'We need to overcome bad times' - Emery not thinking of Barca

Being on the receiving end of a historic comeback will be no excuse for the French champions in the Coupe de la Ligue final, insists their manager

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Unai Emery does not believe his players will continue to be haunted by their collapse in Barcelona when they face Monaco in Saturday's Coupe de la Ligue final.

Ligue 1's top two face off at the Stade des Lumieres for the first major piece of silverware of the season, with defending champions PSG still three points behind Leonardo Jardim's entertainers at the top-flight summit.

PSG have managed back-to-back 2-1 wins over Lorient and Lyon to keep up the chase but memories linger of them being on the wrong end of a historic comeback at Camp Nou – Barca scoring three goals in the final seven minutes of breathless action to win 6-1 on the night and overturn a 4-0 first-leg deficit in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Emery and his players understandably came under heavy scrutiny as they froze amid the late onslaught and retaining the Coupe de la Ligue for a fourth successive year would go some way in terms of repairing the damage.

"Football goes fast. We need to overcome good and bad times," Emery told a pre-match news conference.

"This team and I are used to it. We have had some disappointments this season, that's clear. But if we look at the last games, we are in a good moment.

"We won the Trophee des Champions [last August's 4-1 win over Lyon] but that is a consequence of last year.

"The Coupe de la Ligue is the first final. The team wants to win everything. They are ready, motivated, the stadium will be full. It's a good time to experience a challenge against AS Monaco.

"The PSG is accustomed to win titles. Tomorrow is another opportunity to demonstrate that we are in shape, that the team is gathered and motivated to win."

Emery will be without Marquinhos due to a thigh injury, although fellow defenders Presnel Kimpembe and Thomas Meunier took part in PSG's final training session in Lyon – offering encouragement following respective adductor and ankle complaints.

"You have to think about the next game," he said. "Some players are injured but this is not an excuse. Monaco also has injuries."

Emery was happy to report that star attacking midfielder Angel Di Maria has pulled up well following back-to-back outings with Argentina, including a 2-0 defeat on Tuesday against Bolivia at the punishing altitude of La Paz.

"Di Maria is fine," the former Sevilla boss added. "He is in a good place.

"He has had bad times but he is getting better. He played both matches with the national team, which is important for him. He is motivated for tomorrow."

Source: All Football

Experience the best Australia has to offer! Attend the 2017 Australia Future Unlimited Education Exhibition in Lagos on Thursday 6 April

 Register for free here -

http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/africa/campaign

Date: Thursday 6 April 2017; Venue: Eko Hotel, Victoria Island; Time: 10am -5pm. 

Australia is fast becoming a preferred education destination for Nigerians for very good reasons, including:

 a.    High quality education with internationally recognised qualifications. Australian institutions are amongst the leading education institutions in the world in many fields including Mining, Engineering, Agriculture, Public Health, Business, Finance, Law, Science and Hospitality

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f.        Australia offers a simple study visa process. 

Register for free here - http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/africa/campaigns

About the 2017 Australia Future Unlimited Education Exhibition

·         18 top Australian universities and institutions will be attending the 2017 Future Unlimited Australia Education Exhibition.

·         This event is being organised by the Australian Government.

·         You will have the opportunity to apply directly or instantly to the universities.

·         There will be presentations on How to apply for an Australian Student Visa by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

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Deparadigm 

One killed and four wounded by a suicide bomb in Iraq’s Rutbah province

Al Arabiya correspondent reported that a suicide bomber blew up a car killing one and wounding four in Iraq’s Rabtah province. (Archive)

Al Arabiya correspondent reported that a suicide bomber blew up a car killing one and wounding four in Iraq’s Rutbah province, west of Anbar.

Security sources revealed that the suicide bomber detonated the explosives-rigged car at an Iraqi army search checkpoint AlSakar district north of Rutbah province which lead to the death of one soldier and wounding of 4 others.

Al Arabiya's correspondent confirmed that additional security forces arrived at the scene of the incident to quickly take the wounded to the hospital.

Source: Al arabiya

Mother of two kidnapped in Asaba

A mother of two identified as one Mrs Mary Salawu was kidnapped at her home in Asaba, Delta State on Thursday, March 31. If you have any useful information on her where about, please call this contact number: 08034892918...

Deparadigm

Turkey will maintain military presence in Syria

The Turkish army will keep a military presence in Syria despite officially ending its offensive in the north against the ISIS militants. (AFP)

The Turkish army said Friday it will keep a military presence in Syria despite officially ending its offensive in the country’s north against the ISIS militants.

“Our activities continue for the protection of our national security, to prevent any undesirable entity, to allow our displaced Syrian brothers and sisters to return to their country, and to ensure security and stability in the region,” the military said.

The Turkish armed forces said in a statement this “phase” of its operation against ISIS and “terrorists” in the region was “successfully completed.”

The completion of the operation dubbed “Euphrates Shield” had been announced by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Wednesday, who nevertheless did not rule out new military campaigns inside Syria.

At the time, neither Yildirim nor the top advisory national security council had said whether or not there were plans to withdraw Turkish troops.

Turkey launched in August its unilateral operation with Syrian rebels to remove ISIS from its border and to halt the Kurdish militia advance.

Dozens of Turkish soldiers were killed by ISIS during clashes and attacks as Turkey-backed Syrian opposition fighters recaptured towns including Jarabulus, Al-Rai, Dabiq and Al-Bab.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Friday the completion of the military operation did not mean Turkey would ignore what takes place on its southern border.

“There should be no meaning taken from this that Turkey will remain indifferent to the security risks or will not engage there,” Kalin told reporters in Ankara.

“Just the opposite actually, security measures in the region continue at the highest level,” he added, without giving further details.

Turkey has suggested it wants to join any operation to capture ISIS stronghold Raqa, but without the Kurdish militia it views as terrorists.

Turkey appears to be sidelined as US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces including Kurdish fighters are laying the groundwork for an assault on the heart of the militants’ so-called caliphate.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson would give no comment on Turkish involvement during his visit to Ankara on Thursday.

Source: All arabiya 

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Deparadigm

Egyptian minister says inflation in the country to start easing by December

Amr El-Garhy speaks during a press conference at the headquarters of the finance ministry in Cairo on Aug.11, 2016. (AP)

Egypt expects inflation to start easing by November or December, a year after abandoning its currency peg and seeing prices soar as the pound lost half its value, Finance Minister Amr El-Garhy said on Thursday.

Annual urban consumer price inflation rose last month to its highest level in more than three decades, hitting 30.2 percent. In cities and towns, food and beverage inflation reached 40.5 percent year on year.

“We expect the inflation rate to ease starting in November or December,” Garhy told a conference in Cairo. That time frame matches economists’ expectations for inflation to remain high until final quarter of the year, when the financial shock of November’s currency move will drop out of year-on-year figures.

Garhy was speaking a day after cabinet approved a proposed 2017-18 budget which will increase expenditure in local currency terms by nearly 20 percent to 1.188 trillion Egyptian pounds ($65.35 billion).

The budget, which has yet to be passed by parliament, targets GDP growth of 4.6 percent in the coming financial year, which starts on July 1. It foresees a budget deficit of 9.1 percent, compared to an expected 10.5-10.7 percent in the current year.

Food subsidies

Garhy said the government was trying to control debt and the deficit level to help its efforts to curb inflation. But sources said the government was also considering an increase in spending on food subsidies to tens of millions of Egyptians to offset the impact of rising prices from economic reforms which helped it secure a $12 billion IMF loan program.

“The budget has presented great difficulties and challenges, between implementing the economic reforms on one hand and retaining the social protection plan on the other,” Garhy said.

The budget sees food subsidy spending of 62.585 billion pounds in the coming financial year, up from 49.544 billion expected for 2016-17. Two sources at the finance ministry told Reuters on Thursday the government is also considering raising the monthly food subsidies received by millions of Egyptians by 29 percent to 27 pounds per person.

Around 70 million of the country’s 92 million population are beneficiaries of a subsidy card program that currently entitles them to 21 Egyptian pounds ($1.16) month of goods offered at state-approved supermarkets in addition to five loaves of bread per person per day.

Source: All arabiya

Israeli cabinet approves first West Bank settlement in two decades

A Palestinian stands next to a donkey as it feeds in the West Bank town of Ramadin, southwest of Hebron, with the Israeli settlement of Eshkolot appearing in the background, on March 25, 2017. (AFP)

Israel’s government approved the first West Bank settlement in two decades Thursday, creating the first serious test for US President Donald Trump’s new foray into Middle East peacemaking.

The White House pointedly avoided any specific condemnation of the announcement, although it said that further settlement activity “does not help advance peace” and that it expects Israel to show restraint moving forward. Still, the relatively tepid response was a far cry from the automatic condemnations voiced by the Obama’s administration in reaction to Israeli settlement announcements.

The White House statement even went so far as to “welcome” what appears to be a limited Israeli commitment to take Trump’s concerns about settlements into “consideration,” without any guarantees to avoid similar announcements. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced the decision late Thursday following a meeting of his policymaking Security Cabinet.

Netanyahu has vowed to build a new settlement to compensate the residents of Amona, an illegal settler outpost that was demolished in February under the orders of Israel’s Supreme Court. Thursday’s announcement said the new settlement would be built near the existing settlement of Shilo, which is nearby to the Amona site. It also said the government had approved tenders to build 2,000 new apartments from previously approved settlement projects.

Trump campaign

In December, weeks before Trump was inaugurated, President Barack Obama allowed the UN Security Council to pass a resolution that declared all settlements in both areas to be illegal. Trump condemned the decision at the time.

On the campaign trail, Trump indicated he would be far more sympathetic to settlements than Obama and the international community, which consider Israeli construction on occupied land to be illegal. His platform made no mention of an independent Palestinian state, and his inner circle includes strong supporters of the settlement movement.

But since taking office, Trump has appeared to change his position, telling an Israeli newspaper last month that settlements “may not be helpful” and telling Netanyahu at the White House that he would like to see some restraint. Since then, Israel and the US have been in talks over what kind of construction the White House would tolerate.

A protester holds a Palestinian flag as smoke rises from burning tyres during clashes with Israeli troops at a protest against Jewish settlements, in al-Mughayyir village near the West Bank city of Ramallah March 24, 2017. (Reuters)

A White House official sought to play down Thursday’s Israeli announcement, saying Netanyahu made his promise to the Amona settlers before Trump laid out his vision. But the official, who agreed to discuss the matter on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about it, signaled that the White House would take a tougher line down the road.

“As the administration has made clear: While the existence of settlements is not in itself an impediment to peace, further unrestrained settlement activity does not help advance peace,” the official said. “The Israeli government has made clear that going forward, its intent is to adopt a policy regarding settlement activity that takes the president’s concerns into consideration. The United States welcomes this.”

White House envoy Jason Greenblatt has already made two visits to the region, including attending an Arab summit in Jordan this week. In hopes of renewing peace talks for the first time since 2014, the official said the White House will continue to work with all sides “to create a climate that is conducive to peace.” “We hope that the parties will take reasonable actions moving forward that create a climate that is conducive to peace,” he said.

Unauthorized outposts

Over 600,000 Israelis now live in settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. But Israel has not built a full-fledged new settlement since the 1990s. Instead, construction during that period has expanded existing settlements or taken place in unauthorized outposts like Amona. Netanyahu’s hard-line government, which is dominated by settler allies, recently passed legislation aimed at legalizing dozens of those outposts.

The Palestinians and the international community consider the settlements obstacles to peace because they gobble up territory where the Palestinians seek to establish their state. Israel says the status of settlements as well as other issues, such as security, should be resolved in peace talks.
Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi condemned the new settlement approval and called for international intervention.

“Today’s announcement once again proves that Israel is more committed to appeasing its illegal settler population than to abiding by the requirements for stability and a just peace,” she said. “It is time that all members of the international community serve the cause of peace and justice and bring Israel to cease and desist its unlawful settlement activities and illegal unilateralism once and for all.”

Source: Al arabiya

Nigerians on Twitter react after the best student of Pediatrics in Uniport allegedly received only N250 price money

Nigerians on Twitter react after the best student of Pediatrics in Uniport allegedly received only N250 price money

According to a Twitter user, @Ty_Fregz, the Best student of Pediatrics from the University of Port Harcourt allegedly received her prize money of N250, two years after graduation yesterday. But Nigerians on Twitter didn't buy the expensive joke as many angrily expressed their disappointments, while others compared it to the N25m Big Brother Naija prize, saying an educational achiever  deserved more. See more tweets after the cut.

Deparadigm

US-led coalition claims ISIS propaganda team killed in Iraq air strike

The official was a leader in propaganda efforts to recruit foreign fighters and encourage “terror attacks” in western countries. (AFP)

The US-led coalition fighting ISIS militants said Thursday that it had killed a propaganda chief and associates in an air strike in the western Iraqi town of al-Qaim.

Ibrahim Al-Ansari was an “important ISIS leader,” said Colonel Joseph Scrocca, a spokesman for the Baghdad-based coalition. The propaganda official was a leader in propaganda efforts to recruit foreign fighters and encourage “terror attacks” in western countries, Scrocca told reporters.

The air strike took place on March 25, he said. The bombardment, which also killed four other ISIS militants, destroyed a multimedia operation team, said another Defense Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Their propaganda efforts included “brainwashing of young children to perpetuate ISIS brutal methods,” the source said. The remote town of al-Qaim is in the Euphrates Valley, at the border with Syria.

According to the Pentagon, the Euphrates Valley could become the last bastion of ISIS following the fall of their strongholds in Mosul, Iraq, and Raqqa, Syria.

Source: All arabiya

What a wicked world! A Man raped girlfriend's 4-year-old son to death and his mum helped him escape from the cops

Bentley Miller

What a wicked world! A Man raped girlfriend's 4-year-old son to death

A Pennsylvania man is accused of raping and killing his girlfriend’s 4-year-old son, and his mum is accused of helping him escape. 20-year-old Keith Jordan had been asked by his girlfriend to take care of her son, Bentley Miller, on March 21, because she had to go to work.

After Mackenzie Peters left for work, Jordan called his mother, Kristen Harold, 43, that same morning, telling her that Bentley was in need of medical attention.

On getting to the Super 8 motel in Butler, Pennsylvania where her son was staying, she picked Bentley who was bleeding profusely and started driving him to his biological father's house. When he became unresponsive, she pulled over and called 911 at around 9:30 a.m.Bentley later died at Butler Memorial Hospital where he was rushed to.

Police disclosed that Kristen hid her son in the attic of an abandoned home in Butler to avoid police detection. They were both arrested and are being held in Butler County Prison. Court documents show that Bentley died as a result of severe blood loss due to sodomy.

He also had a severe burn to his left hand, bruises on his head, pelvic region, and extremities. Police said Jordan was alone with the child when he was assaulted.

He was charged with criminal homicide, rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child, and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse causing serious bodily injury. Bentley's mother was at work at the time of the incident, and investigators do not suspect she had any involvement in his death. She was charged with child endangerment and hindering apprehension.

The boy's mother, Mackenzie Peters, was at work when the assault took place, yet police said she may be charged in the future as well, though what charges are unclear. Lambing was already facing charges of burglary, criminal trespass, and conspiracy as well as terroristic threats and harassment, and had failed to show up for a court appointment the day before the boy's murder.

He had been arrested for retail theft in 2013 and had a bench warrant out for required payments as restitution. There is a possibility that the prosecutor may seek the death penalty for Lambing.

The baby Mackenzie and Jordan have together has been placed in protective custody.

Deparadigm

Kenyan millionaire weds two friends same weekend (Photos)

Kenyan millionaire weds two friends same weekend

According to the story trending online, Kenyan millionaire, Javan Bidogo got married to two friends, Elvas and Asha same weekend in different lavish occasions.

A Facebook user, Maybelline Boma who shared the news said that the man found the two ladies attractive and decided to marry them both.
He first got married to Elvas on Saturday the 25th of March at Golden Jubilee Towers while he married Asha the next day at Serena Hotel In Dar es Salaam. 

"oh oh !! Kenyan Millionaire Javan Bidogo Wed's Two Friends Same Weekend

Mr Javan Bidogo is a man who doesn't believe in loosing anything no matter how small. And with that mentality he finds these two beautiful friends attractive and is not ready to let go any one of them. 
Mr Javan decided to spice it up a little by getting married to these friends same weekend. He got married to the first Elvas on Saturday the 25th of March, and the second Asha on the 26th of March.

Both at different expensive location's and strictly by invitation.Asha Juma wed Javan at the Serena Hotel In Dar es Salaam while Elvas Kulengwa said her vows at the Golden Jubilee Tower in Dar es Salaam.Asha's colour code was maroon, gold and blue while Elvas's was maroon, gold and white." The facebook user wrote.

More photos below....

Kenyan millionaire weds two friends same weekend

Deparadigm

Trump administration appeals latest ruling blocking travel ban

The Trump administration’s wide-ranging initial travel restrictions imposed on January 27 were slapped down by federal courts. (Reuters)

The Donald Trump administration on Thursday appealed the ruling of a US federal judge who had a day prior maintained his freeze on the president’s revised travel ban.

The Justice Department’s filing means the case will land back at the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld a halt of Trump’s first travel ban before the US president revised it.

The appeal comes a day after US District Judge Derrick Watson in Hawaii dealt another blow to the White House, issuing a longer-lasting suspension of the president’s travel restrictions by changing it from a temporary restraining order into a preliminary injunction.

Such an injunction generally has no set expiration date, said Hawaii state Attorney General Doug Chin, meaning Trump will be barred from enforcing the ban while it is contested in court.

Trump’s revised travel ban aims to close US borders to nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, and all refugees for at least 120 days. The original executive order included Iraq but that country was removed in the rewrite.

The Trump administration’s wide-ranging initial travel restrictions imposed on January 27 were slapped down by federal courts, after sparking international protests and chaos at US airports.

The president’s revised ban signed on March 6 had a reduced scope, exempting permanent US residents and valid visa holders -- an effort by the administration to help it pass legal muster. Both of the bans have been criticized as amounting to a ban on entry of Muslims into the US.

The president has said his proposed travel ban is needed to preserve US national security and keep out terrorists intent on doing harm to Americans.

Source: All arabiya

Today's Devotion (Friday)

Judgment On Backsliding

2 KINGS 17:9-23

Key Verse:

"And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and

Though God is compassionate and merciful to mankind, He does not allow any form of sin. God had been sending prophets and preachers to the nation of Israel from time to time to warn them of their wickedness and evil ways. But they would not take to any of His warnings. They became obstinate and turned their back to every reproof and correction of God. They resorted to the use of divination and enchantment and wrought wickedness to provoke God. They took undue advantage of God’s faithfulness to His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Backsliding is a great sin. These fifteen verses under consideration present to us some areas of great importance: The children of Israel abused the privilege of being God’s choice as a nation. They also wasted God’s resources upon them. Anyone who misuses this great opportunity will pay dearly for it. Israel also had the highest spiritual teaching through the word of God. But they became wicked, rejected God and romanced with idols. They neglected His word, rejected His worship and disobeyed His directives on how to do His appointed feasts. They backslid causing God’s anger and judgment to come upon them as punishment for their sin. God’s longsuffering should never be taken for granted. As loving as God is, His eyes are too holy to behold sin. Israel was rejected because they backslid. God is not a partial judge. The same judgment awaits all who wantonly abuse His kindness, and take for granted His forbearance and deeds of mercy.

Thought for the day: As loving as God is, He is also a consuming fire.

Bible Reading in one Year: MICAH 1-4

Ivanka Trump to become US president adviser

Ivanka Trump will take an official government role as an unpaid adviser to her father US President Donald Trump, the White House announced on Wednesday. The first daughter, 35, whose estate developer husband Jared Kushner also works as an unpaid senior advisor to the president, will not receive a salary for her work as a federal employee.

"We are pleased that Ivanka Trump has chosen to take this step in her unprecedented role as first daughter and in support of the president," a White House statement said. "Ivanka's service as an unpaid employee furthers our commitment to ethics, transparency, and compliance and affords her increased opportunities to lead initiatives driving real policy benefits for the American public that would not have been available to her previously."

Deparadigm

Premier League fight to the finish: looking at those top flight clubs

This weekend the Premier League is back and there is barely a club in the top division with nothing to play for. The title looks as though it's on its way to Chelsea but what about everybody else? 

The race for the top four is the tightest it's been for years and arguably includes everybody as far down as Everton in seventh. Meanwhile, there is much to be played for at the bottom end, with revivals by Hull and Swansea not yet enough to drag them clear of the relegation whirlpool. 

Here, Sportsmail's football editor IAN LADYMAN looks back at what has gone right and wrong for each of the 20 top flight clubs this season.

Arsenal(6th)

Best thing about this season: Arsenal are still in the FA Cup. For all their limitations, Arsene Wenger's team remain capable of winning big matches on their day. 

Worst thing: Strangely Arsenal's Cup run could work against them at the end of a season that has otherwise pointed towards the need for a new manager. 

Top goalscorer: Alexis Sanchez 18. 

Most assists: Sanchez 9. 

Will the boss be there next season? Yes. Wenger has no intention of leaving unless things get significantly worse between now and mid-May. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 6. 

Bournemouth (11th) 

Best thing about this season: Their revival. Eddie Howe's team leaked lots of goals in the winter and looked as though they may be in trouble. But recent improvement reflects well on them. 

Worst thing: Jordon Ibe and Jack Wilshere were big-name summer arrivals but have they lived up to their billing? No and not quite. 

Top goalscorer: Josh King 11. 

Most assists: Junior Stanislas 5. 

Will the boss be there next season? Yes. Howe is talented but still looks fractionally short of being ready for a really big club. He is only 39, by the way. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 6.5. 

Burnley (13th)

Best thing about this season: Burnley's home record has been so good that they have spent most of the campaign looking up and not down. That will help them in the run-in. 

Worst thing: Sean Dyche's team have suffered late on in games at times. Late goals — both offside — cost them points twice against Arsenal, for example. 

Top goalscorer: Andre Gray 8. 

Most assists: Sam Vokes, Steven Defour 3. 

Will the boss be there next season? Yes. Dyche is capable of the next step but it is unlikely the right job will come up this summer. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 8. 

Chelsea (1st)

Best thing about this season: Antonio Conte's system of play has given freedom to Eden Hazard and Pedro and provided a platform for Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso to emerge. 

Worst thing: Kurt Zouma, 22, is one of the most talented central defenders in Europe but a serious injury last year derailed him. He has recovered but is yet to start a league game this season. 

Top goalscorer: Diego Costa 17. 

Most assists: Pedro, Cesc Fabregas 7. 

Will the boss be there next season? Yes. One feels this is just the start of something at Stamford Bridge. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 9. 

Crystal Palace (16th)

Best thing about this season: Palace supporters are a loyal bunch and did not hound Alan Pardew out even when it was clear he was failing. Heartening, that. 

Worst thing: Wingers Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend are so talented but so frustrating at times. Some consistency could take them places. 

Top goalscorer: Christian Benteke 9. 

Most assists: Wilfried Zaha 6. 

Will the boss be there next season? Yes. The one big job Sam Allardyce wanted with England has now been and gone. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 6. 

Everton (7th)

Best thing about this season: Everton suffered a slump during winter that could have been terminal. The way they have recovered says everything about their blue chip steel. 

Worst thing: There is still a feeling among their star players that the grass is greener. We do not expect Romelu Lukaku or Ross Barkley to stick around. 

Top goalscorer: Romelu Lukaku 21. 

Most assists: Ross Barkley 7. 

Will the boss be there next season? Yes. Fortunately for Everton, Ronald Koeman's playing pedigree may not be enough to get him the job at Barcelona. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 8.

Hull (18th)

Best thing about this season: The first weekend when Hull beat the champions. Little did we know that before long everybody would be doing it. 

Worst thing: Hull's failure to build a squad fit for purpose last summer was embarrassing and shameful. Why bother getting promoted? 

Top goalscorer: Robert Snodgrass 7. 

Most assists: Snodgrass 3. 

Will the boss be there next season? If Hull go down the talented Marco Silva will, in all likelihood, be on his way. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 5.

Leicester (15th)

Best thing about this season: Everything that has happened since the sacking of Claudio Ranieri in February, including three successive league wins and a place in the Champions League quarter-finals. 

Worst thing: Everything that caused Ranieri to be sacked in the first place. 

Top goalscorer: Jamie Vardy 8. 

Most assists: Vardy 4. 

Will the boss be there next season? No. Leicester's owners want a big name. Unless Craig Shakespeare can lead them to Champions League glory, of course. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 5.

Liverpool (4th)

Best thing about this season: The hope. It is impossible to watch Jurgen Klopp's team without the suspicion that something unmissable is about to happen. 

Worst thing: The hope. The Premier League season started so well that Liverpool fooled us into thinking they were good enough to win it. They are not. Not yet, anyway… 

Top goalscorer: Sadio Mane 12. 

Most assists: Adam Lallana 7. 

Will the boss be there next season? Yes. Klopp does not do short-term projects. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 7.

Manchester City (3rd) 

Best thing about this season: When City have clicked they have played some outstanding football and players like Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane look like stars of the future. 

Worst thing: City have struggled to cope with the tactical demands of coach Pep Guardiola. 

Top goalscorer: Sergio Aguero 13. 

Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne 10. 

Will the boss be there next season? Yes. Guardiola often looks like he is ready to take his ball home but those who know him say he is in this for the long haul. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 6.5. 

Manchester United (5th) 

Best thing about this season: After three years of uncertainty, United now have momentum and the feeling that manager Jose Mourinho has a plan and a style of play that works. 

Worst thing: Paul Pogba has been disappointing and United rely too much on Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede has 15 Premier League goals while United's other three strikers have eight between them. 

Top goalscorer: Zlatan Ibrahimovic 15. 

Most assists: Wayne Rooney 5. 

Will the boss be there next season? Yes. The Lowry Hotel will be pleased. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 7. 

Middlesbrough (19th)

Best thing about this season: The rebirth of goalkeeper Victor Valdes. Few would have had the appetite to rebuild a gilded reputation in a relative backwater after his troubles at Manchester United. 

Worst thing: The sheer lack of entertainment. Three home wins, 12 home goals. Zzz...

Top goalscorer: Alvaro Negredo 6. 

Most assists: Negredo 4. 

Will the boss be there next season? No. Steve Agnew is caretaker at the moment and is unlikely to be offered an upgrade. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 5.5. 

Southampton (10th) 

Best thing about this season: The club continues to allow top English talent to develop. Nathan Redmond and Jack Stephens are the latest two. 

Worst thing: Claude Puel's team do not score enough goals and it has held them back. Only Middlesbrough have scored fewer at home. 

Top goalscorer: Charlie Austin 6. 

Most assists: Dusan Tadic, James Ward-Prowse, Ryan Bertrand 4. 

Will the boss be there next season? Yes. Puel has admirers in France but is happy in Hampshire. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 6.5.

Stoke (9th)

Best thing about this season: There is a stubbornness about Stoke that mirrors their manager. Mark Hughes and his players have not always hit last season's heights but another top nine finish beckons. 

Worst thing: Stoke must be better when they play away against the big boys. A deserved draw at Manchester City is a rare high point so far. 

Top goalscorer: Joe Allen 6. 

Most assists: Charlie Adam, Marko Arnautovic 3. 

Will the boss be there next season? Yes. Hughes wants to take Stoke back into Europe. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 7.5. 

Sunderland (20th) 

Best thing about this season: The Indian summer of Jermain Defoe. The centre forward is back scoring goals for England again. 

Worst thing: Staff at the club have been told to prepare for redundancies already. How can this happen in the mega-rich Premier League? 

Top goalscorer: Jermain Defoe 14. 

Most assists: Adnan Januzaj 3. 

Will the boss be there next season? They say he will but if that is the case, David Moyes needs to rediscover his mojo. Too many negative messages this season. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 4. 

Swansea (17th)

Best thing about this season: They are still better than Cardiff. 

Worst thing: The hiring of Bob Bradley was ridiculous. A team in trouble needs a manager who knows the environment and watching Swansea play in the 11 games under the American was horrific. 

Top goalscorer: Fernando Llorente 11. 

Most assists: Gylfi Sigurdsson 11. 

Will the boss be there next season? Yes. Even if they go down, Swansea need consistency and Paul Clement can provide it. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 5.5. 

Tottenham (2nd) 

Best thing about this season: What happened last year could have sunk them but they have come back stronger. And most of their big players are getting better. 

Worst thing: Eric Dier has not kicked on yet while there is still no natural understudy to Harry Kane. They will be in the market for a striker this summer. 

Top goalscorer: Harry Kane 19. 

Most assists: Christian Eriksen 10. 

Will the boss be there next season? Yes. Mauricio Pochettino thinks he can win the Premier League within the next three years. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 8. 

Watford (14th) 

Best thing about this season: Last season, Watford finished 13th with 45 points and look set for a similar return. So they have not got worse. 

Worst thing: Watford lack a unique selling point, a hook to grab the neutral's interest. They beat United early and that was kind of it for the season. 

Top goalscorer: Troy Deeney 9. 

Most assists: Jose Holebas 4. 

Will the boss be there next season? No. Stability and consolidation do not impress the owners at Vicarage Road. Walter Mazzarri could be on his way. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 6.5. 

West Brom (8th) 

Best thing about this season: The club's formidable home record. They have won nine of 15 in the league, the same as Arsenal and more than both Manchester clubs. 

Worst thing: There are still some fans unhappy with their style of play. They should realise that fancy football does not look great in the Championship. 

Top goalscorer: Salomon Rondon 7. 

Most assists: Matt Phillips 8. 

Will the boss be there next season? Tony Pulis has a one-year extension on the table — sensible West Brom fans will hope he signs it. 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 8. 

West Ham (12th) 

Best thing about this season: The way Slaven Bilic did not allow the campaign to be sunk by the Dimitri Payet saga. He is gone and, almost, forgotten and that is how it should be. 

Worst thing: That there is now talk about Bilic’s job being under threat. That is quite wrong but at the same time not that surprising. 

Top goalscorer: Michail Antonio 9. 

Most assists: Antonio, Sofiane Feghouli 3. 

Will the boss be there next season? Yes. West Ham will finish 11th and common sense will prevail. Won’t it? 

Marks out of 10 for the season: 6.

So, what is your prediction of the EPL this season?

Source: All Football