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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… 

West Brom will be looking to resume service this weekend as the Championship season gets back underway following a two-week hiatus for international duty.

The Baggies currently sit top of the table following the 11 matches that have been played with just one defeat to their name, which was handed to them by Leeds United.

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Days later, Slaven Bilic’s side responded perfectly to see off Cardiff City 4-2, so there should be no concerns about their character as the season goes on.

Now they face a trip north to face Middlesbrough and the Croatian will want more breathing room at the league’s summit with only three points separating first to ninth.

On the Chalkboard

The Albion boss can give his side the best chance of success if they exploit one of Boro’s key weaknesses going into this fixture.

Defensively, Jonathan Woodgate’s side haven’t been up to scratch, especially over the last few games having conceded seven goals in three matches – four of which were dealt by Garry Monk’s Sheffield Wednesday.

One cause of this could be down to the absence of club captain George Friend after he required surgery on a ruptured tendon earlier in the season.

Boro sit precariously in 20th, just two points off the drop zone, so the 32-year-old’s absence has clearly been felt harshly.

While at left-back, they have an inexperienced man in Marc Bola, who was hugely exposed by Wednesday during their thrashing and it appears to be a troublesome area – even when he wasn’t on the pitch last time out against Birmingham, they still had the same problems, according to TeessideLive.

West Brom’s wingers have been their most significant threat so far this season with them on track to surpass last season’s goals per game total – clearly an area of strength.

Grady Diangana and Matt Phillips have four goals apiece and will surely be relishing this weak-looking defence – Bilic has to set let them loose to gain those vital three points.

England cricketer James Anderson has linked up with Manchester City as he attempts to recover from a career-threatening injury.

BBC reported that the 37-year-old fast bowler will train at the Premier League champions’ Etihad Campus as he seeks to bounce back from a calf problem and realise his ambition of playing into his 40s.

Manchester City-focused Twitter channel @City_Xtra conveyed the news to its followers, many of whom resorted to humour with their reactions.

Manchester City have had injury concerns of their own, particularly in defence, where Aymeric Laporte is in the early stages of a layoff that will continue into 2020 following a knee injury sustained against Brighton, as reported by The Guardian.

His centre-back colleague John Stones has been out injured since mid-September but is expected to return to action after the international break, according to Manchester Evening News.

Left-back Benjamin Mendy was sidelined for the defeat against Wolves on Sunday with a hamstring injury and has missed large chunks of the last two seasons through various injuries, as noted by TransferMarkt.

These Manchester City fans took to Twitter to have their say on Anderson’s link-up with the club:

What’s your take on Anderson training at Manchester City’s facilities? Let us know your views by commenting below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Loan Watch series, which takes a closer look at those players who are aiming to galvanise their careers away from the spotlight of their parent club.

When Crystal Palace decided to part with £9m to bring FC Midtjylland striker Alexander Sorloth to Selhurst Park, it looked like a promising signing.

He had hit 15 goals in 26 games that season before his arrival in SE25, and at the age of just 22, the Norway international looked like he could be a decent prospect.

Sadly for Sorloth, things didn’t work out too well in south London.

Say his name really quickly and it sounds like you’re saying ‘sloth’ – his movement in and around the penalty area at Palace was definitely akin to that of the famously lazy creature.

In total, he has made just 20 appearances – scoring a single goal – while spending the second half of last season on loan with Genk.

Back in the summer, the Eagles decided to loan their £9m man out once again, this time to Trabzonspor, where the powerful forward has thrived.

In a side also employing the likes of Daniel Sturridge and John Obi Mikel, Sorloth has netted six goals in 13 appearances, and also contributed a huge performance last time out.

Sorloth bagged a goal and also grabbed an assist in a 2-1 win over local rivals Rizespor, which helped Trabzonspor move up to second in the Super Lig table.

He told 61saat that he’s determined to break his best seasonal tally of 15 goals, and is certainly on course to do just that.

Sport Witness report that the Turkish side have the option to make Sorloth’s deal permanent at the end of his two-year loan from Crystal Palace, so the 6 foot 4 forward’s impressive form could be good news for the Eagles.

Why? Well, if he keeps his form up, then the chances of Trabzonspor activating that option to buy will presumably increase.

One might argue that Palace may simply be wanting Sorloth to develop, but by loaning him out last season, before immediately loaning him out once again, while also including an option to buy for Trabzonspor, suggests that they aren’t too keen to see him return – if they were, the Eagles surely wouldn’t have included the option in the first place.

Either way, his return to form can only be good news.

It’s the middle of the 2018/19 season and Zinedine Zidane has just returned from his extended holiday and dived straight back into the fires of being a Real Madrid manager.

The two people who were supposed to take over from the Frenchman at the end of 2017/18 have failed quite miserably and spectacularly, forcing Los Blancos to go through three managers in less than a season’s worth.

Even for their standards, that was some pretty swift justice imposed by the Galacticos’ board, and that’s taking into account the fact Real Madrid had nine different coaches in the last nine years. That means they roughly change their manager every season or so. Quite an achievement, that one.

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But Zidane was supposed to be different. And sure, he won three Champions League titles in a row, by all means, a historic accomplishment that guaranteed him the position for practically as long as he wanted it.

And at the end of 2017/18, it seemed like his tenure has reached its expiration date. The farewells were painful but no one could’ve predicted how poor Real Madrid would suddenly become with the Frenchman’s departure.

As a result, they only won one single trophy in the following season, and to add an insult to injury, it was a Club World Cup trophy – respectable but nowhere near the others that were up for grabs throughout the season.

Eliminated by Ajax quite early in the Champions League and put in their place in both the Copa del Rey and La Liga by Barcelona who ran away with the Spanish crown quite comfortably.

Florentino Perez simply had no choice – Zizou had to return and return he did, for better or worse.

Fast forward half a year and one or two crises and Zidane’s side are somewhere between pretty good and actually quite bad.

Watch Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale answer the internet’s weirdest questions in the video below…

Sure, they have been on an upward trajectory in La Liga lately, managing to sit on the throne with both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona staring at their behind and keeping three clean sheets in the last three league games, but then we have the Champions League – a competition that they’re supposed to be crushing and dominating with Zidane at their helm.

But somehow, after two games played, Real Madrid are sitting bottom of the table after suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat against PSG at Parc des Princes and an uninspiring 2-2 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu with Club Brugge.

So to sum up – you never know which Galacticos you’ll get. They could be pretty good but then they could also be pretty lacklustre as a whole, and that’s a big problem for Zidane. If they can’t find consistency, then their chances of success will plummet significantly.

And since their pedigree and reputation do demand victories and trophies, it would be far easier to just say Zidane is no longer the right man for the job and this team should look at a different captain to steady this ship that’s seemingly lost at sea.

But what good would that do?

It’s the devil you know, as they say, and in this case, it couldn’t be more true than that. Zidane knows this team and is still building something behind the scenes, regardless of the hiccups along the way.

Last season, the Galacticos were nowhere near that name and now, even though they’re still miles away, they are getting better with time and some credit simply has to be given to Zidane on this one.

Sacking him now might only disrupt their harmony and the process that they have going on. Changing coaches mid-season doesn’t really sound like a good idea at this moment and the 47-year-old should be given a chance to see this project through.

At the end of the campaign, if results are still underwhelming, Perez will surely find a suitable replacement in no time but for now he should stick with Zidane and support him fully going forward.

This is especially true given how this version of Real Madrid is definitely in transition, seeing how many of their star players are slowly but surely heading towards the sunset of their careers.

Can a fresh manager really handle the situation better than the one who spent years in the same locker room as those players? It’s unlikely, to say the least.

Maybe Zidane is no longer the person to put Los Blancos’ name at the peak of the summit but he will definitely get them as far as they can go with the resources and personnel they have at their disposal.

It remains to be seen, however, if he lives up to that expectation or not.

Perez has showcased a willingness to sack underperforming managers in the past when things haven’t been going Real’s way, and if results in Europe don’t improve rapidly it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Zidane in the firing line.

Only time will tell whether Perez is compelled to make a bold decision on the immensely successful manager’s future.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

Having arrived from Leicester in a big-money deal, the expectations were understandably high on what Riyad Mahrez would go on to produce in his Manchester City career.

The Algeria international had been one of the Foxes’ biggest stars in their miraculous title-winning campaign, winning the PFA Player of the Year award during the 2015/2016 season.

However, since arriving at the Etihad, Mahrez has found himself as being just another expensive recruit, and failed to really establish himself as part of Pep Guardiola’s first-team last year.

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The winger made just 27 appearances in the Premier League, and often found himself coming off the bench on many occasions. If the 28-year-old needed a stellar performance to truly remind everyone of his credentials, then he delivered it with aplomb against Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday night.

Mahrez was at his talismanic best against the Ukrainian giants, operating from his favoured right-wing position and cutting on to his left foot as per his trademark style. The former Leicester star bagged himself a goal and an assist in a virtuoso performance, but his underlying numbers over the course of the game really under-lined the kind of the impact he had.

The Algerian registered a joint game-high three key passes, whilst only City teammate Rodri completed more dribbles for the away side. It was a throwback performance to his Foxes days, and a huge reminder to the club’s hierarchy about why they splashed the cash to sign him.

When you have stars like Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva and David Silva, amongst others, in the City team, it can be so easy to just lose yourself. Questions of where exactly you fit into the set-up, and how much of the ball you will see all rear their ugly heads. It can really be a case of too many chefs and not enough waiters.

How much money could you make busking for a week as a freestyle footballer? Find out in the video below…

But on Wednesday night, Mahrez proved he has the ability to not just be a supporting act to the main cast; he can be the star attraction too.

After Leroy Sane’s unfortunate injury, Guardiola really has no excuse now to not give the winger a decent run of games. Whilst he has featured in all six of City’s games this season, the 28-year-old has started in just three of them.

After a mesmeric showing against Shakhtar, City simply have to throw all their chips into the Mahrez basket and watch him pay-out big-time. Sterling on one flank and the Algerian on the other could be utterly irresistible.

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Liverpool are seemingly returning to their brilliant best.

Not only did they win the 2018/19 Champions League but they’ve also clinched the UEFA Super Cup and recorded two wins out of two games in the new Premier League season so far.

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The 2019/20 campaign is looking to be very good for the Reds but we are still at the very beginning and it’s far too early for any sort of prediction just yet.

But Ian Rush seems to be enjoying this period as well.

The Liverpool icon took to

/B1WvT1YA0iL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link” data-lasso->Instagram to share some brilliant artwork of the Reds’ biggest legends, which included those from the years gone by and also some from the current crop of players.

The paintings showed the current coach, Jurgen Klopp, share some moments with Liverpool’s legends such as Bill Shankly.

Of course, Steven Gerrard was also present as one of the iconic players for the Merseyside team, among many others.

Rush captioned it as “dream scene”, implying this would indeed be a brilliant meeting of the finest talents from a handful of different generations.

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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…

Last weekend, Barcelona finally clinched their first three points of the new La Liga season, and Antoine Griezmann, their new star signing, was at the centre of it all, scoring two goals and assisting one. It was a huge change from his previous outing for the Catalans and a result of one simple tweak: no Luis Suarez in the lineup due to injury.

On the chalkboard

Ever since he arrived at the club, Suarez has been a key figure for Barcelona and a regular first-team member. His influence should not be questioned as the Uruguayan has scored a total of 177 goals for the team in 248 games he played for them. Similarly impressive was his 2018/19 season, when he scored 25 goals across all competitions.

But as deadly and as influential as Suarez has been, he’s also getting pretty old. At the age of 33, he’s already lost a fair share of his intensity, pace and stamina. When we combine that with Lionel Messi, who, for all his brilliance, has similar issues due to his age, it would be wise for Barcelona to refresh their attacking trio with a slight change to the roster instead of adding their new man to the existing blueprint.

A new trident

It might seem a bit drastic at first but dropping Suarez altogether instead of just pairing him up with Griezmann would be a much better choice for Barcelona. Of course, when it comes to banging in the goals, the Uruguayan is very much still the top dog. But the Frenchman can match him in that and bring so much more to the table.

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Griezmann had a similar record with Atletico Madrid, scoring 133 goals in 257 games played. Slightly less, granted, but in a much more defensive system and a team that, in general, scores fewer goals than Barcelona. And we don’t have to look much farther than last two games Blaugrana played in La Liga for proof of this thesis.

In the first game, Griezmann was deployed as a left winger because Suarez occupied the centre-forward role. In the time they were both on the pitch, the Frenchman was clearly not as effective in his wide role. He only managed three shots and made just 33 touches in the whole game.

And what happened when he was played as the sole centre-forward against Betis? Seven shots, two goals, an assist and an incredible 87 touches all over the pitch. Not only that but he also sent two key passes and was involved in all sections of the game.

As much as Suarez was the go-to forward for Barcelona in all those years, keeping him in the lineup will only limit his new 28-year-old team-mate who has everything it takes to be the team’s focal point in attack.

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The wives of Celtic legends Billy McNeill and Stevie Chalmers will unfurl the Scottish Premiership flag ahead of the opening game of the season, the Hoops have confirmed, and the news has gone down very well with the fans.

Lisbon Lions McNeill and Chalmers passed away within a week each other in April and the club is honouring two of their best ever players. Unfurling the Premiership flag isn’t some measly show that every club does on opening day either – it represents last season’s title triumph, the club’s eighth in succession.

The two heroes played in the Bhoys’ greatest ever night as they became the first British-based club to win the European Cup, defeating Inter Milan 2-1 in Lisbon.

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Liz McNeill and Sadie Chalmers will be there in honour of their late husbands’ great achievements not just on that fateful night, but over the course of their glittered careers and lives, in which the legendary duo racked up a truly remarkable 749 club appearances between the two of them.

The presentation will take place ahead of Neil Lennon’s first domestic game back in permanent charge against St. Johnstone on August 3.

Here’s what the supporters had to say about the touching gesture on Twitter…

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West Ham United continued their preparations for the 2019-20 campaign with a 5-3 win over Hertha Berlin on Wednesday.

It proved to be a special occasion for Pablo Fornals and Sebastien Haller as the summer arrivals both netted their first goals for the Hammers.

Indeed, Fornals sent Manuel Pellegrini’s side on their way in the 11th minute, before Haller struck the team’s third of the afternoon 20 minutes from time.

West Ham landed Fornals from Villarreal last month, with the Spain Under-21 star moving to the club on a five-year contract.

And after watching him score on his second appearance for the club, a number of West Ham fans took to social media to lavish praise on the midfielder.

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It remains to be seen how Fornals takes to Premier League football, but he would have been delighted to get off the mark this close to the new campaign.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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From seemingly nowhere, Aston Villa confirmed the signing of Brazilian striker Wesley for a club record fee on Thursday.

Bringing in a striker after Tammy Abraham’s loan deal came to an end would have been a high priority so it’s not a surprise to see them add a prominent goalscorer to their side.

The forward, who will join from Club Brugge, scored 17 goals last season and will arrive from a league where a certain Christian Benteke also moved to the Villains from.

But how can Dean Smith get the best out of him in the Premier League?

On the chalkboard

Standing at 6 ft 3, Wesley is a terrific asset in the air, boasting the ability to hold the ball up but also use his technical ability to score canny goals from inside the penalty area.

Last season the Brazilian scored a deft flicked finish against Cercle Brugge, demonstrating the flair that he can provide.

However, in Belgium last season the 22-year-old was playing in a formation that won’t be too familiar to the Villans.

Utilised in a two-prong attack, Club Brugge played with a 3-5-2 formation, using the powerful striker as a tool for bringing others into play.

As a result, Smith may have to change things considerably to get the best out of him.

Most modern strikers can play on their own up top but it appears as though Wesley is more suited to playing with someone alongside him.

In the process of playing in a two-man forward line, he also claimed nine assists in the league which is evidence of his ability to supply his teammates.

If he can reach similar numbers next term he’ll be a fabulous asset after arriving for a huge £22.25m.

Villa may not have to go to the extremities of playing with a three-man defence but utilising two strikers could well be on the cards.

At the moment they have Jonathan Kodjia and Scott Hogan on their books who could be options alongside their new signing.