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gadgetsrevv · 5 years ago

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Premier League predictions: Lawro v former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas

Manchester United look to return to winning ways on Monday at Old Trafford, but will they find a way past visitors Arsenal?

“Goals are the problem for United,” said BBC football expert Mark Lawrenson. “Who is going to get them?

“United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has got a problem because if he goes for it more in attack, then his side are going to leave themselves a lot more open.

“I think United might actually be a little cagey, because the last thing he needs is for Arsenal to beat them comfortably.”

Lawro is making predictions for all 380 top-flight matches this season, against a variety of guests.

This week he is up against cycling star Geraint Thomas.

When Geraint Thomas won the Tour de France in 2018, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was among those to phone him with congratulations

The double Olympic gold medallist and 2018 Tour de France winner is an Arsenal fan.

He is taking part in the men’s elite road race at the Road World Championships in Yorkshire on Sunday.

Premier League predictions – week seven Result Lawro Geraint SATURDAY Sheff Utd v Liverpool x-x 0-2 1-3 Aston Villa v Burnley x-x 2-1 1-1 Bournemouth v West Ham x-x 2-1 2-1 Chelsea v Brighton x-x 2-0 2-0 Crystal Palace v Norwich x-x 2-1 1-1 Tottenham v Southampton x-x 3-0 0-3 Wolves v Watford x-x 2-0 2-1 Everton v Man City x-x 0-2 0-2 SUNDAY Leicester v Newcastle x-x 2-0 2-1 MONDAY Man Utd v Arsenal x-x 1-1 1-2

A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points.

LAWRO’S PREDICTIONS

All kick-offs 15:00 BST unless stated.

SATURDAY

Sheff Utd v Liverpool (12:30 BST)

It’s funny how the fixtures work out, with Sheffield United playing both Merseyside clubs within a week.

The Blades got a great win over Everton at Goodison Park last time out, but it is asking a lot for them to beat Liverpool too.

Everton 0-2 Sheffield United: Chris Wilder delighted after ‘ridiculous game’

I like Chris Wilder’s team a lot, but I don’t really see them causing the Reds many problems – apart from at set-pieces – or keeping them quiet at the other end.

Liverpool are on a roll at the moment, and they just keep on winning. Yes they rode their luck a bit defensively last weekend against Chelsea, but they also took their chances when they got them.

Lawro’s prediction: 0-2

Geraint’s prediction: 1-3

Aston Villa v Burnley

Aston Villa are probably still working out how they lost to Arsenal’s 10 men last weekend. They were ahead, but they did not know how to handle the situation.

Burnley, in contrast, disposed of Norwich with no fuss whatsoever.

Burnley 2-0 Norwich: Sean Dyche hails Clarets’ high press

This is a tough one for Villa, because they need some points after only winning one of their first six games. They are not doing badly, but just look a little short of confidence to me.

It is hard to back against Burnley, because of what they are, and how they do it, but I think Dean Smith’s side will edge it somehow.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-1

Geraint’s prediction: 1-1

Bournemouth v West Ham

Both of these teams lost to lower-division opponents in the Carabao Cup in midweek but that is what happens when you mess around with your team and make a lot of changes.

For a better indication of their form, look at how they did in the Premier League last weekend. Both teams managed impressive victories, with the Cherries getting a really good win at Southampton and West Ham seeing off Manchester United.

West Ham 2-0 Man Utd: Hammers becoming ‘more consistent’ – Manuel Pellegrini

The Hammers have not won this fixture since the 2015-16 season, so how they do at Bournemouth will be a good indication of their progress.

But Eddie Howe’s side are playing well and have got home advantage, so I am backing them to come out on top, just.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-1

Geraint’s prediction: 2-1

Chelsea v Brighton

Brighton did well in their 0-0 draw at Newcastle last time out and Chelsea hardly played badly either despite being beaten by Liverpool.

So much happened in that game at Stamford Bridge, it could easily have ended up 2-2.

Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool: Blues deserved a point – Frank Lampard

Chelsea do have a weakness at the back but I don’t think they have a massive issue there – it is more every lapse is being punished – and I think Frank Lampard will finally be able to celebrate his first home league win as Blues boss on Saturday.

Brighton will try to play rather than park the bus and they deserve plaudits for that, but it will help Chelsea – just like it helped Manchester City last month.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-0

Geraint’s prediction: 2-0

Crystal Palace v Norwich

Crystal Palace had been in total control last weekend but were left to rue a massive mistake by Joel Ward that handed Wolves a last-gasp equaliser.

Norwich, meanwhile, were out-played by Burnley and I see this as being a very similar test for the Canaries because Palace boss Roy Hodgson has a similar, forensic, approach to Clarets manager Sean Dyche.

Goals are the big problem for Palace – they are the joint-lowest scorers in the top-flight with four from six matches.

But apart from Watford, who conceded eight at Manchester City last week, Norwich have conceded more than every other team – so I think Hodgson’s side will get some chances this time.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-1

Geraint’s prediction: 1-1

Tottenham v Southampton

I think Tottenham will be back with a bang this week, because they are a long way off being in crisis.

Tottenham, Manchester United, Burnley, Sheffield United, Chelsea and Crystal Palace all have identical league records this season, with two wins, two draws and two defeats from six games

Mauricio Pochettinho did look somewhat disillusioned after last weekend’s defeat by Leicester, and it does appear something is going on behind the scenes.

But that doesn’t stop the players from performing and they should be too strong for Southampton. A comfortable win would go a long way to solving Spurs’ problems.

Lawro’s prediction: 3-0

Geraint’s prediction: 0-3

Wolves v Watford

Watford were lucky to get away with just an 8-0 defeat at Manchester City last weekend, so they have got to recover from that.

This is a great fixture for Wolves. They are also in the bottom two and without a win, but at least they got some encouragement from the way they nicked a point against Crystal Palace last time out, and I would back them to get all three here.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-0

Geraint’s prediction: 2-1

Everton v Man City (17:30 BST)

It is fair to say that the natives will be restless after seeing Everton beaten at Goodison Park by Sheffield United last week, and Manchester City will obviously offer an even tougher test.

That could help them, because they will raise their game against City – but if they end up losing heavily, then Toffees boss Marco Silva is going to get some grief.

Everton did not deserve this result – Silva

Silva’s problem is that his side are neat and tidy and play some decent stuff on their day, but they do not seem able to put teams away.

I look at Everton and wonder exactly what they are trying to do, and I think most of their supporters feel the same way.

I can only see a City win here; they are just too good.

Yes, Dominic Calvert-Lewin might cause them a few problems in the air and, defensively, they are going to be under more pressure than they were against Watford last week – but they should still be able to cope.

Lawro’s prediction: 0-2

Geraint’s prediction: 0-2

SUNDAY

Leicester v Newcastle (16:30 BST)

Leicester’s big test comes next week when they go to Anfield, but they cannot take anything for granted here.

They will have to work hard to break Newcastle down, and scoring the first goal will be important.

Liverpool are the only unbeaten team in the top-flight this season. Leicester have lost once, like Manchester City, Arsenal, West Ham and Bournemouth.

The Magpies are well organised and their best result so far this season came on the road, with their win at Spurs.

I am not expecting Steve Bruce’s side to end up a relegation scrap but their form at St James’ Park does need to improve.

Lawro’s prediction: 2-0

Geraint’s prediction: 2-1

MONDAY

Man Utd v Arsenal (20:00 BST)

The Gunners are turning into the comeback kings, although I am sure they would prefer not to be in a situation where they need a fightback in the first place.

Unlike United, Arsenal do not look short of goals, but it is at the back where Unai Emery’s side still have problems.

Lawro’s prediction: 1-1

Geraint’s prediction: 1-2

Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport’s Chris Bevan

How did Lawro do last week?

From the last set of Premier League fixtures, Lawro got five correct results, including one exact score, out of 10 matches for a total of 80 points.

He beat former Wales rugby captain Sam Warburton, who also got five correct results, but with no exact scores, for a total of 50 points.

+/- DENOTE POSITION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAWRO’S TABLE AND ACTUAL POSITION TEAM P W D L PTS +/- 1 Man City 6 6 0 0 18 +1 2 Liverpool 6 5 1 0 16 -1 3 Chelsea 6 4 1 1 13 +8 =4 Arsenal 6 3 2 1 11 0 =4 Everton 6 3 2 1 11 +10 =4 Man Utd 6 3 2 1 11 +4 =4 Tottenham 6 2 2 1 11 +3 8 Leicester 6 3 1 2 10 -5 9 Newcastle 6 3 0 3 9 +8 =10 Aston Villa 6 2 2 2 8 +8 =10 Burnley 6 2 2 2 8 -1 =12 Sheff Utd 6 2 1 3 7 -2 =12 Watford 6 2 1 3 7 +8 =12 West Ham 6 2 1 3 7 -7 15 Southampton 6 2 0 4 6 -2 16 Crystal Palace 6 1 2 3 5 -4 =17 Bournemouth 6 1 1 4 4 -11 =17 Wolves 6 1 1 4 2 +2 19 Brighton 6 0 2 4 2 -4 20 Norwich 6 0 0 6 0 -4

GUEST LEADERBOARD 2019-20

Score Guest leaderboard 100 Adam Peaty 93 Lawro (average after six weeks) 90 Helen Housby, Jo Harten 70 Craig Mitch 60 Stefan Ratchford 50 Chelcee Grimes, Reece Parkinson, Sam Warburton 40 Stephen Fry

Total scores after week six Lawro 560 Guests 410

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#Gossip Premier League predictions: Lawro v former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas

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giantsfootball0 · 7 years ago

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Number 10s come in all shapes sizes and methods in Premier League

ESPN spent a day behind the scenes at Everton to find out why they are the “people’s club.”

Just in case you’d managed to forget about him, former Tottenham and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood emerged from the shadows this week to provide his views on youth football in a television debate show. One of his complaints, among many others, was that too many youth footballers in England consider themselves No. 10s.

This was a particularly peculiar complaint considering one of English football’s failings over the past few decades is the inability to produce talented, creative, gifted No. 10s capable of roaming between the lines. Incidentally, Sherwood has previously said that players “call themselves No. 10s” only “because they don’t score enough goals.”

But a cursory glance across the Premier League reveals a huge variety of players fielded in the No. 10 role so far this season — from those who never score to those who can’t stop scoring. Below are five players who play very different No. 10 roles.

The driving midfielder: Steven Davis, Southampton

There’s a type of No. 10 that is unquestionably a midfielder rather than a forward. Southampton’s Steven Davis, for example, has enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign playing at the top of the Saints’ midfield trio, leading by example while wearing the captain’s armband. He scored an early winner at Selhurst Park last weekend.

Davis is more of a box-to-box player, a runner who provides his teammates with positive balls into the final third and dynamic off-the-ball movement to prompt quick passing combinations.

That Selhurst Park winner, though, was very much the exception to the rule. While a useful midfielder and a perennially underrated footballer, Davis’ end product is sorely lacking, and his goal-scoring return of 10 goals in 172 Premier League appearances for Southampton is somewhat pitiful, even when considering he’s usually been fielded in a deeper starting position.

In this role, Davis is a very British type of No. 10, a driving midfielder pushed into a more advanced position. He doesn’t boast genuine creativity, he’s not wonderfully gifted in possession, but his energy and attacking intent mean he’s arguably more suited to this advanced role despite the fact that his goal-scoring and assisting figures will never be impressive.

Mesut Ozil prefers to set up his teammates for goals rather than attack and finish himself.

The outright assister: Mesut Ozil, Arsenal

Manager Arsene Wenger’s switch to a 3-4-3 system means Ozil has generally been fielded as more of an inside-right in recent months, but for the vast majority of his Arsenal career the German has been fielded as Arsenal’s No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1 system.

From that position, Ozil’s role is almost solely about the simple concept of playing the final pass, having ghosted into unnoticed positions between the lines. Ozil doesn’t generally contribute much in deeper positions — he doesn’t drift into midfield to dictate play, nor is he particularly impressive in terms of his goal scoring. Ozil is solely about assists.

In that respect, Ozil is — sometimes — unbeatable. He has been the leading assister in Bundesliga, La Liga, Premier League and Champions League campaigns, and few other players are so overwhelmingly selfless in the final third, eternally looking to feed teammates rather than shoot. He’s a very Arsenal player.

Yet this also remains one of Ozil’s shortcomings. When Ozil was fielded behind Olivier Giroud, a player who likes to hold up possession and wait for runners to sprint past him, Arsenal often lacked penetrative runs in the final third, depending upon movement from wide or Aaron Ramsey’s bursts from deeper.

The midfielder-forward hybrid: Dele Alli, Tottenham Hotspur

Dele Alli grew up considering himself a midfielder. He idolised Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, the two obvious choices considering Alli’s position and age, and immediately impressed at Tottenham in 2015 with driving midfield runs and trickery in tight spaces.

Yet the more Alli plays, the less he seems to be a midfielder. He boasts a superb relationship with Harry Kane, and often isn’t merely just playing off Kane but is making runs past him — even when Spurs are knocking the ball around in defence. Alli has become a “final third” player, and he hit 18 goals last season, an incredible tally for someone not considered a proper striker.

No one entirely knows what to make of Alli. “In the box, he looks like a striker, and outside the box, he plays like a midfielder,” says Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Alli himself says he’s “a cross between Gerrard and Yaya Toure,” although that raises further questions considering both have been deployed as their side’s deepest, and most advanced, midfielders at various stages in their careers. Alli is the Gerrard of 2009 rather than 2014, and the Toure of 2014 rather than 2009.

Alli is therefore the purest No. 10 on this list — not quite a midfielder, not quite a forward, he encapsulates the original point of the role.

Joshua King developed a touch for finishing last year in his second season with Bournemouth.

The second striker: Joshua King, Bournemouth

Very few people predicted King’s stunning run of form for Bournemouth last season. He scored 16 goals, having managed six the previous campaign, and before that he managed an underwhelming total of just five in 64 games throughout his spell with Blackburn Rovers. But suddenly the Norwegian seemed like a good all-round forward — powerful, pacey, ruthless.

King has been deployed in a number of roles by manager Eddie Howe — sometimes wide-left, sometimes up front. But in recent weeks King has been fielded as a No. 10 behind Jermain Defoe. In a world where lots of players who like playing deeper have been pushed forward to become the main centre-forward, King is very much the opposite.

“The manager knows my favourite position is the No. 9,” King said last year. “I think I showed that last season as well, but we have so many good strikers. When he asks me to play No. 10, it is not like I am angry or anything, because I just want to help the team. If the manager thinks I am helping by playing as a 10, then that’s what he wants and what he believes in.”

But it’s clear King very much considers himself a centre-forward. Therefore, Howe is effectively playing a strike partnership, with King and Defoe upfront.

The defensive forward: Shinji Okazaki, Leicester City

In one sense Okazaki is another King — a centre-forward fielded behind a quick striker, roaming the channels and firing powerful shots toward goal. But the Japanese forward is very different.

After all, Okazaki isn’t a great goal threat. Even when Leicester won the league with him a regular in the side, he managed just five goals all season. Last season he managed just three. Admittedly, Okazaki has started this season with two goals in four league appearances, but his finishing is frequently unconvincing — even when he scores, the ball seems to scruffily bobble over the line.

Okazaki, in truth, isn’t really a forward at all in this system. Yes, he’s Jamie Vardy’s closest support — but Okazaki’s most noticeable contributions are when the opposition are in control of possession. He presses and harries to start the defensive pressure, effectively acting as a third central midfielder to prevent Leicester being overrun in that zone.

His introduction shortly after half-time in the midweek Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool completely transformed Leicester, and he’s essentially the man who makes this system work properly. By far the least glamourous type of player fielded in the No. 10 role, Okazaki has nevertheless essentially created his own type of No. 10, based not around assisting or scoring, but pressing.

Michael Cox is the editor of zonalmarking.net and a contributor to ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @Zonal_Marking.

The post Number 10s come in all shapes sizes and methods in Premier League appeared first on Daily Star Sports.

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sportsleague365 · 7 years ago

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IT is time for English clubs to step up to the mark when the Champions League kicks off this week. The Premier League is respected worldwide for the entertainment it brings to our TV screens and stadiums. Alan Shearer believes that the Premier League giants need to prove themselves on the European stagePA:Press AssociationSir Alex Ferguson won two UEFA Champions League titles with UnitedEPABut it is in Europe where legends are really born. You only need to look at the reaction of players when they lift that European Cup to know what it means. I wish I had done it. I certainly enjoyed the step up when I did compete in club football’s premier competition with both Blackburn and Newcastle. And believe me, it is a step up. The game slows down but you need to think quicker. It is more of a conundrum than the pace and power of the Premier League presented. Sir Alex Ferguson recognised that himself after winning it for the first time. Manchester United did that almost on a wing and a prayer in that incredible Treble-winning season of 1999. MOST READ IN FOOTBALL FOX OFF Fiancee of Leicester ace Wes Morgan kicks him out of their mansion after learning he has a pregnant mistress'NOT ACCEPTABLE' Chelsea could face action over anti-Semitic part of new chant made for Alvaro Morata'IGNORANT T****R' Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish savaged by supporters in Twitter spat with fansGOOD GRIEZ Manchester United holding No.7 shirt and set aside £100m for Atletico Madrid star Antoine GriezmannBAD KOMPANY Pep Guardiola 'furious' with Vincent Kompany after new injury and will 'consider selling crocked captain'NO MOR' Chelsea at centre of FA investigation after anti-Semitic chanting involving Alvaro MorataWENG WILL HE GO? Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has 'no idea' how Arsene Wenger still has a job at ArsenalAD SOME OF THAT Real Sociedad's Adnan Januzaj shows Man United fans what they are missing with stunning spin move'HE ATTACKED BAYERN' Bayern Munich told to ditch Robert Lewandowski after his 'attack' on Bundesliga clubMARTIAL LAW Monaco reveal why they had to sell Anthony Martial to Man United but could afford to keep Thomas LemarANCEL-OFF-I Former Bayern Munich ace Mario Basler claims Carlo Ancelotti 'will leave in January' to move to ChinaEURO STAR Neymar reveals he ditched Barcelona and Lionel Messi because PSG have a much better chance of winning the Champions League this season The Reds raise the Champions League trophy in 1999Getty - ContributorJose Mourinho has won the CL with both Porto and InternazionaleGetty Images - GettyBut after that, he recognised that the thrill-a-minute football his team was producing was not sustainable in Europe. As he did throughout his managerial career, he adapted and you could watch his side play, for example, Aston Villa at home one day and Roma away the next and see two completely different styles. Of course, this is not easy to do. But this is why all our top clubs have taken on the services of the world’s best coaches. Believe me, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Jurgen Klopp are not incumbents in the hottest seats in English football just to win the League Cup. Nor are they there just to make a title challenge. Daily Round-Up: Watch all the action from Saturday's Premier League matchesZinedine Zidane's Real Madrid are the current CL championsAP:Associated PressThe huge investment going into those clubs is to make an impact on the biggest stage and there are none bigger in club football than the Champions League. Some fans do not take to it and are happy to retreat to the refuge of domestic football believing that provides the barometer for where they are at. Not so. Sir Matt Busby first led Manchester United into Europe seemingly against FA approval so his team could be challenged against the best football had to offer. That is what we should all want. Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan similarly recognised that as Liverpool dominated in Europe in the 1970s and 80s. Brian Clough did not want Nottingham Forest to be remembered just for winning the league. So those of us old enough recall Trevor Francis’ far-post header and John Robertson’s one-two and finish in the Bernabeu. MOST READ IN SPORT FOX OFF Fiancee of Leicester ace Wes Morgan kicks him out of their mansion after learning he has a pregnant mistress'NOT ACCEPTABLE' Chelsea could face action over anti-Semitic part of new chant made for Alvaro Morata'IGNORANT T****R' Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish savaged by supporters in Twitter spat with fansONE LOVE Xisca Perello supports her tennis ace boyfriend Rafael Nadal, but who is the Spanish beauty?GOOD GRIEZ Manchester United holding No.7 shirt and set aside £100m for Atletico Madrid star Antoine GriezmannBAD KOMPANY Pep Guardiola 'furious' with Vincent Kompany after new injury and will 'consider selling crocked captain'NO MOR' Chelsea at centre of FA investigation after anti-Semitic chanting involving Alvaro MorataWENG WILL HE GO? Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has 'no idea' how Arsene Wenger still has a job at ArsenalAD SOME OF THAT Real Sociedad's Adnan Januzaj shows Man United fans what they are missing with stunning spin moveMARTIAL LAW Monaco reveal why they had to sell Anthony Martial to Man United but could afford to keep Thomas Lemar'HE ATTACKED BAYERN' Bayern Munich told to ditch Robert Lewandowski after his 'attack' on Bundesliga clubCAN YOU BELIEVE IT Conor McGregor being sued by security guard who claims UFC star hit him in the head with a can at press conference Chelsea will face Qarabag FK on Tuesday in the group stagesPA:Press AssociationLikewise with Sir Alex in winning twice and reaching two more finals. He was always striving to put his club at the very top of the biggest pile. Those brilliant sides stepped up to the mark. Great players such as Robertson, Kevin Keegan, Graeme Souness, Ryan Giggs etc grasped the chance and stamped their imprint on football. Chelsea latterly recognised the massive importance of European football and finally landed the big one on that incredible night in Munich. Watch again the reaction of those players when Didier Drogba converted the winning penalty in the shootout and tell me the bread and butter of the Premier League is what is all important. Important, yes, very, but the Champions League is another level and it is time our players recognised that. The coaches certainly do, or they should. Jose Mourinho will be hoping the new additions to his squad will improve their chances of success in the competitionReutersMatic thinks Man Utd are well placed to challenge the Premier League and Champions League I am still bemused as to why Mauricio Pochettino sacrificed Spurs’ chances by playing an under-strength team in the group stage in Monaco last season. They had a league game against Chelsea the following weekend and he was clearly prioritising that. They went out of the Champions League and lost to Chelsea in any case. Mourinho and Guardiola know what it is to rule in Europe and I am expecting big things from them this season. Certainly the huge investment in both clubs demands it. City were a big let down last season, going out to Monaco in the first knockout stage having reached the semi-finals the year before. Manchester United have fallen dramatically from the perch they were on when they were regularly getting into the latter stages of the competition. Man City were knocked out of the competition last year by MonacoGetty - ContributorYes, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are currently a level above at the moment. That does not mean we cannot challenge and join them in the latter stages and get past them in a two-legged tie. I look at the riches in the squads of the Manchester clubs and the strength in the first teams of Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool and find no reasons why that should not be the case. Players such as Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford need to recognise that THIS is the competition when you really get recognised, when you really need to step up. And it’s where the legends are born. Cristiano Ronaldo poses with Real Madrid's Champions League trophyGetty - ContributorSunday Round-Up: Watch the best action from the Premier LeaguePHONE A FRIEND Rafa Benitez masterminded Newcastle's win over Swansea by giving orders from sick bedALAN SHEARER Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Co here to win Champions League... so start acting part in EuropeEDEN HAZARDS A GUESS Eden Hazard insists Chelsea will win the Champions League this season'DANGEROUS' Sadio Mane could have 'easily avoided' booting Man City keeper Ederson in the face, insists Claudio Bravo'ALWAYS HAPPY HERE' Arsene Wenger reveals he turned down Manchester United job because he 'loves' Arsenal's valuesTOP KAN Antonio Conte delighted with N'Golo Kante's progress but admits Chelsea star may not yet be a world class playerEURO STAR Neymar reveals he ditched Barcelona and Lionel Messi because PSG have a much better chance of winning the Champions League this seasonCOUT BACK Jurgen Klopp defends not playing Philippe Coutinho but says he IS set for Liverpool return against Sevilla'THIS IS SO HARD' Footballer-turned-fighter Leon McKenzie retires from boxing aged 39 after losing to Cello Renda'IGNORANT T****R' Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish savaged by supporters in Twitter spat with fansDAFT VADER Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill becomes Wolves fan by accident following mix-up on TwitterTHE GOLDEN BOY Borussia Dortmund follow up Jadon Sancho by signing fellow Man City starlet Denzeil Boadu The summer transfer window was one the craziest we have ever seen. Take a look atthe most profitable transfers of ALL time. And here are thePremier League players whose wages made them the most expensive per minute played. #JoseMourinho #PepGuardiola #AntonioConte

#JoseMourinho #PepGuardiola #AntonioConte

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apsbicepstraining · 7 years ago

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Premier League: talking phases from the weekend’s war

Louis van Gaals luck may lastly be changing at Manchester United, Norwich may have found a plan to tackle Leicester and Aston Villa are too bad to stay up

1) Is Van Gaals fluke changing at Manchester United?

Who knows what is next for Louis van Gaals tremendously erratic Manchester United but perhaps the Dutchmans luck is changing. And changing big time: opportunity only knocked for Marcus Rashford when Anthony Martial was downed injured in the warm-up against Midtjylland. Fast presented to Sunday evening and United have a new four-goal hero in Rashford, as Arsenal were downed 3-2 to follow the 5-1 walloping of the Danish champions on Thursday. Both of these triumphs were at Old Trafford and there was a definite reconnection between the crowd and Van Gaal that teemed visceral passion. It attained when he did his falling follower number before Mike Dean, to present the fourth official how Van Gaal belief Alexis Snchez was trying to moron the referee, Craig Pawson. At that time the substantiate started ballistic and it did not find beyond the bounds of footballs operatic storylines for Van Gaal to rescue the season with a top four region, and/ or an FA Cup or Europa League triumph, and still be in place next season. If so, this would be the most recent illustration that it is better to be a lucky general than a good one. Jamie Jackson

Match report: Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal Rashfords second match even better than his first, does Van Gaal Amy Lawrence: Wenger faces familiar the issue as Arsenal frost

Manchester Uniteds director Louis van Gaal has terms with fourth official Mike Dean on the touchline before descending over. Photo: Oli Scarff/ AFP/ Getty Images

2) Tottenham desperate for Alli to remain fit

The one annoy for Tottenham Hotspur after Sundays spirited and essential 2-1 residence acquire over Swansea City was the slew of Dele Alli tottering heavily on his way out of the dressing room. The midfielder, who has been one of the stars of the season, said that he had kicked the field in the warm-up but he still got through the 90 instants. Perhaps it was the adrenaline that carried him, together with his desire but, with the visit to West Ham United tower on Wednesday night, Tottenham have to hope that he experiences no ill outcomes. There was a moment during the first half when Alli lost possession and the manager, Mauricio Pochettino, immediately signalled to the midfield equivalents, Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb, to embark warming up. It manifested a certain degree of anxiety over Alli, although he would not have completed the parallel if it had been too great. This was not one of Allis most effective performances Christian Eriksen moved the show alongside him but his significance to Tottenhams title push is extraordinary. David Hytner

Match report: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Swansea City The Dozen: the weekends best Premier League photos

3) Norwich discover a blueprint for managing Leicester

For the best part of 89 instants Norwichs gameplan worked to perfection against Leicester and may support a blueprint for other golf-clubs to follow between now and the end of the season, particularly at the King Power Stadium, where the Premier League rulers still have to play West brom, Newcastle, Southampton, West Ham, Swansea and Everton. Norwich distributed a three-man center explanation, with Russell Martin virtually playing as a sweeper, sat deep and in fact requested Leicester to try to break them down without being able to go in behind. I look at how other teams set up against certain opposition and the only squad who has played that direction against them has been Manchester United, Alex Neil, Norwichs manager announced, referring to their three-man explanation. I watched that competition it was 1-1 but Man United should have won. I looked at that and thought we could distribute that and it would help us.

Leicester experienced 59% self-possession against Norwich singularly it was only the third season this season that they have had more of the pellet than their foes yet they registered only 3 shots on target, the first after 58 instants and the last when Leonardo Ulloa tapped in a drastic late win. Unable to break with alacrity and play on the counterattack, Leicesters threat was nullified for long periods. There was no room for Jamie Vardy to exploit behind the Norwich defence, which was compounded by the fact that Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton is impossible to form the best use of the ball in wide-ranging localities, until the latter eventually encountered his series with the cross that Ulloa proselytized in the 89 th minute. The good news for Leicester is that they still managed to find a way to win video games, mainly thanks to Ranieris tactical play late on. The bad news is that they could come up against these tactics again and will need to be more adept at finding a way through. Stuart James

Match report: Leicester City 1-0 Norwich City Ranieri swerves Thinkerman for Leicesters late winning

Norwich administrator Alex Neil went close to get a level against Leicester City. Picture: BPI/ REX/ Shutterstock

4) Chelsea focus is on Europe and the fitness of Terry

Chelsea may have registered back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season, reasonablenes in itself for confidence, but it is still hard not to be distracted by what awaits in the rematch against Paris Saint-Germain in nine daylights occasion. Trailing narrowly from the first leg, but bolstered by Mikel John Obis away goal, Guus Hiddinks side believe they can still force passage beyond the runaway Ligue 1 presidents and into the quarter-finals. Ensuring they are in the best district to strain the Parisians on 9 March has become a priority.

To that intention, Hiddink is already mulling over how to reintegrate John Terry into his lineup and ensure his captain, potentially weighing down his last few months at the organization, is fully recovered from the hamstring injury sustained against Newcastle. The 35 -year-old had admitted in the build-up to the expedition to St Marys that carefulnes are liable to be the very best approaching. We looked at him on the training slope and asked him how he felt, and he pronounced: Okay, but not ready to play, spoke Hiddink. Ill be careful because I have known in the past of these various kinds of injuries. They take longer to mend than an ankle trauma, or whatever, and its better to wait maybe even a game longer than everyone speculates. So we speak and I announced: Hey, gives take our times and not hasten things.

Terry, on 699 association images, will be infuriated at the untimely sort of the damage thrown his time at Stamford Bridge appears to be periphery towards the end. Tuesdays expedition to Norwich will come too soon. So, in truth, might Saturdays inspect of Stoke City, entailing Chelsea may have to rejig their training routine to render the command something akin to a competitive running around before PSG arrive in the capital. Its exceedingly, very tight[ in terms of his availability against the French side ], contributed Hiddink. Well see how he greets and, if he needs a game, we might organise one at Cobham: an intense recreation, perhaps 11 vs 11 or a smaller-side competition with strength. But its very tight, its very tight. The thought that he might have to sit on the sidelines and watch what could be Chelseas last Champions League game for a while will drive Terry to distraction. Ensuring the command can play some percentage is one of this clubs priorities. Dominic Fifield

Daniel Taylor: Conte court case could be a distraction for Chelsea Hiddink content after key players take bidding against Southampton Match report: Southampton 1-2 Chelsea

5) Gradels return can give Bournemouth a raising for run-in

Statistics show that Bournemouth participates have ranged more on average than those of any other unit in the league this season so topics have been asked about their ability to sustain their vigor for the rest of awareness-raising campaigns. But on Saturday it was their opposings who examined fatigued and it took got a couple of fine saves by Watfords Heurelho Gomes to stop the south coast back from striding two points a little bit closer to Premier League survival. Those saves were from hits by Max Gradel, who appeared sharp on his return from six months out with a knee ligament hurt. It was unfortunate that Junior Stanislas hamstring injury was the reason for Gradels introduction in the 21 st hour, but Bournemouth can take encouragement from Gradels return for the final part of the campaign. The winger, signed for 7m from Saint Etienne last summertime, mentioned afterwards that he was surprised at how fit he seemed during the course of its first equal back. He added that he is all the more determined to make an impact between now and the end of the season in order to repay Eddie Howe for standing him to do most of his rehabilitation back home in the Ivory Coast. When I came back this month parties were surprised to find me, articulated Gradel. People didnt expect me to qualify and then when he saw me I examined good. When someone relies you, you cannot make them down. I established him he did the right thing by relying me and letting me go home and today the result is Im back to carry on. Paul Doyle

Match report: Watford 0-0 Bournemouth Gradel thanks administrator Howe for his cartel

Max Gradels return for Bournemouth can boost the side. Photo: Jason Brown/ JMP/ REX/ Shutterstock

6) Villa are too bad to stay up

The Premier League has had some striking enormous flees, from Oldham in 1992 -9 3, to Wigan showing that “youve been” can elapse your way out of hardship in 2011 -1 2. In the first Premier League season, Oldham stayed up despite being eight parts behind Crystal Palace going into the last week of the season. Aston Villa still have 11 tournaments to make up eight moments on 17 th-placed Norwich, but scarcely any sentient beings give them a chance.

Rmi Garde knows as much: after their 2-1 defeat at Stoke on Saturday, he praised their feeling but spotlit their crucial shortcoming in a manner that evoked Martin Johnsons famous paraphrase about the England cricket team in 1986 -8 7. Villa, you experience, have just been two troubles: they cant score points and they cant stop admitting them. We know we are a unit that finds it difficult to score points, articulated Garde, and we are not scoring many. Relegation is the inevitable resolution of inexorable decline since Martin ONeill left in 2010, and the listing of Premier League ever-presents will soon be reduced to six. Villa, to overrule the term generally spurted in these times of year, are surely too bad to stay up. Rob Smyth

Aston Villa: the squad that pedalled downwards and expected to stand still Match report: Rekindled 2-1 Aston Villa Stoke win over Villa defaced by coin-throwing pretension

7) Spotlight on Berahino is becoming too bright

Is anybody else tired of the Saido Berahino story? Not a coincide goes by without Tony Pulis facing endless, repetition questions about the striker, who increasingly seems to have his head clamped back on and has perhaps realised that he is unlikely to earn a coveted transport to a big team if sat on the bench. Every question put to the West Brom manager in his daily newspaper briefing on Saturday was about Berahino and it is becoming increasingly difficult to remember a time at The Hawthorns when the stalemate did not dominate dialogue. It is also easy to forget that Berahino stands unproven in numerous respects; a musician with abundance of flair but a questionable mentality. Ask a neutral to call one standout minute and they are able to conflict. Ask an Albion regular for a definitive description and something negative would feature. Yet in this age of endless supposition, wouldnt “its been” refreshing to blur out delivery talk for the remainder of the season and simply celebrate a young striker try to develop his play? Alan Smith

Pulis tells Berahino to squeeze the pips at West Brom Laurie Cunningham: the dancing footballer with eternal youth Match report: West Brom 3-2 Crystal Palace

West Bromwich Albion devotees brace a banner dedicated to their musician Chris Brunt after coins were shed at him last weekend. Photograph: Tim Goode/ PA

8) Bilic foreground the altered in West Hams intent

West Ham rarely burst into life against Sunderland but the league counter does not lie and Slaven Bilic accepts its own position on the fringe of the European places owes plenty to their positive stance. Our fourth game of the season was at Anfield, remembered Bilic. Wed pulsated Arsenal in our first recreation and then lost to Leicester and Bournemouth at home. My assistant answered a time would be good tomorrow and I added yeah, it would be good but I wouldnt take it now. Sometimes you are over the moon with a part after the game, but beforehand I will ever say no thank you because we have a good squad and I believe in it. They won that match at Liverpool 3-0 and have gone on to brighter things since. It is something of a oddity that two such forward-thinking line-ups as West Ham and Everton have more sucks than any of their top-flight competitives, with 10 and 11 respectively. That statistic does not bother the Upton Park faithful, who visualize the proof of their teams intent unfolding before them. There is little exhilaration in compounding the disappointment of their former manager, Sam Allardyce, after his team played well enough to deserve a reap of their own on Saturday but Bilics words unwittingly foreground the fundamental change in prospect that has arisen at West Ham since he took his contenders old place. Nick Ames

Allardyce suspicions for Sunderland future despite Bilic support Sunderland commit free shirts to fans passing to West Ham away accord Match report: West Ham 1-0 Sunderland

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the-telegraph-sport-yahoopa-blog · 8 years ago

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Premier League transfer news and rumours: live - Patrick van Aanholt joins Crystal Palace ahead of deadline day

Follow all the latest Premier League transfer coverage here and check out these stories from elsewhere on the Telegraph site:

Dimitri Payet rejoins Marseille from West Ham for £25m

Live: Arsenal transfer news and rumours

Live: Man Utd transfer news and rumours

Live: Liverpool transfer news and rumours

Live: Chelsea transfer news and rumours

The top 100 targets in the January transfer window

10:25AM

Holt the back page

#CPFC are delighted to announce the signing of @pvanaanholt on a four-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee! #WelcomePatrick �� pic.twitter.com/aw357Wtcoj

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 30, 2017

Our man Luke Edwards had reported the news of Patrick van Aanholt's £9m move last Friday.

10:22AM

High demands

A new car every time he scores? Foot-long sandwiches for the price of a six-inch? The secret recipe for Nando's Lemon and Herb Peri Peri sauce?

What is it that Carl Jenkinson wants? The full back has had next to no playing time at Arsenal this season and yet won't leave.

Credit: rex

Crystal Palace recently had an offer accepted, but Jenkinson has so far not been able to agree personal terms and now Arsene Wenger says the transfer looks unlikely to happen this month: "There is no news at all. We are still open, because we have many players in that position, but at the moment it doesn’t look like something will happen."

10:03AM

News from Sunderland

This just in from our man in the north-east, Luke Edwards:

Sunderland manager David Moyes is close to a breakthrough in the transfer market as Everton pair Darron Gibson and Bryan Oviedo head to Wearside for a medical.

Moyes has been in regular contact with Everton this month over the potential signings of James McCarthy and Tom Cleverley, but after missing out on those targets, he will instead bring in two different players from Goodison Park.

Neither Oviedo or Gibson have managed to hold down a regular first team spot at Everton this season and unless there are any last-minute hitches, both should complete their moves before Tuesday’s deadline.

Darron (don't call him Darren) Gibson Credit: rex

Sunderland are also set to raise their offer for Leicester City striker Leonardo Ulloa to £6m after they had a bid of £3m rejected over the weekend.

A long term injury to Victor Anichebe this month has altered Moyes transfer plans and he feels he needs to add a striker to his squad as the team are overly reliant on Jermain Defoe.

The signings of Oviedo and Gibson will take the number of players at Sunderland, who Moyes has previously worked with at Everton, to five after he also offered contracts to Steven Pienaar, Anichebe and Joleon Lescott.

David Moyes loves signing Everton players Credit: russell cheyne

Gibson will fill a hole in the centre of midfield, which has been a concern for the Black Cats all season, while Oviedo will replace Patrick van Aanholt at left back, who is set to complete a £14m move to Crystal Palace in the next 48 hours.

Moyes had previously warned Sunderland supporters that the players he signed this month would not greatly improve his squad.

That was a reaction to the disappointment at learning that neither Robbie Brady or Phil Jagielka wanted to move to Wearside this month, although the sale of Van Aanholt has at least given the former Everton and Manchester United manager more money to play with.

The Scot had been told in November that he would not have the sort of transfer budget he had envisaged when he took the job back in July because of a dire financial situation and owner Ellis Short’s desire to sell the club.

9:57AM

And Zen there was one

Tony Pulis has been holding his West Brom press conference (standing up as he bizarrely always does) this morning and has categorically ruled out a move for Branislav Ivanovic.

Asked about the Chelsea defender, Pulis said: "Ivanovic? That’s a definite no."

Which seems to leave Zenit St Petersburg as the only option left for Ivanovic.

Pulis also spoke about his interest in Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson, pouring cold water on that move as well.

"Callum Wilson - I’ve been told he might be available, I rang the manager up and was told no so that’s not going to happen."

On the hunt for reinforcements, Pulis admitted he has endured a frustrating month with a number of targets opting for bigger clubs, most notably Morgan Schneiderlin.

"If you look at the players we have targeted, they’ve gone to clubs more established at the top end," he said.

"What we’ve got to do is make sure the players we do bring in are the right players. We’ve got to be ever so careful about what we bring in, we’re desperate to bring players in, the chairman and the Chinese owners. It’s frustrating, but life’s frustrating."

9:46AM

All quiet at the top

Don't tell my colleague running our Arsenal transfer blog, but Arsene Wenger has essentially just handed said journalist his P45. Redundancy beckons.

"It's been a very quiet January. We have a big squad and are not in any need to buy and players," said Wenger.

"That is the same generally for the other big teams too - they all have big squads so that's why they will all be quiet.

"You have to have a need to buy players but numbers and quality-wise, we have the strength and we now have to do what we can with that."

So I guess that means our Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea transfer blogs are also redundant. Please don't tell the boss.

9:36AM

I Beg you, let me leave

Let us move onto the Chelsea goalkeeper situation, which has been popping up regularly in recent weeks. Our Football News Correspondent Matt Law filed this piece last Friday on a potential move for Sevilla keeperSalvatore Sirigu. Here is a snippet:

Chelsea are still working on signing a goalkeeper before the transfer window shuts with Salvatore Sirigu emerging as an alternative to Craig Gordon if Celtic hold firm.

Celtic have rejected a bid in the region of £3 million for Gordon from Chelsea, but the 34-year-old is considering requesting a move and the Premier League leaders are prepared to slightly increase their offer.

But Gordon may be denied the chance to double his wages at Stamford Bridge if Celtic maintain he is not for sale, with Sirigu believed to be interesting Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte.

Conte has made it clear that Asmir Begovic can only join Bournemouth before Tuesday night’s deadline if Chelsea secure a replacement.

Sirigu, who was part of Conte’s Italy squad at Euro 2016, is on loan at Sevilla from Paris Saint-Germain but the Italian has not been playing for the Spanish club.

Begovic played for Chelsea in yesterday's FA Cup triumph over Brentford, but he made his feelings clear after the match: "I have spoken with the boss - we are quite open about it, he knows I am desperate to play, and that’s all it is really.

"If he can make it happen for me he will. That is something that is going to be sorted out in the next couple of days. I’m 29 – 30 in the summer – and feel fantastic and in great shape. It would be a waste not to play and show people what I can do."

9:19AM

Moyes on the hunt

We've already heard of Sunderland's interest in Leonardo Ulloa but, according to "people in the know", David Moyes is on the hunt for a fair few more new faces before he goes to bed tomorrow night.

With Patrick van Aanholt on the verge of departing the Stadium of Light for Crystal Palace, Moyes has supposedly identified Celtic teenager Kieran Tierney as his No 1 left-back target.

The Daily Express reports that Sunderland sent a "senior scout" to watch the 19-year-old last weekend... before dashing the hopes and dreams of the club's fans by then revealing that Celtic are likely to refuse all January bids for him.

Meanwhile, Phil McNulty of the BBC, says Moyes is also hoping to raid (because any manager signing someone from their former club must be deemed to be "raiding" them) Everton for Darron Gibson and Bryan Oviedo.

Both players have been little more than fringe figures this campaign, leaving Gibson plenty of time to wonder whether life would have been easier if his parents had gone for the traditional spelling of Darren rather than opting for the Gaelic equivalent.

8:45AM

Mooy money, Mooy problems

Who knows anything about Aaron Mooy? I'm going to level with you, I had never heard of him until five minutes ago. Thanks to the Internet I can now tell you the following story of his life:

- Born in Sydney, the Australia international used to get up at 5am to watch Craig Moore and Tony Vidmar play for Rangers. - He headed across the globe aged 16 to join Bolton Wanderers' Academy. - He then played for St Mirren, Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne City, before unexpectedly moving to the latter's sister club Manchester City last summer and then immediately heading to Huddersfield on loan.

Credit: getty images

Up to speed? Jolly good. Anyway, the latest news is that an unnamed Championship side have attempted to sign the 26-year-old midfielder for £8.75m - an audacious bid that City threw back in the unnamed Championship side's face. That is piffling small change to their UAE owners.

And that's about it. Apologies to Huddersfield fans for my total ignorance. It will be interesting to see if he moves full time should Huddersfield gain promotion to the Premier League or whether Pep Guardiola has any plans for him.

Oh and far more importantly, does anyone have any idea how to pronounce his surname? Moy? Mooey? Moo?

8:23AM

All Bran

Everything was going swimmingly for Chelsea stalwart Branislav Ivanovic. The Serbian had been a mainstay of the Blues defence since moving to Stamford Bridge in 2008, but then Antonio Conte came along.

Out of the starting XI and with only FA Cup appearances to look forward to, Ivanovic appears to have decided that enough is enough and he is out of there. Which leaves him two options: Zenit St Petersburg and West Brom. Russia or the Midlands.

In a rather nice farewell, Ivanovic came off the bench on Sunday to score in their 4-0 win over Brentford. That is expected to be his last match for the club, with a move due to be finalised today or tomorrow.

So, for one last time I give you this gem. Geoff Shreeves, it's over to you to show what breaking a player's heart looks like on live TV.

youtube

7:52AM

Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael and...

How much would you say Leonardo Ulloa is worth?

Pro: He is a proven goalscorer, he is a Premier League champion, he has never come close to playing for Argentina so will never get injured on international duty, he has an interesting goatee.

Con: He isn't that good, he has a bizarre goatee.

No one seems quite sure what his market value is. Spanish side Alaves had a £5.5m offer turned down earlier this month, while Leicester want £10m for him, despite the fact that he is 30 and has started just one Premier League game this season.

Sunderland attempted to sign him at the end of the summer and David Moyes is reportedly keen on giving it another crack. But how much should he spend?

According to the Mail on Sunday, Moyes is preparing to offer £5m, while the Sun on Sunday suggest it could be £11m... which is £1m more than Leicester want. Maths.

7:29AM

Heading east

So, apparently Wayne Rooney is planning on taking his novelty St George's Cross duvet cover to an unspecified Chinese club at an unspecified time in the future to play in the Chinese Super League - potentially in the next four weeks.

"The next four weeks?" I hear you ask. Yes, because the Chinese transfer window doesn't close until the end of February, the sneaky so-and-sos.

Which is all well and good, but is Rooney actually going to move there? Here are the facts/"facts": - He will earn between £900,000 to £1million per week if he moves. - There is no specific club interested in him. The interest simply comes from the entire entity of China.

Asked about the potential move yesterday, Jose Mourinho said: "The only player that I am aware of a possibility to leave, and I am waiting for Jan 31 to know what really is going on, is Ashley Young, a player that I would love to keep. If I could choose, yes definitely, he will stay with us."

Which is a pretty dull quote when compared to this one from the Daily Mirror and comes courtesy of "an expat in China", who warns life there will be "lonely" for Wayne's wife Coleen: "It sounds glamorous but it can be very claustrophobic, particularly in the city centre apartments and hotels. The hardest thing is being so far away from your loved ones – she won’t be able to pop round to her mum’s for a cup of tea."

6:57AM

Au revoir

In what is almost guaranteed to be the biggest move involving a Premier League club this January, it was announced late last night that Dimitri Payet is back at Marseille.

Something suggests West Ham chairman David Sullivan isn't enamoured by the player's behaviour.

The club would like to place on record its sincere disappointment that Dimitri Payet did not show the same commitment and respect to West Ham United that the club and fans showed him, particularly when it rewarded him with a lucrative new five-and-a-half-year deal only last year.

I would like to make it clear that we have no financial need to sell our best players and that the decision to allow Payet to leave was in accordance with the wishes of the manager and the interests of squad unity. To be frank, my board and I would have preferred for him to have stayed in order to make an example of him, as no player is bigger than the club.

I am confident that with the quality of the players we have brought in during January already, the squad will be stronger at the end of this transfer window than it was at the start.

6:38AM

Movers and shakers

Oh, hi there. There are less than 41 hours remaining of this transfer window. The excitement, the anticipation and the joy... of having this whole charade come to an end is palpable.

Until then, feel free to spend some time with me where I will bring you all the latest transfer news from the Premier League. This will be split into two categories: 1. Actual real-life transfers (expect few of these, and for it to mainly involve mid- and lower-table teams. 2. Gossip and speculation (expect an inordinate amount of these, almost solely focusing on the top six).

Appetite whet? Let's begin with our overnight round-up courtesy of Chief Football Correspondent Jason Burt. This very much fits into the first category.

Southampton in double move

Southampton are closing in on a deal to sign Napoli forward Manolo Gabbiadini for £17 million.

Southampton have reportedly agreed to pay an initial £13.6 million with the rest made up in bonuses. The Italian club would also be entitled to a sell-on fee.

Manolo Gabbiadini could be on the move to the English south coast Credit: getty images

Southampton are also in discussion with Spartak Moscow over signing defender Serdar Tasci on loan. The 29-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, has made just nine appearances for the Russian side this season.

Queens Park Rangers have agreed a £300,000 deal with Bristol City to sign midfielder Luke Freeman.

Leeds United want to sign West Ham United striker Ashley Fletcher on loan.

Stoke’s Bojan heads to Mainz

Stoke City forward Bojan Krkic has joined the Bundesliga club Mainz on loan for the rest of the season.

The 26-year-old Barcelona product joined Stoke for £3 million in the summer of 2014 and made an instant impact in the Potteries. Bojan scored 15 goals in 59 Stoke appearances, but has fallen out of favour under Mark Hughes this season and made only five Premier League starts.

Bojan Krkic's time in Stoke is over, for this season at least Credit: rex

“It is an honour for me that Mainz 05 gives me the opportunity to prove myself in another European top league,” Bojan told the German club’s official website yesterday evening.

Defour hints at Burnley exit

Burnley midfielder Steven Defour has admitted that he cannot offer any long-term assurances over his future with the club.

The Belgian international, who has also played for Standard Liège and Porto, arrived at Turf Moor in an £8 million deal from Anderlecht last summer to inject some much-needed guile into Sean Dyche’s squad but has been linked with a move to China by his agent.

Steven Defour scored a worldie for Burnley at the weekend Credit: rex

“I can’t say I’m staying here forever,” said Defour. “If there’s a big proposal in China, or elsewhere, even in England, which would be good for the club and me then we should think about it.”

Bruce back in for Rhodes

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce is ready to make a renewed move for Middlesbrough striker Jordan Rhodes with an £8 million bid.

Bruce will rival Sheffield Wednesday in the race to sign the Scotland international and test Middlesbrough with an improved offer in the next 24 hours.

Jordan Rhodes is a wanted man Credit: rex

Rhodes, 26, was left out of the Boro squad on Saturday for their 1-0 victory over Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup as speculation continues. Villa are also working on a deal for Swansea City defender Neil Taylor, with Ghana international Jordan Ayew possibly going in the opposite direction.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest are signing Villa’s £5 million midfielder Aaron Tshibola on loan for the remainder of the season.

#_revsp:the_telegraph_818 #_author:Ben Bloom #_category:yct:001000001 #_lmsid:a0Vd000000G6gZREAZ #_uuid:dd416ef6-66d0-3800-9850-f8feb90b0ee4 #sport

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giantsfootball0 · 7 years ago

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Number 10s come in all shapes sizes and methods in Premier League

ESPN spent a day behind the scenes at Everton to find out why they are the “people’s club.”

The driving midfielder: Steven Davis, Southampton

Davis is more of a box-to-box player, a runner who provides his teammates with positive balls into the final third and dynamic off-the-ball movement to prompt quick passing combinations.

Mesut Ozil prefers to set up his teammates for goals rather than attack and finish himself.

The outright assister: Mesut Ozil, Arsenal

The midfielder-forward hybrid: Dele Alli, Tottenham Hotspur

No one entirely knows what to make of Alli. “In the box, he looks like a striker, and outside the box, he plays like a midfielder,” says Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Alli is therefore the purest No. 10 on this list — not quite a midfielder, not quite a forward, he encapsulates the original point of the role.

Joshua King developed a touch for finishing last year in his second season with Bournemouth.

The second striker: Joshua King, Bournemouth

But it’s clear King very much considers himself a centre-forward. Therefore, Howe is effectively playing a strike partnership, with King and Defoe upfront.

The defensive forward: Shinji Okazaki, Leicester City

In one sense Okazaki is another King — a centre-forward fielded behind a quick striker, roaming the channels and firing powerful shots toward goal. But the Japanese forward is very different.

Michael Cox is the editor of zonalmarking.net and a contributor to ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @Zonal_Marking.

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apsbicepstraining · 7 years ago

Text

Premier League: talking phases from the weekend’s war

Louis van Gaals luck may lastly be changing at Manchester United, Norwich may have found a plan to tackle Leicester and Aston Villa are too bad to stay up

1) Is Van Gaals fluke changing at Manchester United?

Match report: Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal Rashfords second match even better than his first, does Van Gaal Amy Lawrence: Wenger faces familiar the issue as Arsenal frost

Manchester Uniteds director Louis van Gaal has terms with fourth official Mike Dean on the touchline before descending over. Photo: Oli Scarff/ AFP/ Getty Images

2) Tottenham desperate for Alli to remain fit

Match report: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Swansea City The Dozen: the weekends best Premier League photos

3) Norwich discover a blueprint for managing Leicester

Match report: Leicester City 1-0 Norwich City Ranieri swerves Thinkerman for Leicesters late winning

Norwich administrator Alex Neil went close to get a level against Leicester City. Picture: BPI/ REX/ Shutterstock

4) Chelsea focus is on Europe and the fitness of Terry

Daniel Taylor: Conte court case could be a distraction for Chelsea Hiddink content after key players take bidding against Southampton Match report: Southampton 1-2 Chelsea

5) Gradels return can give Bournemouth a raising for run-in

Match report: Watford 0-0 Bournemouth Gradel thanks administrator Howe for his cartel

Max Gradels return for Bournemouth can boost the side. Photo: Jason Brown/ JMP/ REX/ Shutterstock

6) Villa are too bad to stay up

Aston Villa: the squad that pedalled downwards and expected to stand still Match report: Rekindled 2-1 Aston Villa Stoke win over Villa defaced by coin-throwing pretension

7) Spotlight on Berahino is becoming too bright

Pulis tells Berahino to squeeze the pips at West Brom Laurie Cunningham: the dancing footballer with eternal youth Match report: West Brom 3-2 Crystal Palace

West Bromwich Albion devotees brace a banner dedicated to their musician Chris Brunt after coins were shed at him last weekend. Photograph: Tim Goode/ PA

8) Bilic foreground the altered in West Hams intent

Allardyce suspicions for Sunderland future despite Bilic support Sunderland commit free shirts to fans passing to West Ham away accord Match report: West Ham 1-0 Sunderland

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apsbicepstraining · 7 years ago

Text

Premier League: talking phases from the weekend’s war

Louis van Gaals luck may lastly be changing at Manchester United, Norwich may have found a plan to tackle Leicester and Aston Villa are too bad to stay up

1) Is Van Gaals fluke changing at Manchester United?

Match report: Manchester United 3-2 Arsenal Rashfords second match even better than his first, does Van Gaal Amy Lawrence: Wenger faces familiar the issue as Arsenal frost

Manchester Uniteds director Louis van Gaal has terms with fourth official Mike Dean on the touchline before descending over. Photo: Oli Scarff/ AFP/ Getty Images

2) Tottenham desperate for Alli to remain fit

Match report: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Swansea City The Dozen: the weekends best Premier League photos

3) Norwich discover a blueprint for managing Leicester

Match report: Leicester City 1-0 Norwich City Ranieri swerves Thinkerman for Leicesters late winning

Norwich administrator Alex Neil went close to get a level against Leicester City. Picture: BPI/ REX/ Shutterstock

4) Chelsea focus is on Europe and the fitness of Terry

Daniel Taylor: Conte court case could be a distraction for Chelsea Hiddink content after key players take bidding against Southampton Match report: Southampton 1-2 Chelsea

5) Gradels return can give Bournemouth a raising for run-in

Match report: Watford 0-0 Bournemouth Gradel thanks administrator Howe for his cartel

Max Gradels return for Bournemouth can boost the side. Photo: Jason Brown/ JMP/ REX/ Shutterstock

6) Villa are too bad to stay up

Aston Villa: the squad that pedalled downwards and expected to stand still Match report: Rekindled 2-1 Aston Villa Stoke win over Villa defaced by coin-throwing pretension

7) Spotlight on Berahino is becoming too bright

Pulis tells Berahino to squeeze the pips at West Brom Laurie Cunningham: the dancing footballer with eternal youth Match report: West Brom 3-2 Crystal Palace

West Bromwich Albion devotees brace a banner dedicated to their musician Chris Brunt after coins were shed at him last weekend. Photograph: Tim Goode/ PA

8) Bilic foreground the altered in West Hams intent

Allardyce suspicions for Sunderland future despite Bilic support Sunderland commit free shirts to fans passing to West Ham away accord Match report: West Ham 1-0 Sunderland

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