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Many West Ham fans have voiced their concerns after the news that key player Lukasz Fabianski will be forced to miss at least two months with a torn hip muscle.

The Polish ‘keeper, 34, got the injury while taking a goal-kick in his side’s 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on Saturday, and was duly subbed off.

According to The Guardian, there were hopes from West Ham that he had merely strained a muscle after he limped off at the Vitality Stadium, but further examination has shown that Fabianski will be sitting out a large chunk of the season – with reports suggesting it could be even longer than three months.

It’s a big blow for the Hammers considering the ‘keeper was the club’s Player of the Season last year.

Replacing Fabianski is likely to be Roberto Jimenez – a Spanish goalkeeper brought to the club in the summer after a three-year spell at Espanyol.

Unfortunately for Jimenez, it seems he is yet to convince the fans yet, playing twice in the EFL Cup and conceding four goals.

Here are some of the responses to the news of Fabianski’s impending absence…

How big a blow is it for West Ham to lose Fabianski? Can Jimenez step up adequately in his absence? Let us know your views in the comments section below!

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…

According to Argentine media outlet Golazo, Tottenham Hotspur defender Juan Foyth looks set to start at right-back for his country against Germany on Wednesday, and it gives Spurs the perfect opportunity to see if he is the answer to their right-back ordeal.

The Guardian reported following his injury in the Audi Cup during the summer that he had been earmarked as a potential Kieran Trippier replacement this season, but that issue has meant he hasn’t had the chance to try and prove himself yet.

Quite unbelievably, Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has already used four separate players in the position already this term, and we’re only at the start of October.

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Kyle Walker-Peters started the campaign in the starting XI before an injury saw him initially replaced by Davinson Sanchez against Arsenal at the Emirates, and the latter’s performance didn’t go without criticism from fans, while supporters didn’t want the fit-again former to start against Brighton.

Following that failed experiment, Serge Aurier was given his opportunity against Crystal Palace, and looked to have taken it having had a hand in two goals in a comprehensive 4-0 victory.

However, a first half red card against Southampton and a horror show against Bayern Munich that saw him receive a 2/10 rating from Football London have left him in a precarious situation, with The Times reporting Pochettino is keen to move him on in January.

Aurier’s absence and subsequent suspension has even seen midfielder Moussa Sissoko appear there across two of the north London outfit’s previous three fixtures, with varying degrees of success – he was praised by his manager for standing in for the dismissed Ivorian against Southampton, but only received a 4/10 rating from Football London for his display against Brighton at the weekend.

It is clearly a problem position for Tottenham, and the fact that 21-year-old Foyth looks set to start in the role for his country is certainly a timely boost – as long as he performs well that is.

The good thing for Pochettino is that the Argentine youngster will be coming up some top opposition in Germany, so it is a real chance to see how he copes and whether he has a future for Spurs at right-back.

Spurs fans will certainly have their fingers crossed given what they have witnessed so far this season.

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…

As quoted by Sky Sports, Ryan Giggs has said Daniel James was simply being “streetwise” when he fell down to the turf in Wales’ clash with Croatia.

What did he say?

Since arriving from Swansea this summer, James has been a revelation for Manchester United with his early season contributions. The 21-year-old has scored three times in the Premier League already for his new side, but he has come under some criticism for falling to ground far too easily – he was booked against both Wolves and Crystal Palace in successive matches over apparent simulation.

Watch how to cross the road like a boss with freestyler Ben Nuttall in the video below…

On Sunday, the winger appeared to be involved in a nasty collision with Croatia’s Domagoj Vida, and looked to have lost consciousness when he hit the ground. However, James returned to the action after lengthy treatment, and speaking following the end of the match, Giggs provided an explanation as to why he didn’t go off.

He said: “The physio came over but there was no problem. We did all the (concussion) tests at half-time and he was fine. He stayed down and was a bit streetwise. He told the doctors ‘I’m not moving, I’m just sitting still’. Not to get anyone sent off, he was just using his nous.”

Shocking

Whether Giggs thought his comments were intended as a compliment of James’ grasp of the dark arts remains unclear. But the fact the Wales boss used the word “streetwise” when the entire stadium and those watching at home thought there was something seriously wrong with the United prospect, is deeply worrying.

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Gamesmanship has always been intrinsically linked with sport. Trying to gain an advantage, duping oppositions players and referees, and doing anything and everything you can to find a win for your side has been part and parcel of any competitive event. But with football’s concerning history with head injuries – Petr Cech and Ryan Mason most notably – Giggs and James have brought shame on themselves.

Peter McCabe, chief executive of brain injury charity Headway, delivered a stinging rebuke of the duo’s actions.

“Ryan Giggs’ claim that the player was being ‘streetwise’ by staying down and appearing to have been knocked out is shocking. If that is the case and James was ‘acting’, it raises serious questions about the player’s understanding of the seriousness of concussion. It is simply not acceptable for teams to use concussion protocols for tactical gain.”

For a player who is already beginning to develop an unwanted reputation for diving, the last thing he needed was for the spotlight to be turned up a notch. Both Giggs and James have done themselves, Manchester United, and the entire footballing community, an entire disservice with their disgraceful actions.

La Liga is finally back this weekend as we bid farewell to the international break for now.

Real Madrid will be travelling away to Mallorca on Saturday evening and seeing how the gap between them and the second-placed Barcelona is only two points wide, Los Blancos will definitely be on the hunt for all three points by all means necessary.

But interestingly enough, this particular clash might be even more exciting for the Galacticos’ fans than it first seems.

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Of course, their fans won’t really need an excuse to watch that game in any case but seeing how a young, up and coming talent is likely to play for Mallorca on Saturday, this could be something they won’t want to miss, especially considering that player is none other than their own loanee wonderkid – Takefusa Kubo.

Kubo was Real Madrid’s big scoop of the summer. The Japanese spent quite some time in Barcelona’s La Masia but now he’s donning the royal white of Real Madrid.

Still, considering he is still just 18-years-old and with no La Liga experience per se, Los Blancos decided to send him out on loan.

Watch Lionel Messi and Gareth Bale answer the internet’s weirdest questions in the video below…

And it just so happens to be that they decided Mallorca is the right place for the youngster’s development. Now, Kubo might face his own club this weekend and it’s bound to be an exciting clash.

So far, the 18-year-old has accumulated 322 minutes from four games in total for his new club.

He also managed to start in two of those games and already has one assist to his name. Apart from that, Kubo’s numbers are not outstanding but he is a young player who’s still trying to adapt and improve.

The Japanese Messi, as he has been described, has recorded 0.8 shots, 0.3 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per game so far. He also averaged 12.2 passes per game with an accuracy of 67.1%.

Clearly, those numbers could be higher but considering he’s a young player who’s currently at a newly-promoted side that’s struggling to keep up with the rest of the competitors in La Liga, Kubo has still been fairly impressive.

The future is definitely bright for the young Japanese prodigy, and if everything goes according to plan, he will be the one to lead Real Madrid’s revolution in the not so distant future.

But first, let’s see how he does this weekend.

The international break is over and domestic football is set to be back in front of our very eyes.

Leeds have had time to reflect and analyse their defeat against Millwall last time out and they will be hoping to bounce back against Pep Clotet’s Birmingham.

The Blues travel to Elland Road at 3pm on Saturday but with a host of dilemmas and problems arising after Leeds’ loss at The Den, who will start and who could drop out?

Here’s the XI we’re predicting Marcelo Bielsa may go with.

One of the first changes to note is Pablo Hernandez returning to the starting XI. The Spaniard has been at the centre of contract talk this week but whether he puts pen to paper remains to be seen.

Hernandez has been out with injury recently but Bielsa said before the break that he could well make a return for the Birmingham game.

That means that the underperforming £15m man Helder Costa could be dropped. He failed to register a single goal or assist in his three starts since coming into the side.

Adam Forshaw might well be back as well but we reckon the Argentine will hand another opportunity to Stuart Dallas in the middle of the park.

Leeds being reduced to ten men last time out meant Bielsa only got 14 minutes to see him in that role. Putting the Northern Irishman there again will likely mean Luke Ayling starts at right-back.

Gaetano Berardi has come under fire from supporters over the break but we’re predicting he’ll be given the nod again.

Eddie Nketiah was in lively form for England U21s this week as he scored a hat-trick, although one had been ruled as an own goal previously. He also missed a penalty.

Despite that, we reckon Patrick Bamford will start upfront even though he hasn’t scored in six outings.

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… 

Tottenham put in a convincing display against Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday, and Tanguy Ndombele began to show Spurs fans exactly why he was brought in over the summer.

The midfielder arrived for an initial club-record fee of £52.8m but so far has not lived up to the expectations that come with such a price, and some supporters were left with concern over one aspect of his game.

However, his fine performance hints that he could be another astute purchase of the Mauricio Pochettino and Daniel Levy era – adding to the likes of Son Heung-min and Dele Alli – and if he can continue that over the next few games he will begin to remove any doubt over his ability that some may have.

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Ndombele bossed proceedings throughout, commanding midfield with 58 completed passes, helping to establish Spurs’ dominance of 59% possession and 12 shots on target.

His all-round display was reminiscent of Mousa Dembele, a midfielder Spurs have failed to replace having not won an away league game since his departure in January.

Ndombele combined his skill on the ball with a robust defensive showing, breaking up the visitors’ play with two interceptions and three tackles – as per WhoScored – which suggests that he is beginning to get up to speed.

The Frenchman matched that with his intensity and desire throughout, with his burst from midfield and subsequent run to set-up Son for Spurs’ third a brilliant example of what he can produce.

Check out the VAR chaos during Tottenham 1-1 Watford as it happened in the video below…

Such play could make him a key player for Pochettino and if he replicates that showing on a regular basis he will soon be considered another Levy gem.

He added another assist late on but could have had more due to the three key passes he completed, underlining the array of abilities he has at his disposal, and why Spurs were willing to break their transfer record to sign him.

Comparisons have been made to Yaya Toure and if the 22-year-old can begin to live up to such a label, starting against Liverpool, then Tottenham should begin to turn their form around.

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… 

West Ham’s trouble in attack persisted against Sheffield United but one man who continues to shine is Andriy Yarmolenko, and he is fast becoming a reliable figure for Manuel Pellegrini.

The Hammers played out a 1-1 draw against the Blades, meaning they have scored just 12 goals in ten league games as they failed to make their dominance of possession count, with 61% of the ball resulting in just four shots on target.

Robert Snodgrass’ goal came after a rare lapse of concentration in the Blades’ defence, but also as a result of brilliant awareness from Yarmolenko, who slipped in the Scot to slot the ball home in the first half.

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It was the first assist the Ukraine international has produced this season but that is surprising given his xG stats, which indicate that his teammates may have let him down in that area – as he should have three to his name in the league.

Other than that, the winger has been in fine form, and certainly one of the stand-out attackers in his team, with Manuel Lanzini and Felipe Anderson underperforming by contrast, as both have failed to find the net so far this season.

He was West Ham’s biggest attacking threat on Saturday, as his stats from WhoScored depict, with his four key passes underlining how he was able to create chances for his teammates.

To make things more worrying for Pellegrini, the Hammers seem to be becoming more reliant on his contribution, with Sebastien Haller and Robert Snodgrass’ two key passes each the next best in that area.

That highlights the lack of creativity but also the need for Yarmolenko, and that could hinder Michail Antonio when he eventually returns from his injury lay-off.

The 29-year-old has only managed 0.7 key passes per game in each of the last three seasons, and his rate of scoring goals and producing assists has made him something of a fan favourite in east London.

Antonio has featured often under the Chilean when fit but Yarmolenko is proving game after game that he is amongst the team’s most important players, and therefore he looks likely to retain his place.

However, it should be viewed as a positive, as it means there is competition for places which is lacking in other areas of the squad, such as up-front and in centre-midfield, and the pressure on his place could lead to even better performances from Yarmolenko.

Admittedly, it takes some ability to get the ball into the back of a tiny net at an impossible angle like that. Now, he just needs to transfer that into the game against Tottenham at the weekend.

The introduction of VAR in the 2019/20 campaign has brought with it a series of controversies, and one club’s fanbase who feel they have been at the centre of a number of unfortunate decisions are Dean Smith’s Aston Villa.

The newly-promoted side were unfortunate to have a goal disallowed at Crystal Palace earlier in the season after Jack Grealish was deemed to have dived by Kevin Friend – something that was not directly influenced by VAR but where intervention could have assisted.

Conor Hourihane, meanwhile, also had a goal chalked off against Brighton in the club’s 2-1 victory.

But the latest news – as reported by The Telegraph – that Premier League clubs will meet to discuss whether managers could appeal decisions mid-game has caught the attention of a number of Villa fans.

Although it could have benefitted their current season, many were quick to dismiss the suggestion pointing to a need for the system to improve prior to further changes, whilst others simply said VAR needs to go. 

Here are some of the best reactions following the reports of a potential meeting between Premier League clubs. 

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.