All posts by h716a5.icu

Pakistan have the runs, but do they have the quick scoring rate?

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

With two power-packed line-ups in West Indies and England first up at a high-scoring Trent Bridge, Pakistan’s top order might need to look at their scoring rates

Nagraj Gollapudi in Nottingham30-May-2019Pakistan batsmen have scored nine centuries this year in 15 ODIs. That is the most by any team. Yet, stunningly, all those hundreds have come in defeats. And that might well be down to the pace at which those runs have come. The numbers suggest so. What might hurt Pakistan further is that they don’t seem to have identified their slow scoring rate as an issue.Since the 2015 World Cup, in terms of the combined strike rate for the top three, Pakistan are seventh among the ten teams taking part in the 2019 event. Imam-ul-Haq features among the top ten for batsmen with the lowest strike rates (with at least 1000 runs since the 2015 World Cup); Mohammad Hafeez is in there too.Of those nine centuries, four were scored by the top-order trio of Imam (two), Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam. The three of them were integral to Pakistan scoring 300-plus totals consistently in the recent ODI series in England, but they lost that series 4-0.One of the talking points in that series was around the Trent Bridge ODI, where England hunted down a target of 341 with three balls to spare. Babar scored 115 in that match, but at a strike rate of 102.67. In contrast, Jason Roy’s match-winning 114 took 23 balls fewer (89), and came at a robust strike rate of 128.08.In the previous ODI, in Bristol, Imam helped Pakistan to what seemed a formidable total of 358 for 9. He hit 151 at a brisk pace, off just 131 balls. But that seemed sluggish when England chased down the target with more than five overs to spare, with openers Jonny Bairstow and Roy blasting the Pakistan bowling to ransack 159 runs in the first 17.3 overs (105 balls).Sarfaraz Ahmed slams another shot over the leg side•Getty ImagesAs for Fakhar, in his first 18 ODIs, he had a strike rate of 101 and an average of 76. In his last 18 matches, the strike rate has dropped to 91 and the average to 32.In the last three years, Babar and Imam have scored a number of centuries, but the average balls taken by the pair are 107 and 108 respectively. The top two in that list, Bairstow and Roy, have taken 75 and 83 balls on an average for their three-figure scores respectively.In a World Cup where big hitting and big scores are expected to be the norm, this could be a problem, but do Pakistan even recognise it? Before leaving for England, Babar responded to a question on him chasing milestones by pointing to his No. 1 rank among T20I batsmen (he is also No. 7 in ODIs). “If I can be No. 1 in the world without power-hitting, then I don’t need power-hitting,” he said.Even Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed was reluctant to concede that there was an issue.”As far as a strike rate is concerned, I don’t think it matters a lot,” Sarfaraz said on the eve of Pakistan’s World Cup opener against West Indies at Trent Bridge. “If England played at 140 (in that ODI series), our batsmen played at a strike rate of 120. Both teams scored similar runs: If they made 370, we also made 360 and 340,” he said. “Their playing style is different, ours is different. We will try and play as far as possible according to the situation.”If we have to hit at a strike rate of 130, we will do that. We will play as per the requirements of the scoreboard.”To be fair to Pakistan, they batted first in all but one of those games against England, but ‘situational awareness’ is not just a fancy term that coaches like to spew. T20 cricket has forced think tanks to mine deep data on every player. The importance of instinct can never be undermined, but Pakistan would be foolish to ignore the fact that metrics have a place in modern cricket, and their opponents will be aware that Pakistan fail to up the ante as the game progresses.In overs 11 to 40 since the last World Cup, Pakistan’s run rate of 5.35 is a mid-table figure among the ten teams playing in this World Cup. Their batsmen take 13 balls per boundary, which is three more than England, who are perched at the top. Even in the last ten overs, Pakistan have struggled, hitting at 7.54 runs per over, which is sixth among the top ten teams.Pakistan’s first two opponents at the World Cup are West Indies and England, and both matches are at Trent Bridge, which is likely to be sunny and warm and, in any case, often makes batting look easy. Andre Russell has already warned that West Indies will target scores in the region of 400, and England are – unofficially – targeting 500 at some point in the tournament. Can Pakistan match them?

India's selection dilemmas: Six batsmen? Saha or Pant? One spinner or two?

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

It will be India’s first Test match in eight months, and while quite a few players select themselves, some spots remain up for grabs

Sidharth Monga20-Aug-2019Who bats after Kohli?For a change, India don’t have to debate over their top four. Prithvi Shaw’s absence makes it an easy call to open with Mayank Agarwal, who debuted with an impressive 76 and 42 in Melbourne, and KL Rahul. Cheteshwar Pujara comes into a rare series with no sword hanging over his head. Virat Kohli is a certainty at No. 4.It is after this that calls have to be made. With Hardik Pandya not available, it is likely India will play two more batsmen. Especially if pitches in the West Indies continue to be seam-friendly, it makes sense to bolster the batting – and taking 20 wickets is not that much of an issue as witnessed in Australia. At any rate, picking two out of the three options is not an easy task, leave alone picking just one.Whom would you pick as India’s openers?Contender 1 – Hanuma Vihari: In a short career, Vihari has done his bit to find a place in the side, and even opened in Melbourne. He was promised that Melbourne was a stop-gap arrangement, and that he would be given a fair go in the middle order. He comes with the advantage of having been on the shadow ‘A’ tour of the West Indies, and with a century in that unofficial Test series.Contender 2 – Rohit Sharma: Rohit doesn’t get to play much first-class cricket between his infrequent Test opportunities, but it is no surprise that the team management is often tempted to punt on his promise. Rohit’s last first-class game was in December last year, but it was the MCG Test and he scored a composed unbeaten half-century there. Since then, his competitor for the middle-order slot, the next contender, has done nothing to push him out of contention.Contender 3 – Ajinkya Rahane: Rahane is the vice-captain of the side and as such has the public backing of captain Kohli. But he is going through a wretched run of form. It’s over two years and 17 Tests since he last scored a century. In first-class cricket since the Australia tour – Ranji Trophy and second division county – Rahane has averaged 27 with one century.Which two middle-order batsmen would you pick?Saha or Pant?There is often an unwritten pact in international cricket sides that if an established performer goes out with injury, he gets his spot back when he returns. In Wriddhiman Saha’s case, though, his one injury became three, and he has spent 18 months out of Test cricket. In his absence, Rishabh Pant has scored the only centuries for an India wicketkeeper in England and in Australia. On his return to first-class cricket, Saha has hit two fifties in the two unofficial Tests for India A on the shadow tour of the West Indies.In a two-Test series, you don’t expect the decision made in the first Test to change unless there is something drastic. So whoever gets selected should stay for the second Test too.What about the spinner(s)?If India play six specialist batsmen, it leaves space for only one spinner; the three fast bowlers – Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami – select themselves. Now if only one spinner plays, it will be interesting to see how much has changed since coach Ravi Shastri called Kuldeep Yadav India’s No. 1 Test spinner away from Asia in response to the left-arm wristspinner’s five-for in Sydney. If Kohli agrees with Shastri, they could be leaving out the Man of the Series from the last time India toured the West Indies, R Ashwin, who has failed to finish India’s last two overseas tours with fitness issues.If India do play two, there could equally be a case made for Ravindra Jadeja, who has done nothing wrong as a Test spinner, and also brings his batting to the party. If there’s a consolation for the team management taking these tough calls, it is that unlike the middle order, the choice of the spinner and the wicketkeeper is an embarrassment of riches.

Kemar Roach 2.0: potential for fast-bowling greatness

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Ten years into his Test career, the numbers indicate that the West Indies quick, in his second coming, has a place among his generation’s best

Karthik Krishnaswamy29-Aug-2019James Anderson’s Test bowling average is 26.94. Kemar Roach’s is 26.95.Among Roach’s other contemporary fast bowlers, Trent Boult, Morne Morkel, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Broad all have poorer averages than Roach.Is Roach one of the world’s best fast bowlers at the moment then?

****

Back in the Australian summer of 2015-16, no one would have dared ask that question. In a collective nightmare of a tour for West Indies’ bowlers, Roach had it worse than his colleagues. In three Test matches, he sent down 246 balls, conceded 247 runs, and failed to pick up a single wicket.It was the culmination of Roach’s worst phase as an international cricketer. He had suffered two major injuries – shoulder and ankle – which had sent him home from tours of India in 2013-14 and South Africa in 2014-15. In between, in April 2014, he had escaped mostly unhurt from a car crash.When he came back from the ankle injury, his pace – which had once consistently hovered around 90mph – had dropped significantly, and so too had his wicket-taking threat. He averaged more than 50 in three successive Test series – in England, against Australia at home, and in Sri Lanka – and the Australia tour brought him the ignominy of no average, and an economy rate of 6.02.West Indies dropped Roach after that series, and he would spend 19 months out of the side before returning for the tour of England in August 2017.

***

Speaking to the recently, coaches Peter Vaughn and Richard Straker revealed how they had helped Roach turn his bowling and mental state around after his axing from the West Indies team. Among the changes they made were adjustments to his run-up and pre-delivery leap, which enabled him to attain greater stability at the crease.The work that went into Roach’s action is evident when you view before-and-after footage of his bowling. In videos from the MCG Test in December 2015, he appears to be out of balance at the point of delivery, his left foot pulling away towards the off side as it lands on the crease.

In videos from the home series against England earlier this year, Roach is a bowler transformed. At release, his front leg is more or less perpendicular to the ground, and forms a lovely vertical line with his bowling arm.With the mechanics of his bowling back in place, Roach has enjoyed the purplest of patches since his return, picking up 67 wickets in 17 Tests at an average of 20.98 and a strike rate of 43.7. Of the 31 bowlers with 50 or more wickets since the start of 2017, Roach has the sixth-best average and the third-best strike rate.

****

AFP”Make the batsman play” – to understand that old adage, watch Roach’s bowling from last week’s Antigua Test against India. Four of his five wickets were from balls delivered from wide of the crease – from around the wicket in the case of the left-handed Rishabh Pant – angling into a tight line close to off stump, and straightening late to catch the outside edge. Each time, given the line and the initial angle, the batsman simply to play. And the length was such that they had to defend.The other wicket, of Cheteshwar Pujara in the second innings, came off a similar delivery, except it kept coming back in with the angle to bowl the batsman through the gate. That gate had been created by all the balls that Roach had moved away from the batsman, from roughly the same spot on the pitch.ALSO READ: West Indies’ run drought at the topIn Antigua, Roach made the batsmen play – that is, made them play defensive shots – more than any other fast bowler on either side. Of the 270 balls he bowled, batsmen defended 144 (roughly 53%) and were able to leave only 52 (19%).The batsmen left a comparable percentage of deliveries from Miguel Cummins and Mohammed Shami too, but they also played more shots off those two than they did off Roach, who instead forced them to defend ball after ball. His line was relentlessly probing, his length seldom gave away the drive, cut or pull, and there was movement both ways to complicate life further.

This has been Roach’s method since his comeback in 2017. The pace isn’t of the furious kind that made Ricky Ponting retire hurt following a blow to his elbow at the WACA in 2009, but there’s enough of it to keep punishing defensive errors. The thing that makes his bowling threatening, though, is the accuracy and the movement – mostly off the seam, and occasionally in the air too. Have a look at the 19 wickets he took against England this year. There’s the odd bouncer, and the odd one up in the block hole, but by and large it’s always on a good length, in that fourth-stump channel, doing a little bit this way or that, causing indecision to ferment into a potent brew inside the batsman’s head.This is a fast bowler in full control of his craft, ten years into his Test career.

****

No West Indies bowler has reached 200 Test wickets since March 20, 1994, when Mike Atherton played on to Curtly Ambrose for a second-innings duck in Georgetown, Guyana. Roach is currently on 189, and just ahead of him are two of the most celebrated names of West Indies fast bowling: Wes Hall (192) and Andy Roberts (202).Have a look at their records.

West Indies legends?

Bowler Tests Wickets Average Strike rate Economy 5wi 10wmAndy Roberts 47 202 25.61 55.1 2.78 11 2Wes Hall 48 192 26.38 54.2 2.91 9 1Kemar Roach 54 189 26.95 51.3 3.14 9 1Not bad, eh?We began by asking if Roach is one of the best quicks of his time. Here’s another question: is Roach on his way to becoming one of West Indies’ fast-bowling greats?

A wrong 'un and an identity of his own for Hayden Walsh Jr.

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

He was West Indies’ best bowler in the second T20I against India, but the best ball he bowled wasn’t a wicket-taking one

Deivarayan Muthu09-Dec-20191:42

CPL put me on the map – Hayden Walsh

In March 2012, Hayden Walsh Jr. made his first-class debut for Windward Islands. The opportunities were few and far between there, and he also had to juggle cricket with his day job as a physical education teacher at an Antigua school. Walsh Jr. then switched allegiances to USA in 2018 and after a bumper CPL 2019, which he won with Barbados Tridents, he has broken into West Indies limited-overs sides.After doing fairly well while bowling defensively in the T20I series opener against India in Hyderabad, the 27-year-old legspinner assumed a more attacking role in the second match in Thiruvananthapuram, and showcased his variations – probably to IPL talent scouts as well.ALSO READ: Walsh Jr.’s moment of truth at 36,000 feetWalsh Jr. picked up the wickets of the big-hitting Shivam Dube and Shreyas Iyer, but his best ball of the night was one that didn’t fetch a wicket. It was one that left India captain Virat Kohli overbalanced. In the 13th over, Walsh Jr. drifted a perfectly-pitched ball in towards off stump, tricked Kohli into playing for the in-drift, but then found enough turn to nearly scratch the outside edge.In Hyderabad, too, Walsh Jr. came within touching distance of claiming Kohli’s wicket. He unleashed a slider and rushed Kohli for pace, but the batsman just about avoided dragging the ball back onto the stumps.In Thiruvananthapuram, Walsh Jr. was brought into the attack when India were 93 for 2 in ten overs, with Dube accounting for 50 of those runs in a mere 27 balls. Walsh Jr. immediately dangled a wrong ‘un that broke further away from Dube’s reach. He dared the batsman to hit against the turn and clear the long leg-side boundary. Dube didn’t hold himself back, but could only drag the ball to long-on, where Kieron Pollard lost the ball in the lights.The next ball was a wrong ‘un again, but this skidded under the swing of Dube. Walsh Jr.’s third ball was a wrong ‘un again, and Dube took the bait again, splicing a catch to extra-cover. The plans to Rishabh Pant and Iyer as well were simple: just take the ball away from their swinging arcs.Hayden Walsh completes his action•BCCI”No, no [I wasn’t intimidated bowling to Dube]. I practice a lot bowling to left-handers,” Walsh Jr. said at the post-match press conference on Sunday. “When we were in Mumbai [before the start of the series for a camp], I practiced bowling to Evin [Lewis] and Nicholas [Pooran]. I just bowled googlies that I bowled to Dube. So, I was pretty confident coming to bowl at him.”While Pant did read two of Walsh Jr’s wrong ‘uns and cracked them with the turn over extra-cover for boundaries, Iyer spooned a tossed-up legbreak to point while aiming to slog against the turn. Walsh Jr. came away with 2 for 28 in his four overs, helping West Indies pin down India to 170 for 7.”It’s been like a rollercoaster for me,” Walsh Jr. said. “As you can see, I’ve been working hard on my way to the top of international cricket. And just to be here to perform in a game is… I’m over the moon.”It was the CPL stint that propelled him back into West Indies’ radar. After Sandeep Lamichanne left Tridents and returned to the Nepal side for international duty, Walsh Jr. dashed out of the bench and scooped up 22 wickets in nine games at an average of 12.68 and an economy of 8.28, despite playing just nine games. He was also electric in the field, particularly at backward point, and it was his rocket throw that ran Pollard out in the second qualifier and denied Trinbago Knight Riders another tilt at a CPL trophy.Then, after making his international debut for West Indies against Afghanistan in India, Walsh Jr. jetted to the UAE to play in the T10 league. Having shown sparks of brilliance in his short international career, Walsh Jr. is among the 971 names to have registered for the IPL 2020 auction. He, however, downplayed his aspirations of making the IPL and said that his immediate focus was to extend his form and help West Indies win the decider in Mumbai.”Well, yeah [the auction is at the back of the mind]. But the main thing is to win this series,” he said. “The whole goal and everything for me right now is just winning this series and to help the team do their best.”Walsh Jr. also conceded that people often mistakenly think he is related to the great Courtney Walsh and joked that during his Global T20 Canada outing with Vancouver Knights earlier this year, some even referred to him as Courtney Walsh.The ultra-short boundaries at the Wankhede Stadium can spook bowlers, but if Walsh Jr. spins West Indies to a series-clinching victory, he can carve out his own identity.

£70m PL star wants to sign for Liverpool & he'd be a better move than Isak

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Over the last week, Liverpool have been strongly touted with a summer move to land Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, but would have to pay a fortune to secure his signature.

It’s been reported that the Reds are willing to pay £115m for his services, but the Magpies are demanding a staggering £150m to part ways with their star man.

Their interest in the Swedish international is hardly a surprise given his goalscoring record in 2024/25, notching 20 Premier League goals – sitting third in the top-scoring charts behind Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland.

Newcastle United's AlexanderIsakcelebrates scoring their second goal

However, the fee would make the 25-year-old the Reds’ most expensive player in their history, potentially pushing them closer to sustained success under Arne Slot.

It may be too much to fork out on one player this summer, potentially delving into the market to pursue other targets, with one other talent emerging on their shortlist.

Liverpool targeting move for £70m talent

According to Football Insider, Liverpool are targeting a summer move for West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen in an attempt to strengthen their forward line.

The 28-year-old has registered eight goals and five assists in his 27 league appearances this campaign, sitting as the Hammers’ top scorer during 2024/25.

Jarrod Bowen celebrates for West Ham

It’s not the first time the Reds have been interested in landing the former Hull City star, after previously registering interest in his services in the transfer market over the past few years.

However, the recent report states that Bowen would be open to a move to Anfield this summer, with the prospect of winning trophies possibly taking his career to the next level.

Graham Potter’s side have previously placed a £70m price tag on his head, with a move for the England international potentially a better deal than any transfer for Isak.

Why Bowen would be a better signing than Isak for Liverpool

Whilst there’s no denying the quality of Isak and that he would improve the centre-forward department, other areas may be in need of investment this summer.

Contracts remain up in the air with just a couple of months left on the deals of Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Salah, with none of the stars yet to put pen to paper over a new deal.

Mohamed Salah for Liverpool

The latter is arguably the most important, especially when considering how crucial he’s been to the success endured under Slot during the Dutchman’s first year at Anfield.

The Egyptian international has registered 54 combined goals and assists in his 45 appearances across all competitions, helping the side sit top of the league table.

However, the 32-year-old is currently set to leave at the end of the season upon the expiration of his contract, with no new deal agreed between the club and the forward.

Should he depart this summer, a new winger has to be the priority over a striker, with Bowen undoubtedly a more important signing than Isak should Salah depart on a free transfer.

When comparing the West Ham star’s stats with the Egyptian’s from 2024/25, he’s managed to match or better him in numerous key areas – showcasing how much of a superb signing he would be.

Bowen, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Ian Wright, may have been massively outscored by Salah, but has managed to achieve the same shot-on-target accuracy rate – highlighting his impressive nature in the final third.

Games played

27

31

Goals & assists

13

44

Shot-on-target accuracy

42%

42%

Pass accuracy

71%

71%

Crosses completed

3.5

1.9

Take-ons completed

1.6

1.6

Aerials won

0.3

0.3

He’s also managed to complete the same number of take-ons per 90, whilst also completing more crosses, potentially improving other players’ tallies around him – just as the 32-year-old has done on Merseyside this season.

Whilst keeping hold of Salah would undoubtedly be the preference for the supporters, Bowen has demonstrated that he has the tools to soften the blow should he depart in the coming months.

He may cost a pretty penny to prise him away from the London Stadium, but it would be a worthwhile deal, allowing Slot to kickstart the rebuild should it be needed during the off-season.

Their own KDB: Liverpool now expected to hold talks with "special" £87m ace

The Reds could get one over on Manchester City.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 8, 2025

Wolves must rue selling sensational star who is worth £40m more than Cunha

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ stunning 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Premier League was the first time they have done the double over the Red Devils since the 1970s.

It was a win that proves how good this Wolves squad is, and next season they should be aiming for a top-half finish without a shadow of a doubt.

Vitor Pereira has worked miracles at Molineux since taking over towards the end of 2024, and if he is backed in the summer transfer window, he can take the club to the next level.

One burning question is, will Matheus Cunha be in the starting XI for the first Premier League fixture of the 2025/26 season?

Matheus Cunha’s future at Wolves is uncertain

The Brazilian may have enjoyed a wonderful season on the pitch, scoring 16 goals and grabbing four assists, but his behaviour in recent months suggests he could be sold this summer.

Cunha has clashed with supporters on social media following a post he put up on his Instagram. He even confessed that he wishes to leave in order to challenge for trophies, and if a big offer comes in, the forward may depart.

The former Atlético Madrid star only signed a new contract back in February, tying him down for another four years. A £62.5m release clause has been inserted into the deal, so whoever wants to sign him this summer will need to stump up the cash.

While losing him would be a big blow, the club sold a player in the summer of 2022 who is now worth £40m more than the Brazilian and is also starring in the Premier League.

Goals

14

Assists

4

Big chances created

12

Key passes per game

1.7

Shots per game

3.2

Goal conversion percentage

16%

Wolves must regret selling £100m-rated star

While Cunha has been stealing the limelight in Wolverhampton, a player not so far away in Nottingham has also very swiftly become one of the leading Premier League players; Morgan Gibbs-White.

Selling the playmaker for a fee in the region of £42.5m was seen as excellent business by the Old Gold initially. Indeed, he’d registered a total of just three goals and one assist in 88 matches for the club was hardly an impressive return, but the move has backfired spectacularly.

Since moving to Nottingham Forest, the Englishman has racked up 111 appearances for the club, registering 43 goal contributions – 16 goals and 27 assists – in the process.

It is no wonder he has been dubbed “sensational” by certain sections of the media for his displays and according to journalist Graeme Bailey, the attacking midfielder is now being valued at around £100m by Forest amid interest from Manchester City.

This is nearly £40m more than Cunha, and the statistics back up his high valuation. In the top flight this term, he has created eight big chances, averaged 1.6 key passes and succeeded with one dribble per game.

Furthermore, he ranks in the top 11% for goal-creating actions (0.63) and in the top 5% for passes into the final third (4.33) per 90 when compared to his positional peers this season in the top flight.

Wolves perhaps made the correct decision at the time by selling the 25-year-old, but boy, must they be rueing that decision now.

The next Ait-Nouri: Pereira plotting summer Wolves move for "revelation"

Wolves are showing interest in a Ligue 1 defender…

1 ByRoss Kilvington Apr 19, 2025

Even better than Costa: Pep has already sold "world-class" Man City GK

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Manchester City have already spent big in 2025, and are showing no signs of easing up.

In January, the Sky Blues splashed a reported £180m on five new signings, recruiting Abdukodir Khusanov, Juma Bah, Vitor Reis, Nico González and Omar Marmoush.

Nevertheless, after suffering an early Champions League exit and relinquishing their Premier League title, Pep Guardiola is set to oversee a major rebuild in the summer, with plenty more new signings set to arrive at the Etihad.

Manchester City targeting a new goalkeeper

As reported by Foot Mercato, Manchester City have been ‘given the initial green light’ in their attempt to sign Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, who they claim is ‘keen on joining the club’.

Diogo Costa

The report notes that Costa has a €75m release clause, around £64m, reporting that Man City are willing to ‘break the bank’ to secure his services, following Ederson’s ‘disappointing season’.

Editor Zach Lowy certainly thinks this would be a good move, labelling Costa “one of the best goalkeepers in world football”, notably becoming the first goalkeeper to save three penalties in a European Championship shootout last summer, as Portugal dumped out Slovenia in Frankfurt.

Kevin Araújo Fernandes of Breaking the Lines asserts that Costa is ‘inarguably one of the brightest’ goalkeepers on the planet, underlining that he would be an excellent signing for Manchester City, but did they already sell an even bigger talent?

Manchester City already sold a bigger goalkeeping star

On Monday, following their 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Turf Moor, Burnley’s promotion back to the Premier League was confirmed.

Astonishingly, the Claret have conceded just 15 goals in 44 EFL Championship fixtures to date, hence why goalkeeper James Trafford has been earning plenty of plaudits.

James Trafford for Burnley.

Scott Parker’s side kept 11 successive clean sheets earlier this year, just the fifth club in English Football League history to achieve this, while enjoying 28 shutouts in total to date; the previous second-tier record was 25.

Meantime, the former record for fewest goals conceded in a Championship season is 30, while the Clarets’ require clean sheets from the final two fixtures, against QPR and Millwall, to match Chelsea’s all-time record of 15 goals conceded, achieved under José Mourinho in 2004/05, albeit in eight fewer matches.

Trafford has been a key figure in this defensive solidity, described as “world-class” by his manager Parker, with the table below underlining exactly why.

Clean sheets

28

1st

Clean sheet %

65.1%

1st

Goals conceded (min 11 apps)

15

1st

Goals conceded per 90

0.35

1st

Save %

84.5%

1st

% of penalties saved

100%

=1st

Post-shot xG – goals allowed

+10.9

3rd

As the table outlines, Trafford comes out on top for pretty much every statistic this season, with his two penalty saves especially remarkable considering they came just nine minutes apart, in the 88th and 97th minutes no less, denying Wilson Isidor both times, preserving a goalless draw against Sunderland in January.

Trafford joined Manchester City’s academy as a 13-year-old, before being sold to Burnley for a reported £19m two years ago, with Transfermarkt believing his current market value is now at its peak.

Thus, the 22-year-old is unquestionably a talented goalkeeper, so let’s analyse how he compares to Costa.

Appearances

43

41

Minutes

3,870

3,720

Goals conceded

15

44

Clean sheets

28

18

Save %

84.5%

68.3%

% of penalties saved

100%

33%

Post-shot xG – goals allowed

+10.9

-2.7

% of crosses stopped

5.9%

6.2%

Pass completion %

72.9%

78.5%

As the table outlines, Trafford has outperformed Costa this season, while plying his trade at only a slightly lower level; according to Global Football Rankings, the Championship is the 11th strongest league in the world, with the Primeira Liga ranked seventh.

So, regardless of who you believe to be the better goalkeeper, selling Trafford for £19m only to then sign Costa for in excess of three times more may be viewed as a mistake.

100% dribbles, 88% passing: Pep has found his own Cambiaso in Man City star

Manchester City claimed a vital 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in the Premier League on Tuesday, with one star in particular catching the eye.

ByBen Gray Apr 23, 2025

Thelwell pushing Rangers to replace Ferguson with 53 y/o "absolute genius"

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Incoming sporting director Kevin Thelwell is now pushing Rangers to replace Barry Ferguson with a “genius” manager, according to a report.

49ers eyeing manager as takeover edges closer

Last week, it was confirmed that Thelwell is set to take over as sporting director upon the expiration of his contract with Everton, and it could be a summer of major change at Ibrox, with the 49ers now edging closer towards acquiring ownership of the club.

As such, the prospective new owners have started to work on appointing a new manager to replace interim boss Fergurson, and a move for former boss Steven Gerrard is now being considered, alongside recently sacked RB Leipzig manager Marco Rose.

There have also been suggestions the 49ers could move for Leeds United manager Daniel Farke, as there is doubt over the German’s future at Elland Road, despite leading his side to promotion from the Championship this season.

Celtic and Rangers race to sign "brilliant" 11-goal Scotland international

The Bhoys are looking to beat their rivals to a deal…

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 30, 2025

According to a report from Football Insider, Thelwell has been put in charge of overseeing the search for a new manager, and he is now pushing for Rangers to appoint Sean Dyche, who is available after being sacked by Everton earlier this season.

Ferguson is not expected to be handed the job on a permanent basis, with Thelwell currently exploring his options, and he has informed the club’s hierarchy that he believes Dyche would do a brilliant job as manager.

The sporting director has experience working with the 53-year-old, having spent time together at Goodison Park, but there have been suggestions they didn’t have a good relationship, so it is unclear whether he would be interested in taking over at Ibrox.

"Absolute genius" Dyche could excel at Rangers

In the Englishman’s most recent roles, he has been tasked with keeping teams in the Premier League, rather than pushing for a spot higher up the table, but he did a stellar job to ensure the Toffees retained their top-flight status after replacing Frank Lampard.

The job at Ibrox is very different, given that Rangers fans expect to compete for the Scottish Premiership title every season, but there are signs the former Burnley boss could be up to the task, having led the Clarets to two automatic promotions from the Championship.

The Kettering-born manager may be famed for his defensive approach, but it is an understandable mindset when taking Burnley to places like Anfield and Old Trafford, and his promotion-winning side were the Championship’s joint-top scorers in 2015-16.

Having also been lauded as an “absolute genius” by former Burnley academy coach Lee Waddington, there are plenty of signs that Dyche could be a success north of the border.

Slot's new Trent: Liverpool make bid for "one of the greatest CMs ever"

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Somewhere in Germany, in a Red Bull Group office complex, Jurgen Klopp perhaps unleashed a few fist bumps when Liverpool thrashed Tottenham Hotspur to seal the Premier League trophy.

Klopp’s self-defined “heavy metal football” left with him at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, replaced by something smoother and cooler in the form of Arne Slot.

Both approaches have borne dividends for Liverpool, Klopp creating a dynasty before his successor took the reins and won the Premier League in his first year in the dugout.

Slot has dealt with adversity this term and emerged on top, but now must contend with the loss of Liverpool’s focal creative source, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Why losing Alexander-Arnold is such a big blow

Alexander-Arnold has been at Liverpool for two decades, moving up and up through the youth floors before knocking on Klopp’s door in the early years of his tenure.

Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates for Liverpool

He’s now one of the driving forces behind a sustained period of success at Anfield. Liverpool are a team of many parts, but Trent has been one of the most important cogs in the system, with his peerless passing and eagle-eyed vision making so many opponents pay over the years.

Having won the full gamut, the 26-year-old will depart a fundamental part in putting the Reds back on their perch. He’s played 352 matches for Liverpool, scoring 23 goals and laying on 92 assists.

Real Madrid are the expected destination, and Liverpool now need to find a way to replace their chief playmaker’s output. As per FBref, the Three Lions star ranks among the top 1% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for progressive passes and the top 5% for shot-creating actions per 90.

1

Trent Alexander-Arnold

64

2

Andy Robertson

59

3

Leighton Baines

53

4

Graeme Le Saux

44

5

Kieran Trippier

38

Alexander-Arnold’s one-of-a-kind talent is not something that Liverpool can replicate at right-back. Bradley is an exciting player, but he’s not Trent.

However, Liverpool aren’t against sourcing a new means of elite creativity, having found an interesting solution in another area of the pitch.

Liverpool make proposal for Premier League legend

As per Italian reporter Gianluca Di Marzio, Liverpool have made a surprise contractual offer for Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, whose deal at the Etihad expires at the end of the season.

While Napoli are also pushing, Liverpool have a financial advantage over the Serie A’s first-placed side and could blow them out of the water, should they continue to insist upon a pre-contract arrangement.

Manchester City's KevinDeBruyneafter the match

De Bruyne, a boyhood Liverpool fan, turned 33 this year and has been frustrated by injuries in recent seasons, but still retains an artistry to his creative approach, which is among the finest Europe has seen.

Why Liverpool should sign Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne may not know where he’s going to end up but he has made it clear that he’s still got mileage in the engine and isn’t against winding up at another Premier League club.

It’s been quite the career in English football for the Belgian, who fell by the wayside as a Chelsea prospect before finding a new home in Belgium and then finding his feet and then some at Manchester City, joining from Wolfsburg in a £55m deal in 2015.

He’s one of the most accomplished and decorated Premier League players of his generation, even described as “one of the greatest midfielders ever” by his manager Pep Guardiola.

De Bruyne might be approaching the twilight years of his career, but he’s certainly still got it. FBref have recorded that he ranks among the top 7% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues and the top 3% for passes attempted, progressive passes and shot-creating actions per 90.

Now, why would Liverpool want to pursue an ageing attacking midfielder such as De Bruyne? After all, Slot already wields the energy of Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott’s natural spark.

Well, the answer is obvious. Liverpool need signings, and they need quite a few. Left-back, centre-back. Ryan Gravenberch could do with some competition at number six, and Darwin Nunez certainly needs replacing at the front of the ship.

Sporting director Richard Hughes has got some juggling to do, all right, and bringing De Bruyne over to Liverpool could be a fantastic, stop-gap sort of way to plug a hole and retain the giddy support levels that Alexander-Arnold will be taking with him over to the Santiago Bernabeu.

De Bruyne still has the requisite quality in his locker. As per Sofascore, he’s created 14 big chances in the league this year, despite starting only 17 times. Moreover, he’s averaging over two key passes per game.

This all adds substance to the argument for his arrival. De Bruyne has scored six goals and provided eight assists in all competitions this season, with ten of those 14 contributions coming since the start of the calendar year.

Manchester City's KevinDeBruynein action with Liverpool's Andrew Robertson

Alexander-Arnold might be leaving, but Liverpool will endure. With surgery required across a range of areas for the Reds, this would be the perfect way to add some new creativity, some Alexander-Arnold levels of creativity to Slot’s team and help him relocate Liverpool’s playmaking hub to a more conventional area in the middle of the park.

For Anfield simply won’t succeed in finding another player like Trent on the right side of the backline.

Dream Trent replacement: Liverpool make bid for "one of the best in Europe"

Liverpool could be about to end their hunt for a player who could fill the void left by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

ByEthan Lamb May 8, 2025

£19m "wizard" privately tempted by Tottenham move after "fresh" discussions

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

A very highly-rated forward is tempted by a move to Tottenham Hotspur behind-the-scenes following “fresh” transfer discussions, according to reports, with chairman Daniel Levy rumoured to be in pursuit of attacking reinforcements this summer.

Tottenham set for vital Europa League final next week

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou could end the club’s 17-year wait for silverware and qualify for the 2025/2026 Champions League in one fell swoop, as the Lilywhites prepare for a vital Europa League final against Man United next week.

Tottenham: Popular £4.2m manager now "top" Levy target after Paratici message

Spurs are serious about him as a potential replacement for Ange Postecoglou.

5 ByEmilio Galantini May 16, 2025

Both sides have endured torrid Premier League campaigns, which fell miles below expectations, but the Europa League represents a chance to quite literally rescue Spurs’ season from the depths of mediocrity.

Son Heung-min

7.05

Pedro Porro

6.98

James Maddison

6.98

Dominic Solanke

6.88

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Postecoglou’s squad has been hit with wave after wave of injuries to key players, especially midway through 2024/2025, and this cannot be discounted, amid reports that the Australian is likely facing his final few games in charge.

As Tottenham prepare for their most important match of the season by some distance against United, the club’s recruitment team are already working on reinforcing the squad for next season, regardless of who is in the dugout by that time.

Levy and technical director Johan Lange are rumoured to be targeting a new attacker or two in particular, with Tottenham intending to keep Mathys Tel beyond his loan from Bayern Munich alongside bringing in other names.

Spurs will reportedly need to err on the side of caution when it comes to expenditure, though, with reports claiming they may even need to adopt a sell to buy policy.

Luckily for Levy, a quality, in-form attacker, who looks set to be available for a very doable price, comes in the form of Lyon sensation Rayan Cherki.

Rayan Cherki

The 21-year-old has enjoyed the campaign of his life with 12 goals and 19 assists. Interested clubs are able to sign Cherki for just £19 million as well, due to a bargain release clause in his contract.

Le Parisien reported earlier this week that Tottenham have made contact over signing Cherki, with GiveMeSport now following up that report with his stance on a switch to the Premier League.

Rayan Cherki tempted by Tottenham after "fresh" discussions

As per GMS, Spurs have held “fresh” discussions over signing Cherki, with the outlet backing up previous claims of an approach.

However, they add that the Frenchman has privately refused to rule out joining Tottenham behind-closed-doors, even if English champions Liverpool are his personal preference as things stand.

Rayan Cherki in action for Lyon

Despite Arne Slot’s side being his ideal destination, Spurs are touted as prime contenders for Cherki and north London is seen as a very credible destination for the player, so this could be one to watch.

The attacking midfielder is gaining a reputation as one of Europe’s most exciting final third prodigies, and his very astute price tag makes this potential move all the more enticing from Levy’s perspective.

“He is the best natural talent I’ve ever seen,” said ex-Arsenal defender and Lyon teammate, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, to BBC Sport.

“An absolute master, a wizard with the ball.”

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