Arsenal employees travel to club this week as Edu eyes £63m forward

Arsenal employees have been dispatched to Europe this week, as the Gunners and sporting director Edu Gaspar eye up a potential forward signing.

Arsenal show Havertz faith after summer striker decision

Mikel Arteta ultimately chose to stick with on-fire centre-forward Kai Havertz after deciding not to bring in a striker before summer transfer deadline day, with the German repaying that show of faith.

£200k-per-week Arsenal star "almost certain" to go and wanted by Barcelona

He’s started every league game this season.

By
Emilio Galantini

Oct 3, 2024

Havertz’s latest heroics in a 2-0 win against PSG – opening the score with a towering header beyond the on-looking Gianluigi Donnarumma – add to his tally of five goals and an assist across nine appearances in all competitions so far.

Since signing from Chelsea last summer, the versatile 25-year-old has gone on to become a key Arsenal player despite early criticism. However, Edu and Arteta did attempt to bring in an alternative to Havertz and Gabriel Jesus over the summer.

Arsenal’s next five Premier League games

Date

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Liverpool (home)

October 27

Newcastle United (away)

November 2

Chelsea (away)

November 10

Arsenal made an offer to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, and were involved in a high-profile Premier League race against Chelsea and Man United for the Slovenian’s signature. However, Sesko decided instead to remain at Leipzig – penning a contract extension with the condition of a “gentleman’s agreement” that he could leave in 2025 or 2026.

Arsenal are believed to be weighing up the possibility of bringing in a new striker next year instead, and Sesko remains on their list alongside a host of other star names.

Reports claim Edu is looking at Marcus Thuram of Inter Milan, with Sporting Lisbon sensation Viktor Gyokeres on Arsenal’s radar as well. The stellar form of Aston Villa star Jhon Duran has led to Arsenal chiefs believing he’d be an even better capture than Gyokeres, according to Football Transfers, but Sesko remains at the forefront of their thinking.

Arsenal send scouts to run rule over Sesko at Leipzig this week

According to The Boot Room, Arsenal scouts were at Leipzig this week to run the rule over Sesko, with the 21-year-old seemingly impressing as he bagged a brace against Juventus in the Champions League.

While the 21-year-old was ultimately on the losing side, Sesko showcased his proficiency yet again – picking up where he left off from last season. The former Salzburg starlet has chalked up six goals and three assists in eight total appearances so far this term, following a 2023/2024 campaign where he netted 18 in all competitions.

“Benjamin Šeško is among the game’s top young talents and has enormous potential to become a top player,” said Leipzig technical director Christopher Vivell.

“He has all the qualities to do that. He’s extremely quick, has a great jump on him and is strong in the air. Benjamin is a real goalscorer, who despite his 1.95m (6’4″) is mobile and technically strong. His abilities make him a special player with a special profile.”

Sesko’s new deal is rumoured to include a £63 million release clause, a mark-up from his previous one in the summer, but it could still represent good value for money.

Wayne Madsen fires Falcons chase as Derbyshire soar into top four

Sam Hain continues purple patch but Bears come up short

ECB Reporters Network19-Jun-2022Derbyshire 160 for 3 (Madsen 55) beat Birmingham 159 for 7 (Hain 73*, Conners 3-25) by seven wicketsDerbyshire Falcons’ Vitality Blast charge continued with a thumping seven-wicket win over Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston. Falcons lodged their fourth successive victory as they comfortably beat a Bears side which had piled up a Blast record total against Notts Outlaws only two days earlier.This time they were restricted to 159 for 7 by excellent bowing led by Sam Conners and Mattie McKiernan. Sam Hain continued his sublime form with an unbeaten 73 off 40 balls but no other batter escaped the shackles.The visitors made light of the modest target, racing to 160 for 3 with 11 balls to spare. Luis Reece supplied early impetus with 38 off 24 balls before Wayne Madsen, who made 55 off 34, and captain Shan Masood added 89 in 59 balls to seal victory.The win lifts Falcons into the qualification spots while Bears are also still there but remain hit and miss, their record total of 261 on Friday sandwiched between defeats by ten and seven wickets. Another concern for them was Hain’s absence when fielding due to a sore back.Bears chose to bat but soon hit trouble against well-directed bowling. They were 23 for 3 after Connors removed Paul Stirling and Alex Davies, and Rob Yates lifted Mark Watt to long leg.Sam Hain continued his fine form•Getty ImagesHain motored to 50 from 29 balls, but support for him was fleeting. Adam Hose lifted McKiernan for six but edged the next ball to wicketkeeper Brooke Guest.The Falcons attack, astutely orchestrated by captain Masood, kept the pressure high. Chris Benjamin, Carlos Brathwaite and Jake Lintott all cleared the ropes once but perished trying to repeat the big blows. Hain found himself too often at the non-striker’s end as Bears came in short.Falcons’ reply was given a flier as Masood and Reece put 50 on the board in 33 balls. A comical mix up, which saw them both at the same end, did for Reece but Madsen hit two sixes from his first six balls and applied measured acceleration while Masood played the perfect anchor role.Bears’ unhappy day continued when they were penalised five runs after bowler Brathwaite, seeing Madsen set off for a single, sent in a throw which would have hit the stumps but struck the batter. The umpires’ bizarre decision to deem it dangerous play summed up a bad day for the home side.Madsen said later: “The umpires deemed Carlos Brathwaite’s throw reckless and that is what it was. I was in my crease and he didn’t even look. I know it’s a competitive game but if that had hit me on the back of the head, like the umpires said, there is real trouble.”Madsen advanced to a 29-ball half-century and Falcons rose impressively into the top four of the North Group.

Cabeça fria e coração quente: Palmeiras mostra poder de reação quando sai atrás no placar

MatériaMais Notícias

da betsson: Cabeça fria, coração quente. A famosa frase do técnico do Palmeiras, Abel Ferreira, parece ter surtido efeito no elenco palmeirense, que vem mostrando um incrível poder mental de reação nos jogos em que sai atrás no placar. Foi o que aconteceu nos últimos dois confrontos do Verdão no Campeonato Brasileiro, contra Atlético-GO e São Paulo.

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> ATUAÇÕES: Gómez e Murilo representam a esperança do Palmeiras no clássico

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> Veja a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasScarpa soma 11 assistências no ano pelo Palmeiras: ‘Trabalhando para aumentar o meu repertório’Palmeiras21/06/2022PalmeirasGustavo Gómez no pódio! A lista atualizada de zagueiros-artilheiros do PalmeirasPalmeiras21/06/2022Fora de CampoNa web, torcedores rasgam elogios ao Palmeiras após mais uma vitóriaFora de Campo21/06/2022

da poker
Na última segunda-feira (20), no Choque-Rei disputado no Estádio do Morumbi, os donos da casa largaram na frente, mas o Verdão reagiu e, nos acréscimos, conseguiu marcar dois gols num espaço de quatro minutos, com Gustavo Gómez e Murilo.

Antes deste duelo, no entanto, o mesmo já havia acontecido no Allianz Parque. Contra o time goiano, o não à toa líder do campeonato esteve atrás do marcador até os 41 minutos do primeiro tempo e, aos 48, o Verdão já havia feito quatro gols. Foi uma virada rápida e quatro bolas na rede em apenas sete minutos.

Após a virada histórica sobre o São Paulo nesta 13ª rodada do Nacional, o auxiliar técnico do Alviverde, João Martins, que substituiu o técnico Abel Ferreira, com Covid-19, elogiou a postura dos jogadores no clássico fora de casa.

– Mesmo que não tivéssemos vencido sairíamos satisfeitos com o desempenho e a atitude. Pedimos que deem tudo que podem. Sabemos que não vamos ganhar sempre, mas felizmente conseguimos dar a volta – afirmou.

– Dar os parabéns aos jogadores pela capacidade mental em um estádio muito difícil. Todas equipes têm grandes dificuldades, só uma equipe ganhou aqui (em 2022), e fomos nós. Eles deram tudo e acreditaram até o fim na vitória – completou João Martins.

São Paulo e Palmeiras se enfrentam novamente nesta quinta-feira (23), às 20h, novamente no Estádio do Morumbi. Desta vez, o confronto será válido pelo jogo de ida das oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil.

Five years on, South Africa look to new beginnings at Old Trafford

In 2017 it felt like the end of something but tourists will hope Manchester in 2022 is the start of something else

Firdose Moonda24-Aug-2022

Keshav Maharaj bowls during a net session at Old Trafford•Getty Images

Manchester, early August, 2017.The end of a tour that started in mid-May and reached groundhog day. South Africa lost the ODI series, lost all but one of their games in the Champions Trophy early, lost the T20I rubber, lost at Lord’s and eventually also lost at Old Trafford to go home empty-handed and jaded.Manchester, late August, 2022.Close to the end of a tour that started in mid-July and has so far gone so good. South Africa shared the ODI series, won the T20I rubber and won at Lord’s. They’ve returned to Old Trafford with hope, and more importantly, belief.What’s changed?”We are more sound as a unit,” Keshav Maharaj, said. “We know what to do and go about our business a lot better. There’s more clarity and role definition within the team. That’s been Dean [Elgar]’s go-to mantra from the time he has taken over as the Test captain.”We had meetings before the West Indies tour and there was a lot of clarity put into place. The guys needed that clarity and it shows in our performances in the last year. He is a driven character. He is a very straightforward character. That’s what the guys needed – a little bit of a shake-up.”The South Africa of 2017 found themselves scrambling for solutions after Kagiso Rabada was suspended for a match, Vernon Philander fell ill during one Test and was injured for another and Chris Morris also picked up a niggle. They ended up going into the Manchester Test with only four frontline bowlers – Morne Morkel, Rabada, Duanne Olivier and Maharaj – and were found wanting. Now, they have six to choose from and five are certain to play. All of them are match-winners who slot into specific roles in the attack and who have made up for batting lapses.Since the start of 2019 to end of 2020, South Africa won four out of 12 Tests and their bowlers took 177 wickets at 35.64. Since the beginning of 2021 to date, South Africa have won nine out of 13 Tests and their bowlers have taken 240 wickets at 21.29.Interestingly, the person who made the most progress is Maharaj. Between the start of 2019 and end of 2020, he took 20 wickets in eight Tests at 60.60. Since then, he has taken 42 in 12 Tests at 21.21.Related

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Maharaj has matured as a player and is more attacking in his approach but he is also used differently. Rather than just a holding role, he is entrusted with wicket-taking and has been given the new ball on occasion. With it, Maharaj has taken 36 of his 152 Test wickets at 25.05 (below his overall average of 30.50). Two of those came at Lord’s, where he was given the ball in the eighth over of England’s second innings, with a plan to target Zak Crawley.Doubtless both Elgar and Maharaj would have been pleased to hear that Crawley will be in England’s XI again at Old Trafford but, as two of the three that played in England before, neither will take the hosts lightly and if they start to, the rest of the squad will pull them back in line. “We had the youngsters motivating us because they’re not carrying any baggage,” Maharaj said.In an “everyone is equal,” environment, which is how Elgar described the South African set-up, inexperience has immense value. “We’ve got a lot of young guys that haven’t had a lot of failures when touring,” Elgar said. “They don’t come with a lot of baggage, which is nice, but they don’t have a lot of experience, which they still have to gain.”Only three of South Africa’s squad – Elgar, Rabada and Maharaj – have played a series in England before, and even though half of the current squad played and lost in Pakistan in early 2021, the other half (apart from Simon Harmer in India in 2015) haven’t played, or lost much away from home.Keegan Petersen was part of a winning squad in West Indies; Sarel Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Kyle Verreynne, Glenton Stuurman and Lutho Sipamla were part of the squad that came back from defeat in three days in New Zealand to square the series. The sample size of just four away Tests is small but the point stands – this is a South African side mostly unscarred and so, unscared of foreign conditions.But they’re not just bullish, they’re prepared. While South African teams are known for training militantly, they are not always known for training smartly, something which has changed under Mark Boucher and his emphasis on upskilling. An example is Verreynne, on his first tour to England, who was impressive behind the stumps at Lord’s and was spotted putting in more drills, despite difficult personal circumstances, ahead of the Old Trafford Test. For at least an hour, Verreynne kept to Maharaj, who was bowling to a target on a full length on the practice pitch, and then practised wide catches from balls hit by a tennis racket on the outfield.Boucher, on his first tour to England in 1998, struggled against the swinging ball and ensured Verreynne is prepared. And if for any reason South Africa felt he wasn’t, Ryan Rickelton is in reserve, as more proof of the depth of their resources. “The competition within our squad is huge,” Elgar said. “It’s the strongest I have ever seen the competition. It’s healthy competition, it’s not malicious competition.”In 2017 when then-coach Russell Domingo was pushed out of his job with his replacement, Ottis Gibson, in the opposition changeroom, Domingo left Manchester not yet knowing but suspecting that his application to continue in the role had failed. He oversaw the first South African team to lose a Test series in England since 1998 after they drew in 2003 and won in 2008 and 2012. For South Africa, Old Trafford in 2017 felt like the end of something. They’ll hope Old Trafford in 2022 is the beginning of something else.

Crystal Palace’s recruitment team eyeing exciting £25m midfield signing

Crystal Palace’s recruitment team are among the Premier League scouts plotting a transfer swoop on a £25 million midfielder, according to a recent report. Palace’s long wait for a Premier League win ended on Sunday as they claimed a surprise 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park. Pressure was mounting on manager Oliver Glasner, but he will hope that can ease as they claim their first league win of the season.

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It’s a blow for Oliver Glasner.

ByHenry Jackson Oct 27, 2024 Crystal Palace news and updates

The run of poor results has left Glasner fighting for his job despite the positive impact he made last season, so much so that new managers were being linked with the role.

Gareth Southgate was someone who emerged as an option for the Eagles last week, but the chances of Palace securing the former England manager are very slim, as he wants to take a break from football. Former West Ham manager David Moyes was also mentioned as an option, with the Scot interested in the possible vacancy. But Glasner has picked up his first league win this season, and he will be hoping it gives him time to turn around the poor form.

Away from manager news, Palace already have their eye on a potential January or next summer signing despite the club’s poor form in the league. The South Londoners are monitoring Trabzonspor midfielder Batista Mendy, as the Turkish side are open to selling the player for £16.5 million, but not in January, as they would want to keep him until the end of the current campaign.

The transfer news doesn’t stop there for Palace fans, as the club also have their eye on another midfielder, who will cost more than Mendy.

Crystal Palace's recruitment team plotting £25m signing

According to Voetbal24, relayed by Tribal Football, Crystal Palace are one of several Premier League clubs scouting midfielder Raphael Onyedika. The 23-year-old midfielder currently plays for Belgian side Club Brugge and has done so since 2022, when he joined from Midtjylland.

Onyedika has become an important player for Brugge, helping them compete at the top in Belgium as well as in Europe, where he has grabbed one assist in three Champions League games this season, and the form he’s shown has earned him nine caps for Nigeria so far.

Now, according to this report, Palace are among the English clubs keeping an eye on him during this campaign. Brugge are said to be open to selling the midfielder when the January transfer window comes around, with their starting price being 30 million euros, which is roughly £25 million.

Apps

103

Goals

4

Assists

4

Onyedika has had some disciplinary issues on the pitch this season for Brugge, but among the scouts who have watched him, there is no doubt about his talent and potential. The 23-year-old emerged on the radar of Galatasaray during the summer, but their efforts to sign the midfielder were rejected, leaving the door open for a move to the Premier League.

"I’ve been told" – McKenna shares "serious" Ogbene Ipswich Town injury news

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has provided an injury update regarding winger Chiedozie Ogbene, having been stretchered off away to Brentford.

Ogbene injured in Ipswich defeat to Brentford

The Tractor Boys suffered a heartbreaking day at the office on Saturday afternoon, eventually losing 4-3 to Thomas Frank’s Bees side.

Ipswich led 2-0 in the first half, only to see that lead evaporate and for the visitors to trail 3-2, but it looked as though Liam Delap had earned his side a point with a late equaliser, despite Harry Clarke’s red card.

There was still time for Brentford to find a winner, however, and Bryan Mbeumo struck deep into stoppage time to inflict a cruel loss on the Tractor Boys, who are still searching for their first win back in the Premier League after nine matches.

Not only was Ipswich’s defeat tough to take, but a serious-looking injury to Ogbene compounded their misery, with the 27-year-old forced off on a stretcher after picking up an Achilles issue. Now, further information has emerged regarding the severity of the issue.

McKenna provides Ogbene injury update

Speaking after the game on Saturday [via RTE], McKenna revealed that Ipswich ace Ogbene could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, with his injury described as “serious”:

“It looks serious, unfortunately. It looks like it could be an Achilles tear, so that would be devastating for him and for us. That’s what I’ve been told at the moment. We hope that won’t be the case but I think that’s what looks most likely.

“Is it a six-to-nine-month injury? You’ll have to get a medical opinion on that but an Achilles tear is a big injury, so we hope that it won’t be that but I think the consensus at the moment is that it is.”

This is an added headache that McKenna could really do without, even if Ogbene hasn’t yet been a hugely important player for Ipswich since arriving from Luton Town in the summer transfer window.

He has featured in five Premier League games so far this season, starting just three of them, but Jamie Carragher waxed lyrical about the Republic of Ireland international last season, saying:

“For me, Chiedozie Ogbene has been absolutely outstanding every time I watch him. He has played on the left and the right and at the moment he is playing right wing back. He’s supporting the play, we know he’s an absolute flying machine. A lot of criticism of a flying winger is if you drop off, has he actually got the quality to thread a little pass or put a nice cross into the box? He has that.”

Squad depth is going to be so vital for Ipswich, in terms of their Premier League survival battle this season, so to suddenly have Ogbene out injured for many months would be an almighty blow.

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ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025

Hopefully, his layoff won’t be as lengthy as McKenna fears, but given how serious it looked at the time, Ipswich supporters will be understandably concerned about how long he will be unavailable.

England's swinger becomes a swimmer

Matthew Hoggard, who is taking to the water for charity, talks about the 2005 Ashes, current fast-bowling stocks and whether an old rival should take charge of England

Tim Wigmore06-May-20152:11

‘I can’t swim but at least it doesn’t hurt!’

Ten years on from the 2005 Ashes, Matthew Hoggard is not feeling nostalgic. “No, I’m feeling quite tired,” he says, drawing breath as he gets out of an outdoor pool in Hackney as his preparations for his summer exertions intensify.Starting with the Great North Swim at Lake Windermere next month, Hoggard will complete four of Britain’s five great swims this summer to raise money for Cricket Without Boundaries, a charity that promotes cricket in Africa while promoting HIV/Aids awareness and female empowerment. “It takes money and it’s fantastic to be able to get into some open water and raise money for charity,” he says.”Until a month ago, the last time I swum a length of freestyle or front crawl was about 15 years ago so it’s been a very quick, steep learning curve, but I’m enjoying it – hopefully I can do these 3kms without drowning. Swimming in a wet suit is fantastic – it’s the first time I’ve been able to float in a swimming pool, being rather heavy!”The swims form the backdrop to Hoggard’s summer and, in warmer climes than this choppy morning, he will not lack for chances to reflect on that magnificent series a decade ago: the PCA are taking him to every Ashes Test. A number of dinners are also planned for members of the team, including England’s ‘Fab Four’ bowling attack: Andrew Flintoff and his relentless back-of-a-length hostility, Steve Harmison’s brawn and pace, Simon Jones’ reverse swing and Hoggard’s less demonstrative qualities. His job was to “brush up the debris of the shop floor” as he once put it.Together they formed a formidable quartet, albeit one seen too fleetingly. “We all had different attributes and couldn’t care less who got the wickets. We were a proper team and we just wanted to get off the pitch as quick as possible – whoever got the wickets it was fantastic, and the other three tried to support him. To be able to go into the series and stay a settled side until the last game was brilliant. Every one of us had a brief moment in the sun.”Tim Wigmore joins Matthew Hoggard in the water at London Fields Lido•ESPNcricinfo LtdIf Hoggard always embraced his role as a shaggy-haired shop steward, he was rather better than that, offering not only prodigious new-ball swing and nagging accuracy but also the ability to cut the ball on flat surfaces, as in Nagpur and Adelaide in 2006. He had longevity too – of the quartet, Hoggard ended up as the leading Test wicket-taker. “It’s a good bragging right – but when we do meet up we don’t really talk about cricket,” he says.The combination of the sheer drama of the 2005 Ashes and cricket’s absence from free-to-air TV since means that the series has come to be remembered as the last time when English cricket captivated the nation. But Hoggard is of the view that the benefits of free-to-air coverage risk being overstated.”I don’t think it’s the be all and end all. It’s nice if you can get cricket on free-to-air, but again you need money to grow the game, to put back into grassroots level, to be able to get the next group of youngsters coming through. So you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place,” he says. “Chance to Shine has been fantastic getting cricket into state schools, so everybody gets a chance to try the game.”Hoggard also thinks that a T20 franchise competition has the potential to galvanise the sport. “England cricket needs a boost – it’s finding that window to do that and finding the right formula that works for everybody.”England may currently seem overly reliant on one quick – James Anderson – but Hoggard avoids criticising the state of English fast bowling, citing Mark Wood and Mark Footitt as men who could provide the attack with extra pace. “We’ve got some good bowlers in the wings they’re just not quite ready for international cricket yet, but are plying their trade in county cricket,” he says. “So I think it’s not all doom and gloom and the next James Anderson is just around the corner.”But Hoggard is rather less positive about England’s current coach Peter Moores. It was Moores who ended Hoggard’s international career when he dropped him for Anderson in New Zealand in 2008 – “he’s been proved right” – but, like many members of the side in Moores’ first stint, Hoggard preferred life under Duncan Fletcher.”Duncan was very much a thinker and very much a strategiser, and would come out with different techniques, with different thoughts and different plans,” Hoggard says. Moores, meanwhile, had “lots of energy, lots of get up and go… completely different styles”.”What made him successful as a coach in county cricket is getting people up and getting people motivated and getting people to be up for the day-in day-out grind of county cricket. Test matches are a little bit different – you shouldn’t have to be motivated to get up for a Test match. You need that fine-tuning, you need to be in the right state of mind, you need to be thinking ‘I’ve got the backing of everybody, I just need to go out and show the world what I’m capable of.'”Hoggard has not been won over by Moores’ second stint either. “He’s just said we had a good tour [of the West Indies] and the young players are progressing – and you think, well, they didn’t blood the young players. Some of the things he says are a little bit baffling, and you cringe at times. Whether he’ll still be there come the Ashes is the new director of cricket’s prerogative.” On Andrew Strauss’ supposedly imminent appointment, Hoggard is unconvinced. “It’ll be tricky knowing everybody intimately.”In fact, it is an Ashes opponent from 2005 who Hoggard suggests England most need. He credits Jason Gillespie, who ended up with 11 more Test wickets than Hoggard’s 248, with Yorkshire’s recent success. “He’s gone out and given the players the power to entertain. He keeps it so simple,” Hoggard says.”He’s done a fantastic job with Yorkshire, and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be able to do a similar job with England. Sometimes they say change is as good as a holiday.”

Alexi Lalas, Jimmy Conrad and soccer community rally around USMNT legend Tony Meola after heart attack

USMNT legend says of health scare, 'If I get one of you to go to the doctor and get a checkup, this was all worth it'

Meola has health scare on the eve of his 56th birthdayEx-teammates and fans send well-wishes for a speedy recoveryUSMNT icon uses experience to encourage others to prioritize health checksGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

Tony Meola, former goalkeeper for the U.S. men's national team, had a heart attack on Thursday night, on the eve of his 56th birthday. The soccer community quickly rallied around the American soccer legend, with tributes and well-wishes pouring in from former teammates, fans, and soccer organizations.

Meola underwent an unspecified procedure after the heart attack. He told Front Row Soccer that he ran four miles last Saturday and had the heart attack five days later.

The former goalkeeper used this experience to advocate for regular health check-ups.

“If I get one of you to go to the doctor and get a checkup, this was all worth it for me,” Meola said, according to Front Row Soccer. “I’m going to be fine in a week, but I should have been smarter.”

AdvertisementTHE MESSAGES OF SUPPORTTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Meola, a legendary USMNT goalkeeper, earned 100 caps between 1988 and 2006. He represented the U.S. in three World Cups (1990, 1994, 2002) and was known for his shot-stopping abilities and leadership.

Meola's club career spanned various teams, including the New York/New Jersey MetroStars and Kansas City Wizards, where he won the MLS Cup and MLS MVP in 2000. Post-retirement, Meola transitioned into coaching and broadcasting.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Meola will focus on his rehabilitation and the broader message he's promoting about preventive health care.

Forget Mac Allister: 8/10 Liverpool star was better than Salah vs Bologna

Liverpool made it two wins from their first two Champions League games this season, thanks to a 2-0 win over Italian outfit, Bologna. Arne Slot’s side were dominant throughout the game, and never really looked troubled, sealing the points thanks to goals from Alexis Mac Allister and the inevitable Mohamed Salah.

Mac Allister, a World Cup winner with Argentina, scored a simple tap-in, but it was superb play in the buildup. The midfielder linked up play nicely, before making a late dart into the penalty box and getting on the end of a teasing cross from Salah, to give the Reds the lead.

Salah’s goal doubled the lead for the home side with 15 minutes to go, cutting inside onto his left foot and lashing it into the top corner. It was a goal that capped off a dominant showing from Slot’s men, who sit fifth in the table of the new group phase.

There were certainly some standout performances throughout the evening at Anfield. Not least from Mac Allister, who was one of the stars of the show for Liverpool. However, it will come as no surprise to hear that one of the standout players once again was Salah.

Salah’s stats vs. Bologna

It was another vintage display from Liverpool’s Egyptian king at Anfield, and he once again put on a show for the Liverpool supporters. The winger was at his brilliant best, creating chances and looking like a constant threat on the attack.

His goal was superb, a trademark Salah finish. The Reds’ number 11 cut inside on his left foot, dummying with a clever drop of his shoulder, before driving into the Bologna penalty box and firing home into the top left-hand corner, as pinpoint as you could ask for. That goal went along with his superb assist for Mac Allister in the first half.

He received an impressive 9/10 rating from Ben Fleming, a journalist for The Metro. He hailed Salah’s performance which ultimately made the difference for Slot’s side, calling him ‘the architect’ of the Reds’ dominant win.

Indeed, his superb contribution was reflected in his Sofascore stats at full-time. Salah had a surprisingly low 37 touches of the ball but managed to provide three key passes and create one big chance, as well as creating the opener and sealing the three points with his wonder strike.

Salah’s performance was mightily impressive, but there was arguably a player who stood out more than the winger. That player is Ryan Gravenberch.

Gravenberch’s stats vs. Bologna

Since he was given the task of playing as a number six under Slot, Gravenberch has gone from strength to strength in a Liverpool shirt, and Wednesday night’s performance against Bologna was no different.

It was a superb, metronomic display at the base of the Reds’ midfield from the Dutchman, who has previously been deployed in more advanced roles. However, he seems right at home as a number six, dictating play with ease, and using his 6 foot 2 frame to his advantage, gaining an upper hand physically against opposition midfielders.

His stats from the game show just how impressive he was. The former Bayern Munich midfielder had 58 touches, two more than Liverpool’s first goalscorer Mac Allister. He was effective on the ball, creating two chances and completing three out of four dribbles. The Dutch international also won four out of six ground duels.

Gravenberch stats vs. Bologna

Stat

Number

Pass accuracy

91%

Touches

58

Passes completed

41/45

Ground duels won

4/6

Dribbles completed

3/4

Chances created

2

Stats from Sofascore

Gravenberch received an 8/10 from Fleming for his efforts against the Italian side on Wednesday. The journalist explained he ‘continues to thrive; as a number six, and explained that he ‘bossed’ the midfield at Anfield.

Slot will no doubt be delighted with the progress his side are making; the Reds have six points from six in the Champions League and are currently top of the Premier League. They look to extend their five-match winning run against Crystal Palace on Saturday lunchtime.

Liverpool wanted to sign £50m star for Klopp but ended up with Szoboszlai

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By
Angus Sinclair

Oct 2, 2024

Tite admite surpresa com Raphinha e cita 'quebra-pau' em reuniões da Seleção para definir convocados

MatériaMais Notícias

da marjack bet: Falta pouco para o torcedor conhecer os convocados para a Copa do Mundo do Qatar, mas alguns jogadores conquistaram rápido o espaço na Seleção Brasileira. Um deles é Raphinha. Em entrevista ao “Podpah”, o técnico Tite admitiu que o jogador do Leed United, da Inglaterra, foi surpresa até para ele. A primeira convocação foi em 13 de agosto de 2021, mas ele acabou não podendo atuar e só estreou em outubro, menos de um ano e meio antes do Mundial.

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da aviator aposta: + Raphinha se consolida na Seleção: veja nomes que ganharam vaga na Copa do Mundo “na última hora”

– O Raphinha foi surpresa para mim. Quem trouxe foi a comissão técnica, Matheus, César, Cléber que buscaram, prospectaram, foram atrás das informações e aprofundaram. Confesso que falei “tem um monte de coisa aqui para ver, vai trazer o Raphinha”. Eles disseram “filtramos o material e estamos trazendo para você olhar”. Aí eu recuei, pensei que a coisa vinha com consistência. Buscamos o acompanhamento dos jogos, dele, a conversa com o Bielsa no seu clube, onde ele passou, os técnicos anteriores na base, no Rio Grande do Sul – afirmou Tite.

César Sampaio, auxiliar de Tite, explicou o processo de análise feito pela comissão técnica ao longo dos meses antes das convocações. O treinador ainda admitiu que o momento não é totalmente “pacífico”.

– Temos em média cinco atletas por posição e eles competem entre si. Somos três auxiliares e dois analistas, cada um pega uma base de oito jogadores para acompanhar, ver o jogo na íntegra do atleta. Fazemos os relatórios dos jogos e dos atletas, isso é material para debatermos semanalmente. Não só o atleta, às vezes tem uma jogada, lance de bola parada, algo que podemos sugar dos clubes para o nosso modelo. Quanto mais vai entrosando o grupo, a oportunidade fica mais difícil, mas a cada convocação fazemos esse trabalho – explicou.

– A reunião é quebra pau (risos). Cada um defende sua ótica, seus convocados – disse Tite.

Veja a tabela da Copa do Mundo do Qatar

Tite reafirmou que as vagas para a Copa do Mundo ainda estão abertas. Foram 77 jogadores convocados ao longo do ciclo da Copa. Na fase anterior foram 48 ou 49. Além disso, o treinador acredita que é um profissional melhor do que era em 2018 e a Seleção está mais bem preparada do que estava no último Mundial.

– Estamos sempre abertos. A Copa esse ano é curta, com espaço entre um jogo e outro menor ainda. A preocupação é levar o atleta em melhor momento. Não é que o atleta novo vá comprometer o modelo, mas a adaptação… quando joguei a primeira vez na Seleção a camisa pesou. A noite de pré-estreia teve duas, três horas. Temos essa lista larga e a responsabilidade é prezar por ela. Se o atleta estiver sobressaindo, temos que olhar. É um cobertor curto agora, as chances ficam menores – disse Cléber, que elegeu França, Alemanha, Argentina e Espanha como favoritas na Copa, além do Brasil.

Há vantagem para jogadores que estão na Europa? Para Cléber Sampaio não é tão simples assim. Rivaldo, por exemplo, disse em entrevista ao LANCE! que se Hulk e Raphael Veiga estivessem fora do país já teriam sido chamados para a Seleção.

– Economicamente as moedas são distintas, não é só no futebol. Hoje com a globalização qualquer grande profissional está nos grandes centros do mundo. É assim com os atletas também. Não quer dizer 100% que o que está na Europa tem vantagem com relação aos que estão aqui. O nível de dificuldade lá é melhor economicamente porque tem a possibilidade de contratar os melhores do mundo. Mas aqui nós temos acompanhado, fomos ao jogo ontem (Corinthians x Goiás), vamos hoje (São Paulo x Palmeiras). Não tem vantagem nenhuma estar na Europa, mas o nível de dificuldade nos grandes centros é maior – afirmou Cléber.

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