Abhimanyu Easwaran’s unbeaten 151 took Rest of India (RoI) to 289 for 4 at the end of day three of the Irani Cup in Lucknow. But with Mumbai posting 537 in their first innings, RoI still have a mountain to climb.In the morning, Mumbai could add only one to their overnight 536 for 9. In the third over of the day, Mukesh Kumar knocked out Mohammad Juned Khan’s off stump for his fifth wicket of the innings, leaving Sarfaraz Khan unbeaten on 222.RoI had a somewhat nervy start but with Shardul Thakur unwell, Mumbai were forced to bring spin as early as in the sixth over. Juned provided the breakthrough by having RoI captain Ruturaj Gaikwad caught at second slip. RoI had only 40 runs on the board at that point but Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan stabilised them with an 87-run stand for the second wicket.Sudharsan, though, failed to convert his start and was lbw for 32 off Tanush Kotian after lunch. Devdutt Padikkal didn’t last long either and was caught behind for 16 off the bowling of Mohit Avasthi. It was a similar story for Ishan Kishan. He scored 38 before edging Avasthi to the wicketkeeper.By contrast, Easwaran was looking comfortable. He eased to his hundred off just 117 balls, even though only 38 runs had come in boundaries. He slowed down a bit after his hundred but Dhruv Jurel kept the scoreboard moving with an unbeaten 30 off 41 balls.In the penultimate over of the day, Easwaran brought up his 150, which was followed by Jurel hitting Kotian for a four and a six off successive balls. By stumps, the two had added 61 in an unbroken stand for the fifth wicket.
All you need to know about Australia's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Australia have now become a regular presence at the FIFA World Cup and will feature once again in the 2026 edition of the tournament, set to be held in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
In the previous edition in 2022, Australia managed to break the shackles and reach the Round of 16 after being drawn into a tough group with France, Denmark, and Tunisia. Despite a 4-1 loss to France, they secured impressive wins over both Denmark and Tunisia.
In the Round of 16 clash against eventual champions Argentina, Australia nearly pulled off a miraculous equalizer in the dying moments of the game. However, Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez came up clutch with a fantastic save, sending Argentina through to the quarter-finals with a narrow 2-1 win.
Before that, the Australians had only reached the knockout stage once, back in 2006.
Having already secured qualification for the showpiece event in 2026 alongside Iran, Uzbekistan, Japan, and South Korea from the Asian subcontinent, the Socceroos will be optimistic about making a deeper run in the tournament this time around.
(C)Getty Images
Goalkeepers
Between the sticks, Mathew Ryan is undoubtedly the first-choice goalkeeper for the Socceroos and is expected to retain that role at the World Cup next year. The veteran keeper brings a wealth of experience, having already featured in three World Cups for Australia.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s Joe Gauci recently completed his loan spell at Barnsley and is expected to become the main keeper for Villa if Emiliano Martinez departs. Young and talented, Gauci is likely to serve as the backup to Mathew Ryan at the showpiece event next year.
Player
Club
Mathew Ryan
AS Roma
Joe Gauci
Aston Villa
Patrick Beach
Melbourne City
Tom Glover
Middlesbrough
Paul Izzo
Randers FC
Advertisement
Getty Images Sport
Defenders
Australia's backline is well covered, with Alessandro Circati of Parma, Harry Souttar of Leicester City, and Cameron Burgess of Swansea forming an impressive back three that blends both talent and experience. Souttar, in particular, not only brings strong defensive abilities but also poses a threat in front of goal on set pieces.
The presence of Aziz Behich will also be an advantage for Australia. His experience makes him a valuable asset in the wider areas, especially in a three-at-the-back system.
Young Jordan Bos has been impressive since making his debut for the national team in 2023. Meanwhile, his brother Kasey Bos could also make the final squad, having recently completed a move to Mainz in the Bundesliga.
Player
Club
Alessandro Circati
Parma
Harry Souttar
Leicester City
Jake Girdwood-Reich
St. Louis City
Cameron Burgess
Swansea
Jordan Bos
Westerlo
Jacob Farrell
Portsmouth
Ryan Strain
Dundee United
Kai Trewin
Melbourne City
Kasey Bos
Mainz
Aziz Behich
Melbourne City
Kye Rowles
DC United
Milos Degenek
TSC
Lewis Miller
Hibernian FC
Getty Images Sport
Midfielders
Similar to the defense, Australia have a well-balanced midfield. Ryan Teague, who recently joined KV Mechelen from Melbourne City, has impressed under Tony Popovic since making his national team debut in 2025. Teague has quickly become an important part of the squad and will play a key role in holding the midfield for the Socceroos alongside Aiden O'Neill. Their presence in the middle will also allow full-backs like Aziz Behich and Lewis Miller to push forward in a three-at-the-back system.
Other players like Patrick Yazbek, Riley McGree, and Anthony Caceres have also shown promise and will be responsible for driving the offensive play from midfield. Bayern Munich’s Nestory Irankunda is another exciting young talent who could find himself in the starting XI at the World Cup next year.
Player
Club
Ryan Teague
KV Mechelen
Riley McGree
Middlesbrough
Patrick Yazbek
Nashville
Anthony Caceres
Macarthur FC
Aiden O'Neill
New York City
Alex Robertson
Cardiff City
Nestory Irankunda
Bayern Munich
Ethan Alagich
Adelaide United
Getty Images Sport
Attackers
In attack, Martin Boyle and Connor Metcalfe have both been influential under Popovic's leadership and are expected to continue their form on the biggest stage next year. Boyle’s vast experience will be crucial, while the young Metcalfe offers creativity and control from the middle of the park.
Mitchell Duke, who currently plays for Machida Zelvia in the J1 League, is another seasoned figure in the Australian squad and could play an important role in the number nine position for the Socceroos.
Jamie Maclaren, Mohamed Toure, Daniel Arzani, and Brandon Borrello are also strong options in the attacking department and could make a significant impact coming off the bench.
Bjorn Fortuin named as replacement, with Maharaj to be assessed ahead of first Test starting December 26
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Dec-2024South Africa left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing ODI series against Pakistan. According to a media release, “scans revealed a left adductor strain”, with Maharaj having suffered the injury during warm-ups ahead of the first ODI on Tuesday.South Africa have named Bjorn Fortuin as a like-for-like replacement for Maharaj for the second and third ODIs against Pakistan.Maharaj had limped off just before the toss for the first game, and was last moment replaced by pace-bowling allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo in South Africa’s XI. The release further stated that Maharaj will be returning home to Durban “for rehabilitation and will be reassessed ahead of the first Test against Pakistan”.Maharaj’s injury adds to an already lengthy list of missing bowlers for South Africa. The hosts are already without Anrich Nortje (fractured toe), Gerald Coetzee (groin), Lungi Ngidi (hip), Nandre Burger (lower back), and Wiaan Mulder (broken finger). Moreover, Maharaj recently bowled South Africa to a final-day win against Sri Lanka in the second Test in Gqeberha, bagging 5 for 76 to trigger a batting collapse.In Maharaj’s absence, South Africa have spin-bowling options in Dane Piedt and Senuran Muthusamy to choose from for the Test series against Pakistan.Those with an outside chance of making it to the side include batting allrounder Neil Brand, who bowls left-arm spin, and had toured New Zealand earlier this year; legspinner Shaun von Berg, who also made his debut on the same tour; and left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, although he had last played first-class cricket in 2021.The first Test of the two-match series against Pakistan begins in Centurion on December 26. South Africa are one win away from making it to the final of the World Test Championship, where they are currently placed at No. 1 in the points table.
Aston Villa couldn’t turn down an offer of around £71m for Jhon Duran in January. The striker may have scored 12 goals in just 29 games for the club, but only seven of those appearances came in the starting XI.
It was unlikely the Colombian was going to usurp Ollie Watkins as Unai Emery’s main man.
While it made financial sense to sell, Watkins remains the only senior centre-forward at the club heading into the summer transfer market.
The Spaniard must bring in another one or two options in this department, especially if he wishes to lead the club to the Champions League once again.
Could he be targeting a young sensation who has enjoyed a fabulous season?
Aston Villa target Spanish centre-forward
A host of attacking players have been targeted recently. Tyler Dibling, the Southampton winger, has been linked with a big-money move to Villa.
Jadon Sancho is another wide option that Emery is showing interest in. Both of these talents would bolster the club’s wide options, but it is a more central player that the manager is desperate for.
According to Caught Offside, Villa are now chasing a move for FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa.
The Spaniard has spent a single season with the Portuguese giants, but his performances have certainly caught the eye of potential suitors.
They don’t appear in a rush to sell their prized asset, who has a release clause of €100m (£85m) inserted into his current deal.
Despite that, further reports from Spanish publication, Sport, suggest that they have already approached Porto to figure out whether a deal could be done.
Why Aston Villa must sign Samu Aghehowa this summer
Young, an eye for a goal and a desire to succeed in the Premier League. Aghehowa might just be the club’s next Duran.
While Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio came in for the final few months of the season, the club missed the goals and impact of Duran, particularly during the final 30 minutes of games.
Well, Aghehowa scored 25 goals across 42 games for Porto last term, a more than impressive return, especially given it was his debut season at the club.
FC Porto's SamuOmorodioncelebrates scoring their first goal
The striker, who was described as “one of Europe’s most prolific players” by talent scout Jacek Kulig last season, also registered 2.7 shots per game in the league last term, while he also achieved a goal conversion percentage of 23% for Porto.
Put simply, once he gets the ball in the box, the youngster scores more often than not, just as Duran did. He would get more of a chance at Villa than the South American, however, despite Watkins’ stature as the main centre-forward.
Samu Aghehowa’s stats for Porto last season
Metric
League
Europa League
Goals
19
6
Assists
3
0
Goal conversion percentage
23%
33%
Scoring frequency
119 minutes
228 minutes
Shots per game
2.7
2
Via Sofascore
Much will depend on the fee Porto are demanding for their star player, but if it is affordable, then Emery must make this deal a priority.
If he manages to lure Aghehowa to the Premier League, he could sparkle for Villa next season and beyond.
Aston Villa join battle for "fantastic" midfielder in cut-price £8m deal
The Royals captain looks ahead to the second half of the IPL season
As told to Nagraj Gollapudi20-Sep-2021Now that India’s selection for the T20 World Cup is done, at least that will not be a distraction any longer and I can now devote all my focus and energies towards the IPL. I will confess that it was very disappointing to not be selected. Playing for India and playing in the World Cup is a great dream for all players and I was very much looking forward to that.As the cliché goes, selection is not in a player’s control, so it is very important to stay focused on what you control and where you are as a player. You need to have that maturity in your thinking.We are resuming the tournament after a four-month break, so it feels like a new season. The mood in the Rajasthan Royals camp is like we are starting another IPL. We also have had a few changes in our squad. So that too makes it feel like a new tournament for us. Overall it is good to come in with that mindset regardless of what happened in the first phase.Related
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IPL 2021 returns: Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, KKR and Sunrisers Hyderabad look to turn fortunes around
The break has also allowed us to not just recoup our energies but also review our ideas and strategy going into the second half. The key points me and Sanga have spoken about are mainly about the roles individuals can play and about the combinations.Playing this format, one has to understand the margin of error is very small. You can’t really blame your players or your team. The only things you can take care of are the mindset you go in with and the intent and attitude the players display in the games.I am aware that one of the areas that the Royals have been inconsistent in is the middle order, and the numbers will say as much. So we can’t deny that is a weakness.To score quickly in that phase, you need to have your best batters around. That doesn’t mean I’m saying that I want to drop anchor at one end. In T20 you have to show intent every ball and play your shots, and not think that you can sit back, play it safe in the powerplay and then score in the middle overs. You have to take good decisions as a batter to play a lot of overs, but equally, not miss scoring opportunities.Luckily, if I am not wrong – and you can look up the numbers – Royals have finished powerfully in the death overs with the bat. So if you have enough wickets in hand or your best batters around, you will more often than not come up with a powerful finish.ESPNcricinfo LtdKeeping that in mind, I am very happy and excited that we once again have got Liam Livingstone, who has been hammering bowling attacks off late. We have seen glimpses of his attacking strokeplay for Royals before but this time we would like to give him more opportunities, give him the freedom to express himself, without assigning him a specific role. For him and other batters, we want to keep options open. We’ll have chats with the players and figure what kind of role they want, and then the final call will be taken by the team management.One other potential weak area people from outside point at is our death bowling. The stats will say we are nowhere near the best, but I am not bothered by that. If you are only conceding ten or 11 runs in each of the final four overs, it is actually not a very bad run rate at the death.Last year in the UAE we finished eighth. So any improvement would be good. But in my first huddle with the Royals family this year I made it clear that while the goal is to win the championship, we need to focus on our process, on our preparation, and take it one match at a time. We give everything out there. I don’t mind if we end up at No. 8 again, but I want everyone to go all out. No matter who the opposition is, I want to see that attitude in your eyes and your body language. We are going for the kill – die or win. As simple as that. No one is holding back. I said that I wanted that commitment from each and every one.We are a young IPL team and the brand of cricket I want my team now to play is to fight and succeed. Of our remaining seven matches this season we have to win as many as possible. The goal is not to qualify for the playoffs but to win the championship.
Tottenham Hotspur are in the market for another new forward this summer after sealing a permanent deal for Mathys Tel, with Thomas Frank reportedly eager to reinforce his brand-new squad ahead of the tactician’s debut campaign in the Champions League.
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It will be Frank’s first-ever season managing in Europe’s most illustrious competition, and far more eyes will be on the Dane in comparison to his successful stint at mid-table Brentford.
The pressure that comes with leading a ‘big six’ side will be very new to the 51-year-old, but it is something that Frank will need to take in his stride over the course of this three-year contract.
“Thomas Frank has done a brilliant job at Brentford, but this is a whole different kettle of fish,” said BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Chris Sutton.
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
“Because of the expectation at Tottenham, Frank won’t get time to get his feet under the table. He will be under pressure from the off. Postecoglou has just won them their first major European trophy for 41 years and has gone. So already you have to wonder what does Frank need to do this season to keep his job?
“The aim for Frank will be to keep them in the Champions League, and whether that is by making the top four or five, that is not going to be easy. That is a big ask for this squad, to compete on both fronts. We know this Tottenham team is better than 17th place, because they finished fifth in Postecoglou’s first year, but other Premier League teams have improved since then.”
Above all, Frank will need backing in the transfer market, and their indefinite deal for Tel simply won’t be enough.
Son’s very possible move to Saudi Arabia, which would put an end to his legendary 10-year stay at N17, has exacerbated Frank’s need for another proven winger, with Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo among their key targets in that regard.
Tottenham make contact over signing Antoine Semenyo
Tottenham have already been tipped to make a £65 million bid for Semenyo, but that won’t be enough, as journalist Pete O’Rourke explains to Football Insider this week.
According to the reporter, Spurs have made contact over a deal for Semenyo, with the Cherries having placed a £70 million valuation on their star front man. However, if Frank’s side meet this price tag and make the Ghanaian their club-record signing, Bournemouth are confident they can sign a “swift” replacement and have a “contingency plan” in place.
O’Rourke adds that there is a “real possibility” that Bournemouth could lose Semenyo amid Spurs’ approach, and he could be their fourth high-profile exit of the window after Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez and potentially Illia Zabarnyi, who’s in advanced talks to join PSG.
The 25-year-old bagged 13 goals and seven assists in all competitions last season, playing a decent mixture of roles on the left and right-hand side.
Semenyo’s versatility and proven Premier League experience would be invaluable for Frank, but Daniel Levy will need to dig deep into his pockets.
India captain was all praise for Washington Sundar but he also said he sees Ashwin and Jadeja “playing a huge role in the rest of the series”
Alagappan Muthu05-Dec-20244:56
Rohit: ‘Rahul probably deserves the opening slot at this point in time’
Rohit Sharma, who has usually opened the batting for India in Test cricket since 2019, has confirmed that he will be moving down the order for the day-night Test match against Australia in Adelaide. His reasoning suggested it might be a temporary measure, but it is clear that KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal have done too well as an opening pair, adding 201 in the second innings of the Perth Test to set up India’s victory, to be separated immediately. That means even though Rohit is the captain of the side, he needs to make an adjustment and play out of position.”How I came to that decision of batting down the order is because we want results, we want success,” Rohit said on Thursday. “And those two guys at the top – just looking at this one Test match – they batted brilliantly. I was at home with my newborn in my arms and I was watching how KL batted. It was brilliant to watch, to be honest.”And I felt that there’s no need to change that now. Maybe in the future things will be different, I don’t know. So based on what has happened and what KL has shown outside of India, he probably deserves that place at this point.Related
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“It is something that has given us success in the first Test. To have that big partnership with Jaiswal on the other side probably won us the Test.”Rahul might not have got a century but he was excellent across both innings in Perth. Jaiswal did get a century, bouncing back from a duck in the first innings, and was feeling so good in the middle that he was happy to point out that Mitchell Starc was coming on too slowly and Nathan Lyon might be a legend but was getting old. India made 487 for 6 declared and won by 295 runs.”When you come to a place like Perth and you get 500-odd runs, it’s a massive tick in the box,” Rohit said. “What I saw from the outside looked brilliant and there was no need to change anything.”KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal put up 201 in the second innings in Perth•AFP/Getty Images
Just as he was winding up his answer, Rohit offered a window into how the team wants to operate whether they win, lose or draw. They do not seem to bow to stature as much as they have previously been perceived to. Here, for example, the captain was giving up his spot to Rahul, who played only one of the three matches in their previous Test series.”It was actually pretty simple for me,” Rohit said. “Personally, not easy, but for the team, it made a lot of sense.”Team-first is the philosophy that fuelled India into picking the XI they played with in Perth because it meant leaving two men with a combined 800-plus Test wickets out.”It’s always hard to leave out experienced players like [Ravindra] Jadeja and [R] Ashwin. But I think the decision was made for whatever was best for the team at that particular time.”Rohit on R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja: “I certainly see them playing a huge role in the rest of the series”•AFP/Getty Images
In Canberra, India’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar spoke highly of the two spinners for taking the decision well. Ashwin made his way onto the field just as his replacement Washington Sundar was about to begin his spell and, having tended to his duties as 12th man, he made sure to go up to the bowler for a quick chat before leaving the field.It was 37°C on the eve of the match and the Adelaide pitch was kept under the covers to protect it from the heat. Chances of thundershowers that were forecast for the first day have also receded and the mercury is set to keep soaring, which could possibly bring spin into the picture even with the pink ball. Ashwin was seen working on his batting with head coach Gautam Gambhir sending him throwdowns.”I certainly see them playing a huge role in the rest of the series,” Rohit said about Ashwin and Jadeja, “because what they bring to the table can never be written off.” And about Washington, he said, “We have seen what he can do with the ball, with the bat. He’s got a solid technique to play anywhere in the world. And when such guys are in the team, you get confidence. And with Washy especially, now I just hope that he stays away from injury and doesn’t get injured. Because a player like him is always valuable to our squad. [He] gives us that balance, that depth that a team always requires. So with Washy, I can see his graph from here going up only.”Rohit talked up the young batters in his side too. He was asked to explain how Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant have been able to find success overseas very early in their careers.”The youngsters nowadays are fearless. They don’t carry any baggage. Jaiswal, Gill, Pant – these are the cricketers of a different generation,” Rohit said. “When we had come to Australia for the first time, the only thing in our minds used to be how to score runs. We would put extra pressure on ourselves. But every generation is different. Today’s players are bold and fearless, and perhaps this is working in their favour.”Whenever I talk to them, they have only one thing in their mind: how to win the match. They don’t think of how I would score a hundred or a double-hundred. When you start thinking like that, the individual performances take care of themselves. Because if you have to win, you will have to perform – and that happens automatically. If your primary focus is how to win matches, series, tournaments, then the big runs these guys make that is secondary.”If they are not able to contribute with the bat, they think what they can do in fielding, or bowling. So the guys these days think like this, which is a very, very good thing. I don’t know if someone talks to them about it, tells them. But this is their natural mindset when they come for a tour – their mindset is how to win the match.”
The security assessment became necessary because of the political turmoil in Bangladesh in July-August
ESPNcricinfo staff30-Sep-2024South Africa’s two-Test series in Bangladesh will be played on schedule, with CSA okaying the tour following a security assessment by its experts. The first Test will be played from October 21-25 in Dhaka, and the second in Chattogram from October 29 to November 2.A CSA statement on Monday said that it had given the tour the go-ahead after “an in-loco inspection” on the part of the board’s operations manager, team security manager, safety and security consultant, and a representative of the South African Cricketers’ Association, who submitted their recommendations to the board after visiting Bangladesh last week.South Africa will reach Dhaka on October 16. The squad for the series is expected later on Monday.Bangladesh vs South Africa
Oct 21-25: 1st Test, Dhaka Oct 29 to Nov 2: 2nd Test, Chattogram
South Africa’s concerns about the security situation in Bangladesh were because of the anti-government protests in the country in July-August, which led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, and, later, the women’s T20 World Cup moving out of the country to the UAE.CSA sources had told ESPNcricinfo earlier this month that they had been told the situation in Bangladesh had “settled”, but the tour wouldn’t go on if any risks were identified in the security assessments.South Africa only have six Test matches left in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle. They have already played six games, having won two, lost three, and drawn one. They are currently sixth on the points table, and need to win at least five of their remaining games to have a chance of qualifying for next year’s final at Lord’s. All six of their series in this cycle have been limited to two Tests, as CSA prioritised the launch of the SA20, their domestic T20 franchise competition, and cost-cutting.The last time South Africa and Bangladesh had faced each other in a Test series was in South Africa in March-April 2022. South Africa’s white-ball squads are currently in the UAE to take on Ireland.
تحدث أوليفر جلاسنر مدرب فريق كريستال بالاس، قبل مواجهة ليفربول المقرر خوضها غدًا الأربعاء في بطولة كأس رابطة الأندية الإنجليزية.
وقال جلاسنر عن جاهزية فريقه في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي”: “بكل صراحة، الوضع جيد جدًا، لدينا مشكلة واحدة فقط، كريس ريتشاردز يعاني من مشكلة بسيطة في ربلة الساق، لذا لن يسافر معنا إلى ليفربول غدًا”.
وأضاف مدرب كريستال بالاس: “جميع اللاعبين الآخرين بخير وتعافوا جيدًا، أظهر اللاعبون جاهزيتهم في المباراة الماضية أمام آرسنال، ويمكنهم محاولة إدراك التعادل حتى صافرة النهاية، لذا يبدو الوضع إيجابيًا”.
وأشار جلاسنر: “سيبدأ جايدي كانفوت ووالتر بينيتيز أساسيين، إنها ليست هبة، إنهما يستحقانها، جايدي، تحدثتُ إليه وقلتُ له إنني لا أهتم (بخطأه ضد لارنكا الأسبوع الماضي)، إنه جزء من كرة القدم”.
وواصل: “لقد فاز في العديد من المواجهات الثنائية، وهو يُبلي بلاءً حسنًا في التدريب، نحن نثق به، ولهذا السبب سيبدأ غدًا في الثلاثي الدفاعي، والتر كذلك، إنه يُبلي بلاءً حسنًا في التدريب، ويستحق الحصول على بعض الدقائق أيضًا”.
اقرأ أيضًا | بعد إصابة كارفاخال.. موقف أرنولد من مباراة ليفربول وريال مدريد
وتعليقًا على أداء النادي مؤخرًا، أفاد: “لقد حصدنا نقطة واحدة، هذا صحيح، لم يكن أداؤنا الأفضل، لكننا لم نتراجع في أدائنا مقارنةً بالمباريات السابقة، شاهدنا مباراة آرسنال سابقًا، ومنحناهم هدفين، وتسديدتين من اللعب المفتوح على مدار 100 دقيقة في ملعب الإمارات، نعم، كانوا أفضل منا في الكرات الثابتة، ولهذا السبب فازوا بالمباراة”.
وبخصوص أداء ليفربول الأخير، علّق: “هناك بعض علامات الاستفهام، لا نعرف من سيلعب، عادةً ما يُغيرون التشكيلة كثيرًا في كأس رابطة الأندية الإنجليزية المحترفة، لديهم بعض الشكوك بسبب الإصابات، لكن أسلوب لعبهم لن يتغير كثيرًا”.
Birmingham City’s summer spending has now officially kicked into gear.
A spree of new signings at St. Andrew’s has finally gone through after plenty of heated transfer conversation, with Demarai Gray and Bright Osayi-Samuel both joining on free transfers, alongside James Beadle and Tommy Doyle entering the building on loan.
The pick of the bunch, however, was reportedly splashing out £10m to land former Celtic star Kyogo Furuhashi from Rennes.
Still, there will be plenty of intrigue from Birmingham fans about the number of other signings made in quick succession away from just their new Japanese ace, with lots expected from Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Doyle in particular, who has excelled near the top of the Championship previously.
Why Doyle is an exciting signing for Birmingham
Indeed, Doyle – whilst he has found the Premier League to be his more recent permanent home with Wolves – has lit up the second tier regularly when competing there.
Playing for both Cardiff City and Sheffield United on loan, Doyle would let loose with an impressive tally of five goals and seven assists coming his way from 57 Championship outings, which included a fine free-kick being floated home to help the Blades in their pursuit of promotion during the 2022/23 campaign.
His standout Bluebirds loan stint would even see scout Jacek Kulig brand the 23-year-old as “superb” as the ex-Manchester City youth product now looks to dust himself down after an up-and-down patch of his Old Gold career to try and get back to his second-tier peak with Davies and Co.
He might well be joined by some additional competition very soon if rumours are to be believed, as Birmingham’s busy summer activity shows no signs of relenting.
Tommy Doyle
Birmingham could sign another "special" star
All competition for places will be seen as healthy next season, with Davies wanting the best possible squad he can to ruffle some Championship feathers.
Landing the services of Lewis O’Brien would be viewed as a statement in the middle of the park for sure, with journalist Darren Witcoop revealing, whilst writing for TEAMTalk last week, that the ambitious Blues still are keen on adding the wantaway Nottingham Forest man to their ranks, even with Doyle now at their disposal.
A deal would have to be won right from under Wrexham’s nose, with reports suggesting that the Red Dragons had agreed a £5m fee for the ex-Huddersfield Town man’s signature, only for wages to be an unfortunate stumbling block.
This unforeseen hurdle for Phil Parkinson’s men could see Birmingham come out on top for the seasoned Championship professional instead, with O’Brien even more of a well-versed presence than Doyle as to what it takes to become a top battler in such a difficult and taxing division.
Games
38
42
43
23
16
Goals
2
3
3
0
1
Assists
4
3
3
1
0
Touches*
50.6
58.0
56.7
54.8
56.6
Accurate passes*
24.4 (77%)
30.8 (77%)
29.5 (78%)
36.8 (87%)
30.1 (76%)
Big chances created
5
6
4
2
2
Tackles*
3.2
2.0
2.2
1.7
1.9
Total duels won*
6.1
5.8
7.5
4.0
6.1
Looking at the table above, it’s clear that the Forest outcast excels when plying his trade in the Championship as a well-rounded presence in the middle, with O’Brien desperate to get back to his Terriers best if he dons Birmingham blue shortly, as seen in him winning an imperious 7.5 duels on per Championship clash during Huddersfield’s promotion near-miss during the 2021/22 season.
Like Doyle, he has the goals and assists to back up his tenaciousness, with 20 goal contributions and counting next to his name at the daunting level. His midfield counterpart can only boast 12, on the contrary.
Once even hailed as a “special” player by his former Huddersfield boss in Carlos Corberan, this might well be the signing that makes those tipping Birmingham for greatness more secure in the fact they can challenge for those promotion spots, as Davies aims to deliver back-to-back promotions to please the St. Andrew’s masses even more.
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