O Flamengo está definido para enfrentar o Madureira, nesta quarta às 15h30, no Conselheiro Galvão. Para a partida, que antecede a Supercopa do Brasil, o técnico Paulo Sousa faz novas alterações e promove a estreia de Diego Alves na temporada. O camisa 1 está recuperado das dores no joelho esquerdo.
O confronto tem transmissão pelo Cariocão Play, FlaTV+ e Tempo Real do L!.
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O Flamengo vai a campo com o seguinte time: Diego Alves, Isla, Gabriel Noga, Cleiton, Renê; João Gomes, Andreas e Diego Ribas; Vitinho, Marinho e Pedro.
Ainda não é assinante do Cariocão-2022? Acesse www.cariocaoplay.com.br, preencha o cadastro e ganhe 5% de desconto com o cupom especial do LANCE!: GE-JK-FF-ZSW
FLAMENGO ESCALADO! Diego Alves faz sua estreia na temporada, e Paulo Sousa preserva alguns atletas visando a Supercopa do Brasil, como Gabi, Filipe Luís e Everton Ribeiro, entre outros. #lanceCARIOCA pic.twitter.com/b85jBxd1Hd
— Matheus Dantas (@matheusdantasfr) February 16, 2022
Por outro lado, Thiago Maia, fora até da Supercopa do Brasil, no domingo, é baixa também para o jogo desta quarta, assim como Gustavo Henrique, suspenso. O volante, vale lembrar, passou por um procedimento cirúrgico após uma ferida corto-contusa na perna esquerda, sofrida no treino de segunda.
Rodrigo Caio, em recuperação de lesão e cirurgia no joelho direito, segue fora. Arrascaeta e Rodinei foram preservado pela comissão técnica e não atuarão.
Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake took over Chelsea, the Blues have signed a pile of wingers in an attempt to freshen up their wide options in attack. Chelsea fans have been blessed in the past with Eden Hazard, Willian, Pedro, Arjen Robben and Joe Cole, all players that could swing the game in their favour with a moment of magic.
Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho have all been signed in the past two seasons, for a combined €221.20m (£184.4m), according to Transfermarkt, which will rise to over £200m when Sancho’s loan becomes a permanent next summer, for around £20m.
Chelsea winger signings since takeover
Name
Fee (£)
Raheem Sterling
£46.8m
Mykhailo Mudryk
£58.3m
Noni Madueke
£29.1m
Pedro Neto
£50m
Jadon Sancho
Loan
Angelo
£12.5m
Diego Moreira
£0
Stats taken from Transfermarkt
But perhaps the best of the bunch is Pedro Neto, who signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer and has started brightly at Stamford Bridge.
Pedro Neto's record at Chelsea
Neto has already made 15 appearances since joining the Blues this summer, scoring three goals, providing three assists, and totalling 817 minutes played for the club so far.
The 24-year-old Portugal international has played on both the left and right wing for Enzo Maresca already this season and suits the Italian’s system extremely well, who likes to get his wingers 1v1 in high and wide areas, as a key focus for chance creation.
Neto’s ability as a two-way winger, to cut inside and let fly (as we saw against Arsenal last weekend), dink a clever inswinging cross into the box, but also that ability to beat his man for pace and go to the byline, makes the former Wolves man a nightmare for defenders.
But Chelsea seem to be in the market for a new striker and could be entering the race for a “monster” as dubbed by Ben Mattinson, who could really take Neto to the next level, and allow him to unlock his best skillsets.
Chelsea's search for a striker
According to reports from Spain, Chelsea look like the latest name to enter the race for Sporting CP striker, Viktor Gyokeres. Reports from the Daily Star state Gyokeres has a release clause of around €100m (£83m), but offers could be accepted for close to €80m (£67m).
Other big clubs reportedly interested include Manchester United and Arsenal. The Red Devils could prove to be an appealing project for the Sweden international, with his Sporting boss, Ruben Amorim, making the move to United recently.
Gyokeres has made 68 appearances since joining Sporting from Coventry in 2023, scoring 66 goals, providing 19 assists, and totalling 5,695 minutes played. If Chelsea are able to snatch the 26-year-old talisman, it could make for a great pairing with Neto, allowing both players to thrive.
Neto & Gyokeres combination
The prolific Sporting striker stands at 6 foot 1, has a stocky build, and uses his body well to win duels and protect the ball in the box. This level of box dominance is something the Chelsea squad lack, meaning the likes of Neto are unable to use their crossing qualities as often as they may like.
Chelsea’s current striking options are Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku, both of whom offer some excellent traits, but not the box occupancy and aerial dominance that Chelsea need in the squad, in order to get the best from Neto.
Jackson has made 12 appearances this season, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 901 minutes played. Nkunku has made 17 appearances in all competitions, scoring ten goals already, providing one assist, and totalling 688 minutes played.
Neto vs Gyokeres vs Jackson comparison
Stats (per 90 mins)
Neto
Gyokeres
Jackson
Goals
0.29
1.34
0.63
Assists
0.19
0.27
0.31
Progressive Carries
5.64
4.39
1.98
Progressive Passes
1.28
1.69
1.56
Shots Total
2.04
4.22
2.60
Key Passes
2.56
2.03
1.25
Crosses into Pen Area
1.28
0.00
0.00
Passes into Pen Area
1.54
1.01
0.21
Pen Area Touches
4.10
9.46
4.79
Aerial Duels Won
0.51
0.74
0.52
Aerial Duels Won %
28.6%
44.0%
23.8%
Stats taken from FBref
You can instantly see the creative numbers Neto brings to the table, making 1.28 crosses into the penalty area per 90, 1.54 passes into the penalty area, and 2.56 key passes per 90. This mixed with the box occupancy of Gyokeres (shown by his whopping 9.46 penalty area touches per 90) would get the best of both players.
Jackson, in comparison, has only managed 4.79 penalty area touches per 90 this season, and has only won 23.8% of his aerial duels per 90 so far this season, showing the need for a more powerful striker alongside him in the squad. Whilst the 23-year-old Senegal international offers a lot for the Blues, Gyokeres would bring a more powerful body type needed upfront.
One man who could suffer from a knock-on effect of this deal would be Madueke, who has started the season in relatively good form under his new boss.
How Madueke could be affected by Gyokeres signing
Madueke could find himself sidelined if Chelsea acquire a box-dominant striker, as Neto could be moved over to the right wing in order to unleash the full utility of his creative toolkit.
The 22-year-old English winger has made 13 appearances so far this season for Maresca’s side, scoring five goals in his 890 minutes played. He has been an important part of the Italians’ system, being a direct 1v1 winger, who looks to beat his man, but also works hard defensively and uses that athleticism to get up and down the pitch.
As good as Madueke has been, one thing he is often criticised for, is his final ball, and the quality of his crosses when he creates opportunities to put the ball in the box, having averaged just 0.21 crosses into the penalty area per 90, across the last 365 days.
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By putting Neto on the right instead, it would allow the Portuguese winger the ability to go both ways, cutting inside on his stronger left foot to put inswingers and clever passes into the box, and keep defenders guessing by beating them for speed down the outside.
That would certainly be a recipe for success with Gyokeres involved, even if it means handing Madueke a reduced role.
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The Football Association has defended Thomas Tuchel's work from home agreement as the England boss continues to skip Premier League games.
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Tuchel took charge of the Three Lions in 2025
Has not travelled to any league game in the last three weeks
The FA has come out in support of the German manager
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Tuchel, who succeeded Gareth Southgate as England manager in October last year, officially commenced his duties at the start of the new year. However, concerns have emerged as he has not been present at any Premier League matches over the last three game weeks, despite his tenure being only a little over six weeks old.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Upon beginning his new role, Tuchel attended four matches during his first weekend in charge in early January. However, he was notably absent for both midweek Carabao Cup semi-final first legs and missed a full weekend of FA Cup third-round fixtures. The 51-year-old subsequently increased his attendance, watching seven games over six days from January 14 to 22. His presence included major fixtures such as the north London Derby and Manchester City’s Champions League encounter against Paris Saint-Germain. More recently, Tuchel has been seen monitoring English players abroad, including a visit to Milan on February 2 to observe Kyle Walker at his new club.
WHAT THE FA SAID
In a statement to he FA has defended giving Tuchel the flexibility to work remotely, after allowing him to balance his responsibilities with regular trips to Germany to visit his family. The governing body has emphasised that Tuchel maintains a base in London and has been highly active in scouting players.
An FA statement said: “Thomas has attended 17 matches – in England and abroad – to watch English players since he joined in January, and is working full-time to assess players for his first squad announcement next month.”
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This arrangement is not unprecedented, as England women’s team head coach Sarina Wiegman has similarly managed her role while commuting from her home in the Netherlands.
Nonetheless, when Tuchel was first unveiled as England’s new manager, he spoke of his enthusiasm for returning to England, referencing his prior successful tenure with Chelsea.
"I love to live in England and I’m looking forward to living again in England," Tuchel said. "I want to be close to the Premier League, I want to be close to the majority of the players. The schedule will allow me to be close to my family and my children in Germany. But yeah, I will be in England most of the time. I am sorry to have a German passport but I can just tell them (fans) and maybe the supporters can feel my passion for the English Premier League, my passion for the country, how I love to live and work here."
Despite securing a dramatic late comeback to defeat Bristol City, it wasn’t all good news against the Robins for Sheffield United, who are now sweating over an injury to one star man.
Sheffield United injury news
The Blades couldn’t have enjoyed a more dramatic victory if they tried, having first equalised in the 86th minute through Ryan One’s effort off the bench before then finding a last-gasp winner courtesy of Harrison Burrows in the 98th minute. Moving within a point of Championship leaders Sunderland as a result – albeit with the Black Cats yet to play – Burrows’ winner could prove to be an all important moment.
Looking to bounce straight back to the Premier League, Sheffield United have certainly enjoyed a solid start to the Championship campaign, but injury can quickly derail any season as the festive fixtures prepare to come thick and fast next month. And on that front, the Blades are already sweating over one knock suffered against Bristol.
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As confirmed by Wilder, Sheffield United are now sweating over the injury sustained by Kieffer Moore, with the manager admitting that “it doesn’t look good” to add to any concern. The forward was forced off in the 69th minute and will now undergo tests to discover the severity of his injury.
Up next, Sheffield United square off against rivals Sheffield Wednesday to add to the blow that Moore’s potential injury causes. If the Blades were to pick games for their striker to miss, their local derby would be fairly low on the list.
"Outstanding" Moore brings vital experience
As United look to bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, Moore will be an important figure even if he isn’t the man wheeling away in celebration as much as Wilder would like. The 31-year-old brings a wealth of experience in one of the toughest leagues to escape from and when the festive period arrives, that experience should be relied on if he is, of course, back fit and firing.
Wilder has already been full of praise for the Welshman in the current campaign, telling reporters after recent victory over Blackburn Rovers: “There’s been some noise about Kieffer but when you need someone to play as a No.9 away from home against two powerful centre-halves and lead the line, I thought he was outstanding.
“He won every header and linked it well. There were a couple of times he came to feet and we smashed it at him so there’s no blame there from me.”
Now, the £25,000-a-week striker will hope to have avoided a serious injury and make his return as soon as possible, even if a crucial clash against Sheffield Wednesday does come too soon this weekend.
Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement had plenty of work to do during the summer transfer window, mainly getting high earners off the wage bill in order to rebuild his squad and sign his own targets.
It is certainly a work in progress, with the Belgian coming in for some criticism about how his team have performed this term, especially domestically. Indeed. The Light Blues have scored only 16 goals in 11 Premiership matches, the same as tenth-placed St Johnstone.
Moving on those who weren’t contributing is a start, but will it guarantee long-term success?
How Rangers reduced their wage bill
As the 2023/24 campaign was approaching the end, Clement had five players who were heading into the final few weeks of their contracts.
It remained to be seen just who the Belgian would keep at the club, but in the end, Kemar Roofe, Borna Barisic, John Lundstram, Ryan Jack and Jon McLaughlin were all told they would be free to find a new club.
John Lundstram
This saved the club around £83k-per-week, allowing Clement some flexibility in the market.
Despite this, there is still a player who is currently on the wage bill, despite being loaned out and it is clear he should be sold at the earliest opportunity – Ben Davies.
Ben Davies' numbers in his Rangers career
Davies joined the Light Blues from Liverpool in a deal worth £4m two summers ago as Giovanni van Bronckhorst aimed to bolster a squad which had won the Scottish Cup and reached the Europa League final.
He endured a difficult start, missing several games due to injury, but by the end of the campaign, the Englishman had made 38 appearances as the club failed to win a trophy.
Ben Davies at Rangers.
The defender came in for criticism following a 3-2 defeat to Celtic which practically ended the Gers title hopes, failing to clear the ball, which allowed the Parkhead side to score an easy goal.
Former Light Blues striker Kenny Miller lashed out at Davies for his error, saying: “It’s a wonderful finish. Again he’s alert, alive, ruthless when the chance drops. But it’s so poor from Ben Davies. He should be heading that out.”
Accurate passes
50.7
58
Tackles
0.9
1.1
Interceptions
0.8
0.8
Possession lost
7.4
12.1
Total duels won
3.7
5.3
Last season, Davies made just 17 appearances for the club as it became clear Clement didn’t see a future for him in Glasgow.
Over these two years, however, he has cost the Ibrox side a fortune.
How much Rangers wasted on Ben Davies
The former Liverpool defender earned £27k-per-week during his two seasons with the club, which was more than the likes of Jack Butland and Abdallah Sima.
He even took home more per week than big-money forward Danilo, who had cost Michael Beale £6m in 2023, proving just how much money was wasted on the centre-back.
Adding his £4m transfer fee to the £2.8m that he received in annual wages during 2022/23 and 2023/24 shows that the club have spent a total of £6.8m on the player.
It is yet another case of splurging on someone who failed to live up to the hype. Hopefully, Clement will avoid moves like these.
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Melbourne Renegades brushed aside a second-string Brisbane Heat with a five-wicket victory in Geelong to notch consecutive victories for the first time this BBL season.Renegades limited a decimated Heat, featuring eight debutants, to 6 for 128 on a sluggish pitch and then cruised to victory with Shaun Marsh smashing a 35-ball 57.After 12 of their players and head coach Wade Seccombe tested positive for Covid-19, Heat’s home clash against Sydney Sixers on Wednesday night was postponed but they were able to ensure this game went ahead following a late scramble for replacement players.Renegades (3-5) have revived their season with wins over shorthanded opponents Melbourne Stars and Heat, leapfrogging to fifth on the ladder.Renegades’ spinners trouble Heat After electing to bowl, Renegades aimed to put the inexperienced Heat under pressure on a slow pitch but their quicks were too wayward. Spinners Zahir Khan and Mohammad Nabi, who substituted paceman James Pattinson, turned things around after the four-over powerplay as Renegades almost predictably turned the tables.Zahir bowled three overs on the trot early to pin down Heat as he unleashed his trademark tricks to give Renegades a stranglehold. Zahir and Nabi did the bulk of the heavy lifting but canny seamer Kane Richardson, who has had a stellar season, enjoyed the sluggish pitch to stymie Heat in the death overs.It certainly wasn’t their toughest test, but Renegades did the job and recovered well after a sloppy start.Lehmann stars in BBL returnThere was, obviously, an unknown over this new-look Heat batting order. But BBL debutant Jack Clayton impressed with a trio of boundaries in his first seven deliveries faced as Heat powered to 0 for 33 after the four-over powerplay.The Queensland contracted player took a liking to pace but the beguiling spin of Zahir proved tougher and he succumbed second ball trapped in front attempting to sweep when on 15.A depleted Heat welcomed the addition of Pakistani batter Fakhar Zaman, who made his BBL debut having been a recent international signing. But his stay was brief, holing out to Zahir as Sam Heazlett – one of two incumbents from Heat’s previous game – and stand-in skipper Tom Cooper fell shortly after to leave the visitors in a hole.Mohammad Nabi made a strong impact against a depleted Brisbane Heat team•Getty Images
They were held together by Jake Lehmann, son of Heat assistant coach Darren Lehmann, and the former Adelaide Striker showcased great maturity as wickets fell around him. Having played 30 BBL games previously, Lehmann posted his maiden T20 half-century in his first BBL game in three years.In a bid to accelerate late, Lehmann shuffled around the crease to great effect and almost batted through the innings ensuring the understrength Heat posted a reasonable total given the circumstances.Vintage Marsh impresses Renegades look a far more formidable team with Shaun Marsh back in the line-up. In his second game back after a serious calf injury, the 38-year-old was in sublime touch marked by a gorgeous on-drive in the third over as he scored 19 of their first 20 runs.Australia T20 World Cup-winning captain Aaron Finch was merely a spectator as Marsh’s class came to the fore with classic square drives then he launched consecutive straight sixes in the eighth over to bring up a half-century off just 31 balls.Finch inevitably got in on the act with a couple of monster sixes off spinner Cooper in the 10th over as Renegades eventually romped to victory in the 15th over.While they’ve taken advantage of two weakened opponents, Renegades are building momentum to be right in the mix for a playoff berth.Grant impresses with ball Quick David Grant made a spectacular BBL debut when he clean bowled Sam Harper in the opening over with a yorker. But against veterans Marsh and Finch, it was tough going for Heat whose pace attack included Ronan McDonald, who played two Sheffield Shield matches for Queensland nine years ago, and 19-year-old Will Prestwidge.They had few answers in a baptism of fire for the newcomers. The pressure was on frontline spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who was thwarted by the experienced batters playing him cautiously. He eventually picked up Marsh but it was too late.Grant, who plays for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield, was a shining light showcasing clever slower balls.Heat (3-6) gave it a crack but just didn’t have the firepower as they slipped below Renegades and into sixth position on the ladder.
“I really feel there’s going to be a big run of really good scores coming in from someone like him”
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jan-20225:27
Dravid: ‘Kohli has been a phenomenal leader and captain inspite of the noise around him’
The subplot of who said what, or didn’t, to whom, in the lead-up to Virat Kohli’s resignation as T20I captain and subsequent removal as ODI captain, has swirled incessantly around India’s ongoing tour of South Africa. All this could have been a distraction from Kohli’s immediate task as captain of India’s Test team in South Africa, but none of it, according to head coach Rahul Dravid, has affected his preparation or his leadership.”I know there’s been a lot of noise on other issues a little bit, outside of the group, even leading into this Test match, but honestly, in terms of keeping the morale high, it’s not been very difficult because, to be honest, it’s been led by the skipper himself,” Dravid said in a press conference on the eve of the second Test in Johannesburg. “I think Virat has been absolutely phenomenal over the last sort of 20 days that we’ve been here – the way he’s trained, the way he’s practiced, the way he’s connected with the group.Related
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“As a coach, sometimes, leading into the series, you know that there’s not really too much you can do once the game starts, or there’s not too much you can control in the results. But what you’re really looking to do as coaches or as support staff, we’re looking to prepare well and get the team into a really good space. And Virat has been phenomenal in that – the way he’s led the team, he’s been absolutely, truly a leader, and I couldn’t speak more highly about him and the way he’s committed to his own preparation, his own practice, and also just the way he’s connected with the group over the last two weeks.”On and off the field he’s truly been a fantastic leader and a really good captain, so that’s really helped in creating a really good space. I felt we were in a really good space leading into the first Test match, and a lot of that was led by Virat and his leadership really came to the fore. It’s not been hard, it’s been a pleasure to work with someone like Virat, he’s been a phenomenal leader, and even personally I think that he’s in a really good space.”Dravid went on to predict that Kohli was on the cusp of turning his batting form around as well. Kohli has averaged 26.08 over 14 Tests since the start of 2020, with no centuries, and his two innings in the first Test in Centurion stayed true to that theme: solid starts followed by a dismissal against the run of play, twice out to drives played away from the body.”Even though he batted well and couldn’t convert those starts, I really feel there’s going to be a big run of really good scores coming in from someone like him,” Dravid said, “just observing him around the group, how relaxed he’s been, how calm he’s been, how he’s preparing, and how switched on he is.
“It’s not a question of being worried, but it’s a question about recognising that as a batsman, as a middle-order player, as someone who bats in that kind of position, it is sometimes tough to bat and it’s not easy to bat in these conditions”Rahul Dravid on Cheteshwar Pujara
“Might not happen in the next game – I would really hope it happens in the next game – but I do feel with someone like him, we’re going to see a really big run of scores once that clicks in place, because he’s really led the way, and I couldn’t speak more highly of him. I think he’s been a real credit to himself and to Indian cricket over these last two weeks in spite of all the noise that’s been there around him.”When asked about Cheteshwar Pujara’s recent form – he has averaged 26.21 since the start of 2020, with seven fifties and no hundreds – Dravid reiterated the view that batters could sometimes bat well in tough conditions without necessarily getting big scores.”I think he’s doing the best he can, and I do recognise that at times, certainly he would like to have scored more runs. I think someone like him sets really high standards for himself,” Dravid said. “He’s achieved a lot of success in the ten years that he’s played [Test] cricket, so he knows the highs he’s had and the kind of success he’s had, and the kind of performances or the run of scores that he’s had in the past. So obviously he would like to replicate that and he would like to keep doing that over and over again, sometimes it doesn’t happen.”It’s not a question of being worried, but it’s a question about recognising that as a batsman, as a middle-order player, as someone who bats in that kind of position, it is sometimes tough to bat and it’s not easy to bat in these conditions. But when you do get set it’s really nice when one of your top three or top four can convert that into a big score.”We saw the value of that in [KL] Rahul’s hundred [in the first Test]. If that happens, it really sets you up very well as a team, and it would be great if Pujara can do that, because we know that when he does that, a lot of times India do win those games or we put ourselves in really good positions.”
One Manchester United star is very happy with the news that Ruben Amorim looks set to replace Erik ten Hag as their new manager, according to a recent report. It has been a frustrating and disappointing season for the Red Devils so far, and defeat to West Ham on Sunday afternoon was the final straw, as the hierarchy decided it was the right time to cut their losses with Ten Hag and replace him with what looks to be Amorim.
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Man Utd closing in on Ruben Amorim appointment
United announced on Monday morning that Ten Hag was no longer their manager, after four defeats in their opening nine Premier League games. The Red Devils placed their thanks and wished the Dutchman all the best in their statement confirming the news.
News has since turned to who could be replacing the Dutchman after two and a half years at the helm, and it looks as though Sporting CP manager Amorim is the club’s preferred choice. The Portuguese tactician has been on United’s radar for a while now, and it was reported earlier this month that Sir Jim Ratcliffe had made an approach for Amorim.
Sporting Lisbon manager Ruben Amorim
Amorim now looks set to become the new boss, as he’s agreed in principle to take the job. United have also now completed a deal with Sporting and will pay his 10 million euros (£8.3m) release clause in order to bring him to Old Trafford.
Amorim has had a very successful reign at Sporting, winning two Portuguese League titles, two League Cups and a Super Cup, and the news that he looks to be heading to United has gone down very well with one player in particular.
Bruno Fernandes "delighted" if Man Utd sign Amorim
According to Caught Offside, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes is “delighted” that Ruben Amorim has been chosen to replace Ten Hag as the club’s new manager. Fernandes, who is on a weekly wage of £300,000 at Old Trafford, has been at United since January 2020, joining from Sporting, so there is no doubt he has been keeping a close eye on his former club and their current manager.
The report states that Fernandes is a huge admirer of the potential new man in charge after the impressive work he has done in Portugal. The 39-year-old manager has won 161 of his 227 games in charge of Sporting, losing just 33. He has got his side playing some very attacking football, as they’ve scored 499 goals under him, including an incredible 30 in nine league games so far this term.
Bruno Fernandes’ Man Utd stats
Apps
246
Goals
79
Assists
71
It hasn’t been the best of starts to the season for United or Fernandes on a personal level, as the midfielder has yet to score this season, but he has grabbed a few assists in the Premier League and the EFL Cup. The Portuguese star signed a new contract during the summer, and he will be expected to be a key player under the new manager’s regime.
Veteran seamer disappointed after late wickets for Australia take edge off improved day
Alan Gardner27-Dec-2021James Anderson admitted his disappointment after an encouraging England fightback with the ball, in which he claimed his second-best innings figures in Australia, was undermined by the loss of four wickets during a furious final hour of play on day two at the MCG.England’s bowlers limited Australia to 267 with a disciplined display, conceding a first-innings lead of 82 – but saw much of their hard work undone by twin strikes from Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, as the tourists limped back to the dressing room on 31 for 4. However, Anderson would not be drawn into commenting on another top-order batting failure, stressing that “we’re a team here and we’re all working hard to get better”.Related
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“Disappointing,” he said of how events played out. “Firstly, on the bowling front, I thought we did really well to stick at our task throughout the day. We talked a lot about the lengths we want to hit and the pressure we want to create, and I thought we were really good at that, created a lot of chances, put a lot of balls in the right areas, and got the rewards.”We were pretty pleased with 260 [267]. If we’re being honest, in the first innings we should have got somewhere near that if not more. It certainly felt possible on that wicket. And we knew it’s a new-ball wicket as well, it felt like it did less as the ball got older, as the day went on and some more sun got on the pitch it felt like it did a lot less. So we knew that last 12 overs was going to be tough, with the new ball, but even so to lose four wickets was really disappointing.”I thought the spell from Starc and [Pat] Cummins was outstanding, but that’s what you expect, they are world-class bowlers and they have done it in Test cricket for many, many years. So it shouldn’t take anyone by surprise that they bowled like that. But yeah, disappointed to lose four wickets in that period.”England lost Zak Crawley and Dawid Malan to consecutive Starc deliveries in the fifth over, before Haseeb Hameed edged Boland behind with minutes left in the day. That left England’s average for their top three in 2021 at 21.33 – the third-lowest for a calendar year (minimum ten Tests) – and with hopes of setting Australia a target in the fourth innings once again resting on the shoulders of their captain, Joe Root. But Anderson remained supportive of the efforts being put in by the batting group.”I think it’s dangerous to go into, certainly as a bowler, talking about our batting,” he said. “We’re a team here, we’re all working really hard to try and put in some much better performances and improve as a group. We haven’t bowled great in the first two games, we know we could have bowled better. We’ve gone away and worked hard and today we’ve put in a much better performance.”And all I can see from the batting group is how hard they are working to put things right. It can be very difficult, certainly in foreign conditions against a class bowling attack it can be difficult. So I don’t want to get into too much of a bowlers versus batters thing, we’re a team here and we’re all working hard to try and get better.”Anderson’s 4 for 33 in 23 overs, which included ten maidens, was the sixth four-wicket haul he has taken in Australia (along with a single five-for in Adelaide in 2017). It included the key wickets of David Warner and Steven Smith, as well as Australia’s top-scorer, Marcus Harris, and enabled England to stay in touch in a must-win Test despite being rolled for 185 on day one.”Yeah, I think it would be up there,” Anderson said of his bowling. “Probably since 2010 it’s definitely the best I’ve bowled out here. I felt in good rhythm. Didn’t feel great yesterday, actually – but then changed ends today and felt much better. Got into a really good rhythm, felt like I was challenging every ball. There was a spell, late first session, I felt like I was going to get a wicket every ball, I honestly felt in that good a rhythm.”So it’s nice to get some wickets in when you’re in that rhythm, it doesn’t happen all the time. To bowl them out for what I thought was a reasonable score on that pitch was pleasing as well.”It had been a rocky start in Melbourne on Monday off the field, with the start of play delayed following the emergence of several positive Covid-19 test results in the England camp. All of England’s players returned negative lateral flow tests in the morning, but the fate of the series could still hinge on a further round of testing for the squad.”It’s going to depend on the PCR tests, and what situation that leaves us in,” Anderson said. “As long as the group that were in at the ground today are negative, I don’t see why we can’t carry on.”Having been left out in Brisbane – “I felt I was fit for that game, but the decision was made” – Anderson admitted to rustiness in Adelaide before finding his groove in the third Test of the series. It may have come too late to prevent Australia from retaining the Ashes at the earliest opportunity, but the 39-year-old said he was still enjoying the chance to prove what he could do in an England shirt.”It’s been a tough tour so far, it always is here – it’s never simple or plain-sailing, there’s always stuff going on,” he said. “I’ve got the opportunity to put an England shirt on so I’m enjoying that. I absolutely love doing that every time I get the opportunity. Obviously we’d love the results to be going better and the performances to be better. It can happen, just keep working hard at that, and hopefully it will get better at some stage.”
The pitches in the Ashes have made life tricky for batters and there could be a benefit of that
Andrew McGlashan07-Feb-2022Alyssa Healy believes an Ashes series where runs have been hard to come by has set her up well for the ODI World Cup in New Zealand.Healy has not been at her free-flowing best against England with the multi-format series including a pair in the Test match before a brace of hard-fought contributions in the first two ODIs.It is those two performances that have left her confident that her game is in a good place for next month’s World Cup with Australia set to fly to New Zealand two days after the Ashes finishes to undertake their ten-day quarantine.”Probably the best thing that could have happened is these two wickets being a little bit tricky,” Healy said. “The English bowlers are really skillful, they are using the seam really nicely, and not one batter has really flourished in this ODI part of the series. Moons [Beth Mooney] played a beautiful knock but it took her a long while to get going and knowing that making those tough runs early has been the best thing for me.Related
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“Means my shape is good, I’m getting in good positions to keep the really good balls out, and the last two dismissals think I’ve found ways to get myself out which is weird tick of the box if that makes any sense.”Australia toured New Zealand last year and played three ODIs in early April which is the time of the year the World Cup will conclude. Healy made 65, 44 and 46 in those three matches.”Feel like with the conditions [against England] not being perfect for batting it’s been a great test of exactly where things are at and I’m really excited as to how things are tracking,” she said. “Once we get over to New Zealand, if the wickets are similar I know I’m in a good position to dig in but if they are flat I know I’m in a great place to hit the ball like I normally do.”With one game to go of Australia’s home international summer, Healy’s top score is 77 which she made in the first ODI against India in late September. India’s seamers performed really well in that multi-format series while England’s have also caused plenty of challenges during the Ashes with Healy feeling the bowlers have held sway all season.”The wickets here have been really conducive to seam bowling all summer,” she said. “Hasn’t felt like we’ve had a real flat track. From that point of view, I feel like our group and me, in particular, is really well prepared for whatever the wickets might throw at us [at the World Cup].”Healy is also confident that the World Cup will see the best of Ellyse Perry who played the central role in the Ashes-winning victory in Melbourne with three wickets and a well-constructed 40 when most other batters struggled. Perry was left out of the T20Is at the start of the Ashes but remains a formidable ODI and Test cricketer.”That six she hit over mid-off was a shot I’ve never really seen Pez hit before with that shape and flair,” Healy said. “That’s really exciting signs for us leading into a big world tournament that she’s hitting her straps at the right time and probably a bit of concern for other sides around the world.”