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In what is a clash of two evenly-balanced teams, it could be the variety in the bowling that gives Mumbai an edge

Madhusudhan Ramakrishnan26-May-2011After an extraordinary finish to their last league game against Kolkata where they scored 21 runs off the final over to win a tight contest, Mumbai very nearly botched up a far easier chase in the eliminator against the same opponents. While this ensures Champions League qualification, it also gives them a chance to upstage Bangalore in the next knockout game and set up a replay of last year’s final against Chennai. After a few bad performances which nearly led to their elimination, Mumbai raised their game in the last couple of games and will carry confidence from these wins and the fact that they beat Bangalore comfortably in the only meeting between the two sides earlier in the tournament.The situation is slightly different with Bangalore though; they had a tremendous run of seven consecutive wins after Chris Gayle’s entry. A huge loss to Punjab was followed by an emphatic win over Chennai in their last group game. However, in the qualifier clash with Chennai, they suffered from a bad bowling performance in the end overs and went down by six wickets. Although Bangalore lost to Mumbai in their previous meeting, they will be aware that since then, they have been boosted greatly by Gayle, who has been the player of the match on five occasions.

Mumbai and Bangalore in the IPL

TeamOverall (Played, Won)IPL 2011 (Played, Won)Head-to-headBat avg(2011)Bowl avg(2011)RR(2011)ER(2011)Mumbai58, 3315, 10529.0021.197.467.35Bangalore60, 3014, 9331.8929.258.417.98Bangalore have been the more aggressive batting side in the first six overs and in the middle overs. Mumbai’s top-order batsmen have been cautious and focussed on establishing a strong platform. Bangalore, aided by Gayle’s explosive starts, have scored at well over eight per over in the first and second innings in the first six-over period. Their boundary percentage is also much higher than that of Mumbai. The stats are more even in the last six-over period with both teams scoring at close to ten runs per over. On the bowling front, Mumbai dominate Bangalore in nearly all aspects. They have an impressive economy rate below six in the first-six over period. In the final overs also, they have a better economy rate than Bangalore’s and have especially been more dominant when they have batted first.

Performance of the teams across and innings (RR, ER, boundary%)

TeamInningsOvers(1-6)-batOvers(7-14)- batOvers(15-20)- batOvers(1-6)- bowlOvers(7-14)- bowlOvers(15-20)- bowlMumbai17.76, 63.856.78,41.019.91,62.185.64,55.697.46,45.938.59,55.34Bangalore18.76, 68.208.34, 53.9310.87,64.366.95,59.477.93,48.809.74,52.47Mumbai27.09, 57.556.60,49.728.60,58.335.89,60.778.20,55.218.30,49.38Bangalore28.26, 70.907.23, 49.559.79,61.796.04,56.557.53,46.919.42,64.11Mumbai’s opening pair provided them with a solid start in the eliminator game against Kolkata and despite a few hiccups, the middle-order batsmen led by James Franklin saw them through. Ambati Rayudu and Sachin Tendulkar have shared two century stands in the tournament so far and will be the key once again if Mumbai are to post a challenging score against a team that prefers to chase. Bangalore, despite possessing some stong performers in the middle order, will be hoping that Gayle fires. Luke Pomersbach and Virat Kohli shared an excellent stand for the fourth wicket against Chennai, and together with AB de Villiers, they will be crucial to Bangalore’s cause.Lasith Malinga started with a wicket off his first ball in the previous game against Bangalore and although his form has tapered off a little in recent games, he is comfortably the highest wicket-taker and the biggest threat to Bangalore’s chances. Harbhajan Singh, who is the highest wicket taker for Mumbai against Bangalore in the IPL with nine wickets in seven games, gives Mumbai an attacking option in the middle overs. Bangalore, on the other hand, will rely heavily on the experience of Daniel Vettori and Zaheer Khan, after a poor performance in the previous game.

Partnership stats for teams in IPL 2011 (RR, avg, 50+)

Team1st wkt2nd wkt3rd wkt4th wkt5th wkt6th wktMumbai7.58,26.20,37.28,42.00,56.78,29.58,37.55,29.09,27.31,3.00,18.72,16.00,0Bangalore9.74,32.35,48.40,58.09,67.01,32.50,27.96,23.90,18.71,30.28,09.00,24.00,1Chennai, the venue for the second qualifier, is one of the most spin-friendly venues in the IPL. The home team have been exceptional at home and have defended very successfully. Considering the fact that six out of seven matches on this ground have been won by teams batting first, the team that wins the toss might be tempted to bat first irrespective of their previous record in the tournament.

Venue stats for Chennai

Wins (bat first/chasing)Avg, RR(1st inns)Avg, RR(2nd inns)Pace(wickets, ER)Spin(wickets,ER)6/131.94, 7.9823.27, 7.3818, 8.2615, 7.41

da bet sport： Newcastle United's heavy spending under the Saudi PIF could be set to continue in the summer, with the Magpies needing to dramatically improve their squad depth.

da bet7： The club have looked depleted in multiple areas this campaign and undoubtedly will be looking to strengthen the defensive department after the long-term injuries suffered by Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles, with the two centre-backs ruled out for up to nine months after respective ACL surgeries.

However, the Magpies will target another midfielder this window, with Eddie Howe’s side suffering with numerous issues in that department.

Joelinton has struggled with a thigh problem in recent months but has formed an excellent partnership with compatriot Bruno Guimaraes when fit.

Fellow midfielder Sandro Tonali has missed the majority of the season after his summer move, following his ban for betting in Italy. He’s set to return to action in October, but it’s unknown what fitness levels the former AC Milan man will possess after his lengthy spell on the sidelines.

After his suspension and the recent injuries, the club are targeting another midfielder this summer, with Howe needing to target one player in particular who’s caught the eye this season.

Newcastle must revive interest in Premier League talent

In recent months, Newcastle have been linked with a move for 24-year-old Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, following his excellent campaign under Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.

The Chelsea academy graduate has featured 37 times in the Premier League this season under the Argentinian, scoring five times and assisting seven – in a campaign where he's been utilised in a more advanced role.

Despite his good form in London, he could be set to depart the club, with the likes of Aston Villa also interested in signing the talent who is valued at £50m.

Gallagher has also been linked with Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the summer window, with Howe's side facing tough competition to sign the ace.

The battle is undoubtedly going to be a tough one to win for any of the sides, but the Magpies must sign the England international, with Gallagher producing stats making him the perfect Guimaraes and Joelinton hybrid.

Why Gallagher could be the perfect Guimaraes & Joelinton hybrid

When looking at the statistical record of Gallagher over the last 365 days on FBref, he’s noted as a similar player to the Brazilian pair – indicating how he could fit in smoothly at St James' Park.

The "phenomenal" midfielder, as dubbed by one Chelsea scout, has won 47% of his aerial duels and made 34 clearances – with both stats marginally higher than both of the Magpies' current midfielders.

The Englishman has also dominated in possession, with the Chelsea talent averaging a 59% take-on success and an 89% pass completion rate – demonstrating his qualities with and without the ball.

There's no denying that Guimaraes is a crucial cog in Howe's side, but Gallagher has been very underrated in an underperforming side, with his ability in and out of possession potentially completing Newcastle's midfield puzzle.

How Gallagher compares to Guimaraes & Joelinton in 23/24

Statistics

Gallagher

Guimaraes

Joelinton

Games

37

37

20

Goals + Assists

12

15

3

Progressive carries

62

65

29

Goals per 90

0.1

0.2

0.1

Pass accuracy

89%

84%

84%

Tackles won

43%

52%

37%

Aerials won

47%

43%

35%

Stats via FBref

With Guimaraes at the base and Gallagher alongside him, the central trio would seemingly then be completed by the aforementioned Joelinton, with the Brazilian committing his future to the club, signing a new long-term deal on Tyneside.

As such, Howe and the Saudi PIF should hijack any attempts from other Premier League clubs and bring the Chelsea midfielder to St James' Park this summer.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Jun 6, 2024

da betcris： While Tottenham Hotspur ultimately failed to qualify for the Champions League this season, Ange Postecoglou's ability to secure Europa League football without Harry Kane at the club means that, on balance, the campaign has to be viewed as a success.

da blaze casino： However, the footballing world moves quickly, so the North Londoners will already be hard at work planning their summer transfer window, with the ambition of clawing back a top-four place next season.

In fact, one of the latest players touted for a move to N17 could be the perfect first signing of the summer, even if their arrival could threaten Dejan Kulusevksi's place in the side.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from renowned journalist Alasdair Gold, Tottenham Hotspur are "keeping an eye" on Sporting CP's star winger Marcus Edwards ahead of the summer window.

One of the reasons the club are interested in the Englishman, beyond his ability, is that he's a homegrown talent who came up through the Lilywhites' academy system before moving to Portugal in September 2019.

It was reported in September 2022 that the winger had a £52m release clause inserted in his contract with Sporting, but Gold has claimed the Lisbon-based club value the 25-year-old at around £15m plus add-ons.

In all, it looks like it could be a relatively straightforward deal for Daniel Levy and Co to pull off, and if they can get him for that price, one they can't afford to miss, even if it impacts Kulusevski.

How Edwards compares to Kulusevski

Now, suggesting that Edwards could come in to challenge Kulusevski for a starting spot on the right may sound egregious to some, but the Englishman has been putting in impressive performances in Portugal for several seasons now and has the stats to show it.

For example, last season, he racked up 12 goals and 14 assists in just 51 games before scoring six and providing nine in 44 games this year, meaning that he has averaged a goal involvement every 2.31 games since the start of the 2022/23 campaign.

In comparison, Spurs' Swedish international managed just two goals and eight assists in 37 games last season while doing slightly better this year, managing a haul of eight goals and three assists in 39 games, giving him an average of a goal involvement every 3.61 games.

Edwards vs Kulusevski

2022/23

Edwards

Kulusevski

Appearances

51

37

Goals

12

2

Assists

14

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

0.27

2023/24

Edwards

Kulusevski

Appearances

44

39

Goals

6

8

Assists

9

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.34

0.28

All Stats via Transfermarkt

It's not just in their raw output that the "wonderful" Englishman, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, comes out ahead, though, as his underlying numbers are also superior.

For example, while the former Juventus man maintains a better-passing accuracy and wins more aerial duels per 90, the Sporting star produces a higher non-penalty expected goal and assists figure, produces more progressive passes and carries, takes more shots and shots on target and produces more shot and goal-creating actions, also all per 90.

Edwards vs Kulusevski

Stats per 90

Edwards

Kulusevski

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.71

0.40

Progressive Passes

4.88

4.69

Progressive Carries

5.21

4.92

Shots

2.19

1.81

Shots on Target

0.93

0.69

Passing Accuracy

74.9%

77.2%

Shot-Creating Actions

5.77

4.14

Goal-Creating Actions

0.74

0.26

Successful Take-Ons

2.05

1.76

Aerial Duels Won

0.05

0.23

All Stats via FBref for 23/24

The London-born star is also a more accomplished dribbler than his potential competition, lending credence to Owen Hargreaves' claim that he often "leaves people for dead" when going forward.

Ultimately, we can't know for sure whether Edwards' impressive form will transfer to the Premier League, but if it does, he would be a serious threat to Kulusevski and, for the price being reported, an absolute bargain.

Related Spurs keen on signing £70m star to partner Romero

The towering star could help tighten up the Lilywhites’ defence next season.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 31, 2024

Chelsea's machine-like academy operation has seen some brilliant players emerge and play a part in the first team, but it's also seen its fair share of blunders.

Reece James and Conor Gallagher both reside in the current squad, while Mason Mount was sold to Manchester United for £55m last summer after winning the Champions League in 2021. There are many more.

But not all ply their trade through their formative years, instead purchased as raw, unrefined seniors, many of whom fail to ever live up to the hype. There's one such player who failed to make an impact at Chelsea but has now cemented himself as one of the greatest players of his generation. He is Cole Palmer's idol.

Speaking of Palmer. The England international is exactly one of those untested and talented young pros to have made the move to Stamford Bridge – but he's been nothing other than an unmitigated success.

Cole Palmer's season in numbers

Where even to begin? Let's look at it linearly. Chelsea completed the signing of Palmer from Manchester City for an initial fee of £40m back on transfer deadline day last summer, with the 22-year-old having made waves on the fringe of Pep Guardiola's sparkling senior set-up.

Chelsea have toiled and trundled for much of the campaign under Mauricio Pochettino but there have been glimpses of quality, flashes of prosperity yet to come. Palmer has been the fulcrum, the mastermind, the string-puller. He has been, as talent scout Jacek Kulig put it: "one of the most in-form players in Europe".

Having scored the winning goal as City defeated Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup, his move to Chelsea gave him the licence to thrive – and indeed he did.

Palmer blanked across his opening four Premier League fixtures for the Blues but he has now scored 24 goals and supplied 13 assists across 42 matches in all competitions.

He's rather good, bucking the bleak trend of failed signings at Chelsea in that regard.

But going back to that original point, it hasn't always been that way. With the Blues bosses surely rueing the one-time sale of Kevin De Bruyne, who indeed has a fan in former teammate Palmer and arguably has a seat at the table of the great game's greatest greats.

Why Chelsea sold Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne is one of the most iconic Premier League players of his generation. The creative linchpin of Guardiola's illustrious success, he has amassed 378 games for the Sky Blues, directly contributing toward 270 goals, following a club-record £50m transfer from Wolfsburg in 2015 that initially raised a few eyebrows.

This season, the 32-year-old has battled against injuries but has still posted six goals and 16 assists across 22 matches in all competitions, with Guardiola dubbing him "one of the greatest players of all time" and Thierry Henry hailing his "incredible" ability.

Palmer admitted to being starstruck after first training with the likes of De Bruyne at the Etihad Stadium but Chelsea must feel a sense of poetic justice that they have swiped a prodigious playmaking talent from the club that has bathed in the riches of De Bruyne's quality.

Especially so after selling him to Wolfsburg for only £17m, which was a moderately successful recoup at the time but looks rather stumpy now.

To highlight his world-class influence: as per FBref, De Bruyne ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, assists and shot-creating actions, the top 9% for passes attempted, the top 5% for progressive passes and the top 2% for progressive carries per 90.

Premier League

5x

Champions League

1x

FA Cup

2x

Carabao Cup

5x

FIFA Club World Cup

1x

UEFA Supercup

1x

Community Shield

2x

Forget all the individual brilliance, the intricacies that make De Bruyne the phenomenon that he is – that trophy cabinet alone marks his transfer to Manchester City as the best possible move for his career.

The esteemed Belgium international will have no regrets over his move away from Chelsea but the Stamford Bridge side must rue the day they shipped him on.

It all could have been so different.

Tottenham have made an early move to land one of their transfer targets this summer, according to reports.

Werner's Spurs future in doubt

Tottenham are keen to add some more firepower to their attack this summer, and one easy way to achieve that would be to sign Timo Werner to a permanent deal.

Tottenham's options in attack

Player

Contract until

Manor Solomon

2028

Timo Werner

2024

Richarlison

2027

Brennan Johnson

2028

Dejan Kulusevski

2028

Bryan Gil

2026

Heung-Min Son

2025

The German is on loan at the north London club from RB Leipzig, and is proving something of a success on the left-hand side for Ange Postecoglou's side. In his 13 Premier League appearances since arriving in January, the 28-year-old has found the net twice and grabbed three assists.

And it would be an easy deal to make permanent too, with there being a pre-existing option to buy the player in the loan deal.

The option, believed to be in the region of £17m, has to be activated before EURO 2024 kicks off in Germany, giving Tottenham just six weeks to decide whether or not to retain the former Chelsea man and hand him a long-term deal in north London.

"In terms of his future, like most players, the decisions will be made at the appropriate time," Ange Postecoglou explained when quizzed on the situation earlier in the season. "I think he's been a great signing. He's been a really important part of our structure and I think he can also improve."

But at 28-years-old, there may be concerns about handing him a long term deal, especially in the wider context of Tottenham's new-look transfer policy that largely targets players with their prime years firmly ahead of them. With that in mind, an alternative option is seemingly being worked on.

England youngster looks North London bound

Now, reports in Italy have revealed some insight into Tottenham's transfer plans. That comes courtesy of Tutto Juve [Via Sport Witness], who report that Tottenham have "come forward" for Juventus talent Samuel Iling-Junior as Daniel Levy and Johan Lange kick-start their first move of the summer for Ange.

Spurs have been linked with a move for the 20-year-old previously, and with just 12 months left on his contract in Turin a departure this summer looks likely.

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ByBen Browning Apr 30, 2024

A regular scorer across England's youth teams, the winger has started just two Serie A games under Max Allegri this season and is seemingly surplus to requirements.

Now, he is being linked with a move back to the Premier League, with Spurs and Brighton both hot on his trail. Though a winger by trade, Iling-Junior has also operated at wing-back and could well provide an excellent alternative to Destiny Udogie, who did similar during his final season with Udinese.

He is valued at just 15m euros (£12.9m) by Juventus, which would make him a cheaper and younger alternative than Werner, who could potentially provide a much greater upside and versatility in the future than the German.

Now reportedly "closer to farewell" than ever with the Old Lady, could he be the perfect summer addition for Tottenham?

Ben Charlesworth’s half-century holds Gloucestershire together

ECB Reporters Network08-Aug-2020

Oliver Hannon-Dalby of Warwickshire appeals successfully•Getty Images

Oliver Hannon-Dalby led a tireless Warwickshire bowling performance in strength-sapping conditions on the opening day of the Bob Willis Trophy match with Gloucestershire at Bristol.The tall seamer toiled away with precision in relentless heat to claim 4 for 24 from 20 overs as the home side were restricted to 191 for 8 after being asked to bat first, Ben Charlesworth top-scoring with 51.Hannon-Dalby received excellent support from skipper Will Rhodes and the rest of the Warwickshire attack on a slow pitch that ensured hard work for batsmen and bowlers alike.Run-scoring was never easy and 19-year-old Charlesworth deserved plenty of credit for his 124-ball innings that featured six fours. He lost opening partner Chris Dent with the total on nine, as the Gloucestershire captain got a thin edge through to wicketkeeper Michael Burgess off Hannon-Dalby, having made only two.Hannon-Dalby went on to complete a probing six-over opening spell from the Ashley Down Road End, which cost him only six runs and included four maidens.Tim Bresnan was equally accurate at the Pavilion End. But Charlesworth and Graeme van Buuren batted sensibly and gradually increased the tempo in a stand of 67, ended when van Buuren, on 33, edged former Gloucestershire team-mate Craig Miles to Ian Bell at third slip. It was 83 for 2 at lunch, with left-hander Charlesworth unbeaten on 39. He and George Hankins took the total to 102 before Rhodes introduced himself at the Pavilion End as the sixth bowler used.In his first over he had Charlesworth well caught low down by Sam Hain in the slips to end a hugely promising knock from the England Under-19 player, including some swashbuckling back-foot shots through the off side.Rhodes’ breakthrough sparked a collapse as Hannon-Dalby quickly followed up with lbw verdicts against Hankins and Ryan Higgins.Suddenly the hosts were in serious trouble at 103 for 5. Gareth Roderick and Jack Taylor were forced into watchful defence to stop the rot, the normally aggressive Taylor taking 32 balls to get off the mark. The pair took the score to 127 for 5 at tea, but the afternoon session had produced only 44 runs from 28 overs.Taylor, on 14, became Rhodes’ second victim when lbw pushing forward with the score on 155, and the Warwickshire skipper struck again five runs later when Roderick was brilliantly stumped down the leg side by Burgess, having contributed a solid 39 off 108 balls.Hannon-Dalby claimed his fourth wicket when George Scott, making his Gloucestershire debut following his move from Middlesex last autumn, fell leg-before having confidently moved to 17.Bresnan, who conceded 39 from 15 overs, and Miles, who went for 41 from 19 helped contain the Gloucestershire batsmen, while Henry Brookes recovered from a relatively expensive first spell to bowl his 17 overs for 52.It was an impressive effort from the Warwickshire seam bowling unit under cloudless skies, justifying Rhodes’ decision to field first. Tom Smith was unbeaten on 15 at stumps, having battled away for 59 balls. He and Josh Shaw will resume in the morning with nine runs needed for a batting point.”After six or eight overs when we saw how slow the pitch was there were one or two groans about my decision to field” Rhodes admitted. “But in the end it was a very good day for us. The way the bowlers kept running in was really impressive in that heat.”We were slightly off in the first session, but in the next two we put their batsmen under a lot of pressure. There was a bit of magic from Michael Burgess with the stumping. I can’t say I planned it, but he has been working hard on his glovework and was very good all day.”

Somerset remain well on course for a third successive Bob Willis Trophy victory despite rain holding up their advance against Warwickshire on the second day at Edgbaston.On a murky day in Birmingham, rain wiped out the first session completely and interfered with the second and third so that 55 overs were lost from the day, but Somerset dodged the showers to take their first innings to 214 for 6 – a lead of 93.Steven Davies led the way with an assertive unbeaten 56 from 85 balls, including ten fours, to give his side a significant advantage and fully capitalise upon the skills shown by their bowlers in dismissing the home side for 121 on the first day.Somerset resumed after an early lunch on 80 for 2 and did not add to their overnight score before James Hildreth, having hewn just a single from 43 minutes of toil, pulled Tim Bresnan to Alex Thomson at mid-wicket.Olly Hannon-Dalby held the Warwickshire bowling together in familiarly big-hearted fashion. The Yorkshireman collected his third wicket of the innings when former Bears academy player Tom Banton was adjudged lbw, somewhat harshly as the ball appeared to be heading down leg-side.Tom Abell, with 41, then fell to Craig Miles when he feathered a leg-side catch to wicketkeeper Michael Burgess. That left Somerset on 130 for 5, just nine ahead, but Davies and Craig Overton added 61 runs in 15 overs.The latter was pinned lbw by Bresnan for 25, but Lewis Gregory offered Davies further support in an unbroken stand of 23 before bad light and drizzle closed in for the final time.

ECB Reporters Network09-Aug-2020Matt Lamb top-scored with 65 as Warwickshire were made to battle hard for a first-innings lead on the second day of the Bob Willis Trophy match with Gloucestershire at the Bristol County Ground.Going in with his side 55 for 3 in reply to 210, Lamb faced 193 balls and hit 12 fours to help the visitors to 230 for 8 at the close of a day of attritional cricket on a slow pitch that made anything but slow scoring difficult.The start of play had seen Oliver Hannon-Dalby complete career-best figures of 6 for 33 from 23.3 overs by taking the two remaining Gloucestershire wickets after they resumed their first innings on 191 for 8.Tom Smith ensured the home side of a batting point with 24 not out, but Josh Shaw and Matt Taylor fell to the tall seamer, again bowling accurately from the Ashley Down Road End. It was Hannon-Dalby’s first six-wicket haul in a first class innings.Warwickshire’s reply began poorly when Rob Yates appeared to edge a low catch to wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick in the opening over from Ryan Higgins, but in fact was adjudged leg-before for a duck.It was 15 for 2 when Sam Hain, on 8, fell lbw playing across a straight ball from Taylor and, with the skies overcast in contrast to the first day, Gloucestershire’s seamers scented a big opportunity.They struck again in the final over before lunch when Ian Bell edged George Scott to George Hankins at second slip and fell for 13 to make the score 55 for 3 at the interval.It was Scott’s first wicket for Gloucestershire on his debut following a move from Middlesex last autumn and a major blow to the visitors’ hopes.Warwickshire skipper Will Rhodes looked solid in progressing to 41 in the afternoon session as the sun began to shine, but he was undone when opposite number Chris Dent introduced Ben Charlesworth to the attack.The 19-year-old, who bats left-handed, but bowls right-arm seam, yorked Rhodes with his fourth ball to end an innings that had spanned 107 deliveries and featured six fours.Patience was required with bat and ball. Lamb employed sensible shot selection to be unbeaten on 43 at tea, which was taken at 133 for 4, with Michael Burgess on 14. Gloucestershire needed an early breakthrough in the final session. Instead, a flurry of boundaries from the fourth-wicket pair advanced the Warwickshire total as they looked to adopt a more positive approach.They had added 69 in 20 overs when Burgess, who was just starting to blossom, was bowled off an inside edge by Scott (two for 34), who impressed from the Pavilion End.A further 28 runs had been added when Lamb edged Higgins (2 for 47) to first slip where Dent took a good low catch. By then Warwickshire were only 20 runs behind.Tim Bresnan was looking to follow up a century on debut for the visitors and the experienced former Yorkshire all-rounder looked more comfortable than most on the testing pitch.There was just enough swing to encourage the Gloucestershire bowlers as their opponents secured a batting point and closed in on their total.Bresnan was unbeaten on 34 at stumps, having faced 75 balls and hit 4 fours. But Taylor (3 for 48) struck twice in the penultimate over of the day, clean bowling Alex Thomson, playing no shot, for 15 and Henry Brookes for a duck as Gloucestershire ended on a high.

The current international break will allow Glasgow Rangers the ideal chance to rest and recover ahead of the final few weeks of the 2023/24 campaign.

The break should give Philippe Clement time to assess his squad ahead of the summer transfer window, looking to see what positions he needs to improve, while figuring out the players who are surplus to requirements.

The previous few weeks saw the first team squad stretched to the limit due to the hectic schedule, meaning the Belgian manager had to pitch in players from the cold in important matches.

One notable example was Scott Wright starting against Benfica. The winger has featured sporadically under Clement since last October but was given a chance to impress against the Portuguese giants.

The Scot did show a glimpse of his talent, but will this be enough to keep him at Ibrox next season?

Scott Wright’s season in numbers

The winger was close to sealing an exit from Glasgow last summer, as Turkish side Pendikspor made a £500k bid for him when Michael Beale was still in charge of the Light Blues.

A few weeks later, however, the move ground to a halt over wage demands, with Wright remaining in Scotland to fight for his place in the first team.

He made four appearances – totalling just 97 minutes – before Beale was dismissed after the 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen in September.

Goals

0

Assists

0

Key passes per game

0.6

Successful dribbles per game

0.4

Big chances created

1

Via Sofascore

The emergence of Ross McCausland saw Wright bench-bound under Clement and, at the time of writing, he had made only six starts for the Gers since mid-October.

Against Benfica, Wright did show plenty of attacking intent, constantly running at full-back Fredrik Aursnes, succeeding with three of his five dribble attempts while winning four of his six ground duels, and it was a mature performance at perhaps the right time.

McCausland has, however, established himself as the de facto number-one choice on the right wing under the Belgian and with Wright's contract expiring in 2025, this summer is the ideal chance for the club to move him on for some sort of transfer fee.

The 50-year-old tactician could delve into the transfer market this summer for a replacement, or he could utilise a player who Rangers sent out on loan last summer – Ianis Hagi.

How Ianis Hagi is doing out on loan

Hagi’s spell at Ibrox was going swimmingly until January 21st, 2022. During a Scottish Cup tie against Stirling Albion, Hagi suffered a serious knee injury in the early stages of the match, eventually forcing him to miss the rest of the season.

He made his comeback during the second half of last season, but was restricted to just 11 appearances, scoring once for the Gers as he was looking to bounce back to full fitness.

Beale ended up sending the Romanian dynamo out on loan to Spanish side Deportivo Alaves with the hope that regular game time would allow him to return to Glasgow in a better physical condition.

So far during the 2023/24 campaign, Hagi has played 22 games for the club, scoring twice, and registering an assist, a decent, if slightly underwhelming return, since arriving in Spain.

Despite starting only six matches in La Liga, Hagi has created three big chances, averages 1.1 key passes per game and succeeded with 59% of his attempted dribbles, showing glimpses of his ability.

Although typically an attacking midfielder, Hagi has operated on the right wing numerous times during his career, especially at Rangers, where he sometimes played in a front three alongside Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent, to devastating effect.

There is no doubt he would be a better option for Clement to call upon than Wright on the flank, given his return to playing on a more regular basis, and it could be like having a new signing in the team.

Ianis Hagi’s Rangers statistics

The playmaker arrived in Glasgow to much fanfare in January 2020 as Steven Gerrard secured his signature on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Of course, at that stage, no one knew that the Covid-19 pandemic was going to halt proceedings, yet Hagi did not take long to introduce himself to the Ibrox faithful.

On his first start for the club against Hibs, Hagi scored a late winner to seal all three points before surpassing that just two weeks later.

In their Europa League last 32 clash against Braga, the Gers were trailing 2-0. Step up Hagi. The then-youngster scored a wonderful effort to make it 2-1 before Joe Aribo scored a stunning solo goal to level things up with just over ten minutes remaining.

When Rangers get a freekick on the edge of the Braga box, there is only one outcome, as Hagi scores his second of the night and secures a famous comeback win.

Gerrard – who described him as an “absolute dream to work with” – secured Hagi on a permanent deal ahead of the 2020/21 season.

The Romanian scored eight goals and grabbed 15 assists as the Light Blues won their first league crown in a decade and his performances were vital in them achieving success.

There is no doubt his presence in the starting XI could benefit certain players, with Danilo being one.

During that title-winning season, Hagi created six big chances and averaged one key pass per game, showcasing his creative abilities.

This could allow him to work well with the Brazilian striker – who looks set to make a comeback from his knee injury next month – by providing him with plenty of chances during games, with Danilo netting four times from just 12 league outings this season.

If given a consistent run of matches, Hagi could certainly get back to the form he displayed prior to suffering that horrendous knee injury two years ago. The question is, will Clement want to bring him back into the fold?

Rangers could have replaced Dessers with a striker who left in 2023

The former Light Blues academy star decided to leave Ibrox ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

ByDan Emery Mar 22, 2024

The midfielder signed an extended contract with the Gers back in 2022 and if the Belgian manager wanted to sell him, he could secure a respectable transfer fee for him.

Following his injury, however, Hagi could return and target a first team spot ahead of next season, and he could work well with the current players in the squad.

Everything you need to know about the new Arsenal kit, including leaks, designs, where to buy and more.

Home

Home Kit

• Legendary cannon returns for the new Arsenal home kit
• Gold has been dropped for navy blue, which features on the Adidas stripes, and the jersey has a lot more white to it than the previous iteration

From

£80.00

Buy

Away

Away kit

• Created in collaboration with British African heritage brand Labrum London
• Honours the strong connection between Arsenal, North London, and Africa
• Features the vibrant colours of the pan-African flag – black, red, and green

From

£80.00

Buy

Third

Third kit

• A fresh and modern take on the colour palettes from the iconic away kits from ’94-95 and ’95-96
• Features a smart crew neck collar and matching sleeve detailing complement the elegance of the trefoil and the cannon crest

From

£80.00

Buy

Home

Home Kit

• Legendary cannon returns for the new Arsenal home kit
• Gold has been dropped for navy blue, which features on the Adidas stripes, and the jersey has a lot more white to it than the previous iteration

From

£80.00

Buy

Away

Away kit

• Created in collaboration with British African heritage brand Labrum London
• Honours the strong connection between Arsenal, North London, and Africa
• Features the vibrant colours of the pan-African flag – black, red, and green

From

£80.00

Buy

Third

Third kit

• A fresh and modern take on the colour palettes from the iconic away kits from ’94-95 and ’95-96
• Features a smart crew neck collar and matching sleeve detailing complement the elegance of the trefoil and the cannon crest

From

£80.00

Buy

Home

Home Kit

• Legendary cannon returns for the new Arsenal home kit
• Gold has been dropped for navy blue, which features on the Adidas stripes, and the jersey has a lot more white to it than the previous iteration

From

£80.00

Buy

Away

Away kit

• Created in collaboration with British African heritage brand Labrum London
• Honours the strong connection between Arsenal, North London, and Africa
• Features the vibrant colours of the pan-African flag – black, red, and green

From

£80.00

Buy

Third

Third kit

• A fresh and modern take on the colour palettes from the iconic away kits from ’94-95 and ’95-96
• Features a smart crew neck collar and matching sleeve detailing complement the elegance of the trefoil and the cannon crest

From

£80.00

Buy

Arsenal will be hoping to shine again in adidas when the 2024-25 season comes around, with the Gunners set to sport a series of fresh looks at the Emirates and further afield.

Shop Arsenal kits at adidasBuy now

It is their sixth season with adidas and the German sportswear manufacturer has produced a nice variety of takes on the legendary North London red and whites.

So, what will Arsenal be wearing in the 2024-25 season? GOAL brings you everything you need to know, including leaks, rumours, where to buy, prices and more.

• READ MORE: All the new 2024-25 football kits

• adidas
  

  Arsenal 2024-25 home kit, release date & price

  Shop Arsenal kits at adidasBuy now

  The new Arsenal home kit was released on May 16, just in time for the last game of the 2023-24 season.

  As you can see in the image above, the kit is quite different to the 2023-24 edition, with a lot more white making up the base.

  adidas has ditched the gold colouring on the three stripes and instead added a deep blue, with curved blue strips framing the smaller red section on the torso.

  The Gunners last had blue on their home kit in the 2021-22 season, when it featured on the three stripes. The new design is quite unlike any previous iteration, though it has shades of the early 1990s designs, as well as the late nineties home kits, which saw the red framed by blue (remember the Dreamcast kits?)

  In terms of prices, you will be looking at forking out £80 ($100) for the new Arsenal home kit for 2024-25, similar to last year.

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• adidas/Arsenal
  

  Arsenal 2024-25 away kit, release date & price

  Shop Arsenal kits at adidasBuy now

  adidas and Arsenal revealed their new away kit for the 2024-25 season on July 18, 2024.

  Created in collaboration with British African heritage brand, Labrum London, the kit honours the strong connection between Arsenal, North London and Africa, and pays tribute to the club's African supporters and players of African descent who graced the side.

  It features the vibrant colours of the pan-African flag – black, red and green. The white zig-zag graphic – commonly found in African designs, representing Cowrie shells – down through the sides and onto the shorts, is said to be hand drawn by Labrum London.

  One would notice the adidas logo without the brand name in green, and the stand-alone Arsenal cannon in red. The adidas three stripes that run down the shoulders are in alternation of green and red.

  Like the home kit, it will cost in the region of £80 ($100).

• adidas
  

  Arsenal 2024-25 third kit, release date & price

  Shop Arsenal kits at adidasBuy now

  Arsenal have played in various shades of blue over the years and their third kit for 2024-25 is a bold mixture of light blue, midnight blue and vibrant veronica purple.

  The main body of the jersey is sky blue, with midnight blue on the lettering of the sponsor, trefoil adidas logo and club crest, as well as the collar and shoulders.

  To the sides, a bright purple shoots out, framing the kit.

  The third kit was officially launched on August 12, with a cool video featuring actor Will Poulter, and the price range is the same as the home and away jerseys.

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• Arsenal 2024-25 goalkeeper kit, release date & price

  Arsenal will most likely have three different goalkeeper kits, to complement each of their kits as well as being available in the event of colour clashes.

  It is not yet clear what David Raya and Aaron Ramsdale will be wearing for the Gunners in 2024-25, but last year their kits consisted of black, blue and green, with each having white motifs.