Football News: Review Of The Day 23rd December 2021

Image from: freelargeimages.com

Review of the Day

Become a Patron!

Contracts

In Ireland, Scottish winger Billy King has signed a 1-year contract with St Patrick's Athletic.

Houston Dynamo have given veteran Colombian Darwin Quintero a 1-year deal.

Young Bohemians defender Jordan Doherty has also signed up for a single year.

Transfers

Toronto FC have signed Shane O'Neill on a free transfer from fellow Major League Soccer side Seattle Sounders. Leaving Toronto, also on a free transfer, is veteran defender Omar Gonzalez, who has joined New England Revolution.

Staying in the MLS and Sporting Kansas City have signed Spanish midfielder Uri Rosell from Orlando SC on a free transfer.

The agent of Lille forward Jonathan David has told a Canadian radio show that he will leave the Ligue 1 club in the summer.

Barnsley's Austrian forward Dominik Frieser has left the club by mutual consent, as he is not a part of new manager Poya Asbaghi's plans.

Manchester City have agreed to sell Spanish forward Ferran Torres to Barcelona but the deal will only be able to be completed if the Catalans can sell some of their current squad.

Injury Round-Up

AFC Wimbledon striker Aaron Pressley has been ruled out for "a number of weeks" after picking up a hamstring problem.

Managerial Changes

Following a spell as caretaker boss, Stephen Crainey has been appointed until the end of the season as Fleetwood Town boss.

Disciplinary Charges

A Dundee United fan has admitted assaulting Aberdeen player Funso Ojo during an SPFL match. The altercation led to a red card for Ojo, who was controversially shown a second yellow card for his part in it.

Hibernian defender Paul McGinn has been charged by the Scottish Football Association after he described referee John Beaton as inept. McGinn, after his side's defeat to Celtic in the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday said: "He has no control over the situation. It's not a foul and then the fourth official is holding the board. I think Jamie Murphy could stand over the ball, as you do, but he steps away from it, to assume 'sub'. (Beaton) just lets it happen and the goal goes in. I don't know if you see me running to him straight away and get myself booked. But it's just inept. Even 90 seconds later, Celtic are going to make a sub and (Anthony) Ralston takes a quick throw-in, and he whistles it back for the sub to happen. I ran to him and just said 'What's going on? There is no way we would have got that the other way. No way'. That's why I got booked."

Manchester City left-back Benjamin Mendy has been charged with a seventh rape after a new complainant came forward.

Postponed Boxing Day Games

Full list of Boxing Day matches off so far

Championship
Barnsley v Stoke City
Cardiff City v Coventry City
Peterborough United v Reading

League One
Bolton v Morecambe
Gillingham v Ipswich
Portsmouth v Oxford United
Sheffield Wednesday v Burton Albion
Wycombe Wanderers v Cambridge United

League Two
Bristol Rovers v Sutton United
Bradford City v Harrogate Town
Exeter City v Swindon Town
Newport County v Forest Green Rovers
Northampton Town v Walsall
Stevenage v Crawley Town

National League
Barnet v Boreham Wood
FC Halifax Town v Grimsby Town

Gills Search For Investment

Gillingham chairman Paul Scally has revealed that he is looking for investment into the League One club. Scally told the BBC: "I am talking to some genuine people now. I have a call today with somebody I went to see in Dubai two weeks ago, who I've been talking to for some considerable time. I also have people based in England who are very credible people, football people, and we're talking on a regular basis with them on a way forward and some kind of structure. I am more hopeful that, strangely enough in these difficult times, there seems to be more interest in football clubs in general - and in Gillingham Football Club - for some. I have had two very good offers from Europe and America where they frankly would not be able to run the football club, they would be the wrong people for the football club. I don't want to go and sit on the beach somewhere thinking I've sold the club out short, a club I've believed in for 26 years and a club that I believe has got potential and can go on with the right people involved. I probably have a call a week from somebody who wants to become involved in a club or wants to buy the club or wants to take it over, but I haven't yet come across anyone who will come in and take the club over - unless I stay and run it for them, or with them."

Scottish Lower League Play On

In Scotland the Championship, League 1 and League 2 have decided to continue to play on with crowds capped at just 500, due to the new restrictions placed on gatherings by the Scottish government. In the Premiership, the winter break has been moved forward. Instead of beginning on 4th January as originally scheduled, it will start on Monday.

AFCON Squads Named

Guinea squad for Afcon 2021
Goalkeepers: Aly Keita (Ostersund, Sweden), Ibrahima Kone (Hibernians, Malta), Moussa Camara (Horoya, Guinea).
Defenders: Saidou Sow (St Etienne, France), Ibrahima Conte (Niort, France), Florentin Pogba (Sochaux, France), Ousmane Kante (Paris FC, France), Mohamed Aly Camara (Young Boys, Switzerland), Pa Konate (Botev Plovdiv, Bulgaria), Issiaga Sylla (Toulouse, France), Antoine Conte (Universitatea Craiova, Romania), Mikael Dyrestam (Sarpsborg 08, Norway).
Midfielders: Amadou Diawara (Roma, Italy), Ibrahima Cisse (Seriang, Belgium), Mory Konate (Sint-Truidense, Belgium), Ibrahima Sory Conte (Bnei Sakhnin, Israel), Ilaix Moriba (RB Leipzig), Mamadou Kane (Neftci, Azerbaijan), Morlaye Sylla (Horoya, Guinea), Aguibou Camara (Olympiacos, Greece), Naby Keita (Liverpool, England).
Forwards: Seydouba Soumah (Kuwait SC, Kuwait), Morgan Guilavogui (Paris FC, France), Mamadou Diallo (Grenoble, France), Jose Kante (Kairat, Kazakhstan), Mohamed Bayo (Clermont France), Sory Kaba (OH Leuven, Belgium).

Cameroon squad for Afcon 2021
Goalkeepers: Simon Omossola (AS Vita Club, DR Congo), Devis Epassy (OFI Crete, Greece), Andre Onana (Ajax, Netherlands).
Defenders: Collins Fai (Standard Liege, Belgium), Olivier Mbaizo (Philadelphia Union, USA), Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui (Gent, Belgium), JC Castelletto (Nantes, France), Harold Moukoudi (St Etienne, France), Enzo Ebosse (Angers, France), Ambroise Oyongo Bitolo (Montpellier, France), Jerome Onguene (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders, USA).
Midfielders: Jean Onana Junior (Bordeaux, France), Malong Kunde (Olympiakos, Greece), Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Napoli, Italy), Samuel Gouet Oum (Mechelen, Belgium), Martin Hongla (Hellas Verona, Italy), James Lea Siliki (Middlesbrough, England), Yvan Neyou (St Etienne, France).
Forwards: Ignatius Ganago (Lens, France), Christian Bassogog (Shanghai Shenua, China), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (Bayern Munich, Germany), Stephane Bahoken (Angers, France), Karl Toko-Ekambi (Lyon, France), Moumi Ngamaleu (Young Boys, Switzerland), Vincent Aboubakar (Al Nasr, Saudi Arabia), Clinton Njie (Dinamo Moscow, Russia).

The Gambia squad for Afcon 2021
Goalkeepers: Baboucarr Gaye (Rot-Weiss Koblenz, Germany), Sheikh Sibi (Virtus Verona, Italy), Modou Jobe (Black Leopards, South Africa).
Defenders: Pa Modou Jagne (FC Dietikon, Switzerland), Omar Colley (Sampdoria, Italy), James Gomez (AC Horsens, Denmark), Noah Sonko Sundberg (Ostersund, Sweden), Bubacarr Sanneh (Unattached), Ibou Touray (Salford City, England), Saidy Janko (Real Valladolid, Spain), Mohammed Mbye (Solvesborg, Sweden).
Midfielders: Ebrima Sohna (Fortune FC, The Gambia), Dawda Ngum (Bronshoj, Denmark), Sulayman Marreh (Gent, Belgium), Ebrima Darboe (Roma, Italy), Yusupha Bobb (Piacenza, Italy), Ebou Adams (Forest Green Rovers, England), Musa Barrow (Bologna, Italy), Ablie Jallow (Seraing, Belgium), Steve Trawally (Ajman, UAE), Ebrima Colley (Spezia, Italy).
Forwards: Lamin Jallow (Fehervar, Hungary), Bubacarr Jobe (Norrby, Sweden), Assan Ceesay (FC Zurich, Switzerland), Muhammed Badamosi (Kortrijk, Belgium), Modou Barrow (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, South Korea), Dembo Darboe (Shakhtyor Soligorsk, Belarus), Yusupha Njie (Boavista, Portugal).

Cup Semi Draw

The draw for the Carabao Cup semi-final was held immediately after the games finished last night:

Semi-final draw

Arsenal v Liverpool

Chelsea v Tottenham

Become a Patron!

Written by Tris Burke December 23 2021 03:39:46