Football News: Leicester Relocate To London According To US TV And More As Former Arsenal Defender Fears For His Career
Image from: myfootballfacts.com
1. Fears for Upton's career after yet another injury
Matt Upson has had a career which has been blighted by injury over the years. Now 35, the centre back is currently at MK Dons, but his season has once again been a struggle with injury as a calf problem has kept him out of the team. Finally getting his first start, since August, in an FA Cup game with Northampton Town, the veteran defender suffered a hamstring injury. Dons manager Karl Robinson feels this could be the end of his career, which has taken in Luton Town, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Reading, Birmingham City, West Ham United, Stoke City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City before his one year deal with MK Dons. Despite his numerous injuries, he has still managed to get 21 England caps. "We'll see how serious it is and go from there," said Robinson. "It's unfair to comment right now, but it seems a little more serious. I hope he comes and sees me on Thursday. I don't want this to drift away in the wrong way. A man of his calibre with his quality, and his quality as a person, deserves a better way to finish his career. I'm so glad I've met him. Hopefully, he'll continue and we'll drive on. He wants to play football. It's been his life. He loves football."
2. Suarez ban appeal rejected
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez was given a two match suspension after the referee's report claimed he had incited trouble in the tunnel after Barca beat Espanyol 4-1 in a Copa del Rey match. The referee claimed he was waiting in the tunnel for the Espanyol players and shouted "I'm waiting for you, come here! You're a waste of space," at them. Barca claimed that the words did not come from Suarez and so took their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in the hope of having the ban overturned. CAS rejected the appeal and so Suarez will have to serve out the second match of his ban, having served the first already during last week's 2-0 win, again over Espanyol, but this time in La Liga.
3. Byram chooses Hammers
English Championship side Leeds United have confirmed that youngster Sam Byram has turned down an offer from Premier League Everton to take the one from West Ham United. The 22 year old had been in and out of the side over the last couple of seasons after a contract dispute which saw his contract set to run out in the summer. Leeds have decided to cash in now, rather than settle for the fee decided by a tribunal when his contract ended. Byram can play right midfield or right back, but he is mainly considered to be a pacey attacking right back, which may be what tipped the balance towards the Hammers, as they currently mainly rely on Carl Jenkinson, who is on loan from Arsenal. Everton have one of the best in the Prem, in the shape of Seamus Coleman, to push out of the side. Leeds majority owner Massimo Cellino said: "I'm really sorry for Everton because they really acted like gentlemen, but Sam chose West Ham."
4. Ardley denies Tubbs interest
AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley has had to clarify stories he was chasing a return for Matt Tubbs after his answer to questions about Tubbs caused a stir. Portsmouth boss Paul Cook believed that Ardley was suggesting Wimbledon were about to move for him, Cook told the Portsmouth News: "Wimbledon have a lot to say, so maybe people should be asking them what they want to do about Matt Tubbs." Ardley has moved quickly to defuse the situation: "I don't think Portsmouth are happy with me, I did not say in any way, shape or form that I was going after Matt Tubbs," Ardley said. "I was asked the question after the game on Saturday because Matt Tubbs was available, and my response was 'Of course, any one would like Matt Tubbs in their team because at this level he is a brilliant goal-scorer, but I doubt I can afford him and I doubt that opportunity will present itself'. I was quite dismissive about it, and somehow it's turned into that I am chasing him, and now Portsmouth are making comments that Wimbledon are making lots of noise so why don't they back it up. But that is not what was said." He added: "We are not chasing him, absolutely not."
5. Screamer for Tiago Silva
A real cracker from Belenense's Tiago Silva to equalise against Rio Ave:
6. First Liverpool goal for Ojo
If you are going to open your account, you may as well do it properly like Ojo did with this beautiful effort into the far corner against Exeter City:
The only question is, how does improve on that?
7. Scouse Cafu gets welcome back from the original version
After 20 months out injured, Jon Flanagan, or, as he is better known amongst Liverpool fans, the Scouse Cafu, made his comeback against Exeter City in the FA Cup. The original was quick to welcome back the new version:
@officialcafu @LFC #LFC pic.twitter.com/MWlTspufXv
— Klopp's Hairdryer (@WarriorLFC) January 20, 2016
8. The English FA lose £10m
The Football Association has been undergoing an extensive restructuring programme resulting in 100 redundancies, which has left their accounts looking a little on the shaky side. The organisation lost £12.1m according to its latest accounts. When one off items are stripped from the accounts, the FA did make a £3m after tax profit, down from £5.1m the previous year, though that could be down to their increased investment back into the game, which was up from £115m the previous year to £117m in this accounting year. With both Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur looking to negotiate a deal to use Wembley Stadium while they have new stadiums built, the FA are hopeful of increased profitability in the future.
9. Ooooops US TV relocate Spurs and Leicester
In case anyone thinks geography is the strong point of US television, we can now be sure that they really do not know anything about anywhere outside of the USA itself. Coverage of the FA Cup 3rd round replay between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur showed both teams relocating:
omg US TVs even have the teams in the wrong places on the map #COYS pic.twitter.com/uYtxYfYb9D
— Clare Starling (@lilacstranger) January 20, 2016
10. Transfer round up
Ernest Webnje N'For, unattached to Al-Wahda
Anel Hadzic, Sturm Graz to Eskisehirspor, £210,000
Antonio Cinelli, Vicenza to Cagliari, £105,000
Conor Washington, Peterborough United to QPR, £2.52m
David Pavelka, Slovan Liberec to Kasimpasa, £1.05m
Remo Freuler, FC Luzern to Atalanta, £1.05m
Barry Douglas, Lech Poznan to Konyaspor, £210,000
Cleyton, Elazigspor to Goztepe, free
Mihret Topcagic, Schachtjor Karagandy to SC Rheindorf Altach, free
Dario Dumic, Brondby IF to NEC Nijmegen, on loan
Rolando Mandragora, Genoa to Juventus, £4.2m
Sueliton, Figueirense to Goias EC, free
Birol Parlak, Eskisehirspor to Kayserispor, free
Alipio, Luverdense to Tombense, free
Tozin, Luverdense to Najran, free
Omer Sismanoglu, Besiktas to Antalyaspor, on loan
Fernando Elizari, San Lorenzo to Quilmes, on loan
Hector Landazuri, unattached to CD Victoria
Omer Sismanoglu, Konyaspor to Besiktas, loan return
Marko Bakic, Fiorentina to Belenenses, on loan
Humberto Osorio, Dorados to Defense y Justicia, on loan
William Zapata, Boyaca Chico to Marathon, undisclosed fee
Edigar Junio, Atletico Paranaense to Bahia, on loan
Henrique Almeida, released by Botafogo
Osman, Luverdense to America MG, on loan
Pierrick Cros, unattached to Red Star 93
Guti, Joinville to Jagiellonia Bialystock, £280,000
Hernane, Mirassol Futebol Clube to Bahia, on loan
Guilherme, Antalyaspor to Corinthians, £910,000
Jorge Teixeira, Standard Liege to Charlton Athletic, £350,000
Theofanis Tzandaris, Olympiacos to Panionios, on loan
Guus Hupperts, AZ Alkmaar to Willem II, on loan
Samir, Udinese to Hellas Verona, on loan
Steven Naismith, Everton to Norwich City, £7.7m
Costel Pantilimon, Sunderland to Watford, £455,000
Joe Bennett, Aston Villa to Sheffield Wednesday, on loan
Alex Pearce, Derby County to Bristol City, on loan
Halil Colak, Akhisarspor to Sanliurfaspor, undisclosed fee
Anthony Stokes, Celtic to Hibernian, on loan
Written by Tris Burke January 20 2016 22:35:47