No confronto de líderes entre Sampaio Corrêa e Chapecoense, melhor para quem está na ponta da tabela. O Verdão virou a partida com um placar de 3 a 1 e disparou na 22ª rodada da Série B.
Com o resultado no Maranhão, a Chapecoense chegou aos 47 pontos e abriu dez pontos de diferença sobre o segundo colocado que é o próprio Sampaio Corrêa. A Bolívia tem 37 pontos junto com o Juventude, América-MG e Cuiabá (esses últimos dois ainda jogam neste sábado).
Na próxima rodada, a Chapecoense enfrenta o Cruzeiro dentro da Arena Condá, enquanto a Bolívia Querida viaja para encarar o Figueirense, em Santa Catarina.
PRIMEIRO TEMPO COM GOLS DOS LÍDERES
O Sampaio Corrêa é quem ditou o ritmo de jogo no começo de jogo. A Chapecoense observava o toque de bola dos rivais com seus jogadores atrás do meio-campo para aproveitar as oportunidades e sair no contra-ataque perigoso. Enquanto o Verdão seguia essa estratégia, a Bolívia Querida teve três chances de gol.
A partir dos 11 minutos, o jogo passou a ficar mais equilibrado. A Chape cresceu a posse de bola e teve mais tranquilidade para trabalhar, mas era o Sampaio quem ainda passava a ficar com mais tempo com a bola mais no pé. E foi em uma dessas que a Bolívia cavou um pênalti, onde a bola bateu na mão de Luiz Otávio. O artilheiro Caio Dantas bateu e converteu.
Apesar da Chape tentar trabalhar a bola, encontrou muitas dificuldades para a saída de bola. Mesmo assim, a equipe de Umberto Louzer não foi para o intervalo sem empatar o duelo. Busanello desceu pela esquerda e cruzou na medida para Anselmo Ramon cabecear no contrapé de Gustavo.
SEGUNDO TEMPO A CHAPE ‘MATOU’ O JOGO
Com o resultado igual na volta do intervalo, as equipes voltaram cautelosas sabendo que um gol poderia ser decisivo para um dos lados. Sampaio e Chape fizeram um jogo de muita marcação e pegado com muitas situações de falta e sem grandes chances de gol até os 15 minutos. E de falta em falta, foi o Verdão do Oeste quem aproveitou uma oportunidade para virar o jogo.
Aos 16 minutos, uma bola foi levantada na área em cobrança de falta. A bola viajou e encontrou Alan Santos, que estava em campo fazia somente dois minutos. Foi a virada da Chapecoense. O Sampaio Corrêa seguia com a maior posse de bola, mas a defesa adversária conseguia se sobressair para evitar o perigo, enquanto os contra-ataques dos catarinenses eram o maior perigo.
Foi em uma descida dessas que a Chape ampliou o marcador. Denner desceu pela esquerda e cruzou na área. Mike, sozinho, tocou para o fundo das redes. O rendimento do Sampaio Corrêa no segundo tempo foi muito abaixo daquele que foi os 45 minutos iniciais.
A Chapecoense por pouco não marca o quarto. Denner trouxe por dentro na entrada da área e chutou. A bola foi na trave e o goleiro Gustavo só ficou olhando.
Liverpool's transfer activity has been near flawless since Jurgen Klopp took the helm in 2015, with the German manager's philosophy neatly implemented by players targetted for their distinctive qualities and aptness in the high-octane, high-pressure system.
The likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, and Fabinho – a list that is by no means exhaustive – have all been signed since the watershed moment of Klopp's arrival, with scant room for ineptitude under his sage stewardship.
The Premier League and Champions League titles have been claimed to signify one of the most prosperous and illustrious periods of the club's modern history, and while the 2022/23 campaign was one of great suffering for a sapped Anfield side, the summer transfer window has been used to comprehensively alter the midfield and restore life and energy to the fold.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Before this incredible chapter, misfires on the transfer front were something of normality, and Iago Aspas was among those to have struggled to integrate and swiftly moved on.
The Spanish gem's time at the club was fleeting and forgettable, but he has been in more than just fine fettle ever since and even outscored two starring Reds members last season.
How did Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz get on last season?
Yes, Aspas scored 12 times in the league last term to lead Celta Vigo to a successful conclusion, finishing 13th with 43 points, three above relegated Real Valladolid in 18th.
His tally was a mark of his consistency since leaving Liverpool, and his 12 league goals actually placed him above two salient Reds stars in Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz, though both were severely affected by injury issues.
Indeed, Aspas' return bettered Diaz's (five across all competitions) and Jota's (seven in total), though neither Liverpool forward reached 30 seasonal showings due to their setbacks, very much exacerbating the club's spiralling situation.
Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.
Regardless, Aspas is well into his thirties and really did leave little mark of his presence during his time at the club, and it is interesting to bear witness to his resurgence.
When did Liverpool sign Iago Aspas?
Liverpool completed the signing of Aspas in the summer of 2013 after agreeing a £9m fee with Celta Vigo, with the rising star's cutting edge having paid dividends in the Sky Blues' promotion to LaLiga and subsequent preservation of their top-flight status.
Rodgers was seeking to rebuild a Liverpool side that had languished below expectations for too long, and the firepower Aspas was expected to bring was valued as the perfect supplementation for an exciting frontline consisting of Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, and the precocious teenager Raheem Sterling.
GK
Simon Mignolet
RB
Glen Johnson
CB
Kolo Toure
CB
Daniel Agger
LB
Jose Enrique
CM
Steven Gerrard
CM
Lucas Leiva
RW
Jordan Henderson
AM
Iago Aspas
LW
Philippe Coutinho
ST
Daniel Sturridge
Clearly, a lot has changed since the Spaniard's stint at the club, with Klopp's managerial appointment a little over two years on from Aspas' Premier League debut changing everything. Everyone knows of the effect that the German's tutelage has had.
And while Aspas played a part in a remarkable Reds campaign in 2013/14 that nearly saw an end to the long wait for the Premier League trophy, he only started five times in the Premier League (making 15 appearances across all competitions) and netted his lone strike for Liverpool in the FA Cup, against Oldham Athletic.
He would depart after his debut season in English football, never to return, and while many discarded him as a flop, he has since become a devastating, high-profile forward in Spain.
How good is Iago Aspas?
Ever since Aspas' Anfield departure, he has prospered in his homeland, enjoying a one-year loan spell with Sevilla directly following the end of his stay on English shores – scoring ten goals and supplying three assists from 25 matches across all competitions, though only two in LaLiga, having started four times.
The 20-cap Spain international – with six goals – then re-signed with Celta Vigo in a deal believed to be worth roughly €5m (£4m), and he has been a starring talisman for his long-time club ever since.
Indeed, having completed 467 appearances for Celta Vigo across the entirety of his career, scoring 196 goals and supplying 70 assists, Aspas is now the club captain and has been a prolific and consistent goalscorer in Spain's top-flight across the past several years.
Between 2017/18 and 2018/19, the 36-year-old scored 42 LaLiga goals from just 61 appearances, having reached double figures across every single season since joining the club again in 2015.
Now approaching the twilight phase of his career, the “special” – as he was praised by teammate Brais Mendez – £49k-per-week forward has yet to score this season but has supplied two assists from ten outings, and still very much offers a dynamic spread of skills.
As per FBref, the 5 foot 9 veteran ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 1% for progressive passes, the top 4% for passes attempted and the top 16% for progressive carries per 90.
Seemingly among the most underrated ball-playing strikers in Europe, Aspas' tenacity and age-belying athleticism has allowed him to prosper following his failed spell on Merseyside.
However, while it's a shame that he didn't tap into that talent under Rodgers' wing, the meteoric rise since has dismissed any notion of pathos – candidly, it was just one of those that didn't work out.
Both Jota and Diaz might've been outscored by Aspas last season, but injuries hampered their respective chances of mounting prolific campaigns.
That being said, both players did perform admirably during their time on the pitch, and a restored Liverpool team's start to the current campaign underscores the credentials of both players.
Truthfully, Liverpool failed to bring the best out of Aspas but the blame must be portioned out equally; he failed to integrate into the squad and into English football, with his failure to learn the English language compounding his problem.
At present, Klopp and co will hardly rue the harnessing of his core goalscoring qualities, having built an illustrious dynasty steeped in offensive threat and liquid fluidity.
Although Liverpool fumbled the bag in paying Aspas' transfer fee and shipped him on after one, unsuccessful year, he has now bloomed into one of Europe's most impressive goalscorers,
To do that, they must find a way to tackle Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowlers, who have been strangling opposition line-ups all season
The Preview by Nikhil Kalro04-May-20184:42
Tait: Yusuf can be dangerous, but hasn’t done enough
Form guide (most recent matches first)
Sunrisers Hyderabad: beat Rajasthan Royals by 11 runs, beat Kings XI Punjab by 13 runs, beat Mumbai Indians by 31 runs Delhi Daredevils: beat Rajasthan Royals by four runs (DLS method), lost to Chennai Super Kings by 13 runs, beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 55 runs.
Big PictureA change in leadership is the natural response for a faltering organisation – in business and in sports. Occasionally, a professional sports team still fails to rally around a new captain for several reasons, the lack of skill being the most influential factor. On other occasions, a team finds success with a new group of players immediately, like Delhi Daredevils under Shreyas Iyer.Delhi have won two of their last three games after Gautam Gambhir’s exclusion. Overall, they have three wins in nine games. Iyer, Rishabh Pant and Prithvi Shaw have sparkled, but there are still too many holes. Glenn Maxwell, Jason Roy and Colin Munro haven’t been substantial contributors, and Daredevils still haven’t found their best bowling combination.Sunrisers Hyderabad, on the other hand, have hardly had to bother with the quality of their bowling. They have defended 151, 132 and 118 in their previous three games. The absence of David Warner has discernibly weakened their batting, but it hasn’t hampered the efficiency. That they lead the points table without a 180-plus score – the only team not to cross that mark in the IPL this season – can attest to that.In the newsBhuvneshwar Kumar, who missed the last two games with a back injury, could return on Saturday. Captain Kane Williamson said “it wasn’t a serious injury, but something he did need to allow rest.”BCCI
Likely XIsSunrisers Hyderabad: 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Yusuf Pathan, 7 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Sandeep Sharma, 11 Siddarth KaulDelhi Daredevils: 1 Prithvi Shaw, 2 Colin Munro/Jason Roy, 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Rishabh Pant (wk), 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Vijay Shankar, 7 Liam Plunkett, 8 Amit Mishra, 9 Avesh Khan, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Shahbaz NadeemStrategy puntPrithvi Shaw has aced pace so far in this season. He has scored at a strike rate of 181.4 against pace, but just 132 against spinners. Colin Munro too has scored quicker against pace (164.5) than spin (144.2) in T20s since 2015. In that same period, Jason Roy has a strike rate of 152.1 against pace, but 124.9 against spin.Sunrisers could not only start with spin, but could use slower bowlers in tandem against Daredevils’ openers.Stats that matter As per the numbers, Sunrisers are the worst batting team in every phase – Powerplay, middle and death overs – of an innings this season. They are also the best bowling team in every phase of an innings. The average score batting first in day-night games at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium last season was 172. That par score has come down considerably this season, to 134. Sunrisers have not lost a game defending a total this season, in three games. Daredevils have won just one of five games while chasing a target this season. Fantasy pickThe Hyderabad surface this season has been quite slow and has taken plenty of turn. That generally means that batting could get gradually harder, which makes the Powerplay the best time to score. Alex Hales is, therefore, a batsman that could score quickly earlier on, earning some valuable fantasy points.
علق رونالد كومان المدير الفني لمنتخب هولندا، على هدف تشافي سيمونز الملغي في مباراة فرنسا، والتي انتهت بالتعادل السلبي على ملعب لايبزيج.
وفرض التعادل السلبي نفسه على المباراة التي جمعت بين فرنسا وهولندا على ملعب لايبزيج، ضمن الجولة الثانية من المجموعة الرابعة ببطولة يورو 2024.
وقال كومان في تصريحات لوسائل الإعلام عقب المباراة: “بالنسبة لي لا أعتقد أن قرار الحكم كان صحيحًا، لأن دومفيريس لم يعيق رؤية الحارس في الوصول للكرة”.
وأضاف: “إذا كان هناك لاعب متسلل ولكن لا يعيق الحارس، فإن احتساب الهدف حتميًا في هذه الحالة، ولا أعتقد أن قرار الحكم كان صحيحًا”.
وواصل: “لدينا 4 نقاط في مباراتين، بعدما حققنا الفوز وتعادلنا، يمكن أن تصف المباراة بالمملة أو الدفاعية، لكن أيضًا المنتخب الفرنسي لم يفعل الكثير هجوميًا لكي يحقق النقاط الثلاث”.
واختتم: “لقد دافعنا لأننا غير قادرين على منح مساحات في الخلف للمنتخب الفرنسي لا يمكننا أن نواجهها، لذلك قررنا الدفاع في الشوط الثاني مع الاعتماد على المرتدات في بعض الأحيان، وسجلنا هدفا بالفعل لكنه ألغي”.
It wasn't easy, but Liverpool secured a fourth successive Premier League victory on Saturday afternoon, dispatching Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux after falling behind in a dismal and disjointed first half.
Jurgen Klopp cut a forlorn figure as Hwang Hee-chan pounced on Pedro Neto's fizzed cross, firing the ball into Alisson's chest, who could not prevent the ball from crossing the line.
But an incisive and trademark display of attacking intent after the break, charged by some impactful Klopp substitutions, moved the Reds into pole position in the English top-flight, albeit shortly after champions Manchester City came from behind themselves to win at West Ham United.
Who impressed for Liverpool against Wolves?
From the opening minute of the game, Liverpool looked to be in trouble. Wolves started with swagger, slick in possession and direct in their pressure against a Liverpool side notoriously poor during the early kick-off last term, drawing three and losing three.
And this trend showed little sign of being bucked as Hwang sent the Old Gold into a cacophony of cheer in the seventh minute, with the Merseyside outfit "too timid defensively, too sloppy in possession", as was said by Liverpool correspondent Neil Jones.
The Reds rebounded with conviction after the break, with Mohamed Salah's creativity serving Cody Gakpo a goal on a silver platter, before enjoying a one-two with Andy Robertson, who weaved through the area to strike and give Liverpool the late lead.
Mo Salah's game by numbers (Sofascore)
Statistics
Assists
2
Pass completion
74%
Key passes
5
Duels won
3/6
Match rating
8.2/10
Harvey Elliott's deflected strike – going down as an own goal – would confirm Klopp's side escaped the Midland with three points, and while Salah was the creator once again, it was half-time substitute Luis Diaz who made the marked impact and turned the tide up on his introduction.
How did Luis Diaz perform vs Wolves?
Liverpool toiled last season, finishing fifth in the league and consequently missing out on Champions League qualification, and did so without Diaz for the majority.
The Colombian had impressed for the Anfield side after joining from Portuguese giants Porto for an initial £37m in January 2022 – an anticipated replacement for the soon-to-depart Sadio Mane – racking up four goals and three assists from 11 starts in the 2021/22 Premier League season and scoring in the quarter-final and semi-final en-route to the Champions League finale against Real Madrid.
He would spend the majority of the 2022/23 season out injured, but got back up to speed over the summer after returning in the latter phase last term, and has scored twice across his first five outings.
Against Wolves, the 26-year-old was the "game-changer" as he came on and pumped life and electricity into Liverpool's attack, as was said by writer Charlotte Coates, who also hailed his "brilliant" display.
As per Sofascore, Diaz would pepper the Wolves goal with three shots, creating two key passes, enjoying 49 touches and making three tackles, imperative in inhibiting Wolves from gaining steam as Liverpool grew into the game.
Ranking among the top 9% of attacking midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref, the £55k-per-week ace will be important across the campaign, and is indeed the 'game-changer' that his outfit need to break resolute defences down.
Liverpool are not quite at full gear, but they have rekindled their verve and with stars such as Diaz among the offensive arsenal, there is every possibility that the current campaign will be one of great success.
Australia’s stand-in T20 captain is going to rely on enterprising leadership as an answer to Eden Park’s short boundaries for the tri-series final against New Zealand on Wednesday
ESPNcricinfo staff20-Feb-2018
Getty Images
Australia’s stand-in T20 captain David Warner is going to rely on enterprising leadership as an answer to Eden Park’s short boundaries for the tri-series final against New Zealand on Wednesday. Warner, who is filling in for Steven Smith, is eyeing a series win that will thrust Australia from No. 2 to No. 1 in a format they have historically struggled in. After stunning New Zealand with a world-record T20 chase in their last match also played at the same venue, Warner called for the need to be able to think on the fly.”It’s probably one of those grounds where you should be able to have five [fielders] out straight away, as it doesn’t really matter,” he said. “It’s a challenge. As a captain or as a bowler, we talk about setting fields, and I think you have to have obscure fields. You might have a deep fly slip instead of a third man. They’re bizarre little catching spots, where you might get a catch.”In Australia, you set fields for certain players where they’re going to hit. Here, [in] those fields, generally they can hit it for six. Where’s a mistimed pull shot going to go? Over the top for six? You might have one just behind the keeper. You might have, for the spinners, everyone on the straight boundary and no one there (square of the wicket), and make them try to hit a reverse sweep and maybe get a wicket. You’ve just got to think on your feet when you’re out there. You’ve just got to find a way to get one or two wickets in the first six [overs]; it’s as simple as that.”Australia have fared well under Warner’s leadership. They were the first team to book their spot in the final. However, Warner preferred to leave the full-time captaincy question with Smith. “At the end of the day, it’s up to Steve. If he thinks his workloads are too high and he doesn’t feel like he can do that, I’m sure he’ll put his hand up and step aside. We spoke about one of us in the leadership group staying back and leading the [T20] team, and obviously, I put my hand up for that.”It’s been fantastic. A few of us were mentally cooked after the Test series, and it’s just great for those guys to go over to South Africa and inject a lot of younger guys and guys who are in form [into the T20 side].”The final is set to be played on a slightly worn surface – the same one that was used for Friday’s slugfest. Providing the weather holds up – Auckland experienced heavy showers on match eve due to Cyclone Gita – that could pave the way for the re-entry of Adam Zampa, with Warner open to the option of playing two spinners. Since playing the tri-series opener, Zampa has been overlooked in favour of the left-arm spinner Ashton Agar.”The other day, it looked a little bit drier than game day,” Warner said. “There’s obviously a bit of weather around. We’ll probably get a look at it tonight, hopefully, if the weather holds off.”With New Zealand coach Mike Hesson having said on Monday that left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner was expected to recover from a minor knee injury, captain Kane Williamson, too, didn’t rule out the possibility of a spinner-centric attack. “Hopefully, it starts to take a little bit more turn and offers a little more assistance to the bowlers to create that balance between bat and ball,” he said. “If that’s the case, spin will come into it a little bit more as an attacking option.”Friday’s run fest raised eyebrows at Eden Park’s notoriously short boundaries. And an overall high-scoring second half of the tri-series led to England coach Trevor Bayliss calling for T20s to be scrapped altogether at the international level after England failed to make the final. However, Williamson leaned more towards his coach, Hesson, who had spoken highly of Eden Park, which he called a “great cricket venue”.”We’ve had some of the most fantastic games of cricket there,” Williamson said. “This last game’s been the first time really that we’ve seen it exposed as a really small ground, because a lot of the scores have been on the lower side.”For one reason or another, we’ve seen so many really close games, which has created some of the best atmospheres that I’ve been involved in in any cricket game in the world. It’s provided some amazing moments for New Zealand cricket and the teams that we’ve been involved in, and when you throw that into the mix, it does make it enjoyable.”
كشف ثنائي فريق آرسنال، مارتن أوديجارد وكاي هافيرتز، عن حزنهما بعد خسارة لقب الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز اليوم رغم انتصارهم ضد إيفرتون.
وتلاقى الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة الثامنة والثلاثين، الأخيرة من الدوري الإنجليزي حيث فاز آرسنال بهدفين مقابل هدف.
ولكن هذا الفوز لم يكن كافيًا لـ آرسنال من أجل التتويج باللقب، والذي فاز به مانشستر سيتي عقب انتصاره على وست هام بنتيجة 3-1.
وقال أوديجارد في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “أعتقد أننا جميعًا نشعر بخيبة أمل بعض الشيء، لقد ناضلنا لفترة طويلة من أجل الحلم الكبير، وكنا قريبين جدًا”.
وأضاف: “لكنني فخور جدًا بالأولاد، بكل شخص في النادي، بالمشجعين، لقد أحرزنا تقدمًا، لقد غيرنا النادي وأعتقد أنكم جميعًا تؤمنون بنا الآن”.
واستطرد: “لأكون صادقًا، لا أستطيع الانتظار للعودة بعد الاستراحة، علينا استغلال فترة الاستراحة للعودة بشكل أقوى وأكثر جوعًا والضغط من أجل الفوز بكل شيء”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي 2023/24
من جهته، قال هافيرتز: “أشعر بالأسف من أجل جميع مشجعي آرسنال، لقد بذلنا قصارى جهدنا لكنه لم يكن كافيًا، ربما على مدار شهرين أو ثلاثة أشهر، يمكننا القول إنها كانت معركة جيدة ولكن الآن يبدو أننا نستحق المزيد”.
واختتم هافيرتز تصريحاته قائلًا: “لم يكن الأمر كذلك، سنذهب مرة أخرى العام المقبل”.
Steven Smith has emphasised the importance of the first Test at Brisbane in Australia’s attempts to regain the Ashes
Daniel Brettig01-Nov-20172:48
Should Australia consider a five-man bowling attack?
Australia’s captain Steven Smith has declared he wants to re-open English scars from the 2013-14 Ashes, placing a premium on a telling blow in the first Test of the summer at the Gabba as the key to a successful pursuit of the urn.Smith has not forgotten the shattering effect of the 2013 Brisbane Test on the remainder of that Ashes series, where England were physically and psychologically battered by the hostile pace of Mitchell Johnson, the discipline of Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle and the resilience of the hosts’ lower order, led by Brad Haddin.Speaking to ESPNcricinfo ahead of the series, Smith said that he wanted the members of England’s squad who lived through the 2013-14 tour – captain Joe Root, Alastair Cook, Jonny Bairstow, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn – to get flashbacks of that series and for the resultant negativity to flow through the visitors’ dressing room.”First Test match is going to be really important, we need to set the tone again and hopefully get them on a similar path to what we did in 2013,” Smith said. “A few players were out here for that tour, and hopefully we can get them thinking the same way, open a few of those scars up as such, get them thinking ‘oh not this again’ and that kind of thought process.”I know Trevor [Bayliss, England’s coach] very well and he’ll ensure they’re very attacking and those kinds of things. We just need to stick to our guns and ensure we prepare really well and make sure we’re doing the basic stuff really well out in the middle.”In terms of the Australia team’s recent progress, Smith acknowledged that he would need more productivity out of the middle order in order for his XI to be successful, having faced a surfeit of batting collapses in recent times. “We’ve had a lot of collapses in the last couple of years,” he said. “I think in our last 15 games we’ve had 14 collapses or something like that.”We can’t afford to do that this summer and six and seven are a place where we’ll need some rebuilding if those sorts of things happen and it’s going to be a valuable spot if guys there are getting runs for us. It’ll make a big difference, so let’s hope that is the case.”Having not scored an international century since his prolific tour of India in March, Smith also outlined the mental strain of that series, which left him trying to score his runs as quickly as possible as he feared he did not have the reserves to stay in the middle for extended periods of time. Nine months later, Smith said he was refreshed and hopeful that experience was a one-off.In his new book , Smith has outlined his long-term goals as national captain, including the winning of the Ashes at home and away, success in a series in India and also lifting the World Cup in England in 2019. He is also eager to tilt at the inaugural World Test Championship from 2019 to 2021, noting that players needed to be open to change in order to find ways to make Test cricket as capable of a strong future as all other forms of the game.”Whatever the next demand is, whether it’s four-day Tests or whatever, we have to just get on with it and ensure that we’re doing everything we can to keep Test cricket alive. Right now I think five-day Tests are still working and going really well, but you never know what the future holds. We just have to be willing to adapt and do whatever we need to do.”
Reliable Tottenham Hotspur journalist Dan Kilpatrick has shared how Spurs are planning for life without Harry Kane as they prepare a move for Gent striker Gift Orban.
Who will Spurs replace Kane with?
Last week, one of the biggest transfers of this summer window started take shape, when David Ornstein broke the news that Bayern Munich had finally reached an agreement to steal Kane away from Tottenham.
It was then up to the player, but after some waiting, the 30-year-old decided to join Bayern just two days before the opening game of Spurs' season away to Brentford.
Kane has since made his Bayern debut and Ange Postecoglou must now plan for life without him – which comes as a huge task for the Australian who has been linked with a host of possible replacements.
Postecoglou, though, knew the striker was going to leave this summer after speaking to Kane personally.
"I had a conversation with Harry the first day he arrived and he was up front and honest, and I was the same," the 57-year-old said before their 2-2 draw on Sunday.
“You get an indication there that he kind of made up his mind: that if the clubs agreed he would go, particularly if it was before the first game. That was my preference as well.
“There's nothing along the way that's sort of made me feel there's anything other than this outcome. None of these things happen in isolation, everyone is pretty clued into what's going on, so from my perspective I hadn't received anything from Harry, the club or anyone else to suggest to me anything had changed about his stance."
Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE..
Montpellier striker Elye Wahi, Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku and Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic have all been mentioned as Kane's possible successors in the last few days, alongside Orban.
The latter man, who has been in sublime form for his club this year, is firmly on Tottenham's radar with reporter Kilpatrick sharing their transfer plan for him.
Writing for The Standard, the journalist claims Spurs are expected to make a formal move for Orban in the final weeks of this window, with their headline saying a bid is "readied".
The north Londoners really rate Orban, who they believe has "enormous potential", but must first prioritise player sales before making their move. Gent value their star forward at around £25 million and Tottenham are conscious they may face stiff competition for his signature.
How good is Gift Orban?
The Nigeria international bagged a brilliant 20 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions last term, and he has continued that fine form this season with five goals in four matches overall.
Orban has marked himself out as one of Europe's most exciting, young and in-form strikers – with members of the media like Sport 1's Patrick Berger calling him one of Nigeria's "very interesting" group of breakthrough stars.
Journalist Ryan Taylor, taking to X, also praised Orban as a name to remember.
"Gift Orban, Victor Boniface & Tolu Arokodare. Remember these names," wrote Taylor.
"Making waves in Belgium & on European stage. Throw in Victor Osimhen & Terem Moffi – future looks very bright for Nigeria. Quickly approaching a golden generation for the Super Eagles."
Everton defender Mason Holgate moving on this summer would be the 'right thing for him in his career' as Sean Dyche continues to streamline hid squad ahead of the new campaign commencing, according to journalist Paul Brown.
Who is interested in buying Mason Holgate from Everton?
According to The Daily Mail, both Southampton and Sheffield United are keen to bring in Holgate this summer as his future at Goodison Park hangs in the balance.
Everton are prepared to offload the £70k-a-week ace and Southampton are in talks with Everton to offer Holgate an escape route from Merseyside as Russell Martin priorities defensive reinforcements as he gears his side up for life in the Sky Bet Championship.
Football Insider claim that Everton would be willing to get Holgate off the wage bill by sanctioning a loan deal this window and Nottingham Forest are mooted to be another interested party in signing the 26-year-old.
Holgate is said to be free to leave Everton as he has failed to impress boss Sean Dyche. Last term, the Doncaster-born central defender featured just nine times in all competitions for the Blues, as per Transfermarkt.
Former Barnsley man Holgate featured at full-back in 2022/23; however, he may now have fallen further down the pecking order due to the arrival of Ashley Young at Everton, as per Sky Sports.
Jarrad Branthwaite has returned from his successful loan spell at PSV Eindhoven and has designs on solidifying himself as a regular starter at Goodison Park, stating to official Everton media channels: “For me, I know I need to come in, have a strong pre-season and secure a place for next season. I have got the experience I need to come back and get into the team. Overall, I need to have a strong pre-season and go from there.”
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown thinks the arrival of Young and return of Branthwaite to Goodison Park may spell the end for Holgate at the club.
Brown told FFC: "I believe that Jarrad Branthwaite is ahead of him now in the pecking order and will probably be the fourth centre-back. That makes it very difficult for Holgate to get in unless he's played as a full-back. I think Dyche did play him as a full-back in one game because he wanted his crossing ability in the team. It didn't go very well, as I recall. Now that Ashley Young is there, I think it's more than likely that we see Holgate move on, which I actually think would be the right thing for him in his career as well."
What next for Everton?
Arrivals will be a key part of this summer for Dyche at Everton as he looks to consolidate their footing in the Premier League following a rocky couple of years at Goodison Park on and off the field.
Everton are in talks with Leeds United attacker Wilfried Gnonto and are said to be 'leading the race' to sign the 19-year-old and his versatility has impressed Kettering-born boss Dyche, as per Football Insider.
Ajax striker Brian Brobbey is another target for the Toffees, who are believed to have registered their interest with the Dutch giants over the possibility of acquiring the Netherlands Under-21 cap, as per the same outlet.
Sporx via Goodison News claim that Everton are one of several clubs who are keen to land 18-year-old Istanbul Basaksehir goalkeeper Deniz Dilmen, who is also garnering attention from AC Milan, Villarreal and Wolverhampton Wanderers.