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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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      Neil Warnock leaves fans in hysterics as Cardiff boss stares into TV camera More

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      Middlesbrough hope to tie Duncan Watmore down to new contract with Championship rivals eyeing transfer

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      MIDDLESBROUGH boss Neil Warnock wants to tie down Duncan Watmore on a new deal — because rivals are after him in the window.
      Watmore only signed until mid-January as a free agent.

      Duncan Watmore has a several clubs chasing his servicesCredit: Rex Features

      But he has caught the eye of other Championship sides already, scoring twice in yesterday’s 3-0 win over Millwall.
      That took the 26-year-old’s tally to four goals in just six appearances for Boro.
      And now potential suitors are beginning to circle as the ex-Sunderland ace plots his next move. 
      Boro need the winger for their paper-thin squad.

      But he could find a new home in the next few weeks. 
      On his performance against Millwall, Warnock said: “Duncan took his goals well. The second is one of a typical poacher.
      “Good luck to him. He’s a superb lad to work with.”
      Watmore, who left Sunderland last summer after his contract expired, has previously revealed he snubbed several offers from elsewhere to link-up with Warnock in November.

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      The former England U21 international said: “He’s been very honest and I’m really looking forward to working under him.
      “He’s been a big name in the game for a long time now.
      “There were some offers here and there and different options, but I was most excited for this one.
      “It just felt right. There’s so many things going for this club and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

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      Boro blitz Millwall 3-0 thanks to Watmore and Tavernier as pressure mounts on Rowett after winless run stretches to ten

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      PRESSURE is mounting on Gary Rowett after Millwall were blown away by red-hot Middlesbrough.
      His Lions were more like whimpering kittens at the Riverside as a first half blitz condemned them to a 3-0 defeat and stretched their winless run to ten.

      Duncan Watmore and Marcus Tavernier fired Boro to a 3-0 win over Millwall

      Gary Rowett’s Lions are now ten games without a winCredit: PA:Press Association

      Rowett said: “It was pretty poor. It was very unlike a Millwall team and too soft.
      “I’m the manager and I pick the team and it’s my responsibility, so I’m not sitting here and blaming anyone else.
      “You always feel under-pressure if you are not winning games. But I don’t think about that.
      “I don’t think today was close to turning it around.”

      Boro flew out of the traps and secured the points inside twenty minutes. 
      Duncan Watmore tapped home from close-range after being picked out in the centre by Marvin Johnson.
      It was two within 120 seconds, and it was Marcus Tavernier who doubled the advantage in style.
      Sam Morsy found the winger on the right-hand edge of the area, and he cut inside onto his left foot before curling a low strike inside the far post.

      Millwall continued to crumble, conceding another after George Saville’s scuffed shot fell straight to Watmore, who controlled and clinically finished from ten yards for his second.

      Rowett had seen enough as he dragged off defender Alex Pearce and replaced him with forward Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.
      But it made little difference as Paddy McNair was denied a fourth by goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski and Chuba Akpom headed wide from a set-piece as things threatened to get worse for the visitors before the break.
      Akpom then raced clear of the defence, under-pressure for Jake Cooper, but blazed his effort high and wide as Boro continued to run riot.
      The Boro striker had another opportunity moments after the restart, pouncing on a mistake but instead of shooting first time, he took a touch and went for the chip that allowed Bialkowski to palm wide.
      Matt Smith dragged a shot wide midway through the second period with Ben Thompson at least forcing Marcus Bettinelli into a save, but it was an afternoon to forget as Millwall’s downwards slide continued.
      Neil Warnock, whose Boro side bounced back from back-to-back defeats, said: “We are going to be up and down with the age of our squad.
      “I was a bit worried how we’d start today and tried to concentrate on a quick start – but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be that quick.”

      Neil Warnock’s Boro blew Millwall away inside twenty minutesCredit: Rex Features

      Millwall fans clap and cheer at The Den as QPR take the knee ahead of Championship game More

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      I simply will not allow these lies and innuendos to blur the message of anti-racism

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      I WILL go to Millwall with Watford on December 29 and, before kick-off, I will take the knee.
      The same as I will at any other ground.

      Watford captain Troy Deeney says footballers taking the knee is purely a stance against racial discrimination and injustice, nothing to do with MarxismCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      Millwall players wore anti-racism tops after some fans booed taking the kneeCredit: Millwall FC

      That’s because I am not prepared to allow people to use lies and innuendos to blur the message of anti-racism.
      This is a new one on me, having to make the same argument time and again, to people who are either stupid or simply do not want to listen.
      So let’s get this clear — I don’t know any footballers who are Marxists and I don’t believe any footballers are being duped by Marxists into taking the knee.
      Taking the knee is a statement against racial discrimination and injustice.

      It is not about the political movement Black Lives Matter, whatever the politics some members of that movement may or may not have.
      This Tuesday night was a significant one for the anti-racism movement.
      Events at Paris Saint-Germain and Millwall felt like a watershed.
      When PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir players walked off the pitch after Istanbul coach Pierre Webo was the victim of racially charged language from the fourth official, it was an amazing show of solidarity.

      For a long time now, it has seemed as though this moment would arrive — and we all probably assumed a walk-off would be provoked by racial abuse from supporters, such as when England players suffered concerted and pre-meditated abuse in Bulgaria last year.

      Istanbul Basaksehir coach Pierre Webo was on the receiving end of racially-charged language from fourth official Sebastian Coltescu against PSG

      Both Istanbul and PSG , including Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, responded to the incident by parading a clear message before the rearranged tieCredit: AFP or licensors
      On that occasion, the Bulgarian FA were fined just £65,000 and ordered to play one match behind closed doors.
      That laughable punishment is no deterrent but sadly typical of Uefa’s soft approach to racism.
      Yet when Neymar — probably the third-most famous footballer on the planet — leads off his PSG team after abuse suffered by a coach on the opposition side, surely the message has to get through and Uefa must hand out a proper punishment.
      The official in question, Sebastian Coltescu, is apparently going to retire from elite refereeing but Uefa should still impose a maximum ten-match ban and a substantial fine — and use that as a yardstick.
      The incident was probably not the worst of its kind but it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
      You’ll have seen Istanbul’s Demba Ba leading the protests.
      For him, I am sure it was a case of years of racial discrimination having built up to that moment.
      The mood among players now is one of zero tolerance of racism. No more. Enough is enough.
      Before Millwall played QPR that same night, there had been plenty of talk about the response to some Millwall fans having booed the taking of the knee at their match against Derby last Saturday.

      I think the booing at Millwall and Colchester could be a blessing in disguise… I also don’t believe the majority of Millwall fans think that way.
      Troy Deeney

      QPR, probably the most racially diverse club in English football, had decided before the start of this season that they would no longer take the knee, with their director of football Les Ferdinand explaining that he believed the action was losing its meaning.
      I respect that view but what happened at Millwall and Colchester last Saturday refocused a lot of minds.
      Millwall wanted to avoid more booing so they agreed with QPR for both sets of players to link arms and hold anti-racism banners before kick-off.
      QPR players played the game in that respect but when they opened the scoring, two of their players took the knee in front of the Millwall fans and showed how they truly felt.
      That was heartening and it was also really encouraging to hear Watford fans applauding us take the knee before our win over Rotherham on Tuesday,  as has happened elsewhere, presumably in response to what happened at Millwall.
      I think the booing at Millwall and Colchester could be a blessing in disguise — and, by the way, I think they have a right to boo, just as we all have a right to vote.
      I also don’t believe that the majority of Millwall fans think that way — however loud the booing, it was still a minority.
      It seems as though it has sparked a lot of awkward conversations. And without those tough conversations about race — which aren’t easy for white people as well as for black people — we will not see genuine progress in the fight against racism.
      For me, it is like the ‘me too’ movement, which genuinely helped women to receive greater respect in the workplace and elsewhere.
      The same thing is happening now as footballers try to influence the fight against racism in our game and wider society.
      So, yes, I will take the knee when we play at Millwall this month.

      And if we get booed, I won’t walk off the pitch. Booing in itself is not racial abuse.
      But if Watford players are racially abused at any ground, we will walk off the pitch.
      And what happened in Paris on Tuesday has only strengthened that resolve.

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      Norwich star Teemu Pukki commits himself to shooting club back into the Premier League and vows: I’m going nowhere

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      TEEMU PUKKI has given every Norwich fan an early Christmas present.
      The striker promises he is committed to shooting the club back into the Premier League and is going nowhere next month.

      Norwich ace Teemu Pukki lifts aloft the Championship trophy last yearCredit: PRESS ASSOCIATION

      Pukki won the Golden Boot for his 29 goals during Norwich’s 2018-19 seasonCredit: REX FEATURES

      Pukki, 30, will attract a lot of suitors in the January transfer window.
      But he told SunSport: “I’ve no plans for leaving in January. I’m fighting for this team and we’ve got a big season going on.
      “I want to go back into the Premier League and I’m fighting for that.”
      The striker is set to make his 100th appearance when the Canaries travel to Blackburn today – having scored 48 goals and made 14 assists in his 99 games so far.

      Pukki is modest for a footballer generating so much love.
      The striker won legendary status at Carrow Road after shooting them into the Premier League in his first season with a staggering 29 goals after signing on a free from Brondby.
      And he then secured himself as a national treasure in Finland by firing them into next summer’s rearranged Euros, the first time they have qualified for a major tournament.
      His status was illustrated last year when his country’s then Prime Minister Antti Rinne took a special gift to Paris for French president Emmanuel Macron – a Teemu Pukki shirt.

      The striker told me: “It was a bit weird seeing that happen. I didn’t know how to react and it’s hard to say what I thought about that. I hope President Macron likes the shirt.”

      Even French President Emmanuel Macron owns a Teemu Pukki t-shirtCredit: Antti Rinne/Twitter

      Pukki and fans celebrate as Finland qualify for their first-ever tournament Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS
      Ironically, reigning World Cup champions France were this week drawn in the same qualifying group for the 2022 tourneament in Qatar.
      Pukki’s season with the Canaries in the top flight was a tale of two halves.
      In the first part – up until January – he had thumped 11 goals in the top flight, not a bad effort for a club that were bottom for most of it.
      But after scoring at Tottenham in a 2-1 defeat, he failed to net again – and, after lockdown, Norwich finished bottom with a whimper as they lost all eight games.
      It was a shame because at one stage Norwich, despite their lowly position, were playing great football – prompting pundit Danny Murphy to describe them as the “best ever bottom-of-the-table team”.
      So why did Pukki’s form tail off?
      He said: “There were a lot of things. As a team we didn’t create the same amount of chances and, personally, my confidence levels were down after not scoring after so many games.
      “Up until January-February time, we were playing good football – but just couldn’t get the points. Whenever we went behind, we just couldn’t turn the games around.

      As a team we didn’t create the same amount of chances and, personally, my confidence levels were down
      Teemu Pukki

      “After the corona break, we didn’t score as many goals. It was a tough time, personally and as a team. We weren’t able to raise our level at the end of the season.
      “We couldn’t compete in the end at that level – because in the Premier League mistakes made are exploited because there is more quality.”
      Now, back in the Championship, the Canaries are flying at the top of the table without really flapping their wings.
      The Norfolk club have managed to churn out results with an injury-hit squad – thanks mostly to a more solid defence.

      Teemu Pukki celebrates one of his 11 Premier League goals, against ArsenalCredit: EPA
      Pukki said: “For sure, I don’t think we’ve shown our best yet. In some moments we have. There have been some tough games where we’ve got the winner in the end.
      “We’ve been having a lot of injuries. Hopefully we’ll get our boys back soon.
      “Our defenders have been brilliant, the keeper as well. If you compare this season to the one when we went up, we conceded a lot of goals but were scoring a lot of goals as well.
      “This time we’ve had a lot of 1-0 victories. If you want to compete at this level you need to be secure at the back. That’s been working well.”

      Daniel Farke is known for being a hard taskmasker. His training regime is one of the toughest in English football and the team’s superior fitness levels have played dividends with the amount of late goals they have scored this season.
      Nine of their 23 netted have come in the last 10 minutes to either win matches or snatch a point.
      Pukki said: “That’s something we’ve been good at. We’ve done a lot of work and have the fitness levels to turn the games in the end.
      “That is something we keep working at every week. We can go 90 minutes and turn the games.”
      With the Canaries finishing rock bottom by some distance, the board could have been justified to sack their German coach but decided to stay loyal.
      And the Finnish ace said: “Since the first moment I came here I felt he was a good manager.

      Pukki celebrates scoring at Stoke and is on form again after a tough 2020Credit: REX FEATURES
      “He got us playing good football. It has been a tough year for all of us. The club wanted to believe he can change things around and that is what we are showing.
      “It’s still a lot of work but we’re going in the right direction.”
      Pukki’s is looking forward to what he hopes is a huge 2021 – leading Norwich back into the top-flight and then featuring for Finland in the Euros.
      He said: “We had some hard times with the national team where we didn’t win a single game in one year but in the last couple of years it’s been great for Finnish football.
      “We’ve had many players in the European leagues and whenever we get together we’re quite a competitive team. I’m proud of what we’ve done for the Finnish national team and it is every footballer’s dream back home to appear in a major tournament.”

      CROCK-ODILE TEARS FOR NORWICH

      IT’S been a challenge to socially-distance everyone needing treatment in the Norwich medical room this season.Up until today’s trip to Blackburn, they have had a staggering SIXTEEN players who have missed matches through injuries.Here’s their tale of the crocks.
      Tim Krul (thigh)
      Sam Byram (hamstring)
      Jordan Hugill (shoulder)
      Kieran Dowell (ankle)
      Todd Cantwell (hip)
      Xavi Quintilla (hip)
      Kenny McLean (knee)
      Adam Idah (knee)
      Onel Hernandez (adductor)
      Ben Gibson (calf)
      Christoph Zimmermann (calf)
      Przemyslaw Placheta (hamstring)
      Grant Hanley (hamstring)
      Marco Stiepermann (back)
      Bali Mumba (knee)
      Teemu Pukki (hamstring)

      Norwich have taken advantage of Pukki’s status in Finland by forging a number of commercial partnership in the Scandinavian country.
      The club have deals in place with plastic-free-cups firm Kotka Mills, travel company Dr. Oetker Suom and Pyynikin Brewery – as well as sell plenty of Pukki merchandise that sells in his homeland almost as fast a Finnish vodka.
      But surely Norwich are missing a trick in their partnership with British firm Pukka Pies.
      A hearty Pukki Pie has a really nice ring to it.
      The Finnish ace laughed: “I’ve never tried a pie.”
      You really should, Teemu. Get Delia Smith to bake you one.

      The Finnish star celebrates with Norwich fans after clinching promotionCredit: GETTY

      Millwall fans clap and cheer at The Den as QPR take the knee ahead of Championship game More

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      Watford boss Ivic idolised England hero Lineker as a kid in Serbia, his extra motivation to be on Match of the Day

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      VLADIMIR IVIC would not be involved in football today had it not been for Gary Lineker.
      The Watford boss revealed to SunSport that watching the England legend while growing up in Serbia sparked his love affair with the game.

      Vladimir Ivic took over Watford in August with the target to win promotionCredit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

      Gary Lineker was Watford boss Vladimir Ivic’s idol while growing upCredit: EMPICS

      Ivic, 43, now hopes the 1986 World Cup golden boot winner will be interviewing him on Match of the Day next season as he plots a quick return to the Premier League.
      Asked which player made him fall in love with football, the Serb said: “It was Gary Lineker.
      “It was for his goalscoring. I followed English football like lots of kids and he was the top scorer.
      “I remember watching him in the 1986 World Cup.

      “He was one of the greatest players and strikers in his age – and I didn’t even know before coming here that he was now presenting Match of the Day.”

      Ivic arrived at Vicarage Road in August and has done a good job so far with the relegated Hornets, who sit third ahead of their trip to Birmingham today.
      In fact, all teams that came down from the Premier League currently occupy the top three spots with Norwich in pole position and Bournemouth second – this rarely happens.
      But Ivic said: “All three teams have quality players and you must remember in Daniel Farke at Norwich and Jason Tindall at Bournemouth you have two coaches who had worked with their players last season.

      “After 17 matches, we don’t see much difference in the quality between the other teams.
      “But sometimes the mood of the other sides can be more important than the quality of yours if you don’t give 100 per cent.
      “This is something we work on and try to give the maximum every game.”

      Vladimir Ivic won November’s SkyBet Championship manager of the month
      So how did Ivic go about taking over a team used to losing, suffering the trauma of relegation and turn them quickly into winners?
      Ivic said: “This is a good question because it’s a different approach from previous years.
      “The last six months before I arrived, the target was to survive and stay in the Premier League.
      “They played completely different to how we want to play now.
      “We’re trying to transform a side that played on the counter to one that wants to be dominant and attack. This is something we’ve worked a lot on and to do that you need to change the mentality.
      “Sometimes we don’t succeed and have a deficit in games. We should be seven or eight points better off.”
      Ivic knows full well that FOURTEEN different permanent managers have been at Watford in just 10 years.
      The Serb was successful in Greece with PAOK and Israel at Maccabi Tel Aviv – but knows it is a different ball game in England.
      He said: “The change of coaches is the decision for the club.
      “All the people who come into this job come to put in their maximum. Everyone wants to succeed.

      We’re trying to transform a side that played on the counter to one that wants to be dominant and attack.
      Vladimir Ivic

      “It depends on the mood of the team and of how you’ll adapt fast to the conditions you find yourself in to get results.
      “Your glass can only be half full because you never know how long you will stay somewhere. It’s our lives and it’s not easy when you have family coming with you too.
      “My wife and two daughters, one aged six and the other nine, were with me in Israel for two years and now here with me too.
      “It’s a nice job. I decided to do this because I love it.”
      Ivic is one of two Serbians flying high in the Championship with Reading sitting fifth under his former national team-mate Veljko Paunovic.

      Ivic has had to change the mentality of the Watford players this seasonCredit: PRESS ASSOCIATION
      He said: “It’s important for a country like Serbia to have two coaches in the Championship. He’s a great coach and now shows here he’s on a top level.”
      Ivic is not known for smiling much or cracking jokes – and looks like a guy you would not want to get on the wrong side of.
      But the Serb insists that public perception of him is wrong.
      He said: “My family, wife, two daughters and friends make me smile.
      “It’s been hard to make new friends because during the period I’ve been here we’ve had to follow government instructions to stay at home so not been able to socialise much.
      “I like to laugh privately at lot and I’d like to at work too. But I prefer to wait until the end of the season when hopefully we’ll have good reason to laugh.”

      Millwall fans clap and cheer at The Den as QPR take the knee ahead of Championship game More