Tag Futebol

Liverpool to begin negotiations to bring "brilliant" £38m+ star to Anfield

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Liverpool are closing in on the Premier League title and could try to maximise their appeal by tempting a World Cup winner to make a move to Anfield, per reports.

Liverpool's summer plans once title is sealed

While Liverpool haven’t mathematically become champions yet, their status is all but guaranteed following Arsenal’s dropped points away to Everton on Saturday afternoon.

Undoubtedly, Arne Slot will have one eye on the quick turnaround set to occur in the summer, with addressing the contract situations of Trent Alexander Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk set to be an immediate priority.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot

Nevertheless, maximising squad depth across key areas is also a remit the Dutchman will seek to fulfil. According to reports, Liverpool have Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez in their sights as a positional competitor for Andy Robertson.

Further up, the Reds are also looking to add Xavi Simons to a midfield filled with pedigree. Although the Netherlands international won’t come cheap at between £58 million to £62 million, Slot will hope to call on the lure of the ex-PSG man becoming a key part of his mission to build a dynasty at Anfield.

Potentially making way, Darwin Nunez is a £50 million target for Nottingham Forest after failing to set the heather alight through the middle. Saudi Pro League clubs are also keen on the Uruguay international, who may be an ideal sacrifice to help Liverpool comply with PSR regulations.

Bid prepared: Liverpool chasing £51m "machine" who can be Slot's own Salah

Liverpool are looking to strengthen the squad across any number of positions this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 5, 2025

Bolstering the ranks with proven additions appears to the Slot’s modus operandi this summer, and he has now set his sights on a World Cup winner who could help to bring an added dimension across the front four.

Liverpool set to begin negotiations for Kingsley Coman

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool are set to begin negotiations to sign Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, who is expected to cost a maximum of €45m (£38.2m) this summer.

Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are also in the mix to sign the France international. However, the Gunners are believed to be his heaviest suitor alongside the Reds.

Appearances

22

Goals

4

Assists

4

Successful dribbles

35

Successful crosses

8

Chances created

30

Liverpool and Arsenal are set to open talks with his entourage over a potential deal. Coman reportedly wants a two-year deal with an option to extend by a further 12 months.

Both clubs are also set to submit an opening bid at around £29.7m, though it is unclear if that will be enough to land his services at this point in time.

Labelled “brilliant” by Julian Nagelsmann, Coman has registered six goals and four assists in 34 appearances across all competitions, and it isn’t difficult to see why his big-game experience would appeal to some of the Premier League elite.

Now, it remains to be seen who will win the race for his signature as the transfer rumour mill begins to descend into overdrive at Anfield.

'Feels like we're in rarified air' – WA face their toughest test in pursuit of history

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Veteran Ashton Turner believes WA’s chase of a rare Shield four-peat might be their toughest as they balance injuries, international duties and generational change

Tristan Lavalette04-Oct-2024Running out of gas, and players, Western Australia’s bid for a hat-trick of Sheffield Shield titles appeared in ruins deep into last season.WA endured adversity, ravaged by injuries and international departures as hungry competitors seemed to have finally overtaken them. But WA once again found a way, tapping into their reserves and resiliency to summon brilliant cricket at the business end culminating in a pummelling of Tasmania in a one-sided final.The last rites were spectacular with Joel Paris taking a blinder of a catch in the gully to clinch another title and trigger bedlam at the WACA.Those at the ground will never forget WA’s surge of momentum when everything they touched turned to gold. There were echoes of when Australia in the 2000s would get white hot and steamroll through exasperated opponents.Related

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Khawaja, Labuschagne, Head and Marsh named for first round of the Shield, Smith rested

Sheffield Shield preview: Western Australia chase history, Test stars to play early rounds

Australia sweat on Green as selection for India becomes complicated

Morris hopeful of early Shield return despite 'frustrating' injury issues

A match that appeared destined to go the distance finished in a whirlwind late on day four in fading light. For this golden group of WA cricketers, it was their sweetest triumph.Fast forward six months, ahead of WA’s Shield opener against Queensland at home starting on October 8, excitement is swirling around the old warhorse of the WACA. But there is also a feeling of uncertainty over whether WA can ward off the signs of slippage that was evident at times last season and continue their reign as the powerhouse of Australian domestic cricket.There won’t be complacency, with motivation found in the record books. The last team to win four in a row was when New South Wales lifted the Shield nine straight times from 1954-62. But no team has achieved the feat since the competition was expanded to six teams in 1977-78.WA (1987-89), Queensland (2000-02) and Victoria (2015-17) each fell short.”It [four in a row] is something we’ve spoken about in-house,” veteran WA batter Ashton Turner told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s great motivation, feels like we’re in rarified air. So it’s a really unique position.”Something we’re certainly aware of but in terms of motivation, you don’t become a professional cricketer without being internally competitive. Whether we’re playing dominoes or playing professional cricket, everyone in our squad is innately competitive.”Nothing will change this year from what has been a really successful blueprint over the last couple of seasons.”As gleaned from Shield history, so too other sports, winning four in a row is almost an impossible task. WA are finding this out the hard way in the One-Day Cup with the three-time champions starting the tournament with head-scratching losses to NSW and South Australia.

“One of the challenges after a really successful period is balancing the experienced senior playing group with sprinkling opportunities for young guys. We are mindful that there’s going to be another generation of Western Australian cricketers and we want to leave that generation in the healthiest place possible.”Ashton Turner on WA’s looming generational change

Issues are already evident. While WA’s famed continuity remains in place, with wicket-keeper/batter Josh Philippe’s defection to NSW their only major departure, depth will again be severely tested. A cautious approach is expected on injury-prone quicks Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris as they work their way back to full fitness.They will also have a number of players unavailable for stretches due to international duties. Depending on the severity of Cameron Green’s back injury, opener Cameron Bancroft and allrounder Aaron Hardie might be in the frame for Test duties.While rising offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli, who has been the fulcrum of the attack during the past two seasons, looms as a contender for Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka early next year.”History would suggest that we’re going to lean on a much bigger squad of players. We’re really fortunate enough to have 30 players in our squad and probably four or five extra guys who are not officially contracted,” Turner said.”One of the challenges after a really successful period is balancing the experienced senior playing group with sprinkling opportunities for young guys.”We are mindful that there’s going to be another generation of Western Australian cricketers and we want to leave that generation in the healthiest place possible.”WA do have exciting prospects in the squad. Dogged top-order batter Teague Wyllie will look to get back on track after falling away last season, notably struggling with his foot work, while 19-year-old quick Mahli Beardman’s raw pace helped him earn a surprise call-up in Australia’s recent white-ball tour of the UK.Cooper Connolly brought up a fifty on debut•Getty ImagesBut all eyes will be on Cooper Connolly, who seems poised for a breakout summer. Having recently debuted at the international level, Connolly, 21, is an x-factor and his electric allround skills might just provide a spark for WA. He made a swashbuckling 90 in last year’s Shield final on first-class debut batting at No.7.”He’ll be an exciting one and hopefully we’ll get to see him more on the back of what he’s been able to do in Shield and BBL finals,” Turner said. “I see a lot of similarities between him and Travis Head, whose versatility allows him to bat at the top or middle order across formats.”Cooper is one of those guys who can play a number of roles. That’s what you want within your team – to have a couple of guys who are really versatile and gel well.”But a position may not be available for Connolly to start the season with Mitchell Marsh and Hardie set to play against Queensland as specialist batters, leaving Connolly and Turner possibly facing a selection battle.Turner rejuvenated his red-ball career late in the 2022-23 season, smashing a match-turning century in the Shield final against Victoria. He started last season strongly, carving a niche as a Gilchrist-like counterattacking No.7, before his summer was cut short due to a knee injury sustained early in the BBL season.With his aggressive batting, handy offspin and renowned leadership, Turner is likely to play a big role for WA having missed out on last season’s title.”There’s no sugar coating, injuries are really frustrating. Fortunately, my body’s feeling as well as it has done for a while now,” he said.Turner made his comeback in the IPL, reuniting with his former WA coach Justin Langer at Lucknow to end a five-year absence in the tournament, before returning to Durham for the T20 Blast. He also played two County Championship matches, scoring 114 not out off 151 balls batting at No.5 against Nottinghamshire.”What I’ve done in the last 18 months in red-ball…probably playing more positively than I did in the first eight or nine years of my career,” Turner said.”We’re seeing more positive approaches to red-ball cricket with new players having grown up on T20s coming into the system and that’s been good for me.”Turner also used his time at Durham to pick the brain of coach Ryan Campbell, a former flamboyant WA batter-wicketkeeper and an early exponent of the scoop shot.”I actually didn’t cross paths with him [at WA], but he’s helped my game the last couple of seasons,” Turner said of Campbell, who played two ODIs for Australia in the early 2000s.”He spoke to me about the way he approached the game as a player and his aggressive mindset. I’ve seen a lot of similarities in coaching philosophies between guys like Justin Langer, Simon Katich, Adam Voges and Ryan Campbell, who applied their trade at a similar time in Western Australia.”Playing Shield is always difficult but I feel well prepared, both physically and technically, for the challenges of this season.”

Hardik Pandya's perseverance with short ball wins thrilling battle versus Livingstone

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The allrounder sent down a barrage of short balls at Old Trafford, and it resulted in his career-best performance

Nagraj Gollapudi18-Jul-20222:02

Why Hardik Pandya’s short-ball tactic worked

It is like watching two combatants trade punches ruthlessly in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. At one end is Hardik Pandya the bowler. His opponent is Liam Livingstone, the ultimate destroyer of the cricket ball. Pain, if felt, is never shown. Blinking is not an option.Hardik has just been brought back for his second spell in the
series decider at Old Trafford. His first spell of 4-3-2-2 had left England badly bruised. His victims were Jason Roy and Ben Stokes, who had tried to step out of his crease only to fall to a beautifully-planned short delivery rearing towards his throat.On the second ball of his fifth over – the 35th of the innings – Hardik faces Livingstone for the first time, and sends down a short delivery just outside off stump. Livingstone tries to hook but fails to connect. Hardik responds with a smile. It is the smile of a warrior who has recognised his equal.Related

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  • Report: Pandya and Pant power India to series win

  • Hardik Pandya's rare all-round feat, and Rishabh Pant's career-best innings

  • An innings Rishabh Pant will remember forever

Hardik places Ravindra Jadeja on the edge of the boundary at deep square leg. He also has a deep fine leg. There is no subtlety: Hardik is telling his opponent he is going for his head. The next ball is short again at 140 kph. This time Livingstone ducks and returns the smile.Now Livingstone is ready – he knows what is coming – and unleashes a pull so powerful that the ball smashes through the boards fencing the new stand under construction beyond deep square leg. The fifth delivery is short again from Hardik. Livingstone thinks about another pull, but checks his shot.One final round remains in the over. Another searing short one – the fifth in a row – from Hardik at 140kph. Livingstone doesn’t hold back either, and pulls, only to wear it on the grille of his helmet. Hardik goes up to check on his opponent.An amber alert has been issued across the UK on Sunday because of the heat wave. It is already hot, and Old Trafford is now simmering with excitement and anticipation.Hardik Pandya took four wickets with short deliveries at Old Trafford•Getty ImagesBefore Hardik begins his next over, Rohit fine-tunes Ravindra Jadeja’s position at deep square leg, signalling to Livingstone there is more short stuff coming his way. The plan is sound: Hardik is challenging Livingstone to take on the long square boundaries.The short ball disappears 88 metres over square leg, 12 more than the hit in the previous over. After hitting two of the six consecutive short balls for six, Livingstone steps out of his crease, thinking that perhaps the bowler will change his plan. But he is wrong, and has to duck out of the way of another short delivery.Is Hardik foolish for persisting with the barrage of short-pitched deliveries? Is he not becoming predictable and losing the battle? At the end of the game, Hardik revealed his mindset to Michael Atherton at the post-match presentation.”I don’t mind getting hit for six sixes as long as I take the wickets,” he says. “That’s his [Livingstone’s] game as well. He likes to take the chances on – some shots which he played I think, as a bowler, can break you.”But Hardik is far from broken. He has been pulled for two sixes, and yet he sends down an eighth consecutive short delivery at Livingstone. The ball is flying towards Jadeja, whose heels are a hair’s breadth from the boundary at deep backward square leg. He takes the catch and keeps his balance. Hardik and Rohit are wearing smiles of satisfaction.”What I have observed about Livingstone is that he likes to take the short ball on, and when someone does that it just gives me goosebumps – either you win that battle or either I win the battle,” Hardik said after the first innings at Old Trafford.”Even after two sixes, I told [the] captain as well: even if I go for four sixes, if I can take one wicket there, obviously it makes a big difference.”And the short stuff isn’t over with Livingstone’s departure. Two balls later, Hardik sends one down at Jos Buttler, who pulls from outside off towards deep midwicket. Almost everyone at Old Trafford thinks it is going for four, except for the person who has taken a start as soon as the batter rotated to play the shot.Jadeja runs like a cheetah, covering the ground between deep square leg and deep midwicket in a flash, and dives to complete a stunning catch. While everyone rushes to mob Jadeja, Hardik is smiling once again in the middle of the pitch.”I always feel that I am shameless as a bowler,” Hardik tells Atherton. What he actually meant to say was that he is thick-skinned. Winning the IPL title in his maiden season as captain of Gujarat Titans has allowed Hardik to think and plan differently.ESPNcricinfo LtdIn the first ODI at The Oval, Hardik bowled four wicketless overs for 22 runs. In the second at Lord’s, he took 2 for 28 in six overs. And in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence in the series decider at Old Trafford, Hardik produced a career-best performance: 4 for 24 in seven overs.According to Hardik, he found his rhythm days before the second T20I in Southampton, when he bowled in an empty net to rediscover his energy and speed. While he gets joy from bowling fast, Hardik says he is being smart about managing his workload. In the third ODI at Old Trafford, he pitched 27 deliveries short or short of a length according to ESPNcricinfo’s data log, giving away only 17 runs and taking four wickets.”I was smart. I only bend my back or only come out and bowl as quick as possible when required,” Hardik said after the game. “If you see couple of games back, I was bowling 130s, 132s [kph] not because I was not able to do it’ it was more about that situation. At that time, I felt that that would have been the ideal thing rather than coming and bending the back because they are used to top pace.”Today, the ground had big sides, and I wanted to focus and wanted them to take on the deep square leg player and the fine leg [fielder], and so that’s the reason I kept banging it hard and I was fancying my chances.”IPL captaincy has helped Hardik view his role differently: he is the main allrounder, but now he thinks like a leader. On Sunday, he had left the field briefly to strap his left hand, and as he was returning, he noticed that Rohit was about to bring on Yuzvendra Chahal from the Brian Statham end. Hardik jogged swiftly to take the ball and bowl that decisive second spell.Hardik’s contribution to India’s series win, however, did not end with the ball. While Rishabh Pant won the Player-of-the-Match award for his career-best, unbeaten 125 that sealed the chase, he couldn’t have without Hardik at the other end. Hardik’s calculated and aggressive 71 off 55 balls helped rescue India from 72 for 4, and he became the first Indian player to take four wickets and make a fifty-plus score in an ODI since Yuvraj Singh in 2011.Hunger, power, bowling smarts and intent define Hardik’s game now. The allrounder India have sorely missed for the past few years is now truly back in a vastly improved avatar.

It's good to be back at The Oval

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Around 2500 Surrey members had the chance to watch a Vitality Blast match against Hampshire live at The Oval. Here’s how it went

Tawhid Qureshi04-Sep-2020Choice of game
The last-minute u-turn that stopped the pilots having crowds at county matches had left myself and many other Surrey fans in a state of frustrated despondency, unsure if we would be able to watch any competitive live cricket at The Oval in 2020. Thankfully a huge amount of effort behind the scenes by Surrey enabled 2500 fortunate members to watch the T20 Blast fixture between Surrey and Hampshire, the first professional cricket match to host spectators this summer.In a year of the unexpected, few would have predicted Surrey to be winless at the start of September, even taking into account the truncated season. England call-ups and injuries have hit Surrey hard, so a win was vital to keep the season and hopes of reaching the T20 Finals Day alive.The arrangements
On entering the ground, it was apparent that people were at ease with the social distancing measures in place, perhaps since similar measures have been experienced at most public spaces since the lockdown. As The Oval had been part of phase one of the government-endorsed test events with a practice match back in July, the staff inside the ground were cheerfully drilled in managing the social-distancing measures. Clear signage directed me to my seat via a one-way system, and as before alternate rows were used as well as numerous gaps between seats. In an effort to further improve social distancing, some people were asked to wear sensors around their necks, presumably to monitor and understand crowd movement, yet again demonstrating Surrey’s commitment to providing the best and safest spectator experience. We were then forced to wait even longer for the resumption of live cricket, as rain threatened to spoil things. Luckily the skies eventually became clear and a shortened game got underway.Key performers
The tantalising match-up between Pakistan pace sensation Shaheen Afridi and the legendary Hashim Amla was something that I was looking forward to most; a game within a game. It was a contest that took place well into the night, with the full moon visible behind the pavilion. In Afridi’s second over Amla struck two sweetly timed boundaries to demonstrate his enduring class and revive memories of his Test triple-hundred on the same ground. Understandably, given the uniquely arduous tour of England that Afridi has experienced, he wasn’t able to quite live up to his billing. During the 64-run partnership between Will Jacks and Amla, which proved to be the bedrock of the Surrey chase, in many ways it was Jacks who overshadowed his more illustrious partner. He looked assured and eager to take any runs on offer from the start, eventually guiding Surrey home with a dominant unbeaten 45; earlier his solitary over of bowling had produced a surprise wicket, sealing a Player-of-the-Match performance in my eyes.Daniel Moriarty’s quietly impressive season bowling left-arm spin continued; he was the pick of the Surrey bowlers, particularly when bowling in tandem with his shrewd captain, the veteran Gareth Batty. Successive Hampshire batsmen were unable to break the stranglehold placed on them by the slower bowlers, which gave the Surrey batsman a very achievable target of 80 runs in 11 overs.Wow moment
Rory Burns’ excellently judged boundary catch midway through the Hampshire innings drew loud cheers on an otherwise quiet night. Amla also showed how his advancing years haven’t affected his graceful striking of the ball, with several strokes down the ground generating a pleasing thud from the bat. But the shot of the day was from Jacks: a brutal four over cover off Afridi’s bowling. Having done something similar in Afridi’s first over, a change of ends resulted in an even more commanding boundary, the ball bouncing a couple of times before crashing into the advertising boards.Social-distancing measures were in place at The Oval•PA Images via Getty ImagesThe crowd
It was actually refreshing to see a T20 Blast crowd solely focused on the game rather than socialising and drinking. In recent years The Oval has earned itself the somewhat dubious tag of being “London’s biggest beer garden” but there was no beer snake or loutish behaviour on show. It was also unusual for a T20 Blast fixture not to be a sellout, with half of the stands closed and the ground at about 10% capacity. At times there was an eerie silence, and the chat between players in the middle could be heard. The low-key nature of the event meant that the usual accompanying music, boundary-edge flame burners and crowd catch contest – touching the ball itself is now taboo – were all absent. Spectators were left to amuse themselves and did so by finding entertainment in the seemingly banal; during the innings break, every time the rope used to dry the outfield almost deflected into a pile of saw dust, a big cheer and laughter was heard. The happiness and relief of being able to witness live cricket was evident in the genuine warmth of the applause when the players took to the field. When Reece Topley delivered the first ball to Felix Organ, despite there being no possibility of a catch behind the stumps, an excited “ooh” swept around the semi-populated stands, echoing the crowd’s excitement.Marks out of 10
A victorious 9 to match Surrey’s comprehensive nine-wicket win. Only the persistent rain and the curtailed nature of the game denied the perfect return to watching “in the flesh” cricket. I’m firmly hoping that the win will mark a turning point in Surrey’s season, but more importantly Surrey’s trailblazing staging of the game will surely be of benefit to cricket fans around the country and beyond, as empty stadiums gradually welcome back the most important asset of the game: people
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Forget Santos & Caicedo: Chelsea have "one of the most exciting DMs in Europe"

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Are Chelsea outside challengers for the Premier League title this season?

Based on the weekend’s results, they are, as Enzo Maresca’s Blues comfortably got the better of Burnley 2-0 on the road to remain second spot in the early league standings, while Liverpool and Manchester City fell to unwanted defeats.

Maresca’s men managed to pick up that routine win, even with Moises Caicedo out of the starting lineup at Turf Moor, as Chelsea’s standout £115m midfielder was rested after a gruelling international break with Ecuador.

Thankfully, the defensive midfield partnership that did start in Lancashire in Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos rose to the occasion, with Santos stealing many of the plaudits at the full-time whistle, despite Fernandez’s late strike sealing all three points.

Santos' standout performance vs Burnley

Fernandez rightfully received plenty of praise at the final whistle, with the World Cup winner now up to 11 goals and ten assists in 2025 for the Blues as a forward-thinking midfield spark.

But, with Caicedo out of the starting XI, Chelsea also needed a talent prepared to dig deep and do the required defensive work that the South American does week in week out, with the 24-year-old averaging 5.2 ball recoveries and winning 5.4 duels per Premier League contest this season, away from also chipping in with three goals and an assist.

Thankfully, Santos stepped up into his role effortlessly against Scott Parker’s hosts, with two tackles won, seven duels won, and four ball recoveries amassed, showing off the 21-year-old’s full-blooded approach.

On top of that, Santos also ended the game with one big chance created from his 34 accurate passes, with analyst Raj Chohan even stating that he provides a “lot of value” to the team as a stellar stand-in option for the likes of Caicedo.

The promising number 17 will hope he can get more first-team minutes soon, away from being in the shadow of the ex-Brighton and Hove Albion man.

But, he isn’t the only midfield asset being directly compared to Caicedo now.

Chelsea's next Caicedo

It’s clear that Chelsea have great faith in the youngsters rising the ranks at Stamford Bridge currently, with Maresca prepared to start a whole plethora of exciting, young talents, away from just throwing Santos into the first-team spotlight.

Chalkboard

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

Indeed, in attack, Estevao has been handed chances galore this season to impress, with a Premier League goal and assist coming the hotly tipped Brazilian’s way subsequently.

Moreover, Marc Guiu would gift Fernandez his goal at Turf Moor on a plate, with the 19-year-old now becoming a regular impact player off the bench. Could Dario Essugo be the next starlet to make a wild impression?

Already, the £18.5m summer purchase – despite only being 20 years of age – has shone in some challenging environments for two loan sides in Chaves and Las Palmas in Liga Portugal and La Liga respectively.

His attritional, yet polished displays, have even led to scout Jacek Kulig hailing the Portuguese enforcer as a “one-man army.”

Moreover, Kulig also boldly labelled Essugo as “one of the most exciting DMs in Europe” for his continued excellence with Las Palmas, even as they succumbed to relegation.

In the current Chelsea set-up, based on his numbers last season in that relegation-troubled camp, he would surely shine as bright as Caicedo has managed in West London.

Games played

18

27

Goals scored

0

1

Assists

0

0

Touches*

40.8

48.4

Accurate passes*

24.5 (85%)

30.0 (86%)

Tackles*

1.7

2.2

Ball recoveries*

4.2

4.4

Clearances*

1.7

1.6

Total duels won*

5.3

4.9

Looking at the table above, it’s clear that Essugo will be prepared to battle and tussle for Chelsea when first-team chances eventually arrive at his door, winning 4.9 duels per game last season in La Liga action, not a million miles off Caicedo’s 5.4 tally this campaign back in England.

Unfortunately, the only drawback for Essugo so far is that he is sidelined with a nasty injury at the moment, but he did shine briefly in Caicedo’s place against AC Milan in pre-season, with 100% of his ground duels won from just 17 minutes of action.

Thankfully, Maresca has Santos to fall back on in defensive midfield for the time being, if Caicedo continues to look fatigued.

But, do not rule out Essugo exploding onto the scene when he returns from the treatment room, with Chelsea’s midfield options full to the brim with quality.

Shades of Kante: 8/10 Chelsea man had his "best performance" yet vs Burnley

As Chelsea beat Burnley 2-0 in the Premier League at Turf Moor, which player put in their “best performance” for the club, looking N’Golo Kanté-esque?

Nov 22, 2025

0 tackles, 0 interceptions: Rangers flop must never start under Rohl again

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

It would be fair to say that it has not been the ideal week for Danny Rohl and Rangers, with the new boss already in danger of falling into Russell Martin territory at Ibrox.

Having failed to beat ten-man Braga a week ago, the Gers have since slipped to two frustrating draws against Falkirk and Dundee United, the latter of which was only rescued following a last-gasp Nedim Bajrami spot-kick on Wednesday night.

At a time of initial chaos at Celtic following Brendan Rodgers’ resignation, alongside a recent slump for Premiership leaders Hearts, the Light Blues have failed to capitalise, now finding themselves still nine points off the pace in fourth spot.

Of course, much of the blame will lie at the feet of the departed Kevin Thelwell and co, following a simply bizarre summer of recruitment, although Rohl himself should not be free of criticism amid his continued, head-scratching selection decisions.

Rangers' worst performers against Dundee United

After the highs of scoring his first Rangers goal against Livingston not too long ago, Emmanuel Fernandez was brought crashing back down to earth following arguably his worst display for the club to date in midweek, having been particularly at fault for the hosts’ opener.

The 24-year-old simply allowed goalscorer Zachary Sapsford to breeze past him down that left flank, while his overall woes were evident as he lost eight of his 18 total duels, as per Sofascore, alongside the hapless Nasser Djiga.

All eyes are on that struggling backline, although the attacking unit must also shoulder their share of the blame, with Bojan Miovski’s early Rangers woes continuing, having scored just once in the league following his arrival from Girona.

A former hero at Aberdeen – and at one stage lauded as the “best player” in the Premiership in his position – the 26-year-old has yet to fire in his new surroundings, with his inability to provide a physical focal point laid bare after losing eight duels himself against the Tangerines.

The man behind him, Danilo, was also notably ineffective, having failed to convert any of his five shots, while Djeidi Gassama was also lacking on the flanks, having lost the ball 20 times from just 56 touches.

A moment of magic from Jayden Meghoma, alongside Bajrami’s 98th-minute penalty, helped to spare most of those blushes somewhat, although heading into a hectic festive schedule, Rohl must surely ring the changes.

On the evidence again of Wednesday night, the aforementioned Djiga must well be one of them – and not just in the short-term.

The Rangers star who must not start again under Rohl

As the old saying goes, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

Chalkboard

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

As harsh as it may be, we are approaching similar territory with regard to Djiga, with the on-loan Wolverhampton Wanderers man again looking so underpar at Tannadice.

Calamity after calamity has been the theme of his Ibrox stint to date, memorably sent off on his home Premiership debut against Dundee, while going AWOL in the desperate defeat at Club Brugge in the early weeks of the season.

Too many errors to count, in truth, with the 23-year-old again somewhat culpable last night, having failed to engage with that man Sapsford, as the Dundee goalscorer surged into the area.

For the home side’s second of the night, Djiga was also again at the scene of the crime, tamely turning his back as Amar Fatah weaved his way through to score.

Quite why Rohl – albeit while limited with regard to alternatives – is persisting with the summer signing is to be debated, with the defender’s woes also seen in how he failed to register a single tackle or interception, nor provide a single key pass from his centre-back berth.

Perhaps a saving grace for Rohl might be the upcoming African Cup of Nations, with Djiga set to link up with Burkina Faso as early as 15 December, thus ruling him out of contention until the New Year.

Touches

70

Pass accuracy

92%

Key passes

0

Possession lost

7

Tackles

0

Interceptions

0

Ground duels won

2/3

Aerial duels won

1/4

Dribbled past

1

While it is yet to be made clear whether there is a break clause in the 6 foot 4 flop’s loan deal, perhaps January might then provide a perfect opportunity to send him back to Molineux, once he returns from international duty.

In an ideal world, that scenario would ensure that Wednesday’s draw represents the final time that Djiga lines up, or at least starts under the Rohl regime, with the German coach in desperate need of a different solution at centre-back.

His job might depend on it.

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£65m Newcastle duo should be fuming with Howe's team selection vs Spurs

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

The 2025/26 season has been one full of inconsistency for Newcastle United. Whether it be on the field or in the treatment room, they cannot seem to string a positive period together.

After drawing 2-2 in last-gasp fashion with Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday evening, it meant that Eddie Howe’s men have not won back-to-back games since the end of October.

In the Premier League, they are yet to win consecutive fixtures all campaign long. This cannot go on forever and sooner rather than later, the Magpies are going to need to sustain a period of form.

They have, of course, been hampered by Alexander Isak’s departure but in their bid to replace the iconic Swede, they have not been helped by Yoane Wissa. Signed from Brentford, the DR Congo striker is yet to be seen in the famous black and white stripes due to injury.

That said, he is nearing a return. Perhaps the former Bees forward could be the man to spark some extra life in this Newcastle team.

The tactical tweaks Eddie Howe needs to make at Newcastle

To cut Howe some slack, he has not been helped out by a number of his chief lieutenants this season.

In the last few weeks, Nick Pope has become something of a calamity between the sticks and even if he is now injured, it would not be a surprise to see Aaron Ramsdale replace Newcastle’s no.1 long-term. That feels like a necessary change if they are to improve at the back.

The defence has not been helped by injury either. Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall have both missed games and if Howe can now keep the English duo injury-free, they will be key to any improvement Newcastle make in the future.

Hall, in particular, has been outstanding since returning. He was hailed as the “best player on the field” against Spurs by BBC North East correspondent Andy Sixsmith and looks every bit a left-back who should be in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad next summer.

Hall’s return has led to one key tactical tweak. Dan Burn is no longer playing at left-back. In that position, he had floundered and flattered to deceive, notably described as “the stuff of nightmares” in that role.

It’s in midfield and up top where Howe has struggled to find the most consistency. Summer arrival Anthony Elanga is still without a goal since arriving and Wissa’s injury problems are well-documented.

Anthony Gordon is arguably in the worst form of his Toon career too, scoring just once in nine league outings throughout 2025/26. It’s just as well they also have Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes to choose from in wide areas.

Gordon has been one of the biggest scapegoats of the ongoing campaign but there’s a bigger one in the middle of the park and it’s time for Howe to drop him to the bench.

Newcastle's long-term servant must no longer start regularly

This has been a hugely frustrating season for the likes of Elanga and Gordon but it’s arguably been a worse one for Joelinton, whose performances in the middle of the park are waning.

Signed as a striker by Steve Bruce in a then club-record deal, Howe has worked wonders with the Brazilian, turning him into a no-nonsense midfielder who loves a duel.

He’s been one of the most important components of Howe’s squad throughout the year, delivering his ‘greatest performance’ for the club during that League Cup win at Wembley last term.

Since then, however, it’s been a tale of woe for the former Hoffenheim man. Excusing his first term in England, this is arguably his worst since moving from Germany.

Chalkboard

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

In the words of journalist Mark Douglas in mid-October, he has been “nowhere near his best” in recent memory, leading to sections of the fanbase calling for him to be dropped from the XI.

He remained on the bench in the defeat to Marseille in Europe but has started the last three league games. His form, however, is not getting much better.

Journalist Charlie Bennett noted that Joelinton was “very sloppy” on the ball during Newcastle’s 2-2 draw with Spurs on Tuesday. The club’s number seven lost the ball 11 times out of 49 touches and had a pass accuracy of only 83%.

Minutes played

90

Touches

49

Accurate passes

29/35 (83%)

Key passes

1

Crosses

0

Shots

1

Dribbles

0

Possession lost

11x

Duels won

3/12

Judging by recent performances, which have been gritty but lacking composure, the likes of Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock must be wondering what they need to do to start more games.

There is no dislodging the likes of Sandro Tonali and skipper Bruno Guimaraes but there is an extra slot that is being filled, perhaps undeservedly, by Joelinton.

Willock, signed from Arsenal in a deal worth £25m has barely been seen this term. He’s fallen behind in the pecking order and the days of him running riot during that famous loan spell are now a distant memory.

Likewise for Ramsey. He joined from Aston Villa in the summer for a whopping £40m and even if he has struggled with injury, he should now be starting more matches.

The fact that error-prone Joelinton is starting ahead of them on a regular basis should leave the pair rather angry. Newcastle needed some extra drive and the ability to hold onto possession. Ramsey, in particular, with his ability to surge through midfield, could have offered this against Spurs.

Lewis Miley has started the odd game recently and was one of their best players in the win over Everton last weekend. Even he had a right to be fuming that Joelinton has started more games than him.

It’s time for a regular spot on the bench for the big Brazilian.

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Antoine Semenyo chooses between Man Utd and Liverpool

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Manchester United and Liverpool have both been linked with signing Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, but it is Ruben Amorim’s side who are in pole position ahead of the January transfer window.

Semenyo is one of the most impressive wide players in the Premier League currently, scoring six goals and registering three assists in the competition leading into the international break.

The 25-year-old is wanted by a host of top clubs, with United among those thought to be right in the mix to snap him up, potentially even in the January transfer window.

Semenyo has a £65m release clause in his current Bournemouth contract for a certain time period, with David Ornstein reporting the Cherries will effectively be powerless to stop a departure in early January.

Liverpool look to be the most interested out of United’s Premier League adversaries, as they look for an injection of attacking quality midway through the season, with the Reds believing Semenyo can be their next Sadio Mane.

Man Utd leading Liverpool in Semenyo race with player keen on move

According to a report from Spain, Manchester United are the front-runners to acquire Semenyo’s signature from Bournemouth in January, with INEOS seeing him as a top target for the Red Devils.

The report claims it’s “hard to believe Manchester United won’t secure the signing” due to their willingness to pay the release fee and Semenyo being interested in a move to Old Trafford.

They are ahead of Liverpool in the race, which will no doubt delight the supporters, with Amorim possibly eyeing a long-term replacement for Marcus Rashford, should he leave Old Trafford for good at the end of this season.

Semenyo feels like an ideal signing for United in the mould of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, in terms of players who have proven themselves in the Premier League and are ready to make the step-up to a bigger club.

The Ghanaian provides strong end product on a consistent basis, and has scored twice in three Premier League appearances against the Red Devils, while Pep Guardiola recently hailed his ability, calling him an “extraordinary” player.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was asked earlier this week about the situation, saying he isn’t worried about losing his star player in January.

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Despite this, it is easy to envisage Semenyo’s head being turned by a move to United, especially if they continue their recent improved form under Amorim, and he would be a fabulous addition to the attack.

Man Utd have their own version of Semenyo & he's Amorim's "best player"

Roki Sasaki Explains Decision to Sign With Dodgers Over Other MLB Teams

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Roki Sasaki addressed the elephant in the room while getting officially introduced as the Los Angeles Dodgers' latest star free-agent signing on Wednesday.

Sasaki, a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher from Japan, arrived to MLB as an amateur international free agent, meaning his first contract will include six years of club control and a rookie salary in 2025. That allowed every MLB team to be in the mix to sign Sasaki, but like so many other star free agents the past few years, Sasaki chose to sign with the defending World Series champions.

Sasaki was asked Wednesday about his decision to pick the Dodgers over his offers from other teams—a move that disgruntled many in the MLB world as Los Angeles added another high-profile star while many teams continue to sit on the bench in free agency.

"I think the No. 1 thing that stood out was the stability of the front office," Sasaki said Wednesday through a translator. "I had the opportunity to speak with a lot of teams, and they had a lot of appealing features. But overall, when I looked at the general consensus, I thought that the Dodgers were at the top."

About 20 MLB teams reached out to Sasaki back in December in hopes of luring him to its city. He reportedly met with at least eight teams in person in Los Angeles—the Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants.

Teams were eliminated by Sasaki until it was down to three finalists: the Dodgers, Padres and Blue Jays. Sasaki opted to follow in the footsteps of Blake Snell, Teoscar Hernandez, Michael Conforto and Hyeseong Kim this offseason and choose the Dodgers above other offers.

"As I transition to the major leagues, I am deeply honored that many teams reached out to me with such enthusiasm, especially considering I haven't achieved much in Japan," Sasaki said. "I'm truly grateful to all the team officials who took the time to meet with me through this process.

"Every organization helped me in its own way, and it was an incredibly difficult decision to choose just one. … I am fully aware that there are many different opinions out there, but now that I have decided to come [to Los Angeles], I want to move forward with the belief that the decision I made is the best one."

Sasaki now joins the Dodgers' loaded starting rotation featuring fellow Japanese stars in Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani, as well as Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May.

"It wasn't a priority to me if there was or was not a Japanese player on a team as I was looking at all the teams," Sasaki said. "Being able to play with Ohtani and Yamamoto—both exceptional players—I'm really looking forward to playing with them, and not just them, but the rest of the team that is incredible as well."

Hal Steinbrenner Describes Yankees' Recent 'Good Meeting' With Juan Soto

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The biggest bullet point on the New York Yankees' offseason checklist is retaining Juan Soto by giving him a new deal.

The Yankees took the first step by meeting with Soto on Monday in California, which included him speaking with chairman and managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, team president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone and senior adviser Omar Minaya. Steinbrenner said it was a "good meeting" that had "very honest back-and-forth dialogue." He didn't offer many other details. Soto told the Yankees how he thinks the team could improve in the future.

But it sounds like Steinbrenner and the rest of the Yankees front office hope to have Soto return to the Yankees lineup in 2025.

"Our fans really enjoyed having him in New York," Steinbrenner said, via ESPN's Jorge Castillo. "He's definitely a significant part of why we got to the World Series. I've got ears. I know what's expected of me. So, look, it's been a priority. We wouldn't have gone out to the West Coast if it wasn't."

Steinbrenner said he had "no idea" if the Yankees were confident in retaining Soto, but that "we'll be in the mix. I'll leave it at that."

The Yankees aren't the only team vying for a chance to sign Soto this offseason. Soto has met with the New York Mets, the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays. He is expected to meet with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers this week, and the Philadelphia Phillies are also interested in meeting with him.