Month: March 2021

Man Utd only have one hero thanks to lack of ‘homework’ – Ince

Paul Ince thinks Man Utd midfielder Bruno Fernandes is their only “proper hero footballer” and that the club need to “spend time studying a player” before buying.

The Red Devils’ summer spending has been criticised with Alex Telles, Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani failing to nail down a regular starting spot.

Cavani has made a decent impact when called upon, as has Telles, but Van de Beek has come in for particular criticism over his lack of goals and assists when given a chance in the team.

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Harking back to the good times under Sir Alex Ferguson, Ince bemoans the current side’s lack of heroes.

“When you’re director of football at a club like Manchester United, straight away you’ve got to accept that fans want to see players coming in that are fit enough to wear the shirt,” Ince told Ladbrokes.

“Too many times in the past we’ve seen players come in and fail. I think when you such big amounts on players, they’ve got to hit the ground running like Bruno Fernandes has.

“Man United have always had teams that are full of heroes; from Eric Cantona to Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane to Bryan Robson, but you look at the current team and you’d have to say Fernandes is the only one at that level at the moment.

“The fans love Marcus Rashford; he’s a Manchester boy and I love him as well, but when you look at proper hero footballers, Fernandes is the only one at the moment.

“Man United have always had teams full of heroes but right now it’s just Fernandes. They’ve got to get back to that level, where they’ve got the right kind of players, those leaders, across the pitch.

“It’s a tough ask, though. And it’s not a cheap task at a club like Manchester United, which is the challenge John Murtough is going to face.

“As soon as United are interested in a player, another £10million is added to his value.”

Ince added: “For Man United, they’ve got to do their homework and really spend time studying a player for a couple of years. I understand it’s tough because you always worry that someone else is going to come in.

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“But if you keep studying players around the world and you’re doing your homework, you’ll bring in the right personalities. Man United can’t afford to just keep spending £50million on players that aren’t going to hit the ground running.”

 


Furious Man Utd star ‘apologises’ to Solskjaer over Milan outburst

Eric Bailly has apologised to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his Man Utd team-mates over his behaviour following their victory over AC Milan in the Europa League, according to reports.

The Ivory Coast international has played 100 times in all competitions since his move from Villarreal for around £30m in 2016.

Bailly has been plagued with injuries throughout his Man Utd career with the centre-back struggling to put a run of games together over the last three or four seasons.

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The defender has started 14 matches in all competitions this season with Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof  currently Solskjaer’s preferred pairing.

A report on Monday claimed that Bailly has “had enough” at Man Utd as he doubts he will ever be a regular starting centre-back under Solskjaer.

Bailly was reportedly not happy about missing out on a starting position in their recent match against AC Milan in the Europa League, despite starting in the first leg.

However, it is now claimed that Bailly “apologised” to Solskjaer and his Man Utd team-mates over a furious outburst following the victory over the Italian giants – but he still wants to leave Old Trafford.

Duncan Castles of the Transfer Window Podcast said: “Man United have been trying to tie him down to a long-term contract, they’ve told him they have faith in him, they see him as part of their plans.

“They’ve offered him a pay rise and the talks, I’m told, were going well and the expectation was that Bailly was going to accept that increase in pay and new contract at Manchester United until last week, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer decided to leave Bailly out of the team to play Milan away in the Europa League.

“Bailly played in the first leg and the expectation was that he would be able to retain his place because his performances had been good and continue to fight and displace one of Harry Maguire or Victor Lindelof as a starting first-choice centre-back.

 

“Bailly realised he was not going to be selected and responded in a disrespectful manner to Solskjaer. Bailly himself has accepted his behaviour was not appropriate and subsequently apologised to Solskjaer for what he did and also apologised to his team-mates.

“What hasn’t changed, however, is his position on his treatment from Solskjaer. His analysis is that he has not been getting a fair opportunity from the manager and the time has come to change things.

“He believes that matters are not going to alter if he signs that new contract at United and he wants to be playing football. At present his thinking is that he needs to go to another club this summer in order to re-establish himself as a starting footballer.”

Castles added: “I understand as part of those contract discussions he held conversations with Solskjaer and asked him about playing time and whether he could guarantee him playing time if he signed a new contract.

“And Solskjaer’s answer was that he couldn’t and that has contributed to Bailly’s doubts about whether Manchester United is the correct place to be.”

 

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Everton to target Koulibaly as Ancelotti receives funds

Everton have emerged as a new contender for Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly, according to reports.

The 29-year-old has been heavily linked with both Liverpool and Manchester United in recent months.

Jurgen Klopp supposedly wants Koulibaly to partner Virgil Van Dijk on the Dutchman’s return from injury.

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While the Red Devils see him as the perfect man to solve their defensive problems in recent seasons.

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According to talkSPORT, the two Premier League sides will face plenty of competition from Everton for his signature.

They’ve joined the race to sign Koulibaly and want him to make them a formidable team next term.

The report states that Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti will be backed this summer to improve his team.

That means he could go on a massive spending spree to make the Toffees regular top four contenders.

His transfer priority is Koulibaly, whom he managed for 18 months during his time with Napoli.

Ancelotti is a huge admirer of the defender and believes he can take them to the next level.

Koulibaly has previously been given an £89million price tag by the Italian side.

They’re reluctant to sell one of their prized assets, who has captained them on multiple occasions this season.

However, the report states that the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will see them reduce that fee.

That opens the door for a major bid from Everton to bring Koulibaly to England.

John Barnes has previously referred to the player as ‘the only person Liverpool should sign’ to improve their team.

He said: “If Koulibaly comes, he’s a player that could play alongside Van Dijk when he returns. It would be easy to talk Koulibaly into joining Liverpool because if he comes would go straight into the first team and play every match.

“Aside from Koulibaly, I don’t think there’s anyone out there that Liverpool would look to get.”

But the Reds have never been able to successfully negotiate with Napoli, allowing other teams to join the race.

Manager Jurgen Klopp was said to be ‘annoyed and frustrated’ when his side failed to sign Koulibaly in January.

As the German boss wasn’t backed to make a huge move, he had to bring in Ozan Kabak to solve their defensive woes.


West Brom defender Gibbs to join Inter Miami at end of season

West Brom left-back Kieran Gibbs will join David Beckham’s Inter Miami CF at the end of this season.

The 31-year-old has played ten times in the Premier League this term, most recently in a 2-2 draw with Fulham.

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His place in Sam Allardyce’s starting eleven has been taken by Conor Townsend, forcing him to search for a move.

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Gibbs will complete his Inter Miami transfer in June once his contract expires, West Brom have revealed.

Speaking about the move, the former Arsenal defender said: “I’m extremely excited to be starting the next chapter of my career with Inter Miami this summer.

“I look forward to embracing a new culture and a new challenge in South Florida. I’m really impressed by the vision of the club, and can’t wait to play in front of the fans.

“In the meantime, my focus and commitment remains with West Brom. I will continue to give 100 percent for the club, as I have done since I signed, until the end of the season.”

The deal will see Gibbs link up with big names including Gonzalo Higuain and Blaise Matuidi.

He will play alongside fellow Englishman Ryan Shawcross, who completed his move to America in February.

Gibbs could make his MLS debut next month as Inter Miami open their season with a clash against LA Galaxy.

Gibbs began his career with Arsenal in 2007 and went on to make over 200 appearances for the North London side.

He was a part of the Arsene Wenger team which won the FA Cup in 2014 and 2015. The player went on to win the trophy once more in 2017 before leaving for West Brom.

He joined the Baggies for a £6.75million fee and soon became a first-team regular.

Gibbs was a part of the squad which gained promotion back to the Prem in 2019/20.

He featured 15 times in all competitions as West Brom regained their status as a top flight club.

However, the player has endured a fairly disappointing campaign this time around.

Gibbs has spent plenty of time on the bench under both Slaven Bilic and his successor Allardyce.

One of his last appearances was in the 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.


A teen filed sexual harassment charges against her principal in Bangladesh. She was burned to death less than two weeks later.

Dozens of protesters gathered in Bangladesh’s capital of Dhaka on Friday to demand justice for an 18-year-old woman who died after being set on fire for refusing to drop sexual harassment charges against her Islamic school’s principal. Nusrat Jahan Rafi told her family she was lured to the roof of her rural school in the town of Feni on April 6 and asked to withdraw the charges by five people clad in burqas.

When she refused, she said her hands were tied and she was doused in kerosene and set alight. Rafi told the story to her brother in an ambulance on the way to the hospital and he recorded her testimony on his mobile phone.”The teacher touched me, I will fight this crime till my last breath,” Rafi said in the video, according to BBC News. She also identified some of her attackers as students at the school.
Rafi died four days later in a Dhaka hospital with burns covering 80 percent of her body. The violence has shaken Bangladesh, triggering protests and raising concerns over the plight of women and girls in the conservative Muslim-majority nation of 160 million people where sexual harassment and violence are often unreported, victims are intimidated and the legal process is often lengthy.Many avoid reporting to police because of social stigma. “We want justice. Our girls must grow up safely and with dignity,” Alisha Pradhan, a model and actress, told The Associated Press during Friday’s demonstration. “We protest any forms of violence against women, and authorities must ensure justice.”Tens of thousands of people attended Rafi’s funeral prayers in Feni, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised Rafi’s family when they met in Dhaka that those responsible would be punished. At least 17 people, including students, have been arrested in connection with the case, said Banaj Kumar Majumder, the head of the Police Bureau of Investigation.In late March, Rafi filed a complaint with police that the principal of her madrasa, or Islamic school, had called her into his office and touched her inappropriately and repeatedly. Her family agreed to help her file the police complaint, which prompted police to arrest the principal, infuriating him and his supporters.Influential local politicians backed the principal, and ruling party members were also among the arrested. Police said the arrested suspects told them during interrogations that the attack on Rafi was planned and ordered by the school’s principal from prison when his men went to see him.It was timed for daytime so that it would look like a suicide attempt, Majumder said. Human Rights Watch said in a statement that Rafi’s family said that they had received death threats before the attack telling them to drop the case.While Rafi’s case is now being treated with urgency, that wasn’t the case until her death. A video taken on March 27 while Rafi reported the assault shows the local police chief registering her complaint but telling her that the incident was “not a big deal.”