O Fluminense tem mais um problema no último jogo do Campeonato Brasileiro. Após uma dividida forte, o meio-campista Martinelli saiu de campo chorando no decorrer do empate em 1 a 1 com o Santos, na Vila Belmiro, e sua presença se tornou incerta contra o Fortaleza.
CONFIRA A CLASSIFICAÇÃO ATUALIZADA DO BRASILEIRÃO
RelacionadasFluminenseMarcão critica a arbitragem no duelo do Fluminense com o Santos: ‘Fator extra que tirou os meninos do sério’Fluminense21/02/2021FluminenseATUAÇÕES: Linha de frente do Fluminense se destaca no empate com o SantosFluminense21/02/2021
De acordo com a repórter Fabíola Andrade, do canal Premiere, o jogador de 19 anos virou seu pé esquerdo depois da disputa de bola com o santista Vinicius Baleiro, aos 7 minutos da etapa final. Com fortes dores, o tricolor saiu de maca e, no banco de reservas, ficou chorando enquanto recebia tratamento com bolsa de gelo no local.
Com uma entorse no pé esquerdo, Martinelli será reavaliado nesta segunda-feira.
O técnico Marcão falou sobre a jogada durante a entrevista coletiva.
– No lance do Martinelli eu estava do lado do bandeira. Falei para ele que tinha sido falta, ele foi puxado, tocado no tornozelo. Ele (o assistente) fingiu que não foi nada – afirmou.
O Fluminense foi a 61 pontos e volta a campo nesta quinta-feira, contra o Fortaleza, no Maracanã, às 21h30.
Tottenham Hotspur have wrestled with a stark loss of form over recent weeks but returned to winning ways with an excellent 4-1 victory over Newcastle United last weekend.
Ange Postecoglou will have been most displeased with his side's decline, having won eight of his first ten matches in the Premier League – drawing the other two – and winning a trio of Manager of the Month awards to announce himself to English football emphatically.
Ange Postecoglou.
How Spurs have been restored since the Australian's appointment has been stunning, with the eighth-placed finish of 2022/23 a poignant memory fading into the ether: while Tottenham's thinness has been their undoing of late, the fluency and attacking verve has hinted at fruitful future fortunes.
Postecoglou needs to strengthen in January, bolstering his ranks to compete against the division's best as the season stretches into its decisive phase after the new year, and the attacking area is of great importance.
Tottenham transfer news – Matias Soule
While many Lilywhites supporters will be aware of Tottenham's interest in a young Juventus forward named Samuel Iling-Junior, Daniel Levy and his transfer team have been enticed by further starlets from the Old Lady's squad, with Matias Soule identified.
Spurs could repeat Maddison masterclass with move for £20m "assist machine"
Tottenham will look to strengthen the ranks in January.
By
Angus Sinclair
Dec 12, 2023
According to journalist Fabio Santini – via Sport Witness – Spurs, alongside Crystal Palace, are interested in signing Soule after his impressive performances on loan with Serie A side Frosinone, following news from Calciomercato earlier in December that revealed Tottenham's attention.
Santini said that Juve could seek to recuperate funds as they target central midfield additions and will attempt to cash in on Soule, valued at a ballpark fee of €25m (£21m).
Tottenham have a good relationship with the Turin club after signing Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur in recent years, and could use such former deals to engineer a transfer.
Matias Soule's season in numbers
Last season, the 20-year-old scored his first goal for Juventus and played a bit-part role as he honed his craft, starting four times in Serie A, but Massimiliano Allegri probably made the right decision in allowing him to further improve elsewhere, shipping him out on loan in the summer.
As per Sofascore, the 5 foot 9 whiz has been immense now he has been taken off the leash, scoring six goals and supplying one assist across 13 outings in the Italian top-flight this term, however, his influence stretches far beyond this surface-level contribution.
Completing 81% of his passes. Soule has also averaged three key passes and 5.6 ball recoveries per game while making 4.5 dribbles each outing – for comparison, Manchester City's Jeremy Doku is averaging 4.0 dribbles per game in the Premier League.
Described as an "exciting talent" by Statman Dave, Tottenham would pull off a coup in securing this youngster's signature, and Postecoglou simply has to act incisively to snap him up.
Matias Soule's style of play
While Soule's "superb" dribbling style is his standout attribute – as hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – there is little question that he is blooming into a multi-faceted player with a keen eye for goal and a natural intelligence in decision-making and movement.
While he would be effective on the left, his eagerness to weave inside and beat his man highlights his hunger and mettle in attacking sequences, always looking to inflict damage on his opponents and earning praise from journalist Zach Lowy, who noted his "special" skill set.
Boasting some impressive and evenly spread metrics, Soule ranks among the top 13% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 7% for shot-creating actions, the top 9% for progressive passes, the top 1% for successful take-ons and the top 5% for blocks per 90, as per FBref.
Artful and penetrative, he is likened to Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, which is probably a definitive factor behind the Eagles' interest as they look to complement their fleet-footed star.
For Spurs, augmenting their offensive ranks with a player of such quality is only going to tantalise riches down the line, with Soule's innate eye for goal and skill in driving the ball forward, progressing the play as an unstoppable wide vehicle, something that will prove invaluable as Postecoglou looks to return to European competition and indeed thrive on the continental stage.
How Soule compares to Dejan Kulusevski
Since Soule principally plays on the right wing, he would find himself in direct competition with Kulusevski, who intriguingly also arrived from Juventus, signing for £25m in the summer after completing an initial 18-month loan.
It's perhaps a fair assessment that Soule has the makings of a natural finisher in a way that Kulusevski cannot emulate; the Sweden international has a melange of noteworthy qualities but ranks among the bottom 29% of positional peers for goals scored per 90.
That said, he ranks among the top 19% for tackles and the top 20% for interceptions per 90, having been praised for his attributes recently by Sky Sports' Jamie Weir.
The reporter said: "Dejan Kulusevski really is a special special player. Works so hard, covers every blade of grass. Hell of an engine on him, and just so much heart."
Dejan Kulusevski: Similar Players
Player
Club
Bukayo Saka
Arsenal
Ousmane Dembele
Paris Saint-Germain
Hirving Lozano
PSV Eindhoven
*Sourced via Football Transfers
As per Sofascore, the 23-year-old has also completed 83% of his passes in the Premier League this season while averaging 2.3 key passes per game, evidencing his creative flair and effectiveness in Postecoglou's squad, having started all 16 league fixtures.
Such contrasting skill sets could be crucial for Spurs going forward, adding some prodigious talent to the right flank to further the development – with the struggling Bryan Gil the counterweight, the balance is somewhat askew.
Given that Kulusevski has also played a central creative role at times recently, and by utilising his spark he could create a constant passage through to the danger area, from which the Argentinian talent could wreak havoc.
Bolstering with an exciting youngster such as Soule could be the perfect move for Spurs, who can look ahead with much optimism once again after a testing period.
After converting his 18th Test ton into a double, Ross Taylor admitted that the landmark was weighing on his mind
Mohammad Isam in Wellington11-Mar-2019Ross Taylor admitted that getting past his late mentor Martin Crowe’s 17 Test hundreds weighed heavily on him until today, when he reached his 18th. Taylor’s three centuries in 2016 got him close to Crowe’s record but then he took a bit of time to equal him, finally doing it in December 2017 against West Indies. Then, again, he had to wait a long time for the next one, to go past Crowe who died in March 2016 of cancer.On the way to his 200 against Bangladesh on the fourth day in Wellington, Taylor also crossed Crowe’s record for most runs at a venue in New Zealand, after reaching 1,226 at the Basin Reserve.”I told Hogan [Crowe] “my apologies” for taking so long to get there,” Taylor said. “I also broke his [record] for most runs at the Basin [Reserve], so he’s probably a bit annoyed with that one.Getty Images
“I guess 17 was such a big number when I just started playing cricket. Once I got there it was probably a bit of a relief and then didn’t kick on. It was probably a little in my subconscious. I must admit it probably played on my mind for a bit as well, so before this I had a chat to our sports psych guy Pete [Sanford] and just acknowledged that it’s always going to be there. But now it’s nice to knock it off and just go out there and play.”Taylor also said that reaching his third double-hundred was also a relief for him, especially after he survived the two dropped chances in the first 15 minutes of the morning session. He said that after getting out to a great catch by Dimuth Karunaratne in Wellington a couple of months ago, he felt that there will be a time when his luck would turn.Taylor reached his fifty off 61 balls and went even more quickly to his century, taking a further 36 balls to get there – he struck six fours and three sixes during this period. He batted at even pace for the rest of his innings, finishing with 19 fours and four sixes, before getting caught behind the wicket in the 84th over.”There was a stage out there when I thought ‘Hogan got 299, I might get 199’, so it was nice to get past that. I’ve always loved playing at the Basin. It’s nice for family and friends to be here as well. If you’d told me that [I’d get a double] at the start of the day, especially how the first 10 overs went, I would have said ‘you’re kidding’.”I felt really good when I played against Sri Lanka here and got an absolute screamer at short-leg, second ball of the day. I just went back to that and thought well my luck’s got to change sooner or later. Let’s make it pay off.”
Manchester United have conceded 39 goals in all competitions in merely 26 matches this season despite having the most clean sheets in the Premier League in the previous campaign.
The backline has particularly been an area of concern for Erik ten Hag as the Dutch coach has been unable to field his first-choice defenders consistently.
With the January window on the near horizon, and United still leaking goals like a broken faucet, the manager is reportedly keen to bolster his backline.
Manchester United transfer news – Goncalo Inacio
According to recent reports in Portugal, via Sport Witness, Sporting Clube de Portugal central defender Goncalo Inacio is high on Man United’s transfer agenda over the coming weeks in an attempt to shore up the backline midway through the season.
The outlets claim that Sporting CP have academy product Joao Muniz ready to make the step up to the first-team in anticipation of offers from English trio Man United, Liverpool, and Newcastle United.
Ten Hag’s men have been linked with signing the Portugal international in the past and could have secured his services for merely £39m during the summer window by activating his previous release clause. However, Inacio signed a new four-year deal with Sporting as recently as August, with his buyout clause now set at £52m.
Manchester United have a number of players absent at the moment, including former skipper Harry Maguire as well as £57m signing Lisandro Martinez, who has been out since the start of September. Inacio could add much-needed quality at the back for the Reds.
Goncalo Inacio stats at Sporting CP
The most important detail to check is Inacio’s injury record. The last thing Manchester United need right now is another big-money signing coming to Old Trafford and spending months on the injury table.
As per Transfermarkt, Inacio has missed just one game since October 2021 which came in March 2022 when the defender had the flu. In total, Inacio has missed nine matches in his professional career through illness and injury which is quite impressive and shows that he is rarely unavailable.
The most important trait Inacio has that makes him a dime a dozen is his left foot. Ten Hag has admitted in Martinez’s absence that he prefers having left-footed players at left centre-back, hence why Raphael Varane has seen limited game-time in recent months and why Luke Shaw has been shoehorned in at the back.
Being left-footed at left centre-half means that the team building out have a greater chance of bypassing the opposition’s high press as the player can open his body out and progress the ball, rather than being uncomfortable on his weaker foot when doing so. Due to Ten Hag’s preference for left-footers on that side, Inacio fits the bill perfectly.
Secondly, it seems likely that both Varane and Jonny Evans will leave Old Trafford in the near future. Varane has been linked with a move away from Man United this winter, while Evans is 36 in less than three weeks and his contract only runs until the summer.
Meanwhile, Maguire, who was absent from United’s trip to Anfield on Sunday, could even be phased out if Inacio is brought to the club over the coming weeks. In fact, the Portuguese defender has outperformed both Maguire and Evans in several key metrics this term.
Goals
0.18
0.07
0
Expected Goals
0.11
0.06
0.01
Progressive Passes
8
4.09
2.76
Progressive Carries
1.39
0.94
0.52
Passing Accuracy %
88.6
83.4
85.8
Passes To Final 1/3
9.09
5.04
2.93
Tackles
1.21
0.87
0.86
Tackles Won
0.91
0.61
0.48
Blocks
1.21
1.97
0.69
Interceptions
1.27
1.36
0.48
Stats via FBref
These statistics suggest that the Portuguese colossus could provide far more quality in possession in comparison to the two British defenders, with his ability to progress the ball from deep, whilst also excelling as a ball-winner.
Football scout Jacek Kulig has even described the 22-year-old as a “sensation” for his performances with Sporting and this sensation could be on his way to Old Trafford to clean house this winter as an upgrade on Evans and Maguire with his ball-playing exploits.
يشهد اليوم الأربعاء الموافق 4-9-2024، جولة جديدة من مباريات تصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025، حيث تتجه الأنظار صوب عدد من المواجهات الحاسمة التي ستحدد بشكل كبير ملامح المجموعات وتزيد من حدة المنافسة.
وتكتسب هذه الجولة أهمية كبيرة لكافة المنتخبات المشاركة، حيث تسعى كل منها لتحقيق نتيجة إيجابية من شأنها أن تعزز من فرصها في التأهل إلى نهائيات كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025.
وتعتبر هذه المباريات بمثابة اختبار حقيقي لمدى جاهزية المنتخبات ومدى قدرتها على المنافسة على المستوى القاري.
ويلتقي منتخب جزر القمر مع منافسه جامبيا، ويستضيف منتخب ليبيا نظيره رواندا، وتُلاقي تنزانيا إثيوبيا، ويصطدم السودان بـ النيجر.
طالع أيضًا | تذكرتي تعلن فتح الحجز لمباراة مصر والرأس الأخضر في تصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا مواعيد مباريات اليوم الأربعاء 4-9-2024 والقنوات الناقلةمواعيد تصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا 2025 اليوم
جزر القمر ضد جامبيا، الساعة 6 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “Sportitalia”.
ليبيا ضد، رواندا، الساعة 7 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports HD 6”.
تنزانيا ضد إثيوبيا، الساعة 7 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، ولم تُعلن أي قناة عربية عن إذاعة المباراة.
السودان ضد النيجر، الساعة 10 مساءً بتوقيت مصر والسعودية، وتُذاع عبر قناة “beIN Sports HD 6”.
ويُمكنكم متابعة أحداث مباريات اليوم لحظة بلحظة من مركز المباريات من هنـــا
Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants to make a “special” star one of his first Manchester United signings, according to a new report.
Man Utd’s January plans
With Ratcliffe taking control of sporting decisions at Old Trafford from the Glazers, some Red Devils supporters may be hoping to see the club active in the winter window.
That’s because Erik ten Hag’s side have had a mixed season to date, with back-to-back away defeats in the Premier League to West Ham and Nottingham Forest sandwiched in-between a dramatic comeback victory over Aston Villa.
The club now have the chance to bolster their squad this month, but it looks as if attention could be on moving some players out before any arrive. Recent reports have claimed that United are ready to accept an offer for Raphael Varane this month, with Jadon Sancho returning to Borussia Dortmund also on the cards.
All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024
With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.
ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024
When it comes to incomings, The Athletic shared a Man Utd transfer update earlier this week, saying that not a lot of money looks set to be available to Ten Hag this month but ‘United might squeeze out another low-cost loan’ for a new forward with RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner and Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy thought to be options.
Man Utd targeting Michael Olise
With January additions seemingly limited, Ratcliffe and INEOS may have their eyes on making their mark in the summer, and it looks as if a move or a Premier League star is on the cards.
According to The Evening Standard’s Nizaar Kinsella, Man Utd are interested in making Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise ‘one of the first signings’ of the Ratcliffe era at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils are planning a squad overhaul in the summer and are targeting Olise, who is ‘viewed as a player who could help revitalise United’s woeful attack’. He has a release clause in his new Crystal Palace contract, with his previous clause sitting at £35m before he signed new terms at Selhurst Park.
The 22-year-old has gone from strength to strength since moving to Palace from Reading in 2021 and has already enjoyed his best goalscoring season in the top flight, netting five times in nine appearances. (Michael Olise stats – Transfermarkt)
Primarily a right-winger, Olise has also featured as an attacking midfielder, central midfielder and on the left, showing the versatility he could offer at Old Trafford. He even scored a brilliant late free-kick against United last season at Selhurst Park.
Praised by teammate Joel Ward, Olise has been labelled a "special talent who could "go onto new heights".
“Michael’s a special talent. The world’s his oyster and he’s just getting better and better from game to game, so I think he’s going to go onto new heights and set the bar. If he continues that way, he’s going to go on to special things.”
Olise was wanted by Chelsea last year but decided to stay put at Palace, but following this update, as 2024 progresses, a move for the attacker could be one to keep an eye on.
Liverpool won at Anfield on Wednesday night after falling behind in the opening half, but then this is certainly nothing new for supporters, who have come to expect an upswing in performance after the break.
That isn't to say that the Reds (both the club and its support) should become comfortable, lax – expectant even – that victory will fall into their lap after the hour mark, but then constancy of this trait is indicative of the mentality that Jurgen Klopp has instilled once again after the 2022/23 campaign.
And what a year it was, chock with refuse and a growing sense that something had gone quite wrong on Merseyside, though this was duly sorted by Liverpool's world-class manager this summer and the club's title credentials in the Premier League have been restored.
Liverpool's 9/10 machine was better than Nunez & Jones vs Fulham
Jurgen Klopp’s side have the advantage after the home leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final tie.
ByAngus Sinclair Jan 11, 2024
The midfielder was rebuilt last year and it's now time for the defence to receive a spruce-up, and while it's unlikely to be the priority, recent reports suggest that Liverpool could be lining up a bid for a new right-back.
Liverpool transfer news – Jeremie Frimpong
According to a recent report from Football Insider, Liverpool have 'set sights' on dynamic Bayer Leverkusen right-flanker Jeremie Frimpong as Klopp considers boosting his backline.
Arsenal and Manchester United are also credited with an interest in the Netherlands international and given that his £35m release clause will be activated come summer, there is little doubt that a riot of suitors will scramble for his signature.
Bayer Leverkusen'sJeremieFrimpongduring the press conference
Whether Liverpool truly need him is a question no doubt on the lips of many a fan, but with such blistering attacking intent and technical prowess, Frimpong has the skills to thrive at any team.
Jeremie Frimpong's style of play
A fact unbeknownst to some, Frimpong amassed 68 appearances for Manchester City's youth sides before signing for Scottish giants Celtic on a four-year deal in 2019.
His time in the Premiership confirmed a few things: he was fleet-footed and exciting on the ball, and he was headed straight for the top.
After two years in Glasgow German Bundesliga side Leverkusen swooped in and completed a transfer rising to £11.5m, and he has since continued his rise to the very top and has even been described as a “monster” in the final third by United Stand presenter Beth Tucker, gushing over his qualities amid the Red Devils' interest.
Bayer Leverkusen star Jeremie Frimpong.
Indeed, with Xabi Alonso's Die Werkself team currently top of the Bundesliga, Frimpong has been among the key components, with the wing-back remarkably scoring seven goals and supplying ten assists across all competitions.
In the German top-flight this term, as per Sofascore, the 5 foot 7 star has scored five goals and provided six assists across 16 outings, complementing this impressive return with an 80% pass success rate and an average of 1.8 key passes per game.
Moreover, he is one of the most penetrative and effective in breaking into the danger area and wreaking havoc, ranking among the top 2% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored and successful take-ons, the top 1& for progressive carrie3s and touches in the attacking box, the top 5% for assists and the top 6% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.
Jeremie Frimpong: Similar Players
#
Player
Club
1
Oleksandr Zincehnko
Arsenal
2
Ben White
Arsenal
3
Theo Hernandez
AC Milan
4
Alphonso Davies
Bayern Munich
5
Ferland Mendy
Real Madrid
*Sourced via Football Transfers
With Trent Alexander-Arnold probably destined for a future in the centre of the park, where his string-pulling brilliance is at its zenith, there is little question that a replacement would be needed to provide the right wing of the backline with a sturdy and reliable option.
But is Frimpong the man for the job? And would it be wise to exhaust precious funds on such a profile when the 20-year-old Conor Bradley is proving that he could be the homegrown answer, having dazzled over the past week?
How Frimpong could affect Conor Bradley
Bradley spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Bolton Wanderers, securing promotion to League One and earning both the Player's Player of the Season award and the honour bestowed by the vote of the fan.
It was, let's say, a kind of launchpad of a year, with this figurative remark very apt for the impressive starlet's journey so far, having since made five appearances for Liverpool this season, only returning in December after a lengthy back injury.
Enjoying a cameo off the bench as Liverpool weathered the storm and then dispatched Arsenal in the FA Cup last weekend, he started against Fulham in the Carabao Cup and earned the Player of the Match award as his side edged closer to silverware.
Not the finished article by any stretch, Bradley is immensely talented and there is a sense that signing someone such as Frimpong would only inhibit his chances of success, negating his chances of cementing a starting role in the team upon Alexander-Arnold's eventual move to midfield.
Conor Bradley's Performance vs Fulham
Minutes played
90'
Touches
87
Accurate passes
49/56 (88%)
Key passes
2
Tackles
6
Interceptions
1
Ground duels won
9/19 (47%)
Dribble success
1/4 (25%)
Times dribbled past
3
*Sourced via Sofascore
As the table shows, it wasn't a perfect night but one that led This Is Anfield's Mark Delgado to hand him a 9/10 rating, having passed the eye test and proved himself with a lively performance, a statement showing.
Described as "one of the best wing-backs in Europe" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Frimpong would bring a deadliness to the right side at Anfield to rival that of Alexander-Arnold, albeit in a different manner.
However, the £66k-per-week whiz is probably at his best when fielded on the right side of a back-five, and he might struggle to encapsulate the multi-faceted role as aright-back in the Premier League, instead emerging as a liability and a target for opposition advances.
To explicate this, the diminutive dynamo averages 0.8 tackles, 0.3 interceptions, 0.4 clearances and 3.6 ball recoveries per game in the Bundesliga this season, defensive duties taking quite the secondary role in his professional armoury.
Alexander-Arnold, by comparison, – perpetually hounded for his reliability in protecting his keeper's goal, the 25-year-old would hardly be replaced with a force of greater defensive security in Frimpong.
Liverpool defender Conor Bradley.
And in Bradley, who has been hailed for his "eye-catching" performances of late by The Athletic's James Pearce, a player of high-class standing could rise to the fore and cement a regular starting berth in Klopp's system, eventually succeeding Alexander-Arnold.
Of course, the Reds vice-captain is unlikely to cement a newfound role in the kernel of the pitch conclusively this season, and this actually provides Bradley with the perfect grounds to make improvements over the coming months ahead of a future starting spot.
Frimpong, for all his talent, is probably not the answer, especially when a rounded solution already lies within the fold.
Bangladesh’s batsmen have to trust their own skills at the World Cup rather than be swayed by prevailing global standards, according to their batting coach Neil McKenzie. Most of Bangladesh’s success over the past four years has come on slow and low pitches at home, and the odd ODI series win in West Indies where the pitches had a bit more pace. Bangladesh are still reliant on scores in the 280-to-300 range, which they have backed their bowlers to defend.Bangladesh have posted 300-plus totals only six times in the last four years. They have successfully chased down 250-plus targets only four times in 14 attempts in the same period.While they have enjoyed impressive results as an ODI side in this period, their batsmen haven’t matched those of sides like England or India who have regularly racked up 350-plus totals.One of the reasons is the lack of a big hitter at No. 6 or 7, although Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim have contributed heavily in the slog overs. McKenzie said Bangladesh mustn’t focus on what they don’t have, but think about how they can maximise their existing skillsets.”Bangladesh is not going to compete for hitting sixes, with, say, West Indies,” McKenzie said. “We are going to be better than them in skilled hitting. Beating cover, running twos, chipping over cover for four. Hitting really well straight. A guy like Mushi can manipulate the pace. We have got so many other attributes. We don’t need to be going at fifth gear trying to hit the ball out of the ground chasing eight an over. We are good enough to hit gaps and run well.”If a guy like Soumya [Sarkar] decides that he is going to take a spinner down, we want him to be positive. We want him to really go for his shots. All the big hitters in the world make mistakes, and have people on their backs, but it is how they react. So it will be a big lesson for a guy like Soumya who is a natural strokeplayer. He has to trust his game. We know he plays well down the ground so if he gets caught every now and then, [it’s fine because] that’s his gameplan.”McKenzie underlined that temperamental batsmen such as Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das and Sabbir Rahman have to trust themselves to find success in the World Cup. Soumya, Liton and Sabbir have only occasionally translated their undoubted potential into match-winning innings. Their inconsistency has caused many headaches for Bangladesh’s captain, coaches and board president.Soumya impressed during and immediately after the 2015 World Cup, but has gone through prolonged periods of poor form since. Liton and Sabbir have played the odd attractive innings; Liton’s 121 against India in the Asia Cup final was a vindication of his talent but there hasn’t been much from him thereafter.Soumya Sarkar works one on the off side•AFP
McKenzie, who has had to spend a lot of time with these three batsmen in the nets, said that if gameplans are followed properly, success is bound to follow, and that the batsmen won’t be at fault if they fail while sticking to those plans.”They have shown glimpses of what they can do. It is exciting to watch them bat,” he said. “I think the three of them don’t show fear when they bat. That’s when they play at their best. I am hoping that they can play their natural games, and really stand up for Bangladesh.”They have all had crucial hundreds. I know Sabbir got one in a losing cause in New Zealand, but it will help his career. I think batting the situation and trusting your gameplan [is important]. All three of them have good defenses and attacking game. They are equipped for any situation. It is about using that experience.”They are young players so they will make mistakes. But it is about learning from your mistakes, not make the same mistakes over and over again. There will be a few occasions when they will mess up, but I think they will be more positive for Bangladesh. We just want them to trust their gameplans, play their shots, and if they get out in their gameplan and shots, there’s nothing much we can do. But if they let the pressure get to them and get out to other shots, then we have a little chat about the game situation.”McKenzie felt the key to batting well as a team would be for the set batsman to help the newcomer in the middle, during high-pressure situations in the World Cup. While batting in partnerships has improved for Bangladesh in the past four years, it will be even more crucial in a big tournament.”I think lot of the guys are enhancing their strength,” McKenzie said. “We are challenging them to do a few things differently. We have asked a few questions about scoring options and rotation of strike, and batting for each other.”When you are batting on 80, you have to get your partner to 10 from nought. Rotation of strike, drop and run. It is more about being aware about someone else’s gameplan, what they are looking to do, and batting in partnerships.”McKenzie, who has been lauded within the Bangladesh dressing room for his work with the batsmen, said that Bangladesh’s batsmen must ultimately remember the basics of batting in England, which is to play the ball late. “They really have to wait for the ball as long as they can. Batsmen from the subcontinent come forward to hit on the up. You can’t do that overseas,” he said. “We have identified this, and there’s a lot of footage of different bowlers.”We have hopefully ticked all boxes. Now the individuals have to showcase what they can do. There’s a lot of hard work that have gone into it. Passion, talent, skill and knowledge is also not lacking. It is about enjoying the World Cup.”
Despite the Premier League's Financial Fair Play rules potentially standing in their way, Newcastle United have now enquired about what it would cost to sign a European superstar.
Newcastle transfer news
As things stand, Newcastle are reportedly incredibly limited on what they can spend. The Premier League's profit and sustainability rules state that clubs are only permitted to accumulate a pre-tax loss of £105m over three years. Newcastle's loss during that period of time stands at £112m. And although some of the spending does not count towards FFP, so the Magpies are within the guidelines, that loss does mean that they will likely have to sell players before they can make any further big-money signings.
Speaking about where Newcastle stand, football finance expert Kieran Maguire told The Athletic: “What they don’t want to do is make the same mistakes as Everton and completely blow it by spending everything at once and hampering themselves. They won’t be signing Kylian Mbappe, but Newcastle can be competitive this summer, especially if they qualify for the Champions League.”
Whilst Mbappe has been ruled out, a move that could be on the cards is one for Joshua Kimmich. According to Bundesliga writer Christian Falk, Newcastle have enquired about the availability of Kimmich this month with Bayern Munich reportedly open to negotiating. The Germany star, however, is interested in a summer move over a winter transfer.
With that said, a deal looks unlikely to take place in the January transfer window, but Kimmich certainly seems like one to keep an eye on this summer.
"Feisty" Kimmich can return winning mentality to Newcastle
When looking at Newcastle's spending since the takeover of PIF, the likes of Alexander Isak and Sven Botman stand out. But what doesn't stand out is experience. Aside from Kieran Trippier, the Magpies haven't recruited players who have been there and done it on the top European stage. Now, however, they could land a player who's done it all in the form of Kimmich.
If squad depth was a concern too, then Kimmich's versatility could more than play its part. The World Cup winner can play defensive midfield, right-back and central midfield in what would hand Eddie Howe a major boost. What's more, his numbers show that he'd be the perfect partner for Bruno Guimaraes at St James' Park. Here's how Kimmich's stats compare to the Brazilian's.
Joshua Kimmich
14
113
16
33
Bruno Guimaraes
31
148
27
28
It's no surprise that former Germany forward Jurgen Klinsmann has been so full of praise in the past, given the numbers.
The former striker said, via the official Bundesliga website: "The No. 6 role that Joshua is playing for Bayern Munich and for the national team has become like the quarterback role in American Football. Joshua plays that to perfection. He is not only feisty in terms of winning the ball back, he knows right away what to do with the ball and who to connect to. He keeps the tempo of the game in place."
هزت أنباء إصابة النجم العالمي كريستيانو رونالدو بـ”عدوى فيروسية” صفوف نادي النصر السعودي، قبيل مواجهة هامة لفريق “العالمي” أمام نادي الشرطة العراقي، ضمن منافسات الجولة الأولى من دوري أبطال آسيا.
وأصدر نادي النصر بيانًا رسميًا عبر حسابه الرسمي على منصة “إكس” أكد فيه تعرض قائده رونالدو لوعكة صحية تستدعي الراحة، وبالتالي فإن اللاعب البرتغالي سيغيب عن مباراة الذهاب أمام الشرطة العراقي. بيان نادي النصر بشأن إصابة كريستيانو رونالدو
“تعرض قائد الفريق الأول الكابتن كريستيانو رونالدو لوعكة صحية (عدوى فيروسية) وبعد متابعة طبيب النادي لحالته، تقرر حاجته للراحة وعدم مرافقة البعثة للسفر اليوم.. أمنيتنا لقائد النصر بالشفاء العاجل”.
تقرير طبي 📄 pic.twitter.com/rLDDdFcHHl — نادي النصر السعودي (@AlNassrFC) September 15, 2024
ويعد غياب رونالدو ضربة موجعة لنادي النصر، حيث يعتبر اللاعب الركيزة الأساسية للفريق، ويمثل قوة هجومية هائلة، ومن المتوقع أن يؤثر غيابه بشكل كبير على أداء الفريق في المباراة المقبلة.
ويثير غياب رونالدو عن مباراة مهمة مثل مباراة الشرطة العراقي العديد من التساؤلات حول جاهزيته للمشاركة في المباريات المقبلة، ويتساءل الجماهير عن المدة التي سيحتاجها اللاعب للتعافي من هذه الإصابة.
وعلى الرغم من غياب رونالدو، إلا أن نادي النصر يواجه تحديًا كبيرًا في مباراة الشرطة العراقي، حيث يسعى الفريق العراقي إلى تحقيق نتيجة إيجابية أمام بطل الدوري السعودي. موعد مباراة النصر والشرطة العراقي
وتُقام مباراة النصر والشرطة العراقي غدًا الاثنين الموافق 16 سبتمبر، في تمام الساعة السابعة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة.
يذكر، أن رونالدو انضم إلى النصر السعودي مطلع موسم 2022، ووقع على عقد تاريخي يمتد لـ 2025.