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      EFL wage cap threatens to turn yo-yo clubs into boomerangs – the repercussions for promotion and relegation are immense

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      IT IS certainly no accident that Norwich, Bournemouth and Watford fill the three top spots in the Championship.
      It is mainly down to the quality of the players they managed to hang on to after all three were relegated from the Premier League last season.

      It’s no surprise Norwich are top of the ChampionshipCredit: Rex Features

      Plenty of clubs have squandered their top-flight legacy, from Blackpool to Wigan, Bolton — poor battered old Bolton — to Sunderland, once known as ‘the Bank of England club’.
      Increasingly, though, clubs have yo-yo’d between the top two divisions. Now proposals from the EFL inadvertently threaten to weaponise the yo-yo into a boomerang.
      I can see the day when the same three clubs perennially fly back and forth from the Championship.
      The reason? That Championship clubs are being asked to consider annual total player salaries to be set at £18million-a-season, with a £720,000-a-year limit on each player.

      That includes tax, agents’ fees, signing-on fees and loyalty bonuses.
      This is about £12k-a-week and the repercussions are immense.
      Your team go down and you will need to sell some of your players to survive, but will only be able to replace them with players on £12k-a-week.
      This is a real leveller and leads to massive inequalities in a squad.

      Clubs like Watford could soon be boomeranging to and from the Championship Credit: Rex Features

      Your team goes up and you now have to play in the Premier League with players on £12k-a-week.
      Even after television payments, the financial problems for promoted teams will be huge.
      Imagine Bournemouth (home attendance 11k) with all of their highest-paid players on a weekly maximum of £12k, promoted to a league where the average might well be £60k.
      What kind of contribution can these teams make to the greatest league in the world?
      Even brilliant financial balancing cannot overcome the twin obstacles of rising with a team made up of pay-capped staff, followed by the instant shock of the cost of the irresistible uplift in wages and the exposure to some of the best sides in the world.
      So, I can offer one certainty — life, already tenuous for past promoted trios, would be a tightrope walk above a relative Niagara Falls.
      Without a balance pole.
      The EFL also has plans to monitor wage bills in real time, which will give them a veto to stop you signing someone if they think you are outside the wage cap.
      WISHFUL THINKING
      If you do fall foul of it they will be able to apply in-season sanctions, a fine of £3 for each £1 overspend and potential deductions of between three and 12 points.
      In case this last line reads like something Comrade Xi Jinping would impose, it does to me too. That points deduction is wishful thinking.
      There would be less than no chance of it being applied in the Premier League to a promoted club.
      There is also a danger that in the long run the Championship will drop in quality and therefore value, making it less attractive to top clubs to loan young players.
      In coronavirus times, it is proper that the EFL should be trying to protect the future of their clubs. But they must be careful not to squeeze out ambition.
      If you have an owner with £100m who wants to invest it in a Championship team, to get promoted to the Premier League, they won’t be able to as their money counts for nothing more than £12k-a-week players.
      Promotion and relegation are the oxygen of our game. It may be that the Rich Six wish to be involved in higher realms, but wherever they go one thing is for certain.
      It won’t be to the Championship, as was comically proposed in the doomed Project Big Picture, as none of their players will take 12k-a-week!

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      Alex Mowatt and Barnsley are eyeing a shock return to the Premier League months after beating relegation to League One

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      ALEX MOWATT has had a whirlwind three years at Barnsley. And the skipper insists you can never accuse the Tykes of being boring.Since joining the club they have been promoted twice, won promotion and survived on the final game of last season. And Barnsley have had five different managers Mowatt, 25, told SunSport: “There’s never […] More

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      Chuba Akpom ends 13-match goal drought as Middlesbrough defeat Luton 1-0 after controversial James Collins penalty drama

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      CHUBA AKPOM ended his 13-match barren run – but it was the assistant referee who left Luton fuming after penalty drama in their defeat at Middlesbrough.
      The former Arsenal striker stroked home Marvin Johnson’s cross from close-range shortly after half time for the only goal of the game.

      Chuba Akpom ended his 13-match drought to fire Boro to victory over LutonCredit: Getty

      Assistant referee decided after furious protests James Collins had double kicked the ball on his penaltyCredit: Getty

      But the main talking point occurred in the 66th minute when Glen Rea’s shot was spilled by Marcus Bettinelli with the follow up from James Collins blocked by the arm of Boro’s Sam Morsy.
      Collins stepped up and slotted home the spot-kick – only for Neil Warnock’s furious players to go racing towards the referee Andy Davies and his assistant Akil Howson.
      The whistleblower had awarded the goal, but after strong pressure and a lengthy consultation with Howson, he changed his mind and gave a free-kick to the home side due to Collins taking a double touch when converting.
      It was deja vu for Boro after they suffered a similar fate just three weeks ago when Marcus Tavernier did the same in their loss to Norwich.

      But the Luton bench went ballistic, with several screams of ‘You’ve s*** your pants’ ringing around the fanless Riverside.
      Luton boss Nathan Jones said: “The assistant didn’t give it until they appealed. As soon as they, and I chose my words carefully, remonstrated with them he changed his mind.
      “At no point did he flag. He’d given it and was on his way back, both of them were, and then they persuaded him to change his mind.
      “If it’s the right decision then fine, but he hadn’t done that so that’s what I was angry with.”

      Dael Fry produced a brilliant block to deny Sonny Bradley moments later as the angry Hatters huffed and puffed but failed to find a way through.
      And Tavernier almost made things worse for them in additional time but his strike was deflected over following a counter.
      Bettinelli then redeemed himself with a brilliant save to deny Luke Berry in the dying seconds.
      The explosive end came after a first half that could not have been any further from a Christmas cracker.
      Luton arrived fresh on the back of dishing out a 3-0 pasting to Preston on Saturday, with Boro also buzzing after firing three past Millwall inside the first 20 minutes last time out.
      Unfortunately, this opening was a lot more low-key, with chances few and far between until Akpom found the net for the first time since a 2-1 win over Barnsley on October 3.

      Sam Morsy was sent off for blocking this shot with his armCredit: Getty

      James Collins had his spot-kick ruled out after he double kicked the ball while convertingCredit: Getty
      Warnock said: “I’m delighted for Chuba. Our strikers are going to get goals if they make the runs and we get the crosses in.
      “They are the ones I love. Then what happened after the sending-off. I’m really proud.”
      And on the penalty furore, he added: “The referee, he’d given it, it was only when Marcus and them went to the linesman.
      “But Marcus came to me and said the linesman told him he’d touched it twice so I knew then it would be disallowed. I think the linesman was excellent.”

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      Watch Bournemouth stars Surridge and Stanislas in shoving match in middle of game before team-mates jump in

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      BOURNEMOUTH duo Sam Surridge and Junior Stanislas threatened to come to blows on Tuesday night as the pair had to be separated by team-mates.
      Match-winner Stanislas, 31, was left incensed after the Cherries striker opted to shoot in the closing stages of their 1-0 win against Wycombe Wanderers at the Vitality Stadium.

      Bournemouth’s Sam Surridge and Junior Stanislas were involved in a strange shoving match after Surridge took a shot in injury-time against Wycombe Wanderers. pic.twitter.com/pS9TkqNSYe
      — Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 16, 2020

      Sam Surridge and Junior Stanislas were seen pushing each other in the closing stages Bournemouth’s win over WycombeCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Stanislas was furious with his team-mate after he opted to take a shotCredit: Rex Features

      The valuable three points took the south coast side to the top of the Championship table having picked up their tenth victory in 19 games.
      But their gritty performance has been overshadowed by the incident at the end of the match where tempers flared between Surridge and Stanislas.
      Academy graduate Surridge, 22, did brilliantly in the latter stages of the clash as he picked up the ball just inside Wycombe’s half, before driving into the box and winning his side a corner.
      However his mazy run infuriated Stanislas as he appeared to be angry that the ball wasn’t played back to him instead.

      Though football fans have argued that the former West Ham and Burnley winger – who has scored six goals in as many games – wanted Surridge to go to the corner flag to waste time.
      Stanislas confronted the England U21 international, with the two then shoving each other as team-mate Jefferson Lerma rushed in to separate the two.
      Other team-mates then got involved as they dragged the players away before referee Matthew Donohue attempted to calm the pair down.
      Boss Jason Tindall played down the incident following the full-time whistle, though he stressed he wasn’t a fan of what happened.

      Midfielder Jefferson Lerma rushed in to separate Surridge and StanislasCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      He said: “For me it just goes to show the passion of the team and how much they want to win – how much each game means to them.
      “You don’t want to see what happened but it’s no different to what happens up and down the country on the training ground from time-to-time.
      “There’s no hard feelings between the two of them. They were just frustrated at the time and passion probably got the better of both of them.
      “But they are in the changing room now, all fine, all laughing, all joking, still united and it’s all forgotten.”

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      Sheffield Wednesday star Moses Odubajo denies CONGRATULATING Nottingham Forest striker Lewis Grabban on goal

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      MOSES ODUBAJO has denied celebrating a goal scored against his own team after being blasted by Sheffield Wednesday fans.
      Nottingham Forest beat the struggling Owls 2-0 on Tuesday night with the win sealed by Lewis Grabban in the 87th minute.

      Moses Odubajo was first on the scene after Lewis Grabban’s goalCredit: Rex Features

      The defender high-fived his opponent and claims to have thought the goal would be chalked off

      After the forward left Tom Lees on the floor with a challenge to win the ball, he fired home and was met by a smiling Odubajo, who high-fived his opponent.
      Baffled viewers quickly picked up on the incident and accused the defender of failing to care about his side’s result.
      But Odubajo, 27, has denied those claims and insists the footage is taken out of context.
      He tweeted: “The loss is frustrating for myself and the team.

      “I would never high 5 another player for scoring against us.
      “I said to Grabban no way is that a goal because of the foul and laughed it off thinking the goal wouldn’t stand.

      Out of context, videos can be misconstrued.
      Moses Odubajo

      “We’re bottom of the league. No one at the club wants relegation and there’s no chance I would celebrate a goal that keeps us at the bottom.
      “Out of context, videos can be misconstrued.

      “I hope I’ve cleared it up with the fans who doubted my commitment to the team.”
      However, a number of Owls supporters felt that, even if Grabban had fouled Lees, the reaction was sub-standard.
      One fan account tweeted back: “You just saw Grabban foul Tom Lees (above the knee) and run through to score – and instead of smashing him into the back of the net you laughed and high fived him? Really??? REALLY???”
      The episode comes amid a sorry run of form for Wednesday, who began the season on minus-six points due to a breach of financial regulations.
      Tony Pulis was installed as manager in November but is yet to win a game.
      Tuesday’s defeat to 21st-placed Forest left the bottom club with three points from their last eight games – making Pulis’ start the worst of any Wednesday manager ever.

      Tom Lees was left hurt after Grabban’s challenge to create the chance

      Odubajo joined Sheffield Wednesday in 2019 after spells with Hull and BrentfordCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The Owls failed to fire off a shot in the second-half having fallen behind to Yuri Ribeiro’s fourth-minute strike.
      And Pulis, 62, has promised to look into the Odubajo incident.
      Speaking to reporters after the game, he stated: “I have been told about it and I will deal with it.”

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      Neil Warnock to hold talks with ‘frustrated’ Man City loanee Patrick Roberts over Middlesbrough transfer future

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      NEIL WARNOCK will hold crunch talks with Patrick Roberts over the Manchester City loanee’s Middlesbrough future.
      The forward, 23, rejoined Boro in October after he impressed in helping them beat the drop last season.

      Patrick Roberts will have talks over his Boro future next monthCredit: Getty

      But he has struggled for game time in the Championship this term, starting just three times with a further four appearances off the bench.
      Warnock admits the ex-Celtic starlet is frustrated with his lack of action.
      The Boro boss is desperate to add to his squad once the transfer window re-opens, targeting at least two new forwards.
      That could push Roberts, who Warnock has admitted he has doubts over his defensive duties, further down the pecking order.

      But the 72-year-old insists he will not be pushed into sending the former Fulham ace back to City so he can head out elsewhere.
      Warnock said: “I’ve got to have a talk (with Roberts). There’s two or three lads that have not really had an opportunity, and everybody wants to play.
      “They all want to be involved, and I have to manage that as I see fit.
      “I’ve got to speak to the players and see how they feel, but first and foremost, I’ve learned my lesson over the years, I’ve got to look after the club.”

      The percentage of answers have been round up or down from their decimal points

      He added: “I can’t be swayed just because an agent rings me up or a dad of one of the players says, ‘He’s got to leave or go out on loan’ – I can’t be working on that.
      “I’ve got to look after the club first at this moment in time because it’s a difficult period.”
      Roberts cut a frustrated figure on Saturday when he was handed just three minutes as a late substitute in the 3-0 win over Millwall.
      And he is expected to be named on the bench tonight when Luton visit The Riverside Stadium.

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      Millwall looking to ban Sky Sports from screening Watford clash over row on story of fans booing players who took knee

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      MILLWALL are reportedly trying to ban Sky Sports from screening their upcoming clash with Watford amid a row over the broadcaster’s coverage of last week’s game with QPR. That Championship match took place last Tuesday just days after the furore from their previous encounter against Derby that saw fans boo players who took the knee […] More

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      Neil Warnock warns in-demand Duncan Watmore he needs Boro just as much as they need him as star decides transfer future

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      NEIL WARNOCK warned Duncan Watmore he needs Middlesbrough just as much as they need him.
      The 26-year-old winger was rescued from wilderness after leaving Sunderland in the summer when he was handed a two-month contract by Boro in November.

      Duncan Watmore is deciding on whether to sign long-term for Boro boss Neil WarnockCredit: Rex Features

      The winger has four goals in six games since joining Boro last monthCredit: Getty

      He has repaid that faith with four goals in six matches, his latest brace helping the Teessiders defeat Millwall 3-0.
      Boro boss Warnock confirmed the in-form attacker has been offered a longer-term deal but revealed other clubs were circling.
      However, after an injury-ravaged few years, the veteran told the in-demand star that he is the right man to help Watmore get even better.
      Warnock said: “He needs me and us really as much as we need him.

      “It’s a crucial time for him now and agents shouldn’t be thinking about money, they should be thinking about letting him have an injury-free season.
      “We haven’t agreed financially but I’ve already told him I’m going to take him on, that’s if he wants to.
      “I just think we fit each other really, he fits the club and the club fits him. 
      “I think I can get the best out of him if I’m honest.

      “Before the Preston game I told him it didn’t matter how bad he played, he had a deal there.
      “I wanted to reassure him so today he is probably glad he hasn’t signed it before he scored two more goals and he’s probably got a bit more now.
      “He will have other offers, but if he goes somewhere else it will not be the same, so it’s up to him.”
      When asked whether he had any fears Watmore would go elsewhere, Warnock said: “I’ve no doubts but other people might put things in his head.
      “So if he wants to go somewhere else he’s free to do that. 
      “He’s got a great chance here, with a great manager, group of lads and club, and sometimes the grass is not always greener.”
      A brilliant Marcus Tavernier strike was sandwiched between Watmore’s two goals as Boro went three up inside twenty minutes to condemn Millwall to a tenth match without a win.

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