Royal Challengers’ poor net run rate makes their final league match, against Gujarat Titans, almost a must-win contest

S Rajesh15-May-2022

Rajasthan Royals: Mat 13, Pts 16, NRR 0.304
A comfortable 24-run win against Lucknow Super Giants means Rajasthan Royals are almost certain of qualifying for the playoffs. Only five teams can now get to 16 or more points – Delhi Capitals play Punjab Kings, so only one of them can reach that tally – and Royals’ excellent net run rate (NRR) of 0.304, coupled with Royal Challengers Bangalore’s poor -0.323, means Royals are very well placed. For them to drop below Royal Challengers, they will have to lose to Super Kings by a huge margin and Royal Challengers will need a big win against Gujarat Titans – the combined margin of those two results will need to be around 160 runs. (If Royal Challengers win by 70, Royals will need to lose by around 90.)They also play their last game after Royal Challengers, so they will know exactly what they need to do to finish in the top four. The target for Royals will now actually be to win their last game and finish among the top two.Lucknow Super Giants: Mat 13, Pts 16, NRR 0.262
In their last two matches, Super Giants’ NRR has dropped from 0.703 to 0.262, thanks to losses in these games by a combined margin of 86 runs. However, like Royals, Super Giants are also comfortably placed to qualify because of Royal Challengers’ poor NRR. For them to lose out on a playoffs spot, the combined margin of their defeat and Royal Challengers’ win will have to be around 150 runs.Like Royals, Super Giants, too, have the chance to finish among the top two. If both these teams win their last match, they will finish on 18 points each and NRR will decide who finishes second.Delhi Capitals: Mat 12, Pts 12, NRR 0.210
With Royals also reaching 16 points, there is less wriggle room for teams which are at the middle of the table. Delhi Capitals are still the best placed among those teams, thanks to their excellent NRR of 0.210. If they win their last two matches, they will go through. Even if they lose one of those matches and finish on 14, they could still qualify if Kings and Royal Challengers don’t reach 16, and if Knight Riders and Sunrisers don’t win their last games and go past Capitals on run rate. In fact, it is still possible for all these five teams to finish on 14 points, fighting for the last playoff spot.Punjab Kings: Mat 12, Pts 12, NRR 0.023
Kings currently have an NRR of 0.023, which is lower than Capitals’ 0.210 whom they play on Monday. If they win that game and their last one against Sunrisers, they will qualify.If they lose to Capitals, they will have to win their last game against Sunrisers, and then hope that Capitals and Royal Challengers lose theirs. It will then come down to NRR among the teams on 14 points.For instance, if Kings lose to Capitals by a run on Monday and beat Sunrisers by 25 runs after scoring 180, their NRR will improve to 0.112; if Capitals lose their last game against Mumbai Indians by 25 runs, their NRR will drop to 0.086. Thus, it’s possible for Kings to stay in contention even if they lose to Capitals, as long as they lose by a small margin.Royal Challengers Bangalore: Mat 13, Pts 14, NRR -0.323
Given their poor NRR, Royal Challengers will probably have to win their last game to stand a chance of qualification. If they lose that, it is highly unlikely that they can survive the NRR battle against the other team(s) on 14.Even if they lose by just one run and Punjab Kings beat Capitals by a run, Punjab Kings will have to lose to Sunrisers by around 90 runs for their NRR to drop below that of Royal Challengers. Thus, a defeat against Titans will effectively end their qualification chances. A victory might not be enough either, if Capitals or Punjab Kings also finish on 16.Kolkata Knight Riders: Mat 13, Pts 12, NRR 0.160
Knight Riders can reach a maximum of 14, which means they too must hope that no other team reaches 16. Their NRR of 0.160 is quite healthy; if they score 180 and win their last game by 25 runs, it will improve further to 0.241, which means they will be in the hunt for the playoffs if none of the other teams go up to 16.Sunrisers Hyderabad: Mat 12, Pts 10, NRR -0.270
Sunrisers will have to win their last two games by big margins, and then hope that no other team moves up to 16 points. They will obviously stand a better chance if Capitals lose both matches and stay on 12, and if Knight Riders lose their last game too.If Sunrisers win their last two by 30 runs each, then their NRR will be -0.010. If Kings beat Capitals by a run and lose to Sunrisers by 30, their NRR will drop to -0.085 (assuming scores of 180 and 150).

What does it tell you about a team when they post their highest total in an ODI World Cup in one game and their lowest in the tournament in 17 years in the next? “There’s no explanation,” according to Smriti Mandhana, but it’s clear that India’s batting is inconsistent, an issue that troubled them in the past World Cup cycle too.”Well, if I had an explanation, I would have definitely discussed in the team dressing room, but I wouldn’t say there’s any explanation because you cannot really… there’s no explanation we can give for something like that,” Mandhana said ahead of Saturday’s big contest against Australia.Related

• Perry: Australia aware of Mandhana-Harmanpreet threat

• Harmanpreet 'there for my team' at the biggest stage

Going from 317 in a 144-run win over West Indies to 134 in a four-wicket loss to England was bad enough, but made worse by the fact that the defeat has pushed India towards a league-stage elimination.”In the series [against New Zealand last month], our batters were really doing well. We were getting a good total on board,” Mandhana, who scored 123 against West Indies and 35 against England, said. “But, yeah, in the last four matches, our batting unit together hasn’t clicked and that’s something which we all really want to work on, and I’m sure there will be a perfect game for the batters.”Of course, our bowlers are doing [an] amazing job. They just need a little more support from the batters to get the ‘W’ on the board.”In all of India’s four outings so far at this World Cup, two of which they have won, wickets falling in clusters has been a feature. Mandhana stressed the need for set batters, including herself, to show more judiciousness with their approach, something Mithali Raj, too, had underlined ahead of the start of the tournament.”We have been losing wickets back to back and that’s something which we, as a batting unit, want to address,” Mandhana said. “Fifty-overs [cricket] is all about partnerships, good partnerships, so we definitely want to work on it. As set batters, it’s more responsibility on that batter to take the game forward from that time when you know you’re able to time the ball well.”That’s something I’ll be really conscious about, that we don’t lose wickets back to back and develop a partnership from there, because one or two good partnerships [and] we’ll be able to post a total which will be a good one to defend.”Mandhana, like Jhulan Goswami, backed allrounder Deepti Sharma to make bigger contributions with the bat than her returns of 5, 15, and 0 that have followed her 40 in India’s tournament opener.”See, when you come to a tournament or go to [bilateral] series, not all batters are going to be able to bat in a certain way,” Mandhana said. “She [Deepti] scored a good 40 runs in the first match. But yeah, in last three matches, she was not able to contribute. But I’m sure that she’s just one game away from getting a good score.”As a batting unit, we are just there to back everyone because it’s not that every day all the seven batters are going to click. So our thing is, whoever two or three [batters] are getting to time the ball well, it’s their responsibility to play the 50 overs and get to a respectable total.”The Australia vs India game will be the first at Auckland’s Eden Park at this World Cup. Rain is forecast for Saturday, and Mandhana said India have that “at the back of our mind”.1:48

Ellyse Perry: ‘Jhulan’s contribution to the women’s game is unbelievable’

Only a win for India can delay Australia’s entry into the semi-finals, while a loss would further dent, though not entirely wipe out, India’s chances of qualifying. A no-result will leave Australia at the top of the table, while India will remain in fourth place.According to Australia head coach Matthew Mott, it will be a “fast bouncy wicket”, which will mean that the teams will rely heavily on their quicks, especially in the powerplay.”We will certainly be encouraging everyone to be aggressive at the start. We want to take early wickets, which we’ve done pretty well throughout the tournament,” Mott said. “But if they do get on top, there’s some Plan Bs and Cs that we’ve got up our sleeve – whether it’s wide, wide lines or change in pace.”Every bowler in our squad is very different. So when Meg [Lanning, the captain] asks them to bowl, [it’s about] making sure they’re really clear on what their job is at the time. And that’s really important for our structure. So, with a number of bowling options, it does give Meg plenty of opportunity to be flexible – shorter spells, if there’s a wind up, certain bowlers might bowl into it.”Having come in from Wellington in the last couple of days, where the conditions have been quite disruptive at times with big winds and gusts, I think our bowling group are pretty good to adapt to these conditions as well.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers and manager Gary O’Neil are reportedly looking at signing an “excellent” free agent right now, according to one journalist.

Wolves suffer Yerson Mosquera injury blow

The Old Gold haven’t had the start to the new Premier League campaign that they would have wanted, failing to win any of their opening five top-flight fixtures. To rub salt into the wound, things went from bad to worse on Saturday during a 3-1 defeat to rivals Aston Villa after defender Yerson Mosquera was forced off through injury. The club has since confirmed that he is unlikely to play again this season.

Mosquera was a regular under O’Neil during the early stages of the campaign, playing every Premier League minute before going off against Villa, with Wolves’ head of high performance Phil Hayward claiming that it is unlikely Mosquera will play again in 24/25 as he requires surgery.

“Yerson has now had all of the various assessments and scans which unfortunately confirm injuries to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). We will be visiting specialists in the coming days to finalise the plan for surgery; this will take place in the next two weeks. Timescales are difficult to state prior to surgery but it is highly unlikely he will feature again this season.”

Wolves’ injury list

Possible return date (Premier Injuries)

Boubacar Traore

December 26

Toti Gomes

September 29

Enso Gonzalez

No return date

Sasa Kalajdzic

No return date

Bastien Meupiyou

October 20

Yerson Mosquera

June 1

As a result, it looks as if Wolves could turn their attention to the free agent market to replace Mosquera, with one experienced defender being looked at.

Wolves eyeing free agent James Tomkins

According to HITC journalist Graeme Bailey, Wolves are considering a move to bring former West Ham and Crystal Palace centre-back James Tomkins to Molineux.

The 35-year-old is still without a club after leaving Selhurst Park in the summer, and being a right-footed centre-back could slot in to replace Mosquera in the squad over the coming months or possibly for the rest of the season.

Wolves are only able to bring in English-based free agents as there is no space left in O’Neil’s 25-man squad for any non-homegrown players, so Tomkins could be the man to arrive. An experienced defender, Tomkins is also an Olympian after representing Great Britain back in 2012. He came in for praise while at Crystal Palace under Roy Hodgson, who called him “excellent” and a “senior figure” back in 2019.

“He’s been excellent. He was fantastic the other night in a tough game for us. He handled it brilliantly. We have been lucky to have Tomkins and Sakho as our centre backs. He is taking on the role as the senior figure.”

West Ham

243

11

Crystal Palace

136

10

It looks as if a cut-price and short-term move to Wolves for Tomkins could be one to look out for in the coming days and weeks, going off this transfer update from Bailey.

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.

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

Day one of the Ranji Trophy final was a test of Jaiswal’s patience for large parts and, though he missed out on a landmark ton, he was up to the challenge

Shashank Kishore22-Jun-2022

Two months, two big finals.Yashasvi Jaiswal missed winning the IPL with Rajasthan Royals last month but hopes the Ranji Trophy can be Mumbai’s this month.Coming in on the back of three straight centuries, he had a great opportunity to make a fourth, and join an elite Mumbai list occupied by two legends – Vijay Merchant and Sachin Tendulkar. But after digging in and battling it out for nearly two sessions against Madhya Pradesh, he fell 22 short of the landmark, out to a loose drive to gully.Related

Muzumdar excited by Mumbai's 'next generation' talent despite final loss

MP bowlers dent Mumbai's progress after Jaiswal 78

Ranji success, not Test comeback, on Prithvi Shaw's mind

Amol Muzumdar: Mumbai's players 'have bought into the future'

The recent upturn in form has been particularly satisfying for Jaiswal because he had been dropped for the Ranji Trophy league phase prior to the IPL. The Mumbai team management had preferred Aakarshit Gomel to do the job. But scores of 8, 21 and 15 in the face of stifling competition didn’t do him any favours.Come the knockouts, Jaiswal had an opportunity to make amends. A combination of batting time at the IPL and the confidence he exuded during match simulations in the build-up forced his inclusion, and the runs haven’t stopped flowing. Over the past three weeks, he has racked up scores of 35, 103, 100, 181 and 78.On Wednesday, it was a test of Jaiswal’s patience for large parts. Early on, he attacked the spinners, particularly Kumar Kartikeya. But against pace, he shelved that flair for the hard grind, leaving deliveries alone and ensuring he was almost always playing a tight game in trying to see through bowlers under overcast skies.Having bought into the plan of trying to wear out MP’s four-pronged attack, Jaiswal took an eternity to walk off after his loose dismissal. But, after stumps, he appeared a lot more at peace with the dismissal. He wasn’t going to beat himself up over it.”Yes, I’m a little sad, but that’s cricket,” he said philosophically. “Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it doesn’t. I was trying to stay as long as possible at the wicket and play as per the team’s needs. I knew the longer I bat, the more the team will benefit.”Jaiswal loves pressure. He is learning to embrace it, he says. In the IPL, he was left out after three games and brought back in late in the league phase with Royals trying to cement a top-two spot. He averaged 33.28 and struck at 137.05 in the last seven games, forming a fearsome opening combination with Jos Buttler. Coming into the Ranji Trophy knockouts, those runs have given him plenty of confidence.”A final is different,” he said. “The mindset is different. People are telling you a lot of things. They want you to do well, but they put pressure on you. I’m happy to take that pressure, I enjoy it and when I do well [under pressure], I feel proud. I go with that mindset of wanting to do it and I fully trust myself and believe in myself to do that.”One of Jaiswal’s hallmarks is his ability to shut out the noise between balls. He isn’t the one to be bogged down by mind games. He doesn’t respond to chirp but instead focuses fully on his idiosyncrasies. Like having his helmet in the best position, ensuring his gloves are strapped tightly, the shrug of the shoulder and a series of taps before he is ready. And after he plays a ball, he is quick to turn his back to the bowler, leaving no scope for words to be exchanged.MP tried their hand at gamesmanship very early in the day, first handing the ball to Anubhav Agarwal, as if trying to play up that they were opening with a fast bowler, before bowling the spin of Kartikeya first up. Jaiswal knew what was coming and made his intentions very clear. His first boundary was a skip down the track for six off Kartikeya.”They were trying to play tricks, with the keeper going back [to suggest they would open with a fast bowler], but we knew a left-arm spinner is going to bowl and were ready. It’s normal. We know whoever is going to bowl, we need to watch the ball. At the start, I thought the wicket was pretty damp and it was easier to hit the spinners but not the fast bowlers. I was trying to score, because I knew I could get them but not the fast bowlers, because it was difficult. I was thinking this is the way I need to approach it.”I knew whenever we score runs, they will bowl way outside off our outside leg to try and restrict. I wasn’t worried with my dismissal. The ball wasn’t moving then, and it wasn’t an easy shot, I just played it and didn’t cover the line properly. It’s okay.”The surge in form has boosted prospects of a possible India A call-up sometime soon. Jaiswal, though, isn’t thinking that far ahead. There is a job to do in the here and now. “I don’t keep thinking that will happen in the future,” he said. “The focus in the process. What I do in daily life is important.”I just keep working hard at training, on my fitness. It’s not easy playing a five-day game and then coming back for another five-day game after two days in between. You need to be fit, you need to eat and sleep well, be disciplined. I’m just focused on that.”

USWNT star Naomi Girma is attracting big attention from Europe, with Chelsea reportedly leading the race to sign her.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• USWNT defender Girma out of contract in 2026
• San Diego Wave star has interest from Lyon & Arsenal
• But Chelsea lead race for potential $1m deal

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  There have been plenty of reports in recent months about interest in Girma from abroad, with her having emerged as one of the most talented center backs in the entire game already, aged just 24. Indeed, after helping her country win gold at the Olympic Games last summer, USWNT boss Emma Hayes described Girma as "the best defender I've ever seen".

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lyon, home of USWNT team-mate Lindsey Horan, have been linked with her, as have Arsenal. However, understands that it is Chelsea who are currently favorites to land Girma's signature, which could come at the cost of $1 million (£820,000). The current world-record fee for a transfer in the women's game is $862,000 (£706,000), which Bay FC paid to sign Racheal Kundananji from Madrid CFF last year.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Given that potential price tag, it is unlikely that Girma leaves the San Diego Wave for another NWSL side. That's because league rules require a salary cap tax if a club spends over a net $500,000 (£409,000) on transfer fees.

• USA Today
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR GIRMA AND SAN DIEGO?

  New San Diego boss Jonas Eidevall, and the new ownership which took over in October, will certainly be keen to avoid losing Girma, who is out of contract at the end of 2026. It'll be up to them to renew that deal and avoid losing the defender to a European giant.

Australia allrounder says “we’ll probably need to make a decision in the next day or two”

Annesha Ghosh28-Mar-2022Ellyse Perry’s availability for Australia’s World Cup semi-final against West Indies on March 30 remains uncertain two days out from the fixture, she confirmed before heading into her first training session in nearly a week.Perry, who had suffered back spasms and had to go off the field during Australia’s win in the league-stage fixture against South Africa last Tuesday, said she hadn’t trained or “done anything cricket-wise” since.”My back’s going pretty well,” she said. “Obviously, a couple of days still before the match, so I think we’ll still just keep playing that by ear, but [by] bearing in mind that we’ll probably need to make a decision in the next day or so.”At this stage, it’s going really well. But obviously just need to make sure that I’m in the best possible spot to be able to contribute if I was to play, so I think we’ll do a couple more things at training in the next few days. If I get there, I do. Fingers crossed.”During the South Africa match, she appeared to be hurt when tumbling over a boundary rope in a fielding attempt. She didn’t bat as Australia romped to a sixth consecutive win in the tournament.Perry said on Monday she had never had back spasms before in her career, but she made clear the injury was “not hugely serious” and that it “definitely has been improving.” She added “there’s a pretty high percentage that I’ll be able to play at some point” and Australia’s practice session on Monday was likely to offer more insights on her recovery.Before being sidelined from title favourites Australia’s last league game – against Bangladesh on Friday – Perry contributed with both bat and ball in her side’s undefeated campaign. Having shouldered new-ball responsibilities regularly, she took five wickets in six innings, and also scored 146 runs in five innings while being the Player of the Match in back-to-back matches against New Zealand and West Indies.

“They pose a great challenge because they’ve got a really good history of finals cricket in World Cup events”Perry knows West Indies will be up to try and grab a spot in the final

Asked if she would consider missing the semi-final if that makes her a definite inclusion for the final, Perry said such an approach doesn’t sit well with the unpredictability of knockout matches.”I think that is largely up to what’s best for the team and what our team management want to do,” Perry said. “But no, I don’t think you can have that approach to World Cup games, and semi-finals and finals. You just got to play each game, and that’s the most important thing at the time rather than casting your mind ahead to the next match and the final.”West Indies would dearly love to be in that final on Sunday and they will do everything they can to beat us to get there. So it’s the most important match for us this Wednesday at the moment.”Australia had routed West Indies when the two teams met in the league stage at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, the same venue as their semi-final.But despite that result, and their unbeaten run so far, Perry said Australia would not let their guard down against a side they had defeated in the 2013 ODI World Cup final but lost to in the 2016 T20 World Cup equivalent.”They’re a great side. They’re somewhat mercurial in the way that they play,” she said of West Indies. “But they’ve got some incredible weapons – particularly with the bat, [and] with the ball as well. Looking at the way that a lot of teams have played against us and bowled a lot of spin, I think Hayley Matthews has been particularly successful for the Windies with that in this tournament. We will sort of probably face a bit of that.”Deandra Dottin is unbelievably potent with the bat up at the top, especially if she gets going… They pose a great challenge because they’ve got a really good history of finals cricket in World Cup events. They’ll be right up for it, and I kind of hope it’s really cold here in Wellington because that’s a lot different to the Bahamas. Whereas we get a bit cooler weather in Australia sometimes. That’ll be interesting.”A hamstring injury during Australia’s last league fixture in the 2020 T20 World Cup on home soil had ruled Perry out of the semi-finals and the final. So regaining fitness to play this World Cup’s semi-final, she said, would mean a “tremendous amount” to her.”But I think that [feeling] is not new unique to me; the whole team’s really excited about it,” she said. “This tournament’s been coming for a little while too, with the delay last year not being able to stage it. So it’s really exciting that we’re finally at this stage of the tournament, like we’ve been here for a long time as well if you include the quarantine that we had to do before starting out the campaign.”It’s kind of the reason why you play I suppose at this level is to compete in big events and in big moments. So certainly the girls are really excited for that. It’s certainly great to be here. I’m really looking forward to it and seeing what we’re capable of.”

da brwin： And we’re back. Tottenham Hotspur’s capitulation on the south coast has faded away, pushed back to the recesses of the fanbase’s mind, for West Ham United were crushed on Saturday.

da 888casino： An emphatic second half saw the Hammers blown back down the N17 with their tails between their legs, with the three points elevating Ange Postecoglou’s side to seventh place in the Premier League.

An up-and-down start to the season has left plenty to be desired at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but the staunch supporters have found solace in the magnificent style of play that they have been treated to – now, though, it’s time for results to blend in accord with the easy-on-the-eye approach.

Postecoglou’s intense and stylish brand of football is magnificent when it comes together, and optimism has been renewed. Many players caught the eye, although James Maddison will definitely be frustrated with his performance.

James Maddison's performance vs West Ham

Maddison earned an assist for Dejan Kulusevski’s first-half goal, though the in-form Swede admittedly did most of the work, collecting and curling just inside the penalty area to give the hosts a tone-setting goal ahead of the second half.

That aside, the playmaker, who is hoping to earn a Three Lions recall after missing out on Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad, did little to inspire awe, withdrawn at the break as Postecoglou looked to make a tweak and inject some more control into his team’s performance.

Some might argue that the 28-year-old’s substitution was somewhat unfair, especially since he put in some eye-catching attacking numbers across the opening 45 minutes.

However, all of this fails to quite paint the complete picture; Tottenham looked to gain much authority after Maddison was taken off, and the three goals scored across the first 15 minutes of the half looked to put the matter to bed.

His replacement, the young Pape Matar Sarr, didn’t get his name on the scoresheet, though certainly deserves some praise for what was a mature and impactful display.

Pape Matar Sarr turned the tide

Sarr has only started twice in the Premier League this season, with each of his past five appearances coming off the bench. Still, he served Heung-min Son’s goal to consolidate the resounding victory and has now supplied teammates twice across three matches, also scoring twice in the Europa League against Ferencvaros.

Pape Matar Sarr: Stats vs West Ham

Match Stats

#

Minutes played

45′

Assists

1

Touches

28

Accurate passes

19/20 (95%)

Key passes

1

Long balls

2/2

Tackles

2

Clearances

1

Blocked shots

1

Total duels (won)

6 (4)

Stats via Sofascore

Sarr might not have taken as many touches as Maddison – with 28 to the Englishman’s 50 – but he instilled a degree of stability and security in the centre of the park that allowed his red-hot attacking teammates to wreak havoc on West Ham’s beleaguered backline.

Maddison claimed an assist, but so too did Sarr, who won four of six contested duels, whereas Maddison lost three of his five duels.

The Senegalese’s match statistics have since been corroborated by football.london reporter Alasdair Gold, who handed him a 7/10 match rating and praised his impact after replacing Maddison at the interval.

Gold wrote: ‘Introduced at the break and was key to the team’s fourth goal of the afternoon after winning the ball and playing through Son to finish off. Was caught in the face by Kudus for the West Ham man’s red card. Good showing in the middle of the park.’

The depth that Postecoglou has created in this squad makes a telling comment on Tottenham’s prospects across the duration of the campaign, looking to complete a top-four finish in the Premier League but also push to end this interminable trophy drought, eyes on the prize in the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and Europa League all.

Sarr embodies this, having not quite wedged his way into a regular starting berth in the top flight but proving that he can be a difference-maker when called upon.

Contextualising this: as per FBref, the 22-year-old ranks among the top 9% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90 and is also marked as Arsenal sensation Declan Rice’s most comparable player.

Maddison might feel aggrieved after being hooked, with Tottenham largely in control against the city rivals and the creative midfielder looking to pull strings, but Postecoglou’s tactical savvy allowed him to see a further chink in the Irons’ armour and it paid dividends.

Kulusevski’s new-found brilliance in a central and roving position has allowed for greater fluency and energy, and it’s curious that Maddison, another playmaking ace, was the one to be taken off at half-time, perhaps insinuating that the pendulum of power has swung in Tottenham’s creative department.

Now, Sarr will hope to earn appearances from the outset and elevate Postecoglou’s project to another level. We mustn’t masquerade over the fact that the Londoners have lost three of their opening seven Premier League fixtures of the season, and that there is plenty of work to be done.

That said, there’s so much to get excited about, especially when up-and-coming talents such as Sarr prove that they can step in and make a real difference in a match as big as the one just passed.

Related Spurs thought they had Eriksen's replacement, now he plays in League One

Tottenham have had their fair share of attacking players in recent times.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Oct 18, 2024

Arsenal have undergone a dramatic transformation in the last five years or so and are practically unrecognisable from the club Mikel Arteta took over in late 2019.

Alongside Sporting Director Edu Gaspar, the Spaniard has completely overhauled the squad, bringing in a swathe of talented players like Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice while getting rid of those who wouldn't help him take the team forward.

However, while there has been so much change at the Emirates since the former Captain returned, a few players have remained and become integral members of this title-challenging team; players like Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and Gabriel Martinelli.

That said, while there are no question marks over the future of the Englishman and Frenchman, there are some for the Brazilian, although since the manager took over, his valuation has exploded, per Transfermarkt.

1

Martinelli's market value when Arteta took over

So, on December 20th 2019, Arteta was announced as Arsenal's new head coach, and just ten days earlier, Martinelli saw his valuation rise to €18m, which is about £15m.

It's not an enormous number, but considering he was only signed for £6m from Ituano that summer, it was already a major indication that the club had a special player on their hands.

It was an increase that was more than justified during the season as well.

Despite still being a teenager and suffering a major injury during Project Restart, Martinelli racked up a seriously impressive haul of ten goals and provided four assists in 26 first-team appearances.

2

Martinelli's market value in 2020/21

Unfortunately for the young attacker, his second season in North London was much less spectacular than his first, as he was only able to rack up a total of two goals and two assists in 22 appearances for the club.

However, this disappointing output was mostly due to the severe knee injury he sustained in June, as he didn't even make his first senior appearance until the 19th of December.

That said, as he had still enjoyed a statement season in the campaign prior, his valuation in October 2020 had increased to €25m, which is about £21m, or £6m more than his price tag when Arteta took over.

3

Gabriel Martinelli's market value in 2021/22

The June before the 21/22 campaign saw the dynamic winger's valuation decrease to €22m, about £19m, due to his lack of game time the previous season.

However, this wasn't really an issue as, after a pretty miserable year, the Guarulhos-born gem was able to play some regular football again.

He wasn't just making up the numbers either, as, across 36 matches, the 5 foot 10 ace scored six goals and provided seven assists, meaning that he maintained an average of a goal involvement once every 2.76 games.

Moreover, while he didn't play in every game, he remained fit for the entire campaign, giving the manager another option in attack and boosting his reputation in the process.

4

Gabriel Martinelli's market value in 2022/23

Thanks to his impressive displays in 21/22, Martinelli's valuation was once again soaring ahead of the following season. In June 2022, it reached a new peak of €40m or £34m, and over the next ten months, he would more than justify the new price tag.

Arsenal went into the campaign with the goal of finishing in the top four, but fairly early on, it became apparent that they were suddenly in a title race with Manchester City, and a large part of the reason why was the attacking talent in the team, including the then-21-year-old Brazilian.

For example, in his 46 appearances across all competitions, the "unplayable" dynamo, as described by pundit Owen Hargreaves, scored 15 goals and provided six assists, meaning that just a couple of years after suffering a serious knee injury, he was averaging a goal involvement every 1.85 games.

Unfortunately, the Gunners would collapse near the season's end, but Martinelli had now laid down a marker and showed the league just how good he could be.

5

Gabriel Martinelli's market value in 2023/24

So, after such an incredible campaign, the former Ituano gem's reputation was at an all-time high and in June 2023, his valuation would match that fact, with Transfermarkt valuing him at a whopping €80m, which is about £67m.

However, as so many have before him, the 13-capped international struggled to follow up on his barnstorming year, and over the next ten months, he's become a player who increasingly frustrates a fanbase now expecting their team to push for the title.

In his 44 appearances across all competitions, he could only muster up a fairly uninspiring tally of eight goals and five assists, equating to an average of a goal involvement once every 3.38 games.

Now, this wasn't a dreadful return, and some of the discussion around the 23-year-old since has been hyperbolic, but compared to how well he played just the season prior, it was undeniably disappointing.

6

Martinelli's market value in 2024/25

So, we come to this season, and considering the slight step back he took last year, the Gunners' number 11 has unsurprisingly seen his valuation decrease.

Transfermarkt priced him at €70m in May of this year, which is about £59m or 293% higher than it was when Arteta joined the club.

It's set to be a massive campaign for Martinelli this year, as with all the talk of Nico Williams and other talented wingers over the summer, his place in the starting lineup isn't guaranteed anymore.

Worryingly, in his three appearances thus far, he hasn't looked particularly impressive, and when he was substituted off at Villa Park, his replacement, Leandro Trossard, came on and scored with his first touch.

However, Martinelli is still an immensely talented winger, and even though he's been in and around the first team for five years now, he's still relatively young at 23.

Therefore, while his stock might be quite low at the moment, he has all the raw qualities to turn things around and get back to his very best.

How many games Odegaard could now miss for Arsenal after ankle injury news

The Norwegian may be absent for a long while.

By
Emilio Galantini

Sep 11, 2024

MatériaMais Notícias

da cassino： A vitória de 2 a 1 do Ypiranga sobre o Remo, segunda-feira passada, pela Série C do Campeonato Brasileiro, levou o time de Erechim para o sétimo lugar na tabela de classificação, com 12 pontos ganhos.A entrada do time no G8, zona de classificação para a segunda fase, deixou o lateral-esquerdo Vitinho animado para a sequência.

– O campeonato está muito equilibrado. Prova disso é que do terceiro ao oitavo lugar todos os times têm 12 pontos. Quem conseguir uma sequência de bons resultados pula na frente e fica com mais tranquilidade para trabalhar – disse Vitinho.

Revelado pelo Grêmio, Vitinho é uma das promessas da base do Tricolor Gaúcho e vem sendo um dos destaques do Ypiranga na Série C. Titular após a saída de Diego Porfirio, que foi para o Coritiba, ele projeta um jogo complicado contra Altos, domingo, às 15h, no Piauí.

– Nosso adversário está na lanterna e vai querer se recuperar em casa a todo custo. Vamos precisar fazer um jogo com inteligência e focado durante os 90 minutos para voltarmos com os três pontos – finalizou.

RelacionadasVídeoVÍDEO: Deyverson se declara ao Palmeiras em despedida: ‘Agora vou pisar aqui como torcedor’Vídeo26/05/2022FlamengoClube europeu estuda formalizar proposta por Hugo Souza, do FlamengoFlamengo26/05/2022Fora de CampoNos bastidores, CBF fica aliviada com retorno da Libertadores para GloboFora de Campo26/05/2022