Mason Greenwood scored a late winner against AS Monaco to earn the Man of the Match trophy as Marseille climbed up to third place in Ligue 1. The former Manchester United forward is enjoying another prolific season at the Orange Velodrome under Roberto De Zerbi. He is currently leading the Golden Boot race in France, two goals clear of Rennes' Esteban Lepaul and Strasbourg's Joaquín Panichelli.
Greenwood's purple patch continues
After leading Marseille to a thrilling 3-2 win over Union Saint-Gilloise with a brace in the Champions League in midweek, Greenwood emerged as the Ligue 1 giants' saviour once again as he starred with a solitary goal in their win over Monaco on Sunday.
De Zerbi's side were far from impressive against Monaco until Greenwood popped up with a superb first-time finish in the 82nd minute. The 24-year-old, who picked up Ligue 1's Man of the Match award after the final whistle, now has 11 goals in 15 Ligue 1 appearances this term, and 14 goals across all competitions.
AdvertisementAFPGreenwood glad to help Marseille secure a win
After scoring a late winner in a closely fought contest on Sunday, Greenwood was understandably elated as he told Ligue 1+: "Monaco is a good team. It was incredible, it's fantastic to take the three points tonight. The whole team is working well, we're all in it together. It's a collective effort."
De Zerbi still expects more from Greenwood
Despite his fine form in front of goal, De Zerbi still wants Greenwood to improve certain aspects of his game. After seeing the frontman star in Europe earlier this week, the former Brighton boss said: "Yes, I think he's one of the best strikers in Europe. But even he, when we're leading 3-1, needs to learn to manage the ball, not to force things and not to lose possession. And that's not an unreasonable demand, which doesn't mean we're not happy with Greenwood. He's a great player, but in those moments, I think he also needs to make the effort to hold onto the ball a little longer, to give us a bit more breathing room, to be more consistent defensively, at least by holding his position."
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AFPWinter transfer talk swirling
Greenwood has been linked with a move back to the Premier League ahead of the winter transfer window, amid reported interest from Tottenham and West Ham.
However, a report from has claimed that a return to English shores is unlikely because of Greenwood's past at United, where he faced criminal allegations before charges against him were dropped in February 2023. Greenwood has also been linked with Barcelona, which could lead to a reunion with ex-United team-mate Marcus Rashford.
Glasgow Rangers have a two-week break in the last international window of the year to reflect on the season so far and how they can improve in the months to come.
Philippe Clement will surely have mixed feelings about how his side have performed throughout the 2024/25 campaign, as the Light Blues have been miles off the pace in the Scottish Premiership.
The Gers have already lost three games and dropped points in four of their ten games, which has left them in third place and nine points behind Aberdeen and Celtic in the table.
They also failed to qualify for the Champions League, losing to Dynamo Kyiv, and are currently competing in the league phase of the Europa League.
The Scottish giants have had success in the League Cup, however, as they secured their place in the final with a 2-1 win over Motherwell in the semi-finals at Hampden Park.
Clement and head of recruitment Nils Koppen have less than two months to prepare for the upcoming January transfer window, and could use it to bolster the squad and improve the team’s chances of having a successful second half of the season.
Rangers eyeing wing wizard
In fact, the Ibrox chiefs are already reportedly looking at new players who could come in to add to the manager’s options across the pitch in January.
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, Rangers are interested in Peterborough’s Kwame Poku and are one of a number of clubs in the race to land his signature.
The report claims that the Scottish giants have sent scouts to watch the Ghana international in action in League One in England this season, but they are far from the only team to have done so.
It states that Premier League duo Southampton and Ipswich Town, who are both battling relegation this season, and Championship side Burnley have also been keeping tabs on the forward ahead of a potential swoop for his services in the January window.
The Boot Room adds that the 23-year-old winger is also out of contract at the end of the season, which means that Peterborough are in a difficult position where they cannot demand a huge sum of money for his signature, as he could leave for nothing next summer.
Rangers also have an advantage over Southampton, Ipswich, and Burnley as – due to being a team outside of England – they can agree a pre-contract agreement with Poku from January onwards, whereas the English sides have to wait until the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
Transfer Focus
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Clement and Koppen must, now, take advantage of this and strike a deal for the young whiz, whether that is in January or next summer, as he could arrive at Ibrox as an upgrade on current right-sided flanker Vaclav Cerny.
Vaclav Cerny's form this season
The Light Blues swooped to sign the Czechia international on a season-long loan from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg during the summer transfer window.
Cerny has enjoyed a relatively strong start to life at Ibrox, despite reacting emotionally to supporter frustration against Hibernian earlier this term, and has contributed with six goals and five assists in 18 appearances across all competitions.
His form in the league phase of the Europa League has been particularly impressive. The left-footed winger has produced two goals and two assists in four starts in the competition, including two goals and an assist in the 4-0 win over FCSB.
Cerny has, however, had mixed success with his performances in the Premiership for the Light Blues, with struggles out of possession and moments of quality on the ball.
24/25 Premiership
Vaclav Cerny
Appearances
9
Goals
4
Big chances created
2
Assists
1
Tackles + interceptions per game
0.8
Duel success rate
28%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 27-year-old ace has contributed with five direct goal involvements in nine appearances, which is more than one every other game on average.
This shows that, even though he has not been an outstanding creative threat, the Wolfsburg loanee has made a big impact at the top end of the pitch.
However, his duel success rate of 28% and his failure to average even one tackle and interception combined per game shows that the winger has struggled badly out of possession, as he has not offered much defensively and has been dominated by opposition players in physical battles.
Why Kwame Poku would be an upgrade on Vaclav Cerny
The Light Blues must now swoop to sign Poku from Peterborough as the 23-year-old star has the potential to offer more in and out of possession in comparison to Cerny.
Journalist Josh Bunting once hailed his work rate as “immense” and that is backed up by his 1.7 tackles and interceptions per game in League One this season, more than twice as many as Cerny’s per match.
The Ghana international has also won 47% of his duels, winning 5.7 duels per game, which shows that he fares far better than the Rangers man in physical contests, and these statistics suggest that the youngster would be a significant upgrade on the wing from a physical and defensive perspective.
Poku’s attacking displays for Peterborough in the 2024/25 campaign also suggest that the potential is there for him to be an upgrade on Cerny in the final third for the Scottish giants.
24/25 season
Poku (League One)
Cerny (Premiership)
Appearances
15
9
Goals
10
4
Big chances missed
1
1
Big chances created
5
2
Assists
5
1
Dribbles completed per game
2.0
1.2
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the current Rangers forward would need to score six goals and provide four assists in his next six Premiership games to equal Poku’s return for the Posh.
The Peterborough star, who scored 11 goals and provided seven assists in the 2023/24 campaign, has also produced two assists in two games in the FA Cup and EFL Trophy combined, taking his tally to ten goals and seven assists in 17 games.
If he can carry that kind of form over to Scotland then Clement could have a ready-made upgrade on Cerny to take over from the loanee when he returns to Wolfsburg at the end of the season.
Rangers could replace Lawrence at Ibrox by signing De Bruyne-like star
Glasgow Rangers are reportedly interested in a deal for the attacking midfielder.
Former Aberdeen chief Keith Wyness has discussed potential “great news” regarding the future of Rangers manager Philippe Clement.
Clement battling to save Rangers job
The Belgian has only been in the job at Ibrox for a little over a year, taking over from Michael Beale back in October 2023, but he is already battling hard to remain in charge.
Rangers have made a largely disappointing start to the season, beginning with being dumped out of the Champions League in the qualifying rounds, before allowing themselves to fall 11 points adrift of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race. Even Aberdeen are nine points clear of them, albeit having played one game more.
On Thursday evening, the Gers won 4-1 away to Nice in the Europa League, in what was a much-needed result for Clement, potentially giving him some leeway for the time being.
On Sunday, he faces another must-win game, however, with Rangers making the trip to St Johnstone in the league. Their opponents are sitting ninth in the table currently, so failure to beat them would be a significant blow, especially to the manager.
Former chief makes big Clement claim at Rangers
Speaking to Football Insider, Wyness claimed that Rangers could allow Clement to take the Belgium job without compensation, saying it could be “great news” for the Scottish giants if they managed to bring in £3m.
“It’s a funny story. The rumours are that there’s a £3million compensation clause in his contract. I think Rangers fans would say: forget the compensation, just take him. I’ve been arguing that he has to remain in place, and I still think he’s a good manager – with a squad like Belgium’s, he could do well.
“I don’t think there’ll be any compensation if Belgium do come in. This may be a situation where both parties decide to move on. If there is to be a change, it will likely come around Christmas. If Rangers get £3million from Belgium, it would be one of the more shocking things I’ve seen in football. It would be great news for the club.”
Rangers supporters are sure to be split when it comes to Clement’s future, with a section of the fanbase showing patience and still seeing him as the right man for the job. There may well be plenty who feel that a change in boss is needed sooner than later, in order to salvage the Gers’ season and keep up their faint chances of catching Celtic in the title race. That may be wishful thinking at this point, but a change in the dugout may freshen things up.
Should Belgium want Clement, though, Rangers should consider not standing in their way, especially in terms of potentially bringing in £3m to aid their financial situation.
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ByDan Emery Nov 28, 2024
More may become clearer at the end of this weekend, with the St Johnstone game feeling big for the manager, but huge improvements are needed if he is to remain in charge in the long-term.
Enzo Maresca has got off to a wonderful start with his new club, tallying up 22 points after 12 games played in the Premier League, only losing to Manchester City and Liverpool this season.
Chelsea are averaging 55.4% possession this season (5th highest in the division), taking 14.2 shots per game (7th most in the league), have scored 23 goals (2nd highest), and have only been conceding 12.1 shots per game (7th lowest).
The squad Maresca has inherited is young and full of talent after previous windows of spending, but Chelsea were busy again this summer with Maresca at the helm, looking to equip the Italian with all the necessary tools to take the Blues back to the top.
Chelsea's 2024/25 summer transfer window
Chelsea spent a total of £198.2m over the summer, bringing ten new players through the door on a permanent basis. In order to afford this, the Blues also had to make some sales, with 11 players departing from the club on permanent deals.
The biggest signing of the summer for the Blues was Pedro Neto, joining from Wolves after costing around £51.3m upfront. Since joining, Neto has impressed a great deal, making 15 appearances, scoring three goals and providing three assists.
Chelsea 2024/25 summer signings
Player
Fee (£)
Pedro Neto
£51.3m
João Félix
£43.2m
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
£29.4m
Filip Jorgensen
£20.3m
Mike Penders
£16.6m
Aaron Anselmino
£13.7m
Renato Veiga
£11.6m
Caleb Wiley
£8.3m
Marc Guiu
£4.9m
Tosin Adarabioyo
£0
Chelsea also made one temporary signing, bringing Jadon Sancho in on an initial loan deal from Manchester United.
The obligated fee at the end of the season is expected to be around £20-25m. But perhaps the most intriguing signing of the summer, was the return of a certain individual whose playstyle is reminiscent of the ex-Chelsea Brazilian, Oscar.
Chelsea's new Oscar
João Félix returned to Chelsea this year, having spent six months on loan with the club back in 2023, scoring four goals in 16 Premier League appearances during his first time in London.
So far this season, the 25-year-old has made 11 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals, providing one assist, and totalling 634 minutes played.
The Portuguese attacking midfielder looks hungry to impress Maresca, adding extra qualities to his toolset, looking to break his way into the first team.
Felix started against Leicester at the weekend, playing 81 minutes, completing four out of eight dribble attempts and providing one key pass in proper Oscar-esque fashion.
But it was actually his defensive efforts that stood out, not something Felix is known for in his career, showing his hunger to improve and showing Maresca his willingness to work hard on both sides of the ball, to benefit the team.
Felix made three tackles, winning nine of his 16 ground duels, more than any other player on the pitch during the game. This is something the former Atletico star could begin to offer in a better capacity than Chelsea’s superstar, Cole Palmer, in that number ten position.
Palmer vs Felix comparison
Palmer joined Chelsea from Manchester City back in the 2023/24 summer transfer window, signing for a fee of around £40m plus £2.5m in add-ons, signing a seven-year deal at the club.
Since joining, the 22-year-old has made 59 appearances for the Blues, scoring 32 goals, providing 20 assists, and totalling 4,708 minutes played.
Palmer vs Felix comparison
Stats (per 90 mins)
Palmer
Felix
Goals
0.52
0.71
Assists
0.37
0.12
xG
0.53
0.74
xAG
0.42
0.19
Progressive Carries
3.36
4.34
Progressive Passes
6.47
6.23
Shots Total
3.06
4.29
Key Passes
2.76
1.32
Shot-Creating Actions
5.09
4.34
Successful Take-Ons
1.21
2.45
Tackles + Interceptions
0.30
0.48
Stats taken from FBref
These metrics above show how the two can complement each other, with Felix more of a carrying creator, offering more shot volume, clever runs into the box, and the ability to ghost past his man in tight spaces. Meanwhile, the England international is a better passing creator, having a great range of passes, making 2.76 key passes per 90, while offering a goal threat of his own and helping in the build-up phase.
Against low-block sides, when Chelsea will have a lot of the ball in the opposition half, it would be a huge positive to get both of these creative players in the team together, linking up to create in smaller spaces, using their on-ball qualities to benefit the team and produce chances.
Both Palmer and Felix like to operate in the number ten position, given more freedom to roam, pick up the ball, and show their quality in the final third. However, with there only being one attacking midfield position in the team, Maresca will have to rearrange things in order to get both in the same XI and allow both to operate in those central zones.
Maresca's double-pocket players
We saw with the Leicester game that Maresca has plenty of ideas on how to provide Chelsea with these ‘double pocket players’, having two number tens in the half spaces and in this case, having a full-back overlap to provide width, whilst the natural winger occupies the half-space.
Chelsea often did this last season, by having Palmer drift inside from the right wing, often joining Conor Gallagher in the middle of the pitch. Gallagher was extremely hard-working but was often criticised for his quality in tight spaces, and therefore his suitability on the ball in those areas.
Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher for Chelsea
This is yet another string to Maresca’s tactical bow, having the ability to get some of his best central creators into the same team, meaning Chelsea can make decisions based on the opposition’s defensive schemes.
Sometimes, the Blues may opt for their two more natural wingers holding the width, and a full-back inverting into either deeper or advanced midfield. On other occasions, we could see a full-back providing width, getting an extra central creator into the team, making them less predictable going forward.
113 touches: 8/10 Chelsea star was as good as Jackson & Enzo vs Leicester
In an ominous warning to those hoping to stop Australia at the World Cup, Alyssa Healy believes the fact that their performance against India was not without its faults is a good sign after they became the first team to confirm their semi-final slot.Australia chased down 278 with three balls to spare at Eden Park with the finish becoming a little tighter than appeared likely, with eight needed off the final over, but Beth Mooney ensured against any drama. They had been wayward with the ball, giving away 24 runs in wides and Harmanpreet Kaur a life on 33 but even then the eventual total, which meant Australia needed the third-highest successful chase in ODIs, did not daunt them.”It’s something that we pride ourselves on in this group, that ability to potentially win a game from anywhere and any situation,” Healy said. “When our backs are against the wall, we fight our way out of that and that’s exactly what you need in ODI cricket, exactly what you need in World Cup cricket.Related
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“You just need to find a way to win games. The first half of our game yesterday wasn’t perfect, [it] wasn’t disastrous, I thought potentially they could have put 300 on us – if we had been batting first we would have looked at that score knowing how good the wicket was – so it wasn’t perfect, which is probably a good thing. You don’t want to be playing your perfect cricket now. Just to be able to get the win the way we did was pleasing.”Healy played the key role in laying the platform for the chase with a crunching 72 off 65 balls and even when she and Rachael Haynes fell in consecutive overs after adding 121, it barely knocked Australia off course. Meg Lanning highlighted the majority of what was to come with 97 and Mooney, as she so often does, iced the game with 30 off 20 balls after Ellyse Perry had laboured somewhat in making 28 off 51 balls. It was the latest example of the formidable nature of the Australia batting order with Ashleigh Gardner unused at No. 7.”Having that confidence in what those top seven batters can do is really a free license for the rest of us to play the way we do,” Healy said. “We know that if we all come off on one day, it will be a ridiculous score and if we don’t come off, there are six other players who can come off. We know someone has our back if it doesn’t work, but if it does…we just keep going.”Australia have used 14 of their 15-player squad during their first five matches (Heather Graham was briefly added as a replacement) coping seamlessly with Gardner’s delayed entry into the tournament due to Covid-19. They have also been able to carefully manage the workload of quick Darcie Brown who again proved a point of difference against India with 3 for 30.”That’s probably been the most pleasing thing for me,” Healy said. “We haven’t had to rely solely on one batter or one bowler that’s been doing the heavy lifting. It has been a genuine team effort, and think coming into finals play, it’s going to be crucial that everyone is firing, feeling good about themselves and their cricket and this team is in a really good place in that regard.”While Australia can now have their eyes on that semi-final – “to do it this early is a nice feeling to have,” Healy said – they have their focus firmly on the next match against fellow unbeaten team South Africa in what has the makings of another fantastic contest.”They’ve played some really cricket and knocked off some big teams in this tournament, no doubt they’ll be looking to do the same for us and have their sights set on finishing first,” Healy said. “I hope we don’t take the foot off the pedal, we may as well maintain the momentum while we’ve got it. I would imagine we wouldn’t be looking to rest people purely because we have two games in hand. That’s not the way we look at our cricket.”
Manchester United’s centre-back depth has been questioned over the past couple of seasons, and Ruben Amorim will need to assess who is at his disposal.
Despite adding Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt to their options at the heart of the defence, it still feels like they do not quite have the quality or availability in their squad.
One of the newcomers, Yoro, is yet to play for the club, although De Ligt has performed well since making the move from Bayern Munich. Lisandro Martinez seems to have put his fitness issues behind him, Jonny Evans has been a good squad player over the past two seasons, and Victor Lindelof is only on the fringe of the first team now.
Leny Yoro for Man Utd.
Another of their first-team centre-backs who might split opinion is Harry Maguire.
Maguire’s Man United career
England international Maguire joined the 13-time Premier League champions in 2019, signing from Leicester City for £80m, a fee that is still a world record for a defender. He has certainly had a mixed time of things at United.
In total, the former club captain has made 215 appearances for the club, scoring 12 goals and grabbing eight assists in that time, one of which came in the FA Cup semi-final last season, a trophy United went on to lift.
Maguire was superb under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and was made the captain just months into his Old Trafford career. However, upon the United legend’s sacking in 2021, he fell out of favour and has struggled to lock down a regular first-team spot.
This came to a head under former manager Erik ten Hag, with the Dutchman stripping the captaincy from United’s number five and giving it to Bruno Fernandes. Despite this setback, Maguire acted like a model professional and simply continued to work hard for a starting berth.
Sadly, the Englishman has struggled with injuries in recent times. Maguire has missed four games already this term, and last season was even more; he was sidelined for 17 games in a campaign where his fitness problems were frustrating.
It remains to be seen whether or not Maguire will remain at Old Trafford beyond the 2024/25 season. His contract expires in June, but United can trigger a one-year extension. With that in mind, new boss Amorim may well decide to cut his losses and sell the experienced defender, much like Ten Hag reportedly planned to do.
If that is the case, the Red Devils have a superb young replacement in the esteemed Carrington academy who could be ready to step into the fold in a few years.
United’s academy centre-back prodigy
The player in question here is Godwill Kukonki. At just 16 years of age, he is highly rated by many at Old Trafford, with his inclusion in first-team training described as “exciting” by Manchester Evening News journalist Steve Railston. He is, however, yet to make a senior appearance for the club.
Kukonki is a left-footed centre-back, who is exceptionally talented on the ball. He has played all of his football so far for the Red Devils under-18 side, both domestically and in the UEFA Youth League. However, he has featured on the bench once in the Premier League 2.
This term, the defender has featured eight times in the under-18s Premier League, and once in the UEFA Youth League. Not only has he proven to be an excellent defender, but can also chip in with goals, and has three goal involvements to his name this season.
An excellent example of the youngster’s talent came in the European fixture, away to Lithuanian side FK Zalgiris under-19s. Not only did he showcase versatility by starting at left-back, but Kukonki was composed on the ball, completing 90% of his passes and grabbing an assist, as per Sofascore.
Stat
Number
Pass accuracy
90%
Touches
78
Passes completed
53/59
Dribbles completed
2
Ground duels won
2
Clearances
2
Assists
1
The first team could be a little too far out of reach yet for Kukonki. However, Amoirm is a manager who believes in academy players and gave 27 Sporting youth players their debut.
Combine that with United’s ethos of believing in the academy, and a debut for the youngster is not out of the question if he continues to thrive, thus putting Maguire’s status in the squad at further risk.
Amorim can start reign with a bang by unleashing "outstanding" Man Utd star
Ruben Amorim takes charge of his first game of Man Utd this weekend.
Kent started day two on 270 for 6, only to fall to 291 all out as Rauf takes 5 for 65
ECB Reporters Network29-Apr-2022England Test hopefuls Dawid Malan and Harry Brook contributed superb centuries to a Yorkshire revival sparked by Pakistan quick Haris Rauf on day two against Kent at Headingley.Yorkshire’s hopes of winning a second LV= Insurance County Championship game in three to start 2022 are now high having been under day one pressure.Kent were 227 for 4 and started day two on 270 for 6, only to fall to 291 all out as Rauf claimed 5 for 65 with two of the four wickets to fall inside 30 minutes of play.Either side of lunch, Kent then impressively reduced Yorkshire’s reply to 23 for 3 inside 22 overs.But Malan and unbeaten Brook – with 152 and a career-best 131 not out respectively – ensured their side hit back once again in the Headingley sunshine, uniting with confidence for a record fourth-wicket partnership of 269 inside 55 overs either side of tea to ensure Yorkshire closed on 326 for 5.Related
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Play was halted for approximately 40 minutes from just before 2.20pm due to a medical emergency in the ground’s North East Corner, though the spectator was thankfully responsive when stretchered away. Ten overs were lost.Malan and Brook are bidding to impress new England managing director Rob Key. Malan, 34, was jettisoned from the Test squad following the Ashes, but his quality is clear and he will hope to get the chance to increase an average of 27.53 across 22 Tests.Brook, 23, made his England T20 debut in Barbados in January, but looks very much an all-format player – as early season Championship scores of 101, 56 not out, 84 and 77 not out prior to this indicate.On the back of two defeats in their opening three games and dealing with key injuries for Jackson Bird and Joe Denly, Kent have played some excellent cricket here – none more so than when bowling with the new ball.Rauf looked genuinely touched by the rapturous ovation he received from the crowd after removing Grant Stewart caught behind six balls into the day and then yorking Nathan Gilchrist.Kent would have been frustrated at falling below 300 given their good work on the opening day. However, Stewart took the new ball from the Howard Stand End and bowled six successive maidens before being replaced by Gilchrist, who claimed two of the first three home wickets.He had Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne caught behind for 4 following a loose drive and George Hill lbw as he shouldered arms. More reward was to follow with the first ball of the afternoon when Adam Lyth feathered Matt Milnes behind down the leg side to make it 23 for 3 inside 22 over.Kent bowled 15 maidens in those first 22 overs, but only bowled another three for the rest of the day – an indication of the proactive manner in which Malan and Brook played all around the wicket.It was a Yorkshire record for any wicket against Kent, beating a previous high of 267 set on this ground in 1934 by openers Wilf Barber and Len Hutton.Malan and Brook reached their fifties before tea, with Malan the first to his century off 136 balls afterwards. Brook, having hoisted George Linde’s left-arm spin for two sixes straight and over midwicket, was not far behind off 138. By that time, Yorkshire were 248 for 3.Malan has now scored three hundreds in four first-class appearances for Yorkshire at Headingley since moving from Middlesex ahead of 2020. But he fell caught behind gloving a pull down leg after pulling Matt Quinn for six to reach 150, secure a lead and bring upon the partnership record. Quinn, bowling with the new ball, later trapped Harry Duke lbw.At the close, Rauf said: “It was a very exciting moment for me when I took the five wickets and the crowd were cheering. I was very happy to see this.”County cricket is very hard, but I am trying my best for the team and to improve my skills. I want to learn. I have been told that if you come to county cricket, you will improve your bowling and it will help you a lot in international cricket.”I have done a lot of bowling in the last two weeks, but it is good for me. We had a plan to take the early wickets in the morning, and Dawid and Harry have put on a very good partnership. If we can set a good lead, we can get back to the bowling.”
Kyle Walker tried to convince the referee to not hand Dele Alli a red card on his Como debut against AC Milan on Saturday.
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Walker tried to stop referee from handing Dele red card
Ex-Spurs midfielder sent off on Como debut
AC Milan won 2-1
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Dele's debut in Italy turned out to be a nightmare as he was sent off in the 91st minute for a terrible challenge on Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The midfielder caught his fellow Englishman on the back of his leg with a dangerous challenge which initially earned him a yellow card, but after a VAR check, the referee showed him red instead.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Dele ultimately lasted only 10 minutes on the pitch at a time when Como were pushing for a late equaliser. Lucas Da Cunha had put Como in front in the 33rd minute but Christian Pulisic and Tijjani Reijnders' second-half strikes brought the Rossoneri back in the game. While the VAR check was on, AC Milan full-back Walker was seen trying to stop the match official from showing his ex-England and Tottenham colleague the red card, only for his plea to be ignored.
WHAT CESC FABREGAS SAID
While Walker tried to protect Dele, Como boss Cesc Fabregas was left furious with the irresponsible tackle as he told : "It is a grave mistake, one that we should not see from a player of his experience. It was a clear red card, there’s nothing to be said about that, he left the team down to 10 men during a crucial moment when we were pushing for 2-2."
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WHAT NEXT FOR WALKER & DELE?
Milan will be back in action after the international break on March 30 as they take on Napoli away from home, while Dele will be suspended for Como's home match against Empoli a day prior.
Manchester United are working on a deal to sign “one of the best” midfielders in the world for Ruben Amorim, according to a recent report. Defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest may have been a blessing in disguise for Amorim, as he will have learned a lot about his team ahead of the January transfer window.
Man Utd plotting move to sign £20m playmaker who could replace Mason Mount
Man Utd are continuing to put plans in place ahead of the January transfer window opening in a couple of weeks time.
ByBrett Worthington Dec 9, 2024 Man Utd transfer news
The winter transfer window opens in around three weeks time, and it is a good opportunity for the Red Devils to possibly look at getting one or two players out of the club, as well as bringing in fresh faces who suit the new boss’ system.
One player who could be on United’s radar in January is Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, as a report revealed that United will look to submit a bid for the defender in 2025. The England international is under contract until 2026, and United could look to use this to their advantage, as they plan to make a £33 million offer, way below his £50 million price tag.
Another player United could look to sign in early 2025 is midfielder Martin Baturina. PSG are said to be leading the race for his signature, and they are looking to get a deal done for around £20 million, but United are also keen and haven’t given up on getting a deal completed. Baturina’s reputation is continuing to grow as several Premier League teams are keen on a deal, but it could be hard to do as Dinamo Zagreb are insistent that he isn’t for sale.
INEOS working on deal to sign Frenkie de Jong for Man Utd
According to a report from Spain, Manchester United are working on a deal to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona. The 27-year-old has been with the Spanish giants since July 2019, when he joined in a big-money move from Ajax.
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie De Jong
De Jong, who has been described as “one of the best players in the world” by former Barça boss Xavi, has struggled for form and fitness this season, appearing just 12 times in all competitions so far. The Dutch international has just made two starts, as he’s being eased back into action by Hansi Flick.
This report states that the relationship between Barcelona and De Jong has turned into bitterness, and the midfielder is not keen on extending his stay with the Spanish side. This latest development has now caught the attention of United, who are working on a deal to sign De Jong and believe Barca are “in favour” of cashing in.
Apps
20
Goals
2
Assists
0
Touches per game
94.8
Key passes per game
1.1
Passes per game
76.3 (93%)
Tackles per game
2.2
Balls recovered per game
5.9
However, the Red Devils are not alone, as they are also mentioning Chelsea as a team that has been boosted by this development, while Bayern Munich and PSG are also interested in signing the midfielder.
United have had a long-standing interest in the Dutch international, who was valued at £51 million by Barca in the summer, as they were linked with a move for him during Erik ten Hag’s reign, and the player was even linked with a move to Old Trafford before that. De Jong’s high wages at Barcelona and their financial uncertainty has meant his future has been up in the air for a while now, and it could be that time is coming to an end, as his contract expires in 2026.
One more win will lift England into the last four, but the opener is wary of the opposition’s dangerous spinners
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Mar-2022
The aerial route in Wellington could be a risky one against Bangladesh, feels Tammy Beaumont•Getty Images
Tammy Beaumont says there is no question of England taking liberties against a Bangladesh team that gave even the tournament favourites Australia a scare in windy conditions in Wellington on Friday. However, she remains confident that her own team is peaking at the right time, after dicing with an early exit following three consecutive defeats at the start of their campaign.After a wild ride through the group stages, the permutations are almost complete. Anything other than a defeat to Bangladesh will guarantee England’s place in the last four, where they will be joined by either West Indies or India, who face their own must-win final game against South Africa on Sunday.”It’s incredibly important to keep building that momentum,” Beaumont said after England had turned their hopes around with two tight wins over India and New Zealand, followed by a more comprehensive nine-wicket win over Pakistan in their last outing.Related
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“We’re not secured in the semi-finals yet, so we definitely have to go out and have a good performance, and make sure we get that win on the board. Tournament cricket is all about building that momentum to get into finals and then once you’re there, just maintaining it and getting those winning performances.”While Bangladesh have just the one victory in six attempts in the competition so far, they have been involved in a series of close-run encounters, including a four-run loss to West Indies, and a five-wicket defeat against Australia that briefly looked like turning into the shock of the tournament when Australia slipped to 41 for 4 chasing 136 in a rain-reduced chase.And though Beth Mooney’s unbeaten half-century restored order for Australia and maintained their 100% tournament record, Beaumont acknowledged the skill of Bangladesh’s spinners was something that England would not be taking likely. Particularly given the added complications of the windy conditions expected in Wellington, and the dangers of taking the aerial route.”A lot of their bowlers are definitely threats,” Beaumont said. “Salma Khatun, bowling in the powerplay and throughout, is a real key bowler for them. So we’ll definitely try to nullify the threat of her and their other spinners as well. They are just very controlled, very disciplined, pretty good in the field. So we’ll have to put them under pressure for a long period of time and hope to catch up at the back end.”They got a few early wickets against Australia, it’s going be really key to start well against them tomorrow. They obviously don’t bowl with that much pace, so that’s going to be a challenge, particularly here at Wellington. It looks like it’s going to be really windy, one-way hitting into the wind, so we’re going to be very smart.”Salma Khatun celebrates the wicket of Meg Lanning during Bangladesh’s close contest with Australia•Getty Images
Both of Australia’s opening batters perished against Bangladesh while going airborne in the powerplay, and Beaumont acknowledged that she might have to adapt her game accordingly to avoid a similar fate.”When the wind is coming across the wicket, it kind of pushes you over at one end and really challenges your balance, and as someone who gets out lbw for fun anyway, it makes it a lot more difficult,” she joked. “But if you’re going to hit the ball in the air, it has to be more with the wind so that you can hit it longer. It’s a bit silly trying to take on a spinner by hitting into the wind to get it up and over, and the ball almost comes back to the fielder. You’ve got to be smart about when you choose to hit the ball in the air, and when you choose to hit it on the floor.”The very fact that Bangladesh look capable of challenging the reigning world champions was, Beaumont believed, a credit to the rising standards of the women’s game, which has been in full evidence during a compelling group stage that has featured an extraordinary number of tense final-over finishes.”It’s been a brilliant tournament,” Beaumont said. “You’ve seen so many close games, and quite a few upsets – involving us, most of the time – but it’s been brilliant for women’s cricket. The last thing anyone wants is a very predictable World Cup where you can very much tell what every result is going to be. It’s great to see the standards have gone through the roof for every country, and not the ones that are getting massive financial backing from their boards.”Bangladesh should be playing against the likes of us more regularly, and in the new cycle for the next ODI World Cup, we will be playing against them more. It’s only good for women’s cricket if more and more teams are playing against the top teams and improving. There have been a lot more close games at this World Cup, no matter who you are, and the likes of Bangladesh have really contributed to that.”For England, however, the end of an arduous winter campaign is drawing nigh. One more win, and they will be braced for another World Cup semi-final – potentially against South Africa, the team they edged out by two wickets at the same stage of the 2017 tournament. And Beaumont felt the squad had the focus and the form to brace for one big push to the finish.”We obviously started a little bit slow in the comp,” Beaumont said. “But our bowlers are certainly peaking at the right time. Katherine Brunt looked in really good rhythm last game, Kate Cross has been brilliant throughout, [so has] Sophie Ecclestone. Everyone’s chipping in where they can.”With the batting, I guess we haven’t had that that solid opening partnership yet, but it was good to see Danni [Wyatt] go on and get some good runs in the last game [against Pakistan], and there’s been contributions throughout. So I do feel like we’re starting to play our best cricket as we come into the back end of this tournament.”I’m not going to lie, it’s been tough. It’s been a very long time away from home. And even before that, there were all sorts of rules and regulations around Covid protocols and stuff,” she added. “This is the longest I’ve been on tour with England, but it’s what we signed up for, and it’s one-and-a-half weeks to go. If we can take a trophy home with us, it all will be worth it.”