كشفت تقارير صحفية بريطانية عن موقف لاعبي ليفربول من تصريحات محمد صلاح النارية ضد النادي والمدرب آرني سلوت خلال الساعات الماضية.
ووفقاً لصحيفة “ديلي ميل” البريطانية فإن آرني سلوت أصبح يحظى بدعم أكبر من لاعبي ليفربول بعد تصريحات صلاح النارية، والتي كانت تهدف لزيادة الضغط على المدرب الهولندي.
ولا يزال سلوت يحظى بتقدير كبير من إدارة ليفربول كمدرب تكتيكي رغم المشاكل التي واجهها الفريق هذا الموسم.
أقرأ أيضاً.. ميرسون: محمد صلاح أسطورة.. وليفربول لم يكن ليفوز بأي لقب بدونه
وأظهرت مباراة إنتر ميلان وخطة مدرب ليفربول آرني سلوت أنه مازال قادرا على استخراج أفضل ما لدى اللاعبين، حيث حقق الريدز الفوز بهدف نظيف.
وعلى الرغم من ذلك فإن هناك شكوكا من البعض في مهارة آرني سلوت في إدارة اللاعبين، وبرزت هذه المخاوف أكثر من أي وقت مضى بعد تصريحات صلاح.
ولا يزال آرني سلوت يحظى بدعم إدارة ليفربول بما في ذلك الرئيس التنفيذي لمجموعة فينواي الرياضية مايكل إدواردز والمدير الرياضي ريتشارد هيوز.
Aston Villa have a lot of work to do before their Premier League season gets underway next month with a home tie against Newcastle United.
Several summer departures will likely take place, with Emiliano Martinez reportedly keen on a move to Manchester United, while Jacob Ramsey is attracting interest from Nottingham Forest. But, with their PSR concerns now a thing of the past, plenty of new signings could also arrive through the door soon.
Aston Villa manager UnaiEmery
In particular, some confidence-boosting attacking additions look to be a priority, particularly if Ollie Watkins ends up joining Martinez as another first-team face to have left the building.
Aston Villa considering move for £60m striker
Watkins does look to have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to who he could pick as his next club after Villa, with it being reported that Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United are all keen on adding the England international to their respective sides.
Losing Watkins would be a notable blow, but Villa could begin to repair their depleted attack by adding reported target Alejandro Garnacho to their camp from the aforementioned Red Devils, alongside raiding Enzo Maresca’s men when going after a fresh centre-forward purchase.
An update from journalist Ben Jacobs via X indicates that Villa are in the running to land hot-and-cold Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson this summer, with Villa considering his name as they hunt down some more personnel up top.
It’s revealed that Chelsea won’t be pushing the ex-Villarreal attacker out the door – despite his hit-and-miss finishing ability – but they would consider bids if some are forthcoming, with Jackson reportedly available for around the £60m mark.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
How Jackson could be Villa's next Duran
It would be an almighty gamble on Villa’s end to splash out some significant bucks on such an inconsistent performer but there are similarities, not just in the way they arrived in the country, but in their play styles too.
Indeed, the Villans took a risk when they landed Jhon Duran for £18m back in January of 2023, only to be immediately vindicated when he became a clinical hero for Unai Emery and Co.
After all, Duran didn’t dive into the English game boasting the most mind-blowing numbers for Chicago Fire, with only eight goals coming his way from 28 appearances in the Windy City.
Yet, he instantly became a favourite in the West Midlands for his high-octane performances in attack, culminating in a huge chunk of his 20 goals for Villa coming last season when he bagged 12 strikes from just 29 outings.
Goals
7
3
Assists
0
0
Goal conversion percentage
23%
21%
Goal frequency (minutes)
89
79
Shots per game
1.6
2
Chelsea purchased Jackson for around the £32m mark in the same year the Colombian arrived in England, knowing plenty more could come from the 24-year-old in his new location, with Villa already on the receiving end of Jackson’s lethal bursts when he headed home this effort against them during his debut campaign in West London.
Indeed, Jackson fired home a promising 13 strikes in Spain before embarking on this daunting adventure with the Blues, and whilst there have been plenty of grumbles at Stamford Bridge over his wastefulness, he has shown in spells that he can be a deadly and impactful presence on his day, just as Duran has.
Amazingly, despite squandering a costly 43 big chances across his two top-flight seasons at Chelsea, Jackson does still have more strikes next to his name in the Premier League alone than Duran mustered up across his entire Villa Park stint, with 24 goals in 64 league clashes.
Despite that, there are stylistic similarities between the pair, as the numbers showcase.
Shots
3.08
4.27
Shots on target
1.38
1.93
Completed passes
12.3
16.2
Progressive passes
1.54
1.83
Shot-creating actions
2.97
2.54
Successful take-ons
0.73
0.42
Analysing the data, we get a sense that neither are particularly involved in the play in large spells, registering fewer than 20 passes per game.
Likewise, neither striker particularly grabs the ball and takes a player on, completing fewer than one dribble per 90 minutes. Crucially, they both possess the ability to play on the shoulder of the last man and have a gangly playstyle associated with their height. Duran is 6 foot 1, while Jackson is 6 foot 2.
Nicolas Jackson
The 24-year-old Jackson might well welcome a fresh opportunity at Villa, particularly when taking in Emery’s transformative powers that worked wonders on the likes of Marcus Rashford last season. He had experienced an equally challenging time at Manchester United before bouncing back well with the Villans, amassing a blistering four goals and six assists in claret and blue.
Moreover, it’s even clearer from the Spaniard’s track record with Duran that he could be the manager to get even more out of a scapegoated Jackson, with the Senegal international once being labelled as a “special” talent by journalist Rahman Osman.
Of course, this move might well backfire if the 24-year-old’s wasteful displays rear their ugly head once more in the West Midlands. But, much like with Duran, it feels like a shot in the dark worth taking.
Better than Ramsey: Aston Villa register interest in £40m "superstar"
Aston Villa could soon win an attacking superstar who is better than Jacob Ramsey.
With the 2026 World Cup less than a year away, GOAL looks at the state of the central defenders vying for spots next summer
For most of this World Cup cycle – and going back to the 2022 cycle, in truth – centerback has been a question mark for the U.S. men's national team. For years, the program has waited for a new generation to rise. That process has finally started, at least at the very top of the roster.
Chris Richards is the USMNT's top centerback. If that was in doubt, it isn't after the Gold Cup. After winning the FA Cup with Crystal Palace, Richards grew ito a leader this summer, shedding his "Centerback of the Future" label to become the "Centerback of the Here and Now." That is a huge win for Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT, who have a leader at the back that has shown he can compete at the highest levels.
The thing about this position, though, is that you need at least two of them. Richards is a building block, but he needs a partner next to him to create the foundation upon which the USMNT is created. There are contenders, both inexperienced and veteran, and the push to be CB2 is one that will go down to the wire. And it's vital to find the answer, as Pochettino looks to construct the spine of his team for a World Cup.
Post-Gold Cup, GOAL is looking at the state of the USMNT, analyzing the positional battles that will ultimately define next summer's team. Next up: centerbacks.
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The Starters: Chris Richards, Tim Ream
One of these is written in Sharpie, other in pencil.
Richards is the former, the player who has locked down a spot. There are few in the USMNT pool safer than Richards at the moment, and none of them are his fellow centerbacks. At the Gold Cup, in particular, he raised his game to a new level and established a leadership role. The question is no longer if Richards is the starter – it's if he's the captain of this team.
Tim Ream, meanwhile, was his partner all summer long, proving for the millionth time that age is just a number. The age will catch up to him eventually but so far, it hasn't – and Pochettino doesn't seem to think it will before the World Cup kicks off. If Pochettino was ultimately concerned about preparing a new centerback, he surely would have done so this summer. Instead, he rolled with Ream, indicating that he sees the Charlotte FC defender as Richards' most likely partner.
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The Backups: Mark McKenzie, Walker Zimmerman
Mark McKenzie is one of the more interesting players in the pool. Many expected he'd be partnering Richards this summer, if only just to see what he would look like with an extended runout. It didn't happen. After a tough game against Switzerland, he was largely unused, as Pochettino preferred Ream throughout the Gold Cup.
McKenzie has had hiccups with the USMNT, of course, but he's also never quite had a true chance to prove himself. The fact that it didn't come this summer will certainly be disappointing, even if he seems to be the clear No. 3 centerback.
As for Walker Zimmerman, he's something of a specialist, one who fits well within a 26-player roster. He's a great locker room guy and a great leader, one who has the respect of the younger generation due to his time with many of them at the Olympics.
Additionally, he's embraced his role as a potential "closer." Much like a relief pitcher in baseball, Zimmerman has proven to be a player who can help see a game out, something that is even more important in tournament play. Because of that, and his performances in MLS, he seems to have a place.
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In The Mix: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Miles Robinson
Miles Robinson was the only one of this trio in USMNT camp this summer, but don't write off the Celtic duo just yet. Both Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty play at a high level with the Scottish giants, including games in the Champions League.
Just as importantly, they play together, which means they have natural chemistry and a natural baseline to compare them. Their chemistry won't make much of a difference this cycle, given Richards' ascendency into that top spot. Because of that, both will now be among those vying to partner him while collectively pushing things with Celtic.
As for Robinson, his goal is to continue to deliver for FC Cincinnati. He's an MLS All-Star this season and a perennial best XI contender. Still, his ceiling seem to be somewhat limited, spending his prime in MLS.
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For The Future: Noahkai Banks, Josh Wynder, Jalen Neal
There are some good, young centerbacks on the horizon, even if we haven't seen them much with the USMNT. Noahkai Banks has played for the U.S. up to the U20 level and, even after a small breakthrough with Augsburg in the Bundesliga this season, seems committed to the program.
Despite the dual-national panic around him, Banks, just 18, is still a very raw prospect, one looking to continue blossoming for club and, at some point soon, country.
Josh Wynder, meanwhile, looks close to a breakthrough at Benfica as he inches closer to the first team. Few clubs in the world are better at developing talent than the Portuguese side, who invested in Wynder early after he emerged at Louisville City in the USL. He's been at Benfica for two years but is still just 20, a virtual toddler in centerback years.
As for Jalen Neal, he does have USMNT caps under his belt, having appeared six times in 2023. He hasn't featured since, though, and was traded to CF Montreal this offseason, allowing him to lock down a starting role with his new club.
The transfer window is just around the corner, and as Mikel Arteta told the press just last month, it’s set to be a massive one for Arsenal.
The Gunners failed to get over the line in any competition this year, and while injuries have played their part, one of the team’s most significant problems, which most agree on, is their lack of a truly clinical striker.
So, it’s not been surprising then, that in recent weeks, the North Londoners have been heavily linked with several top-class number nines, perhaps none more than Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, who could be available for around £70m.
However, the club seem intent on revolutionising the entire attacking unit, and reports have now touted another superstar for a move to the Emirates, a star who’d be a dream teammate for the Swede.
Arsenal's attacking transfer targets
Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other attacking talents who’ve been linked with Arsenal in recent weeks, such as Daizen Maeda and Jamie Gittens.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former has been enjoying a simply spectacular campaign north of the border with Celtic, in which he’s scored 33 goals and provided 12 assists in 48 games and best of all, he could be available for just £25m.
Gittens, on the other hand, could cost up to £51m, but as he’s still just 20 years old and has managed to rack up a stellar haul of 12 goals and five assists in 46 games for Borussia Dortmund this season, he looks like he’d be worth it.
However, to really get the most out of Gyokeres and take the club’s whole attack to another level, the Gunners will need to sign a true superstar, someone like Rodrygo.
Yes, according to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are one of a few Premier League sides keen on the Real Madrid star.
Alongside the North Londoners, the report has revealed that Liverpool and Manchester City have contacted the player’s representatives and remain in contact today.
In terms of how much the winger might cost Arsenal, a report from earlier this week claimed that he could be available for around €100m, which is about £85m.
Real Madrid'sRodrygolooks on
It would be an incredibly costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Rodrygo’s immense ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be ideal for Gyokeres.
Why Rodrygo would be a dream for Gyokeres
So, to keep things simple, there is one primary reason why Rodrygo would be a dream teammate for Gyokeres, which all others stem from his output.
For the Swedish goal machine to make the most of his incredible finishing ability, he’s going to want to have someone as effective as Saka to the left of him, and that could be the Brazilian.
For example, in 50 appearances this term, the “world-class” attacker, as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has scored 13 goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.17 games.
Appearances
50
48
53
Minutes
3290′
3313′
3262′
Goals
13
9
10
Assists
10
6
8
Goal Involvements per Match
0.46
0.31
0.33
Minutes per Goal Involvement
143.04′
220.86′
181.22′
In comparison, Leandro Trossard has produced 18 goal involvements in 53 appearances, and Gabriel Martinelli has produced 15 in 48, which comes out to an average of one every 2.94 and 3.2 games, respectively.
Moreover, besides having far better raw output than the North Londoners’ current left-wing options, the 24-year-old has some seriously impressive underlying numbers to his name.
According to FBref, he sits in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for carries into the final third, the top 2% for pass completion and passes blocked, the top 4% for progressive carrying distance, the top 9% for shot-creating actions from take-ons and more, all per 90.
Finally, despite his age, the Osasco-born dynamo has seen it all and won it all at club level, with two Champions League titles, three La Liga titles and a handful of other cups to his name, so while some of Arteta’s other options might struggle to step up on the biggest stages, it’ll just be another game to the Real star.
Ultimately, thanks to his brilliant output, impressive underlying numbers and the immense amount of experience he has at his age, Rodrygo would be a dream teammate for Gyokeres and Arsenal should do what they can to sign him.
Kai Havertz upgrade: Arsenal send scouts for "unpredictable" goal machine
The free-scoring forward could be just what Arsenal need.
da imperador bet： Rangers have altered their strategy in pursuit of one of Scottish football’s most promising young talents, according to a new report.
Gers advance in Europa League as deadline day looms
da dobrowin： Rangers secured their place in the Europa League last-16 with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox on Thursday evening. Nico Raskin and Vaclav Cerny scored for Rangers, with Ibrox buzzing at full-time as the team’s position was confirmed.
Speaking after the match, Gers boss Philippe Clement said that he is “super proud” of his team having booked their spot in the competition’s next round.
Better than Cerny: Rangers' 35-touch dynamo may have saved his Ibrox career
Rangers secured a spot in the last-16 with a 2-1 win over USG.
ByRoss Kilvington Jan 31, 2025
“From the top eight, we played against four teams in Olympiacos, Lyon, Manchester United and Tottenham so it makes the performance even bigger,” said the Belgian.
“It is massive for the whole squad,” he explained. “It shows that this squad is really working hard together, and everybody wants to give everything to get the results for this club.”
Rangers
Raskin, whose goal against Union Saint-Gilloise was his first of the season, echoed Clement’s comments.
“We’re very proud about the performance but also the whole campaign,” said the midfielder. “We knew we had a small chance to be top eight and we just had to do the job, so we’re very proud tonight.”
Rangers change Cameron approach
To bolster their chances in the latter stages of the Europa League, Rangers were reported to be close to securing the services of Dundee star Lyall Cameron this month. Cameron has been one of Scottish football’s standout young stars this season, scoring eight goals and producing seven assists in 29 games for Dundee.
The Daily Mail reported earlier this month that Rangers were on the verge of landing Cameron, whose contract at Dens Park runs out in the summer. The Gers were said to be ready to meet Cameron’s wage demands and land him on a bargain deal.
A new report from Football Insider suggests that Rangers have shifted their focus and abandoned plans to secure Cameron on a permanent deal this month. Instead, they are now in discussions with the midfielder regarding a pre-contract agreement.
The report indicates that Rangers are looking to finalise an agreement for a summer move, hoping to persuade Cameron to turn down any renewal offers and commit to joining Ibrox in the upcoming transfer window.
Lyall Cameron SPFL Stats 2024/25
Games
22
Goals
5
Assists
4
Chances Created
36
Successful Dribbles
13
FotMob Rating
7.39
Stats via FotMob. (As of January 31, 2025)
Whether Rangers land Cameron this month or in the summer, Clement has made clear that he is a big admirer of the 21-year-old.
“Cameron also, a very good midfielder, creative midfielder, with decisive action in the last pass and a good solid base behind him also,” he told reporters in his press conference when Rangers drew 1-1 with Dundee a few weeks ago.
أعلن نادي الزمالك، بشكل رسمي تعيين أحمد سمير لاعب المدرب العام السابق للفريق، في منصب نائب رئيس قطاعات كرة القدم في القلعة البيضاء.
وقرر نادي الزمالك، تولي أحمد سمير منصب نائب رئيس القطاعات لكرة القدم، والمدير الفني لقطاع الناشئين والذي كان يشغله حازم إمام المدرب المساعد الأن في الفريق الأول.
وبدأ أحمد سمير مهام عمله رسمياً اليوم ، بعد توليه منصبه بناء على طلب بدر حامد رئيس قطاعات كرة القدم بالنادي.
طالع.. خاص | الزمالك يتخذ قرارًا صادمًا تجاه أحمد فتوح
وكان نادي الزمالك، أعلن تعيين مدرب جديد لقيادة الفريق في الفترة القادمة، وهو البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا، ويتواجد معه في الجهاز المعاون حازم إمام مدرب مساعد.
ويخوض فريق نادي الزمالك، معسكرًا في العاصمة الإدارية، خلال الوقت الحالي، استعدادًا للموسم الجديد حيث يتخلل المعسكر مباريات ودية.
Former Barcelona star Yaya Toure revealed how they used to protect Lionel Messi as he recalled Ronaldinho turning team-mates into 'laughing stock'.
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Toure revealed Barca players protected Messi
Ronaldinho turned his team-mates into laughing stock
Spent three years at Camp Nou
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Manchester City legend Toure spent three years at Camp Nou, where he played alongside legends like Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi. The former Ivory Coast international won seven titles during his brief stay which includes two La Liga and a Champions League title.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Reminiscing his time at the Catalan club, Toure recalled sharing a dressing room with Messi as he claimed that every Barcelona player protected the young Argentine at that time. He also recalled how Ronaldinho turned his teammates into a 'laughing stock' by nutmegging them in training.
WHAT YAYA TOURE SAID
Speaking on the podcast, the 41-year-old said: "Everyone protected him because we knew he was a talented player and we recognized how good he was. That was very beneficial for the club. We were happy when opponents pressed us high. Because we simply, without thinking, would try to pass the ball to him immediately."
He added: "In my early days with Barcelona during training, Ronaldinho seemed ordinary. But one day he came to me and said, 'Be careful, Yaya, if you get close to me, I’ll make you a laughing stock.' I thought he was just joking, but every time I got near him, he’d nutmeg me."
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WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
The Blaugrana will be back in action next week in the Champions League as they take on Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their quarter-final fixture at home.
Aston Villa are now ready to sign a “sensational” £42m midfielder on a loan deal, as he has been made available by his current club, according to a report.
Villa still in the race for the Champions League
Villa have failed to hit the heights of last season, but they are still very much in the race for the Champions League, currently sitting just six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea as we enter the second half of the campaign. In order to aid the Villans’ top four push and ongoing Champions League campaign, however, Unai Emery is looking at making a number of additions during the January transfer window.
Borussia Dortmund’s Donyell Malen is one of Emery’s main targets, and it appears as though the forward is keen on the move to Villa Park, having now verbally agreed to join.
Borussia Dortmund'sDonyellMalen
Not only is Emery keen on strengthening in attack, but he is also weighing up his options in defence, and the Villans are now lining up a move for Celta Vigo defender Oscar Mingueza, who has a release clause of £16.5m in his contract.
Back in the summer, one of the big disappointments for Villa was the fact they had to sell Douglas Luiz to Juventus, but a new report from The Boot Room has detailed the midfielder could be on his way back to England.
Aston Villa’s upcoming Premier League fixtures
Date
Everton (a)
January 15th
Arsenal (a)
January 18th
West Ham United (h)
January 26th
Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)
February 1st
Ipswich Town (h)
February 15th
Villa are now ready to re-sign Luiz on a loan deal, with Juventus willing to sanction the midfielder’s departure this month, as he has failed to impress since completing a move to the Allianz Stadium.
The Italian club are looking to sell the Brazilian, who they paid £42m for, on a loan-to-buy deal, but it is deemed unlikely that an agreement of that nature will be possible this month.
Romano: Aston Villa in talks with new January target who Unai Emery likes
He came through Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy.
ByBarney Lane Jan 7, 2025 Luiz deal could make sense for all parties
Juventus clearly have no intention of keeping hold of the 26-year-old, and he has already proven himself at Villa Park, so a deal could make sense for all parties. Even though his move to the Serie A has not worked out, the central midfielder received high praise from members of the media during his time in the Midlands.
The Brazil international was rated Villa’s second-best performer in the Premier League last season, averaging a 7.27 match rating as they secured their spot in the Champions League.
As such, if Luiz is able to perform at a similar level for the Villans during the rest of the current campaign, he could be a real boost to their chances of reaching Europe’s elite competition for the second season on the bounce.
Much of the talk around the series has focused on pitches, but it is Sri Lanka’s resilient middle order that has consistently thwarted Australia’s plans. It was no different in Colombo
Daniel Brettig13-Aug-2016On the eve of this match, Sri Lanka’s captain Angelo Mathews had a pointed message for those who sought to attribute his side’s series win purely to spinning pitches and Australian unfamiliarity with same. “I’m hearing that the Aussies have not played good cricket, and the wickets were poor – I mean, come on, you’ve got to grow up. We play on the same wicket.”Within minutes of Mathews saying these words, the touring press corps were invited by the Australian team to pay a visit to the centre of the SSC ground in Colombo for a close look at the latest tinder-dry pitch prepared for them. The clear implication was that the surface would once again do plenty for spin, and that it would struggle to last the distance. Another spoiler for the pacemen.But events on day one of the third Test served to underline Mathews’ point rather better than it did that of the touring team. Yes the SSC pitch was extremely dry, and yes it took spin from the very first ball delivered by Nathan Lyon. Yet the conditions were not exactly treacherous, offering little by way of variable bounce, and catered to batsmen prepared to play with application, skill and occasional moments of flair. In Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal, Sri Lanka had those batsmen.By way of quantifying how well these two played, Australia had arguably their best bowling day of the series. Runs were scored at a far less rapid rate, fields were clever but not over-attacking, and the pre-lunch spell when Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon combined artfully was as threatening as two Australian bowlers have looked together since Josh Hazlewood and Steve O’Keefe on day one at Pallekele. Lyon found a disconcerting pace with useful turn early on, though for the balance of the day his line was perhaps fractionally too straight, allowing plenty of balls to be worked around the corner.”Personally I’ve learned a lot in this series and I’m adapting,” Lyon said. “You can still see my stock off break creating chances but they just weren’t carrying to bat pad. The best way I’d describe it is I’m adapting to learning how to bowl on the subcontinent.”Jon Holland too delivered a performance much improved on his nervous showing in Galle, dropping the ball onto the right length and varying his degree of turn nicely. On the evidence he offered here, Holland deserves a more consistent commission for Victoria over the home summer, and serious consideration for India next year. If a wicket or two was missing from his analysis, it was not through a lack of chances created. Peter Nevill could not accept an edge from Dhananjaya’s groping blade in mid-afternoon, not long after a skier fell tantalisingly short of mid-on running back with the flight. A facile appeal for a return catch via the boot of silly point was laughed off.What will frustrate the Australians is the fact that Sri Lanka have been by far the more resilient of the two batting orders. A morning scoreline of 26 for 5 followed earlier starts of 67 for 5, 86 for 4, 9 for 2 and 98 for 5. Australia’s bowlers have not, all told, done a bad job, but their efforts to snuff out the Sri Lankan batting have been met by stiffening resistance with every innings since the first. Of course it was Kusal Mendis who showed the way with a series-defining hundred in Pallekele, but he has been followed by Mathews, Dhananjaya and Dilruwan Perera. It is a philosophy of Darren Lehmann that a batting line-up need only make enough runs to allow the bowlers room to take 20 wickets. Sri Lanka’s middle-order batsmen have followed it grandly.”I daresay if you look at the whole series that’s a big key in Sri Lanka being 2-0 up in the series,” Lyon said. “The ability for their batsmen to bat in partnerships and for a long period of time. We’ve all spoken about it and our batters have got their own plans to come out in this Test match and hopefully put them into play and bat for long periods. That’s Test match cricket.”Intriguingly, Australia’s selection for the Colombo Test reflected mounting discontent with the touring top order, even though Sri Lanka’s first three batsmen have been, if anything, even less productive. Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja paid a heavy price for their failures in Tests one and two, replaced by a pair of older cricketers in Moises Henriques and Shaun Marsh. These two were ostensibly the spare batsmen on tour, though Henriques is more an allrounder with precious few recent Sheffield Shield runs behind him. The methods he and Marsh offer will fascinate, given the team’s commitment to a more aggressive game has now been faced with a counterpoint from Dhananjaya and Chandimal.Lyon offered a somewhat testy response when asked about the changes. “That’s a selector’s question,” he said. “I’ve got no say in it, all I’ve got to do is support each and every one of those guys in the change room, and I’ll do that until the day I die. SOS and Mo have definitely got my support, but so do Burnsy and Uz. It’s a tough call, but that’s why the selectors get paid the big dollars.”Dropping two seemingly settled members of the Australian top six just two Test matches into a new season was a momentous decision given the need for all antipodean batsmen to learn as much as possible in these conditions. Both Burns and Khawaja may now doubt their chances of going to India in the new year, no matter how many runs they make in Australia during the summer.But the move away from the current top six had as much to do with Sri Lanka’s greater resilience as with Australian troubles with spinning surfaces. Make no mistake, this series has been won by the home team, not by their pitches.
Josh Sargent has sought to clarify his future at Norwich, with USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino offering no advice when it comes to transfers.
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Reputation enhanced in the ChampionshipSummer move being speculated onContact with national coach ahead of World CupFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The 25-year-old striker has cemented his status as one of the most fearsome forwards in the Championship. He has, despite nursing more injuries this season, registered 13 goals in the 2024-25 campaign. Those efforts may not be enough to earn Norwich a play-off spot and another shot at promotion, however.
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Sargent is, however, seeing a step up into the Premier League speculated on. He is also said to be interesting teams in the Bundesliga and MLS. Canaries fans were concerned by recent comments from their top marksman in which he claimed to have a “decision” to make this summer.
WHAT JOSH SARGENT SAID
Sargent has now addressed that statement, saying in the : “I'm pretty sure in the first half of that interview I said, 'I have a contract here at Norwich'. I'm very happy. My family's very happy here. It was in no way saying that I'm definitely gone at the end of the season. I'm very happy with the manager of the team. I was just trying to say there will be options. But that's not to say that I'm definitely leaving.
“It's a decision that me and my family are going to have to make. Obviously, the team has to agree to me even leaving in the first place. So as of now, I'm very happy here. With that interview, I didn't try to come off in a bad way. It's become home for my family, and the fans are amazing to me all the time. I have nothing but good things to say about this place. I think it came off a bit in the wrong way. I didn't want to upset anybody like that.”
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Sargent is hoping to earn a place in the United States’ plans for a home World Cup in 2026. Playing at the highest level will aid that cause, but he added when asked if national team coach Pochettino has nudged him in a certain direction: “I haven't had any discussions with him about that, to be honest.
“When he first came in, we had a good talk. He just asked how things were going at Norwich, and I said good. They're always keeping in touch and always watching the game. In terms of going to another club in my future, he hasn't said anything about that.”