Football News: Review Of The Day 29th August 2019

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Review of the Day

Contracts

Olympique Lyonnais have given right-back Leo Dubois a new 5 year deal.

Fortuna Dusseldorf defender Kaan Ayhan has signed a 3 year contract.

Sevilla have signed Spanish midfielder Alejandro Pozo to a 4 year deal.

Alfie Kilgour has signed a new contract with Bristol Rovers.

Transfers

SPAL have signed Polish left-back Arkadiusz Reca from Atalanta on loan.

Austrian right-back Moritz Bauer has joined Celtic on loan from Stoke City.

Atalanta have paid a £900,000 loan fee for Sevilla full-bak Guilherme Arana.

Getafe's Congolese winger Merveil Ndockyt has moved on loan to NK Osijek.

Polish midfielder Patryk Dziczek has joined Salernitana on loan from Lazio.

VfL Wolfsburg's young defender Felix Uduokhai has moved to FC Augsburg on loan.

Colchester United have taken Freddie Hinds on loan until January from Bristol City.

Veteran keeper Carlos Kameni has been released by Fenerbahce.

Injury Round-Up

St Johnston winger Drey Wright is close to returning to action following 9 months out with a knee injury. His consultant has given him the all-clear to return to playing action.

Trotters Saved

Bolton Wanderers are saved the spectre of following Bury out of the English Football League after their takeover by Football Ventures (Whites) Ltd has finally been completed after a number of hold ups. The EFL had given Bolton 14 days to complete the takeover or be kicked out of the league just a day before. Administrator Paul Appleton said: "This has been one of the most complicated administrations I've been involved with but I'm delighted to say we have finally reached a satisfactory conclusion with the sale to Football Ventures. At times, some of the hurdles appeared insurmountable and the frustration felt has been immense, not least by the supporters who have had to endure too many weeks of uncertainty. Even at the 11th hour when other parties were content to renege on their agreements, the Trust realised the very existence of Bolton Wanderers was at stake and were willing to find a compromise to save the club. It is a testament to their unflinching determination to do what was best for Bolton that we are able to complete the deal today." Appleton also dropped hints that former owner Ken Anderson was the root cause of a lot of the problems: "Sadly, Mr Anderson has used his position as a secured creditor to hamper and frustrate any deal that did not benefit him or suit his purposes. Thankfully, with the assistance of the Trust and others, we were able to overcome this obstacle."

Former Striker Jailed For Ten Months

Former Wales international striker Dean Saunders has been jailed for ten weeks after refusing to comply with police requests for a roadside breath test and then again when back at the police station after his arrest. The former Liverpool, Swansea City, Cardiff City, Aston Villa and Derby County forward, who recently returned to the public spotlight by making up a fake story which poked fun at Brian Clough's drink problems in order to revive his career as a pundit, was spotted by police driving erratically. After nearly crashing his car while speeding and failing to give way at a roundabout, causing another car to have to take avoiding action, he continued to drive erratically and had to take emergency action to avoid hitting another car. Police pulled him over and found he was slurring his speech and needed to use his car to prop himself up. His lawyer attempted to claim that, despite being at the races all day, Saunders had drunk just two pints and then went back for a meal at his hotel where he had another pint, before driving home. The excuse for his seemingly drunk state was that he had taken medication for his knees and asthma that 'must have interacted' with the alcohol, despite him having been on medication for his knees and asthma for many years now. The judge passing sentence said: "Throughout these proceedings you have shown yourself to be arrogant, thinking you are someone whose previous and current role in the public eye entitles you to be above the law. In fact the opposite is true - someone in the public eye should expect a deterrent sentence when they flout the law. Your driving came to the attention of police officers. You very nearly caused a serious accident. They were seriously concerned you may cause an accident. You were stopped and failed to provide a breath specimen and continued with this obstructive and evasive conduct at the police station. I do not accept you were confused. You consistently refused to co-operate." Arrogant and Saunders are very close friends, so it is no surprise the judge found him to be arrogant!

Benin Recall Gestede

Middlesbrough striker Rudy Gestede has been included in the latest Benin squad for the friendlies next months after 3 years out in the wilderness.
Benin's 23-man squad
Goalkeepers: Saturnin Allagbe (Niort, France), Marcel Dandjinou (ESAE), Cherif Dine Kakpo (Buffaloes)
Defenders: Olivier Verdon (Alavès, Spain), Khaled Adenon (Al Wedha, Saudi Arabia), Cedric Houtondji (Clermont, France), Nabil Yarou (Buffalos), Mael Sedagondji (Djion, France), Youssouf Assogba (USS Krake), David Kiki (Brest, France), Abdel Ouorou (JA Cotonou)
Midfielders: Sessi d'Almeida (Valenciennes, France), Jordan Adeoti (Auxerre, France), Mama Seibou (SC Toulon, France), Stephane Sessegnon (Genclerbirligi, Turkey), Tidjani Anaane (AS Soliman, Tunisia), Rodrigue Kossi (Club Africain, Tunisia)
Forwards: Steve Mounie (Huddersfield, England), Rudy Gestede (Middlesbrough, England), Mickael Pote (BB Erzurumspor, Turkey), Yannick Aguémon (OHL, Belgium), Jodel Dossou (TSV Hartberg, Austria), Cèbio Soukou (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany)

Forest And Rams Investigate Altercation

Following Tuesday's derby match between Nottingham Forest and Derby County, there was an incident between Derby captain Richard Keogh and Forest groundstaff which left Keogh bloodied. Keogh had not played in the match but was taking part in a post-match warm-down after being amongst the substitutes. It is believed he was seen to be deliberately hacking at the turf on the pitch, which led to a confrontation, which then turned nasty.

Managerial Duo Charged With Misconduct

After being sent off at the weekend, both Slaven Bilic and Neil Harris are facing touchline bans from the Football Association. West Bromwich Albion manager Bilic received a second yellow card after disputing a decision not to give his team a corner in a draw with Derby County. Millwall boss Harris was sent off just before half-time following his involvement in a sidelines scuffle during another 1-1 draw, this time with Middlesbrough.

Rangers Hit By Another UEFA Charge

Scottish side Rangers have said they will not be asking for tickets for their next away European game after receiving another UEFA charge for sectarian singing. They have already been ordered to close part of their Ibrox stadium for the next home game they are involved in. A Rangers statement declared: "We have taken the decision to make Uefa aware that we will decline tickets for our next away match even though this means that, once again, the many must suffer because of the few. This kind of behaviour has no place at Ibrox, or anywhere else where our many teams appear. Offenders must please stop. You are endangering your club, which has recently launched its Everyone Anyone project aimed at welcoming all to Ibrox. Those who wish to sing offensive songs must realise by now that they are insulting Rangers players, staff, and fellow fans. There is nothing clever, bold or even defiant in what this small number of supporters are doing. By supporting Rangers in the correct way, the rest of us must strive to protect our great club. One way or another this offensive behaviour must end and it would be much more preferable if we stopped it ourselves, simply by behaving like true Rangers fans."

Taarabt Gets Morocco Recall

Rudy Gestede may have been out of the Benin squad for 3 years, but former Queens Park Rangers enigma Adel Taarabt beats that with 5 years since playing for his country Morocco.
Morocco Squad:
Goalkeepers: Mounir El Kajoui (Malaga, Spain), Yassine Bounou (Gerona, Spain), Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti (Wydad Casablanca), Anas Zniti (Raja Casablanca)
Defenders: Omar Boutaib (Raja Casablanca), Fouad Chafik (Dijon, France), Issam Chebake (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey), Badr Banoun (Raja Casablanca), Jawad Yamiq (Genoa, Italy), Romain Saiss (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Abdelhamid Yunis (Reims, France), Abdelkarim Baadi (Hassania Agadir), Nabil Dirar (Fenerbahce, Turkey)
Midfielders: Youssef Ait Bennasser (St Etienne, France), Soufian Amrabat (Hellas Verona, Italy), Mehdi Bourabia (Sassuolo, Italy), Younes Belhanda (Galatasaray, Turkey), Walid El Karti (Wydad Casablanca), Mehdi Oubila (HUSA)
Forwards: Hakim Ziyech (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Nordin Amrabat (Al Nasr, Saudi Arabia), Adel Taarabt (Benfica, Portugal), Walid Azaro (Al Ahly, Egypt), Rachid Alioui (Angers, France), Mehdi Carcela (Standard Liege, Belgium), Amine Harit (Schalke, Germany), Soufiane Boufal (Southampton, England)

Lesotho Appoint Senong

With a 2022 World Cup qualifying double-header against Egypt a week away, Lesotho have appointed their new manager. South African coach Thabo Senong, who was previously working as SA's U-20 coach, is the chosen man. Senong had been an assistant in the full national set-up before a falling out with Ephraim Mashaba and Stuart Baxter led to him being moved down to the under-20 set up.

NI Name Squad Without Lafferty

Northern Ireland have picked a squad without Kyle Lafferty despite the striker finding a new club following his summer release from Rangers.
Northern Ireland:
Goalkeepers: McGovern (Norwich City), Peacock-Farrell (Burnley), Carson (Motherwell);
Defenders: J Evans (Leicester City), Cathcart (Watford), McLaughlin (Sunderland), Lewis (Norwich City), Smith (Hearts), Flanagan (Sunderland), Morris (Ross County);
Midfielders: Davis (Rangers), McGinn (Aberdeen), C Evans (Blackburn Rovers), Dallas (Leeds Utd), Ferguson (Millwall), McNair (Sunderland), Saville (Middlesbrough), Jones (Rangers), Whyte (Cardiff City), Thompson (Blackpool), Donnelly (Motherwell);
Strikers: Magennis (Hull City), Washington (Hearts), Boyce (Burton Albion), Smyth (Wycombe Wanderers).

Liverpool Reject Accusations Of Bullying

The agent for teenage striker Bobby Duncan, the cousin of former LFC hero Steven Gerrard, has claimed that Liverpool have bullied the 18 year old and kept him at the club against his will. Saif Rubie said: "This is not really dignified behaviour from a club with the rich history of Liverpool and one [at which] one of their greatest-ever players, Steven Gerrard, happens to be Bobby's cousin. It's a sad state of affairs that a club such as Liverpool can be allowed to get away with mentally bullying and destroying the life of a young man such as Bobby." Rubie also claimed Duncan has not left his room for four days while continually referring to Duncan's "very small salary" and the "stress" of not getting the move he wanted. Liverpool have denied the allegations and responded: "Liverpool Football Club is aware of and disappointed by the unattributed comments and unfounded allegations that have been made in the media regarding one of our players. As the interests of the player in question are not best served by either inaccurate speculation, inflammatory statements or public discourse, we will be making no further comment. We will, however, continue our efforts to work privately with the player to find resolution in the best interests of all involved." All I can say is, if the lad is really so stressed then his agent is only making matters worse by publicly airing dirty linen. We all get that he wants to play first team football now, but this is not the right way to get a chance when you have already caused similar issues at Manchester City which led to the move to Liverpool in the first place. If Rubie has the player's best interests at heart then he would not be dragging him through the gutter like this to get a move. Instead of putting a spotlight on Liverpool blocking a loan to Fiorentina, Rubie has shone it on himself and his client and not in a favourable way.

Carabao Cup 3rd Round Draw

Wolves v Reading
Oxford United v West Ham
Watford v Swansea City
Brighton v Aston Villa
Sheffield United v Sunderland
Colchester United v Tottenham
Portsmouth v Southampton
Burton v Bournemouth
Preston v Manchester City
MK Dons v Liverpool
Manchester United v Rochdale
Luton v Leicester
Chelsea v Grimsby/Macclesfield
Sheffield Wednesday v Everton
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest
Crawley Town v Stoke City

Written by Tris Burke August 28 2019 22:37:04