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Football News: Review Of The Day 4th March 2018

Review Of The Day 4th March 2018
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Review of the Day

 

FIFA Confirm VAR For 2018 World Cup

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) have 'unanimously approved' the introduction of VAR on a permanent basis following its recent trials. "As of today, video assistant refereeing is part of football," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said. "We hope and encourage a favourable decision in this respect because we are very positive about VAR. From almost 1,000 live matches that were part of the experiment, the level of the accuracy increased from 93% to 99%. It's almost perfect." I do wonder how they come to these figures regarding accuracy, are they the same ones they keep using to claim referees are giving the right decisions all the time? Ie they just say it was right and ignore the clear evidence that the decisions were simply idiotic by putting out a new 'interpretation' of the law in question.

 

George Weah's Son Makes His Debut

Timothy Weah, the son of legendary Liberian star George Weah, has made his debut for PSG, 8312 days since his father's last appearance for the Parisian club. Poor lad is going to be hard pressed to ever live up to that name, his dad was so good they have given him presidency of their country!

 

Brum Sack Cotterill

After five defeats in a row, struggling Birmingham City have sacked manager Steve Cotterill. Cotterill replaced Harry Redknapp as boss in September and has won just 6 league matches from the 24 played since then to leave Brum sat in the relegation places. They will now be looking for their 5th manager in the 16 months since Gary Rowett was sacked. A Birmingham statement said that the decision was "taken with great regret and sadness. The board would like to place on record their sincere thanks to Steve, not only for his significant contribution at the conclusion of last season for which we will remain grateful, but also for his genuine efforts, contribution and hard work during his tenure in this 2017-18 campaign," the statement added. "Steve has conducted himself professionally on behalf of the club at all times, his work ethic and honesty are a credit to him and there is a genuine sadness at this decision. However, the board feel that a change in management at this stage is in the best interests of the football club."

 


Bolton Add Nigerian Forward

Free agent forward Chinedu Obasi has signed for Bolton Wanderers after a trial period with the club. The 31 year old will be contracted to the Trotters until the end of the season.

Rubin Kazan have released 26 year old forward Maksim Kanunnikov. The forward has 12 caps for Russia.

Former Liverpool youth player Toni Silva has been release by Greek Super League side APO Levadiakos. The 24 year old Portugese winger has already had 9 different clubs in a nomadic existence in the game.

 

Conte Has 'Great Admiration' For City Project

Chelsea's head coach Antonio Conte has talked of his great admiration for Manchester City's team building. "I don't like people to envy the other person," Conte said. "I have great admiration because they found the right way to be strong for a long time, to have successful seasons for a long time, from now until I don't know." Conte also dismissed talk of their success being solely down to money: "Manchester City is not the only club to spend a lot of money. There is a great coach, great players. And then there is the possibility to spend a lot of money and have the same ambition of the coach. This is the fantastic result for Manchester City."

 

Young Waiting On Man Utd Contract

Ashley Young has said that he wants to stay at Manchester United and is hoping the club will extend his contract. The 32 year old is set to be out of contract in the summer, but the Red Devils do have a year's extension option in his current deal. "It's reported every year that I am about to leave but I've always wanted to be here," Young told the Daily Mail. "And for as long as I can, I'd like to finish my career at United. I've got that mentality to keep going and change people's minds. I know how to play the game, I've got a football brain, and feel as fit and healthy as I did when I was younger. I'd be able to give the 23-year-old me a race." Young added: "My legs might take a bit longer to recover after games but other than that, I feel as fit as ever. The manager has high standards he wants to keep. He enjoys a joke but when it's time to get down to serious work, you need to be serious. As players you don't have to be told. You will see people come back disappointed if they've lost a game in training. It's that Man United mentality. There is no better feeling than success at this club."

 

Pressure Is On Rangers According To Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers has insisted that the pressure will all be on Rangers in the forthcoming Glasgow derby as their recent record at Ibrox has been poor. This season Rangers have a much better record on the road and Rodgers has won the last 3 times he has taken his Celtic side to the home of their bitter rivals. "We can't wait for that game. I have really, really enjoyed those games home and away, and our performances away from home have been absolutely brilliant," Rodgers said. "The two last year were good in different ways and very good scores for us, particularly the second one, and, earlier this season, we dominated the game. It is a big pressure. They're all pressure games. But it's a huge pressure for them to be playing at home, which can be difficult for them. Their record is better away from home than at home. But they're great games and we're looking forward to it."

 

Bradley Wishes He Never Took Swans Job

Former Swansea City manager Bob Bradley will probably find plenty of agreement amongst the fans for his recent comments. The former US national team boss became the first American to coach in the Premier League when the Swans hired him in October 2016, but he now admits he wished he had never taken the job. "When Swansea came, I knew the pluses and the minuses," Bradley told ESPN FC. "Do I have regrets? I wish they hadn't come and called, quite honestly, in that respect because the situation required real work and some time, and if they didn't think I was the right guy, and everybody wasn't on board - and 'everybody' needed to not just be the two American owners, but the chairman, the supporters' trust and more of the supporters - look, if they didn't think I was the right guy, they shouldn't have called. Now, when they called, and I spoke to them and I told them how I felt, when the moment came to go for it? Yeah, I said, 'Look, the hell, man, I'm going!' If you have second thoughts and doubts you don't go anywhere. I wouldn't have gone to Egypt, I wouldn't have gone to Norway, I'd still be in college soccer."

 

Juve Rule Out Balotelli

Juventus' chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has dismissed talk of interest in Nice striker Mario Balotelli. "Balotelli? It's great to watch him play, he's a great player, but we aren't following him at this moment," he told Mediaset Premium. "I repeat, he's an important player and he could be useful to the national team in the near future." The coach of AS Roma, Eusebio Di Francesco, did express an interest in taking the Italian forward to Rome, after Balotelli has managed 39 goals in 58 games for Nice.

 

Gracia Praise For Deeney

Despite the Watford front man having a build more suited to pub football than Premier League pitches, Troy Deeney has managed to notch the winner for the Hornets in their last two games in a row and manager Javi Gracia has praised the club captain. "I am very happy with him (Deeney)," Gracia said. "I don't know what happened in the past and don't want to know. I see him every day and he is scoring important goals. He is important both on and off the pitch."

 

Bale Breaks An Appearance Record

Hard to believe that the oft-injured Welsh international Gareth Bale could break anything other than his own limbs as he trips over a blade of grass, but somehow he has added an appearance record to his trophy cabinet. The former world record signing has now made the most appearances by a British player in the Spanish league, breaking the marks set by David Beckham. It has taken Bale five years to reach the milestone of 117 La Liga appearances and he celebrated in style by adding a goal to extend his record of most goals by a Brit in Spain with 62 in total.

 

Burnley Break A 61 Game Duck

Thanks to a listless Everton second half performance, Burnley under Sean Dyche have finally won their first game after being behind. The Clarets have never once, before now, managed to come back and win a game after going behind. It had been 11 matches in a row since Burnley had last won in the league, but Sam Allardyce's Everton were more than accommodating to allow Burnley to take the 3 points. They were also kind enough to allow Burnley to score two goals in a home match for the first time this season.

 

Mendy Denies Man City Comments

Man City's official Twitter account administrators will be left feeling foolish after comments they attributed to the injured left back Benjamin Mendy were denied by the Frenchman. The tweet said: "The Manchester derby is a realistic aim. That's half clear in my mind. I really want to play that game. I am coming back a bit quicker than expected. I think it's possible for me to come back within four weeks." Benjamin Mendy. Mendy quickly responded with: Not sure where or when I said that but... calm down guys, no rush or pressure it will take as long as I need until I'm 100%," Mendy responded. He is currently sidelined with an ACL injury he suffered earlier this season.

 

Luis Suarez Urging People To Dive

In his role as Tourism Malaysia's ambassador, Luis Suarez has been urging people to go diving in the waters of Sabah. It is almost the perfect collaboration of product with player that could be found, unless Dele Alli is available to promote high diving next.

 

Allegri Claims Spurs Do Not Defend As Well As Lazio

It is almost like Massimiliano Allegri wanted to do Mauricio Pochettino's team talk for him ahead of the 2nd leg of their Champions League tie as he made that bizarre comment following a 1-0 win over Lazio. "It wasn't an easy game for us," Allegri said after the 1-0 win in Rome. "They are very strong physically, so it certainly wasn't going to be easy to play at the Olimpico. We had some injuries up front but the players did well. We wanted to come away from Rome with a positive result and that's what we got. They defended themselves very well and we knew that it was going to take something special to beat them. Yes, that special moment came from Paulo. He is a great young player and we are all happy that he scored. Tottenham are different compared to Lazio, they don't defend as well. This win certainly helps our confidence as we will have to be good and lucky on Wednesday."

 

Allardyce Deflects Talk Of Leaving Everton

In comments that will at least lessen the blow of Everton losing games for many of their fans, Sam Allardyce has admitted he might not be at the club for long if results continue as they are. The Toffees have now lost six of their last nine matches leading to questions about Allardyce's future. "I am here as long as I win football matches, and if you don't win football matches it doesn't matter how long your contract is," said Allardyce.

Written by Tris Burke March 04 2018 06:15:54