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Sheffield Wednesday’s decision to send Aden Flint back in January is now looking worse by the week.

The 31-year-old arrived at Hillsborough in the summer as one of Garry Monk’s eight signings, arriving alongside the likes of Jack Marriott and Izzy Brown on a season-long loan.

That was cut short at the start of January, presumably by Owls chairman Dejphon Chansiri as Monk’s successor – Tony Pulis – was sacked a week prior to the decision.

The towering 6 foot 5 centre-back picked up a hamstring problem in only his fourth appearance for the south Yorkshire giants, and returned to parent club Cardiff City for treatment following surgery.

Flint has gone onto feature regularly for the Welsh outfit since the Bluebirds changed their own manager, replacing Neil Harris with Mick McCarthy.

The wily veteran was surprised by the decision to let the former Bristol City and Boro defender leave. He said, via The Star: “I’ve always really rated him as a centre-back and I was surprised to hear he had gone out of our club on loan. He’s been fantastic for me.”

He has started their last 14 matches in the Championship, coinciding with a phenomenal run of matches that has seen them lose just once – to promotion favourites Watford.

The £2.25m-rated colossus has even scored in that time, meaning he now has more goals than both of the Owls’ remaining loanees, Marriott (zero) and Brown (zero) combined.

To make matters worse, new Wednesday boss Darren Moore has had an injury crisis, with 11 players on the treatment table, but it is a particular concern at centre-back.

Dominic Iorfa was ruled out for the season. Joost van Aken limped off with a groin problem before suffering a fresh setback for the U23s. Sam Hutchinson wasn’t risked against Barnsley. Liam Shaw picked up a knock and also missed the South Yorkshire derby. And Chey Dunkley has been absent with a long-standing hamstring issue.

That’s five viable central defensive options out. If Moore had the services of Flint, then perhaps it would have been a completely different story.

Instead, he’s helping propel Cardiff up the table all whilst the Owls continue to battle out a relegation dogfight.

Flint has been so key to McCarthy’s fortunes too – his 7.16 WhoScored rating is only bettered by two other players, and would sit comfortably atop Wednesday’s standings, with Callum Paterson scoring a 6.90 as their top goalscorer.

Chansiri made a massive mistake with Flint, and now Sheffield Wednesday are dealing with the consequences.

AND in other news, Sheffield Wednesday could land their next Fernando Forestieri in “undoubted talent”…

Lionel Messi has become “like Tiger Woods, Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps” for MLS, says Inter Miami’s chief business officer Xavier Asensi.

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• Argentine icon moved to America in 2023
• Made stunning impact on & off the field
• Attracted new audience to game in USA

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Argentine icon has attracted more attention to the domestic game in America following his stunning move to Florida in 2023. A mad scramble for tickets is sparked every time that he takes to the field, with A-list guests falling over themselves in a bid to catch a glimpse of the all-time great in action.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Messi is the biggest draw in MLS, with history being made on and off the field, and those pulling strings behind the scenes are determined to maximise a unique opportunity. Few figures in world sport boast the global appeal of Messi, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner forming part of an exclusive club.

• WHAT ASENSI SAID ABOUT MESSI

  Asensi has said in the of MLS enjoying the kind of boom that the NBA once did when a certain Chicago Bulls legend captured the imagination of a new audience: “The arenas were not full pre-Michael Jordan. That has changed completely. It’s like Tiger Woods in golf or Usain Bolt in track and field, Michael Phelps in swimming. He’s the greatest of all time in the biggest sport worldwide in terms of viewership. It’s an opportunity we have to seize.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney, who will be lining up against Messi and Inter Miami on Sunday, agrees. He played in David Beckham’s MLS debut in 2007 and added on a new superstar taking the game to even greater heights in the United States: “The greatest player of all time is now in our league. And it’s pretty exciting. We’ve really entered the global market of the sport. It drives more attention to our league. People will watch and they’ll understand that the league has a higher level than maybe they perceived. It just continues to help the league grow. With the arrival of David and then the eyeballs that came on the league, the sport started to become a business. It started to transform and cross different avenues.”

A lot of Everton supporters have flocked to the latest tweet involving an update from Carlo Ancelotti which recently emerged on social media.

The official Everton Twitter account posted some comments from Ancelotti and he talked about the fitness status of Tom Davies and James Rodriguez ahead of the Toffees’ Premier League game against Chelsea on Monday evening.

Ancelotti said he is hopeful that Davies recovers in time for the Stamford Bridge clash, but he revealed that Rodriguez might not be available and he might need to check his situation. However, the manager believes that the Colombian will be fit for the next game against Sean Dyche’s Burnley.

Rodriguez wasn’t in the squad in their recent games against Southampton and West Bromwich Albion. Earlier in the season, the former Real Madrid man has missed games due to a groin injury and a calf problem (Transfermarkt).

He last played in the league against Liverpool, picking up an assist in a 2-0 win in the Merseyside derby. He also scored a goal each against Manchester United and Leicester City – two teams who currently occupy places in the top three (Transfermarkt).

While that is reflective of how important his contributions can be, some Everton fans made their views clear about Rodriguez’s litany of fitness concerns, which one supporter described as “annoying”.

What did Everton fans make of the news about Rodriguez?

“James is quality but so frustrating how often he’s injured.”

Credit: @shaun00012

“Unreal player James, but these phantom calf Injuries do become annoying.. Sir Gylfi is in good form tho.”

Credit: @seann1878

“Rodriguez isn’t somebody who only misses one game is he, yes he can pick a pass better than anybody else we have but I’ve always been a bit lukewarm on him, we need somebody who is available more often, dons tin hat.”

Credit: @Leeefc56

“Why tweet that this late and ruin my evening.”

Credit: @MattyArnoldEFC

“HOW IS HE INJURED AGAIN.”

Credit: @HamesBond19

“I love him, but when isn’t James hurt? Good lord.”

Credit: @tblick10

“Omg the man is literally made of glass. Shambles.”

Credit: @harryreynolds96

In other news, Everton are at the risk of losing a young star – read more here.

David Moyes could land West Ham United’s star defender of the next decade with a move to sign Stoke City centre-back Harry Souttar this summer.

What’s the word?

According to the Express, the Irons are in a three-way Premier League fight to obtain the services of Australia international Souttar.

The Potters enforcer is highly-rated by talent spotters after an impressive season in the Championship, which has seen the 22-year-old nail down a regular role under head coach Michael O’Neill.

Souttar has started 32 of a possible 33 appearances in the second-tier this term, while missing four games at the start of the winter through Covid.

His efforts at the bet365 Stadium are understood to have West Ham, Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers on alert, with all three having watched Souttar regularly in recent months.

Stoke are expected to demand a high fee for the 6 ft 6 titan, as Souttar is considered to be one of the Potters’ prize assets and has been tipped for big things in Staffordshire.

The Potters moved to secure Souttar’s long-term future last month with a new contract that keeps the Socceroos star at the club until 2025, with him about to enter the final 12-months of his previous terms.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/the-latest-west-ham-news-gossip-and-views” title=”The latest West Ham news and views!”]

Promotion into the Premier League may also impact Souttar’s time at the bet365 Stadium, with O’Neill’s men 10 points outside of the Play-Off positions with eight games to play.

Should West Ham sign Stoke’s Souttar?

Stoke demanding a high asking price for Souttar in the summer could be enough to ward off any Premier League interest, having tied the promising 22-year-old down to a long-term deal only last month.

But a strong end-of-season run from the two-cap Australia international may be enough to tempt an interested party into making a move, with his age and performances to date already proving to be enticing.

Souttar is a contender for Stoke’s Player of the Year award, despite only making his Championship debut in September following an 18-month spell on loan with Fleetwood Town.

O’Neill believes his performances warranted the new four-and-a-half-year deal signed in February, as he firmly sees Souttar being a key part of Stoke’s future.

“We felt he deserved to be rewarded for his performances and we were able to extend his contract on that basis,” he said, via quotes by Stoke on Trent Live. “I do think he’s done extremely well. I also think there’s a lot more to come as well. He now has to push for that.

“Harry has all the attributes to go to the top level of the game and our responsibility as coaches and managers is to help him do that. If we do that, it’s going to, in turn, help us as a club. Certainly, we see him as an important player in the future of Stoke City.”

Souttar can also pose a threat at the other end of the pitch, with the Aberdeen-born colossus boasting one goal and three assists in the Championship this season. He has also scored four times over his two appearances for the Socceroos.

If West Ham are able to present Stoke with an offer simply too good to refuse, then, Moyes could have the Irons’ star defender for the next 10-years on his hands and see that he develops into a Premier League powerhouse rather than a Championship star.

AND in other news, West Ham have been tipped to sign a 12-goal striker who is “Moyes’ type”…

Alisha Lehmann is enjoying time away with the Swiss national team and has been showing off her skills in an impressive ball-juggling act.

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• Forward away on international duty
• Looking to reach half-century of caps
• Big games to come back in England

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Aston Villa forward is taking a break from WSL duty as she prepares for an international friendly double-header with Poland. The 25-year-old has earned 48 caps for her country, meaning that she could hit a notable landmark over the course of the next week.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  If Lehmann were to figure in both meetings with Poland, then she would reach a half-century of appearances for Switzerland. She is doing her best to catch the eye of national team coach Pia Sundhage during pre-match training sessions.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  While being focused on ensuring that the Swiss squad are in the best possible shape as a collective for the immediate challenges to come, Lehmann has been displaying her personal skill set during a showboating routine that saw her keep the ball off the ground using her heel, neck and feet.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR LEHMANN?

  Lehmann, who has rekindled her relationship with fellow Villa star Douglas Luiz, will be hoping to impress for her country before returning to England for crucial outings for Villa at the start of March that will see them face Liverpool in the WSL and Arsenal in the League Cup semi-finals.

Lionel Messi’s memorable goal for Inter Miami versus Nashville in the Leagues Cup final is being used to inspire the club’s next generation of talent.

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• All-time great has starred in the United States
• Delivered historic trophy triumph to Florida
• Setting perfect example to stars of tomorrow

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner lit up the first tournament that he graced after making a stunning move to the United States, with his exploits delivering a historic trophy triumph for David Beckham and Co in Florida. Messi netted 10 goals en route to claiming the 44th title of his remarkable career, with one of those efforts breaking the deadlock with major silverware up for grabs.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Said effort, which saw the mercurial Argentine suddenly burst into life before hitting the back of the net, now forms part of the lessons being handed out in Inter Miami’s academy system. NEXT Pro coach Federico Higuain has told : “He started moving from midfield and ended up scoring next to the box. So, I asked the guys, particularly those who play the number 10 position, to look at what he did and realize that in that role you can create plays but you can also finish them. The question we asked them was ‘Who scored and where did that play begin for him?’ Well, it started in the middle of the field. A 16-year-old can understand and try that.”

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  WHAT THEY SAID

  Higuain – the brother of former Argentina and Inter Miami star Gonzalo – went on to say of Messi’s impact on American soccer as a whole: “Everything has changed, not only our club but the entire league. For us, it represents what perfection is inside the field and outside of it. He gives those of us who are educators an opportunity to have the best soccer has to offer and also the possibility to use his presence to explain to players what it takes to play professionally.”

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Inter Miami’s academy director, Victor Pastora, has echoed those sentiments when saying of how special it is to have a character like Messi around – with the all-time great having brought his latest Golden Ball trophy in to show the youngsters looking to follow in his footsteps: “It was an incredible gesture. A clear reflection of the way he carries himself every day in the club. As extraordinary as he is, the gesture didn't surprise us because he is very accessible. He comes almost every afternoon to watch them in training. It’s just the way he is. As normal as he acts and as nice as he is, it’s still every day for the players and everyone here a big shock that, yeah, he’s there. It was his initiative to come and share with the academy players. He knows he inspires and he knows the effect he has on the kids.”

Tottenham Hotspur legend Gary Mabbutt has told Football FanCast that Spurs could still finish as high as second in the Premier League table.

Spurs had fallen as low as ninth under manager Jose Mourinho but have enjoyed a three-game winning run that has seen them beat Burnley, Fulham, and Crystal Palace.

That has left Mourinho’s men in seventh, five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea but with a game in hand.

Such is the congested nature of the Premier League table, Spurs are nine points behind Manchester United in second but, again, they have a game in hand.

Both West Ham United and Everton, in fifth and sixth respectively, have played the same amount of games as Tottenham, but Mabbutt is quietly optimistic that the north London club can still force their way into the top four.

Spurs have an interesting run-in and they still have to play both United and Everton, while they also meet Leicester City on the final day.

Those three games could well define how Spurs finish the season.

Speaking to FFC, Mabbutt was asked if this was the tightest top-four race he’d seen and whether he could see Spurs potentially being able to finish third.

He replied: “Absolutely, if not higher. We have a game in hand on Manchester United, if we win that game in hand, I think we’re only six points behind them.

“People were talking about Spurs, three or four weeks ago, crikey, a dip in form and look at them lying in eighth place in the table. They were top of the table in December.”

The weekend’s set of Premier League fixtures only served to spotlight how crazy results have been this season, as United beat Manchester City and Liverpool lost at home to relegation-threatened Fulham.

Mabbutt added: “I can’t talk about results anymore, because it’s totally bizarre. The results that we are seeing, I think probably over the weekend, the only result that went as you’d expect was the Spurs result.

“All the other results, Man City will have expected to beat United, Liverpool at home to Fulham. Liverpool, six straight defeats after 68 games unbeaten. It’s a totally bizarre season that we’ll probably never see again.”

In 2022, Gotham finished bottom of the NWSL table, now, they're competing for a Championship title one year later courtesy of an offseason overhaul.

The 2023 NWSL Championship match, set to take place this Saturday in San Diego, will pit OL Reign against Gotham FC. The NY/NJ based side snuck into the playoffs in sixth place before beating two of the league’s best—North Carolina Courage and Portland Thorns FC – to reach the final. What’s even more surprising is that last year, the Bats finished dead-last in the league with just four wins on the season.

Now, fast forward to present day, and they’re competing in the NWSL Championship game.

The first step in the club’s dramatic turnaround was tapping Juan Carlos Amorós as head coach, who then undertook a revamp of the beleaguered team’s roster and built a new culture and on-field identity. Total buy-in from his players allowed the Spanish manager, who had served as an interim head coach for Houston Dash in 2022, to implement a fluid, possession-based style few other NWSL teams have attempted.

GOAL digs into how Amorós and his team completed the turnaround.

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  Appointing a new coach with an identity, a vision and a dream

  Amorós, who was appointed in November, has been one of the best coaching hires in the NWSL in recent memory. After taking charge of the Houston Dash midway through the 2022 season and leading the team to their first-ever playoff appearance, the Madrileño got to work immediately at Gotham, hiring an almost entirely new technical staff and working with General Manager Yael Averbuch to overhaul the roster.

  In addition to the new tactical system Amorós masterminded, he instituted a cultural shift that’s gotten the most out of every individual on the team—one where every player knows their role and everyone from the first to the 27th player on the team sheet gets a fair crack at the starting lineup each week.

  “Even the day before the game, matchday-minus-one training, somebody can play really well and they could be in the starting lineup,” says defender Ali Krieger.

  That dynamic both gets the best out of players by making them feel valued and raises the level of competition in training, and the buy-in from the team has been complete. Forward Taylor Smith calls Amorós “one of the best coaches I’ve had,” saying, “he's instilled so much discipline into the team.”

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  Implementing a system for success

  The NWSL has long been a fast, physical, transition-heavy league where pace and strength tend to be rewarded above technique. Amorós has implemented a more European-style possession-based system arguably with more success than any previous coach, although North Carolina—who finished in third place but were beaten by Gotham in the playoff quarterfinal—employed a similar style this season.

  It’s only North Carolina, in fact, who outranked Gotham in three key stats over the regular season: total passes, successful passes, and average possession. The team plays with a high line, an aggressive press, and a fluid attacking style that often sees forwards Lynn Williams and Esther González drop deep to connect with Yazmeen Ryan or Delanie Sheehan in the midfield.

  That’s a style that takes time for a team to build into, and it was only possible due to Amorós’s clear vision and player-centric philosophy. “For [the coaching staff] it’s about making sure that [the players] understood that we had a plan, that it was going to be a journey,” he says. “And from day one, we wanted to be, you know, defensive, solid, aggressive, versatile. So we started giving them the foundation they needed to be successful, because we knew what we wanted. From day one, they said, ‘okay. We’ll try it.’”

  “We don’t really have positions, we have roles,” explains Smith. “Watching the [semifinal against Portland] I think one thing that was really noticeable was the organization. Like, there's a throw-in and we're immediately ready and shifting, everybody knowing exactly their role.”

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  Acquiring an NWSL superstar and the eventual Rookie of the Year

  Obviously, it’s only possible to employ a given style with the right players on the field, and Amorós made big moves in the offseason.

  The splashiest signing was bringing in two-time NWSL champion and three-time Shield winner Lynn Williams, one of the top forwards in the league, at the beginning of the season. Williams was a staple for North Carolina during the 2017–2019 stretch where they dominated the NWSL, as well as winning the Golden Boot and MVP awards in 2016 with the Western New York Flash.

  The club had a successful 2023 NWSL Draft as well, bringing in midfielder Jenna Nighswonger—the eventual Rookie of the Year winner—from Florida State with the fourth overall pick. Nighswonger, an NCAA champion in 2021 with the Seminoles, was moved to left back at Gotham, a position she thrived in.

  “She subbed into the [season opener against LA] because Krieger went down,” says forward Midge Purce. “I was on the left wing and had not seen her play a lot of left back. And I said, ‘oh, my god. Here we go.’ And since then, she just took the league by storm.”

  Midway through the season, Amorós made more moves, bringing in Spanish center back Maitane López in June, and 2023 World Cup champion Esther González at forward after that tournament ended.

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  'From worst to first:' a veteran-led squad reinvented

  Ending a season in last place is obviously dispiriting, but—provided necessary changes are made in the offseason—it can also be freeing, allowing a group of players to head into the following year with nothing to lose. “We jokingly say from worst to first,” says Purce, “but I don't think we ever really looked at ourselves as the worst.”

  Purce, who has been with Gotham since 2020, adds that this season felt like a fresh start. “This is a new group,” she says. “It's a new coaching staff. It's completely new. So we feel like we have nothing to lose and something to bring.”

  Gotham’s current group has brought a range of different experiences with them, from youngsters like Nighswonger to veterans like Kelley O’Hara and McCall Zerboni; some have no playoff experience, while Williams has been on the roster for playoff teams in seven different years.

  And then of course, there’s USWNT legend Krieger, who will hang up her cleats after this match. For her teammates, Krieger’s upcoming retirement has been one more reason to push for victory Saturday. “I think Ali's been an extra motivation, not because of who she's been, but for who she is for us,” says Amorós. “She's taught me a lot. She showed me what a true leader of a changing room is. She is a role model for all the players, for coaches, and for us to be able to tell her goodbye in this last game, in the Championship, was our target, but our target now is to win for her. Nothing would make me happier than seeing her lifting that trophy on Saturday.”

Brentford manager Thomas Frank has opened up on the possibilities of him replacing Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool boss next season.

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• Frank tipped to replace Klopp at Liverpool
• Opened up about joining Liverpool next season
• Brentford currently 14th in the Premier League

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Several top managers, including Xabi Alonso and Frank, have been linked with the job at Liverpool ever since Klopp made it public that he would leave the Merseyside club at the end of the ongoing season.

  Now the Brentford boss has finally addressed the rumours of him potentially taking charge of the Reds as he stated that he is happy to continue with the London club for the long term.

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• WHAT THOMAS FRANK SAID

  Speaking to Sky Sports, Frank said, "There’s a lot of rumours out there. I think we all have kind of an ego and the ego likes that little bit of sugar but at the end of the day, I’m at Brentford. I’m very happy here.

  "Do I have ambitions? Yes. Am I going to stay at Brentford forever? Maybe but probably not. So who knows what’s going to happen in the future? What I know is that I’m here at Brentford and I’m very happy with it."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While The Bees head coach might have made it to Liverpool's shortlist, Bayer Leverkusen's Alonso remains favourite to take charge of the club next summer. Under Alonso's tutelage, the German club has performed exceptionally well this season. They are currently unbeaten in the Bundesliga and have a healthy five-point lead at the top of the table.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR THOMAS FRANK?

  The 50-year-old for now remains focused on his club, who currently find themselves 14th in the Premier League. They will be next seen in action on Saturday against league leaders Liverpool.

Former Premier League midfielder and Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has exclusively suggested to Football FanCast in an exclusive interview that Chris Wilder would be a better fit than Eddie Howe for Celtic.

The Glasgow club are yet to appoint a permanent manager following Neil Lennon’s resignation back in February, though Howe is said to be the leading candidate for the post.

According to journalist Alan Nixon, the coaches that the 43-year-old would like to bring with him are still contracted to Bournemouth, complicating things.

As far as alternatives go, however, Hendrie believes Celtic should be looking at Wilder, suggesting the former Sheffield United boss could actually be a better fit than the current frontrunner for the Celtic gig.

Speaking exclusively to FFC about the two managers, the ex-Aston Villa player said:

“I think most Celtic fans, they’d probably go with Eddie Howe I just feel for the football side of things. But I feel for the part and passion and the whole round circumference of Chris Wilder, I’d be looking at him. 

“I feel he’d get the club rocking again – I really do. And I just feel he’s got that temperament and that mentality to do that.”

In terms of managers who are available, Wilder, 53, definitely looks like he could be a good option given what he managed to achieve at Sheffield United.

Under his leadership, the Blades went all the way from League One to the Premier League. Last season, they were quite the success story, finishing in ninth place following their return to English football’s top flight.