More from PST Latest USMNT news | Premier League season previews | Premier League transfer news

Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

Aston Villa hires Smith, names Terry assistant

By Nicholas MendolaOct 10, 2018, 5:37 PM EDT
Leave a comment

Aston Villa has found its replacement for Steve Bruce, and he’s added a notable alumnus to his staff.

Dean Smith is the club’s new head coach, and he’s tabbed Chelsea legend and recent Villa center back John Terry as assistant coach. Jesus Garcia Pitarch has been named sporting director, having held similar positions at Atletico Madrid and Valencia.

[ MORE: 1 year on from USMNT’s dark day ] 

Villa’s press release notes that Smith is a lifelong fan of the club, and his resume features stops at Walsall and Brentford.

Terry had been rumored for moves to multiple clubs in continuing his playing career, but instead takes his first steps in management.

“John is one of the most decorated players in English football, has an affinity with the club and is ready to make the next step in his career working alongside Dean,” said CEO Christian Purslow.

Villa is 3W-6D-3L to start the Championship campaign, four points back of the final playoff spot.

As an odd aside, Smith’s son is a standout player at NCAA D-II side Limestone. He sounds pretty excited, as you’d expect.

England calls up new faces, Southgate deal confirmed

Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images
By Nicholas MendolaOct 4, 2018, 9:41 AM EDT
1 Comment

Straight into the fire, boys.

Gareth Southgate is going to test some new faces in England’s UEFA Nations League matches in Croatia and Spain.

Confirming reports from Thursday, England also announced a new contract for Southgate which extends through the 2022 World Cup.

[ MORE: Atlanta eyes Almiron replacement ]

The FA chief executive, Martin Glenn, has lofty expectations for the program:

“We have great ambition. We will win a World Cup. We will win a Euros. We’re going to give ourselves the best possible chance with the players we have got. We want to see progress. We can feel progress. The public can sense and feel it. We want to see progress on and off the pitch.”

Derby County’s Mason Mount, Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho, Leicester City’s James Maddison, Spurs’ Harry Winks, and Watford’s Nathaniel Chalobah are the fairly unusual names in the bunch.

Luke Shaw is back in the fold, the lone Manchester United player on the roster.

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Alex McCarthy (Southampton), Marcus Bettinelli (Fulham).

Defenders: John Stones (Man City), Kyle Walker (Man City), Kieran Trippier (Spurs), Danny Rose (Spurs), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), James Tarkowski (Burnley), Luke Shaw (Manchester United).

Midfielders: Eric Dier (Spurs), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Derby County), Ross Barkley (Chelsea), Nathaniel Chalobah (Watford), James Maddison (Leicester City), Harry Winks (Spurs), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund).

Forwards: Harry Kane (Spurs), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Man City)

‘Shellshocked’ Lampard basks in signature win over Man United

Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images
By Nicholas MendolaSep 25, 2018, 5:41 PM EDT
Leave a comment

Manchester United was stunned, and not in a good way.

Frank Lampard? The opposite kind of surprise after his Derby County went into Old Trafford and knocked Manchester United out of the League Cup in penalties following a 2-2 thriller.

[ MORE: Recap, League Cup wrap ]

“I’m shell shocked,” Lampard said. “What a performance. To go down early at Old Trafford and play as well as they did was superb. We had the personality to take penalties and play the way we did. I am a proud manager.”

United was ahead after three minutes thanks to Juan Mata, but Lampard’s Rams didn’t back down. They had more of the ball, more shots, and a 2-1 lead following goals from Harry Wilson and Jack Marriott.

But Marouane Fellaini scored in stoppage to set up penalty kicks. After 15 makes between the two sides, Phil Jones saw his effort saved and United’s League Cup run end at home.

Lampard said the night is a big one, and can be a significant mile marker for the club.

“I am trying to build a group to be successful and nights like this are incredible. To go against world-class players and play that way, it’s right up there.”

League Cup: 10-man Man Utd stunned at home; Man City wins

By Nicholas MendolaSep 25, 2018, 5:12 PM EDT
Leave a comment

Derby County outlasted 10-man Manchester United in an eight-round penalty shootout as the Rams knocked the Red Devils out of the League Cup at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Locked 2-2 after 90 minutes, the sides each converted their first seven penalties before Phil Jones missed Manchester United’s eighth following a Richard Keogh conversion.

[ MORE: PL Player Power Rankings ]

With Paul Pogba sitting in the stands but dancing through the headlines, United’s players piled some lumber under manager Jose Mourinho’s hot seat.

Marouane Fellaini‘s goal deep in stoppage time gave 10-man Manchester United a stay at Old Trafford after the hosts tossed away a 1-0 lead. Diego Dalot’s cross was met by the big blonde head of Fellaini, who canceled out Jack Marriott’s late goal for Derby County.

Harry Wilson, on loan from Liverpool, scored a knuckling free kick in the second half of Derby’s visit to Old Trafford to bring Frank Lampard‘s Championship side level after Juan Mata‘s third minute opener. It was gorgeous (see above).

Mata’s goal itself was pretty, as United moved up the field quickly from Ander Herrera to Anthony Martial. The latter’s crossed was moved into Mata’s path via Romelu Lukaku and Jesse Lingard, and the Red Devils were up early.

But the Rams kept knocking, and earned a free kick that Wilson crushed past a perplexed Sergio Romero, who was later sent off for a handball outside the box in the 68th minute, further setting the stage for the Cottagers.

Marriott struck for what looked to be the eventual winner about 17 minutes later.

Millwall 1-3 Fulham

American midfielder Luca De La Torre made the most of the chance handed to him by Slavisa Jokanovic. The 20-year-old played 16 minutes in the second round but earned a start at The Den, where he assisted Joe Bryan‘s opener and scored a 52nd minute goal for himself before adding another assist on the Cottagers’ final goal.

Oxford United 0-3 Man City

Phil Foden scored his first Man City goal, capping off a relatively easy stroll for Pep Guardiola‘s men. Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez also scored for the reigning champions of the Premier League and this tournament.

Elsewhere
West Brom 0-3 Crystal Palace
Burton Albion 2-1 Burnley
Wycombe Wanderers 3-4 Norwich City
Bournemouth 3-2 Blackburn Rovers
Preston North End 2-2 (3-4 PKs) Middlesbrough
Blackpool 1-0 Queens Park Rangers
Wolves 0-0 (1-3 PKs) Leicester City

WATCH: Aston Villa’s McGinn hits the volley of his dreams

Photo by Laszlo Szirtesi/Getty Images
By Nicholas MendolaSep 22, 2018, 2:11 PM EDT
Leave a comment

Witness one of the best reactions in all of sports: The “I’m not sure how I did that and I don’t have the ego to pretend I do” face.

Aston Villa’s Scottish midfielder lashed an absolutely splendid side volley home with his left foot on Saturday, giving the Midlands side an equalizer with a shot that spun like a Roberto Carlos throwback.

[ MORE: Wolves draw at Man United ]

The nine-times capped Scotland man, 23, arrived from Hibs this summer and this was quite a hello to the Championship’s score sheet (He does have a pair of assists).

As JPW points out below, the technique and patience used in waiting for the headed clearance to fall to him so far out from goal is wonderful stuff. Goal of the season stuff, though there’s still plenty of season to come.

In “Gangs of New York,” Walter McGinn had 40-some notches on his stick. Make it one for John McGinn at Villa.