Chelsea gem who lost the ball 20x times was as good as Palmer vs Fulham

Chelsea secured a much-needed Premier League win this afternoon with a 1-0 win over Fulham which lifts the Blues into eighth position as they look to make their way into the European places.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men may have only won by a one-goal margin, but it will surely give them plenty of confidence, especially knowing that they can now grind out results.

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino.

There were plenty of standouts for the Blues during their tense win, with attacking midfielder Cole Palmer getting on the scoresheet in the league yet again.

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Cole Palmer’s game vs Fulham in numbers

Prior to the Fulham clash, Palmer had scored seven goals and chipped in with four assists across 17 league ties this season and when Chelsea got a penalty against their London rivals, the outcome was never in doubt.

Alongside his goal, the former Manchester City starlet showed his desire to get on the ball often by taking 64 touches during the game, while he also took three total shots and made one key pass.

Palmer also succeeded with two of his three dribble attempts while demonstrating his defensive ability by winning 66% of his ground duels along with making one tackle and one interception, with this ever-growing maturity allowing him to develop into a wonderful player and flourish for the Blues.

He did score the game-winning goal, yet he wasn’t Chelsea’s finest player during the game. That accolade belongs to Enzo Fernandez, who delivered a masterful performance in the heart of the midfield.

Enzo Fernández’s performance vs Fulham in numbers

The Argentinian midfielder controlled things in the middle of the pitch alongside Moises Caicedo and this was key to Chelsea dictating the player for long spells.

Fernandez finished the game having taken 93 touches while also succeeding with 50 of his 61 attempted passes – a success rate of 81% – as he showed a keen desire to get on the ball.

The midfielder pushed forward on a regular basis too, as he created one big chance while succeeding with four of his six dribble attempts, and he even made three key passes during the clash, proving his worth across a range of metrics.

His desire to get to a more advanced role meant he did lose possession 20 times, but in the end, that didn’t matter as the Blues secured a crucial three points.

It was perhaps no surprise to see him given a rating of 7/10 by the Evening Standard for his wonderful display, with journalist Nizaar Kinsella praising the youngster for what was ‘one of Fernandez's best matches for many weeks’ while he also ‘linked the play well’ and, hopefully he can build on this platform.

Pochettino will need all his big hitters to deliver big performances over the next few weeks, especially as they prepare for the second leg of their EFL Cup semifinal against Middlesbrough.

The Stamford Bridge side trail 1-0 from the first leg, but if Fernandez and co can replicate their performances from today, then they should ease into the final.

Conor Gallagher in demand! Tottenham and Atletico Madrid join Aston Villa in hunt for Chelsea midfielder as Blues seek £50m transfer

Chelsea's Conor Gallagher is in high demand with three clubs set to showdown for the £50 million-rated ($63.9m) midfielder

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  • Conor Gallagher likely on his way out
  • Chelsea want to sell amid PSR concerns
  • Aston Villa, Spurs and Atletico interested
  • Getty

    WHAT HAPPENED?

    Gallagher is highly rated by Chelsea, however, the Blues are struggling to balance their books heading towards the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability rules deadline, and they believe the sale of the 24-year-old would help them comply with the PSR. As per The Daily Mail, there are three clubs who are willing to take Gallagher off Chelsea's hands: Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Unai Emery's Aston Villa have been on the rise over the last two seasons, and have attained Champions League football for next season, something they believe they can use to attract Gallagher to their side over the competition.

    Spurs and Ange Postecoglou have been long-time admirers of the 24-year-old and even looked at his availability in the January transfer window. However, they believe that Gallagher's connections with Chelsea would put him off making a move to their bitter London rivals.

    As for Atletico Madrid, Diego Simeone wants the Rojiblancos to sign a midfielder who is secure in possession and they have scouted Gallagher and Luton Town's Ross Barkley, who could be on his way to Aston Villa.

  • Getty Images

    DID YOU KNOW?

    Chelsea are keen to complete the sale of Gallagher before June 30 – the deadline for the submission of the economic details. Any sales or purchases made before the deadline will count on the financial books of the 2023/24 season, and with Chelsea worried about their PSR compliance for that period, they want the deal to go forward as soon as possible. Additionally, Gallagher's sale would show up as a 100% profit on the books with him having come up through their youth system.

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  • WHAT NEXT FOR GALLAGHER?

    While all this continues to brew in the background, Gallagher is expected to be called up to the England squad for the Euros by Gareth Southgate. This could potentially delay the agreement with any club and hurt Chelsea.

Spurs schedule talks to sign Son 2.0 in a deal that could be done ASAP

Tottenham Hotspur are said to be eyeing up their third signing of the January transfer window after deals for Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin…

Spurs' search for a new winger

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Lilywhites are pushing to secure a deal for Club Brugge forward Antonio Nusa to bolster their attack.

The reporter claims that a new round of talks between the two clubs has been scheduled as Spurs look to beat off competition from elsewhere to sign the young whiz.

Antonio Nusa in Norway training.

However, Romano adds that the teenage dynamo would like to remain at the Belgian side until the end of the season, which means that Ange Postecoglou may not have him as part of the squad until the summer.

The Australian head coach could land Heung-min Son 2.0 by winning the race to sign the 18-year-old forward, who The Guardian previously claimed is valued at £25m by Brugge.

Heung-min Son's goal record at Spurs

Tottenham's captain has proven himself to be a lethal scorer for the club from a left wing position over the course of a number of seasons in England.

The South Korea international has plundered an exceptional 157 goals and 85 assists in 393 appearances in all competitions, including 115 goals in 288 Premier League matches.

This means that Son has averaged a goal or an assist every 1.62 games on average throughout his career with Spurs, which shows that he has been a consistently reliable attacking threat out wide as a scorer and a creator of goals.

However, he turns 32 in July, and Postecoglou may have one eye on the future and what life will look like after Son, with Nusa possibly coming in as the long-term successor to his position.

The stats that show why Nusa could be Son 2.0

The 18-year-old has showcased his potential for club and country this season with an impressive return at the top end of the pitch despite limited minutes on the pitch.

Nusa has only started six Pro League matches for Brugge but has chipped in with three goals and two assists, whilst he has also created five 'big chances' for his teammates and could argue that they have let him down in front of goal with their wasteful finishing.

The right-footed left winger, who U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed has "beautiful potential", has also completed 2.7 dribbles per game for his club in the league.

Appearances

Three

Starts

One

Sofascore rating

7.53

Assists

Three

Big chances created

Two

Key passes

Six

As you can see in the table above, the Brugge starlet has also caught the eye on the international stage with Norway this season with some impressively creative performances for his country.

Nusa has racked up three goals and five assists in seven starts across the Pro League and European Championship qualifiers for club and country this season, which is one goal contribution every 0.86 starts on average.

There is no guarantee that he would be able to remain as consistent as that over the course of an entire season of regular starts but the young gem also has plenty of time on his side to develop that consistency.

The Brugge wizard could learn from Son at Spurs before eventually taking over as his successor and Postecoglou's next version of the South Korean marksman further down the line if he can fulfill his potential, which is why this could be an excellent signing for Spurs.

Spurs struck gold on £25m signing who’s now worth more than Maddison

Tottenham Hotspur are only five points better off in the Premier League this season than they were last year, but Ange Postecoglou is clearly shifting the cogs to chart a course to success unseen in many years.

Ange Postecoglou.

A painful reminder, but unless Tottenham pull off a sensational and implausible title triumph, a barren trophy drought will stretch to 16 successive seasons without silverware.

This interminable wait for the unbridled joy that one of the game's major honours would bring rages on, but Postecoglou arrived in the summer to steer the ship back on course and has navigated through several obstacles to instil his vision and give the squad an identity.

Harry Kane ended his career-long affiliation with the London club in August and headed for the footballing riches Bayern Munich can offer, but Heung-min Son was handed the primary talismanic role and Spurs spent shrewdly to counter the blow.

Micky van de Ven and shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario proved excellent pieces of business to shore up a defence that leaked goals like a ruptured container, but it is the capture of James Maddison from relegated Leicester City that has been the centremost success of Postecoglou's reign so far.

Why Tottenham signed James Maddison

Signed for £40m in June, Tottenham saw an opportunity following the Foxes' demise in 2022/23 and snatched it, bypassing lasting interest from wealthy Newcastle United to steal away with one of the Premier League's standout playmakers.

James Maddison in action for Leicester City.

Last season, Leicester fell into the second tier on the final day but Maddison emerged with his head held high, posting ten goals and nine assists from just 28 starting appearances.

He also ranks among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and progressive passes and the top 1% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, making good on praise from pundit Jermaine Jenas that he is "on the verge" of being world-class.

The £170k-per-week star started life in London with a bang, crowned the Premier League's Player of the Month for August and having now plundered three goals and six assists from 13 matches, also completing 86% of his passes and averaging 2.8 key passes per game.

With Heung-min Son and Richarlison raking in goals for Postecoglou's side this season, Maddison's efficiency in his creative endeavours has proved invaluable for the club's progress this term, and he's undoubtedly one of Tottenham's most important and influential members.

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He's not, however, the Spurs star with the highest market value right now, that tag lies with Dejan Kulusevski, who has been phenomenal this season and is arguably Postecoglou's most underrated ace.

Tottenham's signing of Dejan Kulusevski

Spurs captured Kulusevski and centre-midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus back in 2022, with the former joining on an initial 18-month loan.

An electric start to life on English shores saw the Sweden international clinch five goals and eight assists across the latter half of the 2021/22 Premier League season, but he was very much at the core of Spurs' issues last term and scored twice from 37 outings in all competitions, said to be "blowing hot and cold" by pundit Glenn Murray.

Tottenham ace Dejan Kulusevski.

The 23-year-old has always been regarded as a high-class talent and there was clearly a tacit belief that he would return to the forefront under Postecoglou's wing, with a £25m permanent transfer agreed upon last summer.

Dejan Kulusevski's market value now

Typically found on the right wing but capable of doing fine work centrally, Kulusevski is actually considered to be Tottenham's most valuable player by Football Transfers and this is an illustration of his prowess and unrelenting energy – the very quintessence of his manager's fluid, guns-blazing approach.

1.

Dejan Kulusevski

£46m

2.

Brennan Johnson

£40m

3.

James Maddison

£34m

4.

Heung-min Son

£33m

5.

Richarlison

£32m

More valuable than Maddison (who, admittedly, is sure to see a sharp rise in the near future), Kulusevski is versatile and dynamic and is finally flourishing with the kind of constancy that portends an illustrious future at the top of the game.

As per Sofascore, the 6 foot 1 phenom has scored five goals and supplied two assists from 21 matches in the top flight this year, though his brilliance stretches far beyond the constraints of direct goal contributions.

Indeed, he has also completed 83% of his passes, averaged 1.7 tackles, 4.3 ball recoveries and 4.2 successful duels per fixture, leading Sky Sports journalist Jamie Weir to state: "Dejan Kulusevski really is a special special player. Works so hard, covers every blade of grass. Hell of an engine on him, and just so much heart."

The former Juve starlet also ranks among the top 18% of positional peers for tackles made per 90 to emphasise the application that has made him such an indispensable figure for his side.

1.

Heung-min Son

11

2.

Pedro Porro

10

3.

Dejan Kulusevski

8

4.

James Maddison

6

5.

Brennan Johnson

4

With tools to inflict damage on opposition from many, many angles, Kulusevski is sure to feature at the centre of Tottenham's projected rise under their Australian manager, and while he doesn't have the finishing ability of Son, or the raw creative excellence of Maddison, he is undoubtedly one of the most important ingredients in the Spurs side – the flour in the cake, if you like, vital and unseen.

The acquisitions of both players are just an illustration of the upward curve that Spurs are seeking to continue, embarking on a new journey under new leadership with a fresh vision and rekindled optimism.

Next summer, Levy will bolster Tottenham's ranks further, with centre-forward and central midfield signings likely, and given the judiciousness that is at the centre of the recent business, the future looks bright and the likes of Kulusevski will be at the heart of it.

Gareth Southgate persists! Trent Alexander-Arnold & Phil Foden set to start for England vs Denmark despite criticism for performances in Euro 2024 opener

Gareth Southgate will stick with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Phil Foden against Denmark despite criticism of their performances against Serbia.

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Southgate to back his starsAlexander-Arnold & Foden will keep their placesTrippier also fit to play the 90 minutesWHAT HAPPENED?

According to the Southgate is poised to maintain faith in his starting 11 from England’s Euro 2024 opener and keep Alexander-Arnold in a central midfield role and Foden on the left side of the attack against Denmark, as he prefers continuity over change just after one match in the tournament. Traditionally a right-back, Alexander-Arnold partnered with Declan Rice in the midfield against Serbia, but the Liverpool player failed to convince, which led to his substitution for Conor Gallagher in the second half.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Foden, who also faced scrutiny following his performance against Serbia, is expected to get another opportunity to prove his doubters wrong. The Manchester City playmaker’s display was deemed underwhelming by some, yet Southgate is likely to persist with him, aiming to unlock his creative potential alongside Jude Bellingham in attack.

WHAT SOUTHGATE SAID

Speaking to , Southgate defended Foden and said: "I thought Phil did an incredible job for the team on Sunday. You know, sometimes the bits with the ball are obvious and they catch the eye, but the amount of ground he covered, the angles of pressing, the filling in for people who were further forward. I thought without Phil’s contribution without the ball – and I know that’s not the sexy bit and everybody wants to see him on the ball – I don’t think we win the game. So then later in the game when we needed somebody to retain the ball and take the pressure, I thought he did that really well for us.

"I think Phil has obviously set an incredibly high bar at Manchester City, where he knows exactly where every player is going to be every time he picks the ball up. A club that he’s been at since he’s been 13 years old. He used to go in there during the week for training, so an environment that he’s known nothing else. With us, we’re always having to adapt to different team-mates, different runs they make and there is adaptation with that.”

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GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Trippier, who was suffering from cramps against Serbia, is also expected to start against Denmark which will see him earn his 50th cap for England. However, Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw will miss the clash as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. Shaw, who has been sidelined since February, did not participate in training with the squad on Wednesday and is following an individual programme away from the team.

Ao Resenha ESPN, Gómez compara Abel Ferreira com outros técnicos: 'Relacionamento mais aberto'

MatériaMais Notícias

Um dos grandes destaques do Palmeiras campeão da Libertadores e da Copa do Brasil sob o comando de Abel Ferreira, o zagueiro Gustavo Gómez foi convidado para o programa Resenha ESPN e, em sua participação, elogiou o treinador do Verdão, comparando-o com outros que passaram pelo clube desde 2018.

– Todo mundo sabe que eu cheguei aqui e já estava o Felipão. Pegamos treinadores com muita história, né? Luxemburgo, Mano Menezes… e agora o Abel. Eu acho que com Abel o relacionamento é mais aberto. Ele é mais novo.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasAbel, sobre necessidade de reforços para o Palmeiras: ‘Gostaria, mas conto com esses guerreiros’Palmeiras08/04/2021PalmeirasPintou notificação! Antes de jogo da Recopa, Rony avisou autor de ‘hit’ que faria gol na ArgentinaPalmeiras08/04/2021PalmeirasScarpa mira título da Recopa após vitória do Palmeiras na ida, mas avisa: ‘Não tem nada ganho’Palmeiras08/04/2021

>> Agora vale título da Supercopa! Veja os capítulos recentes da rivalidade entre Palmeiras e Flamengo

Além disso, o defensor demonstrou como o português, mesmo durante longas maratonas de jogos, busca incentivar o elenco, contando sempre com o auxílio de jogadores mais experientes.

– Quando tínhamos muitos jogos, o calendário estava apertado e ele falava pra eu mandar um vídeo para os companheiros que estavam concentrando, em viagem. Chamava os mais experientes e pedia para falar antes daqueles jogos de semifinal da Libertadores. Porque ele é novo e tem mais essa resenha com os jogadores.

O Resenha ESPN apresentado por André Plihal, com participações de Fábio Luciano, Lugano e Zinho será destaque do canal ESPN Brasil às 0h30 da madrugada de sexta para sábado. O programa será reprisado no mesmo canal no domingo às 21h.

continua após a publicidade

Gustavo Gómez chegou ao Palmeiras em 2018 e, desde então, conquistou quatro títulos, sendo dois destes (Libertadores e Copa do Brasil) sob o comando de Abel Ferreira.

Blow for Warne: BBC share Derby County injury update on "different" player

Derby County have been dealt a big injury blow to a player who brings something "different" to Paul Warne’s side.

Derby form under Warne

The Rams have been picking up some form in League One in recent months, losing just two of their last nine third-tier games as they aim for automatic promotion back to the Premier League.

Derby currently sit in second on goal difference, however, Bolton Wanderers have two games in hand. It promises to be a dramatic run-in with just 12 points separating Portsmouth at the top of the table down to Oxford United in 7th.

Charlton Athletic 0-1 Derby County

February 3rd

Derby County 2-1 Cheltenham Town

January 27th

Reading 1-0 Derby County

January 23rd

Lincoln City 0-0 Derby County

January 20th

Derby County 3-2 Burton Albion

January 15th

Fleetwood Town 1-3 Derby County

January 6th

Derby County 2-3 Peterborough United

January 1st

Oxford United 2-3 Derby County

December 29th

Wigan Athletic 0-1 Derby County

December 26th

They were also relatively busy in the January transfer window, signing Corey Blackett-Taylor and Ebou Adams, while also bringing back Max Bird after agreeing on a deal to sell him to Bristol City. Derby failed to sign a new striker, though, despite being linked with free agent Dwight Gayle earlier this month, and that could be something which proves costly, especially following news of an injury blow to one attacker.

Derby injury update

The BBC shared an injury update from Pride Park regarding the fitness of loanee Tyreece John-Jules. The Arsenal striker recently renewed his loan deal until the end of the season but went off injured during the 1-0 defeat to Reading last month. Now, Warne has admitted that the 22-year-old is unlikely to play again this campaign.

"I don't think he will play again this season. He has had an operation and is having rehab at Arsenal at the moment, so I don't think we will see him again this season.

"I'm really sad for the kid because he was getting himself into a really good place, where he was starting to get some really good minutes."

Tyreece John-Jules in action for Arsenal.

John-Jules had already missed a number of games this season with a thigh problem, and this latest hamstring injury is another blow for the player and the Rams. He had made 14 appearances in all competitions, scoring both of his goals in the space of two weeks where he came in for praise from Warne, who said:

"He's deadly in the box, but he's just strong and he gives us something different. If he keeps performing and staying fit, obviously I would like him to stay at the club. As a manager you see a player come off the bench and score two – I think he's the player we've been missing."

However, Warne will now have to find an alternative to the Gunners youngster with his limited attacking options, although John-Jules only made two starts in League One.

Spots to hold on to in West Indies and India as new four-year cycle begins

Big Picture

This time comes once every four years and no, it’s not the World Cup. But it’s a corollary, a period to reassess and rebuild, until 2023 is upon us. Time’s a luxury and an irritant for West Indies and India, as the process begins now but only an outline of the squad that might still be relevant four years later can emerge at this stage, if at all.The cliché about being in the moment is perhaps more applicable, particularly for those who have just broken into the squads. It’s probably a better time for them too, to play with the kind of freedom that would have got them to this level in the first place, without having any end goals other than to deliver on the day.It’s also a case of knowing that you aren’t just filling in for someone who is guaranteed to reclaim the position upon return. It’s an issue Shreyas Iyer faced in his first three ODI appearances , taking Virat Kohli’s No.3 slot when the captain opted out of the Sri Lanka home series in 2017. With plenty of room in the middle order, Iyer, along with Manish Pandey – whose form turned after he was promoted to No.3 by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL – will hope to establish themselves. The MS Dhoni question remains but Rishabh Pant – the lone keeper in the squad – has more opportunities to have his say in the matter.For West Indies, Jason Holder’s return should calm things down after self-destruction started to trend during the T20Is. The stage also seems set for Chris Gayle to say goodbye at home, after the opener decided he wasn’t quite done with ODIs at the end of West Indies’ World Cup campaign. A few other changes from the squad that finished 9th in the World Cup were inevitable, as the likes of John Campbell, Roston Chase and Keemo Paul – who all played in the Ireland tri-nation – return to the fold.

Form guide

West Indies WLLLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India LWWLWChris Gayle has a hit in the nets•AFP

In the spotlight

Rishabh Pant has been quicker to establish himself in Tests than in the formats he was presumably more suited to. Virender Sehwag had baffled similarly through his career. While the benefits of attacking fields in Tests are high for attacking batsmen, should they get going, somehow it seems to influence shot selection, which both in Sehwag’s and Pant’s case – so far – have been better in the longer format. Pant showed enormous restraint in the World Cup semi-final against New Zealand before losing patience against the spin of Mitchell Santner, a shot that came in for heavy criticism. He followed that up with a first-ball top-edged sweep against Sunil Narine in the first T20I, which briefly gave West Indies an opening. However, just when the pressure was building, he chaperoned a tricky chase in the final T20I to earn praise from his captain. If he can build on that performance in the coming ODIs, India’s future plans will become easier to chalk out.The future will be shaped now and West Indies have their hopes pinned on youngsters like John Campbell. Campbell started with that record-breaking stand with Shai Hope against Ireland before the World Cup, but far from building on that, hasn’t done anything of note since, signified by a total of 21 runs in his next four innings. He was slightly unlucky to miss out on the last two T20Is against India, after he swept one cleanly but found the fielder on the boundary off just his second ball in the first match. With Gayle’s days numbered, this could be Campbell’s opportunity to feed off West Indies’ second most successful batsman in ODIs, before the baton is passed on to him.

Team news

West Indies will have to choose between Evin Lewis and John Campbell at the top to partner Chris Gayle. Roston Chase could be the only spinner as he can bat in the top seven, allowing them to field a strong pace attack, which was their strength in the home series against England.West Indies (probable): 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Evin Lewis/John Campbell, 3 Shai Hope (wk), 4 Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Roston Chase, 7 Jason Holder (capt), 8 Keemo Paul, 9 Kemar Roach, 10 Oshane Thomas, 11 Sheldon CottrellIn the absence of Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja’s recent batting form means he will be an easy swap as the genuine allrounder batting at No.7. That might mean that India pick three seamers and one of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal as the second spinner. The third-seamer spot, in that case, will be a toss up between Navdeep Saini and Khaleel Ahmed. The batting line-up might be determined by whether India are confident going in with just five bowlers.India (Probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 KL Rahul, 5 Manish Pandey/Kedar Jadhav/Shreyas Iyer, 6 Rishabh Pant (wk) 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Khaleel Ahmed/Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav/Yuzvendra Chahal

Pitch and conditions

With a couple of morning showers predicted, bowling first could have its advantages. But going by the slowness of the wicket in the final T20I, chasing could prove equally challenging, should the team batting first manage a reasonable total.

Stats and trivia

  • Gayle is 12 short of Brian Lara’s tally of 10,405 ODI runs, the most by a West Indies batsman.
  • Kuldeep Yadav has taken 93 wickets in 51 ODIs, which leaves him four matches to beat Mohammed Shami and become the fastest from India to hundred ODI wickets

Beale could get SOL rocking with Sunderland swoop for “magic” 5 ft 8 star

Barely a month into the Sunderland job post, it's fair to say Michael Beale is feeling the immense strains of managerial pressure on his shoulders.

Losing back-to-back Championship games in recent times has not helped his cause, coupled with the fact his dire Black Cats side were turned over by arch-rivals Newcastle United 3-0 in the FA Cup last month.

With comments to the media before this weekend's clash with Stoke City only adding further fuel to the fire, Beale will hope a potential January addition can get the restless Black Cats fanbase off his back and can help bring positivity and optimism back to proceedings fast.

Sunderland in for fan favourite

Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman, when speaking to the Sunderland Echo recently about how the transfer window has unfolded, stated that the stuttering Championship candidates are in contact regarding re-signing former loan star Amad Diallo.

However, the former Birmingham chief does add that there is no guarantee that the club will be able to sign him if Manchester United do make him available, which suggests that there is a long way to go in this particular transfer saga.

Fans at the Stadium of Light may be hoping that a deal to reunite Diallo with the Black Cats comes off, although Speakman did further elaborate that strengthening at left-back and at striker are the main priorities.

Still, Sunderland fans will dare to dream that their former Ivorian gem will return and could well be the instigator the Wearside club need to push on for promotion up to the Premier League regardless of vocal murmurs calling for Beale's head.

How Diallo would fit into the Sunderland team

Although Jack Clarke has taken over the mantle superbly since Diallo returned to Manchester United – the former Tottenham Hotspur winger singlehandedly winning games for his side with 13 goals this campaign – the exuberant 21-year-old will still have a key role to play if signed.

With Patrick Roberts still in the treatment room, the fringe Red Devils man would instantly come into the side and cause havoc down the right flank alongside Clarke.

Diallo scored over 50% of his goals last season down this channel for Sunderland, a frightening prospect again for Championship defenders to contain with Clarke equally as potent on the left.

Games played

Position played

Goals

Assists

15

Right Wing

7

3

9

Attacking Midfield

5

0

6

Centre Forward

1

0

2

Right Midfield

0

0

2

Second Striker

0

0

Stats by Transfermarkt

Moreover, if needed, Diallo could come into the side and play just behind the lone striker as an attacking midfielder.

This would be music to the ears of Sunderland fans who were worried about recent developments coming out of the Black Cats leaving the side even more dependant on Clarke's heroics, with rumours circulating that Alex Pritchard could well be exiting the building this month.

Described as being "magic" last campaign by ex-Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray – Diallo is virtually unplayable at points with second tier defenders just watching in astonishment at what he can do on the ball – a potential joyful homecoming this campaign could allow Beale to breathe a little easier in the dug-out.

Amad Diallo for Sunderland

But, with deadline day looming ever closer and a lack of business still agitating supporters at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland will need to be speedy with incomings with a move for the 5 foot 8 star one they must make to save their under-pressure manager's skin.

He could get the stadium rocking once again and give fans a reason to get behind the manager, with Diallo showcasing his talent in the Championship on a regular basis alongside Clarke once again to get supporters off their feet in excitement.

رجل مباراة ريال مدريد وأتلتيكو مدريد في الدوري الإسباني

أعلنت رابطة الليجا، عن الفائز بجائزة رجل مباراة ريال مدريد وأتلتيكو مدريد في الدوري الإسباني لموسم 2024-2025.

والتقى ريال مدريد وأتلتيكو مدريد ليلة الأحد، في مباراة ضمن مواجهات الجولة الثامنة للدوري الإسباني.

وتمكن أنخيل كوريا من منح فريقه أتلتيكو مدريد هدف التعادل في وقت قاتل قبل نهاية المواجهة التي انتهت بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدف لمثله.

وحصل فيدي فالفيردي لاعب ريال مدريد على جائزة رجل المباراة أمام أتلتيكو مدريد.

فالفيدري حصل على تقييم 7.9 من 10 بحسب شبكة “سوفا سكور”، وهو التقييم الأعلى بين لاعبي الفريقين، وقد بلغت دقة تمريراته 92%.

وقد شهدت مباراة الديربي أعمال شغب من جانب جماهير أتلتيكو مدريد وتم إيقاف المباراة 10 دقائق، قبل أن يتم استئنافها من جديد (لمطالعة التفاصيل كاملة من هنا).

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