Canada boss Jesse Marsch didn't hold back as he opened up on the USMNT's disappointing Copa America campaign.

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USMNT dumped out of Copa AmericaPlayers lost their cool throughout tournamentMarsch's Canada through to quarter-finalsGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The 2024 Copa America couldn't have gone much worse for Gregg Berhalter and his USMNT side, who failed to get out of their group, lost their heads on numerous occasions and embarrassed themselves in front of their own fans. Canada boss Marsch has now rubbed salt in the wound by criticising the performances and "lack of discipline" shown by the host nation.

Timothy Weah received a red card for punching a Panama player in the head, while Christian Pulisic was evidently frustrated by poor officiating in the defeats to Panama and Uruguay.

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Marsch was a candidate for the USMNT job last year, before Berhalter was eventually re-hired. The 50-year-old later expressed his frustration with the federation's treatment of him during the hiring process.

"My respect for US Soccer is big, but I went through a process with them, right? I wasn't treated very well in the process," Marsch told CBS.

By the sounds of it, Marsch now feels like he might have dodged a bullet.

WHAT MARSCH SAID

Speaking to FOX Soccer NOW about his current experience in charge of Canada, Marsch said: "I'll tell you, I'm glad I'm here, man. Because the people that I work with and the players that I work with, the things that we know that we can achieve togehter, the support that we have from inside the country, the support system for this entire national team is so positive, so I think it gives us a real chance to develop something and build something and be ready for a big tournament come 2026."

On the USMNT's exit, the former Leeds United boss added: "I would love to say I'm just focused on what we're doing here in Canada, but obviously, I'm paying attention, as always, to the US men's national team and like you, I'm sad. I'm disappointed by the performances, by the lack of discipline. There's a lot of things that I think we've tried to be about, about the game in the US, and we've always believed in this group of players.

"Because I'm not there every day, I don't have my finger on the pulse of exactly what's going on but, certainly, it's not what we had expected before this tournament. And somehow, they've got to come up with solutions."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MARSCH AND THE USMNT?

Canada did well to progress from a group that featured Argentina, Chile and Peru. The reward for their efforts is a quarter-final tie against Venezuela on Friday.

As for the USMNT, the inquest will begin following a devastating campaign. Berhalter believes he is the man to lead them at the 2026 World Cup, but others are less convinced.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou may be forced to sell a member of his squad who wanted to leave in January for a "much lower" price.

Spurs players who could leave the club this summer – explained

A host of senior Spurs players currently face uncertain futures, with a number of them failing to play their way into Postecoglou's plans since the Australian's arrival at the helm.

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Indeed, a lot of them are now out on temporary spells at various clubs across the country, with defender Japhet Tanganga, left-back Sergio Reguilon, right-back Djed Spence, striker Tory Parrott, centre-back Joe Rodon and club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele all plying their trades away from N17.

They're all set to return in the summer when technical director Johan Lange and chief football officer Scott Munn are faced with the tasks of either finding them new homes – as all appear to not be in Postecoglou's plans as things stand.

Guglielmo Vicario

2340

Pedro Porro

2068

Dejan Kulusevski

2034

Son Heung-min

1907

Destiny Udogie

1858

Cristian Romero

1713

Meanwhile, there is also the matter of players who remain at Spurs but on the fringes of Postecoglou's first team. Bryan Gil opted to remain at Spurs in January despite late interest from Brighton and clubs in Spain, but the young attacker isn't being rewarded with more minutes and looks likely to be a candidate for the chopping block this summer.

Another curious case is that of midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who was once a mainstay under Antonio Conte. The Dane's minutes have been severely restricted under Postecoglou, as he doesn't quite seem to fit the 58-year-old's tactical system.

Hojbjerg's made the vast majority of his appearances from the substitutes bench, but Tottenham's head coach has insisted that he remains an "important" member of the squad.

“It is obvious someone that has played regularly would have wanted to play more but ultimately our performances have been strong and he has had to bide his time," said Postecoglou on Hojbjerg earlier this season.

“He has also been very important in a lot of the games that we’ve won late or had to shore up late. He has been one of the people who has helped us and it is not like he hasn’t contributed at all. He’s been a really important part for us. We wouldn’t be in this position if we were just reliant on our starting XI.

“With Pierre, he is a professional and very determined."

Tottenham could be forced to sell Hojbjerg for "much lower" price

Hojbjerg, due to his lack of starting opportunities this season, has been linked with a move away from Tottenham – and was in the build-up to January.

Now, according to Calciomercato, it is believed Hojbjerg wanted to leave Tottenham in January and the club may now be forced to sell for a "much lower" price – due to his contract expiring in 2025.

The north Londoners apparently blocked his exit in the winter window, but it could be a completely different scenario this summer. The "sensational" Hojbjerg, as labelled by Seb Stafford-Bloor, changed agents recently, which is seen as a "clear signal" of his desire to make a Serie A move.

Tottenham have been handed a boost on the transfer front in recent days as one of Ange Postecoglou's key transfer targets has become available, according to reports.

Postecoglou's revolution continues

Many expected Spurs to struggle after losing talisman Harry Kane over the summer and missing out on European football entirely, but this season has been a successful one for the north London side.

Ahead of their mammoth clash with Aston Villa, they sit 5th in the Premier League, five points behind Unai Emery's side and with a game in hand on the Villans. With two games in hand on sixth placed Manchester United, they look certain to make a return to European football next season and could yet grab a Champions League spot.

Spurs under Postecoglou

Total

PL Rank

Wins

15

5th

Goals scored

55

6th

Goals conceded

39

=6th

xG

49.65

7th

xG against

45.99

12th

The likes of Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie are already looking like bargain buys, and there is the hope among Spurs fans that their young core could be set for greatness.

But, as shown by the inconsistency when Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma were unavailable, there is still work to be done on the Tottenham engine room, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg likely to leave the club in the summer transfer window and Oliver Skipp failing to nail down a place in north London as it stands. Now, Spurs could be handed a chance to bolster their midfield on the cheap this summer.

Levy handed boost on long-term target

That chance comes in the form of Chelsea man Conor Gallagher, who Tottenham have already tried to sign twice in the past. They came close to reaching agreement in the summer, but ultimately failed to close the gap in valuation. January's interest was far less intense, but Spurs remain keen on the 11-cap Englishman should he become available.

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And now he could be. As per HITC, the Blues are 'ready to sell' Gallagher despite the Englishman being keen to stay and Mauricio Pochettino having been impressed with him so far this campaign. Gallagher's contract runs out in 2025 as things stand and the Blues are yet to table another offer to the 24-year-old midfielder despite his impressive performances in west London.

Just last month he told Sky Sports: “There’s another year-and-a-half left on my contract and I love playing under the manager. Playing almost every game has been incredible and that’s all I’ve ever wanted.

“Last season I was in and out of the team and it wasn’t as enjoyable for that reason and also not playing great when I was. I just want to keep playing as much as I can for Chelsea, keep trying to improve the club and try to be successful at Chelsea. That’s the plan for sure.”

However, Gallagher may have to be sacrificed for financial fair play reasons. After posting losses of £90m for last year, it is understood that Chelsea need to raise around £100m before June 30th to avoid a fine or points deduction.

Some of that will come with the permanent departure of Lewis Hall to Newcastle United, but selling Gallagher would also go a long way to solving their issue for another summer. With all that in mind, Daniel Levy may be able to snag a bargain for his manager.

Aston Villa could be embroiled in what could prove to be a record transfer as they eye up a move for one of Portugal's brightest talents.

Aston Villa spending big

Unai Emery's side have spent big in successive summers and could be set to continue that record this summer. However, they will need to be careful. Last week, the club posted record losses in their financial statements, though they insisted that was part of their plan for Premier League improvement.

"The Club has reported a loss for the year of £119.6m after tax. This compares with a small profit of £0.3m in the prior year", Villa reported.

"It is important to note that these figures are in line with the strategic business plan, and we continue to operate within the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules."

However, it is a valid concern with financial fair play seemingly on the mind of every Premier League club this season, and Villa could well be forced to sell this summer if they are looking to continue to strengthen before the new season.

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With a spot in the revamped Champions League still possible next season, they may well be looking to add more quality to their ranks, but it could well come at a hefty cost.

Possible new Aston Villa record transfer

In fact, the club may have to shell out a record fee for one of their targets, if reports are to be believed. The man in question? Sporting CP's Pedro Goncalves, who has previously been on the books of midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers before returning to Portugal, where he has shone.

The 25-year-old has grabbed nine goals and ten assists in 24 top-flight outings for Ruben Amorim's side this season, as well as two goals and three assists in eight Europa League appearances. Capable of playing across the frontline, the diminutive attacker has received high praise from his time at Sporting.

None more so than from Portuguese football expert Zach Lowry, who described him as "one of the brightest talents in European football" after one particularly "superb" goal back in 2021.

Now, Sport Witness have relayed reports that Villa are keen to bring Goncalves back to the Midlands ahead of West Ham and that they were even willing to offer up to €45m for his signature last summer.

However, the star is "protected" by an €80m release clause and the Portuguese giants "don't want to let him leave for a lot less than that", which could make any deal an expensive endeavour, and would likely make "Pote" the club's record signing.

Moussa Diaby

2023

Bayer Leverkusen

£47m

Emi Buendia

2021

Norwich City

£32m

Ollie Watkins

2020

Brentford

£30m

Pau Torres

2023

Villarreal

£29m

Leon Bailey

2021

Bayer Leverkusen

£28m

It is likely that, given FFP concerns, any deal for Goncalves would need to see at least one star leave this summer. Should Villa be boosted by Champions League income, however, they could well make their move for the long-time admired winger.

Kylian Mbappe says he will play wherever Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti wants him to and hopes to feature alongside the "unique" Vinicius Junior.

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• Mbappe joins Madrid from PSG
• Ready to be flexible for Ancelotti
• Hails 'unique' Vinicius Junior

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following his switch from Paris Saint-Germain to Madrid, the 25-year-old was presented to the Spanish giants' fans this week – with the Frenchman asked a host of questions about joining Los Blancos. Two of which involved where he would play and if he could link up well with left winger Vinicius Jr.

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  WHAT KYLIAN MBAPPE SAID

  The forward said at his unveiling presentation at Santiago Bernabeu: "I will play wherever the coach (Ancelotti) makes me play. In Paris, I played in all three positions. In Monaco too. The important thing is to be in good physical shape. The position I will play in is a detail."

  He added on the Brazilian: "Vinicius is a unique player, a very great player. I will be very happy to play with him, as with all the other players. Great players know how to play together, I think. He has been incredible in recent seasons. It is up to me to adapt to the team. I will do it as quickly as possible to help the team win."

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  Mbappe has, arguably, become one of the best players in the world from playing as a left-sided forward – both for PSG and France. But Vinicius is in Ballon d'Or contention after a stellar season in that position for Madrid. The 25-year-old Frenchman is happy to play as a centre-forward but whether or not they can gel together remains to be seen.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  After a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign with France, one which included him breaking his nose, Mbappe will begin his pre-season campaign in the coming weeks before stepping up preparations for his debut Madrid season in August.

Paris Saint-Germain remain interested in signing Napoli's star forward Victor Osimhen this summer.

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PSG determined to sign OsimhenSubmitted double bid for Napoli duoUnlikely to match Osimhen's release clauseWHAT HAPPENED?

Corriere dello Sport reported last week that the Ligue 1 champions have tabled a massive €200 million (£168m/$217m) double bid for Napoli stars Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. While Serie A giants are unlikely to part ways with the Georgian winger, they could consider selling the Nigeria international if the French side decide to match his €130m (£109m/$141m) release clause.

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Now L’Équipe claims that PSG are determined to sign Osimhen this summer, however, they are unlikely to match the player's release clause. Instead, they would try and convince The Blues to lower their demand for the 25-year-old attacker.

DID YOU KNOW?

Kvaratskhelia was linked with a move away from the Serie A club earlier this summer, however, things have changed now as new manager Antonio Conte made it clear that he wants the Georgian to continue. The player's agent Mamuka Jugeli recently hinted that the forward would stay in Naples and try and win the Scudetto again.

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getty imagesWHAT NEXT FOR PSG?

Luis Enrique's side are set to regroup later this month for pre-season and will then head to Austria and Germany where they will play two friendly matches against SK Sturm Graz and RB Leipzig respectively.

Glasgow Rangers are back in action in the Scottish Premiership this weekend as they travel away to face Dundee on Sunday with the chance to remain top of the table.

The Light Blues are currently two points ahead of Celtic, who play against St. Johnstone on Saturday, in the division and a win would ensure that they remain first, irrespective of how their rivals get on.

Philippe Clement's side do come into this match, however, off the back of a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Benfica in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday night.

Rafa Silva, who was onside by the tightest of margins, scored the only goal of the game for the away side, who progressed through to the quarter-finals with a 3-2 win on aggregate.

The Belgian head coach could now look to make some changes from his starting XI for that match after the Gers struggled to create chances and cause problems for the Portuguese outfit at Ibrox.

Cyriel Dessers had a howler up front with a poor display for the Light Blues and Clement must now relocate Fabio Silva into a centre-forward position to replace him against Dundee.

Cyriel Dessers' stats against Benfica at Ibrox

The experienced striker was selected to lead the line for the Gers in a huge European match under the lights at Ibrox but failed to provide the energy or quality needed to match the occasion.

Dessers cut an isolated figure at the top end of the pitch as his lack of mobility meant that he was not able to hold onto the ball or cause problems for the Benfica defence with runs in behind or down the channels to create room for his teammates.

The 29-year-old marksman only had 18 touches of the ball in 77 minutes of the game, despite Rangers having 65% of the possession, which suggests that he did not do enough to get involved in the match, by either making runs to create options to pass to or dropping deep to get on the ball.

His teammates did, however, create 0.28 xG (Expected Goals) worth of chances for him in front of goal but both of his efforts were blocked by defenders. His best opportunity came when Scott Wright played him through in the box during the first half but the striker was too slow to get the shot away, and it was blocked relatively easily.

The 6 foot 1 forward also struggled in the air as Benfica's players beat him in five of their six aerial duels throughout the match, which shows that he did not do enough to win flicks-ons or knock the ball down to his fellow attackers to retain possession for the team.

His howler at Ibrox against the Portuguese giants was not a one-off, either, as the former Cremonese forward also struggled in the first leg earlier this month.

Cyriel Dessers' stats in the first leg against Benfica

The Nigeria international also started the first leg against Benfica and struggled to make an impact in or out of possession for the Scottish giants.

Rangers secured a fantastic 2-2 draw in Portugal, thanks to goals from Tom Lawrence and Dujon Sterling, but Dessers' display at the top end of the pitch was less-than-memorable.

Minutes played

76

Goals + assists

0

Key passes

0

Dribble success rate

0% (0/2)

Duel success rate

25% (2/8)

Pass accuracy

73% (8/11)

As you can see in the table above, the wasteful centre-forward was dominated by Benfica's defenders as they won six of their eight duels against him.

Dessers also offered virtually nothing at the top end of the pitch as he did not create a single chance, did not register a single effort on goal, or complete any of his attempted dribbles.

These statistics show that the former Serie A dud did not make an impact in either leg against Benfica, as the Light Blues were knocked out of Europe.

The Rangers number nine has zero goals and zero assists in his last five appearances in all competitions, which includes his last two outings in the Premiership, and should now be ditched from the starting XI.

Why Fabio Silva should play through the middle

With Kemar Roofe's last start having been in October 2023, Silva may be the only viable first-team alternative to Dessers in the centre-forward position.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee, whose work rate has been dubbed "infectious" by Connor Goldson, has been deployed on the left flank in recent weeks, including as a starter against Benfica on Thursday, but should now be relocated to striker to replace the Nigerian lightweight.

Todd Cantwell and Rabbi Matondo's respective returns from injury mean that the Light Blues boss does have options to call upon in the wide areas, as one of them – or Ross McCausland – could take Silva's place on the wing, which would free the 6 foot 1 ace up to play through the middle.

Whilst Dessers has zero goals and assists combined in his last five games, the Portuguese youngster has produced one goal in his last two outings, and two goals and one penalty won in his last six.

He also, rather harshly, did not get credited with the assist for Sterling's goal against Benfica in Portugal, when his ball across the box took a slight deflection off a defender and dropped for the midfielder to find the back of the net from close range.

Had that counted as an assist, Silva would have four goals, one assist, and one penalty won, in his last 11 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish giants.

His most recent strike came against Hibernian in the SFA Cup last weekend as he, as you can see in the clip above, brilliantly worked room to find the bottom corner.

The 21-year-old loanee has been in impressive form in front of goal, whilst Dessers has struggled badly of late, and that is why Clement should unleash him as the starting number nine against Dundee.

Sunday's opponents have conceded the joint-most goals in the league (50) and their struggles defensively could present Silva with an opportunity to continue his goalscoring run if the manager relocates him to the striker position.

England’s new-look squad face familiar opponents in Christchurch at start of new cycle

The Preview by Alan Gardner31-Oct-2019Big PictureSo, who is going to be the first to mention the boundary count? Three-and-a-half months on from tied World Cup final (you don’t need me to remind you what happened next), New Zealand and England go toe-to-toe once again in a five-match T20I series that will act as a launchpad for both sides as the countdown begins to the 2020 T20 World Cup.As it goes, this is a format in which hitting the most boundaries often is significant. England reached the final of the 2016 World T20 during the early days of their reinvention as power-packed ODI juggernaut, and will likely be a dangerous proposition in Australia next year – though the squad sent to New Zealand is as much about potential as proven performance. And while the home side are missing their captain, Kane Williamson, as well as Trent Boult for the first three games, they have plenty of T20 chops – as shown by Colin Munro’s blitz to see off England in their second warm-up game.ALSO READ: Gregory faces all-round challenge to prove himself in finisher roleWhat has gone before is less important than what is to come (Really?! Ed), and each team has their own areas to focus on as, for the next 12 months T20Is – so often an afterthought for touring sides – gain extra relevance and context. For New Zealand, the opener issues that dogged their World Cup – an appearance in the final notwithstanding – threaten to linger, while elsewhere the likes of Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell and Scott Kuggeleijn will be hoping to make themselves indispensable under stand-in captain Tim Southee, who led the team to a 2-1 series win in Sri Lanka on their most recent tour.England’s overarching goal for the series, meanwhile, is to find out how a host of new faces go in international competition. The likes of Tom Banton and Pat Brown have caught the eye at domestic level in the Blast and, with a number of first-choice white-ball players rested after a doubly draining English summer featuring World Cup and Ashes, here comes a chance to step up.England’s T20 World Cup squad is sure to feature the likes of Jason Roy, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes (all absent on this leg of the trip), and Banton may have to go some to force his way through a queue of heavyweight top-order contenders, but there are obvious question marks around the lower middle-order finisher role and a couple of the bowling slots. Sam Curran, who has yet to play T20 internationals despite Test and ODI caps (not to mention an IPL contract), may have most to gain, while allrounder Lewis Gregory, legspinner Matt Parkinson and raw quick Saqib Mahmood will be hoping to catch the eye as the series wears on.Joe Denly is helped away after suffering an injury in training•Getty ImagesForm guideNew Zealand LWWWL (completed matches, most recent first)
England WWWWWIn the spotlightRoss Taylor is New Zealand’s most-capped batsman in T20Is, and likely to provide the glue in their middle-order – but the exact value of that role is something Gary Stead needs to determine ahead of the T20 World Cup. Taylor is now 35 and his last T20I fifty came in 2014, although he did top-score with 48 from 29 in his last innings but one to see New Zealand to victory in Pallekele.The leading wicket-taker in the Blast over the last two seasons, Pat Brown has impressed with his clear head as much as his befuddling slower balls. However, figures of 1 for 70 from seven overs in England’s two tour games – albeit marred by a couple of dropped catches – suggest the 21-year-old will have to adapt quickly when the series proper begins.Team newsThe absence of Williamson perhaps makes decision-making easier at the top of the order, with Seifert likely to slot in below regular openers, Martin Guptill and Munro. Lockie Ferguson made his return from injury in England’s warm-ups and is available for three games before Boult returns. Jimmy Neesham hasn’t played a T20I in two years but could provide competition for Mitchell, while Blair Tickner is the other seam-bowling option in the squad.New Zealand (possible): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Tim Seifert (wk), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Colin de Grandhomme, 6 Daryl Mitchell, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Scott Kuggeleijn, 9 Tim Southee (capt), 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Ish SodhiEngland have announced T20I debuts for Sam Curran and Brown, while Gregory could also make his international bow after Joe Denly – who had been expected to bat at No. 5 – rolled his ankle in training. Morgan confirmed that Dawid Malan will open the batting alongside Jonny Bairstow and, while the final XI will be revealed on Friday, Banton, Parkinson and Mahmood look set to bide their time.England (possible): 1 Dawid Malan, 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 James Vince, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Sam Billings (wk), 6 Lewis Gregory, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Tom Curran, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Pat BrownPitch and conditionsThe picturesque Hagley Oval will host its first T20 international on Friday, with Christchurch set to be cool but largely clear of the rain that affected Canterbury’s Plunket Shield match against Northern Districts last week (a game in which Seifert and Mitchell were among the four centurions). The ground is one of few in New Zealand built specifically for cricket and is therefore not quite such a postage stamp – which the bowlers may appreciate ahead of trips to the Westpac Stadium and Eden Park.Stats and trivia Overall, in 16 T20Is going back to 2007, England are way ahead of New Zealand on boundary countback, having scored 342 (237 fours, 105 sixes) to 264 (172 fours, 92 sixes). England are also in front on head-to-head, winning 10 out of 15 games that have reached a result. Although they lost the last encounter, by two runs in Hamilton last year, New Zealand still progressed to the tri-series final against Australia on NRR thanks to another Munro assault.Quotes”It’s a different format. We’ve had a tour to Sri Lanka, so life goes on and you move on.”
“Twelve months is a long way down the road, we play a lot of T20 cricket between now and then, so I think being quite flexible and trying to build a 15- or 16-man squad is actually more important than the final XI.”

Is there a worse sight in football than an opposition player racing to the away end to silence the travelling fans? Or when a player rubs salt in the wounds of rival stars by replicating the celebration often seen in front of their supporters? For fans, the answer will be a resounding no. For football's greatest wind-up merchants, however, there will be no sweeter feeling.

After Neal Maupay recently hit a James Maddison-esque bullseye into the minds of Tottenham Hotspur fans, Football FanCast has taken a look at the top 10 best football wind-up merchants, based on who fans of other teams love to hate the most.

10

Robbie Savage

Now known for leaving some fans frustrated in the gantry, there was once a time when Robbie Savage was leaving his opponents on the pitch just as frustrated. Though he was never a standout player, the Welshman was someone you'd rather have on your team rather than provoking you in the heat of battle in the Premier League.

It is fitting that Savage's voice is now often the one associated with the mute button among English football fans, given that it's an option that many of his opponents likely wish they had during his playing days.

9

Pepe

If this was a list of football's most brutal players, then Pepe would undoubtedly sit top. During his early Real Madrid days in particular, the veteran defender was as violent with his challenges as they come, often seen losing his head at opposition players.

That temper has often come at a cost throughout his career, however, having received 17 red cards and once even banned for 10 games during his time in La Liga. The Portugal defender is not one to mess with, as he took a more lethal approach than light-hearted teasing.

Ultimately, the fact that Pepe will go down as one of football's hotheads rather than one of the most impressive defenders to grace the game perfectly sums up just how many moments he had to forget.

8

Alfredo Morelos

Mention the name Alfredo Morelos to Celtic fans and you'll see the impact that the striker made during his time in the Scottish Premiership. In fact, mention his name to many Rangers fans and they'll likely have a mixed reaction, for the Colombian was often the man behind his own downfall at Ibrox.

By the time Morelos left the Gers last summer, he had built a reputation for saying the wrong things, receiving red cards at the worst possible times and clashes with Celtic captain Scott Brown. The forward just couldn't help himself on the biggest stages but will go down as one of the most famous players to pull on the Rangers colours in recent history, nonetheless.

7

Joey Barton

Stealing the headlines for his controversial comments about women's football ever since losing his managerial role at Bristol Rovers, Joey Barton wasn't exactly a well-liked character during his playing career, either, and that's without mentioning his sudden French accent whilst at Marseille.

The midfielder, often dubbed as one of football's villains, has a whole list of moments to forget, even spending time in prison for assault and affray and getting into a fight with teammate Ousmane Dabo. The list could go on, too. The fact is, it's not a real surprise that Barton is once again stealing the headlines for all the wrong reasons even after retirement.

6

Sergio Ramos

A serial winner and one of football's greatest-ever centre-backs, Sergio Ramos has taken every chance he can get to wind up rival fans throughout his career, all whilst winning every top honour possible. No matter the stage, though, Ramos has played up to his role as a pantomime villain.

The Spaniard particularly left Liverpool fans angered when he dragged star man Mohamed Salah down in the 2018 Champions League final, dislocating the Egyptian's shoulder and ending his night in the process. The Reds went on to lose in Kyiv and Ramos went on to lift a third consecutive Champions League trophy.

Months later, in an awkward moment, Ramos tapped Salah on the same shoulder on his way back from collecting his UEFA Defender of the Year award.

5

Emiliano Martinez

Whether it's celebrating in the faces of Manchester United fans after denying Bruno Fernandes from the spot or showing off his best dance moves in David Moyes-esque fashion, Emiliano Martinez is quick to rub salt in the wounds.

The Argentine hero's biggest wind-up moment came on the biggest stage when he won the World Cup Golden Glove following Argentina's penalty-shootout win over France in the final. Presented with the award, Martinez gestured towards the on-watching France fans, before later admitting: "I did it because the French booed me."

4

Neal Maupay

Quickly rising up the ranks for his antics is Maupay. The Brentford striker rarely misses the chance to take aim at the opposition and recently stole the headlines for copying Maddison's famous darts celebration at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But that's not the first time that the Frenchman has left plenty of north London fans unhappy.

Back in 2020, the Frenchman took aim at Arsenal fans after scoring against Southampton. A week prior, the then-Brighton & Hove Albion man had inadvertently injured Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Hitting the crying celebration to the cameras, Maupay admitted after the game that it was a dig aimed at those at the Emirates.

3

Jamie Vardy

No matter how far Jamie Vardy has come in the world of football, his knack for winding rival fans up has not changed. The Leicester City legend is often the first player booed by rival fans and, in turn, the first to celebrate right in front of them. He's even prone to mocking the mascots of opposition teams whilst celebrating, having once flapped his arms like an eagle against Crystal Palace and howled in front of the Wolves fans.

Where there is a Vardy goal, there is likely a celebration aimed at rival fans that follows to cement his place alongside some of football's greatest-ever wind-up merchants.

2

Diego Costa

One of the Premier League's craziest strikers, where there was drama, there was often Diego Costa. During his time at Chelsea, the forward somehow came away with just one red card, with his focus instead on ensuring his opponents were dismissed themselves. The most famous example of this came against Arsenal, as Costa somehow found a way to avoid red himself while getting Gabriel Paulista dismissed.

A natural goalscorer and one of the greatest wind-up merchants around, it will be a long time before Chelsea find a striker quite like Costa again, allowing Premier League fans to breathe a sigh of relief.

1

Luis Suarez

If you're Branislav Ivanovic and Giorgio Chiellini, look away now, as Luis Suarez enters number one as football's greatest wind-up merchant with his most famous moment in that regard coming at the expense of David Moyes.

The Uruguayan was accused of diving by the then-Everton boss in the build-up to Liverpool's Merseyside derby clash against the Toffees, leading to the infamous celebration. Clearly catching wind of the accusation, Suarez wheeled away in celebration after netting for the Reds, before diving right in front of Moyes' technical area.

Suarez, more so than anyone on this list, was often at the centre of football's dark arts all whilst earning a place in history as one of the best players to grace the beautiful game he made rather ugly at times. There was simply no beating the former Liverpool and Barcelona man, who is now plying his trade and likely winding up opposition fans in MLS with Inter Miami.

Leeds United head into the international break at the top of the Championship table after their 2-0 win over Millwall at Elland Road on Sunday.

The Whites moved above Leicester City in the rankings, as the Foxes were in FA Cup action against Chelsea, but have now played one more game than their rivals.

Daniel Farke's side are averaging 2.1 points per game in the second tier. This would see them finish the season with a staggering 99 points if they continue that average across the final eight matches.

Wilfried Gnonto opened the scoring against Millwall with a stunning left-footed strike from the edge of the box during the first half, before Dan James made sure of the three points with a composed finish off the bench.

Gnonto scored, Georginio Rutter assisted both goals, and Crysencio Summerville created five chances during the game to ensure that they remain undroppable within the starting lineup.

However, centre-forward Patrick Bamford struggled throughout the match and has now made himself droppable as his poor display could open the door for Mateo Joseph or Joel Piroe to come in, having been on a fantastic run of form prior to Sunday's clash.

Patrick Bamford's Leeds form in 2024

The former England international had made 13 appearances for the Whites in all competitions since the turn of the year before the game against Millwall.

In those 13 outings, Bamford plundered an eye-catching eight goals and two assists. He had produced seven goals and one assist in nine Championship starts in that period.

That superb run of form came after he had made 16 appearances as a substitute without getting on the scoresheet in the second tier during the first half of the season. The low point of his campaign came during that run of cameos as he missed a penalty off the bench in a 1-0 defeat away at Stoke City.

Bamford worked his way into the starting XI at the start of this year and had not looked back with his sublime run of eight goal contributions in nine league starts for the Whites, which is a return of one goal or assist every 1.13 starts on average.

He appeared to be undroppable with that level of production in the final third. However, his poor performance against Millwall may have just made him droppable ahead of the clash with Watford after the international break.

Patrick Bamford's stats against Millwall

The 30-year-old marksman was selected, once again, to lead the line for Leeds as they had the chance to move to the top of the division on Sunday.

Unfortunately, the Whites leapfrogged Leicester in spite of Bamford's performance against Neil Harris' side, rather than because of his display.

Patrick Bamford

Against Leicester

Minutes played

89

Shots on target

0

Big chances missed

1

Duels won

3/9

Dribbles completed

0/2

Key passes

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the experienced attacker was a no-show at the top end of the pitch as he failed to create a chance for his teammates or work the goalkeeper with a shot in 89 minutes on the pitch.

He was also beaten in 67% (6/9) of his physical duels throughout the clash at Elland Road, which suggests that Millwall's players were – simply – too strong for him.

The former Chelsea academy graduate, who made just nine passes in total, was handed a rating of 6/10 by LeedsLive's Beren Cross, who stated that the attacker went 'quiet' as the match went on.

He did have a huge opportunity to make an impact on the game during the first half as he closed down a poor backpass to the last-man and appeared to be clean through on goal.

However, his touch did not allow him to create separation from the defender and he was forced to play a pass to Gnonto, who looked to be clear through against the goalkeeper, but the pass was overhit and the Italy international was then too wide to get a shot away.

Thankfully, Leeds went on to win the match in the end but that moment could have cost the Whites on another day, which is why Bamford's position in the team may not be as nailed on as it was ahead of the game.

The former Middlesbrough star may now be sweating on his pace in the starting XI as Joseph and Piroe are both viable alternatives to come in and lead the line with Rutter behind them.

Leeds United's Bamford alternatives

Firstly, last summer's signing from Championship rivals Swansea – Piroe – would be the obvious and experienced option to come in and start upfront.

The Dutch marksman has produced 11 goals and two assists in 28 league starts so far this season, after a return of 19 goals in 43 second tier outings for the Swans during the 2022/23 campaign.

These statistics show that the left-footed whiz is a proven goalscorer in the Championship, having scored goals at an impressive rate for two clubs at that level, and that is why he would be a fine replacement for Bamford, should Farke decide to drop him from the starting lineup against Watford.

However, Joseph could also come in and lead the line as a wildcard alternative. The academy graduate is yet to start a league game, or score a goal in the division, but his performance against Chelsea in the FA Cup suggests that there is more to come from him.

Mateo Joseph

Against Chelsea

Minutes played

90

Sofascore rating

8.0

Goals

2

Key passes

2

Pass accuracy

81%

Dribbles completed

1

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 20-year-old centre-forward, who qualifies to play for Spain or England at international level, produced a fantastic display against a Premier League side.

He scored the first two goals of his senior career against the Blues at Stamford Bridge, with a composed early right-footed finish and a clever header at the back post in the second half.

Therefore, the quality is there for him to make a big impact in the final third but he has not been provided with the opportunity to showcase his skills from the start in a league game.

Whether or not Farke will drop Bamford to unleash Joseph or Piroe against Watford remains to be seen. However, the English striker's poor display against Millwall has opened the door to it being a possibility.