Football
Simo Valakari: New St Johnstone boss says Scotland special in his heart
New St Johnstone head coach Simo Valakari is thrilled to be back in Scotland, where “everyone is breathing football”.
The 51-year-old former Finland international spent almost three-and-a-half years at Motherwell before joining Derby County in the English Premier League in May 2000.
“I have been dreaming of it,” said Valakari. “I never took it for granted that I would come back here, but when I started my coaching career one of my things was ‘yes, one day I would like to coach in Scotland’.
“I started my professional career here so it was always a special place in my heart and how I see Scottish football, how I see this culture, everyone is breathing football. That is what I have been missing in my last positions.
“Without Motherwell, I would not go to the Premier League, without Motherwell I would not go to the MLS, without Motherwell more likely I would not have played for the Finnish national team. Motherwell made me the player that I was.”
A number of names, including Aberdeen coach Peter Leven and Ayr United boss Scott Brown, were in the frame for the Perth post before Valakari agreed a three-year deal to replace Craig Levein.
“I have been preparing myself for this moment,” he said.
“Every situation is unique, that is why I can learn from my past experiences. Now we we need to find our way to do things at St Johnstone.”
Valakari, who has been a manager for 14 years with clubs in his homeland, Norway and Latvia, added it would be a “step by step” process as he aims to lift Saints from 10th in the Premiership.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe says he is “frustrated” his side did not take their chances in their 0-0 draw with Everton in the Premier League.
READ MORE: Everton 0-0 Newcastle United
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Everton manager Sean Dyche says the referee did not show his side the courtesy of going to look at the VAR screen for Dan Burn’s challenge on Dominic Calvert-Lewin in their 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League.
READ MORE: Everton 0-0 Newcastle United
Watch Match of the Day on BBC iPlayer.
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With some fans unhappy at a negative, but often effective, style of football, the club were unable or unwilling to agree a new deal with Moyes as Lopetegui was named his replacement.
The early signs under the Spaniard were not encouraging. Home losses to Aston Villa, Manchester City and Chelsea led to criticism that the style of football was the same, if not worse than last season.
Last week, ex-Hammers striker Tony Cottee, speaking on TalkSport, called the managerial move from Moyes to Lopetegui “a sideways step, not a progressive step”.
“I didn’t want him [Lopetegui] in the first place. I said ‘be careful what you wish for’ – David Moyes did a superb job for West Ham,” he added.
Was this win over Ipswich a sign of a more attack-minded Hammers side?
After seven league matches, Lopetegui’s team have a lower goals-per-game ratio than last season (1.43 this campaign compared to 1.58 last year), but also fewer goals conceded (1.57-1.95 per game), more passes (410-387 per game) and more crosses (26-24.1 per game).
West Ham also received a helping hand against a naive Ipswich side, who contributed to their own downfall with defensive mistakes contributing to three of West Ham’s four goals.
But Hammers fans may be liking comments from visiting boss Kieran McKenna, when he said: “Tactically, West Ham played very differently to any team we’ve played this season. They were very direct which is what we struggled with. Michail Antonio did a fantastic job in bringing in people like Tomas Soucek.
“In the first 60 minutes it was that direct play we didn’t deal with.”
However, before West Ham fans expect to see four goals a game, McKenna did add: “They didn’t have to work too hard for their goals. We conceded some poor goals at poor times, that changed the momentum.”
Meanwhile, Lopetegui was keen to praise his side’s defensive work instead of their attacking play, but tantalisingly said: “We had a lot of chances to score, but we can do more goals.”
Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer analyses Fulham’s “so many missed chances” in their 3-2 defeat by Manchester City in the Premier League.
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola talks to Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker about his side’s win over Fulham, the international break and his love for City.
MATCH REPORT: Man City 3-2 Fulham
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Cristiano Ronaldo wants Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne at Al-Nassr, Manchester Utd interested in Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso and Robert Lewandowski has option to extend Barcelona deal.
Al-Nassr and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 39, is urging the Saudi Arabian club to sign Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne when the 33-year-old’s contract with Manchester City runs out next summer. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish), external
Manchester United are interested in appointing Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso to replace Erik ten Hag and are willing to wait until the summer for the former Liverpool midfielder. (Todofichajes – in Spanish), external
Aston Villa defender Pau Torres is a target for Manchester United, who are prepared to offer close to £42m for the 27-year-old Spain defender. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli want to sign Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, 32, and his 33-year-old Liverpool team-mate Virgil van Dijk when their contracts with the Reds run out at the end of the season. (Caught Offside), external
Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, 36, has an option to extend his contract at Barcelona beyond next summer if he meets certain criteria, which he is expected to achieve. (Sport – in Spanish), external
Barcelona are considering sending 21-year-old Spain forward Ansu Fati, who had a stint at Brighton last season, out on loan in January. (Sport – in Spanish), external
England striker Eddie Nketiah, 25, says he left Arsenal to join Crystal Palace in the summer for “opportunities to be on the pitch and improve”. (Independent), external
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