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On the 14th November 2017, Steve Davis was sacked as Leyton Orient manager as the O’s sat two places above the relegation zone in the National League.

After being appointed as manager of Orient following the club’s relegation from League Two, ending a 112-year stay in the Football League, Davis was brought in to take the club back to its former glory and secure promotion from the National League as soon as possible, but it was soon clear that the former Crew Alexandre boss was not the right man for the job.

Despite winning five out of his first 10 games Orient manager, it was to be Davis’ only good spell with the club as the O’s failed to win a game from the 2nd September to end of his tenure at the historic team, and after 2-1 loss away to Ebbsfleet United, the manager was sacked by the club.

Here’s how Leyton Orient fans reacted to the news…

With the next appointment crucial for Orient, it was vital the club hired the right man for the job, and that’ exactly what the east London side did in the form of Justin Edinburgh.

The former Northampton Town manager guided the club to safety in the 2017/18 season, only picking up seven losses from the time of his appointment to the end of the campaign and taking the club to 13th in the National League table.

But it’s what Edinburgh did in his first full season with the O’s that has put the 49-year-old manager into Orient folklore when the former defender guided the east London side to promotion back to the Football League after just two years in the National League.

Davis was a poor appointment for Orient, but his sacking set a chain reaction that led the club to hire Edinburgh, who returned the O’s back to the Football League in a quicker time period than what many fans expected and has ultimately formed a team and environment that has set the east London side up for a promising future back in League Two.

Leyton Orient fans, was the sacking of Davis the best thing to happen to the O’s? Let us know!

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Wolves have been creating plenty of headlines on the pitch this season but now headlines are also being made off it.

This week, a man in his 70’s made a copyright complaint against the club, claiming that he was the person to originally draw up the designs for the club’s crest.

In a bizarre turn of events, the case is being overseen in a trial at the High Court in London.

Is it unrealistic to expect another top half finish from Wolves next season? HRH discusses in the video below…

Peter Davies has said that he originally made the design when he was at school in the early 1960’s, but has only just brought the matter to light in recent years.

As a result, Wolves fans appear to be completely baffled, reacting to the report in the Express & Star.

One supporter called the individual a complete chancer, whilst another simply muttered that the whole situation was a joke.

Other fans chose to respond sarcastically, attempting to claim they’d invented the wolf and drawn pictures just like it.

The judge heard in court that Davies initially registered the complaint in 2016. However, last year the club tried to have the case thrown out, per the Express & Star.

Here’s what’s been said:

James Tavernier has been Rangers’ stand-out performer this season so if he leaves it’d spell the end of the club’s title hopes already.

Steven Gerrard is hopeful of bringing in players to improve the starting 11 and challenging Celtic for the title next season, but if star players like Tavernier leave, then the rebuilding job will be too much for him. It’s frustrating, but it’s reality.

Birmingham Live have reported that West Brom are looking for two new defenders and James Tavernier’s name has been mentioned to fill one of those spots. Indeed, it’ll be hard for Rangers to compete with an English club like that and they know it.

Tavernier deserves all the credit for Rangers’ improvements this season. He’s played 33 games in the Scottish Premiership this term and he’s been so influential from right-back, scoring 11 and assisting 14. That’s a massive contribution that would and could be sorely missed.

Rangers don’t have the money to go out and buy a full-back who produces that number of contributions, so they’d have to take a risk on a player and hope he grows into the side as Tavernier did. Sometimes it works, but most of the time it doesn’t.

To challenge for the title next season, Rangers have to retain all their best players including the Englishman and then add to the squad. If they lose Tavernier they have no chance of winning the league next season because the job would be far too big.

Rangers fans, who do you think your cub should sign if they lose James Tavernier this summer? Join the discussion by commenting below.

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Speaking to Football Insider, Noel Whelan has questioned whether or not Leeds can afford to keep Marcelo Bielsa next season.

There has been rampant speculation about the Leeds boss’ future since the Whites’ loss to Derby County last week.

Many fans and pundits believed that he would walk away from Elland Road, but the BBC pundit believed it may come down to his former club’s financial state.

What’s been said then?

The former striker questioned the Whites’ financial power when discussing the prospect of Bielsa leaving.

“It’s the million dollar question,” Whelan told Football Insider. “I know they’re holding talks and that will have a massive effect on so many things, including transfers and which players stay or go.

“The fans love the manager, he has integrity and has done a brilliant job with the same players that fell flat on their faces last season. What he has done is remarkable.

“The club have to do everything to keep hold of him. It depends what has been arranged Andrea Radrizzani and Mr Bielsa in terms of his contract. I know he is on a lot of money. Can they afford to keep him?”

Must break the bank

Radrizzani must do everything in his power to prove Whelan’s doubts wrong. Bielsa is reportedly on £4 million a year, this is a huge wage for the Championship, but he is absolutely worth it.

If the Whites allow the former Marseille man to slip through their fingers due to his wage demands they will live to regret it for years, especially if the funds are there.

The Yorkshire club have been linked to a plethora of transfer targets this window, and their spending this summer will most likely be higher than the sum of Bielsa’s salary, but there is no signing that could make up for the gap left by the Argentine if the Whites fail to retain his services.

Leeds’ return to the Premier League doesn’t hinge on signing a new striker or a better defender. Bielsa showed what he can do with an average squad last year, and if they let him go the Yorkshire club could very quickly fall back into mid-table mediocrity.

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Leeds United fans on Twitter are hoping that Mateusz Bogusz gets first-team opportunities next season after Marcelo Bielsa signed a one-year contract extension.

The Argentine has a reputation for giving young players an opportunity, and during his first season at Elland Road Jack Clarke and Jamie Shackleton both became regulars.

Supporters are now hopeful that Bogusz is the next player in line for a debut after his impressive campaign with the U23s.

The Polish midfielder could easily slot in alongside his fellow countryman Mateusz Klich as a number 10.

The attacking midfield position has caused Leeds headaches this season. Tyler Roberts has played there sporadically, but they haven’t seemed to settle on a replacement for Samu Saiz.

The 17-year-old could be that man next season, and if he is put into the first team it would certainly be a popular decision amongst the fanbase.

Here’s what the Elland Road faithful have been saying on Twitter…

[ad_pod ]Former Celtic striker and current media pundit Chris Sutton believes Neil Lennon can bring success to the Hoops next season, giving his instant reaction to the appointment on social media over the weekend.

What’s he said?

It’s fair to say Lennon becoming the permanent boss at Celtic Park has provoked a big reaction amongst supporters, with opinion appearing split on whether he is the right man to take on the job this summer.

Sutton though cited Lennon’s record during his last full season at the club, pointing out the massive points total, as well as his recent success of delivering two trophies during his interim period as manager.

Is he right to back Lennon so strongly?

As one of Lennon’s former teammates, it was always unlikely that Sutton was going to come out and criticise Celtic for appointing the 47-year-old.

It’s understandable there’s a bit of anxiety about his appointment, fans were craving a big name, but Sutton’s comments do highlight that he has previous success at Celtic Park that can’t be dismissed.

He won five trophies in his first spell at the club, also qualifying for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League and since returning this year has done everything asked of him.

There will be big question marks about player recruitment this summer and plenty of fans will be waiting to see what kind of players are brought in before making a decision on how the new Lennon era will pan out.

For now though, patience is required and Celtic supporters should enjoy the initial treble success Lennon has secured for the club.

[ad_pod ]According to Foot Mercato journalist Sebastien Denis, Leicester are one of a number of clubs showing an interest in Lyon forward Bertrand Traore.

The former Chelsea man has scored seven league goals this term after hitting double figures for both Ajax and his current side over the past two campaigns.

It’s that tally that now looks to have attracted the eagle eyes of the Premier League, per Denis. He claims that the Foxes have begun to survey the attacker’s entourage with Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton also looking.

Considering the lack of end product Rachid Ghezzal and Damarai Gray brought to the Leicester team this season it’s hardly a surprise to see Brendan Rodgers chasing a winger.

But what do others at Football FanCast towers make of a possible move for the Burkina Faso international? Read below to find out.

Luke Glanville

“Traore would be a very good signing for Leicester City. The 23-year-old has proven since leaving Chelsea in 2017 that he deserves a second bite of the cherry in the Premier League. And the Foxes are in need of at least one new right winger this summer after Ghezzal’s disastrous first campaign at the King Power Stadium. Traore is also capable of operating in numerous other positions across the attack, so would be useful in that regard. Brendan Rodgers should throw caution to the wind if Lyon really are demanding £40 million for the Burkina Faso international’s services.”

Harry Sherlock

“The fact is, Traore’s scoring record is not very good. In 48 games in all competitions, he scored just 11 times for Lyon in 2018-19. He’s not much of a creator either, having laid on just five assists. It’s easy to see why Chelsea decided to get rid of him and it’s rather difficult to understand why Leicester would want him. He’s a pacey forward, yes, but he isn’t the clinical finisher that is needed at Premier League level. Signing him would absolutely be a mistake.”

Check out what the Pl>ymaker FC squad got up to at the Football Blogging Awards in the video below…

Billy Meyers

“This looks to have all the makings of another Kelechi Iheanacho. Traore has shone over in France but never really did much in England whilst with Chelsea, despite showing some flashes of brilliance. He is not too dissimilar to Iheanacho in the way that the Nigerian used to look amazing in spells, but simply isn’t good enough to consistently deliver. He definitely shouldn’t be a priority this summer; that should be Youri Tielemans instead.”

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Manchester United have made an approach to sign Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Eric Dier this summer, per Football Insider.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is said to believe that the England international is under-rated and has identified Dier as the man to fill the club’s defensive midfield position.

That is despite the star’s poor performances throughout the 2018/19 season, in which he made a total of 28 appearances in all-competitions.

Mauricio Pochettino dropped Dier from his starting XI for the Champions League final, as Spurs lost 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid.

The 25-year-old did suffer with a number of injury issues throughout the campaign – he missed a total of 10 Premier League outings due to appendicitis and a hip injury.

United are said to believe that Spurs could acquiesce to his sale in this transfer window.

But should Tottenham look to cash in on the player, particularly after such a poor campaign?

Football FanCast’s writers give their verdicts below!

Charles Jones

“No, I don’t think they should. Christian Eriksen has already hinted that he might leave this summer and if Dier goes as well it could spark an exodus from Spurs. These players have become the heartbeat of Tottenham under Pochettino and if the core of this team is broken up they may never hit the same heights again.”

Matt Dawson

“Spurs would be absolutely laughing if they were able to ship Dier to Manchester United. The fact of the matter is that the English midfielder isn’t good enough and that’s been the case for a while now. If United take him off their hands they’d be doing Pochettino an almighty favour. Furthermore, moving on Dier would also allow Oliver Skipp to receive more first-team minutes. He’s clearly a player with a huge amount of promise and he could be the individual to benefit most from this move.”

Jack Saville

“I think Dier deserves another chance to prove he can flourish at the top level. As is typical with plenty of English players – take Dele Alli for example – a series of underwhelming performances have seen his reputation plummet at a ridiculous rate, but he could still be a valuable asset for Pochettino. Unless a ridiculous offer arrives from United, which is unlikely to happen given Dier’s form, Spurs should refuse their advances.”

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Motherwell announced on Wednesday evening that Celtic have agreed a fee for the transfer of midfielder David Turnbull this summer.

The teenage prospect is set to become the Steelmen’s most expensive export ever after a sensational 2018/19 season that saw him light up the Scottish Premiership with exciting attacking midfield play.

Neil Lennon already has a number of options available in the middle of the park, many of whom are established in the squad as big personalities and guaranteed starters.

Interesting then to consider where Turnbull might fit in next term and how much game time Celtic fans can expect from him.

How can Celtic improve next season? A Hoops fan tells us how in the video below…

On the chalkboard

As noted, it’s the attacking output of Turnbull that has wowed pundits and fans in Scottish football over the last 12 months.

The 19-year-old made his debut for the club in the 2017/18 season but it was last term that he really made the breakthrough, appearing 31 times across the season.

With 15 goals and six assists, not many players delivered that level of direct goal contribution and considering it was effectively his rookie season it was doubly impressive.

Celtic of course rarely lack for goals but his tally even compares favourably to players such as Ryan Christie and Callum McGregor despite both playing in a more attack-minded team surrounded by better players.

Turnbull became the fulcrum around which the Steelmen’s entire attacking game was played – a player not afraid to run beyond the striker and latch onto balls in the box.

Armstrong replacement

Celtic sold Stuart Armstrong to Southampton last summer and failed to really replace him in the transfer market. His goal threat and uncanny ability to drift into dangerous areas off the ball became a key weapon during Brendan Rodgers’ first two seasons.

Ryan Christie performed a similar role when he broke into the team last term but there didn’t seem to be much design about that, the player simply forced his way into contention despite being sidelined consistently by Rodgers.

Turnbull will be expected to perform a similar role to both when he does get chances in the first-team. Direct movement, composure on the ball and a lethal finishing ability in and around the box will be what Lennon is after.

With energy and ambition he has the ability to change games coming off the bench or offer much-needed relief to the likes of Tom Rogic around international breaks and European schedules.

A target of 30 games for the player would be reasonable from both the club and Turnbull’s perspective and Lennon shouldn’t be afraid to utilise him in domestic competition.

Despite his young age, he’s already demonstrated he’s good enough.

Given Christian Benteke’s struggles last season, it’s not had to imagine that Crystal Palace might want to sign a new striker this summer.

At the end of the recent Premier League campaign, Roy Hodgson confirmed that he wanted to bring Michy Batshuayi back to Selhurst Park following a successful loan spell with the south London club, though there has not been any movement just yet.

Since then, Crystal Palace have gone on to be linked with a host of other No.9s including Spezia’s David Okereke.

Speaking to All Nigeria Soccer, Okereke’s agent Ben Itorho said: “Southampton, Crystal Palace and Newcastle are showing interest but there are other clubs who want him. Club Brugge, Genk and Sassuolo have strong interest in him.

“They want Okereke in the Premier League but the player has to take a decision with his footballing future in mind.”

Based on Itorho’s comments, competition for Okereke looks set to be fierce, meaning Crystal Palace must act as soon as possible if they seriously want the 21-year-old, who scored 10 goals and created another 10 in Serie B last season.

If not, then Hodgson must quickly turn his attention elsewhere. The last thing the former England boss will probably want to do is spend the whole summer chasing a new forward, especially with the transfer window now closing before the start of the Premier League season.

He will surely feel that other positions also need strengthening, meaning the club cannot afford to spend so much time on trying to improve just a sole area.

With Benteke, Connor Wickham and Jordan Ayew all scoring a measly two Premier League goals combined last term, Hodgson desperately needs the addition of another frontman, be it Okereke or someone else.

Crystal Palace fans, are you disappointed with the lack of progress that has been made over signing a new striker, or is it way too soon to start panicking? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!