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da wazamba： O Botafogo anunciou duas contratações para sua equipe sub-20. Tratam-se do lateral-direitoIgor França e do meio-campistaAntônio Villa, ambos com passagem pelo Flamengo. Acompanhados do Gerente de Futebol de Base alvinegro, Tiano Gomes, os jogadores assinaram contrato.

+Botafogo ultrapassa Fluminense: saiba os clubes do Brasil com mais sócios-torcedores

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da realsbet： Ambos ainda aguardam para serem regularizados e integrarem a equipe do técnico Ricardo Resende. Na disputa da Taça Guanabara, a base do Glorioso goleou o Audax-Rio por 5 a 1, na última sexta-feira, noCEFAT, e assumiu a vice-liderança da competição estadual.

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

Com o resultado, o alvinegro praticamente assegurou a vaga nas quartas de finais do Campeonato Carioca da categoria. A equipe soma 16 pontos, cinco atrás do líder Vasco.

– Estar no Botafogo é um sonho. Um clube com tanta tradição no futebol, celeiro de diversos campeões. Só posso pensar em seguir trabalhando para crescer sempre e poder ajudar o clube nessa sua nova fase. Agora é trabalhar muito e conquistar meu espaço – disse Igor.

+No embalo da torcida, Botafogo tem dificuldade na criação, mas evolui na etapa final, e Erison salva no fim

– Estou muito feliz com a minha chegada no Botafogo. Tenho consciência da concorrência, que o time vem se reforçando bastante e que está se desenvolvendo muito bem, mas estou pronto para esse desafio. Estou ansioso para estrear pelo clube e agradeço a Deus por poder estar vestindo a camisa do Glorioso – ressaltou Antônio.

Like Muzarabani, Khushdil Shah also grabbed three wickets, as he cleaned up Zalmi’s tail

Danyal Rasool10-Feb-2022
New city, same old result. The PSL may have shifted to Lahore from Karachi, but it made little difference to the relentless Multan Sultans who made light work of Peshawar Zalmi, brushing them aside by 42 runs. It was set up by a luxuriant 49-ball 68 from Shan Masood, whose 98-run opening stand with Mohammad Rizwan set the platform for Sultans to set a target of 183.Then their bowlers, spearheaded by Blessing Muzarabani, got rid of the openers early before the others applied the squeeze. As the asking rate rose and the wickets began to fall, the wheels quickly fell of Wahab Riaz’s side, and they succumbed for 140.Zalmi had won the toss and inserted Sultans in, and for the first half of the innings, seemed to have a handle on the game. Rizwan wasn’t his usual bustling self at the start, happy to play second fiddle to Masood, whose sensational form this PSL shows no signs of abating. Six fours in his first 14 balls, including three successive boundaries off Mohammad Umar in the fourth over, got Sultans off to a speedy start, thus more than making up for Rizwan’s sluggishness.With Rizwan scoring just 18 in his first 26 balls, it felt as if Sultans were leaving runs out there, but with Tim David and Khushdil Shah to follow, their ability to post a daunting total remained largely undiluted. David was lightning-quick out of the blocks, smashing 33 off his first 14 deliveries – he eventually finished with 34 from 18 – including two monstrous consecutive sixes off Saqib Mahmood. Alongside a cameo by Rilee Rossouw, it powered the defending champions to 182.Sultans continue to give the impression of every game having a new hero, as Thursday’s brightest star came from Zimbabwe. Muzarabani got into Zalmi in the second over of the chase, removing both Kamran Akmal and Haider Ali in the space of four balls. Akmal’s dismissal came thanks to a spectacular catch by Shahnawaz Dahani, who knocked a diving Rizwan out of his way to hold on, before Haider chopped one on to his stumps.It seemed as if Zalmi were playing catch-up from that point on, though Sultans were guilty of allowing them back into the game with a couple of dropped catches. Abbas Afridi put Liam Livingstone down at mid-off in what could easily have been the game’s turning point, as a giant six by the Englishman over mid-on next ball showed.But no one from Zalmi could really hang in and play the sort of innings Masood had. Afridi made amends for dropping him by getting rid of him a few overs later, something which dried the runs up for Sultans. The next 16 balls saw just ten runs scored, and that pressure brought about the end of Hussain Talat.Muzarabani returned to have Sherfane Rutherford caught on the off side, and Shoaib Malik’s 31-ball 44 came to an end when he finally holed out to cow corner off Imran Tahir’s bowling.By then, the asking rate was well over 13, and Ben Cutting was once more left in an impossible position, just as he had against the same opposition a few days earlier in Karachi. He did what he had done then, giving poor Dahani another pasting, but as on that day, the best he could hope for was an improvement in his personal statistics.Khushdil did for him thanks to a smart catch from David, before a stunning diving grab from Khushdil himself off his own bowling put paid to the Zalmi innings altogether. It was an apt way to finish a game, the individual brilliance topping up what had been a brilliant team performance.

His rapid improvement with the ball has been integral to England coming from behind to lead the series – but that is just one area where Moeen Ali continues to impress

Andrew McGlashan13-Aug-2014A bad back in the nets when he was 14 may have been the moment that defined Moeen Ali’s career. Early in his days in the Warwickshire youth set-up he bowled seam-up, but an injury prompted him to tell Steve Perryman, the then bowling coach at Edgbaston, that he was able to send down a few spinners. Two balls was all it took before Perryman told Moeen, “Right, you are a spinner from now.”Fast forward to August 2014 and he sits on the verge of having the most successful series by an England spinner against India. Currently he has 19 wickets at 22.94 following two match-winning spells at the Ageas Bowl and Old Trafford, giving England a 2-1 lead in the Investec Test series. Even if you disregard the endless suggestions that he was no more than a “part-time” spinner to begin with, it is a remarkable story.”I don’t know how I’m getting these wickets but I’m happy to,” he said with a laugh, reflecting on a few weeks which have strengthened what had already been a developing cult status within English cricket.MS Dhoni has insisted India need to attack Moeen, but there is more than a suggestion that the visitors have not adjusted their gameplans in line with Moeen’s improvement. At Old Trafford their attitude to him was brazen.”They felt I was an easy target, a guy they could get easy runs from, which has helped me quite a bit,” Moeen said. “If they attack me, now I’m bowling well, I’ve got a chance. But they’re very good players of spin. I don’t know how I’m getting these wickets but I’m happy to! I feel like I’m on top and I feel I can get players out.”He has also largely shelved the doosra for now after realising he can work over batsmen with the conventional offspinner, allied to drift and, what Shane Warne likes to term, natural variation.”Yeah, I don’t need it at the moment. The way I’m bowling at the moment, attacking both sides of the bat because some of them are going straight on, means I don’t really need it. I’d still like to have it in my repertoire but it needs a lot more work.”It is now well known that Ian Bell has played a key role in the transformation of Moeen from a bowler who managed to pick up useful, but often expensive, wickets to someone Alastair Cook is now becoming increasingly confident to throw the ball to with a match to win. “I don’t want to get carried away,” Moeen said. “But I do feel I’ve taken a big step towards being a decent Test spinner. I feel like I have more control, and that my captain and team-mates can trust me.”‘Guilty of overthinking short ball’ – Moeen

Moeen Ali believes his recent difficulties against the short ball have come from him overcomplicating the situation. He plans to go back to the methods that have served him well in the past – ducking, swaying and avoiding – in the final Test at The Oval.
During the series he has fallen to short deliveries three times – the first innings at Trent Bridge, the second innings at Lord’s and his only innings at the Ageas Bowl – while the short delivery also played a part in setting him up for being bowled at Old Trafford.
“When you get out a couple of times the same way you think about it a lot. I’ve probably been thinking about it too much – whether I should take it on or not. It’s something I don’t really take on early in my innings but at Southampton I wanted to prove I could play it.
“I don’t feel like I’ve got a problem with it but thinking about it too much has probably been my downfall. Analysing the last game to now, I’m just going to go back to my basics and my own game. Hopefully I can get through that initial phase and leave it alone even if I take a couple of blows. That’s what I normally do but I’ve probably been guilty of overthinking it. That’s been my downfall.”
Being marked as a batsman who is vulnerable to the short ball is an emotive tag in cricket but while that is not causing Moeen any sleepless nights he is keen to finish the series strongly.
“It doesn’t bother me, hopefully I can get some runs this game. At the moment I think it’s my bowling that’s keeping me in the team which is quite nice and that’s the best thing about being an all-rounder – having other strings to your bow.”

However, it has emerged that Kumar Dharmasena, the Sri Lankan umpire who stood in the first two Tests of the series, also offered some crucial, if unorthodox advice, while standing in an England net session before Lord’s. Dharmasena, an offspinner during his playing days, advised Moeen to grab his left pocket with his non-bowling hand as he came through his action to help him get through the delivery at the optimum speed. Moeen noticed the impact immediately.”As soon as I bowled one ball I knew it would work,” he said. “That, for some reason, allows me to bowl quicker and straighter without being flat. I knew that was how I needed to bowl from then on. It’s completely different from county cricket. I bowled there in the eye line, as people say, and I didn’t have consistency. As soon as I bowled that way for England I got hammered, especially by India and Sri Lanka because they use their feet so well. Even slightly good balls disappear. They’re so good at it. So I had to bowl quicker and straighter and to my field a bit more. So far it’s been all right, since Lord’s.””All right” is Moeen’s modesty coming through. It is one of many admirable character traits, which have at the same time quickly endeared him to the English cricket public – an audience that has had its patience and loyalty tested over the last 12 months – but also made him stand out as a cricketer with a rare understanding of the bigger picture and the wider world around him.That freedom of expression and thought, however, has created two of the moments where Moeen has witnessed the attention comments and actions will gain from someone of his growing stature. On the second day of the Ageas Bowl Test he batted wearing wrist bands to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The ECB offered its full support but he was told to remove them by the ICC (although, sensibly, not handed any fine or official reprimand).”I didn’t think it would be such a big deal. I just totally forgot I had them on when I went into bat,” he said. “Obviously it all came out but it didn’t bother me one bit, the media and what people say. Even if I get criticised it doesn’t bother me because I just try to get on and do the best I can.”But it did remind him of the focus he will now be under. “I have to be a lot more careful. ICC didn’t allow me to wear them and I accepted that. I have a lot of opinions on a lot of stuff but it’s not the time and place now to go into it. I wasn’t trying to be political it was just a humanitarian thing. I can speak about it but I don’t think it’s the right time now especially before a Test match. Maybe later on I will speak about it.”Previously, before he made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, he gave another open and honest press conference where he spoke with warmth and humility about the importance of being a Muslim (including lighthearted references to the much-talked about beard), the pride it brings and his hopes of being an inspiration for future generations – something he is well on the way to achieving. Sadly, in one major UK newspaper there was a column by a well-known writer, who had not been present at the press conference, that questioned Moeen’s motives.Moeen’s beard has been a regular talking point but his performances are now taking precedence•Getty Images”I didn’t want people to think I was trying to be all about my religion and all that kind of stuff, it was just a question I was asked at the time,” he said. “It is really the most important thing to me but that’s my own thing. With regards to a couple of things that came out, I wasn’t that upset about it I just didn’t expect it. It doesn’t bother me what people write – about my beard or whatever.”And he has a simple approach to keeping himself level, whether in cricket or in life. “I don’t really read a lot and am not on Twitter or social stuff so I don’t get too excited or too down. I try and be as level as I can and if things do get tough then I can sit back and tell myself it’s just a game of cricket – there’s more to life than cricket. And when things get too over the top, I do the same thing, bring myself down a little bit.”It does not appear that Moeen will be fazed by his new-found status, but there can be no doubt that his life has changed. “When I go to the shops I get free food and stuff now,” he joked, before quickly, and eloquently, explaining how he wants to help benefit others. “A lot more people obviously recognise me and ask me for autographs. It’s good because I get a lot of Asian kids especially coming and asking me ‘what’s it like playing for England?’ and ‘how do people treat you?’ and that kind of stuff.”That’s the kind of barrier I want to try and break down – that people think it is tough and will treat you badly if you’re a practising Muslim or whatever. That is the reason I like to play cricket for England – because I can break down barriers for other people and inspire kids, not just Asian kids but all kids, to play.”Even if I didn’t play for England again, speaking to a lot of these kids I can see they’re really interested and really want to play for England, which is nice. Previously a lot of them wanted to play for India and Pakistan but now I get a lot more Asians coming up to me saying they’re supporting England. That’s what I want and that for me makes me happier than anything – a lot of people are supporting England and want us to do well.”Moeen has come a long way from the streets of Birmingham, the kid who bowled seam-up and the allrounder who had to move counties to find a permanent home. But you sense there is still much more to come in the Moeen Ali story.Investec, the specialist bank and asset manager, is the title sponsor of Test match cricket in England. Visit investec.co.uk/cricket or follow us @InvestecCricket

Fast bowler experiences ‘sharp pain’ in lower back during wicketless outing at Trent Bridge

Osman Samiuddin13-Jun-2022

Kyle Jamieson went off with pain in his lower back•Getty Images

Kyle Jamieson will not take the field on day four, as New Zealand look to eke out a first-innings lead against England in the second LV= Insurance Test at Trent Bridge.Jamieson walked off midway through his 17th over of the innings late on day three after he experienced, what was described by team management, as a “sharp pain” in his lower left back. He will now undergo an MRI scan to determine the extent of the injury.Even with Jamieson, New Zealand had struggled to contain England’s run-rate through the day, the hosts scoring 383 runs. Jamieson struggled to make an impact, conceding four runs per over in a wicketless spell, the most expensive he’s been across an innings since his debut over two years ago.In that time he has become an essential component of New Zealand’s attack, missing only one of the 17 Tests New Zealand have played since his debut (he was rotated out to manage workloads in their Test win against England at Edgbaston last year). Sixteen Tests into his career, he’s still averaging under 20. Last week, after he took six wickets at Lord’s in New Zealand’s five-wicket defeat, he rose to No.3 in the ICC men’s Test bowling rankings.Jamieson hasn’t had any major injury concerns since his debut, though he did pull up during a County Championship game for Surrey last summer.There is a week’s gap between the end of this Test and the start of the third at Headingley. New Zealand have Neil Wagner in the squad as well who has – to the surprise of some – not yet featured in the series.New Zealand are already missing the services of captain Kane Williamson, who had to pull out on the eve of this Test after he tested positive for Covid-19.

It is safe to say Newcastle United have come a long way in recent years. Following promotion in 2017, Premier League finishes of tenth, 13th, 13th, 12th and 11th during their first five years looked like they had established themselves as a side who wouldn’t quite achieve a European place, but who also wouldn’t suffer relegation.

This changed when Howe arrived, as his first full season saw the Magpies claim a stunning fourth place finish during 2022/23, their highest since 2012.

While they could only secure seventh place last term, hopes are high after a promising start this year and Howe certainly appears to be the man to take the club back into Europe.

Long gone are the days when Sam Allardyce was in charge, as the club slipped back down the table rather than forcing their way up as contenders for Champions League qualification.

Sam Allardyce’s Newcastle statistics

At Bolton, ‘Big Sam’ created a team that not only secured promotion to the top flight, but one that remained there until 2012, with players such as Ivan Campo, Fernando Hierro and Jay-Jay Okocha ensuring they were one of the finest cult teams in the history of the Premier League.

He even secured European football for the club and came close to winning the League Cup in 2004, but when the Toon job became available, he took the opportunity with both hands.

The Englishman made a promising start to life at Newcastle, recording five wins and two draws from their opening nine league matches, but form started to drop off.

He was sacked in January 2008 after just eight months in charge, failing to inspire the team to much success.

Might it have been a different story had he signed the players he wanted to bring to Newcastle? Rather than settling for those who failed to make a difference.

Newcastle’s signings under Sam Allardyce

During the summer of 2007, players such as Alan Smith, Joey Barton, Mark Viduka and Habib Beye arrived at St James Park – to varying degrees of success.

Hopes were high that Allardyce could attract high-class players due to his stature in the Premier League, but it didn’t quite turn out like that, which ultimately led to his downfall at the club.

Player

Club signed from

Alan Smith

Manchester United

Mark Viduka

Middlesbrough

Joey Barton

Manchester City

Jose Enrique

Villarreal

David Rozehnal

PSG

Abdoulaye Faye

Bolton

Habib Beye

Marseille

Geremi

Chelsea

Claudio Cacapa

Lyon

One of the most experienced players who linked up with Allardyce was former Real Madrid gem Geremi, who had featured for Chelsea under José Mourinho.

Geremi’s statistics at Newcastle

The Cameroonian won the Champions League and La Liga titles with Madrid during a three-year spell in the capital before moving to Chelsea in 2003. After 109 appearances in which he won the Premier League twice, Geremi was available on a free transfer.

Allardyce wasted no time, snapping him up that summer. Geremi would play just 54 times for the Magpies during his spell in the north-east as he was clearly slowing down as a player.

While the utility midfielder was seen as somewhat of a decent signing, things may have turned out a lot better for the club had they signed one of their main targets – Luka Modrić.

Newcastle missed out on Luka Modric in 2007

Speaking a few years after leaving the club, Allardyce claimed that he was keen on bringing the playmaker to Newcastle during his first summer transfer window, saying:

“I was then on the way to getting Luka Modric from Dinamo Zagreb, but by then, Mike saw the scale of the full debut and put the clamps on, so I had to make do with Geremi from Chelsea.”

What might have been at St James Park if the manager had gotten his wish and signed the young Croatian talent 17 years ago? He could have potentially saved his job, but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

The current Real Madrid star hasn’t done too badly since then.

Luka Modric’s career statistics

Modric did eventually end up in the Premier League, but it wasn’t with Newcastle. After impressing in his homeland, he joined Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2008, going on to make a total of 160 appearances for the London club, emerging as a player to watch.

Former teammate Darren Bent hailed Modric as “incredible” before lavishing further praise on his ex-teammate while speaking about him, saying: “When Luka joined Spurs, the first thing you noticed was his technique.

“I had played against him for England but when you watched him up close, he was a player you knew straight away was levels above everyone.”

His performances clearly impressed Real Madrid, who came in for him in the summer of 2012, going on to become a club legend.

The 39-year-old has played nearly 550 games for the club, winning all there is to win in the process, but it has been at international level in which Modric has demonstrated his influence.

Not only did he lead Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final (losing 4-2 to France), but he came close to repeating the trick four years later, as the country had to settle for a third-place finish.

This is remarkable given the nation has a population of just 3.8m, smaller than Scotland. For his exploits in Russia and his club displays for Madrid in 2018, the midfielder won the Ballon d’Or, becoming the first player from Croatia to win the award.

What could have been if Modric had signed for Newcastle all those years ago? Would he have become a club legend? Unfortunately, no one will know, but his career trajectory may have changed significantly if he had pitched up on Tyneside rather than in North London, that’s for sure.

As it is, the Magpies – and ‘Big Sam’ – had to settle for Geremi…

Newcastle United chase £21m gem who outscored Erling Haaland at youth level

He could be a superstar of the future.

ByBen Browning Sep 20, 2024

da betsul： Liverpool hit at West Ham United like lightning on Tuesday night, turning a maxim on its head to strike twice with a 5-1 thrashing over the east Londoners for the second year running in the Carabao Cup.

da bwin： In the early stage of the contest, Anfield was, frankly, flat. The visitors hurled efforts toward Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal in the opening as they sought to capitalise – and they did, Jarell Quansah and Co culpable of a disastrous attempt to clear a corner, turning into their own net.

Diogo Jota restored parity after 20 minutes but the Reds storm was truly ignited in the second half, with the goals lashed in and ending the contest with Liverpool 5-1 victors.

It was a big one for several players looking to stake their claim, and while his performance was imperfect, Wataru Endo will be pleased with the job he did at the heart of Slot’s set-up.

Wataru Endo stakes his claim

The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle only handed Endo a 5/10 match score for his display against West Ham, praising the tough midfielder’s combative commitment but noting that he struggled to really impose himself and didn’t contribute with the smooth forward passing that Ryan Gravenberch brings to the position.

The journalist wrote: ‘Showcased a steel that is perhaps absent from Liverpool’s midfield when he doesn’t play. Won a fair few duels but not always the most progressive in his passing. His attempt at a clearance for West Ham’s goal was pure panic as it struck Quansah and went in.’

Still, he’s a fine option and afforded Gravenberch a much-needed rest, with the Dutchman having played every minute of the 2024/25 campaign for club and country before the cup clash.

Wataru Endo: Performance vs West Ham

Stats

#

Minutes played

82′

Touches

66

Accurate passes

44/47 (94%)

Key passes

1

Dribbles (completed)

2 (0)

Ball recoveries

7

Tackles

2

Interceptions

1

Ground duels (won)

8 (2)

Stats via Sofascore

Alexis Mac Allister came on with just over 30 minutes remaining and added so much impetus, creating one big chance and hitting the woodwork with a stinging strike from range. Gravenberch, indeed, didn’t play, but the 22-year-old plays a very different role than Endo within Slot’s system, one better suited to the way the boss wants to operate.

Gravenberch has averaged 1.2 successful dribbles per game in the Premier League this year, with a success rate of 60%. Moreover, he’s won 58% of his ground duels, outstripping Endo in both accuracy and output, averaging 5.2 per game.

The Japan international is a good utility option but you can see that Slot’s style might be knocked off-kilter if Gravenberch were to pick up a lengthy injury.

Endo, though, played well, and it provided Liverpool with something different. Multi-dimensionality is crucial for a team looking to chase down trophies across different routes, and the Japan star has already got one Carabao Cup title in the bag – who’s to say he can’t play a leading role in another?

That said, with Martin Zubimendi Liverpool’s desired option to have tussled with Gravenberch for a starting spot, there’s an improvement to be made.

Elsewhere, Kostas Tsimikas struggled to prove that he is the best option to compete with Andy Robertson at left-back going forward.

Kostas Tsimikas is not good enough for a starting role

Tsimikas has been a solid servant for Liverpool over the years, signing from Olympiakos for £12m in 2020. He’s completed 91 appearances, claiming 17 assists and winning a host of major honours.

Last season, he was drafted into a regular starting role under Jurgen Klopp in the Premier League as Robertson recuperated from a shoulder injury suffered up in Scotland with the Tartan Army. He ebbed and flowed (Tsimikas, not Robertson. Robertson just kind of stagnated on the sidelines).

Against LASK in the Europa League one year ago, journalist Paul Gorst noted that he didn’t have his ​​​​​​ “finest hour”, and though the Greece international has a wand of a left foot and a natural-born creative flair, he’s not the complete package, with positioning and awareness that leaves much to be desired.

As you will see from the graphic above, the 28-year-old was by no means poor in regard to his spread of match statistics, taking a blocked shot when Salah was in a better position, failing to make a single attempted dribble and failing to meet the targetted noggin with each of his six crosses, as per Sofascore.

Tsimikas is just a little… one-dimensional. There was a moment that has since entered the roaring stream of social media that saw the defender unconventionally look to protect his goal against Max Kilman, throwing himself to the floor in a wretched attempt to block the shot that never came. It was funny but his blushes were spared. Mirth would have fallen flat had Kilman breached Kelleher’s net.

Losing the ball 19 times, he was eager to make things happen but it didn’t come off, and though he fought well against the energetic Jarrod Bowen, left-back will surely be a position that FSG target before long.

Indeed, Liverpool are long-time admirers of Wolverhampton Wanderers star Rayan Ait-Nouri, whose capacity to underlap and invert could be a welcome addition within the fluid ball-playing system of Slot, with the head coach keen to shift and swell when in possession and on the forward charge.

You have to respect the commitment toward protecting his goal, but Tsimikas was questionable across a series of shaky moments that really did underscore the influence that Virgil van Dijk instils. West Ham’s profligacy precluded their success, but it could have been different against sharper, more confident opposition.

With all this in mind, Tsimikas can’t be in the starting line up for this weekend’s top-flight clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Related Slot must axe Liverpool ace who earns more than Diaz & Konate

It’s time for this wider member to move on…

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Sep 25, 2024

Ange Postecoglou has defended James Maddison over his trip to watch the darts amid a terrible run of Tottenham form.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Maddison attended PDC World Championship
• Was too ill to play for Spurs
• Postecoglou wades in

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Maddison was too unwell to start for Spurs against Wolves as they drew 2-2 on Sunday. The attacking midfielder came on as a substitute, and was later seen at the PDC World Darts Championship. Postecoglou has now defended the Englishman's trip to Alexandra Palace, although it remains to be seen if he will be fit enough to play against Newcastle on Saturday.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Spurs have been struggling immensely with an injury crisis. They have nine players currently on the treatment table, including goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, defenders Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie, and forwards Wilson Odobert and Richarlison. They have also had to deal with illness sweeping through the squad before the clash with the Magpies, and reports suggest Brandon Austin will make his debut in goal after Fraser Forster was also struck down by the sickness bug. To that end, Fabrizio Romano has reported Spurs are close to signing Slavia Prague goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.

• WHAT POSTECOGLOU SAID

  Addressing Maddison's outing, Postecoglou told reporters: "I've got no problem with the players having lives. It's a lot different trying to play a game of football and living a life. I don't see any problem with that and I don't think it hurt him.

  "He wasn't 100% and it was a game where we needed someone to be 100%. He was still well enough to play. If he was bed-ridden, didn't turn up to the game and then still went to the darts, there may be an issue there. But I had no issue with that."

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Spurs face Newcastle this weekend as they attempt to right a dismal run. Spurs have won just one of their last five league games and sit 11th in the table. They are nine points clear of the relegation zone, and also nine points behind the top four.

Everton had a significant transfer window in the summer of 2022 and signed six players on permanent deals, and two on loan.

The Toffees marquee signing that summer was Amadou Onana, who cost £33m from Lille, beating East London outfit West Ham United to his signature.

The other permanent signings included some crucial players still at the club today. One of those was Idrissa Gueye, who returned from Paris Saint-Germain, James Garner from Manchester United and Burnley pair Dwight McNeil and James Tarkowski, with the latter joining on a free transfer.

Whilst all of those permanent signings were successful to some degree, there was one player who joined the Toffees that year who never really settled. That man was Neal Maupay.

Maupay’s Everton career

French striker Maupay certainly had an indifferent time of things at Goodison Park. They bought him late on in the 2022 summer window, moving to the Toffees for £15m from Brighton and Hove Albion.

His Everton career got off to a strong start after he scored in his second appearance for the club, a well-taken striker against West Ham United in front of the Gwladys Street End.

It seemed like Maupay and Everton could be a match made in heaven based on that goal, but sadly that was as good as it got for the Frenchman on Merseyside.

He played 32 games for the club in total, with his goal against the Hammers his only one in that famous Blue shirt. He did manage to register two assists, both in the Carabao Cup. One of those came in his last game before he moved to former club Brentford on a season-long loan.

It was a solid return to the Gtech Community Stadium, with the 28-year-old scoring eight goals and getting three assists in 31 games in all competitions. He earned a move back to France as a result, with Olympique Marseille signing him on loan with an obligation to buy in 2025.

Everton fans will no doubt be frustrated that things did not work out with Maupay at Goodison Park. However, they may be even more disappointed to hear that they could have signed one of Europe’s most exciting strikers instead, Goncalo Ramos.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

When Everton wanted to sign Goncalo Ramos

Now plying his trade at PSG after a sizeable £67m transfer, Everton were looking at signing Ramos before the end of the 2022 window. According to reports, the Merseysiders were one of a number of teams looking at snapping him up for a potential fee of around £30m.

Had they brought him in, they would have added a striker with excellent pedigree to their squad. Ramos had a superb record for Benfica, with 106 games under his belt, and 41 goals to his name in that time.

After staying at the Portuguese outfit in 2022/23, he then proceeded to score 19 goals in 30 games in the top flight of Portugal.

2019/20

1

3

2

0

2020/21

12

380

4

0

2021/22

46

2449

8

4

2023/24

47

3478

27

8

After an impressive hat-trick at the 2022 World Cup, Ramos earned his big move in the summer of 2023. He signed for the French giants on a loan deal initially in a fee that is over double what he would have cost Everton.

Described as “outrageous” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, the striker is a superb penalty box striker and possesses excellent movement. He has scored 14 goals in 41 games in Paris, although is yet to get off the mark this term due to injury.

Everton fans will no doubt be disappointed to miss out on Ramos. Not only would they have signed a superb striker instead of bringing in Maupay, but they would likely have made a healthy profit, judging by the fee PSG paid for the striker last summer.

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Tom Helm’s late flurry of wickets was not enough to force a Middlesex victory as Derbyshire held on to draw their LV= Insurance County Championship opener.Helm struck three times in 19 balls to give Middlesex the upper hand after half-centuries by Shan Masood and Wayne Madsen had threatened to secure Derbyshire’s first Lord’s success in 20 years.Pursuing a target of 356 from 88 overs, Derbyshire reached 197 for 2 just after tea – but Helm’s fiery spell forced them to abandon hopes of victory.Middlesex’s bowlers – minus skipper Tim Murtagh, who pulled up injured early on in the chase – pressed hard, but were unable to make further inroads as Leus du Plooy and Anuj Dal dug in to steer their side to safety at 255 for 5.Richard Johnson, Middlesex’s returning head coach, said: “That’s the Tom Helm I knew a long time ago when he came through and hopefully we’ll see him really push on. What I saw today was international-class bowling.”He hit great areas, swung it – it was quality all the way through. If he does that week in, week out, England have to come calling for him because he’s up there with the best on that.”The home side extended their second innings by just six overs in the morning, with not-out batters Robbie White and Max Holden both falling to Sam Conners in pursuit of quick runs.Another 57 were added, largely thanks to some clean striking by John Simpson and Toby Roland-Jones before Murtagh waved them in at 258 for 5.Related

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However, Murtagh himself was soon back in the pavilion after pulling up in the ninth over and Masood settled into the groove, dominating his partnership of 81 with Billy Godleman as Middlesex searched in vain for a breakthrough.That finally arrived in the third over after lunch as Ethan Bamber – having already beaten the bat several times – persuaded Masood to flick on the leg side and Simpson took a diving catch.Godleman briefly took up the baton with a couple of boundaries off Bamber, but the skipper then attempted to cut the first ball of Roland-Jones’ second spell and was caught in the slips for 38.After a slow start, Madsen began to go for his shots, employing the reverse sweep to good effect against spinner Josh de Caires and reaching his half-century just after tea with a crisp straight drive for four off Roland-Jones.But Helm raised Middlesex’s hopes with a trio of wickets, including those of Madsen who was leg before and Brooke Guest , smartly taken by Stephen Eskinazi at first slip after the pair had shared a stand of 91.That left Derbyshire to survive 27 more overs and – although Dal got away with a loose shot that narrowly eluded Helm at deep square leg – handshakes were exchanged with five of those still unbowled.

Chelsea are shaping into a serious team under the management of Enzo Maresca. West Ham United were dispatched with ease last weekend to extend the Blues’ unbeaten run in the Premier League to four matches.

Things are all starting to come together and there’s a real sense that this latest iteration of the new era in west London could finally breed some success.

The Blues finished sixth under Mauricio Pochettino last season but were bumped from Europa to Conference League qualification after Manchester United, who finished eighth, defeated Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Chelsea lacked composure in front of goal, with centre-forward Nicolas Jackson showing promise but plenty of profligacy after signing from Villarreal when a fee in excess of his £30m release clause was paid.

How Nicolas Jackson is improving

Jackson showed his potential for Chelsea last season, scoring 17 goals and claiming six assists across 44 fixtures in all competitions. However, he could have had much, much more.

As per Sofascore, the 23-year-old missed a whopping 24 big chances in the Premier League last term, scoring 14 goals but leaving plenty to be desired. Still, his lofty potential was quickly identifiable.

Speaking to talkSPORT on the striker last year, former Chelsea star Scott Minto said: “I really like Nicolas Jackson, and I think if you give him time, he will be a top Premier League striker.

“I look at him and his strong, he is fast, he has defenders hanging off him, he’s sharp, and wants to work back for the team. The only thing he is lacking at the moment, is sticking the ball in the back of the net.”

And indeed he’s now starting to grow into his skin. Across just five Premier League outings in 2024/25, Jackson has notched four goals and two assists, so far missing only two big chances.

Jackson has hit 25 direct goal contributions in the Premier League (18 goals and seven assists across 40 appearances) and, perhaps not that surprisingly, ten of them have been a direct link-up with Cole Palmer.

The fulcrum of Chelsea’s attack, Palmer is truly one of the finest players in the division and makes such a difference. This season, the 22-year-old has already posted two goals and four assists from just five matches in the top flight.

He’s not at his free-scoring best just yet, however, and there’s a former Chelsea forward who’s matching Jackson’s goal-and-assist rate and actually surpassing Palmer’s goalscoring haul in Christian Pulisic.

Why Chelsea sold Christian Pulisic

Chelsea signed Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund for a whopping fee of £58m in January 2019, fending off competition from Arsenal and Liverpool for the dynamic winger’s signature.

Fast, an excellent dribbler and an intelligent interlinking outlet, Pulisic had exactly what it takes to succeed in the Premier League but struggled to bring it all together and earn regular starting appearances after a ferocious start.

Indeed, Pulisic recorded 11 goals and eight assists across all competitions throughout the 2019/20 campaign – his first at Stamford Bridge – but that stood as his most productive across his four years of service.

2022/23

30 (10)

1

2

0.10

2021/22

38 (21)

8

5

0.34

2020/21

43 (25)

6

4

0.23

2019/20

34 (27)

11

8

0.55

He left English football with a whimper but Pulisic has since resurrected his career in Italy. His footwork and skills had led sports writer Al Butler to hail him as a “magician” way back when, but he’s finally realising that tag with AC Milan.

Christian Pulisic's numbers after leaving Chelsea

His final season with Chelsea – under Pochettino’s wing – was, without doubt, the worst. But it was also the year that the club fell by the wayside, and he was banished to a bit-part role that sapped and sucked at his confidence, depleting it.

It was time for a change. Pulisic had won the Champions League with the Blues and was an attractive option for many a top team on the continent. Milan won the race, signing the USMNT captain, who was 24 years old upon the move, for a cut-price fee of around £20m. Chelsea will still rue the heavy financial blow.

Especially when considering he’s one of the most in-form players performing for an Italian team right now. Last year he regained balance and hit 15 goals and 11 assists over 50 matches. This year, the 26-year-old has already claimed four strikes and two assists from six matches.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

His efforts have even led him to rank among the top 11% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored (0.42) and the top 5% for the rate of hitting the target (47%) per 90, as per FBref. This emphasises exactly how deadly he can be in promising attacking moments.

Chelsea

145

26

19

Dortmund

127

19

26

USMNT

73

31

18

AC Milan

56

19

13

The £83k-per-week talent has found a fitting home in the bustling city of Milan, enjoying his football and performing as a standout for a team that has just kickstarted its campaign with a victory over arch-rivals Inter Milan.

Pulisic opened the scoring in that one, several days after putting Il Rossoneri 1-0 up against Liverpool in the Champions League with a fine finish from an acute angle. The Reds would overpower them in the end but it highlighted his ability to succeed against the best that Europe has to offer.

That puts him identically aside Jackson for a direct haul in 2024/25 while equalling Palmer’s goal-and-assist rate – of course, Pulisic’s four-goal return surpasses the England international’s two.

Given the hefty swell of Chelsea’s frontline, there’s going to be little cause for ruefulness that the American ace plies his art elsewhere and is impressing in doing so.

But it serves as a reminder that though this one didn’t work out, it could have been so much more.

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The Blues are reportedly going to give him an opportunity to shine on Tuesday.

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