Man Utd have a rich history of developing young players, and on the 28th of February 2016, another young Red Devil made his first Premier League start. With Louis van Gaal’s team taking on Arsenal, the Dutch boss had a shortage of attackers, and he turned to a young Marcus Rashford in pursuit of glory against the Gunners.

What followed has since gone down as a huge moment in the modern history of the Red Devils, with Rashford emerging onto the Premier League scene with a bang. Scoring two goals, he was later nominated as the Man of the Match, and unsurprisingly, lots of Man Utd fans hailed their new boy wonder.

Sometimes, initial impressions can be deceiving. There have been countless players that have made one fantastic appearance as a youngster and failed to follow it up with further quality. After all, it’s easy to make an initial impression; it’s a different task entirely to keep it long-term.

Loads of Man Utd fans were quick to pass judgement on Rashford, touting him as the next big thing in England, and in hindsight, they weren’t wrong.

The attacker is now a regular at Old Trafford, and he’s apparently on the verge of earning a contract worth an astonishing £300,000-per-week. Not bad for a player that was originally brought in just to plug a gap.

It’s a testament to not only his quality, but also the power of the Man Utd Academy. There’s clearly so much talent there, and Rashford serves as evidence for the suggestion that all a player needs is a chance. In a period of one game, Rashford went from an unknown to a Premier League wonderkid – and now he’s taken it to the next level.

Who knows how far he will go. He’s got all the tools to make it to the top. And the signs were there when he made his Premier League debut against Arsenal just over three years ago.

Man Utd fans – what were your first impressions of Rashford? What is next for him? Let us know below!

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Hector Bellerin has sent Arsenal fans wild with a genuinely inspiring quote, posted on the club’s official Twitter account.

The Gunners right-back has been on the sidelines for the majority of this season after sustaining a number of injury problems.

A cruciate ligament injury suffered versus Chelsea in January has ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign but he has maintained a prolific online presence.

And on Monday, the Spaniard told the club’s official Twitter account: “I know it’s comfortable to sit at home and stay with your family and friends and not worry about anything.

“But with the platform we have, we should be the people that scream at the social issues and put them out there so as a society we can move forward.”

The quote has seen many Arsenal fans profess their love for a player who, at the age of 24, appears to understand the many challenges faced by the average football fan.

Bellerin made a donation of over £19,000 to help victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 and spoke out about his experience of homophobia in football in 2018.

His latest foray into goodwill and social issues saw an outpouring of affection from Gunners supporters on Twitter. Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

What’s more surprising that being the shock FA Cup winners? Getting to the final again.

For Portsmouth, this is a story they know too well. After claiming the FA Cup in 2008 in a surprise run to the final that saw the south coast side claim their first piece of silverware in over 70 years, Pompey managed to get to final yet again in somehow more dramatic fashion than what they achieved two years ago.

Although there weren’t any giant killings on their way to the final, the way they won their matches is something to behold. A 90th-minute equaliser from Stephen Wright and a 120th-minute winner from Aaron Mokoena in their third round replay against Coventry City was just a taster of what was to come.

A moment in time – Portsmouth, FA Cup final 2010

Four late goals against rivals Southampton saw Pompey enter the quarter-finals, and the semi-final against Spurs was won in extra-time with goals from Frederic Piquionne and Kevin-Prince Boateng.

And so the final beckoned again, although this time it wasn’t against another Championship side, it was against Premier League giants Chelsea, and unlike against Cardiff City, Portsmouth were dominated in the final.

Although Boateng came close to converting from the penalty spot had it not been for his lacklustre effort, Chelsea was unlucky to only win by one goal, that goal coming from Blues legend Didier Drogba in the 59th minute, sealing the west London club’s first ever English domestic double.

The Blues also had a penalty go astray during the game, and in the first-half Chelsea hit the woodwork five times as Carlo Ancelotti’s side somehow failed to score more than one goal in a game where Portsmouth was lucky to get nil.

The final was a sign of what was to happen next for Portsmouth. Financial problems tainted the club for years as the south coast side drop down the divisions all the way to League Two, where only now their fortunes have turned following their recent EFL Trophy win against Sunderland.

Most fans forget the other cup final Portsmouth were in, but for fans of the club, it was a signal of the end for the team and their golden years in the top-flight.

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According to Bild, via Sports Witness, Everton are keen on signing Chelsea youngster Daishawn Redan in this summer’s transfer window.

What’s the word, then?

Redan joined Chelsea from Ajax in the summer of 2017.

A right-footed forward, the 18-year-old has managed 11 goals in 28 appearances for Chelsea’s Under-18 and Under-23 team during the 2018-19 campaign.

According to Bild, via Sports Witness, Redan feels that he has ‘no chance’ of making it into the first team at Stamford Bridge, which could lead to a summer exit.

The same report has claimed that Everton are interested in the teenager, but the Toffees will face competition from the likes of Leicester City, West Ham United, AC Milan and Roma.

Chelsea have 43 players currently out on loan, which is an incredible statistic.

It appears that Redan does not want to become another youngster sent away from the club to continue his development, which could lead to a permanent summer exit.

Where would Redan fit in at Everton?

There is no getting away from the fact that Everton have had problems in the final third throughout the 2018-19 campaign.

Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have been in decent form, but the likes of Theo Walcott, Cenk Tosun and Ademola Lookman have struggled.

Redan is, of course, untested at the top level, but his statistics at Under-18 and Under-23 level this season are very impressive indeed.

In this era of ‘big 6’ dominance, has finishing 7th become as good as winning a trophy? The Pl>ymaker FC squad have their say in the video below…

He will not actually turn 19 until next February, meanwhile, suggesting that there is plenty of time for the Dutchman to develop into a top player.

Chelsea’s official website have described the teenager as ‘a versatile forward who can also play wide-left or as a number 10’.

And his arrival would certainly boost an Everton side needing an injection of something different in the final third of the field.

As football league fans will agree, it is a proud moment watching products of their clubs travel through the system and make names for themselves on the big stage.

It is a glorious thing, is it not? The journey of a small fish making it in a big pond. The likes of Jamie Vardy, Ian Wright and other such players making the huge leap from non-league to Premier League. The stories of those who had almost given up but made it at the last.

James Tarkowski is not one of these, but his story of success is romantic nonetheless.

In an age where scouting systems extend to the far reaches of the world and where gems are being unearthed from the favelas of Brazil to the professional grade park pitches of the Netherlands and beyond, it is refreshing to see a prospect rise from the old textile towns of England onto the biggest stage of them all.

Once upon a time, James Tarkowski was kicking about Oldham Athletic, living not 15 minutes from the ground – Boundary Park. After being dumped into a relegation battle by former manager Paul Dickov, Oldham handed youth development coach Tony Philliskirk the temporary responsibility of guiding the side to safety. And this appointment is where it all began.

Philliskirk knew all about Tarkowski having seen his through the early stages of his career. He had a place in his squad, as long as he was manager. He trusted him.

The faith he showed paid off, Oldham’s form drastically improved. The Englishman established himself in the side, scoring a vital winner in a victory away at Stevenage, kick-starting a journey that would take him to Wembley as a full England international years later.

“What Oldham Athletic gave James Tarkowski was an opportunity to develop, to make mistakes and learn by them,” Philliskirk says. “In the modern era it’s very easy to pick young players, then they make a mistake or two and it’s very easy to leave them out.”

Lucky Tarkowski.

The Englishman joined Brentford in 2014, a club renowned for making incredibly astute signings, where he spent two years before leaving to join Premier League side Burnley. Tarkowski initially found it difficult to break into the squad past Michael Keane, but when he made his big money move to Everton, the stage was set.

Tarkowski was a key member of Sean Dyce’s squad who reached Europe (yes, Burnley in Europe) after guiding the club into seventh place in the Premier League with the sixth best defensive record (39).

He was awarded his England debut by Gareth Southgate in March 2018 and found himself on the standby-list for the Russia World Cup. Not bad going.

Oldham fans, what are your standout memories of James Tarkowski? Join the discussion by commenting below…

أكد البرازيلي كاسيميرو أن فريقه ريال مدريد يقاتل للنهاية ولا يستسلم، بعد التعادل الإيجابي أمام بوروسيا مونشنجلادباخ في منافسات دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وكان الفريق الألماني متقدمًا بهدفين، ثم سجل كريم بنزيما وكاسيميرو للميرنجي في الدقائق 87 و93 من عمر المباراة، بالجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات.

طالع تقرير مباراة ريال مدريد وبوروسيا مونشنجلادباخ

ونشرت صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية تصريحات كاسيميرو عقب المباراة، وقال: “نريد دائما الفوز، لكنهم وصلوا مرتين وسجلوا هدفين، إنها كرة القدم، هذا الفريق لا يستسلم، هذا هو دوري أبطال أوروبا”.

وأضاف: “الفريق قدم جهدًا كبيرًا، لعب لوكاس فاسكيز بشكل جيد، كريم سجل هدفا رائعا، علينا أن نتحسن، لكننا قدمنا ​​أداء جيدا، هناك طرق للعب وطريقتنا هي القتال حتى النهاية، نحن لا نستسلم أبدًا”.

وأتم البرازيلي تصريحاته بشأن تذيل ريال مدريد للمجموعة: “لسنا في مركز مريح، من المهم أن نضيف المزيد من النقاط، يجب أن نهنئ الجميع لأنه كان جهدًا كبيرًا”. ملخص مباراة ريال مدريد ومونشنجلادباخ

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QPR fans on Twitter are fuming after the club announced plans to change the name of the stadium in order to help a local charity.

Fans feel that the stadium’s name should remain as Loftus Road due to the prestige and history of the ground and the memories that are associated with the stadium and the name along with it.

The Hoops moved into Loftus Road in 1917 and have seen both the highs and lows of English football at the historic ground.

The proposed name change has gone down like a lead balloon amongst the fanbase as some feel that the stadium’s name is something that shouldn’t be messed around with.

Other sections of the fanbase aren’t happy with the stadium’s naming rights being given away rather than sold.

QPR have had financial difficulties as they failed financial fair play regulations resulting in a £42 million fine.

Here’s what QPR fans had to say on Twitter…

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…

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Sky Sports reported back in August that Tottenham Hotspur launched a £25m bid to sign Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish, and after the 23-year-old scored another brilliant goal on Wednesday night Spurs fans were quick to react on Twitter.

The Villa captain has been in top form in recent weeks and helped his side extend their winning run to seven matches against Rotherham United.

Starting the move that led to his goal on the left-hand flank with some neat footwork, the Englishman then broke towards the Millers’ box before laying the ball out wide to Ahmed Elmohamady.

He then gave it back to Grealish who finished well to give the visitors a 2-1 win and three points as they continued their march up the Championship standings.

His future may well depend on whether Dean Smith’s men go up or not, because he will surely go if they remain in England’s second tier.

Spurs’ new stadium is a stunner! Pl>ymaker FC’s Sam Chippeck gives us a sneak peak in the video below…

It remains to be seen whether the north London outfit are still keen on the talented player or not, although The Guardian recently reported that he is an individual they have scouted, but Tottenham supporters are certainly hoping that they are.

While one said they are “hoping he’s still keen to work with Pochettino”, another said “our coaches would make him even better”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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Liverpool supporters have lavished praise on midfielder Jordan Henderson after his goalscoring display against Southampton on Friday.

The Reds leapfrogged Manchester City and returned to the top of the Premier League table by virtue of their 3-1 win at St Mary’s Stadium.

Henderson was introduced as a substitute by Jurgen Klopp on the hour mark with the scores at 1-1 and netted the goal to cap the victory for the Reds, latching on to an excellent Roberto Firmino cross and firing past Angus Gunn.

It was Henderson’s first goal since September 2017 and he celebrated it wildly, sprinting to the corner and being mobbed by his team-mates.

Liverpool have five games of the season remaining as they attempt to wrestle the Premier League title away from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

And fans were delighted with Henderson’s display, as the captain helped inspire his side to a potentially vital victory on the south coast, having also provided the assist for Mohamed Salah’s second goal.

Take a look at the best of the reaction on Twitter below!

Not many people look back at the EFL Trophy as a highlight in the English football calendar, but they certainly will this year.

Portsmouth’s dramatic win against Sunderland at Wembley will go down in not only Pompey history but as one of the most exciting games of the 2018/19 season.

On a day where Liverpool left it late against Spurs to keep their hunt for a first Premier League trophy going and where Chelsea controversially beat Cardiff, it was a game against two League One teams that everyone was talking about, and for Pompey to come out the other side the victors is a big statement.

Oliver Hawkins made it Portsmouth’s day with the final penalty kick of the shootout, but now the real challenge begins for Kenny Jackett’s side as they must take the positivity and passion from the EFL Trophy win into the remaining game of the season.

As much as it is nice to have silverware this season, the ultimate goal is promotion back into the Championship, and now Pompey have the belief they need to go all the way and climb back into a division many of their fans believe they should be at.

Beating a side as big as Sunderland, who too are also looking for promotion back into the Championship, gives Portsmouth an advantage heading into the final month of the League One season, and Pompey has to be ready to give the same passion and fight they gave at Wembley in their last seven league games.

The sides face each other again on the 27th of April, and it is likely whoever walks away from that game the winner will be the team to claim the third and final automatic promotion spot to the Championship.

Portsmouth have the upper hand going into the biggest games of their season, and the team must keep a level head if they are to reach the goal they set out at the start of the season.

Portsmouth fans, where will Pompey finish in the League One table? Let us know!