All posts by h716a5.icu

Liverpool won at Anfield, but this time, there was no fusillade of fist pumps showered toward the Kop End, no larger-than-life German zapping around and infecting everyone with his energy.

Arne Slot is a cooler customer, businesslike, unflappable. A charismatic and disarming character at times, yes, but also a level head with his sights set on calmly tinkering away at his talented squad, inherited from Jurgen Klopp, and bringing it into contention at the top of the Premier League.

There's of course the return of the Champions League to look forward to too – the revamped group stage draw is on Thursday – which surely means that a new signing should be brought in to allow the Reds to fight across all fronts, with central defence a priority in this regard.

Champions League 2024/25: How the new format works & current standings

UEFA has changed the Champions League format for the 2024/25 season. Here’s an overview of how things work and the current standings after Matchday 2.

1 ByAlex Caple Oct 2, 2024 Liverpool hold talks over centre-back signing

According to TEAMtalk, Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is on a shortlist of options at Liverpool for the week ahead, with Richard Hughes and co not ruling out signing a centre-back.

Sepp van den Berg has been sold to Brentford for £25m while Joe Gomez is assessing his options in the market, and Guehi has the perfect skill set to succeed under Slot's leadership.

Internal talks have been held and Liverpool must now consider whether they wish to fork out the £75m fee that Palace demand. With Newcastle United having lodged four offers already this summer, FSG better act quickly at this late stage of the window.

Why Marc Guehi would start for Liverpool

Crystal Palace signed the defender in an £18m deal three years ago, bringing him in from Chelsea. He has since made 113 appearances and risen to a position as one of England's foremost centre-backs.

Hailed for his "monster" defending by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, Guehi certainly has what it takes to succeed at a high-flying outfit such as Liverpool, potentially even surpassing expectations and becoming a leading member throughout an illustrious period under Slot's leadership.

Guehi has still only featured five times under Oliver Glasner due to injuries throughout the second half of last season, but he still managed to showcase his technique and ball-playing skills under Roy Hodgson.

Palace haven't started the 2024/25 term with the same aplomb that they finished last year with but the style of football is identifiable and Guehi has been a linchpin, averaging 78.5 touches per game so far, completing 88% of his passes and winning a whopping 75% of his duels (six per game).

Such defensive steel, mixed with an impressive and varied passing game, suggests that he would be perfect for Slot's system and that he might even be the perfect man to succeed Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk – who is out of contract at the end of the season…

The perfect Van Dijk successor

Slot's brand of football carries some slick and stylish – some would say liquid – elements, but two matches in, an extra layer of composure is discernible from what Klopp brought to the table.

Ipswich Town and Brentford have been defeated to start the season off with six points, and while neither display was perfect, Liverpool have yet to concede, leading the way in xGA, which is basically the expected goals conceded from the shots faced, two matchweeks in.

1.

Liverpool (4th)

2

0

0.80

2.

Man City (1st)

1

1

1.54

3.

Tottenham (5th)

1

1

1.68

4.

Brighton (2nd)

1

1

1.69

5.

Arsenal (3rd)

2

0

1.89

Of course, it's very early in the day, and tougher tests lie ahead, but Liverpool's xGA of 0.89, in simple terms, means that they have stood firm and limited their opponents to half-hearted chances. Having faced 15 shots over the two affairs, xG rules that Liverpool have been less than probable to concede a single goal.

Alisson plays a big part in that, of course, but none bigger than Van Dijk, who has been as imperious as ever across his opening fixtures, protecting his goal against the Bees to keep his 48th clean sheet in 100 Premier League matches at Anfield, losing only twice.

The 33-year-old is one of the greatest defenders in Premier League history, and he's carried his long-standing power into the fresh campaign, notably completing 95% of his passes and winning 65% of his duels thus far, as per Sofascore.

He who is tasked with succeeding the Netherlands and Liverpool captain will face a tough task indeed, though Guehi has the properties to ensure the Reds' defensive strength might continue long into Slot's future at the helm.

One of England's standout performers at Euro 2024, Guehi has been described as "one of those versatile CBs who can play both sides equally as comfortably" by analyst Ben Mattinson, adding further depth to the argument that he could replace Van Dijk, who has long dominated from the left side of Liverpool's backline.

The Reds titan issued a cryptic response by Sky Sports pundits when discussing Liverpool's victory over Brentford on Sunday evening, refusing to reveal his or the club's stance on his contract situation, but fans would rest a lot easier knowing that a plan, in one form or another, is in place.

Van Dijk has been described as "the best defender in the world" by Klopp in the past and it's true that he will pass the test of time when football's finest centre-backs are raised for debate.

But he's 34 at the end of the campaign, and may well opt against extending his £220k-per-week contract. Guehi would be a brilliant successor, and FSG must make their move before he falls into rival clutches.

Joe Gomez upgrade: Liverpool weighing up late move for £50m "beast"

Will FSG enforce a first-team signing this summer?

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 25, 2024

Celtic have gained a strong reputation over the years for developing talented young prospects before selling them on for big profit to European teams.

The likes of Virgil van Dijk, who joined Southampton for £13m in 2015, Fraser Forster, Victor Wanyama, and Gary Hooper all earned big moves away from Parkhead from the Neil Lennon era.

More recently, Kieran Tierney completed a staggering £25m move to Premier League giants Arsenal from the Hoops in the summer of 2019, which made him the most expensive Scottish player in history.

That fee was matched by the one that the Bhoys raked in from Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad for Portuguese forward Jota, who left for £25m in the summer of 2023.

These sales show that the Hoops have made a habit of raking in huge sums of money for their talents over the years, which suggests that they have created a nurturing environment that allows players to thrive whilst winning trophies for the club.

The latest example of their fantastic work in that respect is central midfielder Matt O’Riley, who recently completed a move to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.

Celtic's Matt O'Riley blinder

Former Celtic head coach Ange Postecoglou moved to sign the English-born starlet from League One side MK Dons for a reported fee of £1.5m at the start of 2022.

The 21-year-old central midfielder did not take long to adjust to football in Scotland, with a return of four goals and three assists in 16 Scottish Premiership appearances.

It was immediately clear that the Hoops had struck gold by signing the midfield maestro for a fee of just £1.5m, as he made an instant impact as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the club.

O’Riley followed that up with four goals and 14 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants in his first full season under Postecoglou.

The 23-year-old star then produced a staggering 19 goals and 18 assists in 49 outings in all competitions for Celtic under Brendan Rodgers last term, with the bulk of those goal contributions coming in the Premiership.

Appearances

37

Goals

18

Big chances created

14

Assists

13

Dribbles completed per game

1.0

As you can see in the table above, the Denmark international provided a huge threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a central midfield position for the Northern Irish head coach in the 2023/24 campaign.

His sensational form in Scotland attracted interest from down south and Brighton & Hove Albion eventually won the race for his signature for a reported fee of £25m.

Celtic played a blinder with the former Fulham prospect as they snapped him up for just £1.5m from MK Dons and turned him into a £25m player in less than three years.

The Hoops do not always manage their talent perfectly, however, as they once allowed a player to leave for nothing and he is now worth more than O’Riley in the present day.

Celtic fumbled Andy Robertson

Current Liverpool star Andy Robertson started his youth career with the Bhoys in 2003, at the age of nine, and spent six years in the academy before his departure in 2009.

The Scottish ace was released in the summer of 2009, at the age of 15, and later revealed that he went home and cried after that rejection, as it was his dream – having been a season ticket holder at the club at the age of two – to play in front of a packed out crowd at Parkhead.

Robertson has also spoken of the reasons behind his exit from Paradise. The Hoops opted against keeping hold of the youngster due to his lack of height and physicality, whilst he was one of a number of players who were allowed to move on for that reason.

The young gem was then picked up by Queen’s Park before joining Dundee United in the Premiership in 2013, which is where he produced three goals and six assists in 36 league outings.

After just one season with Dundee United, Premier League outfit Hull City swooped in to sign him for a reported fee of £2.8m in 2014, and that is where his rise in English football began.

Andy Robertson's current market value

At the time of writing (12/09/2024), Robertson currently has an Expected Transfer Value (xTV) of €34.6m (£29.2m), as per FootballTransfers, thanks to his fantastic form over the years in England.

This means that he is currently worth more than Matt O’Riley, who just joined Brighton for £25m, despite being seven years older than the Dane – at 30.

His rise in value over the years has been down to his sensational form for Liverpool, having signed for the Reds after three years and 115 appearances for Hull, where he has won the Premier League and the Champions League.

Jurgen Klopp’s side paid an initial fee of £8m, rising to £10m, for the Scotland international in the summer of 2017 and his current market value suggests that they struck gold, as he is worth significantly more than that after seven years at Anfield.

17/18

22

5

18/19

36

11

19/20

36

12

20/21

38

7

21/22

29

10

22/23

34

8

23/24

23

2

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish dynamo has been a consistent source of creativity down the left flank for Liverpool over the years.

Robertson has racked up 59 assists in his Premier League career, for the Reds and Hull combined, and currently tops the charts for assists by a defender in the history of the league, as he has overtaken Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return of 58.

The Liverpool star, who was once described as a “world-class” player by Klopp, has developed into one of the best defenders in Premier League history, as evidenced by the incredible record he currently holds.

£5m Celtic flop who was sold by Rodgers is outscoring Kyogo this season

The Hoops allowed the centre-forward to move on from Parkhead last summer.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 11, 2024

All of this – his soaring value, his performances, Klopp’s praise, his record in the English top-flight – suggests that Celtic blundered when they released him for nothing back in 2009, as they failed to make the most of the ‘world-class’ talent on their books.

‘If anything we’ll be a bit vulnerable because we won’t have had a lot of cricket”

Andrew McGlashan02-Jul-2021Australia women’s head coach Matthew Mott is wary that India may be the better-prepared side when the two teams meet in September, with the home side coming off an extended period without playing and a chance that their lead-in will be disrupted by Covid-19.India women’s tour includes three ODIs, a day-night Test in Perth, and three T20Is. It will be Australia’s first cricket since the New Zealand tour in April. India, meanwhile, are in England where they drew the one-off Test and are currently 2-0 down in the ODI series. A number of their players are then set to remain in the UK for the Hundred, a competition that was due to have a heavy Australian presence as well (including Mott himself as coach of the Welsh Fire) but that is now likely to be significantly reduced because of the complexities of travel and quarantine.Mott was hopeful of being able to gather his squad in Brisbane in August but the recent flare-up of Covid-19 in Australia, which has sent various cities into lockdown and closed internal borders, has been a reminder of how difficult planning could be.”[India] are an emerging supergiant in the game, they have a lot of great players and they will be tough opposition,” Mott said on the day he signed a two-year contract extension. “They are playing over in England at the moment and, if anything, we’ll be a bit vulnerable because we won’t have had a lot of cricket. So that’s at the forefront of our mind.”It would be great to get everyone back together face to face, have a really strong camp in Brisbane at the NCC [National Cricket Centre] with fantastic new facilities out there. And just for some of the southern states to train outside in good weather. So fingers crossed the borders open up and we’re free of Covid as much as we can be and we navigate around.

“It’s something at the forefront of our mind, managing the player fatigue. Talking to the players individually about where they are at, everyone’s at a different stage of their life and career so it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all policy”Matthew Mott

“I suppose the big word is agility and we keep learning every day about how much we have to quickly turn and go in a separate direction, so we’re open to that. The states are doing an outstanding job with our players, we’re in constant contact, so from that point of view we’re being really well-serviced and we’re not worried by that, but there’s nothing like getting together as a group.”The India series will mark the beginning of a two-year period where Australia will aim to sweep the prizes on offer in the world game: a home Ashes, the ODI World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the defence of their T20 World Cup title and an away Ashes.Mott reiterated that the ODI World Cup was the “burning desire” for the team after their semi-final exit in 2017, but the ambition stretched much further. “We want to win them all, every team should be striving for that,” he said.However, he was aware of the physical and mental toll that could put on the players particularly amid the pandemic and there would be constant monitoring of workloads.”It’s something at the forefront of our mind, managing the player fatigue,” he said. “It’s a different world that we live in now and quarantine can have an impact on players and staff. Talking to the players individually about where they are at, everyone’s at a different stage of their life and career so it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all policy. We have those discussions at all times and do the best we can to predict what’s coming up, how players might be flagging at different times and giving them a mental and physical break if needed.”It was confirmed later on Friday that Mott had withdrawn from the Hundred but he said he would be committed to the tournament in the future.”I have been in contact with the team over the last couple of months and working through some options,” he said. “I’m incredibly committed to the club long-term, takes a strong place in my heart from my days at Glamorgan. Mark Wallace [the Fire’s manager] is a close friend and he’s worked through a lot and the next couple of weeks will be an interesting space.”The story was updated after confirmation Mott wouldn’t go to the Hundred

The Blues will be over the moon with their progress this season, but that doesn't mean there isn't work to be done when the window creaks open

Chelsea have surpassed all expectations this season, even finding themselves on the fringes of the title race. And as January rolls around, the squad certainly doesn't require any major surgery, though the transfer window presents an opportunity to make the necessary tweaks to keep the Blues on the right track in the second half of the season.

Enzo Maresca's side are well on course to return to the Champions League, so the priority should be to consolidate their top-four place while keeping the pressure on Arsenal and Liverpool above them in the hope that they can capitalise on any slip-ups.

Even if it proves to be a frugal January in terms of incomings, there is still plenty of work to be done behind the scenes as Maresca fine tunes his squad…

Getty Images SportReplace unreliable Sanchez

Objectively, the Blues seem to be screaming out for a new goalkeeper, with current No.1 Robert Sanchez neither the best shot-stopper nor the best at playing out from the back.

The Spaniard has already made three errors leading to goals in the Premier League and has been the cause of countless heart-in-mouth moments for Chelsea fans this season with the ball at his feet, but Maresca – for some reason – has stood staunchly by him.

Filip Jorgensen is already among the goalkeeping ranks at Stamford Bridge and has impressed in his outings in the cup competitions, but in truth the club could do with remedying this position for the long-term with a top-quality signing, having failed to ever properly replace Thibaut Courtois since he departed for Real Madrid six long years ago.

Doing that in January may prove to be difficult, but goalkeepers usually come relatively cheaper than the more glamourous positions. Liverpool's Caomhin Kelleher has been mentioned in dispatches, but his performances as a stand-in for Alisson probably make a January switch nigh on impossible.

AdvertisementgettyKeep hold of Nkunku

One issue that Chelsea may need to resolve internally is Christopher Nkunku's future. Although he is yet to speak out publicly and Maresca has insisted the France international is happy at Stamford Bridge, it has been reported that the player is seeking an exit route with both Manchester United and Barcelona interested in signing him amid his lack of Premier League minutes.

What's more, the west Londoners are said to only want to recoup the £52 million ($66m) they paid RB Leipzig for him in 2023. United might be mired in mid-table at present, but strengthening a side who could become a top-four rival later this season and in subsequent campaigns is a big no-no.

Among their top scorers this season, Nkunku has seen plenty of minutes in the cup competitions, but Chelsea need to find a way to utilise such a lethal attacking weapon more regularly.

GettyCover for injury-plagued James

What do Chelsea do about Reece James? It is a question that may well be playing on the minds of Maresca and those higher up at the club after the defender's latest injury setback, which has seen him sidelined until the New Year.

Malo Gusto is an outstanding alternative at right-back and Moises Caicedo has been used there in an inverted role, but the club must surely be giving consideration to whether a more permanent solution should be found.

They arguably need a back-up to their back-up, and that may explain the recent links with Benfica's Tomas Araujo; nominally a centre-back, he is also capable of playing on the right flank, and he would tick a couple of boxes for the Blues, although he recently renewed his contract.

They might be best advised to look internally, with highly-rated academy graduate Josh Acheampong – also capable of playing at right-back or centre-half – back in the first-team picture having signed a new deal.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportFind a new defensive leader

Indeed, a new, top-level centre-back should be high on Chelsea's list of priorities in the near future as injuries begin to bite.

The Blues have been haphazard at the back at times this season, with first-choice central defenders Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana both prone to rushes of blood to the head, and neither necessarily standing out as leaders. Fofana has had his injury problems too, missing the jam-packed festive period as a result of a hamstring problem. Benoit Badiashile has deputised unconvincingly and has now been sidelined, too.

As well as Araujo there have been links to more experienced names such as Bayer Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, and signing a defensive commander would probably require a departure from the policy of pursuing younger players.

England fast bowler will be eligible for selection for India series after panel issues verdict

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jul-2021Ollie Robinson has been cleared for an immediate return to cricket in the wake of the publication of historic offensive tweets – during his Test debut at Lord’s last month – after the cricket discipline commission suspended him for eight matches – five of them suspended for two years – as well as fine him a sum of £3200.The tweets, which were posted between 2012 and 2014, when Robinson was aged between 18 and 20, contained racist and sexist content, as well as other pejorative comments, and proved particularly embarrassing to the ECB, seeing as they came to light shortly after the squad had stood for a “moment of unity” prior to the start of play at Lord’s, wearing T-shirts denouncing various forms of discrimination.Robinson was stood down from England selection at the conclusion of the Test, in which he claimed seven wickets across New Zealand’s two innings and also scored 42 in his maiden innings. Pending the investigation, it was subsequently announced that he would be taking a short break from playing for Sussex too, and at a hearing on June 30, the commission took these factors into consideration while reaching its judgement.Related

England to reaffirm duty to 'improve society through sport'

Robinson issue: Battle-lines drawn in the culture war

Robinson taking 'short break' after social-media furore

ECB announces 'social media review' of historic posts

“Robinson had previously admitted breaching ECB Directives 3.3 and 3.4 in relation to a number of offensive tweets which were posted between 2012 and 2014, when he was aged between 18 and 20. The tweets came to light on 2 June 2021, which was also the first day of his first Test match for England,” the ECB said in a statement on Saturday. “Following a hearing on 30 June, the Panel decided that Robinson should be suspended from playing cricket for eight matches, five of which will be suspended for two years.”As regards the three matches which are the subject of immediate suspension, the Panel has taken into account the suspension imposed by the England Team from the second LV= Insurance Men’s Test against New Zealand, together with two of the Vitality Blast T20 matches from which Robinson voluntarily withdrew himself from selection for Sussex CCC due to the impact of these proceedings.”Robinson is therefore free to play cricket immediately.”The decision meant that Robinson would be available for England’s Test series against India, starting at Trent Bridge on August 4.

“I am deeply sorry for the hurt I caused to anyone who read those tweets and in particular to those people to whom the messages caused offence. This has been the most difficult time in my professional career for both my family and myself”Ollie Robinson

Responding to the verdict, the player reiterated his shame and embarrassment at his past actions, but insisted he had learnt from his mistakes and would work with the players’ body, the PCA, to help other players avoid making the same mistakes.”I fully accept the CDC’s decision,” Robinson said. “As I have said previously, I am incredibly embarrassed and ashamed about the tweets I posted many years ago and apologise unreservedly for their contents.”I am deeply sorry for the hurt I caused to anyone who read those tweets and in particular to those people to whom the messages caused offence. This has been the most difficult time in my professional career for both my family and myself.”Whilst I want to move on, I do want to use my experience to help others in the future through working with the PCA.”Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive, also sought to draw a line under the issue, adding that the board would continue to learn from the incident as the sport seeks to foster a more inclusive image.”We accept the decisions made by the Cricket Discipline Commission and the sanctions they have imposed,” Harrison said. “Ollie has acknowledged that, whilst published a long time ago when he was a young man, these historic tweets were unacceptable. He has engaged fully in the disciplinary process, admitted the charges, has received his sanction from the CDC and will participate in training and use his experiences to help others.”Given he has served the suspension handed down by the CDC, he will now be available for selection for England again. We stand against discrimination of all forms, and will continue working to ensure cricket is a welcoming and inclusive sport for all.”

New Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzan has already sparked controversy just days after his appointment.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Louzan in trouble less than 10 days after becoming RFEF presidentProfessed his admiration for PerezWill remain Spanish football president until 2028Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Louzan beat his competitor Salvador Gomar by 90 votes to 43 to become the new RFEF chief until 2028. However, in less than 10 days, the administrator has sparked controversy in Spanish football after he accidentally professed his love for Real Madrid and his admiration for their president Florentino Perez.

AdvertisementAFPWHAT RAFAEL LOUZAN SAID

Speaking to ahead of Los Blancos' Intercontinental Cup final in Doha, the 57-year-old said: "I will try to meet with President Florentino at the final in Doha (not yet played at the time of the interview) and at the same time put myself at his complete disposal. I have known him for a long time and I have great admiration for his capacity for work, for where he has led this club and all Real Madrid fans are very happy with the management he has done at this great club."

He added: "(In the Intercontinental Cup) we are faced with the possibility, once again, although it may seem easy, which it is not, that the best ambassador we have in the world, Real Madrid, can be champion. It seems that we are used to it, but despite that, this is very difficult and it is very difficult to achieve what this great club achieves."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The new Spanish football president is already in danger of being forced to relinquish his new job as he is currently awaiting the appeal of a conviction for abuse of office in a previous role as president of the Pontevedra Provincial Council. Louzan has been handed a seven-year suspension from holding public office and could therefore be forced out of his role at RFEF.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

After a brief winter break, La Liga is all set to return to action next week with Real Madrid taking on Valencia in an away fixture on January 3.

Ahead of the visit of West Ham United, Fulham have been hit with frustrating injury news which has ruled one forward out for multiple games including the clash with the Hammers.

Fulham injury news

The Cottagers have shown glimpses of their quality so far this season, with their one victory over Leicester City arguably coming at an important time in between a narrow 1-0 loss against Manchester United and a frustrating draw against Ipswich Town. Marco Silva’s side are a difficult side to judge these days.

Fulham struck gold on "insane" star who's worth more than Smith Rowe

He is a key player under Marco Silva

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 27, 2024

Avoiding relegation will still be their first goal, but it wouldn’t be absurd to suggest that Fulham are now in position to set their sights on causing a few shocks towards the Premier League’s top-half. Just last season, they found themselves sat in 13th and just two points shy of the top 10. A repeat of such an achievement or potentially more would undoubtedly receive rightful applause around Craven Cottage.

Fulham’s first task will be to get back to winning ways in a London derby against West Ham, which they’ll be forced to do without the attacking impetus of one player. As confirmed by Silva, Carlos Vinicius will now miss the West Ham game through injury and is also likely to miss Fulham’s Carabao Cup tie against Preston North End on Tuesday.

The forward should feel particularly frustrated about the Preston game, given that it represented a chance to make his first appearance of the season. Ruled out, however, the Brazilian must now wait for an opportunity to come his way in the Premier League.

"Decisive" Vinicius is at a crossroads

After failing to get his move away amid links to the likes of Red Bull Bragantino in the summer, Vinicius finds himself at a slight crossroads. Whilst Fulham are yet to find a like-for-like replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic over a year on from his departure to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, Vinicius seems unlikely to emerge ahead of Raul Jimenez and particularly Rodrigo Muniz.

Making the former Tottenham Hotspur loanee a third-choice under Silva, he may be left with little choice but to pursue a January departure. Whether Silva would be keen to part ways with the forward is another argument in itself though, having praised Vinicius’ performance against Luton Town last season.

Silva said via West London Sports: “He made the impact that we needed in that moment on the pitch, not just because he scored – but of course scoring is always the most important thing for a striker.

“It was nice to see Carlos score. He deserved the chance to go in and it was nice to see him be decisive for us. The competition (with Raúl Jiménez) is also important to us.”

Of course, Muniz proves that form will earn a place in the current Fulham side, but whether Vinicius can finally find his goalscoring touch at Craven Cottage remains to be seen.

Newcastle United may have suffered their first defeat of the 2024/25 season over the weekend, but is there any doubt that Eddie Howe is the right man to lead them back to the Champions League?

While the summer transfer window failed to attract many high-quality additions to the squad, the opening few weeks of the campaign saw the Magpies grind out several important wins.

Confidence has been rocked by the Premier League loss to Fulham though and with a clash against Manchester City coming up on Saturday, Howe will hope to get his men firing once again.

He has yet to end Newcastle’s 50-plus-year wait for a major trophy, but he did lead them to the League Cup final in 2023. Progress has certainly been made, no question about that.

He can lay claim to being the finest manager of the club since Sir Bobby Robson, who was the last man to lead them into the Champions League back in 2002/03.

The former England manager enjoyed a five-year reign on Tyneside between 1999 and 2004. Howe would surely love a few of the players who starred for the Englishman during his spell in charge.

Bobby Robson’s statistics at Newcastle

Robson returned to managing in England following the resignation of Ruud Gullit in August 1999 as the Toon occupied second bottom of the Premier League table. Considering they had finished runners-up during the 1995/96 and 1996/97 seasons, it was clear something new was required at St James’ Park.

Robson’s last managerial role in his homeland had been with Ipswich Town, who he led to stunning triumphs in the FA Cup and UEFA Cup during a 13-year spell in East Anglia.

Under the former Barcelona coach, the Magpies finished in the top five in three of his five campaigns at the helm, qualifying for Europe’s elite competition twice.

He built a side that really should have won a trophy or two, being able to call on players such as Alan Shearer, yet he wasn’t able to claim silverware.

GK

Steve Harper

DF

Aaron Hughes

DF

Didier Domi

DF

Alain Goma

DF

Wayne Barton

MF

Robert Lee

MF

Temuri Ketsbaia

MF

Gary Speed

MF

Norberto Solano

MF

Kieron Dyer

ST

Alan Shearer

Several of his latter signings proved to be major disappointments, including Patrick Kluivert, who joined in the summer of 2004.

Patrick Kluivert at Newcastle

The Dutchman scored the winner for Ajax against AC Milan in the 1995 Champions League final at the tender age of 18, thus setting himself up for a wonderful career.

Despite this early promise, he didn’t quite become the world-beater that everyone expected, despite shining for Barcelona between 1998 and 2004.

Indeed, during his spell with the Catalan side, Kluivert scored an impressive tally of 122 goals across 257 games, although he could only lead the side to a single La Liga title.

Once his contract expired, Robson was quick to bring him to St James’, spending a single season in the north-east.

13 goals from 37 appearances wasn’t exactly a bad return, but given his stature in the European game, much more was expected of the striker, that’s for sure.

Robson was sacked after just a few games of the 2004/05 season, but he could have signed a player who would go on to become much better than the Dutchman that very same summer – Wayne Rooney.

When Newcastle missed out on Wayne Rooney

Speaking after launching a charity auction in honour of the ex-Newcastle boss in 2015, Rooney revealed that Robson wanted to bring him to the club after Euro 2004.

“Sir Bobby Robson was a football man to the core and someone who once tried to sign me for Newcastle,” said the current Plymouth Argyle manager. “I only played against his teams on a few occasions.

“But as the England captain and a keen historian of the England team, I am aware of his impact as manager and as the most successful national team manager since Sir Alf Ramsey.”

What might have been had Rooney jumped at the chance to move to the Magpies 20 years ago, rather than linking up with Sir Alex Ferguson? English football would have looked very different, that’s for sure.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

Wayne Rooney’s statistics at Man Utd

It was clear that Old Trafford was always going to be the preferred destination for Rooney that summer, especially given his chances of winning major titles.

While the first couple of years yielded just a solitary League Cup trophy, Ferguson was in the process of building his third great team at United, one that would see them dominate English football yet again.

Rooney played a key role during the three-peat between 2007 and 2009, while the Red Devils also tasted success in the Champions League, their third victory in the competition.

The former Everton man enjoyed his greatest season in front of goal during 2009/10, scoring 33 goals in all competitions for the club.

He would remain in Manchester until 2017, adding another few league titles, along with an FA Cup and Europa League triumph, not to mention the fact he overtook Sir Bobby Charlton as United’s top scorer in the process.

Rooney’s spell at the club perhaps exceeded everyone’s expectations when he signed, despite his prodigious talents, playing at the very top for 13 years, scoring 313 club goals in the process and winning five league crowns.

Imagine if he had joined Newcastle instead. Would the club have gotten a similar sort of performance out of him compared to Fergie? Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Instead, Robson signed Kluivert that summer, who, at the time, was still only 29 years of age. It didn’t quite work out for the Dutchman, spending only a single year at the Toon, before seeing out the rest of his career representing a number of clubs.

Rooney? Well, becoming Man United’s top scorer while netting over 50 goals for England suggests he didn’t do too badly after leaving Everton.

Newcastle must rue not making a more concrete offer to land him after Euro 2004, that’s for sure.

Newcastle wanted to sign future Ballon d'Or winner, they got Geremi instead

Sam Allardyce missed out on a future legend of the game back in 2007…

1 ByRoss Kilvington Sep 22, 2024

Pat Cummins remains the captain of the one-day side although appearances are likely to be limited

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jul-2021Kurtis Patterson has been named New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield captain, taking over permanently from Peter Nevill who held the role for three years.Patterson captained the side at the end of last season when Nevill was absent for the birth of his child and will now take charge of a team that is looking to the future with a crop of young batters.Pat Cummins will remain captain of the one-day side although it remains to be seen how much he is able to play for his state around international commitments. Patterson also led in his absence last season including to victory in the final against Western Australia.”Being appointed the full-time captain of the Blues’ four-day team is something I am very honoured and very privileged to have been asked to do,” Patterson said.Related

BBL draft postponed again, tournament to finish in late January

Covid could threaten Cricket Australia's hopes of full domestic season

Steven Smith 'building up nicely' in cautious rehab from elbow injury

“I grew up idolising NSW cricket and have a strong love for NSW Cricket and the Blues so to be named captain is something I don’t take lightly and am very excited about. I want NSW cricket to be in a better place when my term is done, whenever that may be and I know I am very lucky to captain such a talented group.”Nev was a fantastic leader who has left us in great shape and I’m certainly looking forward to having him around in the team if I need to call on him.”During Nevill’s time in charge New South Wales won the 2019-2020 Sheffield Shield when they were declared champions following the early finish to the season due to the onset of the pandemic. They were then runners-up last season when they fell to Queensland in the final having also been beaten in the final by Victoria in 2018-19.”With KP being the next long-term captain, now is natural time for him to take over,” Nevill said. “I’ll support him in any way he needs or wants, and I’m really looking forward to being able to make a contribution where I can with our younger players and help them move onto a successful next stage of their careers.”Coach Phil Jaques had hinted at the change last week but believes Nevill’s knowledge will remain vital for the team”Whatever role Peter plays within our team he’s a leader, he’s a top guy, he’s someone the players look up to,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “Whoever is actually captaining they’ll be helped out by a lot of leaders.”New South Wales made significant changes to their batting line-up towards the end of last season in the wake of being bowled out for 32 by Tasmania. Youngsters Lachlan Hearne, Matthew Gilkes and Baxter Holt were brought into the team alongside Jason Sangha and Jack Edwards.Patterson, who played two Tests for Australia in the 2018-19 season, had a lean campaign with 362 runs at 21.29 and 102 of those came in one innings against South Australia.New South Wales are due to start their season with Marsh Cup matches in Perth in mid-September followed by the opening round of Sheffield Shield against Victoria on September 29 although there remains uncertainty given the ongoing lockdown in Sydney and how that could impact interstate travel.

Jude Bellingham may be taken off penalty duty at Real Madrid, with Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti revealing his plan for future spot-kicks.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Bellingham hit the post against ValenciaWent on to score dramatic match winnerManager to make decision on next takerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

La Liga's reigning champions fluffed their lines from 12 yards once again during a testing trip to struggling Valencia. England international Bellingham was presented with an opportunity to hit the net from the spot, but planted his effort against the post.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Bellingham did go on to grab a stoppage-time winner for Real, but big calls on the penalty front await. French superstar Kylian Mbappe has already missed two penalties this season, while Vinicius Junior has successfully converted four across La Liga, Champions League and Intercontinental Cup competition.

WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID

Ancelotti is ready to take matters into his own hands, with the Italian tactician set to name an official taker and bring an end to the inconsistent spot-kick rotation in Madrid. Ancelotti has said: "It bothers me that we have missed three penalties, I think I have to take responsibility for choosing who is going to take them."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPDID YOU KNOW?

While Bellingham was left frustrated after hitting the upright against Valencia, Ancelotti was full of praise for the 21-year-old after seeing him register a 96th-minute winner. He added: "It was a great game for him, he did not lose faith after missing the penalty, it gave him extra motivation. Only he can have the last 30 minutes he did. He put in an extraordinary effort. It is a deserved reward for the game he played."