Key events
Can Armando Broja learn from Dominic Solanke and make a success of life away from the Chelsea No 9 striker curse? As Fulham and Bournemouth meet in the Premier League this weekend, Jacob Steinberg explains.
Things you didn’t expect to see in football, part 12,487:
Boyzone in collaboration with Chorley FC. Yep.
We’re absolutely thrilled to share the truly exciting news that world renowned, Boyzone, will be in attendance for our game against @SolihullMoors this Saturday!
This collaboration with Boyzone is part of ongoing discussions that could see them become the face of Chorley FC 👀
— Chorley FC (@chorleyfc) February 7, 2024
Everton director on new stadium, FFP and more
Everton’s director of football Kevin Thelwell has released a statement this morning to supporters, providing updates on the club’s stadium move, progress under Sean Dyche and their battle against Financial Fair Play regulations.
Here’s a snippet of what he said:
It isn’t possible to change direction quickly within the constraints of PSR [profit and sustainability rules], but what has been evident over the four transfer windows I’ve navigated in my time at Everton has been an ongoing focus to make the club more sustainable. In that time, a net receipt from player trading of more than £60m, a wage bill steadily and consistently trending in the right direction and outlay on agent fees vastly reduced continues to demonstrate our plan is being adhered to. Our football strategy is a long-term plan which we must remain focused on, even when the short-term reality can be incredibly challenging.
Later this year, Laing O’Rourke will hand over the keys to the first stadium our club has built in more than 130 years. One of the finest sporting arenas in the world of football, it is a project that has placed significant pressures on the club – not helped by unprecedented and unforeseen circumstances. But by pressing on and remaining focused on the vision – and its delivery – despite the hurdles, we know our club will benefit from far greater levels of freedom to develop our squad and footballing operation, whilst complying with the strict financial regulations, in the future. That is the boost to our footballing future the stadium will provide, thanks to the commercial sea change it will bring.
Gareth Southgate always seems to provoke so much debate. Which I find strange for a guy who’s taken England deep into three successive major tournaments, and within a kick of winning one.
Ben Monroe-Lake agrees with me.
I was greatly underwhelmed by his initial appointment but he massively proved me wrong. I’ve grown up most of my adult life being bored to tears by the England team. A team full of world class players who somehow managed to make the beautiful game, so simple, yet so adaptable, seem like a very specific circle of hell.
Remember England in South Africa? Wayne Rooney rounding on fans for being unimpressed by an distinctly unimpressive performance? Euro 2016 as Harry Kane glomped corners into the area of absolute certainty. The absolute certainty that they would be easily cleared.
Going from that dirge to narrowly losing the Euro finals and the World Cup semis with an exciting young team who doesn’t hate each other, Wow.
Wow indeed Ben, and well said.
Transfer gossip time now. January might be over, but there’s still enough room for some salacious tittle-tattle on this blog.
Many of today’s rumours concern Arsenal, with Thomas Partey (remember him?) linked with Juventus, Jakub Kiwior touted for a switch to Serie A, while incoming summer deals could be in the works for Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams and Real Sociedad’s Martín Zubimendi – who is also liked by Liverpool.
Newcastle injury news on Gordon and Isak
Eddie Howe has revealed that Antony Gordon hasn’t trained this week and is a major doubt for Newcastle’s visit to Nottingham Forest tomorrow (Saturday) evening. Howe also said Alexander Isak “won’t make this game” while Callum Wilson is “getting his sharpness back” after featuring as a half-time substitute against Luton.
On Isak: “Hopefully he won’t be too far away, but he doesn’t have a fixed return date. His injury is not as serious as we first feared.”
On Gordon: “We don’t think it’s serious, hopeful to be back sooner rather than later. At this moment, it’s unclear.”
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe isn’t keen on the whole blue cards idea.
I’m not a big fan to be honest, that’s what yellow cards are for. The system works but just needs to be refined. Blue cards would just add confusion so I’m against it.
By the way, can anyone explain to me why they’re not orange cards? That would make far more sense. More from Howe coming up shortly.
And England’s Gareth Southgate spoke to journalists after yesterday’s Uefa Nations League draw (yawn) and raised the far more interesting topic of his future in the Three Lions dugout.
You’ve got to see how the summer goes – it’s as simple as that. I know what we’re capable of achieving. I know what my own benchmark of success would be and after that I’m not really thinking about anything else. My only focus is to try and win the tournament for England.
We’ll start with some news from yesterday’s Premier League press conferences and the devastating news for Manchester United that Lisandro Martínez has been sidelined for two months with a knee injury, after hobbling off against West Ham lst weekend.
Erik ten Hag defended his decision to keep Martínez on after the initial incident, which had left him in some discomfort: “It was Lisandro’s decision and he was comfortable to be back on the pitch but after he tried he stopped in the next attack. It is [almost] impossible [to diagnose injuries]. In some situations it is clear and obvious but there is always a grey area and it is very difficult to see from the sideline.”
Preamble
We’re on the cusp of another Premier League weekend, and so another day of buildups, previews, pressers and the like is coming your way. Last weekend saw a record number of goals, a couple of big results in the title race and pressure building on Roy Hodgson and Mauricio Pochettino, as well as everyone losing their collective minds over Arsenal celebrating a victory.
Elsewhere, there’s plenty of chatter around Ifab’s decision to trial blue cards in football, Gareth Southgate has been discussing his England future and there’s the Asian Cup and Africa Cup of Nations denouements to look forward to.
We’ll try and make sense of the madness throughout the day. Stick with us as you count down the hours to the weekend.