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What a few weeks it has been for Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez. His loan move to Real Madrid had seemed like a massive waste of an entire season as he had spent the vast majority of it on the bench for the current Champions League holders.

It was Chicharito who sent his side through to the Champions League semi-finals, in an attempt to retain their title. 

Karim Benzema has been sidelined for the last two weeks due to an injury he picked up in the first leg against Atletico Madrid. Benzema will always be the first choice for the lethal front three of Real Madrid. It is unfortunate that it has taken an injury for Chicharito to prove himself, but he has used his time wisely. One massive goal against Atleti to knock them out of the Champions League, and two in La Liga against Celta Vigo.

Chicharito’s rediscovered talents as a preadtory goalscorer drum up many questions and criticisms. For one, Thierry Henry voiced his opinion in regards of Chicharito’s goal celebration vs Atletico. “What I don’t like is Chicharito seems like he’s won the World Cup with that celebration.” Seemingly, Chicharito should have used his hand to score, judging by Henry’s footballing standards.

And, let’s be honest, the Mexican spent so long on the bench it probably had his own indents on it, so can we really blame him for being elated? It is a huge goal to come out of a dire season. Forgive the guy for being proud of himself.

Next on the list, of course, is whether Hernandez has a future at Manchester United or not. In hindsight, their goal difference could have been higher had Chicha stayed. We all know Falcao has not delivered what we all had hoped. Chicharito scored almost the same amount of goals in the week as Falcao has for the season. But is the Mexican still deemed relevant under Louis Van Gaal or still part of a surplus? And how would the current formation work around him? Because no matter what happens, Wayne Rooney cannot drop back into the midfield.

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Has this revival of Chicharito’s career come just a little too late for him? It will bring him to the forefront of the minds of various clubs, but he must make his next move wisely. Ancelotti believes if Chicharito can hold his form, his inclusion in Real’s starting XI will be non-negotiable. Easy to say now, but what happens when Benzema returns from injury, and returns to form?

Mexican head coach Miguel Herrera thinks the best thing for the Little Pea is to find a smaller club to showcase his talents. This of course is in order to get the minutes he needs. Let’s not forget, Chicharito became a super sub at the World Cup because of this role in United. Benzema is likely to be back for the clash with Juventus; what Ancelotti decides to do will be detrimental to Chicharito.

Ricky van Wolfswinkel answered his Portuguese critics as the Canaries’ £8.5m capture hit a hat-trick for Sporting at Braga last night.

The Dutch striker, 24, scored a stoppage time winner to complete his triple as 10-man Sporting won 3-2 in Braga to dent the hosts’ Champions League qualifying hopes.

That took his tally for the season to 16 and shut up those fans and media commentators who had suggested his mind was already in Norfolk following City’s move to set up summer deal worth £8.5m with Sporting Club last month.

He told Record: “I know it’s hard to explain to people, many think I’m ‘in England’. I want the best for the club, I want to give the best I have and to give the maximum. The fans deserve as much. It’s always bad to leave a club you like, but it is a new step in my career development.

“The season is not over, I don’t want to think too much about the Premier League.”

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Saturday’s Manchester derby might well be remembered for many years to come, but not for the reasons expected before kickoff. This should have been Manchester City’s coronation, the earliest in English top flight history, at the bitter expense of their local rivals.

Much of the match followed that script with City in something near complete control, except for a fateful 15 minutes in the second half that saw Manchester United score thrice to overtake the home side’s earlier two-goal lead.

Paul Pogba was instrumental in that and seemed to drive the team on almost single-handed after the interval, scoring twice. But Alexis Sanchez played a key role as well; the 119-cap Chilean directly assisted the last two goals, including Chris Smalling’s winner, and provided a perfect cross to Ander Herrera for Pogba’s first.

So, United fans, who were the most heroic of heroes during United’s shock comeback? Which players impressed you the most? Let us know by taking part in the poll below and giving each player involved a performance rating out of ten…

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I don’t think many fans were surprised when the news broke that Gus Poyet had been relieved of his duties at Sunderland earlier this week.

Football fans around the world were shocked at the scenes at the Stadium of Light on Saturday in their match against Aston Villa. The Black Cats were 4-0 down at half time and thousands of fans walked out- refusing to stay for the second half.

At least three supporters tried to break through the stewards guarding the dugout, yelling abuse at Poyet- but were things that bad at Sunderland for so much action and emotion?

It is well known that Black Cats fans are passionate and the side have always been known for showing their passion in more extreme ways than other teams across England. Things have not been going well for them since Christmas as they have slipped closer and closer to the relegation zone.

The defeat to Aston Villa has left them just one place above Burnley and the bottom three, and they have won just one game in their last 12 league outings.

Many fans had already left before the half-time whistle but those who were there made their anger heard as boos sounded around the stadium.

Those fans who stayed after half time could not believe their eyes when they spent the first four minutes playing with 10 men as Seb Larsson was in the dressing room having treatment on a leg injury when the action restarted.

Fans around the ground chanted: “We’ve only got 10 men” in shock and disgust and when the final whistle went it was and afternoon many Sunderland fans wanted to forget.

When you are not around a team 24/7 you cannot possibly understand every little detail as to why there is so much anger. For those neutral fans, it looked like an over-reaction by Sunderland supporters but really they were right to be unhappy.

Until the weekend, Aston Villa had only scored four goals away from home all season and they managed to double that in 45 minutes. The results have been getting worse and the thing that has angered fans the most is the lack of passion and pride the team have been displaying in recent weeks.

Many fans can agree that while they never want to be relegated but if they do so playing their best and playing with pride for the club, it can slightly soften the blow.

The mass walkout and boos seemed to have had some impact on the Black Cats’ board, who did not take long to announce Gus Poyet had been sacked from his position. His quick departure should mean a fresh start for the club with enough fight against relegation

Fans can now look forward to the last games of the season and hopefully temporary boss Dick Advocaat is the man to steer them clear of the drop zone.

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One thing is for certain – when you go to the North East, be prepared for the extreme. Gus Poyet found that out.

Last year’s hero became this year’s villain.

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Liverpool failed to secure the signing of Hungarian winger Balazs Dzsudzsak after Dynamo Moscow refused to sell the player in the January transfer window.

Brendan Rodgers was interested in the winger after the deal with Tom Ince fell through, and he enquired about the player in january according to agent Jozsef Vorosbaranyi. He also confirmed that Inter Milan were also interested in signing the Dynamo star.

‘Inter along with Liverpool wanted to add Balazs to their squad,’ said Vorosbaranyi to The Metro

‘But Dynamo would not let the player go. My client really likes Moscow, but he wants to move to one of the major European leagues.

‘I hope in the summer, Dynamo would look at doing a deal if an offer arrived.’

Dzsudzsak only signed for Dynamo just over a year ago but was open to moving again, especially if it meant playing in the Premier League. Speaking to Nemzeti Sport the 26 said

“I stay, but it wasn’t up to me.

“Dinamo didn’t let me go, not even to Liverpool, I can’t say any more because it is not my position to do so.

I am not that disappointed. What I couldn’t do during the winter transfer window can be done in the summer. It’s also a nice feeling that in Moscow they have faith in me.”

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It is still thought that Dynamo may accept an offer of £12million for the Hungarian star in the summer should he still want to move.

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Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam has claimed that Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah is not good enough to represent either Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Salah has scored 37 times in 42 appearances in all competitions during a remarkable 2017-18 campaign at Liverpool.

The Egypt international’s form has led to suggestions that La Liga’s two giants want to bring him to Spain in this summer’s transfer window.

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However, Adam, who represented Liverpool for one season following a move from Blackpool in 2011, has claimed that Salah would not get a game at Real Madrid or Barcelona.

Adam told talkSPORT:

“Where’s he going to go? It’s difficult for him, where does he go? Will he get a game at Real Madrid? Will he get a game at Barcelona? I don’t think he would. I think he will stay there.”

Salah, who is valued at £72m by transfermarkt.co.uk, struggled to make his mark in the Premier League whilst representing Chelsea, but a successful spell at Roma saw the attacker given another crack at the English game.

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The 25-year-old has managed 29 goals in 31 league matches for Liverpool this season, and will be looking to make an impression in the club’s upcoming Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City.

Upon becoming West Brom’s marquee signing this summer, Nigerian front-man Brown Ideye has simply failed to live up to the expectations at the Hawthorns. Alongside the likes of on-loan Porto forward Silvestre Valera, the former Dynimo Kiev man was part of a carefully selected attacking line-up by the former Baggies boss, Alan Irvine.

Unfortunately though, things just haven’t turned out that way for the club or their ever passionate fans. Valera himself has moved on to the Seire A and Brown Ideye has looked nowhere near the player he was first touted to be. Despite costing the midlands team in the region of £10 million according to The Daily Mail – a price that incidentally happens to be West Brom’s club record transfer fee – the faith shown in the Nigerian has simply not been matched by his output in the Premier League.

As Brown Ideye has successfully notched two goals in his last two appearances for West Brom however, is the tide finally starting to turn for the pricey striker, or will the unpredictable 26-year-old seemingly never reach his full potential at the Hawthorns?

Before arriving in England, Ideye was commonly known as a burley centre-forward who was not easily knocked off the ball. He brought with him a potential ability to play out wide when required, and although the former Kiev man may have lacked that bit of pace and mobility needed to survive in that position, his instinctual deadliness in front of goal often gave him enough flexibility to make it. Despite not being considered worthy of a World Cup place in Brazil this summer, West Brom fans would nevertheless have been excited by the potential on offer from their new man up top.

However, three Premier League goals for the newly acquired striker has simply not been good enough from the Nigerian this season. Yes, playing for a side such as West Brom, who are seemingly constantly on the brink of relegation, would not be an easy task for even the most promising forwards in European football. But as 21-year-old Saido Berahino has already proved that it can be done, the signs just don’t look too good for Brown Ideye.

As he only amassed a mere five Premier Liga goals last campaign, and even Shola Ameobi made the cut for the Nigerian national squad in Brazil, perhaps the warning signs should have been clear for the Baggies long before they went through with the signing.

Whilst the sensation and gossip surrounding Brown Ideye’s faltering Hawthorns career has got some sections of the footballing community talking this season, it important not to get too carried away with the whole affair. West Brom look somewhat more comfortable under Tony Pulis, and whilst relegation fears will still be rife among many Baggies fans, the situation could be a lot worse for them this season.

In light of such context, Ideye’s recent – albeit brief – goalscoring exploits may just show enough light at the end of the tunnel for the 26-year-old to justify his place in the Premier League. After all, this is his first season in England. Strikers in particular tend to need one full term of Premier League football to ‘bed in’, so it may be a tad premature to give up Ideye completely.

The Nigerian’s reputation doesn’t come completely unwarranted. He seemingly has got it in him to do the business in front of goal, and whilst progress may be slow for the marquee man right now, it is important to give him the time and trust that his record breaking fee deserves.

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Ultimately though, Brown Ideye has not been able to give West Brom an immediate impact upon signing for the club in the summer. He has needed quite a while to settle into his new surroundings, and if the Baggies were just a little bit closer to the relegation zone at this current stage, Ideye’s bedding-in time could have proved too much of a sacrifice for Tony Pulis and his determined side. As the Nigerian seems to be slowly pulling his socks up however, the jury is still out on whether or not Brown Ideye can finally reach his full potential with his new team.

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You either love tattoos or hate them, but among the football fraternity it is seemingly a must have for footballers who clearly have too much money and time on their hands and who therefore see the need to decorate their bodies in all different types patterns and designs. Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger are arguably the most prolific in the Premier League, with the latter being a trained tattooist.

It is not only by players on the pitch, but those supporters off it who choose to cement their allegiance by getting their clubs crest and name emblazoned on certain body parts.

It is fair to say some of the body artwork is good, bad and in cases some damn right ugly. This list is a celebration of the best tattoos that have featured on Liverpool fans in the past few years.

Click on the tattoo below to unveil gallery

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According to reports in The Irish Sun, Fulham defender Ryan Fredericks could join Everton a free transfer this summer.

The 25-year-old has been one of the Championship club’s most consistent performers at right-back this season and the Cottagers currently lie in third position in the table as they look to win promotion to the Premier League under Slavisa Jokanovic.

The Irish Sun reports achieving that means they could hold of highly-rated 17-year-old Ryan Sessegnon, but Fredericks could be on his way out whatever happens given his contract is due to run out at the end of the season and with no sign yet that he is going to extend his stay.

The former England U19 international would likely provide competition for Seamus Coleman and Jonjoe Kenny at Goodison Park, as he looks to forge a top flight career for himself.

Meanwhile, their Premier League rivals Newcastle United can move a step closer to ensuring they stay up when they host Huddersfield Town at St James’ Park on March 31, with a win taking them to 35 points and a step closer to safety.

Manager Rafa Benitez will already be thinking about how he can strengthen his squad this summer if they remain in the top flight, and if he is looking to add more competition for places within his team then Fredericks should certainly be on his radar.

Here are three reasons the Magpies must hijack Everton’s bid to sign the right-back…

While Yedlin has established himself as the Magpies’ first-choice right-back in recent months and impressed the fans with some of his displays, he perhaps doesn’t have the required competition in the squad that Rafa Benitez would like him to have.

They do have Jesus Gamez and Javier Manquillo that can play there, but the former has featured for just 217 minutes for the Toon this season and his contract is due to expire this summer, while the latter has largely featured at left-back when he has played, and is now providing back-up to both Yedlin and Paul Dummett.

Adding Fredericks to the Newcastle squad would certainly give the American more competition and push him to perform at a higher level, and that can only be a positive thing with the former England U19 international also being determined to make a name for himself in the top flight.

Fredericks has been one of Fulham’s most impressive players in their push for promotion this season, and he has provided nine assists from right-back in 36 Championship appearances – as per Transfermarkt.

According to WhoScored.com, the 25-year-old’s main strengths are his dribbling and his passing, and he has successfully completed 57 of the 87 dribbles he has attempted in the league this term, as well as making 35 key passes for Slavisa Jokanovic’s attacking team.

He has also shown his defensive abilities too though, making 95 clearances and winning 58 of the 75 tackles he has attempted.

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Fredericks is yet to sign a new contract at Fulham with his current deal set to run out at the end of the season, and while it is unlikely to happen if the Cottagers don’t win promotion this term, it may not even happen if they do go up if the player has ambitions to move on.

Whatever does happen, if Newcastle can bring him to St James’ Park on a free transfer this summer it would have to be a no-brainer decision, given Benitez likely won’t have a huge budget to spend.

Do you agree, Magpies fans? Let us know below.

The pendulum of Manchester City’s European fate swung back and forth this evening, but eventually the Sky Blues came out on top to secure a priceless win against Bayern Munich. Despite it being their first victory in the competition this season, City can now guarantee qualification in their last game by beating Roma in Rome, as long as CSKA Moscow don’t get a victory against Bayern in Germany. Madness.

Is the dream alive once again? Maybe… and here are THREE reasons why.

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CLICK ON AGUERO TO REVEAL THE THREE

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AGUEROOOO

Well, what can you say about the Argentine? He’s simply wonderful to watch, staggeringly strong and deadly in front of goal. The complete centre-forward. And tonight he proved why he’s so highly rated once again with a lovely hat-trick. The first from the penalty spot was a routine, but the last double strike to seal the win showed his range of talents.

Bayern are pretty handy at home….

Bayern Munich are yet to lose at home this season… So the odds would suggest that CSKA Moscow won’t get the victory at the Allianz Arena they need to prevent City from going through… so long as they win in Rome!

Toure will be back in Rome

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A suspension kept the big Ivorian out against Bayern, but he will be back in time to face Roma, barring injury. Criticised for lethargy in big games sometimes, there’s no doubting that the 31-year-old’s presence will be a boost, as he is capable of moments of magic.