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Tottenham talking about hiring "class" Iraola alternative who Guardiola loves

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Tottenham chiefs are internally discussing the possibility of appointing a highly-rated alternative to Andoni Iraola, with current boss Ange Postecoglou currently hanging onto his job by a thread after an underwhelming Premier League campaign.

Spurs' managerial shortlist to replace Ange Postecoglou

The Australian has led Spurs to seventeen defeats in the top flight alone, and a total of 21 losses in all competitions, which makes for inexcusable reading from the perspective of a ‘big six’ side.

£4m-per-year boss "emerging" as favourite for Spurs job after Iraola blow

There’s another frontrunner coming into play.

4 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 15, 2025

There is a serious case to be made that injuries to key players throughout 2024/2025 have really debilitated Postecoglou’s options, making it a huge task to make any success of this Premier League campaign, but the sheer number of losses is far too reminiscent of relegation form.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Tottenham’s entire campaign is now riding on their Europa League quarter-final second leg away to Eintracht Frankfurt, with the tie currently level 1-1 on aggregate and Postecoglou set for his most important game as manager on Thursday.

As tensions between the fanbase and Spurs ownership reach breaking point, chairman Daniel Levy is under serious pressure, and his next managerial appointment will need to be the right one, if they do indeed decide to part company with Postecoglou.

The arrival of CEO and ex-Arsenal chief Vinai Venkatesham will also play a major role in who they appoint, with the new boardroom member and Levy already having a number of managerial candidates on their agenda.

According to recent reports, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is a top target for Tottenham, but the Spaniard is now more inclined to snub their advances and remain at the Vitality Stadium for another season (The Telegraph).

This means that Fulham manager Marco Silva is now emerging as a frontrunner for the Spurs job (Alex Crook), but there are other names on Levy’s agenda.

Fulham manager Marco Silva.

Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi, ex-Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzić, free agent Thiago Motta, Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner and Brentford head coach Thomas Frank have all been cited as names to watch out for in the last two months, but an update has surfaced on the latter.

Tottenham internally discuss appointing Thomas Frank

According to GiveMeSport, Tottenham have held internal talks over appointing Frank, who could be another alternative to Iraola, with the 42-year-old increasingly likely to remain at Bournemouth right now.

The Dane guided Brentford to promotion from the Championship in 2021, after beating Swansea City 2-0 in the Play-Off final at Wembley, and Frank hasn’t looked back since then.

The 50-year-old has since transformed Brentford into a solid Premier League side, despite operating on a shoe-string budget and losing key players, having taken charge of 311 matches for the Bees overall as a legendary figurehead.

Frank’s earned a reputation for being a “class” manager in that period, not to mention gaining the respect of his elite peers, like Man City’s Pep Guardiola, who called him “one of the best” in the business.

“They are an extraordinary team,” said the City boss.

“What they do always makes sense. Every corner is a headache. They are compact. This season, they have a high press. Thomas is one of the best.”

Other reports state that Frank is also expected to leave Brentford this summer, making him potentially available for hire.

Slowly but surely, SL cricket is buying into the Jayasuriya way

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

A winning feeling can change how a team thinks, and if that means prioritising short-term goals over long-term ambitions, the idea isn’t too bad

Madushka Balasuriya21-Nov-2024For Sri Lanka and new head coach Sanath Jayasuriya, the last few months have certainly been winning ones, with the few blips – a 3-0 T20I series reverse against India, and losing the first two Tests in England – swiftly forgotten thanks to the morale-boosting wins and performances that followed.But observers of Sri Lankan cricket over recent years will know better than to get carried away. After the twin peaks of 2014’s T20 World Cup win and overseas Test triumph in England, there was always likely to be a comedown and rebuild after the retirement of the stalwarts that drove those victories.But the false dawns since then have been plenty, from an unexpectedly promising 2021 T20 World Cup campaign, to an even more unexpected 2022 Asia Cup final win, and then a run to the final of the 2023 Asia Cup which itself was preceded by an unbeaten 2023 ODI World Cup qualifying campaign. Even this year’s T20 World Cup build up had seen resounding series wins against Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. All the hope that sprung from those victories, however, was just as quickly snuffed out by abject showings in major tournaments and finals.So will this time be any different? For Jayasuriya and his team (which he has mentioned at any opportunity when allocating credit), the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. At the moment it tastes quite good, but balancing long-term objectives with short-term goals is no easy task, and during the early part of Jayasuriya’s reign as head coach it’s the short-term that has taken immediate priority.Take the recently concluded series against New Zealand. Several red-ball specialists were sent to South Africa early to prepare for Sri Lanka’s crucial WTC-impacting Test series later this month, but four key players – Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis and Asitha Fernando – were asked to remain and play against a fairly green New Zealand side.Related

Jayasuriya takes charge: 'It's about confidence and trust, and a little bit of luck'

Embuldeniya and Oshada Fernando return for Sri Lanka's Tests in South Africa

Would those four have been better served preparing for the Tests Sri Lanka need to win to keep their WTC final hopes alive? Most certainly. But for Jayasuriya, the need to keep a winning momentum was just as important – and for those four players, a shorter adaptation period is now a challenge they must meet head-on.”We were discussing all these options, but we wanted to do well, even in Sri Lanka with the ODIs and T20s, because we can’t take things for granted even with this New Zealand team. Yes, some of their players didn’t come but they [still] have a good team. They played good cricket here,” said Jayasuriya, alongside chief selector Upul Tharanga, on Thursday. “So that is why we give some of them to rest on the last game – to come back to Colombo, rest and then go to South Africa. Some of the players may have to adjust themselves as quickly as possible to the situation. So Kamindu, Pathum, Kusal Mendis, those three players need to adjust themselves according to the situations, red-ball and white-ball.”As for Asitha – Sri Lanka’s lead red-ball seamer – Jayasuriya felt the rest afforded by not playing in the T20s and the final ODI was enough.”We gave him a rest in the T20 games, where he had two games off,” Jayasuriya said. “And after that we got him to play two ODIs and we gave him the third ODI off. So we’re managing him, because he’s the one who’s bowling really well at the moment. We have to look after him.”Of course, we considered those areas [resting players] with the selectors, but we came to the decision to play everyone in the first two games, and then to see how it goes.”

These answers may not satisfy those who might view a white-ball series against a depleted New Zealand side as significantly less important than the Tests in South Africa – particularly with Sri Lanka’s next major ODI tournament set to be in 2027 for the World Cup – however, it’s increasingly evident that Jayasuriya’s management style – at least at this juncture – is focused on tackling the challenge at hand as opposed to looking at the big picture.”What I say is, when you get to the ground, you can win the match or lose it, but you have to show the right attitude and body language. That needs to be 100% – if you do that you’ll never go wrong. I always insist on the basics like that.”If you go for a T20 it’s about three hours of cricket, an ODI is around six hours. For that period of time, flick the switch, and give me 100%, and on either side of that forget about it. Like that, I look to give small, small goals. You don’t need to give these boys big targets, they have played cricket from a young age, they know what to do. They just need the confidence, structure, discipline, put it all together and go well.”

“The idea was to get that winning feeling into the side. That’s the most important thing, that’s where the players gain confidence. Once that is done, then we can start looking at which pitches are needed to best suit our combination of players.”Chief selector Tharanga

Even when it comes to pitch preparation, it’s clear that the immediacy of results has been prioritised. After the 2023 World Cup debacle, there seemed to be a shift in thinking within Sri Lankan cricket, with better batting tracks set to be curated to provide more of a challenge for bowlers, and offer batters the license to play their strokes.However, upon Jayasuriya taking over, there has been a u-turn in this mandate, with pitches recently favouring heavily spin bowling. Chief selector Tharanga, however, made it clear that this was a concerted ploy but one that would only be restricted to international games.”A lot of the time the plan is tailored to the opponent we’re facing. That said, the last few series we have definitely prepared wickets favouring spinners,” said Tharanga. “The idea was to get that winning feeling into the side. That’s the most important thing, that’s where the players gain confidence. Once that is done, then we can start looking at which pitches are needed to best suit our combination of players.””In terms of domestic cricket, such as club cricket, LPL and T10, those matches must be played on good wickets. How to build long innings, or bowl in certain situations, how to bowl on good wickets, how to bowl at the death – the players coming through the system must learn these things, not in international cricket, but when playing domestic cricket. It’s difficult to learn those skills on the job when you’re playing international cricket. Domestic cricket must 100% be played on good wickets.”But while the needs of the short and longer-term don’t always make for happy bedfellows, as things stand, for a cricketing nation bereft of any sort of confidence over the past decade, Jayasuriya’s methods are working, and that all too crucial buy-in, not just from the players, but from fans and a notoriously fickle local media, is also seemingly falling into place.

Saqib Mahmood happy to be back in the dirt after year of hurt

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Lancashire seamer feeling his way back into red-ball cricket following back stress fracture

Vithushan Ehantharajah01-May-2023On the face of it, 37 overs of grind for just one wicket does not sound overly encouraging. But Lancashire’s Championship stalemate against Somerset on a docile Taunton pitch was as a welcome return to the red-ball format for Saqib Mahmood.”It was actually a year to the week since I played my last red-ball game,” said Mahmood, referring to Gloucestershire’s visit to Emirates Old Trafford at the start of the 2022 season. A back stress fracture picked up during the match sidelined him for 10 months, with Mahmood eventually returning to competitive action in February of this year for England Lions in Sri Lanka.He donned full England colours in the second ODI against Bangladesh a month later. Getting through nine overs (0 for 41) in a dominant win was another step towards a more rounded return. As much as a skiddy action, the ability to move the ball late and a reliable yorker see Mahmood tend towards the white ball, his passion is to get ahead with the red.Related

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  • Roy, Curran seal England's series with 132-run victory

Mahmood’s diagnosis came a month after earning his first two Test caps. England were in a state of enforced, almost self-defeating transition, leaving out James Anderson and Stuart Broad and calling up Mahmood and Yorkshire’s Matt Fisher for the tour to the Caribbean. Mahmood acquitted himself well, with six wickets at 22.83 on dull surfaces – similar to what he encountered at Somerset.”The conditions weren’t the best,” Mahmood said of Taunton. “The outfield was real sandy, so for a first game back it probably wasn’t ideal for the body. Halfway through the second session, my legs were gone. It was challenging: slow, low, flat wicket – as the scores suggested. But for me, it was something I wanted to do – I don’t just want to take my time and settle back in, I wanted to come back in and try to make a difference straight away.”The 26-year-old had been warned his first day in the dirt would sting. After 96 overs in the field, as centuries from Tom Abell and James Rew took the hosts to 311 for 4, he experienced first-hand.”I remember I bowled all of day one, and I woke up to go to the toilet after that, put my left out and it nearly gave way. I had to limp over the toilet, got back in bed, and woke up the next morning real stiff.”There was a slight anxiety at the time. That is understandable, given the nature of the injury and the tedium of rehabilitation that puts bowlers on edge in the early stages of their return. The fear of having to do it all again creates a distinct paranoia.”Pre-stress fracture, if I was sore like this, I’d have thought nothing of it and just cracked on. But I suppose those anxieties do come in a little bit. But as soon as I get a ball in my hand and bowl and it feels all right, you can crack on.”Those thoughts are more manageable. As much because he can now distinguish between one soreness and the other, as his more-robust mentality. “I’ve learned what not to put your energy into, as well – rather than constantly focusing on the negatives.”

“The one positive coming out of the [Taunton game] was getting through the four days. My last spell was probably the quickest of the game, which is encouraging”

There are also some physical adjustments he has made. The first is around preparation, which he regards as more professional. Mahmood gets up half an hour earlier than he used to for training or on the morning of matches, going through extra mobility work. If there is a swimming pool handy, he’ll use that to loosen the joints and limbs. While it is still early, the benefits were apparent on the final day against Somerset.”The one positive coming out of the week was getting through the four days. My last spell was probably the quickest of the game, which is also encouraging in terms of my engine and being able to back spells up.”A second tweak has come with his action, specifically around his load-up. Having grown up with the ball by his side just before he goes into delivery, he noticed his right hand had drifted closer to his belly button. Though he does not think there is a direct correlation between that unconscious shift and his injury, there is no harm in resorting back to the old ways particularly when it comes to giving his skills the best chance.”When I look back at my action, as soon as you’re loading up in front of your body, your arms have to splay out to get behind yourself. If you try and load up here [mimics holding the ball by his right hip], you can work in straight lines. That’s what I’ve tried to do.”I watched the game back at Somerset – certain spells, there was a bit of reverting back. But I expect that. For the most part, it was quite good and I actually think it’s improved my skills. A lot of bowling coaches tell you fast bowling is straight lines and things like that. When this is free-er, what I do with my fingers and wrists is a lot easier to control as well. From that point of view, I think it’s had a good effect.”As for a route back into the national set-up, Mahmood is realistic. A chat with managing director Rob Key last month was encouraging, detailing how he should approach each red-ball game – essentially, focus on taking wickets in an attacking manner, which is pretty much what he does anyway.Mahmood celebrates taking a wicket on his comeback for England Lions•SLCIn terms of further international honours this year, Mahmood is self-aware enough to know he has dropped down the pecking order. He can even look at his 22 England appearances to date and acknowledge some caveats.Those first steps in the Test arena were symbolic of Anderson and Broad’s omissions rather than reflecting his red-ball numbers, though 28 wickets at 23.89 in the 2021 summer did make an impression. Likewise, his white-ball caps have been here and there since debuting in 2019, with two runs of three ODI matches in a row due to Covid-19 restrictions, notably in 2021 when he was drafted in as part of an emergency squad to face Pakistan after the original group were ruled out following positive tests.Nevertheless, he made that count with nine dismissals at 13.66, leaving a strong impression on Ben Stokes, who stepped in as captain. Even with Mahmood out of action, Stokes still has a high opinion of him, as do others within the England set-up. Now he has to take it further.”I think I’ve got myself in positions where you feel like you should be part of the mix,” he said. “But if I’m honest, at the time it did feel quite tricky, especially during and after Covid when you were balancing the squads. Sometimes it just felt like I was keeping someone else’s seat warm.”That’s the tricky bit; if you look at when Eoin Morgan first came in, he really backed all of his players, and there still is that, but those guys got a run of games. I think that Pakistan series was the only games where I was playing and had a run of games and an opportunity to show everyone.”It’s not an excuse or anything, but sometimes it does get challenging. For me now, though, rather than focusing on those, I’m just trying to get back to the best of my game, and the rest will take care of itself. What I can control is what I do out there and what I do in training.”

A Lord's celebration marred by England's lack of will to win

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Day five of the first Test was such a contrast to the last time England and New Zealand had played at Lord’s – in the 2019 World Cup final

Tawhid Qureshi07-Jun-2021The game
In the course of a normal summer, a day watching Test cricket at Lord’s is always high on my to-do list, but the reduced crowd capacity because of Covid-19 meant tickets were hard to come by. So it was with good fortune that I found a ticket online while browsing the internet, early on Sunday morning. Even more luckily, it was a seat in one of the member’s stands adjacent to the pavilion, guaranteeing an excellent view of the game and the thrill of walking through the Grace gates.Related

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I ironed a shirt and put on a pair of smart trousers – I figured it was worth the effort, as any MCC member would be required to do. As I was greeted by the unfailingly polite stewards, I could sense a genuine buzz of anticipation in the air. After the entire third day’s play had been lost to rain, New Zealand had the upper hand with a 165-run lead, and there was an expectation that both the teams would play their part in entertaining the crowd in their quest to force a result. In the event, it proved that only one team had a genuine will to win. Disappointingly, it wasn’t England.The best part
Despite two of the world’s best batting talents – Joe Root and Kane Williamson – being around, the best performances had come from less-familiar names. Williamson had lost his wicket the previous evening and endured a forgettable Test, while Root had looked promising with a fluent 40 before being given out lbw. He simmered with pent-up anger as he headed back to the pavilion, whether he was cross with the decision or with himself was hard to tell.Neil Wagner claimed Root’s wicket and was the pick of the bowlers on the last day. He was no doubt helped by the England batters, who rarely showed any interest in scoring runs, as they steadfastly refused to nibble at the carrots that were dangled in front of them, in the form of a chase requiring approximately 3.6 per over, across two sessions.Dom Sibley was the blocker-in-chief; he could, of course, argue that his unbeaten 60 was essential in ensuring England avoided defeat. The innings also helped stabilise his position in the team. From my view, he often looked cumbersome but effective at repelling the New Zealand bowlers.Ollie Robinson was easily the most talked-about cricketer during the Test•Getty ImagesEarlier, the first wicket of the day fell to the most talked-about cricketer of the Test: Ollie Robinson. When Wagner top-edged to the wicketkeeper, in the search for quick runs, it was Robinson’s seventh wicket of the match. Coupled with an impressive batting display, it should have been a debut to savour for him. But rarely have I felt so conflicted when applauding a wicket myself, or felt such bemusement at those in the crowd cheering him with a fervour unusual for Lord’s. The furore over his old tweets has split the public, as so many contentious modern issues do. Regardless of how the next few weeks, months and years pan out for Robinson, his old tweets might have caused some real damage, especially to those on the margins of the game in England.The wow moment
There were few standout moments, mainly as runs and wickets dried up as the day wore on, and both teams crept towards the stalemate. In the morning, Rory Burns showed his agility by taking a sharp catch diving full length. Later in the day, Root unfurled his array of sweep shots against Mitchell Santner, collecting a couple of sweetly timed boundaries.The best shot of the day came from Ross Taylor. Under obvious instructions to accelerate, he took on a length delivery from Robinson and carved it over the off-side boundary for six. At one stage, the ball looked to be arrowing towards me, but it sailed ten metres over my head and into the hospitality boxes, giving a shock to those enjoying an early liquid lunch.The fact that there was no slow-hand-clapping was probably because the thinning crowd were either too polite or just resigned to the inevitable•AFP/Getty ImagesOne thing I’d change
In order to make the venue Covid-19 secure, Lord’s was split into three zones, with spectators restricted to their respective spaces. Although we could leave the ground entirely and re-enter, which seemed to negate the purpose of the zonal system in the first place.But the biggest retrospective change I’d make would be to England’s lack of ambition with the bat. Shortly before the players reappeared for the afternoon session, the crowd was re-energised with news of an unexpected declaration from New Zealand and a target of 273 being set. Suddenly, the game had sprung to life, as all outcomes were very much back on the table. Unfortunately, the excitement dissipated every time Burns and Sibley defended stodgily.The crowd
The Sunday crowd, reduced in numbers, was good natured throughout, even when the contest ceased to be a meaningful one. Sibley’s infrequent attacking shots were met with ironic cheers and long before the final hour was called by the umpire, heads had buried deep in the Sunday newspapers. The ones that were watching amused themselves with the minutiae of the spectacle. The big screen showing a person struggling to put on a raincoat the right way around, and a minor mid-pitch collision between Sibley and Root resulted in howls of exaggerated laughter.As the shadows in the outfield got longer, the odd shout of “boring” accompanied England’s innings, the fact that there was no slow-hand-clapping was probably because the thinning crowd were either too polite or just resigned to the inevitable.Out of ten…
A sleep-inducing seven. As the sun began to dip behind the pavilion, well beyond the scheduled finishing time, I cast my mind back two years, the last time England and New Zealand had met at Lord’s. During a similar time of day and under similar sunny skies, one of the most exciting games of cricket ever played – the 2019 World Cup final – reached its climax. The contrast to the ending of the first Test could not have been greater. A vast expanse of empty white seating was the backdrop when the players eventually agreed to end the game.It might seem crass to complain about the outcome of a cricket match, when simply being able to watch it from close quarters should be a cause for celebration. The past year has taught me to make the most of every opportunity – it’s something England might do well to follow too.
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أليسون بيكر على رادار عملاق أوروبي للرحيل عن ليفربول

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

كشفت تقارير صحفية إيطالية أن أليسون بيكر أصبح مرشحًا للرحيل عن ليفربول في نهاية الموسم الحالي، حيث ظهر على رادار أحد عمالقة إيطاليا.

وبحسب “فوتبول إيطاليا” فقد نقلت أن ميلان بدأ اتصالاته مع المقربين من الحارس البرازيلي الدولي أليسون بيكر حيث ينظر له على أنه البديل المثالي لماينك ماينان والذي يقترب من الأشهر القليلة الأخيرة في عقده.

وكان ميلان قد تعاقد مع ماينان من ليل الفرنسي في صفقة تكلفت 15 مليون يورو في عام 2021، حيث جاء ليكون بديلاً لحارس مانشستر سيتي الحالي جيانلويجي دوناروما.

اقرأ أيضاً.. كاسانو لـ كاراجر: اغسل فمك قبل الحديث عن محمد صلاح.. كنت تلعب وأقدامك معكوسة

ويمتلك ماينان عقدًا مع ميلان ينتهي في صيف 2026، وتجري مفاوضات تمديده منذ عدة أشهر دون جدوى وما زال هناك خلافات مادية بين النادي والحارس الفرنسي.

وارتبط ماينان بالانضمام لأندية تشيلسي ويوفنتوس وباريس سان جيرمان وبايرن ميونخ للرحيل مجاناً في نهاية الموسم لذا أصبح ميلان يستهدف التعاقد مع أليسون بيكر.

ويتبقى للحارس البرازيلي أكثر من عام بقليل في عقده مع ليفربول، مما يجعل ميلان واثقاً من أن التعاقد مع أليسون لن يكلفه مبلغاً باهظاً خاصة بعد تعاقد ليفربول مع مامارداشفيلي.

Stokes: Bashir remains 'England's No.1 spinner' despite Brisbane omission

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Will play for England Lions in four-day fixture; Wood still in contention for Adelaide despite knee setback

Matt Roller03-Dec-20250:39

Ben Stokes explains Will Jacks decision

Ben Stokes has insisted that Shoaib Bashir and Mark Wood can still play roles for England in the rest of the Ashes series after missing out on selection for Thursday’s day-night Test at the Gabba.England have made a single change from the side that lost inside two days in Perth, with Wood ruled out and replaced by the allrounder Will Jacks. Wood has been wearing a brace over his strapped left knee in Brisbane this week but will remain with the squad, while Stokes said that Jacks’ inclusion ahead of Bashir was simply a “tactical” decision for a pink-ball Test.Bashir – along with Jacob Bethell – has been released to play for England Lions against Australia A in a four-day fixture at Allan Border Field, which starts on Friday, and Stokes stressed that he is still seen as England’s “best spinner” ahead of the final three Tests in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.”We tried to look at how we thought spin was going to be used, and there was a bit of a tactical element to it,” Stokes said on Wednesday evening, before England trained. “Obviously Jacksy’s ability with the bat, to have that down the order for us is useful as well. [But] if it ever comes down to picking our best, number one spinner, selection would go the other way.”Stokes and Brendon McCullum explained the decision to Bashir before England named their team publicly on Tuesday afternoon. “It was pretty much that we thought that was the best XI for the conditions and the circumstances of the game,” Stokes said. “But he knows that if it comes down to picking our best spinner, he’s the man.”Related

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Bashir has not played a first-class match since the second Test of England’s series against India in July, when he broke the little finger on his left hand attempting a return catch. He was expensive in England’s internal warm-up match in Perth and, after being named in a trimmed 12-man squad for the first Test, was left out in favour of an all-pace attack.England first picked Bashir for their tour to India in early 2024, when he had only taken 10 first-class wickets, and have backed him as their first-choice spinner for the last 18 months. He also now finds himself in the unusual position of having a contract with England but not with a county, after his Somerset deal expired at the end of last season.Wood’s setback after bowling only 11 overs in his first international appearance since knee surgery is a clear concern for England. At this stage, he appears unlikely to be fit in time for the third Test in Adelaide on December 17, but Stokes said that Wood will do “everything” possible to return later in the series.”It’s obviously a little bit of a setback,” he said. “But he’s doing everything that he can, and the medical group are doing everything they can to try to get him to potentially be available for selection in the last three [Tests]. But yeah, look, we’ve got a lot more time to go on this tour, and we’ll just see how things play out with that.”Stokes said that the “incredibly talented” Jacks has a chance to establish himself as a more regular Test cricketer three years after winning his first two caps in Pakistan, and said that he had performed impressively since arriving in Australia.”He’s turned himself into the cricketer I always thought he could be,” Stokes said. “He’s incredibly talented, and I think he’s gone from strength to strength since that Pakistan tour. He’s been playing so well in the nets and the time he’s been out here training. It’s great for us that we’ve got someone who’s looking in pretty good order coming into a big Test match.”England are 1-0 down heading into Thursday’s second Test and have not won any of their last nine Tests in Brisbane, a run which dates back to 1986.

Arsenal to “directly contact” £88m forward about joining after talks with his reps

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Arsenal are poised to hold talks with a marquee forward about joining Mikel Arteta’s side as the Gunners plan to be active in the January window, according to a new report.

Arsenal squad depth attracts praise after busy summer

Arsenal’s current campaign is increasingly defined by their excellent squad depth, arguably the best in the Premier League.

Despite consistent injuries in key areas, Arteta’s side have shown an ability not just to cope, but to thrive.

The summer’s heavy investment in new faces is already paying dividends, with Arsenal five points clear at the top of the table and on an unprecedented 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Brentford

Arsenal sealed a 2–0 win over Brentford on Wednesday, tightening their grip on the title race.

The routine win came courtesy of an early header from makeshift number nine Mikel Merino, who scored his 21st goal this calendar year, and a late strike from Bukayo Saka — despite Arteta enforcing an array of personnel changes.

What stands out is how Arsenal have seamlessly filled the gaps when injuries arise.

Arteta noted this week that this is one of the club’s “worst” injury spells in recent memory — and yet, the squad’s backup options have all stepped up to do their jobs.

Key defenders and attackers are still sidelined, and further absences could stretch the squad.

Gabriel Magalhaes is still weeks away from returning, and Arteta is waiting to discover the true extent of Cristhian Mosquera’s injury after he was hauled off against Brentford.

Kai Havertz also won’t be back for weeks after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee problem.

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That being said, Arsenal look better equipped than ever before to handle a long, demanding season — and, crucially, to maintain their push towards a first league title in 22 years.

Arsenal to 'directly contact' Juventus star Kenan Yildiz about joining

Despite their plethora of options right now, a report from Turkish Football now claims that Berta and Arteta are planning for the January window, and one man attracting their serious attention is Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz.

The Serie A rising star is currently Juve’s top performer, bagging four goals and three assists in the Italian top flight already this season after finishing last campaign as their standout attacker as well (WhoScored).

The 20-year-old is a wanted man in the Premier League, with Fabrizio Romano stating that Chelsea are big fans of Yildiz.

However, a lot of reports centre around Arsenal’s interest.

Corriere dello Sport stated earlier this week that Arsenal have held ‘new’ talks with Yildiz’s entourage, and this is backed up by Turkish Football.

The Gunners have already made their interest known to the player’s agents, but it is now believed that Arsenal will also ‘directly contact’ Yildiz about joining them after speaking to his representatives.

Yildiz’s ability to perform on the wing or almost anywhere across the front line — combined with his recent performances for club and country — make him an attractive target, with Juve still unwilling to meet his contract demands.

The impetus for the approach appears twofold.

On one hand, Yildiz’s contract renewal talks at Juventus have stalled, opening the door for Berta. On the other, Arsenal’s management seems determined to boost attacking depth — even after a major summer recruitment drive — perhaps aiming to add more youthful creativity and unpredictability to their forward line.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are also out of contract in under two years, and Yildiz would be a stellar option to replace them.

The Old Lady are poised to demand an eye-watering fee, though, reportedly around £88 million for their prized asset who ex-Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri called a ‘special talent’.

Juve may not find a club willing to shell out that much on Yildiz, but what’s crystal clear is that English sides are taking note of his exploits.

Spurs star who was one of "the best" in the country is now as bad as Porro

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Tottenham Hotspur have not been good enough this season, and it’s clear that Thomas Frank needs to find a solution both in regard to results and the excitement factor that has been lacking.

Having lost each of their past three matches in all competitions, including the miserable home loss against Fulham on Saturday evening in the Premier League, a response is sorely needed, but Newcastle United at St. James’ Park has hardly been a happy hunting ground for the Lilywhites in recent years.

Frank’s tactics have yet to click together, but the players also need to take responsibility for their shoddy showings, with Pedro Porro among the guilty members to have flattered to deceive all term.

Pedro Porro's Spurs form this season

Porro, 26, is one of the most talented right-backs in Europe. He has played 126 matches for Tottenham, scoring 11 goals and supplying 23 assists.

The Spaniard’s gloomy, incensed demeanour at full-time on Saturday was indicative of the wider malaise at the club, but he surely must hold his hands up and acknowledge that he wasn’t good enough, with Sofascore recording that he found the mark with only three of 16 attempted crosses, losing eight of 11 duels and being caught out numerous times.

It was, frankly, a pitiful first-half performance, with Porro utterly toothless in his creative role and more than susceptible against the rampant Samuel Chukwueze and beaten far too easily in the build-up to Kenny Tete’s opening goal after just a few minutes.

He was hardly the only one to hang his head in shame, though, with his counterpart on the left serving up an equally frustrating performance.

Spurs defender is now becoming a liability

At his best, Destiny Udogie is a machine. Ferociously athletic, fleet-footed on the ball and attuned in crucial defence phases, he took the Lilywhites faithful’s breath away when he charged the left side of Postecoglou’s system during the halycon days of 2023/24, before things went wrong.

Indeed, when he burst onto the scene as a teenager under Postecoglou’s wing, journalist Hunter Godson remarked that he was “sickeningly good” and would get into “nearly every team in the world already”.

Such was his power and pace and balance down the left lane that he was considered by Clinton Morrison on BBC Sport to be “the best left-back” in the country during that first foray into English football.

But it might be fair to say that Udogie has yet to raise his game in the Premier League. Sure, he’s been unfortunate with injuries, but this is now his third season in English football and he is no longer an up-and-coming prospect but a talented member of the first team who is expected to provide an outlet while protecting his box.

Goals scored

0.08

0.00

Assists

0.11

0.17

Shot-creating actions

2.15

2.25

Touches

66.81

69.71

Pass completion (%)

85.8

85.0

Progressive passes

5.83

5.72

Progressive carries

3.12

3.47

Successful take-ons

0.90

0.52

Ball recoveries

6.36

5.72

Tackles + interceptions

3.95

2.43

Clearances

3.01

Aerials won

0.83

0.69

It may take a moment to look at the various elements of Udogie’s game, but it’s worth a closer inspection, with Udogie yet to raise his creative levels and indeed provide greater security at the back.

In fact, as per Sofascore, he has only completed 30% of his dribbles and won half of his duels in the Premier League this year.

Destiny Udogie for Tottenham

This remains a talented full-back with the capacity to perform as one of the best in the division, but Udogie is not pulling his weight right now, and it’s clear to see that Frank’s system is being hindered by the lackadaisical performances of Udogie and Porro, two wide players who are considered among the most talented in the country, if not the continent.

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Onde assistir aos jogos de hoje (6/1/2024)

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

MatériaMais Notícias

Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, Série A Calcio, Copa do Rei e a Copa da Inglaterra são os principais destaques deste sábado (6) de futebol. Confira onde assistir ao vivo e os horários das partidas.

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➡️ Confira tudo sobre a maior competição de base do Brasil
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Onde assistir

Luke Weaver Gives Strange Answer to a Simple Question at World Series Media Day

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Luke Weaver is always an interesting interview.

On Thursday during World Series media day, MLB Network's Lauren Shehadi asked the New York Yankees reliever what he would be doing if he wasn't a pitcher. That's when things got weird.

Weaver's initial reaction was "underwater basket weaver" which he then attempted to explain. He said, "And hear me out, play on words. I was definitely a water kid then, you know, ear troubles, tubes that I had to get out of that."

Then he continued by completely changing course. Weaver said, "So now I think, I would love to be a golfer but realistically I would like to combine some type of drawing slash … I don't know."

So, in the end, the answer is "I don't know." But the journey we took to get there might have been worth it.

Weaver had an outstanding 2024 for the Yankees. He finished the season 7-3 with a 2.89 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP and 103 strikeouts against 26 walks in 84 innings. He has continued that hot streak in the postseason, as in eight appearances he is 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA, a 0.77 WHIP and 12 strikeouts and one walk in 10 1/3 innings.

The 31-year-old doesn't need to know what he'd do if he wasn't a pitcher because he's pretty good at being one.

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