تحدث ماليك فوفانا لاعب فريق ليون الفرنسي، عن سبب رفضه الانتقال إلى ليفربول وتشيلسي، خلال سوق الانتقالات الصيفي.
وأكد فوفانا أن ليفربول أبدى اهتمامًا حقيقيًا به خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية، وأفادت صحيفة “ليكيب” الفرنسي في يونيو الماضي، أن ليفربول كان في محادثات مع وكلاء اللاعب.
وقدّره ناديه بقيمة 50 مليون يورو، واستمرت هذه الاتصالات بين ليفربول ووكلاء فوفانا حتى يوليو، قبل أن تتراجع في الأسابيع الأخيرة.
وأوضح فوفانا في تصريحات أدلى بها لصحيفة “HBVL” البلجيكية: “كان هناك اهتمام من هذين الناديين (ليفربول وتشيلسي)، لكن في النهاية لم يكن هناك شيء ملموس”.
وأضاف: “فكرتُ في الانتقال، لكنني الآن أعتقد أن الأهم هو أن ألعب كثيرًا، وهذا ما أراه ممكنًا في ليون، لأنه لا يزال أمامي بعض التقدم”.
اقرأ أيضًا | محمد صلاح يحرج أسطورة ليفربول بعد تصرفه في مباراة مصر وإثيوبيا
كان ليون يسعى للحصول على 50 مليون يورو، وفي ظل الصفقات الكبرى التي أبرمها ليفربول في الصيف وإنفاقه الواسع، أصبح اهتمامه غير ملموس، وقرر منح الثقة للاعبه الشاب ريو نجوموها.
وأبرم ليفربول عدة تعاقدات هجومية هذا الصيف، بضم ألكسندر إيزاك (125 مليون جنيه إسترليني)، وفلوريان فيرتز (116 مليون جنيه إسترليني)، وهوجو إيكيتيكي (79 مليون جنيه إسترليني)، والمهاجم الشاب ويل رايت (200 ألف جنيه إسترليني).
He suffered a side strain while batting during the game against England and was forced to retire hurt
Matt Roller20-Jun-2024
Brandon King looked to be in some pain•Associated Press
Brandon King is a doubt for the rest of the T20 World Cup after suffering a side strain in West Indies’ match against England in St Lucia on Wednesday night.King raced to 23 off 12 balls to get West Indies off to a flying start, including a towering 101-metre six off Reece Topley which flew with the wind over the midwicket boundary and necessitated a replacement ball.But he was injured while facing his 13th ball, having charged down the pitch attempting to hit Sam Curran through cover. King took one further step then crumpled over and was forced to retire hurt after receiving treatment from a member of West Indies’ medical staff.He did not field in England’s run chase, with Shimron Hetmyer replacing him as a substitute fielder, and Cricket West Indies confirmed he had been diagnosed with a side strain. “Brandon King has suffered a side strain and will not return to the field of play in this evening’s match,” CWI said.He has travelled to Barbados for West Indies’ Super Eight game against USA on Friday, but they are still awaiting the results of the MRI scans from the CWI medical team.Side strains tend to take several weeks to heal fully, making King a major doubt for the rest of the World Cup with only 10 days remaining before the end of the tournament. Captain Rovman Powell admitted that King’s injury was a “worrying” sign for his side.”Yes, a little bit worrying but hopefully he can pull through for the next game,” Powell said after England cruised past West Indies. “We know how important a player he is for us.”While King has not been at his best so far, with a top score of 34, it would be a significant blow to lose a senior player who stepped in as captain against South Africa last month while Powell was at the IPL.West Indies have five players on standby for the World Cup: Andre Fletcher, Kyle Mayers, Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh Jr. and Matthew Forde. Mayers is the most likely replacement, having been widely considered unfortunate to miss the initial cut, though Fletcher is another contender as a top-order batter.
Fair to say it’s been an eventful season for Tottenham Hotspur supporters, but it could have the happiest of endings.
Spurs have lost 19 Premier League matches this season to date, one more would be their most in a single campaign since 1935, thereby languishing 16th in the table.
However, on Thursday night, the Lilywhites overcame Bodø/Glimt in the Arctic Circle, so will now face Manchester United in the Europa League Final at San Mamés on 21 May.
Thus, Ange Postecoglou is potentially 90 minutes away from delivering Tottenham’s first trophy since 2008 and Champions League qualification, but Sami Mokbel of BBC Sport believes the Aussie could still be sacked, even if his team triumph in Bilbao.
So, who does Daniel Levy have in mind as a potential successor, and could his dream candidate be a José Mourinho repeat?
Tottenham's top target to replace Postecoglou
According to a report by Gianluca Di Marzio, Fulham manager Marco Silva is top of Levy’s list to become the new Spurs boss this summer, adding that the 47-year-old is ‘very popular’ amongst the Tottenham hierarchy.
Manager Focus
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As outlined by Dave Tickner of Football 365, there are numerous other candidates in the fray for this post, including Mauricio Pochettino, Kieran McKenna and Scott Parker, as well as Andoni Iraola, who, as noted by Jack Pitt-Brooke and Jay Harris of the Athletic, was the ‘leading candidate’ to get the job.
However, George Flood of the Evening Standard believes Spurs would face a ‘tough battle’ to ‘coax’ the Spaniard away from Bournemouth, hence why Silva now appears to be the front-runner.
Fulham managerMarcoSilva
So, would the Portuguese be a success in North London, or would he fare similarly to his compatriot who recently occupied the Hotspur hot seat?
Why Marco Silva would be a good fit for Tottenham
If ever a manager has burst onto the scene, Micah Richards style, it’s Marco Silva, first coming to the attention of a Premier League-watching audience in 2017 when he was appointed Hull City manager.
At the time, the Tigers were rock-bottom of the division, having won just one of the previous 18 games and, as outlined by Aaron Barton of Opta’s the Analyst, while he failed to keep Hull up, six wins from nine home games, most-notably beating Liverpool 2-0, caught the eye of others.
So, let’s assess Silva’s managerial career so far.
Estoril Praia
2011-14
116
46.55%
Segunda Divisão title
Sporting CP
2014-15
53
60.38%
Taça de Portugal
Olympiacos
2015-16
48
79.17%
Greek Super League title
Hull City
2017
22
36.36%
Resigned
Watford
2017-18
26
30.77%
Sacked
Everton
2018-19
60
40%
Sacked
Fulham
2021-present
182
45.86%
EFL Championship title
As the table outlines, after bouncing around Hull, Watford and Everton, Silva has really found a home in West London, winning the Championship title in 2022, on course to lead Fulham to a third successive mid-table finish, currently knocking on the door of European qualification.
For his work at Craven Cottage, Dean Jones of GiveMeSport has labelled Silva a “genius”, while Mak Pakhei of Total Football Analysis praises his tactical adaptability and flexibility, which allows Fulham to compete against the Premier League’s elite, doing so ‘without heavy investment’.
Fulham manager Marco Silva.
Meantime, as outlined by Nick Wright of Sky Sports, Silva and the aforementioned Mourinho are ‘old friends’, with the Fulham boss thanking his compatriot for changing how Portuguese coaches are viewed abroad.
Silva has previously been dubbed the ‘new Mourinho’, but their styles are very different, with Silva’s teams more attacking, proactive and on the front-foot.
Well, of course, lest we forget, Mourinho was Spurs manager for a period of time, but supporters would hope Silva’s potential tenure would go rather better, with Jack Pitt-Brooke of the Athletic outlining how José’s ‘defensive tactics…reactive training and repeated public criticism of the players’ in the media resulted in his downfall.
Despite the lazy, nationality-driven comparisons, Silva and Mourinho are very different coaches, and the current Fulham boss appears to have all the attributes to be a success at Spurs, potentially in charge of them for a Champions League campaign come September.
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The talk around Arsenal and their needs in the transfer window has primarily focussed on signing a striker.
It’s not hard to see why, as while Mikel Arteta’s side look set to have the best defence in the Premier League for the second season running come May, they have scored 11 goals fewer than Liverpool in as many games.
Moreover, in both cup exits earlier this season, the team had numerous chances to put the ball in the back of the net but failed to do so.
Arsenal managerMikelArtetaafter the match
However, with Martin Odegaard only producing four assists in the league this season, there is a real argument to be made that the side also need more creativity in the team, an argument the board may well agree with, as recent reports have linked them with an up-and-coming star who’s been compared to Mesut Özil.
Arsenal's transfer targets
So, as mentioned above, it would appear as if the primary area that Arsenal are looking to strengthen this summer is the striker position, and perhaps the most significant link has been to Viktor Gyokeres.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates after the match
Reports from late last week claimed that the Swede’s representatives will be in attendance for the Gunners’ Champions League clash with Real Madrid tonight and that he could be available for a fee of around £58m.
While a lot of money, such a fee could be worth it as the former Coventry City star has already amassed an incredible tally of 44 goals and 11 assists in 44 appearances this season, which could make him the dream partner for another of the club’s supposed targets: Arda Güler.
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Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are one of a few teams incredibly interested in signing the Real Madrid gem this summer.
In fact, while Los Blancos are in no rush to sell the youngster, they could be tempted by the right offer, and according to the report, the Gunners are preparing a bid in the region of €30m, which comes out to about £26m.
It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line for Arsenal, but given Güler’s talent and immense potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he could be their new Ozil.
Why Güler could be Arsenal's new Ozil
So, before going into the other reasons why Arsenal should be looking to sign Güler, it’s worth examining this comparison to Ozil and where it comes from.
Well, the first thing to say is that it’s not just us who have noticed the similarities, as when speaking to the Turkish media, as relayed by GOAL, in 2023, İlkay Gündoğan made the link between the two midfielders.
While it might sound somewhat hyperbolic at the moment, there are some other similarities, such as the fact that both players have played for Fenerbahçe, Real, and, if he makes the move, Arsenal.
Moreover, while the 20-year-old can play off the right, he’s also more than comfortable in attacking midfield, and considering Bukayo Saka is practically undroppable, that’s likely where he would play at the Emirates.
Additionally, while the Ankara-born dynamo is yet to achieve anything close to what the World Cup winner did in his career, the expectation is that by the time he retires, he will have.
For example, respected analyst Ben Mattinson has argued that he “could become Ballon d’Or level” in time, and journalist Dean Jones has previously described him as a “generational talent.”
Güler’s 24/25
Appearances
33
Starts
11
Minutes
1170′
Goals
3
Assists
7
Goal Involvements per Match
0.30
Minutes per Goal Involvement
117′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Furthermore, he’s already scored three goals and provided seven assists in just 1170 minutes of first-team football this term, and he has some seriously impressive underlying numbers to back up that output.
According to FBref, he sits in the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion, the top 6% for passes attempted, the top 9% for progressive passes, the top 10% for non-penalty goals and shot-creating actions and more, all per 90.
Ultimately, while he’s not on the level of a peak Ozil at the moment, Güler is an undeniably promising player, and given the lack of creativity that can sometimes hinder Arsenal, he is someone they should be going all out to sign in the summer.
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He has been smashing sixes regularly of late and has already made a name in the IPL. He now wants to take it to the next level
Himanshu Agrawal01-Sep-2024As more and more state associations in India have started running their own T20 leagues, which also attract IPL scouts, there has probably never been a wider pool of T20 players in the country. But only a handful of them graduate to the IPL. Karnataka’s Abhinav Manohar is one of them.Now, in his second coming as a T20 batter, he has developed an X-factor. Fair, all the games of the Maharaja T20 Trophy – Karnataka’s T20 league – this season have been played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the ball flies, but Manohar’s 52 sixes tower over the next best, Karun Nair’s 27.His team Shivammoga Lions finished fifth out of the six sides, but he was on top of the charts (until the final on Sunday) with 507 runs at a strike rate of 196.51 – the highest for a batter with at least 200 runs – with the standout aspect being his six-hitting. Manohar says he is blessed to have the ability to hit sixes “since a very young age,” and explains what has gone into him clearing the boundary effortlessly.”I have been practising a lot,” he told ESPNcricinfo on the sidelines of the Maharaja Trophy. “[To] each session I go, I bat [for] 300 balls, and hit about 150 sixes against spinners and fast bowlers, and to sidearm and throwdowns. That’s why it’s paying off today.”Manohar feels backing himself more has also helped him in upping his power game, something he didn’t do in the past.”When it comes to hitting sixes, I think I just back myself because I know I can clear any boundary,” he said. “Over the past few years, I didn’t back myself as much as I would like, but now I think I’m backing myself a little bit more.”The aggressive intent apart, Manohar also worked on some technical aspects over the last three to four months. He said he “didn’t have any goals as such coming into the season” and was content to just apply what he has worked on recently.”I just wanted to come out here and practice because this is the best stage to practice,” he said. “I have two batting coaches: Mithun Manhas from Gujarat Titans (GT), and Sudhindra Shinde, in Bangalore. Shinde has been helping me here because I go to him once a week, and we work on my batting.”They should take half the credit for my success in the Maharaja Trophy because they have been helping me day in, [and] day out. And hopefully, this is just the start of something better to come.”Manohar has learned to relax, even while freely flinging the cricket ball out of the ground – even with the opposition constantly in his ear and despite being a late starter in domestic cricket.Abhinav Manohar has showed some of his big hits in the IPL for Gujarat Titans•AFP/Getty Images”Just before going to bat, I tend not to be too serious because if I get into that serious zone about seeing what the other batsman is doing, [or] seeing how the wicket is playing, that plays in my mind,” Manohar said.Part of Manohar’s routine before walking out to bat includes joking around in the dressing room, which he says helps him remain calm. All he prefers in the form of practice in the lead-up to a game is to “knock the ball around just to open up my shoulders”.
****
Manohar’s domestic debut came for Karnataka in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) in 2021-22. He was already 27, when some cricketers are at the peak of their powers.But Manohar immediately looked to make up for lost time. On T20 debut, against Saurashtra in the preliminary quarter-final, he thumped an unbeaten 70 off just 49 balls. That knock included six sixes and was a rescue act in a successful chase of 146. He walked out at 34 for 3, and with Karnataka slipping to 60 for 4 in the tenth over, he took over the chase.In his maiden T20 tournament, Manohar scored 162 runs in four innings at an average of 54 and a strike rate of 150 in Karnataka’s run to the final.In February 2022, at the IPL mega auction, (GT), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) battled it out for him, before GT bagged Manohar for a whopping INR 2.6 crore, an amount 13 times his base price.Looking back at his first experience of the glitz of the IPL, Manohar said playing alongside Hardik Pandya, David Miller and Rashid Khan was surreal. That season, he played only eight of their 16 games and didn’t quite set the stage on fire, even as he rejoiced in GT’s title win.”It’s something that very few people are privileged to do,” he said. “I didn’t get to play in the finals, but that’s okay. It was a great feeling to actually share the dressing room with such great stars.”Although Manohar had a quiet start in the IPL, he featured in three half-century partnerships with Hardik out of the four times they batted together across the 2022 and 2023 editions. Manohar contributed with crucial cameos each time, and enjoyed his time with his captain both on and off the field.”Hardik is a very nice person; he’s very helpful,” Manohar said. “You can go to him with whatever you want. And he’s someone who just has that positive energy and aura around him all the time.”Despite a lean IPL 2022, Manohar’s power-hitting ability meant GT continued to mostly use him as a finisher in 2023, when he batted at No. 6 on four occasions out of six. Manohar then got only two games in 2024, though GT were without Hardik, but still took back some learnings from his 19 matches across the three seasons.”Having one or two good seasons in the IPL is a way to get noticed and break into the India side”•BCCI”To back myself a little bit more, and to have a steady mindset,” he said, when asked what he takes back from his IPL experiences. “Try not to let your emotions control you. That’s something that most of us don’t know how to do.”But Manohar kept pumping the runs when he got his chances. In the Maharaja Trophy in 2022, he hammered 352 runs at an average of 70.40 and a strike rate of 175.12 to emerge as the highest run-scorer for Mangalore United. That run of form carried on into SMAT in 2022-23, when Manohar played all eight matches, and struck 62 not out in the quarter-final against Punjab with five fours and as many sixes.Manohar was even the biggest earner at the Maharaja Trophy auction, bought for INR 15 lakh by Shivamogga. With 258 runs, he became Shivamogga’s second-highest run-scorer.But something much bigger is now coming up. It is the mega IPL auction for 2025, and Manohar not only hopes to remain with GT but also hopes to get more game time.”Wherever I go, I hope I get to play as many games as possible and get to express myself in the best way possible,” he said. “I feel I have finetuned my game this year, and I’m just hoping to carry the form I have in the Maharaja into the IPL.”That, though, is only one of his goals for the near future. His next wish is to find a permanent place in Karnataka’s List A side, having played just seven games since his debut in December 2021. Add to that his intention to also play first-class cricket which he hasn’t featured in yet.”I’m hoping the selectors back me a little more and see that I’m not only cut out for T20, but that I also have the skillset to play one-day and four-day [matches],” he said. “I’ve been fine-tuning my game to play the longer format – mindset-wise as well. So I’m hoping that this year I get a run in all three formats. And if I get a decent enough run, I’m sure I’ll do well over there.”The ultimate dream, however, remains wearing the India jersey. He has even charted a way out for that.”I would love to represent my country. Having one or two good seasons in the IPL is a way to get noticed and break into the India side,” Manohar said, citing the example of Riyan Parag, who made his India debut against Sri Lanka this year.
The challenges facing the competition were an undercurrent, but it made for a fascinating process
Andrew McGlashan30-Aug-2022The overriding view of the eight clubs after the BBL draft was that they got what they wanted. But did the BBL get what it wanted? That is less clear-cut.Left on the sidelines from the platinum pool were 41,127 T20 runs between the five players not selected, and 1288 wickets from Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard (with all due to respect to the 50 taken by Faf du Plessis and one by Jason Roy).It was always likely that some of the platinum names would not be taken, but for it to be those five may have had a few of the executives both inside and outside Cricket Australia moving a little uneasily.Availability was a watchword – the looming presence of the new South Africa and UAE leagues was an undercurrent – but it was not the only factor. Except for David Willey and Shadab Khan, the five platinum players not selected would have been available for largely the same period as those who did get picked. Meanwhile, Melbourne Renegades, for example, are willing to need replacements all three of draft signings.It was a fascinating part of the whole event. The teams were there to build squads they believe can win the BBL. That is how coaches, list managers, and captains are judged. If it were only about getting those players perceived as the biggest crowd pullers, then it would be difficult to ever sack someone for losing.After 11 seasons with Sydney Thunder, Usman Khawaja signed with Brisbane Heat for the upcoming BBL•Queensland CricketWhile not directly linked to overseas players at the time, there was a telling comment when Brisbane Heat parted ways with Chris Lynn earlier this year. “This is a sign that Brisbane Heat are going more to winning than entertaining,” Ian Healy, a Queensland Cricket director who was part of the decision, said. “That gives a lot of pleasure to fans. I don’t think the winning part has come easily for us.”Significantly, too, the supporters of each club are only a fraction of the audience the BBL wants to attract. It’s TV money and viewership that pays the bills and, in that area, the shift will certainly be towards names first, results second. Finding the right balance is the (multi) million-dollar question. Although, having watched a lot of sport during Covid with limited or no crowds, it was a reminder that the people in stadiums are vital to the TV product as well.Russell was the name most commonly mentioned as each team’s turn came up, followed closely by du Plessis who had been one of the earliest nominations in the draft when it was launched. There was a thought that Melbourne Stars might bring Russell back, but instead, they went for Trent Boult. Heat had been expected to show interest in du Plessis, but they went with Sam Billings.It is also worth saying at this point, in case it gets lost with a focus on a few big names who did not get selected, that 24 very fine cricketers were signed up on Sunday evening. They can all be entertainers, some can build their names on a wider stage and a few new stories can start to be told.Related
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There was plenty of logic in the decisions the teams made, even the platinum-round pass from Perth Scorchers which had been widely expected. The BBL will see Liam Livingstone, one of the finest T20 batters in the world, and Boult, one of the finest left-arm quicks ever, this coming season. Of course, Rashid Khan is back with Adelaide Strikers, if only for eight games.It is hard to see the BBL moving out of its December-January window which covers the school holidays, so the issues that have become more significant this season aren’t going away, but whether anyone steps back and assesses the 14-game competition that means the cricketing season is extended by almost two months is another question.Not insignificantly, Willey, the one platinum player with full availability, turned down an offer from the South Africa league to commit to the full season in Australia because it is a better fit for his family situation. The BBL will hope that it is a view that can be shared.Still, the tournament will need more money. Salary caps could reach AU$4million under the next MoU, up from the current AU$1.9million with top Australian players set for hefty increases. There is also a push, and not just from CA, to encourage the UAE league to shift its dates a little later into January.Another broader question is whether it is time to throw the entire BBL open to a draft process (it made for engaging viewing) with some built-in loyalty programme along the line of the retention option. That may happen only if the league was ever to privatise, a model that has been brought back into the spotlight in recent weeks.As far as this season goes, the draft brought immediate accountability to teams as decisions were made because it was clear who they did not pick. That will now extend through the tournament. How will the calls made on an August evening in Melbourne play out by the BBL final on February 4? For the teams themselves, holding the trophy aloft will be all that matters. As it should be. Whether that is enough for the league is another issue.
How the West Indies allrounder turned up late at IPL 2020 but made an instant impact
Hemant Brar02-Nov-2020Jason Holder wouldn’t have been in the UAE had Mitchell Marsh not hurt his ankle. He might not have featured in the playing XI had Kane Williamson’s thigh injury not forced a rejig of plans.But here he is and, though he may not have taken IPL 2020 by storm, he has made enough important contributions in a short time to keep the Sunrisers Hyderabad alive in the tournament.Over the years, the Sunrisers have been a bowling team. But when Bhuvneshwar Kumar was ruled out because of a thigh injury and Siddarth Kaul failed to step up, their fast bowling resources seemed bereft of experience. Although Sandeep Sharma swung the new ball and T Natarajan nailed the yorkers at the death, the Sunrisers lacked the glue to keep their seam attack together.That aside, the Sunrisers problems were manifold. In the absence of an experienced Indian batsman, their middle order was looking shaky. That meant Williamson could not be dropped. With David Warner, Jonny Bairstow and Rashid Khan being shoo-ins for the other overseas spots, Holder had to wait on the sidelines.At the very first opportunity he got – as a replacement for the injured Williamson against the Rajasthan Royals – Holder made an impact. Playing his first IPL game since 2016, Holder picked up three wickets and effected a run-out as the Sunrisers restricted the Royals to a below-par 154 for 6, which Manish Pandey and Vijay Shankar helped chase down with ease.Before the IPL, Holder had a successful outing in the Caribbean Premier League where he led the Barbados Tridents. Although the Tridents finished second from last, Holder was their best player with 192 runs at an average of 21.33 with a strike rate of 140.14 and ten wickets at an economy of 6.63. But having not been bought at the IPL auction, Holder had other plans: when he was called up as a replacement for Marsh, he was on a vacation.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”I left a vacation to come here and play, I left the missus,” Holder to the IPL website after the Royals game. “It was hard enough making the decision to come over and play. I am glad I did, and to get the opportunity tonight and making use of it, it is a pleasing feeling.”In the next match, against the Kings XI Punjab, he again made telling contributions. Using the slower ball to good effect, Holder picked up the wickets of Chris Gayle and Chris Jordan and, suddenly, the Sunrisers seemed to have found the leader of their pace attack.Even though the Sunrisers lost that game chasing a paltry 127, the team management quickly understood Holder’s role was important: he provided balance and experience in both the bowling and batting departments.When Williamson returned, the Sunrisers made room for Holder by replacing Bairstow with Wriddhiman Saha. Leaving Bairstow out was a gamble, but Saha’s 87 off 45 balls ensured it paid off as the Sunrisers beat the Delhi Capitals emphatically.Before Holder came into the side, the Sunrisers were forced to save Sandeep Sharma’s two overs for the backend of the innings. But with Holder and Natarajan now sharing the responsibility at the death, Warner could use Sharma and his swing for three overs upfront. That resulted in the Sunrisers picking up the most wickets (41) by any team in the second half of the tournament, with Holder, Sharma and Rashid Khan leading the way with eight scalps each and Natarajan just behind at seven. They also have the best average (21.00) and best economy rate (7.23) in that period.Against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Holder proved his worth with the bat as well after registering figures of 2 for 27. The Sunrisers were playing with only four established batsmen and all of them were back in the hut at 87 for 4 in a chase of 121. The scenes of their botched up chase against the Kings XI would have flashed in front of their eyes but, valuing his experience, the Sunrisers promoted Holder ahead of Abdul Samad.
On November 5, Holder will turn 29. An advance birthday celebration would be helping the Sunrisers make the playoffs by beating defending champions and title favourites Mumbai Indians in the final league match on Tuesday
Holder used his long levers to smash three sixes and a four in an unbeaten 26 off ten balls and, with calmness, took the panic-stricken Sunrisers home.”It has been a while since I played in the IPL,” he said after the victory. “For me, I was just longing for another opportunity and I got an opportunity this time. So just trying to make the most of it.”In the 2020 IPL auction, Holder had listed his reserve price at INR 75 lakh but, despite being consistently ranked among the top two allrounders in Test cricket, a format in which he is the West Indies captain, Holder didn’t attract any bids.This is his second stint with the Sunrisers – he played for them in 2014 as well. But having come in without any expectations this time, he has become an unexpected key performer for them.The pitches in the UAE have offered bounce and pace to seamers, which has worked in Holder’s favour. He has also been tasked with playing cameos in the lower order, which he is more than capable of. With eight wickets in four games and a decisive knock with the bat, Holder has definitely made the most of his chances.On November 5, Holder will turn 29. An advance birthday celebration would be helping the Sunrisers make the playoffs by beating defending champions and title favourites Mumbai Indians in the final league match on Tuesday.
O técnico Tite era só sorrisos na sala de imprensa do Maracanã, após a vitória por 2 a 0 sobre o Fluminense, pelo jogo de ida da semifinal do Campeonato Carioca. Apesar da felicidade com o triunfo, o técnico tratou de afirmar que a vaga na decisão ainda está em disputa.
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Vitória incontestável
– Um grande jogo. Um jogo digno da grandeza do Fla-Flu, da qualidade técnica das duas equipes, de uma grande apresentação. E um resultado inconteste. Não dá para avaliar os números agora, não tem jeito. A adrenalina fica projetando uma semifinal ainda aberta. – disse Tite
Satisfeito com o desempenho, Tite exaltou a superioridade do Flamengo na partida, tanto no ataque quanto na defesa. O técnico completou falando sobre a boa relação que tem com o elenco.
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– Tem uma relação de profissionais que são transparentes e leais. Que querem trabalhar. E querem merecer através do trabalho. Não quer tirar nada do adversário ou de arbitragem, mas também não quer que ninguém tire o que é seu. É um direito que ela tem. Ela procura dentro do trabalho se fazer merecedora. Às vezes o jogo do desempenho não é o jogo do placar, mas às vezes se traduz. Não temos familiares, temos um grupo extraordinário -, finalizou.
⚽ COMO FOI A PARTIDA?
Na etapa inicial, Flamengo e Fluminense fizeram um clássico movimentado. O Flamengo começou a partida dominando. No início, o destaque foi para Everton Cebolinha, que teve velocidade e inteligência para encontrar espaços na defesa. Sem espaços, o Tricolor só assustou o Flamengo aos 12, mas levou um contra-ataque que quase terminou em gol de Pedro.
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A partir dos 30, o Flamengo voltou a controlar a partida e, aos 46, abriu o placar. Após transição rápida, Pulgar cruzou na cabeça de Cebolinha, que cabeceou para o fundo das redes.
No segundo tempo, o Flamengo seguiu dominando. Mesmo com a melhora Tricolor após a entrada de Lima, o Rubro-negro continuou com a posse de bola e a iniciativa. Após a lesão de Ayrton Lucas, a equipe de Tite começou a jogar mais pelo meio.
Sem Thiago Santos, expulso após falta duríssima em Cebolinha, o Fluminense passou a administrar a derrota por pouco, já visando o segundo jogo, que acontece no próximo sábado. No fim, após um cruzamento incrível de Arrascaeta, Pedro deu números finais à partida.
✅ O QUE VEM POR AÍ?
O próximo jogo das duas equipes é no próximo sábado (16), às 21h, no Maracanã, pelo segundo jogo da semifinal.
In an early blow for new manager Wilfried Nancy, Liverpool have now reportedly agreed terms to sign a young Celtic defender.
Nancy outlines "proactive" style as Celtic announce manager
Celtic took their time, but the Bhoys finally have their new manager in the form of Nancy. The Frenchman has arrived fresh from MLS side Columbus Crew and will be looking to pick up where interim boss Martin O’Neill left off. The 73-year-old took the Scottish giants from title despair back into the race with Hearts, but now it’s up to Nancy to complete the job.
Speaking to reporters after arriving, the new manager said: “I don’t consider myself as a boss. I am a leader. And for me the definition of a leader is create a good environment to help people express themselves. For me, that is so important. Because of my background, I was able to connect with people.
“My style of play is about the way I live. I like to be proactive in my life, I like to discover things. I also like to try things because the more you try things, the more you learn and the more you’re going to maximise your chance to have success in your life.
“We want to take care of the ball. The ball is the only tool in our life, without talking, that we can connect people. So can we use the ball to create emotions? Can we use the ball to score goals? Can we use the ball to have messages between us? So that’s why I want proactive football.”
Doak 2.0: Celtic lost "superstar" for £225k, now he's worth more than Engels
Celtic lost a young talent last year who is now valued at more than club-record signing Arne Engels.
1 ByDan Emery Dec 5, 2025
Before the new manager’s even had the chance to look at emerging stars, however, he’s set to lose young defender Dara Jakiemi to Premier League giants Liverpool.
Liverpool agree terms to sign Jakiemi
As reported by The Secret Scout, Liverpool have now agreed terms to sign Jakiemi from Celtic. They described the 15-year-old defender as “aggressive” and there’s no doubt that he would have been one to watch in Scotland. Now, however, Nancy will seemingly never get the chance to work with him.
Whilst Jakiemi is one for the future, it still represents a frustrating blow for Celtic and shows where they’re at right now. Having lost the likes of Ben Doak in previous seasons to Liverpool, the last thing the Bhoys would have wanted is a repeat.
Nancy should be keen to turn towards the academy if given the chance, even if he is to lose one of his young defenders in the early stages of his tenure. An emerging star would, of course, save Celtic the desperate need of adding several January additions.
Celtic star with 'high ceiling' could be biggest winner of Nancy's arrival
It hasn't been the strongest start to the season for the Kansas City Royals, who, despite sitting at 29-25, are in just fourth place in the AL Central as we approach Memorial Day. There is some reason for optimism, however, thanks to a rising star in their farm system: first baseman Jac Caglianone.
A 22-year-old prospect out of the University of Florida, Caglianone has been on an absolute tear since being called up to the Triple A Omaha Storm Chasers just one week ago. He's slashing .346/.357/.923 with nine hits and 10 RBI over his first six games and 26 at-bats, and homered for a fifth time on Sunday afternoon against the Salt Lake Bees. It's his fourth consecutive game with a dinger.
Here's a look at the monumental swing:
Caglianone finished Sunday's contest three for five, with two home runs and three RBI in the Storm Chasers' 5-4 extra innings win.
It's only a matter of time before the former Gator gets his shot in the big leagues with Kansas City.