All posts by z3u9t.icu

Everton is a footballing institution that is steeped in history, although very little of their success can be attributed to the club's recent glory, or lack of it, having not won a major trophy since the FA Cup back in 1995.

The eight-time English champions and five-time FA Cup winners have never looked like returning to their trophy-laden period in the 1980s and have instead dwindled down the Premier League table.

With the Toffees more accustomed to battling relegation rather than challenging for silverware these days, it is easy to get lost in the doom and gloom, but the club has still unearthed some gems in the transfer market, especially in the early to mid-2000s.

Tim Cahill's £2m move from Millwall in 2004 turned out to be one of the biggest bargains since the turn of the millennium, as was flying full-back Leighton Baines, who joined from Wigan Athletic for £6m in 2007.

While that pair reached iconic status in an Everton jersey, it was the signing of Thomas Gravesen from Hamburg in 2000 that set the trend for unearthing gems in the transfer window.

How Thomas Gravesen became an Everton fan favourite

Gravesen burst onto the scene at Danish club Vejle Boldklub and Hamburg before truly rising to prominence as a midfield sensation for Everton after joining for £2.5m.

A technically gifted midfielder with an eye for goal, the Dane quickly became a fan favourite and almost had the unique ability to change the atmosphere, conducting those around him playing his tune.

Away from the field, he was nicknamed the "mad dog" for his eccentric personality and maverick attitude, left an ever-lasting mark in his five years at Everton, becoming a crucial component to the energy and dynamism in Walter Smith's midfield, while his importance increased further with the arrival of David Moyes in 2002.

Widely recognised for his lung-bursting runs from deep and possessing a canon of a strike that struck fear into opposition defenders, Gravesen utilised that weapon to devasting effect at Goodison Park.

Thomas Gravesen's career in numbers

Clearly, his eccentricity off the field didn't prevent him from showing his talents on it, making 167 appearances for Everton, including a return on loan in 2007/08, scoring 12 and assisting 12 across both spells.

Having left a monumental impact on Merseyside, helping the club finish fourth in the 2004/05 season, Gravesen is also fondly remembered, if somewhat through slight bemusement, for sealing a £2.3m move to Real Madrid at the height of the club's Galactico era in 2005.

Although the 66-cap Danish international possessed the unerring technical attributes, namely his ability to dribble his way upfield and glide through opposition defences from deep, it was still odd for many during that time to see him playing alongside the likes of Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane and the great Brazilian Ronaldo.

Unfortunately, it never worked out as most envisaged during his time at the Bernabeu as he made 49 appearances and failed to reach the heights that his years at Everton promised.

Despite keeping a low profile since retiring from professional football in 2008 at the age of 33, he's certainly been busy.

What Thomas Gravesen is doing now…

According to the Danish tabloid BT, Gravesen knew he needed to plan for life after football, investing his wages into several financial businesses.

The tabloid claimed that the former midfielder made tens of millions from those investments and although they didn't say what he spent them on, he took his newly-found riches and moved to Las Vegas in 2012. The rest? Well, he was in Vegas…you do the math.

He put the money, estimated to be around £100million, to good use, gambling in Las Vegas’ legendary casinos, where he developed a particular passion for poker.

He was reportedly a regular at Vegas’ high-roller poker tables, where he was able to go under the radar as a non-celebrity.

From a solid box-to-box midfielder during his playing days to a poker aficionado worth hundreds of millions, it's been a whirlwind time for Gravesen since retiring, to say the least.

Glasgow Rangers continued their excellent start under Philippe Clement as they delivered a five-star show against Dundee at Dens Park last night.

The kick-off was delayed until 8.30pm due to traffic issues in the area and after only eight minutes of the match, the players trudged off the pitch due to a fire alarm being set off following a stunning pyrotechnic display by the away support.

The Gers soon started to cause plenty of problems to the home side, taking a single-goal lead into the halftime break in what was a controlled performance.

Four more goals followed in a wonderful second-half display and Clement will be buoyed by how well his starting XI performed, especially Danilo, who made his first start since September.

Danilo’s statistics vs Dundee

The Brazilian hitman netted a last-minute winner against Hearts last weekend and despite still recovering from his fractured cheekbone suffered a couple of months ago, he was given a start by the Belgian last night.

It proved to be an inspired move as the striker took nine shots in total during the tie, looking like a real livewire leading the line.

He did miss four chances, yet the former Feyenoord forward got on the scoresheet in the second half, and he also set up Sam Lammers for his goal.

He lost possession just three times and managed to make four key passes during his time on the pitch and his display proves that he should be Clement’s number one option to lead the line going forward.

It was Lammers who looked like a man reborn however, and he put in arguably his finest performance last night for the Light Blues.

Sam Lammers stats vs Dundee

Starting the match just behind Danilo, the Dutchman did link up rather well during a first half which promised much but delivered just one goal.

He came to life in the second half and like Danilo, he grabbed a goal and an assist, while taking 57 touches during his spell on the pitch.

His goal was wonderfully taken and was praised by Rangers Review journalist Joshua Barrie, who said: “What a finish from Sam Lammers – stunning finish from range.

“He’s had a tough time as of late but that was a great moment. Turns his man, moves onto his left and finds the net spectacularly.”

Lammers also succeeded with two out of three attempted dribbles along with creating one big chance and playing one key pass, a decent return for a player who has struggled immensely this season.

His display was promising, and hopefully it allows him to click into gear and start producing the goods on a regular basis for Clement during this new era at Ibrox.

While one good performance won't completely eradicate the scrutiny that has come his way since he joined in the summer, it may well be the catalyst to salvaging his career in Scotland.

It was a solid away result by the Gers and game by game they are showing big improvements. With a tie against Hearts on Sunday for a place in the League Cup final, Clement will need his players to play exactly like they did last night.

Manchester United have been boosted by the news that an "amazing" transfer target looks highly likely to leave his current club in the near future, according to a new transfer report.

Man United eyeing defensive signing

The Red Devils have had a taxing start to the season, and while four wins in their last five Premier League games may suggest otherwise, big improvements are needed under Erik ten Hag.

In fairness to United, however, they have experienced some terrible luck with injuries throughout the campaign so far, with a host of key men missing all over the pitch.

Defensively, the Reds Devils have been hit particularly hard, with Lisandro Martinez a huge loss at the heart of the back-line, and the likes of Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka also among those who have been absent for large chunks.

For that reason, it could be that Ten Hag aims to bring in a new defender when the January transfer window opens, bolstering his squad in the process and giving them the best possible chance to achieve success across various competitions this season.

A new update that has emerged will certainly be seen as a positive one by anyone associated with the club, as they look to secure the services of a highly-rated player.

Man Utd given Goncalo Inacio boost

According to a fresh claim from AS [via Sport Witness], Manchester United have been boosted in their quest to sign Goncalo Inacio, with an exit from Sporting CP looking on the cards from sources who know him "perfectly".

The Red Devils are described in the report as the "first option" for the 22-year-old, who has arguably emerged as one of Europe's most exciting defenders at the moment.

United are "very interested" in Inacio, who is also wanted by La Liga giants Real Madrid – they are described as a "great rival" to the Spaniards in the race to sign him – and there is a 99% chance that he will move on in one of the upcoming transfer windows.

For that reason, it remains to be seen if a January move to Old Trafford could happen, but either way, Ten Hag's look right in the mix to sign the Portuguese when he does become available.

Inacio could be a fantastic signing by United, with his performances for Sporting already so impressive, and Inacio's stats showing that he has averaged 2.5 aerial duel wins per game in the Europa League season, also enjoying an 89.6% pass completion rate in the competition. Journalist Fabrizio Romano has heaped praise on the young centre-back in the past, too, saying of him:

"I think he’d be an amazing option for any club, Liverpool or United in particular; left footed players at that level are very rare to find."

Granted, Inacio is a left-sided central defender like Martinez, so it could be hard to fit both into the team, but squad depth is vital and the Sporting ace can also play at left-back, making him a great versatile addition. Whether they can fend off competition from Madrid remains to be seen, but it is encouraging that they are among the favourites to sign him.

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing talent in Brazil ahead of the January transfer window, with four names in particular referenced to be of interest to Mikel Arteta and Edu in north London.

The theme of targeting midfielders and strikers seems to be the overriding narrative at the Emirates, with the likes of Fluminense star Andre and Corinthians youngster Gabriel Moscardo rumoured to be two midfielders admired by the Gunners.

In terms of forwards, Santos hitman Marcos Leonardo is speculated to have been scouted recently, with a report from 90min relaying the 20-year-old’s plans to leave his homeland this winter, although he isn’t the only young forward linked to Arsenal.

Arsenal transfer targets – Matheus Reis

In the past week, Italian outlet Calciomercato revealed that Arteta’s side are one of the interested parties with a link to Fluminense starlet Matheus Reis.

The report claims that the Brazilian side could soon trigger a ‘transfer market auction’, with four of the Premier League’s top clubs said to be eyeing the 16-year-old’s services.

As well as Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool are mentioned in the report, with the 2007-born maestro claimed to have a mighty release clause of €50m (£44m), a price that isn’t expected to deter English clubs.

At just 16, the versatile forward, who can play on the left-wing or centrally, has already been promoted to Fluminense’s senior team, reinforcing just how highly rated he is by those in Brazil and in Europe, with some of the biggest clubs swarming the starlet.

What signing Reis could mean for the future at Arsenal

Described in Calciomercato’s report as a 'mix between Gabriel Jesus and Marcos Leonardo', the teenager certainly fits the demographic of player that the Gunners are eyeing in January.

Not only have Arsenal been linked to Leonardo already, but there is an underlying question as to whether Jesus is the right figure to lead the line at the Emirates for years to come.

In a recent interview in Brazil, relayed by journalist Chris Wheatley, the four-time Premier League winner admitted that scoring goals is not his “strong point”, making for initially worrying reading for those in north London who deploy the 26-year-old as a striker.

Goals scored

Big chances missed

Conversion %

11

16

14%

8

7

13%

9

5

16%

14

24

14%

7

18

16%

13

13

23%

7

3

29%

From injury woes to a slight lack of conviction in front of goal at times, Jesus could one day see his throne claimed by a rising talent such as Reis, who is already forming comparisons to the former Manchester City dynamo.

Signing the 16-year-old for a whopping £44m would be questionable business to some degree, particularly considering that he is yet to play at senior level in Brazil, although if any club can use past experience of taking a gamble in South America, it’s Arsenal.

In 2019, the Gunners announced the signing of 18-year-old Gabriel Martinelli from Ituano, with the hope to ‘unlock his full potential’, as cited by GOAL at the time of his arrival in England.

Things have worked out swimmingly for both Arsenal and Martinelli, who is now a crucial part of Arteta’s squad, with Bukayo Saka on the opposing side also being trusted as a teen to get to where he is now.

Saka – who already boasts 14 goals and assists in just 17 games this season – thrives off of the energy and reflected threat of his Brazilian counterpart on the left side, with Reis having the potential to provide a similar joy to the Englishman in years to come.

Only time will tell if the north Londoners are in position to take a gamble and spend as much as £44m on the starlet, however the 16-year-old’s potential is clearly exciting, with four of the Premier League’s elite eyeing his movements.

The unpredictability is what makes football great, you may think you do, but you never really know what's going to happen. Here, we at Football FanCast will break down 10 of the most shocking relegations in football history.

10 Villarreal 2011/12

Entering the 2011/12 season as a Champions League team, Villarreal finished fourth in a stacked La Liga the season before. They had a fantastic squad boasting formidable players like Marcos Senna, Mateo Mussachio, Nilmar, Diego Lopez, Giuseppe Rossi, and Borja Valero. Santi Cazorla and Joan Capdevila were both sold in the summer, but it shouldn't have made such a difference.

Their Champions League journey proved challenging as Villarreal ended up at the bottom of their group, failing to secure a single point in that season's 'group of death' facing off against opponents Bayern Munich, Napoli, and Manchester City. This lacklustre performance spilled over into La Liga, where Villarreal struggled throughout the season. With 15 defeats and only nine wins, they accumulated 41 points. Surprisingly, only the bottom-placed Racing Santander had fewer victories.

It so nearly wasn't so bad. In a nail-biting conclusion to the season, Villarreal narrowly missed avoiding relegation, finishing just one point behind 17th-placed Granada. The dramatic twist came in the form of an 88th-minute goal from Atletico Madrid’s Falcao on the final day, sealing Villarreal's fate.

Ranking the 10 biggest derbies in European football

Football FanCast takes a look at the biggest rivalries across the continent.

ByAlex Roberts Nov 4, 2023 9 Schalke 2020/21

Before their relegation in 2020/21, FC Schalke 04 were one of Germany's biggest teams, routinely finishing in the Champions League spots and progressing fairly well through Europe's biggest tournament. Fast forward to the 2021/22 season, and the club found itself embarking on its first 2. Bundesliga campaign in over three decades.

The descent was not immediate, with Schalke finishing 14th and 12th in the seasons preceding their relegation. Nevertheless, the idea of Schalke dropping into the second tier seemed unthinkable. Now, they're at the wrong end of the league table and could face being relegated yet again.

This marked only the fourth occasion that Schalke experienced relegation from the top flight, and the team underwent a tumultuous period with five different managers taking the helm. Dimitrios Grammozis, David Wagner, Manuel Baum, Huub Stevens and Christian Gross all attempted, without success, to reverse Schalke's fortunes.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Sead Kolasinac and Shkodran Mustafi were brought in during the season, but their efforts proved futile. Ultimately, Schalke concluded the season with a mere 16 points from 34 games, trailing 17 points behind the relegation play-off spot and managing only three wins throughout the campaign.

8 Deportivo La Coruna 2010/11

After their surprise La Liga win in 1999/2000, beating out the likes of Barcelona and Valencia, Deportivo La Coruna became one of Spain's best sides, featuring regularly in the Champions League and at the latter stages of domestic competition. The fairytale wouldn't last though, and in 2010/11 they were relegated.

The years prior saw them grappling in mid-table, securing finishes ranging from seventh to 13th, including a 10th-place position in 2009/10. As time marched on, they found themselves on the brink of relegation.

In their 40th season in La Liga, Deportivo underwent a significant transformation, losing many of their key players. Despite winning 10 times in La Liga and amassing 43 points, they, like several others on this list, fell just one point short of safety. The final weekend of the season saw Deportivo slipping into the bottom three, marking a stark contrast to their earlier glory days.

7 Leeds United 2003/04

While this wasn't a huge shock at the time, the rapid decline of Leeds United is perhaps the most surprising element.

After narrowly avoiding relegation in the preceding campaign, Leeds faced another challenging season as the financial crisis at Elland Road pushed the club's debts past the £100 million mark. The consequential sale of key players persisted, adding to the team's struggles. Manager Peter Reid was dismissed on November 10, with Leeds having gathered only 8 points from their first 12 games. In his place, former player, coach and manager Eddie Gray took over on a temporary basis.

Initially, Gray's tenure brought about improved results, lifting Leeds out of the relegation zone by the end of 2003. However, a dismal stretch of seven consecutive defeats after the turn of the year left them stranded at the bottom of the table, extinguishing any realistic hope of Premier League survival.

Despite some better performances late in the season that allowed them to climb off the bottom, a definitive blow came with a 4–1 defeat at Bolton on May 2 to all but confirm their relegation. Shortly thereafter, Gray departed from the club for good, making way for Kevin Blackwell, who had previously served as Reid's assistant and was tasked with the challenging mission of steering Leeds away from a second successive relegation.

Leeds United wouldn't be back in the Premier League until 2020/21.

6 Sampdoria 2010/11

Another former league champion faced the bitter taste of relegation, as Sampdoria, winners of Serie A in 1990/91, had already experienced a drop from the top flight in 1998/99. After making a return in 2003/04, Sampdoria found stability in Serie A, consistently finishing no lower than 13th and securing five top-half finishes in the subsequent seven seasons.

It's always weird when a club goes from playing European football to relegation in the space of a season. In the 2010/11 season, Sampdoria, having clinched a fourth-place finish in Serie A the previous year, entered the qualifying rounds of the Champions League and also participated in Europa League football.

Sampdoria managed to win just three of their final 22 games from the start of 2011, a run marked by 15 defeats. Despite a promising start where they lost only three times in the opening 16 games, Sampdoria ultimately finished five points behind 17th-placed Lecce, sealing their fate in the lower tier of Italian football.

5 Manchester United 1973/74

The 1973–74 season marked a significant downturn for Manchester United as they faced relegation for the first time since 1938. Under manager Tommy Docherty, appointed the previous December, United struggled despite a brief return of George Best, who played his last game for the club on New Year's Day.

Docherty appointed goalkeeper Alex Stepney as the penalty taker, and although Stepney became the club's joint-top scorer after converting two penalties, United's overall performance was disappointing. The team's late-season run of victories raised hopes of survival, but defeats to Manchester City and Stoke City sealed their fate.

The decisive blow came when former United player Denis Law scored for Manchester City, contributing to United's 21st-place finish. Although erroneously believed by some to be "relegated" by City, it was Birmingham City's win and West Ham United's draw that confirmed United's fate.

Despite relegation, Docherty retained his position, and the club aimed to regain First Division status promptly. The season saw significant changes, including Best's departure and Docherty's unconventional decisions, highlighting a challenging period in Manchester United's history.

4 Fiorentina 2001/02

This relegation was so bad, the club effectively ceased to exist. The economic turmoil exacerbated their challenges, with the sale of playmaker Rui Costa failing to alleviate financial woes. As the season unfolded, the absence of Rui Costa and key goalkeeper Francesco Toldo exposed the vulnerabilities of the Fiorentina squad, particularly after striker Enrico Chiesa suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in the fifth league game.

The ageing defence struggled against opponents' strikers, and off-field issues took a toll on well-known players like Domenico Morfeo and Nuno Gomes. Not even the addition of rising star Adriano, on loan from Inter and scoring six goals, could salvage the team's fortunes.

Manager Roberto Mancini faced the axe, later reviving his managerial career at Lazio. The club's relegation and subsequent bankruptcy filing in the summer led to a rebirth as Florentia Viola in Serie C2. Virtually all players, except veteran Angelo Di Livio, departed, leaving the club in a state of upheaval and uncertainty.

3 Corinthians 2007

Corinthians fans ended 2007 heartbroken when they faced relegation from the Brazilian top flight in 2007. A four-time Brazilian champion and global titleholder in 2000 (with an additional triumph in 2012), the notion of Corinthians competing in the second tier seemed unthinkable, yet it became a stark reality.

The 2007 season brought a multitude of off-field challenges for Corinthians, with notable controversies surrounding Kia Joorabchian, linked to the club through former president Alberto Dualib, and his company. The financial struggles significantly impacted on-field performance, leading to a surprising outcome: relegation. Corinthians ended the season with a record of ten wins, 14 draws, and 14 defeats, earning them a place among the four teams demoted from the top flight.

2 Atletico Madrid 1999/00

The 1999/00 La Liga season was wild. A historic upheaval unfolded in La Liga as three of Spain's most prominent football clubs, Deportivo La Coruña, Atlético Madrid, and Sevilla, were relegated, marking the end of the century in a stunning way.

Atlético Madrid, despite reaching the Copa del Rey final, suffered relegation. This season notably stands as the last time neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid secured any domestic silverware.

Under managers Claudio Ranieri and Radomir Antić, Atletico won just nine games and finished as runners-up in the Copa del Rey, succumbing to Valencia. Striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, a significant signing from Leeds United, experienced relegation but impressed individually, finishing second in the Pichichi race with 24 goals.

Despite relegation, Atlético would bounce back after two seasons in the second tier, later becoming a dominant force in Spanish football under manager Diego Simeone.

1 Juventus 2005/06

Ah yes, the Calciopoli, scandal. It unfolded in 2006, implicating various clubs, executives, and football bodies, but Juventus were the most heavily punished. The scandal involved intercepted calls revealing relations between club executives and referee organizations, accusing them of influencing referee selections during the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons. Juventus, Fiorentina, Lazio, AC Milan, and Reggina were among the implicated clubs.

In July 2006, Juventus was stripped of the 2004/05 Serie A title, relegated to Serie B, and their 05/06 title was later awarded to Inter. Despite being popularly known as a match-fixing scandal, no evidence of match-fixing violations was found in the intercepted calls.

A subsequent investigation, Calciopoli bis, implicated more clubs, including Inter Milan, but no trial occurred due to the statute of limitations. Juventus, while absolved from match-fixing, faced damage claims and sought restoration of the 2005 Scudetto, which were rejected.

Juventus returned to Serie A after winning the 2006/07 Serie B championship, and went on to embark on a dominant era with nine consecutive league titles between 2011 and 2020.

A new contract could be heading the way of "magic" Rangers star Borna Barisic in the near future, according to a new update from journalist Dean Jones.

Rangers January transfer news

The Gers have done so well to battle to within touching distance of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race, as Philippe Clement's positive start to life as manager at Ibrox continues. Rangers won 3-1 at home to Dundee on Saturday afternoon, while the Hoops' 2-1 loss at Kilmarnock the following day means Clement's side are now only five points adrift of top spot with a game in hand.

New signings in the January transfer window are surely needed to further increase their chances of going all the way in the league, however, and Nottingham Forest defender Scott McKenna has been linked with a move to Rangers. Everton's Ben Godfrey is another who has been seen as a potential Ibrox target, as it's clear the defence is an area of focus for the new boss.

There are also key players who Clement will have to fight to keep hold of however, and an important update has emerged regarding one such figure.

Barisic in line for new Rangers deal

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones said talks are underway between Rangers and Borna Barisic over a new deal at Ibrox.

"Obviously, there is uncertainty around the left-back position at the moment. Barisic has been at the club for a long time now, and he has got a few clubs looking at his situation because he could sign a pre-contract with a club abroad in January.

"There have been a few mooted in that sense, so it is a situation to watch. But Rangers have begun the process of talking to him about an extension, and that began a couple of months back. You would be expecting that to progress pretty soon if there is going to be a good ending to it from a Rangers perspective.

"They need to try and make sure that the contract situation works out suitably, from their point of view, pretty soon because Rangers will need to be wondering what they will do by the time they get to the end of the season if they don't get good indications that he is going to sign a new deal."

Barisic signing a new deal at Rangers would be great news, with the 31-year-old such a steady performer for the club over the years, making 222 appearances in total and chipping in with 52 assists in that time.

Steven Gerrard hailed him as "magic" during his time as Gers manager, following a goal in a 1-0 win against St Mirren, and he is someone with so much experience but still with years left in him at this level.

Barisic has started ten Scottish Premiership games so far this season, averaging 1.9 clearances and 1.8 aerial duel wins per game, and with his current deal expiring next summer, an extension is a no-brainer

There aren’t many better feelings than watching your team home and away.

Win, lose or draw, we’re there to support our beloved clubs whether it be at the home ground or as part of a tiny away section.

League One in particular is as competitive as ever, containing some historic names of English football, and so with that comes a number of must-visit grounds.

Focusing on the third tier, Football FanCast has ranked the top ten away days in League One which you should be looking to embark on if your team ever gets the chance.

For this list, we've considered the area, affordability, potential nearby activities and the stadiums themselves when coming up with the best away trips League One has to offer.

10 The Valley – Charlton Athletic

We are kicking things off in the capital, in particular Greenwich, where we have The Valley.

This is the home of Charlton Athletic, who were playing Premier League football as recently as 2007, but have since hit a bump in the road.

Fans of the Addicks currently find themselves struggling to get out of League One, but they do have an excellent stadium to show off with a capacity of over 27,000.

Visiting such a big stadium at this level of course means that a sizeable away allocation comes with it as well – a couple of thousand are able to attend.

Given that Charlton is London, it is easy enough to make a weekend out of a clash with this team, as there is no shortage of activities and pubs and whatnot in the surrounding area.

One slight downfall, though, is that with the location comes more expensive drinks than fans from further afield may be used to.

Away day rating: 6/10

9 Memorial Stadium – Bristol Rovers

Travelling further west to Bristol now, which is a two-team city.

Bristol Rovers and Bristol City divide the land in blue and red and it is the latter who are the more established, having been in the Championship consistently for nearly a decade now.

Rovers are the team going under our microscope with their ground, the Memorial Stadium.

The stadium itself has a capacity of just over 12,000, so whilst it may not be competing with the venues that have graced the top flight, it is still very impressive.

Rovers originally spent 89 years at Eastville Stadium but left there in 1986 and then moved to the Mem ten years later.

Away day rating: 6/10

8 Weston Homes Stadium – Peterborough United

Iconic stadiums losing their names to sponsors is a plight that is working its way through the EFL.

Peterborough United’s London Road is the first victim on this list, but the Weston Homes Stadium is certainly not as bad as another that will feature later on.

The Posh is a highly regarded club, this reputation being boosted by the openness shown by owner and chairman Darragh MacAnthony when it comes to the dealings in the transfer windows.

Peterborough has a historic cathedral if that is something that piques your interest before or after your team goes to battle with the Cambridgeshire side. Beyond that, there is a fair amount of general history on show and as the location suggests – Cambridge isn’t far away at all, either.

London Road is another stadium that holds a very respectable capacity, which is in excess of 15,000, with the possibility of a great atmosphere from home and away supporters.

Away day rating: 6/10

7 Pride Park – Derby County

Derby County are the first club to creep beyond the 6/10 mark and hit the heights of a very respectable seven.

They are another team who have played top-flight football in the Premier League era, although they do of course hold that haunting record for the lowest points tally.

Pride Park is where they call home, and according to BetVictor, this is the best ground in all of League One.

GiveMeSport states that season ticket price, price per game, stadium utilisation, total mileage, number of votes, atmosphere, location, stadium view, infrastructure and food were the various criteria that were assessed in BetVictor’s study.

Back in 1888, Derby were one of the 12 founding members of the Football League, showing just how steeped in history they are, making them a shoo-in for this list.

Away day rating: 7/10

6 St James’ Park – Exeter City

St James’ Park is a famous location up in Newcastle but also down south as well, with Exeter City having a ground of their very own going by the same name as the Magpies’.

Exeter are very proud of their reputation of being a fan-run club and so that quickly endears them to the football purists who come to visit in Devon.

The Grecians are a loud and proud group of supporters, with their clashes against local rivals Plymouth Argyle always being extremely fierce whether it's at Home Park or St James’.

There is a standing area and a seated area for away fans at Exeter, which is a nice touch, and with a fine city just minutes away from the ground, the stadium itself is worth a visit.

Away day rating: 7/10

5 Bloomfield Road – Blackpool

Returning to the trend of former Premier League teams, Blackpool reached those particular heights with Charlie Adam as captain and Rob Edwards and Ian Evatt also featuring – a pair who now manage Luton Town and Bolton Wanderers respectively.

Blackpool is known for having its infamous tower, the Pleasure Beach, waterparks and a zoo.

Once again, this is a location which would be suitable for the family, so a weekend getaway could be arranged around the main event of a football match.

Bloomfield Road has a capacity of 17,625, with the figures for away fans able to creep into four figures once again.

The presence of plentiful empty seats does lead to Blackpool being marked down, but it remains a desirable location for away fans, for sure.

Away day rating: 7/10

4 Kassam Stadium – Oxford United

Peterborough United affords you the chance of visiting Cambridge, while the other famous university city can be attended when your team goes toe-to-toe with Oxford United.

People of an older generation may know Oxford’s home as Grenoble Road, but it is now known as the Kassam Stadium in honour of Firoz Kassam, who owned the club between 1999 and 2006 as well as having a stint as chairman.

Kassam paid just £1 for the club due to the financial difficulties they were enduring at the time.

Oxford is considered to be a great place to visit, while as of 2021, it was named as the eighth-most expensive area in the country to buy a pint, so visiting fans will have to be wary when they flock to the nearby pubs.

Away day rating: 8/10

3 Toughsheet Community Stadium – Bolton Wanderers

Weston Homes Stadium isn’t the best name around, but that is nothing compared to the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

There have been a lot of changes to the name of Bolton Wanderers’ home, from the Reebok Stadium to the University of Bolton Stadium and now to this.

But this name is one of very few blemishes on an away day to Bolton, in truth, with the size of the stadium certainly working in their favour.

Referring back to BetVictor’s research, Bolton ranked 14th in the entire Football League. This put the Trotters ahead of Premier League grounds such as Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United to name just a few.

Away day rating: 9/10

The top ten away days in the Premier League – ranked

An away day is one of the best parts of being a football fan, but which is the best in the Premier League? Football FanCast has taken a look.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Oct 22, 2023 2 Oakwell – Barnsley

Barnsley join Bolton at an away day rating of 9/10, but the former gets the slight edge, and finishes second on the list as a result.

Oakwell is an old-school, classic ground for football and Barnsley in general are a club with a lot of history.

They are firmly ingrained in the landscape of England from a football perspective which makes it a worthwhile away day instantly.

The club doesn’t own the stadium anymore, with the council having to take over to save the club from facing extinction, and whilst they have gone from the Championship play-offs to League One in just a couple of years, Barnsley remains a massive club that deserves a lot of respect and admiration.

Away day rating: 9/10

1 Fratton Park – Portsmouth

There aren’t many better grounds that one can visit in the EFL than Fratton Park.

The University of Portsmouth labels itself as “one of the most affordable UK cities for university students”, and why can’t that carry over to football fans wanting to frequent the pubs, particularly when “the cost of a pint [is] averaged at £4.51, one pound cheaper than London.”

We have no notes for Pompey, it is a club with a great following in a nice area and Fratton Park is the best stadium in League One, all things considered.

Away day rating: 10/10

It's fair to say Michael Beale's opening game in charge of Sunderland was a harsh reintroduction to Championship life for the ex-QPR manager, the Black Cats humbled on their own patch by Coventry City with the Sky Blues running out 3-0 victors.

Beale will just hope that this was a blip, his new second-tier side getting poor performances out of their system early on into his reign at the Stadium of Light.

The fixtures don't get any easier for the divisive head coach however, travelling to Hull City on Boxing Day who have similar promotion aspirations to the Tyne and Wear side.

Beale could change his team up significantly after such a disappointing loss last match, with three potential changes on the cards in this predicted XI…

1 GK – Nathan Bishop

Beale could really ruffle a few feathers at Sunderland with this selection choice, dropping £10k per week figure – as per Capology – Anthony Patterson in-between the sticks who has been everpresent up to this point in the league.

The new head coach could well just want to assess what other options he has at his disposal after Patterson's horror show versus the Sky Blues, handing Nathan Bishop his first-ever start in the Championship in his place – the former Manchester United shot-stopper waiting patiently in the wings desperate for a chance to impress.

2 RB – Trai Hume

Trai Hume should be retained even if Sunderland's number one goalkeeper is axed, the Northern Ireland international registering a combined seven interceptions and tackles last match – as per Sofascore – despite the one-sided scoreline.

3 CB – Daniel Ballard

Daniel Ballard will also remain in Beale's first-team plans for the Hull game, the ex-Arsenal man performing admirably even on a collective off-day against Coventry – winning all but one of his duels when facing the Sky Blues attackers.

4 CB – Luke O'Nien

Despite receiving a 4/10 rating from Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith off the back of his display against Coventry – singled out for his feebleness attempting to thwart Haji Wright in the build-up to the opener – Luke O'Nien will more than likely start again on Boxing Day.

5 LB – Jenson Seelt

Beale will have to think outside of the box as to who he picks in the left-back spot for the Hull game, Niall Huggins stretchered off last match leaving Sunderland with zero fit left-backs owing to Dennis Cirkin still being sidelined with an injury.

Jenson Seelt was utilised by Beale at left-back versus Coventry with Huggins stricken by injury, the Dutchman filling in competently and so will be handed a start in this unfamiliar spot against the Tigers.

6 CDM – Pierre Ekwah

Pierre Ekwah started as the only holding midfielder option in Beale's first lineup as Sunderland head coach, the former Rangers man opting for a 4-1-4-1 formation in his first taste of action in the Black Cats dug-out.

Ekwah should be retained in this spot by the 43-year-old, despite substituting off the midfielder late into the second half.

7 RM – Patrick Roberts

Patrick Roberts' positive display against Coventry wasn't rewarded with a goal or an assist that he desperately longs for, the ex-Celtic winger lively throughout however with four successful dribble attempts and seven ground duels won.

Beale should stick with Roberts for the game away at the Tigers directly after Christmas therefore, hoping the 26-year-old can contribute with a strike or help a teammate out on the way to a win.

8 CM – Dan Neil

Dan Neil also shone in midfield alongside Roberts, even with his team losing 3-0 on a dire day overall.

Neil was involved constantly in passages of play attempting to unlock a determined Sky Blues defence in Saturday's game, amassing 94 touches as a key figure in the middle of the park.

He just couldn't quite muster up another assist or goal despite always being available and eager to receive the ball, hopeful of playing his part still in a Boxing Day victory if selected for the trip to Hull.

9 CM – Jobe Bellingham

With superstar brother Jude Bellingham in the stands for the festive clash against Coventry, Jobe Bellingham wasn't quite at his electric best unfortunately even with his family intently watching on.

The 18-year-old is still not the finished product and will have off-days, frustrated by a resilient opposition defence who blocked all three of his efforts in the game.

10 LM – Jack Clarke

Jack Clarke was another tricky player in the Sunderland midfield for Coventry to cope with, completing their task of nullifying the Black Cats top scorer somewhat unconvincingly despite Clarke firing blanks in the game.

On another day, Clarke would have added to his ten-goal total in the second tier this campaign – hitting three shots on target during a typically lively 90 minutes for the ex-Tottenham Hotspur man.

Manchester United appear to be keen to get deals over the line this window and are now reportedly willing to trigger the release clause of a key target at Old Trafford.

Man Utd look to secure new arrivals…

Differing verdicts have emerged over the potential Manchester United have to bring in players this window despite football director John Murtough hinting that business may be minimal at the Premier League giants over the course of the month as they look to comply with Financial Fair Play concerns.

Erik ten Hag clearly needs bodies in the door to rectify his side's erratic start to the campaign and Sky Sports News journalist Dharmesh Sheth has claimed that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his associates will have had a say on potential incomings and outgoings.

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ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

He told GIVEMESPORT: "So just going back to INEOS with regard to any kind of decision that gets made, even though the deal hasn't been formally ratified, they would have to be consulted about any deal that happens. I'm told that when they signed that agreement, even though as I said it hasn't been ratified, the transfer strategy was relayed to them. So, they would have had a say in what will be happening in this January transfer window."

This news may come as a relief to Red Devils supporters; however, there is still no clear indication of who could arrive in the North West this window as their side quietly ponder who to pursue according to their specific needs. Now, fresh information has emerged claiming that Manchester United are willing to meet the release clause of a talented midfielder this month, as per reports.

Man Utd ready Javi Guerra move

According to Catalan reports, Manchester United are keen on Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra and have already initiated first contacts regarding a move for the Spain Under-21 international this month.

Javi Guerra key statistics in 2023/24 (Sofascore)

Tackles per game

1.4

Clearances per game

1.2

Balls recovered per game

5.6

Accurate passes per game in own half

9.6 (85%)

Shots per game

1.2

Big chances created

2

The outlet claim that Guerra has a release clause worth in the region of €40 million (£34.4 million) that the Red Devils are willing to pay that sum to bring the playmaker to Old Trafford. Viewed as someone who could be very important to the future of Ten Hag's engine room, the Valencia-born man is seen as a value-for-money option and would be guaranteed a high salary in England should he move to Manchester United.

Labelled a "deep-lying orchestrator" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Guerra has made 19 appearances in all competitions this term for Valencia, registering three goals and one assist (Guerra statistics – Transfermarkt).

Manchester United may need more variation on the field to try and reverse their inconsistent form and Guerra could add a different dimension to their engine room moving forward, both in the short and long term, making this a deal to watch.

Carlos Corberan is getting the most out his threadbare West Bromwich Albion squad to date, arguably helping the Baggies punch above their weight in fifth spot in the Championship so far with an extensive injury list continuing to curse the second tier side.

Josh Maja's recent serious ankle ligament injury had those at the Hawthorns understandably panicking, leaving Brandon Thomas-Asante as the only readily available out-and-out striker with Daryl Dike also still on the mend.

With Maja ruled out for four months, this month will see Corberan target a new striker to add to his injury-ravaged group to give Thomas-Asante some much-needed competition.

The Baggies boss could well have found the striker he wants if transfer reports are correct coming out of the West Midlands, a proven Championship goalscorer one potential incoming through the door at the Hawthorns this January.

West Brom transfer latest – Kieffer Moore

The Sun reported earlier this week on the possibility of AFC Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore leaving the Vitality Stadium this month, with a whole host of Championship clubs scrambling to win his services if he was given the green light to depart.

West Brom were just one name among many included with the likes of Leeds United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough all also touted to be in for the towering attacker, with Alex Crook of talkSPORT further speculating that Moore's ex-club Cardiff City would test the waters over a possible reunion too.

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The Baggies will hope the allure of coming in and being a key part of the West Brom squad can tempt Moore to swap the south coast for the West Midlands this January, easing the pressure on Thomas-Asante's shoulders tremendously and allowing Corberan not to worry about another injury being critical.

The stats that show why Kieffer Moore would be a good signing for West Brom

Scoring 47 goals in the Championship over his nomadic career so far – which has seen the 6 foot 5 attacker even play in far-off Norway – Moore would be an asset for any second-tier side this January near the top-end of the division.

25 of those came in a fruitful spell in Wales for the Bluebirds, before the Cherries came calling to win his services.

In contrast, Maja – who has experienced success by playing Ligue 1 football in his fledging career to date – has only amassed three Championship goals with fixed first-team forward Thomas-Asante only boasting 40 EFL goals in total across his back catalogue.

West Brom will hope Moore can pick up from where he left off and return to his potent best in the second tier if signed, with the likes of Jed Wallace and Grady Diangana licking their lips at the potential of the Welshman joining.

Wallace in particular will utilise Moore's height well with countless whipped crosses into the area directed at the imposing attacker to connect with, potentially adding more assists next to his name with his season tally currently at three.

Likewise, Diangana will know that a typical mazy run forward could well be converted by Moore sticking a leg out or firing home emphatically – the Congolese winger wanting to enhance his assist output with the prolific forward joining the club.

Once described as a "focal point" by Welsh centre-back Ashley Williams when talking about the lofty striker's importance for his nation in an article for BBC Sports, Corberan could base his entire Baggies team around Moore finishing off opportunities as a lone dangerman.

With Thomas-Asante still relatively inexperienced when it comes to Championship football, and Maja due to be out for an extended period of time, signing Moore should be a priority for West Brom this month to improve their odds of winning promotion to the Premier League.