Category Uncategorized

An "outstanding" manager who Pep Guardiola rates highly is now the favourite for the Leicester City, according to a new update regarding the situation.

Leicester manager latest

It's all change for the Foxes this summer following their promotion from the Championship to the Premier League, with Enzo Maresca departing as manager in relatively shock fashion.

The 44-year-old has replaced Mauricio Pochettino as Chelsea boss, with the Argentine leaving by mutual consent at the end of the 2023/24 season, in a decision that has rocked Leicester supporters ahead of what was supposed to be such a positive summer at the King Power Stadium.

It is now essential that the Foxes nail Maresca's successor before the start of next season, and a number of candidates have been thrown into the mix. Graham Potter has emerged as a strong option to come in and take over, having not managed since a disappointing spell of his own at Chelsea, in what would be an eye-catching appointment.

Former Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has also been linked with being Maresca's successor, and the same applies to Carlos Corberan, who guided West Brom into the Championship playoffs this season.

Ruud van Nistelrooy has also emerged as a contender to come in this summer, with the ex-Manchester United striker most recently in charge at PSV Eindhoven, leaving his role last year.

"Outstanding" manager favourite to be Leicester boss

According to Football Insider, Potter is the favourite to be Leicester's next manager currently, with the Englishman in pole position ahead of Cooper.

The pair are described as "the top choices for their managerial vacancy", but the former is the "slight favourite for the job at the King Power Stadium". It is stated that he is "yet to be convinced" about taking charge, however, so the situation remains up in the air.

Potter jumps out as the most exciting choice to be Leicester's next manager, considering the impressive managerial career he has carved out to date, even though his time at Chelsea didn't go to plan.

The 49-year-old was particularly impressive at Brighton, guiding them to a ninth-place finish in the Premier League, and his talent hasn't gone unnoticed from Manchester City legend Guardiola in the past, who said of him during his time at Stamford Bridge:

"I would say to Todd Boehly, give him time. I know in big clubs, results are important but I'd say give him time. The second half is what he is. What he's done at Brighton is outstanding, but…we need time in the first season. I had (Lionel) Messi in Barcelona my first season so I didn't need two seasons because Messi was there."

Chelsea

31

1.42

Brighton

134

1.28

Swansea City

51

1.45

Ostersund

224

1.71

Potter's attack-minded, ball-playing 'Potterball' style of play could appeal to Leicester supporters from the off, not to mention his past achievements, and the only issue could be whether he actually wants the job.

The 29-year-old quick took 10 wickets in the match as the home side overcame being a bowler down

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2025

Kieran Elliott’s six wickets bowled Tasmania to a thrilling victory•Getty Images

Peter Handscomb’s rearguard fell short as Kieran Elliott powered Tasmania home against Victoria for a thrilling 20-run Sheffield Shield victory.Elliott followed his first innings, four-wicket haul with 6 for 84 in 28.1 overs on Tuesday as the hosts defied early rain and several Victorian stands to notch a crucial, second victory this season. They were comfortably career-best innings and match figures for 29-year-old Elliott.Related

Weatherald's dominant century gives Tasmania chance of victory

763 balls, 66 all out, 7 for 11: McAndrew recounts wild WACA

Tasmania were down a bowler with Lawrence Neil-Smith have gone off injured on the third day which made their success even more noteable.Set 270 for victory after Jake Weatherald’s blazing day-three century, Victoria resumed on 55 for 2 and inched towards the total in between morning rain delays.Handscomb had support from nightwatchman Sam Elliott before Sam Harper joined and put the visitors within reach. But Kieran Elliott ended both of those partnerships and then nabbed Will Sutherland to again stunt their march before the second new ball was due.Gabe Bell then found Fergus O’Neill’s edge and left Victoria needing 21 from their final partnership.Handscomb tried to do it himself, but could only sky an attempted flick over midwicket, Nivethan Radhakrishnan running in from the boundary to take the catch and spark wild scenes.The only wicket not taken by Elliott of Bell fell to debutant Aidan O’Connor who had Jonathan Merlo top-edging to fine leg early in the day. O’Connor had contributed a vital half-century on the opening day.Tasmania lifted off the bottom of a crowded ladder while second-placed Victoria missed a chance to push clear of the pack with three matches to play.

The batsman’s long-time mentor Trent Woodhill says the opener remains hungry for runs across all three formats

Andrew McGlashan30-Aug-2020David Warner’s long-time mentor Trent Woodhill believes the batsman remains fully motivated to continue across all formats of the game as he prepares to resume international cricket after a five-month break.Speaking recently, Warner suggested that the hub and bio-secure lifestyle of cricket in the Covid-19-ridden era, and the likelihood it will keep players away from their families for long periods of time, could lead him to reconsider his workload.Before Covid-19 brought cricket to a halt in early March, Warner gave a strong indication that he would consider moving aside from the T20 format after the back-to-back T20 World Cups, which had been originally scheduled for Australia this year and then India in 2021.ALSO READ: Back in Australia set-up, Marcus Stoinis wants to ‘change the dynamic’ of his battingHowever, the pandemic has forced a reshuffle, meaning the Australia event is in 2022, and if Warner wants another home World Cup, he would need to go beyond a 2021 cut-off.”Mentally he’s as strong as ever and as bullish as ever,” Woodhill said from Australia’s base at the Ageas Bowl. “I haven’t been given any indication he’s not hungry for more runs across all formats.”A year ago, Warner was in the midst of an Ashes series that would bring a record-breakingly low return of 95 runs – 61 of which came in one innings at Headingley – as he was dismissed by Stuart Broad seven times in 10 innings.But the 2019-2020 season brought a prolific return to form across all formats: 786 runs runs in Test cricket at 131.00, 277 runs in ODIs at 46.16 and 415 runs at 138.33 in T20Is. It was enough to earn him the Allan Border Medal as the Men’s Player of the Year.Woodhill took huge satisfaction from seeing how Warner responded to his travails in England, but the manner of the revival did not surprise him.”He has amazing mental capacity to bounce back,” Woodhill said. “I was so proud of him with the 300 in Adelaide [against Pakistan] just because of that bouncing back from adversity. That’s champions worldwide, whether it’s someone I know or someone I don’t, it’s always great to see. David worked really hard after the Ashes to regroup and he came back firing. Watching him back the other day in the trial match he’s in a really good place with his cricket.”I think when players reach early 30s, their game is about being consistent and the challenge is not short-cutting preparation and, if you watch David train, whether it’s from a skill set or physical standpoint, he doesn’t take any shortcuts.”For Woodhill this tour is a return to the international coaching set-up for the first time since he worked for New Zealand in 2012. “Being back in international colours is really good, there’s a definite edge to it; the players’ focus is on one team rather than seven or eight teams is an enjoyable experience,” he said.Warner made 42 off 35 balls in Australia’s first intersquad match of the tour on Friday before the contest was cut short by rain. They were due to play a 50-over match on Sunday before further inter-squad games early next week ahead of the opening T20I on Friday.

Keir Starmer, the UK prime minister, has called on the ICC to “deliver on their own rules” when it comes to women’s rights in Afghanistan*, as he weighed into the row over England’s scheduled Champions Trophy clash with the country’s cricketers next month.England are due to face Afghanistan in Lahore on February 26 in their second match of the tournament, and the ECB is under pressure to take action after receiving a letter from the Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, signed by a cross-party group of more than 160 politicians, including Jeremy Corbyn, Lord Kinnock and Nigel Farage.The letter raised concerns over the “insidious dystopia” and “sex apartheid” in Afghanistan, where women’s sport has effectively been outlawed since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The men’s cricket team has played England twice in this period, solely at ICC global events, including a famous victory in their most recent meeting at the 2023 ODI World Cup.”We strongly urge the England men’s team players and officials to speak out against the horrific treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban,” the letter, addressed to Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, continued.”We also urge the ECB to consider a boycott of the upcoming match against Afghanistan … to send a clear signal that such grotesque abuses will not be tolerated. We must stand against sex apartheid and we implore the ECB to deliver a firm message of solidarity and hope to Afghan women and girls that their suffering has not been overlooked.”Responding to the letter, Gould rejected calls for a boycott, saying that the Taliban regime’s clampdown on women’s rights is a matter that requires a “co-ordinated, ICC-led, response” rather than unilateral action from individual countries.That stance has now received support from Downing Street.”The ICC should clearly deliver on their own rules and make sure that they’re supporting women’s cricket as the ECB do,” the prime minister’s spokesman said. “That’s why we support the fact that the ECB are making representations to the ICC on this issue.”The erosion of women’s and girls’ rights by the Taliban is clearly appalling. We’ll work with the ECB on this issue, we’re in contact with them. Ultimately this is a matter for the ICC in relation to the Champions Trophy.”The situation echoes the dilemma that England’s cricketers faced at the 2003 World Cup, when Nasser Hussain’s team were urged to boycott their group-stage match with Zimbabwe, then led by Robert Mugabe – a decision that was ultimately left to the players, and resulted in a points forfeiture that scuppered their qualification for the tournament’s latter stages.Gould’s response to Antoniazzi confirmed that the ECB has no intention of engaging in a bilateral series with Afghanistan while the Taliban regime is in power, but insisted that their participation at ICC events was a matter for the governing body as a whole, and not for individual members.”The ECB strongly condemns the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime,” Gould wrote. “The ICC constitution mandates that all member nations are committed to the growth and development of women’s cricket. In line with this commitment, the ECB has maintained its position of not scheduling any bilateral cricket matches against Afghanistan,” he continued.”While there has not been a consensus on further international action within the ICC, the ECB will continue to actively advocate for such measures. A coordinated, ICC-wide approach would be significantly more impactful than unilateral actions by individual members.”We acknowledge and respect the diverse perspectives on this global issue,” Gould added. “We understand the concerns raised by those who believe a boycott of men’s cricket could inadvertently support the Taliban’s efforts to suppress freedoms and isolate Afghan society.”It’s crucial to recognise the importance of cricket as a source of hope and positivity for many Afghans, including those displaced from the country. The ECB is committed to finding a solution that upholds the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan while also considering the broader impact on the Afghan people.”We will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with the UK government, other stakeholders, the ICC, and other international cricket boards to explore all possible avenues for meaningful change.”*1900 GMT – This story was updated with Starmer’s response

da realbet： Newcastle United could grant Eddie Howe a reunion with another one of his former players with a move that could suit all parties this summer, it has emerged.

Magpies hunting gold on a budget

da bwin： Money is tight on Tyneside this summer, with failure to qualify for the Champions League once more likely to have a knock-on effect on the ability to spend amid concerns over financial fair play compliance having seen some of their Premier League rivals face points deductions this term.

As a result, Newcastle are hunting bargain buys, and are already thought to be closing in on two in the form of free agent pair Tosin Adarabioyo and Lloyd Kelly, whose deals at Fulham and Bournemouth respectively expire this summer.

While money will certainly be spent, it will need to be spent wisely and conform to Newcastle's policy of targeting young talent with their best years still in front of them. And Howe may be a crucial part of getting another deal over the line that ticks all of those boxes.

Howe pushing for another former player

Now, news has emerged that Howe is targeting another of his former players after the move for Kelly, in the shape of Arsenal no.2 Aaron Ramsdale. A regular presence for the Gunners last season, Ramsdale has seen his spot in the side taken by David Raya this season, and should a loan move for the Brentford goalkeeper be made permanent as seems likely, it is almost certain the England international will seek pastures new in a bid for regular first team football.

Ramsdale vs Pope in PL 2022/23

Nick Pope

Aaron Ramsdale

Appearances

37

38

Goals conceded

32

43

Save %

74.6

70.6

Saves

85

94

Average pass length (yards)

27.8

33.3

Now, Graeme Bailey claims that Howe is pushing Newcastle to accelerate a move for Ramsdale amid question marks over the no.1 position at St James' Park. Nick Pope has missed much of the season through injury, while Loris Karius is leaving and Martin Dubravka may well follow him out of the exit door.

It is added that Mikel Arteta "will not stop" Ramsdale from leaving this summer, though he will likely cost similar to the £30m Arsenal signed him for back in 2022.

Still just 25-years-old, Ramsdale has the best years of his career ahead of him, and a familiar face in the shape of Howe could be just what is needed to kickstart his career once more.

Related PIF enquire over dream Isak successor who's scored 3 vs Newcastle in 23/24

The club are exploring potential replacements for the Swedish international.

Posts ByEthan Lamb May 10, 2024

The pair worked together previously at Bournemouth, where Howe signed the youngster for £800,000 back in 2017. Ramsdale appeared 37 times for Howe, keeping five clean sheets in the process. He could not prevent them from being relegated though, which culminated in Howe getting the sack and the goalkeeper moving to Sheffield United.

Newcastle may face competition for the goalkeeper, with Chelsea also thought to be tracking him, while any deal could well be delayed by Ramsdale's predicted involvement in the upcoming European Championships with England, which ends in mid-July.

However, with Howe hunting for reinforcements, he could be a perfect fit.

da esport bet： Celtic took another step in the right direction to another Scottish Premiership title as they travelled away to Dundee to secure a 2-1 win on Sunday.

da bet sport： The Hoops needed to record a positive result after their rivals had won earlier in the day, and they stepped up to claim all three points on their travels.

Brendan Rodgers opted to bring James Forrest, who FFC urged the manager to start, into the starting XI on the flank over Hyun-jun Yang and Luis Palma, and it was a bold call that paid off for the box.

The Scottish forward scored both of Celtic's goals to put them 2-0 ahead in the match, before Dundee's consolation goal, which speaks to his importance to the win on the day.

It may now take another bold call from the Northern Irish tactician, who returned to Parkhead for a second spell at the club last summer, to win the league title ahead of Rangers this season.

After an underwhelming display in the middle of the park against Dundee, Rodgers must boldly drop captain Callum McGregor to the bench to give his side the best chance of landing the trophy.

Callum McGregor's performance against Dundee

The Scotland international made his first league start after returning from an Achilles injury, which kept him out for three league matches, and failed to show that he deserves to keep his place in the XI.

McGregor played the opening 62 minutes of the game before being taken off and failed to make much of an impression with his lack of quality in and out of possession.

Glasgow World's Ben Banks handed the skipper a match rating of 5/10 – the lowest out of the starting group – and described some of his movements as 'laboured'.

He only completed 82% of his attempted passes – 13% lower than Matt O'Riley's 95% – and ended the match without a single chance created for his teammates, along with a 20% long pass accuracy.

The Scottish whiz also lost possession 11 times from 55 touches of the ball, which shows that he gave the opposition a chance to get back on the ball at times.

McGregor recorded a Sofascore rating of 6.7 for his display against Dundee, which is significantly lower than his seasonal average of 7.32, which speaks to how below par he was in comparison to his usual self.

Callum McGregor's Premiership season in numbers

The experienced midfielder was recently named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year, along with O'Riley, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Liam Scales, for his impressive exploits in the top-flight this season.

Prior to his recent Achilles injury, the Scotland international had been in fantastic form in the Premiership with his sublime play in possession for the Hoops.

McGregor ranks third within the squad for accurate passes per game (64.3) and joint-fifth for key passes per match (1.5), which illustrates his control and creativity in the middle of the park.

He is typically a metronome in midfield for the Scottish giants, which is shown by him topping the chart for passes made per game within the midfield group, with his ability to find a teammate with his passes at an exceptional 92% success rate.

Callum McGregor

Vs Dundee

23/24 Premiership (per game)

Minutes played

62

82

Sofascore rating

6.7

7.32

Pass accuracy

82%

92%

Passes completed

36

64.3

Key passes

0

1.5

Long pass accuracy

20%

58%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the 30-year-old star was miles away from being at his best against Dundee, with significantly worse statistics than usual in possession of the ball.

If the Achilles injury has caused his performance levels to drop then Celtic cannot afford to be sentimental or hopeful that his performances will turn around when Rangers are breathing down their neck.

The Gers are only three points adrift in second place and travel across to Parkhead for an all-Glasgow clash on the 11th of May, after the Hoops play Hearts next weekend.

Therefore, Tomoki Iwata should be unleashed from the start ahead of the captain as his performances this season have been impressive at the base of the Bhoys midfield.

Why Tomoki Iwata should start for Celtic

The Japanese gem should start at the base of the midfield as McGregor's performances since his return from injury do not suggest that he is the man to look to, unless his form suddenly improves, to lead the team to the title.

That is not a huge criticism of the Scotland international, as the injury has clearly had an effect on his displays, but it is a bold call that the manager may have to make as his sluggishness – as evidenced by his dip in form – could cost them in the title run-in.

Iwata has taken his chance when it has come this season and showcased his ability to dictate games in the middle of the park for the Scottish giants.

The upcoming clash with Rangers is a potential title decider, given how close the two teams are in the table, and the 27-year-old metronome was trusted to start the game at Ibrox.

He won five of his eight ground duels throughout the match, as the 27-year-old star stepped up to the mark from a physical perspective, whilst McGregor – making his comeback from injury – was brought on with Celtic winning 2-1 and the Hoops lost the 25 minutes he was on the pitch 2-1 to end the game 3-3.

It may, therefore, benefit the Bhoys to start Iwata when the Gers come to Parkhead in May, if McGregor continues to look rusty after his Achilles issue.

Tomoki Iwata

23/24 Premiership

Appearances

15

Starts

9

Pass accuracy

90%

Long pass accuracy

55%

Opposition half pass accuracy

90%

Duel success rate

51%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Japanese maestro has the quality on the ball to replace the captain in terms of his metronomic play in the middle of the park.

His 90% pass accuracy shows that he rarely gives possession away to opposition teams, which means that Rodgers' side can control the game by not making unforced turnovers to give sides a chance to get back into matches.

This makes him an ideal replacement for the skipper, who only completed 82% of his passes against Dundee whilst Iwata completed 95% (21/22) of his off the bench.

That is why the manager must boldly drop the Scotsman to start the 27-year-old as it could be crucial in Celtic's bid to win the title ahead of Rangers, particularly with the upcoming game between the two teams.

da dobrowin： Leeds United will really be worrying now that this isn't their year to immediately return to the Premier League, with another disappointing result in the Championship last time out against Blackburn Rovers.

da winzada777： The 1-0 loss means Daniel Farke's once-confident Whites are without a win in their last three second-tier matches, Sammie Szmodics' late strike silencing a shell-shocked Elland Road.

It's not as if Leeds have been leaking goals for fun however in this sticky patch of form, with Leeds' number one goalkeeper Illan Meslier still boasting the most clean sheets in the division as a minor plus – amassing 19 from 40 appearances in-between the sticks.

Only costing £5m to bring him into the building in 2020 after an initial loan spell, the permanent signing of the French shot-stopper continues to look like a smart bit of business when you glance at his transfer value four years on.

Illan Meslier's time at Leeds

Often a scapegoat when Leeds perform poorly, with the lofty 6 foot 6 keeper even labelled as a "liability" last season when Leeds suffered relegation by football journalist David Kent, Meslier deserves some praise based on his campaign to date and his past exploits in the Championship.

In the second tier alone over his five-year Whites stay, Meslier has accumulated 26 clean sheets from 50 appearances. There will be question marks about his ability in the top flight to answer for however if Leeds do seal promotion, with the 24-year-old only keeping 21 clean sheets from 107 games at that level.

Still, Leeds would much rather have Meslier in the net now than past figures such as Kiko Casilla with the Frenchman keeping a first-team spot in West Yorkshire ever since Marcelo Bielsa gambled on the young keeper during his celebrated tenure at Elland Road.

Meslier would keep seven clean sheets from ten appearances during the 2019/20 campaign that saw Bielsa guide the Whites to the Championship title, drafted in and performing exceptionally well under pressure.

Related Leeds were rinsed dry by Bielsa signing who earned double Gnonto’s wages

Leeds United wasted a lot of money on this dud who once earned more than Wilfried Gnonto.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Apr 3, 2024

If Leeds decide to cash in on their former Lorient keeper down the line having lost patience with his sometimes shaky performances, they would make a generous profit on the £5m they originally purchased him for.

Meslier's transfer value in 2024

According to Football Transfers, Meslier is now worth in the region of €24.2m (£20.7m) for his stuttering promotion hopefuls.

That makes the ex-Lorient goalkeeper the most valued asset in the Leeds squad currently, worth around £5m more than Crysencio Summerville – even after the Dutchman's standout campaign to date – who has a €17.9m (£15.3m) price-tag next to his head.

Leeds' most valuable players – 2023/24

1. Illan Meslier

€24.2m (£20.6m)

2. Ethan Ampadu

€23.9m (£20.4m)

3. Wilfried Gnonto

€20.3m (£17.3m)

4. Archie Gray

€19.8m (£16.9m)

5. Crysencio Summerville

€17.9m (£15.3m)

Sourced by Football Transfers

Ethan Ampadu, Wilfried Gnonto and Archie Gray all also fall behind Meslier's increased value, with the 24-year-old more focused on picking up clean sheets between now and the close this season – away from his transfer worth – to play his part in Leeds winning promotion.

Meslier will hope if Leeds do win promotion that he can answer to his nay-sayers by establishing himself as a trusted top-flight goalkeeper, with a bumper move away from Elland Road always on the cards if he feels the time is right to leave as well.

Market Movers

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

Expand Collapse

Chelsea may have struggled in the Premier League this term, but their domestic cup form has perhaps given Mauricio Pochettino some breathing space in the hotseat.

A run to the final of the EFL Cup saw the Stamford Bridge side lose to Liverpool, but they still have a chance to secure FA Cup success, although they will need to defeat Manchester City in the semi-final at Wembley next month.

A win there could spearhead their charge for a first trophy since 2021, and it would likely mean Pochettino starts the 2024/25 campaign still in the dugout.

Collectively, the club have failed to generate a consistent run of results together in order to challenge for the European places in the league table, becoming more of a cup team.

Several players have sparkled, however. Cole Palmer has been in wonderful form since making the move from Manchester to London last summer. While Christopher Nkunku – despite missing the first few months of the season – is another player who, when fit, should be one of the first names on the team sheet.

Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku's season in numbers

Palmer making the move south was certainly a surprising one. Under Pep Guardiola, he had won the treble with the club and looked set to become the next big talent to break through at the Etihad.

An offer of £40m from Chelsea scuppered those plans, however, yet he has become one of Pochettino’s key players this season.

The Englishman has registered 28 goal contributions in all competitions this season for the Blues – 16 goals and 12 assists, and there is no doubt they would be at an ever lower ebb if it was not for his goals.

Goals

11

Assists

8

Big chances created

9

Key passes per game

1.5

Successful dribbles per game

1.3

Via Sofascore

Palmer also ranks first among the squad for shots per game (2.4) in the top flight, along with ranking first for big chances created (nine), key passes per game (1.5) and second for successful dribbles per game (1.3). Their faint chances of glory in the FA Cup surely rest with the talented youngster.

While Palmer’s heroics have been one of the few positive aspects of Chelsea’s season, Nkunku has also shown his qualities, albeit not on the same sort of level as Palmer.

Prior to the 2023/24 campaign, the Frenchman suffered a serious knee injury and was ruled out for the next few months, putting a dampener on the start of their season.

This has limited him to just ten appearances, although the attacking midfielder has netted twice during those games. His potential is massive, however, and making him the focal point could see Pochettino’s side vastly improve next term.

His brief appearances in the Blue shirt have been solid and this hopefully points to a successful future in London for the former RB Leipzig starlet.

Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku’s market value

Not only does Pochettino possess two of the finest attacking talents in the land, but their respective market values will only continue to soar as time goes on.

Palmer is currently valued at €32.2m (£27.6m) while Nkunku’s market value is sitting at €48.9m (£41.9m), as per Football Transfers.

Chelsea have had plenty of players in the past whose valuations have been higher than both Palmer's and Nkunku's, yet one former legend's transfer fee when he joined the club would eclipse both of their valuations currently – Didier Drogba.

What Didier Drogba would be worth in 2024 money

Going by football inflation, Drogba’s £24m move to sign for Chelsea in 2004 is worth a lot more two decades on.

Indeed, according to Totally Money – who have adjusted for inflation over the years – Drogba’s initial transfer fee 20 years ago would now be worth an eye-watering £124.3m if the move was to occur in the current day.

This is far more than Palmer and Nkunku put together and would make him one of Chelsea’s most expensive signings of all time, judging by inflation.

For what he achieved at Stamford Bridge, many supporters would say he was certainly worth it.

Didier Drogba’s Chelsea statistics

José Mourinho first clapped eyes on Drogba during a Champions League clash between Porto and Marseille during the 2003/04 season.

The Portuguese could not afford the Ivorian back then, but once joining Chelsea, Roman Abramovich provided him with plenty of funds to build the team that he so desired.

In three full seasons under Mourinho, Drogba netted 65 goals, winning the Premier League twice, plus both domestic cups and it looked like a match made in heaven.

Despite the former Porto boss being sacked at the start of the 2007/08 season, Drogba wasn’t slowing down anytime soon. Another 29 goals followed until the start of Carlo Ancelotti’s reign, and he really kicked on under the Italian.

The striker scored 50 goals in just two seasons under Ancelotti, using his brute strength to steamroll through opposition defences with ease, but it wasn’t until the last match of his first spell for the club that he achieved immortality.

With Chelsea trailing Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final, Drogba stepped up to score the equaliser which took the game to extra time.

Chelsea were bled dry by Sarri flop who earned more than Palmer & Gallagher

The gifted international just couldn’t make it work in West London.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 22, 2024

Content? Not a chance. The Ivorian forward then not only summoned the courage to take the final penalty kick in the resulting shoot-out, but he dispatched it with ease, thus securing the Blues their first-ever European title.

A final fling with the club during the 2014/15 season saw him add another Premier League title and League Cup, to his collection, before bowing out of Stamford Bridge a hero.

Pochettino could certainly make do with the services of a peak Drogba alongside the likes of Palmer and Nkunku, as he would complement the youngsters fairly well.

Judging by his value in 2024, Chelsea struck gold on the player who went on to terrorise many Premier League defences during his spell in London, emerging as a proper legend in the process.

164 goals in 381 appearances does not even tell half the story of his stint at the Blues, and they may never see his like again gracing the turf at Stamford Bridge.

Nottingham Forest’s most recent home game in the Premier League was a convincing 2-0 win over West Ham United, and if it wasn’t for poor finishing, they could have defeated Manchester United in the week.

But since Nuno Espírito Santo’s excellent start to life at the Tricky Trees, beating Newcastle United and the Red Devils in December, they’ve won once in the league.

However, Forest have the chance to turn their form and their season around this weekend, as they face Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at a player who simply must feature in the starting lineup, alongside Taiwo Awoniyi.

Why Taiwo Awoniyi must start vs Liverpool

The number nine has been fantastic for Forest since joining for £17.5m at the start of last season, scoring 16 goals and providing four assists in 42 appearances.

This season, his progress has been hindered by injuries, but when he has started up top, Forest have looked far more deadly, with Awoniyi netting six goals and three assists in 12 league starts.

The Nigerian is a striker who won’t just score goals but will also be a relentless outlet up front, which will be vital against Liverpool, a side that will dominate the possession.

Awoniyi is also a selfless striker who is willing to give 100% for his team off the ball, whether that be by leading the press or covering space to prevent progressive passes.

The former Liverpool centre-forward also knows how to score against his old team, netting in the 1-0 win over the Reds in this exact fixture last season, ensuring he would be a welcome return to the fold – alongside any of those who started on the bench in midweek…

Nottingham Forest star had one of his best game under Nuno vs Man Utd

He’s failed to reach the levels he achieved at times last season.

ByEthan Lamb Feb 29, 2024 Why Nicolas Dominguez could be key against Liverpool

Nicolas Dominguez has been one of the most consistent midfielders in the league this season, with his performances often going under the radar.

The versatility of the midfielder is what makes him so “impressive,” as labelled by analyst Statman Dave, with the Argentine having the ability to feature in multiple roles within one match.

However, it’s his defensive qualities while having the ability to affect the game in the final third that could make him key this afternoon.

The number 16’s performance against West Ham recently provides evidence of that, where he was deployed in the double pivot of a 4-2-3-1, which is where he should start today.

Tackles

6

Ground duels won

6

Assists

1

Pass accuracy

93%

Touches

57

As is shown in the table above, the former Bologna star thrives during the physical side of the beautiful game, breaking up the play and frustrating the opponent, as shown by his six tackles and six ground duels won.

However, he has also shown his ability to control the game and give his side a breather by retaining the ball once it’s been retrieved rather than wasting it, which will be vital later on. Against the Hammers, Dominguez had a pass accuracy of 93% and 57 touches while also registering an assist.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Dominguez’s tenacity and engine in the middle of the field will be incredibly important. The Argentine and Awoniyi could just hold the keys to a huge upset this weekend.

أعلن نادي جورماهيا الكيني، موعد مباراته أمام النادي الأهلي، في إطار منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا للموسم 2024-2025.

ويلعب النادي الأهلي ضد نظيره جورماهيا الكيني، ضمن مواجهات دور ال 32 من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

النادي الأهلي كان قد توج بلقب دوري أبطال إفريقيا في آخر نسختين 2022 و2023 على حساب الوداد المغربي والترجي التونسي على الترتيب.

وكان كاف أعفى النادي الأهلي من المشاركة في الدور التمهيدي الأول (دور الـ 64) لبطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

بينما فريق جورماهيا الكيني كان قد خاض مباراة دور الـ 64 أمام فريق المريخ جوبا من جنوب السودان، وفاز عليه بنتيجة 5-2 بمجموع المباراتين.

طالع | كما انفرد “بطولات”.. بيرسي تاو يعلن موقفه النهائي من مغادرة الأهلي وحقيقة العروض موعد مباراة الأهلي وجورماهيا الكيني في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

ونشر الحساب الرسمي لنادي جورماهيا، عبر موقع التواصل الاجتماعي “تويتر”، أن مباراته أمام النادي الأهلي، ستقام يوم الأحد الموافق 15 سبتمبر 2024.

ومن المقرر أن تنطلق المباراة، في تمام الساعة 3 عصرًا بتوقيت مصر والسعودية.

تجدر الإشارة إلى أن مباراة الإياب، بين الأهلي وجورماهيا ستقام في القاهرة، أحد أيام 20 أو 21 أو 22 سبتمبر.

Next Match : GMFC 🆚 Al Ahly SC
🕟 3pm
🏆 CAF Champions League
🏟 NYAYO STADIUM #SportpesaNaGor #Kogalo #Sirkal pic.twitter.com/4ZB4AxHTRx

— Gor Mahia FC Ke (@gormahiafcke) August 31, 2024