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Having been allowed to leave Aston Villa on loan in the January transfer window, it’s fair to say Conor Hourihane is doing his best to remind those at his parent club why he should have been kept.

The Republic of Ireland international had struggled to get much game-time at Villa Park in the first half of the season in the Premier League, playing just 228 minutes of top-flight football before his departure for Swansea.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of a game against West Ham earlier this season, Villa manager Dean Smith was quick to acknowledge that it was difficult for Hourihane. He said: “Conversations can be difficult but if you’re just speaking to the players with honesty then you usually find a way through that.

“We’d played two, won two and Conor had come off in both games. We signed Ross and I felt we needed to go a different way against Liverpool given who we were playing against. I explained that to Conor and, yes, he was disappointed because he had been involved in the first two games but we felt we’d brought in a real, high-calibre, different type of player.”

Now on loan at the Liberty Stadium, Hourihane is underlining just what a talented player he is on his day, already racking up five goals in just 12 games in the Championship.

It’s no surprise that Steve Cooper, his manager at Swansea, has raved about the Irishman, saying: “He’s been so impressive from the day he’s come through the door, which wasn’t that long ago. I thought his composure and quality on the ball is what we want it to be. If that’s the start of things to come then happy days.”

Last summer, Villa journalist Dan Bardell waxed lyrical about the midfielder’s ability following an impressive performance in a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace towards the end of the 2019/20 season.

He said: “Whether you rate Conor (Hourihane) or whether you don’t, and obviously we’re two people that rate him highly, you can’t deny that when he’s on the pitch, we’ve looked better this season. And he’s a weapon from set pieces.

“The way he looks after the ball is very underrated as well. I think a lot of people take that for granted.”

Given how well he has performed for Swansea in the short time he has been there, and the troubles which Villa themselves have faced in recent weeks (they’ve managed just three goals in their past five games), Smith must surely be ruing letting the 1.81m-tall (5 foot 11) Hourihane leave in January.

Meanwhile, Villa are making a big mistake over signing this midfielder…

Former West Brom midfielder Carlton Palmer has identified Chris Wilder as a potential successor to Sam Allardyce at the Midlands club, in an exclusive interview with Football FanCast.

With West Brom facing relegation, Allardyce’s long-term future at the Hawthorns is uncertain. The 66-year-old is reported to have a break-clause in his contract that becomes active at the end of the season if the Baggies fail to avoid the drop, casting much doubt.

If Allardyce does end up departing, Wilder is one name that the West Brom board could consider following his recent exit from Sheffield United, and Palmer believes it is an opportunity that could interest the ex-Blades boss.

Speaking exclusively to FFC, the retired England international said:

“I mean, they’ve got a good squad of players now that Sam has got together. I think Chris will go back into football, for sure. He’s a footballing man, he loves football.

“Wherever he goes to work, he will want control of footballing matters, so I would say West Brom may interest him. Obviously you want to stay in the Premier League if you can, but there’s only so many jobs in the Premier League. So the next thing is in the Championship, can you take over a club and get promoted? He’s proven he can do that.”

Given Allardyce has experience managing in the Championship, winning promotion with West Ham back in the 2011/12 season, it may be worth sticking with the former England manager.

However, if action is taken and West Brom do find themselves on the lookout for a new coach, then Wilder is surely one name that they would have to consider. While things certainly did not go to plan for the 53-year-old in the current campaign, he did a great job overall at Bramall Lane, taking Sheffield United all the way from League 1 to the Premier League.

Many Everton fans have been left in agreement with Jamie Carragher after he did some analysis on the Goodison Park faithful on Monday Night Football.

The Liverpool legend said (via Toffee TV) that it would be a ‘disappointment’ if the Merseyside club do not qualify for European competition for the start of the 2021/22 term due to the quality of manager they have in Carlo Ancelotti, but thinks that the Toffees will fall short of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

The Blues are currently sitting in seventh spot in the Premier League table at the moment on 43 points, just two off of fourth-placed West Ham United with a game in hand (BBC Sport).

While qualifying for Europe’s elite competition is of course a possibility for Ancelotti and his side, they still have the likes of reigning champions Liverpool and big spenders Chelsea to compete with, while also potentially looking over their shoulder for more challengers.

Everton fan reaction to Carragher analysis

These EFC supporters agreed on Carragher’s analysis on Twitter:

“No he’s absolutely right there. Let’s not forget this is Carlo’s first full season, what he’s done already is lay the foundations for the future.”

Credit: @IanG1878

“Completely agree!”

Credit: @james_page26

“Spot on for me, after this season I’ll be disappointed if we don’t get Europe.”

Credit: @PfftSwifti

“Think he has a point to be fair. Our priority is Europa, anything else is a bonus.”

Credit: @nickgartland

“He’s spot on tbh”

Credit: @Yaboiholo

“Think he’s right tbf, but you never know”

Credit: @scousemouse56

In other news, find out what Fabrizio Romano transfer update has been lauded by Everton fans here!

As West Brom’s struggles continue, they will surely live to regret one of their summer decisions…

What was the word?

Back in June, the Express & Star revealed that American left-back Antonee Robinson was one of the Baggies’ top transfer targets and it was claimed that they were willing to pay his £2m release clause.

Two months later, the 23-year-old opted to join Premier League and relegation rivals Fulham in a move that appears to be costing Albion by the week.

One that got away?

West Brom not only have the worst defensive record in the top-flight but also across Europe’s five elite leagues too. Sam Allardyce’s side have leaked a whopping 52 goals from their 22 outings, some 16 more than any other Premier League side.

He’s yet to settle on his first-choice backline, which has been evident in his constant chopping and changing of the full-backs.

Dara O’Shea and Darnell Furlong keep swapping in and out on the right, whilst Big Sam clearly doesn’t trust Gibbs as Conor Townsend has come straight back in on his return from a pretty lengthy layoff.

The story may have been so much different had they landed the bargain signature of Robinson.

Fulham have also struggled, but they haven’t conceded so many goals.

Indeed since December, they have only once conceded more than two goals in one game – by comparison, under Allardyce, the Baggies have leaked five twice, four and three in four of their last five home outings.

The USMNT international has played a key part as he ranks third for overall WhoScored rating (6.97) in Scott Parker’s squad. West Brom’s best full-back has been Townsend (6.81) and then O’Shea (6.42).

Robinson contributes positively at either end of the pitch, which is why he would have been a perfect addition at the Hawthorns as they struggle to score on top of being easily bypassed.

Per WhoScored, the young left-back manages 2.2 tackles per 90 at a success rate of 72.3% as well as 1.7 interceptions per 90, proving to be a hardworking beast off the ball.

Neither Townsend (1.7 tackles, 1.5 interceptions per 90) nor Gibbs (1.7 tackles per 90) can match such returns.

Similarly, Robinson’s 1.4 key passes per 90 is over double what the Baggies duo have achieved thus far in creativity up the pitch.

Indeed, his manager at Fulham, Parker, has already been left impressed by what his new signing has offered this season, saying: “He’s done incredibly well. (He’s) a boy with a big, big heart and a boy with a fearless attitude that embraces and takes things on a daily basis, same as in the games.

“He’s got quality and ability which I think we’re all seeing. (There’s) still loads to improve and loads to learn, but he has a real work ethic about him and a mentality about him that he’s willing to do that.”

The Baggies’ fortunes wouldn’t have been instantly changed had they secured the American in the summer, but certainly, the decision from sporting director Luke Dowling to not bring him in for just £2m is looking worse and worse as each game passes by.

They should have given him everything he was after.

AND in other news, 89% duels lost: West Brom ace drops disasterclass vs Sheff Utd…

Ever since Emile Smith Rowe was thrust into the starting line-up against Chelsea towards the end of 2020, Arsenal have looked a completely different team.

They’ve rattled off five wins in six games, and the England youth international was in superb form once again in his side’s Premier League win over Newcastle on Monday night.

Mikel Arteta’s side ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in the end, and whilst Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck two goals and was awarded the Man of the Match award by Sky Sports for his performance, it was Smith Rowe who arguably stole the show.

The 20-year-old was once again deployed in the number ten role, something that held even more significance given Mesut Ozil’s imminent departure to Turkish giants Fenerbahce.

And Smith Rowe was the creative hub of the Gunners as they ground Newcastle down in the first-half, and then opened them up in the second.

Aside from a glorious run and cut-back for Bukayo Saka’s goal, the Arsenal academy product also provided four key passes on the night – the most of any Gunners ace, and as much as the entire Newcastle team combined. It was his choice and timing of passing that really stood out, never trying to force things and always making sure he moved things forward for his side.

Speaking after the game, Arteta described both Saka and Smith Rowe as “extraordinary”, whilst Jamie Carragher raved about him on punditry duty for Sky Sports.

He said: “You feel like he’s always in control. He’s trying to beat a man, he beats him, but he gets the composure right too, and the night belonged to Emile Smith Rowe – I thought he was outstanding.

“He looks like someone who actually plays the right pass for the team at that time. People might watch it and not think it’s very spectacular, but when you play with players like that, who always make the right decision, it’s not about looking good, it’s about helping your team-mate, giving him the ball.”

Smith Rowe’s impact cannot be understated, and with the Gunners still seemingly in the market for a new attacking midfielder – they’ve been linked with Norwich’s Emi Buendia in recent weeks – Edu faces a major headache about how he goes about doing that.

The north London side have a real talent on their hands, and the last thing he needs for his development is someone who’s just going to come in and take minutes away from him and stunt his progress. The Gunners’ technical director has a tough decision to make in this January transfer window.

Meanwhile, Arsenal heading for another Balogun disaster…

Despite the addition of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the summer, Tottenham Hotspur are pursuing another midfielder this month.

According to Sunday Times journalist Duncan Castles in December, Spurs boss Jose Mourinho asked for a box-to-box maestro in the upcoming January transfer market.

One name that has been linked with a switch to north London is former Premier League ace Marten de Roon, who has made a name for himself in Serie A for surprise package Atalanta.

90min revealed exclusively that both Spurs and Manchester City were keeping an eye on him, though Pep Guardiola are more likely to consider an approach for him in the summer, thus potentially opening the door to Daniel Levy.

Further fuel has been added to the fire after Eurosport’s Dean Jones confirmed just last week that the Dutchman was indeed a player they were looking at.

He also went on to suggest that Gedson Fernandes is likely to return to Benfica, whilst the futures of Dele Alli and Harry Winks were by no means certain, so a new midfielder could well be on the agenda.

And de Roon fits the mould of what Spurs should be after.

They’ve got that defensive anchor in Hojbjerg and potential no.10s in Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso.

Though, the latter is yet to hit the ground running having contributed to just seven goals and four assists in 56 appearances, via Transfermarkt.

Perhaps that’s because he’s not been given the freedom that Christian Eriksen once had in attacking midfield, after all, the Argentine playmaker is averaging 1.6 tackles per game across the Premier League and in Europe too.

So the addition of a box-to-box option alongside Hojbjerg could be a dream for Lo Celso’s attacking output.

Valued at €20m (£18m) by CIES, de Roon is a player who has previously received a glowing endorsement from Mourinho.

After his Manchester United side beat Middlesbrough in the FA Cup in 2017, he told reporters via GazetteLive:

“This kid De Roon is phenomenal, his work-rate is phenomenal.”

The 29-year-old has continued to deliver for Atalanta this term, where he is averaging 2.1 tackles, 1.9 interceptions, 0.7 shots and 0.6 key passes per game, via WhoScored, which merely emphasises his ability at either end of the pitch.

It also goes to show that his influence in the middle-third could be exactly what Mourinho needs to unlock Lo Celso’s true potential.

Daniel Levy must do what he can to secure the 15-cap gem this window.

AND in other news, Spurs transfer target rated at a BARGAIN £9m just delivered a defensive masterclass…

Manchester United are undoubtedly one of the biggest football clubs in the world. In terms of their history, finances, stadium and fan base, they can compare to anyone on the planet.That is why their Champions League exit at the hands of RB Leipzig simply cannot be accepted. Admittedly, they were handed a very tough group, which included PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir, along with the classy German outfit. Nevertheless, United should still have expected to qualify when you consider the resources they have, but once again, they came up short. However, the most worrying aspect is that nobody was really surprised because the standards at Old Trafford have slipped so much.

A quick glance at the latest football odds shows that you can get 16/1 for the Red Devils to win the Premier League. So, even in this season, one of the most unpredictable ever, the neutrals still don’t give United much of a chance. What’s also worrying for the fans is that nobody would dispute that, as the side have fallen way behind Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and even Tottenham.

From top to bottom, they are a club that lacks an identity or a plan. That was encapsulated by the fact that key figures are now apparently demanding the club look into appointing a director of football once again. They wanted one, they didn’t want one and now they want one again.

Ultimately, that lies with the Glazers, right at the very top. They need to set out a clear vision that everyone can buy into, and they then must appoint the right people in the right places. Whether that means Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keeps his job is open to debate, although the idea that he should be the United manager because he ‘knows the club’ is astounding in today’s game.

That lack of planning has also been evident on the pitch. After years in charge, Solskjaer still hasn’t settled on a formation and key men don’t play to their potential under his guidance.

The saving grace for the Norwegian, and those above him, is that United have somehow managed to just about avoid a catastrophe in the past. They can go 2-0 down to Southampton, but individual magic will rescue them. Similarly, a poor Premier League performance can be overshadowed by a magnificent win in Paris in Europe. They would be on the cusp of a disaster, yet they would just about get out of it.

That didn’t happen against Leipzig though, even though they nearly managed the unthinkable after trailing 3-0 with 20 minutes to play. In the end, though, they were out. We all know the importance of playing in the Champions League to the money men, so the recent elimination will have hurt. It should mean those awkward questions are asked, and then action can be taken.

As one of the richest and most powerful clubs in the world, it’s about time Manchester United started using that to their advantage. The embarrassment of falling into the Europe League, again, has to be the wake-up call that fans have been warning about for years as they look to build a team that can thrive domestically and in Europe, as they should.

Carlton Palmer has predicted Paul Pogba will leave Manchester United in the not too distant future.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast correspondent Tom Ward, the former England international insists Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cannot blame Pogba for his team’s poor performances.

The Red Devils have struggled for consistency this season, having won three and lost three out of seven games in the Premier League so far.

Solskjaer’s side beat both Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig but lost to Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League before the international break.

And Palmer believes the French World Cup winner cannot be entirely blamed for their inconsistent start to the season.

He told FFC: “I see him leaving United.”

“Why was he successful at Juventus? Well, they played three at the back, five in the middle of the park, which allowed him to play in a free role. Go and do and what you’ve got to do son.”

“He’s a talented boy, but you can’t keep blaming Pogba if you don’t play him and set the team up the right way for him to perform.”

“He [Solskjaer] can’t keep blaming him, because that’s not his game.”

Once again, Solskjaer finds himself facing the same questions over his future at a time when one of his stars faces an uncertain future.

Pogba is undoubtedly one of the best footballers in the world as he boasts an impressive trophy cabinet – one World Cup, one Premier League title, one Europa League trophy and four Serie A trophies. The Red Devils re-signed the French international from Juventus for a then world-record fee reportedly worth £89m in 2016.

Since then, the 27-year-old has established himself as one of the senior figures in the dressing room for club and country.

France manager Didier Deschamps seems to agree, as he hailed him as a “leader” after the 2-1 victory over Croatia in the Nations League in October.

Pogba began his professional career at his boyhood club, before leaving Old Trafford in unfavourable circumstances back in 2012, as he could not reach an agreement with the Red Devils over the terms of a new and improved deal.

Although not everyone is a fan of the Frenchman, with United legend Roy Keane insisting “he wouldn’t believe a word he says” following the humiliating 4-0 defeat at Everton in 2019, it’s hard to deny the fact that he is an incredible talent, as 33 goals and 35 assists in 175 games is an impressive return for a deep-lying midfielder.

Pogba, who’s market value is rated at £72m via Transfermarkt, has won 66 games in 118 appearances in the Premier League, losing on just 20 occasions so far. Not too shabby.

AND in other news, Woeful Woodward: Manchester United will forever regret not signing Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund…

Wolves U23s manager James Collins heaped praise on youngster Theo Corbeanu after his performance against Doncaster Rovers in the Papa John’s Trophy.

Corbeanu has the world at his feet

The Canadian-born Romanian winger has only recently been introduced to the second string setup after scoring four goals and providing one assist in the U18 Premier League last season. Corbeanu has managed to replicate that form for Collins’ team, scoring twice from his first seven outings (via TransferMarkt).

The 18-year-old played just behind the club’s record signing Fabio Silva, as his Portuguese teammate notched a brace which helped them to a 2-1 win at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Cited by BirminghamLive, Collins was full of praise for Corbeanu and is excited about what is to come from him.

“He’s athletic, tall, can head it, can defend, can dribble past people and score, he can shoot, he can pass, he’s both footed, he’s got a bit of everything,” he said.

“Theo can be anything he wants to be,” Collins continues. “He’s an outstanding prospect. But, and there’s always a but with these players, he’s got to learn to play within the system and play with the others, adapt his game for different scenarios and situations.

“He’s got to keep improving and he knows that, he’s another good kid who wants to learn – but I think Theo can be as good as he wants to be.”

Transfer Tavern take

Corbeanu has made himself one of Collins’ key assets already during this campaign, which could force Nuno Espirito Santo into looking at him for possible first-team appearances further down the line.

Having played alongside Silva so competently, Corbeanu has put his name out there and supporters will now be more away of his ability, thanks to Collins’ generous words about him.

The former Romania U17 international needs to maintain his consistency and ensure that his attitude is spot on. If he can do that, the Molineux faithful could have another future star on their hands.

In other news, Wolves fans beg Nuno Espirito Santo to sign ‘monster’ midfielder.

Jose Mourinho has an illustrious record when it comes to the Europa League, winning the competition twice and he signalled his intentions to complete a hat-trick as his Tottenham Hotspur side tasted victory in their Group J opener.

The north London outfit thrashed Austrian minnows LASK Linz 3-0 at home on Thursday evening.

Lucas Moura and substitute Heung-min Son bagged either side of an own goal as Spurs were fully in control on the night.

There were many encouraging performances across the pitch, ranging from Carlos Vinicius’ debut upfront to Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg putting in a warrior-like display that had his manager comparing him to Zinedine Zidane.

Although one Spurs star failed to inspire despite Mourinho putting faith in him to start the game.

The 24-year-old was dropped for their game against Manchester United and only featured off the bench for the 3-3 draw with West Ham, so he should have taken this opportunity with both hands.

Winks, who is valued at €40m (£36m) by CIES Football Observatory, was rather lightweight in the heart of midfield as he was truly outshone by the man next to him, the Danish summer arrival.

He won just six of his 13 duels, committed three fouls, lost possession 11 times and failed to record a single key pass, shot or interception, as per SofaScore.

The Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick graded the England maestro a 5/10, the lowest of any Spurs player, and said: “If there was a weak link for Spurs, it was Harry Winks, who endured a difficult evening in the midfield three. The England international set the tone for his performance with a desperate foul in the first minute and he looked a little off the pace throughout.”

With Giovani Lo Celso to come back into the fold and Tanguy Ndombele finding his feet at long last, Mourinho will have to make the cut-throat call to drop Winks indefinitely.

There’s no way he should be starting above either of those when fully fit, nor is he going to get a place over the industrious Hojbjerg, who has been everything Spurs have lacked for the best part of 18 months.

Even Moussa Sissoko looks a better option in the middle right now. He may be one of their own, but the young N17 graduate should have no place amongst the starting XI for the foreseeable future.

AND in other news, Dynamo who had 104 touches outshone Hojbjerg vs LASK…