Tap For Menu  
Single word yields best result

Football News: Review Of The Day 30th March 2018

Review Of The Day 30th March 2018
Image from: nameberry.com

Review of the Day

 

Transfers

Colchester United's young striker, Kurtis Guthrie, has left after his contract cancelled. The 21 year old scored 12 goals last season but has struggled this season with an ankle injury ending his season early.

Free agent forward Oleksandr Gladky has signed for Ukrainian league side Chornomorets Odessa.

Johan Bertilsson has swapped one Swedish Allsvenskan for another, as he leaves Ostersund to join Dalkurd on a free deal.

Brazilian attacking midfielder Juan Felipe has left Vardar Skopje to move to Kairat Almaty.

Bristol City have sent Swedish forward Gustav Engvall to IFK Gothenburg in his home country on loan.

 

Wigan Charged Over Man City Invasion

The FA have charged Wigan Athletic over the pitch invasion by their fans at the end of their FA Cup 5th round win over Manchester City. Man City striker Sergio Aguero has already escaped punishment for his altercation with one Wigan fan and Man City themselves were fined £50,000 for failing to control the players. It does make you wonder why it took so long to charge Wigan for "failing to ensure that no spectators or unauthorised persons encroached onto the pitch" at the DW Stadium.

 

McCann And Clark Given Bans

Dundee manager Neil McCann and St Johnstone keeper Zander Clark have both been given two game bans following their confrontation at the end of an SPFL match between the two clubs. McCann will be banned from the dugout and Clark has been suspended from playing for two matches each.

 

McCarthy To Leave Ipswich

There will be a new face in the dugout for Ipswich Town next season after the Tractor Boys announced the longest serving boss in the Championship is to leave the club in the summer. Ipswich owner Marcus Evans told the club website: "It never got to the point where we actually talked about a new contract. It just felt right that it was time for us both to look at different options. In his six years here he has made us a very competitive club in what is a very competitive league. No-one looks forward to playing Ipswich. Mick will see out his contract here and then we will look to make an announcement regarding his successor in due course."

 

Hendry To Be Scotland Mainstay Says Rodgers

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has backed his defender Jack Hendry to be a mainstay for his country Scotland. Hendry made his debut in a friendly victory over Hungary in mid-week. Rodgers said: "He has the quality to play for Celtic and the international team for the next 10 years. His profile suits the highest level. He's quick and can defend, and it's important you can deal with the ball."

 

Salonika President Banned Following Pitch Invasion With Gun

Ivan Savvidis has been banned for 3 years and fined 100,000 euros for invading the pitch while carrying a gun in a holster after PAOK Salonika had a late goal ruled out for offside during a game against AEK Athens on 11th March. His actions caused the match to be abandoned and have also led to PAOK being docked 3 points, fined 63,000 euros, forced to play their next 3 homes games behind closed doors and to start next season with -2 points.

 

UEFA Drops Investigation Into Racist Abuse Of Batshuayi

UEFA have once more shown their commitment to dealing with racism as they drop an investigation into claimed racial abuse of Borussia Dortmund striker Michy Batshuayi by Atalanta fans. They have fined Atalanta 34,000 euros for fireworks, thrown objects and blocked stairways, plus fined Dortmund 40,000 euros for the setting off of fireworks and objects being thrown but they have closed racism disciplinary proceedings against the Italian club. Batshuayi has made clear his disgust with the decision, sarcastically commenting on Twitter: "LOL. Must be my imagination."

 

Hammers To Cost Taxpayers Another 60k For Increased Security

West Ham United are already benefitting to the tune of millions due to having a taxpayer subsidised stadium, but it has been revealed that the cost to the taxpayer is going up a further £60,000 for the increased security after their fans caused trouble in a match against Burnley on 10th March. The Hammers have a 99-year lease at the former Olympic Stadium, agreed by bumbling fool, sorry I mean former London Mayor, Boris Johnson, which places security costs in the hands of the government funded body that runs the venue. West Ham have been warned that further trouble would result in matches being played behind closed doors.

 

Gracia Tells Doucoure He Can Fulfil His European Ambitions With Watford

Abdoulaye Doucoure has been talking recently about his desire to play for a Champions League side while away on international duty. His club manager, Javi Gracia, has said he can achieve his ambitions by staying with Watford: "Doucoure is playing for a very big team, playing in the Premier League and in the future I would like him to play with Watford in Europe. Maybe in the future he can play with other big clubs who play in the Champions League. Doucoure knows he is important, not for me, but for the club and his team mates. I am only focused on the next seven games and I am sure Doucoure will help us with his best attitude until the end of the season. Then we will see what happens, but I would like for him to stay with us for a long time."

 

Huddersfield Announce Losses

Huddersfield Town's latest set of accounts has revealed a loss of £21.9m, of which a large portion, £11.9m, was made up of bonuses awarded for achieving promotion to the Premier League. The accounts do not include any of the income from being in the Premier League itself.

 

Van Gaal Claims He Could Have Got United Playing Like City

Louis van Gaal has claimed that he would have got Man Utd playing football like local rivals Man City, if he had been given more time. That's the Louis van Gaal that had United playing some of the most dire, boring, defensive football ever seen, claiming he would have turned them into an attacking machine. Van Gaal said: "Pep Guardiola is for me currently the best coach of the Premier League. Pep has made City a machine. He shows the style of football that I would have liked to play at Manchester United. But he has better players for it. For me, the process would have taken longer. Unfortunately, I did not get the time."

 

Pochettino Reminds Everyone That Alli Is Just A Kid

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has given his backing to young midfielder Dele Alli, who has been struggling for form this season. Pochettino said: "I have full confidence in him and his talent and because I know him. He is a great kid and a very good person. But he is young. He is 21. If you compare [him] with normal people on the street who are 21, they are still living at home with their parents, they are still at university doing stupid things. Sometimes we expect too much and we put too much pressure on 21-year-old players. Sometimes we forget and treat them like 40-year-old men. It's not like this. We need to be focused on him being still a kid. It's a lot of pressure on his shoulders and not always can he act how the people and the society expect. That is so important to understand. We are going to help him because he is a talented player and a great kid. And he has done a lot for us and the club. You can see every time that we play away from home, the fans focus on him and it's a moment to stop and try to help because, for me, Dele would be such an important player for England, not only for Tottenham. It's not to give presents but, yes, to help him because he is a talent. For every player there are tough moments and in those situations the most important thing from my side is to support Dele - but not be funny with him or nice. Sometimes you need to push him and be tough. Those situations are in my manager's room and we have a lot of chats. It's about trying to help a very talented player, an English player."

 

Platini Hits Out At FIFA And CAS Judges

Former UEFA president Michel Platini has hit out at the judges who banned him from office. The former France international has had his initial 8 year FIFA ban reduced by 2 years by judges from the European Court of Human Rights in January and then again reduced by a further 2 years to 4 years by an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). He continues to dispute his ban saying: "I can't accept losing when I've done nothing wrong. They've stopped me working in football for four years! Who are these clowns who've stopped me? The rubbish judges from FIFA and CAS are not real judges."

 

Moutinho Gets New Deal

Joao Moutinho has signed a new contract with Monaco. The Portugese midfielder is now tied to the principality club until 2020. Moutinho, who has been at Monaco since 2013, said: "I am very happy to extend my contract with AS Monaco. These years have been very positive on a personal level but also as collective with very beautiful runs in the Champions League and winning the French title. I feel very good in Monaco, I will continue to give the best of myself to help AS Monaco achieve its goals."

 

Ben Arfa Confirms PSG Exit

Paris Saint-Germain winger Hatem Ben Arfa has confirmed, via his official social media accounts, that he is set to leave the Ligue 1 champions in the summer. Ben Arfa said: "My adventure at PSG is set to come to an end soon but, despite the difficult times, I am honoured to have worn this shirt and I carry with me some great memories. I will always be a fan of this team."

Written by Tris Burke March 30 2018 06:36:39