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      Mikel Arteta reveals he has a secret mole close to Marcelo Bielsa as Arsenal boss turns tables on ‘Spygate’ Leeds chief

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      MIKEL ARTETA has the inside track on spymaster Marcelo Bielsa from a secret source.
      Bielsa famously sent a member of his Leeds staff to snoop at Derby’s training ground two seasons ago, much to the displeasure of then Rams chief Frank Lampard.

      Arteta has revealed he has a pal who worked with Bielsa and knows his secretsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But Arteta is turning the tables on the Leeds boss with his own informer — and it is NOT Bielsa disciple Pep Guardiola.
      The Arsenal head coach said: “One of my best friends spent many, many years with him.
      “Who is it? I prefer not to say, but they worked as a player and then next to him.
      “So I know a lot about his methods, who he is as a person, who he is as a manager as well and I’ve admired him for many, many years.”

      Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino, another good mate of Arteta’s, have made no secret of their appreciation of Bielsa.
      The information the Arsenal chief has gleaned from his friend — and what he has seen Bielsa achieve at Elland Road himself — have had an effect on him.
      Arteta said: “I have followed his work, his ways of playing, the way he is able to change a football club immediately with his mentality and the messages he sends, with his personality and charisma.
      “I’ve been very impressed with what he has done in England since he joined Leeds.

      Argentine legend Marcelo Bielsa has plenty of admirers in the gameCredit: PA:Press Association
      “He has transformed the club. He has transformed the belief of everyone around the club, the fans, that they could come back and be the club they were a few years back.”
      Arteta acknowledged that there is no mystery over how Leeds will play against Arsenal today.
      Bielsa is staying true to the high-pressing, high-energy style of play that earned the club its long-awaited return to the top flight.
      But Leeds were beaten 4-1 in their last two Premier League games by Leicester and Crystal Palace, who ruthlessly exploited the space left by their opponents.
      Arsenal, under Arteta, are set up to be solid at the back and hit teams on the counter-attack, so Leeds look like ideal opponents.
      Arteta said: “We have players that are really good at running in behind and using spaces when they are open. You create the situations with advantages for the player on the ball to generate and exploit those spaces.
      “We have scored a lot of goals as well in very tight spaces, getting out of tight situations and generating overloads in different ways.
      “You can have the space but it’s how we use it and what type of balls you need to exploit that and who is going to receive those balls and make that pass.

      Arteta will be looking to out-tactic maestro Bielsa in Sunday’s encounter at Elland RoadCredit: Getty – Pool
      “It’s not just about knocking the ball from the back-four, it doesn’t make any sense. It’s finding ways to break those pressing moments.”
      Guardiola’s City were unable to win at Elland Road earlier this season, playing out a thrilling 1-1 draw but missing some good chances.
      If Arteta is to do better than his former boss, he will need Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to be at his ruthless best.
      But some Arsenal fans are concerned about the form of their captain, who has scored only two goals in eight Premier League games.
      Statistics show he is struggling to create and score goals after spending much of the campaign out wide rather than through the middle.
      Arteta said: “I’m open to many options, as I’m open to use different formations and to change the team with different names. We have to accommodate our players.
      “Data is very important. It’s also very important how you adjust the offensive and defensive to get that cohesion as a team. These things evolve. There are moments when you need him in one position, moments in another position.”
      Aubameyang signed a big contract extension after scoring in Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Fulham on the opening weekend of the season. But his penalty against Manchester United is his only Prem strike since.

      Arsenal will need Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to be firing on all cylinders against Leeds on SundayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Arteta added: “We need to help him more. He knows himself as well the things he needs to improve in his game to be more decisive.
      “It will come. I haven’t known any striker in the world that for ten years has never had a period when he’s not scoring as much. It’s how you navigate that period.”
      Perhaps Arteta can ask his pal how Bielsa helped turn Patrick Bamford — with seven goals in eight Prem games this season — into a goal machine.

      Arsenal boss Arteta insists Willian’s international break trip to Dubai has been resolved More

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      Pep Guardiola hits back at ‘Doctor’ Jose Mourinho after Spurs boss’ jibes over Raheem Sterling’s England injury

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      PEP GUARDIOLA and Jose Mourinho spiced up their Saturday night showdown — with a row over Raheem Sterling’s England withdrawal.
      Tottenham boss Mourinho lit the fuse yesterday by claiming Manchester City pressured Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate to let Sterling miss this month’s internationals.

      Man City chief Pep Guardiola has suggested Spurs chief Jose Mourinho was behaving like he thinks he’s a doctor in his comments over Raheem Sterling

      Pep Guardiola will pick Raheem Sterling against Spurs despite the frontman missing England duty,, Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho claimsCredit: Reuters

      City said Sterling had a calf injury but he trained yesterday and Mourinho expects the forward to line up against his Spurs team.
      But Guardiola hit back: “Maybe Mourinho is a doctor, I don’t know.
      “He has to speak to the England national team doctor and the doctor for  Manchester City.”

      Guardiola was then asked about Spurs boss Mourinho’s comments earlier in the year that City players tend to go to ground easily.

      He replied: “Listen, I’m not going to answer anything about Jose.
      “I spoke about the doctor because he accused us of something that is not true.
      “You have to speak to the doctors about these other things, don’t ask me. I’m almost 50.  I’m old enough to understand.”
      Sterling also missed the October internationals with a hamstring issue — then scored the winner against Arsenal in the first game back.

      Mourinho wants Southgate to name and shame the top-flight bosses who have tried to stop their players representing their country.
      He said: “Of course we all know Sterling is going to play for City against us.
      “When Eric Dier left the national team injured in the past month, he didn’t play two matches for Tottenham.

      Pep Guardiola refused to respond to rival manager Jose Mourinho’s comments that Man City players go down too easilyCredit: EPA
      “He didn’t play the Premier League match and the Europa League match.
      “He needed a couple of weeks to recover. And Raheem is going to play.
      “These are the little details that I think Gareth should explain to us all.
      “Gareth, I read, supposedly told that some club managers put pressure on the players not to play for the national team.
      “And because of that he feels sometimes the need to call club managers to cool down the emotions and control a difficult situation for him.
      “I’d like him to say who. I’d like him to say which are the coaches who put pressure on the players not to play.

      A national team match should never be a dead rubber. The only problem for me is it should be the same for everybody, not just for some.
      Jose Mourinho

      “And I would like him to say which are the coaches that he calls and speaks on the phone with them. He has the right, the power to call the players he wants.
      “He wants to win matches, especially after a defeat the next match — even being a dead  rubber — is an important match. I sympathise totally with that.”
      Mourinho was asked if he would be particularly frustrated if Sterling got the winner when he has spent the last two weeks not playing.
      He said: “I think that question is not for me. I think you have to wait until March and ask that question to the person you have to ask.”

      While Sterling was back at City, Tottenham striker Harry Kane played all of England’s 2-0 defeat in Belgium and 76 minutes of the 4-0 win over Iceland.
      Mourinho said: “I’m OK with that. A national team match should never be a dead rubber.
      “The only problem for me is it should be the same for everybody, not just for some.”

      Tottenham vs Man City free live stream, TV Channel and kick off time More

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      Harry Kane is a unique threat in new false nine role and Guardiola must figure out how to stop him

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      IF Manchester City believe simply nullifying Harry Kane will stop Tottenham, they could be left red-faced in north London.
      Right now, trying to predict where and how Kane will play is like predicting the weather – and it is a completely different matter actually trying to execute your plan.

      England skipper Harry Kane is offering Tottenham variety and menace up front, with his goals, assists and the way he brings others into playCredit: Reuters

      Son Heung-Min and on-loan Gareth Bale are benefiting from frontman Harry Kane’s ability to feed Tottenham’s’ raiders out wide Credit: Getty Images – Getty

      Kane is proving to be an all-round centre forward, unlike anyone else in the game right now, with the amount of goals he scores and creates from deep or in the box.
      Eight assists and seven goals in eight games is incredible, and he has recently been producing those sorts of numbers from a false nine position.
      From there he can release the likes of Son Heung-Min and Gareth Bale cutting in off their flanks with devastating accuracy.

      Harry Kane moved level with Michael Owen after scoring against West Brom
      In an ideal world, with City likely to opt for a 4-2-3-1 – like they did against Liverpool with Ilkay Gundogan and Rodri – one of the defensive midfielders will pick him up.

      But with the way Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham side play, they will then be left with a dilemma of marking one No.10 in Kane or another in Giovani Lo Celso.
      And if one of City’s central defenders decides to step up to deal with him, then there will be a gaping hole for the likes of Son and Bale to gallop into.
      A deep-lying Kane with his back to goal with the ball is hardly easy to deal with either, who can turn even the best of players before putting the ball on a pedestal for a teammate.
      But City’s problems do not stop there. It is highly likely they are going to dominate the ball in the middle of the park, and Mourinho will welcome it.

      None of this “parking the bus” nonsense; a label unfairly flung at Mourinho, but instead sitting deep and luring teams into a trap before unleashing their counter attacking weapon.
      With the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden covering ground centrally, Kane also has the ability to drop off and take up a higher position as a focal point.

      Man City chief Pep Guardiola will need to nullify a second-placed Spurs side with many attacking options through their 4-2-2-2 formationCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      So, when the transition does take place, and Toby Alderweireld or Eric Dier are given the chance to launch the ball to their skipper, City will suddenly find themselves scrambling back to stop the likes of Son and Bale linking up from the loose ball.
      Of course, Pep Guardiola’s City are the masters of the tactical foul, and they will most certainly use it to good effect.
      But it may not be enough against a Tottenham team that now have so many threats in what could be described as a 4-2-2-2.
      Within that is the box created by centre backs Alderweireld and Dier and defensive midfielders Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Moussa Sissoko – a solid foundation on which to build.
      Great credit should go to Mourinho for not only making this Tottenham team a more physical and gritty presence, but also one that is more balanced in both defence and attack.
      This will be a real test of their potential title credentials, but they are up against a City side who – for all their critics at the back – have one of the best defensive records in the league.

      But they also have one of the worst scoring records, with even West Ham putting more balls in the net so far this season.
      And with the likes of Sergio Aguero lacking sharpness and doubts over Raheem Sterling’s fitness, their attempts to become more of an attacking threat could see themselves land in Mourinho’s low-block trap.
      And when Tottenham win the ball back, the big question on the minds of the City players will be: Where is Harry Kane?

      Michael Owen says that Harry Kane will not leave Tottenham because of his huge transfer fee and age More

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      Solskjaer needs to admit defeat with Paul Pogba just like Man Utd mentor Fergie did with Veron

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      SIR ALEX FERGUSON had to admit defeat with Juan Sebastian Veron.
      Louis van Gaal had to do the same with Angel Di Maria. Now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have to concede it is over with Paul Pogba.

      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must finally part ways with Paul Pogba after the midfielder disrespected Man Utd againCredit: PA:Press Association

      Sir Alex Ferguson gave Juan Sebastian Veron numerous chances but cut ties after just two yearsCredit: PA:Press Association

      The club record signing is not working out — and it is time to take a hit. Pogba has been disrespecting Manchester United again during this international break, talking about how much better it is being away with France.
      There are echoes of Veron, who was a British record £28.1million signing from Lazio in 2001.
      Two seasons later he was off to Chelsea for £15m. That did not work either. He just never got used to English football.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

      That extra second or two the Argentine was afforded on the ball in Serie A was denied him here and he could not cope.
      Every time he went away on international duty, cages would be rattled. Quotes would come back which suggested he was unhappy and wanted a return to Italy.
      Mis-translated claimed United. What? Every time? Who was this translator?
      Only in the slower more patient realms of the Champions League did Veron look more at home. But  flopped on the biggest of nights in the semi-final, second leg in 2002 away to Bayer Leverkusen.

      Despatched into the No 10 role Ryan Giggs had played in so well in the 2-2 first leg, Veron went missing in the second. It finished 1-1 and Ferguson’s dream final against Real Madrid at Hampden Park was gone.

      When the team touched down early the next morning at Manchester airport, Veron looked close to tears in the arrivals hall.
      Ferguson blamed it all on the media, claiming he was criticised just because he was Argentinian.
      The week after that European exit the Scot also stormed out of a highly-charged press  conference shouting ‘he’s a f****** great player . . .  youse are f****** idiots’.
      At the end of the following season during a US tour, Veron finally departed.
      That was just days after the club press officer had informed us that the manager was not speaking to us because we kept writing Veron was going to be sold.
      Di Maria looked like he would bring the wow factor back to United they had been missing since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure.

      Man Utd’s biggest transfers ever, both in and out, including Ronaldo
      Signed in August 2014 for a club-record £59.7m he was United’s player of the month in September and regarded as one of the worst buys in the club history by the following May.
      Not because he was Argentinian but for his flaky displays not helped by the restraints LVG put on his attacking instincts.
      So after one season he was off to Paris Saint-Germain for £44m.
      Good value claimed the club based on the fact that he had signed a five-year deal and they had him for a year — like a mortgage then, got it.
      Now we come to  Pogba. Nobody is picking on him or singling him out. It is just when a club plays a then world-record £89m for you and that club is United the spotlight is brighter.
      Like Veron he came from Serie A and wants more time and does not get it.  Unlike Veron he has had four-and-a-bit seasons to adjust and find his place in a United team and failed to do so.
      Pogba  would be cut more slack if his public pronouncements were not so insulting to United.

      His claim in the summer of 2019 that he wanted a new challenge was effectively a transfer request.
      But nobody would stump up the £180m United wanted for a player who had become a world champion in their charge. Now nobody will get close to offering what United paid, nearly everyone is skint.
      So instead Pogba sounds like he just wants to play for France, who do not have to come up with a transfer fee. As he said last week while with Les Bleus: “It’s like a window that opens up. It’s a breath of fresh air when you come here.”
      Sounds like an advert for Febreze. He went on: “We have a truly fantastic squad. When we come here, we’re all happy.
      “We really enjoy ourselves on the pitch. That doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy ourselves at club level but it’s not the same here. We’re a real family and we have so much fun when we come here.” Bless.
      The reaction from United fans on social media to his new-found utopia was sadly not of a similar vein. Like those record-breaking buys before him he has become a problem, an unwanted side-show.
      They just need to take another hit, any takers?

      Man Utd star Bruno Fernandes give in-depth secrets behind his unusually unique but successful penalty style More

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      Ryan Giggs rebailed until February 1 ‘pending further enquiries’ leaving Wales with managerial dilemma before Euros

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      RYAN GIGGS has been rebailed ‘pending further enquiries’ until February 1 to leave Wales with a managerial dilemma.
      The Dragons boss missed this month’s trio of internationals following his arrest on November 1 on suspicion of actual bodily harm and assault after an alleged bust-up with his on-off girlfriend.

      Manchester United legend Giggs leaves Wales with a managerial dilemmaCredit: PA:Press Association

      Giggs denies the allegations.
      He was initially bailed for 28 days from his release from custody on November 2.
      But now Giggs’ bosses at the Football Association of Wales could have a decision to make after Greater Manchester Police announced the 46-year-old’s bail has been extended into next year.
      Wales are scheduled to start their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign in March with the draw for the Qatar finals made remotely on December 7.

      Giggs’ side are also due to take part in the summer Euro 2020 finals – delayed by 12 months due to the pandemic – where they will face Switzerland, Turkey and Italy.
      A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “A 46-year-old man has been rebailed until 01/02/21 pending further enquiries.”
      The FAW declined to comment last night but they are now in a state of limbo following the extension.
      Giggs, whose future has been under scrutiny since the arrest, is now expected to hold talks with FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford.

      The FAW are also due to conduct their own investigation into the matter.

      Manchester United legend Giggs was placed on what the FAW described as ‘special leave’ for the November fixtures.
      In his absence, assistant manager Robert Page stepped in as caretaker boss for the friendly draw with USA and two Nations League qualifying victories against Ireland and Finland.
      Page led the Dragons impressively and recorded back-to-back home wins saw Wales clinched promotion to League A of the 2022 Nations League.

      Ryan Giggs’s ex spotted with bruised lip in first outing since his assault arrest More

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      Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney can turn Wrexham into biggest Rom-Com of all time

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      FOR 156 years Wrexham FC and Hollywood were not used in the same sentence but, proving life really is like a box of chocolates, they are now!
      Movie stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have swapped the boards, for the borders, and only gone and bought Wrexham FC.

      Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds is the new co-owner of Welsh side Wrexham

      Reynolds’ fellow actor and co-owner Rob McElhenney aims to make Wrexham a global force

      Whilst I can’t quite see Arnie heading into the town’s Fat Boar pub, or Margot Robbie walking into the Old No7 Bar, but this was certainly big news in a little corner of Wales.
      Some might think that McElhenney, famous for playing Ronald McDonald in the comedy series ‘It’s always sunny in Philadelphia’ must surely be a few gherkins short of a quarter-pounder.
      Or that his pal Reynolds, an executive producer of an American quiz show called ‘Don’t’ might well have taken his own advice.
      Taking ownership of a club which has enjoyed only modest success since 1864 is definitely a courageous thing to do, but I for one applaud their bravado.

      Up until now, in footballing terms, Wrexham was on the map for being the hometown of Mark ‘Sparky’ Hughes and Robbie ‘Afghan Hound’ Savage, which suggests they like their soccer red-blooded in north Wales.
      Both Sav and Sparky excelled by playing a form of rugby, mixed in with a little bit of football, in keeping with their Welshness I suppose!
      Quite what Reynolds and McElhenney will make of Welsh cake, rarebit and black beer is anyone’s guess. And don’t even get me started on their place names.
      Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch sounds like a pretty tough away game, but apparently its 58 letters in Welsh actually means St Mary’s church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St Tysilio of the red cave.

      Nice to know they keep things simple in the Principality.
      Anyway, victory at Hartlepool, not Hollywood, in midweek means Wrexham are sitting in mid-table, so far only bit part actors in the National League.
      So you can therefore understand why fans voted by over 98 percent for Reynolds and McElhenney to take over their club.
      And I bet the two per cent who voted against were not women.
      Their first match will be interesting and who knows, the pair could stand on the terraces today at home to Aldershot and I am sure they will get a very warm welcome.
      The tinseltown pair have said they will pump £2million into the club immediately, which should soon see the Dragons flying up the league.
      This is great news for the club and their supporters which will give them something to smile about in this hellacious 2020.
      Whatever happens to Wrexham’s fortunes, at least they now have the 2010 People magazine ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ in the form of Ryan Reynolds, and without doubt the clear and outstanding winner (and only runner!) of Worlds Sexiest Football Club Owner 2020 at the helm!

      Wrexham currently sit in 13th spot in the National League table

      ‘Deadpool’ star Reynolds’ brother is a Canadian Mountie so the pair will be at home at the Racecourse ground and with £2m in the coffers, winning the league should be a canter.
      Good luck to Ryan and Rob. They will need it. But will this be a disaster movie, or a blockbuster? Are the box of chocolates out of date, or the finest Swiss Lindt?
      Personally, I hope this ends up being the biggest Rom-Com of all time.

      Wrexham troll Gareth Bale claims he wouldn’t get in team after Tottenham star snubbed transfer following takeover More

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      Ivan Toney vows to shoot Brentford into the Prem like Zlatan Ibrahimovic… then sing like Neil Diamond in dressing room

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      IVAN TONEY claims to have the confidence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the singing voice of Neil Diamond.
      And while no-one at Brentford has yet heard him belt out Sweet Caroline or Forever In Blue Jeans, they have certainly seen his self-assurance in front of goal.

      Ivan Toney has got off to a storming start to life at Brentford with 10 goals

      The striker – yet to do his initiation song which he promises to be a Diamond classic – believes he has Ibrahimovic qualities that will help shoot him and the Bees into the Premier League.
      Toney, 24, signed for £5m from Peterborough in the summer, was the man tasked with filling Ollie Watkins’ shoes after his £28m switch to Aston Villa.
      And while Watkins thumped 28 goals last season, his replacement has already fired 10 goals in his first 11 games and has just won the SkyBet Championship player of the month award.
      And he told SunSport: “I’ve always liked Zlatan. I just love his confidence.  Some people see it as arrogance but you must be like that to succeed. 

      “I’m similar to Zlatan in both my confidence and the way I play. When he wants to do something, he just does it. I have some of that in my game and personality. And I believe I’ll be a Premier League striker.”
      Brentford’s famous BMW frontline of Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo and Watkins plundered a staggering 61 goals between them last season but they lost in the play-off final against Fulham after blowing automatic promotion by losing their last two games of the season against Stoke and Barnsley.
      Only Mbeumo remains with Benrahma on loan at West Ham – which means there is pressure on Toney to fill the void.

      Brentford’s BMW frontline fired 61 Championship goals last season
      But Brentford have a great track record of continually refreshing themselves. After Neil Maupay moved to Brighton, Watkins stepped up to the plate – and now it is the turn of Toney.

      And he said: “There’s always pressure but I don’t feel it. That’s why Brentford brought me in. They believed I could fill the shoes of all the strikers that had been in there before.
      “Do I think I can get 25 goals? Yes. If you set targets, they must be sky high because if you finish just under it’s still going to be a good achievement.
      “Brentford keep producing 25-goal strikers – so why can I not be the next one? I believe it, the manager believes it, my team-mates believe it – so why not go for it?
      “When you’re a striker, confidence is key. The only person who can do it – and sometimes the only person who believes you can – is yourself. If you believe, anything is possible.”
      Toney was a late bloomer in football and was spotted aged 13 by Leicester. But he was told he had something special when he played in front of his mum’s house at Eastfield Park in Northampton.

      Ivan Toney won SkyBet’s Championship player of the month for October
      He said: “My cousin Nathan Hicks used to be on the books at Leicester and I played with him, my other cousins and friends, at the front of the house.
      “They were all 18 to 20 and I was handling it well and they all thought I could play – and in the end Leicester scouted me and I was with them from 13 until they released me at 16.”
      He joined home-town club Northampton – and made his first-team debut, aged still 16, against Bradford in the FA Cup in November 2012.
      First he played under Aidy Boothroyd and then Chris Wilder. And it was under the current Sheffield United boss where he made his mark – scoring twice at Dagenham in a 3-0 win that helped to maintain the Cobblers’ EFL status.

      Ivan Toney is loving life at Brentford and wants to take them into the Prem
      Toney said: “Chris taught me about positional awareness so I could score more goals and had faith in starting me in that must-win game. I repaid him.”
      Wolves pulled out of signing him in 2015 after putting him through a medical: “They cited I had scoliosis in the back but I think that was just an excuse – I’ve never had any issues with my back.”
      But that just opened the door for Newcastle, who snapped him up instead. Toney spent three years at St James’ Park and made two cameo Premier League appearances off the bench against Chelsea and Manchester United as well as two others in the League Cup against Northampton and Sheffield Wednesday.
      He said: “I moved to Newcastle as a young boy aged 18 and went straight into the Premier League. It was crazy.
      “The players I was playing and training with I was more used to playing them in the FIFA game!
      “But I took it in my stride and was grateful to be there because I learned so much.
      “I felt the tempo was a lot faster to anything I’d ever been used to. I’d go onto the field and think I have time to take a touch – but you often don’t have the luxury at that level.
      “It has helped me for the rest of my career and given me a great sniff of where I could be playing.” 
      But most of his time at the club was spent on loan – two spells with Barnsley, two with Scunthorpe and stints with Wigan and Shrewsbury.Toney found that tough and admitted: “It wasn’t the best situation for me because you’re on your own constantly moving around every six months. Also when a club keeps loaning you out, it makes you feel unwanted by your parent club.”
      But it was at Peterborough where his career took off – scoring 23 goals in his first season and then last term was on 26 when the League One campaign was ended by the coronavirus in March.
      And he said: “I found my feet there. The manager Darren Ferguson, when he came in, was great to me and said, ‘You can be as good as you want to be as long as you work hard for it.’ My game really kicked on under him.”Peterborough and Brentford have similar models in the way they keep recruiting and selling up-and-coming talent – and that is why Toney signed for both clubs.

      He said: “Peterborough have a good record with their strikers. If you don’t get promoted with them, they let you move on. “It’s exactly the same with Brentford but it’s not just that here though. I feel they’re a club able to play in the Premier League.
      “Also I like manager Thomas Frank a lot. He’s someone who I want to work hard for. What I like about him is he literally will do anything to help anyone – not just players, but the staff and anyone around the club. He’s genuine and everything you want from a manager.”

      Ivan Toney vowed to belt out some Neil Diamond classics to his team-mates
      Toney has not done his initiation song yet but has been told he will have to do it.And he is promising to sing a Diamond classic and said: “With a deep voice like mine, I try to hit the high notes. I don’t mind singing.
      “I’ll go for Neil Diamond because you have to know your dressing room. I get the feeling there are quite a few of his fans in there. I just hope they all join in so I’ll be let off lightly.” More

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      Ben Amos was oblivious to real world in Man Utd bubble… but has found his feet ELEVEN clubs later at Charlton

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      BEN AMOS has learned so much since leaving the cosy surroundings of Old Trafford.
      And the keeper says the biggest of the lot has been: “There is a big world outside Manchester United.”

      Ben Amos won the SkyBet League One player-of-the-month for his top form

      Ben Amos during his early professional playing days at Manchester United

      Sir Alex Ferguson gave him his debut at the age of 18.The keeper played seven times for United – once in the Premier League, five in the League Cup and once in the Champions League.But after the legendary former manager retired in 2013, Amos never got a look-in under either David Moyes or Louis van Gaal.Amos, now 30, is making his mark at Charlton – having played for ELEVEN different clubs.And he said: “The big thing I’ve learned since leaving is there’s a world outside Man United.“I was going into proper men’s football week in, week out. At United I had been getting a little taste of first-team football and then I’d be out.“I’d sit and wait and wouldn’t be allowed out on loan. It was difficult to get a flow of first-team games.“So what I learned was the Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday grind of men’s football.”Amos admits he was inside a Manchester United bubble – oblivious to the sometimes harsh realities of the game outside of it.He said: “I wasn’t aware of it at the time. You expect everywhere to be held to the same standards of the Ferguson reign.“But you learn there is life outside of that. It’s not necessarily better or worse. Places are just run differently. It’s part and parcel of growing up.”Ferguson clearly rated Amos to have given him chances. The then rookie keeper held his own too.
      In those seven outings, he kept three clean sheets and conceded five goals and the team won five, drew one and lost one.

      Sir Alex Ferguson gave Amos seven first-team starts at Manchester United

      Ben Amos working with David De Gea in training at Manchester United
      And Amos said: “Sir Alex had faith in me and gave me opportunities at 18. I’ll be eternally grateful for that.“He kept a distance from his players. He worked on that fear factor – including with the senior players.“But, at the same time, he could crack a joke with you.
      “Sir Alex kept everyone guessing and you were always on your toes – even if you were a world-elite footballer.”

      Ben Amos has been in inspired form for Charlton in League One this season
      Amos is in his second spell with the Addicks having had a season on loan in League One from then parent club Bolton three years ago – and the team reached the play-offs.He signed permanently last year after a loan at Millwall but had a frustrating first season on his return – finding himself second-choice to Dillon Phillips and picking up an finger injury that kept him out for four months.So he had to watch from the sidelines as the Addicks were relegated from the Championship.
      Amos said: “It’s part and parcel of being a keeper. I was expecting to play. but joined just 10 days before the season so Dillon started and to his credit he did well. I didn’t get a look-in.“I then had an operation on my finger and that was the best part of four months out.“That is your season done at that point. I did get back at the end of the January. But by that time Dillon was in his groove.“That was great for him – but, thinking selfishly, it was frustrating for me.“But, first and foremost, Dillon and I are friends – we’ve been away on holiday together. We had healthy competition.“I didn’t overthink it. I couldn’t control what Dilon was doing on a matchday so just did my bit every day and was ready if called upon.”Phillips left the club in the summer to join Cardiff, which has enabled Amos to claim the No1 position.And he has had a superb start to the season – and went 575 minutes without conceding before Che Evans beat him twice in two minutes in Charlton’s 3-2 win at Fleetwood before the international break.That has coincided with Lee Bowyer’s men winning six matches on the spin and unbeaten in seven.Amos rates the clean sheet in the 0-0 draw against promotion rivals Sunderland before the six-match winning run as his most satisfying.He said: “We’d just lost back-to-back games against Doncaster and Lincoln – and that result against Sunderland put us back on the right track. Hopefully we can continue that form.”
      Thomas Sandgaard’s takeover of the club has been pivotal to Charlton’s change in fortunes – after an entire season of unrest off the field.

      New owner Thomas Sandgaard has brought a feelgood factor back
      The American-based Danish businessman has given the club some calming stability – and crucially backed Bowyer in the transfer market.In total, he has sanctioned TEN signings – defender Ryan Inniss, Chris Gunter, Ian Maatsen, Akin Famewo, midfielders Ben Watson, Andrew Shinnie, Marcus Maddison, Adam Matthews and strikers Paul Smyth and Omar Bogle.

      Amos said: “Everything he promised he has delivered on so far – and all the things I’m hearing and seeing has been good – long may it continue.“He even has been sending us special medical equipment that his company distributes – so is going over and beyond to help us be successful, which is welcome after what happened in previous months.“The feel-good factor is ultimately driven by results but the stability is need as a springboard to be successful.“We have strength in depth all across the pitch and I don’t think we’ve got going yet. We have loads more in us to kick on, really gel and put in better performances.”

      BEN AMOS FANS’ Q&A

      BEN AMOS answers questions sent to SunSport by Charlton fans.

      MICK McCORMACK: What aspects of your game do you feel you have improved over the last 12 months?BEN AMOS: My distribution definitely. I’ve been working non-stop on that. I try to make gains every day with coach Andy Marshall, he pushes me with tiny little details that we can polish and work on. There isn’t one thing. It’s fine tuning.
      BEN CHURCH: How did you manage the backwards hand save in the play-offs against Shrewsbury? I still can’t get over how you did that.BEN AMOS: Just instinct. I’ve always got that desire to keep the ball out of the net and at that time I found myself with my back to the player and the shot came in. I kept my eyes on it and with pure desperation to keep the ball out I managed to make the save.
      RAY STOWER: Being in goal in empty stadiums at the moment, does that take the pressure off you as a keeper?BEN AMOS: Not for me personally. The pressure is trying to win the game, keep clean sheets and do your best. I focus on myself. If I do that I sleep easier than if I hadn’t.THOMAS SANDGAARD: The back four have a lot of trust in you – how much have the experienced defenders helped you?BEN AMOS: They’re good lads first and foremost. We’re always speaking to each other about the game where they are enthusiastic to learn and have the desire to keep the ball out of the net.That is the first thing I want as a goalkeeper. They have helped me in that respect because there becomes a trust with more games we play. We speak so much how to keep the ball out of the net. More