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Wolves are enjoying an interesting summer so far after Bruno Lage came in to replace Nuno Santo at Molineux.

It was a surprise departure but the man who succeeded their head coach of four years ticked all of the boxes.

The Old Gold had tracked Lage for a considerable period of time and with Jorge Mendes his agent, it made a move seamless.

On the chalkboard

Lage’s first marquee signing was Trincao from Barcelona but he faces a potential excruciating end to the summer.

That’s because a number of the club’s top players including Adama Traore and Ruben Neves could be heading for the departure lounge.

The latter has been one of the stand out players for the Midlands outfit since signing when they were still in the Championship.

He’s gone from the second tier’s record signing to a reliable and consistent former. Neves was often the quarterback in Nuno’s Wolves team but began to pick up pockets further forward last season.

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The Portugal international scored five times last term, the highest volume of goals he’s racked up since his debut in English football.

Therefore, the new manager will need to replace him with not only a player capable of breaking up the play but also one that’s effective in the final third.

The solution

One replacement could be Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The England international spent last season on loan at relegated Fulham but Thomas Tuchel isn’t particularly keen on sending him out again.

The Blues are planning on taking a look at him over pre-season but Wolves legend Steve Bull reckons he’s a player that would fit in well at Molineux.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast last month, Bull said: “He’d be ideal, I’ve watched him quite a few times and he’s big, sturdy, not afraid to put his foot in or put his head where it hurts. If they were to bring him in I’d take him all day long.”

Loftus-Cheek is a classic box to box midfielder, using his long levers and energetic style to get from one end of the pitch to the other in the blink of an eye.

That said, he disappointed last term with the Cottagers, averaging a WhoScored match rating of only 6.5.

Though, in the words of Scott Parker, he is “unplayable” on his day. Like Neves, the midfielder is incredibly assured in possession of the ball, competing over 90% of his passes in two seasons for Chelsea.

Furthermore, he knows how to make an impact offensively. Loftus-Cheek bagged ten times during the 2018/19 campaign, being hailed as an “unstoppable force” by Owen Hargreaves after scoring a Champions League hat-trick.

The 25-year-old’s progress in the last few years has been dented by injury but he is a brutal midfielder once he gets going.

Loftus-Cheek is an adequate tackler and when it comes to replacing Neves, that will be one of the basic requirements.

On a wage of £150k-per-week, he will have to significantly reduce his salary in order to move to Midlands.

If he can rediscover his form, something Bull tipped him to do in a recent interview with This is Futbol, he’d be a solid capture.

AND in other news, Wolves eye swoop for “fantastic” 25-cap colossus, he may axe one of Nuno’s favourites…

A number of Aston Villa supporters have criticised Ashley Young’s performance in his side’s win away to Norwich City.

Steven Gerrard’s side produced a spirited performance away to Liverpool on Saturday, losing 1-0 at Anfield after Mohamed Salah penalty settled the game.

It may have been a negative result but it was further proof of the progress being made with Gerrard at the helm since he took charge last month.

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Tuesday’s trip to struggling Norwich was a far more winnable game, as Villa looked to get back to winning ways at Carrow Road.

They did just that, with Jacob Ramsey opening the scoring with a phenomenal solo goal, setting Gerrard’s men on their way to a well-fought victory which was wrapped up by Ollie Watkins.

One player who struggled for the visitors was Young, who was one of their worst rated players on Sofascore, completing just 19 passes and winning only two ground duels in his 60 minutes on the pitch, while he also made an error leading to a shot for the hosts.

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Villa fans criticise Young’s display

These Villa fans took to Twitter to lay into Young’s performance.

“Ashley Young has to go”

Credit: @Luiz_SZN

“We are massively over using Young. Good squad member to use sparingly but increasingly exposed as a regular starter”

Credit: @GeoffKnox67

“In the nicest way possible, we need to get Ashley Young off the pitch”

Credit: @DomH97

“Beg we get Ings on I don’t think I can take another half of Ashley Young’s first touch”

Credit: @euanavfc

“Ashley Young has been terrible today unfortunately”

Credit: @AvfcU

“Ashley Young has been woeful so far tonight”

Credit: @Valentine06

In other news, one Villa player has been urged to leave the club on loan. Find out who it is here.

If you are looking for a break from the stresses of football……………..!

Poker is a trendy game, and rightly so. Unlike other games of luck like slots, roulette, and blackjack, you can play with other people. This makes poker a perfect game to play with friends, family, or even total strangers.

You can play poker online today, like many other casino games. And for those who love bonuses, you can check out casino bonus sites in the UK.

Poker is a sport that requires a high level of skill and mental alertness. Poker tournaments can last several hours, and stamina is required. A saying says poker takes a day to learn but a lifetime to master. In other words, don’t feel frustrated if you seem not to be learning fast enough. Mastering poker indeed takes time, effort, and patience.

This article will provide ways to improve your poker skills.

 5 Ways to Improve your poker skills

Here are some ways to improve your poker skills:

Learn about the game

When starting poker as a beginner, the first step you need to take is to learn everything you can about the game. If you don’t understand the fundamentals of the game, there’s no way you can learn quickly.

You can start by watching tutorial videos. There are tons of videos for poker beginners on YouTube and Twitch. You can also visit poker blogs to learn about the latest poker strategies.

If you have a couple of bucks to spare, you can pick up poker strategy books. Strategy books are available for both online and live poker. A poker strategy book costs around $20 to $30. This budget is perfect for small stake players.

A significant edge that poker strategy books have over watching videos or scouring blogs is the extensive information they contain. You can learn more from a single poker book than you would ever learn from videos or blog posts.

Join online communities

Online forums are another way to accelerate your growth as a poker player. You’ll always find more experienced players who are more than happy to offer advice to new players. And you know the best part? It’s free.

You can even post your hands for review on poker forums to receive valuable feedback. However, not all the feedback you’ll get will be beneficial. Some pieces of advice may not be from winning pros. And it’s of no use when a blind person tries to lead another blind person.

When using online forums, another thing to keep in mind is to be polite and respectful. Other members will be more willing to help and share tips with you.

Hire a poker coach

Free tips and advice will help you as a beginner but won’t take you far. Hiring a personal poker coach is sure to speed up your growth. The sky will be your limit when you have a seasoned professional dedicated to helping you improve.

However, the big drawback with hiring a coach is that it’ll cost you. Well, there’s no fixed price. Expect to spend at least $200 per hour if you want a decent coach.

Hiring a poker coach is only advisable if you’re a mid-stake or high-stake player.

Study your hand’s history

If you play online poker, a good poker tracker is an indispensable ally if you want to up your game. It tracks your hands and results and your opponent’s statistics. The statistics the software gathers from your opponent help you devise strategies to beat them.

You can review each poker session later to find out your mistakes. Once you’ve discovered your errors, the next thing is to work on them. You’ll undoubtedly notice a significant improvement in your game over time. 

Play more poker

Practice makes perfect. If you want to get good at poker, you need to devote more time to improve your skills. That’s just how it works. A coach and books can’t do your work for you.

You also have to find a perfect balance between theory and practice. Too much theory without much practice is useless. And practice without theory or strategy is like running without direction. Your progress will be slow— if you make any at all.

Practice what you learn consistently. You might not notice the daily improvements instantly. However, one day when you look back, you’ll be surprised at how far you’ve come and your progress. 

Conclusion

Getting good at poker can appear a daunting challenge at first. However, you can become that professional you’ve always dreamed of with patience and consistency.

Focus on one thing at a time. An overload of information does more harm than good. You’ll progress faster when you take things a step at a time than when you’re trying to learn everything at once.

Photo by Unsplash

An update has emerged on Chippenham Town striker Oluwasegun Lawal, regarding Steven Gerrard’s interest in bringing him to Ibrox.

What’s the talk?

According to AllNigeriaSoccer, the Gers are tracking the youngster, who is the brother of Celtic player Bosun Lawal, ahead of a potential January switch.

The report claims Premier League sides Liverpool, Newcastle United, Leicester City, Crystal Palace and Watford are also looking at him.

Aribo 2.0

Ross Wilson could land Joe Aribo 2.0 by securing a deal to sign Lawal in January. First of all, he is of Nigerian descent and secondly, he’s a versatile midfielder and forward, much like the current Gers gem.

The report claims that he is capable of playing as a number 10, a winger or a striker, whilst Aribo has played as a central midfielder and right winger for Rangers already this season.

This means that the club could bring in another versatility gem who is capable of featuring in a multitude of roles. Gerrard would surely love to have another option in that mould as it allows him to be flexible with his team selections and his choice of players on the bench, as Lawal could provide cover for several roles.

Aribo has started all 12 Scottish Premiership matches this season, with Gerrard placing his trust in him for every single game so far. This shows how much he values the ex-Charlton man’s ability to play in more than one area of the pitch, which is why Lawal could also be a shrewd addition to the squad.

At the age of 19, he has plenty of time ahead of him to develop and the manager could slowly bed him into the first-team set-up. That may mean he spends a season out on loan to play regular football or instead, trains with the Gers squad and soaks up as much information from the current stars as possible.

There is little available in the way of performance data on Lawal, but the report that a number of Premier League teams and Rangers being interested in him suggests that he has caught the eye with his performances for Chippenham and could have the potential to make the step up.

If he is able to make the leap to playing for Rangers and his brother makes the grade at Celtic, it could provide an intriguing new storyline for Old Firm clashes in the future. The clash already has plenty of spice, but a brother vs brother element being thrown into it could be the perfect seasoning!

AND in other news, Sold for £203k, now worth £900k: Rangers had a transfer howler over “dream” battler…

Everton suffered their 18th Premier League defeat last night leading to Lampard’s seventh loss in nine games in charge since he was appointed at the end of January, and now with relegation looking more likely Alan Myers has weighed in on rumours around the manager’s future.

What’s the word?

Former Everton communications director and journalist Myers has responded on Twitter to a fan questioning social media rumours that Everton would be holding an emergency meeting to discuss Lampard’s immediate future at the club.

Myers simply responded: “I’ve not heard that.”

Supporters will be relieved

There is no doubt that supporters will be relieved to hear there is likely to be no truth in the Everton board considering the future of the former Chelsea boss at this stage of the season with just nine games left to go.

The Toffees are in a very vulnerable situation following their defeat to relegation rivals Burnley on Wednesday evening, and by the end of play on Sunday evening they could be firmly placed in the bottom three if they do not beat Manchester United at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon and Burnley take another three points from Norwich City.

Although it’s certainly not being ideal that the manager has failed to pick up more than six points in the last nine Premier League fixtures, the last thing the club, the fans and the squad need right now is further disruption. The sacking of Lampard at this moment in time is unimaginable when you consider how delicate a position the team have found themselves in.

Unfortunately at this point the Everton board have made their bed and now they need to lie in it by seeing out the last few weeks of the season with the 43-year-old manager. They will need to support him in his efforts to find some way to stop the Merseyside club from suffering their first relegation from the top flight since 1951.

Lampard will need to act fast in restoring confidence and belief in his team as they play again in the early kick-off on Saturday afternoon at Goodison Park in a difficult game against Manchester United who are currently battling for a place in the top four. With both teams on the brink of something to lose Everton must find that edge to take all three points.

In other news: Forget Godfrey: EFC’s “reckless” flop who lost the ball every 2 touches let Frank down

Many Everton fans have been left fuming as some news emerged before their game against West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

As per the official website of the Merseyside club, adult supporters attending the match at Goodison Park are now advised to be ready to show proof of vaccination, or a negative lateral flow test.

Matchday spot-checks will be increased for upcoming fixtures, and fans should only go if they either have a valid NHS COVID Pass, can show valid alternative proof that they have been fully vaccinated, or have registered a negative COVID test in the last 48 hours.

The update has been met with unrest from several Toffees, who have cited that they have not always been checked before when rules have been put in place, and that proof of a negative result could be flawed anyway.

Everton fans on West Ham news

These Blues fumed as the news was shared on Twitter, with a few EFC supporters even going as far as to claim that it is ‘pointless’:

“Pretty pointless when you can just upload a negative result to the government website without taking a test.”

Credit: @FalconBlues1878

“Commence operation pointless exercise”

Credit: @bensquires2

“The fact I can just upload a negative result to http://Gov.UK without even taking the test sort of suggests you’re wasting my time here and going to create ridiculous queues again”

Credit: @_barto1

“Pointless exercise…”

Credit: @kenny81efc

“Surely we should have been ready every home game so far?!? Have you just realised no one has been checking?!?”

Credit: @GladwysBlue

“Still won’t get asked”

Credit: @RhysColebourne2

In other news, find out which target’s ‘outrageous’ skill has wowed Evertonians here!

Aston Villa announced via their official Twitter channel that midfielder John McGinn is the club’s new vice-captain shortly before their 3-2 defeat to Watford, much to the delight of numerous supporters.

Villa needed to name a new captain after Jack Grealish completed a British record £100m move to Manchester City earlier this month. Former vice-captain Tyrone Mings was the man who Dean Smith chose to step up and replace his England team-mate as the club’s full-time captain, which led to McGinn being named as the new vice-captain.

The 27-year-old scored for Villa on the opening weekend, but his late strike wasn’t enough to prevent defeat at Vicarage Road.

McGinn, who has captained Scotland in recent months, still has four years remaining on his Villa Park deal.

Villa fans react

Villa shared the news regarding McGinn on Saturday morning via their official Twitter page. Here is what these Villa supporters had to say in reply, with one labelling the club’s decision as ‘brilliant’.

“Oh yes”Credit: @ryan_avfc82″Excellent! Congratulations John, perfect vice-captain!”Credit: @Sammy78avfc”Love this too!”Credit: @TogoleseZidane”Brilliant news John, I want to see you add some real steel to your game this season, become the midfield ‘Claymore’! UTV! “Credit: @1966wall”Get in there!!! Boom!”Credit: @_darrylpitts”Yes!!!!”Credit: @1863Karen

In other news: ‘I’m actually done’ – Many AVFC fans react as ‘worrying’ news is confirmed.

Wolverhampton Wanderers let midfielder, Morgan Gibbs-White, go out on loan to Sheffield United at the beginning of the season, and the youngster has been doing a fantastic job in the Championship.

The 21-year-old recently spoke out about his loan move to Sheffield United, and spoke about his lack of game time at Molineux:

“At Wolves I wasn’t getting the game time I wanted, so the recognition wasn’t there. Since I’ve been in Sheffield, it’s going well and I’m scoring goals and getting assists.”

The young player clearly has a point to prove, with five goals and two assists for his loan club so far, and his progress has not gone unnoticed by the Wolves manager, Bruno Lage.

“I am very happy with Morgan. I don’t look at him in the same way I look at Luke [Cundle – U23 player], I look at him as a main player.” Lage said.

“He is working hard and is a very good player. We are happy with the way he works with us and also the way that he works with Sheffield United.”

According to earlier reports this month from The Athletic, Wolves are set to ‘consider’ recalling Gibbs-White to his Premier League club earlier than expected as the Midlands outfit chase a spot in the Europa League.

A review from one of his peers provides a lot of evidence as to why Lage and co are considering that option. Sheffield United team teammate, Chris Basham, once said:

“Morgan has been in and has been a breath of fresh air,” said Basham. “He glides past players, he’s big, he’s strong, he’s powerful.”

Gibbs-White would certainly add additional creativity to the current Wolves side, and it wouldn’t be the first time he has been recalled back to his parent club, as the midfielder was recalled from a temporary stint with Swansea in January 2021 after Wolves sustained injuries they were incapable of covering. Thus, it is not something that would out of the question for the manager to do in the upcoming window.

Lage will need to assess in the transfer market whether he feels he needs to strengthen that midfield or run the risk of injuries for the second half of the season, something Wolves cannot afford to do if they want to keep up with the top clubs in competition for the European spots this season.

One thing is for sure, Gibbs-White expects first-team football and if Lage cannot offer that to him, it could create a toxic relationship between the budding young player and his parent club, as he has made it clear that he’s happy where he is playing every week and won’t want to warm the bench to add depth.

However, by returning in January, rather than splashing millions over the winter, he could solve an alarming problem of a lack of depth in midfield where Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho are their traditional options.

In other news: Lage could solve defensive issues with Nikola Milenkovic

Aston Villa will be looking to start Steven Gerrard’s tenure with back-to-back victories when they travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League this afternoon.

The Villans secured all three points against Brighton and Hove Albion last time out thanks to two late goals from Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins, but Gerrard’s charges are set for another tricky test when they come up against an in-form Palace side currently enjoying a seven-match unbeaten run.

Under Patrick Vieira, the south London outfit have already seen off the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City this season, and they’ll be confident of sealing another positive result on home territory. However, Villa will have a potentially lethal weapon in their armoury when they take on the Eagles.

Summer signing Danny Ings has settled well into life at Villa Park following his £25m move from Southampton, and he brings with him an enviable goalscoring record against Palace.

In his last 10 outings when facing the Eagles, Ings has notched up an impressive five goals, showcasing his ability to get the better of Vicente Guaita and co on a regular basis.

The £19.8m-rated striker put in a disappointing display in Gerrard’s first game in charge, though, and was replaced by Leon Bailey after just 66 minutes of action.

However, with the Jamaica international still settling into his new surroundings, becoming accustomed to his new teammates and getting back to full fitness, he may be best suited to a place on the substitutes’ bench once again.

On his day, Ings can be an unstoppable force in the Premier League. His remarkable 22-goal haul in the 2019/20 campaign was evidence of that, leading to talkSPORT pundit Clinton Morrison calling him “first class”.

A return of three goals and two assists in his first 10 games for Villa is further evidence of the diminutive forward’s clinical nature, and Gerrard must keep faith in the 29-year-old’s ability.

Ings is a predator who can win a game in an instant, and the 41-year-old tactician would be wise to allow his fellow Englishman another opportunity to showcase his true potential against Palace, especially considering his previous form when facing the Eagles.

In other news… Gerrard could be heading for his first AVFC disaster over £31.5m-rated “absolute joy” 

Rangers have been linked with a move for Gary Cahill recently and former Gers defender Graham Roberts has tipped him to be a success under Steven Gerrard at Ibrox.

What’s the word?

According to The Sun, Rangers are keen on adding the 35-year-old to their squad this summer, and he is available on a free transfer after leaving Crystal Palace at the end of last season.

Although Gerrard is well-stocked in the centre-back department, the former Chelsea man would add a wealth of Premier League and Champions League experience at Ibrox, and would surely be a leader both on the pitch and in the dressing room.

Roberts spoke to Football Transfer Tavern recently and suggested that Cahill could be an excellent acquisition for the Gers, saying:

“It would be a good move for him. They need a bit of experience there, he’s a free agent, so to go and play in the Scottish Premiership, he would.

“They have a young side, but if you’ve got an experienced centre-half at the back he could be the orchestrator. I think that would be a great move for him, and he would be great for the squad.”

Should Rangers sign Cahill?

It might seem strange to claim that Gerrard needs to strengthen his defence this summer after Rangers conceded just 13 goals in 38 league games last season, but signing Cahill on a free transfer looks to be a no-brainer.

Despite his age, he was a regular in Crystal Palace’s side last term, making 20 appearances in the Premier League and averaging a solid 6.57 rating from WhoScored for his performances. He ranked second for clearances and successful aerial duels per game in the Eagles’ squad, emphasising the value he brought to the team.

Although he might struggle to break up Connor Goldson and Filip Helander’s firm partnership at the back, Rangers will be looking to improve their performances in domestic cup competitions this season, and Cahill could add some serious quality in depth.

The “exceptionally good” defender, as hailed by former Palace manager Roy Hodgson, could also be signed with the view to him performing a similar role to Jermain Defoe in the future, whereby he can feature in the occasional match but play a huge part behind the scenes in terms of coaching and in the dressing room, which would surely be appreciated by Gerrard.

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Therefore, Wilson should definitely look to bring the former England defender to Ibrox this summer, as he could prove to be a very shrewd addition to Gerrard’s squad.

In other news… Rangers set to miss out on 21 y/o gem likened to Sadio Mane