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      Gareth Southgate vs Thomas Tuchel: How would rival bosses transform Man Utd flops and who is best man for the job?

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have not enjoyed the bright new era they had hoped for following the arrival of Ineos.Nine games into the season have yielded just three wins and left the new Old Trafford hierarchy with a huge decision to make on manager Erik ten Hag.Erik ten Hag’s future at Man Utd is in the balanceCredit: ReutersPossible alternatives such as Gareth Southgate have been touted as his replacementCredit: GettyThomas Tuchel is another credible option, but who would make the best fit?Credit: AFPIneos backed the Dutchman with a contract extension along with new players and coaches in the summer.But the lifeless display in last Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham appeared to be the final straw for many disenchanted fans.Reports after the game suggested Ten Hag had two games to save his job. The first of these ended in a 3-3 draw at Porto after going 2-0 ahead and down to ten men.The second comes at Aston Villa on Sunday and is likely to be the day of reckoning for the former Ajax boss.READ MORE IN MAN UTDIt poses the question though, who will replace Ten Hag if he is sacked? Two of the most leading candidates are Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel.The ex-England boss’ old partnership with Dan Ashworth is one reason for the Southgate links, while former Chelsea boss Tuchel turned down the job in the summer, as SunSport exclusively revealed.Both have impressive managerial records in their own right, with Tuchel winning the Champions League with Chelsea and Southgate leading England to two European Championship finals.But how would they apply their differing football philosophies to try to sort the mess at Old Trafford?Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe would have them play as a teamOne of the biggest criticisms of United has been a shocking lack of organisation in transition, with the defensive, midfield and attacking units often too disjointed to execute an effective game plan.Last season for example saw United’s backline exposed time and time again as the midfield pushed up to press while the defence sat back, leaving acres of space for the opposition to run into.Erik ten Hag bemoans defensive lapses as Man Utd waste flying start in Porto The positions and specific roles of the players in the team such as Bruno Fernandes, who likes to drift to where the space is, don’t help this situation.One thing Tuchel has excelled at previously is teaching players to play in a more compact block with little space between the units that the opposition can then exploit.United’s lack of shape before Tottenham’s first goal allowed for the defensive horror show to occurTuchel’s 5-2-3/3-4-3 shape proved very difficult to break down while also handing players a platform to spring attacks from, whether playing a high defensive line or lower block.United have signed defenders with decent pace and have one of the strongest sweeper keepers in European football in Andre Onana, which would allow Tuchel to fully make use of his high-line system.Southgate, however, went for a different approach during his Three Lions tenure, with England tending to sit deeper and stay as a more compact unit in matches against more even opposition.Given the quality that United have in the final third Southgate would need to be more expansive and attacking in his approach.Once again the disjointed shape allowed Spurs to have acres of spaceEither of the two coaches would certainly be more effective in terms of turning United into an organised block that is more difficult to play through or around for opposition teams.It is likely, however, that given the current playing squad at United, Tuchel would be better suited for the role.Building from the back is still not workingWhen Ten Hag first took over at United there was a clear sense he would be looking to put in place a shape and structure that helped the team to become effective at building out from the back.At Ajax, this method of bringing the ball out was seen as one of the cornerstones of his in-possession tactical philosophy, but this has struggled to transition into tangible terms.With the alarming lack of a true left-back, Diogo Dalot has been asked to fulfil the role this season but comes inside as an inverted full-back to play as an extra midfielder when United are in possession.In the match against Spurs, this prompted the North London side to push into higher positions and press man to man, forcing United into mistakes.But Dalot rotating into the midfield with nobody to fill the left-side space simply unbalanced United and made them very easy to defend against.Tuchel’s tactical intelligence would again come into play were he to take over from Ten Hag as United coach. Here, after Diogo Dalot rotates into midfield there is no passing option out wide on the left wing, limiting United’s ability to build upThe former Bayern Munich boss is capable of creating teams that can play out from the back and through the thirds in this manner, but he understands the details of how you work to achieve this matter. Against Spurs, Tuchel would have likely seen the value in playing more directly to bypass the man-to-man press Ange Postecoglou’s side commit to.Under Southgate, we saw England be more expansive in terms of the way that they wanted to build the attack. There were, however, issues within the patterns of play as they moved the ball through the thirds and at times the players were still unsure as to how they were supposed to play.Here a lack of width makes it difficult for Andre Onana to play the ball out from the backUnited should have the players to be able to play out from the back in this manner, but there appear to be key details missing or a lack of execution from this plan under Ten Hag. Once again, Tuchel appears to be a better fix for these issues than Southgate.Tuchel would make United more balanced and effective in possessionThere is no doubt Ten Hag is in a difficult situation with the presence of Fernandes as, perhaps, the key player in their team. There is no doubt that on his day the Portuguese international midfielder is one of the best creative players in the Premier League. The issue this season, however, appears to be that he feels like he needs to do everything and at times he is getting pulled into positions that are unbalancing the United attack in general.This then feeds into the earlier point of United making it easy for the opposition to both defend and attack against them due to a lack of build-up options and a lack of bodies able to defend a transition.Fernandes, of course, is not the only player this applies to. While Dalot has looked competent moving into midfield, the deeper position of Joshua Zirkzee has seen United end up in some quite strange shapes in possession.United need a coach who understands that Fernandes is one of the key players in the team but also that the Portuguese international is more effective when he is playing in structure. Here, Fernandes pushes high which leads to Kobbie Mainoo trying to plug the gap, which unbalances the teamTuchel is not the kind of coach who would allow a player to constantly break out of position and role to the detriment of the overall team structure, and would likely start by trying to give players more defined tactical roles. Whether Southgate would be more effective in giving a player like Fernandes a more structured role is up for some debate. Look at the role of Jude Bellingham for England during the recent European Championships. While Bellingham was free to move and roam from the 10 position his performances dropped as the tournament went on and he would have benefitted from a more fixed position.With many United players liking to take up the same positions, it strangles them in terms of passing optionsThere is no doubt for us that United have added quality players to an already talented squad. They seem to be missing some real structure to their play in and out of possession though. This is, without a doubt, something that Tuchel could add.ConclusionThere is a growing sense that time at Old Trafford is running out for Ten Hag. His team have the beginnings of an idea and identity in terms of the way he wants them to play, but the details behind it still appear to be missing. READ MORE SUN STORIESGiven the analysis of Tuchel’s and Southgate’s coaching styles in reflection of the United squad, the choice between Tuchel and Southgate appears clear.Tuchel is a top tactical mind and appears to be the best fit for United, and the fact he remains available on the market could spark the club into action in the next few weeks.Nine managers Man Utd considered before keeping Erik ten HagERIK TEN HAG appears to be safe as Man Utd manager, but the Dutchman edged dangerously close to the sack.Here are nine managers Red Devils chiefs are reported to have considered for the job and what allegedly happened with each.Gareth SouthgateEnjoys plenty of support among Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos chiefs but made clear he wouldn’t talk to any clubs until after Euro 2024. There is yet to be any suggestion that contact was made with the England boss.Kieran McKennaTalks were opened with McKenna’s representatives before the FA Cup final, but the former Man Utd coach opted to sign a new deal with Ipswich after Ten Hag’s Wembley win.Roberto De ZerbiAllegedly sounded out before the FA Cup final with salary expectations discussed. But Ineos chiefs concluded ex-Brighton boss was not the right fit for the project.Thomas FrankBrentford boss met Man Utd representatives the day before the FA Cup final. The Dane also dined with Ratcliffe, Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard at the launch of a new Ineos car in February.Marco SilvaFulham boss reportedly met Man Utd representatives face-to-face two days before the FA Cup final, around the same time as Ten Hag was conducting his press conference.Mauricio PochettinoFell out of Man Utd’s thinking in the first week of June, despite being a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson.Thomas TuchelMade a very strong impression and came across well during a Monaco meeting. Personal terms were discussed before the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss decided to step back from the process.Ruben AmorimSporting boss was discussed by the Man Utd hierarchy but did not make the final reckoning.Roberto MartinezPortugal manager was considered in the early stages. More

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      Roy Keane was about to knock the c**p out of me at Man Utd training… I was only 17, but football gods spared me

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      GIUSEPPE ROSSI almost faced the wrath of Roy Keane during a Manchester United training session – but the football gods spared him. Rossi came up through the United ranks as a teenager before spending three years from 2004-2007 signed to the first team. Giuseppe Rossi came through Man Utd’s academyCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdRoy Keane was Rossi’s captain with the Red DevilsCredit: PA:Press AssociationDuring that period, Keane was the Old Trafford captain under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. And Rossi only found out years later that he came within a whisker of getting on the wrong side of the Irish hardman. Rossi said at the launch of Ladbrokes’ ‘Gaffer of all Accas’: “I remember somebody telling me about something he wrote in his book; he talks about this 17-year-old kid who he’s training with one day. “Roy yells at this kid, and this kid turns around and gives him the meanest look ever, as if you say ‘go f*** yourself’. READ MORE IN football”So Roy says in his book that he was about to go and knock the living crap out of this kid, but he calmed himself, and said to himself, ‘Do you know what? I respect this kid.’ “And it turned out to be Giuseppe Rossi; it turned out to be me!”I never knew that I did something like that; looking back now I just feel like, on that day, the soccer Gods spared my life, basically! “I’ve seen Roy a couple of times over the years, and I remember he wanted me at Sunderland when he was their coach – I’ve got great memories of him.” Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSRossi made only 14 appearances for United, with four goals before moving on to Villarreal. The striker would have successful stints in Spain and Italy, for the likes of Fiorentina before moving to MLS with Real Salt Lake. Football icons’ strange hobbiesRossi – who was born in New Jersey but raised in Italy – left America for SPAL in Italy before announcing his football retirement in 2023. Keane left United in 2005 after a falling out with manager Fergie – but Rossi has fond memories of his short time under the midfielder. He said: “Roy Keane is a legend. He was our leader. I loved playing with the guy, he was a really cool dude off the field too.Roy yells at this kid, and this kid turns around and gives him the meanest look ever, as if you say ‘go f*** yourself’.Giuseppe Rossi”He was just somebody who always wanted to make sure everything was going in the right direction, and sometimes that would rub off the wrong way. “But I just saw that as somebody who cared a lot, and I’m the same; I’m somebody who cares about their craft, about the character of the team, and making sure that we’re all on the same page and fighting for the same common goal. “That was Roy’s role at Man United, and he did it perfectly, to a tee.”Rossi and Sir Alex Ferguson in 2006Credit: Getty – ContributorRossi announced his football retirement in 2023Credit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      I’m mum of an Arsenal star – I have a side hustle to help parents of Premier League footballers

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      MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY is making his mark after breaking into the Arsenal first team.But while the 18-year-old midfielder is helping Mikel Arteta in his quest for Premier League and Champions League glory, his mum is helping other parents get to grips with their children making it as professional footballers.Myles Lewis-Skelly’s mum has her own podcastCredit: Instagram @myleslewisskellyShe discusses what life is like as the parent of a footballerCredit: Instagram @no1fan.clubMarcia is a qualified Fifa agent after taking the examLewis-Skelly’s mum Marcia – who went viral with her reaction to her son’s European debut – launched her own podcast to give tips, advice and share her experiences of being a football parent. The Behind The Boots pod has also featured Alex Iwobi’s father Chuka and Georgia Stanway’s mother Joanne as guests.Arsenal academy boss and World Cup winner Per Mertesacker has also been on, too. The Gunners rising star told the club website: “My mum does a podcast to help parents in the industry who don’t have as much support from other clubs, just to help them through the journey.READ MORE ON ARSENAL”We’re the players but our parents have a big role to play as well.”They’re ultimately our number one fans so if they get help on their journey then they can support each other as well.”As well as the podcast, Marcia runs the No1 Fan Club.The online platform includes various resources, a community chat network, workshops and even a book club – all tailored towards providing wisdom, education and support for parents.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSMarcia’s background is in investment banking where she led a technology training department.However, as her son rose through the ranks at Hale End, the attention of agents led to her wanting to find out more about the world of professional football.Watch Thierry Henry awkwardly admit ‘I saw Bukayo Saka at the Arsenal academy and didn’t think he’d be that good’So much so that she studied a master’s degree in football business and even took Fifa’s football agent exam, now representing her child. Speaking to The Athletic, Marcia said: “Football is a business. And, like any business, you have to understand it to be successful. “If we don’t understand it, we’re going to make the wrong decisions. We are expected to stay in our lane and let everyone else manage the limited flow of information for us.”At various points, I felt unprepared to make decisions that could impact Myles’ future.”There was no trusted advice, no network to consult, and no family connections in the football industry.“I wanted to understand the landscape of football.“There are plenty of great agents, but his dad and I needed more time to build those relationships — and to properly understand what agents do. It’s such a big decision that we wanted that extra time.“I took my exam, not really as a driver to represent Myles, but to gain that knowledge for us.”On the No1 Fan Club, she added: “There are over 3.5million kids playing organised football every week, and many of them want to be professional footballers.”We can give those parents and guardians a glimpse of the academy journey if they take it, and provide them with a range of insights from experts in areas such as getting scouted, nutrition, growth injuries, sleep, the impact of digital devices on performance, the overall wellbeing of our children — and ourselves! It’s a holistic approach.”READ MORE SUN STORIESAs for Lewis-Skelly, he made his first-team debut away at Manchester City last month – a year on from signing his first professional contract at the Emirates. Incredibly, though, the teenager was booked BEFORE taking to the field for Arsenal for the first time. Lewis-Skelly came on against Manchester City for his Arsenal debutCredit: GettyThe youngster came through the Gunners academyCredit: AlamyMarcia was at the Emirates when her son played in the Champions League for the first timeCredit: X/ footballontnt More

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      Premier League footballers banned from driving Elon Musk’s £100,000 Tesla Cybertruck due to little-known safety rules

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      GUTTED Premier League footballers are being thwarted in their attempts to buy Elon Musk’s £100,000 Tesla Cybertruck by UK road safety laws.The stunning stainless steel car has become a favourite of US celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga.Gutted Premer League footballers are unable to get their hands on Tesla’s CybertruckUK road regulations state the Tesla Cybertruck doesn’t comply with pedestrian safety guidelinesElon Musk’s Cybertruck is also too big for European roadsAnd now as many as 15 Prem stars have asked leading car dealership Premier Sports Solutions to see if they can get their hands on one.However, many frustrated footballers have been left disappointed to find out they don’t meet UK safety standards.UK regulations include strict demands on pedestrian safety.These include requirements for crumple zones, a limit on front-end extension beyond the front axle, and prohibitions on sharp, angular designs or protruding parts that could injure pedestrians.Read more football newsUnfortunately for potential customers in Britain, the design of the Tesla Cybertruck features a protruding flat front, as well as various sharp angles, meaning it fails to meet the criteria.Another stumbling block is the Cybertruck’s gargantuan size.In the US, where driving safety standards are more relaxed, it is classified as a light-duty truck.But in the UK and Europe, regulations are a lot stricter.Most read in FootballReports claim that the Cybertruck weighs between 3,629 kg to 4,536 kg. ‘Chaos engineer’ with 12m followers reveals ‘dangerous’ CyberTruck problem despite Tesla’s ‘amazing job with tech’A Category C1 driving licence is required for vehicles with a maximum gross weight of 3,500 kg.With the lightest model above that threshold, it would be an unlikely UK drivers would get a C1 licence to drive a Cybertruck.Richard Clark, founder and CEO of Premier Sports Solutions, told SunSport: “I’d love to be able to sell Cybertrucks, and they’re very desirable, but I can’t.”We’ve had between 10-15 Premier League players who have asked about them.”However, you are not allowed to have them on our UK roads because they haven’t passed the crash test here. It’s a big no, unfortunately.”If someone wants one, they’ll only be able to look at it on their drive and won’t be able to take it for a spin.”Clark added: “In the US the roads are a lot wider and the cars are much bigger. Take a Cadillac Escalade, for example. The bonnet is twice the size of a Range Rover’s.”We do a lot of American cars, a lot of Escalades. A lot of footballers who come over from different countries still want left-hand drive motors, which we import over.Richard Clark is the go-to car salesman for the Premier League eliteJustin Bieber is one of many US celebrities who own a Tesla Cybertruck”Cybertrucks, though, are a non-starter over here.”In America, Cybertrucks have taken off with the NFL’s biggest stars.Some, including New York Giants linebacker Isiah Simmons, have customised their cars with incredible wraps,While ex-Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron’s glows in the dark.And it’s not just sports stars who are smitten with Tesla Cybertrucks.Music stars including Justin Bieber, Beyonce, Katy Perry, Pharrell Williams and Lady Gaga are all said to have one in their garage.Serena Williams was also spotted with her husband Alexis Ohanian behind the wheel of a flashy Tesla Cybertruck leaving a party in Miami.Back in August, Vladimir Putin’s attack dog Ramzan Kadyrov flaunted a new Tesla Cybertruck which he claims to have received from Elon Musk.The Chechen warlord modified his, attaching a massive machine gun to the back and pledged to send it to the frontline in Ukraine.TESLA CYBERTRUCK SPECThe Tesla cybertruck has become the must-have mode of transport for A-listers and sports stars. The likes of Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga and Pharrell Williams all ordered one when given the chance. But how does the electric motor stand up?Height: 70.5 inchesWidth: 95 inchesLength: 224 inchesWeight: 3,104kgTowing capacity: 4,990kgEst. range: 340 miles0-60 mph: 2.6 secondsTop speed: 130 mphSeating: Five adultsDisplays: 18.5” Center Touchscreen, 9.4” Rear TouchscreenPrice: Start at $82,000Wheels: 20 inchNew York Giants star Isaiah Simmons shows off his custom designed CybertruckChechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov shows off his machine gun adapted CybertruckCybertruck creator Musk soon denied the claims.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe wrote on X: “Are you seriously so r******* that you think I donated a Cybertruck to a Russian general?”Yet another example of how much the legacy media lies.” More

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      Who is Lassana Diarra? Ex-Chelsea, Arsenal and Real Madrid star dubbed ‘new Makelele’ & at centre of new transfer ruling

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      LASSANA DIARRA is the man at the centre of what could be a REVOLUTION in how football runs and operates.The retired France international, 39, is a blast from the past for many football fans but hit the headlines after a landmark court ruling over transfers.Lassana Diarra played three seasons at ChelseaCredit: AP:Associated PressWhat happened with Lassana Diarra’s court case?Diarra sued Fifa after it upheld a £16MILLION that was imposed by his former club, Lokomotiv Moscow, following his sacking for allegedly boycotting training over a pay dispute in 2014.Diarra’s case was heard by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg, the highest court in Europe.In a landmark decision, Diarra WON the case after his legal team argued that Fifa had broken European labour laws by refusing to issue the International Transfer Certificate which would have allowed him to join another club and exercise his rights as a professional. The ECJ ruling has now declared current regulations are in breach of EU Law on the free of movement of people.Inside Lassana Diarra’s legal case with FifaLassana Diarra’s case with Fifa dates back to 2014 when he was playing for Lokomotiv Moscow.The former Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder was in a dispute with Lokomotiv over wages – with the Russian side ultimately terminating his contract.The case was referred to Fifa’s Dispute and Resolution Chamber (DRC) which ruled against Diarra, fining him £16MILLION.During this time, Diarra received a new contract offer from Belgian side Charleroi.But Charleroi wanted clarification from Fifa that they would not be liable to pay any of the money owed to Lokomotiv.Fifa could not make that guarantee and the move never happened.As a result, Diarra brought new legal action against Fifa and the Belgian league claiming a loss of earnings.That started the long process that has led to this week’s groundbreaking judgment.Diarra’s lawyer was Jean Louis Dupont, the man who had previously transformed the sport in the mid-1990s by successfully working for the introduction of the Bosman ruling, which allowed players to move for free once their contract was up.The Court ruled: “The rules in question are such as to impede the free movement of professional footballers wishing to develop their activity by going to work for a new club.“Those rules impose considerable legal risks, unforeseeable and potentially very high financial risks as well as major sporting risks on those players and clubs wishing to employ them which, taken together, are such as to impede international transfers of those players.”What are the ramifications of the ruling?Potential ramifications could be huge depending on the full judgement, which will be published later today.Most read in FootballIf the Court has made a strong ruling, it could effectively declare the entire current system is in breach of EU Law.That would see Fifa losing its current authority over the transfer system and allow players the right to break their contracts and change clubs with impunity.In turn, that would end the current “trickle down” system where many smaller clubs are reliant on transfer income.Such an outcome would lead to big stars being able to hawk their services for free but for huge wages, allowing the wealthiest clubs – including the bulk of the Premier League – the opportunity to hoover up the best talent.How football changed after Bosman rulingTHE Bosman Ruling transformed football transfers in 1995.Before the Bosman Ruling, clubs could demand a transfer fee for a player even after their contract had expired.But Belgian footballer Jean-Marc Bosman went to the European Court of Justice and the judge ruled in his favour.And that meant that when a player’s contract expired, they could move freely to another club within the EU without a transfer fee.The landmark court case gave players far more power in the final year of their deals – with clubs either needing to extend them or lose them for nothing at the end of the season.Footballers can now also sign pre-contract agreements with new clubs from January when their deals run out to move on a free transfer.The Bosman Ruling essentially removed the restrictions on EU football players with expired contracts, giving them the same rights as free agents and increasing the freedom of movement.And even with the UK leaving the EU, the Bosman Ruling still applies for Premier League clubs.Who is Lassana Diarra?Lassana, known as ‘Lass’ during his career, was born on March 10, 1985, in Paris to Malian parents.His first club was Paris FC but he bounced around academies, playing for Nantes, Le Mans and Red Star 93 before joining Le Havre aged 18 in 2003.Lassana Diarra became a key player at Real Madrid, winning two trophiesCredit: Action Images – ReutersDiarra had an outstanding first season in senior football, impressing in Ligue 1 and breaking into the Francer Under-21 team.He was then spotted by Chelsea, with chief scout Gwyn Williams dubbing him the new [Claude] Makelele – the Blues spent £1million to secure his signature.Diarra spent three seasons at Stamford Bridge and was named the 2005-06 Young Player of the Year – despite playing just seven matches. He played 31 games in all and was part of the side that won the League Cup and FA Cup in 2007, before moving to Arsenal.Diarra spent just one season in north London, playing only 13 matches, before a move to Portsmouth where he played 32 matches in two seasons, impressing despite struggling with injuries.Diarra then completed a shock move to Real Madrid for around £19m and became one of their key players over the next four seasons, playing 117 games between 2008 and 2012, as well as winning the Copa del Rey in 2011 and La Liga in 2012.Lassana Diarra’s career statsLassana Diarra played for some of the top clubs in Europe as an all-action defensive midfielder.He started at Le Havre before earning his big break with a £4million move to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2005.Diarra was largely a rotation option but won an FA Cup and League Cup double with the Blues before a brief move across London to join Arsenal.But it was at Portsmouth where Diarra really made his name, winning a historic FA Cup and earning a massive £19m move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.Diarra played 117 times in five seasons for Los Blancos, winning one LaLiga title, again under Mourinho, and the Copa Del Rey.Then came Diarra’s fateful move to Russia, first Anzhi Makhachkala and then Lokomotiv Moscow, before he saw out his playing career in his native France with Marseille and then PSG, where he won one Liga 1 crown.Le Havre (2003–2005)Chelsea (2005–2007)Portsmouth (2008–2009)Real Madrid (2009–2012)Anzhi Makhachkala (2012–2013)Lokomotiv Moscow (2013–2015)Marseille (2015–2017)Al Jazira (2017–2018)Paris Saint-Germain (2018–2019)A move to Anzhi Makhachkala followed before a move to Lokomotiv Moscow – which is where he fell foul of coach Leonid Kuchuk.Diarra was allegedly asked to take a pay cut and then is said to have refused to turn up to training – Diarra was eventually sacked and later ordered to pay a huge fine and missed a season of football.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe then had spells at Marseille and Al Jazira before finishing his career with Paris Saint-Germain, where helped Unai Emery win the treble in 2017-18.An international for France, Diarra won 34 caps and was named in the 2010 World Cup squad and the Euro 2016 squad. However, he did not play any tournament football due to a blood disorder in 2010 and injury in 2016. More

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      Harry Kane blasted: Prem legend slams striker and says he ‘wasn’t brought in to score hat-trick against Darmstadt’

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      HARRY KANE has been criticised in the German media after enduring a difficult week.The former Tottenham striker, 31, was in action as Bayern Munich fell to a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the Champions League.Harry Kane was unable to score as Bayern Munich lost 1-0 at Aston VillaCredit: RexHe also featured as Bayern drew 1-1 with Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen last weekend.Kane has netted ten times in eight appearances in all competitions so far this season, while also laying on five assists.After going scoreless in the crunch matches against Villa and Leverkusen, however, the England captain has received some scrutiny.In his column for Sky Germany, former Premier League midfielder Dietmar Hamann questioned whether Kane has been a good signing for his former side Bayern.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHamann, who also played for Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle, wrote: “Harry Kane had a personally sobering evening in Birmingham – in addition to the defeat.”I said after the European Championship in the summer that he still has to prove that he is worth the 100 million – even though he scored over 30 goals last year.”Hamann then appeared to suggest that Kane, who was denied by a last-gasp Emi Martinez save at Villa Park, only scores against weaker opposition.The forward bagged four times against Dinamo Zagreb last month, in addition to netting a treble vs Holstein Kiel.Most read in BundesligaBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHamann continued: “He wasn’t brought in to score a hat-trick against Darmstadt.Dietmar Hamann has questioned Kane’s big-game recordCredit: Getty”He was brought in to score against Leverkusen and Aston Villa and to score in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.Watch Harry Kane star in awkward advert as he turns hand to acting “He hasn’t done that yet. I remain sceptical about the star striker.”Kane is both Tottenham and England’s all-time leading goalscorer.He scored 280 goals in 435 appearances for Spurs before leaving in the summer of 2023, and has so far plundered 68 in 100 England caps.His scoring record has remained incredible since signing for Bayern, averaging more than a goal a game with 54 in 53 appearances.But Kane’s side failed to win the Bundesliga or DFB Pokal last season, and fell narrowly in the Champions League semi-finals to eventual winners Real Madrid.The forward did score in the tie against the Spanish giants, before having to go off late on in the second-half with a back injury that would continue to bother him during Euro 2024.He also scored as Bayern eliminated Arsenal in the quarter-finals.Despite criticism faced in Germany, an incredible stat shows that Kane DOES score against the big teams.Within the last year, Kane has the most goal involvements across Europe’s five major leagues.He has found the back of the net 38 times and turned provider on 11 occasions.On him allegedly not showing up for the big games, Kane scored eight goals in 12 Champions League matches last season, with four coming in the knockout stages.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd in the Bundesliga, he scored eight times against last term’s top four finishers Leverkusen, Stuttgart and RB Leipzig.Kane and Co return to action this Sunday, when they travel to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. More

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      ‘It’s our home’ – Newcastle boss Eddie Howe opens up on stadium plans and admits moving would be ‘a betrayal’

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      EDDIE HOWE admits it would “feel a bit of betrayal” to leave St. James’ Park but says a decision on Newcastle’s new stadium must not be driven by romance.Plans have already been drawn up for a £1bn-plus rebuild of their current ground as well as for a new stadium in a location away from the city centre.Newcastle are exploring options to redevelop or leave St. James’ ParkCredit: GettyToon boss Eddie Howe has had his say on what he would like to happenCredit: PAChiefs and architects are still investigating which option would be best long-term and supporters will have to wait until next year to find out the decision.The stadium topic has left the Toon Army torn – but staying at their current “unique” home is the head coach’s preference if he’s thinking with his heart alone.Ahead of the trip to Everton, which Howe confirmed Alexander Isak (broken toe) will miss but goalie Nick Pope and Kieran Trippier will be fit for, he said: “I think my natural instinct was always to stay at St. James’ Park. It’s an incredible place to play football.“It’s our home, so to think about moving somewhere else feels a little bit of a betrayal to somewhere that has served us so well.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL“But we are well aware that as a football club we need to increase our revenue so people with more brain cells will make the decision for the benefit of the long term future of the football club and that’s always the most important thing so I could be swayed but just my natural instinct is to want to stay.“It’s a massive decision because it will affect the next how many years of the football club.“It’s a decision where you won’t be able to please everybody. There will be different opinions.“It’s truly only the people assessing the pros and cons that can really make the decision.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSOne possible option for the club could be to build on Leazes Park, which is next to St. James’, meaning that the special location Howe loves would remain.He continued: “The positioning where it is in the city is totally unique.Kieran Trippier goes viral during Newcastle’s clash at Bournemouth after painful moment is caught on Sky Sports cameras“I’d hate to see the stadium move from its current position because it dominates the eyeline of the whole city and you can see it from miles around. That’s really inspiring.“Wherever you are in Newcastle, you get a glimpse and, personally, I always think to the next game where we are going to be there.“It’s not necessarily the biggest, there’s just something about the look of the stadium and the feel of it. When you’re there it’s just a great place to play football.“When you’re in it, I don’t know how it creates it, but the atmosphere, the look of the stadium, is a beautiful thing. I love being there, I love experiencing games there and I love winning there. That’s the best bit.”However, with PSR rules stunting their progress under the club’s Saudi owners, Howe knows a potential new super stadium could help them reach the summit in the long term.He added: “I think you have to also look at what you could gain, you can’t just look at what you’re going to lose.READ MORE SUN STORIES“What you could gain could be equally as special and the club has to move forward. It can’t be stuck in the past or be romantic to a degree.“There’s finances to think of and that will affect the long-term success of the club so that is why it’s not a clearcut decision.” More

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      Lee Carsley suggests Cole Palmer could play LEFT-BACK for England as fans blast ‘What in the Fifa career mode is this?’

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      ENGLAND interim boss Lee Carsley has suggested that Cole Palmer could play at left-back for the Three Lions.Carsley, 50, yesterday named his squad for upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and Finand.Lee Carsley named his latest England squad yesterdayCredit: ReutersCole Palmer has been in blistering form for ChelseaCredit: AlamyUpon the announcement, Carsley was quizzed over the squad’s lack of left-back options.The Three Lions are without an out-and-out left-back – with Luke Shaw still injured.Ben Chilwell, who did not go to Euro 2024, was also left out having played just 45 minutes for Chelsea under Enzo Maresca this season.Rico Lewis and Levi Colwill have both been included, having acted as makeshift left-backs in recent England games.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLCarsley, however, surprisingly identified Palmer as a further potential option in the problem position – as well as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Bukayo Saka.He said: “[Alexander-Arnold] can play there. Bukayo can play there, Cole can play there, so there’s quite a few.”Obviously you want to get the best out of them in their most natural positions.”We know if we play a right-footed player there, at left-back, that we’re going to have to build differently and be creative in the way we set up.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”I think if you’re asking a right-footed player to play high and wide and playing too high and wide, it can sometimes be a little bit predictable.”It’s important that we aren’t predictable, that we’ve got different ways of attacking.Dominic Solanke handed first England call-up in seven years as Lee Carsley leaves Jarrod Bowen and Harry Maguire out “I think with the players we’ve got we can also swap the players over the wide players so they are on their natural sides just to give the opposition something different to think about.”Palmer has enjoyed a blistering start to the Premier League season.Primarily from his favoured No10 position, the former Manchester City starlet has scored six goals and laid on four assists in six outings so far this term.In his most recent match, Palmer produced a stunning four-goal performance as Chelsea beat Brighton 4-2 at Stamford Bridge.Despite also enjoying a productive campaign last time out, Palmer did not start a single game at Euro 2024.He equalised in the final against Spain, having replaced Kobbie Mainoo in the 70th minute as the Three Lions chased the contest.As per Transfermarkt, Palmer has never played at left-back in his entire club career, even dating back to Under-18 level at City.’WHY NOT JUST PICK A LEFT-BACK?’Following Carsley’s comments, fans had plenty to say.One wrote on social media: “What in the FIFA career mode is this?…”While a second asked: “Why not just pick a left back?”A third fumed: “This would make me extremely angry and i’m no Chelsea fan. Why would you waste a talent like that at left back?”READ MORE SUN STORIESAnother added: “You build the team around your best player. Thought Lee Carsley was the man for the job, but after hearing that I’m extremely uncertain.”England host Greece at Wembley next Thursday, before a trip to Helsinki to face Finland the following Sunday. More