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Aston Villa’s consecutive victories over Norwich City and Brighton & Hove Albion had lifted the newly-promoted club beyond the immediate threat of relegation, but three successive defeats to Manchester City, Liverpool and Wolves have left these fans terrified of the club’s next six games following an official tweet.

Villa, who have returned to the top-flight following a three-year absence, currently sit 17th in the league table having won just three of their first 12 fixtures.

The prospect of facing Newcastle United, Manchester United, Chelsea, Leicester City, Sheffield United and Liverpool across both league and Carabao Cup action is proving to be a daunting prospect for a number of the club’s fans. 

Gaining traction over the next six games will be vital for Dean Smith’s side if they are to ensure relegation does not become a considerable concern, but these supporters have been letting their feelings be known following an official club tweet.

Here are some of the best reactions to Villa’s next six fixtures.

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

Newcastle are interested in Besiktas’ Domagoj Vida and according to Turkish outlet Takvim they could pursue a deal in January.

What’s the word?

The Croatia international was part of the team which made the 2018 World Cup final, with his performances throughout the tournament attracting interest from a number of suitors.

Liverpool were amongst those linked in summer last year but they failed to meet his club’s £22m asking price, which shows the pedigree that Vida has.

Newcastle, however, have a chance of striking a bargain, as Takvim report that he could be available for as little as €10m (£8.5m), but with other Premier League interest from Brighton there could be potential for that fee to rise.

Vida has spoken previously about his “dream” to play in the Premier League, but just because he’s available for a cut-price, it doesn’t mean the Magpies should make a move.

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Strong in defence

Newcastle are well-stocked at centre-back and it is perhaps the area with the most strength in depth, with a number of players able to perform well there.

Previously fringe players like Ciaran Clark and Paul Dummett have impressed in recent games, with the former’s recent comments highlighting the difficulty Steve Bruce is already having in keeping his players happy.

Vida would only add to that problem, and while he is a player with great experience and ability – hence why Liverpool were interested – it is a move which doesn’t consider short or long-term planning.

The Magpies would be better focusing their money on an area of the sqaud which is in most need of reinforcement, such as up-front as the team has just 11 league goals so far.

The arrival of the Croatian could threaten to disrupt the harmony of the back three and ostracise others who have played well, which wouldn’t reflect well on Bruce or do him any favours with the rest of the squad.

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…

Paul Gascoigne has hailed Tottenham Hotspur’s appointment of Jose Mourinho as their new manager, per Sky Sports.

What’s he said?

The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss was handed a three-and-a-half-year contract on Wednesday, less than 12 hours after Mauricio Pochettino was sacked.

Spurs, of course, are currently 14th in the Premier League, 11 points behind the top four.

And Gascoigne, who played for the club between 1988 and 1992, winning the FA Cup in 1991, believes Mourinho is a top appointment as Spurs look to claw that gap back.

He said: “The way Manchester City have put pressure on everybody, people are looking for the best.

“As far as I’m concerned, Jose Mourinho is an unbelievable manager.

“If I was a Tottenham player now and knowing Jose Mourinho was going to be the manager I would be more than happy.

“Have you had a look at what Jose Mourinho has won? Jesus. Alex Ferguson was an unbelievable manager, the best ever in the world, and Jose Mourinho isn’t far from him. You cannot get any better than him.”

Short-term success

Ferguson built a dynasty at Manchester United.

Mourinho has never lasted more than three years at a single club.

To compare the two, at this point, is faintly ridiculous.

Of course, the Portuguese’s trophy haul speaks for itself and he is as decorated a manager as Spurs could have found.

But is he going to outlast even Pochettino, who spent five-and-a-half years at the club?

One has to presume that the answer is no.

Thus, this is an appointment built on short-termism more than anything else, and on a desire to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible.

Don’t expect Mourinho to do for Tottenham what Ferguson did for United, not by a long chalk.

During this difficult period players and those associated with football have been using various methods to try and keep spirits high, and Ally McCoist has now played his part.

The former Rangers striker was prolific during his spell at Ibrox, notching 34 league goals in the SPFL in both 1991/92, and in 1992/93.

As a result, he has countless goals and celebrations to reminisce about and he has done exactly that on

/B-NA94rDUqt/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link” data-lasso->social media, sharing photos from his early days in blue, including one of a trophy win.

There were several occasions to celebrate given he won ten league titles and the Scottish League Cup on nine occasions, as well as winning the SPFL Player of the Year award.

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The striker also used the post to issue a public safety announcement, reminding fans that it is important to stay at home during this period, however difficult that may be.

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He also interacted with his followers by prompting them to share their best memories of his days in a Rangers shirt, including the best goals, games and even kits.

Elsewhere, Rangers fans were pretty unanimous in their reaction of this 2018 signing…

It’s fair to say Jesse Lingard hasn’t enjoyed the greatest of times at Manchester United in the past couple of seasons.

The England international has struggled massively for form at Old Trafford, and this season’s dismal performances perfectly encapsulate that.

As per Transfermarkt, in the 35 games he has played across all competitions, the 27-year-old has managed just two goals and two assists, and he has been linked with a move away.

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And now, according to The Athletic, Premier League rivals Arsenal have been touted as a possible destination for Lingard, claiming that “it’s hard to rule out” a move especially if the Gunners don’t turn Dani Ceballos’ loan spell into a permanent one.

After hearing about the surprising news, United fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on Lingard’s potential switch to the Emirates.

Some United fans referenced how Lingard can now dance at the Emirates whenever he wants if a move were to happen.

One of the most iconic Lingard moments in a United shirt still remains his celebrations at the Emirates after scoring in a FA Cup clash, and if he does move to the Gunners, then he could potentially revisit those moments – perhaps.

The fact is, the Englishman has been nothing short of awful this season, and it would be a major turn up for the books if Mikel Arteta’s side feel the £19.8m-rated Lingard is the man to move for this summer.

Meanwhile, Man Utd would be making a foolish mistake by snubbing this star.

Fabian Delph may not go down as one of the Premier League’s all-time greats, but he has well and truly established himself as one of the top-flight’s household names.

He has played 185 times in English football’s top division alone, and has done so for three different clubs: Aston Villa, Manchester City and now Everton.

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It is easy to forget that Delph actually came through the academy system at Leeds, and it was at Elland Road where he really made his breakthrough into senior football.

All in all, he played 58 times for the Whites, before earning a high-profile £6m move to Villa in the summer of 2009. Since then, Delph has been around the block to say the least, and Football FanCast have had a look at what the former Leeds starlet has achieved…

Where is Fabian Delph now?

The 30-year-old made a total of 134 appearances at Villa Park, before really gaining some major success at the Etihad with City.

Whilst Delph was perhaps never one of the first names on the team-sheet in Manchester, he certainly proved himself to be a valued member of the squad. His versatility meant that he would often fill in at left-back for the injured Benjamin Mendy, and with City dominating on the domestic front, the veteran picked up numerous trophies.

He won the Premier League twice in 2018 and 2019, and won four domestic cups too (one FA Cup and three League Cups). Injuries have certainly played their part in him not playing as much as he would have surely liked, but now plying his trade with Everton under Carlo Ancelotti, Delph can look back on a relatively successful career on a personal front.

Leeds have had plenty of academy products come through the system, but only a few can match the kind of trophy haul Delph has managed since leaving Elland Road.

Meanwhile, Leeds fans are loving this Luke Ayling footage.

Heading into Jose Mourinho’s first summer in charge of Tottenham, the Portuguese man will no doubt be hoping to bring in some more of his own players to help rebuild the squad in his image.

Steven Bergwijn of course was the only permanent signing made by the Lilywhites back in the January transfer window, and now according to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo, Spurs are now the front-runners in the race to sign Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

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The report reveals that the Croatian has been linked with a move away from the Catalan giants after failing to agree a new contract with the club.

And after hearing about the update on their swoop for the play-maker, fans of the north London side took to Twitter to voice their thoughts about their latest transfer target.

A couple of Spurs fans insisted that Rakitic is better than current midfielder Harry Winks even at his age.

Despite being 32-years-old, Rakitic would bring a wealth of experience to Mourinho’s side, and give them someone who has been a cornerstone of a Barcelona midfield for the past few years.

He has played 299 times for the Catalan outfit, scoring 34 times and providing 41 assists, and has of course played Champions League football year-in and year-out.

A move for the Croatian could be a shrewd move by Spurs this summer.

Meanwhile, Spurs fans discuss an update on their swoop for this goalkeeper.

Wolverhampton Wanderers would be silly to pay 20 million euros (roughly £17.9 million) for Óscar Rodríguez after Mundo Deportivo (via Talking Wolves on Twitter) claimed that the Midlands club were interested in signing the Real Madrid midfield player.

As per the outlet, Rodríguez , who is currently on loan at Leganés, is also attracting interest from Schalke and Lazio, and it is rumoured that Los Blancos value the 21-year-old at 20 million euros.

That figure may not seem much of a gamble to a Premier League side, but WWFC would be silly to pay that much for a man who arguably would not fit into their team at the moment.

In Nuno Espirito Santo’s current system, it could be argued that there would be no room for an attacking midfield player such as Rodríguez to play in the pocket, as demonstrated by a graphic from their last outing in the 1-1 away at Olympiacos in the Europa League all the way back on the 12th March this year, according to Sofascore.

Indeed, the Spaniard has predominantly played in that position in this season so far, featuring in that role 15 times (via Transfermarkt), whereas Wolves tend to play two deeper central midfielders in Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho.

However, he has shown that he can play in other areas and has performed relatively well in La Liga so far, scoring seven goals and providing two assists in 26 appearances (per the website).

Nevertheless, spending £17.9 million on a player who may have to settle for a place on the bench based on Nuno’s preferred formation would be silly as the money can be used to strengthen elsewhere on the pitch in the upcoming summer transfer window, money which will be invaluable on the back of the current pandemic with clubs likely to face financial challenges.

Wanderers, would you pay that figure for Rodríguez? Comment below!

Kenny Miller says that if Glasgow Rangers receive an offer of £20m for Alfredo Morelos, they should seriously look at it.

The Colombia international has been regularly linked with a move away from Ibrox over the past few weeks and months, with the likes of Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund mentioned in connection with his services, whilst Newcastle are also said to have him on their radar. After 29 goals already this campaign, he is understandably in demand.

Speaking to BBC Sportsound (via The Daily Record), Miller said:

“If you’re getting £20million for Alfredo Morelos then you could look at that.

“There’s some real strengthening you could go and do in that squad and that would probably deal with every area we’ve discussed.

“If he stays, there you go, the proof is in the pudding and you’re guaranteed 25 goals – it’s hard to replace that.

“It all depends on where his head is at because he did go off the boil as well, not just him, the whole team went of the boil in the second half of the season.

“So I wouldn’t point the finger at Alfredo at all, he did go off the boil but he’s still got 28 goals prior to that.

“It’s a lot of goals to have scored in that five, six months of the season.

“I think he’ll go. I’ve no information on that, I don’t know where he’ll go.”

Losing Morelos would leave a big hole up front for Steven Gerrard to fill, but Miller does have a point. £20m would allow the former Liverpool captain to strengthen his squad across the board, which is what they need to do if they are to catch Celtic at the top of the table or win their first piece of silverware since his arrival.

With the current pandemic, it remains to be seen whether any side makes a real effort to secure the 23-year-old’s services moving forwards.

Let us know what you think below!

Plymouth Argyle announced on Monday that young striker Luke Jephcott has signed a new contract at Home Park.

The news was confirmed on the club’s official website pafc.co.uk and the 20-year-old has been given strong backing by his manager to play a key role for them in League One next season.

Ryan Lowe told pafc.co.uk: “We’re very pleased to have got the deal done. Luke has still got elements of his game to work on, but he has clearly got a lot of potential, as he showed last season.

“As an Academy graduate, Luke has the Green Army fully behind him, and the opportunity is there now to kick on and try to make himself the main striker for Argyle.”

Wales underage international Jephcott wasn’t even in Lowe’s plans at the start of the season, instead being loaned out to non-league Truro City and only being recalled after an impressive spell there (as per pafc.co.uk).

He maintained his excellent form upon returning to his parent club, though, with four goals in his first two games back at Plymouth and seven in 14 appearances as they clinched promotion from League Two (as per TransferMarkt). Despite only playing just over 1,000 minutes for the Pilgrims in the 2019/20 season, the 20-year-old ended the campaign as their joint-second highest scorer alongside Ryan Hardie.

Jephcott could well be needed to fulfil Lowe’s prophecy about him becoming the main striker at Home Park, with this season’s leading marksman Antony Sarcevic confirming last week that he is leaving the club.

Jephcott could soon have some big responsibility thrust upon his young shoulders if indeed he is asked to lead the line for Plymouth in League One next season, having perhaps gone under the radar at League Two level with Sarcevic leading the way for the Pilgrims in 2019/20.

It promises to be a significant step up for the 20-year-old but he has briefly sampled the third tier before and, based on his form over the last few months, he has earned the opportunity to be Plymouth’s main man in attack for next season.

Plymouth fans, how big a boost is it to have Jephcott signed up for another season? Comment below with your views!