JANUARY
Lineup - Dubravka, Toure, Schar, Ajer, Lewis, S.Longstaff (Hayden), Wilshere (Hendrick), Fraser, Almiron, Saint-Maximin (Orsic), Wilson
A disappointing result but we will take it on the chin. We fell behind early in the 2nd half but soon bounced back to lead however a Tim Ream screamer denied us the victory.
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Carabao Cup Semi-Final
Lineup - Dubravka, Toure, Schar, Ajer, Lewis, S.Longstaff, Shelvey (Hayden), Almiron (Hendrick), Wilshere, Saint-Maximin (Orsic), Wilson
No cup final for us as Timo Werner scored 4 goals to send us out. Callum Wilson got a brace but we were never really in the game once we fell behind.
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FA Cup 3rd Round
Lineup - Dubravka, Manquillo, Lascelles (Dummett),
Schar*, Willems, Hayden, Hendrick, Gray, Wilshere (Vilca), Orsic, Alexandre Pato (Dembele)
My backups came out to play and they easily beat Nottingham Forest. Demarai Gray shone on his debut with 2 goals while Jetro Willems made his 2nd debut for the club. Our defensive worries continue however as another 2 goals are conceded.
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Lineup - Dubravka, Toure, Lascelles, Ajer, Lewis (Willems), S.Longstaff, Shelvey, Gray (Wilshere), Almiron, Saint-Maximin (Orsic), Wilson
The 2 surprise packages of the season went head to head here and it was them who edged it albeit undeservedly as we should have got at least a point but we failed to score for the first time this season and we lost.
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Lineup - Dubravka, Toure, Lascelles, Ajer, Lewis, S.Longstaff, Shelvey (Hendrick), Gray, Almiron (Wilshere),
Saint-Maximin*, Wilson
WHAT A WIN!!!!!!
We thrash Spurs whose manager, Jose Mourinho, tried to stoke a war of words with me before the game. As it was we hit them for 6 with Wilson and Saint-Maximin getting doubles plus Spurs scoring 2 for us as well!!!!!! We were excellent and fully deserved such a result but I am also delighted that we kept a clean sheet.
Jose Mourinho was sacked immediately after the match.
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FA Cup 4th Round
Lineup - Dubravka, Cedric, Schar, Dummett,
Willems*, Hayden, M.Longstaff, Gray (Dembele), Wilshere (Vilca), Orsic, Alexandre Pato (Carroll)
We progress again as my backups got another runout. Orsic scored twice and Gray got the other while ex-Newcastle player, Kazenga Lua-Lua denied us a clean sheet late on. No matter.
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Lineup - Dubravka, Toure, Lascelles,
Ajer*, Lewis, S.Longstaff (Hayden), Shelvey, Fraser, Almiron (Wilshere), Saint-Maximin, Wilson (Alexandre Pato)
A game of two halves for sure! We were excellent in the first half and went into the break 3 goals ahead and the game was over however we were shocking in the 2nd half as we let them back in it with 2 goals and they missed a great chance to equalise in stoppage time.
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Lineup - Darlow, Toure, Lascelles, Ajer, Lewis, S.Longstaff, Shelvey (Hayden), Fraser, Almiron (Wilshere), Saint-Maximin, Wilson (Alexandre Pato)
Not good enough. Despite being at home, Brighton were actually the better side and probably deserved to win but fortunately for us Jack Wilshere scored late on to give us a lucky point. Yet again our defensive inadequacies come back to haunt us. Dubravka was injured so Karl Darlow got a rare game.
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SUMMARY
This month was a mixed bag results wise. In the league the highlight was our magnificent 6-0 thrashing of Spurs however we struggled apart from the win over W.BA. There were draws against Fulham and Brighton plus a defeat against Everton so it wasnt that good. We also got stuffed by Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semis to add to our woes but in the FA Cup we are going well with wins over Nottingham Forest and Luton Town and we will play Bristol City in the 5th round.
There was transfer activity as you have seen. Outgoing is Javi Manquillo to Spartak Moscow for £5.5m (£7m) while both Ciaran Clark (£2m) and Jacob Murphy (£2.1m) left to join Swansea City. There were also loan deals for Dwight Gayle and Rolando Aarons so that meant that I needed to bring in reinforcements.
For a bargain £2.5m we brought in Demarai Gray from Leicester City. He scored 2 on his debut and the exciting winger should prove to be an absolute bargain. Why Leicester were willing to let him go so cheaply is beyond me! The fact he can play on both wings is an added bonus.
Next up is Jetro Willems who re-joined the club after a successful loan spell last season from Eintracht Frankfurt for £1.6m. The Dutch international will push Jamal Lewis for the LB spot and provide some stiff competition for that place.
Cedric was brought in from Arsenal to be my backup RB. He has joined on loan and is a short term fix until the end of the season.
Finally on deadline day I moved to strengthen the CB areas with my defensive troubles really annoying me. I brought in German international Thilo Kehrer from Paris Saint-Germain for £4.7m and hopefully he will force himself into the side. He is still quite young and surely I will make a handsome profit on him when we part ways.
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PLAYER OF THE MONTH
KRISTOFFER AJER
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PREMIER LEAGUE
Southampton, Spurs and Wolves sack their managers
Michael O'Neill is the new manager of Burnley
Max Allegri is the new Chelsea manager
Luciano Spalletti rocks up at Southampton