All posts by h79snht.top

Chelsea are coming off the back of one of their worst performances of the season, holding 57% possession in the match against Brighton, taking just seven shots, and creating zero big chances in the game, going on to lose 2-1, being knocked out of the FA Cup.

Enzo Maresca was without his only natural senior centre-forward against the Seagulls, with Nicolas Jackson missing through injury, which saw Christopher Nkunku start the game up front.

Despite his immense form in cup competitions this term, it heavily impacted the team’s overall play both on and off the ball in a negative fashion.

Nkunku didn’t manage a single on Saturday, only took one touch in the opposition penalty area and lacked pressing intensity from the front, making it much easier for Brighton to manipulate Chelsea’s press throughout the game.

This shows the value in having a top level centre-forward, much like Newcastle currently do in Alexander Isak.

Alexander Isak's incredible season in numbers

So far this season, Isak has been in virtually unstoppable form. In the process of making 28 appearances in all competitions, the Swede has scored 19 goals and provided five assists.

The 25-year-old is effective in all phases of play, pressing well from the front with intensity, dropping to help link play, but also being a good target for direct balls forward with his 6 foot 4 frame.

Newcastle’s talisman has been subject to a lot of interest from other Premier League clubs, with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea reportedly very interested in the Sweden international, having enquired about his services in the past.

But, according to player valuations from Football Observatory, Isak is valued at around €95.8m (£79.8m) by CIES Football Observatory and would cost a pretty penny, potentially even more than that sum, to bring him to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Remarkably, that fee is actually lower than one of Chelsea’s current options, who was signed for just £32m back in 2023.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

Expand Collapse The Chelsea star who's worth more than Isak

It’s safe to say that Todd Boehly’s recruitment in recent years has been rather hit or miss. For every Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, there’s been a Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk.

Alas, in a certain Nicolas Jackson, they have struck gold.

Jackson has made 68 appearances since joining the Blues, netting 26 goals, providing 11 assists and totalling 5,312 minutes already. Despite being inconsistent, the 23-year-old has already shown his overall quality in all phases, pressing well from the front – which has been praised by Maresca himself – and contributing to the team’s build-up phase, receiving in deeper pockets to help link play and carry the team forward.

Well, such has been his remarkable rise to stardom over the last few years that according to CIES, he is currently valued even higher than Isak at a staggering £88m, making him the 22nd highest-value player on the list.

For reference, another striker who has been linked with a move to Chelsea is the highly rated Liam Delap from Ipswich. He doesn’t make this top 100 estimated transfer values list by CIES but was being touted at around £50m over the winter.

Jackson vs Isak & Delap in 2024/25

Stats (per 90 min)

Jackson

Isak

Delap

Goals

0.47

0.82

0.45

Assists

0.26

0.21

0.10

xG

0.59

0.70

0.37

xAG

0.21

0.19

0.09

Progressive Carries

2.12

2.90

2.09

Progressive Passes

1.40

2.90

1.02

Shots Total

3.26

3.45

2.01

Goals/Shot

0.14

0.23

0.18

Key Passes

1.30

1.75

0.97

Shot-Creating Actions

3.21

3.65

2.40

Aerial Duels Won

0.67

0.90

1.79

Stats taken from FBref

When comparing the three strikers’ underlying numbers, Isak does tend to come out on top in many, showing his clinical levels, and ability to contribute in the build-up with his progressive actions and create for his teammates.

However, Isak is also much closer to his prime, with Jackson and Delap still having a few extra years of development before they hit those levels.

Peter Crouch and Joe Cole both praised Jackson as an “unbelievable” player who deserves more recognition from outside the Chelsea fan base, after scoring two against West Ham earlier in the season. Whilst his form has dropped off in front of goal since then, he has still managed to provide some important assists, and Maresca clearly values his overall work in the team extremely highly, which was yet again proven with his absence against Brighton.

Another striker to compete with Jackson and add a different skill set is still much needed, but the Blues will be hoping the 23-year-old is back for their next game, as Chelsea clearly look like a much better side when he is on the pitch than when he isn’t.

Related He lost the ball 21 times: 4/10 Chelsea dud was as bad as Nkunku v Brighton

Chelsea were poor in the FA Cup fourth round as they slumped to defeat against the Seagulls.

Posts 1 ByJoe Nuttall Feb 9, 2025

في خطوة تعكس جدية نادي الوداد الرياضي في تعزيز صفوفه قبل انطلاق بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025، استقبل الفريق لاعبًا مغربيًا دوليًا من العيار الثقيل، وصل إلى مدينة الدار البيضاء، يوم الجمعة، تمهيدًا للانضمام الرسمي إلى صفوف النادي.

بحسب ما أوردته صحيفة “le360 سبور” المغربية، فإن اللاعب المرتقب سيخضع للفحوصات الطبية، قبل التوقيع الرسمي على عقده مع الفريق الأحمر، ليكون ضمن القائمة التي ستخوض غمار مونديال أمريكا الصيف المقبل.

وكشفت الصحيفة أن النجم المغربي نور الدين أمرابط هو اللاعب المنتظر ضمه إلى الوداد، في صفقة أثارت الكثير من الاهتمام، لأن أمرابط، يملك سجلًا حافلًا مع أندية أوروبية وعربية بارزة أبرزها هال سيتي الإنجليزي والنصر السعودي ومالقة الإسباني، ويُعد من الأسماء التي يمكن أن تضيف قوة كبيرة للفريق على مستوى الخبرة والقيادة داخل الملعب.

طالع أيضًا | بطولات يوضح.. هل الوداد مهتم بضم كريستيانو رونالدو في كأس العالم للأندية؟

ووفقًا للمصدر ذاته، فإن العلاقة القوية التي تربط أمرابط برئيس النادي هشام أيت مانة لعبت دورًا في تسهيل المفاوضات، خاصة في ظل رغبة الطرفين في التعاون خلال هذه المرحلة المفصلية من تاريخ الوداد.

التحرك يأتي ضمن خطة واضحة لإدارة النادي تهدف إلى ضم عناصر ذات خبرات دولية واسعة، تحضيرًا للمشاركة المرتقبة في كأس العالم للأندية التي ستقام بنظامها الجديد في الولايات المتحدة بداية من 14 يونيو المقبل، بمشاركة 32 ناديًا من حول العالم.

ويواصل الفريق الأحمر مفاوضاته مع عدد من اللاعبين المغاربة المحترفين في أوروبا، في محاولة لتشكيل مجموعة قادرة على مقارعة كبار القارة والعالم، حيث أوقعت القرعة الوداد في مجموعة صعبة تضم مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي، ويوفنتوس الإيطالي، والعين الإماراتي.

ويمثل الوداد القارة الإفريقية إلى جانب أندية الأهلي المصري، والترجي التونسي، وصن داونز الجنوب إفريقي، وسط تطلعات جماهيرية بأن يكون الفريق على قدر التحدي في هذا الحدث العالمي الكبير.

In front of more than 90,000 fans at the MCG, India prevailed over Pakistan in a nerve-racking finish

Alagappan Muthu23-Oct-20225:51

Rohit Sharma on Virat Kohli’s 82*: ‘One of India’s best knocks’

That front foot…Just the way it lunges at the ball…Even in this game…Even against these guys…Virat Kohli isn’t a man. He is a feeling. It’s why every time he walks out to bat, he lifts the entire world with him. Or at the very least roughly around one billion of its people.On a day where only the extraordinary was allowed into the MCG, one of India’s greatest played an innings that may be their greatest ever in T20 cricket. It has to be because, in the end, they beat Pakistan, and it brought a tear to his eye.Related

Wounded Pakistan still 'feeling the pain and hurting', but morale remains intact

Rohit on Kohli's innings: 'His best for sure, one of India's best too'

Kohli: My best T20 innings because of the 'magnitude of the game and the situation'

Drama at the death – a ball-by-ball account of a cracking finish

'Virat Kohli, what are you?'

How it ended
India went into the final three overs needing 48 runs to complete a chase of 160.And they were facing a bowling attack that was drawing every bit of venom available on a pitch that offered scary pace and seething bounce.Haris Rauf was more bolt of lighting than flesh and bone. He was the one who brought Pakistan back into this riotous game. So naturally he had to go.All night Kohli was batting at a level that shouldn’t be possible. Like a 27th letter of the English alphabet. It was preposterous. Just like the two sixes he hit to end the 19th over.The first one was a back-of-a-length slower ball climbing up above his waist. The only way he could have hit it straight over the bowler’s head is if his willpower actually bent the laws of physics.How can you clear the biggest cricket ground on the planet when there’s no pace on the ball, and when it was meant to get big on you? How?!An equation that read 28 off eight balls became 16 off six. And still mayhem lurked.On the other side of ecstasy, there’s agony – Mohammad Nawaz after the final over•Getty Images

Spin was the price this match paid to be this awesome. Anyone that couldn’t put pace on the ball was being dispatched. And Mohammad Nawaz knew the same fate awaited him when he fronted up for the final over.He started it well enough, with the wicket of Hardik Pandya, but when he ran into the day’s unstoppable force, everything changed.Kohli launched Nawaz over that giant square-leg boundary, and long before the ball landed, he was signalling for a no-ball. Pakistan didn’t like that. Babar Azam and the umpires were involved in a long, animated and emotional discussion. It was a marginal call, a full toss perhaps over waist-high, and in the end, India got what they wanted.A free hit, which Nawaz used to break Kohli’s stumps, but that didn’t matter. You can’t get bowled off a free hit. And, as the ball wandered away, Kohli sprinted three runs. Cue dissent from Pakistan once more. They felt the ball should’ve been dead once it had hit the stumps, but the umpires disagreed again. Rod Tucker signalled byes.India needed two off one, but Kohli was at the non-strikers’ end. And somewhere in the midst of all this Dinesh Karthik had been stumped.Two off one with R Ashwin on strike. Who writes these scripts?Nawaz ran in… and bowled a wide down the leg side. WHO WROTE THIS SCRIPT?!Ashwin, one of the cleverest going around, just sidestepped that ball, and then with one needed off one, he casually chipped the ball over mid-off. The sound barrier broke as 90,293 people at the MCG – and countless millions at home – all roared as one. Some in ecstasy, some in agony.Virat Kohli took a moment for himself after his incredible knock•Getty Images

Meanwhile, Kohli was on his knees – just as he was in Mohali, 2016. He punched the turf. This was new. And when he came up, he was mobbed. He allowed his team-mates their time with him but then wriggled away so he could be alone. Or well, as alone as he could be with a stadium full of people singing his name. He stared at the night sky, with his right hand raised, and his forefinger up. Was he saying thanks? Was he saying, ‘Ah, so this is why I went through that slump in form? Well, fair enough. Good deal.’ And then suddenly his thoughts were broken as the captain of the Indian cricket team hurtled onto the pitch and lifted him clean off his feet. When Rohit Sharma came to the presentation, he had no voice.The other hero
It now seems so long ago but India had another hero as well. His name was Arshdeep Singh. Last month at the Asia Cup, he shelled a catch in the dying moments of a very tight game against Pakistan and was met with the vilest abuse on social media. He’s 23 years old. All he wants to do is help his team win. And today he did just that, by removing Babar Azam lbw with his very first ball in a T20 World Cup.Back then, this game was all swing and hoop and the lurid geometry the white ball is capable of. Pakistan were reduced to 32 for 2 in the powerplay. Then Iftikhar Ahmed and Shan Masood built a partnership. They took down R Ashwin and Axar Patel. Spin just couldn’t catch a break in the game, leaking 107 runs in 72 balls, eight sixes and nine fours.Pakistan recovered to make 59 runs in the six overs immediately after the powerplay, prompting India to bring back their quicks, and within 12 balls Hardik and Mohammed Shami had three wickets. Shaheen Afridi came out at No. 9 and belted one NSFW six over the longest boundary of the ground at deep midwicket, pushing the total up to 159 for 8. And it was game on.Long before the pulsating denouement, Arshdeep Singh made crucial new-ball incisions to remove both Pakistan openers•Getty Images

The best vs the best
Defending 160 is hard work, even for Pakistan. Since 2019, they’ve only managed to do it thrice in 13 matches. This had all the looks of being lucky number four.Rohit and KL Rahul were given the short shrift. Suryakumar Yadav was bounced out. India were 45 for 4 after 10 overs. If they were going to win, they had to score nearly two runs a ball for half of their innings.Talk about goading a genius. Kohli was 12 off 21 then. He would pick himself up with a six off Nawaz – a thundering strike after stepping down the pitch. Hardik at the other end got going as well. India managed 55 runs in the five overs from 11th and 15th and Pakistan knew they had to bring back their big guns.Shaheen came on. But he hadn’t played any cricket since July 2022 and all that rust showed. A would-be leg-stump yorker turned into a low full toss – which isn’t the worst ball to bowl in T20 cricket, it still denies the batter the room they like to hit boundaries. But Kohli somehow managed it. And all it took was a twist of his wrist.That loft over extra cover which beat three fielders – one running back and two converging on it from deep cover point and long-off – was like a catharsis. Not so long ago, Kohli confessed to faking his intensity. Here, he felt its embrace and it was all natural. And it was all good. So good that he actually punched the air even though India still needed 37 off 15 balls.Hardik, though, was still struggling. The pressure to find those sixes was getting to him and he began searching in all the wrong places – like square of the wicket at the MCG. Rauf bowled a brilliant 19th over – the first four balls anyway – to push the equation up to 28 off 8. Then Kohli got on strike. He knew the straight boundaries were shorter. And he went for them. Got one down the ground. Then another behind the wicket. Poof, just like that, 12 off 2. To be that clear-headed, to be that calculative, in that situation, requires…Actually, there’s no real word for it.Kohli said it himself. “I have no words. I have no idea how this happened”.

MatériaMais Notícias

Com equipes bem diferentes da última quarta-feira (22), Corinthians e Santos ficaram no empate em 0 a 0, neste sábado (25), pela 14ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

+ATUAÇÕES: Corinthians, em noite sem brilho, fica no empate com o Santos
+ ATUAÇÕES: Léo Baptistão e dupla de zaga são os destaques do Santos no clássico

Como o Timão tem pela frente o jogo de ida das oitavas de final da Libertadores, contra o Boca Juniors, da Argentina, os principais jogadores do elenco foram preservados do clássico deste fim de semana.

Já o Peixe iniciou a partida com sete mudanças em relação ao time que começou a derrota por 4 a 0 pela Copa do Brasil, há três dias.

Com o resultado, o Timão seguirá na segunda colocação do Campeonato Brasileiro, com 26 pontos, não podendo ultrapassar o Palmeiras, que pode abrir ainda mais a vantagem na liderança, já que enfrenta o Avaí, neste domingo (26), pelo Brasileirão.

Já o Peixe, segue na sexta colocação da competição nacional, mas pode perder posições com o complemento da rodada neste fim de semana.

+ Confira a tabela do Brasileirão e simule os próximos jogos

SANTOS COMEÇA MELHOR

Para exorcizar a má atuação da última quarta-feira (22), quando foi goleado por 4 a 0, o Santos começou em cima do Corinthians, neste fim de semana.

Tendo mais posse de bola, o Peixe ocupou o campo adversário durante a maior parte dos 10 minutos iniciais, quando o atacante Marcos Leonardo arrancou pela esquerda, saiu na cara do goleiro Cássio e mandou para fora. Porém, a arbitragem assinalou impedimento e ‘salvou’ o atacante santista.

ESPALMA CÁSSIO

Seis minutos após Marcos Leonardo perder o gol, mas ver o lance anulado, o Santos criou a primeira grande oportunidade que valeu, com Léo Baptistão, que recebeu ótimo passe de Ângelo, pela direita. O camisa 92 santista finalizou de fora da área e obrigou Cássio fazer grande defesa.

RESPOSTA CORINTIANA

Aos 18 minutos do primeiro tempo, o Corinthians viu que estava sendo acuado e começou a crescer. O primeiro ato de resposta foi com Du Queiroz, que recebeu passe de Adson, pela esquerda e finalizou de fora da área, por cima do gol.

FALTAS PERIGOSAS PARA OS DOIS LADOS

Corinthians e Santos levaram perigo em cobranças de falta.

Primeiro o Peixe, com Marcos Leonardo, pelo lado esquerdo, com Marcos Leonardo batendo rasteiro, por baixo da barreira, mandando para fora.

Na sequência, Mantuan bateu uma falta frontal, tentou colocar a meia altura, no canto direito, por fora da barreira, mas a bola bateu na trave de sustentação da rede do gol norte da Neo Química Arena.

NOVAMENTE DU MANDA PRA FORA

Próximo ao fim do primeiro tempo, aos 33 minutos, Du Queiroz realizou a segunda tentativa de marcar em chute de fora da área. Novamente o passe veio da esquerda para a direita, mas dessa vez com Mantuan, encontrando o camisa 37, que encheu o pé e mandou por cima do gol.

CORINTHIANS VOLTA COM TUDO

Diferentemente do que aconteceu no primeiro tempo, foi o Corinthians que voltou melhor no segundo tempo.

O Timão promoveu a entrada da dupla Giuliano e Willian, no lugar de Mantuan e Du Queiroz, que sentiu um problema na coxa no fim do primeiro tempo. E foram os dois que entraram fresco que chegaram pela primeira vez ao gol, logo aos dois minutos da etapa final.

Os dois atletas tabelaram pelo lado esquerdo, Giuliano saiu na cara do gol, mas não bateu forte e a bola passou pela pequena área.

QUASE, RAFAEL RAMOS

Aos sete minutos do segundo tempo, o Timão criou a segunda grande chance da etapa final, em uma jogada que nasceu com Adson, aberto pelo lado direito, e encontrou o lateral Rafael Ramos em ótimas condições no bico da grande área, bateu cruzado e mandou para fora. Seria o primeiro gol do português com a camisa corintiana.

PEIXE RESPONDE

Na sequência da finalização de Rafa Ramos, o Peixe foi para cima com Ângelo, que arrancou do campo de defesa para o ataque e serviu Léo Baptistão, que finalizou para fora.

RONI FAZ JOHN TRABALHAR

Willian fez o que quis pelo lado esquerdo, encontrou Adson, que serviu Roni chegar batendo de fora da área. O camisa 29 encheu o é no canto esquerdo e obrigou John fazer uma grande defesa.

CORINTHIANS 0 X 0 SANTOS
CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO – 14ª RODADA

Local: Neo Química Arena, São Paulo, Brasil
Data e hora: 25 de junho de 2022, às 19H
Árbitro:Flávio Rodrigues de Souza (FIFA/SP)
Assistentes:Marcelo Carvalho Van Gasse (FIFA/SP) e Gustavo Rodrigues de Oliveira (SP)
Árbitro de vídeo:Rodrigo Guarizo Ferreira do Amaral (VAR-FIFA/SP)
Público/renda:41.124 pessoas / R$2.443.238,62
Cartões amarelos: Roni, Fagner e Adson (Corinthians); Ângelo (Santos)
Cartões vermelhos: –

GOLS: –

CORINTHIANS: Cássio; Rafael Ramos (Fagner, 15’/2T), Robert Renan, Raul Gustavo e Fábio Santos; Du Queiroz (Giuliano, intervalo), Cantillo e Roni (Lucas Piton, 24’/2T); Adson, Felipe Augusto (Júnior Moraes, 10’/2T) e Gustavo Mantuan (Willian, intervalo). Técnico: Vítor Pereira.

SANTOS: John; Auro (Rwan Secco, 25’/2T), Velázquez, Eduardo Bauermann e Felipe Jonatan; Rodrigo Fernández, Camacho (Sandry, 40’/2T) , Léo Baptistão (Lucas Pires, 40’/2T) e Lucas Braga; Ângelo (Bruno Oliveira, 18’/2T) e Marcos Leonardo. Técnico: Lucas Ochandorena.

Shifting their focus towards the summer, Manchester United are now reportedly preparing a hefty £66m offer to sign one particular defensive solution who Ruben Amorim sees as a perfect fit.

Man Utd transfer news

There were brief spells under both Ole Gunner Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag when there looked destined to be light at the end of the tunnel for Manchester United. The latter even won the Carabao Cup in his very first season.

Both at least enjoyed what is often described as a new manager bounce when they initially arrived. Yet, their exits arrived all the same in what has seemed like an inevitability at Old Trafford in recent years.

Related Man Utd ready to trigger £62.5m star's release clause if Garnacho leaves

Man United already have their eye on a replacement for Garnacho should he be sold in the summer.

Posts ByBrett Worthington Feb 21, 2025

It’s a warning sign that Amorim should take note of, especially since his new manager bounce has been more of a stumble and fall flat on his face. Whilst Solskjaer and Ten Hag enjoyed an instant boost, the former Sporting Club boss has seen the Theatre of Dreams turn into a nightmare ever since he’s stepped foot in the technical area with his side in mid-table.

It’s quickly become clear that the Red Devils are arguably more desperate than ever for reinforcements if they want to stick with Amorim and his 3-4-2-1 system. And that has reportedly seen those at Old Trafford turn their focus towards La Liga.

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are now preparing an €80m (£66m) offer to sign Jules Kounde from Barcelona in what would undoubtedly be one of the biggest deals of the summer.

Of course, there will be concerns over United’s ability to fund such an offer, but summer sales could yet leave them well placed to welcome the Frenchman, who Amorim sees as the perfect fit.

Whilst Barcelona are reportedly keen to keep hold of their versatile defender, their own financial issues could quickly leave the door ajar for a shock exit this summer.

"Amazing" Kounde is one of the best in his position

If Manchester United want to make a return to Europe’s top table then signing the best that world football has to offer would certainly be a good place to start. And Kounde is certainly among the best defenders in the world. Capable of playing both centre-back and right-back, the Frenchman would be an instant upgrade on the likes of Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot.

League stats 24/25 P90 (via FBref)

Jules Kounde

Harry Maguire

Diogo Dalot

Starts

21

13

24

Progressive Passes

5.33

2.98

3.39

Tackles Won

1.57

0.69

1.36

Ball Recoveries

3.57

3.28

5.72

Full of praise for Kounde last season, former Barcelona manager Xavi told reporters: “He was one of the transfers that I asked for. He’s one of the best defenders in the world right now. Stopping Mbappé was a collective effort. Kounde did amazing against Mbappé but Lamine [Yamal] also helped him a lot.”

All signs point towards an impressive upgrade for Manchester United, but whether they’ll have the finances to pursue such a deal is another question entirely. Before anything this summer, the Red Devils must sell.

أعلن نادي الخلود السعودي، انتهاء إعارة النجم المالي أليو ديانج، ليعود إلى الأهلي، استعدادًا للمشاركة في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025، بأمريكا.

ويستعد فريق النادي الأهلي للمشاركة في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025، في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، في مجموعة تضم إنتر ميامي وبورتو البرتغالي وبالميراس البرازيلي.

طالع| الأهلي يوجه الشكر لـ مسؤول في قطاع كرة القدم

 كان الأهلي أعار ديانج إلى الخلود السعودي في 26 يوليو 2024، حتى نهاية يونيو الجاري، لكن النادي السعودي منح اللاعب رخصة الرحيل للمشاركة في المونديال مع الأهلي.

 ونشر الحساب الرسمي لنادي الخلود السعودي، عبر موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “إكس”، بيانا أعلن في إنهاء إعارة أليو ديانج، تقديرا للعلاقة المتميزة مع الأهلي من أجل المشاركة معه في كأس العالم للأندية. ديانج يعود إلى الأهلي

 وجاء نص البيان: “قرر الخلود إنهاء إعارة أليو ديانج تقديرًا للعلاقة المتميزة مع النادي الأهلي المصري من أجل المشاركة معه في كأس العالم للأندية”.

وتابع البيان: “تتقدم إدارة نادي الخلود بخالص الشكر والتقدير للاعب أليو دانج على ما أظهره من انضباط واحترافية، متمنية له دوام التوفيق والنجاح في مسيرته الرياضية المقبلة”.

📝 الخلود يقرر إنهاء إعارة أليو ديانغ تقديراً للعلاقة المتميزة مع النادي الأهلي المصري من أجل المشاركة معه في كأس العالم للأندية@AlAhly pic.twitter.com/NbxNMiBDTH

— نادي الخلود السعودي (@AlkholoodClub) June 3, 2025

A “wonderful” West Brom player could return to the team to face Millwall this weekend, according to an update from reliable journalist Lewis Cox.

Latest West Brom news

Tony Mowbray is now five games into his second stint as Baggies manager, winning twice and losing three times, which hasn’t necessarily been the ideal start to life back in charge at the Hawthorns.

West Brom are still sitting pretty in sixth place in the Championship, however, leaving them in the playoff positions, as they look to secure a return to the Premier League in the coming months.

Last weekend’s dramatic late 2-1 win at home to Sheffield Wednesday felt big in the promotion battle, with Jayson Molumby netting in the dying seconds against their rivals, but a 2-0 home defeat to Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday evening acted as a reality check for Mowbray and his side.

On Saturday afternoon, West Brom head to Millwall for another important game, with the south London side in 14th place currently, but winning three of their last four league matches, highlighting their own good form.

"Wonderful" West Brom ace could face Millwall

According to The Express & Star‘s Cox, West Brom defender Semi Ajayi could “maybe” return from injury for the trip to Millwall, in what would be the 31-year-old’s first appearance under Mowbray, who has called his player “wonderful”.

Having Ajayi back for the weekend action would be a big boost for the Baggies – he has not featured since the end of October, following nearly a four-month absence.

The Nigerian was a key figure earlier in the campaign, starting 12 Championship matches and averaging 2.3 aerial duel wins and two clearances per game, and Mowbray hailed him and Daryl Dike after his return for West Brom’s Under-21s earlier this week.

“It was nice to see Semi who has had a shorter-term injury but I thought the pair was excellent and certainly their attitude in the training session on Sunday and in the game was an example to all young players.”

Ajayi is now such an experienced player, racking up 174 games for the Baggies, not to mention winning 39 caps for Nigeria at international level. The centre-back’s know-how is going to be so important between now and the end of the campaign, as the matches become more and more important by the week.

It is clearly going to take time for him for get back to full match sharpness, following such a lengthy spell out of the team, but once he is fully full again, it would be a surprise if he wasn’t a regular starter under Mowbray.

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It would be a big surprise to see Ajayi thrown straight back into West Brom’s starting lineup for the Millwall game, but a place in the matchday squad would be a significant step in the right direction – depending on how the match is going, a cameo role could be ideal.

Suggests it would help him avoid the risk of being run-out backing up at the non-striker’s end

Andrew McGlashan29-Oct-2022

Glenn Phillips: “I guess the position was to be able to see the bowlers and take off as quick as possible”•Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Glenn Phillips’ innovative move to take up a sprinter’s start position at the non-strikers’ end was not pre-planned although he did suggest that it would help him avoid the risk of being run-out backing up which he said was an entirely justifiable dismissal.Phillips’ running between the wickets was a standout feature of his spectacular hundred against Sri Lanka at the SCG, but it was his position poised low in the crease as though in the starting blocks, rather than the traditional method of watching the bowler run in, that piqued interest – even if he later admitted he had actually got things slightly wrong.”I guess the position was to be able to see the bowlers and take off as quick as possible,” he said. “From a sprinter’s start when you’re trying not to be out of the crease as much as possible – there’s been a lot going around about Mankads and leaving the crease.”At the end of the day, it’s my responsibility to make sure that I’m in the crease and leave at the right time. If the bowler is doing his job, then he has the right to be able to take the bails off. For me to be able to get into that start, that position as quick as possible, it just made sense.””It was very much spur of the moment. I actually had my three-point start wrong, which my best mate’s going to probably give me a little bit of stick for later on. It’s supposed to be the other arm and other leg.Related

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Phillips was unsure whether his tactic would take off more widely, but felt his natural speed meant he benefited from it despite losing the extra reach that would be gained by the traditional method of having the bat behind the crease.”Maybe some people will use it. Maybe some people won’t,” he said. “Obviously the extension of the bat being in the crease gives you another extra foot or two, but at the end of the day, I’ve got little arms. So my speed is probably going to get me a little bit further than my reach is.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O zagueiro Gil foi um dos atletas corintianos que pararam na zona mista e conversaram com os jornalistas após o empate do Corinthians por 1 a 1 com o Athletico-PR, válido pela12ª rodada do Brasileirão.

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+ GALERIA – Relembre 10 momentos marcantes de Jô no Timão

Para o defensor, a atmosfera que a torcida cria na Arena da Baixada sempre dificulta para os visitantes. Mesmo assim, ele elogiou o primeiro tempo do Timão.

-Aqui é sempre muito difícil jogar. Primeiro tempo nos comportamos muito bem, sabíamos que na segunda etapa a equipe deles iria atacar mais, mas agora é descansar e pensar nos próximos jogos – afirmou.

O Corinthians vencia o Athletico e fazia bom jogo, mas na segunda etapa o time paulista caiu de produção e os paranaense reagiram na partida. Gil lamentou a equipe não ter conseguido aumentar a vantagem para sair com os três pontos.

-Faz parte, a gente não pode chegar aqui, ser hipócrita e dizer que o placar estava garantido com 1 a 0, faz parte do jogo e agora é ter tranquilidade para fazer um jogo bom no domingo – comentou.

+ TABELA – Confira e simule os jogos do Corinthians no Brasileirão

Aos 26 minutos do segundo tempo, Roni e Hugo Moura se desentenderam e foram expulsos pelo árbitro Vuaden. Para o defensor corintiano, o time da casa não levou vantagem após os cartões vermelhos, e disse que o clima quente faz parte dentro de uma partida competitiva.

– Muito difícil falar isso, mas faz parte. Campeonato Brasileiro, duas equipes que vão vencer, uma hora o jogo ficar mais quente, mas é tranquilidade para fazer nosso trabalho e esquecer o que aconteceu – ponderou o atleta de 35 anos.

O próximo compromisso do Corinthians é no domingo (19), contra o Goiás, pela 13ª rodada do Brasileirão, às 16h, na Neo Química Arena.

-Agora é descansar nesses dois dias e treinar bem no sábado para fazer um bom jogo no domingo, todos nós preparados para fazer um bom jogo – concluiu o zagueiro.