Bryan Mbeumo, be careful what you wish for! Man Utd move makes no footballing sense – but reunion with Thomas Frank at Tottenham would be perfect fit

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

A transfer from to Old Trafford from Brentford may seem full of glitz and glamour, but that would not be the reality for the Cameroon forward

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By the time the 2025-26 Premier League season starts, Bryan Mbeumo will almost certainly be playing his football for a new club. The versatile forward is widely expected to leave Brentford this summer and is one of the top names to watch out for in the summer transfer window.

It has been reported that Mbeumo would favour a move to Manchester United, even though teams who finished much higher than the Red Devils in the table last season are also looking to acquire him. For a couple of weeks, it seemed a formality he would head to Old Trafford, but a spanner has been thrown in the works.

Tottenham's appointment of Bees boss Thomas Frank has coincided with them stepping up their own interest in Mbeumo, and there is hope in north London that the player could change his mind and prefer to join them instead. It would prove a remarkable piece of opportunism from Spurs, and it's actually a plan Mbeumo himself should hear out.

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Part of the reason why teams such as Brentford, Brighton and Bournemouth have thrived in the Premier League is because they are totally aware of their place in the pecking order. If they sign a young player with potential, they won't hold them to ransom if a more prestigious club comes calling. This summer alone, the Cherries have already sold a starlet in Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid, while Milos Kerkez will head to Liverpool and Illya Zabarnyi is in talks with Paris Saint-Germain.

The Bees are always willing to do business on their terms, though have rarely been prohibitive when setting an asking price for their most prized assets. Ollie Watkins' £30 million move to Aston Villa in 2020 was a club-record for both sides at the time, even if it seems like a bargain nowadays. David Raya cost Arsenal £30m all in and Ivan Toney close to £40m one year later when both only had 12 months remaining on their contracts. Mbeumo, with two years left to run on his deal, is fairly priced at £60m off the back of a season where only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland outscored him in the Premier League. That's a steal in the 2025 market.

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The left-footed right winger is a position that can unlock attacks. That ability to open the game up coming inside from that flank and provide symmetry with a left winger, of whom there are plenty of in world football, has become crucial.

It's the kind of balance that was missing from Real Madrid last season, leading them to the signing of Argentine youngster Franco Mastantuono with the promise of immediate minutes. It's why Chelsea are hoarding plenty of those profiles, with Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian all on the Blues' books. In this case, it's why Arsenal wanted Mbeumo as versatile cover for Bukayo Saka, and why Newcastle saw him as the perfect third prong of their attack next to Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.

Tottenham do not have a player of Mbeumo's ilk on their books, with the closest resembling him, Dejan Kulusevski, now seemingly a central midfielder full time. United, on the other hand, do in the form of Amad Diallo, who was by far and away their best performer alongside Bruno Fernandes until an injury in February kept him out for three months. Occasionally, Amad has started at right wing-back in Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3, but playing both the Ivorian and Mbeumo in the same team would make the Red Devils incredibly narrow and predictable. The 25-year-old ought then to be seeking assurances over United's plan.

Getty Images SportFrank knows him best

Heading to Tottenham would be the lowest-risk move possible for Mbeumo. The starting XI is in need of a multifaceted attacker like him, and the man in the dugout knows him better than any other coach in the world.

Frank was involved in the recruitment process that led to Mbeumo signing for Brentford from Ligue 2 side Troyes back in 2019, a time where the Bees relied quite heavily on scouting in France and made the most of easy connections to the country from London. Having just lost 25-goal Neal Maupay to Brighton for £20m and with Watkins experimented with as their new striker, a 20-year-old Mbeumo had to hit the ground running. He certainly did, bagging 15 in his first Championship season.

It took a couple of seasons for Mbeumo to raise his game at Premier League level upon promotion in 2021, though part of that was down to a lack of luck, hitting the woodwork a league-leading seven times during his first season in the top flight while only scoring four times. When Brentford turned into European contenders the following campaign, that's when the goals started to flow a little easier, improving his tally to nine, which he also ended 2023-24 with despite playing 13 fewer games. The path to his 20-goal 2024-25 season was more obvious to those watching more closely, not least of all Frank.

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AFPCultural fit

Through the history of football, you'll find players who are at the centre of a team and a squad for their intangibles. You'll hear buzzwords like 'culture' and 'ethic' and may roll your eyes, but it's not a coincidence that even the best of managers lean on those figures.

Frank repeatedly stressed that his Brentford implemented a 'no d*ckheads' policy, claiming that it would have been to the detriment of the dressing room. His Spurs predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, wasn't quite as profane about such an approach, but it existed within the club's walls all the same thanks to him.

Mbeumo wasn't merely not a 'd*ckhead', but also a shining example. Coming from someone who covered Brentford extensively during their first few years in the Premier League, there were countless times where Frank championed the Cameroonian as their hardest worker, as someone who didn't get anywhere near enough credit for his selflessness and silent leadership.

Now, this actually sounds like the sort of character that United should be biting the proverbial hand off to come into their own dressing room, but it's at Spurs where the transition would be more seamless and with less adversity.

He "scares people": Chelsea have found the new Duff & it's not Sancho

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

It looks set to be an interesting summer for Chelsea after another trophyless domestic season at Stamford Bridge, this time with Enzo Maresca in the dugout.

The Blues decided to part ways with Mauricio Pochettino at the end of the 2023/24 campaign and brought the Italian in to replace him, but the Conference League is the club’s last chance to land a trophy this term.

Chelsea may want to make further changes to their playing squad to build a team that can compete for the Premier League title, or at least the League Cup and the FA Cup.

One player whose future is currently up in the air ahead of the summer transfer window is Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho, who the club have a £25m obligation to buy.

Jadon Sancho for Chelsea

The Athletic’s David Ornstein has revealed that the Blues will have to pay the Red Devils a fee of £5m to opt out of that obligation, and it remains to be seen whether they will do that or pay the £25m to sign him permanently.

Why Chelsea have a big problem with Jadon Sancho

Chelsea and Maresca have a big problem with this Sancho dilemma because there are pros and cons to either keeping him at Stamford Bridge or paying £5m to send him back to Old Trafford.

On the one hand, £25m to sign an England international who turns 25 this week seems like good business with fairly low risk, given the nature of the fee and the time he has on his side to contribute over several seasons.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

On the other hand, Sancho’s performances on the pitch across all competitions for the Blues this season have been a cause for concern, as the winger has only produced two goals and five assists in 29 matches.

This shows that the £100k-per-week forward has failed to make much of an impact at the top end of the pitch from a wide position for Maresca’s side, which is why there may be reticence to splash out £25m to sign him permanently.

Moments like the goal above have been few and far between and Chelsea may feel that they could find better value for money elsewhere in the domestic market, as they once did with the signing of Damien Duff from Blackburn Rovers.

How much Chelsea paid to sign Damien Duff

Back in the summer of 2003, Roman Abramovich splashed the cash to bolster the squad to compete for major honours, and one of the first signings of his era in charge of the club was Duff.

The Blues reportedly paid a fee of £17m to sign the Blackburn Rovers star after he had scored nine goals and provided one assist in 26 matches in the Premier League during the previous season.

His first season at Stamford Bridge ended with a solid return of six goals and 13 assists in 37 appearances in all competitions, as he showcased his ability to score and assist goals from a wide position.

The left-footed star followed that up with ten goals and 13 assists in 48 games in the 2004/05 campaign, including six assists in ten

Champions League outings, and helped Chelsea to win the Premier League title for the first time.

His form dipped in his last season at Stamford Bridge, with just three goals and four assists in all competitions, but he contributed to another top-flight title.

Overall, Duff turned out to be excellent value for money for the Blues, with his goals and assists in his first two seasons, as a domestic signing, and Maresca may have unearthed the club’s next version of him with Pedro Neto.

Why Pedro Neto is Chelsea's new Damien Duff

Unlike Sancho, Neto is similar to Duff in the sense that he is also a left-footed winger who wants to run at opposition players and take them on to make things happen for his side – an exciting player to watch.

Speaking about the Portugal international earlier this season, pundit Troy Deeney said: “Pace scares people. Coming in off that left foot, he can shoot or he can cross, but he’s also got that raw speed which is going to back defenders off.”

One of the great things about Neto is the simplicity of his game. He does not need to do fancy tricks and flicks to get by players, instead looking to just drive with his ball control and speed to put defenders on the back foot – just as Duff did during his time at Stamford Bridge.

As you can see in the clip above, the former Wolves and Lazio man took a touch out of his feet and smashed the ball into the bottom corner, rather than trying to overcomplicate it with more touches or by trying to find a top corner.

Chelsea reportedly paid £54m to sign the forward from Wolves last summer and he has shown more moments of quality than Sancho has this season, with five goals and six assists in 34 matches in all competitions.

24/25 Premier League

Pedro Neto

Starts

16

xG

2.05

Goals

3

Key passes

31

Big chances created

6

Assists

4

Dribbles completed

23

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Neto created 31 chances in just 16 starts and provided four assists from a wide position, which shows that he can offer a big creative outlet on the flank.

However, an accumulation of 2.05 xG in 16 starts as a forward suggests that Maresca needs to find a way to get the winger into better goalscoring positions, to make the most of his finishing quality.

Only Enzo Fernandez (ten) and Cole Palmer (19) have created more ‘big chances’ for Chelsea in the Premier League, though, so there is not much that needs to change from his performances in that sense.

If the manager can get Neto to add more goals to his game to go along with his creative brilliance then the Blues could have another Damien Duff on their hands, as the Portuguese starlet already shares so many similarities with the Irishman.

After Yamal: Chelsea can soon unleash the world's second-best wonderkid

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Dan Emery

Mar 21, 2025

Like Duff, Neto is a left-footed winger who wants to beat players with pace and dribbling, rather than using fancy skills, and is a player who can consistently create high-quality chances for his teammates to find the back of the net.

Patrick de Paula 'some' no Botafogo e completa um mês sem jogar

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

MatériaMais Notícias

Cadê o Patrick de Paula? O meio-campista do Botafogo completa um mês sem entrar em campo nesta terça-feira. Neste período, a equipe comandada por Luís Castro teve quatro partidas no Campeonato Brasileiro.

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+Ao L!, Textor explica motivos da saída de Erison do Botafogo

O último jogo do atleta de 22 anos pelo Alvinegro foi na derrota por 1 a 0 para o Corinthians, na Neo Química Arena, no dia 30 de junho, pela 20ª rodada do Brasileirão.

O camisa 8 sequer saiu do banco neste intervalo. Reserva, ele perdeu posição até mesmo para Danilo Barbosa e Gabriel Pires, jogadores recém-contratados na última janela de transferências.

Contratação mais cara da história do Glorioso, Patrick ainda não achou uma sequência positiva de jogos com a camisa alvinegra. Ele tem 17 participações e dois gols na temporada.

A operação foi avaliada em 6 milhões de euros (aproximadamente R$ 34 milhões, na cotação da época) em março – se todas as metas forem batidas. Foi, consequentemente, o maior investimento da era John Textor, acionista majoritário da SAF.

O melhor momento de Patrick no clube foi quando Luís Castro colocou um esquema de três zagueiros no time. Neste contexto, ele fez uma parceria com Kayque – a dupla foi titular nas vitórias contra São Paulo e Internacional. O companheiro, contudo, se lesionou e está fora da temporada. Desde então, o técnico abandonou o esquema e o camisa 8 perdeu espaço com o retorno do 4-3-3.

Dan Lawrence's Blackpool pleasure leaves Lancashire beached

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

England’s spare batter hits 135 off 125 as Essex seize their moment to set up a victory push

Paul Edwards12-Jul-2023

Dan Lawrence made 135 off 125 balls in Essex’s second innings•PA Images/Getty

Just before play was due to begin at Stanley Park yesterday it was noticed that the stumps were missing.There were probably moments over the next eight hours or so when Lancashire supporters wished that nobody had bothered to find the bloody things. Even more usefully, perhaps, the locals might have hoped that the rain which delayed the start of our day’s cricket for 45 minutes and then interrupted it briefly in mid-afternoon would hose down for something like 36 hours. Anything to prevent them having to watch their side collapse like a detonated block of flats and then offer as bad a session of outcricket as they have produced all season.Essex, though, are the sort of team who seize on such weaknesses like peckish piranhas. Their seam attack exploited Lancashire’s batting frailties magnificently to earn a first-innings lead of 137 and the last third of the day featured a quite savage assault on Keaton Jennings’ dispirited bowlers and demoralised fielders by Dan Lawrence, the spare batter in England’s Ashes squad who leaves for Surrey at the end of the season.Capitalising gleefully on the home side’s weakness, Lawrence hit nine sixes, losing at least three balls in the adjoining park, reaching his third century with his fifth maximum and hitting four more of the rascals before perishing in the final over of the day when Jennings caught him at long-on for 135, clubbed off 125 balls.Related

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At the other end, Doug Bracewell had hit four sixes in his 61 not out and the pair had added 106 in one ball short of nine overs, but Bracewell will be no more than a footnote to this day’s cricket. The headline writers will be thinking about Lawrence, Essex supporters will be wondering if their side can seal a fourth win of the season and Lancashire followers will be hoping for shelter from the storm.Cricket, however, is rarely so accommodating and the locals’ slumber will be tortured by Essex attack’s merciless demolition of Lancashire’s first innings. Hindered by the Kookaburra ball, which appears to be disliked throughout the county game, but aided by cloudy skies, Tom Westley’s quicker bowlers went to their work with a rare will.Having successfully negotiated the newish ball and reached 76 for 1, Lancashire lost eight wickets for 45 runs either side of lunch and it took Phil Salt’s six over square leg to help them avoid a follow-on that Essex might not have enforced in any case. Sam Cook took four of the wickets but Paul Walter also removed three in eight balls just before the first interval. There were times when the speed of the cricket would have defeated the scribble on the scorecard but Lancashire did not provide such accessories for the third day of this game. It was very prescient of them.Lancashire’s coaches should not be so forgiving. Essex’s seamers bowled with the ruthlessness of men who sensed an opportunity to establish a match-winning advantage and some of the Lancashire’s top order had to be worked out by their opponents. Jennings, for example, pushed at a delivery from Cook which nipped away and went via the edge to Matt Critchley at second slip.Other dismissals were almost entirely the batter’s own work. Among the latter group was Dane Vilas, who pushed his second ball into the off side and called Josh Bohannon for a risky single but was well beaten by Bracewell’s direct hit from the covers. Both Rob Jones and Tom Hartley nicked catches when feeling for balls well outside the off stump. And the innings ended on a note of farce as Tom Bailey ducked away from what he believed to be a beamer from Cook, only to see the ball lollop into his stumps.Dismissed for 145 and already well behind in the game, Lancashire’s bowlers then enjoyed their only decent half-hour of the day. Having been caught at slip for a four-ball duck in the first innings, Nick Browne padded up to Bailey’s third ball of the second dig was sent on his way for a pair. It is doubtful whether the opener will nurture fond memories of Blackpool or, indeed, of Bailey’s bowling.

Next over, Alastair Cook perished, also for nought, when he cut Will Williams straight to Vilas at point and the same bowler accounted for Westley ten overs later. But 27 for 3 and a deficit of 164 was as good as this day got for Lancashire.Sure, they took five more wickets but those successes were nothing but a backcloth to Essex’s rapid accumulation and there were times when the home side’s disciplines seemed to be disintegrating. The only consolation home supporters can take – and it is a fragment – is that Essex did not declare half an hour before the close and that their openers did not have to risk further indignity on their side’s worst day of the season.All that Lancashire have to do now is bat out the final day in order to collect five points for the draw. It will test their professionalism rather more than a run-chase would. But at the end of a day when the gulf between two sides has been so plain, a gloomy statistic comes to mind. In the last 40 years Essex have won seven County Championships; Lancashire have managed just the one.

Boehly may have found the new Juan Mata at Chelsea & it's not Palmer

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

The Todd Boehly regime has been littered with high-profile signings and marquee additions, but are Chelsea actually any closer to competing once again at the top of the domestic and European game?

The wait goes on for silverware to be claimed in the new Clearlake era, with the Blues’ only hope this season now resting in Conference League success, having gone two years without tasting Champions League football.

Even amid the at-times chaotic nature of the Roman Abramovich days, the west London side still remained a real force both in the Premier League and on the continent, a fact epitomised by their two Champions League triumphs.

In 2020/21, for instance, Thomas Tuchel – who only replaced Frank Lampard in January 2021 – steered the club to European glory just six months into his spell at Stamford Bridge. Less than a decade earlier, interim boss Roberto Di Matteo had achieved the same feat, at the end of another chaotic campaign for the club.

A central figure in that glorious 2012 triumph was, of course, Juan Mata, with the Spaniard having made an instant impact following his arrival from Valencia a year earlier.

How Juan Mata compares to Cole Palmer

Signed from Valencia on a £23.5m deal in August 2011, the diminutive playmaker was an integral part of Chelsea’s success that season, having chalked up a remarkable tally of 32 goals and assists in all competitions during his debut campaign.

Perhaps the key contribution that the then 23-year-old made that season was whipping in the corner which led to Didier Drogba’s crucial bullet header late in normal time, with that marking the 20th and final assist of the campaign for Mata.

A stunning first year at Chelsea was followed by an even more impactful second season in 2012/13, with the silky star registering a mammoth total of 50 goal involvements in 60 games in all competitions.

Juan Mata

To put that into context, not even man of the moment, Cole Palmer, has hit such heights as yet, with the Englishman having reached 40 goals and assists last term, following his £40m switch from Manchester City.

As for the current campaign, the Englishman has slowed down after a dazzling start, with ‘just’ 14 goals and six assists to his name thus far, with the 22-year-old having failed to score since mid-January.

Competition

Mata (2011/12)

Palmer (2023/24)

Premier League

19 G/A

33 G/A

FA Cup

8 G/A

3 G/A

EFL Cup

0

4 G/A

Champions League

5 G/A

N/A

Total

32 G/A

40 G/A

In all, Palmer has registered 60 goal involvements in his first 78 games for the club, while Mata, meanwhile, registered 82 goal contributions across his first two campaigns at the club – albeit with that coming from 114 games.

As a creative left-footer with an eye for goal, Palmer – who has also showcased a similar free-kick prowess – has certainly shown shades of Mata to date, although Boehly and co might well be brewing another version of the now veteran Spaniard.

Chelsea's next Juan Mata

The common theme of the Boehly era has been the desire to scour the globe for the next big thing, a fact epitomised only recently with the surprise signing of reported Manchester United target, Geovany Quenda, from Sporting CP.

The £40m teenager will have to wait to feature for the Blues, however, as he is set to spend the 2025/26 campaign back in Lisbon, ahead of linking up with Enzo Maresca’s side next summer.

In the meantime, Chelsea’s squad will be bolstered by the belated arrivals of two other teenage talents in the form of Estevao Willian and Kendry Paez, with the pair set to join from Palmeiras and Independiente del Valle, respectively.

It is the latter man who perhaps could emerge as the second coming of Mata for the Blues, either in a central role or on the flanks, with the Ecuadorian sensation also a creative, “left-footed magician”, in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson.

Also described as “one of the most exciting talents in world football” by Jacek Kulig, Kendry – who turns 18 in May – has already caught the eye at senior level despite his youth, scoring and assisting 19 times in 70 games in his homeland.

Much like Mata – who is only 5 foot 7 – the 5 foot 9 sensation is small and slight in stature, but makes up for that with his creative spark and ability to “play a killer pass”, in the words of Mattinson, with it already looking like the Blues have a real gem on their hands.

Also capable of operating all across the midfield, much like Mata, the 17-year-old has also already made 17 senior appearances for his country, scoring twice, with that seemingly further evidence of just what a high-potential star he truly is.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Perhaps, while it is still early days, Kendry can emulate the likes of Mata in helping to steer the Stamford Bridge side to Champions League glory in the coming years.

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England lose 19 WTC points and Australia ten for slow over-rates during the Ashes

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

The sanctions meant that Australia earned 18 WTC points from the series and England just nine

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Aug-2023

England won two Tests and drew one in the Ashes, but have only nine WTC points to show for their efforts•Associated Press

England and Australia have been docked 19 and ten World Test Championship (WTC) points respectively for their slow over-rates over the course of the five-Test Ashes series, which ended 2-2.At the end of the series, England were found to have been behind the ask in four of the five Tests: by two overs in the first Test at Edgbaston, nine in the second at Lord’s, three in the fourth at Old Trafford, and five in the last Test at The Oval.As for Australia, they did fine in four of the Tests, but were ten overs short at Old Trafford.Related

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As a result, England ended the series with just nine WTC points (24 for two wins and four for one draw, minus 19 for the over-rate penalties), and Australia 18 points (24 for two wins and four for the draw, minus ten). That left Australia at No. 3 on the WTC table, with 30 percentage points, behind Pakistan (100) and India (66.67), while England were at No. 5, below West Indies (16.67) with 15 points.The latest over-rate sanctions for Test cricket, announced at the ICC annual conference in Durban on July 13 this year, are that a team will be fined five per cent of their match fee and one WTC point for each over they are found short by.England also had a rough time of it with the fines. While Australia were handed a 50% (for ten overs) fine for the Old Trafford Test, England were fined 10%, 45%, 15% and 25% for the four Tests they fell short in, respectively.The penalties have complicated the two team’s paths to the WTC final. India, who finished second on the 2021-23 WTC table, qualified for the final having won 58.8% of the points they contested. Keeping in mind 60% as a rough target for qualifying for the 2025 final, England would need 151 further points from their remaining 16 Tests – which would mean roughly 11 wins and three draws, or 12 wins (and no further points penalties, needless to say).Australia would need 137 points from their remaining 14 Tests to get to a roughly 60% mark, which would mean 10 wins, or nine wins and three draws, or eight wins and six draws.In comparison, India – who have won one and drawn one of their two Tests so far in this cycle – will need a further 121 points from their remaining 17 Tests to get to the 60% mark. That’s just over seven points per Test, a far less daunting task than England’s 9.4 points per Test (A win gives a team 12 points, a tie six points, a draw four points, and a defeat zero points).

Speaking before the final Ashes Test, Pat Cummins had said, “This series has been a bit of an outlier I think. We haven’t had any over-rate sanctions over the last few years until this series. It feels like this one has been played at a different pace. It’s something we need to speak about in ODI cricket as well, when you’re setting fields the time can run out pretty quickly.”It feels like there’s different plans every second over, or every over, every couple of balls. One batter might have a totally different plan to another one. So there’s lots of field movement. [There is] a lot more fast-bowling overs than there ever has been. No Nathan Lyon [from the third Ashes Test onwards]. A combination of those things.”This series is maybe that little bit higher-pressure, and it’s not only the fielding side but you see the batters taking that little bit of extra time.”In a series where rain was an almost constant presence, there weren’t a lot of overs from spin bowlers, which could have been a reason for the slow over-rates. For England, Moeen Ali and Joe Root, their main spin options, bowled a total of 179.1 overs. Stuart Broad alone bowled more than that: 184.2. For Australia, Nathan Lyon bowled 66 overs in the first two Tests before going out with an injury, and Todd Murphy, who played the last two Tests, bowled 38.2 overs. That’s a total of 104.2. Pat Cummins (158.4), Mitchell Starc (128.1) and Josh Hazlewood (111) all bowled more overs, Starc and Hazlewood in just four appearances each.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting placed the onus on the match officials to keep up the pace of play. “I think the umpires need to start just getting the players around more,” he said on the , “Getting them ready, getting them organised, making sure the batter’s ready to face up, making sure the bowler is at the end of his mark when the batsman gets back to his crease. We’ve got to find a way not to be losing so much time in these games.”I know the cricket [in the Ashes] has been ultra entertaining. Crowds are not going to be whinging about what they have seen as far as the cricket’s concerned, but when you go to a day’s play and you expect 90 overs, but you see 80, you have got to be a little bit disappointed.”I mean at the World Test Championship final, by the evening session on day three, one whole session of play had been lost. Two hours of play have been lost over three days and I just don’t know where it goes and I’m not sure what the right punishment is.”I honestly don’t know what the answer is but if a team, like Australia did last time, if they miss out on playing in the World Test Championship final just because of a few overs here and there then it is a pretty harsh penalty.”Former England captain Nasser Hussain, on the other hand, was fully in favour of stringent penalties for slow-over rates. “I do think the ICC should continue to be strong with teams,” he said before adding that players shouldn’t break for lunch or tea until the overs they are meant to bowl are bowled. “Now what that will do is make players get through the day quicker, earlier, because the last thing you want is a three-and-a-half hour last session. The seamers in particular aren’t going to be overly thrilled if they have to bowl three and a half hours at the end, so umpires need to be stronger with players.”

Tottenham now making moves to sign "magical" cheap 144-career-goal star

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Tottenham Hotspur are in for a crucial summer window under Ange Postecoglou and have now set their sights on a prolific scorer to bolster the pedigree of their forward line.

Tottenham Hotspur's summer transfer plans come to light

Upon assessment, Spurs have endured a disappointing campaign littered with inconsistency, yet could still snatch a backdoor route to Champions League qualification via clinching the Europa League title in May.

Ange Postecoglou has needed to weather the storm this season and the Australian’s job security is said to be uncertain amid recent reports that Mauricio Pochettino could succeed the former Celtic boss.

Ange Postecoglou and Pedro Porro look dejected

Either way, he remains in position for now, and their transfer strategy this summer could begin with a move to north London for River Plate star Franco Mastantuono. Having made initial contact, the Lilywhites believe they could strike and deliver for a fee under his reported £38m release clause.

On the same token, Tottenham are in pole position for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, who is under contract in the West Midlands until the summer of 2026.

Sizing up potential targets on expiring deals could be a handy strategy, especially when factoring in the amount of finance left over to strengthen in other areas of the field.

Tottenham’s next five fixtures – all competitions

Chelsea (A)

Premier League

Southampton (H)

Premier League

Eintract Frankfurt (H)

Europa League

Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)

Premier League

Eintracht Frankfurt (A)

Europa League

Evaluating areas to bolster, Spurs’ forward line stands out more than most due to Dominic Solanke’s injury frustrations, which have limited the Three Lions international to 33 appearances this term.

Help could be on the way this summer, with Postecoglou now turning his attention to one of Europe’s most prolific goalscorers, as per recent reports.

Tottenham in talks to sign Lille forward Jonathan David

According to a report in France via Sport Witness, Tottenham are in active discussions to sign Lille forward Jonathan David following the Canada international’s excellent return of 23 goals and 10 assists in 41 appearances during 2024/25.

Arsenal and Manchester United are also on the case, while Borussia Dortmund provide further competition for his signature from the continent. Deemed an attractive option on the market due to his impending free agent status, the 25-year-old would favour a move to England over other destinations.

"Unbelievable" Tottenham star key to Ange now open to joining Real Madrid

Ange Postecoglou could have a job on his hands convincing one star to remain at Tottenham Hotspur.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Mar 21, 2025

Labelled ‘magical’ by Alexandre Gangue-Ruzic, he has also been subject to a previous offer from West Ham United, but their interest has since fallen on deaf ears.

Continuing his fine spate of performances across the Channel, David also radiates a desire to bring others into play, with the forward creating 27 chances and completing 14 dribbles on league duty. Over the course of his career, he has struck 144 times in 327 outings.

In the midst of fierce competition, the onus now is on Postecoglou and Daniel Levy to sell him a project that cannot be refused even if Spurs end up heading into next season without the lure of continental football.

Nico Williams sends out message to Lamine Yamal and Barcelona team-mates as Spain star eyes summer move to Hansi Flick's side

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Nico Williams has already signalled his intentions of leaving Athletic Club and joining his Spanish team-mates at Barcelona in private conversations.

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  • Barca reignite pursuit of Nico Williams
  • Has already told his Spanish team-mates at Barca that he wants to join
  • Athletic Club want to renew winger's contract
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Nico Williams seems destined to depart Athletic Club this summer, with a number of big teams pursuing the talented winger's signature. However, Williams has already made his desire of joining Barcelona clear in private conversations with Lamine Yamal and other Culers within the Spain squad.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    A report from claims that Williams is determined to join Barcelona this summer, despite Bayern Munich and Arsenal pushing to sign him. The 22-year-old has already sent a clear message — "Bro, take me with you" — to the likes of Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Fermin Lopez, and Pedri. Williams dreams of pairing up with his Spanish team-mates in Catalunya, with Yamal potentially hinting at the transfer on social media after sporting director Deco met with Williams' agent Felix Tainta to discuss whether a move this summer could materialise.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    further claim that Barca head coach Hansi Flick has already held direct conversations with Williams. The German explained to Williams how he would fit in and how he would contribute to the playing style. Flick has already approved of his signing, seeing him as the ideal left-wing profile to reinforce the attack. However, Los Leones remain firm on selling the player only to the team that is ready and capable of triggering Williams' €62 million (£52m/$70m) release clause.

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    WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

    The Catalans seemed to have withdrawn their interest from Williams after trying to sign him last summer. Reports in recent weeks have suggested that Liverpool winger Luis Diaz remains on top of Barca's wishlist, while they have also not ruled out signing Marcus Rashford. However, the situation seems to changed in recent days, with Williams now the most likely to make a switch to Barcelona out of the three wingers.

Roberto Martinez hails 'unique' Cristiano Ronaldo and claims Al-Nassr star still an integral player for Portugal after Nations League triumph

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

"Unique" Cristiano Ronaldo is still an integral part of the Portugal setup, according to head coach Roberto Martinez.

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Ronaldo adds another trophy to collectionLed Portugal to second Nations LeagueIncredibly important according to MartinezFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ronaldo scored as Portugal beat Spain on penalties in the Nations League final on Sunday, marking his latest chapter of an illustrious career with silverware. He has since earned the praises of his head coach Martinez, who paid tribute to the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT MARTINEZ SAID

Speaking in the aftermath of the Nations League, Martinez said: "At 40, he has unique experience in the world of club football," Martinez said of Ronaldo.

"Being a coach isn't about picking or not picking Cristiano Ronaldo, it's about using the best players to have the best team and win titles. It's important to make decisions based on facts, and Cristiano has scored 20 goals [for Portugal] in [the last] 25 games. There are no records like this.

"We've managed to make the dressing room a very competitive place, and when you have a player like Ronaldo, it's a football lesson every day."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Martinez did not stop there when it came to praising the football icon. Ronaldo was hailed as an "inspiration" for the younger generation due to his leadership on and off the pitch.

He added: "He's more than a player, he's an icon.

"Almost like the weather, something you talk about in the elevator. Every day he takes opportunities to improve. That is something that is very contagious. The fact that he only wants to improve influences the younger generation."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR RONALDO?

The rumour mill has been swirling with energy when it comes to Ronaldo's future, but it has not yet been confirmed whether he will be extending with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. There had been talks about the forward joining up with a side for the Club World Cup, but that looks optimistic now.

ألونسو: خسرنا بأخطاء دفاعية.. ومودريتش أسطورة ستخلد في تاريخ ريال مدريد

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

أعرب تشابي ألونسو عن استياءه بعد خسارة ريال مدريد ضد باريس سان جيرمان برباعية نظيفة خلال اللقاء الذي جمع بينهما على ملعب ميتلايف في نصف نهائي كأس العالم للأندية.

وكانت اهداف باريس سان جيرمان قد جاءت عن طريق فابيان رويز الذي سجل هدفين في الشوط الأول وعثمان ديمبلي، وفي الشوط الثاني سجل جونزالو راموس الهدف الرابع.

اقرأ أيضًا.. إنريكي بعد سحق ريال مدريد: نريد كتابة تاريخ جديد لـ باريس سان جيرمان

وسيلتقي باريس سان جيرمان مع تشيلسي الذي تأهل لنهائي كأس العالم للأندية على حساب فلومينيسي البرازيلي بهدفين نظيفين.

وقال ألونسو في تصريحاته لصحيفة “آس” الإسبانية حول تقييمه للمباراة: “لعبنا مباراة صعبة وخسرنا، ولكن ما أريد أن أقوله إن هذه هي كرة القدم”.

وأضاف: “شاهدنا الهدفين في بداية المباراة، استقبلناهما بأخطاء دفاعية ولكن هذا ما حدث، حاولنا التمسك وأن لا نستقبل أكثر من ذلك، ولكننا عانينا بسبب الأخطاء الدفاعية”.

وواصل: “لقد تماسكنا بعض الشيء في الشوط الأول، ولكن يجب أن نتعلم من أخطائنا، وما أقوله إنه يجب علينا التحسن بعد هذا الكم من الأخطاء، ولكنها نهاية بطولة وبداية مرحلة أخرى”.

وحول التحسن الذي ينتظره ريال مدريد في الفترة القادمة، رد ألونسو: “عشنا يومًا صعبًا، ولكن الآن لدينا بعض الوقت، ينتظرنا موسم جديد وسنحاول الاستفادة، ونفكر كثيرًا في التحسن والتعلم من الأخطاء”.

وأشار: “لقد اعتمدنا على كيليان مبابي في المباراة، ولكن هناك بعض الطرق التي لم تعمل بشكل جيد، وإذا كان الشوط الأول انتهى بهدفين فقط لكانت هناك إمكانية للعودة لكن الهدف الثالث قتلنا”.

وقال عن باريس سان جيرمان: “هذا لم نكن ما نريده، يجب علينا أن نقبل ما حدث، وستكون هناك خسائر في طريقنا، هذه هي كرة القدم، باريس فريق كان لديه الوقت الكافي للنمو وبناء فريقه، بينما نحن بدأنا للتو”.

وحول مودريتش ونهاية مسيرته: “إنها نهاية مريرة للمباراة الأخيرة وعدا ذلك فهو أسطورة في النادي، كان زميلاً لي في الفريق والآن مدرباً له، هو رجل عظيم وسيخلد ذكراه في النادي للأبد”.

وحول رودريجو وأمر عدم مشاركته: “لم أشرك رودريجو لأمور فنية، كنا نعتقد أن وضعنا سيكون أفضل مع لاعبين آخرين، الأمر لا يتعلق بمستقبله”.

واختتم عن تعزيز فريقه: “نحن دائماً منفتحين على تحسين هذه القائمة، وهذه هي فكرتنا أن نتحسن كمجموعة”.

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