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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 19/09/2016 15:25:25
| | Ronald Koeman Has Done Exactly What’s Been Asked and Immediately Improved Everton’s DefenceUMAXIT |
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Charlie Austin accepts rotation is Claude Puel’s policy at Southampton
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Southampton striker Charlie Austin accepts even three goals in four days are unlikely to exempt him from Claude Puel’s policy of rotation.
Austin started Sunday’s home game with Swansea on the bench despite a double against Europa League opponents Sparta Prague in midweek.
Puel sent on Austin early in the second half and was rewarded when the substitute scored a 64th-minute winner to give the Saints boss his first Premier League win.
The Frenchman preached the virtues of squad rotation in the build-up to Sunday’s game and Austin said: "Like the manager said, we’re going to use the squad.
"I was frustrated, of course, because I had scored two and wanted to keep that run going, but we’ve got a great squad here and they’re all fighting for places. The manager wants to play a rotation system and he’s the boss.
"Strikers are credited on goals. Stats don’t lie and, for me, I like to be in the box to score goals. But to be honest I should have scored three.
“The win on Thursday gave us a platform and we knew we needed to get a win in the league and we showed a good team spirit.”
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Premier League Power Rankings: Gameweek 5 | Sport Galleries | Pics | Daily Express
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20 (20). Stoke - A pitiful display against Crystal Palace has seen Stoke rooted to the foot of the table with confidence at its very lowest [REUTERS]
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Premier League head injury and concussion rules explained
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Should Anthony Martial have been substituted by Manchester United before his error led to Watford’s opening goal on Sunday?
The Frenchman clashed heads with Daryl Janmaat at Vicarage Road and required extensive treatment on the field. However, the forward played on and shortly afterwards lost possession in the build-up to Etienne Capoue’s goal.
Martial was then substituted, holding his head as he left the field.
The incident has raised questions over whether the 20-year-old should have been removed from the field of play sooner, if club doctors suspected he had suffered concussion.
Here, we look at the rules around head injuries and how players suspected of having concussion should be treated - and when they can return to action…
What are the rules around players who suffer head injuries?
At the start of the 2014/15 season, the Premier League introduced new rules on how to deal with head injuries.
They stated that any player suffering a head injury must now leave the pitch and the club doctor must decide if the player is capable of continuing - not the team manager or coaches.
All Premier League players must also undergo a pre-season neurological assessment as part of their annual medical check-up to help doctors measure their recovery rate should they sustain a head injury during the season.
What happens when a player gets a head injury?
The medical team enter the field of play to assess the injured player. If there is a confirmed or suspected loss of consciousness, the player must be removed from the field of play and is not allowed to return.
If the player has not lost consciousness, an assessment will take place to determine whether the player has suffered concussion. This will include asking him questions such as, who has scored and what stadium they are at. If there is any suspicion the player has suffered concussion he will not be allowed to play on.
Medical staff can also watch video replays of the incident, if available, to be clear on the order of events.
If they have a head injury how long does it take for them to come back?
The FA and Premier League have set out clear ‘return to play’ guidelines for players who are suspected to have suffered concussion. Essentially, no player will be allowed to return for a competitive game for at least six days.
There is no blood test or scan which can diagnose concussion. Diagnosis is made on the basis of history and examination.
The guidelines work on a step-by-step basis, with a player only allowed to progress a step every 24 hours - although this process can often take longer. The steps are: No physical activity, light aerobic exercise, sport specific exercise, non-contact training drills, full contact training, return to play (after an all-clear from the club’s medical officer).
When has this rule been applied?
Kasper Schmeichel was rested by Leicester on Saturday after sustaining concussion in training last week, while Mamadou Sakho was substituted during Liverpool’s League Cup final with Manchester City last season after clashing heads with Emre Can.
Prior to the rules coming into force at the start of the 2014/15 season, there were also high-profile instances at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, with Germany’s Christoph Kramer subbed off during the first-half of the final.
Luke Griggs from Headway Brain Injury Association has backed the rules put in place by the FA and Premier League but says there are concerns about the way they are applied.
“We have increasing concerns about the way in which protocols are being adopted across football when it comes to concussion,” he told Sky Sports News HQ. "Over the past couple of seasons we’ve seen numerous high profile instances where a player has had a head injury, been assessed and continued, only to be removed from the field of play a short while later, showing more clear-cut signs of concussion. That can’t be right.
“We are concerned that the safety first, ‘if in doubt sit it out’ approach isn’t necessarily being adopted in all cases.”
“Concussion is a temporary disturbance of the brain’s functioning,” says Griggs. "If you continue to play after you’ve had a concussion and you suffer a secondary knock, that secondary knock can significantly exacerbate the damage to the brain and cause real problems.
"One of the issues we have with concussion is it tends to be an evolving injury, where the signs and symptoms may take some time to present themselves.
"You could be playing on without necessarily showing any of those signs, especially the more visible ones, such as loss of balance or vomiting or loss of consciousness. Only in around 10 per cent of concussions is there a loss of consciousness. Looking out for that one key indicator is not a sensible way to go.
“It’s very important to protect someone while their brain is recovering from that initial, minor traumatic brain injury, to sit it out, rest and recover before going back into the field of play.”
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 19/09/2016 16:26:12
| | Analysing Charlie Austin’s match-winning display against Swansea for SouthamptonTHEBOOTROOM |
| 2016/17: Southampton v Burnley – Ticket InformationUPTHECLARETSCOM |
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| | Austin ‘frustrated’ at dropping to bench but accepts fight for place - TEAMtalk | Latest Football News & Transfer …TEAMTALK |
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 19/09/2016 18:26:36
| | Palace hammer Stoke, Saints edge SwanseaEIRSPORT |
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Premier League manager safety index: Who will be the first to go in the sack race?
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Which managers are feeling the heat now that the new Premier League season is up and running?
Here’s our manager safety index, based on the latest bookies’ odds. Note: Hull do not appear, because they are yet to appoint a new permanent manager.
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Manchester United lost their third consecutive game on Sunday afternoon to turn Jose Mourinho’s dream start as manager into a nightmare. Mourinho singled out Luke Shaw for failing to press Watford for their second goal, and the stats on furthest distances run in the Premier League back up the idea that United are not working hard enough in defence.
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Ref Watch: Jake Livermore red card ‘harsh’, says Dermot Gallagher
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Ref Watch is back to debate another selection of controversial decisions from some of the weekend’s Premier League matches.
Former top-flight official Dermot Gallagher has been in the Sky Sports News HQ studio to analyse a number of contentious calls from weekend.
From debatable goals and penalty decisions, to red cards, concussion laws and changing a player after the teamsheets have been handed in, we have it all covered in this week’s edition.
INCIDENT: A penalty was awarded late in the first half when Jake Livermore was deemed to have used his arm to block a goal-bound shot from Francis Coquelin.
SCENARIO: As well as giving the Gunners a spot-kick, referee Roger East issued a red card to Livermore.
However, Alexis Sanchez took the penalty before Livermore had left the field of play. The Arsenal man missed - should it have been retaken?
DERMOT SAYS: The question to answer is whether the handball has denied a goal, effectively stopping the ball going into the net. On this occasion, the goalkeeper is behind the player. The referee has made a judgement that the ball is going to end up in the net. I think it’s harsh. That’s a big, big call, to assume it’s stopped a goal.
Regarding the actual taking of the penalty, the fourth official is looking straight at it [Livermore on the pitch] - he should alert the referee. It’s a very bad error. The law is the law and the law states that the player must be off the field of play when play restarts. We can’t defend the referee when he’s actively broken the rules.
INCIDENT: A ball in from the left flank sees Middlesbrough forward Alvaro Negredo and Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg both challenge for the ball in the six-yard box.
SCENARIO: After the aerial challenge, the ball ends up in the net and a goal is given with Stekelenburg having the misfortune of being credited with an own-goal. But was the 'keeper fouled?
DERMOT SAYS: I don’t think many referees would have given this goal. The reason Stekelenburg drops the ball is because Negredo headers his arm. It’s gone down as an own-goal, so it proves the forward has not headed the ball.
INCIDENT: Anthony Martial is substituted nine minutes after a clash of heads with Watford’s Daryl Janmaat - he had immediately received treatment but was allowed to continue.
SCENARIO: The France attacker was treated on the pitch for two minutes before being led away. However, he was allowed to continue. Martial played on for another five minutes before he was dispossessed in the build-up to Watford’s opening goal, his head making contact with the ground as he fell. He was substituted nine minutes after the original collision.
The Premier League introduced a new rule regarding head collisions two seasons ago, making substitution mandatory for any player deemed by medical staff to be concussed on the field. Should the referee have stepped in?
DERMOT’S VERDICT: UP TO THE MEDICS
DERMOT SAYS: In terms of the referee’s involvement in these types of incidents, they’re taken out of the equation, which is a good thing.
This happened after the Hugo Lloris-Romelu Lukaku incident a few years ago and now the doctor assesses the player and makes the judgement. The two medics came on, reviewed it and decided he was was fit to play - it’s at that point the referee has to take their word for it. The referees are not medically equipped - it’s the best way as referees have no knowledge about that type of injury.
INCIDENT: With the game at 4-0, Man City forward Nolito and Bournemouth defender Adam Smith engage in a touchline tussle, which ends with Nolito pushing his head into Smith as the pair squared up.
SCENARIO: Nolito was sent off for violent conduct.
DERMOT SAYS: I think the referee has done really well here. Instead of brandishing a red card in front of all the players, he takes the player away towards the tunnel and gets the red card out. It’s really good practice.
INCIDENT: Sunderland defender Patrick van Aanholt was originally selected to play by David Moyes, but 15 minutes before kick-off, he was informed by a team-mate in the warm-up that he was dropped, much to his surprise.
SCENARIO: When pressed on the mystery after the full-time whistle, Moyes did not explain what the “medical reasons” were for Van Aanholt’s withdrawal and the Dutchman refused to speak to the press in the mixed zone. What is the referee’s protocol?
DERMOT SAYS: Basically, the doctor has said to the referee that Van Aanholt is not fit to play. If the doctor signs a certificate to say he’s not fit to play, then the manager is free to replace the player and bring in another player as a substitute. It’s all down to the doctor.
INCIDENT: Inverness were denied a penalty after Ross Draper was bundled over by Erik Sviatchenko in the 18-yard box, with referee Don Robertson waving away their vociferous appeals.
SCENARIO: The game at the time was locked at 1-1, but soon after the incident, Celtic counter-attacked and took the lead through Scott Sinclair.
DERMOT SAYS: This is an error of judgement from the referee. I think it’s a foul and a red card - there’s no doubt there’s serious contact. The defender doesn’t win the ball because it’s too far in front of him. I think it’s a wrong call.
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Premier League team of the week: Who makes Mirror Football’s starting XI?
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Another weekend of fierce Premier League action saw all 20 teams in action, starting with a stellar win for Liverpool on Friday night.
The Reds went to Stamford Bridge and claimed an excellent 2-1 win over previously unbeaten Chelsea, meaning Jurgen Klopp’s men are unbeaten from trips to Arsenal, Spurs and now the Blues this term.
They now have 10 points from their opening five matches, but are watching an irresistible Manchester City side sweep all before them. Pep Guardiola’s men made light work of Bournemouth at the Etihad, winning 4-0.
Sitting between those two sides in the table are Ronald Koeman’s Everton, with 13 points from the 15 on offer, and Tottenham, who are also unbeaten, but saw Harry Kane taken off on a stretcher after scoring the only goal against Sunderland.
Manchester United were beaten for the second successive weekend, going down at a rejuvenated Watford, while Arsenal won 4-1 at Hull.
But who were the stars of the show? Which individuals dominated this weekend?
Remind yourself: Who made the starting XI last time out?
Sunderland’s miserable start to the season continued with another defeat - this time at White Hart Lane - but the performance of 22-year-old keeper Jordan Pickford will have at least offered David Moyes encouragement.
The highly-rated England Under-21 international has been pressed into action by Vito Mannone’s injury, and he’s rising to the challenge.
He made eight saves on Sunday, including two from point-blank range - to deny Harry Kane and Toby Alderweireld - that he had no right to keep out, while he also commanded his box well, willingly leaving his line to alleviate pressure.
But perhaps his finest moment came after seeing a Heung-min Son shot whistle past his post, as he tore from his line to berate Jason Denayer and Jan Kirchoff for allowing the South Korean to work the space; 6/12 months ago, that wouldn’t have happened, and shows Pickford is starting to grow into his role, and won’t suffer fools in front of him.
His kicking still needs work - too often he drilled straight through to opposite number Hugo Lloris - but he left north London with his reputation enhanced.
The extraordinary moment Van Aanholt is told he’s out of team
The Dutchman has gone from strength-to-strength since moving from Celtic to the south coast.
He was too good for the Scottish league, but his defending needed sharpening when he arrived. He’s not only sharpened his rough edges, he’s blossomed into a defensive monster.
Few centre-halves are as comfortable on the ball as the 25-year-old, who had a 95 per cent success rate from 55 passes in the Saints 1-0 win over Swansea.
But more impressive was how he owned the Swans centre-forward Fernando Llorente, dominating the Spaniard physically as he ensured a clean sheet and victory for Claude Puel’s men.
Charlie Austin says he should have score THREE against Swansea
The Eagles skipper led a rearguard action as they held on for victory at Middlesbrough last weekend, and he marshalled Alan Pardew’s men to another victory in their 4-1 thumping of Stoke.
A commanding presence at the heart of defence, Dann was robust in his dealing with Wilfried Bony at one end, and was decisive at the other, powering home a header to hand the Eagles a 2-0 lead inside the first 15 minutes.
Throughout he didn’t let those around him drop their level, as he continually drilled into his teammates the need for focus, and a change in defensive partner at half-time made little difference to the Scouser.
After a disappointing 2016 for Palace, he’s really stepped up in the last two weeks.
Has Jose Mourinho lost his magic? Mirror Football writers have their say
“He looks magnificent. He wants to roam out with the ball,” said Martin Keown, speaking on the BBC. “The way he comes out is almost Bobby Moore like - he’s a great talent."
During the summer, the Serbian’s career at the Etihad looked all but over. On paper he didn’t appear a Guardiola player and a move to Besiktas looked all but done.
Then, he stayed. And increasingly during pre-season - with Vincent Kompany injured, and John Stones having yet to arrive - he played at centre-back. And he didn’t just fill in, but more-and-more, with each passing game, he has looked at home.
Kolarov has always had an outstanding left-foot, but with City now controlling the ball more than ever before, he’s able to use his range of passing to set them on the attack. Whether over five yards or 50, he gets City moving forwards quickly and his ability to switch from left to right was key to City’s pulling Bournemouth to pieces as he made 88 passes across the 90 minutes.
Defensively, he also dominated. Set-pieces and long-balls towards his airspace were deal with in commanding fashion, and he’s increasingly looking like a leader in Guardiola’s new Etihad era.
The mercurial Belgian made the decision to leave Spurs for regular football during the transfer window, putting a desire to play above money as he became West Brom’s record signing in a £13million deal.
Chadli had a modest goal record for Spurs (25 in 119 games), playing largely from wide roles, but Tony Pulis would appear set to hand him the keys to the Baggies’ attacking kingdom, after using him in a central role off Salomon Rondon as Albion blasted four past a hapless West Ham defence.
He wasted little time to endear himself to the home crowd, rolling home an early penalty, before showing outstanding desire to sprint 90 yards from his own penalty box, to claim a tap in for his second of the afternoon in the second half.
His quality - clever passes and touches - was telling throughout, while his ability to carry the ball from his own half deep into the opponents final third will have enthused Pulis - not to mention his claiming assists for both the goals he didn’t score.
The question now is one of consistency. If he can perform in a similar manner week in, week out, then he could add the flamboyance and final third product Pulis has been craving for some time.
Raheem Sterling can perhaps feel aggrieved not to have nipped into our team instead, but for the second successive week, Kevin De Bruyne gets the nod.
Quite simply, he’s the best player in the Premier League right now, Pep Guardiola’s tactical adjustment offering the Belgian more freedom and increased scope to work his magic at the heart of the City engine room.
Bournemouth simply had no answer to City’s brilliance, and at the heart of everything was De Bruyne.
His first goal was the perfect marriage of intention and execution, De Bruyne fully aware the Cherries wall would jump and taking full advantage to net. He had a hand in the second, with an excellent weighted through pass to Sterling, and did likewise for the third, sending Iheanacho clear. For the fourth, he cleverly worked his way out of a tight spot down the left, before playing through Ilkay Gundogan with another incisive forward pass.
Pep Guardiola doesn’t want his side passing for the sake of it, and no-one is epitomising that desire more than De Bruyne, always looking to make the move that catches out the opposition.
In the absence of David Silva and Sergio Aguero, he stepped up magnificently. Again, the best player in the Premier League right now.
Pep Guardiola on City’s chances of the quadruple: “What the f_*_?”
What has happened to the French midfielder?
Another week, another goal for the anchorman-cum-goal machine, as the Hornets made it back-to-back wins with the scalp of Manchester United.
Walter Mazzarri deserves credit for offering Capoue more freedom to use his leggy stride and power forward from midfield.
The 28-year-old isn’t being asked to retain possession at Vicarage Road this term, instead he’s being asked to get the ball forward before backing up play, knowing he can afford to gamble with three centre-halves and Valon Behrami behind him.
But that doesn’t mean he’s shirking his defensive duties either. No player made more tackles (5) than Capoue during the game, fast emerging as the Hornets driving force.
The Liverpool skipper is having to adapt to a new role at the heart of the Reds midfield this season, playing as the anchor in a 4-3-3 formation with Gini Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana to either side.
It’s not a role which has appeared all too natural to the England midfielder, the need to sit and protect often strangling his athleticism.
However, at Stamford Bridge on Friday night, Henderson revelled in his role. No Liverpool player made more passes (68) and his 88 per cent accuracy showed intelligence use of the ball - particularly given it wash’t sterile, sideways and backwards passing only.
He did particularly well to shackle Oscar as he looked to lead the Blues attacks, while he also nullified Eden hazard whenever he drifted into a central zone.
As for his goal, well, it was nothing short of outstanding, a wicked, dipping strike that left Thibaut Courtois - a giant of a man - grasping helplessly at thin air.
Henderson knows he must be at his best week-in, week-out to warrant a place in Klopp’s starting XI, and fully fit after a season of struggle last term, this was a stellar showing.
Jurgen Klopp tells Mamadou Sakho he is still a LONG way from being in the first team
The England winger watched Wilf Zaha put in a superb showing in the win over Middlesbrough last weekend and perhaps the £13million man improved on it on Sunday.
Townsend took Glen Johnson - admittedly starting his first game since February - to the cleaners as the Eagles swooped all over the Potters in a 4-1 rout.
Whether going inside or outside, Townsend was a constant threat, putting in a number of fine crosses, while his goal was an individual moment of quality, cutting in from the left flank before curling home with his right foot, giving Shay Given no chance.
Co-owner Steve Parrish is pleased to have taken Townsend from Newcastle during the transfer window, and more performances like this will only please the Eagles chief further.
“In England if he is guided by a manager who knows a lot about football, he can score double the goals Vardy does,” declared the Algerian’s former manager, Jorge Jesus, ahead of his £29million move to join the English champions.
That would equate to a cool 50 goals, given Vardy’s showing last season, and while Slimani may not reach that giant total, he made some start in his Premier League debut against Burnley
The prototype of a modern No.9, Slimani mixes clever movement and a good turn of pace with touch, intelligence, aerial ability and no little strength. In typical Leicester fashion, he doesn’t shy away from hard work either.
The Clarets simply had no answer to the striker, who bagged a brace of headers. How he and Vardy dovetail in the coming weeks and months looks as though it will define the Foxes season.
The Chilean’s Gunners teammate Alex Iwobi can perhaps feel himself a little unlucky to be left out of our lineup, but it was Alexis who really dragged his side to another away win.
At Watford in Arsenal’s last away outing, Alexis was similarly brilliant, a whirlwind dervish who was here, there and everywhere in victory at Vicarage Road.
It was a similar story at the KCOM Stadium. Arsenal’s No.7 again started as the focal point of attack, but so adept is he at pulling wide and dropping off the front, that he gave the Hull defenders no point of reference.
Two goals were his reward for another all-action display, and it should have been three, but his penalty was saved by Eldir Jakupovic (why don’t Arsenal just leave Cazorla on spot kicks?).
That miss shouldn’t take away from a showing of everything that was good about Alexis, who is already looking ready, willing and able to carry Arsenal’s title hopes on his shoulders.
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