Former Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin thinks the sentence handed out to hooligan who attacked Jack Grealish is too lenient, and fears that a player could be killed if harsher punishments are not enforced.

The thug — who we will not name and give any further unwarranted publicity to — was sentenced by the Birmingham Magistrates Court to 14 weeks in jail and a 10-year football banning order, although Birmingham City have said they have banned him from St Andrews for life.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Debate show, Dublin said: “It’s good that he’s been jailed, I just don’t think it’s long enough. What he dis is so, so dangerous. If he had a knife in his hand, he could have killed him… and that’s not going over the top.

“The only way to stop it [similar incidents] is to put fencing all the way round the pitch, [but] it’s not fair on the 99 per cent of the fans that are bang on.

“Why not ban him for life completely, and give him a longer sentence? Ban him from all football venues world wide [for life].”

If it was a first offence, the sentence served could be as short as seven weeks, and Dublin was asked if that is enough of a deterrent?

He replied: “Maybe not. We don’t know what is going to happen now. If people have seen this and though ‘right, ok, I’m not doing that’ [and] it doesn’t happen again, then yes, it was the right sentence.”

Paul Merson, another former Villa star and fellow guest on the show, said it was “the worst I’ve seen on a football pitch” and also suggested that a relatively short sentence like that could be seen by some as worth it for a moment of infamy.

We certainly think the sentence should have been longer, but the courts have guidelines for offences that they have to stick to. But the fact that he is off the streets and banned from football, preventing him from repeating his idiocy again must be seen as a good thing.

What are your thoughts on the incident and the subsequent sentence Birmingham and Villa fans? Let us know…

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If rumours linking Abdoulaye Doucoure with a switch to Spurs, as per The Mirror, are to be believed, then you would be forgiven for thinking that the Frenchman has been the standout performer for the Hornets this campaign.

The statistics, though, show that someone is close to the former Granada man – right next to him in fact – and his numbers this campaign are far better.

Who is the unsung hero? Doucoure’s partner in crime, Etienne Capoue.

On the chalkboard

Doucoure has established himself as one of the top enforcers in the league in the past couple of seasons and is certainly of a top-six standard, or at least worthy of a move to a top side in order to prove himself as such.

The midfielder is renowned for his powerful runs from deep and his ability to break up of play at the base of Watford’s midfield quartet, where he and Capoue make the lives of Roberto Pereyra and Will Hughes far less complicated.

The numbers behind the duo’s game, though, prove that the latter number 4 is perhaps more influential than his highly-rated partner. Of course, age plays a factor in all transfers and Capoue is 30, but the fact remains that he is outperforming Doucoure by some way – is he not receiving the credit he deserves?

The numbers

As previously mentioned, Doucoure’s marauding runs through the middle of the pitch are seen as one of his biggest strengths but, in fact, Capoue is better at them – the former completes 0.9 dribbles per match to the latter’s 1.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

While there isn’t much in that, former Spurs man Capoue’s defensive output blows his teammate’s out of the water – he completes 2.7 tackles and 2.9 interceptions per game to Doucoure’s 2.1 and 0.9 respectively.

Of course 1-cap international Doucoure scores and assists far more frequently but perhaps this is exactly why Capoue’s exploits fly under the radar. If the 6 foot 2 tough-tackler can add either to his game, he may finally get the appreciation he deserves.

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Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish was assaulted by a Birmingham City fan during the Second City derby in the Championship on Sunday.

Grealish, who recently returned from a shinbone injury, was targeted by a pitch invader in the opening stages of the first half.

The supporter, who managed to evade security, punched the England Under-21 international in the side of the head from behind.

He was escorted from the pitch and a tweet from West Midlands Police subsequently confirmed that an arrest had been made and that the perpetrator was en route to a “custody block”.

Supporters were baffled by the scenes, with the incident, so rarely seen in English football, decried as “disgraceful” by many.

Indeed, some Villa fans believe that a precedent should be set, with the guilty party sent to prison and handed a lifetime ban from attending any matches, while others claim that Birmingham should be punished too.

Take a look at the best of the reaction on Twitter below!

Leeds United fans will feel gutted with today’s result as they enjoyed the better of the chances. And, the disappointing defeat has now pushed them out of the automatic promotion places. 

The Whites had the perfect opportunity to take another step towards securing promotion to the Premier League earlier on today but they passed it up, so they’ll now have to play the chasing game.

One thing that is certain is the fact that Marcelo Bielsa will already have his eye on the summer transfer window, with reinforcements needed regardless of whether promotion is achieved.

Leeds were reportedly (as per Daily Mail) plotting a move for Hull City’s Jarrod Bowen back in December of last year but nothing developed as the Englishman ended up staying at the KCOM Stadium.

Indeed, many Leeds fans will remember his dominant performance two days after being linked as he netted both of Hull’s goals to silence Elland Road. The 22-year-old has gone up another couple of levels since the turn of the year as he’s taken his goals tally to 20 in all competitions, as well as producing three assists.

Jack Clarke will inevitably attract interest in the summer transfer window and Jack Harrison is set to return to Manchester City once his loan spell expires, so they’ll need to bring in an attacker. And, with Pablo Hernandez turning 34 next months, it’s safe to say that Leeds will need to look for a long-term replacement.

Bowen would be the perfect replacement for the Spaniard as he’s shown that he can create in the final third this season having provided three assists and he’s constantly involved in the build-up to goals. Also, he’s been prolific in front of goal and still has his best years ahead of him at the age of 22, so the future is bright.

Although, Bielsa will need to work his magic to bring Bowen to Elland Road as Everton and Norwich are reportedly interested, along with Spurs, so promotion may be required.

Leeds United, do you think you can lure Bowen to Elland Road? Surely it depends on promotion…

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino served the first game of his two-match ban against Southampton at the weekend.

The Spurs boss watched on from the stands as his side lost 2-1 to the relegation-threatened Saints.

The FA handed Pochettino the ban, along with a £10,000 fine, after an altercation with referee Mike Dean following the club’s 2-1 loss to Burnley.

The Argentine and the official were involved in a heated confrontation at Turf Moor, with Pochettino seemingly reacting to something said by Dean.

The FA have now revealed the official reasons, via Daily Mail, for Pochettino’s ban, with Dean alleging in his report of the game that the Spurs boss said “you know what you are” repeatedly to him on the pitch, before saying it again in the tunnel.

However, supporters are not happy with the reasoning, insisting that they need to know what was said by Dean as well, with coaches Jesus Perez and Toni Jimenez also reacting adversely towards the man in the middle.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!

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Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has been a sensation since his appointment at Elland Road in the summer. 

The Argentine coach has worked wonders for the Whites, having transformed them from an underperforming mid-table Championship outfit into genuine title contenders. Promotion back to the Premier League – after a 15-year absence – finally looks to be on the cards for Leeds this season.

If that goal is achieved then Bielsa will deserve plenty of the credit. The head coach has also made waves off the pitch, not least for the ‘Spygate’ scandal, but also for his open, honest and principled manner of speaking in press conferences.

Are fans being priced out of the Championship as well as the Premier League? The angry Bolton fan in the video below certainly believes so…

Bielsa recently stated that the biggest joy, for him, in his job comes from “human relationships.” He continued, “if human relationships are satisfactory, which means to love and be loved, to respect and being respected, then it is more important than winning and success”, as quoted by the Yorkshire Evening Post.

This is a stance that Ian Holloway has aligned himself with.

What he said

In an exclusive interview with Football League World, the former Blackpool boss and EFL on Quest pundit said “that’s a hell of a statement. I don’t know him but if that’s how he is that’s great. It’s remarkable the changes he has made but then there was the Spygate thing which was a step too far for me, so there’s a bit of a contradiction there almost. I hope that’s the truth what he said, though, because I do believe you have one chance to build a reputation and it’s not about winning all the time or losing all the time.”

Not all about winning

Holloway and Bielsa seem to agree that there’s often more to football than simply winning or losing. Certainly, whether Leeds succeed or fail in their bid for promotion this season, Bielsa’s impact at the club will remembered as a significant one regardless, due to the connection he has forged with his squad and the Elland Road faithful.

أفادت تقارير صحفية إنجليزية، أن نادي مانشستر سيتي يقترب من حسم صفقة الدولي الأرجنتيني، نيكولاس تاليافيكو، الظهير الأيسر لنادي أياكس الهولندي.

تاليافيكو كان هدفًا لـ برشلونة خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية، وسط صراع مع مانشستر سيتي ويوفنتوس، ولكن في النهاية استمر اللاعب مع النادي الهولندي.

صحيفة “ذا صن” الإنجليزية، أفادت بأنه من المقرر أن يعود مانشستر سيتي إلى اللاعب في يناير، حيث من المقرر ان يكلف نيكولاس خزائن سيتي، 20 مليون جنية إسترليني.

أياكس كان يرغب في الحصول على 35 مليون جنية إسترليني في الصيف الماضي، لكن لم يتبق له سوى أقل من عامين في عقده مع الفريق، كما أن اللاعب مصمم على اللعب في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وشددت الصحيفة على أن أياكس ليس لديه مانع من رحيل اللاعب في يناير مقابل 20 مليون إسترليني، أفضل بالتأكيد من الانتظار ورحيله بعد عام بدون مقابل.

Alan Smith is a tragic example of why managers should not gamble with a player’s position.

There have been some truly debatable moments in football over the years; Maradona’s ‘hand of god’, Emmanuel Adebayor’s pitch-length celebration, Suarez’s racism and biting, and finally the bitter transfer of ‘Mr Leeds United’ Alan Smith to Manchester United.

A multidimensional betrayal that cannot simply be boiled down to breaking unwritten footballing law.

You may argue that the kind of heartbreak that hurts the most is the type you least expect: the one that literally slaps you in the face and turns your world around in an instance – the sort Leeds United fans experienced in 2004 when one of their own, a local hero, Alan Smith, left when they needed him the most.

A player they had nurtured and supported – one of their brightest talents in recent years, a sensation and ‘wonderkid’ in every sense of the word – gone in an instant to join the ranks of Manchester United, a club they so vehemently hate.

Smith made 211 appearances for Leeds over a six-year period scoring 52 goals in all competitions – winning the love of the faithful fans with his unbridled commitment, talent and gutsiness. At risk of sounding like someone stuck in the past, he was a “proper striker” – someone who would take great joy in throwing their weight about, snapping, barging, slamming and booting their way around the pitch like it was a cold, mucky Sunday morning.

So what exactly happened when he joined Old Trafford – where did all this spirit and guile go?

First and foremost, the former Leeds man was hampered by Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to play him out of position in a dual attempt to both accommodate Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy and fill the boots of Roy Keane.

Secondly, was the horror injury he suffered after blocking Liverpool’s John Arne Riise shot, which left him with a broken left leg and dislocated ankle aged 25.

An injury Ferguson later described as one of the worst he had ever seen (Mirror).

Smith reflected on the experience telling Mirror Sport: “I knew with the injury it would be touch and go whether I could carry on playing – the surgeon said that.

“It would have been easier to walk away and people remember you as a top Premier League player. But I didn’t want that, because I loved playing football. Your love of it makes you go through the pain barrier.”

He left Manchester United just three years after making his initial move, first joining Newcastle United where he spent five seasons, then slowly making his way down the footballing ladder played for MK Dons and finally Notts County.

“Loads of people would say to me, ‘Why I am bothering?’ Whether I was earning £500-a-week or nothing, if people felt I could still contribute I wanted to keep playing,” he said (Mirror).

“The good people I met lower down the leagues probably drove me on to stay in football longer. But by the end, the day-to-day training was doing more harm than good. I couldn’t compete at a level I felt I could easily before. I get out of bed and can’t walk properly; my ankle is stiff all the time.”

The injury he picked up over a decade ago, and staunchly battled, would eventually cause him to retire in 2018.

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Ryan Tunnicliffe is one of a plethora of Millwall players whose future beyond the summer is uncertain due to the imminent expiry of their deals at The Den, and the midfielder knows what he has to do in the remaining weeks of the season to convince the hierarchy that he should remain a Lion.

The 26-year-old has made a total of 50 appearances for the east London outfit since switching from Fulham in 2017 and has featured 18 times this campaign, scoring two goals in the league.

He was a way down the pecking order last term under Harris and little has changed this season, with Ryan Leonard’s arrival making starts hard to come by for the 10-cap former England Under-21 international.

Regardless of his situation at the Den, 6 footer Tunnicliffe is hoping to fight for a new contract with just eight games to go and has sent a message to his boss ahead of West Brom’s visit this weekend:

“Regarding a contract, I don’t know what the manager is thinking. I spoke to him a few weeks back but the club is trying to stay in the league so I guess he doesn’t want to make any decisions at the moment when the future is not clear.

“Hopefully I’ll stay in the team, do well and force him to make a decision to offer me a new deal.”

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

Clearly Harris and co are keeping their cards close to their chest with the club’s status as a Championship club for the 2019/20 season still not confirmed – if the Lions drop down to League One, they could be in for a major reshuffle in the summer.

What do you think, Millwall fans? Would you like to see Tunnicliffe offered a new deal? Let us know in the comments below.

أوضح رونالد كومان، المدير الفني لفريق برشلونة الإسباني، موقف حارس المرمى، مارك تير شتيجن من اللحاق بمباراة الكلاسيكو أمام ريال مدريد، المقرر لها 24 أكتوبر الجاري، في ظل تعافيه من إصابته.

كما تحدث كومان عن إمكانية منح بعض الراحة لنجمه ليونيل ميسي، مع الجدول الزمني المتتابع لمباريات الفريق.

وظهر كومان في مؤتمر صحفي خاص بمباراة برشلونة وخيتافي، المقرر لها غدًا السبت، بمنافسات الليجا، ونشرت صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية تصريحاته.

وبسؤاله هل تفكر في منح ميسي قسطًا من الراحة؟”، أجاب: “من حيث المبدأ، نريد أن نضع أفضل فريق ممكن في كل مباراة، مشاركة اللاعبين مع منتخبات بلادهم تؤثر على الأندية الكبيرة، عاد الجميع بحماس وفرح، بعد التدريب سنقرر”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. زيدان: لن أعلق على ما يحدث مع جريزمان وما يقال عن يوفيتش هراء!

وعن إمكانية مشاركة ميسي ضد خيتافي ثم ضد فيرينكفاروسي وريال مدريد ويوفنتوس؟، علّق: ” ميسي يلعب بجدول زمني ضيق للغاية منذ سنوات عديدة، علاوة على ذلك، إذا لم يلعب سيكون أكثر إرهاقًا، إنه لاعب يريد الفوز، ويريد دائمًا أن يكون في المباريات”.

وبشأن إمكانية لحاق تير شتيجن بالكلاسيكو أمام ريال مدريد، أتم كومان: “منذ يوم الثلاثاء كان يعمل في الملعب وكل شيء يسير على ما يرام في الوقت الحالي، لا أعتقد أنه سيصل إلى الكلاسيكو، فلا داعي لتحديد موعد، إنه حارس رائع لكننا هادئون، نحن سعداء بعمل نيتو”.