All posts by n8rngtd.top

It goes without saying that West Ham United need to mount a big response after last weekend's chastening 6-0 home defeat to London rivals Arsenal in the Premier League.

The malaise has been spreading for a while in east London as West Ham still seek their first victory of 2024 – having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Bristol City last month too – and this afternoon's clash against Nottingham Forest at City Ground could be definitive vis-a-vis David Moyes' future at the helm.

Of course, it's not all doom and gloom. West Ham still reside in eighth place in the Premier League and are behind Newcastle United only on goal difference, now beginning a favourable run of games that could lighten the chatter around Moyes' position.

But there is no doubt that this is an issue demanding redress. Injuries to the likes of Lucas Paqueta and Michail Antonio have damaged the fluency over this recent tough spell but there is enough quality to turn the tide and Forest, who languish in 16th place (two points above the drop zone), must be defeated to ensure that continental qualification does not slip away.

Nuno Espirito Santo's hosts desperately need some respite themselves and will not roll over for West Ham, making for a compelling encounter in the English top-flight.

West Ham team news vs Forest

As stated, Brazilian playmaker Paqueta remains sidelined following a calf problem, though he has returned to training in a significant boost for the Irons. Antonio, meanwhile, could make his first appearance since the start of November – against Forest, incidentally – after finally overcoming a knee injury.

Edson Alvarez and captain Kurt Zouma, both culpable for the dreadful performance against Arsenal last time out, should start despite coming off at half-time in that one.

It's a strong and near-complete side making the northward trip to Nottingham, and Moyes will need to engineer a positive display to ease the growing concerns that could boil over if Forest bag victory.

Nayef Aguerd must not start

Harking back to that Arsenal game again (sorry), it's hard to uproot any positives from the contest, with a lifeless defence allowing the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli to slalom into the danger area with ease, helpless against the string-pulling excellence of Martin Odegaard and devastated by the all-encompassing masterclass from one of their own: Declan Rice.

Few could hold their heads high after such a miserable afternoon but those in the rearguard failed woefully in maintaining a semblance of control in front of Alphonse Areola's goal.

Zouma will start this afternoon, and few would argue against it despite the Frenchman's slide in form of late, but Nayef Aguerd has proved himself unworthy since returning from the African Cup of Nations with Morocco and must be relegated to the bench against the Tricky Trees.

The 27-year-old has been largely impressive since signing from French side Rennes for £30m in June 2022 and finished third in West Ham's Player of the Season awards last term, behind Rice and Said Benrahma.

This season, he has started 18 times in the Premier League but got himself sent off early on against Chelsea. Across the season he has completed only 79% of his passes while making two errors and conceding a penalty, as per Sofascore.

The Athletic's Roshane Thomas has also noted earlier in the campaign that "defensive errors are holding him back", but against Arsenal, his display wasn't laden was errors, but rather, weighed down by a staticness that allowed the antagonists to wreak havoc in second gear.

Aguerd didn't actually lose a ground duel last weekend, but this is because the £50k-per-week centre-half didn't actually make a single ground duel attempt, also completing only 65% of his passes and losing possession on a whopping 17 occasions.

This is unforgivable, with the Evening Standard's Dom Smith branding him with a 3/10 match score for his insipid efforts, writing: 'Got nowhere near Saka for Arsenal’s fifth goal, allowing the England forward to roam free and slam home. Torrid afternoon for Aguerd.'

Elanga benched in Nottingham Forest's predicted lineup vs West Ham

Nottingham Forest will look to pick up their first Premier League win of 2024.

By
Tom Lever

Feb 17, 2024

The 6 foot 2 ace attempted just one ground duel against Fulham during December's 5-0 drubbing too and will need to sit today's fixture out if he is to absorb the importance of ramping up the gas for his side in the future.

And given that Konstantinos Mavropanos is waiting in the wings, it does seem to be the perfect solution for Moyes, making an alteration that might just secure victory and save his skin.

Konstantinos Mavropanos could save Moyes' skin

Factory-built for the modern game, Mavropanos is a ball-playing defender with an aggressiveness and tenacity that makes him a good option for Moyes, having been described as a "gladiator" by former boss Pellegrino Matarazzo in the past.

As per FBref, the Greece international ranks among the top 2% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shots taken, the top 12% for successful take-ons, the top 25 for interceptions and the top 14% for aerial battles won per 90.

The one-time Arsenal prospect was signed from German side Stuttgart in a £19m deal last summer and has since started seven matches in the Premier League, scoring once.

Having won 65% of his duels in the division so far, the 6 foot 5 Mavropanos would be an excellent partner for Zouma in today's game, averaging 3.5 ball recoveries and 4.2 clearances per match and actually keeping more clean sheets than Aguerd (3 versus 2) despite playing eight fewer fixtures.

The magnitude of the forthcoming affair cannot be understated; if Nottingham Forest clinch victory Moyes' reign would dangle by a tenuous thread indeed.

Aguerd has proved himself unreliable of late and given that Mavropanos has done a good job since coming in, he must be provided with a starting berth to ensure that his side prevail.

Beth Mooney made a well-paced half-century to provide Australia a base with the bat

Report by Daniel Brettig at Junction Oval02-Mar-2020Australia suffered a grievous blow to their chances of lifting the T20 World Cup even as they survived a virtual elimination final against New Zealand, as Ellyse Perry limped from the Junction Oval with what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury.With the semi-finals slated for Thursday in Sydney and the final at the MCG on Sunday, Perry has next to no time to recover, after already battling shoulder and hip complaints during the early part of the tournament. The worries around Perry detracted from what was otherwise a sturdy display to squeeze out New Zealand, as the hosts put together a sensible innings after being sent in by Sophie Devine, and then defended the target stoutly either side of Perry’s injury.The pivotal spell was delivered by the wrist spinner Georgia Wareham, who defeated both Devine and Suzie Bates while also plucking out Maddy Green in a performance that suggested she may have been given a bowling berth earlier in the tournament. Wareham’s success also left the Australian selectors pondering whether, should Perry be replaced, they opt for more wrist spin in the squad, having already called in Molly Strano to replace Tayla Vlaeminck on tournament eve.Lanning’s early dashAustralia’s captain Meg Lanning had indicated on match eve that her team enjoyed the chance to take stock after a hectic early schedule, and was endeavouring to bring a greater air of calmness to proceedings after they flirted with summary elimination in their first two matches. To that end, it was Lanning walking out as a traditional No. 3 at the fall of Alyssa Healy’s wicket – the first time it has been Lanning coming in at the fall of Healy instead of Ash Gardner in nearly two years of the pair rotating Nos. 3 and 4.With Beth Mooney playing serenely at the other end, balancing power and poise, Lanning did not make a big score. But her positive and clear-headed 21 enabled the Australians to build steadily from the start and avoid the loss of early wickets, easing the task for the middle order to maintain and then increase the rate. If Lanning looked disgusted with herself to be out top edging a sweep at Anna Peterson, she had played a useful part in helping set the hosts on her way.Mooney the spine, Perry the finishThe contrast between Lanning and Gardner was underlined when the No. 4 was tied in knots by Amelia Kerr and then bowled by Leigh Kasperek, having nevertheless played her part in a fruitful stand worth 52 in 43 balls with Mooney. As a top-order platform innings in a high pressure game with the occasional big hit, Mooney’s effort could scarcely be faulted, and it took a sublime catch by Bates, running around in front of the sight screen, to dismiss her.In doubt before the match, Perry arrived at No. 5, her highest post for the tournament so far, and with Haynes belted the late innings runs that ensured Australia would pass 150 for the second fixture in a row. Together they ensured 41 runs were piled up from the final four overs of the innings, as both found the boundary and Haynes cleared it with one deft paddle over the head of fine leg. Kerr flighted the ball past Perry from the penultimate ball of the innings, but New Zealand’s target would require them to break a national chasing record.New Zealand pressured before Perry fallsOn the slowing Junction Oval pitch, New Zealand could expect some of the biggest questions to be asked by spin bowlers, and Jess Jonassen did not disappoint by finding a way past Rachael Priest. However, at 39 for 1 after the Powerplay, New Zealand were actually a run better placed than Australia at the same stage, with their star duo Devine and Bates plotting a way forward on a sunny St Kilda afternoon.Enter Wareham, who had not bowled a full four-over spell for the Australians since the tour of the West Indies in September last year and spent more time out of the team than in it. Her wrist spin is not always big on side spin but it is most certainly accurate, and by getting one on line to Bates and then reviewing the lbw decision, she claimed a vital break for her team. Unhappier tidings were to follow when Perry, fielding at mid-off and throwing off-balance, appeared to hurt her right hamstring, leaving the field in emotional turmoil as well as physical discomfort.Wareham cleans upThere was a brief moment’s shock for the Australians after Perry hobbled off and New Zealand looked to be loading up for a final charge to the semi-finals. But Lanning had the good sense not to persist with Gardner after her offspin went for 11 from one over, recalling Wareham to the attack and immediately reaping the rewards. Generating good dip and just enough turn, Wareham deceived Devine as she ran down the track, giving Healy plenty of time to complete the stumping.In Wareham’s final over, Green flicked a full toss through square leg for the only boundary the leg spinner would concede, but then fell in similar fashion to Devine, stumped as she charged down to find the boundary but failed to reach the pitch of a leg break. Figures of 3 for 17 from four overs were a handsome reward for Wareham, and opened the question of whether Australia, as they closed things out with some aplomb, might need to consider more wrist spin into the team to replace Perry. They will also have to ponder the overs bowled by Gardner, who conceded 26 from two overs – these could easily have been far more damaging figures on another day.

Barcelona haven't given up on Nico Williams as they are reportedly set to reignite their pursuit of the Athletic Club star in 2025.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Barcelona seemed to be the frontrunner for Williams
• Forward stayed put at Athletic Club
• Catalan club to resume efforts to sign him next summer

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The talented winger, who has been one of Athletic Club's standout players in recent years and also emerged as a bright spark for La Roja in Euro 2024, attracted significant interest from multiple European clubs – with Barcelona particularly keen to bring him to Camp Nou. However, despite their best efforts, the deal did not materialise as Williams decided to remain at Athletic Club for the 2024-25 season, which put an end to the Blaugrana's immediate pursuit.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to reports from Barcelona are already making plans to return for Williams in the summer of 2025. The club has maintained good relations with both the player and his representatives, and they believe that a deal is still possible in the near future. Williams has a release clause set at €62 million and the Catalan club hope that they will be able to pay the fee upfront next summer, braving their persistent financial struggles. The report further mentions that Barcelona had always wanted to sign the player in 2025 but his meteoric rise in Germany, inspiring Spain to the European championship, led them to make a serious push for the player in 2024.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Barcelona's arch-rivals, Real Madrid, are also reported to be monitoring the Athletic Club winger. According to , Real Madrid sees Williams as a possible successor to Vinícius Junior, should the Brazilian winger leave the Santiago Bernabeu for Saudi Arabia. Real Madrid are reportedly open to the idea of parting ways with Vinícius, especially after securing the services of Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman's arrival has strengthened Real Madrid’s forward line, and the club believes they could manage without Vinícius if a suitable offer were to come in for the 24-year-old.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  With both Barcelona and Real Madrid expressing interest in Williams, the battle for his signature could intensify next summer. While Barcelona have maintained a close relationship with the player and have been tracking him for years, if Real Madrid come calling, it would be difficult for the forward to turn them down. Nonetheless, the stage looks set for a potential battle between Spain’s biggest footballing rivals for one of the game’s most promising young talents.

Michael Beale's short-lived stint in charge of Sunderland was nothing short of a car-crash to watch, the divisive manager never winning over the Black Cats masses before being put out of his misery just two months into the post.

Picking up just four wins from his 12 matches in charge, Beale couldn't galvanise his youthful troops into ever putting together a positive sequence of results, with a brilliant victory then often followed up a crushing loss.

Now, the assistant manager to Beale in Mike Dodds – who was already at the club before Beale and acted as interim manager when Tony Mowbray exited late last year – will take the reins until the end of the season whilst the Black Cats hierarchy methodically go about finding the perfect long-term boss.

They could well have this name on a list of potential successors to replace the unpopular former Rangers boss, with the out-of-work manager in question even boasting a promotion up to the Premier League on his CV…

Sunderland's plans for the summer

Dodds occupying the Stadium of Light dug-out for the remainder of the campaign gives the Black Cats ample time to find the best possible Beale successor, with a few names already being talked up.

TEAMtalk are reporting that the likes of left-field choice Marek Papszun and ex-Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom are potential targets when the vacancy opens back up in the summer, but one name really sticks out from the speculated pack.

Steve Cooper is being touted to take over at the Wearside club, according to the report, with the ex-Nottingham Forest figure still searching for a new job after being let go of at the City Ground at the end of 2023.

With Cooper's expertise at second tier level clear for all to see – helping Forest return to the top flight via the playoffs during the 2021-22 campaign – it could well also be his glowing track record at developing youngsters whilst managing England U17s that further makes him perfect for the gig.

Regardless of all this being stacked in his favour, the Welshman, most importantly, would be a major upgrade on the outgoing Beale.

Steve Cooper's managerial record

Cooper, unlike Beale, has managed to be arguably successful wherever he's gone across his managerial career to date – with Beale notably earning sack at former club Rangers, prior to his dismal short stint at Sunderland.

Whilst managing the England U16s and U17s, Cooper managed to steer those youthful international England groups at his disposal to success – managing the U17s to World Cup glory in 2017, with Phil Foden and Marc Guehi excelling as teenage stars in the set-up amongst other now household names.

That would be music to the ears of Sunderland, with the Wearside outfit brimming full of exciting young talents currently such as Jobe Bellingham and Chris Rigg.

Never quite managing to win promotion with Swansea City whilst in charge of the Welsh side, Cooper learnt from those experiences with the Swans and immortalised himself into Forest folklore in his next job when helping the sleeping giants leap back up to the Premier League.

Cooper was responsible for Brennan Johnson coming through at Forest and dazzling, whilst also managing to get the best out of Djed Spence who has never looked the same since his blistering days at the City Ground on loan.

Not one for jumping ship quickly either, Cooper – who was once described as being an "incredible" manager by former West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce on his No Tippy Tappy Football Podcast – does seem to fit the bill of what Sunderland could be looking for in a lasting manager after Dodds' temporary time in charge is up.

Dodds could even throw his hat into the ring for the permanent job if he succeeds in the hot seat, with Sunderland just aiming to get the fans back on side now after such a topsy-turvy season.

The former South Africa batsman will link up with the team before their T20I series against Ireland in March

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jan-2020Afghanistan’s coaching staff, helmed by Lance Klusener, has been bolstered by the appointment of HD Ackerman, the former South Africa Test batsman, cricket commentator and columnist.The Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Ackerman, 46, would start work with the team on March 1, ahead of the national team’s three-T20I series in India against Ireland, which will be followed by a one-off Test. His contract will run till the end of 2020. Ackerman played four Test matches for South Africa, two against Pakistan and two against Sri Lanka, all at home in 1998, scoring one half-century in aggregating 161 runs at an average of 20.12. He had a much more fruitful time in first-class cricket, though, playing the 1993-94 season all the way to mid-2009, in which he scored 14,625 runs, including a triple-century, at an average of 43.65 in 220 outings. He also played 230 List A matches and 55 T20s.The T20I series against Ireland will be played in Greater Noida, near the Indian capital of New Delhi, on March 6, 8 and 10.

This season, Aston Villa have been one of the best underdog stories in recent Premier League history.

Following a not-so-enthralling spell under Steven Gerrard, Unai Emery has managed to instil hope and belief in the Villans' fan base – with the Midlands side now firmly in the mix for a top-four berth.

With their next game coming against Manchester United on Sunday, Emery's men will have their work cut out for them if they wish to do the unthinkable and qualify for next year's Champions League.

Although at the start of the season, qualifying for the Europa Conference League was an achievement in itself, managing to qualify for the continent's premier competition would undoubtedly be a real statement.

It is fair to say that the club's impressive current form is in part down to the astute transfers that have been made over the last two seasons in order to bolster the squad, with two players who stand out from the rest being that of Moussa Diaby and Pau Torres.

The pair joined the club at the start of the 2023/24 season and have both shown their importance to Villa's recent rise, hence why they should return to the starting lineup against Erik ten Hag's side tomorrow.

Diaby and Torres' season in numbers

Diaby has been a stellar signing for Villa this season and has played in 33 games across all competitions thus far. Throughout the campaign, the winger has been fairly prolific and has contributed to a total of 12 goals so far.

The goals and assists have been shared equally, with the former Bayer Leverkusen man getting six of each – notably netting a late consolation during the midweek defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup.

On the other hand, Torres has played less frequently but is arguably just as important to the squad as the French attacker is.

The centre-back has played a total of 23 games in all competitions and has even managed to score two goals during that time.

However, his playtime this season has been somewhat hindered by injuries after the Spain international suffered an ankle knock which forced him into an eight-week hiatus.

Having been named on the bench during the recent loss to the Blues, his return to the starting line-up will help bolster Villa's defence and help them take advantage of the injury-riddled Red Devils.

Why Pau Torres should start vs Man United

Labelled as "extraordinary" by his former coach, Javi Calleja, the 6 foot 1 colossus will give Villa a much better chance of keeping the visitors out tomorrow.

According to Sofascore, the 27-year-old has helped keep four clean sheets across the season in the league, having notably recovered 4.8 balls per game in that time.

Emery could land Torres 2.0 with Aston Villa offer for 5 ft 11 "revelation"

The Villans have reportedly made an offer for a Spanish defender.

By
Ross Kilvington

Jan 17, 2024

When these statistics are compared to that of Clement Lenglet, who has been given the nod in Torres' absence of late, the France international has only managed to garner two clean sheets and has recovered just three balls per game from his six league outings.

Torres' commanding presence on the pitch will undeniably be beneficial to the Villans' chances of reigning victorious over their fellow top four battlers, with his partnership with Carlos the thing Villa have been looking for to guarantee their chances of Champions League qualification.

An intriguing prospect awaits at Villa Park on Sunday…

Herve Renard's successor as head coach of the France women's team has been revealed, meaning the 55-year-old could now take his fifth job in Africa.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• France announce new women's team coach
• Renard departs after 18-month spell
• Former Morocco boss linked with another Africa job

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  It's been known for several months that Renard would likely leave his role in charge of Les Bleues after the Olympic Games and that is exactly what has happened, with the coach departing after a disappointing quarter-final exit at Paris 2024. That was his second major tournament in charge of France, after being appointed ahead of last year's Women's World Cup. The nation crashed out in the last eight there, too, though Renard did make some personal history by becoming the first coach to win a match at the men's and women's editions of the tournament.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  On Friday, the French Football Federation (FFF) revealed that Renard's successor would be Laurent Bonadei, a man he knows well as he has been his assistant since 2019. Bonadei worked alongside Renard for his four-year stint in charge of the Saudi Arabia men's team and then followed him to France last year. Bonadei has signed a contract through to the end of the 2027 Women's World Cup, with the possibility of an extension.

• WHAT BONADEI SAID

  "I'd like to thank the Federation for the trust it has placed in me. I'm proud and honoured," Bonadei said. "Leading the national team is a great responsibility that I take seriously and with commitment. I'm following in the footsteps of Herve Renard, with whom I've worked closely over the past 17 months with the French women's team."

  Philippe Diallo, president of the FFF, added: "We wanted a coach who knows the French national team and women's soccer, with a wealth of experience, high standards and a sense of training. It was with this in mind that we decided to entrust the national team to Laurent Bonadei. Les Bleues have major sporting objectives, in particular Euro 2025 in Switzerland and the 2027 World Cup. I have every confidence in Laurent Bonadei to achieve them. The French team must spearhead the federal government's major ambition to develop women's soccer."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• DID YOU KNOW?

  In January, the Ivory Coast attempted to temporarily hire Renard for the Africa Cup of Nations, an approach that was turned down by the FFF. There were then reports the following month that Egypt wanted to hire the 55-year-old, but Hossam Hassan would eventually get the job.

Pep Guardiola has not made many signings but keeping Ederson and Kevin De Bruyne a boost in quest to entrench dominance

No one believed Manchester City were capable of winning a fourth Premier League title in a row, then they did, becoming the first team in 135 years to do so. So can they keep making history and win five in a row?

You would certainly not want to bet against the record of Pep Guardiola, who has only failed to win the league title in three of his 15 years as a manager, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City.

Arsenal, who finished two points behind City last season after narrowly missing out on the crown the previous year, look like being their only credible challengers, as Liverpool will be in a season of transition under Arne Slot and Manchester United and Chelsea look set for more inconsistent campaigns.

Still, there is a danger that City could turn stale and finally surrender the title to Arsenal. They have made just one major signing in Savinho and have lost a very useful squad player in Julian Alvarez. There is also the possibility that this could be Guardiola's last season with the club, leaving the potential for motivation to fizzle out as it did at Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp announced he would be leaving.

It is set to be an equally intriguing season off the pitch for City as their hearing with the Premier League over allegedly breaking its financial rules is set to finally take place in September. The whole league has a stake in the outcome of the case, which could have seismic ramifications either way.

If City are found guilty, they could be relegated from the league. If they are declared innocent of the charges, there is set to be an outpouring of indignation from their rivals. And if they win their other court case against the Premier League over associated party transactions, it could usher in a new era of total domination. Watch this space…

• Getty
  

  Mood around the Etihad Stadium

  The summer after City won the treble, there was a feeling of both loss and renewal, as Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez departed but a whole wave of new signings arrived. But as the new season dawns upon the Etihad Stadium, there is a sense that little has changed since the end of the last campaign.

  Savinho is the only new face, and arguably the club's biggest achievements of the summer have been to keep hold of Kevin De Bruyne and Ederson, who both looked likely to leave for Saudi Arabia.

  It could well be the last dance for Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne and Kyle Walker, and indeed for Guardiola. And unless City spend some of the money they earned from the Alvarez sale, there is bound to be some trepidation ahead of the new campaign.

  There is also some dismay among fans about the hearing over the 115 charges being brought forward. City's results will be questioned with even more fervour than before, while the battle in the courtroom could gain more attention than the action on the pitch.

  However, many supporters also relish being the team that everyone loves to hate. If City can win yet another title amid all the noise around them, they will be more than happy.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Transfer business

  City have made just one signing so far, bringing in winger Savinho from fellow CFG club Troyes for £31m ($40m). The Brazilian propelled Girona to finish third in La Liga with nine goals and 10 assists and will provide extra competition for Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku on the left wing, although he can also play on the right, as he does for Brazil.

  It has been a busy summer of departures. Julian Alvarez has joined Atletico Madrid in a stunning £82m ($105m) move which should lead to City making further signings before the transfer window shuts. Tommy Doyle has joined Wolves permanently for £4m ($5m) after spending last season on loan there.

  Taylor Harwood-Bellis has also made a permanent move to Southampton, with City pocketing £20m ($25m) from the deal. Sergio Gomez has moved to Real Sociedad permanently for £8.4m ($10.8m) and Yan Couto, who was on loan at Girona last season, has gone out on loan to Borussia Dortmund.

  Kalvin Phillips has joined Ipswich on loan while it remains to be seen whether Joao Cancelo makes another loan move or tries to mend his broken relationship with Guardiola.

• Getty
  

  Pre-season performances

  City returned to the United States for their pre-season tour looking to capitalise on their stunning growth in North America in recent years as well as warm up for the new campaign.

  They were left without many of their first team regulars due to the Copa America and European Championship, leaving Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish as the star attractions. On the pitch, the tour was a mixed bag of results.

  City were surprisingly beaten 4-3 by Celtic in their opening game in Chapel Hill, with Haaland scoring but the team looking vulnerable defensively, particularly on the counterattack. Haaland struck again against AC Milan but City were on the losing side once more, going down 3-2 after a sloppy display by Ederson.

  Grealish scored and looked lively when City drew 1-1 against Barcelona in Florida before losing on penalties. The tour, at this point, threatened to be a bit of a letdown but City salvaged it by hammering Chelsea 4-2, with Haaland scoring a hat-trick.

  City then warmed up for the new season by beating Manchester United on penalties to win the Community Shield after Bernardo Silva had snatched a 1-1 draw at Wembley.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Talking tactics

  While other football dynasties' lust for winning eventually burns out, Guardiola keeps finding new ways of motivating his players, and keeps on innovating tactically. Last season he reinvented Phil Foden in midfield and turned centre-back Josko Gvardiol into a marauding, free-scoring full-back.

  It will be intriguing to see whether he tweaks Erling Haaland's role in the team and asks for him to get more involved in the build-up, as the Norwegian looked static and blunt against the top opponents last season, drawing blanks against Arsenal, Real Madrid and in the FA Cup final defeat by Manchester United.

  Guardiola also must find a solution to the departure of Alvarez, who filled in as back-up to Haaland and De Bruyne. There is no clear candidate currently in the squad to take the baton from the Argentine as second striker, although Savinho could be deployed there as City are already well stocked when it comes to left wingers.

  Guardiola's use of Grealish will also be one to watch. The coach warned the England winger that he cannot afford another season in the wilderness and he faces fresh competition from Savinho as well as Doku.

Arsenal continued to rebuild their momentum last night with a 2-1 win in the Premier League away to Nottingham Forest.

However, until Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring in the 65th minute, it looked like it might have been turning into another match in which Mikel Arteta's men failed to take their chances, a flaw represented in their expected goals number this season.

The Brazilian was replaced by Eddie Nketiah late into the game, but the Englishman did very little to stake a claim for the starting spot this weekend.

Worse yet, the latest player touted for a move to the Emirates ranked as one of the league's most clinical finishers last season, so the 24-year-old could be in danger of losing his place in the squad entirely.

Arsenal look north for more firepower

According to prior reports, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson this month, with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano having since told GIVEMESPORT that the future of the Englishman is "one to watch" in "the final hours" of the window – amid the context of the Gunners' interest.

The Italian journalist explained that while the Magpies "insist the player is going nowhere", financial fair play implications could force their hand if they receive an "important proposal" and that if this happens, the player himself "could be open to the move."

In more good news for the Gunners, a report from the Evening Standard earlier this week revealed that it could take an offer of just £18m to get this deal moving, which in today's market seems like a steal for a player like Wilson.

That said, with Chelsea and Manchester United also said to be keen, it's unlikely that the deal will be that straightforward.

How Wilson compares to Nketiah

Nketiah has been a useful player for Arteta in the time he has been at the club, scoring some big goals, such as the two at Chelsea a couple of years ago and the winner against Manchester United last season.

However, aside from the hat-trick he scored at the Emirates against bottom-club Sheffield United, he has been rather ineffective this season, scoring just two league goals and providing two assists in his other 20 appearances.

In contrast, Wilson's seven league goals in seven starts have come in six games and were he able to keep this up for the Gunners, that would be far more useful in a title fight than one or two games in which he bags a hat-trick or brace.

It isn't just the former Bournemouth star's goal haul and the manner in which he scored them that make him a better option than Nketiah for the north Londoners, but also his underlying numbers.

For example, in the metrics most relevant to a top-level striker, such as expected goals and assists, actual goals, shots, shots on target and successful take-ons per 90, the "incredible" Toon star, as described by his manager Eddie Howe, eclipses the Arsenal man.

The one area in which the former Chelsea youth product comes out ahead is in the number of assists the pair produces per 90, but with Arteta's most pressing problem being his frontline's finishing this season, this seems like a non-issue.

Arsenal make enquiry to sign £26m-rated Havertz replacement

The 24-year-old has been impressing in Italy this season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jan 31, 2024

Ultimately, if Arsenal can get this deal over the line in the dying embers of the transfer window, they absolutely should, as the "ruthless" Wilson, as described by journalist Chris Waugh, could bring the experience and clinical nature that could be the deciding factor in a title race that looks set to go down to the wire.

Kevin Roberts also said that New Zealand would not have to wait another 32 years to play a Boxing Day Test in Melbourne

Daniel Brettig in Melbourne27-Dec-2019Kevin Roberts, the Cricket Australia chief executive, has pledged New Zealand will be granted more frequent Boxing Day Tests as he acknowledged that the game’s financial powerhouses needed to work together to ensure that it grows healthier outside the cricket super economies of India, England and Australia.Responding to the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly’s suggestion for a “Super Series” in which India, England and Australia would play a tournament amongst themselves, Roberts termed the idea “innovative”. But he was careful to stress that all nations needed to be given opportunities for quality cricket and chances to raise revenue, amid widespread dismay that such a concept might be allowed to get off the ground given the parlous state of so many other nations’ finances.New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is struggling to find sufficient and consistent revenue streams in the face of three consecutive years of financial losses, while elsewhere Ireland has been forced to cancel a raft of fixtures due to cost pressures. The scheduling of a “Super Series” rather than the extra ICC events proposed by its chief executive Manu Sawhney would not only overturn the current cricket calendar but place further pressure on the already stretched finances of most ICC member countries.”I think it’s an example of the innovative thinking coming out of the BCCI with Sourav Ganguly as president,” Roberts said. “In his very short time, only a couple of months, we have already seen India commit to and host a day-night Test in Kolkata, so a brilliant result there. And now a suggestion around the Super Series, another potential innovation. We will be in India next month and Bangladesh talking about the future cricket calendar. We’re in discussions with New Zealand as well and I was recently in Pakistan talking about the importance of our future partnership with Pakistan.”We’re really respectful of the importance of our international cricket relationships and our role as a leader in world cricket in supporting the development of cricket in other countries. We’re really looking forward to hosting Afghanistan next year and that is an example of our commitment to world cricket. We have discussions with all member nations of the ICC and take really seriously our role to partner them and working together with them to grow the game.”We’re just trying to be a good proactive partner to both the ICC and its members. Cricket is part of the fabric of Australian culture and we’ve got to play our part to make sure it remains and become an even stronger part of other countries around the world. Cricket is more or less a religion on the sub-continent. It’s absolutely the favourite sport in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. We’ve got to try and make sure we see the game emerging in countries all around the world.”Tony Irish, the FICA executive chairman, has stated bluntly that any push for more bilateral cricket than is already scheduled between India, England and Australia would only serve to grow the yawning gaps that exist between rich and poor. “The mooted super series is a real concern for the global game. It is likely to further open the gap between the rich and the poorer countries in international cricket,” Irish told ESPNcricinfo.”FICA has maintained for some time now that two key issues to be addressed for the future of international cricket are a) a more coherent global schedule, and b) more equitable global game economics. This proposed new event does not assist in either of those.”Asked whether New Zealand would have to wait another 32 years for another appearance on Boxing Day, Roberts was quick to assure Australia’s Trans-Tasman neighbours that a crowd of more than 80,000 of Boxing Day at the MCG would help ensure that the fixture would become a far more regular occurrence. He also stated that the MCG would keep the Boxing Day Test for the foreseeable future, as CA negotiates a new stadium deal with the Melbourne Cricket Club.”We really value the partnership with New Zealand. We are already having some high-level discussions around the cricket calendar from 2023 to 2031 and we absolutely hope and look forward to hosting New Zealand at a Boxing Day Test well before another 32 years pass,” Roberts said. “They are a really important partner and nation in the world of cricket.”The reality is there is only one venue in Australia that can host over 80,000 people on Boxing Day as the MCG did yesterday. It was just a picture. That’s something we are really grateful for and respect. The MCG Test is one of the two most iconic Tests on the planet, along with the Lord’s Test.”You would have to say that, given this is the equivalent of two AFL grand finals, as MCC CEO Stuart Fox was quoted as saying that the other day, that indicates the importance of it, not just in Victoria but in communities beyond Australia. Given the importance of the MCG Test to world cricket, I would like to think it will remain here in perpetuity. There is a bit of work to be done on that front. But you would have to say it is best for world cricket to have a Boxing Day Test in Melbourne for years to come.”