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Manchester City’s long-running FFP case remains “complicated” with any appeals seeing questions asked of “what happens with relegation?”

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• At least 115 changes hanging over the Etihad
• Various sanctions being speculated on
• End to saga reportedly remains some way off

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  There is no suggestion that the Blues will go from Premier League champions to EFL newcomers in the space of 12 months, but various punishments are being speculated on in a Financial Fair Play soap opera that involves at least 115 charges.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  If City are found guilty of monetary mismanagement then they could be stung with a hefty points penalty, which may be enough to put their top-flight status under threat. They would, however, be expected to question that ruling – which would delay any definitive action even further.

• WHAT CITY'S FORMER FINANCIAL ADVISER SAID

  City’s former financial adviser, Stefan Borson, fears a protracted saga may have more twists and turns to come.. He has told : “I think there’s been some sort of debate about whether you would have a split appeal process or whether effectively the parties will be told to wait until the full judgment and then to appeal the liability and the sanction together. I think it’ll be the latter. Otherwise, you could have the complexity where the liability hearing is being appealed while waiting for the sanction hearing, so that would seem to be a bit confusing.

  “I think the appeal will probably have to wait until we’ve got the full verdict. If it’s a two-week sanctions set of submissions and a separate hearing, then you have got to then wait for the decision to come out on that. That itself could be a month, six weeks or maybe more. The Everton and the Nottingham Forest cases were effectively sanction hearings because liability had been admitted.

  “We saw those took around six weeks, maybe longer from the actual panel to the decision, so this is going to drag on. Now it looks like it’s going to drag on until the end of the season. In some ways, that could suit everybody involved.

  “It’s only going to drag on to the end of the season if City are found liable for anything. If they’re clear, then the question will be what will the Premier League want to do about an appeal? But if City are found liable for anything, this could drag on until the end of the season. In some ways, that’s positive in that it allows people to deal with it in the closed season to an extent.

  “But if the sanction is very serious, then you’ve got the issue of what happens with relegation or which season do you take the points from and all of that sort of stuff. It’s always been complicated, and it remains complicated. I don’t think anybody’s got very precise answers at the moment.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  City have maintained their innocence throughout, with the club’s decision to spend heavily again in the winter transfer window of 2025 – ahead of another big summer – considered to be an indicator of confidence that the toughest of sanctions will be avoided.

Pep Guardiola’s is set to enter a second decade as Manchester City manager.

The Spaniard is already one of the most successful managers that the Premier League has ever seen, with his six top-flight trophies (including an unprecedented fourth on the trot) the second-most of any manager since the division took shape in 1992.

In 2024, he penned a deal that will see him remain at the Etihad until at least 2027, despite his side in a bad run of form that continued throughout a season that ended trophyless.

Guardiola is, unsurprisingly, the most successful manager in City’s history, and lays claim to records across the globe thanks to his managerial prowess at Barcelona and Bayern Munich before taking up the post in Manchester.

And now, with his time at the Etihad seemingly carrying on every time it appears close to an end, he is creeping up the list of the longest-serving managers in Premier League history. Here, we take a look at the company he is keeping in England’s top division.

The top 10 longest-serving Premier League managers
Rank	Manager	Club	Time in charge
1	Arsene Wenger	Arsenal	22 years, 225 days
2	Sir Alex Ferguson	Man Utd	20 years, 336 days
3	David Moyes	Everton	11 years, 79 days
4	Pep Guardiola	Man City	9 years
5	Jurgen Klopp	Liverpool	8 years, 225 days
6	Joe Kinnear	Wimbledon	6 years, 344 days
7	Harry Redknapp	West Ham	6 years, 273 days
8	Mikel Arteta	Arsenal	6 years
9	Rafael Benitez	Liverpool	5 years, 353 days
10	Alan Curbishley	Charlton	5 years, 312 days
Data correct as of December 2025

10

Alan Curbishley (Charlton)

5 years, 312 days

Perhaps the most surprising name on this list, Alan Curbishley, is fondly remembered at Charlton Athletic for his excellent work keeping them in the Premier League.

Curbishley was actually in charge at the Valley Stadium for 15 years and enjoyed two spells in the Premier League, but it is his second that makes it onto this list.

Promoted at the end of the 1999/00 season, the English boss helped Charlton avoid the relegation zone, finishing 9th on their return to the top flight.

A series of mid-table finishes followed as Charlton established themselves as a mainstay in the Premier League, even finishing 7th in the 2003/04 season.

However, after a contract renewal dispute, it was announced that he would be leaving the club at the end of the 2005/06 season. Having never finished lower than 14th since Curbishley’s second promotion, Charlton were relegated the following season.

9

Rafael Benitez (Liverpool)

5 years, 353 days

Rafa Benitez has had four spells in the Premier League, but spent the majority of his top-flight career at Liverpool.

Joining the Reds in 2004 in place of Gerard Houllier, he oversaw 228 Premier League games in charge of the club, winning 126 of those, and managing the club’s highest points tally in 2008/09 when they finished second to Manchester United, until Jurgen Klopp smashed that record during his time on Merseyside.

They were consistently in and around the top four under Benitez in his first four seasons at the club (finishing 5th, 3rd, 3rd and 4th) before finishing as runners-up to Manchester United in 2008/09, while he was also in charge for the famous comeback win over Milan in the 2005 Champions League final.

However, it quickly soured, with Benitez finishing 7th amid club turmoil in the 2009/10 season, and he left by mutual consent almost exactly six years after his arrival.

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8

Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)

6 years as of December 2025

Mikel Arteta may have only won the FA Cup during his time in charge of Arsenal but his team have been threatening for some time and he has firmly cemented himself as one of the best coaches and managers on the globe.

The Gunners have come mightily close to winning the Premier League in each of the last three seasons, pipped to the post by Manchester and Liverpool.

Arteta has built a monstrous squad, however, and it won’t be too long before the north Londoners are holding more illustrious honours above their head.

The Spaniard is one of the best in the business. Expect him to eclipse a fair few names on this list.

7

Harry Redknapp (West Ham)

6 years, 273 days

Once the assistant manager at West Ham United, Harry Redknapp took over from Billy Bonds in 1994 and helped turn the east Londoners into a regular Premier League side after their promotion in 1992/93.

Perhaps best known for his time at Portsmouth, Redknapp played a key role at Upton Park, bringing through a succession of young talent including the likes of Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and Rio Ferdinand, while the arrival of Paolo Di Canio helped them secure their Premier League status.

After a series of impressive campaigns, during which the Hammers finished in the top half of the Premier League, Redknapp was sacked after a downturn in form saw them only narrowly avoid relegation in 2001 – a fate that they suffered two years later.

6

Joe Kinnear (Wimbledon)

6 years, 344 days

Appointed Wimbledon manager just six months before the inaugural Premier League season, Joe Kinnear is a legend with the club. The Englishman guided them to a 12th-place finish in the first top-flight season, before excelling the following campaign and finishing an impressive sixth in the division.

He backed that up by helping Wimbledon to 9th the following season as they became a stalwart of the Premier League, and though a fallow period in mid-table followed, they were still competitive in the cup competitions, reaching the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and League Cup.

Surviving international interest and a club takeover, Kinnear’s time in charge of Wimbledon was only stopped when a heart attack persuaded him to step down at the end of the 1999/00 season. A year later, his side had been relegated.

5

Jürgen Klopp (Liverpool)

8 years, 225 days

A modern-day titan of Premier League football and Guardiola’s most recent nemesis, Jurgen Klopp called time on an illustrious Liverpool career just last summer.

Arriving with his side 8th in the Premier League (though they had finished as runners-up just a couple of seasons prior), the ex-Mainz boss set to work turning Liverpool into a footballing powerhouse once more.

Backed with big-money additions like Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, and uncovering gems like Andy Robertson, the German lifted the Champions League and the Premier League during his tenure, finishing second to Manchester City on multiple occasions despite record-high points tallies.

He left having won 209 of his 334 Premier League games – and as a legend of Anfield.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 2, 2024

4

Pep Guardiola (Man City)

Over 9 years as of December 2025

The only manager still active on this list, Premier League great Guardiola still has time to climb this list through the remainder of his Manchester City career.

Arriving as the world’s best manager in 2015, he endured an uncharacteristically difficult first season in charge, but quickly found his groove in the English top flight. Six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups have since followed as he and Manchester City have dominated the landscape of English football, turning the Etihad side into a European powerhouse.

3

David Moyes (Everton)

11 years, 79 days

A Premier League ever-present from the early 2000s, David Moyes remains Everton’s most successful manager of the Premier League era. Though he never won a trophy at Goodison Park, his 11-year stint turned the club into competitors in the top half of the division, with the Toffees regularly finishing in the top 8 under the Scot.

Appointed in 2002, Moyes saw his side finish as high as 4th during the 2004/05 campaign, while he also led his side to an FA Cup final, only to fall to Chelsea at Wembley.

Responsible for helping the careers of Tim Cahill, Marouane Fellaini, Leighton Baines and more, Moyes finally got his big move to Manchester United in 2013, only for that to prove a poisoned chalice at Old Trafford.

2

Sir Alex Ferguson (Man Utd)

20 years, 336 days

The only man to have won more Premier League titles than Pep Guardiola, Sir Alex Ferguson may soon be looking over his shoulder at that record – but will be safe in the knowledge the Spaniard won’t catch him here.

Serving as Manchester United boss for almost 27 years (21 of those in the Premier League), the Scotsman ushered in a golden generation at the football club, to the point where managers remain judged on his successes – something that has proved too much for a series of good coaches since his departure.

The Red Devils haven’t won the Premier League since he departed in 2013, when he clinched his 13th title in his final season in charge ahead of Manchester City.

It brought to an end a reign that saw him crowned Manager of the Year 11 times and take charge of over 800 Premier League games, winning two Champions League trophies in that time, too. By sheer circumstance, however, he is not top of this list.

1

Arsène Wenger (Arsenal)

21 years, 255 days

That honour goes to his long-time adversary Arsène Wenger, who spent less time in charge of Arsenal than Ferguson did in Manchester, but crucially, spent the entirety of his Gunners tenure in the Premier League.

Arriving as a largely unknown manager from Japan in 1996, Wenger built the only side capable of wrestling the Premier League title out of Manchester United’s hands in the years to come.

Across his first eight years in the top flight, Manchester United (5) and his Arsenal side (3) had a duopoly on the Premier League title, while he remains the only manager to coach a side to an invincible campaign, which he did in 2003/04.

His later career in north London was marred by financial constraints and increased competition at the top, but he kept the Gunners in the top 4 of the Premier League for 21 successive seasons until eventually finishing fifth and sixth in his final two seasons, with the 2017/18 campaign being his last.

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By
Alex Roberts

Dec 7, 2023

INEOS and Manchester United are exploring a deal that would see them sign a “quality” player who has a £16 million release clause in his contract, according to a recent report. The Red Devils may well be active in the New Year if their targets are available, as the hierarchy tries to get the squad shaped as Ruben Amorim would like as soon as possible.

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By
Brett Worthington

Nov 12, 2024

Man Utd transfer news

The Portuguese arrived in Manchester on Monday and has been since getting on with media duties and familiarising himself with players, club staff and training ground. Amorim is expected to go with his trusted 3-4-3 formation at United, and it could be that the club splashes the cash in the winter window to tailor the squad to his needs.

It has already been claimed that United have made an enquiry over the signing of Chelsea attacker Christopher Nkunku. The Frenchman is unhappy with his playing time this season and is considering his future, so much so that a move could happen in the New Year. The Red Devils may see Nkunku as someone who can help improve them at the top end of the pitch as they struggle for goals.

Meanwhile, United are also looking into reuniting Amorim with one of his former players, as they have made an enquiry to Geovany Quenda from Sporting. The 17-year-old has broken into the first team this season and is very highly rated by the 39-year-old manager. But these are not the only players that the Premier League side is keeping an eye on, as they are also interested in a former player of theirs.

Man Utd exploring deal to sign Alvaro Carreras from Benfica

According to Marca, relayed by Caught Offside, Manchester United are exploring a deal to bring Alvaro Carreras back to Old Trafford. The 21-year-old started his career in Deportivo’s academy before he moved to Real Madrid, and it was from there that the Red Devils secured his services.

The left-back joined United in 2020, and during his time at Old Trafford he had loan spells at Preston, Granada CF, and Benfica. Then in the summer, Carreras was sold to the Portuguese side, leaving United without playing a single minute in the first team.

Carreras, who has been hailed for his “amazing engine and quality” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, signed a contract until 2029, but part of the deal saw United have a buy-back option, which is at €20 million, roughly £16 million. The Spanish under-21 international has been in impressive form this season, scoring twice in 10 Liga Portugal games.

Alvaro Carreras’ Benfica stats
Apps	32
Goals	3
Assists	3

This report states that United are looking into the possibility of bringing him back to the club, but they also face competition from Liverpool. However, the Red Devils having the £16 million buy-back clause gives them an advantage as other clubs would have to pay his full €50 million release clause.

West Ham expect Lucas Paqueta to lose his fight against spot-fixing allegations as the Brazilian reportedly faces a lifetime ban.

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• Odds do not favour Paqueta
• Hearing set to start this month
• Judgment could potentially end his career

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to the case against Paqueta is being assessed under the civil law standard of proof, known as the "balance of probabilities," rather than the stricter "beyond a reasonable doubt" requirement used in criminal cases. This means the Football Association (FA) only needs to establish that it is more likely than not that the 27-year-old intentionally sought yellow cards to manipulate betting markets.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  West Ham insiders have criticised the process, calling it "savage" and "very wrong" that a player’s entire career could be jeopardised by a decision made on a marginal 51 percent probability. The FA's Regulatory Commissions handle such cases under this civil standard, making it a significant hurdle for the club and the player to overcome.

  The FA formally charged Paqueta with misconduct in May 2024, alleging that he deliberately received yellow cards in four separate Premier League matches to facilitate betting wins. These incidents reportedly occurred in games against Leicester City in November 2022, Aston Villa in March 2023, Leeds United in May 2023 and Bournemouth in August of the same year.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite the challenges, West Ham have continued to stand by Paqueta, showing unwavering support in an effort to clear his name. The player himself has remained steadfast in his denial of the accusations, expressing his determination to prove his innocence. Proceedings are expected to begin this month and could extend over a three-week period. However, it has been confirmed that Paqueta will be allowed to continue playing for the Hammers while the hearings are ongoing.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PAQUETA?

  As the legal battle unfolds, both the player and his club remain hopeful of a resolution that will allow him to continue his footballing career without sanctions. Paqueta has been absent from the West Ham lineup since their loss to Brentford due to an ankle injury. It remains to be seen whether he will be fit for selection when the team face Newcastle United on Monday.

Vitinha is confident PSG will come out all guns blazing and turn around the Champions League tie when they take on Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday.

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• PSG faced Liverpool in UCL round of 16
• Reds won 1st leg 1-0 in Paris
• Vitinha confident of comeback at Anfield

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha isn't worried about the prospect of trailing Liverpool 1-0 ahead of the second leg of the Champions League round-of-16 tie, showcasing his confidence in his team by boldly claiming that they will win the game and knock the Reds out of the competition when they meet at Anfield on Tuesday.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  PSG welcomed Liverpool to the Parc des Princes on Wednesday evening in a highly-anticipated first-leg clash in the round of 16 of Europe's premier club competition. The hosts dominated the game, recording 71 per cent of the possession and registering a whopping 27 shots. Despite their dominance, PSG will head into the return leg with nothing to show for it, as Alisson’s heroics in goal and substitute Harvey Elliott’s 87th-minute winner handed Liverpool a crucial advantage and a clear path to the quarter-finals.

• WHAT VITINHA SAID

  Vitinha reflected on his team's gut-wrenching narrow defeat at home: “It’s tough to play a game like this, against a team like this, with one goalscoring opportunity, only one shot," the Portugal international told Canal+ after the game (h/t Get French Football News).

  Despite the defeat in the first leg, Vitinha asserted that PSG will mount an improbable comeback in the reverse fixture at Anfield, one of the toughest stadiums to visit for any team.

  “We will show the team that we are, we will show our character”, Vitinha added. “We’ll win there. With the match we played, the victory was more than deserved. Like at the start of the season, we had lots of opportunities, but we failed to score.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VITINHA?

  The 25-year-old will be eager to help PSG extend their lead atop the Ligue 1 table on Saturday, March 8, when they travel to Roazhon Park to lock horns with 11th-placed Rennes. It's then on to Anfield on March 11 as Luis Enrique's men look to turn around the Champions League tie.

Everton are reportedly “serious competitors” to complete the signing of a player with “remarkable potential”, in what is an exciting transfer update.

Everton transfer news

There is fresh optimism among Blues supporters that The Friedkin Group could provide Sean Dyche with more transfer funds moving forward compared to Farhad Moshiri, as they look to ensure that the club are no longer battling for their Premier League survival season upon season.

One promising rumour has claimed that Dan Friedkin is eyeing a cut-price deal for Bright Osayi-Samuel, with the 26-year-old right-back currently plying his trade at Fenerbahce.

In what would be an audacious piece of business, Everton have also been linked with a move for Lille striker Jonathan David, who is arguably one of the best players in Ligue 1 currently. The 24-year-old already has seven goals in eight league starts this season, not to mention netting 29 times in 56 caps for Canada, and has been a rumoured option for many other clubs due to his contract expiring next summer.

Meanwhile, Sevilla midfielder Stanis Idumdo is also considered a potential target for the Blues, with the 19-year-old an exciting young talent who has already made five first-team appearances, scoring once in that time.

Everton "serious competitors" to sign ace

According to a new update from Homme Du Match [via Sport Witness], Everton are seen as “serious competitors” to sign Fluminense forward Kaua Elias, with Lille and Benfica also thought to be in the mix to snap him up. The 18-year-old Brazilian is described in the report as a player with “remarkable potential”, with the Blues “positioning themselves” to make a move for the £5.7m-rated ace.

Elias isn’t exactly a household name among Premier League supporters yet, but the manner in which he is talked about in the update suggests that he could be a fantastic option for Everton.

The fact that even Barcelona and Real Madrid have been linked with a move for the teenage ace says so much about his potential, and football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed him as “one of the most interesting teenage strikers in South America”.

Patience would clearly be needed with Elias, though, given the fact that he is still a raw talent who is learning his trade, not to mention the fact that he is yet to experience European football of any kind.

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The Toffees are looking to win a busy race…

By
Tom Cunningham

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He has seven goals in 39 appearances for Fluminense at senior level, however, which is impressive given his age, and a tally of nine strikes in just 12 caps for Brazil’s Under-17s shows he is a player with so much promise.

Tottenham Hotspur meet Aston Villa in the Premier League this afternoon, and though fans were delighted with a win over Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, this is a different test entirely.

Unai Emery’s high-flying side perch five points ahead of Spurs, who have only won four of their nine top-flight fixtures thus far. They were defeated by Crystal Palace, who were previously winless, last weekend.

While Ange Postecoglou and his squad are hardly in dire straits, there is a feeling that defeat in north London against the Villans – for the second season running – would place a sour taste in the fanbase’s proverbial mouth.

It’ll be a tough test indeed, there are no two ways about it. Aston Villa are unbeaten on the road in the Premier League this term and have only been beaten by Arsenal, way back in match-week two.

Moreover, Micky van de Ven has picked up another injury and faces a spell on the sidelines. Fans can only hope that it doesn’t prove to be a detrimental blow.

Micky van de Ven's injured – again

Van de Ven is a fantastic footballer, endowed with the highest calibre of athleticism and keeping things crisp from Tottenham’s backline, one of the sharpest distributors in the Premier League.

The 23-year-old has been plying his craft in the English capital for over one year now, joining from German side Wolfsburg in a £43m deal in August 2023. He’s been brilliant; it’s quite easy to forget how porous Spurs were in defence before his advent.

Indeed, the Dutchman ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs in the English top flight this season for assists, the top 14% for pass completion, the top 11% for progressive passes, and the top 14% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref. Such metrics underscore the complete nature of his skill set.

He’s a singular player, irreplaceable, even. His lightning-quick pace and muscular physique make him the prototypical defender to nullify Aston Villa’s frontline, with the likes of Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran, once he is inevitably unleashed past the hour mark, certain to be emboldened by his absence.

Tottenham worries have been compounded by the potential absence of Cristian Romero too, with Postecoglou revealing that the Argentine titan was left feeling “a bit sore” following the victory over City.

That eventuality is bound to send a frisson of fear lancing through Lilywhites supporters near and far. Although, saying that, it’s not all doom and gloom.

Radu Dragusin is set to start in central defence, regardless of Romero’s fitness. The 22-year-old Romanian won his only ground duel against City on Wednesday, as per Sofascore, also making five clearances to keep the visitors at bay.

Who else to promote to the rearguard? Archie Gray is one option, but he’s young and inexperienced, and would not fare well in a moonlit position against a team like Villa.

Ben Davies, then.

Ben Davies could replace Van de Ven – again

Davies has been at Tottenham for some time. In July 2014, the Wales international arrived from Swansea City in a swap deal worth £10m.

He’s been a loyal servant down N17. A decade later, Davies, now aged 31, has made 335 appearances for the north Londoners, scoring nine goals and supplying 23 further assists.

An 89-cap international, he’s as experienced as they come and hardly averse to playing from the outset in the Premier League – albeit, Postecoglou is yet to dispatch him in the league this season.

That said, Davies has played every minute of Tottenham’s Europa League campaign so far, keeping a clean sheet at centre-back against AZ Alkmaar last time out.

As per Sofascore, he’s completed 91% of his passes across those three fixtures while averaging 85 touches per game. This bodes well for Davies’ potential replacement of Van de Ven, for he’s not afraid to star at the centre of the action in central defence and is a top-class passer besides.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

He’s also proven himself to be capable of stepping in for the Netherlands star last season, proving to be something of a hero during the threadbare spell of Spurs’ 2023/24 season, when Van de Ven was sidelined throughout the winter period.

The £80k-per-week ace is of course not as good as Van de Ven. He’s not as mobile, and nor is he blessed with the same athletic prowess. Having said that, though, the Welshman’s metrics do align quite nicely when contrasting them against his Spurs positional peer, as you can see below.

Micky van de Ven vs Ben Davies (past 365 days)
Stat	Van de Ven	Davies
Pass completion	93%	90%
Passes attempted	72.1	71.6
Progressive passes	4.90	5.54
Shot-creating actions	0.72	1.14
Progressive carries	0.72	1.42
Successful take-ons	0.52	0.28
Stats via FBref

Davies might not carry some of the same natural-born properties as Van de Ven, sure, but he’s a reliable and robust defender who doesn’t earn as much match action as perhaps he deserves.

Only last season, as stated, the defender stepped in for his peer and produced some composed and cultured performances in the face of adversity, starting 12 matches, completing 91% of his passes, and winning 68% of his ground duels.

So then, he’s not just competent on the continent, against ostensibly lower-level opponents. Davies is assured and will not find his fluency knocked by an absence from the Premier League field.

In fact, the long-serving Spurs man’s industriousness may well blend nicely with the more dynamic defending of Dragusin, sure to start against Villa later on today.

Of course, Romero’s unavailability is not something that Tottenham supporters would hope for, but it’s perhaps a testament to Postecoglou’s project that he’s created a team with ample cover for such conundrums.

Davies has what it takes to send Emery’s outfit packing, and he should be unleashed. Who knows, if Romero does receive the green light, maybe his particular profile would be best served in the starting line-up, instead of Dragusin.

Spurs thought they'd signed the new Mousa Dembele, then he left for free

The promising star couldn’t make it work at Spurs.

2

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 2, 2024

Santos boss Pedro Caixinha has hailed Neymar as a "genius", while hoping he can take after Lionel Messi on the national stage.

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• Neymar starring for Santos
• Labelled as a "genius"
• Santos boss makes Messi point

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Santos head coach Caixinha heaped praise on the 33-year-old, after finding form at the Brazilian giants since his move from Al-Hilal. He also hopes that his team can help the ex-Barcelona star "grow" and be embraced by Brazil's fans, just as Messi went on to do at Argentina following their 2022 World Cup triumph.

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• Bruno Vaz / Santos FC
  

  WHAT PEDRO CAIXINHA SAID

  After Santos' 3-0 win over Internacional de Limeira on Sunday, he told reporters: "Neymar is a football genius, but he is a very humble person, easy to get along with. He wants to win and compete. We have him at Santos as a cause. He could be at other levels of world football. This represents a lot of his relationship with Santos, the love he has for Santos, the confrontation zone he found here."

  He added: "Argentina did this with Messi. Brazil should do this with Neymar. Our responsibility is to help him grow, to make him feel confident, happy, that he wanted to play and make a difference. If he finds it here, he will find it in the national team. Things can happen."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Following a slow start, Neymar has found his feet at Santos after signing a six-month deal with his boyhood club. The former Paris Saint-Germain star has scored two goals and bagged three assists in his last three games and if he keeps this up for a sustained period, a Brazil recall could be on the cards. That would have been unthinkable after having his contract cancelled at Al-Hilal and enduring an injury-hit year or so.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Neymar, who completed 90 minutes for the first time in his second spell at Santos at the weekend, could next feature for his side in their Campeonato Paulista quarter-final at home to Bragantino on Saturday.

Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is certain to be without a “very strong” player for their trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday, with star winger Son Heung-min also very likely to miss the Premier League encounter.

Tottenham beat AZ Alkmaar as Postecoglou returns to winning form

Spurs narrowly scraped past Dutch giants AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on Thursday evening, courtesy of Richarlison’s first goal of the season, and the win makes it two from their last two games after a rampant 4-1 victory at the expense of West Ham last weekend.

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It is a perfect response to their regrettable 3-2 fumble at Brighton just before the international break – a result which Postecoglou will want to forget as soon as possible considering Spurs’ two-goal lead – but the Lilywhites’ past two outings are doing wonders to put it behind them.

Next up, Crystal Palace await Postecoglou’s side at Selhurst Park, with Eagles boss Oliver Glasner under intense pressure and looking to secure his first win of the new campaign.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League games	Date
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham	October 27
Tottenham vs Aston Villa	November 3
Tottenham vs Ipswich Town	November 10
Man City vs Tottenham	November 23
Tottenham vs Fulham	December 1

Richarlison and Wilson Odobert will both be available for the south London clash, with the latter coming off the bench against AZ and making his first appearance in weeks after recovering from a hamstring injury.

However, the same cannot be said for Son, who is a huge doubt for Palace. The South Korea international will not be able to train this afternoon, and is therefore unlikely to make a return on Sunday.

“Sonny is still not right or feeling 100 per cent,” said Postecoglou in his press conference today.

“He won’t train today and so unlikely for the weekend and we’ll see how he is beyond that.”

The 32-year-old will be a big miss considering his importance to Postecoglou in an attacking sense, having stood out as one of their key players since the Australian took over from Antonio Conte last season.

Tottenham without Djed Spence for Crystal Palace through injury

Alongside Son, Postecoglou won’t be able to call upon right-back Djed Spence. The Englishman suffered a groin injury in training last week, and it is believed Spence will be absent for Tottenham’s trip to Crystal Palace as a result, but he isn’t expected to be out for much longer.

Spence was recently awarded a new deal at Spurs, owing to the redemption arc he’s undergone since being sent out on multiple loan spells last season. Italian media praised Spence for his form out on a temporary spell at Genoa last season, and he’s now brought that home to N17.

The “very strong” defender, as he was called by Gabriel Martinelli, is now a member of Postecoglou’s first-team squad – and could play a role as Tottenham seek to end their 16-year wait for a major trophy.

“I said a couple of days ago and consistently say, most of a players future is in their own hands,” said Postecoglou on Spence.

“They’re as much in control as anyone else. I think sometimes footballers forget that. With Djed, it could have been easy for to go out on loan again. But when he came into preseason, he was determined to make a career for himself here at Tottenham rather than wait to be loaned out.

“He did everything right in training, his attitude was great. He’s a good footballer, I think the way we play suits him and he’s knuckled down to that. And he’s earned himself a spot on the roster in our squad.

“The rest is up to him again. Because it’s an easy decision for me to make when I see that. Like I said, sometimes footballers think their fate is in other peoples’ hands. For the most part, it’s in their own. If they’re doing well and doing everything right, the future tends to take care of itself, whether that’s where you currently are or you move on. And Djed’s certainly done that.”

Man Utd CEO Omar Berrada has threatened to sack staff leaking information to the media in a 580-word email to employees.

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• Man Utd CEO threatens staff
• 580-word email insists on no leaks
• Continues rocky start for INEOS

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The email comes amid a string of negative stories about the club's new minority owners, INEOS, in recent weeks. Berrada claims in his message to staff that anyone caught digressing sensitive information to the media will be sacked on the basis of gross misconduct.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  INEOS have overseen what looks set to be United's worst Premier League campaign every, with 10 wins from their final 13 matches required to avoid it being their lowest points total on record. There have also been stories about mass redundancies and inflated ticket prices at the club, with INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe closely associated with those efforts.

• WHAT BERRADA SAID

  In his email, reported by The Telegraph, Berrada wrote: "Anyone disclosing information outside of the club is breaching their obligations of confidentiality, and we are very clear that this will be considered gross misconduct. To protect the club and its colleagues, additional measures are being put in place to prevent future breaches of confidentiality and also identify any persons responsible."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  That an email related to leaking has itself been leaked suggests that United's efforts to stop the drip-feed of information from the club are going to prove difficult. INEOS have bold plans to regenerate Old Trafford, while 'Mission 21' outlines their ambition to win the Premier League title, but stories like this one are unlikely to make the regime popular with supporters.