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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…

It has been a long road of recovery for Seamus Coleman since suffering a broken leg whilst playing for Ireland against Wales in March 2017.

He returned to the pitch earlier this year and although he showed signs of getting back to form at the end of last season, building up an effective partnership with Richarlison, he is still yet to get back to his highest levels of performance.

The 30-year-old received the lowest rating of any Republic of Ireland player from Sofascore in the draw against Switzerland, and he was also the recipient of some criticism on social media, which suggests times have changed.

From a once bustling full-back who loved to get forward, the Irishman contributed just two assists last term from 30 appearances, and has often proved more error-prone in losing the ball, as his performance against the Swiss showed.

That match also indicated he is struggling with the pace of the game at times, as he made no interceptions in the European Championship qualifier, and that could be a worry for Marco Silva and Everton moving forward.

Despite that, his leadership qualities proved useful for his side as they were able to snatch an equaliser in the closing stages, and it is likely Coleman has helped to foster the belief that allows the team to never give up.

However, for Everton it could be a different story. They have their sights set on the top six this season and in order to crack it they will need all of their players to perform to the highest level.

As a result, the fact Coleman lost possession on 15 occasions on Thursday simply isn’t good enough, and he will need to improve drastically under a manager who likes to retain possession.

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One of the main reasons for his sloppiness with the ball was his passing. For a defensive player to have just 73% pass accuracy is worrying, and if repeated in a ruthless division such as the Premier League the Toffees could find themselves conceding not only chances, but goals.

Off the ball he needs to be more aggressive, too, and if he fails to improve he could lose his place to new signing and France international Djibril Sidibe.

He was beaten by an opponent on two occasions, and lost five out of eight duels, which is uncharacteristic of the player we have seen over the years in the top flight.

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Very observant. We’re guessing that’s a clever little crossover with Iwobi’s name and Brazil legend Ronaldinho. Well done, Kelechi.

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

Newcastle have officially announced the signing of free agent Andy Carroll.

What’s the story?

The Magpies confirmed the return of the giant Geordie on Thursday afternoon, accompanying the announcement with the message “Carroll Comes Home”.

“It feels very good. My friends and family are here, and it’s the club that I support – it is home,” the 30 year-old has said.

He has signed an initial one-year deal, with the club exercising caution around a player who has suffered through a ridiculously long list of injuries.

As he was a free agent, the club will not pay a transfer fee, taking their net spend for the summer window to around £30m.

Verdict

It’s no surprise to see Carroll is ecstatic to be back on Tyneside, where the 6 foot 4 striker made his name in professional football.

He scored 33 times and added 21 assists in 90 appearances during his first spell as a Magpie, and while Joelinton’s position as the club’s record signing surely nails him on as a starter, Carroll is an excellent plan B.

The former England international is an absolute handful for defenders when he is fully fit, sitting fourth all-time in the contest for most headed goals in the Premier League, behind only Peter Crouch, Olivier Giroud and Christian Benteke.

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With Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin, two wingers with electric speed, both arriving at St. James’ Park this year, one doesn’t have to think too long about what Steve Bruce’s plan for the striker will be.

Any time the Magpies are in need of a goal you can count on Carroll coming on and making a nuisance of himself, averaging a whopping 6.2 aerial wins per game in various competitions throughout his career.

And after aerial threat Salomon Rondon departed the club this summer, the capture of another player with the ability to match centre-backs in the air was an absolute necessity. Mark this one down as a big win for the Magpies’ transfer team.

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

Celtic are tracking Rosenborg left-back Birger Meling, as Neil Lennon steps up his chase for a Kieran Tierney replacement, according to The Scottish Sun.

What’s the story?

Lennon is looking at potential names as he searches for left-back cover, having sold Tierney to Arsenal for £25m last week. One name that has come up will be familiar to supporters, with Meling impressing against the Celts in the last few years in European competition.

He did well on four occasions against the Hoops and even notched a goal at Parkhead, so it’s little surprise his name has cropped up as Lennon continues the hunt for a new left-back.

The Hoops boss is hopeful of adding cover for new signing Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo before the September 2nd deadline, and The Scottish Sun understands that Meling fits the profile of what the club is looking for.

The Parkhead side will have to fight off competition from Los Angeles FC if they’re to land the 24-year-old this summer, per the report.

The wrong left-back

The Norwegian full-back is an interesting prospect, but at 24 he is the same age as Bolingoli-Mbombo. The Belgian arrived for £3m, so has a reasonable expectation of starting more often than not, and signing a player of the same age might jeopardise this.

Meling isn’t the only left-back the Bhoys have been linked to since Tierney opted for the Premier League though, with Kilmarnock’s Greg Taylor also being touted, per The Daily Record.

In Taylor, you’d have a new arrival that could come in and not derail Bolingoli-Mbombo’s progression and adjustment to life in the Scottish Premiership, instead playing a supporting role to the 24 year-old. Aged just 21, Taylor is also more malleable than Meling, meaning Lennon could shape him into the exact specification of left-back he is looking for.

Taylor also has the added bonus of being a proven Premiership player, something that could be pivotal as Celtic look to start the season quickly, rather than dealing with two left-backs coming to grips with the style of play in Scotland.

Meling has wowed Parkhead before, but Celtic would be wise to look a little closer to home in their search for a Tierney replacement.

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According to Voetbal International, Southampton have joined the race for Club Brugge winger Arnaut Danjuma.

What’s the deal, then?

It was recently reported that the 22-year-old was ‘getting ready for a transfer’ and that Spurs were interested in him.

However, the same article stated it would take some time for a deal to get over the line between Tottenham and the Belgian side.

And now it is thought Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men could snap up the Dutchman, although his price tag is yet unknown.

The former NEC Nijmegen player only moved to Brugge in the summer of last year, but is already said to be attracting interest from major outfits in England, Spain and Italy.

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Saints’ money could be better spent elsewhere

The youngster’s record in the Jupiler Pro League will hardly blow you away – six goals and four assists in 24 appearances during the previous campaign.

In fact, his only real breakthrough season came in the second tier of Dutch football where he bagged 11 goals and 17 assists in 28 games.

It is by no means guaranteed then that the PSV youth team player will hit the ground running at St Mary’s, so should Hasenhuttl bother adding yet another attacking player to his squad?

With the signatures of Moussa Djenepo, Che Adams and Danny Ings already having been completed this summer, there are undoubtedly areas which need strengthening more than on the flanks and upfront – like at centre-half.

Southampton’s new man Moussa Djenepo divides opinion amongst fans in the video below…

The Mirror’s live transfer blog (July 2, 13:29) have linked defender Jack Stephens with a move to Aston Villa, while Wesley Hoedt is someone who, according to The Telegraph, could also be leaving south coast in the window.

If that is to be the case, it is critical Hasenhuttl turns his attention to filling the void in the middle of defence, especially considering they conceded the sixth-highest number of goals in the Premier League last year.

Man United will surely be hoping to see their summer transfer window really kick into gear it the coming weeks.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is trying to oversee a difficult period for the club which could well see a wealth of changes within the Old Trafford club’s squad, as big players seek moves away and the club’s management look for big players to come in and make a difference.

United have as yet only added Daniel James to the ranks, but it is a move which seems to spell out a different transfer strategy from the club.

That strategy seems to be being carried through too with the potential signing of Crystal Palace defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who could be set to join the club in a move worth an initial £42.5m.

And while here in the Tavern we feel it’s a good signing, Wan-Bissaka has shown in recent weeks with England that he is far from the finished product United might seek.

The Red Devils will need to show patience with a player who only burst onto the scene last season at Selhurst Park, with the 21-year-old amassing an impressive 35 Premier League appearances.

However, Wan-Bissaka is still very much a raw talent, and we have seen in the under-21’s for his country this past week that he has a mistake in him, while positionally, he still has a lot to learn. Indeed, Aidy Boothroyd even said the saga surrounding him had an impact on some of his performances.

When we look around the Premier League at the top right backs such as Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool, you’d have to say Wan-Bissaka is some way off reaching that level as it stands, considering the fact the former has played in two European cup finals and the latter has struggled after a mini-transfer saga.

All the tools though are in place for the Palace youngster to succeed at Old Trafford. His pace, athleticism, and ability to create chances – three assists last season is not too shabby at all – all mark him out as someone who can fulfil the needs of the modern full-back.

In the long-term, all the signs point to this being money well spent by United.

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West Ham United are said to be closing in on a swoop for Villarreal midfielder Pablo Fornals ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

Fornals, 23, scored five times and registered six assists in 50 appearances for the Yellow Submarine last season.

The midfielder actually has a contract with Villarreal until June 2022 but will seemingly be on the move in this summer’s transfer window.

And it would be fair to say that the West Ham fans are excited by the prospect of the two-time Spain international arriving at the London Stadium.

It is a very important transfer window for the Hammers as they look to close the gap on the top seven during the 2019-20 season.

And there is every reason to believe that Manuel Pellegrini’s side could become the best of the rest – outside of the top six – if they enjoy a strong summer.

A selection of the Twitter reaction in relation to Fornals can be seen below:

تلقى نادي الزمالك إخطارا رسميًا من مسئولي ملعب بتروسبورت، بالموافقة على استضافة مباراة الفريق مع الجونة في الدوري المصري.

وكان مسئولو استاد بتروسبورت رفضوا استضافة مباراة الزمالك والجونة بسبب تصريحات المدير الفني البرتغالي، جايمي باتشيكو، التي أدلي بها عقب مواجهة إنبي في الدوري المصري.

وانتقد باتشيكو أرضية ملعب بتروسبورت، واصفًا إياها بالأسوأ، رغم الفوز على إنبي بثنائية.

اقرأ ايضًا.. خاص | الزمالك ينهي الأزمة وبتروسبورت يستضيف مباراته أمام الجونة

ومن المقرر، أن تُقام مباراة الزمالك والجونة، في الخامسة من مساء الثلاثاء المقبل، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثامنة من مسابقة الدوري المصري.

يحتل الزمالك وصافة ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 16 نقطة، بعدما خاض 6 مباريات حقق خلالها الفوز في 5 مباريات والتعادل في مباراة ولم يهزم في أي مباراة، فيما سجل 11 هدفًا واستقبل هدفين.

توج الأهلي بلقب دوري أبطال إفريقيا على حساب الزمالك في مباراة القمة التي جمعت بينهما في نهائي البطولة الإفريقية على استاد القاهرة مساء اليوم الجمعة.

وفاز الأهلي على الزمالك بهدفين مقابل هدف في المباراة التي جمعتهما في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا الذي جمع لأول مرة في تاريخ البطولة الإفريقية بين فريقين من نفس البلد.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فيديو | أفشة يسجل هدف الأهلي الثاني أمام الزمالك في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وبهذه البطولة حقق الأهلي اللقب التاسع في تاريخه ببطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، حيث نجح الأحمر في تحقق اللقب 9 مرات أعوام 1982، 1987، 2001، 2005، 2006، 2008، 2012، 2013، 2020، فيما حل وصيفًا 4 مرات أعوام: “1983، 2007، 2017، 2018”.

وفي السطور التالية يرصد “بطولات” أرقام ونتائج مباريات الأهلي في نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا:

1982

فاز الأهلي بنتيجة 3-0 أمام أشانتي كوتوكو ذهابًا وتعادل في العودة بنتيجة 1-1، ويحصد اللقب الأول في تاريخه.

1983

تعادل الأهلي 0-0 ضد أشانتي كوتوكو من جديد، وتلقى الخسارة بهدف وحيد ويخسر النهائي الثاني له.

1987

اصطدم الأهلي مع نظيره الهلال وتعادل سلبيًا في الذهاب وخطف فوزًا صعبًا خلال العودة بثنائية نظيفة.

2001

واجه الأهلي نادي ماميلودي صنداونز وتعادل بالذهاب 1-1، قبل أن يفوز في مباراة العودة بثلاثية نظيفة.

2005

التقى الأهلي منافسه النجم الساحلي ذهابًا وتعادلا سلبيًا، قبل أن يفوز المارد الأحمر بالقاهرة بنتيجة 3-0.

2006

وفي النسخة الأسطورية فشل الأهلي في الفوز بمباراة الذهاب وتعادل 1-1 أمام العنيد الصفاقسي التونسي.

ولكن استطاع الأهلي خطف الفوز التاريخي على حساب الصفاقسي بهدف محمد أبو تريكة الشهير قبل نهاية لقاء الإياب بلحظات.

2007

عاود الأهلي مواجهة النجم الساحلي من جديد ليتعادل أيضًا في الذهاب سلبيًا ثم يلتقي خسارة فادحة بنتيجة 3-1 باستاد القاهرة.

2008

خاض الأهلي مواجهة قوية أمام القطن الكاميروني فاز خلال الذهاب بنتيجة 2-0، بينما تعادل بالإياب بنتيجة 2-2.

2012

اصطدم الأهلي أمام الترجي في مباراة ذهاب نهائي البطولة وتعادل في القاهرة 1-1، قبل أن يفوز بملعب رادس 2-1.

2013

تأتي هنا آخر ذكريات الأهلي مع اللقب القاري عندما تعادل مع أورلاندو بايرتس ذهابًا في جنوب إفريقيا بنتيجة 1-1 ويحقق الفوز في الإياب بثنائية نظيفة.

2017

الأهلي سقط في فخ التعادل مع الوداد البيضاوي ذهابًا، قبل أن يسقط بهدف وحيد سجله أشرف بن شرقي لاعب الزمالك الحالي.

2018

ثم خاض الأهلي التقى ضد منافسه الترجي وتمكن لاعبو القلعة الحمراء من الفوز ذهابًا بنتيجة 3-1، قبل أن يسقطوا بهزيمة قاسية 3-0.

2020

وأخيرًا نجح الأهلي في التتويج باللقب التاسع في تاريخه على حساب الزمالك، بعدما فاز بهدفين مقابل هدف في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما اليوم، حيث أحرز للأحمر عمرو السولية ومجدي أفشة، فيما أحرز شيكابالا هدف الزمالك. صور تتويج الأهلي بدوري أبطال إفريقيا

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Under James Shan, West Brom are finally finding some momentum. Their displays may not be pretty, but it could be something that gives them a greater chance of triumphing in the play-offs.

Their performance against Rotherham, for the most part, was poor. They went into the break 1-0 down against a side who were facing relegation.

But cue the substitutions. With players back from injury the Baggies now have a much stronger squad and as such, it proved pivotal last weekend with the individuals they brought on.

In the past there haven’t been too many options to turn to on the bench, but ahead of what is now the most vital point of the season, that isn’t an issue. It’s a factor that’s also allowing Shan to show his tactical flexibility.

On the chalkboard

This was the XI that finished the match against Rotherham last Saturday. There are three changes from the team that started the game. Jacob Murphy came on in place of Mason Holgate, whilst Matt Phillips and Hal Robson-Kanu replaced Stefan Johansen and Jay Rodriguez.

Robson-Kanu entered the fray with just four minutes left so didn’t make an impact, but the other two certainly did, with the attacking changes proving vital in West Brom going onto win the game.

It showed Shan’s ability to adapt and going into the play-offs this will be imperative. Phillips’ return in recent weeks has been timely and his versatility has seen him play at wing back and also in central midfield under the new manager.

Featuring in a more advanced central role than Johansen when he came on, it saw a slight change of system which helped inject more penetration and pace into Albion’s midfield.

Was Darren Moore’s sacking unfair? The Pl>ymaker FC squad name which Championship bosses should have gone instead in the video below…

All good managers are flexible and possess plan Bs and the way Shan was able to change the game with substitutions last weekend is evidence of this.

With the versatility Murphy and Phillips bring it can also give Shan the ability to change formation entirely if he wanted to.

Should things not be going to plan, then the added attacking quality they can bring from either a wing back role or as out-and-out wingers will be game changing in the play-offs.