All posts by h79snht.top

Liverpool are flying high this term, and are looking like serious candidates to win the Premier League at this stage. Arne Slot’s men sit at the top of the tree at Christmas, with 39 points to their name and a game in hand.

Their star man this term has, of course, been Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian star has scored 18 times and has 15 assists to his name in 24 games across all competitions. He has been exceptional. Ryan Gravenberch has also thrived this term, in a new role as a number six. Peter Crouch explained he has been “first class all season” as a deeper midfielder.

To complement the Dutchman, Liverpool are eyeing up a new addition in midfield as they continue their title charge.

Liverpool’s midfield target

The player in question here is Porto midfielder Nico Gonzalez. It has been an impressive season so far for the midfielder in Portugal, and he has now been linked with a move away from the club.

According to a report from Anfield Watch, Liverpool scouts have been ‘have been completely blown away’ by the 22-year-old midfielder. The report explains it was assumed that the Reds went to watch his teammate, Alan Varela, but Gonzalez has caught the eye.

Originally a graduate of Barcelona’s esteemed La Masia academy, there is a buyback clause in his deal for the La Liga giants. That fee is believed to be around £50m, and it could cost Liverpool a similar fee if they wish to pry him away from Porto themselves.

Described as a “big talent” and the “heir to Busquets” by Spanish football expert Domagoj Kostanjšak, the Reds would be getting a crafty player here.

Why Gonzalez would be a good signing

Upon hearing that Gonzalez is a La Masia graduate, that may well pique Liverpool fan’s interest in the player.

It is no secret that the talent to come out of Barca’s academy is other-worldly. He also comes from a prestigious footballing family. His father, Fran Gonzalez, is a Deportiva La Coruna legend, playing 559 times for the club in some of their best years.

Moving the focus back to the 22-year-old, his talent is undeniable, and he is having a fantastic season for Porto. A versatile midfielder, he has played 24 times, scoring five goals and grabbing a handful of assists too.

Gonzalez is a high-energy player who can play in multiple positions as a midfielder. One of his best traits is his pressing ability. The Spaniard will not stop running and pressuring the opponents, something which led to his goal against Arouca earlier in the season.

The centre of midfield was a position Liverpool were hoping to strengthen in Slot’s first summer transfer window. They were chasing another Spanish midfielder over the summer, Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi. However, the player decided to stay where he was and rejected the offer.

Now, it seems the Reds are turning their attention to his countryman Gonzalez. Whilst the Porto man is a lot more versatile and enjoys getting forward more, they are not too dissimilar statistically, consequently noted as ‘similar players’ by FBref in last term’s Champions League.

Numerical comparisons can be drawn from their numbers in that prestigious competition. Firstly, tackles and interceptions are something Zubimendi slightly edges, with 3.16 per game compared to 2.4 for Gonzalez.

The Real Sociedad man also made slightly more progressive passes per game on average, with 5.44 compared to 2.8 for the Porto number 16. However, he created slightly more chances, with 1.6 on average. In contrast, Zubimendi created 0.63 chances per game.

Gonzalez vs. Zubimendi key stats 2023/24 UCL

Stat (per 90)

Gonzalez

Zubimendi

Tackles and interceptions

2.4

3.16

Ball recoveries

3.6

6.71

Aerial duels won

2

1.77

Progressive passes

2.8

5.44

Chances created

1.6

0.63

Stats from FBref

Certainly, the similarities are there between the two players. If the Reds make a move for Gonzalez, it would be reminiscent of the attempt at signing Zubimendi last summer and shows their intent at strengthening in midfield.

However, you can argue due to his versatility, it is actually a better deal for the Merseysiders. He will allow Slot to have far more tactical flexibility, with Gonzalez, who thrives as an eight, able to fill in as a six or even a 10 as well.

Regardless, for around £50m this could be a great move for the Reds. Gonzalez was described as a “pure joy to watch” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and this move could be the thing Liverpool needs to help them get over the line in the title race.

Related Liverpool could lose "world-class" star to Spurs in awful Sterling repeat

Tottenham could be interested in signing one of Liverpool’s key players in 2025.

Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair Dec 23, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

Presente na vitória do São Paulo, por 3 a 1, na primeira partida da equipe pela final do Campeonato Paulista, contra o Palmeiras, Léo elogiou o trabalho de Rogério Ceni na equipe e destacou a importância de manter uma comunicação entre os jogadores durante o jogo.

RelacionadasSão PauloRodrigo Nestor fala sobre vitória expressiva do São PauloSão Paulo31/03/2022VídeoVÍDEO: Assista aos gols da vitória do São Paulo sobre o Palmeiras na 1ª final do PaulistãoVídeo31/03/2022São PauloCalleri comemora vitória do São Paulo contra o Palmeiras, mas destaca: ‘Nada decidido’São Paulo31/03/2022

O camisa 16 da equipe ressaltou a importância dos jogadores manterem uma comunicação em campo para poder acertar e arrumar o que for necessário. O jogador ainda destacou não haver nada garantido em relação ao último jogo da competição.

– Dentro de campo a gente tem que se comunicar a todo mundo. Ainda bem conseguimos nos acertar, arrumar a equipe. Saímos com o resultado. Não tem nada garantido, mas agradecer pelo resultado em casa – disse.

Léo também comentou sobre o curto tempo de preparação e sobre como o técnico Rogério Ceni realizou os ajustes necessários a equipe, que resultou na classificação do São Paulo para a fase final do Paulista e na vantagem do jogo de ida.

– Temos pouco tempo de preparação. Quinze dias que deveríamos aumentar de pré-temporada. Devagar, o Rogério foi mostrando como queria a equipe e fomos comprando a ideia. Hoje pudemos mostrar como estamos sendo eficientes. Não tem nada garantido ainda – destacou.

Além disso, para finalizar, o jogador definiu o perfil de Ceni como “vencedor”, ressaltando o fato da equipe aderir às ideias propostas pelo treinador.

– Perfil do Rogério é vencedor. Pede para entrar sempre determinado, compramos a ideia dele e estamos pegando a essência dele de como ele era como jogador – concluiu.

O São Paulo volta a campo no próximo domingo (3), novamente contra o Palmeiras, em partida válida pela segunda rodada da final da competição. O jogo será disputado, desta vez, no Allianz Parque, às 16h.

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne also says he is looking forward to seeing a young bowler step up in the retired Suranga Lakmal’s absence

Madushka Balasuriya13-May-2022

Dimuth Karunaratne expects there to be plenty of runs in the Chattogram track, which will put his inexperienced bowling attack to the test•BCCI

Sri Lanka have played twice in Chattogram over the past eight years, and on both occasions the matches had petered out to fairly uneventful draws. Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne was a part of both those Tests, and though he only managed to register 46 runs across three innings, the lasting memory is undoubtedly that of his peers from both sides racking up the runs.Indeed, each of those matches saw in excess of 1,400 runs scored, and Karunaratne expects another batting haven come Sunday. That said, the last three touring sides to have played a Test in Chattogram – Afghanistan, West Indies and Pakistan – have emerged victors. Each of those wins however required exceptional individual performances; Rashid Khan produced an 11-for; Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali combined for 14 scalps; and Kyle Mayers produced a double-ton of epic proportions to mastermind a highly improbable chase.Related

Sri Lanka seek fresh start under Silverwood; Shakib available for Bangladesh

Russell Domingo: 'When we have a bad session, we have a really bad session'

Five months into 2022, Bangladesh unsure of Test philosophy

Allan Donald wants Bangladesh to focus on 'old-ball bowling'

Shakib tests negative for Covid-19, in contention to play first Test

Karunaratne therefore knows his side have their work cut out for them in looking to produce a result in the first Test, starting on Sunday.”The last match [we played here] saw around 1,400 runs scored while the match before also saw over 1,000 runs scored. This too will most likely be a batting-friendly wicket, a wicket where a result will be hard to come by,” Karunaratne said. “But we will still try to figure out a combination to give us the best chance of getting 20 wickets and winning this match.”Sri Lanka’s task has been made harder by the fact that they go into the game with one of their most inexperienced bowling attacks in quite some time. Suranga Lakmal’s retirement and Dushmantha Chameera being rested means that Vishwa Fernando will now be charged with leading the line-up. And with the pitch unexpected to take much turn, it’s unlikely spinners from either side will gain much assistance. As such, one option might be to play an extra bowler.”We’ve seen a lot of runs scored on this wicket before, so we know we’ll need some wicket-taking bowlers in the team, and we’ll have to see if we go in with an extra bowler or not,” Karunaratne said.He is however hopeful of his young bowlers, especially the seamers, stepping up to the occasion and grabbing the opportunity to stake a claim for a permanent role in the side.”This will be a good experience for some of the younger guys. We’ve come into this tour well prepared. Even after the NSL [National Super League tournament], the players underwent a training camp for a few weeks. If you look at the fast bowlers, there’s Kasun Rajitha – I played with him and I know him well. Vishwa [Fernando] as well had a good tournament. So, there’s a good competition among the fast-bowling unit as to who will make it to the playing XI. As a senior, it’s something I really like to see. It means that the fast-bowling unit is in good stead.”Suranga’s [Lakmal] retirement has also given a good opportunity for the youngsters to come in, perform and establish a spot in the side. In the past we’ve seen that it was primarily Suranga that was holding up one end in terms of fast bowling, but there’s now a chance for someone else to grab that spot. So, I look forward to seeing who puts their hands up.”The tour will also be the first under new head coach Chris Silverwood. Karunaratne cautioned against expecting too much too soon, though he expressed confidence in the former England head coach’s ability to take the team to the next level.”Chris is a very experienced coach, and we saw what he was capable of when he brought his England side down to Sri Lanka last year and won. One things is he’s not trying to change too much about the players too soon, he wants them to play with freedom. He likes to take on a challenge. He likes to play fearless cricket. This is first series and he’s not tried to make any major changes as yet.”But I think you’ll see little, little improvements and shifts as time goes on – the standard of cricket we’re playing now, I think you’ll see at least a 20-30% improvement just purely on the strategies he’s looking to implement. He will of course teach us these things little by little, but I don’t expect there to be a big change all at once because he’s also only been with the team for a couple of weeks.”Dimuth Karunaratne wants more from Niroshan Dickwella with the bat•SLC

The Chattogram track also presents an opportunity for Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper batter Niroshan Dickwella to target a maiden Test century. Dickwella presently lies second in the list of players with the most Test innings without a century, and Karunaratne said the left-hand batter’s wastefulness has been topic of conversation.”There are no issues in terms of his wicketkeeping, but in terms of his batting I’ve spoken to Dikka on numerous occasions about aligning his goals with that of the team. A wicketkeeper batting at No. 7 getting a century is a huge boost, but I think when we look at our team it’s difficult to expect someone like Dickwella to get a century batting with the tail.That said, whenever he’s had the opportunity, he’s not grasped it and I’ve personally spoken to him about what he can do to change that. A new player [Kamil Mishara] has also come into the side as a wicketkeeper-batter, so there might be some pressure for his place going forward.”

Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton on Saturday evening illuminated the problems that Mikel Arteta has been facing this season.

Injuries, refereeing controversy and a lack of attacking spark. All three were up in lights over the weekend and it may have dealt terminal damage to the Gunners’ title bid.

The one positive was Ethan Nwaneri. The incredible 17-year-old opened the scoring to notch his second Premier League goal but was withdrawn at the break following a muscle injury. “It’s really bad news” confirmed Arteta at full-time.

More bad news came in the form of the result at the Amex with the north Londoners dealt an almighty blow when Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot following a coming together of sorts between Joao Pedro and William Saliba.

There was a minor touch of heads and down went the Brazilian. He was all too happy to jump up and score the resulting penalty, however.

Ultimately, though, it was Arsenal’s lack of creativity that got them nowhere on the south coast. It was their lack of firepower, creating just five big chances, only 3 shots on target (one in the second half) and an xG of just 0.88.

As a result, the club surely need to dip their toes into the transfer market…

Arsenal targeting a new striker

Last summer the transfer window was all about a certain Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenian did not arrive.

2025 so far has been dominated by talk of a potential move for Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and Wolves’ Matheus Cunha.

However, with Isak commanding a transfer fee north of £100m and Cunha set to pen terms on a new contract at Molineux, the transfer team at Arsenal may have to get creative.

Well, according to reports from Brazil, they are. This weekend it’s been claimed that Arsenal have submitted a bid, although it has been rejected, for Botafogo’s 23-year-old striker Igor Jesus.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

It’s suggested that the Premier League side wanted to loan the player and set an option to buy of around £17m once the six-month temporary move was finished.

A loan move has been rejected by the Brazilian outfit but they are not opposed to negotiating a permanent exit of their star man this winter.

What Igor Jesus could bring to Arsenal

Arsenal are unbeaten across their last ten league matches but this season certainly hasn’t all been plain sailing for the Gunners.

Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury only a few weeks ago just rubbed salt into the wounds but a few players, chiefly Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus have stood up when it’s mattered.

Jesus may not have found the net at Brighton but he has been on fire of late, scoring six goals in his last five matches in all competitions.

His namesake, however, might well have the power to usurp him should he arrive this winter from Botafogo.

Via a stint in Dubai and back to his homeland, Igor Jesus has been on fire over the last year, racking up a haul of 25 goals and nine assists in 56 matches during 2023/24, subsequently hailed for his “incredible” performances by journalist Zach Lowy.

He’s a regular at finding the back of the net and like Jesus, has done so in their Brazilian homeland.

Igor Jesus vs Gabriel Jesus in Brazil

Stat

Igor Jesus

Gabriel Jesus

Games

80

83

Goals

13

28

Assists

7

8

Igor Jesus vs Gabriel Jesus since 2023/24

Stat

Igor Jesus

Gabriel Jesus

Games

56

61

Goals

25

15

Assists

9

10

Stats via Transfermarkt.

Aged 23, there is a lot of potential still to extract from the Botafogo star and he doesn’t just offer goals. His play looks more well-rounded than that.

According to stats-based platform FBref, Igor ranks among the top 18% of positionally similar players across leagues adjudged to be comparable in quality to the Brazilian top-flight for progressive passes, highlighting his ability to drop deep and create for others.

To illuminate that further, he sits in the top 9% of forwards for assists and among the best 11% for shot-creating actions.

Jesus is even pretty good in the air, winning 3.42 aerial duels per 90, enough to rank him in the best 21% for that metric. For context, his namesake has only won 1.18 aerial battles in the Premier League this season. Kai Havertz, meanwhile, has won 3.61 in the league throughout 2024/25, only just slightly more.

So, on that evidence, he could well be a fine acquisition this January and a cost-effective one at that.

Arsenal not only need a goalscorer but they need a chance creator and someone capable of winning duels; Igor Jesus could well be that man.

Related Fewer touches than Raya: 5/10 Arsenal dud may have just cost them the title

Arsenal’s title bid took a big blow against Brighton on Saturday.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Jan 4, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Após vencer o Ayacucho na primeira rodada, o São Paulo fará sua estreia em casa na Sul-Americana, nesta quinta-feira (14), às 19h15, contra o Everton-CHI, no Morumbi. Como fazer para ir para o estádio do Tricolor? Dessa forma, o LANCE! mostra as principais alternativas, tanto de transporte público, quanto em veículos particulares.

RelacionadasSão PauloNathan agradece São Paulo na chegada ao Coritiba: ‘Gratidão’São Paulo13/04/2022São PauloDifícil! São Paulo não deve chegar a acordo por Igor RabelloSão Paulo12/04/2022São PauloSão Paulo responde declaração de Daniel Alves: ‘Ninguém é maior do que o clube’São Paulo12/04/2022

GALERIA
Agora é Sul-Americana! Relembre todas as estreias do São Paulo na competição

VEJA A TABELA DA COPA SUL-AMERICANA 2022

O Morumbi fica próximo de algumas das principais avenidas da zona sul de São Paulo, entre elas a Giovanni Gronchi, Albert Einstein e Jorge João Saad que oferecem inúmeras rotas de ônibus para o torcedor que for se deslocar para o estádio partindo de grande parte das regiões da cidade.

LINHAS QUE PASSAM NA AVENIDA GIOVANNI GRONCHI
5119-10, 647A-10, 775F-10, 8028-10, 8029-10, 8030-10

LINHAS QUE PASSAM NA AVENIDA ALBERT EINSTEIN
5119-10, 647A-10, 647P-10, 756A-10, 775F-10, 8028-10, 807J-10.

LINHAS QUE PASSAM NA AVENIDA JORGE JOÃO SAAD
​032, 746H-10, 756A-10, 8028-10, 8029-10, 8030-10.

Metrô
A estação de Metrô mais próxima do Morumbi é a São Paulo-Morumbi, que faz parte da Linha 4-Amarela.

Caso tenha que pegar a Linha Verde, vá até a estação Consolação para fazer a baldeação para a Linha Amarela. Caso o torcedor esteja na região da Avenida Paulista, a melhor opção é pegar a Linha Amarela (Estação Paulista) sentido Vila Sônia.

Se o torcedor estiver mais próximo de uma estação que faz parte da Linha Azul, pegue o metrô até a Estação Luz e lá baldear para a Linha Amarela com destino à São Paulo-Morumbi.

Trem
A estação de trem mais próxima do Morumbi é a Estação Berrini, que faz parte da Linha 9-Esmeralda. No entanto, o trajeto a pé é longo, sendo preciso pegar algum outro transporte para chegar ao estádio.

Carro
Se o torcedor puder, a melhor alternativa seria pegar um transporte por aplicativo, pela escassez de vagas para parar na região, e o excesso de “flanelinhas” e estacionamentos clandestinos. Caso a opção for mesmo ir de carro, é recomendável chegar cedo para evitar trânsito.

انتهت مباراة الأهلي وبتروجيت بفوز الأحمر بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدفين، في المواجهة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن لقاءات بطولة الدوري المصري.

وأقيمت المباراة بين الأهلي أمام بتروجيت على أرضية استاد الكلية الحربية في الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة الحسم للدوري المصري.

ويتواجد الأهلي في المركز الثاني بجدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، ولديه 43 نقطة، وذلك خلف بيراميدز المتصدر بفارق 4 نقطة.

ومن المقرر أن يلاقي الأهلي منافسه حرس الحدود في الجولة المقبلة من الدوري المصري.

طالع | ترتيب الدوري المصري بعد فوز الأهلي وبيراميدز

ويحتل فريق حرس الحدود المركز التاسع في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري (مجموعة تحديد البطل)، برصيد 22 نقطة.

وكان حرس الحدود قد تلقى هزيمة صعبة أمام بيراميدز بهدفين مقابل هدف بالمواجهة التي جمعت بينهما اليوم الأربعاء في الدوري.

يذكر، أن بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز للموسم الحالي 2024-2025، تقام بنظام استثنائي، حيث تم لعب مباريات الدور الأول كمرحلة أولى.

ثم تم تقسيم الأندية إلى مجموعتين، مجموعة من المركز الأول حتى التاسع للمنافسة على اللقب، وبداية من 10 حتى 18 للمنافسة على البقاء والهبوط، على أن يهبط فريقان فقط إلى دوري القسم الثاني. موعد مباراة الأهلي وحرس الحدود في الدوري المصري

ويلتقي الأهلي في مباراته المقبلة أمام منافسه حرس الحدود، يوم الأحد 4 مايو، في تمام الساعة الثامنة مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

Seamer revels in the moment after “rollercoaster” first day in Test cricket

Andrew Miller02-Jun-2022

Matthew Potts claimed four wickets on debut•AFP/Getty Images

After a staggering first day of punch and counter-punch at Lord’s, Durham’s debutant Matthew Potts promised there would be no let-up in England’s pedal-to-the-metal approach in the first LV= Insurance Test against New Zealand, after warming to the theme of a chaotic day with the standout figures of 4 for 13 in 9.2 overs.If it was a rollercoaster for England as a whole – as they somehow managed to squander New Zealand’s post-lunch scoreline of 45 for 7 to finish a 17-wicket day with the prospect of a first-innings lead in doubt – then Potts’ own performance epitomised their wild swings in fortune.A wicket with his fifth ball in Tests, and that of New Zealand’s captain Kane Williamson too; two nerve-testing catches on the fine leg boundary; a worrying moment of cramp that caused him to leave the field midway through his final over, and finally a second-ball duck in his maiden innings, as Trent Boult bombed his gloves with a bouncer that ballooned to slip. It’s been quite the ride already, and his career is only 78 overs old.”We’ve had an eventful day,” Potts said, as England limped to the close still in deficit. “We’ve come to entertain, that’s our first and foremost thing, and it’s been an entertaining day of cricket, and it’s one that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. I know the team’s enjoyed it. And we’re still in a contest to win a game of Test cricket here.Related

England's entertainers get carried away with new-found Test zest

'Still felt like we were in the game' – Kyle Jamieson on New Zealand fightback

Matthew Potts impresses for England but New Zealand fight back on 17-wicket day

“We’ve got three wickets left in hand, we’re going to attack the day tomorrow and then when we get the opportunity to bowl, we’re going to put it in the same areas we’ve put it in today and we’re going to pick them up and hopefully try to win the game of Test cricket.”We’re going to throw our punches. Personally I think it’s very, very entertaining, I think it’s what we all want to see. We want to exchange blows, and if they throw us two, we’ll throw them four. So we’ll just see what happens.”It was a remarkably composed assessment of the first day of England’s new era under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, Potts’ Durham team-mate. But it was also in keeping with what is already a remarkable season for Potts, who demanded selection for this contest with the stand-out stats of 35 wickets at 18.57, including four hauls of six wickets or more, and has now improved his season’s first-class average to 39 at 17.”I’ve wanted the approach that I’ve taken towards my Durham cricket, and I see no change in the way I’m looking to approach it,” he said. “Maybe the outcome’s slightly different – a little bit of a bigger scale, a bigger stage – but I’m personally trying to bring the same kind of gameplan to the forefront, and that’s one of the assets that’s got me picked, and hopefully deliver on that.”Perhaps nothing displayed his sang froid better than his two steepling catches in the afternoon session, both of them top-edged pulls off James Anderson that could have given him far too much time to think about the consequences. But, having already done his utmost to block out the acclaim from an already supportive crowd, he was able to set himself well and pocket them with ease.Debutant Matthew Potts is up in the air after getting Kane Williamson as his first wicket•PA Images/Getty

“The first one I didn’t see,” he said. “I looked up and thought ‘oh no, can it not go to deep square instead of fine leg’. But when the ball goes up, I’ll always put my hand forward and try to catch the ball. It’s all about how [the crowd] affects you. I don’t know how I will react if I gee the crowd up. The body does weird things. Especially on this stage. It’s nice to know I have the country’s support but there’s no need to get distracted. I was focused on the job at hand.”Potts did, however, permit himself a moment of pure joy when, having brought into the attack early by Stokes, he struck before his first over was complete, as Williamson pressed forward to a good length on off, and Ben Foakes stooped behind the stumps to deliver England’s fourth and most-prized wicket of a wild first ten overs.”Honestly, I felt very composed before the first ball, and then I bowled a long-hop second ball and I was very nervous after that,” Potts said. “But I just focused on putting it in a good area, hitting the pitch hard with a bit of wobble on it, and that ball nipped off a good length, drawing a bit of a false shot, with a nice catch from Foakesy.”I mean, absolute elation,” he added. “A Test debut at the home of cricket, in the pinnacle format of cricket, and then to get the New Zealand captain out fifth ball. Absolutely over the moon and can’t put into words really how that feels. I know it probably meant an awful lot to me, and an awful lot to my family as well.”By the end of New Zealand’s innings, England’s newest boy was in a race to a five-wicket haul with the oldest stager James Anderson. But then, after two balls of his tenth over, Potts felt his calf tighten and he barely had time to think before Stokes had grabbed the ball from him and told him to rest up for the business end of the contest.”We had them nine-down and the calves were barking at me a little bit,” Potts said. “An eight-over spell, a bit of soft ground and me probably throwing 110, 115% into it without realising. A bit of nerves probably takes its toll on the body.”I could have gone for five. I told Stokesy I could keep on bowling. I am the first person to keep on battling through things at Durham. But it was more of a case of making sure you don’t pull anything or do anything stupid,” he added. “I’m trying to get myself right and win a Test, rather than us be a bowler down because I’ve pulled a calf trying to take five.”Stokesy took the decision off me and said ‘get off the pitch, go rest and we’ll get the last wicket’. He said ‘you make sure you’re ready for the second innings’ because that is crucial, that’s where the endgame is going to be.”Even though his first day of England cricket didn’t end with quite the dominance it had promised, Potts was phlegmatic about the ebbs and flows already experienced.”Look, you don’t have a gameplan set in stone, you know gameplans don’t always go the way they should, and we have to be able to adapt and that’s what we’re going to have to do,” he said. “Yes, it was a rollercoaster, yes I wanted to take the boots off and just put the feet up. But the battleplan’s always changing, and we’re constantly changing on the move.”The way we want to play our cricket is entertaining, we want to be on the forefront of it, we want to be on the front foot, and I think that’s the way we’re going to go with it.”

The allrounder has called on the bowling attack to “think a little bit out of the box” as SA aim to rebound from 1-0 down

Firdose Moonda14-Jul-2022

Shabnim Ismail missed the one-off Test and the first ODI with a calf strain•ICC via Getty

Shabnim Ismail is available for selection for South Africa’s second ODI against England after missing last month’s Test and Monday’s first ODI with a calf strain. Ismail’s recovery comes at a crucial juncture on the tour: South Africa lost the first ODI by five wickets and must win in Bristol to stay alive in the series.Allrounder Nadine de Klerk has suggested South Africa have lacked intensity so far, and that is a quality Ismail is known to possess in seemingly endless supply.If picked, Ismail will bolster a bowling attack that conceded 219 runs in 32.1 overs as England strolled to a modest target with 107 balls to spare in the series-opener. While the match was lost by the batters, who languished at 109 for 5 after 30 overs in their innings, and had only one partnership of over 35, the bowlers were unable to keep Emma Lamb quiet and offered too many deliveries wide of off stump.”It definitely wasn’t our best performance,” de Klerk said. “We had a look at the game and we know that we were far off.”She identified a general lethargy in all departments as the reason for South Africa failing to challenge England and promised a more proactive style of play in the remaining matches. “We need to play positive cricket. We are much better than what we showed two days ago. We lacked a bit of intensity but we have been training really well,” she said. “We’re tying a few options against certain bowlers and we will go out and show a lot more aggression [in our] batting and take the bowlers on a little bit more.”Nadine de Klerk scored a career-best 38 and took 2 for 44 in the first ODI•Getty Images

South Africa’s batters dragged themselves through most of their innings of Monday, with none of the top five striking at a rate above 66.66 and were in danger of falling short of 200 until Chloe Tryon’s 73-ball 88 and her 97-run partnership with de Klerk, who scored a career-best 38 “It really helped batting with Chloe who was going well at that stage,” de Klerk said. “She just kept telling me to be really positive and look to score runs.”de Klerk went on to record South Africa’s best figures on the day – 2 for 44 – and was the most economical bowler in the match but recognised that the attack as a whole needs to be more focused and more innovative in their approach. “With the ball, it wasn’t our best day. We have to try and be as consistent as we can and just land the ball in the same spot,” she said. “And we also need to use our variations and think a little bit out of the box.”Ultimately, de Klerk may be reflecting on the next challenge facing South Africa as they prepare for next year’s T20 World Cup and beyond – how to catch up with teams like England and Australia. At this year’s ODI tournament, it was evident that there is a sizable gulf between Australia and the rest. But South Africa were also shown up by England in the semi-finals, despite beating them in the group stage, which may indicate what pressure does to a team like South Africa, whose domestic structure is not as strong as England’s or Australia’s.For de Klerk, regular game time and exposure to franchise leagues is what has helped her own game, and she hopes it could do similar for the other players. “Your confidence grows, you get a little bit older and you get a little bit more experience when you play against high-quality teams where you have to adapt to conditions a bit quicker and you have some powerful hitters and when playing in leagues like the Big Bash.”Ismail is a seasoned campaigner in both leagues and the international set-up and if de Klerk is right and it’s fresh thinking South Africa are looking for, they’ll be more than happy to have her back on Friday.

After many expecting Chelsea to be fairly quiet in the January window, enjoying a brilliant start to life under Enzo Maresca, and many players showing improvements in form, it seems the Blues’ plans may have changed due to some injury concerns.

In recent weeks, the likes of Wesley Fofana, Roméo Lavia, Benoit Badiashile and Reece James have suffered new or reoccurring injuries keeping them out of the squad, which has seen fewer changes for Maresca in games.

Along with these injuries, Chelsea could be set to lose some players this month who are upset with their current position at the club, wanting more minutes. The likes of Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka, Christopher Nkunku and Axel Disasi are all examples of this.

Therefore, the Blues may be forced into a busy month, with plenty of outgoings matched with incoming replacements, in order to keep the squad in good shape heading into the second half of the season.

Chelsea's chase of Kobbie Mainoo

One player being linked with an unexpected move to Chelsea this month is Manchester United superstar, Kobbie Mainoo, who, according to reports, could be moved on this month due to a stall in contract negotiations at the club.

The 19-year-old has already made 52 appearances for the Manchester United first-team, scoring five goals, providing one assist and totalling 3,708 minutes played.

Mainoo combines press resistance in tight central areas, with an ability to manipulate the ball and find gaps in the opposition midfield, whether that’s through his excellent carrying or his ability to open angles for a pass via movement.

Transfer Focus

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

Expand Collapse

Mainoo is super talented, and it is no surprise Chelsea are interested given their transfer model of obtaining the best young talent from around the world.

However, with Andrey Santos and Lesley Ugochukwu currently out on loan, and Roméo Lavia expected to return imminently from his latest injury, there are questions about whether Mainoo should be a priority for the Blues.

Instead, Maresca would likely appreciate another defensive option, with Badiashile and Fofana out injured and the likes of Disasi and Tosin Adarabioyo failing to impress so far this campaign.

Chelsea's defensive options

Maresca had shown a clear favourite pairing to start the Premier League campaign, with Levi Colwill at left centre-back and Wesley Fofana at right centre-back. The 24-year-old has made 12 appearances so far in the Premier League this season, contributing to three clean sheets before his injury occurred.

Disasi has played a few different roles, featuring as a right-back and right central defender, whilst Adarabioyo tends to only be used as the right centre-back, becoming the central centre-back in a back three on the ball, where he has looked fairly comfortable.

Fofana vs Badiashile, Disasi & Tosin

Stats (per 90 mins)

Fofana

Badiashile

Disasi

Tosin

Goals + Assists

0.00

0.00

0.36

0.08

Progressive Carries

1.24

0.88

0.95

0.00

Progressive Passes

2.21

5.59

3.68

3.49

Passes Attempted

62.2

93.2

79.4

88.8

Pass Completion %

89.6%

92.6%

92.8%

94.1%

Passes into Final Third

3.89

4.85

4.21

3.67

Tackles

1.15

1.03

1.37

1.38

Blocks

1.24

1.03

0.84

0.73

Interceptions

1.06

1.48

0.80

0.42

Aerial Duels Won

2.04

1.62

1.05

1.93

Stats taken from FBref

However, it was actually Badiashile who appeared to be next in line after Fofana’s injury, pairing with Colwill despite the fact they are both left-footed.

The metrics back this up, with Badiashile providing high levels of progression (especially passing), showing safety on the ball and good defensive actions per 90, especially interceptions, when aggressively following his man into midfield zones.

Having lost Badiashile who provides this extra progressive quality, and Fofana, who offers an ability to carry on the outside of the opposition block, as well as aggressive defending qualities with fast recovery pace, Chelsea could look for another central defender option, and one man who has been mentioned is already thriving in the Premier League.

Chelsea could make a better signing than Mainoo

According to reports from Sky Sports News, Chelsea want to sign Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, having sold him back in 2021.

The 24-year-old has made 134 appearances for the Eagles since joining, scoring seven goals, providing three assists and totalling 11,687 minutes played.

The England international actually has two Chelsea senior team appearances, playing 180 minutes of football for the club before leaving. The central defender could now return to partner Colwill, forming a Cobham centre-back partnership.

The defender – who is now reportedly valued at £75m – impressed at EURO 2024, with Micah Richards hailing him as “calm and composed” in his first major tournament. Others, such as Palace reporter Bobby Manzi heralded him as a “monster”.

The Palace star brings brilliant composure on the ball, can play in multiple positions across the back line, including all three spots in a back three defence (right centre-back, left centre-back and central centre-back) and even has the on-ball quality and wide defending ability to play as a right-back if needed (although not optimal).

The 24-year-old manipulates the ball in a way that opens passing access to all areas, using both feet to play through even the smallest passing gates (space between defenders) to progress play and orchestrate his team.

On the other hand, Guehi isn’t quite a like-for-like with Fofana. Being a smaller defender, he isn’t the same physical enforcer type, instead having to use his intelligence to judge where the ball will drop, when to jump out and apply pressure, and when to retreat towards his own goal.

This would mean Maresca has to address the physicality issues in other areas, such as bringing Josh Acheampong into the team at right-back, and adding a more physical and fast profile to replace the skill set lost in Fofana’s absence.

Either way, Guehi would be a strong addition, one who improves the team. Put it simply, with Chelsea needing extra security at the back, he’d be a far better addition than Mainoo

Related Sancho repeat: Chelsea ready bid for "generational" star who's Lavia 2.0

Chelsea could repeat Jadon Sancho saga with this “generational” star

Posts ByConnor Holden Jan 8, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

No Independência, o Athletico visitou o América-MG e voltou para casa com uma derrota dolorida para o Coelho.

– VEJA A TABELA DO BRASILEIRÃO

Após o jogo, o zagueiro Pedro Henrique falou sobre trabalhar mais ao longo da semana e evoluir dentro das quatro linhas.

‘Faltou o último passe. Tivemos algumas oportunidades no primeiro tempo. Sabíamos que ia ser um jogo difícil, infelizmente, tomamos um gol ali. A gente não sabe os critérios que a arbitragem usa. A enrolação do América também, a gente propôs o jogo, o América tava caindo toda hora. Temos que trabalhar mais e evoluir’, afirmou.

Com o revés por 1 a 0, o Athletico fica na 16ª posição, uma acima da zona de rebaixamento, com 3 pontos.

RelacionadasBrasileirãoMauricio Barbieri vibra com início positivo do Bragantino no BrasileirãoBrasileirão01/05/2022BrasileirãoDorival Junior fica na bronca com arbitragem em derrota do CearáBrasileirão01/05/2022BrasileirãoSão Paulo encerra preparação para encarar o Santos; veja provável escalaçãoBrasileirão01/05/2022