REAL GIVE MOR HOPE TO CONTE
SAM ALLARDYCE has turned to a shrink to help halt Crystal Palace’s slide.
Boss Allardyce has brought in sports psychologist Lee Richardson, a former player and coach who he also worked with at West Ham.
Big Sam is a big fan of sports psychologists and reckons Richardson, a former Chesterfield boss, can help rid his players of the “fear” that grips them when they play at Selhurst Park.
Palace have won just seven points on their own patch this season.
Allardyce said: “Because of the fear we have at home, the lads are losing their concentration when they should be focused.
“Given Lee’s experience in football, a player can talk to him from a football aspect as well as a sports psychology aspect.
“It has been a massive area in my life for the last 20 years. I have sat down with three or four and they have helped me cope better, make better decisions, and become a better manager.
“I have just given the lads the opportunity to experience the same and see if it helps them like it has helped me.” TOTTENHAM misfit Federico Fazio is eyeing a permanent move to Roma this summer.
The Argentine defender (above) flopped after his £8million switch from Sevilla to Spurs in 2014. He was sent off on his Premier League debut and made 32 appearances during an error-prone two-year stay at White Hart Lane.
But the 29-year-old has impressed on loan and Roma need pay just £2.5m to make the transfer permanent. Fazio said: “My career has stepped forward again here in Italy. I’m very happy to stay.” CHELSEA have received a boost in their pursuit of Antonio Conte’s top striker target Alvaro Morata. Real Madrid intend to give Karim Benzema a contract extension taking the France striker up to 2021 – another sign that they are prepared to sell Spaniard Morata (left).