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Mohan de Silva and Ravin Wickremaratne have been voted in as secretary and vice president respectively, while K Mathivanan also returns as vice president

Madushka Balasuriya21-Feb-2019Shammi Silva has been elected president of Sri Lanka Cricket. Drawing in 83 out of a possible 142 votes Silva, a candidate backed by former president Thilanga Sumathipala, beat Jayantha Dharmadasa, who received 56 votes.Despite the many delays and swings in fortune over the course of the last several months, when elections were postponed indefinitely and SLC was run by a sports ministry-appointed Competent Authority, the final tally of votes means essentially the same faces return to power.Alongside Silva, other members of the previous executive committee in Mohan de Silva and Ravin Wickremaratne have been voted in again, this time as secretary and vice-president respectively. K Mathivanan also returns as vice president, the only member of the Dharmadasa faction to be elected.The results translate to yet another unhappy election outcome for the brothers Ranatunga. Former World Cup winning captain Arjuna lost out narrowly in the race for vice-president, racking up 72 votes to Wickremaratne’s 82 and Mathivanan’s 80, while the younger Ranatunga, Nishantha, running for the post of secretary, picked up just 43 votes to de Silva’s 96.The end result is a mere shuffling of the same people, with Sumathipala and Dharmadasa the only major players missing out among the office bearers voted in during SLC’s last elections in 2016.In the race for other positions, Lasantha Wickremasinghe (100 votes) beat Eastman Narangoda (37) to the post of treasurer, while Lalith Rambukwella (92) was voted in ahead of Sanjaya Senarath (42) for assistant treasurer. Chrishantha Kapuwatha (94) was voted in assistant secretary ahead of Hirantha Perera (44).In the preceding weeks both de Silva, who was set to run for president, and Wickremaratne, who was up for the post of secretary, had been banned by an election appeals committee after being adjudged to have violated Sri Lanka’s Sports Law, which as per a 2016 amendment prevents any previous office bearer of a national sports body which had been dissolved by government from contesting in any future elections. The pair had been part of ousted committees in 2001 and 2005.In response, de Silva and Wickremaratne challenged the ruling in an appeals court, which was where a loophole was discovered. As it transpired, while de Silva and Wickramaratne had put their names in the hat for multiple positions, the objections filed against them had only referenced some of those posts. Essentially, this allowed the pair to contest on the condition that it wasn’t for the posts they were banned from.It is unclear who is at fault for these clerical errors, but in any event it left the legal counsel representing the Sports Ministry no choice but to let de Silva and Wickremaratne contest for the posts of secretary and vice president. The writ petition hearings though are set to continue on 21 March.This turn of events is thought to have swayed voter sentiment. Until then Silva, a backup candidate to de Silva, was to run for president against Dharmadasa, while the coveted posts of vice president and secretary were set to be run virtually uncontested by those in the Dharmadasa camp – a situation that, had it prevailed, would almost certainly have seen Dharmadasa come out victorious in the presidential stakes.That events panned out in this manner, while unexpected, was not wholly surprising. Thilanga Sumathipala has long been identified as the most powerful force in Sri Lanka Cricket, and despite not contesting this time around, he has continued to cast a wide shadow. Most notably in the strong voting bloc he possesses, which is likely what eventually won Silva the presidential race.One of the primary election strategies for Dharmadasa and his camp had been to neutralise this threat. Nishantha Ranatunga’s court case against Sumathipala, which eventually led to the latter withdrawing his candidacy, and Dharmadasa’s objection to Mohan de Silva’s candidacy had seemingly achieved this goal successfully.So much so that Dharmadasa had been favourite to take the post right up until the eve of the elections. But that late compromise between Sri Lanka’s Sports Ministry and the previously disqualified pair of de Silva and Wickremaratne reinstating them in the race, gave the Sumathipala-backed faction the numbers they needed.It is a scarcely believable fact that Shammi Silva learned of his candidacy for president on the eve of the race; Silva is in essence president by accident. Though by now, not many are in doubt as to who exactly is running the show.

The hosts have beaten Pakistan only once since late 2013 and will be bothered by how they’ve started in a World Cup year

The Preview by Danyal Rasool21-Jan-2019The big pictureThe result of the Test series may be as disappointing for Mickey Arthur as it was gratifying for Otis Gibson, but in a World Cup year, it is the limited-overs results that will truly stand out. To that end, South Africa, desperate to finally snap their global tournament jinx, made an inauspicious start to their year, falling to a defeat they primarily owed to their own batting conservatism. It gave Pakistan, far better suited to the Port Elizabeth pitch than the hosts, the chance to break their duck on tour, condemning South Africa to their fifth ODI defeat in six matches between the two teams.It is an odd defeat for South Africa to analyse, particularly given the batting scorecard, and the positives to be drawn from it. Hashim Amla roared back to form with a classy hundred, while Rassie van der Dussen enjoyed an excellent debut, pacing his innings better than any of his counterparts. As far as the bowling went, Imran Tahir was perhaps slightly removed from his brilliant best, while the faster bowlers were never likely to enjoy much assistance from the Port Elizabeth surface.Faf du Plessis and his men will be likelier to find Durban more conducive to their skillset, though by no means is it as quick and bouncy as the ones in Centurion and Johannesburg. The increased pace and bounce it offers compared to Port Elizabeth will buoy Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier plenty, with Pakistan, who never themselves looked like taking too many wickets, also challenged to raise their game.Pakistan couldn’t have asked for a better start to the series, eager for a clean break from their ODI form in 2018, where they began the year with a whitewash suffered against New Zealand and finished with just one top eight win all year. Having matched that number in just one game, they will feel eager to move into a commanding position in the series at a ground where they have won their last two ODIs against South Africa.Mohammad Hafeez hitting the ground running allows Pakistan to balance their side once more, with the allround ability of Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf meaning they bat far deeper than their Test match side. Fakhar Zaman missing out in Port Elizabeh will have frustrated them, but Imam-ul-Haq’s return to form was timely, while Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali never allowed South Africa to get away in the first innings. There might still be plenty Pakistan have to work on, but reassuringly, there’s a lot they have to work with.Form guideSouth Africa LWLWW
Pakistan WWLLL
In the spotlightFor all of their brilliantly skilled batsmen and raw, fierce pacers, Imran Tahir could be the singular factor that helps South Africa break their World Cup duck in England. Without question, this is the biggest year of his career, his last realistic chance at a World Cup. It is a career that began in Pakistan over two decades ago, and while it has been a glorious success, it still requires a defining moment of fulfillment. Playing against the country he grew up wanting to play for, he hasn’t quite enjoyed as much success in South Africa as in the UAE. But here in Durban, he will have a better chance of success than when the series moves to Cape Town and Gauteng. His ODI average against Pakistan is 28, four runs up from his career average of 24. But in this of all years, against this of all teams, Tahir will be desperate to raise his game, and if there’s one player in world cricket who can make things happen by sheer force of will, it is the South African legspinner.Pakistan’s victory masked somewhat Sarfraz Ahmed’s continuing struggles in the two longer formats. Two half-centuries in the Tests have been blighted by what are now five single-digit scores on this tour. He has now been captain for precisely one third of his ODI career – 33 out of 99 matches. In that time, he averages 26.46 with the bat; he had averaged a shade under 35 when appointef. He has scored just 3 half-centuries as captain, only once in a winning cause, and surpassed 30 just once more. As evidence of his dwindling influence with the bat, Sarfraz has – in 17 of those 33 matches – either not come out to bat at all, or remained unbeaten on a score under 25. With the World Cup approaching, Pakistan cannot afford to be carrying any passengers, and Sarfraz will know that better than anyone else when he steps out.Team newsSouth Africa are still without Dale Steyn and Quinton de Kock, which means Heinrich Klassen will continue in the keeper’s role, with not too much alteration expected in the bowling department. Tabraiz Shamsi may come in if the hosts feel an extra spinner may help them on the surface, while Aiden Markram, who sat out of the first game, is an option replace Reeza Hendricks.South Africa (possible): 1 Aiden Markram/Reeza Hendricks, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Faf du Plessis (capt), 5 David Miller, 6 Heinrich Klassen (wk), 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Dwaine Pretorius/Tabraiz Shamsi, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Duanne Olivie, 11 Imran TahirPakistan are likely to field the same side for the second ODI.Pakistan (possible): 1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Fakhar Zaman 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Babar Azam, 5 Shoaib Malik 6 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt./wk), 7 Shadab Khan 8 Imad Wasim, 9 Fahim Ashraf, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Usman ShinwariPitch and conditionsIt was suggested the ODI pitches may have less spice than the ones in the Tests, but even so, Durban does tend to keep the quicks interested. With the ground so close to the ocean, conditions can often be impacted by the tides. What appears certain is it will interest spinners more than the pitches the remaining three ODIs will be played on.Stats and trivia Pakistan have a winning record against South Africa at Kingsmead, having triumphed in three of the five ODIs the two sides have contested here Despite three half-centuries and a hundred in ten matches at his home ground, Hashim Amla’s average in Durban is just 39.50, almost 11 runs fewer than his career ODI average of 50.34 Only two of the current Pakistan side played in the last ODI between the sides in Durban in 2013. On that occasion, Mohammad Hafeez became just the fourth batsman to be dismissed obstructing the field in ODIs, and the first under new rules

The wait continues at Manchester United to see just when Sir Jim Ratcliffe's impending investment with be confirmed, with the British billionaire seeking to take a 25% stake in the Old Trafford outfit.

For those of a United persuasion, the hope will be that such an act will help to spark the beginning of the end for the wretched Glazer ownership and help to revive the club's fortunes on the pitch, with Ratcliffe – as per the Telegraph – said to be keen to oversee a 'radical overhaul' once he officially arrives through the door.

While the Ineos chief will likely have a long-term plan to ensure that the Red Devils can once again challenge for the top honours, both domestically and in Europe, in the short term the focus may well be on trying to strengthen Erik ten Hag's hand in January, with the Dutchman having overseen a drab start to the season that has left the club outside the top-four berths.

Some supporters may be anticipating an instant injection of cash in order to sign new recruits in the winter window, yet with FFP (Financial Fair Play) restrictions still to consider, it is likely that the Premier League side will have to sell first in order to buy, particularly considering the bloated nature of the current squad.

With rumours already rife regarding who could be snapped up in the New Year – including Nice's, Jean-Clair Todibo – the focus must also turn to who could depart the Theatre of Dreams to help recoup some much-needed funds, with there seemingly a trio of high profile figures who should be moved on as a matter of urgency.

1 Jadon Sancho

There are no prizes for guessing who is first on this list, with Jadon Sancho the most obvious candidate to be sold after being exiled by Ten Hag in the early months of the season.

The former Borussia Dortmund man – who joined United on a £73m deal in 2021 – has not played for the club since publicly biting back at his manager over criticism of his training performances back in early September, with that outburst having come after the 23-year-old was left out of the eventual defeat to Arsenal.

While the misfiring winger subsequently removed his Twitter post which appeared to hit out at the former Ajax boss, there has since been no improvement in the strained relations, with Sancho now completely cast out of the first-team squad after reportedly refusing to apologise.

As such, a return to Dortmund has been mooted in January, while Serie A side Juventus – as well as clubs in Saudi Arabia – are also said to be interested in rescuing the Englishman from his Old Trafford hell.

Although it is a loan exit that has been suggested, reports in the summer indicated that United were looking for around £60m for their underwhelming talent amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur, with the hope being that they can recoup somewhere close to that £73m fee.

Dortmund (Bundesliga)

Games

Goals

Assists

2017/18

12

1

4

2018/19

34

12

18

2019/20

32

17

17

2020/21

26

8

12

Total

104

38

51

Man Utd

2021/22

29

3

3

2022/23

26

6

3

2023/24

3

0

0

Total

58

9

6

Stats via Transfermarkt

Any 2024 exit would bring to an end what has been a hugely disappointing stint at the club for the one-time Manchester City man, with the £250k-per-week enigma – who takes up 6.29% of the total wage bill, as per Capology – scoring just 12 goals and contributing six assists in 82 games for the club, the same number of goal involvements that Dan James recorded from fewer games (18 G/A in 74 games).

Such a dismal return is not what the club had expected when the fleet-footed winger was signed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer over two years ago, with it now time to cut ties sooner rather than later.

2 Anthony Martial

Unlike the man above, Anthony Martial is unlikely to rake in much of a transfer fee with only six months or so left to run on his current deal, yet any bid received will seemingly be better than the prospect of seeing the long-serving dud depart for nothing in the summer.

While the striking department is one in which United are not particularly strong, with summer signing Rasmus Hojlund still finding his feet after failing to score a league goal so far, it has come to the stage in which keeping Martial around as a backup is almost futile, such is his lack of impact.

As was evident last term, the 27-year-old is routinely unreliable due to his persistent injury woes, with Ten Hag having overlooked the former Monaco man for much of this season so far, despite indicating that the team play their "best football" with the Frenchman leading the line.

While now injury-free, the fact the United boss has rarely looked the way of the experienced striker – who has made just four starts all season – is a reflection of just what a spare part Martial has become, with the polarising asset scoring just 11 league goals since the start of 2020/21.

The fact that he remains the club's number nine despite that woeful record is symptomatic of all that is wrong with the Red Devils at present, with treble-winner Andy Cole only recently stating that his fellow striker has had "more than enough time" to show his worth at Old Trafford.

Currently also taking up 6.29% of the wage bill, like Sancho, Martial is a costly and draining figure who needs to be cast out elsewhere, with The Sun only recently reporting that a belated exit could be in store in January, after previously being touted for a move over the summer.

3 Raphael Varane

As that Sun report claimed, Ratcliffe could look to also oust Antony, alongside Martial and Sancho, yet whether Ten Hag would so willingly part ways with his former Ajax asset is another matter, despite the Brazilian failing to score or assist this season.

With that in mind, the final name on the list of outgoings could well be Raphael Varane, with the World Cup winner having slipped down the pecking order of late, behind the likes of Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans.

While Ten Hag spoke of the tactical reasoning behind leaving out the Frenchman in the Manchester Derby, the fact that the ex-Real Madrid man was usurped by the ageing Evans is a stark indication of his standing under the United boss.

As the 53-year-old coach has revealed, Varane is not seen as a suitable option at left centre-back – nor is Maguire – and is thus fighting it out with the Englishman on the opposite side, with the former Leicester City man currently winning that individual battle.

What has not helped the four-time Champions League winner is his repeated absences throughout his time in Manchester due to injury and illness, with the towering defender notably making just 24 appearances in the league last season and only 22 prior to that.

As has become apparent, Ten Hag cannot rely on the £43m signing across a consistent period, hence why cashing in during the winter window – with Saudi interest said to be brewing – could be a wise move to kickstart the ruthless Ratcliffe regime.

With Varane also reportedly on a £350k-per-week wage to take up 8.55% of the squad salary – taking it to roughly 21% in total, including the two men above – easing that financial burden by moving him on would represent good business.

Arsenal defender Ben White has been accused of 'cheating' and told he should face a 'long ban' after clashing with former club Brighton.

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• Arsenal beat Brighton 3-0
• White clashes with Estupinan
• Branded a 'cheat' for his actions

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Gunners went top of the Premier League with a 3-0 win at the Amex on Saturday thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Leandro Trossard. However, for some, the shine has somewhat been taken off the victory following White's antics with the game at 1-0. Social media footage shows the Arsenal man nudge Brighton's Pervis Estupinan as the left-back jogged past in the 51st minute. When the Ecuadorian retaliated with a push, former Seagulls academy player White collapsed to the ground, holding his throat. After a delay, the 26-year-old carried on without a hitch but many football fans have since slammed his actions.

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• WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  Andrew Armer wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Disgraceful. 😡 If that's not bringing the game into disrepute, I don't know what is? Retrospective long ban & large fine should (but almost certainly won't) follow."

  Aslan, tweeted: "He elbowed no10 [Brighton's Julio Enciso] as well there. Should've been sent off," and thepaulmiffersmith posted: "Same old Arsenal… always cheating."

  Scott J added: "I thought it was just me. Saw this on MoTD (Match of the Day) and thought it was the worst thing I've seen in the EPL (English Premier League), shocking behaviour. Brighton will be making voodoo dolls of White today," while Dylan commented: "Why didn't VAR send him off for acting?"

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Aside from White's playacting, Arsenal once again proved their title credentials with a convincing win against Roberto De Zerbi's side – who beat the Gunners twice in all competitions last season. The result also ended the Seagulls' 12-match unbeaten home run in the league, which stretches back to a 3-1 loss to West Ham in August. Mikel Arteta's men are top the table by one point but a Liverpool win over Manchester United on Sunday afternoon will see them leapfrog the north London outfit.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  White was released by Southampton at the age of 16 before joining Brighton's academy. After loan spells at Newport County in League Two, Peterborough United in League One, and Leeds United in the Championship, he played one full season in the Premier League with Brighton before signing for Arsenal for £50 million ($63m) in 2021.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag could finally strengthen a key position in the January window as he looks to improve results at Old Trafford, according to reports.

Man Utd’s strikers

Despite spending a lavish £72 million on Rasmus Hojlund in the summer, Manchester United are still experiencing problems in front of goal as they continue to find difficulty in fashioning regular chances to score. On Saturday, Hojlund was brought off after 79 minutes against Fulham after failing to register a single shot on target in the Red Devils’ last-gasp victory at Craven Cottage.

Speaking to the media, Red Devils icon Rio Ferdinand insisted his old side isn’t playing to Hojlund’s strengths as the Denmark international continues to await his first Premier League goal.

“I wish we’d had a bit more time with Erik ten Hag [to discuss Hojlund] because he’s invested in a player we’re not seeing the best of. His best attributes are not being seen because the team aren’t playing to his strengths.”

“He [Ten Hag] said in his press conferences we want to play a bit more direct with players like Hojlund and Rashford who can play on the counter. Too many times they get wide and the quality is nowhere near good enough. Antony doesn’t want to cross it; his first instinct is to see what he can do for himself. Marcus is more of a striker who wants to get on the end of things and see if he can finish.”

Hojlund isn’t the only one struggling with the weight of expectation at Manchester United in attack. Antony has yet to register a single goal or assist this campaign. At the same time, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have mustered just strikes goals in 27 combined appearances (Man Utd squad stats – Transfermarkt).

Now, the club could land a solution to their problems in the final third, according to latest developments.

Gabriel Barbosa targeted by Man Utd

According to The Mirror, Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa has emerged as a target for Manchester United and is available for a fee in the region of £20 million due to his contract being set to expire at the end of 2024. Flamengo are also believed to be keen on taking Red Devils’ winger Antony on loan in what could potentially evolve into a swap deal between both parties. Nevertheless, United will need to grapple with Serie A giants AC Milan for Barbosa’s signature in any prospective transfer pursuit.

Becoming a club legend at Flamengo, Barbosa has notched 139 goals and 38 assists in 246 appearances for the Brazilian outfit in all competitions (Barbosa stats – Transfermarkt). Speaking to the media, Flamengo legend Zico described Barbosa as a player who “has everything to be the greatest striker in Flamengo’s history.”

Gabriel Barbosa attacking stats 2023 – Campeonato Brasileiro (WhoScored)

Shots per game

2.1

Key passes per game

0.9

Dribbles completed per game

0.2

Nevertheless, the 27-year-old could now be set for an even bigger challenge as Man United look at a possible move to Old Trafford, where the Red Devils faithful may hope he can bolster their faltering forward line heading into the second half of the campaign.

Spain defender Aymeric Laporte has reacted online to a jibe at Vinicius Junior after clashing with the Real Madrid star during a 3-3 draw with Brazil.

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Spain play out 3-3 draw with Brazil in MadridVinicius and Laporte clash during matchDefender reacts online after final whistleGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Vinicius Junior was spotted walking over to Laporte and pushing him in the back during Tuesday's exciting 3-3 international friendly draw between Spain and Brazil. The incident came after the Real Madrid star broke down in tears at a press conference before the match when quizzed about the racial abuse he has endured. “I just want to play football," Vinicius also told reporters as he prepared for the game at the Santiago Bernabeu.

AdvertisementWHAT LAPORTE SAID

Those comments were used to mock Vinicius after the game. A post on X showed a video of the incident along with the message: "I just want to play football" and a series of emojis. Spain defender Laporte surprisingly responded with the comment: "Maybe he wanted to dance".

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Vinicius captained Brazil against Spain in a game which was organised in response to the racism experienced by the winger this season. The Brazil players posed in tops bearing the slogan "One skin, one identity" before the match, which ended in a draw thanks to a 97th minute equaliser from Lucas Paqueta. Vinicius was given a standing ovation when he left the pitch in the 70th minute.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS

Vinicius has also admitted he's felt "less and less like playing" due to the racism he has experienced. However, the Brazilian has vowed to continue and will hope to add more silverware to his collection this season. Real Madrid will return to action eight points clear at the top of La Liga and are set to face Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

MatériaMais Notícias

O time sub-20 do Botafogo passou por uma revolução. Após a chegada do treinador Ricardo Resende, são nove vitórias, dois empates, 25 gols marcados e quatro tentos sofridos. A contratação do novo treinador está totalmente relacionada com a melhora da equipe, mas também expõe o mérito de fora. Em entrevista exclusiva ao LANCE!, Tiano Gomes, gerente geral das categorias de base do Alvinegro, explicou a chegada do técnico.

– Fizemos um mapeamento no mercado de treinadores em busca de um nome que tivesse um perfil alinhando com o que o documento orientador do Clube preza. E assim chegamos ao nome do Ricardo Resende, um treinador com histórico vencedor e que realizou grandes trabalhos no futebol de base, além de ter alguma experiência também no futebol profissional. Estou muito feliz e satisfeito com a escolha. O trabalho já vem dando frutos e tenho confiança que vamos coroá-lo com títulos – afirmou.

O Botafogo, que estava nas posições inferiores na tabela do Brasileirão sub-20, subiu na classificação e atualmente está na zona de classificação à próxima fase da competição. A equipe também continua viva no segundo turno do Campeonato Brasileiro – na próxima quarta-feira, decide uma vaga na final contra o Bangu.

– A mudança de um trabalho é complexa. Não é sempre que as coisas vão andar como planejamos, mas entendo que a chegada do Ricardo conseguiu dar um novo olhar para a equipe. Hoje o nosso Sub-20 está entre os oito melhores do Campeonato Brasileiro e na semifinal da Taça Rio. Estamos há onze jogos invictos e com ótimos indicativos futuros – completou Tiano.

RelacionadasBotafogoBotafogo derrota Chape no Brasileiro sub-20 e chega à 5ª vitória seguidaBotafogo14/11/2020BotafogoOnze meses depois… Marcinho volta a ser relacionado para um jogo do BotafogoBotafogo14/11/2020BotafogoBotafogo negocia a contratação do volante Jonas, ex-FlamengoBotafogo14/11/2020

O time profissional do Botafogo também passa por mudanças. Ramón Díaz foi apresentado na semana passada e afirmou que pretende realizar um trabalho a longo prazo à frente do Alvinegro. Tiano revelou que teve conversas com Túlio Lustosa, gerente de futebol do clube, e espera ainda mais conexão com o argentino ao passar do tempo.

– Ainda é tudo muito recente, mas a integração entre base e profissional é sempre muito forte aqui no Botafogo. É uma característica do Clube. Estive no treinamento quando eles (Ramón e sua comissão técnica) foram apresentados junto ao Túlio Lustosa no Estádio Nilton Santos e pude conhecê-los melhor. Com certeza, vamos buscar absorver o máximo do trabalho do Ramón Díaz. Acredito que ele poderá contribuir muito para a formação dos nossos jovens – revelou.

SUB-17 E JOGADORES NA AMARELINHA
Por mais que o sub-20 esteja em boa fase, a categoria sub-17 é uma das que mais arranca esperança dos torcedores. O time, formado na maioria por jogadores nascidos em 2004, tem dois jogadores convocados para a Seleção Brasileira da categoria com frequência: Matheus Nascimento – que, inclusive, já tem contrato profissional – e Kauê, prestes a assinar o primeiro vínculo principal, como o L! adiantou.

Além deles, o lateral-esquerdo Ramon foi convocado para representar a Canarinho sub-17 na última convocação do treinador Paulo Victor Gomes. Os atacantes Jhonnatha e Gilwagner e o meia João Vítor Fubá também acumulam convocações para seleções de base vestindo a camisa do Glorioso.

– O Botafogo tem um lindo histórico em fornecer atletas para a Seleção Brasileira. Então, ter essa rotina de convocações para as categorias de base é fundamental para valorizar o trabalho de formação realizado aqui e para fortificar, juntos aos nossos meninos, essa relação com a Seleção. Nossos atletas precisam ter a ciência de que representam um gigante do futebol brasileiro. Além disso, essas oportunidades deles vivenciarem experiências fora do país, enfrentando outras escolas de futebol, fazem com que eles evoluam ainda mais e tragam toda esse aprendizado para compartilhar com seus companheiros de clube – afirmou Tiano Gomes.

Mesmo vivenciando uma crise financeira, o dirigente tenta driblar os problemas na captação e evolução de jovens jogadores. Vale ressaltar que a tendência é que as equipes de base treinem, no futuro, no centro de treinamento que está sendo construído na Zona Oeste do Rio de Janeiro.

– A questão financeira prejudica bastante mas não pode servir como desculpa. Se ainda não temos o maior investimento ou a melhor estrutura, buscamos compensar isso com muito trabalho e buscamos assim mecanismos que nos permitam crescer. Temos um departamento de captação muito atuante e que faz um mapeamento de jovens com potencial por todas as competições de base – colocou o dirigente.

Além de Matheus Nascimento e Kauê, que saíram “à frente” nos contratos, Tiano afirma que o Botafogo vai assinar os primeiros vinculos com Ramon, Fubá, Gilwagner e Jhonnatha em um momento oportuno.

– Temos um planejamento, não só para estes, mas para todos os atletas da base. Todos, no momento correto, assinarão seus contratos – revelou.

For all the talent Tottenham Hotspur have had on their books over the years – including the likes of Jimmy Greaves and Harry Kane – it is fair to say that the Lilywhites have also let a handful of star names agonisingly slip through their grasp.

The most notable example of that fact was the loss of academy asset David Beckham to Manchester United back in 1991, with the then-teenager going on to become a global, footballing superstar following his departure from north London.

Those at N17 also endured the blunder of having sold eventual Liverpool legend Graeme Souness for just £30k in 1972, with the fiery Scotsman having been handed just a solitary first-team appearance at Spurs after rising up through the youth ranks.

On the face of it, it looks as if current chairman Daniel Levy could have fallen into a similar trap after allowing Marcus Edwards to depart a few years ago, with the diminutive genius now ripping it up away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Why did Marcus Edwards leave Tottenham?

The Enfield-born dynamo was tipped to be the next star of the future amid his stellar displays in the youth ranks at Spurs, with then-boss Mauricio Pochettino even likening the emerging talent to Lionel Messi in 2016:

"The qualities – it's only looks, his body and the way that he plays – remember a little bit from the beginning of Messi."

Despite that hefty praise – as well as his record of ten goals and seven assists in just 28 games for the club's U21 side – the 5 foot 6 sensation was unable to truly force his way into the first-team picture under Pochettino, following Souness in having made just one senior appearance for the club prior to his departure.

With injuries and off-field issues seemingly holding him back from living up to the early billing, Levy and co made the decision to let the fleet-footed enigma depart in 2019, with the forward joining Portuguese side Vitoria de Guimaraes on a free transfer.

That had come after a promising loan spell at Excelsior the season year prior, with teammate Jeffry Fortes having stated at the time: "He is of a bizarre level, what he can do is really not normal, I have not experienced a better player in my career, and Mauricio Pochettino did not make that comparison with Messi for nothing."

How much is Marcus Edwards worth now?

Such a glowing assessment of Edwards' talents has been backed up by his displays in the years since leaving England, with the 24-year-old now shining for Primeira Liga side Sporting CP, for whom he has recorded 32 goal involvements in just 70 games in all competitions to date.

The former England youth international showcased his impressive transformation when the Lisbon outfit took on Tottenham in the Champions League last season, memorably producing a stunning long range strike on his return to face his former employers.

Described as the type of attacker who simply "leaves people for dead", in the words of TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves, Edwards was even touted with a return to north London earlier this year, as Levy also pursued a move for his then-teammate, Pedro Porro.

The Englishman's rise can also be seen by the fact that he has a £52m release clause in his current contract, while his actual market valuation is said to be around €30m (£26m), according to CIES Football Observatory, more than Ange Postecoglou's summer signing Manor Solomon is valued at – €20m (£17m).

The latter man has enjoyed a promising start to life at N17 with two assists to his name so far this season, although one can only imagine the impact that Edwards could have made in Postecoglou's attacking ranks had he not left the club four years ago.

Perhaps the Sporting ace simply needed a change of scenery to truly kickstart his career, although if his stellar ascension continues, Levy will be left to regret his decision to sell even further.

When looking at Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool squad over the summer, the main focus was rightly placed on welcoming midfield reinforcements, especially after the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.

The Reds, in the end, managed to solve their midfield crisis with the addition of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch. But, in solving that problem, they placed another issue to one side – one that they could revisit come the January transfer window.

That problem, of course, is their defensive depth, with the likes of Joe Gomez and Joel Matip suffering regularly from injury problems without other options to step up in their place. With that said, according to transfer insider Dean Jones, Liverpool could join the race and beat Tottenham Hotspur to their own January target.

What has Dean Jones said?

Even after getting off to a solid start to the Premier League season, remaining unbeaten in four games with three wins to their name, Liverpool still reportedly have their eyes on January reinforcements.

Turning their attention to their defensive options, according to Jones, the Reds could battle it out with Spurs to sign Bournemouth defender Lloyd Kelly when the winter transfer window arrives.

The transfer insider told GiveMeSport, when asked about Liverpool's interest in Kelly: "Yeah, I mean, there's a possibility that Liverpool could join the race on that one.

"It's a bit of a strange situation in the way that it kind of fizzled out at the end of the transfer window, and Tottenham were obviously the hottest link to him at that point. But when you consider what Liverpool might be needing in the January transfer window as they start to tweak the squad, it wouldn't be a complete surprise at all if they were mentioned again in the Lloyd Kelly conversation."

Should Liverpool sign Lloyd Kelly?

As already mentioned, Liverpool left their defensive issues to one side in the summer due to their midfield concerns. The fact is, however, they do not have enough depth within their backline.

As things stand, if Klopp has just four central defenders to choose from, and three of those have had injury issues during their Liverpool careers, as shown by how many games they missed last season, as per Transfermarkt.

Player	Games Missed Last Season
Virgil van Dijk	7
Ibrahima Konate	15
Joel Matip	5
Joe Gomez	5

So, welcoming another defensive option could prove to be crucial when it comes to whether Liverpool can return to the Premier League's top four at the first time of asking. The fact that Kelly can play both as a left-back and centre-back, too, means that he could be an ideal choice.

At his best, the Bournemouth man has earned plenty of praise, including from former manager Gary O'Neil, who said, via the Bournemouth Echo, after the Cherries defeated Liverpool last season: “I thought Lloyd was incredible. I think he had a 12-week ankle injury followed by a six-week calf injury.

"Didn't have much time in between, and then came back today having not trained much, to play left back against one of the best wingers in the world. I thought he showed everything, the potential he has to be a top defender. I thought it was a very, very impressive performance against a top attacker.”

One debate that is always being had between Premier League fans is who has the best stadium or atmosphere.

It is of course, very subjective, but we at Football FanCast have had a go at ranking all 20 top-flight English stadiums for the 2023/24 season based on their atmosphere, from worst to best.

20 Craven Cottage

Club: Fulham FC

Capacity: 25,700

Home since: 1896

Somebody has to be in dead last unfortunately and it is Fulham’s Craven Cottage that has drawn the short straw for us. Recent improvements to the ground may have helped improve the atmosphere but it is in an area of London which is renowned for being too friendly when it comes to a football crowd.

19 Stamford Bridge

Club: Chelsea FC

Capacity: 40,341

Home since: 1905

We don’t have to travel very far to reach 19th place as we now arrive at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea fans only have two chants and they involve saying the name of their club at different tempos which says it all really. On another day, the Blues could have been bringing up the rear in the place of their West London adversaries.

18 Emirates Stadium

Club: Arsenal FC

Capacity: 60,704

Home since: 2006

We are yet to move on from the capital as we go up North and pay a visit to the Emirates. Arsenal don’t necessarily boast a bad atmosphere but fans of a certain age are able to compare it to Highbury and it pales in comparison to its’ predecessor. Louis Dunford’s song “The Angel (North London Forever)” is a welcome addition before kick-off though that is for sure.

17 Etihad Stadium

Club: Manchester City FC

Capacity: 55,017

Home since: 2003

Our first foray out of London takes us to the stadium which is probably most talked about, and normally in a negative way, the Etihad. Once again, there is a group of the fanbase who will have fond memories of Maine Road and all of the ups and downs experienced there, whereas others will have only been along for the ride under Sheikh Mansour which is part and parcel of the game and the success it brings. It doesn’t get called the Emptyhad for no reason let’s just say that.

16 The London Stadium

Club: West Ham United FC

Capacity: 66,000

Home since: 2016

West Ham United fans will ask those of an Arsenal persuasion to hold their glass when the latter brings up moving from one stadium to another. Upton Park was one of the most intense battling grounds that English had to offer only for its replacement, the London Stadium, to sometimes be dubbed ‘a soulless bowl’. The Irons’ faithful can still create an atmosphere though and there isn't anything like hearing “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” at full tilt.

15 Dean Court

Club: AFC Bournemouth

Capacity: 11,329

Home since: 1910

It has to be said that the biggest issue with AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Court is the size of it with only Luton Town’s hotly contested home ground being smaller in the Premier League. They have seen some great moments there in recent years thanks to Eddie Howe and co but in the nicest way possible, it is relatively forgettable, hence its placement.

14 The Amex

Club: Brighton and Hove Albion

Capacity: 31,800

Home since: 2011

Remaining on the south coast with the high-flying Seagulls, Brighton and Hove Albion. It doesn’t get talked about much but the Amex looks fairly modern which is the actual case with it only being inhabited for just over a decade now.

13 Molineux

Club: Wolverhampton Wanderers

Capacity: 32,050

Home since: 1889

Wolves may be going through their fair share of problems at the moment meaning Molineux may not be at its best in terms of atmosphere, but this doesn’t erase any of the history it has. The ground still produces a good sound and is deserving of a mid-table finish here.

12 Brentford Community Stadium

Club: Brentford FC

Capacity: 17,250

Home since: 2020

The newest stadium on this list by far is the home of Brentford, which was built with their Premier League ambitions in mind. The Bees’ fans have enjoyed some excellent moments in their new ground and have produced a noise to match it. Minus points for sharing it with a rugby team though!

11 Kenilworth Road

Club: Luton Town FC

Capacity: 10,356

Home since: 1905

On another day, Luton Town could be at the very bottom of this list due to the complications that have come with their promotion to the top-flight. Kenilworth Road is engrained in EFL heritage though and those tight touchlines which even the best cameramen can be caught out by are iconic. Renovations or not, Luton’s stomping ground shouldn't be looked down upon.