Tag Futebol

Glenton Stuurman and Prenelan Subrayen are back in the mix too, while Sisanda Magala and Ryan Rickelton have earned maiden call-ups

Firdose Moonda07-Dec-2021Duanne Olivier could make a Test comeback after an absence of almost three years after being named in a 21-player squad for the upcoming three-Test series against India. The squad includes two new faces – seamer Sisanda Magala and top-order batter Ryan Rickelton, who were both part of the ODI line-up that played in the series against Netherlands, which had to be postponed because of the latest Covid-19 outbreak – and recalls for offspin-bowling allrounder Prenelan Subrayen and quick bowler Glenton Stuurman, who have been part of previous Test squads but haven’t been capped.The rest of the group is largely the same as the one that toured West Indies in June, which is when South Africa last played Test cricket. That series, which South Africa won 2-0, was Dean Elgar’s first as the regular captain. The upcoming one against India will be his first in charge at home. His vice-captain, Temba Bavuma, who was on tour in the Caribbean but missed the Tests because of injury, is also in the squad.Related

Meet the quicks: South Africa's fast bowlers for the India series

CSA postpones Round 4 of Division 2 four-day matches

India to tour SA for three Tests, three ODIs

South Africa have given themselves several options in all departments, especially in the bowling attack. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje are expected to lead the pack, with Lungi Ngidi included after recovering from Covid-19, two left-armers in Marco Jansen and Beuran Hendricks, and two right-arm options in Stuurman and Magala.A lot of the focus, though, will be on Olivier, who has been in exceptional form for the Lions and leads the first-class wickets chart this season with 28 strikes at 11.14, including two five-wicket hauls.Olivier spoke to ESPNcricinfo after the last round of fixtures and confirmed that he had been in discussion with selection convener Victor Mpitsang and was available for South Africa again after his Kolpak-enforced absence. He is the second Kolpak-returnee to be selected for a national squad after Wayne Parnell, who played against Netherlands.Conditions, on the whole, are expected to favour quicks, especially at SuperSport Park and Wanderers, where the first two Tests are scheduled to be played, but Newlands could offer something for spinners and South Africa have three of them too. Keshav Maharaj remains the first pick, and will have back-up in allrounders George Linde and Subrayen. Tabraiz Shamsi, who was part of the Test squad in West Indies, has not been selected while there was also no room for the second-highest wicket-taker – behind Olivier – in the first-class competition, Simon Harmer. But South Africa have included one seam-bowling allrounder in Wiaan Mulder.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe batting line-up has a more familiar look to it, with Sarel Erwee providing back-up to Elgar and Aiden Markram at the top of the order, and Rassie van der Dussen, Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne and de Kock expected to make up the top six.Rickelton, the other back-up batter who is in tenth place on the first-class run chart, has been preferred over Tony de Zorzi and Pieter Malan, who are leading run-scorers in the ongoing series between South Africa A and India A.This is South Africa’s first series in the 2021-2023 cycle of the World Test Championship, and first series at home since they hosted Sri Lanka over the festive period last summer. They finished fifth in the previous edition of the ICC tournament, winning two series – against Sri Lanka and West Indies – and losing three – to England, India and Pakistan. It also marks the start of a busy summer for South Africa in which they host India, travel to New Zealand, and host Bangladesh, before a winter tour in England, and it was all very nearly derailed after the discovery of Omicron, the new Covid-19 variant last month.The series has been pushed out by a week – it was initially scheduled to be played from December 17, and the first Test will now start on Boxing Day. The players will be in a biosecure bubble for the duration of the series, although they can expect to see some fans. As things stand in South Africa, 2,000 fully-vaccinated fans are permitted at sporting venues but this may change if further restrictions come into place in the next few weeks.

Cristiano Ronaldo showed off a new celebration after scoring a brace in Al-Nassr's thumping win over Al Wasl.

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Ronaldo came up with a new celebrationScored a brace against Al WaslAl-Nassr clinched a 4-0 winFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Portuguese scored twice as Al-Nassr thrashed UAE's Al Wasl 4-0 in an AFC Champions League clash on Monday. Ronaldo, who turns 40 on Wednesday, revealed a new celebration as he guided his team to a dominant win. With his team-mates around him during the celebration of his second, the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star raised his hand, emulating an aeroplane flying and then gestured as if it crashed.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Colombian forward Jhon Duran made his debut for Al-Nassr in the game after he completed his big-money transfer to the Saudi club from Aston Villa last week. Duran was deployed in attack alongside Ronaldo, who operated slightly behind the former Villa star. Duran had an underwhelming outing in his maiden game but the result will surely make his debut memorable.

DID YOU KNOW?

With the brace against Al Wasl, Ronaldo is now the joint second-highest goalscorer in the Champions League with six strikes to his name.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR AL-NASSR?

Stefano Pioli's men will be back in action on Friday as they take on Al-Feiha in an important Saudi Pro League encounter.

MatériaMais Notícias

O investidor John Textor não mediu palavras ao falar sobre o que fez com que ele selasse acordo com o Botafogo. Em entrevista divulgada pela Botafogo TV nesta terça-feira (11), o americano falou sobre como se vê ao assumir a gestão do futebol de um clube centenário.

>>>Ao L!, especialista exalta perspicácia de John Textor ao traçar planos para investir no Botafogo

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– Bem, eu acho que se pessoas prestarem atenção, perceberão que eu estava procurando outros clubes. O que quero dizer é que ninguém acorda e diz: “Vou comprar o Botafogo”. E, número 1: nenhuma pessoa deve sentir, nunca, que comprou um clube como esses, porque eles pertencem às pessoas, à torcida – e frisou:

– Eu acho que a oportunidade de ser dono de um clube é, na verdade, a oportunidade de ser seu “cuidador”, certo? O clube existe desde muito antes de eu estar vivo e vai continuar existindo muito depois… – completou.

Em seguida, Textor detalhou o que fez com que ele voltasse seus olhos para o futebol brasileiro.

– Então, considerando que acordei e decidi vir para o Brasil, que seria incrível, que poderia estar aqui para o início disso tudo. Serei honesto: estava olhando para clubes da primeira divisão que já estavam lá, que já tinham alguma estabilidade, mas estava olhando para mercados menores, oportunidades menores. É uma coisa enorme, sabe, acordar e dizer: “Vou lá comprar o Newcastle United, ou o Botafogo, ou o Benfica”. Esses são os grandes e lendários clubes…

Textor falou sobre a responsabilidade de assumir o controle do futebol de um clube do porte do Alvinegro.

– Eles podem ter caído um pouco do seu nível de excelência e isso é uma situação ainda mais difícil, porque os fãs tem uma memória, uma nostalgia, acreditam de coração que merecem ver o time nesse nível novamente. Para encarar um desafio desses, você precisa estar pronto para ele. Novamente, você não acorda e diz “Vou comprar o Botafogo!”. Mas aí, como o Botafogo aconteceu? Sabe, eu estava perto de me decidir por outro clube, e esses dois jovens que trabalhavam para mim não paravam de mencionar o Botafogo – e relembrou a forma como foi convencido a gerir o Alvinegro:

– Eles me diziam “John, deixa a gente te mostrar porque “maior é melhor”. Deixe a gente te mostrar porque esse desafio será mais gratificante, como essa oportunidade tem muito mais a ver com quem você é”. E eu acho que essa oportunidade realmente tem tudo a ver com quem eu sou, como pessoa. E aí começou a parecer possível. E acho que é assim com qualquer pessoa, conforme você vai chegando mais e mais perto de um sonho, você se convence que tem que conseguir. E é por isso que eu estou aqui – finalizou.

O investidor não escondeu que se sente um privilegiado por estar à frente do clube.

– Mas não, não posso dizer aos fãs aqui que, sabe, eu vivo e respiro Alvinegro, o que a Estrela Solitária é meu travesseiro em casa, porque o Botafogo é daqueles clubes que você não imagina poder estar envolvido, sabe? Então, estou honrado que tudo deu certo, e que o sonho de um clube tão grande é agora possível pra mim, e eu acho que é provavelmente o certo pra mim, acho que estou à altura desse desafio.

Além disto, manifestou a dimensão que é assumir o Botafogo.

– Era engraçado eu estar olhando para clubes pequenos, porque em tudo que eu fiz até então eu via que eu vim a essa Terra para mudar o mundo. Você só pode mudar o mundo quando toca muitas pessoas. Com o Botafogo, posso tocar muitas e muitas pessoas – declarou.

West Ham United supporters will no doubt be telling themselves that it is still early days in Julen Lopetegui’s tenure, there is no time to panic just yet. Rome wasn’t built in a day – and all that jazz.

That said, the initial signs under the Spaniard are rather worrying, with the Hammers having seemingly gone backward, rather than forward, following the departure of David Moyes.

While the Scotsman was long criticised for his often dour style of play when in the hot seat at the London Stadium, it would appear that the club have merely made a like-for-like change. As ex-Hammer Dean Ashton has stated, ‘he’s not necessarily this swash-buckling character or manager in the way that he plays’.

Moyes 2.0, perhaps?

Alas, as we say it would be harsh to judge the former Wolverhampton Wanderers too strongly just yet – only six games into the new Premier League season – with tomorrow’s clash with newly-promoted Ipswich Town providing the perfect opportunity to leave off on a positive note heading into the international break.

If the east Londoners are to see off Kieran McKenna’s visiting side, however, they will need their attacking unit to finally click into gear.

How West Ham's attack should look vs Ipswich

With summer signing Nicolas Fullkrug still frustratingly sidelined with injury, Lopetegui will no doubt look the way of West Ham’s all-time top Premier League goalscorer, Michail Antonio, to lead the line once again, with the Jamaican international having been involved in Tomas Soucek’s equaliser against Brentford last week.

While the veteran striker is yet to score so far this season, his presence up top is needed to offer a focal point for Lopetegui’s other attacking talents to feed off, with the hope that Mohammed Kudus will be given another chance to shine after harshly being hooked at the break last time out.

With three points needed, there may be a desire to see the Ghanaian operate in a number ten berth behind Antonio, particularly with Paqueta having been so poor against the Bees.

On the left flank, Lopetegui could then unleash another exciting addition in Crysencio Summerville, with the Netherlands international having notably scored against tomorrow’s opponents last season, during a 4-0 triumph for Leeds United.

The 22-year-old – who recorded 31 goals and assists in all competitions in 2023/24 – is not the only member of the West Ham ranks to have previously terrorised the Tractor Boys, with club captain Jarrod Bowen no doubt looking to continue his fine record against the away side on that right flank.

Jarrod Bowen's record vs Ipswich

While this will be the first meeting between the two sides since back in January 2012, Bowen has previously caused havoc against Ipswich during his days at former club Hull City.

Ipswich Starting XI

West Ham Starting XI

GK – Arran Lee-Barrett

GK – Rob Green

RB – Carlos Edwards

RB – Julian Faubert

CB – Ibrahima Sonko

CB – James Tomkins

CB – Tommy Smith

CB – Winston Reid

LB – Aaron Cresswell

LB – George McCartney

CM – Andy Drury

CM – Mark Noble

CM – Luke Hyam

CM – Henri Lansbury

RM – Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (2)

RM – Jack Collison (1)

AM – Lee Martin (1)

AM – Kevin Nolan

LM – Daryl Murphy (1)

LM – Matt Taylor

ST – Michael Chopra (1)

ST – Carlton Cole

Remarkably, the 27-year-old – who joined the Hammers on a £20m deal back in January 2020 – has chalked up three goals and one assist in just four meetings with the Portman Road side in the past, proving a real thorn in the side of the Suffolk outfit.

In the 2018/19 season, the England international scored in a 2-0 home win for Hull against Ipswich, prior to then registering an assist in another 2-0 triumph in the reverse fixture later in the campaign.

The winger’s other two goal involvements against the Tractor Boys came in the previous term, as he netted one apiece in both meetings, including the third in the 3-0 victory shown below.

Of course, prior records in the second tier may matter little in the context of West Ham’s current plight, but if anyone is to emerge as Lopetegui’s hero tomorrow, you’d bet your bottom dollar on it being Bowen once again.

What Julen Lopetegui has done to leave West Ham players very "surprised"

The Spaniard is dividing opinion behind the scenes.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 2, 2024

يخوض فريق الهلال مباراة قوية أمام منافسه الوصل الإماراتي، اليوم الثلاثاء، في المواجهة التي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات دوري أبطال آسيا.

ويستضيف ملعب استاد زعبيل أرينا مباراة الهلال أمام الوصل، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثامنة من عمر مرحلة الدوري لدوري أبطال آسيا.

ويخوض فريق الهلال مباراته كتحصيل حاصل بعد حسم بطاقة تأهله إلى دور الـ16 رسميًا في دوري أبطال آسيا.

ويحتل فريق الهلال المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب مجموعة غرب برصيد 19 نقطة حصدهم من 6 انتصارات وتعادل وحيد، دون تلقي أي هزائم.

أما فريق الوصل الإماراتي فيحتل المركز الخامس في ترتيب دوري أبطال آسيا، برصيد 11 نقطة حصدهم من فوز في 3 لقاءات والتعادل مرتين فيما نال هزيمتين.

طالع | ترتيب دوري أبطال آسيا بعد فوز الأهلي على الغرافة وتعادل النصر مع برسبوليس

وتقام مباريات مرحلة الدوري بمشاركة 24 ناديًا موزعين على منطقتي الغرب والشرق، حيث يتواجد في مجموعة الغرب كل من (الهلال السعودي- الأهلي السعودي- النصر السعودي- السد القطري- الوصل الإماراتي-الغرافة القطري- الريان القطري- استقلال طهران الإيراني- بيرسبوليس الإيراني- باختاكور الأوزبكستاني- الشرطة العراقي- والعين الإماراتي).

فيما يتنافس في المجموعة الأخرى أندية شرق آسيا، إذ تقام منافسات مرحلة الدوري في الفترة من 16 سبتمبر 2024 وحتى 19 فبراير 2025.

وتُلعب المنافسات بحيث يتقابل كل فريق مع ثمانية أندية مختلفة، بواقع 4 مباريات على أرضه، و4 مباريات خارج ملعبه.

وتتأهل أفضل ثمانية فرق في كل مجموعة إلى دور الـ16 ببطولة دوري أبطال آسيا، المقرر إقامة مبارياته في شهر مارس 2025.

وبداية من دور ربع النهائي وحتى المباراة النهائية ستقام البطولة بنظام البطولة المجمعة (التأهل من مباراة واحدة)، في المملكة العربية السعودية، وذلك خلال الفترة من 25 أبريل وحتى 4 مايو 2025. موعد مباراة الهلال والوصل اليوم في دوري أبطال آسيا

وتنطلق مباراة الهلال أمام منافسه الوصل، اليوم الثلاثاء، في تمام الساعة السادسة مساءً بتوقيت مصر، السابعة مساءً بتوقيت السعودية، الثامنة مساءً بتوقيت الإمارات. القنوات الناقلة لمباراة الهلال والوصل اليوم

وتذاع المباراة بين الهلال أمام الوصل عبر قنوات:

– الكأس HD10

– beIN Sports AFC.

– SSC HD1.

– أبو ظبي الرياضية آسيا 1. معلقو مباراة الهلال والوصل اليوم

ويتولى مهمة التعليق على أحداث المباراة بين الهلال ومنافسه الوصل:

-الكأس HD10: خالد الحدي.

– beIN Sports AFC:  أحمد البلوشي

– SSC HD1: فارس عوض

– أبو ظبي الرياضية آسيا 1: بلال علام.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

One of Aston Villa boss Unai Emery's personal targets now wants to join Arsenal instead, with the Gunners also "seriously" keen on signing him for Mikel Arteta.

Edu's rumoured Arsenal transfer plans for 2025

Despite being fresh off the back of a thrilling summer window, it is believed that sporting director Edu Gaspar and the recruitment team are already devising transfer plans for 2025.

Arsenal hold extensive internal talks over signing £86m starlet for Arteta

He’s very highly regarded in north London.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 12, 2024

By his own admission, Edu revealed in an interview with Brazilian publication Estadao earlier this year (via football.london) that weeks of detailed planning is put towards every potential new signing – with reports of more than 180 pages on a single player alone.

News of Arteta agreeing a new Arsenal contract will help in this regard, as the Spaniard is no longer set to leave in 2025, with both the Arsenal manager and Edu now set to share the same transfer vision for much longer and carry on building the squad.

"You can’t sign players for the sake of signing. This has to be a process that takes weeks and weeks. There on my desk, I have reports with more than 180 pages on a player," said Edu on Arsenal's transfer strategy in May.

"It’s really detailed stuff. Physical, technical, mental profile, if you have Premier League experience, if you will be able to adapt. It has everything.

"We analyse our weaknesses, where we can improve, where we can invest and then we go in search of that new name. What I am going to do now, we have been discussing since January. It’s not my decision or Mikel’s alone. It belongs to a whole group."

Therefore, it is little surprise we're already seeing reports of Arsenal's potential new targets for next year. Edu is said to be targeting Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies, and Arsenal could make a pre-contract offer in January to sign him for free next summer, as his contract is set to expire in 2025.

Elsewhere, Arsenal have held extensive internal talks over Jorrel Hato, with the Dutch defender earning admirers from within the club. There is also the matter of a new world-class striker, which Arsenal ultimately didn't land in the summer window, despite a widely-reported offer for RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko.

Despite missing out on the Slovenian, there is a belief that Arsenal are laying some groundwork to sign Sesko next summer instead, with contact already made ahead of a potential 2025 move.

Javi Guerra keen on joining Arsenal over Aston Villa

Now, according to CaughtOffside, it is believed young Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra is attracting interest from Edu and Arteta. The 21-year-old is a highly-regarded talent in Spain, and impressed over his 36 La Liga appearances last term, bagging four goals and an assist as a mainstay of their midfield.

It is now believed that Arsenal are "seriously" keen on signing Guerra, who in turn much prefers a transfer to north London over Villa, despite Emery personally wanting the player to make a Midlands move.

Guerra's contract contains an £84 million release clause, but the Spaniard could actually leave for much less than that figure, according to CS.

Liverpool have reportedly suffered another injury scare to a "world class" player this week, with his international manager unsure about the severity of the issue.

Slot thriving with fully fit Liverpool squad

The Reds' final season under Jurgen Klopp was an exciting one for much of the campaign, but their Premier League title challenge ended up petering out, with injuries not helping. Liverpool had to make do without key players for big chunks of the season, with Alisson missing plenty of games in goal and Diogo Jota in and out of the side, while even the robust Mohamed Salah was sidelined with fitness issues at the start of 2024.

Under Arne Slot, however, the Merseysiders have had an almost clean bill of health in 2024/25 to date, allowing the new head coach to field his strongest possible starting lineup three matches in a row. Curtis Jones has been the only absentee of note, but even he is only expected to be out for a short amount of time.

However, Harvey Elliott has recently returned to Liverpool from England Under-21s duty, in order to receive a "further medical assessment", and now a more established and high-profile player could also be threatened by a period on the sidelines, following a new update.

"World class" Liverpool ace suffers injury scare

According to This Is Anfield's Jack Lusby on X, Liverpool hero Alexis Mac Allister went off with a "heavy knock" for Argentina against Chile on Friday morning, having opened the scoring for the reigning world champions in their 3-0 win, with manager Lionel Scaloni unsure about his involvement against Colombia next Tuesday.

The hope is that Mac Allister's injury was nothing too serious and that he was substituted to be safe, but Liverpool fans will be understandably fretting over the news given it's clearly bad enough to place his availability for the next game in doubt.

The 25-year-old is known to be on the receiving end of bad tackles in games, putting himself into precarious situations with his bravery and tough tackling, and to suddenly have him unavailable for an extended period would be a massive blow.

Garth Crooks has described Mac Allister as "world class" in the past, such is his ability, while Klopp heaped praise on him last season: "He is a super important player for us, a wonderful boy.

"I met his dad after the game. He said thank you, I said gracias. That was the full conversation! I said hola as well and then my Spanish ends. Wonderful player, wonderful boy and really happy for Liverpool that we got him."

Liverpool hit gold with "generational talent” who’s worth more than Salah

Arne Slot is crafting a spectacular team…

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 6, 2024

Hopefully, Scaloni won't even consider risking the £150,000-a-week Mac Allister against Luis Diaz's Colombia, as Slot hopes to have him available for next Saturday's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at Anfield.

Glasgow Rangers have played two games so far this season and failed to win any of them, although one result will have suited the Ibrox side better than the other.

Indeed, the opening Premiership draw with Hearts was a disappointing way to begin the campaign, with improvements needed against Motherwell on Saturday afternoon.

The midweek tie with Dynamo Kyiv may not have offered a much greater performance, but scoring a last-minute equaliser against the Ukrainian side will surely boost the confidence heading into the second leg next week.

A victory against Motherwell at the Light Blues’ temporary home of Hampden Park tomorrow will set the club up nicely for the return tie against Kyiv.

Philippe Clement could make three changes from his midweek starting XI, especially with the matches coming thick and fast…

1 GK – Jack Butland

The Englishman is the undisputed number one at Ibrox these days since making the move from the Premier League last summer.

A wonderful debut season elevated his reputation and he kept the Light Blues in the tie against Hearts last weekend, making several vital stops.

He will be crucial during the early stages of the season as Clement begins to form his preferred starting XI. If the Gers can maintain pace with Celtic until after the transfer window shuts, then they will be in a decent place heading into January.

2 RB – James Tavernier

The captain was heavily linked with an exit prior to the season starting last week, yet it appears as though he is remaining in Glasgow, for another year at least.

There is no doubting his attacking input. Last year, Tavernier scored a career high best of 24 goals across all competitions for the club. While his goal to win the League Cup in December was a wonderful moment, this was as good as it got for the Gers in terms of trophies won.

His mentality was certainly called into question during the title run-in a few months ago, especially as the Light Blues lost to Motherwell, Ross County and Celtic twice.

Improvement is needed defensively. Can the Englishman silence the critics?

3 CB – John Souttar

Souttar’s injury problems finally look like they are behind him after a more consistent second season at Ibrox.

With Connor Goldson departing the club this summer, the Scot is now one of the first-choice centre-backs, starting both the league opener and first-leg Champions League qualifier.

Against his former club last week, Souttar finished the tie with a 92% pass success rate while losing possession just five times. Another performance like this tomorrow wouldn’t go amiss.

4 CB – Robin Propper

The Dutchman, signed from Twente last week, has yet to make his debut for Rangers, but this could change on Saturday.

Leon Balogun is 36 and shouldn’t be expected to play every game, meaning Propper will come into the starting XI to partner Souttar against Motherwell in the first alteration from midweek.

5 LB – Ridvan Yilmaz

With Borna Barisic finally leaving Scotland after a six-year spell in Glasgow, Yilmaz is now the first choice left-back, a spot which he has been groomed for since joining two years ago.

He still has plenty to learn, but with a consistent run in the first team free from injuries, then this could be his year, no doubt about it.

6 CM – Dujon Sterling

The versatile player was exceptional when called upon last term, featuring across six different positions overall.

Against Motherwell, Clement may move him into a midfield role as he looks to add some stability to the position, in what would be the second change from Tuesday's stalemate.

This will mean Connor Barron could have a new partner for the first time during 2024/25, and it will be interesting to see how they perform together.

7 CM – Connor Barron

The summer arrival has started both of the club’s first two games of the season as it looks like Clement has big plans for the youngster.

He is a readymade replacement for the recently departed Ryan Jack in the heart of the midfield, arriving on a free transfer too, signifying great business by the Belgian tactician.

In a couple of years, he could well make Rangers a substantial profit, that’s for sure.

8 RW – Ross McCausland

A breakthrough season for the Northern Irishman last year saw him score four goals and grab five assists for the senior side, thriving on the right wing.

With the arrival of Vaclav Cerny, he has more competition on the flank this term, but it will be a challenge he is up for.

Clement will unleash him from the very beginning against the Steelmen.

9 AM – Mohamed Diomande

The introduction of Sterling could see Tom Lawrence drop to the bench as Clement may move Diomande into a more advanced position this time around.

The Welshman has started both matches of the season thus far and could do with a breather, allowing the Ivorian the chance to showcase his excellent attacking abilities just behind the striker.

If he performs well, could this see Diomande cement a spot as the club’s main attacking midfielder?

10 LW – Jefte

The Brazilian left-back might not push Yilmaz out of the starting XI anytime soon, but there is a chance for him to stake a claim as the main option on the left wing, having been lauded for having a “thunderous strike in his arsenal” by Rangers Journal founder Kai Watson amid the links to the player back in January.

Indeed, he scored three goals and grabbed four assists on loan at APOEL Nicosia last term, while coming on for Scott Wright in midweek, pushing forward at all opportunities.

With limited options, Clement could take a gamble on starting the youngster in a new role as the third personnel change following Tuesday's draw.

With the transfer window now in full swing, it appears that some of Rangers' most valuable talents could be on their way out of Ibrox this summer.

Rangers braced for numerous stars to exit this summer

The most recent news out of Ibrox has concerned the future of some of Rangers' biggest names. The future of current club captain James Tavernier has occupied many of the headlines in Glasgow, with the full-back offered an astronomical deal to leave Ibrox and reunite with former boss Steven Gerrard at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.

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By
Ross Kilvington

Jul 9, 2024

Centre-back Connor Goldson was also thought to be joining Tavernier in Saudi Arabia, though recent links to Birmingham City could see him swap the Champions League for League One next season. Goldson grew up in nearby Wolverhampton and could be tempted by a move back to the Midlands during the transfer window.

To make matters worse for Philippe Clement, Rangers have been dealt a significant blow in terms of their incomings, with a deal to sign Norwich City's Kenny McLean falling through after the parties failed to agree on personal terms.

With much of the Ibrox faithful hopeful that their club would use this summer to bolster their squad, the Scottish Premiership runners-up look to have been dealt a further blow as a European club consider a move for a Rangers striker.

Italian club discuss a deal to sign Dessers

As first reported by Sport Witness, the Italian press are claiming that Cagliari are thinking about Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers to improve their squad next season. The Ibrox outfit reportedly value the striker at €5m (£4m) and the Nigeria international's current deal is set to keep him at the club until 2027.

Dessers was a vital part of Clement's team last season, scoring 16 goals in the league as Rangers fell agonisingly short of the Scottish Premiership title. This tally saw Dessers finish as the club's second-highest scorer, just behind penalty-taker Tavernier.

The 29-year-old only joined Rangers last season in a move from Italian outfit US Cremonese. Since then, Dessers has gone on to establish himself as a regular fixture in the Gers' starting XI.

The striker has also been a player who has stepped up in big moments for Rangers, with former boss Michael Beale waxing lyrical about Dessers after the UEFA Champions League play-off first leg against PSV back in August 2023:

"It is a new team, and we have got new players. I thought Cyriel Dessers was excellent. He backed into the centre-halves, but he got us up the pitch. At times I would like people to get closer to him."

Whilst the fee received for Dessers will go some way towards funding new recruits, it is likely that Clement will struggle to find a player that can match the Nigerian's output for his side.

Perhaps, after a fortnight or so when the topic of pitches has dominated the conversation, it was to be expected that an England player might eventually pass comment.Until this point, all the debate about the surfaces in India had been carried out in the media. The England team – and the England team management – have made no negative comment. Indeed, they’re reiterated the party line: the wickets have been challenging and they have been out-played on them by a fine India side.But, after a media conference in which the question was asked, then asked again and then asked in fancy dress, someone finally broke ranks. Jack Leach had a view. And yes, he was suggesting better wickets were required.The only issue – well, an issue for those hoping for a controversy to stoke more eye-catching headlines – was that Leach was talking about pitches in England. Echoing the comments of his captain, Joe Root, who called for “serious improvements” in the standard of county wickets after the third Test, Leach suggested that, if the county game was going to better prepare players for the spin challenge expected in Asia, it could start by preparing ‘better’ wickets.”My thoughts are that the wickets in county cricket in general need to be good surfaces to start with,” Leach said. “Then, if they can break up and bring spin into the game later on, I think that’s a good thing for producing spinners.”They can bowl in the first innings on good wickets. And then, in the second innings when things are starting to happen, they [learn to deal with] the pressure of being the guy who needs to try and bowl the opposition out. That’s the ideal, I think.”If the spinner is playing in a four-man attack with three seamers and a spinner, then I think the role of the spinner becomes more important. But if there’s four or five seamers [in the side], or a couple of batters that also bowl seam, then I think your overs [as a spinner] can really go down; especially on some of the county wickets I’ve played on in the last couple of years.”Leach built his reputation, in part at least, by bowling on wickets at Taunton which were rarely described as ‘good’. While they might provide pretty decent preparation for playing on surfaces such as those seen in Chennai and Ahmedabad in recent days – and they certainly helped Leach catch the selectors’ eyes – they are not the sort of pitches either he or Root have in mind.Dom Bess chats to spin consultant Jeetan Patel•Getty Images

Instead, they mean the sort of surface on which a spinner might be used in the first innings to offer control and variation – Root had suggested the sort of surface where teams routinely score 400 or 500 – and the sort of surface on which they may play an increasing role in the second as the wicket wears. In short, both Leach and Root are calling for surfaces which are better for batting, limit the influence of seamers armed with a Dukes ball and better replicate the conditions traditionally seen at Test level around the world. All of which seems reasonable enough.But quite how these comments are received around the county game remains to be seen. Certainly groundstaff, who might feel a little criticised here, could be forgiven for reacting with a rueful smile. As if their jobs, given the volume of cricket played in England each summer, is not already hard, asking them to prepare Test-quality batting surfaces in the early weeks of the county season is probably unreasonable. If England really want to improve their county surfaces, they will almost certainly have to improve their domestic schedule, and avoid playing the bulk of the season when seamers predominate.In 2021, eight of the 14 rounds of County Championship cricket are scheduled to take place before the end of May (four take place before the end of April) with four more rounds (and the Bob Willis Trophy final) taking place in autumnal September. That leaves just two rounds – eight days of cricket, in other words – scheduled to take place in July or August when surfaces might be expected to provide most assistance to spin bowlers.This was an issue hinted at by England’s newly-appointed spin-bowling coach, Jeetan Patel. But while Patel was happy to allude to the problem, he is also a realist. Just as he found a way to flourish in county cricket, he is adamant young spinners can “upskill” to the point they “can still contribute in April and September.” Related

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“There’s probably 20 or 30 options,” Patel said when asked how the development of England’s young spinners could be improved. “You could send spin groups away [on overseas camps], you could play [first-class cricket] in the middle of the year or the end of it.”Ultimately, we want to be playing on the best wickets possible, whether that’s one that does a little bit on day one, flattens out days two and three, and then spins on day four – that’s the ultimate. That would be the ideal and if you spoke to any player or coach in this group here, that’s what they would ask for because that is very close to Test cricket.”We want to build Test cricketers, that’s part of my job, and that’s what I want to see: how is a spinner going to affect a game on days one, two and three but also be a match-winner on day four.”But for me it’s [important to] upskill those [county spinners] so they can still contribute in April and September. That’s the thing we forget: there is an opportunity to contribute as a spinner, whether it’s going at two an over, taking two wickets in the first innings or three in the third or fourth. There are opportunities for spinners in England. At county level, the pitches are either over-prepared or under-prepared. So within that is an opportunity for spinners to succeed.”There’s so many good seamers flying around, as well. And at the end of the day the counties want to win games. Let’s not be too quick to say ‘we have to play a spinner in every XI’ because if we tour New Zealand, then there may not be an opportunity for a spinner to play in a Test match there. We also have to be prepared to pick teams that are going to win games.”Whatever wicket England encounter in Ahmedabad this week, it seems the answer to long-term improvement may lie much closer to home.