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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

A little tweak looks to have been all it took for this guy to finally make a mark in the Second city.

Dan Crowley arrived with expectation in the summer but it has taken a while for him to show that the investment was worth it.

Throughout his career, Crowley has been played through the middle of the park, and predominantly as an attacking midfielder.

When he moved to St Andrew’s it seemed natural that he would carry on that role. In fact when he was first signed, the club website noted that:

“Style-wise, the creative Crowley has tended to be used as an attacking midfielder, often playing in the number 10 role”.

Given that the Blues played a 3-4-2-1 formation throughout pre-season with the width down the right-hand side coming from wing-back Maxime Colin, it would make sense to slot Dan Crowley with his passing proficiency into that attacking midfield role behind Lukas Jutkiewicz and act as the primary creator.

After all, this is a player who completed close to 85% of his passes and laid on seven assists last term.

However, with a change in formation to more of a 4-4-2 from boss Pep Clotet in recent games came a change in role for the 22-year-old.

Rather than operating in the centre, a role that was given to Ivan Sunjic instead, he has been operating out wide for the past couple of games and has finally been able to give us some tangible results, such as his only assists for far.

Thogden ranks all 24 Championship home kits in the video below…

His influence over proceedings has been increased and that was evident last Friday. The former Arsenal man played five key passes, the highest number he’s managed in 2019/20.

It’s certainly not a bad thing that he’s an adaptable player, there’s nothing wrong with being a utility player that can play multiple positions, James Milner has made a career out of it in the past couple of years.

Therefore, if he can keep showing his proficiency out wide, then it only goes to show that if Pep Clotet needs to make a change in strategy going forward, then Crowley’s place can be more or less assured.

Celtic fans were recently excited to learn that Spurs midfielder Victor Wanyama, who had been at the Parkhead club earlier in his career, was a target for them in the last window, with the manager Neil Lennon hinting that they might make another move for him in January.

Wanyama was a fantastic player at Celtic Park, turning in some splendid performances and delivering on some big occasions, including getting a famous goal against Barcelona.

He left Celtic for Southampton in a £12.5m move after talks about a new contract broke down, with his agent saying that a club in the SPL could never meet his financial demands.

Nevertheless, Celtic fans had appreciated the player’s efforts in the shirt and he departed on good terms with both the club and the supporters.

The club spent around £14m during the summer, and aside from securing the services of the likes of Greg Taylor, Christopher Jullien and Abd Elhamed on permanent deals they were also active in the loan market, bringing in Mortiz Bauer from Stoke and another former player in Fraser Forster, the big goalkeeper who was such a hit at Parkhead that they nicknamed him The Great Wall.

They also signed exciting Southampton winger Mohamed Elyounoussi for a year.

Wanyama would have been a different order of signing altogether, and would have brought a real presence to the midfield.

Fans would have been excited about that, and this is why so many were pleased when Lennon said that the idea has not been abandoned.

So could it happen in January?

It is possible, but there seems to be a view down south that Tottenham would prefer to see him go on a permanent deal, securing them at least some of what they paid Southampton back in 2016.

A move to Brugge, worth an estimated £13m, broke down in the summer because Wanyama didn’t fancy it and he seemed to hint in a social media post that he was keen on a return to Celtic Park.

But again, wages seemed to be the stumbling block, and they might well prove to be again.

That Lennon has not given up hope means that Celtic fans shouldn’t either, but perhaps they should not be too hopeful at the same time.

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Crystal Palace fans have been left displeased with the performance of Joel Ward after their latest Premier League setback.

They suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United on Sunday but Ward was one of the players who took particular flack from the Selhurst Park faithful.

Despite boasting some impressive stats which included six tackles, they were left annoyed with his overall display and the fact he was partly to blame for John Lundstram’s winner.

One supporter said he never wanted to see Ward’s face again as his unforced errors were picked up on by another angry fan.

A further individual went as far as labelling the 29-year-old as the worst footballer in the Premier League. The fact Palace didn’t buy another right-back after losing Aaron Wan-Bissaka was also made reference to.

The defender was branded as poor but made four interceptions and eight clearances, per WhoScored. He didn’t offer much in attacking phases of play, however, failing to make a single key pass and completing just one dribble.

Roy Hodgson also has Martin Kelly who can play right-back and after this display, he may be preferred in Palace’s next outing.

Here’s the best of the reaction.

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Leeds United fans have been reacting on Twitter after former Yorkshire Evening Post writer Phil Hay and BBC Sport reporter Adam Pope said that midfielder Kalvin Phillips will face no further domestic repercussions following his straight red card against Cagliari at the weekend.

The 23-year-old was dismissed late on against the Italian side following a full-blooded challenge, and seemingly there were some concerns that being shown his marching orders could potentially affect his availability for the opening day Championship clash against Bristol City on Sunday.

The Whites star was of course a key component of Marcelo Bielsa’s team last season – he was named in the division’s EFL Team of the Year – as they finished in third position in the standings lost out in the play-offs, and he has also been the subject of interest from Premier League new boys Aston Villa, as well as Tottenham Hotspur during the summer transfer window.

Leeds supporters have been quick to react to the latest on the situation via the popular social media platform, and while some are clearly still fearful that they could be punished with some questioning the EFL having recalled how they have been on the wrong side of them in the past, others appear sceptical as to whether Phillips will still even be their player come the weekend.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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[ad_pod ]This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…According to respected Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Juventus striker Moise Kean will not be included in any deal between the Serie A champions and Ajax as negotiations continue over the purchase of Matthijs de Ligt.

What’s the word, then?

Well, it has already been reported that the Toffees have had a €30m (£27m) bid rejected for the Italy international, and The Daily Mail believe that £31m should be enough to bring the promising young striker to Goodison Park.

The 6 foot teenager burst onto the scene last term with six goals in just five Serie A starts, whilst he also netted another in his one Coppa Italia appearance.

Thogden challenged himself to DM 100 footballers on Instagram. Find out who replied in the video below…

Kean, 19, also grabbed the limelight at the Under-21 European championships this summer by scoring two goals in just two appearances – he is most certainly a blossoming young talent who looks to have bags of potential.

It is believed that the Turin-based side feel that a £31m deal for Kean makes financial sense, whilst sporting director Fabio Paratici is said to have some concerns over the teenager’s character.

Everton will be overjoyed with the latest update

The negotiations between Juventus and Ajax over the signing of de Ligt seems to be taking ages to complete.

We all know how difficult the Dutchman’s agent, Mino Raiola, can be in these types of discussions, and the deal seems to be stalling over his personal demands as well as Juventus offering well below Ajax’s €75m (£67.4m) valuation.

In that respect, throwing the £31m-rated Kean in as a sweetener very easily could’ve got the deal done given his value and his young age, so Romano’s tweet stating that the Italian won’t be used as a makeweight will be music to Everton’s ears as their transfer target remains on the market.

By keeping him out of negotiations, the Merseysiders will still be able to obtain the player who appears to be their main striking target given the fact he is the only centre-forward they appear to have bid for – they should definitely be overjoyed to hear that he hasn’t been snatched away in the deal for de Ligt.

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West Brom will begin the new Championship season without one of their most influential defenders as Ahmed Hegazi successfully underwent surgery to repair a long-term ankle problem, news which has left many at the Hawthorns feeling rather bittersweet.

The 28-year-old had been nursing the injury since the end of last season and fought through the pain to feature for his national side, Egypt, at this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Despite the issue being manageable, Hegazi opted for surgery after speaking to the club’s medical staff upon returning to England this week. With the season just a fraction over a week away, the chances that the centre-back features is rather unlikely.

As a result, many of the Baggies support took to Twitter to share their thoughts. One stated that it will be a massive loss but it’s probably right the issue is sorted now, rather than deeper into the season. This was echoed by another fan who said it was good news in the long run.

Hegazi made 43 appearances last season as the club were defeated in the play-offs by eventual winners and West Midlands rivals Aston Villa.

The Egypt international originally joined the club on loan during their Premier League relegation season but the club exercised an option to sign him permanently at the very first opportunity.

One fan said Hegazi would be like a new signing upon his return to the first-team whilst another supporter said he was looking forward to him being a rock at the back again.

You can read the reaction from a number of West Brom fans below:

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This summer is really shaping up to be an exciting one for Southampton supporters.

The Saints have already landed a brand new attacker in Moussa Djenepo and could look to follow up his arrival with Che Adams (as per The Sun).

But as well as that, a deal to bring Lille midfielder Thiago Mendes to St. Mary’s could also be in the pipeline, that is according to La Voix Du Nord (via Read Southampton), who also report the south coast club face competition from Lyon.

As things stand, Ralph Hasenhuttl is hardly lacking options in the middle of the park. In Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Mario Lemina to name a couple of midfielders, the Austrian has some very decent options.

With 1.8 key passes per game in Ligue 1 last season, though, Mendes could definitely bring some more creativity to Southampton’s midfield. Bar James Ward-Prowse (also 1.8), no other Southampton player averaged the same or more (as per WhoScored).

As well as that, the Brazilian also looks capable of bringing more ball dominance to the St. Mary’s pitch. Out of Southampton’s current crop of midfielders, his 84.8% pass success rate was only bettered by Lemina (86%).

Considering he plays 3.1 long balls per game, which is only behind Hojbjerg’s 3.5 when looking at the Saints’ midfield men again, that is quite impressive.

If Hasenhuttl is looking to add a bit more creativity and ball retention to his midfield, then he may have just found the answer.

Southampton fans, would you like to see Mendes deployed in midfield next season? Let us know in the comment section below!

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According to reports from both Football Insider and the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds United want to loan Helder Costa from Wolves.

The 25-year-old lit up the Championship during his two seasons in the division with Wolves, but he has struggled to hit those same heights in the Premier League.

Costa’s 2016/17 season at Molineux was incredible, and if he can replicate the type of performances he showed that season, he could be the perfect addition to Marcelo Bielsa’s side.

The above infographic shows how incredible Costa really was when he arrived in England.

10 goals and eight assists tells you all you need to know about how deadly he can be going forward. Only Pablo Hernandez, Kemar Roofe and Mateusz Klich eclipsed the tally of 18 goal contributions Costa made that season.

The Portuguese would undoubtedly be one of the biggest attacking threats in the Whites’ squad if he joined this summer, and with Marcelo Bielsa’s men finishing third last season his arrival could be what they need to be promoted finally.

The more telling stats though are the ones that indicate how Costa likes to play the game. The winger attempted 2.5 dribbles per game during that season, showing how much he loves to drive a team forward when he is on the ball – something which Bielsa’s teams require from their wingers.

Another element of Costa’s game which will have caught the eye of the Argentine is his defensive work rate. He averaged 2.5 attempted tackles per game from the right wing during the 2016/17 season, and with the 63-year-old’s tactics being so focused on pressing the opposition high up the pitch, the 25-year-old could flourish in Leeds United’s squad.

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According to Goal, Liverpool forward Sheyi Ojo is closing in on a season-long loan deal to Rangers, where he will become Steven Gerrard’s fifth signing of the summer already.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the 21-year-old will be teaming up with former Liverpool captain Gerrard at Ibrox, where he will be embarking on his fifth spell away from Anfield on loan.

Ojo flopped on loan with Reims last term, scoring just one goal in 19 appearances for the French side.

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

The Liverpool academy graduate fared slightly better the year before that with four goals and two assists whilst on a loan spell with Fulham in the Championship, but even so, he really hasn’t been setting the world alight on his stints away from Merseyside.

Why another loan?

It is unclear what Liverpool see in Ojo right now, and it is equally baffling as to why they keep persisting with these unproductive loan moves.

Perhaps the Champions League winners are hoping Gerrard can ignite the talent that we know Ojo has on a more regular basis, but the England Under-21 international just doesn’t want to show it consistently.

You would forgive the club for allowing the youngster to have a few unproductive spells away on loan, but to have had four and not do anything of note to earn a permanent move away or a chance at your parent club is worrying.

Liverpool have become experts in the transfer market and are one of the shrewdest clubs around right now, and one would assume that they won’t continue to keep paying Ojo’s wages for him to not demand more of himself and kick on in the senior game.

Ojo shouldn’t be getting another loan away and it seems strange that Liverpool have now given him five chances to impress.

Surely the player only has room for one more failure before the Reds decide to sell him?

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Real Madrid want to use Gareth Bale as a makeweight in any potential deal for Manchester United’s Paul Pogba this summer, as reported by The Mirror.

What’s the story?

Having just completed the capture of former Chelsea star Eden Hazard, the Spanish giants are clearly on the hunt for expensive talent they feel can usher in a new successful era under manager Zinedine Zidane.

No surprise then that they’re looking at Pogba, one of the outstanding midfielders in European football right now.

The Mirror say Zidane is eager to make the French World Cup winner his next signing, with the surplus-to-requirements Gareth Bale set to be used to tempt United into biting on a potential deal.

The paper say that Bale, who earns £600,000-a-week, could drive down Man United’s £130m asking price for Pogba if an agreement can be reached on the Welshman’s mega-money contract.

Could Harry Maguire be on his way to Old Trafford? Check out the video below to see why it would make so much sense…

Would this move suit United?

Despite Pogba’s problems at Old Trafford, he is a player who has enough talent for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to build a side around over the next few years.

They simply can’t be thinking of selling him this summer, even if Bale is included in any deal.

The Welsh icon is obviously an exceptional player and there would be little doubt about his ability to make an attacking impact in the United team if he did return to the Premier League, but Pogba is simply the kind of talent who can offer more in the long-term.

Where would United have been last season without his 16 goals and 11 assists from central midfield? Far worse off than they ended up.

Pogba rebirth

Having persevered through the mire of the Jose Mourinho years, the Frenchman now has the opportunity to finally be the leader that United need to get back to the top of the game.

If Solskjaer can surround him with ambitious young talent then progress can be made.

Ultimately if the player is not happy staying in Manchester that might dictate a club decision, but if all is well and he remains committed, biting on any Real Madrid deal for him could prove disastrous to the ambitions of the Old Trafford side next season and beyond.