West Ham United have been without the services of Pedro Obiang since the midfielder picked up a serious knee injury against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup towards the end of January.
The 26-year-old has missed Premier League matches against Crystal Palace, Brighton & Hove Albion, Watford, Liverpool, Swansea City and Burnley, and it will not come a surprise to learn that the Hammers have lost four of those six fixtures in his absence.
Obiang, whose standout moment of the season came when he scored a stunner against Tottenham Hotspur on January 4, will miss the remainder of the 2017-18 campaign.
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It was the midfielder’s birthday on Tuesday, and West Ham had a special birthday message waiting for him.
The club’s vice-chairman David Gold also tweeted about Obiang earlier in the day, and that gave the Hammers supporters the chance to reveal their views on the former Sampdoria midfielder, who would surely consider his future if West Ham were relegated this season.
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A selection of the Twitter reaction can be found below:
Arsenal star Jack Wilshere is facing three months on the sidelines due to the ankle injury sustained against Manchester United, Mirror reports.
The Gunners midfielder may require surgery on his ankle ligaments to fix the problem, but even if the Englishman doesn’t go under the knife then manager Arsene Wenger will be without Wilshere eight weeks.
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The 22-year-old has just recovered from another problem but has not suffered a similar injury to French right-back Mathieu Debuchy, who was out since September.
This will come as a huge blow for Wilshere and his manager, as the England international has been in good form for both club and country.
Wenger said: “It does not look good. When you see the picture (of the tackle), it is very bad.
“I don’t think it was a tackle with the desire to hurt, I think he [McNair] went for the ball. But it was a late tackle, a tackle which a young player can do. It was a bad foul.
“There is no bone damage, we knew that straight away after the game, but there is ligament damage. I hope it will not be surgery, just in a boot. But it will be a few weeks. But after that mentally he won’t care too much.
“It is just the extension of how much it is, which we should know Tuesday or Wednesday (of next week).
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“It is so sad, because he just came back. You see in the big games he has the personality. It is more about his game, it shows you he is not scared to play and is ready to want to get the ball always.”
Arsenal will try to overcome their 2-1 loss to Man United when they face Borussia Dortmund in a Champions League clash on Wednesday.
A Wes Hoolahan inspired Norwich stretched their unbeaten run to 10 games with victory over Wigan at Carrow Road.
Chris Hughton’s men haven’t tasted defeat in the Premier League since a trip to Chelsea at the start of October and are now daring to dream of Europe after moving up to seventh in the table, two points shy of a Champions League place.
The Latics, on the other hand, find themselves struggling at the wrong end of the table and remain in the bottom three after a fifth defeat in seven games leaves them precariously placed heading into Christmas.
An inability to contain the lively Hoolahan was a major factor in their fruitless trip to East Anglia and the 30-year-old was heavily involved as the Canaries broke the deadlock on the quarter hour.
Emerson Boyce got caught in two minds and was dispossessed by Hoolahan, who then picked out Anthony Pilkington’s run with a brilliant through ball that allowed the winger to steady himself and lash the ball past Ali Al-Habsi.
Pilkington then blasted wide after Al-Habsi fumbled a routine catch before the Latics keeper produced a superb one-handed save to prevent Robert Snodgrass’ header from finding the corner.
The away side stepped up their game after the break and were level with six minutes of the restart as substitute Shaun Maloney angled his drive away from Mark Bunn after being set up by Arouna Kone.
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It was their first away goal since Ben Watson’s winner against Tottenham on 3 November and that increased momentum almost brought a second but Mauro Boselli couldn’t covert Maloney’s low cross.
And within 13 minutes Norwich were back in front. Pilkington beat Boyce on the left and delivered a pinpoint cross for Hoolahan to plant a firm header past Al-Habsi to secure a third league win in a row.
Leeds United had to settle for a point in the English Championship on Saturday, drawing 2-2 with Reading despite making a comeback to take the lead in the match.
Pontus Jansson and Pablo Hernandez both scored to overturn a 1-0 deficit before Eunan O’Kane scored an own goal at the other end to ensure the two sides shared the spoils.
With not much left to play for this season, the closing stages of the Championship are all about improvement for the Whites, but fans are growing increasingly frustrated with performances under Paul Heckingbottom.
The Leeds boss is still getting to grips with his squad but fans were left bemused by his decision to play Caleb Ekuban against the Royals.
The 23-year-old has now made 12 Championship appearances and has failed to find the net once, again looking below the standard required on Saturday.
Fans have no faith he can turn his career at Elland Road around and took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his performance…
Detested by the supporters, unloved by his players and seemingly even lost the previously unbreakable faith of owner Mike Ashley, a few weeks ago, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew had pulled away from the rest of the pack in the Premier League’s sack race.But a handful of decent results has seen the Magpies jump up the league table to the far more respectable position of 14th place – two points clear of the relegation zone and only three points behind Manchester United.Indeed, opposition to Pardew was relentless and ferocious at the start of the season – but was it all a little premature?We at Football Fancast believe its time Newcastle fans gave Pardew another chance – admittedly, there have beenÂnumberÂalready since he took the Magpies hotseat in 2010 – and to prove our point, here’s FOUR reasons why.
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He’s got the players playing for him
A few weeks ago, it seemed as if Newcastle had assembled a squad that simply didn’t care about the club’s Premier League status or Alan Pardew’s fate as manager.
But recent results, starting with the Magpies’ impressive two-goal comeback to claim a point against Swansea City (highlights below) suggests the players are indeed playing for the 53 year-old.
//www.youtube.com/embed/HE6MsKzlYDE?rel=0
One can question the quality of the squad and indeed Pardew’s often overly direct tactics, but clearly he’s motivating the players in the right manner. Another two-goal comeback against Spurs saw Newcastle bag their first victory of the season on Sunday.
//www.youtube.com/embed/tXUPL5mfqEk?rel=0
Consider the recent form of Papiss Cisse for example. He bagged just ten goals over the last few seasons but has already netted four times this year, reinvigorated by the cause of saving Pardew’s bacon, including this near-post strike against Hull City:
There’s still a long way to go until Alan Pardew has the Senegal striker rekindling some of the magic from his debut season however:
He’s performed well considering the circumstances
Football – Stoke City v Newcastle United – Barclays Premier League – Britannia Stadium – 29/9/14Newcastle fans with banners in reference to manager Alan PardewMandatory Credit: Action Images / Alex MortonLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account represen
Newcastle haven’t enjoyed the positive start to the season many fans would have liked, but few managers in world football are working under tougher circumstances than Alan Pardew.
Clearly, his control over transfer policy is minimal, forced to surrender the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba, Andy Carroll and Mathieu Debuchy since taking over at Tyneside in 2010, whilst a series of low-budget, unproven signings have been brought in as replacements.
This summer for example, 14-goal loanee striker Loic Remy was replaced by Facundo Ferreyra, Ayoze Perez and Emmanuel Riviere – three front-men all aged 24 or younger who have never set foot in the Premier League before.
Unsurprisingly, Perez is the only one to hit the onion bag so far this season, grabbing the winnger against Spurs:
Likewise, few managers in the history of the Premier League have put up with as much resistance from the fanbase as the Newcastle gaffer. There’s a whole website dedicated to getting him fired, regularly handing out Sack-Pardew-propaganda at every match:
And just listen to the level of abuse he received during Newcastle’s defeat to Southampton after just two games of the current season:
//www.youtube.com/embed/QQ9riwqUYsA?rel=0
All things considered, Pardew deserves praise – not further criticism – for improving results after his side’s poor start to the campaign.
He’s going nowhere soon
Like him, hate him, or even if you’re the only Newcastle fan that loves him, it’s abundantly clear that Alan Pardew won’t be sacked any time soon.
Mike Ashley has already had ample opportunities to relieve the 53 year-old of his duties and decided not to, during the summer for example,after Newcastle bagged just 16 points from their final 19 games last season.
Or when the Magpies boss received a seven-match ban for ‘headbutting’ Hull City’s David Meylor in March:
//www.youtube.com/embed/_EhLp-cnvsA?rel=0
Or when Newcastle spent the 2012/13 season staving off relegation, losing 19 games and finishing just five points clear of the drop zone.
But with Pardew declaring he’s never even discussed his future with the Newcastle Owner back in September, and Ashley reportedly having to hand the 53 year-old a £5million pay-out if he decides to sack him…
…it’s likely Pardew will see out the remainder of his six-year contract.
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So, for the benefit of the players and the club as a whole, Newcastle fans may as well accept they’re stuck with Pardew for the next few years and begin supporting him.
Are the alternatives any better?
Football – Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland – Barclays Premier League – White Hart Lane – 7/4/14Tottenham’s Emmanuel Adebayor (L) celebrates scoring their fourth goal with manager Tim Sherwood (R)Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Matthew ChildsLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.
A recent poll revealed that a staggering 85% of Newcastle fans want Pardew out, but would the grass actually be greener with another boss at the helm?
Local boy Steve Bruce has already ruled himself out of the running as next Tyneside manager, even before the position has officially become available:
The next-best option is former Manchester United manager David Moyes, but he only appears interested in managing a European club:
Then we’re entering the realms of Glenn Hoddle, Alan Curbishley and Tim Sherwood – absolute gambles considering only Sherwood has managed a Premier League club since 2008, and even that was under rather fortuitous circumstances.
Furthermore, all of these suggestions are largely hypothetical. Pardew’s management career was all-but over when he and Mike Ashley bumped into each other in 2010, allegedly at a casino, and its likely any Pardew replacement approved by the Magpies owner will be equally unpopular and obscure.
Everton are lining up a January loan deal for Manchester City winger Scott Sinclair, according to reports from The Metro.
The 23-year-old signed for the Premier League champions during the summer, but has, as of yet, failed to force himself into the starting XI.
This has tempted the Toffees, who feel that they may be able to lure him to Goodison Park for six months with the prospect of regular first-team football.
City are rumoured to be willing to allow their £8m man to leave on a temporary basis to gain experience, however it is thought that Sinclair is keen to fight for his place at the Etihad Stadium.
But, having made only two league starts this term, the former Swansea star may change his mind, especially if the Sky Blues draft in a big money star during January.
QPR are also thought to be interested, but the prospect of fighting for European qualification may be more tempting than a possible relegation dogfight with the London club.
One potential stumbling block could be Sinclair’s wage demands, which Everton boss David Moyes is rumoured to unwilling to match.
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If a compromise between the two clubs could be agreed then the Merseyside team would be keen to push through a deal.
Sinclair enjoyed a fine season with Swansea last term, helping the South Wales outfit maintain their top-tier status.
Few Championship centre-backs have been more consistent than James Chester over the last couple of seasons.
Indeed, the former Manchester United youngster was impressive during his 45 league appearances for Villa last season, and he has been outstanding for the club this term.
The 29-year-old captained Villa in the absence of John Terry earlier this season, and has shown an incredible level of consistency during his 34 Championship appearances during the 2017-18 campaign.
When Villa’s official Twitter account posted an image of Chester on Wednesday afternoon, it was always going to bring messages of praise from the club’s supporters.
Alongside Terry, Chester, who is valued at £7.2m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has had a fine campaign for Steve Bruce’s side.
The former Premier League club are really pushing for a return to the top flight, and Chester has been key to their rise up the table in recent weeks.
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A selection of Twitter reaction to the 29-time Wales international can be found below:
Although the Premier League season is only a handful of games in, talk of the bargain of the summer transfer window has already begun. In the ever-impatient world of top-flight English football, fans, punters and pundits feel it necessary to compare the performances of the new arrivals when the number of games played hasn’t even hit double figures, rather than at the, most logical, end-of-season mark.
Nevertheless, such premature speculation will always generate interest, and can even be educational. Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao are househould names whose talent has been known for years, and whose transfer fees mean that they are excluded from any talk of bargains. What Manchester United paid for the pair is what they will get – supreme footballers for a hefty price.
Identifying the steals of the summer, on the other hand, is an informative process as the players in question are usually ones who are relatively unheard of, having earned a shot at top flight success by impressing scouts in the lower tiers of the football league or at a minor club in a foreign league. A prime candidate for this year’s gong is no exception.
After six years of mediocrity in Argentina, Leonardo Ulloa could have been forgiven for settling as a bench warmer at a mid-table club in South American football, with dreams of playing one day in Europe mere wishful thinking. The ten league goals he mustered as a striker in more than 60 appearances for a total of four teams was hardly going to attract the attention of the South American giants, let alone the big European sides. However, Ulloa always believed that his time would come, and when Spanish Segunda Division side Castellon came calling in 2008, the Argentinian grabbed his chance.
Going against the consensus that it is harder to succeed in Europe than in South America, Ulloa became a prolific goalscorer during his time in Spain. Two fruitful years at Castellon piqued the interest of Almeria, and after another three prosperous seasons on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea – the second of which saw him finish as the Pichichi, or top scorer, of the Segunda Division – a move to the equally exotic seaside town of Brighton beckoned.
Ulloa continued to defy convention in his first season in England, with his 23 league goals – including the first ever hat-trick scored at the AMEX Stadium – proving that the transition from Spanish to English football is not always a difficult one. The £8 million Leicester City paid for him in the summer was a club record, and his early performances show why he is a strong contender for bargain of the summer.
With his highly impressive aerial ability, link-up play and work rate, Ulloa has been a large factor in the Foxes’ excellent start to the season. His five league goals in five appearances means that he is second only to Diego Costa in the goalscoring chart, and with four of those strikes coming against Everton, Arsenal and Manchester United, he is clearly not one to shrink away on the big occasion.
Any newly promoted side knows that a striker who can score is key to survival in the Premier League, and although £8 million for a Championship player may initially have seemed a gamble, on the basis of his superb start Leicester City may genuinely have secured the summer’s best bargain. Indeed, the very fact that Ulloa’s journey to the Premier League has been a long and occasionally arduous one may be the reason why that now he is here, the Argentinian is thriving. A passage in Ulloa’s recent interview with the Leicester Mercury proved particularly insightful as he stated that he would not change anything that he has been through to get where he is, and that he feels “stronger for it”.
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Across the Atlantic, even the press in his homeland of Argentina are beginning to take notice, with profiles of the player emerging following his brace in the 5-3 defeat of Manchester United. Such belated recognition from his compatriots is the least that Ulloa deserves after a career of hard work and determination from which he is finally getting his just rewards.
It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…
Given the inconsistent nature of the Gunners season thus far, it’s no surprise to see Arsene Wenger hammer home the importance of strong home form. But, in truth, they’ve hardly made that advantage count this season, picking up just 11 points from a possible 18 at the Emirates Stadium. Compare that to their top-four rivals and its clear to see why the North London club are languishing outside the Champions League spots with a lot of ground to make up over the Festive period. Turning the Emirates into a fortress will certainly go a long way to achieving that as Wenger faces up to his biggest challenge in the 16-years since arriving at the club. Bringing an end to Theo Walcott’s contract wrangle wouldn’t go amiss either given the winger has proved himself to be the Gunners’ most influential player in recent weeks.
This week on FFC should Wenger be looking to broker another loan deal for Thierry Henry and which recent England debutant is on the Frenchman’s transfer wish list for January?
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Where do you want Arsenal to be in January? – Highbury House
Arsenal To Bolster Up Defence With £5m Starlet? – Transfer Tavern
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Quote of the Week
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“If we get that amount of money from sponsors it is not charity, it is because the sponsors feel that we act in the right way and with the right values. They reward that. Afterwards it is down to us to spend the money in the right way. There are two aspects to any deal; one is the transfer [fee] and the other is the wages. The transfers for these kinds of players are not at £30million today, they are at £50million or £60million and what has gone through the roof is the wages of these players. That is why people plead for financial fair play. Some clubs even pleaded that the new television money (for Premier League clubs) should not be used to increase wages because it gives huge problems to everybody.” Arsene Wenger insists will prudently spend the £150m gained from the sponsorship deal with Emirates
For some England players in years gone by, playing for their country has been a chore by comparison to their day job in the Premier League and it has shown on the pitch.
For John Stones, coming away from a Premier League winning squad and working under Pep Guardiola could easily become the same but that does not appear to be the case at all.
The central defender was kept out of City’s late-season plans by injury and the form of others in front of him, which has kept him fresh and more importantly, motivated, for his key role at the heart of Gareth Southgate’s England defence.
In the 6-1 drubbing of Panama, Stones put in an almost complete performance. He opened the scoring with a thumping header before adding a second before half time.
That led to the unthinkable scenario that wrestling England’s second penalty away from Harry Kane would have presented him with the chance to become the first defender to score a World Cup hat-trick for England.
At the other end, he made the most of Panama’s lack of willingness to press by getting on the ball more than any other Three Lions player and displaying unerring accuracy in possession.
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He was the epitome of Southgate’s ideal defender in this system, although tougher tests lie ahead.