Chelsea are facing a "truly disastrous week" as the pressure piles on manager Mauricio Pochettino, following a dramatic EFL Cup final defeat to Liverpool in extra time on Sunday.
Gary Neville labels Chelsea "billion pound bottlejobs" after defeat
Virgil van Dijk's late winner over Chelsea at Wembley prompted Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville to brand them the "billion pound bottlejobs".
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A large portion of Liverpool's XI were on the very young side, to add insult to injury, with Pochettino claiming his star-studded team needed to feel the pain after what was a sore loss to take in London.
"We are very competitive and now we need to move forward," said Pochettino on Chelsea's defeat to Liverpool.
"They need to realise that we need to work more, do better things. We need to improve and compete in this level against a side that in the last five, six, seven years has competed for big things.
Brentford
March 2nd
Newcastle United
March 11th
Arsenal
March 16th
Burnley
March 30th
"It's about arriving here first and then feel what it means to play for a big trophy. I remember after three, four years they lost the Champions League [final], they lost the Europa League [final]. They keep believing in the project and in the next season [got] stronger until they got what they wanted.
"That is a good example, Liverpool. We want to challenge a team like Liverpool. [We should not be] frustrated today because we didn't get the trophy. We need to keep believing, as that is the most important thing."
Following the cup defeat, rumours are starting to re-emerge over Pochettino's position as head coach, coming after Chelsea were linked with a new manager like Xabi Alonso earlier this month.
Pochettino "facing the sack" if Chelsea lose to Leeds
Now, journalist Dean Jones has claimed Pochettino is "facing the sack" if Chelsea lose their FA Cup bout to Leeds tomorrow.
"This is a massive loss," said Jones to GiveMeSport.
"You don't get a better chance to beat Liverpool than to come up against a side missing as many players as they were at Wembley. They got away with Moises Caicedo's tackle and the Virgil van Dijk VAR goal, and when their chances came along they just couldn't take them. That's hard to accept – and made harder by the fact they didn't go for the kill in extra-time when Liverpool were fielding youngsters that many people literally would never have heard of.
"The late defeat has been described as pathetic and they are being labelled bottle jobs and now they have to take on Leeds United, one of their oldest rivals in the game. Leeds will come to London believing they can cause an upset and if they do then Pochettino is probably going to be facing the sack. It could become a truly disastrous week."
Aston Villa's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League suffered a significant blow on Sunday as they lost 2-1 to Manchester United at Villa Park. Douglas Luiz had cancelled out Rasmus Hojlund's opener, but Scott McTominay came on to score the winner for the visitors late on.
Villa have now dropped to fifth after failing to respond to Tottenham's dramatic 2-1 victory over Brighton on Saturday. That may still be enough to make it into the Champions League, but United have closed the gap to five points with their second win against the Villans in the space of seven weeks.
In general, Unai Emery's side are stuttering at the moment – either side of a resounding 5-0 win over a seemingly doomed Sheffield United, they suffered home defeats to Newcastle in the Premier League and Chelsea in the FA Cup. They hadn't lost a league game in front of their own fans since February before this recent stretch.
Rank
Team
P
W
D
L
GD
PTS
1
Manchester City
6
6
0
0
11
18
2
Liverpool
7
5
1
1
11
16
3
Spurs
7
4
2
1
3
14
4
Arsenal
7
4
1
2
11
13
5
Man Utd
7
4
1
2
3
13
6
Aston Villa
7
2
2
2
2
8
And in another devastating blow, it emerged after Sunday's game that Boubacar Kamara, who came off in the second half, has suffered a "significant knee ligament injury". Kamara will see a specialist for a full prognosis, but a long-term lay-off seems inevitable.
Villa injury luck has become a "joke"
Quoting an earlier tweet about Villa's misfortune, Sky Sports presenter and Villa fan Dan Bardell said the situation had become a "joke" following the news of Kamara's injury.
Ball-winner Kamara joins Buendia and Mings
You can certainly see why Bardell is so frustrated. Kamara is actually the third Villa player to go down with a long-term knee problem this season after Emiliano Buendia and Tyrone Mings, neither of whom have played since the opening day of the Premier League season.
Kamara's absence in particular will sting because he's been a crucial player for Emery this season. While he's been suspended for four matches (once for an accumulation of yellow cards and once for a straight red against Brentford), he's started every single game for which he's been available.
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ByRoss Kilvington Feb 13, 2024
The 2022 acqusition from Marseille has been a vital ball-winning presence at the base of the midfield, winning more tackles (2.2) per game and notching more interceptions per game (1.1) than anybody else in the squad. It remains to be seen who replaces him in the side, but Youri Tielemans looks the most likely candidate.
Ensuring that contracts are “earned” and not seen as a “privilege” was the driving rationale behind the PCB’s move to reduce its women cricketers’ central contract pool, according to Urooj Mumtaz, chairperson of the all-woman selection committee.The latest contracts, starting July 1, include only ten players, brought down from 17, but there has been an increase in remuneration for those in the new retainers. The new list has only Sana Mir and Nida Dar in the ‘A’ category, while Bismah Maroof and Javeria Khan have been demoted to category ‘B’. The fourth level, ‘D’, has been removed altogether.The ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ categories now come with higher pay: hiked by 20%, 18.5% and 18% respectively. In addition, the length of each contract – hitherto always six months – has been increased to a year. For the first time in 12 years, daily allowances have also increased – in training camps they have been doubled, making it Rs 2000 (approx. USD 13), as well as on foreign tours, going from USD 50 to USD 100. Travel upgrades for tours have also been introduced so that the team travels business class on longer-distance flights. And all women cricketers will now also earn a match fee for each game of domestic cricket.”We are an emerging nation in women’s cricket and have a pool of only 40 to 45 girls playing in the domestic structure,” Mumtaz, also a former Pakistan captain, told ESPNcricinfo. “We aim to make a professional set-up where contracts are earned rather assuming it as a privilege.”Despite the multiple upsides, a couple of decisions have stood out, such as the demotion of limited-overs captain Maroof and senior batsman Javeria to ‘B’ and that of Nahida Khan, from ‘A’ to ‘C’.”It is a result of their performance over the last one year and this new structure doesn’t make anyone earn a highest contract just on the basis of seniority,” Mumtaz explained. “Bismah acknowledged and accepted the category awarded and that her performances have not been up to par.”She remains an integral member of our team and she believes she has a lot more to offer with the bat. The contract given to her is in no way a reflection of her captaincy.”Maroof, the second-most-capped Pakistan women’s player after Mir, returned to captaining the side in January after a sinus operation, and led Pakistan to a historic 2-1 ODI series win over West Indies at ‘home’ in Dubai in February and levelled the following away ODI assignment, against the higher-ranked South Africa, 1-1 in May. She has also been Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in T20Is in the past 12 months, with two half-centuries in the series against South Africa.Contracts must be earned, not assumed as a privilege, Urooj Mumtaz argues•Getty Images
Javeria, Pakistan’s leading run-getter in ODIs since June 27 last year, trails Maroof by two spots on the run-getters’ list in T20Is, and had topped Pakistan’s run-charts at the World T20 in the Caribbean last November where she stood in as captain. At the time, in a bid to manage her post-surgery workload, Maroof featured in the side only as a player.Contradictory noises have come from Pakistan about the process by which these contracts were finalised. ESPNcricinfo understands that a number of senior players were not involved in discussions around the revised structure. Most of them, as part of the pool of the 17 contracted players for the 2019 January-June cycle that was announced earlier this year, were made aware of the decision only after it had been made by the board and the selection committee on Tuesday.That, however, would go against what Mumtaz said. “All 17 cricketers were called in person or over the phone. We had a one-to-one detailed meeting with them about the new contracts, which are purely performance-based. They were explained the criteria individually and they all not only understood but also accepted.”Mumtaz added that comparing the depth of the PCB’s pool of centrally contracted players with that of its English (21 cricketers) or Australian counterparts (14) “who have developed systems and 200 players to choose from,” would not be fair.”But our vision and plan is to get there. The main focus, regarding the women’s central contracts, is on quality and top performers. The ten central contracts awarded were based on four comprehensive criteria, but does not mean other players are ignored. They need to work hard for it.”From now on there will be three domestic tournaments being slotted per year. More matches means more opportunities for girls to mark an impact at national level. This pool will keep on growing once we have more elite cricketers that check our criteria, giving a wider pool of players more opportunities to play cricket as well earn money.”This is extremely important as we need to value our women players and inspire more girls to play the sport at a higher level.”
West Brom appear to be battling a number of their Championship rivals for the signing of a Premier League "star", according to a new claim from journalist Fabrizio Romano.
West Brom transfer news
The Baggies could be looking for new signings in the January transfer window, giving them a sprinkling of extra quality to aid their promotion push, wit the club currently in fifth place ion the second tier. Carlos Corberan's side look nicely poised to at least finish in the playoff positions this season, but they won't have given up hope of earning automatic promotion and sealing a return to the Premier League.
Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore is one player who has been linked with a move to West Brom this month, having struggled for playing time at the Premier League club of late, while Wolves youngster Dexter Lembikisa is seen as a potential defensive addition. Chelsea's Andrey Santos is another player who has emerged as a target, and given the number of rumours around currently, it would be a surprise if nobody came in during January.
West Brom eyeing Fabio Carvalho
Taking to X on Saturday, Romano hinted that West Brom are among the clubs keen on signing Liverpool attacker Fabio Carvalho, mentioning Wolves and all of the Championship's current top-six as potential suitors who have asked for a loan.
Liverpool's Fabio Carvalho
"Understand Wolves have asked for Fabio Carvalho on loan until the end of the season. Top 6 Championship clubs have also asked for loan, waiting for Liverpool and player’s camp to decide for best option. LFC want guaranteed game time for Fabio."
Carvalho appears to be a wanted man this month, and he has every right to be, even though he has experienced a tough period in his career over the past year or so. Having failed to be a key man at Liverpool after arriving in 2022, Jurgen Klopp allowed him to join RB Leipzig on loan last summer, but he has now returned from Germany after only managing one Bundesliga start this season, and a further eight substitute appearances.
Despite this, Carvalho is a young player who has so much attacking quality in his boots, with none other than Roberto Firmino once saying of him:
"I confess that I had watched some of his games before he came to Liverpool, so I was already impressed by the way he played. He’s a star, he’s a great player and now he’s also a very close friend. We are happy to have him here at Liverpool and I know he will help us a lot, with assists, goals and also his character on the pitch."
Carvalho could be such a strong loan addition for West Brom between now and the end of the season, with the Portuguese capable of playing in a central attacking midfield role, but also out wide, giving Corberan so much extra depth in the coming months.
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The youngster will be desperate to prove his worth before returning to Liverpool and showing Klopp that he is worth persevering with, so it is a transfer that should suit everyone, but the Baggies look set to face plenty of competition.
Gareth Southgate's decision to include Jack Grealish in his England squad, ahead of Marcus Rashford, has not impressed some supporters.
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Southgate springs surprises with England squad
Grealish gets the nod as Rashford is left out
Supporters unhappy with manager's decision
WHAT HAPPENED?
England manager Southgate has named his provisional squad for Euro 2024 and has raised eyebrows with some of his selections. There is no room for Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling, Reece James or Marcus Rashford, but the Three Lions boss has included Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Liverpool duo Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah as well as Grealish. The Manchester City man has endured an underwhelming campaign in 2023-24 which has led fans to hit out at his inclusion in the squad.
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WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING
England supporter AdamMcKola felt Southgate was wrong to go for the City man ahead of Rashford, posting on X: "Maguire been stinking the place out for time, Grealish has hardly played and has less goals than Rashford but Rashford is the one dropped. LOL F*ck Southgate."
It was an opinion shared by CFCDUBois who wrote: "Rashford not making the England squad is fine until you see that Jack Grealish has. How?"
Southgate's decision was also criticised by twos6xes: "there is literally no universe where you could ever justify taking grealish over rashford im literally shaking right now."
Supporter @AdamJoseph____ felt there was an argument that both players could have been left at home: "If Marcus Rashford doesn't deserve to go to the Euros because of his struggles, fair enough – but I won't stomach that Jack Grealish somehow deserved to go. He has played like he is still hungover from 22/23 in a superior team. If Rashford isn't going, no way Grealish should be."
Meanwhile, UTDTrey gave his assessment on Southgate's choices and labelled Grealish an "ass drunk."
WHAT SOUTHGATE SAID
Southgate has spoken about his decision to leave Rashford out of his squad. He told reporters: "With Marcus, I just feel other players in that area of the pitch have had better seasons, it's as simple as that."
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Grealish played a key role in City's treble-winning season last year but has made less of an impact in the current campaign. The midfielder has managed just 20 appearances in the league, scoring three goals and producing just one assist. Rashford has featured regularly in what's been a difficult campaign for the Red Devils but has struggled for form, scoring just seven times from 33 Premier League appearances.
Wolverhampton Wanderers will be hoping they can continue their decent run of form in the Premier League against West Ham United on Sunday afternoon.
The Old Gold have secured four points from their previous six matches and with the recent European clash surely sapping a lot of energy from the West Ham squad, Gary O’Neil could take full advantage with a fresh starting XI.
Following the 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest, O’Neil provided an update ahead of the clash against the Irons with regard to who is fit and who will miss out and Rayan Ait-Nouri should return to the squad.
The manager said of the defender: "Rayan should be back and available, hopefully. He came through training well today."
With this in mind, we at Football FanCast predict the starting XI that will take to the pitch on Sunday afternoon…
1
GK – Jose Sa
There were concerns for Sa during the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal last month after he was substituted during the first half with what looked like a back injury.
He subsequently missed the 1-0 win over Burnley a few days later, but he returned to the starting XI for the draw against Forest, and it appears he is back to full fitness.
The Portuguese ‘keeper will be aiming to keep just his second Premier League clean sheet of the current campaign, and it could go a long way to securing victory.
2
CB – Max Kilman
Max Kilman
The centre-back has captained the club in every single league tie during the current campaign and he is emerging as a reliable player under O’Neil.
Wolves have conceded 26 goals in the top flight so far and Kilman will be hoping he can help the club secure a couple of clean sheets over the next few games to boost their top half ambitions.
3
CB – Craig Dawson
The veteran defender joined from West Ham back in January in order to add some experience to the backline and it appears to have done the trick.
The 33-year-old has missed just one league match this season and that was due to suspension and he has played his part in wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
4
CB – Toti
After making only 17 Premier League appearances during the 2022/23 season, Toti has become a mainstay in the heart of the defence this term, already featuring in 13 matches.
Alongside Dawson and Kilman, the 24-year-old has been in solid form as O’Neil utilises a 3-5-2 formation and with a little bit more consistency, they will soon begin to keep some more clean sheets.
5
RM – Nelson Semedo
Nelson Semedo for Wolves
Against Forest, O’Neil deployed a 3-4-3 formation and this should be expected again against West Ham on Sunday.
The 30-year-old has missed only one Premier League tie so far this season and he will be unleashed in a more advanced role yet again.
6
CM – Joao Gomes
Joao Gomes
The former Flamengo midfielder was signed during the January transfer window for a fee of £15m and having just won the Copa Libertadores a few months earlier, it was looked upon as a shrewd signing.
The Brazilian has started 13 league matches so far this campaign, although he has failed to get on the scoresheet or grab an assist during these games.
O’Neil will unleash him in the starting XI against David Moyes’ men in the hope he can control the midfield.
7
CM – Mario Lemina
Like Gomes, Lemina was also a January signing under Julen Lopetegui and he helped the Old Gold avoid relegation during the second half of last term.
He has forged a solid midfield partnership with Gomes this term and has contributed with two vital goals. His first effort came against Newcastle United as the Molineux outfit secured a 2-2 draw, while his latest goal came against Spurs and proved to be the winner in a 2-1 victory.
O’Neil will be hoping for much of the same tomorrow.
8
LM – Rayan Ait-Nouri
Hugo Bueno didn’t enjoy the best of games against Forest and with the news that Ait-Nouri could be ready for the clash tomorrow, the manager should have an easy choice to make.
The £10k-per-week Algerian starlet was dubbed “superb” by journalist Liam Keen in 2021 and could certainly make all the difference on the left-hand side of midfield.
9
RW – Pablo Sarabia
Following a quiet start to the season, the Spaniard burst into life against Spurs last month. The former Paris Saint-Germain winger entered the fray with just three minutes of normal time remaining, yet he finished the game with a goal and an assist.
The 31-year-old has also added another five assists during the season and O’Neil must unleash him against West Ham in the hope that he can have a positive impact on the right wing.
10
ST – Hwang Hee-Chan
The South Korean forward has recently signed a new extended contract with the club, committing himself until 2028 and this will be a massive boost for the manager.
His form this term has been nothing short of outstanding. Throughout the entirety of the 2022/23 season, he found the back of the net on just four occasions in what was a poor spell.
He has been a man reborn under O’Neil, however. The 27-year-old has already racked up nine goals so far during 2023/24, smashing past his total from last season and there could be much more to come.
With the former RB Leipzig gem leading the line, Wolves could cause plenty of problems for the West Ham defence tomorrow.
أكد فريق بيراميدز تأهله إلى دور الـ32 من منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بالفوز على منافسه جي كيه يو بطل زنجبار، اليوم السبت.
والتقى فريقا بيراميدز وجي كيه يو، على ملعب الدفاع الجوي، في القاهرة، ضمن مواجهات الإياب لدور الـ 64 من البطولة الإفريقية.
بيراميدز استطاع الفوز على جي كيه يو، بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف، ليحسم التأهل إلى دور الـ 32 بعدما كان قد انتصر في مباراة الذهاب 6-0.
وتقدم بيراميدز بالهدف الأول عن طريق محمود صابر بتسديدة من داخل منطقة الجزاء في الدقيقة 54، بعدها بـ 4 دقائق تعادل الفريق الزنجباري بواسطة اللاعب جامي سيمبا من هجمة سريعة جلعته منفردًا بمرمى بيراميدز وسجل في الشباك.
وعاد محمد الجباس في الدقيقة 64 وسجل الهدف الثاني لـ بيراميدز، بعدما استلم كرة استطاع الدوران بها داخل منطقة الجزاء ثم سدد في الشباك.
واختتم ثلاثية بيراميدز، محمود صابر في الدقيقة 75 من تسديدة قوية من خارج منطقة الجزاء، تصدى لها الحارس ثم سقطت من يده لتدخل المرمى.
طالع.. فيديو | بيراميدز يكتسح جي كيه يو بطل زنجبار بنصف دستة أهداف في افتتاح مشواره بـ دوري أبطال إفريقيا
وبتلك النتيجة، يتأهل بيراميدز إلى دور الـ 32 بالفوز على جي كيه يو، 9-1 في مجموع مباراتي الذهاب والإياب.
ومن المقرر أن يلاقي فريقي بيراميدز نظيره الجيش الرواندي في دور الـ 32 من عمر منافسات دوري أبطال إفريقيا.
وتقام مواجهة الذهاب بين بيراميدز والجيش الرواندي، في رواندا أحد أيام 13 أو 14 أو 15 سبتمبر، بينما تلعب مباراة الإياب في القاهرة، أحد أيام 20 أو 21 أو 22 من الشهر نفسه.. أهداف مباراة بيراميدز وجي كيه يو في دوري أبطال إفريقيا
Aston Villa have continued their terrific rise under Unai Emery and are currently competing for a Champions League spot in the Premier League this season.
The Spanish tactician arrived with the club sitting in 14th place with three wins in 12 top-flight matches in October of last year and led them to an impressive seventh with 15 wins in 26 games.
This season, Villa have won eight of their 12 league matches and are fifth in the table – one point off the top four and three points behind Manchester City in first.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery.
The Villans are also top of their Europa Conference League group with three wins from their first four matches and are on course to qualify for the knockout stages.
However, there is always room to improve and the upcoming January transfer window will provide Emery with another chance to bolster his group of players.
One reported target who could add an injection of quality – and be an upgrade on Nicolo Zaniolo – is Norwich City wide attacker Jonathan Rowe.
Aston Villa transfer news – Jonathan Rowe
The Villans are one of a host of Premier League clubs reportedly showing an interest in the talented EFL starlet ahead of the turn of the year.
Earlier this month, TEAMtalk claimed that Villa, Crystal Palace, Brentford, Wolves, Burnley, and Sheffield United are all monitoring the young gem's performances for the Canaries.
This suggests that Monchi and Emery could face significant competition for his signature if they decide to firm up their interest with an official approach for his services. Although, they have the allure of European football that the aforementioned teams are unable to offer him at this moment in time.
Norwich forward Jonathan Rowe.
However, the report does not mention how much Norwich would demand for their prized asset or whether or not any of those sides are willing to make a bid.
It does state, though, that the Canaries would like to tie the 20-year-old whiz down to an extended contract in order to secure his future at Carrow Road.
His current deal is due to expire at the end of the 2024/25 campaign but the club do have an option to extend that by a further 12 months if they choose, which means that it may not end until the summer of 2026.
Norwich are said to be keen to keep hold of him throughout the January transfer window, as the academy graduate is an important member of their squad, but Villa must now test their resolve with an attempted swoop to land his signature.
Emery could secure a big upgrade on current attacking midfielder Zaniolo, who is on loan from Turkish giants Galatasaray, by bringing the versatile Rowe to Villa Park.
Zaniolo's season in numbers
The 24-year-old, who can play out wide or through the middle as a number ten, has failed to hit the ground running in English football since his temporary switch from Turkey during the summer transfer window.
He has managed zero goals, zero assists, and zero 'big chances' created in nine Premier League appearances for the Villans this season, which includes six starts.
The left-footed lightweight has also failed to produce a single goal, assist, or 'big chance' created in four Europa Conference League outings, which includes two starts.
Alarmingly, Zaniolo ranks within the top 1% of his positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions over the last 365 days for shots (3.78) per 90 and the bottom 2% for non-penalty goals (0.00) per 90.
This suggests that the Italian midfielder is incredibly wasteful in front of goal and takes far too many shots for a player who is not a clinical finisher, by any stretch.
He cannot blame his lack of goals on the quality of chances that have fallen his way as the former Roma prospect ranks within the top 22% of players in his position for non-penalty xG (0.30) per 90 over the last 365 days.
These statistics paint an alarming picture as they show that the attacker has had a very minimal impact at the top end of the pitch for Villa this season.
He has not been able to provide quality on a regular basis and Emery could, therefore, improve his side by bringing in a player with the potential to offer more, in the way of goals and assists, during the January window.
Jonathan Rowe's season in numbers
The 20-year-old wizard, like Zaniolo, can play out wide or through the middle as an attacking midfielder and this means that the Villans head coach could utilise his talents in a multitude of ways.
He could come in and directly replace the Italian dud as a number ten or be used further forward as a support striker, or as an out-and-out winger depending on the formation being deployed and the needs of the specific match.
Rowe's form for Norwich this season has been particularly impressive and his attacking statistics suggest that he has the potential to be an upgrade on the Galatasaray loanee.
The England U21 international has racked up eight goals and two assists in 18 first-team matches in all competitions for the Canaries so far this term.
Rowe's Norwich career (via Transfermarkt)
Statistic
U18
U21
First-team
Appearances
31
31
36
Goals
12
11
Eight
Assists
Three
Seven
Three
As you can see in the table above, Rowe has been a consistent attacking threat for the Yellows throughout his development in Norfolk, at U18 level all the way through to the first-team.
The talented youngster ranks within the top 32% of Championship wingers and attacking midfielders for shots (2.52) per 90 and within the top 9% for non-penalty goals (0.51) per 90.
This suggests that the 5 foot 8 hotshot, whose form was hailed as "scintillating" by pundit Carlton Palmer, is an efficient shot-taker who scores more goals than the average player who takes the volume of shots he does.
Therefore, Rowe could come in as an upgrade on Zaniolo if he can translate these performances over to the Premier League by offering a consistent output in the final third, which is something the Italian flop has been unable to do.
However, Norwich confirmed this week that the forward has suffered an unspecified injury whilst on international duty with England's U21s and it remains to be seen how serious that is, which could impact Villa's interest if it turns out to be a long-term problem.
Nottingham Forest could take legal action against Sky Sports after Gary Neville likened club's response to penalty controversy to a 'mafia gang'.
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Forest consider legal actionNeville criticised controversial statementClub set to contact Sky SportsWHAT HAPPENED?
After Neville publicly called out Forest's controversial statement calling into question the integrity of VAR official Stuart Attwell, the club are now weighing up their response. According to the , that could be in the form of legal action, with Forest's legal department said to be drafting a letter to Sky concerning what Neville said.
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Within minutes of the full-time whistle ending Sunday's Premier League defeat to Everton, during which three penalty appeals were turned down, a Forest statement posted on X claimed that the club had "warned" refereeing body PGMOL about VAR official Attwell being a fan of relegation rivals Luton ahead of the game. Neville didn't take kindly to the statement, while the Premier League and the FA are each investigating Forest's actions.
WHAT NEVILLE SAID
"It's like a mafia gang statement, honestly," Neville said, analysing the situation for . "I mean what are they playing at? Look, I think anybody and everybody would have empathy and some sympathy for Forest this season with some of the decisions that they've had. The statement is like a petulant child. It's embarrassing. But they're grabbing defeat from victory. They could say, 'Why should we sit here and be badly done to and not say anything'. You can potentially come out at the end of the game – and the manager is a great spokesman at the end of the game, so is your captain – and say that we're not accepting the quality of decisions that are going against us, and that would have a real impact.
"Today has been a horrendous day for Nottingham Forest. Possibly horrendous because of the decisions that they've had, but horrendous for how they've reacted to the situation. To mention the VAR official as being a Luton fan and inferring in some way that's had an impact on the decision-making process and suggesting to me as a fan, thinking 'Has he cheated us', you're into really dangerous territory."
He added: "Mark Clattenberg must resign tonight. If he saw those words go out in which they question the integrity of a referee and claim someone is a cheat for supporting another club, then he's supporting what is being said. He would lose all credibility with referees in the game. He should stand down tonight and distance himself from that statement."
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The report adds that Forest accept they "acted emotionally and with haste" with the statement. However, a further and much lengthier statement on Monday evening called on PGMOL to alter its rules on referee allegiances – the team they may support or have local ties with – to include what the club dubbed "contextual rivalries", such as that between Forest and Luton as they battles against each other to stay in the Premier League.
A foto que ilustra a matéria deve dar ‘calafrios’ na torcida do São Paulo. Isso porque, nessa jogada, Brenner não alcançou a bola e perdeu a chance mais clara do jogo, sem goleiro, em gol que abriria o marcador para o Tricolor em Porto Alegre. E justamente a falta de eficiência nas finalizações foi o principal motivo para a derrota por 1 a 0 para o Grêmio, em Porto Alegre.
>>Retrospectiva-2020: Das eliminações à esperança de um título… O ano do São Paulo
Mas para falar sobre as chances perdidas do São Paulo, precisamos voltar à escalação inicial do Tricolor. Com Luciano de volta ao time, Tchê Tchê retornou ao banco e o Tricolor teve o retorno da dupla Brenner e Luciano, que marcou nove dos dez gols do São Paulo nesta Copa do Brasil.
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No entanto, quem fez a diferença para o São Paulo foi Daniel Alves. O camisa dez foi o jogador que mais trocou passes no jogo, com 100, acertando 87, além de estar em todos os lugares do campo e ajudar na defesa e na armação das jogadas. Tanto que as duas principais chances do time na partida saíram em jogadas criadas pelo meia. Com uma grande partida de Dani, o São Paulo teve o domínio do jogo. Foram 69% de posse de bola contra 31% dos gremistas.
E chegamos ao grande motivo da derrota do Tricolor: a falha nas finalizações. Os comandados de Fernando Diniz deram 11 chutes contra apenas dois dos jogadores de Renato Portaluppi. O São Paulo acertou três vezes o gol de Vanderlei e perdeu chances claras com Brenner e principalmente Luciano.
Já o Grêmio acertou o gol de Volpi uma vez, o suficiente para vencer e abrir vantagem nas semifinais da Copa do Brasil. Aproveitando o espaço dado por Reinaldo na lateral-esquerda, Ferreira, que tinha acabado de entrar, fez a jogada para o gol de Diego Souza. Erro de marcação que o Tricolor precisa corrigir na temporada.
Portanto, para ter sucesso e conseguir chegar à final da Copa do Brasil, o São Paulo precisa acertar o pé e confiar no seu estilo de jogo.