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On this day four years ago West Ham fans were made to say goodbye to the Boleyn Ground ahead of a hugely controversial move to London Stadium in Stratford.

At the time, fans were carefully of optimistic of what a new 60,000 capacity stadium could help them achieve moving forward, but what has transpired since will have led to much larger opposition to the move had the fans known what a mess the stadium move was to cause.

The Boleyn Ground was a classic football ground with a reputation of being very intimidating for opposition players. It was the home of every single West Ham fan who had the pleasure of going there, but all they have now are fantastic memories of the great stadium.

So, to mark the four-year anniversary of that emphatic final match at Upton Park, we’ve put together the Ultimate Boleyn Ground quiz for Hammers fans to test their knowledge of the place they used to call ‘home’…

Good luck!

This article forms part of our Total Duds feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how bad a deal the club got.

One signing that Everton fans must wish never happened was the acquisition of Davy Klaassen back in 2017. Ronald Koeman seemed to have started his summer transfer window off well after poaching Jordan Pickford for a record fee for a British goalkeeper. Next through the door came the manager’s fellow Dutchman Klaassen, who penned a five year deal with the Blues (via BBC Sport).

It seemed a smart and apt signing for Koeman at the time, who had his finger on the pulse of the talent pool in his home country. Plus, the midfielder joined from a strong Ajax side, where he sported the armband and led his team to the 2017 Europa League final against Manchester United.

However, the manager’s take proved to be a huge lapse in judgment.

Klaassen arrived at Goodison Park after Everton forked out £24.3 million for his services. The Dutch international featured just 16 times for the senior team and contributed one assist, which was against Ruzomberok in the Europa League qualifying rounds (via Transfermarkt).

The man who brought him to club was given the boot in October 2017 following a humiliating 5-2 home defeat to Arsenal which saw them slip into the relegation zone. After also failing to make the desired impact on the team, Klaassen departed just 12 months into his five year deal and signed for Werder Bremen, where he still plays today.

The sale of the 27-year-old saw Everton pocket just £12.15m, exactly half of what they paid for him the previous year meaning they made a 50% loss on him.

The whole Klaassen era is an embarrassing one for the club, who were forced to take a substantial loss on a player who couldn’t find regular minutes under three different managers in the space of 12 months – in all honestly he totally flopped at Goodison Park. However, with Carlo Ancelotti now in charge, hopes are higher that a similar scenario won’t happen again.

What did you think of the signing of Davy Klaassen, Blues? Join the conversation in the comments below!

The future of English football is very much up in the air at the moment, and with the ongoing pandemic putting a halt to the beautiful game for the foreseeable future there are plenty of questions still to be answered.

Promotion and relegation seem to be a hot topic at the moment, but even if everything goes ahead as normal, there is one club that have a big decision to make on a couple of big name players.

Indeed, upon Fulham’s relegation from the Premier League they had to balance their books and that meant selling players and loaning out big names to cut down their wage budget.

The Whites received £25m for Ryan Sessegnon in the summer, while Jean Micheal Seri and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa were sent out on loan.

Now, if the London club return to the Premier League they will have a decision to make on the aforementioned players, but what should they do?

It’s no secret that the two former Ligue 1 stars flopped during their first season at Craven Cottage, they were both named in FourFourTwo’s worst signings of the season list, but they did enough during their respective time at Nice and Marseille to warrant fees of over £20m being spent on them.

This season has been a chance for the pair to prove themselves once again as they were shipped out on loan, and they have made strides towards doing just that.

Anguissa has proven himself to be one of Europe’s best dribblers, making the fifth-most dribbles per game of any player in La Liga and even catching the eye of Real Madrid during his time at Villarreal.

Seri, on the other hand, is a player that seemed too good for Fulham when he first arrived.

The Ivorian had been heavily linked to Barcelona the prior summer, but upon his arrival at Craven Cottage, he looked more suited to League One than the Champions League.

Seri has stepped up this season with a pass accuracy of almost 90 percent and 1.5 key passes per game for Galatasaray, but then again, the Turkish League isn’t the best standard in the world.

If Fulham do go up, they will have a decision to make on these two.

Anguissa has more than earnt a chance to be handed another shot by Scott Parker, but Seri has a lot still to prove, and his future in England could well be decided by how he gets on in pre-season.

James Milner has had a long and successful career since departing Yorkshire but he has taken time to remember his roots.

In a throwback tweet he recalled his Premier League debut by posting a photo of himself in a Leeds kit, looking fresh-faced and determined to impress.

His league debut for Leeds came in 2002 and though he left the club two years later, many fans still have fond memories of the midfielder, and perhaps view him as one of their own despite his years of service to various other clubs.

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That may be what has motivated some to ask him to return to the club, with many dreaming of the prospect of seeing him in a Leeds shirt once again.

A lot has changed for both parties in the 15 years since he departed the club but a reunion between the two if Leeds are promoted would be a good thing to see, and some supporters certainly want it to happen.

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Here are some of the reactions to his tweet, with many yearning for Milner to return to Elland Road.

It has been a couple of months since Romelu Lukaku swapped the Manchester United shirt for Inter Milan and so far he’s been having a good time over in Serie A.

The big Belgian has already bagged ten goals in 13 league games and if these early signs are anything to go by, the Nerazzurri might have struck gold with his transfer from the Premier League.

The Red Devils, however, could sure do with a striker of his profile to lead their generally young squad and add some much-needed experience and know-how to the mix.

After all, they were bound to miss someone of Lukaku’s stature, seeing how the now 26-year-old forward managed to net 42 goals and 13 assists in a total of 92 games played for the English side.

And interestingly enough, a recent report from ESPN stated the same thing – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants a well-developed and experienced name to lead the line alongside his talented youngsters.

Having the likes of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood bodes well for their future but it feels like they also need someone for right here and now to get them out of their slump and back into the top region of the table.

Luckily for them, there’s one man who simply ticks all the boxes and would be able to arrive either for free or on a big discount, seeing how his contract expires next summer already.

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Of course, we are talking about none other than Edinson Cavani, the current Paris Saint-Germain forward who’s recently fallen out of favour at Parc des Princes.

The 32-year-old has tallied only 431 minutes under his belt in the ongoing season, scoring two goals in seven Ligue 1 appearances but with the likes of Mauro Icardi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar Junior in the squad, the Uruguayan is bound to struggle for playtime moving forward as well.

But even though it feels like he’s been made redundant in Thomas Tuchel’s squad, that doesn’t mean he’s suddenly lost all of his ability.

Just last season, Cavani managed to bag 18 goals and five assists in Ligue 1 and averaged 2.5 shots and 0.6 key passes per game, even edging out Lukaku’s 12 goals and 1.7 shots per game and only falling short to his 0.7 key passes per game.

By all standards, the man who can boast with nearly 300 games for the Saints with 195 goals scored is definitely someone who would bring both experience and proven goal-scoring prowess to the table.

That seems exactly what Manchester United need.

And have we mentioned that he’ll be a free agent come next summer?

Pick up the phone, Woodward, and make the call. It’ll be worth it.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

West Ham United have been nothing short of terrible in recent weeks.

Indeed, the Hammers haven’t won any of their previous seven games in all competitions, and they’ve suffered embarrassing defeats such as a 4-0 loss to Oxford United and a 3-0 loss to Burnley.

There are a number of factors that contribute to West Ham’s poor form, but one issue that has to be considered is the form of Sebastien Haller.

Haller’s struggles

The French striker has scored just once in his previous nine appearances, and while that sounds like a poor return that may not be all his fault.

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Haller is at his best when the ball is in the air, as he has won 6.9 aerial duels per game this season, but he’s simply not been receiving enough service from the wings.

Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko put in just 0.6 and 0.3 crosses per game respectively, and it seems as if they need to acclimatise to playing alongside a target man, and it seems as if the international break may help Yarmolenko in that pursuit.

Yarmolenko’s international partner

Fortunately, Yarmolenko can gain some extra experience of playing with a big man up top while he’s playing for Ukraine.

Indeed, Ukraine’s first-choice number nine is Roman Yaremchuk, and with the Genk forward standing one centimetre taller than the towering Haller he is a striker in a similar mould.

Yaremchuk is aerially dominant in the same way Haller is as six of his 12 goals for Genk last term came with his head.

Playing with the 23-year-old at international level will help Yarmolenko get used to playing alongside a target man, and that could potentially be a good thing for West Ham.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking to Football Insider, Paul Robinson has suggested that Felipe Anderson needs to improve to reach last season’s level.

What did he say?

There are so many West Ham United players who have been disappointing during the club’s seven-game winless run.

One of those men is Anderson, who is still yet to score a single goal this season, while he has got three assists in the league.

The Brazilian has been working hard, as signified against Newcastle United when he ran back to cover Pablo Zabaleta and challenge Allan Saint-Maximin, but the Hammers need more from him going forward.

When discussing Manuel Lanzini’s injury with Football Insider, Robinson veered off to speak about the 26-year-old: “I think it’s a boost for Anderson as he has struggled for his form this year. I think at the end of the last season, he set himself a bar as his performances were outstanding.

“I don’t think he’s nowhere near reaching the same levels he did last year and this gives him the opportunity to have a run of games in the team.”

Drop in productivity

Anderson actually makes 0.4 more dribbles per game this term compared to last, but he is doing less with them, playing an average of 0.4 fewer key passes.

In addition, he has been barren in front of goal so far this time around, while he had the ball in the back of the net nine times in the league last campaign.

It would be harsh to question Anderson’s desire to help the team, as he has averaged 2.5 tackles, 1 interception and 0.7 clearances per game, but that doesn’t change the fact the team needs more from him in the final third.

If Manuel Pellegrini decides to play him in a more progressive role, closer to Sebastien Haller, this could help the Brazilian begin doing that.

Sunderland have confirmed that Nick Allamby has joined the club as a physical performance coach, and the news has been met with a mixed reaction from fans.

The former Bolton coached worked with manager Phil Parkinson for three years at Bolton, helping him to guide the Trotters to promotion in 2017, and kept them in the Championship until financial trouble led to relegation last season.

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Some supporters seem to be encouraged by that fact, but others are less impressed, with one pointing out that Parkinson’s strategy of reuniting with people he has worked with previously is akin to what David Moyes did during his stint at the club – which didn’t end well.

However, the addition of a new coach to help the players perform better should be seen as a good step, and if it leads to an increase in fitness then fans may see the rewards in the form of better performances and more wins.

After all, Allamby was part of a set-up that won promotion from League One before, and if Parkinson is able to recreate that environment it will surely only serve his team well.

Here are some of the contrasting reactions from the Sunderland faithful to the appointment.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Pablo Hernandez is almost back from injury, and while that may be music to the ears of many Leeds United fans, one man may not be too happy about the Spaniard’s return.

Indeed, Helder Costa’s spell in the starting XI may be coming to an end once Hernandez is back, and Phil Hay’s recent tweet certainly suggests that the Spaniard will slot straight into the team at the expense of Costa once he returns.

Costa’s poor run

Leeds fans had been crying out for the Portuguese winger to get a run in the starting XI before Hernandez was sidelined, but his time as a starter hasn’t quite gone how they would have hoped.

Costa hasn’t scored a single goal since Hernandez limped off against Derby County, and on top of that, he’s not provided an assist either.

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It truly has been a torrid time for the former Wolves man, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s immediately out of the team once Hernandez is back.

Bielsa’s comments

Hay tweeted a paraphrased version of Bielsa’s comments after the game against Sheffield Wednesday as the Argentine agreed that Leeds were missing Hernandez, while also pointing out some things that were missing in Costa’s game.

For the manager to say these things publicly certainly hints that Hernandez will be back in the team as soon as he is once again available.

Ever wondered how modern day skills would cope with the world’s oldest football? Find out in the video below…

It’s hard to disagree with the sentiment that Leeds have missed their Player of the Year in recent weeks as they’ve failed to score more than one goal in their last seven matches.

Having Hernandez back will be a huge boost, but the fact that Costa’s form has been so woeful during his absence is a huge worry, and it’s made Bielsa’s decision much easier once the 34-year-old is back fit.

After all, he had a hand in 24 goals for the Whites last season. His reintroduction could prove game-changing.

This article is part ofÂFootball FanCast’sÂOpinionÂseries, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Having signed from Burnley in the summer of 2017, Michael Keane has endured a difficult time with Everton. The centre-back hasn’t developed into the consistent and reliable centre-back it looked like he would become, and appears to have even lost some of the defensive solidity that marked him out as an impressive player at Turf Moor.

As per WhoScored, the 26-year-old’s numbers from his final season at Burnley compared to last year are startling. In the 2016/2017 campaign, Keane averaged an impressive 1.8 interceptions and 7.4 clearances per game, and committed just 0.4 fouls.

The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…

However, in the Premier League season just gone, Keane made less interceptions (1.5) and clearances (3.9), and made more fouls per game too (0.9), even if he did impress alongside Kurt Zouma at times.

It all speaks dividends of a player who actually seems to be regressing in the art of defending, rather than growing with age and experience. And his performance for England on Friday night was simply symptomatic of his start to the current campaign.

Having taken an early lead against the Czech Republic through a Harry Kane penalty, what the Three Lions didn’t need was for the defence to fall asleep at a corner just minutes later. The main culprit? Keane, of course. The Everton centre-back lost his man in what is becoming an all-too-familiar tale with him.

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His former teammate at Burnley, Paul Robinson, painted a worrying picture of the kind of defensive shortcomings surrounding the 26-year-old.

“He’s an all-round centre half, but I think one thing he lacks ever so slightly is concentration. He needs somebody next to him to keep him on the ball all the time, if you like. His ability as a footballer, his passing ability, is unquestioned – his ability in the air, and he’s got so much speed. He sometimes gets caught out, people get in behind him.”

And looking at the reaction from some of these Everton fans from Friday evening, the 6 foot 3 man’s display for the Three Lions was wildly unsurprising.

More performances like the one against the Czech Republic, and Keane’s place for both England and Everton will be in serious jeopardy.