SoccerVibes

Author: Naandiyak Solomon

  • Julio Enciso joins Ipswich: Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler explains decision behind loan transfer

    Julio Enciso joins Ipswich: Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler explains decision behind loan transfer

    Ipswich Town have announced the signing of Paraguay international Julio Enciso on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion.

    The 21-year-old will spend the rest of this season at Portman Road and it is understood that the Tractor Boys do not have an option to buy the attacker in the summer

    Enciso becomes Kieran McKenna’s third signing of the January transfer window after defender Ben Godfrey and winger Jaden Philogene, and he could be available to make his Ipswich debut away against Liverpool on Saturday. “I am so happy to be here,” Enciso told TownTV.

    “The conversations with the manager have been good. I am very grateful to him and the club for believing in me. I can’t wait to get going. I’m a real fighter and I will do my best in every game. “It’s clear what I want to achieve – stay in the Premier League, win games and play the great football the manager and fans want to see. Hopefully I can help and learn from all my teammates.

    Of course I am happy to be here and I will give my best on the pitch.”

    Enciso joins an Ipswich side who are currently fighting to avoid relegation from the Premier League, as they sit 18th in the table and level on points with Wolverhampton Wanderers hovering just above the bottom three.

    The attacker has opted to leave Brighton on a temporary basis in search of regular first-team football after starting only two of his 12 Premier League appearances for the Seagulls this season.

    Explaining Ensico’s loan exit, Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler told the club’s website: “Julio wants to play regularly, and that is not something we can guarantee with so many options in our attacking positions.

    “Ipswich have offered Julio the possibility of more regular game time, and the move is the right one for all concerned.

    “We will keep a close eye on his progress as the season continues, and we wish him well for his time with Ipswich.”

    We will keep a close eye on his progress as the season continues, and we wish him well for his time with Ipswich.” Since joining Brighton in 2022 from Paraguayan side Libertad, Enciso has made 57 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals, including a memorable strike against Manchester City in 2022-23 that was voted Premier League Goal of the Season and nominated for the Puskas award.

     

  • Kalen DeBoer’s first season grade at Alabama is dreadful.

    Kalen DeBoer’s first season grade at Alabama is dreadful.

    Subscribe to Athlon Sports’ daily newsletter.

    Home of Athlon Sports Home College Kalen DeBoer’s first season grade at Alabama is dreadful. Shelton, J.C.EST, January 22, 2025, 3:55 PM In this narrative: Crimson Tide of Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide: Begin Talking ESPN has released a grade for Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first season with the Crimson Tide as he enters Year 2. When DeBoer, 50, took over the championship level program following Nick Saban’s illustrious career, he had a special challenge. DeBoer was hired from Washington when Saban retired from coaching after 17 seasons and six national titles. Despite being a native of Milbank, South Dakota, DeBoer had a history of success as a coach in the South.

    Subscribe to Athlon Sports’ daily newsletter. Home of Athlon Sports Home College Jayden Daniels of Washington Describes Their Victory Over Detroit as a “Surreal Moment” Kalen DeBoer’s first season grade at Alabama is dreadful. Shelton, J.C.EST, January 22, 2025, 3:55 PM In this narrative: Crimson Tide of Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide: Begin Talking ESPN has released a grade for Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first season with the Crimson Tide as he enters Year 2.

    When DeBoer, 50, took over the championship level program following Nick Saban’s illustrious career, he had a special challenge. DeBoer was hired from Washington when Saban retired from coaching after 17 seasons and six national titles. The native of Milbank, South Dakota, had never served as a coach in ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg initially scored Alabama’s hiring of DeBoer an A-, emphasizing his down-to-earth manner and track record. However, DeBoer was given a dismal C-in evaluation after leading the Tide to their poorest season (9-4) since Saban’s debut in 2007.

    “I liked that Alabama went away from the Nick Saban tree to replace him and then brought in a coach who knew how to win championships and win big games,” Rittenberg stated.

    “But DeBoer’s adjustment to the environment, roster and expectations became a real challenge.” With a victory over Georgia in Week 4, the Tide jumped to the top of the AP Poll and got off to a scorching start. However, as the season went on, Alabama displayed significant irregularities that resulted in upset

    Arizona Wildcats are caged by the Red Raiders 70-54. Behind the Double-Double of JT Toppin Kalen DeBoer’s first season grade at Alabama is dreadful. Shelton, J.C.EST, January 22, 2025, 3:55 PM In this narrative: Crimson Tide of Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide: Begin Talking ESPN has released a grade for Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first season with the Crimson Tide as he enters Year 2. When DeBoer, 50, took over the championship level program following Nick Saban’s illustrious career, he had a special challenge.

    DeBoer was hired from Washington when Saban retired from coaching after 17 seasons and six national titles.

    The native of Milbank, South Dakota, had never been a coach in the South, but DeBoer had a winning record.

  • Liverpool injury, suspension news vs. Ipswich: Will Curtis Jones miss out?

    Liverpool injury, suspension news vs. Ipswich: Will Curtis Jones miss out?

    When Liverpool hosts Ipswich Town at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, they will try to hold onto their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League standings.

    Arne Slot’s team enters the match fresh off a thrilling comeback victory over Brentford the previous weekend and a 2-1 Champions League triumph over Lille on Tuesday, which extended their winning streak to 100% on the continent.

    Liverpool can now unwind and concentrate entirely on defeating relegation-threatened Ipswich, as they have secured a place in the top two of the European league phase.

    Ahead of Liverpool’s match against the Tractor Boys, who are in dire need of a comeback after losing to Manchester City 6-0 at home last weekend, Sports Mole compiles all of the most recent injury and suspension news.

    Jota missed both of the team’s victories over Brentford and Lille because of a muscular overload, but Slot has stated that he will be back in the coming weeks, stating that the situation is not as bad as it has been in the past.

    Gomez has missed the last six Reds games due to a hamstring injury, but like Jota, Slot has stated that it will only take a few weeks, not months, for him to make a comeback.

    The severity of the issue is yet unknown, but manager Slot disclosed during the victory over Lille that Jones experienced some discomfort in the first half and was unable to shake it off, forcing him to be substituted at halftime.

  • NFL Defensive Player of the Year is chosen by Pro Football Writers to be a former Alabama great.

    NFL Defensive Player of the Year is chosen by Pro Football Writers to be a former Alabama great.

    According to the Pro Football Writers of America, cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award at Alabama in 2020, is now the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the 2024 campaign with the Denver Broncos.

    On Wednesday, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and NFL Most Valuable Player Award winners were announced by the PFWA.

    With at least 375 covering snaps, Surtain was the cornerback who gave up the fewest receiving yards in the 2024 NFL season, according to the PFWA. Surtain was already selected for the 2024 All-NFL and All-AFC teams by the PFWA.

    Surtain is the fourth cornerback to get the award, which has been given out by the PFWA every year since 1992. The other cornerbacks to win were Stephon Gilmore of the New England Patriots in 2019, Charles Woodson of the Green Bay Packers in 2009, and Deion Sanders of the San Francisco 49ers in 1994.

    Former Crimson Tide running backs Shaun Alexander with the Seattle Seahawks in 2005 and Derrick Henry with the Tennessee Titans in 2020 were named the PFWA NFL Offensive Player of the Year, but Surtain is the first Alabama graduate to receive the league’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

    Alexander received the 2005 NFL Most Valuable Player Award, which was first given out by the PFWA in 1966 to former Alabama quarterback Bart Starr.

    Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens was selected by the PFWA for its NFL MVP Award this season for the second consecutive year. Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles was selected as the NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

  • The Lions already have a contract with their ideal Aaron Glenn replacement.

    The Lions already have a contract with their ideal Aaron Glenn replacement.

    And just like that, the Detroit Lions got poached to hell by the NFL head-coaching carousel. Former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson took over the Chicago Bears earlier in the week.

    With defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn moving over one of the clubs he used to star for in the New York Jets, Dan Campbell needs to replenish the supporting staff around him.

    The first step is to promote this particular instructor.

    Inside linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard, a former third-round pick out of LSU, has not been associated with either the Bears or Jets.

    Sheppard played for six different teams during his eight years in the league, most notably the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills, but he played his final season with the Lions before turning to coaching a few years later.

    According to rumors, Mark Brunell, the quarterbacks coach for the Lions, who is expected to be the Jets’ next offensive coordinator, is the most prominent figure to succeed either Glenn or Johnson.

    The legendary Jacksonville Jaguars player has effectively transitioned from a thriving media career to a fantastic coaching job. What is that man incapable of? The Lions must make keeping Sheppard on staff their top priority. The fact that Campbell is still under contract and knows Sheppard well is his greatest advantage.

    The Philadelphia Eagles lost both of their top coordinators to head coaching opportunities not too long ago, and while Sean Desai and Brian Johnson may not have clicked as replacements for Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon, respectively, it was worth a try.

    To be honest, Campbell owes it to himself to see if he can fill any voids on his staff internally before looking outside.

    Ultimately, I do believe that the Lions will withdraw at the end of this season.

    Why wouldn’t they, after all? When will this team ever have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and the top seed? The good news is that I do not have big expectations for either the Minnesota Vikings or the Green Bay Packers in the next season. The Chicago Bears can’t possibly be any worse, but they should be better.

    To make it abundantly clear, the Lions may have seen their Super Bowl window close after losing their two rockstar coordinators to other jobs.

    Coaching attrition is the quickest way to bring a team back to earth, college or pro. However, I do think promoting someone from within like Sheppard helps stop the bleeding a bit. Even if the Lions bleed out, they are not going to run dry because of Dan Campbell.

  • Prediction, kickoff time, TV, live stream, team news, head-to-head results, and odds for Liverpool vs. Ipswich

    Prediction, kickoff time, TV, live stream, team news, head-to-head results, and odds for Liverpool vs. Ipswich

    Following their worst loss of the Premier League season, Liverpool will take on an Ipswich team on Saturday.

    After losing to Manchester City 6-0 at home the previous time out, the Tractor Boys now have their most difficult assignment of the season when they go to Anfield.

    At the same time when Arsenal, their main championship challengers, are away at relegation-threatened Wolves, the Reds, who have more of the league’s best home records this season, will be confident of continuing that streak. Top-seeded in the Premier League, Arne Slot’s team prepared for this match by defeating Lille 2-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

    The kickoff for Liverpool vs. Ipswich is set for Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 3 p.m. GMT. Anfield is where the game will be played. Where can I watch Liverpool vs. Ipswich on TV?

    The match will not be shown live in the UK since it falls during the Saturday 3pm blackout. Free highlights: Match of the Day will air on BBC One at 10.30 p.m., while highlights will be available on the Sky Sports app and YouTube channel starting at 5:15 p.m.

    Curtis Jones had an injury during the victory over Lille in the middle of last week, but Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai were substituted in advance, so they will both be healthy for this weekend. Arne Slot stated, “The plan was to take Ryan and Dom off at halftime.” Dom stayed a little while longer because Curtis was unable to continue.

    Trent Alexander-Arnold will start on Saturday regardless of Conor Bradley’s removal in the 86th minute as a precaution.

    Darwin Nunez, who once more failed to create an impression, should be replaced by Cody Gakpo, who was rested.

    Kalvin Phillips, who missed the previous game against parent club Manchester City, will be available for Ipswich once more. With Conor Chaplin, Chiedozie Ogbene, Axel Tuanzebe, and Sammie Szmodics out due to injury, it’s a matter of as you were otherwise.

    After watching an allegedly struggling Man City team defeat Ipswich by six goals last weekend, Liverpool will understandably be wondering how much more they can score.

    The Reds will be somewhat rejuvenated with a somewhat rotated squad in midweek, which will be very beneficial. Arne Slot will want to ensure that his team’s six-point lead at the top of the table is at least intact at 5 p.m., as Arsenal is playing at the same time, which is uncommon this season.

     

  • Matchday Pass: City 0–6 Ipswich Town

    Matchday Pass: City 0–6 Ipswich Town

    The Blues’ undefeated start to 2025 continued with an incredible performance away to the Tractor Boys.

    Pep Guardiola’s team traveled to Portman Road having won three and drawn two of their previous five games. Phil Foden’s brace in the first half, which also helped Mateo Kovacic’s precise low finish, put City ahead three goals at halftime, and goals from Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland, and James McAtee completed the rout in Suffolk.

    The most recent installment begins before the game as the teams arrive, with Jack Grealish receiving an embrace from Ipswich superfan Ed Sheeran.

    Warm-ups, objectives, and post-game activities—including Foden’s post-match interview—come next.

    Watch the most recent Matchday Pass episode in the video clip above to see everything mentioned above and more

     

     

  • Is Lions’ EDGE of the Future Jack Sawyer?

    Is Lions’ EDGE of the Future Jack Sawyer?

    It’s time for general manager Brad Holmes to focus on his offseason priority list now that the Detroit Lions have been eliminated from the postseason. For Holmes, this includes determining his and the team’s strategy for the 2025 NFL Draft, which is scheduled for Green Bay from April 24 to 26. Detroit currently has six draft picks, including the first-round pick at number 28 overall.

    It would be prudent for Holmes and company to select an impact defensive player with the previously indicated pick. Don’t get me wrong; in 2024, the Lions’ defensive performance significantly improved.

    In terms of points allowed per game, they were placed No. 7 this past season (20.1), down from No. 23 in 2023 (23.2). By no means does this imply that the item is a completed product, though.

    If you saw any Lions game in 2024, you would have seen that the team still desperately needs a complementing pass-rush player for EDGE Aidan Hutchinson as well as cornerback assistance.

    Detroit must work hard to improve those two areas if it is to advance as a club and eventually win its first Super Bowl in franchise history. Jack Sawyer of Ohio State would be a good target if the Lions choose to use the EDGE strategy in the early selection rounds.

    At six feet five and 260 pounds, Sawyer is coming off a very successful senior season in which he helped the Buckeyes win the national championship in the College Football Playoffs and recorded a career-high nine sacks.

    In addition, he recorded 16 quarterback hits, 38 total hurries, and a 90.6 overall Pro Football Focus score. He also received an 82.9 run-defense rating and an 89.2 pass-rushing grade from PFF.

    Sawyer profiles as a competent pass-rusher and run-stopper at the highest level. He is a high-motor, high-IQ athlete. In addition to being strong enough to collapse the pocket and reach the quarterback as a pass-rusher, he is also physically strong when attacking the run. He would undoubtedly help a Lions squad that finished in the bottom half of the league in 2024 in terms of total sacks (37.0). Sawyer isn’t the most athletic, though, and he lacks a high level of get-off ability when he approaches the edge. His potential to become a high-impact quarterback disruptor at the next level will probably be limited by these two characteristics.

  • Leon Ayinde scores Ipswich Town’s first senior goal while on loan

    Leon Ayinde scores Ipswich Town’s first senior goal while on loan

    Ross Halls examines the performance of the Ipswich Town players for their loan clubs throughout the middle of the week.

    The Irishman featured and scored his first senior goal for Rochdale when they overcame Stoke City at home in the National League Cup.

    Ayinde opened the score for Jimmy McNulty’s side, with a close range finish, before the Dale went on to win the game 2-0, despite being reduced to ten men for almost 30 minutes left. They return to league action when they host Yeovil Town this weekend.

    The forward played for Derby County, who lost to Sunderland 1-0 at home in the Championship.

    Harness was booked after playing the entire ninety minutes for Paul Warne’s team, who lost for the sixth time in a row and are now only one point above the relegation zone. When the Rams play Cardiff City on the road on Saturday, they’ll be hoping to recover.

    The teenage midfielder did not play for Sutton United in their National League Cup draw with West Brom U21s, which ended in a 2-2 draw. After winning 3-1 on penalties, Steve Morison’s team earned an additional point and moved up to third place in Group D of the competition.

    This weekend marks the U’s return to league play when they take on Eastleigh, who are coached by former Town goalie Kelvin Davis.

    The adolescent midfielder was not involved in Sutton United’s 2-2 tie with West Brom U21s in the National League Cup. Steve Morison’s team gained another point and advanced to third place in Group D of the competition after defeating 3-1 on penalties. The U return to league action this weekend when they play Eastleigh, who are coached by Kelvin Davis, a former Town goalie.

  • Ipswich Town vs. Man City final score: Premier League outcome, statistics, with Foden leading Guardiola’s team in a demolition job

    As Manchester City crushed relegation-threatened Ipswich Town 6-0, Phil Foden scored his fifth goal in his last three Premier League games

    The home team got off to a strong start as Liam Delap, a former City player, forced Josko Gvardiol into a crucial block and Omari Hutchinson missed a deft Leif Davis set piece.

    However, the champions’ attacking ability was signaled by a brilliant Christian Walton save to stop Erling Haaland on the end of Mateo Kovacic’s through ball, which would later highlight a wide disparity in skill.

    Despite winning PFA and FWA Player of the Year in 2024, England star Phil Foden had a terrible second half of the year.

    He converted Kevin De Bruyne’s deflected cross in the 27th minute with a deft touch and snap shot, making it appear as though a new year is upon him.

    After the half, Pep Guardiola’s team decided not to rest on their laurels because of their vulnerability in both defense and transition this season, even though Ruben Dias’ surprise comeback gave the City backline a little more steel. Ipswich was repeatedly shredded along their right flank, and Jeremy Doku made it 4-0 shortly after wing-back Ben Johnson forced Ederson to make a save. Ipswich midfielder Jack Clarke’s terrible pass across his own half allowed the Belgium winger to tee up Haaland the week he confirmed a massive nine-and-a-half-year contract extension at City, and Doku was the giver again.

    James McAtee, a well-liked playmaker and Delap’s former academy teammate, has a far less secure future as his club looks to stay highly active in the January transfer window. However, Kovacic’s brilliant chipped pass set up the 22-year-old, who came off the bench to score his first Premier League goal for his hometown team with a well-judged header.