WHAT’S NEXT? CAN DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN FINALLY CONQUER THE GEORDIES AT ST JAMES’?
Micah Richards warns Newcastle as Dominic Calvert-Lewin heads to St James' Park. Can Malick Thiaw stop the Leeds striker's streak?
Leeds United are heading up to St. James’ Park on Wednesday for another Premier League showdown.
Micah Richards has his eyes on Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He thinks the Leeds striker is going to give Newcastle’s defence a real headache. Calvert-Lewin’s been on fire lately—seven goals in six matches over the holidays—before sitting out the Liverpool game for a breather. He jumped right back into the lineup for Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United and almost bagged another goal. Just missed, really. He got on the end of Anton Stach’s cross, headed it across the goal, and clipped the far post. After that, Leeds couldn’t create much for him, but he still gave United’s backline plenty to worry about.
Now Calvert-Lewin faces a Newcastle side feeling good after a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. That was their first clean sheet in the league since early October. You can bet the home crowd will be buzzing, but Richards is excited to see what Leeds’ main man does next.
“I can’t wait for that game,” Richards said on The Rest is Football podcast after Alan Shearer brought up the midweek clash. “I love the Geordies. But when Leeds is in town, I can’t wait. Calvert-Lewin will have you trembling in your boots, Alan.”
It won’t be easy for Calvert-Lewin at St. James’ Park. Newcastle’s defenders love a physical battle. Fabian Schar knows Calvert-Lewin well from their past meetings, and Malick Thiaw—who cost Newcastle £35 million in the summer—has slotted right in during his first Premier League season.
Shearer’s also keeping an eye on that head-to-head. He’s called out Newcastle’s shaky start to the season before, but three wins in their last five have pushed them up to ninth, and Eddie Howe’s side is starting to click. Shearer expects a real clash between Thiaw and Calvert-Lewin.
“Let’s see. It’ll be a good battle because Newcastle looked a bit more solid against Palace,” Shearer said. “Malick Thiaw’s been a great buy for Newcastle. He had a really good season, even when the team wasn’t playing well. So that’ll be a good battle between those two.”
Newcastle got a defensive boost last weekend with Tino Livramento, Sven Botman, and Kieran Trippier all back in the squad against Palace. Jacob Murphy’s a doubt after coming off with a hamstring issue, though.
Sean Longstaff, the former Magpies midfielder, could get back on the pitch after making the bench against Manchester United following a calf injury. Jayden Bogle missed Sunday’s game with a minor knock but might return soon, and club captain Ethan Ampadu is available again after serving his one-game suspension.
TOTTENHAM IN TURMOIL: CRISTIAN ROMERO SLAMS BOARD FOR TELLING LIES AFTER SHOCK BOURNEMOUTH DEFEAT
Cristian Romero vents fury at Tottenham leadership in a deleted post as Spurs slump to 14th following a loss to Bournemouth.
Spurs defender Cristian Romero didn’t hold back on social media, firing shots at the club’s top brass in a post he later deleted. He accused them of only showing up “to tell a few lies.”
Tottenham’s rough season dragged on with a last-gasp loss at Bournemouth—their eighth defeat so far. Now they’re sitting 14th in the Premier League. After the match, Micky van de Ven was spotted arguing with frustrated travelling fans, and Romero jumped on Instagram to vent his anger at the board and club decision-makers.
“At times like this, it should be other people coming out to speak, but they don’t—as has been happening for several years now,” Romero wrote in the original post. “They only show up when things are going well, to tell a few lies.”
He later edited the post, scrubbing the bit about lies, but he kept his criticism of the club’s leadership, saying they never face up to fans or the press when things get tough.
“Apologies to all fans, to those who follow us everywhere, who are always there and still will be,” he said. “We’re responsible for this. I’m the first to admit it. But we’re going to keep fighting and try to turn things around—for ourselves and for the club.
“At times like this, it should be others stepping up, but they don’t. That’s been the story for years. They only show up when things go well.
“We’ll stay here, keep working, stick together, and give everything to change things. Especially now, it’s about keeping our heads down, working even harder, and moving forward as a group. That’s football.
“All together, it gets easier.”
Joao Palhinha, who also clashed with fans after the game, tried to smooth things over in a chat with Sky Sports. “The supporters were just sharing their frustrations,” he said. “Of course, we understand. We respect them, always.
“I just said we’re all fighting for the same thing.
“We want to win—not just the players, but the staff and supporters too. We’re trying to get the wins we honestly deserve in these last games.”
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED DURING DOMINIC SOLANKE’S SECRET MINOR ANKLE OPERATION?
Thomas Frank confirms Dominic Solanke won't face Bournemouth. With Kudus injured and Johnson gone, Spurs face a major striker crisis.
Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank says Dominic Solanke won’t be ready for Wednesday’s game at Bournemouth. Solanke still needs time to get back to his best.
The last time Solanke played for Spurs was August 23, away at Manchester City. That ankle injury has really held him back—he’s only managed three appearances so far this season.
He had a minor operation on October 1, and Tottenham has taken it slow with his recovery. Solanke finally got back to training last week, but Frank made it clear the 28-year-old won’t be facing his old club just yet.
“Nope, he will not, but positive going forward,” Frank said when someone asked if Solanke would make the trip.
Frank saw some good things from Solanke in training—composed on the ball, making sharp decisions, nice touches. But when things got a bit more intense, Solanke looked rusty. That’s not a shock, though. The guy’s been out for over six months. Of course, he needs time.
Frank added, even if Solanke’s ready to return soon, people shouldn’t expect him to hit top form right away. Almost no one does after being out that long.
With Solanke still sidelined and last season’s top scorer, Brennan Johnson, gone to Crystal Palace as of Friday, Spurs are pretty light up front.
Mohammed Kudus probably won’t make it either after picking up a left leg injury early in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland. “He’s going for a scan. Yeah, most likely ruled out for Bournemouth,” Frank said.
There’s some good news, at least—Destiny Udogie is back in training after his hamstring problem and might be available. Captain Cristian Romero will play, even though the club didn’t appeal the FA’s charge about his conduct after getting sent off against Liverpool on December 20.
The FA says Romero acted improperly, didn’t leave the pitch quickly, and got in the ref’s face after that red card. Spurs responded to the charge and accepted it. As for whether Romero might get banned, Frank shrugged it off: “I honestly don’t know. He’s available for Bournemouth. That’s the game ahead for me.”