Football News: Review Of The Day 10th November 2020

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Review of the Day

Contracts

Former Celtic striker Tony Watt has signed a 2 year deal with Motherwell.

Transfers

Veteran midfielder Gary Roberts has left Wigan Athletic due to the club's financial problems. The Latics are in administration and blocked from signing any new players.

Free agent full-back Jordan Obita has signed for Oxford United. He was released by Reading at the end of the season.

Former QPR forward Eduardo Vargas has signed for Atletico Mineiro from Tigres UANL for a fee of just over £1m.

Injury Round-Up

Barcelona have lost teenage wonderkid Ansu Fati for around 4 months after the 18 year old forward was found to require knee surgery. Fati was taken off at half-time of Barca's 5-2 win over Real Betis on Saturday and a scan discovered an injury to the internal meniscus of his left knee, which has since been operated on.

Managerial Changes

Celta de Vigo have become the first team in La Liga to sack their coach this season as they have relieved former Brighton & Hove Albion and Watford manager Oscar Garcia of his responsibilities. Celta sit in 17th place, one point above the relegation places. It is believed that Marcelino has rejected the opportunity to replace Garcia.

Pep Guardiola's long-time assistant Domenec Torrent has been fired as head coach of Flamengo, just 3 months after replacing Jorge Jesus. Flamengo are third in the Brazilian Serie A but have conceded 4 goals in defeats twice in the last two weeks. They are still just one point behind league leaders Internacional Porto Alegre, but it was not enough to save his job.

Disciplinary Charges

Chairman Hits Out At Players' Work Ethic

The chairman of League Two club Southend United, Ron Martin, has criticised the work ethic of his team's players. The Shrimpers have yet to win a game this season, including being knocked out of the FA Cup by non-league side Boreham Wood at the weekend. Martin posted on the club's official website: "The way I see it, some of our players are not good enough (yet) and some do not work hard enough. The penny has to drop on that cultural change; they have to employ the same work ethic as everybody around them. When I appointed Mark Molesley, and with him several backroom staff including an analyst and goalkeeper coach, the club had already culled the squad by 13. Since then a further three have departed. Of the 13 players in last year's squad, and many in the previous season's squad, I have no regret letting any go. Most were overpaid and under achieved. Changes had to be made then to restore the culture of the club."

Kamara Comes Out Of Retirement

Sadly it is not Kammy but Kei Kamara who has come out of international retirement and will join up with the Sierra Leone squad for their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers over the next few days. The former Norwich City and Middlesbrough forward, now playing for MLS side Minnesota United, wrote in a statement: "A year ago I made the decision to step away from our national team, and it was a decision I made with good intentions. During this year of being on the outside watching and listening, I can tell you it has not been easy. In the past few months I have heard some wonderful conversations with newly appointed head coach John Keister about his vision for the national team, and they're remarkable. I'm very honoured to be considered by Coach Keister as someone that could impact the team. To be included on the roster for the upcoming games is an invitation I have accepted. I'm very excited to wave the green, white and blue flag and will proudly represent my country. I'll do what I have always done - play my heart out for mama Sierra Leone. I look forward to joining the team in the quest for qualification."

South African Billionaire Joins CAF Presidential Race

Patrice Motsepe, with wealth estimated at $2.4bn by Forbes, has announced his Confederation of African Football presidential bid. Motsepe, believed to be the 10th richest man in Africa, is the third man to stand for election after current incumbent Ahmad Ahmad and Jacques Anouma. Nigeria's Amaju Pinnick has thrown his backing behind Motsepe after announcing he would not be entering the race.

Written by Tris Burke November 09 2020 21:09:19