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Stuart Dallas was on the end of another defeat after Austria pipped Northern Ireland to a 2-1 win in their latest Nations League meeting. Despite the visiting side’s best efforts to get themselves ahead, Louis Schaub and Adrian Grbic cancelled out Josh Magennis’ opener.

For the Leeds man, this is now his fourth consecutive loss for both club and country. The Whites are currently in a sticky situation in the Premier League, coming away with back-to-back 4-1 defeats as they prepare to take on Arsenal. Marcelo Bielsa will already be anxious enough as it is without realising the concerning pattern that has started to show itself in Dallas’ performances.

Worry numbers for Bielsa

According to Sofascore, the left-back had a middle-of-the-road display against Austria, earning a rating of 7. However, despite doing well to complete 100% of his dribbles and put in a tackle, he was poor overall in possession. Dallas made just 20 successful passes out of an attempted 29, averaging a disappointing 69% completion rate. He also lost the ball 13 times in his attempts to get forward and contribute to the attack.

This isn’t a one-off either. His last appearance for Northern Ireland was against Slovakia and he similarly lost the ball a startling 34 times and completed just 77% of his attempted passes. Even during Leeds’ 3-0 win over Aston Villa, Dallas’ passing accuracy was only as high as 80%, making 45 passes out of an attempted 56.

Whilst the Whites have been struggling in attack, one positive is that the 29-year-old is trying to contribute to his team’s threat in front of goal. However, after conceding eight goals in two matches, Leeds’ problem clearly lies in the defence. Having a £35,000 per week defender who struggles in possession and makes a limited amount of successful passes will be a worry on Bielsa’s mind.

Bielsa has already proven that he can make cut-throat decisions, he certainly won’t hesitate to be ruthless again when it comes to chopping and changing his team and potentially leaving key players on the bench.

In other news, Liam Cooper put in solid performance for Scotland despite loss…

There could be a change at the front of the pitch for West Bromwich Albion next season if fresh reports are to be believed…

What’s the word?

According to The Athletic’s Steve Madeley, the Baggies have held discussions over a potential move for Huddersfield Town striker Karlan Grant this summer.

It’s claimed that the 22-year-old is a cost-effective alternative to Brentford’s Ollie Watkins and that Slaven Bilic has a genuine interest in clinching him for their Premier League return.

Although he’s wanted by other clubs and it very much remains to be seen how much the Terriers would want to let him go – a £15m fee has been mooted in the past.

Bye-bye Zohore?

Elsewhere in the report, it is further suggested that the Midlanders could be willing to part ways with summer flop Kenneth Zohore with the player wanting a crack at regular game time.

Therefore, it would make sense to offload the struggling 26-year-old and bring in someone who outperformed him entirely last season.

The young Englishman provided 19 goals and four assists as Huddersfield flirted with the prospects of relegation. He also averaged 2.6 shots, 1.2 key passes and 1.1 dribbles per game, via WhoScored.

Zohore managed just three goals all year.

Plenty of people have handed Grant glowing praise in the past – teammate Tommy Elphick believes he “has got everything” while his old Charlton boss Lee Bowyer claimed, “the kid causes problems and scores goals.”

Charlie Austin will bring that vital experience and know-how in the top-flight but having a young and hungry marksman either beside him or as perfect foil would be a very smart decision from Bilic’s end.

The Baggies must clinch Grant at all costs given the reported price tag on his head.

AND in other news, West Brom can soften Grady Diangana blow with Super Lig swoop…

Brighton youngster Jayson Molumby could be in line for a Premier League debut against Manchester United on Saturday, with Graham Potter seemingly dropping a potential selection hint about the midfielder.

The 21-year-old was not involved in last night’s Carabao Cup win over Preston but, when addressing the matter of his omission after the game, Potter said it was “just precautionary for the weekend – we decided to leave him tonight” (as per The Argus).

The manager’s comments come in the wake of transfer rumours linking the Republic of Ireland international with a second loan move to Millwall, having also had a spell there last season.

Molumby has so far made just three senior appearances for Brighton, all of them in the Carabao Cup – although the most recent of those was against Portsmouth last week, when he filled in at right-back and impressed by making five clearances and completing 53 of his 59 passes (90% success rate).

His loan spell at Millwall in 2019/20 gave him a chance to obtain regular first team football, starting 31 Championship matches and playing 40 times in total for the Lions (as per TransferMarkt).

Potter has a vacancy to fill in central midfield for the Manchester United game on Saturday with Yves Bissouma suspended after his red card at Newcastle, with his options set to be lessened by the impending departure of Dale Stephens to Burnley.

While there may be an element of risk in throwing Molumby straight into the team on Saturday for his Premier League debut, the sudden reduction of midfield options could give Potter the perfect opportunity to do so.

Indeed, it was around this time last year that the 21-year-old’s international colleague Aaron Connolly was given a full top-flight debut by Potter and repaid the manager’s faith with two goals in a 3-0 drubbing of Tottenham (as per BBC).

Molumby’s defensive midfield role makes him highly unlikely to repeat Connolly’s feat, but it shows that Potter is willing to give youth its fling when he feels that the time is right – which he seemingly does for the Waterford native judging by his comments after the Preston game.

Brighton fans, are you hopeful that Molumby will feature against Manchester United on Saturday? Join in the discussion by commenting below!

Amidst the sheer brilliance of Bruno Fernandes since his arrival from Sporting CP back in the January transfer window, the attention has firmly been on the Manchester United play-maker – eight goals and seven assists in 15 games are a testament to that.

But in recent weeks, another star from Old Trafford is beginning to share centre stage with him, and against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Thursday night, he arguably outshone Fernandes. Step forward, Paul Pogba.

The France World Cup winner has of course been the subject of intense transfer speculation for a couple of seasons now, but reports in recent weeks have suggested that he is now much happier at United and is likely to stay this summer.

Spot the fact from the fib: Are these Premier League records true or false?

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

And boy is he proving what an incredible outcome that could be.

The midfielder scored in United’s 3-0 victory over Villa, and offered the kind of creativity from the engine room that you just don’t get from the likes of Scott McTominay and Fred.

As per Sofascore, he completed two of his three attempted dribbles, provided three key passes, created one big chance, and successfully completed all 11 of his long balls.

He ran the show from the middle of the park, enjoying 93 touches (the most of any United player and 24 more than Fernandes), and completed 72 of his 79 passes.

It was no surprise that his overall match rating of 8.4 was the highest of any player on the pitch, and whilst he has arguably been in Fernandes’ shadow recently, he showed exactly what he can bring too.

Such has been United’s impressive form, that they are now well placed to finish in the top four and secure Champions League football for next season.

And Pogba is really inspiring this late charge for it.

Tottenham Hotspur have been tipped to make a sensational move in the transfer market this summer, though it would be very atypical of Daniel Levy and could be a nightmare for Jose Mourinho to deal with…

What’s the word?

Former Spurs winger Andros Townsend believes Gareth Bale would love a return to north London as he continues to play the outcast at La Liga champions Real Madrid.

Speaking to talkSPORT, via the Evening Standard, he said: “I think if anything the Bale situation, he’d want to go back to Spurs. The memories of Spurs. His happiness. He was the main man. He was loved. He was at the top of his game. So, if anything I think it would work the other way.”

Spanish outlet El Chiringuito claimed back in January that Mourinho was keen to land the former Spurs legend during the January transfer window for around £25m, so it’s certainly a story that refuses to go away.

Nightmare on so many levels

But go away it must. It simply spells all sorts of trouble for those at the club.

Firstly, Levy is known for his tight financial control so trying to sign a player who’s on a reported £485k-per-week really isn’t his style – but would he do it for one of their greatest modern-era stars? That remains to be seen.

You then have to consider whether or not Spurs need another winger after adding Steven Bergwijn at the start of the year. Unless there are any major and unexpected departures, you’d have to say no.

Bale has grown tired at his lack of regular game-time and treatment by Zinedine Zidane in the Spanish capital, so why would it be any different in north London when Heung-min Son, Lucas Moura and the aforementioned Dutchman likely to be ahead of him in the pecking order.

Such behaviour has led to talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan blasting the 31-year-old for being “disrespectful” despite having “incredible ability”.

Although, the Welshman is someone that Mourinho has always admired. He even tried to sign him whilst in charge of Los Galacticos, claiming that he is a “fantastic player.”

It’s about time Spurs’ infatuation with their former star stops. There’s no room for sentiment anymore.

AND in other news, Mourinho has identified three right-back transfer options…

Henri Lansbury was given an opportunity to impress for Aston Villa against Sheffield United, but wasted it.

On the chalkboard

The 29-year-old has had to be patient for Premier League action, as he didn’t start any of Villa’s first 16 league matches of the campaign, managing just 38 minutes.

Therefore, it may have come as a bit of a surprise when Dean Smith selected him to start in the midfield against the Blades, especially with Douglas Luiz sat on the bench.

No matter the thinking behind it, having recorded five assists in two Carabao Cup games, this was Lansbury’s chance to show he should be used with greater regularity, but he failed to make use of it.

Watch Villa vs Norwich Live and Free with Amazon Prime on Boxing Day

An opportunity missed

The word that best describes Lansbury’s performance during the game is anonymous, failing to make any real impact at all.

He didn’t make any tackles despite attempting two, while he also contributed no interceptions, aerial duels won, dribbles, shots or key passes.

One interception and a pass success rate of 70% were made, but this really does not show somebody who was taking their opportunity to impress the manager.

In the end, he was the first Villa man to be substituted by Smith, being replaced by Luiz in the 66th minute.

Red Herring or Real Hero: Only hardcore Villa fans will get all of them right….

WhoScored gave him the lowest rating of anyone on the pitch alongside Jack Grealish, with 5.8, while The Birmingham Mail gave him a rating of 4, which was the joint-lowest with Wesley, as well as substitutes Luiz and Jonathan Kodjia.

Alongside their rating, The Birmingham Mail added: “First league start for Villa since May on what was a shock call prior to kick-off. Sprinted forward a lot in the first half, often beyond Wesley. Didn’t happen for him, though, and was soon dragged for Douglas Luiz moments after Fleck’s opener.”

Lansbury has had to wait a long time for a Premier League start, after that it would be a surprise if he got another one soon.

In other news, Aston Villa fans were split in their judgement of Grealish’s performance.

Every fan has that one referee who they dread seeing in the middle of the pitch when their team is playing.

Referees do get a lot of stick, often rightly so but sometimes unfairly, but the introduction of VAR and goalline technology in recent years has helped them make fewer errors. Well, that was the idea.

For West Ham fans, you can bet they’ll be worried about the outcome of any match they play in which the likes of Mike Dean is involved. For some reason, Hammers fans think he’s against them – I can vouch for that because I’m one of them – with a number of his decisions over the years going against them.

But it turns out that Mike Dean should be the last of West Ham’s worries. That’s because, after TOFFS released their referees report from the last 10 years in the Premier League, it’s actually Phil Dowd, Andre Marriner and Michael Oliver who the Hammers should be fearing the most. Luckily one has retired, so that’s one less to worry about in future.

In terms of lucky referees, West Ham will forever be hopeful of a positive result when the likes of Martin Atkinson, John Moss and Anthony Taylor are in the middle.

Have a look at the infographic below – stats are up to football played before lockdown – for a more detailed look at West Ham’s history with referees over the last 10 years. Unsurprisingly to many Hammers fans, Mike Dean does get a little mention…

CLICK HERE TO VIEW EVERY PREMIER LEAGUE CLUB’S REFEREE HISTORY

According to the Spanish version of Goal, Arsenal have made contact with out-of-work manager Marcelino about replacing Unai Emery, who was sacked last week.

Goal report that the former Valencia boss, who was also relieved of his duties by the Spanish club in September, would also be keen on the Emirates Stadium role, and that the north London like the 54-year-old’s methods.

He may have been Los Ches’ most successful coach since Rafa Benitez having delivered back-to-back Champions League qualification and a 2019 Copa del Rey success against Barcelona, but some Arsenal fans have made it clear that they don’t want the Spaniard.

Perhaps thatis because he is Spanish and managed Valencia previously like Emery, although his 7-3 aggregate defeat against Emery’s Arsenal in the Europa League semi-finals last term isn’t too impressive.

Can you get full marks on the Ultimate Arsenal Quiz? Test your knowledge below…

However, not everyone was so damning about Marcelino, with some suggesting that they rate him, but also that Arsenal can do much better.

It wasn’t a complete dismissal of the 54-year-old either, with one suggesting he should be given a chance – fair enough given that he brought home Valencia’s first trophy in a decade and had them regularly competing in the Champions League after consecutive 12th-placed finishes in La Liga.

In other Arsenal news, Gunners fans have been reacting to Brendan Rodgers’ verdict on his future…

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…

Jose Mourinho has claimed that no team will want to play Tottenham Hotspur in the knockout stages of the Champions League, per The Daily Star.

What’s he said?

Spurs lost 3-1 to Bayern Munich on Wednesday in a dead rubber, having secured their qualification via a second-placed finish behind the German giants.

It means they will play one of PSG, Juventus, Barcelona, Valencia or RB Leipzig in the Round of 16, which is set to be drawn on Monday.

And Mourinho believes that his side are one of the strongest teams to have finished second in their group; the other teams are Real Madrid, Atalanta, Atletico Madrid, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Lyon and Chelsea.

He said: “I think the teams that finished first they wish they don’t play against us.

“I think we’re one of the strongest teams from the second group.

“I know that we are a country that goes through a crazy period, which many, many times leaves marks on players, teams, on conditions, but by the end of February, I understand my players better, they understand me better.

“We have two more months of work together and I think we’re going to be much more ready.”

Hard to beat

Spurs proved last season that they are no pushovers in Europe.

Drawn into a group also comprising Inter Milan and Barcelona, they bounced back from taking one point in the first three games.

A draw pairing them with Borussia Dortmund could have been tough, but they came through it with a 4-0 aggregate win; a draw pairing them with Manchester City looked horrific, but Spurs came through on away goals and, then, against Ajax, they produced a miracle in Amsterdam.

Forget the form in the Premier League, those five teams that Spurs can play will be hoping they avoid them in the next round.

No clues whatsoever: Which seasons do these iconic Spurs images belong to?

Travelling to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be no picnic and if one adds in the fact that Mourinho is a proven winner with a pedigree in this competition – he’s won it twice – you get a pretty potent cocktail.

Meanwhile, Spurs fans were left disappointed by one Mourinho decision against Bayern. 

According to Claret & Hugh, David Martin looks set to start in West Ham United’s next Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur.

Martin joined the Hammers on a free transfer in June, but the experienced goalkeeper is yet to make his first-team debut for the London club.

The 33-year-old has been on the bench for the team’s last five Premier League matches, though, with Roberto pushed into the number one spot due to Lukasz Fabianski’s injury.

Roberto had a bit of a horror-show at the weekend, though, and his performance against Burnley was widely criticised by the West Ham fans.

The Spaniard punched the ball into the back of his own net to allow Burnley to take a three-goal lead, and according to Claret & Hugh, he is widely expected to be dropped for the coming clash with Spurs.

Indeed, it is alleged that Martin has been ‘freely tipped among those within the club a the inevitable choice’ following Roberto’s latest howler.

A selection of the Twitter reaction from the club’s supporters can be seen below: