Roy Keane provided scathing criticism of England's players and came in support of head coach Thomas Tuchel after their 1-0 win over Andorra.
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England beat Andorra 1-0 in World Cup qualifierKeane wasn't impressedClaimed Tuchel won't be happyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Former Manchester United and Ireland midfielder Roy Keane ripped the England players to shreds following their narrow 1-0 World Cup qualifier win over Andorra on Saturday. Keane criticised the players for their lack of effort in the second half and questioned their attitude, claiming that head coach Tuchel would not have been too happy with what he saw.
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This was only Tuchel's third game in charge of England, and he became the first England manager in history to win their first three games without conceding a single goal. Despite grabbing full three points, the Englishmen left a lot to be desired with their performance. They were booed off at half-time after failing to open the scoring in the first 45 minutes. Captain Harry Kane did find the back of the net in the 50th minute, but England failed to score again as Andorra, ranked 173rd in the world, were happy to sit back and absorb the pressure.
WHAT ROY KEANE SAID
Speaking as part of the ITV punditry team, Keane said: "We try and make excuses for England with the end of the season and this has been tough on the players. First half was okay but I felt when they scored the goal, they felt it was job done. I was really disappointed with England's attitude after the goal went in. The manager can't be happy with that effort in the last half an hour. I know it's job done but still expect a bit more from England. Good goal from Kane, obviously you can always rely on him. And a really good ball from [Curtis] Jones, nice bit of quality. But overall, particularly the second half, the attitude of the players, I didn't think it was great.
"My worry is when I see players getting bored. I felt some of the players looked like they got bored in the last half an hour. I don't like to see that. When the goal went it, they thought it was job done. You are up against Andorra. Go on, get some more goals. These players out there, they have to impress this manager. He's still new to the job. You show that with your attitude and go get some more players. Especially if you are an attacking player, you can't keep looking at Kane. Kane's your main man for years but you have to attack and players have to say, 'I have to have an impact here'."
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GOALWHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?
Tuchel's troops have a 100% win record in the World Cup qualifier group stage, winning three games out of three. They will next face African heavyweights Senegal on Tuesday, June 10 in a friendly.
Bell twice on a hat-trick as she and England team-mate claim seven wickets between them
ECB Reporters Network29-Apr-2023
Lauren Bell of Southern Vipers appeals for a wicket•Getty Images
Lauren Bell took 4 for 37 as the Southern Vipers routed the South East Stars by 158 runs in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Beckenham.Bell was twice on a hat-trick as she wiped out the Stars’ top order, before Charlie Dean then took 3 for 18 to bowl the hosts out for 129.Earlier Ella McCaughan hit 67 and Maia Bouchier 59 in an opening stand of 117, before Georgia Elwiss came in and made 59 to set a stiff-looking 287 for 6.Alice Davidson-Richards had the best figures of the Stars’ nine bowlers with 2 for 30, but it was a chastening afternoon for the home side after last week’s emphatic 131-run win at the Thunder.The Stars had lost all six of their previous 50-over games with the Vipers, including last September’s Eliminator at Beckenham, but any hopes their opponents might still be reeling from last Saturday’s shock defeat to the Sunrisers were ephemeral.The Vipers chose to bat and took full advantage of both a benign wicket and a sub-optimal display by the Stars with the ball, which included 27 wides. They offered few chances and when they did the hosts couldn’t take them.Bouchier was on 42 when she pulled Alexa Stonehouse to mid-wicket and was dropped, while McCaughan survived a difficult stumping chance off Bryony Smith when on 34.Paige Scholfield finally broke the partnership when she bowled Bouchier, who played on and Scholfield then caught McCaughan off Ryana MacDonald-Gay in the covers.Davidson-Richards was the ninth bowler the Stars used, but she struck in her first over when she had Danni Wyatt caught at backward point by MacDonald-Gay for 22.At that point the Vipers were 170 for 3, which was the closest they came to a wobble. Elwiss and Adams responded with a stand of 76, the latter bringing up the 50 partnership with a six off Tash Farrant.Farrant subsequently had Adams lbw for 31 and Dean made four when she chipped Freya Davies to Phoebe Franklin, before Elwiss hit the penultimate ball of the innings, from Davidson-Richards to Smith on the mid-on boundary.The Stars made a bright start to the chase, racing to 26 without loss, only for Bell to strike twice in as many balls. She hit the top off Alice Capsey’s off stump to bowl her for 18 before getting MacDonald-Gay lbw for a golden duck.Smith flicked the hat-trick ball to square leg for two but was out in Bell’s next over, the victim of a brilliant tumbling catch by Dean at extra-cover for 7.Bell found herself on a hat-trick for the second time in the match when Davidson-Richards edged her to Bouchier in the slips but Kira Chatli blocked her next delivery. It was a short-lived reprieve for Chatli, who was caught by Linsey Smith for 20 off Alice Monaghan.Scholfield and Farrant hung around for a while but the former was bowled by Adams 31 and Dean then began to mop up the tail.The end was nigh when she beat Farrant in the flight for 21, beating her in the flight and bowling her leg stump. She then had Alexa Stonehouse caught by Adams for a duck and Franklin snared by McCaughan for nine and the victory was sealed when Freya Davies holed out to Monaghan and was caught by a diving Adams at long off.
French media and fans spoke highly of Mason Greenwood as the ex-Manchester United star scored in Marseille's win over Le Havre.
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Greenwood scored in Marseille's win over Le Havre
Secured a Champions League slot
Star winger garnered praise from French media
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WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MATCH?
Amine Gouiri starred with a brace while Greenwood scored an 85th-minute goal as Marseille beat Le Havre 3-0 on Saturday in their penultimate match of the Ligue 1 2024-25 campaign and secured a spot in next season's Champions League. This was the winger's 19th goal of the season, as he still trails Ousmane Dembele by two strikes in the Golden Boot race.
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HOW DID THE FRENCH MEDIA RATE GREENWOOD'S PERFORMANCE?
L'Equipe had a mixed reaction to the former Manchester United star's performance as they rated him 6/10 and wrote: "Another strange performance from the English winger, who often favoured individual solutions and who retreated at his own pace, regularly jogging in the second half. Sometimes terribly annoying, he also has undeniable talent, and he gave his team victory with a sharp left-footed strike (85th). Replaced by LUIZ FELIPE (89th), who led to the switch to five at the back."
Le Phoceen, on the other hand, rated Greenwood 8.5/10 as they wrote: "The former Mancunian created the most dangerous chances for Marseille. And most importantly, he saved his team from a 1-1 draw with a marvellous strike that Matthieu Gorgelin could do nothing about. The goal sent OM into the Champions League!"
WHAT ARE THE FANS SAYING ON SOCIAL?
Fans were much kinder to the 23-year-old as they hailed the Marseille star's performance against Le Havre.
A fan with the X handle @awa40144 wrote: "I’ll choose him over every other player walking this planet when it comes to striking the ball from different angles to finish. No player walking this planet ever comes close."
A United fan with the X handle @RangerBanker73 wrote: "This guy is crushing it over there."
Another fan with a handle named @temiadetunji wrote: "The way he strikes the ball is so powerful. That left leg is one of the best in the world."
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WHAT NEXT FOR GREENWOOD AND MARSEILLE?
Roberto De Zerbi's side will now aim to secure a second-place finish in the Ligue 1 with a win over Rennes in their final match of the season at home on May 17.
Leeds United took another step towards automatic promotion to the Premier League on Monday night with a fantastic 2-1 win over Sunderland at Elland Road.
A brilliant first-half goal from Wilson Isidor put the Black Cats ahead at the break, after he rolled Ethan Ampadu with ease and planted a strike into the far bottom corner.
However, substitute Pascal Struijk came on in the second half to score headers in the 78th and 95th minute to turn the game around and secure all three points for the Whites.
This result has left the West Yorkshire outfit seven points clear of third place with 13 matches left to play in the second tier, whilst they are also two points ahead of Sheffield United in second place.
It is getting to the point where Leeds supporters can already begin to think about a possible promotion to the Premier League and all that comes with that, including the summer transfer window.
Chalkboard
The Whites will need to bolster their squad to give themselves the best chance of survival if they do go up, and they have reportedly already been looking around to identify potential targets.
Latest Leeds transfer news
It was recently reported that Leeds are showing an interest in experienced Premier League full-back Kyle Walker-Peters, whose contract at Southampton is due to expire in the summer.
He has started 23 matches in the top-flight for the Saints this season and has the versatility to be deployed as a left-back or a right-back, which would provide Daniel Farke’s side with depth on both flanks.
Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters
The Whites are also planning to hold talks with Tottenham Hotspur over a potential deal to sign Manor Solomon on a permanent deal, at the end of his current loan spell.
Starts
17
xG
5.12
Goals
7
Big chances created
11
Assists
7
As you can see in the table above, the Israel international has provided a big threat at the top end of the pitch with a steady stream of goals and assists from the left flank, cutting in on his right foot to make things happen on a consistent basis.
Leeds are also reportedly looking at bringing in a new striker for a potential Premier League campaign. OnTheMinute recently claimed that the club have identified Manchester United centre-forward Rasmus Holjund as a target, amid uncertainty over his future at Old Trafford.
The outlet reported that West Ham United and Juventus are also interested in the Denmark international, who could be available for a fee of £40m in the summer transfer window.
It is interesting that the Whites are looking to possibly bring in an expensive number nine to bolster their squad ahead of a Premier League season when they currently have one of the top scorers in the Championship.
Joel Piroe's goalscoring exploits
Joel Piroe started the 2024/25 campaign as the second-choice number nine behind Mateo Joseph but eventually worked his way into the XI and has been the go-to option for Farke in recent months.
Only Norwich City’s Borja Sainz (15) has scored more goals than the Dutchman (14) in the Championship, and they are the only two players in the division with more than 12 goals – Isidor taking his tally to 12 with his strike against Leeds on Monday.
The left-footed marksman, who was signed from Swansea in the summer of 2023, has provided an efficient presence in the final third with a return of 14 goals from 10.58 xG.
Non-penalty goals
0.59
Top 10%
Non-penalty xG
0.44
Top 13%
Non-penalty xG + xAG
0.57
Top 10%
Shot on target percentage
39.4%
Top 50%
Non-penalty xG per shot
0.14
Bottom 46%
Average shot distance
15.6 yards
Bottom 22%
As you can see in the table above, Piroe ranks highly among his positional peers for non-penalty xG and non-penalty goals, which shows that his teammates are creating a lot of chances for him, and he is finishing them efficiently.
However, despite his strong form in front of goal, there is a concern that he may not have the physical attributes to make the step up to to the Premier League.
Why Joel Piroe may be on borrowed time
The former Swansea striker may be on borrowed time as a starter under Farke as Leeds eye promotion to the Premier League, as his physical data this season suggests that he may not be suited to the top-flight.
Liam Delap is a trending, and brilliant, example of the kind of centre-forward whose game translates well from the Championship to the Premier League. He is a willing runner and someone who thrives off getting into duels with defenders to create opportunities for himself.
The English forward, who has scored ten goals in 24 Premier League games for Ipswich Town, has won 43% of his aerial battles and won 4.5 duels per match.
Delap completed 1.6 dribbles per game and won 3.9 duels per match, winning 38% of his aerial duels, in the Championship with Hull City last season, which suggested that he had the physical attributes to make the step up – and that has proven to be the case.
Pass accuracy
77%
Dribbles completed per game
0.3
Tackles + interceptions per game
0.5
Duels won per game
1.3
Duel success rate
27%
Aerial duel success rate
21%
As you can see in the table above, Piroe does not excel at the physical side of the game, as he has lost a whopping 73% of his duels with opposition defenders in the second tier.
Leeds, if they secure promotion, will be fighting to avoid relegation and will need a centre-forward who can duel with centre-backs and carry the ball up the pitch when needed to alleviate pressure.
Piroe’s statistics in the second tier suggest that he will not be able to do this, as Premier League defenders would be able to dominate him with ease, as he does not have the physicality or pace to cause them many problems in a counter-attacking side.
Therefore, the Dutch lightweight may now be on borrowed time under Farke as Leeds inch closer to promotion, as he does not appear to have the potential to be an effective starting striker for the German boss in the top-flight.
Leeds now keen on signing "infectious" player in summer transfer window
Leeds and Farke already have their eyes on one or two players they would like to sign if they reach the Premier League.
Everton decided to part ways with Sean Dyche earlier this month and then opted to swoop to bring in David Moyes for a second spell at Goodison Park.
The Scottish manager has returned for another ride in the dugout on Merseyside, having been out of work since his exit from West Ham United last summer.
It has been an almost-perfect start to life back at the club for the ex-Manchester United head coach, who has secured wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion in his first three Premier League matches.
The Toffees head coach has, however, had to deal with adversity already as he had lost some key players to frustrating injuries in the last week or so.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin suffered a hamstring injury in the win over Brighton last time out and is set for weeks on the sidelines, and Orel Mangala is due to miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
These big injury blows have directed where Everton need to be looking to strengthen the squad before the January transfer window slams shut on Monday night.
Everton keen on Premier League midfielder
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, telling Everton News, Newcastle United central midfielder Sean Longstaff is open to a move to Goodison Park ahead of the second half of the season.
The report, via Bailey, reveals that the Toffees are interested in a deal to bring the English midfield ace to the club before the deadline, as they look to bolster their squad.
That is backed up by the Daily Mail, who reports that Everton are eyeing up a potential swoop to sign the Magpies academy graduate in the coming days, with this latest report revealing that the player would be keen to make the move happen.
Newcastle midfielder Sean Longstaff
It was recently reported by TEAMtalk journalist Harry Watkinson that the Toffees have a long-standing interest in the experienced midfielder, which means that they have been tracking his performances for a number of years, rather than it being a panic move at the end of the window.
Watkinson added that it could take a fee in the region of £12m to convince Newcastle to part ways with the 27-year-old midfielder before the deadline on Monday.
Transfer Focus
However, it remains to be seen whether or not Everton are willing to offer as much as £12m to bring him over to Goodison Park to bolster their squad ahead of the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.
The Toffees should push to get this one over the line, particularly given Longstaff’s willingness to join the club, because he could come in as a dream replacement for Mangala.
Orel Mangala's form for Everton this season
The Belgium international, who previously played in England with Nottingham Forest, made the move to Everton on a season-long loan from Ligue 1 side Lyon last summer.
Orel Mangala
It now seems unlikely that the Goodison faithful will ever see him in a Blues jersey again, though, as he has been ruled out for the rest of the campaign with an ACL injury and is due to return to France to complete his recovery with his parent club.
Losing the 26-year-old star has come as a blow to the Toffees as he had been a regular starter under Dyche, with 11 starts in 16 appearances, and started all three of Moyes’ first three matches in charge.
24/25 Premier League
Orel Mangala
Appearances
19
Starts
14
Pass accuracy
90%
Pass accuracy in own half
93%
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.9
Duel success rate
49%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Mangala provided an incredibly reliable presence in possession with his ability to find teammates with his passes at an impressive rate, particularly in his own half.
He also made 1.9 tackles and interceptions per game to break up opposition attacks but was inconsistent in his ability to win duels against opposing players, which was an area for improvement for the midfield whiz.
Mangala was a metronomic midfielder who could keep attacks ticking with his use of the ball in possession and that is why Longstaff could be a dream replacement for him, as he offers similar qualities.
Why Longstaff would be a dream replacement for Mangala
The English midfield maestro has struggled to find regular game time with the Magpies this season, as he has only started eight of his 18 appearances in the Premier League, with the likes of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and Joelinton ahead of him.
Longstaff has not registered a goal or an assist in those 18 matches but has completed 86% of his attempted passes and 92% of his attempted passes in his own half, which speaks to his reliability on the ball.
He has shown some goalscoring potential, as shown in the highlights above, but he has only scored 16 goals in 205 appearances for the Magpies in all competitions to date.
Longstaff, therefore, is not a midfielder who is likely to come in and provide goals and assists on a consistent basis, which is also not what Mangala offered Dyche or Moyes.
The Belgian ace was a reliable passer who also contributed defensively and that is exactly the kind of presence that the Newcastle ace could offer Moyes in the second half of this season.
23/24 Premier League
Sean Longstaff
Starts
30
Goals
6
Big chances created
5
Pass accuracy in own half
89%
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.0
Duel success rate
47%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Longstaff was a regular starter for the Magpies in the 2023/24 campaign and did offer a threat at the top end of the pitch, but it is not something he has carried over into the current season.
His defensive statistics were also incredibly similar to what Mangala produced for Everton this term before his ACL injury, which suggests that the Newcastle man could be similar to him in terms of his output off the ball.
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Dan Emery
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Overall, Longstaff appears to be a dream replacement for the Belgian ace because he is a Premier League experienced player who could hit the ground running, with the technical and defensive attributes required to fulfill a similar role in the team.
Mohammad Nawaz stunned India with the bat after helping restrict them with the ball after a rampant start to give Pakistan a thrilling win in their Super 4 match against India. A week after India chased successfully in a thrilling group-stage finish, Paksitan returned the favour, asking India to bat and getting home with with just one ball to spare.Aware of the historical advantage for chasing sides in Dubai, India batted ultra-aggressively in the first half of their innings, but kept losing wickets, which meant Virat Kohli, who made significant moves towards his best with a 44-ball 60, had to play a little cautiously in the second half. On a belter, despite the good start, Pakistan conceded just 88 in the last 10 overs.Mohammad Rizwan anchored the chase with 71 off 51, but it was Nawaz who provided the desperately needed impetus. Promoted to No. 4, he smashed 42 off 20 balls to put Pakistan back on track. Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah then saw them home, but not without a flutter.Mohammad Rizwan anchored Pakistan’s chase with 71 off 51 balls•AFP/Getty Images
India on the attack Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, both under the scanner a little bit for being a bit conservative at the top, were anything but conservative. In the first over itself, Rohit gave Naseem Shah the charge and hit him over mid-off for four. Then he stayed back and pulled him for a six. Rahul responded with some intent of his own, hitting Naseem for two sixes in the third over. The two brought up India’s second-quickest fifty batting first in T20 internationals, in just 4.2 overs.Action all around India were in no mood to consolidate. What followed will provide a stern test of their belief in their method. Haris Rauf bowled a slower ball at the start of the sixth over, and Rohit ended up skying it. Rahul tried to hit the first ball after the powerplay for a six, and picked the wrong’un too, but ended up hitting Shadab Khan straight to long-on.The intent still didn’t ebb. Suryakumar Yadav hit the first ball he faced for a boundary, the seventh time he has done so in 24 T20I innings. However, Nawaz and Shadab made it difficult for India to keep hitting boundaries. Eventually Suryakumar looked to sweep in the air, but was done in by the length and holed out. Rishabh Pant, stifled at the start, fell to a reverse-sweep. Hardik Pandya fell to a chip to midwicket, and it became 131 for 5 in the 15th over.Virat Kohli raises his bat after reaching yet another fifty•AFP/Getty Images
Pakistan close out superbly The spinners went for just 56 runs in their eight overs, taking three wickets too. The fast bowlers were not having a great day, and Kohli was around at the death, where his strike-rate is exceptional, especially when he has got himself in.However, Kohli was now batting with the last recognised batter, Deepak Hooda, with no six-hitters to follow. So Kohli possibly had to tone down his aggression. The fast bowlers bowled superbly too, giving Hooda few opportunities to hit. Then a slower ball went straight to long-on, leaving Kohli to farm the strike in the end.Only two misfields off the last two balls took India to 181.India shackle Pakistan India may not have the pace of the Pakistan bowlers, but their accuracy frustrated the Pakistan top three at the start. Babar Azam chipped Ravi Bishnoi to midwicket much like Pandya had done earlier against Mohammad Hasnain. Fakhar Zaman, who had conceded seven extra runs in the field, was denied any freedom by the accuracy of the bowlers, and he was eventually left with no option but to take risks. When Fakhar was out for 15 off 18, Pakistan needed 119 off 68 balls.Mohammad Nawaz, promoted up the order, played a blinder of an innings•AFP/Getty Images
Nawaz the disruptor It is not as though Pakistan didn’t have a specialist left-hand batter in the middle order, but they still promoted Nawaz. Perhaps because the asking rate was high, they felt the need for a low-cost hitter to keep it in check. Also Nawaz is no stranger to big hits; he has pulled them off in domestic cricket and in the PSL.Quite possibly Nawaz would have been in good hitting form in the nets because he came out and started middling everything, taking pressure off Rizwan. The next six overs went for 9, 10, 10, 11, 12, 16.Nawaz steered the second ball he faced for four. The third ball he faced went for a huge six off Pandya. Now errors started to creep in. Yuzvendra Chahal offered Rizwan a full-toss, which went for six. The quicks missed their lengths a bit. And the cameo went on for long enough to bring Pakistan within 46 of the win, with 27 balls left.The nervy finish Pandya got Rizwan out with persistent wide lines. Bishnoi, who had an over left, bowled a superb 18th over, conceding just eight, bringing the equation down to 26 off the last two overs. India were right back in with a chance, but they had also made a mistake. Arshdeep Singh had dropped a sitter from Asif before he had scored a run.Asif and Khushdil proceeded to cancel out Fakhar’s fielding errors by taking 19 off Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 19th over, his second-costliest at the death in T20 internationals. Then Asif hit Arshdeep for a four in the 20th to leave Pakistan needing two off four balls. Arshdeep came back to trap him lbw, but with two required off the last two, Iftikhar Ahmed found the winning runs off a low full-toss.
A heated promotion battle is beginning to form at the top of the Championship table with Sheffield United now currently holding first position at the expense of Leeds United
As was shown last season too, the Whites are prone to slip up on the big stage, with their promotion dreams in tatters after a sobering play-off final defeat to Southampton at Wembley.
The South Yorkshire side had to lick their own wounds last summer too after relegation, with Wilder overjoyed that his team have managed to bounce back to be so close to those automatic promotion positions.
The 57-year-old will be well aware that strengthening his squad this January could prove to be make-or-break for their promotion chances, with Tom Cannon sticking out as one notable target who could fire them back up to the top flight.
Sheffield United's ongoing chase of Tom Cannon
Reports in recent days have indicated that the promotion chasers had put forward a £7m bid to try and win the sharp shooter’s services this January, only for that development to feel insignificant with Sunderland now reportedly willing to fork out almost double to try and tempt the Irishman to Wearside.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Whoever does end up securing the former Stoke City man will be winning themselves a striker capable of steering his next side up to the Premier League, with Cannon finding the back of the net nine times in the league for Stoke before that loan spell was cut short, which is made to look more impressive considering the Potters lie all the way down in 19th spot in the Championship standings.
Whilst a lot of the conversation coming out of Bramall Lane centres on the potent 22-year-old, there will be other targets still on Wilder’s mind, including a potential new midfield addition who has worked under the passionate manager before.
Sheffield United chasing another Leicester star
As per a report by Football Insider earlier this month, Cannon isn’t the only Leicester ace the Blades want. Indeed, the South Yorkshire outfit had allegedly been in ‘advanced talks’ with the Foxes over signing reserve man Hamza Choudhury this month.
Noted as being an ideal long-term replacement for an injury-stricken Ollie Arblaster in the same report, it will be intriguing to see if a move does whir back into motion soon, with the 27-year-old excelling in the Championship previously in his career.
After all, he shone at the level under the guidance of Wilder when the pair were briefly together at Watford, with Choudhury up to 83 second-tier appearances in total away from his standout Hornets stint.
Indeed, during his time at Vicarage Road, Choudhury stuck out as a combative holding midfield option for his side, with Wilder needing more of those in his current Blades camp, considering academy product Sydie Peck has had to play here this campaign.
Games played
36
Games started
36
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches*
54.0
Accurate passes*
34.1 (84%)
Interceptions*
2.3
Tackles*
3.0
Total duels won*
5.1
Clean sheets
8
As can be seen when looking at the table above, the 27-year-old wouldn’t win much praise for his attacking output at Watford, but he did battle hard throughout his time at the club with 5.1 total duels won on average per league clash.
With Choudhury shoring up the Blades upon his arrival, he could well strike up an effective partnership with the more attacking Gustavo Hamer.
He is now being deployed down the left wing and by signing someone like Choudhury, it would gift the ex-Coventry City star more freedom to attack without worrying about his defensive duties.
Hamer has helped himself to six goals this season from his further forward position in the team, with the on-fire number 8 arguably wasted in a more defensive position.
That’s where the “excellent” Choudhury – as he was labelled by football journalist Josh Bunting – can come in and make a difference, as Wilder’s squad potentially grows more and more as January goes on.
Imagine him & Cannon: Sheffield United target the 'world's fastest player'
Sheffield United could look again to the lower depths of the EFL for this January signing.
Ipswich Town fans will be hoping that 2025 is the year their side bravely remains put in the Premier League, despite recent poor results suggesting that an immediate return to the Championship is a more likely outcome.
At the time of writing, the Tractor Boys only have a sorry two wins next to their name and a low 12-point total to shout about, as the task of keeping his side up against all the odds continues to weigh heavy on Kieran McKenna.
Ipswich Town managerKieranMcKennaapplauds fans after the match
But, the January transfer window could breathe some belief back into proceedings, especially if the relegation candidates are proactive and improve in certain areas of the pitch ahead of a slog of fixtures to come in the New Year.
Ipswich transfer news
One of those positions McKenna is reportedly interested in strengthening is the centre of the park, with ex-Leeds United midfielder Glen Kamara allegedly on the club’s radar.
As per a report by football journalist Graeme Bailey, the Finland international could up and leave his current employers Rennes this coming window in a bid to return to English shores with the Tractor Boys.
Ipswich aren’t a lone suitor looking at Kamara, however, with Ivan Juric’s Southampton also eyeing up the experienced midfield head to help with their own relegation concerns, alongside further speculation suggesting that Burnley and Middlesbrough are keen from the Championship.
A switch in the region of £8.4m could potentially secure a deal – considering that is what Kamara joined Rennes for just this summer – with McKenna presumably wanting to improve his options centrally away from a stuttering Kalvin Phillips.
Moreover, having once been referred to as a “monster” in the heart of midfield by former boss Steven Gerrard when the pair were together at Rangers, he could link up with Jens Cajuste well if he relocates to Suffolk, with the Swede impressing those at Portman Road of late with his own full-blooded offerings.
What Kamara could offer Ipswich
Having been a rip-roaring success in the Scottish first division, time will only tell if the 29-year-old can go on to be a top buy for Ipswich in another high up league.
The 2020/21 season for Kamara playing week in week out for Rangers in the league saw him average a sterling 91% pass accuracy per clash, whilst also displaying a bite in his game that could be key when games are attritional near the foot of the top-flight, with 3.9 duels won also averaged.
Stat – per 90 mins*
Kamara
Cajuste
Phillips
Games played
13
12
9
Games started
8
9
8
Goals scored
0
0
0
Assists
1
0
0
Touches*
38.2
33.1
49.8
Accurate passes*
28.5 (91%)
20.2 (86%)
28.4 (82%)
Tackles*
1.8
1.3
1.8
Ball recoveries*
3.2
3.1
3.9
Total duels won*
3.9
2.8
4.3
Whilst Phillips has averaged more duels and ball recoveries this season in the Premier League when thrown into action by McKenna, Kamara would likely offer the Tractor Boys a calmer presence as well as one unafraid to be dirty, with the Rennes number 15 completing more accurate passes per 90 this season in Ligue 1, despite averaging less touches.
Moreover, Kamara has been dependable wherever he’s been over the last couple of seasons unlike a topsy-turvy Phillips, with the 29-year-old making 42 appearances last season for Phillips’ ex-employers in Leeds, becoming known as a composed figure on the ball in the second tier.
It does remain to be seen whether Kamara would start from the get-go – owing to the fact McKenna has remained loyal to long-standing club servant Sam Morsy centrally this season – but if Morsy was out of the first-team picture on occasion, he wouldn’t hesitate playing him alongside Cajuste in attempting to make his side harder to break down.
January will prove to be a crucial month for McKenna’s side, with additions such as the £29k-per-week Kamara in through the door perhaps boosting their chances of survival.
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Celtic are reportedly closing in on their first signing of the January transfer window as they look to reunite Brendan Rodgers with one of his former stars.
It has been claimed that Arsenal full-back Kieran Tierney is set to re-join the club on an initial loan move until the end of the season, before signing permanently on a free transfer.
The Scotland international is out of contract in the summer and is reportedly preparing to complete a short-term move to Parkhead, that will then become a permanent transfer upon the expiry of his deal with the Premier League side.
Tierney could come in as a fantastic addition to the squad ahead of the second half of the campaign, as he has already played under Rodgers at Celtic.
Why Kieran Tierney would be a fantastic signing
The Scottish gem started his career with the Hoops, after coming through the academy system, and already knows what it takes to perform under the pressure of the Parkhead crowd.
His 127 competitive appearances for Celtic under Rodgers also suggest that he would not need much time to adapt to the manager’s style of play and system, given his experience with the Northern Irishman.
Tierney assisted 37 goals in 170 matches for the club in all competitions during his time in Glasgow, which suggests that he could come in to offer more than Greg Taylor in the final third, as the current Hoops man has assisted 30 strikes in 198 appearances for the Bhoys.
To get the best of the Arsenal outcast’s creative quality, Rodgers could sign another one of the club’s reported targets to partner him down the left flank – Carney Chukwuemeka.
Celtic are reportedly interested in a deal to bring the England U21 international to Parkhead on loan from Chelsea for the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.
Why Carney Chukwuemeka would be a dream for Kieran Tierney
The Premier League gem has played the majority of his career as an attacking or central midfielder but has also played on the left flank a couple of times, which is where he could thrive for Celtic.
Chukwuemeka is a right-footed attack-minded midfielder and he could play off the left as an inside forward, due to to his fantastic ball-carrying skills and ability to cut inside to create space on the overlap for Tierney to bomb on.
Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka.
Villa insider Charlie Jennings once described the young starlet’s style of play, telling Sempre Milan: “Carney is an outstanding ball carrier from deep areas of the midfield. He is known for marauding, mind-boggling dribbles through tight areas and compliments this with a delightful array of passes.”
These comments suggest that Chukwuemeka has the attributes to thrive on the wing, because he can pick the ball up from deep and drive past opposition players to get Celtic up the pitch, whilst drawing attention from defenders to create gaps on the flank for Tierney to exploit.
Villa U18s
26
10
8
Villa U21s
29
3
5
England U19s
13
6
0
Villa first-team
16
0
1
Chelsea first-team
32
2
1
As you can see in the table above, the Hoops target is yet to burst onto the scene at first-team level but has shown plenty of quality for England and Villa at youth level in the past.
This suggests that the potential is there for him to provide goals and assists in an attacking midfield or wide position, to go along with his ability as a ball carrier.
Rodgers could take a gamble on Chukwuemeka and unleash him in a new role on the left to be a dream signing for Tierney, who could thrive alongside the Englishman in the second half of the season if Celtic can get deals over the line for both of them this month.
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Manchester City’s miserable run of form continued on Saturday afternoon, with Crystal Palace claiming a point against the four-in-a-row Premier League champions.
It means that Pep Guardiola’s typically imperious outfit have secured just one win from nine matches in all competitions, and hands first-placed Liverpool an eight-point lead – with Arne Slot’s side holding a game in hand.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
It’s patent that the Cityzens need to complete a rebuild across the coming transfer windows, and there’s one man above all else who is facing a pile of detractors after a spate of wretched performances.
Kyle Walker struggles once again
One of the greatest right-backs in Premier League history, it would appear that Father Time is starting to catch up with Kyle Walker, whose pace has deserted him as he continues to move toward his 35th birthday.
Manchester City players vs Crystal Palace
He’s been singled out for criticism on numerous occasions across the past few months, and rightly so. The Manchester Evening News could only provide the veteran with a 4/10 match rating, correspondent Simon Bajkowski noting that ‘the miserable season continues.’
Though the Three Lions star managed to make three tackles and win three of his four ground duels, as per Sofascore, his positional sense, or lack of it, played Daniel Munoz onside for the opening goal of the game. Moreover, he was easily beaten for the Eagles’ second.
You’d imagine that when Guardiola turns to address his side’s need for incomings, signing a new right-back will be the first port of call.
Honestly, though, the entire right flank failed to produce against a voluble Selhurst Park that proved well worth the point gained. Savinho is a talented young winger with plenty of room for growth, but it’s hard to argue that he’s at the requisite level for Guardiola’s project as things stand.
Why Pep must brutally drop Savinho
Savinho is electric-paced and creative too, but he’s yet to find his feet in Manchester. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of wingers in the English top flight this season for shot-creating actions and the top 2% for progressive carries per 90, so there’s clearly some wonderful quality there.
The 20-year-old Brazilian joined the Sky Blues from French club Troyes this summer for about £31m, but he’s struggling to get to grips with the rigorous Premier League and lacks bite in key moments.
Premier League
12
0
3
Champions League
4
0
1
Carabao Cup
2
0
1
Community Shield
1
0
0
This was certainly the case against Palace, for he was hooked after 79 minutes having failed to stamp his authority on the match, taking just 34 touches – less than shot-stopper Stefan Ortega (42) – losing four duels and registering only one key pass.
It’s hardly surprising that MEN gave him a 5/10 match rating and rebuked his ‘anonymous’ showing. Given that he’d been reduced to cameos across City’s previous two top-flight clashes, it’s done him no favours as Guardiola desperately plots for a revival.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
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