That concludes the blog for today.
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Rick Harris gets in touch: “I may be alone in this but I wish Antony all the best at Real Betis and hope he gets his career back on track. Sometimes it simply doesn’t work out for a player at a new club, and there have been plenty of examples at both United and other big PL clubs where expensive signings fail to deliver.”
Jonathon M gets in touch: “Just wanted to write in expressing my gratitude for this being mentioned. I attended my first ever Watford game as a 2 year old in 1993 and my last one so far on 29th February 2020. From afar I have kept various levels of interest in the football business which cosplays as a club I was once proud to be associated with.
“I can’t express enough how poor a decision this would be from the Pozzo regime, and seems (rightly in my eyes) to be the final nail in the coffin for any goodwill the fanbase had left in it for owners who have taken a once respected club on an embarrassing ride through PR disaster after PR disaster.
“The owners have utterly destroyed the essence of what made Watford. Hopefully with this asinine decision they finally destroy their tenure.”
Great interview with Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, one of the best young players in this season’s Premier League, by Ben Fisher.
Huijsen’s family moved from the Netherlands to Spain when he was five and last year he pledged his allegiance to the latter despite representing the former from under-16s to under-19s.
“My home is Spain. If I have some days off or holidays, I’m going home to Spain. I feel more Spanish than I feel Dutch,” he says. “It’s my country, I’ve grown up there, so it made sense and it is just what felt right to me.”
Here’s today’s Football Daily. Where have all the boot boys gone?
Joe Pearson gets in touch: “My take is a little different than Mike from Canada’s. While the competition may not be as compelling (so far), I definitely think the games are better. Liverpool and Real at Anfield? Thank you very much! Home and away with Red Star? I’ll pass. Sure, there have been some stinkers, but the random/AI/computer draw definitely came up with some tasty fixtures. And the playoffs will have peril aplenty. So count me as a fan.”
Winds to call off Celtic game?
Club statement here: they play Dundee tomorrow.
Unfortunately today’s severe weather conditions have caused some damage at Celtic Park.
Our stadium and safety staff are currently unable to fully assess the extent of the damage due to the ongoing extreme conditions. In light of this and in order that we communicate fully and openly with our fans, in the interests of supporter safety, we are unable to confirm at this stage whether the match tomorrow between Celtic and Dundee (Jan 25) will be able to proceed.Of course, we will be doing all we can to ensure that it does.
A full assessment and decision will be made as early as possible tomorrow morning (Saturday) and we will update our supporters as soon as we can.
Nuno, the Nottingham Forest manager, is playing his teams’s exalted position down. In typically cool style.
“We don’t look at that. It’s not about the competition, we are inside the competition and have to play every team in so many fixtures till the end. Let’s just focus day by day, game by game.
“The expectations, we cannot control them. It doesn’t change our approach. When there are too many compliments it is not good, keep them away. The ambition is not measured by that. The ambition is the way we operate and improve as a team because if we improve as a team the club will be better with the challenge ahead of us.”
Shaun gets in touch on the Antony question: “I just wondered if anyone had any candidates for a worse player, given the sums (transfer and wages) involved ? I can’t think of anyone. Just wondered if others had alternatives.”
Mike in Canada on the UCL: “You asked, I answer. Boring! It’s neutered the excitement by making the late stage games unimportant where the reward for success is not survival but avoiding extra wear and tear on your players. The group format adds piquancy to the late stage games by making a teams success dependent on other games and score lines.”
Nottingham Forest’s trip to Bournemouth is a meeting between two of the Premier League’s best teams. Some more Iraola, via an interview with The Independent.
“We are seeing teams like us, Forest or Fulham, who still have this double threat in the wings and full-backs over-lapping. There are big contrasts. Forest play very different. They are elite at defending because, even if they spend a lot of time close to their goal, they are not suffering. They have one of the best records. Then you have quality players… a bit like us, no? Giving their level and a little bit extra.”
Nuno spoke on Thursday about Nottingham Forest.
The ambition is not measured by (players Forest are linked with). The ambition is the way we operate and the way we want to improve as a team, because if we improve as a team the club will be better for the challenge we have ahead of us. The ambition is measured by how we are doing and what we want to achieve.
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And with that, I pass the baton back to John Brewin. Bye!
Brighton’s Fabian Hürzeler could do with some defensive reinforcement during this transfer window, if you’d be so kind:
We have a lot of offensive players but, especially in our defensive line, we are suffering a little bit. But we always managed to find solutions so far. That’s also our job and I’m sure no matter who will play at the weekend that we have a strong team on the pitch. Defensively we have to see if it makes sense [to dip our toe into the transfer pool] but in general I am happy with the squad.
Meanwhile, Hürzeler did some impressive gushing about David Moyes, 30 years his senior, whom he will face when Brighton welcome Everton tomorrow:
For sure I have a lot of respect for him, especially because now I have been managing a Premier League club for seven months and it’s so intense. It’s like every day you have to try to improve, every day you have to adapt and it’s really challenging. Therefore all the coaches who have worked for such a long time in the Premier League and who are able to work for different clubs I have huge respect for. What he is doing in his career is impressive and he’s also a role model. When he was coach at West Ham I watched some games. Very compact team, very difficult to play against and they always know how to win Premier League games.
Andoni Iraola on Nottingham Forest: 'Their numbers are ridiculous ... every stat you check they are good'
This from PA Media about the Bournemouth coach’s admiration for this weekend’s opponents:
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has labelled Nottingham Forest’s away form as “ridiculous” ahead of Saturday’s clash between this season’s surprise packages.
Forest have won seven of their last eight Premier League games and drew the other against leaders Liverpool, a run of form which has taken them to third in the table, behind second-placed Arsenal only on goal difference.
And Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will bid to win a fifth consecutive away league match for the first time in 31 years at the Vitality Stadium, a feat they last achieved in the top flight in March 1989.
Bournemouth’s club-record run of 10 games without defeat in the league has lifted them to seventh in the table, but Iraola said: “It’s going to be a very difficult match for us. Very difficult.
“For me they are coming from seven wins and one tie against Liverpool. Basically they are the most in-form team of the league for me. Away from home, their numbers are for me ridiculous. They’ve won I think seven games. They only lost two, City and Arsenal away. So we will have to be very, very, very good if we want to beat them. It’s the truth. And we cannot fool ourselves.
“It’s not going to be easier than Chelsea away or Newcastle away. Because they [Forest] are even being better away.
“Defensively they are elite. Absolutely elite. The truth is they are having amazing numbers. Every stat you check defensively they are very good. They have the spirit also I suppose when you are in this kind of run, full of confidence. So we will have to be very good, especially offensively. We’ll have to be clinical because the way they’ve played all the season we will not have the number of shots and chances we’ve had other games. So we will have to be very good in front of the goal because they don’t give you a lot.”
West Ham news! Jacob Steinberg has got the latest on Tim Steidten’s ouster, which is now just a few dotted i’s and crossed t’s away from being confirmed. Meanwhile, someone else is leading the club’s efforts to sign some people.
The Rumour Mill, the Guardian’s daily (weekdays only) repository of often completely unfounded transfer tittle-tattle, had news of Manchester United’s interest in Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu a few days ago. Now proper journalist Jamie Jackson has established that, in an unlikely development, it is actually true! Here’s his story:
Manchester United are targeting Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu, with the Italian club’s asking price for the 20-year-old wing-back believed to be around €40m (£33.7m).
The fee is €10m more than United’s valuation for the player but Ruben Amorim is intent on the Danish international joining the club. Negotiations regarding a transfer are ongoing.
Dorgu, who is 6ft 2in and can operate at left or right full-back, made his senior debut last season and has played 52 times in Serie A for Lecce. He has four international caps.
If an agreement can be reached and Dorgu does join United, Amorim would have a first bespoke signing for his 3-4-1-2 formation.
Much more here:
The full Rumour Mill archive can be found here.
An intriguing weekend awaits, as ever, in Ye Olde Football League. In the Championship it’s first against third, with Leeds heading to Burnley, but not until Monday. Meanwhile Plymouth, who are bottom of the table and have completely forgotten how to win (last 10 games: D4 L6), travel to fourth-placed Sunderland (last 10 games: W6 D3 L1) tomorrow, while second-placed Sheffield United play 22nd-placed Hull City this evening. In sideshow news, Watford are apparently set to disgracefully sack Tom Cleverley whatever happens when they visit Coventry tomorrow.
“Unlike the Prem, the Championship is an intense race for the two automatic promotion spots between four very good teams, all with long and great top flight histories, desiring a return to former glories,” writes Jeremy Boyce. “This group are ten (10) points clear of their nearest chasers. Second-placed Sheff U (tonight) and fourth-placed Sunderland (tomorrow) should enjoy regulation home wins, and in Agatha Christie suspense style, we have to wait ‘til Monday to get the result of the third v first clash at Turf Moor, between top scorers Leeds, and top defending hosts Burnley, a great show in prospect. Sadly, two of these very good teams will miss out, and have to deal with the nightmare of the Play-offs. As they say, other football is always available.”
John Duerden has written about Ange Postecoglou’s importance to the entire Asian football landscape:
It is not just Australian fans hoping that Ange Postecoglou can turn things around in North London. Bar owners in South Korea have fingers crossed too. Jongno, in central Seoul, is the place to be on New Year’s Eve and on the run-up to the big night, big screen TVs in the window displays of fried chicken and beer establishments are still showing Tottenham’s 5-0 thrashing of Southampton from mid-December, hoping to tempt punters in off the freezing streets to watch Son Heung-min. Even two weeks after that win, it was a marketing tactic of diminishing returns. It’s now been six weeks, and just one point has been added in the league.
Diminishing returns could describe Spurs’ second season under the first coach from the Asian Football Confederation to manage in the world’s most popular league, and the man in question is looking as haggard as the team’s backline. Die-hard Australian fans can be evangelical about football’s status at home – understandably so given its position in the sporting landscape down under – and sensitive about how their game is perceived abroad. But all of Asian football will also be hoping, or should be, for that second-season trophy.
Much more here:
Birthday card news now, courtesy of Alessia Russo. The Arsenal and England forward Alessia Russo has (kind of, but we’ll go with it) welcomed concerns raised in the House of Commons about a lack of greeting cards featuring female footballers.
Liberal Democrat MP Helen Maguire tabled a motion this week to call for action. Maguire’s Early Day Motion (EDM), signed by 11 other MPs, stated that “the under-representation of female athletes in such products undermines efforts to promote gender equality in sports”.
Arsenal’s Russo, a star of England’s European Championship winning squad, said: “It is great to see people are still trying to push the women’s game, and for us as players, we just want as many people in the stands and pushing the game in that force, too.
“We have got some massive games coming up. We would love to see everyone there. But I think it is cool we are trying to push the game in all directions.”
The 25-year-old added with a smile: “I don’t know if anyone would want my face on a birthday card!”
Back with Burnton for the next hour.
Jeremy Boyce on Sir Big Jim Ratcliffe: “I was intrigued by Sean Ingle’s question about Sir Jim, and when he would ever learn...? Sir Jim is clearly not the learning kind. He’s a self-made zillionaire businessman/polluter, what can anyone possibly teach him that he hasn’t already learned at the great school/university of life ?
“After his now extended history of sporting lack of silverware success since taking the helm at Ineos Grenadiers (cycling), Mercedes (Formula One), Nice Olympique (French Footie) and lately at Man U, there must be massive questions about his judgement, person-management and decision making.
“These are things that can more easily buried (metaphorically and literally) in the shady world of the chemicals industry, but which are brought much more sharply into focus under the weekly spotlight of top level sport. Sir Ben (Ainslie) doesn’t know how lucky he is to have escaped Sir Jim’s sphere of influence.:
After a furore last week during the Owls’ owner’s meeting with fans, Shea Charles, whose loan from Southampton was ended, is going back to Sheffield Wednesday.
Better still: Sheffield United wanted him.
“He’s a player we know a lot about - I know his agent really well,” Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield this week. “He’s a player we identified in the summer as well - we’re all doing our jobs whether it’s Sheffield Wednesday or us there’s a list of players so it’s not a wind-up, even though people think it might have been. He’s on the list and we’ll see where we go in the next week.”
Full details to follow but to no-one’s surprise, West Ham director of football Tim Steidten is OUT following the appointment of Kyle Macaulay as head of recruitment.
Steidten was locked out of the Hammers training ground at Watford on the day Julen Lopetegui was removed. Long knives out at the Hammers.
Jacob Steinberg will have the details soon.
Ahead of facing Arsenal, Wolves’ Matheus Cunha, who gave off the look of someone who might fancy a move away against Chelsea on Monday is NOT for sale, says his manager Vitor Pereira.
“He knows what I want from him as a captain. We had a conversation and everything is sorted. He is ready for the game, committed to us and ready to help the team.
“I don’t know. That is a question for the club. He is my player – I think he is not for sale. This is the information from the club. He is committed with us. What we need from him is that he plays at his high level. He is very important for us.”
Let’s see, though Wolves have little hope without Cunha in the team.
Right, I’m going to step away from the blog for a short while. John Brewin will hold the fort.
Marco Silva doesn’t want to talk about Manchester United, ahead of Fulham’s home game against them this Sunday.
My focus and our focus as a club is really on the match next Sunday. I’m not here to make comments about Manchester United. We know we’re going to play against a massive club. We are in a really good position because we are playing really well. It’s nothing to do with Manchester United.
Shaun Goater to return to working as attacking coach with Aston Villa’s women
Aston Villa’s women’s interim manager Shaun Goater has confirmed he will be staying at the club to work under new head coach Natalia Arroyo as part of her backroom staff. Goater, who has temporarily led the team while the club were recruiting a new head coach, will take charge for a final time on Saturday when they host his former club Manchester City, before the Spanish coach takes the helm.
“I’ll continue to do what I was doing previously, which was working with the forwards as the attacking coach. So I’ll support her in that way from an attacking point of view,” Goater said. “We’ve had brief conversations, which has been really good. She [Arroyo] is excited and really buzzing to join the team and get to work. I’ll lead the team for the game against City and she’ll take over after that point.”
Ruben Amorim says “I really don’t know” about Marcus Rashford’s future, and is much happier to discuss Bruno Fernandes:
I think he’s a top player. People talk a lot about his frustration, always with his arms in the air, and sometimes it’s not a good thing to see. But you have to see the other side: when you’re under pressure he’s always the guy who wants the ball. And then he can run, and he runs a lot and fights a lot. We are lucky to have a player like him. Sometimes he makes mistakes but he has passion, and this is so important to a football player.
Ange Postecoglou is sounding bullish this morning. Here’s what the Spurs coach has to say about the state of the team:
I am absolutely 100% confident that we’re in a much better place in all areas of the football club today than we were when I started.
David Moyes is talking to the media even as I type, and says signings for Everton are imminent:
I’m still pretty hopeful that we’ll make additions. You never want to promise it but I’m quite confident.
Antony heading to Real Betis for medical
Manchester United have confirmed that Antony is on his way to Sevilla to have a medical with Real Betis, and say the Spaniards will be paying a minimum of 84% of the player’s salary while he’s there.
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Thomas Frank slightly unconvincingly tries to quieten talk of Yoane Wissa moving to Nottingham Forest: “I cannot see why we should sell him,” he says. Meanwhile their new signing, Michael Kayode, will not be available to play for Brentford at Crystal Palace on Sunday, because international clearance will not come through in time, but Frank seems very enthusiastic about him:
I really like him. Very happy we managed to sign him to give us a little more depth in full-back positions. He’s very talented, a fantastic physical package, good abilities to keep going forward, very good defensively. Of course young and needs to be developed. He hasn’t played as much this season but last season he played pretty much a full season in Serie A.
He expects “a very difficult game, a very even game” at Selhurst Park, “but we need to play our A game, no doubt about that”.
West Ham considering a move for Brighton’s Adam Webster
West Ham are considering a move for the Brighton defender Adam Webster. Graham Potter is down to one senior centre-back before this Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa, with Jean-Clair Todibo injured and Konstantinos Mavrapanos suspended. In a curious development Juventus are interested in taking on the rest of Todibo’s loan from Nice for the rest of the season but that seems unlikely to go ahead because of the defender’s fitness issues.
Here’s Reuters on the Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, who has extended his contract until 2028:
The Germany coach, Julian Nagelsmann, has signed a contract extension that will keep him in his post until Euro 2028, the German Football Association said on Friday.
Nagelsmann, who took over in September 2023, led the Germans to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 on home soil. His initial contract ran until the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
A former Bayern Munich coach, Nagelsmann was the Germany team’s second youngest coach ever when he took over at the age of 36.
“When I came to the DFB in September 2023, I could not have imagined being a national coach beyond the home Euro,” Nagelsmann said in a statement. “This great feedback that we all receive every day, shows us that our journey together is on the right path. We want to win titles together.”
Brentford have confirmed the arrival of Michael Kayode on loan from Fiorentina, subject to international clearance. The deal includes an option to make the deal permanent in the summer. The club’s director of football, Phil Giles, says:
Michael is a player that we think will suit Brentford and the physical nature of the Premier League very well. We have watched him for a while, and he has probably been a bit unlucky not to play more games already this season. The structure of the deal gives us the chance to integrate him into the squad and Premier League football before we look towards making the deal permanent from the summer.
Andoni Iraola has had a chat about the challenge of facing Nottingham Forest.
Defensively they are elite, absolutely elite. They have the spirit also. Full of confidence. So we will have to be very good. It’s not the amount of time on the ball it’s the number of chances you make which is most important for me. But we will not create a lot of chances so we have to be clinical. It’s going to be important who scores first.
Here’s Reuters on Rudi Garcia’s appointment as the Belgium head coach, his plans for the team and the likely involvement of Thibaut Courtois, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin de Bruyne:
New Belgium coach Rudi Garcia believes the signs are positive for a return to the national team for goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has not featured for the side since June 2023 following a dispute with former coach Domenico Tedesco.
Courtois made himself unavailable after being overlooked for the captaincy by Tedesco, but the latter’s axing earlier this month has opened the door for a return for the 32-year-old.
“Thibaut Courtois is one of the greatest players in Belgium,” Garcia told reporters on Friday. “We still have good goalkeepers, but Thibaut is the best goalkeeper in the world in my opinion. It would be good to be able to count on him. The signs are positive.”
Striker Romelu Lukaku and midfielder Kevin de Bruyne opted out of Nations League matches towards the end of 2024, and Garcia is eager to gauge their feelings towards the national side.
“I will definitely travel to Madrid, Manchester and Naples to talk to the players who can make us a top country,” he said. “I have always believed that the biggest players are the easiest to work with. You can be transparent and honest with them.
“They have already experienced a lot, so it can be interesting to discuss and consult with them. It is important for the balance of this group, with a lot of talent, to also have the established players involved.”
Garcia said he will rely on former Belgium midfielder Eden Hazard for knowledge of the squad, but that he would not have a formal role on the technical team.
“I talk to Eden Hazard a lot. He will also be a part of the adventure to the [2026] World Cup. He will help us a little,” Garcia said. “He can be important because he was part of the team. It can be interesting to have one of the best Belgian players of all time behind me.”
Belgium will face Ukraine in March in a two-legged promotion/relegation tie to retain their place in the top-tier Nations League A, before meeting North Macedonia, Wales, Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan in World Cup qualifiers.
“I am very motivated,” Garcia said. “We need to get results back on the rise. I feel this is an environment with a lot of positivity. We are ambitious and want to win every game.”
Fabrizio Romano and Marca are both reporting that Manchester United have reached full agreement with Real Betis over a simple loan move for Antony, who will travel to Sevilla tonight to complete the formalities.
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More Enzo Maresca on Chelsea’s transfer dealings. I know we’ve already told you he ruled out a move for Alejandro Garnacho, but in fact he carefully left the door ajar. “We pay attention [to the market] if something can happen. But 10 days to go, we didn’t do anything, just we called back Trev [Chalobah]. We’ll see in the next 10 days if something is going to happen.”
Meanwhile on Joao Felix:
Joao is a Chelsea player, the problem unfortunately is that the manager plays most of the games with one attacking midfielder - that is Cole Palmer - and doesn’t like to play with another.
And whether Christopher Nkunku is on his way out:
I’m not saying that. I like both but the reason they struggle is because I play with one attacking midfielder.
All three new Manchester City signings in squad to play Chelsea
Pep Guardiola has held his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s home game against Chelsea. All of Manchester City’s new signings have been “fine” in training and will be in the squad to face Chelsea on Saturday, he confirms. He says “the next two games [also including Brugge on Wednesday] are finals for us” but it convinced his side will qualify for next season’s Champions League. “I think it’s going to happen. I’m very, very positive,” he says.
Every game is important to qualify for next season in the Champions League. They [Chelsea] play really good, the patterns, the quality up front, the speed. I’m pretty sure with the six days they’ve had they’ve prepared really well against us.
The Spaniard adds that there will be more signings to come, though perhaps not imminently: “Last season we didn’t do much due to the exceptional quality of the team. We expect three or four more in the summer.”
And thus, I pass the baton to Simon Burnton for the next couple of hours.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is under the pump at Leicester, who have lost their last seven Premier League matches. What can he do other than say he here’s to fight?
“I’m focused on getting this team out of the situation we’re in. That’s my only concern. I’m working with everybody involved at Leicester to get the best out of the squad. You need to be tough, strong and committed. We’re united as group.
“Our responsibility is to keep working, be united as a team. Our performance can ignite something in the supporters. We all know what real support can do to the players on the pitch, the 12th man effect. I only hope it can happen, but it’s also up to us.”
Under pressure, already.
Pat weighs in too: “Sure, the new UCL format promises one manic night next week - but the price of that is that the first four or five matches are really devoid of suspense or jeopardy. In the old leagues of four, any loss was threatening. I was at the Arsenal home game v PSG which should have been a huge tie - but the atmosphere was flat (jokes about the library aside). All this without mentioning the two (for the top right) to four (for those 9th-16th) added games... It’s too much football and bah humbug, not a fan.”
There is a jeopardy involved, though, as Dale Johnson wrote in this ESPN piece:
“The league placings create the knockout bracket. Unlike in previous seasons, where there would be open draws, paths will be set after this phase has been completed. The new “seeding” system means the highest-placed teams can’t face each other until the latter stages of the knockout round.
“However, the value of being placed high in the table has been complicated by poor European seasons for Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, who have unexpectedly become possible opponents earlier in the knockout rounds.”
David Skinner on that new UCL format: “Down at the bottom, 10 of the 12 teams to be eliminated are already settled. 11 really, because Dinamo Zagreb are not going to beat AC Milan. So, we have one elimination spot to be settled between 7 clubs. Assuming City beat Brugge, then one of the 6 clubs above them will be eliminated. Stuttgart play Paris, so that game might be interesting. All of those teams will just need a point for Brugge to be eliminated (if City win).
“So, after 126 Champions League matches we are left with 1 elimination spot to be settled and 3 or 4 games out of 18 to keep an eye on to see who it is. That doesn’t seem like an improvement on the previous format.”
Africa football chief will not face legal action over fraud allegations
Story by Ed Aarons
Mosengo-Omba, formerly Fifa’s chief member associations officer as well as a close associate of Gianni Infantino, and who was appointed general secretary of Caf in 2021, is still waiting for the outcome of an internal investigation into allegations of misconduct after an alleged breach of its internal governance and auditing regulations that were made in August.
Kevin Wilson gets in touch: “For all talk of Man Utd not having any money and needing to sell to refresh the squad (and selling Garnacho would be very short-sighted), they could inject some more quality into the squad this Summer through the free transfer market. It works for Juventus and PSG, so why should Man Utd be coy?
“OK, they won’t get Kimmich or Davies, but they could replace Malacia, Eriksen and Hojlund (loan him out) with Tyrick Mitchell, Angel Gomes and Jonathan David. If they’re lucky they can replace Lindelof with Jonathan Tah. Yes there are wages and signing on fees to consider, but they’re not paying the ‘Man Utd tax’ on ridiculous transfer fees.”
Transfer news: Middlesbrough have agreed to sign Plymouth winger Morgan Whittaker.
The fee agreed is believed to be £6 million with an extra £2 million in potential add-ons, according to Teeside Live. Swansea City are due a percentage of any transfer fee received as part of the agreement that took him to Plymouth Argyle back in 2023. The forward is now undergoing a medical to finalise the move. Finn Azaz is believed to have played his part in convincing his former teammate on the move to the Riverside.
Postecoglou wants new blood in at Tottenham
Ange Postecoglou has said his Tottenham squad is struggling with the amount of games and needs reinforcing as they look for a first home win in the Premier League since November against Leicester on Sunday.
Spurs held on to beat Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday and take a big step towards the knockout stages despite Postecoglou only having 13 fit senior players to choose from for their trip to Germany. Djed Spence and Pape Matar Sarr remain doubts for the visit of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side, although Sergio Reguilon could return.
Asked if he would be happy to bring in new players just to improve squad depth, Postecoglou said: “It just depends. It depends on the player, it depends on how they fit into what we do. It’s not just about bringing in another body, but yes, there is still no doubt we need to help these players because we’ve still got some significant games in the next two or three weeks before we get players back.”
Postecoglou, whose side are sixth in the Europa League standings and face Elsfborg in their final match, has also predicted there could be a frenzy of transfer activity after next week’s European matches, when the Champions League and Europa League group stages both come to a finish.
He said: “Yeah, potentially. I mean I really think that has been a factor because if you look at the way European competitions are stacked up, that would be done and dusted by now and people would know if they are in the Champions League or if they are in the Europa League and adjusted their sights. Maybe after last night and I’ve had a close look at the three-page table, thankfully we’re on the first so I don’t need to go beyond that, but if there is any significant clubs in there and out of the competition, it may make things happen a little bit quicker.”
Storm Eowyn latest: the north and Scotland have been ravaged, down south we had a rocky night but the sun is shining.
Newcastle to get a coach down? Old-school. In the old days, club coach drivers would know the best place to get fish and chips on the way home. The game’s gone.
Welsh clubs denied Euro backdoor route
Wrexham, the Disney club, and other Welsh clubs have been denied a route into the Conference League after the English FA closed off access to any clubs who play in the English leagues.
A statement read: “The FA board has considered a request made by four Welsh clubs to take part in a restructured version of the FAW League Cup which would provide an opportunity to qualify for UEFA competition.
“As part of the request, the Welsh clubs would forfeit their existing right to qualify for Uefa club competitions through the English system whilst they remained members of the EFL. “The Welsh clubs would then seek to qualify for Uefa competition via the English system should they be promoted to the Premier League. As a result of the request, the FA undertook a thorough consultation with stakeholders and invited submissions from the Welsh clubs.
“Following careful consideration, taking into account various factors including equal opportunity for clubs to participate in the same competitions, for the same rewards on an equal basis; concerns raised by stakeholders regarding competition integrity, fixture congestion and player welfare, and the impact on the standing of existing competitions, the FA board has rejected the request.”
Memories of Welsh clubs playing in Europe via the old Welsh Cup but:
”In March 2012, UEFA stated that Welsh clubs playing in the English football league system could not qualify for European competitions via the Welsh Cup but they could qualify via the English league and cup competitions.”
Big Sir Jim latest:
“Ratcliffe’s view is that the squad understand Amorim has a fierce desire to win and can be passionate and that his outburst will soon be forgotten.”
Steve Claridge gets in touch: “All the talk about Ange getting sacked seems ridiculous when the problem is obviously the number of injuries and tired players. Surely Spurs must recruit in this window?”
Solanke out for Spurs for 'six weeks' with knee injury
Ange is speaking again, on the absence of Dom Solanke, a real blow.
Last night, Postecoglou said: “With Dom, the information now is that we are looking at around the six-week mark. No surgery. Maybe we can get him back a little bit earlier, just see how he progresses. But, at this stage, it’s saying around six weeks.”
This morning, back at Spurs HQ, he said:
“All those things are known, nothing’s changed in the last 24 hours. We knew with Dom probably a few days back, I had a press conference in the meantime, so all these things are known.
“We should have light at the end of the tunnel in a couple of weeks, it’s not as dire but at the same time there’s always a possibility that before those guys come back we might lose a couple of these guys [current players in form]. That’s always the challenging bit, that’s what we’re going through.
“It’s been two months of hard grind for the players, just trying to support them as much as we can. Our schedule is not going to ease up at all.
Updated
Enzo Maresca has closed down talk of a Chelsea move for Alejandro Garnacho. He has a lot of wingers. NB: no mention of Christopher Nkunku.
“No, no. I’m happy with the ones we have in this moment. We’ve said many times on the right side, it’s Pedro [Neto] and Noni [Madueke] and left side is Jadon [Sancho]. Misha [Mudryk] was with us and is now not with us. I think Tyrique [George] is a young profile that can help us so at this moment, we are okay.”
Joseph Tessier gets in touch: “I don’t think we can say for certain yet that the new format has been a success, but I do think that people are too quick to dismiss or think the worst of any idea that comes out of Uefa.”
Others may say there are reasons behind a distrust of Uefa decision-making. Not necessarily in ideas like the Nations League or Champions League extension. The Conference League was a good idea, too. Their handling of other affairs, and lack of responsibility when events have gone wrong, may be the root of that distrust.
Some other transfer talk, via X, and the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, who was sat with Eddie Howe this morning. Abdukodir Khusanov is now headed to big-spending Manchester City.
”Howe confirmed this morning that Newcastle had done all the preparation to sign Khusanov this month but were simply unable to move because of PSR situation. Man City swooped in and got him instead. Newcastle would have liked to sign him in the summer. Paul Mitchell a big fan of the centre back. Unless there is a late twist, Newcastle will not be signing anyone this month.”
The overnight transfer talk comes via Simon Burnton.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is pledging support to his embattled mentor: “Pep is strong enough. Like any human being, he needs support. In the last eight or nine years, they were always on top, always winning trophies and important things.”
Feels like Maresca says something like this each week: “No, not for the title. If you look over December and January, we are having a tough moment.”
Last night saw Tottenham and Son Heung-min gain redemption. Here’s some Ange Postecoglou quotes from last night. He’s speaking today, too. He bloody loves speaking to the media.
“I thought he really stood up today. We needed him to. Him, Madders, Rodri, Benny, a lot of our other players, it’s not just Lucas, Archie, Radu and our young players. We also have to factor into it that Richy is just coming back from injury. There is a whole range of things we are dealing with out there. It can be easy, particularly away in Europe, to get swept away.
“I thought Sonny led from the front tonight with his football but also with his general actions and most importantly the goals. Look, we are all copping stick at the moment. That is the nature of the beast. What we do, as footballers and managers, we are all in the firing line at the moment. Whether it is warranted or not, you have to stand up and reply to it in the proper way. I thought he did that tonight.”
The wider sense is that the Champions League format has been a success. Did Uefa get this one right? Inbox is open for thoughts.
The Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, has been on the mic. And his dad’s been on the blower.
“It’s difficult for fans. My father is also a fan, he rings and says it wasn’t as exciting against Lille. I had to say to him you can risk losing if you try to do too much, it’s hard.
“I was happy with our performance against Lille, there was moment I remember where we lost the ball on the counter attack against Lille. That is the risk of what I call stupid balls, which we did against Forest. My father would love to see us do more of those.
“It’s more difficult against a low block. It’s a balance we have to find. Come to the stadium to see us winning and hopefully, we can score a lot of goals. With a high press, hopefully we can win the ball all over the pitch.”
The press conferences have begun, and the news for Arsenal fans demanding a striker isn’t exactly positive.
Arteta: “You have certain resources, the ability to recruit certain players, develop certain players, use certain players from the academy. It’s a balance of what we can do.”
Though he’s saying there’s a chance:
“We lost two very important forwards, we have to get more goals into the team if we can do it, but the right one.”
West Ham fancy Brobbey
West Ham are interested in a loan deal for the Ajax forward Brian Brobbey. The arrival of Kyle Macaulay as the club’s new recruitment analysis is set to accelerate transfer plans and efforts are being made to boost Graham Potter’s attacking options.
A loan for RB Leipzig’s Andre Silva has been discussed but Brobbey has also emerged as a target. The 22-year-old joined from Leipzig three years ago and has three goals in all competitions this season. West Ham are also tracking Brighton’s Evan Ferguson, Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz and Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi.
Let’s not forget that this is the transfer window – and it’s been quiet so far, though deals are slowly happening. And as they will always tell you on that yellow-ticker show, anything can happen in the transfer window.
Firstly, as it says in the headline, Kyle Walker is set for Milan. He’s just passed his medical and while outside his hotel last night told some fans he was “Very happy, very happy” before then walking into the lobby.
He won’t be able to play for a while, because of red tape, because of Brexit.
Preamble
Good morning, football, as they say. You may know the drill here by now but here goes:
There’s Europa League fallout, Premier League team news and press conferences to come. All to play for in the PL, with Manchester City v Chelsea taking the eye after Pep Guardiola’s latest horror show in Paris. Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest is a battle of coming forces in the Premier League, perhaps an intriguing tactical battle in the making, as Nuno always has a plan.
Plus, news from the WSL, where Chelsea v Arsenal is first v second.
