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Charlton fans have taken to Twitter to express their disgust at the performance on show from their side in the 1-0 defeat to Preston on Sunday.

Lee Bowyer was making his first appearance on the touchline for a few weeks after a period in the stands, but his pitch-side presence was not enough to inspire the Addicks to a win over Alex Neil’s side, who shot to the top of the Championship with their victory.

The south Londoners had half the amount of shots as their opponents having taken eight attempts, with only one of them hitting the target. Charlton also had less possession than Preston and earned six less corners, on a day where Naby Sarr in particular was utterly woeful – something that the fans on Twitter wasted no time in pointing out.

Following the Addicks’ fifth defeat of the season, they now sit 10th with 22 points having missed the opportunity to surge into the playoff places.

Let’s take a look at what the visibly unsatisfied Charlton fans on Twitter thought of the performance…

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Alex Iwobi and Bernard have been pushing for regular starts for Everton all season, and now is the time for Marco Silva to start both players together against West Ham United.

On the chalkboard

Currently, the Toffees sit in the relegation zone on just seven points from eight games which has, therefore, put heavy pressure on Silva’s shoulders.

Despite such dreadful results, the former Watford boss has been reluctant to change his team at times, keeping the same central defenders Michael Keane and Yerry Mina for each Premier League game, and starting forwards such as Moise Kean and Theo Walcott just twice and once respectively.

Two other players who have not seen much game time are Iwobi and Bernard. Iwobi has started just three Premier League games since leaving for Arsenal and has had three substitute appearances also. A similar situation has occurred for Bernard, with the Brazilian starting only four league games and coming off the bench for two.

Silva has got to change something

At the very least, Silva must change something, because whatever he is doing right now is not working.

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The club have scored just six goals so far this Premier League season, and whilst the likes of Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson each scored 13 goals last season, the Icelandic hasn’t netted this season, whilst the Brazilian has only two.

On the other hand, Iwobi has scored one goal in two fewer appearances than Sigurdsson, whilst winger Bernard has also bagged one in two games fewer than Richarlison.

It has come to a time now with Everton where it does not make sense to stay with the same team. Players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin have only two league goals to their name, so perhaps it’s time to start Kean or promote Anthony Gordon, who has six goals in six games for the U23’s.

The same applies to Iwobi and Bernard. Their competition in that position is simply not doing the job, so now it’s time for a change. Silva should do himself a favour and give both of them a start at West Ham because things are not working as they are.

It will be just the second time that the two have started together for Everton – and the first time in the Premier League – following their outing in the 2-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday in the cup. Should this be the case, Sigurdsson would need to be dropped so Iwobi can play just behind the striker.

Leeds may have come away from their clash against Birmingham with all three points but there were still some concerning elements to their play.

Despite registering 58% of the possession, they only won 1-0 courtesy of Kalvin Phillips.

As the club celebrated its centenary, it was rather appropriate that a player who’s risen through the ranks from the academy to the first team was the man to score. That didn’t stop negativity creeping into the fanbase, however.

That was particularly the case with winger Helder Costa who again was rather unconvincing. Since coming into the starting XI four games ago he’s yet to be involved in a goal.

Concerns appear to be growing over the 25-year-old as one supporter said he looked lost.

A further individual took to Twitter to compare him to Jimmy Kebe, a player who scored just once in nine games when on loan at Elland Road in 2014.

Another fan said he’d done absolutely nothing all season.

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Costa has scored a solitary goal and assisted three strikes in all competitions this term but only one of those contributions have come in the league.

Here’s the best of the reaction.

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…

Robin van Persie has told SPORTbible that Arsene Wenger had a bigger influence on him as a player than Sir Alex Ferguson.

What did he say?

The 36-year-old spent the best part of his career in England, with his time on these shores spread across two clubs, Arsenal and Manchester United. Combined, he scored 190 goals in 385 appearances.

He retired from football last season after returning to the Netherlands with Feyenoord, and he has been speaking about his career with SPORTbible. When asked which of the two managerial greats had the biggest influence, he responded:

“The biggest influence must be Wenger, because he was the one who worked with me. I came in as a kid and he helped me develop. He saw something in me. Sometimes I messed up. I got a silly red card or – as kids do – I made mistakes. But he still gave me another chance. Chance after chance sometimes. Sir Alex was at a different time because I came as a mature player. But I’m very happy to have worked with those two great managers – only a couple of players can say they worked under both!”

Both played important roles

The striker was spotted as a 21-year-old playing for Feyenoord by Arsene Wenger, and the latter deserves a big portion of the credit for turning the Netherlands international into one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history. Throughout his career at Highbury and the Emirates Stadium, his goal tally increased in almost every season, and he began to play a bigger and bigger role for the Gunners in each passing campaign.

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He always displayed so much potential, and the French boss persevered with him as he initially struggled to live up to those expectations, whilst he also had problems with injuries. By the end of his time in north London, he had scored 58 goals in his final two seasons for Arsenal.

However, whilst Wenger turned him into a fantastic player, it was Ferguson who turned him into a true star. Not necessarily thanks to his work on Van Persie specifically, but he enabled him to be a part of a Premier League-winning side, and he played a starring role too.

As the Red Devils lifted the title in 2012/13, RVP scored 26 goals as he played in every single match in the league, going down as a true legend in English football.

Yes, it was Wenger he moulded him, but Ferguson made him the finished article with the league win. It would have been such a shame for a player of his quality to depart England without a league title. Fortunately, that proved not to be the case.

Everton fans have taken to Twitter to express their excitement in seeing Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Andre Gomes back in training, whilst Theo Walcott was also spotted at Finch Farm.

The Englishman recently endured a head injury against Manchester City, just as Gomes has been dealing with a hip issue since the win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Marco Silva has confirmed both the former Arsenal man and the ex-Barcelona player are fit to start against Burnley on Saturday.

Gbamin, on the other hand, appears to have been shown in a full contact session at Finch Farm, but it is doubtful we will see the Ivory Coast international play immediately, as he has been out since the second game of the season, totalling eight weeks on the sidelines.

No doubt each will be a welcomed addition to the squad, especially as Morgan Schneiderlin has struggled in the absence of the two midfielders. The Frenchman registered a 4/10 in the defeat to Sheffield United courtesy of the Liverpool Echo, shortly before he earned a 5/10 for his display against City.

After the international break, Everton will play five games in the space of just 21 days, and a big squad will surely be essential for rotation in these fixtures, especially considering there is also a Carabao Cup clash in there against Watford.

Here’s what the fans have had to say about the returning midfielders…

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Blackburn Rovers recently announced that manager Tony Mowbray has reached the two-year mark in his tenure at Ewood Park.

Mowbray took charge of Rovers in February 2017, at which point the club were struggling in the Championship. The 55-year-old manager was not able to keep them in the second tier, but he had instigated an improvement in form and retained his position into the new League One season.

Venky’s Ltd, the owners of Blackburn Rovers, retained faith in Mowbray and were repaid when he brought the club back into the Championship at the first time of asking.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

Now, Rovers are undergoing a period of poor form, having lost their last four league outings, but they look to be safe from any relegation fears this time around. Considering the state of the club when Mowbray came in, the coach must be commended for the work he has done in steadying the ship and restoring the side as an aspirational one, rather than a fearful, failing one. 

Following the club’s two-year announcement, plenty of Rovers fans took to Twitter to applaud the work Mowbray has done so far…

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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… 

Transfer rumours haven’t particularly been rife since the window closed but Leeds are still targeting a new face.

Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani have been busy renewing the contracts of Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper and Stuart Dallas but it appears transfers are still on their mind.

Last week, Coventry Telegraph reported that they understand Leeds are tracking Coventry’s full-back Sam McCallum.

If the defender did indeed arrive at Elland Road, how could he slot into Marcelo Bielsa’ side?

On the chalkboard

McCallum has so far enjoyed a breakthrough term with the Sky Blues and has appeared in five matches in League One to date.

The teenager has appeared in both full-back positions but it’s on the left where he’s been trusted the most, featuring on three occasions in that role.

It’s an area of the pitch that did have multiple options in at Leeds before the summer.

Tom Pearce had the ability to play in that part of the pitch, as did Clarke Oduor and Vurnon Anita but they all left.

Their remaining options have been Gjanni Alioski and Barry Douglas but it’s Leif Davis’ emergence that could be the best news for McCallum.

In fact, it may have played a handy role in allowing Leeds to even pursue a target at left-back.

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Davis broke through in that role last term but he’s now become a centre-back in Bielsa’s eyes. The youngster has featured there in the League Cup and it might be that that’s where his future lies, certainly in a back three.

If he continues to play in that position Leeds might be left short on the left side of the pitch, particularly if an injury occurs.

Landing McCallum from Coventry, therefore, could help this greatly. He’s proven he’s ready for first-team football after starting on a regular basis in League One, so it would be strange if he was signed and not brought straight into the senior plans at Elland Road.

It can be argued that if Leeds hadn’t opted to change Davis’ role this season, they wouldn’t need to consider signing someone like the 19-year-old.

As a result, it could prove to be somewhat of a catalyst if a move materialises.

Leeds United striker Ryan Edmondson could leave on a permanent basis over the summer, according to Leeds Live’s Ed Mackey.

The Lowdown: Edmondson’s Leeds career

Now 20, he joined Leeds back in 2017 from York City and has made two senior appearances for the Whites.

He has spent time out on loan with Aberdeen and Northampton Town in recent years and began the current campaign with Fleetwood Town.

Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott praised the centre forward on social media after he scored and provided an assist against Barrow back in October, with Edmondson now on loan at Port Vale.

The Latest: Mackey’s claim

Mackey shared a story on Leeds Live on Thursday, just days after the striker scored his first Port Vale goal in a 1-1 draw with Forest Green.

The journalist said that it is likely a loan move or even a permanent exit could be on the cards in the summer, when Edmondson will enter the final 12 months of his Elland Road contract.

The Verdict: Permanent exit?

Edmondson admitted that he was ‘loving’ life with Port Vale, and if he continues to impress with the League Two side, perhaps a permanent move there could be on the cards.

It seems clear that Marcelo Bielsa doesn’t view the 20-year-old as a future first-team player following a number of loan spells away from the club. Also, the Argentine has kept the likes of Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood close at Thorp Arch, with the two young forwards making their Premier League debuts this season.

Therefore, a permanent exit could be the right call for all parties at the end of the season, with Edmondson now having the chance to catch the eye of future suitors by impressing at Vale Park.

In other news: Phil Hay and Graham Smyth buzzing over free transfer news involving Leeds

Aston Villa enjoyed a great January transfer window adding four new first-team players to their squad, with the additions of Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne already having a positive impact on the side, but Johan Lange could be set to repeat the mistakes of the past as potential transfer plans have been revealed.

The Villans have been linked with a surprising move for Arsenal forward, Alexandre Lacazette, as he is available on a free transfer this summer after failing to secure a new contract with the Gunners as of yet, and is reportedly demanding a €6m salary according to Sporx.

The potential signing is a shock, especially considering Villa already have a wide range of forward players, including Danny Ings who was signed by the club in the summer to bolster the strike force. As a result, it is hard to see how Lacazette would fit into the team and where he would gain game time over the current crop of players that the club already has.

The 30-year-old who was scathed for being “sloppy” by Arsenal legend Ian Wright, has been a key player for his current club over the last four years, with a G/A of 102 over 192 appearances and a goal involvement every 121 minutes, which is impressive, however his output this season has stagnated with just three strikes so far in the Premier League.

Lange could repeat McCormack mistake

Ross McCormack is renowned for being one of Aston Villa’s worst ever signings made by former owner Tony Xia, with the centre forward who cost Villa £12m back in 2016, flopping significantly over his three year period at the club with just three goals and one assist during his time.

Lange could be set to make a similar mistake by signing Lacazette, with his goal contribution declining and his chances of actually starting in the team over his peers like Ollie Watkins and Ings unlikely, it doesn’t seem like it would be a worthwhile move when you consider the striker’s salary demands.

Although it would be a free transfer, if the reports are to be believed his wage expectations would make him the highest paid player at the club, and taking the Gunners captain’s age into consideration, Villa would put themselves in a better position by signing a younger player for the future to add to their strike force should they feel it necessary to do so.

Gerrard is currently working hard to build his team of the future to suit his philosophy, and adding a player like Lacazette would only be a short term solution for strengthening the squad as well as potentially hindering the development of younger players in the forward line, so Lange should think twice before plotting a move this summer.

In other news: Gerrard must unleash Bertrand Traore

Manchester United have not made any signings as of yet in the January transfer window, but there has been plenty of speculation with a number of players linked with a move to the club this month, and one of those touted to arrive could be the perfect replacement for Paul Pogba if he does not commit to a future at Old Trafford this summer.

What’s the word?

Journalist, Conor Clancy, has given his perspective on Sergej Milinković-Savić being linked to Manchester United, and the effect he could have on the side, hailing the Lazio midfielder “another Paul Pogba”.

Clancy told GIVEMESPORT:

“I think Milinkovic-Savic is just another Paul Pogba in that they’ve got the same skill set. They’re physically quite similar. When they’ve got the ball at their feet, they’re capable of doing similar things.”

Milinkovic-Savic has been linked this month with a move to Man United, as Rangnick comes under pressure to improve the side, but no official bid has been made for the player as of yet.

Ralf must seal the signing

The £63m-rated beast could surely cure the Pogba headache Manchester United are facing with his contract ending in the summer of this year, and fans would welcome the signing of the midfielder, with one Red Devils fan tweeting;

“@ManUtd why are we not targeting Milinkovic-Savic this window. He looks like the perfect match to a rather subdued midfield.”

The Lazio midfielder is enjoying an impressive campaign so far in his 21 games, scoring seven goals, registering eight assists from a whopping total of 31 key passes and an 82.5% pass success. As a consequence of that, the 26-year-old has claimed the most assists in the Serie A this season.

According to Squawka, when you compare the Serbian to Pogba in their last full season for their respective clubs, the 2020/21 campaign, Milinkovic-Savic scored five more goals, converted more of his chances, bagged six more assists, created a higher degree of chances and completed more passes than the 28-year-old United midfielder.

It’s fair to say that he would not only be a good replacement but could potentially be an upgrade at Old Trafford, and Rangnick should not ignore how well the Lazio midfielder is playing right now, and how his influence could inject a fresh perspective into his currently underwhelming side.

In other news: Rangnick prepared to make offer for Araujo