REID...I’m delighted to be here and I can’t wait to get going.
Jamaica’s Reggae Boy Bobby Reid says he hoping to use his experience and energy to help Leicester City achieve their targets and possibly enjoy a successful return to the English Premier League (EPL) when the 2024/25 season gets under way in August.
Reid’s declaration came as he shared his excitement about joining the promoted club on a three-year deal, becoming manager Steve Cooper’s first signing ahead of the new campaign.
The 31-year-old’s move to ‘The Foxes’ follows his release from Fulham, where he made over 200 appearances in an almost five-year stint at the west London club.
“Turning up here was a special moment, looking in and seeing the infrastructure. It’s got that wow factor. It feels nice. I landed on Tuesday and now I’m signing so it’s been a quick turnaround, but obviously I’m delighted to be here and I can’t wait to get going,” Reid, who has 33 international caps for Jamaica, shared.
“I had a good chat with the manager, he told me the vision of the club and sold it for me. I spoke to him a few times and he was very clear in what he wanted and what he saw in me. He believes in me and it’s a perfect fit. It’s going to be a very interesting season,” he added.
Reid, in his final offering at Fulham, scored seven goals from 43 appearances in all competitions last season as the Craven Cottage club battled to a 13th-place finish in the league.
The fleet-footed midfielder, declared his readiness to play his part in Leicester City’s charge to possibly repeat their 2015/16 League title winning feat.
Leicester, who won the Championship last season after being relegated from the Premier League the previous year, are set to open their new EPL campaign against Tottenham Hotspur next month.
“I want to bring experience. I’ve got energy, I’d like to say I’m a goalscorer as well and a playmaker. Hopefully I can bring all of those things and make the squad better,” Reid said.
“I pride myself on those types of things and helping the team, whether that is being a leader within the dressing room or being an experienced player for the younger ones and just being an all-round good person. I think that is key to having a good season,” he noted.
“It’s fallen on me with my age but I’ll take that mantle on. I’m looking to get going, meet my team-mates, meet the rest of the staff and keep this club in the Premier League. I’ll give my all for the club – 100 per cent – and hopefully bring some smiles to faces,” Reid, who has had stints with Cardiff City, Bristol City, Cheltenham Town, Oldham Athletic, and Plymouth Argyle, stated.
'Alisson will not be with us' - Slot dealt injury blow after Palace win
Arne Slot confirmed Alisson is set for a spell on the sidelines after being forced off injured late in Liverpool's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Diogo Jota scored the only goal nine minutes in after Eddie Nketiah had a goal disallowed in the first minute for offside.
Palace attempted to find a late equaliser, but amid their flurry of chances, Alisson went down after a routine clearance holding his right leg.
Having only just returned from a thigh injury, it is a worrying sign for the Brazilian, with big games against Chelsea and Arsenal coming up.
And though Slot was pleased to get the win that secured their stay at the top of the table over the international break, he confirmed it was unlikely Alisson would be available for their next games.
"Mostly for me, it's special [to be top of the table]," Slot told TNT Sports.
"Players go to their national team, and they think of the national team, but for me, if I lose it is three to four days of being unhappy. I think my wife will be happy as she will have someone home who is happy.
"Really satisfied with how we started the season. It is a good start, not only the results, but I liked our performance today.
"The fixtures are difficult, but I have felt how difficult Wolves and Palace are away. It is good that we have won these games, and it is up to us to show ourselves in the big games.
"Unfortunately, Alisson will not be with us in these matches with how he walked off the pitch."
Meanwhile, Oliver Glasner was left frustrated as he felt Palace should have had a penalty for a push by Virgil van Dijk on Marc Guehi.
They are winless in their first seven matches of the Premier League, their longest such run at the start of a campaign in the competition since 2017-18 (also seven games), but the German is not worried after seeing positive signs from his team.
"We should have had a clear penalty," Glasner said. "I disagree [with the PGMOL explanation] if it was on the halfway line they'd have given a foul. When it's a foul, it's a foul.
"It doesn't matter if it had an impact or not. If it is in the box, it is a penalty.
"It is frustrating we didn't get a point because we had chances. The way we played in the second half – creating more chances and moments and not giving them chances – gives me confidence."
Nobbs makes record-breaking WSL appearance as Aston Villa lose to Brighton
Aston Villa's Jordan Nobbs is now the outright leader for Women's Super League appearances after playing her 193rd game.
The midfielder started on Saturday, though she could not help Villa avoid a 4-2 defeat to Brighton, who were inspired by full debutant Nikita Parris.
While Nobbs could not mark her special day with a victory, there can be no taking away from the 31-year-old's achievement.
Nobbs' tally includes eight appearances in the WSL Spring Series. Before Saturday, she was level with Chelsea's Sophie Ingle, who is out injured.
She has started 158 games in total, and taken part in a hugely impressive 124 wins - only now-retired Stephanie Houghton has won more WSL matches (127).
Nobbs has scored 58 goals in the competition, a figure bettered by just six players, while only eight players have provided more assists than her 31. She has created 312 goalscoring chances for her team-mates, with Beth Mead (339) having crafted more.
The majority of Nobbs' appearances came for Arsenal, as she played 157 times for the Gunners. Saturday's loss at Brighton marked her 36th WSL match for Villa, who she joined in 2023.
Her 21 starts in the 2016-17 campaign, meanwhile, has marked the most matches she played in from the off during a single season.
Nobbs, who has won 71 caps for England, has won the WSL on three occasions (2011, 2012 and 2018-19), winning the FA Cup four times.
Simeone: No negativity in Atletico Madrid camp
Diego Simeone has dismissed claims of negativity surrounding Atletico Madrid following their resounding 4-0 Champions League defeat to Benfica in midweek.
Los Colchoneros are unbeaten in LaLiga after eight matches, winning four and drawing four, sitting five points behind leaders Barcelona, ahead of Sunday's trip to Real Sociedad.
However, they were trounced by Benfica in their second match in the Champions League's new league phase on Wednesday, the first time they had shipped four goals in a Champions League group-stage game since October 2020 (0-4 at Bayern Munich).
"I don't think that there is a negative climate. I believe our atmosphere is good and we are working towards the team we want to have," Simeone told reporters on Saturday.
"There are players who arrived in the last days of the transfer window, and they are acclimatising.
"From our position, we need to help them adapt as quickly as possible so the team can take shape swiftly. I don't see that as negativity at all."
Atletico bolstered their squad with new signings Conor Gallagher and Julian Alvarez ahead of the new campaign, and Simeone is still waiting for his players to gel.
"I didn't see the team lacking commitment or intensity, but rather a lack of creative play and resources ... Let's see if we can win against Sociedad," Simeone added.
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