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Tottenham have failed to name an unchanged line-up in consecutive matches this season and that looks set to continue tonight as they host Red Star Belgrade.

Many players continued to underperform against Watford at the weekend, including the likes of Toby Alderweireld and Danny Rose, who received ratings of five and three respectively from Football London.

With Spurs fortunate not to fall 2-0 behind to the Hornets as a result of a penalty which wasn’t given to the away side, Mauricio Pochettino still has worries in defence, and that could lead to personnel changes.

Juan Foyth has steadily built up his minutes on the pitch over the course of the international break and his return would be welcomed by some.

Another who splits opinion is Ben Davies, but with Danny Rose playing far from his best this is the perfect opportunity for him to show his boss that he should return to being first-pick, and his link-up play with Son Heung-min on the left-flank could prove vital.

There could be other notable changes too, and here’s how we think Pochettino should line his team up tonight.

With Christian Eriksen’s availability still in question, the Argentine would be wise to operate with the same front four that finished the match on Saturday.

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They provide pace and intensity up-front and should be crucial on and off the ball, with Dele Alli in particular showing signs that he is on his way back to his confident best against Watford, with two key passes and three successful dribbles to add to his goal.

Another bonus for Tottenham is that Giovani Lo Celso is likely to be involved, though considering he hasn’t played for almost two months he will probably start on the bench, but his creativity – with six assists last season – could come in handy if Spurs need a goal, and he should be expected to come on in order to build his fitness.

Another player who could return is Eric Dier. He should provide some protection to the back four and Red Star Belgrade could be a chance for him to rebuild some confidence, having struggled for both game time and form so far this term.

He has a pass accuracy of just 71% in the league but has averaged two tackles a game, and that could prove very useful tonight.

Chris Wilder seemingly split opinion this weekend as he refused to defend Dean Henderson after he dropped a clanger against Liverpool in the Blades’ 1-0 loss to the Reds on Saturday.

Some commenters were critical of the way Wilder treated the young goalkeeper, while others were completely behind the manager’s tactics.

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Darren Bent gave his opinion on the incident on Sky Sports, and it’s clear to see which side of the fence he sits on.

The former Tottenham striker said that he believes Wilder was right to treat his goalkeeper in that way as he clearly made a mistake.

Bent says that he can understand his frustrations because the Blades had played so well.

He’s absolutely right too, as a draw against title contenders could have been huge for the Yorkshire club, but in the end, they’ve come away with nothing.

Henderson doesn’t seem to be too affected by the treatment he received from his manager as he took to Instagram in the week to ensure fans that he would come back even stronger.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Speaking on BT Sport, former Manchester United man Michael Owen has slammed Fred as being “just a moderate player”.

What did he say?

The Brazilian arrived from Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2018 for a reported fee of £47m, with reports suggesting Manchester City were even interested in securing his signature.

However, his debut campaign was not something to write home about, as the 26-year-old made just 25 appearances across all competitions. His start to the current season has been similarly underwhelming, featuring for just the sixth time in the Europa League clash against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night.

Watch the video below to see the most insane overhead kick you will see this week…

The midfielder produced a poor performance, making no interceptions or key passes, and losing possession 11 times over the course of the game. After seeing his display, Michael Owen launched a stinging attack on what the former Shakhtar man brings to the table.

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He said (as quoted by The Daily Mail): “He’s just a moderate player isn’t he? That’s the bottom line. What can you say? We were discussing his best position. I probably think it is a six, Owen (Hargreaves) thinks it is an eight. Really, once we start arguing about it, he cant do either role that well.”

Wasted opportunity

Continuing to see Fred make very little out of his opportunities makes for very frustrating viewing. The Brazil international has in no shape or form justified his huge price tag, but is still given chance after chance to prove himself.

More than anything however, he is simply taking away a first-team spot from some of the club’s talented academy youngsters. James Garner has earned rave reviews from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but hasn’t been given a shot at breaking into the side.

Just what must the teenager be thinking when he has to sit on the side-lines watching Fred continue to disappoint?

It’s about time the United boss takes action on one of his under-performing players, and hand that opportunity to someone more deserving.

[ad_pod ]This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…ÂArsenal threw away a two-goal lead as Watford came from behind to salvage a point at home.The Hornets put up 31 shots against Unai Emery’s error-prone backline and probably were more worthy of the points despite looking down and out at half-time.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored an 11-minute brace, but that was to be for nothing as Sokratis handed Tom Cleverley an easy chance to get one back before David Luiz conceded a penalty less than ten minutes from time to give Roberto Pereyra a much-deserved equaliser.The Gunners have been fired at more than any other side in the top five European leagues – having already faced 96 shots this season.

So maybe the problem wasn’t Shkodran Mustafi after all?

Sokratis’ performance was particularly a standout, for all the wrong reasons.

Aside from his one error leading to a goal, he lost possession six times and managed to win just half of his aerial duels.

WhoScored gave the 31-year-old the worst rating of anyone on the pitch, substitutes included, with a lowly 5.31.

Last season, Mustafi was singled out for several of Arsenal’s defensive problems, leading him to be booed on multiple occasions.

The German World Cup winner has since been frozen out of Emery’s starting lineup and even matchday squad as a result, but this latest showing from Sokratis highlights how the problem lies much deeper than merely with one player.

How do football vloggers afford to watch their team week in, week out? Find out in the video below…

Spare a thought for defender Calum Chambers, who went on loan to Fulham last season and, despite relegation, was one of their better players, which duly earned him a chance in pre-season.

He came in on the opening day against Newcastle United and kept a clean sheet, but was dropped and they’ve conceded in every game since.

Sokratis managed just one blocked shot and zero interceptions despite the onslaught the home side launched with their 31 shots – a rather feeble effort from a centre-back.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Aston Villa have struggled to adapt to life in the top-flight so far this season and several of their players’ performances have contributed to that.

The west Midlands club are outside the relegation zone after five matches purely on goal difference alone with just one win to their name.

Defensively, they are one of the top sides in the Premier League having kept two clean sheets which ranks first, tied with six other clubs.

However, it is in attack where their problem lies.

On Monday evening, Villa struggled to secure three points against a ten-man West Ham with Wesley proving focal to their struggles, as Football FanCast mention here.

But the players around him just haven’t been up to scratch either.

Between their three wingers, there has only been one assist and one goal with Anwar El Ghazi registering the highest average rating at 6.62, per WhoScored.

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On the Chalkboard

Villa boss Dean Smith poached Jota from arch-rivals Birmingham City, but he’s yet to show the form he displayed just three miles down the road.

Last season, the Spaniard was vital to the Blues’ season, scoring three goals on top of laying on 11 assists. The majority of which would have contributed to Che Adams’ goal-laden spell in front of goal as he netted 22 in the Championship.

Now at Villa, he has quite clearly regressed in such a short space of time – his average shots per game has gone from 1.6 to a measly 0.4 while a similarly drastic drop is seen with the number of key passes he registered going from 2.1 to just 0.8 this campaign – all per WhoScored.

With the current system clearly not quite working in the Premier League, perhaps it would be wise to test Jota centrally, a position Smith deployed him in on a few occasions when the pair were both at Brentford.

Width is quite clearly an issue, so the 28-year-old’s qualities may be better served in the middle where his awareness and nous would be allowed to thrive closer to the striker.

His assist for Wesley’s first and only goal of the season could provide further proof as to why it would work out as he came inside and then fed a delightful ball into the area.

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In the 2017/18 season, West Ham had a particularly evident goalkeeping issue in terms of selection.

The Hammers had Spanish goalkeeper Adrian on the books, along with Joe Hart on loan from Manchester City, with the pair battling it out for the number one shirt in intriguing fashion – amazingly, the pair made 19 Premier League starts each last season, meaning they both had a half of the season each in between the sticks (per Whoscored).

What’s changed?

Now, however, there is only one man in contention for the role at the London Stadium – summer signing Lukasz Fabianski, who arrived from Swansea for just £7m (per BBC) in a deal which can easily be debated as one of the signings of the season.

Who should replace Marko Arnautovic if he leaves West Ham? FFC’s James Jones has the answer! Check out the video below to find out…

The Polish international has picked up where he left off at the Liberty Stadium, helping Manuel Pellegrini’s side to tenth in the table as things stand in impressive fashion, having allowed everyone else a head-start with four losses from their first four games.

Impressively, the 33-year-old keeper has managed to save a penalty already for his new club, on his way to keeping four clean sheets from 23 league games and making 86 saves as he has fast become a fans’ favourite in east London.

The former Arsenal man has conceded 34 goals for the Irons in his 23 league starts, and has provided a solid foundation behind the formidable Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena that has allowed the flair players, such as Felipe Anderson, to perform so admirably.

The Verdict 

West Ham needed a settled number one, and they got one. It is always commendable when a club goes out and actively solves a problem position in the side to great, and immediate effect, so the Hammers have to be commended for their proactive approach – for such a minimal fee in today’s market as well, there can be no complaints.

The deal should also have a fair bit of sustainability about it as well, as Fabianski appears to be getting better with age and should still have at least three years left in him as a quality Premier League keeper – as aforementioned, this has to be mentioned in any conversation debating the best signing of the season.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

Rangers are lining up a potential swoop for free agent Claudio Marchisio, per RMC Sport.

What’s the word?

Marchisio last played for Zenit St Petersburg but left the Russian club at the end of the 2018/19 season.

He endured an injury-hit campaign due to knee issues but the 33-year-old now finds himself in demand.

The report states that Ligue 1 club AS Monaco are in talks with the former Italy international, who won 55 caps for his country, though Steven Gerrard’s Rangers are also credited with an interest.

A classy operator

Marchisio brings with him a wealth of experience and a bulging trophy cabinet.

He made his name at Juventus, making 389 appearances for the Serie A giants, winning seven Italian league titles, four Italian cups, and three Italian Super Cups. Zenit also won the Russian title last season.

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If he can stay fit, he would be an asset to any team, particularly Rangers.

An excellent distributor of the ball and an effective screen to a defence, one believes that he would take to Scottish football.

It remains to be seen if they can beat Monaco to the punch.

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When Steven Gerrard was appointed as manager of Aston Villa, plenty of eyebrows were raised around the country.

The Liverpudlian is clearly a very talented and highly-rated coach but rightly or wrongly, there is always an element of scepticism attached to those arriving on English shores from Scottish football.

What he achieved north of the border was tremendous, as he guided Rangers to the Premiership title last term, doing so in unbeaten fashion.

That was the biggest boon attached to his CV upon arriving at Villa Park but we have quickly discovered there is another hugely appreciated bonus that he brings with him; that of attracting footballers to come and play for him.

The signings of Philippe Coutinho and Lucas Digne prove that, as two impressive regular internationals joined the club, marking a set of acquisitions that were some of the most impressive in the club’s recent history.

However, there could be arrivals before the window is closed with Johan Lange and Gerrard targeting a certain Luis Suarez no less.

It appears as if the Uruguayan is enthralled by the idea of working with somebody he respects highly from when the ex-midfielder was still a player, and what a signing he’d be.

Boasting 241 goals in Europe’s top five leagues, he is a generational talent, someone who has found the net throughout his career with jaw-dropping consistency.

Yet, he isn’t the only offensive name that could still put pen to paper at Bodymoor Heath before January 31st.

Another player who has been linked with a move is Swedish winger Dejan Kulusevski.

The Juventus star has been touted with switches to the likes of Tottenham Hotspur in recent times but it’s Villa who must secure his services.

After all, the £27m-rated gem could create a destructive and compelling partnership alongside both Coutinho and Suarez in the forward line.

Described as “explosive” by former Villa and Sweden striker Marcus Allback, Kulusevski has attributes in his locker that could scare opposing defenders up and down the country.

Capable of playing all across the front line, he has scored nine times and registered ten assists for Juve, but it was at Atalanta where he was most prolific.

He beat the goalkeeper on 17 occasions while proving himself to be a creative marvel, racking up 26 assists.

Indeed, with that kind of service for Suarez, they’d have the potential to create an awe-inspiring attack under Gerrard.

Admittedly, bringing both of them to the Midlands this winter seems unlikely, but supporters can always dream.

AND in other news, Grealish 2.0: Gerrard must avoid transfer howler on AVFC’s “selfless” £31.5m-rated gem…

Nottingham Forest are currently without first choice left-back Max Lowe, who is out until the end of April with a groin injury, leaving 32-year-old midfielder Jack Colback to fill in at that spot as they seek a spot in the Championship play-off places.

However, if the East Midlands club acted on their interest five years ago in James Justin, they would have not only have had a 19-year-old Premier League potential defender on their hands back then, they would have had a more than adequate replacement for Lowe right now too.

According to The Sun back in 2017, Forest tabled a £1m bid for the then-Luton Town star, with former manager Mark Warburton of the belief that he was ready for Championship football.

However, that move failed to materialise, and Justin remained with the Hatters for another two seasons, helping them to extraordinary back-to-back promotions, leaving them with Championship football when he joined Leicester City in 2019 for a fee worth around £6m.

Establishing himself in his first season as one of the league’s biggest bargains that season, he ranked among full-backs in the Premier League across his debut campaign in the top flight in the top 4% for successful pressure percentage per 90 (36.5%), top 9% for successful dribble percentage per 90 (76.5%) and top 7% for ball recoveries per 90 (11.12).

Now aged 24 with a market valuation of £15.3m, a whopping 1430% more than the £1m fee Forest offered, the defender has become a versatile option for the Premier League side. He is able to fill in at both left-back and right-back when required, as well as possessing the intelligence and ability to play as a defensive midfielder.

Once described by Journalist Liam Canning as “class” and “first rate”, the Foxes full-back has begun to re-establish himself as a key man within Brendan Rodgers’ squad, having just returned from a cruciate ligament rupture injury, which kept him out of action for 331 days.

It’s clear that Forest made a monumental mistake not to sign Justin from Luton when he was a bargain pick-up for the club, and even if he couldn’t have helped the club towards promotion, he would have had an excellent re-sell rate that the Championship side have missed out on.

In other news: Cooper can finally axe Forest “bulldog” by signing “very impressive” £135k-rated gem

With the news of Theo Corbeanu’s departure from Sheffield Wednesday after he was recalled by his parent club Wolves and then sent back out on loan to MK Dons now confirmed, it seems as though there has been a claim made regarding the future of another figure at the Yorkshire club which will interest a lot of Owls fans.

What’s the news?

In a recent Q&A on the Yorkshire Live website, Wednesday journalist Dom Howson was asked if he thinks Josh Windass will still be at the club by the time the January transfer window closes after being linked with numerous Championship clubs in recent weeks.

In response, Howson had this to say on the matter: “Yes, but things can change quickly in football. If a big offer comes in for Windass or another player between now and January 31, then Wednesday would be foolish not to consider it. But Windass is under contract until next summer and is seen as a key component of what Moore is trying to build at Wednesday.”

Windass originally joined Wednesday on a loan deal from Wigan Athletic back in January 2020 before signing for the Owls on a permanent deal the following September.

Overall, the 27-year-old – who is currently valued at £1.8m by Transfermarkt – has made 57 appearances for Wednesday across all competitions, chipping in with 15 goals and seven assists along the way.

Despite only making three appearances for Darren Moore’s team this season in League One, mainly due to injury issues, Windass has still managed to show how useful he can be for the team by scoring two goals and providing one assist.

With this in mind, it’s easy to see why Howson has said that the 27-year-old is seen as a “key component” for Wednesday, and why fans will be delighted to hear that the journalist thinks the player will still be at the club beyond this transfer window.

Moving forward, if Windass can maintain his fitness for the remainder of the season, he could well help the Owls to push for a promotion place if they can go on a run of positive results, which in turn should ultimately improve their chances of keeping hold of the player if they can get back to the Championship next season.

In other news: Howson has dropped another exciting transfer claim at Hillsborough which will surely have fans buzzing