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da lvbet： Liverpool have boasted their fair share of attacking talent over the years, but there has not been such a devastating unified strikeforce as the spearhead assembled under Jurgen Klopp's management.

da prosport bet： The Reds had failed to kick on since the prosperity of the noughties and boasted just one League Cup trophy since that illustrious spell when Rafa Benitez orchestrated silver-laden success across the FA Cup and Champions League across two seasons, with Steven Gerrard the centrepiece.

Klopp arrived in 2015 after Brendan Rodgers' Luis Suarez-led side failed to win the 2013/14 Premier League title after an enthralling contest – following the bitter culmination, the Uruguayan phenomenon was sold to Barcelona for £75m in 2014.

With his pillar of prodigy gone the towering Anfield edifice crumbled, but the incoming German manager rekindled the flame and restored the Merseysiders with his transcendent stewardship.

Liverpool Silverware Under Klopp (via Transfermarkt)

Trophy

Times won

Premier League

x1

Champions League

x1

FA Cup

x1

Carabao Cup

x1

FIFA Club World Cup

x1

UEFA Super Cup

x1

Community Shield

x1

Fast-track to the present day and Liverpool has enjoyed one of the most resounding chapters in its lengthy history, winning trophies from all directions and establishing itself as a true European powerhouse once more.

While the collective growth in quality has been remarkable, Klopp will perhaps be best known for his devastating attacking instruments, with Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane forming an iconic frontline that struck fear into the hearts of Europe's most formidable outfits.

Salah still plies his trade on Merseyside to this day, having posted 190 goals and 83 assists across all competitions for the Reds, while Firmino departed in the summer after 362 appearances, described as a “leader” by journalist Henry Winter for his integral role.

Mane was the first to leave, but that does not discredit the profound effect he had on the Anfield side, cementing his name as one of the finest of his generation, and that's despite Klopp holding major reservations upon the first encounter between the pair.

Why did Liverpool sign Sadio Mane?

Mane is comfortably one of Liverpool's finest forwards of the modern era, with his rise to prominence really something to behold, but it wasn't always this way, with the Senegalese star not exactly making the best impression on his future manager.

Revealing his first thoughts in 2020, Klopp explained how Mane first came to his attention while he headed the Borussia Dortmund ship, and that he certainly hadn't been coloured impressed.

Klopp said: "I remember my first encounter with Sadio. It was in Dortmund. There was a really young guy sitting there. His baseball cap was askew, the blond streak he still has today.

"He looked like a rapper just starting out. I thought, 'I don't have time for this'. Our team back then really wasn't bad. I needed someone who could handle not being a starter at the very beginning, someone I could develop."

Well, a few years on and Mane had been dazzling in the Premier League with Southampton, scoring 25 goals and supplying 14 assists from 75 outings – including the division's fastest-ever hat-trick – and leaving Klopp no choice but to part with £34m in 2016 to secure his services.

It came during Klopp's first summer transfer window since taking the reins, with fellow acquisitions Gini Wijnaldum and Joel Matip forming the early framework for the forthcoming illustrious endeavours.

It was a masterful move, but no one knew that yet.

How many goals did Sadio Mane score for Liverpool?

Across 269 outings for the Merseyside outfit, the 31-year-old enjoyed the best years of his career by a long stretch, scoring 120 times and serving up 48 assists for his teammates, earning praise for his "unbelievable" performances by pundit Jamie Redknapp.

Winning all the silverware – barring the Community Shield – that Klopp has gleaned on English shores to date, the 97-cap Senegal legend has been more than just instrumental, blending lightning pace with deft attacking motions a cheetah would tip its hat to.

Situated on the left channel, Mane and Salah wreaked devastation as they veered inwards, having found space following the wizardry of Roberto Firmino in the centre, whose intellect and selflessness broke the enemy lines and allowed the incisive. wide pair to flourish.

Hitting double-digits across all six of his Premier League campaigns with Liverpool, his threat was one of great consistency, notably scoring 40 goals across the 2018/19 – 2019/20 terms alone.

The one-time Red Bull Salzburg man also combined 52 times with both Salah and Firmino across his Reds career, highlighting the level of destructive ability this esteemed frontline held.

Such prowess led Klopp to hail him as “one of Liverpool’s greatest ever players" also claiming that “the goals he scored, the trophies he won; a legend, for sure, but also a modern-day Liverpool icon."

All good things come to an end, and with just one year left on his contract and a resolution looking unlikely, Mane was sold to German champions Bayern Munich for an initial £27.5m, but his time in Bavaria was anything but auspicious.

The 5 foot 9 gem scored 12 times last season but failed to truly find his feet and saw his situation compounded following a high-profile bust-up with teammate Leroy Sane.

He has since joined the lucrative Saudi Pro League wave and teamed up with Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr for £24m, which ostensibly draws a curtain on his feats across Europe.

Endeared to the Liverpool fanbase and with a legacy woven into the fabric of this great footballing city, he is truly a staple of the immense success under Klopp's wing, rewriting the narrative and providing Anfield with a brilliant jewel.

da apostaganha： Tottenham Hotspur twice battled back at the home of their arch-rivals earlier today, to prove that this is a team completely altered for the better by Ange Postecoglou.

da esoccer bet： However, among his squad of relentless heroes, James Maddison and Heung-min Son unsurprisingly stood out once again during an enthralling 2-2 draw.

How did James Maddison and Heung-min Son play vs Arsenal?

To hear these two names mentioned should come as little shock to most Premier League fans, as everything good offensively that the Lilywhites produce is bound to emerge from one of these two stars.

As members of the new leadership group established at their north London outfit, the English and South Korea internationals have taken to such roles with ease, stepping up to lead the way for a side that looks to them for inspiration.

And it was certainly an inspired display from the duo, with the former Leicester City creator twice turning provider for Son, first providing a drilled cross for him to tap in, before picking Jorginho's pocket and slipping him in for another equaliser.

Aside from this, Maddison would also provide three key passes, deservedly amassing a 7.7 match rating. In fact, only his striker teammate and Arsenal's Bukayo Saka earned higher, via Sofascore.

So, to claim that there was actually another outstanding hero that outshone both of these Spurs stars would surprise most, but then again, it is becoming commonplace to see an Yves Bissouma masterclasses with regularity now.

How did Yves Bissouma play vs Arsenal?

Although the former Brighton and Hove Albion enforcer was only handed a 6.9 rating by Sofascore, this perhaps underplays the importance of the £25m Mali international in keeping the home side under wraps.

After all, their two goals only came from lapses in concentration, the first a wicked deflection for an own goal, and the second an unfortunate handball from close range.

Bissouma would enjoy 71 touches, yet remained economical in possession to maintain a 94% pass accuracy. Given how aggressively Mikel Arteta's men pressed at times, to remain so calm in such a high-pressure environment is exceedingly impressive.

However, perhaps even more outstanding was his discipline, given how easy it might have been to get sucked into a dogfight after his complaints to the referee earned him a cheap yellow card.

Following that flashpoint moment, he vanished from the game, sitting into a more comfortable deep role to quietly dictate the play. However, that's not to suggest that he hid.

Indeed, the 27-year-old "monster" – as he was once aptly dubbed by journalist Aaron Stokes – still makes four tackles, one block, one clearance and also won seven duels, including 100% aerials. It was an intelligent disappearance to see out a fine result.

Journalist Jordan Elgott even took to Twitter to highlight the period where Bissouma played with mostly a booking, noting: "Bissouma’s second half has been immense/"

Then, in the Evening Standard's post-match player ratings, fellow writer Dan Kilpatrick offered the following summation after handing the midfielder an admirable 7/10 rating: "Enjoyed a really good battle with Martin Odegaard, who pressed him relentlessly. Not as dominant as he can be but still so crucial to the way Spurs play."

To travel to the Emirates and twice fall behind would have seen Spurs sides of old crumble in the past, but with the spine that Bissouma and others now offer, it truly seems like Postecoglou has the foundation of a team ready to expel the struggles of the past and confidently stride into a bright, successful future.

England has been a happy hunting ground for the man who replaces Symonds in Australia’s order

Brydon Coverdale12-Jun-2009Early next week a planeload of Australian Test specialists will reach London to prepare for the Ashes, and try to put the team’s Twenty20 humiliation firmly in the past. Most of the five-day men have created Fleet Street headlines already. Not Marcus North. Despite his shaping as a pivotal player the tabloids have found him as interesting as a bowl of porridge.There have been howls of protest at Phillip Hughes’ acclimatising with centuries for Middlesex, Stuart Clark has caused indignation by trying for a county stint before visa problems arose, and Andrew McDonald has been photoshopped into a fast-food clown. Although North, who will turn 30 during the Ashes, has avoided the spotlight, he knows what it’s like to be an Australian in England in an Ashes year.”I had a very short stint at Lancashire for about seven or eight weeks in 2005,” North told Cricinfo. “I was watching it on TV, so it wasn’t a great time for me. The English supporters and public were waiting for that day to beat us. I got plenty of stick over there, that’s for sure.”Back then there was nothing North could do to help Australia’s cause. This time, despite his career being just two Tests old, he looms as a key man for the team’s balance. A century on debut in Johannesburg sealed his spot as a calming influence at No. 6, and his part-time offbreaks will be important if spin-thin Australia choose an all-pace attack.But it’s his batting that ought to earn him England’s respect. Of Australia’s 16-man touring party only Simon Katich and Michael Hussey have played more first-class cricket in England than North, whose tally includes stints for five counties and an average of 50 or more in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Australia’s selectors admire his ability to score his runs in tough circumstances, and a reverse-swinging Duke is nothing new to North.”That’s probably going to be the key to the batting, to adjust and combat that swing quickly,” he said. “We’ve seen that Jimmy Anderson is swinging the ball consistently both ways, and that’s something I think proved a big weapon in the 2005 Ashes campaign.”They’re both very strong attacks. The English will be suited to their English conditions. Jimmy Anderson has really come of age, Stuart Broad is maturing each Test that he plays, and Ryan Sidebottom has got an extremely good record in England, as well as [Andrew] Flintoff if he’s fit. They’re going to be a tough opposition. They’ve got a pretty well-balanced bowling attack.”Not that many bowling outfits are scarier than Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel, who North saw off to become the 18th Australian to score a century on Test debut. It was the first time in a decade-long career that North, who eschews the on-field flashiness favoured by his Test predecessor Andrew Symonds, had truly grabbed the attention of the Australian cricket public.”Three months have gone past and it feels like yesterday,” North said. “I’ll be honest, I still pinch myself a little bit. It’s an achievement I’ll remember for the rest of my days, but that’s gone now, that’s the last series, and my focus is on doing well and trying to establish myself as a player in England.”Marcus North has represented five counties, so the reversing Duke should not be news to him•Hampshire County Cricket ClubHis preparation has involved a couple of trips to the Centre of Excellence, although Australia resisted the temptation of sending him for specialist spin training in the lead-up to the Ashes. He collected his maiden first-class five-wicket haul during a tour match in South Africa, and his presence will tempt the selectors to squeeze out Nathan Hauritz and choose four fast men.”In the past I’ve looked at myself as a part-time bowler, but it’s something that I’ve identified in the last 18 months to really work hard on,” he said. “I feel that I can hold my own with the ball, and I can offer Ricky a good option, not just as a holding role, but an attacking role as the wickets get a bit more worn on the fourth and fifth day.”Unlike most Test rookies North knows plenty about what a leader requires from his troops. Two seasons ago he was named captain of Western Australia, and it sharpened his focus on his own role in the team. Runs began to come on difficult surfaces when his side needed him the most, and it pushed him to the top of the queue when Symonds became unavailable.”One of the best things that happened in my career was getting the captaincy of Western Australia,” he said. “That was a huge honour and gave me a real focus to try and improve Western Australian cricket. It gave me that responsibility, which carried into my game as well.”I felt that it was in tough conditions or when the team needed it the most that I performed. I felt that’s probably given me a hardened edge as a first-class player, which hopefully will hold me in good stead at Test level.”It started well in South Africa. The next phase begins a couple of days earlier than expected, after his flight was brought forward because of Australia’s premature exit from the ICC World Twenty20. But until the Tests begin, expect North to keep flying under the radar.

Newcastle United are interested in completing the signing of a defensive "jewel" this summer, according to a fresh transfer update.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies continue to be linked with lots of potential new signings at the end of the season, as PIF look to provide Eddie Howe with enough funds to make significant reinforcements.

Sporting CP centre-back Ousmane Diomande has jumped out as a primary target in recent weeks, with the 20-year-old Ivorian considered an ideal long-term partner for Sven Botman at the heart of Newcastle's defence. Contact has even reportedly been made with the defender, further suggesting that he could come to Tyneside in this summer.

Elsewhere, Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher could depart Stamford Bridge in the coming months, and the Magpies are seen as contenders to sign him, battling Tottenham for his signature. There have also been links surrounding Brentford and England ace Ivan Toney should Howe decide that he wants to add to his attack.

Newcastle fans will also be hoping that a number of key players stay put rather than move elsewhere, and Callum Wilson could now reportedly remain at the club. That's partly due to Financial Fair Play and choosing not to bring in an expensive striker in his place.

Newcastle want defensive "jewel"

According to a new report from Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are keen on signing Salernitana centre-back Lorenzo Pirola in the summer window.

The 22-year-old is described in the report as a "real jewel" of a player, and there is hope that the Magpies could snap him up for a fee of around €30m (£25.7m).

Pirola could be exactly the type of profile that Newcastle are looking for ahead of next season, in what is a crucial area of the pitch to add at least one new face. Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles are now both in their 30s, with the latter also currently out with a serious ACL injury, so they hardly represent the long-term picture at St James' Park.

Salernitana ace Pirola has experienced a tough season with his team, who sit bottom of Serie A by some distance, but he has still arguably stood out as one of their best players. He has averaged 3.2 clearances and 2.3 aerial duel wins per game in the competition, as well as winning 1.3 tackles per match, which is impressive considering he is one of the youngest members of the squad.

The fact that his side have been relegated to Serie B also means that could be expected to move on, and this could be beneficial for Newcastle, giving them an even better chance of signing him.

Freedman could strike gold by immediately axing £110k-p/w Newcastle trio

He’s been linked with replacing Dan Ashworth at St James’ Park this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Apr 26, 2024

Back in 2019, it was reported that both Manchester City and Manchester United were eyeing a move for Pirola, with the pair watching him for Italy at the Under-17 World Cup. This further shows his potential as a player, and why the Magpies should look to strike a deal for him.

The January transfer window is around six weeks away from opening up for business and Liverpool are reportedly looking at a possible addition to their defensive options.

Liverpool's transfer news – Valentin Barco

According to a report from Calcio Mercato, via TEAMtalk, the Reds are ready to provide 'fierce' competition to land the signing of Valentin Barco from Argentine outfit Boca Juniors next year.

The outlet has claimed that Juventus and Manchester City are also interested in the talented 19-year-old left-back, who is said to have a release clause of €10m (£8.8m) within his current contract.

However, it is not stated who is currently leading the race to secure his signature and it remains to be seen whether or not Liverpool have a realistic chance of being able to sign him.

If Jurgen Klopp is able to bring Barco to Anfield, though, then the German head coach could have his long-term heir to Andy Robertson at left-back.

Robertson's Liverpool statistics

The Scotland international has managed one goal and zero assists along with 2.9 tackles and interceptions per match in eight Premier League matches so far this season for the Reds.

Last term, the 29-year-old ace racked up eight assists in 34 top-flight appearances for the club and his creativity has been a constant bright spark throughout his career at Anfield.

17/18

22

Five

18/19

36

11

19/20

36

12

20/21

38

Seven

21/22

29

Ten

22/23

34

Eight

23/24

Eight

Zero

As you can see in the table above, Robertson has always been able to provide his teammates with chances to score at the top end of the pitch, despite being a left-back.

The statistics that show why Barco could be Robertson's heir

At the age of 19, Barco is ten years younger than the current Liverpool star and could, therefore, be the long-term heir to his position in the team as he has plenty of room and time to grow and develop as a player.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him an "exciting" prospect and once described the gem as a "wonderkid". Kulig has also gone as far as to hail him as Argentina's version of former Brazil and Real Madrid left-back legend Marcelo.

The teenage talent has showcased his attacking potential throughout 2023 and could be a like-for-like replacement for Robertson due to his ability to make things happen in the final third.

Barco has registered one assist and created three 'big chances' for his teammates in eight Libertadores starts this year, along with two assists and three 'big chances' created in six Copa de la Liga starts.

The talented left-back also caught the eye with one assist and 2.5 key passes per match across three starts at the U20 World Cup for Argentina earlier this year.

These statistics show that the young whiz has the ability to create chances and assist goals at an impressive rate from a defensive position, much like Robertson does for Liverpool.

Therefore, Klopp could land his next assist-king at left-back by securing a deal to sign Barco ahead of the likes of Manchester City and Juventus in January.

Liverpool have started the new Premier League season with renewed purpose and appear to have enjoyed an impressive transfer window that has eradicated the issues that punctured the club's pursuit of success.

Jurgen Klopp has been an absolutely brilliant manager and the architect of newfound feats at Anfield, having restored Liverpool's position at the forefront of domestic football, secured the league title for the first time in 30 years and reached three Champions League finals, winning one.

For all of the immense quality added to the club during this period, no signing has had greater importance to the trajectory than that of the manager, who has had to make some ruthless decisions along the way.

Loris Karius lost his place as the first-choice goalkeeper to Alisson Becker in 2018, who joined for £67m, and while Kevin Stewart's sale was more low-key, he too is emblematic of the decisions necessary to create this remarkable winning culture.

When did Liverpool sign Kevin Stewart?

Liverpool swooped for Stewart in 2014 when the player was aged 20, having not been offered a professional contract with Tottenham Hotspur.

The youngster was viewed as a crisp and combative centre-midfielder and quickly asserted himself as one of the club's most promising talents before Klopp's arrival changed everything.

Impressive with his equanimity, very much the composed head needed to keep the play ticking, Klopp was certainly a fan and offered Stewart his Premier League debut in 2015/16, starting him for six of the Reds' final eight games of the term – praised as the "perfect role model" for younger peers by reporter James Pearce.

He would make four substitute showings during the opening phase of the following season – his last with Liverpool – but this has been the extent of his top-flight career.

He lost his place, and while he continued to feature sporadically across cup competitions that season, his fate was sealed and he was shipped on to Hull City the following summer.

Why did Liverpool sell Kevin Stewart?

In July 2017, Liverpool signed left-back Andy Robertson from Hull for an initial £8m, with Kevin Stewart heading in the opposite direction for a similar fee.

Stewart had been held in high regard by Klopp but it was becoming increasingly clear that injuries and Liverpool's fast-rising ascendancy to prominence would mean that the one-time Spurs youngster was not going to earn regular match action at Anfield.

To think that Liverpool effectively recuperated the entirety of the fee paid to sign Robertson through the sale of Stewart, who was never really likely to cement a starting berth in a team targetting new levels of success, was incredible business.

Robertson has gone on to revel in a truly astounding career, important in winning the entire sweep of silverware under Klopp's tutelage and now praised as the “complete player” by former Liverpool player Fabio Aurelio.

The Scotland captain is also considered the fourth most valuable full-back in the world according to Football Transfers' valuation model and holds the Premier League record for most assists created by a defender, with 57.

It's safe to say that the 29-year-old has enjoyed a more successful Merseyside career than Stewart would have likely forged for himself, had he remained on the club's books.

In fact, the former Red – who was once compared to Xabi Alonso for his quality of passing – is now moored in the piteous position of unemployment, having actually spent over a year on the sidelines after enduring a detrimental spate of injuries that resulted in his contractual culmination with Blackpool.

What happened to Kevin Stewart?

Stewart has not been very lucky over the past few years; having joined Blackpool on an initial 18-month contract in January 2021, the midfielder completed 28 appearances before penning a new two-year contract in June 2021, though the 5-0 defeat against Peterborough one month earlier has proved to be his last professional display to date.

Seasiders writer Sean Mcginley conveyed news just months into the 2022/23 season that the former Liverpool ace had sustained an injury that would rule him out indefinitely, having not featured under Michael Appleton that term before his setback.

And given he would not feature again and is not unemployed, Stewart faces a fight to return to senior action as he currently bobs in uncharted waters.

He did manage to impress in instances for Hull, with former City player Peter Swan writing that his 'tenacity and doggedness in the middle was crucial' and that he deserves the 'plaudits he's getting now', but Stewart was unable to sustain his performances with the kind of regularity that is requisite for success.

Indeed, the 30-year-old completed 78 matches for Hull and posted two goals and assists apiece, but was released in 2020 and subsequently picked up by Blackpool.

Season

Apps

23/24

0

22/23

0

21/22

12

20/21

16

19/20

27

18/19

27

17/18

17

16/17

4

15/16

7

Stats via Transfermarkt.

The fact that Stewart has only completed in excess of 20 league matches across the duration of his senior career epitomises his struggles, with the incessant inability to muster a rich vein of form and sustain it utterly stifling any tincture of quality from blooming into something worth singing about.

And it's unfortunate too for a player who had such effusive praise while rising to the fore on Merseyside, but such is the ruthless nature of professional football.

Stewart has fallen foul to the sable side of the beautiful game, and while he can hold his head high after impressing during his maiden years and indeed playing a part for the Tigers during his stay, there is a rueful element to a career that could have been so much more.

As it is, Liverpool must be pleased with the business savvy displayed in shipping him on for a pretty exorbitant fee all things considered.

With Robertson arriving for a similar figure from the opposite direction, Liverpool can only be satisfied with the way things panned out, even if Stewart's decline is one of great poignancy.

With a year to go for the World Cup, the India A coach believes his players are progressing well enough to serve as excellent back-ups to the senior team should the need arise

Alan Gardner at The Oval03-Jul-2018Rahul Dravid, the India A coach, has hailed the “bench strength” being developed for the senior side ahead of next year’s World Cup after his players secured victory in the tri-series final on Monday. Led by a strong bowling performance and Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 64, India A overturned England Lions’ home advantage for the second time in a week to make it four wins in a row and take the trophy.Dravid on India in England

“It should be an interesting series. The India batting line-up has been here before, which should give them a lot of confidence. Hopefully the bowlers, if they can keep them fit, we’ve got a very good attack; the spinners have been here before, too. India is well placed to do well, but make no mistake, England in these conditions are a very good side. I’m hoping for a great series.”

Victory at The Oval had several authors, as has been the case all series. Deepak Chahar claimed 3 for 58, including a wicket with the new ball and that of Sam Hain, the Lions centurion; Khaleel Ahmed also picked up three wickets, while only Krunal Pandya, who removed Liam Livingstone for 83, went at more than a-run-a-ball. Pant then sealed the chase with a sprightly half-century, after 40s from Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Iyer laid the platform on a sometimes-tricky pitch.Overall, India A had four hundreds by three batsmen – Agarwal, with two, was second only to Hain in the run-scoring charts – and four players averaging more than 50. They also piled up a record 458 for 4 in a warm-up match against Leicestershire. With the ball, Chahar claimed 10 wickets at 14.70, while Shardul Thakur, Khaleel and Axar Patel also impressed in unfamiliar conditions.

I think we’ve got a really strong bowling attack at the moment, with the India side, a lot of variation and depth, and it’s nice to see we’ve got another batch there in case of injuries

With the 2019 World Cup taking place in England, Dravid said he had been encouraged by the strides the team had made after losing to the Lions in the opening match of the tri-series at Derby last week.”A lot of these tours aren’t necessarily about winning, but I think the quality of cricket we’ve played throughout this tournament – except for the first game where we didn’t bat particularly well – has been really good,” Dravid told ESPNcricinfo. “A lot of the boys have had their first-time exposure to these conditions; we tried to rotate the squad as much as we could and give everyone decent opportunities.”It’s been quite satisfying, some good performances. A tough game today as well, we had to fight back with the ball and the bat – so good to see them fight, good to see them compete in these conditions. Definitely some positives, as well as seeing some of the boys get into the national side as well, irrespective of the result.Rahul Dravid watches the India A side•Getty Images”Especially with the World Cup in a year’s time, it’s nice to have bench strength, for the selectors to know there are good young players if the situation does arise. It’s nice to replicate this experience leading into the World Cup, to give these boys some exposure in these conditions.”Chahar, who claimed career-best List A figures of 5 for 27 against West Indies A following an impressive IPL, and Krunal have already been rewarded with maiden calls to the full India squad, for the T20I series against England starting on Tuesday. Dravid was particularly pleased with the performances of the team’s pace attack during the tri-series, which he suggested had matched that of the Lions, notably in the final and in their 102-run win in Leicester.”There’s a good bench strength being developed and I think it gives people a lot of confidence that there are players, if the situation arises, who are in good touch and playing well,” Dravid said. “Over the last couple of years, we’ve done really quite well in white-ball cricket at this level, built up quite a few players – so that’s a good thing for Indian cricket.”All the quicks were really good, we rotated the four of them and all of them had their moments and did well in the series. I think we’ve got a really strong bowling attack at the moment, with the India side, a lot of variation and depth, and it’s nice to see we’ve got another batch there in case of injuries. Especially with the fast-bowling department, you need back-ups and people who can come in – we’ve got Deepak and Shardul [in India’s last series before this tour] joining the national team due to injuries. It’s good to see the fast bowlers coming through and almost out-bowl some of the English seamers in these conditions, which is a really good sign for us.”

If he had to sit in the Gabba stands for next week’s first Test against New Zealand for doing everything in his power to win here, he would have been celebrated

Ali Cook10-Nov-2008
Ricky Ponting has now slipped below Steve Waugh as the game’s most successful captain – his winning percentage is 68.75 next to Waugh’s 71.92 © AFP
Winning at all costs no longer seems to be the Australian way, but it doesn’t feel like supporters have gained a team to love instead of an uncompromising steamroller. The tourists still walk on the confident-arrogant border, sledge in times of strength and weakness, insist there is only one way to play the game, and mention “the spirit of cricket” as a defence when their behaviour or tactics are challenged.It was one of the reasons Ponting gave for calling on his part-time bowlers instead of looking to his fast men when the over-rate became more of a concern than winning the fourth Test and retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Bowling 90 overs in a day, something the Australians hardly managed over the past five weeks, suddenly came under the banner of a “spirit of cricket” issue. It’s not the sort of response that makes you feel all warm and cuddly for the players’ commitment.There were many stages that cost Australia this game, from India’s strong opening partnerships to the visitors’ failure to attempt to disrupt India’s negative line, to the inability of the fast men to strike regular blows and the illnesses experienced by Brett Lee and Michael Clarke. But no point was harder to understand than Ponting using his spinners on Sunday – and then watching them ease the pressure on India – instead of looking for a quick kill and thinking “stuff the consequences”.If he had to sit in the Gabba stands for next week’s first Test against New Zealand for doing everything in his power to win here, he would have been celebrated. That’s the sort of attacking outlook that would charm people. Ponting chose the defensive option instead and his side suffered and he has been heavily criticised.Ponting has now lost two of the major Test trophies for similar reasons. In England in 2005 Australia was slow to catch on and unable to innovate. That happened again in India, unless picking Cameron White as a specialist spinner for three matches is creative. Old tactics were used with defensive field settings and bowling plans, but new trends were missed, especially with reverse-swing. The home-and-away battle against South Africa over the next six months will determine whether Australia head to England for the 2009 Ashes as a world leader or a challenger. Despite a 13-point lead over second-placed India, Australia’s No. 1 spot is no longer undisputed When Mahendra Singh Dhoni was in charge of India the side looked vibrant and in control compared to the outfits of Ponting and Anil Kumble. It can’t be a fluke that the two games Dhoni led, India won in dominating fashion. Dhoni was helped by a firing unit, but he provided the energy.Ponting can manage that only when a team is in front, which is probably a product of him not being behind too often. That is changing. Ponting has now slipped below Steve Waugh as the game’s most successful captain – his winning percentage is 68.75 next to Waugh’s 71.92 – and it looks like it will drop further.This is not a side that will dominate all-comers any more and the home-and-away battle against South Africa over the next six months will determine whether Australia head to England for the 2009 Ashes as a world leader or a challenger. Despite a 13-point lead over second-placed India, Australia’s No. 1 spot is no longer undisputed.For the past three Tests, Australia have been behind as soon as they have lost the toss. The fast bowlers have not had regular impact and Jason Krejza showed how much a specialist spinner could achieve with his 12 wickets on debut.Krejza’s performance was the only significant bright spot in another difficult game for the tourists, but he must now wait until the series against New Zealand to discover whether he can make it at home. Without Krejza’s performance here, Australia would have been humiliated. Instead they were beaten badly.”This tour we’ve just been totally outplayed,” Ponting said. “With the exception of the first Test, where we pretty much dominated that game, in any other game we’ve got back to level, but never really got in front. Losing three tosses in a row, if you don’t actually get yourself back in front after the first innings, it’s very hard to win here.”
It can’t be a fluke that the two games Dhoni led, India won in dominating fashion. Dhoni was helped by a firing unit, but he provided the energy © Getty Images
On the third day in Nagpur, with Australia resuming at 189 for 2, Ponting hoped his side could draw alongside India’s first-innings 441, but they were unable to innovate against the negative bowling of the morning session and the hope of parity was soon extinguished. “Coming here on the third morning I was really positive about how the game was going,” he said.”India adopted a certain style of play that made it very difficult for us, they chipped in with a few wickets and the scoreboard was going nowhere. Being behind on first innings again wasn’t ideal and chasing 380 today was exceptionally difficult.”Australia needed a miracle and it was not possible for this team. Waugh’s side only collected a chase around that size once. How Ponting and his men recover will determine how far they fall. Spirit will have to be shown in stomachs and hearts rather than being something that is talked about in times of trouble.

Australia bowled only spinners and part-timers after tea on day four in Nagpur, in an attempt to boost the over-rate, a tactic that just about everyone found inexplicable

11-Nov-2008

‘Let’s hurry it up here’ © AFP

“In his most embarrassing moment in his 48th Test as Test captain in five years in charge, Ponting opted to worry more about improving Australia’s sluggish over rate than going for broke to try and snare a must-win match when a result was clearly on the line.”
Daily Telegraph”The first question you’ve got to ask is: how the hell can he keep making the same mistake? He has been in that position previously in this series; he has been fined and he has been warned about the slow overs but here we are again… He’s the guy who takes up a lot of time talking to his bowlers, talking to his fielders about tactics, changing his field placings – and all of that just takes too long.”
“Myself as captain of the Australian cricket team, I feel I have a lot of responsibility to play the game in the right spirit, I have an obligation to try to bowl 90 overs in the day’s play… The thing I’m most disappointed about is there seems to be this inference out there that I’ve put myself totally ahead of the team.”
“I might be concerned, I might not be. It depends on getting a clear understanding of the circumstances that ensured that we played the way we did after the tea break… I’d like to understand the situation.”
“I don’t know what to make of all this. They go into the tea break on a high and come out worrying about over-rates… I am glad Ricky can’t read my mind right now because he is not going to like it.”
“Whatever Ponting had in his tea, it did not help his judgment afterwards.”
Times”I remember when I played it was considered a badge of honour not to have a drink in a session [apart from the scheduled drinks break]. And no one died from dehydration. These days there are far too many drinks breaks. It’s ridiculous. But it is just not the captain’s fault. It is up to coaches, referees and umpires to keep the show moving.”
“It’s easy to sit up in the commentary box and poke fire at the captain because of the decisions he’s making out there.”
“One could never imagine Ian Chappell making such a decision in his day but if he had, I wonder whether the likes of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson would have taken it with the same apparent grace that Watson and Lee did today.”
“I always thought he was an ordinary captain and this proves it. His captaincy calculator isn’t that brilliant, is it?”
“To give themselves a chance, the Australians needed to take four wickets in that hour… Did not the dressing room sense the mood? Do they not know that there is a tide in the affairs of men that must be taken at the flood?”
“It’s not the captain’s fault and this was clearly a decision at the weekend made by four or five people.”
“I can’t understand why the fast bowlers wouldn’t bowl off a short run.”
“We were quite happy to get a few runs on the board in that particular time.”

Manchester United have always produced fantastic players from their esteemed academy, and Kobbie Mainoo is the latest gem to come to the fore.

The 18-year-old made his full debut for the club against Everton on the weekend and was awarded Man of the Match by broadcasters Sky Sports.

United have plenty of promising youngsters coming through the Carrington ranks, but who is most likely to follow in the footsteps of Mainoo as we head into 2024?

Football FanCast has taken a look at the 10 most promising Manchester United prospects who could be lighting up the Premier League in the years to come.

10 Isak Hansen-Aarøen

Norwegian, 19 years old

Isak Hansen-Aarøen was already playing senior football with Tromso in Norway before completing the switch to Old Trafford in September 2020.

The under-21 Norway international has been making noise for United's reserve side from central midfield and is tipped to reach lofty heights.

Erik ten Hag has called up the youngster for first-team training on occasion, which perhaps shows he's not too far away from making his debut.

Jonas Johansen, a sport performance coach for Hansen-Aarøen, believes the Norwegian could be sent on loan to further enhance his development.

“I think 1 or 2 loans is what they're thinking. Then it's up to Isak and his family to consider if that's the smartest thing,” Johansen said.

9 Charlie McNeill

English, 20 years old

United outlaid a reported £675k (potentially rising to £1.4m) on Charlie McNeill in October 2020, having ripped it up for Manchester City's youth teams.

The young centre-forward continued his prolific goalscoring record with United's Under-18s, netting 34 times in 35 outings before moving up to the U21s.

A record of 10 goals in 37 outings ensued with the reserve squad between six months on loan at League Two outfit Newport County last season.

McNeill appeared 20 times for the Exiles, scoring two goals, and is now on loan at League One side Stevenage.

The former City youth forward netted on his debut during a 3-0 away victory against Leyton Orient in September but has only appeared twice since.

According to the Mirror, United plan to recall the promising youngster in January and will then decide his next step thereafter.

8 Mateo Mejía

Colombian, 20 years old

Mateo Mejía joined the esteemed United academy from Real Zaragoza in 2019 as a 16-year-old for a reported fee worth €150,000 (£130k).

The Colombia youth international has enjoyed a bright start to the Premier League 2 this term, netting three times whilst laying on four assists across eight outings, and mightn't be too far away from a first-team debut given the exclusion of fellow winger Jadon Sancho and the out-of-form Antony.

Mejía, who typically operates on the right wing, was pictured in first-team training recently ahead of United's Champions League group game away at Galatasaray.

The 6 foot 1 wide player penned a new deal with the club in June.

7 Louis Jackson

Scottish, 18 years old

Louis Jackson was spotted training with the first team ahead of their League Cup clash against Crystal Palace in September, which brought his name to the attention of many hawk-eyed United fans.

The centre-back is highly rated by the club's officials, who handed the teenager his first professional contract in October 2022.

Jackson was just 16 years old when he helped the academy win the FA Youth Cup in 2022 and he has continued to blossom with the reserve side thereafter.

The Scotland youth international also holds the record for the youngest player to ever feature for United's Under-21s.

6 Willy Kambwala

French, 19 years old

Willy Kambwala, a towering and imposing centre-back, joined the Old Trafford club from French second-division outfit Sochaux for a reported fee worth £3.5m in 2020.

The 6 foot 4 defender has trained with the seniors in the past and could be on the cusp of a debut given Lisandro Martínez's injury and Raphaël Varane's potential winter exit.

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Kambwala, who has operated at both centre-half and right-back this term, captained the Under-17 France team as a 16-year-old, which evinces his ability to become a potential future leader for United.

5 Álvaro Fernández

Spanish, 20 years old

Álvaro Fernández was named on the substitutes' bench for United's 3-2 win against Nottingham Forest earlier this season but is still awaiting his senior debut.

The Spanish left-back is currently on loan at LaLiga outfit Granada CF, having enjoyed a successful season at Preston North End last term, laying on six assists.

Should his spell in Spain be successful, he may well become a part of Ten Hag's plans, but he'll have fierce competition in the form of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

Fernández acclaimed United's Denzil Haroun Reserve-Team Player of the Year award in 2022 and picked up Preston's Young Player of the Season Award in 2023.

4 Shola Shoretire

English, 19 years old

Shola Shoretire has already made five senior appearances for United, with his first coming back in February 2021 as a 17-year-old. He became the second-youngest Red to play in the Premier League, with only Angel Gomes appearing at a younger age (16).

The Newcastle-born midfielder endured a difficult six-month loan stint at Bolton Wanderers last term, but manager Ian Evatt believes he'll have a 'really good future'.

Shoretire has put up fabulous numbers for United's U21s this season, scoring six goals whilst providing three assists across 10 outings, and may well be sent on loan in January to further his development.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Premier League 2

7

4

3

EFL Trophy

3

2

0

3 Omari Forson

English, 19 years old

Omari Forson, an England youth international, is highly regarded by United staff and 'there's a feeling he'll be the next academy product to be handed his senior debut', as per the Manchester Evening News' Steven Railston.

Railston further claims that Forson is set to pen a new deal and extend his stay at Old Trafford, evincing the club's high hopes for his future.

The left-footed wide player has netted seven times in eight outings for the academy this season and was named on the subs bench for the senior team against FC Copenhagen in November.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Premier League 2

4

3

1

UEFA Youth League

2

2

1

EFL Trophy

2

2

0

2 Daniel Gore

English, 19 years old

Daniel Gore has one senior appearance for the Red Devils to his name, coming on as a second-half substitute against Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup earlier this season, though is still awaiting his full debut.

And many expect the classy midfielder to be the next academy star in line to become a fully-fledged United player, having impressed in pre-season and with the Under-21s.

Gore, who made his England Under-20 debut in October, has captained United in the UEFA Youth League this term, which evinces how well-regarded he is amongst the Old Trafford staff.

X account Olive Footy – a talent identification page – believes the midfielder has an 'innate ability to read the game' and 'execute accurate passes that unlock defences'.

Gore penned a new deal in the summer and appears well-positioned to become a fixture of United's midfield. Though, like all youngsters, he must be nurtured.

1 Joe Hugill

English, 20 years old

Joe Hugill, a former Sunderland youth player, has a fine goal record for United's academy teams and has netted six goals in eight outings in the Premier League 2 this season.

The 6 foot 1 centre-forward hasn't yet made senior debut but was a part of their matchday squad against Everton on the weekend as a substitute, evincing he is on the cusp of an appearance.

X page The Red Devil's DNA said on Hugill's skillset: "Really happy to see Joe Hugill on the bench. That's his first time in the squad. I like his profile. Classic poacher 9 who offers the verticality & movement that [Anthony] Martial lacks.

"Showed his pros in pre-season too. He can give us directness as a super sub if needed today."

As we head into the busy festive period with games coming thick and fast, perhaps Hugill will receive his opportunity, should he continue to bang in the goals for the under-21s.

Age group

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Under-21s

56

30

3

UEFA under-19s

3

1

0

Under-18s

24

18

4