It has been revealed what Paul Mitchell told Newcastle United staff during an early summer meeting which didn’t involve Eddie Howe, following reported issues surrounding their relationship.

Rumoured Mitchell and Howe feud at Newcastle

The Magpies may have picked up a credible 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City in the Premier League last weekend, bouncing back after the 3-1 defeat away to Fulham, but all is not well away from the pitch at St James’ Park currently.

The relationship between sporting director Mitchell and manager Howe is believed to be strained, to put it lightly, with the pair failing to see eye to eye amid issues regarding Newcastle’s summer transfer business, almost taking little public digs at one another.

It has been claimed recently that the transfer guru could lose his job before the manager, should push come to shove among the board, but there has also been some hope that clear-the-air talks would rectify the issues between them.

Newcastle’s performances on the pitch have been below-par this season, even though their points tally is relatively healthy, and it could certainly be argued that the Mitchell and Howe situation isn’t helping matters at all, failing to bring a togetherness between two of the most high-profile figures at the club.

Fresh Mitchell and Howe revelation at Newcastle

According to a new report from Football Insider, Mitchell told Newcastle staff that he was in charge instead of Howe when he arrived in his role during the summer, in what represents something of a bombshell revelation.

It is claimed that those involved in the meeting were left “stunned” by the former Monaco sporting director’s comments, with the update adding that Howe being absent from the meeting “raised red flags among the staff, with many beginning to question who was truly in charge at St James’ Park”.

This has done little to ease the tension at Newcastle at the moment, at a time when the club desperately need everyone to be pulling in the same direction. As mentioned, the Magpies’ seventh-place position in the Premier League suggests that things are running relatively smoothly, but their unconvincing displays mean they could easily be lower in the table, having arguably been outplayed by the likes of Wolves and Tottenham.

It’s hard to argue against the notion that Newcastle would be performing better if Mitchell and Howe were enjoying a strong working relationship, much like the manager did with former sporting director Dan Ashworth before he moved to Manchester United instead.

In terms of Mitchell’s comments, it is an extremely bold and reckless approach upon arriving at the club, hinting that that he was looking to win the power battle from minute one, but the reaction of the staff involved suggests that his comments didn’t go down too well.

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These coming weeks feel pivotal at Newcastle, and if Mitchell and Howe cannot come to a truce, it is surely only a matter of time before one is relieved of their duties.

Nico Gonzalez's Manchester City debut lasted less than 25 minutes after the £50 million January recruit went off injured against Leyton Orient.

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• £50m Man City signing Gonzalez makes debut
• Comes off injured inside opening 25 minutes
• Midfielder hurt seconds before Orient opener

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Just seconds before Orient took the lead in the fourth round of the FA Cup, with a stunning long-range effort, Gonzalez fell heavily under a challenge from Sonny Perkins. The former FC Porto star tried to carry on but was withdrawn soon after.

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• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  City brought in Gonzalez for £50m ($62m) as a replacement for the injured Rodri. Pep Guardiola will hope the midfielder's injury is not a serious one as they try and salvage their 2024/25 season.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Gonzalez, 23, began his career at Barcelona in 2019 before joining Porto four years later. He went onto score nine goals, bag as many assists, and make 68 appearances for the Portuguese giants. The Spaniard helped them lift the Portuguese Cup last season, too.

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  After this FA Cup tie with League One Orient, City host Real Madrid in the Champions League play-offs on Tuesday night.

Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman and striker Alessia Russo have praised Jenni Hermoso and Spain for their 'courage' during the Luis Rubiales case.

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Rubiales kissed Hermoso after Spain won World CupWas found guilty of sexual assault last week Lionesses praise 'courage' of player and whole teamFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Luis Rubiales was found guilty of sexual assault last week after kissing Jenni Hermoso during the medal ceremony after Spain beat England in the 2023 Women's World Cup final. It came some 18 months after the initial incident and does not appear to be the conclusion of the saga, with Hermoso's intention to appeal something Wiegman said showed "remarkable courage" and "bravery".

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Many of Spain's players went to Madrid to testify in the case, including Russo's Arsenal team-mate Laia Codina, and the team themselves have had to continue performing while it has all being going on, coming back from 2-0 down to beat Belgium late on Friday, just a day after the ruling was announced. On Wednesday, they face England at Wembley in a repeat of that World Cup final, and while the emotions are surely still raw from all that has gone on.

WHAT WIEGMAN AND RUSSO SAID

Asked what that said of Spain, to win in those circumstances at the end of a monumental week, Wiegman said: "It says how brave they are. It says, first of all, that it is a very good team. Spain has a very good team. But it also says that they show resilience and they're so brave. We're talking about it again today. I think we have to keep talking about it, I would almost say unfortunately, and we have to keep telling the world that we stand in solidarity with them and hopefully it will make change. I think it already made change, but now we want to talk football again and play an incredible game tomorrow here at Wembley."

Russo added: "We've stood in solidarity with them since the moment that it begun and it's really a shame that they've had to have gone through this, but we hope that it makes change going forward. It's a testament to the players to be so brave to speak out but also to still be performing at the level that they are. I've got teammates that have been through it and they've acted with so much class through it all. We stand with them and back them all the way.

"We're all with them through the process. I know it's been tough on teammates who I've played with. They're fantastic girls and they act with so much class. I think it's a real shame, what they've been through, but they've been professional through it all and have never let their football standard slip, so massive respect to them all."

DID YOU KNOW?

So many players have shown solidarity with Hermoso and Spain over the past 18 months, not just England's, leaving Wiegman and Russo keen to emphasise the value of the community across women's football.

"I think in the women's game, that community, that's kind of special," Wiegman said. "We're absolutely competing when we play each other but when we go off the pitch, we support each other, we support the Spanish, they're in a situation, but I think overall, women's football players are supporting women's football players and women in society. I think that's a bigger picture than just that."

Russo agreed. "I think the community that women's football has is really special and quite unique about the game," she said. "I think whether it be good or bad, we help and we come together as one. I think we're really good at celebrating each other's successes. Ultimately, we all want the same for women's football. We want it to be at the highest level without moments like this happening. But I think the community of women's football in general is really special."

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has won the men’s 2024 Ballon d’Or award.

This year’s ceremony took place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, with the best men’s and women’s players over the past year being celebrated for their performances and achievements.

The 30 men’s Ballon d’Or nominees hailed from almost every corner of the world – Argentina, Turkey, Nigeria, Germany and Ukraine all had players included.

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Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior was widely expected to take the golden ball, though it had emerged prior to the ceremony that he and his club would be boycotting the event after realising the Brazilian would not be crowned the winner.

Vinicius, who finished in second place ahead of Los Blancos teammates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal, enjoyed a superb 2023/24 campaign for Los Blancos, scoring 24 and assisting 11 in all competitions as Carlo Ancelotti’s side won four trophies, including the La Liga title and the Champions League.

Meanwhile, Bellingham – the first Englishman in the award’s top three since Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in 2005 – finished last season with an exceptional 23 goals and 13 assists for Madrid, before helping England to the final of the European Championship courtesy of an overhead kick for the ages.

But City and Spain star Rodri was the eventual winner. The 28-year-old might not boast the crowd-pleasing trickery of Vinicius or the acrobatic abilities and lovable arrogance of Bellingham, but he turned his club and country into winning machines from the heart of midfield.

Here’s why we think the panel plumped for the Euro 2024 and Premier League-winning midfielder ahead of the electric Vinicius.

1 He's so integral to City

Vinicius and Bellingham are both vital players for Madrid. That being said, neither are what you would necessarily call irreplaceable.

If need be, Madrid can rely on the attacking prowess of Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe without Vinicius on the left-hand side of their attack, while without Bellingham, they have the likes of Federico Valverde and Brahim Diaz ready to step up.

However, for Rodri at City, there is no suitable readymade replacement. To best demonstrate his importance to Pep Guardiola’s team, you only have to look at their Premier League record with and without him since he arrived at the club in 2019. In fact, last season, City didn’t lose a single Premier League game in which Rodri played. Clutch.

With Rodri

Without Rodri

Games

174

25

Wins

129

16

Draws

26

2

Defeats

19

7

Win%

74.1%

64%

Points per game

2.37

2

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ByBarney Lane Oct 24, 2024 2 He shone for both club and country

Vinicius had a great season for Madrid last year, but faltered at the Copa America in the summer for Brazil. Though he scored twice in the group stages, he picked up a suspension that ruled him out of Brazil’s quarter-final against Uruguay and could only watch from the sidelines as his team crashed out on penalties.

In Bellingham’s case, he enjoyed an excellent domestic season and a decent Euro 2024 campaign for England in the summer, but no more than that. Yes, he scored a last-minute overhead kick to save England from exiting to Slovakia in the last 16, but you could argue he went missing on occasion, including in the final.

Rodri, on the other hand, had no such problems. For City, he was the club’s outstanding player, arguably ahead of star striker Erling Haaland, as Guardiola’s side won their fourth consecutive Premier League title. At Euro 2024, he was named as the Player of the Tournament as Spain beat the odds to win the trophy, beating Bellingham’s England in the final.

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ByStephan Georgiou Jul 16, 2024 3 He's evolved the DM role

In years gone by, the role of the holding midfielder was just that: hold. Sit deep, sweep up the opposition’s attacks before they get past the midfield, distribute, wait, and repeat.

Rodri, however, has taken the role, made it his own, and set a new benchmark for what teams should expect from their deep-lying midfielders.

Not only is he energetic and tenacious in winning the ball back, but he’s also an attacking force to be reckoned with. Last season, he contributed 9 goals and 14 assists in all competitions for City.

For reference, Arsenal’s attacking midfield talisman Martin Odegaard was involved in 18 goals, Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, whose form last season earned him a move to Bayern Munich in the summer, was involved in 15, while Rodri’s City teammate Bernardo Silva also only contributed to 15.

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ByBarney Lane Oct 26, 2024 4 His peers agree

The highest kind of praise you can receive in any line of work is that from your peers – and Rodri has enjoyed plenty of that.

After City beat Luton Town in the Premier League back in December, Hatters midfielder Tom Lockyer said of Rodri: “Honestly that guy man, it’s just a joy to share the football pitch with him.

“He’s just a Rolls Royce,” Lockyer added. “He just dictates everything that Manchester City do.”

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said of Rodri after Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph: “For me, Rodri is the best player in the world, please give him the Ballon d’Or now.”

Earlier this year, during an episode of The Rest is Football podcast, hosts Micah Richards and Alan Shearer both agreed that Rodri is the world’s current best player.

“It’s not even close,” said Richards. “Whether it’s on the ball, whether it’s in the mind, whether it’s his passing ability. He comes up with important goals, as well, and assists. It’s actually incredible what he’s doing.”

“He’s the best,” said Shearer. “No doubt.”

Unfortunately for Rodri, the Ballon d’Or is no longer voted for by players, but instead a panel of 100 journalists from around the world, each of whom represents one of FIFA’s top-ranked footballing nations.

Rodri will no doubt get Spain’s vote and Vinicius should get Brazil’s, while Bellingham may yet get England’s. But let’s hope the remainder of the nations can see sense and vote for the Spaniard.

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1 ByBarney Lane Oct 25, 2024

da bwin： Crystal Palace have added a 20-year-old forward who is very similar to Brighton’s Danny Welbeck at the top of their list of replacements for striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, according to a recent report.

da realbet： The Eagles have enjoyed a very good last week or so, as they beat Tottenham, knocked Aston Villa out of the Carabao Cup and picked up a point in a difficult game against Wolves on Saturday, results which are likely to have eased the pressure on Oliver Glasner after what was a poor start to the campaign.

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After their win against Villa in midweek, Palace suffered several blows as Glasner revealed that Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton, and Jefferson Lerma were all injured and are going to be out until after the November international break.

But in a further blow, the Austrian revealed ahead of his side’s game against Wolves that Wharton is now set for surgery and will be out for at least a month, as he’s had to manage an injury all of this season. That means the Englishman could miss as many as five Premier League games.

This news comes after Palace were linked with a move for midfielder Raphael Onyedika. The 23-year-old currently plays for Club Brugge, and his performances in Belgium as well as in Europe have caught the attention of the Eagles. The Belgian side are open to a sale in January, as they look for around £25 million, and the news of Wharton’s ongoing injury could intensify Palace’s interest in the player.

But Onyedika is not the only player that the Premier League side are keeping their eyes on, as they also have a forward in mind as a possible replacement for Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has been linked with an exit at times in the last year.

Crystal Palace identify possible long-term Mateta replacement

According to The Sun, Crystal Palace have placed Oumar Diakite at the top of their list for replacements for Mateta. The 20-year-old currently plays for French side Reims and has done so since the summer of 2023, when he joined from Red Bull Salzburg.

This report states that the South London side have been watching the Ivory Coast international for a few months now, and he could now be moved on by the French side, despite his contract running until the summer of 2028.

Diakite played 28 times in Ligue 1 last season, during which he scored five goals and recorded one assist, and he already has two goals to his name this season in nine league appearances. The forward hasn’t played in the Premier League of course, but when looking at players who compare, Brighton’s Danny Welbeck ranks second by statistical profile.

Oumar Diakite 2024/25 stats compared to Danny Welbeck

Diakite

Welbeck

Apps

8

9

Goals

2

6

xG

2.1

4.5

Goals per 90

0.31

0.72

Assists

1

1

Assists per 90

0.16

0.12

Shots (on target)

11 (4)

25 (11)

Shots per 90

1.72

3.00

Goals per shot

0.18

0.24

Palace want to extend Mateta’s stay at Selhurst Park, but with a deal still not agreed, they want to be at the front of the queue for Diakite should Mateta decide to leave. Mateta’s form towards the end of last season and then his performances in the Olympics for France have put him on the radar of a few clubs, with Liverpool linked with a move for the striker at the end of last month.