'Would love to see him open in the Test team'

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Jason Roy went past team-mate Alex Hales to claim England’s record ODI score. Hales was among those who reacted on Twitter

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Jan-2018

New PSL season faces great expectations

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

After a maiden season in which the PSL found its feet, there are bigger expectations of Pakistan’s T20 league this time around

Danyal Rasool09-Feb-2017Upon the creation of the IPL, and the riches it showered on the BCCI, Pakistan looked on enviously. It wasn’t just that another board was being enriched by a tournament more successful than Lalit Modi’s wilder dreams could have envisioned, it was the board. And though political differences between the two countries have never been stated as the reason, Pakistan’s players have not played the IPL after the first season in 2008. As players from around the world stuck their fingers into the IPL pie, Pakistan looked on enviously.Soon, Cricket Australia came up with its own T20 competition, and cricket in the AFL-dominated country was cool and trendy once more.T20 tournaments then began to proliferate. Before you knew it, West Indies had the Caribbean Premier League, and Sri Lanka and Bangladesh their own Premier Leagues. The locals of Brisbane, Chennai and Port-of-Spain could all see Brendon McCullum rock up to play for their team. Still, Pakistan looked on enviously.For what could they do? International cricket had not been played in Pakistan since 2009, so how was the PCB going to attract international players? The idea of a league in the UAE had been floated for years, but the PCB’s internal disputes and lack of continuity kept such prospects at bay. Until 2015, when Najam Sethi finally consolidated power at the PCB and began to put the plan into action.Initial attempts to hold the league in the UAE, even, were rebuffed and Qatar was mooted as a possible venue. However, the PCB pushed hard, a deal was struck, and the rest is history.The Pakistan Super League, which according to Najam Sethi was expected to make a loss, recorded profits of $2.6 million, with high television ratings and a passionate following. The success of the PSL is a greater achievement than that of any other T20 league, simply because of the unique challenges it faced, from not taking place in the home country to a clash with the Masters Champions League in its opening season, which brought notable scheduling difficulties of its own.While the PSL was something of an unknown quantity in its first season, its goals are more transparent and ambitious this time. Pakistani fans have watched world-class cricketers rub shoulders with local heroes, and comparisons online with BBL followers or IPL devotees are lively, unchecked, and often unprintable. The PSL chairman Sethi was in an equally buoyant mood, saying last month the league was determined to become the second best T20 league in the world, with the defiant vow to hold the final in Lahore, come what may.Brendon McCullum will be playing in the PSL for the first time•PSLThis, then, is the backdrop to the Pakistan Super League, on the eve of its second season. It will be crucial for its long-term prospects that TV ratings continue to rise – not just in Pakistan but globally – if the PSL is to compete with the BBL and the CPL.Sethi admitted the PSL failed to meet its gate-money targets last year, which he attributed to a tight marketing budget. The PSL must not be held back by such concerns this time if Sethi’s lofty ambitions are to be met anytime soon, and full stadiums are the lifeblood of a T20 contest. This may turn out to be the PSL’s biggest challenge, because full stadiums are never a guarantee if the matches take place offshore.To that end, the promise to play the final in Lahore is a shrewd marketing ploy. For most Pakistan fans, it keeps relevant the link between the PSL and the return of international cricket to Pakistan, which frankly remains a distant prospect for now. The idea that more PSL matches could be held in Pakistan over the coming years is a seductive one, and bound to keep followers interested. It is also a bit of a gamble, and if the final doesn’t take place in the country, the loss of faith in the competition may take years to retrieve.As the PSL looks to the years ahead, it will also have to add more teams. Sethi promised the inclusion of a sixth team for 2017, but later said the existing franchises opposed the idea because it would mean a smaller share of the pie for each of them. A sixth franchise is expected to be added next year, which is important not just to enhance the tournament’s reach and profile but also to improve the current format, in which four of the five teams go through to the next round. The present structure takes away importance from the group stages, which is concerning because the group stage comprises the entire tournament bar the last three matches. A large part of the appeal of any T20 league is the importance of each individual contest, which the PSL’s format fails to provide.That said, the PSL has attracted cricketers any T20 league would be lucky to have. Brendon McCullum is the most notable addition, while Chris Gayle and Kevin Pietersen have returned for second seasons. Each team has dedicated supporters, and eyes in Pakistan will be glued to TV screens with the hope that one day the glitz and glamour will come back home, from the desert of Arabia to the gardens of the Gaddafi.

New Australia, same old hostility

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The ‘pack of dogs’ that Faf du Plessis spoke of four years ago was back in full force at Kingsmead, ‘headbutting the line’ in a manner more reminiscent of Zinedine Zidane than Jonny Bairstow

Daniel Brettig in Durban04-Mar-2018Like a family heirloom, the concept of verbal hostility on the field of play is passed from one generation of Australian cricketers to the next. There were times during a hot-tempered and endlessly watchable day four at Kingsmead that recalled angry days in the past, as a young Australian side sought to make its own mark on South Africa.It was four years ago, amid an Australian victory over South Africa in Cape Town, that Faf du Plessis described the team then led by Michael Clarke as “like a pack of dogs” in the way they swarmed around an opposition batsman in the field. During that series and the preceding encounter with England, the Australians reached peaks of hostility that left angry words to be exchanged between Clarke and Dale Steyn at the end of the Newlands Test and the teams to socialise separately that evening.Australia had beaten both England and South Africa playing cricket of a high standard and an unmistakable hostility, the intensity of which renewed debate about the way the team plays in moments of pressure. Within the Australian team, there was total certainty about this being the most effective way to win; outside it, there was no little conjecture about how this method, however effective, looked. But the bottom line was that the results went Australia’s way, further entrenching the team’s view that this was how they won. In the words of Nathan Lyon, the Australians play the game while “headbutting” the line between aggression and transgression.This time around, that level of hostility was revisited as Steven Smith’s team sought to bury a Proteas side chasing 417 for victory, and grew in intensity as the commendably upright Aiden Markram frustrated their efforts to do so. Seemingly it started not with the beginning of the South African innings but the arrival of AB de Villiers, who before facing a ball was immediately talking to the umpires. When he was turned back from a quick single by Markram and run out by David Warner and Lyon, the line was headbutted with a force more Zinedine Zidane than Jonny Bairstow – the “pack of dogs” were back.Lyon, upon breaking the stumps, took particular interest in a prone, diving de Villiers as he ran past him, and dropped the ball so closely in his vicinity that it fell between the batsman’s body and one of his batting gloves. At the same time, Warner was yelling at the top of his lungs in Markram’s direction, manically mouthing words that looked like “why’d you do that” among other things. Australian celebrations about getting de Villiers in such a manner, and having an opportunity to get inside the head of Markram at the same time, were summed up by the wicketkeeper Tim Paine.”Obviously it was a huge wicket. You put a lot of planning into how you’re going to bowl to someone like AB de Villiers, so to have him run out for zero is – I think that gets everyone a little bit excited,” Paine said. “The boys were certainly pumped up to see him going back. We think he’s their best player, to have him back in the sheds for zero was a huge confidence boost for us. But we also know how good the rest of their side is.”We knew there was going to be some fight at some stage, and we certainly got that and we expect that to continue throughout the series. That’s what happens when you’ve got two great sides playing against each other. It was a big moment in the game – probably even bigger now that you look back and see how they played after that. and how the wicket didn’t help us as much as we thought it may have.”We spoke to Aiden about running out their best player and one of the best players in the world. I think had someone run Smithy out in our team you’d cop a fair bit of a ribbing. It was nothing aggressive. It was just reminding him of what he had just done, trying to get him off his game, the same as they do to us. It didn’t work.”The fact that it did not work was to be demonstrated as Markram and Theunis de Bruyn regrouped. The latter became embroiled in some fiery exchanges with Mitchell Starc in between deliveries and boundaries. Sometimes, a fast bowler starting to get involved in a war of words with a batsman denotes nothing so much as frustration and a loss of concentration on the task.But it was telling about the way Australia’s players see the game that from behind the stumps, Paine was happy to hear Starc raise his voice. For the way the Australians play is the way that they have been raised to play, at junior, club and state levels, and having all copped it themselves at various times, they are always eager for opportunities to dish it out where useful.”It was good to see actually. We enjoy it when Starcy is up and about like that and at the batters, because he bowls at high pace and can create chances all the time,” Paine said. “It wasn’t his session during the middle but he showed what he can do when the ball starts to reverse-swing – or hopefully tomorrow when he gets the new ball in his hand. He’s such a dangerous, fast, left-arm bowler that it’s a delight to have him in your team.”

For Markram, the experience was akin to the introduction to cricket the Australian Test team way that another young South African batsman had endured back in 2002 – Graeme Smith

In the final session, Starc’s exchanges stretched from the middle of the ground to the boundary, where he replied to numerous choice remarks by a group of young South African spectators at fine leg. Here, too, was a bit of deja vu, recalling a tamer version of the day Merv Hughes swung his bat at a fence at the Wanderers in Johannesburg after being harangued by a spectator as he jogged up towards the dressing room during a rain delay. This time security arrived to calm fans down before things escalated, but it was another moment speaking to the edge on which the Australians were playing.For Markram, the experience was akin to the introduction to cricket the Australian Test team way that another young South African batsman had endured back in 2002 – Graeme Smith. In a detailed interview with Sports Illustrated, Smith later recounted more or less exactly how he had been targeted by Matthew Hayden, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee, in a departure from the “what happens on the field, stays on the field” mantra commonly stated by the Australians. But he was able to get through it with plenty of credit, not only surviving the reaction to the run-out but thriving in one of the finest innings ever seen at Kingsmead.”That was a massive challenge today, as well,” Markram said. “It’s natural when you play against the Australians that there’s a lot of chatter on the field. Something that I certainly don’t mind, something that keeps me in the game and keeps me going, keeps me motivated. And it never really gets out of line either, not a lot of swearing or things like that happen. There are a few here and there but it’s not the end of the world.”I believe it’s part of the game. It’s how the game should be played, nice and hard, and makes success that bit more rewarding. I think just having what happened [with the run out] did affect me a little bit and you hear every word out on the field but I don’t speak back on the field, I try to just get on with what I do and it’s always going to be there, it’s part of the Australian side to keep chatting to batters but it’s something I really do enjoy, it’ll keep coming for the rest of the series, but I enjoy it.”Discussion about whether the Australian side needs to play in this way will carry on long after this match concludes, but it was perhaps telling that the moment the day tilted definitively towards Smith’s side had less to do with intimidation than it did with physical durability, alertness of mind and fierce concentration. Mitchell Marsh, sore after a fall in the field, was brought on to bowl as Markram and Quinton de Kock pulled ever closer to the target. Paine came up to the stumps, and found rapid reward when a Markram edge slapped neatly into his gloves.It was a reminder that for all the bluster, the other tradition carried from generation to generation of Australian players is the pursuit of excellence. How much that excellence has to do with “aggression”, “hostility”, “sledging”, “mental disintegration” or any other of those buzz words is a question that will continue to be asked – especially when Australia perform as well as they have in Durban.

Half an appeal, massive wicket

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Plays of the day from the third T20I between West Indies and Pakistan, featuring the oddest ways for batsmen to get out

Alagappan Muthu01-Apr-2017The set upSamuel Badree may be a legspinner, but he does not bowl full tosses. So when he lobbed one up for the easiest slog sweep for four that Ahmed Shehzad would ever play, it seemed odd. It became clear the very next ball, though, that Badree was merely lulling his opponent into a false sense of security. He sensed Shehzad coming down the track, dragged his length back, gave it a good rip so that it spun right past the outside edge and crashed into middle stump.The welcome backMarlon Samuels had not bowled in international cricket since November 2015, when he was banned for a suspect action. Cleared in February this year, he was called in to deliver the 13th over. He began with a rank full toss , the kind of hit-me delivery that gully cricketers would be embarrassed about. So naturally it produced a wicket in international cricket as Kamran Akmal, on 48, walloped it straight to deep midwicket. The batsman was hoping it would be called no-ball for height, but considering he was crouching in his stance, it was ruled legal.The non-appeal that became a wicketThe batsman was several yards short of his ground. It seemed like Sarfraz Ahmed was going to pay for his greed – looking for a quick single – but West Indies did not look even the least bit excited. Jason Holder, the man who had broken the stumps at the bowler’s end, was already making his way to the top of his mark because he thought he had not collected the ball cleanly. But he had. Clearly. Comfortably. He had got rid of the Pakistan captain without realising it. Good thing Carlos Brathwaite wasn’t as dozy and put in the polite enquiry that brought the third umpire into play.The unintended archwayTwo days ago, West Indies were terribly under par in the field. “At least it wasn’t for lack of trying,” their supporters might say. Well, that excuse went out the window in the third T20I. A gentle little clip off the pads from Babar Azam was given free passage to the boundary because Holder, running to his right from midwicket, and Evin Lewis, racing to his left from square leg, forgot to do the most important things. Call – and then field the ball.

How Bangladesh came to have a pace-heavy ODI attack

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

A team known for its reliance on spin now chooses to pick three fast bowlers more often than not. How did that come to be?

Mohammad Isam13-Jun-20170:50

The numbers behind the rise

For a long time, you wouldn’t have associated Bangladesh with the phrase “strong pace attack”. A subcontinent team playing on slow, low surfaces, some of which turned, was never going to be big on fast bowling – and Bangladesh wasn’t. Kids growing up in the country in the 1980s and 1990s had few fast bowling heroes.The change was a long time coming. Mashrafe Mortaza and Chandika Hathurusingha, the captain and coach so vitally responsible for Bangladesh’s ODI success in the last two years, were firm believers that an aggressive approach would take them to the next level, and were instrumental in Bangladesh beginning to actively picking more pace bowlers in their attack.It began in 2015
Like all revolutions, this one too was met with resistance initially. Having mooted the idea of employing a four-pronged pace attacked after a careful study of their resources before the ODI series with India in 2015, Mashrafe and Hathurusingha didn’t find too many in the BCB’s hierarchy who agreed with them. “Risky” was one of the words floated around strategy meetings at the time.Mashrafe and Hathurusingha are, however, men of conviction.They had faith in Taskin Ahmed and Rubel Hossain, who had done well in the World Cup. Mashrafe himself was fit. Most noticeable was the trust they had in Mustafizur Rahman, who had until then played a solitary T20 international.The Mirpur pitch too encouraged them; Gamini Silva, the curator, had left a hint of green on. But despite these arguments in favour of a pace-heavy attack, the decision to go with four fast bowlers in the XI came just a few hours before the first game, and was accompanied by much trepidation.The attack worked well enough for Bangladesh to clinch their maiden ODI series win over India. Mustafizur took 11 wickets out of the 16 that went to the fast bowlers in those first two games. Rubel, Taskin and Mashrafe served too, but a side strain ruled Taskin out of the third game, which forced the team management to take their foot off the pedal.Mashrafe Mortaza with trump card Mustafizur Rahman•AFPApart from one game against South Africa, Bangladesh used three fast bowlers in each of their other five ODIs in 2015. The next year, that trend continued in all but one of nine ODIs. This year, they finally used a four-pronged pace attack again against New Zealand in Cardiff – almost exactly two years since they last deployed a similar attack. During this time injuries to Taskin, Rubel and Mustafizur prevented Mashrafe and Hathurusingha picking four fast men, though considerations of pitches, conditions and oppositions also played a part.Now, however, it has finally been established that if the pitch and overhead conditions are right, and their bowlers fit, Bangladesh are quite eager to pick a four-man pace attack. And failing that, picking three is the new normal. This is a far cry from the days of their spin-heavy attacks. Just two times since the 2015 World Cup have Bangladesh not used a three-man pace attack.Four is an army
In the 2015 World Cup, Rubel took four wickets against England and looked the most impressive bowler in the quarter-final against India. He had had an up-and-down international career till then, and had been more successful in ODIs than in Tests or T20s. Even in ODIs, Rubel’s troubles in the slog overs and injuries meant that he wasn’t always an automatic choice. But his late movement with the slightly older ball always attracted attention.Taskin, who had made a barnstorming debut against India in 2014, wasn’t hitting his stride. But he had pace and was improving his fitness, and in Mashrafe he had a hero he didn’t want to let down.Seeing Mustafizur in the nets convinced Mashrafe and Hathurusingha that India needed to be tackled with pace. It wasn’t just that Mustafizur was dismissing Tamim Iqbal and company, but that he was doing it with something unique. He had developed an offcutter, all on his own, that kicked in front of the batsmen, and, when it took an edge, carried to the wicketkeeper.Shane Jurgensen (right) was instrumental in developing Bangladesh’s pace attack during his stint as bowling coach•BCBBangladesh have tried others, but generally the team management have gone with Mashrafe, Rubel, Mustafizur and Taskin when fit and when presented with the right conditions.The enablers
For years Mashrafe and other senior Bangladesh bowlers had argued it is best to use pace in the last ten or 15 overs of an innings. When Mashrafe became captain, this became a guiding principle. An important enabling factor in making Bangladesh evolve from picking eight batsmen in their ODI XI into one that picked four fast bowlers was the all-round skills of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim. In those two, Bangladesh have two full batsmen, a front-line bowler and a wicketkeeper. Still, that hasn’t always been enough to justify picking four pace bowlers. They needed bowlers who could take wickets.Mashrafe himself had to work hard to remain fit, but his bowling has improved as he has grown older; he is subtle in his variations and most effective when he can swerve and cut the new ball. His captaincy has ensured that fast bowlers were given a fair run as a collective. When Mashrafe talks, people listen. Hathurusingha, likewise, is inclined to using pace.A little coaching help
There had been occasions in the past when the need for speed prompted the BCB to hire short- and long-term bowling coaches. Andy Roberts’ 2001 stint is usually credited with providing the final push in Mashrafe’s elevation into the Bangladesh team. Champaka Ramanayake, Bangladesh’s first full-time bowling coach after joining in 2008, is said to have encouraged the selectors to pick a raw Rubel, who reminded him of Lasith Malinga.Robiul Islam, who had a short stint as the leader of Bangladesh’s Test attack, learned to use his first-class experience in Test cricket thanks to Sarwar Imran and Shane Jurgensen. These two fine coaches were also important in Taskin’s growth. Jurgensen made sure Taskin played in the 2014 World T20 to get exposure; a couple of months later, he made his sensational ODI debut, with five against India.Taskin Ahmed (left) and Rubel Hossain: key cogs•BCBLast year the BCB hired Aaqib Javed for a short stint. The bowlers found him to be very well read, and approachable. There remains curiosity about whether Aaqib passed on vital tips on reverse swing, but the bowlers who worked with him were eager for more of what he offered.When Courtney Walsh joined last year, it was seen as the BCB acknowledging that the team needs a big name to guide them. Walsh agreeing to join was also validation from a legendary fast bowler that this was a pace attack that was challenging enough, with enough potential to work with, for his first international coaching job.The ones who fell by the wayside
There have been casualties on Bangladesh’s road to picking four fast bowlers. Some arrived with big reputations but crumbled in the face of international cricket’s relentless pressure, either physically or mentally. There were some whose bodies couldn’t handle the day-to-day stresses of bowling for a team that lacked teeth for a long time. A few couldn’t handle fame.Talha Jubair was one of the first whose frail body couldn’t take the toll of international cricket. He bowed out early, leaving Tapash Baisya to fend for the team in difficult circumstances. An unheralded pace bowler who had limited skills but a big heart, Baisya fell out of favour as soon as other attractive pace options became available. Syed Rasel didn’t last long; Nazmul Hossain succumbed to far too many injuries.Robiul too couldn’t quite replicate his superb Test series against Zimbabwe in 2013, eventually falling out of favour with country, club, and even his division in the first-class competition. Shahadat Hossain served for a while, but he was always seen as someone better suited to Tests (though the numbers don’t reflect such a notion).Mashrafe and Chandika Hathurusingha’s belief in the value of fast bowling has been crucial in Bangladesh adopting a pace-heavy bowling line-up•Getty ImagesBut in Taskin, Rubel and Musafizur, Bangladesh have an odd combination of bowlers that has clicked.Taskin is the city boy who became a YouTube sensation even before he played for Bangladesh. Rubel has seen it all, having been on the receiving end when Bangladesh lost the final in his first ODI series, in 2009. His difficulties in Tests, multiple injuries, and a constantly changing action held him back before he came out of his shell in the 2015 World Cup.Mustafizur too is now realising that the road isn’t smooth. Since fully recovering from his shoulder surgery in 2016, he has had good days and bad days. Against New Zealand in Cardiff, his last two spells showed that he was ready to sacrifice his natural ability in order to stop the batsmen from scoring too heavily.And then, of course, there’s Mashrafe, the leader who knows exactly when to praise his charges, and when to deliver a rocket. It is not that he meddles with his young pace attack, but he is close enough to know exactly when to speak to Rubel and Taskin, and when to leave Mustafizur alone to do what he does best.

Nathan Smith joins Worcestershire as overseas player

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

New Zealand allrounder signs for entirety of 2024 season at New Road

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jan-2024Nathan Smith, the 25-year-old New Zealand allrounder, has joined Worcestershire as an overseas player for the entirety of the 2024 season.Smith has yet to make his international debut, but has featured domestically for Otago Volts and Wellington Firebirds, claiming 105 first-class wickets at 27.65 and 1620 runs at 26.55, with on first-class century. His T20 attributes include 52 wickets at 21.59, and a career strike-rate of 122.”I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Worcestershire for the 2024 season,” Smith said. “The club’s rich history and commitment to developing talent make it an ideal environment for me to grow as a cricketer.”I’ve heard a lot of good things about the club from other Kiwis who have played at New Road recently, and I can’t wait to join up with the rest of the squad and hit the ground running.”Worcestershire’s head coach, Alan Richardson, added: “Nathan is a great character, and is a fantastic addition to our squad.”We have been monitoring him for some time, and his pace and ability to swing the ball will provide us with a significant boost in our bowling department.”He’s a genuine wicket-taker, can also contribute valuable runs down the order, and is an outstanding fielder, making him a real all-round threat.”We believe he’ll be a key player in our pursuit of success this season.”

Julian Alvarez is now urging Atletico Madrid to sign £69m Chelsea star

by z3u9t.icu Uncategorized

Atlético Madrid star Julian Alvarez is very keen for Diego Simeone to bring in one Chelsea star this summer, and has privately urged his club to do so, according to reports this week.

Enzo Maresca attracting criticism at Chelsea

Having led the club to just five wins from their last 16 Premier League games, it’s been a tough time for manager Enzo Maresca as of late, and this run of form has attracted criticism.

Chelsea now prepared to make "hefty" £68m offer for Malo Gusto alternative

The Frenchman has attracted criticism.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 17, 2025

While Maresca is believed to retain the backing of Chelsea’s board for now (The Mail), sections of supporters are starting to question the Italian’s leadership, with boos ringing around Stamford Bridge after their 2-1 defeat to Polish minnows Legia Warsaw in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.

Chelsea are in the Conference League semi-finals regardless, and remain firmly in contention to qualify for next season’s Champions League, but the manner of their recent performances are drawing some concern.

Speaking in a post-match press conference after their loss to Legia on Thursday, Maresca suggested he is fully aware of the dissatisfaction right now.

“No, for sure in terms of setback, for sure it’s a setback tonight for us, no doubt, first of all because we lost the game,” said Maresca.

Fulham (away)

April 20th

Everton (home)

April 26th

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 10th

Man United (home)

May 18th

“But I said yesterday, I think probably the other clubs, as you said, in this moment they can feel more confidence around them, not only Aston Villa, Newcastle, all the clubs around us, but this is football and can change very quickly, so it depends a lot on us. As I said, Sunday for us is one of the finals, and winning that game can give us a final boost to reach our target.

“So in this moment, you win games, you see yourself and you are very happy. If you don’t win, no-one is thinking that you can finish in the right way, but for me it’s just how we manage the emotion.”

Despite an electric start to the campaign, when many viewed Chelsea as potential title contenders, Maresca’s side remain very much a work in progress.

They’ll need their star players to step up and take a leading role during this transition phase, but one of them already is.

Julian Alvarez urges Atlético Madrid to sign Enzo Fernández from Chelsea

Club-record signing Enzo Fernandez is well and truly justifying his price tag right now, becoming an indisputable member of Maresca’s team with some outstanding performances throughout 2024/2025.

Maresca has entrusted the captain’s armband to him this term, with former Chelsea midfielder John Obi-Mikel praising Fernandez and stating he’s “becoming” a true leader at Cobham.

Some members of the media have even called the Argentine’s contribution “underrated”, but his quality isn’t lost on international teammate Alvarez, who is desperate for Atlético to strike a deal for the midfielder this summer.

That is according to reports out of Spain, which state that Alvarez has privately urged Atlético to sign Fernandez from Chelsea, amid claims the west Londoners will demand a minimum of £69 million to let him go.

However, it is believed that even this figure is beyond Atletico’s capabilities right now, so a transfer is unlikely, even if Maresca’s side entertained the notion of parting company.

After a tough start to life in west London, the player has now fully found his feet, with Fernandez even attracting praise from Lionel Messi during his time at Chelsea.

He'd be incredible with Cunha: Man Utd are in talks to sign a "monster" CM

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Ruben Amorim has a huge task on his hands this summer to try and make himself a success as Manchester United manager, with an overhaul of the squad desperately needed.

Despite their poor form in the Premier League throughout 2024/25, the 40-year-old has the opportunity to end the season on a high given their semi-final status in the Europa League.

Regardless of whether the Red Devils go all the way and win the competition, it can’t deflect from the fact that new signings and departures are needed to restore the club’s former glory.

Manchester United manager RubenAmorimbefore the match

However, it’s down to Amorim to sell the right players and decide who the key additions are to fill any of the gaps left by their sales to push them back in the right direction.

With the window rapidly approaching, the hierarchy have wasted no time in trying to conduct business, looking to make a quick start in their ambitions of improving the side.

The latest on United’s hunt for summer signings

A striker has been at the top of United’s shopping list in recent weeks, as seen by their pursuit of landing Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap ahead of the summer window.

It was reported at one stage that the 22-year-old was their top target for the centre-forward position, but their hunt appears to have switched to Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The hierarchy have already made contact to sign the Frenchman, looking to land a new talisman, with the 27-year-old being a good option given his tally of 14 league goals in 2024/25.

However, despite their hunt for attackers, a new midfielder is also on the agenda, with Atalanta star Ederson the latest player touted with a switch to Old Trafford.

According to Fabrizio Romano, reporting for GIVEMESPORT, the Red Devils are already in talks over a move for the Brazilian, potentially partnering one of his compatriots at the club should they secure deals for the pair.

Why Ederson would be perfect for Cunha at United

Wolves forward Matheus Cunha appears to be the club’s number one target this summer, that’s if the latest rumours are to be believed over his potential move.

It was confirmed in recent days that the two sides were in talks over a deal that would see Amorim’s men trigger the 25-year-old’s £62.5m release clause in his contract.

Such a deal would improve the options at the manager’s disposal, with his tally of 14 league goals undoubtedly handing United the added attacking threat they’ve craved.

He could be aided in his attempts by Ederson should he, too, move to the Theatre of Dreams, with the 25-year-old having all the tools to provide Cunha with opportunities in attacking areas.

The Brazilian, who’s been labelled as a “monster” by The Mirror’s Ryan Taylor, has starred in possession this campaign, registering a staggering 6.5 progressive passes per 90 – handing Cunha with the ammunition needed in attacking areas.

Games played

32

Goals & assists

5

Pass accuracy

87%

Progressive passes

6.5

Passes into final third

5.3

Passes into 18-yard box

1.3

Tackles won

1.5

Interceptions made

1.2

Aerials won

1.3

He’s also completed 5.3 passes into the final third at a completion rate of 87%, showcasing his impressive ability with the ball at his feet this year in Serie A.

Out of possession, Ederson has also impressed, winning 1.5 tackles per 90 and making 1.2 interceptions per game, having the ball-winning talents to be the perfect box-to-box option for Amorim.

If the side are to make the leap back up the league table in 2025/26, it’s pivotal that the board backs the manager in his quest to allow him to be a success in the role.

It’s unclear how much deals for Cunha and Ederson would set the hierarchy back in the upcoming window, but the pair are two additions that need to be made to improve the current situation.

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ByEthan Lamb Apr 25, 2025

New target: Derby plotting move for "fantastic" record-breaking speedster

by rastrear-estafeta.com Uncategorized

Derby County are now plotting a summer move for a record-breaking defender, whose contract is set to expire next month, according to a report.

Derby looking to kick on after final-day survival

After securing promotion back to the Championship in the 2023-24 campaign, Derby’s main aim last season was always likely to be avoiding the drop, and they just about managed to get the job done.

A goalless draw against Stoke City on the final day ensured the Rams will remain in the second tier for another season, with manager John Eustace taking the time to praise his players’ efforts after avoiding an instant return to League one.

“What a fantastic effort from everyone connected with the football club. The players have been outstanding every day in training they have dedicated themselves to getting to this moment and I couldn’t be any more proud of them.”

After securing their Championship status, however, Eustace’s side will be looking to kick on next season, and plans are being made for the summer, with the manager recently confirming he would like to sign loanee Nat Phillips on a permanent basis.

Alongside the centre-back, Derby could also look to make an addition at left-back, with a report from Football League World revealing they are now plotting a move for Charlton Athletic’s Thierry Small, whose contract is set to expire next month.

As such, Small could be available for a low fee, with compensation required seeing as the defender is just 20-years-old, although his current employers are still hopeful of keeping hold of him, should they secure promotion via the League One play-offs.

There is widespread interest in the youngster, with the Rams joined by Championship rivals Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers, Millwall and Oxford United in the race for his signature, having caught the eye in the third tier this season.

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ByRoss Kilvington Feb 3, 2025 Small could be "fantastic" long-term signing

Back in 2021, the left-back broke Jose Baxter’s record by becoming Everton’s youngest-ever player, and while he didn’t manage to kick on by becoming a regular starter for the Blues, there are signs he could be capable of reaching the Premier League.

The full-back has been a vital player for promotion-chasing Charlton this season, making 39 appearances in League 1, and he has proven himself to be useful on the front foot, picking up two goals and three assists.

Not only that, but Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie believes the starlet has “bags of potential”, while manager Nathan Jones has described him as a “fantastic athlete”, perhaps in part due to his pace.

Small’s performances in the third tier this season indicate he could be more than capable of making the step-up to the Championship soon, so it is promising news that Derby are now plotting a summer move.

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