Football News: Review Of The Day 28th March 2020

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Review of the Day

Transfers

LAFC's former Arsenal forward Carlos Vela had an offer to return to Spain in the January transfer window. Vela revealed in the Spanish version of GQ: "LAFC didn't give me permission to leave. Although it was understandable. In the end, they look out for what is best for the club and all the players. I tried and it did not happen, nothing will happen either because I am happy here. Barça raised a scenario that would have seen me play there for four months. I accepted it because it was a very good opportunity. But it wasn't like that I said: 'Ah, I want two years and if not, I will not go.' They said four months and that's it."

Injury Round-Up

Abdelhak Nouri has returned home after being in hospital since 2017 following an on-pitch heart attack. The 22 year old Ajax midfielder was placed in an induced coma to save his life but he suffered brain damage and is now dependent on carers. His brother told Dutch TV: "He sleeps, eats, sneezes and burps but is very dependent. Some communication is possible, for example raising eyebrows." The family have renovated their house to enable them to take care of him out of hospital.

Managerial Changes

Rangers chairman Dave King has followed through on his previous promise to step down from the role. King told the club's AGM back in November that he would be resigning from the role to focus on his businesses. Douglas Park has stepped up to take the role on an interim basis.

Disciplinary Charges

Stoke City have fined their Republic of Ireland international winger James McClean for an inappropriate social media post. McClean posted a picture of himself wearing a balaclava in front of two children captioned "Today's school lesson - History" and a laughing emoji. McClean said: "I never wanted to cause any offence but I now realise I did so and for that I apologise unreservedly. I have spoken to the club and will be deleting my Instagram account."

Coronavirus Latest

Barcelona have failed to come to an agreement with their players over taking a voluntary pay cut, so they have announced plans to reduce the wages of all players and staff. Barca are also making the club's facilities available to the local health department.

Both Swansea City and South Wales rivals Cardiff City have pledged free match tickets to NHS staff as a thank you for the work they are doing dealing with the coronavirus. Swansea, and League Two side Forest Green Rovers, have offered use of their stadium to the emergency services. Swans chairman Trevor Birch said: "We are trying to do our bit for those that need support. It is vital the football club tries to help the community where it can to get through this difficult period, while at the same time recognising and paying our gratitude to those people still working to protect and assist us via the likes of the NHS, emergency services, voluntary, food and medical sectors." Swansea are also working with a local charity, Matthew's House, to provide 180 to homeless and vulnerable local people every Saturday. The club's head chef and his kitchen staff will cook the meals in the Liberty Stadium's kitchens. On top of that Swansea are to hold an online charity auction featuring signed club shirts. Forest Green have, on top of offering free use of their stadium, have also offered the use of the Unicorn House building in Stroud town centre, which the club owns and was used by 700 office workers. They are also opened their player hostel in the town for NHS staff and other key workers to use as overnight accommodation. The hostel holds up to 12 people in total.

Bristol City's head coach Lee Johnson believes that, if the season is able to restart, it will be more like tournament football than a league. Johnson said: "It's almost going to be a tournament-like scenario with games being crammed in very quickly. First and foremost your thoughts and feelings go out to the people who need it. It's a world crisis that we've got to come through and there's so many amazing things happening in a really bad time. When you think of the NHS and how wonderful they've been, the workers who are going beyond the call of duty just to keep everybody as safe as they can possibly be. You almost feel a bit embarrassed at times [as a football manager] but you've got to do your job and at this stage that job is to make sure we prepare. We need to be able to hit the ground running."

Aberdeen are hopeful of avoiding wage cuts for the staff according to their chairman Dave Cormack. Cormack said: "The last thing we're doing is panicking. Our goal is to pull all the data together, not make a knee-jerk decision. What we want to do - and we're working on it right now - is take a view on what the likely position is over the next period, when the league season might start as well and look at our cash position. And only then will we take a view as to what, if anything, we will ask of our staff to help us out over this period. But we're not there yet. We're still pulling the numbers together, calling sponsors, seasonal dining box holders. You've seen the fans rally round as well to buy season tickets just now. We need to pull all of that together over the coming week and then take a look at it. We're looking for clarity, whether that be on the economic support side or, in our case, the insurance side and when we're going to start the new season and put a stake in the ground. I think a lot of that comes down to Uefa. If Uefa, for example, mandate that all domestic leagues need to be finished by the end of June, that makes the decision fairly easy I think for people. None of us can see any games being played by the end of June. Ideally all of us want to play out the season - it's the right thing to do - but we're faced with a tough situation. On the basis Uefa, who have got to be thinking about the Champions League and Europa League for next season, need to make a decision that domestic leagues have to be finished by a certain stage, I think that's a more likely catalyst for helping us to all make a call."

The football shutdown has caused Hibernian "the most severe strain and threat" according to their chairman Ron Gordon. Hibs may go down the same route as Edinburgh rivals Hearts and ask staff to take a pay cut. Gordon said: "Although Hibernian is better positioned than most to weather the storm, we are far from immune. We have already begun making operational adjustments to impact our costs and will be taking further steps over the next week or so to mitigate the effects of the crisis on our club. The loss of cash in the bank puts our club under the most severe strain and threat. Difficult decisions will have to be made. But every decision we do make will be with two key priorities in mind, firstly to look after our people, and, secondly, to ensure the club remains in as healthy a financial position as possible."

Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend has said footballers need to give back to the supporters. Townsend told the BBC: "These guys, they support us on a Saturday through thick and thin. The general public effectively pay our wages with their season tickets and their subscriptions to the TV services so, at times like this, we have to give back. Crystal Palace is calling up season ticket holders, making sure they are OK and seeing if they need any help with shopping or any other errands. Wilfred Zaha is giving properties to NHS workers so everyone is trying to find their own little way to kind of help in these troubled times and hopefully I can do that with #FootballUnited. I am very fortunate that I have a family and two young kids. I have a gym where I can workout as well. I am very fortunate but I know there are others maybe, younger guys in a flat on their own, getting a bit of cabin fever at the minute. Just reach out, reach out to loved ones or on social media, or anybody really just to speak to someone and get it off your chest, because from myself I know the main thing about mental health is just speak. Don't let things bottle up inside, make sure it's out in the open and hopefully you will feel a lot better."

Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has fully recovered from the coronavirus. Blues' manager Frank Lampard said: "I spoke to him throughout that first week when he first got the illness and it was a strange time. Thankfully he didn't suffer too much and we are happy he's come through this."

Former Newcastle United winger Nolberto Solano has apologised after his arrest for breaking curfew in Peru. Solano said: "I obviously regret this very much and I ask for forgiveness. I am not going to justify it. It's very tough for everyone but the most important thing is our health, without that we can't do anything."

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe has "made a very large donation" to the Abbe Pierre Foundation, a charity that helps homeless people. The charity said on their website: "Concerned about the consequences of the serious health crisis which strikes our country, but also of all the consequences which it can generate on the most fragile people, Kylian Mbappe has just made a very large donation to support the work of the Abbe Pierre Foundation. His generosity will make it possible in particular to implement first aid actions, access to water and hygiene for people in very precarious situations, access to food and shelter for homeless people etc. The Foundation sends its most sincere thanks to Kylian Mbappe for his generosity and his attention towards people in great precariousness. In the context of the current health crisis and beyond the service tickets which are starting to be distributed on the territory, the Abbe Pierre Foundation needs to provide an emergency fund to finance a wide range of actions aimed at homeless people aiming to give them access to water, hygiene and food."

And Another New List To Fill The Day

Transfermarkt is back once again with their list of the most valuable players in 2009 according to them.
Player - Team - Value in Euros
1. Lionel Messi Barcelona 70m
2. Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid 70m
3. Kaka Real Madrid 60m
4. Steven Gerrard Liverpool 50m
5. Andres Iniesta Barcelona 50m
6. Xavi Barcelona 50m
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic Barcelona 46m
8. Fernando Torres Liverpool 46m
9. Frank Lampard Chelsea 45m
10. David Villa Valencia 45m
11. Samuel Eto'o Barcelona 42m
12. Wayne Rooney Manchester United 42m
13. Didier Drogba Chelsea 40m
14. Cesc Fabregas Arsenal 40m
15. Franck Ribery Bayern Munich 40m
16. Robinho Manchester City 36.5m
17. Sergio Aguero Atletico Madrid 36m
18. Andrea Pirlo AC Milan 36m
19. Ronaldinho AC Milan 35m
20. Rio Ferdinand Manchester United 35m
21. Wesley Sneijder Real Madrid 35m
22. John Terry Chelsea 35m
23. Daniele De Rossi AS Roma 35m
24. Michael Essien Chelsea 35m
25. Karim Benzema Real Madrid 35m

Scottish Duo Reject Takeover Offer

American businessman Paul Conway, one of Barnsley's co-owners, has made fresh attempts to buy a Scottish club after failed talks with Partick Thistle last year. This time around both Heart of Midlothian and Motherwell rejected an approach from him.

Written by Tris Burke March 27 2020 20:38:42