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This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Leeds have received some great news this week as Jamie Shackleton and Liam Cooper returned from injury for Carlos Corberan’s U23 side.

Despite the fact that his injury concerns are now well behind him, this weekend doesn’t represent Shackleton’s opportunity to return to the team for one crucial reason.

Shackleton’s role

The youngster is a very versatile player as he can play as either a right-back or a central midfielder.

As per WhoScored, his main strength in the middle of the park is keeping hold of the ball, and that’s highlighted by his 86.4 per cent pass success rate.

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However, WhoScored also lists two weaknesses to his game, with those being aerial duels and tackling.

Those factors are something that may cost him his place in the team this weekend as Marcelo Bielsa’s preferred tactic will require more defensive work and physicality from his midfielder.

3-3-1-3

With QPR looking likely to play two up front this weekend, Marcelo Bielsa will probably opt to use his patented 3-3-1-3 formation.

We mastered the trick in the video below in 8 attempts… could you do better?

With Stuart Dallas most likely occupying the right-wing-back role, Shackleton’s only available option would be to play as the one central midfielder.

However, his lack of tackling ability and creativeness means that Mateusz Klich is simply the better option.

Indeed, the Pole averages more tackles, key passes and shots per game than the youngster, and with the midfield role in this tactic requiring a box to box player Klich is just the preferable choice.

There’s only been one game this season where the 20-year-old has made a successful tackle and that came at Oakwell. The 5 foot 6 midfielder made four in that match but hasn’t shown the same qualities since. Had he done so, he may have been able to get back in the team.

Leeds will undoubtedly be buoyed by the return of Shackleton, but this weekend isn’t the time to put him back into the starting XI.

This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more… 

Sheffield Wednesday are entering the international break on the cusp of the playoffs as they sit eighth, missing out by just a solitary point.

Garry Monk’s reign as the Owls boss has gone rather well – he’s guided his new side to ten points from a possible 15 after winning last time out against Wigan Athletic.

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He’s stuck to his word of being adaptable, a wise move considering he has inherited this whole squad from his predecessors Steve Bruce and then caretaker boss Lee Bullen.

Monk has also been rather methodical, whether that has been intentional or not, remains to be seen as he has started out with their defence and making that a lot tighter.

On the Chalkboard

During his five matches in charge, Wednesday have recorded far more shots on the opposition’s goal than against their own in every single game, as the graph shows below, via WhoScored.

The Owls have conceded just three goals throughout those five matches, whereas in the five games before his arrival, they conceded five, so that clearly reinforces the view that they have appeared to look more solid.

Experimental361’s scatter graph for expected goals created against expected goals allowed per match also backs this up.

Wednesday are on the ‘better defence’ side of the graph, but more towards the ‘worse attack,’ which suggests there is work to be done at the other end of the pitch.

And that is something that can come with time, especially with the January transfer window approaching.

The south Yorkshire club won’t lose matches if they have a solid foundation at the back, so it’s a rather shrewd move from the 40-year-old if he has indeed planned it this way.

Football FanCast have previously highlighted how reliant they are on Steven Fletcher – the only league loss under the former Swansea City man has been in his absence, and even then it was only by a one-goal margin.

‘Build from the back‘ and ‘defence wins you titles‘ are two phrases that come to mind when thinking about successful teams, and this is something that appears to be slowly surfacing up at Hillsborough.

With enough patience and time, Monk will have their frontline in sync with their defence, we’ve already seen a glimpse of that when the team managed to stick four past Middlesbrough inside 34 minutes.

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…

Speaking on talkSPORT, Stuart Pearce has dismissed Roy Keane’s suggestions that Manchester United could lure Harry Kane to Old Trafford.

What did he say?

Speaking after the Red Devils’ 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, United legend Keane urged the club to go and get Kane from Tottenham in a bid to solve their goal-scoring crisis.

However, whilst Pearce acknowledged the England international would bring a lot to the table at Old Trafford, he insisted the Red Devils would find it incredibly difficult to entice him away from north London.

The indoor football skills in the video below have to be seen to be believed…

He said: “When you look at United in years gone by, that’s what Sir Alex used to do. Van Nistelrooy, Cole, Sheringham, Berbatov – he used to go out and buy the best centre forward who was available at the time.

“Also there are question marks over the character of the dressing room at United, and when you sign Harry Kane you get a top character a well, a top professional.

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“But Harry Kane is one of the few players who you feel has an affection, a real connection with the club he plays for, and that’s going to be a problem. There’s no Champions League football at Old Trafford at the moment, so that’s a problem as well. That’s what players want, that’s the clamour.”

Perspective

Whilst Keane’s dead-pan comments on United targeting Kane certainly went down well with the Red Devils faithful on social media, a bit of perspective is perhaps needed. The Spurs marksman has been with the north Londoners for years upon years, and as Pearce says, has developed a real affinity for the club.

As well as his personal ties with Mauricio Pochettino’s side, their record of playing in the Champions League in the past few seasons also counts as a massive plus – something United cannot provide this campaign, and appear unlikely to next year too. The best of the best want to be testing themselves in European football’s elite competition, and until the Red Devils do that, attracting the very top talent will remain very difficult indeed.

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Rangers games are coming thick and fast just now and squad rotation is the name of the game.

One summer recruit who is yet to play more than a bit part role though is Wales international and Premier League winner Andy King – a player hopeful he can win trophies at Ibrox, as reported in The Sun.

But omitted from the match day squad completely against St Johnstone on Sunday, some Rangers fans have been discussing his exclusion.

King arrived on loan from Leicester late in the transfer window and it was thought he would provide much needed experience and quality to the centre of midfield. With just four appearances and fifty one minutes of action so far though, King, as yet, hasn’t had the impact that would be excepted of a player with his pedigree.

After a tough Europa League fixture in midweek where he came off the bench, Sunday’s game could’ve been the ideal occasion to give him a run out, but when the team sheet was revealed there was no sign of King’s name.

Here’s a quick look at how Rangers fans reacted to his absence on Twitter…

It’s happened again.Leeds United may have dominated the match statistics on Saturday afternoon but they once again failed to take home all three points, and if they want to successfully consolidate their position in the automatic spots, they’re going to have to do better.Marcelo Bielsa’s side rained down 19 shots in total on Charlton’s goal, but only four of those attempts actually hit the target (21 per cent for you stats lovers). The Addicks, on the other hand, hit every one of their three shots on target, one of which found the back of the net to hand them the victory.Bowyer recently phoned into talkSPORT to talk about his action plan and how he shaped his side up heading into the clash…

Had Leeds been a little more clinical, we’re not sure his tactics would’ve been given the time of day.

[ad_pod ]Liverpool’s first-choice left-back, captain of the Scotland national team and a Champions League finalist, but it hasn’t always been this easy for Andrew Robertson. Released by Celtic as a 15-year-old, the energetic full-back ended up at Queens Park, whereÂGardner Speirs, who now oversees the academy at the Tartan Army’s Hampton Park, was taken aback by a teenage Robertson.“We were due to go down to Largs on the Clyde coast to play a couple of matches inside four days but we didn’t have a left-back,†Speirs said. “Andrew was just finishing a season with the under-17s, so we took him and that’s how it happened.“Andy’s response was to say, ‘I’ll prove you wrong.’ He played in the first warm-up game at Largs and I don’t think he went out of the team again until he left us.”It is this attitude that has endeared him to the Liverpool supporters after some had written him off before his career on Merseyside had even begun.

Some of the Anfield faithful wanted a marquee name, but in truth, almost anyone would’ve been an upgrade on Alberto Moreno, so Robertson had a chance to make the left-back position his own.

But Robertson would’ve been somewhat of a hit even if he never set foot on the hallowed turf of Anfield, as a result of his selfless charity work and commitment to the community around him – that is an ethos that Liverpool hold dear to them, and one that Robertson does too.

“He might be from Glasgow originally, but everything about him screams Liverpool”, said Jurgen Klopp, and luckily for the German and those associated with the club who aren’t as interested about his work off the pitch, the Scottish international is one hell of a footballer to boot.

Robertson currently has eight assists in all competitions, more than any other defender in Europe, and that tiny initial £8m spent on him back in the summer of 2017 is looking like small change – it could even be argued that the 24-year-old is probably worth five times that figure now if not more.

His relentless play up and down that left flank is hard not to cheer on, even if you aren’t a Liverpool fan.

One foray up the left flank and over to the right wing saw Robertson mount a one-man press against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the 4-3 win at Anfield last season, a moment which drew cheers similar to those heard after a goal and almost saw the Reds score, but for the referee’s intervention.

“I am still tired just looking at Robertson. He makes 100-metre sprints every minute, absolutely incredible, and these are qualities,”Âsaid Jose Mourinho after his Manchester United side were humbled by three goals to one earlier in the season – Mourinho didn’t get much right during his time with the Red Devils, but that statement is spot on.

The scary thing about Robertson is that he has time on his side, time that he doesn’t even need given just how phenomenal he is right now. If there is an improved version of the hungry Scot waiting for us in the future, opposition forwards might as well not bother.

It really is raining injuries over in the Spanish capital at the moment.

Saying that Real Madrid were quite unlucky with various fitness problems in the last couple of weeks would be an understatement. Currently, there are six players sidelined and unavailable to Zinedine Zidane.

But there were only five until recently when it was officially confirmed that Luka Modric has been diagnosed with a muscle injury to the adductor in his right leg as Los Blancos’ streak of bad luck looks to have continued.

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And the fans have just about had enough of it, as it seems from their latest social media activity.

Upon learning about the latest injury to their Croatian midfielder, they simply lost it and couldn’t believe this was happening all over again.

They quickly took to Twitter to express their disappointment, anger and sadness as some claimed they were “totally done” and wanted the season restarted.

You can see some of their replies down in the collection of tweets below.

Check them out…

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Aston Villa will try to sign Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma in the summer, according to Ryan Taylor of The Express.

And, as to be expected, a number of Villa fans were quick to flock to the update on social media.

Villa were credited with an interest in Bissouma earlier this month and even reportedly had a £25m bid turned down.

It now seems as if Juventus’ Rodrigo Bentancur is the club’s main midfield target, but Bissouma is still on Johan Lange and Steven Gerrard’s radar.

According to Taylor, Villa are expected to go back in for Bissouma in the summer, when he could be into the final 12 months of his Seagulls contract. However, Brighton remain adamant he is not for sale at any price.

Villa fans react

The AVFC Faithful relayed Taylor’s claim on Twitter on Wednesday evening. This is what these Villa supporters had to say in reply, with one believing the summer window could be ‘absolutely mental’.

“We’re cooking”

Credit: @buendiazboyz

“I can’t see us getting Bissouma in the summer so many clubs will want him”

Credit: @Benavfctooth

“Dw we’re big time again now”

Credit: @youngprodigy08

“Our summer is gonna be absolutely mental”

Credit: @JayVtid

“Good we need Bissouma”

Credit: @mattdavis281

“110% have to”

Credit: @AvfcRegan

In other news: ‘Bottled it’ – Many Villa fans react to Fabrizio Romano transfer update. 

With West Ham United chasing a Champions League spot this season, one man who may be looking in from the outside about what might have been is Marko Arnautovic.

Sold for a reported £30m to Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG in 2019, Arnautovic left the club with a dark cloud hanging over him, with the way he handled his exit causing real questions about his attitude and professionalism.

Despite signing a new contract with the club in January of that year, and saying that “the fans gave me the power, they gave me the energy and that’s why I have to be here and that’s why I want to stay”, the Austrian threw that all away in the summer.

Reports claimed that Arnautovic had told the Hammers he wanted to leave, and given that he tried to force through a move away, it would be no surprise if West Ham fans don’t look too fondly upon him.

David Moyes, who once dubbed him “unplayable”, was actually reported to be interested in signing him last summer though, even despite everything that had happened.

When news emerged last May of West Ham potentially swooping for the Austrian and seeing him return to the London Stadium, Frank McAvennie blasted the idea, insisting that his presence at the club would be most unwelcome.

The 62-year-old said: “I’m against him – he’s a virus. It’s not about his playing, it’s what he left in the dressing room. I know some of the players and the stigma he left in that dressing room was awful.

“He’s someone you haven’t heard of since he’s left. All of a sudden he’s won no cups in China so he’s coming back. I wouldn’t have him and I wouldn’t have his brother anywhere near West Ham.”

Following his exit to China, a 32-year-old Arnautovic now finds himself on the books of Serie A side Bologna, who currently find themselves 13th in the league.

Despite scoring a respectable seven goals in 22 games for his new club, the clearly ambitious Austrian will surely be looking at how his former West Ham side have gone up a few levels and are competing for something he so desperately would have wanted to be a part of.

CIES now value him at just £3m, a real indication of how his career has fallen by the wayside since his exit from east London, and West Ham and GSB should be laughing all the way to the bank for the way they cashed in on him.

Meanwhile, Moyes can finally axe this man…

In recent days, Aston Villa have been linked with a transfer move for West Ham United goalkeeper Darren Randolph, only for Hammers manager David Moyes to come out and say that they have no intention of letting him leave this month.

With that in mind, it seems as though this has not stopped the Midlands club in their search for another goalkeeper to add to their squad.

What’s the latest?

In a recent Twitter post from journalist Matteo Moretto, Villa have “in the last hours,” approached Paris Saint-Germain with an offer to sign goalkeeper Sergio Rico, who apparently wants to play regularly, on loan with an option to buy.

He said: “Sergio Rico’s priority is to play regularly and that is why he prioritizes signing for Mallorca. In the last hours Aston Villa appeared, who contacted PSG offering a loan with an option to buy, but the English team already has Martínez as the owner of the project.”

Given how PSG have the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma and Keylor Navas in their squad that has made a total of 20 Ligue 1 appearances between them this season, it’s easy to see why he would be willing to go elsewhere to get regular game time.

Gerrard would be delighted

Even though Villa have Emi Martinez in their squad who has played in all but one of their Premier League games so far this season, it’s safe to say that Rico would be closer to regular game time at the Midlands club rather than at Paris where a potential injury or ban for Martinez would presumably open the door for Rico to come in.

The 28-year-old originally joined the French club on a loan deal from Sevilla back in September 2019 before joining on a permanent basis a year later.

Overall, the Spaniard has only made 24 appearances for Mauricio Pochettino’s side across all competitions, highlighting his lack of regular game time.

However, in those 24 appearances, Rico has managed to concede just 16 goals and keep 14 clean sheets in the process, showing his capabilities in goal and demonstrating why Villa have made a move to sign him.

With this in mind, if the Villans were able to secure a deal for Rico this month, it would surely delight Gerrard who is very much in need of finding a quality back-up with Jed Steer still currently playing second fiddle.

Therefore, to have an experienced and capable backup goalkeeper to Martinez, or one that could even compete with the Argentine for his place in the team would be incredibly pleasing for the Liverpudlian.

It would put an end to the club’s search for a shot-stopper so they can then focus on other potential areas in the squad they may feel the need to strengthen in.

In other news: Gregg Evans drops exciting AVFC update, Gerrard could soon break transfer records – opinion