The picture at Ibrox is getting clearer and clearer with every sensible decision and smart signing that Steven Gerrard makes. The Liverpool legend is doing a fine job at Scotland’s most successful club, but ahead of the 2019/20 season, he cannot afford to overlook young Greg Docherty, the 22-year-old midfielder who shone for Shrewsbury this season.

Ahead of what promises to be a massive Scottish Premiership title race next season, Rangers are recruiting well. Both Jordan Jones and Jake Hastie have signed pre-contract agreements, and in this Scottish Sun article, Gerrard has been talking about his squad and what he expects of certain players next season. One player not mentioned is Docherty, who has all the makings of an Ibrox icon.

The young midfield man provided an impressive 21 combined goals and assists for Shrewsbury in his time at The New Meadow as he featured 50 times for them in all competitions. Now it will be time for him to step up. The Shrews avoided relegation with Docherty in the middle of the park and the next step for the Scottish U21 international will be to star for his parent club at Ibrox.

What Docherty would add to Ibrox is a lot more than just the goals and assists. The 22-year-old has a presence about him when he plays, demanding the ball and dictating play in a way that makes fans sit up and watch. If he could get going and get a run of games together at Ibrox then there’s no telling how far his potential can take him, and it could be a worrying time for the likes of Steven Davis and Ryan Jack next season.

Steven Gerrard simply cannot afford to overlook Docherty. His future is incredibly bright, and whilst the Scot may not have it in him to one day make it at a top club in the Premier League, in Scotland he can be the cream of the crop and help turn Rangers back into the dominant force that the Gers used to be, usurping Celtic in the process and winning back the Glasgow bragging rights.

Gers, are you backing Docherty to get much of a chance next season? Join the discussion by commenting below… 

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Loads of Sunderland fans have been reacting to their win over Doncaster, as the Black Cats continue to keep the pressure on Barnsley.

Sunderland suffered a humiliating setback last weekend, conceding five goals at home in a remarkable defeat to Coventry.

Jack Baldwin and Tom Flanagan were absolutely woeful in the match, leaving Jack Ross no choice but to switch things up when Doncaster came to town on Friday evening.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals why Tyne-Wear is a more intense derby than anything London can offer – check out the video below….

The boss opted for Alim Ozturk and Jimmy Dunne in defence, the former of which has played just 13 times in all competitions this season, and just six times total in the league.

The change was a success too, as barring a penalty shout that Ozturk was perhaps lucky to get away with, the new duo impressed fans with their no-nonsense style of defending.

The Black Cats are now just two points behind Barsnley after the 2-0 win over Doncaster, and they still have a game in hand on the Tykes as well.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below, where some fans have gone slightly overboard with their comments on the formerly forgotten Ozturk….

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Manchester United missed out on the signing of Liverpool’s imperious centre-back Virgil van Dijk in 2017, per The Times.

What’s the word?

United attempted to secure Van Dijk’s signature prior to his move to Anfield from Southampton, which ultimately cost the Reds £75million, a world-record fee for a defender.

The Times claim that United made a phone call to Southampton to enquire about the Netherlands international’s availability.

He had already completed his medical at Liverpool, however, and ultimately signed on the dotted line at Anfield.

Van Dijk has enjoyed a world-class season at Anfield with the Reds still fighting to win their very first Premier League title of the modern era.

It is said that a number of clubs explored the possibility of signing the Dutchman, but only United’s attempt was quite so bungled.

Arsenal considered a move, per The Times, but pulled out when the bidding reached £50m, while then-Chelsea manager Antonio Conte wanted the club to pursue a move, though the Blues board would not sanction such an outlay. City, meanwhile, signed Aymeric Laporte instead.

More embarrassment for Woodward

Ed Woodward is very good at securing commercial deals for Manchester United. The executive vice-chairman of the club, he has secured an official tyre partner, an official wine partner and an official global mattress and pillow partner, among many others.

He is not so good at securing footballers.

Van Dijk is a colossus of a centre-half and has enjoyed a breathtaking emergence at Liverpool. He has yet to even be dribbled past by an attacking player this season, though that may change when he faces Lionel Messi this week.

United, meanwhile, have Chris Smalling and Phil Jones continuing to outdo each other in the farcical performances stakes.

Had Van Dijk ended up at Old Trafford instead of Anfield, perhaps United would be involved in this title race. That, of course, is a stretch but it speaks to his impact on the club.

That Woodward made a phone call while Van Dijk was going through his paces with Liverpool is a joke and speaks to the dysfunction currently gripping the club.

United are continuing to search for a technical director – reports claim that Mike Phelan could be offered the role – and that appointment cannot come around soon enough.

This case study alone should be enough for Woodward to receive his P45.

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Paul Merson has tipped Tottenham Hotspur to finish above Chelsea on the final day of the Premier League season, per Sky Sports.

What’s he said?

Spurs face Everton on the final day, while the Blues take on Leicester City.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men are currently fourth and an amazing series of events could see them drop out of the top four altogether; if they lose to the Toffees and Arsenal beat Burnley, with an eight-goal swing involved, Spurs would finish fifth.

But Merson is tipping them to beat Marco Silva’s men.

And he also feels that Chelsea might drop points against the Foxes, events that would see the Blues end the season in fourth, one point behind their London rivals.

Predicting Spurs’ clash, he said: “You’re playing against a good Everton team here, who have turned a corner but they were getting beaten at Newcastle and Fulham a few weeks ago.

“The players probably won’t be thinking of this game but you want to get third. I think Tottenham will sneak it, but Everton aren’t as good on the road as they have been at home so I think Spurs will sneak it.”

And, asked about the Blues, he added: “They’ve got to beat Leicester, it’s quite a big game for Chelsea to finish third, but it’s a hard game and I think Leicester will get something with how they’ve been playing.”

Merson expects Spurs to beat Everton 2-1 and has predicted a 2-2 draw between the Foxes and the Blues.

Tiredness a factor

Do either Spurs or Chelsea care?

Pochettino’s side beat Ajax in the Champions League semi-final in midweek in one of the most dramatic games in recent memory and have a final to prepare for, against Liverpool.

So too do Chelsea, who squeaked past Eintracht Frankfurt on penalties to set up another all-English final, in the Europa League, between the Blues and Arsenal.

Rotation, then, is likely on Sunday. All Spurs need to do is avoid defeat to confirm a top four finish, while the Blues have already confirmed that they will be playing in Europe’s elite club competition next term.

Merson is probably right; these are two tough games for both London sides, but fans and players alike are unlikely to place too much importance on Sunday’s fixtures.

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Arsenal could be set for another major blow, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a doubt for their trip to Leicester City this weekend, per Sky Sports.

What’s the word?

The Gabon international missed the encounter with Wolves on Wednesday as the Gunners fell to a dismal 3-1 defeat.

He has scored 24 goals in all competitions this season but the report claims that the Gunners star is a major doubt for the encounter at the King Power Stadium.

Per the aforementioned report, Aubameyang underwent a sinus procedure and will be assessed ahead of the game with Leicester.

Unai Emery’s men have lost seven games on the road this season and will need to rectify that form if they are to qualify for the Champions League this season.

As it stands, Arsenal are fifth, one point behind Chelsea and four behind third-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

The responsibility falls on Lacazette

Alexandre Lacazette, valued at £58.5 million by Transfermarkt, needs to step up if Aubameyang is absent.

The France international has not scored in his last three outings, all three of which have been defeats, to Everton, Crystal Palace and Wolves. He was on the bench for the 1-0 win over Watford.

With the 27-year-old out of form, the fitness of Aubameyang could be decisive.

Lacazette, then, needs to step up and recover the eye for goal that saw him net five times in six outings between January and February.

Otherwise, the Gunners are set for another major setback.

اختار فاروق جعفر لاعب الزمالك السابق البديل الأنسب لتعويض غياب محمد صلاح نجم منتخب مصر والمحترف في صفوف ليفربول الإنجليزي بعد إصابته بفيروس كورونا.

اتحاد الكرة أعلن عن إصابة محمد صلاح بفيروس كورونا، وخضع اللاعب لمسحتين من أجل التأكد من إيجابية حالته. طالع التفاصيل.

وقال جعفر في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر فضائية “الزمالك”: “محمد صلاح  يعتبر حالة فريدة في الملاعب العالمية، غياب اللاعب مؤثر بالطبع ومن الصعب تعويضه”.‏

وتابع: “أرى أن أحمد سيد زيزو لاعب الزمالك هو أنسب حل لتعويض غياب صلاح بعد إصابته”.

وأختتم: “زيزو حصل على ثقة كبيرة بعد تألقه في المباريات الأخيرة مع الزمالك وقادر على تعويض صلاح”.

جدير بالذكر أن منتخب مصر يستعد لمواجهة نظيره توجو غدًا السبت في إطار الجولة الثالثة من التصفيات المؤهلة لأمم إفريقيا بالكاميرون.

In this transfer window, centre-midfield will be a priority for Crystal Palace due to how exposed Luka Milivojevic had been to attacking opposition pressure in the season just gone.

Indeed, it’s probably fair to say that Roy Hodgson struggled to find the perfect combination, with James McArthur nor Cheikhou Kouyate not overly consistent enough to help on a long-term basis.

Over the season, the Eagles were vulnerable through the middle and lost the midfield battle way too many times. As a result, Hodgson wants to sign a midfielder who can add steel or bite to his really rather flimsy midfield. So, according to reports from Turkish outlet Sabah (via Sports Witness), they’re aiming to sign Mohamed Diame from Newcastle United.

However, they face stern competition from West Ham United and Fenerbahce for the 31-year-old.

Frankly, it’s a terrible idea.

While Diame’s full of Premier League experience, he’s not the ideal man to solve Palace’s problems. The former Senegalese international has grown weary in recent times, becoming slow and unattentive to dangers in the midfield battle. Overtaken by more dynamic options on Tyneside, he’s barely covered himself in glory.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why the centre-midfielder was rotated around by Rafa Benitez at Newcastle last season. The 31-year-old just isn’t the vibrant, relentless presence he once was anymore and ends up being outwitted by clever, cuter midfielders too often. Indeed, Diame’s contributions in attack are almost nonexistent, as he failed to net or assist a goal last season.

He isn’t the best defensively either, landing the Magpies into trouble with his lapses in concentration in midfield. The Eagles need someone who can help create a powerful midfield pivot with Milivojevic, while also adding attacking flair. Unfortunately, Diame’s not such a dynamic player anymore, as he’ll make their midfield even more static.

Palace fans, do you think Diame could be a good fit with Milivojevic? Join the discussion by commenting below…

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Ajax attacker Hakim Ziyech continued his and his side’s remarkable season with an impressive display and assist in the 1-0 Champions League semi-final first leg win against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night, and his display didn’t go unnoticed by Arsenal fans on Twitter.

The Morocco international took his tally of assists to 21 for the campaign after setting up Donny van de Beek for his first-half strike in north London, while he also has 20 goals to his name in 45 appearances in all competitions this term.

The 26-year-old will surely be attracting interest from some of the best clubs across Europe following such an impressive spell for the Eredivisie giants, who have taken a step closer to the Champions League final following Tuesday’s victory.

Meanwhile, it has been another tough season for the Gunners who may well be relying on winning the Europa League to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition next term, given they have suffered three successive Premier League defeats.

A lack of creativity – not helped by Mesut Ozil’s patchy form and struggle for starts – has hardly helped, and it could be an area Unai Emery takes a closer look at in the summer transfer window.

Arsenal supporters were clearly impressed with what they saw from Ziyech against their arch-rivals, believing that the African playmaker could be the ideal replacement for their Germany international.

One individual said “he would be the perfect heir to Mesut Ozil”, while another predicted that “Emery would love him”.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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Ahead of West Brom’s match with Derby last weekend, James Shan revealed that he knew his best Albion team.

However, his starting XI against the Rams in their 3-1 defeat was anything but their best. For starters, it lacked Chris Brunt, one of the most impressive men under Shan since he took the reins.

But the main issue was not his exclusion. Instead, it was the switch of formation, something that was arguably the Baggies’ downfall as they were defeated in their final game before the play-offs.

At times, playing with two up front in Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle has been devastating, but with one of them shifted out wide once again last Sunday, it didn’t go well.

On the chalkboard

Where do we begin with Jacob Murphy? The Newcastle loanee clearly has talent, but his performance against Derby only provided yet more evidence of why West Brom simply aren’t as good when they play with wingers, and it wasn’t his first disappointing display of the campaign.

There was one small glimpse of what he could do, performing an intelligent cut-back for Gayle, but in missing a shot on goal and boasting a quite frankly awful pass success percentage of 67%, he displayed why he can’t be relied upon in the play-offs.

Shan has mixed his formations and system since being given the managerial role and it’s in a 3-5-2, not a 3-4-3 that he went with last weekend, that has worked the best.

Given the midfielders Albion have at their disposal it’s baffling that the manager would think anything other than a bulky midfield would be wise.

There is a distinct lack of quality from wide areas, with Kieran Gibbs on the left the only man to really provide anything from that area of the pitch in recent weeks.

With this in mind, playing with wing-backs, rather than more attacking wingers must surely be the way forward.

Sunday could have been used as a real audition for Murphy. Likewise with Matt Phillips who has looked considerably better in the middle, as opposed to on the flanks. However, both disappointed.

If Shan does know his best team, we’ll get a glimpse of it in the play-off semi-final next week.

But if it’s the same system to the one he deployed at Pride Park it won’t only be incredibly surprising, but also deeply concerning.

This season, Roy Hodgson has been very flexible at Crystal Palace when it has come to formations.

The Eagles boss has had no problem with using a 4-4-2 in one game, then a 4-3-3 in another.

And it is something he is likely to continue doing in the next campaign, especially if he loses his talisman Wilfried Zaha, with a transfer to former club Manchester United currently being mooted (The Telegraph).

Hodgson, however, should look towards using a 4-2-3-1 on a more permanent basis if Zaha does end up leaving Selhurst Park.

The Ivorian’s departure would almost certainly leave a creative void in Crystal Palace’s team, and switching to a formation such as the 4-2-3-1 might just be the thing that helps Hodgson to fill it.

Realistically, the Eagles are going to find it hard to find a like-for-like replacement for Zaha who is of equal ability.

Bearing that in mind, getting three attackers into the side behind a striker, which the 4-2-3-1 allows, may be the way to go.

In the likes of Andros Townsend and Max Meyer, Hodgson already has a couple of decent offensive options.

After using the Zaha money to reinforce that area, Hodgson could have the tools to field a very good three-man attack, one more capable of making up for the Ivory Coast international’s loss than a sole like-for-like replacement.

As far as life after Zaha goes, 4-2-3-1 could just be what Crystal Palace need to get by.

Crystal Palace fans, how would you like to see your team line up next season? Join the discussion by commenting below.