Football News: Review Of The Day 14th December 2018
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Review of the Day
Shock As Wilshere Ruled Out With Ankle Problem
The shock being that former Gooner Jack Wheelchair has managed to get 5 minutes on the pitch since September as the West Ham United midfielder struggles with more ankle problems. This time it is the other ankle from the one he had surgery on earlier in the season, as his glass ankles once more cause him problems. Perhaps he should try giving up the booze and fags and working on his fitness for a change?
Rovers Duo Leave Club
Bristol Rovers manager Darrell Clarke and assistant manager Marcus Stewart have left the League One club with it sat 21st in the table, 4 points off safety. Clarke had been in charge for over 4 years, after taking charge initially and overseeing their relegation from the EFL in 2014. Since then he was in charge of back-to-back promotions to League One. He told the BBC that he felt he was "under-achieving as a manager" and that Rovers were "going backwards" under him. His number 2 Marcus Stewart requested he was released from his contract, which leaves coach Graham Coughlan in interim charge.
Evans Signs New Contract
Blackburn Rovers' Northern Ireland international midfielder Corry Evans has signed a new deal with the Lancashire club. Evans is now tied to the Championship club until 2020-21 season. The 28 year old is the younger brother of Johnny Evans and also came through the Manchester United academy as a youngster.
O'Connor Takes Assistant Role
Brentford have appointed former club captain Kevin O'Connor as assistant to new head coach Thomas Frank. The 36 year old made over 500 appearances for the Bees in a 16 year spell and took charge of the B team after his retirement from playing. Frank has won just one of his nine matches in charge so far.
Cormack Becomes Dons VC
Dave Cormack has been appointed as vice-chairman of Aberdeen, having previously served as interim chief executive between 2001 and 2003 and joined the board 18 months ago after becoming a major shareholder. Cormack has been a contributor to the club raising funds of £8.5m towards their proposed new stadium and training complex.
Ejaria Set For Gerrard Talks
With rumblings about young on-loan midfielder Ovie Ejaria complaining about Scottish football being too physical for him, Rangers manager Steven Gerrard is set for talks with him. The 21 year old is on a season-long loan from Liverpool and has struggled badly after initially impressing and Gerrard has admitted the youngster is unsettled at the club. Gerrard said: "I had a chat with him a couple of days ago and he's slightly unsettled. The next time I see Ovie is on Friday and we'll have a conversation then and see where we go from there. Liverpool are aware of the situation and we're in dialogue with them."
Giresse Takes Charge Of Tunisia
Former Senegal and Mali boss Alain Giresse has been appointed as national team coach of Tunisia. A French international as a player, Giresse has also been in charge of Gabon in the past and is now contracted until June 2020.
Transfers
League Two's vegan club Forest Green Rovers have signed yet another player, after making 16 signings in the summer. Former Middlesbrough academy player Junior Mondal has joined from 7th tier team Whitby Town after training with Forest Green earlier in the season. Mondial will join the club on 2nd January. Manager Mark Cooper has also recalled midfielder Charlie Cooper from his loan spell at Newport County. The 21 year old was meant to be with the Exiles for the season but has struggled to break into the team and so Rovers recalled him.
In MLS Costa Rican forward Marcos Urena has moved to Chicago Fire from Los Angeles FC on a free transfer.
Also in MLS Polish goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton has joined FC Cincinnati on a free transfer from Deportivo La Coruna. The 31 year old has 14 caps for his country.
Rangers have sent back one loan player already, as Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq has returned to AS Roma after a disappointing time. The 21 year old forward made just one start, which was most notable for his decision to dive, and get booked for simulation, rather than take what looked an easy opportunity.
Glenn To Leave FA Role
Martin Glenn, who left his role as CEO of United Biscuits to become chief executive of the FA in 2015, is to step down at the end of the season. Glenn, who had known about England women's manager Mark Sampson's "inappropriate and unacceptable" behaviour with female players two years before Sampson was eventually sacked, has increased FA revenue by 40% during his time in charge. After being called to appear before a parliamentary inquiry, Glenn apologised to Eniola Aluko and Drew Spence for racist remarks made by Sampson. Later he tried to clarify his comment suggesting women are less tolerant of banter than men, and a couple of months later he was apologising again after comparing the Star of David with the Nazi swastika. Glenn was also a major backer of the 'divisive' plan to sell Wembley to Shahid Khan. He is probably best remembered for admitting he was "not a football expert" before appointing Sam Allardyce as England manager.
MacDonald Reassigned After Bullying Allegations
Aston Villa have 'reassigned' their under-23 manager Kevin MacDonald after the former Liverpool player was accused of bullying by a former youth player, Gareth Farrelly. Farrelly said that the twice caretaker manager of Villa was "relentlessly negative" to him and "incredibly aggressive, with constant verbal and physical bullying. It took me to a place at 20 that nobody should have to go to and I wouldn't wish it on anybody," Farrelly told The Guardian. Villa have started an immediate internal investigation.
More Ligue 1 Games Postponed
Five more matches in France's Ligue 1 have been postponed due to the ongoing 'yellow vest' protests, which have seen thousands arrested over the last 4 weekends. Three more games will also be rearranged. A completely unrelated shooting in Strasbourg will see a minute's silence held before kick-off, as their game does take place, and Strasbourg's players will wear a shirt without sponsors' logos out of respect after 3 were killed, a 4th left brain dead and 12 more wounded in the shooting at a Christmas market.
Games off this weekend (to be played at later dates)
Saturday: Amiens v Angers, Nantes v Montpellier, Dijon v PSG
Sunday: Guingamp v Rennes, Marseille v Bordeaux
Games still on
Saturday: Reims v Strasbourg (19:00 GMT)
Sunday: Nimes v Lille (14:00 GMT), Nice v Saint-Etienne (16:00 GMT, moved from Friday), Lyon v Monaco (20:00 GMT, moved from 12:00)
Tuesday: Caen v Toulouse (18:30 GMT, moved from Saturday)
Chelsea Strongly Condemn Anti-Semitic Chants
Just days after Chelsea fans allegedly racially abused Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling, the club has hit out at fans for singing an anti-Semitic chant which has "shamed the club". A minority were loudly chanting offensive songs about Tottenham Hotspur fans during a Europa League game with MOL Vidi in Hungary. A Chelsea spokesman was very forward in his condemnation, saying: "Anti-Semitism and any kind of racial or religious hatred is abhorrent to this club and the overwhelming majority of our fans. It has no place at Chelsea or in any of our communities. Any individuals that can't summon the brainpower to comprehend this simple message and are found to have shamed the club by used using anti-Semitic or racist words or actions will face the strongest possible action from the club." Perhaps those morons have just forgotten that the club is owned by Roman Abramovich, who is Jewish himself.
Stephan Gets Permanent Rennes Deal
Ligue 1 side Rennes has given interim coach Julien Stephan a full-time contract as head coach amid rumours Thierry Henry was interested in taking Stephan to Monaco to work with him. Julien is the son of Guy Stephans, who was Didier Deschamps assistant with the French side as they won the World Cup in the summer.
Marotta Inter Milan
Former Juventus chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has joined Serie A rivals Inter Milan. Marotta has been given the title of chief executive for sport with the Milanese side. Marotta said: "I'm starting a new chapter, a new path with the same characteristics of my past experiences, with great passion and great determination and a great desire to take Inter as high as possible. I was born in football, as soon as this great opportunity came along I did not hesitate to seize it."
Written by Tris Burke December 14 2018 05:14:42
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