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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 England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has heaped praise on Newcastle United shot-stopper Martin Dubravka after an “outstanding” display against Chelsea, via Football Insider.

What’s the word?

The 30-year-old has been at the club since January 2018 after originally joining on loan from the Czech Republic-based outfit Sparta Prague, before agreeing to a permanent deal the following summer.

The 6 foot 3 Slovakian was praised by former manager Rafael Benitez, who credited his professionalism and his potential.

Check out the best reaction you’ll see to Newcastle 1-0 Man Utd in the video below…

Despite the Magpies losing 1-0 to Chelsea, former England international Robinson gushed over the goalkeeper’s performance and the impact that he’s had since arriving at St James’ Park.

Speaking to the Football Insider, he said: “I think he has been a huge signing for Newcastle as he has transformed the team.

“They needed a top-quality keeper and I think the way he has performed on Saturday was outstanding and while he’s not on the same level, I think he has had a similar impact on Newcastle to what Alisson has had on Liverpool.

“I think Newcastle, since Tim Krul left, have needed a top top goalkeeper as they had a real problem there, they brought Dubravka in on loan with a view to a permanent and they quickly made the deal permanent as his quality was easy to see and he showed that Saturday for Newcastle.”

Big compliment

It is a huge compliment in the modern football era to be compared to the likes of Alisson from Liverpool, who has recently been nominated for the prestigious 2019 Ballon d’Or award. However, Dubravka deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the Brazilian’s after a stunning performance against Chelsea.

The Slovakian made six saves from inside the box during the 90 minutes and made one high claim. This illustrates that he kept Newcastle in the game before Marcus Alonso’s goal in the second half won it for the hosts.

Watch Newcastle United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Dubravka has had big shoes to fill since the departure of Krul, who had a long career at St James’ Park.

Now playing for Norwich City, the 31-year-old made 185 appearances for Newcastle in both the Premier League and the Championship, keeping 53 clean sheets and playing 16,550 minutes in a Magpies’ shirt. The Dutchman is a man that showed great loyalty to the Toon in the face of adversity.

Robinson is right about the 30-year-old and having already kept three clean sheets this season, Dubravka is just as important to Newcastle as Alisson is to Liverpool.

Crystal Palace fans have taken to Twitter to discuss January transfer target Alfredo Morelos, having produced some fine form for Rangers in the Europa League this season.The 3-cap Colombia international has netted two goals in three European outings under Steven Gerrard this season, while also maintaining a terrific goalscoring record domestically.

Morelos, 23, has scored five Scottish Premiership goals in nine appearances, and also scored eight times in just eight games throughout the Europa League qualifying rounds – he is prolific in front of goal, to say the very least.

Palace have been strongly linked with a January swoop for the Rangers No.20, with Eagles Sporting Director Dougie Freedman reportedly scouting Morelos at a recent game against Hearts – the Colombian found the net in that 1-1 draw.

After hearing about his Europa League form – including a goal against Portuguese giants Porto – some Palace fans began discussing Morelos.

Let’s take a look at some of the tweets…

Everton fans continue to express their anger at Marco Silva following his comments in light of the 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.

The comments arrived after VAR once again played a significant role in the game. Dele Alli was seen to handle the ball in Everton’s penalty box but, after a VAR check which took three minutes, officials concluded it was accidental.

Silva told Sky Sports: “It’s really tough for me to talk, but it’s tough for the referee as well. We as a club have to keep really strong to respect the decisions and me as a manager it’s something I pass on to my players as well.

“It’s not easy for us but we have to do that. To respect the football we have to respect the decisions, referees and the VAR as well.”

Fans have hit out at Silva once again for his comments following the match, with many of them calling for the sack.

One fan said “get out of this club”, whilst another simply said he is “too soft” to run the club.

It does seem that the pressure is continuing to build on Silva, and it already seems he has lost large portions of the fan base.

Up next for the Toffees are season-defining fixtures against Southampton and Norwich, both of whom are below them in the table.

Dropped points in these games could send the fans into meltdown and, inevitably, represent the final nail in the coffin for Silva’s future.

Here’s what some of the fans had to say in response to the Portuguese manager’s latest comments…

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

Harry Winks is too much of a passenger to be starting regularly for Tottenham Hotspur.

On the chalkboard

The England international has been a key member of Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI thus far this season, making 12 appearances in all competitions, and has been central to their poor run of form.

He is the picture of passivity and cautiousness in the centre of the pitch and is not properly affecting games in the latter third of the pitch.

Per Wyscout, Winks averages 68.8 passes per 90 minutes, along with just 0.94 through balls.

His expected assist (xA) rate – made up of passes that should lead to a goal – is just 0.03, while he is yet to actually provide an assist this season.

Winks’ second assist rate – the pass before the actual assist – is almost as low, at a mere 0.12.

Of his 68.8 passes, only 12.74 actually go into the final third, too.

Mauricio Pochettino clearly rates the 23-year-old highly, hence his continued use of him, but it feels as though the time has come to stop utilising him.

Not taking responsibility

Winks has not been stepping up when Spurs need him most.

They have won just three games thus far in the league this season and are already eight points behind fourth-placed Chelsea in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

One thing that Spurs can ill-afford at this stage is passengers and, yet, Winks continues to play a passive passing game, always looking for someone else to drag the club on and provide that moment of sheer genius.

His statistics prove that he consistently looks to offload the ball to someone else, be it Tanguy Ndombele, Moussa Sissoko or even Danny Rose and Serge Aurier, who can then take it forward, shifting Spurs up a gear.

It is never Winks who takes on that role and, with their form as it is, that has to stop.

Of course, Pochettino could tell the Englishman that, but it feels like it would simply be easier to drop him.

It is all very well having a player like Winks in your team when things are good but the going has got tough; he isn’t good enough to get going.

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

Jack Harrison was named the Championship Player of the Weekend for his performance against QPR last Saturday.

The winger was exceptional as he grabbed himself a goal and an assist against the R’s, but it wasn’t just his work going forward that caught the eye.

Watch Leeds United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Harrison’s defensive effort

The left-sided player was also brilliant at the back as he made the same number of tackles as Liam Cooper and Ben White, while also being the only player in a white shirt to block a shot on Saturday afternoon.

A look at his heatmap from that game shows that he was brilliant at getting up and down the pitch.

As you can see, most of Harrison’s activity was actually in his own half, and while that is partly down to him coming short to receive the ball from his defenders, it’s also down to the tracking back he did, and he may have to do something similar this weekend against Blackburn Rovers.

Needs a repeat performance

The Man City loanee could once again find himself having his hands full down that left side on Saturday.

Indeed, we think that Marcelo Bielsa would be best off lining up with a three at the back again after its success against QPR and the fact that it could help stifle the impact of Bradley Dack.

If Bielsa does use a back three, then Harrison will have to be at his best defensively.

Blackburn’s right-back is Elliott Bennett, and with the 30-year-old crafting three assists already this season it’s going to be important to stop the threat he poses when he comes forward.

That threat is increased even more if Sam Gallagher is on the pitch. If Bennett gets a cross into the striker it’d be hard to back against him scoring if a ball came in as he wins 5.1 aerial duels per game.

Harrison will certainly need to track back and stop him playing it into the area.

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

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Metz striker Habib Diallo, per TeamTalk.

What’s the word?

The 24-year-old has been in electric form for the French club this season, scoring eight goals in 13 outings in Ligue 1.

Diallo can play as a striker and on the wing and has hit 44 goals in 97 outings in total for the club, as well as previously scoring 16 in 50 for Stade Brest.

The forward has won two caps for Senegal and has also been scouted by Leicester City, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Watford and Norwich City.

Cost-cutting measures

Spurs do need a back-up striker.

They only have Harry Kane as an out-and-out forward but one has to wonder whether Diallo would be their ideal recruit.

He has played the majority of his games in Ligue 2, playing over 100 times in the second-tier, and just 33 times in the top-flight.

Transfermarkt value Diallo at £5.4m and one has to believe that this would be a bargain-basement signing, rather than investment to truly address the lack of alternatives to Kane.

He has, at least, been in exceptional form this term but it looks as though this is a striker going through a purple patch in a league that he is unfamiliar with, against defences who are yet to get to know how to play against him.

A move for Diallo would improve the squad somewhat – merely because there isn’t another striker behind Kane – but this is hardly an exciting acquisition. Spurs, a club that reached last season’s Champions League final, can surely do better.

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 recent hero Tom Davies says he is feeling strong and physically fit out on the pitch these days. The Toffees star says he is pleased with how his development is going but feels he can get more goals for the team.

What did he say?

Davies has quickly become one of Marco Silva’s most important players this past month and has had to step up in absence of Andre Gomes. Now, as he aims to become a regular in the starting XI, the 21-year-old has told fans what has been key to his change in form.

Davies told evertonfc.com: “I am feeling strong and fit – that side of my game is coming along and I can feel it out on the pitch.

“I have always done extra in the gym and I am a vegetarian now.

“I feel strong and also that I am growing into the physicality of the Premier League. I am happy with everything and how things are going for me.

“Scoring is an area of my game I can still improve on a lot and it is definitely something I need to do more.

“I know I can get goals, it is a case of finding opportunities in games to score.

“I managed to get one at Southampton, so I’ll look back at how I did that and try to recreate it in more games.

“You are always looking to improve as a player. I am not going to settle for being at the level I am now.”

An example for all

Davies is one of the most experienced Evertonians in the squad, playing 96 times for his boyhood club at just 21 years old. Now, he is proving to be an example, not just for fellow youngsters, but for others around him in the senior side.

His hard-working nature and refusal to give up when he was out the side is an example for everyone at the club at this time.

Plus, the fact he has been handed the armband for England U21s shows he is expressing leadership qualities that often manifest when he is on the pitch.

Davies is going to keep improving and his extra work in the gym will be a big bonus for a midfield engine like himself.

The Englishman is proving to be an example both on and off the pitch.

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

Sunderland have struggled of late but they stand a good chance of winning tonight if Phil Parkinson gets a key tactic right and exploits Burton accordingly.

On the chalkboard

The Black cats have weak aspects to their game themselves, but since those issues mainly lie in attack they should be able to deal with the threat posed by the visitors tonight, particularly as they have only scored 18 goals in 15 league games.

Another point of weakness of Nigel Clough’s side is their ability on the ball. The Brewers have averaged a pass accuracy of just 70%, which shows they can be got at when in possession.

Phil Parkinson has to make his players aware of that fact, and instruct them to close down their opponents with greater intensity, especially the defenders.

Such pressure could cause a mistake which leads to a Sunderland goal, but failing that it should at least rush Burton in their decision making, and lead them to concede possession easily, which will lead to the home side dominating the ball – making it more likely for them to find a breakthrough.

Watch Sunderland Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Change in personnel?

If Parkinson is to adopt a high-press strategy for this clash he may be best suited to making a few changes to his starting lineup.

Players with more pace like Duncan Watmore and Benji Kimpioka could be drafted into the side with good effect, replacing the maligned Chris Maguire or Aiden McGeady.

That would allow the Black Cats to defend from the front, and perhaps ensure that the majority of the game is played in the opponent’s half, which would keep them pinned down and allow Sunderland to pile on the pressure.

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With that in mind, it may also be useful to recall Marc McNulty to the side. He has built up a reputation over the years as a hard-working forward, and such work rate and desire could prove very useful in shutting down defenders.

All but one Burton defender has a pass accuracy lower than 70%. If Parkinson doesn’t attempt to exploit that it would be a missed opportunity, and Sunderland could once again find themselves in a position where they’re struggling to break a team down, as the visitors have only conceded 16 league goals this season.

Meanwhile, Parkinson has also been going wrong by repeating this simple failure throughout his tenure so far.

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…

Wolves loanee Connor Ronan has been busy impressing away from the club and journalist Tim Spiers has now taken to Twitter to deliver his verdict on the youngster.

What’s he said?

Ronan was in action for Republic of Ireland’s U21 side over the course of the recent international break, appearing as a second-half substitute as the Irish defeated Sweden 4-1.

Currently plying his trade at Slovakian side FC DAC, the 21-year-old is in the midst of a two-year loan in a bid to get his career back on track.

It appears as though he’s more than done that, earning rave reviews from Irish supporters for his display on Tuesday evening.

He’s even been given the seal of approval by The Athletic’s Wolves correspondent Spiers. Taking to Twitter this week, he said the following:

Rampant Ronan

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Ronan’s time in the Midlands was one that was coming to a disappointing end.

Shipped out on loan to a far from reputable league, he’s begun to make tremendous strides in 2019/20.

The youngster broke through at Wolves in 2016/17, going onto appear 13 times for the senior side but as the club made moves into the Premier League, any chance of first-team football seeped away.

They brought in the likes of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho while the emergence of Morgan Gibbs-White can’t have helped his cause either.

However, Ronan’s making all the right noises at the moment, scoring in Europa League qualifying for his loan outfit while also performing admirably in midweek for his country.

He was introduced when the Republic of Ireland were trailing but he helped change the game, playing a sensational ball in behind for Tottenham prodigy Troy Parrott to find the back of the net. He then set up the final goal of the contest after breaking down the left and sliding the ball across the box.

If Ronan continues making the strides he’s put in during recent months, he might well have a fighting chance of getting back in Nuno Santo’s plans.

Given Wolves’ slim squad, he could become a useful back-up option. Only time will tell whether that actually happens.

Dele Alli was on the scoresheet as Tottenham Hotspur recorded a 4-2 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League on Tuesday night.It looked like it could be a very, very tough game for Jose Mourinho’s side when Olympiacos took a shock 2-0 lead in the English capital.Spurs responded with four unanswered goals, though, to book their spot in the last-16 stage of the competition with one match to spare.Watch Tottenham Hotspur Videos With StreamFootball.tv Below

Alli found the back of the net in the closing stages of the first period, and it was a key goal for Tottenham as it halved the deficit.

According to WhoScored, Alli also won three tackles and two aerial duels during a positive performance, which ended in the 83rd minute when Tanguy Ndombele entered.

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A number of Tottenham fans were pleased with what they saw from the 37-time England international during the European affair.

And a selection of the Twitter reaction is available to view below:

Alli was also impressive in Tottenham’s 3-2 win over West Ham United in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.