BARBET IS MOURNING BATTLER SALA
NATHAN AKE is the next in line for a bigmoney move away from Bournemouth.
The former Chelsea starlet (right), 23, is being scouted by half of the top six in the
Premier League – and he has major suitors abroad. The Cherries are resigned to having their top players picked off – and have been active during this transfer window to counter that. They spent £19million on recruiting Dominic Solanke, 21, from Liverpool in case any big clubs pounce on Callum Wilson, 26.
FORMER
Arsenal academy
Jonker director Andries youngsters has warned from the to stay away if they want to make Emirates advise the grade. “I would games on them to play 100 said the the continent first,” left the Dutchman, who after Gunners in 2017 two-and-a-half years with the club.
RThe Palace boss urges Pochettino to forget about winning trophies and concentrate on playing fine football and developing great players.
Hodgson is frustrated that Pochettino’s name is always being linked with failure because Spurs have continually allowed trophies to ebb from their grasp, the last being on Thursday against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Hodgson said: “He should be praised for what he has achieved. It makes me angry when it’s mentioned he hasn’t won a trophy. What is a trophy? What’s a trophy got to do with being a great manager? People should wise up to what football is today and stop talking about trophies.
“They should look at the fact he’s taken over a Tottenham team who are having their longest spell as being considered Premiership title contenders, Champions League contenders, bringing through loads and loads of homegrown players... what’s a trophy got to do with it?”
“He’s good. Anyone who watches football and watches Tottenham play would have to be an admirer of the way they play football, and the way they go about their business. The manager has an integral part in that. So as far as I’m concerned, if you’re YOANN BARBET will go into tomorrow night’s FA Cup tie against Barnet with a heavy heart.
Brentford’s 25-year-old French defender is in mourning following the disappearance of a plane last week which his friend Emiliano Sala was on.
The pair became close when playing together at Bordeaux as youngsters. “I can’t get my head around it – so sad,” Barbet said. The plane carrying Sala is presumed to have crashed into the sea. He was returning to Cardiff after saying goodbye to his former Nantes team-mates following a club record £15million deal.
Barbet said: “I played two years with Emiliano in Bordeaux. He was a great lad. He arrived from Argentina and couldn’t speak French, but he learned the language very quickly, that helped him settle. He had what the Argentinians call ‘La Grinta’ – he was so determined to work and improve. And he worked so hard in training every day.
“It is a real tragedy and my thoughts go to the families of Emiliano and the pilot, and their friends. It is sad. I have lost a friend.”