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

Mark Warburton is yet to find the answer to QPR’s defensive problems but the solution could come in the form of Dominic Ball.

On the chalkboard

The former Rangers player was brought to West London over the summer on a free by the R’s boss, who seems to be a fan of the 24-year-old, having also signed him for the Scottish outfit.

He has started just seven league games so far but the R’s have won the majority of those matches, and if he is given the role of protecting the defence then that could be key for his team.

Warburton has shown that a 3-5-2 formation could be his chosen system now Lee Wallace has returned, and if Ball were included from the start it could free up the likes of Eberechi Eze and Josh Scowen to display their usual effectiveness.

Added to that, Ilias Chair’s performances have dropped off in recent matches and given he is not the best defensively – average just 0.3 interceptions per game this term – replacing him could lead to an improvement on that front.

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Complete midfielder

QPR could benefit from Ball’s defensive awareness and if given the sole responsibility of watching over an opposition player he could be a very effective player for Warburton.

He offers more than just defensive capabilities, however, and doesn’t often give the ball away, which means his mistakes are less frequent. A pass accuracy of 84% is evidence of that, and is an aspect of his play which suits Warburton’s philosophy, whose team have averaged 54% possession in the Championship.

As well as that, his average of two tackles per game is the fourth most of any player in the QPR squad, which suggests that the R’s are in need of a player who can provide more bite in midfield.

With an away trip to Fulham coming up after Middlesbrough fixture – a team which has scored 23 league goals – there will be concern for Warburton about his team’s vulnerability, but Ball would ease his worries.

The former Rotherham player started in difficult away matches at Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall, both of which QPR won by a narrow margin, and if he can maintain or improve his average of one interception per game then QPR should steadily improve defensively.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Leroy Sane could leave Manchester City for Bayern Munich, hints The Athletic’s Sam Lee.

What did he say?

Sane has been subject of heavy transfer speculation regarding a return to Germany for a few months now. Over the summer, Bayern had to squash the rumours that the winger was set to join the club, but recent reports state they are still after him.

Sky Germany reported that the Bundesliga champions will go in for Sane, with City lining up Mikel Oyarzabal as a replacement. Now, reliable journalist Lee has said in his Q&A with The Athletic that he believes the German will leave.

When asked whether Sane’s lack of online engagement since his injury is anything to worry about, Lee Said: “There’s probably something in that tbh.

“I do think he’s leaving, and I think he probably would have done had he not got injured,” he added.

“City had/have a chance to convince him during his injury, buy I’m not sure how that’s going – but I have been told they are looking at options (well, one in particular) if he does leave, so I would say at this point that it’s quite likely he will – just don’t know when. (The player I’ve heard isn’t Sancho btw, although I couldn’t rule it out 100%).”

Looking likely

There is no doubt that Bayern are the leaders of German football. They are the behemoth outfit of Bundesliga and are renowned for pinching the best talent around Germany from big clubs like Borussia Dortmund.

So, all the signs do point to Sane joining the gargantuan club. The 23-year-old has has thrived in Manchester, but the idea of returning home, living by his native language and playing for the country’s top dog is perhaps too much to turn down.

Sane is out injured and will miss most of what could be his final season at the club.

It’s pretty safe to say that Ernesto Valverde is not really one of the most beloved figures at Barcelona at this very moment.

The Basque coach has been a prime target of harsh criticism as of late and many of the fans don’t seem to want him in charge of their club.

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Be that as it may, it turns out that according to Football World Rankings, Valverde is still the number one coach on the planet, even above the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola.

Needless to say, as soon as they realised that was the case, many Barcelona fans simply couldn’t believe it and started slamming both the association that made the rankings and their coach himself.

One fan even stated that Florentino Perez, Real Madrid’s president, must be behind that whole thing as a way of rattling the Cules.

You can see some of their reactions and comments down in the collection of tweets below.

Check them out…

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

Everton have struggled defensively this season and sit in 16th, just two points off the relegation zone. Marco Silva’s men have let in 16 goals in just 10 games so far, making them the joint third-worst defensive side in the Premier League.

Right-back is far from a problem position for the club with both Seamus Coleman and Djibril Sidibe available to Silva, but he will surely be keeping a close eye on Jonjoe Kenny’s time at Schalke with the prospect of a 2020 breakthrough in his mind.

The Liverpudlian burst onto the scene under Ronald Koeman and Sam Allardyce in 2017-18, making 19 Premier League appearances that season and providing two assists. Two seasons on, Kenny is showing his brilliance in the Bundesliga.

Schalke manager David Wagner is a huge fan of his and told The Independent (via Bundesliga.com): “I can tell you what, he’s already close to becoming a fan favourite here in our stadium. He’s done an amazing job so far and scored a wonderful goal against [Hertha] Berlin. He’s, for sure, one of the best signings which we have made this summer.”

Not only has Kenny received praise from his manager, he has also won the Rookie of the Month for August in the Bundesliga and was again nominated for the award in September.

It is no surprise to see the 22-year-old earning such praise when he has started all nine Bundesliga games, registering a goal and two assists along the way.

Watching Kenny perform so well will give Everton fans hope for the future, as Coleman is now 31 and may not have long left at Goodison Park. Also, Sidibe is only on loan from Monaco, which means the right-back slot could be his for the taking next season if the Toffees decide against making his deal permanent.

This story is yet another example of a British talent flourishing abroad and it’s a trend that suggests managers should trust these players and used them more often.

Kenny may have to wait until next campaign to fully make his mark on Merseyside, but his early success in Germany suggests he could be ready to succeed Coleman in 2020.

Manchester United secured their first away win since beating Paris Saint-Germain last season but it was no thanks to Marcus Rashford.

After his heroics against Liverpool, which handed United their mandatory single goal, fans might have been expecting the 21-year-old to kick on – especially facing substantially weaker opposition in Partizan Belgrade. But you’d be wrong, and that’s worrying.

Replacing Anthony Martial on the hour mark, who was making his first start since August, Rashford proceeded to demonstrate exactly why some – including his former boss Jose Mourinho – have questioned his ability to play in the all-important centre-forward position, an increasingly dynamic role in the modern game.

Marauding down the pitch in typical United counter-attacking style, Rashford had the perfect chance to finish the game off in injury time – all he needed to do was find the key pass that was staring at him in the face…

United are reportedly interested in signing Juventus’ Mario Mandzukic in January and, after Rashford’s latest act of incompetency in the striker role, it’s easy to see why.

Real Madrid are definitely not short on extraordinary young talents within their squad.

The Galacticos actually have quite the supply of potential superstars with the likes of Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes leading the lines. But, there are more players that are bound to grace the spotlight in the not so distant future.

One of those talents is definitely Martin Odegaard, the 20-year-old Galactico currently on loan at Real Sociedad. And how do we know he’s bound to become one of the greats? Well, his numbers definitely don’t lie.

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Real Sociedad’s player of the month for August has certainly continued his breathtaking ascent and is taking the La Liga stage by storm.

The latest proof that can attest to that statement is actually in the latest match he played for his new and temporary team. La Real faced off against Deportivo Alaves at home and Odegaard, for the lack of a better term, dropped a true masterclass. And this is not an overstatement by any stretch of the imagination.

The young 20-year-old midfielder assisted one of the three goals his team netted but that figure is actually pretty low considering he tallied a game-highest ten key passes on the night. That is just utterly ridiculous – the highest average in La Liga so far this season is Jose Campana with 3.7 per game.

Other than that, Odegaard also deployed four through balls, six crosses and managed an overall 84.1% passing accuracy. Interestingly enough, that wasn’t enough to warrant him the highest rating in the team, at least according to Whoscored who bestowed that honour on his teammate, Mikel Oyarzabal, having recorded two goals and one assist.

Even though the young Norwegian is still at the very beginning of his career with just 20 years on his back, suggesting he just might go on to establish himself as a superstar is becoming a less bold statement by the game.

In fact, at this very point in time, it looks likely to be true.

Still, let’s wait and see how he develops in the future but if he continues down this path, Real Madrid could have a place for him in the senior fold very soon.

Charlton Athletic and Fulham both took a share of the spoils in a four-goal thriller at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.

The Addicks, who have started life in the Championship rather impressively since gaining promotion from League One, opened the scoring just before half time through loan star Conor Gallagher.

Ivan Cavaleiro then netted his fifth of the season to equalise in the second half, only for Macauley Bonne to restore Charlton’s lead within 90 seconds as his header looped over Marcus Bettinelli.

Fulham’s dangerman Aleksander Mitrovic had hit the crossbar earlier in the match, but he did eventually manage to get on the scoresheet as he poked home from less than six yards out just after the hour mark – despite questions over whether he was in an offside position.

Watch Charlton Athletic Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The home side ramped up the pressure in the final 25 minutes as they recorded 80.9% possession and eight shots, per WhoScored.

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer has goalkeeper Dillon Phillips to thank for a string of high quality saves that ensured they came away with at least a point from the game.

Several of the Addicks’ faithful have taken to social media to praise the 24-year-old for his performance.

One supporter said he was a well-deserved Man of the Match while another hoped that showing would put a stop to his critics as it proved he is a top keeper.

A further member of the Charlton crowd also claimed the shot-stopper had saved them many points already this season too.

Here’s the best of the reaction:

Crystal Palace have made an exciting start to life under Patrick Vieira, securing a 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur and playing an entertaining brand of football in the opening weeks of the Premier League campaign.

Much was made of the Eagles’ transfer business over the summer as they entered a fresh chapter of their recent history following the departure of Roy Hodgson, with the acquisitions of Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi and Odsonne Edouard signalling a new era at Selhurst Park.

But one of their less talked about acquisitions could prove to be just as pivotal as the aforementioned stars after his promising showing over the weekend.

Teenage winger Michael Olise arrived from Championship outfit Reading for just £8m in July and is yet to make a start for Palace due to an injury.

However, the former France U18’s international made up for lost time on Sunday, bagging his first goal for the capital club with a stunning volley against Leicester City, scoring only eight minutes after coming off the substitutes bench.

Olise’s memorable showing in south London on Sunday caught the attention of several impressed onlookers, including that of his manager.

“I think we are all really excited about his talent,” Vieira said after the 2-2 draw with Leicester. “But at the same time, we have to understand it will take time to be a Premier League player.

“He is working really well, working really hard, and he is in a good football club who will support him to develop himself. It’s just about him keeping working. He’s working in training, he can score goals as he showed today.

“It is a long season, so he will definitely play some games, but we have to give him time as well to develop himself. He had a long injury, and he is not at his best yet, but he is improving, and he will be a really important player for us.”

Despite Vieira’s cautious tone, the time has come for the French boss to unleash his compatriot on the biggest of stages.

Struggling forward Jordan Ayew last scored a Premier League goal on 7 November 2020, and the 30-year-old looks bereft of confidence in front of goal, hampering Palace’s attacks.

But confidence is a quality that Olise has never lacked. Former Royals teammate Sam Baldock outlined the youngster’s self-belief following an outstanding showing against Nottingham Forest last term.

“Michael is a real talent, he’ll get on the ball in any situation. He’s fearless, if you ask him today, I’ll guarantee that he had no nerves,” the striker revealed.

With a vulnerable Arsenal side coming up after the international break for Palace, Olise’s youthful self-assurance, technical ability and pace could cause the Gunners a whole host of problems; Vieira just needs to be brave enough to give him a chance.

And, in other news…Lost possession 22x: Palace liability who made 0 tackles let Vieira down vs Leicester

West Ham United have been linked with a shock move for Alexandre Lacazette as he enters the final few months of his current contract…

What’s the word?

According to 90min, the Arsenal striker is likely to leave the Emirates Stadium at the end of the season, and the Irons are among the clubs interested in signing him on a free transfer.

It’s thought that talks between the Frenchman’s representatives and the north London hierarchy have taken place but no extension to his £182k-per-week deal has been offered.

The 30-year-old will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any foreign team from January, with his former club Lyon also keen on securing his signature.

There is also interest from West Ham’s Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, as well as unnamed clubs across Spain, Germany and Italy, unsurprisingly.

The next Kanoute

Born in France, ex-Lyon and a former Premier League forward? Lacazette could well be the second coming of Frederic Kanoute at the London Stadium.

Both have been a bustling presence up top and that never stopped them from being deceptively quick and dynamic, with an eye for goal too.

The £25.2m-rated talisman, who has been capped 16 times by France, was once the Gunners’ club-record signing at £52.7m back in the summer of 2017, and ever since then he’s proven to be quite the prolific goalscorer.

As per Transfermarkt, Lacazette has scored 67 times in 173 appearances for the north London giants, of which 50 goals have come from 129 top-flight appearances.

He has managed a goal every 172 minutes in the Premier League, which is less than once every two matches and is a very respectable record.

The 30-year-old has even been likened to former Hammers striker Ian Wright by the late Gerard Houllier.

“He scores more than 25 goals every season. One thing he will bring to Arsenal is goals,” the former Liverpool boss told talkSPORT. “He is a bit like Ian Wright, really. You don’t seem to see him and then suddenly he moves.”

Last year, former Arsenal defender Sokratis dubbed Lacazette “a goal machine” and told the club’s official website: “I think Laca is coming better and better. He’s very important, a massively important player for us.”

The Hammers know all about the 5 foot 9 Gunners frontman, too, as he has frequently caused them hassle over the years. Last season, the Frenchman netted in both their Premier League encounters and absolutely bullied Craig Dawson in the 3-3 draw with a ‘Man of the Match’ performance.

Indeed, across seven appearances against West Ham, Lacazette has found the net five times and he has only been on the losing side once, via Transfermarkt. That’s his best record against any English club.

As an FA Cup winner, a surprise move for the Gunners striker could be huge for the Irons if they can pull it off. Moyes could well find another Kanoute in east London.

AND in other news, West Ham handed boost over “devastating” beast ahead of Leeds, Moyes will be buzzing…

Arsenal have been handed a major injury boost ahead of this weekend’s bottom-of-the-table clash with Norwich City…

What’s the latest?

According to The Sun, Gunners midfielder Thomas Partey has been pictured in training this week, having failed to feature so far this season after he picked up a serious ankle injury during their pre-season encounter with Chelsea.

It comes just a few days after Goal journalist Charles Watts revealed that the 28-year-old, who is valued at £36m, was likely to be involved this weekend for the very first time this campaign.

He told his YouTube channel:

“People I have spoken to who are close to Thomas Partey, they still think he has got a chance of playing or being involved against Norwich, whether that be on the bench, I probably think it would be.”

A big relief

The Ghanian international has been sidelined for around five weeks and has been a big miss in Mikel Arteta’s engine room, so to have him available this weekend should come as a major boost and relief for the 39-year-old head coach.

His options would’ve been very, very limited heading into what is an absolute must-win fixture.

Granit Xhaka, who tested positive for Covid-19 on international duty, is suspended for three matches after he was sent off against Manchester City, whilst Mo Elneny has been out with a muscular problem.

It means Arteta is currently left with summer signing Albert Sambi Lokonga and the wantaway Ainsley Maitland-Niles for the deeper role, whilst Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe should be available further up the pitch.

Rock-bottom Arsenal are yet to win in the Premier League this season and will be desperate to pick up a result against the side that sits just one place above them in the table on goal difference.

Depending on results, the north London giants could rise as high as 12th with a convincing victory.

Partey led the squad for tackles per game (1.8) last season and also averaged one interception, 1.1 shots and 1.2 dribbles per game, via WhoScored, which suggests he can contribute in the attack, too.

So to have him available on Saturday afternoon will come as huge encouragement.

AND in other news, No Xhaka, Tomiyasu starts: Predicting Arteta’s best Arsenal XI…