da stake casino： O Santos encerrou o primeiro turno do Campeonato Brasileiro de 2022 com 26 pontos ganhos, com 6 vitórias, 8 empates e 5 derrotas nos 19 jogos disputados, 22 gols marcados e 16 sofridos. Em relação à 2021, o Peixe terminou o primeiro turno com mais pontos e mais distante da zona de rebaixamento.
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da dobrowin： O Peixe terminou o primeiro turno na nona colocação, com sete pontos de vantagem para o primeiro time na zona de rebaixamento, o Coritiba, que joga nesta segunda contra o Cuiabá. Em caso de vitória do time paranaense ou empate, a diferença será de seis pontos.
No Brasileiro do ano passado, o Peixe somou 22 pontos, com 5 vitórias, 7 empates e 7 derrotas nos 19 jogos disputados, com 20 gols marcados e 25 sofridos. A equipe terminou o primeiro turno na 15ª colocação, apenas três pontos na frente do primeiro time na zona de rebaixamento, o América-MG.
Naquela ocasião, o time era comandado pelo técnico Fernando Diniz, que venceu Ceará, São Paulo, Atlético-MG, Athletico-PR, Chapecoense, empatou com Juventude, Grêmio, Sport, Red Bull Bragantino, Corinthians, Fortaleza e Internacional e perdeu para Bahia, Fluminense, América-MG, Palmeiras, Atlético-GO, Flamengo e Cuiabá.
Nesta temporada, a equipe foi comandada em quatorze jogos pelo trabalho do argentino Fabián Bustos, teve quatro partidas com o interino Marcelo Fernandes e encerrou o turno com a estreia de Lisca. Venceu Coritiba, América-MG, Cuiabá, Juventude, Atlético-GO e Botafogo, empatou com Fluminense, Ceará, Athletico-PR, Internacional, Atlético-MG, Red Bull Bragantino, Corinthians e Fortaleza e perdeu para São Paulo, Goiás, Palmeiras, Flamengo e Avaí.
Marco Jansen has been called up to the ODI side and an update on the T20 World Cup squad is expected soon
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Oct-2022
Dwaine Pretorius picked up the injury during the Indore T20I•Getty Images
South Africa allrounder Dwaine Pretorius has been ruled out of the ongoing ODI series in India as well as the upcoming men’s T20 World Cup – that begins later this month in Australia – after fracturing his left thumb. He picked up the injury during the third T20I against India on Tuesday in Indore, the only game South Africa won in the three-match contest.”The nature of the injury requires surgical intervention and Dwaine will consult the Cricket South Africa designated hand surgeon on arrival in South Africa,” CSA chief medical officer Dr Shuaib Manjra said. “Normal rehabilitation procedures will follow to ensure he speedily returns to playing cricket.”Marco Jansen has been added to South Africa’s ODI squad. Jansen is also part of the three-man reserves’ list for the T20 World Cup, along with Andile Phehlukwayo and Bjorn Fortuin, and could be the frontrunner to replace Pretorius in that squad as well.This is South Africa’s second injury blow ahead of the T20 World Cup after Rassie van der Dussen was ruled out with a broken finger. Van der Dussen sustained the injury during the second Test against England in Manchester and is expected to return to fitness for the Tests against Australia in December.Temba Bavuma will lead South Africa at the World Cup. At the time of announcing the squad – which has one more fast-bowling allrounder in Wayne Parnell – on September 6, CSA had confirmed that Bavuma would play as an opener, though his horror run at the T20I series in India could force a change of plans.
da marjack bet： Falta pouco para o torcedor conhecer os convocados para a Copa do Mundo do Qatar, mas alguns jogadores conquistaram rápido o espaço na Seleção Brasileira. Um deles é Raphinha. Em entrevista ao “Podpah”, o técnico Tite admitiu que o jogador do Leed United, da Inglaterra, foi surpresa até para ele. A primeira convocação foi em 13 de agosto de 2021, mas ele acabou não podendo atuar e só estreou em outubro, menos de um ano e meio antes do Mundial.
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da aviator aposta： + Raphinha se consolida na Seleção: veja nomes que ganharam vaga na Copa do Mundo “na última hora”
– O Raphinha foi surpresa para mim. Quem trouxe foi a comissão técnica, Matheus, César, Cléber que buscaram, prospectaram, foram atrás das informações e aprofundaram. Confesso que falei “tem um monte de coisa aqui para ver, vai trazer o Raphinha”. Eles disseram “filtramos o material e estamos trazendo para você olhar”. Aí eu recuei, pensei que a coisa vinha com consistência. Buscamos o acompanhamento dos jogos, dele, a conversa com o Bielsa no seu clube, onde ele passou, os técnicos anteriores na base, no Rio Grande do Sul – afirmou Tite.
César Sampaio, auxiliar de Tite, explicou o processo de análise feito pela comissão técnica ao longo dos meses antes das convocações. O treinador ainda admitiu que o momento não é totalmente “pacífico”.
– Temos em média cinco atletas por posição e eles competem entre si. Somos três auxiliares e dois analistas, cada um pega uma base de oito jogadores para acompanhar, ver o jogo na íntegra do atleta. Fazemos os relatórios dos jogos e dos atletas, isso é material para debatermos semanalmente. Não só o atleta, às vezes tem uma jogada, lance de bola parada, algo que podemos sugar dos clubes para o nosso modelo. Quanto mais vai entrosando o grupo, a oportunidade fica mais difícil, mas a cada convocação fazemos esse trabalho – explicou.
– A reunião é quebra pau (risos). Cada um defende sua ótica, seus convocados – disse Tite.
Veja a tabela da Copa do Mundo do Qatar
Tite reafirmou que as vagas para a Copa do Mundo ainda estão abertas. Foram 77 jogadores convocados ao longo do ciclo da Copa. Na fase anterior foram 48 ou 49. Além disso, o treinador acredita que é um profissional melhor do que era em 2018 e a Seleção está mais bem preparada do que estava no último Mundial.
– Estamos sempre abertos. A Copa esse ano é curta, com espaço entre um jogo e outro menor ainda. A preocupação é levar o atleta em melhor momento. Não é que o atleta novo vá comprometer o modelo, mas a adaptação… quando joguei a primeira vez na Seleção a camisa pesou. A noite de pré-estreia teve duas, três horas. Temos essa lista larga e a responsabilidade é prezar por ela. Se o atleta estiver sobressaindo, temos que olhar. É um cobertor curto agora, as chances ficam menores – disse Cléber, que elegeu França, Alemanha, Argentina e Espanha como favoritas na Copa, além do Brasil.
Há vantagem para jogadores que estão na Europa? Para Cléber Sampaio não é tão simples assim. Rivaldo, por exemplo, disse em entrevista ao LANCE! que se Hulk e Raphael Veiga estivessem fora do país já teriam sido chamados para a Seleção.
– Economicamente as moedas são distintas, não é só no futebol. Hoje com a globalização qualquer grande profissional está nos grandes centros do mundo. É assim com os atletas também. Não quer dizer 100% que o que está na Europa tem vantagem com relação aos que estão aqui. O nível de dificuldade lá é melhor economicamente porque tem a possibilidade de contratar os melhores do mundo. Mas aqui nós temos acompanhado, fomos ao jogo ontem (Corinthians x Goiás), vamos hoje (São Paulo x Palmeiras). Não tem vantagem nenhuma estar na Europa, mas o nível de dificuldade nos grandes centros é maior – afirmou Cléber.
da betway： Celtic moved back to the top of the Scottish Premiership table on Sunday with a convincing 3-0 win over Motherwell away from Parkhead at Fir Park.
da luck： The Hoops had temporarily dropped down to second in the division after Aberdeen had won their eighth match of the season on Sunday, but they have returned to the top on goal difference.
Goals from Luke McCowan, Alistair Johnston, and Adam Idah were enough to secure all three points for the Scottish giants against Motherwell, as they kept yet another clean sheet.
Kasper Schmeichel has now kept seven clean sheets in nine Premiership games for the Hoops since his move to the club on a free transfer from Anderlecht in the summer transfer window.
He was relatively untroubled against Motherwell, making just two saves in total to keep a clean sheet, and did not have to do all that much to preserve the shut-out.
Kasper Schmeichel
This meant that the Denmark international was not one of the top performers on the day for Brendan Rodgers, as a number of other players took centre stage for the Bhoys.
Celtic's top performers against Motherwell
McCowan was handed a big opportunity to shine from the start after an injury to Callum McGregor opened up a space for him in the middle of the park.
The Scottish dynamo, signed from Dundee in the summer, certainly grasped his chance – scoring a brilliant goal to open the scoring for Celtic, weaving inside and out of challenges before finding the bottom corner.
He also completed 100% (2/2) of his attempted dribbles and created one chance for his teammates in the rest of his 75 minutes on the pitch.
The other star of the show for Celtic was the captain for the day – Johnston. The Canada international did score, with a header, in the second half but it was his defensive showing that really caught the eye.
Vs Motherwell
Alistair Johnston
Sofascore rating
9.0
Duels won
8/10
Tackles won
4
Interceptions
1
Dribbled past
1x
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the right-back was dominant in his defensive duels, winning 80% of his physical contests, and was only dribbled past once.
The former MLS star also created one ‘big chance’ for his teammates, that they failed to take, and could have come away from the match with an assist to go along with his goal.
Whilst Johnston and McCowan were the stars of the show for Rodgers, there was at least one Celtic player who did not show the best of his abilities – Kyogo Furuhashi.
Kyogo Furuhashi's performance against Motherwell in numbers
The Japan international was selected to lead the line on Sunday and struggled to make an impact at the top end of the pitch, whilst also offering very little in the build-up.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
It is no secret that Kyogo is not a traditional centre-forward who is going to hold the ball up and win flick-ons, or battle defenders to link play for his teammates.
This means that his final actions at the top end of the pitch need to be telling when he does get involved to make up for that. Unfortunately, that was not the case against Motherwell.
Vs Motherwell
Kyogo Furuhashi
Minutes played
75
Passes made
1/3
Shots
4
Assists
0
Big chances created
0
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Kyogo only completed one pass in 75 minutes on the pitch, failing with his other two attempts, and took four shots without scoring.
The Japanese attacker managed one shot on target and saw the other three blocked, whilst he also had fewer touches (ten) than goalkeeper Schmeichel (37), which illustrates his lack of impact.
These statistics show that the 29-year-old striker had a difficult day at the office, as his decision-making and quality in the final third left a bit to be desired and he failed to get involved in the build-up, with his one pass.
The experienced forward was then upstaged by the man who replaced him for the final 15 minutes of the match, as Adam Idah caught the eye off the bench.
Signed from Norwich in the summer, the Irish marksman scored, with a composed close-range finish, completed all four of his attempted passes and created a ‘big chance’ in those 15 minutes.
Rodgers must now consider brutally ditching Kyogo from the starting XI after a few underwhelming displays from the attacker in recent weeks.
Why Celtic should drop Kyogo Furuhashi
The right-footed striker should be taken out of the line-up when the Hoops face Dundee at Parkhead in the Premiership on Wednesday night.
He has produced one goal and one assist, both of which came in the first half against Aberdeen, in his last five appearances in all competitions for the Hoops.
Kyogo Furuhashi
Kyogo completed 12 passes in those five outings and this shows that the attacker has not offered much outside of his work in the final third, which has also been lacking aside from the opening 45 against the Dons at Parkhead.
Therefore, Rodgers must ruthlessly ditch the striker from the starting XI and offer an opportunity to Idah to lead the line in the Premiership on Wednesday night, hopefully motivating Kyogo to fight hard to win his place back for the game against Dundee United at the weekend.
24/25 Premiership
Adam Idah
Appearances
7
Starts
2
Goals
2
Big chances created
1
Passes made per game
4.7
Aerial duels won
60%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Idah has shown promise in his limited minutes on the pitch this season, with two goals in two starts in the Premiership.
He has also averaged more passes completed per game (4.7) than Kyogo (4.4) has managed in seven starts out of nine games, which suggests that the Irishman offers more to the team in build-play play.
His aerial duel success rate also shows that Idah is a valuable asset to Celtic when they need to play longer passes under pressure, as he has the physical qualities to win headers and hold the ball up.
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Therefore, Rodgers must now ditch Kyogo from the starting XI to give his number nine a chance to stake a claim for his place in the team moving forward against Dundee.
da stake casino： Chelsea and chairman Todd Boehly by extension sent delegates to one club over the weekend, with an £83 million defender and alternative to Wesley Fofana on their potential transfer agenda ahead of 2025.
Chelsea targeting new centre-backs for Maresca
da marjack bet： Enzo Maresca’s side have enjoyed an impressive start to the new Premier League season, most recently getting back to winning ways with a 2-1 win over Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Top club obsessed with £100,000-p/w Chelsea ace, could bid for him in 2025
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him leave in the next 12 months.
ByBen Browning Oct 29, 2024
Their only top flight losses of the campaign came against title-chasing Man City and Liverpool, which is a good example of the stellar job done by Maresca so far. In the background, Boehly, BlueCo and co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart are identifying potential squad upgrades for the Italian.
One item on their to-do list, according to reports, is to bring in a new central defensive option who can complement, or even compete with, Fofana and Levi Colwill – who have both formed an impressive partnership at the heart of Maresca’s back line so far.
Chelsea’s next Premier League fixtures
Date
Man United (away)
November 3
Arsenal (home)
November 10
Leicester City (home)
November 23
Aston Villa (home)
December 1
Southampton (away)
December 4
Chelsea are monitoring Robert Renin as one option, with the Brazilian currently on a loan spell at Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia from Russian Premier League giants Zenit St. Petersburg.
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo is also a target for Chelsea, with some reports suggesting that the west Londoners are prepared to make a “significant” bid for the Uruguay international.
This comes after a previous claim by journalist Simon Phillips that Chelsea are scouting South American centre-backs, as Boehly and co take a particular interest in centre-backs from that region of the globe.
Another very highly-rated South American on their radar, and the radar of many other elite clubs, is Palmeiras starlet Vitor Reis. The 18-year-old could cost as much as £83 million to prise away from Brazil, the value of his release clause, with Reis attracting attention from Arsenal and Real Madrid as well.
Both the Gunners and Galacticos have already approached Reis’ club and representatives ahead of a potential move (The Athletic), with Liverpool, Barcelona and Chelsea also expressing an interest in him.
Chelsea send scouts to watch Reis ahead of potential move
Now, The Boot Room claim Chelsea sent scouts to watch Reis in action over the weekend.
The Blues had delegates running the rule over him during Palmeiras’ 2-2 draw with Fortaleza in Sao Paulo. Chelsea gem Estevao, who is set to fully link up with the club in 2025, got on the scoresheet during this encounter – but west London employees also had their eyes firmly on Reis.
It is believed the teenage sensation could be signed as an alternative to Fofana, and Chelsea are “huge admirers” of Reis. Interestingly, the player only made his professional debut in June, featuring in a 3-0 loss to the same team that Chelsea watched him against on Saturday.
Reis has since become a regular, with journalist Oliver Mason writing for the Rio Times that he is the young defender shaping Palmeiras’ future.
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
Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 78 in the first innings of the Ranji final•PTI
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
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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.”
Newcastle United are expected to make an offer for an "extraordinary" free agent, but will need to act quickly as he is also wanted by another Premier League club, according to a fresh transfer update.
Newcastle contract & transfer news
The Magpies' summer transfer business is done and dusted, in what was a relatively low-key period in the market for them, but there are still contract and transfer rumours doing the rounds. The future of Anthony Gordon was a major talking point during the summer, with a move to boyhood club Liverpool mooted a number of times, but the winger ended up staying put at St James' Park. Now, it is claimed that the 23-year-old could sign a new deal at Newcastle, acting as a major boost for Eddie Howe.
In terms of potential new signings, only free agents are now available for the Magpies, with Yusuf Yazici reportedly a target, having left Lille upon the conclusion of last season. Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are also thought to be in the mix for the 27-year-old.
There is another free agent who has emerged as an exciting option for Newcastle, too, as they battle with one of the clubs mentioned above for his signature.
Newcastle plan offer for "extraordinary" midfielder
According to a new update from Le Figaro [via Sport Witness], Newcastle could soon table an offer for Adrien Rabiot, who is currently a free agent after his departure from Juventus at the end of last season. United are in the same position, however, seeing the Frenchman as an excellent option to replace Casemiro, as the two Premier League clubs are said to "need to hurry" to get a deal done.
Adrien Rabiot for France.
Rabiot could be a fantastic addition to Newcastle's midfield, considering his pedigree as a player throughout his career, during which time he has won seven league titles – six for Paris Saint-Germain and one with Juve. Not only that, but the 29-year-old has won 48 caps for a formidable France team, proving to be a key figure in the middle of the park, while David Trezeguet has lauded him in the past.
With Newcastle supporters not overly happy about a lack of stellar signings during the summer transfer window, the £29.5m-valued Rabiot could add so much class and experience to Howe's midfield all without splashing a penny, possessing quality in possession and a strong work ethic off the ball.
Last season, the France international registered eight goal contributions (five goals and three assists) in Serie A, but he also averaged 1.9 tackles per game, not to mention starting five matches for his country at Euro 2024 earlier this summer.
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Signing Rabiot should be considered a no-brainer for Newcastle, even though he would likely demand big wages, with the free element of the fee making it less of an issue.
During his time as captain, a number of fans have kicked and screamed, and he has been one of the most polarising figures in the region since ascending to the helm
Roger Sawh25-Feb-2013The West Indies captaincy has been described as a poisoned chalice because it is one of the most difficult jobs in the sporting world. For one, you are following in the footsteps of giants like Lloyd, Sobers, Richards, and Worrell. The weight of history on your shoulders is tremendous, from multiple World Cups to years of dominance to worldwide respect and admiration for teams of yore. Moreover, you are also seeking to diplomatically manoeuvre in a multinational dressing room. Jamaicans, Guyanese, Bajans, Trinidadians, St Lucians and others are all trying to coexist for the sake of cricket, but there is quite a lot that culturally separates them.Unlike England or Australia, with players from different states or regions playing with a united national conscience, the West Indies’ collection of nationalities makes team captaincy akin to being the Secretary General of CARICOM (the Caribbean Community). Over the past two decades, all of this has happened against the backdrop of a lot of losing, controversies with the administration, cries of nepotism, and too many stresses and strains to mention.The West Indies captaincy is definitely a hot seat to occupy. During the past two years, Darren Julius Garvey Sammy has been the one with his bum on the roast. To say that his tenure has been less than smooth would be an understatement, because ‘Smiling Sammy’ has, in fact, been one of the most polarising figures in the region since ascending to the helm.During his time as captain, a number of fans have kicked and screamed, saying that he isn’t the right man for the job, that he doesn’t deserve a permanent spot in the team, that he is keeping a more deserving bowler (usually) out of the playing XI, and that he is a bowler who only thrives in favourable conditions. More often than not, observers have been able to find an area of his performance to pick on, from ‘agricultural’ batting strokes to pedestrian pace bowling. While his captaincy hasn’t found as much disfavour, there have also been claims that he is a sentinel of coach Ottis Gibson, and that his place as captain is to enforce the ‘new culture’ of Gibson’s management.Though murmurs of discontent have continued, Sammy the cricketer has persisted, mixing steady but not devastating bowling with an uncompromising batting style to be a solid member of the team in all three formats.Now, approximately two years into his tenure as captain, the Sammy debate has arrived at a pivotal juncture. The first two one-day internationals that West Indies play against Zimbabwe are the first time that Sammy is not in a West Indies playing XI (regardless of the format) since becoming captain in 2010. For those who have been anti-Sammy, it’s a moment that has been long overdue. For those who supported Sammy from the beginning, it might be a tense situation. And for those that have recognised an improvement in the team as a whole and have given Sammy the go-ahead as long as the team is growing, this is a chance to see whether the team has developed thanks to the man from St Lucia, or in spite of him.Two matches aren’t much to judge by, especially against an opposition that isn’t among the most formidable on the world stage, but they are still a test in some respects. The Zimbabweans can play with a free spirit because they haven’t much to lose. West Indies, on the other hand, are coming off a 0-5 whitewash at the hands of Australia, and 2-3 loss at the hands of Bangladesh – they need to get back on track in the 50-overs format.Dwayne Bravo steps into the leadership role in Sammy’s absence, and if he enjoys significant success, Sammy may once again find the lights of inspection being focused on him. The inspiring World T20 triumph released a lot of pressure on Sammy as a leader. Supporters and cynics alike had to acknowledge the positive vibes that came from the West Indies team. He has, for better or for worse, made an impact on West Indies cricket, and the more you look at it, the better the influence seems to be.However, despite all that, some may argue that he has outlived his usefulness. There is a notion that Sammy’s time as leader was simply a necessary evil in accomplishing the greater goal of ‘fixing’ West Indies cricket – the captain needed to be a glue and not a divider, a disciple and not a rebel, and a loyalist and not a globetrotter in order for the team’s challenges to be overcome. There is little doubt that Sammy has helped to bind the team, preach a consistent and positive message, and show an unwavering commitment to Caribbean cricket. Under Sammy, the seeds of paradigmatic shift have been sewn, the tree of stability has grown to a decent height, and fruits of success have begun to bear. The lingering question, though, is whether or not the job is done.Considering the possibilities, winning or losing against Zimbabwe might not spark an immediate change in the status quo, but it may certainly affect the timeline. If the team can win emphatically, it may suggest that Sammy’s task of building a strong foundation is far enough along to no longer necessitate him as a bold leadership figure. On the other hand, unconvincing victory or even defeat could simply reaffirm Sammy’s importance, and show the Caribbean public (especially his detractors) that he is an essential part of the team machinery.There are, of course, peripheral factors that will be important – Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels are also not playing, and their absence diminishes the quality of the batting line-up significantly. Additionally, the continued policy of not choosing the evergreen Shivnarine Chanderpaul for ODIs leaves the team very short on experience. Be that as it may, Sammy’s absence will be a significant subplot throughout the matches. Metaphorically, in the absence of the captain, will the ship sail or sink? For now, the great Sammy debate stands at the crossroads.If you have a submission for Inbox, send it to us here
Manchester City star Phil Foden says the team have not lost faith in manager Pep Guardiola despite their current miserable run of form.
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Man City currently on torrid run
Beaten at home by United on Sunday
Foden says players still believe in Guardiola
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WHAT HAPPENED?
City's 2-1 derby defeat to Manchester United on Sunday poured further misery on Guardiola's struggling side and handed the defending Premier League champions a fifth defeat of the season already. Bernardo Silva admitted after the game that his team had "played like Under-15s," while Guardiola said he "was not good enough" after overseeing yet another miserable performance.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
While Guardiola may not be happy with his performances, he still has the backing of his players. England star Foden says the players still believe in the Catalan and has revealed what the Cityzens need to do to get back on track and rediscover their best form.
WHAT FODEN SAID
He told reporters: "We are still nowhere near our level, but I still believe that we are playing good enough to get points and results," he said. "It’s about remaining focused throughout the full 90 minutes, but we keep switching off at important times. We just need to get the focus right. We stick together, regroup and believe in ourselves after what we’ve achieved in the past. We keep believing in the process and the manager – I’m sure if we do that we will get back to winning ways and get back to our level. It’s about keeping our mentality strong throughout the whole 90 minutes and we’re not doing that at the moment. We have to go again and show character to come back from this blip. It’s not a time for moaning – it’s about sticking together, remaining strong and going again. I’m positive we are going to come back.”
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WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY
City now have a free week to try and regroup after a demoralising defeat to their neighbours. Guardiola's side go again on Saturday against Aston Villa in the Premier League at Villa Park.
Rob McElhenney has explained why he and Ryan Reynolds are not on a “cash grab” at Wrexham and want to help grow soccer in the United States.
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Takeover completed in 2021
Enjoyed success on the field
Continue to invest off the pitch
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The two Hollywood superstars embraced a surprising sporting venture at SToK Racecourse when completing a stunning takeover in 2021. They have overseen a meteoric rise for Wrexham, which has been aided by an award-winning documentary series.
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THE GOSSIP
While considerable success has been enjoyed on the field, McElhenney and Reynolds have branched out into the wider Wrexham community. Funding has been pumped into the local area, as fans from all over the world descend on North Wales, while a takeover of the 142-year-old Wrexham Lager brewery forms part of one of their latest projects.
WHAT MCELHENNEY SAID
They are now looking to promote that brand Stateside, but McElhenney insists that the Red Dragons will never be used as a money-making machine. The ‘It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia’ actor has told the : “We like the idea of a flywheel where each investment is something we really support and enjoy, and it’s not just a cash grab. Anytime we look at a new investment or new opportunity, it’s only because we believe in it.”
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DID YOU KNOW?
Wrexham Lager was flowing when McElhenney joined fans to watch Phil Parkinson’s side in action against Barnsley on the giant immersive screen at Cosm LA. That occasion further highlights how far the Red Dragons have come, with the plan being to help America fully embrace soccer ahead of the 2026 World Cup.