\n<\/p>\n
A very bad day in the history of the storied football club that is Shefield Wednesday has just got a little bit worse following the news that the club has been docked 12 points with immediate effect by the EFL after going into administration.<\/p>\n
The penalty was inevitable but has now been confirmed. Wednesday host Oxford United at Hillsborough tomorrow and will go into the game bottom of the table on -6 points after 11 games.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe EFL can confirm that it has now received formal notice that Dejphon Chansiri, the director of Sheffield Wednesday football club, has taken the necessary steps to appoint administrators to both the club and also the company which owns Hillsborough,\u201d said an EFL statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhilst this development results in the automatic deduction of 12 points in accordance with regulations agreed by all clubs, it also presents Sheffield Wednesday with the opportunity to move matters towards a successful sale and secure future under new ownership. The Championship league table will be updated with immediate effect.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, who has publicly criticised the manner in which Chansiri runs Sheffield Wednesday before, has had her say on today\u2019s events. \u201cFor the fans, staff and players of Sheffield Wednesday this is an extremely worrying situation,\u201d she said. \u201cHaving been in this position with my own team, Wigan Athletic, I know everyone who loves the club will be hoping for a resolution as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cSituations like this are exactly why this Government set up the new Independent Football Regulator. Owners should be good custodians who act with their club\u2019s best interests in mind and clearly, in this instance, that has not been the case. We are working quickly to give the Regulator the powers it needs so it can better secure the future of football clubs and ensure they remain at the heart of their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/span>A protest message projected onto the side of the stadium ahead of the Championship match at Hillsborough Stadium between Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough on Tuesday night. The match was boycotted by thousands of Wednesday fans. <\/span> Photograph: Danny Lawson\/PAShare<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.21 EDT<\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n <\/span>Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Sheffield Wednesday:<\/strong> On the back of the news that their club is to go into administration, the Sheffield Wednesday Supporters\u2019 Trust have announced that their boycott of the club is officially over and encouraged as many Wednesday fans as possible to attend Hillsborough and for tomorrow\u2019s match against fellow strugglers Oxford United.<\/p>\n \u201c[We are] trying to get as many people back into the ground, get people into the club shop, back onto the concourse,\u201d said Rob Brookes, a SWST board member. \u201cWe hope it will be a bumper crowd tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Sheffield Wednesday were beaten by Middlesbrough on Tuesday night at a match where travelling Boro fans outnumbered home supporters at Hillsborough.<\/p>\n ShareBen Fisher<\/span><\/p>\n Nottingham Forest:<\/strong> Sean Dyche has vowed to ignore the price tags of Nottingham Forest players as he seeks his first league win, but admitted the first impressions of his squad have been encouraging. Forest\u2019s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, spent about \u00a3200m on 13 summer signings to cope with the added challenge of playing in Europe for the first time since 1995-96.<\/p>\n Dyche registered a victory in his first game in charge on Thursday, an impressive 2-0 win over Porto in the Europa League, 48 hours after taking charge. It was the first time Forest had kept a clean sheet in 21 matches. Porto arrived in Nottingham with an unbeaten record this season after 10 wins in 11 matches, during which time they conceded just two goals.<\/p>\n Dyche, who previously managed Watford, Burnley and Everton, is widely perceived as a firefighter but Forest have far grander ambitions after finishing seventh last season. Marinakis believes Forest can win the Europa League this campaign.<\/p>\n Asked if this is the best squad he has managed, Dyche replied: \u201cI don\u2019t know yet. Everyone thinks if you spend some money they\u2019re all brilliant. I think on first impressions it\u2019s a good squad. I\u2019ve worked with some very underrated players, who are very good players and cost next to nothing, who have delivered in the Premier League for many years. I don\u2019t look at price tags, I look at [what\u2019s] right in front of me. What are they doing? What do they know? How can they learn? How can they adapt to the truth of the Premier League?<\/p>\n \u201cThe Premier League is not just about quality. What about the nuts and bolts? What about understanding the Premier League? What about shape, discipline, getting into the right passing lanes, seeing the picture? They\u2019re the hardest things to coach, and that often takes time. It takes maturation from playing in the Premier League.\u201d<\/p>\n Forest, who visit Bournemouth on Sunday, have six Brazilian players, including Igor Jesus, who sealed victory on Thursday. \u201cI\u2019m teaching them about my voice because I think they\u2019ve never heard a voice like this. They\u2019re looking at me like: \u2018What is that?\u2019\u201d Dyche said. \u201cSome speak better English than others and some converse for me, so they\u2019ve been very helpful in adding some detail. They\u2019ve been great. The good thing with the Brazilian players I\u2019ve come across as a manager is they\u2019ve got a hardiness to them. I don\u2019t mean old-school stuff, I don\u2019t mean big tackling and all that, but just that competitive nature.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>Sean Dyche gesticulates from the sideline during Nottingham Forest\u2019s win over Porto at the City Ground last night. <\/span> Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n An email:<\/strong> \u201cAs the SWFC Trust says (12.57), admin isn\u2019t to be celebrated – apart from the points deduction (the least of our worries), there\u2019ll be local businesses losing money rightly owed to them. However, my overwhelming feeling is utter joy to be rid of the presumably now-ex-chairman,\u201d writes Sean Clayton.<\/p>\n \u201cDejphon Chansiri was an utterly toxic blend of stubbornness, self-regard, callousness and good-old-fashioned stupidity. There will be very, very few Wednesday fans who will miss him, regardless of whom the next owner might be. If you\u2019re in the mood to raise Owls\u2019 spirits immediately, here\u2019s a sight we\u2019ve been waiting a looooong time to see.\u201d<\/p>\n Sean \u2018includes a link to a post on X by the Sheffield Star\u2019s Wednesday correspondent Alex Miller, which shows the white seats which spell out the name \u2018Chansiri\u2019 being ripped out of the lower tier of the North Stand at Hillsborough within an hour of the announcement of the club\u2019s application to go into administration.<\/p>\n Without wanting to be a Barry buzz-kill, it\u2019s worth pointing out that once the seats are gone, the gap they leave behind will still spell \u201cChansiri\u201d, as will any replacement seats that don\u2019t happen to be the exact same shade of faded blue as those around them. Still, you can only applaud that kind of pettiness.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.39 EDT<\/p>\n A very bad day in the history of the storied football club that is Shefield Wednesday has just got a little bit worse following the news that the club has been docked 12 points with immediate effect by the EFL after going into administration.<\/p>\n The penalty was inevitable but has now been confirmed. Wednesday host Oxford United at Hillsborough tomorrow and will go into the game bottom of the table on -6 points after 11 games.<\/p>\n \u201cThe EFL can confirm that it has now received formal notice that Dejphon Chansiri, the director of Sheffield Wednesday football club, has taken the necessary steps to appoint administrators to both the club and also the company which owns Hillsborough,\u201d said an EFL statement.<\/p>\n \u201cWhilst this development results in the automatic deduction of 12 points in accordance with regulations agreed by all clubs, it also presents Sheffield Wednesday with the opportunity to move matters towards a successful sale and secure future under new ownership. The Championship league table will be updated with immediate effect.\u201d<\/p>\n The Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, who has publicly criticised the manner in which Chansiri runs Sheffield Wednesday before, has had her say on today\u2019s events. \u201cFor the fans, staff and players of Sheffield Wednesday this is an extremely worrying situation,\u201d she said. \u201cHaving been in this position with my own team, Wigan Athletic, I know everyone who loves the club will be hoping for a resolution as soon as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cSituations like this are exactly why this Government set up the new Independent Football Regulator. Owners should be good custodians who act with their club\u2019s best interests in mind and clearly, in this instance, that has not been the case. We are working quickly to give the Regulator the powers it needs so it can better secure the future of football clubs and ensure they remain at the heart of their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>A protest message projected onto the side of the stadium ahead of the Championship match at Hillsborough Stadium between Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough on Tuesday night. The match was boycotted by thousands of Wednesday fans. <\/span> Photograph: Danny Lawson\/PAShare<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.21 EDT<\/p>\n That\u2019s my cameo done.<\/strong> I\u2019ll hand you back to Barry with more hot news and press conference reaction.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Sheffield Wednesday:<\/strong> Some quotes here from The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters\u2019 Trust, who have described today\u2019s news as \u201cone of the most bittersweet days in our club\u2019s proud 158-year history\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cEntering administration was the inevitable outcome of years of financial mismanagement, a lack of accountability and repeated failures to engage credible buyers,\u201d the Trust statement continued.<\/p>\n \u201cAdministration is not to be celebrated. It needn\u2019t have ended this way. But we are overjoyed to have Dejphon Chansiri out of our club for good.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n El Clasico:<\/strong> It\u2019s the latest showdown between Real Madrid and Barcelona this weekend (3.15pm Sunday), with the hosts looking to end a run of four straight defeats across league and cup. It\u2019s fair to expect goals!<\/p>\n 11 May 2025: Barcelona<\/strong> 4-3 Real Madrid Here\u2019s Sid Lowe\u2019s report from the last meeting when Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 scored a hat-trick but ended up on the losing side.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Wayne Rooney is 40!<\/strong> Wazza shares his birthday (October 24) with Roman Abramovich, Bill Wyman, Drake, Kevin Kline and former Emperor of Ancient Rome, Domitian.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a look back at his best bits\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p>\n <\/span>I think we know what No.1 is.<\/span>Share<\/p>\n Fun and games at IFAB:<\/strong> Extending VAR\u2019s reach, potentially to cover second yellow cards, could be discussed at a meeting of football\u2019s lawmakers next week.<\/p>\n Olympiacos player Santiago Hezze was controversially dismissed against Barcelona in the Champions League this week when he was shown a second yellow for what was deemed a foul on Marc Casado.<\/p>\n Replays showed minimal contact between Hezze\u2019s arm and Casado\u2019s face as the pair challenged for the ball, but the Barca player\u2019s reaction convinced Swiss referee Urs Schnyder to issue a second yellow.<\/p>\n Under the current protocol, the VAR could not send Schnyder to review the decision. However, that could change in the future.<\/p>\n The football and technical panels of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which sets the laws of the game, will meet next Tuesday. The panels, which include former players, are free to raise topics they wish to discuss, which could include a debate around the effectiveness of the existing VAR protocol and whether it should be extended.<\/p>\n That could be the first step to decisions being taken at a later date by the IFAB directors \u2013 the chief executives of the English, Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh football associations and Mattias Grafstrom, the secretary general of FIFA.<\/p>\n The PA news agency understands there have been debates around the inclusion of second yellow cards since \u2018day one\u2019 of VAR\u2019s introduction, but there have been \u2013 and remain \u2013 concerns around whether extending the protocol may change referee behaviour in awarding first or second yellow cards.<\/p>\n The panels are also set to discuss whether fresh measures to tackle time-wasting should be looked at.<\/p>\n The introduction of the eight-second rule for goal kicks out of hand has generally been deemed a success, and consideration is set to be given by the panel to whether time limits could be brought in for throw-ins and dead-ball goal kicks.<\/p>\n Trials may then be approved as early as the IFAB\u2019s annual business meeting in January.<\/p>\n The offside law is also on the agenda for Tuesday. Panellists are set to be updated on trials of the \u2018daylight\u2019 offside law \u2013 where an attacker is onside if any part of his body that can score is level with the second-last defender.<\/p>\n The trials, backed by FIFA chief of global football development Arsene Wenger, were delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic but have now taken place in youth competitions in countries such as China and Canada.<\/p>\n Panellists will be asked to take a step back and have a discussion on what the issues are around the offside law that football would want any law change to solve \u2013 would the change aim to cut out \u2018marginal\u2019 offsides, or to promote attacking play, for instance.<\/p>\n There is acceptance that care must be taken not to change the law purely for the benefit of top-level football, where VAR is in use, and that it must be applicable and understandable all the way down to grassroots.<\/p>\n (PA Media)<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Premier League table:<\/strong> It\u2019s 16th plays 19th tonight and, apparently, this is the first time Elland Road has staged a Friday night Premier League game since December 2020 when the visitors were\u2026 West Ham. The Hammers won that one 2-1 via goals from Tomas Soucek and Angelo Ogbonna.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Thanks Barry.<\/strong> Just under eight hours until the first of this weekend’s Premier League matches \u2013 Leeds v West Ham. I\u2019m 37 minutes away from Elland Road according to my Sat Nav. Currently sunny with a moderate breeze although rain forecast for later. Some more interesting facts for you here:<\/p>\n With just four points in eight Premier League matches, this is West Ham\u2019s worst ever start to a Premier League season, while in the top-flight they last had as few as four after eight games in 1988-89 (also 4), eventually finishing 19th and being relegated.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Leeds are averaging 13 shots per game in the Premier League this season, the highest rate by a promoted side since Leeds themselves in 2020-21 (13.7). However, their conversion rate is just 6.7%, their lowest on record in a league season (since 2013-14).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Share<\/p>\n Handover:<\/strong> David Tindall is here for an hour while I take a break.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Lionesses:<\/strong> England women head coach Sarina Wiegman has confirmed Brighton goalkeeper Sophie Baggaley has joined the Lionesses squad as Hannah Hampton recovers from a \u201csmall injury\u201d that will keep her out of Saturday\u2019s game against Brazil at the City of Manchester Stadium. Wiegman has also confirmed that Lotte Wubben-Moy has withdrawn from the squad after \u201cfeeling unwell.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Breaking news: <\/strong>Championship side Sheffield Wednesday have filed for administration amid the club\u2019s mounting financial issues, a court filing from this morning showed. The English Football League (EFL) had previously charged the club with multiple breaches of regulations for the persistent late payment of players\u2019 wages.<\/p>\n This is the latest in a series of off-field setbacks for Wednesday, whose owner Dejphon Chansiri has failed to pay players and staff on time in five out of the last seven months. Thousands of fans boycotted their home defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough earlier this week in protest against the club\u2019s ownership. Wednesday have been placed under various embargoes amid tax debts and for their late payments to players and staff, including in September.<\/p>\n Under EFL rules, Wednesday, who are already bottom of the Championship, will now receive an automatic 12-point points deduction for going into administration. The penalty would leave them on -6 points after 11 games. Wednesday host fellow strugglers Oxford United tomorrow.<\/p>\n Even the Government has joined calls for Chansiri to sell up. \u201cThe Government\u2019s view is very strongly that football club owners are custodians of those clubs, and they have a responsibility to hand them on in better shape to the next owner and to the next generation of fans,\u201d the Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told a select committee on 10 September.<\/p>\n \u201cIn Sheffield Wednesday\u2019s case, I am really extremely concerned about the current ownership and the lack of willingness to sell the club and invest in the club, something I\u2019ve been discussing very closely with local MPs. The Government is keeping a very close eye on it and our message to those owners is that change is coming.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>A projection of protest on the side of Hillsborough Stadium urging Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri to leave the club. <\/span> Photograph: Matt West\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.55 EDT<\/p>\n Brighton:<\/strong> Fabian Hurzeler\u2019s side travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United tomorrow evening and the Brighton head coach has been discussing the tactics he envisages Ruben Amorim\u2019s side employing.<\/p>\n \u201cI think they are playing more direct and more vertical style so more long balls trying to target [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Benjamin] Sesko, trying to win the second balls and continue on the wing,\u201d he said. \u201cTrying to attack the box with deep runs and of course they have a lot of individual qualities. They can change the game with one action. No matter who it is. They are a danger for us and we have to be staying alive for 90 minutes because they can score from every phase.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked about United\u2019s difficulties when it comes to stringing back-to-back victories together, the young German was understandably both diplomatic and complimentary. \u201cIt\u2019s not my job to comment on that but the only thing I can say is that I am really looking forward to competing against one of the best managers,\u201d he said. \u201cI think [Amorim] is one of the best, of course he\u2019s not in an easy phase with Manchester but he\u2019s proved in the past how good he can be. Why can\u2019t they win three games in a row? I don\u2019t know because I\u2019m not there.\u201d<\/p>\n Should United win tomrorow it will be the first time they have won three consecutive Premier League matches since Amorim took charge almost a year ago. In January this year they won back-to-back-toback games in two different competitions against Rangers, Fulham and the Romanian side FCSB.<\/p>\n <\/span>Fabian Hurzeler takes his Brighton side to Old Trafford to face Manchester United tomorrow. <\/span> Photograph: Allstar Picture Library Ltd\/Neal Simpson\/Apl\/SportsphotoShare<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.15 EDT<\/p>\n Liverpool:<\/strong> Arne Slot is sitting before reporters and tells them that both Alexander Isak and Thomas Gravenberch are \u201ca doubt\u201d for tomorrow\u2019s away trip to Brentford. Jeremie Frimpong has definitely been ruled out with the hamstring injury that put a stop to his midweek gallop against Eintracht Frankfurt early on Wednesday night. Alisson also remains sidelined with a hammy he picked up against Galatasaray.<\/p>\n As is becoming customary, Slot was asked about Florian Wirtz who had one of his better games in a Liverpool shirt against Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday. \u201cIt was more difficult to do what he did against Manchester United [to provide an assist for Cody Gakpo] than his assist for Dominik Szoboszlai,\u201d said Slot. \u201cHis general game I have liked, but if you lose a game then you hear about the negative things. On Wednesday we generated the same amount of chances from open play than we did in those recent defeats.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked if this is a difficult time for Mo Salah, who is enduring a slump in form by his own usual high standards and was dropped against Frankfurt, Slot had this to say: \u201cIt\u2019s a difficult moment for all of us because no one is used to losing. Players miss chances and he is a human being. We are not used to him missing chances.<\/p>\n \u201cThe main thing is that he always has scored goals for Liverpool. The last thing I worry about is Mo scoring goals again. He\u2019s done that his entire life and I expect him to do that again in the coming weeks and months. Quite a few changes in the squad means everyone needs to find new connections.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>Mo Salah was dropped for Liverpool\u2019s midweek match against Eintracht Frankfurt and failed to impress after coming on as a second-half substitute. <\/span> Photograph: Javier Garc\u00eda\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.08 EDT<\/p>\n Chelsea:<\/strong> Speaking of the hamstrung Chelsea striker, Enzo Maresca has just told reporters that Delap is back training with the first team squad after recovering from the hamstring injury that forced him out of his side\u2019s match against Fulham at the end of August and has kept him sidelined ever since. Tomorrow\u2019s match against Sunderland has come too soon for the 22-year-old but all going well he will be in the Chelsea squad for next week\u2019s Carabao Cup match against Wolves.<\/p>\n <\/span>Liam Delap receives onfield treatyment for the hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since the end of August. <\/span> Photograph: David Cliff\/EPAShare<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.35 EDT<\/p>\n Sunderland:<\/strong> Staying in the north-east, the head coach of the region\u2019s biggest club has been talking ahead of his team\u2019s trip to Chelsea tomorrow afternoon. Level on points with their hosts but behind them on goal difference, Sunderland have defied the expectations of many (including me and I\u2019m a fan) by taking 14 points from the first 24 available since coming up through the Championship playoffs and their youthful side will take on any even younger one tomorrow in what should prove a stern test of both sides\u2019 metal at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t solve everything with money,\u201d said Regis Le Bris, presumably after being asked about the \u00a3170m on new players his employers spent during the summer. \u201cYou need money to be competitive in the market, but after that, you have to develop your own expertise according to the profile you need and the identity you have at the club. I think the identity of the club is totally open with the young profiles we need for the squad, and the balance of the squad with more experienced players.\u201d<\/p>\n Sunderland will be without Paraguayan defender Omar Alderete due to concussion, but Reinildo Mandava is available again after serving a three-match suspension. Noah Sadiki has overcome a minor ankle knock.<\/p>\n Le Bris shrugged off the prospect of facing striker Marc Guiu, who joined Sunderland on a season-long loan from Chelsea in August only for the deal to be terminated less than a month later after Liam Delap suffered a serious injury. \u201cWe appreciated the short spell we had with Marc, but now it\u2019s another story,\u201d he said, of a youngster who scored one in three appearances before leaving with the best wishes of fans. \u201cThe market is the market and sometimes you have to face unpredictable situations.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>In Regis we trust. <\/span> Photograph: Scott Heppell\/ReutersShare<\/p>\n Newcastle:<\/strong> Eddie Howe\u2019s side were mightily impressive in Champions League victory against Benfica in midweek, arguably a performance of the season that stood in contrast to last weekend\u2019s defeat at the hands of Brighton and their stuttering start to the Premier League campaign. Howe was asked to explain the differences between his side\u2019s two performances.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all down to mentality,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is down to our attitude. There is no difference to me between a pre-season game or Premier League game. Whatever the competition, our attitude has to be the same. Our attitude against Benfica was very, very good but now we need to back that up with a consistent performance and a will to win.\u201d<\/p>\n Newcastle host Fulham tomorrow in one of only two Saturday kick-offs scheduled for three o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n <\/span>Anthony Gordon stares down the barrel after scoring in Newcastle United\u2019s midweek demolition job on Benfica. <\/span> Photograph: Allstar Picture Library Ltd\/Ed Sykes\/Apl\/SportsphotoShare<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.26 EDT<\/p>\n Brighton:<\/strong> Following his recent run of good form, there have been calls for Thomas Tuchel to consider the Brighton veteran Danny Welbeck for selection when picking his next England squad. The 34-year-old has not played for England since 2018 but scored his highest ever tally of 10 Premier League goals last season for Brighton and already has four to his name this time around.<\/p>\n While those numbers are far from mind-blowing, given the paucity of quality back-up for Harry Kane in Tuchel\u2019s squad, calls for the German to give him a run-out are understandable although his chances of getting on The Plane to the World Cup would appear to be fairly slim unless he qualifies as a commercial pilot or flight attendant in the next seven or eight months.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t talk to him about that but I\u2019m sure he\u2019s only focused on performing here and performing well, that\u2019s the only thing he can influence, the rest isn\u2019t in his hands and he can\u2019t control,\u201d said Fabian Hurzeler, his head coach at Brighton this morning.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s only about performance and improving every week and being ready to play at the highest level. I\u2019m sure Thomas [Tuchel] will watch him and I\u2019m happy to see that England are progressing well with Thomas so I\u2019m sure he will make the right decision and let\u2019s see what he will decide regarding Danny.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>In news that came as a total shock to those of us who had always presumed that he routinely banged in between 12 or 15 Premier League goals a season, Danny Welbeck hit double figures in the English top flight for the first time in the last campaign. <\/span> Photograph: David Horton\/Sports Press Photo\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.14 EDT<\/p>\n Jamie Jackson<\/span><\/p>\n Manchester City:<\/strong> Bernardo Silva is clear that \u201cspecial\u201d John Stones maintaining his fitness can be the key to Manchester City again being a force.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn gives us something that is difficult to find in terms of him as a central defender: that with the ball he can go into the midfield to help us in the buildup,\u201d said the City captain. \u201cAnd that\u2019s something that is very difficult to find. Look, it\u2019s my ninth season at Man City and when John is fit, the team always plays much better. It\u2019s not a coincidence. He\u2019s a special player. He just needs to take care of his body and make sure that he\u2019s available. Because I\u2019m pretty sure that if he\u2019s available, he\u2019s going to be a real force.\u201d<\/p>\n City are unbeaten in nine games, drawing two. Silva pointed to the rearguard as fundamental to their good run. \u201cWe found a bit more of our rhythm,\u201d he said. \u201cWe found the stability at the back; I think that gives the freedom for the guys at front to play in a different way. I always say that when you\u2019re stable at the back, when the team defends properly, and we\u2019re now defending quite well, then that\u2019s when you can win football games.<\/p>\n \u201cThe guys up front can make a difference. That\u2019s what we didn\u2019t have for a long time last season, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re getting back to, to having that stability. We\u2019re happy with the momentum, but still a long way to go. It\u2019s just one month that we were quite good. If we want to be successful this season, we need to keep it that way for much longer than just one month.\u201d<\/p>\n Rodri may return soon from a hamstring problem. \u201cHe\u2019s almost there,\u201d said Silva. \u201cHe\u2019s almost training with the team. He feels better. We need to be calm because he\u2019s coming from an injury [anterior cruciate ligament sustained in September 2024] that we all know about. His body hasn\u2019t been working for a long time, but little by little he\u2019s coming back. We need him a lot. He\u2019s very important to us.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva has been singing the praises of his teammate John Stones. <\/span> Photograph: Nicola Mastronardi\/IPA Sport\/ipa-agency.net\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n Newcastle United:<\/strong> Eddie Howe is in the house and his first order of business is to discuss Sandro Tonali, who sat out Newcastle\u2019s impressive midweek Champions League win over Benfica with a knee injury. It was revealed during the week that the Italian midfielder had signed a new deal with Newcastle during the 10-month ban for gambling he served from October 2023. Tonali is now contracted to Newcastle until May 2029, while the club have an option to extend the deal for another year.<\/p>\n Howe revealed that Tonali is a doubt for tomorrow\u2019s match against Fulham but is being monitored. \u201cA lot happened around the time that he was banned,\u201d he added. \u201cA lot of discussions between Sandro\u2019s representatives and the football club. Obviously there was the contract situation involving him and sacrificial wages that Sandro volunteered, which I thought spoke volumes for his mentality and how he conducted himself in that period.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the club came to an agreement so he had an extension of his contract which is a great thing but most importantly how he conducted himself in that ban – I thought he was brilliant and that has led to his brilliant performances. It\u2019s a two-way thing. Sandro has felt the love with everyone connected to the club.<\/p>\n \u201cThe supporters have been absolutely incredible with him, during the ban for one but that support during the ban then followed through with helping Sandro return to football and helping him with his issues off the pitch. He needed that support at that time and now we are seeing the benefits. He has been brilliant since returning to football.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>Sandro Tonali has been an outstanding performer in Newcastle\u2019s midfield since returning from the 10-month ban imposed upon him by Italian authorities following his move to Tyneside. <\/span> Photograph: Serena Taylor\/Newcastle United\/Getty ImagesShare<\/p>\n Greek Super League:<\/strong> The 65-year-old former Liverpool, Valencia, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Inter boss has signed a two-year deal to become the new head coach of the Greek side Panathinaikos. It\u2019s his 17th different managerial job but his first in Greece. Benitez has not worked as a head coach for 19 months, since being sacked by the Spanish side, Celta Vigo. His new club currently sit seventh in the Greek Super League table with nine points after six games.<\/p>\n <\/span>\u201cWhat\u2019s the deal with airplane food?!?!\u201d<\/span> Photograph: Pierre Teyssot\/IPA Sport\/ipa-agency.net\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.46 EDT<\/p>\n Friday press conferences:<\/strong> I am a habitually early riser and can rarely be found in my cot after 6am but it\u2019s not often I\u2019m up and about before Eddie Howe, who invariably forces the ladies and gentlemen of the north-eastern press pack out of their beds at the crack of dawn for his Friday morning press conferences. There\u2019s no word from the Newcastle head coach yet but I\u2019m told we\u2019ll be hearing from him soon ahead of his team\u2019s match against Fulham at St James\u2019 Park tomorrow \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Nottingham Forest:<\/strong> Following an eight-game winless run under Ange Postecoglou, Nottingham Forest kept their first clean sheet for 21 games in beating Porto 2-0 at the City Ground last night, in the process consigning the Portuguese side to defeat for the first time in 12 matches this season. It\u2019s small wonder Sean Dyche, Postecoglou\u2019s replacement, looked pleased with himself and his players afterwards.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you are on the side you don\u2019t hear every word, you hear a noise and you know if it\u2019s a positive noise or a negative noise,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not here to judge or question anything, just deliver what I can to the job. It\u2019s nice when they support you from the off, winning helps.<\/p>\n \u201cThese fans are pretty fair, win, lose or draw if they see a team out there wearing the shirt with pride and I think they\u2019ll accept that. To get it off with a good performance and a win is very pleasing for them. If they can accept me and my staff and what\u2019s going on that\u2019s got to be a bonus. Hopefully it will fast track the feeling around the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>Sean Syche applauds home fans at the City Ground following his new side\u2019s win over Portuguese league leaders Porto. <\/span> Photograph: MI News\/NurPhoto\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.29 EDT<\/p>\n Rangers:<\/strong> With his side anchored to the foot of the 36-strong Europa League group stage table with zero points from three games, Rangers captain James Tavernier did not mince his words after he and his teammates suffered a chastening defeat at the hands of Brann in Norway last night.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a disgraceful performance, it\u2019s as simple as that,\u201d he said. \u201cAll the years I\u2019ve been here, the consistency of poor performance that we\u2019re putting in, I\u2019ve not experienced it before. Some of us show our aggression after the games, after we get beaten – you expect all the lads to take that in, but we have to look at ourselves much harder.\u201d<\/p>\n Just a thought, James, but maybe try showing some of that aggression during<\/em> the games?<\/p>\n <\/span>Rangers captain James Tavernier was not a happy bunny following the latest in a long line of embarrassing performances at home and abroad that have left his side bottom of the Europa League ladder with no points after three matches. <\/span> Photograph: George Tewkesbury\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.23 EDT<\/p>\n In news that is unlikely to come as much of a surprise to many, Marcus Rashford has made it clear he wants to stay at Barcelona as he gears up for his first El Clasico against Real Madrid this weekend.<\/p>\n Rashford moved to Barcelona on loan from Manchester United this summer and the La Liga giants have the option of making the deal permanent next year. Having scored five goals in 12 games including a double in the midweek Champions League thrashing of Olympiacos, the 27-year-old is clear where his future lies.<\/p>\n \u201cOh yeah, for sure,\u201d\u201d he said, upon being asked by ESPN if he wants to stay at the Spanish champions. \u201cI\u2019m enjoying this football club and I think for anybody who loves football, Barcelona is one of the key clubs in the history of the game. For a player it\u2019s an honour.\u201d<\/p>\n Rashford has a contract at Old Trafford until 2028 but having also spent a brief spell on loan at Aston Villa last season it is highly unlikely he will return under current boss Ruben Amorim. \u201cPeople forget this, but 24, 23 years of my life was with Manchester United, so sometimes you just need a change,\u201d added Rashford. \u201cI think maybe this is the case with me and I\u2019m enjoying everything.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span>Marcus Rashford is contracted to Manchester United until 2028 but has decalred that he wants to stay at Barcelona, where he is currently on loan. <\/span> Photograph: Image Photo Agency\/Getty ImagesShare<\/p>\n Europa League:<\/strong> On a night when Rangers and Aberdeen were humbled in Norway and Greece respectively, Celtic flew the flag for the Scottish Premiership with a come-from-behind win against Sturm Graz, writes Ewan Murray from Celtic Park.<\/p>\n <\/span>Celtic\u2019s players applaud their fans after coming from behind to beat Sturm Graz at Celtic Park. <\/span> Photograph: Stuart Wallace\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n Europa League:<\/strong> Newly appointed Rangers boss Danny R\u00f6hl discovered his new side\u2019s problems run deeper than their former manager Russell Martin as they were blitzed 3-0 by Brann in Bergen.<\/p>\n <\/span>Rangers head coach Danny Rohl looks pensive ahead of his post-match debrief with travelling fans following his new side\u2019s defeat in Bergen. <\/span> Photograph: Kirk O\u2019Rourke\/Rangers FC\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n Europa Conference League:<\/strong> Oliver Glasner\u2019s side were handed a harsh lesson about what it takes to be successful at this level by the team from Cyprus. Ed Aarons reports from Selhurst Park \u2026<\/p>\n <\/span>AEK Larnaca\u2019s players milk the plaudits of their travelling fans after seeing off Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. <\/span> Photograph: Josh Smith\/PPAUK\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n Europa League: <\/strong>Emi Buendia missed a late penalty and Aston Villa suffered a Europa League humbling as they failed to do it against the Dutch minnows on a wet and windy Thursday night in Deventer.<\/p>\n <\/span>Go Ahead Eagles captain Mats Deijl allows himself a smile after his side had come from behind to beat profligate Aston Villa on a filthy night at the Stadion De Adelaarshorst. <\/span> Photograph: Marcel ter Bals\/MTB-Photo\/ShutterstockShare<\/p>\n Europa League:<\/strong> Morgan Gibbs-White and Igor Jesus got the goals as Sean Dyche managed to achieve in one match what his predecessor Ange Postecoglou couldn\u2019t pull off in eight \u2013 victory for Nottingham Forest. Ben Fisher reports from the City Ground …<\/p>\n <\/span>Morgan Gibbs-White pointedly holds a finger to his ear as he wheels away after scoring Nottingham Forest\u2019s opener from the penalty spot. <\/span> Photograph: Andrew Kearns\/CameraSport\/Getty ImagesShare<\/p>\n Leeds United v West Ham (Friday 8pm)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Chelsea v Sunderland (Saturday 3pm)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Newcastle United v Fulham (3pm)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Manchester United v Brighton (5:30pm)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Brentford v Liverpool (8pm)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest (Sunday 2pm)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Arsenal v Crystal Palace (2pm)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Aston Villa v Manchester City (2pm)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Wolves v Burnley (2pm)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Everton v Tottenham Hotspur (4.30pm)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n View the Premier League table<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Friday and Saturday times BST<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Sunday\u2019s times GMT<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Clocks go back at 2am on Sunday morning<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n In case you didn\u2019t know<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n And yes, your smart phone does know<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Share<\/p>\n Greetings all and welcome to your Friday football fix at a time when the Premier League weekend is so close you can almost taste the over-priced, simultaneously lukewarm and volcanically hot half-time pie. As well as the usual glorious chorus of managerial clich\u00e9s that precedes each weekend\u2019s action, we\u2019ll be bringing you updates on varous touch-and-go \u201cknocks\u201d, insistences that there \u201cno easy games in this league\u201d and assorted solemn declarations that various head coaches are \u201ctaking it one game at a time\u201d.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll also have slightly bleary-eyed reaction to last night\u2019s Europa League and Europa Conference League action. Who played a full-strength side and won? Who rotated their squad and lost 2-1 to a team whose shirt sponsor is a Dutch 3D printing company? And which coach is most likely to blame the \u201cThursday night effect\u201d for any domestic Sunday struggles?<\/p>\n Beyond the main talking points, we will, as usual, cover any other news that may present itself as the day unfolds. It\u2019s all to play for, so settle in and let\u2019s get this show on the road.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.30 EDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sheffield Wednesday handed 12-point deduction A very bad day in the history of the storied football club that is Shefield Wednesday has just got a little bit worse following the news that the club has been docked 12 points with immediate effect by the EFL after going into administration. The penalty was inevitable but has<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30291,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[1348,17807,659,1413,2803,132,3831,9493,12831,8690,1544,5379],"class_list":{"0":"post-30290","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-backs","9":"tag-deducted","10":"tag-find","11":"tag-football","12":"tag-form","13":"tag-live","14":"tag-points","15":"tag-salah","16":"tag-sheffield","17":"tag-slot","18":"tag-soccer","19":"tag-wednesday"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30290"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30290\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/naijaglobalnews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Fans group announce end of boycott<\/h2>\n
Sheffield Wednesday handed 12-point deduction<\/h2>\n
26 Apr 2025: Barcelona<\/strong> 3-2 Real Madrid
12 Jan 2025: Real Madrid 2-5 Barcelona<\/strong>
26 Oct 2024: Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona<\/strong>
21 Apr 2024: Real Madrid<\/strong> 3-2 Barcelona
14 Jan 2024: Real Madrid<\/strong> 4-1 Barcelona<\/p>\n\n
\n
Sheffield Wednesday file for administration<\/h2>\n
Slot unconcerned about Salah’s lack of goals<\/h2>\n
Chelsea’s Liam Delap is back in training<\/h2>\n
Bernardo Silva lauds “special” John Stones<\/h2>\n
Rafa Benitez appointed Panathinaikos boss<\/h2>\n
James Tavernier: “A disgraceful performance”<\/h2>\n
Marcus Rashford: “Sometimes you just need a change”<\/h2>\n
Celtic 2-1 Sturm Graz<\/h2>\n
Brann 3-0 Rangers<\/h2>\n
Crystal Palace 0-1 AEK Larnaca<\/h2>\n
Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 Aston Villa<\/h2>\n
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Porto<\/h2>\n
This weekend\u2019s Premier League fixtures<\/h2>\n
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Something for the weekend …<\/h2>\n