Both teams still seeking first win after final-ball drama
ECB Media30-Jul-2024
Lauren Bell defended seven off the final over on the way to figures of 4 for 11•PA Photos/Getty Images
Northern Superchargers 100 for 7 (Davidson-Richard’s 27, Bell 4-11) tied with Southern Brave 100 for 8 (Tryon 25, Smith 2-24)Kate Cross scrambled two runs off the final ball to level the scores and secure a tie between Northern Superchargers and Southern Brave in the Hundred.On a slow and used wicket, boundary-hitting never looked easy and Superchargers’ chase of 100 was a nervous and fraught affair throughout, off the back of a first-innings batting effort from Southern Brave that was equally scrappy.Brave – well marshalled by captain Georgia Adams – used the conditions and kept the stumps in play to maintain the pressure in the chase, and were thankful to England seamer Lauren Bell whose 4 for 11 was the standout performance of the game.Both Phoebe Litchfield and Alice Davidson-Richards looked to have the chase in hand for Hollie Armitage’s side, but on a nip-and-tuck day that saw momentum swing this way and that, both players were dismissed just as they seemed to be putting their team’s nose in front.Only Maia Bouchier and Chloe Tryon passed 20 for Southern Brave, but Rhianna Southby and Bell played a hugely important role with bat in hand to inch their team up to the psychologically important three-figure total.As it was, Southern Brave’s total was just enough to not be surpassed by Superchargers, but both sides will feel they missed the opportunity to get their first win of the Hundred on the board.Meerkat Match Hero Lauren Bell said: “The emotions were up and down! In that last set of five I had a lot of adrenaline. It was cool, that’s what we play cricket for.”You just go ball by ball at the death, and see what player you’re bowling at. Pace-off was working on this pitch, and pace-on was a good variation, so it was ball by ball.”The ideal final ball was a straight yorker and I don’t think I was too far away from executing. Maybe we should have just looked at the field a bit but what can you do, hindsight is lovely.”
Wolverhampton Wanderers have money to play with this summer and could now turn their attention to an exciting winger to add flair acrosss their forward line, according to reports.
Wolverhampton Wanderers kickstart summer transfer window
Matheus Cunha’s departure to Manchester United may have left a sour taste in the mouth for supporters of the Old Gold, but there was always an element of inevitability regarding his eventual fate.
Nonetheless, the picture appears to be bright in the West Midlands under Vitor Pereira, who will be given time and financial backing to shape his squad over the coming months.
Evaluating the immediate priority at Molineux, adding one or two quality attacking options in the face of Cunha no longer being in the building will become a popular topic among fans and pundits alike.
Millwall forward Mihailo Ivanovic has been targeted by the Old Gold to help provide some added prowess in the final third, and Alex Neil’s ringing endorsement that the 20-year-old is one of Europe’s top ten talents will likely create plenty of intrigue.
Further back, Nelson Semedo is mulling over a new deal at Wolves as his contract nears expiration, illustrating the importance of bringing a right-sided defender to the club should the Portugal international move on to tackle a fresh challenge.
Wolves could sign instant Cunha replacement in "special" £25m talent
Wolves will be hoping to sign a replacement for Matheus Cunha this summer
ByRoss Kilvington May 31, 2025
Sunderland’s Trai Hume may be the man the Old Gold are looking for to strike an adequate balance. Meanwhile, Rayan Ait-Nouri’s impending transfer to Manchester City leaves food for thought at left-back.
Transition may not be a bad thing for Wolves in light of big-money departures. Either way, they are now reportedly plotting a swoop for an exciting young winger.
Wolverhampton Wanderers plotting swoop for Roger Fernandes
According to Molineux News in conversation with Graeme Bailey, Wolves are keeping tabs on Braga winger Roger Fernandes and he expects the Old Gold to ‘explore’ the Primeira Liga for additions during the window.
Reports earlier this year claimed Manchester United, Manchester City, Brighton, Aston Villa and Newcastle United are also keen on Fernandes amid his rise to prominence in Portugal, which has led to a £25m price tag.
Referencing the situation, Bailey said: “I think the Portuguese league will be somewhere that they explore; it wouldn’t surprise me if they do look towards that league again. I’ve heard Roger Fernandes’ name linked to Wolves in recent weeks as well, wouldn’t surprise me if he was on the agenda.”
Roger Fernandes at Braga in 2024/25 – why are Wolves taking an interest? (FBRef)
Shot creating actions (Primeira Liga)
78
Shot creating actions (Europa League)
19
Progressive carries per 90 mins (Primeira Liga)
4.71
Progressive passes received per 90 mins (Primeira Liga)
9.94
Goal-creating actions (combining both competitions)
9
Likened to former Manchester United star Antonio Valencia by Foot The Ball, Fernandes has registered five goals and seven assists in 48 appearances for Braga this term and is capable of featuring on either flank.
Completing an average of 1.4 dribbles per league match, the Portugal youth international could go some way to filling the creative void left by Cunha, even if he is only one part of the solution.
Celtic could be in the market for a new forward this summer and have now landed an unexpected boost with an ex-striker keen on a Parkhead return, according to a report.
Celtic prepare for a summer of movement in both directions
Brendan Rodgers is enjoying a brilliant second spell in Glasgow and could end the campaign with a fifth trophy from six attempts if his side see off Aberdeen this Saturday in the Scottish Cup final.
The Scottish Premiership title was lifted last weekend, and was accompanied by the Premier Sports Cup late last year after an intense penalty shootout victory over Rangers at Hampden.
Brendan Rodgers
While suspense dominates ahead of their latest outing at the national stadium, Celtic are expected to be busy in the market and have identified several targets to strengthen during the off-season.
Kieran Tierney is on his way back to Scotland and Celtic Park this summer after already reaching a pre-contract agreement with the Hoops when his contract at Arsenal expires.
He could be joined at Parkhead by Tyrhys Dolan, should the Blackburn Rovers winger decide he wants to seek a new challenge away from Ewood Park.
On the same token, Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller is a target for Celtic and could be thrust into the limelight if Reo Hatate chooses to leave the club this summer after three-and-a-half years in Glasgow.
Celtic could sign "terrific" star who's even more exciting than Tierney
Celtic could land an even more exciting signing than Kieran Tierney by swooping for this star.
ByDan Emery May 19, 2025
From the sound of things, plenty of work is going on in the background to make the reigning Scottish champions an even more competitive force by the time pre-season comes to an end at Lennoxtown.
However, Celtic supporters may be intrigued by recent developments ahead of the window opening for business after a former star striker admitted he would love to return to the club after Tierney.
Giorgios Giakoumakis open to sensational Celtic return
Speaking to The Daily Record, Cruz Azul striker Giorgios Giakoumakis has admitted he would love a return to Celtic after a successful spell at the club that yielded three trophies.
Former Celtic forward Giorgos Giakoumakis.
He stated: “You want to set the fire? I would love to play for Celtic again. I don’t know if that’s a utopia or if it could happen again – but who wouldn’t?
“Even if you don’t know what it feels like to be there, when you’ve already been there, you know exactly what it means.”
Giorgios Giakoumakis at Celtic
Appearances
57
Goals
26
Assists
2
Later, he added when asked what it would be like to play in front of the Celtic supporters again: “Oh my God. That would be like an amazing dream. It would be amazing.”
In a career that has seen Giakoumakis become something of a high-profile journeyman, he has registered 118 senior goals for club and country, featuring at clubs in nations such as the Netherlands, Greece and the United States.
Truthfully, it is hard to know at this point whether there would be interest from Celtic, or the scope financially, to bring him back to Parkhead. However, he was a popular figure in Glasgow and is still revered by many supporters, so the saying ‘never say never’ would apply to this particular case.
Chelsea booked their place in the final of the Conference League on Thursday night and are now preparing to face Real Betis with a chance to win silverware in Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge.
The Blues beat Djurgarden 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, and 5-1 on aggregate, to clinch their place in the final, whilst the club are also in the race to secure a Champions League place by finishing in the top five in the Premier League.
Despite there still being plenty to play for domestically and in Europe this season, Chelsea are also putting plans in place ahead of the summer transfer window, with talks underway to sign a new centre-forward.
Chelsea have held talks to sign Ligue 1 forward
According to Foot Mercato, Chelsea have already held talks over a deal to sign Emanuel Emegha from Strasbourg ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The report claims that the club have spoken with the player and his representatives to discuss a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge, as the English giants work on a transfer to bring him over in the summer.
It states that negotiations between Chelsea and Strasbourg are not expected to pose any problems, because they share the same ownership, but does not reveal how much money it would take to strike a deal for the centre-forward.
Emanuel Emegha
The Blues are clearly looking to bolster their attacking options in the summer transfer window and Emegha presents an interesting option, as he could be amazing with Cole Palmer at Stamford Bridge next term.
Why Emegha would love Cole Palmer
The Strasbourg number nine could love to play with the England international because the left-footed star has the creative quality to consistently provide him with opportunities to find the back of the net.
Put simply, Palmer is a striker’s dream because he has created 38 ‘big chances’ in the Premier League since the start of last season, more than any other player in the squad.
Emegha, whose form was hailed as “magnificent” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is a clever striker with excellent movement, as shown in the clip above, and could be the perfect forward to make the most of Palmer’s exceptional passing quality.
His movement has been evident throughout the Ligue 1 season with Strasbourg because he has racked up 16.58 xG in 27 matches, which shows that he is consistently getting into high-quality positions.
24/25 Ligue 1
Emanuel Emegha
Appearances
27
xG
16.58
Shots per game
2.3
Goals
14
Conversion rate
23%
Big chances created
4
Assists
3
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old star has only scored 14 goals from 16.58 xG, an underperformance, but it does show that the forward is good at getting into shooting positions.
Having a playmaker of Palmer’s quality in the number ten position behind him could help to make Emegha even more prolific by combining his passing with the striker’s movement, and that is why they could be an exciting pairing for Chelsea with their potential link-up in the final third.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer
Emegha could become amazing for the Blues by playing with the English star because of the quality of chances that could be consistently created for him, and that is why the youngster, who still has room to improve his finishing, could be an excellent addition to the squad.
Forget Walsh: Chelsea star who was their "best player" is now undroppable
Chelsea booked their place in the Europa Conference League final with a 5-1 aggregate win over Djurgarden.
Nearly 18 sixes per match. One six every 13 balls. The ball has cleared the boundary at an unprecedented rate this season, and the records are tumbling
Sampath Bandarupalli09-May-2024Race to 1000 sixesThe 1000-sixes mark has been breached in the IPL for the third consecutive season. The addition of two new teams in 2022 meant that the count of matches increased to 74 and resulted in 1062 sixes in IPL 2022, bettering the previous highest of 872 in 2018. IPL 2023 then set a new high with 1124 sixes, a mark that is not far from getting surpassed.
With 17 games to go in IPL 2024, we are only 110 sixes away from surpassing the record set last year. Going by the trend of six-hitting seen this season, it won’t be a surprise if the record changes by the end of this week. The 1000th six of the 2022 edition came in the final league match, but took only 67 games to reach that mark last year. In IPL 2024, the milestone was breached ten matches earlier, in the 57th game, and in 2312 fewer balls.Six-hitting like never beforeSix-hitting in IPL 2024 has gone to the next level with 1015 sixes hit in just 57 matches at an average of 17.81 sixes per game. It is the best rate for any IPL season, bettering the 15.19 of 2023. Sixes have been hit more frequently in 2024 – once every 13.01 balls on average, also the best for an IPL season – two balls clear of the previous best, 15.34 in 2023.
The improvement in six-hitting in IPL 2024 is a major factor behind the spike in scoring rates. The overall batting strike rate after 57 matches is 151.25, which is the best for any edition. The previous best strike rate, set last year, was 141.71, nearly ten runs per 100 balls less than 2024. Sixes have accounted for 30.48 % of runs scored by batters in 2024, which is also the highest for any IPL, going ahead of 27.64% in 2022.T20 records go for a toss, three timesThe record for most sixes hit in a men’s T20 match before this IPL stood at 37 – in an Afghanistan Premier League game in 2018 and a Caribbean Premier League fixture in 2019. That record was broken in Hyderabad on March 27 with 38 sixes hit in 40 overs when Sunrisers Hyderabad faced Mumbai Indians.A couple of weeks later, SRH were part of a record-equaling effort in Bengaluru with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Soon, the record of 38 sixes became history as Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings locked horns in a six-hitting fest at Eden Gardens. The two teams struck 42 sixes, all in just 38.4 overs, with PBKS scaling the highest successful T20 chase.Five matches in IPL 2024 have witnessed 30 or more sixes. A team has hit at least 20 sixes in an innings four times this season. In the last 16 years, this feat had only been achieved three times.ESPNcricinfo LtdA record season for SRHSRH and Delhi Capitals have rarely been among the top six-hitting teams in the IPL, but this year, they have taken the top two spots. SRH, who had never hit 100 sixes in an IPL season before this year, have already broken the record for most sixes hit by a team in a T20 tournament with two league matches still to be played.They have hit 146 sixes in only 12 matches, going one ahead of the record set by Chennai Super Kings with 145 sixes in IPL 2018. The previous best six-hitting season for SRH was 2022, where they hit 97. Similarly, DC’s best year was 2018, with 115 sixes in 14 matches. It was one of two seasons in which they had hit 100 or more sixes before IPL 2024.
DC have struck 120 sixes in 12 games this season at an average of ten per game. However, they have conceded more sixes that they have hit – 123. The record for most sixes conceded by a team in a season is 147 by RCB in 2022. With five teams already conceding over 110 sixes, RCB’s record could also be broken by the end of the season.The launchpad for sixesA year after David Warner’s comments about the pitches at DC’s home ground in Delhi not being suitable to batters, the Arun Jaitley Stadium has become a launchpad for six-hitting. As many as 114 sixes have been hit in just four matches at the venue. At least 25 sixes came in each of those games at an average of 8.41 balls per six. Eden Gardens in Kolkata hasn’t been far behind, with 139 sixes in six matches, the highest at any venue in IPL 2024.
The top four spots for sixes per match by season at a single venue belong to IPL 2024, with Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad on top of that list (minimum four matches played at the venue in a season). It shows how well most of the venues this season have aided six-hitting and turned the tournament into a freakishly high-scoring one. Only two venues had previously recorded over 150 sixes in an IPL season featuring the home-away model in India. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which hosted nine matches in 2016, saw 165 sixes hit, while the Narendra Modi Stadium witnessed 162 last year. Eden Gardens will need 27 sixes in the last match of the season to break that record. Bengaluru and Hyderabad aren’t far behind, with 111 and 110 sixes respectively, with two games to go at each of those venues.
Lizelle Lee’s return could revitalise their batting ahead of bigger challenges
Firdose Moonda05-Mar-2022″Take the point and let’s go.”That was Marizanne Kapp’s message to her team-mates after South Africa beat Bangladesh by 32 runs in their World Cup opener.The final wicket of Fariha Trisna was Kapp’s first of the match. But her celebrations were minimal, to the point of being mildly annoyed. She stood with hands on her knees, with exhaustion writ on her face. She had the expression of someone who knew this performance did not go according to plan.They came into the World Cup on the back of five consecutive series wins, but South Africa were rusty and just managed to drag themselves past 200 on a slow surface. For more than a while, it appeared as if they were unlikely to defend their score.Coach Hilton Moreeng put some of it down to “nerves,” but also acknowledged South Africa were “sloppy” and that it wont be good enough against better teams. Sune Luus, meanwhile, wanted them to get bigger scores.Ayabonga Khaka celebrates her 100th ODI wicket•ICC via GettyUnlike New Zealand, West Indies or Australia, South Africa didn’t have a centurion in their innings. Since their arrival in New Zealand, they have looked rusty. They lost both their warm-ups and failed to cross 250 in their first game. No one managed to top Kapp’s 42.Tazmin Brits has made 21 runs in three innings on tour, No.3 Lara Goodall has scored 41 and No. 5 Mignon du Preez has made 36. Without Lizelle Lee, who arrived late following the birth of her first child, the batting has stumbled.Moreeng knows they are capable of better. “It’s not a concern, more a frustration because we know what the players who find themselves in these positions are capable of,” he said. “The players in this position are capable of a lot more. They also know that.”Lee should be back to take her place at the top of the order for South Africa’s next match against Pakistan. Moreeng, for one, doesn’t believe she is short on practice “She has been training, even when she was at home with her family,” he said. “And knowing the player that she is, she will want to jump straight into it.”But South Africa will expect more from the likes of Goodall and du Preez to back up what Luus believes is a “great bowling attack.” Despite periods where they seemed to drift away, with the new-ball pair lacking bite, South Africa pulled themselves back thanks to Ayabonga Khaka’s consistency.Khaka took 4 for 32, including her 100th in the format. She was able to execute in conditions Moreeng believed suited Bangladesh’s style of play more. “Ayabonga has been one of the unsung heroes of this attack,” he said.”She has been one of those very consistent cricketers, she is quite economical and has worked extremely hard around her game and how to improve. She is a very good student of the game, she assesses conditions really well, as well as opposition. Maybe that’s what gives her the edge.”South Africa move to the Bay Oval for their next match against Pakistan on March 11. It’s a venue where run-scoring may be a little quicker, but they have work to do in other departments too.They were lethargic in the field, and dropped two catches, while Bangladesh were energetic and kept the pressure on. For a side on their World Cup debut, there appeared few signs of nerves in the Bangladesh camp.Eventually, South Africa still managed to get out of jail courtesy Kapp. “The important thing was to make sure we get the job done on the day,” Moreeng said. ” As we go along in the World Cup, we will start improving and everyone will start seeing what they are capable of.”
The franchise’s squad changes mirror their fluctuating fortunes, which means some legends miss out
Gaurav Sundararaman and Saurabh Somani02-May-2020ESPNcricinfo Ltd
Kings XI Punjab
Kings XI Punjab have shown promise in many seasons but have not been able to deliver during the crunch moments. In some seasons, they were in a good position to make the play-offs but failed to do so. It was not easy to pick an all-time XI for a franchise that has constantly chopped and changed its sides, with five different coaches in the last five seasons and inconsistency in team selection over the years.ALSO READ: ESPNcricinfo’s all-time Delhi Capitals XIThe picks
There were not too many overseas performers who have stood out for Kings XI over the 12 seasons. Shaun Marsh, David Miller and Glenn Maxwell made the cut for various impactful performances they had whenever the team won and are the top three run-getters for Kings XI. KL Rahul was another no-brainer, with his scintillating performances in the last two seasons. Wridhhiman Saha’s 2014 season was good enough for him to make the the side. Among the bowlers, the spin duo of Axar Patel and Piyush Chawla also walked in due to their consistent performances.The debate
While three overseas spots were sealed, the fourth spot had a few contenders. Adam Gilchrist, Ryan Harris, Andrew Tye and Mitchell Johnson all had various memorable moments. However, none of these bowlers really had the impact that Gilchrist had for Kings XI at the top. He is also a natural captaincy candidate, even though his inclusion means Saha might have to patrol the outfield. With many Indian bowlers putting up good performances, we felt the fourth overseas spot could go to a batsman rather than a bowler. The bowlers threw up some interesting discussions. Domestic bowlers dominated the pacers. Irfan Pathan, Sandeep Sharma, Parvinder Awana, Praveen Kumar and Mohit Sharma were vying for three slots. Irfan had 47 wickets at 7.79 and an impressive strike rate of 19.1. The fact that he can bat gave him an edge over the others. Praveen Kumar, although not high up among the wickets, got a boost due to his ability to strike early and bowl tight (his economy rate for Kings XI is 6.96) and was chosen ahead of Mohit Sharma. The last bowling spot went to Sandeep Sharma, an outstanding powerplay and death bowler, and the leading wicket-taker among pacers for Kings XI with 71 wickets. He has dismissed Virat Kohli six times, Chris Gayle four times and David Warner thrice. Sandeep walks in purely for setting up games for Kings XI with the ball.ALSO READ: ESPNcricinfo’s all-time Chennai Super Kings XIVirender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh were others options discussed but with the top order dominated by overseas players, and the duo’s performances for the team being patchy, there was no place for these two legends. This gives the team six batsmen with two bowling allrounders. There are five frontline bowlers plus some part time offspin by Maxwell.
Playing XI stats for KXIP
1. Shaun Marsh
71 matches (2008-2017)
Runs 2477, Ave 39.95, SR 132.742. Adam Gilchrist (capt and wk)
Ex-Chelsea star William Gallas has revealed who he believes the Blues should sign this January, as their lack of striking options rears its head once again following a second injury in quick succession for summer signing Liam Delap. Gallas believes the Blues should target 'dream' striker Victor Osimhen, who he believes would adapt with ease to the demands of the club and the Premier League and could put Chelsea 'on top'.
Gallas backs Osimhen to be Chelsea's 'dream' striker
The No.9 shirt at Stamford Bridge remains somewhat of a poisoned chalice, as striker after striker have donned the shirt for the Blues but have failed to deliver the goods for the west London outfit over a period of time exceeding 20 years.
Delap may not have had the opportunity to truly show what he is about on the pitch, but the 22-year-old has already missed 11 matches through injury this campaign and is not expected to be back in action until the new year at the very least, though this is not as bad as initially feared after he suffered a shoulder injury at Bournemouth.
A two-time Premier League winner with Chelsea, Gallas has revealed that he feels Nigeria international and current Galatasaray star Osimhen could be the striker who could turn things around at Stamford Bridge, offering the club the experience they have been lacking in forward areas for several years.
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'He can put Chelsea on top' – Gallas calls for Blues to sign Osimhen
Osimhen became a global star during his time at Napoli, where he won the Scudetto in 2023 and became one of the most sought-after strikers in world football in the process. Premier League clubs have long been linked with his signature, but a mixture of high demands by both Napoli and the player meant that a move to England fell through. Osimhen instead secured a move to Galatasaray last summer following a previous loan spell, and has scored 48 goals in 56 matches for the Turkish giants.
Gallas told OLBG on Osimhen and Chelsea: “To be honest, Chelsea, at the moment, I think they are missing one experienced player, and a player who can put Chelsea really on top for me is Victor Osimhen.
“I wanted to see him sign for Chelsea. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. But yeah, my dream is to see him play for Chelsea because with his quality, I think he can adapt to Chelsea perfectly.”
Gallas speaks on how Delap can take his game to the next level
Gallas also spoke on Delap and his – admittedly stunted – adaptation period at Chelsea, claiming that the former Ipswich Town striker needs to “take a risk” in order to return to the player he was for the Tractor Boys last season, where he scored 12 league goals in the first top-flight season of his career ahead of his £30million ($40m) summer move to the Bridge.
The former defender, who represented all of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur during his Premier League career, cited the increased pressure Delap may be feeling with the Blues and may feel that having Osimhen alongside him could help the young striker thrive.
Gallas said: “I think he [Delap] has to take a risk. He has to try to be the same player he was at Ipswich, he scored goals. He looked like he was enjoying his football.
“I know when you move to another club, especially a big club, you get more pressure, you try to do everything right, but no, just be who you are and take some risks and nobody will tell you not to.”
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Chelsea with striker decision to be made after latest injury set-back
It remains to be seen whether Chelsea will look to add another striker in January following Delap’s latest injury set-back. In the meantime, teenager Marc Guiu may get more of a chance to show his worth amidst the continued belief that Joao Pedro prefers playing in behind the striker.
Chelsea already showed the door to their most senior striking option last summer in Nicolas Jackson, who is currently plying his trade on loan at Bayern Munich and is unlikely to have any kind of a future at Stamford Bridge.
Osimhen has expressed a desire to move to the Premier League in the past and if the Blues were to listen to Gallas and make a move for the Nigerian, the chance remains that they could get their man.
Após a derrota para o Palestino na Libertadores, os torcedores do Flamengo voltaram a pedir a saída do técnico Tite. Na web, os rubro-negros levantaram a hashtag “#ForaTite”. Confira abaixo.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoRizek detona atuação do Flamengo: ‘Burocrático, previsível, arrastado’Fora de Campo07/05/2024Fora de CampoTorcedores do Flamengo se revoltam e questionam atuação contra o Palestino: ‘Qual a desculpa de hoje?’Fora de Campo07/05/2024Fora de Campo‘Flamengo parece um grupo que se reuniu meia hora antes da pelada’, diz Eric FariaFora de Campo07/05/2024
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Newcastle United’s topsy-turvy campaign is raging on. When will Eddie Howe strike the balance needed for his team to kick on and reestablish themselves as a force in the Premier League?
Last weekend’s performance over Manchester City offered a glimpse into what United are capable of, dispatching Pep Guardiola’s side at St. James’ Park thanks to Harvey Barnes’ second-half brace.
But that win was built atop a run of three defeats from four in the Premier League, and Newcastle have since been defeated on the road in the Champions League, against Marseille in France.
It wasn’t the Toon’s worst performance of the season, but the emission of anxiety after Nick Pope’s costly mistake emphasises the issue in mentality when away from Tyneside.
Why Howe should drop Nick Pope
Pope has been a strong and convincing goalkeeper for Newcastle since joining the club from relegated Burnley in 2022, but, aged 33, the Three Lions star is allowing errors to creep into his game, the latest of which cost the Magpies dearly in Marseille.
Newcastle knew they needed to take something home with them from the Orange Velodrome, and indeed, Barnes’ finish secured an advantage at the interval.
Cool heads were needed, but Pope rushed out to claim a neat through ball and failed to match the pace of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the veteran striker getting there first and then rounding Pope and scoring from an acute angle to restore parity. The one-time Arsenal hero then scored again from close range, smacking home from a few yards out following a fierce cross-box pass.
That frustrating display was hardly an outlier. This season, Pope has left plenty to be desired.
Given that loanee Aaron Ramsdale is waiting in the wings, it’s understandable that some supporters want to see a change between the sticks, and it’s perhaps something Howe should consider if he wishes to revive his team’s fluency and confidence on the road.
It’s not the only change that must be made, though, with another United man’s form this season emphasising the need for a permanent tweak on Howe’s part.
The Newcastle star who's a bigger liability than Pope
A core part of Newcastle’s success over the past four years, Joelinton’s chapter at the club may nearly be written, with the long-time star beginning to become a problem for Howe.
One of the most powerful and imposing midfielders in the Premier League, Joelinton’s form has suffered this season, and he’s noticeably regressed, and that is accentuated by the superstars around him.
Unlike last season, when Joelinton’s intense, pack-a-punch style was so integral in charging up the Newcastle engine, the likes of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes are forming something of a partnership
Newcastle’s Italian midfielder, to be sure, is showing off new levels of athleticism and strength to match his natural elegance, and the skipper is as all-encompassing as ever in the middle of the park.
But Joelinton is waning, and this has been picked up by Toon observers. Indeed, journalist Mark Douglas noted earlier in the campaign that the 29-year-old has been “nowhere near his best”.
Sofascore record that Joelinton is winning only 2.9 ground duels per Premier League fixture, which is his lowest average since 2019/20, his debut term, when he principally played as a centre-forward.
Refashioned into an all-action midfielder, Joelinton has proved himself to be an iconic servant for Howe at Newcastle, but after so many rounds of unforgiving action, it may be that it is the right time for him to move on.
Howe’s Most-used Players at Newcastle
Rank
Player
Apps
1
Bruno Guimaraes
172
2
Dan Burn
166
3
Fabian Schar
165
4
Jacob Murphy
152
5
Joelinton
146
Data via Transfermarkt
Hailed as a “club legend” by content creator Adam Pearson, the Brazil international has had his day, and the fact that PIF are gearing up for an ambitious bid for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson in 2026, the England midfielder having emerged from Newcastle’s academy, suggests that the mainstay is becoming expendable.
The suggestions that Pope should be extricated from his post between the posts are rising in volume, but the emphasis on pushing for a Joelinton upgrade must be just as loud.
For all the Brazilian’s robustness, he is no longer untouchable under Howe’s wing, and is perhaps becoming the weakest link in a team that needs to kick on.
PIF have signed an "explosive" talent who can end Gordon's Newcastle career
Newcastle United already have an exciting attacker up their sleeve who can end Anthony Gordon’s stalling Magpies career.