Football News: Review Of The Day 4th September 2018

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Review of the Day

Transfers

The FA are still working through the backlog of paperwork and have clearly turned up a couple more transfers that had been dropped on the floor or something as a season-long loan deal for Rotherham United striker David Ball to Bradford City has just gone through.

Free agent defender Elliot Ward, who had been released by Blackburn Rovers at the end of last season, has joined Notts County.

Rangers have signed Northern Ireland defender Gareth McAuley until the end of the season. The 38 year old centre back was released by West Bromwich Albion at the end of last season.

Another free agent has also found a club as Claudio Marchisio, who left Juventus just a few days ago, has signed for Zenit St-Petersburg.

Former Liverpool striker Samed Yesil has only spent a day as a free agents and has now joined a third tier German club in the form of KFC Uerdingen.

Alan Stubbs Leaves St Mirren

St Mirren have fired manager Alan Stubbs after less than three months in charge of the SPFL side. The Buddies are currently sitting second-bottom of the league table with just one win and three defeats in the league this season. Nice to see patience is still a big part of football.....

Robertson Given Scotland Captaincy

Liverpool left back Andy Robertson had already worn the armband for his country in a game against Costa Rica in March, but now he has been chosen as national captain on a long term basis. However his team-mates will have to make do without Swansea City striker Oli McBurnie who has withdrawn from the squad, with manager Alex McLeish yet to name his replacement.
Scotland Squad:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Archer (Millwall), Craig Gordon (Celtic), Allan McGregor (Rangers).
Defenders: Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers), Stephen O'Donnell (Kilmarnock), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen), John Souttar (Heart of Midlothian), Kieran Tierney (Celtic).
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), James Forrest (Celtic), Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth), Ryan Jack (Rangers), Kevin McDonald (Fulham), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), Callum Paterson (Cardiff City), Robert Snodgrass (West Ham United).
Forwards: Leigh Griffiths (Celtic), Johnny Russell (Sporting Kansas City), Steven Naismith (Hearts)

Youngest Head Coach Gets Boot After Just 6 Games

Bradford City have sacked their head coach Michael Collins just 6 games after appointing him. This was Collins' first senior post at the age of 32, becoming the youngest head coach in England following his promotion from managing the under-18s at the club. Under him the Bantams lost 4 league matches and went out of the Carabao Cup against Macclesfield Town, winning just once. Chairman Edin Rahic said: "The decision is based on an unsatisfactory start to the season and performances not being good enough. We anticipated a much better start and the results have not matched expectations." If this is the way he runs the club, there is little wonder they are struggling, as they have been through three managers this calendar year alone!

Racist Oaf Given Swansea Ban

Swansea City fan Leighton Johnson has been given a ban from the Liberty Stadium after giving the Nazi salute to Tottenham Hotspur supporters who were celebrating Spurs' goals against the Swans. Johnson's defence was based on claiming not to know about Spurs famous connection to Jewish fans, despite just about everyone over the age of 8 who has ever attended a football match knowing about it. It might have helped his case if he had not been caught on camera by a director of the North London side doing the salute in the direction of the Spurs' away support. Judge Paul Thomas QC said: "Your behaviour was that of a racist oaf and you made a clown of yourself giving evidence during your trial. You claim you were waving to invite someone to go for a cigarette and that you didn't know about the club's connection to Jewish fans. This to me is laughable." As well as a three game ban from the Liberty Stadium, Johnson was given 150 hours of community service and ordered to pay costs of £1,085.

O'Neill Admits Arter Out After Row With Roy Keane

Martin O'Neill has admitted he has lost Harry Arter in part because of a row with his 'assistant' manager Roy 'Can Start A Fight In An Empty Room' Keane. Arter, currently on loan with Cardiff City from Bournemouth, has pulled out of the Republic squad and O'Neill believes that a training ground 'altercation' between Arter, Jonathan Walters and Keane has led in large part to him no longer wanting to be called up. If that is the case, and any other players that argue with Keane feel the same way, then there will be a few lower league footballers looking for an Irish passport, as there will be no one left. To be fair, having a man who walked out on his country now in a position of power with it is not a good idea at the best of times. Why would anyone want to listen to a man who does that on the biggest stage of all, knowing full well that it was too late for his country to replace him?
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Doyle (Hearts), McDermott (Kristiansund BK), Randolph (Middlesbrough)
Defenders: Coleman (Everton), Christie (Fulham), Doherty (Wolves), Duffy (Brighton), Keogh (Derby County), Clark (Newcastle United), Long (Burnley), Ward (Burnley), Egan (Sheffield Utd), Stevens (Sheffield United),
Midfielders: Judge (Brentford), Hendrick (Burnley), Hourihane (Aston Villa), Browne (Preston), Williams (Millwall), Meyler (Reading), Horgan (Hibernian), O'Dowda (Bristol City), McClean (Stoke City)
Forwards: Walters (Burnley), Burke (Preston), Robinson (Preston), O'Brien (Millwall)

The Ronaldo Buys Valladolid

Legendary former Brazil striker Ronaldo has bought a controlling 51% interest in Spanish La Liga side Real Valladolid, who have yet to win a game this season. Valladolid are not one of the more well known sides in the Spanish league, so the interest that will accrue from the media will be a huge boost for the club, if nothing else. The casual football fan will now know who they are. Ronaldo said at a press conference: "I have gone through many stages in my training in football to prepare. Football is a passion. This new management will be defined by four words: competitiveness, transparency, revolution and social."

Sterling Withdraws From England Squad

Raheem Sterling has withdrawn from the England squad with a back problem. The 23 year old Manchester City attacker is not expected to be replaced in the squad by manager Gareth Southgate.
Revised England squad
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Alex McCarthy (Southampton)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Harry Maguire (Leicester City) Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), James Tarkowski (Burnley), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea)
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)

Spain Also Suffer A Withdrawal

It is not looking like UEFA's Nations League is having the desired effect of cutting back on withdrawals from international squads so far, with this current international break seeing names as big as Cristiano Ronaldo sitting it out. Spain have also suffered with former Chelsea striker Diego Costa, now back with Atletico Madrid, removing himself from their squad for personal reasons. Celta Vigo's former Liverpool forward Iago Aspas has replaced him.
Spain squad:
Goalkepeers: David de Gea (Manchester United), Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea), Pau Lopez (Betis)
Defenders: Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Nacho (Real Madrid), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Diego Llorente (Real Sociedad), Inigo Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), Jose Gaya (Valencia), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Marcos Alonso (Chelsea), Raul Albiol (Napoli)
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Sergi Roberto (Barcelona), Rodri (Atletico Madrid), Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid), Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid), Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Isco (Real Madrid), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo), Rodrigo Moreno (Valencia), Alvaro Morata (Chelsea), Suso (AC Milan)

Henderson Gets New Deal

This seems to be the time for new deals to players, and now Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has joined the throngs with a brand new five year deal in his back pocket. The 28 year old has been with Liverpool since signing for them from Sunderland in 2011, making 283 appearances. Henderson said: "I'm very happy to have signed a new contract for a long period of time - I'm absolutely delighted. I'm so privileged to have been a part of this club for so long, and hopefully even longer now. I want to be here for as long as I can be."

Spurs Sort New Date For Man City Home Game

Manchester City have agreed to have their game away at Tottenham Hotspur pushed back a day so that it can be played at Wembley. The national stadium was unavailable on Sunday 28th October due to an NFL game being hosted there. Now it will take place on the following day, with the new Spurs ground still not quite ready. A Spurs statement read: "We should like to apologise to both our and Manchester City fans for this fixture having to be moved to a weekday evening and any inconvenience caused. Despite the possibility that our new stadium could be ready to host this match, this would not be known until much closer to the date of the game. We have therefore agreed with the Premier League that, in the interests of clarity and certainty, we shall confirm this game as taking place at this time at Wembley Stadium so that fans of both teams can now make travel arrangements accordingly."

Osorio Takes Over At Paraguay

Juan Carlos Osorio, who took Mexico to the last 16 in the World Cup during the summer, has a new job after being appointed as new Paraguay manager. Osorio will be in charge for the South Americans qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Written by Tris Burke September 04 2018 06:34:31