struggled to come to an agreement over a new contract, which means that he will leave Schalke as a free agent.The club’s sporting director Christian Heidel made the announcement, and now a frenzy has broken out on Twitter.
Mauricio Pochettino is in need of some dimension to his midfield, and Meyer could potentially provide that as he can play centrally, further forward or defensively.
This season, the German has made 28 appearances in all competitions, including 21 starts in the Bundesliga, but he has contributed just one goal in that time.
Following the news that Meyer will be available when the season comes to an end, Tottenham fans have posted their thoughts on social media.
Comment from discussion Schalke have confirmed that Max Meyer is leaving this summer – do we take him?.Comment from discussion Schalke have confirmed that Max Meyer is leaving this summer – do we take him?.
Leeds United manager Thomas Christiansen is targeting a new striker in January, with Liverpool’s Danny Ings and Manchester United’s James Wilson on the list, according to The Mirror.
What’s the word?
The season started off perfectly for the Whites as they went seven games unbeaten in the Championship.
However, in their last nine matches, the team have only picked up two wins, which has caused a dent in their promotion hopes.
Christiansen’s side were in and amongst the top six in the early stages of the campaign, but after their recent spell, the club find themselves 10th in the standings.
Now it appears that the manager wants to strengthen attacking areas when the transfer window reopens in January.
The newspaper edition of The Mirror claims that the Whites are considering loan moves for Ings and Wilson.
Are they good options?
Neither Ings nor Wilson have played Premier League football this season as both have struggled to earn a place in their respective first teams.
Ings is slowly coming back from injury hell, while Wilson has been playing for the United Under-23s following loan stints at Brighton and Derby County.
Christiansen would be taking a big risk in signing either player due to their lack of first-team football this season.
The manager brought in four attacking players in the summer window – Pierre-Michel Lasogga, Caleb Ekuban, Jay-Roy Grot and Pawel Cibicki.
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However, only Lasogga has scored in the league, while injuries and lack of form has disrupted the other players’ progress.
There will be plenty of pressure on Ings and Wilson to perform if they were to move to Elland Road, and given the pair’s current situation, they may not be able to deliver.