The Champions Cup match drew many celebrities to BMO Stadium as LAFC beat the Herons 1-0
Jenner spotted alongside Ramirez, Patty Rodriguez and Becky G
Cristo Fernandez and Jamie Camil also seen celebrating with fans
LAFC defeats Inter Miami 1-0 with a goal from Nathan Ordaz
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LAFC hosted Inter Miami in the first leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal, with a host of celebrities in attendance. The match saw LAFC emerge victorious with a 1-0 win, courtesy of a 57th-minute goal by Nathan Ordaz.
Kendall Jenner, Patty Rodriguez, and Danny Ramirez were spotted among the crowd, while Ted Lasso actor Cristo Fernandez and Mexican star Jamie Camil were seen celebrating the goal with LAFC fans.
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This match was more than just a soccer game; it was a cultural event that brought together stars from various fields. The crowd of 22,207 fans at BMO Stadium included not only Hollywood celebrities but also sports icons like Stephen Curry, showcasing the international interest in the competition.
The match also marked Inter Miami's first defeat of the 2025 season and set the stage for an intense second leg at Miami.
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The two teams will meet again for the second leg in Miami on April 9, with Inter Miami looking to overturn the 1-0 deficit. Prior to that, Inter Miami will host Toronto FC on April 6 at the Chase Stadium while LAFC will go on the road to face the Houston Dynamo on the same day.
The world’s richest cricket league has just got a lot richer. The IPL’s blockbuster media rights auction will net a potential INR 48,390.5 crore (US$ 6.2 billion approx.) in the next five years, making the league among the wealthiest in the world of sports.Disney Star* has retained the TV rights in the subcontinent for INR 23,575 crore (US$ 3 billion approx.), while Viacom 18 secured the digital rights in the same region and media rights (both TV and digital) across three global regions – Australia + New Zealand, the UK and South Africa – for INR 23,758 crore (US$ 3 billion approx). Media rights for two other global regions – the Middle East (INR 205 crore/US$ 26.27 million approx.) and the USA (INR 258 crore/US$ 33.06 million approx.) – go to Times Internet.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Broken down further, Disney Star will pay INR 57.5 crore (US$ 7.36 million approx.) per match, while Viacom 18, who won the subcontinental digital rights for all matches at Rs 50 crore (US$ 6.40 million approx.) a match, and then committed another INR 33.24 crore (US$ 4.26 million approx.) per match for a non-exclusive package of high-profile games (ranging between 18 and 22 matches), will effectively end up paying just over INR 58 crore (US$ 7.43 million approx.) per match. Throw in the global numbers, and the IPL is now behind only the NFL in per-match value.The overall deal for the 2023-27 cycle is 2.96 times or 196% higher than the previous IPL rights deal (2018-22) of INR 16,347.5 crore (at the time US$ 2.55 billion approx). The previous cycle comprised 60 matches per season for five years. For the new five-year cycle the IPL has listed a varying number of matches per season ranging from 74 games each in 2023 and ’24, 84 matches each in 2025 and ’26, and a maximum of 94 matches for the final year of the deal in 2027.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
The rights were sold via an e-auction, which began on Sunday, June 12. Rights were sold across four categories: A (TV rights in the Indian subcontinent), B (digital rights in the subcontinent), C (digital rights in India to a special package of high-profile games – including the playoffs and the final – ranging between 18 and 22 per season) and D (global media rights across five separate regions).This is the second time the BCCI used an e-auction to sell rights, having introduced it for the first time in 2018 for the sale of India’s bilateral cricket rights. Back then Star India had bagged the global media rights for Indian cricket in a five-year deal (2018-23) worth INR 6138 crore (at the time US$ 944 million approx.). The average cost per match was about INR 60 crore (at the time US$ 9.2 million approx.), which is nearly half that of the IPL’s per-match value in this cycle.Apart from the obvious windfall for the BCCI, the blockbuster deal will provide a huge cash bonanza to the IPL franchises, whose share of central revenue is set to rise to nearly INR 500 crore each.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Digital rights in high demand In this rights cycle, digital rights have exceeded the value of TV and have been the biggest driver of growth in the value of the IPL rights. The winning bid for the digital rights in the subcontinent alone was 13% higher than the overall bid Star India had made to win the global consolidated rights [TV and digital] in 2017. The importance and the rapid rise of the digital footprint in the Indian market can be gauged from the fact that in 2017, the highest bid for the digital rights was INR 3900 crore (US$ 0.61 billion approx.), by Facebook. [Despite that high bid, Star had pipped Facebook to the digital rights with its consolidated offer.]The highest bid for the TV rights in the subcontinent was 17.3% higher than the per-match base price of INR 49 crore (US$ 6.3 million approx.) the IPL had set for it. The corresponding number for digital rights in the region saw a massive jump of 51.5% higher than the per-match base price of INR 33 crore (US$ 4.2 million approx.). Package C – digital rights in India to select high-profile games – escalated from a base price of INR 16 crore (US$ 2.05 million approx.) per match to INR 33.24 crore (US$ 4.26 million approx.), a rise of nearly 108%.BCCI secretary Jay Shah said the trends reflected the transition to digital viewership. “There were approximately 560 million digital viewers in 2017 and 665 million in 2021. You expect it to grow even more in the coming years,” he told PTI. “By 2024, there will be 900 million internet users in India. Obviously linear viewership (TV) will remain but there is a transition towards digital viewership and that’s how you realise the value.”Rebecca Campbell, chairman – international content and operations at the Walt Disney Company, said of Disney Star’s focus on television rights over digital: “We made disciplined bids with a focus on long-term value. We chose not to proceed with the digital rights given the price required to secure that package.”We will be exploring other multiplatform cricket rights, including future rights for ICC and BCCI, which we currently hold through the 2023 and 2024 seasons respectively.”*ESPNcricinfo and Disney Star are part of the Walt Disney Company.
For the second time this week, Manchester United suffered a Premier League defeat, this time a 3-2 loss at the hands of Nottingham Forest.
Previously, that is not a sentence one can say since Erik ten Hag’s final game in charge of the club at the end of October, but Ruben Amroim’s team put in a poor performance once again.
The Red Devils conceded in the second minute of the game. It was a corner that proved to be their kryptonite once again after the two goals Arsenal scored from those situations on Wednesday. Nikola Milenkovic rose higher than any United defender to nod the visitors into an early lead.
It was Rasmus Hojlund who pulled United level just 16 minutes later. The Dane showed excellent striker’s instinct to follow in Alejandro Garnacho’s rebounded shot to make the score 1-1, and it remained that way at half-time.
Just as they did in the first half, Forest began the second 45 minutes with an early goal. Morgan Gibbs-White’s 47th-minute long-range strike somehow found its way past Andre Onana. Seven minutes later, Chris Wood scored a header which was bizarrely left by Lisandro Martinez and nestled into the back of the net.
Bruno Fernandes managed to pull one back for the Red Devils, but they ultimately slipped to another defeat. There were certainly some disappointing performances from Amorim’s side.
United’s worst performers vs. Forest
It was a really dismal day for several players, but Onana was someone who particularly struggled. He has been impressive so far this term with six clean sheets to his name, but the former Ajax goalkeeper struggled against the East Midlands side.
The Cameroonian goalkeeper was really poor for Gibbs-White’s strike from outside of the box. There was minimal movement on the shot but Onana was wrong-footed and the ball could only clip his outstretched leg on the way in. For Wood’s header, he was in no-man’s land and could not get anywhere near the ball.
He received a 3/10 rating from The Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst. He was critical of Onana and said he ‘committed a howler’ for the first goal. After a good season so far, it was a day to forget.
Martinez also had a tough day at the office. His part in Forest’s third was disappointing. He left Wood’s headed effort as though it was going wide, but instead, it glanced off the post and nestled into the net. Luckhurst gave the Argentine a 4/10, explaining that ‘sloppiness crept into his game’ after some good performances.
It was certainly a poor day for United’s defence, and Diogo Dalot, who played higher up the pitch, was another player who did not perform well.
Dalot’s stats vs. Forest
Operating at left wing-back for the stormy affair at Old Trafford, Dalot had little impact on the game as a whole. He struggled with his crossing once more and wasted a key chance at the end of the game. With United in a good position and bodies ahead of him, Dalot chose to take on an ambitious shot rather than find a pass.
The United number 20’s stats from the game, courtesy of Sofascore, certainly suggest it was a tough day at the office. He had 75 touches and a pass accuracy of 84%, losing the ball an outrageous 20 times and failing to complete any of his nine crosses. Off the ball, Dalot committed three fouls and won six from nine duels.
Stat
Number
Touches
75
Pass accuracy
84%
Passes completed
38/45
Crosses completed
0/9
Number of times possession lost
20
Duels won
6/9
Fouls committed
3
Luckhurst gave the Portugal international a 4/10, just as he gave Martinez. He explained that the wing-back was ‘busy yet ineffectual’ down the left flank, pointing out his poor crosses and noting it is ‘difficult to think of a pinpoint delivery’.
It is certainly a surprise that Dalot did not get substituted. Noussair Mazraoui came on for Leny Yoro around the hour mark, but he could have easily slotted into left wing-back. Tyrell Malacia is beginning to regain fitness and could also have come on to replace the former Porto man.
Tyrell Malacia
It will be interesting to see if Dalot keeps his place in the side for United’s next assignment, a trip to Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League, or the next Premier League game; the Manchester derby.
Amorim asks Man Utd to complete double Portuguese swoop to commence rebuild
Arsenal are now stepping up talks to add an emergency forward to their ranks in January as they look to bolster Mikel Arteta’s options in attack for the second half of the Premier League season, according to a fresh report.
Arsenal in need of goals
A sixth draw of the season laid Arsenal’s goalscoring problems bare for Arteta, as his side could not find a way past Everton in front of a frustrated home crowd. The Gunners managed just 1.22 expected goals and mustered just five shots on target against Sean Dyche’s side, who sit down in 16th place in the Premier League table.
Kai Havertz
5
Bukayo Saka
5
Leandro Trossard
3
Gabriel
3
Gabriel Martinelli
3
Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz lead the Arsenal goalscoring charts with five apiece. Of clubs across the Premier League, players at 12 different clubs can better that tally already, while Arsenal’s 29 goals scored is only good enough to make them the fifth-highest goalscorers in the division.
It is clear that something needs to change for Arsenal to return to their freescoring form of recent campaigns, despite their excellent record at set-pieces, and reinforcements could be looked at in January in a bid to do so, with summer addition Raheem Sterling yet to have an impact at his new club.
The club have been linked with the likes of Alexander Isak, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko in recent months, but now a fresh report claims that they are eyeing up another temporary solution in a bid to keep their powder dry for the summer.
Arsenal target "complete" striker in January
That is according to TBR Football, who claim that Mikel Arteta’s side have “stepped up” talks to sign Paris Saint Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani on loan in January as they look to find a solution to their striker woes.
Though he only joined the Parisian side in the summer of 2023, things have not worked out for the French international at the Parc des Princes, and Luis Enrique is now willing to let him leave in January, with the 26-year-old left out of the squad in their most recent 2-1 win over Lyon.
He remains a top prospect though, with Kylian Mbappé labelling him “very complete” after one impressive outing for Les Bleus against the Netherlands. Now, he could be Premier League bound, with the report claiming that both Arsenal and Manchester United are showing interest in a loan move after initially turning down the opportunity.
Kolo Muani himself wants to move to England, it is claimed, while PSG are “willing to sanction a loan move with an option to buy in the future”, which could appeal to interested parties given the lack of financial obligation required.
For Arsenal, “the idea of landing Kolo Muani on loan in January does appeal to the club” given Jesus’ struggles with form and fitness in recent seasons, leaving the goalscoring burden largely on the shoulders of Havertz.
It could be a low-risk, high-reward move for the Gunners, though Kolo-Muani’s mammoth £202,000 a week wages may prove a stumbling block to any interested party.
Xabi Alonso is aware of Real Madrid's interest in him but wants to wait until the end of the season to make a decision regarding his future.
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Alonso's future at Leverkusen uncertainHas been tipped to join Real Madrid No signs of Ancelotti's departure yetFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to a report fromMARCA, Alonso has opted not to commit his future to defending Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and will wait until the end of the season to make a decision. It has been widely speculated that the former Spain international is the primary candidate to replace Carlo Ancelotti in the Real Madrid dugout, should the Italian leave the club this summer.
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Alonso took over the reins at Bayer Leverkusen at the end of 2022, when the club was flirting with relegation. The former Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid midfielder instantly transformed Leverkusen from relegation-battlers to one of the most entertaining teams in the Bundesliga, guiding them to a sixth-place finish and the Europa League semi-finals in his first season at the top level.
Then came the historic 2023-24 season, where Leverkusen got rid of their infamous 'Neverkusen' nickname by going unbeaten to clinch their first-ever league title. Additionally, they won the DFB-Pokal and finished as runners-up in the Europa League, with their shock 3-0 loss to Atalanta in the final their only loss of the entire season.
Alonso's tactical nous and man management has attracted interest from the biggest clubs in Europe. Liverpool and Bayern Munich were keen last summer, but he rejected them in favour of building his project at the BayArena. Things may, however, look different at the end of the current season.
DID YOU KNOW?
Given Alonso's ties to Real Madrid as a former player, it felt inevitable that he would be linked with the club's head coach job. In 2024, both Ancelotti and Alonso renewed their contracts with their respective clubs until 2026. The Italian has time and again reaffirmed his stance when it comes to his future at the Santiago Bernabeu.
"Hahaha. I want to be very clear: I will never decide the date of my departure from this club in my life," the 65-year-old stated in January, explaining that he has no desire to step down. "I know perfectly well that it will come one day, but I will not decide that day."
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Alonso's silence regarding his future suggests that the Real Madrid job could be a realistic option this summer. As has been the trend in recent years, Madrid will make a decision on Ancelotti's position only after the current campaign comes to an end. Real remain in the hunt for a treble this season, with the Copa del Rey, La Liga title and the Champions League all in their sights.
The footballing world descended on France for everyone’s favourite popularity contest on Sunday night, the Ballon d’Or, an award yet to be won by any Arsenal player, not even the great Thierry Henry.
Yes, a year after Lionel Messi won his eighth award, it was someone else’s turn to be crowned as the best player in the world.
This time, it was Manchester City’s Rodri, after he enjoyed yet another stellar 12 months that saw him lift the Premier League title and win Spain their fourth European Championship.
However, while the attention is firmly on the victorious Spaniard, there were another 29 players ranked by the voting journalists, including four Arsenal players and one former Gunner who was sold by Mikel Arteta early on in his stint at the club.
Arsenal's Ballon d'Or nominated stars
The first Arsenal name lands in 26th place and is the indomitable Declan Rice, who has been an integral part of Arteta’s side since making his £105m switch to the Emirates last summer.
Since then, the Englishman has made 63 appearances for the club, scored eight goals, provided 12 assists, was named in the PFA Team of the Year and finished runner-up in the Gunners’ Player of the Season Award – not bad for a debut campaign.
William Saliba finished in 24th place, which some may see as relatively low for a player who made 50 appearances for the best defence in the Premier League last season.
We move down to 21st to get to arguably the North Londoners’ most important player and unquestionably the poster boy of this iteration of the team: Bukayo Saka.
The 42-capped international enjoyed his best campaign to date last season, racking up a frankly ridiculous haul of 20 goals and 14 assists in 47 appearances, meaning that he maintained a freakish average of a goal involvement once every 1.38 games for the league runners-up.
Saka’s Arsenal career
Appearances
237
Goals
62
Assists
60
Goal Involvements per Match
0.51
All Stats via Transfermakrt
The 23-year-old phenom has continued that incredible form into this season and, in just 11 matches, has already scored four goals and provided seven assists, making it feel like he should have been ranked far higher on this list.
Finally, the highest-placed Arsenal player in this year’s Ballon d’Or list is club captain Martin Odegaard, who chalked up a tally of 22 goals and assists and was named the club’s Player of the Season for 23/24.
However, there are a couple of former Gooners on the list as well, including one who was ranked higher than the four aforementioned stars and was sold by Arteta four years ago.
Every Premier League player at the 2024 Ballon d'Or – ranked
10 players were included in the top 30.
By
Charlie Smith
Oct 29, 2024
Emiliano Martinez's Arsenal exit
Yes, the player in question is goalkeeping superstar Emiliano Martínez.
Emiliano Martinez for Aston Villa
The Argentinian shot-stopper joined the Gunners’ reserve team in July 2010 for around £1m but didn’t really get a chance in the first team until Bernd Leno’s injury against Brighton & Hove Albion in June 2020.
With the German out of the team, the Mar del Plata-born star stepped up, ending the season with 23 first-team appearances and playing a vital role in the club’s unexpected FA Cup victory.
However, Arteta clearly didn’t rate him as highly as he did Leno, so when Aston Villa came in with a £20m offer in September of that year, the Spaniard gladly accepted it and sent the FA Cup winner on his way.
In the years since, the “world-class” 47-capped international, as dubbed by Gary Neville, has established himself as one of the best keepers in the game, making 171 appearances for the Villans, winning two Copa América title and playing a significant role in Argentina’s third World Cup triumph two years ago.
These achievements saw the former Arsenal man named the best goalkeeper in the world for the second year running on Sunday night and ranked 18th in the Ballon d’Or list overall, seven three places above Saka.
However, with all of that said, while Arteta might have been able to get more money for Martinez back in 2020, the Gunners now have a supremely talented shot-stopper of their own in David Raya, so getting rid of the World Cup winner when he did was probably the right decision for all parties.
£25m profit: Arsenal hit gold selling PL star now worth millions less
Arsenal have become much better sellers in recent years.
Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is certain to be without a “very strong” player for their trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday, with star winger Son Heung-min also very likely to miss the Premier League encounter.
Tottenham beat AZ Alkmaar as Postecoglou returns to winning form
Spurs narrowly scraped past Dutch giants AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League on Thursday evening, courtesy of Richarlison’s first goal of the season, and the win makes it two from their last two games after a rampant 4-1 victory at the expense of West Ham last weekend.
Why Archie Gray could already leave Tottenham as soon as January
He’s struggling for consistent game time.
ByEmilio Galantini Oct 22, 2024
It is a perfect response to their regrettable 3-2 fumble at Brighton just before the international break – a result which Postecoglou will want to forget as soon as possible considering Spurs’ two-goal lead – but the Lilywhites’ past two outings are doing wonders to put it behind them.
Next up, Crystal Palace await Postecoglou’s side at Selhurst Park, with Eagles boss Oliver Glasner under intense pressure and looking to secure his first win of the new campaign.
Crystal Palace vs Tottenham
October 27
Tottenham vs Aston Villa
November 3
Tottenham vs Ipswich Town
November 10
Man City vs Tottenham
November 23
Tottenham vs Fulham
December 1
Richarlison and Wilson Odobert will both be available for the south London clash, with the latter coming off the bench against AZ and making his first appearance in weeks after recovering from a hamstring injury.
However, the same cannot be said for Son, who is a huge doubt for Palace. The South Korea international will not be able to train this afternoon, and is therefore unlikely to make a return on Sunday.
“Sonny is still not right or feeling 100 per cent,” said Postecoglou in his press conference today.
“He won’t train today and so unlikely for the weekend and we’ll see how he is beyond that.”
The 32-year-old will be a big miss considering his importance to Postecoglou in an attacking sense, having stood out as one of their key players since the Australian took over from Antonio Conte last season.
Tottenham without Djed Spence for Crystal Palace through injury
Alongside Son, Postecoglou won’t be able to call upon right-back Djed Spence. The Englishman suffered a groin injury in training last week, and it is believed Spence will be absent for Tottenham’s trip to Crystal Palace as a result, but he isn’t expected to be out for much longer.
Spence was recently awarded a new deal at Spurs, owing to the redemption arc he’s undergone since being sent out on multiple loan spells last season. Italian media praised Spence for his form out on a temporary spell at Genoa last season, and he’s now brought that home to N17.
The “very strong” defender, as he was called by Gabriel Martinelli, is now a member of Postecoglou’s first-team squad – and could play a role as Tottenham seek to end their 16-year wait for a major trophy.
Tottenham player Djed Spence
“I said a couple of days ago and consistently say, most of a players future is in their own hands,” said Postecoglou on Spence.
“They’re as much in control as anyone else. I think sometimes footballers forget that. With Djed, it could have been easy for to go out on loan again. But when he came into preseason, he was determined to make a career for himself here at Tottenham rather than wait to be loaned out.
“He did everything right in training, his attitude was great. He’s a good footballer, I think the way we play suits him and he’s knuckled down to that. And he’s earned himself a spot on the roster in our squad.
“The rest is up to him again. Because it’s an easy decision for me to make when I see that. Like I said, sometimes footballers think their fate is in other peoples’ hands. For the most part, it’s in their own. If they’re doing well and doing everything right, the future tends to take care of itself, whether that’s where you currently are or you move on. And Djed’s certainly done that.”
Looking to add to what is already a wealth of attacking options, Aston Villa sporting director Monchi is now reportedly plotting a move to beat Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign a player who’s been in electric form so far this season.
Aston Villa transfer news
Even outside of the transfer window, Aston Villa have continued their solid business, securing Jhon Duran’s long-term future with a fresh deal for a forward who has been one of the most in-form players in the Premier League so far this season. Pushing Ollie Watkins all the way for a starting place, Unai Emery has the biggest selection headache of his Aston Villa tenure every passing week with two strikers of such calibre at his disposal.
In pursuit of back-to-back Champions League qualification, those in the Midlands may yet return to the transfer market in 2025 to compete with some of Europe’s best away from the action as well as on the pitch.
Aston Villa have struck gold on "absolute star” who's worth more than Duran
He was signed by Emery in 2023
ByJoe Nuttall Oct 10, 2024
According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Monchi is now plotting a move to sign Pavel Sulc for Aston Villa from Viktoria Plzen ahead of the likes of Spurs, Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in 2025.
The Villans’ sporting director has reportedly already sent scouts to watch the talented attacking midfielder in action as he potentially continues to plan his first move. Just 23 years old, Sulc stole plenty of headlines last season with his form and has carried that into the current campaign to attract the attention of Aston Villa in what could yet result in the biggest move of his career to date.
That said, with plenty of clubs chasing the Czech’s signature, Villa will have to move as soon as possible if they want to sign Sulc in 2025.
"Incredible" Sulc is Premier League-ready
If there were any remaining doubts about Sulc’s quality after last season, then they’ve since been put to bed by an excellent start in the current campaign. The attacking midfielder ended the last campaign with a staggering 22 goals and eight assists in 49 games in all competitions and has since scored six goals and set up a further three in his first 16 appearances this season.
Unsurprisingly, Sulc has earned plenty of praise as a result of those numbers, with Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig dubbing the Czech Republic star’s 2023/24 season “incredible” back in May.
If Villa make their move, then the Premier League may be left facing the frightening prospect of Sulc, Watkins and Duran all fitting into one side destined to fire the Midlands club into the Champions League once again.
Everton suffered a shocking start to the campaign, with four straight defeats to open the 2024/25 Premier League season, but Sean Dyche has found some respite in his side’s recent upswing in form.
Victory over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park was followed by successive draws against Leicester City and Newcastle United before the current international break, but there’s still plenty to do before the 16th-placed side steer safely away from the drop zone.
19/10/24
Ipswich Town (A)
17th
26/10/24
Fulham (H)
8th
02/11/24
Southampton (H)
19th
09/11/24
West Ham (A)
12th
23/11/24
Brentford (H)
11th
If the Toffees fall back into a struggling spell, it could have dire consequences for Dyche, who was skating on the thinnest of ice only a few weeks ago.
Why Sean Dyche could be sacked
Dyche might have lifted Everton out of the Premier League relegation zone but many supporters will feel that the short rise in form might just prove to be a stay of execution.
Everton manager Sean Dyche
Though the 53-year-old manager recently revealed that he has been unbothered by the din surrounding Goodison Park and his place at the helm, there has indeed been noise, with the Friedkin Group’s proposed takeover from Farhad Moshiri opening up further speculation that he will be replaced.
Who to bring in, though? Graham Potter and former boss David Moyes are both out of employment, but perhaps TFG would wish to delve down a different and more ambitious road, with Football Insider confirming that Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has been linked with the job.
Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce.
The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur gaffer is an infamous figure in English football – Moyes has hailed him as a “serial winner” in the past – and while it would seem unlikely that he’d be brought in, it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility.
Friedkin will want to hit the ground running on Merseyside and ensure that Everton move away from the threat of relegation and then make headway in the Premier League, moving up to the upper end of the table.
Why Jose Mourinho could succeed at Everton
Mourinho replacing Dyche in the dugout at Goodison Park this season does seem like a far-fetched rumour, especially since he’s only been in a job at Fenerbahce since June of this year.
It’s been a decent start: Sarı Kanaryalar are fourth in the Turkish Super Lig but only two points off second-placed Samsunspor – albeit six points adrift from table-toppers Galatasaray, who have completed an imperious start to the campaign.
But wait. Might there actually be a grain of sense within this rumour? Everton could, frankly, spend the 2024/25 campaign battling against relegation, and systematically revamping the playing style might cause more harm than good.
AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho.
In Mourinho, Dyche’s “direct and defensive” system would be superseded by the more flexible approach that the ‘special one’ employs.
While Mourinho might have garnered something of a reputation for rigid, deep-sitting football, the truth is that he implements different variations of the same whole depending on the club and its situation – for example, his trophy-laden spells with Real Madrid and Porto were characterised by attacking, in-your-face styles.
But a more pragmatic approach is what would be needed on Merseyside, and after Everton found such success in protecting Jordan Pickford’s goal across the 2023/24 campaign, Mourinho might be the perfect option to take what Dyche has built and upgrade it, fashion it into something even more.
1.
Arsenal
18
2.
Manchester City
13
2.
Everton
13
4.
Liverpool
10
4.
Newcastle United
10
4.
Fulham
10
4.
Crystal Palace
10
After all, with Mourinho pulling the strings, Jarrad Branthwaite might take the next step in his development and realise his world-class credentials.
Mourinho would make Jarrad Branthwaite a "monster"
Analyst Ben Mattinson hailed Branthwaite as a “beast” of a centre-half last season after he returned to Merseyside after a successful loan spell in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven, starting 35 Premier League matches and winning 68% of his duels, also averaging 4.5 clearances and 5.2 ball recoveries per match, as per Sofascore.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
Broad-shouldered and imposing, the 22-year-old has an exciting future ahead of him and has already attracted interest from some of Europe’s heavyweights, with Manchester United failing with a series of official bids this summer.
Mourinho, who to this day boasts the Premier League record for fewest goals conceded in a season (15, with title-winning Chelsea in 2004/05), could turn Branthwaite into an “absolute monster”, a reputation that some analysts already believe he holds, such as talent scout Jacek Kulig.
There’s a distinguishable aggressiveness to Branthwaite’s game – although it’s not to a fault. As per FBref, he ranks inside the top 25% of recordable defensive metrics that the site presents, highlighting his robustness and energy.
It would go down a treat under Mourinho, who could refine and lift some of his more negative attributes – such as a lack of passing accuracy.
Branthwaite might not rank highly for pass completion and progressive passes, but then he’s performing in Dyche’s counter-attacking and deep-lying system and this precludes the kind of ball-playing success that other defenders are able to achieve, thus distorting the metrics.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
He’s technically proficient and this could be lifted even higher under Mourinho, whose defensive qualities might look to be the 61-year-old’s bread and butter from a tactical standpoint but does not negate the technical ability and intelligence of his tactical plans – after all, he’s one of the most decorated managers in history.
If the Friedkin Group are serious about turning Everton toward a new age, perhaps this is the managerial move to make. A statement of intent.
Everton wasted £58m on Goodison star who earned more than Calvert-Lewin
He failed to reach the desired level at Goodison Park.
Tabraiz Shamsi is reaping the rewards of regular international game time, with success for South Africa and a string of short-term deals in overseas leagues that he hopes will benefit the national side.Shamsi went straight from South Africa’s tour of the Caribbean and Ireland to the Hundred, from where he joined the national squad for a white-ball series in Sri Lanka. Then, he’ll head to the IPL and will likely remain in the UAE for the T20 World Cup, where he hopes to be able to use his franchise experience to help his country.Related
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“I’m not going to sit here and pretend that I’m not excited about (the IPL). I am very excited. Especially because I’ve never played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi,” Shamsi said. “The IPL is a different thing. I have played in the past but I was a lot younger and I didn’t get a lot of game time regularly. When you get regular game time, you can showcase what you can do. You can improve. And from a Proteas’ perspective, I’m really happy I got picked up in the IPL because I’ve never been there and played there. It will be nice if I can play on those pitches and get some inside information and gain some experience; just to be able to pick up some knowledge and information that might help us in the World Cup.”Shamsi was contracted to Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016 and played four matches. At that stage, he had yet to make his debut for South Africa. Five years later, Shamsi has been capped 68 times across all formats and has risen to No.1 in the ICC’s T20 bowling rankings. He was not picked up in the IPL auction in February but has been signed as a replacement player by Rajasthan Royals and although the squad is spin heavy, he seems to be fancying his chances of getting game time, given the year he is having. Shamsi is the leading T20I bowler in 2021, so far, and has established himself as South Africa’s first-choice short-format spinner, after waiting on the sidelines for the bulk of the early part of his career.”Just yesterday I was speaking to one of my close friends about the IPL and the year that I’ve had for South Africa and I realised It’s very important to wait for your time,” he said. “A lot of people who have followed me from the beginning of my career know it wasn’t just a smooth transition. I’ve had to wait a long, long time to get my opportunity to, firstly, get picked for the Proteas. And then again, for four or five years, to get regular game time. We don’t have to look at other people’s journeys.”Most of that waiting was because of the presence of Imran Tahir and South Africa daring not to dream of using more than one specialist spinner regularly. Shamsi played only occasionally, but said he never allowed that to get to him because he wanted to be ready when the long-term chance came. “From my own experience, you just have to wait for your opportunity, but while you’re waiting you have to keep on working. You can’t be sulking and down on yourself, and then your opportunity comes and you don’t grab it,” he said. “Some people get 20 opportunities, others might only get one or two. You have to make sure you’re preparing and working hard, so that when your opportunity does come you grab it with both hands and live your dream.”Although the mood around South African cricket, in the throes of the Social Justice and Nation-Building hearings, is that many players of the past, especially players of colour, found the team environment a nightmare, Shamsi painted a rosier picture of its current climate. “You can go all over the world and play for different teams, but this is the pinnacle. This is where your boys are. You get to play with guys you’ve grown up playing with and against. These are your people. That’s what makes it special for me,” he said.Tabraiz Shamsi has ensured he puts in the work in his downtime•Randy Brooks/AFP/Getty Images
He wasn’t part of the team camp when news of Enoch Nkwe’s resignation as assistant coach was confirmed but was “sad,” to see him go. “It’s sad that Enoch’s resigned, but I’m sure he has his reasons. As a team we wish him all the best. We fully respect the choice that he’s made. Just like he wishes us the best for the future, we definitely wish him the best as well. This is sport and these kinds of things can happen. We’ve all got to move forward and wish each other well. I’m sure the guys will be in touch with him.”Instead, Shamsi was at The Hundred, where his biggest takeaway was that sometimes it’s not the worst thing to try and move the game along. “It’s like a much faster version of T20. I picked up a few things, like how you can save a lot more time in the field by rushing through and showing some urgency,” he said. “It was nice because I’m someone who enjoys bowling and who doesn’t enjoy long breaks between spells.”Before Tahir’s retirement after the 2019 World Cup, Shamsi was getting long breaks between matches, nevermind spells. Now that he is playing regularly, the results of his persistence are showing. Shamsi was South Africa’s joint-leading bowler in the West Indies series, with seven wickets at 11.42, and had the best average. He was the second highest-wicket-taker in the ODIs against Ireland, behind Andile Phehlukwayo, and the highest in the T20Is and he believes the best, from him and the team, is yet to come as long as they keep playing.”My confidence levels are up,” Shamsi said. “And I believe we have one of the best bowling attacks in the world. All we need is a bit of game time. I’m not saying that because we’ve won a couple of series back-to-back. The talent in the squad is there. We might be inexperienced at the international level but it doesn’t mean that we don’t have the skill. We showcased that against a very strong West Indies team, and against Ireland. Nobody here wants to lose and I know the people back home don’t want to see us losing. So we’re pushing it. We just need a bit more time together. The more we play together the better we’re going to get.”