Month: January 2023

Eddie Howe was amused by the suggestion he might be the “new Diego Simeone” following accusations of Newcastle United employing Atletico Madrid’s “dark arts” this season.

Newcastle are enjoying an outstanding season, third in the Premier League and on the eve of the home leg of an EFL Cup semi-final.

Having been more concerned with a relegation battle this time a year ago than any cup progress, the Magpies need only avoid defeat against Southampton on Tuesday to make a first major final since 1999.

Liverpool were the last top-flight team to beat Newcastle way back in August, their sole league reverse this season, but their approach both in that match and in subsequent tussles with elite opposition has been the source of some debate.

Newcastle, whose coach Howe spent time studying Simeone’s Atletico after leaving Bournemouth, have received five yellow cards for time-wasting this season, fewer only than Aston Villa and Fulham.

In relation to this trait, Howe was asked if he was the “new Diego Simeone” and laughed before replying: “It’s so funny how things can be blown out of all proportion.

“Yes, I did go and see a couple of Diego Simeone’s training sessions, and I have huge respect for him as a coach and a manager.

“But literally they’re one-hour training sessions and then you go. Certainly I took nothing of the ‘dark arts’ from Diego.

“I’m very much the same manager [he was before]. I’ve changed slightly because I’ve got older and I’ve got new ideas, and I’m always looking to evolve my work and improve.

“I’m still fundamentally the same manager with the same principles and the same beliefs in style of play.

“I just think I’ve become different from managing Newcastle. I think, naturally, managing this club is a huge challenge, so you evolve in that way.”

Newcastle’s strong defensive record is also comparable to Simeone’s best Atletico sides, keeping a Europe-leading 16 clean sheets in all competitions.

But Howe is not planning to protect a draw against Southampton as he urges his Newcastle team, who have been wasteful of late, to attack their opponents in the manner popular former manager Kevin Keegan did.

“The template is to entertain – of course, within the Kevin framework,” he said. “We want Newcastle supporters to come to the game excited about what they’re going to see.

“It’s to attack, it’s to be front-foot, and it’s also to try to win.”

Southampton were the last team to score against Nick Pope, back in early November, and boss Nathan Jones does not believe a win on Tyneside is beyond the Premier League’s basement side, who lost 1-0 in the first leg.

“It’s not ‘mission impossible’ by a long chalk. It’s a game of football,” Jones said. “Anything can happen.

“We have to be the best versions of ourselves – we know that’s what we have to do. We have to have a game plan, we have to be good, and we have to execute it.

“Newcastle are in good form, but they’re not going to go the rest of their lives without getting beaten, so why not get beaten tomorrow night? That’s what we have to attempt to do.

“We’ll go there in good spirits, we felt we played well in the first leg. If we’d had a bit more belief in the first half and been a bit more aggressive, it could have been something different.

“We had a really good chance to take the lead. There’s a lot of positives to come out of it.

“It’s definitely not ‘mission impossible’, and not even ‘improbable’. It’s a really acutely poised cup tie. That’s how we’re treating it.”

My old club Everton are in a mess right now but Sean Dyche looks like the man to turn things around at Goodison Park.

There have been all sorts of names linked with the vacancy in recent days but the Toffees have ultimately made what I would describe as a very sensible appointment.

Not only does the 51-year-old have Premier League experience, but he’s actually worked first-hand with some of the Everton squad in Dwight McNeil, Michael Keane and James Tarkowski.

That’s got to be a huge advantage when it comes to getting your ideas across quickly as a coach, having players in the building that know what you expect and can help their team-mates adjust.

Some managers would look at Everton’s current situation and think ‘no thanks’. For Dyche, he’s been there and done it with Burnley many times before and will not be fazed.

He always seemed the most obvious fit of the leading candidates, though if he wasn’t available I’d have been tempted to give Wayne Rooney a call.

In a similar sense to Frank Lampard, Wayne was such an elite performer in his playing career and that brings a level of expectation and scrutiny that other coaches just don’t get.

However, when it comes to finding someone who has the best interests of Everton at heart and understands the club’s history and fanbase, Wayne would’ve been that man.

He may yet have his time in the future — and I do think Sean will be more than capable of keeping Everton afloat this season.

Farewell Frank

I’m not sure anyone was surprised to see Frank lose his job last week — though I still felt sad when reading the news.

You never want someone you know personally to be unsuccessful and, although he will have been aware of some of the issues that plagued his tenure when taking the role, he felt the pinch more than his predecessors in my opinion.

The recruitment process has been disjointed at Goodison Park for some time now but he lost some key faces from a squad already low on quality that simply weren’t replaced adequately.

For example, Lucas Digne was such an influential player and his replacement Vitalii Mykolenko, who was signed for decent money just before Frank’s arrival, has struggled to hit those same heights. 

Then you have Richarlison, who was so important in keeping them up last season. It was always going to be virtually impossible to attract a replacement of the same calibre.

Add in persistent injuries to the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Yerry Mina and Abdoulaye Doucoure among others, plus the drama off the pitch, and he had plenty to deal with.

Ultimately, though, it’s a results business.

Saints hard to suss

Another team bang in trouble are Southampton, though I have to give Nathan Jones some credit for the improvement his side have shown in recent weeks.

They are still inconsistent but I’m sure even the most optimistic of Saints fans can accept that if the team are putting in maximum effort every week and showing signs of progress.

They picked up a huge result at Everton recently and although Newcastle edged the opening leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, Jones’ men were competitive and had their chances.

If they lose that second leg, that’s when the season becomes all about survival and the mindset the players show from that point will be crucial to their prospects.

You do go on losing runs, but you can’t get bogged down. I always think that when you’re within six points of safety, you’re only ever a week or so away from turning your campaign around.

There are no prizes for pointing out that James Ward-Prowse is going to be key in determining his team’s fate — though he’s going to need some help.

If Saints do fail to survive, I think Ward-Prowse has to leave St Mary’s to have any chance of getting in the England frame ahead of Euro 2024.

We shouldn’t presume he would walk, though. 

He’s been at Southampton since he was little and sometimes that emotional pull can often be the most crucial element when it comes to a player deciding their future.

Limping to the finish

Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil must wonder what’s changed since he was appointed on a permanent basis because he can’t buy a win currently.

I can almost guarantee you he isn’t doing anything differently in terms of his training methods, so I’m sure it’s a real head-scratcher. 

What is more, the Cherries have been linked with some big-money signings in recent days, which I suppose isn’t surprising given it’s a new ownership group wanting to make an impact and get fans on side.

I just hope they are doing it with the long-term picture in mind. 

Bournemouth have been a well-run outfit for some time and it’d be a shame if some short-sighted business undid all that ground work.

You could make a case for the current bottom three eventually going down, though history tells us that things often change quite a bit between now and May.

Any of the current bottom eight will still be worried about the drop and if I had to pick two sides who could be dragged right into the scrap, I’d go for Leeds and Nottingham Forest. 

The good thing about Forest is I think they accept they’re going to be battling to the wire, so they aren’t getting carried away with their good run of form.

There’s a bit of noise around Leeds, though. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a change of manager at Elland Road before the campaign is out.

One thing for sure — there’s plenty more twists and turns on the cards! 

Joleon Lescott was talking to Matthew Hill

You’ve read Joleon’s take… now watch journalist Miguel Delaney’s verdict on the appointment. 

Michail Antonio is poised to remain at West Ham this January despite revealing talks have taken place over his departure.

The Hammers’ all-time Premier League top scorer recently said there was a possibility he could leave the London Stadium before the transfer deadline following the arrival of Danny Ings.

But manager David Moyes has since insisted he has no intention of offloading the 32-year-old, meaning the striker is set to stay and fight for his place.

With January arrival Ings unavailable for tonight’s FA Cup clash against Derby, we turn the spotlight on what the future holds for Antonio.

Exit talks

Antonio recently admitted that his career in East London could be drawing to a close.

The Jamaica international has been linked with moves to Wolves and Everton before tomorrow’s deadline.

He told the Footballer’s Football podcast: “Honestly, I’ve not ruled anything out. Nothing’s been ruled out, there are talks. Whatever happens, happens, if I go, I go. 

“This is what it is. There’s definitely talks happening and that’s what I’m saying, I can’t say anything else.

“I’ve been here for eight-and-a-half years now and I’ve loved every moment of it. Every single moment is somewhere close to my heart and I’ll always be looking out for it. I love the fans, I’ve loved my time at West Ham.

“It’s just one of those things. I’m not saying goodbye, I’m saying basically, if it happens, it happens and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.

“I won’t be upset about staying and I’ll definitely be upset if I leave because obviously I’ve enjoyed my time here, but football is football.”

Moyes holding firm

Despite his very public revelations, his manager poured cold water over suggestions of a potential exit for now.

Following his striker’s remarks, Moyes responded: “[Antonio] said it but we here have got no intention of doing anything.

“Sometimes players choose to do that, some of them want to go. But at the moment we want [him] here, we want him playing well, we want him scoring goals, and we’re happy to have him.”

While they have underperformed during the current campaign, the Hammers have enjoyed great success over the previous two seasons, largely with Antonio as their only option up front.

Gianluca Scamacca arrived from Sassuolo in the summer to him some much-needed competition but that has seen the long-serving ace start only nine of their 20 league games this term.

With Ings now among the squad too, giving all three sufficient game time looks a tall order.

Still a place for him

Antonio managed 30 Premier League goals across his previous three West Ham seasons but has found the net only twice during the current Premier League campaign, as well as one apiece in the Carabao Cup and Europa Conference League.

His decline is perhaps a result of a new approach from the Scottish boss this term, with a shift from counter-attacking in the previous two seasons to having more possession not paying dividends thus far.

That said, a crucial 2-0 win over fellow relegation strugglers Everton in their last Premier League game was a reminder that the physical forward still has plenty to offer.

The Wandsworth native was a threat throughout the clash, providing his side with a focal point to form attacks and breaking the lines with his runs into the channels.

And it was one of those runs that led to West Ham’s second goal as the forward burst past James Tarkowski on the touch-line before teeing up Jarrod Bowen for the easiest of finishes.

With £35.5million recruit Scamacca still finding his feet in the English top flight and Ings facing a race to be back fit, it is easy to see why Moyes wants to keep his No9 around as they continue their battle against the drop.

Chance to shine

Tonight’s FA Cup tie with League One outfit Derby may therefore be another chance for Antonio to prove his worth.

As West Ham’s leading Premier League goalscorer with 58 strikes, the former Nottingham Forest man knows he has the capability to find the net on a more regular basis.

Their struggle for goals was one of the key reasons Ings was brought in and that is something Antonio must improve if he is to keep the former Aston Villa marksman out of the XI.

Everton have appointed Sean Dyche as Frank Lampard’s successor.

The Toffees axed Lampard last week in the wake of a 2-0 defeat at relegation rivals West Ham which left them two points from safety in 19th.

Marcelo Bielsa was the early favourite for the role after flying in for talks but the Argentine tactician reportedly turned down the job.

Goodison Park chiefs then moved to secure Dyche, who worked wonders after winning two top-flight promotions with Burnley.

The 51-year-old has signed a contract until June 2025 but his first task will be preparing to host high-flying Arsenal on Saturday before a Merseyside derby showdown with Liverpool nine days later.

He said: “It’s an honour to become Everton manager.

“My staff and I are ready and eager to help get this great club back on track. I know about Everton’s passionate fanbase and how precious this club is to them.

“We’re ready to work and ready to give them what they want. That starts with sweat on the shirt, effort and getting back to some of the basic principles of what Everton has stood for for a long time.”

Dyche was sacked as Burnley boss last April, after almost a decade with the Lancashire outfit.

A seventh-place finish in 2017-18 earned qualification to the Europa League but that was a high point for a tenure that ultimately resulted in relegation last term.

He now faces another battle to beat the drop and will have to do without homegrown winger Anthony Gordon, who joined Newcastle for a reported £45million on Sunday.

Three of Everton’s first-team squad have worked under Dyche previously at Burnley — James Tarkowski, Michael Keane and Dwight McNeil.

Dyche added: “We want to bring back a good feeling.

“We need the fans, we need unity and we need everyone aligned. That starts with us as staff and players.

“Our aim is to put out a team that works, that fights and wears the badge with pride. The connection with the fans can then grow very quickly because they’re so passionate.

“There is quality in this squad. But we have to make them shine. That’s the job of me and my staff.”

Wolves have completed the signing of Flamengo’s Copa Libertadores winner Joao Gomes, making the highly rated midfielder their sixth addition of the transfer window.

Gomes has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with Julen Lopetegui’s men, having reportedly rejected interest from Lyon in order to join the Premier League side in a £15million ($18.5m) deal.

Reports claimed Flamengo were refusing to deal with Wolves after receiving a more lucrative offer from the Ligue 1 club earlier this month, delaying his departure.

But the 21-year-old, who started as Flamengo beat Athletico Paranaense to win their third Libertadores crown in October’s final, has joined Matheus Cunha, Pablo Sarabia, Mario Lemina, Craig Dawson and Daniel Bentley in moving to Molineux this month.

Wolves sporting director Matt Hobbs said: “It’s been well publicised that we thought we had a deal sorted a couple of weeks ago, but what’s got the deal done has been the player. 

“He’s turned down a more lucrative offer at another club because he always said he gave his word, he always wanted to come to Wolves since talking to Julen and I, so he’s kept his word and stayed strong.”

Gomes will now miss out on a potential meeting with Real Madrid after helping Flamengo reach next month’s Club World Cup, and could instead make his Premier League debut against Liverpool on Saturday.  

Brighton and Hove Albion have completed the signing of Yasin Ayari as speculation over Moises Caicedo’s future continues.

Ayari, a Sweden international who plays in central midfield, has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at Brighton after joining from AIK.

The 19-year-old has reportedly cost Brighton £5.2million (€6m).

“Yasin is a versatile and technical midfield player, who is good on the ball and capable of playing across the midfield,” said Brighton’s sporting director David Weir.

“He’s had an impressive spell in Sweden with AIK, and we are delighted to have completed his transfer and to be welcoming him to the club.

“He will need time to settle here and acclimatise to the Premier League, but we are really looking forward to working with him.”

While Ayari is viewed as one for the future, he may be required to step up to the first team ahead of schedule should Caicedo have his wish to leave Brighton granted in the final days of the transfer window.

Caicedo has told Brighton he wishes to leave, with league leaders Arsenal having submitted a bid, reported to be £60m, last week.

The Ecuador international posted an open message to Brighton on Friday, saying he was “proud to be able to bring in a record transfer fee for Brighton which would allow them to reinvest it and help the club continue to be successful”.

Caicedo was not involved in Brighton’s 2-1 FA Cup win against Liverpool on Sunday, and Arsenal are said to have lodged a new offer worth £70m.

Brighton have already sold one of their stars to the Gunners this month, with Leandro Trossard having joined Mikel Arteta’s side.

Fierce rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid will do battle for a place in the Copa del Rey final.

LaLiga leaders Barca and Los Blancos were on Monday drawn to meet at the semi-final stage, with the winners facing either Athletic Bilbao or Osasuna.

The Blaugrana beat Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana final in Riyadh earlier this month to secure their first trophy of head coach Xavi’s reign.

There will be another two El Clasico cup clashes to look forward to, with the first leg staged at Santiago Bernabeu in the week commencing February 27 and the second match at Camp Nou in the week commencing April 3.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side were 3-1 winners when the two met in LaLiga in October, but Barca have since opened up a five-point lead at the summit.

Osasuna will have home advantage in their first leg against Athletic.

The final will be stage at the Estadio de la Cartuja in Sevilla on May 6.

The FA Cup fourth round has provided us with some fantastic entertainment and there is still one match to go this evening.

Manchester City knocked out Arsenal on Friday night, while League Two Grimsby held Championship Luton to a 2-2 draw at Kenilworth Road.

Ipswich also earned their stripes as they stood firm against Burnley to earn a replay, while Sheffield Wednesday were unable to flourish against Fleetwood.

Premier League sides Tottenham, Leicester, Southampton and Manchester United all advanced with the draw for the next round set to take place before tonight’s clash between Derby and West Ham.

Ahead of the match, we take a look at five stars who shone brightest in a thrilling weekend of football.

Casemiro (Manchester United)

Old Trafford stood in awe as Casemiro produced a footballing masterclass in United’s 3-1 win over Reading on Saturday.

The Brazilian bagged a brace to take his total goal contributions to nine for the season and send his club marching through to the next round.

Not only did the former Real Madrid star dominate the midfield but he looked a threat in the final third, making a series of dangerous runs through the Royals’ backline.

His first goal was a delicate chip over Joe Lumley but it was his second strike that caught the eye.

Casemiro swept a curling effort from 30 yards around the keeper and into the bottom corner, sending the Stretford end into raptures.

Sam Bell (Bristol City)

Bristol City breezed past fellow second-tier opponents West Brom on Saturday courtesy of a Sam Bell brace.

The talented forward scored either side of Alex Scott’s strike to give the Robins a comfortable victory over the Baggies.

Bell opened the scoring after just 12 minutes, curling an effort into the far corner after West Brom had failed to clear a short corner from the hosts.

And the 20-year-old had the game wrapped up just minutes into the second half, latching on to a George Bell cross and dinking the ball over the onrushing David Button.

Heung-Min Son (Tottenham)

There was no Harry Kane, Cristian Romero, Hugo Lloris or Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for Spurs at the weekend but Heung-Min Son stole the show in a comfortable victory over Preston.

The South Korean had a number of opportunities in the match and eventually opened the scoring with an emphatic effort on his weak foot early in the second half.

Continuing to dominate, the North London club sealed the deal with their No7 able to turn Jordan Storey in the box and fire past Freddie Woodman on his left foot.

January signing Arnaut Danjuma made his first appearance for Spurs and scored the third but it was Son who stole the headlines at Deepdale.

Paul Mullin (Wrexham)

The match between Wrexham and Sheffield United proved to be an FA Cup classic with goals, red cards and a last-minute equaliser.

Despite falling behind early, the National League side battled back and found themselves 2-1 and 3-2 up before John Egan rescued the tie for the Championship club.

Paul Mullin starred for the Welsh outfit, taking his season tally to 29 goals with a driven shot through the legs of Adam Davies.

However, his strike was not enough to prevent the 10-man Blades from forcing a replay in Sheffield to decide who progresses to the last 16.

Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton)

Kaoru Mitoma has been a regular feature in our stars of the week columns this season and the Japanese winger once again earned his spot with a winner against Liverpool.

Brighton edged the Reds at the Amex with the last-gasp goal but Mitoma’s performance was a spectacle for every fan who had made the trip to the South Coast.

The 25-year-old was a problem for Trent Alexander-Arnold all game, resulting in the England international being subbed off for the more experienced James Milner.

His goal was the moment of the match, faking his first effort and stabbing a volley past Alisson before running over to the Brighton bench to celebrate.

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Gor to come

Eddie Howe believes Newcastle’s latest recruit Anthony Gordon can still take his game to another level.

The 21-year-old winger completed his Tyneside switch yesterday for an undisclosed fee, departing struggling Everton having been with the Merseyside outfit since the age of 11.

Though Gordon is cup tied for tomorrow’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Southampton, his new boss is expecting him to make a quick impact at St James’ Park — even if he does have room for improvement.

Howe said: “He’ll give us a lot. He is a young player with huge potential to have an impact on our season. He’s very quick, versatile, can play off both sides. 

“The best is yet to come from him, but he can add something different.

“We are getting someone who is fiercely determined, ambitious. He’s got a nice balance between confidence and knowing there’s things to improve in his game.”

Saint going nowhere

Eddie Howe is not expecting Allan Saint-Maximin to leave Newcastle before the January transfer window slams shut tomorrow evening.

The popular Frenchman, 25, has not started a league game for the Magpies since August, prompting speculation over a potential exit.

Yet Howe has categorically ruled out a move, claiming Saint-Maximin remains firmly in his long-term plans.

Quizzed on a possible transfer for his No10, the 45-year-old said: “Absolutely not. He’s here to stay. He’s an integral part of my team.”

Goodbye Jonjo

Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is set to leave the club.

Nottingham Forest are closing in on a deal for the former Liverpool and Swansea midfielder, who has made over 200 appearances for the Toon since his 2016 arrival.

Six-cap England international Shelvey, 30, has not started a Premier League game this term and Eddie Howe confessed he will be sad to see him leave should a deal be struck.

He said: “Jonjo, I believe, is talking to Nottingham Forest. I don’t know what stage that is at currently.

“Jonjo has been a huge player for this football club over the last seven years. He’s been a very important part of my squad since I’ve been here. Unfortunately, he’s had injuries this season.

“Certainly I would not want to lose him, but I have to understand again, similar to the Chris Wood situation really, the player’s wishes with his contract coming to an end this summer.”

England woe blunted Bowen

David Moyes believes West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen’s recent dip in form was linked to his failed bid to make England’s World Cup squad.

Bowen, 26, racked up 12 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League last term, with his fine performances seeing Gareth Southgate reward him with four caps for the Three Lions last summer.

However, the ex-Hull star did not make the cut for Qatar and has subsequently struggled, with only two goals in 19 top-flight outings prior to a crucial brace against Everton last time out.

Moyes, 59, is backing the winger to now put recent troubles behind him and get back to his best.

The Scot explained: “From the start of the season to November, he [Bowen] probably didn’t perform well enough in those six to eight weeks.

“He didn’t get goals. If he’d got three or four goals, he might have been the one going to the World Cup maybe more so than some others who popped in at the last minute.

“He was so disappointed with himself, gutted that he didn’t do that. I think it was hanging on him a little bit.

“So I’m hoping those goals have given him big confidence to go and show what he can do. He can score, he can create goals, he’s been a great buy for us and a really good team player.”

Bowen will hope to be among the goals again when the Hammers travel to League One side Derby in the FA Cup this evening.

Eddie Howe believes Anthony Gordon will be a hit with the Newcastle United supporters and confirmed Jonjo Shelvey is in the process of leaving the club.

Gordon joined Newcastle from struggling Everton over the weekend.

Newcastle have reportedly paid an initial £40million for the 21-year-old, with an additional £5m due in add-ons.

Gordon handed in a transfer request at Everton last week, having missed three training sessions, though Howe has no concerns over the winger’s attitude.

“He’ll give us a lot,” Howe said in a press conference ahead of Tuesday’s EFL Cup semi-final second leg against Southampton.

“He’s a young player with huge potential to have a big impact on our season.

“Very quick, dynamic. He’s versatile and can play on both sides. The best is yet to come from him. I’ve got no doubts about his character. He is fiercely determined and ambitious.

“I believe he will fit our style of play. He is an incredible athlete and has the ability to run box-to-box at very high speed.

“I think he has the athletic durability that we want in our wide players. He has the passion that the fans will feed off but Anthony will have to earn that support.”

Gordon’s fiery side was on show when Everton lost at St James’ Park in October, clashing with Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar and Nick Pope.

“It’s interesting looking back at the footage, I like that he didn’t stand down that day. He was aggressive,” Howe added.

“The supporters and his team-mates will grow to love that about him.”

While Gordon has bolstered Newcastle’s attacking options, Howe is set to lose midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, who is on the verge of following Chris Wood to Nottingham Forest.

“Jonjo has had injuries this season and certainly I would not want to lose him,” Howe said of the former Liverpool midfielder.

“I have to understand again, similar to Chris Wood, the player’s wishes with his contract coming to an end.

“It will be very difficult to keep Jonjo currently, with where he wants his career to go. We can keep players who want to leave – there is nothing to say that every player that wants to leave you have to let go.

“But you have to take every situation independently and try to judge everything, judge what is best for him and the club.

“This is a very difficult situation. From a footballing perspective, I definitely want to keep Jonjo, I rate him highly. Jonjo I believe is talking to Nottingham Forest, I don’t know what stage that is at.”

Newcastle have been linked with a loan move for Sheffield United’s Sander Berge and Howe confirmed he wants a replacement for Shelvey, though acknowledged it would be “very difficult” to sign another player on a permanent basis in the final two days of the window.