Tottenham’s chiefs are becoming increasingly interested in a new manager as pressure builds on current Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou, it has been reported.

Tottenham's season in tatters

Tottenham threw away another lead this season as they fell to a 4-3 home defeat to Chelsea in their most recent Premier League outing. The Lilywhites roared into a 2-0 lead courtesy of two errors from Marc Cucurella, but were pegged back by goals from Jadon Sancho and Cole Palmer, before Enzo Fernandez and second Palmer penalty left them 4-2 down.

They clawed one back in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late and it was their London rivals who escaped with all three points.

The result, Tottenham’s third loss in four Premier League games, leaves the Lilywhites marooned in 11th in the Premier League with more defeats than wins, though they only remain five points off fifth placed Nottingham Forest.

Postecoglou was keen to stress the positives of the game though: “We had moments to get our third and at half-time we were in a decent position. The second half is a ding dong, especially at the start, they scored but we had a big chance with Son, we didn’t take it and then they [are] 3-2 up.

“I think there were quality opportunities but I don’t think there was an abundance of them. I can’t remember the keepers making a load of top quality saves.

“We more than matched a good side in that department and when there is quality out there you are going to have moments. There were things we could have done better for sure.”

Despite this, there are concerns mounting in north London, with the Spurs boss having been booed by his own fans during their midweek defeat to Bournemouth, and should results not pick up a change could be inevitable.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League games
Southampton (Away)
Liverpool (Home)
Nottingham Forest (Away)
Wolves (Home)
Newcastle United (Home)

Should he depart, one man is creeping his way up Tottenham’s radar.

Tottenham chiefs increasingly impressed by Fulham boss

That is according to The Independent, who report that Tottenham’s hierarchy are casting “increasingly admiring looks” in the direction of Fulham boss Marco Silva.

The Portuguese coach, who sets his team out in a much more rigid and traditional 4-2-3-1 at Craven Cottage, has helped Fulham into 10th place this season, and picked up a credible point against Tottenham’s north London rivals Arsenal in his most recent outing.

Evening Standard reporter Dom Smith dubbed him an “underrated manager”, and now it appears that Tottenham have their eye on him should they be forced into making a decision over Postecoglou.

Tottenham's "absolutely ridiculous" 3/10 flop could be their new Ndombele

The talented midfielder was a disaster for Spurs on Sunday.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Dec 9, 2024

Even having sold his best player in back to back summers, Silva’s side have gradually improved since their arrival in the Premier League, and their draw with Arsenal left them three points above Spurs in the table, with far fewer resources.

His work is likely to have caught the eye of other clubs too. Tottenham had shortlisted him over the summer of 2023, but ended up plumping for Postecoglou instead. Could they now return?

Things haven’t exactly been plain sailing for Arsenal in the Premier League this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side have suffered from poorly timed injuries to key players, questionable suspensions in big games, and an overall downturn in form just when Liverpool seem to have found theirs.

However, the last week or so has seen the Gunners get back to somewhere near their best with three impressive wins on the bounce and brilliant performances from defence to attack, particularly out wide.

Bukayo Saka has been utterly sensational, and Gabriel Martinelli has found himself on the scoresheet a couple of times to boot, so fans should be particularly excited about reports linking them to a player who’s been compared to the pair of them.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Steve Kay of Football Transfers, Arsenal are interested in Paris Saint-Germain’s incredibly exciting Bradley Barcola.

The report claims that the Gunners are keen to add another dynamic winger to their ranks in 2025, and the young Frenchman is one of the players they have identified.

Interestingly, while the report claims that a transfer for the 22-year-old looks unlikely at the moment, rumours of a growing split between him and manager Luis Enrique could provide the North Londoners with an opportunity to strike in the future.

In all, signing Barcola could prove complicated, but given his ability, potential, and comparisons with Saka and Martinelli, Arsenal should still try to get it done.

Transfer Focus

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

Barcola's comparisons to Saka and Martielli

So, before looking at Barcola’s performances for PSG over the last few seasons, let’s examine these comparisons to Saka and Martinelli and where they come from, for that matter.

While there are apparent similarities in the fact that all three are young and exciting wingers, the comparison in question actually stems from FBref.

The statistical hub compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one, and in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the third most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Frenchman this season, while the Brazilian comes in fifth.

Non-Penalty G+As

1.20

1.29

0.66

Progressive Passes

3.20

3.89

1.97

Expected Assists

0.40

0.47

0.22

Shots

3.91

3.60

1.72

Live Passes

35.0

33.1

27.2

Goals per Shot

0.26

0.10

0.23

Goals per Shot on Target

0.53

0.29

0.43

Key Passes

1.80

3.33

1.58

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.50

2.04

1.32

Tackles

1.20

1.57

1.18

Aerial Duels Won

0.80

0.56

0.92

We can see this similarity best by looking at the underlying metrics in which the players rank closely. For example, the PSG ace and Hale End dynamo rank closely for statistics such as non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, expected assists shots, live passes and successful take-ons, all per 90.

Likewise, the former Lyon ace ranks closely with the former Ituano gem in metrics such as goals per shot and per shot on target, key passes and passes into the penalty area, tackles and aerial duels won, all per 90.

So, with it clear that the 11-capped international shares clear statistical similarities to both Arsenal stars, does he have the raw output to suggest he’d be able to keep up with them on the pitch? Absolutely.

In just 18 appearances this season, the Lyon-born dynamo has scored ten goals and provided two assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.5 games and lending credence to analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that he’s “one of the best LWs in Europe.”

Moreover, in 42 appearances last season, only 29 of which were starts, the 6 foot phenom scored five goals and provided nine assists, which is made all the more impressive by the fact that he was just 20 years old at the start of the campaign.

Ultimately, while it could prove complicated, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Barcola next year, as he already looks like a superstar at just 22, and with players like Saka and Martin Odegaard around him, the sky would b the limit for his potential.

Saka loves him: Arsenal must unleash amazing star who Man Utd nearly signed

The incredible star is undroppable for Arsenal ahead of their match with Manchester United.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 4, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo venceu por 3 a 1 o Palmeiras na noite desta quarta-feira (30), no Morumbi, e abriu boa vantagem na decisão do Campeonato Paulista. Nos vestiários após a partida, Abel Ferreira defendeu a escalação do goleiro Weverton, dispensado da Seleção Brasileira com dores no punho e que aparentou estar sentindo durante a partida. Além disso, disse que espera contar com o volante Danilo, afastado por contusão, para o duelo da volta no domingo (3), às 16h (de Brasília), no Allianz Parque. Confira:

RelacionadasVídeoVÍDEO: “Temos capacidade”, destaca Abel sobre Palmeiras reverter placar contra São Paulo na final do PaulistaVídeo31/03/2022PalmeirasMarcos Rocha explica pênalti contra o Palmeiras e diz que árbitro entrou pressionadoPalmeiras31/03/2022PalmeirasAbel reclama de ‘golpe emocional’ no Palmeiras com marcação de pênalti: ‘O VAR estava a comer pipocas’Palmeiras31/03/2022

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2022 clicando aqui
> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

Sean Williams is attending to personal matters, and was granted “compassionate leave” by the board

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jun-2022Blessing Muzarabani has returned to the Zimbabwe squad and will lead the pace attack against Afghanistan in the three-match ODI series starting June 4 in Harare. Left-arm spinner Ainsley Ndlovu also returned to the squad of 15 that will be led by Craig Ervine, after last playing an ODI nearly three years ago. The selectors also picked uncapped fast bowler Tanaka Chivanga, who made his T20I debut against Namibia last month.Muzarabani missed the T20Is against Namibia at home because he was a net bowler with IPL side Lucknow Super Giants, who played their maiden IPL season and finished third on the points table.Compared to the ODI squad that toured Sri Lanka earlier this year, Sean Williams misses out because of personal matters for which Zimbabwe Cricket has granted him compassionate leave. Richard Ngarava and Wellington Masakadza will miss the series too, as they are yet to fully recover from lower back and right shoulder injuries, respectively.Related

No place for Naib; Afg call up Zia-ur-Rehman for ODIs in Zimbabwe

But Tinotenda Mutombodzi didn’t make the cut this time. The squad saw the return of Donald Tiripano as well to bolster the pace attack. Tiripano featured in the recent T20Is against Namibia but went wicketless in the three games he played. Ndlovu, meanwhile, was among the wickets regularly while representing Northerners and Matabeleland Tuskers in T20s and first-class games.Chivanga went wicketless while opening the bowling against Namibia in the opening T20I and leaked 23 runs in two overs, but was more successful in the A series against South Africa at home in April-May. He was the top wicket-taker for Zimbabwe A in the T20Is, picking seven wickets in five games at an economy rate of 8.58. In the ODIs, he picked three wickets in as many games.Zimbabwe’s three ODIs against Afghanistan are part of the World Cup Super League and will be played on June 4, 6 and 9 at the Harare Sports Club; all three are day games.Squad: Craig Ervine (captain), Ryan Burl, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Tanaka Chivanga, Luke Jongwe, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Ainsley Ndlovu, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Donald Tiripano

Leeds United are back in action in the Championship for the first time since Christmas as they travel to Stoke City for an away match on Boxing Day.

The Whites are currently second in the division and will be hoping to maintain their place in the automatic promotion spots with a win over Narcis Pelach’s side this evening.

Daniel Farke’s men ran out convincing 4-0 winners against Oxford United at Elland Road last weekend, thanks to goals from Dan James, Jayden Bogle, Brenden Aaronson, and Manor Solomon.

The German head coach could still make some changes to his starting line-up from that match, however, and one player who could be dropped is Joel Piroe.

Why Joel Piroe could be dropped

The Dutch forward was selected to start as the number nine for Leeds against Oxford and was directly involved in one of the four goals, teeing up Solomon to score in the second half with a pass into the box for the winger.

Piroe, however, has only scored one goal in his last seven games in the Championship and his all-round play has still left plenty to be desired.

Shots

3

Goals

0

Passes completed

10

Duels won

0/2

Dribbles completed

0/0

As you can see in the table above, the former Swansea marksman was a lightweight at the top end of the pitch, completing just ten passes and losing 100% of his duels, whilst he was also wasteful with his shot attempts.

The left-footed forward’s work out of possession has been dismal throughout the season, as he has lost a staggering 73% of his duels on the ground and in the air.

With this, and the hectic festive schedule, in mind, Farke must drop the Leeds lightweight to the bench and offer Mateo Joseph another chance to impress from the start.

Why Mateo Joseph should start

The Spain U21 international, who was once described as “dynamite” inside the box by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has started ten of his 22 appearances in the Championship so far this season.

Despite his inexperience and age, having turned 21 in October, has fared better in duels than Piroe, winning 36% of his ground duels and 30% of his battles overall, which suggests that he offers slightly more than the Dutchman in physical contests.

Joseph has scored two goals, created four ‘big chances’, and recorded three assists in the division, despite only starting ten games, and this shows that the youngster does have the ability to make an impact in the final third.

However, the academy graduate has only scored two goals from 3.61 xG, and his wasteful finishing could be why Farke has not opted to select him as a starter week-in-week-out over Piroe.

The Dutchman’s poor display, despite assisting the fourth goal, against Oxford could provide Joseph with an opportunity to come in and show the manager that he has what it takes to be the leading number nine for Leeds moving forward this season.

Leeds signed "Pablo Hernandez’s successor" but then sold him for 10x less

Former Leeds United sporting director Victor Orta did not do his best work on this deal.

ByDan Emery Dec 26, 2024

Tammy Beaumont responds with half-century in 39-run loss

ECB Reporters Network14-May-2022

Lauren Winfield-Hill drives towards cover•Getty Images

Northern Diamonds 177 for 5 (Winfield-Hill 96) beat Loughborough Lightning 138 for 7 (Beaumont 59) by 39 runsA fantastic knock of 96 from England’s Lauren Winfield-Hill saw Northern Diamonds shine in a 39-run victory over Loughborough Lightning in the opening round of the Charlotte Edwards Cup.Winfield’s superb innings, which came off just 51 balls and was her highest score in T20, powered the visitors to a formidable total of 177 for five which proved too much for the hosts at a sun-drenched Haslegrave.Winning the toss and opting to bat, Diamonds took full advantage of the conditions with an opening assault on the Lightning bowlers that they struggled to recover from for the remainder of the innings.Each of the opening five overs went for double figures as Diamonds cruised past 50 with some powerful hitting from Winfield-Hill and Abi Glen.Glen fell to a catch from Teresa Graves off Kirstie Gordon for 25 but it barely mattered as Holly Armitage joined Winfield-Hill at the crease and the pair put on 99 for the second wicket with the Diamonds skipper offering valuable support to the free-scoring opener.Lightning had their chances and a drop on the boundary from Lucy Higham proved particularly costly as Winfield-Hill took full advantage by smashing three consecutive sixes off the unfortunate Kathryn Bryce in the very next over.The England star looked to be easing her way to a century but fell four shot when she skied a delivery from Bryce to Bethan Ellis who took a fine running catch over her shoulder.From 145 for two when Winfield-Hill departed in the 16th over the Diamonds innings faded somewhat with Leigh Kasperek (7), Phoebe Turner (0) and Beth Langston (1) departing in quick succession as only Armitage stood firm to finish unbeaten on 40 as Diamonds closed on 177 for five.Lightning’s reply got off to an excellent start with Marie Kelly and Tammy Beaumont full of running and deft stroke play if not the power hitting of Winfield-Hill.The opening pair had reached 79 in the 11th over when Kelly advanced down the wicket and was bowled by Beth Langston for 46.The run-chase became even tougher when Kathryn Bryce was bowled by Emma Marlow for four with Beaumont continuing to do her best with the odd boundary and some excellent scampering between the wickets.Beaumont brought up her half-century with a boundary off Kasperek in the 16th over and while she remained at the crease Lightning had a glimmer of a chance with the experienced England international looking in great form.But it was not to be as Lightning’s chances were extinguished when Beaumont was bowled by Marlow for 59 in the next over leaving the run rate increasingly insurmountable as the hosts’ innings closing on 138 for seven with Smith picking up a couple of wickets in the final over.

Australian import hits 83 off 30 as Middlesex wake up to their false dawn

David Hopps07-Jun-2022There have been swingers in Radlett – famously so, as they were once the subject of a Channel 4 documentary – but sadly, as far as Middlesex were concerned, they were not of the cricketing variety. When it came to games between bat and ball there was hardly a nod and a wink to be had as Middlesex’s innings rarely got off the straight and narrow.For Hampshire, though, it was a case of bring on the party. Ben McDermott, stocky and belligerent – think Bob Hoskins with athletic talent – brought along his own playlist of sixes, nine of them included in a destructive innings of 83 in 30 balls.His stand of 132 in 9.4 overs with James Vince broke the record for Hampshire’s opening T20 stand for the second game running. Australia have omitted him from their squad for Sri Lanka and he is sticking around to make counties pay and seek a wildcard spot in the Hundred. I mean, why wouldn’t you?Middlesex did not bowl well at McDermott. Too often, they were short and straight, and seven of his nine sixes were walloped into the square-leg arc. They know as well as anyone how to defend Radlett’s small boundaries and the pitch was slow and low, but with only 142 for 7 in the bank and McDermott flexing his muscles and thinking “club ground”, there was little to be done against such a combative assault.The upshot was a nine-wicket victory for Hampshire, who won with eight overs to spare. Vince, England’s lost stylist, collected an unbeaten half-century to round things off. Hampshire escaped the foot of South Group as a result and they looked a likelier side than Middlesex to be in the shake-up when the group stakes reach their climax this time next month.

Phenomenal hitting from @benrmcd to make 83 off 30 balls @hantscricket chase down 143 with 8 overs to spare!

Three #Blast22 matches live https://t.co/mw8n6GGw28 pic.twitter.com/8IqThMwr00

— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) June 7, 2022