Over the last couple of seasons, Arsenal have become known for their incredible defensive record, which has no doubt made them Premier League title contenders.

Mikel Arteta’s side have conceded the fewest goals in each of the last two campaigns, with their impressive ability in the defensive third once again being apparent in 2025/26.

The Gunners have conceded just 10 goals in the first 16 league games of the season, a tally that is five fewer than any other side in the division at this stage.

The Spaniard has been able to rely upon the immediate quality within the backline, whilst also having phenomenal backup options – allowing for needed rotation.

However, such an area has become a huge problem in recent weeks, with Arteta simply being helpless to the issues that have arisen in North London as of late.

How Arsenal have been left short defensively

Arsenal’s most consistent backline in 2025/26 has often remained the same, which has no doubt contributed to their incredible defensive record this season.

Gabriel and William Saliba have often been the starting centre-backs, continuing their excellent partnership, with Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori filling in at right and left-back respectively.

However, such a unit has been ripped apart in recent weeks, with both centre-backs missing together during the end of November and start of December.

The Brazilian still remains sidelined, whilst the Frenchman has returned to the backline in recent weeks, subsequently helping Arteta’s men secure a 2-1 win over Wolves last weekend.

Backup centre-back Cristhian Mosquera subsequently filled one of the roles in the absence of Gabriel, but he too is still sidelined, after picking up an ankle injury against Brentford.

The Spaniard has now been out of action for nearly three weeks, but could yet miss another month of action before returning back to anywhere near full fitness.

As a result, the Gunners only have two fit centre-backs available at Arteta’s disposal, with Timber even filling in at the heart of the defence last week after Ben White’s injury.

The big-money star who could solve Arsenal’s defensive woes

With January appearing rapidly on the horizon, Arteta and the Arsenal board are faced with the opportunity to improve their squad, or rely on the options available to make it until the end of the season.

The Spaniard could call upon youth options if needed, but the 43-year-old will no doubt want Premier League-proven options to help the side in their hunt for title glory.

There’s little doubt that Saliba and Gabriel would be the starting partnership when fully fit, but the pair have only been able to start alongside one another in just 56% of league outings.

Both have been plagued with various niggles which have disrupted their progress, which could force the board to renegotiate with clubs over deals for some of their former targets.

Countless defenders have been on their radar in previous months, but a deal for Murillo could make perfect sense in the upcoming January transfer window.

The Gunners have once again been linked with a move for the Nottingham Forest star in recent weeks, which could lead to a possible switch in January.

However, any deal for the 23-year-old would likely be an expensive one, with the Brazilian penning a new long-term contract at the City Ground over the last couple of months.

Despite the prospect of a mammoth price tag, he would be worth every penny, with his numbers from the ongoing campaign showcasing his quality in and out of possession.

Murillo has completed 83% of the passes he’s attempted to date, with many of which being made forward rather than across the backline or back to his goalkeeper.

Subscribe to the newsletter for expert transfer insight Get deeper analysis: subscribe to the newsletter for data-driven coverage of Arsenal’s defensive options and transfer targets like Murillo. Receive clear breakdowns of stats, scouting context and what potential signings mean for the squad. Subscribe Subscribe to the newsletter for expert transfer insight Get deeper analysis: subscribe to the newsletter for data-driven coverage of Arsenal’s defensive options and transfer targets like Murillo. Receive clear breakdowns of stats, scouting context and what potential signings mean for the squad.

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He’s completed 4.6 progressive passes per 90, whilst also registering 4.7 passes into the final third – potentially offering a creative option to Arteta’s squad.

Murillo – PL stats (2025/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

10

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

83%

Progressive passes

4.6

Passes into final third

4.7

Tackles made

1.6

Interceptions made

2.1

Blocks made

1.6

Recoveries made

4.9

Stats via FBref

However, his defensive numbers are just as impressive, subsequently winning 1.6 tackles and making 2.1 interceptions per 90 in the Premier League this season.

Such numbers have led to the Brazilian receiving huge credit in recent times, with journalist Dean Jones labelling the youngster as “one of the best in the Premier League”.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the Forest star would cost, it’s apparent that he would be a phenomenal addition for Arteta and his first-team squad.

He could offer an immediate and long-term solution to the issues to the problems at centre-back, which could help the club become serial winners in England’s top-flight.

Related Bad news for Nwaneri: Arsenal have already agreed to sign their next Dowman

Nwaneri could have some serious competition for game time at Arsenal in the future.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes

Newcastle United’s summer transfer window has left much to be desired, with PIF and Eddie Howe yet to prove that this year’s dealings have been as on-the-money as the first several years of this ambitious project.

Anthony Elanga, for example, ended a long and arduous search for a right winger in August, moving to St. James’ Park from Nottingham Forest for a £55m fee and with a weight of expectation attached.

But the Swedish winger has been anything but effective for his new club, with his big-money arrival and failure to produce reminiscent of Florian Thauvin before him.

Florian Thauvin's time at Newcastle

Newcastle signed French winger Thauvin from Marseille for a hefty £13m back in 2015, viewed as an up-and-coming superstar who could help guide the Magpies forward during those dark Mike Ashley-led days.

Named the Ligue 1 Player of the Month for September, Thauvin received his first call-up to the Les Bleus national set-up since 2019 in October, scoring on his return in a World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan.

A career journeyman, there’s no question that Thauvin was at his lowest ebb – or thereabouts – when moving to Newcastle, too young and inconsistent to thrive in the Premier League. He featured 13 times in the English top division, starting three matches, before returning to Marseille, having failed to adapt.

However, Thauvin, now 32, is enjoying quite the late-career revival in his homeland with RC Lens, having scored five goals and supplied two assists across 16 Ligue 1 fixtures this term.

Elanga might feel like the new version of Thauvin, disappointing from the right flank, but he’s been selected as the leading man on Howe’s right wing and has only Jacob Murphy for competition.

Thauvin was something of a pointless buy in hindsight, and there’s a sense that PIF have repeated that purchase with another squad member in 2025.

Howe must be worried he's repeated Thauvin mistake

Elanga will be Newcastle’s leading right winger over the next few years without transfer intervention, but the same cannot be said for Jacob Ramsey, who arrived from Aston Villa for a £42.5m figure during the summer transfer window and has struggled to establish himself in the pecking order.

Ramsey, 24, has made 144 appearances in the Premier League, scoring 14 goals and registering 14 assists, but he has been reduced to a bit-part role on Tyneside, with injuries and struggles for form inhibiting him.

He’s enjoyed some measure of success in Newcastle’s first team, winning a respectable amount of duels for Newcastle this season while trying to be progressive with his passing.

However, Ramsey’s opportunities have been few and far between, and with Lewis Miley on the up and Newcastle interest in former academy product Elliot Anderson simmering in the background, the former Villan’s chances may become slimmer and slimmer.

Jacob Ramsey – Premier League Form 25/26

Stats (* per game)

#

Matches (starts)

8 (3)

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches*

34.3

Accurate passes*

24.5 (91%)

Chances created*

1.0

Dribbles*

0.8

Ball recoveries*

3.8

Tackles + interceptions*

1.2

Duels (won)*

2.5 (53%)

Data via Sofascore

Thauvin didn’t work out, but Newcastle had signed Ayoze Perez for a small fee only the season before, and he went on to become a prolific and consistent right-sided forward, one of the brightest sparks in that pre-PIF world.

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Ramsey’s departure, likewise, wouldn’t be too keenly felt by the Toon side, even with his profile having been coveted and secured during the summer. He’s passionate and committed, but he needs to do more, and currently looks like he will be hard-pressed for a long run of minutes under Howe’s wing.

Ramsey needs to improve throughout the business months of the season, but there’s no question that he’s a naturally gifted and industrious midfielder, hailed by Steven Gerrard when coming up at Aston Villa for being “undroppable” and with a future at the top of the England national set-up.

That hasn’t happened yet, with injuries playing a defining part there. Analyst Raj Chohan has rather scathingly remarked that Newcastle have “wasted their bag” on the Englishman, and in this, there are frustrating parallels with Thauvin well before him.

Related Newcastle in talks to sell £25k-p/w star who Howe called the "complete package"

He wants to leave…

Posts 1 ByDominic Lund

According to The Independent, Liverpool want to sign Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles in this summer’s transfer window.

Lascelles, who has also been linked with Chelsea, impressed for Newcastle during the 2017-18 campaign.

The centre-back was seen as an outside bet to make the England squad for the 2018 World Cup, but was somewhat surprisingly overlooked by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.

There is no question that Lascelles is making strides forward, and it is not a surprise to see top-four clubs being linked with the 24-year-old at this stage of his career.

[ad_pod ]

The Newcastle fans have been reacting to the transfers rumours, and it seems that the bulk are desperate for Lascelles to stay with the club this summer.

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That said, the general consensus is that Lascelles should be allowed to leave if Liverpool match the £75m that they paid Southampton for Netherlands centre-back Virgil van Dijk during the January transfer window.

A selection of the Twitter reaction in relation to Lascelles can be seen below:

The first few weeks of the season are always a bit ‘bandwagon’.

Early results can be a little deceiving, with teams up and down the division searching for full fitness and rhythm, allowing for some under the radar sides to creep up the table and generate much optimism.

Few predicted anything other than defeat for West Ham at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on Sunday, but the Hammers turned in a mightily impressive performance to expose the weaknesses in the Gunners’ unit, and it’s fair to say that the 2-0 win has generated a great deal of positivity in the east end of the capital.

But was it just a flash in the pan? We at Football FanCast don’t think so, and here are FIVE reasons we’re expecting a genuinely impressive season from the Irons…

So much quality

The financial power of the Premier League is now well and truly coming to the fore.

In previous season’s only the very elite would have been able to snap up Ligue 1’s top assist-maker, but now, no disrespect to the east Londoners, West Ham are also able to compete.

The Hammers used their Europa League qualification – albeit the qualifiers ended their tournament before it truly began – to lure in some proven quality, with Dimitri Payet certainly the standout signing. A champions League runner-up in the shape of Angelo Ogbonna has also been snapped up, while Pedro Obiang from Sampdoria had long been talked about as one of Serie A’s top emerging talents.

Beyond the additions West Ham have Mauro Zarate, Cheikhou Kouyate, Aaron Cresswell and Diafra Sakho in their ranks, too. With such quality, there’s no reason that Europa League qualification, and maybe even a top four push, is out of reach.

The Slaven Bilic effect

The atmosphere at Upton Park has been a little toxic over the course of the past few years. Even when results were positive, Sam Allardyce was by no means a popular figure, with his direct brand of football and mannerisms irking many of the Hammers’ faithful.

Irons fans were ridiculed by some for wanting more, with the ‘you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone’ line being wheeled out, but in Bilic they have a manager more in tune with what the supporters crave.

A cult hero in East London during his playing days, Bilic wears his heart on his sleeve – as his Europa League qualification antics displayed – and this sort of emotion and passion, although cliché, has re-forged a relationship between the touchline and the stands. As well as that, he’s a tactically switched on coach, as shown at the Emirates Stadium, who seems to have a real ‘buy-in’ from his current squad.

Emotion

Emotion in football cannot be discounted. Although those who follow the stats will boil it all down to numbers and odds, occasionally just getting carried away can be enough to help exceeding expectations – just look at Liverpool’s ‘we’re gonna win the league’ antics in 2013/14.

With West Ham now in their last season at Upton Park, donning a retro home kit, with a club hero in charge, there’s a real sense of nostalgia surrounding matters, and with the crowd firmly behind the team, which is full of quality, who knows what’s possible.

Depth

As well as the aforementioned quality of the XI, West Ham have plenty of depth. Andy Carroll and Enner Valencia are both injured, but when they return they’ll give Bilic another two quality options up front, while in defence James Collins was on the bench at Arsenal and Carl Jenkinson will provide another right-back option when available to play.

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16-year-old Reece Oxford’s emergence as a capable first-team defensive midfielder is also encouraging, and could allow Bilic to go with a 4-4-2 diamond regularly after an extremely promising debut.

Free of the European burden

Yes the Europa League qualification exit at the hands of Astra Giurgui was embarrassing for the Londoners, but the burden of Thursday night football and a potentially very tricky group has been dodged.

There’s a definite correlation between dips in domestic results and playing Europe’s second club competition, so the removal of a host of Thursday night fixtures is a positive from a glass half-full perspective.

Supporters of the club would have wanted continental football in their last season at Upton Park, but, in truth, West Ham may be better off without it.

Required to hit just 2 for a win Delhi finished the formalities withall their 10 wicket intact to register a facile win over Jammu andKashmir on the third and final day of the North Zone Ranji Trophymatch at the Maulana Azad Stadium in Jammu on Saturday.Resuming at the score of 17 for no loss, J&K were guided by a fineunbeaten 117 by Kanwaljeet Singh. After the fall of the openers VidhyaBhaskar (28) and A Bhatti (4) in quick succession, Dhruv Mahajan (55)and Singh came together for a 85 run third wicket partnership.Thereafter, Though Kanwaljeet Singh held the fort on one end, he ranout of partners at regular intervals. By the time the J&K inningsfolded up at 269, Singh had remained at the crease for 259 minutes andfaced 204 deliveries during which he found the signboards on 13occasions.But with Delhi having scored a mamoth 466, the target was a paltry 2runs for a Delhi win. The openers were aided by a wide sent down byKanwaljeet in first over of the innings. The second over Ashu Danifound the boundary off the fourth ball to signal the end ofproceedings in favour of Delhi.

Chances are running out for fringe players to make a decisive impact on the National Selectors before the final 15 names are announced that will represent South Africa at the World Cup in February 2003. There are only a few matches left in the Standard Bank Cup and a South Africa A three day match against Pakistan in Pietermaritzburg before the announcement deadline on 31 December.Gary Kirsten took his chance against Pakistan in Paarl with open hands and his hundred and match winning innings must now have him firmly etched into the squad.Daryll Cullinan, included in the team for Pietermaritzburg, must now do the same if he is to make the final 15. One of the most experienced and technically correct batsmen in South Africa he will have to do something extra ordinary to show that he is up to the pressure that will be placed on him during the World Cup.The National Selection panel has named the following team to represent South Africa A in the three-day match against Pakistan in Pietermaritzburg from the 21st to 23rd of December.Daryll Cullinan (captain), Justin Ontong (vice-captain), Jacques Rudolph, Alviro Petersen, Martin van Jaarsveld, Ashwell Prince, Robin Peterson, Thami Tsolekile, Charl Langevelt, David Terbrugge, Monde Zondeki, Enoch Nkwe (12th man), Coach : Vincent Barnes.Of these players only Ashwell Prince did duty in the last Test played against Sri Lanka, while Robin Peterson the only player involved in the current one-day squad.Jacques Rudolph had an impressive display during the Discovery Health Knock-out Challenge at SuperSport Park and will also do his chances a lot of good with another polished performance.The Test squad for the two match series against Pakistan will be announced during the Pietermaritzburg match.

Otago Blue player Claire Thompson was the star of the day at the Southern Zone’s secondary schoolgirls’ cricket tournament in Oamaru today.Thompson returned the amazing figures of 6 for none off four overs, bowling against South Canterbury.She took four wickets in one over, and captured all of her scalps single-handed – bowling five and having the other trapped leg before wicket.Otago Blue scored 137 and Thompson’s efforts ensured South Canterbury fell well short being dismissed for 87.In today’s other matches Otago Gold scored 78/5 in reply to Canterbury Country’s 77, and Christchurch Red made no race of its game with Mid Canterbury scoring 126/1 chasing 125.

ScorecardOliver Hannon-Dalby celebrated a five-wicket haul [file picture]•Getty Images

Oliver Hannon-Dalby recorded the best List A figures for Warwickshire’s since 2004 as the Bears’ resurgence in the Royal London One Day Cup continued with a nine-wicket victory over Glamorgan.Former Yorkshire seamer Hannon-Dalby took 5 for 27 as the Bears followed their win over Lancashire at Old Trafford the previous day by ending the Welsh county’s unbeaten record in Group B.After choosing to bat, Glamorgan were dismissed for 179 as only Will Bragg made any progress against testing bowling led by Hannon-Dalby and leg-spinner Josh Poysden.Warwickshire then eased to their target with nine wickets and 71 balls to spare as Varun Chopra (80 from 104 balls) and Jonathan Trott (73 from 99) added an unbroken 157.On the pitch used for the Ashes Test match last week, Glamorgan’s top order found runs as elusive as most of the Aussies had. Bragg dug in but the other five members of the top six each failed to pass 13.After Jacques Rudolph edged Keith Barker to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose, Hannon-Dalby picked up three wickets in his first six overs. Colin Ingram and David Lloyd chipped catches into the infield and Chris Cooke nicked to Ambrose.Poysden then struck in each of his first two overs. Bragg pulled hard and was brilliantly caught by William Porterfield at midwicket and when Mark Wallace leading-edged to cover the visitors were 108 for 6 and in serious need of impetus.Graham Wagg and Craig Meschede added 33 before Hannon-Dalby returned to oust the latter for 18 with the assistance of another fine Porterfield catch, this time at point. Meschede hit three fours but then holed out tamely against Jeetan Patel. Andrew Salter and Michael Hogan fiddled 22 from the last wicket but when Hannon-Dalby returned again to have Salter caught behind, Glamorgan looked well short.Porterfield gave Warwickshire’s reply early momentum with a 27-ball 22 and, after he played on to Hogan, Chopra and Trott, with time on their side, played with great composure and correctness.Trott was first to his half-century, from 68 balls, followed in the next over by Chopra, who scored just a single in the first seven overs but reached 50 from 78 balls. The pair saw Warwickshire through to an emphatic win over a Glamorgan side which itself had just recorded an emphatic win over an Essex team which had itself just recorded an emphatic win over Warwickshire. A crazy, unpredictable world, this Group B!

The BCCI has constituted an ad-hoc committee to run cricket in Rajasthan and ensure the participation of teams from the state in the 2015-16 domestic season. Amrit Mathur, a former manager of the India team, will take over as the co-ordinator of the committee, which will comprise CK Khanna, Milind Kanmadikar, Snehal Parikh and PV Shetty.”This step is in line with the BCCI philosophy of keeping the interest of cricket and the players on top priority,” Jagmohan Dalmiya, the BCCI president, said. “Like any other side playing domestic cricket in India, Rajasthan cricketers will have all the facilities, exposure and opportunities to perform and excel.”According to a BCCI insider, an ad-hoc committee was the most logical option considering the complex situation in Rajasthan cricket, and remained the last hope for the state’s players to compete in the upcoming domestic season.The BCCI had suspended the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) in May 2014 after the latter elected Lalit Modi, an expelled administrator, as its president. The board then omitted the RCA from the 2014-15 domestic programme.Rajasthan eventually got to play – though not under the RCA banner – after the Rajasthan High Court heard a writ petition signed by 75 players, and directed the Rajasthan Sports Council, the RCA and the BCCI to work in tandem and appoint selection committees to select teams for the board’s senior, junior and women’s tournaments. Mathur had helped facilitate the process.While that came as a boost for the players, the impasse between the BCCI and the RCA continued. The RCA remains suspended, and a faction led by Amin Pathan has staged a revolt against Modi’s body. As a result, the High Court hasn’t even allowed the Sports Council to run the state’s cricket affairs.

As he watched Ryan Harris, Michael Clarke, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson and Brad Haddin shuffle out of the dressing room for the final time, Mitchell Johnson wondered whether he should join them. Seriously drained after a year in which he could not follow up World Cup success with retaining the Ashes, he pondered the possibility of retirement.

‘I don’t think it’s the best preparation’

Mitchell Johnson has questioned Australia’s preparation for the New Zealand Test series, with only a two-day red-ball camp in Sydney offering relevant practice before the squad assembles for the Gabba.
The postponement of the Bangladesh tour means Australia’s Test players are warming up in the Matador Cup 50-over tournament but are then subject to a round of day-night Sheffield Shield matches with the experimental pink ball before the first two Tests of summer are played in daylight with the red ball.
Johnson’s scepticism about the day-night concept is well known. While he hesitated to comment too freely on the Adelaide match at this point, he questioned the wisdom of switching from red to white to pink to red ball again ahead of what is shaping as New Zealand’s best chance to unseat Australia at home since they last did so in 1985.
“I don’t think it’s ideal us playing a day-night Shield game coming into a three-Test series, two with a red ball and one with a pink ball,” Johnson said. “I don’t think it’s ideal, especially guys missing out on Bangladesh, they’re probably needing to bowl with a red ball and we’re playing this now, then going down to Tassie to play with a pink ball.
“I don’t think it’s the best preparation, but I guess that’s why we have this camp as well to get a bit of a feel with the red ball again.”
Earlier in the year Johnson responded to questions about the pink ball by saying: “One thing is I love the tradition of Test cricket, things like the Baggy Green and little things like wearing the woollen jumper. We had an option to change that but we wanted to keep that as a tradition. I think tradition in the game is very important.”

But, in the six weeks since the Ashes have passed, Johnson has found himself feeling the old urge to train, to compete, and most importantly to bowl fast. He is now eager to do so once more, as the senior pro in what has now become a young and much changed team. Johnson has clear ideas on how and how much he should be used, and has set his sights upon matching the wickets tally of his mentor Dennis Lillee.”It definitely has crossed my mind, especially with the guys retiring,” Johnson said at Australia’s training camp in Hurstville. “A lot of those guys I played a lot of cricket with [have moved on] and it definitely makes you question yourself. I definitely have questioned myself in the six weeks I’ve been home, but I had that desire when I saw the young guys out there performing and it really urged me and pushed me to get out there and play. I actually went for a run and was pushing myself.”Brett Lee changed it a little bit because he played for a while longer. Speaking to some other people like Dennis, he seems to think I can go for a few more years as well. It depends on the individual to be honest, I had that year out of the game really with my toe injury, I was a late starter to the game. So I think it’s more mind than anything, my body’s still holding up pretty well.”I’ve had little niggles here and there but i’m able to get through them. It’s more mind. I’m really looking forward to the summer, getting back on fair wickets with a bit of pace and bounce, good for batting and for bowling. I’d love to get a few wickets and get that tally back up again.”At the end of a two-year period in which he played 18 of a possible 19 Tests besides sundry ODIs and Twenty20 fixtures, Johnson’s body was holding up reasonably. But his mind had begun to waver – even though he felt he had stored up enough mental energy for the Ashes campaign, he found himself getting drained midway through the series, not helped by the constant toll of English crowds and batsmen.”I was definitely worn down physically but I think I can always manage physically though,” Johnson said. “It’s more mentally that I felt myself really drained even through the England tour at times. Constantly getting hammered by the crowds does take its toll, but also the long year we’ve had with the World Cup. It was a huge build-up, to win that and then I went to IPL and played there. Was pretty flat throughout that, and then got to the West Indies and started to pick up a bit.”The Ashes always takes it out of you anyway, it’s such a huge occasion, and was definitely great to get back home after that. I personally think if I’d played that one-day series there was a chance of burnout or injury, that’s how I felt within myself. That’s why I missed that one-day series, getting fresh to be ready for a big summer and hopefully be in really good form and play really good cricket.”I know New Zealand are going to be a tough opposition, then we’ve got a few Test matches after that against West Indies then over to New Zealand. So it’s a really hectic time, but the little break I’ve had has definitely freshened me up and I’m ready to go.”There were other issues that had crept into Johnson’s mind as well. The handling of Haddin’s exit from the team rankled, and so did the haziness that often surrounded how Johnson was to be used in the bowling attack. Seldom was he able to simply charge in at top pace and intimidate as he had done against England two years ago, as much for the fact that there was no Harris or Peter Siddle keeping things tight at the other end as anything else.Johnson will be speaking with the coach Darren Lehmann and the new captain Steven Smith about this concept. Already it appears Lehmann understands the need for control as well as pace, stating that Australia will retain an allrounder throughout the Test summer while also picking their most balanced attack to keep the scoreboard tight.”I spoke to Boof about it, it’s something I thought about,” Johnson said. “I think it works best if I bowl short spells and I can bowl that high 140s or mid 140s, then I think that’s the plan we should go with. I’m going to sit down and speak with Boof and Smithy about that and see what they think.”But I’ve always got a plan B and I think I learned that a lot more over in England to have a plan B, just try to use the ball a bit more in certain conditions. You can’t always blast teams out but when that time’s right I’m definitely still putting my hand up for that role.”That sort of outspokenness can be expected more often as Johnson begins the final phase of his career. No longer one of many 30-somethings in the Test team, he is now an elder statesman, a leader and a keeper of tradition. There is much he can pass on to a young team before he is done.