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Joe Cole announced on Tuesday that he will be hanging up his playing boots and look to move into coaching, ending a 20-year senior career.

The Paddington-born ace emerged on the scene as a teenager, looked upon as England’s next great player who possessed a wealth of natural talent.

By the age of 21, the 5 foot 7 midfielder carried the West Ham armband as the Hammers fought for survival.

A move to Chelsea the year after saw Cole join a project that went on to win the Premier League three times, the FA Cup twice and finish as runners-up in the 2007-08 Champions League.

The potential was there for a glorious summer in Germany in 2006 as well, Cole starring for England as the Three Lions progressed to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Unfortunately, his career never quite got the rewards it deserved, as the Premier League was not ready for a creative midfielder in a world of 4-4-2s.

Now Cole will try look to try his hand as a coach, potentially producing the next ‘Joe Cole’ in a world that will appreciate the talent far more.

These West Ham fans certainly carry fond memories of the Irons’ academy star…

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Brazil match-winner Richarlison has thanked his move to Goodison Park and working under Marco Silva at Everton as the reason behind his national team breakthrough.

What’s he said? 

Richarlison scored the winning goal as the Selecao saw off Cameroon 1-0 in Milton Keynes on Tuesday night, coming off the bench for Neymar when the Paris Saint-Germain forward developed an adductor muscle injury.

Speaking to the club’s official website, the 21-year-old spoke of how the Merseyside outfit is to thank for his progress on the international scene.

“Training at Everton is intense,” said Richarlison. “There is a lot of quality in the squad and a lot of detail in the sessions.

“It has helped me a lot – both to improve as a player and then in the games and matches with the national team.

“My confidence is growing, not just with the Brazilian team but with Everton also.

“I needed that run of games with my club and more experience. I am so happy to be playing regularly and influencing matches.”

Check out Playmaker FC’s Joe Street’s unfiltered take on Wayne Rooney’s England legacy in the video below…

What does this mean?

The interview with Everton’s official website revealed how Richarlison sees his move from Watford as a big step up that will shape the future of his career.

He also sees how playing alongside a higher calibre of teammates, but also the intense workload and detail Silva places on the training pitches is helping his progress.

Immediately after a solid start to the season for his new side, the Brazilian winger earned his first international call-up and hammered home a brace to brush aside El Salvador 5-0.

Clearly, the ex-Hornet is also taking pleasure from deciding games – something that he has done four times at the Merseyside club so far – and is excelling in his new role as a striker.

What next?

The Toffees paid their manager’s former side £40.5million for the Brazilian’s services in the summer, and he has so far recorded 17 appearances in all competitions for club and country, scoring seven times.

Continuing to build confidence as his side’s leading figure will aid Richarlison in maintaining his early run of form, but he can also take guidance from the world’s most expensive signing.

Neymar told Everton’s official site how he wants to help his younger countryman be the best he can as a friend and mentor, dubbing Richarlison “a really great player and a really nice guy”.

The 26-year-old added: “If he continues to be as smart as he has shown he is, keeps up his hard work and continues to work well, then he can be a great player in the future.”

Everton will be looking to build on their positive 0-0 draw with Chelsea when they take on Cardiff City at Goodison Park tomorrow.

The Toffees impressed in their last Premier League outing just before the international break after they were able to prevent Maurizio Sarri’s side from scoring at Stamford Bridge for the first time this season.

And Cardiff manager Neil Warnock is well aware of the difficult task that lies ahead for his side, highlighting the threat of one Everton player in particular heading into Saturday’s clash.

The Breakdown

“You look at stats and they’re [Everton] the hardest working side in the Premier League at the moment,” Warnock told WalesOnline. “Look at Richarlison up front he’s probably worth double that £45 million!,” the Cardiff boss added.

Against Chelsea, Richarlison was not at his best as he failed to really get into the game due to Chelsea’s dominance of the ball, while the Brazilian is also still adapting to playing as a No.9.

However, overall, Richarlison has been brilliant this season following his big-money move from Watford over the summer and is well on his way to becoming a £90m player, as alluded to by Warnock, which may sound like a huge and crazy claim in this moment of time.

It is, of course, still early days. But Richarlison has all the attributes needed to become a world-class forward. The Brazil international is quick, can dribble and most importantly, starting to become a goalscorer.

And at 21 years of age, he has all the time in the world to develop things like his dribbling and finishing to the point where he can truly be put in that bracket of elite forwards.

Manchester City’s march towards yet another Premier League title continued this weekend as they dispatched Bournemouth with relative ease at the Etihad.

Pep Guardiola’s men look far and away the best side in the top flight once again, and it’s little surprise to see them dominating as they are given the calibre of player on display and the influence of their enigmatic Spanish manager.

However, City are not without mistakes as they look to be a dominant force in Europe, and one big mistake we here at the Tavern can’t look past was the decision to allow winger Jadon Sancho to sign for Borussia Dortmund.

The young England star has been superb since making the move to the Bundesliga, and we think that City need to bite the bullet and splash the cash to bring Sancho back to the Etihad before it’s too late and he ends up in the clutches of another rival.

There’s no shame in admitting a mistake, no matter how costly, and Sancho is well on his way to the top, meaning City can’t afford to lose out on such talent in the long run.

Quick, brilliant on the ball and a lethal finisher, Sancho would be a superb long term signing for City as the likes of David Silva and Sergio Aguero continue to age.

City fans, what do you think? Would you take Sancho back? Let us know in the comments!

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According to a report in The Sun, Tottenham Hotspur are ready to do battle with London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal in the race to sign Real Madrid attacker Isco.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Sun report that the Premier League trio have been linked with moves for the impressive 26-year-old in the past, and their chances of bringing him to England might have been boosted.

The Spain international is struggling for game time under Real manager Santiago Solari – who reportedly doesn’t see eye-to-eye with him – and he has failed to start any of the seven matches the 42-year-old has been in charge of.

The Sun report that a January move is looking like a strong possibility and while Arsenal and Chelsea’s interest would be obvious, Tottenham are ready to make a surprise move, too.

Could they get him?

Of course, any potential Spurs move could depend on how much the player will cost given they have shown that they aren’t willing to throw huge sums of money around for new signings, but they will also be confident that they can compete with their London neighbours when it comes to transfer fees, even if not wages.

That could be a huge sticking point with the 26-year-old sure to demand a significant salary – he is reported to be on £120,000-a-week right now – which should be in reach given recent raises for Harry Kane and Dele Alli.

Speaking of Alli, his position in the starting XI would surely be under threat if the Spaniard did arrive in North London given his ability to play in the No.10 role as well as out wide, and while that must be a consideration for Mauricio Pochettino there is no doubt that the opportunity to add Isco to his squad would take Tottenham to the next level that he and Daniel Levy are dreaming of.

Paul Pogba and Man Utd seem to be after Harry Redknapp’s ‘King of the Jungle’ crown! Check out the video below…

A spot in the knockout round of the Europa League awaits Celtic if they can beat the leaders of Group B Red Bull Salzburg at Celtic Park tonight.

But with Salzburg flying in the Austrian Bundesliga and having taken maximum points in Europe’s second-tier competition, defeating them will be no easy feat.

On top of that, Marco Rose’s men have already claimed victory over Celtic this season, putting into perspective how difficult a challenge the SPL side face. Brendan Rodgers, however, is heading into the game with only victory in mind despite what his team is set to come up against and the fact that they actually only need just a point to secure qualification.

The Breakdown

“It is unworkable [to play for draw], as a coach, a manager… especially when your game is based around an offensive game and aggressive game,” Rodgers was quoted saying by Press Association Sport (via BT Sport).

“Our intent is always to go and win. Of course there are certain stages in the game, especially towards the end when you are in an advantageous position when you can manage the game. But I think it is always dangerous to go into a game thinking you only need a point.”

Assessing the attacking threat of Salzburg who have been scoring goals for fun in both the Austrian Bundesliga and Europa League, sitting back and playing for a draw does pose a risk given that Celtic’s opponents look capable of finding the back of the net regardless of how others set up against them.

Therefore, Rodgers is absolutely making the right call by deciding to take the game to the Austrian champions and not playing for a point.

And at Celtic Park with the likes of Odsonne Edouard, James Forrest and Ryan Christie, there is no reason why the Bhoys cannot pull it off.

[ad_pod ]Leicester City’s winless run in the Premier League stretched to three games with defeat against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon. Luka Milivojevic’s first half strike for the hosts was enough to earn the Eagles three points and send the Foxes back to the King Power Stadium empty handed.The visitors had more shots and a greater share of the possession but were unable to make their superiority in these areas pay off.ÂFormer Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below...After the game, Leicester manager Claude Puel told the BBC, “We had three or four chances to come back into the game. We deserved to come back but it is a big disappointment because we need the points…We were unlucky at the end but we lost three points. It is important to correct this and to play a consistent game from the start until the end.â€Many Leicester fans, though, may feel that this is not a new problem, and that the Frenchman has so far failed to make any progress in this area. What’s more, the current brand of football being played by the 2015/16 Premier League title-winners lacks pace, aggressiveness and excitement.This lack of consistency and cutting edge is clearly beginning to turn a portion of the supporters against Puel. After this latest defeat, plenty of Foxes fans took to Twitter to urge the club to sack the manager…

Jurgen Klopp made Liverpool challengers again and the Merseyside outfit want you to uphold that at the very least should you opt for the Anfield club as your Football Manager 2019 team of choice.

There are no expectations that you will win it all in the 2018-19 season, but the German left a solid roster and the potential is there.

The board’s expectations

Take the Reds job away from the gegenpressing-king, and you will be tasked with securing another top-four finish in the Premier League, while guiding your men to the FA Cup Final.

On the continent, you’re also asked to return the five-time Champions League winners to the semi-finals, so at least you don’t have to match Klopp’s runners-up medal in that department.

The transfer war chest

Add a pound to the transfer budget and you come to Arsenal’s famous bid for Luis Suarez, as the Fenway Sports Group only offers £40million.

There’s a £350,000 wage allocation to play with, too, so you can always tweak the budget in favour of out-right spending, as to blow the base amount on £40million’s worth of players would take some doing.

Three players to buy

Alban Lafont

When you take charge of the Anfield outfit, the team report will straight away tell you there is a lack of quality in goal. Alisson Becker has proven to be a great signing in the summer, but can you rely on Simon Mignolet to pull off as many wonder saves? No, so why not sign 19-year-old Alban Lafont.

Yes, he’s only a teenager, but Lafont has great reflexes, is strong at one-on-ones and with 17 jumping reach, should not be caught out like Jordan Pickford in the Merseyside derby.

Alex Grimaldo

Andy Roberston is a very solid left-back, even one of the best in the game, despite having nothing all that standout about his game, but you will need to sign an understudy to the Scot as Alberto Moreno is not going to cover you in glory.

Benfica’s 22-year-old defender, and former La Masia product, Alex Grimaldo would be a great choice to pick up as a back-up left-back. He’s valued at under £10million, and has the potential to nestle with the best over time.

Bruno Fernandes

After relegation with Stoke, Xherdan Shaqiri’s move to Liverpool was a bargain and he can unlock the lethal front-three’s potential. But in Football Manager 2019, he’s rather lacking and a better alternative can be brought in.

Just look at the Swiss midfielder’s three for positioning, nine for concentration and a work rate of ten if you are thinking of using the 26-year-old.

Now, you could pull off the move Klopp couldn’t and bring Nabil Fekir to Merseyside, but a cheaper and just as good alternative is Sporting CP’s Bruno Fernandes. He’s only valued at £16.25million and has attributes to rival the likes of Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio.

Watch the video below to check out the hilarious things footballers get up to at Christmas…

Three players to sell

Simon Mignolet

Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is still valued at £21million despite his ever-decreasing importance to Liverpool, and that would add a sizable chunk to the budget for a better replacement.

Likewise, Loris Karius harbours a £23m valuation, but the Champions League finalist cannot be recalled from his loan move in order to be sold.

Alberto Moreno

Alberto Moreno still has a few solid stats – mainly pace – but the Spaniard heavily lacks in positioning, decision making and anticipation. With a valuation of £24.5million and still only being 25, someone may try to snap him up and you should let them.

Adam Lallana

If you’ve run out of cash already or just in need of more funds for that big name player, Adam Lallana is a great money maker.

He’s valued at £44.5m, despite being very injury prone and will only decline if you keep him around. His absence will not be felt, either, as the midfield is very well catered for at Liverpool.

Three for the future

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Okay, okay, he’s the Reds’ first choice at right-back now, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is the Liverpool player for the future.

The 20-year-old can become a world-class defender and simply must feature for as many minutes as possible. Nathaniel Clyne is an adequate back-up when he gets tired, but it should never be the other way around.

Rhian Brewster

Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster may never reach the world-class tag, but he can become a top player for the club.

He’s only 18, so he’ll be around for a while, and can be a great option in the cups over the likes of Daniel Sturridge if you have long-term aspirations.

Ben Woodburn

You’ll have to look beyond the first year with Ben Woodburn as he’s out on loan at Sheffield United, but he can certainly have a first-team role upon his return as you nurture the midfielder into a world-class talent.

January means two things, you are attempting to keep to a silly new years’ resolution, but most importantly the Transfer window is open!

For 31 days, clubs around the world have the opportunity to strengthen their squad ahead of the business end of the season.

Almost 100% of players have contracts that end in the summer months, meaning players who have contracts until Summer 2019, now only have six months to get a new one.

If for whatever reason, a new deal with their current club can’t be struck, January is an opportunity for the club to cash in, as they will receive no money once the contract is up.

These players are yet to secure a new deal with their current club and could move in January, for the right price.

David Luiz

Despite being a regular in Maurizio Sarri’s starting line-up, David Luiz is yet to sign a new deal at the club.

The Brazilian who struggled to get into Antonio Conte’s team last season has made a resurgence in recent months, so surely a new deal will come before the end of the season.

Mousa Dembele

The Belgian has a lot of admirers in the Premier League but unfortunately for him, he has his fair number of injuries too.

Rumours of a move to China dominated Dembele’s summer, so surely Spurs will look to cash in rather than let him see out his contract.

Gary Cahill

While David Luiz has had a resurgence since Maurizio Sarri’s arrival at Chelsea, Gary Cahill has fallen further down the pecking order in defence.

The former England captain has made just one Premier League appearance so far this season and has been linked with at least a loan move to Fulham.

Juan Mata

The Spaniard has had a topsy-turvy time at Manchester United, being reduced largely to bit-part roles.

According to reports, talks are continuing and a new deal could be struck soon, but should a bid come in January and with uncertainty at Old Trafford, could the midfielder be swayed?

James Milner

Now 32, James Milner has quietly become one of the most versatile players in the Premier League.

Surely his ability and attitude warrants him receiving a new deal at Anfield?

According to The Express, Tottenham are interested in signing Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessié from Serie A outfit Atalanta. 

The 22-year-old is currently on loan at Italian giants AC Milan, but is attracting a lot of attention from a number of Premier League sides, including Chelsea as well.

Tottenham look like they will be going through a major midfield overhaul in the near future, with Mousa Dembélé and Victor Wanyama looking to be on the way out. While the club are well stocked with midfielders with Eric Dier, Harry Winks, Moussa Sissoko and even the emerging Oliver Skipp, they will probably need an extra addition or two in this position.

With Wanyama likely to leave, the club should look to find a direct replacement for the Kenyan, who has been a formidable figure in the middle of the field for Spurs at times, although has been ravaged by injury in recent seasons. Kessié looks to be made in a similar mould to Wanyama, and that should please Mauricio Pochettino.

Formerly a centre-back, Kessié is defensively resolute, but also possesses an attacking flair that perhaps Wanyama lacks. He is the archetypal box-to-box midfielder, and his addition would take away some defensive responsibility from Winks, and allow the England midfielder to dominate proceedings with his passing.

At the age of 22, the 25-cap Ivory Coast international is a player that could have a huge future with Tottenham, and could forge one iconic partnership with Winks in the centre of the field at their new stadium.