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David Moyes’ decision to sanction a one-season loan deal for Felipe Anderson to join FC Porto appeared to be proven right at the weekend as the West Ham United forward made his debut for the Liga NOS giants.

West Ham had attempted to sell the Brazilian over the course of the summer market but failed to find a potential suitor willing to purchase the £22.5m-rated winger, and ultimately had to settle for a temporary deal without an option to buy at the end of the season.

Anderson was not Porto’s favoured option having strived to sign Gremio attacker Pepe but were not able to find an amicable agreement, and settled for the Irons outcast at the expense of a sizable loan fee and his £100,000-per-week contract.

Anderson had struggled to enter Moyes’ plans before the closure of the international transfer market, with the Scottish coach only awarding the 27-year-old two late cameo’s totalling two minutes in four Premier League games.

Porto boss Sergio Conceicao was also opposed to starting the attacker in his side’s first match post the October international break, only opting to select Anderson among his substitutes away to Liga NOS rivals Sporting CP on Saturday.

Nuno Santos opened the scoring for the hosts at the Jose Alvalade XXI with his second goal of the campaign, before first-half efforts from Mateus Uribe and Jesus Corona flipped the scoreline approaching the break.

Anderson entered the action as the first of Porto’s five permitted substitutes in the 59th-minute replacing Luis Diaz, but was unable to stretch the visitor’s lead with a forlorn cameo before Luciano Vietto snatched a late equaliser with one minute of regular time to play.

The result left Porto level on points with Sporting although having played a game more, and behind title-rivals SL Benfica.

Anderson’s 31-minute cameo at the Jose Alvalade XXI will have failed to leave a glowing impression on Porto boss Conceicao, and helped further justify West Ham’s decision to try and part ways just two years on from his then-club record £36million arrival.

The winger managed to record just 17 touches of the ball against Sporting, with which he completed just six passes, attempted no crosses, registered no shots on goal, completed just one of three dribbles, lost five of his nine duels and turned over possession four times, per SofaScore.

Anderson did come close to helping Porto stretch their advantage over Sporting with one key pass, but his offensive efforts were matched by his defensive labours with two tackles and one interception whilst being dribbled past twice on route to a 6.5/10 match rating.

He will certainly need to take his game to another level during his time in Portugal if Anderson has any hopes of impressing Moyes and earning a second shot at the London Stadium upon his return.

AND in other news, a £27m-rated West Ham man must utilise the east London outfit’s transfer failings to his advantage.

Key Information about Hillsborough Stadium

Hillsborough has been the home of Yorkshire located football club Sheffield Wednesday since it opened back in 1899.

On 15 April 1989, the ground was the unfortunate scene of the Hillsborough Stadium disaster where 96 Liverpool fans tragically passed away by a fatal human crush as a result of overcrowding in the central pends of the Lepping Lane stand allocated to the Reds.

The stadium now has an all-seated capacity of almost 40,000; however, this has temporarily been reduced to just under 35,000 on safety grounds. Hillsborough comprises four stands; the North Stand, Leppings Lane End (West Stand), the South Stand, and the Spion Kop.

A history of Hillsborough Stadium

The Owls were informed during the 1898-99 season that their home ground of Olive Grove would be needed for railway expansions, therefore they had to find a new ground in time for the following season. After months of searching, James Willis Dixon of Hillsborough House, offered a 10-acre site at Owlerton to the football club. This offer was accepted by the Owls, and they purchased the land for £5,000.

The first match to be played on the ground was on 2 September 1899 against Chesterfield which Wednesday went on to win 5-1. The ground was known as the Owlerton Stadium until 1914, when it was re-named Hillsborough Stadium after the ground’s history and improvements. The stadium came with plenty of early success for the Owls as they won their first-ever league titles in 1902-03 and 1903-04, in addition to a second FA Cup in 1907.

After the World Wars, Hillsborough was notably one of the top stadiums in the country having hosted a total of 27 FA Cup semi-finals, as well as it being selected as one of the venues for the Football World Cup in 1966 where it hosted many matches including a quarterfinal, Hillsborough Stadium also hosted its first national cup final in 1977 when Everton took on Aston Villa in the Football League Cup final replay.

The very sad Hillsborough Stadium disaster was the worst tragedy in English sporting history. A fatal human crush during an FA Cup semi-final match against Liverpool in April 1989 where 96 fans passed away as a result of overcrowding in the central pens of the Lepping Lane stand allocated to Liverpool supporters. It was later revealed that the Leppings Lane End of the ground did not hold a valid safety certificate, and as a result of the tragedy emerged the Taylor Report in 1990 which made it compulsory for all teams in the first two divisions to have all-seater stadiums.

Moving on from such tragedy, Sheffield Wednesday won promotion back up to Division One in 1990-91, and subsequently found themselves as founder members of the inaugural Premier League in 1992. In just their first season back in the top flight of English football, they finished seventh and managed to reach the second round of the UEFA Cup, playing a club-record four games in Europe.

Tickets to Watch Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough Stadium

Adult tickets at Hillsborough range from £20-42, and season tickets can be purchased for £455. Under-11 season tickets work out to be priced at just £1 per game. Concession season tickets start at £255.

Related Links

https://www.swfc.co.uk/ – Official website of Sheffield Wednesday

https://www.swfc.co.uk/tickets/match-ticket-prices/ – Sheffield Wednesday Ticket Office

Forgotten Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko could be set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer. 

According to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), AC Milan are very interested in signing the Frenchman and have already agreed personal terms with him. However, the Italians are yet to decide on a transfer fee with Chelsea to strike a permanent deal.

The report claims that Bakayoko has ‘reappeared’ on Milan’s radar after he enjoyed a loan stint with the Serie A side in 2018. He has since been on loan with AS Monaco, but the side in his native country weren’t willing to make the move permanent.

Now, the 25-year-old finds himself in search of a new club, with things seeming to have moved on without him at Chelsea.

The Blues have reportedly named a price tag for Bakayoko, but at €20million (£17.9m), Milan are struggling to meet the bar. However, they would be willing to pay in cash if Chelsea can lower the amount to €15m (£13.4m). The Frenchman is also allegedly willing to lower his current wage packet by as much as 50% in order to make the move happen.

Bakayoko last made an appearance for the West London outfit at the end of the 2017/18 season before he was sent on back-to-back loan spells. Now Frank Lampard has the reins, he has slipped even further down the pecking order.

With the likes of Mason Mount impressing this campaign and new recruit Hakim Ziyech now at the club, Bakayoko’s best bet for guaranteed game time is to leave Stamford Bridge. Indeed, Chelsea will want to cash in on the Frenchman, whose contract runs out in 2022. Cashing in on the midfield man would also free up a lofty £110,000 per week in wages, according to Spotrac.

The Blues are eagerly looking to strengthen their team ahead of the new term and are eyeing up huge money targets like Kai Havertz, who has already agreed personal terms with the club. Another name on the wish list is Ben Chilwell, who Leicester have valued more than £80m departure Harry Maguire (via The Mirror).

Chelsea have started shopping around for alternatives due to the left-back’s mammoth price tag, but with the sale of Bakayoko, Lampard could inch closer to securing another of his high priority transfer targets.

Do you think Chelsea should sell Bakayoko this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

Celtic were crowned Scottish Premiership champions for a ninth successive time last week after the SPFL board cut short the season due to the pandemic.

It’s not come without it’s controversy, however, despite the Parkhead giants holding a 13-point lead with only a handful or so matches still to play.

Former central defender Gareth McAuley ended his career at Rangers in 2018/19 and has spoken out about the title claiming it is ‘tainted and hollow’ to which legendary striker Chris Sutton has ripped into him on Twitter, causing plenty of Bhoys fans to be in hysterics.

Sutton won four Scottish Premiership titles during a six-year reign in Glasgow and now does punditry on BT Sport.

McAuley goes on to explain that the title winners can’t be compared to the original nine-in-a-row winners or Rangers’ version from the 1990s.

The greatest rivalry in world football: Test your Old Firm derby knowledge below…

And it hasn’t gone down well at Celtic Park, here’s how fans have reacted to Sutton’s tweet…

WHILE in other news, Celtic fans react to Tom English tweet…

According to Bild, Newcastle are interested in signing Schalke midfielder Weston McKennie this summer.

What’s the word?

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Magpies’ proposed takeover, the club are still continuing to be linked with a whole host of players over these past few weeks.

And as per German publication Bild, McKennie is the latest man to be touted with a move to St James’ Park, with suggestions that the midfielder is dreaming of playing in the Premier League.

Think you’re a big Magpies fan? Can you name these former players by looking at their careers? Go on, give it a go…

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The report further claims that along with the Tyneside club, Premier League rivals Everton are also said to be in the running to sign him, and that with Schalke facing some financial issues, McKennie could be one man who can bring in some much-needed cash.

Longstaff replacement

Aside from the constant speculation surrounding Newcastle’s takeover, the other big talking point has of course been Matty Longstaff’s long-term future at the club.

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that the midfielder has been offered a lucrative contract by Serie A side Udinese, and there is the very real possibility that the homegrown hero could be set for a surprise exit from St James’ Park.

And if that does happen, Newcastle will surely be keen on bringing in a replacement, and in swooping for McKennie, they would actually be getting a major upgrade.

McKennie, 21, is just a year older than Longstaff, and has already picked up some huge experience by playing regularly for Schalke in the Bundesliga. He has already made 91 appearances for the first-team in his fledgling career, and this season, in particular shows why he is so much better than what Newcastle already have.

As per Sofascore, the box-to-box midfielder’s averages of 0.7 shots, 0.6 key passes, 1.6 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 5.1 duels won per game are all comfortably more than what Longstaff has managed in the Premier League this season.

Already a full USA international with 19 caps to his name (and an impressive six goals too), McKennie would more than ease the pain of potentially losing Longstaff this summer. His manager at Schalke, David Wagner, even said: “He’s an outstanding talent. In the No.6 or No.8 position he has the mentality, a real working mentality that you need. And he’s brave on the ball as well. He can be one of the best midfielders in the Bundesliga.”

Making a move for the £18m-rated McKennie seems like a no-brainer.

Former Rangers ace Kevin Thomson has set up a football challenge for fans and players to try, and the Ibrox faithful are blown away by footage of Barry Ferguson’s absolutely masterful attempt.

Thomson is now a private coach, and has challenged his followers on Twitter to volley a ball off a wall 50 times without letting it touch the ground. The catch is you must alternate feet with each touch and only use your laces, as using the side of the foot makes the challenge far easier.

The Greatest Bargains in Premier League history – How much did they cost?

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The likes of Kenny Miller and Steven Davis have both joined in and they can be seen on Thomson’s Twitter feed, but no one has done it more impressively than Ferguson.

The 42 year-old had two spells at Rangers either side of a two-year stint at Blackburn Rovers, racking up five league titles, five Scottish Cups and five League cups during his career.

You can view the footage of his stunning close control and find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where one fan hailed his “magic”…

Rangers fans have slammed a “shambolic” decision from the club…

Plenty of supporters across the UK remain loyal and follow their club regardless of the situation – but who tops the ranking as the best away fans?

Whether your team is inheriting vast amounts of success or fighting a battle to avoid the drop, several fans continuously pump money into the club by travelling up and down the country to watch their beloved side.

Football would be nothing without fans – cliché I know, but it could not be more correct. If matches were played without fans creating an atmosphere, it simply wouldn’t provide entertainment value and the sport would fizzle out.

Spectators spend hundreds and thousands of pounds to support their club – but some teams have a better following than others.

So, who deserves the most credit? Below is our ranking for the 20 best away fans in the UK from bottom to top…

20. Derby County

The Rams faithful support their team in solid numbers on the road and just squeeze into the top 20 rankings.

Derby have failed to return to the Premier League since relegation in 2008 but the fans have remained loyal and continue to follow their club away from home.

19. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wolves have made an explosive return to the Premier League after their promotion to the top-flight in 2018 and the noise has arrived with them.

The West Midlands club inherits a passionate set of fans who travel excellently – both in numbers and ambience.

18. Sheffield United

The Blades fans have not had much to cheer about over the years but that never deterred them away from supporting their club in numbers.

You have to go back to 1925 to find the last time Sheffield United won the FA Cup and the fans will be hoping their outstanding commitment and loyalty is rewarded with silverware in the years to come.

17. Stoke City

Stoke have spent several years in the Premier League and it wasn’t until recently they began playing Championship football, but the fans still travel in numbers.

The Potters have dropped attendances at home but their core away following remains solid and once they get going, the noise they produce is scintillating.

16. Crystal Palace

Palace are notoriously known for their excellent support but is often overrated. Yes, they inherit passionate fans and are a noisy customer, especially at home, but their away following is interpreted to be something it simply isn’t and although impressive, they do not belong in the top 15 for these rankings.

They do travel in numbers but a lack of consistent noise away from Selhurst Park prevents them from ranking higher.

15. Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs now have one of the best home stadiums in the world and they have packed out the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on multiple occasions.

Their away following is also solid and they regularly sell out the away end. Creating a loud noise is what Spurs fans are good at but need to do so more consistently to gain a higher ranking.

14. Chelsea

The rendition of ‘Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea’ is often among the mix in the away end for the Blues but as much as you mock them, they never fail to disappoint on their travels.

The west London club always sell out their away allocation and produce excellent noise to create an atmosphere.

13. Aston Villa

Villa hold a fierce rivalry with neighbours Birmingham City but it’s not just the big games the fans deliver on.

Away from Villa Park the waves of claret and blue pack out the away end, creating an atmosphere capable of surging on any team – something the Villa players must love.

12. Sheffield Wednesday

This could be a surprise inclusion for some, but Wednesday deserve to be among this list and a 12th-place ranking seems fair.

Despite disappointing attendances at home, the core of the fanbase remains and they travel up and down the country fantastically to watch their side play – especially given they are in the Championship.

Wolves fans have taken to Twitter to react after they heard that Cristiano Ronaldo had stolen a goal from Diogo Jota in Portugal’s 2-0 win over Luxembourg.

Jota – who was making his second appearance for the Portugal senior team after registering his first against Lithuania – clipped an effort over the keeper as he watched the ball bobble towards the back of the net, only for Ronaldo to tap it in before it had fully crossed the line.

It would’ve been a landmark moment for Jota, as he would’ve netted his first Portugal goal if Ronaldo had left it.

The Juventus forward – arguably one of the best players in history – came into the match on 98 international goals and was presumably searching for his 99th and 100th strikes, although he could only grab his 99th in a way that made some Wolves fans immediately take to their keyboards.

One supporter said that Jota was “absolutely robbed” and compared Ronaldo’s moment of theft to David Nugent’s iconic goal for England.

Another fan said that the diminutive Wolves forward was “thieved” by Ronaldo.

Let’s take a look at some more of the Twitter reaction…

Having signed from Turkish giants Besiktas back in January 2018 for a fee in the region of £27m, Cenk Tosun has spectacularly failed to deliver on the expectations that were placed upon him.

Then Everton manager Sam Allardyce lauded him for being “strong mentally” and hailed his “talent and goal-scoring” too. Sadly for both the Toffees and the striker himself, that has not proven to be the case.

In the 48 games he has played for the club, he has managed just ten goals as per Transfermarkt. And on Saturday afternoon against Norwich in the Premier League, the Turkey international produced a largely anonymous display.

As per Sofascore, the 28-year-old couldn’t convert any of the four attempted shots he had, whilst he only managed a measly 29 touches of the ball.

After seeing his poor performance, Everton fans flooded to Twitter to voice their thoughts on their centre-forward.

Many supporters of the Merseyside club couldn’t quite believe Marco Silva continues to play him, and insisted he simply isn’t good enough to play for the side.

Check out some of the reaction of Everton fans below:

Some Southampton fans have taken to Twitter to discuss Josh Sims, after a tweet emerged showcasing his form for New York Red Bulls.

The Saints academy graduate joined the MLS team on loan back in the summer and has made eight appearances for the American side, with six of them being starts.

Sims has scored one goal and recorded one assist in those appearances, and some Southampton fans have been sparked into a discussion on Twitter after being asked if they’re looking forward to seeing him return.

The MLS season is now over for the New York Red Bulls with the Conference semi-finals underway, and Sims’ loan is set to end officially on December 31st.

It remains to be seen whether or not Ralph Hasenhuttl implements the 5 foot 9 attacker into the first-team immediately – one fan below thinks that the 22-year-old “should be having an opportunity” at St Mary’s.

Let’s take a look at some more of the Twitter reaction from some Southampton fans on Twitter…