All posts by n8rngtd.top

Genuine on-field progress remains hard to gauge, but Root comes through personal test of leadership, in words and deeds

George Dobell in St Lucia13-Feb-2019It would be nice to report that England’s win in St Lucia shows they are back on course.And it’s true there were some aspects of this performance – not least Mark Wood’s first-innings bowling – that may prove relevant for the months ahead. If England can keep Wood fit and if he can reproduce the hostility of his spell in West Indies’ first innings, there will be a new dimension to England’s attack. No batsman, in the Ashes or at the World Cup, wants to face that.But like winning the raffle on Titanic just after that pesky incident with the iceberg, the value of a win in a dead rubber does have to be kept in perspective.There were some moments in this match when it seemed quite apparent that West Indies were struggling to retain the intensity they had demonstrated earlier in the series.Consider Kemar Roach, for example: he was immaculate in the first Test – and in some stages of this one – but in his first spell here, he barely hit the cut strip. And then there’s Kraigg Brathwaite, who has batted with an abundance of caution all series, who suddenly fell to a slog to the midwicket boundary. West Indies were without their captain and key allrounder, too.That’s not to say England’s win was not deserving of praise. Quite apart from Wood’s pace, there were other aspects of this performance that England could look to learn from and replicate.The hunger of Joe Root, for example. Quite early in his century, he received a long-hop from Roston Chase that, many times, he might have tried to hit for four or six. It crossed his mind here, too, you could see: he was quickly in position and on the brink of unleashing a full-blooded pull.Instead, though, he considered the man back on the boundary, rolled his wrists, hit the ball down and settled for one.It was a moment that immediately brought to mind another Root innings: his 254 against Pakistan at Old Trafford, when he made exactly the same decisions against Yasir Shah, concluding the percentage option – the wise, mature, long-term option – was to play a bit safer and grind out the huge score his side required.If that sounds simple, well it probably is. But it also isn’t the way England tend to play these days. All that talk of “you don’t win games by batting long periods of time”, which Root said ahead of the series, has seeped into the DNA of this side. Root’s innings here – an innings that contained 57 singles – showed he was learning and adapting.Might it be relevant that this innings and the one in Manchester came when Root had something to prove? On this occasion, he was hurt by the series defeat and disappointment in his own performance. In Manchester, meanwhile, he had just moved up the order to No. 3 and was keen to show what he could do.Root has to retain that hunger. He has to retain that understanding that it is not vignettes that win Tests; it’s epics. England are not a good enough side that they can see their best batsman settle for simply expressing his talent. He also has to grind and resist. He has to add rigour to his many other qualities.Joe Root and Shannon Gabriel shake hands at the end of the St Lucia Test•Getty ImagesThere were other differences in this game. Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes both made their best contributions of the series (with the bat, at least) with Stokes showing a welcome ability to go up and down the gears as the situation warranted. If he and England are to fulfil their potential, he will have to improve that Test batting average of 33.89 by at least five and quite possibly 10. There is no reason at all he should not.So that’s all fine and good.But the win in St Lucia shouldn’t mask what went before. It’s shouldn’t obscure the fact that four more catches were dropped in West Indies’ second innings; it shouldn’t obscure the fact that England still have little idea who their top three should be and it shouldn’t obscure the fact they don’t seem to know who to pick as wicketkeeper.Most of all, it shouldn’t detract from some poor selections both ahead and throughout this trip. The continuing persistence with Keaton Jennings – who really might be a worse driver than Prince Philip – is starting to look stubborn and irrational. With Trevor Bayliss – and, perhaps, James Anderson – having just participated in their final overseas Tests, it’s hard to argue that England are all that further progressed than they were when Bayliss took over in 2015.There was another aspect to this match. Playing, watching, writing and talking about cricket is, on the whole, a pretty frivolous way for grown-ups to spend their time. It’s beautiful, of course, and it’s enjoyable. But it’s not life and death and very little that happens really matters.But just occasionally there is a chance to make a difference. And, in making it clear that it is inappropriate to use somebody’s sexual orientation as a term of abuse, Root took that opportunity. His stance will have been noted – maybe only subconsciously – in playgrounds and streets and maidans across the world. It was another tiny step in the right direction for sport and society.While there may be some sympathy for Shannon Gabriel – we are all a product of our culture, after all, and homosexual acts are considered illegal across much of this region; we know of worse comments from players of all nations that have gone unpunished in other series because broadcasters (often host broadcasters) cannot isolate the audio or because the protagonists have made them in a more sophisticated (or cynical) fashion – cricket has to move beyond this nonsense. The fact that spectators, led by the Barmy Army, sang “YMCA”, “It’s Raining Men” and “A Little Respect” throughout Gabriel’s innings suggested they are keen to do so.Cricket fluffed such an opportunity at Edgbaston – when Moeen Ali was disgracefully booed – and cricket fluffed such an opportunity during an ugly Ashes series which became boorish and boring. It’s fluffed such an opportunity many, many times.The opportunity was taken here. Root may well have a bit to learn about captaincy and even a bit to learn about batting. But he has a great many good qualities and he is, very much, the natural leader of this side. England haven’t always been the most attractive or likeable side. In St Lucia they were a side of which their supporters could be proud.

Dismissals of Moeen Ali and James Vince epitomise a team that can’t help but look for the aggressive option

George Dobell at Headingley21-Jun-2019England were 170 for 5. They required 63 more runs to win and they had five wickets and 70 deliveries in hand. Their remaining batsmen had 12 Test and 54 first-class centuries between them. They had one foot in the semi-finals.But then Moeen Ali took a chance. He must have seen the fielder on the long-off fence, but he backed himself to clear him. Instead his lofted drive was well taken by Isuru Udana and Sri Lanka were thrown a lifeline. It was a dismissal that precipitated a slide in which four wickets fell for the addition of 16 runs. Suddenly something relatively simple was almost impossible.We have to be a bit careful criticising England’s limited-overs batting. You don’t set the records they have – the total of 481, the 17 sixes in an individual innings, the 46-ball hundred – without taking a certain amount of risk. It would be unfair to praise that bold approach one day and decry it the next. It is absolutely inevitable they will fail sometimes.But this was a run-chase. And a relatively small one at that. So there was no need for the high-risk strokes. Simple rotation of strike and calm heads would have sufficed. And, as admirable as England’s bravery and aggression has been, you do wish it was combined with a bit of common sense just a little more often. Adapting to surfaces and situations is key to success across formats and this was Moeen’s 100th ODI. With all that talent and all that experience, it really does seem fair to expect a bit better than this. It was, in its own way, just a little reminiscent of Kevin Pietersen’s dismissal in the second innings of the Perth Test of 2013. And we all remember how that was received. One hopes Moeen did not whistle at any point afterwards.Watch on Hotstar (India only): Highlights of Sri Lanka’s remarkable victory over EnglandMoeen might claim, with some justification, that the wicket was challenging. So he might claim, with some justification, that if he could smash a quick 20 or so more runs, he could have put the game beyond doubt. But that’s the logic of the get-rich-quick scheme; the mentality of the gambler. There was a simple single on offer here and Moeen, who had hit a six the previous delivery, showed a lack of composure in not taking it. It was a key moment in a defeat that puts England’s World Cup progress in jeopardy.To be fair, Jofra Archer’s dismissal – caught at long-on – was every bit as grim as Moeen’s. But he is a 24-year-old playing his ninth ODI. And he is batting at No. 10. Moeen is 32 now and playing in his second World Cup. More is expected of him.Moeen Ali leaves the field after holing out•Getty ImagesWas it relevant that, the previous day, Moeen had spoken of the internal – and good-natured – competition within the England dressing room over who could hit the most and biggest sixes? It seemed a light-hearted chat at the time. And Moeen is no doubt right when he talks of the importance of keeping the environment light and positive. But just because you don’t want them to over-think situations doesn’t mean you don’t want to think at all. And the balance here was more towards reckless than responsible.It would be simplistic to single out one man for England’s defeat, though. Just as it would be wrong not to acknowledge the fine performance of Sri Lanka. Angelo Mathews’ innings raised some eyebrows while it was in progress – he had made 34 from 80 balls at one stage – but in retrospect it appears an intelligent contribution from a man who adapted to the conditions better than most on the home team. He gave his bowlers a chance and, with Lasith Malinga nailing every yorker and his team-mates providing decent support, it was a chance they grasped. This upset was every bit a result of Sri Lanka playing well as it was England playing poorly.READ MORE: The monster they call MaliBut that doesn’t mean England didn’t play poorly. Or bat poorly, at least. It doesn’t mean that Jonny Bairstow didn’t play round a straight one or that Jos Buttler didn’t waste a review having done the same. And if Joe Root – who was batting masterfully well – was a bit unfortunate to be caught down the leg side, the best sides don’t trust to luck. They make sure.And then there’s James Vince. He did receive a decent ball that left him a little while inviting the drive. But it was an invitation he could have declined. Or at least an invitation he could have accepted with his foot to the pitch of the ball. As it was, that foot barely moved. It was a dismissal as soft as it was familiar.What do England do with Vince? He continues to look a million dollars. But increasingly he appears to be the sports-car which spends more time with its bonnet up than its roof down; the beautiful partner who can’t stop straying; the cigarette you’ll regret in the morning. He promises pearls and delivers pewter.He has now batted 10 times in ODI cricket with a top score of 51 (which came the first time he batted, back in July 2016) and 40 times in international cricket without making a century. And while it is true he has rarely enjoyed a run in the side – he has always been looking over his shoulder and never quite able to relax – that is the nature of much of professional sport. Jason Roy, by comparison, has passed 50 five times in his last six ODI innings. Suffice to say, his return cannot come soon enough for England. One wonders, too, if there is any part of the England management pining for a replacement opener with six ODI centuries. They have made their bed with Alex Hales, however, and must lie in it.This defeat does not ruin England’s World Cup hopes. Their fate is still very much in their own hands. Two victories from their final three games should ensure their progression; one might even be enough.But it does make life much more tense than it might have been. And it might well compromise their chances of resting key players – especially the fast bowlers – ahead of the semi-finals. Their opposition in those next three games – Australia, India and New Zealand – are fine sides who will sense blood. England really have made life much more difficult for themselves.Most of all, this result will do nothing to decrease the nerves in the England camp. And judging by the performances against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, those nerves are quite a factor.

A hostile English crowd, a dicey pitch, a batting collapse, a rearguard century and adulation for one of the greatest innings ever

Daniel Brettig at Edgbaston01-Aug-2019How, over the 12 months in which he was banned from representing Australia, might Steven Smith have imagined making his return to Test cricket?How about this? A raucously hostile English crowd, a dicey pitch, a day one batting collapse, a rearguard century as tough as it was masterful, a cover drive off Ben Stokes to get there, a foothold in the game, and adulation for one of the greatest innings ever played.Amid all the isolation, the ridicule, the lonely batting sessions, the community service and the club games for Sutherland, that would have sounded pretty good. In fact it might have been the stuff of Smith’s dreams, or the script of a movie capturing the disgrace, recovery and redemption of an elite athlete. It is a dream, or a film pitch, no longer.On day one of the 2019 Ashes, Smith played an innings as good as any in his career, possibly better. He played an innings as valuable as any in his career, possibly better. And he played an innings more cathartic to Smith and Australia than any in his career.Wiggling, twitching and light sabre leaving in a fashion that felt even more exaggerated than he did before the ban, Smith blunted everything England, the pitch and the weather could hurl at him. In the course of doing so he also caused a perceptible change in the Edgbaston crowd’s response – booing overshadowed if never completely drowned out by ever more generous applause.A lone hand first innings century, this was a kind of performance only seldom seen in Australian Test history – a couple spring to mind. In 1981, Kim Hughes fashioned an even 100 out of 198 against the West Indies on a difficult MCG pitch, getting to the milestone with nine wickets down. And in 1997, Steve Waugh battled to 108 out of 235 against England at Old Trafford on a surface where seam and swing were available in generous quantities more or less all day. Both knocks set up Australian victories and are still spoken about, decades later, but neither had quite the subtext of this one.For almost three weeks now, Smith has been driving Australia’s assistant coaches to distraction with his ravenous appetite for net sessions and throw downs. He has hit thousands of balls, most of them delivered by the batting coach Graeme Hick, indoors and outdoors, morning and evening, optional sessions and mandatory, from Southampton to Birmingham. Asked whether the coaches effectively drew straws for who would throw to Smith, Justin Langer had laughed.”Yep. Yep pretty much,” he said. “That’s why I was out on my knees before, because he didn’t have that long a net today. It’s almost when he comes out, you’re down on your knees going ‘oh thank you, thank you’ because he loves hitting balls, which means you’ve got to throw a lot of balls. Graeme Hick works very hard…”Steven Smith looks to the skies•Getty ImagesThe obsession and compulsion of Smith’s preparation ran alongside his litany of superstitions and routines, all compiled over the years to ensure he feels as comfortable and normal as possible at the batting crease. These extend from the order in which he puts on pads, gloves and helmet, to the taping of his shoelaces to his socks to ensure he does not see them when he looks down at has bat tapping by his right shoe. They help Smith to feel cocooned at the crease, and he most certainly needed that feeling for the scenario that confronted him at 17 for 2 in the eighth over.In the hands of Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes, the ball was zipping, seaming and bouncing. Too much for David Warner, albeit via an erroneous lbw decision, too much for Cameron Bancroft. There was talk of a Newlands scandal hat-trick of sorts for Broad, but Smith responded with a broad bat and cool judgment of what to play and leave from the very earliest stages of his innings.A few deliveries beat the bat, and Smith soon lost Usman Khawaja’s companionship, but overall the impression was of a batsman who, after all that had taken place, still had the measure of the England attack as he had done in Australia two years ago. This was not in Australia, however, nor with a Kookaburra ball travelling gun barrel straight for most of its journeys. The degree of difficulty was undoubtedly far higher. This was true even when considering how James Anderson withdrew from the attack with a recurrence of calf trouble after only four overs, not delivering a single ball to Smith all day.For a period either side of lunch, Smith was able to play in the slipstream of a fluent Travis Head, playing his first Ashes innings with some panache, until a seamer from Woakes found the left-hander lbw. That signalled another rush of wickets, as Matthew Wade, Tim Paine, James Pattinson and Pat Cummins cobbled just 11 runs between them. Smith came close to being part of the procession, successfully reviewing an lbw appeal when he shouldered arms and saw that the ball had not seamed back quite enough to hit the stumps. But at 122 for 8, it did not appear as though this would matter all that much.Walking to the wicket, though, was Peter Siddle, a cricketer with his own story of second chances to tell. He had been surplus to requirements for most of the journey here in 2015, and his selection for the opening Test demonstrated how far Australian thinking had evolved since then. In England this year, Siddle has been making himself useful to Essex with the bat as well as the ball, averaging 32 in the County Championship. Not having to deal with Anderson, who has dismissed him 11 times in Tests, Siddle was almost as fluent as Smith in adding 88 precious runs.”I was just telling him to watch the ball and to keep watching it really hard and play his natural game,” Smith said of Siddle. “When they over pitched he drove a few balls really nicely, when they bowled short he was getting underneath it the majority of the time. He had a really good, strong defence which is what you need on a wicket which is doing a bit. His defence was magnificent.”He was willing to get beaten every now and again and just play the line of the ball. He did that beautifully. It’s great to see Sidds back. He’s very experienced, he’s played a lot of cricket over here and he’s a bowler that is similar to Woakes who hits the stumps a lot, maybe a little bit shorter and is able to hit the stumps from a shorter length. It’s going to be crucial on this wicket and I think it’s a wicket that will really suit him.”When Siddle exited, Smith was still 14 runs from a century, and he knew from recent experience here in the World Cup semi-final that it was eminently plausible he may be left short of the mark. But Nathan Lyon was able to endure in his company, to a point that Smith was able to go to three figures by following a thumping six off Moeen Ali with a sweet cover drive off Stokes to return to the ranks of Test century makers. He celebrated in something of a daze, the enormity of the occasion and the achievement taking time to soak in. The lower order help was serendipitous in itself, for so many of those extra batting sessions for Smith have taken place alongside similar additional nets for the lower order, the better to eke out every last available run for the cause.Once he had composed himself, Smith launched into a final third of the innings that was often brutal, consigning Joe Root to a task that was less a case of setting fields as ordering his men to disperse as widely as possible – all of them retreating to the boundary by the end. Smith was utterly cocooned in the aforementioned zone, complete with all its many, ever more pronounced fidgets, including one instance of self-reproach when he failed to get a tennis slog past cover. The ticks and twitches eased a little towards the end, but only slightly.When finally Broad found a way through, Smith sprinted off the field, almost as though he was seeking to reach the sanctuary of his teammates before another round of booing could engulf him. But there was rather more applause for a day that, in Smith’s own words, defied his ability to describe them. He is back alright, and Australia could not be more grateful.

Stats highlights of the Australian summer, which was headlined by Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan Lyon

Gaurav Sundararaman06-Jan-2020 896 Runs scored by Marnus Labuschagne in the Australian summer – Only two batsmen have scored more than him in a home season: Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden (twice). Labuschagne finished with an average of 112 with four hundreds and three fifties. While Hayden and Ponting played more than 10 innings, Labuschagne batted only eight times this summer with a lowest score of 19. Labuschagne has now scored 1459 Test runs from 23 innings averaging 63.43.ESPNcricinfo Ltd1 Ross Taylor is the leading run-scorer for New Zealand in Test cricket. He went past the Stephen Fleming’s tally of 7172 on Monday. Taylor reached the landmark in his 99th Test. He finished the innings with 7174 runs at an average of 46.28. Taylor and Fleming are the only cricketers from New Zealand to score more than 7000 Test runs.ESPNcricinfo Ltd 8 Instances in which Australia have won every Test in their home summer (condition of at least five matches played). They had a similar summer in 2004-05 when they won two Tests against New Zealand and three against Pakistan. Since 2013-14 this is the first instance of Australia whitewashing every opposition they faced at home. 1 Test win for New Zealand against Australia from 31 matches since April 1993. New Zealand have lost 22 and drawn seven in this period. They have now lost six in a row against Australia with their last win coming nine years ago at Hobart. 27.97 Difference in batting and bowling average for Australia – fourth-best figures for Australia in a home season with a minimum of three Tests. Australia’s domination was evident against both Pakistan and New Zealand, averaging 50.67 with the bat and 22.7 with the ball.41.8 Strike rate for Australia’s bowlers against New Zealand – their best for a home series with a minimum of three matches and the their best overall since the 2002-03 series against Pakistan. 19.25 Average runs per wicket for New Zealand this series – their worst for against Australia across all 21 tours so far. Their highest score this series was 256 – the lowest top total for an overseas team in a series of three or more matches in Australia. 3 Ten wicket hauls for Nathan Lyon in Tests. This was also the second-best match figures for an Australian against New Zealand, and the best by a spinner. Coming into this Test, Lyon did not have a five-wicket hauls at his home ground Sydney. Now he has taken two in a match taking his wickets tally to 36 – second-most for him at any venue. Lyon finished with 27 wickets at an average of 21.96 in the summer with three five-wicket hauls. 24 Centuries for David Warner in Tests, which places him ninth in the list of most centuries for Australia. In contrast to the Ashes where Warner made only 95 runs, he amassed 786 runs at an average of 131 with three centuries in the home summer. Warner now has 7244 Test runs and is among the top 10 for Australia. Eighteen of the 24 centuries for Warner have come at home. Only Hayden and Ponting beat him on that count. Interestingly, Warner’s lowest score in the series like Marnus is 19.

West Ham United have endured an underwhelming campaign and Graham Potter has now made it clear that a mass clearout is en route at the London Stadium.

West Ham United's frustrating campaign set to yield squad changes

Despite comfortably staving off the threat of relegation, West Ham have fallen some way below expectation and Potter hasn’t been able to improve their fortunes in his opening period at the club.

The 49-year-old saw shoots of improvement going forward in the Hammers’ 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth, but they simply haven’t been prolific enough across the season to merit anything more than a bottom-half finish.

Eager to avoid a repeat of this inconsistency come 2025/26, Potter has set his sights on Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg and his side are now said to be in pole position to bring in the England youth international.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are also in pursuit. However, there is plenty of hope to be taken should the Black Cats opt to cash in if they fail to win promotion to the Premier League.

Exciting reports have also claimed that West Ham are in the mix to sign Lyon forward Georges Mikautadze, albeit they may need to fight it out with Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers for the Georgian star.

Evan Ferguson is likely to leave following the conclusion of his loan spell at Brighton & Hove Albion, making the forward line an area in need of nourishment once the window opens.

Scouts sent: West Ham in the race for prolific "jewel" who can be Kudus 2.0

West Ham have sent scouts to watch “ruthless” ace who could be their next Kudus

By
Connor Holden

Apr 5, 2025

Departures will be needed to fund a rebuild that many are in favour of under Potter’s guise, so who could leave to make way for fresh reinforcements?

West Ham ready for mass clearout as Graham Potter gets to work

According to Football Insider, West Ham could offload ten players this summer to make way for new assets at the London Stadium. Guido Rodriguez, Niclas Fullkrug, Emerson Palmieri, and Michail Antonio are all said to be ‘surplus to requirements’ and may be sacrificed.

Meanwhile, Danny Ings, Vladimir Coufal, Aaron Cresswell and Lukasz Fabianski are all set to depart once their contracts expire in the summer.

Carlos Soler isn’t expected to complete a permanent move to the Hammers from Paris Saint-Germain, while Maxwel Cornet’s pay packet will be severed if he completes a move elsewhere after returning from a loan spell at Genoa.

Overall, their combined wages would free up £745,000 per week for Potter to put towards other targets. Most fans would agree that this season hasn’t gone to plan, so there wouldn’t be too many complaints if the ex-Chelsea boss were to recoup some financial capital before embarking on a spending spree.

Whether West Ham manage to shift everyone mentioned is up for debate, though there is plenty of serviceable talent there that could command suitors from across Europe.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers isn’t hanging around with the summer window around the corner and could now turn his attention to a surprise target, per reports.

Celtic's summer window is beginning to take shape

The Bhoys are well on course for the Scottish Premiership title and may seal their fate this weekend if they emerge victorious against Kilmarnock followed by Aberdeen defeating Rangers 24 hours later.

Unfortunately, Celtic missed their chance to guarantee league glory after a surprise defeat to St Johnstone last Sunday. However, Brendan Rodgers will know that misfortune will just be a minor setback en route to domestic glory.

With all that said, what does it mean for the reigning champions’ prospects come the window? On the face of it, the Hoops appear to be proactive at an early stage.

Augsburg midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj is said to be on Celtic’s radar and could be available for £3 million. On the same token, long-term target David Strelec is attainable for £4.2 million as potential competition to Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah across the frontline.

The fee could stretch to £5.9 million with add-ons, though Celtic would have no problem in paying a premium amid their rude financial health. On the flip side, that could prove to be a downside when negotiating for particular targets.

Celtic may lose "very good" £16k-p/w star amid surprise escape route offer

Celtic could offload a number of stars this summer ahead of next campaign.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Apr 8, 2025

Nevertheless, there is little time to waste with Champions League qualifiers kicking off in the early part of next season. Rodgers will know his side need to be ready if they have designs on securing a spot in the league phase.

Stocking up on talent, the Irishman has now turned his attention to a surprise target who could bolster the ranks ahead of 2025/26.

Celtic look to strengthen goalkeeping ranks with Martin Dubravka

According to Chronicle Live, Celtic have taken an interest in Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka amid his uncertain future at St James’ Park due to rumours linking James Trafford with a move to the North East.

Coming as a surprise, the Bhoys could now pursue the Slovakia international despite already having Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo between the sticks. The latter has filled in recently due to his counterpart being ruled out with a shoulder injury.

Labelled “excellent” by Tom Heaton, the 36-year-old has racked up nearly 180 appearances for Newcastle United and earns £40,000 per week on the books at his current employers.

Observing the financial realities that come with PSR regulations in England, Dubravka may be a fairly straightforward sacrifice if Celtic want to deal for the veteran stopper.

Liverpool will be crowned Premier League champions if they avoid defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

The momentum built up across Jurgen Klopp’s swansong season was expected to be derailed when Arne Slot, an unknown presence from Holland, took his place.

But FSG’s data-driven approach came up trumps, with more popular names such as Roberto De Zerbi, Luciano Spalletti, and Ernesto Valverde reported to have been ‘serious contenders’ for the hot seat by The Athletic.

Now, the data scientists and analysts will need to peer through Liverpool’s distinctive prism once again as a title-winning squad (not yet confirmed, but surely) look to defend their crown while challenging for the major honours which proved a stretch too far this year.

While fans are expecting strikers, left-backs, and centre-halves galore, there’s also the matter of the right side of Liverpool’s backline, with Trent Alexander-Arnold expected to sign for Real Madrid when his contract expires this summer.

The latest on Trent Alexander-Arnold

Fans have held onto hope, hopeless hope, that Alexander-Arnold will renew his Liverpool contract. But everything suggests he is on the cusp of joining Los Blancos at the start of a new era, with Carlo Ancelotti to depart in the coming weeks.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the formalities are all that stand between the 26-year-old and a new chapter over in Spain, with reporters on Liverpool’s side echoing the claims, offering little in the way of optimism.

With Liverpool on the brink of winning the Premier League, perhaps the England international is waiting until all is said and done before accelerating his personal plans to the final stage.

But that stage is, sadly, set.

He’s won the lot, and he could win plenty more on Merseyside yet. But Trent’s head has been turned, and while Conor Bradley is an exciting young talent, Liverpool need to ensure they are well-stocked at right-back next year and beyond.

That’s why FSG are preparing to sign a talented young defender.

Liverpool advancing talks for Trent heir

As per Brazilian publication RTI Esporte – as translated by Sport Witness – Liverpool are one of the strongest teams pushing to sign right-back Wesley Franca, 21, this summer and have now made their first move.

Indeed, Wesley’s representatives have actually flown across the Atlantic and landed in England as they look to canvass their client’s qualities to FSG’s transfer team, with Flamengo hoping to earn around €35m (about £30m) from his sale.

Signing the rising star isn’t going to be a walk in the park, though, with both major clubs of a Manchester persuasion in the mix too.

What Wesley would bring to Anfield

Wesley has featured 124 times for Flamengo’s senior squad after graduating from the academy, scoring three goals and providing five assists for his teammates.

As with Klopp, Liverpool would be foolhardy to try and replace Alexander-Arnold with a B-grade version, but in Wesley, they would be signing a right-back with similar strengths, excelling in passing and crossing, while bringing his own distinctive style to the Anfield side.

Crisp, powerful and steely in defence, Wesley ranks among the top 9% of full-backs in divisions similar to the Brasileiro Serie A over the past year for pass completion, the top 18% for shot-creating actions, the top 21% for progressive carries, the top 12% for successful take-ons, the top 16% for ball recoveries and the top 12% for tackles and interceptions per 90.

This is quite the oversaturation of data, so let’s simplify it: talent scout Antonio Mango has lauded him for his “consistent and well-rounded” game, blending athleticism with natural intelligence and a stage presence that bespeaks a future on the Premier League pitch.

Such an energetic game with a skill at beating his man with the ball at his feet highlights a tenacious attitude that Slot would love to work with.

It would be remiss for the powers that be at Anfield to expect Wesley to replicate Alexander-Arnold’s sweeping creative skill set, but there’s nothing to suggest that he wouldn’t bring his own brand to the team, all the while providing consistent crosses into the box and support for Salah and co.

Looking at his opening performances in the Brazilian top flight this year, it’s not hard to see why he’s all the talk.

His strong start to the 2025 campaign highlights the quality that Liverpool would be weaving into their ranks, with Mango also gushing over the player’s “immense” performances right from the get-go.

FSG chiefs might feel that £30m is quite a steep figure to pay for a young defender plying their trade in South America, especially when there’s so much to do across various other positions.

But if sporting director Richard Hughes can succeed in whittling the price down, there’s every reason for Liverpool to be investing in this talented Brazilian, who recently earned his first two caps for the national team.

Given that Bradley has been in such fine fettle since breaking onto the scene, signing an up-and-comer such as Wesley could be the way to go for a Liverpool team looking to increase their depth.

With both players jockeying for the number one spot, it might even prove to elevate both stars to an even higher level.

Liverpool want world's "best player" in £77m deal who'd be Slot’s own Mane

Liverpool are planning to strengthen Arne Slot’s frontline in the transfer market this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Apr 25, 2025

Perhaps the only miraculous thing about Tottenham Hotspur this season is the fact that Ange Postecoglou is still in the job.

While the Australian coach started his Lilywhites tenure in sensational form, things have been getting progressively worse since December 2023.

This season has seen the former Celtic boss lead his side to a staggering 19 defeats in the Premier League alone, and with four more matches to play, ending the year with 20 league defeats feels inevitable.

With all that said, it’s hardly surprising that, in recent weeks, there have been countless reports linking the club with potential replacements, from Fulham’s Marco Silva to former boss Mauricio Pochettino. Yet, another, more exciting candidate would be a far better choice.

Why Spurs shouldn't sign Poch or Silva

So, while there is an undeniable romanticism around the idea of re-hiring Pochettino this summer, there is one significant reason why Spurs shouldn’t: his recent jobs.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

Since being let go by the North Londoners in late 2019, the Argentine coach has taken three jobs and failed to impress in any of them.

For example, he failed to win the league in his first half-season with Paris Saint-Germain, then at Chelsea, he was unable to get into the Champions League places with astronomical financial backing, and now he’s struggling to turn things around in charge of the USMNT, with some already questioning his place.

Now, in terms of Silva, there is also a significant reason Tottenham should steer clear: his lack of experience with big clubs.

While the Portuguese manager has done an exceptional job in charge of Fulham, he’s never had the responsibility of managing a ‘big six’ side.

In fact, when he was in charge of the closest thing in Everton, he was eventually fired.

Fortunately, while there are clear reasons why Spurs shouldn’t hire either Pochettino or Silva, they have been linked to someone else who’d be a brilliant hire.

The manager Spurs should hire

There have been a few other managers touted for the Spurs job in recent months, from Thomas Frank to Xavi, but if Daniel Levy and Co want to make a real statement, they should hire Xabi Alonso.

The North Londoners were linked with the Spanish legend late last week, and while it might sound overly ambitious, there are a couple of reasons why he’s just the coach they should be going all out to sign.

First is the fact that he’s not only a proven league winner, but the fact that he won the Bundesliga with an unfancied Bayer Leverkusen.

The German side had famously never won the top flight before, so the fact that they went on to win it undefeated last year after Bayern signed Harry Kane is a simply sensational achievement.

Moreover, while they aren’t going to win it again this year, the club remain comfortably second in the table and the former Liverpool star continues to have an excellent record of 89 wins, 30 draws, 18 defeats and an average of 2.17 points per game at the helm.

Finally, from a tactical perspective, the “incredible” boss, as dubbed by Transfermarkt’s Manuel Veth, could be the perfect match for the Lilywhites squad.

For example, he likes his teams to play a quick, direct brand of football, with a focus on overloading the middle of the park and getting the wingbacks up high to stretch opposition defences, which sounds like something that would get the best out of Pedro Porro, Destiney Udogie and even Djed Spence.

Ultimately, it might be pie-in-the-sky thinking, but if Spurs have even the slightest chance to hire Alonso this summer, they have to take it.

£30m Johnson upgrade: Spurs lead race to sign "future Ballon d'Or winner"

The incredible youngster would be a superstar at Spurs.

1

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 29, 2025

When discussing Manchester United’s long-running malaise, many will point to the end of the Sir Alex Ferguson dynasty as a defining, watershed moment in the club’s fortunes, with the Scotsman’s retirement marking the end of the Red Devils’ domestic dominance.

It could be argued, however, that the slide had begun even prior to Fergie’s exit, with even his own recruitment – while impacted by the Glazer takeover in 2005 – needing to be put under the microscope.

Indeed, cast your mind back to the summer of 2009. United had just romped to a third successive Premier League title, having also been defeated by Barcelona in what was a second Champions League final in a row.

Two league titles and another outing in a European showpiece did follow over the next four years, yet that moment marked the beginning of the end for the last of Ferguson’s great United sides, with Carlos Tevez moving on to upstart rivals Manchester City, while Cristiano Ronaldo sealed a long-awaited, world record switch to Real Madrid.

To make matters worse, the incomings could hardly have been more underwhelming. Ronaldo’s number seven shirt was taken over by an ageing Michael Owen, while options on the flanks were ‘bolstered’ by the signings of Antonio Valencia and, who can forget, Gabriel Obertan.

In many ways, that Ronaldo-shaped void on the flanks has hardly been filled in the years since, despite a plethora of attacking signings. Could that soon be set to change?

Latest on Man Utd's search for a forward

Ruben Amorim’s pursuit of Matheus Cunha has highlighted that the Portuguese is potentially seeking a different profile of player to operate in one of the two number ten berths, with the towering Wolverhampton Wanderers man more comfortable in a central role than on the flanks.

The need for a genuine winger in the 3-4-3 setup can be questioned – a fact highlighted by doubts over Alejandro Garnacho’s future at Old Trafford – although it is not unrealistic to assume that a potential attacking target could be moulded into what Amorim wants from his forwards.

Sometimes, there are options out there that are simply too good to ignore, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue seemingly one of them. As reported in Spain, the Red Devils are believed to be ‘vying’ for the Frenchman’s signature.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The highly-rated teenager only made the move to Paris from Stade Rennais on a £43m deal last summer, although a dazzling debut campaign at the Parc des Princes has earned unsurprising glances from afar, with INEOS said to have placed the 19-year-old at the ‘centre of their transfer radar’.

The suggestion is that such interest ‘goes beyond’ simply monitoring his progress, although a deal certainly ‘won’t be easy’ – not least if Luis Enrique and co stick to their reported €300m (£275m) asking price.

Something would have to give in that regard if a deal was to be agreed, although a move for Doue could represent United’s best since the days of ‘CR7’.

Man Utd could land their best winger since Ronaldo

Once the home of Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, the Theatre of Dreams has become a real graveyard for wingers, in particular, in recent times, with a raft of high profile stars having come and gone across the last decade or so.

As evidenced in the table above, marquee moves for the likes of Jadon Sancho and Antony – signed for £73m and £86m, respectively – have simply backfired, with United rarely getting bang for their buck.

Perhaps only Marcus Rashford – now out on loan at Aston Villa – has truly impressed for an extended period in the wake of Ronaldo, after chalking up 138 goals in 426 games, albeit with the Englishman’s best work having perhaps actually come in a central role, rather than out wide.

Has there really been anyone close to Ronaldo’s ilk post-2009?

Has anyone come close to the Portuguese’s Ballon d’Or-winning pomp in 2008, when he ravaged all before him?

It is still early days in his senior career, although the teenage Doue is showing signs of potentially emerging as a world-class sensation in his own right, having been hailed as a “superstar in the making” by journalist Julien Laurens.

Likened to his idol, Neymar, amid his switch to the French captial, the former Rennes starlet has already registered 25 goals and assists in 48 games in all competitions this season, including six goal involvements in just 14 Champions League outings.

It is that form on the continent which has notably caught the eye, with Doue memorably rifling home in exquisite fashion in PSG’s first-leg win over Villa, having left Emi Martinez looking utterly helpless in the visiting goal.

Described as the ‘talk of Europe’ by BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty, the in-demand winger also showed flashes of his quality against Arsenal on Tuesday night, having produced a delightful Neymar-esque touch at one stage to control the ball.

Fleet of foot and with a desire to beat his man, Doue perhaps emulates Ronaldo in that regard, with such dribbling prowess evidenced by the fact that he ranks in the top 4% among his European peers for successful take-ons, and in the top 7% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

Also comfortable operating on either flank – much like Ronaldo was during his time under Fergie – the rising star looks destined to dazzle for years to come, with French football now boasting another ‘superstar’ to celebrate.

Yes, Amorim’s approach may not necessarily offer a home to a winger in the traditional sense, but Doue – who can also operate as a number ten – would a sensational upgrade in any of United’s attacking roles.

He could even end the long wait at Old Trafford for a Ronaldo-level superstar out wide…

Better than Osimhen: Man Utd close to agreement for "hottest CF in Europe"

Man Utd are ramping up their search for a new centre-forward this summer

By
Robbie Walls

Apr 29, 2025

Virgil van Dijk has been one of the most dominant centre-backs in the world after joining Liverpool from Southampton back in 2018, with the Dutch star almost always in control of things at the back.

But who is the best top-flight central defender the Premier League has seen since its creation in 1992? We’ve witnessed elegant ball-players, goalscoring brutes and pure sweepers, but someone has to be number one…

Ranking factors

• Appearances
• Titles
• Clean sheets
• Personal honours
• What others have said about them

20 best centre-backs in Premier League history: in pictures

20

Gary Cahill

Aston Villa, Bolton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace

After beginning his Premier League career with Aston Villa and Bolton, Gary Cahill made his name at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea, winning two league titles with the Blues alongside John Terry.

In fact, at one point, Terry described Cahill as “different class” and “England’s best centre back”, with the latter being named in the PFA Team of the Year on three separate occasions.

19

Kolo Toure

Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool

Not many players can say they have played for Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool, but that is the Premier League path Kolo Toure took between 2002-2016.

The Ivorian was part of the Gunners’ famous ‘Invincible’ squad and his man-marking ability, speed and strength in the air have seen him named as one of the most underrated players of the Premier League era in the media.

18

Marcel Desailly

Chelsea

Not only was Marcel Desailly a top centre-back, but the French icon could also turn out as a holding midfielder if required as well.

He won multiple trophies throughout his career, including three honours as a Chelsea player, and made defending look easy in England. Desailly didn’t win a Premier League title, but he was named in the PL team of the decade between 1992-2002.

17

Paul McGrath

Aston Villa, Derby County

Aston Villa legend Paul McGrath was 32 years of age when the Premier League was formed, but he still went on to make more than 160 appearances in the top flight, the majority of which came at Villa Park.

Former manager Ron Atkinson even hailed McGrath as the best centre-half ever to play in the Premier League and is still referred to as ‘God’ by the Villans.

16

Ledley King

Tottenham

Spurs icon Ledley King made more than 250 Premier League appearances at White Hart Lane and has gone down as a Tottenham legend.

In truth, if it wasn’t for Rio Ferdinand and John Terry, King would have earned more than 21 England caps as, during his prime, King even ‘reminded some observers of the great Bobby Moore’ – not a bad comparison to have.

15

Sami Hyypia

Liverpool

A key member of the Liverpool side that won the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup in 2000/01, Sami Hyypia was a bargain buy for the Reds after signing for just over £2.5m from Willem II.

The Finnish giant has gone down as “one of the smartest pieces of business the club has ever conducted” and would go on to captain Liverpool. He never won the Premier League but left his mark as an imposing centre-back.

14

Jamie Carragher

Liverpool

Jamie Carragher began his career as a right-back before being moved central by Rafael Benitez and would go on to establish himself as a Liverpool legend.

Making more than 700 appearances as an Anfield defender, Carragher was being spoken about as England’s best defender at one point in his career ahead of the likes of Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Sol Campbell, however, he never lifted the league title during his 17 years as a Liverpool professional.

13

John Stones

Everton, Man City

A great modern day centre-back of the Premier League era, there hasn’t been many better on the ball in defence than John Stones.

He’s been a favourite of Pep Guardiola’s at the Etihad Stadium, who has even used him as a holding midfielder at points during his time. Guardiola said he “loves” Stones and called him “incredible”, with the former Everton man winning six titles and being named in the PFA Team of the Year twice while at City.

12

Martin Keown

Everton, Arsenal

One defender who did lift the title, on three occasions in fact, was Arsenal’s Martin Keown. In the peak years of his career at the age of 26 when the Premier League was formed, Keown moved to the Gunners from Everton in 1993 and got better with age.

After starring at Highbury for more than 10 years, Keown got the fairytale send-off in May 2004 as part of the ‘Invincible” squad and is regarded as ‘one of the club’s greatest defenders’.

11

Gary Pallister

Man Utd, Middlesbrough

At the age of 27, when the Premier League began, Gary Pallister was at the top of his game and would go on to help Man Utd win four titles in five years.

The towering defender had pace, ‘terrific ball control’ and ‘excellent aerial ability’. Pallister has gone down as a Red Devils legend and was even named in Roy Keane’s dream Man Utd XI.