Derby County, with a big win tonight under the floodlights at Pride Park over local neighbours Burton Albion, could push into the League One automatic promotion places on goal difference at the expense of Peterborough United.

With Paul Warne's men arguably suffering from being a big fish in a small pond in the third tier – the weight of expectation significant on the Rams from minute one this campaign – this month could be key in signing fresh blood that could catapult Derby back up to the promised land of the Championship.

One transfer target in particular could help Warne's men pick up even more comprehensive wins as the promotion race heats up, poaching the player in question from a fellow third-tier outfit if a deal gets over the line.

Derby's hunt for a left winger

Football Insider has revealed in the past few days that Derby have made a bid of £250k for Charlton Athletic star-man Corey Blackett-Taylor. The Addicks are marooned in an underwhelming mid-table spot currently and the Rams will look to steal the left winger away from the underperforming outfit as a result.

The League One automatic promotion candidates will also look to sign Blackett-Taylor for a cut-price to further pile on the misery, the ex-Aston Villa attacker out of contract at the Valley at the end of the campaign.

A bright spark in an otherwise dismal season so far for the Londoners, Derby could well look to sign the on-fire 26-year-old attacker to enhance their own options down the left-hand flank with Blackett-Taylor an upgrade on the experienced but ageing Tom Barkhuizen.

Further, seasoned third-tier sharpshooter James Collins will be licking his lips at the prospect of playing alongside a winger who has been an assist king for the Addicks this campaign on top of being a reliable goalscorer himself.

EFL Championship done deals: Every January 2024 transfer

As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 The stats that show Blackett-Taylor is better than Barkhuizen

Blackett-Taylor has been central to everything promising at the Valley this season, helping himself to a staggering 16 goal contributions from just 28 games in a flat Addicks side.

Slotting in to play alongside the likes of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Conor Hourihane should see Blackett-Taylor go on leaps and bounds, an even more frightening prospect for third tier defenders to keep tabs on if the Rams are successful in sealing the deal.

In contrast, Barkhuizen – who has been Warne's main man down the left wing this season – has ten goal contributions next to his name at Pride Park from 25 games in all competitions.

At 30 years of age too, in a Derby team that does often go for the experienced head more often than not, the Rams number seven will only deteriorate over time and so Warne could look for an injection of freshness and excitement by swooping for Blackett-Taylor.

Collins will hope he can play the role of Alfie May back at Pride Park if the tricky winger relocates to Derbyshire, the deadly Charlton striker top scorer in the division with 16 goals alongside the reliable service of his dependable and slick teammate despite the continued struggles of the team under Michael Appleton.

The 33-year-old striker could well become a far more effective beast playing alongside Blackett-Taylor therefore, with the flanker previously described as being "very difficult to defend against" by Johnnie Jackson.

Collins is on 11 for the campaign already in League One but has reached far loftier heights at the level before with Luton Town – scoring 25 goals during the Hatters' title-winning 2018-19 season up to the Championship.

Derby are plugging along nicely, but with a New Year's Day defeat to Peterborough United still lingering at the back of their minds, signing talents such as Blackett-Taylor could really show they mean business in the automatic promotion hunt.

Our writers debate Emma Hayes' first USWNT roster, with big names brought back into the fold

Emma Hayes' tenure as coach of the USWNT is officially underway. The former Chelsea boss worked wonders in London, but now faces a different kind of challenge on the international stage. After a disappointing World Cup showing in 2023, the USWNT will look to push back to the top of global soccer in Paris this summer at the Olympic Games.

And it all starts next month.

Hayes has picked her first roster, and there are plenty of talking points. Alex Morgan is in the fold, but Lynn Williams didn't make the cut, while Ashley Sanchez sits out, too. However, does any of that matter? This is the strongest roster the U.S. have ever bolstered, but still… there's questions over whether or not the ex-Blue will be a success stateside, on Morgan's role in this team and the June camp roster.

Piece it all together, and it adds up to an intriguing start for the new manager, who will have to battle the sky-high expectations of the most difficult job in women's soccer.

To break it all down, GOAL has enlisted global women's soccer writer Amee Ruszkai, as well as the usual cast of GOAL US writers, in the latest edition of… .

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  Point blank: Will Emma Hayes be a successful USWNT boss?

  Amee Ruszkai: Yes. She’s a proven winner, she knows what it takes to cope with pressure and she represents a healthy balance between someone who is a breath of fresh air but who still understands all things USWNT, having spent several years at the start of her coaching journey in the United States. Hayes has spoken about how, after an exhausting season with Chelsea, this new role and the Olympics can reenergize and reinvigorate her, too, which all sounds really positive.

  Ryan Tolmich: Maybe not initially. Hayes has been given a tough, tough task here. Preparing a group for the Olympics on just a few weeks' notice is almost impossible, even for a coach at Hayes' level. The U.S. will need things to bounce their way if they want gold in Paris. If they don't win in all? That's fine, too. This summer is just the start for Hayes, who is tasked with rebuilding the program from the ground up. It'll take time for us to see the fruits of that – if there are any fruits to be had – but Hayes' resume tells you not to bet against her when she's given the tools to create something special.

  Jacob Schneider: Considering she’s coming from Chelsea, London’s football club, the answer is yes … Alright, jokes aside, Hayes will be an immediate hit with the U.S.

  Anyone who has followed the Blues appreciates her tactics, and has witnessed the brilliance she plans out for her players on the pitch. She’s a sensational manager on the touchline and that it will transition over with the USWNT.

  The record clearly speaks for itself: five FA Cups, seven WSL titles, two League Cups, one community shield and multiple brilliant European competition runs. She knows how to coach at the highest level and she’s a proven winner, which is exactly what the USWNT needs right now.

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  Who has the most to prove this June camp?

  AR: US Soccer and Lily Yohannes. She’s undecided on her future and while the federation and team won’t want to pressure her into an answer, as it’s her own to make in her own time, it will certainly want her to choose the USWNT (over the Netherlands).

  Proving to Yohannes that the U.S. is the place to be is key and Hayes finally coming in will surely help, especially with her track record of developing young players. The U.S. has a lot of young talent coming through but — having seen what she’s done on the big stage in Europe at 16 years old — Yohannes is special so it’d be a huge boost to have her represent the USWNT.

  RT: Casey Murphy feels like the answer here. With Alyssa Naeher out, at least for now, Murphy looks to be the USWNT's No. 1 goalkeeper in this camp. For a while, it looked like Naeher was going to hold on to be the Olympic starter, giving her one last tournament in a USNWT shirt. Her injury, though, makes that less clear. Can Murphy do enough to seize the No. 1 shirt? The USWNT will hope so, even if it just leads to a more interesting competition should Naeher return.

  JS: It’s Alex Morgan, right? That assumes she’s healthy, of course, as Morgan has missed considerable time with an ankle injury. The USWNT has an insane amount of attacking players to work with, and Sophia Smith is in absolutely ridiculous form at the moment. It's also notable that Cat Macario and Hayes have a relationship from their time at Chelsea – odds are that chemistry doesn’t just up and vanish.

  Morgan is the most experienced attacker of the lot for the USWNT, but there are more in-form and healthy players ahead of her. She needs this camp to prove to Hayes that she is still the starting striker for this team, and that she is the best choice to lead the line in Paris.

• USA Today Images
  

  Who is the biggest snub from the USWNT roster?

  AR: Lynn Williams. She offers so much to any team, in and out of possession, and she’s in great form right now. The other side of the coin, of course, is that the forward areas are just so competitive, so while it’s the biggest snub, it's also not a total shock that she’s missed out. That's just how it goes with the USWNT's attacking pool at the moment.

  RT: Generally, this roster feels about right. There are a few surprises, such as newcomers Sam Staab and Hal Hershfelt but, overall, the heavy hitters are all here.

  Outside of the injury absences, there's one missing player that sticks out: Olivia Moultrie. She's on the training squad, so she's involved, but won't be playing in these games. That's disappointing given how well she played in her USWNT chances.

  A spot was there for her, too, given the inclusions of Hershfelt and 16-year-old starlet Yohannes. All three are longshots for the Olympics at this point, to be fair, but it would have been nice to see Moultire get much-needed minutes this camp.

  JS: Going to make a case for Williams and you’re going to agree with me, alright? She recently became the NWSL’s all-time leading goalscorer, and has been in relatively good form this season. She has three goals in six appearances after starting the season on the sideline. She started the semifinal and final for the USWNT in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup in March, and turned in two very good performances.

  She brings something that Morgan can’t: pace. Williams is deviously fast, and can also slot out wide, if needed. Beyond Smith, the striker options aren’t players who you can bring on to spring a blistering counter off the bench late if you need a goal. Williams can do that, and more. It feels a bit cruel to not see her with this group after her performances for club and country of late.

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• Getty
  

  With a plethora of attacking options, who are the starting front-three?

  AR: Smith in the 9 with Jaedyn Shaw and Trinity Rodman either side of her. Mallory Swanson has shown great things recently and can really press to start, and what Morgan brings to the table as a pure 9 is always top quality – something that will suit certain games and moments in the Olympics. However, Rodman, Smith and Shaw feels so strong. As for Macario, she might be at her best in the 10, so it will be interesting to see how Hayes uses her.
  RT: This is the million-dollar question, isn't it? There are plenty of ways you can go, and the good news is that any and all of them might be right.

  Assuming the U.S. plays a 4-2-3-1 with Shaw as the attacking midfielder, go with a front three of Rodman, Smith and Swanson. That trio is dynamite, with each player having the ability to open up a game at a moment's notice.

  Will Hayes go with those three? Too soon to tell. There are plenty of combinations that could work. But the Rodman-Smith-Swanson trio feels like the most dynamic one on offer for the U.S.

  JS: This attack is being built around Smith. She is the future of the USWNT, period. That said, the US should be playing her centrally and not placing her on the wing, like both Twila Kilgore and Vlatko Andonovski did in previous months.

  Choosing who to play out wide and at the 10 is where things get difficult, but that’s all part of what makes this group so exciting. There are so many good options. On the left Swanson, and on the right will be Rodman with Rose Lavelle at the 10. It feels awful to not have Shaw in the XI, but the thought process is how to get the most out of Smith – and this group is the best supporting cast for that task.

Arsenal have not yet finalized their plans for the pre-season ahead of the 2024/25 season and with two key factors set to determine plans.

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Arsenal yet to decide pre-season schedule Community Shield participation will affect plans Canceled Germany training camp this season WHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title against Manchester City yet again on the final matchday of the league season. They will look to do one better next season against Pep Guardiola's juggernaut. However, it has been reported that the Gunners are yet to finalize their plans for the preparations for next season.

AdvertisementGettyTHE EXPLANATION

As per The Standard, Arsenal are waiting to see whether they will be participating in the Community Shield, which would be the case if Manchester City beat Manchester United on Saturday, May 25 in the FA Cup final. Generally, the North London side would end their pre-season with the Emirates Cup on the final weekend before the start of the season but if they are playing the Community Shield, they would undertake their ceremonial cup a week earlier.

DID YOU KNOW?

Arsenal have already scrapped their plans for pre-season camp in Germany at the Adidas HQ as they do every year. This is due to the fact that the Euros will be played earlier on, and they will only train at Arsenal's training grounds in London instead.

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WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Arsenal will also undertake their United States tour on July 21 as they will take on Man Utd and Liverpool, and they may even undertake a third game in the States, likely against Bournemouth.

If arrogance was a recent hallmark of Australia’s cricketers and the governing body that groomed them, then humility will be critical to Steven Smith and David Warner’s return to international ranks a year after the Newlands scandal brought them tumbling down from the rarified positions of captain and deputy at the vanguard of the national team.Justin Langer, Australia’s coach, has bluntly acknowledged that the development of humility will be vital to Smith and Warner’s successful return to a team that had only recently grown into a winning combination without them. Neither are permitted to be formal leaders – Smith for another year, Warner for life – and the transition will take some careful work on both sides.Already, there has been considerable work done through the leadership consulting of Tim Ford, formerly of Heidrick and Struggles, the recruiting and leadership firm deeply involved in the 2011 Argus review of Australian team performance. And from now there will be adjustment, particularly for Smith, from captain to foot soldier; even if the Cricket Australia contracts granted to him and Warner returned them to the top five richest members of the national squad.”We’ll draw on their experience on and off the field and it will be crazy not to. There’s certainly going to be challenges for both of them though,” Langer said in Brisbane. “You’ve come from a titled position of captain and then you’re not, then there’s going to be a certain degree of humility that comes from that. One of our really strong values is humility, so it’ll be a great opportunity for them to develop that, but their leadership’s going to be crucial for us to win on the field and win off the field, so we’re looking forward to them developing that.ALSO READ: Australia’s top three, Smith’s fielding, Nicholls’ new role: Brisbane talking points“It’s going to be a huge opportunity for him [Smith] to share with the group what he’s learned, on and off the cricket field. He’s an all-time great player so we would be absolutely crazy not to draw on that, and we will draw on it, as we do with the way Davey plays his cricket, the way he runs between the wickets, his body language on the field. Those things epitomise great players and great Australian cricket teams. We’ll use that leadership and use it on and off the field.”We’ve had a very humbling experience and we brought it on ourselves. I still have that vision of Steve almost being frog-marched out of South Africa, we saw some sad vision 12 months ago to some really positive, happy vision of where were at now. Every opportunity we get to celebrate Australian cricket and to make Australians proud of us again, every opportunity it important for us.”The process of reintegration has not necessarily progressed in a smooth or linear manner. Some players, it is said, were intimidated by the presence of the still suspended Smith and Warner in their midst during the UAE tour. There was nervousness, too, about who would have to make way for them – Peter Handscomb and Ashton Turner paid a hefty price despite recent performances, leaving the onus on Smith and Warner to ensure they contribute to an Australian team faring rather better in ODI matches now than when both were previously available.Langer, who is known to have mulled over how Warner and Smith might be returned to the team virtually from the first month of his coaching tenure, described the initial Brisbane meeting as a “check-in” to remind all and sundry of values such as the aforementioned humility. “With all values they’re just words on a bit of paper unless you live them,” he said. “It’s just another little check in yesterday, so it was really good, worthwhile.David Warner chats with Greg Chappell•Getty Images

“There’s no tension, honestly. We’re so excited to have the boys back, we’re just excited about playing cricket. There’s been a big build up to it, it’s a bit like facing fast bowling, you worry about it until you get out there and it’s not as bad as you thought it was. They came to Dubai, it was great, they’re back in the team now, they’ve been selected, which is brilliant, I just can’t wait to see us playing cricket.”The composition of the Australian team, particularly in terms of batting, now leans heavily on a top order capable of making hundreds as a platform for the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis to tee off in the later overs. Langer suggested that Smith may find himself batting lower in the order to accommodate the others, given how unlikely it is to see Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja, captain Aaron Finch or Warner batting any lower than No. 4.”It’s awesome to have options,” Langer said. “The way Usman and Finchy have batted together in the Test matches they played together in the UAE plus what they did in the last two one-day series is brilliant. Dave Warner’s a world-class opening batsman, Shaun Marsh’s been brilliant at No. 3, good at No. 4, Steve Smith can probably bat where he likes or wherever he is in the side, so it’s really exciting to have those five hundred makers at our disposal really.ALSO READ: ‘It’s all rosy’ for Australia as Warner, Smith rejoin“We’ve had so much success, we’ve had such a proud history Australian cricket and we know what works and we just had to keep trusting that. There was a lot of talk about strike rates and scoring, how many runs you’ve got to score, but we saw in India when the games allow you score big scores. You play in different grounds around England, we’ll score big scores because we’ve got hundred makers, really talented finishers, we’re playing spin much better and we’ve worked really hard on playing spin, so the game hasn’t changed too much.”As for the team’s collective behaviour, in the same week the former assistant coach David Saker insisted the former coaching regime led by Darren Lehmann had “never, ever” encouraged cheating in terms of trying to generate reverse swing, Langer noted a clean slate in terms of the ICC code of conduct since Newlands. This in itself can now be seen as equally important to Australia as the ICC’s other metric – the international rankings, which have Australia down at No. 5 in both Tests and ODIs.”Hopefully we’ve shown over the last 12 months,” Langer said when asked about regaining Australia’s respect. “Our behaviours on and off the field, we’ve played good cricket, we’ve won and lost with respect, which is important. We had a tough summer, no doubting that, but the boys still competed really hard. I think it’s the first time in a very long time we’ve had zero code of conduct [breaches] in the last 12 months, which is an awesome achievement by the players.”I said 12 months ago I can say all the words in the world, we can say all the words, we can talk as much as we want, [it’s] our actions. It’ll be a million different behaviours, a million different actions which will earn back the respect. We actually can’t control that, but what we can control is doing the right things and hopefully we’ve done that for the last 12 months.”

West Bromwich Albion are struggling for consistency during this gruelling winter period. The side's narrow 1-0 win at home to Norwich City on Boxing Day was just their second in five Championship matches, having also lost twice and drawn once.

Additionally, the only goal of the game came through Brandon Thomas-Asante, who found the net for the eighth time this campaign and is leading the Baggies' goalscoring charts.

West Brom could sign £1m-rated "huge talent" to improve Thomas-Asante's fortunes

West Brom could get the best out of Thomas-Asante this winter by signing this £1m-rated “huge talent”.

ByAdam Scully Dec 20, 2023

The Midlands club have been quite reliant on the former Salford City man's goals this season but with the January transfer window quickly approaching, head coach Carlos Corberan could look to sign one player that West Brom have been previously linked with to bolster his side's attacking department.

West Bromwich Albion transfer news – Ben Brereton Diaz

One player that West Brom have been linked to in recent months is Ben Brereton Diaz, with TEAMtalk reporting that the Baggies are keeping tabs on his situation at Villarreal. The outlet are claiming that both Leicester City and Southampton are also eyeing up the Chile international ahead of the January transfer window.

Brereton Diaz spent the last few seasons at Ewood Park with Blackburn Rovers, scoring 47 goals and registering 16 assists in all competitions for the Lancashire club. However, 38 of these goals came in his final two campaigns with the Riversiders, with journalist Alan Nixon describing him as a "goal machine".

During the summer, the attacker moved to La Liga side Villarreal on a free transfer but has struggled for game-time since joining The Yellow Submarine on a £29k-per-week deal.

The Chilean has seen just 544 minutes of action for the Spanish outfit since the beginning of the campaign which has been spread across 19 appearances in total and he has failed to bag a single goal or assist in his time at the club. Now, a move back to England looks to be on the cards and West Brom should try to shove themselves to the front of the queue for his signature.

How Ben Brereton Diaz compares to Romelu Lukaku

West Brom have been starved of a consistent goalscorer for some time now. In fact, last season, Thomas Asante finished level with Daryl Dike on seven goals in the Championship as the duo shared the club's top goalscorer award.

This term, Thomas Asante is leading West Brom's charts once more for the club and has already beaten his tally from his debut season. However, Corberan's second-most prolific player has been midfielder John Swift.

West Brom's last prolific goalscorer, in truth, was Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian titan found the net 17 times in 35 appearances on a season-long loan at the Hawthorns during the 2012/13 campaign before eventually returning to Chelsea, having had a great career since. Nonetheless, Brereton Diaz's most potent season in English football was even better than Lukaku's record with West Brom, having converted 22 times from 37 league appearances throughout the 2021/22 campaign.

Additionally, that season, the ex-Nottingham Forest attacker massively outperformed Thomas Asante's numbers from this current term.

Goals

0.61

0.38

Expected Goals

0.36

0.59

Assists

0.11

0.08

Expected Assists

0.07

0.04

Shots

2.91

2.30

Shots On Target

1.25

1.04

Goals Per Shot

0.14

0.17

Progressive Passes Received

5.81

4.30

Key Passes

0.67

0.45

Stats via FBref

Corberan could also play the pair together. In his career, Brereton Diaz has been deployed all along the frontline, including from the flanks. In a wide position, he has bagged 27 goals and registered 13 assists in 122 appearances. The Spanish coach can potentially use Brereton Diaz off the left in the absence of Matt Phillips, who is out until near the end of the season, while keeping Thomas Asante up top.

This is a move that could revolutionise West Brom's forward line ahead of what will be a gruelling second half of the campaign and should certainly be considered by the coaching and recruitment staff.

Having been without a reliable presence through the middle over an extended period – stretching back to the days of Lukaku – snapping up the former Rovers man could prove a real statement signing for those at the Hawthorns.

Despite spending Christmas Day atop the Premier League table, Arsenal endured a miserable end to 2023 that saw them lose to West Ham United and Fulham before kicking off 2024 with an equally demoralising loss to Liverpool in the FA Cup.

Mikel Arteta's men still look quite impressive in defence and midfield, but their attack has seemingly fallen off a cliff, with players who were clinical only last season now struggling to find the back of the net.

One of those players is Gabriel Martinelli, who ended last season with 15 goals and five assists in the league, but now, with over half of the league campaign completed, the young Brazilian has just two goals and two assists to his name.

Offensive reinforcements are clearly needed to help the Gunners kick on in 2024, and Martinelli might want to keep an eye on one young target who could just prove to be a threat in the future: Palmerias' Estêvão Willian.

Arsenal transfer news – Estêvão Willian

According to reports from Spain (via Sport Witness), Arsenal are among four Premier League sides 'bidding hard' to sign Brazilian youngster Estêvão.

The report reveals that, alongside the Gunners, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are all keen to secure the 16-year-old's signature this year, as are Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

With the nickname 'Messinho' – which means little Messi – it would be fair to categorise the young winger as a wonderkid and one of the most sought-after at that.

With the amount of hype and attention centred on the youngster, the first official offer is sure to start quite the bidding war, and while there is undoubtedly risk in going big for a 16-year-old, it might just be worth it if talent scout Jacek Kulig is correct in his assessment that Estêvão is a "world-class talent."

Estêvão Willian could be the perfect competition for Gabriel Martinelli

For as underwhelming as Martinelli has been this season, at least in terms of goal-scoring, it would be unfair to expect a relatively inexperienced youngster to come in right away and take his spot. Still, the arrival of Estêvão would undoubtedly provide the fan favourite with some added competition.

The Palmeiras winger can play on the left and right of a front three, so he shouldn't have any trouble fitting into Arteta's system, and based on his performances at the U17 World Cup, he looks to be the real deal.

The "crazy prospect", as described by Jacek Kulig, registered the most assists for Brazil, the most crosses, the most attempts at goal, the most sprints and the most presses, which altogether paint the picture of a very well-rounded and incredibly hard-working winger, who would surely feel at home with the intensity of the Premier League.

Martinelli himself offers that raw pace and pressing ability, so for another likeminded player to come in would surely give him a run for his money over the forthcoming years.

Most Assists

4

Most Crosses

26

Most Attempts at Goal

24

Most Sprints

188

Most Presses

133

At the end of the day, if Arsenal sign one of the "biggest talents in South America", as described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, all of their wingers should start looking over their shoulders.

However, considering the talismanic status that Bukayo Saka has cultivated at the Emirates, it would be hard to see anyone displacing him in a few years, leaving Martinelli as the most likely to lose out if he doesn't rediscover his goalscoring form in time.

Carlos Brathwaite says while short-pitched bowling is a ‘preferred tactic’ there’s more to it

Melinda Farrell04-Jun-2019As the Australians arrived for their first training session at Trent Bridge, the head-banging guitar riff and grinding lyrics of ACDC’s You Shook Me All Night Long bellowed from the speaker on the dressing room balcony.Several West Indies players were still at the ground, wrapping up a clinic and signing autographs for children. One member of the camp joked that Bob Marley music would be more welcome.But the upcoming match between the two sides has all the makings of a heavy metal contest rather than a reggae groove; the battle of the bumpers, the barrage of bouncers, so to speak.It’s no surprise. Australia and West Indies boast heavy artillery in the fast bowling department and both deployed it liberally in their opening seven-wicket victories against Afghanistan and Pakistan, respectively. But while Carlos Brathwaite acknowledges that bouncers are a “preferred tactic” for West Indies, he emphasised the importance of the balls that bracket them, the spaces in between.”Obviously we’ve been hearing the talk of bouncer this and bouncer that but it’s always been a part of cricket,” said Brathwaite. “Probably it’s come to the fore a bit because the pitches will take the bouncer and only four fielders out, so the bowlers need to find something and obviously no one likes a ball 140-145 k’s at your head. So that’s why the bouncer has been the favourite tactic thus far.”But you can only bowl two an over and the other four you have to be spot on and I think, as much as it was mentioned against Pakistan about our bouncers, I think those are the four balls in the over if you use them quite well. Up front Jase and Sheldon tried to swing it and myself and Russell tried to hit our lengths and then the bouncer became a surprise, probably even a dot ball option, so whilst it is obviously the preferred tactic, the most important thing is the balls that accompany, the other four balls in the over.”We may get early wickets, we may not. When do we use the bumper? How regularly do we use it? And how much will the effect of the pitch allow us to use the bouncer as well?”As Sid Monga noted in his early analysis of short pitched bowling this World Cup, against Afghanistan, “Eighteen percent of balls delivered by Australia’s quicks were short, almost double the usual rate you see.”West Indies demolished Pakistan with similar roughhouse tactics. Most notable was Andre Russell’s venomous three-over spell, of which 18 deliveries were short, that netted two wickets and conceded just four runs.England tried it unsuccessfully against Pakistan, playing Mark Wood and Joffra Archer in the hope fast, short-pitch lightning could strike twice on the same ground against the same opponents but, as is often the case, while the high-risk high-reward tactic of bowling short did result in six wickets, it also allowed for a big score: Pakistan made 113 runs of their total score off 109 short balls.Thursday’s match will be played on the same pitch that was used in that run-fest. Pitch 6, or the record pitch, as it’s often called after England’s 481 in last year’s ODI against Australia. But Brathwaite knows Australian batsmen are more likely to treat short, fast bowling like Vegemite on toast; a familiar meal.”Traditionally they’ve grown up on fast bouncy tracks and there’s only two balls an over,” said Brathwaite. “And it’s a mental game. If that bouncer can get into their head and allow our other four balls in that over to be perfectly executed or you know give us a bigger margin for error then perfect.”If not then we have to find another strategy but yes, we do expect Australia to play it better than Pakistan. However we need to be better at our other four balls as well because everyone knows what’s coming and it’s about execution versus execution.”We may get early wickets, we may not. When do we use the bumper? How regularly do we use it? And how much will the effect of the pitch allow us to use the bouncer as well?”But while Australia’s batsmen may be more accustomed to facing the heat, Brathwaite suggested that familiarity could occasionally breed contempt.”Some batsmen are traditionally good, some batsmen traditionally not so much,” said Brathwaite. “But there’s a saying in the Caribbean that people that can’t swim don’t drown. So maybe the person that can play the short ball better may be more susceptible and the ones that are more expectant of it may be more wary and, as a result, not take it on so much.”One very short boundary, The Record Pitch, some of the game’s most belligerent strikers and aggressive bowlers.All the elements are there. If they click, it could shake us all game long.

Following a four-game winning run, Everton are now on a four-match losing streak and are dangerously sitting just one point above the relegation zone, having initially done so well to climb out of the bottom three in the Premier League after receiving a ten-point deduction for breaching FFP regulations back in November.

However, the biggest worry for Sean Dyche will be his side's lack of potency up top. Only five teams have scored fewer goals than the Toffees this season and the manager is reportedly keen to rectify this issue during the winter transfer window.

Everton transfer news – Iliman Ndiaye

According to a report from Ignazio Genuardi last week, Everton are keen to sign Marseille attacker Iliman Ndiaye before the January window slams shut and will battle it out with Crystal Palace and his former club Sheffield United for the forward's signature.

Furthermore, the journalist is claiming that the French outfit are not willing to send the Senegalese attacker out on loan, meaning only a permanent deal could be on the table, with the player currently valued at £26m, as per CIES Football Observatory.

Having helped the Blades to promotion back to the Premier League last season, earning the club's Player of the Year award, Ndiaye moved to France for £20m during the summer transfer window. However, his time at the Stade Velodrome hasn't gone as well as he'd have hoped, having scored just one goal and recording three assists in 23 appearances in all competitions for the French giants.

Nevertheless, now a return to England could be on the cards and Everton should do everything in their power to push to the front of the queue.

Iliman Ndiaye stats comparison vs Beto

Perhaps the biggest indictment on Everton's season so far has been that midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure is the club's top goalscorer this term, having scored six goals in 20 appearances. One could even argue that the Malian has been the Toffees' best player this season. Doucoure has missed all of Everton's previous four outings and the side have managed to score merely three goals, losing each one in the process.

Meanwhile, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is second in the team's goalscoring charts with four goals, while £26m summer signing Beto lags behind by one. The latter has arguably been the biggest disappointment this season. Calvert-Lewin has spent large parts of Dyche's reign sidelined with recurring injuries and the Portuguese striker was brought in to lead the line in his absence. However, three goals in 19 appearances paint a different picture.

The 25-year-old seems to have all the characteristics of a perfect Dyche centre-forward, notably his 6 foot 4 frame, but it hasn't quite clicked at Goodison Park for him. On the other hand, Ndiaye is just under 6 foot, yet looks like a much better fit for Everton given his ability to not only score goals but to link the play up front as well.

In Ndiaye's final season in English football, his stats are levels above Beto's from the current campaign – albeit while having been operating in the second tier.

Per 90 Metrics	Iliman Ndiaye – 2022/23	Beto – 2023/24
Goals	0.34	0.15
Expected Goals	0.31	0.4
Assists	0.27	0
Expected Assists	0.09	0.02
Shots	1.7	3.52
Shots On Target	0.73	0.61
Shots Per Goal	0.2	0.04
Key Passes	1.24	1.85
Progressive Passes	2.36	1.54
Progressive Carries	2.26	1.08
Passes To Penalty Area	0.83	0.31
Stats via FBref

Ndiaye was integral to Sheffield United achieving promotion in the 2022/23 campaign and even earned praise from his teammate Chris Basham, who expressed that the Senegal international "can do anything" on a football pitch.

Now, the 23-year-old could be Dyche's saviour if Everton can get a deal done by the end of the transfer window.

MatériaMais Notícias

Luiz Adriano recebeu uma oferta do futebol árabe para deixar o Palmeiras. Os valores da proposta são altos e o jogador, juntamente com as pessoas que cuidam do negócio, deve conversar sobre o tema nesta sexta-feira (12).

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De acordo com apuração do LANCE!/NOSSO PALESTRA, o atleta recebeu ainda uma sondagem do Grêmio. Durante a premiação da Copa do Brasil, no último domingo (7), no Allianz Parque, Renato Gaúcho brincou com Luiz ao fazer um gesto de telefone como se fosse ligar para ele e ligou.

O atacante tem vínculo com o Verdão até julho de 2023 e está feliz no clube. Até o momento, o Palmeiras não recebeu nada e, caso o camisa 10 acene positivamente para os árabes, a conversa será com a diretoria para ver se as condições são favoráveis para uma possível venda.

Peça fundamental de Abel Ferreira, Luiz Adriano terminou a temporada como artilheiro ao marcar 20 gols. Desde agosto de 2019 no Verdão, ele entrou em campo 71 vezes, marcou 27 vezes e ganhou os títulos Paulista, da Libertadores e Copa do Brasil.

continua após a publicidade

Despite fielding numerous different centre-back pairings this campaign due to enforced reasons and not choice, Erik ten Hag's Manchester United side have been a relatively strong unit on the whole, especially in the Premier League.

United have kept the joint-second-most clean sheets in the top flight, six, conceding an average of just 1.38 goals per game.

However, rumours have arisen regarding Raphael Varane's future at the club, who has had an injury hit time in Manchester, and according to Football Insider, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are willing to let the World Cup winner leave in the summer when his contract expires.

Therefore, let's take a look at three incredible centre-back replacements for Varane.

1 Option 1: Matthijs De Ligt – Bayern Munich

Dutch centre-back Matthijs De Ligt is the first star who could send Varane packing in the summer. The 24-year-old is reportedly unhappy with his lack of minutes at Bayern Munich, and he could reunite with Ten Hag at Old Trafford.

According to a report from The Athletic, Man United have contacted the German club regarding a potential loan move for the former Ajax giant.

Passes completed

68.24

Top 16%

Passes into final third

7.25

Top 2%

Touches

84.51

Top 16%

Touches (Att pen)

2.16

Top 2%

Aerials won

3.33

Top 12%

As you can see, De Ligt is a dominant defender both on the ball and off it, particularly in the air, which can be useful at both ends of the field.

His ability to progress the play and be comfortable in possession will elevate United's control, while his speed and athleticism will make the side difficult to face in transition, in a similar way to how William Saliba mops up at Arsenal.

2 Option 2: Jean-Clair Todibo – OGC Nice

Jean-Clair Todibo has arguably been the most linked player to Man United in January, and CaughtOffisde confirmed that the Nice defender is among the top three targets for Ten Hag.

The French rock has been instrumental for Nice this campaign, as they have conceded the fewest goals in Ligue 1, 11, and climbed into second place.

Passes completed

82.81

Top 8%

Touches

101.88

Top 6%

Progressive passes

4.84

Top 16%

Tackles + interceptions

3.30

Top 25%

Dribblers tackled

1.17

Top 18%

Todibo is a defender who is extremely composed on the ball and rarely gives it away cheaply, but his high progressive passes mean he isn't passive in possession.

His tackles and interceptions combined are very high, as he is an aggressive, proactive defender, and funnily enough, his most similar player according to FBref is United central defender Martinez.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

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ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 3 Option 3: Jarrad Branthwaite – Everton

Jarrad Branthwaite has been immense in his first proper campaign in the Premier League, which has led to Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig labelling him an absolute "monster."

A recent report from The Mirror stated that Everton could be forced to sell their most valuable assets, which means that the £100m valued Branthwaite would be the first out the door.

The table below shows that the 21-year-old loves to defend, and he reads the game brilliantly while also having the ability to defend 1v1 situations with ease. This makes him extremely difficult to play against, with analyst Ben Mattinson hailing him a "physical beast".

Tackles

2.11

Top 17%

Dribblers tackled

1.39

Top 1%

Dribblers challenged

1.72

Top 15%

Interceptions

1.78

Top 9%

Ball recoveries

6.39

Top 12%

The former PSV defender is also cool-headed and rarely makes impulsive actions, which would make him the perfect replacement for Varane, especially as Martinez is the opposite.