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Nathaniel Chalobah has been one of Watford’s best performers this season, but a freak knee injury in training has him sidelined until the start of 2018. Now’s the time for fellow summer signing, Will Hughes to step up and prove he’s ready for the Premier League challenge ahead.
Continue reading “Watford will miss Chalobah, but it’s an opportunity for Will Hughes to shine”
After their contentious decision to relieve Harry Redknapp of his managerial duties so early into the new campaign, what’s next for Birmingham City going forward? How do they arrest their slump and avoid another relegation battle like last term?
Continue reading “Birmingham City: Where do they go from here, following Redknapp sacking?”
Arsenal’s talented teenage forward Stephy Mavididi has completed a season-long loan deal to join Championship side Preston North End for the 2017/18 campaign.
Continue reading “Stephy Mavididi completes Preston loan move”
With the season over and clubs strengthening their respective sides in preparation for next term, Jon Toral is a player with plenty of questions to be answered in the coming months.
Continue reading “With fierce midfield competition, does Jon Toral have an Arsenal future?”
Having sustained a season-ending injury in late February, the last few months have been frustrating for Stephy Mavididi.
Since his promotion into the first-team around this time last year, Jeff Reine-Adelaide made six senior appearances but all were in the Cup competitions.
Since his 19th birthday at the start of January this year, it’s fair to say that Bielik has continued to progress at a rapid rate and his performances have thankfully not gone unnoticed.
After five loans across England, the next few months could be crucial for Chuba Akpom’s development as well as his next career choice.
Continue reading “Tammy Abraham completes season-long loan move to Bristol City”
Bolton Wanderers, Fulham and Nottingham Forest have all been handed respective transfer embargoes – meaning they’ll be unable to sign any players until the end of the current campaign.
As well as those three Championship sides, Bournemouth – who won the league last term – will be financially sanctioned as their level of spending exceeded the maximum £6million permitted. This means that clubs are not allowed to spend more than £6million of what they generate in total revenue, otherwise known as ‘maximum deviation’.
The Cherries’ punishment is the most severe because, their spending gave them a competitive advantage in helping them get promoted into the Premier League.
The other three sides is less because, all remained in England’s second division and as a result, will be unable to sign (on a permanent basis) players in the upcoming January transfer window. They are though, allowed to sign players on loan deals whilst other stipulations apply in regards to transfer fees and wages.
Bolton failed to submit their required accounts, and will not be able to complete transfers until they comply with the FFP obligations. They are also in a whopping amount of debt currently, £172.9million pounds to be precise, and publicly stated their confidence that they’ll be able to achieve FFP.
However, they admitted that they would be unable to sign and submit their accounts until the “short and longer term funding issues the club are currently facing are resolved.”
Premier League leaders Leicester are rumoured to be one of the clubs who are in discussions with the Football League over their FFP submissions, whilst Queen’s Park Rangers could feel the force of a significant sanction as they breached FFP rules themselves two seasons ago.
A hefty fine of up to £58million pounds is being spoken about, and the west Londoners will be eagerly hoping they avoid that once the decision is finalised.
Freddie Sears and Brett Pitman confined the hosts to defeat number eight in the League already this term, as managerless Fulham continue to flirt with midtable mediocrity and the relegation zone a few points below them.
Ipswich Town maintained their stance as play-off hopefuls with a narrow, but deserved 2-1 victory away at Craven Cottage.
Freddie Sears broke the deadlock after just eighteen seconds, driving forward from kick-off and firing goalwards from the edge of the area. Experienced goalkeeper Andy Lonergan had barely adjusted in time, but it was already too late. A goal down within the first minute, just typified Fulham‘s current problems.
Recently managerless after the sacking of Kit Symons, they always look threatening on the counter-attack. Defensively, they seem virtually the opposite. Vulnerable and easy to exploit as a result.
Ross McCormack levelled the scoring shortly afterward, with a fantastic long-range effort from a free-kick. The 29-year-old Scotsman, who leads the club’s scoring charts with twelve goals in all competitions, must have been feeling frustrating as his teammates were being cut open at will off-the-ball.
Young Arsenal loanee, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, saw a dipping effort crash off the crossbar – before Sears had an opportunity to double his tally for the evening, which flashed over the crossbar.
Sears turned provider, fizzing in a dangerous cross toward the near post for Brett Pitman to slot home neatly unopposed. He did so, and the 27-year-old netted his second strike in consecutive games after a similar finish against MK Dons on the weekend.
Maitland-Niles was a constant nuisance for the Fulham backline to defend against, using his pace and flair to good effect – you couldn’t predict where he’d go next.
Plenty of substitutions were made by either side as the clock ticked down, and despite another few half-chances – especially from sub Matt Smith – the Cottagers were unable to find the equaliser in time.
Their winless run extends to seven games, and the future is increasingly uncertain for an out-of-sorts Fulham side, who certainly need to show more desire if they are to finish the season strongly in the New Year.
Mo and Sports 