Gio Reyna certainly made the most of his opportunity by providing an assist in Nottingham Forest's 2-2 draw with Wolves.
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Glasgow Rangers went through a summer of change as former head coach Michael Beale was allowed to make widespread alterations to his playing squad.
The likes of Allan McGregor, Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos, and Scott Arfield were allowed to leave on free transfers, whilst Antonio Colak and Glen Kamara, among others, were sold by the Scottish giants.
These exits allowed the English tactician to dip into the market to make nine new additions of his own to improve his side for the 2023/24 campaign.
Leon Balogun, Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers, Danilo, Jose Cifuentes, Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, and Jack Butland all arrived on permanent deals, alongside a loan swoop for Brighton & Hove Albion forward Abdallah Sima.
Beale's recruitment did not provide him with the desired results to keep the board happy, though, as he was relieved of his duties last month and replaced by Belgian boss Philippe Clement.
However, not all of the ex-Gers assistant's moves in the transfer window were complete failures. One decision that already looks to have been a smart one is the sale of Colak to Italian side Parma, as the striker has struggled to find his form in front of goal this season.
Colak's goal record for Rangers
The Croatia international arrived at Ibrox from Greek giants PAOK in the summer of 2022 under Giovanni van Bronckhorst's management and had a mixed year in Scotland.
Colak hit the ground running for the Light Blues with a superb return of 14 goals and three assists in 24 competitive appearances for the Dutch head coach, which is a return of more than one goal every other game on average.
His form, however, dipped after Beale arrived during the break for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The experienced marksman only scored four goals and provided one assist in 15 matches under the English tactician's guidance.
He also failed to perform in Europe as his six Champions League appearances did not leave a positive impression. The lightweight lost a staggering 74% of his duels and failed to provide a single goal or assist in the competition, with two 'big chances' missed for the centre-forward.
Overall, though, Colak ended the 2022/23 campaign with an impressive record in the Scottish Premiership. He recorded 14 goals and one assist in 18 league starts for Rangers, although ten of those came within the first nine games of the term.
Livingston
Zero
Kilmarnock
One
St. Johnstone
One
Hibernian
Zero
Ross County
Two
Celtic
Zero
Dundee United
Two
Hearts
Two
St. Mirren
Two
This shows that the Croatian finisher came flying out of the blocks as a clinical and lethal goalscorer for the Gers but was unable to sustain it throughout the remainder of the season.
He struggled badly under Beale, as evidenced by his return of one goal every 3.75 outings, and his lack of form in front of goal made his sale earlier this year a reasonable one.
Colak's goal record for Parma
The Croatia international was ditched by Beale over the summer as Serie B side Parma swooped in to secure his services for a reported fee of £2.5m.
Rangers' then-boss hailed the number nine's class and how he handled the situation – referencing his decision to speak with the players and staff to say his goodbyes during pre-season with no bad feelings on either side.
It was, therefore, an amicable split that suited both parties. Colak was able to leave and find a new club after struggling during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign and the Light Blues were able to rake in a sizeable fee for a player who had been underperforming in the months leading up to the window.
His woes have, unfortunately, continued in Italy as the 30-year-old dynamo has only scored three goals in 11 Serie B matches and has failed to establish himself as a regular starter for his side.
The ex-Rangers striker has only started three league games for the second division outfit and has struggled to deal with the physicality of the league, with a dismal duel success rate of 25%.
These statistics show that the former Malmo star has not offered a consistent attacking threat and has been bullied by opposition defenders, who have found it far too easy to get the better of him in physical contests.
His struggles throughout the 2023/24 campaign so far are emphasised by the fact that he has scored fewer goals than current Rangers striker Dessers, who has done little to impress since his move to Ibrox.
Dessers' goal record for Rangers
The Light Blues snapped up the Nigeria international from Italian side Cremonese for an initial fee of €5m (£4.3m), per journalist Fabrizio Romano, to bolster their attacking options.
However, the 28-year-old dud has not been able to provide a reliable presence at the top end of the pitch for the Scottish giants with his weak hold-up play and inconsistent finishing.
Dessers has scored three goals in ten Premiership outings and already missed a staggering ten 'big chances' in front of goal, which shows that he has not been able to make the most of the opportunities that his teammates have been providing him with.
The right-footed flop has also lost a whopping 79% of his ground duels in the Scottish top-flight, with opposition players being able to comfortably dominate him on the deck.
His European exploits have also left a lot to be desired as the striker has failed to provide a goal or an assist in three Europa League outings, and has lost 81% of his duels.
However, Dessers did score in the Champions League qualifiers and managed one goal in the League Cup for Rangers earlier this season, which means that he has scored two more goals than Colak at club level during the 2023/24 campaign for their respective clubs.
Overall, Beale struck gold with the decision to sell the Croatia international for £2.5m during the summer transfer window as his woeful form in the second half of last season for Rangers and in the opening months of this term for Parma suggest that he would not have been a good option for Clement.
Colak has been outscored by Dessers and has not been able to start games on a regular basis in the second division of Italian football, which is why the Gers could look back on the fee they received for his services and be happy with their business.
Manchester United are reportedly in good stead to welcome some much-needed reinforcements, thanks to the impending arrival of new investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
It’s speculated that the incoming businessman will have a significant say in what transfer movements the Red Devils could make in the future, with an additional eye that could assist Erik ten Hag in improving his underperforming squad.
The Dutchman’s side currently sit five points outside of the Premier League top four and have claimed bottom of the group in the Champions League with only two fixtures remaining, making for worrying times at Old Trafford.
From lack of cohesion in the squad to a dip in individual performance, United are in dire need of some inspiration to avoid dropping down the table throughout the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign, with the January window posing as a great opportunity for improvement.
Man Utd transfer targets – Double Monaco swoop
Reports in France, relayed by TEAMtalk, claim that one of Ratcliffe’s first pieces of business could be to poach two of Monaco’s star talents to better the squad at Old Trafford.
The report claims that a €60m (£52m) double swoop could be orchestrated, with one name eyed by the Red Devils said to be midfield dynamo Youssouf Fofana.
It’s claimed that the 24-year-old, who ranks in the top 7% of midfielders in Europe’s elite for his rate of 1.75 interceptions per 90, is admired in Manchester, with the belief that the Frenchman could be acquired for around €30m (£26m).
Fofana isn’t the only player speculated to be targeted by United, however, with Monaco’s prized right-back, Vanderson, said to be the other €30m (£26m) asset wanted in Ten Hag’s side.
The report claims that the Brazilian is a player that has been on the Premier League outfit’s radar before, however the desired double swoop could resonate the first concrete approach for the dynamic defender.
Players that Man Utd have signed from Monaco
While the idea of capturing two of Monaco’s talents remains as speculation at present, the inspiration could be there for United to hire from the Ligue 1 outfit based on their past experiences in dealing with the club.
You’d have to travel back to 2015 to witness the last time that United purchased a player from Monaco, with Anthony Martial arriving for £36m as a 19-year-old after impressing in France.
Since his arrival, the forward has netted 89 goals for the Red Devils while combating various injuries and lack of game time, with him providing some magical moments at Old Trafford over the years.
Perhaps the most notable name signed from Monaco is Patrice Evra, who was captured in January 2006 by Sir Alex Ferguson, and went on to make 379 appearances for the club and be an integral part of the defence.
The left-back won five Premier League titles in Manchester, as well as winning the Champions League to write himself into history as one of the most successful full-backs to represent the club.
In signing Vanderson, United could roll back the years by replicating the nature of the deal to capture the Frenchman, by signing the full-back in January from Monaco.
Vanderson’s playing style
Deployed at right-back, the 22-year-old has made waves in France following his move from Gremio in January 2022.
A product of Gremio’s academy, Vanderson was praised by talent scout Jacek Kulig in the summer of 2021, where he was described as a “complete full-back”, with his “work rate” and “athleticism” raised among his greatest strengths.
In a more updated report, U23 scout Antonio Mango waxed lyrical over the Brazil international, supporting Kulig’s evaluation of singling out the defender’s athleticism and work rate.
Lauded as having an “obscene” level of pace and acceleration, Mango described the 2001-born gem as a “modern-day full-back” for his power and tireless energy to move up and down the flank as both a defensive and offensive support to his team.
Despite being “renowned for his offensive prowess”, the Brazilian has the rounded ability to defend as effectively as he gets forward, reinforced by his average of 3.34 tackles per 90, a decimal that places him in the top 2% of full-backs in Europe’s top five leagues, via FBref.
Since joining Monaco, Vanderson has recorded 13 goal contributions in 68 appearances, signifying his ability to make a difference in the final third, with his average of 1.25 key passes per 90 also portraying his offensive assets.
A right-back with the ability to assume the advancing wing-back role could be a fundamental capture at Old Trafford, with Ten Hag’s options in defence prevailing to be worryingly thin.
Why Vanderson would be a good signing for Man Utd
At right-back, the manager’s options span as far as Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot, with little depth of first-team calibre to cover for the inevitability of injury and dip in form.
In signing Vanderson, Ten Hag could add another competent right-back to his ranks, with the in-demand ace showing a higher level of performance than the United duo based on his statistics over the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season.
Vanderson
Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Diogo Dalot
4.39
3.45
3.84
2.03
2.57
1.92
1.10
1.07
0.88
2.52
1.88
2.17
3.41
2.51
2.26
1.95
1.38
1.55
1.10
0.94
1.21
3.05
1.57
1.88
As portrayed in the table above, the Brazilian exceeds both Dalot and Wan-Bissaka in a host of attributes identifiable to the playing style of a full-back, suggesting that the Gremio academy product could hand Ten Hag an upgrade in defence.
With only two options at right-back available, and the Englishman only just returning from injury, it’s imperative that United learn from their lack of depth in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign and hire a defender of the calibre of Vanderson in January.
Only time will tell if the Red Devils pursue their full-back target, however in capturing his signature, Ten Hag could repeat history in welcoming a top-level defender from Monaco in January, with Evra paving the way for future success back in 2006.
Chelsea are embarking on a journey back to the top of domestic and European football following a gut-wrenching 12th-place finish in the Premier League last term.
Todd Boehly's scattergun approach in the transfer window clearly wasn't working while his two managerial appointments in Graham Potter and Frank Lampard failed to have the desired effect, with the latter producing just one win in his 12 matches in charge.
If the American businessman stood any chance of taking the west London giants back to the top, appointing the correct manager was imperative, and his decision to entrust Mauricio Pochettino with that task appears to be the correct one.
Putting a rocky start to their Premier League season aside, which saw the Blues only win one of their first six matches, the Argentine has orchestrated a 4-1 victory over rivals Tottenham and an impressive 4-4 draw against champions Manchester City.
While Chelsea are still in mid-table – ten points behind fourth-place Aston Villa – their last two performances offer fresh hope that a resurgence in the second half of the season could be on the cards.
During this mini turnaround, several of their summer signings – including Nicolas Jackson – have flourished, with the Senegalese striker taking his goal tally for the campaign to seven.
Prior to this hot streak, having scored a hat-trick against Tottenham, Jackson had only netted three goals in all competitions and many believed he was going to become the latest big-money striker to flop at Stamford Bridge, just as Alvaro Morata did during his time at the club.
Chelsea captured Morata from Real Madrid for a club record £60m fee in 2017 and the 24-year-old instantly had big shoes to fill.
In the years that preceded his move to the club, Roman Abramovich had hit the jackpot on several occasions in the striker department, bringing in world-class talent, such as; Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Diego Costa.
It was the latter of that aforementioned trio whom Morata had to replace with Costa joining Atletico Madrid in September of that year.
The clinical hitman, who plundered 59 goals in 120 appearances for Chelsea, left a huge void at the top end of the pitch after spearheading their last two Premier League title triumphs.
Morata was accustomed to the pressures of playing for a big club having done so at Real and Juventus, but the pressure of replacing the monstrous talisman would supply a different type of expectation.
He was no longer the understudy, a fate he was consigned to at the Bernabeu with the immovable Karim Benzema ahead of him, having arrived in west London expecting to become the focal point under Antonio Conte.
Chelsea were so used to relying on a world-class operator at the forefront of their attack, meaning heaps of pressure were instantly applied onto the Spaniard, and he would either thrive or crumble.
Unfortunately, the pressure of replicating such a prolific goal record set Morata up to fail from the start.
Prior to his move to Stamford Bridge, the 6 foot 3 marksman had never broken the 15-goal mark in a single top-flight season while Costa posted 20 Premier League goals in both of those league triumphs.
The concerns surrounding his prolificacy were understandable, so it was no surprise to see him only produce a record of one goal every three games for the Blues – 24 in 72 appearances, despite beginning his time at the club in impressive fashion with an eye-watering nine goals in 14 appearances.
After failing to live up to his £60m price tag, he returned to his homeland in 2019 with Atleti snapping him up on a permanent deal.
Speaking to Radioestadio Noche [via Football London], Morata recently opened up about his “bad” experience in England and the pressures that followed.
“I had a really bad time in England. I spoke with my wife and told her I might go to a club that I knew, where there was less pressure. I don’t look at social media; I don’t have time to beat myself up.”
Despite describing his time at Chelsea as the worst in his career, Morata hailed his time at Atletico as "the best", crediting Diego Simeone as a major influence in his resurgence.
The 31-year-old has oozed confidence under the Argentine's guidance and his goal record since returning to Madrid speaks volumes about the lethal edge he possesses in and around the box.
For Atletico, he's posted 49 goals and supplied 12 assists in 121 appearances, but it's at the start of this campaign that he's truly reached the pinnacle of his powers in front of goal.
Now with 81 goals to his name since departing Stamford Bridge – including a loan spell back at Juve – in 15 matches this season he's posted 12 goals in all competitions, with five of those coming in the Champions League.
During this purple patch in form, Simeone has waxed lyrical about his striker, labelling him as a "brilliant penalty box striker" and has even made a far-fetched comparison to Erling Haaland, claiming he's "on par" with the Manchester City goal machine in terms of statistics.
Speaking on Manu Carreno's podcast, El Larguero [via GOAL], he said: "Alvaro Morata is on par with Erling Haaland. In terms of goals and his numbers, he can certainly be compared to him."
In his first season at Man City, Haaland produced a staggering 52 goals to help his side claim a historic treble, while Morata posted a respectable 15 in all competitions for Atletico.
The unstoppable Norwegian has continued that eye-watering form in 2023/24, although it may come as a surprise to see the Spaniard run his untouchable scoring powers close, having even scored more goals in Europe this season than his young counterpart.
|
Erling Haaland vs Alvaro Morata goals in 23/24 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Erling Haaland |
Games / Goals |
Alvaro Morata |
Games / Goals |
|
Premier League |
12 games / 13 goals |
LaLiga |
11 games / 7 goals |
|
Champions League |
4 games / 4 goals |
Champions League |
4 games / 5 goals |
|
All stats via Transfermarkt |
Total – 16 games / 17 goals |
All stats via Transfermarkt |
Total – 15 games – 12 goals |
Despite doing his best to challenge the 23-year-old, Haaland is just in a world of his own when it comes to finding the back of the net and although Morata's current rate of scoring is impressive, the table above suggests that Simeone has perhaps offered some hyperbole.
Even so, the oft-maligned striker has certainly proved the doubters wrong following his miserable stint in England.
Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo and Roston Chase returned to the squad
ESPNcricinfo staff04-Dec-2018In the absence of the injured Jason Holder, allrounder Rovman Powell will lead West Indies in their ODI leg of the ongoing Bangladesh tour. Batsman Darren Bravo, who had last played an ODI more than two years ago, returned to the squad, as did T20I captain Carlos Brathwaite and offspin-bowling allrounder Roston Chase.”In the absence of captain Jason Holder, the panel believes the team can still be competitive, especially with the return of Darren Bravo,” Courtney Browne, the chairman of selectors, said. “Darren’s experience will add value to the batting, which in turn will place selection pressure for spots in the squad.”Evin Lewis, who had missed the limited-overs leg of the India tour citing personal reasons, will not be a part of the matches in Bangladesh as well, despite playing for Punjabi Legends in the T10 league last week.ESPNcricinfo understands Lewis turned down a West Indies central contract and then withdrew from the India tour 48 hours before he was due to fly. Lewis will be meeting the Director of Cricket Jimmy Adams during the weekend in Trinidad to discuss his future.Rovman Powell had managed only 61 runs in five innings at an average of 12.20 and a strike-rate of 58.09 in the ODI series in India, but hit form in the T10 league, scoring 177 runs in seven innings in Northern Warriors’ title-winning campaign.He said the interim captaincy was not entirely unexpected, but a proud moment nevertheless.”It’s (the appointment) not entirely a surprise,” Powell told . “Things have happened fast, but it’s the nature of international sports. Things come at you fast, and it’s how you react to things.”I have had some discussions with the selection panel and the director of cricket (Jimmy Adams), and they are in full support of me. They realise that I have some leadership qualities, and apart from the India tour, my career was going good, so they saw that and made a decision in making me vice-captain of the team, and now that Jason Holder is injured, the portfolio of captaincy comes on my shoulders.”To be appointed interim captain of the West Indies is definitely a good feeling. As a youngster, that has always been a dream, to lead the West Indies, and to see it playing out now, it’s given me a very good feeling.”Left-arm seamer Obed McCoy and offspinner Ashley Nurse, who had injured his shoulder in October in India, both missed out, while batsman Chandrapaul Hemraj, allrounder Fabien Allen and Oshane Thomas, who all made their ODI debuts in India, retained their places in the squad.The first of the three ODIs will take place in Dhaka on December 9.Squad: Rovman Powell (capt.), Marlon Samuels, Roston Chase, Devendra Bishoo, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Darren Bravo, Shai Hope, Carlos Brathwaite, Keemo Paul, Kieran Powell, Fabien Allen, Kemar Roach, Sunil Ambris, Oshane Thomas
Aston Villa stars Alisha Lehmann and Douglas Luiz attended a Brazilian charity event in London, which she described as "amazing".
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Villa pair attended Brazilian Football Foundation eventLehmann hails "inspiring and great people"UK charity supports projects across BrazilWHAT HAPPENED?
The couple were the stars at the glitzy do on Monday evening, posing for photos with fellow guests and foundation organisers and dancing the night away to some Brazilian beats. Highlights of the night were posted to social media by Lehmann, who paid tribute to those she met.
AdvertisementWHAT ALISHA LEHMANN SAID
"What an amazing event," posted Lehmann to her vast Instagram following. "So many inspiring and great people changing the world."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Villa's glamour couple reunited earlier this year after a break of a year and have been increasingly public about their reunion. The pair are opting to use their spare time to support a charity that oversees projects in Douglas Luiz's native Brazil is yet another sign that the relationship is right back on track.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR DOUGLAS LUIZ AND ALISHA LEHMANN?
Douglas Luiz will return to action after his league suspension when the Villans travel to Lille on Thursday looking to secure a place in the Europa Conference League semi-finals.
Lehmann takes another trip to London as her Villa women's side take on title-chasing Chelsea at Kingsmeadow on Wednesday evening.
The Catalan coach has tortured Los Merengues and been left traumatised by them in a fascinating odyssey of matches spanning 16 years
“It’s Madrid, it’s special," remarked Pep Guardiola after Manchester City's pulsating 3-3 draw with Los Merengues last week. And he would know. The Catalan has faced Real Madrid 22 times as a coach, with City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona, and many more as a player. He knows what it's like to win against Madrid and to lose to them. His sides have produced scintillating displays against the most glamorous club in European football, and his teams have also been thrashed and humiliated by them.
If it hadn't been for Guardiola, Madrid would have at least three more La Liga titles to their name. and potentially two extra Champion Leagues. And if it hadn't been for Madrid, the Catalan would be the undisputed best coach in the competition's history.
Guardiola grew up despising Madrid as an ardent Barcelona fan and then player, but there is also a deep sense of mutual respect between the coach and the 14-time European champions. "The king of the competition" is how Guardiola referred to Madrid when he learned City would be playing them for the third consecutive season after being drawn together in the quarter-finals. But is his side who currently wear the crown.
Madrid will be looking to dethrone City in Wednesday's second leg at the Etihad Stadium, which will be the latest chapter in an enthralling saga which has thrown up agonising eliminations, era-defining performances, breath-taking goals and someone getting poked in the eye. GOAL relives Guardiola's best ever matches against Real Madrid…
تحدث مجدي عبد العاطي، المدير الفني لفريق زد، عن الخسارة أمام الزمالك، ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري بهدف مقابل لاشيء.
وقال مجدي عبد العاطي، في المؤتمر الصحفي: “الحمد لله مباراة جيدة كنا نأمل في الفوز وكل اتجاهتنا كانت لذلك، الزمالك قدم مباراة جيدة وكان اللقاء متبادلاً”.
طالع..فيديو| محمد عاطف يسجل هدف الزمالك الأول أمام زد
وواصل: “سنحت لنا فرص ولكن كان عندنا تسرع في الثلث الأخير في الملعب، لو كان هناك قرب في المسافات بين شادي وزيكو وعبد الرحمن كان الأمر سيختلف”.
وأكمل: “كنا متعجلين في المباراة لأننا ننافس على المربع الذهبي، لكن جاء الهدف من خطأ، في النهاية لا أستطيع أن ألوم اللاعبين، قدموا ما عليهم”.
وأردف:”ظهر الإرهاق على لاعبي الفريقين، وقمت بعمل تدوير والدفع باللاعبين بسبب الإجهاد، في النهاية الحمد لله وأهنئ الزمالك”.
واستطرد:” لا أعرف هل ممكن يتم تأجيل مواعيد كأس مصر أم لا، الإجهاد يعاني منه كل الفرق، كلما كان عندك مخزون من اللاعبين كلما كان مستواك قريبًا، في مباراة بيراميدز لعبنا بشكل واليوم لعبنا بشكل والفرق لم يكن كبيرًا، لكن الضغط يجعل اللاعبين يتخذون قرارات غير سليمة في الملعب”.
وأتم: “أهم شيء فقط أن يكون اللاعبون بحالة جيدة دون أن يتعرضوا لإصابات، نحن نحاول أن نقلل آثار ما يحدث حتى لا تحدث إصابات كثيرة في الفترة القادمة”.
The wicketkeeper-batsman’s onslaught at the top laid Paarl low after they had put up a below par 144
The Report by Liam Brickhill07-Dec-2018
Quinton de Kock smashed the ball down the ground•Mzansi Super League
A blistering 93 from Quinton de Kock helped Cape Town Blitz romp to a six-wicket win over Paarl Rocks at a festive Newlands on Friday night, the result all but knocking Rocks out of the running for a play-off spot and going some way towards securing a home final for Blitz, who opened up a six-point lead over the second placed Jozi Stars.As two teams with home bases 60 kilometres apart in the same province, Cape Town Blitz and Paarl Rocks have a shared fan base and both picked up players from the Cape Cobras franchise stable. Faf du Plessis, the Rocks captain, lives in Cape Town and as Ashwell Prince, the Blitz coach, put it at the start of the Mzansi Super League, the relationship between the two teams is “more of a brotherhood than a rivalry”. But brothers can be especially competitive, and after Rocks defeated a travel-weary Blitz at Boland Park in the early stages of the league, Blitz had a point to prove this time around.De Kock let his bat do the talking in a mammoth 105-run opening stand with Janneman Malan. The pair have formed a potent combination at the top of the order for Blitz in this tournament, setting up away wins over Jozi Stars and Tshwane Spartans with opening stands of 99 and 83, respectively. They were even more devastating under Friday night’s lights, rocketing to a century opening stand at 10 an over.As had been the case against Stars and Spartans, de Kock led the charge. Left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin has been key to Rocks’ early control with the ball in this tournament, having opened the bowling in every game, but this time around de Kock lined him up to take 12 from the first over of the Blitz chase.Rocks’ seamers could do little to stem the tide, doing themselves no favours by repeatedly straying onto the Blitz openers’ pads or feeding them width outside off. Dane Paterson leaked 17 from his second over, with all three boundaries in the over coming through the leg side, de Kock then plundering four fours in a row as David Wiese gave him room to free his arms through the off side, bringing up a 31-ball half century.The pair took 65 from the Powerplay, breaking the back of the chase, and a 10-wicket defeat loomed when de Kock brought up the team 100 with a cut over point off Tabraiz Shamsi to start the 11th over.Shamsi broke through to remove Malan in the same over – the right-hander having made just 26 in the opening stand while giving the bulk of the strike to his partner – but de Kock motored into the 90s with his third six in the 13th over. A second MSL hundred was his for the taking, but with the temptation of a bonus point for a win inside 16 overs, he kept playing his shots and holed out to du Plessis at long on off Dwayne Bravo.Bravo got rid of Dawid Malan with his very next delivery, trapping him lbw, but after the early assault Blitz only needed 18 off the remaining 39 deliveries and the pressure was off. With a good Friday night crowd in and a raucous brass band cheerleading from the terraces, Blitz captain Farhaan Behardien spanked a six and a four to take his team to the brink before Andile Phehlukwayo secured a bonus point victory in the Cape derby with a rifled four through extra cover with five and a half overs to spare.The defeat left Rocks with virtually no hope of making the play-offs, and meant a captain’s effort from du Plessis went in vain. He was into the action halfway through the third over of Rocks’ innings when Aiden Markram toe-ended a flick at Ferisco Adams, and soon picked up the momentum created by Cameron Delport’s combative early hitting. Phehlukwayo was carted for two sixes and a four in his first over to elevate the score to 62 for 2 at the end of the Powerplay, and du Plessis brought up his fifty in the 13th over.A platform had been set, but from 115 for 3 in the 14th over Rocks lost their way badly to lose their next six wickets for the addition of just 29 runs. The wickets were shared around by the Blitz seamers, with Malusi Siboto, Nandre Burger and Dale Steyn picking up two each, Steyn bowling with particular venom. But the most eye-catching performance of the night was undoubtedly de Kock’s, and deservedly picked up the Player of the Match award, and R15,000, for his innings.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks set to become Manchester United’s minority shareholder after his 25% bid has been accepted by the Glazers.
He has agreed to buy a quarter of the club for £1.3b and this could give Erik ten Hag a new lease of life in charge of the club.
The Old Trafford side have endured a dismal start to the 2023/24 campaign, winning just nine of their opening 18 matches and this sort of form seems unlikely lead them to much success.
They currently occupy sixth place in the Premier League table and while they may only be seven points off the summit, recent performances against the top four suggest they will not be challenging for a title this term.
The Dutchman has not been helped with an injury crisis engulfing his squad, while his summer arrivals have failed to sparkle domestically and these factors have meant United have struggled.
With clashes against Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Liverpool to come in the next few weeks, along with tough Champions League ties against Bayern Munich and Galatasaray, ten Hag will need to see some vast improvement, and fast.
The January transfer window is fast approaching and could the former Ajax boss perhaps delve into the market and bolster his faltering squad?
Man Utd transfer news
Having spent £191.7m during the summer window, it remains to be seen how much money ten Hag will have to spend, and he may need to move a few players on in order to raise funds.
According to Portuguese outlet Record, however, the Red Devils are eyeing up a move for youngster Joao Neves in the upcoming January transfer window.
The club have scouted the player numerous times recently, most notably last weekend where he scored an equaliser for Benfica against Sporting CP before his side netted the winner just a few minutes later.
There is one major problem, however; money. The midfielder has a release clause which currently stands at €120m (£105m) and with a contract at the Portuguese side until 2028, ten Hag is going to have to break the bank to secure a deal for the talented gem.
Ratcliffe's arrival could provide fresh optimism, as could a splash from ten Hag to allow Neves to arrive in Manchester, as he would be the ideal player to replace Casemiro, who has been linked with an exit recently.
Casemiro’s future is in doubt at Man Utd
The midfielder has missed the previous seven games for United having suffered an injury while on international duty with Brazil in October.
He could be in his final furlong with the club, however, as Ratcliffe apparently wants to move him on in order to create space in the squad for other players.
This could suggest they are ready to cash in on the former Real Madrid midfielder, who they only signed in 2022 for a fee in the region of £70m and although he improved their midfield last term, some may question a fee of that size for a player who they are now prepared to move on after 18 months at the club.
There is interest from Saudi Arabia for the Brazilian and considering he still has two-and-a-half-years left on his current contract, ten Hag could be able to recoup some of the cash he spent on him in 2022.
He was instrumental in United winning their first trophy in six years, scoring in the EFL Cup final against Newcastle while helping the side secure third spot in the league.
Due to injury, however, he has only played eight league matches and with the interest from the Middle East apparent, the Dutchman could move him on and use the funds to try and lure Neves to England.
Joao Neves’ career statistics
This time last year, the 19-year-old had yet to make his debut for Benfica, but with the Portuguese club selling Enzo Fernández to Chelsea in January, a slot opened up in the midfield, and he hasn’t looked back since.
He played 20 times for the club during the second half of last season, scoring once, but it has been the previous few months that has seen his performances attract attention from other clubs.
1
1
44.5
53.7
1
3
0.4
1.4
2.6
2.4
As you can see in the table above, Neves has offered a similar level of defensive protection out of possession whilst being able to offer far more to his team on the ball this season.
Hailed as “highly talented” by talent scout Jacek Kulig alongside other Benfica gems, the midfielder has played a part in every Benfica game already this term, adding a goal and an assist in the process.
Indeed, he currently ranks fourth in the squad for accurate passes per game (53.7), along with ranking third for big chances created (three), fourth for successful dribbles per game (1.4), and third for accurate long passes per game (3.8), certainly proving that he belongs at the elite and is one of Benfica’s best performers across these metrics this season.
The teenager also ranks highly across a range of defensive metrics when compared to his positional peers. According to FBref, Neves ranks in the top 5% for tackles per 90 (3.44) along with ranking in the top 1% for blocks per 90 (2.18) and in the top 11% for aerial duels won per 90 (1.98) which suggests that, alongside his excellent passing abilities and forward-thinking mindset, the youngster is also effective defensively.
These attributes could ensure Neves would become an ideal heir for Casemiro, especially as he would be able to slot straight into the heart of the midfield given his experience in the Portuguese top flight and the Champions League.
The Dutchman may need to rejuvenate what appears to be a squad that is stagnating and injecting some young talent into the engine room could be an excellent way of giving the side a jolt.
Signing Neves could be a costly venture, given his reported release clause but, over time, he has the potential to develop into a midfielder who can shine in the Premier League.
He does not turn 20 until next September, giving the Old Trafford side plenty of time to work with him and build him into a top-class central midfielder.
If Ratcliffe can receive a decent fee for Casemiro in January, then this should enable the club to make a concrete offer for Neves, who could come in as the heir to the Brazilian's position.