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Tottenham have confirmed that Christian Eriksen is a doubt for the match against Watford after picking up a dead leg on international duty, and it has come as good news for some fans.

Others have taken the opportunity to ridicule the 27-year-old by suggesting his legs haven’t been at their best for some time, criticising his lack of contribution in recent months.

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That is best shown through the fact that from the 11 matches he has played he only has one goal and one assist to show for his efforts, leading one fan to suggest he shouldn’t be playing anyway until he sorts out his future.

Some supporters have accused the Denmark international of not wanting to play, using a dead leg – which is only a minor injury – as an excuse not to take to the field.

His absence could lead to the inclusion of Lucas Moura, which would please some fans, and it might have a positive effect on the team as they look to get back to winning ways.

Here are some of the reactions to the news of Eriksen’s injury.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Monthly Review series, which analyses what managers can learn from the previous month and what the coming month could have in store.

September has been a mixed month for Los Blancos and their coach, Zinedine Zidane.

But with October already in full throttle, Real Madrid won’t have much time to ponder on what might have been.

And just by looking at their squad and their schedule, the whole month might be decided by two key things.

Toni Kroos will be key

After a slow start, the Galacticos have finally found the higher gear they’ve been searching for since the beginning of the campaign.

They currently sit top of the table and are definitely enjoying the view. But despite many hiccups along the way for the Whites, one star has been dominant in most of his recent displays.

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Their German midfield general, Toni Kroos, had to take on a much bigger role in the team with the absence of Luka Modric and it’s safe to say he did it with flying colours.

The 29-year-old has registered one goal and one assist in the seven games he played so far in La Liga and has managed 2.3 shots per game on average.

But his contribution doesn’t stop there either. Kroos has already deployed 3.3 key passes per game and has accumulated 92.9% passing accuracy in general. When we add 1.9 tackles and 0.7 interceptions per game to that equation, we get a pretty impressive picture of his all-round game.

However, this is only the beginning of the campaign and Kroos’ form will definitely affect Real Madrid going forward. He seems to be really driving the team at the moment, so his contributions will be vital over the next month.

El Clasico

One of the biggest challenges Real Madrid will face in October, if not the biggest challenge, will definitely be the trip to the Camp Nou on 26 October.

And it’s going to be a real treat for all the fans around the world.

But the outcome of that single game, and we can probably say this without exaggeration, might determine both teams’ whole month by itself.

El Clasico is the biggest derby in Spain but also one of the biggest footballing derbies on the planet.

Both Zidane and Ernesto Valverde are most likely already keeping one eye on that specific date, and rightfully so.

Let’s wait and see how they do.

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

It has been a hugely disappointing season for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club to date, summed up by their shocking 7-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Mauricio Pochettino decided to go with a 4-4-2 diamond formation against the Bundesliga outfit, but it proved to be a largely disastrous decision.

On the chalkboard

The Argentine has largely chopped and changed his systems throughout the campaign so far, and according to Transfermarkt he has already utilised the 4-2-3-1, 4-2-2-2, 4-3-1-2, 4-4-2 diamond and 3-4-1-2 formations in their 10 fixtures to date.

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That lack of consistency may have proven to be an issue given some poor performances against the likes of Newcastle United, Olympiacos and Leicester City, and Pochettino’s latest call against Bayern certainly backfired.

Winks certainly wasn’t up to the task of being an out-and-out defensive midfielder at the base of the diamond, and it is clear that something else is needed – and it needs to be used continually to find that momentum.

Revert back to the 4-2-3-1

Yes, Pochettino has used it on three occasions this term according to Transfermarkt, but it needs to be a permanent fixture again.

As things stand it appears as though the 47-year-old is trying too hard to find a formation he can fit Winks, Tanguy Ndombele and Moussa Sissoko into, and it appears to be affecting their organisation and cohesion on the pitch.

Furthermore, they have the players that can make the 4-2-3-1 so successful – Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela, Son Heung-min, Ryan Sessegnon and Christian Eriksen can all make an impact in those wide positions, while the latter, Dele Alli and Giovani Lo Celso can all feature in more of a No.10 position.

Even Ndombele showed his ability to potentially play there with some impressive dribbling and a superb through-ball to Son in the opening exchanges of the clash against Bayern.

Pochettino also needs Dier – or a new defensive midfielder in January – to play at the base of the midfield alongside Winks, Sissoko or Ndombele to really make the most of it.

While there were a few deviations, the 4-2-3-1 was still the primary formation the former Southampton boss used during the 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 campaigns which brought third, second and third-place finishes respectively in the Premier League, and now they need to use it again to rediscover the spark that is missing.

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Just when you thought Michael Owen had caused enough damage for a day, out comes another part of his now infamous book.

The 39-year-old’s autobiography has caused quite the stir, and his comments on Newcastle certainly kicked things off.

Now, the ex-England international has opted to get under the skin of another one of his former clubs, this time targeting Manchester United legend David Beckham.

In the latest piece from his book that is being serialised in The Daily Mirror, Owen admits he still holds resentment towards Beckham after the latter’s sending-off against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup.

After hearing the former striker’s comments, United fans took to Twitter to voice their opinion about the matter.

Many supporters of the Manchester side insisted there is a sense of irony as they hold some “resentment” with him for taking the number seven shirt when he arrived at Old Trafford.

Some Red Devils fans slammed him for trying to create a bit of manufactured controversy in order to sell his book.

Check out some of the furious reaction of United fans below:

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Arsenal bounced back from a difficult draw with Watford last week to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 in the Europa League on Thursday.

It was an impressive performance from the Gunners, and there were several quality displays from some of the side’s fringe players.

Unai Emery, therefore, has some decisions to make ahead of Sunday’s fixture against Aston Villa. Here, we predict his starting XI.

Emiliano Martinez started in goal in Europe, and took advantage of his opportunity by keeping a clean sheet. However, the Argentinian is likely to be the number one in the cup competitions, like Petr Cech was last season, so Bernd Leno should return to the side.

With Kieran Tierney and Hector Bellerin still unlikely to be ready to feature, Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles should once again line-up on either side of the back four.

David Luiz and Sokratis have not covered themselves in much glory this term, with their side conceding eight goals with them as the centre-back pairing. Considering the Brazil international is still new to the team and will need time to settle, Emery should give him another chance to prove his worth. Sokratis, though, has no such excuse, and he could be replaced by Calum Chambers, who has yet to concede this season.

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On each occasion the Emirates outfit have lined up with a 4-2-3-1 formation this term, they have ended up victorious. At home, they should be looking to take the game to their opponents with an extra offensive player. As such, two central midfielders should be selected. Granit Xhaka is one of the leaders of Emery’s squad, whilst Matteo Guendouzi remains a regular presence this season. While Joe Willock scored in midweek, we anticipate he’ll be left out.

The three behind the striker could feature a surprise. Nicolas Pepe is almost certain to line-up on the right, and Dani Ceballos should come back into the side after featuring for just 18 minutes in Germany. On the left, Bukayo Saka could make the first Premier League appearance of his career. He put on a fantastic show in the Europa League, scoring once and bagging two assists, and he deserves his chance to impress again.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s place is easily the most secure. He has scored in all but one of Arsenal’s matches so far this season, and with no other striker fit, there is no alternative even if Emery saw any need to rest him. The Gabon international, therefore, will lead the line once again.

According to The Sun, Tottenham’s on-loan midfielder Josh Onomah has been linked with a move to the Bundesliga. 

Both Hoffenheim and Borussia Monchengladbach are interested in the 21-year-old, who is currently on loan at Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday.

It appears to be the new phenomena in European football currently for German clubs to snap up young English players that are not getting a look in for their clubs. This has been on show this season with the immense success of Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund, as well as players like Ademola Lookman last season.

This is a system that suits both the English and the German club. The Bundesliga outfit will get a high-quality player on loan or permanently for a cheap price, and the Premier League team get to send their players out to one of the most competitive leagues in Europe, where the standard is usually higher than the Championship.

Therefore, from Tottenham’s perspective, this deal seems to make wonderful sense, and should be one that they pursue if they have any ambition of Onomah making it at Spurs. A move to the Championship rarely sharpens a player enough for them to be ready for the top flight, whereas the Bundesliga will do just that.

Furthermore, Onomah has only played 11 games for The Owls this season, scoring three goals. He is not seen as a valuable asset at Hillsborough, and is not getting the game time or experience that Spurs will want to see. If these Bundesliga outfits are interested, Spurs should snap up the opportunity.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

Tom Davies may have played only 11 minutes for Everton so far this season but his form at national level shows he has something to offer Marco Silva.

The 21-year-old started in the England U21 matches against Kosovo and Turkey recently and has now featured for Aidy Boothroyd’s side on 12 occasions, with a single goal scored against Andorra.

At national level he has been given a more prominent role by his manager, acting as the anchor in midfield, sitting deep and keeping the midfield ticking over, allowing more creative players such as Phil Foden the freedom to roam.

It is a different role for the youngster who has previously stated he prefers to play as a box-to-box player, but one that has seen him thrive and earn praise from Boothroyd, who called his display against Kosovo outstanding.

By comparison, under Silva he has seen his game time at Goodison Park reduce, starting only 13 times last season compared to 26 starts in the campaign prior to that.

Davies has often operated in a box-to-box style but if there is one area of weakness in his game it is his lack of productivity in the final third, with just four goals and six assists in 90 games for Everton.

Against Kosovo he played a key role in his team’s opening goal and if he can replicate the composure he showed in the opposition’s half, with two key passes according to SofaScore, then he will become a more reliable figure for Silva.

Playing in a deeper role reduced the pressure on the midfielder to create going forward, and that made him more effective in defence.

With Jean-Philippe Gbamin set for a spell on the sidelines the Toffees lack defensive cover in the middle of the pitch and Davies has begun to show he is capable of fulfilling that role.

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He won possession back for his side on seven occasions against Kosovo, which indicates that his understanding of the game is improving with more game time, as is his positioning – with one interception also, though that is an area he will likely look to improve.

However, he is far from the finished article and in a more ruthless environment such as the Premier League he will need to improve his ball retention, having given the ball away on six occasions against Kosovo.

Davies was also dribbled past twice last night and against better opposition at club level there is a possibility he could struggle.

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Newcastle United supporters came into the January window expecting big things from their new mega-rich owners but sadly, reality has hit them hard.

The Magpies have still only won a solitary game all season and with now under two weeks to go in the transfer market, have just Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood to show for their troubles.

What’s the word?

This has been a topsy-turvy month for the Toon so far but there is an expectation that a number of deals will be wrapped up before the deadline on January 31st.

One of the biggest priorities for Newcastle in the window has been bringing in one or two central defenders.

Sadly, Sven Botman is now unlikely to join the northeast side this month but they are now also facing significant difficulties in their plans to bring Sevilla defender, Diego Carlos, to St James’ Park.

This is a deal that has been in the offing for a number of days now with the player even believed to have handed in a transfer request at his Spanish employers.

However, there has been a big twist to the tale. Despite Newcastle initially appearing to be the frontrunner, they are now facing competition for his signature.

The news was revealed by Kaveh Solhekol on a live edition of Sky Sports News’ Transfer Show on Wednesday evening.

He said: “We’ve been told another Premier League club is trying to sign Diego Carlos and they have made a bid for him.”

The Sky Sports reporter continued: “Our information is that the player would like to leave Sevilla and to come and play for Newcastle, so much so he handed in a transfer request yesterday (Tuesday).

“So it looked like there were positive signs that he could be going to Newcastle. Then another Premier League club came in for him today, they have matched Newcastle’s £30m bid. That has complicated the situation.”

Fans surely scared

After already missing out on their number one target in Botman, this is news that will severely deflate and scare not only the Toon Army but also the club’s recruitment team and hierarchy.

A deal to bring Carlos to the club was far from plane sailing in the first place but it did look as though Newcastle were making important breakthroughs in a bid to land his services this week.

However, that has now been thrown into disarray by one of their divisional rivals and if it was someone in the Premier League who stole him away from them, it would only make matters even worse.

This is a devastating blow to the club’s transfer plans and although they do have a number of other options at centre-back, including Benoit Badiashile of Monaco, Gleison Bremer at Torino, and Felix Uduokhai at Augsburg, Carlos was right at the top of their list.

His addition would and could still be a significant one for many reasons. Not only would it prove that Newcastle have the ability to pull players from top clubs in European football, but also because their defence has been diabolical this term.

They have kept just one clean sheet this season – against Burnley – and have shipped 43 top-flight strikes throughout 2021/22. For context, only fellow relegation rivals Norwich have a worse record than them.

As a result, signing Carlos was vital this month and if another Premier League side prises him away instead, it will leave the fanbase demoralised and frightened about their prospects for the rest of the campaign.

AND in other news, “I’m told”: Craig Hope issues major NUFC transfer claim that’ll get fans excited…

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly now showing ‘much interest’ in signing super versatile midfielder Andrea Cambiaso before the January transfer window shuts.

The Lowdown: Time running out

Spurs targets seem to be falling like flies, with both Adama Traore and Luis Diaz looking like they are going to move to FC Barcelona and Liverpool respectively.

Thus, with just a few days left until the window closes, Daniel Levy and the board need to get on with bringing some new faces in, and may now have to settle for players who can play in a number of different positions as the time to bring in multiple top signings ticks down.

The Latest: Cambiaso interest

As per journalist and transfer expert Gianluigi Longari, there is now ‘much interest’ from the North London club, as well as Juventus, Inter Milan, Atalanta and Napoli in signing Cambiaso.

His current deal at Genoa expires in 2023, but the Serie A team ideally want to keep him until the summer.

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The Verdict: Just do it

Lilywhites fans have surely grown tired of how many targets that they are missing out on, and so this is a case of just making sure Antonio Conte is not left completely empty-handed now.

There is no doubt that Cambiaso is a good player too, as Italian media have pointed out that he has ‘showed his qualities’ in his debut season in Serie A, in which he has managed to score one goal and make four assists in 22 games in total (Transfermarkt).

As an Italian himself, Cambiaso could work well under Conte, and would save the manager a headache as he can play in a wide number of different positions on the pitch, including at right wing-back and in the centre of midfield.

Nonetheless, with the clock ticking, this is a deal that Levy needs to get done as soon as possible, adding some versatile depth to his manager’s squad.

In other news, find out which ‘extraordinary’ ace THFC could now sign here!

Leeds United could sign a big upgrade on Adam Forshaw in Cagliari midfielder Nahitan Nandez amid suggestions that the club could reignite their move for the midfielder.

What’s the story?

Reports over the course of the summer window had claimed that Marcelo Bielsa’s side were eyeing up a swoop for the 26-year-old, with Italian publication La Nuova Sardegna even suggesting that the Whites were ready to pay the €36m (£31m) release clause in order to bring him to Elland Road.

Ciclo Deportivo have now claimed (via FC Inter News) that the Whites could return to the table for Nandez, although it’s suggested that it could well be a ploy to get Serie A giants Inter to bid themselves.

Upgrade on Forshaw

With Kalvin Phillips out injured, it’s been up to Forshaw to bring some calm and experience to the Leeds midfield this season; and while the 30-year-old has tried to hold things down, Nandez would represent a real upgrade on him.

Speaking to This Is Futbol, Serie A football expert Conor Clancy said of the Uruguayan: “Anywhere Bielsa wants to play him, he’d do a job. I like him a lot. I think he’s only about five foot seven, but you wouldn’t know it if you just watched clips of him, he is a little bit of a machine. He’s so powerful but at the same time, has really, really good ball control.”

As per SofaScore, he averaged 1.8 tackles and won 6.1 duels per game in Serie A last term, which favours quite well when you compare him to Phillips – the Whites powerhouse averaged 2.6 tackles and won 5.3 duels per match in the Premier League.

Nandez’s performances for Cagliari even led journalist Mina Rzouki to say: “Cagliari’s Nandez is one of the most underrated players. God he’s been so amazing, especially in Cagliari’s last 3 games. He scored the equaliser against Napoli. Man of the match in the win against Udinese. Against Roma – just wow. Unstoppable.”

The £18m-rated Nandez appears to be the ideal solution to Bielsa’s lack of real midfield cover at Elland Road right now, with his combination of work rate and technique making him a perfect fit for the notoriously demanding Leeds manager.

This season, the Uruguayan has averaged far more duels won per game than Forshaw, while also offering a more consistent goal threat too, averaging more shots per match.

At four years his junior, and with plenty of experience in the Italian top flight, Nandez could seamlessly replace Forshaw in the starting line-up at Elland Road.

Meanwhile, Victor Orta must ensure that he does this one crucial thing…