Football News: Review Of The Day 15th March 2019
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Review of the Day
Contracts
RB Leipzig have given their Danish international forward Yussuf Poulsen a new contract running until 2022.
Yan Valery has been handed a new deal after the French right-back impressed in recent weeks for Southampton. After a difficult start the 20 year old has established himself as first choice and is now locked in until 2023.
Hearts defender Clevid Dikamona has extended his deal by a year with the Edinburgh club to run until 2020.
German midfielder Marko Marin has a new deal with Red Star Belgrade which runs until 2021.
Transfers
Real Madrid have embarked on their rebuild following the return of Zinedine Zidane as manager. The European giants have agreed to sign Brazilian defender Eder Militao from Porto at the end of his season, after meeting his 50m euros buy-out clause.
Fotherby Passes Away
Former Leeds United managing director Bill Fotherby has died at the age of 88. While in charge at Elland Road Leeds became the final team to win the old Division 1, before it was renamed the Premier League, back in 1992. Fotherby spent 18 years on the Leeds board before becoming chairman of non-league club Harrogate Town for 12 years, until stepping down in 2011.
Birmingham Clubs Charged
The Second City Derby saw a number of incidents, but the first of them has now led to charges from the FA for failing to control their players. A 5th minute melee occurred after Birmingham City midfielder Maikel Kieftenbeld fouled Aston Villa Jack Grealish. Kieftenbeld was booked for his challenge which was as late as the delivery you stayed in to wait for that was promised for this morning but will end up arriving late evening. Five minutes later Grealish was attacked by a Birmingham fan, before going on to score the only goal of the game. Birmingham have also been charged by the FA with failing to control their spectators over the fan attack. Arsenal have also been charged with the same offence after a spectator ran onto the pitch and pushed Manchester United defender Chris Smalling.
Rangers Appeal Against Morelos Card Again
Rangers have decided to appeal against a yellow card shown to Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos in their defeat to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup. The 22 year old went down under a challenge from Andrew Considine in the Dons box. Footage showed clear contact, including Considine's arm around Morelos' neck.
Hearts Hope To Have Naismith Back
On-loan Norwich City striker Steven Naismith is expected to return before the end of the season. The 32 year old, who is currently on loan at Hearts, was ruled out for the season with a knee injury, but a successful operation has seen his expected recovery time shortened. Hearts manager Craig Levein said: "The surgery went very well. I think he's quite happy with the operation and so is the surgeon. He expects to be back and play some matches before the end of the season."
Police Investigate Sectarian Chants Aimed At Gerrard
Police Scotland have confirmed that they are looking into reports that there were sectarian chants aimed at Rangers' manager Steven Gerrard by Aberdeen fans during the Dons Scottish Cup win over the Gers. A Police Scotland spokesperson said that they "are aware of this matter and enquiries are ongoing".
Liberia Ask For Qualifier To Be Moved
The Liberian FA (LFA) have asked for their crucial African Cup of Nations qualifying match to be moved out of DR Congo due to the Ebola epidemic. The Group G fixture is due to take place in Kinshasa on the 24th March, with all 4 teams still in with a chance of qualification. The United Nations have called the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo the second-biggest ever recorded. Back in 2014 Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea were banned by CAF from hosting international matches due to Ebola. LFA secretary-general Isaac Montgomery wrote in a letter to CAF: "Based on our experience with Ebola in Liberia and the death it brought to most of our brothers and sisters, we believe this could cause a great psychological impact on the minds of our players. (This) could serve as an impediment to our players' performance given our recent past of the Ebola epidemic in our country."
Seedorf Names Indomitable Lions Squad
Cameroon head coach Clarence Seedorf has named his squad for their final AFCON qualifier, knowing that avoiding defeat is enough to see them through. Cameroon were meant to be hosting the tournament later this year but were stripped of hosting rights after falling behind on their preparation.
Cameroon Squad:
Goalkeepers: Andre Onana (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Fabrice Ondoa (KV Oostende, Belgium), Carlos Kameni (Fenerbahce, Turkey)
Defenders: Fai Collins (Standard Liege, Belgium), Jerome Onguene (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria), Michael Ngadeu Ngadjui (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic), Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik (Kayserispor, Turkey), Yaya Banana (Panionios, Greece), Gaetan Bong (Brighton Albion, England), Ambroise Oyongo Bitolo (Montpellier, France), Joyskim Dawa Tchakonte (Mariupol, Ukraine)
Midfielders: Andre Zambo Anguissa (Fulham, England), Pierre Kunde Malong (Mainz, Germany), Georges Mandjeck (Maccabi, Israel), Petrus Boumal (Ural, Russia), Arnaud Djoum (Hearts FC, Scotland)
Attackers: Joel Tagueu (Maritimo, Portugal), Stephane Bahoken (Angers, France), Jacques Zoua (Astra Giurgi, Romania), Clinton Njie (Marseille, France), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Paris Saint Germain, France), Christian Bassogog (Henan Jianye, China), Jean-Pierre Nsame (Young Boys, Switzerland)
Shock As Carroll Injured Yet Again
West Ham United's drunken bum Andy Carroll has once again been ruled out with an injury, which could see him finish the season on the sidelines. With his West Ham contract due to expire in the summer, it is almost certain he will not play for the Hammers again. Unless West Ham are stupid enough to give a new deal to a man who would rather get hammered off the pitch then help the Hammers on it. It is hard to see why anyone would want to offer him a new deal.
Citeh Thrashing Has Consequences
Young Schalke 04 manager Dominico Tedesco, just 33, has been sacked following his team's 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City in the Champions League last 16. Despite leading his team into the Champions League and getting them into the last 16, Tedesco's team have struggled in the Bundesliga this season, sitting just 3 places above the relegation zone and have lost 5 matches in a row.
Ward Quits Internationals
Veteran Burnley full-back Stephen Ward has quit international football after 50 caps for the Republic of Ireland. The 33 year old said that he retires from internationals "with a heavy heart. To represent my country has been a dream come true and the biggest honour I could have had. To play in a couple of major championships has been the highlight and the night we beat Italy at the 2016 Euros will live with me for the rest of my life. I have been very proud to have played a part in those achievements and I feel this is a good time to move on. There are a lot of good young players and new talent coming through and I wish all of them, Mick [McCarthy] and the staff all the best for the future." Ward was the man whose recording of him discussing the altercation between Roy Keane, Harry Arter and Jonathan Walters went public, though that seems to have had no bearing on his decision. This season has seen Ward struggling to hold down a first team place at his club side with Charlie Taylor becoming first choice.
Scholes Quits Oldham Role After Just 31 Days
Gary Neville will no doubt be trying to pretend to feel bad for old Manchester United team-mate Paul Scholes at 'class of '92' reunions in future, while inwardly smiling to himself. In fact it would not be a surprise if he had not let out an exclamation of delight when he saw the news! Finally someone has provided competition to his status as arguably 'the worst coach in history'. Though, to be fair, both of them made silly choices of first jobs. Scholes, in particular, let his heart rule his head to take charge of Oldham Town, his boyhood club, but found it to be not the role he expected, as his team won just once in his 7 games in charge. Scholes expected to be given a free hand by club owner, Moroccan football agent Abdallah Lemsagam, despite warnings to the contrary. To be fair though, he should never have been allowed to manage while retaining his shareholding in Salford Town anyway, it was a nonsense that the FA cleared him to take the job in the first place.
Bale Wants Madrid Stay
Gareth Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett has said that the Welshman is keen to play the rest of his career at Real Madrid, though it is unclear whether he meant playing football or golf, as it seems he does a lot more of the latter these days. Despite being booed by Real Madrid fans, Barnett says Bale is very happy at Madrid picking up his enormous wage to potter around in his back garden playing golf while injured and putting in the occasional appearance on the pitch before inevitably being ruled out halfway through with yet another injury. Barnett claimed Bale and Zinedine Zidane clashed in the past over tactics, which he confirms saw the relationship between the two deteriorate over time. With Zidane's return, it is hard to see how Bale can stay in Madrid, unless he is happy, as every Madrid fan believes, to sit on the sidelines picking up a huge wage cheque for doing nothing.
Written by Tris Burke March 15 2019 05:05:58
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