Former Barcelona midfielder Thiago looks set to rejoin the club in January as part of Hansi Flick's coaching set-up.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
| Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 |
Two decades and then some into his Lancashire career, Glen Chapple is on top of his game, skilled and motivated, and with the knowledge that only years on the job can bring
Tanya Aldred08-Apr-2014Glen Chapple doesn’t look like an institution, though that’s what he is. He is too jaunty, too smiley, his pumpkin hair slightly fairer than it once was, with that sportsman’s way of wearing clothes – smart and neat and tucked in.He sits in a coffee shop in Hale, a well-to-do Cheshire village where they still have a proper bakers with piles of syrupy hot-cross buns in the window, and where smart-looking women eat expensive salads alongside men in sports jackets.This year, for the first time, Chapple enters the cricket season the wrong side of 40, bones creaking into their 22nd season at Lancashire. His birthday was in January – he celebrated with friends in San Rocco in Manchester, where the staff forgot to pass on the champagne phoned in by Andrew Flintoff – and although Chapple won’t be quite the oldest county player this summer, he will be the longest serving. He was capped in 1994 alongside John Crawley, Jason Gallian, Gary Yates and Peter Martin, all long retired to civvy street.And yet, these last years, his twilight overs, have been his most successful. He has become the supreme seam bowler, both highly skilled and motivated and with the knowledge that only months, years, of turning and running, turning and running, can bring. In the autumn of 2008 he was appointed Lancashire captain, and in the last session of the last day of the 2011 season, he led his unfancied team to Championship glory, for the first time outright since 1934. It was and remains the highlight of his career.He doesn’t know if this summer will be his last in whites; doesn’t want to think about the next six months like that. Lying tantalisingly on the next branch, just out of reach, is 1000 first-class wickets, last achieved by Robert Croft in 2010.”I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t of some importance,” he says, supping at his latte. “I don’t generally like the idea of individual milestones but, because a thousand is becoming harder and harder to achieve, I could be the last one to do it for a while. But I need 64 wickets, and barring an exceptional season it would mean playing next year, and I would never take on another season purely for that reason so, we’ll see.”But how has he kept going, anyway, season after season, at an age when most pace bowlers have hung up their boots and let out their trousers?”I think it is luck and motivation. I’ve had the good fortune not to receive any career-ending injuries and my motivation has increased over the years, partly because of the added responsibility of captaincy. I adopted the philosophy that it doesn’t matter really who you play for, it’s how well you play. I’ve had to do that because obviously my ambition to play for England didn’t really happen. I do understand that a lot of the players who retire in their mid-thirties and who have played international cricket would have lost their drive, whereas for me it was the case of getting the most out of my body and talent.”Ah, the great disappointment. Chapple was unlucky not to be among the many hands of Test bowlers picked by England between 1992 and this winter. He played a one-day international against Ireland in Belfast in 2006, where he picked up an abdominal strain, and was 12th man for the Trent Bridge Test against South Africa in 2003, but that was it, perhaps never quite good enough at the quite the right time. Does he ever think what might have been?”Now and again but you really have to be careful not to become bitter. It has gone now and it literally isn’t the end of the world. It’s something maybe I can use to help other players avoid some of the mistakes I might have made.”It’s so difficult for young players to realise the importance of little events, the odd nets session here and there, the mindset to take into a season. Some players are old before their time and they get it, but some don’t see how quickly a career can pass you by.”I would always say I gave 100% but did I give 100% to the right things? There was always effort but was there clear thinking? Did I understand how to come out of bad form quickly enough? These are things I understand much better now.”So what advice would he give to that flame-haired young man of the mid-’90s, surrounded by big-name colleagues – Wasim Akram, Peter Martin, Michael Atherton – bowling second or third change for the majority of his career.He pauses. “I’d tell myself to have less respect for international players. I thought they were unbelievably good, a league above, and if I had believed less in that big step up everyone talks of, I would have probably been a slightly different cricketer. I was always very competitive but when it came to my ambition I always felt like I was a couple of years off it, and it was only when players younger than me started getting into the England team that I gave myself a shake and said, ‘What have I been doing?’
He is certainly the old man of the dressing room, nearly double the age of the virtual, social-networking generation. He looks younger than his years, with his full head of hair and scatter-gun freckles, but there are times, he admits, when he wonders what he is up to
“Also, I was always experimenting in practice but you also need to be competition-focused. We thought that if you were strong and technically bowling well that was enough. We didn’t give much credence to psychology and mindset but it is massive. You find yourselves in all different scenarios on a cricket field and have to learn to take your mental state to where it should be: on a cold Monday afternoon you have to pick yourself up; at a Lord’s final, you have to calm yourself down, focus on the stumps.”If this sounds like the words of someone who has read a coaching manual or two, it is. He has passed all the certificates and spent two weeks this winter out in South Africa on the Potential England Performance Programme (PEPP) fast bowling camp as an assistant coach, which he really enjoyed. There is idle talk of him taking over as Lancashire coach if England hire Peter Moores for a second term, but at the moment he and Moores make a good team, two down-to-earth blokes who respect each other, with cricket in their lungs.”Twenty years ago I’d have thought a lot of the talk was psychobabble,” Chapple says, “and there is a part of me that still thinks it is an adult’s game, there is no room for behaving like a kid, but I fully understand that people need help. You could have someone who loves a challenge but that doesn’t mean they are composed on the pitch. You might have someone else throwing up beforehand but out there, totally on it.”Getting the team dynamic right is important. You’ve got half the team bouncing around patting you on the back, and half the team sat down contemplating and if you get the wrong two people sitting next to each other… these are all little things I find quite interesting. You need more to think about as you get older.”He is certainly the old man of the dressing room, nearly double the age of the virtual, social-networking generation. He looks younger than his years, with his full head of hair and scatter-gun freckles, but there are times, he admits, when he wonders what he is up to.”There is a generation divide – psychologists would say there is. I try and stay as young as I can but ultimately you just get on with your stuff. The lads take the mickey out of me and you accept it.”I liked being one of fittest in the team and sadly have to acknowledge that’s not the case any more. I don’t mind a bit of self-punishment, but there are days I think, ‘Why am I doing this?’ But then I have to think, ‘What else would I be doing?'”There is nowhere to hide in professional cricket any more. The passing of time is cruelly exposed by the yo-yo test, the bleep test’s more horrible brother. Age and decrepitude are measured in electronic pulses for everyone to see.”It’s horrendous, my turning is just not that good now. I’ll probably be in the last two or three in the yo-yo this season. I’ll just have to win some of the other events, as they say.”This season is Lancashire’s 150th. There is a celebratory book and a dinner at Lord’s in May. They’re back in Division One, after demotion the year after winning the championship. The rain that flooded much of southern Britain during the winter was kind to Manchester. Chapple, who missed the first game with a hamstring sprain, can’t wait to start.”I think we can win any one of the three competitions,” he says. “That’s the thing about being at a big club like Lancashire, you are always chasing trophies.”And then he is off, home to bowl ten overs in the street to his kids, a son, eight, and daughter, ten. “They need to fail a bit. I don’t mind knocking them over in the street or putting them over next door’s house.”Chapple’s boyhood dream may have eluded him, but he made the very most of the talents he was given. A third seamer who became the finest practitioner of his art, an inexperienced leader who made history as captain. And through staying at Old Trafford for more than 20 years, he played with and learnt from some of the greatest bowlers of his generation: Akram, Muttiah Muralitharan, Flintoff, Jimmy Anderson. Not a bad little career. Not a bad little bowler. Catch him while you can.
The frustration around Newcastle United’s disappointing summer has generally been discarded, which bears testament to Eddie Howe’s tactical success since the season started less than six weeks ago.
The transfer window, moreover, slammed down its shutters less than three weeks ago, and though residual annoyance at the failure to sign Marc Guehi lingers still, fans know that victory over Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday will send the Magpies flying to the top of the table.
Ah, it will be on a… pro-tem basis though. Manchester City face Arsenal in the clash of the titans on Sunday, so the law of probability rules that barring an absurdly high-scoring Newcastle win at Craven Cottage, they would have to settle for a lower platform on matchweek five’s podium.
Of course, United have to win the match to validate such discussion, and Marco Silva’s Cottagers are as drilled and determined an outfit as any in England’s top flight.
2023/24
06/04/24
Craven Cottage
1-0 win
2023/24
16/12/23
St. James’ Park
3-0 win
2022/23
15/01/23
St. James’ Park
1-0 win
2022/23
01/10/22
Craven Cottage
4-1 win
2020/21
23/05/21
Craven Cottage
2-0 win
2020/21
19/12/20
St. James’ Park
1-1 draw
2020/21
12/05/19
Craven Cottage
4-0 win
2020/21
22/12/18
St. James’ Park
0-0 draw
As you can see above, Newcastle have rather enjoyed their contests against Fulham over the past four years. Should they avoid defeat on Saturday, the Toon’s unbeaten run against them will extend to ten matches.
It won’t be easy though, especially since Newcastle have been rocked by some injury news, with Alexander Isak a fitness doubt…
Alexander Isak might miss out
Isak has been a revelation as St. James’ Park’s centre-forward over the past couple of years, joining in a club-record £63m transfer in 2022 and since scoring 36 goals and adding six assists across 72 matches.
Hailed as “one of the best number nines in the league” by his Tyneside manager, the Sweden international bagged 21 top-flight goals from 30 matches last year, behind only Cole Palmer and Erling Haaland in the final rankings.
And though he’s only returned one strike from four appearances in the Premier League this season, the 23-year-old has been a constant threat and can change a game in a flash.
But he might be forced to sit the forthcoming fixture out. According to the Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Isak has injured a toe in the build-up to the match and is a major doubt.
The news is compounded by Callum Wilson’s ongoing recovery from a back problem. The 32-year-old sharpshooter has yet to feature this season and may not be given the green light until the end of the month.
This means that Howe could be forced into thinking outside the box. Luckily, he has a dynamic forward who could be up to the task in Anthony Gordon.
Howe could unleash Anthony Gordon at No. 9
Gordon was crowned Newcastle’s Player of the Year for 2023/24 after a truly fantastic campaign, posting 12 goals and 11 assists across all competitions and dazzling with his pace and power and potency down the left wing, whipping past defenders in a blur of black-and-white stripes and flaxen hair.
But his intelligence and tactical flexibility saw him feature in a more traditional striker’s position on occasion, with Howe acknowledging his qualities in times of need. Times such as this weekend.
It’s no wonder that teams such as Liverpool and Manchester City were interested in signing Gordon this summer in deals worth £75m. It didn’t materialise in the end but this is a credit to Newcastle’s resilient standing against lucrative adversity.
He’s an absolute “menace”, as has been said by journalist and scout Antonio Mango, and having scored against Bournemouth already this year, Gordon will be hungry to take the next step and prove to his manager that he is his main man above all else, capable of stepping up in a different area to continue the exciting purple patch.
Gordon, furthermore, has scored 12 Premier League goals since the start of last season despite only missing ten big chances, speaking of a prolific nature that could serve Howe’s unit well in a repackaged role.
Left winger
39
10
8
Centre-forward
5
1
0
Right winger
3
1
3
Attacking midfield
1
0
0
He’s no stranger to the middle lane, and Gordon’s ball-carrying threat could be perfect against Fulham’s intense defensive approach.
And anyway, with Harvey Barnes starting and in form, there will be a sustained degree of fluency. As per WhoScored, 43% of Newcastle’s attacking play has come from the left flank, with Nottingham Forest the only team with greater pressure from this area, averaging 48% of their attacking play from the left.
Gordon’s tenacity can also be something that will not only enhance his focal ability up top but also dynamise the attack and influence the performances of those around him, namely Barnes on the left and either Miguel Almiron or Jacob Murphy on the alternate side.
As per Sofascore, the England international has averaged 1.8 dribbles per game in the Premier League this season while also winning a whopping 63% of his ground duels.
Contextualising this feat: Dan Burn has won just 45% of his ground duels in the league so far.
Howe is renowned for his meticulous nature. The 46-year-old likes everything just so. He’s entrenched in his ways but this is what makes him a high-class manager. Without wending off on a dour tangent, there’s a reason why he is so highly coveted by the Three Lions set-up…
But Howe’s tactical nous means that long ago he would have assessed Gordon’s suitability in a central striking role, and might just find that it could be a move worth making against Fulham’s compact defensive shape, stretching and contorting.
Let’s wait and see, but Gordon has proved his worth and might just have the clinical ability to succeed, maintaining Newcastle’s excellent record against Saturday’s opposition.
Newcastle star was worth £10m when Howe arrived, now his value's risen 200%
The talent has developed rapidly in a short space of time under Howe.
ByEthan Lamb Sep 19, 2024
The duo played a vital role in reversing the momentum of the second Test during India’s second innings, putting on 111 at a run rate of 4.75
ESPNcricinfo staff05-Jan-20221:51
Have Pujara and Rahane done enough to keep their place in the XI?
Even if their places in the XI weren’t under immediate threat, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane weren’t in the best of run-scoring form when they came together during India’s second innings at the Wanderers. India were 44 for 2 – effectively 17 for 2 – on a pitch full of cracks that presented the dual threat of inconsistent bounce and unpredictable sideways movement.Pujara and Rahane quickly reversed the momentum of the game, putting on 111 at a run rate of 4.75. It was, according to available records, India’s fastest-ever century partnership in South Africa – though the fifth-wicket stand of 222 between Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin in Cape Town in 1997 (the scorecard lacks fall-of-wickets information) may well have been quicker.Pujara came flying out of the blocks in the final session of day two, and brought up his half-century on the third morning off just 62 balls. Asked if it was a conscious plan to go after South Africa’s bowlers, Pujara said he had been on the lookout for scoring opportunities without necessarily looking to force the issue.”Looking at the pitch, this pitch has variable bounce and it’s not easy,” Pujara said at the end of day three. “Whenever you get a loose ball you want to make sure that you put it away. You never know when you will get an unplayable ball. So yes, it was part of my gameplan that if I get a loose ball I will try and convert it, but I didn’t do anything extra.”I think I’ve been batting well. It was one of those days where everything was going as per my plan. Whenever I was getting a loose ball I was just trying to convert it, but overall really happy with the way things went.”I think the partnership with Ajinkya was very crucial because we were at a stage where we wanted some runs on the board, and I feel it’s not just about my score but about the team’s total in the end. So that partnership with Ajinkya was a very crucial one for us today.”Related
Virat Kohli: 'I don't need to prove anything to anyone'
Why did Rishabh Pant play that shot?
India's rope-a-hope with Pujara and Rahane is wearing thin
Both batters made half-centuries, potentially relieving any pressure they might have felt over their places in the XI. Pujara, however, said all noise about his and Rahane’s lack of runs was external, and that both had the full support of the team management.”Well, the team management has been always supportive, so I would say it’s just the outside noise,” he said. “The coaching staff, the captain, everyone is behind all the players, and we have been working hard. There are times when you don’t get too many runs, but the important thing as a cricketer is following the right routine, having good work ethics, and keep working on your game, because there are times when you will not get runs, but if you follow the right processes, you get runs on the board.”This is what has happened today, and I’m sure that this form will continue and we will get big scores in the next game as well.”4:11
Cheteshwar Pujara: ‘Didn’t do anything extra, been batting well’
The external noise hasn’t just come from armchair critics, though. At the start of their partnership, Sunil Gavaskar suggested on TV commentary that both Rahane and Pujara might be playing for their places.”We are very confident, also there is lot of backing from the team management, and we’ve been learning from Sunny . Whenever I’ve spoken to him he has always been supportive,” Pujara said. “So yes, there are times when, if you’re going through bad form, there will be questions, no doubt about that, but we are confident players, myself and Ajinkya, we know we are working hard on our game, and there’s a saying – form is temporary, class is permanent, so I feel that it applies here.”I feel that if we keep working on our game, we have done well for the Indian team in the past, and the management has shown a lot of faith in us, and that will pay off for sure. It has already paid, but I feel that as we keep playing more, as a batsman once you’re back in form, you keep scoring runs and it keeps going up and up.”The Wanderers Test is intriguingly poised at the end of day three, with South Africa 118 for 2 in their chase of 240. Pujara was confident India would be able to get the eight wickets they need to go 2-0 up in the series, even if South Africa are already nearly halfway to their target with minimal losses.”If you look at this game, it’s been a challenging pitch, and we have runs on the board, so we are very well balanced in this game,” he said. “Although we haven’t picked up too many wickets today, we are very confident that the pitch will deteriorate tomorrow and we’ll have our chances tomorrow.”Sessions in this Test match have often shown a two-faced nature, with conditions looking relatively easier to bat in in the first hour and inconsistent bounce becoming more pronounced in the second. Pujara said the use of the heavy roller may have had something to do with this.”I feel when you take a heavy roller, the pitch settles a bit, it takes a little bit of time for the cracks to open up,” he said. “There are some dents as well, so when there’s a heavy roller, [the pitch] settles down a bit, but after an hour or so we start getting variable bounce, so that is what we are expecting tomorrow – I think first hour it might play nicely, but as the game progresses it will start deteriorating a bit more.”
The last few years have seen Tottenham Hotspur become far more competent in the transfer window.
Aside from perhaps Richarlison at £60m, the North Londoners have not made too many mistakes in the market, and even then, there were periods of last season in which the Brazilian poacher looked unplayable, racking up 12 goals and four assists in 31 games.
Even with the departure of Harry Kane last summer, the club have managed to remain relatively competitive and exciting to watch, thanks to additions like Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson. However, Ange Postecoglou's arrival and the incredible exploits of club captain Son Heung-min certainly helped last season.
That said, for as outrageously talented as the South Korean international is, one of the manager's own signings is now worth considerably more than him.
Son's valuation in 2024
Spurs completed the £22m signing of Son from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015, and to say it was money well spent would be a mammoth understatement.
In the years since his arrival, the superstar winger has gone on to become one of the best attackers in European football and a modern-day Premier League icon.
For example, in 411 appearances for the Lilywhites, he's scored 164 goals and provided 84 assists, meaning that for the last nine years, he has averaged a goal involvement once every 1.65 games – talk about world-class.
Appearances
411
Goals
164
Assists
84
Goal Involvements per Match
0.60
It's not just his raw output that makes him such an incredible player for the North Londoners, though, as after Kane's departure, the Chuncheon-born star has become the club's captain, showing that he can also be a leader when needed.
In all, Son has been an exceptional player for Spurs, and he still is, although at 32 years old, his valuation has started to decrease, with Transfermarkt now pricing him at just €45m, which converts to about £38m, which is lower than one of the stars Postecoglou signed last summer.
James Maddison's valuation in 2024
Yes, the signing in question is former Leicester City ace James Maddison, who joined Spurs for just £40m last summer.
Interestingly, in the year since, his valuation has shot up to €70m, according to Transfermarkt, which converts to around £59m, or about £21m more than Son's, and a couple of reasons might explain why.
The first is that while the Englishman didn't have an incredible campaign last season, he was not as underwhelming as some people seem to think he was.
In the 30 appearances he did make on either side of his injury, he scored four goals and provided nine assists, equating to a reasonable average of a goal involvement every 2.30 games.
So, with this level of output combined with the fact that he produced 19 goal involvements in 32 games for the Foxes the year prior and already has two assists in three matches this season, it's clear that the "incredible" midfielder, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is still able to have a significant impact on games.
Appearances
32
30
3
Goals
10
4
0
Assists
9
9
2
Goal Involvements per Match
0.59
0.43
0.66
The second reason his valuation is so much higher than his captain's is simply down to his age.
While he's not a young up-and-comer anymore, at 27 years old, you would expect that he has another three to five seasons left in him at the very top.
Ultimately, Spurs are fortunate to have both Son and Maddison in their squad at the moment, but based on his overall form in the last few years and age, it makes sense to see that the latter is valued more than the former.
Spurs flop was sold by Conte in 2022, now he's outscoring Solanke
The attacking talent has just secured a lucrative transfer.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 5, 2024
da bwin： Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is aiming to kick-start a winning run of form after Spurs’ disappointing North London Derby defeat on Sunday, and Coventry City next await them in the EFL Cup this evening.
Tottenham prepare for Coventry following 1-0 Arsenal loss
da imperador bet： Tonight’s clash at the Coventry Building Society Arena represents an opportunity for the Lilywhites to get back on the right path, with Postecoglou criticised in the aftermath of their 1-0 loss to Arsenal.
Tottenham offered chance to sign £162k-per-week "champion" just days ago
The Lilywhites were approached over an out-of-window deal.
1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 18, 2024
Tottenham’s lacklustre record defending dead-ball situations was brought to the forefront yet again after Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes’ winning header from a corner became Spurs’ 10th goal conceded from a set-piece since Postecoglou took charge last year.
Mikel Arteta’s side also travelled to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without a host of key players in club captain Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Declan Rice, but the home side ultimately couldn’t take advantage of their weakened opponents.
Spurs vs Arsenal (last 7 meetings)
Date
Result
15th Sept 2024
1-0 Arsenal win
28th April 2024
3-2 Arsenal win
24th Sept 2023
2-2 draw
15th Jan 2023
2-0 Arsenal win
1st Oct 2022
3-1 Arsenal win
12th May 2022
3-0 Spurs win
26th Sept 2021
3-1 Arsenal defeat
Brennan Johnson proved ineffective for Spurs out wide, among others, with Postecoglou’s side failing to break down a resolute Arsenal despite taking control of possession and pressuring the Gunners on many occasions.
A win at Coventry tonight, which could spark a potential cup run, would be the right remedy – and Postecoglou has already made a promise to Tottenham supporters on their ambitions for silverware this season.
“Usually in my second season I win things,” Postecolgou told Sky Sports in August (via The Metro).
“That’s the whole idea. First year is about establishing principles and creating a foundation. Hopefully the second year is going onto win things.
“Of course it’s easier said than done, particularly in the Premier League and the competition we’re in. That’s always the way I’ve looked at it, is that the second year you should be in a position where you can push on, depending on how the first year has gone. Last year we had some really good moments, obviously we had some tough moments. I think we learnt as much from the tough moments as we did from the good stuff and hopefully that means we’re in a good place.”
Postecoglou could be about to hand Archie Gray full Tottenham debut
Chairman Daniel Levy backed Postecoglou with key new additions in the summer, like highly-rated English sensation Archie Gray, who joined the club from Leeds United in a deal worth £40 million.
Spurs rejected the chance to sign Conor Gallagher, who was heavily linked with a move to north London, in favour of striking a deal for Gray instead. The teenager was a star player for Leeds last season, most often dazzling at right-back, but he’s yet to start for Spurs since swapping Elland Road for N17.
According to GiveMeSport, that may be about to change, as Postecoglou could hand Gray his full Tottenham debut by starting him against Coventry this evening.
The 18-year-old has made two cameos off the bench spanning 30 minutes so far, but tonight could be a golden opportunity for the midfielder to play his first full 90 for the club.
Aston Villa have been forced to rely heavily on Ollie Watkins since the start of last season as the Englishman only has Jhon Duran for competition.
It hasn’t exactly hampered his performances, as the Englishman scored 27 times last term, which steered Villa to a top-four finish in the Premier League, thus qualifying for the Champions League.
Duran has stepped up this season despite the continued interest shown in him during the summer transfer window, as the Colombian has netted twice in just three league matches so far.
While the 20-year-old is potentially a player to build around for the future, could Unai Emery have another Watkins brewing in the academy?
Why Rory Wilson could be Ollie Watkins 2.0
The 18-year-old striker has certainly impressed since moving to Villa from Rangers back in the summer of 2022.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
The Scot scored a remarkable tally of 49 goals during the 2021/22 campaign for the Gers youth teams, which naturally led to interest from down south.
James Grady, a Scotland youth coach, even described Wilson as being “obsessed with becoming the best” and it was perhaps no surprise that Steven Gerrard brought Wilson down to the Midlands ahead of his first full season in charge.
Since then, the youngster has exuded similar qualities to that of Watkins, finding the net on a regular basis by showcasing his incredible finishing skills.
During the U18 Premier League campaign, Wilson scored 16 goals in just 13 appearances, before making the move up to the Premier League 2, finding the back of the net three times in 13 games.
He has kickstarted the current campaign off with a goal already. Could he stake a claim for a first team berth in the coming months? Especially with games coming thick and fast for Emery.
Why Wilson could be Villa’s biggest talent since Jack Grealish
Not since Jack Grealish made his breakthrough at Villa nearly ten years ago has there arguably been so much hype over a single youth player, with the teenager currently attracting interest from the likes of Inter Milan and RB Leipzig.
The current Manchester City gem made over 200 appearances for the Midlands side before joining City for £100m in 2021, with the move turning out to be a stunning piece of business conducted by the club.
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2020/21
27
7
10
2019/20
41
10
8
2018/19
35
6
8
2017/18
34
3
8
2016/17
34
5
5
2015/16
21
1
1
2014/15
24
0
3
It's safe to say Grealish hasn’t quite had the best of times under Pep Guardiola, scoring just 14 times for the club and there was even some talk regarding him moving back to his boyhood club during the summer.
Despite only being 18, Wilson has made a couple of appearances for the Scotland U21 side, clearly demonstrating how ahead of the curve he is. If the young talent continues to score for fun for Villa’s own U21 outfit, Emery surely cannot ignore him for much longer.
Indeed, with Watkins and Duran the only senior centre-forwards in the first-team squad, an injury to either could potentially see the Scot given an unlikely opportunity.
Should this happen, Wilson has the ability to make an impression for the first team, without a shadow of a doubt, with the hope that he can follow in Grealish's footsteps before him.
Worth more than Grealish: Aston Villa hit gold on "dangerous" Smith signing
The club have conducted excellent business in recent years.
ByEthan Lamb Sep 6, 2024
Tottenham insiders are believed to be very excited by a teenage prodigy behind the scenes, and one who has been backed to become a £100 million star.
The new Premier League season officially kicks off tonight as Manchester United host Fulham at Old Trafford, and Spurs begin their campaign on Monday with a trip to newly-promoted Leicester City.
People close to £34m player think Tottenham may now sign him after Solanke
The Lilywhites could still be active towards the end of this window.
By
Emilio Galantini
Aug 15, 2024
Ange Postecoglou is just days away from the commencement of his second full campaign in charge of the Lilywhites, and the Australian will be looking to build upon last season's fifth-placed finish.
Spurs also have the added pressure of Europa League football, and the influx of extra games which come with it, so there is more pressure on Postecoglou's shoulders after a promising first season in the dugout.
|
Tottenham's opening games of the 2024/2025 Premier League season |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Leicester City (away) |
August 19 |
|
Everton (home) |
August 24 |
|
Newcastle United (away) |
September 1 |
|
Arsenal (home) |
September 15 |
|
Brentford (home) |
September 21 |
The signs are certainly there, though, with Postecoglou recording the best start of any new manager in Premier League history this time last year. Tottenham won eight out of their opening 10 top-flight matches under Postecoglou, drawing the other two, and it took multiple injuries to key players for that run to end when Chelsea put Spurs to the sword in north London last November.
Supporters will be hoping for a similar start this time round, without the Chelsea humiliation, especially considering some of their astute summer transfers.
Out of nowhere on Friday, Tottenham confirmed the signing of winger Wilson Odobert from Burnley in a £25 million deal, coming after Fabrizio Romano claimed they could bring in another wide player alongside their new striker in Dominic Solanke.
Before both Solanke and Odobert, Tottenham sealed a £40 million move for English sensation Archie Gray, who went on to impress in pre-season.
The 18-year-old is fresh off the back of an excellent campaign with former club Leeds United in the Championship, where he played a crucial role in their run to the Play-Off final at Wembley in May.
The versatile midfielder, who can also play at right-back, has been tipped to become a future £100 million star, and journalist Charlie Eccleshare says people at Tottenham are very excited by Gray from what they've seen of him behind the scenes.
"It makes the club a more attractive place to go to for young players, Archie Gray, the last year or so, everyone I have spoken to about him has just gushed about how good he is and how good he could be," said Eccleshare to the Last Word on Spurs podcast (via TBR).
"He’s definitely a really exciting one."
Gray will have an opportunity to showcase his skills at the highest level against Leicester on Monday, which will make for very intriguing viewing. You can even make a case that Gray could fill Emerson Royal's shoes at right-back when needed, following the Brazilian's move to AC Milan.
MatériaMais Notícias
da bet esporte： Após uma estreia ruim no Campeonato Brasileiro, sendo derrotado em casa pelo Corinthians, por 3 a 1, o Botafogo deu a volta por cima e venceu o Ceará como visitante pela 2ª rodada, devolvendo o placar sofrido na 1ª. O destaque do jogo foi o atacante Erison, que participou dos três gols do Glorioso, marcando duas vezes e dando a assistência para Victor Sá fazer o seu.
RelacionadasBrasileirãoAlterações de Luís Castro são cruciais para primeira vitória do Botafogo no BrasileirãoBrasileirão18/04/2022BrasileirãoJorge Braga comemora vitória no Brasileirão: ‘Primeiro passo do novo Botafogo’Brasileirão17/04/2022BrasileirãoVelocidade e paciência para esperar pelos contra-ataques marcam vitória do Botafogo no BrasileirãoBrasileirão17/04/2022
da imperador bet： > GALERIA:ATUAÇÕES: Show de Erison e boa atuação de Patrick de Paula marcam vitória do Botafogo pelo Brasileirão. Veja as notas!
‘El Toro’, como vem sendo chamado pela torcida, é o artilheiro do clube carioca na temporada com 10 gols marcados e um dos principais do Brasil em 2022 entre os jogadores da Série A. Mais do que isso, tem a melhor média entre os maiores goleadores do país neste ano.
Das 14 partidas disputadas, o camisa 89 foi titular em somente sete, somando 703 minutos em campo, segundo dados do site OGol. O que lhe dá uma média de uma bola na rede a cada 70 minutos no gramado. Nem mesmo Hulk, que anotou 13 tentos em 12 jogos, tem um aproveitamento tão bom. O atacante do Atlético Mineiro precisa, em média, de 72 minutos de atuação para marcar.
Revelado pelo XV de Piracicaba, Erison está disputando pela primeira vez a Série A do Brasileirão. No ano passado, porém, foi um dos destaques da B vestindo camisa do Brasil de Pelotas, apesar do rebaixamento da equipe. O centroavante chegou ao Xavante já no 2º turno da competição e marcou 8 gols nas 19 rodadas em que atuou, terminando também com uma das melhores médias do campeonato.
MINUTOS PARA MARCAR UM GOL EM 2022
– Apenas atacantes da Série A com 10 gols ou mais no ano
– Dados do site OGol
1º – Erison – Botafogo – 1 gol a cada 70 minutos em campo
2º – Hulk – Atlético-MG – 1 gol a cada 72 minutos em campo
3º – Calleri – São Paulo – 1 gol a cada 102minutos em campo
4º – Rodriguinho – Cuiabá – 1 gol a cada 110minutos em campo
5º – Raphael Veiga – Palmeiras – 1 gol a cada 118minutos em campo
Léo Gamalho – Coritiba – 1 gol a cada 118minutos em campo
7º – Gabigol – Flamengo – 1 gol a cada 120minutos em campo
Nicolas – Goiás – 1 gol a cada 120minutos em campo
9º – Cano – Fluminense – 1 gol a cada 145minutos em campo
Arriola joins the Sounders with a wealth of experience after spending a decade across MLS and Liga MX
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Arriola traded to the Seattle SoundersU.S. international joins Ferreira in Pacific NorthwestWill compete at 2025 Club World Cup with MLS sideGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
The Seattle Sounders have acquired U.S. international Paul Arriola from FC Dallas in exchange for Seattle’s first-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft and up to $300,000 in General Allocation Money if certain performance metrics are met. Arriola has signed a three-year contract with the Sounders through 2028, with a club option at the end of the deal.
The 29-year-old has 50 caps with the USMNT, where he's scored 10 goals. He was part of the 2017 and 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup-winning squads and the 2019-20 CONCACAF Nations League-winning team.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Arriola joins Seattle days after teammate Jesus Ferreira was acquired by the Sounders for a blockbuster $2 million fee.
The U.S. international joins the Western Conference side's ranks with over 300 professional matches under his belt. He made his pro debut in Liga MX with Atlas in 2013, before joining MLS side D.C. United in 2017 to begin his stateside journey. He was briefly transferred on loan to Welsh club Swansea in 2021 before suffering a hamstring injury that forced him to return for rehabilitation.
Ahead of the 2022 MLS season, Arriola was traded to FCD for a then MLS-record fee of $2 million GAM, $300k GAM performance-based incentives, and a 30% sell-on clause for D.C. United if he was transferred outside of MLS.
Now, he takes his trade to Seattle, where he will be a part of the team competing at the 2025 FIFA World Cup under Brian Schmetzer's leadership.
“I’m pleased to welcome Paul to Seattle. His ability to play multiple positions at a high level gives us a lot flexibility as a coaching staff,” said Schmetzer. “Beyond his skill and versatility, Paul’s experience will be a positive impact in the locker room and contribute to the strong culture we’ve built at this club. We’re excited to see what he brings to the group.”
WHAT SEATTLE SAID
“We’re thrilled to welcome Paul to the organization. His experience at both the club and international levels speaks for itself, and his versatility on the field adds an important dimension to our roster,” said Sounders FC General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel. “This signing underscores our commitment to building a team with the depth and quality needed to compete at the highest level, and we’re excited to see the impact Paul will make here in Seattle.”
ImagnWHAT JORDAN MORRIS SAID
Before the move became official, Seattle Sounders star Jordan Morris shared his excitement of Arriola joining him in the Pacific Northwest.
"Paul is one of my good friends too, which is great. I've been talking to him through this whole process, and know him and his wife well, and so, not only obviously, on the field, but off the field, bringing another really good guy known probably for a long time," Morris said at MLS Media Day last Thursday. "So I'm really excited about bringing him in as well, and for the group, he provides even more flexibility. He can play in so many different positions. He's a team player."
He added, "I remember when it first started, he just texted me and said, 'You know, I just want to I just want to win. I want to do whatever I can to help the team win wherever. That means, you know, I just want to win, win games.' So bringing in a guy like that who has that attitude, a team player that can play a lot of different positions for the group. [It] will be super helpful. And like I mentioned, just bringing two guys into an already good locker room will be great for the group. So I'm really looking forward to it."