Tom Cleverley – CaughtOffside

English club sacks manager after latest defeat – Tom Cleverley appointed interim manager

Mehdi Gokal — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 13:35:22 +0000

Watford have parted ways with manager Valerien Ismael following their defeat to Coventry City yesterday, with Coventry rallying from a goal down to secure a 2-1 victory.

Ismael’s tenure this season saw Watford secure 11 wins, 12 draws, and suffer 14 defeats, leaving them just six points above the relegation zone.

The disappointing result against Coventry prompted the club’s board to make the decision for a change.

In an official statement, Watford expressed gratitude to Ismael and his staff for their dedication and commitment but stated that the board believes it is the right time for a managerial change to improve results.

The club statement read (via Sky Sports) :

“The Hornets thank Valerien and his staff for their dedication and commitment, however the club’s board considers it an appropriate time to make a change in order to improve results.”

Cleverley spent most of his career at Watford

Man United youngster has saved the club £60-70m in the transfer market, says ex-Red Devil

Mark Brus — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 11:18:48 +0000

Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo has been tipped to have saved the club as much as £60-70million in the transfer market by former Red Devils ace Tom Cleverley.

Mainoo has established himself as one of the most promising young players in the Premier League this season, getting more playing time for the Man Utd first-team after first catching the eye in pre-season.

Erik ten Hag will be delighted with how Mainoo is getting on, with the 18-year-old now surely likely to play a key role for the side for the long term.

Mainoo is just the latest top talent to emerge from the United academy, and Cleverley admits it’s a bonus to see his old club continuing to produce players like this as it can save a fortune in the transfer market.

“The biggest positive, not just from the Liverpool game, has been the emergence of Mainoo,” Cleverley exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone.

“He looks very assured, very calm and composed on the ball and a good decision maker. He keeps on impressing; it’s always nice when you don’t have to spend £60-70m on a player because he’s on your books already.

Kobbie Mainoo in action for Manchester United

Premier League team of the week: Liverpool & Chelsea stars in, plus Watford duo who helped get Solskjaer the sack

Mark Brus — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 08:12:48 +0000

The latest Premier League team of the week from BBC Sport is in, and it features top performers from Chelsea, Liverpool, and of course, Watford.

The Hornets were in fine form this weekend as they thrashed Manchester United 4-1 – a result that proved to be the final nail in the coffin of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked as Man Utd manager not long afterwards.

Tom Cleverley and Emmanuel Dennis were the star performers for Claudio Ranieri’s side, and that means they can now line up alongside the likes of Sadio Mane and N’Golo Kante in this star-studded XI in the graphic below…

Liverpool are perhaps unlucky not to have more players involved here, given that they thrashed a reasonably in-form Arsenal side 4-0 at Anfield, while Chelsea also continued to show why they’re one of the main title favourites with the comprehensive manner of their 3-0 win away to Leicester City.

Video: ‘Get him out in January’ – These Arsenal fans on ‘clueless’ Sokratis’ error leading to Cleverley goal

Jaikuran Randhawa — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 17:10:06 +0000

Some Arsenal fans couldn’t believe what they were seeing when defender Sokratis gifted the ball to Watford, leading to Tom Cleverley’s goal for the Hornets.

In the 53rd minute of the clash, Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno decided to pass the ball to centre-back Sokratis from a goal kick, the former Borussia Dortmund star cheaply gave the ball away by passing it directly into the path of Watford ace Gerard Deulofeu.

The ball deflected off of Deulofeu and into the path of Tom Cleverley, the Manchester United academy graduate could hardly turn down a gift like this and drilled the ball into the back of the net.

Take a look at the mistake leading to Cleverley’s goal below:

This is absolutely atrocious from Sokratis. What a joke. Watford right back in it. #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/fow5BqUPhX

— ArsenalGIFs (@arsenalfcgifs) September 15, 2019

Ter os craques na frente pode não ser suficiente quando se tem Sokratis a construir. Jogo que estava controlado pode-se tornar agora bem mais complicado. Chambers não é melhor que o grego? pic.twitter.com/ysGUG2NrOn

— Segundo Poste (@segundoposte) September 15, 2019

Here’s how Arsenal fans reacted to the defender’s error:

Sokratis is the most clueless player ever, guy looks like he’s only picked up the sport in the past 3 days.

— 6UENDOUZI (@Giroudaholic) September 15, 2019

What utter stupidity from @Arsenal defenders! Don’t they learn anything at all? And they are still doing the same thing. Watch them lose another goal from the exact same play! Stupidity at it’s worst!!!

— Thucydides1989 (@Thucydides1989) September 15, 2019

Sokratis is bad. He’s been bad for a while. We were just to busy noticing mustafi

— YankeeGunner (@YankeeGunner) September 15, 2019

What are you doing Sokratis? I would pay additional £100m to get Saliba sooner, even would take Djourou, he’s free agent. Fuming

— Aubazettes (@Aubazettes) September 15, 2019

That's an absolute disgrace, Sokratis has been terrible this season. He was very poor at times last season but went under the radar a bit because Mustafi was worse. Should be dropped. #AFC #WATARS

— Gunners.com (@Gunnersc0m) September 15, 2019

You should fire anyone who's like let's take Leno and put Sokratis and David Luiz at the edge of the six-yard box while the other team is pushed up and let's play out of the back, boys. It is madness.

— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) September 15, 2019

January I want both sokratis and luiz sold, get them both out my club and bring holding and a new cb in because I've fucking had it with these lot.

— Nicø19 (@Anonymous1076) September 15, 2019

Sokratis is a bum. Get him out.

— GardinerMinshew_fan (@L0C0FC) September 15, 2019

No matter how good Arsenal are going forward, they still have serious problems in defence which they’ve clearly failed to address in recent years.

Could this shaky defending hurt the north London club’s chances of finishing in the top four this season?

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The post Video: ‘Get him out in January’ – These Arsenal fans on ‘clueless’ Sokratis’ error leading to Cleverley goal appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Man City and Tottenham dominate Premier League team of the weekend, plus spots for stars who downed Arsenal and Chelsea

Mark Brus — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 07:40:45 +0000

Just one Manchester United player gets in.

The Premier League was back with a bang this weekend, with one or two shocks as Chelsea and Arsenal fell to defeats to Crystal Palace and Watford, respectively.

And then there were less surprising incidents, such as a dull 0-0 between Liverpool and Manchester United at Jose Mourinho’s favourite bus-parking space Anfield.

But while the red half of Manchester focused on defence, Manchester City were in dazzling form to thrash Stoke City 7-2 at the Etihad Stadium to go two points clear at the top of the table.

It’s little surprise then, that four City stars made it into our Premier League team of the week…

Defence

David de Gea’s wonder-save earns him the honour of being the only Manchester United player in our team of the week. Ahead of him we have a reborn Fabian Delph at left-back, Kieran Trippier and Davinson Sanchez of Tottenham, and Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren, who actually had a solid game to keep Romelu Lukaku and co. quiet this Saturday.

Midfield

Kevin De Bruyne is an easy pick with two assists in another masterful midfield display for City, and he’s joined by the rather surprising inclusion of Watford’s Tom Cleverley, who capped an impressive match against Arsenal with a well-taken late winner.

Attack

10 – Gabriel Jesus has been involved in 10 goals in nine Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium (eight goals, two assists). Settled. pic.twitter.com/A8QSpp9R1s

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 14, 2017

Wilfried Zaha scored a delightful winner to earn Crystal Palace their first win of the season against Chelsea, but the other names up top are somewhat more familiar: Raheem Sterling grabbed a goal and two assists for City, while his team-mate Gabriel Jesus gets in after his superb double against Stoke, and they’re joined by Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen, who hit the winner against Bournemouth.

Premier League team of the weekend in full:

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Arsenal fans think they know who’s to blame for last-gap Watford winner

Edward Bennett — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 08:06:02 +0000

New low for Arsenal…

Arsenal fans have found a new scapegoat after the side’s sloppy defending allowed Watford to score a stoppage time winner in yesterday’s game at Vicarage Road.

Incredibly, footage showed Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka standing around and PICKING HIS NOSE as Tom Cleverley raced into the box to fire home for Watford at the death.

The Switzerland international hasn’t been at his best for the Gunners since joining from Borussia Monchengladbach last season, and his lack of work rate was badly exposed once again in yesterday’s defeat.

While fans so often jump to blame Mesut Ozil after disappointing results, it’s fair to say Gooners were agreed that Xhaka was public enemy number one on Saturday evening.

Here’s a collection of the angriest tweets from Arsenal supporters as they took in their third defeat of the Premier League season…

It was a goal built on an offside move, all true. But you don’t pick your nose when you leave a man unmarked inside the box#WATARS #XHAKA pic.twitter.com/4vEQlpfE5S

— Doc Kamalnath (@drkamalnathsr) October 15, 2017

6:20am N I still can’t believe dat Watford’s 2nd goal, Xhaka was just watching from the edge of the area! Didn’t even move a muscle #Arsenal

— King_H3RC (@KingH3rc) October 15, 2017

Granit Xhaka’s picking his nose as Arsenal concede a last-minute goal is surely Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez levels of lethargy.

— Praveen Paramasivam (@PraveenR_P) October 15, 2017

Watching xhaka standing still for the goal. Had Coquelin been on the field, no way would they have had that final shot.

— Le Prof (@adi_wilshere) October 15, 2017

Xhaka picking his nose while Cleverley rifles into the goal is hilarious, what a shocking footballer pic.twitter.com/EpAGbs1XSV

— Craig (@Crxiq) October 15, 2017

Xhaka is an absolute disgrace for Watford winning goal.

— Brad (@ArsenalFCView) October 15, 2017

Wtf is xhaka doing for Watford’s 2nd goal oh boy we do have some useless players in our team,the defending is absolute scandalous

— I??AFC (@adamhottee) October 14, 2017

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Arsenal concede late to attain this unwanted Premier League record

Isaac Johnson — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 18:41:11 +0000

Arsenal dropped down to sixth the Premier League after losing to Watford 2-1 thanks to a late Tom Cleverley goal meaning they now are yet to record a win away from home this season.

The game started slowly with Watford arguably offering the better chances going forward as the visitors fielded a side without Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey after they were left out of the squad following post-international game fatigue.

However, the tie sparked into action after old-timer Per Mertesacker nodded Arsenal into the lead after 39 minutes as he netted his first goal since December 2013. The German giant is set to retire at the end of the season and become an academy coach for the London outfit, per the Express.

When the benched Mesut Ozil came onto the pitch on 61 minutes, the game swung in the way of Arsenal after he almost instantly set up Alex Iwobi who saw his shot palmed away by Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

His presence was felt even more after Ozil was sent through one-on-one with Gomes on 69 minutes but couldn’t find a way past the custodian. Less than 60 seconds later, Watford were awarded a penalty after breaking up the other end following the golden chance.

Troy Deeney stepped up to equalise for the Hornets on with twenty minutes of the game left to play.

Boo’s were heard from the Arsenal section after Jack Wilshere was sent back to the bench despite being on the touchline ready to come onto the pitch. Instead, Rob Holding was brought on sturdy the defensive line amid Watford pressure.

The home side’s pressure paid off eventually as Tom Cleverley hammered home the winner two minutes into stoppage time following a scramble in the box.

The 2-1 loss for Arsenal means they are currently yet to win away from home in four league games this season after losing 1-0 away at Stoke, 4-0 to Liverpool and drawing 0-0 when visiting Chelsea before Saturday’s match.

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Watford 0-1 Liverpool player ratings: Reds solid as Emre Can magic fires them to victory

Andy Morris — Mon, 01 May 2017 22:03:30 +0000

Liverpool wiped the floor with Watford when they came to Anfield back in November, beating them 6-1.

And the Reds completed a Premier League double over the Hertfordshire side on Monday night by winning a very different game 1-0 at Vicarage Road.

Again, Liverpool dominated possession, but this contest was a real tough, ugly battle, rather than an attractive goal-fest.

However, Emre Can’s bicycle-kick winner was anything but ugly.

The German international broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time with a stunning volley.

Can was set up by a cross from Lucas Leiva – his third assist in five Premier League games.

Lucas also picked up his third yellow card since the start of April, after attempting to win a penalty with a dreadful dive, having run into Tom Cleverley.

Liverpool deserved their win, but they didn’t make it easy for themselves.

Having lost Coutinho to injury early in the game, the Reds were wasteful in attack, although Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes also deserves credit for keeping the Reds at bay.

Sub Adam Lallana smashed the woodwork from long range and missed a great chance to make it 2-0.

And that miss was very nearly punished in the 94th minute when Sebastian Prodl rattled Simon Mignolet’s crossbar.

Liverpool look like dead certs for a top-four finish now, while Watford remain safe from relegation and comfortably mid-table.

Watford: Gomes 8; Mariappa 7, Prodl 7, Britos 6; Janmaat 6, Cleverley, Douceur 6, Capoue 5, Amrabat 6; Deeney 5, Niang 5.
Subs: Kabasele 6, Success 5, Okaka 5.

Liverpool: Mignolet 7; Clyne 6, Lovren 7, Matip 8, Milner 7; Lucas 7, Can 8, Wijnaldum 7; Coutinho 5, Firmino 6, Origi 6.
Subs: Lallana 7, Sturridge 6, Klavan 6.

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Everton midfielder joins Watford on loan after £24M signing leaves his route into the starting side firmly blocked

Jamie Wilkinson — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 23:22:53 +0000

Everton midfielder Tom Cleverley has joined Watford on loan for the rest of the season with a view to a permanent transfer, report the Daily Mail.

Cleverley broke onto the scene at Manchester United under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson, and fast became an important member of the first-team squad.

However, he found the route into the starting side blocked and his opportunities limited, and subsequently joined Aston Villa on loan. After a successful stint at Villa Park, he earned a permanent transfer to Everton.

He made 42 appearances over 18 months with the Toffees, but after Ronald Koeman’s side secured the transfer of Morgan Schneiderlin, for what the Daily Mail report to be a £24 million fee, he was surplus to requirements and has been shipped off to Watford until the end of the season.

The former England international has previously played for Watford during the 2009/10 season, where he won their player of the season award. Perhaps a return to his former side is what he needs to revive his career.

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Hottest Premier League WAGs 2016: 3 Man U missuses, new Liverpool signing’s GF & Chelsea & Arsenal wives feature

Andy Morris — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 21:42:13 +0000

This week was the hottest of the year, so now seems like the perfect time to reveal to you the top 10 hottest Premier League WAGs 2016.

We’ve got wives and girlfriends from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Everton, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur.

No.1 on our heavily-researched list of the hottest Premier League WAGs 2016 would have been Viktoria Varga this time last month, but Graziano Pelle’s £320,000-a-week move to China means she’s now off-limits. Sorry, lads.

But fear not because these 10 ladies are more than lovely enough to make up for ~~Varga’s~~ Pelle’s transfer away.

We start with Erin Borini, who recently upgraded her WAG status from fiancee to wife when she married – you guessed it – Sunderland striker Fabio Borini.

Erin is the ultimate ‘girl next door’ type, but, sadly, she’s never been my neighbour.

10. Erin Borini (Fabio Borini’s wife)

Next up is a wife who must have the patience of a saint. It can’t be easy to be married to controversial Chelsea captain John Terry, but Toni Terry wears it bloody well.

Toni, who tied the know with JT in 2007, is easily Chelsea’s no.1 WAG.

9. Toni Terry (John Terry’s wife)

Another London-based WAG is in at eight, as we introduce Annie Kilner – girlfriend of Tottenham and England right-back Kyle Walker.

Miss Kilner’s name went viral back in 2015 when it was WRONGLY alleged that she had been orally pleasured by a dog. A graphic video swept the internet along with a vicious rumour claiming that Kilner was the recipient of the pooch’s ‘love’. We repeat, THIS WAS NOT HER.

We’re glad that’s settled.

8. Annie Kilner (Kyle Walker’s girlfriend)

As we said, that dog rumour was a load of balls. Talking of balls brings us onto our next wonderful WAG – Ana Ivanovic.

Ana literally smashes balls for a living. And, as a former world number one in women’s tennis, she’s one hell of a ball-smasher.

The world-class sports star married 2014 World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger this summer, so now she’s officially a world-class WAG too.

7. Ana Ivanovic (Bastian Schweinsteiger’s wife)

Ana is the first of three Man United WAGs in our Premier League WAGs 2016 extravaganza.

Fellow Red Devils babe Sam Cooke is in at six.

Cooke found fame as a Page 3 model and now she’s the boyfriend of Chris Smalling. What a story!

6. Sam Cooke (Chris Smalling’s girlfriend)

Another WAG who was kinda famous before she became a footballer’s girlfriend is ex-TOWIE star Georgina Dorsett.

Georgina is now very much in love with Everton midfielder Tom Cleverley.

5. Georgina Dorsett (Tom Cleverley’s girlfriend)

Stoke-on-Trent is not considered a particularly glamorous place.

HOWEVER, it gave birth to one of the greatest WAGs of all-time in Alice Goodwin.

And Stoke is clearly glamorous enough for our no.4 WAG Abbey Clancy, who is married to Potters beanpole Peter Crouch.

4. Abbey Clancy (Peter Crouch’s wife)

From Stoke, we travel back up the country (and the Premier League table) to Manchester, where we find David de Gea and his lovely lass, Edurne Garcia Almagro.

Edurne is a Spanish singer who performed at Eurovision back in 2015.

3. Edurne Garcia Almagro (David de Gea’s girlfriend)

The newest Premier League WAG on the list is Annelie Alpert, who is the other half of Liverpool summer signing Loris Karius.

Loris isn’t bad-looking himself, but his missus is just ridiculously hot.

2. Annelie Alpert (Loris Karius’s girlfriend)

Top spot on our list of the hottest Premier League WAGs 2016 goes to the wife of a rarely seen Arsenal player – no.2 goalkeeper David Ospina.

Colombian stopper Ospina married Jesica Sterling in 2012 and the couple have two children together.

Is it me, or is Sterling the spitting image of Vanessa Hudgens? Either way, she’s a total MILF!

1. Jesica Sterling (David Ospina’s wife)

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