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Tottenham supporters have been in fine voice in recent times after seeing their side pick up a 19th Premier League victory of the season at the weekend. 

Mauricio Pochettino’s men went into their meeting with Newcastle United, who beat Manchester City a few days earlier, off the back of edging past both Fulham and Watford in their preceding two league encounters, and knowing that victory over the Magpies on Saturday would move them to within four points of leaders Liverpool. And three points they got thanks to Son Heung-min’s strike seven minutes from time to seal a narrow 1-0 success for Spurs, which at the time moved them above City into second place, only for the Citizens to leapfrog them with a 3-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday.

Nonetheless, there have been many thrilled Tottenham fans up and down the country in recent times, several of whom are likely to be heaping praise on goal-scorer Son for coming up with the goods at time whereby his team really needed it.

The North Londoners were heading towards a frustrating draw against Rafa Benitez’s side, only for Son, who returned from the Asian Cup much earlier than anticipated given South Korea’s surprise early exit, to fire past Martin Dubravka to seal victory for Spurs.

And while the 26-year-old will rightly come in for praise for delivering the key moment on Saturday, his tenth Premier League goal of the season, it was defender Jan Vertonghen who was the real hero behind Tottenham’s success at Wembley at the weekend.

The Belgium international lined up at left back for the first time in the league this term as Pochettino switched to a back four to begin with against Newcastle, which resulted in Vertonghen touching the ball a staggering 142 times over the course of the 90 minutes – that was 24 times more than the next-highest Harry Winks (as per WhoScored).

And in completing 88 of the 101 passes he attempted, the 31-year-old once again proved his capabilities on the ball in picking a pass and helping to launch attacks – he even completed his one and only dribble to underline his willingness to help out going forward.

Yet it was defensively against a strong and physical Newcastle side in which Vertonghen really proved his worth, what with the defender winning both of the aerial duels he contested, and indeed both of the tackles he attempted.

Add in a team-high four interceptions and two clearances, and it’s clear that the Belgian ace was often in the right place at the right time to thwart Newcastle’s advances – they were few and far between, but Vertonghen showed the concentration and composure needed to invariably deal with them.

And while Son’s strike will earn many plaudits from Spurs fans up and down the country, it was the efforts of Vertonghen that helped lay the foundations for the South Korean to deliver the goods – that is why the £27 million-rated defender (as per Transfermarkt) was the real hero behind Tottenham’s vital victory on Saturday.

Tottenham and Newcastle fans… what do you think? Let us know!

Declan Rice has been a huge success story at West Ham since he was properly integrated into the team by David Moyes, but his rise to prominence arrived around about the same time when many might have predicted Reece Oxford to break through.

Indeed, Oxford was tipped to blossom into a fantastic talent at West Ham when he impressed on his Premier League debut against Arsenal in 2015, but more than three years later he finds himself on the fringes of the senior squad.

Rice, on the other hand, has usurped Oxford as the club’s most promising talent to rise through the ranks and established himself as a vital component under Manuel Pellegrini.

Oxford’s lack of opportunities this season have prompted a series of reports linking him with a move away from the London Stadium in January, but a recent report from Sky Sports suggests that the player has made a u-turn in a bid to fight for his place at the club.

“He [Oxford] is now prepared to see out his contract until 2021 because of the politics surrounding the player and the way he has been portrayed.”

Well, that’s a turn of events which few would have predicted, but Oxford’s desire to see out his contract perhaps suggests that Pellegrini has offered some kind of assurances over his long-term future.

Either way, the indication is that Oxford has the self-belief and professional attitude to make himself a success at the club, regardless of how he has been perceived of late. The 20-year-old clearly has the technical talent and physical attributes to establish himself at the heart of West Ham’s defensive unit, but he needs a genuine opportunity to showcase his ability.

Rice was handed the right level of opportunities under Moyes and he took the chances afforded to him, giving his manager no choice but to continue utilising him in the senior squad.

Now he finds himself as a crucial member of the squad and a genuine fan-favourite – an example which both Oxford and Pellegrini must follow to facilitate the emergence of another Rice-esque success story in east London.

At just 20-years-old, Oxford still has huge scope for improvement and should be regarded as a future mainstay in West Ham’s defensive unit, and the fact he has decided to snub a loan move suggests Pellegrini could yet be the man to galvanise his career and help him to follow in Rice’s footsteps.

West Ham fans – thoughts? Let us know below!

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Loads of Arsenal fans have been running the rule over their 2-1 win at Huddersfield, and there’s plenty of criticism for Unai Emery despite the win.

The chants of “we’ve got our Arsenal back” and the incredible 22-game unbeaten run seem a long way ago now, as Arsenal are clinging on to their top four hopes.

With Manchester United seemingly cruising past every team they play in unstoppable fashion and Chelsea adding goal machine Gonzalo Higuain in January, the Gunners would have surely liked to make a statement against the Premier League’s worst team on Saturday.

Look away Arsenal fans! American Soccer Fan is back to troll more fans at the London Stadium in the video below…

Emery’s side had to scrap just to get three points though, as goals from Alex Iwobi and Alexandre Lacazette were enough to fend off the Terriers and grab all three points.

It was far from plain sailing, as Saed Kolasinac’s own goal gave the hosts their first goal in nearly 600 minutes of football, meaning the Gunners are still yet to keep an away clean sheet in the Premier League this season.

While the three points will be a relief, fans are mercilessly bashing the manager for yet another underwhelming performance, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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Nottingham Forest fans have all been running the rule over Saturday’s goalless draw at Deepdale, and they’re absolutely fuming at referee Tim Robinson after the latest setback in their promotion chase.

Forest had the chance to within touching distance of the top six on Saturday, but they were unable to break the deadlock against a well-drilled Preston side.

Martin O’Neill’s side haven’t won away from home in the league since November, losing four and drawing five of their last nine Championship away matches after Saturday’s 0-0 draw.

Who are the best away fans in the Championship? Pl>ymaker FC’s Thogden gives his top 10 in the video below…

While the performance was far from perfect, fans are all pointing to one man as the reason they didn’t get three points, as referee Robinson controversially ruled out a late Forest winner.

As the match closed in on the 80-minute mark, Lewis Grabban forced a good save from Preston goalkeeper Declan Rudd, but Joe Lolley’s strike on the rebound was ruled out as the referee called for a foul by Ryan Yates on the goalkeeper.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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Danny Rose is a doubt for Tottenham Hotspur’s trip to Burnley in the Premier League this weekend.

Indeed, the left-back is struggling with illness, suggesting that he will find it tough to recover in time for the trip to Turf Moor.

Rose has shown some glimpses of his best form this season, but the 28-year-old missed a chunk of matches earlier this term with a groin strain.

The 5ft 8in ace has actually only featured in 15 Premier League games for Tottenham this season, whilst he has managed just 90 minutes of Champions League action.

The Spurs supporters have been on social media reacting to the news that Rose could well miss out once again this weekend.

Pl>ymaker FC’s Matchday with Max caught up with Jamaica’s women’s team. See what happened when he met the history makers in the video below…

A number are not too concerned as Jan Vertonghen has been excellent at left wing-back in recent weeks, whilst others have taken the chance to have a little pop at Rose.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

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Loads of Liverpool fans have been reacting to a possible transfer setback, as Timo Werner has reportedly agreed personal terms with Bayern Munich.

Reported by SportBild and confirmed by Manuel Veth, Werner has agreed terms to join Bayern Munich this summer.

The report claims that Red Bull Leipzig have not yet agreed a deal with the current Bundesliga champions.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

Still, if the player has his heart set on a move to the Munich then that is a hammer blow to Liverpool, who have been constantly linked with Werner in the last couple of months.

The Reds of course already have a ferocious front three, but outside of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino there is little attacking talent at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal.

Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge are both expected to leave the club this summer, meaning the Reds will have to invest at the top end of the pitch.

Plenty of fans have been reacting to the news that a deal for Werner could now be off the table, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

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Ball-playing central defenders slice footballing opinion through the core. Even within the parameters of a modern game which typically champions a possession-based, aesthetically appealing and, for some, moral tactical approach, defenders who stubbornly push the ball forward on the turf are often ostracised for their preferred style.

And no, the traditionalist school of thought spearheaded by kick and rush masterminds Sam Allardyce and Tony Pulis is not the only one which refuses to open its doors to the progressive defensive minds of the footballing world.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful manager in Premier League history, sanctioned the sale of Gerard Pique in 2008 after making just five league starts in the season which preceded his departure. Eleven years later, the 32-year-old stands out as the most successful ball-playing defender of his generation.

Pique has won seven La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, one European Championship and one World Cup. He’s also married to Shakira; things have turned out pretty splendidly since he left Old Trafford.

Didier Deschamps, meanwhile, for one reason or another, simply refuses to select Aymeric Laporte, Man City’s first-choice centre-back and a close contender to Virgil Van Dijk for the Premier League’s best defensive enforcer, for the France national side.

Jerome Boateng was discarded by Man City just one year after joining the club, but his talent was recognised, nurtured and perfected at Bayern Munich under a manager in Pep Guardiola who was willing to trust in his technical ability.

I could go on. The point is this: ball-playing defenders require levels of patience which are scarce at every level of the modern game. Patience is seldom afforded to players lacking experience because they are notoriously those who are most prone to mistakes. Mistakes are inevitable; mistakes in the defensive-third often lead to major goal-scoring opportunities; mistakes can represent the fine margins on which games are often decided. So why bother risking it?

But the age-old mantra with perennial relevance to ball-playing defenders claims that it’s only possible to learn through making mistakes. That virtue is one which is not wasted on Mauricio Pochettino.

The long-term project is greater and more manageable than the short-term lust for silverware in the eyes of the Argentine, so it appears from an outsiders perspective, at least.

Blooding young players into the senior squad is a staple of his philosophy. The latest emerging talent to reap the benefits of his endeavour to promote from within is Juan Foyth.

One of the 21-year-old’s first idols in the game was Rio Ferdinand, a player who shifted perceptions with his comfort and bravery in possession of the ball. That idolisation of the former England international was displayed when Foyth swivelled away from danger just a few minutes into his Champions League debut against Borussia Dortmund.

In that fleeting moment which sat somewhere on the tipping point between commendable bravery and downright stupidity, depending on whether you’re an Allardyce or Guardiola of this world, it became abundantly clear that Pochettino has laid the foundations for Toby Alderweireld’s successor.

Some context is needed here. The act in itself was defined by Foyth’s immeasurable belief in his ability, but history would suggest that his confidence should have been crushed before Dortmund stepped out at Wembley.

The inexperienced defender was handed his first start in a north London derby on December 2nd 2018, with Pochettino giving him the nod over Alderweireld. An otherwise accomplished performance was tarnished by a fatal second-half error which allowed Arsenal to re-take the lead on their way to a 4-2 victory.

Alan Shearer led the way in the scathing criticism of Pochettino’s decision to go with youth over experience while speaking on Match of the Day, via Daily Mail.

“If you are Aubameyang and you see that Tottenham team sheet who do you want to play against – Foyth or Alderweireld? There is only one there for me.

“He is their best defender, their leader and their organiser at the back. He pulls everyone together. They were all over the place today. It is a poor mistake.”

Twitter’s myriad of football experts brought their predictably reactive, short-term analysis to the table to spread the feeling of animosity towards Pochettino’s decision.

But it’s best to view Foyth’s performance that day and his various showings throughout the season through a lens which views his mistakes in isolation. Overall, his performances have been excellent for a player of his limited experience, and his errors have merely arrived as a consequence of his desire to abide by the principles which he and his manager hold in common.

Without a manager of Pochettino’s refreshing mindset and unique approach to football management, Foyth would be clearing the ball into touch in pressurised situations and failing to fine-tune the attributes which make him the outstanding talent he is.

Those who are more sympathetic towards this point of view would be well within their rights to draw comparisons between the formative stages of Foyth’s career at Spurs and the difficult opening John Stones endured at Man City.

The media vultures swooped in to destroy the £47.5 million defender following his unconvincing opening to life at the Etihad Stadium. Francis Lee’s claim in 2016 that Stones has the ability to rise into the same class as Bobby Moore would have been met with hysteria back then; now the weight of substance behind it would crush the most vehement criticism.

A similar script could well be in the offing for Foyth thanks to the state-of-mind which Pochettino has installed into the Argentina international. Just as Stones has seamlessly stepped into Vincent Kompany’s shoes at Man City, Alderweireld will pass the proverbial baton to Foyth and silence the nay-sayers who fail to appreciate the bigger picture behind his auspicious development.

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will make his long-awaited return from injury in the club’s Under-23 fixture on Friday.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has not turned out for the Reds since suffering a severe knee injury in the Champions League semi-finals against Roma last April.

The England international has stepped up his recovery in recent weeks, though, and will feature against Derby County’s Under-23 side at the end of this week.

The news is huge for both the player and the club, with the midfielder making serious progress under Klopp before picking up the long-term injury.

The Liverpool fans have been on social media offering their views on the situation.

And it would be fair to say that they are absolutely delighted.

According to Liverpool’s official website, Oxlade-Chamberlain will play 45 minutes of the clash and a number will be looking on to see how his return goes.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

Transfers: They have been a bit of a mixed bag in recent years, haven’t they? There have been numerous deals that looked good on paper, yet their ability failed to materialise. There have been other moves that may have gone under the radar, but some players of that calibre have gone on to establish themselves in the capital and make a significant impact at West Ham United.

Manuel Pellegrini’s first transfer window at the club was a positive one. The most notable incoming, in Felipe Anderson, has proved his worth so far, representing some fine business by the Hammers. Other renown signings in Jack Wilshere and Andriy Yarmelenko have been hampered with injuries as of yet, but the West Ham faithful will be hoping they can make a sustained, positive impact when they return.

Having heard some rather impressive signings of late, to balance the books, here are possibly the two worst West Ham signings in recent years…

Havard Nordtveit

Nordtveit joined West Ham in 2016 on a free after playing a pivotal role in an impressive Borussia Monchengladbach side during his time at the German outfit.

In England, the Norweigan international was used frequently at centre-back, despite holding midfield suiting him better and during that time, he really struggled to establish himself in the Premier League.

Part of that struggle will have been down to the side he was playing in and the role he had to fulfil, but he did not really help himself with some of his displays. Nordtveit was then moved on at the end of that season as he signed for Hoffenheim and finds himself back in English football, on loan at Fulham.

Simone Zaza

Zaza was brought in on a season-long loan from Juventus in the same summer as Nordtveit and in eight appearances for West Ham, he failed to score once before a knee injury sidelined the Italian and he was moved on to Valencia.

His arrival came soon after his infamous penalty miss at Euro 2016 and the player himself told Italian media that the very poor spell at West Ham was down to that moment. Zaza is now back in Italy, on loan at Torino.

In what has been a season of complete and utter inconsistency, Roy Hodgson will be hoping he is entrusted to spend over the summer in order to improve his Crystal Palace team. While the Eagles may struggle to spend like some of the other teams in the Premier League, Steve Parish has proven he can let the purse strings loose before and his former England manager certainly has earned the right to ask. 

Indeed, their form promised to take a turn when they recruited well in the January transfer window and it sure did.

Michy Batshuayi was exactly the kind of striker fans and management were all craving and his goals and overall presence has improved the team. No longer do the fans reading this have to watch Christian Benteke lumber all over the pitch. That, alone, deserves an awful lot of praise.

But with his stay at Selhurst Park only being on a loan basis, Palace will eventually have to invest in another creative type in the summer to compensate for his omission.

With that in mind, not a striker, but certainly a creative star, Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish would be an amazing option for Roy Hodgson’s side.

Grealish, (who is valued at £18 million on Transfermarkt) is a terrific talent that has started to prove exactly why he has always been dubbed as someone who could make it far in the game. The 23-year-old has managed to bag four goals and four assists this season but his overall creative contribution is what will interest Crystal Palace the most.

Even if his name isn’t on the scoresheet, you can guarantee that Grealish would have been influential for his side, as he does so well to find space, make key passes and be a general nuisance for the opposition to try and defend against. With Villa under potential financial restraint if they don’t go up this season and the hype around Grealish to have died since his failed move to Tottenham, Palace must act.

It may sound a touch ambitious – we get that – but having signed the likes of Max Meyer and kept Wilfried Zaha, the Eagles have proven they can pull that sort of deal off before.

Crystal Palace could have the likes of Zaha and Andros Townsend beside him and what an attacking trio that would be, in-behind a forward. Outside of the top six, it’s hard to see a more exciting line-up.

Crystal Palace, do you think Steve Parish has it in him to make another ambitious signing? Join the discussion by commenting below…