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      Norwich loan manager Neil Adams is secret to more than £100m of transfers including James Maddison and Ben Godfrey

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      OVER £100million worth of talent has passed through Norwich’s increasingly successful loan system – including Leicester’s James Maddison and Ben Godfrey of Everton.
      So it is no surprise that clubs like the Canaries, who allow a large number of younger players go elsewhere for first-team action, now employ a loan player manager.

      Neil Adams took charge of the Norwich first-team in 2014 and is now loan managerCredit: Action Images – Reuters

      James Maddison was a huge success at Carrow Road after signing from CoventryCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      It is a relatively new phenomenon in English football – but absolutely crucial. 
      Norwich currently have 19 players on loan and the man in charge of the system is former first-team boss Neil Adams, who took charge of the club both in the Premier League and the Championship.
      Midfielder Maddison, defender Ben Godfrey and twins Josh and Jacob Murphy all made their mark at Carrow Road before being sold for big money.
      Along with current first-team midfielder and England under-21s international Todd Cantwell, they all had successful loan moves under the watchful eye of Adams.

      Norwich, who look certain to be returning to the Premier League next season, appointed Adams in 2015, seven months after he stepped down as first team manager when the club were seventh in the Championship.
      Adams, 55, today gives a fascinating insight to the job which includes loan clauses with clubs – and strict orders for the players.
      A former winger with Norwich, Oldham and Everton, Adams currently has players out on loan at clubs from Mechelen and Waasland-Beveren in Belgium, to Telstar in Holland, Queen of the South, Charlton, Blackburn and King’s Lynn.
      He said:  “The club decided that if you send players out on loan – particularly those that you want to develop and players you want to give experience to – you had to do it in a detailed and thorough way.

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      More clubs are using loan managers. We are looking to develop our players and increase their value. We don’t hide away from that.
      Neil Adams

      “We are sending out elite category 1 players. Some need developing at a club. We have to do it properly, it has to be researched and planned and most importantly of all, thoroughly monitored.
      “You need success stories like Jacob Murphy, Josh Murphy, James Maddison and Ben Godfrey to back it up. If you had gone on loan six years or ago, it might have meant you were finished at the club. Now, when we tell a young player they are ready for a loan it is a pat on the back.
      “More and more clubs are using loan managers. We are looking to develop our players and increase their value. We don’t hide away from that.
      “In normal circumstances, I watch about 12 games a month. Until March 2020, I would spend a lot of time going to Holland and Belgium.
      “Also, we will watch the players’ games on either live links or the videos sent to us from the club. It is a condition of our loan contract that a club must send us footage of every game our player plays within two days.
      “I also insist players call me within a couple of hours after every game. It is a five minute catch-up.
      “I ask: ‘How did the game go? How did you feel you played? Did the manager or coach say anything? Are you fit?’ Then I will watch the game.
      “If they have lost 5-0, I appreciate they will probably not want to talk to me on the team coach so they sent me a text and we catch up the next morning. We also have January release clauses in case it is not working out.”

      Ben Godfrey (right) earned a pretty penny when leaving Norwich last summerCredit: PA:Press Association

      Todd Cantwell (right) enjoyed a loan stint before breaking into the first-teamCredit: Alamy Live News
      Norwich’s loan success stories include Maddison who was signed from Coventry for £2m and loaned back to the club in 2016 before being sent up to Aberdeen for five months. He was sold to Leicester for £22m.
      Norwich signed Ben Godfrey from York for an initial £100,000 and was sent to Shrewsbury on loan. The defender has done well since moving to Everton for £25m.
      The Murphy twins had numerous loan spells before becoming regulars in the Norwich first-team. Jacob was sold to Newcastle for £12m and brother Josh earned a Premier League move to Cardiff in a £11m transfer.
      Adams, who led Norwich to a shock win over Chelsea in the 2013 FA Youth Cup final, added: “The proof is in the pudding. Todd is a class example.
      “I am sure he won’t mind me sharing this information but Todd had never sort of left Norfolk and had been at the academy since he was eight. He was obviously an excellent player but needed toughening up a bit and needed senior football.
      “Had he gone to League One or League two in England he might have got beaten up and we may have lost the fantastic ability he has got so we loaned him to Fortuna Sittard in the Dutch second division.

      “Todd was able to develop his talent, got out of his Norfolk comfort zone and he ended up helping get the club promoted. Now, he is a regular for our first-team.”
      Canaries boss Daniel Farke and sporting director Stuart Webber decide which players are sent on loan.
      Adams added: “We are recognised around the country as doing this quite well. The proof is when you have clubs asking to come to Colney to see how we do it. We are happy to welcome them.” 
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Yannick Bolasie latest star to receive sick online racist abuse as Boro demand that ‘it cannot be allowed to continue’

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      MIDDLESBROUGH have condemned the ‘vile and unacceptable’ racist abuse directed at Yannick Bolasie and demanded that ‘it cannot be allowed to continue’.
      The on-loan Everton winger shared a screenshot of a disgusting message he received on Instagram on Wednesday night.

      Yannick Bolasie has become the latest footy star to be subjected to vile racist abuse on social mediaCredit: Rex Features

      The 31-year-old captioned it with: “Something seriously wrong with people…Keyboard warriors. Still yet to meet a person who had this energy when they saw me.”
      It comes just weeks after English football united to demand social media giants stop talking and start acting to stop online abuse.
      In a direct and no punches pulled message to Twitter chief Jack Dorsey and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, representatives of all areas of the game came together in an open letter to tell the companies that ‘basic human decency’ required intervention.
      The damning letter was signed by FA chief Mark Bullingham, Premier League boss Richard Masters, Gordon Taylor, EFL chief exec Trevor Birch, womens’ game leader Kelly Simmons, the LMA’s Richard Bevan, Mike Riley and Sanjay Bhandari of Kick It Out.

      Now Middlesbrough have re-emphasised that message and called for action.
      A statement from the Championship play-off hopefuls said: “The racial abuse directed to Yannick Bolasie on social media is vile and unacceptable, and demonstrates exactly why more has to be done to identify the perpetrators of such comments and to bring them to justice.
      “The matter has been reported to the relevant authorities by both Yannick and ourselves and he has our full support.
      “It is of great concern to the club that we are witnessing behaviour of this type and it cannot be allowed to continue.

      Boro have demanded that the sick online abuse cannot continue to be allowedCredit: Rex Features

      “As our players said when responding to the debate on taking the knee we now need to see demonstrable actions from those who have the power to implement them rather than further gestures. Actions must speak louder than words.
      “We repeat that we will not tolerate abuse of any form and any individuals who are identified to us will not only face the prospect of criminal charges but will also be banned from the Riverside Stadium.
      “The MFC family stands together as one to unite against all forms of discrimination.”
      It follows a worrying growing number of disgusting racial abuse incidents over the past few months.
      Manchester United stars Anthony Martial and Axel Tuanzebe were both on the receiving end of sick messages.
      While Reece James, Romaine Sawyers and Lauren James were subjected to vile racist abuse.

      Patrick Van Aanholt was the latest Prem player to be racially abusedCredit: Reuters
      Crystal Palace’s Patrick Van Aanholt then became the latest Prem player to be racially abused on social media last week.
      The disgusting, X-rated missive Van Aanholt was sent branded him a ‘monkey’.
      And it ranted at the defender for failing to score, referencing Palace’s odds for netting the first goal in their goalless draw with Manchester United.
      It continued an alarming trend of footballers being subjected to hate in relation to placed bets failing to come off.
      And it is not only players who have come under attack in the disgusting manner.
      Referee Mike Dean requested to be pulled from matches after he received online death threats posted to his family.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      EFL chief Rick Parry warns Uefa new Champions League format could decimate English football

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      EFL chairman Rick Parry has warned Uefa its Champions League expansion plans risk decimating the fabric of English football.
      European chiefs are set to confirm the new plans to come into effect from 2024 after getting the backing of Europe’s biggest clubs.

      Rick Parry has warned Uefa of the threat faced by smaller clubsCredit: PA:Press Association

      But Parry, who was supported by Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish, suggested the planned extra 100 Champions League games per season would destroy the League Cup and be potentially fatal for some of English football’s most historic clubs.
      Parry told the European League’s Club Advisory Platform virtual meeting: “The 72 clubs in the EFL are at the heart of their communities
      “The League Cup has been in existence for 60 years and is owned and managed by the EFL.
      “One of the conditions on the formation of the Premier League was that all clubs would play in it.

      “But Uefa proposal poses a major threat to the League Cup, especially with regard to the teams in the Champions League – and it will have a massive effect on EFL revenues
      “We estimate we could lose one third of the revenues we distribute to our clubs – which could pose a very real threat to the existence of those clubs.”
      Parry was echoed by Selhurst chief Parish, who added: “This would have a devastating effect on domestic competitions in England.
      “The League Cup is the largest financial contributor to the EFL and this will be the end of that Cup in its entirety or reduce it to a youth competition.”

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      Clubs like us feel so remote from the decision-making and there is a huge conflict of interest.
      Steve ParishCrystal Palace chairman

      Uefa have reached agreement with Europe’s biggest clubs that there will be no weekend games in its club competitions, leaving the field clear for domestic leagues.
      The deal effectively kills off the planned European Super League, despite efforts led by Real Madrid to breathe life into the dying embers of the breakaway plan.
      But Prem clubs want to thwart the proposal to play two of the 10 games in the initial league phase of the 36-team Champions League “Swiss model” competition in January.
      Uefa will formally announce the new format next month but Parish also blasted Nyon chiefs and the influential European Club Association for ignoring the voices of those left out of the elite group.
      He said: “Clubs like us feel so remote from the decision-making and there is a huge conflict of interest, with Uefa and the ECA now choosing to make changes for the long term in the middle of a pandemic.
      “We are expected to accept them because they’re not as bad as they could have been.
      “But there will be a huge impact on us and the creep is never ending.“
      Parish and Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow also condemned the proposal, backed by the Prem’s ‘Big Six’, for a backdoor safety net to be available for two clubs to qualify for the Champions League through their Uefa coefficient score.

      Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin is set to green light Champions League reformsCredit: REUTERS

      Parry fears for the future of the League Cup if the changes occurCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The Palace chief said: “If we took it on last season, Leicester were fifth but the two clubs below them [Spurs and Arsenal] would have qualified for the Champions League based on an arbitrary period of success in Europe.”
      Purslow added: “It affects domestic competitions if you boost teams from the Europa League to the Champions League based on what they did in the past.
      “That would give clubs in the Premier League a £45m advantage over a team that may have finished ahead of them. Most people would see that as unfair and not right.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      FA launch inquiry into Neil Warnock’s blast at officials after Middlesbrough’s defeat at Swansea

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      THE FA have launched an investigation into Neil Warnock’s explosive post-match blast at officials.
      Middlesbrough manager Warnock slammed referee Gavin Ward for a number of decisions in Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Swansea.

      Neil Warnock faces an FA probe for his comments over ref Gavin WardCredit: Rex Features

      Middlesbrough left-back Marc Bola reacts to having his goal disallowedCredit: Alamy Live News

      Warnock also accused Swansea of benefiting from  decisions because manager Steve Cooper’s dad Keith was a former top-flight official.
      The FA are aware of Warnock’s comments and will seek his observations before deciding whether to issue a charge.
      Warnock’s attack on Ward came after he disallowed Marc Bola’s strike,  with Yannick Bolasie adjudged to have fouled Jay Fulton in the build-up.
      After Boro levelled, Ward then awarded the Welsh side a penalty deep in injury-time for a George Saville foul on Jake Bidwell, which Andre Ayew converted from the spot.

      Warnock, 72, said: “They are all heroes, they all want the celebrity status.
      “It’s wrong. My lads have been let down by a team of officials who weren’t good enough today. It’s not right.”
      Warnock added: “I don’t know if it’s Cooper’s dad whose influencing this?
      “He must have all the numbers. But, joking apart, they can’t keep having decisions like that.”

      It comes just days after Warnock agreed to stay in charge at Boro for at least another year.
      STAYING AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR
      The only older boss in professional football is Crystal Palace’s Roy Hodgson, 73.
      Having held talks with Boro owner Steve Gibson last Wednesday, Warnock said: “It wasn’t really in doubt.
      “I’ve enjoyed my time here and achieved what I wanted to so far. 
      “Steve is as big a supporter as he’s ever been, and he told me – you’ve not seen anything until you’ve seen a full Riverside.
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      “It’ll be great to have the fans back when we can – that’s what we all want and it can’t come quick enough.
      “You can see a light at the end of the tunnel, but let’s be careful until we get there. 
      “I think we can all look forward now – at my age you know you’re not staying on to make up the numbers and I thrive on success, and that’s what I’ll be striving for.”

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      Chelsea ace Luke McCormick wanted by Millwall in summer transfer with 22-year-old impressing at Bristol Rovers

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      CHELSEA midfielder Luke McCormick may have played his way into a move to Millwall.
      McCormick has caught the eye on a loan spell at League One Bristol Rovers and the Lions hope to tie up a deal for him in the summer.

      Chelsea’s Luke McCormick could be set for a move to the Championship in the summerCredit: Rex Features

      The 22-year-old is set to leave Stamford Bridge before going into the last year of his deal.
      That should see a switch across London to join Gary Rowett’s Championship outfit.
      A short spell with Shrewsbury in 2019 saw the midfielder make his debut in senior football.
      McCormick has played 30 games on loan at Rovers this campaign but missed Saturday’s defeat to Hull through suspension.

      Gas boss Joey Barton backed the youngster to bounce back after earning a second yellow against Burton for kicking the ball away.
      He said: “Macca’s obviously very disappointed, but he’s a young player and he’s here on loan to learn lessons, and that will be a lesson he will learn and carry on into his career.
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      “It’s disappointing, but we win together and we lose together. He’ll be superb for us between now and the end of the season and I’m sure he will turn in performances that will go some way to making up for that error.”

      Meanwhile, Millwall are set for another year in the Championship while sat firmly in mid-table with 11 games to go.
      A defeat to Blackburn on the weekend left the capital club 11 points off the play-off places but 14 clear of the drop.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Brighton join Adam Armstrong transfer race as West Ham also fight for £25m Blackburn striker

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      BRIGHTON are set to join the auction for Blackburn striker Adam Armstrong — and give West Ham a run for their money.
      The Seagulls are desperate for a finisher and have been sending top spies to watch the former Newcastle prospect in action recently.

      Brighton are set to join the auction for Blackburn striker Adam ArmstrongCredit: Rex Features

      Hammers are keen on Armstrong but reluctant to pay the asking price of £25million.
      Brighton may go close as he fits the bill — and Albion have struggled for goals this term.
      Armstrong, 24, is a more natural finisher than anyone they have and is also young and English.
      His wages would not be too high for them, either.

      Rovers are slowly becoming resigned to selling him this summer.
      Brighton also have several players they could throw into a swap deal either on a permanent or loan basis.
      Albion’s star wingback Tariq Lamptey, who they signed from Chelsea, also has an uncertain future at the Amex.
      After a stellar 12 months for Graham Potter’s side, the right-back has already been linked with a move away

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      And if he does leave Brighton in the summer, Chelsea will receive a percentage of Brighton’s fee due to a clause in his contract.
      When Lamptey joined the south coast outfit, Brighton agreed an undisclosed sell-on clause with Chelsea.
      Arsenal have since emerged as the front-runners to sign the England youngster.
      The Gunners could well be looking to improve the right side of their defence, which is currently occupied by Hector Bellerin – who is wanted by Paris Saint-Germain.
      But negotiations will be complicated by the fee Chelsea are entitled to, which could mean Brighton drive the price up significantly to ensure it is a financially viable deal for them.

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      Puscas shares a name with a legend but wants to be a hero in his own right by rifling Royals into the Premier League

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      GEORGE PUSCAS shares a surname with one of football’s greatest icons.
      But the Reading striker does not like to draw parallels with the Hungary legend Ferenc Puskas because he is from Romania.

      George Puscas celebrates his goals for Reading and Romania by simulating shooting a rifle

      Hungary legend Ferenc Puskas was one of the greatest footballers of all time

      Yet while he is not proud to be a namesake of a man seen as a God by bitter rivals in a neighbouring country, he loves what the names means.
      Puscas, back in his native land, means “Rifleman.”
      He said: “To be honest, I am Romanian and have nothing to do with his name. I’ll do it my way. I’ll be the Romanian Puscas.
      “The name back home in Romania means rifleman.”

      The 24-year-old loves celebrating his goals by simulating firing a rifle and he was doing just that on Tuesday as he scored on his first start against Blackburn after a three-month lay-off with a hernia injury.
      And with Brentford losing four out of their last six games, the Royals are only six points behind the second automatic promotion spot.
      Puscas – who needed an operation – told SunSport: “It’s been a few tough months. I was doing all the treatments but it wasn’t getting better.
      “I had to do the surgery but now I’m feeling fit and good.

      “We’re looking of course towards second and achieving great things.
      “But we don’t look at the table every day so if we simply take it step by step we’ll see where it takes us.”

      Puscas would love to play in the Premier League.
      Had history taken a different course, he might have been there already.
      For aged just 16 Arsenal brought him over to London for a one-week trial after scouts flew to Romania to watch him playing for Bihor Oradea.
      He said: “Arsenal had been following me since I was just 15 playing for my local team.
      “They called and invited me to London. I trained with them and even did a session with Arsene Wenger coaching. I did well.
      “Arsenal said they would wait a year before signing me for their academy so I went home and in that time Inter Milan offered me a contract without trials.
      “At that age, you just see them both as big clubs and Inter wanted me at that moment so I went there.”
      Puscas got his Serie A breakthrough at the San Siro under the management of former Manchester City Premier League-winning coach Roberto Macini.

      Arsenal had been following me since I was just 15 playing for my local team. They called and invited me to London. I trained with them and even did a session with Arsene Wenger coaching. I did well.
      George Puscas

      He said: “Making my debut under him was my favourite moment.
      “Mancini was a great coach. He was a striker and used to stay with me after training to teach me a lot of things.
      “It was my first experience moving to another country. I met all the big footballers who were there and got a lot of help from people like Javier Zanetti, Rodrigo Palacio and Esteban Cambiasso.”
      It is no wonder with the superstars at Mancini’s disposal that Pucas only made seven appearances for Inter and ended up being loaned out to Bari, Benevento and Novara.
      He was eventually sold to Serie B Palermo in 2018 and enjoyed a great season football-wise, making 33 outings and scoring nine goals.
      But the club were first docked 20 points for financial irregularities before the authorities relegated them two divisions to Serie D.

      George Puscas celebrates his winner against Blackburn with the creator Lucas Joao
      Inter exercised their buy-back option before promptly selling him to Reading on a five-year deal in August 2019.
      Puscas quickly established himself as a fans’ favourite at the Madejski Stadium for his hard-working performances.
      And now pairing up with 20-goal Luas Joao up front, the Royals certainly have the firepower to cause anyone in the Championship a serious threat.
      He said: “I enjoy playing with Lucas. We find each other well on the pitch. He deserves his 20 goals.
      “But all the team are good. It is because of everyone that we as strikers get our chances.”
      Puscas is one of the characters in the Reading dressing room. He even broke into the club’s training ground during the first lockdown – just so he could train on his own.
      Boss Veljko Paunovic revealed how the Romanian is always entertaining the players in their WhatsApp group by posting funny messages and videos.
      Puscas laughed: “I like to keep the atmosphere nice because I know there’s a lot of pressure here.
      “All the things I text and videos is to put a smile on everyone’s face.
      “At the end of the day, we do our best. We might lose one game but must keep going and think about the next one.
      “I’m always close to the players because we believe we can achieve big things.” More

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      Ex-Man Utd star Ashley Young hoping to win Serie A title with Inter Milan ‘before sealing Watford free transfer’

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      INTER MILAN star Ashley Young reportedly has his heart set on an emotional return to Watford in the summer.
      The 35-year-old – who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season – came through the ranks at Vicarage Road before joining Aston Villa in 2007.

      Ashley Young reportedly wants to join Watford when his contract with Inter Milan expires in the summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But according to the Mirror, the ex-Manchester United ace is keen on returning to Hertfordshire where his family home is.
      They state that he is desperate to help Inter win a first Serie A title since 2010 with Antonio Conte’s side three points clear at the top of the table.
      And he would then seek a dream return to Watford – whether the club are plying their trade in the Premier League or Championship.
      Watford are currently third in the Championship table – ten points behind leaders Norwich and only behind Brentford on goal difference.

      Young featured in 110 games for the Hornets between 2003-2007, scoring 22 goals including 15 strikes in the 2005-06 season.
      The versatile winger – who can also play as a full-back – has made no secret of his desire to retire at his former stomping ground.
      Speaking on Watford’s ‘Golden Tales’ podcast in October, he said: “If I could go back and play there [at Watford] again, I would walk from Italy right now.
      “Because it’s what I know, it’s where I come from and it’s what allowed me to be who I am and get where I am.

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      “For me, at my age now, and you can ask my family, you can ask my agent, if I had the opportunity to go back and finish my career at Watford, I would jump at the chance.”
      Before adding: “I know what started my career. It was Watford.
      “I always say and I will always say it’s my home.”

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