Thursday, January 10, 2019

Morgan Smith: London Broncos sign Warrington Wolves half-back/hooker

Morgan Smith scored two tries in his 25 appearances for the Wire

London Broncos have made their sixth pre-season signing ahead of their return to Super League.
Warrington Wolves half-back/hooker Morgan Smith, 20, has moved to the West London-based club on a one-year deal.
The former England Academy player made 25 appearances for Wire, mostly from the bench, as well as playing on loan for Rochdale Hornets.
But Warrington have now released him from the final year of his contract, allowing him to move to Ealing.
"Due to our recruitment and retention for 2019, Morgan would have found his playing opportunities limited," said Warrington chief executive Karl Fitzpatrick.
"We felt it was best for Morgan's development to allow him to explore alternative options. He has been the consummate professional during his time at Warrington."
"Morgan is an exciting, young, British half-back who already brings with him Super League experience," said Broncos head coach Danny Ward.
Their first game back in Super League after a four-season absence is a home date with Wakefield Trinity at Vallis Way on Sunday 3 February.

Broncos' new men for 2019

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FA asks for information after England footballer alleged to have 'taken cocaine'



England badge
The Football Association is asking people to come forward with information after an unnamed England player was reported to have been "kicked out of a nightclub for taking cocaine".
The allegation was made in the Sun newspaper by a "club insider".
The paper alleges the Premier League player took the drug during a pre-Christmas team get-together after an away game.
The FA can ban players found to have breached its social drugs policy.
The starting point for a first time offence is 0-3 months and the FA has the power to suspend players indefinitely if they have breached the rules multiple times.
Incidents of doping in English football are "rare" the FA says, but the governing body insists it "remains a priority for The FA to find and sanction anyone found taking performance-enhancing or recreational drugs".
An FA spokesman added: "We encourage anyone with information about any anti-doping violation in football to report it to The FA."
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Transfers - done deals in January 2019



Matt Jarvis
The winter transfer window is open from 1 January to 31 January in England and Scotland.
Germany's follows the same dates, Spain's opens on 2 January and Italy's runs from 3-18 January.
EFL clubs can still sign free agents as long as they left their previous club before the end of the summer window in August.
For all the latest transfer rumours check out today's gossip column.

4 January

English Football League
Benik Afobe [Wolves - Stoke] Undisclosed
Ben Barclay [Brighton - Notts County] Loan
Ben Brereton [Nottingham Forest - Blackburn] £7m
Canice Carroll [Brentford - Swindon] Loan
Conor Chaplin [Portsmouth - Coventry] Permanent
Ben House [Reading - Swindon] Loan
Will Keane [Hull - Ipswich] Loan
Harrison McGahey [Rochdale - Scunthorpe] Undisclosed
Paul McKay [Cardiff - Morecambe] Loan
Alex Pearce [Derby - Millwall] Loan
Aaron Ramsdale [Bournemouth - AFC Wimbledon] Loan
Byron Webster [Millwall - Scunthorpe] Free
Jonny Williams [Crystal Palace - Charlton] Undisclosed
Ryan Woods [Brentford - Stoke] Undisclosed
Women's Super League
Ann-Katrin Berger [Birmingham City Women - Chelsea Women] Free

3 January

English Football League
Tom Bradshaw [Barnsley - Millwall] Undisclosed
Dylan Connolly [Dundalk - AFC Wimbledon] Undisclosed
Janoi Donacien [Accrington - Ipswich] Undisclosed
Adam Hammill [St Mirren - Scunthorpe] Free
Rory Holden [Bristol City - Rochdale] Loan
Daniel Lafferty [Sheffield United - Peterborough] Loan
Aaron Lewis [Swansea - Doncaster] Loan
Shawn McCoulsky [Bristol City - Forest Green] Undisclosed
Tony McMahon [Oxford United - Scunthorpe] Loan
Brad Potts [Barnsley - Preston] Undisclosed
Cameron Pring [Bristol City - Cheltenham] Loan
Jayden Stockley [Exeter - Preston] £750,000
Ben White [Brighton - Peterborough] Loan
Cauley Woodrow [Fulham - Barnsley] Undisclosed
International
Martin Braithwaite [Middlesbrough - Leganes] Loan
Pelle Clement [Reading - PEC Zwolle] Undisclosed
Women's Super League
Jade Bailey [Chelsea Women - Reading Women] Loan

2 January

Premier League
Christian Pulisic [Borussia Dortmund - Chelsea] £58m
English Football League
Ryan Bowman [Motherwell - Exeter] Undisclosed
Andy Cannon [Rochdale - Portsmouth] Undisclosed
Callum Elder [Leicester - Ipswich] Loan
Omar Mussa [KV Mechelen - Walsall] Undisclosed
Max Power [Wigan - Sunderland] Undisclosed
Mark Sykes [Glenavon - Oxford United] Undisclosed
Kevin van Veen [Northampton - Scunthorpe] Undisclosed
Women's Super League
Katrine Veje [Montpellier - Arsenal] Undisclosed

1 January

Premier League
Jaden Brown [Tottenham - Huddersfield] Free
David Wang [Jumilla B - Wolves] Undisclosed
English Football League
Ricky German [Hendon - Crawley] Undisclosed
Josh Ginnelly [Walsall - Preston] Undisclosed
Matt Jarvis [Norwich - Walsall] Loan
International
David Wang [Wolves - Sporting Lisbon] Loan
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Manchester City reignited the Premier League title race as they ended Liverpool's 20-game unbeaten start to the season to reduce their lead at the top of the table to four points.

Leroy Sane

Manchester City reignited the Premier League title race as they ended Liverpool's 20-game unbeaten start to the season to reduce their lead at the top of the table to four points.
Pep Guardiola's hosts knew nothing less than a win at Etihad Stadium would do on a Thursday night riddled with tension that produced a game that was frenetic if not a classic.
Leroy Sane produced the decisive moment 18 minutes from time as he collected Raheem Sterling's pass to fire across Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, after it had seemed like Roberto Firmino's stooping header would maintain the visitors' unbeaten sequence.
Sergio Aguero had earlier given City the lead with a rising, near-post drive just before the interval.
That came after a moment of drama when Reds forward Sadio Mane hit the City post and John Stones scrambled the ball off the line after his attempted clearance struck goalkeeper Ederson - with data subsequently showing the ball had failed to cross by just 1.12cm.
Both sides had chances in a frantic finale but it was City who claimed a crucial win.

Man City deliver required response


Wright still backs Liverpool for title despite defeat by 'magnificent' Man City

Guardiola was blunt before the biggest Premier League game of the season: anything other than victory was not an option.
And while City did not produce the purist style that is their trademark, they dug deep to get the job done despite some late moments of panic in their penalty box and wayward finishing in the other.
City were in danger of falling off the pace following three recent losses that allowed Liverpool to open up an imposing advantage - and that was why the stakes were so high amid a crackling atmosphere.
It was master marksman Aguero who made the crucial breakthrough with a brilliant near-post finish, thinking and moving quicker then Dejan Lovren to beat Alisson.
City also showed real strength of character to respond just as the momentum Liverpool were generating from Firmino's leveller threatened to take the game away from them.
And at the heart of it all was the magnificent Fernandinho - a man seemingly irreplaceable among the City's stellar cast - as he delivered a masterclass of controlled midfield play to steady his side when required.
It should be said, though, that the hosts enjoyed a measure of good fortune when leniency from referee Anthony Taylor allowed captain Vincent Kompany to escape with only a yellow card for a reckless lunge at Mohamed Salah after he had been played into strife by Stones.
But this was a huge night for City and Guardiola and they emphatically answered the questions that have been levelled at them.
It was also a victory achieved without needing to call on the brilliance of Kevin de Bruyne. The sight of the Belgium midfielder as an unused substitute was an indicator of the strength still to come from the champions.
They can now look upon a reduced Liverpool lead and believe they have very much kept alive their hopes of retaining the title.

Liverpool still in pole position


Man City defeat not easy to take - Klopp

Liverpool's disappointment was clear as manager Jurgen Klopp and his players trudged off at the end of their first league defeat of the season - a result that backed up Klopp's insistence that this title race has a long way to run.
The Reds were not at their intense best, although they can look back at Mane hitting the post and several other scrambles as key moments that went against them.
They will be disappointed at the manner of City's opener as Aguero, with a brilliant finish, preyed on the fatal hesitation of Lovren, who had a thoroughly forgettable night.
Yet once the frustration subsides, Liverpool can reflect on a superb start to the season that has left them with clear daylight at the summit - something that looked so unlikely just a few weeks ago.
They are still in the position everyone wants to occupy.

Man of the match - Fernandinho (Man City)


Fernandinho in action for Manchester City against Liverpool
Fernandinho made more tackles than any other player on his team (four) and won possession back nine times.

'If we lose it is almost over - every game is a final'

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC Sport: "I am proud of them, but not just today. We lost two games in four days but you can't forget what they have done for 16 months. We knew that it was a final today, if we lose it is almost over.
"All credit to these incredible players. That is how we have to play in the Champions League. Both teams tried to search for each other, we were not scared, we had no fear and we had a lot of pressure.
"They are leaders - it is four points but we have reduced the gap. We knew that if we won we would be in contention to fight for the Premier league, if we lose it is over.
"I don't remember a league so tough, there are so many huge contenders fighting for the title. Every game is a final."

Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool: Pep Guardiola proud of 'incredible' players

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, speaking to Sky Sports: "It was a big pressure. Very intense game. We were unlucky in our finishing moments. Unluckier than City I would say.
"They had periods where they dominated the game and everybody felt the intensity. But we came back and had big chances. It is always like this. You have to score in those moments. When Aguero scores there is no angle. In similar situations we didn't score.
"It was not our or City's best game because we both made it difficult for the other team. I have already said to the boys this is OK. We lost it but it will happen. Tonight it is not nice but it is not the biggest problem."

The stats - Aguero loves facing the 'big six'

  • Manchester City ended Liverpool's unbeaten start to the Premier League season in the 21st match - only Arsenal in 2003-04 (38 games), Manchester United in 2010-11 (24) and Man City in 2017-18 (22) have had longer unbeaten starts.
  • This was only City's second win in their past 12 matches against Liverpool. They have lost seven of those but won at the Etihad in the league for the past two seasons.
  • Since the start of the 2011-12 season, Aguero has scored 37 league goals for City in matches against the other 'big six' clubs (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham) - 16 more than any other player.
  • Liverpool have lost 10 of their 25 games under Klopp in January (winning eight), which makes up 29% of his 35 defeats as Reds boss.
  • Since the start of last season, Sane has been involved in 26 goals in 25 home league appearances for Manchester City (nine goals, 17 assists).
  • Firmino scored his 10th goal of the season for Liverpool, registering double figures for the fourth consecutive season (11 in 2015-16, 12 in 2016-17, 27 in 2017-18).
  • The Reds conceded more than once in a Premier League game for the first time since drawing 2-2 at West Brom in April.
  • Manchester City won a league match against a team starting the day top of the table for the first time since winning 2-1 against Liverpool in December 2013.
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