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There is a spirit about Tottenham Hotspur that was not on display last season, and that stems from Daniel Levy's decision to appoint Ange Postecoglou as first-team manager.

Recent years have seen more high-profile names such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte come unstuck, and last season's disappointing eighth-placed finish called for change, else slip further away from those at the forefront of the Premier League.

Harry Kane's sale to Bayern Munich in August was a bitter pill to swallow but one that was expected, with the Three Lions captain about to enter the final year of his contract and understandably seeking pastures new at 30 years old, with no European football and no silverware throughout a record-breaking career down N17.

Still, Son Heung-min and Richarlison are hardly struggling to find the back of the net, and signings such as James Maddison, Brennan Johnson and Timo Werner have compensated, with Tottenham fighting for the top four with fresh life under Postecoglou's management.

Spurs struck gold with star who was worth more than Saka in 2021

This ace has been described as “world-class” for his exploits at Tottenham.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 8, 2024

However, the real success of this early-stage Spurs system lies in the backline's revival, fortified with steel after a woeful 2022/23 campaign that saw an inpour of goals ravage any hopes of achieving their objectives.

How Van de Ven and Romero are performing this season

Last season, things fell apart down at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the crux of this issue was indeed the leaky defence, rectified and then some with the summer acquisitions of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and athletic centre-half Micky van de Ven to slot into Postecoglou's system.

Van de Ven in particular, signed from Wolfsburg in a deal worth £43m, has been a bonafide success so far, described as "absolutely exceptional" by Arsene Wenger since his arrival on English shores.

As per Sofascore, he has completed 95% of his passes across 17 Premier League appearances so far, averaging 5.9 ball recoveries and 2.9 clearances per game as well as succeeding with 63% of his dribbles and 68% of his ground duels. It's no coincidence that Spurs' slump before Christmas ran in tandem with the Dutchman's period of recovery from a hamstring injury.

His partner, Cristian Romero, might have been rooted at the heart of the problems last season, but there's no denying his world-class skills, with a confident peer alongside him working wonders.

After all, as per FBref, Romero ranks among the top 3% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 16% for shot-creating actions, the top 11% for pass completion, the top 14% for progressive passes, the top 7% for tackles and the top 12% for interceptions per 90.

This impressive spread of qualities makes it patently clear that the 2022 World Cup winner is one of the Premier League's finest, and while some might raise an eyebrow at his Argentinian compatriot Lionel Messi's praise that he is "the best defender in the world right now", the legendary forward isn't that wide of the mark.

The future is bright, and while these senior signings are exciting, the real success of this new flowering chapter at Tottenham is the remarkable wave of academy talent, with Luka Vuskovic possibly the pick of the bunch.

Why Spurs signed Luka Vuskovic

One of the first to ride this wave of activity among the formative ranks at Tottenham, Vuskovic was announced to have signed for the club in September 2023 when he was still only 16 years old, with his arrival scheduled for 2025 and the deal expected to cost around £12m.

For the time being, he remains in his Croatian homeland with Hajduk Split, where he will continue to nurture his ability and develop into a Premier League-quality defender, having already been described as a "truly amazing" youngster by talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Despite his tender age, Vuskovic is proving to be quite the prospect and has chalked up 11 senior appearances this season: six for Hajduk Split and five for current loan outfit Radomiak Radom in Poland.

As per Sofascore, the young titan has been impressive in the Polish Ekstralasa after scoring twice from just four starting appearances, also averaging 3.6 ball recoveries and 5.6 clearances per game while succeeding with 100% of his dribbles and winning a whopping 71% of his aerial battles.

For certain, the 17-year-old will move to London next year to bolster a Tottenham youth squad that has more than a few players capable of making a mark within Postecoglou's senior setup.

He's not the only youngster to have been signed of late, with Lucas Bergvall one of the most exciting up-and-comers around, but Vuskovic is every bit as big a talent, and the omens bode prosperity down the line for the Lilywhites.

As big a talent as Lucas Bergvall

U21 stars such as Jamie Donley and Alfie Dorrington look like proper prospects, while Levy hijacked Barcelona's move for teenage midfielder Lucas Bergvall in January, with the talent linking up with the squad this summer.

Bergvall has been described as a "generational" talent by one analyst and has certainly caught the eye in Sweden, completing 88% of his passes and 68% of his dribbles in the top flight this season.

Vuskovic, though, is younger and has proved his skill set stretches into different facets of the defensive game, with the athleticism, progressive qualities and defensive solidity making for something of a hybrid between Van de Ven and Romero.

Moreover, imperious Premier League champions Manchester City had a big interest in the player before he chose Spurs, highlighting just how high his ceiling could be.

Ultimately, it's going to be a few years before Vuskovic finds himself earning a regular starting berth down N17, but he has the trappings of a world-class centre-back, and with Bergvall fashioning openings ahead of him, Tottenham might just be on the cusp of a golden age.

استمرت الإثارة في مباراة فريقي الهلال السعودي والعين الإماراتي الجارية في خضم منافسات دوري أبطال آسيا (النخبة) 2024، بتسجيل هدف تاسع في المواجهة.

ويلعب الهلال ضد العين، في إطار منافات الجولة الثالثة من عمر مواجهات مرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال آسيا للموسم الحالي.

طالع | مباشر بالفيديو.. مباراة الهلال والعين في دوري أبطال آسيا

ونجح سفيان رحيمي لاعب العين في تسجيل الهدف الرابع بالدقيقة 96 من عمر اللقاء عن طريق ركلة جزاء نجح في تنفيذها.

وكان الشوط الأول قد انتهى بتقدم الهلال بنتيجة 3-1 إذ افتتح التسجيل اللاعب البرازيلي رينان لودي في الدقيقة 26، بينما تعادل لفريق العين المغربي سفيان رحيمي في الدقيقة 39.

وأحرز هدف الهلال الثاني، سيرجي سافيتش برأسية من داخل منطقة الجزاء وصلت إليه من عرضية من زميله جواو كانسيلو، وذلك في الدقيقة 45+2.

وأضاف الهدف الثالث لـ الهلال، سالم الدوسري في الدقيقة 45+5، من تسديدة متقنة من خارج منطقة الجزاء بعد تمريرة رائعة من ناصر الدوسري.

وشهدت المباراة إحراز 3 أهداف لكلا الفريقين خلال 4 دقائق فقط، لتنقلب النتيجة من 3-1 لصالح الهلال، إلى 4-3 للفريق ذاته.

وقلص ماتيو سانابريا لاعب العين النتيجة بهدف ثاني لصالح الإماراتي في الدقيقة 63، ثم زاد سالم الدوسري من أهداف الهلال بإحرازه الهدف الرابع في الدقيقة 65، وبعد دقيقتين فقط وتحديدًا بالدقيقة 67 عاد سفيان رحيمي ليسجل الهدف الثاني له والثالث لفريقه لتصبح النتيجة 4-3، ثم سجل سالم الدوسري الهدف الخامس للهلال في الدقيقة 75 من عمر اللقاء. هدف العين الرابع أمام الهلال

John Stones spoke highly of England's performance against Slovenia as they qualified for the Euro 2024 knockout stage as group winners.

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• Stones praises England's performance
• Happy to top the group and qualify
• Three Lions were held to a goalless draw by Slovenia

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  England have come under fire for their underwhelming displays throughout the Euro 2024 group stage despite qualifying for the knockout rounds as group winners. Fans and pundits alike have slammed Gareth Southgate's tactics and a section of the supporters reacted in a hostile manner towards the manager on Tuesday after the team's drab stalemate against Slovenia.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Manchester City and Three Lions defender John Stones, however, was satisfied with the team's performance and he insisted that the side have already achieved one key goal: Winning the group.

• WHAT JOHN STONES SAID

  Speaking to reporters after the Slovenia clash, the English defender said, "The objective was to top the group and we have done that – it is not always going to be an easy road. It is not going to be easy when we have a target on our back to beat us.

  "I thought there was a lot of improvement from the other two games, we found people in the pockets and created more chances – another step in the right direction. "I can get the fans frustration not taking chances, but that is football – it is never an easy game."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

  Southgate's side could face Ronald Koeman's Netherlands – after they finished third in their group – in the round of 16 stage of Euro 2024 on Sunday at Gelsenkirchen.

We bring you all the analysis, stats, news and reaction from the second round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier first-class competition

Annesha Ghosh21-Sep-2019

Manchester United have reportedly reduced their earlier asking price for Jadon Sancho as they look to sell the winger this summer.

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• Sancho's asking price slashed by Man Utd
• Man Utd asking for £40 million (€47m/$50m)
• Borussia Dortmund remain interested

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Sancho spent the second half of the season out on loan at Borussia Dortmund and impressed under Edin Terzic as Die Schwarzgelben made it to the Champions League final. The Red Devils initially set an asking price of around £55 million ($70m) for the winger as they looked to recoup some of the cash they spent on him.

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  As per the BBC, United have now slashed Sancho's asking price for the summer to £40 million (€47m/$50m) as they do not plan to reincorporate the exiled winger especially if Erik ten Hag stays on manager. Sancho and Ten Hag had a very public falling out last season which led to the winger leaving the club on loan.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  As per Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United are 100 per cent committed to selling Sancho this summer with Dortmund very interested in re-signing the 24-year-old but could face competition from other clubs heading into the summer.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR SANCHO?

  The 24-year-old will be hoping to have his future sorted as soon as possible so he can be incorporated into his future side's pre-season plans. Dortmund are keen to secure another loan but Manchester United would prefer a sale.

Emma Hayes has explained why USWNT icon Alex Morgan was absent in the 4-0 victory against South Korea.

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• Hayes explains Morgan absence
• Hayes wins debut game in charge of USWNT
• Face same opposition on Tuesday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The USWNT romped to victory thanks to braces from Mallory Swanson and Tierna Davidson to give Hayes a dream start. The former Chelsea manager is making her first steps into international management and will have been delighted to get underway with an emphatic victory. Morgan's absence from the squad was highlighted but Hayes expects to have the USWNT striker back for their next game.

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  WHAT HAYES SAID

  After the game, Hayes explained: "[Morgan] felt yesterday – this is an important issue to raise – maybe stretching a little bit her pelvic area. I told her yesterday I'm not going to take any risks today, because I want her to play Tuesday."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Hayes joined the USWNT from Chelsea having ended her time in west London on a fairytale high. The Blues won the WSL title on the final day of the season and handed Hayes her seventh triumph in the competition. The USWNT see Hayes as the serial winner they need to return them to the top of world football.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MORGAN AND HAYES?

  The USWNT face South Korea again on Tuesday with Hayes looking to give Morgan an opportunity to impress. Her squad will all be eager to showcase their talents ahead of the Olympic games in Paris this summer and win the gold medal.

Manchester United have underperformed on every front this season, which has caused them to drop out of European football and sit eighth in the Premier League.

Erik ten Hag’s biggest issue this campaign has been in the final third, with his side scoring just 18 goals, only the bottom four teams have netted fewer.

With that in mind, the ex-Ajax coach will turn to the transfer market to fix his attacking problem this January.

Man Utd transfers latest – Benjamin Sesko

According to 90min, Benjamin Sesko is drawing attention from a number of Premier League clubs, with the Red Devils being one of those interested in signing the attacker.

Despite having a contract until 2028, RB Leipzig are willing to cash in on the Slovenian star, and they are set to demand a fee of around £39m according to other reports.

A loan with the obligation to buy could be on the cards, with Sesko reportedly unhappy with the lack of game time in Germany.

Benjamin Sesko’s style of play

Just like Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, the 20-year-old burst onto the scene at RB Salzburg before moving to a Bundesliga club, which instantly earned him the nickname "Mini-Haaland," as called by Goal’s features editor, Tom Maston.

Although he doesn’t like being compared to the Norwegian, Sesko himself has admitted they have similarities, stating: “we have height, and we are both fast."

The 6 foot 4 forward is a true goal-scorer who has netted 54 goals in 112 career appearances so far. Sesko is “absolutely rapid” and a composed finisher, according to Maston, using his large frame to bully defenders all game.

That does sound like the ex-Dortmund number nine, but how does Sesko actually compare to Haaland based on statistics from the last year, and how could he improve United?

Goals

0.75

0.98

Shot-creating actions

3.16

2.01

Touches

36.57

22.41

Successful take-ons

1.81

0.56

Tackles

1.05

0.13

As you can see, not only is the Slovenian an incredible goal scorer, but he also has excellent technical ability, which means he often likes to get on the ball and use his direct dribbling to get past the defender, almost in a similar way to the chaotic Darwin Nunez at Liverpool.

This is the first main difference between the two, as Haaland and even current United striker Rasmus Hojlund stay on the fringe of the game and can go long spells without even touching the ball.

The other aspect of Sesko’s game that makes him different from Haaland is that he works tirelessly out of possession to win the ball back for his side. This is an underrated side of the ex-Salzburg forward's game, and it would allow him to thrive in every game state at United, whether it be leading a high press and a counter press, or when Ten Hag opts for a low block like we saw at Anfield last weekend.

Overall, Sesko would be an excellent signing for Man United as he would offer a slightly different style to Hojlund, who has struggled to adapt to the Premier League by failing to score a goal in 13 appearances. Also, United having their own version of Haaland would make for some fantastic Derby Day stories.

Marc Skinner's side ran riot to secure their maiden piece of silverware, led by their Lionesses midfielder's wonder-strike

Manchester United won the first major honour in the short history of their women's team by claiming the Women's FA Cup on Sunday, with goals from Ella Toone, Rachel Williams and a brace from Lucia Garcia securing a comfortable 4-0 win over Tottenham at Wembley. It made the Red Devils the first new winners of the competition since 2005, and allowed them to avenge last year's defeat in the final to Chelsea.

The game itself might not be too memorable for anyone not associated with the two teams, with it scrappy and lacking real quality, that was until Toone stepped up in first-half stoppage-time and sent the red half of Wembley into raptures with her wonderful strike that flew into the top corner.

It was a tough time for Spurs to concede, with the first 45 minutes having been close and competitive, and even tougher was the fact they conceded two goals in quick succession just before the hour to really take the game away from them. Williams' header from Katie Zelem's free-kick had been coming, as the United captain's set-pieces had been excellent all game, and then Garcia was in the right place at the right time to pounce on an error from Becky Spencer.

Garcia wrapped things up in the final stages to really put the cherry on the cake and deliver a highly-anticipated first major trophy for United, just six years after they returned to the women's game. It was a positive way to end an otherwise disappointing season for the Red Devils, who have struggled to keep up in the Women's Super League title race and cannot secure European football for next season, either.

For Spurs, it was quite the opposite. It was a deflating afternoon for them at Wembley, but it shouldn't overshadow an excellent campaign, with head coach Robert Vilahamn admitting that his team were perhaps ahead of schedule to have reached this occasion in her first year in charge.

GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from Wembley Stadium…

• WINNER: Ella Toone

  This wasn't a great game ,and it needed a moment of magic to get it going when Toone picked the ball up in the Spurs half, skipped past the sliding challenge of Eveliina Summanen and unleashed a beautiful strike from 20 yards that absolutely flew into the top corner.

  It always felt like United's No.7 could make the decisive contribution in a final that was difficult to call in the build-up, and while the Red Devils did run away with it in the end, it was Toone's effort that got it all started.

  That's now four goals in seven appearances for her at Wembley, and three trophies lifted out of an available four. It's not a bad record to have at one of football's most iconic grounds.

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  LOSER: Bethany England

  Bethany England came into this game with four goals in her last four games, having missed of the first half of the season due to hip surgery she had in the summer. It's understandably taken the Tottenham striker time to get back to her best levels after so long out, but it looked like she was nearing them just in time for this occasion.

  However, England didn't get any real service in the game until Spurs were already 3-0 down. She had a shot from range that flew over the bar, when she should've passed to Celin Bizet in truth, and was unlucky to see a brilliant header crash off the bar. Those two moments came when the game was already done, though.

  Tottenham couldn't afford not to get a player of her calibre and with her momentum involved if they wanted to win this final, but they struggled massively to create.

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  WINNER: Katie Zelem

  Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman was in attendance at Wembley on Sunday, and she will have surely been impressed by what she saw from Toone, but her eye will have also been caught by the efforts of Katie Zelem.

  The United skipper hasn't been part of either of the Lionesses' squads in 2024, her last call-up coming in December last year. She reminded Wiegman what she can bring to the table in this final, though, as her consistently brilliant set-pieces caused Spurs so many problems. Whether it leads to a recall or not, only time will tell, but Zelem will not have harmed her chances with this display.

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• LOSER: Leah Galton

  Leah Galton is a fantastic footballer, an electric winger who can light up any game. Sadly, though, she didn't get the opportunity to do so on Sunday owing to an injury picked up in the first few minutes. The 29-year-old was slipped in by Toone in the opening moments and had the opportunity to break the deadlock early on, but saw her shot blocked by goalkeeper Becky Spencer before she then collided with her opponent and spent a few minutes receiving treatment.

  Galton struggled to get into the game after that and was visibly devastated when she had to leave the pitch just after half-time, having tried to continue. It was a shame to see such a talented player in that moment, after she was unable to show what she was about on big stage.

Allegations about biased decision-making by on-field officials continue

Mohammad Isam18-Feb-2019Umpiring standards in the Bangladesh domestic circuit continue to be dubious, with questions raised every other day. This, even as the BCB prepares to host a new four-day T20 tournament, followed by the Dhaka Premier League (DPL), scheduled to start on March 8.Over the past few seasons, allegations of biased umpiring in favour of certain Dhaka clubs connected to the cricket board have flown thick and fast. The complaints haven’t stopped even this year, and, what’s worse, there has even been allegations of certain clubs being bullied by match officials in Dhaka’s lower leagues.Following the charges, Kazi Inam Ahmed, chairman of the cricket committee of Dhaka Metropolis, the BCB body that administers all cricket leagues in the capital city including the DPL, has promised to employ cameras in every ground – unlike at only a few matches last year – to oversee the umpiring.ALSO READ: BCB bans Tasnim, Sujon for ten years”There weren’t many complaints about umpiring last season, but whenever there was one, the (committee) has spoken to the [BCB’s] umpires’ committee repeatedly,” Inam said. “We asked the umpires’ committee to give good umpires in every game.”We will be using cameras in all the grounds. The BCB president has said that he wants the league to conclude properly. We will always try to improve the quality of umpiring.”Asked about the fresh slew of allegations, including but not restricted to partial umpiring, Inam only said, “Umpires’ committee investigates any complaint that is mentioned in the captains’ reports.”Despite all the issues, the DPL remains the most important domestic tournament in the country, and the Dhaka league system, currently divided into four grades, financially sustains competitive cricket in Bangladesh to a large extent.On Monday, the 12 DPL clubs picked up 112 cricketers during the players’ draft. Each side is also eligible to retain a maximum of three players from the previous season.Defending champions Abahani Limited roped in five Bangladesh internationals – Rubel Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Jahurul Islam, Mohammad Mithun and Mohammad Saifuddin – to complement retained players Mashrafe Mortaza, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mosaddek Hossain to form the strongest side on paper.According to the data shared by the BCB, Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club were the biggest spenders with BDT 19,890,000 (approx. $ 248,625), although the 12 clubs have spent BDT 1,39,65,000 (approx. $ 174,560) on an average.

Leeds United could look to strengthen in January and the 49ers Enterprises could now look to enact a cut-price deal for an exciting player at Elland Road, according to BBC pundit John Hartson.

Leeds United look ahead to Blackburn Rovers…

Last Saturday, Leeds ensured they remained seven points behind Ipswich Town in their chase for automatic promotion by defeating Middlesbrough 3-2 at Elland Road, courtesy of goals from Daniel James, Crysencio Summerville and Joel Piroe.

Winning their seventh home match in succession, the Whites look to be a credible force this term after an uncertain few months over the summer. Speaking in his post-match press conference, Farke commended how his side were able to handle elements of the tie against a contender for promotion, saying:

"It’s a really good side and it was important today to be brave, to press with intensity and perhaps even be a bit over-aggressive and emotional instead of being too relaxed. It's always important you're fully committed off the ball, against Boro, or you are punished and they’ve proved this, this season.

"We showed this in the first half; we created so many good situations and moments. It was a wild game in the first half and probably every football fan must have enjoyed this game. I’m a football fan as well, so I loved what we did, but as a manager I liked the second half when we calmed everything down."

Leeds United keen on signing "very talented" ace wanted by multiple clubs

Leeds United are in the market as Daniel Farke looks to strengthen his side’s promotion bid…

BySean Markus Clifford Dec 4, 2023

Blackburn Rovers lay in wait on Saturday as Leeds United delve into a busy period of festive fixtures, which will go a long way to determining the level of squad surgery Farke may well carry out in January. Speaking of the mid-season window, BBC pundit Hartson has now suggested one man that the Whites should look to pursue that would add further squad depth at Elland Road.

John Hartson recommends David Turnbull to Leeds United

As cited by Leeds Live, former Wales international Hartson has recommended Celtic midfielder David Turnbull as a potential cut-price signing for Leeds United in January, with the 24-year-old facing an uncertain future at Parkhead due to his contract at the Scottish Premiership giants being set to expire in the summer of 2024.

David Turnbull in 2023/24 – all competitions (Transfermarkt)

Appearances

15

Goals

7

Assists

0

Hartson stated: "I like David Turnbull. I have always said it, he is a goalscoring midfield player. He adds that 10-14 goals every year for you from midfield. I can see him going to a top Championship team, like Leeds United."

Known as a cultured midfielder with an eye for goal, Scotland international Turnbull has shown incision when trusted by Brendan Rodgers this campaign, averaging around 2.1 shots and 1.4 key passes per match in the Scottish Premiership (Turnbull statistics – WhoScored).

Given his potential availability, Turnbull could be a worthwhile pick-up for Leeds who still has the potential to develop further as a player; however, it remains to be seen whether Celtic would be willing to sanction his departure in mid-season.