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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

When Toby Alderweireld rose highest to head home Kevin De Bruyne’s corner in Belgium’s 4-0 win against Scotland on Monday, it would have been met with equal jubilation and exasperation from Tottenham Hotspur supporters.

In an instant, the 30-year-old showed just how dangerous he can be from set-pieces when the delivery is right – and if the marking is poor enough – and it certainly was from his teammate who ended the game with three assists and a goal himself.

As per Football London, remarkably it was Alderweireld’s first goal for either club or country in 101 appearances in all competitions, with his previous one coming in May 2017 against Hull City.

So why hasn’t he been scoring more for Spurs especially given he is clearly a threat in the opposition penalty area?

Well, part of the reason may lie at the footsteps of teammate Christian Eriksen.

The 27-year-old has already come under fire from Denmark fans this week following a disappointing display against Georgia on Sunday, with one individual highlighting his poor corner-kicks.

It wasn’t an anomaly either with tactical website Tifo Football saying (see 3:05) back in June that last season, the Dane saw 66% of his corners in the Premier League cleared at the near post – a ridiculously high rate that you imagine must leave fans, teammates and Mauricio Pochettino hugely frustrated.

That record shows that more often than not, the likes of Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez have little chance of getting a chance let alone a goal.

It is a worrying stat, and one that makes it even more confusing that Eriksen remains one of the north London outfit’s primary corner takers.

Given Alderweireld’s latest header the 27-year-old either needs to prove he can step up to the plate in the next few weeks, or Pochettino needs to strip him of the responsibility and give it to someone else who can deliver to help try and boost Tottenham’s goal tally.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking on talkSPORT, former Wales international Dean Saunders has urged Manchester United star Paul Pogba to stop trying fancy flicks and extravagant passes all the time.

What did he say?

The France World Cup winner has been the subject of intense transfer speculation this summer, but delivered an encouraging performance in United’s first Premier League game of the season against Chelsea.

Now, Saunders has implored Pogba to keep things simple in the middle of the park and choose his moments to showboat.

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

He said: “For me, the best players in the world do the simple things well most of the time. The great players in the world, they still do the same thing but occasionally they make you clap.

“Pogba tries to make you clap every time he gets the ball, for me. He’s trying Cruyff turns, trying difficult passes, there’s no doubt he can do it, but there’s got to be times where you should just play one touch, two touch and keep moving the ball across the pitch.”

Taking away Pogba’s game

Telling Pogba to stop trying skills and tricks is easier than done. It takes away everything the 26-year-old is as a midfielder. When United signed the Frenchman back in 2016, there was surely an understanding about the profile of player they were getting. The former Juventus ace isn’t someone who’s going to patrol his defence in front of the back four and lay the ball off to his teammates. He is not a workhorse. He is not Nemanja Matic. He is not Jordan Henderson.

He is however going to be the driving force for his team and the catalyst for their attacks.

One of the criticisms of Pogba’s career at Old Trafford has been the approach some United managers have taken with him. Attempting to try and “shackle” his natural game is making a major mistake. Whilst his display against Chelsea wasn’t without its flaws, his two assists came about because he was willing to embrace the creative responsibility for his side. Pogba can be considered one of the best in the world by being himself, and not becoming something he isn’t.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Former Leeds United and Manchester City full-back Danny Mills has defended Dean Smith’s comments over Jack Grealish following their disappointing draw against West Ham – speaking to Football Insider.

What’s he said?

Smith’s men were thoroughly underwhelming when all three points were there for the taking, considering the Hammers went down to ten men with 23 minutes plus added time still left on the clock.

Several of the 48-year-old’s stars weren’t at the races on Monday night, but the Villa boss singled out their captain in particular for his poor showing by claiming the midfielder “wasn’t quite as good as we expect of him” and that the “quality was just lacking.”

Grealish has recorded just one assist so far this season and is yet to get off the mark in terms of goals despite playing every minute possible.

In their playoff-winning campaign, the 24-year-old scored six and assisted seven goals, so much better should be expected from the skipper.

Though Mills, who played in the 2002 World Cup for England, believes Smith was simply trying to psych out his key man so that his performances improve, he said:

“I thought he created chances, got himself into one of two shooting positions as well – I don’t think it was the worst performance in the world.

“Maybe the manager’s just using a little bit of psychology, saying ‘Okay, you can do more for us.’ He knows him better than most, and he knows how to get the best out of him. Maybe that’s what he feels Jack needs.

“Just a little ‘Come on, you can do this.’ Maybe that will work for him.”

Shouldn’t be immune

Villa now face a tough game against Arsenal on Sunday and could well be bottom of the Premier League table if results don’t work in their favour.

Grealish hasn’t been fantastic so far this season, but you can say that about a lot of the players around him – particularly the attacking ones as the west Midlands club are one of the lowest scorers in the division.

Watch Aston Villa Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Mills is right to suggest that Smith is using this to try and get the popular midfielder properly going this season though it should be served as a warning too – that no player is immune to criticism.

Villa have a whole host of options in midfield so it’s not as if Grealish is untouchable because that would send the wrong message.

They all need to up their game – it’s as simple as that.

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Leeds were unbeaten this season until they took on Stoke in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening.

The Whites found themselves 2-0 down in the first half before an inspired turnaround saw them level the game at 2-2 in the second period.

Their hard work, however, was undone on penalties as Jack Harrison’s missed attempt from 12 yards meant they exited in the second round.

Marcelo Bielsa made eight changes to his starting XI, bringing in Alfie McCalmont and Mateusz Bogusz for their first starts in Leeds colours but the former appeared to cause debate on Twitter.

Leeds fans took to the social media channel to discuss both his impact on the night and his future.

One fan lauded the teenager as better at 19 years of age than Kalvin Phillips was whilst another was quick to praise his composure.

However, other supporters were more sceptical about the midfielder. One said that his role within the team could be wrong. A further individual insisted that he and Jamie Shackleton looked out of place.

McCalmont earned his senior team debut against Salford in the first round before being put in the heat of the battle from the off versus Stoke.

It wasn’t a convincing display, though, as he was dragged off at half-time.

Here’s some of the debate.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Christian Eriksen is set to stay at Tottenham Hotspur after bids from Spain failed to materialise in the summer transfer window, per The Daily Mail.

What’s the word?

The Denmark international expressed a desire to try something new after the club lost the Champions League final to Liverpool.

Eriksen, the report states, had set his heart on a move to La Liga, but neither Barcelona or Real Madrid have made a move for the playmaker.

Of course, the 27-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season, meaning he can agree a deal that will see him leave for a foreign club on a free in January.

Spurs, the Mail claims, have offered Eriksen a new contract worth £200,000-per-week and it remains on the table, but he has insisted that he is not after a payday, merely a change in his professional circumstances.

A pyrrhic victory

Eriksen seems set to stay until at least January.

On a base level, that seems a good thing for Spurs as they are retaining one of their best players.

But the prospect of losing him on a free transfer will smart for chairman Daniel Levy and manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Watch Tottenham Hotspur Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

He has proved that he’s one of the best attacking midfielders in England in his time at Spurs, scoring 66 goals and registering 86 assists in 280 appearances.

Keeping him around is a good thing in the short-term; losing him on a free certainly isn’t.

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In a moment that caused widespread debate and controversy, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford’s penalty debacle against Wolves on Monday night has brought the familiar questions of Manchester United’s leadership back to the fore.

After Rashford successfully converted his spot-kick against Chelsea in United’s opening Premier League game of the season, many would have predicted the England international to take the honours against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side too.

Instead, Pogba took the responsibility and promptly saw his penalty saved by Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio. After the match, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed the club has two designated takers and it would be up to them to decide who would step up at the time.

Following the Norwegian’s comments on the fiasco, United fans took to Twitter to share their concerns about the matter.

Watch Manchester United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Many supporters of the Manchester side were absolutely livid with Solskjaer’s remarks, and insisted it spoke of “awful management”.

Indeed, some labelled the process of having two penalty takers as “weak”, and urged the United boss to intervene and change his style of running things.

Check out the furious reaction of United fans below:

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تحدث جوزيه مورينيو مدرب توتنهام عن فوزهم مساء الأمس أمام كريستال بالاس في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وفاز توتنهام بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف، في الجولة السابعة والعشرين. أهداف مباراة توتنهام وكريستال بالاس

وقال مورينيو في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “لقد سجلنا أهدافًا جيدة، كان هدف هاري الأول رائعًا، لعبنا كرة قدم جيدة”.

وأضاف: “يبدو من السخف أن أقول إنني سعيد بالهدف الذي استقبلناه!، كان شعوري في الدقائق العشر الأخيرة من الشوط الأول أننا إذا انتهينا 1-0، فربما نبدأ الشوط الثاني بنفس الطريقة”.

وواصل: “فقدنا القليل من الرغبة في الهجوم، كنا سلبيين للغاية، ارتكبنا خطأ واحد واستقبلنا هدفًا، لذلك كان لدي شعور إيجابي عندما اهتزت شباكنا بهدفهم”.

وتابع: “في الشوط الثاني كان علينا أن نلعب بكل شيء، ثم كان الشعور بأن فارق هدف واحد ليس كافيًا، ثم جعلنا النتيجة 2-1، وذهبنا 3-1 مباشرة بعد ذلك”.

وأردف: “كنت سعيدًا بموقفنا وشعورنا، إلى جانب وصولنا إلى الهدف رقم 100 في الموسم ونحن فريق دفاعي”.

واستكمل: “لقد كان أسبوعًا جيدًا بالنسبة لنا، ثلاث مباريات وتسع نقاط بدون إصابات والجميع يعود، نحن في لحظة إيجابية”.

[ad_pod ]Sam Allardyce has spoken.Since their relegation from the Premier League, things haven’t improved much for Huddersfield Town. And when we say that, what we mean is their return to the second-tier has been utterly miserable.Sat in joint-last place in the Championship and already one manager down for the season, having sacked former boss Jan Siewert, who was admittedly a bizarre appointment in the first place, the Terriers needed a hero (or two).Watch Huddersfield Town Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Fortunately, that’s just what they’ve been given in the form of dynamic duo Danny Cowley and his brother, Nicky.

The former Lincoln Town men will inherit Siewert’s faltering squad and attempt to guide them towards their first victory of the season when they meet Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.

The Owls have only recently appointed a new boss themselves, ex-Birmingham man Garry Monk, so this could be a tasty affair.

Speaking to talkSPORT, rescue mission specialist Allardyce reacted to the John Smith Stadium new boys…

Positive sounding stuff from Big Sam.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

As highlighted by Football FanCast at the start of the week, Birmingham City’s tactics were preventing them from much success.

Yes, they had won the opening match away at Brentford but the two following games were a draw at St Andrew’s and then a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of their Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest.

It was that defeat which put a spotlight on where it was all going wrong for boss Pep Clotet – he was giving his main man Lukas Jutkiewicz far too much to do in attack. The striker had to drift wide and come deep to try and create his own chances – as we covered here.

Watch Birmingham City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Now, Clotet probably didn’t read the piece but he did make changes in midweek which saw Birmingham see off Barnsley with aplomb, winning 2-0.

The vital change was indeed giving the 30-year-old a strike partner.

On the Chalkboard

The formation was a five-at-the-back with two strikers and three midfielders – and you have to say it paid off considering the two up top both got on the scoresheet.

It allowed two wing-backs to add much-needed width to their attack which allowed Jutkiewicz and his new partner, Alvaro Gimenez, more time in the middle and ultimately more chances were created.

This is supplemented by WhoScored who state in their match report that Birmingham ‘were effective at creating goalscoring opportunities from the flanks.’

Jutkiewicz headed home a Wes Harding cross whilst the 6 foot Spaniard beat Barnsley’s defence to delightfully dink an effort over the onrushing goalkeeper.

Thogden ranks all 24 Championship away kits in the video below…

Despite having just 36.3% possession, the Blues were victorious and even recorded more shots in the game with 14 compared to Barnsley’s meagre three.

It only went to show that one small tweak to Clotet’s system could breed results and with a tough-looking game against Swansea on Sunday, who themselves sit second in the table with three wins and a draw, the Blues boss must ensure he continues with this formation.

A defensive counter-attacking game could bear fruit against the league’s highest scorers – five-at-the-back should restrict the amount of opportunities they gain, as they managed with Barnsley earlier this week.

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زارت ساندرا لاتوري مساعد مدير إدارة الاتحادات الأهلية بالاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم، اليوم الخميس، مركز المنتخبات الوطنية بمدينة السادس من أكتوبر.

ويأتي ذلك على هامش زيارتها الحالية إلى مصر، حيث تفقدت سير الأعمال في المركز برفقة أحمد حسام عوض عضو الاتحاد المصري.

طالع| صور.. هاني أبو ريدة يتواصل مع الوفود الإفريقية لدعمه قبل انتخابات فيفا

وكان في استقبالهما بالمركز مصطفى عزام مدير التطوير والاستثمار بالاتحاد، وشعبان بسطاوي مدير العلاقات العامة بالاتحاد، ومسئولو الشركة المنفذة للمشروع.

يذكر أن الاتحاد الدولي “فيفا” قد أعلن عن تعيين اللجنة الثلاثية برئاسة أحمد مجاهد، لإدارة اتحاد الكرة خلفًا للجنة الخماسية برئاسة عمرو الجنايني.