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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Loan Watch series, which takes a closer look at those players who are aiming to galvanise their careers away from the spotlight of their parent club.

Sheffield Wednesday’s defence has been their major strong point under Garry Monk since he took charge at the start of September.

The Owls have managed to keep four clean sheets in ten league matches and until last week hadn’t conceded more than one goal to any form of opposition.

This can’t have come too much as a surprise considering the 40-year-old was a rock at the back for Swansea City for the best part of ten years.

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Morgan Fox has shined for probably the first time in his Wednesday career while full-back Dominic Iorfa has looked right at home in the centre of defence.

However, a player that Monk is yet to see for himself is beginning to impress away from the club as Matt Penney is enjoying a fruitful loan spell in Germany for FC St. Pauli, who play in the 2. Bundesliga.

The 21-year-old has played seven games for the 11th-placed side with the most notable aspects of his game hinting towards him becoming an excellent wing-back option in the future.

Via WhoScored, Penney is averaging 1.7 tackles, 1.1 dribbles, and 1.3 long balls per game, and he has done so playing pretty much every position possible along the left side.

Speaking about his loan move, the Wednesday academy graduate said: “I decided to try something different by going abroad, and I’m thriving off it at the minute and really enjoying it.”

The left-back has only played 17 times for the Owls since making his debut in August 2018 against Sunderland in the Carabao Cup, and this spell at St. Pauli is the third loan move of his career having also played for Bradford City and Mansfield Town.

Penney added: “I just want to come over here, keep playing and keep challenging myself.

“Then, when I come back to Wednesday, I’ll be a better player with more experience under my belt having played regular football.

“I feel like I’m getting better and more confident with each game.”

He has certainly given Wednesday boss Monk plenty to think about ahead of the summer, especially as a decision is yet to be made over Fox, who sees his contract expire at the end of the season.

The 26-year-old is the only genuine senior left-sided option in the squad at the moment, so even if he does re-sign at Hillsborough, it is likely that Penney could offer some healthy competition next season.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Sheffield Wednesday return to league action this weekend, but manager Garry Monk may be wishing he could call on the services on one former Owls player.

The south Yorkshire side face a trip to the west Midlands to face the Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Saturday, and they do so knowing that Slaven Bilic will be without both Romaine Sawyers and captain Jake Livermore – a boost perhaps.

However, Wednesday need to improve on their last few outings as they have too often let points slip from their grasp as game management has become somewhat the main issue.

Annoyingly for Monk, he can’t make any significant squad changes until January, which may have him rueing a decision made back in August.

On the Chalkboard

After playing and scoring against Reading, Lucas Joao soon swapped Hillsborough for the Madejski Stadium as the club sold him for £5m just days after their Championship-opening duel.

In hindsight, he probably would have been an absolutely ideal fit in the 40-year-old’s system this campaign…

Goalscoring and chance creation are probably the two big problems facing this Wednesday squad at the minute – they have bagged just 14 goals in ten league games, with four coming in one match alone.

Top scorer Steven Fletcher is facing a barren run of six games without a goal too.

Joao would have been the perfect player to either lead the line on his own or play alongside a partner – in the 2018/19 campaign, the 26-year-old averaged 2.19 shots, 2.86 dribbles, and 2.75 touches inside the opposition box per 90 minutes, via the PFSA.

Clearly, he was a threat last season, having also bagged ten times.

No player this season has managed more successful dribbles while only Fletcher betters the shots per 90 number, per WhoScored.

Reading’s chief executive described him well upon signing him earlier in the year, he said: “He is incredibly strong on the ball, a threat in the air, has pace and power in abundance, and he’s an instinctive finisher.”

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It is this sort of presence that would thrive in Monk’s system regardless of what formation it is. He can be played to feet or in the air, so both crosses from the wing and holding the ball up are just two options from his playbook.

The fact he is a handful is shown by how many times he was fouled last season (1.53 times per 90), which no player in the squad with two starts or more can match.

If only Wednesday could still call on the exploits of the 6 foot 4 forward, he’d have certainly lessened the increasing striking crisis under Monk.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

Starting his first Premier League game of the season, Michael Obafemi was undeniably the surprise inclusion in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s line-up to face Arsenal on Saturday afternoon. The 19-year-old has been on the fringes of the first-team squad, so getting the nod to start up front at the Emirates was some show of faith from his manager. And boy did he deliver.

The teenager may not have gotten on the score-sheet, but he made life for the Arsenal defence a living hell. The Republic of Ireland international buzzed around at the top of the pitch, spinning in behind the opposition back-line and harassing them into mistakes. In one instance in the first-half, one simple ball over the top was chased down by Obafemi, and the 19-year-old nipped in ahead of Sokratis, only for the Greek to get back to spare his blushes.

It was the kind of high-intensity pressing that worked well alongside main man Danny Ings. The latter has scored six times in the Premier League this campaign, which is just under half the total goals his entire side have netted (13). It all means the Saints could desperately do with a strike partner who can take the load off his shoulders. And in Obafemi, they have someone who has the desire to work hard for the team, and act as the perfect foil for their star goal-scorer.

As per Sofascore, the 5 foot 7 man had a 93% pass accuracy against the Gunners at the weekend, ensuring safe possession of the ball and rarely losing it. His two key passes were actually the joint second-highest in the entire Southampton team, and it showed he could link up the play well too. So whilst Hasenhuttl may more high-profile options like Sofiane Boufal on his bench, the Austrian must simply keep faith in the man who vindicated his decision to start him.

Loads of Newcastle fans have been left furious after Lee Ryder revealed a complication in the possible takeover of the club.

The Toon Army are desperate for any scrap of concrete news on a possible Magpies takeover, with reports suggesting this deal is more advanced than any of those that have come before it.

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The Telegraph reported earlier this week that the a potential £340m deal with the Saudi Public Investment Fund is on the table and paperwork has been filed to the Premier League, while the well-respected Mark Douglas admitted he believes Mike Ashley will finally sell if “Saudi dosh” is involved.

However, Ryder has now revealed a possible snag in negotiations, saying in a Q&A for The Chronicle that Ashley is currently in Miami, USA.

Of course, plenty of fans are bemused by Ryder’s claim, asking why this is even a snag at all – the internet does exist after all, and Ashley surely knows how to use Skype.

You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

Newcastle fans, have you laughed at Charlie Methven in Sunderland ‘Til I Die yet? 

Amidst all the controversy surrounding Tottenham and Daniel Levy at the moment, Harry Kane has stepped up to help remind people that football and footballers in particular can still have a positive impact.

The England international announced via his official Twitter account that he and some fellow Premier League stars have launched their fundraising drive, “PlayersTogether”, to help raise significant sums of money to be distributed to NHS workers and those most in need of help during this current situation.

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And after hearing about Kane’s role in the initiative, Spurs fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on their talisman’s actions.

Some Spurs fans felt that Kane is showing Levy how to act, with one supporter in particular suggesting that the striker is “putting our chairman to shame”.

Boy did football need something like this.

Both Spurs and Liverpool, amongst others, have brought their own clubs’ reputations and the sport of football into disrepute, but this latest fundraising campaign orchestrated by the players shows they have a powerful voice that can really provide crucial help.

Kane, and everyone else involved in the scheme, deserve a lot of credit for backing their words with actions.

Meanwhile, Spurs fans are reminiscing over this former powerhouse.

If Newcastle’s proposed takeover goes through, then Magpies fans will surely be excited at the prospect of potentially seeing their club begin to splash out on some big-money signings over the coming years.

Reports in recent days had linked them with a potential move for Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho, and now, according to Spanish publication, Mundo Deportivo, the Brazilian would be prepared to join Newcastle if Mauricio Pochettino becomes the club’s new manager.

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Coutinho of course played under Pochettino when their pair were at Espanyol back in La Liga, with the play-maker scoring five times and providing one assist in 16 games.

After hearing about the update on their potential move for Coutinho, Newcastle fans took to Twitter to voice their thoughts on the situation.

A couple of Newcastle fans expressed their concerns over Coutinho’s attitude, instead suggesting that they wanted players who wanted to play for the shirt.

Talk about a major statement of intent.

Coutinho has played for some of the biggest clubs in world football throughout his career, and whatever the circumstances behind his potential permanent departure from Barcelona, he remains a world-renowned midfielder.

If Newcastle can convince him to join the project at St James’ Park, they could have the face of their team for the next few years to come.

Meanwhile, Newcastle fans react to Craig Hope’s update on the future of this ace.

A lot of Crystal Palace fans are discussing former player Owen Garvan after a fan opened up a debate about the player on Twitter.

The attacking midfielder had a rollercoaster of a career at the South London side after signing from Ipswich for £252,000 in August 2010, per Transfermarkt.

He was a consistent starter for the club whilst they were in the Championship, making 83 appearances in all competitions whilst the team were a second division side, per Transfermarkt. However during the promotion season, he was battling for a place with Brazilian Andre Moritz and did manage to play 27 times, but kept on getting drafted in and out of the starting eleven. Three of these were during the playoffs which saw the club get promoted, per BBC Sport.

It seemed like he had won the battle in the centre of midfield, featuring in their opening two matches in the Premier League. However after those matches he was not named in the Palace starting eleven or even the bench, per Transfermarkt.

Unable to get back in, the Irishman decided it was best to leave, and spent time at Millwall and Bolton on loan before eventually being released, via Transfermarkt.

Despite failing to make the grade in the top flight, it seems he is still remembered fondly by Palace supporters with one even describing him as a “Championship version of Cabaye.”

Here is what fans had to say following the post:

Palace fans, did you enjoy Garvan’s performances at the club? Comment below!

Tottenham defender Danny Rose has hinted he wants to play for Brendan Rodgers again, according to Alasdair Gold via football.london. 

The Leicester boss previously managed Rose during the Spurs star’s brief loan spell with Watford and, although he only made seven appearances under the Northern Ireland native, Rodgers clearly left quite an impression on him.

Appearing on The Lockdown Tactics podcast, the England international had plenty to say about the Foxes head coach.

Rose told Robert Snodgrass and Kris Boyd: “When I was contemplating going to Chelsea at Leeds, he was Chelsea reserves manager at the time so he would have already known about me because he would have been working with me.

“He had already gone to Watford and there was an interest there. Getting to work with him for two months was brilliant.

“The training sessions were up until that point as an 18 or 19-year-old I had never experienced that before. His ideas in training, it was brilliant and I have always said that he is somebody I would love to play for again.”

The Northern Echo previously reported that Jose Mourinho has made it clear that the left-back is not a part of his plans for the future and it appears his time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is finally coming to an end.

Indeed, Rose played in just five games for Mourinho before leaving Spurs for Newcastle on a short-term loan until the end of the season. He is set to enter the final 12 months of his contract with his parent club and, with no extension in sight, Newcastle United are keen to keep the Englishman at St James’ Park.

Despite his age, it is fair to say the 29-year-old is still a quality left-back. He has starred in five games in the Premier League for Steve Bruce’s Magpies, making 1.4 tackles per game, completing 1.2 clearances on average, with a passing success rate of 77.7% (WhoScored).

However, it is unlikely he will end up at the King Power Stadium in the summer, as Chelsea are under pressure to sign Leicester star Ben Chilwell and it remains to be seen if the Blues will be able to get a deal over the line before the transfer market closes. If Chilwell stays with the Foxes, a move for Rose is highly improbable.

Tottenham fans, do you think the board should sell Danny Rose in the summer? Join the discussion in the comments below!

Former Glasgow Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha is set to return to football as the manager of Mexican outfit Tigres.

The Portuguese boss is a record-breaker at Ibrox, becoming the club’s shortest-serving permanent manager when he was sacked after just 229 days in the hot-seat, and has been out of a job for just under a year after being relieved of his duties by fellow Mexican outfit Cruz Azul. Now, though, it is being reported by Tele Diario that Tigres, one of the biggest and most well-supported clubs in the country, could well give him the top job.

This is likely to shock plenty of the Gers supporters given his poor record north of the border where he won just 14 of the 27 games he managed. Indeed, BBC Sport’s Tom English described his reign as “a desperate mess from start to finish.”

But he does have good pedigree in the North American country. As manager of Santos Laguna, he won both the domestic league and cup, whilst he also finished top of the table with Cruz Azul.

It seems the move to Scotland was not right for Caixinha, despite him spending a fair amount of money on the likes of Carlos Pena and Eduardo Herrera. Still, he appears to have found the right place for himself on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Let us know what you think below!

Sheffield United midfielder Sander Berge is clearly ready for the Premier League to return as he posted an Instagram post in the build up to the Blades’ first game next week.

His

/CBRCtV8jeFB/”>post was an image of him in the famous red and white stripes, and it says ‘One. More. Week’. Clearly he is excited to be back on the pitch for the Blades and it is understandable as the midfielder only signed in January and so has not managed to play as much as he would have liked by now due to the postponement of football. It will also please and excite supporters who will see from the post that the player is itching to play for them and they will be keen to see more from him.

The 22 year-old was highly rated at his old club Genk, and the Blades acquired him for a club record £22m in the transfer window. Since then he has made four appearances in England’s top flight, as manager Chris Wilder slowly brings him into the starting eleven.

He has shown some promise and his statistics show why supporters of the club should be excited for his return as he managed 2.3 tackles per game as well as 1.3 successful dribbles, per WhoScored. This highlights how he has been good at breaking up opposition attacks and then pushing forward with the ball.

Their first game is against relegation battling Aston Villa, but the match is also just as crucial for Sheffield United as it is for Villa as Berge and his fellow Blades look to battle for a European qualification place, via BBC Sport.

It will be interesting to see whether he is on the bench for the fixture or if Wilder trusts him with a place in the starting eleven.

Blades fans, do you think Europe is a realistic dream? Comment below!