PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has stated that the ongoing dispute between John Terry and Anton Ferdinand has the potential to turn into a mafia-style feud.
The QPR man refused to shake the England defender’s hand when the Loftus Road club hosted Chelsea at the weekend, with the player accusing Terry of racially abusing him in the corresponding fixture last season.
Taylor feels that the incident threatens to take a hold in the game and needs to be abolished.
“We have a responsibility to extol the best virtues of sport. We need to be very careful if there have been personal issues between players that they are not reflected on a football stage when this is a protocol for the good of the image of the game,” The Telegraph report the chief as saying.
“I don’t want it to be a vehicle for personal feuds that are never ending. We have to move on. These things will separate us and become like some mafia feud. Owners, managers, chief executives and players said ’yes’ [to the idea] and I do not know why we should say ’no’ now.
“I would like to say to the players that I see no reason why they cannot do it [shake hands]. They are not betraying any personal principles. It is being done for the image of the game and to set the right example to the mascots and youngsters playing at school.
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“Certainly it is disappointing in that this season, I feel that football has to live up to what the Olympics did over the summer showing sport being able to bridge all barriers and being inclusive,” he concluded.
Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has released a statement backing Rafael Benitez and promising funds for the Spaniard, but fans aren’t buying a word of it.
Newcastle ended their season on a high note on Sunday as a brace from Ayoze Perez wrapped up a 3-0 win over Chelsea, but fans are still concerned about the future.
Rafael Benitez has done an incredible job at Newcastle, backing up their title winning promotion with a tenth place finish, the highest of any of the three promoted clubs, despite spending less than both Huddersfield and Brighton.
Of course, the issue of spending is what’s on every Newcastle fans’ mind, and probably will be all summer.
Benitez is desperate for the backing he so clearly deserves, and there is a growing concern that the Spaniard will leave the club if owner Mike Ashley does not give him some cash to splash.
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Ashley has tried his best to quash these concerns, as he released an official statement on the matter after the match.
“I would like to thank Rafa Benitez for his magnificent achievement this season,” Ashley said, in the statement that you can find here.
“Rafa, as always, has my full support, and contrary to some media reports that portray me as a pantomime villain, I will continue to ensure that every penny generated by the club is available to him.
“I hope very much that Rafa will remain at Newcastle United.”
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One has to wonder if the statement would have been released quite so quickly had the Magpies not won 3-0, but the owner certainly wants Benitez to stay.
That said, actions speak louder than words, and Newcastle fans are not buying any words that come from their infamous leader.
Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
After three bitter-fought victories in the Premier League, it seems almost inevitable David Moyes will make some changes to his West Ham side this evening. What those changes should be, however, remains a subject of inevitable debate.
Declan Rice has been one of the few genuine success stories at the London Stadium this season, but opportunities have been a little harder to come by since Moyes took the helm back in November.
The academy product, who Transfermarkt value at just £450k, came on from the bench against Stoke City on Saturday, but should he be issued a start tonight when the Irons travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal in the League Cup?
Hammers fans will obviously want their club’s youngsters to get as many first-team chances as possible, but the east Londoners do have a huge clash with Newcastle on the horizon this Saturday which Rice could well play a part in.
So, West Ham fans, should Rice start tonight? Let us know by voting below…
Sorry folks, this poll is now closed!
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West Ham winger Matt Jarvis has revealed that he is aiming to be a part of England’s squad for next year’s World Cup.
The Hammers star currently has one international cap to his name, which he won two years ago under Fabio Capello.
Since then, the emergence of the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has seen the 27-year-old slip away from the Three Lions’ squad, despite some impressive displays at club level.
But, Jarvis has set his sights on forcing his way into Roy Hodgson’s plans and hopes that he will get the chance to add to his solitary international appearance as the World Cup approaches.
“Obviously you have to focus on your club and playing for West Ham week in, week out but if you are doing that it’s in the back of your mind that you can get in [to the squad],” he told The Metro.
“When you have that one cap, you definitely want to add to it and I would love the opportunity to do that.
“If I keep working hard, hopefully that chance will come.”
Jarvis is thought of as one of the finest crossers of the ball in the Premier League.
His form has dipped a little of late, however West Ham chief Sam Allardyce is keen to partner his with Andy Carroll once again when the centre-forward returns to fitness.
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Can Matt Jarvis force his way into the England squad?
Sunderland’s new signing Adam Johnson says manager Martin O’Neill has given him the “confidence and freedom” to play football again.
The 25-year-old joined the Black Cats from Manchester City last week and made his debut in the club’s 2-0 Capital One Cup victory over Morecambe on Tuesday evening.
Speaking to BBC Newcastle, the winger said: “The other night I felt like the chains had been taken off me. When you play one game and you know you could be out the next it’s tough.”
He continued: “When you haven’t played for five games and then you play for one and you’re expected to perform, it’s difficult. Martin [O’Neill] was brilliant and as soon as I spoke to him I knew what he wanted. He has good relationships with players and as soon as I spoke to him I knew it was a good decision to come.”
Johnson began his career at Middlesbrough, scoring 13 times in 120 appearances, before moving to Manchester City in 2010. The Sunderland-born winger admitted he could have moved to the Stadium of Light instead of City two years ago, but even now believes he made the right decision.
“I had the choice to go to Sunderland or City and looking back now I probably made the right decision,” Johnson added. “With the medals and experiences I’ve had, looking back I’d do it again.”
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Johnson has been included in the England squad for September’s World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine, having been left out by Roy Hodgson for the European Championships.
Eden Hazard has taken on such talismanic status at Chelsea that his exclusion from the team to face Huddersfield on Wednesday night must have given David Wagner and his team a real boost from the moment they were handed the teamsheet.
It certainly looked that way as Chelsea spluttered in the face of dogged visiting defending and the Terriers grew into the game in the second period; never really looking like losing.
This Chelsea side is a talented one but Hazard is the man who sets it all off and for that reason, he is likely to return to the Blues lineup for the trip to Newcastle on the final day of the season as Antonio Conte looks to get his side back on track ahead of the Wembley showpiece final on 19 May against Manchester United.
That’s why we asked you who should drop out to allow the Belgian back in; Willian or Pedro? The response was overwhelming and Chelsea fans clearly want the Spaniard, valued at £22.5m by Transfermarkt to be dropped by Conte.
81 per cent want the former Barcelona man to be dumped on the bench and you can check out the full results of the poll below…
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Despite a pretty horrific Under-21 EURO tournament this summer, England should not overlook the talent that is present in their youth ranks.
While the Three Lions try to move on from the generation of John Terry, Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole they must look towards the up and coming players and give them the chance to experience international football at the top level. From the darkness of Brazil 2014, England’s national side aren’t looking quite so glum anymore with Roy Hodgson having turned the tide a little in qualification.
The current cohort of English youngsters have shown more promise at club level than many groups before them, and hopefully Hodgson is willing to take the chance on some stars who could be stalwarts in the England squad for years to come. Whilst other sides are regenerating and investing in their youth prospects, England continue to rely on players like Jagielka and Jones.
Here are FIVE young guns that England must take to Euro 2016…
Will Hughes
Hughes was one of the players who never quite shone as brightly at the Under-21 EUROs as he, or Gareth Southgate, would have hoped. A Premier League move for Hughes has been mooted for some time and this summer seems ideal for the blonde-haired central midfielder to step up.
Having only turned 20 in April, Hughes is very much a work in progress, but could provide a creative spark for a Premier League team or England with intelligent passing and close control that is surprising to see of an Englishman.
Jack Butland
Finally we seem to be about to witness Jack Butland as a Premier League No.1 with Stoke. Loan periods around the midlands and north have given Butland invaluable experience but he has still only made six Premier League appearances and must improve on that number to hold down a squad place for EURO 2016.
Joe Hart is destined for the No. 1 jersey with England, although any injury or suspension should see Butland fill in next summer. Still extremely young for a goalkeeper at 22, Butland may have a decade until he peaks and England must invest in a long-term replacement for Hart and put pressure on the Manchester City man for his place.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Since his move from Southampton, ‘The Ox’ has struggled to nail down a starting position at Arsenal. Chamberlain flirted with a central-midfield role, but now seems set to continue as a winger at club level.
Chamberlain has been restricted by persistent injuries and faces tough competition for game time in his position at both club and national level. Aside from a wonderful goal at the Maracana, Chamberlain is yet to make an imprint on the international stage, but he could well end his career with over 100 caps for his country.
John Stones
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The most un-English of central defenders, Stones has a calm presence on the ball that is rare for any Englishman, let alone a centre-half. Everton’s defender has the versatility to cover at right-back but his future must surely lie in the centre of defence where he will be eyeing up a potential partnership with Gary Cahill or Calum Chambers for the years to come.
His big move is likely to happen in one of the next two summers and Stones needs time to experience international football. Hopefully, patience and faith will see Stones become England captain one day.
Calum Chambers
Another former Saint, and another who can play both centrally and on the right of defence. Chambers is still finding his feet at club level and is likely to play most of the 2015/16 season as cover for Arsenal.
Fortunately, opportunities will be around at Arsenal to stake a claim for first team football and he, like Stones, is comfortable enough on the ball to play out from the back. A Stones-Chambers partnership could be the defensive setup for a changing English style and provide stability for years to come.
Stoke City have confirmed that Mark Hughes is their new manager and he has signed a three-year deal with the club.
The former Manchester City and QPR boss was always the favourite to land the role once Tony Pulis’ seven-year stretch as manager came to an end, Hughes has been out of work since being sacked by QPR last November.
His appointment was announced in a brief statement on Thursday morning but the former Manchester United striker will hold a media conference at 11am.
It is unclear how much money he will be handed to strengthen the Stoke squad but it is not expected to be the same sort of riches his predecessor spent and one of his first jobs maybe to oversee the sale of top asset Asmir Begovic.
Peter Coates is looking at a long-term plan with Hughes, saying: “We want to give him time and opportunity.
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“We had seven very good years with Tony Pulis, and if we have seven similar years with Mark we will all be delighted.”
A 27-year-old Brazilian left-back with one international cap to his name might not strike much interest from those away from La Liga. But Filipe Luis, who is currently on the books of Atletico Madrid, could arguably be the best left-back in Spain. No, really.
From the off, Manchester United springs to mind as a club who are in search of an alternative and eventual replacement to Patrice Evra. United have had a move for Leighton Baines turned down by Everton, while there was only ever one team likely to net Jordi Alba from Valencia. Yet, it’s incredibly difficult to understand why so many clubs have missed Filipe Luis off their transfer targets list.
The Brazilian would have created a bigger name for himself on the international stage had he not picked up a lengthy injury in 2010, subsequently ruling him out of that summer’s World Cup. He’s far more reliable defensively than Marcelo and can be equally impressive in attack. But highlighting Filipe Luis as “reliable” in defence and then moving on would be a huge discredit to his ability and accomplishments with Atletico Madrid.
Last season, as Atleti lifted their second Europa league title in three years and finished fifth in the league, a defence with centre-backs rotating in and out of the side were helped to be eased by the excellent work of the Brazilian on the left. His tackles and interceptions are outstanding and consistent throughout the season, and his strength and positioning always plays a big part in his very good overall game.
Filipe Luis was previously linked with a move to Barcelona when the Catalans only had Eric Abidal as a recognised left-back. That move fell through, obviously, and the club moved on to other targets later on with the capture of Adriano, while Filipe stayed at Deportivo.
His injury in 2010 was not to halt his club career in the same way it did his international career as Atletico decided to move for a player who should have grabbed more attention across Europe. His early career in the Spanish capital saw the Brazilian battle it out with captain Antonio Lopez for the starting role on the left of the defence. Lopez’s age and eventual departure from the club left the position in the hands of Filipe Luis. He really has not disappointed since.
At 27, the left-back represents a good buy for any major club looking for stability on that front. He never seems out of his depth when playing under a bigger spotlight, and many are right to claim him as the best overall left-back in the country. Jordi Alba and Marcelo obviously attract much more attention due to their clubs, but neither are as reliable and comfortable in the defensive aspect of the game. Fabio Coentrao and Nacho Monreal are also young left-backs who are better in their own half of the pitch, but neither offer the consistency that Filipe Luis does.
As Atletico rode easily to a 4-0 thrashing of Athletic Bilbao on Monday night, Filipe Luis was given a lot of freedom to get forward and even got close enough to sting the palms of goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz. He’s a player who knows when to stay back and when the opportunity is good to supplement the attack. For that, it’s very difficult to get the best of the Brazilian.
The defender should find his way into many more games with his national side, but the real level of interest should come from those around Europe and specifically in the Premier League. Again, I’m particularly surprised at Manchester United’s lack of interest in the player considering their desire for another left back. The team’s choice to venture into the Dutch league for an alternative to Evra makes it even more questionable. But what about Everton? They could certainly have knocked on Atletico’s door had Baines left the club, and Arsenal are still lacking a genuinely world class defender on that left side.
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There’s a reason Atletico had the second most clean sheets in the league last season, amassing a total of 15. All Filipe Luis does is highlight the depth in La Liga beyond the top two. A key figure for Atletico and a great addition for the whole league, but he does have his price and he would be a great buy for many clubs in England.
Crystal Palace will want to keep hold of their stars this summer as they prepare to rebuild and fans in the Transfer Tavern will be hoping they can tie down their most important players with new deals.
The Eagles managed to all but secure their place in the Premier League with an emphatic win against Leicester City last weekend, and whilst they are not mathematically safe just yet, they are already planning for their future in the top-flight.
According to The Guardian, Roy Hodgson is planning to hold talks with Yohan Cabaye and Joel Ward about their futures at Selhurst Park, however, the manager is expecting to lose the experienced pair on a free transfer when their contracts expire.
The locals in the bar will want to keep the Frenchman at the club beyond the summer as he has proven to be a key performer for the Eagles in recent weeks, however, there are concerns over his huge wage demands and the player is not expected to be prepared to take a huge pay-cut to extend his stay.
Ward has become a veteran of the side, helping them win promotion to the Premier League in 2013 and making over 205 appearances for the club, but it is expected he will leave this summer in search of regular first-team football.
Landlord’s Verdict
Crystal Palace fans in the Tavern will already be resigned to losing Rueben Loftus-Cheek and Timothy Fosu-Mensah when their loan deals expire at the end at the season and will be hoping they can keep hold of their stars. The locals will want the south Londoner’s to become active in the transfer market as soon as possible to prepare for the departure of a handful of key players.
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Crystal Palace fans – do you expect Cabaye and Ward to leave this summer? Let us know below!