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An incident involving a tackle on a Wolverhampton Wanderers player in the build up to Manchester City’s goal has emerged, putting a bigger shadow over referee Chris Kavanagh after Sunday’s controversy.

Gary O’Neil and his Wolves side are still without a win in the Premier League, but they will be pleased with their performance against the Blues, with their anger directed at the performance of Kavanagh rather than any of the players.

91% passing, 6/10 rating: The Wolves star who was even better than Larsen

Wolves star performed even better than Larsen despite the goal.

ByConnor Holden Oct 20, 2024 Wolves’ wait for a Premier League win continues

Wolves came into the game against Pep Guardiola’s side sitting at the bottom of the table, and an easy win for the away side was expected. However, Wolves made sure that wasn’t the case, as they took an early lead and put in a very impressive display. Josko Gvardiol levelled the away side, and then a dramatic and questionable goal from John Stones in the last minute sealed the win for City.

The incident at the end of the game has been the talking point, with O’Neil believing there “could be an unconscious bias” towards the bigger teams in the league when it comes to refereeing decisions: “I can categorically tell you they don’t mean to.

“They are 100 per cent honest. I just know from a human point of view it’s tough. I feel different playing Manchester City than someone else in the Carabao Cup first round. I’m sure they feel it; they are human. I don’t know if I’m miles off; it just feels there could be.”

He added: “If I had to upset someone in the street and there’s a big and little guy in the street, I’m upsetting the little guy. There is something in there, and they don’t do it on purpose and are doing the best job they can. Maybe there’s something which just edges it in that direction when it’s really tight.”

Possession

22.4%

77.6%

Shots

3

22

Shots on target

2

7

Shots off target

1

7

Total touches in the box

0

8

Goalkeeper saves

5

1

Aerial duels won

14

13

Fouls

8

5

Corners

1

18

Meanwhile, on the positive front for Wolves, former Premier League player Nigel Re-Coker hopes the Midlands side take the same “desire” shown against Man City into their other games this season. But while Wolves may be just about calming down from Sunday’s match, a new incident has emerged in the lead up to City’s goal.

Chris Kavanagh missed a clear foul before Man City's goal

As stated, Man City claimed all three points away at Wolves on Sunday in a fashion that has been labelled controversial. Now, footage has emerged of a tackle on a Wolves player before that goal that could have been blown up for a foul and therefore seen the game end all square.

Goncalo Guedes was carrying the ball towards the City goal when, it appears, he was pushed to the ground before losing the ball. City had a couple of corners between this and the goal, so it wasn’t an incident that led directly to the goal, but it all happened within the space of a couple of minutes.

This is footage that will annoy Wolves fans even more and raise even more questions after O’Neil’s comments about unconscious bias towards the bigger Premier League teams.

Arne Slot might have a bit more tactical nous than his predecessor, and that's not to discredit the exceptional management skills of Jurgen Klopp, whose Anfield appointment proved to be the start of a miracle that rained illustrious success down on Liverpool.

The Dutch head coach has got off to a flyer in the Premier League but let's not forget that he has inherited an elite crop of players, with the exploits of Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah on the attacking flanks evidence of the title-capable quality.

Luis Diaz & Mohamed Salah's stats this season

Liverpool's attack petered out toward the end of the 2023/24 campaign, a core part of the nosedive that pulled Klopp's swansong away from contention for titles in the Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup, falling to the eventual champions in the latter two.

Now, though, a shift in style under Slot appears to have revitalised both, with Salah nominated for the league's Player of the Month award for August. His Colombian peer's dominant display against Manchester United came a day late for the monthly award, but puts him in good stead for the second.

Premier League 24/25: Mo Salah & Luis Diaz
Stats (*per game)	Diaz	Salah
Matches (starts)	3 (3)	3 (3)
Goals	3	3
Assists	1	3
Touches*	42.7	50.7
Shots (on target)*	2.7 (1.3)	3.3 (2.0)
Pass completion	86%	80%
Key passes*	2.3	1.7
Dribbles completed*	2.3 (58%)	1.3 (50%)
Ball recoveries*	4.3	2.3
Total duels won*	5.7 (44%)	3.7 (44%)
All stats via Sofascore

Both players are performing at quite an exceptional level, and though Diaz is more athletic, combative and energetic than his 32-year-old teammate, Salah has that Midas touch, with the eye test also underscoring his unrivalled influence in the Premier League.

Liverpool's forward success flows through Salah, who is currently valued at £46m by Transfermarkt, channelled toward goal with the ferocity of a waterfall. His deal is up at the end of the season but Richard Hughes will be working night and day to convince the Egpytian to extend his £350k-per-week contract.

Diaz's contract has also been a topic of conversation in recent months, though that door is closed (for now) following the conclusion of the transfer window. Barcelona had had a vested interest in the 27-year-old but were unwilling to meet Liverpool's demands of a payment well in excess of £50m.

There is, however, a current Premier League winger who is valued well above both Anfield stalwarts. Yes, Anthony Gordon could be plying his trade in his home city right now but instead remains at St. James' Park. Unknown to many, a return to Anfield would have actually been a homecoming for the England international.

Liverpool must rue letting Anthony Gordon leave

Hailed as a "menace" of a player by scout Antonio Mango, Gordon has enjoyed a steady rise to prominence in the Premier League, demonstrating clear talent at Everton but suffering due to the Toffees' turbulence, forcing his way out and signing for Newcastle United in a £45m deal in January 2023.

He had a slow start to life as a Magpie but soared throughout his first full season, winning the club's Player of the Year award after posting 12 goals and 11 assists across all competitions, hailed for his "unbelievable" performances by Bruno Guimaraes.

Such efforts turned Liverpool's head among others, and due to Newcastle's PSR concerns, Eddie Howe was set to lose his wide talisman in a £75m deal, agreed with Liverpool but not coming to fruition after alternative, less costly means were found to combat the situation.

His pace and potency down the left would be perfect for Slot's side, but would you know, he actually played for the Reds way back when, released from the academy as an 11-year-old before earning a second bite at the cherry with Everton, where he rose through the ranks.

Speaking to Everton's club website, Gordon said: "It was another chance for me to grow. But that was hard. It affected me mentally and dented my confidence. I had to pick myself up and go again.

“When I got to Everton, I never looked back.”

Given that Liverpool were willing to enforce a high-cost transfer to bring the 23-year-old back to Merseyside this summer suggests that there is an element of ruefulness about letting him go in the first place, for a little more prudence could have seen him rise through the ranks in the same way that Trent Alexander-Arnold did.

Would it be far-fetched to say that there's a sense Gordon could yet grace the Anfield pitch in Liverpool red? FSG's interest is genuine and the England star isn't exactly going to fade into the background any time soon, impressing for club and country.

And the fact that he's more valuable than both Salah and Diaz right now does highlight his high potential, something that Liverpool will need to pay the big bucks for if they do wish to bring him home.

However, Diaz is proving that he's the man for the job on Slot's left flank. Who knows what will happen in the future, but certain Liverpool figures might rue letting Gordon leave in the first place – just imagine a wing boasting both Diaz and Gordon as the options…

He's out on loan: The Liverpool "prodigy" who can one day replace Salah

He’s currently seeking senior minutes elsewhere…

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Sep 7, 2024

Speaking to the media this week, Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler confirmed that Joao Pedro will not be available to take part in the Seagulls’ trip to face Chelsea on Saturday. The Brazilian was spotted in crutches after the 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest, and his return date has not been specified.

Fantasy Premier League managers who wildcarded in GW4 and those playing their chip in GW6 are now all asking the same question – who is the best cheap striker after Pedro’s latest injury? Football FanCast have taken a look at five players who could be the answer.

5 Danny Welbeck, Brighton, £5.8m, 19% owned

The easiest answer is a quick switch to Pedro’s teammate Welbeck. The former England international could be in line for a return to the Three Lions set-up if his form this season continues, as he’s already racked up three goals and one assist, only failing to provide a goal involvement in two games so far.

Welbeck is ever so slightly more expensive than Pedro at £5.8m instead of £5.6m, but for managers with a bit of spare change looking for a straight swap, Welbeck’s 0.46 expected goal involvements per 90 is the obvious solution. The one downside to picking the former Manchester United and Arsenal star is his upcoming fixtures, with Brighton facing Chelsea, Spurs, Newcastle, Wolves, Liverpool and Manchester City next, with the home fixture against Wolves the only one with a 2 fixture difficulty rating (FDR) or better.

4 Raul Jimenez, Fulham, £5.4m, 2% owned

For managers looking for more of a differential – and one they can swap to from Pedro without making other transfers – Jimenez has sneakily become one of the best options available. The Mexico international was expected to serve merely as back-up for last year’s FPL breakout star Rodrigo Muniz, but has taken over starting duties in the last two gameweeks, scoring in both starts against West Ham and Newcastle, racking up 0.3 and 0.5 expected goal involvements in those two games.

Jimenez could well be on penalty duty, has the creativity of Adama Traore and Emile Smith-Rowe behind him, and faces some relatively kind fixtures after Fulham’s trip to Manchester City in GW7, with no more matches above a 3 FDR until December.

3 Jhon Duran, Aston Villa, £6.1m, 5% owned

For the risk-averse managers, a striker who is yet to start a game in the Premier League this season feels like a disaster waiting to happen, but there is plenty of reason to believe Duran’s move into the first XI is just a matter of days away, with Unai Emery saying as much last week.

The numbers behind his start to the season are frankly ridiculous, as his expected goal involvement per 90 stands at a whopping 1.52, scoring in four of his five appearances from the bench and facing newly promoted Ipswich Town in GW6.

2 Jamie Vardy, Leicester, £5.7m, 11% owned

While the GW6 trip to Arsenal is an obvious hit to Vardy’s claim as the number one option to replace Pedro, Leicester’s fixtures after that are quite remarkable – the Foxes star doesn’t face another FDR above 3 until a trip to Newcastle in GW16, and the clash at the Emirates is followed by Bournemouth at home and then the other two promoted teams sandwiched either side of Forest at home.

Vardy is as nailed as can be to take penalties, has scored twice already this season, and most importantly has very little competition for his place with Odsonne Edouard clearly unfavoured having played just seven minutes in the last three games and Patson Daka injured for the forseeable future.

1 Iliman Ndiaye, Everton, £5.4m, 0.5% owned

Don’t tell us we haven’t delivered on our promise for low owned players! Ndiaye is hardly a name on many FPL players’ lips at the moment, but ask any Everton fan and they’ll tell you the the Senegal international is just about the only bright spot in their season so far.

Playing on the left-wing, Ndiaye found his first Premier League goal against Leicester in GW5, is by far his team’s most talented and dangerous player, and now faces an unbelievable run of scorable fixtures, including two of the promoted sides, an out of sorts Man Utd, Newcastle in terrible away form and a West Ham side who have conceded eight times in their last two games.

Crystal Palace (H)

2

Newcastle (H)

3

Ipswich (A)

2

Fulham (H)

2

Southampton (A)

2

West Ham (A)

2

Brentford (H)

2

Man Utd (A)

3

Wolves (H)

2

So… how’s that for a proper differential? Let us know who you’re bringing in by commenting below!

Acting Ireland captain says bubble life leaves players feeling like they’re being “manoeuvred on a chessboard”

Matt Roller12-Jan-2022Paul Stirling has said there is “no doubt” that large numbers of players will pull out of tours and tournaments if they continue to operate in tight biosecure conditions, suggesting that Covid bubbles no longer feel like they are about “our health and safety” and instead are only in place for “financial reasons for companies, organisations and franchises”.Stirling has played overseas in the Hundred, T20 Blast, PSL, LPL and Abu Dhabi T10 in the last two years as well as touring regularly with Ireland. He contracted Covid-19 in Florida at the end of December following their T20I series, and has now joined up with the rest of Ireland’s squad – minus four Covid-positive team-mates and their interim coach David Ripley – in Jamaica ahead of Thursday’s second ODI against West Indies.With Andy Balbirnie among the positive players – along with Lorcan Tucker, Simi Singh and Ben White – Stirling will stand in as captain for the rest of the series. Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, he said that while his introverted character meant he had coped with bubbles, there is “not too much rope left” for many players around the world.Related

Ireland coach Heinrich Malan: 'It's about inquisitively asking questions and getting people to think differently'

USA-Ireland ODI series cancelled due to Covid-19 outbreak

'Playing with Covid more challenging off the pitch than on it' – Balbirnie

Stirling, Getkate to join Ireland squad in Jamaica after testing negative for Covid-19

Remaining West Indies-Ireland ODIs rescheduled, T20I called off

“Will players pull out? One hundred percent,” he said. “There’s no doubt about that. I think the restrictions are now no longer as much to do with our health and safety as they are to do with making sure that competitions go ahead and financial reasons for companies, organisations, franchises and making it work from that point of view.”When that starts happening and that transition is so apparent, and you feel as a player that you’re just being manoeuvred on a chessboard, that’s I think when people are going to be pulling out, fairly swiftly. That’s probably not far away, or else rules will be broken as you go.”As a whole, we’ve done pretty well. Not that you can blame anyone else but it would seem like we’ve had our camp in a good way, our discipline was good, we were sticking to the rules which is easier said than done sometimes.”We had a pretty good record and I think whenever cases came out, we nipped it in the bud. This is the first time where it’s lingered. I don’t know any teams that have completely avoided it, so it’s maybe time to start moving on in that direction a bit quicker.”Ireland’s players are in a strict bubble in Jamaica but were not at the start of their tour in Florida, where they had to abide by Covid protocols as part of a “managed environment”. It was not enough to keep the virus out of their camp, with their ODI series against the USA abandoned at short notice after players’ family members tested positive, but Stirling denied that the decision to avoid draconian protocols had been a mistake.”I don’t think the tour would have gone ahead [in a strict bubble],” he said. “Going away over Christmas in a different country – if you’re going to propose that with a full bubble like we’re in now, who’s going to say yes to that? It could only be relaxed.”And I say relaxed: it’s being allowed outdoors, it’s eating outdoors, it’s 15 minutes in places to get your essentials. I wouldn’t say it was extremely enjoyable. It was certainly the way that we see it going forward – that as an absolute bare minimum as to what we’re allowed to do.”Everyone reacts differently to news of positive tests. Even if you’re negative, you’ve got that anxiety of ‘will it be me next?’ This just seems to be one of those ones where it feels like our turn. It is tough if you’re not used to it. You’re away from home, you’re not sure if you’re going to get home.”Hopefully this is going to ease out with time this year. I don’t think there’s too much rope left with the players with having these bubbles as we go forward. The next three-four months, an easing of these sort of protocols would be pretty high on our list.”Stirling said that he was fit to play on Thursday despite suffering from “two dodgy days” while self-isolating in Miami, and feeling like he was “in the Highlands in South Africa” while jogging at his first training session in Jamaica.”From a health point of view, I’m feeling good,” he said. “I’m glad it’s over – the people who have had it are so glad they’ve already had it because that takes you off for six months [due to natural immunity] where we can focus on cricket. We’ve got [T20 World Cup] qualifiers coming up [in Oman in February] and the last thing we want is this sort of environment where people are unsure.”Andy McBrine (concussion) and Mark Adair (foot) are both expected to be available for Thursday’s game, while Singh and White could be available for Sunday’s third ODI if cleared by medical staff.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta now appears set to promote one very highly-rated teenager to the first team, as a senior member of the Spaniard's squad faces a fresh injury setback.

Arsenal prepare to face Wolves in opening Premier League game

Following their two month-plus break from action, Arsenal are now gearing up for the new Premier League season and another opportunity to loosen Man City's stranglehold on the title.

Talks ongoing: Arsenal believe they'll sign £55m ace soon, he wants to join

The Gunners are still trying to make their third signing of the window.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Aug 13, 2024

The Gunners have fell just short of City in the last two campaigns, pushing Pep Guardiola all the way to the final day last term, but not quite possessing enough to leapfrog their arch rivals.

After signing Italy international defender Riccardo Calafiori, and potentially Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino soon (Pete O'Rourke), Arsenal chiefs will be hoping Arteta's side can go that one step further and usurp City as the champions of England come next May.

Arsenal host Gary O'Neil's Wolves on Saturday in their bid to make the best possible start, with an array of tricky fixtures awaiting Arteta soon afterwards.

Arsenal's opening fixtures of the new Premier League season
Team	Date
Wolves (home)	August 17
Aston Villa (away)	August 24
Brighton (home)	August 31
Tottenham (away)	September 15
Man City (away)	September 22

Arsenal will also be hoping for a near-fully fit squad for their clash at the Emirates this weekend, but it is believed versatile £100,000-per-week defender Takehiro Tomiyasu could well be on the treatment table.

Arteta set to promote Myles Lewis-Skelly after Tomiyasu injury at Arsenal

According to Football Transfers, Tomiyasu is facing a fresh injury setback which will keep him out for another month, resulting in a potential opportunity for 17-year-old academy gem Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The young midfielder, who featured often in pre-season preparations, could come in to replace Tomiyasu in the matchday squad. Indeed, Arteta is apparently expected promote Lewis-Skelly to the Arsenal first team following Tomiyasu's recent problem, where he will hopefully have a chance to impress.

The Englishman, who is yet to make his professional senior debut for Arsenal, is very highly rated at the club.

“You know when you see a player and you think, ‘yeah, you’re just a little bit different’," said journalist Charles Watts on his YouTube channel last year, after Lewis-Skelly's excellent performance against Man City in their FA Youth Cup semi-final win (via TBR).

“That’s the kind of impression you get when you sit there and watch Lewis-Skelly. His close control, his ability to get himself out of tight situations, the way he runs with the ball. Just his presence on the pitch, he’s got something special.

“You can see why there’s so much excitement about him at Arsenal. If anyone at Arsenal was going to get the winner last night, and deserved to get the headlines, it was probably him, as he was very good.”

Meanwhile, former Arsenal midfielder and Hale End academy coach Jack Wilshere has tipped the teenager for a very bright future at the club.

“We give him the tools he needs to develop, but you see certain moments that are not coachable," said Wilshere on Lewis-Skelly.

"Certain players can’t do that, only certain players can but there’s much more that comes with it like how he lives. He’s a top kid but he has to manage that going forward when he gets a bit more attention. He comes from a great family which is massive, and I know that they’ll steer his journey and be present throughout that, a bit like me with my dad and family. That’s so important.”

Chelsea could sell a £200,000-a-week member of Enzo Maresca's squad, with doubts now emerging over his suitability for the Italian's system.

Players who could still be sold by Chelsea this summer

Thiago Silva, Hakim Ziyech, Malang Sarr, Ian Maatsen, Omari Hutchinson, Michael Golding and Lewis Hall have all left Stamford Bridge already, bringing in around £89 million and helping to balance the books, but a few more key names could be set to depart after them.

£162,000-per-week forward ready to join Chelsea if Boehly can agree deal

It is down to the west Londoners.

2

By
Emilio Galantini

Jul 30, 2024

Indeed, Napoli are seriously interested in signing Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea, and it is believed their club president Aurelio De Laurentiis and sporting director Giovanni Manna are now open to discussing Victor Osimhen as part of the deal.

Talks are ongoing between Napoli and Chelsea over the Nigerian while Lukaku has already agreed a three-year deal to go the other way, according to reliable media sources like GiveMeSport journalist Ben Jacobs.

Lukaku looks to be closer and closer to a west London exit, and could well make another return to Serie A, this time permanently.

Meanwhile, La Liga heavyweights Atletico Madrid are in talks to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea, with the Spanish side apparently hopeful they can strike a deal for the England international at around £34 million.

Tottenham are also expected to make a bid for Gallagher despite Atletico's advances, but Ange Postecoglou's side will have to act fast given the ongoing talks between Simeone's men and Chelsea.

There is also the matter of fellow Cobham academy graduate Trevoh Chalobah, who was left out of Chelsea's pre-season tour, much to the detest of some supporters. The Blues are apparently willing to sell Chalobah for around £25-30 million, despite the midfielder having four years left on his contract.

"He was probably our best defender in the last 10-15 games last season," said Chelsea season ticket holder Bert Barrett to GOAL.

"It's a joke they have signed Tosin to replace Chalobah, who is a better player and has been at Chelsea since a kid."

Chelsea could sell Ben Chilwell amid doubts over suitability for Maresca

According to The Athletic, another player facing an uncertain future is defender Ben Chilwell.

The £200,000-per-week left-back missed out on a place in Gareth Southgate's squad for the Euros after an injury-hit season, with teammate Marc Cucurella enjoying a late surge in form towards the back end of 2023/2024.

It is believed Chelsea doubt whether Chilwell is suited to Maresca's style of play, and as a result, will entertain suitable bids for the former Leicester City star. Chilwell made just 21 appearances in all competitions under Mauricio Pochettino last season due to his fitness woes but did captain the side when available.

Aston Villa are still eyeing up a couple of deals which could see their transfer window go from solid to spectacular.

Trevoh Chalobah is being eyed as a potential replacement for Diego Carlos should he be sold before the end of the window.

Unai Emery is also tracking a La Liga sensation too, and signing him could prove to be a bigger coup than Amadou Onana…

Aston Villa transfer news

As reported earlier this week, Aston Villa have been offered the chance to sign Atlético Madrid striker Samu Omorodion.

The belief is that the club have not made an offer for the youngster, yet this could see Emery lose out on him to a host of clubs who appear keen on securing his services this summer.

It looked as though he was closing in on a move to Chelsea, yet that deal fell through. If Villa did want to make a concrete offer, then it could see them shell out around £34m.

The attacker recently won the gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics with Spain, defeating France 5-3 in an enthralling final, but it seems as though he is destined to leave his homeland this summer.

Given his talent and hype surrounding the player of late, he could be one of the biggest signings Emery makes this summer.

Samu Omorodion’s season in numbers

The youngster spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Deportivo Alaves from Madrid, and he took the chance to enjoy a breakout season for the club.

Goals

9

Assists

1

Shots on target per game

1.9

Key passes per game

0.5

Successful dribbles per game

0.6

Total duels won per game

3.5

Indeed, across 36 matches in all competitions, he scored nine times while grabbing an assist, showing flashes of his prodigious talent.

Among his teammates, the Spaniard ranked first for goals and assists (ten) in La Liga, while also ranking first for goal frequency (a goal every 223 minutes), first for shots per game (1.9) and second for shots on target per game (0.8), evidence that his loan spell was a success.

This set him up nicely for the Olympic football tournament, and he featured for Spain, who won gold for the first time since 1992.

While he may have only started one game, the striker netted once while averaging 0.8 shots per match, highlighting his desire to add to his goal tally.

U23 scout Antonio Mango lauded him as a “beast” during his spell on loan last term, as Emery could certainly land a major coup in bringing him to Villa.

Onana has proven he can shine in the Premier League and will be important for the Midlands side as they look to build on last term, but Omorodion’s potential is frightening.

If they lure him to the club, Emery will have a sublime talent on his hands, one that will need to be developed carefully if he wishes to fulfil his potential.

£34m on the surface seems like a lot, but if he can turn into the world-class attacker he is destined to be, it could turn into a bargain.

Dream Duran replacement: Aston Villa submit bid for £15m "monster"

Unai Emery is targetting another centre-forward this summer…

ByRoss Kilvington Aug 11, 2024

Manchester United have reportedly secured the first signing of the Ruben Amorim era with the 2025 arrival of Paraguayan starlet Diego Leon.

Article continues below

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Man Utd complete first Amorim signingSign Diego Leon from Cerro PortenoTeenager will join from July 2025Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to Fabrizio Romano, the 17-year-old has agreed to join United from July 2025 when he turns 18. The highly-rated teenager is set to join the Red Devils for an initial $4 million (£3m), with up to $4m in add-ons.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

United have been on the lookout for a new left-back due to the injury issues of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia over the past 18 months. And now they are bringing in a talented full-back who could solve those issues in the future. Amorim has been linked with a reunion with some of his old Sporting CP players at Old Trafford but Leon may be the first to arrive at the club during the Portuguese's tenure.

DID YOU KNOW?

Leon was born in Colonia Yguazu, Paraguay, on April 3, 2007. He is primarily a left-back but can also play as a left wing-back. The youngster has made 21 appearances for Porteno this season, scoring two goals in the process.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Aside from this reported transfer news, Amorim will be focusing on securing United a victory at Old Trafford when Bournemouth visit them on Sunday in the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola's side threw away a three-goal lead to fall deeper into crisis as their run without a win stretched to six games

Manchester City thought they were out of their crisis when they went 3-0 up against Feyenoord on Tuesday, but their own dismal defending pulled them right back in as they were left wondering how on earth they managed to draw 3-3 in the Champions League.

Pep Guardiola's side were cruising thanks to a double from Erling Haaland and an Ilkay Gundogan strike, but they capitulated in a dreadful final 15 minutes.

A horrendous Josko Gvardiol back-pass allowed Anis Hadj Moussa to pull Feyenoord back into contention before Santiago Gimenez and David Hancko scored to round off the most unlikely of comebacks from the visitors, who are fourth in the Eredivisie, eight points off the pace.

GOAL rates City's players from the Etihad Stadium…

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Ederson (4/10):

  Stood tall to trap Paixao's effort but appeared to take his eye off the ball late in the game. A tad slow when he tried to halt Hadj-Moussa and didn't guard his post properly in the build-up to the second before being at fault for the equaliser.

  Rico Lewis (5/10):

  Was having a more comfortable evening than in recent weeks, shuttling between defence and midfield with ease, but he was overwhelmed at the end.

  Manuel Akanji (5/10):

  Crossed when Haaland's header hit the post. Part of the general defensive shoddiness towards the end.

  Nathan Ake (6/10):

  City missed his physical presence when he was taken off with 21 minutes to go

  Josko Gvardiol (4/10):

  Made a couple of good recovery runs but one weak ball to Foden that was intercepted was a sign he was lacking concentration, and he made his worst blunder of a bad week to gift Feyenoord a way back in to the game.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Bernardo Silva (5/10):

  Couldn't impose himself on the game.

  Ilkay Gundogan (5/10):

  Still looks uncomfortable as the main holding midfielder, but at least he scored.

  Matheus Nunes (7/10):

  Had a lively game, making an important block in the first half and setting up Haaland's second goal. Created another chance which Grealish should have done better with.

• AFP
  

  Attack

  Phil Foden (5/10):

  Uninspiring once more. Blocked Grealish's shot and saw his own strike tipped around the post.

  Erling Haaland (8/10):

  A handful: hit the post, won the penalty and scored twice. Deserved much better.

  Jack Grealish (5/10):

  Not an encouraging return at all. Wasted a great chance to make it 4-0 and then had a shot deflected onto the bar at the end.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Subs & Manager

  Kevin De Bruyne (5/10):

  Offered some flair but not enough intensity.

  Jahmai Simpson-Pusey (5/10):

  Too inexperienced to see the game out.

  James McAtee (5/10):

  Couldn't link up properly with his team-mates and scuffed his one chance.

  Pep Guardiola (4/10):

  Looked furious at the end, but it was partly his fault for making so many substitutions, which indicated he thought the game was over. Instead, the disease has spread even further.

Bangladesh’s traditional surfeit of slow left-armers has had a negative effect on other kinds of spin bowling in the country

Mohammad Isam06-Sep-2012That there are just two specialist legspinners in the 105-man list of BCB-contracted first-class cricketers doesn’t offend anyone in Bangladesh cricket. That the grand total stands at five, including two who are slowly drifting into batting allrounder roles and another who is considered a batsman despite his 148 first-class wickets, is hardly greeted with outrage.Chittagong division has both specialist leggies – Noor Hossain and Raihanuddin Arafat. Sabbir Rahman (Rajshahi) and Tanveer Haider (Rangpur) are the ones who began their careers as legspinners but are now mostly picked for their batting. Alok Kapali is the most successful legspinner in the country but he never really established himself as a top-level bowler, despite having a Test hat-trick to his name.It is a similarly dire outlook in terms of specialist offspinners, who are under threat of being driven out of business by the selectors’ proclivity for promoting batsmen who can provide offspin support. For the record, there are just two specialist offspinners – Sohag Gazi and Yasin Arafat – as against 21 recognised left-arm spinners, 15 of whom play as specialists in the eight regional teams.The numbers are a fair reflection of the general approach of decision-makers in Dhaka club cricket, which is the main source of income for cricketers in the country. Since the four-tiered structure (Premier League and first, second and third divisions) has a ruthless league format of one-day matches, officials are not willing to invest in bowling options they consider risky. There is a lot of love for “safe cricket”, and left-arm spin, which provides thrift if not wickets, fits the bill. Three, and even four, left-armers are often picked in playing XIs in the Dhaka First Division League, the only competition outside the Dhaka Premier League that is played on natural wickets.This lack of imagination among officials, perceptible over the last decade, has had an effect all along the food chain. The low demand for leggies and offies means that feeders such as academies and age-group teams across the country have no option but to nurture left-arm spinners, and so the supply of left-arm spinners outweighs those of the other varieties.”One has to understand that the young generation follows whoever is playing at the top level,” Habibul Bashar, now a national selector, tells ESPNcricinfo. “Imran Khan inspired so many kids to become fast bowlers in Pakistan. It is quite the same here; kids want to bowl left-arm spin because this is all they have in front of them.”There is a tradition of left-arm spinners in Bangladesh, and it is our forte. But I would have been happier if there were six or seven legspinners, at least, along with the large number of left-armers. We have told age-group coaches to find legspinners, keep an eye on them and let us know,” he said.The former Bangladesh captain said he used to be frustrated by the one-dimensional nature of bowling attacks at his disposal at every level. “I felt a little helpless when I had to put together a bowling combination. There were no offspinners, only left-arm spin.”He thinks the lack has also to do with the fact that it takes years to master legspin. “Legspin is a difficult art, compared to left-arm spin or offspin. I don’t know if there’s a mentality thing, where people don’t want to work hard.”A leg-spinner has a lot of advantages. He can get into the team quite easily, because I think winning games is easier with a good legspinner. But I’m not sure whether the new generation is interested in bowling legspin.”

Just as one-dimensional, left-arm-heavy bowling is hurting budding bowlers, it is also having an adverse effect on batsmen who are picked in the representative sides. They now take years to properly read offspin and legspin

The deficit has been hard on the existing legspinners. Hossain has been worn thin, shunted between representative teams like the Under-19s (in the recent World Cup) or Bangladesh A. The constant shifting about has not afforded him the opportunity to bowl lots of overs in matches in the NCL. The new contracts system, under which players will be pinned to a team for a year, could help in theory, but there is no guarantee that Hossain won’t be pulled out at short notice to play for the A team.Arafat’s stop-start career too says a lot about attitudes towards legspin. After taking 11 wickets in four games in his debut season (2003-04), he played two first-class games in 2005-06, one in 2006-07, three each in 2008-09 and 2009-10, two in 2010-11, and bowled just nine overs in the 2011-12 season. He was the token legspinner before Hossain, and toured South Africa with the National Cricket Academy in 2008.There is also a thin pack of offspinners – most of them batsmen who are part-time spinners than specialists. Gazi, the Barisal youngster, has played consistently for the last two seasons, mainly due to the bowling combination used by his team, as well as his ability with the bat (BCB lists him as an allrounder). “I really think that without the Barisal team, I wouldn’t get this far. They gave me enough opportunities to bowl and use as many variations as I please. I got the wickets too, which helped the team,” he said.The BCB contracts list is a fair reflection of the current status of offspin in the country – a far cry from the 1990s, when the skill was much used.Just as one-dimensional, left-arm-heavy bowling is hurting budding bowlers, it is also having an adverse effect on batsmen who are picked in the representative sides. Even those playing international cricket now take years to properly read offspin and legspin, and with the proliferation of left-hand batsmen in Bangladesh, at a time when the stocks of offspin are rising in several international teams, these problems are set to remain for the next few years.The Bangladesh selectors’ quest for legspinners or offspinners will be futile unless there is a change in the attitudes of those who are in charge of competitive cricket in the country. Not too many seem keen on the need for balancing the three formats in the domestic calendar. Introducing two-day or three-day tournaments in age-group cricket would seem to be the most viable option at this stage.