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Football News: Review Of The Day 22nd February

Review Of The Day 22nd February
Image from: captalk.net

Review of the Day

 

Deschamps Makes Bizarre Sissoko Claims

Didier Deschamps has continously picked Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Moussa Sissoko for his France team, despite him being the butt of jokes from his own teams' fans. Sissoko is oft ridiculed by both Spurs and France fans, who struggle to appreciate what he brings to the team. Deschamps said: "I like Moussa Sissoko. He is not my 'favourite', I appreciate what he does. Moussa, he is the prototype of a soldier. He was the soldier of [former coach Alain] Casanova at Toulouse, he is Pochettino's solider at Tottenham, even if it was more complicated at the start. One just has to look at the Euro final to see what Moussa Sissoko is capable of.

Aside from that, if you are going to ask him to do what Kylian Mbappe or Kingsley Coman does, he is a completely different player. He does not complain. Whether he starts the match or comes on after two minutes, ten minutes, twenty minutes, he gets into the match. He gives, he gives. He is very appreciated by his team-mates and feared by his opponents." At least we know why Sissoko often seems like he has never played football before in his life, he is actually a soldier, not a footballer!

 

Zizou Wants Madrid Stay

After describing Real Madrid as the most exhausting club to manage recently, Zinedine Zidane has sought to quosh speculation over his future. "I'm not tired," the Frenchman said. "Sometimes, responding (to questions) there are some doubts, but at the end, I'll continue until I get tired of this job," Zidane said. "I'm fine here, I'm going to continue to fight. But I will say that I take it day by day. With a long contract or not, it is day by day, that is what helps me be strong. I'm going to fight to stay here forever. If I am to continue, before the end of the season I will tell you. Just before," the former Real Madrid superstar and France international said. "I enjoy every day. It takes it out of you but I'm very young. I'm not 75 years old and able to say that I'm tired of training. I'm 45 years old and I'm in good shape to train," Zidane added.

 


Saiz Suspension Cost Me Leeds Job Says Christiansen

Former Leeds United head coach Thomas Christiansen has said that the loss of Samuel Saiz to a 6 match ban for spitting is what cost him his job last month. Christiansen said: "Our best player, Spaniard Samuel Saiz, got a red card for spitting at an opponent in the face as we went out of the FA Cup against Newport. He got six matches out and some of the others also got long suspensions. Samuel Saiz was our most important player in the offensive part of the game and we couldn't afford to buy a new one. Suspensions and injuries piled up. The squad just wasn't big enough for us to replace those players."

 

Warner Succeeds In Holding Up Extradition Proceedings

Disgraced former FIFA official Jack Warner has managed to have the extradition proceedings against him placed on hold until November. Warner is fighting an attempt to have him extradited to the USA on charges of wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering. After a failed attempt to have a judicial review claim against his extradition, which was thrown out by the presiding judge, he has now appealed against that decision with the appeal set to be heard in November.

 

Gueye Signs New Everton Contract

Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye has signed a new long term contract with the Toffees, tying him down until 2022. The 28 year old Senegalese international joined Everton in August 2016 and made an immediate impression with his all action style. "Everton is the right place for me and this is why I have signed my new deal," Gueye told the club's official website. "I love the fans here. They have been great to me. They made it easy for me to sign this contract. Of course, I spoke with my family and my agent, but the love of the fans was really important and this is a really good thing for me. I have enjoyed immensely my time so far at the club, I enjoy working with the manager, his staff and the players here and we are really determined to finish the season strongly."

 

Sagna Admits Palace And Hammers Interest

Following his release from Manchester City last summer, Bacary Sagna found it difficult to find a new club, ending up waiting until January before eventually signing with Italian strugglers Benevento. The French right back was hoping for a move back to London, where he had spent a number of years playing for Arsenal, but interest from both Crystal Palace and West Ham United went nowhere. "I had been in contact with West Ham and Crystal Palace since March 2017," said Sagna to L'Equipe. "In my mind, I wanted to go home, to London, good for the family side. Overnight, they cut off the contacts, without explanation."

 

Tosun Believes Trip To Dubai Has Helped Him Adapt To The Premier League

Everton's January signing Cenk Tosun has struggled to break into the team so far, with manager Sam Allardyce publicly stating that the Turkish striker is struggling to cope with the demands of the English game. Tosun believes the recent squad trip to Dubai for warm weather training has helped him: "We didn't go to Dubai for sun and relaxation," Tosun told evertonfc.com. "We trained hard, with sessions on the grass followed by gym sessions and then recuperation in the late afternoons. The temperatures were hot and we worked hard each day. Team-bonding is very important and getting to know your teammates as the people they are, as individuals. Spending every day around the guys means that we know one another better now. I've settled in very well, I really believe that. But the training camp in Dubai was perfect to help me adapt even further to my new surroundings, my new club, a new league. We had a lot of fun along with the serious work and I hope it will help me on the pitch for the next games. I believe it will."

 

Hammers Set To Help Daggers

Dagenham & Redbridge are currently in dire financial trouble, despite hosting West Ham United's Premier League 2 games at their home ground. West Ham are set to give further aid to their neighbours by playing a friendly against them during next month's international break. The game, to be played on 21st March, will see Dagenham receive all the proceeds, with West Ham claiming no expenses. "As soon as we heard that Dagenham & Redbridge were in need of financial assistance, David Moyes and I didn't hesitate to offer our help by sending down a team for a fundraising friendly with our neighbours," Sullivan said. "We've always enjoyed a close relationship with the Daggers and are looking forward to this match, not only as a means of raising important funds, but also because it will be an enjoyable evening of football."

 

Thousands Sign Petition Asking Short To Sell Sunderland

Thousands of Sunderland fans have signed a petition calling on Ellis Short to sell the Black Cats as quickly as possible. With the club's latest accounts revealing a debt of £110m it may not be as easy as the fans believe to sell a team struggling to survive in the Championship as attendances dwindle. The open letter accompanying the petition says: "Do us a favour Mr Short - sell. Make it your number one priority to source a reputable buyer and go. The match day experience is unrecognisable. Thousands of supporters have understandably given up and no longer bother. It feels like Sunderland AFC has lost its soul, and with it we'll lose a generation of supporters. There may have been a period in which Ellis Short was enamoured of SAFC, but that time has long passed. By contrast our infatuation lives on, almost 140 years strong, a never-ending blessing and curse. Owners come and owners go. We're Sunderland 'til we die. We are a club steeped in tradition with its fair share of glory and pain, but through thick and thin this club has had a heartbeat, a lifeblood that is as passionate as they come. We are not the tatty, discarded plaything of a frustrated and disillusioned billionaire, who no longer finds novelty in owning a football club."

 

Leicester Pay Off EFL

Leicester City have made a payment of £3.1 million to settle the EFL's case against them regarding a breach of FFP rules. An EFL statement said: "In reaching a settlement, the EFL acknowledges that the club did not make any deliberate attempt to infringe the rules or to deceive and that the dispute arose out of genuine differences of interpretation of the rules between the parties. All relevant matters were taken into account when determining the quantum of the settlement. The agreed settlement of £3,100,000 is in full and final settlement of all and any claims by the EFL against the club and its officers, in respect of the FFP Regulations for season 2013/14. No further details with regards to the settlement will be released." So the Foxes spent too much money and the way of dealing with that is to make them spend even more money. It does seem odd.

 

Glentoran Begin New Manager Search

Irish Premiership club Glentoran have sacked their manager Gary Haveron. Haveron took over in September 2016 following the dismissal of Alan Kernaghan. Losing 2-1 to Ards, their 6th home defeat in 9 matches at The Oval was the final straw: "Expectations from the club and fans were simply to see an acceptable degree of year on year progress. Unfortunately that has not been the case," read a statement released by the club. Year on year progress? How can someone make year on year progress in 16 months?

 

Herrera Suffers What Could Be A 'Bad Injury' Says Jose

Manchester United's Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera suffered a disappointing night as he returned to Spain to face Sevilla in the Champions League. After just 17 minutes of the tie he had to be withdrawn due to an injury picked up while attempting a backheel, immediately pulling up afterwards clutching at his hamstring. "It didn't look like he was fully fit," said Mourinho. "I think he has a bad injury. He had a small injury that stopped him for the last couple of matches, but the medical department gave him 100% ready for last Saturday [against Huddersfield in the FA Cup]." The Portuguese manager added: "He looked fit [on Tuesday] and the way he was playing during his time on the pitch - he was pressing a lot, really high - you only do that when you feel good. Then it was a back-heel, and a back-heel creates a contraction in the muscular area where he had the biggest problem, and now we have proof that he was not 100% fit."

 

Firmino To Face No Action

Having looked at all the evidence, the English FA have decided to take no action against Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino following Everton defender Mason Holgate's accusations of discriminatory language. The FA found "insufficient evidence" that the Brazilian had been guilty after a clash between the pair following Holgate pushing Firmino into the advertising hoardings. Insufficient meaning none, as none of the people who gave statements had directly heard the words alleged to have been said by Firmino. "We are completely satisfied that the allegation was made in absolute good faith by Holgate and that there is no suggestion of this being an intentionally false or malicious allegation," the FA said. "We appreciate that this has been a difficult process for both parties, and would like to express our thanks to Mason Holgate and Roberto Firmino as well as both clubs for their assistance, professionalism and full co-operation during this investigation." Firmino said: "As someone who has experienced racist abuse during my life, I know how damaging and hurtful it can be. I would like to place on record, for the avoidance of any doubt, I did not say the word, or a variation of the word, that was claimed and subsequently reported in the media. I did not use any language that referenced race. I did not - and would never - reference a person's skin colour or culture, by means of insult, during a dispute or an argument." In a statement Liverpool added: "Roberto has co-operated fully with the process and shown a willingness to engage and assist throughout, with the only objective being to discover the truth of what happened. We are satisfied that the outcome of the process has exonerated the player of using any racist or discriminatory language." Everton's statement said: "The Club welcomes the FA's expression of complete satisfaction that the allegation made by our player, Mason Holgate, was done so in absolute good faith, that proper process was followed and that there is no suggestion of malice or dishonesty on Mason's part."

 

Jose Has A Dig At Guardiola And City

Man Utd manager Jose Mourinho has taken a swipe at their cross-city rivals City with his comments after unsavoury scenes followed Man City's shock defeat in the FA Cup to League One's Wigan Athletic. "Of course, we would like to be better in the Premier League, but we are where we are," Mourinho told BT Sport ahead of United's Champions League match at Sevilla. "In the Champions League we are alive. In the FA Cup we are alive. In the EFL Cup, after winning last season, we lost in the quarter-final but we lost like Manchester United likes to lose. I would say, as a Manchester United manager, that way of behaving as a big team, even in defeat we were a big team."

 

Newport Release Youngster

Newport County have released former Cardiff City youth prospect and impressively named Jazzi Barnum-Bobb after the 22 year old struggled to break into the team this season.

Written by Tris Burke February 22 2018 05:32:27