AFCON will limit Amorim’s team selection

One of the worst fears for a manager is releasing players for international duty only to have them return injured. Usually Premier League matches are suspended during international breaks but there are other factors which limit players’ game time for their clubs. Bryan Mbeumo, who has already cemented his name as a starter for Manchester […]

One of the worst fears for a manager is releasing players for international duty only to have them return injured. Usually Premier League matches are suspended during international breaks but there are other factors which limit players’ game time for their clubs.

Bryan Mbeumo, who has already cemented his name as a starter for Manchester United won’t be going to the World Cup next year because his native Cameroon failed to qualify last week but he will be missing at Old Trafford during the Christmas period as he will be an important member of his national Cameroon AFCON team (Africa Cup of Nations). Amad and Noussair Mazraoui will also be missing when they represent Cote ‘Ivoire and host nation Morocco respectively. That leaves Ruben Amorim few options on the right-hand side of the field. AFCON kicks off on December 21when United will be playing Aston Villa away which, on current form, will be a tight match. The trio will also miss home matches against Newcastle and Wolves.

 

Still no deal for Konate at Liverpool

Liverpool’s centre-back Ibrahim Konate says an announcement regarding his future at Anfield will come very soon. The French international is out of contract in June and as yet there have been no positive negotiations between his agents and the club’s hierarchy. There was a brief conversation between Konate and his boss Arne Slot during which the manager said he wants to keep him at the heart of his defence.

There has been a lot of rumours about a link to Real Madrid who have never denied that they are interested in taking Konate to the Bernabeu Stadium. The former RB Leipzig defender played a crucial role in the French side competing in the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 tournament.

It seems to be a developing pattern at Liverpool to leave contract negotiations until very late. Both Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk had less than six months on their deals before new contracts were discussed and signed. The club believes this gives them a better negotiating position when dealing with agents who are often anxious to get a deal completed.

 

Eddie Howe tells his players they must stick together

After Newcastle’s defeat to Brentford, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe went into the dressing room to find his players bickering and blaming each other for the 3-1 defeat. Senior players

Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Nick Pope in particular made their feelings known.

Howe slammed the door shut and told his players to be quiet. He then pointed out that the only way to change the current under-par performances was to stick together and not panic.

He pointed out that the Toon are still fighting in four competitions this season and he told them that fatigue due to European commitments was not an excuse as they are highly trained professional footballers. In fact, he said that Newcastle have won seven out of their last 11 matches in all competitions and they could cement their place in the last 16 of the Champions

 

League

He added that with only six points separating fifth and their 14th place in the table, things are not as bad as they could be.

Three vital improvements could help Newcastle straight away. Nick Woltemade impressed for Germany during the World Cup qualifiers but has yet to make a real impression at St James’s Park. Jacob Ramsey and Anthony Elanga, two big signings, have also yet to show their true quality.

 

Why Harry must win the World Cup

Harry Kane, in a frank interview, admitted that his big ambition is to win the coveted Ballon d’Or as football’s top performer for the season. In a reality check he said he realises that he won’t win the prize unless England wins the World Cup.

Bayern Munich striker Harry has scored 23 goals in 17 games this season and is just one goal behind Brazilian superstar legend Pele. He has already outscored Bayern’s previous main striker Robert Lewandowski.

The England captain and main striker, who has also scored 76 goals in 111 caps admitted that “I can score 100 goals this season but if I don’t win the World Cup or Champions League, I am probably not going to win the Ballon d’Or.”

 

Leandro Trossard is an Arteta favourite

Arsenal winger Leandro Trossard had to spend a lot of time on the bench last season when coach Mikel Arteta did not consider him as a regular starter. This season has seen a complete turnaround with Trossard playing a key role in the Gunner’s gaining top spot in the Premier League and his name is one of the first on the team sheet. He has also played an important role in England’s World Cup qualifying matches.

After playing a waiting game last season, Leandro was the subject of an approach from Italian giants Roma in the final week of the summer transfer window. The Belgian had already signed a new deal which gave him a pay rise on his £90k a week (£4.7million a year)

salary.

 

Arsenal’s superkid Max Dowman growing impatient

Arsenal former winger Jermaine Pennant has some advice for The Gunner’s 15-year-old superkid

 

Max Dowman.

Pennant says he must show patience and not get frustrated despite being the youngest player to appear in the Champions League when Arsenal played Slavia Prague.

Dowman has already achieved a reputation in the Premier League. Thousands of youngsters from all walks of life strive to make the top tier in football and 99.9% of them fail to get further than the club academy. What makes Dowman so special?

He made his league debut for Arsenal and won a penalty against Leeds, has been selected for the Gunner’s Champions League squad and has excelled in the England Under 19s.

Dowman arrived a day late at San Pedro del Pinatar, a small town in Murcia in eastern Spain having played for Arsenal in their loss to Liverpool. He featured in a 2-0 win against Ukraine and he started on the right against Spain. He caught the eye with his dribbling, passing and even nutmegged a defender. Spanish defender Davinchi could not stop Dowman and he fouled the English youngster seven times during the first 36 minutes. Many at the match compared Dowman’s ability to Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.

Brazil manager Carlos Ancelotti has apologised for returning Gabriel Magalhaes with an adductor problem (a muscle problem that makes moving the leg away from the body very painful and often affects the hip. This condition can cause pain in the hip, lower back, or knee). The 27-year-old is an important member of the strong defensive line-up developed by Mikel Arteta and his absence could unsettle the backline.

Arsenal fans will know that the Gunners have become expert set-piece takers this season and Gabriel is at the heart of those opportunities. Arteta does have options in Piero Hincapie who has played at both left-back and centre-half this season and Cristhian Mosquera has also lined up next to William Saliba. Riccardo Calafiori has suffered a hip problem which meant he could not play for Italy during the international break and he is unlikely to be available this Sunday. Myles Lewis-Skelly could get a chance to feature and Arteta is anxious to settle his team in preparation for this match plus upcoming games against Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Tottenham coach Thomas Frank has been having a difficult time recently with his team sitting in sixth place after two wins, two losses and a draw in their last five games.