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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…

Lewis Morgan has defended his Celtic teammate Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo after another disappointing display for the summer signing against Motherwell.

What’s he said?

The £3m signing hasn’t made the worst start to life in Glasgow, but fans have criticised some performances. It’s probably not helped that he’s replaced fan-favourite Kieran Tierney, who departed for £25m to Arsenal, but he has looked slightly raw so far.

The left-back had an erratic display against Motherwell too, which 67 Hail Hail described as: “An up and down day for the Hoops left-back. He seemed to struggle very badly at the start of the game, but grew into it as the match went on.”

This has led Morgan to defend his colleague, stating: “Boli’s got something to offer. We see it every day in training. He’s talented and first and foremost he works hard for the team.”

A united front

While Morgan is hardly going to come out and slam Bolingoli-Mbombo for what wasn’t an awful, match-costing display, it’s a nice touch. The winger could’ve easily ‘cliched’ his way around the question, but instead chose to step up on his teammate’s behalf.

He’s also not the first player to leap to his defence, with Hatem Abd Elhamed echoing Morgan’s statement that his fellow new signing will come good with time.

Their comments are even more impressive when you consider he could soon be nothing more than a squad player. It would make sense to protect a player who’s going to be nailed on for the rest of the season, yet with Rico Henry and Greg Taylor being linked to the club it would be no surprise to see him drop down the pecking order if either one arrives before the deadline.

The fact that two teammates are so quick to come out and defend what hasn’t exactly been a disastrous start for the full-back shows exactly the kind of mentality Neil Lennon is re-instilling at Parkhead.

In Lennon, Celtic clearly have a manager who’s passionate about the club, unlike the mercenary that was in before him, and it’s showing in his squad. It’s incredibly easy for players to say nothing at all, yet Elhamed and Morgan went against the grain and above their responsibilities to defend a colleague in what must be a difficult time for him personally, adjusting to a harder league and a different culture.

It might all sound rather corny in the sunshine, rainbows and lollipops kind of way, but Lennon getting his entire squad to fight for each other is just as important as getting them to fight for him and the fans.

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As reported on the club’s official website, West Ham have been handed a triple injury boost ahead of their game against Watford with the return of Felipe Anderson, Sebastien Haller and Mark Noble back available for selection.

What was wrong with them?

Haller – a £45m signing from Eintracht Frankfurt – and Anderson picked up small knocks in the 5-0 defeat to Manchester City in the opening game, missing the trip to Brighton as a result.

The Hammers drew that game against the Seagulls 1-1, and they were also without Noble who is yet to feature for the club this term due to an injury which he picked up in pre-season.

In their absence, Manuel Pellegrini selected Pablo Fornals for his first Premier League start and also handed Javier Hernandez a start in Haller’s absence – the Mexican scored the Irons’ only goal.

Who could be affected by their returns?

As aforesaid, Fornals was handed the opportunity to impress in Anderson’s absence, but the £24m summer signing failed to really light up the Amex Stadium despite a bright start.

Football London gave the Spaniard a rating of six, stating that he looked eager and got stuck in straight away, although he faded as the game went on.

His WhoScored statistics also don’t cover the 23-year-old in too much glory.

Watch the video below to find out how CR7 achieves some his best skills…

As an attacking midfielder, you would want to see Fornals test the keeper and thread some incisive passes through to the forwards.

Disappointingly, he played zero key passes and also had zero shots on target, on an afternoon where he failed to really have an influence on proceedings.

Given Anderson’s status at the club as a key first-team player – his 10 goals and five assists last term prove this – you would expect Pellegrini to bring back such an effective performer as soon as he possibly can.

If this is the case, then Fornals may be the unlucky man to miss out having been so ineffective against Brighton.

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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…

Liverpool could set a club record for consecutive wins if they beat Burnley on Saturday, but they will have to keep a certain Ashley Barnes quiet if they are to achieve that.

On the chalkboard

Jurgen Klopp’s side have, for the most part, continued where they left off last season and proven too much for their opponents in the Premier League, winning all of their games thus far.

The Clarets, though, promise to be stern competition for Liverpool and have got off to decent start themselves – only a 98th minute penalty against Wolves denying them two wins from three games.

Victory on Saturday would be Liverpool’s 13th in a row in the Premier League, stretching back to last season, but there will be concerns for Klopp despite the ease in which his side dispatched of Arsenal last weekend.

Liverpool have allowed key chances in each league game so far. They have conceded once per match and according to their expected goals against, they are fortunate to not have conceded one more during that time – a far cry from last term when they chalked up just 22 goals against.

One reason for Liverpool to be optimistic is Burnley’s home form. Since their promotion from the Championship in 2016 the Clarets’ home record has got progressively worse with six, seven and ten league defeats at home in the three seasons since.

Not all plain sailing for Liverpool

Whilst Liverpool have been typically dominant in possession so far this season and lethal going forward at times, underlined by their nine goals in three Premier League games, there is an area for concern for Klopp.

Due to the nature of his attacking style and the propensity for his full-backs to take up offensive positions, there is often space out wide.

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Barnes has four goals in three games this season and his strikes have shown why he is such a threat. From a long-range effort at Wolves to a lethal volley against Southampton, he has proved he can put away a variety of chances, and with Erik Pieters and Dwight McNeil already providing three assists from the left-hand side, they’re in the form to pounce if too much space is surrendered on the flanks.

Considering the scoring run Barnes is on, just one well-delivered ball from the flank could be enough for him to find the net and once Burnley are on the scoresheet, the prospect of beating Sean Dyche’s infamously resilient team inevitably becomes that bit harder.

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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 Lee Bowyer took over from Karl Robinson as caretaker manager back in March 2018, Charlton had just one win from their previous eight games.

The former Addicks academy graduate had absolutely no managerial experience prior to stepping into the hotseat, but still managed to lead his side into the playoffs that season with six wins from the club’s last 10 league games – unfortunately, they couldn’t overcome Shrewsbury in the semi-finals.

However, Bowyer has gone from strength to strength as a manager at The Valley and what he has done since taking the reins has been nothing short of astonishing.

He managed to oversee 26 league wins from 46 games last term, and also masterminded a route through the playoffs to see off Sunderland at Wembley and complete a remarkable achievement in just his first full campaign as a manager.

You would forgive the 42-year-old for having a slow start to life back in the Championship given the circumstances, but his Charlton side simply can’t stop winning and currently sit second in the table with four wins and two draws from their first six games.

The supporters are jubilant. Bowyer has restored their faith after years of baffling decisions at board level, and the manager and club seem like an ideal fit for each other.

Bowyer has impressed in the English game so much that Huddersfield are reportedly interested in appointing him as their manager, with Mark Hudson unable to get things back on track after the Terriers sacked Jan Siewert.

If Bowyer accepted this move, questions would have to have been asked.

Luckily for the south Londoners, the former Birmingham midfielder has since said he will be staying at the club, and he would’ve been crazy to think of doing anything other than just that.

It is rare to see such a connection between a fanbase and the manager nowadays, and when you are doing so well and things are going swimmingly at a club so close to you personally, leaving for anywhere else – especially a turbulent Huddersfield side – would be downright lunacy.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

There were changes aplenty for West Ham United in attack during the summer, with Andy Carroll, Marko Arnautovic, Lucas Perez and Javier Hernandez all leaving the club, and Sebastien Haller and Albian Ajeti arriving.

The latter two weren’t the only strikers linked with a move to the London Stadium however, with The Sun reporting back in June that the Irons were ‘aware of’ Valencia’s Rodrigo after he scored 15 goals and provided a further 10 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions for the La Liga outfit last term.

At the time The Sun reported that the Spanish club could demand up to £70m for the 28-year-old’s services, but that £30m was a more realistic fee that they would ask for.

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The Spain international, who captained Valencia in their opening top flight fixture of the campaign, may be yet to get off the mark in club football, but it is a different story for his country – well after Sunday anyway, that is.

The one-time Bolton Wanderers loanee had started out wide during the 2-1 Euro 2020 qualifying win against Romania on Thursday, but he was back in a more central role for the visit of the Faroe Islands to Gijon.

The Valencia attacker didn’t let his country down as he led the line and scored a brace from four shots in total, according to SofaScore, and he should have had a hat-trick had it not been for some questionable finishing.

However, the 29-year-old showed his all-round game by also making one key pass and winning one aerial duel against the European minnows, to show the quality that he brings to whichever team he is playing for – he is certainly a different player to the one who found the net just once in 17 Premier League outings for the Trotters previously.

Haller may have hit the ground running with the Hammers having scored three times in his previous two top flight appearances, but it remains to be seen whether he has that stiff competition for his spot in the starting XI from Ajeti, who disappointed for Switzerland in their success against Gibraltar on Sunday.

Judging by his latest display Rodrigo would have been a better option for Pellegrini if the price was right, having shown exactly what he is capable of.

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Down the years, Arsene Wenger has mentioned a host of players he tried to sign during his reign as Arsenal manager.

Looking down the list, it is full of some of the greatest talent to play in Europe in the last 20 years. Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, N’Golo Kante, Gareth Bale and Yaya Toure are just a few of the stars who could have made a move to north London according to the Frenchman himself.

Now, he has revealed he was close to signing the biggest name of them all: Lionel Messi.

“They have the bigger mentality” – Spurs fans come to blows after the North London Derby in the video below…

He told beIN Sports, via Marca, about his attempts to sign the Argentina international when he took Cesc Fabregas to the Premier League, and he said that there were even discussions in regards to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. However, Barcelona were unwilling to sell, with Wenger saying he was “untouchable”.

Unsurprisingly, the comments have made their way to the eyes of the Gunners supporters, and they have been busy responding.

They have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts, and you can see some of the best comments from the social media platform below.

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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…

Charlie Nicholas has suggested to Sky Sports that Kieran Tierney and Hector Bellerin should start for Arsenal against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

What did he say?

Tierney and Bellerin are yet to feature for the Gunners this term, but both returned to first-team training last week as they enter the final stages of their recovery.

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Unai Emery’s side have struggled defensively in recent weeks, conceding seven goals in their last three matches.

Nicholas, therefore, wants to see the two full-backs in the side to face last season’s Europa League semi-finalists.

He said: “I would play Kieran Tierney on Thursday and see if Hector Bellerin could start too. Regarding Sunday’s game against Watford, when you see David Luiz giving instructions with 20 minutes to go, you know you are in trouble.”

“Konstantinos Mavropanos is still game time away from being fit. It would be the end if Shkodran Mustafi was to be brought back. We need to get Rob Holding, Bellerin and Tierney back into the side as soon as possible. I would take a hit and play these players to give them game time and let them get match fitness.”

Too soon to risk them

It is, of course, a boost to the north London outfit that the two wide defenders are approaching full fitness, and the former Sevilla boss will be looking to introduce them to the side sooner rather than later. However, it is too early to risk them from the start.

Tierney has been out since June. That is long enough and means that he has not been through a demanding pre-season, but it pales in comparison to the amount of time Bellerin has spent on the sidelines. The 24-year-old ruptured his cruciate ligament in January of this year and has not played since.

They need to be brought back into the fold slowly, and should certainly not be seen as the answer to Emery’s backline woes immediately. After such difficult periods, the last thing they need is too much pressure, both mentally and physically.

Also, a match against Frankfurt is certainly not a fixture that should be seen as an easy match in which to reintroduce them. The German side impressed in Europe last term and are dangerous opposition.

Yes, both players will be needed in the side in the near future. But shouldn’t be thrown in at the deep end on Thursday.

Give them more time, and then utilise them when they are truly ready.

Rangers host Feyenoord tonight in the Europa League in what will be an emotional atmosphere following the passing of former Rangers skipper Fernando Ricksen after a long battle against Motor Neurone Disease. But how will the Gers line up at Ibrox?

Steven Gerrard has sprung selection surprises before – Jermain Defoe picked ahead of Alfredo Morelos for the Celtic clash being the most recent – and could well do so again against a Feyenoord team currently sitting a lowly seventh in the Dutch Eredivisie.

There are four areas where he is likely to make changes from the weekend – left-back, centre-half, midfield and in attack – but we anticipate these will be done through just three switches in personnel.

Borna Barisic could replace Andy Halliday at left-back. Halliday has been poor this season, no more so than against East Fife, and isn’t a natural defender by trade anyway – so it makes sense for Barisic to come back into the side.

Filip Helander could also beat Niko Katic to a place at centre-half. Football Insider reports that Katic is facing the axe after coming under fire from Connor Goldson against Livingston and considering Helander’s experience with 84 Serie A appearances under his belt, the summer signing could be a crucial asset on the European stage.

With Ryan Jack’s availability still unclear, we’re tipping Glen Kamara to join Steven Davis to protect the defence, pushing Scott Arfield into a more advanced position where he can support the front-line. He notched up 12 goals and seven assists for Rangers last season, albeit just one strike coming in the Europa League.

That also solves the issue of Ryan Kent’s injury, with Arfield essentially taking his spot as part of the Rangers attack.

Overall then, three personnel changes are anticipated for tonight’s game.

This Saturday evening we have a real treat on the menu in La Liga. Real Madrid will face Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano and that clash just might be decided in the middle of the park.

On the chalkboard

Real Madrid will be making a short trip across the capital and meeting their city rivals, Atletico Madrid, in one of the first big derbies of the ongoing campaign.

As it currently stands, it will be a clash between first and third-placed teams in Spain and the victory for either would be huge at this point in the season.

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But looking at the personnel and the squad both giants have at their disposal, whoever wins the battle for supremacy in midfield just might go on to win the whole game.

With that in mind, Toni Kroos’ clash against Koke is looking likely to be a key battle come Saturday night.

The midfield generals

Real Madrid’s 29-year-old German maestro has really been blowing hot and cold so far this season.

Even though he was harshly criticised recently, Kroos managed a masterful performance against Osasuna which proved that when he’s on his best, not many can go toe to toe with him.

And Los Blancos will certainly need him to be at his best against Atletico Madrid’s own general in midfield – Koke.

The 27-year-old has so far tallied one assist in the ongoing campaign but has also registered 2.7 key passes and 0.5 shots per game in La Liga. Kroos is also not far behind. In fact, he edges Koke out in both with 3.3 key passes and 2.2 shots per game.

The Spaniard, however, makes more interceptions per game with his 1.5 outshining Kroos’ 0.8. As far as tackling goes, the situation is once again pretty close and there’s just a slight margin between the two midfielders.

Koke has averaged 1.3 tackles while Kroos is on two per game but the former is definitely harder to dribble past with that only happening once per game on average so far. The German, however, has been dribbled past 1.5 times per game.

Judging purely by the stats, it looks like Real Madrid just might have a small advantage going into the game but the venue should also not be disregarded.

Atletico Madrid’s home, the Wanda Metropolitano, is definitely not an easy fortress to conquer as Diego Simeone’s men are yet to be defeated there across all competitions in the 2019/20 season.

If, however, the Galacticos manage to dominate the middle of the park, they just might stand a chance of changing that.

These last couple of weeks have been a real rollercoaster ride for the boys from the Spanish capital.

Zinedine Zidane finally got the ball rolling over in La Liga, successfully racing through a great series of games only to solidify himself and Real Madrid as the league leaders at the very peak of the mountain.

One thing that is worrying, however, is the Galacticos’ form in Europe, and that does come as a surprise considering that Real Madrid are pretty well known for their Champions League exploits, having won three crowns in a row under Zidane in recent times.

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But this Real Madrid is still far away from the one that made history in Europe a couple of years back.

One big difference between that Los Blancos side and the ones we’re watching right now concerns the performances of their key players and veterans, which are, in their case, one and the same thing.

Most of their most important pieces within the squad are, in fact, players over 30 – Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, Gareth Bale and of course, Luka Modric.

The 34-year-old Croatian sensation is slowly getting on and maybe it was his presence that Real missed the most at the very start of their new campaign in 2019. After all, Modric – valued at £18m by Transfermarkt – has been absent for a number of big games already and not to mention that we are talking about a player who broke the duopoly of Lionel Messi and Real Madrid’s own legend, Cristiano Ronaldo, by snatching away that Ballon d’Or last year.

Any team would miss such a player if he was suddenly taken away from them, and Los Blancos are no exception.

But after missing four games due to injury and one game due to red card suspension, the Croatian midfielder is finally back and ready to rock and roll. He made his full return against Club Brugge just the other night but as we now already know, that clash was everything but a success for the Galacticos.

And yes, coming back from a 2-0 deficit is definitely praise-worthy but suffering so much and relying on miraculous goals to even tally a single point at the Santiago Bernabeu is already cause for major concern.

Modric, for all his brilliance, was not really firing on all cylinders either.

Of course, we have to take into account the fact that he just returned to full fitness and that game marked his big comeback. Sure, he did play 22 minutes in the Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid prior to that but that was just testing the waters and making a cameo appearance at best.

Watch Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale answer the internet’s weirdest questions in the video below…

Against Brugge, Modric tallied two shots, two key passes and also helped out defensively with three tackles and two interceptions. Those are already some solid figures and they might suggest the 34-year-old is slowly but surely returning to his very best.

And that will be crucial for the weekend’s game and moving forward in general.

Real Madrid are welcoming Granada at the Santiago Bernabeu and after that disappointing draw with the Belgian side, the Madrid crowd will surely be aching for a big performance from their team.

Not to mention that their Saturday guests are currently sitting just below the Whites in the table with 13 points under their belts.

That makes winning this game that much more important and Modric’s performance has to absolutely be top-notch if they want to get all three points on the day.

In Modric’s absence, however, Toni Kroos was the one to step up and led the team through some dark times.

The German midfielder was dropping masterclasses left, right and centre but now that his dancing partner in the middle of the pitch is finally back on the podium, the two can tango together.

If anyone is going to help Real Madrid get out of the gutters and towards the stars, then it’s Modric.

It will, however, have to be a team effort and while the 34-year-old Croatian can do a lot, he won’t be able to do it all by himself. He’s had a couple of games to get back into his rhythm but now, Zidane will need him to lead once more.

Let’s see if he can do it this Saturday already.