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Spirits are quite high around Newcastle United after last weekend.

The Magpies beat Manchester United 1-0 at St James’ Park, and in doing so they moved out of the relegation zone and up to 16th.

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However, despite the Tyneside outfit’s great result on Sunday, one ESPN pundit doesn’t believe that they have what it takes to avoid relegation from the Premier League this term.

“Spirit is not enough to keep you in the division,” Alejandro Moreno said.

Moreno’s sentiment is hard to disagree with. Newcastle do have a good attitude and a great spirit when they’re motivated against top sides, but the quality just hasn’t been there against the teams they’re expected to get results against.

The Magpies’ only wins this season have been against two of the traditional ‘big six’, and while their fighting spirit has earned them wins against the bigger sides it doesn’t seem as if the same level of commitment and motivation is there when they’re getting beat 5-0 away at Leicester.

Charlton Athletic and Fulham both took a share of the spoils in a four-goal thriller at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.

The Addicks, who have started life in the Championship rather impressively since gaining promotion from League One, opened the scoring just before half time through loan star Conor Gallagher.

Ivan Cavaleiro then netted his fifth of the season to equalise in the second half, only for Macauley Bonne to restore Charlton’s lead within 90 seconds as his header looped over Marcus Bettinelli.

Fulham’s dangerman Aleksander Mitrovic had hit the crossbar earlier in the match, but he did eventually manage to get on the scoresheet as he poked home from less than six yards out just after the hour mark – despite questions over whether he was in an offside position.

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The home side ramped up the pressure in the final 25 minutes as they recorded 80.9% possession and eight shots, per WhoScored.

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer has goalkeeper Dillon Phillips to thank for a string of high quality saves that ensured they came away with at least a point from the game.

Several of the Addicks’ faithful have taken to social media to praise the 24-year-old for his performance.

One supporter said he was a well-deserved Man of the Match while another hoped that showing would put a stop to his critics as it proved he is a top keeper.

A further member of the Charlton crowd also claimed the shot-stopper had saved them many points already this season too.

Here’s the best of the reaction:

This article is part of Football FanCast’s In The Pipeline series, which takes a look at some of the most promising young talent either linked with clubs or emerging from their academies…

Mason Greenwood may be the undoubted star in the making at the moment, but Manchester United have a clutch of promising youngsters waiting patiently in the wings for their break-out moments. The Old Trafford faithful have already seen a bit of Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes this season, but one man who could eclipse them all is Brandon Williams.

Not the most heralded academy prodigy out of the group the Red Devils currently possess, but the player with arguably the biggest chance of stamping his mark on the first-team this season. The 19-year-old completed his first full 90 minutes of the campaign in the Europa League against AZ Alkmaar earlier this month, and according to some United fans, was one of the few silver linings of a drab 0-0 draw.

How much money could you make busking for a week as a freestyle footballer? Find out in the video below…

As a right-footed left-back, Williams is in the mould of United stalwart Denis Irwin, and speaking after the game against the Dutch side, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer paid him a remarkable compliment.

“Top class, absolutely top notch. You won’t see a better full debut from a full-back anywhere. The boy is just going to improve and improve. He’s got the right mentality. I’m very pleased for him.”

Those comments will be music to the teenager’s ears, particularly with the Manchester side’s current struggles in his favoured position. First-choice left-back Luke Shaw has been out of action since mid-August with a hamstring injury, and whilst recent reports suggests he is in line to make a return sooner rather than later, Solskjaer may do well to hold off from throwing him back into the side.

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The England international has had a career beset by injuries, and has missed 103 games for United since signing from Southampton. There is absolutely no way for the Red Devils to wholeheartedly place their trust in the £27m-rated man, and that no doubt opens the door for Williams to seize his opportunity.

An injury-prone Shaw, and a make-shift defender in a 34-year-old Ashley Young, are his only real competitors at left-back. If Williams continues to impress in training, circumstances will surely dictate that he gets a run of games to show what he can do. And, judging by what Solskjaer thought of his full debut, there is no reason why he can’t be the academy prospect to make the most immediate mark on the team.

Tottenham Hotspur fans have urged Harry Kane to lead the team out of their dire run of form.

Spurs drew 1-1 with Watford on Saturday thanks to an 86th-minute goal from Dele Alli.

The Hornets, of course, have yet to win in the Premier League this season and were beaten 8-0 by Manchester City prior to the international break.

Following the poor result, the second league game in a row in which Kane has failed to score, the striker took to Twitter to insist that he and his team-mates will stick together as they attempt to get some points on the board.

He wrote: “A point but still below the standards we set ourselves. Got to stick together to improve this run of results.”

And fans have reacted well to the message, insisting that he has the talent to lead Mauricio Pochettino’s men up the table.

Of course, Spurs will want to hit form soon; they face Liverpool at Anfield next week after a must-win Champions League encounter with Red Star Belgrade.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

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

The Guardian reports that Napoli star Fabian Ruiz is wanted by Manchester City and the club are set to battle for his signature with Barcelona and Real Madrid.

What’s the word?

Ruiz has been making a lot of headlines in recent seasons with some excellent performances in the Champions League and in Italy. The 23-year-old has one goal and one assist so far and has averaged a rating of 7.42 in Serie A this season.

The Spaniard has five caps for his country now and appears to be establishing himself as one of Europe’s most coveted talents. In the report, it states that City sent scouts out to watch Ruiz in their 3-2 win over Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League.

In 2018, Napoli paid the buyout clause for the then-Real Betis man, which The Guardian states was worth €30m (£25.5m). However, in the report, it is explained that Napoli’s chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis said last week: “I paid €30m for Fabián and he’s a fantastic player. If some of the European top clubs were to offer €180m we can start talking about selling him.”

As City and two La Liga giants circle it’s easy to see why Laurentiis thinks he has a treasure chest in his possession, but it’s not only Europe’s super clubs who can see the potential of Ruiz.

Sergio Busquets is one of the most revered midfield anchors of his generation, and if anyone was in a position to analyse the potential of emerging central midfield players then it’s certainly him.

While speaking about Ruiz in the same breath as Frenkie de Jong, the Barcelona icon said, per Daily Mail: “Both Fabian and De Jong have a great deal of quality,” said Busquets.

“Perhaps Frenkie still needs to adapt fully to the Barcelona style of play, but both represent the present and the future.

“I am sure they will become the best in the world in their respective roles.”

Pep must consider Foden

It has been known for a few months now that David Silva will be departing the Etihad at the end of the season, and Pep Guardiola may be looking for a replacement as a result.

With the Spaniard leaving huge boots to fill, Phil Foden might not come into the playmaker role on a permanent basis right away, as Guardiola bleeds him in slowly. However, signing Ruiz could prove to be a big problem for Foden and directly impact the speed at which he stamps his mark on the starting XI.

There is no doubt that the City boss adores the teenager and wants to see him at the Etihad for years to come. After all, Guardiola has labelled him the “most talented player he has ever seen”, which is unparalleled praise to receive from a man who has managed dozens of superstars in his illustrious career.

But the signing of Ruiz may mean that the 19-year-old finds even less game time, with his arrival providing Guardiola with a more experienced option to trust in centre midfield.

The Napoli man is known for his nimble nature, while he is also left-footed and possesses similar playmaking qualities to Foden. He is more of a deep-lying player by nature, but he also possesses the tendency to burst forward and influence the game in the final third, as his return of five goals and four assists in Serie A last season proves.

Should City sign the ex-Betis man, Foden will be left facing a similar scenario to the one he is currently in, one that renders him on the fringes of the first team squad and struggling for regular opportunities.

Arsenal’s impressive comeback victory over Vitoria Guimaraes saw Nicolas Pépé grab his first brace for the club, and some fans simply loved the Ivorian’s performance and goalscoring contribution in the vital Europa League clash.

The Gunners maintained their 100% winning start to Group F after Pépé’s two goals in the final 13 minutes of play gave Unai Emery’s side a 3-2 victory in front of Arsenal’s home fans, with their club-record signing delivering an intrinsic showing. 

The match-winning performance from the 24-year-old could prove to be crucial in Arsenal’s bid to qualify for the knock-out stages of Europe’s secondary club competition, as Unai Emery bids to obtain the first silverware of his tenure at the Emirates.

After such an impressive performance, it’s far from surprising to see many Arsenal fans singing the praises of their £72m man. Here are some of the best reactions following a social media post from the club regarding Pepe’s latest outing…

An up-and-coming prospect at French side Lille, Boubakary Soumare has seen his named linked with a whole host of clubs since bursting onto the scene. Back in January 2018, reports had claimed Manchester City were planning on making a bid for the midfielder, but that potential move failed to materialise.Now, transfer rumours involving the 20-year-old have resurfaced, with ESPN claiming City’s rivals Manchester United are keen on bringing him to Old Trafford. It claims the Red Devils see the Frenchman as a potential long-term successor to Paul Pogba, and that he fits the box of being a young and talented player.After hearing the transfer report linking their club to Soumare, United fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the matter.Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Many supporters of the Manchester side revealed their excitement at making a move for the 6 foot 2 man, with one fan in particular insisting he is very similar to Pogba.

Some Red Devils fans suggested the news sounds very promising, and another supporter claimed it would be a “wise move” on the part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.

Check out some of the reaction of United fans below:

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…

Former Everton boss Sam Allardyce has questioned the club’s stability in recruiting their managers, suggesting the club will get nowhere if they just spend.

What did he say?

Allardyce was picked up by Everton to save them from a situation similar to what they are in now. The former West Ham United manager took over at Goodison Park when the club were in and out of the relegation zone after a disastrous start in 2017-18.

Now, Marco Silva sits 16th in the table and only two points away from the drop yet again. Now, Allardyce told talkSPORT that the club needs stability at the helm: “Who do you get if Silva goes!?

“When I got the job I thought I’d keep it for a long period of time, that didn’t happen.

“If he’s the right man for the job, only time will tell. But since David Moyes left, which was the stability in the fact that they weren’t financially well off, then this new money comes in and Ronald Koeman comes in for one year and does exceptionally well, then that falls apart.

“If you don’t get stability it will be very difficult to bring success to Everton no matter how much you spend.”

Invest long term

David Moyes never won a trophy and failed to get Champions League football during his 11-year spell on Merseyside, but at least he gave the club long term stability.

However, now, with the heavy investment – which Moyes never had – the club must invest in a long term manager once again.

Farhad Moshiri may have thought he had this in Silva, as he is only 42. However, his tactics are questionable and the recruitment drive under his tenure has not worked out so far. Right now, Silva is struggling to prove he is the man to be trusted with a long term project.

Everton have certainly splashed the cash since the Scot left, spending £50m on Richarlison and £45m on Gylfi Sigurdsson alone, but recent results are not representative of the money spent by the club or the calibre of the players Silva has at his disposal.

If there’s any loyalty left in football then Silva is testing Moshiri’s limits right now.

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.

Everton’s Tom Davies must take his chance at Everton now that Andre Gomes is out injured, says Michael Ball.

What did he say?

Andre Gomes is going to face many months out of action after his horrific injury sustained against Tottenham Hotspur. The nasty ankle fracture forced the 26-year-old to undergo surgery and as he faces a long rehabilitation process fellow midfielders must step up.

Ball believes, despite the sad circumstances, that Davies must be the man to take Gomes’ place and faces a potentially career-defining time at Goodison Park.

The former Everton man told the Liverpool Echo: “It’s come under very sad circumstances but Tom has to grab his chance now.

“Since he’s come into the team, he’s shown the quality he’s got and hasn’t let anyone down,” Ball added.

“I’m made up for Tom and he just needs a good little run now of six or seven games where he’s keeping those 8/9 out of 10 performances going so he can make the spot his own and there could even be opportunities for him in the England set-up.

“Obviously Tom has got to focus on Everton first and foremost but if he can put consistent performances in at his best level, it could really set up his career.”

Career-defining period

Davies has been in the Everton squad for a while now, having burst onto the scene in 2016-17 where he made 24 Premier League appearances. This period saw the academy graduate bag two goals and provide three assists for the Toffees.

Now, at 22 years old, the Englishman has a fantastic opportunity to prove himself as the future of Everton and justify the hype that surrounded his breakthrough.

Marco Silva has been reluctant to play Davies this season, handing him just 283 minutes of league action. However, if the Portuguese international wants to build for the future, he must invest in Davies until Gomes returns.

It will, of course, be months until the former Barcelona man returns.

But now, it is time for Davies to prove to Silva that he is capable of thriving in the heart of Everton’s midfield.

Many Liverpool fans were impressed by Jordan Henderson’s performance in their side’s 3-1 win over Manchester City on Sunday, and noted how the game shifted once the England midfielder left the field.Henderson featured for 61 minutes before being replaced by James Milner early in the second-half, and delivered the teasing back post cross for Sadio Mane to head home the Reds’ third goal of the game ten minutes before he was withdrawn.The 55-cap England international delivered his teasing cross from the right wing as he drifted away from Ilkay Gundogan’s marking.

Mane’s goal came from Henderson’s sole key ball of the game, with the Sunderland-born midfielder spending the least time in possession of any player for either side bar the Reds’ front three, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling before being taken off, according to data collected by WhoScored.

Henderson also played the least passes of any Liverpool player other than Roberto Firmino during his time on the pitch, with the 29-year-old finding a teammate with 13 of his 17 attempted balls.

He also only made one successful tackle, albeit with his only attempt, along with no interceptions or clearances.

Liverpool had held 47.2% of the total possession with Henderson on the field, but that figure declined to 40.2% following the introduction of Milner and a shift to a 4-5-1 rather than their initial 4-3-3 shape.

Manchester City also increased their number of passes in the final third to 45% without Henderson on the field, with just 35 of their 182 balls coming in their backfield, having managed to play 41% of their passes in Liverpool’s defensive zone during the first hour of proceedings.

Here are some of the messages shared on Henderson’s performance from fans who noted the shift in control once he departed…