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Doom and gloom seems to very much be the order of the day when talking about England’s World Cup hopes recently. Injury to Theo Walcott in the recent North London derby was for some the final straw, and has left many with little hope going into a pivotal year on the international stage.

I don’t contest that the injury to the Arsenal winger was anything but a major blow, but given the plethora of young talent looking to break through isn’t this a huge opportunity?

The name on everyone’s lips following a series of sensational recent performances is that of Raheem Sterling. The talented 19 year old has been on the cusp of breaking through with just the sole full international cap to date, but if recent form is anything to go by this could all be about to change.

Sterling has been an integral part of the Liverpool title charge, and it is his pace and cutting edge that have seen the ‘Reds’ tear apart opposition in the blink of an eye. At 19 he is clearly a player that needs nurturing, but on merit his inclusion on the plane to Rio is a must.

His club captain Steven Gerrard echoed this sentiment in a recent Telegraph interview:

“He’s in top form at a fantastic time,” Gerrard said. “I’m obviously disappointed for Theo with his injury but I’m sure Roy Hodgson is looking out for who is going to replace him and Raheem’s performances of late have been sensational.

“There are many candidates. Aaron Lennon’s playing well. There is Andros Townsend and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s back, but if you are looking at like-for-like – pace down the wing and someone who can make, score and create – then Raheem has got a fantastic chance.”

If there were a squad announcement next week, it would be hard for Hodgson not to select the precocious Sterling. With his near rivals only just returning form injury, it has been the Liverpool based winger who has shone and staked him claim. But the problem for Sterling in what has so far been a short career has always been consistency. Dogged by off-field dramas throughout, it is unsurprising that Rodgers has treated his development with caution. Yet ever since his dropping back down to the U21’s we have seen a totally different side to Sterling, especially in domestic football.

His 16 Premier League appearances this term have returned 3 goals with a remarkable 24 clear-cut chances created. Rather than the volatility of old, we are starting to see the young Englishman turn in performances week in and week out. With the likes of Lennon and Townsend still struggling for regular game time as well as failing to produce on weekly basis this could be the time for Sterling to nail down a place.

Gerrard was again quick to underline the way in which Sterling is beginning to deal with his meteoric rise to stardom a little better:

“You’ve got to understand his age. He’s learning the game. He’s got a fantastic manager to help him through that,” he said.

“He’s only 19 and you are going to suffer a dip in form. Who doesn’t have a dip at 19 years of age? But the mark of a good player and how good any player is going to be is how they come back from that. Can he react? To come back the way he has, he’s been one of our most consistent players in the last couple of months. He’s been brilliant.

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“I think he knows what the situation is. I said to him after the Stoke game ‘if you keep your performance at that level and you are going to make it very difficult for Roy Hodgson not to take you’.”

Sterling clear has the talent to be a star for club and country, but as he finally starts to knuckle down under the excellent tutelage at Liverpool is it finally time he gets that regular call from England?

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When Liverpool take on Udinese in the Europa League tonight at Anfield, one Italian desperate to impress will be Liverpool’s new striker Fabio Borini.

The 21-year-old became Brendan Rodgers first signing in the summer, but goals have been hard to come by thus far, netting just once in a Europa League qualifier against Belursian side FC Gomel in August.

Liverpool fans are not quite sure what to make of their new number 29, unsure whether he has been bought as a wide man or a central striker.

It seems Brendan Rodgers and perhaps even Borini himself also remain unsure.

He has been in and out of the side since his summer move, most often featuring on the right of a front three. During Liverpool’s recent draw with Sunderland he started as the central striker, and gave arguably his best performance since his summer move, looking a constant threat and only being denied his first Premier League goal by some fine goalkeeping.

During Liverpool’s recent 5-3 victory over Young Boys, he tipped the balance of play in Liverpool’s favour. With his side trailing 3-2, he came off the bench to play in that central striker role, and his hard work and movement caused all sorts of problems. Liverpool ran out 5-3 winners.

But when featuring in the wide positions Borini has struggled. In the home matches against Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United he was virtually anonymous, and was let down by his final ball or finish when in decent positions.

What you can say for the Italian is that he does not lack passion or confidence. He has been seeing geeing up the crowd at every available opportunity, and celebrates each goal his side score as if its the winner in a World Cup final.

He has come out this week and said he is confident his goal drought will end sooner rather than later, saying : “it is just a matter of time”.

Brendan Rodgers is convinced Liverpool have got themselves a top player who is only going to improve.

“He is a young player I know very well and over time he will only get better and better,” Rodgers said.

“He is a good kid who wants to work and there is no doubt over the coming years he will prove to be a very good player for the club.”

It will be interesting to see if Borini features in his favourite position as a central striker tonight, as Rodgers will look to shuffle his pack once more.

The pressure is on for Liverpool’s strikers to fire following the departure of Andy Carroll, with Luis Suarez currently thriving in his role as Liverpool’s main man.

However Borini needs to start chipping in sooner rather than later. Let us not forget he is only 21 years of age, and started slowly at Roma last season, before firing ten league goals in the second half of the campaign.

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Rodgers needs to do all he can to help his young forward and give him a run in the side playing as a central striker. A first Premier League goal could open the floodgates, but it is unlikely to come soon if he is continues to be shafted out wide.

The Europa League campaign could be seen as a chance to really show what he can do, playing in his favoured position.

Playing against European teams without the physicality of a Premier League side could be the opportunity he needs to score some goals and gain further confidence.

There have been some encouraging signs to suggest Liverpool have got themselves a decent player for the future, which is what he should be seen as at present. Goals are what’s missing to prove they have a decent player for the present.

What do you think of Fabio Borini? Follow me on Twitter @LukeGreenwood89 and let me know your thoughts. 

It is safe to say that Moussa Sissoko is not the most loved figure at Tottenham Hotspur.

The midfielder was under immediate pressure when he signed for the club from Newcastle United on deadline day in the summer of 2016 for a £30m fee.

However, he was unable to impress and struggled to hold down a place in Mauricio Pochettino’s team.

When he did venture out onto the field, he struggled to win over the fans with his performances.

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This season, the 28-year-old started 15 Premier League games and came off the bench in a further 18.

Sissoko has often been criticised by the fans for not making an impact when on the pitch, so it did not come as a huge surprise that he was not selected to represent France at the World Cup.

The former Newcastle United player has, though, been included on the reserve list for the tournament.

Once Didier Deschamps announced his squad for Russia, Tottenham fans posted sarcastic and playful comments regarding Sissoko’s axe.

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As reported by The Daily Mail, Southampton are interested in signing Arsenal forward Theo Walcott in the January transfer window.

What’s the story?

Southampton are perilously close to the relegation zone in the English Premier League and at the heart of their problems is a lack of edge in attacking, having scored just 21 times in 22 league matches so far this season.

In order to help solve that, Saints are lining up a move for a former player, Arsenal attacker Theo Walcott.

That’s according to The Daily Mail, who say Arsenal rate the soon to be out-of-contract player at a staggering £25m.

While that may be too rich for Southampton, even in the wake of Virgil van Dijk’s move to Liverpool, the paper say that Saints are hoping to negotiate that price down to one that will suit all parties.

Is he the answer to Southampton’s troubles?

Quality addition

It’s been almost 12 years since Walcott made his high profile move from Southampton to Arsenal and since then he’s had his fair share of ups and downs at the Gunners, ultimately becoming a fringe player in Arsene Wenger’s squad.

He’s featured little this season, making just five Premier League appearances, all of which have come from the bench.

Nonetheless he has still contributed when called upon and in the UEFA Europa League has three goals and five assists to his name this season in just five appearances, highlighting he still has an attacking quality that could enhance the Southampton starting eleven. Last season he scored 19 goals for his side and at 28 years of age is far from finished.

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If he could produce that kind of contribution at St Mary’s, it could be the difference between relegation and staying up, making him an attractive proposition this January whatever the cost.

Arsene Wenger’s one-year contract policy for player’s over thirty used to be criticised, often fiercely. Some were of the view that Wenger was neglecting the value of experience, especially in the post-Highbury youth project.

Though it would be wrong to say Wenger always got it wrong, in fact more often than not he was right. There are exceptions: Gilberto Silva had a lot more to offer the club when he was moved on 2008, and not just because he was one of three defensive midfielders the team lost that year. But the positive about Wenger is that he seems to know when players are declining, even if it isn’t obvious to everyone else.

You could almost forget that Bacary Sagna is 30, and by the time his current contract runs out he’ll be 31. There has been a dip in form over the past year, but that was indicative of the injury problems Sagna has suffered and not of his advancing years. He provides stability, both in defence and away from the pitch in the dressing room. He’s a model pro, staying quiet and on form while the exodus of major stars took place. He’s the type of figure almost every club would value, and it’s clear, as even at his age, the powers in France are showing an interest.

But it’s not just that. The value of a player is told by his relationship with the supporters. There is still an immense bond between Sagna and the Arsenal fan base. There would have been little said had he received the captain’s armband following Robin van Persie’s departure. Retaining such a figure will only help to maintain the good feeling at the club.

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The thing is, Wenger works by what he feels is right, and not by outside pressures. There would be a lot of frustration if the club fails to offer Sagna an extension of more than just a year, and many will be mindful of the fact that Carl Jenkinson isn’t quite up to standard to be a regular in the XI, regardless of his promising performances.

From a footballing perspective, it makes sense to keep Sagna as long as possible. With very little else in the way of players coming through the academy, it can’t be said that Sagna is blocking the development of others, while even Jenkinson will experience a safer and less troublesome journey over the next few years with Sagna as the veteran figure ahead of him.

But as has been said, Wenger knows when the time is right. There are no comparisons to be made between those who have been sold prior to reaching their peak years, but rather the older heads who were either past their prime or flat out declining. Following Thierry Henry’s departure, the rest of the team were liberated and produced some of the best football under Wenger. With the case of the right-back position, Arsenal are known to have been tracking Sime Vrsaljko, who came up through the academy at Dinamo Zagreb but moved to Genoa in the summer.

It may not be the most popular decision if the club do decide that Sagna’s services are no longer required, but with Wenger and his team, there has to be faith that there is something in the works. When it comes to outgoing transfers, Wenger rarely gets it wrong.

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Should fans have faith in Wenger’s decision?

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Alan Pardew believes there is no issue between himself and Demba Ba, despite his decision to drop the striker against Everton seemingly sparked a public fall-out.

Newcastle boss, Pardew claims Ba’a agent was misquoted in the row and all is fine on Tyneside as the Senegalese frontman scored in the Geordies’ 1-0 win over Norwich.

Stories broke last week that Ba’s agent Alex Gontran had claimed his client would leave Newcastle if not regularly starting, but the ex West Ham boss claims this is untrue. The 51 year old said to The Journal, “Demba lead from start to finish, not just his goal, in the dressing room.

“Everything about him was top drawer. There has been so much nonsense written about it. I spoke to his agent, who sent me an email saying he got misquoted and I actually believe him. I’m not usually one to believe agents that much, but I do on this occasion.

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“I think Demba’s anger has been generated in the right way to improve for Newcastle United and there’s no way Demba can play every game for Newcastle United this season.”

Wayne Rooney’s, expected move to MLS side, D.C. United is reportedly on hold after Everton sacked manager Sam Allardyce, according to The Sun.

Rooney spent the season with boy-hood club Everton, scoring 11 goals for the club and finishing as the team’s top scorer in the league.

However the ex-United striker struggled to find the net in the second half of the season amid rumours that he had a poor relationship with Allardyce – who was brought in mid-season to replace Ronald Koeman.

But with Allardyce out of the picture, Rooney reportedly wants to wait to speak to the new manager before deciding on his future, with D.C United rumoured to be ready to offer the Everton man a £300,000 a week contract.

Rooney showed with his performances that he still has the pedigree to offer value and goals in the Premier League and the five time Premier League winner could yet still stay with Everton.

Everton supporters have been reacting to the news all day on social media. Here is a selection of some of the best reactions…

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Celtic supporters have taken to social media to display the delight following the news that former defender Virgil van Dijk has agreed a £75m move to Liverpool.

The Scotsman is reporting that Celtic instituted a sell-on clause when they allowed the Dutchman to join Southampton in 2015, and now they stand to earn around £7.5m following Wednesday’s announcement.

Celtic are expected to use the funds attained from the clause to reinvest in their squad in the forthcoming January transfer window. The Glasgow giants have won the league for the previous six seasons in succession, and they’re vying to extend that record to seven consecutive titles.

They’re currently positioned at the top of the Scottish Premiership, ten points ahead of their nearest rivals, Aberdeen.

The Celtic faithful have turned towards Twitter to express their delight at the news that the club will be receiving a sizeable amount of money in light of the Van Dijk sale…

Tottenham have been continually praised for their strength of squad, the ability for Andre Villas-Boas to maintain the good start to the season across all competitions.

Football, funnily, has a way of looking at the black or white, rather than the grey area in between. There’s always the assumption from football supporters that X player would be a misguided transfer due to the strength of the starting XI, completely neglecting the need for a strong squad as opposed to just eleven good players.

Jermain Defoe seems to be Tottenham’s designated backup and Europa League striker. No problem, it’s still only October. The England international’s competitive nature will see him attempt to force his way in ahead of new signing Roberto Soldado, but the Spaniard’s reputation and scoring record in La Liga places him, for now, firmly ahead of Defoe.

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The thing is, Tottenham want silverware and they want progression. Defoe is a good name to keep on board when the pressure mounts. Such is his own scoring instinct that many teams would fear the probability of a Defoe goal if he were to replace Soldado midway through a match. His movement and pace is adaptable to the European game, where size and strength aren’t as emphasised as they are in England.

But beyond Defoe, what do Tottenham have? A striker in Emmanuel Adebayor whose ambition for the prizes of football are limited to just one aspect. To top that off, he’s not too reliable either.

So in spite of the World Cup approaching, where is the sense in toying with the idea of moving Defoe on in January? Defoe himself may wish to take that path, but for the good of Tottenham’s campaign, they’d obviously be advised to hang on to what they have. Like them, their north London rivals have a strong group of midfielders, and yet Arsenal are regularly condemned for having one senior striker in Olivier Giroud. Though how so many people forget that Lukas Podolski is a striker is beyond me. Tottenham don’t want to find themselves in a similar situation.

Thus far into the season, the fixtures have already been taxing, with the September domestic schedule being broken up by international weeks and European excursions. More of the same will take place this month and through Christmas, by which time Tottenham’s new recruits may start to feel the strain of fixture congestion and no midway break. Defoe is used to these demands where Soldado isn’t. Defoe is an experienced Premier League forward who can be rotated with the former Valencia man when Spurs are forced to play three league games in a week.

The short-sighted nature of football is to look at the next fixture, the strongest XI and the nonexistent problems of a squad that is ‘too strong.’ Where’s the balance? The perfect harmony of keeping everyone happy while also remaining competitive throughout a campaign. Where’s the need and acceptance of the grey area?

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Will the lack of action in a World Cup year ensure a January move for Defoe?

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Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel will continue to be Spurs’ number one goalkeeper after an impressive display in the 1-1 draw against Norwich on Saturday, according to The Guardian.

Lloris, who is sixteen years the junior to his goalkeeping colleague and rival at Tottenham Brad Friedel, is number one choice goalkeeper for the French national side.

Lloris wasn’t signed in time to be eligible for the Norwich game. Regardless of this, and perhaps to many people’s surprise, Villas-Boas revealed that Lloris is likely to be a signing for a few years down the line, “the Premier League’s a specific league and we want to build for the future, so we decided to bring in Hugo now as he can be our keeper in the future. We have to work with that and he will have to adapt to the Premier League.”

What Villas-Boas can rely on is the sort of professionalism from Hugo Lloris which has earned him the privilege of being the French captain. Lloris accepts that he may have to be patient before he can stamp his authority in the Tottenham goal, “I’m here because I believe in Tottenham. There are a lot of great players here and a great manager. Everything is in place to qualify for the Champions League. But the most important thing for me is to show I am up for the challenge on the pitch. I’m ready to do the utmost for the team and the supporters.”

Former Tottenham defender Sebastian Bassong believes that Lloris will learn a lot from studying Friedel at White Hart Lane, “I think he’ll learn a lot. He’s [Lloris] a really good goalkeeper but now he’s in a new competition and a new country, he’ll need Brad’s help.”

Lloris is one of a number of arrivals who is a part of a transition period at White Hart Lane following the key departures of Luka Modric to Real Madrid and Rafael van der Vaart to Hamburg. Another one of the arrivals at Spurs, Moussa Dembele, did manage to make an appearance for his new side and subsequently made an immediate impact scoring the opening goal in the 1-1 draw to Norwich.

Dembele said after the game that he has been impressed by Villas-Boas’ management style thus far, “the manager is very clear what he wants me to do and he just told me to play my game the same way I always play.”

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