
Set-piece defending has been City's 'Achilles heel'
Former Norwich City striker Iwan Roberts believes failure to resolve defensive frailties is a big reason for Johannes Hoff Thorup's downfall as head coach."I watched the first half of the Norwich-Portsmouth game (on Friday) and made a tongue-in-cheek comment to my son after the game, I said 'that's a sackable offence', conceding five goals against a team that had scored seven in their previous 12 games," he told BBC Radio Norfolk's Canary Call."I wasn't serious in what I said but I was worried about him after that horrendous defeat. "Then going down to Millwall yesterday and losing that one in the manner that they did, set-pieces have been an Achilles heel all season, and they conceded another two yesterday."What is it now? One point from their last five, four points from their last eight games, two wins in the last 14. I am surprised the decision has been made with two games to go but any manager with those kind of numbers going against him will be looking over his shoulder."Wales international Roberts, who played almost 280 league games for Norwich between 1997 and 2004, said he understood why the club had made a change of head coach when they parted company with David Wagner following last season's play-offs defeat by Leeds."They wanted to go in a certain direction and I can understand that, they wanted to give younger players an opportunity," he added. "The job of a head coach and his staff is to improve these youngsters and there's not many that have improved that much over the last six or seven months."
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STV News
9 hours ago
- STV News
Aberdeen signs Australian striker Kusini Yengi on free transfer
Aberdeen have signed their third Australian of the summer after targeting former Portsmouth striker Kusini Yengi. The 26-year-old will arrive at Pittodrie on a free transfer when his Fratton Park contract expires in the coming days. Yengi – whose brother Tete plays for Livingston – has scored six goals in 11 internationals for the Socceroos. The forward scored five goals in his first five games for Portsmouth after arriving from Western Sydney Wanderers in 2023 and netted 13 goals in all in his debut campaign as Pompey won the League One title. But he failed to find the net for his club in an injury-hampered second season and will look to kick-start his career at Pittodrie having been released by Pompey. Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin, who has also signed Australian goalkeeper Nick Suman and winger Nicolas Milanovic this summer, said: 'We were quite specific about the type of profile we had identified to play as a striker for Aberdeen and Kusini has a lot of the qualities we were after. 'He is tall, strong and quick, he will work hard for the team and lead the line. He has also proven at both Portsmouth and with the Socceroos that he can score goals on a consistent basis. 'It is important for us to have different profiles of players who can bring specific strengths to our shape and how we want to play. 'With European group stage football and a busy domestic schedule, he will play a vital role for us in what we hope will be a competitive squad.' The 6ft 2in striker said: 'It feels great to be an Aberdeen player and I can't wait to get started. I'm looking forward to playing here for several years. 'The manager and staff have all been very positive and their enthusiasm was one of the main reasons I chose to come here. 'I loved the project that was pitched to me – what the manager and coaches want to achieve and what they stand for, where they think they can utilise me as a player to help the club. So I was very excited. 'Every kid dreams of playing European football and playing for big clubs like Aberdeen so I am very excited to play in those competitions and represent Aberdeen.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country


BBC News
12 hours ago
- BBC News
Aberdeen sign striker Yengi after Portsmouth exit
Australia striker Kusini Yengi says "every kid dreams of playing for big clubs like Aberdeen" after switching to Pittodrie from 26-year-old - whose younger brother Tete plays for Livingston - has spent two years with the English Championship club but only made 14 appearances last season and was released at the end of the who becomes Aberdeen's fourth summer signing, said he "loved the project that was pitched to me" by manager Jimmy said Aberdeen being in the Europa League play-offs - and at worst the Conference League - is also a big predicted that Yengi would "play a vital role"."He is tall, strong and quick, he will work hard for the team and lead the line," the Swede added. "He has also proven he can score goals on a consistent basis."Yengi made his A-league debut with Adelaide United in February 2020 before moving on to Western Sydney two years later. His form there persuaded Portsmouth to pay an undisclosed fee for his services in summer scored five times in his first five matches, earning a call-up for Australia, for whom he has scored six goals in 11 scored 13 goals in 45 appearances for Portsmouth, helping them win League One in his first year, but he made only four starts in an injury-hit, goalless season in the Championship.


Scottish Sun
12 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Aberdeen secure FOURTH summer signing as Australian international joins for free
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ABERDEEN have landed their FOURTH signing of the summer as their early business continues. He's the third Australian to be added to Jimmy Thelin's ranks as he looks to build on his team that beat Celtic to this season's Scottish Cup. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 League One winner with Portsmouth Kusini Yengi has signed a pre-contract with Aberdeen Credit: Getty 4 He's scored six for the Australian national team Credit: Getty 4 He joins fellow new Aussies at Pittodrie Nick Suman, left, and Nicolas Milanovic Credit: Getty Striker Kusini Yengi has signed a pre-contract agreement to join the Dons for free from Championship side Portsmouth, where he has been for two years. He impressed Down Under which earned him the English move, where he went on to score 13 goals in 31 appearances and lift the League One title. He's also netted six for the Australian national team in 11 matches. Pittodrie boss Thelin said of the signing: 'We were quite specific about the type of profile we had identified to play as a striker for Aberdeen and Kusini has a lot of the qualities we were after. 'He is tall, strong and quick, he will work hard for the team and lead the line. "He has also proven at both Portsmouth and with the Socceroos that he can score goals on a consistent basis. 'It is important for us to have different profiles of players who can bring specific strengths to our shape and how we want to play. "With European group stage football and a busy domestic schedule, he will play a vital role for us in what we hope will be a competitive squad.' And the forward has already sat down with the club to discuss the move, saying: 'It feels great to be an Aberdeen player and I can't wait to get started. 'I'm looking forward to playing here for several years. The manager and staff have all been very positive and their enthusiasm was one of the main reasons I chose to come here. Aberdeen fans react to historic Scottish Cup win 'I loved the project that was pitched to me. What the manager and coaches want to achieve and what they stand for. Where they think they can utilise me as a player to help the Club, so I was very excited. 'Every kid dreams of playing European football and playing for big Clubs like Aberdeen so I am very excited to play in those competitions and represent Aberdeen.' Two fellow Aussies are joining him for next season, the first being goalkeeper Nick Suman. He was signed from Cove Rangers as a replacement for Parkhead-bound Ross Doohan, who just received his first Scotland call up. The other is Western Sydney Wanderers winger Nicolas Milanovic who was secured as early as May 12. The final player to give his signature to Pittodrie already is young Schalke left-back Emmanuel Gyamfi, who said it is 'a dream to play in Europe'. 4 Jimmy Thelin has also signed up Emmanuel Gyamfi Credit: Getty Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page