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All eyes are on the MCG pitch which has led to both teams making changes to the XIs for the Boxing Day Test

Andrew McGlashan24-Dec-201811:02

Dasgupta: Opening with Rohit could revive his Test career

Big PictureThe MCG Boxing Day Test is always an eagerly anticipated occasion, but this year it feels like there is an added edge. The series is poised at 1-1; the stump mics have been turned up; Australia are finding their voice again; Virat Kohli isn’t taking a backward step and there is grass on a Melbourne pitch. It has the makings of a Christmas cracker.If India can bounce back from their Perth defeat and register victory they will have retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy. If Australia take the honours again it will mark a significant upturn in their fortunes at the end of a year of turmoil and no little disgrace. And if it’s a draw let’s hope it’s a thriller and not like last year.The pitches in this series have provoked much discussion and Melbourne’s 22 yards has been at the forefront of everyone’s attention for days. Last year the surface was marked “poor” by the ICC after the drab Ashes stalemate and this Test, under the management of a new curator, feels like a significant moment as an iconic ground tries to repair its reputation.These two teams have shown that when there is some help on offer for the bowlers they can produce compelling cricket which makes for a wonderful spectacle. The contest between bat and ball has been excellent in Tests throughout 2018 and it would be nice to think it will end that way.The unknown qualities of the pitch – despite the evidence of this season’s Sheffield Shield matches – left both sides with thinking to do over their XIs. India won’t admit it, but fielding four quicks in Perth was a mistake – another one in a year of selection blunders – but it doesn’t have to prove terminal for their hopes in this series. They started 2018 hoping to create an overseas legacy for themselves and this match will go a long way to deciding if that happens.Form guide(last five completed matches)
Australia WLLDL
India LWWWL4:58

Our batsmen need to step up as a unit – Kohli

In the spotlightAfter an unconvincing performance in Adelaide, Aaron Finch shaped up much better under testing conditions in Perth. However, the nasty blow he took on the finger in the second innings curtailed his knock and on return he gloved his first delivery down the leg side. He has looked comfortable in the nets leading into the third Test – which would be his first Boxing Day in the baggy green – but that dodgy digit is certainly a target for the India quick bowlers. Unless the pitch is really slow and low, and everyone hopes that isn’t the case, Finch will surely get some short deliveries early on.India’s selections away from home this year, especially in England and Australia, have been the subject of significant criticism. Ravi Shastri said all that is being ignored – on this tour because they were in a different hemisphere – but while some calls may have been 50-50 others, such as those made in Perth, were more clear errors. There are a number of issues to resolve for Melbourne and their XI will also bring much scrutiny.Team newsMitchell Marsh has been recalled at the expense of Peter Handscomb, whose technique has been worked over by the India quick bowlers, but it’s also the overs Marsh can provide which have been factored in on a surface that could yet change character.Australia 1 Aaron Finch, 2 Marcus Harris, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Shaun Marsh, 5 Travis Head, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Tim Paine (capt. & wk), 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh HazlewoodIndia have dropped both their openers – 97 runs between them in eight innings – for the Boxing Day Test. Mayank Agarwal is set to get his debut with Hanuma Vihari moving up the order from his No. 6 station. R Ashwin has not recovered fully, which means Ravindra Jadeja has come in as part of the four-man attack. Rohit Sharma, though, is back to fitness, slotting in at No. 6. India have resisted the temptation to bring Hardik Pandya right back in.India 1 Mayank Agarwal, 2 Hanuma Vihari, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt.), 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Rohit Sharma, 7 Rishabh Pant (wk), 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Jasprit BumrahPitch and conditionsRated “poor” last year, the pitch has been the topic of much conversation. Having tried various lengths of grass in the Sheffield Shield, it appears more rather than less will be left on in an attempt to give the surface some life. Could it even be green enough to encourage a team to bowl first? The weather may play a part in how the surface develops with hot, sunny conditions forecast for at least the first four days.Stats and Trivia Mitchell Starc needs four wickets to reach 200 in Tests Nathan Lyon already holds the record for the most wickets taken by an Australian spinner in a series against India on home soil (23 in 2014) but with 16 already from two Tests this time he could go past that. Virat Kohli has scored five Test hundreds in 2018, equalling his tally from 2017 as his best year. A century in Melbourne would put him alone in second place for the most in a year by an India batsman behind Sachin Tendulkar’s seven in 2010 India have two previous victories in Melbourne: in 1977, then won by 222 runs against a side ravaged by World Series Cricket and in 1981 when the margin was 59 runs as Australia were skittled for 83 chasing 143Quotes”I believe in confidence, there’s no doubt. Confidence, like respect, is something you have to earn. We haven’t had much success…to win one, it’s nice to get rewarded for the work the boys are doing. There were some really good signs in Perth.”

Manchester United’s UEFA Champions League dream looks all but over, after being held to a 3-3 draw in Istanbul. It was a must-win game for Erik ten Hag and he will be scratching his head as to how his team didn’t walk away with a vital three points.

The Red Devils took a two-goal lead twice in the game, but as shown already this season in Europe, if they concede one, the floodgates open, players seem to panic, and the basics of the game are discarded.

To score three goals in all three of their European away games this season and only collect one point is ridiculous, which could lead to Ten Hag re-thinking which personnel deserves their spot in the starting XI.

Victor Lindelof’s stats vs Galatasaray

The player under the spotlight for the wrong reasons is Sweden’s Victor Lindelof. The defender’s performance on Wednesday evening earned him a 6/10 rating by the Manchester Evening News, with the occasion and hostile atmosphere swallowing him up.

According to Sofascore, Lindelof alarmingly had ten fewer touches than Andre Onana, with the goalkeeper used more in the build-up than the centre half. He gave the ball away eight times, despite playing mainly safe passes throughout the ninety minutes.

Furthermore, the defender was dribbled past in the first half which led to a goal-scoring opportunity for the hosts. A positive for the Sweden international is that he won all five of his aerial duels, although Mauro Icardi and Dries Mertens didn’t contest with much urgency.

Although impossible to display by statistics, Lindelof’s lack of physicality, athleticism and aggressiveness makes him far too easy to play against.

Andre Onana drew attention away from how poor 6/10 Man Utd man was v Gala

This 6/10 man let Manchester United down alongside Andre Onana in the side’s 3-3 draw with Galatasaray.

ByAdam Scully Nov 30, 2023

He is often caught out of position by entering ground duels that he is not going to win, which leaves gaps in dangerous areas for the opponent to exploit as he lacks recovery speed to retreat in time. This was clear to see against Galatasaray, with the number two having a 0% ground duel win rate.

The player who could replace Victor Lindelof

When on the field, Raphael Varane is typically extremely reliable, however, his availability has been a huge issue, with the French defender prone to injuries. Since joining United in 2021, Varane has endured eight different injuries, with the latest occurring towards the end of August.

Ten Hag looks to be carefully managing the fitness of the 30-year-old, yet he may be forced into starting him more frequently than he would probably like to at this stage.

2023/24

Unknown

27 days

2022/23

Foot

24 days

2022/23

Leg

23 days

2022/23

Ankle sprain

5 days

2021/22

Muscular problems

18 days

2021/22

Covid

8 days

2021/22

Abdominal problems

4 days

2021/22

Hamstring

50 days

2021/22

Groin

15 days

Data via Transfermarkt.

Unfortunately, Varane hasn’t played enough minutes in the Premier League to have a scout report on FBref this season, but we can still compare his Champions League report to Lindelof’s.

It is instantly obvious that Varane is a much more dominant defender, losing 0% of his challenges and making 1.41 tackles per game, whereas the 29-year-old is yet to make a successful tackle in four appearances. The former Real Madrid player is also superior at reading the game and being proactive out of possession, making 1.06 interceptions per game, compared to Lindelof’s 0.3.

Furthermore, from an in-possession perspective, there isn’t a massive upside to starting Lindelof over Varane either, with the Swede boasting sub-par statistics in touches and carries according to FBref.

Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand, has also previously labelled Varane a ‘calming influence’ and his experience of playing in enormous matches may just have got United over the line yesterday. Lindelof, on the other hand, had been labelled a "liability" on too many occasions.

Overall, if it wasn’t for Varane’s lack of reliability he would be starting, but this piece further highlights the need for centre-back reinforcement in the transfer window.

Since Farhad Moshiri bought into Everton in 2016, there have certainly been more misses than hits in the transfer market, with the club spending huge wads of cash on players who never really settled at the Premier League outfit.

The likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Yannick Bolasie, Morgan Schneiderlin and Jean-Phillippe Gbamin, just to name a few, have all been some of the Toffees' most expensive signings of all time, yet none of them still remain at the club.

However, there isn't a fine line between being a success and a failure. Some of Everton's acquisitions over the past seven years performed at a solid level during their stints in Merseyside and didn't set the world alight but weren't the root of the side's problems either.

One of the players who fits into this category left during the summer and has been having a torrid time at his new club.

Yerry Mina's stats at Everton

Yerry Mina became Everton's sixth most expensive player of all time and the fifth most expensive signing of the Moshiri era when he moved to Goodison Park for £28.5m back in 2018. The Toffees reportedly even fought off late interest from Manchester United to secure the centre-back from Barcelona on transfer deadline day.

The Colombia international went on to make 99 appearances in all competitions for Everton during his five years at the club and bagged nine goals in total which is quite an impressive number for a central defender despite the team's struggles on the pitch. Former Everton defender Michael Ball even claimed that Mina was a "monster" when on form for the Toffees.

Unfortunately, Mina came to the club during a difficult spell and throughout his time in Merseyside, the Colombian played under five different permanent managers. The coach he featured the most under was Carlo Ancelotti, playing 43 times during the Italian's stint in charge and his game-time massively diminished after the legendary coach left in 2021.

Marco Silva

31

Carlo Ancelotti

43

Rafa Benitez

8

Frank Lampard

9

Sean Dyche

4

Stats via Transfermarkt

Mina played less under Rafa Benitez, Frank Lampard and Sean Dyche combined than he did under Marco Silva or Ancelotti and eventually left in the recent summer transfer window on a free.

Yerry Mina's stats at Fiorentina

The former La Liga champion moved to Fiorentina once his contract with Everton expired. The Florence-based club had reached two finals last season and finished in eighth place, earning a spot in the Europa Conference League once more. However, Mina's time at the Artemio Franchi Stadium has been a disaster so far.

In all competitions, the 29-year-old has made just two appearances for La Viola, while having been on the pitch for merely two minutes in total. Mina came on for one minute in Fiorentina's recent games against Juventus and Bologna prior to the international break, having spent the rest of the season sidelined with a muscle injury.

Mina's campaign has been even worse since leaving Everton than his ex-teammate Mason Holgate. The latter joined relegated Championship outfit Southampton during the summer but has featured for only 290 minutes in a Saints shirt over the course of five different games. He hasn't been a regular but has been a key part of a squad currently fourth in the second tier as they bid to compete among England's elite once more.

During Mina's time at Goodison Park, Holgate played 107 games in all competitions for Everton, more than the Colombian, and was shoehorned all over the backline due to his versatility, even playing in the midfield at one point. However, like his former colleague, the 27-year-old made four appearances under Dyche and parted during the summer, albeit on loan.

While playing for Everton may have seemed like a nightmare at times, both men have suffered desperately for minutes since leaving the club and now could have to live with the regret of doing so.

One day, Liverpool will have to contend with the departure of Mohamed Salah. It is a thought that strikes fear into the hearts of those on Merseyside – the red half, at least.

For the blue side, and indeed far beyond, the Egyptian machine has plagued Premier League defences for many years, since signing from Roma in a £34m transfer back in 2017.

Salah, aged 31, has scored 196 goals and supplied 83 assists from 320 appearances for Jurgen Klopp's side; he has been the offensive catalyst and enjoyed a starring role across an illustrious period in the Reds' history, instrumental in the conquering of the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup – not an exhaustive list.

Liverpool warded off advances from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad in the summer, who are believed to have presented a £150m package for the 32-year-old, but with Salah out of contract in 2025, he will not remain on Anfield grass forever.

While the defensive and central thirds require immediate attention, Klopp could be tempted to spend big on a new attacking outlet when the time comes, and if reports are to be believed, that addition could be Jamal Musiala.

Liverpool transfer news – Jamal Musiala

According to Sport1, Liverpool are very much among the contenders for Musiala's services as the Bayern Munich star continues to sit at an impasse with the Bundesliga champions regarding a contractual renewal.

More recently, Sport Bild – via ESPN – have reported that Spanish giants Real Madrid have also joined the race and will prioritise the 20-year-old's signing next summer should efforts to sign Kylian Mbappe prove fruitless.

Reports from October have suggested that Liverpool will have to cough up €100m (£87m) to secure Musiala's signature, and while this is an eye-watering figure, they may not find the opportunity to find such an extraordinary talent still malleable enough to be shaped to Klopp's creation.

Jamal Musiala's style of play

Having been a starring member of Chelsea's youth academy throughout his formative years, Musiala opted to return to his homeland in 2019 after the Stamford Bridge side failed to match Die Roten's offer.

How they must rue that call; Musiala has now plundered 35 goals and 26 assists from 138 professional outings, clinching 32 direct contributions from 47 games last year.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, for Germany, Musiala was one of the only bright sparks as his nation languished to a group phase exit, with the gem, who has been hailed as a "future Ballon d'Or winner" by teammate Alphonso Davies, completing 12 dribbles in one match against Costa Rica (the most ever from a teenager in a single game at the tournament).

This year, he has only started five league matches so far – a large reason behind the growing sense that he might be unsettled – but has scored four goals and supplied three assists across all competitions – serving a goal against Manchester United in the Champions League.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Dribbling

Crossing

Through balls

Tackling

Long shots

Key passes

Finishing

*Sourced via WhoScored

A remarkable prospect, Musiala ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion and successful take-ons, the top 7% for assists and the top 15% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

The £87k-per-week gem boasts skills that would slot into Klopp's Liverpool system like a dovetail joint, and should it come down to it, the Reds simply must prioritise signing the Bavarian machine over his countryman Florian Wirtz, who has been sensational for Bayer Leverkusen this season.

How Jamal Musiala compares to Florian Wirtz

Wirtz has scored six goals and supplied nine assists from 15 matches across all competitions this season as Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen perch atop the Bundesliga table, having been dubbed an "elite talent" by scout Jacek Kulig.

Destined for a career at the very top, Wirtz has made 2.5 key passes per game in the German top-flight this term; Sofascore highlights his tendency to linger around the left channel, influencing play from the touchline and weaving inside to create chances and strike on goal himself.

There are compelling cases to be made that a club such as Liverpool should focus on signing either one of these stunning midfielders, but Liverpool would find Musiala of greater value to Klopp's project, with Wirtz also attracting the side's attention, according to the Star – via the Daily Mail.

(stats per 90)

Goals

Assists

Shots

Pass %

Prog. passes

Prog. carries

STA

SCA

Jamal Musiala

0.31

0.34

1.76

86%

5.54

4.20

4.05

4.78

Florian Wirtz

0.30

0.53

2.41

79%

7.06

3.99

3.63

5.96

*Statistics sourced via FBref

As the table delineates, the players are of a similar ilk if differing slightly in their approach on the pitch. Wirtz is more creative and influences play from deep, as highlighted by his superior shot-creating actions (SCA), but Musiala is a more adept dribbler, driving the ball forward and bypassing hapless defenders with successful take-ons (STA).

Make no mistake, either one of these prodigious Germany starlets would be an incredible addition to the Anfield side, and there is little dispute that Wirtz is one of the finest, most dynamic playmaking talents of his generation. It might just be that Musiala is more suited to the role that Klopp would hope for him to play.

The Bayern player, who has been heralded as a "potential world beater" by a recruitment figure central to transfer speculation surrounding his name, is a dribbler at his core and could be the perfect foil for Liverpool stars such as Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose creative ingenuity would blend sumptuously with Musiala, as he weaves through the half-spaces.

The figures that might be involved in a transfer could be astronomical, but the Liverpool chiefs have already demonstrated their willingness to spend big after capturing Darwin Nunez for a club-record fee totalling £85m.

When Salah does bow out, it will be important to secure a shiny new signature of someone who could compensate for his exit; directly replacing such a prolific phenomenon would be difficult, true, but investing in a new kind of attacking threat would be an astute move.

Musiala could be the talismanic figure to ensure Liverpool remain challenging for the biggest honours over the coming years, and if an opportunity arises, then Klopp must pounce.

MatériaMais Notícias

De “supertime’, com comando definido e exaltada força mental para superar desafios e candidato a todos títulos, o Flamengo, em um intervalo de meses, tornou-se uma equipe frágil, exposta à goleadas e eliminações precoces, mas que, apesar dos percalços, está na briga pelo título do Campeonato Brasileiro. Mais do que falhas individuais e coletivas dentro do gramado, o contexto vivido pelo clube e no qual ele está inserido explica a queda no desempenho e nos insucessos recentes, após o mágico ano de 2019 e também o início de 2020.

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+ CONFIRA A TABELA DO BRASILEIRÃO

De maneira mais imediata, pode-se colocar a responsabilidade (ou culpa) das eliminações precoces na Copa do Brasil, diante do São Paulo, e na Libertadores, para o Racing, ou das goleadas sofridas no Brasileirão, para o Atlético-MG e Atlético-GO, por exemplo, apenas nos jogadores – que erraram, de fato, tanto no ataque quanto na defesa – ou nas decisões tomadas pelos treinadores – seja Domènec Torrent ou Rogério Ceni. Por outro lado, uma visão mais ampla permite enxergar os fatores extra-campo que contribuíram para o Flamengo ter os resultados recentes, tanto os que partiram do clube quanto os externos.

A derrocada rubro-negra em relação a 2019 tem, como “pontapé inicial”, a saída de Jorge Jesus em julho, semanas após renovar seu vínculo com o clube até junho de 2021. O técnico não foi o único a trocar o Flamengo pela Europa: foi o caso de Rafinha e Pablo Marí, casos que exemplificam o desafio que é tornar-se hegemônico na América do Sul enquanto clubes de menor expressão da Europa ainda permanecem mais atrativos aos olhos dos atletas e técnicos.

Dentro deste cenário, no qual o clube da Gávea foi forçado a fazer uma troca no comando técnico da equipe – uma exceção à regra do futebol brasileiro, no qual as diretorias demitem e contratam treinadores com extrema naturalidade -, o Flamengo apostou em Domènec Torrent. A quebra de filosofia em relação ao antecessor fez com que o catalão fosse descartado após três meses, e a dias de decisões da Libertadores e da Copa do Brasil. O resultado foi este: Rogério Ceni, há 22 dias no cargo, soma duas eliminações e uma vitória em seis jogos.

As opções de Rogério Ceni, Dome Torrent ou qualquer que seja o técnico podem – e devem – ser questionadas. Contudo, em um calendário espremido pela pandemia do coronavírus, e que não permitem aos treinadores tempo de treinar com o grupo, eles não podem ser os responsáveis pelos insucessos.

As tomadas de decisão da diretoria – que está a par de todos detalhes da rotina do futebol desde janeiro de 2019 -, por exemplo, têm mais “peso” nos recentes resultados. Os reforços contratados para 2020, com a exceção de Pedro, não deram o retorno esperado. O departamento médico, referência em 2019, foi reformulado, sob coordenação do Dr. Márcio Tannure, e vem tendo problemas com as frequentes lesões e longos períodos de recuperação dos atletas. Pilar da defesa, Rodrigo Caio ficou afastado por 70 dias após retornar lesionado da Seleção Brasileira, caso similar ao de Pedro e também do uruguaio Arrascaeta.

O aspecto psicológico do time – elogiado na “Era Jesus”, na qual o time não se desesperava mesmo diante de cenários adversos – também “desmoronou”. A presença de um profissional para tratar este fator já foi descartada pelo vice-presidente de futebol Marcos Braz, que disse não ver necessidade para tal no elenco profissional. Rogério Ceni, por sua vez, destacou o “lado mental” como “o maior problema do Flamengo” no dia 19, após a queda na Copa do Brasil.

O Flamengo afastou Alberto Figueiras do departamento de futebol no primeiro trimestre de 2019, e, desde então, o elenco profissional não tem um psicólogo à disposição no dia a dia do Ninho do Urubu. Entre junho de 2019 e junho de 2020, com a chegada de Jorge Jesus e sua comissão técnica, Evandro Motta (mental coach que acompanha o Mister há anos) foi o responsável por trabalhar o lado mental da equipe do Mister, mas não é formado em psicologia.

É nos resultados obtidos na passagem do Mister que Braz respalda a ideia de que não é necessário a presença de um profissional no dia a dia do Ninho do Urubu. Mas, diante de todo este contexto, é possível entender que o sucesso alcançado pelo time de Jorge Jesus é a exceção da regra no futebol brasileiro. Os títulos da Libertadores e Brasileirão conquistados no mesmo ano (aliás, no mesmo fim de semana), os recordes e campanhas históricas comprovam isso.

It’s been far from an easy ride at Everton over the past few years, as Sean Dyche continues to attempt to combat the on-pitch issues that have previously threatened the club with relegation.

Fans had to wait until matchweek four to see the Toffees net their first goals of the 2023/24 campaign, and matchweek six to see their side claim their first three points of the season, after a dreadful start to the campaign.

Last term, almost identical to the year prior, Everton were forced to have their fate decided on the final game of the Premier League season, as they flirted with demotion to the Championship due to poor form and lack of inspiration.

Change in personnel within the squad and from a managerial aspect has delayed any type of progression for the Merseyside outfit, however with three wins in their previous four games, there is hope that Dyche’s side can finally build some form.

With a squad replenished in the summer transfer window, there are vacancies there for new heroes to emerge at Goodison, with those that brought joy before, now just a memory.

One name that was a constant source of hope for the Toffees amid their relegation battle of the 2021/22 campaign was Richarlison, who departed the club that summer after cementing himself as a fan favourite on Merseyside.

While it was a painful goodbye to the Brazilian, hindsight has shown that the Blues got a strong deal in the sale of the forward, despite having to let go of his influence on the squad.

When did Everton sign Richarlison?

In the summer of 2018, Everton announced the signing of the highly-rated Richarlison from Watford, paying £40m for the striker who was 21 at the time of his move.

The Brazilian arrived at Vicarage Road the year before, and made a statement in his debut campaign in Europe by having a hand in ten Premier League goals, scoring five and assisting five to capture the eye of the Blues.

Marco Silva, the former Hornets boss who guided Richarlison at Vicarage Road, was the Everton manager responsible for bringing the forward to Goodison in 2018, where he praised him as an acquisition that was “very good technically” at the point of his arrival.

How much did Richarlison earn at Everton?

In making the move to Merseyside, Richarlison subsequently more than doubled his salary, improving his £1.3m-per-year wage at Watford to £4.6m at Everton, equating to a weekly wage of £90k, via Capology.

It was clear from the off how highly the Blues regarded the young marksman, as they handed him a wage that ranked him joint-fourth of the club’s highest-earners in the 2018/19 season.

The faith shown by the Toffees was quickly repaid by Richarlison, as he almost instantly made a name for himself, scoring two goals on his league debut in August 2018, where he was lauded as an “animal” by journalist Liam Canning.

How many goals did Richarlison score?

At the end of his first season, the Brazilian had found himself on the score sheet 14 times in all competitions, netting 13 in the Premier League to get fans excited about what was yet to come.

The following campaign, Richarlison replicated his scoring tally in the league with another 13 in the 2019/20 season, as well as scoring two goals in the Carabao Cup that year.

Along with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the versatile forward was repaying the price the Blues had paid to bring him to the club at 21, ending his stay on Merseyside with 53 goals and 14 assists in 152 appearances in all competitions.

Excluding the 2020/21 campaign, the £40m man never failed to score under ten goals in the Premier League while at Everton, with his lowest tally being the seven he claimed that season.

In his final term, amid the struggles going on at Goodison, the Brazil international had a hand in 15 goals in the league, scoring ten and assisting five, maintaining form in the wilted side that caught the attention of other clubs in the top flight.

How much did Everton sell Richarlison for?

They say all good things must come to an end, and that was the narrative that played out for Richarlison at Everton, as he bid farewell to the club after four years in the summer of 2022.

Tottenham Hotspur were the side that opted to splash the cash to sign the then 25-year-old, paying £60m for his services after their opening offer of £40m was rejected by the Blues.

As relayed by Sky Sports at the time, Everton were hoping for more for their talisman, but made the decision to sanction the move in order to hand manager Frank Lampard additional funds to orchestrate change in the transfer window to take forward.

By selling the 48-cap Brazil international, the Toffees generated a profit of £20m from the £40m they paid for him in 2018, highlighting the grasped opportunity for them to optimise their finances in what was a difficult time for the club.

In hindsight, the deal was an integral and successful one, as the now 26-year-old has seen his market value crash, and his form follow, suggesting that he played his best football at Goodison.

How much is Richarlison worth now?

To say that Lampard cashed in on Richarlison at the perfect time is an understatement, as his current market value sits at just €36.3m (£31m), £29m less than the price that he was sold for just a year ago, as per Football Transfers.

Richarlison's Premier League scoring record

Season

Club

Apps

Goals

2017/18

Watford

38

5

2018/19

Everton

35

13

2019/20

Everton

36

13

2020/21

Everton

34

7

2021/22

Everton

30

10

2022/23

Spurs

27

1

2023/24 TBC

Spurs

8

1

Figures via Transfermarkt

The dip in the forward’s form is answered solely by his abysmal displays in the final third during his first season at Spurs, another indication that Everton offloading him at the ideal time.

In the 2022/23 campaign, the 6 foot hotshot scored once in 27 appearances, scoring his only goal of the entire Premier League season in April after a period of stagnancy relating to the element he was signed to thrive in.

There remains hope that the former Toffees sensation can rediscover his confidence in front of goal, with signs there that this season may be more encouraging as he matched last campaign’s league tally on match week five of this term.

Regardless of whether Richarlison can salvage the form he showcased at Goodison, Everton struck gold by selling the striker for £60m, especially when seeing how dramatically his value has dropped in the year following his departure.

There was a time on Merseyside, not too long ago, when Liverpool supporters would have taken the prospect of Champions League qualification in a heartbeat, without demanding success of a more profound kind.

Now, however, expectations are much higher, with Jurgen Klopp's managerial appointment in 2015 ending an interminable period of instability and kicking off an ascent to the top of domestic and continental competition.

Last season's fifth-placed finish marked an end to a seven-year stay in Europe's elite club tournament, and resulted in sweeping changes made to a deteriorating midfield that had stood as tall and mighty as an impregnable fortress for the majority of Klopp's rule.

The prestigious Premier League outfit is now battling for a spot on the podium once again, and its manager is certain to be targetting the highest spot.

The 56-year-old boss labelled his side 'Liverpool 2.0' after years of illustrious success appeared to have ended with the drastic decline last year, but now there is optimism anew that silverware can be sniffed out in its hordes again.

All this is an illumination of the strides made under Klopp's tutelage, with the Premier League and Champions League trophies among the expansive scale of honours won during this grand period.

It's a far cry from the previous days of misery, with the season preceding Klopp's arrival, the 2014/15 term, among the most miserable of campaigns for the Reds in a very long time, with the £75m sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona seeming to shut the door on the halcyon days for good.

His replacement, Mario Balotelli, was something of an enigma, but if his cloak of mystery was enticing at first, the overt failure of his acquisition became too clear only too quickly.

Why did Liverpool sign Mario Balotelli?

Losing Suarez felt like an insurmountable blow; who could replace a world-class striker who had just ripped English football to shreds and spearheaded an unlikely title charge, posting an unbelievable 31 goals and 17 assists from 33 matches.

Liverpool needed a solution, and myopic investments and business over the summer had left the club in an unfavourable position in the closing stages, with Loic Remy's transfer from Queens Park Rangers falling through due to health concerns.

The answer came in the form of Balotelli, who completed a £16m transfer from AC Milan in the late days of the 2014 summer transfer window, with his signature preferred to Samuel Eto'o's, who was on standby.

The Italian marksman had previously enjoyed success in the Premier League with Manchester City, scoring 30 goals from 80 appearances across three seasons and providing the assist for Sergio Aguero's historic title-winning goal against QPR.

Moreover, he had 26 goals from 33 Serie A outings since leaving the Etihad Stadium, and despite off-field controversies, at least offered a consistent goal threat, and a menacing presence in the final third… right?

How did Mario Balotelli perform for Liverpool?

To say that Balotelli's time in Liverpool was underwhelming would be quite the understatement, and it is, without a doubt, one of the worst signings of the modern era given the stark decline of the Reds squad after such a tantalising glimpse of something more the term before.

Having branded his time at Anfield "the worst mistake" of his life, the 36-cap international flattered to deceive and then some, only making 16 appearances in the league, with injury and disciplinary issues restricting his impact.

That sole Premier League strike was hardly enough to earn the Italian a reprieve from his dreadful performances, however, with just four goals – and seven bookings – from 28 matches for the club.

It was hardly the impact that the club's support would have hoped for after such devastating attacking feats from the side's erstwhile Uruguayan striker.

How much did Liverpool sell Balotelli for?

It clearly wasn't working out and Balotelli, who was on £85k-per-week during his stay, hardly provided the level of prowess to bolster the frontline after such a remarkable rate of scoring.

In fact, he was among the lowest of Liverpool's squad across the league campaign, outscored by the likes of Alberto Moreno, Rickie Lambert and Lazar Markovic.

Moreno, in particular, was a left-back who had been signed from Sevilla in a £12m transfer that summer, and offered offensive qualities that impressed the Liverpool faithful but was far too frail in his defensive capabilities.

After that one season at the club, Balotelli was loaned back out to Milan but failed to impress for another year, hampered by his poor 12 months under Brendan Rodgers, scoring just three times, before joining French side OGC Nice on a free transfer in 2016 – swiftly discarded by Klopp in his first summer transfer window with Liverpool.

Steven Gerrard

9

Raheem Sterling

7

Philippe Coutinho

5

Jordan Henderson

6

Adam Lallana

5

Daniel Sturridge

4

Alberto Moreno

2

Rickie Lambert

2

Lazar Markovic

2

Mario Balotelli

1

Glenn Johnson

1

Fabio Borini

1

Joe Allen

1

Emre Can

1

Martin Skrtel

1

Sourced via Premier League

Of course, the following season saw the dismissal of Rodgers and the arrival of one Jurgen Klopp, a move that will forever be etched into the club's lore.

Signing Balotelli was always going to be a high-risk roll of the dice for Liverpool, but his past exploits did underscore the prolificness that the club thought would mollify the bite of Suarez's departure.

Unfortunately, it really did spiral into something of a nightmare scenario for all involved parties, and his presence at the club really is emblematic of the dark days preceding Klopp's arrival.

The sheer brilliance of the German's reign has eradicated all feeling of dread that seeped through Anfield's very walls. The road to prominence is often paved in a chequered past, but Liverpool have now reached their illustrious destination.

MatériaMais Notícias

Ex-prefeito do Rio de Janeiro e nome forte à frente da realização dos Jogos Olímpicos e Paralímpicos de 2016, Eduardo Paes afirma que, se eleito novamente para o cargo, colocará em execução o plano de legado olímpico que deixou para as instalações sob responsabilidade do município, e fala em dar prosseguimento ao desenvolvimento esportivo que, segundo ele, foi paralisado pelo atual ocupante da cadeira, Marcelo Crivella.

Quinto entrevistado do especial do LANCE! sobre as eleições municipais na capital fluminense, o político do DEM traçou como algumas de suas prioridades no setor recuperar as Vilas Olímpicas, dar prosseguimento aos Ginásios Experimentais Olímpicos (GEOs) e retomar o programa Rio Em Forma, que oferecia opções de esporte para a população jovem mais carente.

Para realizar esta série, o L! enviou dez perguntas – iguais, para todos os concorrentes que vêm fazendo campanha – a respeito dos seus projetos e desafios com os quais se depararão no esporte na Cidade Maravilhosa.

A publicação é diária e em ordem alfabética. Na próxima segunda-feira, o candidato Fred Luz (NOVO) discorrerá sobre os desafios em torno do esporte no Rio e suas propostas para o setor.

RelacionadasVAE(L!)eições-RJ – Eduardo Bandeira de Mello: ‘Clubes cariocas podem e devem ser parceiros da Prefeitura’VA28/10/2020VAE(L!)eições-RJ – Cyro Garcia: ‘Vamos construir quadras nas periferias e incentivar clubes menores’VA27/10/2020VAE(L!)eições-RJ – Clarissa Garotinho: ‘Incentivar os esportes também é uma forma de cuidar das pessoas’VA26/10/2020

LANCE!: Por que deseja se candidatar à Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro?

Eduardo Paes: O desejo de transformar e melhorar a vida das pessoas, tornar melhor o lugar onde moramos, foram as motivações que me levaram escolher a vida pública. Além disso, todo mundo sabe, não preciso nem tecer críticas ao atual prefeito, que o Rio vai muito mal em todos os serviços destinados à população. Evidente que o Brasil passa por um momento muito difícil, temos também a pandemia, mas essa situação de abandono, de não funcionamento dos serviços públicos, vem há muito mais tempo e não começou em 2020. E não dá para assistir de camarote a cidade perdendo empregos, a falência do sistema de Saúde, sem fazer nada. O slogan da minha campanha reflete bem o meu espírito para encarar de novo esse desafio: “É mais que trabalho. É amor ao Rio”. Não podemos ter outro aventureiro e incompetente sentado na cadeira da prefeitura. Já mostrei que tenho capacidade, realizei e afirmo que o meu melhor governo está por vir.

L!: Qual será a relevância do esporte em seu plano de governo? Haverá alguma preocupação com o desenvolvimento do setor nas categorias de base e de alto rendimento?

Nas minhas duas gestões valorizei o esporte. Depois de passarmos pelo ciclo virtuoso dos grandes eventos, precisamos dar prosseguimento ao desenvolvimento esportivo que foi paralisado pelo atual prefeito. Deixei a cidade pronta para continuar a avançar esportivamente e se beneficiar dos reflexos esportivos em todos os setores: economia, saúde, educação. De imediato, precisamos recuperar as Vilas Olímpicas, dar prosseguimento aos Ginásios Experimentais Olímpicos (GEOs), e retomar o programa Rio Em Forma – que oferecia opções de esporte para a população jovem mais carente. São que servem de base para ofertar educação, criar cidadãos, além de revelar atletas que poderão chegar ao alto rendimento.

L!: Qual será o critério para a escolha do seu secretário de esportes, se houver?

Será o mesmo critério que uso para a escolha de todos os meus secretários: alguém que possa exercer o cargo com competência e eficiência.

‘Deixei a cidade pronta para continuar a avançar esportivamente e se beneficiar dos reflexos esportivos em todos os setores: economia, saúde, educação’

L!: Caso eleito, o senhor lidará com os impactos da pandemia de Covid-19. Qual é o seu planejamento para assegurar que a população possa gradativamente retomar suas atividades físicas com segurança em relação aos índices do vírus?

Em meu plano de governo tem uma série de ações que serão implementadas logo nos primeiros 100 dias. Vamos rever as regras de prevenção ao vírus, pensando na segurança das pessoas para tomar decisões com embasamento científico. Faremos isso ao mesmo tempo que preparamos as Clínicas da Família para a campanha de vacinação contra COVID-19 e iniciaremos as ações voltadas para o programa de assistência e apoio à saúde mental, com o objetivo de reduzir imediatamente a atual epidemia de depressão e ansiedade decorrentes da pandemia. E qualquer retorno, seja para a retomada das aulas ou às atividades físicas, será feito de acordo com as recomendações científicas.

L!: Pensa em promover campanhas de incentivo para que as pessoas do “grupo de risco” façam exercícios físicos em suas residências?

Sempre promovi campanhas de incentivo à prática de exercícios seja em ambientes fechados ou abertos, independentemente de ter pandemia ou não. E no meio dessa pandemia se manter ativo é essencial. Por isso, no meio dessa grave situação de saúde que enfrentamos, as pessoas precisam ser incentivadas à prática de exercícios dentro de casa.

L!: A pandemia afetou sensivelmente a rotina dos grandes clubes cariocas. Acredita que a Prefeitura possa contribuir de alguma forma para que as agremiações se recuperem economicamente? Como?

A parceria com os clubes de futebol é de fundamental importância porque eles têm um poder de atração grande, principalmente, entre crianças e jovens. Além disso, possuem estrutura e pessoal qualificado para o desenvolvimento das atividades para a população. E é no estabelecimento desse tipo de parceria que prefeitura e clubes poderão se beneficiar mutuamente.

L!: Como pretende traçar o planejamento para a volta de público aos estádios e ginásios na cidade?

Vou seguir o mesmo critério para a retomada de qualquer tipo de atividade: a ciência. Se os meios científicos disserem que é possível a volta do público aos estádios ou ginásios, a prefeitura vai ajudar dando o suporte necessário para que o retorno aconteça de forma segura.

‘A ideia de trazer a Fórmula 1 novamente para o Rio e erguer um autódromo na cidade tem todo o meu apoio. Mas de fato, a floresta do Camboatá não é o melhor lugar’

L!: Qual é a opinião do senhor sobre a construção de um autódromo na Floresta do Camboatá, considerada o último remanescente de Mata Atlântica em terras planas na cidade, para receber grandes eventos do automobilismo, como a Fórmula 1?

Acredito que o autódromo possa ser construído em outro lugar e não necessariamente na Floresta do Camboatá. A ideia de trazer a Fórmula 1 novamente para o Rio e erguer um autódromo na cidade tem todo o meu apoio. Mas de fato, a floresta do Camboatá não é o melhor lugar. Por exemplo, temos uma área em Guaratiba, que precisamos evitar o adensamento populacional excessivo. Então, existem outras opções.

L!: Como o senhor avalia a gestão do legado olímpico? Se eleito, quais os planos para uso das instalações olímpicas que estão sob gestão da prefeitura, como a Arena Carioca 3 e o Parque Radical de Deodoro?

A não utilização dos equipamentos olímpicos é mais uma demonstração da falta de competência do prefeito Crivella. Ao sair da prefeitura, deixei um plano de legado para a utilização desses equipamentos justamente para evitar que se transformassem em elefantes brancos, mas o atual prefeito mais uma vez fez com eles o que fez com toda a cidade: os deixou abandonados. Uma das metas do meu plano de governo é, por exemplo, investir na atração de novos eventos até para estimular o fluxo de turistas na cidade. O Rio é uma cidade olímpica, construiu equipamentos maravilhosos que tanto podem ser usados esportivamente quanto para a realização de shows e eventos, mas isso hoje não acontece porque quem comanda a cidade não tem a capacidade de tirar proveito desse legado.

L!: Qual deve ser o modelo de gestão do Maracanã e dos equipamentos esportivos no seu entorno?

O modelo de gestão do Maracanã deve ser decidido pelo governador do Estado. Não compete ao prefeito, neste momento, intervir nesta questão. O que compete à prefeitura posso garantir que voltarei a fazer com excelência: fornecer toda a infraestrutura necessária para a realização de eventos ou partidas, com a participação da Comlurb, CET-RIO e a Guarda Municipal.

BATE-BOLA

Pratica ou praticou algum esporte?
Pedalo, quando possível.

Time de coração:Vasco da Gama

Ídolo no esporte:Ayrton Senna

Qual é sua lembrança mais forte ligada ao esporte?
A realização dos Jogos Olímpicos e Paralímpicos no Rio 2016.

Qual legado pretende deixar à cidade do Rio de Janeiro na área do esporte?
O maior legado que posso deixar é aquele que já iniciei ao realizar os Jogos Olímpicos e Paralímpicos em 2016. Agora, preciso colocar em execução o Plano de Legado Olímpico que deixei pronto e o prefeito Marcelo Crivella não teve competência para executar.

QUEM É ELE

Nome completo: Eduardo da Costa Paes (DEM)
Data e local de nascimento: 14/11/1969 – Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
Vice: Nilton Caldeira (PL)
Coligação: A Certeza de Um Rio Melhor (Cidadania / DC / Avante / PL / DEM / PSDB)
Ocupação declarada: Outros
Valor total de bens declarados:R$478.358,42

تحدث جوزيه جوميز المدير الفني لفريق الزمالك عن مباراة سيراميكا كليوباترا، التي أقيمت مساء اليوم الجمعة.

وكان الزمالك قد حول تأخره لفوز على حساب سيراميكا كليوباترا في اللقاء المؤجل من الجولة الحادية عشر من عمر الدوري المصري.

فيديو | الزمالك يخطف فوزًا قاتلًا من سيراميكا كليوباترا في الدوري.. وعبد الله السعيد يسجل 

وقال جوميز في المؤتمر الصحفي عقب المباراة: “سعيد بأداء اللاعبين بالرغم من صعوبة ملعب اللقاء، ولكن في ظل هذه الظروف الصعبة استطعنا إنهاء الشوط الأول بأداء جيد ولم نستسلم”.

وأضاف: “واضح بالنسبة لنا أننا قادرون على الفوز باللقاء والحصول على الثلاث نقاط بالرغم من قوة المنافس وقيام مدربهم بعمل كبير، كما أننا أضعنا العديد من الفرص المؤكدة”.

واستكمل: “أحمد سيد زيزو انسان ذو قلب كبير، ولا تتوقع متى يمكنه صناعة الفارق، شخصيته وقلبه وروحه تساعد الفريق بشكل مستمر”.

واستطرد: “أعلم جيدًا أن عبد الله السعيد يلعب في مركز 10 ولكن في التدريبات والملعب والمباريات لا افكر بهذا الشكل، أحرص دائمًا على أن يكون عبد الله متأخرًا في الملعب ليكون مواجهًا لمرمى المنافس، ومن الممكن أن تسأل عبد الله لماذا يلاعبك هذا المدرب الغبي في هذا المركز، واليوم لعبنا بعبد الله وناصر ماهر في مركز 10”.

واستأنف: “الزمالك يدفع لي الأموال من أجل اختيار أفضل اللاعبين، وناصر منسي أضاع فرصتين ولكنه يستلم جيدًا ويحرك الملعب ويدافع جيدًا ويقوم بعمل جيد داخل الفريق حتى لو لم يسجل أي أهداف”.

وعاد جوميز ليؤكد: “كان يمكن أن نُسجل أهدافًا، النتيجة لم تكن عادلة في الشوط الأول، وكان يِمكن أن نخرج منه والنتيجة 3-1، على الأقل كل الاحترام لفريق سيراميكا كليوباترا ومدربهم الذي يؤدي بشكل جيد، لكننا استحققنا الفوز”.

وواصل في تصريحات عبر فضائية “أون تايم سبورتس”: “محمد شحاتة أدى مباراة جيدة وسعيد به، وسننظر لموقف المصابين في الفترة القادمة”.

وعن غياب سامسون أكينيولا، قال: “أعمل بكل دمي وعقلي وقلبي مع الزمالك ولا أخفي ذلك، والمهم بالنسبة لي اللاعبين الموجودين معي الآن وليس الآخرين، وليس من العدل أن أتحدث عن لاعبين غير موجودين معي، نحن حققنا الفوز في درجة حرارة 45، هذه المباراة من المفترض كانت تُلعب في شهر أكتوبر أو نوفمبر الماضي”.

خاص | الزمالك يتواصل مع محامي سامسون لإنهاء أزمة المستحقات

وأشار: “الجمهور شجاع، بسبب حضورهم في مباراة اليوم في هذا الطقس، وهتفوا لـ عبد الله السعيد بعد اللقاء لأنه يستحق ذلك”.

وأتم: “لا نملك التحكم فيما إذا كان الزمالك سيفوز بالدوري هذا الموسم أو لا، حتى لو فزنا بكل المباريات والمنافسين الأهلي وبيراميدز فازوا بكل المباريات عدا المواجهات المباشرة معنا، لن تكون هناك فرصة لنا أيضًا في التتويج باللقب، لكننا ننظر للمباراة القادمة”.

يرى نادي بوروسيا دورتموند تأهله إلى نهائي بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا أمام ريال مدريد أنه إنجاز كبير قبل ساعات من المباراة المنتظرة مساء اليوم السبت.

ويلتقي بوروسيا دورتموند بمنافسه ريال مدريد في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة” على ملعب “ويمبلي” بالعاصمة البريطانية “ويمبلي” بقيادة الحكم السلوفيني، سلافكو فينشيتش.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مدرب بوروسيا دورتموند: لدينا فرصة إذا لم نكتفِ برؤية ريال مدريد يفوز باللقب

وتحدث سيباستيان كيل المدير الرياضي لنادي بوروسيا دورتموند عن وصولهم للنهائي في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية، وقال: “أعتقد أن هذا أمر جيد بالنسبة لنا أن نصل إلى تلك المرحلة”.

وأضاف: “هذا يتحدث عنا جيدًا وعن العمل الذي نقوم به، لقد وصلنا إلى النهائي بدون هالاند وبيلينجهام، لسنا في حالة سيئة، أليس كذلك”.

وتابع: “ما يجعلنا نصل إلى هذا النجاح، هو أننا نعرف قدراتنا وما نستطيع تحقيقه من خلال اقتصاد مستقر، لأننا لا نملك قوة الأندية الأخرى وهذا أمر واضح”.

وعن أسباب تألق المواهب في بوروسيا دورتموند: “هنا يجدون أجواءً مميزة للغاية، نحن نجيد التعامل مع هؤلاء الشباب حتى ينفجرون معنا”.

واستمر: “على سبيل المثال، رغب سانشو في الرحيل وانتقل إلى مانشستر يونايتد لأنه أراد الفوز ببطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، أمر طبيعي، لكن هنا سيجد الاستقرار ويمكنه الشعور بالسعادة والآن هو سيلعب معنا نهائي البطولة”.

وعن مواجهة بيلينجهام مع ريال مدريد: “ستكون ممتعة ومثيرة حقًا للاهتمام، لأن جود يحب الفوز ويكره الخسارة، لكني آمل أن يتذوقها في ويمبلي، بعيدًا عن أنه لاعب رائع وكنا نتوقع تألقه مع ريال مدريد، ولكن أتمنى ألا يكون في يومه”.

وأكمل: “لدينا ثأر أيضًا من ملعب ويمبلي (خسارة دوري أبطال أوروبا 2013 أمام بايرن ميونخ)، علينا إنهاء هذه المسألة”.

وأتم: “نحن نعلم ما هو ريال مدريد في دوري أبطال أوروبا، من الطبيعي أن يكونوا المرشحين، ولكن 90 أو 120 دقيقة يمكن أن يحدث فيها أي شيء”.