Caoimhín Kelleher: I want to show I'm a first-choice 'keeper
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Irish Examiner
29 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa sees red as Newcastle draw blank without Isak
Premier League: Aston Villa 0 Nwecastle 0 Newcastle demonstrated how united they are without Alexander Isak but also how much they miss his goal power. Despite dominating this match, before and after Ezri Konsa was sent off for Aston Villa, Eddie Howe's men had to settle for a draw against the side they pipped for a Champions League place. Still hoping to buy Yoane Wissa from Brentford and having let the veteran Callum Wilson leave for free to West Ham, Newcastle played three wingers across their frontline and only brought on Will Osula, the one recognised central striker in their squad, in the 90th minute. Villa, whose fans vented their frustration at the Premier League for the profitability and sustainability rules that have curtailed deepening their squad this summer, survived a sluggish start to defend manfully for the final quarter of the game when they were a man down and earn their point. Isak's continued absence has not helped Newcastle and their fans saved their loudest chant of the day till after the final whistle. 'There's only one greedy bastard,' they sang in unison. And how committed were they and their team throughout this frenetic opening game. Much of the pre-match chatter was about the moves that have not happened. Villa were about to ease their PSR concerns by selling homegrown Jacob Ramsey to these opponents for an initial £39m, but have been restricted to signing backups, in Evann Guessand, the £26m Ivory Coast striker starting on the bench, and Marco Bizot, the Dutch goalkeeper handed a prompt debut as he deputised for the suspended Emi Martínez. Villa's regular custodian was sent off on the final day of last season when their defeat at Manchester United allowed Newcastle to claim English football's final Champions League place. Having won the Carabao Cup, their first trophy since 1969, and finished fifth in the Premier League to return to Europe's elite competition, this should have been a joyous close-season for Newcastle fans. Instead it has been overshadowed by the Isak saga. Eddie Howe has been obliged to admit that his leading striker's stance in attempting to force through a move to Liverpool did affect pre-season morale early on and that he could only consider players who wanted to play for Newcastle for selection. Well, the XI who started at Villa Park clearly did. They dominated this game and should have been ahead by half-time through any one of a plethora of good chances. Their ambition to play in Villa's half was signalled by Sandro Tonali playing for touch near the corner flag directly from kick-off. Within three minutes Anthony Elanga was sent clear by Tonali and forced Bizot into a fine save to his right. Even in Isak's absence, Newcastle had pace to burn across their frontline and Anthony Gordon, playing down the middle, headed over one cross by Harvey Barnes, who soon delivered to the far post for Elanga to slash goalwards a volley that was blocked. Villa barely had the chance to breathe at this stage. Bizot, signed from Brest, was obliged to show his mettle again as he got down low to his right to parry aside a 20-yard drive from Gordon, who was teed up, once more, by Barnes. Villa, defending deeply, were not getting close enough to their green-shirted opponents. It's not that Villa were especially poor, just that Newcastle were so much more intense. Nick Pope did not have a shot to save in the opening period. Villa's expected goals at half-time was precisely zero. Ollie Watkins, who had opened the scoring inside 40 seconds when Newcastle were dismissed 4-1 here in April, gave an outstanding display of forward running down the channels but Villa, apart from Morgan Rogers, simply could not get enough men supporting him. They were too knackered trying to match Newcastle's energy. Villa started the second half higher and brighter, and Boubacar Kamara should have done better than to head their first chance, from John McGinn's right-wing cross, straight at Pope. After Pope saved from Watkins, at the midpoint of the second half, with Villa finally territorially dominant, Elanga received the ball midway between his own 18-yard line and halfway. Gordon timed his acceleration perfectly and his direction of travel even better. He ran beyond the halfway line and Konsa just as Elanga released his pass and when the England defender grappled Newcastle's No 10 to impede his run in on goal, Craig Pawson had an easy decision to pull out his red card. Thereafter, this resembled a training game of attack versus defence. Villa slipped into a 4-4-1 formation and, with Tyrone Mings in the centre of everything, they sensed they could survive. Villa had won their previous nine games when starting with the former England defender. It is at least something from which both teams can build. Aston Villa: Bizot,Cash,Konsa,Mings,Digne,Kamara,Onana, McGinn (Malen 84),Tielemans,Rogers,Watkins. Subs Not Used: Buendia,Torres,Iling-Junior,Maatsen,Bogarde, Guessand,Wright,Jimoh. Newcastle: Pope,Trippier,Schar,Burn,Livramento,Guimaraes,Tonali, Joelinton (Miley 83),Elanga (Jacob Murphy 78),Gordon, Barnes (Osula 90). Subs Not Used: Ramsdale,Hall,Botman,Thiaw,Krafth,Park. Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire). Guardian
The Irish Sun
39 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Ruben Amorim makes major change to Man Utd match day routine as he scraps policy introduced by Erik ten Hag
RUBEN AMORIM has made a huge change to Manchester United's pre-match routine. The Red Devils begin their Premier League campaign tomorrow against Arsenal at Old Trafford. 5 Ruben Amorim has made a change to Man Utd's pre-match routine Credit: Getty 5 Erik ten Hag's old measure has been axed Credit: Alamy Back when Erik ten Hag was in charge of the club, he introduced a policy that saw players arrive at the stadium for a home game FOUR HOURS before kick-off. It was a measure introduced by the old boss as he ditched staying at a hotel the night before a game. But ahead of the new season, Amorim has axed Ten Hag's preparation method. And the players have now been told to meet at the club's Carrington training ground before a match. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL VILE 'ABUSE' Antoine Semenyo breaks silence after fan kicked out for 'hurling racist abuse' They will then travel for seven miles as a team to Old Trafford. The plan is for them to arrive at the ground just two hours before kick-off. Amorim has made the switch following Carrington's £50m redevelopment. Explaining the decision, he said: "I always had the feeling that we arrive at Old Trafford and Old Trafford must be the centre of the game - but we cannot spend four hours there waiting for the game. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS 'And I feel with these facilities we can be here, preparing for the game away from Old Trafford and when we arrive at Old Trafford, we have to feel the fans and then go directly to the game, not killing the momentum of the connection with our fans. 'We know that we have a lot of people waiting there for us, to be with the players and to sign autographs. We will try to do the same. Man Utd preparing Morten Hjulmand bid | Transfers Exposed 'So, it's going to be the same experience for the fans. 'But for us it's going to be better because we are going to feel, nearer the game, the momentum with the fans and we will spend less time in there.' A range of equipment and technology has been upgraded at Carrington with a focus on fitness, nutrition, recovery and team unity. There is a new canteen area, swimming pool and space for players to relax. The gym has undergone a major revamp and cryogenic chambers have been added to aid recovery. Amorim now believes Carrington is the best place for the team to be before a game. On the change, fans said: "Curious if this will impact performance in big pressure games. Does reducing pre-match build-up kill focus or sharpen it?" Another added: "That sounds like a smart move. If Carrington has been upgraded to top level, it makes sense to use it as the hub players will feel more comfortable and focused before heading to Old Trafford." A third wrote: "I always thought it was weird how early we turn up to games." 5 Carrington has undergone a £50m redevelopment Credit: Getty 5 Players will now meet at the training ground before home games Credit: Getty
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Van Dijk offers support to Semenyo as racist abuse branded 'absolute disgrace'
Virgil van Dijk has vowed to back Antoine Semenyo in any way possible after the Bournemouth striker made allegations of racist abuse during Liverpool's 4-2 triumph at Anfield on Friday evening. The Reds skipper has slammed the incident as an "absolute disgrace", insisting such conduct has no place in football. The Reds kicked off their Premier League title defence with a home triumph over the Cherries, but the opening period was halted after Semenyo reported the allegations to referee Anthony Taylor, who then spoke with both bosses Arne Slot and Andoni Iraola on the touchline. Semenyo made the complaint following a throw-in close to the Main Stand, and police are now investigating the matter, with Liverpool releasing a statement shortly after the final whistle confirming their cooperation with authorities. Slot condemned the alleged racism directed at Semenyo, who netted Bournemouth's brace on the evening, and speaking post-match, Van Dijk mirrored his manager's sentiments whilst promising to support the Cherries forward through this difficult period, reports the Liverpool Echo "I've had loads of conversations with him about it and first and foremost I wanted to know what happened, and I am glad the authorities are dealing with it all, that is the main thing," Van Dijk said. "But we stand with him completely and I think everyone of you here would say the same thing: these things can't happen. So anything he needs for support, I am here for him. We are all here for him, to be honest but the club as well and they are dealing with it in the right way, I am fully confident about that. "Especially the authorities have to deal with it now and like I said these things can't happen, whatsoever. No I can't believe it and I can say these things that it shouldn't happen but unfortunately it does and it is an absolute disgrace in my eyes." Van Dijk continued: "First and foremost these things should never happen in the world, not only football. I am happy to say I don't see it happening up until today actually and that is what I say that it is a disgrace that it could happen. "But in general, racism is not of this world in my opinion. But if we are to be realistic, unfortunately, it still exists and that is the dangerous side of it. "We have to deal with it in the here and now and like I said, I am here for Antoine, whenever he needs it and we are here as a club to deal with it in the best way possible because it shouldn't happen. "What else can we do? Because this is the very odd one that has managed to be something that is a disgrace and the only thing we can do is deal with it with him personally and try to educate the next generation but that is the only way to try and kick it out in my opinion. It's tricky but that is the only way we can try and kick it out."
