Latest news with #squaddepth
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'We're the blue machine'
Birmingham City striker Jay Stansfield believes their dramatic late win at Blackburn Rovers underlines the strength in depth in their Laird came off the bench to win the 90th-minute penalty, which Stansfield converted, and it was another substitute, Lyondon Dykes, who added the stoppage-time winner."Unbelievable players are sitting on the bench and that just shows the strength of this team and what we can deliver," Stansfield told BBC Radio WM."I thought the game was over (after the penalty), I didn't realise there was 11 minutes added on and as soon as we saw the board we knew momentum was with us."Our fitness, our energy our togetherness, the gaffer says we're the big blue machine and we saw that in the last few minutes of the game."He added: "When we're chasing the game that's when big players need to step up and that's what I enjoy doing, it's what I thrive off."My heart was racing when I put the ball down on the penalty spot and you look up and see all these people that have travelled and think I don't want to let them down. I know what I'm good at and penalties is one of those things."Having taken four points from their opening two games, Birmingham will be at home to Oxford United on Saturday.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Newcastle are rescuing their chaotic window even if Alexander Isak saga rumbles on
As for Malick Thiaw, he has been a long-standing target of Howe and his arrival from AC Milan finally ends the two-year wait for a new right-sided centre back to compete with stalwart Fabian Schar. Elanga and Thiaw were key targets months ago, while Ramsey was admired at the start of the window. Only Ramsdale, who will compete with goalkeeper Nick Pope, can be considered a back up option after James Trafford chose to return to Manchester City rather than sign – as he believed he would for most of the summer – for Newcastle. All things considered, that means Newcastle have strengthened both their starting XI and their squad depth ahead of their return to the Champions League. No window is ideal for any club, but after so many snubs, which have seen them miss out on Liam Delap, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro, Benjamin Sesko and Trafford, Newcastle have not had the disastrous window of popular conception. No imminent resolution over Isak's future It is only at centre forward that Eddie Howe has major concerns, with just under three weeks left until the window shuts. It is both a glaring hole and a major headache, but sign a striker and keep Isak, albeit against his will, and Newcastle will have salvaged their summer. With no imminent sign of any sort of resolution over Isak's future – and he is certainly no closer to getting the move to Liverpool he desires – Newcastle will face Aston Villa this weekend without their best striker and most reliable source of goals. Even if they do continue to resist – and this remained the board's firm intention on Wednesday – his attempts to force his way out – there is no guarantee the Sweden international will be the same player for them he has been for the last three years. Isak has shown himself to be a petulant, sulky character who has willingly burned bridges in pursuit of his personal ambition. The road to redemption will be a long and difficult one if he is denied the move to Anfield, but as one source told Telegraph Sport this week 'even a sulky, distracted and unhappy Isak will be better' than any of the strikers who remain on the market. Not too late to repair relationship Telegraph Sport has been in constant dialogue with people in and around the Isak saga. As things stand, they believe they will keep Isak and will try and make things as smooth as possible for him when the time is right to reintegrate him into the first team squad. Regrettably, that is unlikely to happen until after the transfer window shuts, unless Howe can somehow get through to the player that he is making a terrible mistake in trying to force his departure. His agent has been largely blamed for the messy situation, but the player must take his share of it too. If he does, indeed, remain on Tyneside in September, there will be a lot of apologising to do and he will have to accept the fans are extremely angry. Newcastle do continue to explore the market for potential attacking replacements for Isak, but there is little confidence or belief they will find one. Signing a player of potential is not the route they want to go down when they are playing in the Champions League next season. It would have to be someone ready to play at that level immediately. Had Sesko signed last week, Isak would probably have got his move. If Liverpool had not swooped in to sign Ekitike, Isak would probably have got his move, even if the original plan was to play them together for at least one season. For all the talk of player power, Newcastle's message remains the same. If Liverpool do not match their valuation and they cannot sign a suitable replacement, Isak is going nowhere. There are a lot of people who do not want to hear that message, including the player and his representatives, but Newcastle remain steadfast. They will not be pushed around. The recruitment team remain focused on the potential signing of Yoan Wissa from Brentford. They desperately need a centre forward and the sooner the better, but the 28-year-old was always seen as a replacement for Callum Wilson, not Isak. Brentford will also not sell until they have a replacement of their own but there is hope a deal can be concluded.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Two class lads up top... Can't wait'
Newcastle doing first team business in a transfer window. Who knew?!Following the exciting signing of Anthony Elanga last week, we are now being linked with Hugo Ekitike from Frankfurt. Yes please! Great. I is being made of whether or not this means Alexander Isak is due to move on given he has been playing as a lone striker. I don't think an Ekitike signing, if it happens, means that Isak is going anywhere. We've been crying out for squad depth for nearly two years now. Most teams have more than one dynamic forward those of us who have actually watched Alexander Isak play know that he is no stranger to roaming the pitch a little more - dropping deep to collect the ball and playing out wider when he needs to. I think adding a player like Ekitike into the mix will unlock a little more of Isak's ability to score from open play - as well as adding goals to our game from Ekitike up for news notifications on your clubCast your minds back a year or so when many of us wondered how Bruno and Tonali would play together. Could they? Would they? Spoiler alert: they could and they did. Just because we haven't seen Isak play effectively with another striker doesn't mean he can't. These are young players who get to train under Eddie Howe. They'll be working together in no also means Isak can rest a little with the glut of games we have coming up. We know he's had slight injuries here and there and played through them precisely because of our lack of options. Bring Ekitike to Newcastle and watch how he integrates with the rest of the team. Two class lads up top. Can't if it does mean Isak is moving on, then we could surely do worse than an exciting new prospect to replace him. The future is still very bright for more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Tottenham news: Opinion - Fan writer on strength in depth
As Ange Postecoglou justifiably rotated his squad against West Ham on Sunday, it occurred to me: isn't it a relief to finally have even the semblance of strength in depth? Obviously, the Premier League table is not really worth a glance for Spurs fans this close to the finish line of such a bleak domestic season. Everyone's focus – manager, players and fans alike – is on the Europa League. And rightly so. However, there are still domestic league games left to play and, even if the results seem inconsequential in this campaign, it is better to make a good account of yourself than completely capitulate. This means the overall squad is more important now than ever. After such an injury-ravaged season - including months without a bench made up of more than teenagers - could it be that everything is coming together just in time for European glory? While James Maddison's injury is disappointing, Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Matar Sarr are more than adequate replacements. Maddison had a great game on Thursday night, but has been inconsistent for large parts of this season, so I am hopeful his absence will not prove too costly. The more significant loss – and someone who, should we get there, deserved to play in the Europa League final – is Lucas Bergvall. His injury feels ironic and inevitable. This is what happens when a teenager has to play more games than anticipated because he is covering for other injured players. So clearly there is still a lot of work to be done in building a squad that is strong enough to challenge consistently in multiple competitions. However, given we have somehow managed to get to the brink of a European final this season, it feels comforting that there are finally stronger options available. Find more from Ali Speechly at Women Of The Lane, external and on Instagram, external
