Danny Rose has had a turbulent relationship with Tottenham Hotspur fans over the past 12 months.
After publicly criticising the club’s transfer policy and direction prior to the start of the 2017-18 campaign, many supporters fell out of love with the left-back.
Rose suggested that he was open to a move away, but a transfer never came.
A knee injury kept him on the sidelines for a significant spell, and during that time, Ben Davies became first choice under manager Mauricio Pochettino.
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Despite starting just 15 games in all competitions last season, Rose was included in England’s World Cup squad for Russia 2018.
In the build-up to the tournament, the 27-year-old, who is valued at £27m by Transfermarkt, earned plenty of respect for opening up about his battle with depression.
For so long, it seemed that Rose would leave Tottenham for Manchester United this summer, but according to The Mirror and The Telegraph, Jose Mourinho has cooled interest and will not pursue a £50m deal.
The publications suggest that the left-back might now seek a move abroad, and while some Tottenham fans find the situation amusing, others have forgiven Rose and want to see him back in the team.
Card
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West Ham confirmed the appointment of Mario Husillos as the club’s new Director of Football, and fans have been reacting to the news on social media.
The former Malaga Sporting Director worked with Manuel Pellegrini during a successful period for the club when they reached the Quarter Finals of the Champions League in 2012.
However, the 59-year-old Argentinian was considered by many to be the architect of Malaga’s downfall last season, making eight desperate signings in January who did nothing to prevent them being relegated from La Liga after ten years in the top flight.
In a club statement, co-chairman David Sullivan said: “Mario will take complete, strategic control of all player recruitment and, alongside Manuel, has the full support and confidence of myself and David Gold to lead that department.”
West Ham fans have had a mixed response to the club announcement, with some confident that Husillos can rekindle the successful partnership he had with Pellegrini at Malaga, while others are less happy with the appointment.
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England’s 2-1 win over Tunisia wasn’t exactly the perfect performance but it nonetheless displayed plenty of promise, not just for this World Cup but also the many tournaments to come, and Gareth Southgate must take huge credit for that, especially considering the Three Lions are one of the youngest and least-capped squads at the tournament.And a key embodiment of that is Kieran Trippier. Before the World Cup started, he’d only ever made seven appearances for England, but during Monday night’s crucial victory the Tottenham star showed how important his deliveries from the right-hand side will be for this developing Three Lions outfit.
Whether from dead ball situations or from open play, there was something David-Beckham-esque about Trippier’s influence on the game, which is highlighted by the statistics.
With six chances to his name, only the Manchester United icon and former Three Lions skipper has created more for England in a single World Cup game since 1996 – according to OptaJoe.
The Tottenham defender also weighed in with an incredible seven successful crosses, completed two dribbles, made two tackles and had 84 touches of the ball, but his impact was felt most from a corner in stoppage time, which met Harry Maguire’s head and fell into the path of Harry Kane for the winner.
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The importance of that quality at set pieces shouldn’t be downplayed, either. Three of the four sides with the most goals from set pieces reached the semi-finals at the last World Cup in 2014 – Brazil, Germany and the Netherlands – so it’s a fantastic asset for England to have, even if reaching the penultimate stage still feels at this point like something of a pipedream.
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Following the departure of John Terry, Aston Villa been set for a new defender.
Steve Bruce failed to guide the club back into the Premier League after losing the Championship playoff final to Fulham in May.
The Villans have been dogged by rumours of financial strife since the end of the season, so the cheapest options will certainly be on their radar.
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Australian defender Trent Sainsbury has emerged as a potential target and he certainly fits into the ‘cheap’ category given that he is a free agent.
The 26-year-old, who has earned 38 international caps in his career, spent two years at Jiangsu Suning, but was at Grasshopper Club Zurich last season on loan.
During the World Cup in Russia is when Sainsbury caught the attention, but unfortunately Australia could not progress past the group stage.
Despite failing to reach the knockout rounds, Sainsbury had a positive tournament on a individual level.
The former Central Coast Mariners player showed his positive decision-making with numerous clearances and also proved that he is strong in the air.
As well as displaying his defensive attributes, the Australian successfully found his attacking teammates with 12 accurate long balls.
Sainsbury may not be the biggest name in global football, but Villa have the chance to sign him on a free transfer.
Of course, there is a gamble given how inexperienced he is in English football, but he has the qualities to thrive in the Championship.
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Gareth Southgate’s 3-1-4-2 system is perhaps the most innovative formation we’ve seen at the 2018 World Cup so far this summer. Against certain opposition, it’s given England a unique edge, exploiting the mobility of key offensive-minded players, while generating a style of football that has been far beyond what the Three Lions managed in previous tournaments despite having arguably superior players available.
Throw in how surprisingly unintimidating England’s potential opponents are on course to the final, especially when compared to the other side of the knockout tree, and an inevitable sense of optimism has grown around Southgate’s young side over the last few days. But how does England’s 3-1-4-2 stack up against the rest of the competition in this side of the draw? Who will it rip apart, and which countries are well equipped to exploit its idiosyncrasies?
Football FanCast’s tactical power rankings give an insight into who England should and shouldn’t look forward to facing as they eye a run to the World Cup final…
5th – Sweden
Wouldn’t there be something deliciously poetic in England being eliminated from the World Cup by a side that essentially play 4-4-2? In real terms, Sweden’s formation becomes more of a 4-4-1-1 with former Sunderland man Ola Toivonen tucking in behind veteran target man Marcus Berg. But the real fear here is how England’s fancy football holds up against a far less ambitious, far more agricultural side that are used to playing without the ball for long periods.
Sweden averaged just 41% possession in the Group Stages and scored only twice from open play, but managed to keep two clean sheets in the process. Although Tunisia dug deep, England haven’t really been faced with that kind of test yet – a highly physical and resilient side that will be relatively comfortable playing the game on the back foot.
Throw in England’s nightmare exit from Euro 2016 at the hands of another Scandinavian nation and the manner in which Denmark’s long throws upset Croatia so greatly, and Sweden could inspire a bit of an upset against the Three Lions.
4th – Switzerland
A talented team on paper but Switzerland’s exclusive use of 4-2-3-1 now feels a little out of date. Three-man defences are very much a reaction to that kind of setup and England’s wide players should be able to pin Switzerland’s full-backs relatively deep, which immediately cancels out one of their chief creative threats and technical talents in No.3 Ricardo Rodriguez.
Xherdan Shaqiri is their talisman though, having scored and assisted in the Group Stages, and his penchant for drifting inside from the right wing will inevitably create some confusion over which England player should be picking him up – Ashley Young at wing-back, Jordan Henderson in deep midfield or Harry Maguire from left centre-half.
However, from the 15 Premier League goals Shaqiri contributed to for Stoke last season, just one was against a team employing a three-man defence. If the statistics are anything to go by, good communication between Henderson, Maguire and Young should be enough to keep Shaqiri out of the game for long periods.
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3rd – Russia
Russia have defied expectations so far at the World Cup and there are two key reasons England could become another big scalp for the host nation in the coming rounds. First and foremost, they’re one of the most direct teams at the tournament with an average of 64 long passes per match, and it remains to be seen how an England back three modest in height will be able to cope with that kind of aerial bombardment, especially Kyle Walker at the back post. He could end up in a disastrous mismatch with Artem Dzyuba.
Secondly, from the five teams England could face before the tournament’s end, Russia are the only one to have already employed a three-man defence (albeit more of a five-man defence in practice) at the World Cup. That’s proved to be a bit of an achilles heel for Southage’s 3-1-4-2 setup: it inspired Nigeria’s second-half comeback in the first warm up friendly and was the formation Belgium used, albeit both managers setting out weakened teams, during England’s only Group Stage loss.
Russia miss out from featuring higher in the tactical power rankings though, for one key reason. They’ve already conceded twice from set pieces whereas England are one of the tournament’s most potent sides in that regard – netting four from dead ball situations in their opening two games.
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2nd – Croatia
Croatia were amongst the most dominant teams in the World Cup’s Group Stages and that centred around the immense quality in their midfield, particularly through Ivan Rakitic, Luka Modric and the wide men. As the tournament’s progressed, Croatia have done more and more to try and get Modric in the game further forward where his delicate passes can prove decisive, and that should be England’s biggest concern as well.
While the Three Lions have three centre-halves to pick off those kinds of balls behind the defence, Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli will need to sit deep and help Henderson out to ensure Croatia’s midfield doesn’t quickly take control of the game, while the wingers both like to drift inside – which could create real problems between centre-back and wing-back in the channels.
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The other side to that argument, though, is how Alli and Lingard could find real joy in making runs off the back of Modric and Rakitic. Both are forward-thinking players and although they’ll likely be anchored by a more defensive midfielder, Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vida will struggle if Lingard and Alli get the chance to run at them.
1st – Colombia
Colombia’s formation bears similarity to Switzerland but some key differences and superior quality of personnel should make them more of a test for England, which showed in their 3-0 win over Poland as the South American side lined up with a like-minded three-man defence.
Perhaps the most crucial of those is Juan Cuadrado – whereas Switzerland’s wide players look to cut inwards, the one-time Chelsea winger has spent most of the World Cup hugging the touchline. That will give Young some key decisions to make in regards to the positions he takes up and how much he looks to push forward, and Trippier could end up facing similar problems on the opposite flank depending on who starts there. James Rodriguez likes to drift into midfield, but potential understudy Jose Izquierdo is more of a winger-forward whose initial instinct is to try and score goals.
That being said, should Raheem Stering drop deep as expected to form a diamond in the engine room, Jordan Henderson could get some joy as the spare man – especially if he can replicate the fantastic passing range he showed against Panama and Tunisia. But considering both of these teams have very similar strengths, particularly their ability to press high and exploit the mobility of the front four on the counter-attack, it looks set to be an incredibly open game.
According to a recent report from The Daily Mail (via The Sun), Celtic are interested in a January move for defender Jeremy Toljan. The 24-year-old currently plays his football at German giants Borussia Dortmund and has done so since leaving Hoffenheim back in 2017, although struggles for regular game time this time round has called his future at the Bundesliga outfit into question.
And a recent report from The Daily Mail (via The Sun) suggests that Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic are eyeing up a late January move for the right back in a bid to bolster that particular area of the field, with the £2.7 million-rated defender (as per Transfermarkt) the man to finally give Mikael Lustig something to think about down the right-hand-side.
The Breakdown
Ultimately, Sweden international Lustig has been an excellent servant to the Bhoys following his move from Rosenborg back in 2012, with the defender having since then appeared 263 times for the Scottish giants, helping the club win seven successive Scottish Premiership titles in the process.
However, at the age of 32, it does appear as though things are beginning to catch up with the right back given he hasn’t always convinced down the Celtic right-hand-side this season – but with Cristian Gamboa struggling for game time under Rodgers as well, the Northern Irishman clearly doesn’t fancy the Costa Rica international as Lustig’s regular deputy.
As such, it seems pretty clear that not only is a right back needed in the long-term for life after Lustig, but the 32-year-old may need fresh competition this term to improve his form for the Bhoys – the arrival of Dortmund’s Toljan would surely do just that.
The 24-year-old made the move to the Bundesliga outfit from fellow German side Hoffenheim in 2017 after impressing at the latter, and while he appeared 16 times in the league for Dortmund last time round under a combination of Peter Bosz and Peter Stoger, he has struggled to convince new boss Lucien Favre of his capabilities.
In fact, the Germany Under-21 international has failed to appear even once in the Bundesliga for the current table-toppers to underline just how far down the pecking order he is under Favre – a move away clearly appears to be in Toljan’s best interests if he is serious about playing regularly.
And with a couple of assists for Dortmund last time round, as well as a goal in their 2-2 draw with Freiburg back in January 2018, the 24-year-old clearly has pedigree in the more attacking areas of the pitch in seeking to get forward and create opportunities – and with Kieran Tierney able to do the same down the Celtic left, the duo could be a constant thorn in opposition’s sides.
Importantly though, the arrival of Toljan might just be what Lustig needs to rediscover his best form for the Bhoys, as the lack of competition in that right back ranks may well be playing a part in his struggles this term – quite simply, he isn’t really being pushed.
But the arrival of the younger and arguably more dynamic Toljan would give him that competition, and thus very much something to think about in the second half of the campaign.
Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard has revealed that he held talks with both Liverpool and Manchester United, as well and Manchester City, before signing for Real Madrid in January.
The teenage winger, who has been likened to Portuguese hero Cristiano Ronaldo, was one of the most sought after players on the planet at the back end of 2014 following his heroics with Stromgodset, whom he helped to a league title, and his status as his nation’s youngest ever senior international – he was capped at the age of 15.
Speculation of a move to English football was rife ahead of the winter transfer window, with talks with Manchester United and Liverpool widely thought to have taken place – Odegaard was photographed training with the Reds’ first-team.
WANT MORE? >> Manchester United transfer news | Liverpool transfer news
However, he eventually opted to sign for Real, and has since been playing for the Liga giants’ second team (‘Castilla’) under the guidance of Zinedine Zidane.
And now the Scandinavian starlet has revealed that he did speak with United and Liverpool before deciding that Madrid was the best choice for his development:
“I visited Liverpool, the two Manchester teams and they were all very nice but my choice was Real Madrid and I am very happy with that,” he is quoted by the Daily Mail.
“Madrid is very good. It is the best place if you want to become a better footballer. I have been given the No 10 shirt (at Castilla) and it is a big responsibility having that number but it is the one that I like and I am just going to enjoy it.
“I have spoken a little bit with Rafa Benitez but not too much at the minute. My focus is to become a better footballer and develop every day.”
Odegaard has been included in Real’s Champions League squad for this season, albeit his chances of playing are slim.
Although he may not arrive as the most illustrious name within Slaven Bilic’s current West Ham squad, James Collins nonetheless represents arguably the most under-rated player still operating at Upton Park.
Through thick and thin, the 32-year-old centre-back has always been there for the Hammers, displaying a sense of loyalty that is rarely noticed among the modern game today.
The Welsh international – who has most recently been a part of Chris Coleman’s successful qualification to Euro 2016 with the Dragons – simply hasn’t had many chances to show what he’s all about under West Ham’s new style of management. After getting sent-off and potentially even costing his side a safe passage in an ill-fated Europa League qualifier earlier on this campaign, the writing seemed like it could have already been on the wall for the no-nonsense defender.
Bilic seemingly preferred to count upon the likes of Angelo Ogbonna, Winston Reid and James Tomkins when deciding to construct his back-four at Upton Park, yet as the Croatian tactician was left with no choice but to play Collins last time out away to Crystal Palace, the former Cardiff and Aston Villa blocker nonetheless shone once again in West Ham colours.
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So then, is James Collins little more than a determined Premier League defender willing to do his best for his side when called upon, or is the current Hammers’ no. 19 actually the greatest unsung hero among Slaven Bilic’s high-flying outfit at the moment?
Well, ever since he first arrived at Upton Park in the summer of 2005, the towering centre-back has enjoyed a distinctly impressive relationship with the West Ham fan-base.
You don’t get called the ‘Ginger Pele’ for nothing at the Boleyn Ground of course, even if Hammers teammate – Mark Noble – currently goes down as the ‘Cockney Pirlo’ in and around the east end.
James Collins is nonetheless truly deserving of the praise. Via his physical presence among the Hammers’ back-line, sheer tenacity in the tackle and unrivalled sense of bravery when it comes to blocking out the opposition at absolutely any cost – this is a man few could honestly discredit. West Ham have traditionally gone down as somewhat of a pushover throughout the club’s history, yet through the addition of players such a Collins, that particular tag no longer resembles the current outfit we see today at Upton Park. Maybe Sam Allardyce therefore deserves credit for instilling at least some positive traits among this current Hammers group…
As there are ultimately two sides to every coin, though, there are nonetheless a few important shortcomings to the defender’s overall game that have arguably held him back somewhat during his time in the east end. Regardless of the player’s creditable attitude to the match-day scenario with every passing week, Collins just isn’t the most technically gifted centre-back the Premier League has ever seen.
On the contrary, the 32-year-old has in-fact been at fault when it comes to passing the ball out calmly from the back at times, which has potentially damaged his reputation when compared with West Ham’s other impressive centre-back options. For all his physical prowess and strong defensive organisation along the Hammers’ back-line, the Welsh international simply fails to represent a fully reliable ball-player when his side often require him to be.
Yet having said that, sometimes a manager needs a player like James Collins to count upon among his ranks. For as strong as Reid, Tomkins and Ogbonna have looked at Upton Park so far this season, none of the aforementioned names seem quite as willing to put their body on the line as much as their fellow defensive teammate – and for that particular reason alone – Bilic must not see fit to end Collins’ stint at West Ham before it’s time.
The Hammers’ have already had to count upon the experienced centre-back already this season through injury concerns alone. It remains a testament to the level of strength in depth currently on offer at the Boleyn Ground that a player of Collins’ quality arrives only as the fourth choice centre-back option available to Slaven Bilic.
Ultimately then, West Ham’s no. 19 may well indeed represent the greatest unsung hero currently on the books at the east end club. He may not be widely appreciated outside the confines of Upton Park much these days, but that doesn’t mean he has been forgotten among the Hammers’ faithful. James Collins could therefore maintain his place in the starting XI as West Ham go on to face an undoubtedly physical Chelsea side currently desperate for points.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has given a huge injury update ahead of the Hammers’ Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.The Hammers have been missing Enner Valencia and Alex Song since the beginning of the campaign, while summer arrival Angelo Ogbonna has been sidelined for three weeks through injury.But while striker Andy Carroll continues his slow but steady return to full fitness following a nine month spell on the sidelines, defenders Aaron Cresswell and Winston Reid are both touch-and-go for Saturday’s London derby.WANT MORE? >> West Ham transfer news | Latest transfer newsBilic told West Ham’s official website: “Thankfully Andy’s injury wasn’t too bad, we didn’t risk him against Sunderland but he’s back now.“The other two [Valencia and Ogbonna] have been out for longer so we needed to be more patient but they are back in training and looking good.”Enner played 20 minutes in the friendly against Reading and looked really good, he’s been out for a while so he still needs a few weeks. But when I see him in training he does things that make you think ’maybe he could 10 minutes on Saturday’, but I think it’ll be two weeks until he’s fully ready.”“They’re [Reid and Cresswell] not too serious thank God, but we will have to wait.“We will assess them in training today and tomorrow and then make a decision if they’re available for the Palace game.”West Ham are unbeaten inÂtheir four games away from the Boleyn Ground so far this season, with a 2-2 draw following three famous consecutive away victories against Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City respectively.But Bilic admits he is wary of the threat an equally impressive Palace side can pose and admits his players are ready for a difficult test at Selhurst Park.“They have great players who can make an impact instantly, out of nothing, so we need to aware of that,†Bilic admitted.“I’m sure it’ll be a great game and a very difficult test for us.”
In the final Boxing Day game, the Saints host Arsenal and it could be a massive game for the Gunners.
With Alexis Sanchez still unavailable through injury, Arsenal have found some strong form of late and have the opportunity to go top of the table with a victory here; thanks to a defeat for Leicester this afternoon.
Arsene Wenger’s side are building on their successive FA Cup successes and may well not get a better chance to win the title than they have this season.
Ozil’s brilliant has been well publicised, and we can be sure Southampton will look to man mark the playmaker, whilst Southampton have been plodding along in the relative comfort and stress-free life of mid-table football.
Ronald Koeman is finally feeling the effects of selling so many players during the last couple of summers and this game will be one of their hardest fixtures of the season.
Here are SEVEN facts you must know before kick off…
Gunning Supreme
Arsenal have lost just one of their last 11 Premier League games against Southampton (W6 D4 L1).
The Gunners boast a very good head-to-head with the Saints over the last 11 meetings and it looks as though they will carry on that streak.
Giroud playing away
Football – Arsenal v Liverpool – Barclays Premier League – Emirates Stadium – 4/4/15Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring the fourth goal for ArsenalAction Images via Reuters / John SibleyLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further d
Olivier Giroud has scored in five of Arsenal’s last six Premier League away matches.
Giroud is one of Europe’s form strikers at the moment and it would be worth a flutter on him to carry on that streak!
Saints go easy on the Turkey
Football – Stock Season 98/99Mandatory Credit:Action ImagesMatthew Le Tissier – Southampton
Southampton have lost just one of their last seven Barclays Premier League games played on Boxing Day (W3 D3 L1).
Koeman will be hoping that his side can continue their strong festive record, despite facing one of Europe’s best.
Dodgy Advent
Southampton have picked up just one point in their last five Premier League matches (D1 L4).
December has been a poor period for Koeman’s side and they are at risk of dropping into the battling lower echelons of the table.
Gunners firing Away
Arsenal have won the most Premier League points away from home in 2015 so far (38).
Giroud’s fine form away from home has helped Arsenal prove they can do it in the tough away trips this year.
Ronald’s poor form
Football – Southampton v Queens Park Rangers – Barclays Premier League – St Mary’s Stadium – 27/9/14Southampton manager Ronald KoemanMandatory Credit: Action Images / Henry BrowneLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further detail
Saints have never failed to win for six consecutive Premier League games under Ronald Koeman, last doing so in December 2013 under Mauricio Pochettino.
The wonderful successes of last season are a distant memory for Ronald Koeman now and the Dutchman is in such a bad run that its been a couple of years since the Saints reached an ebb this low.
Pinpoint Mesut
Football – Arsenal Training – Arsenal Training Ground – 16/3/15Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil during trainingAction Images via Reuters / John SibleyLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Mesut Ozil now has 15 goal assists in the 2015-16 Premier League – only five players have ever managed more in a single Premier League season.
His fans might be cringeworthy, but Ozil’s stunning form is going to see him smash all creative PL records.