All posts by h716a5.icu

Hossan, Beg make half-centuries for visitors as Minto impresses again with three wickets

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay07-Sep-2025England U19 273 for 6 (Mohammed 104, Basir 3-35) beat Bangladesh U19 272 for 9 (Hossan 57, Beg 51, Minto 3-48) by four wicketsA superb Isaac Mohammed century guided England Men U19s to a four-wicket win against Bangladesh Men U19s in the second Youth one-day international at Loughborough.The Worcestershire batter, who was dropped on six, was the backbone of a potentially tricky run chase after half-centuries from Rifat Beg and Rizan Hossan helped Bangladesh post 272 for nine.James Minto claimed three for 48 from his 10 overs – to follow his five-wicket haul in the opening-match defeat – although the highlight of the innings was arguably Joe Moores’ stunning catch to remove KS Aleen off Manny Lumsden.Moores dived full length to his right at a floating slip to haul in a remarkable one-handed catch and then struck 47 alongside Mohammed at the top of the order to put the hosts on track in their pursuit.Mohammed went on to reach 104 from 95 balls, which included nine sixes, before Jack Nelson, who made his debut in the opening game on Friday, saw the Young Lions over the line with an unbeaten 35 from 38 balls.The five-match series is level 1-1 heading into the next match at Bristol on Tuesday.Despite the early loss of Zawad Abrar, caught at mid-off from Matthew Firbank’s bowling, Bangladesh edged the initial stages, reaching 67 for one after 10 overs.The drinks interval proved pivotal, as three wickets fell in three consecutive overs, after the break. The pace of Hampshire’s Manny Lumsden rushed Beg into a mistake, ending a promising knock of 51 from 52 balls. The soft dismissal of Azizul Hakim Tamim followed, as he offered a simple chance to square leg and Lumsden claimed his second wicket courtesy of Moores excellent catch.At 126 for four inside 20 overs, Bangladesh were precariously placed but Hossan, a centurion in Friday’s game and wicketkeeper Mohammed Abdullah rebuilt with a partnership of 69. It was ended when Abdullah mistimed a pull shot off Minto.Hossan, displaying power and subtlety, got to his fifty soon after, off 54 balls. His crucial wicket was taken the ball after he deposited a huge six onto the roof of an adjacent building, Jack Nelson being rewarded for perseverance.At 218 for six Bangladesh’s innings never really regained impetus, as Nelson’s leg-spin claimed another wicket in his next over, with Samiun Basir Ratul’s top edge being caught by Bryon Hatton-Lowe.Two further cheap wickets followed as the England bowlers continued to apply themselves, although late innings hitting from Al Fahad elevated the final total to 272-9 off 47 overs – three overs being reduced due to rain.In response, the England openers raced to f50 off 6.5 overs, to get ahead of the asking rate. Mohammed’s graceful straight hits and Moores’s scooped six, were highlights of a partnership worth 68. Moores was out gloving the ball behind, from Shahrir Al-Amin’s first delivery.The next wicket came somewhat against the run of play, Ben Mayes bowled by Ratul when the second-wicket partnership looked well set, leaving the score on 120 for two. Mohammed’s second successive fifty came shortly afterwards off 69 balls, and in a run soaked 26th over he struck three sixes off Hossan’s medium pace.At the other end, a sharp stumping sent Will Bennison back for 12, before skipper Thomas Rew departed for 14 to a catch in the deep, which just kept Bangladesh in the game with 59 runs needed off 14 overs.Mohammed was dismissed, holing out off Fahad, two balls after completing a composed century. The sixth-wicket pair of Nelson and Ralphie Albert took England to the brink of victory, which eventually came with 3.5 overs remaining.Moores said: “It was a really good win, I though last game we were pretty close for a lot of the time, we had a lot of good moments, we spoke about trying to build that for longer.”Obviously Isaac batted really well, he set the tone really nicely, the lads who came in after him followed it up really nicely as well. Everyone chipped in, it’s definitely good to get the win and go one-all.”Speaking about his scoop for six, Moores added: “It’s just going to your strengths as quickly as possible, I feel like those kinds of shots are one of my strengths. It felt like it was a good option.”Moores added about his diving slip catch: “I was very pleased, it’s one of those that sticks, it felt like it was going in slow motion, it was a nice feeling (to take the catch).”

EXCLUSIVE: GOAL sat down with the USMNT striker to discuss the contrast in club and country goalscoring, his World Cup ambitions

When telling the story of Josh Sargent's U.S. men's national team career, there's no avoiding the statistic. There's no glossing over it. Fans can't do it. The media can't either. No one is more aware of it than Sargent.

And no one is more bothered by it, either.

It's true. Remarkably, Sargent has not scored for the USMNT since 2019. Those are the facts. The reasons behind the goalscoring drought, though? That's the interesting part. It's the question everyone has been asking, no one more than Sargent. How can a player with such an incredible goalscoring pedigree for his club struggle to find the net for his country? 

Is it tactics? Fitness? A ridiculous spell of bad fortune? Could all of this be some sort of mental block and, if so, how can Sargent get past it?

Those questions have occupied Sargent's thoughts, largely because this moment – back with the USMNT, just 10 months out from the World Cup – is his opportunity to put it behind him, once and for all. He heads into camp with six goals in five games for Norwich already this season. And, while his club form has never been a problem, he knows this is the camp in which a new question emerges. 

What happens when an unstoppable striker with a career-defining rise in confidence stares down that zero that has kept him down for so long?

"Obviously, that's the narrative at the moment, and I completely understand it," Sargent tells GOAL. "Fans are like 'He's doing so well at the club, but why isn't he scoring here? It doesn't make sense!' Clearly, I'm doing my best. I want to score here. I think I just care so much sometimes that I overthink it a bit too much. Obviously, it's a goal of mine to be the striker for this team and I want to do the best I can here. I want to score goals here and help this team. 

"Maybe it's just about relaxing and believing in myself a little bit more. It'll happen. I do believe. I know I can score goals and I know it'll happen. It's just a matter of time, so I'll just try not to put so much pressure on myself."

Still, that pressure is very real, both internal and external. A World Cup is on the horizon, and Sargent knows the path to it has to be filled with goals. Most of them will be scored in the green and white of Norwich. A few, though, need to come in red, white and blue if he's to be a part of Mauricio Pochettino's squad and the USMNT's odyssey next summer.

The goal, literally, remains clear: find the back of the net.

"I would be lying if I said I didn't think about it, because I do care so much and I really do want to do well here," he says. "I'm working on it. I just want to be able to do as well as I'm doing at Norwich. I want to be able to perform that same way for the national team."

Getty Images SportOn fire with Norwich

For those that like to examine the mindset of a striker, a big moment happened last weekend. WIth a goal already to his name and Norwich nursing a 1-0 lead over Blackburn Rovers in stoppage time, Sargent received the ball near the top of the box. He spun, took a few touches and then fired from 20 yards out. Straight into the top of the corner.

The ball was hit with enough power, it's a wonder it didn't go through the net. It was, objectively, not a high-percentage chance – unless you're Sargent, which, apparently, means you're arguably European soccer's most in-form scorer.

Sargent laughs when it's brought up. What was he thinking as it happened? It turns out, nothing. And when a striker's thinking of nothing, those are the good times.

"You're just in a flow state where everything is working out for you," Sargent says. "You're in that perfect balance of not overthinking things and everything is just happening for you. It feels like you just know what to do every time you get the ball. It's very natural. Confidence is a huge thing with that. When you believe in yourself a little more, you just feel like, no matter where you shoot from, you'll score a goal. It's a very good feeling when you have it."

Sargent, by and large, has had it for a while now at Norwich. After struggling to adapt in the Premier Leauge back in 2021-22, he's grown every year in the Championship and now, at age 25, he's among the league's most dangerous players. After scoring 16 in 26 games in an injury-ravaged 2023-24, he hit 15 goals last season, too, despite dealing with injury issues again.

This season, he already has six in five games. The pace is being set, and it's a wild one. Sargent's goal outburst this season has been defined by ruthless efficiency. He's averaging just 28 touches per game, five of which are coming in the opposition box.

Despite that, he's also averaging nearly four shots a game, illustrating just how direct he is when he does get the ball to his feet. There's no deferring or taking a backseat. Sargent is in that flow state, the one that allows him to think that every touch is a chance to score a goal.

"It's massive," he says of his hot start. "More than anything, I think just staying consistent throughout the whole season is big. I've had a good start, but if I stop playing as well now, then it doesn't mean anything, does it? It's a long, grueling season, so I'm just trying to stay consistent. Obviously, having a good start has made me even more confident at that level and in this league, so hopefully I can keep that going.

"It's such a long season, and you'll have patches where you're playing really well. There will then be games where you're playing not so well. I think it's just consistency. Even if I don't score a goal for a couple of games, as long as I'm playing well and doing what I'm supposed to do throughout the match, I'm happy, man. I've gotten used to that ebb and flow."

That said, Sargent knows there's little room for ebbing and flowing with the USMNT. Not with a World Cup on the line.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportThe push for USMNT redemption

This wasn't the summer that Sargent wanted. He wanted to spend his offseason travelling across the U.S. with the USMNT, hopefully firing those much-needed goals to impress Pochettino. It didn't happen that way. Sargent was left off the squad – Pochettino called it a "football decision" – leaving him facing reality. Now what?

"As soon as I found out, I was like, 'Oh damn, I didn't make it'," Sargent says. "But I switched straight into trying to think of it as 'I haven't had a summer off in so long, so let's make the most of it.'. It was a chance to escape. I went to see family for a little bit. I went back to St. Louis with my family and really just tried to unwind and relax."

The reason why he was excluded, though, was curious. It highlighted something that Sargent surely already knew: that this was a performance business, and, one year out from a World Cup, his performances hadn't made him undeniable.

“It is a football decision," Pochettino said at the time, "and we wanted to see other forwards so at this time so that is why we decided to not go with Sargent."

The drought, of course, played a part. It dates back to 2019 and has gone on for 15 games but, in truth, it isn't black and white. Sargent, for example, was good at the World Cup, hitting the post against Wales before suffering an injury against Iran. At the Copa America, under Gregg Behalter, he played just 22 minutes, largely backing up Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi.

Against Panama, under Pochettino, in the Nations League semifinals this March, he hit the post once and had one called back for offside. All of that is to say that fortune hasn't always been on Sargent's side, even if he has had multiple opportunities to shoot his way out of this unwanted statistic.

Now, heading into September camp, Sargent is back among the forwards with a point to prove. He's joined by two other strikers, Balogun and Damion Downs, who are both eager to show why they can be options at the No. 9 next summer. Big picture, Pepi, Patrick Agyemang, Haji Wright and Brian White are among those fighting for spots, too.

It's a crowded race, and it's one that continues to add names to the mix.

"I think you can obviously see that the coaching staff hasn't solidified any positions," Sargent said. "They're looking at everybody, aren't they? It's good. It's good to be back and see all the guys see some new faces as well. And, yeah, I think just, just a good opportunity for everybody to, you know, show themselves and show what they can do."

Pochettino reflected on that when asked about Sargent.

"All of the players that we are going to call, or have called in the past, have the possibility and the chance to show their quality and convince us that they deserve a place in the national team," Pochettino said. "That is the way we have things, the design and the plan. In every aspect and every detail, we work hard. We work in two different aspects: the collective way and the individual way. That is important, and I think we are happy now.

"I think different players have shown that they want to play and want to perform and want to compete for the World Cup. Looking forward to this camp, it's going to be nice to see not only players that have had chances in the past, but also new players that can perform and show us the possibility of fighting for a place."

That fight will be both a physical and mental battle, one that will go on right up until the roster is selected next summer. Sargent says he is prepared for it.

Mental building

Over the last few years, Sargent has compiled a variety of tattoos. Most, he admits, are somewhat meaningless. Some, though, carry a specific message.

"A lot of them are from when I was younger and just couldn't wait to get a sleeve," he says with a laugh. "I'd probably take back and change a few, but there are a few that mean things: my parents birthdays, my mom's eye. There's a lion, but that's just one I thought was cool. A lot of my newer stuff on my leg is more spiritual. I've gotten into that the last couple of years. It's helped me on the mental side of things."

That's been a focus for Sargent, and not only recently. Yes, that mental side is key, particularly for a player riding the rollercoaster of confidence, Yes, it is likely the big thing that has prevented him from scoring in recent years. But, no, the work on that side of his game and life didn't just begin. He says he's been working with a mental coach in Arizona for years.

"I started as soon as I left Bremen, I think, so my first year with Norwich," he says. "It's been very good. We meet virtually because he's in Scottsdale but it's funny because he has family around Bournemouth, so he can visit once in a while to talk. Most of the time, it's just me calling him no matter the time. It can be the middle of the night, but I can call him if I have something I need to talk about. 

"It's just about having someone that can listen to you and help you. Sometimes, though, you really just need to vent. It's really important, and it's been a huge help for me."

One of the big priorities, particularly in these stressful times, is to just take it all in. It was the message given to Sargent before the World Cup in 2022 and, nearly three years later, it's still the main thing for him. Yes, this life is stressful and yes, there are overwhelming highs and lows. But, when he can, Sargent tries to take a deep breath. The worst thing a player can do is let all of this pass him by.

That's the thought process, even now with the weight on Sargent's shoulders. That's what will allow him to keep this confidence heading into the most important stretch of his career.

Getty Images SportThe time is now

For many, it's a sign that they made it. If so, then Sargent's made it. Just last weekend, Norwich fans were again singing a song for Sargent. He's on fire, they were saying, and they love him for it in Norwich. That's why there was an overwhelming sense of elation in the city when Sargent decided to stay this summer despite heavy transfer speculation. The 25-year-old striker is a hero in the city. That's why they sing about him.

"I feel very appreciated at the club," Sargent says. "I feel that with the fans. They aren't crazy. They don't bombard us, and they're definitely nice people. Sometimes, they'll stop me just to say thanks, and that's so nice to hear. The fans have their songs, for sure, and it's a good spot for me to be in. I'm very comfortable and confident and, at the moment, I'm very happy to be there."

He's appreciative to be back with the USMNT, too. These upcoming friendlies against South Korea and Japan are among the most important of his life and, with Pochettino giving fringe players one last chance to impress before narrowing down the pool, Sargent knows that there's no guarantees going forward.

That could work for or against him. Score some goals and he could be the guy at the World Cup. Fail to do so, and he could end up being among those watching from home. It's such a fine line between success and failure. Walking it will be difficult, but the reward is there for the taking.

"I feel like I remember every single detail of the World Cup," Sargent says, "and it's a very exciting time with the World Cup now being in the U.S. It's a special moment for a lot of guys on this team with us trying to make a World Cup roster. So I just need to do the best I can to make sure I'm in a position where they call me up.

"I understand that I haven't scored here for a bit, and I understand people's frustrations and doubts. But I want them to know that I'm doing my absolute best to try to score for this team and to do the best I can for this team. It does mean a lot for me to represent this team, and it's hard to understand, I think, when you're not going through it yourself, you know? It is what it is. That's how life is."

Life, though, gives second chances. Sometimes third and fourth, too, if you earn them. Sargent knows that this is another opportunity to change the perceptions of his national team career. The USMNT's most in-form player is staring down his most unwanted record. Maybe this will be the moment to finally put it away for good.

The loss of Cameron Green’s overs are not viewed as vital, but the frontline bowlers will likely need a break at some point

Tristan Lavalette21-Nov-20245:56

Cummins: ‘Smith’s hands have made their way to Perth’

On the eve of the first Test, as he went about various media duties, Australia captain Pat Cummins appeared extremely relaxed and seemingly sported a permanent smile.He seems to have good reason to feel at ease. While much of the focus ahead of the series has been on the uncertainty over India’s line-up, Australia’s XI has been settled ever since uncapped Nathan McSweeney won the race to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.It’s an experienced group of players and they are relatively refreshed with a lot of forward planning having been made in a bid to get them through a gruelling five-match series played within seven weeks.Related

Labuschagne wants to do to India what Pujara did to Australia

In fast and bouncy Perth test, Lyon could be the trick question for India

Get to know India's newcomers: Four players who could be in action in Perth

But if there has been a cause for concern, it’s the fitness of allrounder Mitchell Marsh who has only bowled four overs since tearing his hamstring during the IPL.All of those overs were in the fourth ODI against England at Lord’s in September. He then pulled up sore and missed the subsequent match before playing as a specialist batter for Western Australia in two Sheffield Shield matches in October.Marsh had publicly declared ahead of the second Shield match, against Tasmania, that he would return to bowling but his body was not quite ready. His role with the ball has grown in significance for Australia with Cameron Green missing the entire series due to a stress fracture of his back.Having become a father a day earlier, his wife Greta giving birth to their first child, Marsh on Monday pushed through weariness and built up his bowling loads in a lengthy centre wicket session as Australia started their first Test preparations. There were no signs of discomfort as Marsh powered through the crease and he also impressed during Australia’s training session on Wednesday.”He will definitely bowl this Test. He is an allrounder and with the way us four bowlers set out, we never really budget around an allrounder bowling heaps,” Cummins said.Marsh, however, is unlikely to be able to cover Green’s workload. He was used sparingly during the seven Tests last summer where he never bowled more than nine overs in an innings.Marsh, 33, is set to be utilised across a couple of short spells, possibly relatively early in the innings given his ability to produce outswing and also around the 60-70 over mark with the old ball.”We never put an upper limit [on overs] on anyone,” Cummins said. “But he’s ready to go and happy to bowl as much as we need. I would imagine a few spells each innings. He’s been bowling great this week, his body is the best it has been for a while.”Mitchell Marsh has barely bowled since an injury in the IPL earlier this year•Getty ImagesAlong with Marsh and Travis Head’s handy offspin, Cummins might also revert to Marnus Labuschagne, who has emerged as an unlikely seam bowling option after lengthy stints in the Shield caught many observers by surprise. He has almost exclusively bowled seam rather than legspin, which has yielded him some success previously at Test level.Having taken the captaincy reins of Queensland, Labuschagne has utilised himself with the ball and took 2 for 5 from 6.2 overs in the season opener against Western Australia at the WACA. He then bowled 27 overs across the match against South Australia at Allan Border Field.His bowling has been marked by short-ball aggression, which he has also unfurled during Australia’s training sessions ahead of the first Test, providing a potential tactic for Cummins to utilise.”He’s always trying to impress the ball, which is great,” Cummins said. “He loves bowling. He’s one of those guys, as we know, who always wants to be involved. He’s bowled some handy overs for Queensland. Obviously, he’s got legspin, a bit of offspin in the past and then this year, it’s been on to pace bowling.”I’m sure he’ll get the ball at some stage and bowl quite a few bouncers as well. So that’s maybe something we’ll turn to at some point as well.”While there is intrigue over Australia’s back-up bowlers, a refreshed Cummins and his frontline attack are hoping to mostly shoulder the workload. He will enter the series having not played red-ball cricket since March in New Zealand.Cummins was earmarked to play a Shield match for New South Wales, but has instead played one domestic 50-over game and two ODIs against Pakistan.”I feel great. Couldn’t have asked for a better lead in, so hopefully it translates into a good summer,” he said. “I’ve been really lucky to have four or five months off to build up, get strong. I feel as strong and as fresh and as fit as I have for a long time.”

Aston Villa's 0-0 draw against Chelsea on Friday night was their second goalless scoreline in back-to-back games.

The Villans have tallied up 29 shots across the two games, but that clinical edge has clearly been lacking.

With that in mind, Unai Emery could well look to secure an exciting prospect to bolster his attack before the transfer window closes next Thursday.

Aston Villa's search for an attacker continues

According to reports from Turkey this week, Villa are believed to be closely watching Semih Kilicsoy.

The Besiktas prospect is a target for numerous other clubs, however, with Spurs being another Premier League side that is interested.

Villa do have funds available to spend, as shown by their interest in Morgan Rogers, so a move this month isn't impossible. It was reported last week that they were set to lodge a new bid for the Middlesbrough star although that deal is looking tougher to complete than first anticipated.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 How Semih Kilicsoy would fit into the Villa team

Fans of Villa and the Premier League know just how dangerous Ollie Watkins has been this season, with it almost being inevitable that the forward will either score or provide a goal in every game.

The former Brentford ace has netted nine goals and registered eight assists so far in the league, making him the joint third-highest contributor in the competition.

However, the 28-year-old has now gone six matches without a goal, with his teammates struggling to get him into the game. Yet, the potential signing of Kilicsoy could create a deadly strike partnership that would get the best out of Watkins and make Villa much more dangerous.

Besiktas' 18-year-old has been described as a "hidden gem" by football writer Ben Mattinson, and he is experiencing his breakthrough campaign, impressing enough to be trusted with a spot in the starting XI as of late.

The Turkish star has started the last seven Super Lig matches as a left winger, and the table below shows a handful of statistics that prove he would work extremely well alongside Watkins.

Goals

0.80

xG

0.46

Assists

0.32

Shots

4.01

Successful dribbles

2.57

Touches (Att pen)

6.26

The first attribute that stands out about Kilicsoy is his ability to score goals. Based on his xG to goals ratio, it is clear that he is an extremely clinical forward who has composure way beyond his years.

Despite only playing ten matches with an average of 57 minutes per game, the 5 foot 10 attacker is already Besiktas' top scorer in the league with five, which would also make him Villa's joint-fourth-highest scorer in the Premier League for this season.

Therefore, having another goal-scoring outlet other than Watkins would make Emery's side far less predictable while also boosting their output.

Furthermore, an assist rate per 90 minutes of 0.32 shows that he could be an added source of creativity for Watkins, and the fact that he has a high number of touches in the opposition box means that the duo would be able to combine and interchange roles.

Kilicsoy is also extremely confident in his own abilities, as highlighted by his high shot and successful dribble statistic, he's simply a player that makes things happen. Mattinson has also labelled him as "powerful," and that is apparent while he's on the ball, as he rarely gets bullied, unlike other young players who are yet to develop physically.

Having him operate in the second striker position where he can drift out wide into the channels would get the best out of him, Watkins, and make Villa a much more frightening side.

The USMNT star is playing as a striker of sorts for his new manager, and it might prove to be a valuable learning experience

So, Christian Pulisic has a new manager at AC Milan. Is this a good thing? The American was truly excellent under Stefano Pioli for about 18 months, and has, in various stretches, looked good under three new managers since. Paulo Fonseca managed 24 matches and did a decent job with Pulisic. Sergio Conceicao was the battle-hardened interim guy who never really got the best out of him.

And now we have Max Allegri, the oft-maligned Italian, here for his second stint at Milan. Allegri is a curious manager. His teams are, typically, excellent defensively. They play Italian football as it was always envisioned: physical, hard-to-beat, opportunistic. Allegri sides will never blow you away. Instead, they're here to beat you down by pure attrition. A good Allegri team frustrates you, gives you nothing, and, basically forces you to give up.

In many ways, it's a defensive player's dream. But for attackers, it can be a bit limiting. When structure is everything, attacking players who like to play with freedom tend to suffer. And that is the crucial trade-off. Milan are going to be a nightmare to play against – but they're not going to score loads of goals. 

That leaves Pulisic in a bit of a tricky situation. And Allegri doesn't quite know how to use him. Pulisic has already played a bit of everywhere under the new boss, Allegri floating him around from position-to-position as he finds the right spot. Twice, though, Pulisic has been used almost as a striker, often the furthest player forward in a team without an attacking focal point.

On paper, it doesn't make loads of sense. Yet analyze things a little deeper, and it could be an intriguing set up that gets something different out of Pulisic's arsenal.

GOAL US looks at how the USMNT star's game could change under the new manager.

Getty Images SportThe faults of Allegri ball

There are two ways of looking at Allegri's managerial style. The first, and perhaps most obvious one, is to praise him for what he has achieved. The Italian's record makes for excellent reading. He has won Serie A five times and Coppa Italia five times. He has effectively managed numerous legends of the game, and been routinely praised for his man management and willingness to give young talent opportunities to play. Much like Jose Mourinho or Antonio Conte, Allegri may be boring, but, well, scoreboard. 

And then there's the other way of analyzing things. Allegri is boring. He is an ideologue to an absolute fault. He has an established way of playing. It has brought him results in the past. But it is not football that keeps fans happy, nor is it a style that has yielded any sort of success in recent years.

Allegri's last Serie A win was 2019. He was sacked by Juventus in 2024 after finishing third, 23 points behind league-winning Inter. That team lost the second-fewest games in the league, but were simply woeful in front of goal, managing just 54 goals in 38 games – some 35 less than the Scudetto victors. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAllegri's Milan vision

This doesn't seem, then, like the ideal circumstances for Pulisic to establish himself again. Remember, it has been a strange few months for the USMNT star, who ended the campaign on a rather tepid note, and then made headlines for the wrong reasons after dropping out of the Gold Cup squad. This doesn't mean that the handbrake has to be ripped off, but Pulisic could perhaps do with more of an attacking coach. 

Well, Allegri isn't that. Still, what can he offer? 

His Milan set up, so far at least, has been intriguing. Like many previous iterations of his sides, Allegri has packed the midfield with hard-working runners capable of covering ground. His wing backs, in this case Pervis Estupinan and Alexis Saelemaekers, are markedly balanced players who can do a bit of everything. They are shielded by three no-nonsense centerbacks and a goalkeeper who likes to play long. So far, so normal.

But up front is where things get intriguing. Against Bari, Allegri used Rafa Leao and Pulisic as a striking duo of sorts, effectively trusting his two fastest and most creative players to do all of the hard work up front – score, assist, win the long balls. Milan won. Against Cremonese, Pulisic played alongside Mexico's Santi Gimenez, a more recognizable striker, but not an all round No. 9. Milan lost.

Getty Images SportMatch winning against Bari

That Bari game, though, offered some promise. Playing Leao and Pulisic alongside each other in narrow roles was always going to be something of a risk. Leao likes to start out wide and cut in. He relies on space. Pulisic, meanwhile, sort of roams, taking his spots here and there. Without a focal point, it could have all gone wrong. Instead, Pulisic starred – especially when Leao went off. 

He scored one goal, was crucial in the build up to another, and created more chances than anyone on the pitch. He also hit the woodwork – and might have easily finished the game with three had it not been for some goalkeeping heroics. He had more touches in the Bari box than any other Milan player.

And while there were some concerns about his tactical fit, Pulisic got it mostly right, and thrived in a slightly narrower role – even if he was asked to reject his instinct to press higher up the pitch. 

And to round things off, Milan were markedly worse when Pulisic wasn't on the pitch. It was, in total, 66 remarkably convincing minutes. 

Getty Images SportEffective in defeat against Cremonense

The Cremonese game was different. More broadly, it showed the issues with Allegri as a whole. Milan controlled the tempo and structure of the game, but never really offered much in the way of convincing play. They registered 24 shots, but yielded just 1.66 expected goals. Cremonese keeper Emil Audero had just four saves to make, while Milan's only goal came from a cross from one full back to another. 

Pulisic, for his part, still managed to play something of a role. He created four chances, put a shot on goal, and looked dangerous when he had the ball in the final-third. The result was not on him. But he did also look lost defensively at times. There were instances where he clearly wanted to press, but instead had to hold his position. Even from a losing spot, Milan were told to hold. 

Pulisic looked defeated at full time, even angry. This is a long season in which mistakes will inevitably be made, but there are few justifications for losing to a team that hasn't played in Serie A since 2023.

The Premier League's winter break could not have come at a better time for Arsenal as, following three losses on the spin, they are sat in fourth place and out of the FA Cup, and to make matters worse, Manchester City are now three points clear of them after winning their game in hand.

There are a plethora of things that have gone wrong for Mikel Arteta's side, from an attack that scored one goal in three games to a defence that seems to have lost some of its resilience.

With that in mind, it shouldn't be a surprise to hear that the latest name touted for a move to the Emirates could rival Oleksandr Zinchenko for the left-back role, if not displace him altogether.

Arsenal table bid for talented full-back

According to Football Transfers, Arsenal are looking to 'bolster their left-back position' and have already made an offer to Wolverhampton Wanderers for their Algerian international Rayan Aït Nouri.

Unfortunately for the Gunners, this offer was rebuffed by the Old Gold as they are said to value the 22-year-old at more than £50m, and worse yet, the Midlands side are said to be in talks with Liverpool regarding the defender.

The full-back's involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations could further complicate negotiations as, depending on how far Algeria goes in the competition, he could be out of the country until mid-February.

However, with Zinchenko far from his impressive best this season and potentially sidelined for this weekend's game against Crystal Palace, it might be worth the Gunners pulling out all the stops to get this deal done.

How Rayan Aït Nouri compares to Oleksandr Zinchenko

There is no denying that Zinchenko made a significant and positive impact at Arsenal when he signed from City last summer; from his fantastic passing range to his on-pitch talks and even his interactions with the fans, he looked as if he was a firm fan favourite.

However, with football being as it is, the Ukrainian's stock has fallen somewhat among the Arsenal faithful this season. A number of high-profile errors have led some pundits, such as Gary Neville, to label him a defensive "liability".

While this might be somewhat harsh, it is hard to wholeheartedly reject it following his blunders at Anfield both last season and this season, his comical mixup against West Ham United last month and, unfortunately for him, those aren't the only examples.

So, with this in mind, it might be worth signing another, more defensively impressive left-back to rival the former City man for that starting berth, which is where Aït Nouri comes in.

When comparing the pair's underlying numbers, it becomes crystal clear that the "huge talent", as talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him, would be a defensive upgrade on the Arsenal man.

Stats per 90

Aït Nouri

Zinchenko

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.18

0.15

Progressive Carries

2.44

2.01

Progressive Passes

4.17

12.0

Passing Accuracy

82.2%

87.7%

Tackles Won

1.73

1.72

Blocks

1.18

1.12

Clearances

1.97

0.90

Errors Leading to Goals

0.00

0.15

Ball Recoveries

6.30

5.67

All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Premier League Season

For example, where Zinchenko has averaged 0.15 errors leading to a goal per 90 this season, Aït Nouri hasn't made a single error leading to a goal. He also wins more tackles, makes more blocks and clearances, and considerably more ball recoveries per 90.

There are some areas, such as progressive passing, in which Zinchenko is clear of the young Algerian, but with time on his side and the prospect of playing in a better team, he could produce a similar output down the line.

Arsenal could finally ditch Partey by sealing club record £110m transfer

The 25-year-old could be the perfect partner for Declan Rice.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 17, 2024

Ultimately, while Zinchenko is still a quality player, his defensive mistakes are starting to cost Arsenal, and in a title race with City and Liverpool, that isn't good enough, so the Gunners should do all they can to get this deal over the line.

India were able to put up 134 and it proved plenty more than enough as Anuja Patil returned remarkable figures of 3-1-3-2

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Nov-2019Veda Krishnamurthy produced the highest score of her T20I career, her unbeaten 57 along with 50 from Jemimah Rodrigues helping India women to a resounding 61-run victory over West Indies women in Providence to sweep the series 5-0.India were able to put up 134 for 3 on the board, and it proved way more than enough as Anuja Patil, in her 50th T20I game, returned outstanding figures of 3-1-3-2.India needed to recover from a poor start after they elected to bat, with the openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana dismissed for single-digit scores. But that only meant more time for Krishnamurthy and Rodrigues to influence the game. They put on a 117-run partnership, hitting seven fours together. It appeared to be a tough pitch for run-scoring, but Krishnamurthy rose above it. Of all the batters to face at least ten balls in the game, she was the only one with a strike rate above 100.India’s bowlers made use of those conditions well, Patil picking up both her wickets in the fourth over to hurt West Indies in the chase.After that opening, which left the hosts 13 for 2, the spinners took over, each of Radha Yadav (1-10), Poonam Yadav (1-15) and Harleen Deol (1-13) picking up a wicket each. West Indies could barely get any momentum in the case; they were 31 for 4 in the 11th over and the game was pretty much done there. Kyshona Knight top-scored with 22 off 39 balls.India ended the tour having won nine out of ten matches as they continue their preparations for the T20 World Cup in February 2020.

Arsenal have made a breakthrough in their bid to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie, after a loan with obligation to buy deal was struck.

Hincapie deal to Arsenal edging closerGunners table loan with buy obligation offerTwo teams now poised for agreementFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal boss Mikel Areta has been busy in the transfer market this summer, but his additions have mainly come in attacking areas, until now it would appear. Arsenal have structured a new deal for the Ecuador international, according to Fabrizio Romano. Hincapie, who will fill the space vacated by Porto-bound Jakub Kiwior, plays regularly at centre back, and can also fill in at full-back. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Hincapie had a release clause of £52 million ($70m) in his contract and Bayer had turned down previous offers from the Gunners which were just shy of that figure. But the deal has developed momentum again following Arsenal's decision to table a new deal which would see them take him on loan for a season, with an obligation to buy following that. 

WHAT ROMANO SAID

Romano said: "Understand Arsenal are closing in on Piero Hincapié deal with Bayer, here we go soon! Agreement almost done as Bayer accept loan with obligation to buy for Hincapié as formula wanted by AFC. Details on fee structure being sorted and then here we go coming next."

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Arsenal have a few days to finalise the deal for Hincapie before the September 1st deadline and face the daunting prospect of playing Liverpool on Sunday. We'll know more about Arsenal prospects this season after the Anfield clash, which comes after victories over Manchester United and Leeds. 

The international captain talks about passing on his experience to the youngsters and the potential comeback of Dwayne Bravo

Barny Read23-Nov-2019West Indies white-ball captain Kieron Pollard says it is his will to win that helps drive his franchise cricket career which continues to be littered with success.The 32-year-old allrounder stands on the brink of Abu Dhabi T10 glory after his team Deccan Gladiators made it to Sunday’s final. Pollard is also a multiple IPL champion, has a T20 World Cup winner’s medal on his mantlepiece, is one of the most experienced T20 players in the world.He has taken in franchise tournaments the world over, from his native Caribbean islands to England, Australia, Bangladesh, the UAE and Canada. For Pollard, each stop has been a learning experience and he hopes to feed his gained knowledge back into both West Indian cricket and across the ever-expanding footprint of T20 leagues across the globe.”I think the will to win is what makes you as an individual sometimes successful because you want to pass on the knowledge that you’ve learnt [from] playing international cricket [and] playing franchise cricket on to the players that you have presently and try to educate them. So when you go onto that field, they have that cricketing knowledge to go out and try to execute and be one step ahead of the opposition,” Pollard told ESPNcricinfo.”We play a lot of cricket around the world but it’s about being successful and about winning and that’s my mantra no matter who I play for at that point in time I give my all to win and my will to win is very, very strong.”Pollard proved as much on his latest assignment in the T10, where he helped the Gladiators set up a showdown with the Maratha Arabians for the trophy courtesy of back-to-back victories over the Bangla Tigers and the Qalandars on Saturday night. And for the likes of 22-year-olds Dan Lawrence and Mason Crane, as well as 24-year-old Migael Pretorious in an otherwise experienced-looking Gladiators outfit, Pollard is a great resource to tap into.”With that you can broaden their mindset as to how they go about it because in certain cultures, certain things are embedded in them but when you come out in the wider world it’s not only about that,” Pollard said of his advice for emerging players.”You get a different perspective from different people and that makes you learn and get better as a cricketer. I’ve played all over the world, in different competitions, so I have a fair idea of how to go about it and I’ve been successful as well. So however that conversation goes at that time you share that knowledge of it and what you think. Your opinion might not be right but it might give them a different perspective of how you are thinking about certain aspects.”Once you’re good enough to be here, you’re good enough to go out and perform. All you need to do when you sit in a franchise or in a team where there’s a lot of internationals you try to pick their brains and try to understand different aspects of cricket, different scenarios of what they would have done in certain situations.”Pollard came into the T10 on the back of his first assignment since being named captain of West Indies’ T20I and ODI formats, a tour against Afghanistan that ended in a 2-1 defeat in the former and 3-0 whitewash in the latter.They were his first ODI matches in over three years and now that Pollard is back in the fold, he will do everything in his power, he says, to ensure that when he eventually leaves the international scene, he does so having given back to Caribbean cricket.”The same experiences I’ve learned around the world, the same experiences I can share in the dressing room,” Pollard said.”In our dressing room there are a lot of young guys and they need the experienced guys to try and guide them along and that’s basically my job in terms of trying to guide them, try to set them in the right direction and also trying to lead from the front in terms of performing as well.”I’m pretty excited because I know what the guys can learn from the experienced guys. We have Dwayne Bravo who can come back in potentially, you have Chris Gayle who is still playing T20 cricket around the world and has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the T20 arena, in 50-over, in Test cricket, so he can share a lot.”As a staff and management, we look forward to that, trying to build for something in the future. Obviously, we’re not going to be around for too long but whatever I can do in the little space of time to help is going to make me a lot more satisfied than leaving the international side and not being able to help.”

Having reached the halfway point of the January transfer window, there's little indication that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will make any drastic changes to his high-flying squad.

In the summer, the Reds completed transfers for four new midfielders to restore some energy and verve to the engine room, and with this moving to be such a success, the need for reinforcements at the 2023/24 campaign's midpoint has been made less so.

First-placed in the Premier League, holding the advantage over Fulham in the Carabao Cup semi-final and also advanced in both the FA Cup and Europa League, silverware is attainable from numerous angles this season and the possibility of a momentous crescendo in May is very much a possibility.

January transfer window: All the deadline day deals from England and Scotland

Stay on top of all the latest transfer deals across the Premier League, EFL and SPFL as the January window closes.

ByCharlie Smith Feb 1, 2024

The signings made in the summer, all arriving from abroad, have been impactful but this time Klopp appears to have his eye on a Premier League star, and if the chance arises then a formal approach could materialise in the summer.

Liverpool's transfer plans for the summer

According to Spanish outlet AS, Liverpool could be preparing to complete a stunning swoop for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, with the Brazilian's future at St. James' Park in doubt.

Guimaraes has a £100m release clause in his contract – which is payable over three instalments – with Liverpool, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona all interested in securing his services.

Newcastle are one of the richest football clubs worldwide after being purchased by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund but are hindered by the Premier League's Profit & Sustainability regulations and may need to cash in on one of their standout stars, with Guimaraes sure to fetch a pretty penny indeed.

How Bruno Guimaraes compares to Liverpool's midfielders

Guimaraes signed for Newcastle from French side Lyon for £40m back in January 2022, near the genesis of the club's transformative takeover, and he has been the fulcrum of the midfield ever since, utterly magnificent in guiding his team up the table and qualifying for the Champions League with a top-four finish last season.

Praised as a "world-class" player by Magpies teammate Dan Burn, Guimaraes truly is special and plays his role as a modern hybrid midfielder deployed deep in the centre of the pitch to perfection, blending defensive application with his innate technical abilities.

The titan has played 87 times for Eddie Howe's side and racked up 11 goals and ten assists in the process, and while his injury-ravaged team have endured a tumultuous term thus far, he has largely been imperious in the centre.

As per Sofascore, the 26-year-old has completed 87% of his passes across 20 Premier League appearances this season, averaging 1.4 key passes, 2.2 tackles and 6.1 ball recoveries, while also succeeding with 69% of his dribbles and winning 57% of his 7.2 contested duels per fixture.

He also ranks among the top 15% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for progressive passes and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, showcasing his ball-carrying ability and creative influence from the centre of the park.

20

15

15

1

1

1

3

1

0

86%

88%

86%

7.55

6.72

4.87

1.58

0.51

1.23

3.01

2.30

2.69

1.79

0.74

0.13

2.24

2.62

2.05

1.28

2.38

1.15

0.87

1.39

1.15

0.61

0.66

2.05

When looking at the table above, it's pretty conclusive that Guimaraes would bring a kaleidoscope of creative abilities to the centre of the park, effectively performing the anchoring role that Alexis Mac Allister has been shoehorned into this season to greater effect, being more naturally suited.

That said, the Argentine is more active in defensive play but this does not mean that Guimaraes is inadequate in such efforts, rather, he covers far more ground and seeks to get onto the ball and wreak havoc with his intelligent distribution, all the while maintaining his vice on the engine room and Newcastle's control.

In signing the £160k-per-week phenom, Mac Allister would be able to serve in his natural No. 8 position and Dominik Szoboszlai could reach new heights, secure and spurred on by Guimaraes orchestrating efficacy behind him.

Imagine Bruno Guimaraes & Dominik Szoboszlai

Szoboszlai posted ten goals and 13 assists across all competitions for RB Leipzig last season but it doesn't look likely that he will match this tally this term, having signed for Liverpool for £60m in July and clinched four goals and three assists thus far.

Liverpool eye up their next Martin Skrtel in £39m defender

Liverpool could sign another Slovakian powerhouse in the transfer window.

ByAngus Sinclair Jan 15, 2024

There is a good reason for this, however, with the Hungary international playing deeper than his attacking midfield role in Germany, instead moulded into an all-encompassing star in the centre, charging Klopp's system with electric triumph.

Still, the 22-year-old has completed 88% of his passes in the English top flight and averaged 1.8 key passes, 1.4 tackles and 6.4 ball recoveries per outing, mirroring Guimaraes in many regards.

He also ranks among the top 5% of midfielders for shot-creating actions, the top 8% for successful take-ons and the top 7% for progressive carries and blocks made per 90.

Clearly, the creativity and dynamism that would form the core of Liverpool's team would be frightening, and if a deal is feasible Guimaraes simply has to be signed to complete the pack.

With Mac Allister providing his rounded scope of skills in a more naturally suited midfield role and Guimaraes providing Szoboszlai with an undying stream of supplementation to drift into the danger area and wreak havoc, there is no question that Liverpool would be on their way to cementing a midfield capable of realising Klopp's lofty ambitions.

£100m is a tall order and would actually break Liverpool's transfer record if they were to seal the deal, but given Guimaraes' pedigree and proven mettle on English shores, his could be the name to ensure that Liverpool's future is adorned with silverware in its hordes.