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Football News: 10 Things In The News

10 Things In The News
Image from: sportsjournalists.co.uk

1. Alas No Smith
Liverpool's young Australian left back Brad Smith has been blocked from joining up with the Australian Olympic squad (known as Olyroos) for their qualifying matches ahead of next year's Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The full back had been out of the first team picture at the Reds, due to a contract dispute, but has now managed to establish himself as the back up to Alberto Moreno since sealing a new deal in October. Despite lacking first team football, he has been a part of the Australian national team, so they are disappointed to lose out on him. "It's a bit of a double edged sword, we've carried Brad with the Olyroos all season and now he's broken into the first team frame they won't release him for the qualifiers which is disappointing from our perspective," Ange Postecoglou, the Australian national coach, told Fox Sports. "Aurelio Vidmar [Olyroos coach] has selected him all the way along even though he wasn't training so that's the disappointing part about it."

2. Delpierre announces retirement
Former Stuttgart captain Matthieu Delpierre has announced his decision to retire at the end of the 2015-16 A-League season. The 34 year old French defender has spent the last two seasons plying his trade for Australian champions Melbourne Victory. He began his career with LOSC Lille, in his home country, before heading to Germany and Stuttgart, where he spent 8 years leading them in the Bundesliga, then move to Hoffenheim, before a short-lived spell at FC Utrecht. Leaving Holland for his career climax in Oz. Delpierre intends to return to live in Stuttgart.

 

3. Top of the pile despite statistics
Leicester City may have been top of the Premier League Table, but, going into the weekend's game, they were statistically the worst passers in the entire top flight. Their passing success rate was surprisingly, for many, the worst. With sideways and backward passing counting, it is little surprise Manchester United are right up there in second, but it is a surprise to see Chelsea quite so far up the table. Here is the passing success rate table:
1. Arsenal 85.3%
2. Manchester United 84%
3. Manchester City 84%
4. Swansea City 82.8%
5. Everton 82.3%
6. Chelsea 81.6%
7. Liverpool 80.4%
8. Tottenham Hotspur 80.2%
9. Bournemouth 79.5%
10. Southampton 79.3%
11. Aston Villa 78.8%
12. Stoke City 78.2%
13. West Ham United 77.8%
14. Norwich City 76.9%
15. Newcastle United 76.2%
16. Crystal Palace 76.2%
17. Watford 73.5%
18. Sunderland 73.2%
19. West Bromwich Albion 71.3%
20. Leicester City 70.6%

4. Zico calls for longer season
Brazilian legend Zico is currently managing FC Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL), and his team are about to face off against Marco Materazzi's Chennaiyin FC in the final of the tournament. Despite his team's success, Zico is calling for the league to be extended beyond its current three month length. With the event's first two seasons being a success, Zico feels that the ISL should be aiming to develop professional Indian players, and needs more games for them to learn. With the likes of fellow Brazilians Lucio and Elano plying their trade in the league, Zico feels other players need more time to learn their craft from those players.

 

5. Darren O'Dea considering an MLS return
Former Celtic and Leeds United defender Darren O'Dea has confirmed to the 'Football in Europe' podcast that he is in talks with some MLS clubs over a return to the North American league. Currently playing for Mumbai City of the ISL, following short lived spells at Blackpool and Metalurh Donetsk in the Ukraine, who he left due to the unrest in the region, the 28 year old Irish centre back is hoping for a return to the UK, but admits that a return to MLS football is tempting.

6. Silly season is upon us
With the forthcoming January transfer window fast approaching, 'news'papers and football sites all over the net are cranking up the rumour mill, with anything being considered the basis of a rumour these days. Steven Gerrard training with Liverpool? Must be about to return on loan. Didier Drogba watching former club Chelsea play? They must be about to sign him to fix their striker issue. Frank Lampard eating a Chelsea bun? He must be in line to be their new manager. Pep Guardiola once said he admired Neil Lennon for leading Celtic to a shock victory over Barcelona, just after he left, and so he is going to buy Bolton Wanderers to back Lennon with a huge transfer kitty. David Beckham is bored with the carry on surrounding getting a Miami-based MLS franchise off the ground and so he is going to be involved with Guardiola's Bolton-buying consortium. Despite struggling for goals, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal sold Javier Hernandez to Bayer Leverkusen and sent James Wilson out on loan. Obviously these are all just ridiculous and I admit I might have made up a few myself, but these are the kind of ludicrous depths that are being plumbed to come up with links. I am wondering which paper or other media outlet will come up with the most ridiculous rumour of the window?

 

7. R.I.P. Jimmy Hill
The football world's most famous chin has sadly passed away at the age of 87. So much more than merely a former professional player. More than a former manager. Jimmy Hill was someone who changed the face of football, before going on to have a stellar career as a pundit and presenter on Match Of The Day. The catalyst for changing players rights, he was in large part responsible for the scrapping of the maximum wage and giving players the freedom to change club when their contracts ended. Thanks to him, players were no longer almost entirely tied to the whims of clubs and they were able to earn a decent living. He was also a qualified referee, which led to his famous role running the line in a top flight game in the English league, before the days when there were fourth officials. There is so much more that could be said, the word legend is often over used, but he was one, both on and off the pitch. Jimmy Hill will be sadly missed by all. Rest in peace.

8. The three rats face the Stamford Bridge backlash
Three players have been labelled rats and suffered the backlash of Chelsea fans following Jose Mourinho's exit from the club. Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas have taken the blame for the club's poor form this season and they are now the subject of numerous banners around the ground criticising them. Eden Hazard will be thankful that his extremely serious hip injury kept him out of the 3-1 win over Sunderland as Costa and Fabregas suffered jeers and boos, both when their names were read over the tannoy system as part of the team before the game and during the match when they were taken off.


There were also a number of songs asking questions of the players performances in previous matches, such as this chorus asking where they were on Monday night:

 

9. Zlatan scores yet another screamer
It is almost normal now, but yet again Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored a belting goal for Paris Saint-Germain, as PSG beat Caen 2-0.



10. No surprises at Bayern
In one of football's least surprising happenings since Daniel Sturridge picked up another injury, Pep Guardiola has confirmed he is leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season. After months of 'will he, will he' speculation flying around, the former Barcelona manager has announced that he will be leaving. The 44 year old has been heavily linked with a move to take over at Manchester City. In just as surprising a move, Bayern have confirmed that former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti will be the man to replace Pep.

Written by Tris Burke December 20 2015 11:05:03