Kuldeep Yadav was among the wickets as South Africa A slumped against spin in Mysuru
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Sep-2019South Africa A slumped against spin on the second day of the second four-day game against India A, but there was one encouraging development for the visitors as Aiden Markram found some form in the lead-up to the Test series. Responding to India A’s 417, South Africa A trailed by 258 runs at stumps, with half their side back in the dressing room, but with Markram still at the crease on 83 off 140 balls.ALSO READ: First day report – Gill, Nair make South Africa A toilMarkram had endured an unhappy time during the first four-day game in Thiruvananthapuram, scoring 0 and 4. Runs finally came his way in Mysore, and he held South Africa A’s innings together even as Kuldeep Yadav and Shahbaz Nadeem ripped through the heart of their batting. Markram and his Test team-mate Theunis de Bruyn put South Africa A in a solid position with an 82-run stand for the second wicket, before the spinners combined to turn 102 for 1 to 142 for 5 in the space of 15.2 overs.Kuldeep, who is vying for a starting place in India’s Test bowling attack, took the wickets of Senuran Muthusamy and Heinrich Klaasen, who are both in South Africa’s squad for the Tests.At stumps, South Africa A were 159 for 5, with the allrounder Wiaan Mulder batting alongside Markram.Kuldeep Yadav pumps his fist after taking a wicket•AFPMulder had made an impression at the very start of the day, when he dismissed Karun Nair in the second over of the morning, before the batsman could add a run to his overnight 78. Thereafter, though, South Africa A had to wait long periods between wickets, as the lower middle order dug in. Wriddhiman Saha, on 36 overnight, went on to make 60, while Shivam Dube contributed a quickfire 68 off 84 balls, with 10 fours and a six.Dube fell after putting on 63 for the sixth wicket with Jalaj Saxena, who went on to add 68 with the last four batsmen, and finish unbeaten on 48.Mulder and the offspinner Dane Piedt, who is part of South Africa’s Test squad, finished with three wickets each, while Vernon Philander and Lungi Ngidi took a wicket apiece.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have enjoyed a relatively solid debut campaign under the leadership of Gary O’Neil, as they are fighting for a spot in the top half of the Premier League table, rather than in a relegation dogfight as they were for much of the 2022/23 season.
Victories over the likes of Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and a league double over Chelsea – the first since 1974/75 – have shown that Wolves can perform against the elite. The main thing now is for O’Neil to bring up that level of consistency, so they can secure a top-half finish.
Wolves manager Gary O'Neil before a Premier League game.
Might they be higher up in the league table if they could call upon a player who was sold by Bruno Lage in the summer of 2022, however, with Morgan Gibbs-White is currently shining for Nottingham Forest.
How much Wolves sold Morgan Gibbs-White for
The Englishman had spent the 2021/22 season in the Championship having joined Sheffield United on loan, and he was impressive in the second tier, registering 22 goal contributions – 12 goals and ten assists – and it looked as though he could offer Lage something different ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
Despite making two appearances for the Old Gold at the start of last season, Forest were showing interest in the attacking midfielder and they eventually secured his services, splashing out a reported £42.5m for the player.
Nottingham Forest player Morgan Gibbs-White
It was certainly too good an offer to turn down, especially considering Gibbs-White had made just 48 Premier League appearances for the Molineux outfit during his spell at the club and it gave Lage much-needed funds to bolster his squad in other areas.
Fast-forward over 18 months, however, and perhaps the club regretted moving him on so swiftly, despite receiving a lavish fee.
What happened to Morgan Gibbs-White
The 24-year-old stated in an interview last year that he needed to move away from Wolves in order to gain a fresh start, believing he did not have a future at the Midlands club – and it has certainly worked out well since joining Forest.
Despite Forest being one of the favourites to seal an immediate return to the Championship, Gibbs-White scored five times and grabbed eight assists to help the club achieve a 16th-place finish and avoid the drop by just four points.
Additionally, the midfielder also ranked first among the squad for overall Sofascore rating (6.99) along with ranking first for goals and assists in the top flight (13), big chances created (nine), key passes per game (1.9) and successful dribbles per game (1.4) and he was worth every inch of the fee Forest paid for him.
The player clearly proved that Wolves had sold him far too hastily and there is no doubt O’Neil could use someone like him in his current midfield, as it is lacking someone to unlock opposition defences.
Only seven goals have come from the midfield options at the club this season and, while the likes of Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-Chan are stepping up, adding that something extra behind them would take the pressure off.
Joao Gomes has played 23 games during 2023/24 and has failed to score a single goal, while registering only one assist, and it is evident that Gibbs-White is outperforming the Brazilian.
Gibbs-White is outperforming Joao Gomes
Gomes was signed by the Old Gold last January in a deal worth £15m from Brazilian side Flamengo, and it looked as though it could prove to be a wonderful signing, especially for the future.
He scored on his league debut against Southampton and made a further ten appearances as the club won five of their next 16 games to remain in the top flight with some ease.
2
0
4
1
6
2
1.3
0.6
1.7
0.5
This season, Gomes ranks only eighth among the first-team squad for big chances created (two) in the Premier League, while ranking ninth for key passes per game (0.5), eighth for successful dribbles per game (0.6) and fifth for interceptions per game (0.7) as he has not been at his best.
Gibbs-White, on the other hand, is continuing to go from strength to strength at Forest during his second year and on the same performance metrics, he currently ranks second for big chances created (six), first for key passes per game (1.7), second for successful dribbles (1.3) and 19th for interceptions per game (0.4) and it showcases just how vital in an attacking sense the former Wolves gem is, and he is certainly outperforming Gomes.
Of course, the Englishman is operating in a more advanced role than Gomes, as the Brazilian tends to play alongside either Tommy Doyle or Mario Lemina in the heart of the midfield, but if Wolves still had the 24-year-old to call on, he could push into a more natural advanced position behind the striker.
Joao Gomes
This would certainly give O’Neil more attacking dynamism in his side and take the pressure off the likes of Hwang and Cunha to score the majority of their goals.
Journalist Josh Bunting hailed Gibbs-White during his performance against Blackpool in the FA Cup at the start of January, saying:
“The Morgan Gibbs-White goal today is absolutely sensational, just looks up and knows exactly what he wants to do. Lovely technique and that’s the quality that he is capable of doing. The touch he takes is quality as it takes two defenders away and opens up that space to shoot.”
In truth, Lage had a major blunder when selling the current Forest sensation in 2022, despite the lavish transfer fee the club received as he is now shining for their divisional rivals.
Where Are They Now
Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.
Gomes is still only 23 and, over time, he will improve, yet Wolves had a player who could have made a big difference to their squad, not only last season but also right now.
Gibbs-White has taken his opportunity to kick on and Forest have secured the services of an attacking midfielder who is yet to even reach his peak.
When he finally does, Wolves will rue selling him rather than giving the player more game time when he needed it most.
Tino Marcos foi o grande homenageado do programa ‘Mais Você’, da Ana Maria Braga, na Globo, nesta sexta-feira. Muitos craques como Zico, Parreira e o campeão olímpico Torben Grael prestaram homenagem ao repórter, que se aposenta da carreira no jornalismo para ficar mais tempo com a família no fim deste mês.
+Veja a tabela com os confrontos da Copa do Brasil 2021
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Em uma das histórias contadas no programa, Tino relembrou uma reportagem em que ele aparece dentro do estádio que recebeu a semifinal da Copa do Mundo de 2002 entre Brasil e Turquia. Naquela ocasião, em um dos gols, Ronaldo chutou de biquinho, de longe, e garantiu a classificação do Brasil.
Após o jogo, Tino teve a ideia de pedir a chuteira emprestada para o Fenômeno, que ficou receoso de perder o objeto, já que era do desejo dele jogar a final contra a Alemanha com o mesmo calçado. O atacante acabou emprestando por um motivo inusitado: ele era fã do repórter e tinha plena confiança que teria a chuteira de volta.
– Ele falou comigo: ‘Não, mas eu vou jogar a final’. Eu disse: ‘Pode deixar que te entrego agora, só preciso gravar um negócio aqui’. Ele ficou meio assim (desconfiado), mas eu tive muita sorte dele sempre ter muita confiança em mim. Eu conheci o Ronaldo muito jovem, eu já era repórter da Globo, ele até fala que tinha o desejo de ser entrevistado por mim… E ai eu com aquela chuteira, as pessoas me pediam pra fazer uma foto e eu dizia: ‘Não, quer fazer foto faz na minha mão’. Se o cara decide pegar e sair correndo o que eu diria pro Fenômeno depois – disse.
Ana Maria confirmou a informação que Ronaldo jogou a final com o mesmo equipamento, usado para marcar os dois gols da final e brincou com Tino.
– Você pegou na chuteira e deu sorte pra ele. Se você fosse um azarão ele não ia fazer mais dois gols (na final) com a chuteira.
Após a conversa, Ana ainda mostrou um recado de Ronaldo para Tino, onde o pentacampeão confirmou que o repórter é ídolo dele.
– Estou passando aqui para deixar uma mensagem para o meu querido amigo e ídolo Tino Marcos. Tinão, você é uma lenda, um fenômeno! Obrigado por tudo e boa sorte na sua nova carreira e no que você escolher para fazer no futuro, você vai arrebentar em qualquer área. Uma bração amigo, saudades – disse Ronaldo – disse o ex-jogador.
Rangers and manager Philippe Clement are reportedly on the verge of completing another piece of January transfer business, with a fee agreed for a player who is both a "good dribbler" and "physically strong".
Rangers transfer news
The Gers have been linked with lots of players in recent weeks after landing Fabio Silva on loan, as they look to give themselves the strongest possible chance of winning the Scottish Premiership title this season.
A recent report claimed that Rangers are working hard on signing Abdallah Sima on a permanent move, following an impressive loan spell to date this season, but other incomings are also being mooted. More attacking signings look like a priority this month, and Leeds United striker Joe Gelhardt has emerged as a possible option, with rivals Celtic also interested in snapping up the young Englishman, who has fallen out of favour with the Whites.
Rumours of a move for in-form Hearts hero Lawrence Shankland are also still lurking, with the 28-year-old someone who could be a guaranteed source of goals from the off at Ibrox. There are some players who could depart, however, with Ridvan Yilmaz looking highly likely to move on, and if that happens, a new left-back will be needed. Numerous suitors have emerged in that respect, including Liverpool youngster Owen Beck and Bristol City stalwart Cameron Pring.
Rangers agree fee with Mohamed Diomande
According to Danish publication B.T. [via Ibrox News], Rangers have agreed a fee with FC Nordsjaelland for the signing of midfielder Mohamed Diomande.
The player is believed to be flying home from a training camp in the USA with his current side, in order to complete the move, with a medical expected to take place "in the coming days".
This is great news for Rangers, with Diomande someone who could come straight in and make a big impression at the heart of the midfield, having appeared four times in the UEFA Europa Conference League this season.
He has 111 appearances to his name for his current club, scoring 13 goals and registering 14 assists in that time, showing that he can be a reliable source of end product from the middle of the park.
Added depth and quality can be priceless to Clement during the January transfer window, especially with matches coming thick and fast as the season goes on, and Diomande could bring exactly that. Former Nordsjaelland coach Flemming Pederson has lauded him in the past, too, saying in 2020:
"'He is an all-round player. He is at his very best in the central midfield, where he usually takes up a lot of space. He is a player who covers a large area. He is a good dribbler. He is a good ball winner, pretty strong in the main game as well and physically strong. When he gets used to the Super League, he will also become one of our significant players."
Rangers now ready to open talks to sign "electric" player
It could be a possible record transfer at Ibrox.
ByHenry Jackson Jan 20, 2024
At 22, Diomande is still a young player whose best years could only be ahead of him, so he may well be seen as a squad player to begin with, especially as he adjusts to the pace and power of the Scottish game, before maturing into an important starter over time.
Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming said that Dhoni took the field only to get clarity since there was confusion about the no-ball decision
ESPNcricinfo staff12-Apr-20191:46
Dhoni was fired up by the way the no-ball decision was handled – Fleming
Rajasthan Royals batsman Jos Buttler believes Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni’s decision to step onto the field to protest an umpiring call was “probably not” the right thing to do in the last over of their match on Thursday night. The incident took place with Super Kings needing eight runs off three balls. Ben Stokes bowled a waist-high full toss to Mitchell Santner, and even though umpire Ulhas Gandhe had signalled a no-ball immediately, square-leg umpire Bruce Oxenford later shook his head to overturn the original decision.That led to lengthy discussions mainly between Santner’s partner Ravindra Jadeja and the umpires before Dhoni, who had been dismissed off the previous ball, walked out to join them. Dhoni was later fined 50% of his match fees for a Code of Conduct breach.”I’m not sure if that’s the right thing to do or not,” Buttler said at the post-match press conference of Dhoni’s decision to walk out on the field. “Obviously the tensions are running high in the IPL and every run counts. Yeah, it was a big moment in the game, but whether stepping onto the pitch is quite right? No, probably not.”Obviously, it’s a bit controversial. The umpires came to a decision but I was at the boundary so I wasn’t quite sure what was going on.”Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming later said that Dhoni took the field only to get clarity since there was confusion about the no-ball decision. He did not say if it was the right thing to do or not.”What wasn’t right was the confusion around the decision. It’s above my paygrade to really get further than that,” Fleming said.”My understanding and discussing it with the captain was we saw a no-ball called, and then there was confusion. Our understanding was that the umpire at the bowler’s end had called the no-ball and then there was confusion around whether it was a no-ball or not. MS was after some clarity and it didn’t seem to be coming. So, he took the opportunity to go out and discuss it with the umpires. That’s how I saw it and that’s how I discussed it with him afterwards.”He only just wanted clarity. The rights and wrongs will be discussed by everybody, including Mahi, I’m sure. But, I think, it’ll be a discussion for the umpires afterwards and I am a watcher as you guys are, for now. But he was certainly fired up about the way the decision was handled and why it was overturned or if it was overturned. So, there was a lack of clarity, obviously, for him and he wanted to get it clarified at a key moment. It’s unusual but he’s usually pretty calculated. It’ll be something he will be questioned about for sure, for a long time.”MS Dhoni is irate at a contentious no-ball call•BCCI
Royals had put on 151 for 7 and had Super Kings in trouble on 24 for 4 in the sixth over before Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu salvaged the chase with a 95-run stand. Both batsmen scored half-centuries and struck two fours and three sixes each to snatch the momentum from Royals.”It is a tough one to take, getting into a winning position and not able to get over the line, the boys will be very disappointed,” Buttler said. “But, I think that’s been the story of our season so far. We have had some games that we should have won and closed out but for a few reasons, we have not been able to do it. We need to get it right, fast.”Royals are now only above winless Royal Challengers Bangalore on the points table with one win from six games.How do they get out of it?”The way out is simple, we have to play better and longer,” Buttler said. “We are just not putting those performances together. We have played well in stages but against quality oppositions and some of the best players in the world, if you can’t do it for the whole 40 overs then it’s tough to win the game.”Fleming, too, admitted the weaknesses in his side, even though they sit on top of the table with six wins from seven games. The two main areas he identified that needed their attention were their fielding and death bowling.”There’s a lot of areas of concern,” Fleming said. “Our top order has been playing on a tough wicket in Chennai so we’ve got to make sure our confidence is high. Being 20-odd for 4, you’re not going to win many games. And [another concern is] just finishing off an innings with our death bowling. It’s hard and most teams are struggling. But if there are two areas we want to get better at, we’re working hard on, is that and we have to work hard on our fielding. We’ve got a number of holes but we know where they are and we’ll try and cover them up as much as we can.”
West Ham United extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to four games after an impressive victory over Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur last time out, a late James Ward-Prowse rebound effort winning the game for the Hammers 2-1.
The Hammers getting the better of a charitable Spurs side slipping up once more in the league means David Moyes' men are now only four points shy of a top-four place, with Fulham now up next at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Despite confidence coursing through the east London side's veins at this moment in time, Moyes could be tempted to tweak his line-up slightly for West Ham's short trip over to West London tomorrow.
Here is the West Ham predicted XI, with Lucas Paqueta potentially dropping out…
1 GK – Łukasz Fabiański
Fabianski celebrates Conference League title with West Ham
Fabiański filled in last time out in the absence of usual first-team goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, the Frenchman sidelined with an injury.
It looks as if the former Paris St.Germain man won't be back for the clash at Craven Cottage either, meaning the 38-year-old reserve goalkeeper will more than likely start again at Fulham.
Fabiański was crucial at points away at Spurs to ensure his team didn't concede more than one goal, making five saves in total, as per Sofascore.
2 RB – Vladimir Coufal
Vladimir-Coufal-West-Ham
West Ham's Czech right-back continues to be a pivotal player for his team, notching up five assists this season already from defence.
Coufal did have an off-day by his standards against Spurs – only winning two of his seven duels in the away win – but it shouldn't be enough for Moyes to axe the 31-year-old from his starting eleven.
3 CB – Kurt Zouma
Kurt-Zouma
Hammers captain Kurt Zouma performed competently against Tottenham to ensure his team got over the line, clearing the ball away twice from danger in the game when the home side looked like breaching the West Ham defence.
The towering defender did win zero of his duels in the game in what will be a disappointing statistic for the ex-Chelsea man to look at, but Moyes should keep the French defender in his line-up for Fulham tomorrow.
4 CB – Nayef Aguerd
Zouma's centre-back partner Nayef Aguerd was the brighter of the two central defenders in the game at Spurs, the Moroccan battler winning all of his ground duels on the night.
Moreover, West Ham's £30m man did the dirty work required of him with seven clearances and four tackles registered in a game that saw the Hammers number 27 successfully nullify the likes of Heung-Min Son foraying forward.
5 LB – Emerson Palmieri
Emerson West Ham
The main stand-out defender from a resilient Hammers back four was however Emerson Palmieri, the Italian left-back missing only one match under Moyes this season in the league and for good reason.
West Ham's number 33 won eight of his 12 attempted ground duels at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last time out, a key figure when Tottenham ramped up the pressure in attack.
This is just a snippet of how important Palmieri has become for the Hammers this season, completing 4.6 ball recoveries per game on average as a vital tireless body down the flanks.
6 CM – Tomas Soucek
West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek.
Tomas Soucek has been a fan favourite for some time now in east London, joining from Slavia Prague in 2020 and never looking back.
This season, Soucek continues to be a reliable figure in the middle of the park for Moyes' men as was displayed by his performance versus Postecoglou's side – intercepting the ball four times in total while playing the role of a brute enforcer.
The Czech midfielder will hope he can add another goal to his ever-increasing Premier League tally of four this season away at Craven Cottage, Soucek one strike away from 30 all-time Hammers goals.
7 CM – James Ward-Prowse
West Ham midfielder James Ward-Prowse
Another player in midfield who has gone on leaps and bounds since leaving their old club behind is Ward-Prowse, the ex-Southampton hero now a decisive match-winner for the Irons in the top-flight as was seen in the narrow Spurs away victory.
This isn't the only goal Ward-Prowse has scored this season, the creative 29-year-old has three goals this season for Moyes' men on top of his astounding ten assists helping the Hammers pull off some impressive victories.
Whilst Soucek operates as an anchor-style figure in the midfield three, the ex-Saints man is allowed to roam more freely and helps the Hammers unlock stern opposition defences with his flair and trickery.
8 CM – Edson Álvarez
Edson-Alvarez-in-action-for-West-Ham-United
Signed this summer from Ajax for a substantial £35.4m fee, Edson Álvarez hasn't let the hefty price tag get the better of him since relocating to the London Stadium.
Álvarez had a quiet game against Tottenham last match, but his understated approach in the game was still useful. Only amassing 30 touches in the contest, his composure on the ball was almost faultless when he did find himself in possession – rarely hitting a pass wayward, misplacing two passes all night.
Moyes will retain the former Eredivisie player in his lineup for the short trip to the Craven Cottage, the Mexican midfielder going under the radar at his new club.
9 RW – Jarrod Bowen
Jarrod Bowen has been a prolific hero in front of goal for his employers this campaign, already finding the back of the net nine times from 14 appearances in the top flight.
Bowen originally joined the Hammers as an unknown entity from Hull City after an impactful spell with the Tigers, but now he is a crucial figure in his manager's plans week in, week out.
His instinctive finish against Spurs helped his team level the scores at 1-1, a crucial strike that paved the way for Ward-Prowse to score a golden chance late on to win the game.
10 ST – Mohammed Kudus
With Michail Antonio still ruled out of contention for the away game at Fulham, Moyes will more than likely persist with Mohammed Kudus as a lone unorthodox striker.
Kudus didn't really ever spark into life mid-week, only registering two shots on goal as a makeshift forward presence.
Yet, with a lack of options for Moyes to call upon from the bench to play as an out-and-out centre forward minus an ageing Danny Ings, the Scottish manager will hope the former Ajax man can be more of a lively nuisance against Marco Silva's men up top.
For his former employers in Amsterdam, Kudus did infrequently play as a centre-forward and scored nine times playing there. Could he break his striker duck for the Hammers tomorrow?
Nesta quarta-feira, às 21h30, Corinthians e Ceará se enfrentam pela 34ª rodada do Brasileirão-2020, na Neo Química Arena. Em confronto direto por vaga na Copa Libertadores, as equipes entrarão em campo com mudanças no time titular. O Timão fará alterações no setor de ataque, e o Vozão na defesa.
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TABELA > Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão clicando aqui
GALERIA >Relembre quantos jogadores da base o Corinthians utilizou nesta temporada
Após duas derrotas consecutivas, o Corinthians busca voltar a vencer, ainda de olho em vaga no torneio continental e vê o confronto com os cearenses como uma decisão rumo a esse objetivo. Para isso, Vagner Mancini deve sacar Jô e colocar Léo Natel para fazer um “falso 9”, enquanto Otero volta ao time no lugar de Mateus Vital. Araos e Cantillo serão mantidos no meio-campo.
Já o Ceará, também vindo de derrota, mantém vivo o sonho de jogar a Libertadores neste ano. Guto Ferreira, porém, não poderá contar com Bruno Pacheco, com problema na coxa direita. Alyson será seu substituto na lateral esquerda. Já Tiago Pagnussat será poupado e Klaus entra. Eduardo e Charles cumpriram suspensão e retornam como opção no banco de reserva.
Veja todas as informações sobre o jogo:
CORINTHIANS X CEARÁ
Local: Neo Química Arena, em São Paulo (SP) Data/Horário: 3/2/2021, às 21h30 Árbitro: Heber Roberto Lopes (SC) Assistentes: Alex dos Santos (SC) e Thiaggo Americano Labes (SC) VAR: Elmo Alves Resende Cunha (GO) Onde acompanhar: Globo, Premiere e em tempo real no LANCE!
CORINTHIANS
Cássio; Fagner, Bruno Méndez, Gil e Fábio Santos; Gabriel e Cantillo; Gustavo Silva, Araos e Otero; Léo Natel. Técnico: Vagner Mancini.
Desfalques: Cazares (estiramento na coxa direita), Jemerson (estiramento no ligamento colateral medial do joelho esquerdo) e Lucas Piton (recuperação de cirurgia na hérnia inguinal) Pendurados: Gabriel Pereira, Everaldo, Cantillo, Luan, Fagner, Gabriel, Camacho, Mateus Vital, Walter e Cássio
CEARÁ
Richard; Samuel Xavier, Luiz Otávio, Klaus e Alyson; Fabinho, Fernando Sobral e Vina; Lima, Léo Chú e Cléber. Técnico: Guto Ferreira.
Desfalques: Bruno Pacheco e Tiago Pagnussat (poupados) Pendurados:Lima, Wescley, Vitor Jacaré e Fernando Prass
Leeds United have missed on the opportunity to close the gap between themselves and the current top two over the last two gameweeks.
Daniel Farke's side have picked up just one point from games against Sunderland and Coventry over the past week, as they lost 1-0 to the former and were held to a 1-1 draw by the latter.
This has left them ten points behind Ipswich Town, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Norwich on Saturday, when the gap could have been closed to five points.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke.
Regular starters Dan James and Joel Piroe failed to step up with any goal involvements in those two games and this meant that Leeds needed a lift off the bench from their substitutes.
Unfortunately, Farke's depth has left a lot to be desired as Patrick Bamford, Wilfried Gnonto, and Jaidon Anthony have combined for one goal and one assist in 37 substitute appearances between them in the Championship this season.
The German boss could improve his depth by finally ditching Wilfried Gnonto in order to reignite his interest in Genk star Joseph Paintsil.
Leeds transfer news – Gnonto and Paintsil
Football Insider have claimed that the Whites are now open to allowing the Italy international to depart from Elland Road during the upcoming January transfer window.
The report stated that he could be sold next month to bolster Farke's budget as it would allow him to dip into the market to bring in fresh reinforcements ahead of the second half of the campaign.
It was also reported that Gnonto is 'desperate' to play regular first-team football again as he has found himself on the bench more often than not so far this season.
Football Insider claimed that teams from both the Premier League and the Serie A are monitoring his situation ahead of a possible January swoop.
Leeds United vs Coventry City in the Championship.
Leeds would, however, need to replace Gnonto with another versatile forward and Farke could finally ditch the Italian prospect by reigniting his interest in Genk star Joseph Paintsil.
The Athletic reported during the summer transfer window that the club made a €10m (£8.6m) offer to sign the right-footed whiz to improve their attack.
They did not get a deal over the line for him, though, as the Ghana international later revealed that he turned down Leeds and Southampton as his dream is to play Premier League football.
The exciting gem decided that staying at Genk was the best option for him at the time to earn himself a direct move to a top five European league further down the line.
Ghana international Joseph Paintsil.
However, Leeds – and Southampton – are competing at the top end of the Championship table and are eyeing an instant return back to the top-flight.
They could use their current position, in third place, to convince the Pro League star to ditch his current club to complete a move to Elland Road, with the prospect of playing Premier League football next season being the big selling point.
Wilfried Gnonto's Leeds statistics
The 20-year-old whiz joined Leeds from Swiss side FC Zurich in the summer of 2022 and has shown flashes of brilliance during his time in England.
Gnonto has showcased his potential with rare moments of quality but is yet to prove that he has the consistency to be a reliable option for Farke in the short term.
Last season, the young ace produced two goals, four assists, and three 'big chances' created in 24 Premier League appearances for the Whites as they were relegated to the second tier.
Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto.
This was a promising start to life at Elland Road for the talented ace as he ranked within the top 19% of top-flight attacking midfielders and wingers for assists (0.27) per 90.
However, the right-footed winger has not been able to kick on and take his play to new heights with the drop down to the Championship this term.
Gnonto has managed one goal, one assist, and zero 'big chances' created in 16 league appearances – six of which have come as a starter – for Leeds this season.
Leeds forward Wilfried Gnonto.
He handed in a transfer request in an attempt to secure a move to Everton over the summer and is yet to prove that the Whites were right to keep hold of him instead of cashing in when they had the chance.
Farke could finally ditch the Italy international, who wanted out earlier this year, by signing Paintsil to replace him in January if the club can convince the Genk star this time around.
The statistics that show why Leeds should sign Paintsil
The 25-year-old dynamo, who was once lauded as an "ice-cold baller" by journalist Owuraku Ampofo, has been in impressive form since the start of last season and could be a big upgrade on Gnonto.
Last term, Paintsil caught the eye with his outstanding ability to contribute with both goals and assists on a regular basis from a wide position.
Ghana international Joseph Paintsil.
The Leeds target produced 17 goals and 11 assists in 36 Pro League outings and ranked within the top 3% or higher among his positional peers for assists (0.46) and non-penalty goals (0.54) per 90.
He has followed that up with a strong start to the current campaign. The 5 foot 6 wizard has racked up six goals, four assists, and eight 'big chances' created in 18 league matches.
Paintsil currently ranks within the top 9% of Pro League attacking midfielders and wingers for Expected Assisted Goals (0.37) per 90.
These statistics show that the impressive forward is a consistent ace who has the quality to chip in as a scorer and a creator of goals on a regular basis, given that he has proven himself over the last 18 months.
23/24 league season
Gnonto
Paintsil
Appearances
16
18
Goals
One
Six
Assists
One
Four
Big chances created
Zero
Eight
Sofascore rating
6.84
7.26
As you can see in the table above, Paintsil has the potential to come in as a significant upgrade on Gnonto for Farke during the second half of the season.
The Ghana international could provide real competition for James and Piroe in the attacking positions and provide the manager with a potent option off the bench, which is something that is currently missing from the squad.
A series between the fourth and seventh-ranked Test sides in the world begins tomorrow in Abu Dhabi. Tell most people that, and their shoulders might instinctively shrug in indifference. After all, the UAE is unlikely to be the place where Test cricket makes the most persuasive case for attention. In New Zealand, we have one side whose fan base back home is neither large nor arguably the most passionate about cricket, while Pakistan play away from their home fan base altogether. This, after all, is no Big Three series, and it appears these days that if cricket takes place outside those exclusive enclaves, it might as well not happen at all.But in truth, the Test rankings hold little meaning for both sides, given how few Tests they’ve been a part of this year. Put together, Kane Williamson and Sarfraz Ahmed have led their countries in all of seven Tests since 2018 began, five for Pakistan and two for the visitors. There have been four wins, two draws, and just a solitary loss combined, including home and away wins against England, and a home win for Pakistan against Australia. Simply put, these are sides who have little use for the rankings they’ve been assigned, which is only fair, given the neglect world cricket often condemns them to.But as ardent supporters will need no reminding, these two sides provided arguably the most exciting series in the UAE ever since Pakistan started playing Test cricket there. A comfortable Pakistan victory in the first Test was followed by a thrilling draw in the second, where all three results seemed plausible until the final session.The last Test saw a magnificent come-from-behind win from Brendon McCullum’s side, who triggered a Pakistan collapse after the hosts stood at 285 for 3 in the first innings. It involved scoring almost 700 runs in 143 overs, and defeating Pakistan by an innings inside four days. Rarely has cricket been played at that tempo in the Emirates, not least by a touring party that had, after the first Test, looked destined for a whitewash.Pakistan used to be impregnable in the UAE until Sri Lanka snapped the unbeaten record in October last year. A 1-0 series win over Australia last month was perhaps a sign that normal service was resuming, but it will take more than that to win over fans worried about their slide in the longest format. Pakistan will have to do without Fakhar Zaman, rested after a fine debut against Australia, and Shadab Khan, who has been carrying a slight niggle.Predicting how New Zealand might perform is a fool’s errand; you might as well be taking stabs in the dark. They last played an away Test over two years ago, with numerous changes in the squad, as well as the coaching staff, having occurred since then. It is one of the challenges both of being New Zealand as well as playing them. The Black Caps can never quite get momentum going because they wear international colours all too infrequently, while the opposition often has no idea what strategies to deploy against a unit there is scant recent data for.
Form guide
Pakistan: WDLWW (last five completed matches, most recent first) New Zealand: DWWWDNeil Wagner gets in position to collect the ball•Getty Images
In the spotlight
For Pakistan, there is little doubt most of the attention will be affixed on the unassuming shoulders of Mohammad Abbas. The medium-fast bowler had an extraordinary series against Australia last month, taking 17 wickets in two Tests. Such was the discipline and consistent menace with which he bowled that it prompted Dale Steyn, a fast bowler so far removed from Abbas they may as well be in different professions, to predict Abbas would soon be ranked atop the world rankings. Gone was the myth the UAE was only the spinners’ hunting ground, blown away the perception that only an express pacer who took the pitch out of the equation would have a chance here. Abbas belongs to the school of fast bowling – call it old-fashioned, conservative, even – that believes as long as you pitch the ball on a length regularly with the slightest shape and the whiff of a plan, you will trouble batsmen. New Zealand know fully well he will provide a unique challenge in the upcoming series quite unlike anything they faced in 2014.Neil Wagner wasn’t part of the side that toured the UAE in 2014, but one can’t help wonder if he isn’t the ideal attritional bowler for these surfaces. His strategy, often controversial and unpopular, of bowling short and into the body for long spells might not be the most elegant, but 149 wickets in 36 matches suggests it has proved effective throughout his career. It keeps him in the game when fast bowlers who rely on the newness of the ball and the spice of the pitch are rendered ineffective, testing batsmen’s reserves of concentration just as they might expect run-scoring to become easier. Pakistan have often struggled against the short ball, particularly the out-of-form Azhar Ali and the potentially psychologically scarred Imam-ul-Haq, who will be playing his first match tomorrow since a Lockie Ferguson bouncer rattled his helmet in the ODI series. He took nine wickets in two Tests when Pakistan visited New Zealand in 2016, and while these surfaces might not bounce as high as those in Christchurch and Hamilton, Wagner is skilled enough to ensure batsmen will, often literally, be on their toes when facing him.
Team news
With Fakhar Zaman not part of the side, Mohammad Hafeez will open alongside Imam. Shaheen Afridi is unlikely to make his Test debut tomorrow, leaving Mir Hamza and Hasan Ali to compete for the one remaining fast bowler’s slot.Pakistan (possible): 1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Haris Sohail, 5 Babar Azam, 6, Asad Shafiq, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 8 Mir Hamza, 9 Bilal Asif, 10 Mohammad Abbas, 11 Yasir ShahThere was some doubt surrounding the fitness of Williamson, but he today said in a press conference that he would most likely lead his side out tomorrow.New Zealand (possible): 1 Jeet Raval, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 BJ Watling (wk), 6 Henry Nicholls, 7 Colin de Grandhomme, 8 Neil Wagner, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Ish Sodhi
Pitch and conditions
Clear skies across the next five days mean the rain that washed out the final ODI in Dubai should cause no problems in Abu Dhabi this week. As always in the UAE, posting a big first-innings score will be pivotal.
Stats and trivia
New Zealand have won just 10 Test matches of the 55 they have played against Pakistan. Three of those, though, have come the last three times the two have faced off.
No other player in the Pakistan squad was over 18 when Mohammad Hafeez made his Test debut in 2003. It would be another seven years before any of the current squad made their own Test debuts
Quotes
“We had a great series last time we were here but that’s a long time back. A lot has changed in terms of personnel since then. I think it’s important that we adapt with this inexperienced side that we have come with “
O treinador Eduardo Barroca não mediu palavras ao falar sobre seu retorno ao trabalho no Botafogo. Recuperado de Covid-19, o comandante alvinegro afirmou, em pronunciamento divulgado nas redes sociais do clube, que cobrará “mudança de hábito e dedicação” para que o elenco encontre a esperada reação no Campeonato Brasileiro.
– Estou aqui para mandar uma mensagem a todos os botafoguenses. Estou de volta ao trabalho, já tive uma reunião com todo o grupo, jogadores e comissão técnica. Estou aqui para passar uma mensagem de sentimento, falar que temos ciência do momento que estamos passando. Com muito trabalho, dedicação e mudança de hábito precisamos dar uma resposta imediata. Dentro da conversa que tive com o grupo, espero que tenhamos a possibilidade de iniciar a reviravolta diante do Internacional. – afirmou.
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Em seguida, Barroca destacou que prezará pela autenticidade à frente do Alvinegro.
– Tenho ciência que com muita união, de direção, comissão técnica e jogadores, e principalmente torcedores que sempre estão ao nosso lado, vamos com muito trabalho entregar o que o Botafogo precisa. Estou aqui para falar frontalmente para o torcedor do Botafogo, todos sabem meu sentimento pelo clube e o desafio que encarei para estar aqui. Com muita coragem, vou estar de frente falando sempre a verdade, com sentimento e expectativa muito grande nesse meu retorno ao trabalho, estar à beira do campo. Com muita energia, passando esse sentimento e cobrando eles, porque é o meu combinado com os jogadores.Esperamos já contra o Internacional dar a resposta que a torcida espera. Muita dedicação, organização, entrega, empenho, mudança de hábito que precisamos a curto prazo. Eu vou ser a figura junto aos jogadores para cobrar essa mudança de atitude – frisou.
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pic.twitter.com/vtqj552pXC
— Botafogo F.R. (@Botafogo) December 11, 2020
O comandante também reconheceu que será um período desafiador.
– O torcedor do Botafogo pode acreditar que vamos nos dedicar muito para reverter essa situação atual, fazer trabalho de recuperação. Tenho ciência que precisamos evoluir a curto prazo, estamos trabalhando duro para reverter, fazer partida melhor e ir em busca do resultado. Melhorar a cada dia para no fim do campeonato atingir o objetivo, que é a permanência – e destacou:
– Termino aqui mandando uma mensagem de otimismo mas principalmente de sentimento a todos os botafoguenses. Esperem de mim como treinador um homem que vai assumir todas as responsabilidades. Não vou ficar falando de passado. É momento de unir forças e trabalhar duro, apoiar e cobrar os jogadores e entregar uma excelência de trabalho para revertermos o momento e atingirmos o objetivo. Espero que a gente se veja após o jogo com uma vitória – completou.
Penúltimo colocado, com 20 pontos, o Botafogo mede forças com o Colorado neste sábado às 19h, no Beira-Rio. Será a reestreia de Eduardo Barroca. Por testar positivo para Covid-19, o comandante foi substituído pelo auxiliar Felipe Lucena no revés por 1 a 0 do Glorioso para o Flamengo.