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      Crystal Palace reserve keeper Sam Johnstone eyed by TWO Championship clubs for summer transfer but only if they go up

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      CRYSTAL PALACE’S forgotten keeper Sam Johnstone is a target for two Prem wannabes.Championship duo Sheffield United and West Brom both want a new No 1 if they go up.
      Sam Johnstone is wanted by both West Brom and Sheffield UnitedCredit: Getty
      Blades will review plans this summer, while the Baggies would love their former player back.
      Johnstone, 29, is behind first-choice Vicente Guaita, and Palace value him at about £5-6million.
      Neither suitor could afford him if they fail to go up, as both would have small budgets.
      During his tie at the Hawthorns, Johnstone was able to earn recognition from the England set-up making his senior debut in a friendly match against Romania in 2021.
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      The Blades would need to have their transfer embargo removed if they were to try and complete a deal to sign the goalkeeper.
      Meanwhile, Palace have talked caretaker boss Paddy McCarthy into staying after two approaches from rival clubs.
      Ex-Eagles skipper and defender McCarthy, 39, has stepped up from the Under-21s after Patrick Vieira’s sacking and the club want to keep him despite interest from Oxford and MK Dons.
      Former manager Roy Hodgson is in the frame to replace Vieira on a short-term contract until the end of the season.
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      The former England boss remains a popular figure with many first-team players at Palace.
      Meanwhile, attention will be focused on getting a result against league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates. More

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      Rotherham clash with Cardiff POSTPONED with players taken off after pitch waterlogged in torrential rain

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      ROTHERHAM’S match with Cardiff was POSTPONED mid-match due to a waterlogged pitch.The sides went into the break with Cardiff 1-0 up after Jaden Philogene’s opener.
      Players were taken off due to the waterlogged pitchCredit: Rex
      Ground staff were hard at work
      The game was ultimately called off
      At the interval the pitch was dry but by the time the players returned from the dressing rooms, it was completely sodden following torrential rain.
      After just a few minutes, the referee took the sides off until the rain stopped.
      Ground staff were hard at work to try and relieve some of the flooding on the grass.
      The game failed to resume after a further inspection took place at 4.45pm.
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      Rival fans took aim at the Championship ground for not standing up the pouring rain.
      One said: “Rotherham fans should be embarrassed that their pitch can’t handle rain. Championship club.”
      Another added: “Should be relegated for that. Joke for a Championship outfit.”
      One joked: “Supposed to be a championship club and your pitch can’t handle some rain absolute joke.”
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      Another fumed: “What a joke of a club.”
      After a lengthy wait, Rotherham confirmed the match was officially called off.
      A statement read: “Rotherham United’s game with Cardiff City has been postponed following a torrential downpour of rain which left the field of play waterlogged in the 48th minute.”
      The game is now due to be replayed, with the score returning to 0-0, despite Cardiff leading at the time. More

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      Five clubs Danny Rose could join after training with National League club ahead of return to football

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      FREE AGENT Danny Rose could have his pick of several clubs as he plots his next move.The former England left-back, 32, has been without a club since having his contract mutually terminated at Watford in September.
      Danny Rose is without a club since leaving WatfordCredit: Getty
      Free agent Danny Rose is currently training with non-league York CityCredit: Getty
      He did punditry for Sky Sports last week on old club Tottenham as they crashed out of the Champions League against AC Milan.
      Rose racked up 214 appearances for Spurs during 13 seasons at the club.
      In that time he had loan spells at Sunderland, Newcastle, Bristol City, Peterborough and Watford.
      He also earned 29 caps for his country and played five times at the 2018 World Cup. 
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      The left-back signed for the Hornets on a free transfer two summers ago but made just nine appearances as the Hertfordshire side.
      They were relegated to the Championship last season and now he is unemployed and free to join any club interested.
      Here are five possible destinations: 
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      YORK CITY
      We revealed that Rose, who is from Doncaster, Yorkshire, has been training with the National League side with a view to building up his fitness at this stage.
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      They are currently managed by interim boss Michael Morton, who joined the club in December as assistant manager, having previously spent time as Youth Development Phase Lead coach at Leeds.
      He joined the Whites in 2005 while Rose was coming through at the club and is now tasked with pulling the Minsterman up the table, where they are currently 18th.
      And the introduction of an ex-Premier League defender could be just the tonic he needs.
      SUNDERLAND
      Rose already has experience of playing for the Black Cats, who are pushing to try and reach the Championship play-offs.
      Boss Tony Mowbray could view the addition of the left-back as worthwhile for the run-in – and it is not too far away from his Doncaster home.
      DONCASTER ROVERS
      Which brings us to his hometown club.
      Rose will undoubtedly have higher aspirations than League Two, but he has previously revealed how he has missed living in the north to Sun Sport. 
      But if Rovers could persuade him, then he could get a short-term fix at his local side.
      INTER MIAMI
      David Beckham’s side love and ex-Prem ace or two and would provide an attractive proposition for Rose if they were keen.
      But the standard of the MLS could be a factor, along with the fact that it is thousands of miles away from his Donny home.
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      The Greek club were linked with a swoop for Rose back in September.
      Even though that failed to materialise, if he continues to build up his fitness, they could come in for him again. More

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      Gareth Southgate scouting Championship to fill England squad as number of homegrown Prem players drops to worrying low

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      GARETH SOUTHGATE will look to the Championship after an alarming drop in home-grown Premier League players.But he remains bullish over England’s Euro 2024 hopes after naming his 25-man squad for qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine next week.
      Gareth Southgate, left, plans to look at Championship players for his England squadCredit: Reuters
      Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell are two of the four English left-footed left-backs in the Premier LeagueCredit: The Sun
      In recent weeks, the number of English players starting Prem games has dropped to a season-low of 28 per cent.
      Boss Southgate said: “The numbers are not going up. The 28 percentage has happened in a couple of weekends in the last few weeks.
      “It has been around 32 but that’s down from 35 when I took over and 38 in the years before. The concern would be the most recent trend. 
      “We’ve got four left-footed left-backs in the league at the moment so we will have to start looking in the Championship.
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      “In January, there were 55 transfer deals and 44 were players that were either new foreign players coming in or the two that were here already —  Jorginho and Albert Sambi Lokonga.
      “Of the English deals a couple of those were second or third-choice goalkeepers, three were youth transfers — one was Romeo Beckham — so that’s 80 per cent of the deals coming in through January were non-English.
      “That impact of January has played out in the last couple of weeks. If we keep going in that direction it is clear that those numbers are going to drop again.”
      Southgate is positive about his chances of winning a major tournament with England but cited the case of Thursday’s opponents Italy, who missed out on the Qatar World Cup.
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      He said: “We know there is still a step for us to take. 
      “Yes, we want to be European champions and we’ve had a lot of experiences that could help us to get there but as our opponents next week found, you can very quickly be in trouble qualifying. 
      “We’ve got to respect the challenge that qualifying holds for us.”
      Malta and North Macedonia also await the Three Lions in Group C.
      Asked if he would have stayed on had he thought England could not win Euro 2024, he said: “I don’t know. But I do think we can — that’s the challenge.
      “The scenario of going to Italy, where we haven’t won for decades is a classic of the type of game that we’ve got to start winning. If we are looking for the next step to take as a team, that is it.”

      England play in a hostile Naples and have actually not won in Italy since 1961.
      One player lucky to be involved in the squad is Kalvin Phillips, who has made only two starts at Manchester City.
      Southgate explained: “Well, if you look in the Premier League, who can play as a single-pivot defensive midfielder?
      “You’d be talking Declan Rice and Phillips while Jordan Henderson has done it for Liverpool but it’s not his number one position.
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      “So yes, that’s why we’re picking Kalvin. We think he’s a bloody good player and to get in Man City’s team is much harder than to get into other teams.
      “Is it perfect he’s not getting as many minutes as we’d like? No. But we still think he’s the best option to help us.”
      Some eyebrows were raised by Kalvin Phillips’ inclusionCredit: Getty More

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      Chelsea’s 19-year-old Xavier Simons – who played once for club – joins Hull on permanent transfer after loan spell

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      XAVIER SIMONS has joined Hull on a permanent deal from Chelsea.The 19-year-old signed for the Tigers on a season-long loan deal in September.
      Hull have turned Xavier Simons’ loan move into a permanent dealCredit: Rex
      Simons joined the Tigers in SeptemberCredit: PA
      But the Championship outfit have now paid an undisclosed fee to turn the temporary move into a permanent one.
      He has penned a deal until the summer of 2026 that includes the option of another year.
      Simons joined the Chelsea Academy in 2016.
      His only appearance for the club came in the Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Brentford last season.
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      Simons then joined Hull in September, where he has made six Championship appearances so far.
      An injury to Jean Michael Seri means Simons has started four out of Hull’s last five league games.
      Speaking after making Simons’ move permanent, Hull boss Liam Rosenior said: “I’m absolutely delighted to tie Xavier down on a long-term deal.
      “We’ve worked really hard to get Xavi to commit his future to the club and he’s a big part of my plans.
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      “He’s got undoubted potential and quality, an outstanding attitude and trains at 100 per cent all the time.
      “He’s got Premier League physicality and athleticism.
      “If we can help him improve his technical aspects and tactical understanding of the game, we’ve got a fantastic asset for the club.” More

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      Arsenal fans convinced ‘agenda is real’ as loanee Marquinhos given ‘disgraceful’ red card for Norwich

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      ARSENAL fans are fuming after loanee Marquinhos’ controversial red card in the Championship.The winger was loaned out to Norwich during the January transfer window to build up some experience.
      Arsenal loanee Marquinhos was sent off during Norwich’s draw with Huddersfield
      Arsenal fans raged after Marquinhos’ red card, claiming there is an agenda against themCredit: Rex
      The referee deemed Marquinhos elbowed his Huddersfield opponentCredit: Rex
      The 19-year-old started for the Canaries in Wednesday’s Championship clash at Huddersfield, which ended 1-1.
      But the Brazilian was sent off with a straight red card in the second minute of stoppage time after an aerial clash with Huddersfield’s Josh Ruffels.
      The referee deemed Marquinhos elbowed Ruffels and gave him his marching orders.
      That led to an enraged reaction by Gunners fans, some of which claim there is an “anti-Arsenal agenda” against them.
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      Some Gooners claim they get poor decisions in the top flight as well as harsh punishments and now there is a feeling that extended to Marquinhos.
      This comes after a raft of complaints by manager Mikel Arteta, who is often caught lashing out on the touchline during games, such as last month against Brentford when Ivan Toney equalised despite Ethan Pinnock looking offside in the build-up.

      The North Londoners have also been fined a total of £165,000 by the FA after being hit with three separate charges of failing to control their players in an orderly fashion.
      That was after recent games against Newcastle, Oxford and Manchester City.
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      One fan tweeted: “Marquinhos red. Anti-Arsenal agenda is real and beyond EPL. How is this even a red???”
      Another reaction read: “Never a red.”
      Another posted: “That’s disgraceful from the ref. This is never a red card. Feel for Marquinhos.”
      A third said: “That’s harsh !! The ref was eager to give it.”
      And this fan wrote: “WTF.” More

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      ‘Looks like an episode from The Office’ – Watch QPR stars’ priceless reaction to team-bonding ‘haka’ man

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      FANS have claimed Gareth Ainsworth’s “haka” team bonding session “looked like a scene from The Office” as his QPR stars appeared to watch on bemused.The 49-year-old, who has been dubbed “The Wild Thing”, left Wycombe after over a decade to take charge of the Championship club last month.
      Gareth Ainsworth is going all out to ‘enhance team spirit’ at QPRCredit: QPR
      A clip from his ‘haka’ team bonding session has gone viralCredit: QPR
      He then proceeded to perform the haka in full in front of the squadCredit: QPR
      QPR’s players seemed to watch on in disbeliefCredit: QPR
      He has only managed to muster one win from his first four games in charge and the Rs are still licking their wounds after being battered 6-1 at Blackpool on Tuesday to leave them sitting just three places above the drop zone.
      Former midfielder Ainsworth played 152 times for QPR and was twice caretaker boss at Loftus Road during the 2008-09 season.
      But now he is back in West London as the main man, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract, and is hoping to repeat the stunning success he enjoyed at Wycombe after leading them from League Two all the way to the second tier.
      Ainsworth was well-known for his unusual team-building methods at Adams Park and now he has attempted to “bring the boys together” and “enhance team spirit” with QPR by introducing his squad to an authentic Maori.
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      The move began with Bruce Simpson, who runs the Haka Rebuilding Company in London, performing the haka in front of the seated players.
      He then went on to talk about the culture and what it stands for and about “unity – kotahitanga” as well as explaining the meaning of the haka.
      Simpson said: “It’s just being there for each other and being part of a bigger group, not just yourself but everyone around you.”
      However, after the clip was shared by the club’s Twitter account, it soon went viral with supporters mocking the unusual scenes – and particularly the reaction of the players.
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      One comment read: “QPR is an absolute s***show. Look at their faces!”
      Another tweet read: “Looks like a episode from The Office.”
      Ainsworth went on to explain why he decided to introduce Maori culture to his players and staff, saying: “It’s not just about sport performances, but about the mental side, the inner side of who you are as a person.
      “He talked about the All Blacks and obviously the connection with how they’ve dominated the world of rugby union for so long with just a five million people island, and that didn’t start happening till the haka got introduced.
      “When he talked about what the haka means, I think some of the boys really got an education today.” More

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      ‘Newcastle’s 12 miles away’ – Fans reckon Ousmane Dembele is LOST as he’s bizarrely spotted at Sunderland vs Sheff Utd

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      FANS were all left scratching their heads after Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele was spotted in attendance at the Stadium of Light. Dembele has been linked with a transfer to a host of Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle.
      Ousmane Dembele has been linked with a transfer to NewcastleCredit: Getty
      But bizarrely he was spotted at Sunderland’s Stadium of LightCredit: BBC via Twitter
      And it is his link to Newcastle which makes his visit to the home of Sunderland – the Magpies’ fierce rivals – such a bizarre one.
      Sunderland were in action against Sheffield United in the Championship as they looked to get back into the promotion chase.
      However, despite going ahead, the Black Cats fell to a 2-1 defeat following goals on either side of the break from the Blades.
      Regardless, some fans believe it was a simple case of him being lost.
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      One user said: “Someone should have told him Newcastle is another 12 miles away 😂.”
      A second user commented: “Bro doing side quests.”
      A third remarked: “Things I didn’t expect to see tonight: Ousmane Dembele at Sunderland-Sheffield United. Should have gone to Hull-Burnley, Ousmane.”
      One Sunderland fan joked: “I’m watching it. Lining him up as Amad’s [Diallo] replacement next season.”
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      Dembele previously celebrated Sunderland’s promotion at the end of last season after congratulating the club on Instagram.
      He appears to have a good relationship with Sunderland’s French owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, with whom he sat next to for the game. More