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Suarez & Ekitike hybrid: Liverpool to launch £100m + bid for late signing

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Look, Liverpool would love to win the Premier League again this season, and perhaps they will.

But FSG and Arne Slot are a match made in heaven, and it’s because steering away from the myopic target of single-season success is something that is expertly juggled with the wider vision of a sustained period of success over many years.

So while the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz and the rest have been signed because of their potential to lead the Reds toward trophy-winning exploits this year, the reasoning behind these bumper deals lies more with the grander scale of Slot’s plans.

Florian Wirtz in action for Liverpool

To put it another way, Liverpool have dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s when conducting their transfer business, ensuring everything is just so as they look to stay on top for many years to come.

Though many would consider Wirtz to be the cream of the summer crop, it’s Ekitike who has made a barnstorming start to life on Merseyside, rubber-stamping FSG’s decision to fork out big money for his signature.

Why Liverpool signed Hugo Ekitike

Liverpool signed Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal rising to £79m, and his early exploits in a Red shirt suggest that he could not only prove an upgrade on Nunez, but potentially a defining number nine for the Anfield side.

With two goals and an assist from two matches as a Liverpool player, Ekitike has a base from which to build on, and while there are many trials ahead of the 23-year-old, there’s a collective sense among the fanbase that Slot has welcomed a special player to his squad.

Against Bournemouth last Friday, he showcased not only an aptitude for scoring but a skill in the build-up, linking with his teammates and displaying his combative side too, winning five duels.

Whether Ekitike turns out to be a superstar signing like Mohamed Salah or, stretching further back, a talisman like Luis Suarez, remains to be seen, but he’s certainly started off with strong strides.

However, the Frenchman may yet face a fight for his place across the coming term.

Liverpool prepare late offer to sign Ekitike rival

According to reports in Spanish, Liverpool have not been deterred by the many obstacles in their pursuit of signing Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, and they are ‘preparing a powerful new offer.’

It’s stated that Liverpool are ‘willing to take a giant step’, now ready to launch an offer of around €160m (£138m) to convince Newcastle.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Isak’s incendiary statement pertaining to his desire to leave St. James’ Park and his belief that promises have been broken by the Magpies hierarchy was met with a refusal on PIF’s part to grant the 25-year-old striker his wish.

Will he play in a Liverpool shirt in two weeks? Isak is desperate to sign for the Merseysiders, who have already seen an initial £110m approach rejected.

But encouragement is needed from the Toon camp, and none appears to be forthcoming.

Why Liverpool still want to sign Isak

It’s probably worth stressing that the final stretch of the summer transfer window is bound to be a frenetic thing, and Liverpool’s chances of landing Isak would increase dramatically if Newcastle pull off their deal for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa and then remain in the market for another striker.

Such a stance would denote their acceptance that Isak needs replacing and selling this month. Hardly a given, though.

Liverpool could do with a striker of Isak’s ilk, even with Ekitike hitting the ground running. The Sweden international’s goalscoring and athletic skill has seen him emerge as one of the finest marksmen around, with Newcastle legend Alan Shearer hailing his “world-class” talent (whether the pundit would sh such praise right now is another question).

Last season alone, Isak scored 27 goals and supplied six assists as United reclaimed a place in the Champions League and won the Carabao Cup, scoring against Liverpool at Wembley. If Liverpool succeed, there’s no doubt that he has the potential to rival the finest to do it at number nine on Merseyside.

Perhaps he’d be in the mould of Suarez, that all-consuming forward of old. What a player, his predatory instincts in the final third, his movements and his intelligence, all coming together to leave him hailed as one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history.

Suarez is, of course, one of the greats of the modern English game, almost single-handedly dragging Brendan Rodgers’ side to a maiden Premier League title in 2013/14, scoring 31 goals from only 33 matches in the top flight.

Remembered as one of the most unstoppable strikers of his generation, it’s curious to look at how Isak’s Premier League career compares to the Uruguayan’s, with some exciting facts to be noted.

Games

109

133

Goals

62

82

Goal rate

0.57

0.62

Assists

11

32

Assist rate

0.10

0.24

G/A rate

0.67

0.86

No doubt, Suarez had more about him from a creative standpoint, but that’s hardly a fact that is to the £120k-per-week Isak’s detriment; the Scandinavian is one of the most complete strikers in the game, after all.

Considering that data-driven platform FBref have revealed through statistical analysis that Isak is comparable to Ekitike, Slot could find he has something of a hybrid on his hands, who has been hailed as a “machine” in front of goal by Fabrizio Romano.

The fact that Isak only trails Suarez’s goals-per-game rate at Liverpool across his three years as a Magpie is remarkable, and he’s also a mobile and creative player in the same vein as Liverpool’s new man in the middle, Ekitike.

FBref record that Isak, while principally a devastating goalscorer, ranks among the top 18% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90.

He’s the real deal, all right, and while Ekitike is a thrilling talent, Liverpool would land someone more complete and more refined in Isak, capable of rivalling the France talent while also offering shades of Suarez in Slot’s high-flying squad.

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Lewis' 61-ball century trumps Kusal's 19-ball fifty in 23-over shootout

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

SL scored 156 in rain-reduced game, with WI’s target revised to 195, and Sherfane Rutherford smashed 50* off 26 deliveries

Madushka Balasuriya26-Oct-2024(23 overs) After a series in which they consistently failed to get the rub of the green, the stars finally aligned for West Indies as they ended their tour of Sri Lanka with a morale-boosting win. Evin Lewis, playing his first ODI since 2021, struck an unbeaten 102 off 61 balls, as West Indies chased down a DLS-adjusted target of 195 in a rain-reduced game of 23 overs with eight wickets to spare. In fact, they got the required runs with an over to spare. It was their first ODI win in Sri Lanka following ten straight defeats, and their first win on this tour since the first T20I.Sri Lanka, for their part, had put up a valiant effort after their innings had been cut into less than half. The first 17.2 overs had come prior to the rain intervention, and upon resumption, they were given just a further 5.4 overs to set a competitive total.Enter Kusal Mendis, who bludgeoned an unbeaten 56 off 22 deliveries – he got the half-century off 19 balls – as Sri Lanka themselves struck 75 runs in those final 5.4 overs to end on 156 for 3, and gave themselves a fighting chance. In the end, though, a combination of a wet outfield, wet ball and a laser-focused Lewis proved too much to overcome.Brandon King (18 off 19 balls) and Shai Hope (22 off 27) had kept Lewis company for most of the chase, but it wasn’t until Sherfane Rutherford joined him in the middle that West Indies truly took control of proceedings.Rutherford’s brisk cameo saw him plunder 50 off just 26 deliveries, including four fours and three sixes, with his partnership with Lewis amounting to an unbeaten 88 from just 45 deliveries. It was a pivotal stand in the context of the game, as it came just as Sri Lanka might have been harbouring thoughts of a late heist.Kusal Mendis blasted a 19-ball fifty•AFP/Getty ImagesWith the required run rate at roughly 8.5 an over from the outset, West Indies had done well to just about keep up with it over the opening ten overs – there was at least one boundary in seven of the first 11 overs. But in such a short chase, even a couple of quiet overs can heighten the pressure – and so it proved to be.Between the 11th and 17th overs, Sri Lanka gave away just 40 runs as the required rate rose to above 11.50 runs an over. Skipper Charith Asalanka had done well in this period by shuffling his pack to sneak in some cheap overs from himself and Kamindu Mendis – both of whom made up the fifth-bowler quota after Wanindu Hasaranga had struggled with controlling a wet ball.Where Asalanka erred was in bowling himself for one over too many, which allowed Rutherford and Lewis to go after him. That 14-run over set the tone, after which the pair never looked back. The miserly Maheesh Theekshana was rinsed for 18 in the next over, while even the excellent Asitha Fernando was hounded for 26 off his final two. Dilshan Madushanka, playing his first ODI since March, went for 50 in five.Sri Lanka, though, will have positives to take away from this game, particularly in how aggressively they approached the post-rain period, knowing that they didn’t have much time to scrounge up a competitive total. The opening 17.2 overs had seen Sri Lanka stitch together a measured start, with openers Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando putting on 81.That, though, owed much to West Indies dropping three chances – two of Nissanka and one of Avishka – inside the opening ten overs. This poor catching did not get much better after the five-hour rain delay, with Kusal also dropped twice on the way to becoming the third-quickest Sri Lanka batter to 4000 ODI runs.Sherfane Rutherford hit four fours and three sixes•Associated PressIt all began with the four balls left in Roston Chase’s second over, as Kusal proceeded to clatter each of them for boundaries – two precise pulls, one stunning straight drive, and finally a fortunate inside edge down to fine leg. In all, Sri Lanka struck 12 boundaries in the final 34 deliveries they faced.The shortened game also had some knock-on effects on West Indies’ bowling plans, as the new provisos meant three bowlers were given a quota of five overs each, while two others were handed four apiece. Once Chase’s over, in which Kusal had struck four consecutive boundaries, was belatedly completed, and with Sri Lanka in raucous mood, West Indies were suddenly faced with the proposition of figuring out how Gudakesh Motie, Jayden Seales, and Alzarri Joseph – who had bowled four, four and three overs, respectively – would split the remains.And with the economical Matthew Forde already having bowled five overs prior to the rain break, it meant only two more bowlers could bowl five; so they needed to find one more over from somewhere.With Chase having been dispatched upon the resumption of play, it was left to Rutherford to roll his arm over, and he was duly taken for 17 runs courtesy two fours and a six. And as Kusal’s carefree innings continued in earnest, Sri Lanka eventually managed to muster up a competitive total – though it proved to be just not good enough on the day.

Everton closing in on double teenager deal as Friedkin decision pays off

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Everton are now reportedly closing in on a double deal to welcome two teenage talents to their academy.

Everton continuing summer business after Thierno Barry

Having already kicked off their summer business by welcoming Thierno Barry from Villarreal, Everton are reportedly set to continue their pursuit of incomings by signing Bournemouth’s Mark Travers. The shot-stopper looks set to arrive to provide Jordan Pickford with some much-needed backup following the departures of Asmir Begovic and Joao Virginia.

The goalkeeper’s arrival will hand Everton their third signing of the summer after Moyes was left delighted by the signing of Barry last week to follow up the arrival of Carlos Alcaraz on a permanent deal earlier in the window.

The Everton boss told reporters: “We are delighted to have brought Thierno to the Club. We see lots of potential and we are hoping for good things from him.

“We will give him plenty of time to settle in and we are looking forward to getting started working with him as soon as possible. I’m hoping to make more additions in the coming weeks.”

Villarreal's Thierno Barry

It’s no surprise that the Toffees have turned towards Travers as well as the talented forward, either. Following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s decision to leave the club as a free agent, Moyes desperately needed a fresh goalscorer and Barry will provide exactly that.

It’s not just current gems that the veteran manager is thinking about, however, with reports now suggesting that Everton are closing in on signing two future stars this summer.

Everton closing in on Dodds and Gokah swoop

As reported by The Athletic’s Patrick Boyland, Everton are now closing in on deals to sign John Dodds and Reuben Gokah from Hearts and Charlton Athletic respectively. The double swoop follows Friedkin’s decision to add significant investment into improving their academy and adding former Manchester United chief Nick Cox to their ranks as a result.

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While Dodds and Gokah won’t steal the same headlines as Barry or Travers, they may prove to be just as important in years to come. Both defenders, the teenage duo will feature for Everton’s academy before potentially breaking into Moyes’ first-team when the time is right for all parties.

Given the path that Jarrad Branthwaite has taken since arriving in Merseyside as a youngster, there should be no concern over whether there will be an opportunity for Dodds and Gokah to thrive if they impress enough at youth level.

With the teenage duo and Travers, Everton will be taking their list of incomings up to five for the summer in what has so far been a productive transfer window.

Sky journalist: 49ers "approve" funds to bring "immediate" key player to Leeds

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Leeds United have now “fully approved” the signing of an “explosive” attacking player this summer, according to a key update from journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

Leeds submit enquiry to ramp up attacking signings

The Whites are still working hard on potential incoming transfer business, with the opening weekend of the new Premier League season edging closer all the time.

Feyenoord forward Igor Paixao has emerged as a priority target in the past month or so, with Leeds said to have submitted an enquiry regarding the signing of the 25-year-old. Talks have now also taken place over a summer switch to Elland Road for the £34m-rated ace.

Elsewhere, Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens has been linked with a move to the Whites this summer, being seen as an alternative option to Lucas Perri, as they look to bring in an upgrade on the mistake-prone Illan Meslier.

Former Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff has already completed his move to Leeds, and Hoffenheim’s Anton Stach has been backed to join him in the middle of the park, too.

Leeds have "fully approved" Paixao signing

Now, according to Tavolieri on X, Leeds are closer to completing the signing of Paixao than ever, with his switch to Elland Road now “fully approved” by 49ers Enterprises.

At this point, it would be a big surprise if Paixao wasn’t a Whites player come the beginning of the 2025/26 season, with significant progress made with this latest update.

The Brazilian has the ability to be such an influential signing for Leeds, bringing quality and threat in the final third, having bagged 26 goal contributions (16 goals and 10 assists) in 34 Eredivisie appearances last season.

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While at his best on the left wing, Paixao is also a strong option on the right flank and in a central attacking role, making him a versatile option, and scout Jacek Kulig has hailed him as an “explosive” talent, likening him to a younger Raheem Sterling.

Paixao is at the perfect point in his career to hit the ground running at Leeds, possessing plenty of experience but also being young enough to improve further.

If he can take his Eredivisie form with him to the Premier League, it would go a long way to helping the Whites avoid relegation back to the Championship.

Engelbrecht downplays superhero save after setting social media on fire

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

The leaping effort at deep midwicket has been viewed more than a million times on Instagram reels alone

Matt Roller17-Jun-2024

Sybrand Engelbrecht pulls off a stunning save at the midwicket boundary•ICC via Getty Images

It was not enough to keep Netherlands in the T20 World Cup, but it might just have persuaded Sybrand Engelbrecht that nothing was going to top it.Speaking moments after Netherlands’ 83-run loss to Sri Lanka in St Lucia, Engelbrecht played down his superhero-style six-save on the midwicket boundary as “a little bit lucky”, even though his track record suggests that it was simply another moment of stunning athleticism and skill in the outfield. A few hours later, he announced his retirement from international cricket, just 24 matches and eight months after it had begun.Engelbrecht was stationed at deep midwicket when Tim Pringle bowled a thigh-high full toss to Angelo Matthews, who swung the ball into the leg side. He briefly moved in off the boundary before realising that it would soar in the cross-wind. He then flung himself at full stretch to catch the ball over his right shoulder, and in a single motion flicked it back into play as he landed over the boundary cushions.

By the time Engelbrecht was asked about the save after Netherlands’ World Cup exit, it had been viewed more than a million times on Instagram reels alone. “Initially, when he hit it, I kind of moved in,” he explained. “I knew there was a wind, but I didn’t think he hit it that well. So I had to kind of back-track a little and kind of stuck the hand out. I suppose it’s a little bit lucky.”He was still frustrated with himself after putting down a tough catch off Matthews in the previous over, covering significant ground and diving at full stretch before the ball popped out of his hands as he hit the turf. “He actually batted really well, but I had an opportunity to catch him… unfortunately, that cost us quite dearly. But yeah, I’m happy with the effort and I’m happy that it stuck.”Related

Netherlands knocked out after Bangladesh beat Nepal; SL sign off with win

Engelbrecht has developed a reputation as one of the leading fielders in the world game since making his Netherlands debut last year at the age of 35. As a teenager, he took a Jonty Rhodes-style diving catch at backward point playing for South Africa at the Under-19 World Cup and he sets high standards for himself.”It’s something that I suppose I pride myself on and as a unit, I think we are up there with the best teams in the world when it comes to fielding,” he said. “We spend a lot of time and effort with the fielding and we do believe that it’s a competitive advantage. To be a part of that is special. It’s something that I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed and will look back on fondly.”Engelbrecht’s effort was not enough to take Netherlands through to the Super Eight. With Bangladesh struggling against Nepal and Sri Lanka steadily accumulating, it had briefly looked as though Netherlands would qualify with a quick run chase. Those hopes faded when they conceded 67 runs in the final four overs and Nepal were bowled out for 85.Sybrand Engelbrecht finished the T20 World Cup as Netherlands’ leading run-scorer•ICC/Getty Images

Netherlands had “some idea” what was going on in the other game throughout their bowling innings, Engelbrecht said. “But we really tried to focus on our processes… While we were batting, we had a good idea of what the stand and the situation was in the other game. We realised as that game progressed that the likelihood of Bangladesh winning was quite high, so we just wanted to play good cricket and it just got away from us.”Scott Edwards, Netherlands’ captain, was left to rue a missed opportunity to reach the Super Eight after his side let strong positions unravel against South Africa and Bangladesh. “We had good patches throughout the tournament where we gave ourselves a chance to win at least three of those games, but just in those [big] moments, the batting or the bowling or the fielding was just slightly off and against good-quality sides, you just can’t afford that,” he said.Engelbrecht finished his first – and last – T20 World Cup as Netherlands’ leading run-scorer. “Travelling to the different islands has been a world-class experience,” he said. “The hospitality has been second to none, the people are super friendly. It’s been fantastic.”It’s a massive privilege to be on the world stage competing against the best in the world, but I think we’ve tried to prepare as well as we can. We really thought that if we play our brand and style of cricket that we can and wanted to put up a bigger fight. I think there’ll be a little bit of disappointment in the changing room in general.”It’s always a massive privilege and we are always very excited to be a part of this. But we didn’t just come here to fill up the numbers: we really came here to compete, and I do believe that there’s enough talent and skill in our changing room to do that. [There are] a lot of learnings that we’ll take from this and hopefully, it’ll stand us in good stead going forward.”This article was updated on June 17, at 1.20pm BST, following Engelbrecht’s retirement from international cricket

A great Cerny replacement: Rangers looking to sign "incredible" new forward

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Rangers’ hierarchy have got plenty of work to do this summer at Ibrox, and not a whole lot of time in which to do it.

The club are still searching for a new manager while, following a trophyless campaign, a mass-squad overhaul at Rangers is required.

Well, they need to act fast, because next season will commence early for the Gers, facing off in a Champions League qualifier on 22/23 July; the identity of their opponents will be confirmed on 18 June.

So, could the Light Blues be poised to make a statement signing?

Rangers targeting a new attacker

According to a report by Ola Gustavsson of Fotboll Direkt, Rangers are ‘interested’ in signing Oskar Fallenius, who is also reportedly a target for fierce rivals Celtic.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

He is a 23-year-old winger who plays for Allsvenskan side Djurgardens, a key figure in the Blue Stripes’ side that reached this season’s Conference League semi-finals, ousted by eventual winners Chelsea.

Freddie Arnesson of TuttoSvenskan labels Fallenius’ performances ‘incredible’, but it is difficult to know his valuation, although, having arrived from Brøndby for just two million kronor, around £155k, two years ago, Djurgardens are likely to enjoy a massive return on investment.

Oskar Fallenius celebrates for Djurgarden.

So, could the attack soon be swapping Stockholm for Glasgow?

Why Fallenius would be a great Cerny replacement

Following the end of the Premiership season, Rangers announced that Vaclav Cerny will return to his parent club Wolfsburg, with David Irvine of the National inferring that he will not be returning, even though the Czechia has previously stated “every opportunity is still open”.

Vaclav Cerny

Well now, some reports now suggest that Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor have “opened talks” with Wolfsburg over a potential £9m move for Cerny, thereby surely pricing Rangers out of any potential deal.

This would be a major blow, with the table below underlining how important the winger was to Rangers last season.

Cerny’s Rangers’ career in numbers

Statistics

Cerny

Rangers rank

Appearances

52

4th

Minutes

3,933

5th

Goals

18

2nd

Assists

9

3rd

Europa League goals

6

1st

Shots per match

2.9

1st

Big chances created

9

5th

Key passes per match

2.5

1st

Successful dribblers per match

1.4

1st

Average SofaScore rating

7.40

2nd

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and SofaScore

Only Cyriel Dessers scored more goals for Rangers throughout the campaign, while Cerny’s tally of six Europa League goals was only eclipsed by Bruno Fernandes, Kasper Høgh and Ayoub El Kaabi across the entire tournament.

So, as it seems he will not be returning to Ibrox, would Fallenius be equipped to be his replacement?

Well, prior to Djurgardens’ extra time victory over Rapid Wien in the Conference League quarter-finals, manager Jani Honkavaara told Fallenius to be “the X-factor”, with Marcus Christenson of the Guardian adding that he is one of the Swedish club’s ‘key’ attackers.

So, how do his statistics compare to those of Cerny?

Cerny vs Fallenius 2024/25 comparison

Stats (per 90)

Cerny

Fallenius

Goals

0.6

0.3

Shot accuracy %

50%

61%

Shots on target

1.5

2.0

Chances created

1.4

0.3

Pass accuracy %

70%

75%

Crossing accuracy %

28%

12%

Take-ons completed

2.6

1.0

Take-on success %

56%

36%

Duels won

3.6

4.7

Ball recoveries

4.8

4.2

Stats via Squawka (European comps only)

As the table outlines, Cerny’s statistics are, unsurprisingly, more impressive, albeit Fallenius’ numbers are largely comparable, coming out on top when it comes to both passing and shooting accuracy while he also more than does his job defensively, winning more duels and averaging a similar number of ball recoveries.

Oskar Fallenius for Djurgarden.

Thus, while it is going to be nigh on impossible for Rangers to find someone out there replicating Cerny’s output, the young Swede could be a low-cost, high-potential option.

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As bad as Jackson: Maresca must axe Chelsea dud who lost 100% duels

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Heading into Sunday’s clash at St James’ Park, both Chelsea and Newcastle United found themselves locked on 63 points in the Premier League.

But, come the full-time whistle, the gulf in class between the two Champions League chasing outfits was obvious, with both Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes sharing out the goal-load to hand Eddie Howe’s Toon a richly deserved 2-0 win.

Of course, the Magpies’ quest for a golden three points was undoubtedly helped by Nicolas Jackson receiving a red card deep into the first half, with the ex-Villarreal striker enduring yet another torrid afternoon leading the line for Enzo Maresca’s men.

Jackson's horror show on the road

The 23-year-old does have somewhat of a healthy goal return next to his name this season at 12 strikes overall, but all the main talking points from the clash on Tyneside would centre on his dismissal, away from his hot-and-cold ability to find the net.

Indeed, after planting an elbow into the face of Newcastle defender Sven Botman, the inconsistent Blues attacker would be sent off, meaning he is now suspended until the end of the Premier League season.

There was still 65 minutes of the match left after Jackson’s moment of madness, but the damage had already been done on Chelsea’s end, meaning Newcastle eventually strolled to a 2-0 victory to gain an upper hand to finish inside the coveted top five.

Jackson didn’t even test Nick Pope with a single effort on goal before clashing with the Magpies centre-back, with Maresca now tasked with deciding who to start up top now in the remaining top-flight contests to come ahead of the suspended striker.

Other Chelsea first-teamers could also feel the wrath of the manager’s team selection moving forward, with this fellow underperformer in attack only lasting ten more minutes than Jackson before being hooked.

Chelsea's other big underperformer

Nobody wearing Chelsea blue would come away from the 2-0 defeat with much praise, with Romeo Lavia another who looked out-of-sorts in the midfield department, especially when his casual nature on the ball centrally led to Tonali’s speedy opener.

But, Lavia would at least see out 75 minutes on the St James’ turf, with Noni Madueke half a tactical substitution due to Chelsea being reduced to ten men, and half an alteration made purely out of his ineffectiveness in attack when he lasted just 45 minutes.

Minutes played

45

Touches

16

Accurate passes

8/9 (89%)

Shots

0

Successful dribbles

0/1

Dribbled past

2x

Total duels won

0/4

At times, Madueke was merely a spectator to the constant waves of Newcastle attacks, with the 23-year-old dribbled past more times than he could conjure up successful dribbles himself.

Moreover, the ex-PSV Eindhoven winger could trudge off the pitch at the half-time interval and not return off the back of failing to register a single effort on the home side’s goal, alongside failing to win a single duel from four attempts. In stark contrast, even as Newcastle bossed proceedings, Jacob Murphy would win four duels as a committed warrior for Howe’s hosts.

Noni Madueke for Chelsea

It could well be time for Maresca to experiment with something fresh down the left channel, therefore, with 19-year-old sensation Tyrique George capable of playing down that flank, alongside an equally hit-and-miss Jadon Sancho.

The Italian will just pray that any changes he does makes to his XI pays off, with the Blues now slipping down the league, whilst Newcastle bask in the glory of third position.

Whenever Chelsea seem to be settling into their groove, another bump seemingly appears in the road, with just two Premier League games now left for the Blues to make any European dreams come true.

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Man Utd ready to move for "lightning" quick striker on huge £8.6m salary

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Manchester United are preparing to beat Arsenal to the signing of a “lightning” quick striker who has 19 direct goal contributions this season, according to a new report.

Hojlund now a "damaged player" amid new striker links

United’s already dismal season sank even lower with a 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Sunday. The loss, sealed by a superb Pablo Sarabia free-kick in the 77th minute, leaves United level on points with Wolves – a team that, until February, had been battling relegation, with Wolves’ resurgence only underscoring United’s ongoing stagnation.

It was a disappointing display from Ruben Amorim’s side overall, but one player who particularly struggled was Rasmus Hojlund. The Danish striker failed to score once again, leaving him with just three goals in 28 Premier League appearances. Against Wolves, he managed only 13 touches, completed a single dribble, and lost eight duels.

Speaking after the game, Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer with 260 goals, described Hojlund as a “damaged player”.

Manchester United ready to move for Vlahovic

There’s no doubting that United need to upgrade on Hojlund this summer, and according to a new report from TuttoJuve, they already have a target in mind. The Italian outlet claims United are “ready to move” for Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović, who has registered 14 goals and five assists across all competitions this season.

United are reportedly considering a €45 million (£38 million) bid for the Serbian international, a long-standing target for Arsenal. However, Vlahović is said to be seeking an annual salary of €10 million (£8.6 million) to join Old Trafford—a wage that would place him among the club’s top earners.

Vlahović joined Juventus from Fiorentina in 2022 and has since scored 55 goals in 139 appearances for the Old Lady. His strike rate mirrors the form he showed at Fiorentina, where he netted 49 times in 108 games.

Speaking about Vlahović back in 2021, former Fiorentina player and pundit Micah Richards was full of praise.

“I have watched him a couple of times now,” Richards told BBC Radio Five Live, per The Independent. “He is lightning. It’s ridiculous. He has got 16 in 18 this season. His left foot is like a wand. I am telling you now, he is everything, he is everything you need.”

Is Head's form a worry? How the Australians have prepared for the Ashes

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Marnus Labuschagne has churned out runs, Steven Smith looks primed and Scott Boland has been in the wickets

Andrew McGlashan15-Nov-20252:17

Weatherald or Labuschagne – who will open in Perth?

Usman Khawaja

Sheffield Shield – Matches: 3; Runs: 202; Average: 50.50; 100s: 0A solid build-up for Khawaja, who was always scheduled to miss the game against Western Australia having played the first three. Made contributions in all the matches and looked good for his 87 against New South Wales, although the real test will come against the extra pace in England’s attack.

Jake Weatherald

Sheffield Shield – Matches: 4; Runs: 301; Average: 37.62; 100s: 0
One-Day Cup – Matches: 2; Runs: 28; Average: 14.00Though he hasn’t nailed a huge score, his rapid 94 against Western Australia helped seal his first Test call after starting with twin fifties on a docile Allan Border Field pitch on the back of his 900-run 2024-25 summer. Two lean rounds heading into the series isn’t ideal but Weatherald is a cricketer very comfortable with where he is at in his career. Has been picked because of his naturally positive game, so don’t expect that to change if he makes the XI.Related

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Marnus Labuschagne

Sheffield Shield – Matches: 4; Runs: 402; Average: 67.00; 100s: 2
One-Day Cup – Matches: 4; Runs: 338; Average: 84.50; 100s: 3Has done everything, and probably more, asked of him after being dropped in the West Indies. While the volume of runs will be pleasing for the selectors, it’s the manner in which Labuschagne has made them that has probably been the most important factor – back to the positive intent that was a hallmark of his prolific time as a Test batter a few years ago. Seems to be less worried about the little things.

Steven Smith

Sheffield Shield – Matches: 2; Runs: 231; Average: 115.50; 100s: 1Smith said he was ready before he had hit a ball in anger this season and his returns in two New South Wales outings has backed that up. He was especially impressive on a tricky SCG pitch against Victoria. Also took a brilliant catch at slip to suggest the reflexes are still in top working order.

Travis Head

ODIs – Matches: 3; Runs 65; Average: 21.66
T20Is – Matches: 6; Runs: 78; Average: 15.60
Sheffield Shield – Matches: 1; Runs: 21Head is a critical figure in Australia’s batting order but enters the Ashes with question marks over his form. While T20s aren’t the best barometer, he also didn’t get going in the ODIs against India. Then, in his one Shield outing, he made two low scores in a bowler-dominated game against Tasmania. The hope will be that his big-game temperament shines through when needed. “I take confidence in the last Test series we played in West Indies,” he told . “I felt like on tough wickets I played well… I try to adapt to conditions and win games of cricket for Australia. I’m not too worried about output, I know I’m working hard, I know I’m ready to go.”Cameron Green ticked every box in his Shield outing against Queensland•Getty Images

Cameron Green

Sheffield Shield – Matches: 3; Runs: 195; Average: 32.50; 100s: 0 | Overs: 20; Wickets: 2It had been a slightly disjointed start to the season for Green after a side niggle interrupted his preparations, but he ticked every box in his Shield outing against Queensland, getting through 16 overs at good pace across the two innings and making 94. Four years into his Test career, Green’s numbers are solid – can he now go to the next level?

Beau Webster

Sheffield Shield – Matches: 2; Runs: 38; Average: 9.50 | Overs: 47.5; Wickets: 9; Average: 19.66
One-Day Cup – Matches 3; Runs 159; Average: 53.00 | Overs: 19.4; Wickets: 5; Average: 18.40Webster’s immediate Test future hangs in the balance, largely through no fault of his own. However, it wasn’t a great time to have two lean outings with the bat for Tasmania after an ankle injury meant he missed the start of the Shield season. But with the ball he has been excellent – the injuries Australia have suffered may yet work in his favour if the selectors opt for extra bowling depth – and he would certainly be an asset in the field.

Alex Carey

ODIs – Matches: 2; Runs: 33; Average: 16.50
T20Is – Matches: 3; Runs 8; Average: 4.00
Sheffield Shield – Matches: 2; Runs: 126; Average: 31.50; 100s: 0
One-Day Cup – Matches 1; Runs 8It hasn’t been the most prolific six weeks for Carey but there won’t be too many concerns. His half-century against Tasmania was a timely tune-up ahead of next week. The original plan was probably for him to have three Shield outings, but he was a late call-up for the T20Is in New Zealand after Josh Inglis was injured.

Josh Inglis

T20Is – Matches: 5; Runs: 33; Average: 11.00
Sheffield Shield – Matches: 1; Runs: 32Barring an injury to Carey, it’s unlikely Inglis will be needed, at least early in the Ashes. It’s been a frustrating season so far with a calf problem leaving him short of match time. He struggled in the T20Is against India and then made 4 and 28 in Western Australia’s thrilling one-wicket win over Queensland.Mitchell Starc bowled with pace against Victoria at the SCG•Getty Images

Mitchell Starc

ODIs – Matches: 3; Wickets: 3; Average: 38.33
Sheffield Shield – Matches: 1; Overs: 31; Wickets: 5; Average: 27.80Starc voluntarily offered up that he had been searching for rhythm a little after a lengthy lay-off since the West Indies tour. Things hadn’t quite felt right in the ODIs against India but signs were promising in his Shield outing where he produced a rapid spell after lunch on the first day. His durability is legendary but will be tested this summer.

Nathan Lyon

Sheffield Shield – Matches: 4; Overs: 150; Wickets: 12; Average: 34.00Lyon’s pre-season plan was to play three of the four Shield games before the first Test, but with seamers dominating the first two he opted for an extra outing to build his workload. Wickets didn’t come in abundance, but he looked to be finding a nice groove against Victoria. “I feel like I’ve been building nicely,” he said during the game. “Especially over at the Gabba and here now. It’s feeling really good.”

Scott Boland

Sheffield Shield – Matches: 3; Overs: 90.4; Wickets: 14; Average: 17.57Boland, who is now likely to see much more Ashes action than may have originally been the case, looks to have timed his run perfectly. By his own high standards, he wasn’t quite at his best against NSW in Melbourne but still claimed a match-winning eight wickets. Was a constant threat in the return fixture at the SCG.

Brendan Doggett

Sheffield Shield – Matches: 2; Overs: 64.4; Wickets: 13; Average: 14.69
One-Day Cup – Matches: 1; Wickets 2After a hamstring injury ruled him out of the first two Shield matches, Doggett has put his name up in lights with a bagful of wickets for South Australia. Josh Hazlewood’s injury has put him on the brink of a Test debut in Perth and he looks like a bowler ready for the step up.

Michael Neser

Sheffield Shield – Matches 3; Overs: 115.3; Wickets: 14; Average: 24.38
One-Day Cup – Matches 2: Overs 20; Wickets: 4; Average: 26.25A late call-up after the major loss of Hazlewood for the first Test. Neser has been as probing as ever, particularly in his first two Shield outings in October that brought 11 wickets. Missed the third round to manage his workload.

Pluck or luck: New Zealand trust in the 'Kiwi' way

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Every team wants to be the one that’s spoken of as era-defining; the one that is expected to lift World Cups, but New Zealand aren’t that team

Karthik Krishnaswamy03-Nov-2023You probably remember every twist of fate that befell New Zealand at Lord’s on July 14, 2019. If you’re a fan, the cosmic unfairness of that World Cup final is probably still with you, a colourless, odourless substance that burns your nostrils every time you breathe.Plucky New Zealand, unlucky New Zealand.You might not recall quite so vividly, though, all the luck that New Zealand enjoyed on their way to that final – or, indeed, the semi-finals. Their only wins in the league stage came against teams that ended up with fewer points than them – including three tight finishes that could have gone the other way – and they lost, by comfortable margins, to England and Australia, who finished above them, and to Pakistan, who ended up with the same points total. Their match against India, the table-toppers, was washed out. Pakistan had a washout too, but they might have had reason to view it as a point dropped against Sri Lanka rather than one gained.Plucky New Zealand, lucky New Zealand.Four years on, there’s a certain sense of déjà vu to how their World Cup campaign is unfolding. They began with a thumping win over England, when it wasn’t yet clear how bad England were, and then beat three teams they were expected to beat: Netherlands, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.Related

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The schedule, so kind to New Zealand until this point, then threw in their path, one after another, the tournament’s Big Three: India, Australia and South Africa. They lost all three games, along the way plunging ever deeper into an injury crisis, and now find themselves in another battle for fourth place, with Pakistan once again their nearest rivals.How good are New Zealand, then? Are they, as they appeared to be in the early weeks of this tournament, a title contender? Are they, as they have seemed since then, a merely above-average team who can’t match the quantity of outright match-winners who pepper the top three teams’ line-ups?The answer? Yes.Every team wants to be the one that’s spoken of as era-defining; the one that is expected to lift World Cups as a birthright; the one who, by not winning, exposes the flaws in the tournament’s design. New Zealand aren’t that team.You don’t have to be that team. In a tournament like this one, you can be the fourth-best team, closer in overall quality to the team in fifth than the one in third, and still go on to win the thing – or come within inches of doing so.New Zealand are happy to be the fourth-best team. In a way, they almost seem to welcome it. They’ve reached far too many World Cup finals over the last eight years to be considered anything other than world-class, but the fact that there are usually one or two teams who happen to be just a little bit better than them, man for man, or just a little bit more radical, tactically, almost gives them the license to play up the plucky underdog stereotype that they outgrew years ago.On Friday on the eve of New Zealand’s match against Pakistan at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, it was revealing just how often Daryl Mitchell peppered his press conference with allusions to a uniquely New Zealand way of playing cricket.Despite some brilliant fielding, New Zealand have dropped 16 catches so far, highest for a team in this competition•ICC/Getty ImagesInevitably, he was asked to elaborate on what he meant by a ‘BlackCaps’ way or ‘Kiwi’ way of playing the game.”That’s probably for you guys to work out and decide yourselves,” Mitchell said. “Look, we’re a small country, down the bottom of the earth, and for us it’s fighting for every ball, chasing every ball to the boundary, and doing the little things that we can control. The big stuff will look after itself if we’re clear on our roles, very detailed with how we go about our business, and you can work out our blueprint and our plan from that.”But yeah, we’re just very proud to represent our country and get stuck in the World Cup and you’ll see that by the passion and the way the guys throw themselves around out in the field.”Preparation, then, and desperation on the field. You’d think every team at this level ticks those boxes, but New Zealand beat them all to make it their entire identity.Mitchell’s words may be his alone, but they perhaps also reflect his team’s mentality going into Saturday’s game. New Zealand are probably aware that they’ve dropped more catches (16) than any other team in the competition so far, and that they have the fifth-worst chance conversion rate (71.4%) of any team. They probably feel that a doubling-down of stereotypically Kiwi virtues will do them no harm in their quest to reach the semi-finals.

“We’ll just keep playing like Black Caps and Kiwis do, and I’m sure we’ll come a long way to winning the game.”Daryl Mitchell, NZ allrounder

But here’s the thing. Pakistan (82.2%) have the second-best chance conversion rate in the tournament, and have dropped the second-fewest catches (8). England, desperately struggling England, have dropped even fewer (6), and have the third-best chance conversion rate (81.2%).There is no pattern here, and there usually isn’t, because – *cliche demolition klaxon* – catches really don’t win matches.Every team drops catches, and every team goes through streaks of catching everything that comes their way and streaks of letting everything slip, for no other reason than the vagaries of probability. Better bowling teams create more chances, offsetting the effects of some of them failing to stick. Good bowling stops far more runs than desperate chasing and diving do, and good batting creates far more runs than are saved on the field.It’s with ball and bat, primarily, that New Zealand will have to fight off Pakistan’s challenge on Saturday. Luck may well come into it – there is rain forecast in Bengaluru, and a washout would be entirely in New Zealand’s interests – but pluck? Every team has that.

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