Imagine him & Odobert: Spurs readying bid for "breathtaking" new signing

Tottenham Hotspur do not kick off their 2024/25 Premier League campaign until they travel to the King Power stadium to take on Leicester City on Monday night.

Ange Postecoglou and his team have been able to watch the opening weekend of the division unfold before they take to the field in the last match of the gameweek.

The Australian head coach will surely be eyeing up a minimum target of securing a top four position in the league this term, having missed out on Champions League football last season.

Daniel Levy has dipped into the transfer market to strengthen the squad during the summer transfer window, in an attempt to improve the manager's options across the park.

Archie Gray has been brought in from Leeds United, Dominic Solanke was snapped up from Bournemouth, and Wilson Odobert is the latest recruit from Burnley – with all three joining on a permanent basis.

There are still just under two weeks left to go before the end of the summer transfer window and this means that there could be further additions before the deadline passes.

Tottenham are still reportedly in the market to make further additions to the group, with a defender seemingly on the agenda for the Lilywhites.

Spurs preparing bid for Brazilian ace

According to reports in Brazil, Levy is readying a Spurs bid to sign right-back Vanderson from AS Monaco before the end of the month.

The reporter claims that the Premier League side are prepared to offer €32m (£27m) as an initial fee for the Brazilian defender, along with add-ons and bonuses to take it beyond that.

This shows that the Lilywhites are serious about a swoop for the former Gremio whiz, as they are willing to pay a significant sum of money to add him to their squad.

Andrade does not reveal whether or not that will be enough to tempt the Ligue 1 outfit into cashing in on the full-back, but adds that the two clubs are in ongoing talks over a potential deal for the 23-year-old star.

It had previously been reported that Spurs are looking at Vanderson as a replacement for Emerson Royal, who recently completed a permanent move to AC Milan.

Emerson's exit from the club has left Pedro Porro as Postecoglou's only senior option at right-back, which is why a move for the Monaco defender does make a lot of sense this month.

If Tottenham can get a deal for Vanderson over the line before the end of the window then he could be a dream addition to play behind Odobert, who has just signed from Burnley.

What Wilson Odobert could bring to Spurs

Firstly, it is worth remembering that the French talent is only 19 and it would be unfair to expect great things from him in his first season at the club.

He only has 29 games of Premier League experience under his belt for Burnley and will need time to continue to adjust to the league and to first-team football.

However, despite his age and inexperience, Odobert is an exciting player who could still produce moments of quality in a Spurs shirt when given an opportunity to perform this season.

Appearances

29

xG

2.81

Goals

3

Big chances created

7

Key passes per game

1.1

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, the teenage whiz did well with the chances that fell his way as he scored three goals from just 2.81 xG for the relegated side.

Meanwhile, his teammates let him down with their wasteful finishing as they could only find the back of the net two times from his seven 'big chances' created.

Odobert ranked within the top 31% of midfielders in the division for Expected Assisted Goals per 90 (0.14) and the top 29% for shot-creating actions per 90 (3.21), which shows that he was an above-average creator in the Premier League.

The 19-year-old sensation also started the current campaign in fantastic form with a goal and a 'big chance' created against Luton Town in the Championship before his move to Spurs was completed.

Tottenham could now land a perfect right-back to play behind the winger, who can play on the left or the right flank, by landing Vanderson this month.

Why Vanderson would be perfect for Odobert

To understand why the Brazilian would be an ideal partner for the Frenchmen, it is first worth noting that the former Burnley man is not the strongest out of possession.

Odobert lost 55% of his duels in the Premier League last season and ranked within the bottom 18% or lower of his positional peers for clearances, aerial battles won, tackles, and interceptions per 90 respectively.

This suggests that Spurs would, before the winger develops and improves that side of his game, need a defensively strong full-back behind him to make up for the youngster's lack of defensive awareness.

Vanderson's form in Ligue 1 for Monaco last season suggests that he would be the perfect player to support Odobert down the flank, due to his ability to compete in and win duels.

The Brazilian defender did not provide a huge attacking threat, with three goals and one assist, in his 20 Ligue 1 outings last term, but did showcase his defensive quality with a whopping 4.8 tackles and interceptions combined per match.

Tackles

3.29

Top 3%

Interceptions

1.92

Top 5%

Blocks

1.59

Top 18%

Dribblers tackled

1.76

Top 6%

Passes blocked

1.48

Top 5%

As you can see in the table above, Vanderson was one of the best full-backs in the French top-flight in a host of defensive statistics in the 2023/24 campaign.

The 23-year-old ace, who U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed has "breathtaking energy", also started the current Ligue 1 season in sensational form on Saturday.

He assisted one goal, created two 'big chances', made six tackles and interceptions combined, and won 57% of his duels against Saint-Etienne – showing off his ability in and out of possession.

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Overall, Vanderson appears to be the perfect target to come in and play at full-back with a winger who is not defensively aware, as he can make up for that with his sensational defensive play.

Focus on the bowlers in Ashes Test that can shape series

Australia need to decide how many of their quick bowlers to unleash

Andrew McGlashan26-Jan-2022

Heather Knight and Meg Lanning ahead of the Ashes Test•Getty Images

Big PictureThe Ashes could be decided in Canberra. If Australia win and take the four points available it will be securely in their hands – where it has been since 2015.The series has yet to really lift off after rain washed out the second two T20Is in Adelaide. There is a chance that this match could also be interrupted by showers which may make it a challenge to force a result, although there is the hope that the pitch will have some life.England captain Heather Knight has been left cursing the weather which has left her side chasing the series, two years after seeing their 2020 T20 World Cup hopes washed away in Sydney only for the skies to clear for just long enough to allow Australia’s match to go ahead.Both sides are talking a positive game in the build-up, but with no red-ball cricket except when Tests are played it is tough for players to get into rhythm. And this time there’s only been two days to get ready. At least for Australia it’s their second match of the season after facing India, although that was a pink-ball day-night contest.With a condensed schedule caused by Covid-19 adjustments and the proximity of the ODI World Cup there have been multiple considerations around this Ashes. With an eye on the Test, England kept Lauren Winfield-Hill and Kate Cross out of the T20I set up and let them focus on red-ball preparation.Cross is one of the players who appeared in the 2013-14 Perth Test which is generally regarded as one of the finest contests in the format where England prevailed by 61 runs despite the all-round brilliance of Ellyse Perry.Australia have had to contend with a variety of injuries this season and in this series they are now without Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux and Tayla Vlaeminck, who would all have pushed for Test selection. However, Beth Mooney is on track for a remarkable return from jaw surgery.Even in the absence of Vlaeminck, Australia hold the edge in pace with Darcie Brown and Stella Campbell in the squad although England match up well in the spin department. The home side’s batting order could be formidable with the likes of Ashleigh Gardner or Tahlia McGrath at No. 7, but England have experienced figures in Knight, Nat Sciver and Tammy Beaumont.Related

'I want to be involved as much as I can' – Healy still keen to keep and open

'Unplayable' Campbell added to Australia's squad amid hunt for 20 wickets

Liquid-only diet won't stop Beth Mooney's remarkable return

In the spotlightEllyse Perry was a central narrative around the T20Is, but because she didn’t play, having been dropped as Australia focused on role-specific selection. Her Test credentials, though, do not need a second look: her last three Ashes innings read 213*, 116 and 76*. There will be interest, however, in her role and effectiveness with the ball.This series could be an Ashes farewell for Katherine Brunt, who has been a huge figure in this generation of the England team. Her first Ashes Tests were back in 2005 when England famously regained the prize and in 2009 she took career-best figures of 6 for 69 at Worcester. She will be key in the pursuit of 20 wickets and also appears set to take on more responsibility with the bat.Team newsMeg Lanning said Australia had a 12 but did not provide further details. Now that Mooney is able to return, Australia’s main selection decision would appear to be between an extra frontline spinner or quick bowler. With McGrath and Perry there are plenty of seam-bowling options, but a combination of Brown and Campbell could be tempting.Australia (possible) 1 Alyssa Healy (wk), 2 Rachael Haynes, 3 Meg Lanning (capt), 4 Ellyse Perry, 5 Beth Mooney, 6 Ash Gardner, 7 Tahlia McGrath, 8 Jess Jonassen, 9 Darcie Brown, 10 Megan Schutt, 11 Stella CampbellKnight confirmed she knew England’s XI but wanted to keep Australia guessing. She did, however, say they were going with an extra bowler compared to the India Test last year which may open the door for a debutant spinner to support Sophie Ecclestone who bowled 64 overs against India.England (possible) 1 Tammy Beaumont, 2 Lauren Winfield-Hill, 3 Heather Knight (capt), 4 Nat Sciver, 5 Amy Jones (wk), 6 Sophia Dunkley, 7 Katherine Brunt, 8 Sophie Ecclestone, 9 Charlie Dean, 10 Kate Cross, 11 Anya ShrubsolePitch and conditionsHaving been very green a couple of days ago the surface has since been trimmed. Lanning said she expected some help early on while Knight believes it will flatten out during the game. The forecast has improved somewhat with the opening day looking good with Saturday the main concern.Quotes”We’re coming here to win. There’s no doubt about that. That’s all we’ve spoken about over the past few days is coming here and how can we best set up a victory. England are coming to do the same thing. So it’s certainly not going to be easy, and we’re going to have to sort of grind it out through certain periods of the game, but that’s the way we’re approaching it.”
Meg Lanning“There’s a line of thought that if you bowl first you can dictate the game a little bit more, you still have to take 20 wickets but hopefully you have a chase at the end.”

Harry Kane, Gareth Bale & the 25 best Tottenham players of the 21st century so far – ranked

GOAL rules the roost over Spurs' best players during a pivotal, if mostly pot-less, point in their history from the start of the new millennium

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There always seems to be negativity when it comes to the discourse surrounding Tottenham Hotspur. Every loss and misstep has to be 'Spursy', every year tacked onto their trophy drought is an unmitigated failure.

How about we lower our arms for one day and appreciate the good they have done in the modern era, eh? A first-ever Champions League final, consistently punching above their financial weight, a billion-pound stadium move across about 30 centimetres to the south and a boat-load or two of top-class players to have come through the doors is nothing to be sniffed at.

We at GOAL have run through the archives and ranked Tottenham's 25 best players of the 21st century through its first quarter…

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  • Getty Images Sport

    25Lucas Moura

    What better place to start than with the man who gave Tottenham fans of all ages one of their most beloved moments following the club… and then little else. On his day, Lucas Moura was, well, a player who could score a hat-trick in a Champions League semi-final. His day didn't come about too often, as it so happened.

    In the moment against Ajax on that fateful May 2019 night, it was obvious that would be his peak as a player, but the drop-off which followed was disappointing. Still, there went a forward who will forever be synonymous with version of Spurs.

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    24Peter Crouch

    Next up on our list is a journeyman cult hero who frustrated and delighted in more equal measure. Having joined the Tottenham academy as a schoolboy and left as a young adult in 2000, it took Peter Crouch nine years to find his way back to White Hart Lane.

    Signed under Harry Redknapp – – Crouch became the man for the big occasion rather than a consistent source of goals, as best demonstrated by his respective returns of four goals in 34 Premier League appearances and seven in 10 Champions League matches during 2010-11.

    His obvious height advantage made him the perfect partner for the likes of Jermain Defoe and Rafael van der Vaart (and sometimes begrudgingly, Roman Pavlyuchenko), though his less-than-prolific heading ability angered the fans sitting in the stands.

  • AFP

    23Micky van de Ven

    There aren't too many of Tottenham's new generation who have cracked our list, but Micky van de Ven is one exception. It's astounding that Spurs were the only club in for the Dutchman upon his 2023 departure from Wolfsburg, and that he wasn't even the north Londoners' first-choice that window, with Bayer Leverkusen's Edmond Tapsoba seemingly higher on their shortlist.

    Van de Ven is now, by both stats and the eye test, the quickest player in the Premier League and a supremely unique weapon at Tottenham's disposal. His one-man recoveries while playing in a high line marry up nicely with his ability to carry the ball all the way up the pitch like a handsome, runaway freight train.

    There are realistically only two factors that should stop Van de Ven becoming one of the greatest defenders of his generation – injuries, and any long-term commitment to Spurs even if their projects don't pan out as planned.

  • Getty Images Sport

    22Michael Carrick

    In hindsight, it is ludicrous that Tottenham were able to pinch Michael Carrick from West Ham so easily back in 2004 after the Hammers failed to secure immediate promotion back to the Premier League. A boardroom battle between then-head coach Jacques Santini and sporting director Frank Arnesen meant Carrick didn't break into the team until the autumn, but it then soon became clear the midfielder was destined for greater things.

    For two years, Spurs fans were able to enjoy Carrick pulling the strings in midfield, and he was a huge reason why they were first able to compete for a place in the top four after Martin Jol's appointment as manager.

Time for Cummins to slow down

His body cannot be expected to stand up to the demands that have been placed on it by New South Wales, the Sydney Sixers and Cricket Australia

Daniel Brettig02-Nov-2012Breaking into prominence in Australian cricket as a 17-year-old schoolboy in 2010-11, Pat Cummins seemed too good to be true. Fast as any in the country, he was also tall, sported a late outswinger, and possessed an instinct for how to bowl that is usually the exclusive preserve of only the best and most seasoned of fast men.Two years on, with Cummins facing his second consecutive home summer on the treatment table, it turns out that this story was indeed too much of a fairytale to be sustained in the cluttered reality of 21st century cricket. Cummins’ bowling skills, natural attributes and intelligence have not diminished, but while he is still a teenager, his body cannot be expected to stand up to the demands that have been placed on it by New South Wales, Sydney Sixers and Cricket Australia.A back stress fracture has offered time for Cummins and those around him to think seriously about how the past year since his Test debut in South Africa has unfolded. It has been punctuated by injuries to his foot, side and back, a lot of T20 matches, a great deal of travel, and by his own admission a departure from the bowling fundamentals that put him in the Australian side in the first place.The most recent episode in South Africa does not reflect a great deal of credit on the Sixers. While CA had sent their bowling coach, Ali de Winter, to the T20 Champions League to monitor the workloads of the national team representatives taking part in the event, Cummins’ admission that he was starting to feel sore towards the back end of the event did not reach de Winter, the physio Alex Kountouris, or the team performance manager, Pat Howard, as early as possible.This lapse between Cummins confessing to some minor discomfort and CA’s staff knowing of it may have prevented them from calling him home early. As it was, he bowled in the semi-final and final without feeling too inconvenienced, but no one will now know whether the current stress fracture might have stayed merely a less serious stress reaction without those matches.CA is known to be disappointed at being kept out of the loop, though the Sixers’ reasons for keeping the matter to themselves are unclear. It is plausible that they feared the loss of another key part of their team after already being stripped of the services of Shane Watson as part of a pre-planned move to give the Australian vice-captain more time at home to prepare for the Test summer.Irrespective of when or how it first became clear that Cummins was sore again, the fact of his recurring injuries endorses the view that he has risen too far, too fast. Many were seduced by the possibility that a bowler so young might be ready to win matches for Australia, and his performance in Johannesburg a year ago brought that excitement to a feverish pitch.It must be remembered that not only has Cummins barely played for his state, he has barely played for his club. NSW selectors first chose Cummins at a time when a glut of other injuries had limited their bowling stocks, but they kept picking him because of how impressive he seemed, or more accurately, how impressive he was. Similarly Australia’s selectors – first the panel of Andrew Hilditch and latterly that of John Inverarity – have returned to Cummins several times as soon as he was fit after injury because of how beguiled they were by his combination of speed, skill and intelligence.

“Jason Gillespie, Mitchell Johnson… had a string of injuries over a few years and came out the other side. So I’m not too fussed. I’d love to be playing but I realise it’s not a rare thing to occur”

Now all must acknowledge and accept that Cummins’ path cannot be any different to that of most fast bowlers before him, who have generally endured periods of injury and pain before entering serious national team calculations later in life. Cummins noted the stories of Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Mitchell Johnson as examples of this.”There’s other people like Jason Gillespie, Mitchell Johnson, there’s a whole string of fast bowlers who are were pushing the 140-150kph barrier at 18, 19, 20 years old, and none of them went through unscathed,” Cummins said. “They all had a string of injuries over a few years and came out the other side. So I’m not too fussed. I’d love to be playing, but I realise it’s not a rare thing to occur.”The revelation that Cummins had been scheduled to visit the Australian Institute of Sport for examination of his action, and its potential to contribute to his injuries, is telling. It confirms that some among Cummins’ mentors agree that he is still developing, still finding the correct bowling action and method for his body.There are pointed parallels here with the careers of Lee and Gillespie, who both underwent drastic changes to their bowling actions in their earliest days. In Lee’s case, there were five years of setbacks and experiments between his first-class debut in 1994-95 and his first Test in 1999. Those changes were forced by a string of injuries, but ultimately resulted in a bowling method that was both swifter and more durable than the original. In this Cummins can find some consolation, knowing that the action he used to great effect in Johannesburg a year ago does not have to be the one he carries right through his career.For now, however, he must cope with the bewilderment and frustration of another major injury. As he put it: “I’m sick of coming home and not playing the summer.” His minders for state, T20 club and country must be sick of it too, and it is to be hoped that they will now take a longer view to ensure that the promise Cummins has shown so far is not entirely undermined by impatience to have him bowling again as soon as possible.

Sintético do Allianz terá sua primeira final internacional: 'Palmeiras deixará legado para o mundo'

MatériaMais Notícias

da winzada777: Nesta quarta-feira, o Allianz Parque receberá sua primeira final internacional, que também será a estreia do gramado sintético em uma decisão fora do âmbito nacional. O confronto entre Palmeiras e Athletico-PR, pela Recopa Sul-Americana, é um dos motivos pelos quais o campo da arena palmeirense é considerado um “case” e um legado do futebol brasileiro para o mundo.

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Quem disse isso pode até ser suspeito, mas com certeza entende do que está falando. Trata-se de Alessandro Oliveira, CEO da Soccer Grass, empresa responsável pela implementação do gramado sintético no Allianz Parque. Em entrevista ao LANCE!, o executivo falou da importância do sucesso desse projeto não apenas para o clube, mas também para o futebol do planeta.

– Eu considero o gramado do Allianz uma referência mundial, e eu diria que o gramado do Allianz vai deixar um legado para o mundo, vai abrir a porta do sintético para o mundo. Sabe uma coisa que enche os meus ouvidos? Termina o jogo, eu escuto falar do VAR, da arbitragem, do atacante, do cara que não fez o gol, e eu não escuto falar nada da grama. Não tem coisa melhor para nós. Eu não tenho dúvidas que esse legado é para o mundo e o Brasil saiu na frente, porque não existe uma arena como essa, com essa quantidade de shows, com esse nível de estresse que a grama recebe, e depois ela está pronta para grandes jogos. E ninguém reclamando de gramado – declarou Alessandro.

Quando o Palmeiras decidiu partir para o gramado sintético, o clube não mediu esforços, nem investimentos, e solicitou tudo o que há de melhor dessa tecnologia para não deixar qualquer “fio solto” e atender a todos os tipos de uso, seja o jogo de futebol, seja a montagem de um show ou de um evento corporativo. Esse conjunto, gerou um “case” para esse tipo de projeto.

-Quando a gente fala de gramado, não é só a grama, é o sistema como um todo, além da absorção de impacto, do quique de bola, da rolagem de bola, chuteira, planicidade, a gente tem um diferencial que a base da grama é 100% permeável, não é uma grama que vem com furinho como as convencionais, o amortecimento dela é diferente, ela é toda vazada, durante esses dois anos, nós passamos por jogos com chuvas torrenciais, você não vê uma poça d’água parada no campo – disse antes de completar:

– Esse combo de soluções eu não tenho dúvidas que vai estar em outras arenas não só aqui no Brasil como no resto do mundo, vai ser um case para o mundo, o Palmeiras e o Brasil saíram na frente, deixam um legado para o mundo.

A manutenção do gramado é constante, e a empresa disponibiliza uma equipe exclusivamente dedicada ao Allianz Parque, o que gerou um conhecimento de cada tipo de problema ou solução nesses dois anos de implementação. Agora, com esse know-how de um projeto tão “redondo”, a ideia é replicar essa qualidade atesta e comprovada para o Brasil ou até para o mundo.

– Em relação ao Allianz Parque, se tiver algum ajuste, eu diria que a gente sempre está pensando em melhorias, mas são ajustes finos, bem pequenos, porque o combo daquela arena multiuso, com aquela envergadura, e a entrega do jogo para a prática profissional ficou muito redondo. São ajustes finos, mas como tudo, não podemos achar que “encontramos um produto que não precisa de alteração”, mas a gente está sempre tentando encontrar uma alternativa, fazendo estudos internos, a gente não para, mas hoje falar que teria alguma mudança, eu diria que não, não tem nada no radar que a gente diga “precisa ser feito”. Os ajustes a gente vai fazendo nas manutenções, os cuidados do dia a dia, que tem que ter.

-Tem que ter esse acompanhamento, saber o que está fazendo, a nossa manutenção é reportada para os laboratórios da Fifa, eles querem saber o que nós estamos fazendo, se gente está seguindo à risca o que eles pedem. Então a gente acabou adquirindo esse know-how de manutenção conforme o manual deles e criamos o nosso manual de lidar com uma arena multiuso, desmonta show, passa a máquina, descompacta… Uma coisa que a gente criou nesse processo é passar um imã na grama toda, porque quando tem show, tem muito parafuso, prego, e aquilo você só vai achar quando entrar na perna de um jogador. A gente foi criando uma série de processos, temos um time bem legal para fazer a gestão de jogos, em dias de evento, depois da desmontagem para um clássico em seguida, a gente já criou um protocolo muito interessante, agora é replicar essa é a ideia – contou o executivo.

Em sua primeira final internacional e com grama sintética, o Allianz Parque tem encantado até mesmo o criterioso pessoal da Conmebol, principalmente por não terem a dor de cabeça que enfrentam nos gramados da América do Sul.

-Primeira final internacional, e a primeira final que os dois jogos são em sintético. Nossos técnicos, toda vez que vem um jogo da Conmebol, Libertadores, os caras são bem criteriosos e já recebemos alguns elogios deles sobre o gramado. Isso é muito legal, porque eles falam que vão em vários lugares que o gramado é assustador, e que se tivesse algo parecido em muitos deles, seria espetacular – concluiu Alessandro.

Confira, a seguir, a entrevista completa com o CEO da Soccer Grass:

Avaliação dos dois anos de parceria e de implementação do sintético

Para nós está sendo muito bacana ver todos esses resultados, quando a gente desenvolveu o projeto aqui internamente, junto ao nosso departamento de engenharia, a gente vinha trabalhando nisso três anos antes de colocar em prática. E é aquilo, no laboratório tudo dava certo, mas ainda não tínhamos passado pelo laboratório real e o que é um laboratório real? É ter um drive-thru com 300 carros em cima, como ocorreu durante a pandemia, era bem diferente do que a gente imaginava, e foi o teste de fogo do sistema. Imagine entrando 300 carros, toda noite tinha show, tinha evento, sendo esses carros de todos os tamanhos, pesos, blindados e carregados. Eu lembro que eu fui lá e ficava olhando e pensando “será que esse carro está carregado?” (risos)

O pessoal está muito contente, nós também estamos muito contentes, acho que quando a gente começou lá atrás foi muito desafiador, e eu posso dizer com toda a segurança que o Allianz Parque é a arena que mais tem shows e jogos no mundo, além dos eventos particulares, corporativos, então é muito usado, não tem nada igual no mundo. É uma arena aberta, está exposta a sol, chuva, todo tipo de intempérie. Passamos pela terceira avaliação da Fifa, e não tivemos nenhum tipo de apontamento. Para nós é gol, é conseguir um Mundial.

Diminuir a rejeição ao sintético e “ajudar” o Verdão nos títulos

Havia uma rejeição muito grande ao sintético, e isso para mim era uma tensão muito grande, eu tinha uma preocupação enorme, porque por mais que eu faça um sistema maravilhoso, se o time perder por falta de competência, de quem seria a culpa? Da grama! Então é tudo muito tenso. No jogo de estreia, o Mirassol começou fazendo 1 a 0, eu falei “Meu Deus, só falta perder e falar que a grama não presta”. Havia toda essa tensão, mas pegamos o Palmeiras numa boa fase, pessoal muito profissional, se dedicam muito, foi um alinhamento dos astros, ganharam títulos nesse gramado. Acho que ajudamos um pouquinho, só pelo fato de eles poderem jogar mais vezes em casa, deixar a bola correr, porque os caras são bons e o resto eles sabem o que fazem.

Custo mais baixo do que grama natural?

O gasto é muito menor em relação ao sistema da grama natural. Esse gramado do Allianz é um sistema de investimento alto em comparação com os mais tradicionais, mas por conta da qualidade que eles queriam lá, e por quererem o menor risco possível, e a conta dele se fecha em três ou quatro anos. Tem conta que não para mensurar, por exemplo, não teve lesão com esse gramado, diminuíram as lesões. Quanto custa isso? Dá para mensurar? Quanto custa um Dudu lesionado? Um Weverton lesionado? Então já pagou a conta, não dá para medir. Uma coisa que é fácil de fazer é manutenção, mais jogos, mais shows, mais eventos, eu coloco um jogo depois de cinco ou seis horas.

Essa questão de lesão, perder o cara por seis meses no departamento médico. Não tem como fazer essa conta. Isso precisa ser pensado. Se você gasta milhões e milhões com jogadores, por que não gastar um pouco desses milhões e ter um equipamento adequado para essas pedras preciosas usarem.

Investimento pago em pouco tempo e produto de longa duração

Você paga esse investimento em três ou quatro anos e você tem o gramado para a vida inteira. Aquele produto que tem no Allianz Parque tem um problema sério, que joga muito contra: ele não acaba. Vai ter dez anos, 15 anos, você não vai aguentar mais olhar, “esse tom de verde não me agrada mais”.

Avaliação dos jogadores em relação ao gramado

Você conversa com jogador e ele fala “aqui eu não preciso olhar para o chão para correr, tem lugar que se eu não olhar para o chão eu torço o pé”. São campos minados. No gramado natural, por mais que você faça a manutenção toda certa, ainda é uma grama natural, não tem como jogar com chuteira de cravo, você tem dez caras de cada lado chutando, correndo, vai fazer buraco, não tem jeito, o tempo inteiro tem que olhar para baixo, olha quanto tempo é perdido. “No Allianz a bola é mais rápida”, não é isso, o jogo é que fica mais rápido, porque o cara não precisa ficar olhando para o chão, não precisa pensar 10x para onde vai, não precisa traçar rota

Gramado sintético essencial para uma arena multiuso

Se você for comparar, há inúmeras vantagens, a gente aqui também trabalha com grama natural, acabei de fazer o Presidente Vargas, em Fortaleza. Mas eu costumo dizer que a grama sintética não vem para competir com a natural. Se você for ter uma arena com dois ou três jogos por semana, já não dá para ter natural, aí quando você pensa em ter uma arena multiuso, não dá para sonhar em ter uma grama natural, você não vai ter o futebol profissional, não adianta.

O que ainda trava a implementação do sintético em outros gramados?

Outros clubes procuraram a empresa para projetos de sintético, mas o que ainda trava, em linhas gerais, é o valor do investimento, porque a gente procura soluções que entreguem a mesma performance, por exemplo, você pega um caso que não vai fazer tantos shows, tantos eventos,não vai ser um padrão Allianz Parque, vai fazer um showzinho ou outro,a gente tem uma solução muito legal que é a que a gente fez em Santo André. Quer algo que entregue o mesmo padrão de performance do Allianz? Está ali. Hoje eu tenho um produto que eu consigo reprisar mais, a nível de custo para alguns clubes aí.

Então o custo ainda é um impeditivo. A gente conseguiu alavancar isso em Santo André, já tivemos alguns jogos, inclusive o Corinthians jogou lá, o pessoal tem gostado, isso para nós tem sido positivo e mostrado que temos alternativas que a gente consegue reduzir coisa de 40% ou até 50% desse custo se você não for ter uma arena multiuso, como o Allianz Parque, nós temos alternativas, então isso vai viabilizar bastante coisa no mercado.

Rejeição diminui e clubes procuram projetos parecidos para seus gramados

Sobre rejeição, se você for fazer hoje uma enquete com os jogadores, sempre vai ter um “veja bem”. Eu acho que hoje a aceitação é muito maior do que antes, a gente tem clubes de primeira linha pedindo, a gente está orçando. Por muito pouco a gente quase fez um estádio esse ano para um grande clube, muito provável que role para o final do ano. Temos outros clubes com a gente andando com projetos. Estava pegando na parte de preço, agora a gente achou uma solução, essa questão dos dirigentes quererem conversar com um ou com outro, pegar opinião…

Tem que pegar como empresa, como resultado, oferecer segurança para seu atleta, que vai diminuir lesão, que vai dar condição de jogo, que vai ter bola rolando igual do começo ao fim do jogo. Não tem benefício melhor para o atleta. A gente tem a empresa aqui e eu preciso entregar o equipamento adequado para os meus funcionários usarem.

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KS Bharat's last-ball six powers RCB home; Glenn Maxwell fires again

Batting slowdown costs Delhi Capitals, after their solid opening

Deivarayan Muthu08-Oct-20211:57

KS Bharat on last-ball six: ‘Maxi had said, ‘You go ahead and finish it off”

What was essentially a dead rubber looked like slipping away from Royal Challengers Bangalore at 55 for 3 halfway into a chase of 165 against Delhi Capitals. But then two catches slipped through the hands of Shreyas Iyer and R Ashwin, and Glenn Maxwell made the most of the lives to set the scene for a blockbuster finish from KS Bharat.It was still anybody’s game when Royal Challengers needed 19 off 12 balls. Anrich Nortje, who had taken out both Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal in his first two overs, stepped up once again, bowling a four-run penultimate over to leave Royal Challengers needing 15 off the final over, bowled by Avesh Khan.Watch the IPL on ESPN+

Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the IPL live in the US. Match highlights of Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals is available here in Hindi (US only).

Maxwell found the boundary off the first ball and followed it with a double to notch up his fourth half-century in his last five innings. The third ball was a terrific inswinging yorker which smashed Maxwell’s boot, but he survived again because this had pitched outside leg stump. A leg-bye put Bharat on strike and the next ball was a swing and a miss. Two off the penultimate ball, thanks to a misfield from Axar Patel in the outfield, eventually left Royal Challengers needing six off the last ball. Avesh went searching for another leg-stump yorker, but ended up bowling a full-toss down the leg side for a wide.Avesh whisked short fine leg back for the last ball and went for another yorker, but it came out as a full-toss again, this time on the stumps. Bharat lined it up and pumped it over long-on to provide a throwback to Arun Karthik’s last-ball six for Royal Challengers in the Champions League T20 a decade ago.Perhaps if Royal Challengers had batted first and adopted a no-holds barred batting approach like Mumbai Indians had done in Abu Dhabi, their slimmest of chances of making the top two might have stayed alive a tad longer. Match practice and fine-tuning aside, the game was dead from the moment they decided to bowl. Next, they will run into Kolkata Knight Riders in the eliminator, while Capitals will face Chennai Super Kings in the first qualifier.The Dhawan-Shaw show
Virat Kohli had thrown the new ball to Maxwell, giving him a crack at Shikhar Dhawan, but the left-hander picked him off for 15 off eight. Prithvi Shaw, who had managed scores of 11, 10, 6, 18 in his first four innings in the UAE this IPL, hit form by driving and punching on the up in the powerplay, which yielded 55 runs overall for Capitals.Shaw also lined up Yuzvendra Chahal for a pair of sixes, but the legspinner dangled one outside the batter’s eyeline and found sharp dip to have him holing out to sweeper cover for 48 off 31 balls. Dhawan too had fallen by then, with Harshal Patel tricking him with his trademark loopy offcutter for 45 off 35 balls.Having copped a George Garton beamer on his shoulder, Dhawan was spotted with an icepack after his dismissal and subsequently he didn’t take the field in the chase.3:53

Gambhir: Bharat did a fabulous job for RCB

The middle order doesn’t show up
After Dhawan and Shaw put on 88 together in the first ten overs, the pitch slowed down, as did the rest of the Capitals batting line-up. They could muster only 76 in the second chunk of their innings, with Mohammed Siraj and the slower bowlers hiding the ball away from their swinging arcs. Dan Christian bounced out Rishabh Pant before Siraj had both Shreyas Iyer and Shimron Hetmyer holing out. Ripal Patel, who had retained his spot in the XI ahead of an overseas option, also couldn’t get the ball away at the death, getting a run-a-ball seven.Bharat, Maxwell punish sloppy Capitals
With the Royal Challengers openers falling cheaply, AB de Villiers came in as early as the third over and began a repair job with a run-a-ball 26. Axar dismissed de Villiers in the tenth over and could’ve got Maxwell (twice) soon after had Ashwin and Iyer had not dropped those chances. Having been reprieved on 6 and 16, Maxwell showed off his range once again, slogging and reverse-slogging his way to an unbeaten 51 off 33.As for Bharat, he was a more sedate presence in the early exchanges against high pace, but then laid into Axar’s left-arm darts, taking him for 25 off just nine balls.With two right-handers in the middle, Ashwin bowled just a solitary over, which cost Capitals 11 runs. Ripal stepped in for Ashwin with his medium-pace, giving up 22 in his three overs. Nortje maintained his machine-line accuracy at the death, but Avesh had a rare off day as Bharat finished off the league phase of IPL 2021 with a last-ball six.

الأولمبية المصرية تدرس شكوى الأهلي ضد اتحاد الكرة والرابطة.. وتُحدد موعد إصدار القرار

دخلت أزمة مباراة القمة بين الأهلي والزمالك مرحلة جديدة، بعدما أحالت اللجنة الأولمبية المصرية الشكوى المقدمة من الأهلي ضد الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم ورابطة الأندية المحترفة إلى اللجنة المختصة لدراستها واتخاذ القرار المناسب.

وكان الأهلي قد أصدر بيانًا رسميًا أعلن خلاله تقدمه بشكوى ضد اتحاد الكرة ورابطة الأندية، متهمًا الجهتين بارتكاب “مخالفات صريحة للوائح” فيما يتعلق بالإجراءات الخاصة بالمباراة، حيث اعترض على قرار تعيين طاقم تحكيم مصري، رغم إعلان رابطة الأندية في وقت سابق أن اللقاء سيُدار بحكام أجانب لضمان تحقيق العدالة بين جميع الأطراف.

طالع أيضًا | “الدوري المحلي لم يعد يهمنا”.. شوبير يوجه رسالة لجماهير الأهلي وسط أزمة الانسحاب من القمة

وجاءت هذه التطورات بعد عدم إقامة المباراة في موعدها، حيث حضر الزمالك إلى ملعب المباراة بينما غاب الأهلي، مما أدى إلى تصاعد الأزمة في انتظار قرارات لجنة المسابقات بشأن مصير اللقاء والعواقب المترتبة على ذلك.

وأكدت اللجنة الأولمبية المصرية أنها ستسعى للبت في الشكوى والرد عليها قبل انطلاق الجولة المقبلة من الدوري، في ظل استمرار الأهلي في التصعيد واتخاذ المزيد من الإجراءات القانونية لضمان تطبيق اللوائح.

West Brom’s exciting academy gem can help them forget Kipre

West Bromwich Albion will look back on their 2023/24 campaign and arguably think about what could have been after folding in the second leg of the Championship play-off semi-finals away at Southampton, to crash out as 3-1 losers.

If they'd managed to get to Wembley, who knows what the final outcome could have been for their season, with Carlos Corberan potentially getting one over on his former employers in Leeds United in a theoretical final.

Instead, they're now preparing for another 46-game slog in the second tier, with the likes of Cedric Kipre potentially leaving for free very soon, with his contract up at the end of June.

The Baggies will, no doubt, have plans in place already for the expected exit of Kipre from the Hawthorns, with a youngster potentially benefitting from the imposing centre-back's departure.

West Brom's young Kipre replacement

Capable of playing at left-back and left-midfield, alongside in the centre-back spot, Zac Ashworth might well feel more first-team opportunities are overdue ahead of the season to come, regardless of Kipre leaving.

The versatile 21-year-old has accumulated 58 appearances in total for the U18s and U23s after joining his boyhood club all the way back in 2012, with six senior games to date being gifted to him as a result.

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13

1

1

LM

8

0

2

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5

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Ashworth's willingness to play in a number of different positions will certainly make him a desirable player next season for Corberan to give more chances too, with the Baggies in need of more reinforcements down the left-flank too with Adam Reach now gone, alongside needing more centre-back options.

Bolton Wanderers must have been avid fans of Ashworth to gamble on loaning him last season, which the 21-year-old took in his stride, to further justify getting more chances next campaign.

Zac Ashworth's numbers at Bolton

Predominantly used as an option down the left-hand side by Ian Evatt's men, Ashworth displayed for his new loan side that he is worthy of time in Corberan's XI next campaign, by picking up three goals and three assists from 23 clashes.

The Trotters loanee did find his minutes hard to come by towards the latter patches of the season, with only two appearances being handed out to him in the last three months of his loan stint, but his flashes of quality for the League One side should be enough to be considered for more senior opportunities soon.

Unusually, despite only really playing on the left for the third-tier side, Kipre leaving the building could see Ashworth take on a role at centre-back, one that he's arguably more comfortable in based on the number of games he played there on youth pitches for the Baggies.

Caleb Taylor, who was also on loan at the Trotters alongside Ashworth, will also fancy his chances at breaking into the first-team to offer Corberan more depth at the back, notching up seven appearances for Evatt's side before returning back to home comforts at the Hawthorns.

Ashworth won't want to head back to West Brom and recede back into his shell in the youth sides, after starring for Bolton in spurts, with the potential for the 21-year-old to take the bull by the horns and dive headfirst into the first-team now, to try and soften the immense blow of Kipre leaving for nothing if it does happen.

West Brom could convince Corberan to stay by sealing "special" £6m move

Carlos Corberan could be convinced to stay at West Bromwich Albion if this transfer is sealed.

ByKelan Sarson Jun 17, 2024

Rodri's touching message to Lamine Yamal after winning Ballon d'Or as Man City & Spain star makes huge claim about Barcelona wonderkid

Ballon d'Or winner Rodri told Lamine Yamal that he will win the individual accolade in the future after the Barcelona star won the Kopa Trophy.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Rodri picks out Yamal in winner's speechYamal wins Best Young Player of the Year awardPair won Euro 2024 together with SpainFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

City star Rodri won the historic Ballon d'Or prize on Monday evening, officially being voted as the best player in world football, beating out Real Madrid trio Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal and runner-up Vinicius Junior. Yamal, by comparison, won the Kopa Trophy at the ceremony, as the 17-year-old wonderkid was voted the best young player on the planet.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

During Rodri's victory speech, the Spaniard called attention to Yamal, and addressed him directly, telling him that he will eventually win the Ballon d'Or if he keeps improving. The teenager has been in unbelievable form for Barca this season, scoring six goals and laying on seven assists in 14 games, including a strike in the weekend's 4-0 thumping of Real Madrid in El Clasico.

WHAT RODRI SAID

Rodri said: "Lamine Yamal will win the Ballon d'Or very soon. I'm convinced of it. Keep it up, keep working hard, you'll get there."

(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Rodri is currently sidelined for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury. Yamal will next be in action when Barcelona play Espanyol on Sunday in La Liga.

South Africa's Temba Bavuma era begins with sights on 2023 World Cup

The Temba Bavuma era of white-ball cricket begins later this week, with a series against Pakistan which is intended to kickstart South Africa’s next three World Cup campaigns. Bavuma has been appointed until 2023 and will be in charge for two T20 World Cups and a fifty-over one, and while it is too early to list things like becoming global champions among his aims, Bavuma hopes to use this series to establish a brand of cricket that South Africa can carry through his tenure.”We have the opportunity now, building up to 2023 to the World Cup, to define our style of play and how we want to go about our business,” he said. “If you look at South Africa, we have always been a more than competitive ODI unit, even to the point where the guys have got to positions of No.1. For me, it’s about trying to define a style of play, create something that makes us accountable, and most importantly, to be able to institute that style of play in any conditions or any occasion.”While Bavuma did not specify what this new strategy will entail – team management has spoken about playing ‘smart but aggressive’ in the recent past – he has identified one area that needs improvement. “Mentally, that’s somewhere we probably need to improve a lot more in terms of getting stronger,” he said.South Africa have become known for crumbling under pressure in big moments at major tournaments but since the 2019 World Cup – where they were the first team to bow out – they have also become known for their rapid decline. They currently sit fifth on the ODI rankings and sixth in T20s and have only won one of their last six white-ball series as administrative chaos has bled onto the field and uncertainty has engulfed their approach.As an indication of the level of experimentation South Africa reached, they have handed out six ODI and seven T20 caps since the 2019-20 summer, and are on to their third captain.After Faf du Plessis was replaced by Quinton de Kock in February last year, de Kock has now been succeeded by Bavuma. None of these appointments appear to have been part of a plan. Du Plessis stood down as Test captain following South Africa’s defeat to England last year and was then stripped of the white-ball leadership. De Kock took over, and was also asked to temporarily lead South Africa in Tests which unfairly overburdened him. He was thensidelined from the leadership role in all formats. It is understood that de Kock wanted to continue the white-ball captaincy but after South Africa’s sorry trip to Pakistan earlier this year, they believed wholesale changes were necessary.Now, they face Pakistan again, having had two months of international inaction thanks to Australia’s cancelled Test tour and they seem to have a clean slate. At least, that’s how Bavuma makes it sound. “The mood is optimistic,” he said. Though the challenge is steep.For a start, South Africa will lose a quintet of key players after the second ODI as Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje head to the IPL. Their absence could well be a major disruption to Bavuma’s first series in charge, but he chose not to see it that way. “It’s not as disturbing now that we are aware of the arrangement that is in place,” he said. “For the first two games, we’ve got all our best players. It’s important that we get positive results. That’s not to say we are conceding the result in the third game. We believe we have got worthy enough replacements. I don’t think it’s that disturbing and we respect the relationship between CSA and the BCCI.”When the big five leave, South Africa are likely to award more new caps, and players like slog-overs specialist Sisanda Magala, seamer Lizaad Williams and allrounder Wihan Lubbe are among those in contention.”The guys who are here can take comfort in the fact that the World Cup squads will be coming from this group, so it’s important that guys acknowledge that there is an opportunity and that they know where they can fit in within that squad,” Bavuma said. “My message to the young guys is that the opportunity is there and make sure you keep churning out those performances.”It will help that Magala and Williams will be used to conditions at the Wanderers and SuperSport Park, their domestic home grounds, because it’s rare to play cricket in South Africa in April. Bavuma expects the Highveld to be even more bowler-friendly than usual. From his recollection of a T20 competition played in April 2018, he said: “it seemed to suit seam bowling a bit more, with the ball swinging. But the wickets still become favourable for batting, so even though the challenge will be a bit more with the seam but I think there’s something in there for the batters.”He also sees it as an opportunity for the team to test their adaptability, knowing that surfaces won’t always suit them. “In the long run we want to test ourselves a lot more in unfavourable conditions and see if we can execute our brand of cricket in all conditions,” he said.At this point, South Africa are still in their short run, with just seven fixtures against Pakistan before a two-month winter break. Their real work will start in June, when they hope to tour West Indies in a series that was postponed from last year, before heading to Ireland and possibly Sri Lanka and India before the T20 World Cup. That will be the first true test of Bavuma’s leadership and so for now his task “is to inspire and try and get the guys in spaces where they can perform as well as they can for the team.”

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