Statement issued on behalf of family says that “prognosis is unclear”
ESPNcricinfo staff10-May-2022
Graham Thorpe was recently named the head coach of Afghanistan•Getty Images
Graham Thorpe, the former England batter, is “seriously ill” in hospital, according to the Professional Cricketers’ Association.Thorpe, 52, played 100 Tests for England between 1993 and 2005, averaging 44.66 with 16 centuries. He was recently announced as the new head coach of Afghanistan following a decade of involvement within England’s coaching set-up, which came to an end after this winter’s 4-0 Ashes loss in Australia.A statement from the PCA, issued at the request of Thorpe’s family, read: “Graham Thorpe has recently fallen seriously ill and is currently in hospital receiving treatment. His prognosis is unclear at this stage and we ask for privacy for him and his family at this time. Our thoughts are with Graham and his family.”Thorpe’s former county Surrey, where he spent the whole of his 17-year first-class career, added: “The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with Graham, his wife Amanda, and family at this time. He is an icon of the English game, known by millions of cricket fans and forever a favourite son of Surrey CCC.”After a century on debut against Australia at Trent Bridge, Thorpe soon established himself as one of the central figures of England’s Test team in the mid-1990s and early 2000s, with his selfless counterattacking style helping the team to emerge from the doldrums to become, by the time of his final Test against Bangladesh in June 2005, a side ready to compete on an equal footing with Ricky Ponting’s Australia in that summer’s legendary Ashes series.Thorpe’s own zenith came in the winter of 2000-01, when he was instrumental in England’s back-to-back series wins in Pakistan and Sri Lanka – to this day one of the team’s finest achievements.At Lahore in the first Test of that winter, he memorably compiled a century containing a solitary boundary, to lay the foundation for a 1-0 series win that he himself went on to seal in virtual darkness in Karachi later that tour.Then, three months later in the oppressive heat of Colombo, his twin innings of 113 not out and 32 not out carried England to a come-from-behind series victory against Sri Lanka, an achievement all the more impressive given they had succumbed to an innings defeat in the first Test in Galle.After retirement, he moved into coaching after a brief spell in the media, and after a stint with New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield in 2007, he joined the England set-up in 2010, initially as batting coach and later as assistant coach to Chris Silverwood, for whom he stepped in at Sydney this winter when Silverwood had to isolate following a Covid diagnosis.That role ended earlier this year when he, Silverwood and Ashley Giles, the former director of cricket, were all sacked in the wake of the Ashes loss. Thorpe’s own position had come under scrutiny after England’s defeat in the fifth Test, after the police were called in to break up an early-morning drinking session, involving several England and Australia players, at the team hotel in Hobart – allegedly after Thorpe had lit a cigar in an indoor space, which is against the law in Tasmania.
da prosport bet： West Ham United transfer chiefs have drawn up “fresh plans” to sign a £40 million player, with manager Julen Lopetegui personally identifying him as a possible new addition.
Lopetegui under pressure as West Ham eye new attackers
da brdice： Chairman David Sullivan and the Hammers hierarchy gave their green-light for technical director Tim Steidten to splash nearly £120 million on nine new signings in the summer, but their form hasn’t exactly reflected the new quality in Lopetegui’s squad so far.
What Julen Lopetegui has done to leave West Ham players very "surprised"
The Spaniard is dividing opinion behind the scenes.
ByEmilio Galantini Oct 2, 2024
West Ham are without a win in all competitions since late August, with their last victory coming against Bournemouth in the EFL Cup. Since then, Lopetegui has watched his side fall to Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City while also being held against Fulham and Brentford in the Premier League.
While it is still very early days, questions are being asked about West Ham’s lack of memorable moments in games, despite the quality and fresh new additions to choose from.
West Ham Results: 2024/25
Match
Date
Opponent
Competition
Result
#8
28/09/2024
Brentford (A)
Premier League
1-1 draw
#7
25/09/2024
Liverpool (A)
Carabao Cup
5-1 loss
#6
21/09/2024
Chelsea (H)
Premier League
3-0 loss
#5
14/09/2024
Fulham (A)
Premier League
1-1 draw
#4
31/08/2024
Man City (H)
Premier League
3-1 loss
#3
28/08/2024
Bournemouth (H)
Carabao Cup
1-0 win
#2
24/08/2024
Crystal Palace (A)
Premier League
2-0 win
#1
17/08/2024
Aston Villa (H)
Premier League
2-1 loss
Some critics believe Lopetegui is at risk of losing his job if their form doesn’t pick up quickly, with West Ham also unable to call upon striker Niclas Füllkrug, who is still recovering from an achilles injury and unavailable for selection.
“I think there’s more pressure on him after what David Moyes managed to do,” said ex-West Ham recruitment chief Mick Brown to Football Insider this week.
“When 60,000 people are saying they don’t want this and they want a different type of football, the board have had to be careful with their decision.
“It’s always difficult trying to judge what the owners and directors will do. Their knowledge of the game is not great and they’ve made many mistakes in the past. They were warned to be careful what they wished for, but having made that decision [replacing Moyes with Lopetegui], they’re wary of making another mistake.
“I don’t know Lopetegui and I don’t know how he works, but if we’re looking at the results he’s had so far, which is what the game is about, he’s definitely at risk.”
Fullkrug’s absence has exposed West Ham’s lack of striker depth, for both the present and for the long-term. Indeed, Danny Ings and Michail Antonio are on the wrong side of 30 and out of contract next summer, leading to the club’s reported interest in Eintracht Frankfurt star Omar Marmoush.
West Ham draw "fresh plans" to sign Marmoush after Lopetegui call
GiveMeSport have shared a fresh update this evening.
It is believed that West Ham have drawn up “fresh plans” to sign Marmoush, with Lopetegui personally earmarking the Egypt striker as a possible new signing at the who can give them that extra bite going forward.
Marmoush is also being chased by Newcastle United and Aston Villa, as all three Premier League sides prepare to battle it out over the £40 million forward’s signature at the turn of the year.
Omar Marmoush for Frankfurt.
The 25-year-old has started this campaign in absolutely electric form – scoring six goals and registering five assists in just seven games across all competitions – which has surely turned many heads in east London.
Praised for his “tireless” work rate by Eintracht boss Dino Toppmöller as well, other reports have claimed that Marmoush is “most likely” to join West Ham or Crystal Palace, so this could be one to watch heading into 2025.
Abdul Samad and Shahrukh Khan also score tons for their respective teams; Pujara out for a four-ball duck as Saurashtra struggle
Saurabh Somani19-Feb-2022
File photo: Hanuma Vihari drives through covers•AFP/Getty Images
Hanuma Vihari followed up a first-innings half-century with a second-innings 106, as Hyderabad put themselves in a strong position to gain an outright victory over Chandigarh on the third day of the first round of matches in the Ranji Trophy 2021-22.The day also saw aggressive centuries from two men who have made headlines for their short-form batting more, with Abdul Samad hitting 103 off 78 balls for Jammu and Kashmir against Pondicherry, and M Shahrukh Khan smashing 194 off 148 balls for Tamil Nadu against Delhi.Vihari, who was selected in India’s Test squad for the series against Sri Lanka, had been Hyderabad’s top-scorer in the first innings too, with 59 runs even though every single batter made it to double figures to drive the total to 347 all out. In contrast, Chandigarh had Manan Vohra playing a lone hand with 110 in a total of 216 in an Elite Group B match at the Vikas Cricket Ground in Cuttack.In Hyderabad’s second innings, Vihari hit his 22nd first-class century, as Hyderabad declared on 269 for 8, setting Chandigarh an unlikely 401 for victory. Tilak Varma shared in a 130-run stand for the third with Vihari, before he was out for 63. Chandigarh had already lost two wickets in the eight overs and were 21 for 2 at stumps.In the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Tamil Nadu held the advantage against Delhi in an Elite Group H match, thanks to Shahrukh’s swashbuckling innings, the standout century in a game that had Yash Dhull hitting a hundred on debut to rescue Delhi from 7 for 2, then Lalit Yadav’s maiden first-class century that swelled to 177 as he took Delhi from 253 for 7 to 452 all out. B Indrajith also hit 117, but it was Shahrukh’s 194 that stole the show. With only a day left, a draw seems most likely but Shahrukh has ensured Tamil Nadu will get first-innings lead points, a prospect that seemed unlikely when they were 162 for 5.In an Elite Group C match in Chennai’s SSN College of Engineering ground, Jammu and Kashmir were on the brink of victory against Pondicherry.Qamran Iqbal fell on his overnight score of 96, but Samad’s whirlwind century drove J&K to a first-innings lead as they were bowled out for 426 in reply to Pondicherry’s 343. Parvez Rasool’s spin then had Pondicherry tumbling to 113 for 9 at stumps, a lead of only 30 runs.File photo: Cheteshwar Pujara walks back•Shailesh Bhatnagar
In Ahmedabad, Cheteshwar Pujara was out for a four-ball duck as defending champions Saurashtra were made to follow on against Mumbai in an Elite Group D match.Overnight 18 without loss, Saurashtra were bowled out for 220 after Mumbai had piled on 544 for 7 declared. Pujara came in at No.4, and was lbw to Mohit Avasthi shortly after. Sheldon Jackson’s 61 was Saurashtra’s highest score in the first innings, but they put up a better show when following on, with openers Harvik Desai and Snell Patel having shared a 105-run stand that is still unbroken. Even so, given their massive deficit in the first innings, Saurashtra are trailing by a sizeable 219 runs.Three games finished on the third day, with Kerala beating Meghalaya by an innings and 166 runs in an Elite Group A match, Chattisgarh defeating Jharkhand by eight wickets in an Elite Group H match, and Manipur victorious by an innings and 25 runs against Arunachal Pradesh in a Plate Group match.Playing his first first-class match since his ban in 2013 for spot-fixing, S Sreesanth didn’t have a good outing for Kerala, although his team overwhelmed Meghalaya.In the first innings, Meghalaya were bowled out for just 148, with Eden Apple Tom taking 4 for 41 on debut. Sreesanth took the wickets of the No.9 and No.11 batters, returning 2 for 40 in 11.5 overs. Centuries by P Rahul, Rohan Kunnumal and Vatshal Govind then propelled Kerala to 505 for 9 declared, before they bowled out Meghalaya for 191. Sreesanth went wicket-less, giving up 57 runs in nine overs.
da dobrowin： Leeds United are currently sitting in third place in the Championship table ahead of their return to action against Swansea in Wales on Saturday.
da brdice： The Whites have had two weeks off, thanks to the international break, and will now be looking to record another victory when they take on the Swans this weekend.
Two points separate Sunderland in first and Leeds in third and this means that Daniel Farke’s side could end the weekend at the top of the table if results go their way.
As you would expect in the Championship, the division is incredibly tight and it takes remarkable consistency to secure an automatic promotion place.
The Whites, who beat Queens Park Rangers 2-0 before the break, finished third and missed out on automatic promotion with 90 points from 46 matches last season.
Farke will hope that his side can go one better this time around and go straight back up to the Premier League, rather than needing to compete in the play-offs.
The January transfer window opens for business in less than two months and some supporters have suggested that Manchester City’s James McAtee should be a target.
Leeds United's interest in James McAtee
After the summer transfer window closed, Leeds chief Angus Kinnear revealed that the England U21 international was a target for the club ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
The central midfielder had just been relegated from the Premier League with Sheffield United on loan and the Whites attempted to bring him to Elland Road to bolster their promotion hopes.
Speaking on The Square Ball podcast, Kinnear said: “Two of the other players, looking at the level we were looking at, McAtee at Man City, there was talk he might be released all the way through the window and then Pep [Guardiola] decided to keep him.”
Former Sheffield United loanee James McAtee.
More recently, LeedsLive suggested that the West Yorkshire outfit should look to strike a loan deal for the young midfielder in the January transfer window, due to his lack of game time with Manchester City.
Football League World also posted an article that included McAtee signing for the club as part of a dream window for Leeds ahead of the second half of the season.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
These outlets are basing these claims off Kinnear’s confirmation that the club were interested in the City whiz in the summer, as well as his proven quality at Championship level, thanks to his first loan spell with the Blades.
James McAtee's Championship form for Sheffield United
The left-footed attacking midfielder joined Sheffield United on loan from Manchester City in the summer of 2022 and enjoyed a terrific first season in the second tier.
Playing under Paul Heckingbottom, the English youngster was in his first full campaign of regular first-team football after coming up through the academy ranks at The Etihad.
It provided him with an opportunity to test himself at senior level for the first time and McAtee took it all in his stride, helping the Blades to secure promotion up to the Premier League.
22/23 Championship
James McAtee
Appearances
37
Goals
9
Big chances created
6
Assists
3
Duel success rate
44%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the midfield maestro was directly involved in 12 goals in 37 appearances in the division, and was unfortunate to only have three assists from six ‘big chances’ created.
He also ranked within the top 21% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the league for progressive passes (4.03) per 90, and the top 12% for Expected Assisted Goals (0.20) per 90.
McAtee was a number ten who was constantly involved in play and looking to make things happen in the final third for Sheffield United, hence why he ranked so highly for progressive passes and xAG per 90.
The 22-year-old star was then sent back to the Blades for a second season on loan at Bramall Lane in the 2023/24 campaign, but he struggled to provide regular quality at the top end of the pitch.
McAtee scored three goals and provided three assists in 31 appearances in the Premier League, as his side were relegated from the division with just 16 points.
Farke, however, does not need to swoop for the Manchester City man in January, despite his impressive form at Championship level in the past, because he has already unearthed his own version of McAtee in Brenden Aaronson.
Brenden Aaronson's Leeds revival
The USA international returned to Elland Road in the summer after spending the 2023/24 campaign on loan with Union Berlin, having decided not to drop down to the Championship after the club’s relegation from the Premier League.
He had only produced one goal and three assists in 36 games in the top-flight for the Whites and that, combined with his decision to leave on loan last year, meant that he did not have much goodwill in the bank come the summer.
However, Aaronson put his head down and worked hard to be a part of Farke’s plans, after being given a chance by the German head coach, and has emerged as a key player for the team this season.
Like McAtee, the 24-year-old star is a nimble, energetic, but lightweight, attacking midfielder who can make a difference with goals and assists in the final third.
Championship
Brenden Aaronson (24/25)
James McAtee (22/23)
Appearances
15
37
Goals
4
9
Big chances created
4
6
Key passes per game
1.5
0.9
Dribbles completed per game
1.5
1.1
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Aaronson has already contributed with eight goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 15 appearances in the Championship this season.
The American star, who was described as being “like a weed” by Jesse Marsch in reference to his continued development, is currently on course to end the season with more goals, more ‘big chances’ created, more dribbles completed, and more key passes than McAtee managed in the 2022/23 campaign.
It is now down to him to remain consistent and show that he can perform at that level for an entire campaign, but the early signs are incredibly promising.
His statistics illustrate just how well the former RB Salzburg man has performed under Farke in the second tier this season and suggests that the Whites do not need to spend money on a permanent or loan swoop for the Manchester City youngster in January.
Including Bamford: The three Leeds players Farke must cash in on in January
The Leeds United head coach must consider cashing in all three of these players.
ByDan Emery Nov 16, 2024
Credit must go to Farke for being willing to offer the Leeds number 11 a chance to impress in pre-season, rather than sending him straight back out on loan or selling him, as he has now unearthed his own McAtee, and potentially a better version of him.
The allrounder has called on the bowling attack to “think a little bit out of the box” as SA aim to rebound from 1-0 down
Firdose Moonda14-Jul-2022
Shabnim Ismail missed the one-off Test and the first ODI with a calf strain•ICC via Getty
Shabnim Ismail is available for selection for South Africa’s second ODI against England after missing last month’s Test and Monday’s first ODI with a calf strain. Ismail’s recovery comes at a crucial juncture on the tour: South Africa lost the first ODI by five wickets and must win in Bristol to stay alive in the series.Allrounder Nadine de Klerk has suggested South Africa have lacked intensity so far, and that is a quality Ismail is known to possess in seemingly endless supply.If picked, Ismail will bolster a bowling attack that conceded 219 runs in 32.1 overs as England strolled to a modest target with 107 balls to spare in the series-opener. While the match was lost by the batters, who languished at 109 for 5 after 30 overs in their innings, and had only one partnership of over 35, the bowlers were unable to keep Emma Lamb quiet and offered too many deliveries wide of off stump.”It definitely wasn’t our best performance,” de Klerk said. “We had a look at the game and we know that we were far off.”She identified a general lethargy in all departments as the reason for South Africa failing to challenge England and promised a more proactive style of play in the remaining matches. “We need to play positive cricket. We are much better than what we showed two days ago. We lacked a bit of intensity but we have been training really well,” she said. “We’re tying a few options against certain bowlers and we will go out and show a lot more aggression [in our] batting and take the bowlers on a little bit more.”Nadine de Klerk scored a career-best 38 and took 2 for 44 in the first ODI•Getty Images
South Africa’s batters dragged themselves through most of their innings of Monday, with none of the top five striking at a rate above 66.66 and were in danger of falling short of 200 until Chloe Tryon’s 73-ball 88 and her 97-run partnership with de Klerk, who scored a career-best 38 “It really helped batting with Chloe who was going well at that stage,” de Klerk said. “She just kept telling me to be really positive and look to score runs.”de Klerk went on to record South Africa’s best figures on the day – 2 for 44 – and was the most economical bowler in the match but recognised that the attack as a whole needs to be more focused and more innovative in their approach. “With the ball, it wasn’t our best day. We have to try and be as consistent as we can and just land the ball in the same spot,” she said. “And we also need to use our variations and think a little bit out of the box.”Ultimately, de Klerk may be reflecting on the next challenge facing South Africa as they prepare for next year’s T20 World Cup and beyond – how to catch up with teams like England and Australia. At this year’s ODI tournament, it was evident that there is a sizable gulf between Australia and the rest. But South Africa were also shown up by England in the semi-finals, despite beating them in the group stage, which may indicate what pressure does to a team like South Africa, whose domestic structure is not as strong as England’s or Australia’s.For de Klerk, regular game time and exposure to franchise leagues is what has helped her own game, and she hopes it could do similar for the other players. “Your confidence grows, you get a little bit older and you get a little bit more experience when you play against high-quality teams where you have to adapt to conditions a bit quicker and you have some powerful hitters and when playing in leagues like the Big Bash.”Ismail is a seasoned campaigner in both leagues and the international set-up and if de Klerk is right and it’s fresh thinking South Africa are looking for, they’ll be more than happy to have her back on Friday.
The hosts were bowled out for 69 in Dublin, with only eight of their XI falling for single-digit scores
ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jun-2022
Sune Luus and Shabnim Ismail combined picked up 6 for 32 in 13 overs•Getty Images
Ireland crumbled to 69 all out against South Africa on Saturday, with eight of their 11 batters falling for single-digit scores. There were four ducks in the innings, which lasted only 27.2 overs, as fast bowler Shabnim Ismail and legspinner Sune Luus went on a wicket-taking spree. Their combined figures read 13-4-32-6.The carnage began almost as soon as Ireland won the toss and opted to bat and soon enough they were 14 for 4. Shauna Kavanaugh (15), Sophie MacMahon (13) and Georgina Dempsey (19) were the only players to get into double-figures as South Africa took control and simply never let up. Ismail was responsible for three of the four ducks in the innings, even as her new-ball partner Ayabonga Khaka proved herself to be unhittable, getting through 5.2 overs for just six runs (one of those was a wide) and picking up two wickets. Luus took care of the middle and lower order to bowl Ireland out in 27.2 overs.The chase was little more than a formality, although Ireland did manage to pick up an early wicket – Laura Wolvaardt out for 8 in the fifth over. Andrie Steyn (21 not out) and Laura Goodall (32 not out) ensured there were no other hiccups as South Africa secured victory with nine wickets and 204 balls to spare.
da betobet： Jurgen Klopp’s departure saw Liverpool’s rivals intent on grinding Arne Slot and his squad between the great millstones of the footballing universe.
da fazobetai： That simply hasn’t happened. Victory over Brighton and Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening saw the Dutch tactician claim his 12th win of the campaign, having played just 14 matches across all competitions.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot
It’s been quite something, and the Reds will travel to Southampton in the quarter-finals of the cup competition fuelled with confidence and deeper-spined belief that they can indeed compete for honours across every front this season.
The 3-2 scoreline somewhat flattered the Seagulls, who will be quaking at the daunting prospect of meeting the Merseysiders at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Alexis Mac Allister celebrates with Liverpool teammates
Liverpool boast one of the most awe-inspiring frontlines across the continent, with some of their forwards sure to make a positive impression in any of the finest outfits in world football.
It’s somewhat surprising that no one was honoured with a mention at the recently wrapped-up Ballon d’Or ceremony.
Liverpool snubbed at the Ballon d'Or
The biggest elephant in the room is that of Mohamed Salah, who did not even make the top 30 even though he’s widely regarded as one of the finest forwards in the world and posted 33 goals and 21 assists across all competitions since the start of last season.
As this content creator acknowledges, there has been some measure of outrage centred around Real Madrid galactico Vinicius Jr.’s failure to win the pinnacle of individual prizes, beaten by Manchester City’s Rodri despite popular opinion turned toward the Brazilian being the one to claim the golden ball.
Is this truly a travesty? Rodri is head and shoulders above every other midfielder across the world. He’s Pep Guardiola’s lifeblood, hailed as a “true legend of the game” by Joleon Lescott.
Liverpool’s failure to find any single player in the discussion was frankly embarrassing, and an illustration of the gaping holes that this prestigious award carries.
Four centre-backs claimed the award ahead of Van Dijk, while the aforementioned Salah will be shocked at some of the like-positioned names that claimed placements ahead of him.
But this is nothing compared to the noise surrounding Vinicius Jr., with all of a Real Madrid persuasion flat-out refusing to attend the ceremony, despite winning a wealth of accolades after a trophy-laden 2023/24 campaign.
In fairness, the 24-year-old was incredible last year, instrumental in winning the Champions League and La Liga, notching 50 goal contributions for Los Blancos since the start of last year.
He’s also remarkably dynamic, ranking among the top 4% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 7% for passes attempted and the top 1% for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.
Oh for Liverpool to boast a player of such proportions. Actually, they do: Cody Gakpo has made significant headway under Slot’s leadership and offers a style not all that dissimilar to that of Vini.
Cody Gakpo's rise at Liverpool
Gakpo is approaching the two-year mark of his time at Liverpool, signing as he did from PSV Eindhoven in a deal worth an initial £35m in January 2023.
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo
It was a turbulent time, a time of patchiness and wobbles. Liverpool had been knocked heavily off-kilter and Gakpo struggled to drive into the way of life at Anfield.
Last season, his first full year on Merseyside, he started to kick on but has now begun to look like a truly dangerous forward under the management of his Dutch countryman, scoring twice against Brighton on Wednesday evening to take his haul to four goals and two assists from just six starting appearances.
Described as a “superstar” by The Athletic’s Carl Anka before tearing it up at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and indeed making the switch to Liverpool, Gakpo has gone from strength to strength this season, looking like a different beast in Slot’s system.
This is principally down to having nailed down a recognised position on the left flank, instead of the all-covering modus operandi that he employed under Klopp’s wing.
Cody Gakpo: Apps by Position in 23/24
Position
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Centre-Forward
19
9
3
Left Winger
7
1
2
Central Midfield
7
0
0
Right Winger
5
1
0
Sourced via Transfermarkt
Now, he may be jockeying for ascendancy with the mercurial Luis Diaz down the left wing, but at least he’s got a clear understanding of the role that he is to play – and play that role he has.
Gakpo’s pace, power and deceptive trickery make him a singular outlet for Liverpool, with his stunning opening strike against the Seagulls evidence of the cannon he has in his toolkit.
Even so, he’s so much more. A protean threat, crackling with tactical dynamism, Gakpo ranks among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 10% for pass completion and progressive carries, the top 5% for progressive passes and the top 1% for tackles and interceptions made per 90 (FBref).
And so you can see: Gakpo is a player borne with technical skill and sharp match intelligence that mirrors that of Vinicius Jr., with FBref classing the Brazilian among the players most similar to the Dutchman across Europe’s top five leagues – and moreover, he’s equally competent across a range of positional deployments.
Let’s hope that he can continue to go from strength to strength in this high-flying Slot system. Let’s not bet against it, in any case.
Gakpo is starting to show what he can do, and he can do so much. With such talented members across myriad positions, why shouldn’t Liverpool be reaching for the stars this term?
Scouts sent: Liverpool plot move for £66m Szoboszlai upgrade who Slot loves
Liverpool want to upgrade on Szoboszlai by signing a £66m Slot favourite.
da dobrowin： Desde a chegada de Luiz Felipe Scolari, o Athletico passa por um excelente momento dentro das quatro linhas.
– VEJA A TABELA DO BRASILEIRÃO
A prova disso é o papel de protagonista em todos os torneios que disputa e as possibilidade que começam a surgir.
No próximo fim de semana, Felipão e cia embarcam para Goiânia, onde medem forças contra o Goiás, na Serrinha.
Caso deixem o campo vitoriosos ou até mesmo com um empate, o Athletico vai chegar a marca de 15 partidas invictas.
O último revés do Furacão ocorreu no dia 14 de maio, quando foi superado pelo Fluminense, no Rio de Janeiro. Desde então foram 14 jogos, com 10 vitórias e quatro derrotas.
RelacionadasAthletico ParanaenseEmpate na Libertadores interrompeu série de vitórias do AthleticoAthletico Paranaense07/07/2022CearáCeará aumenta o caixa com a classificação para as quartas de final da Sul-AmericanaCeará07/07/2022Fora de CampoMauro Beting comenta saída de Casagrande da Globo: ‘Não vai deixar mais nada passar barato’Fora de Campo07/07/2022
The Bengal seamer came to know about his call-up while playing for Rest of India in the Irani Cup
PTI02-Oct-2022
Mukesh Kumar made it to the Indian team despite not playing in the IPL•Mallikarjuna/KSCA
Bengal seamer Mukesh Kumar did not know about his national selection until he was added to the Indian team’s official WhatsApp group.That’s when he realised that he had been selected for the ODI series against South Africa, starting October 6 in Lucknow.”I got very emotional. It was all blur,” Mukesh told PTI from Rajkot, where he is playing for Rest of India in the Irani Cup. “I could only remember my late father Kashi Nath Singh’s face. My father, till I played Ranji Trophy for Bengal, didn’t think I was good enough to do well professionally. . (He had doubts whether I was even capable of doing that or not.)”Related
Rajat Patidar relishes 'dream come true' as international debut beckons
South Africa seek crucial Super League points against second-string India
Inside the Bengal pace revolution
Mukesh's old-school virtues make impact on India A debut
Patidar, Mukesh get maiden India call-ups
Mukesh, 28, lost his father to a brain stroke before the Ranji Trophy finals last year. He would train in the morning and then spend time beside his father’s hospital bed. “Today, my mom had tears in her eyes,” Mukesh said after the news of his selection. “She was so emotional. Everyone at home started crying.”Hailing from Gopalganj district in Bihar, Mukesh had appeared for the exam to join the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) three times because his father wanted him to get a government job, and he is now employed by the Comptroller and Auditor General office.He has been Bengal’s most consistent new-ball bowler and his five-wicket haul for India A in the first unofficial Test against New Zealand A and a four-for on the first day of the ongoing Irani Cup game fast-tracked his selection into the Indian team.” (You can have God’s gift but if you don’t put in the hard work then nothing will happen),” he said. “Life is all about learning and it never stops. My endeavour would be to ensure that till I play cricket, I should never stop learning. [VVS] Laxman sir told me, ‘Mukesh, whatever lengths you bowl for Bengal and how you set up batters, just replicate that consistently.’ I just followed his instruction.”Mukesh has taken 113 wickets in 31 first-class matches, including the ongoing Irani Cup game, and has 17 wickets in 18 List A games with an economy rate of 5.17. He is one of those rare cricketers in recent times who has made it to India’s limited-overs squad without playing in the IPL.When asked whether his mother would be present to watch if he makes his debut against South Africa, Mukesh said: ” (More than watching me from the ground, my mother would like to see me become successful.)”
da betsson： Newcastle United have lift-off. In the space of a few days, Chelsea and Arsenal have been put to the sword across two competitions by Eddie Howe’s men.
da mrbet： It’s been a patchy start to the season, with issues leaking into the first team’s football after a summer transfer window that left plenty to be desired, but it’s important to never forget that the Magpies are one of the most dangerous sides in England – something that Arsenal know only too well.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners desperately needed three points at St. James’ Park to turn their flagging title bid back on track, but failed to get going, lacking creativity and bite against the titanic Toon.
We’ll get to the rear end of the pitch in a moment, but first, let’s pay homage to the resurgent Alexander Isak, who’s been reminding just about everybody that he’s one of the best number nines in the business.
Alexander Isak has found his feet
Isak started the season slowly, to be sure. However, the 25-year-old sharpshooter netted in both recent fixtures against Chelsea and scored again today against Arsenal, taking his tally to four goals and one assist across ten matches.
Alexander Isak’s Performance vs Arsenal
Match Stats
#
Minutes played
90′
Goals
1
Touches
30
Shots (on target)
2 (2)
Accurate passes
14/20 (70%)
Key passes
0
Dribbles (completed)
3 (1)
Total duels (won)
10 (3)
Stats via Sofascore
In many ways, it was a typical performance from the centre forward, who wasn’t on the ball at every stage but showcased great movement and hold-up play throughout.
And the header. Wow. The Swede fired past the hapless David Raya with an almighty effort, served by Anthony Gordon, who was brilliant throughout.
He might have notched the match-winning moment, but Isak wasn’t the best player on the pitch. Arsenal might not have looked that great in attack, but this is largely due to the host defenders, with Tino Livramento deserving of special praise.
Tino Livramento was immense vs Arsenal
Martin Keown noted that Livramento was just as good as his alternate full-back, Lewis Hall, who was busier as he dealt with Bukayo Saka. Keown would be right: Livramento proved once again that he is one of England’s finest up-and-coming talents with an almighty display against Arsenal.
Tino Livramento in action against Arsenal
Arsenal are supposed to be one of the most combative and crunching teams in the Premier League. Arteta has cultivated a rich crop in north London, though is starting to reinforce his side with steel, stepping away from the flashiness that was on show at the earlier stage of the project.
Newcastle dispelled that notion, at least on the day. Livramento was brilliant, fundamental to the victory. As per Sofascore, he won all four of his ground duels, created two key passes and triumphed with his one attempted dribble.
Livramento’s performance was certainly noticed, with 90min writing: ‘Won his battle with the fleet-footed Gabriel Martinelli and was similarly imposing after Leandro Trossard moved into a wider role. A fantastic display from the young full-back on the big stage.’
The Three Lions star was even handed a 9/10 match rating, underscoring just how magnificent his effort was in negating Arsenal’s attack.
Newcastle are making headway after a slow start. With a brilliant couple of wins in the bag, it’s time to turn heads toward the top of the Premier League and a potential slice of cup silverware too.
Newcastle struck gold with star Shearer called "unbelievable"
Newcastle once played a blinder by cashing in on him for £35m.