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Key events
Joelinton could be dropped after arrest for drink driving
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe says Brazilian midfielder Joelinton could be left out of Sunday’s home game against Fulham. The 26-year-old was stopped by police during the early hours of Thursday morning and later charged with drink driving. He is due to appear before magistrates later this month.
Answering questions on whether Joelinton would be dropped, Magpies boss Howe said: “I’m going to have to reflect and analyse on that and I’ll make a decision closer to the game in consultation with him, so I’m not 100 per cent sure.
“It came very much as a shock. It’s a difficult situation. Joe is very remorseful, he was very upset yesterday. I think he knows the seriousness of the situation. Obviously I can’t go in to too much detail out of respect for the case, but I think he understands his responsibilities. We’re now in a position where we’re supporting him, and we also understand as a football club the seriousness of the situation.”
Footballers have told their union there can be “no excuses” for any repeat of the pitch invasions which marred the end of last season and put their safety at risk.
(Via PA Media)
Players were warned by the UK’s football police chief on Thursday they cannot have “carte blanche” to assault pitch invaders, and while the Professional Footballers’ Association accepts that is correct, it says its members feel like they have been left to be responsible for their own safety and security on the pitch. Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie was cleared last month of stamping on a pitch-invading fan after his side’s Championship play-off semi-final against Nottingham Forest, with the English Football League stating after the court case he “should never have been put in this position”.
The PFA said in a statement: “Nobody has suggested that players shouldn’t be subject to the same rules as everybody else. Given the events at the end of last season, though, when there were multiple incidents where players and staff were subjected to violence and harassment on the pitch, it would be wise for the focus to remain on making sure that players aren’t put in these situations in the first place.
“Our members have told us they feel isolated and vulnerable when surrounded by thousands of fans on the pitch and are, essentially, left to look after their own safety and security. That’s just not good enough, and it shouldn’t be happening. We’ve always been clear that the measures introduced at the end of last season are welcome, but success will be judged by how the authorities manage similar incidents going forward.
“There is a lot of work still to be done. It requires detailed planning and, crucially, investment is going to be needed. Players have been very clear to us that there can’t be any excuses for repeats of what happened at the end of last season.”
Clubs and leagues say fans found to have entered the pitch will face bans, while the police and the Crown Prosecution Service say they will investigate and charge in the most serious cases.
Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the UK football policing lead, told the PA news agency on Thursday: “We would all agree that players should not be put in the position of being confronted by spectators on the pitch, absolutely, but equally, it can’t be that players – and I’m not referencing (the McBurnie) case, I’m making a general point – it can’t be that someone runs on the pitch and there is carte blanche for players to assault them. Fans shouldn’t go on the pitch, players shouldn’t go in the stands, that makes it all really simple. When that gets blurred then it makes it a bit more difficult to unpick.”
PA understands the EFL intends to raise the McBurnie case at its next meeting with the authorities, having called for a police review after his acquittal.
Chief Constable Roberts added: “There has got to be a degree of responsibility on the part of fans to do their bit and recognise that the pitch is off limits, it’s a workplace for the players. We do need to take a hard line and where people are going on the pitch to threaten, provoke, abuse, then that’s a criminal matter and needs to be dealt with that way.
“When someone runs on, you don’t know whether they’re going to ask for a shirt, pat someone on the back, punch someone, threaten them, spit at them, run up and antagonise the opposing supporters. By the time you know what they’re doing, it’s too late and there’s generally a reaction from someone. We’ve got to get to the stage where it’s just understood and respected that we don’t have fences, we don’t have moats (and) the quid pro quo is you don’t go on the pitch. We need all supporters to get behind and endorse that message.”
Emailer Colin Mackay is certainly doing the heavy lifting on this red cards feature. He’s back with another. “And, of course, Graeme Souness on his Rangers debut.”
From wikipedia: Souness’ playing career at Ibrox began inauspiciously. His competitive debut – in the opening match of the 1986–87 season, against Hibernian in his hometown of Edinburgh – saw him sent off after two yellow cards in the first 34 minutes.
And, going back into the archives, a 2005 edition of The Knowledge gives Souness a mention and adds a new twist: fastest debut sending-offs.
On Twitter, JWB adds some details on Joe Cole’s debut red card. “Laurent Koscielny was sent off in the last minute of the same game that saw Joe Cole head for an early bath. Koscielny received two yellow cards in as many stoppage time minutes. Ironically, it was Koscielny himself on the receiving end of Cole’s red card worthy challenge in the last minute of first-half stoppage time.”
They were heady times for Liverpool. Roy Hodgson in charge and David Ngog leading the attack. To be fair, the Frenchman put the Reds in front before the game ended 1-1.
Another entry for ‘debuts that went bad’ from Colin Mackay on email. “Gervinho was memorably sent off on his debut after an altercation with all-round nice guy Joey Barton.” Ah, yes, forgot about this one.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery wants a big response from his players against Leeds tonight following last weekend’s humiliating FA Cup exit to League Two Stevenage. Villa go into the game 11th in the table and victory would pull them level with Chelsea on 25 points.
Emery: “Yes, they [the fans] were angry, but the players were angry as well. We have to be together, we have to use this match to try and show different moves. We have the opportunity to show everybody we can change after our defeat. But it’s not only speaking about it, it’s working, taking responsibility, showing energy, being positive.
“When you’re making mistakes, you can become a little bit upset. That can transmit negative energy. I want to change it at the start. We have to stay calm and keep focused. In a bad moment, we have to stick to a game plan and use it with good energy.”
Harry Kane is the highest scoring player in north London derby history with 14 goals. And only once in eight Premier League home games against Arsenal has he failed to score. Ahead of Spurs’ clash with the Gunners on Sunday, Max Rushden suggests we should all stop what we’re doing and have a good think about just how good Harry Kane is.
It’s not all about the Premier League this weekend. A bumper sell-out crowd of 29,000 will be there to see Ipswich host Plymouth on Saturday. Nick Ames sets the scene for the League One showdown.
Debuts that went bad. If the BBC don’t do it, Sky will. Adding to Jonathan Woodgate’s calamitous first start for Real Madrid and Joe Cole’s red card on his Premier League debut for Liverpool is João Félix’s sending off on his Chelsea bow last night. Jonathan. Joe. João. It’s ‘The Curse Of The J’. Or something. One for The Knowledge probably. Can anyone think of others who saw red on debut? Extra marks if they were called Juan, Jim or Jeffrey.
If you were out last night or perhaps watching the snooker, I’ll rustle my newspaper, take a slurp of tea and inform you that “Chelsea lost again”. Jacob Steinburg was at Craven Cottage to see Graham Potter pulling all sorts of strange faces.
Want analysis on all 10 weekend Premier League fixtures? It’s here. Those in the spotlight include Marcus Rashford, Son Heung-min, Philippe Coutinho and Frank Lampard.
Let’s roll out of the station with some good old football transfer rumours. “Today’s fluff is extremely weary” is an enticement you surely can’t ignore.
Preamble
After several top-flight teams had their noses tweaked by lower-league sides in the FA Cup last weekend – we’re looking at you Newcastle, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest – the Premier League returns with… yes, let’s go with ‘a bang’.
Manchester United v Manchester City takes centre stage on Saturday lunchtime and it’s not the team in blue who can be described as a ‘winning machine’ at the moment. City’s ‘are they really all that?’ status seemed to strengthen after a miserable Carabao Cup defeat at the Premier League’s basement club, Southampton, on Wednesday. A day earlier, United had cruised past Charlton to stay in the hunt for four trophies.
The North London derby rounds off the weekend action. Arsenal have got a miserable recent record at Spurs but they appear to be doing things very differently this season. If City lose the Manchester derby, Arsenal can pull eight clear. Blimey. Then again, the top two haven’t even played half their Premier League games so far.
Throw in trappy fixtures for wobbling Liverpool (away at Brighton) and crisis club Chelsea (home to Crystal Palace) and there’s plenty to water the mouth. The action starts with Aston Villa v Leeds tonight. If Villa lose to Leeds having just been beaten by Stevenage, they’ll surely want to avoid Grantham, Peterborough, Doncaster and Wakefield Westgate in future matches. One for LNER fans there. Right, let’s get on board this weekend football countdown train. Choo choo!
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