It’s not often that there’s a heartwarming story to be told in football circles, but for one former Premier League defender, all of his dreams appear to have come true at the ripe old age of 38.

At one stage in his long career, which began in 2003 at Luton Town and still isn’t over in 2023 at Cheltenham Town, Curtis Davies would almost certainly have had aspirations to play for the England national team.

Unfortunately for the former West Brom, Aston Villa, Leicester City, Birmingham City, Hull City and Derby County centre-back, a call-up for the senior side never materialised, and three U21 caps were all that he had to show for his troubles.

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The very last thing he could’ve expected was a call up in a season that’s expected to be one of his last in the game, but that’s exactly what’s happened.

It will be a proud moment for me to pull on the shirt of The Leone Stars and make my family in Sierra Leone proud but most of all my dad. He did everything in his power to give me the best chance to become a footballer, so I dedicate this all to him. ??

— ?????? ?????? (@TheCurtisDavies) October 9, 2023

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Davies announced that he will be playing for Sierra Leone, the country of his father’s birth, in their upcoming friendly matches.

He’s able to do so because of having never appeared for the Three Lions at senior level. A similar situation occurred with Ryan Giggs who represented England at schoolboy level before changing his allegiances to Wales.

Even if these next games are the sum total of his international career, it’s clear from Davies’ posts just how proud he is.

The post 38-year-old former Premier League defender gets first international call up appeared first on CaughtOffside.

It never rains but it pours for Daniel Farke and Leeds United at present, with yet another obstacle placed in the manager’s way at the start of this 2023/24 Championship season.

Farke has had more than enough to deal with since he took over the reins at the club, not least striker Willy Gnonto effectively going on strike to try and force through a move to Premier League side, Everton.

A number of players have also left the club and there’s still time for more to go given that there’s over two weeks left of the current transfer window.

One player that is looking to ply his trade elsewhere is Leo Hjelde, with reliable journalist, Gianluca di Marzio, reporting that a switch to Salernitana is on the cards.

He might well have played his last game for the all whites, but that’s nothing to do with his transfer situation.

According to Yahoo, as the player suffered a concussion in Leeds’ training session on Tuesday, per English Football League protocols, he will be forced to sit out the match against West Bromwich Albion.

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Given that their fixture the week after, and right on top of the end of the transfer window, is against table-topping Ipswich Town, Farke is highly unlikely to risk the player incase of injury and a move collapsing.

Truth be told, the German needs as many players on board that he can, but with Hjelde believed to be angling for the move, it’s senseless keeping an unhappy player.

The post EFL rule set to block Leeds player from featuring against West Brom appeared first on CaughtOffside.

West Bromwich Albion winger Alec Jackson has passed away at the age of 86.

According to reports, the Baggies will hold a minute’s applause in his honour prior to their game against Swansea on Saturday.

The Championship outfit have released an official statement expressing their sadness at the passing of the former player as well.

“West Bromwich Albion are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player Alec Jackson, aged 86.

“The Tipton-born winger enjoyed a decade at The Hawthorns from 1954 to 1964, scoring 52 goals in 208 appearances for the Baggies, before continuing his career at Birmingham City and later, Walsall.

“Albion send their heartfelt condolences to Alec’s wife June and sons Andrew and Neil, at this desperately sad time.”

The winger spent a decade at West Brom and he has played for clubs like Birmingham City and Walsall as well.

Meanwhile, the West Brom players will be wearing black armbands on Saturday as a mark of respect towards the 86-year-old.

Jackson was once West Brom’s youngest league goal scorer and he made over 200 appearances for the club during his time at the Hawthorns.

The post West Brom release heartfelt statement as club icon passes away at 86 appeared first on CaughtOffside.

The real business for Daniel Farke and Leeds United begins this weekend, as the all whites take on Cardiff on Sunday to kick-off their 2023/24 Championship season.

Elland Road should be bouncing as the punters come flooding back to see what the German has to offer in terms of having a team with a defined style and an attacking threat.

The squad and starting XI are likely to look quite a bit different to the last time supporters saw them, with moves in and out taking place across the summer.

It was always going to be that way simply because of the fact the club had dropped down a division.

One player that could be lining up for the club is former West Ham star, Grady Diangana.

When he left the east Londoners a number of players were up in arms, including club captain, Mark Noble, who was quoted by BBC Sport at the time as tweeting:

‘As captain of this football club I’m gutted, angry and sad that Grady has left, great kid with a great future.’

Since his move from the Hammers to West Brom, however, he hasn’t captured the kind of form that he showed in east London and, as a result, the Express and Star report that Leeds are eyeing up a cut-price move for the player.

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They apparently face competition for his services from Burnley, Leicester City and unnamed Saudi Pro League clubs, though if Farke can sell the player his vision, there’s every chance he could be turning out for the Yorkshire-based outfit in the upcoming campaign.

The post Leeds United eyeing £7m move to sign West Brom flop appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Leeds United are reportedly eyeing a potential move for West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jayson Molumby, according to renowned journalist Dean Jones.

The Yorkshire club is gearing up for another season in the Championship following their disappointing relegation.

Molumby, who contributed four goals and four assists in 47 appearances across all competitions, has emerged as a prime target for Leeds United. Carlton Palmer has tipped the club to sign him calling him a ‘fantastic signing’.

Jones expressed his belief that the Irish midfielder possesses the necessary skills to make an immediate impact in the Championship.

With Leeds United potentially parting ways with Weston McKennie, Brenden Aaronson, and Tyler Adams, Molumby’s arrival could provide a significant boost to the squad.

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He told Football Fancast:

“I think he also has the nous to be good enough for what they need straight away from the off in the Championship. I think that’ll be really interesting, especially at a time when they’re looking to move on from McKennie and probably Aaronson and, unfortunately for Leeds, probably Tyler Adams as well.”

In other transfer news, Diego Llorente and Rasmus Kristensen are also subjects of speculation regarding potential departures this summer.

AS Roma are interested in securing the services of the duo, with recent reports indicating that Kristensen has already agreed to personal terms with the Italian club.

Leeds United are yet to appoint a new manager with the likes of Patrick Vieira, Daniel Farke and Scott Parker all linked with the job.

The post Leeds United eyeing a move for West Bromwich midfielder appeared first on CaughtOffside.

With a mass exodus of players expected at Leeds United across the summer, the new owners, 49ers Enterprises, are going to need their wits about them when it comes to making the right decisions for a new manager, sporting director and players.

Get it right, and the Yorkshire-based Championship outfit could be straight back up into the Premier League, but if not, it could be a long, hard season for everyone connected with the club.

To that end, if the new board go with one particular appointment, it could lead to them getting a midfielder into the bargain too.

Planet Sport cite reports that West Bromwich Albion coach, Carlos Corberan, is on the shortlist for the manager’s job at Elland Road.

It isn’t clear at this stage whether he’s the favourite to take a position last held by Sam Allardyce, as the outlet also note that Scott Parker and Daniel Farke are in the running.

Where Corberan may hold the advantage is his employment with the club as Marcelo Bielsa’s assistant.

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He knows the club and how it works, and even if the new board expect some changes from the time he was last at Elland Road, Corberan’s prior knowledge of how things work generally at the club has to hold him in good stead.

Planet Sport also say that reports suggest Leeds are being linked with West Brom’s Jayson Molumby. If Corberan were successful with his application, the expectation might be that Molumby would soon follow suit.

The post 40-year-old manager could bring midfielder with him to Leeds United appeared first on CaughtOffside.

West Brom have brutally mocked Leeds United with their new contract announcement video for Carlos Corberan.

Fabrizio Romano recently confirmed to CaughtOffside via his Substack column that Corberan was a target for Leeds United after they sacked Jesse Marsch.

Corberan is doing an excellent job in turning around West Brom‘s season, and they’ve now announced he has signed a new contract, ending speculation that he will join Leeds.

West Brom took to Twitter to mock Leeds with a hilarious teaser video for Corberan’s new deal.

? pic.twitter.com/Z2NkdmwvU5

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) February 7, 2023

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The post (Video) West Brom brutally mock Leeds United with announcement video appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Leeds United confirmed the sacking of Jesse Marsch yesterday and Fabrizio Romano has given exclusive insight into the club’s decision and what they might do next.

Writing in the Daily Briefing, his exclusive CaughtOffside column, Romano explained that although there weren’t any issues between Marsch and the Leeds players, the feeling inside Elland Road was that the American tactician was unable to turn things around for the team.

Leeds have had a dreadful season so far, with no wins in their last seven Premier League games, and only a slightly better goal difference than Everton keeping them out of the relegation zone for the moment.

Although Marsch helped the Yorkshire side stay up last season, it seems like this was the right time to make a change, and Romano says several candidates are in the frame to replace him.

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The reporter named West Brom boss Carlos Corberan as one option for Leeds, but it seems there are other names also being explored.

“The decision on Jesse Marsch was made on Monday morning, the club were not happy with the performance against Forest,” Romano said.

“There were no problems with the players but the feeling is that Marsch was not able to change the situation.

“Carlos Corberan is one of the candidates, but not the only one – talks are ongoing to find a replacement.”

The post Exclusive: Why Leeds United sacked Jesse Marsch and one possible candidate to replace him appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Leeds United aren’t at their best at the moment, and it’s leading to growing speculation over the future of Jesse Marsch as manager.

The American tactician replaced Marcelo Bielsa last season and did just enough to steer the club away from relegation, though there hasn’t been much progress since then.

Marsch is surely running out of time to turn things around, and it now seems that West Brom’s Spanish tactician Carlos Corberan is being considered by Leeds.

The 39-year-old has previously managed Leeds Under-23s, and he’s done some impressive work since then, particularly with West Brom in the Championship this season.

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Talks could take place this week to determine Marsch’s future, and it will be interesting to see if the club gamble on a promising coach like Corberan or opt for someone with more experience.

The post Spaniard emerges surprise candidate to replace Jesse Marsch appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Steve Bruce does not have the tactical know-how to manage top football clubs.

That is the view of former Aston Villa and Liverpool midfielder Stan Collymore, who believes any club considering offering the 61-year-old a job should reconsider.

Bruce has managed a whole host of clubs, both in the Premier League and Championship, including spells with the likes of Sunderland, Newcastle United and most recently West Brom.

Although the Englishman was only hired by the Baggies in February, he was relieved of his duties after just seven months in charge following a poor spell that saw the club sit rock-bottom of the Championship and average just 1.1 points per game (Transfermarkt).

Following what has been yet another embarrassing and hugely disappointing managerial spell, Bruce, now in his sixties, looks unlikely to return to management – or at least Collymore believes he should call it a day.

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“Sacked again,” Collymore said in an exclusive interview.

“He must be the luckiest man in England and I say this knowing how hard it is to have and keep a high-level football career.

“When you look at his CV at all the clubs he has managed – Birmingham City, Hull City, Sunderland, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Wigan, Crystal Palace and most recently West Brom and you ask yourself ‘how many of these clubs did he improve?’ – the answer is not very many.

“Birmingham City fans will argue he did well there, which probably explains why he feels so at home in Birmingham, but there were so many times I watched a Bruce team and they were set up with a back five and I don’t mean a back three with two wing-backs, I mean a flat back five – full-backs going nowhere. Such a depressing style of play for the fans who are paying a shed load of money to go and watch their team.

“I just don’t see why any club would want to employ him. His tempo is slow, his style is boring. His latest sacking from West Brom surely must be the end for him.”

Do you agree with Collymore’s assessment, or do you think Bruce is a good enough manager to be offered a new job? – Let us know in the comments.

The post “Why would you employ him?” – Pundit hammers Steve Bruce following West Brom sacking appeared first on CaughtOffside.