All posts by h716a5.icu

Celtic are currently searching for their permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers, who resigned last month, but there have yet to be any reports that suggest that an appointment is close.

Martin O’Neill has been in interim charge at Parkhead, winning three of his four matches in the dugout, but it remains to be seen whether or not the 4-0 win over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership will be his last outing.

Bodo/Glimt head coach Kjetil Knutsen, Cardiff’s Brian Barry-Murphy, and Columbus Crew’s Wilfried Nancy are among the managers who have been linked with the vacant job in Glasgow.

However, no deal has been agreed with any of those candidates at the time of writing, which is why it is unclear as to whether or not O’Neill will still be in the dugout after the international break.

Whilst there is plenty of speculation over who the next manager is going to be, and understandably so, there has also been speculation over what the club could do in the January transfer window.

One player who has recently been linked with a possible move to Parkhead is Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, but it is a move that may not make too much sense for the Hoops.

Why Celtic should avoid a deal for Andy Robertson

It was recently reported that the Scotland international is ‘open’ to the idea of putting pen to paper on a pre-contract agreement with Celtic in January, which would see him sign for the club on a free transfer next summer.

The left-footed star’s contract at Anfield expires at the end of the season, opening the door to a potential exit from Liverpool, and it appears as though a move to Parkhead could be on the cards.

At face value, signing a 31-year-old star who has won two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy, on top of delivering 68 assists in 314 games for the Reds, would be a phenomenal piece of business for the Hoops.

Robertson, who assisted 12 goals in the Premier League in the 2019/20 campaign (Transfermarkt), is an attack-minded left-back who would bring quality, experience, and creativity at left-back.

However, Celtic already signed Kieran Tierney, who spent six years at Arsenal, to provide those three things when they brought him back to the club earlier this year on a free transfer.

xG

0.67

Top 10%

Goals

1

Top 20%

xA

1.48

Top 10%

Successful crosses

13

Top 10%

Chances created

13

Top 10%

Assists

2

Top 1%

Cross accuracy

52%

Top 1%

As you can see in the table above, the Scottish defender has been one of the best attack-minded full-backs in the Premiership so far this season, which shows that he has provided the expected creativity.

Tierney is three years younger than Robertson and signing another left-back who will want to play week-in-week-out and offer the same qualities may not be a logical move for the Hoops.

Meanwhile, though, the Scottish giants have been linked with another Premier League defender who would be a better signing than the Liverpool full-back.

Celtic offered chance to sign Premier League defender

According to 67HailHail, Celtic have been made aware of the potential availability of three Chelsea players ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.

The report claims that Deivid Washington, Raheem Sterling, and Axel Disasi are all set to move on from Stamford Bridge for the second half of the season, as they do not feature in Enzo Maresca’s plans in London.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

67HailHail adds that there is nothing at this stage to suggest that the Hoops will definitely make a move for any of those three players, but the club have been offered the chance to swoop for the Chelsea outcasts.

Disasi is possibly the most intriguing name on the list because of the long-term injury that central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers recently sustained.

The £80k-per-week France international could come in as an even better signing than Robertson in January, if the Hoops decide to dip into the Premier League to make an addition to their defence.

Why Celtic should sign Axel Disasi

Carter-Vickers suffered an Achilles injury against Sturm Graz in the Europa League and is expected to be out of action for up to five months, which means that he may not return until March.

That has come as a big blow for the Hoops because he is the first-choice right-sided centre-back and it is has left Auston Trusty and Liam Scales, two left-footed players, as the first-choice pairing.

Whilst the Hoops have kept back-to-back clean sheets in the Premiership, Scales and Trusty struggled in the 3-1 loss to FC Midtjylland in the Europa League, as the hosts created four ‘big chances’ and 2.73 xG.

Therefore, bringing in a right-footed centre-back with European experience in January could make a lot of sense for Celtic with Carter-Vickers’ injury situation, which is why Disasi could be an excellent signing.

Whilst the Hoops, for the aforementioned reasons, have little need to push the boat out for Robertson, who is reportedly on £160k-per-week, the Chelsea centre-back could be worth the wages to sign him on loan to fill a glaring hole.

Appearances

3

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.7

Ball recoveries per game

3.7

Dribbled past per game

0.3x

Ground duel success rate

55%

Aerial duel success rate

80%

Error led to shot, goal, or penalty

0

As you can see in the table above, Disasi put in a few dominant performances in the Champions League for Aston Villa on loan in the second half of last season, showing that he can compete at the top level in Europe.

The 27-year-old star also made 13 appearances in the Premier League, per Sofascore, and won 62% of his aerial duels, whilst completing 90% of his attempted passes, featuring at both right-back and centre-back.

Disasi, who was described as a “complete” and “dominant” defender by talent scout Jacek Kulig, also put in a performance against Manchester City last year that was heralded as the best Jamie Carragher had seen that campaign, which is further evidence of his potential to deliver high-quality performances at the top level.

The right-footed star, therefore, could be an excellent signing to fill the hole created by the injury to Carter-Vickers because the Chelsea outcast is a Premier League and Champions League-proven defender, who should be in the prime years of his career at the age of 27.

Dream for Maeda: 4-3-3 boss now a frontrunner to replace Rodgers at Celtic

As Celtic search for a new manager, the board’s top target is reportedly now the “frontrunner” for job and would be the dream hire for Daizen Maeda.

ByBen Gray Nov 14, 2025

For whatever reason, possibly due to the volume of players signed by the Blues, Disasi has become available to the Hoops in January and they should take advantage of that, because he would be an even better signing than Robertson, based on the team’s current needs.

They are used to juggling availability of their Australia players and have most bases covered

Alex Malcolm01-Oct-2022Captain Mitchell Marsh
Coach Adam VogesSquad
R=Rookie, CA=Australia contract
Ashton Agar (CA), Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly (R), Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin (R), Cameron Green (CA), Sam Greer (R), Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis (CA), Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Hamish McKenzie (R), Mitchell Marsh (CA), Shaun Marsh, David Moody, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, D’Arcy Short, Charlie Stobo, Marcus Stoinis (CA), Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman, Teague Wyllie. In Sam Fanning, Bryce Jackson, Sam Greer, Hamish McKenzie, Teague Wyllie | Out Liam Guthrie (Queensland)Winter moves
WA have retained most of their key talent in the off-season with five CA contracted players helping them manage their salary cap well. Liam Guthrie has headed to Queensland but he did not play a single Shield game last year as WA’s attack stayed relatively injury-free. Teague Wyllie has been elevated to a full contract as has Sam Fanning who has spent years on the rookie list. Both young batters are likely to get opportunities throughout the season.Related

Philippe century helps Western Australia start title defence with victory

From fringe domestic player to Australia A: Hardie's rapid rise marks him out

Last season
WA broke a 23-year Sheffield Shield drought with an emotional title for stand-in captain Shaun Marsh. A thumping victory by an innings and 51 runs against Victoria in the final round of the season was enough to secure a home final for the first time in 24 years. Then a first-innings century from Cameron Bancroft, a disciplined bowling performance, and second-innings epics from Sam Whiteman and Aaron Hardie was enough to secure a draw and the title on first-innings bonus points.WA’s depth across the season shone through as they used 18 players in their Shield side across eight matches. They also didn’t have a single player manage to play in all three Shield, Marsh Cup and BBL titles with WA and Perth Scorchers, further underscoring the depth of talent.On a batting front, Whiteman had an outstanding season at the top of the order (641 runs at 58.27) concluding with his Player of the Match performance in the final. Hilton Cartwright made a return to form with two hundreds, while Cameron Bancroft fought off a difficult start to the season to produce one of his finest innings in the final.With the ball, Joel Paris (24 wickets) and Lance Morris (20 wickets) formed the backbone of a well-rounded four-man pace attack. Jhye Richardson and Hardie made a huge impact in the few games they played. WA also unearthed 17-year-old batter Wyllie who played in the final and looks a future Test player.Western Australia Shield fixtures

October 3-6: vs New South Wales, WACA
October 17-20: vs Victoria, Junction Oval
October 31-November 3: vs Queensland, WACA
November 11-14: vs South Australia, WACA
November 22-25: vs New South Wales, SCG
December 1-4: vs Queensland, Gabba
February 10-13: vs South Australia, Adelaide Oval
February 21-24: vs Tasmania, Blundstone Arena
March 2-5: vs Tasmania, WACA
March 14-17: vs Victoria, WACA

Player to watch
Aaron Hardie has emerged as a player of significant interest to Australia’s selectors after a stunning Shield final and a brilliant tour of Sri Lanka with Australia A. He emerged from nowhere having been on the fringes of WA’s side following elbow surgery ahead of last season. When fully fit he can offer swing and bounce with the new ball and is capable of batting in the top seven with a belief he could move into WA’s top five in the future. His next challenge is creeping up the order while improving his wicket-taking ability on lower, slower pitches. But he could push for Australia A selection on next year’s tour of England.Australia radar
Cameron Green might not play a single game for WA this year with his emergence as a T20 phenomenon at the top of the order for Australia making him an all-format juggernaut. WA will also have to manage the comings and goings of Mitch Marsh, Ashton Agar, Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis from various international squads across the summer. Jhye Richardson is still on Australia’s radar although his fitness remains a question mark.Josh Philippe continues to develop as a three-format player and played well in the four-day games in Sri Lanka. His fast feet against spin will do him no harm when Australia looks at its batting depth options for the Test tour of India next year. But he is more likely to be looked at in the shorter formats as Australia regenerates their T20I side post the World Cup and looks for opening options to replace Aaron Finch in the ODI team ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup.

The Real Madrid winger has repeatedly underwhelmed at international level but he has the talent – and support – to turn things around

There was an incredible incident right at the end of Brazil's dramatic World Cup qualifier against Colombia on Thursday evening.

Just moments after Vinicius Junior had scored what proved to be the winner with a deflected strike from distance in the ninth minute of injury time, coach Dorival Junior decided to take off the Real Madrid superstar to waste a little time. Vinicius, though, was intent on eating up even more seconds, so he made his way from the field as slowly as possible, unsurprisingly upsetting a couple of Colombia players as he did so.

It was at this point that one of the winger's own team-mates got involved – and not to protect Vinicius but to physically remove him from the fray. Knowing the Real Madrid star was a yellow card away from being suspended for Tuesday's massive clash with Argentina, Raphinha repeatedly pushed his colleague towards the touchline to save him from sanction.

The whole episode proved two things: firstly, Raphinha is now firmly established as one of the key characters in Dorival's Brazil squad; and, secondly, the Barcelona man has an important role to play in Vinicius belatedly becoming the Selecao's 'new Neymar'.

AFP'No respectable leaders'

Ronaldinho resigned as a Brazil fan before last year's Copa America.

"That's it folks, I've had enough," the iconic No.10 posted on Instagram. "This is a sad moment for those who love Brazilian soccer.

"It's getting hard to find the spirit to watch the games. This is perhaps one of the worst teams in recent years, it has no respectable leaders, only average players for the majority."

Coming from a living legend, those words devastated Dorival's squad, all of whom had grown up idolising Ronaldinho.

They also failed miserably to prove him wrong during a calamitous Copa campaign.

After winning just one group game, against Paraguay, a Selecao shorn of the services of the injured Neymar were eliminated on penalties in the quarter-finals after performing abysmally in a scoreless draw with Uruguay.

Advertisement'This time it's my fault'

Vinicius took a significant share of the blame for Brazil's atrocious tournament and he was the first to admit that he had contributed to the national team's embarrassingly early exit.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he'd been forced to watch helplessly from the sidelines as the Selecao suffered a heartbreaking shootout loss to Croatia, having been replaced after 66 ineffective minutes at the Education City Stadium.

He found himself in the same position last summer, only this time he'd sat out the entire game having stupidly got himself suspended for the meeting with Uruguay in Nevada.

"The Copa America is over and it's time to reflect, and know how to deal with defeat," he wrote on social media. "The feeling of frustration kicks in again, and again on the penalties.

"I received two yellow cards [in the group stage] and watched elimination from outside again, but this time it's my fault. I apologise for that."

Getty Images Sport'I have three or four players marking me'

Vinicius didn't know it at the time but his desperately disappointing Copa America effectively cost him the Ballon d'Or he believed was in the bag after the starring role he'd played in Real Madrid's 2023-24 Champions League triumph, resulting in the most pathetic of hissy-fits.

In fairness, plenty of his compatriots were outraged by the perceived snub (even though Rodri was a most worthy winner of the game's most prestigious individual accolade) but a significant number were also quick to acknowledge that Vinicius had consistently failed to replicate his club form at international level.

There have been mitigating factors, of course.

Playing in the same left-wing position as Neymar certainly didn't help. Even when Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer was deployed more in a central role as a No.10, the pair never clicked, partly due to the elder man's propensity for instinctively drifting out to his favoured flank.

It also has to be said that Ronaldinho had a point about the quality of the current crop of players. This is definitely not a vintage era for the most successful country in World Cup history, with Brazil having made the semi-finals just once in the past 23 years – and even on that occasion, they were utterly humiliated on home soil by Germany.

The Selecao did win the Copa America in 2019 but Vinicius missed out on inclusion in the squad and was a second-half substitute in the painful 2021 final loss to hated rivals Argentina at the Maracana. He's been a regular in the starting line-up since then, though, and usually struggled to impose himself on games in the manner one would expect from one of the world's top talents.

That is a problem in itself, of course. The threat posed by Vinicius, coupled with the lack of genuine world-class quality around him, has emboldened opponents to commit more men to containing him.

"Every time I enter the field for the national team, I have three or four players marking me," the attacker complained after a dismal display in the 0-0 draw with Costa Rica at last year's Copa America.

AFPRaphinha the role model

At the end of the day, though, six goals and five assists is an undeniably poor return from Vinicius' 38 international appearances – especially when one considers that Raphinha has already surpassed both tallies in fewer games. The latter is also displaying the kind of captaincy qualities we've not yet seen from the former.

Age is obviously a factor. Raphinha is four years older than Vinicius and very much a late bloomer. Indeed, it was Vinicius who helped Raphinha settle when he first broke into the Selecao set-up.

The 28-year-old has never had to deal with anything like the same weight of expectancy as his younger colleague, who was tipped for superstardom long before he agreed a move to Madrid at just 16. That's the kind of pressure to which only a select few footballers can relate.

Raphinha has also pointed out that not even he can comprehend the mental strain facing racist abuse on an almost weekly basis in Spain has had on Vinicius, who has simultaneously had to take on La Liga's authorities almost singlehandedly while also trying to do his incredibly demanding day job at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"We don't know what happened in his childhood. We don't know the things he heard when he was little," Raphinha said in response to allegations that separate criticism of Vinicius' on-field conduct (diving, mocking opponents, gamesmanship etc.) was justified. "These things push people to their limit and it bothers him a lot.

"Vinicius is a very smiling boy, he is always making jokes. The only issue that bothers him a lot is this, I understand his anger. But I'm not in his situation, so I can't tell him what I would do [in his place]."

Raphinha added in an interview with : "We get along very well and I also often talk to him and tell him that it is not necessary to do the things he does on the pitch, but I understand it. Each person is different, he is like that and I think it gives him confidence on the field to do that.

"For example, Gavi on the pitch, in my opinion, is crazy, he's very annoying. But off the field he is an incredible person, loving, caring… Vinicius is the same.

"However, it's hard to convince people that he's like that when they see him in a certain way on the pitch. Only if you live moments with him will you see that I am right."

More than a decade after his last international match, the former Australia wicketkeeper is set to turn out for Hong Kong at the World T20

Tim Wigmore17-Feb-2016Few cricketing comebacks have been as unlikely as that of Ryan Campbell. At the age of 44, nearly 14 years after his two ODIs for Australia and a decade after his last match as a professional cricketer down under, Campbell is poised to make his debut for Hong Kong in the opening game of the World T20 in India.”I’ll be as thrilled as I’ve ever been playing a game of cricket when I receive my Hong Kong cap,” he says. “It’s obviously a big risk on my behalf and Hong Kong cricket’s behalf. But it’s a risk they’re happy to take, and I am too. Hopefully a good result will come of it.”Some are less enthusiastic about the prospect of Campbell playing for Hong Kong, seeing his selection as a throwback to a time when ageing imports were ubiquitous in Associate teams.To Campbell, such comparisons are unfair. “I’ve got family in Hong Kong: my son was born here, so was my wife-to-be. This is our home.” His grandmother is Chinese, and his great-grandfather was born in Kowloon, where Campbell has been a player and coach since early 2012. “Four years later I couldn’t be happier – I’ve got a wonderful fiancé, have a beautiful seven-month old baby boy, and have a great job at Kowloon Cricket Club and with the national team. I have roots and history here, so I’ll be very proud to represent Hong Kong.”Without these links, Campbell “wouldn’t even consider” an international comeback. “Then it would be just ridiculous. But because I do have a history here I feel that I can and should be helping out.”

“Those who throw stones should just look at the English team. They’ve got South Africans, they’ve got Irishmen, they’ve got Scotsmen, they’ve got whoever they want”

Eighteen months ago, Campbell scored 303 not out off 107 balls for Kowloon Cricket Club. It was an innings that, together with an average of over 50 over four seasons in Hong Kong domestic cricket, suggested age has scarcely diluted the quality that brought Campbell ten Sheffield Shield hundreds.After he became Hong Kong batting coach in July 2013, the players were immediately impressed by Campbell’s skills. “I have always felt how beneficial it would be to have him in the national side,” says former captain Jamie Atkinson, who is a club team-mate.Hong Kong’s hierarchy has long known that Campbell qualified just prior to the World T20; they were privately discussing whether to approach him during the qualifiers in July. For one of the youngest squads in the game, the appeal of Campbell is obvious.”Experience is something we realised is crucial after our performances in the last World T20,” says Charlie Burke, Hong Kong’s director of cricket. “Cambo’s biggest trait is his calming influence and his ability to read the game and the situation. Even though T20 is a fast-paced game we still need clear minds and an understanding that you can still win the game if you take it deep enough.”Campbell says he “needed a bit of persuading” before agreeing to make himself available. “Obviously my age does come into it – I didn’t want to let the team down or let myself down. I’m very aware that a lot of the time when you throw up Associate cricket, people say, ‘Oh, it’s just all these expats’ or whatever. I wanted to do the right thing by Hong Kong cricket as well, but I feel I can contribute to the team and help out a very young top-six line-up: give them a bit of experience and calm them in the middle.” The recent suspension of Irfan Ahmed for failing to disclose a match-fixing approach was also “a big factor” in Campbell’s decision. “He was our most experienced player at the top of the order so there was a hole to fill there.”As Campbell stresses, the notion of Hong Kong as a team of expats is a myth. All but three members of the World T20 squad moved to Hong Kong before 18; he is the only player in the squad who has lived there less than seven years. “Those who throw stones should just look at the English team. They’ve got South Africans, they’ve got Irishmen, they’ve got Scotsmen, they’ve got whoever they want.””I’d never practised the ramp shot in the nets before. Once I started playing it, I practised it and started to mess around with it”•Getty ImagesHe intends to be equally combative on the pitch in India. “I’d love to open the batting. I’ve always loved opening the batting in T20. It’s one of the best positions to bat – especially in India, if you can get yourself in against the quicker bowlers. I enjoy facing spinners but I like being in when they come.”If he does not seem fazed by his unlikely return to the game, Campbell has never been the sort of cricketer to be constrained by convention. Well before Tillakaratne Dilshan made the shot famous, Campbell was a successful exponent of the scoop.”Being the wicketkeeper, I used to go to meetings with all the bowlers. Every single person always said, ‘In one-day cricket you have to bowl full at the death and look to bowl yorkers.’ Sitting there and listening to that, I always knew no one ever fielded behind the wicketkeeper. So I thought the theory must be sound: if they’re bowling yorkers, and if I get forward and get my bat down, I’m going to get a full toss. And if I get a full toss, it’ll just hit the face of my bat and go over my head or my shoulder and it should be runs. That was the theory.”In a one-day game against Victoria, Campbell put it to the test. “Darren Berry, my old mate and sparring partner, was keeping. He was up to the stumps and sledging the hell out of me. Ian Harvey was bowling, and I knew he definitely bowled really full. I thought: I’m going to try this ramp. There’s three things that could happen: I’m either going to hit myself in the face, hit Darren Berry in the face and stop him from talking to me, or it’s going to go for four. The two times I tried it, they both went for four.”He had never even played the ramp in the nets before. “I always had the theory but I’d never practised the shot before. I’d seriously thought about it but I just thought I don’t want to practise this because it could make me look stupid if I get hit in the face. Once I started playing it, then I practised it and started to mess around with it. I always tell young cricketers: ‘If you have a good theory and want to talk to me about it, I’m happy to talk through it, as long as the theory is sound.'”Campbell still has the shot, though is not sure whether he will unveil it in India. “I don’t play it too often now. I might use it, depending on the situation of the game.”

“Cambo’s biggest trait is his calming influence and his ability to read the game and the situation”Charlie Burke, Hong Kong’s director of cricket

Commitments with Kowloon CC mean that Campbell is not part of Hong Kong’s squad for the T20 Asia Cup qualifiers later this month. “It’s just too hard to get so much time off.”He has already started work on a custom-built training regime, devised by coach Simon Cook, to ensure that he is ready for the first game against Zimbabwe in March, 4825 days after his last international match. “Now that the reality has set in that I’m going to be representing Hong Kong, I’m obviously stepping up the workload. I’m confident I’ll be at a good enough standard to play.”While Campbell admits that “fast bowling’s always going to be the issue for the older guys”, he professes to not worrying about not being up to the rigours of international cricket. Anyway, he cannot only think of himself: Campbell will also remain batting coach during the World T20. “I’ll make sure that I work with all the players and then I’ll look after my batting side later on. They’ll always come first.”He does not intend for his return to be a fleeting one, either. Campbell hopes to play ODI cricket for Hong Kong too. First, though, he has his eyes set on the main stage of the World T20, where Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies and England will lie in wait if Hong Kong progress.”This is the most successful Hong Kong sporting team in the history of Hong Kong. No one will ever take that away from us. It’s going to be a very good contest for the boys. It helps us that the ball doesn’t bounce a lot in India, because the wickets in Hong Kong aren’t too bouncy. These conditions suit us a lot better than if we were playing in Perth.”In T20 cricket only one or two blokes need to play really well and then you can win the match. Our goal is to make the Super 10. If that happens it’s one of the greatest stories ever.” Especially if a 44-year-old is at the heart of it.

Some of the best things in life come in pairs.

Socks, for example. They keep your feet comfy and warm, at least until one of them goes missing in the washing machine. Or salt and pepper; one brings out the natural flavour of your food, while the other adds a little spice.

What about Wham! – the legendary musical duo consisting of the late, great George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley that gifted the world the hit single Last Christmas? The holidays simply wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for them.

Premier League football is no different. From rock-solid centre-back pairings to prolific partnerships up top, the top flight has a history of great duos.

After Gary Neville recently hailed the link-up between Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, we have listed who we consider to be the Premier League’s best attacking partnerships.

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ByRoss Kilvington Nov 2, 2024 9 Andy Cole & Dwight Yorke Manchester United

No list of great Premier League partnerships would be complete without talking about Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke.

During their debut season together at Manchester United in 1998/99, the two scored 53 goals combined across all competitions to fire the Red Devils to a historic treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

They scored another 43 goals between them in the following campaign as United again won the league.

“Me and Yorkie are polar opposites but we understood each other like we were born together,” Cole once said of his former strike partner, adding: “I loved playing with him.”

8 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink & Eidur Gudjohnsen Chelsea

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Eidur Gudjohnsen were known as “Fire & Ice” during their time together at Chelsea between 2000 and 2004.

Hasselbaink was known for his formidable physical presence and thunderous right foot, while Gudjohnsen was noted for his cool demeanour and ability to create chances for his teammates.

Together, they provided panache and power, subtlety and savagery, and calmness and chaos in equal measure. In 121 games up top together for the Blues, they scored a combined 96 goals.

Speaking about his connection with Gudjohnsen in an interview with Chelsea’s official website in 2020, Hasselbaink said:

“The partnership with Eidur was not worked on, but it was very, very special, and it was also very pleasant.

“It was very easy and it just clicked, the understanding was just there, and it was like a tandem, and it just fitted very well.”

7 Peter Crouch & Jermain Defoe Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur

Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe were the perfect little & large partnership.

During successful spells at Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur, the two scored 77 goals in 141 games together, with the diminutive Defoe often latching on to balls that were knocked down by the impossibly tall Crouch.

The two also linked up on occasion for England, including at the 2010 World Cup.

During an appearance on Sky Sports’ Transfer Talk podcast in 2020, Defoe described his partnership with Crouch as the “best partnership ever”, comparing it to that of Yorke and Cole at United.

“If you look at Crouchy, you think he is just good in the air, but he was so good with his feet,” he explained. “Every game we tried to assist each other, and when you play with each other for such a long time, it just becomes natural.”

6 Harry Kane & Son Heung-min Tottenham Hotspur Statistically speaking, Harry Kane and Son Heung-min are the most lethal partnership in Premier League history.In 229 games together for Tottenham between 2015 and 2023, the pair directly combined for no less than 47 goals – with Kane scoring 23 and Son scoring 24.They also hold the record for the most goal combinations in a Premier League season, teeing each other up 14 times in the 2020/21 campaign.Their love for playing together was best demonstrated in a 1-0 win over Burnley during that season, when after scoring the game's only goal, Son turned to ask Kane if he got the assist. When Kane nodded, the two embraced and celebrated together. 5 Didier Drogba & Frank Lampard Chelsea

It’s not often that strikers and midfielders team up to become perfect partners, but in the case of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard, that’s exactly what happened.

In 300 games together for Chelsea, the pair hit a combined 254 goals, directly linking up a mightily impressive 51 times.

Most notably, they combined twice in FA Cup finals. In the 2007 final against Manchester United, Lampard teed up Drogba for the only goal in a 1-0 win for the Blues, while in 2012, the Englishman again set up the Ivorian’s winner. That’s what you call clutch.

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1 ByBarney Lane Nov 1, 2024 4 David Silva & Sergio Aguero Manchester City

Another example of a fierce midfield-striker combination, David Silva and Sergio Aguero directly combined for 29 goals in the Premier League alone during their nine seasons together at Manchester City.

In that time, they helped the club lift 11 major honours, including four league titles. Former Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren once described stopping Aguero and Silva as the toughest job in the Premier League.

“They can produce goals in moments from nothing to win football matches, so when you give them those moments, it’s quite easy for them,” he said.

Their partnership came to an end in 2020 when Silva joined Real Sociedad, while Aguero left to join Barcelona a year later.

3 Alan Shearer & Chris Sutton Blackburn Rovers

Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton were the Premier League’s original power couple, but like many celebrity partnerships, their time together was short-lived and ended in tears.

In the 1994/95 season, Shearer and Sutton scored 58 goals between them as Blackburn Rovers won the Premier League title. As a result, they became affectionately known as “SAS”.

However, Shearer scored 36 goals as Sutton managed just one the following season, and the pair went their separate ways when Shearer joined Newcastle United in the summer.

Sutton later admitted that he never felt “any warmth” from Shearer during their time together at Ewood Park. “You have better relationships with some players than others,” he said.

2 Thierry Henry & Dennis Bergkamp Arsenal

Thierry Henry enjoyed fruitful partnerships with a number of his Arsenal teammates during his time in north London, including Freddie Ljungberg, Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord.

However, none were quite as special as his link-up with Dennis Bergkamp.

The pair, who are both widely regarded as two of the Premier League’s greatest-ever players, enjoyed an almost telepathic understanding of one another, with the more creative Bergkamp often knowing where Henry was before feeding him through on goal to finish in trademark fashion.

In 216 games together for Arsenal, they scored a combined 177 goals and won two Premier League titles (one of which they won without losing a game) and two FA Cups.

Despite having shared the field with the likes of Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho, Henry has previously named Bergkamp as the best player he’s ever played with.

All members of Arsenal's 2003/04 Invincibles squad – ranked

Football FanCast delves into the stats in order to rank each of Arsenal’s Invincibles squad.

ByAlex Roberts Dec 15, 2023 1 Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane & Roberto Firmino Liverpool

Okay, so this is technically not a duo, but pick any two of these three and put them together, and you’d still have one of the best partnerships in Premier League history.

During most of their time together at Liverpool, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino were simply unstoppable.

A perfect combination of pace, power, finesse, skill, desire and pretty much any other desirable attacking quality you can think of, the three scored a combined 338 goals across five seasons, helping Liverpool to win the Champions League and the Premier League title.

Salah is the only remaining part of the legendary Liverpool trio, with Mane and Firmino both now plying their trade in Saudi Arabia, but their impact at Anfield will remain forever.

Australia batter wants the board to reach out to him and ‘open their doors’ to discussion on the subject

Andrew McGlashan21-Aug-20220:34

Warner: ‘Cricket schedule over next five years looks scary’

David Warner has called on Cricket Australia to approach him about overturning his lifetime ban on holding any captaincy position after he signed a two-year deal to return to the BBL with Sydney Thunder.Warner was the most heavily punished of the three players involved in the 2018 ball-tampering incident against South Africa in Cape Town – alongside Steven Smith and Cameron Bancroft – with him prevented from holding any leadership position in Australian cricket for the rest of his career.However, there is growing sentiment in the game that the decision needs to be overturned to allow Warner to captain in the BBL at least. Thunder will need a new captain for the 2022-23 season after Usman Khawaja moved to Brisbane Heat.Related

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“That hasn’t really been brought to the table,” Warner said on Sunday. “As I’ve said plenty of times off the record, it’s upon the board to reach out to me and open their doors. Then I can sit down and have an honest conversation with them.”The board has changed since back in 2018 and when all those sanctions were dealt. It would be great to have a conversation with them and see where we are at.”David Warner was handed a lifetime captaincy ban for his involvement in the 2018 ball-tampering incident•CA/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesAustralia Test captain Pat Cummins has been a strong advocate of overturning the ban on Warner. “I don’t see why not. He’s a brilliant leader. I hope so,” he said at the recent Chappell Foundation dinner at the SCG.Smith, who was captain at Newlands in 2018, was given a two-year leadership ban and last year led Australia in the second Test against England in Adelaide when Cummins was ruled out due to being a Covid close contact.However, regardless of whether he has captaincy position in Australian cricket again, Warner believes he can play a leadership role.”I’ve got the experience, I’m a leader in the side anyway without having a title,” he said. “That’s what I’m about, giving back, so if they [younger players] can pick my brains in any way, my phone is always there, they have my number, and they can see me when I’m at the practice facilities.”When announcing Warner’s signing, Thunder said a decision on the club’s captaincy would “be made closer to the start of the season”

Atletico Madrid intend to price Enzo Fernandez away from Chelsea this summer and want to use their Argentinian players to do the club a favour.

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Atletico eyeing Fernandez for a summer moveWant Argentine players in the squad to work as agentsChelsea midfielder also linked to Real MadridFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to a report from (h/t Football Espana), Atletico Madrid are determined to sign Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez and have devised a "mission" to make it happen. The club's Argentine players have been tasked with convincing Fernandez to make the move to Spain this summer.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

During the ongoing international break, club officials have enlisted the help of several of Fernandez’s Argentina teammates — Nahuel Molina, Rodrigo De Paul, Giuliano Simeone, Angel Correa, and Julian Alvarez — to convince the midfielder to consider a transfer to the Metropolitano. What could also work in Los Rojiblancos' favour is the fact that head coach Diego Simeone is also from Argentina.

Atletico want to do everything in their power to ensure that they lure Fernandez to the Metropolitano, with reports in recent weeks revealing that the Colchoneros' cross-city rivals Real Madrid are also interested in acquiring the Argentine international's signature.

DID YOU KNOW?

Fernandez is perhaps enjoying his best season with the Blues ever since he arrived for a club-record fee of £106 million in January 2023. Amid growing interest from two of Spain's biggest clubs, Chelsea are adamant on keeping the player. The report from however, mentions that the 2021 Champions League winners would consider offloading their vice captain for a fee of at least €80 million.

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR ENZO FERNANDEZ?

Argentina will be hoping for Fernandez to carry his club form into international colours as the Albiceleste are set to take on Uruguay (Saturday, March 22) and Brazil (Wednesday, March 26) in two monumental 2026 World Cup qualifying games.

South Africa’s confidence is crushed. The well-being present two years ago when Graeme Smith took one last picture on the outfield with Jacques Kallis is hard to find

Firdose Moonda in Durban30-Dec-2015A man with a beard marched onto the Durban outfield as though he owned it. Behind him bounced a toddler with the giddy gait of someone who may one day own the place himselfThat man could easily have been Hashim Amla and his son Abdullah. Instead, it was Moeen Ali carrying on like the king of Kingsmead with his crown prince, Abu Bakr. South Africa were nowhere to be seen.About 45 minutes later, the embattled opening pair of Dean Elgar and Stiaan van Zyl trudged across from the Friendship Pavilion to the changerooms. Their legs were a little less heavy than they had been for the last five days but their expressions were still worn. The mingling they had done did not change the reality that this defeat had demoralised them.Even Elgar, who was “the positive light” in his captain’s words, did not really have a reason to feel good about himself. Although his century provided some cheer – it was only the second scored in a Test by a South African this year – he lacked support. It is difficult for personal satisfaction to show in that sort of space and that applies to his team-mates too.As individuals, the South Africans have had their confidence crushed. Even those with considerable reputations like Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy don’t seem to have the same self-belief that was so central to their match-winning and match-saving efforts in the past. The captain himself is the most affected.Amla is carrying the leadership like a lead balloon. He can’t focus on it while his own form remains an issue and he can’t fix his own form while the team keeps failing. “Not getting runs has been the most disappointing for me. It’s more of a confidence thing and the thing about it is that you only get confident once you get the runs,” he admitted. “You can be doing everything well in the nets and putting the work in behind the scenes but it’s got to materialise to runs on the board in the big games. Hopefully that will happen for me.”With the seniors understandably self-absorbed, the rest of the line-up are not getting the guidance they need to make the step-up. They look suitably lost, as does their overall strategy.South Africa are refusing to pick an opener to open and insist makeshift players have earned the right to be retained. They don’t want to dispense with anyone in their misfiring middle-order because they expect them soon to turn what Amla hopes is a “short corner”.All the delight was England’s at Durban•Getty Images”We know we’ve got quality there. The key is for us to get that quality firing,” Russell Domingo, South Africa’s coach said. “It can just take Hashim Amla to hit two or three great drives and off he goes or Faf du Plessis to hit a couple of good shots and everything just clicks into gear.”They can’t settle on a spinner and they keep getting out to the opposition’s. Dane Piedt’s five-for showed he has the potential to become the first-choice but compare his economy rate to Moeen Ali’s and you wonder how South Africa will hold an end.The part-timers can deliver a few decent overs but that’s not how it should be. The batsmen shouldn’t have to bowl and the bowlers shouldn’t have to be taught to bat better as is the case now. Lance Klusener was specifically called in to work with South Africa’s lower-order before this Test, a match in which van Zyl and Elgar bowled eight balls less than Morne Morkel in the second innings. Granted, Dale Steyn’s injury gave them more to do but they still had to do it and they may have to again given the frequency with which Steyn breaks down.Compare England, who have the luxury of four seamers and who can allow James Anderson the time he needs to recover because, “it’s not about whether he can get through, it’s about can he give the best account of himself,” as Alastair Cook explained.South Africa will be happy with Steyn just getting through. They showed as much in India when they took last-minute calls in each of the three Tests after he was injured in the hope he would be able to play. Each time, they must have known they were cutting it too fine but they also knew they did not have too many other choices. They will do the same before the second Test, where they will again run the risk of Amla having only 10-men, something he is struggling to manage.Hashim Amla has a huge task ahead•Getty Images”Immediately, it changes things in the game. The options are very limited not having Dale Steyn, who you would consider one of your banker bowlers, who you can rely on,” Amla said. “But things like this happen. Guys get injured and you’ve just got to deal with it and use some of your other resources. It puts a lot of workload on the other seamers in the team, which you have to manage, especially having two days turnaround for the next Test but you have to deal with it.”That is essentially how South Africa are playing. They are dealing with things, not dominating. The only consolation they can take is that, as a collective, they are clinging on. South Africa’s attack has kept them in the game even as it is being depleted but there is a distinct feeling that any more disruptions will send them into free-fall. “There’s been a lot of talk about the batting, about AB’s retirement, about Dale’s injury, about everything. It’s important for us to stick together as a team and shut out the noise,” Russell Domingo, the head coach, said.Perhaps it was always coming. Although it seems like yesterday that Graeme Smith, sans barbe, with a little one in tow was galloping onto the pitch to take a final picture as a team-mate of Jacques Kallis, that was actually two years ago.Since then, South Africa have only played 11 Tests, won four, lost four and drawn three. They are now at a tipping point. When we see who jogs jauntily across the Newlands outfield in a week’s time at the end of the second Test we may know whether they have finally tumbled or if they have managed to turn things around.

Tottenham Hotspur could sign a high-earning forward in 2025, with a U-turn done behind-the-scenes after a decision by manager Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs preparing for Europa League clash against Roma on Thursday

Spurs are fresh off the back of an imperious 4-0 win over Man City at the Etihad Stadium, so Postecoglou’s side will be in very good spirits as they prepare to make a return to Europa League action.

Tottenham ask about signing Netherlands international in bargain transfer

He’s been excellent this so far this season.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Nov 27, 2024

The north Londoners lost their last European encounter, a damning 3-2 defeat away to Turkish champions Galatasaray, where they displayed hapless defending throughout and could’ve conceded even more goals on the night.

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Postecoglou will be looking to put that performance behind them against a Roma side who are seriously under-performing in their Serie A campaign, winning just three league games all season so far, with Claudio Ranieri’s side languishing just three points above the relegation zone.

Timo Werner, who’s been a real point of discussion among Spurs supporters this season, missed their clash with Galatasaray due to a hip injury – but the German has since returned to action and even provided an assist against City.

The forward, who pockets £200,000-per-week when bonuses are triggered, has been criticised throughout 2024/2025 for his wasteful finishing in front of goal.

“He is definitely down in confidence you can see that,” said Postecoglou on Werner’s form after Spurs beat AZ Alkmaar 1-0 in late October.

“It is a difficult thing to get out of sometimes. It can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. All we can do is try to support him and keep trying to get him to a place where he feels a little bit more confident with certain things.

He scored his first goal since March in their 2-1 win over City in the Carabao Cup recently, and reports in the last few weeks have suggested that Werner is set to rejoin Leipzig at the end of his loan spell – with Tottenham electing not to trigger the £8.5 million buy option in his contract.

GMS reported that Werner was on track to leave Spurs after this campaign, but that same outlet has now suggested that Daniel Levy, Postecooglou and co are performing a U-turn.

Tottenham refuse to rule out permanent Timo Werner deal

According to their information, Tottenham are nw refusing to rule out a permanent deal for Werner, following Postecoglou’s own decision not to cut his loan spell short in January.

While they’re still in the market for wide forwards, with Andreas Skov Olsen among the names being monitored to provide competition for Werner, it is believed the former Chelsea forward could now stay beyond 24/25.

No final decision has been made just yet, as key figures are holding off on the call until later in the campaign, but it appears those within Tottenham are having a change of heart – as it looked far more likely that Werner was set to go back to the Bundesliga.

Arsenal have made an approach to sign an exciting player, who their legendary former boss, Arsène Wenger, tried to tempt with a move there nearly 10 years ago.

Arsenal make transfer plans without Edu Gaspar

The departure of Edu Gaspar as sporting director is widely viewed as a real blow for Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta, with the Brazilian playing an influential part in the club’s on-field transformation since his employment in 2019.

Conte and Napoli planning January bid for "extraordinary" Arsenal player

The ex-Tottenham boss could raid his former north London rivals.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 12, 2024

The ex-Gunner and Invincible formed a key part of the recruitment team which saw Arsenal complete a bargain £30 million deal for club captain Martin Odegaard, as well as the likes of William Saliba, club-record signing Declan Rice, Ben White and other pivotal first teamers.

Edu also helped to appoint Arteta as the club’s manager, so this team we’re seeing right now has the 46-year-old’s fingerprints all over it. News of his exit last Monday was met with real shock, given the announcement’s very sudden nature, and there have understandably been questions about Arsenal’s transfer plans moving forward.

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Assistant director Jason Ayto, who worked under Edu for 12 months prior to his resignation, will take the role on an interim basis. That is according to journalist Charles Watts, who also says Ayto will be present at Arsenal’s meeting in the USA to discuss transfer plans for next year.

Ayto, Arteta, managing director Richard Garlick, director Tim Lewis and the Kroenkes will be present at this sit-down, and who knows what the topics of discussion will be in regard to potential transfer targets.

Reports in the last few months suggest that they could well bring up the possibility of moving to sign a new number nine next year.

Arsenal had an offer rejected by Benjamin Sesko in the summer, with the Slovenian instead deciding to remain in the Bundesliga for a further season or more. Edu and co opted to end their pursuit of a new striker then and there, it would seem, but media sources believe they could return to the market for a centre-forward.

Many have been linked in the last few weeks, including Sporting Lisbon sensation Viktor Gyokeres. A name less regularly-mentioned than the Swede is Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen, who is on loan at the Turkish champions from Napoli.

Arsenal make contact with Napoli over signing Osimhen

According to Turkish newspaper Sabah, Arsenal have been in contact with Napoli over signing Osimhen, which is intriguing when you take into account the break-clause in his Galatasaray deal.

This would reportedly allow clubs to move for the £160,000-per-week Nigerian in January, cutting his Galatasaray spell short, but it is unclear whether Arsenal are planning to do that or wait until next summer. The 25-year-old, who has unsurprisingly been on fire in Turkey, has long been on Arsenal’s radar – even during the Wenger years.

“I spoke with Arsene Wenger after the tournament ended, and he wanted me to come to Arsenal,” Osimhen told the Independent in 2020, talking about the U17 World Cup in 2015 (via The Mirror). “I had a lot of options. Barcelona; Inter Milan; Atletico Madrid; Juventus and the rest.

“Arsenal was a good option, but it wasn’t the best at the time, I wanted to start playing as soon as I turned 18. I wanted to go to a place where I had time to invest in my game and improve physically. Wolfsburg showed me that possibility.”