Sam Allardyce’s unbeaten start as Everton manager came to an end on Saturday after Bournemouth won a competitive match in the English Premier League.Allardyce had been hoping to become the first Everton manager to be undefeated in his first seven Premier League matches but the Toffees fell to a late 2-1 defeat thanks to a Ryan Fraser double, despite looking like drawing their third match in a row after Idrissa Gueye’s second half equaliser.Bournemouth had previously failed to win in their last eight top flight matches but the three points mean they move out of the relegation zone and up into 14th position.It was a disappointing afternoon for Everton fans and they had particularly sharp criticism for returning midfielder James McCarthy.The Republic of Ireland international was starting his first Premier League match since February and looked off the pace, with many questioning Allardyce’s decision to start him and others believing he simply doesn’t have what it takes to play for Everton.Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his performance…
As reported by The Evening Times, Celtic star Tom Rogic is facing a long injury lay-off after manager Brendan Rodgers confirmed he could be out of action until March.
What’s the story?
The Australian international suffered a knee injury during Celtic’s December clash at home to Anderlecht in the UEFA Champions League and has already missed seven matches.
While Rodgers initially confirmed he would be out for the rest of December, the time scale for his return has been pushed back after he told The Evening Times that the attacking midfielder will be out for a further six to eight weeks.
That means he’ll miss the double header against FC Zenit in the UEFA Europa League next month and potentially a huge clash at Ibrox against Rangers in March.
Will they miss him?
Despite injury and fitness issues, Tom Rogic has emerged as one of the most dangerous players in Brendan Rodgers squad over the last 18 months, scoring 16 goals and providing 13 assists since the former Liverpool boss’ arrival at Celtic Park.
That’s an attacking contribution that Celtic will certainly miss for the next two months, especially with injuries to the likes of Patrick Roberts also taking their toll on the side’s ability to create chances.
The Australian has also developed a tendency to score at crucial moments, not least his last minute, treble winning goal in last season’s Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen.
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That ruthless streak has arguably been lacking from Celtic in recent months and supporters will be hoping that Rogic will be returning as soon as possible to give their team an attacking boost.
Amid an otherwise uninspiring batch of Fourth Round fixtures, Chelsea vs Newcastle stands out as a match that could see something of an upset.
Of course, the Magpies are far more focused on maintaining their Premier League status than silverware this season but Chelsea enter Sunday’s game on the back of a run of poor form, including elimination from the League Cup at the hands of Arsenal, so a little bit of FA Cup magic could go a very long way for the visitors.
But will Newcastle defy the odds to claim an impressive win at Stamford Bridge, or will they succumb to the quality of the reigning Premier League champions? This week’s Newcastle expert, Nothing But Newcastle editor Jonnie Gorrie, shares his thoughts and predictions ahead of the FA Cup clash…
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This weekend represents a real balancing act for Rafa Benitez. While he’ll want the Magpies to give a good account of themselves at Stamford Bridge, and the fans are understandably eager for a lengthy cup run, Premier League survival is the priority this season and Newcastle have a winnable game against Burnley at St. James’ Park on Wednesday night.
What strength of starting XI would you like to see from Benitez this Sunday?
Jonnie: “There isn’t a huge amount of depth in the squad, to be honest. It’s been hard for Rafa to rotate too much, due to the obvious limitations in the squad. That being said, Jamaal Lascelles must be rested. While our captain is hugely influential, as the defensive record without him shows, risking him for a cup tie before a massive game with Burnley just a few days after seems somewhat unnecessary, depressing as it is.”
The FA Cup usually brings chances for young players to impress in the first team, but that wasn’t exactly the case in the last round when Newcastle hosted Luton at St. James’ Park. The only academy product to feature in the 3-1 was goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, while fellow youngster Rolando Aarons could only watch on from the bench.
Are there any youngsters you’d like to see feature against the Blues on Sunday?
Jonnie: “I’d like to see Aarons given a chance. His finest moment in a black and white shirt came during a cup tie against bigger opposition back in 2014, though he’s struggled for form and fitness since. The likes of Matt Ritchie, Christian Atsu and Jacob Murphy will all be crucial against Burnley, so affording Aarons a chance would be a promising sight. If he can impress, he could be a major asset going forward.
“Woodman is another youngster who could feasibly start, though playing a burgeoning goalkeeper against one of the best attacks in Europe may not be the best idea, despite all the calls for his inclusion of late. We don’t want a Harry Lewis moment.”
Newcastle’s recent history at Stamford Bridge doesn’t make particularly encouraging reading. In fact, Newcastle have lost all of their last five visits to west London and have won there just twice across all competitions since the inception of the Premier League. Likewise, earlier this season, Newcastle suffered a 3-1 defeat to the reigning champions in a game that saw them manage just two shots on target and take just 34% possession.
What lessons need to be learned from the 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge in December?
Jonnie: “Understandably, Rafa Benitez set his team up very defensively in the league game, though he can perhaps afford to be a touch more expansive on Sunday. As much as we’d love a cup run, the nature of this game during this moment in time doesn’t mean it’s vitally important, so we should at least try and give the home side a game. It’s hard to underestimate the gulf in quality between the two sides, but with no Premier League points riding on it, why not try and ruffle a few feathers?”
As already alluded to, this is a pretty good time to face Chelsea by their usual standards. The FA Cup will likely be their priority competition after losing to Arsenal on Wednesday night, but they still have the top four to think about so key players will likely be rested for their midweek clash with Bournemouth. Likewise, Chelsea have begun the new year in bad form; winning once and drawing five of their last seven games; and it has lead to rumours of disputes behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge.
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How should Newcastle set up take advantage of the negative atmosphere at Chelsea right now?
Jonnie: “I’d like to see a 4-3-3 including a midfield three of Mo Diame, Jonjo Shelvey and Mikel Merino. There aren’t all too many options to rotate across the side, though that’s certainly a trio fans can get behind. Diame has invoked the ire of fans for months, though his recent performances as an industrious central midfielder who can push forward on the counter have certainly been an improvement and, with the likes of Shelvey and Merino releasing the ball from deep, it could give Chelsea’ defence something to think about.”
And finally Jonnie, let’s hear your score prediction…
Joe Bennett’s tackle on Leroy Sane caused outrage to most who’ve seen it.During a game in which Cardiff City – currently third in the Championship – decided that their best way of getting a result was to kick their opponents, the Premier League leaders, around the pitch, it was perhaps inevitable that there would be a tackle which would go over the top.Bennett’s did that and then some. Since then, to his credit, he’s had the courage to come out and apologise for his mistake, tweeting that his tackle was mistimed. In doing so, he tacitly acknowledged what we could all see: that it was a bad one – why apologise for it at all if not?
So far, fair enough in some ways. Football is a game where bad things can happen – with so many athletes of prime physicality exerting themselves in a sporting endeavour where contact is unavoidable, injuries are part and parcel of the game. Sometimes tackles are mistimed and we all know that passions can run high just watching the game, let alone playing it. So for a player to come out and apologise when he’s stepped over that line is admirable.
And yet, something troubles me about it.
For one thing, the fact that one of the best and most exciting young players in the Premier League will now be ruled out for a period of time is clearly sad. Especially in a World Cup year. Again, that’s part of the game, but there’s nothing wrong with feeling a certain sadness – indeed, even anger – at that.
It’s also been something that Manchester City have had to suffer more than usual this season. Being so far ahead of the rest at the top of the table seems to have made the rest of the league feel as though they can’t compete. Perhaps they can’t, but when the frustration of some boils over into the sorts of tackles that Dele Alli and Jason Puncheon made on Kevin de Bruyne in December it’s clearly a problem. Indeed, one that goes beyond mere football: a player’s livelihood can be on the line. The stakes are that high with horror tackles.
And so the most troubling part of Cardiff City’s roughhousing of Pep Guardiola’s side is surely Bennett’s admission that his bad tackle was the result of an attempt to stop a counter-attack.
Actually trying to foul an opponent surely aggravates the footballing crime, as it were.
If a drunk driver hits someone, we assume it’s because they’re drunk: an accident, possibly, but certainly one which is aggravated by the initial intoxication. If a speeding car hits someone, we assume the recklessness comes because of the speed. If a car hits someone without any of these extra factors, we can sometimes see it as an unfortunate accident – there’ll still be a punishment, but it’s not aggravated by any initial crime.
This is similar, if not the same. Stopping a counter attack by attempting to foul an opponent is already a ‘crime’ – so to speak – in the world of football. But just like speeding, it becomes less about the smaller crime in its own right, and more about the fact that it makes the bigger crime worse. One that makes it difficult to accept that it’s an accident. Speed and you’ll get a fine. Speed and hit someone and you’ll get a much harsher punishment.
This isn’t a call to to throw the book at Bennett. Nor is it to add to the outrage around what was a bad tackle with potentially terrible consequences for a young player who has lit up the Premier League in the last year or so. Instead, this is about defining where the limits are and why we watch football.
It feels like an indisputable fact that Pep Guardiola is correct: we watch the game for the players and they must be protected first and foremost.
But whilst stopping a counter-attack shouldn’t be thought of as something outside of the game (you do it and get a yellow card; in a sense you buy the avoidance of a dangerous counter at the price of a yellow card) the consequence of seriously hurting a player should be. The foul for which you get a slap on the wrist should mean a lengthy ban once you injure your opponent – even if all you meant was a light trip.
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Why? Because we don’t want injuries like this, or like the ones Kevin de Bruyne could have suffered last month. If your only recourse is to bring your opponent down, fine, but the risk of injury should bring with it a risk of a ban. That’s something a player should have to weigh up before making a tackle he knows is going to be a foul.
And that will help. Not overnight, but it should make players more responsible by forcing them to think about what it is they’re doing before they do it. And that can only be a good thing.
This is a sorry tale of a physical game gone too far, but it’s also something the game should look at stamping out if at all possible: professional fouls are part of the game, but when they come at the cost of a serious injury, surely that should mean paying a higher price.
Southampton were always going to be the underdogs heading into Sunday’s Premier League game against Liverpool.Mauricio Pellegrino’s side have struggled for points this season, having recently gone on a 12-game winless run.Over a week ago, though, there seemed to be light at the end of the tunnel when the coastal club ended their miserable spell by beating West Bromwich Albion 3-2 at The Hawthorns.Welcoming Liverpool to St Mary’s was a completely different challenge due to Jurgen Klopp’s side trying to maintain a place in the top four.The sub-plot to the game was Virgil van Dijk’s first return to the Saints following his January move to Anfield.The Dutchman was the happier one after the final whistle as the match ended in a 2-0 win for the Merseyside outfit.https://video.footballfancast.com/video-2015/twitter-report-1.mp4For large spells of the game, Southampton held their own against a team that regularly gave the ball away, but the class of goalscorers Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah shone through.Southampton sit in the relegation zone, one point adrift of safety, and after the match, club legend Matt Le Tissier gave his assessment on Twitter.
Many would have tipped Tottenham Hotspur to comfortably progress into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
However, League One side Rochdale had other ideas as they earned a dramatic 2-2 draw at Spotland Stadium.
Lucas Moura managed to cancel out Ian Henderson’s opening goal before Harry Kane netted from the penalty spot to score what looked to be an 88th-minute winner.
Deep into stoppage time, though, Steve Davies found the back of the net to ensure that Rochdale secured a replay at Wembley.
The North London outfit would, of course, liked to have got the job done in their initial fifth-round tie, but they will have an opportunity to grab a place in the final eight in front of their fans at the club’s temporary home.
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On Tuesday, Spurs confirmed that the replay will be staged at 7.45pm on Wednesday, February 28.
Fans responded in various ways on Twitter, with some posting encouraging messages while others prayed that Fernando Llorente will not play a part.
Everton defender Michael Keane says he is relishing the chance to come up against former club Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, and Toffees fans have been quick to react to his comments.
The centre-back joined the Merseyside outfit in a deal that could rise to £30m from the Clarets last summer, and while he made a decent enough start to his Blues career he soon suffered a downturn in form that saw him relegated to the substitutes’ bench for a number of matches in December.
However, the 25-year-old has been more heavily involved in recent weeks and his performances on the pitch appear to be gradually improving, although some of the Goodison Park faithful don’t appear to agree.
Everton supporters took to social media to have their say on the quotes from Keane, and while one said “I can’t wait for him to be sold”, another said “so it gives him an excuse for another crap performance?”
Tottenham Hotspur crashed out of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, despite holding a lead over Juventus at Wembley stadium.
With the aggregate score tied at 2-2 heading into the game, fans were overjoyed when Son Heung-min scored in the first half to give them a comfortable lead in the tie.
However, a second half defensive collapse saw the Italian giants score the two goals they needed to go through, with Spurs unable to offer anything in reply in the final 20 minutes.
Fans were left frustrated with the evening and had particular issue with Eric Dier’s performance.
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The England international failed to adequately track Gonzalo Higuain for the Italian’s first of the night, bringing to the fore supporters’ issues with his form all season.
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Many feel that Victor Wanyama should be playing alongside Mousa Dembele instead and have called on Mauricio Pochettino to drop the player, who is rated at £36m by Transfermarkt.
Newcastle United’s bid to avoid an instant return to the Championship was massively boosted over the weekend thanks to their 3-0 win against Southampton and with other results going for them, and Magpies fans are loving one statistic in particular.
The Toon’s comprehensive win against fellow strugglers Saints and Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and West Ham United all losing, and Huddersfield and Swansea City drawing with each other, saw them jump up to 13th in the standings and five points clear of the relegation zone.
Stoke’s 2-0 defeat against Manchester City on Monday night saw their goal difference drop to minus 28 (the worst in the Premier League), while only the top eight teams in the standings have a better record than the Tyneide outfit’s minus 10 – which could be worth an extra point in the coming weeks – and the St James’ Park faithful can’t get enough of manager Rafa Benitez right now.
Newcastle supporters have been quick to have their say on goal difference via social media, and while one said “our GD could be worth an extra point come May”, another said “Rafa’s so-called negative tactics could be crucial”.
Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
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Reported Everton transfer target Jamie Vardy scored for England in their 1-1 friendly draw with Italy at Wembley on Tuesday night, and Toffees fans were quick to have their say on the Leicester City striker’s display.
The 31-year-old, who The Mirror reported earlier in March earns £100,000-a-week and is summer target for the Merseyside outfit, spearheaded a three-man attack alongside Jesse Lingard and Raheem Sterling against the Azzurri, and he came close to scoring in the 23rd minute with an effort that was straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal.
However, he did find the net three minutes later after a free-kick was taken quickly by Lingard, firing high into the top corner to add to the 17 goals he has scored in all competitions for the Foxes this season.
Everton supporters, who have also had their say on forgotten man Nikola Vlasic shining on the international stage on Tuesday, took to social media to give their thoughts Vardy’s showing via social media, and while one described him as a “big-game player”, another said “they would take him in a heartbeat”.
Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
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