Southampton climbed out of the English Premier League relegation zone on Saturday, rescuing a point away to Burnley at Turf Moor.
With Sean Dyche’s side leading the encounter heading into the final moments of the game, substitute Manolo Gabbiadini combined with new signing Guido Carrillo to net a huge equaliser that could be pivotal in keeping Saints from dropping down to the second-tier.
Fans are now calling on Mauricio Pellegrino to start playing the duo together in an effort to be more pro-active in securing the results that could save them from relegation.
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So far this season Pellegrino has almost exclusively utilised a single striker, frustrating supporters who are looking for dynamism in the final third and most importantly, more goals hitting the back of the net.
Whether it’s as part of their current 4-2-3-1 or a more traditional 4-4-2, fans are eager to see the two expensive signings pair up and strike up an attacking partnership.
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Will we see the duo unleashed next week at home to Stoke?
36 managers in 22 years as owner of Italian club Cagliari Calcio earned current Leeds United chairman Massimo Cellino the nickname Il mangiatore di direttore, which translates as ‘The Manager Eater’.
It is therefore of no surprise that the ruthless Italian businessman’s takeover of the Elland Road club earlier this year attracted much publicity, as well as doubts as to whether he was fit to have anything to do with, let alone run, an English football club at all.
Initially, these doubts proved to be legitimate. Before Cellino had even been formally announced as the new owner of the club, he attempted to relieve then-manager Brian McDermott of his job, only for McDermott to be bizarrely reinstated the following day. This, coupled with the problematic takeover process – Cellino was initially deemed to have failed the ‘fit and proper persons’ test by the Football League, only for this decision to be overturned in April – only reinforced many Leeds fans’ fears that the Manager Eater had not lost his appetite one bit since his move to England, and that the club was under the mercy of a man who would bring instability to a club who had experienced enough of it already during the past decade.
McDermott was never going to stand a chance with Cellino in charge of proceedings, and by the end of last season he was swiftly sacked, to be replaced by the unheralded, undecorated and unheard of Dave Hockaday, whose only previous managerial experience came during an unspectacular spell in charge of Conference side Forest Green Rovers.
Naturally, his appointment came as a shock to many. A working partnership between an obscure former non-league manager and the notorious Cellino was, for many, a disaster waiting to happen. After Leeds’ disappointing start to the season, the omens were not good. A solitary league victory against Middlesbrough in the second game of the season was followed by successive defeats to Brighton and Watford, with Leeds finishing the match against the latter with nine men. With Cellino widely reported to be preparing his latest managerial feast, he then proceeded to stun everyone by displaying his previously non-existent patient side, opting to back Hockaday and pin the blame on himself for the club’s unimpressive start to the campaign.
This was a highly significant moment in Cellino’s career as a football chairman. The Italian had defied his accurate reputation and resisted the temptation to consign yet another manager to the sack. His change of heart offered a glimmer of hope that the man had done away with his reckless ways, and may even be a fit and proper person to lead a football club after all.
The faint rays of hope were not to last long. After League Cup elimination to third-tier side Bradford City, Cellino gave the orders, and Hockaday left Leeds after just 70 days in charge. The Manager Eater was back, and with a vengeance.
However, the brief moment of hesitation, the rare display of compassion which followed the Watford game suggests that all is not lost for Cellino. He may never shake off the reputation of being an irrational, brutal and slightly crazy owner (the number 17 shirt at Leeds United has been retired at the behest of Cellino due to superstitious reasons); however, by displaying some patience – which he did, albeit very briefly with Hockaday – Cellino may finally find the one manager who satisfies his needs and desires.
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Nevertheless, one gets the impression that Cellino is in the last chance saloon. Leeds fans are crying out for stability, and a constant overhaul of managers is never healthy for any football club. If he is to prove himself to be a competent, responsible owner – which will be no easy task – he must be very careful about his latest managerial appointment. And with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Robbie Fowler – two former fan favourites at Elland Road – both expressing their interest in the job, this decision may prove to be the most important one of his turbulent, controversial career; mistreatment or unjustified dismissal of a man once adored by Leeds fans could prove very costly indeed. Cellino’s last remaining shreds of credibility depend on his next choice of manager, as well as how he deals with the inevitable rough patches that all football clubs experience on the pitch. Change his ways, and there may be a chance of redemption. Live to his nickname, and there will be no turning back.
From Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and London, Rome to Rio and Buenos Aires – most cities have football clubs where derby day is the main event in the calendar for fans, publicans, pundits and police.
But some of the greatest football rivalries make no sense geographically. Supporters of teams across the world look forward to travelling miles and miles just to earn the bragging rights for another season.
Cultural, as well as regional differences contribute to the fierceness of these clashes & performances of players in such matches decide whether they will be eternally loved or hated. A mistake or a moment of magic can create history, but can also result in brawls, fights, clashes & riots.
So, whatever the background to the biggest grudge matches, I’ve put together a list of 15 of the fiercest rivalries in world football.
Click on Boca Juniors v River Plate below to get the ball rolling
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Have I missed any huge clashes that you feel should have made the list? Let me know on Twitter @dudeyoungy
According to RMC Sport, Tottenham have made a move for prolific Nice striker Alassane Plea. Ultimately, much of the talk among our Tottenham supporters in the Transfer Tavern has been about that second striker position at the club, with neither Vincent Janssen nor Fernando Llorente doing an adequate enough job of providing back-up to main man Harry Kane.
The Breakdown
Unquestionably, 24-year-old Kane is one of the best strikers in world football at present having netted 140 goals in just 213 games for Mauricio Pochettino’s men, with his tally of 41 last term his best return in a single season during his professional career to date.
And with the Englishman continuing his fine form into this summer’s World Cup, having netted five times for Gareth Southgate’s side in their opening two group matches, it’s clear that Spurs have a huge asset in their squad, and one they will rely on to take them towards major honours in the years to come.
However, it’s imperative that the Pochettino has another striker in their ranks to call upon if and when Kane gets injured, suspended, or endures a testing run of form, and quite simply messrs Janssen and Llorente have been unable to do that in the last two years.
Yet £16.2 million-rated Plea (as per Transfermarkt) could finally be the man to not only be the ideal deputy to Kane, but to also give the England captain something to think in terms of the number one starting berth.
Ultimately, the 25-year-old former France youth international has enjoyed a fine few years at Ligue 1 side Nice, having netted 14 goals in the 2016/17 campaign for the French outfit, before bettering that last term with 21 goals and seven assists in all competitions.
How far will England get in Russia? Tell us now
And while some will point to the prolific goal-scoring record of Janssen in the Netherlands prior to his arrival at Spurs, and indeed that of Llorente in the Premier League, they had both only really produced the goods for one season prior to their arrival – Plea has done so for the last couple.
And with adeptness at playing on the left wing, having scored seven goals from that position last term, Plea would also offer Pochettino more than just another centre forward option, thus raising the possibility of getting both he and indeed Kane in the starting eleven.
Significantly though, the 25-year-old appears to be exactly what Tottenham will want from a so-called second-choice striker – he has been prolific in the last few seasons, he has scored goals at European level, and has the versatility in playing down the left-hand-side to give the manager another attacking option.
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In fact, while Kane is without doubt one the best strikers in world football, it remains to be seen how much the World Cup could take out of him ahead of the 2018/19 season, and were he struggle in the early phases of the campaign, Plea appears plenty good enough to deputise.
Thus, not only would the Frenchman be an ideal squad addition, but he also has the attacking ability to give Kane something to think about ahead of the new season.
All is not well at the Hawthorns and manager Alan Pardew is looking like the most likely candidate to bear the blame for the team’s failures this season.
A limp display against Huddersfield on Saturday saw West Brom remain seven points adrift from safety as they fell to a 2-1 defeat, and tensions reportedly flared in the dressing room after game – with Chris Brunt criticising Pardew’s 4-4-2 formation in the face of a five-man Huddersfield midfield and accusing his teammates of a lack of effort and desire.
It has been a horrendous few weeks for the club, highlighted most clearly by several of their players being accused of taxi theft during a mid-season training camp in Barcelona.
Former-manager and now Middlesborough boss Tony Pulis has backed the under-fire Pardew to ‘cope with anything that’s thrown at him’, but time is clearly running out for a manager who has been unable to arrest his team’s slide to the foot of the Premier League table.
With Pardew looking likely to be axed in the next few months, who will replace him?
Garry Monk is a name worth talking about, having guided Swansea to safety on numerous occasions.
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Slaven Bilic should be in the conversation as well, having accomplished similar goals with West Ham between 2015 and 2017.
Who do Baggies fans think would be the best man for the job? Have your say by voting below…
1) You won’t have to queue for half an hour in your local…
Remember the Italy game? When it was four deep at the bar and the bar staff were ignoring you anyway because they were all watching the game? Oh… we remember. Now, though, that nightmare is over. All the part-time fans have lost interest and you’re laughing all the way to the front of the queue.
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2) The perfect excuse to leave work early
There’s still plenty of games to kick-off at 5pm and what kind of heartless boss would deny a football fan like you the basic human right of leaving work at an adequate time (3.30pm) to take the glorious once-every-four-year spectacle that is the World Cup? If the worst comes to the worst, just bail out and tell the office you’ll make it up to them in the winter.
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3)You won’t have to fight with your partner for the TV remote
So what if it’s the new series of Celebrity Masterchef? That constant, attritional battle with your significant other for possession of the flicker is over. England are out. Of course you’ll want to watch most of the other games, however, letting control of the TV slide when Algeria vs Russia is on will only guarantee your spell in charge when the business end of the tournament comes about.
home tv
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4) You can finally go on summer holiday
Let’s be honest… you were never going to leave the country when England still had a shot at winning the competition. It would have been ethically wrong. Now Roy’s boys are out though, those summer holiday plans that had been put on ice can start to materialise. Go watch the final on a beach somewhere – you’ve earned it.
Happy couple clinking their glasses while relaxing on their deck chairs
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5) It won’t happen again for at least another four years
Take a deep breath, relax. That agonising combination of heart-break, disappointment and self-loathing at your own hopeless optimism can finally be put to bed. Well, for four years that is.
Even though the Royals manager saw fit to omit the striker for the weekend’s Premier League fixture, Danny Guthrie is set to return against the Gunners.
With rumours of a bust up between Guthrie and McDermott denied by the manager, the former Newcastle player is set to face what looks set to be effectively the Arsenal second string as Wenger looks set to continue the tradition of using the trophy to bring through the youngsters.
Reading have no new injury worries ahead of the game on Tuesday night, with McDermott playing down any trouble between himself and Guthrie ahead of the game, saying “there was no bust-up. Danny wasn’t selected to play,” with Guthrie already forced to apologise to the club and manager this season after using twitter to air his views when previously not selected for the first team.
McDermott meanwhile has expressed delight at facing Arsenal for the first time as a manger, confiding “I’m looking forward to it, really looking forward to it.
“I was lucky, really, to be brought up at a fantastic club like that.”
He also leapt to the defence of Wenger and the lack of trophies the club have won over the past few seasons stating “I’m sure they want to win trophies – of course they do – but they always qualify for the Champions League, which is a phenomenal achievement in itself.”
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According to reports by Sport Italia, via Football Italia, West Ham United are in talks to sign Genoa centre-back Armando Izzo, who is rated at £8.5m according to The Sun, and Birmingham City should be watching developments closely.
What’s the word, then?
Well, Sport Italia, via Football Italia, reports that the east London outfit are keen to bring the 26-year-old Italian to the London Stadium as Manuel Pellegrini looks to strengthen his defensive options ahead of the new campaign.
The Hammers conceded a joint-high 68 goals in their 38 Premier League matches last term, and it is no surprise that the Chilean boss is looking for reinforcements given the club has lost Jose Fonte and James Collins in recent months, and with Winston Reid often hampered by injury issues.
Izzo has four years remaining on his contract at the Serie A side, but he could be available for something of a bargain fee before the English top flight window closes on August 9.
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Why should Birmingham be monitoring the situation?
Well, Blues boss Garry Monk will be determined to add new faces to his own squad this summer to ensure they don’t find themselves in another relegation battle in the upcoming season, and while one of his side’s main issues last term was their failure to put the ball in the back of the net, it doesn’t mean that he won’t look to strengthen at the back, too.
One player that may well have caught his eye is 6ft 2in West Ham centre-back following a successful season-long loan spell with Bolton Wanderers last time out, and he is likely to definitely be available should the Irons push through a deal for Izzo.
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Burke is a tall centre-back who is strong in the air, and he has proven that he can be a more than useful central defender at Championship level for Birmingham, who would be making their best signing in years if they snap up 19-year-old World Cup ace.
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Southampton fans have had a lot to complain about this season due to the performances on the pitch.
As it stands, the coastal club are in the relegation zone, one point adrift of Premier League safety.
Manager Mauricio Pellegrino has taken the brunt of criticism from the supporters, who have criticised the Argentine’s formations, in particular.
The only shining light has been the team’s FA Cup form as they find themselves in the quarter-finals of the competition following last weekend’s 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion.
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This Saturday, attention turns back to the league, and Southampton will try to get back to winning ways with an away trip to Burnley.
In three games’ time, the Saints will take on West Ham United at the London Stadium, and on Twitter, the club have posted details about ticket prices.
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It has been revealed on Southampton’s official website that for the travelling fans, adults will have to pay £30, while Over-65s and Under-21s will be charged £25.
Fans reacted to the news on Twitter, and the overwhelming feeling is not positive.
The 21-year-old quick became the 12th Queenslander to take a five-wicket haul on debut and first since 1986-87
AAP21-Oct-2024Young quick Tom Whitney wrote himself in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield record books, before helping bat the Bulls back into their match against South Australia.Whitney created history on Monday, becoming the first Queenslander in 38 years to claim a five-wicket haul on debut with his 5 for 60.Related
Hunt shines with century but debutant Whitney aids Queensland fightback
Live – Sheffield Shield, day two
And after the visitors were all out for 314 early on day two in Brisbane, Whitney produced a late cameo with the bat to help Queensland to 308 in reply.South Australia then lost first-innings century maker Henry Hunt caught behind first ball of their second innings to Michael Neser.But it was a day for Whitney, as Queensland also benefitted from Jimmy Peirson’s counter-punching 94 with the bat at Allan Border Oval.Arriving at the crease at 271 for 9 late in the day, Whitney blasted five boundaries on his way to an unbeaten 24 from 11 balls to help Queensland reach close to parity.After taking three wickets on Sunday, Whitney had both Nathan McAndrew and Wes Agar caught early on Monday morning.The wickets made the 21-year-old just the 12th Queenslander in history to take a five-wicket haul on debut, and the first since former police officer Mick Polzin in 1986-87.Jimmy Peirson led Queensland’s fightback•Getty Images
Neser also finished with 3 for 61, getting the key wicket of Hunt on 136 as the opener fell just short of carrying his bat.In reply, Queensland’s big names struggled. Test opener Usman Khawaja was lbw to McAndrew for a duck, as Queensland fell to 16 for 3 early with the ball swinging around.Matt Renshaw was also lbw to Jordan Buckingham for 2, denting his slim chances of joining Khawaja at the top of the order for the first Test in Perth.Marnus Labuschagne also failed to make any real impact, caught at forward square-leg flicking a ball off his toes.But from 80 for 5, Queensland were able to launch something of a counteract. Ben McDermott hit 52, while Neser and Peirson combined for a 97-run seventh-wicket partnership.Still Peirson pushed through, hitting 14 boundaries in his knock and driving with ease whenever South Australia’s quicks went too full.The wicketkeeper-batter looked set for his century, before he hesitated in coming back for a second with Mitchell Swepson and being run out by Jake Lehmann.