England U21s – The ones to watch
With the England U21’s winning the Toulon tournament earlier this year, for the first time in 22 years under Gareth Southgate, could the England interim boss be tempted to draft some of that winning side into to the senior squad?
Nathaniel Chalobah
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The 21 year old has recently established himself amongst the Chelsea first team making three impressive substitute appearances. This comes after successful loan spells at Watford (where he made 32 appearances helping them reach the play off final that year), Middleborough, Nottingham Forest, and Burnley. He recently caught the eye of Italian giants Napoli. Chalobah has been a mainstay in the heart of the U21 midfield making 34 appearances since his debut in 2012. After recently showing signs of progression, it could be time for Chalobah to make the step up to the senior squad.
James Ward-Prowse
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Now skipper of the squad since Jack Butland’s progression to the senior team, James Ward-Prowse is a Southampton regular and is known for his pin point delivery from set pieces. The 22 year old has 27 caps under his belt for the under 21’s and is a vital member of the squad. Furthermore, with 115 appearances for Southampton at just 22, that experience at Premier League level will be invaluable when he, surely, makes his own progression in the senior squad.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
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At 6ft 3 inches, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is an absolute colossus in midfield and at just 20 years old, he looks a real prospect. He made his debut for Chelsea in 2014 in the Champions League and the West London club seem to value him immensely. Since then, Loftus-Cheek has made 17 appearances for Chelsea including his first start in a 1-1 draw against Liverpool in the Premier League where he achieved a 100% pass rate. His goal scoring statistics are what catches the eye at international level, in 13 appearances for the U21’s, Loftus-Cheek has netted 5 times.
Jack Grealish
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The Aston Villa youngster is well documented for his off the field antics but there is no doubting his ability. He made his debut for Villa at just 18, coming on as a late substitute in an away defeat to Manchester City. Since then, Grealish has impressed and was a regular starter under Tim Sherwood. He put in a man of the match performance in Villa’s FA cup semi-final win over Liverpool in 2015. Grealish was caught in a tussle between the Republic of Ireland and England for his services at international level as he has Irish grandparents and has represented Ireland at u17, 18 and 21 level. However the 21 year old has chosen England and has scored two goals in his six appearances so far for the U21’s.
Nathan Redmond
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Alongside Chalobah, Nathan Redmond is the U21’s most capped outfield player with 34 appearances. Redmond came through the academy system at Birmingham City where he made his debut at just 16 in a Europa League match where he excelled. Further impressive performances earned him a move to Norwich where he made 112 appearances for the club and was one of their outstanding players in their Premier League and promotion campaigns. Southampton then signed Redmond for a fee of 11 million which shows how highly rated the youngster is. His devastating pace makes him a feared played in the Premier League and his ability on the ball is ever improving; there have been calls already to see him in the senior squad.
Sex scandals in football
With ex-professional footballer Wayne Bridge currently in the public eye on ITV’s ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’, John Terry’s sex scandal with Bridge’s ex-wife has to be one of the most high profile sex scandals in sport- but what are the top four sex scandals in football?
John Terry and Wayne Bridge
Embed from Getty ImagesIn January 2010, it emerged that John Terry had been having a four month affair with team mate Wayne Bridge’s girlfriend, Vanessa Perroncel. Terry was a well-respected figure in the game and a role model for young footballers as England captain. Then England manager, Fabio Capello, removed the captaincy from Terry and replaced him with Rio Ferdinand. Terry was reinstated a year on. It also led to Bridge retiring from international football due to him not being able to play in the same team as Terry. Bridge also refused to shake Terry’s hand in a clash between Chelsea and Man City not long after the news emerged.
Wayne Rooney
Embed from Getty ImagesEngland captain Wayne Rooney was at the centre of an affair when escort Jennifer Thompson claimed the Manchester United star had paid her ‘£1000 a night’ for sex. This story escalated after wife Coleen Rooney announced she was pregnant. In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, Thompson claims that their ‘romps’ lasted up to six hours at a time. Furthermore, it is understood that Rooney first booked Thompson from an online agency before being privately booked by the England star.
Ashley Cole
Embed from Getty ImagesAgain in 2010, which seems to be the year of footballer affairs, Ashley Cole split with Girls Aloud singer and wife Cheryl Cole. Earlier in the year, Cole had been accused of adultery with three woman but he denied these allegations and Cheryl stuck with him. However, more allegations were made later in the year which Cole himself admitted to having with more than one woman, resulting in a multi-million pound divorce between him and Cheryl.
Ryan Giggs
Embed from Getty ImagesManchester United legend, Ryan Giggs, known as the ‘gentleman’ of football sensationally had been involved in an affair with his brother’s wife Natasha Giggs. The news emerged in 2011 that Giggs had been having an 8 year affair with his brother’s wife and did impregnate her during that time; the baby was aborted. Furthermore, Giggs had a 7 month affair with a woman named Imogen Thomas who had been on the reality TV show Big Brother. Giggs attempted to put a gagging order on Thomas spending £150,000 in the process on legal fees. Natasha Giggs then appeared on the 2011 version of the Celebrity Big Brother series outing her whole relationship with Ryan. The news was a massive shock to the footballing world as Giggs had built his reputation up to be a family man, parading his children around the pitch of Old Trafford at the end of every season. Ryan is still married to wife Stacey today.
Scintillating Sanchez downs West Ham
A fine Alexis Sanchez hat-trick helped Arsenal to an impressive 5-1 demolishing of West Ham at The London Stadium.
Embed from Getty ImagesArsenal were much the better side in the opening stages creating a couple of openings that just failed to be converted. Proceedings were not helped when James Collings was replaced by former Real Madrid right back Alvaro Arbeloa; the veteran had a troubled afternoon. Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and the overlapping Nacho Monreal were having excellent success down the left hand side and it was only a matter of time before Arsenal took the lead. A mistake in possession by Angelo Ogbonna let Sanchez in on goal only to cut back to Mesut Ozil to open the scoring.
West Ham then improved, even creating a couple of half opportunities of their own before the half time whistle. However Arsenal routed in the second half and Sanchez surged down the right before striking the ball across Darren Randolph to score the first of his hat-trick. The Chilean then added his second, a low strike from 18 yards, which found the far corner. Many unhappy Hammers were starting to head for the exits. An unfamiliar sight occurring at the London Stadium this season.
West Ham were given a glimmer of hope after a delicate Dimitri Payet free kick curled onto the cross bar and the rebound fell to the returning Andy Carroll to head home. However, West Ham’s slim hopes were dashed by Oxlade Chamberlain’s excellent strike just minutes later. The Englishman cut in from the left and curled the ball into the far corner.
With the game now wide open and drawing to a close, there was no stopping the quite brilliant Sanchez taking the match ball home. He was slid in on goal by Oxlade Chamberlain and exquisitely chipped the despairing Randolph who was sent down by a fake shot prior to the chip.
The 5-1 defeat now leaves The Irons 17th in the table on just 12 points and a giant injury list. Things don’t get any easier with their next game being an away trip to Anfield. Arsenal on the other hand have risen to second, 3 points off Chelsea at the top of the table and remain unbeaten since the opening day of the season in the league. Their next game is a very winnable home game against Stoke City.
Who has the greatest chance for promotion?
Newcastle United
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The Rafael Benitez empire is truly underway with Newcastle sitting happily at the top of the Championship. After heavy summer recruitment, you would have expected Newcastle to be at summit of the Championship despite their slow start. Dwight Gayle is the top Championship scorer but it’s Newcastle’s depth in squad that makes them the front runners. Their four strikers of Gayle, Mitrovic, Perez and Murphy have the fire power to promote them as well as the quality in midfield provided by the likes of Jonjo Shelvey, Mohamed Diame and Matt Ritchie. A very decent defensive line consists of Jamaal Lascelles, Grant Hanley, Ciaran Clark and Paul Dummett.
Brighton and Hove Albion
Embed from Getty ImagesHaving just missed out on promotion last year, you would have expected Brighton to be challenging again this season; they haven’t disappointed so far. The Seagulls are currently second in the table and have the best home record in the league. Their key men are certainly firing as well, Glenn Murray is the second top goal scorer in the league with 11 to his tally already. Him alongside talisman Anthony Knockaert, who’s deal they made permanent after a successful loan spell from Premier League champions Leicester, are the stand out men who can push Brighton over the line.
Aston Villa
Embed from Getty ImagesAfter their poor start under Roberto Di Matteo, ‘The Villa’ have been revived and reinvented under Steve Bruce. The former Hull City manager has won promotion three times to the Premier League so it’s fair to say he knows how to get out of the league. With a solid centre half pairing of summer recruits in the shape of James Chester and Tommy Elphick, as well as the quality in midfield they have through Mile Jedinak and Ashley Westwood, plus the firepower of Jonathan Kodjia, Aston Villa’s spine of their team could well give them the best chance of their hopes for promotion.
Derby County
Embed from Getty ImagesDerby County looked to have made a very good appointment in Nigel Pearson after the Englishman guided Leicester to promotion and survival in the Premier League however, it did not work out. The team were the lowest scorers in all four of the professional divisions in England which prompted the board to bring back Steve McClaren to the club. His brand of free flowing football has seen Derby rise to just two points off the play off places. It seems Derby’s flair players containing the likes of Tom Ince, Jonny Russell and Will Hughes could be the ones that see The Rams claim their place in the top six.
Norwich City
Embed from Getty ImagesNorwich are fast replacing West Brom as the ‘yoyo’ team between the Premier League and the Championship. It seems that they have enough quality to get out of the Championship but not avoid relegation. However after Alex Neil’s side achieved promotion in the 2014/15 season, they know how to get out of the league and with the firepower of the likes of Cameron Jerome and Jacob Murphy as well as the creativity of Alex Pritchard, they’re firm contenders to go up.
The surprise packages: Leeds United and Reading
Embed from Getty ImagesGary Monk’s Leeds United won’t have been on many people’s promotion contenders after their slow start however they are the form side in the Championship after five wins in their last six, their only defeat coming from Newcastle. Chris Wood could be the man to keep owner Massimo Cellino’s promise of a guaranteed play off place or season ticket holders get their money back.
Reading are very much the surprise package of this season. The Royals currently sit third in the league and Jaap Stam has got them playing a possession based style of football that has seen them branded as ‘the Man City of the Championship’.
Embed from Getty ImagesJanuary transfer window- who could go where?
With January fast approaching, who could go where once the festive fixtures are over and the transfer window opens?
Saido Berahino
Embed from Getty ImagesSaido Berahino is probably known as the ‘bad boy’ of the transfer window now. He’s tried and failed to move away from West Bromich Albion for the past three transfer windows and this will be his fourth; this may be the one where he finally does move on though. The England international is out of contract in six months and looks very unwilling to sign a new one after rejecting an improved deal in the summer and is not in the team due to being ‘overweight’. His most likely destination is Stoke City who tried to sign him in the summer. The Potters will be keen to secure his services as strikers Mame Biram Diouf and Wified Bony go to the African cup of nations in January, only leaving them with veterans Peter Crouch and Jon Walters up front. Surely The Baggies will want to get something for the 23 year old after rejecting offers in excess of 30 million in the past.
Daniel Sturridge
Embed from Getty ImagesThe England international continues to be linked with a move away from Liverpool after falling out of favour with Jurgen Klopp due to the new style of play he has brought to Merseyside with Roberto Firmino playing as a false 9. West Ham would be the most likely decision if the striker was to leave as they’re well short in the striking department after a poor summer transfer window. Flops Gokan Tore and Simeone Zaza look to be returning to their parent clubs after not adapting to life in the Premier League.
Mamadou Sakho
Another player that could well leave Merseyside is Mamadou Sakho. Jurgen Klopp has repeatedly said that he is not part of his plans and is free to leave in January. Stoke City had a loan bid accepted in the summer however the player rejected the move in hope that he would earn his place back into the Liverpool side. Other potential suiters have come in the shape of West Bromich Albion as they have an aging back four in Gareth McAuley (37) and Jonas Olsson (33). Italian giants AC and Inter Milan have also both shown interest in the player however the Frenchman is thought to prefer a move back to his homeland in France.
Memphis Depay
Since the arrival of Jose Mourinho, Memphis Depay has been only a bit part figure for Manchester United after falling behind the pecking order. The Dutchman has only made seven appearances all season, four of which have come in the Premier League as a substitute. Depay is odds on to join Everton on loan after The Toffees declare their interest in the player. Juventus have also shown interest in the 22 year old however Depay is keen to stay in the Premier League according to his agent.
Cesc Fabregas
The Spaniard has fallen out of the starting line up at Chelsea under Antonia Conte. There have been suggestions of a rift between manager and player however many of the West London club fans believe he has lost his place due to the fact the team is in splendid form. The new system Chelsea are adapting to is a 3-4-3 which requires two holding midfielders in the shape of Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante Fabregas is more well known for his excellent passing ability and assist making rather than making the tackles and interceptions that the two in the side do so well. Nevertheless, when Fabregas has been called upon, he has impressed so there will be no shortage of suitors if the player would like to leave. West Ham are the bookies favourites to sign the 29 year old although AC Milan are also rumoured to be interested.
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