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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Sheffield Wednesday showed they can win ugly on Tuesday evening as they pushed a 1-0 win over the line against Stoke City at Hillsborough.

Massimo Luongo netted his second goal in three matches right before half-time as he pounced on an error in the Potters’ backline before slotting past the visiting goalkeeper.

The victory means Garry Monk has now picked up 14 points from a possible 21 since being appointed at the start of September, but how does this compare to the key figures that have been at the helm in recent times?

Wednesday’s last three managers have all endured mixed spells with only one of them leading the club to a playoff campaign – that was under Carlos Carvalhal.

After seven league matches in charge of the south Yorkshire club, Monk is currently outperforming the lot with his current record.

The next best was the man he technically replaced as Steve Bruce picked up one less point after being appointed back in February this year.

While Carvalhal, who led the club to back-to-back playoff campaigns between 2015 and 2017, recorded the worst start of Wednesday’s last four managers, managing a meagre six points.

As Monk is emphatically outperforming the man who last brought some sort of small success to the Owls, maybe it highlights where the club are currently heading.

Watch Sheffield Wednesday Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Averaging two points per game over the course of one Championship season would hand them 92 points, which would have seen them earn second place in the three of the last four campaigns, and in the 2014/15 season, it would have landed them the second-tier title.

Their defence has spearheaded the 40-year-old’s impressive start to life as Wednesday boss as they have only conceded four goals in those seven matches, in addition to three clean sheets.

If Monk can find a way to lessen the reliance on top goalscorer Steven Fletcher, they will have every chance of keeping this level of form up into the new year and maybe beyond.

Arsenal are among the top European clubs fighting to sign Real Madrid starlet Martin Odegaard this summer, Spanish news outlet Eldesmarque have claimed.

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The report, cited by SportWitness, says Real Madrid have ‘no intention of negotiating’ Odegaard’s departure and only a fee of around £71m would make them consider cashing in on him. His current market value is £18m, according to Transfermarkt.

Madrid shocked Europe when they bought the Norwegian for £2.5m in 2015, making him the youngest ever player to feature for the club at 16 years old.

Since then, he’s drifted under the radar until this season where he’s made seven appearances for Real Sociedad, netting two goals and assisting another two (via WhoScored).

Eldesmarque believe that’s been enough for Pep Guardiola and Unai Emery to want to bring him to the Premier League this summer.

The report says Emery sees him as a replacement for Mesut Ozil, although the Gunners may have to fight off Manchester City in the process.

It’s unclear whether the board would be willing to pay the £71m required. Ozil is earning £350,000-per-week so if they can get rid of him, that would free up some cash, but bringing in Odegaard wouldn’t introduce the experience Arsenal are lacking at the moment.

It’s clear they can be deadly going forward, but it seems money would be better spent on experienced defenders rather than a forward-thinking youngster when looking at their goals scored tally compared to goals conceded in the Premier League.

Do you think Martin Odegaard would be worth £71m? Have your say by commenting below!

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Leeds United missed the chance to take the sole lead of the Championship on Saturday afternoon as Charlton Athletic condemned them to their first away defeat of the season.

Against the run of play, the home side scored from a corner in what would be the game’s only goal of the match.

The Whites’ goalkeeper Kiko Casilla parried a volley from Tom Lockyer into the path of Macauley Bonne, who somehow scrambled the ball home.

Marcelo Bielsa’s men had the chance to salvage something late on, but Addicks shot-stopper Dillon Phillips produced an outstanding save to deny Adam Forshaw from close range.

Manchester City loanee Jack Harrison started at left-wing again, looking for just his second goal of the season and first since the opening day, but he failed to live up to expectations – which has left many of the Elland Road faithful fuming at him for the second time in as many weekends.

Indeed, Leeds fans weren’t happy with his performance against Derby County and they’ve once again let rip having been disappointed with his display at The Valley. One supporter said he was ‘atrocious’ as he can’t pass or shoot while another claimed that the 22-year-old should be dropped because he offers nothing at all.

A further member of the Whites’ crowd believes that Leeds won’t get promoted if Harrison continues to start games for them this season.

Here’s the best of the reaction:

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

A lot of bad decisions have been made in recent years at Southampton.

Apart from appointing Mauricio Pellegrino and then replacing him with the abysmal Mark Hughes, the Saints have made a number of slip-ups in the transfer market with Director of Football Operations Ross Wilson overseeing a vast amount of terrible captures.

Wilson was at the helm when the likes of £15m Wesley Hoedt walked through the door, along with £18.1m Mario Lemina, £19m Guido Carrillo and £16m Mohamed Elyounoussi, to name a few.

All four of the aforementioned players cost the Saints a combined £68.1m, but Wilson’s work this summer has shown the first steps of the Saints chief wanting to amend his mistakes and help Ralph Hasenhuttl.

It was Wilson who was reportedly the driving force behind Hughes being replaced by the Austrian, and he is seemingly trying his best to help the former RB Leipzig boss get what he wants this summer whilst amending previous mistakes.

Hasenhuttl said towards the end of July that he wants a squad of 22 players going into the Premier League opener against Burnley, with the Saints employing 29 first-team players at the time.

Since then, however, Wilson has worked hard to find new clubs for fringe players whose exits would help Hasenhuttl get his wish, whilst the Director of Football has also managed to offload two first-teamers who were not in the Austrian’s good books.

Both Lemina and Charlie Austin had been completely frozen out by Hasenhuttl and were taken off the first-team schedule, strongly suggesting that the boss no longer wanted those players around.

Wilson has since managed to loan Lemina out to Galatasaray and sell Austin to West Brom in a permanent deal, so he is evidently working hard to keep the manager happy and ensure he has his wishes fulfilled.

The Director of Football has overseen some expensive mistakes in the past, but he appears to be keen to make amends.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Expert Roundup feature, which provides three quotes from those in the know in order to illuminate fundamental strengths, weaknesses, quirks, stylistic comparisons and general observations of players, transfer targets and confirmed signings.

It seems like only yesterday – and in relative terms it was – when the narrative surrounding Newcastle United was laden with large doses of doom and gloom.

Fan protests aimed at Mike Ashley’s ownership of the club were dominating the headlines while another summer of under-investment was anticipated. The departure of Rafa Benitez, meanwhile, agitated an already riled Geordie contingent.

In the event five signings have been made with the £40m purchase of Hoffenheim’s Joelinton the most expensive of them all.

The second priciest was Allan Saint-Maximin, bought from Nice for £16.5m and here we find a player generally familiar in name only.

Perhaps those with good memories can recall Arsenal’s interest in the French winger when he was a teen. Maybe others have seen him in Ligue 1 action in recent seasons?

Regardless the full picture eludes us, which is why Football Fancast have explored the views of experts to discover what the Magpies can expect from their new signing in the new campaign.

Steve Bruce – Newcastle manager

With a forward line depleted of Ayoze Perez and Salomon Rondon – strikers responsible for 79% of Newcastle’s goal tally last term – it hardly surprises that incoming manager Bruce was delighted to secure both Joelinton and a player capable of serving up chances for him.

The former Manchester United defender’s praise for his new recruit should therefore be taken in such context, while the caveat included within sticks out like a sore thumb. As per the Daily Mirror:

“Maxi is going to get the fans off their seat because he’s got that wow factor. He will drive us mad occasionally but has blistering speed and that trick which seems to have gone out of the game.”

Patrick Vieira – Nice manager

In all fairness Saint-Maximin would hardly be the first wide-man to drive his team’s fans ‘mad occasionally’. Indeed, show us a player reliant on dribbling who doesn’t frustrate and all we’ll see staring back at us is Ronaldo and Messi.

Even so, after working with the 22-year-old for a single season in France, Vieira clearly believes the player’s six goals and five assists could have been added to. With the shortfall not attributed to a variance in form but rather a mentality issue, per Get French Football News:

“Allan’s problem is that sadly he thinks that talent is enough to go to the highest level. And he needs to understand that he needs to work, to make sacrifices. He needs to suffer. And sadly, he has not yet understood that.”

Compared to Bolton and Bury, is life at Newcastle really that bad? Magpies fans discuss in the video below…

Sylvain Ripoll – France under 21 coach

A much more sympathetic assessment is made by Ripoll, who has been in charge for all of Saint-Maximin’s seven international caps at U21 level. However, while the ex-Lorient midfielder’s words offer hope it should be noted that he doesn’t necessarily disagree with Vieira. As per Chronicle Live:

“More than the individual efficiency in front of the goal, there is also the quality of his last pass, his last gesture that he can improve. But he is aware of it; he has no difficulty in analysing and recognising things.

“He has no trouble telling himself that he was wrong, he does not get lost in the analysis. This is the first base to progress, to have a good interpretation of things.”

Verdict

Frustrating. Exciting. Equally capable of the brilliant as he is to be anonymous.

Is a player more entertaining than effective what the club needs right now?

علق عماد النحاس، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي المقاولون العرب، على فوز ذئاب الجبل اليوم على الجونة في الدوري.

المقاولون العرب فاز على الجونة بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدفين، في إطار منافسات الجولة الرابعة عشر من مسابقة الدوري المصري.

وقال النحاس خلال لقاء عبر شاشة “أون تايم سبورت”: “مكسب مهم في توقيت صعب، وما زلنا نكرر نفس الأخطاء ودخل مرمانا هدفين، ولكن الضغط الواقع عليهم كبير يدفعهم للخطأ”.

وتابع: “لم نستفد من الهواء، الشوط الأول كان ضدنا والثاني أيضًا، ارتكبنا أخطاء ودخل مرمنا هدفين، وكنت سأقول (حرام) أن نخرج بتعادل بعد تقدمنا بثلاثية”.

وأضاف: “موسم صعب جدًا، المقاولون في مركز سيء، ومباراة اليوم ستعيدنا للفوز”.

طالع أيضا.. محمد يوسف: إدارة البنك الأهلي لم تنفذ طلباتي.. والمقاولون أبقى على عماد النحاس رغم النتائج!

واستمر: “لن أقول مبررات، ولكن اليوم كنا نلعب من غير قلب دفاع، كنا نعاني من إصابات كثيرة في الفريق، بالإضافة إلى أن كورونا ضربت 14 لاعبًا خلال فترة الإعداد، للأسف عدم وجود مدافعين وبدائل يضعنا تحت ضغط ويجعلنا نفقد نقاط”.

واختتم: “خوف اللاعبين من الخسارة جعلهم يتعجلون ويرتكبون أخطاء، المباراة كانت مثيرة وكان علينا ضغط عصبي كبير على الدكة، ولكن المكسب جاء بسبب الروح الكبيرة بيننا وبين قطاع الناشئين، ودعم الإدارة المستمر، وإن شاء الله الفوز اليوم يكون بداية الانطلاقة”. أهداف مباراة المقاولون العرب والجونة اليوم

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to Sky Sports, West Brom remain in talks to sign Romaine Sawyers after having an initial bid rejected.

What’s the word?

West Brom’s transfer window is gathering some real momentum now after the arrivals of Kenneth Zohore and Semi Ajayi.

This week has already seen a host of targets lined up according to reports, with defenders Darnell Furlong and Mason Holgate in the pipeline per Express & Star.

Yet, in the midfield department, they’re hoping to add another body to their ranks.

Sky Sports claimed on Monday that the Baggies were still in talks to sign Sawyers from Brentford despite having an initial £2.2m bid rejected.

It’s suggested that the Bees are looking for a fee closer to £3m for the 27-year-old.

Watch West Bromwich Albion Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Brunt finally dislodged?

Chris Brunt has been a loyal servant down the years for Albion, making 410 appearances for the club in his time at the Hawthorns.

Last term the Northern Irishman was a big presence once again, playing 34 times in the Championship whilst scoring twice and claiming six assists.

However, if Sawyers arrived, it could finally be the start of the 34-year-old being phased out.

It was always going to be interesting to see how Slaven Bilic moulded the squad but this could be one of his first major plays.

Sawyers, who has played at number ten in the past, is an extremely competent central midfielder and played the majority of his football slightly further back in 2018/19.

Watch fans explain why the Football League is better than the Premier League in the video below…

He played 24 times in the middle of the park, laying on six assists as he showed his excellent creativity.

It was a tally that equalled Brunt but Sawyers was far better in terms of his overall passing, finishing the campaign with a success rate of 86.2% compared to the former’s 77.2%.

Albion already have Ajayi in their ranks now whilst they also have the rising talents of Sam Field and Rekeem Harper.

With that in mind, there is a case to be made that Brunt could be about to be dislodged.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Celtic are interested in signing Luton Town full-back Jack Stacey this summer, but now face competition for his signature from English Premier League side Bournemouth, according to The Daily Mail.

What’s the story?

Stacey was key man for the English Championship club last season, making 45 appearances in League One and directly contributing to 12 goals as they won the division and gained automatic promotion.

With the 23-year-old’s contract expiring next year, there now appears to be an opportunity to land a good value deal for the player, with the paper reporting that Bournemouth and Celtic are both in the hunt.

Celtic fans aren’t happy about Arsenal’s bid for one of their key players…

How badly do Celtic need a right-back?

The Hoops have already made three summer signings so far, but none of them have come in their most depleted area of the squad.

Christopher Jullien has arrived to compete in the centre of defence, with Luca Connell also joining to add competition to the midfield.

The club announced Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo as their latest signing on Thursday evening, who will provide much-needed back-up for Kieran Tierney, also protecting against the potential sale of the Scotland international.

Celtic have lost Mikael Lustig, Cristian Gamboa and Jeremy Toljan at right-back though and they must turn their priorities to that position, with just the inexperienced Anthony Ralston currently available.

Some ex-Celts, such as Jackie McNamara, are unimpressed with that option and with Europa League qualifiers less than a week away, the Hoops need a viable right-back in the door, whether that’s Stacey or not.

The deadline for adding a player to the squad for the first round against FK Sarajevo is 11pm on Thursday, with the option to add two wildcard options by Monday July 8 at 11pm.

The Bhoys simply cannot enter the season with just one extremely inexperienced right-back, which makes their pursuit of Stacey or a similar player absolutely crucial over the coming days and weeks.

يرى سامي قمصان مدرب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي أن المارد الأحمر فقد نقطتين هامتين أمام بيراميدز أمس في الدوري المصري الممتاز.

الأهلي تعادل مع بيراميدز سلبيًا في المباراة التي أقيمت أمس على استاد الدفاع الجوي في الجولة العاشرة من المسابقة المحلية.

وقال سامي في تصريحات إذاعية عبر أثير راديو أون سبورت: “فقدنا 6 نقاط في المباريات الماضية لأن هناك عوامل خارجية وليست فنية ساعدت على هذا الأمر”.

طالع أيضًا.. خبيران تحكيميان: هدف الأهلي الملغي صحيح.. بواليا لم يخطىء والكرة سقطت من إكرامي

وتابع: “فمثلا مباراة أمس أمام بيراميدز كان لدنا هدف صحيح من وجه نظري، ومباراة البنك الأهلي أيضًا كان لنا هدف الجميع أكد على صحته، وفي مباراة دجلة أيضًا كان لنا ضربة جزاء”.

وعن الاستعداد لمونديال الأندية: “الدحيل فريق جيد للغاية، ويمتلك لاعبين مميزين، ولاعبو الأهلي قادرون على الفصل بين البطولات، وأمامنا تحد كبير ومسئولية كبيرة ليست فقط لأننا النادي الأهلي ولكن لأننا نمثل قارة كبيرة نحن بطلها”.

وأوضح: “لدينا طموح في كأس العالم للأندية أن نصل إلى أعلى نقطة في البطولة، والأهم أن نفتتح مشورانا بتحقيق الفوز”.

وبسؤاله هل سيتم استبدال محمد هاني بلاعب آخر في المونديال بعد إصابته في مباراة أمس قال: “لم نحسم الأمر، واللاعب أجرى آشعة وسنرى نتيجتها، وبناء عليها سنحدد وجميع الفريق سيسافر”.

وعن أخر تطورات حالة كريم نيدفيد قال: ” اللاعب سينضم لنا عندما نعود من قطر، ومحمود متولي أمامه فترة حوالي شهر، وكذلك الأمر لمحمد محمود”.

جدير بالذكر أن الأهلي يستعد لمواجهة نظيره الدحيل القطري يوم 4 فبراير المقبل في بطولة كأس العالم لأندية والتي ستستضيفها دولة قطر.

يحل فريق مانشستر يونايتد ضيفًا ثقيلًا مساء اليوم على خصمه ليفربول في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويلتقي الفريقان في قمة منافسات الجولة التاسعة عشر من البريميرليج على ملعب أنفيلد.

ويسعى مانشستر يونايتد إلى تحقيق الفوز من أجل توسيع الفارق مع ليفربول.

ويحتل الشياطين الحمر حاليًا صدارة الجدول بـ36 نقطة، بفارق 3 نقاط عن الريدز. تشكيل مانشستر يونايتد المتوقع أمام ليفربول

حراسة المرمى: دي خيا.

خط الدفاع: ماجواير، بايلي، لينديلوف، بيساكا، شاو.

خط الوسط: مكتومناي، بوجبا، برونو فرنانديز.

خط الهجوم: راشفورد، كافاني.

يمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنا.