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In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former Newcastle United midfielder Rob Lee expressed his concerns over the lack of natural goalscorers at his old club.

First-choice striker Callum Wilson has scored 10 Premier League goals this season; however, no other Newcastle player has been able to show that level of proficiency during the 29-year-old’s time on the sidelines.

The likes of Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin have really struggled in front of goal overall, with the former managing to score just once in the current English top-flight campaign so far.

Unsurprisingly, it is a huge worry for Lee, who believes this predicament has left manager Steve Bruce and the club in big trouble.

Speaking exclusively with FFC, the ex-Newcastle star said:

“If you haven’t got someone who’s a natural goalscorer scoring goals, you’re in trouble, you’re in trouble. You look at all the teams down there and none of them have a natural goalscorer, none of them. They [the teams that go down] never do. Throughout the years, they never have a natural goalscorer.

“We actually have one, but he’s injured and it seems the whole of our team is based around him and how he plays. And we haven’t got a replacement and then we don’t have any players from midfield [who can score goals].”

Indeed, Newcastle’s lack of goals at the minute is a huge concern. Furthermore, Bruce will be delighted to have Wilson in training again and hoping his return from injury has not come too late.

Earlier this week, we brought you reports of Scott Brown’s reported Aberdeen move. 

The Daily Record claimed on Monday evening that the 35-year-old was on the verge of agreeing a move to Pittodrie to become Stephen Glass’ No.2, with a deal set to be announced within the following 48 hours.

Glass has since been announced as the new Dons boss, however, Brown’s proposed move hasn’t been confirmed by either side.

Brown update

The Scottish Sun have now provided an update on the Celtic captain. They claim that Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack has sanctioned a two-year player-coach deal for Brown and are hopeful of getting it over the line in the next few days.

However, the report also adds that Celtic are now hopeful Brown will perform a U-turn and extend his 14-year stay at Parkhead.

Transfer Tavern take

Even though the initial deadline provided by the Daily Record has now passed, it seems as if Brown will still make the move to Aberdeen, despite Celtic’s hopes of a Hoops extension.

To us, it seems as if now could be the right time to move on. He’s been in and out of the side in recent months, starting just eight of the club’s last 19 Premiership fixtures.

A move to Pittodrie will also allow brown to gain his first real taste of coaching, and who knows, we could see the midfielder return in the Hoops dugout in years to come.

In other news: Celtic hopeful of landing £2.76m this summer due to 2018 clause, find out more here. 

MatériaMais Notícias

O fim da janela de transferências para clubes europeus significou uma forte perda para alguns clubes nacionais. Os campeões olímpicos Gabigol e Douglas Santos são apenas alguns dos negociados, assim como Gabriel Jesus, que foi vendido mas ainda segue no Palmeiras.

Gabriel Jesus foi a maior venda desta janela e tornou o Palmeiras o melhor vendedor. O atacante da Seleção Brasileira foi negociado por 32 milhões de euros, quase o dobro do que o Corinthians ganhou vendendo cinco jogadores.

Gabigol foi o segundo mais caro. A Inter de Milão pagou 27,5 milhões para levar o atacante do Santos. Além dele, Gerson deixou o Fluminense por 16,6 milhões de euros.

No total, o Palmeiras recebeu 34,2 milhões de euros por Gabriel Jesus e Cristaldo. Em segundo lugar, o Santos recebeu 27,5 milhões de euros. Com as vendas de Ganso, Kardec e Ewandro, o São Paulo recebeu 17,5 milhões de euros, mais do que os 17 milhões de euros que o Corinthians recebeu por cinco jogadores.

Plenty of Aston Villa fans have been giving their thoughts on social media regarding an injury update on Jack Grealish.

According to the Birmingham Mail, the 25-year-old will miss this evening’s clash with Tottenham due to shin problems which have seen him miss the club’s last five Premier League fixtures.

Grealish touch and go for Fulham?

With Grealish not selected for England duty, the club captain will have time during the upcoming international break to regain fitness.

The Birmingham Mail claimed that the attacking midfielder remains touch and go for the home match against Fulham on Saturday April 3.

Villa have struggled without Grealish during the last five games, picking up just five points from a possible 15, scoring just three goals in that period (Transfermarkt).

Dean Smith’s side host Jose Mourinho’s men this evening knowing that a win would take them just a point behind their visitors.

Villa fans react

@AVFC_News shared the update regarding Grealish on Twitter, which led to these supporters replying:

“Another game wrote off if he doesn’t play, I’ve got no confidence at all when he’s absent, really hope I’m proved wrong but we are so bang average when he’s missing…”

Credit: @Mrb47016877

“Shock”

Credit: @qc1874

“So now he’s not even likely to play against Fulham? yesterday he was pain free and running and could feature against Tottenham”

Credit: @edwards2779

“Dean Smith said in the Presser he would leave it until Sunday morning and would be guided by Jack.. Just another non story from the Birmingham Mail.”

Credit: @clarkemark7

“So Jack might not be fit for Fulham now?”

Credit: @yorkshirevilla1

“If the Club didn’t treat every Jack Grealish injury like a soap opera you wouldn’t get all this speculation. If Mat’s bang on with “touch & go even for Fulham” dear oh, how much more spin can Smith feed us on Jack”

Credit: @Rog_FootyMad

In other news: Plenty of Villa fans have been reacting to a transfer update on Grealish, find out more here. 

MatériaMais Notícias

Para alegria de Tite e da Fiel Torcida, não é se trata de mentira de 1º de abril. Sem jogadores machucados, suspensos ou convocados, o Corinthians tem força máxima pela primeira vez na temporada.

Se já não bastasse a debandada de jogadores no início do ano, o treinador alvinegro contou desde janeiro com importantes baixas. Balbuena demorou a chegar, Elias e Marlone se machucaram, Luciano só foi relacionado no fim de fevereiro e as convocações para as seleções criaram dificuldades que acabaram ofuscadas pelas campanhas do clube no Estadual e na Copa Libertadores.

Agora, a expectativa é de que o que está bom fique ainda melhor. O fato ocorre em momento importante para o Timão, dias antes do clássico contra o Palmeiras, domingo, e às vésperas da fase final do Paulistão.

Mas, ao mesmo tempo em que cria alternativas e estimula a concorrência entre os atletas, o elenco completo cria dúvidas e “problemas” a Tite. Quem sai para Elias entrar? Romero, artilheiro da equipe na temporada com sete gols, seguirá na reserva? Balbuena ganhará a posição de Yago na defesa titular?

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansElias treina como titular e pode ser a novidade do Corinthians no DérbiCorinthians31/03/2016Corinthians‘O Corinthians tem mais a oferecer ao Tite do que a CBF’, avisa presidenteCorinthians31/03/2016CorinthiansCorinthians adota estilo europeu e diminui concentração antes de jogosCorinthians31/03/2016

O comandante alvinegro deve seguir alternando reservas e titulares, mas a tendência é que mantenha, pelo menos no primeiro momento, a estrutura dos últimos jogos. Para o Dérbi, porém, uma mudança foi ensaiada: Elias treinou nesta quinta-feira na equipe principal na vaga de Rodriguinho e pode começar o clássico.

Tite evita fazer distinção entre atletas e destaca a importância de todos. Para ele, o importante é mudar peças e manter um padrão.

– Não esperava que a equipe crescesse tão rápido assim. Fico feliz e motivado a seguir – disse, após a vitória sobre a Ponte Preta.

Para o treinador, tão importante quanto escolher os 11 melhores é manter os demais motivados. Pelo discurso do reserva Balbuena, Tite vem obtendo êxito até o momento:

– Temos que sempre respeitar. O trabalho de quem não está jogando é se esforçar e estar pronto!

SOMBRAS DO ELENCO EM 2016

Balbuena

Zagueiro paraguaio tem só seis jogos pelo Timão, mas já marcou dois gols. Com ele como titular foram só quatro gols sofridos. Já passou até Vilson na disputa pela vaga de Yago na equipe titular.

Elias

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Volante ficou 12 partidas fora de ação por conta de lesão e agora volta com seu setor ocupado por Rodriguinho e Guilherme. Precisará brigar para recuperar sua posição.

Romero

O reserva que está mais aceso na busca por espaço entre os titulares do Corinthians. É o principal artilheiro da equipe no ano, com 7 gols (6 em jogos oficiais), à frente de todos os outros. Melhor desempenho foi na de Giovanni Augusto.

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Celtic haven’t spent long feeling down in the dumps about their missed signing of Ben Davies. The Hoops burst back into action with an emphatic win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership last night.

After going four goals to the good, Neil Lennon and his side relished in what is a rare victory these days for Celtic. Their win on the road is only their second win in their last seven fixtures – the reigning champions of Scotland have been hugely out of sorts this season.

Missing out on major January target Davies could still spell worries for the Bhoys moving forwards, but youngster Stephen Welsh looks to be stepping up to the plate.

Stephen Welsh vs Kilmarnock

Because of his disappointing loan spell and performances, Shane Duffy was dropped to the bench last night. Instead, the 6 foot 3 Welsh partnered Kristoffer Ajer at centre-back and put in an impressive performance to keep Kilmarnock out.

According to Sofascore, the £180,000-valued youngster completed 93% accurate passes which was the joint-highest of any player on the pitch along with teammate Callum McGregor – a real step-up in quality from Duffy, whose average of 82.8% this season is the lowest of any Hoops centre-back.

Welsh also showed his defensive reading of the game by making four clearances, one tackle and two interceptions. His clearances were the joint-highest among his teammates, while only new signing Jonjoe Kenny and Scott Brown made more than his pair of interceptions.

The up-and-coming defender also lost the ball the least amount of times out of the entire Celtic backline. He gave up possession on just six occasions compared to Ajer’s 12, Greg Taylor’s 21 and new signing Jonjoe Kenny’s hefty 26, an indication of how composed he is and really showcasing why The Athletic’s Kieran Devlin hailed him as the “modern defender”.

In fact, his total of 97 touches on the night were the third-most of any Hoops player, and that bit of confidence he has on the ball shone through in his passing choices and ability to bring the ball out of defence better.

Whilst a 4-0 win over Kilmarnock isn’t the solution to all of Celtic’s recent problems, Lennon will have been very impressed knowing that the 21-year-old Welsh has a strong performance in his locker. His eagerness to be noticed and force his way into the senior side permanently is showing and if he continues these impressive shifts and constantly improves, he could be the saviour Celtic never knew they had.

If the Hoops are intent on building on a new era, then Welsh could well be the leading man. They may have missed out on Davies, but in their own young starlet, they could have the future of their defence.

In other news, Duffy handed huge lifeline as Celtic miss out on Ben Davies…

Southampton right-back Yan Valery doesn’t seem to have much of a future with Southampton with him said to be considering an exit according to the Daily Mail, having failed to make a single appearance for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side this season.

The Frenchman was a regular under the Austrian last season in the last two seasons but was dislodged by the loan signing of Kyle Walker-Peters last season, with a bout of glandular fever also contributing to him slipping down the pecking order.

Walker-Peters joined permanently during the summer and has clearly won over Hasenhuttl with his displays, having started every single Premier League game for the Saints this season, helping them to seven clean sheets in the top-flight.

Southampton have also been credited with an interest in Manchester United full-back Brandon Williams recently and considering he can play as both a right-back and a left-back, it seems unlikely that Valery will be starting another game for Southampton anytime soon.

Whilst a loan move might help Valery rediscover his form and confidence, the fact that he has been demoted to David Horseman’s B team at times this season suggests that Hasenhuttl doesn’t trust the 21-year-old to be part of his first-team.

Since joining from Rennes in 2015, the defender has gone on to make 36 appearances for the Saints, contributing two goals and one assist.

One of those goals was a superb strike in a 3-2 defeat against Manchester United in 2019, which led Hasenhuttl to praise the defender after the game, saying:

“That’s something you demand from a young player. He gets the trust from us and then I want to see a brave player who is believing in himself and Yan made a fantastic development until now.

“Defensively he is better now and also offensively that’s exactly the way we want to go.

“I’m very happy for him that he scored for the first time, it was a fantastic goal and to shoot like this at Old Trafford shows how confident he is.”

However, he has struggled to push on from this and with Walker-Peters in such superb form, you struggle to see how he could re-establish himself in the Saints team any time soon, so it may well be best for the South Coast club to cash in on him this month.

And, in other news, Hasenhuttl must axe Saints flop who’s stealing a wage following manager admission…

كشفت تقارير صحفية إيطالية، أن حارس مرمى باريس سان جيرمان، جيانلويجي دوناروما، قد ينتقل إلى مانشستر يونايتد خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية.

دوناروما وصل إلى باريس سان جيرمان في الصيف قادمًا من ميلان في صفقة انتقال حر، ويدخل في منافسة قوية مع الكوستاريكي كيلور نافاس، للعب أساسيًا في حراسة مرمى العملاق الباريسي.

صحيفة “كالشيو ميركاتو” الإيطالية، كشفت بأن مينو رايولا وكيل اللاعب الإيطالي، لديه خيار قد يكون معقدًا لكنه سيكون المستفاد الأول منه.

مينو رايولا وكيل عدد كبير من اللاعبين، من بينهم دوناروما وبول بوجبا لاعب مانشستر يونايتد.

طالع أيضًا.. إبراهيموفيتش: أفسدت خطة بقيمة 5 ملايين إسترليني على مانشستر يونايتد.. ورايولا أراد قتلي

علاقة رايولا مع إدارة مانشستر يونايتد ليست على ما يرام، ولكن الوكيل الإيطالي يأمل في تغيير المدير التنفيذي إد وودوارد، وهو ما قد يجعله يقوم بصفقة تبادلية بين بول بوجبا الذي يريد باريس سان جيرمان ضمه، مع دوناروما.

الصحيفة الإيطالية، تشير إلى أن بوجبا يريد الرحيل، وباريس سان جيرمان يرغب في ضمه، وهو ما يجعل رايولا يقوم بالصفقة التبادلية، خاصة مع اقتراب نهاية عقد بول في الصيف المقبل.

وأشارت التقارير إلى أن ديفيد دي خيا قرر مغادرة مانشستر يونايتد بنهاية الموسم الجاري، وهو الأمر الذي جعل النادي الإنجليزي يفكر في الحارس الإيطالي ليحل محله.

The next few weeks could signal an almighty change at the Stadium of Light.

A new sporting director in Kristjaan Speakman is set to be hired, while Stewart Donald is busy finalising the details in a takeover bid from Juan Sartori and Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.

You will find it hard-pressed to find any football owner currently as busy as Donald, someone who is also searching for a new manager to bring to Sunderland.

The Black Cats sacked Phil Parkinson just a matter of days ago and a number of replacements from Sol Campbell, to Gus Poyet and Danny Cowley have been linked.

However, one of the most eye-catching names is Lee Johnson, the ex-Bristol City manager. The 39-year-old is relatively inexperienced and is one of the youngest head coaches in the game. Yet, he is mightily impressive and has a distinct brand of football.

A welcome thought for Sunderland is the fact that he tinkers considerably with his formations, something we seldom saw under Parkinson.

His football was stale and tedious, playing a brand of the game that eventually saw the ball lumped towards the likes of Charlie Wyke. In short, his tactics were risk-free and full of predictability.

Thus, by bringing Johnson in they could completely change the way the current playing staff are working.

A dynamic thinker, Johnson has a track record of putting together a run of wins through changing his tactics and formations. For example, at the start of the 2015/16 season when he was at Barnsley, he played no fewer than five different systems.

This is completely different from Parkinson who so far this term, used a similar style in every game – either a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3.

If we take the 2016/17 as more evidence for Johnson’s tinkering, we can see that in a four-game unbeaten run between March 4th and March 7th, he used three very different systems; 3-5-2, 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2.

This should be a major box ticked for both Donald and the club’s supporters.

If he’s made the new Sunderland boss, they can wave goodbye to the stale football for good. That’s not just because of the constant change he instils, but also because he likes to play possession-based or counter-attacking football. That was something we never saw with Parkinson at the helm.

Johnson’s father Gary told The Independent that he is destined for lofty heights: “He’s done enough for at the moment for people to recognise what he can do, that’s the big thing. I think Lee should have (a big career) but you never rest on your laurels in football…he’s done himself no harm recently in what’s happening at Bristol City.”

With that in mind, it would be quite the coup if Sunderland could lure him to League One. This is a progressive coach who would surely be better placed in the north-east than Parkinson ever was.

Meanwhile, Will Grigg could rediscover himself if Sunderland hire THIS manager…

Sheffield Wednesday not only ended their hoodoo at Hillsborough but also picked up their first win in five outings.

The Owls defeated an unbeaten AFC Bournemouth 1-0 at home on Tuesday evening to move onto minus one point for the season. It means they move to within seven points of safety after ten games.

Barry Bannan won it from the spot in the second half after Josh Windass was brought down by Cherries skipper Steve Cook. He was duly sent off, though both teams finished the match with ten men.

Garry Monk’s side had to see out the final few minutes without Kadeem Harris after he received his marching orders for an awful challenge on Jefferson Lerma, which was perhaps the only sour note of the game.

Although the 27-year-old’s display was hardly inspiring either, but then again, he’s being played as a wing-back instead of his natural attacking role.

Harris recorded the lowest rating of any Owls player (6.4) and committed three fouls, lost possession 12 times, won just 25% of his eight duels, failed to record a single successful dribble and delivered just one accurate cross from four attempts, via SofaScore.

As a wing-back, it is crucial that he contributes at either end of the pitch, so for the £1.35m-rated ace to not record an attempt at goal and to just deliver 25% of his crosses, is simply abysmal.

He let his manager down not only with his display but also with the red too.

This much was summed up by Dom Howson at YorkshireLive, who claimed: “his decision-making in the final third was not the best.”

There has been a real drop-off in form for the former Cardiff City winger, regressing in terms of average shots, going from 1.5 to 0.9, and key passes, going from 1.1 to 0.9, per game this season, via WhoScored.

Monk must stop playing Harris at wing-back. Either find someone more suitable in the role – perhaps Adam Reach – or go back to utilising wingers in front of full-backs.

AND in other news, Chansiri transfer decision on Owls ace was instantly vindicated…