Tony Meola added that the USMNT have made no progress since Pochettino replaced the fired Gregg Berhalter
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Club remain disappointed by damage to reputation and earnings after day one abandonment against Northamptonshire
ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2024
Play was abandoned at the County Ground due to an unsafe pitch•Getty Images
The Cricket Regulator has spared Gloucestershire punishment for an alleged breach of pitch regulations after their Vitality County Championship Division Two match against Northamptonshire was called off on day one, with umpires concerned over player safety on a hybrid pitch.The fixture, which took place in Bristol at the end of August, was abandoned after just 65.1 overs with umpires Chris Watts and Sue Redfern stopping the match in the final session. Northamptonshire batters Ricardo Vasconcelos and Rob Keogh were both forced to retire hurt after being struck on the hand by Gloucestershire quick Ajeet Singh Dale. Vasconcelos suffered a fracture to his finger.Northamptonshire were awarded 11 points, while Gloucestershire received none. “The match has been abandoned because there was a foreseeable risk to the batters. In the opinion of the umpires, it would be unreasonable to continue,” read a statement released by the umpires later that day.Following a full investigation by The Regulator – which involved interviewing the match officials, captains, coaches, and groundstaff, viewing live stream footage, and relying on expert technical reports – the disciplinary body decided no charges would be brought against the county at this time. However, they warned Gloucestershire that they must ensure the situation does not arise again, acknowledging the umpires made the right call regarding player welfare.A statement released on Wednesday read: “The Cricket Regulator was satisfied, as a result of those enquiries, that the bounce was significantly uneven and dangerous to the players. The Cricket Regulator therefore fully supports the decisions taken by the match officials to abandon the match in the circumstances with which they were presented.”However, the Cricket Regulator is satisfied that Gloucestershire CCC have demonstrated that they sought, acting reasonably, to prepare the best quality pitch that they could for the match they were staging. As a result, no charges will be brought on this occasion.”The Cricket Regulator does however expect Gloucestershire CCC to take steps to prevent issues of this nature arising in the future. The pitch advisor who investigated the pitch at Bristol will offer to provide support to Gloucestershire CCC moving forward.”In response, Gloucestershire, while accepting of the The Regulator’s decision, and the recommendation to liaise with the ECB on pitch preparation, reiterated their disappointment at the match officials’ decision to abandon the match. As well as a reputational and financial hit, the lack of points also scuppered their promotion push.”The Club has been significantly punished by the inability to compete for points in the match, suffering reputational damage and loss of matchday earnings in the process. Prior to the match we still retained hopes of challenging for promotion to Division One.”As with the preparation of all pitches at the Seat Unique Stadium, Gloucestershire’s Groundstaff do so at all times with the intention of creating a fair balance between bat and ball, irrespective of the opposition. As the Regulator points out in its findings, the Groundstaff ‘prepared the pitch as they had done previously’ for a County Championship match against Middlesex earlier in the season, played on the same hybrid pitch which was rated as ‘good’.”The Regulator goes on to say the pitch prepared against Northamptonshire “appeared to be of the same standard as previously prepared ‘good’ pitches. In light of these comments, Gloucestershire looks forward to a dialogue with the Regulator on what more could have been done by the Club to, as the Regulator suggests, ‘ensure that the pitch performed better than it did’.”
كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير عن تفاصيل جديدة تتعلق بعدد من اللاعبين الأساسيين في النادي الأهلي، وموقفهم من المشاركة في المباريات القادمة، مؤكدًا أن الجهاز الفني يتعامل بحذر مع الملف البدني تجنبًا لتفاقم الإصابات.
قال الإعلامي أحمد شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الإثنين: “هناك حالة قلق بخصوص موقف بيكهام ومحمد بن رمضان، وهذا ما دفع عماد النحاس لمنحهما يومين متتاليين من الاستشفاء والراحة، ويبدو أن اللاعبين كانا في حاجة فعلًا لهذا القرار”.
وتابع: “اليوم سيتم حسم موقف بيكهام وكذلك أشرف بن شرقي، لكن لو كنت مكان الجهاز الفني، فلن أشرك بيكهام أو رمضان، ومن الأفضل منحهما وقتًا إضافيًا للراحة حتى تعود الأمور إلى طبيعتها”.
وواصل: “بالأمس قرر عماد النحاس إراحة مجموعة من اللاعبين خوفًا من الإجهاد، وهم: كوكا، تريزيجيه، مروان عطية، محمد هاني، طاهر، ياسر، ومحمد شريف”.
طالع أيضًا | “3 أسماء محلية مطروحة”.. مفاجآت جديدة بشأن خليفة ريبيرو في الأهلي
وأضاف: “أما كريم فؤاد فما زال غير محظوظ، فبعدما اقترب من التعافي بشكل كامل انضم للمنتخب بقيادة حلمي طولان، لكنه حتى الآن لم يتعافَ بنسبة 100%، وبالتالي لا يزال بعيدًا عن المشاركة، وبالنسبة لبن شرقي، فهو في حالة جيدة ولا يعاني من إصابة خطيرة”.
وأشار شوبير: “أشرف داري سيلحق بمباراة الزمالك، بينما أحمد سيد زيزو يجاهد من أجل المشاركة، لكن من وجهة نظري الشخصية ستكون مشاركته صعبة”.
وأوضح: “أما إمام عاشور فقد غادر بسلامة الله، لكنه ما زال بحاجة للراحة، وسيخضع لبرنامج غذائي وفحوصات طبية جديدة بعد أسبوع لضمان عودته بنسبة 100%. من البداية قلت إن الأمر يحتاج شهرًا كاملًا على الأقل منذ إصابته في مباراة إنبي وحتى عودته للملاعب”.
واستكمل: “لا يجب الحديث الآن عن تجديد العقود أو غيره، الأولوية لصحة اللاعب، فالصحة أهم من أي شيء، ونسأل الله له الشفاء والعافية”.
واختتم شوبير: “زيزو يريد بأي طريقة أن يلحق بمباراة الزمالك، لكنني أقولها بوضوح: لا توجد مباراة في العالم، حتى لو كانت نهائي كأس العالم، أهم من صحة اللاعب، الأهم أن يعود سليمًا ومعافى ليقدم أفضل ما لديه عند العودة”.
Chelsea have started their Club World Cup campaign with a relatively straightforward 2-0 victory over LAFC in the searing heat of Atlanta.
Enzo Maresca’s side were always expected to win, and it gave the Blues a solid start to the tournament. Next up is Brazilian side Flamengo this evening, and another win would seal a place in the knockout rounds.
The aim is to go as far as possible in the United States, especially with prize money for the winners of the competition set to reach $125m this summer.
Goals from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernández on Monday were enough to seal the win over the MLS side, but it was the debut of Liam Dealp that was one of the most positive aspects of the win.
The striker arrived for a reported fee of £30m from Ipswich Town a few weeks ago, and on the surface, this move could turn into a bargain for the Stamford Bridge side. Indeed, just how well did the Englishman perform during his cameo against LAFC a few days ago?
Liam Delap’s game in numbers vs LAFC
Maresca went with Nicolas Jackson as his lone centre-forward against the American side, and he performed fairly well, grabbing the assist for Neto’s opener.
After 65 minutes, the Senegal international was subbed off in place of Delap, who was given just over half an hour to demonstrate his talents.
During this time, Delap made two key passes, succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts, and created one big chance against LAFC.
It was his assist that showed exactly what the striker can do. He delivered a fine cross from the right flank straight into the path of Fernandez, who finished easily to seal all three points.
While Delap may have been signed to provide competition for Jackson in leading the line, his cameo proves the youngster can drop deeper and generate chances for his teammates.
It will be interesting to see whether Maresca deploys him from the start against Flamengo this evening or if he will remain on the bench.
With the transfer market now in full swing, the manager appears to be keen on signing another winger or two to add something different to his squad.
Jamie Gittens has been earmarked as the main transfer target, and it remains to be seen whether the Blues will secure a deal to sign the Borussia Dortmund winger over the next few weeks. There are plenty of alternatives, however, especially those who have plenty of Premier League experience…
Chelsea’s search for a new winger
According to the Guardian, Chelsea have made Gittens a priority this summer in a bid to bolster their attacking options.
Dortmund rejected a bid of around £42m for the young English talent, and it remains to be seen just how much Maresca will have to pay to secure his signature.
The report goes on to state that the Blues have also made contact with West Ham United to sign Mohammed Kudus this summer.
West Ham rejected an initial approach from the Stamford Bridge side regarding a swoop for the former Ajax man, who has also been targeted by Manchester United and Newcastle United.
The Irons would prefer a straight sale amid Maresca’s attempts at offering players in any prospective deal, and the Ghanaian sensation has a release clause worth £85m, which is valid for Premier League sides throughout the first ten days of July.
It remains to be seen if he will cost more than a potential deal for Gittens, though. Given his Premier League credentials and ability to develop further, might he not only be a better signing, but also could Kudus work well with Delap?
Why Chelsea must sign Mohammed Kudus
Kudus was excellent during his spell with Ajax. A total of 39 goal contributions across 87 games saw West Ham pay £38m to bring the winger to the Premier League.
Across his two seasons so far with the Irons, Kudus has scored 14 and five goals respectively, attracting attention from the likes of Chelsea and Man United.
Metric
Kudus
Neto
Madueke
Goals
5
4
7
Assists
4
6
3
Successful dribbles per game
2.9
1
1.4
Shots per game
2.3
1.7
2.5
Big chances created
3
11
6
Total duels won per game
6.4
2.9
3.3
The Ghanaian international has been hailed as a “generational talent” by journalist Gary Al-Smith when he is at his free-flowing best.
While he shone throughout his debut campaign, the 2024/25 season saw his goal output drop rather sharply.
While this may be a worry, Kudus still shone across a range of attacking metrics. Indeed, when compared with his positional peers in the top flight, the 24-year-old ranked in the top 17% for crosses into the opposition penalty area (0.52) per 90, while also ranking in the top 2% for take-ons attempted (7.23) and in the top 3% for successful take-ons (3.2) per 90 last season.
These attributes regularly see the winger beat his man to deliver balls into the box. Given Delap scored 11 of his 12 goals from inside the penalty area, he will usually be well-placed to tuck away chances created by Kudus.
Despite a fairly underwhelming season last term, throughout 2023/24, Kudus not only managed to create five big chances for West Ham in the Premier League, but also succeeded with an impressive 3.2 dribbles per game – a success rate of 62% – and averaged 0.8 key passes per match.
A move to Chelsea may reinvigorate the former Ajax starlet, especially as he will return to the Champions League, a competition he has previously starred in.
Indeed, the winger scored four goals and grabbed two assists in just six matches for the Dutch giants. With the Blues returning to Europe’s premier club competition next term, having someone like Kudus at his disposal could make Maresca’s job much easier.
Much will depend on the fee that can be agreed between the two clubs, but a potential deal for the 24-year-old could be a shrewd one for the club.
There is plenty of time left in the window, but with other clubs circling, Maresca may need to act swiftly.
A better move than Gittens: Chelsea make contact to sign "insane" £70m ace
Chelsea are searching for Jamie Gittens alternatives in the transfer window.
1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 20, 2025
Will Chelsea spend big again this summer?
Since being taken over by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital three years ago, the Blues have signed over 35 senior first-team players for in excess of £1bn, but are showing no signs of slowing down.
The Blues have already completed the signing of Liam Delap from Ipswich for £30m, meaning he will be eligible to feature at the Club World Cup, with Enzo Maresca’s side kicking off their campaign against LAFC next Monday.
Before that match in Atlanta, could Chelsea sign another young attacker?
Chelsea's search for a new wide-attacker
BlueCo are incredibly busy trying to improve the squad before the Club World Cup gets underway with Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan reportedly closing in on a move to Stamford Bridge.
Yet, he’s not the only player who could arrive before Chelsea’s American adventure.
According to a report by RMC Sport, Chelsea have agreed personal terms with Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens on a whopping seven-year contract.
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This comes after David Ornstein of the Athletic reported that the Blues have submitted an official bid, although Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports Deutschland claims that Chelsea’s initial bid of €29.5m was “rejected”, with die Schwarzgelben “demanding” closer to £51m.
Jacob Steinberg of the Guardian has previously documented that adding a ‘right-footed left-winger’ to their squad, having previously assessed Nico Williams and Alejandro Garnacho, but Gittens has emerged as the first-choice target.
So, it appears to be just a matter of time until this deal gets done, although they only have until 7pm (BST) on Tuesday to finalise the transfer, if Gittens is going to feature at the Club World Cup.
How Jamie Gittens could unleash Liam Delap
Neel Shelat of Total Football Analysis outlines how Delap has all the attributes to be a top-class penalty box poacher, so why would Gittens’ arrival be the dream signing for him?
Well, Felix Johnston describes the 20-year-old winger as “electric”, praising his “variation with crosses” and ability to make threatening “back post” runs.
Meantime, Lebohang Mwamuka of Breaking the Lines believes Gittens has the ability to become a ‘regular creator from wide areas’, given that he is “strong with both feet… dynamic” and possesses “remarkable dribbling’.
Jacek Kulig of Talent Football Scout agrees, believing Gittens’ ‘potential is extremely high’, noting that his primary strengths are dribbling, ‘decision-making and movement’.
So, let’s analyse Gittens’ statistics in the Bundesliga this season.
Minutes
1,776
149th
Goals
8
32nd
Assists
3
71st
Progressive carries
113
4th
Attempted take-ons
171
1st
Successful take-ons
77
2nd
Carries into penalty area
63
1st
As the table outlines, there are few better dribblers in the Bundesliga than Gittens, ranked first for attempted take-ons and carries into the opposition penalty area, behind only Liverpool-bound Florian Wirtz for successful take-ons.
In fact, across Europe’s big five leagues, the Englishman ranks seventh for attempted take-ons as well as seventh in the Champions League for the same metric. Thus, Gittens’ dribbling and creative abilities would surely get the best out of centre-forward Delap.
The duo have actually played together on nine occasions before, seven of which have been with England’s U21s, while they were briefly teammates in Manchester City’s academy too, with Delap assisting Gittens for a goal against Liverpool’s U18s in September 2019.
Thus, if the pair are reunited in West London later this summer, they could form quite the devastating attacking duo.
Talks ongoing: Chelsea mainstay could be forced out if they sign "elite" player
There is set to be real shake-ups at Stamford Bridge this summer.
ByEmilio Galantini Jun 8, 2025
Liverpool are basking in the glory of becoming Premier League champions and have now lined up a World Cup winner who could help their cause heading into next season.
Liverpool ready to strike in the summer window
Arne Slot and his group have reveled in the opportunity to celebrate their top-flight title triumph and finally got their hands on the trophy on Sunday afternoon after playing out a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Despite the joyous scenes among supporters in the stadium on Sunday and at their parade on Monday, attention at the club will already have turned to what will happen next at Anfield as Liverpool look to become England’s dominant force for years to come.
The Dutchman shares that sentiment and is in for the long haul on Merseyside, as he said last week: “I could see myself working here for a long time because it’s a great club to work for and I’m really happy over here.”
Backing from FSG will likely play a huge part in his positive morale, which will be helped enormously by news that Bayer Leverkusen duo Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong are likely to sign for Liverpool this summer.
Developments of late indicate the finer details are what remain to be signed off on regarding both deals, and they won’t be the only arrivals at Anfield over the next few months to freshen up a squad that could be altered significantly.
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Liverpool drew against Crystal Palace before lifting the Premier League trophy at Anfield.
ByAngus Sinclair May 25, 2025
Carrying a ruthless streak is paramount to guarantee a consistent flow of success. Tough decisions need to be taken, though you get the impression that Slot isn’t one for letting sentiment get the better of him, with Milos Kerkez expected to come in to replace Andy Robertson at left-back.
Stocking up in defence, the former Feyenoord boss is now keen on bringing another steely operator to Anfield in light of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure.
Liverpool in the mix to sign Atletico Madrid's Nahuel Molina
According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool are willing to sign Atletico Madrid right-back Nahuel Molina, who could be available for between £25.1 million to £29.3 million this summer if Diego Simeone decides to cash in on the Argentina international.
Newcastle United, Inter Milan, Roma and Juventus are also in the race for the 27-year-old, who also thrived in Serie A at Udinese.
Nahuel Molina’s season for Atletico Madrid in numbers – La Liga
Total minutes played
1581
Big chances created
3
Duels won per match
2.6
Balls recovered per match
2.2
Praised by Lionel Messi for his role in Argentina’s win over the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup, Molina has registered a goal and three assists in 44 appearances across all competitions this season.
With Conor Bradley already on the books at Anfield and Frimpong set to join him, it would be a surprise if Liverpool were to bring in a third right-back once the window opens.
However, depth is needed to juggle multiple competitions, so it may be a case of covering all bases for Slot in his pursuit of further silverware, and perhaps Frimpong’s ability to play further up makes room for another natural full-back.
Newcastle United have now identified “sensational” £50m+ midfielder as a major summer transfer target by Eddie Howe, according to a report.
Magpies set sights on new midfielder
The players responsible for ending Newcastle’s 70-year trophy drought have etched themselves into folklore forever, but with a Champions League campaign potentially on the horizon, Howe will feel a need to improve his squad in the summer transfer window.
The manager is relatively well-stocked in central midfield, but with doubts over the futures of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, at least one new addition may be needed, and Girona midfielder Yangel Herrera has recently emerged as a target.
Herrera has often featured in a defensive role throughout his career, but there are signs the Magpies could look at bringing in a midfielder with more of an attacking mindset, having now joined the race for Manchester City’s James McAtee.
Newcastle identify "incredible" £65m Prem forward as ideal summer target
The Magpies have expressed an interest in signing a Premier League attacker this summer.
ByDominic Lund May 6, 2025
Should Howe’s side qualify for the Champions League, it may also be wise to bring in an attacking midfielder with experience in the elite competition, and they have now set their sights on a player who has performed very well in Europe this season.
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Newcastle are now keen on signing Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott, with Howe clearly a big fan of the Englishman, having personally identified him as a major summer target.
Elliott has found it difficult to break into the Liverpool starting XI this season, which means a summer exit could be on the cards, but he will not come cheap, with Wolverhampton Wanderers reportedly planning an offer worth in excess of £50m.
"Sensational" Elliott could ignite career at St. James' Park
The midfielder has impressed for Liverpool in the past, having been lauded as “sensational” by football writer Leanne Prescott, but he has only played a sporadic role in the Reds’ title triumph this season, making 15 Premier League appearances.
Given that the London-born maestro is now 22-years-old and yet to receive an England cap, it could well be time to leave the Reds for the good of his career, and he has proven he has what it takes to perform at the top level with his performances in the Champions League.
The former Fulham man scored three goals in five Champions League outings, most notably bagging a late winner in the first leg of his side’s round of 16 clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
While game time has been hard to come by, the Liverpool ace has certainly made the most of his limited opportunities, ranking incredibly highly across a number of key metrics over the past year, when compared with his positional peers in the ‘big five’ European leagues.
Statistic
Average per 90
Non-penalty goals
0.46 (99th percentile)
Assists
0.46 (99th percentile)
Shot-creating actions
5.17 (99th percentile)
Elliott is showing signs he could go on to be a top player, but he needs regular game time to make that a reality, so a move to Newcastle could make perfect sense this summer.
Celtic are into the final stretch of their bid for the treble and could now be set to reignite an old flame on the market that would excite supporters, per reports.
Celtic ready to build for the future under Brendan Rodgers
The weekend is nearly here, and Brendan Rodgers knows his side can take a major step towards claiming their fourth successive Scottish Premiership title if they can see off Kilmarnock on Saturday afternoon.
Should that happen, a victory for Aberdeen 24 hours later would put the final nail in Rangers’ coffin. Undoubtedly, the Bhoys haven’t been at their best in recent times, but their divisional rivals haven’t been able to hold a candle to them this season.
Finishing off the campaign with a flourish is now in their sights and may yield a domestic treble if St Johnstone and one of Heart of Midlothian or Aberdeen are both swept aside in the Scottish Cup.
Looking ahead to next term, Celtic have made their interest known in Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka and may look to strike a surprise deal for the Slovakia international despite having Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo between the sticks.
Furthermore, Keith Wyness has claimed the Bhoys could make up to five summer signings as Rodgers puts his foot down ahead of his side’s involvement in Champions League qualifiers next term.
Celtic set to make major striker signing if they sell £3m star this summer
Celtic could be set for a busy summer window under Brendan Rodgers.
BySean Markus Clifford Apr 9, 2025
Additions are expected to be widespread at Parkhead to supplement the inevitability of departures. Celtic have the power to sell assets for a considerable sum, so don’t be surprised if they reinvest in premium talent.
Heeding that advice, Rodgers and company are now reportedly plotting a move for a goalscorer who would generate major excitement among supporters.
Celtic set to reignite interest in Brondby's Mathias Kvistgaarden
Per The Daily Record, Celtic are expected to pursue a deal for Brondby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden this summer after previously showing interest in the Denmark Under-21 international across recent windows.
Labelled “superb” by scout/analyst Jacek Kulig, the 22-year-old was subject to interest from the Hoops in January, which his current employers blocked and they have since placed a £13.5 million price-tag on his shoulders.
Mathias Kvistgaarden’s key statistics in 2024/25 – Danish Superliga
Appearances
21
Goals
13
Assists
4
Shots on target
25
Chances created
16
Completed dribbles
17
Non-penalty XG
9.98
Admired by Thomas Gravesen for his ‘skilled’ nature, as cited by the report, he has notched 17 goals and five assists across all competitions in 28 appearances this campaign.
Capable of playing through the middle or on the left flank, Kvistgaarden has the versatility needed to slot into Celtic’s front four with minimal fuss under Rodgers, who will want a degree of flexibility to work with heading into 2025/26.
Now, it remains to be seen if the Hoops can strike a deal for their long-term target amid further interest from the likes of Sporting and Eintracht Frankfurt in his services.
Tottenham Hotspur have been tipped to appoint a “perfect” replacement for under-fire boss Ange Postecoglou, but it isn’t their rumoured top managerial target Andoni Iraola.
Ange Postecoglou relying on Europa League to save Tottenham job
Following a dismal Premier League campaign, with Postecoglou on course to become Spurs’ worst-ever head coach in the competition’s history, the Australian is seriously under the cosh.
Tottenham plan "surprise" move for Chelsea star as Maresca sanctions exit
The Lilywhites are big fans.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 8, 2025
A 3-1 win over relegated Southampton on Sunday provided a rare break from the pressure surrounding Postecoglou’s position, with the 59-year-old now fully focused on getting past Eintracht Frankfurt in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie on Thursday.
It is widely believed that Postecoglou is relying on a good run in the Europa League to keep his job at Tottenham, and this is echoed by reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Wolves (away)
April 13th
Nottingham Forest (home)
April 21st
Liverpool (away)
April 27th
West Ham (away)
May 3rd
Crystal Palace (home)
May 10th
“It’s not over yet, but it’s a dangerous situation, the one of Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham,” said Romano on his YouTube channel last week.
“I know Spurs fans are not happy with the current situation. It’s really poor in terms of points. In the Europa League, it’s a different story. Now, there is an important clash with Eintracht [Frankfurt]. So the Europa League is saving the season at the moment for Tottenham and Postecoglou.
“If Tottenham win the Europa League, this could change the whole sense of the project. Next year, they would be in the Champions League finally, so it would be really important. Otherwise, the expectation is that there is a very concrete and strong chance for Tottenham to replace Postecoglou at the end of the season.”
The Lilywhites have already been drawing up potential replacements for Postecoglou, including Iraola, who is believed to be their leading candidate for the job (The Athletic).
However, the 42-year-old isn’t Spurs’ only option, with links also surrounding Fulham boss Marco Silva.
Some reports even suggest that Tottenham have already made an apporach for Silva, following another impressive campaign at Craven Cottage for the Portuguese. European football is very much still alive for the Whites, and they’re fresh off the back of a thrilling 3-2 win over Premier League title frontrunners Liverpool.
Tottenham tipped to appoint Marco Silva instead of Andoni Iraola
Now, TalkSPORT pundit Troy Deeney has explained why Silva would be the “perfect” appointment for Tottenham, with the ex-Watford striker tipping him to transform Spurs in just three months.
“The biggest compliment you could take for Marco Silva is that, if you look at all the people that are around him – his staff – they’ve been poached, because they (other clubs) want Marco Silva but they go and get the people off his branches,” said Deeney on air (via West London Sport).
“He’s ready for a big team. I think he’d be perfect for Spurs if they would allow him to just go and take over and not get involved too much from up above.
“I think he’d change the culture of that place within three months. Marco is definitely ready. Fulham are on a good trajectory, but I think they’ll struggle to keep him long term.”
Southampton are currently on the search for their next permanent head coach after they made the decision to part ways with Will Still earlier this month.
The former Lens boss only won two Championship matches during his time at St. Mary’s, and the club must, simply, find a manager who can bring a winning mentality back to Hampshire.
Southampton, as shown in the graphic above, have had a run of less-than-successful head coach appointments, which may not fill supporters with too much hope for the next one.
The latest on Southampton's managerial search
The Telegraph reports that former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neil is in pole position to land the job, having left Wolves last year.
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It states that he is the leading contender for the role at this moment in time, but that it is still early on in the process and there are other managers are in the frame.
The Telegraph adds that Michael Carrick, who is also out of a job, is a head coach who is being considered and could come into the running to replace Still in the coming days.
The former Middlesbrough boss, who was hailed as an “insanely talented coach” by former Boro player Lukas Engel, has been a free agent since the end of last season, and could be a dream alternative to O’Neil.
Why Southampton should hire Carrick over O'Neil
Parking any concerns about O’Neil’s Portsmouth ties to the side, given that he previously stated a desire to manage Pompey, the former Wolves boss has yet to show that he can coach a team to dominate and win games consistently.
As shown in the graphic in the post above, his Bournemouth and Wolves teams consistently conceded more chances than they created, and both clubs improved statistically after he left.
There should, therefore, be concerns about whether or not he is the right profile of coach to lead Southampton to promotion back to the Premier League as a side that needs to win consistently to gain promotion.
Carrick, meanwhile, has a proven track record of coaching a dominant team in the Championship, as well as taking over in a similar situation to the one that Saints find themselves in.
The English boss joined Boro after they had won two of their first 11 league games in the 2022/23 campaign and led them to a fourth-place finish, per Transfermarkt, whilst Southampton have won three of their 14 league matches this term.
League finish
8th
10th
xPTS (Expected league finish)
73 (5th)
71 (6th)
xG
69.5
67.4
xGA
55.0
56.4
xGD
+14.5
+11.3
As you can see in the table above, Carrick also coached expected play-off finishes in his two full seasons at Middlesbrough, but his squad did not deliver results that matched the performances.
Some may point to the fact that Boro are currently third in the Championship after his departure, but they are sixth for xPTS and have failed to win any of their last three games, per FotMob, which suggests that their fast start is slowing down to match their performance level.
Overall, Carrick could be a dream alternative to O’Neil because he does not have links to Portsmouth, he does have relevant Championship experience, and he has achieved a play-off finish after taking over a club in a similar position.
Whereas, O’Neil has never managed in the Championship and has lost 52 of his 100 games as a manager, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has yet to prove himself as a coach who can deliver winning football.
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