أصبح رافينها القائد الذي يعتمد عليه برشلونة في الفترة الحالية، بعد أن كان أحد أبرز المرشحين لمغادرة النادي والمساهمة في تحسين الوضع المالي.
وكان رافينها لاعباً مهماً تحت قيادة تشافي هرنانديز في برشلونة ولكنه لم يثبت نفسه كلاعب لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه في النادي حتى تولى هانز فليك المسؤولية ومنحه الثقة.
وأصبح رافينها أحد ركائز برشلونة وتغير وضعه جذرياً خلال الموسم الماضي، وكشفت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية حقيقة انتقال النجم البرازيلي للدوري السعودي بعد كأس العالم.
اقرأ أيضاً.. هاري كين يوجه صدمة جديدة لـ برشلونة لخلافة ليفاندوفسكي
ونفت التقارير حقيقة هذه الشائعات، وأصبح رافينها لاعب لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه نهائياً بالنسبة لبرشلونة بسبب شخصيته القيادية أيضاً.
ويشعر رافينها بالسعادة في برشلونة بينما تستقر عائلته بشكل جيد في المدينة، ويركز اللاعب بشكل كامل على الفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا مع البلوجرانا هذا الموسم وكأس العالم مع البرازيل العام المقبل.
وسجل رافينها هذا الموسم حتى الآن أربع أهداف وصنع ثلاث في تسع مباريات فقط مع برشلونة وغاب عن معظم الموسم بسبب الإصابة.
Mohammad Rizwan has been sacked as Pakistan ODI captain, with Shaheen Shah Afridi replacing him. The decision was announced by the PCB shortly after the first day of the ongoing Test match between Pakistan and South Africa in Rawalpindi, a Test both Rizwan, 33, and Afridi, 25, are currently playing.No reason was provided for replacing Rizwan; indeed, the wicketkeeper batter was not even mentioned in the official statement. The decision, according to the PCB, was taken after a meeting in Islamabad between the selection committee and the white-ball head coach Mike Hesson.Rizwan’s removal was all but inevitable when the PCB put out a statement over the weekend, pointedly declining to confirm him as ODI captain ahead of the white-ball leg of the South Africa tour. Instead, it said Hesson had asked PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to convene a meeting with the selection and advisory committee to appoint a new captain.ESPNcricinfo understands the desire to replace Rizwan was not specifically at the behest of the head coach, but enjoyed wider backing at the highest level of the PCB’s decision-making process.Afridi’s last foray into white-ball captaincy was an unhappy one, when he was tapped to lead the T20I team ahead of a series against New Zealand in January 2024. Pakistan ended up losing 4-1 before he was replaced in similar circumstances to Rizwan’s sacking right now, with chairman Naqvi pointedly declining to confirm he would continue in the role. Afridi was replaced by Babar Azam a week later.While Pakistan had different captains for all formats – a situation that will continue – Rizwan was until recently perceived to be the most secure of a group that includes Shan Masood and Salman Ali Agha. Since becoming captain of the ODI side last year, Rizwan is four runs short of the highest scorer for Pakistan, averaging just under 42. He led Pakistan to series wins in Australia and South Africa in 2024, though results this year have dipped, most notably with an ignominious first-round exit at a home Champions Trophy.Afridi pulls on the armband in good form in the format; he was Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker last year in ODI cricket, and central to their away wins in South Africa and Australia. Since the start of the 2023 World Cup, no fast bowler from a Full Member nation has more wickets than his 45, which have come at more than two wickets a game.Afridi’s first assignment as ODI captain is the white-ball series against South Africa, which comprises three ODIs in Faisalabad next month.
If Australia do regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Boland will have been a major reason why, and he’s only there because Josh Hazlewood is injured
Andrew McGlashan03-Jan-20251:01
What’s Boland getting right against India?
Except for the no-ball that denied him a wicket with his first delivery of the series, Scott Boland has barely put a foot wrong against India.On the opening day at the SCG, he produced a masterclass of seam bowling. For much of his 20 overs, India could barely score a run, and he claimed four of the top seven batters. His second of two in two balls, having the in-form Nitish Reddy Kumar fending to the slips, was his 50th wicket in his 13th Test. His final figures were his best since the iconic 6 for 7 on debut at the MCG.The odds were against Australia going through another full summer without needing a replacement in their pace attack, but it’s worth remembering that Boland still needs an injury to get into the side ahead of the big three. He will go down as one of the game’s finest reserves.Related
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Boland leads the charge as Australia dominate on green pitch
In this series, it has been Josh Hazlewood twice withdrawing – first with a side strain and then with a calf problem – which has allowed Boland the opportunity to add to an extraordinary home record which, by the close of the first day, read 43 wickets at 13.34.It certainly fitted the category of not being a bad toss to lose for Pat Cummins. He would have batted, but it was a cloudy morning and as the players took the field the floodlights came on. The pitch had more bounce, movement and carry than any at the SCG in recent memory.It’s therefore also worth adding that anything Boland can do, Jasprit Bumrah could repeat as he hinted at in the action-packed conclusion to the day’s play.But for Australia, there was a brittle India top order to aim for amid the extraordinary decision from captain Rohit Sharma not to play this Test, regardless of whether it really was a selfless call by him or a selfless call he was encouraged to make.Boland didn’t have a lengthy wait to get the ball and, not for the first time, was swiftly into the wickets when Yashasvi Jaiswal edged into the slips to give Beau Webster his first catch on debut. The ball after Jaiswal’s departure, Boland came within a debatable blade of grass of removing Virat Kohli for a golden duck in what became one of the day’s major talking points. Initially, it appeared that Steven Smith had been able to flick the ball up remarkably for Marnus Labuschagne to take a rebound, but third umpire Joel Wilson ruled the ball had touched the ground.
“He’s been an amazing bowler the way he bowls line and length especially in Test cricket. It’s quite difficult because he’s so used to playing in these condition and you don’t feel like he’s playing his first initial matches, it feels like he’s been there for a long period of time”Rishabh Pant on Scott Boland
What it did allow was an engrossing contest between Boland and the struggling Kohli, who faced 25 balls for just five runs against him. The collective hold of Australia’s attack eventually became too much for Kohli, who, yet again, played away from his body to edge in the cordon – having been sent back by Rishabh Pant when looking for a single the ball before.”We’ve got pretty set plans on how we want to bowl to him,” Boland said on of Australia’s success against Kohli this season. “He sort of feels like he leaves a lot and then he wants to play the ball once he gets in. So once he gets in, we just want to switch our lines a little bit to fifth stump and it’s working at the moment.”It was the fourth time Boland had removed Kohli in Tests, putting him top of his strike list alongside Joe Root. That Root is there is also a link to the one time Boland has really been dominated in Test cricket as England used his metronomic strengths against him to take him for 4.91 an over during the 2023 Ashes. Should Boland be part of Australia’s attack at any stage in next summer’s Ashes, it will be fascinating to see how England’s batters approach him.Scott Boland is all smiles on the boundary line after dismissing Virat Kohli•Darrian Traynor/Getty ImagesThere have been glimpses of India trying to do something similar in this series, but brief onslaughts from Reddy and Pant in Adelaide came with India a long way back in the game, while Pant’s scoop at the MCG ended at deep third. At the SCG, they barely tried to fire a shot, albeit it being a very challenging surface. Boland’s spells for the day lined up as: 5-3-5-1; 7-3-10-1; 5-2-4-2; 3-0-12-0.”If there’s anything in the wicket he finds it, and if there’s nothing in the wicket he still manages to find a way through,” Webster said. “He’s relentless. Think it’s his line and length and his natural angle makes it really hard for right-handers, but when we see him go around the wicket to left-handers, it’s impressive stuff.”Even though just one wicket fell in the afternoon session as a partnership built between Pant and Ravindra Jadeja – the latter was dropped off Boland by Smith on 3 – it was at such a rate that the scoreboard never got away from Australia. When wickets then fell, India had barely moved anywhere.
Boland is a favourite wherever he goes around the country, and come the second innings of this match, there is little doubt he’ll be the same threat again. If Australia do regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Boland will have been a major reason why
“I think he’s been an amazing bowler the way he bowls line and length especially in Test cricket,” Pant said. “It’s quite difficult because he’s so used to playing in these condition and you don’t feel like he’s playing his first initial matches, it feels like he’s been there for a long period of time.”Credit to Australia’s hold over the scoring goes to the overall bowling effort, and a significant nod to Webster, who sent down 13 overs for 29 and was denied a first Test wicket when Nathan Lyon spilled a chance at gully. It will never be known how close Mitchell Marsh would have come to replicating those efforts, but he had not bowled that volume of overs in a Test innings since his five-wicket haul at The Oval in the 2019 Ashes.After tea, Boland’s perseverance paid off handsomely when Pant’s patience eventually snapped with a spliced pull to mid-on after an innings that had included more body blows than he could ever recall taking before. The next delivery lifted at Reddy, who sent it to second slip. Boland was then within a whisker of a hat-trick when he whistled the ball past the shoulder of Washington Sundar’s bat.At the end of the over, he returned to the boundary to a standing ovation from a sold-out SCG. He is a favourite wherever he goes around the country, and come the second innings of this match, there is little doubt he’ll be the same threat again. If Australia do regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Boland will have been a major reason why.
Former Spain manager Javier Clemente has sent a warning to Lamine Yamal, after the recent controversy surrounding the wonderkid's withdrawal from La Roja's squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Clemente added to the furore by questioning the player's personal life, saying he "won't last long" in the game if he "does not behave correctly".
Clemente questions Yamal's personal life
Yamal's runaway success in his career thus far has hit a few roadblocks for the first time over the past few months. In the summer, unsavoury reports about the winger's 18th birthday party generated a slew of headlines. Over the past few weeks, he has been at the centre of an ongoing dispute between Barcelona and the RFEF over his availability for the national side in light of a persistent groin injury. That issue came to a head on Monday, when the Spanish federation announced Yamal had undergone an "invasive procedure" to remedy the issue without any prior warning from La Blaugrana.
Clemente, who managed La Roja between 1992 and 1998 leading the side to three major international tournaments, focussed on Yamal's personal life when speaking to Spanish radio show 'Què T'hi Jugues'. The veteran coach suggested that if the 18-year-old does not focus on his football, he will start to see declining returns on the field.
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AFP
Yamal told to behave correctly
Clemente said: "As a player he is very good, but his problem is that if in his personal life he does not behave correctly as an athlete, he will not last long. That is clear. They are not going to allow it.
"The opponents already know how they play, they know how to see him and they know that he is one of the players who should not be allowed to play because he has such quality that he can do many things. He will have very special markings and surveillance."
While the former Betis and Atletico Madrid boss said Yamal is capable of "brilliant things", he suggested that the added scrutiny of the opposition means "he is not going to be as attractive as what we have seen so far."
Clemente refuses to add to Barcelona and RFEF feud
While he had stern words for Yamal, Clemente refused to add additional fuel to the fire surrounding the dispute between the player's club and the national team. He instead suggested that the public dispute should instead be dealt with in private.
When asked for his opinion on the spat he said it was "cockfighting", before adding: "I have not lived it and I will not live it because I have another concept of how to do things. What is true is that it has to be handled in a different way. Neither Barça has to face the Federation, nor the Federation Barça. Nor the coach. You have to carry that inside."
He went to say that "Barcelona is a very important club for the national team". Luis de la Fuente's squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkiye features four other players from La Blaugrana: Pau Cubarsi, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez.
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AFP
Yamal under increasing scrutiny
Clemente's comments, while not directly pertaining to the ongoing injury saga, are further evidence that Yamal is entering a different part of his career. Having now played 143 senior games for both club and country, he is being viewed through the lens of a seasoned professional, despite still being a teenager.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has said that the youngster has improved his discipline in light of his injury woes. Whether those comments were made to take heat off his player or they were a genuine assessment remains to be seen.
No timeline has been given for Yamal's return following his operation, however, if he is quickly brought back into the Barcelona side there will be renewed questions over his commitment to the national side. Given the ferocity with which the Spanish media can go after players, the next few months will be a strong test of the player's mentality.
De La Fuente has called up Ray Vallecano forward Jorge de Frutos in the 18-year-old's absence. La Roja are currently in Georgia ahead of their tie on November 15. They will then return to Seville to face Turkiye on November 18.
Manchester United have become known for relying on numerous top young prospects, with many playing key roles within the first-team and helping them achieve various levels of success.
The Red Devils have either promoted them from the academy ranks, or even paid big money for them in an attempt to secure Premier League glory in the future.
Kobbie Mainoo was one of the youngsters who emerged out of the youth ranks at Old Trafford, but his career has hit a stumbling block over the last few months under Ruben Amorim.
He’s rapidly fallen down the manager’s pecking order in the first-team ranks, which could result in a winter transfer away from his boyhood club in the upcoming window.
The same can’t be said for one other senior player, who has become a crucial player since the manager took the reins at the Red Devils a little over 12 months ago.
Amad Diallo’s key moments at Man Utd
Back in October 2020, United announced the addition of winger Amad Diallo from Italian side Atalanta, with many supporters unaware of the talent purchased by the board.
He would subsequently arrive a few months later during the January transfer window, with his first couple of years seeing him be a bit-part player and even being sent on loan twice.
However, Amorim’s arrival has seen the Ivorian become a key member of his squad over the last few months, even utilising the 23-year-old in a somewhat unnatural wing-back role.
The switch may have come as a surprise to many, but it has been a masterstroke and one that has allowed the youngster to create numerous moments to remember for the supporters.
Arguably, his biggest goal to date came in the Manchester Derby last campaign, with his last-minute effort securing a famous win at the Etihad for the Red Devils.
He’s even contributed on numerous occasions at Old Trafford, with his phenomenal quickfire hat-trick against Southampton in 2024/25 securing the side three crucial points.
The 2025/26 season has been somewhat quiet compared to the standards he’s set for himself over recent times – but he did manage to score a potential Goal of the Season contender against Nottingham Forest.
The star who could be United's next Amad
In his first 13 league games of the 2025/26 campaign, Amad has racked up a total of three combined goals and assists – with one of the efforts coming in that clash at the City Ground.
However, the manager will no doubt have to find a solution in the coming weeks, as the 23-year-old looks set to join up with the Ivory Coast squad for the African Cup of Nations.
It remains to be seen who will likely fill the void, especially with Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui also set to join up with their respective nations for the competition.
Such a period could see the hierarchy delve into the transfer market to land an immediate and or long-term solution to help provide needed depth in the wide areas.
Other areas of the squad will no doubt be targeted too, in the hope of finding a player with a similar profile to Amad, whilst having the potential to develop into a top-level talent.
The hierarchy have already completed one deal ahead of the transfer window, with Colombian teenager Cristian Orozco already making the move to Old Trafford.
The central midfielder set to join the club in the winter window from Fortaleza, subsequently costing a fee in the region of $1m (£750k) – a potential bargain fee.
However, despite being just 17 and operating in a different position, he does offer some similarities to United’s Ivorian star, in largely being an unknown quantity to many.
He’s also agreed to join before arriving at a later date, like Amad, which may only generate even more excitement until he formally joins the club at the start of 2026.
Cristian Orozco – stats against El Salvador
Statistics
Tally
Minutes played
90
Touches
107
Pass accuracy
75%
Passes completed
63
Tackles made
2
Duels won
9
Recoveries made
9
Dribbles completed
2
Stats via SofaScore
Orozco, who’s been dubbed a “destroyer” by one analyst, recently featured for his country at the U17 World Cup, playing a key role in all of their matches, with his showing against El Salvador showcasing the talent he possesses at his tender age.
He managed to complete 67 passes at an accuracy rate of 75%, whilst also completing two dribbles within his total of 107 touches – highlighting his incredible talents with the ball at his feet.
The teenager also won nine duels and nine recoveries alongside two tackles – numbers which could make him the perfect ball-winner for Amorim’s side in the years ahead.
His move to England certainly does have huge glimpses of the previous deal for Amad, with the fanbase undoubtedly hoping that the youngster can develop into another top talent.
However, expectations will no doubt need to be managed during his time in Manchester, but there’s no reason why the supporters can’t begin to get excited about the pending transfer.
Cunha 2.0: INEOS to fast-track Man Utd bid for 'best winger in England'
Manchester United look set to make a huge move for one player in the upcoming January window.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is set to be without one star for a month through injury, with their stance on a January transfer solution also revealed.
Chelsea lose Champions League ground amid suspension and injury woes
Chelsea’s automatic Champions League qualification prospects suffered a significant setback in Bergamo on Tuesday evening as Maresca’s side surrendered a half-time advantage to lose 2-1 against Atalanta.
The Blues controlled proceedings during the opening period, with Joao Pedro sliding home his inaugural Champions League goal after Reece James’s precise delivery in the 25th minute.
However, a second-half capitulation, triggered by Gianluca Scamacca’s 55th-minute header and Charles De Ketelaere’s deflected 83rd-minute winner, leaves Chelsea precariously positioned in 11th place with two league phase games remaining.
Maresca confronts mounting selection dilemmas as Chelsea’s injury list continues to pose a real problem, as it has done all season.
The Italian has made more squad rotations than any other manager in the Premier League this term, with Levi Colwill, Cole Palmer, Benoit Badiashile, Malo Gusto, Enzo Fernández, Roméo Lavia, Pedro Neto, Dario Essugo, Liam Delap, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah, Andrey Santos, Moises Caicedo and Josh Acheampong all sidelined at various points this term through injury or suspension.
Mykhailo Mudryk also remains banned for alleged doping violations, though some surprise reports suggest he could actually return to action next month.
Mudryk poised for surprise January return as club eye Chelsea loan deal
The Ukrainian hasn’t played since November 2024.
ByEmilio Galantini 3 days ago
Palmer, the Blues’ talisman, is still working his way back to full fitness as Maresca manages his workload meticulously.
The England international’s persistent fitness struggles have restricted him to just six appearances across all competitions this season, and Chelsea quite simply need him firing.
Maresca confirmed that Palmer cannot feature in consecutive matches within three-day periods right now, prioritising long-term availability over immediate selection.
Roméo Lavia’s latest in a long line of injury problems has depleted Chelsea’s midfield alongside Caicedo’s suspension, with it being unclear as to when the 21-year-old Belgian will return.
Colwill’s ruptured ACL sustained during pre-season means the promising defender is in line to miss the vast majority of 2025/2026, with Essugo sidelined after suffering a setback.
The most pressing of all these concerns, though, is Delap’s return to the treatment table.
Chelsea handed Liam Delap injury update
According to BBC journalist Nizaar Kinsella, Delap’s shoulder injury, sustained during Chelsea’s goalless draw with Bournemouth, appears significantly less serious than first feared.
The striker is now expected to return within four weeks rather than the two months originally mooted, which comes as good news for Chelsea, even if Maresca is poised to be minus Delap for a month.
The 22-year-old departed the Vitality Stadium in considerable distress, landing awkwardly after a first-half aerial challenge with Marcos Senesi and immediately sparking concerns about a prolonged absence.
Initial reports suggested Delap faced between six and eight weeks sidelined, potentially ruling him out until February and forcing Chelsea to accelerate Emmanuel Emegha’s pre-arranged summer transfer from Strasbourg.
However, subsequent scans delivered encouraging news by confirming no fracture, drastically reducing the recovery timeline.
Maresca had expressed genuine concern post-match, admitting the shoulder issue “looked quite bad” and lamenting Chelsea’s serious bad luck.
The revised timeline means Delap could potentially return before the January transfer window closes, alleviating immediate pressure to bolster Chelsea’s attacking options.
The England Under-21 international has endured a frustrating debut campaign at Stamford Bridge, having already missed two months earlier this season with a hamstring injury sustained in August.
Delap has managed just six starts across all competitions since his £30 million summer arrival from Ipswich, scoring once against Barcelona in the Champions League.
As the former Man City striker continues his recovery, it appears Marc Guiu and Pedro will continue shouldering striker responsibilities.
Carl Crowe, the KKR spin consultant, has been appointed LSG’s spin-bowling coach and joins the staff that also includes head coach Justin Langer and fast-bowling coach Bharat Arun
ESPNcricinfo staff16-Oct-2025
Kane Williamson hasn’t played for New Zealand since the Champions Trophy final in March•AFP/Getty Images
Kane Williamson has joined IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as a strategic advisor ahead of the 2026 season, the team’s owner Sanjiv Goenka said on social media on Thursday, while Carl Crowe has joined the team as spin-bowling coach.The franchise also confirmed that Justin Langer and Bharat Arun would continue as the head coach and the fast-bowling coach, respectively.”His leadership, strategic insight, deep understanding of the game, and ability to inspire players make him an invaluable addition to the team,” Goenka wrote of Williamson, the 35-year-old former New Zealand captain.Williamson said: “I’m really excited to be joining LSG. They have a hugely talented squad and a great group of coaches which I’m looking forward to working alongside. It’s always special being involved in the IPL, the best franchise competition in the game.”Williamson, who has been a part of the Super Giants franchise while with their Durban team in the SA20, last played for New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final against India in March this year. He has not retired from international cricket yet but, having opted for a casual contract with New Zealand Cricket, his appearances are likely to be sporadic.
He will miss the upcoming T20I series at home against England, but is targeting a comeback in the ODIs that follow. The first of those 50-over matches takes place at his home town in Tauranga on October 26.Though a veteran of the IPL, Williamson hasn’t had much to do in the last two seasons. In IPL 2023, playing for Gujarat Titans (GT), he picked up a knee injury in their first game of the season and played no further part in the competition. In IPL 2024, while also with GT, he played just two games, scoring 27 runs in 27 balls. He wasn’t bought at the mega auction ahead of IPL 2025.More recently, he was at The Hundred in England, where Williamson had a good if unspectacular run, scoring 204 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 129.93 for London Spirit, who finished seventh among eight teams.Related
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“We enter every IPL season full of hope and expectation – 2026 is no exception and we are excited about the work we have ahead of us as we continue building a franchise into one the Goenka family, our players, sponsors, supporters and fans are all immensely proud of,” Langer said. “The work hasn’t stopped since the end of last season as we prepare to make our mark on this season’s IPL. The hope, expectation and passion for LSG is growing strongly. We are looking forward to strengthening our squad in the coming months. And, we look forward to seeing Ekana bathed in blue when the season kicks off.”Williamson has no experience being part of a team’s support staff, but is an immensely respected figure in international cricket. He captained New Zealand to the 2019 ODI World Cup final and won the inaugural World Test Championship two years later. LSG, led by Rishabh Pant and coached by Justin Langer, finished in seventh place in IPL 2025, the same as in IPL 2024, after finishing third in their first two seasons in IPL 2022 and 2023.Though Williamson was with Durban’s Super Giants in SA20 2024, he was not retained, and the franchise had conversations with him about joining the revamped coaching staff at LSG.Crowe, meanwhile, is the second coach from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise to move to LSG after former India bowling coach Arun in July this year. Arun was with KKR for three seasons as bowling coach.After Zaheer Khan’s exit, not made public by the franchise yet, LSG are yet to confirm whether assistant coaches Lance Klusener and Vijay Dahiya will stay with the team or not.
Newcastle United’s PIF bosses are backing Eddie Howe to find solutions to the current hole they have slipped into. It is important that this point is emphasised, with noise levels rising regarding the manager’s future.
Yes, Newcastle are 14th in the Premier League, and their away form has gone beyond merely concerning. But the Magpies are also into the last eight of the Carabao Cup, and have made a confident start to their Champions League campaign too.
However, there is an expectation that Howe will make the necessary adjustments to bring United back into contention at the top of the table.
10
Games
7
7
Wins
1
0
Draws
3
3
Losses
3
20
Goals scored
7
9
Goals conceded
8
2.1
PPG
1.16
There is also an acceptance that a difficult summer transfer window and the bitter sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool have knocked things out of kilter. Luckily, Nick Woltemade has been a shining light, and he proved his skill once again this week for Germany.
Nick Woltemade's start to the season
Since joining Newcastle from Stuttgart for a club-record £69m fee at the end of August, Woltemade has posted six goals for the Toon, quickly bedding in on English soil and proving he has what it takes to succeed Isak in the long run.
Moreover, he has scored three times in his past two outings for Germany, scoring a brace as his side sank Luxembourg in their World Cup qualifier on Friday evening.
Newcastle have their issues this season, but it’s curious that the 23-year-old has made it so his integration in Isak’s still-warm seat has not been one of them.
The 6 foot 6 striker’s unique skillset has seen him dovetail right into a system that has yet to click together, and when wide players like Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga find form, Howe could pull the strings of a frontline capable of throwing down with any defence across Europe.
Of course, football is about more than just the forwards, and there’s another Tyneside star whose performances this season have established him as one of the best in the business.
He’s even worth more than Woltemade.
The Newcastle star worth even more than Woltemade
Newcastle have many fine players contracted to St. James’ Park, but Sandro Tonali is fast emerging as the cream of the crop.
After joining from AC Milan for around £55m in 2023, the 25-year-old faced difficulties, but he rebounded last year and redefined Howe’s midfield, instrumental in a long and brilliant purple patch that led to glory.
Now, he is “the best player by a distance”, according to correspondent Craig Hope, and while Newcastle have some issues in the build-up, Tonali is becoming the defining force alongside Bruno Guimaraes.
Largely, this is because the Italian has become far more progressive on the ball, ranking this season among the top 5% of Premier League midfielders for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
And he is beginning to revel in a new level of recognition, with pundits and observers from afar coming to understand that Tonali is one of the best in the business.
His market value is a reflection of that. Woltemade might be the talk of the town, and in many ways, rightly so, but Tonali cut from a different cloth. He’s a maestro, endowed with impressive athleticism and unteachable technical skill.
There is talk of him falling into the same financial bracket as someone like Guimaraes, over the £100m mark, and this is indeed an accurate emphasis on the calibre of superstar at Howe’s disposal.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said that Newcastle had “made a mistake” when signing the midfielder, given his suspension throughout his first year in England, but Tonali is now showing he’s one of the best Premier League signings of recent years, more so, even, than Woltemade.
The two Newcastle United stars who could be sold instead of Bruno and Isak
Captain re-asserts his status in trademark day of bowling schemes
Matt Roller15-Oct-20240:57
Potts hopes to prove himself after first overseas wicket
Ben Stokes has spent four Test matches in a row watching on like an anxious landlord from the England dressing-room. Much as he might want to trust his tenants to keep his house in order, he has found himself reminding them to let some air in through the bathroom window to stave off mould, and that the recycling bins go out on Monday nights, not Tuesday.Stokes did his best to empower his deputy Ollie Pope but his presence in the dressing-room ensured constant comparison. “Being stand-in captain is always harder than being captain,” Stokes, who lost his only Test deputising for Joe Root, acknowledged. “You’re only going to do it for a certain amount of games, and you’re still trying to push forward what the current captain is doing.”After nine weeks sidelined with a torn hamstring, Stokes made up for lost time on his comeback in Multan. Pakistan’s unprecedented decision to recycle the pitch from the first Test was the catalyst for a series of creative plans and field changes across 90 overs in the field for England, all of them carrying the captain’s distinctive fingerprints.The pitch played much better than expected, but has developed many more distinctive characteristics since England wrapped up their innings win on Friday. The cracks on a good length had widened and the grass on the rest of the square was much shorter. Conditions were much more conducive to reverse-swing, and balls regularly shot through lower than they should have done.This was never likely to be a surface conducive to slip catches, and the population of England’s slip cordon dropped from two to one before the end of Matthew Potts’ first over. By the start of the seventh, Stokes had spinners operating in tandem, a pattern he maintained until the 27th, when Potts returned with no slips but several catchers in front of the bat.Pakistan made clear when selecting a team featuring only one frontline quick – Aamer Jamal, who was their third seamer last week – that they expected a turning pitch. Even still, Leach’s success with the hard new ball spoke to Stokes’ reading of the game: not since the 19th century had an England spinner taken two wickets in the first 10 overs of a match.Matthew Potts struck shortly before tea•AFP/Getty ImagesThe double-spin returned for the first 17 overs of the afternoon session, but then 16 of the next 17 were bowled by the seamers. Stokes took a simple catch in an unorthodox short mid-off position to dismiss Saim Ayub off Potts’ bowling shortly before tea, and had the ball tailing late in his own five-over burst.The ball continued to reverse just enough after tea: Brydon Carse had Saud Shakeel caught behind with an 87mph/140kph effort ball, which shaped away to take the outside edge. He screamed in celebration, and pointed to assistant coach Paul Collingwood on the balcony after they had hatched a plan in the interval.For one brief period in the day, Stokes used seam and spin in tandem: between the 64th and 73rd overs, when the old ball was offering almost nothing. It was during that phase that he made his one major error of the day, failing to review a caught-behind decision when replays confirmed that Mohammad Rizwan had edged Potts behind on 6.”There was a decent noise going past the bat [which] the guys in front of the bat heard,” Potts said, “but the slip and keeper didn’t hear anything. We’ve got to err on the side of caution with that and trust the guys behind us, because they have the best view of it. I thought, potentially, it was a softish noise, which could have been bat on pad.”Potts developed his reverse-swing skills in India earlier this year, where he was the stand-out bowler on England Lions’ tour. Last month, he had a Kookaburra ball reversing when he took 9 for 68 in an innings for Durham. “The Lions chance was a great chance to explore, try different things, and find something that works,” he said. “It’s about implementing those ideas here.”Related
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Reviews aside, Pope generally led England well in the field across his four Tests in interim charge. But he never quite shook off the sense of a Stokes impersonator, moving the pieces in the way he had been instructed rather than through his own instinct. His plans paid off on the fourth evening of the first Test, though that owed plenty to Pakistan’s mental exhaustion after 150 overs being run ragged in the field.By contrast, Stokes has developed an aura about him that means his team-mates would not think to second-guess his decision-making. “When you come up with a plan, you’ve got to have 100% buy-in with that plan,” Potts said. “For the bowlers that were given the task with a certain plan, there was 100% buy-in from everyone and we created a lot of chances throughout the day.”Perhaps Stokes’ best decision came shortly before the close. Shoaib Bashir struggled in the first Test, returning figures of 1 for 156, and was twice slog-swept for four by Rizwan in his first over of the final session. But Stokes empowered Bashir with the second new ball when it was only four overs old, and the extra bounce enabled him to beat centurion Kamran Ghulam in the flight to bowl him.There is no telling how this pitch will behave across the next four days on its second use, making it hard to draw conclusions from Pakistan’s overnight total. But it is clear that after spending four Tests watching on from afar, Stokes had taken back the keys and was thrilled to be back at home.
Ex-Celtic striker Charlie Mulgrew has told the Hoops exactly what they must offer Jurgen Klopp to become their Brendan Rodgers replacement in what would be a sensational move.
The Bhoys are still looking for their next manager as Martin O’Neill continues to be a success as interim boss. The 73-year-old made it two wins from two on Sunday after defeating Old Firm rivals Rangers 3-1 after extra-time in the Scottish League Cup semi-final.
It was just like old times for O’Neill, who watched on as goals from Callum McGregor and a first goal for Callum Osmand ensured that his side got one over on their biggest rivals once again.
Relieved to earn a place in the final, O’Neill told reporters at full-time: “It was an incredible game. We were terrific and got the goal in front and got one disallowed for offside.
“We were in command, but I was saying to [assistant] Shaun Maloney we needed a goal to kill the game off and six or seven minutes later, Rangers get the penalty. I was 73 on Monday… I’m 94 now!”
Victory against Rangers has done O’Neill’s chances of becoming the next Celtic manager no harm, that’s for sure. Although the Northern Irishman was quick to admit that he’s just keeping the seat warm when first arriving, two wins from two has sparked rumours that he could yet get the job until the end of the current campaign.
With Ange Postecoglou taking a break from football and reportedly pulling out of the race and other candidates such as Nicky Hayen still in a job, O’Neill may make perfect sense. He’s more experienced than most, especially at Celtic Park, and he is already turning things around.
But he’s not everyone’s first choice. Instead, Mulgrew has urged Dermot Desmond to “go big” and turn to a Champions League winner in Klopp.
Mulgrew urges Celtic to "go big" and hire Jurgen Klopp
Speaking on the latest edition of The Warm-Up Show, ex-Hoops player Mulgrew urged Celtic to hire Klopp and offer the former Liverpool manager a contract worth as much as £7m-a-year, which works out at £135k-a-week.
There’s no denying that it would be an incredible appointment. Klopp transformed Liverpool, awaking English giants and taking them back to Champions League glory, but it seems unlikely that he would make a return to the dugout for Celtic.
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That said, whilst unlikely, all hope isn’t lost. The Liverpool legend recently admitted on Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO podcast that a return to management is still possible – saying: “I’m 58, that means I could make the decision in a few years, I don’t know. Do I have to make the decision today?
“Then I will not coach again. But thank God, I don’t have to do that. I can just see what the future brings.”