Football News: Review Of The Day 9th November 2020

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Review of the Day

Contracts

Transfers

Hamilton Academical have made a double signing as they look to rebuild a squad decimated by injuries. Free agent pair Aaron Martin, a centre-back recently released by Exeter City and winger Nathan Thomas, who was released by Sheffield United, are both signed for the rest of the season.

Former Olympique Marseille, Girondins Bordeaux and Racing Lens midfielder Gregory Sertic has hung up his boots at the age of 31. The former France Under-21 international has been without a club since being released by Marseille in the summer.

Olympique Lyonnais general manager Vincent Ponsot has revealed that Arsenal's bid to sign midfielder Houssem Aouar from the French giants fell apart as they would not pay the market price. Ponsot said: "We had three big clubs for him. The first one was more for next season. The second one was related to the departure of a player, and with this club, we could have come to an agreement. The third club was Arsenal, who offered below the market value. We discussed it with the player's entourage, and together we took the decision to say no."

Amiens sports director John Williams has told Le Parisien that Serhou Guirassy rejected a move to Chelsea instead choosing to sign for Stade Rennais. Williams said: "He refused to go to Chelsea during the last window. Serhou made a sporting choice when he could earn more money with the London team. He wanted to continue in a club where he was sure to have some playing time and not relive an experience like the one in Cologne where he was a substitute. The choice fell on Rennes because coach Julien Stéphan assured him that he was counting on him."

Injury Round-Up

A "number of positive" CV tests in the AFC Wimbledon camp has caused their League One game with Wigan Athletic, scheduled for the 14th November, to be postponed. The Dons FA Cup first-round tie against Barrow was also called off due to a number of the club's staff having to self-isolate.

Real Madrid stars Eden Hazard and Casemiro are both self-isolating after a positive CV test.

Paris Saint-Germain were hit with a wave of fresh injuries in their 3-0 win over Stade Rennais. While head coach Thomas Tuchel said that Alessandro Florenzi was taken off at half-time due to tiredness, rather than injury, other players were not so fortunate. Former Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye and Thilo Kehrer were both taken off in the first half with injuries and Moise Kean was forced to hobble off in the second. Tuchel said: "Alessandro is not injured. He was tired. Moise took a lot of knocks. Physically what he did was exceptional. I hope it's not too severe for him. Gana hurt his thigh. Thilo has the same injury to his pelvis (as recently), which means it's serious." It has meant that Kehrer, as well as RB Leipzig's Marcel Halstenberg, has withdrawn from Germany's squad for the forthcoming internationals.

Managerial Changes

Disciplinary Charges

County Want More Fans

Ross County are looking to build on their test run of 300 fans in the ground for their 1-1 draw with Livingston on Friday. Chief executive Steven Ferguson told the BBC: "Hopefully, that's the start of a return of supporters consistently. We're putting ourselves forward for more supporters immediately but again we will need to follow the instructions. We're hoping with us being a tier 1 up in the Highlands here that we are allowed more supporters in and we'll be ready to take that on as soon as the green light's been given on that. They were all grateful for the opportunity. Supporters are completely accepting of what they need to do to come into a game. It just went really smoothly. We were grateful with how they conducted themselves, it made it easier on us. It was great to get supporters back in again."

Anouma Set For New Presidential Run

Cote D'Ivoire's Jacque Anouma has announced his intention to run for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football. Anouma ran before, 7 years ago, and is the only opposition, so far, to the incumbent president Ahmad Ahmad. Anouma's previous attempt to run for the position, against Issa Hayatou, was foiled when CAF changed its statutes, ruling him out of contention, a move he called "scandalous" at the time.

Ole Hits Out At Kick-Off Time

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claims that his team were set up to fail by having the early kick-off on Saturday after flying back from their Champions League game in Turkey on Wednesday evening. Solkskjaer said: "The kick-off time set us up to fail. We have been to Turkey, played loads of games this season already, we got back Thursday morning and we are playing Saturday lunchtime, it's an absolute shambles. It is strange, you have all those slots and the availability to play the game against Everton, who I am sure would have been happy to play whenever. To play in Istanbul on Wednesday, have a five-hour flight and then to play first thing Saturday morning, it is tough." Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp backed Solksjaer's complaints when speaking to the media after his team's 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Sunday, while also calling for a return to 5 substitutes in the Premier League.

Written by Tris Burke November 08 2020 20:55:19