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Post by Webster on Aug 19, 2022 18:04:20 GMT
(The Guardian) Leeds United. Patrick Bamford (groin) and Liam Cooper (Achilles) face late fitness tests for the visit of Chelsea. “Coops has been on the pitch,” says Jesse Marsch. “Him and Pat, but they’re day to day, so we’ll see how that factors in for Chelsea. With Patrick we’ll probably make a decision tomorrow. We cannot risk him, we don’t want further injury, but he’s looking good.” Should neither player prove their fitness, Rodrigo will be handed the captain’s armband. “I said to him today, on the leadership council, he’s one we know will be starting. He’ll take the armband and take the penalties.” Thomas Tuchel v Antonio Conte. The pair locked horns, and hands, at Stamford Bridge last weekend, but the Chelsea boss insist he doesn’t harbour a grudge with his Spurs counterpart. “Of course we laugh, it’s very important to laugh and laugh at ourselves. I was laughing in the dressing room; it was the heat of the match, it was for me not that bad. “The handshake was maybe too long and too heavy I admit that but no harm was done at least from my side. And we didn’t insult each other. I think the thing would have ended if there were not 20 people around us that make the thing look much worse than it actually was. “But you’re right, if you have reaction like this you need to live to the reaction towards it. And of course I laughed about myself. It was passion between two men who fought for their team and I hope they don’t make more of it. “It’s not that big a deal for me, it was about passion and nothing more. He was fighting for his team, I was fighting for my team. As you hopefully felt before we played Tottenham last season with Conte and now, I have nothing but the biggest respect for him. And this will not change because of that incident.”
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Post by Webster on Aug 19, 2022 18:05:52 GMT
(The Guardian) Everton. Frank Lampard has no intention of allowing Anthony Gordon, who has attracted interest from Chelsea, to leave Goodison. “He’s an Everton player, and that’s it for me, I don’t want to talk about hypotheticals. He has got a huge value to the team and to me. We are not looking at it as ‘Where can we go with this deal?’ Anthony is a great player for us. We know his value but he’s a big player for me and the team.” However, he’s not making any categorical promises he won’t be able to keep. “You can’t ask me to assure anything, it’ll be naive of me to assure anything. I can’t assure I’ll be here by the end of the window.” Hmm. Now then. A wry quip, surely. Or is that a shot whistling across the board’s bows? More Everton. Lampard may be digging his heels in re Anthony Gordon, but he isn’t so fussed about keeping hold of Dele Alli. Everton have agreed a loan to Besiktas with an option to buy, with the final decision resting with Dele himself. “There is interest in Dele, that has come out publicly. That is one for us to consider behind the scenes and for Dele to consider, for him to go would have to be right for everybody.” As to why the 26-year-old former Spurs and England player’s career is in danger of heading down the swanny, Lampard mused: “It is a long conversation. The moment Dele’s name comes up in the media, people queue up to have an opinion and it’s often negative and I don’t think that is fair to a young man whose talent took him on to the world stage at a young age. I think everyone was aware of the curve of his career and that was something you take into account. “In my job you have to have the football side and the human side. I like Dele and I want to help him. The main thing I want to do is be a support for the players. The only thing I know for sure is that hard work correlates on the pitch.” Another shot across some bows there, this time ones belonging to the player. Seems Frank has come to the same conclusion as Jose did, way back when.
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Aug 19, 2022 18:07:17 GMT
(The Guardian) Leicester City. The brilliant young French defender Wesley Fofana wants to go to Chelsea. But Chelsea don’t want to pay upwards of £80m for him, despite Leicester’s valuation being perfectly reasonable when using Harry Maguire as a unit of measurement. Cue stand-off, and Fofana being grounded this weekend. Brentford. The Bees face Fulham in a west London derby tomorrow. Their mood is buoyant, coming off the back of that win over Manchester United, but Thomas Frank is more than aware of the survival battle still ahead. “We are playing a club which I think it’s fair to say historically is bigger than Brentford,” he says. “They played in the Premier League for many years, they have far more Premier League experience in the squad. They’ve used £50m, we’ve used £45m, so it’s going to be difficult. “Speaking about the numbers, money is a big thing. What we are up against at Brentford is we have the second lowest budget. Nottingham Forest have spent £45m on Morgan Gibbs-White. That’s the same amount we spent on all our five signings! That’s what we are fighting against. “But no problem. It is what it is. We try to do things a bit different and take a gamble on younger players because we believe in our strategy and we like the challenge.”
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Aug 19, 2022 18:08:04 GMT
(The Guardian) West Ham. David Moyes is in the market for a left-back, and is reportedly interested in Chelsea’s Emerson. Not that he’s likely to tell the likes of us anything. “I wouldn’t talk about players at other clubs until they become my player,” he told the press pack today. “We would like somebody in that left-back area to help Cressy [Aaron Cresswell] and give us some more cover there, we have not had it, but I wouldn’t talk about any individual players from any other clubs.” Leeds. Jesse Marsch has confirmed United’s interest in FC Zurich striker Willy Gnonto, albeit with a caveat that the Italian teenager would be a “long-term project.” As for sating supporters’ desire for fresh meat now, and with the club having seen their top target Charles De Ketelaere move from Brugge to Milan, Marsch insisted he was still looking around for someone to bolster the forward line immediately. “I still feel, to balance out our squad effectively, it would be helpful. But we need the right guy,” he said. “I don’t want to bring in somebody who’s going to take three months to adapt and educate and then not be ready to help us. “The variables in terms of how prepared they are are, do they understand our football, the league, play with this quality, run at the level and press at the level and be intelligent enough to execute our match plans: those are the factors. It’s not just ‘yeah we need a striker’ and then pick him out of the sky. Who is that guy who can meet the standards and the balance of what we need in the squad?”
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Aug 19, 2022 18:09:17 GMT
(The Guardian) More West Ham. David Moyes has called on fans not to weigh down summer signing Gianluca Scamacca with too much expectation. The 23-year-old striker, signed for £35.5m from Sassuolo, scored his first goal for his new club in the 3-1 win over Danish side Viborg in the Europa Conference League qualifier on Thursday, after coming off the bench in the first two Premier League matches of the season. “In time he will have an impact, but if we are going to judge him quickly, I don’t think that is fair,” Moyes said. “We will be trying to bring him into the Premier League gradually and we will look to do that as we go along. He will get to know us better, we will get to know him. But we have seen enough from him to suggest he has a lot of things going for him and hopefully he will help us.” Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs midfielder Tanguy Ndombele has joined Napoli on loan for the rest of the season. The 25-year-old France international hasn’t been part of Antonio Conte’s plans, and spent the second half of last season on loan at his old club Lyon. Now he’s off to try his luck in Serie A with Napoli, who have an option to buy if things work out well. Ndombele joined Spurs from Lyon in 2019, making 91 appearances and scoring ten goals, the best of which came against Sheffield United.
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Post by Webster on Aug 19, 2022 18:10:08 GMT
(The Guardian) Chelsea. N’Golo Kante will miss several weeks of action after sustaining a hamstring injury against Spurs last weekend. “We’re talking about weeks, which is not good news,” says his manager Thomas Tuchel. “We’re disappointed and sad because N’Golo was super fit.” Young striker Armando Broja and influential midfielder Mateo Kovacic will also miss the trip to Leeds with injury. More Chelsea. Thomas Tuchel is hoping to make some more signings before the transfer window shuts. Chelsea, who completed a deal for 19-year-old Italian midfielder Cesare Casadei from Internazionale today, retain an interest in Leicester defender Wesley Fofana and the Barcelona pair Frenkie de Jong and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. “As long as the transfer window is open, there are always possibilities,” says Tuchel. “We had a couple of training sessions with 18 players: with one game a week this isn’t a problem, but if you look what is coming, we’ll need a lot of quality players to be competitive.”
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Post by Webster on Aug 22, 2022 1:32:23 GMT
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Aug 22, 2022 17:17:05 GMT
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#1979e6
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Post by Webster on Aug 23, 2022 0:11:13 GMT
(BBC Sport) Manchester United walked out to face Liverpool amid a mood of insurrection and undisguised pessimism - then walked off to noisy acclaim as the Erik ten Hag era was ignited on a memorable night of sound and fury at Old Trafford. United's supporters marched in their thousands in protest against the ownership of the Glazers before kick-off and even the pre-match parading of new £60m signing Casemiro was accompanied by the soundtrack of open discontent aimed at the Americans. There was, however, unity behind an outstanding United performance that made a nonsense of the embarrassment of the home defeat by Brighton and 4-0 humiliation at Brentford in Ten Hag's first two Premier League games. He ordered his players to take their anger out on Liverpool and, from the first whistle, this was as good as Old Trafford has felt for some time as the manager got exactly what he wanted for his first victory. How United's fans loved every second of it after the misery of recent times under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, two large portions of it inflicted by Jurgen Klopp's side. Ten Hag and United needed this to lift the mood of crisis and unrest around Manchester United and who better to produce it against than Liverpool? The concerns of fans heading to Old Trafford were not just about United's abject early performances but the memories of the 5-0 embarrassment at Liverpool's hands here last season. What a contrast this was as United tore into Liverpool from the kick-off, Jadon Sancho's perfect piece of composure the result of searing early pressure. United showed more passion and intent in the first 10 minutes here than they did in two league matches against Liverpool last season, which ended with a 9-0 aggregate in the Merseysiders' favour. And the biggest winner was Ten Hag, whose stock will rise with the manner in which he made the big, brave calls and also produced a tactical gameplan that worked to perfection. Ten Hag had to do something after the Brentford debacle because what he witnessed there was unacceptable and unsustainable. He responded with a selection he knew would face scrutiny if it went wrong. He dropped captain Harry Maguire and the talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, then saw United produce a performance of intensity, defensive solidity and bravery. It was the most satisfying vindication. Maguire's standing as captain must now be in doubt after he was left out of what is arguably United's biggest game of the season. He can have no complaints as they looked much more secure without him. Raphael Varane was powerful aerially while Lisandro Martinez showed a fierce competitive spirit, making his intentions clear with robust early challenges on Mohamed Salah. Ronaldo only appeared with United running down the clock after Salah's late goal threatened to give Liverpool a point they did not deserve. Ten Hag went with the pace of Sancho and Marcus Rashford - who showed great composure to score United's second goal - along with Anthony Elanga, replaced at half-time by Anthony Martial, to press and exploit Liverpool's increasingly vulnerable high defensive line. The results were clear to see as Liverpool were run ragged at the back, with Virgil van Dijk's poor early-season form exposed again, especially with a strangely passive attempt to stop Sancho scoring. Ten Hag got it all spot on - and now United have shown what they can do without Maguire and Ronaldo, he should stick with it. This is not great news for England centre-back Maguire's World Cup prospects and may hasten Ronaldo towards the exit, but neither of these issues are Ten Hag's concern and nor should they be. It all inspired the most remarkable switch in emotions around Manchester United. Yes, the fans still want the Glazers out, but this was a performance they could appreciate and relate to from first to last. One of the big questions was whether United actually had it in them to come back from the defeats such as Brentford. This was an emphatic response. As for Liverpool, this was another chastening evening in what has been a bitterly disappointing start to the campaign. Yes, they have mounting injury problems and the stupidity of Darwin Nunez's red card against Crystal Palace was brought into even sharper focus as Liverpool were not even given the opportunity to exploit Martinez's lack of height. Klopp's decision to leave Fabinho on the bench was mystifying, especially when Jordan Henderson and James Milner were so badly exposed and off the pace from the kick-off. Liverpool will get better but their tally of only two points from three games is a fair reflection on their performances so far. They have deserved no more. They have not been anywhere near good enough when set against previous sky-high standards. As for United, they can celebrate a victory few predicted against a Liverpool side that destroyed them twice last season. They are now even ahead of them in the Premier League table. This was a hugely satisfying night for Manchester United and new manager Ten Hag.
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Post by Webster on Aug 26, 2022 17:44:09 GMT
(The Guardian) Before his Southampton side face Manchester United at St Mary’s tomorrow lunchtime, Ralph Hassenhüttl reckons Erik ten Hag is going to pull it all together and get Manchester United challenging for titles again: “This is a team that has a new manager - it is not surprising that it doesn’t work immediately everything perfectly,” Hassenhüttl said. “It would be more surprising when they’re immediately flying. I see a very clear identity of what they’re doing now, what they want to do now. “You are speaking still about a top team that is going for titles and will also do this this season. If you beat Liverpool, this is a big sign, a big message to everybody that they are definitely in a good way and I see the clear identity of what they want to do and after all the problems they had. They will come with a lot of self confidence.” (Quotes via PA Media)
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Post by Webster on Aug 26, 2022 17:51:43 GMT
(The Guardian) Brighton forward Neal Maupay is undergoing a medical ahead of a proposed move to Everton, with Frank Lampard insistent any incomings are not dependent on the sale of Anthony Gordon. Maupay, who has scored 26 goals in 102 Premier League appearances for Brighton, is currently on Merseyside finalising the transfer and what would be a three-year contract. The French forward could make his Everton debut away at Brentford on Saturday if registered by noon today. Everton have been in desperate need of additions in attack all summer and have also rejected interest from Chelsea in England under-21 international Gordon. Lampard has denied reports that Chelsea have offered up to £60m for Gordon and that he needs to raise funds to buy in the final days of the transfer window. “Yes I do (have money to spend),” the Everton manager said. “Things are obviously relative. It’s an area we want to improve and we will improve it by the end of the window. It will happen.” On Chelsea’s £60m bid for Gordon, he added: “No, that hasn’t come in. He is our player and remains so. He is in the squad for tomorrow. He is a huge player for us and of huge value to the team. He is an Everton boy.” Lampard revealed Dominic Calvert-Lewin is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a knee injury sustained just before the season and is due to resume training next week. He added: “If he trains in the middle of next week, will he be ready for Liverpool? That will be tough but we can start to look at the games after that.”
Eddie Howe is hoping Alexander Isak with add “the X-factor” to his team as Newcastle close in on a club-record signing. The 22-year-old Sweden international was on Tyneside on Friday with a view to completing a move understood to be worth around £58m from Real Sociedad. On the progress of the deal, Howe said: “It’s not completed. We hope to get it done.” Asked if Isak could be signed in time to play at Wolves on Sunday, he added: “Yes, fingers crossed. There’s no guarantee with these things because we’re in other people’s hands, but hopefully. He will add those qualities he has - he has pace, technical ability, dribbling ability, he has got a bit of X-factor about him. “He is slightly different and I think he is capable of scoring goals.” (PA Media)
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Post by Webster on Aug 26, 2022 17:56:26 GMT
(The Guardian) Chelsea’s Kai Havertz has given an entertaining interview to Sky Sports News. He is asked about the team spirit at the club: “From the first day, Chelsea was … it was strange, when you go to a big club, as a young player you think it’s going to be crazy, they have so many big characters … but I have to say all the staff and players were so close, so friendly … it’s like a big family when you enter the training facilities.” And he is asked about settling into the culture: ““Chilly” [Ben Chilwell] said strange things to me like geezer … mate … pal … then he said mandem, and I was like “Mate, what are you talking about?”
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Post by Webster on Aug 26, 2022 18:02:06 GMT
(The Guardian) Speaking to the media earlier, Frank Lampard laughed off the idea that Chelsea have made a £60m bid for Anthony Gordon. Here is today’s story via PA Media: Everton boss Frank Lampard is adamant the club will sign a new striker before next week’s transfer window deadline. They have been linked with a move for Brighton’s Neal Maupay and, while Lampard refused to discuss individual targets, he insisted a signing will be completed. When asked if the money was available regardless of whether the club accept an offer from Chelsea for Anthony Gordon, Lampard said: “Yes. Obviously things are relative. I’m not saying the number I’ve got, but it’s an area I want to improve and we will improve it. We will improve it in this window, by the end of it. It will happen.” Lampard confirmed no bid had been received from his former club Chelsea for Gordon, after reports the Londoners are set to offer £60m for the England Under-21 forward. “They haven’t bid £60m, so let’s not talk about a number,” Lampard said. “It hasn’t come in, he’s our player and remains so. He’s in the squad for tomorrow. He’s a huge player for us.”
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Post by Webster on Aug 26, 2022 18:31:36 GMT
(The Guardian) Now to Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel with some team news on himself. Will he be present in the dug-out for the visit of Leicester on Saturday? A reminder that the Blues boss faces the prospect of a one-game touchline ban following his red card in the 2-2 draw with Spurs after it all got a bit heated with Antonio Conte. “I don’t think I will be on the touchline but it’s not 100 per cent sure yet. I think we can do the same as always because I can arrive at the stadium and be in the changing room, but not on the sideline. We have responded to the charge and we are waiting for the answer today, but I think I cannot be on the sideline as it seems, but I can be in the dressing room at half-time. So the players will still be prepared and it is not an excuse. “I think there are two sides to it. The one side to it is that I got a red card and I behaved in a way which is not appropriate and which I regret, but it was out of passion. I don’t think it was too aggressive and it was out of passion. I can accept that if I get a red card during a match, if this is the decision, then I have a touchline ban and then I’m fined. This is one side to it and I don’t dispute it and I can accept it. “What is hard to accept is the context, that I don’t think I started the aggression. It started earlier and I don’t think I was the only person involved and we both got a red card. A player pulled another player’s hair two minutes earlier, he can play on, he’s not banned and for a firm handshake at the end of the game one coach is banned. This is very hard to accept, but I have to accept it. But to put it into context I absolutely cannot understand it.”
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Post by Webster on Aug 26, 2022 18:33:16 GMT
(The Guardian) More from Thomas Tuchel on the status of two key Chelsea midfielders – N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic. It’s news of the contrasting variety. “With N’Golo we are talking about weeks, we are talking about four weeks plus. He is our key player normally that gives something to our team that no other player in the world can give to any other team. So that makes him a key player and if your key player is out it is a situation you don’t like and you have to deal with but it has a huge influence, of course. Mateo is back in the group. N’Golo is the only one who did not train through this week, so everybody is back in training. Kova is back in the group and ready to play some 20 minutes. “We miss him also as a personality and his experience and his quality of course, but it’s maybe 20 minutes at the moment. It was his first training week without reaction in the knee, so we cannot rush things, otherwise we will just sabotage our own plans with him. We need him long-term but it is good to have him back and have him as an option from the bench.”
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