Chancel Mbemba is seemingly on the verge of leaving Newcastle United, and the club’s supporters have been reacting to his potential departure.
Indeed, Mbemba is heading to Portuguese giants Porto in an £8m deal, as covered by The Mirror on Wednesday evening.
Mbemba moved to Newcastle from Anderlecht in the summer of 2015, and the 42-time Congo international made 33 Premier League appearances during his first season at the club.
The centre-back made just 12 Championship appearances during the 2016-17 season, however, before featuring on just 11 occasions last term.
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The 23-year-old is regarded as a talented defender by many people in the game, but Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez is seemingly not a fan.
Porto are believed to be on the verge of sealing a deal for Mbemba, and it would be fair to say that the Newcastle fans are not exactly over the moon with the news.
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Indeed, many of the supporters feel that the club will be made to regret the sale in the coming years as the defender goes onto bigger and better things.
A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:
How do we solve a problem like diving? How do we even define a problem like diving? It’s rarely a black and white, yes or no issue that can be correctly evaluated and dealt with in the blink of an eye.
Of course there are the painfully obvious examples where individuals hit the turf as though someone has stolen their knees but what about when players genuinely come together? Unfortunately, in these common scenarios, ‘going to ground’ is usually the decisive factor in convincing a referee that a foul has taken place.
A perfect case in point is the penalty Steven Gerrard tucked away in the opening stages of Liverpool’s recent visit to the Britannia Stadium. Luis Suarez surged past Ryan Shawcross into the penalty area only for the Stoke defender to start physically undressing him.
The shirt tugging on its own will never be enough to bring Suarez to his knees, so he decides to throw his arms back and plummet to the earth, in an attempt to communicate to the officials that he has been clearly impeded. Is that unsporting behaviour? Perhaps, but if he doesn’t go to ground then he is unlikely to be awarded the penalty he undoubtedly deserves.
Another point for debate surrounds the antics that occur during set-pieces. Attackers and their designated markers repeatedly clash as they jostle for position, like two Mexican wrestlers putting on a show. However, because this is regular occurrence and happens between every couple in box, it’s very easy to miss or deem unimportant.
It is remarkably straightforward however, to spot during post-match analysis and has therefore put unnecessary pressure on referees to clamp down on it. Mark Clattenburg’s decision to penalise Norwich in their defeat to West Ham – for a typical and rather low-key incident – incensed the usually composed Chris Hughton. It’s simply impossible to develop a level of consistency in such instances, as players will always feel aggrieved when they concede such fouls and infuriated when they are not awarded at the other end of the pitch.
The reason this ‘contact = foul’ argument crumbles in our hands concerns the philosophy of Gareth Bale, who believes he is entitled to go down if he feels even the slightest whiff of physical connection.
“There is nothing I can do about it – the referees have to look a bit closer. If I get contact there it is a penalty or free kick.
“What do you expect me to do if I there is contact and I go over – hit my head on the floor? I am not going to stop going because it is a foul.” (Sky Sports)
The Tottenham talisman’s opinion is understandable but deeply flawed considering football is an unofficial yet recognised ‘contact sport’. If a foul were awarded every time players touched one another, the game would never end. The referee’s job is made impossible however, when he has to determine the impact of such a connection. Was he really knocked off balance? Could he have stayed on his feet? Are those screams of agony authentic?
The unfortunate truth is that the human race cannot be trusted. We are all instilled with a will to win, a trait that is magnified in the personality of professional athletes. Players will always seek to find a competitive advantage, consciously or not and when the margins between success and failure are so fine, their dishonourable actions may make all the difference.
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If an individual’s unlawful theatrics have decided the outcome of a game then they can expect a torrent of abuse from the stands, negative exposure in the press and irritated fans clogging up radio phone-ins. All is forgotten however, once the next batch of fixtures arrives and a whole new set of talking points has arisen.
At the end of the day, once the dust has settled, the only thing that remains is the result and the smile that has been concealed from the culprit’s mouth. Their actions may make them heroes in the dressing room but they have no right to complain when their reputation comes back to haunt them.
The only apparent solution appears to involve an increase in retrospective action, where players can have cautions rescinded and awarded by an independent panel. Fines are somewhat futile, only the threat of suspension is likely to instigate change. Such punishments may not stop diving or even deter a player’s natural instincts but at least it will provide suitable reprimand to those who deserve it.
Chelsea further cemented their position atop the Premier League following a hard-fought 2-1 victory over a resurgent Arsenal. Fernando Torres smartly wrapped his foot around Juan Mata’s delivery to get Chelsea off the mark, before Mata added Chelsea’s second following Arsenal’s equaliser. The win will only have added confidence to a side that is still continuing to have a major overhaul of its attacking philosophy under Roberto Di Matteo.
– Young tyro Eden Hazard proved that he has more to offer Chelsea than just technical wizardy. He worked harder than any of his teammates as he ran for 6.3 miles against Arsenal.
– Hazard is still doing what he does best though, that being terrorising defences with his pace and skill. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index he’s ranked sixth in the league for dribbles with 8.
– Another new signing Oscar showed he also has plenty of pace to go along with his guile and technique. He was the fastest player on the pitch against Arsenal according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, which recorded him running at 21.59mph.
– Juan Mata continues to be the focal point of his side’s play this season. The Spaniard has completed more successful passes in the opponent’s half than any other Chelsea player with 182.
– While Fernando Torres may be regaining some his form in front of goal, his work without the ball could use some polish. His 11 fouls is the highest in the Chelsea squad so far this season according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
– Norwich came up against a Liverpool side that had travelled to Carrow Road intent on proving their doubters wrong, as they fell to a 2-5 defeat to the Reds. A second half effort from Glen Morrison and a late consolation from Grant Holt were nowhere near enough to prevent the Canaries being outclassed by a focused Liverpool side.
– Jonathan Howson’s work ethic whilst his team struggled against Liverpool will have been a pleasing sight for Chris Hughton. He ran harder than any of his teammates, clocking up 6.23 miles.
– Midfielder Bradley Johnson will be hoping to escape the attention of the officials against Chelsea this weekend. He ranks joint second on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for fouls with 16.
– Steve Morrison was the Canaries fastest player against Liverpool, being recorded at 20.57mph.
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– Robert Snodgrass is clearly the man Norwich players are looking to give them a spark going forward. Not only does he rank third on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for crosses with 24, he’s also completed more passes in the opponent’s half than any other Norwich player with 105.
– While Grant Holt’s chances in front of goal have been limited this season, he will likely be disappointed in his defensive work so far this season. He’s committed 11 fouls and lost out on 92% of his 12 tackles.
Marc Wilmots admitted that if it wasn’t for the untimely injury of Cristian Benteke, then Lille’s 19-year-old prodigy, Divock Origi, wouldn’t have stood a hope of making the Belgian squad. But two games into Belgium’s World Cup, and two impactful substitute appearances have got people talking about the young Belgian striker.
Spurs and Liverpool have been credited with interest in Origi, especially after his Lille future was put into serious doubt in January when he made clear he was looking elsewhere to secure more first-team football. According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool are likely to pip Tottenham to Origi’s signature, with an agreement to loan the Belgian back to Lille being the deal-breaker.
Origi’s lightning pace has been his most notable asset so far during his two cameo roles in Brazil. His impact has been even more astounding due to the underwhelming performances of Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku has been wholly ineffectual, looking laboured in his movement and unsure in his touch on the ball. Origi has been the opposite, with his energy and speed giving his midfielders the chance to put balls in behind defenders into the channels for him to chase down.
Following his match-winning goal against Russia in Belgium’s last World Cup match, Origi expressed his desire to follow in the footsteps of Benteke and Lukaku and play in the Premier League. Tottenham would seem an ideal destination. With Mauricio Pochettino’s willingness to give young players considerable amounts of playing time Origi would doubtless be given his chance. Add the lack of movement from Roberto Soldado and perennial inconsistence of Emmanuel Adebayor into the equation, and a move to Spurs would seem fitting.
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Origi has earned his chance to start in Belgium’s final group game against South Korea, and if he continues taking his opportunities, then a big Premier League move surely beckons.
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Sir Alex Ferguson has cooled Manchester United’s interest in want-away Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder, giving bitter rivals Manchester City the initiative to sign him.
The 28-year-old Dutch international has been unable to resolve a dispute over wages with the Italian club and both parties look to have reached a stage where the only option may be to part ways.
“There is little reason for me to sign (a revised deal).” The Daily Star quoted Sneijder.
This has alerted Europe’s leading clubs of his availability and it was believed that the two Manchester giants were set to battle it out for the Dutchman’s signature.
However United chief Ferguson has played down the rumours after a previous failed attempt to sign the World Cup finalist in the summer of 2011, when he was put off by Inters valuation of the player and his wage demands.
This has seemingly paved the way for Mancini, a public admirer of Sneijder to bring him to the Etihad.
The City boss is keen to add quality to his squad after summer arrivals Jack Rodwell, Javi Garcia, and Scott Sinclair have failed to shine since signing.
Inter president Massimo Moratti however still believes he could have a future with the Italians saying:
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“A lot of this has come from the media. We’re trying to agree on certain things, otherwise he’ll stay at the club.”
Sneijder has not played for Inter since September because of the dispute and through injury and it’s looking increasingly likely that we will see him in England sooner rather than later.
The news last week that Newcastle manager Alan Pardew had been awarded a whopping new eight-year deal caused ripples around the Premier League. It was quite simply staggering display of faith in the 51-year-old on owner Mike Ashley’s part, but what has prompted them to tie him and his coaching staff down to such long-term deals? More importantly, is it even in the best interests of the club?
Since taking over the club in 2010 from Chris Hughton, it appeared to all that Ashley was once again meddling beyond his knowledge in what on the face of things appeared to be a finely run set-up under a thoroughly likeable manager. However, fast forward two years on and while we may still be able to agree that Hughton was harshly treated by the club hierarchy for perceiveably being too close to the senior players, Pardew’s tenure has been a resounding success and he’s certainly made the most of his resources going on to finish a magnificent fifth in the league last term, ahead of Liverpool, a team which had spent over £50m in the summer and Chelsea, the side that would go on to become the champions of Europe.
The club’s chief executive, the much-maligned Derek Lambias attempted to explain the length of Pardew’s deal by stating: “There is no coincidence that Manchester United with Sir Alex has been there over 25 years and has created stability and with that has come success, and along with Arsene Wenger stability has come success. What we have achieved over the last five years has been tremendous, we have put a lot into the model, financially we are stable and that will continue and now it’s all about stability on the pitch, and having the right managing and coaching staff and chief scout. It is a fantastic move for us and those individuals. You can’t keep changing your manager because you have a bad a run,” he said. “David Moyes for instance has done a fantastic job at Everton – they are going to be right up there, so we are looking for that sort of stability and so to give Alan the eight years is the right thing to do.
“Our model is not rocket science; other Premier League clubs do the same but over a four-year period we have taken them from a very bad financial position to a very good position which will only get better, and we will continue to strive to make football affordable for our fans and to fill that stadium and by having entertaining football is the way of doing it. I would like us to challenge for Europe year on year, and win a trophy. Last year we had a tremendous season – our goal this season is eighth and above but Alan wants to do better than fifth and our players want to do better than fifth.”
This is all very well and good but it still doesn’t quite explain the sheer length of his new contract and judging by Pardew’s reaction in the press the past few days, the issue was hardly pressed hard from his side. No, this has come from the club and Mike Ashley, but it’s still deeply puzzling. In the six-and-a-half years prior to Pardew’s appointment, Newcastle have gone through eight different managers in Sir Bobby Robson, Graeme Souness, Glenn Roeder, Sam Allardyce, Kevin Keegan, Joe Kinnear, Alan Shearer and Chris Hughton.
Along with Pardew, his backroom staff of assistant John Carver, goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman and first-team coach Steve Stone have also all been awarded eight-year deals similar to the one that chief scout Graham Carr received last year for ‘unearthing’ the likes of Tiote, Cabaye and Cisse.
It seems even when the club are trying to be sensible and plan for the future, they leaves themselves open to mockery. Words like ‘stability’ and ‘continuity’ are great to hear from both the fans and managers perspective, but it still doesn’t exactly get to the root of why he was offered a new eight-year deal than say rather a new five-year one which he got when he first took over the club. It’s truly puzzling.
From an outside perspective, while Ashley may have fallen back in love with the club and be in it for the long haul once more, you suspect that if he received a good deal from a billionaire in Asia or the Middle East over the course of the next few years that he’d still likely sell up, thus saddling the new ownership with a management structure on huge long-term contracts – the compensation packages alone would be mind-boggling.
The main reason that has been floated about is that it offers both parties in this deal a degree of protection. Pardew has spoken of his disappointment at not being able to clinch several signings this summer such as Andy Carroll, Luuk De Jong and Mattieu Debuchy which would really have improved his side which still lacks the necessary strength in depth to challenge consistently for the top four. This show of faith brings with it a degree of loyalty from a manager who has greatly impressed on Tyneside so far and has stated that he is eying the England job when this deal ends.
From Ashley’s perspective, he has finally found a manager willing to work within the financial parameters that he’s set out, while continuously backing the club’s transfer policy to the press. Should Pardew be tempted away be a bigger job, the longer nature of the deal guarantees a larger pay-out in terms of compensation for the club.
As good as Pardew is, though, there is surely a glass ceiling in terms of where he can realistically go from here; Newcastle will likely be the biggest club job he will ever have. I can’t particularly see him going abroad like Steve McClaren and Roy Hodgson have done in the past, nor can I see any of the other clubs above him fancying him further down the line, so it must solely be the lure of the England job that has prompted this deal. Hodgson will be 69 by the time his four-year deal with the FA runs out, so an extension is unlikely.
The biggest problem, though, is if Pardew fails to meet the criteria set out by Lambias of challenging at the top end of the league every year while seeking to end their trophy-drought, which currently stands at 43 years having last won the 1969 Fairs Cup, what will the club do?
Both Kevin Keegan and Sam Allardyce were awarded 10-year contracts at Newcastle and Bolton respectively in the past and both failed to see them through. History is not on Pardew’s side here; football isn’t a long-term game these days and the fact that only Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes have managed at their current clubs for a period of eight years or longer is well worth considering. They were appointed at a time when clubs gave managers longer to shape the team in their own image, but to pretend the game is like that still seems foolish even if it’s good-intentioned.
What happens if in three years time Pardew finishes 12th, adrift of the European spots and with the side in a downwards spiral? While it’s likely that Ashley has inserted all sorts of exclusion clauses in terms of performance into the contract, they’re still saddled with a manager not doing as while as they would like, but they’re financially bound to him due to the needless risk that the length of this contract comes with. Who is to say that if a bigger club came calling for Pardew, that he wouldn’t just resign, therefore forgoing any entitlement that the club might have to financial remuneration in the process – they’re protected to a degree, but not to the extent that an eight-year deal makes sense.
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We’ve already seen this summer that Newcastle’s transfer policy of scouring Europe for the best and most importantly, cheapest talent that their money can buy is not the most sustainable of policies. The selling clubs now have more of a grasp of what Newcastle are doing and the moment that they sell a Cabaye, Tiote or Ben Arfa for a fee past the £20m mark, their bargaining position becomes weakened because clubs know they’ve got the cash to spend, thus driving any future purchases up in price. This isn’t to mention that it’s going to prove extremely difficult to keep replacing players of the quality of Cisse, Coloccini etc with cheaper alternatives of equal quality.
The club haggled themselves into a standstill this summer on the Debuchy and Douglas deals and while this may be why the club are on such a sound financial footing at the moment, there’s no doubting that they could have done with a few extra bodies this term given that they now have a European campaign to contend with on top of their domestic commitments.
Pardew has done an excellent job so far at Newcastle and he’s proven himself to be a shrewd operator both on and off the pitch, capable of working within the strict budget constraints that Ashley requires above all else. There’s no doubting that he deserves a new deal for his efforts to date, but I’ve yet to hear a convincing explanation about the length of the deal, which seems to needlessly tie them both together in a game where a revolving door policy isn’t only the norm but is inevitable.
Manchester United are close to finally offloading Dimitar Berbatov, after Fiorentina made a bid for the striker’s services, according to Mirror Football.
The Bulgarian forward has found opportunities at Old Trafford limited due to the attacking talent at Sir Alex Ferguson’s disposal and the summer signing of Robin van Persie has put a nail in Berbatov’s chances with the Red Devils.
A number of European clubs have made enquiries over the eastern European striker, with Fiorentina the latest to show interest.
The Viola have had a busy summer in the transfer market, but are fearful that they may lose skilful attacker Stevan Jovetic before the end of August.
As such Berbatov is on the verge of signing a two-year contract at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, after asking Sir Alex Ferguson personally to lower the club’s asking price for him.
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Sunderland manager Martin O’ Neill is set to make a difficult decision about England international Adam Johnson’s training schedule before the visit of Newcastle on Sunday.
The Premier League Tyne-Wear clash at the Stadium of Light is being viewed as a great opportunity for the Black Cats to put their rivals to the sword and the former Manchester City tricky winger is seen as crucial cog in the Sunderland machine.
The entire squad have met today for training at the Academy of Light but with the £10 million signing arriving back last night, there is a worry the player could be jaded.
Even though Johnson did not feature in the England fixture against Poland, the club will be looking to ensure the player is ready to fire on all cylinders come 1.30 Sunday.
England’s decision to fly home immediately after the 1-1 draw means that Johnson should be able to carry out his scheduled training routine and he is sure to be key to any plans Sunderland have of defeating their bitter rivals.
Despite formerly plying his trade at Middlesborough the player has warmed himself to the fans providing an exciting link up with Scotland International forward Steven Fletcher.
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O’ Neill appears to have given the player licence to thrill and it has given Johnson a fresh lease of life. The star was rewarded by Roy Hodgson with a recall to the squad and he will be looking to continue to impress at club level, in order to get his chance to dazzle on the international stage.
Arsenal forward Gervinho is “totally convinced” new signing Oliver Giroud will score enough goals to make Arsenal fans forget about Robin Van Persie, according to the Mirror.
Arsenal are yet to score a goal or record a victory this season, having being held to goalless draws by both Sunderland and Stoke since the sale of their captain to Manchester United.
It is clear Giroud – a £10 million signing from Montpellier – along with fellow new boy Lukas Podolski, have a massive task on their hands replacing the former Arsenal talisman. However, Gervinho is certain that with a little patience the goals will come.
The Ivory Coast international explained: “I hope the fans show patience towards Giroud and also look at his overall contribution to the team.
“We must all support him, because there’s big pressure.
“But there’s no doubt in my mind that the goals will come. I am totally convinced.
“To substitute a player like van Persie who scored nearly 40 goals in a season is not easy.
“Giroud couldn’t score goals in the opening games but that’s to be expected because it will take him time to adapt in the system and style.”
Gervinho is speaking through experience, having taken a while to settle into English football since his move from Lille last summer. He continued:
“It took me a long time to adjust so I know what it is like.
“But Wenger will give Giroud confidence because he believes in his ability and quality.
“A squad like Arsenal’s needs quality players at this level and they must be allowed to succeed without pressure.
“I talk every day with Olivier and he’s not been worried by the absence of goals in his first matches. It’s just a matter of time.”
Arsenal’s quest for a first goal of the season does not get much easier, as they travel to Anfield on Sunday. Last season’s fixture saw the Gunners come away with a 2-1 win courtesy of two strikes from Robin Van Persie. Gervinho admits he wishes the Dutchman had not left the Emirates, but insists Arsenal are capable of moving on without him.
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He told French radio station RMC Sports:
“Personally, I wouldn’t have wanted for him to leave for Manchester United. But our world doesn’t end with Robin.
“We are players with a lot to develop and we can have a good season by which time van Persie will be forgotten. That is the truth.”
Mesut Ozil has been taken a lot of the stick for Arsenal’s various poor performances since the Premier League season got underway. However, with the German flourishing in his favoured No.10 position against Villa, Rambo didn’t exactly justify his inclusion over Jack Wilshere with several wayward passes and a lack of influence on proceedings.
Mesut Ozil is back
Maybe a slight exaggeration but the German international will certainly have silenced a few doubters with a goal, an assist and a Man of the Match performance. Arsene Wenger must surely realise that he has to play the German as a No.10 or not at all, right?
Danny Welbeck can be Arsenal’s main man
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It was always going to be vital for the striker to grab his first Arsenal goal quickly to avoid the doubts creeping in and the criticism. The former Manchester United striker showed a natural forward’s instincts with a tidy finish and Arsenal fans will be hoping for plenty more of those as the season progresses.