Author: Frank G. Barnes

Purveyor of footy since the 90s. Favor the Premier League and old school Serie A with a touch of Bundesliga. More than a touch. Professional writer for 20 years, covering every sport but now focused on the Premier League and world football. You won't be able to guess my favorite team.
Paul Ince said what Manchester United don’t want to admit about Andrey Santos
9Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Paul Ince said what Manchester United don’t want to admit about Andrey Santos

Manchester United wanted to rebuild their midfield this past summer transfer window, so they went ahead and signed two of the best young players in Carlos Baleba of Brighton and then Andrey Santos from Chelsea. While Baleba was once a top Premier League midfielder before a bad 2025/26 season with the Seagulls, Santos is only proven in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg and was not able to successfully transition to Chelsea, leading the Blues to view him as expendable for money. Santos could still come good, but, so far, Manchester United aren't getting anything out of their midfield, other than what Kobbie Mainoo is providing in bouncing back under Michael Carrick. Former Manchester United star Paul Ince has pointed this out, and he is wondering why Man United signed Santos instead of trusti...
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Sky Sports confirms tremendous Amad Diallo injury news for Manchester United
9Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Sky Sports confirms tremendous Amad Diallo injury news for Manchester United

Manchester United star right winger Amad Diallo has been missing in action for more than a month now after taking a knock to his ankle. After returning to practice, he has been targeting this weekend's big game against Tottenham Hotspur as his return date after the September and October international break. According to a report from Danyal Khan of Sky Sports, after his return to practice and his ability to, per Michael Carrick, practice a little bit, the Ivory Coast international is expected to be back against Spurs. Now, Diallo isn't guaranteed to be back, of course, but, at this point, it would be a huge surprise if he was not out there. Now, since he has been out for more than a month and is a young gem Man United have to protect, it is less likely he starts. But any Diallo is...
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Xabi Alonso’s Jamie Gittens injury news isn’t as harsh as what Chelsea fans think
9Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Xabi Alonso’s Jamie Gittens injury news isn’t as harsh as what Chelsea fans think

Jamie Gittens was one of the best players in the Bundesliga in the 2024/25 season, especially in the first half before Niko Kovac made the tactics more defensive so that Borussia Dortmund could actually stay in Champions League qualification. But since his approximately 50 million pound transfer to Chelsea, Gittens has been a disaster. Instead of looking like the improved player at Dortmund who was one of the best in Europe at taking defenders on, Gittens has been back to falling over the ball and carrying no goal threat. According to Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso at the press conference before Chelsea vs. Bournemouth, Gittens is injured and won't play against the Cherries. Furthermore, he won't even be available for weeks. Alonso said, "Jamie Gittens is out for tomorrow, that’s the...
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Liverpool fans will cringe at the latest Virgil van Dijk transfer news
9Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Liverpool fans will cringe at the latest Virgil van Dijk transfer news

At 35 years old, Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool are going to have to continue to contemplate the star center back's future, because he doesn't have a long term one at Anfield anymore, as sad as that is to say. But VVD is still going strong as one of the top center backs in the Premier League, forging a heck of a partnership with Jeremy Jacquet. And as a great leader and club legend, Kopites obviously don't want to see him gone if he is still playing at a high level. On an expiring contract, the big boys in Saudi Arabia and Turkey are vulturing for a potential transfer, and Fotomac in Turkey reports that the infamous Galatasaray are interested in bringing him over as a rival to Mohamed Salah on Trabzonspor. Per Fotomac, Van Dijk's old Manchester City rival Ilkay Gundogan is trying t...
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Xabi Alonso gave the Estevao update Chelsea fans needed to hear
9Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Xabi Alonso gave the Estevao update Chelsea fans needed to hear

Chelsea star right winger Estevao has only been able to play a couple of minutes here and there this season after a torn hamstring a couple of months ago, as the Blues have been wisely, slowly easing the way back for their biggest young gem on a squad filled with young gems. Estevao has a chance to become one of the best right wingers in the world, and after the September and October international break, Chelsea fans are dying to know when the 19 year old will be able to start again alongside an improved Chelsea attack after the signing of blockbuster left winger and attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers. Xabi Alonso gave an update on Estevao before Chelsea face Bournemouth in the return of the Premier League on Matchday 6, and it sounds like it won't be long before Chelsea rev up Estev...
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Andoni Iraola confirms dreadful Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo injury news
9Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Andoni Iraola confirms dreadful Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo injury news

Liverpool have a massive matchup against Manchester City this weekend in the Premier League, renewing their old title rivalry, though, technically, the Reds own hopes at getting back in the title mix are not over with signs of clear improvement apparent under new manager Andoni Iraola. But as Liverpool look to start the bleeding for a Man City side that should be truly reeling from their 114 charges soon, they will be up against it from an attacking perspective. Liverpool manager Iraola confirmed to reporters before the Man City matchup that star attackers Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo are both going to be out injured after suffering a thigh and ankle issue, respectively, over the September international break. Iraola said, “Yes, Alex Isak and Gakpo won't play, not ready unfortuna...
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Michael Carrick offers disappointing Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu, and Nousair Mazraoui injury news
9Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Michael Carrick offers disappointing Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu, and Nousair Mazraoui injury news

Manchester United are having a terrible time right now, as they are 12th in the Premier League after initially looking like a resurgent side under iconic midfielder Michael Carrick as their new manager, returning to the Champions League last season. Injuries are playing a huge role in their struggles, of course, and with the worst team in the league, Tottenham Hotspur, on the horizon, things still actually don't get any easier for the Red Devils due to their injury situation. Ahead of the Spurs game, Carrick told reporters that star wide man Patrick Dorgu is going to be out for weeks, striker Benjamin Sesko won't play, and defensive stud Nousair Mazraoui is also not ready to return either. Carrick said, "Patrick [Dorgu] came off and looks like he’ll be out for probably a number of...
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Mikel Arteta’s brutal Christos Tzolis injury news is a clear transfer message
9Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Mikel Arteta’s brutal Christos Tzolis injury news is a clear transfer message

Arsenal star left winger Christos Tzolis suffered a muscular injury over the September and October international break, and the initial speculation is that he could miss the rest of the month's games for the Gunners. Tzolis is a new signing from Club Brugge, and he has been every bit as decisive as Arsenal fans expected after he racked up the goals and assists in the Belgian top flight. An upgrade on Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli in the 11, the only concern with Tzolis is that now Arsenal only have him on the left wing and no real depth behind him after losing both Trossard and the disappointing Martinelli this summer. Speaking at the press conference before Arsenal vs. Leeds United in the Premier League's return, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Tzolis is inj...
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Mikel Arteta offers unclear Kai Havertz, Ezri Konsa injury updates for Arsenal vs. Leeds
9Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Mikel Arteta offers unclear Kai Havertz, Ezri Konsa injury updates for Arsenal vs. Leeds

Arsenal will battle Leeds United in their return to the Premier League after the September and October international break, and after their 3-0 blowout loss to surprise package Brighton, they will want to avoid a similar upset against a Leeds side that has really outperformed expectations in the top five themselves. The Gunners will be shorthanded after the break, as they suffered some key injuries. We already know star left winger Christos Tzolis will be out with a muscular issue, which is a huge blow. But another new signing, center back Ezri Konsa, could also be out, and the same goes for center forward Kai Havertz. Both men suffered injuries over the break with their countries. Mikel Arteta provided injury updates on both Havertz and Konsa before the Leeds game to the press, b...
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Liverpool get brutal Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo injury news
8Oct By Frank G. BarnesNo Comments
Analysis

Liverpool get brutal Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo injury news

Liverpool will face Manchester City this weekend in a massive Premier League battle, and while it is no longer one that involves the title race until the Reds can prove they are back in that mix, it is still a vital fixture for two clubs very much operating at a Champions League level. The Reds are worried about injuries to their two most important attacking players, striker Alexander Isak and playmaking left winger Cody Gakpo. They have been the team's best goal scorer and creator, respectively, with Isak finally showing the quality he displayed in 2024/25 with Newcastle United while Gakpo is bouncing back and looking like the stud that he is for the Dutch national team. But both star man are currently injured. Isak left Sweden's camp over the international break with a thigh injury...
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