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With the clock ticking down to the end of extra time at the Stadium of Light, it looked as Sunderland and Coventry City’s nail-biting Championship playoff clash was going to be decided by the agonising lottery of penalties.

However, with the tense game deep into added on time at the close of the 120-minute marathon, Daniel Ballard became the Black Cats’ dramatic saviour when his last-gasp header cannoned past a startled Ben Wilson.

This handed Regis Le Bris’ ecstatic hosts a slender 2-1 victory on aggregate to the dismay of Frank Lampard’s hard-done-by Sky Blues.

But, aside from the bruised visitors, Ballard would put in a valiant performance across both legs, away from stealing all of the limelight with his heroics on Tuesday night.

Ballard's performance in numbers vs Coventry

Indeed, the first leg at the CBS Arena saw Ballard have to stand firm throughout whilst Coventry piled on the pressure, with the 25-year-old very much succeeding when having to stifle many a Sky Blues attack.

Staggeringly, the Northern Irishman would win all 12 of his duels during the 2-1 win, with his well-known prowess in the air obviously helping him back on home soil when Enzo Le Fee’s corner kick was expertly converted.

The Stadium of Light would erupt after his header was thumped home, with Ballard actually up to three goals for the season overall now, despite some injury issues leaving him with a low total of 23 Championship appearances.

Further ensuring Coventry didn’t gain any more footholds in the second leg when making a mammoth 19 clearances, Le Bris will pray Ballard can be at his battling best once more when facing off against an intimidating Sheffield United side at Wembley to give his team a fighting chance at promotion.

But, whilst Ballard will be sure of his starting spot against Chris Wilder’s Blades, an underperformer in attack could now be axed for the crucial game to come.

5/10 Sunderland dud must be axed

In truth, it wasn’t the most electric performance by Sunderland all across the second leg, with Coventry managing to register 20 shots on Anthony Patterson’s goal to the hosts’ slightly lesser 16.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

In the end, the Sky Blues’ superiority in attack didn’t matter as Ballard bailed out Le Bris’ hosts, but another out-of-sorts display in attack at Wembley just won’t do if Sunderland are serious about leaping up to the Premier League.

Consequently, the experienced Patrick Roberts could find his starting spot down the left flank is taken up by a fresher body.

Minutes played

95

86

Goals scored

0

0

Assists

0

0

Touches

35

27

Shots

1

1

Accurate passes

15/17 (88%)

10/14 (71%)

Possession lost

10x

8x

Successful dribbles

0/4

1/1

Total duels won

3/12

3/5

Whilst the ex-Celtic man was largely ineffective during the first leg – seen in Roberts only registering one shot on goal from 86 minutes of action – his performance in the second leg was far harder to stomach from a Sunderland perspective.

Across his dire 95 minute spell on the Stadium of Light turf, Roberts didn’t complete a single successful dribble from four attempts, on top of also failing to catch out Wilson in the Coventry net again with a single on-target shot.

With his goals and assists notably drying up towards the end of the regular campaign too, it could well be the best possible time to reinstate Romaine Mundle to the starting XI over Roberts, with Le Bris surely wary of another no-show from his number ten at Wembley.

To add salt to the wound, Roker Report journalist Andy Tomlinson blasted Roberts’ attacking quality throughout as “dreadful”, amidst a low 5/10 post-match rating heading his way.

Whilst Le Bris and Co will still be rightly dizzy off the last-gasp heroics conjured up by Ballard, they will be aware that their best possible team must start against the Blades in order to try and come out on top during the promotion-deciding affair, meaning Roberts must now be dropped on the biggest stage.

Sunderland star has now proven he's their best signing since Defoe

Sunderland could now have stumbled upon their best buy since Jermain Defoe.

ByKelan Sarson May 13, 2025

Chelsea have been in constant contact to discuss the signing of an “unbelievable” Barcelona player who they absolutely love, according to a report.

Blues' summer transfer plans taking shape

The Blues’ form in the second half of the Premier League season has been patchy to say the least, but they have returned to form in recent weeks, securing two wins on the spin to ensure they are firmly in contention for the Champions League places.

As such, Enzo Maresca should be well-positioned to attract some top players this summer, and the manager appears to be especially keen on signing a new striker, with Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy and Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap among the targets.

Maresca is also eager to bolster his options at the opposite end of the pitch, with a new centre-back of interest, and the west Londoners are now believed to be the favourites to sign AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, having proposed a seven-year contract.

Chelsea now have "strong" chance of signing £206k-per-week Barcelona star

Enzo Maresca’s side have thrown their hat in the ring.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 26, 2025

Huijsen is attracting widespread interest, however, which means Maresca may have to move on to alternative targets, and a report from The Boot Room has revealed Chelsea absolutely love Barcelona defender Jules Kounde.

The Blues have been in constant contact with Kounde’s agents, such is their level of interest, with the Frenchman’s future now up in the air, given that he is yet to commit to a new contract to extend his stay at the Camp Nou beyond 2027.

Barca want to keep hold of the defender, and talks have been held over a new deal, but a move could be possible if the two parties are unable to make any progress, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool also in the picture for his signature.

"Unbelievable" Kounde could upgrade Maresca's backline

It is little wonder the Blues are so keen on signing the France international, given that he has been a vital player for a Barca side on course to win a treble this season, after defeating Real Madrid 3-2 in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday.

Kounde scored the winning goal with just minutes left to play in extra time, finding the back of the net for the fourth time this season, while he has also showcased his attacking threat by picking up eight assists.

The 26-year-old has predominantly featured at right-back, but he is also very much capable of playing in the centre of defence, and he has impressed manager Hansi Flick with his fitness levels, which were lauded as “unbelievable” earlier this season.

The £223k-a-week defender could be a fantastic signing for Chelsea this summer, but it looks like it could be difficult to pull off, given that he has been one of Barcelona’s most important players this season, and his recent performance against Real Madrid may make them even more hesitant to sanction a departure.

The Bangladesh fast bowler had a slow start to the Asia Cup but bowled a crucial spell in their final group game

Danyal Rasool19-Sep-2025Shaun Tait stood at the top of the run-ups, flanked by Bangladesh’s quicks. His focus, though, was on the one building a head of steam as he galloped into delivery stride. Tanzim Hasan Sakib said something to him, but Tait appeared not to respond, waiting to see how Mustafizur Rahman’s delivery would turn out. From the side-on view at the ICC Academy nets in Dubai, it appeared he was too straight, and comfortably flicked to what would have been midwicket.As Mustafizur ambled back, he spoke briefly to Tait, who appeared to motion with his wrist. Next ball, Mustafizur bowled one of those offcutters that both appear to take an age to arrive and still look like rushing the batter for time. It beat the bat.That cause of effect is rarely as linear as that, and reading such patterns into bits of training is often more narrative than chronological. That the sequence worked so neatly is probably not even the point, but appeared to confirm what the Bangladesh fast bowling coach had said half an hour earlier.”I’m satisfied with the way he’s bowling,” Tait had said about Mustafizur on the eve of Bangladesh’s first Super Four match at the Asia Cup, against Sri Lanka in Dubai. “I hope [he’ll be a threat for the other teams]. He has all the experience; he doesn’t need me to talk to him too much about the way he’s bowling. If he’s in an environment where he’s happy, I think he’ll perform well. My job with him is just to make sure he’s happy and confident. The rest he takes care of himself.”Until a couple of days earlier, Tait would have had quite the job trying to keep Mustafizur happy. Bangladesh had one foot out of the tournament, and the 30-year-old quick had struggled for impact. In the game against Hong Kong, he was economical but not much more. In the clash that counted against Sri Lanka, he was thumped for 35 and only bowled three overs in Bangladesh’s heavy defeat.But in the defence of 154 against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi, Mustafizur rediscovered his form. They saved three of his overs for the second half of the chase, with Afghanistan needing 80 off eight overs with six wickets in hand. In the 13th over, Mustafizur displayed his thought process as well as his wrist skills, going through his gamut of variations, conceding just two and removing Mohammad Nabi.Bangladesh’s captain Litton Das squirreled away Mustafizur’s remaining two overs, but by the 17th, he was needed again. Rashid Khan was at the crease and Afghanistan’s requirement of 45 off 24 was still within range. The over cost 14, but Mustafizur returned in the 19th to dismiss Rashid and AM Ghazanfar in succession to confirm Bangladesh’s win.”Mustafizur is a good asset,” Tait said. “He’s played here before. He’s a good leader for us who’s been around a long time.”When Tait was bowling coach of Pakistan, he told ESPNcricinfo he felt Pakistan’s fast bowlers required “a bit more mongrel”. Bangladesh’s quicks have not been associated with that kind of ferocity, but Tait finds it less of an issue here than he did in Pakistan.”[It is] a little bit [true of Bangladesh too]. We’ve talked about just being a bit more confident in what we’re doing. A couple of the Bangladesh fast bowlers naturally do that anyway as you’ve seen. It’s about being confident in what you’re doing.”Tait doesn’t obsess over analytics or fuss over technical aspects of a bowler’s action, leaving that to sports science specialists. With Bangladesh, he emphasised once more the value of the intangibles he thinks they can still add to their game. “The way I like to do things is definitely talk about having that presence and confidence especially when you’re playing against good teams like we’re playing this week. We’ve definitely got to be up for the contest.”Against Sri Lanka on Saturday, they are aware of the need to perform better than they did in the group stage. Bangladesh owe their presence in the Super Four to Sri Lanka’s victory against Afghanistan on Thursday.”It’s a new day,” Tait said. “The beauty of these tournaments is the games come thick and fast. When the games keep coming, it’s a good chance to forget about the past as much as you can and move on to the next game.”

Find out who else makes the XI based on Smart Stats

S Rajesh20-Nov-20232:04

What will Kumble and Moody remember the World Cup for?

1 Travis HeadTravis Head missed the first half of the tournament with a hand injury, and played only six of Australia’s 11 matches, but what an impact he made in those matches. He started with a 67-ball 109 against New Zealand, and then, after a few quiet games, struck form again when it mattered the most. On a difficult Eden Gardens pitch in the semi-finals, his 62 was more than twice the next-best in the innings, not to mention the two wickets he took. In the final, his stunning catch to dismiss Rohit Sharma stopped India’s charge, before the century completely knocked them out. His two hundreds were among the eight most impactful batting performances of the tournament, and he became only the fourth player to be named the Player of the Match in both semi-final and final of a men’s ODI World Cup.2 Rohit Sharma (capt)In nine out of 11 innings, Rohit Sharma scored at least 40; in eight of them he scored at over a run a ball, and his strike rate exceeded 150 on four of those occasions. Usually, it’s tough to combine run-scoring quick-scoring, but Rohit managed it over the entire tournament: he was the second-highest run-getter, and among the 13 batters who made at least 400 runs, only Glenn Maxwell scored at a faster rate. His 401 runs in the first powerplay were a whopping 54% better than the next-best (David Warner’s 260), and he scored 58% of India’s total runs while he was at the crease. All these factors meant that despite scoring 168 fewer runs than Virat Kohli, his impact rating was only marginally lower.3 Virat KohliVirat Kohli’s World Cup was the stuff of dreams: nine 50-plus scores in 11 innings, including three hundreds, and an all-time-high tournament aggregate of 765, 92 more than Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record of 673. His 85 against Australia – from 2 for 3 – in India’s tournament opener set the tone, and there was no looking back. Much of the focus was on his individual milestones – the 49th ODI hundred followed by the 50th – but he scored briskly enough to make sure that his runs always helped the team’s cause. Kohli was the engine room of India’s batting line-up, and his prolific run-scoring ensured that India didn’t waste the starts Rohit provided.ESPNcricinfo Ltd4 Daryl MitchellWith Kane Williamson unavailable for much of the tournament, New Zealand needed the other top-order batters to step up, and Daryl Mitchell, along with Rachin Ravindra, did that splendidly. In seven out of nine innings, Mitchell scored at over a run a ball, and his show of intent was vital in throwing bowlers off their lengths and allowing New Zealand to score briskly in the middle overs (11 to 40): their run rate of 6.47 in that phase was the best among all teams. Mitchell’s tally of 472 in the middle overs was second only to Kohli’s 576, and he got those runs at an excellent strike rate of 111.58. A huge factor in his success was his stats against spin: 234 runs at an average of 78 and a strike rate of 106.84.5 KL Rahul (wk)No batter scored as many runs at No. 5 as KL Rahul did, and only Quinton de Kock (594) scored more runs as a wicketkeeper. Rahul’s ability was never in doubt, and if there were any questions about his temperament, he answered them quite emphatically over the course of this tournament. He started with an impeccable unbeaten 97 that helped India overcome a shocking start against Australia, when they had been reduced to 2 for 3. His ability to mould his batting according to the needs of the team is what stood out. He had a tough time as wicketkeeper in the final, but through most of the tournament he was tidy, sometimes even spectacular, behind the stumps. His DRS nous was an additional skill that the Impact Rating cannot quantify.6 Glenn MaxwellGlenn Maxwell provided the most enduring memory of this World Cup with that stunning knock against Afghanistan: in terms of impact numbers, the unbeaten 201 fetched 384.8 points, 141 more than the next best in the tournament. That innings turned a hopeless situation into a miracle victory for Australia, allowing them to keep their winning streak intact after defeats in the first two games. Maxwell scored another century in the tournament – a 44-ball 106 against Netherlands. Apart from that, he made extremely vital contributions with the ball, bowling 68.3 overs at an economy rate of 4.81. He took only six wickets, but his contribution with ball was worth far more than that as he often bowled the tough overs in the first powerplay. That included a key tenth over against India in the final where his dismissal of Rohit turned the game around after India’s frenetic start. Maxwell’s Impact Rating of 110.42 – 71.01 for batting, 39.41 for bowling – was the highest among all players in the tournament.ESPNcricinfo Ltd7 Ravindra JadejaRavindra Jadeja started the tournament with figures of 3 for 28 – including the wickets of Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne – in the first game against Australia, and continued that consistency with ball throughout. Only once did he concede more than 50 in a game, going for 63 in the semi-final against New Zealand. When conditions were helpful, he was more than a handful, as illustrated with 5 for 33 at Eden Gardens against South Africa. He also made a vital, unbeaten 39 against New Zealand in a tricky chase, and as always, was a livewire in the field.8 Jasprit BumrahJasprit Bumrah’s relentlessness was one of the key reasons for India’s dominance in the league phase of the World Cup. Among the 35 bowlers who bowled at least eight overs in the powerplay, none came close to the economy rate Bumrah achieved in that phase: 3.25. The next-best was Josh Hazlewood’s 4.19. He was equally lethal in the death overs, taking nine wickets at 11.66 and an economy rate of 5.00. Along with Mohammed Shami, he was the go-to bowler for Rohit, and the pressure he built up from one end helped add to the wickets tally of the other bowlers throughout the tournament.9 Dilshan MadushankaIn what was otherwise a dismal campaign for Sri Lanka, one of the few bright spots was the seam and swing of Dilshan Madushanka, who finished as the third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. Across World Cups, only Muthiah Muralidaran and Chaminda Vaas have taken more wickets in an edition for Sri Lanka than Madushanka’s 21 in this tournament. Four times he took three or more wickets – a feat bettered only by Adam Zampa in this tournament – while his nine wickets in the powerplays was the second-highest. Madhushanka was effective across phases and became the go-to bowler for his team, leading a depleted, injury-hit bowling line-up despite having played only six ODIs coming into this World Cup.Glenn Maxwell’s Impact Rating was the highest among all players in the World Cup•Getty Images10 Adam ZampaAustralia’s fortunes mirrored Adam Zampa’s: in the first two games, both of which Australia lost, Zampa returned figures of 1 for 123 in 18 overs. Through the rest of the tournament, he took 22 wickets from nine games at 17.81 and an economy rate of 5.02 as Australia swept the field to take the title. No bowler took more wickets than his 17 in the middle overs. Overall, the tournament’s next-highest wicket-takers among spinners were Jadeja and Mitchell Santner, with 16. Australia’s decision to go into a long tournament in India with just one specialist spinner was a huge gamble, but Zampa, and Maxwell, ensured it paid off.11 Mohammed ShamiThe injury to Hardik Pandya in India’s fourth match seemed to be a huge blow to their chances, but from that setback emerged arguably India’s biggest weapon of the World Cup. Mohammed Shami brushed aside batting line-up after batting line-up to finish as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. In fact, only Mitchell Starc (27) and Glenn McGrath (26) have taken more wickets than Shami’s 24 in a single World Cup. Shami’s strike rate was a stunning 12.2 balls per wicket, which was 36% better than the next-best (Gerald Coetzee’s 19). In the semi-final against New Zealand, Shami became only the fifth bowler to take a seven-wicket haul in World Cups, and his 7 for 57 fetched 168.6 impact points, the highest for a bowling performance in this tournament.12 Quinton de KockIt’s cruel to leave out of the World Cup XI a player who struck four hundreds – more than any other batter in the tournament – but since most top performers were top-order batters, there was no choice but to make that tough decision. Head put in stunning performances in the knockout games and Rohit, with his intent and consistency, ensured he couldn’t be left out. That also meant there was no place for Ravindra, who won himself plenty of fans for his classy and effortless strokeplay which fetched 578 runs, including three hundreds.

The innovation we see in T20 batting today started with him

As told to Nagraj Gollapudi23-Nov-2021If you ask me to capture the beauty of AB de Villiers’ batting, this image stands out: he is standing outside leg stump, and as the bowler jumps into his delivery stride, AB gets into this semi-lunge position, going down on one knee, with his head and eyes still, watching the ball before he executes the stroke.The toughest part of that shot is to get into position and still watch the ball. A lot of times, other batters, like me, get into position and we are just playing the shot, but with AB, his head is still, his eyes are still, and he is tracking the ball.AB could control his head, one of the heaviest parts of the body, and keep it still while moving the rest of the body into position; that was one of his biggest strengths as a batter.Around the 2016 IPL, I sat down with him in Bangalore for a free-flowing chat on batting. I had been through my own transformation as a batter, including with my stance, set-up and technique. I asked him: what’s the most important thing while facing the bowler?Related

• AB de Villiers 'took the game to another level single-handedly'

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One thing that he said stood out: “The minute he is in the last four or five strides of his run-up, what I’m essentially thinking about is watching that ball and keeping my head as still as possible.” He said that in passing, but for me, it resonated the most.AB made me understand that the most important thing with batting is to have your head and your eyes still at the point of delivery, no matter what your initial movement, set-up or technique is. By doing that, you are giving yourself the best chance to be successful at playing the ball well.It was in 2011, when he moved to Royal Challengers Bangalore from Delhi Daredevils, that AB’s transformation sort of started. That is when he began experimenting with angles on the ground. It was AB who made us all believe: man, this is possible. He just opened up the V to a complete 360, where you could use the whole ground.Since then, we have seen how batters have been able to work the ability to use the ground into their game to create their own variations. Like KL Rahul utilising the gap between fine leg and deep square leg and playing a pick-up towards long leg. He has refined it to the extent where we now recognise it as a trademark KL shot.I was surprised to see Virat Kohli, who is otherwise orthodox, play the ramp in Australia last year, but it’s testimony to how much batters today are thinking of what’s possible. We wouldn’t have seen the kind of angles Rishabh Pant has been able to create and utilise in international cricket if not for the likes of AB.Some of AB’s strokes were definitely premeditated, but at the same time, they were also driven by his gut. If he instinctively felt that a shot was available, he could quickly get into position and execute.He was obviously courageous and did get hit on a few occasions, but he was also extremely athletic: he knew how to fall down, how to roll. The reason he did so well, I think, is because he played different sports growing up: field hockey, rugby, tennis. That was a massive advantage as he was naturally athletic. My wife, Sheetal [Goutham], a former professional tennis player, once told me that AB gets into tennis-like positions, as if he’s about to play a forehand or receive a serve.Keep your head still, track the ball and send it along its way – it’s simple•Arjun Singh/BCCIOne of my three favourite AB innings is him denying Pune Warriors victory in 2012 when RCB needed 21 off the final over at the Chinnaswamy. Saurabh Tiwary hit the winning six, but it was AB who turned the match in a matter of three deliveries in an over – with two sixes and a four.Another favourite was his hundred against Gujarat Lions in a 200-plus partnership with Virat in 2016.But my best AB innings has to be his world-record hundred, against West Indies in Johannesburg in 2015. He came in in the 39th over. By then Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw had scored a hundred each, but they had taken nearly 40 overs to do it, and here comes AB, picking up a century in 31 balls. I have studied the footage of that hundred for hours together and it is a masterclass. One of the shots he played then sticks in my mind – it was a reverse sweep that ran behind point. It was like a reverse drag-flick from hockey. It’s not like others cannot do it; they can, but not with the consistency that AB could.During that innings he played my favourite AB shot several times: going down on one knee and utilising the whole area from the keeper to deep midwicket. That arc was once a safe haven for bowlers, who knew they could bowl hard yorkers into leg stump, especially at the death, and that not many batters would be able to hit them there. But after AB came into his own since 2011, that cushion was taken away gradually.That’s why I feel AB has played a pivotal role in the evolution of T20. He was among those who forced bowlers to find different ways to challenger batters. Now you see the knuckleball, the back-of-the-hand slower ball, a dipping slower ball, the wide yorker on off stump. Those have come about as a reaction to the kinds of innovations people like AB have produced.I see the passion AB has for the team when he’s batting. In his mind, at no point is he losing a game. No matter how impossible a situation might feel, he believes he’s still going to do it. That’s what made him so dangerous.And by doing all this, AB shattered the ceiling of batting technique. He proved that you don’t need to be bound by technique to be successful in cricket. The only element of his batting that was conventional was his stance, which was side-on. But the minute he got into position, he had all angles open to him.AB is the foundation on which T20 cricket has evolved. We can only thank him for that.

For the Los Angeles Dodgers, weaknesses do not stay weakness for very long.

The Dodgers are signing pitcher Edwin Díaz away from the Mets in an apparent bid to boost their bullpen, according to a Tuesday morning report from Will Sammon of . The deal is, per Ken Rosenthal, ESPN's Jeff Passan and Sammon, reportedly a three-year pact that will pay Diaz $69 million.

Díaz, 31, has spent six seasons with New York (excluding a 2023 lost to injury). Over the course of his tenure, he saved 144 games for the Mets—third in team history—after saving 109 in three years for the Mariners.

He was particularly effective in 2022, when he finished ninth in the National League Cy Young voting and 16th in the NL MVP voting (additionally, he helped turn his entrance music into a minor electronic hit). He also made the NL All-Star team in 2025.

Los Angeles' relievers lost 33 games last year—four above the league average—but the Dodgers won their second straight World Series title anyway.

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Torcida organizada do Flamengo criou um bandeirão em homenagem à goleada de 6 a 1 sobre o Vasco, no último domingo (2), no Maracanã, pela sétima rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Tal vitória foi a maior do Rubro-Negro Carioca em cima do time cruz maltino na história.

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Além do Bandeirão carregar as cores do Flamengo, o mesmo ostenta um trocadilho, representando o mês de junho, com o número 06 por extenso. A arte também leva o desenho de cada um dos seis jogadores que marcaram (Everton Cebolinha, Pedro, David Luiz, Arrascaeta, Bruno Henrique e Gabigol) e o minuto de cada gol.

As referências e brincadeiras não param por aí. Abaixo dos jogadores está escrita a frase “O abandono parte 2”, que é uma clara alusão à goleada de 4 a 1 no ano passado, quando o Flamengo aplicou quatro gols no primeiro tempo, e os torcedores do Vasco foram vistos deixando o estádio ainda no intervalo. O mesmo fato aconteceu no 6 a 1 da semana passada.

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No último sábado, no Flamengo x Vasco pela final da Copa Rio Sub-17, a bandeira foi levada por torcedores à Gávea. O técnico Filipe Luís comandou a equipe na vitória por 2 a 1 e garantiu a vantagem do empate no jogo da volta da competição. O bandeirão deve fazer sua estreia no Maracanã na partida contra o Grêmio na próxima quinta, às 20h (Brasília), pela oitava rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

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FlamengoFutebol Nacional

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Camisa 10 do Corinthians, Rodrigo Garro levou os torcedores do Timão à loucura mais uma vez nesta quarta-feira (28)! De falta, o argentino marcou um GOLAÇO e abriu o placar contra o Racing. Confira as reações!

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CorinthiansRodrigo GarroSTARPLUSSul-Americana

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Ramón Díaz falou, pela primeira vez, sobre a saída do ex-diretor de futebol do Vasco, Alexandre Mattos, e sobre encontro com o Josh Wander, fundador e CEO da 777 Partners, empresa dona da SAF do clube. Após a vitória do Cruz-Maltino sobre o Grêmio no domingo (14), pela primeira rodada do brasileirão, o técnico argentino celebrou a reunião que teve com o empresário e criticou a relação com Mattos.

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➡️A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

– Foi uma reunião muito importante com eles. Nunca tivemos a possibilidade de ter um diálogo direto. A intermediação com o (Alexandre) Mattos era bastante complicada, bastante difícil. Não chegamos ao resultado mais rápido. Foi uma reunião muito boa. Fomos mais diretos para resolver situações difíceis do clube. Situações que podem melhorar rápido. Não vamos seguir cometendo erros. Vamos nos reunir a cada 15 dias, ter um diálogo mais direto com todos os dirigentes – comentou Ramón Diaz, após vitória do Vasco sobre o Grêmio, em São Januário.

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777 PartnersAlexandre MattosRamón DíazVasco

Eddie Howe deserves a statue outside St. James’ Park. After all, he has been the purveyor of a new order at Newcastle United and has been described as “one of the best managers out there” by his assistant coach Jason Tindall.

But Newcastle are in a rut. To say the wheels have come off would be a step too far, but the turbulence of the summer transfer window has put a spoke in the club’s wheels all the same, with United down in 14th place in the Premier League, three away defeats on the bounce and without a win on the road all season in the league.

The word from those connected to PIF, as per The Athletic, is that Howe’s job is under no immediate threat, but there’s an acceptance that results and performances have been well below expectations, and that needs to change.

The likes of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga are struggling down the flanks, and the problems on the tactical front can be found across all areas of the field. This is a big concern and needs rectifying quickly.

Talk of Howe’s dismissal is premature, but it has raised the question as to who could succeed the English coach if the Magpies fail to fly out of the hole they have fallen into.

Why Newcastle could consider Howe's future

Howe arrived at St. James’ Park shortly after the epoch-shaping PIF takeover, to say the club have gone from strength to strength since would be quite the understatement.

Two Champions League qualifications in three years and triumph in the Carabao Cup last season have immortalised this man, but he won’t be at the helm forever, with recent results and performances indicative of deeper issues than a mere skid of form.

Particularly, the Toon have lacked confidence and coherence on the road, having won only once away from home all season – a 4-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League.

10

Games

7

7

Wins

1

0

Draws

3

3

Losses

3

20

Goals scored

7

9

Goals conceded

8

2.1

PPG

1.16

If the almost unthinkable event of Howe’s departure were to come to pass, newly-appointed technical director Ross Wilson may well set his sights on Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who has been riding the crest of a wave on the English south coast these past few years.

According to The Mirror, the Spanish tactician is among the most likely candidates for the Newcastle hot seat, should a decision be made on Howe’s future in the coming months, should improvements not be found in the matches ahead.

But given former Barcelona boss Xavi and Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, who won last season’s FA Cup, are also named, what is it about Iraola that demands such respect? Why, indeed, would he be the perfect manager to replace Howe at the helm?

What Andoni Iraola would offer Newcastle

Iraola was given the keys at Bournemouth at the end of the 2022/23 campaign. Gary O’Neil had done good work at the Vitality Stadium, keeping the Cherries in the Premier League after their promotion, but Iraola’s progressive and exciting style was viewed as the perfect fit for an ambitious outfit.

Bournemouth haven’t looked back. The 2023/24 season was one of stability, Iraola sticking his roots into the soil, but last year he made proper headway and garnered respect for his tactical acumen, matching Howe’s record ninth-place finish (the difference being that Iraola finished with 56 points, whereas Howe collected only 46 during the 2016/17 term).

Journalist James Horncastle has gone as far as to hail the 43-year-old as being the “best coach in the Premier League” for his resourcefulness and shrewd coaching style. The sharp-minded manager labelled his vision as being one of “rock and roll”, with such intensity and fury sure to be facets that endear Iraola to the Newcastle fanbase, should he be appointed down the line.

Should Newcastle make this move, it might help someone like Gordon return to top form. The Three Lions star struggled last season and has slipped further down a slope this year, yet to score or assist in the Premier League, albeit with four goals and an assist from four matches in the Champions League.

This is a winger who considers himself to be among the top brass, a “nightmare for anyone” he comes up against, words straight from the horse’s mouth. So much more is needed.

Iraola could be the man to rekindle the 24-year-old’s finest form, with his high-pressure and high-speed attacking plan something that could work a treat for a pacy player like Gordon. After all, just look at the gains Antoine Semenyo has made at Bournemouth over the past few years.

Gordon could match him, eclipse him. Even so horribly out of sorts in the Premier League, the £150k-per-week talent ranks among the top 8% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Premier League for carries into the penalty area and the top 14% for successful take-ons per 90 (data via FBref).

For sure, this is the kind of electric pace and athletic application that Iraola loves from his wide attackers.

Of course, this comes with the huge caveat that Howe himself enforces a game built on effective transitional play, and Gordon is flattering to deceive in this system.

But maybe this is merely a life force reaching its end. Newcastle have achieved great things under Howe’s wing, but the boss will be defined by the stability he has created, able to pass the torch onto someone like Iraola.

Newcastle are not at the point where Howe’s future must be considered with a view toward a decision, but Newcastle have not been good enough this season, and if they fail to escape from the hole into which they have fallen, Iraola would be the perfect coach to lead them forward and into an exciting new chapter.

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