Football News: Review Of The Day 22nd January 2018
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Review of the Day
Defender Wanted To Play On Despite Cancer
Plymouth Argyle defender Ryan Edwards testicular cancer was made public on Thursday and the 24 year old is now out of action until he recovers from life-saving surgery. The diagnosis was known a few weeks ago but he continued to play for as long as possible admitted the club's manager Derek Adams: "It's a difficult time for him. He's known for a number of weeks now and he's played in games," Adams said. "He's shown a mental strength he will need to get through the situation." Edwards was watching from the stand on Saturday as the Pilgrims lost 3-1 to Wigan Athletic in League One.
Dons Midfielder On The Move
Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean travelled down to Norfolk to finalise a move to Norwich City in this transfer window. The 26 year old is out of contract in the summer, so the Scottish club is looking to cash in now. Norwich have already seen a number of players leave in this window, Steven Naismith and Russell Martin to Scottish football teams Hearts and Rangers respectively, Cameron Jerome to Derby County, Alex Pritchard to Huddersfield Town, Yanic Wildschut to Cardiff City, Adam Phillips to Cambridge United and Ebou Adams to Leyton Orient as manager Daniel Farkes looks to make room for new players.
Hazard Says No Striker Needed
One of the big stories of this transfer window has been Chelsea's search for a striker as both Alvaro Morate and Michy Batshuayi have struggle to convince that they are the pair to lead the London club to glory. Star player Eden Hazard has insisted that the team does not need a new striker, as he put himself forward as an option in the striking role. "I think we're happy with the team we have. It depends how you want to play," he told the London Evening Standard. "We have two very good strikers in Alvaro and Michy. If they are not ready to play I can play striker, so I don't think we need [another one]. Football is simple - keep the ball on the ground and try [to play] like we did [against Brighton]. Because we are missing chances people are saying we need another striker, but if we are scoring goals, we are the best attack in the league and no-one can say we need a striker." Talk about stating the obvious! Of course if you are scoring goals no one is suggesting a new striker is needed, but Chelsea's strikeforce are not scoring goals, so they need to do something about it.
Everton Blamed As Watford Dismiss Silva
Marco Silva was sacked by Waford (am I the only one wondering if they said something along the lines of 'hi ho Silva, away' when they did so?) as their worrying run of form continued. In a statement the Hornets laid the blame squarely at the door of Everton, who had attempted to get the Portuges manager in November. "This has been a difficult decision and one not taken lightly," the club added. "The catalyst is that approach, something which the board believes has seen a significant deterioration in both focus and results to the point where the long-term future of Watford has been jeopardised." However that does not really fit the facts, which are that Watford's form was already falling away after an initial good start, as happened when Silva took charge at Hull City, and failed to save them from relegation. Silva was unable to organise a defence, which led to his team conceding soft goals, that is what ultimately cost him his job.
Watford Appoint Gracia
Yes you did read that right, it is not a typo, it is not Garcia but Javi Gracia who has taken charge at Watford, following the earlier dismissal of Marco Silva. The Spanish head coach was formerly at Rubin Kazan but left them in June and has been out of work since. Gracia becomes the 10th manager of Watford under the Pozzo family, who took over the club in 2012. His first task will be to improve the club's form, which sees them sit bottom of the Premier League form table in the last 11 matchs with just 5 points. Gracia is best known for leading Malaga to consecutive top-10 finishes, despite their budgetary limitations, even managing to beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Lennon Hits Out At Disrespectful Levein
Hibs manager Neil Lennon has reacted angrily to a comment made by Hearts manager Craig Levein, following Hearts 1-0 win over Hibs in the Scottish Cup. Levein said, after the win saw Hearts end Hibs' undefeated run of 9 Edinburgh derbies that the natural order had been restored. "What does that mean? Restoring natural order?" head coach Lennon told the Press Association. "I don't understand what that is - Hearts beating Hibs every time? There's a lack of humility in that statement. I think it's a pretty poor statement to make and disrespectful to the club, players and me," said Lennon. "I don't think I've ever made a statement like that. We have two games to come, so we will see if natural order is restored then. It's not good. I don't know what he means by that, but they haven't won in nine, it's my first defeat in five and we should have won the game here."
Keeper's Bottle Is Urinated In
An opposition fan has been arrested after an incident during the QPR-Middlesbrough game at Loftus Road on Saturday, after a man threw a water bottle on to the pitch. It is alleged that the bottle was the QPR keeper's water bottle, which had been taken by a pitch invader, before someone urinated in it and threw it back on to the pitch. The man throwing the bottle was caught on video posted onto social media and has been charged with throwing an item onto the pitch.
Goretzka Jeered By Schalke Fans
Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka, who has agreed a deal to join Bayern Munich in the summer, suffered a hostile reaction from his own fans, who were unhappy with his decision to join the Bavarian giants on a free. The player was jeered before the game, while fans displayed banners throughout the game hitting out at the 22 year old's choice. One read: 'Neither money or titles are worth more than our club, the one who does not appreciate that can p*** off immediately'. Perhaps in future these agreed deals will need looking at, as they only seem to cause unrest in the modern day fan, who is always ready with a knee jerk reaction.
The Best There Is And There Ever Will Be
According to Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde, that is a description of Lionel Messi, who scored 2 as Barca thrashed Real Betis 5-0. "You have to enjoy him," Valverde said of Messi. "We have been able to live his era. I have suffered because of him and I know what that is like. Now I can enjoy it. It is an event to watch him every day. He is the best player there is and there ever will be." Is Valverde right or does Messi really need to win a World Cup to be considered the best ever?
Allardyce Admits Rooney And Sigurdsson Cannot Play In The Sme Team
As any Everton fan could have told you before Sam Allardyce got the job of managing the Toffees, Allardyce has finally seen, and stated, the 'bleeding obvious', that playing Wayne Rooney and Gylfi Sigurdsson in the same team does not work. With insight into the game like that it is a wonder he was available for Everton to appoint, and it only took him 11 matches to figure it out too, despite it having been a regular topic on shows such as Match of the Day since Sigurdsson joined the club.
Vermaelen Suffers Another Injury Blow
Some players just seem to be cursed, Thomas Vermaelen, the former Arsenal defender, is one of those. He suffered constant injury problems at Arsenal, before signing for Barcelona, where the injury problems continued. Last season he was only able to manage 9 Serie A appearances during a season long loan at AS Roma and now, after playing 13 games following a return to full fitness he is forced off the pitch in the 38th minute with a hamstring injury.
McLaren Fear Over Sanchez Wages
In confirmation of why Steve McClaren has struggled as a manager, he has claimed that Alexis Sanchez's wages could cause a problem within Manchester United. While McClaren is right that wage parity is important to players, they also understand when a great player comes in on a big wage. It is an attempt to maintain wage parity that has seen so many Arsenal players underperform, as there is little motivation for them to raise their game in order to get a pay rise. Now United players have something to aim for, a target to reach by performing to their best and working hard in training, knowing they can get a bigger wage for doing so, instead of knowing they will get one anyway because everyone else is. There is little left available to managers to motivate the modern day millionaire footballer, this is one method they can use.
Written by Tris Burke January 22 2018 05:35:29
