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Tottenham Hotspur fans have been reacting on Twitter after Mauricio Pochettino’s former assistant at the club, Jesus Perez, posted a snap of a message the Argentine manager left on a board for the players to see after he was sacked this week.

The 47-year-old was relieved of his duties on Tuesday night and was quickly replaced by Jose Mourinho less than 12 hours later, in what was a quick turnaround for the north London outfit.

The message from the former Southampton boss thanked the players for their hard work during his five-and-a-half years in charge, as well as saying that they will forever be in the hearts of the coaching team.

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Losing Pochettino has already been a tough moment for fans given some of the moments they have enjoyed together – including numerous top-four finishes in the Premier League and reaching a Champions League final in May – making this latest gesture from him even more heartbreaking.

While one supporter responded saying “I didn’t want to believe this was true”, another labelled it as an “absolute horrible thing to see”.

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Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

In other news, one Tottenham player could surprisingly commit his future to the club following Jose Mourinho’s appointment…

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…

Leeds United have made some rather questionable signings over the years, and many of those have plagued the club’s wage bill for lengthy periods.

Fortunately, United did a great job of shifting a lot of deadwood this past summer as the likes of Vurnon Anita, Yosuke Ideguchi and Caleb Ekuban all departed the club.

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However, there are still a few remnants of Leeds’ poor business of previous transfer windows still on the books, and this week we’ve received an update on one of their contracts and their current position at the club.

What’s been said then?

A curious supporter asked Phil Hay on Twitter about Ouasim Buoy’s current status and his contract details.

Worrying

This isn’t only a damning indictment of the club’s previous mistakes in the transfer market, but it’s also a worrying sign of Leeds’ current financial situation.

We know money is tight at Elland Road as Angus Kinnear has made it very clear that United are working tightly within the constraints of FFP, but Leeds certainly can’t afford to be paying huge wages to a man who’s simply never going to get a first-team chance.

So the question remains if Leeds would happily kybosh this deal, why haven’t they already?

The only explanation is that United simply don’t want to spend the money to pay the Dutchman off and if the purse strings are that tight at Elland Road that is rather concerning.

Leeds are about to head into a January transfer window that could be quiet if Victor Orta is to believed. With meaningful sums being handed out to players who aren’t going to feature it is hardly surprising that is the case.

If you’re interested in what else has been going on with Leeds recently, check out Hay’s view on what will happen to Bielsa if QSI invest

Loads of Rangers fans have reacted after the club shared footage of an iconic Ibrox goal involving Nikica Jelavic and Carlos Bocanegra.

The Gers have fallen behind their arch-rivals in recent years, and while they are certainly on an upwards trajectory with Steven Gerrard at the helm, that hasn’t stopped the Ibrox faithful from reminiscing about better times.

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Light Blues were loving the re-broadcast of the 2002 Scottish Cup final this weekend, and the latest ‘goal of the day’ has delighted supporters as well, as they took to Twitter to react to an iconic Jelavic goal.

The 34 year-old scored 36 goals and provided 15 assists during his time in Glasgow, winning the Premiership title and the League Cup.

His first-time volley against Hearts was perhaps his most memorable goal, as he side-footed a delightful finish into the bottom corner after an incredible long pass from Bocanegra.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions to the club’s post down below…

Rangers have reportedly identified a list of possible Morelos replacements…

A lot of West Ham fans are reminiscing over their former stadium Upton Park after a fan page posted highlights of the last game to be played at the famous ground.

The hierarchy at the club decided they wanted to move to the London Stadium and made this move in the summer of 2016, as per BBC Sport. Their last game at their old home was one that will definitely be remembered in the history of the club as they faced Premier League giants Manchester United and managed to win the game 3-2 to cap a remarkable send-off to the venue.

The Hammers started brightly as Diafra Sakho scored inside 10 minutes and the score remained 1-0 until the second half, when two goals from Anthony Martial put the visitors 2-1 in front. However, the Irons would not end at Upton Park with a loss after goals from Michail Antonio and Winston Reid meant they came away with the 3-2 victory (as per BBC Sport).

It was a great way to end their time at Upton Park but the current campaign has not seen the same joy as the Hammers sit only two points from safety, as per SofaScore.

Here is what some West Ham fans had to say following the tweet:

West Ham fans, do you think you can make the London Stadium have the same fear factor as Upton Park had? Comment below with your views!

Newcastle United could be getting themselves a new manager alongside their change in ownership ahead of next season, and the reported number one candidate has sent the Magpies faithful into a frenzy.

According to Sky Sports, former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is the front runner to succeed Steve Bruce under the Saudi-backed consortium and they are prepared to pay him £19m per year to take the helm at St James’ Park.

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The Argentine was surprisingly axed by Daniel Levy in November, less than six months after guiding the north Londoners to the Champions League final, and he has been out of work ever since.

If that deal fails to come to fruition, there could be a return for Rafa Benitez, who left Tyneside for Chinese Super League outfit Dalian Yifang in the summer.

There’s no doubt that many Newcastle fans would absolutely love to see Pochettino take charge at the club, but for the time being, it remains to be seen whether this report is indeed accurate and if he would even be open to the job.

It also suggests that Bruce is running out of time at the Magpies and that the new owners aren’t likely to give him a fair shot at continuing his job past the current campaign.

Here’s how supporters have been reacting…

AND in other news, Newcastle fans react to stunning links to superstar-turned-FLOP…

Tottenham Hotspur’s reported pursuit of soon-to-be free agent Ryan Fraser has moved up a gear this week after reports claimed the AFC Bournemouth winger has his sights set on a switch to north London.

The Daily Mirror claim that Spurs have become ‘serious contenders’ to land the 26-year-old following the expiry of his contract on June 30 and the winger is said to be interested in the move.

It’s been widely stated that Jose Mourinho will have to work with a limited budget this summer which will restrict him to free transfers and swap deals barring any major sales.

And that is why Fraser is of some appeal to the Portuguese boss.

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The Scot racked up 15 assists last term and had managed four this campaign before lockdown put a stop to the top-flight season.

This fresh report has sparked a big reaction from the Spurs faithful on social media with many seemingly behind the move, here’s what has been said…

AND in other news, Spurs fans react as HUGE price named for La Liga striker…

Leeds United have been long linked with a potential takeover of the club, especially if they earn promotion to the Premier League at last.

The Athletic’s Phil Hay was asked by one supporter in a recent Q&A session if there was any news on that front, to which he responded with a fresh update.

Paris Saint-Germain’s ownership group, QSI, are the party constantly mooted with a move but Hay claims that any deal ‘sounds nowhere near being close’ – although he didn’t downplay its prospects long-term.

He said:

Earlier in the season, current United owner Andrea Radrizzani revealed just how much money he pumps into the club in order to keep it ticking over – at least £1m-per-month.

That’s simply not sustainable, especially if the west Yorkshire outfit are to become established in the top-flight. Thus, additional investment may be required even if it’s involving a takeover of the club.

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PSG’s riches are well-known given the way president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has run the club in recent years, bringing the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar to the French capital.

Their ownership could catapult the Whites into a financial superpower in the top-flight, which would surely delight those that have been deprived of elite football for the past 16 years at Elland Road.

AND in other news, Leeds fans brush off Noel Whelan’s transfer claim on PL goalkeeper…

Norwich have some welcome respite from their faltering Premier League campaign this weekend as they host Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup this evening.

Home defeats to Southampton and Everton since the resumption of the league have left the Canaries facing an uphill battle to avoid an immediate return to the Championship, with Daniel Farke’s team six points from safety with just seven matches remaining.

The Red Devils have collected four points from their two games since the Premier League restart and are aiming to reach a third FA Cup final in five seasons along with adding to their haul of 12 triumphs in the competition.

Farke made some surprising omissions for the midweek defeat to Everton, leaving out top scorer Teemu Pukki along with the creative influences of Todd Cantwell and Emiliano Buendia. On the injury front, the defensive trio of Grant Hanley, Christoph Zimmermann and Sam Byram are ruled out for the rest of the season, although Marco Stiepermann could come in for his first game since being cleared of coronavirus (as per Sky Sports).

Here is how we predict Norwich to line up for this evening’s clash against Manchester United:

Tim Krul has been Farke’s clear first choice between the sticks and will almost certainly keep his place, while the spate of defensive absentees leaves no real wriggle room for rotation. Therefore, the familiar-looking back four of Jamal Lewis, Timm Klose, Ben Godfrey and Max Aarons will very likely constitute the back four just as they did against Everton.

The rest of the team could see Farke mixing it up, though, particularly with seven more Premier League matches to come in 26 days and a chance of reaching an FA Cup semi-final. Alexander Tettey and Kenny McLean were the defensive midfield pairing in midweek but they could be given the evening off in favour of Tom Trybull and Mario Vrancic.

The front four could all be changed, with Cantwell and Buendia to resume their places on the wings as Onel Hernandez and Lukas Rupp drop out. Stiepermann could also be given a first appearance since his COVID-19 diagnosis, coming into the number 10 role to replace Ondrej Duda. Finally, Pukki will likely be restored to the team after only being a substitute against the Toffees, particular with Josip Drmic possibly not at 100% as he faces a fitness test on an ankle problem.

Just as Farke shuffled the pack against Everton, he may do the same here, with the likes of Pukki, Cantwell and Buendia likely to be refreshed after only having short cameos in midweek.

Norwich fans, do you think this will be the line-up for this evening’s game? Join in the discussion in the comments section below!

This article forms part of our Profit Players feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how well a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how good of a deal the club managed to achieve.

If patience is a virtue, then they don’t come much more virtuous than Nick Pope. The goalkeeper was loaned out by Charlton no fewer than seven times in four years before finally getting a prolonged run in the first team during the 2015/16 season. The Addicks were relegated from the Championship at the end of that campaign and Pope duly left the division…except he went the other way, joining up with newly-promoted Burnley in the Premier League (as per BBC).

Sean Dyche snapped up the ‘keeper for a mere £1.17m (as per TransferMarkt) and, having only had a half-season as Charlton’s first choice, he was again left to rely on piecemeal snippets of domestic cup action in his first year at Turf Moor, with Tom Heaton the go-to netminder for league games. Pope managed just four appearances in the 2016/17 campaign, all in the EFL Cup or FA Cup.

However, when Heaton got injured in the early weeks of the following season, the ex-Addicks goalkeeper found himself thrust into action and enjoyed an “excellent” full Premier League debut in a 1-1 draw away to Liverpool. He kept his place for the rest of the campaign and was beaten just 35 times in as many league games, achieving 12 clean sheets as the Clarets finished seventh to qualify for Europe.

Pope’s performances earned him a place in England’s 2018 World Cup squad and an international debut against Costa Rica just before the tournament. He was part of the squad that went on to reach the semi-finals, although he didn’t feature during the finals in Russia, with Jordan Pickford getting the nod from Gareth Southgate.

Unfortunately, just as long-term injury struck Heaton in 2017, the same fate befell Pope the following year. He dislocated his shoulder in Burnley’s first Europa League qualifier against Aberdeen and was ruled out for nearly six months, in the end playing only three matches all season as Dyche resorted to bringing in Joe Hart.

Pope’s rollercoaster career took another upward turn, though, after Heaton departed for Aston Villa last summer. The Soham native reclaimed his status as Burnley’s number one goalkeeper and he has thrived for the Clarets this season, playing in all of their Premier League games and keeping a league-high 14 clean sheets. He is also in the top four goalkeepers in the division this term for saves made, proving to be an imposing last line of defence for Dyche’s team.

He was outstanding in last week’s draw at Anfield, the venue where his Clarets career took flight back in 2017, making no fewer than eight saves to end Liverpool’s perfect home record in this season’s Premier League.

Rachel Brown-Finnis, a long-serving goalkeeper for the England women’s team, said on BT Sport [via Lancashire Live] after the game that the 28-year-old is the best English shot-stopper in the top flight and should be his country’s number one at the European Championship next year instead of Pickford.

On current form, it’s hard to disagree with her. Pope has had peaks and troughs during his Burnley career but, with the distinct possibility of him being Southgate’s go-to goalkeeper next summer, the £1.17m that the Clarets paid for him four years ago now looks like chickenfeed.

Burnley fans, just how good a signing has Pope proven to be? Comment below with your views!

Key Information about St. Andrew’s Stadium

St. Andrew’s Stadium, officially known as St. Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium since the summer of 2018 due to sponsorship reasons, has been the home of West Midlands side Birmingham City since it was opened in 1906. It replaced the Blues old ground of Muntz Street which no longer met the club’s needs playing at a higher level.

The all-seater stadium holds a capacity of 29,409 and comprises four famous stands; The Garrison Lane Main Stand, the Tilton Road End, The Spion Kop Stand, and The Gil Merrick Stand.

A history of St. Andrew’s Stadium

Club director, Harry Morris identified a site for a new ground in Bordesley, and in February 1906 the club took on the land on a 21-year lease while beginning construction. St. Andrew’s Stadium was officially opened by Sir John Holder on Boxing Day in 1906, as Birmingham hosted Middlesbrough in a First Division fixture. The game went on to finish as a 0-0 draw, witnessed by 32,000 fans.

The following year, the Football Association decided to host the FA Cup semi-finals at St. Andrew’s. 15 years later in 1921, Birmingham decided to purchase the freehold of the ground for around £7,000, and during the 1930s, the club installed roofs over the Kop and Railway End terraces just in time for the FA Cup Fifth Round tie against Everton in 1939 which achieved the grounds record attendance of over 66,000.

In the early 1950s, the Main Stand was replaced to include a cantilever roof and the removal of pillars which blocked the views of many spectators. Floodlights were also installed in 1956 which meant the club could now play night time fixtures in darker conditions. To conclude major developments to St. Andrew’s Stadium during the 1950s, the Railway End was redeveloped in the same way as the new Main Stand, and a new roof was erected over the Kop and Tilton Road end for the first time.

In response to the Taylor Report in 1990, Birmingham made sure to cut the capacity of St. Andrew’s to 26,000 as it was brought up to modern standards. Albeit, Birmingham were relegated to the Third Division during the same season which meant the club was no longer bound by the Taylor Report’s four-year deadline to convert St. Andrew’s Stadium into an all-seater ground. The most recent improvement to the stadium was in 2017 when the previous under-soil heated grass was replaced with SISGrass hybrid grass.

Tickets to Watch Birmingham City at St. Andrew’s Stadium

Adults can purchase season tickets to St. Andrew’s from £240 which works out to be less than £11 per game, and under-11s go free with a full paying adult. Single matchday tickets are available through Ticketmaster who are accessible through the club’s official site – prices are currently unavailable due to the pandemic. You must be a site member to purchase tickets.

Related Links

https://www.bcfc.com/ – Official website of Birmingham City

https://www.bcfc.com/tickets/ – Birmingham City Ticket Office