Tag Futebol

Arsenal’s current run of eight consecutive wins in the Premier League has lifted them in to second and with an outside chance of pipping Chelsea to the title.

That probably won’t happen, but the slight fears that they might just miss out on a top four spot have been put to bed with a late surge in form that could see them finish the season as runners-up.

But if Arsene Wenger’s side are to mount a serious challenge for their first league title since 2004, they’re going to need to invest wisely in the summer transfer window.

Summer signing Alexis Sanchez has been on fire in his debut seasons at the Emirates, while Mesut Ozil’s flashes of brilliance suggest he has so much more to offer in an Arsenal side flirting with domestic success after over a decade of suffering in the shadows of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City.

Wenger’s reluctance to spend big money looks to be in the past if Arsenal’s last few transfer windows are anything to go by, so it’s fair to say the Gunners faithful are expecting more big name arrivals ahead of next season.

Arsenal have been linked with 36 players already, so we asked Arsenal fans to vote thumbs up or thumbs down on each and every one of them.

305 Gooners had their say and, now voting has officially closed, we’re bringing you the five players they want Arsene Wenger to splash out on this summer without fail.

So, here goes…

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5. Petr Cech

The 32-year-old Czech shot-stopper has been relegated to the Chelsea subs bench since Thibaut Courtois returned from his loan spell with Atletico Madrid in the summer.

Given that Cech is still one of the world’s best goalkeepers, it’s no surprise he’s considering a move away from the club where has made over 330 Premier League appearances in an attempt to finish his career on a high.

Daily Telegraph journalist Matt Law revealed on Sunday Supplement recently that Chelsea will allow Cech to pick the club he’d like to join in the summer, instead of prevent him from joining a top four rival.

And that’s great news for Arsenal, who are lining up a move for the ‘keeper, according to the Metro.

And with Wojciech Szczesny’s Arsenal career in doubt, Wenger probably sees Cech as an idea first choice keeper for the next couple of years, though that would mean David Ospina being unfairly dropped back to the bench.

Still, Arsenal fans appear to be in agreement, with 116 voting in favour of a move for the Blues keeper.

4. Paulo Dybala

The 21-year-old Argentine has burst on to the scene this season with some phenomenal performances for Palermo over in Italy.

The wonderkid has netted 13 goals in 29 league appearances for Rosanero so far this season, which has led to some of Europe’s elite clubs showing a serious interest in his signature.

Arsenal are one of those sides and, if MirrorFootball are to be believed, they’ll be making a move for him in the next week or so, with a £29million price tag placed on the striker’s head by club President Mauro Zamparini.

Danny Welbeck’s injury record – which has subsequently hindered his goal scoring record – this season will have worried Wenger, so it’s no surprise he’s thinking of bringing in another goalscorer this summer.

Arsenal fans feel the same, obviously, and would love to see Dybala swap pink for red before the start of next season. Surprisingly, 57 Gunners fans don’t want him at the Emirates next term, but it’s ok because 110 do.

3. Alexandre Lacazette

Staying on the subject of strikers, there’s a certain Frenchman catching the eye of all Europe’s top clubs at the moment.

Banging in 24 league goals in a season is always going to get you noticed, no matter what league you’re playing in, which is why 21-year-old Alexandre Lacazette is being linked with the world and his wife.

The youngster has broken on to the scene with Lyon this season and Arsenal appear to be interesting in bringing his goal scoring exploits to the Emirates Stadium as Wenger goes in search of a Premier League title.

The fans want him, too, with 153 Gooners voting him a thumbs up in our recent poll.

The striker revealed last summer that he turned down advances from Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton and Newcastle in order to go head-to-head with Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Ligue 1’s Golden Boot.

He’s certainly gone and done that, and he’s also increased his value in the process.

It appears to be a straight arm wrestle between Arsenal and Liverpool for his signature this summer. Who will get him?

2. Raphael Varane

Despite signing Brazilian Gabriel Paulista in January, Arsenal fans are still crying out for another centre-half this summer.

Laurent Koscielny is struggling to keep himself fit and Per Mertesacker is admittedly no longer the spring chicken he perhaps used to be.

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So Arsene Wenger is probably right to be looking around Europe for a decent centre-back to come in partner Gabriel in the heart of defence next season.

Real Madrid’s Varane is being touted as the ideal man to do just that, but Arsenal face stiff competition from Chelsea, with Jose Mourinho making it no secret that he is a big fan of the 21-year-old defender.

According to the Metro, Real Madrid have agreed to allow Varane to leave the Bernabeu for as little as £20million this summer, which is probably why Arsenal fans are so eager for Wenger to tempt the France international to north London.

Given his age, his potential and current price tag, it’s no surprise 168 Gunners fans voted for Varane, while just 22 aren’t too keen.

1. Morgan Schneiderlin

Anyone else getting sick and tired of Arsenal’s reported persistent interest link with Morgan Schneiderlin? No? Just me, then.

Anyway, it’s certainly no secret that Arsenal have been crying out for a decent defensive midfielder ever since they sold Alex Song to Barcelona in 2012.

The emergence of Francis Coquelin has perhaps dispelled the rumours linking Arsenal with the Southampton’s Schneiderlin in recent months, but that doesn’t mean Arsenal fans no longer want him.

The Saints midfielder was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates since last summer, and even publically announced his anger as the St. Mary’s outfit told him he wasn’t allowed to leave the club while they went about flogging half of their squad to Liverpool.

Since then he’s proven to be an important player in Ronald Koeman’s Southampton revolution this season as they surprise everyone by challenging for a top four finish, or at least a spot in next season’s Europe League.

So that’s why 194 fans voted for the France international, while the 19 fans who voted thumbs down are probably content with Coquelin and another challenge for a top four finish.

Languishing eight points from safety at the foot of the table with six games remaining. It’s now become a case of ‘when’ not ‘if’ Reading will drop back into the Championship next season. Even new boss Nigel Adkins offered a tenuous acceptance to the fate that so inevitably awaits his side, acknowledging that he is already planning ahead for the next campaign. That being said Adkins hasn’t yet accepted defeat in the battle to beat the drop and is remaining positive in the face of adversity even after seven straight league defeats  – the latest coming at home to former club Southampton – and one short of the Premier League record. Anything but a win this weekend would doom the Royals to England’s second tier although it’s difficult to see a victory being anything but a short stay of execution.

Liverpool make the trip South still in with a shout of European qualification after four wins in their last half dozen league games. In fact the Reds are six points better off than they were at this stage last season and have found themselves on an upward trajectory since the New Year. It all goes to illustrate the improvements made under the watchful eye of Brendan Rodgers in his first season as Anfield boss. Extracting the best from top scorer Luis Suarez will stand as one of the Northern Irishman’s many achievements this season although that will ultimately be trumped if he can lead the club back into Europe with a top-six finish. Merseyside rivals Everton are currently blocking them on that path and hold a three-point advantage with a game in hand.

Team News

Stewart Downing is available for Liverpool after taking ill during last weeks draw with West Ham in which he was substituted before half time. Raheem Sterling (thigh) has been ruled out meaning Brendan Rodgers has no fresh injury concerns.

Reading will be without Jimmy Kebe (groin) while fellow midfielder Hope Apkan (ankle) is a major doubt.

What the managers said…

“Every team is planning for next season and will have plans for whatever division they’re in. I’ve got an opportunity to assess the playing staff and we’ve got to keep doing that and working hard to build on the success we’ve had before at Reading. We had an idea of what we had before we got here. We’ve got a blank piece of paper and a fresh challenge.” Nigel Adkins admits he already has an eye on next season (Daily Mirror)

“As a club, we want to be in there. We really enjoyed the European football this season (in the Europa League) after it had been missing for a year and I know the supporters love the travel,” Rodgers said. But you could argue that a season free of European football would give us a greater chance of finishing in a much higher position in the league.” Brendan Rodgers believes missing out on Europe might benefit Liverpool (Telegraph Sport)

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Pre-Match Statistic: Reading have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last nine meetings with Liverpool in all competitions.

Prediction: Reading 1-3 Liverpool

Make your bets ahead of the showdown at the Madjeski Stadium by clicking on the banner below

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Arsenal fans coped with the disappointment of losing Alexis Sanchez in the January window by celebrating the news of Mesut Ozil’s new contract.

The German World Cup winner penned a deal that would keep him at the North London outfit until 2021.

Throughout his five years at the Emirates, the midfielder has received mixed reviews for his performances.

Many times, the 29-year-old has been accused of going missing in big matches, but he has also been influential in certain games this season.

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On Thursday, Ozil was named in Arsene Wenger’s starting XI for the team’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against CSKA Moscow in Russia.

The Gunners almost suffered a scare when the hosts went 2-0 up, but goals from Danny Welbeck and Aaron Ramsey gave the team a 6-3 aggregate win.

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Ozil has created 12 assists in all competitions for Arsenal this season, but he was unable to contribute on Thursday night, which left some fans frustrated with his performance.

Others, though, were satisfied with the 29-year-old’s display.

Since joining United in January 2014 for what at the time was a club record fee hitting a cool £37.1 million, Juan Mata has failed to find a permanent place in the struggling squad. Some have called for him to be moved on or even used as a super sub but in my opinion, Mata should be dropping United – not the other way around.

When Mata joined in the winter transfer window of 2014, United lucked out. They were going through a tricky season under then manager David Moyes and were in desperate need of a player with his attributes. Enter twice Chelsea player of the year and World Cup winner Juan Mata. Praised for his ability to create space and opportunities for his forwards, Mata was a prized asset for any team.

Unless of course that team is managed by the Special One, Jose Mourinho. Obsessed with changing the forward thinking player into one that was willing to expel his energy on tracking back, Mata found himself more often sidelined than not.

Surely a player who had produced so many assists, was cherished by supporters and was part of Chelsea’s first ever Champions League winning squad deserved better than just a space on the bench. At Chelsea or Manchester United.

In his two happy years at Chelsea, Mata was their driving force creating 25 assists and 197 chances. But under Mourinho, Moyes and now current manager Louis van Gaal in almost the same time frame, Mata’s stat’s have dropped considerably to only nine assists with 92 chances created.

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So who is to blame? I don’t believe Mata is at fault. He rarely makes a starting eleven which is important to help a player not only get used to the team tactics but also to keep them match ready. Under Moyes, Mata was given more opportunities which in turn led to him scoring six league goals in his final six matches of last season proving that a run of games is everything to a player.

But unfortunately van Gaal refuses to allow the player to play in his traditional number 10 role, opting instead to use Wayne Rooney as the playmaker and others as out-and-out strikers. And while United sit in fourth with ten games to go, their performances have been highly unconvincing, leading to top players like Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao bearing the brunt of supporters’ criticisms.

I do hope United can find a way to properly integrate Juan Mata into their regular starting eleven as when he is at his best, he truly can be the difference between winning the Premier League and not even making top four. Such is the player’s vision and high level of football intelligence but he has to have the support of his manager. 

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Fortunately, if worst comes to worst, Mata will always be able to find himself a club willing to give him a chance. He has too much experience, won too many trophies and let’s be honest, he is better than many players that play his position.

I just hope United realise his value before it is too late.

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How times change. When Queens Park Rangers and Swansea City were promoted to the Premier League in the early summer of 2011, it was widely predicted that while Rangers would become a permanent fixture at the top table, Swansea would almost certainly suffer the indignity of a quick-fire return.

Fast forward 23 months and the script has been rewritten to such an extent that the original draft is virtually unrecognisable. Two goals from Michu, one from Angel Rangel and another from Pablo Hernandez at the Liberty Stadium two weeks ago not only took Swansea into seventh place (they are now eighth), but left Rangers facing the near impossible task of retaining their Premier League status.

With only days remaining before the Swans make the trip to Wembley to face Bradford City in the Capital One Cup final, we take a look at three players to keep an eye on as we approach the big day.

Michu –  The Spanish attacking midfielder/striker signed from Rayo Vallecano for £2m last summer has arguably turned out to be the buy of the season, as he already sits on 13 league goals and 16 goals overall. His form has inspired Swansea City to their first domestic cup final in their 100-year existence, and they currently sit comfortably at 8th in the Premier League table.

Michu is a true predatory striker who always finds the perfect finish. His strike against Chelsea embodied everything that is right about his play – as Jonathan de Guzman found the Spaniard on the edge of the box, he proceeded to curl the ball with aplomb past Petr Cech and into the net. A truly wonderful finish and a warning to other teams that this player cannot be given any space in or around the box. His finishing combined with Swansea’s penetrative passing style make for a very dangerous combination.

Ashley Williams – The Welsh international captain Ashley Williams has been at Swansea City since 2008 and has seen them promoted twice since joining from Stockport County for a fee of around £400,000. His defensive instincts have proved vital to Swansea’s surge over recent years and they would not be enjoying such a successful season, as they sit 8th in the Premier League table and have reached their first domestic cup final ever, were it not for Williams’ experience.

He’s a classic British defender, not afraid to put his body on the line and get physical if necessary. His time at Swansea has seen his game develop beyond defensive responsibilities, however, as he often surges forward and helps link-up play and pick out incisive passes. It’s not just his strength that makes him a formidable defender, however, as his reading of the game and positional play are second to none.

Wayne Routledge – It’s tough to choose just one Swansea midfielder to place on this list, as there are numerous who have had a fantastic season. The likes of Nathan Dyer, Jonathan De Guzman and Pablo Hernandez have been in inspired form, but Wayne Routledge has really stepped up this season. The Englishman joined from Newcastle for an undisclosed fee in August 2011 and has really developed his game during his time at the Welsh club. Traditionally a winger, his time at Swansea has seen him play in the centre of the park more, and as a consequence, his game has flourished.

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Against Queens Park Rangers, Routledge played through the centre with Dyer and Hernandez on the wings, and the QPR defence just couldn’t cope with their quick penetrative passing and switching of positions. Routledge has already scored 5 league goals this season and poses a real threat in front of goal. His adaptability in midfield provides Swansea with a plethora of options, and the ability to switch tactics and formations on the fly.

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Sky Sports pundit Matt Le Tissier has claimed that Toby Alderweireld is a cut above his teammate Davinson Sanchez.

Plenty of the fans’ focus has been on Alderweireld’s contract situation given that he is yet to sign fresh terms at the North London outfit.

However, the centre-back has barely spent any time on the pitch since November due to injury problems.

After suffering the blow against Real Madrid in the Champions League, the Belgian spent almost three months on the treatment table.

The 29-year-old returned to Mauricio Pochettino’s side in February, but only for two fixtures, both of which were in the FA Cup.

Alderweireld has been working on his fitness behind the scenes, but Sanchez has also been keeping his teammate out of the XI.

The 21-year-old joined Spurs from Ajax last summer and has gone on to start 23 Premier League games and eight in the Champions League.

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Ahead of Sunday’s showdown against Chelsea, though, pundit Le Tissier selected Alderweireld to partner Jan Vertonghen at the back of a combined XI for Sky Sports.

“I’m going for the Belgian centre-back pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld, who is on a different level to Davinson Sanchez. I think it would be a big blow if Tottenham fail to keep hold of Toby.”

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Ask any Arsenal fan what the club’s priority should be in the summer transfer window, and the answer will likely be ‘a holding midfielder’ – to many, Arsene Wenger’s eternal blind spot in the transfer market, where make-shift options such as Mikel Arteta, Abou Diaby, Mathieu Flamini and most recently, Francis Coquelin, have been preferred to the more costly, more conventional play-breakers attainable from other clubs.

The problem eternally plaguing the Gunners however, is that they’re obliged to be more stubborn than most when adding to the midfield – particularly in deep-lying roles. The need for some physical variety in the engine room is obvious – currently, Aaron Ramsey and Diaby are the only midfielders that measure at above six foot – whilst the defensive capabilities of a tried and trusted anchorman would accommodate for the creative licence Arsenal’s more offensive midfielders have become accustomed too.

Yet, a beastly juggernaut like Marouane Fellaini, Mile Jedinak, Victor Wanyama or William Carvalho would look disastrously cumbersome in a midfield where silky skills and technically-demanding build-up play reigns supreme. At least the academy products, although lacking the more familiar characteristics of defensive mids, are well-versed in the Arsenal philosophy.

In other words, physically imposing midfield generals that don’t juxtapose Arsenal’s definitive brand of creative, expansive football – 6 foot 4 monoliths blessed with the technical quality and composure participate in Gunners’ passing game without slowing it down or conceding possession – are an exceptionally rare breed.

One might look at Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic, Manchester City’s Yaya Toure or Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets, but these are amongst the best in their trade; even if Arsenal hypothetically had the money to sign them, convincing top stars to leave top clubs is a gargantuan task within itself – especially for a club that’s won just a single trophy in the last decade, and never claimed a Champions League title.

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Indeed, unless Arsene Wenger plans on rebuilding Arsenal’s philosophy from the ground up, he can only settle for the perfect candidate to anchor his midfield – someone not only blessed with an eclectic blend of defensive awareness, height, strength and quality on the ball, all at Premier League title-contending standard, but perhaps most importantly, feasibly within the north London club’s reach this summer.

One defensive midfielder that might just embody all of those requirements however, is Bayern Munich’s Javi Martinez – a bullish, brazen, 6 foot 3 battering ram, also capable of playing at centre-back, boasting all the technical mastery one would expect from a regular Spain international plying his domestic trade under tiki-taka specialist Pep Guardiola.

The 26 year-old is no Xavi or Pirlo, but for a player of his imposing frame and bellicose nature, a pass completion rate of 89% over the last two campaigns, jumping up to 93% in the Champions League, with a forward pass bias of 80%, is certainly nothing to be sniffed at, especially when combined with averages of two tackles, 1.8 interceptions and 3.4 successful aerial duels per match.

Likewise, although holding position remains Martinez’ predominant job, it’s by no means his only mode of play; during his time at Athletic Bilbao and inaugural season with Bayern, the Spaniard made bullish runs forward one his trademarks, regularly fighting, wrestling and contesting his way up field – in a not too dissimilar fashion to Chelsea’s Diego Costa – to produce a healthy supply of goals; 25 in 240 for the Basque outfit, three in 43 during his first campaign at the Allianz Arena.

That diverse dynamism could serve Arsenal equally well in defence and attack, but perhaps most importantly of all, Martinez represents the size and calibre of player capable of competing effectively with Chelsea’s Matic and City’s Toure. In my opinion, this has been the ultimate difference between Arsenal and the Premier League’s table-toppers over the last few season – the glass ceiling that perpetually limits positive results against the title contenders.

You might be wondering why Bayern Munich would be prepared to part with such a player – as I’ve billed him, a domineering battler of brawn and skill, adept enough aerially and defensively to even play at centre-back – and officially, they aren’t.

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But Martinez has never quite captured Guardiola’s imagination in the same way as predecessor Jupp Heynckes, making nine appearances less than the campaign prior under the former Barcelona boss in 2013/14. He’s yet to feature this season due to a long-term injury, but that convinced Guardiolo to sign both Xabi Alonso and Medhi Benatia towards the end of the summer window, two coveted names Martinez will struggle to reclaim his place in the starting Xi from. From playing a pivotal role in the Bavarians’ 2013 Champions League title campaign, he’s now being pushed to the peripheries of the squad.

In my opinion, that gives Arsenal a way in – albeit, an exceptionally expensive one, having originally cost Bayern an eye-watering €40million. Yet, for what Arsenal desperately require in their midfield, the unique demands aforementioned, and the positive effect Martinez could potentially have on them, breeding a new sense of balance into an otherwise attacking-centric starting XI, any price can quickly become a justifiable one if it paves the way for titles and silverware.

Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin, Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira or Sporting Lisbon’s Cavalho are perhaps cheaper options, but the Bayern Munich star remains the real McCoy. Add him to Arsenal’s starting XI, and suddenly they’re a very different, far more formidable proposition.

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Vegard Forren has revealed that Ole Gunnar Solksjaer was the one that told him to reject Liverpool in favour of a move to Southampton, the Mirror reports.

The Norwegian international joined the Saints in a £4million from SK Molde nearly a fortnight ago on the same day that Mauricio Pochettino replaced Nigel Adkins as manager at St Mary’s.

But 24-year-old Forren confessed that it was Manchester United legend Solksjaer, his former boss at the Aker Stadion, who compelled him to resist the overtures of a trial at Liverpool and opt for a permanent transfer to the south Coast instead.

“I never came close to joining Liverpool because Southampton felt right for me,” he said.

“There was a lot of interest from the Premier League but after coming here and speaking with the chairman I really felt wanted.

“Ole was very supportive of the move and I spoke with him a lot before coming here. He really wanted me to take this opportunity.”

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Forren looks set to make his Premier League bow against the Red Devils when Southampton travel to Old Trafford on Wednesday night and will hope to improve a defence that has shipped 37 goals in 23 games this season.

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New Southampton manager Mark Hughes is reportedly lining up a club-record £20m move for Stoke City playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri this summer if he keeps them in the Premier League and extends his stay at St Mary’s, and Saints fans have been quick to have their say on the rumour.The Daily Star says that the Welsh boss is keen to be reunited with the 26-year-old, who earns £65,000-a-week according to The Mirror, after he brought him to the Britannia Stadium from Inter Milan in 2015, with the Switzerland international scoring seven goals and providing a further six assists in 29 top flight appearances for the south coast outfit’s fellow strugglers this term.Any prospective deal would be dependent on Saints securing avoiding relegation to the Championship – they currently lie two points from safety with eight games remaining – while Hughes’ future is also far from certain considering his deal is due to expire at the climax of the campaign.Southampton supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the story, and while one described him as the “Alpine Messi”, another said “he’s the only player worth having from that team”.Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…[ad_pod ]

When Tony Pulis left his managerial post at Selhurst Park just 48 hours before the start of the season, Crystal Palace were always going to find it difficult to find the right replacement for a man who saved Palace from relegation the season before.

Step in Neil Warnock, a man who previously managed at Crystal Palace before being sacked in 2010. He was not the favourite to take the reins at the Selhurst Park and many thought the club were taking a backwards step in hiring a former manager. His reign at the club didn’t last very long, however.

A number of poor results meant that Warnock became the first managerial casualty of the 2014/15 season. Despite an excellent 3-1 victory against Liverpool earlier in the season, recent results have not been up to scratch and Palace now found themselves looking for another new manager to lead them away from relegation struggles.

Here are five managers that could replace Warnock…

Alan Pardew

The Newcastle United manager has experienced a variety of emotions this season. The Magpies’ start to the season was not a particularly successful one and Pardew was under a huge amount of pressure from the Newcastle faithful. However, the former Southampton manager turned his side’s fortunes around and victory against Chelsea, the only loss for the Blues this season, resulted in Newcastle rising up the table and away from danger.

The lure of managing a club that Pardew knows very well will certainly interest the 53-year-old but leaving Newcastle for a team battling relegation may be an unnecessary gamble. Pardew prompted speculation linking him with the Palace job after he refused to talk to the media following Newcastle’s victory against Everton.

If Pardew does take charge of Palace, it will represent a bit of a coup for the South London club but they will have to pay a hefty amount of compensation if they are to buy Pardew out of the last five and a half years remaining in his Newcastle contract.

Tim Sherwood

The former Tottenham Hotspur manager gained a lot of fans with his no-nonsense, bullish approach to management in what was a successful but short reign at White Hart Lane. His approach would certainly spur the Crystal Palace players into life and there is no doubt that Sherwood can get the best out of his players.

Another advantage is that Sherwood will not feel pressured to play the club’s star names. Instead, he is very much a man of principle who will choose players that are performing well in training rather than consistently playing the same team that may be struggling to achieve results. Although Sherwood does look like an attractive proposition for Palace, his lack of managerial experience may prompt the club to look elsewhere.

However, if Sherwood is appointed, it would be a popular decision amongst the Selhurst Park faithful.

Chris Hughton

The former Newcastle manager has been out of a job since he was sacked by Norwich City in April 2014 and has rejected the prospect of returning to management in an assistant managerial role since then. Although he may not be the first choice to succeed Warnock as the next Palace manager, he is a viable option for the board as he won’t cost a lot of money to hire due to the fact that he is not working in management at the moment.

Although Hughton has been sacked from Premier League posts with Newcastle United and Norwich City, he does have a lot of top flight experience both as a manager but as a coach as well. He has proved popular amongst playing staff throughout his managerial campaign and this may benefit the players who are struggling with confidence at the moment.

Tony Popovic

The former Selhurst Park favourite played for the club for five years between 2001 and 2006. He currently plies his trade in Australia, where he has impressed since being in charge of Australian side Western Sydney Warriors. He has recently won the Asian Champions League and is now looking to develop his managerial career further in Europe.

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Palace chairman Steve Parish is understood to be a big admirer of the 41-year-old. However, throwing Popovic in the deep end could backfire as the Australian lacks any managerial experience in the Premier League. His appointment would be a risk, contrasting to the rather unambitious appointment of Warnock earlier in the season. Many Palace fans will believe that there are better options for the club in terms of achieving Premier League survival.

Keith Millen

He is currently undertaking his third spell as caretaker manager of Crystal Palace and has personally stated that he is ready to take the top job at Selhurst Park. Millen will be desperate to become manger of his hometown club having been in the shadows of many Crystal Palace managers who have failed to bring success to the Eagles in recent seasons.

It is understandable that Millen feels he is ready to become manager of the club he has served for so long. In his eight games as caretaker manager of Crystal Palace, he has registered two wins, two draws and four losses. However, this doesn’t reveal a lot about how Millen will plan to take the club forward and whether he can turn Palace’s season around. Again, it is a decision that could backfire and the Parish needs to make the right decision if his club are to avoid the drop.