Tag Futebol

da bet nacional： Ange Postecoglou's revolution down the N17 took something of a hit as his Tottenham Hotspur team's fragility in depth was illuminated by that fateful evening against Chelsea, led by former boss Mauricio Pochettino, in November.

da dobrowin： An unbeaten start to the 2023/24 Premier League campaign was shattered, and influential summer signings James Maddison and Micky van de Ven picked up injuries that plague them to date.

Had Spurs received somewhat more fortuitous fortunes on the injury front over the past several weeks, it's quite possible to imagine that Postecoglou would remain in the conversation for the Premier League title as the festive period nears its closing stage.

Related Spurs "stepping up" pursuit of "dominant" £26m Van de Ven partner

Ange Postecoglou’s priority is to sign a centre-back this January.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Dec 20, 2023

Indeed, Tottenham remain just six points away from table-topping neighbours Arsenal and just a single point away from fourth-placed champions Manchester City, but it's unrealistic to think that a challenge for silver-laden success is something feasible without astute work in the January transfer window.

Tottenham transfer news – Morato

According to a recent report from The Sun, Lilywhites chairman Daniel Levy is considering launching an official approach for Brazilian prodigy Morato, who has caught the eye with his performances for SL Benfica.

Morato, aged 22, has a £68m release clause embedded in his contract but it is understood that Benfica recognise that such demands will not be met by interested parties and thus have valued him at around €30m (£26m).

Spurs are compiling a list of various defensive targets ahead of the opening of the winter market and could be enticed by Morato's left-footedness, with Van de Ven's void highlighting the lack of options in that area of the pitch.

Morato's style of play

Talent scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed Morato a "complete & dominant" type of defender, with his imposing stature and towering frame making for the perfect titan to decimate attacking efforts from hapless opposition.

Having chalked up 66 appearances for his Portuguese outfit since signing from Brazilian team Sao Paulo for around £5m in 2019, Morato has done enough with his displays to warrant attention from clubs such as Tottenham, with Nottingham Forest also failing with an offer in the summer.

Morato: Key Strengths

Tackling

Passing

Aerial duels

*Sourced via WhoScored

Not quite earning a prominent role in the team throughout the opening months of the campaign, Morato has recently established himself as a starring member of Roger Schmidt's side and has started the past five matches in Liga Portugal.

As per Sofascore, the 6 foot 3 colossus has completed 81% of his passes across his eight league outings this term and has averaged a key pass every other game, also impressively making 3.0 tackles, 6.0 ball recoveries and 2.1 clearances per game and succeeding in 61% of his contested duels.

While Morato is principally a central defender, he has also been fielded at left-back for the Eagles in a kind of positional fluidity that aligns with Postecoglou's interchanging style.

To showcase his dynamism, Morato ranks among the top 3% of centre-halfs across divisions similar to the Liga Portugal for assists, the top 16% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries, the top 11% for successful take-ons and the top 1% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.

Hailed as a “beast” at the back by journalist and U23 scout Antonio Mango, Morato certainly offers the kind of modern skill set that would be a good fit for an ambitious Premier League team such as Tottenham, with an excellent ball-playing ability and an aggressiveness that mirrors that of Cristian Romero.

How Morato compares to Cristian Romero

Signing from Serie A side Atalanta for a fee in the region of £42m back in 2021, Romero has amassed 78 displays for Tottenham and has proved himself top be one of the toughest-tackling defenders in the country, even proclaimed to be a "Rolls-Royce" of a player by pundit Martin Keown.

Romero ranks among the top 13% of positional peers for goals scored, the top 19% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for passes attempted and pass completion, the top 18% for blocks and the top 6% for tackles per 90.

This season, having scored three goals from just 14 matches in the Premier League, the £165k-per-week ace has completed 92% of his passes, averaging 2.2 tackles, 6.1 recoveries and 3.6 clearances per game while remarkably winning 71% of his duels.

Such metrics underscore Romero's brilliance at the back but also highlight how Morato could serve as the perfect understudy, boasting similar levels of tackling and assuredness in challenges.

Commenting on Tottenham's improved defensive efforts this season, Postecoglou was quick to credit the Argentine World Cup winner with a central role, saying (as relayed by The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare): "A big part of that is Romero. He makes them (the rest of the back 5 who had never or barely played in the PL) feel like they belong and that they can flourish. He's an outstanding defender, someone you want in your team. Ridiculous bravery."

With Romero noted for his immense tackling faculty (though, admittedly, struggling with the disciplinary side of things at times), Spurs wield one of the most fearsome units to protect their goal in Europe, and it's definitely not a bold claim to suggest that the lion's share of top European teams would only be too eager to snap up his services.

Morato is making more tackles than Romero on average per game; bringing a player of such strength to English shores would be a sure-fire way for Postecoglou to improve his club's chance of rising to the forefront of the European game over the coming years.

With the likes of Eric Dier, Ben Davies and Emerson Royal all serving as stand-ins in the Spurs rearguard this season, Morato would be the dream addition to bolster the ranks and continue to shape the squad to Postecoglou's creation.

The South Africa quick on his injury setbacks, a difficult IPL 2024, turning down a CSA contract, and more

Melinda Farrell19-Jun-2024Anrich Nortje is used to feeling the heat on the field but he’s struggling with Antigua’s sultry days, which crank up the heat until a thunderstorm breaks, offering sweet – if brief – relief, before the sauna steams up once more.A day before South Africa’s first Super Eight match in the men’s T20 World Cup 2024, against USA, he’s staying inside the team hotel, nestled by the pale sands and calm turquoise waters of Antigua’s east coast.”This place is too hot,” he laughs. “There’s optional training and maybe a meeting or two left, but otherwise, maybe a little bit of a swim. But yeah, it’s just very hot so I’m trying to be fresh as possible for tomorrow.”Nortje has the added challenge of trying to keep a baby cool. He’s been joined on this tour by his wife, Michaela, along with his daughter, Amelia, who was born exactly 13 weeks earlier, just days before Nortje left South Africa for the IPL.Related

• Klaasen lauds SA for 'grafting and adapting to conditions'

• Finally on the big stage, Baartman soaks up the pressure and shines

• Unbeaten South Africa in front as USA hope for more magic

• Stats – It's been a bowlers' World Cup, but that might change now

• Look ma, it's the Super Eight!

In India, he faced heat of another kind, a batting paradise of a tournament where bowlers saw their economy rates balloon, none more so than Nortje. In six matches for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024, he took seven wickets from 22 overs at an average of 42 and economy of 13.36. But he is circumspect in reflecting on the tournament, which was a major stepping stone in his return from a back injury which sidelined him for more than five months.”It was about finding ways to get better over there,” Nortje said. “And the training after the games was good, working with the coaches there at Delhi, with [bowling coach] James Hopes. I wasn’t worried much about what the scoreboard did at that stage.”Nortje’s cheerful and smiling demeanour is a stark contrast to his reputation as one of the world’s most ferocious fast bowlers, capable of melting speed guns with deliveries in the mid-150kph range. But it kept him grounded when dealing with the latest and most severe of the string of injuries that are a result of pushing his body to the limit.”It’s definitely been tough on everyone, but the time off was great. Starting again was about getting to the right intensity. The medical team did a really good job to assure me that everything was fine with the stress fractures. I played a few games back home, trying to push as much as possible, as soon as possible, and when I was cleared to go ahead, full out.”The lower back stress fractures struck last September, just before South Africa’s ODI World Cup campaign in India. Before he was ruled out of the squad, Nortje was considered one of the team’s key strike weapons, as he had been in all formats since making his international debut in 2019. That year, too, he was also ruled out of the World Cup in England due to a shoulder injury.The times between injuries have been spectacular. From June 2021 to the end of IPL 2023, Nortje took 86 wickets in 61 T20 matches at an average of 18.83, easily the best of 42 fast bowlers to take 75 or more wickets in the same period. If you include spinners, only Wanindu Hasaranga had better returns with 145 wickets at 18.03. His combination of searing pace and venomous late swing made him one of the hottest T20 properties in the world.Nortje took 7 wickets from 22 overs at an average of 42 and economy of 13.36 in IPL 2024•BCCIBut this latest layoff forced Nortje to make a difficult decision, opting to forego the security of a contract with Cricket South Africa (CSA) in order to maintain control over the amount of international cricket he plays. He is keen to make it clear that he had, and has, the support of CSA.”It was my decision. It was just to see how my body goes. I hadn’t had a stress fracture since 2010 and I just had a little bit of ‘nervy’ in the back, so I just wanted to take the time to play when I can, play when I know I’m ready, rather than having to play every series or every whatever is coming up.”So to make that decision on my own according to my body has been good so far. Still happy with the decision, and it’s more just for me to have the calmness and to know that, if I need a break for a week, if I need a break for a month, then I can do that.”The most immediate thing that has a question mark around would probably be the one-dayers, having a Champions Trophy coming up at the start of next year. So that would be the big question mark on how we’re going to go about that. So far, things have been going good, but they’re still chats that I need to have with Cricket South Africa, which I haven’t had. I haven’t really made a decision on what’s going to happen with one-day cricket in the next few months. So we’ll take that as it comes. But for now, it’s obviously focusing on the World Cup and trying to get through this and bring the trophy back home.”Nortje’s impact on South Africa’s success in the T20 World Cup illustrates why CSA is happy to accommodate him. He is their leading wicket-taker of the tournament, and joint second overall, with nine throughout the group stage, conceding just 70 runs at an average of 10.66 and an economy rate of 4.37. The contrast to his returns in the IPL is striking.Nortje pulled his lengths back in the US, where South Africa have played all their matches until now. In fact, 59.38% of his deliveries have been short or short-of-length balls compared to 38.64% at the IPL. Those shorter deliveries have accounted for six of his wickets at an average of 7.83.

“Every game is a big game, but once you start worrying about the next game I think you lose a little bit of focus on what you have to do now. We’re in it to win it”Nortje and South Africa’s focus is crystal clear

This was not so much a preconceived plan as it was a response to pitches that offered plentiful assistance off the surface.”So far, the wickets have been sort of try and build your best delivery, with what we’ve had in the last few weeks. It’s obviously been low scores, but still just trying to put the ball in the right place.”It’s just a case of what’s working on the day. We played three games in New York, so I suppose it was probably copy-paste for those three games, but now it’s changing every game again, with different venues most of the time. So you try and find out and see what’s happening in the first few overs, and then try and adapt to that. I’m sure the lengths will be different, but it’s not really about going out before the game and saying, this is the length, or that’s the length, just about finding it.”If South Africa make the semi-final, their unwelcome tag of never yet playing in any men’s World Cup final will inevitably surface, but Nortje is not phased by any historic hoodoo.”We do know that it is a World Cup and it is a big occasion. I don’t think anyone is downplaying that. It’s not just another game. Every game is a big game, but once you start worrying about the next game I think you lose a little bit of focus on what you have to do now. We’re in it to win it. We’re really focused and well prepped to go all the way.”And for Nortje, that means the handbrake is off.”I don’t think there’s any holding back. The stress fracture, all of that from the injury, has been fully healed. I’m very happy with that, and it’s just about what we need to do to win and whatever I have to do to get to that stage, I’ll do it.”

أعلنت لجنة الحكام في الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، عن طاقم تحكيم مباراة الأهلي وسموحة، التي تقام بينهما، مساء الثلاثاء، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ويلتقي الأهلي مع سموحة، في إطار مباريات الجولة الخامسة المؤجلة من عمر مواجهات بطولة الدوري، وذلك على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي. موعد مباراة الأهلي وسموحة في الدوري المصري

وتنطلق مباراة الأهلي وسموحة، في تمام الساعة 4 مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة، 5 بتوقيت السعودية.

طالع | بين الشناوي وشوبير.. طارق سليمان يختار حارس الأهلي أمام سموحة

ويحتل النادي الأهلي، المركز الثالث في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 12 نقطة، من 3 انتصارات وتعادل في مثلهم.

بينما يتواجد فريق سموحة، في المركز السابع عشر، بجدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 5 نقاط، من فوز وتعادلين و3 هزائم. حكم مباراة الأهلي وسموحة في الدوري المصري

حكم ساحة: نادر قمر الدولة.

حكم مساعد أول: محمود أبو الرجال.

حكم مساعد ثاني: محمد محمود لطفي.

حكم رابع: مبروك نبيل.

حكم فيديو: محمد الصباحي ومعه شريف عبد الله.

كشف الظهير الأيسر للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي ليفربول، كوستاس تسيميكاس، عن سر تألق صديقه، محمد صلاح، خاصة في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ووصل محمد صلاح إلى الهدف رقم 20 في الموسم الحالي وللموسم الثامن على التوالي ويتصدر قائمة الهدافين في الدوري الإنجليزي برصيد 17 هدفًا حتى الآن بفارق 3 أهداف عن، إيرلينج هالاند.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جماهير ليفربول تختار أفضل لاعب في مباراة وست هام بـ الدوري الإنجليزي

وتحدث تسيميكاس عن سر تألق محمد صلاح في تصريحات لقناة “ليفربول” الرسمية، وقال: “أراه أكثر شغفًا للفوز بلقب الدوري وكل بطولة يخوضها مع الفريق”.

وتابع: “أعتقد انه يريد أن يظهر للجميع في هذا الوقت أنه أفضل لاعب في العالم، بالنسبة لي شخصيًا هو كذلك”.

واستمر: “كل ما يفعله على أرض الملعب استثنائي وأمر مذهل لا يُصدق، الأرقام التي يحققها في كل مباراة وتدريب، يؤكد أنه يستحق كل شيء يحققه مع ليفربول فهذا نتاج ثمار عمله وسعيد من أجله”.

Leeds United have added Lukas Nmecha, Jaka Bijol, and Sebastiaan Bornauw to their first-team squad ahead of their return to the Premier League next season.

The Whites have quickly moved to bolster their defensive options with Bijol and Bornauw, who are both centre-backs with experience in major European leagues, in Italy and in Germany.

Daniel Farke and the recruitment team are not done with the defence there, though, as the club are also looking to add to their left-back options after Junior Firpo’s exit.

Journalist Graham Smyth claims that the West Yorkshire outfit are closing in on the signing of Sweden international Gabriel Gudmundsson from Lille, although it remains to be seen how much money they will have to spend to bring him to Elland Road.

The Championship champions are in dire need of a left-back, with zero senior players in that position at this moment in time, which is why this is a deal that could make a lot of sense.

Why Gabriel Gudmundsson is a good signing for Leeds

With the caveat that there is no potential transfer fee to judge the deal on at this stage, Gudmundsson could be a very shrewd signing for Leeds to cover the hole at left-back.

The 26-year-old ace would come in as a proven performer at the top level, having played 103 times in Ligue 1 for Lille, which means that he could hit the ground running at the start of the season, as opposed to a young and inexperienced player who may need more time.

This suggests that he will be ready to perform immediately for Leeds and that is what they need after Firpo’s exit from the club was confirmed, as it will allow Farke to slot the defender straight into the team.

His performances in Ligue 1 during the 2024/25 campaign also suggest that Gudmundsson will be a solid, if unspectacular, addition to the squad for next season.

Appearances

30

Starts

20

Goals + assists

2

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.8

Dribbled past per game

0.4x

Ground duel success rate

54%

Aerial duel success rate

57%

Duels won per game

3.7

As you can see in the table above, the Swedish brute did not deliver outstanding performances defensively or offensively, but he was incredibly solid, rarely being dribbled past whilst winning the majority of his duels.

This suggests that the Lille full-back could be a dependable and reliable option for Farke at left-back in the club’s bid to avoid relegation, which is why the defender could be a valuable signing, despite not being an exciting one.

If they can get Gudmundsson through the doors at Thorp Arch this week, then it could provide them with a chance to go with a riskier, more exciting, player as competition for him.

Leeds eyeing £22m full-back signing

According to the Sunday Mirror (6 July, page 77), as relayed by MOT Leeds News, Leeds United are one of a number of teams interested in signing El Hadji Malick Diouf this summer.

The report claims that the Whites, West Ham United, Atalanta, and Nottingham Forest all want to secure a deal to sign the Slavia Prague full-back in the coming weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that the Hammers have already had an opening salvo of £17.25m turned down by the Czechia-based outfit, who are looking for a fee closer to £22m (£21.6m) to allow their star youngster to depart.

However, it now remains to be seen who is leading the race for the versatile full-back, or if West Ham are prepared to go back in with another offer for him.

If Leeds can strike a deal for the Senegal international in the coming weeks, though, they could land an even better signing than Gudmundsson at left-back.

Why Diouf would be an even better signing than Gudmundsson

Diouf could be an even better piece of business for the Championship champions if they can get a move over the line because of his quality, his versatility, and his potential.

Gudmundsson may be a better addition in the short-term, given that he could hit the ground running as an experienced addition, but the Sparta Prague youngster could be a better long-term signing.

At the age of 20, he is six years younger than the Sweden international and has more potential, therefore, to grow and develop as a player, which could lead to his value soaring as well.

Diouf, who analyst Rohit Kumaran described as “physically dominant”, has yet to prove himself in a major European league like Gudmundsson has, which is why it is a riskier signing, but he has shown signs of immense potential, particularly in the Europa League.

xAG

0.23

Top 11%

Assists

0.15

Top 21%

Shot-creating actions

4.21

Top 6%

Progressive passes

6.77

Top 6%

Progressive carries

3.31

Top 16%

Successful take-ons

1.51

Top 11%

As you can see in the table above, the 20-year-old starlet showed plenty of attacking and progressive quality in possession in the Europa League last season, whilst the Lille defender only managed two goals and zero assists in Ligue 1.

Diouf also scored seven goals and created ten ‘big chances’ in 27 matches in the Czechia top-flight for Slavia Prague, whilst playing as a left-back, a left wing-back, or as a left winger, which further speaks to the quality he can provide in the final third.

The versatile dynamo clearly offers more of an attacking threat than Gudmundsson, who is more of a solid and steady option, which is why he could be even more exciting for supporters.

If Diouf can translate his performances for Slavia Prague over to the Premier League, the young gem could be an electric player for Leeds for many years to come, as a full-back who can score and create goals on a regular basis.

Farke's new Rutter: Leeds now showing strong interest in £11m star

Leeds United are still in need of attacking reinforcements, ahead of their Premier League return

1 ByRobbie Walls Jul 6, 2025

However, as aforementioned, he is unproven in a major league, and that is why Gudmundsson could start over him initially, but with a view to Diouf being the superior and more exciting left-back option in the long-term, making him a better signing overall.

Football shirts are big business, and fashion has become as big a part of football as having a pie and a pint with your mates. In this modern age, football clubs have to walk the tightrope of making money through sponsorships, but also having a kit that looks good.

In this exploration of iconic football pairings, Football FanCast journeys through time and leagues to uncover the stories behind some of the most memorable alliances.

From Barcelona's historic collaboration with UNICEF during their golden era to PSV Eindhoven's record-breaking bond with Philips, each pairing tells a unique story and has helped to create some of the most memorable shirts in history.

In this list, shirts are ranked by the look on the shirt itself as well as its standing in football culture.

13 Dr Martens West Ham United 1998-2003

Talk about knowing your audience. Dr Martens' sponsorship of West Ham is an almost perfect match; the only way it could have been made any better is if Stone Island made the kits instead of FILA. Paolo Di Canio was stomping about the old Boleyn Ground wearing this, which is very fitting.

The partnership came to an end in 2003, lasting just five years. In that short period of time, the boot company helped make some of the best claret and blue shirts in history, not just for West Ham. Seeing them dotted around the new Olympic Stadium is a throwback to where West Ham came from.

12 Unicef Barcelona 2006-2012

Having previously gone sponsor-less entirely, Barcelona's commitment to the charity UNICEF came at arguably the most successful period of their history. Between the years of 2006-2011, players like Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, and Andres Iniesta were sporting the logo while banging in goals and winning trophies.

"FC Barcelona is highly committed to work with UNICEF to advance the global message of the importance of children's issues and to promote education and sport," said ex-Barcelona director Ramon Pont. The partnership yielded around €19m for the charity, but in the end, money won out, and the Catalan club ditched Unicef for the Qatar Foundation in 2011.

11 Parmalat Parma 1987-2004

From the late 90s to the early 2000s, Parma were a major force in Italian football. Gianluigi Buffon, Hernan Crespo and Fabio Cannavaro were all ripping it up in the picturesque Italian city before the club went bankrupt in 2004. Parmalat, a food and dairy corporation, were with them all the way.

Parma aren't the only football club Paramalat have sponsored, Benfica, Boca Juniors, Palmeiras, and even Real Madrid have had the brand strewn across the front of their shirts. The company sponsored their hometown club as they got promoted to Serie A in 1990.

Interestingly, the period of time Parmalat sponsored Parma also turned out to be when the fraud began. The company is still operating, but it's a shell of its former self, much like Parma Calcio.

10 Philips PSV 1979-2016

PSV and Philips is the only duo on this list to be in the Guinness Book of World Records – it's the longest sponsorship of a sports team in history. The technology company founded the club in 1913 as a pastime for its employees.

The history of both club and sponsor are so deeply interlinked, it would be impossible to imagine one without the other. PSV's ground is called Philips Stadion, which is just a few minutes from the company's headquarters in central Eindhoven. They ended their shirt sponsorship deal in 2016, but Philips still works with the club in other ways.

9 Quilmes Boca Juniors 1994-2002

For good and bad, beer goes hand in hand with football. This won't be the only brewery sponsorship on this list, but it is arguably the coolest. Football hipsters across the globe weep tears of joy when they spot a Quilmes-sponsored Boca shirt out in the wild.

It's Juan Roman Riquelme, it's late-career Diego Maradona, it's La Bombanera going nuts. If you close your eyes and think of a Boca shirt, it probably has Quilmes on the front. The beer is pretty good, too.

8 T-Mobile Bayern Munich 2002-present

Bayern Munich being sponsored by T-Mobile just feels right. Their minimalist, no-nonsense logo suits a club with the ruthless efficiency of Bayern. The partnership started in 2002 and has coincided with a period of unprecedented dominance for the Bavarians.

Bayern have now won 11 Bundesliga titles in a row, and could yet win another without breaking much of a sweat this season (unless Bayer Leverkusen are able to maintain their superb start). T-Mobile are the biggest telecommunication company in Germany, and Bayern are the biggest club. It was meant to be.

7 Carlsberg Liverpool 1992-2010

Fernando Torres' beautiful, long blonde hair blowing in the wind as he runs off to celebrate yet another goal is exactly what comes to mind when we think of Liverpool and Carlsberg. There isn't a better advert than that; in the end, that's what sponsorship is all about.

Although not technically against the rules, alcohol shirt sponsors have dwindled in the UK. There hasn't been a Premier League club sponsored by an alcohol company since 2017/18, they're all betting companies instead now.

6 Opel AC Milan 1994-2006

It's no coincidence that a lot of these sponsors coincide with a very successful time in the club's history. Who remembers the sponsor AC Milan had on their shirt when they were relegated in 1979/80? (They didn't have one, but the point still stands).

When German car manufacturer Opel sponsored AC Milan, Italian football was at its best, and I Rossoneri were the poster boys. Maldini, Kaka and Shevchenko won Champions League with Opel front and centre of their iconic shirts.

5 O2 Arsenal 2002-2006

O2, an iconic sponsor for an iconic club at the most iconic time in its history. Wenger's Invincibles, arguably the best side in Premier League history, won the league title without losing a single game. The Gunners weren't the only ones who struck gold – think of all that sweet, sweet publicity O2 got by being associated with that team.

Arsenal have had their fair share of iconic short sponsors; JVC or Dreamcast could both have easily made this list, but it's hard to look past that famous Henry kneeslide. The partnership ended in 2006, and with it, Arsenal's ability to win Premier Leagues…

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ByAlex Roberts Dec 7, 2023 4 Vodafone Man Utd 2000-2006

Old Trafford used to be where megastars were made. Becks with his long, dirty blonde hair was pulling in enough sponsorship money that he might end up buying the club if the Glazers ever sell up. Rooney was pre-hair transplant, and Cristiano Ronaldo was a skinny boy with something to prove. All of these players' careers started with Vodafone.

None of us here were privy to what was said in either Vodafone's or O2's boardrooms, but do we think it's a coincidence that two of the country's biggest telecommunications companies sponsored Arsenal and Manchester United at a time when their rivalry was at it's fiercest.

Somerset have announced the signing of seamer Jack Brooks on a three-year contract from Yorkshire

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Aug-2018Somerset have announced the signing of seamer Jack Brooks on a three-year contract from Yorkshire. The 34-year-old will move to Taunton at the end of the season.Brooks’ impending departure, first reported by ESPNcricinfo, is a blow to Yorkshire, who face a rebuilding job over the winter. England quick Liam Plunkett has already signed for Surrey – with Mathew Pillans moving in the opposite direction – while opener Alex Lees was granted a switch to Durham.Although Brooks has never quite done enough to win England selection, he is a vastly experienced bowler at county level. A later-starter with Northamptonshire, he soon became a distinctive figure on the circuit, with his long hair, trademark headband and impassioned celebrations. He moved to Yorkshire in 2012, helping the club to win back-to-back Championships in 2014 and 2015. He has also played for England Lions.”I’m extremely excited to be joining Somerset at a time when they are building a special team capable of challenging for trophies,” Brooks said, “I truly believe this Somerset team can create something special.”When I met Andy Hurry, Jason Kerr, Tom Abell and Andrew Cornish I was impressed straightaway with their vision for the team and club. Their togetherness and desire reminded me a lot of Yorkshire when I joined them.”I look forward to continuing my cricketing journey and to the fresh challenges that await. My mum and her family are from Bath and I’ll be nearer to my family in Oxfordshire, so it feels a little bit like I’m coming home. Somerset have a fantastic reputation as a strong family club which I look forward to being a part of.”Although in his mid-30s, Brooks has fine record in red-ball cricket, in particular, taking 291 wickets at 26.56 in six years at Headingley. He claimed 68 wickets to help Yorkshire to their first Championship title since 2001, and was their leading wicket-taker for three seasons in a row between 2014 and 2016.However, while Yorkshire now find themselves battling at the wrong end of the Division One table, Somerset, in their pursuit of a first-ever Championship, have emerged as Surrey’s closest challengers. They also secured a spot in Vitality Blast Finals Day with victory over the holders, Nottinghamshire, on Monday.As well as being closer to home, the prospect of being involved in all three formats was perhaps a factor in Brooks moving to Taunton – he only played in 12 List A and 23 T20 fixtures for Yorkshire.Somerset’s director of cricket, Andy Hurry, said: “We are delighted that we have secured a player of Jack’s proven quality, experience and character to add to one of the most exciting bowling attacks in the country. It’s a great reflection of our ambition, and the progress that the club has made, that a player of his quality sees his ambitions of winning silverware with Somerset CCC.”Alongside his experience of winning silverware, which will add to our ability to achieve our aspirations of winning trophies, he is incredibly competitive, driven and will be a great fit in the changing room. I have no doubt he will become a big favourite with the Somerset membership”.

The Pakistan captain is wary of the challenges posed by Australia and the Zimbabwean conditions, but is confident of the team doing well in the tri-series

Umar Farooq27-Jun-2018

Sarfraz Ahmed promoted himself up the order to make a crisp 89 off 49 balls•Peter Della Penna

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed wants to continue batting at No. 4 in limited-overs cricket.Sarfraz kicked off his T20I career in 2010 batting at No. 8, and had floated around the middle order without much success; his first 400-odd runs came at an average of about 25. It didn’t take much for head coach Mickey Arthur to convince him to bat higher up earlier this year in T20s, a move that worked immediately. The emergence of allrounders Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf to provide cover down the order has also helped Pakistan and Sarfraz make this move. Steady performances at that position could encourage the team management to push him up the order in ODIs as well, ahead of the 2019 World Cup.”I have been continuously batting at No. 4 [of late] and I would like to continue there,” Sarfraz said, as Pakistan prepared for the T20 tri-series in Zimbabwe. “We are basically trying to build ahead of the World Cup. If you look at the ODI side, we haven’t made many changes. Fakhar Zaman, Shadab, Haris [Sohail] who is back in the side, Babar Azam at the top, [Mohammad] Hafeez and [Shoaib] Malik are around. So we are settling and it is good that the team is performing and we are going in the right direction with the right combination.”Pakistan, according to Sarfraz, were wary of Australia – the third team in the tri-series – and the conditions in Zimbabwe, but remain confident of performing well. “Our preparation is good. We got a couple of days here (in Lahore) and three days there (in Zimbabwe) to train before the series,” he said. “We will definitely go with our best preparation, as in T20s no team is easy to beat.”We know Australia is a strong team and, although they have got many new players, they know exactly how to adapt themselves.”I have toured Zimbabwe twice, and on both occasions, the conditions were different. In 2013 it was grassy with some bounce and in 2015 it was slow with moisture. This time around, I’ve got to know that it will be colder and I feel the toss will be vital. So we need to assess the pitch to make our decisions. Overall, we are in a good position and hopeful of good results. But this tri-series is going to be tough and you can expect some competitive cricket.”Pakistan are currently ranked No. 1 in T20Is; Sarfraz said that did not add any additional pressure on them. “We actually don’t really think about being No. 1 or ratings. When we were not No. 1, we never thought about the rankings so all we have to do is to play naturally without getting into such details. I only urge the players to give their best and leave all other things aside.”The boys are backing each other and this is something that’s quite evident in the field. Even if someone fields well in the covers or at the boundaries, or has taken a good catch, they all respond to it and back each other up.”Following the T20I tri-series, Pakistan will play a five-match ODI series in Zimbabwe. Sarfraz admitted to being under pressure as an all-format captain, but said he tries to quell that with his on-field performances.”Obviously as a captain you are under pressure because you have to look around at a lot of things, but I always look to grab an opportunity to lead from the front. Whenever I get a chance, I try to win the game with my contribution. I am aware of my individual form and I’ve been working hard to contribute with both the bat and behind the wicket.”

Unbeaten century seals third win in a row and cement Warwickshire’s place at the top of Division Two

ECB Reporters Network13-May-20182:11

County round-up: Red-hot Henry too much for Sussex

ScorecardWarwickshire recorded their third successive Specsavers County Championship victory by beating Northamptonshire by six wickets on the third day at Edgbaston.Facing a victory target of 179, no formality on a pitch offering some variable bounce, the home side were reduced to 44 for 3 by an excellent pre-lunch burst of 7.3-2-9-3 by Ben Sanderson.But opener Will Rhodes stayed firm to lodge his maiden first-class century against a Northamptonshire attack already missing the injured Richard Gleeson and further deprived of Steven Crook, off the field with a hamstring injury.Rhodes ended with an unbeaten 100 (165 balls, 13 fours, one six) to see his team over the line with four sessions to spare. Warwickshire’s win cemented their place at the top of Division Twp and leaves them well placed to challenge hard for promotion straight back up.Northamptonshire’s promotion ambitions have been hammered by a haul of just 15 points from their first four games. They could use some better luck on the injury front, but also need their batsmen, too many of whom perished on the offensive in this match, to give their impressive bowling attack something to work with.Trailing by nine runs on first innings, Northamptonshire resumed on the third morning on 160 for 7 and added only another 27 as Olly Stone completed a five-for against his former team-mates.Doug Bracewell left a ball too late and feathered Stone to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose, Chris Wright knocked out Brett Hutton’s off stump and Rob Keogh (29, 58 balls, three fours) pulled Stone to long leg and fell to a fine catch by Henry Brookes right on the boundary.Stone finished with 5 for 49, taking his wicket haul in the last three championship innings to 15 at 12.4 runs apiece.Northamptonshire needed to strike early and did through Sanderson whose fifth ball was chipped to square leg by Dominic Sibley. Rhodes and Ian Bell added 36 in 12 overs but then Sanderson struck two big blows. Bell was pinned lbw by an excellent delivery and Trott fell in similar fashion on the stroke of lunch to send Northants into the interval scenting their first victory of the season.That scent faded as Rhodes and Sam Hain added 50 in 16 overs. Hain later edged Luke Proctor to Ben Hutton at slip but Matt Lamb (23 not out, 62 balls, three fours) provided Rhodes with staunch support in an unbroken stand of 86 in 22 overs.David Ripley, Northants coach, is left to face a season that has not remotely matched the confident predictions that the county could press for prtomotion. He said: “We won nine championship matches last year and have the same squad so we know we are a better side than the league table shows at the moment but it’s a tough division and if you don’t play well you are going to get beaten. At the moment, particularly batting, we are proving to be brittle. We only have three championship fifties and no hundreds – we have got to improve that to be competitive and stay in games for longer.”

da fazobetai： As the Champions League anthem rang out around the Emirates Stadium on match day one of the competition, Arsenal fans rejoiced.

da betsul： It had been a tough wait for more continental football at Europe's top table but oh how they've made a marker since returning to the competition.

Mikel Arteta's men haven't had a perfect record this season, notably losing away at Lens, but they have won every other match, including the return fixture with the Ligue 1 side on Wednesday night at home.

How Arsenal beat Lens

It was a scintillating performance from the Gunners who ran out 6-0 winners, just one goal shy of equalling their record win in the competition.

Kai Havertz, fresh from winning the game against Brentford last weekend, opened the scoring by prodding home from close range and then it was goal after goal from that moment onwards.

Gabriel Jesus then put two Lens defenders on the ground before sliding the ball home for a two goal advantage, with further goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Jorginho rounding off proceedings.

The Londoners led 4-0 after just 27 minutes played, before Odegaard's superb volley on the stroke of half-time made it five.

Unsurprisingly, Arteta's men were not as rampant in the second period, with Jorginho's late penalty after a handball ended the game in the best way possible.

It was a landmark moment for many in red and white, not least Havertz who arguably delivered his best performance in an Arsenal shirt yet, while Saka's goal and assist means he is now the leading contributor of goal involvements in the Champions League this term. Not bad for a youngster making his debut in the competition.

Related 9/10 star delivers best Arsenal display yet in Gunners player ratings vs Lens

Arsenal romped to a 6-0 victory over Lens in the Champions League.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Nov 29, 2023

That said, there was one man who didn't get on the scoresheet but deserved just as much praise for his showing at the Emirates; Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Tomiyasu's performance in numbers vs Lens

The Japanese defender has had to be patient for regular opportunities during his time in the English capital.

When he first signed from Bologna in a bargain £16m move, Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solekhol memorably suggested that sources didn't know whether he was a right-back or centre-back.

Well, how that has come back to bite him. Indeed, Tomiyasu is perhaps one of the most underappreciated and under-the-radar members of this Arsenal squad.

That said, there is a reason Arteta once suggested that he thinks the full-back is one of the finest defenders he's seen.

Commenting on Tomiyasu earlier this term, the Spaniard said: "He can play in any position in the backline, any formation in the backline – we don’t have a player like him. His defending is probably one of the best that I’ve seen in many situations."

That has been seen first-hand in recent weeks, but the 25-year-old saved his best performance of the season – certainly from an offensive point of view – for Lens on Wednesday evening.

His athleticism and power is rather staggering. You wouldn't look at him and expect that to be the case. Indeed, Tomiyasu is an understated character but when tasked with defending a tricky attacker or running with the ball at his feet, he comes alive.

Takehiro Tomiyasu vs Lens

Minutes Played

45

Touches

34

Pass Success

18/22 (82%)

Assists

2

Key Passes

3

Expected Assists (xA)

0.36

Crosses

1/1

Long Balls

3/4

Duels Won

0/2

Stats via Sofascore.

Truth be told, he didn't have a huge amount of defending to do in midweek, faced with just two defensive duels – of which he lost both – but going forward he was as good as anyone we've seen in that position at Arsenal down the years.

Tomiyasu became an "assist machine" – as per reporter Connor Humm – creating two goals for his troubles, the first of which was a miraculous cross-field ball.

Whether or not he meant it merely as a clearance, it was still a fabulous delivery to the left-hand channel where Martinelli was waiting. The Brazilian drove at the Lens defence before curling the ball beyond Brice Samba. Liquid football.

The second assist was just as nice. Supporting Saka down the right-hand side, the former Bologna man galloped forward like a champion horse before laying a dinked cross on a plate for Odegaard to slam home.

Substituted at half-time, it was a testament to just how important he has become to this Arsenal team, leaving the field with a 100% cross success, as well as supplying three key passes, the most of anyone on the pitch. That's quite something from a defender in a 6-0 victory, but it proved Tomiyasu is certainly not a one-trick pony. He offers just about everything you could want from a full-back.