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After three washouts and two losses, Durban Heat are on a roll, having won their third successive game

Firdose Moonda04-Dec-2019After three washouts and two losses in their first five games, Durban Heat have reeled off three successive wins, the latest coming in a high-scoring chase on Wednesday. This keeps them alive in the playoff race; they currently have 18 points in eight games, one behind third-placed Tshwane Spartans.Nelson Mandela Bay Giants’ record of the highest successful chase of the tournament barely lasted 24 hours as Heat eclipsed them in a 196 chase with seven balls to spare. While the season’s wait for a centurion continues, Alex Hales added to a string of quality 90-plus scores. He made 97 not out of 55 balls.Delport finally comes good Cameron Delport put on middling performances in his first seven matches. But in his eighth, he showed why he is such a sought-after player on the Global T20 circuit. His authoritative 84 off 49 balls included dismantling of two current South African bowlers and one former international. Delport took 15 runs off Kyle Abbott’s first over, including three fours. He sent Andile Phehlukwayo onto the roof of the stand at deep midwicket and dispatched Keshav Maharaj behind square on both sides to set up Paarl Rocks for an imposing total.Faf sustains momentumSo far, Faf du Plessis had only threatened to come good in the tournament. On Wednesday, he actually did by scoring his first half-century of the season at a strike rate of 183.33 despite initially playing second fiddle to Delport. After his dismissal, however, du Plessis was severe on Abbott, plundering 18 runs off his third over to remind the selectors and administrators of his abilities in the shortest format. It was a statement of sorts, given he was left out of the T20I squad that played in India, which also cast doubts over his future in the format. Performances like these will keep those who matter interested as South Africa look to build to the T20 World Cup next year.Look England, its Alex It wasn’t just du Plessis who was looking to catch the attention of the selectors. Hales, who last played for England in March, is also eyeing a comeback. The unbeaten 97 was his first significant score of the season, and it came at the right time. He went particularly hard at Hardus Viljoen’s short balls and struck four consecutive fours off his second over that went for 17. This kept the Heat on track at 53 for 1 in six overs. Yet, at the halfway mark, they needed 110 of the back 10. Hales held his shape and shellacked 61 from the next five to leave them needing just 49 in the final five. Hales remained unbeaten and saw them home.Shamsi calling Tabraiz Shamsi’s two wickets in this match put him joint-second on the wicket charts, alongside Imran Tahir and Junior Dala. He picked up two wickets in this match. The first came when Wihan Lubbe was caught in the deep while the second was the strike of David Miller, who was caught behind while attempting a cut. Miller’s wicket after he’d made a 22-ball 40. It was one of the key moments in the game.

FIFA have offered to hold talks with various leagues and player unions after legal action was threatened over expanding the football calendar.

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FIFA continually adding games and competitionsClubs furious with consistent expansionPep Guardiola has already hit outWHAT HAPPENED?

The European Leagues organisation has previously announced that a complaint will be filed to the European commission as FIFA continues to add and expand competitions to the global calendar. Pep Guardiola has repeatedly hit out at the organisation of tournaments, leaving players "exhausted".

FIFA has expanded the World Cup to 48 teams from 32, and a 32-team Club World Cup will also be played every four years from next year.

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Now, FIFA has offered conciliatory talks with the World Leagues Association and FIFPro. The world governing body is, clearly, aiming to shelve the prospect of legal action.

WHAT FIFA SAID

Per the , FIFA's statement read: "Our offer to engage in dialogue remains on the table. FIFA believes there is a more productive way forward for football than the threat of legal action."

FIFA also claims that it "serves and balances the overall interests of world football, including the protection of players".

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

FIFA's plans for the 2026 World Cup and the Club World Cup are already iron-clad. However, it remains to be seen if legal action does actually find its way to the courts.

Brazil have had some of the best attacking players in world football throughout their history, with the country known for their skill and flair in the final third.

The likes of Pele, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Neymar are just some of the iconic names associated with the nation, but who is statistically the best in front of goal? Football FanCast takes a look at the top Brazil goalscorers of all time, with a detailed view of the very best Selecao has produced…

All information correct as of 13th May 2025.

Rank

Player

Caps

Goals

1

Neymar

128

79

2

Pele

92

77

3

Ronaldo

99

62

4

Romario

71

55

5

Zico

71

48

6

Bebeto

77

40

=7

Rivaldo

76

35

=7

Jairzinho

82

35

9

Ronaldinho

97

33

=10

Ademir

39

32

=10

Tostao

55

32

12

Zizinho

54

30

=13

Careca

60

29

=13

Kaka

92

29

=15

Luis Fabiano

45

28

=15

Robinho

100

28

17

Adriano

48

27

18

Roberto Rivelino

92

26

=19

Jair

39

22

=19

Socrates

60

22

Here is a detailed look at Brazil’s top goalscorers:

10 Ademir 32 goals (39 caps)

Ademir, full name Ademir Marques de Menezes, represented Brazil between 1945 and 1953. He initially began his career as a winger but moved into a striker.

The former forward scored 13 of his 32 goals in the Copa America, with 1950 being the best year of his career after he found the back of the net 14 times in nine appearances.

9 Ronaldinho 33 goals (97 caps)

Known for his skills, tricks and dribbling ability, Ronaldinho also averaged a goal every three caps for Brazil during his 15-year international stint. One of his most famous goals came at the 2002 World Cup when he lobbed England goalkeeper David Seaman, with the attacking midfielder’s final goal coming in 2011.

Ronaldinho remains the only player to win a World Cup, a Copa America, a Confederations Cup, a Champions League, a Copa Libertadores and a Ballon d’Or.

8 Jairzinho 35 goals (82 caps)

A Botafogo icon at club level, Jairzinho is also regarded as a legend for Brazil. The versatile forward could play anywhere in the final third and played a key role in helping Brazil win the 1970 World Cup.

He was the second-highest scorer in the competition and made the team of the tournament, while also being named in the World XI in 1971 and 1972. Jairzinho’s 34th and 35th goals for Selecao came at the 1974 World Cup before he retired.

7 Rivaldo 35 goals (76 caps)

Rivaldo represented some of the biggest clubs in Europe in Barcelona and AC Milan, while at the same time, impressing for his country in what turned out to be an 11-year international career.

The left-footed forward starred for Brazil in 1999, the year he won the Ballon d’Or. He helped his country defend their Copa America title, ending the competition as top scorer and player of the tournament. Rivaldo retired from international football in 2003 at the age of 31.

6 Bebeto 40 goals (77 caps)

At club level, Bebeto made more appearances for Deportivo La Coruna than any other side. Bebeto made his debut for Brazil in 1985 and his last appearance came in 1998, but it was in 1989 that he made his mark on the international stage.

He scored a quarter of his 40 goals during that calendar year as he helped Brazil win the Copa America, and also won the World Cup in 1994.

5 Zico 48 goals (71 caps)

Attacking midfielder Zico followed in the footsteps of Pele to become Brazil’s main creative outlet between 1976 and 1986, however, he never managed to lift a World Cup or Copa America title.

Regarded as one of Brazil’s best, Zico played in a number of attacking roles for his country and ended with an impressive goal record before retiring from international football eight years prior to the end of his club career.

4 Romario 55 goals (71 caps)

A prolific striker who scored more than 700 goals during his career in just over 1,000 games, it is no surprise to see Romario on this list, with the forward scoring 55 goals in 71 appearances.

A World Cup winner, Romario also represented his country at the Olympic Games and was one of Brazil’s biggest stars during the 1990s. His last appearance for his country was a celebratory match in 2005 at the age of 39.

3 Ronaldo 62 goals (99 caps)

Known by many now as R9, Ronaldo is regarded by many as the best centre-forward in football history. With pace, power and a clinical finisher, he terrorised defences in his prime, though he did suffer from injuries towards the end of his career.

During the early stages of his international career, Ronaldo struck up a brilliant partnership with Romario and enjoyed plenty of success for club and country, while also picking up two Ballon d’Or awards. For Brazil, Ronaldo played between 1994 and 2011, winning two World Cups, two Copa Americas and one Confederations Cup.

2 Pele 77 goals (92 caps)

Pele, regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, held the record as Brazil’s top scorer for more than 50 years. He made his debut for Selecao at the age of 16, scoring against Argentina at the Maracana, and didn’t look back.

In total, the forward scored an obscene total of 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, including friendlies. On the international stage, he averaged at least a goal a game in six separate calendar years. He won the 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cups, with his final appearance for Brazil coming in 1971.

1 Neymar 79 goals (128 caps)

Some may have thought that Pele’s record would never be broken, however, Neymar managed to do that in September 2023, scoring his 78th and 79th goals for Brazil against Bolivia.

He began his international career at the age of 18 in 2010, scoring on his debut after coming through the ranks at Santos. Since then, he has gone on to star at club level for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, continuing to be Brazil’s main man.

Unfortunately, Neymar has yet to win a World Cup or Copa America with Brazil, however, the 32-year-old may have his eyes on reaching 100 goals for his country before he retires.

Faf du Plessis is absent from the 15-man squad to play England in three ODIs next month

Firdose Moonda21-Jan-2020Quinton de Kock has been named as stand-in captain of South Africa’s ODI squad to play England, which is without regular skipper Faf du Plessis and frontline seamer Kagiso Rabada, who are both being rested. The squad includes Lungi Ngidi, subject to a fitness test after he missed out on the Tests through injury, as well as Temba Bavuma, who is also back in Test contention after a first-class best of 180 last week, and five uncapped players.Fast-bowler Lutho Sipamla, death-bowling specialist Sisanda Magala, left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin, opening batsmen Janneman Malan and wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne are all in line to earn their first ODI caps.The presence of so many new and returning faces, including that of a new captain, is part of South Africa’s efforts to plan for the impending retirement of all-format captain du Plessis, who will assess his future after the T20 World Cup in November. “We need to create leaders,” Linda Zondi, CSA’s independent selector told ESPNcricinfo. “Faf is still the captain and he is not out of the picture at all. This is part of our succession plan. Quinny is one of the guys we have identified for the future.”De Kock has leadership experience with the Cape Town Blitz in the Mzansi Super League (MSL) and was in charge of South Africa’s T20 side on their tour to India last September, which du Plessis sat out. He would appear to be the leading contender to take over when du Plessis steps down and is considered among the senior-most members of the squad, across all formats.De Kock made his international debut in December 2012 after an impressive showing at that year’s U19 World Cup in Australia and was called up into the ODI squad just a month later. He boasts 115 ODI caps with 4,907 runs at an average of 45.01, including 14 centuries and 24 fifties. De Kock is South Africa’s highest run-scorer so far after three of the four Tests against England with 265 runs at 44.16 but the manner of some of his dismissals, to rash shot-making, has drawn criticism. However, de Kock has CSA’s acting director of cricket, Graeme Smith’s stamp of approval.”We all know the quality of the player that Quinton de Kock has grown to become. Over the years, we have watched him grow in confidence and become one of the top ODI wicketkeeper-batsmen in the world,” Smith said.”He has a unique outlook and manner in which he goes about his business and is tactically very street-smart. We are confident that the new leadership role will bring out the best in him as a cricketer and that he can take the team forward into the future and produce results that South Africans the world over can be very proud of.”However, South Africa have (and doubtless, will) also consider other options. Aiden Markram, who could not be considered for this series as he continues his rehabilitation on a broken finger, was trialled for a series against India in 2018. South Africa lost the series 1-5 and Markram’s form dipped in the aftermath, across formats. Another candidate is Bavuma, the Test vice-captain who has been at the centre of a social media storm after du Plessis called for him to earn his recall with “weight of runs” after recovering from a hip injury that forced him out of the first Test.ALSO READ: Moonda: It’s time for de Kock to step upIn essence, Bavuma, South Africa’s only black African batsman, was dropped after averaging 19.84 in 2019. At the time, South Africa’s leadership core indicated Bavuma would be given opportunities in other formats, especially after finishing in the top 10 in the MSL. Bavuma has two ODI caps to his name, played 13 months apart. He scored a century on debut against Ireland and 48 against Bangladesh more than a year later. Now, Zondi has indicated Bavuma will be given a decent run in the squad. “With Temba, when we played him before in some ODIs it was because of injury or resting senior players but now we have said to him that this is a big opportunity for him. And we want to see him make use of the opportunity,” Zondi said.Similarly, there are other players who will see the chance to nail down regular spots in the 50-over side which will be completely rebuilt in the aftermath of a disastrous 2019 World Cup campaign. South Africa lost five of their nine group stage matches and were the first team to be eliminated, an embarrassment that saw the entire coaching staff sacked and the retirements of Hashim Amla, JP Duminy and Imran Tahir.The survivors from that campaign are de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ngidi and Beuran Hendricks (who was a late replacement) with no room for Chris Morris or Dwaine Pretorius in this squad. Instead, Phehlukwayo is the lone seam-bowling allrounder with the focus on specialists.Reeza Hendricks, who narrowly missed out on a World Cup spot, will compete with Malan, who was second on the MSL run-charts, while Verreynne, Smuts and Bavuma will make up the top-order. Miller and Phehlukwayo will play the finishing roles but the exact composition of the attack will depend on fitness. Ngidi, Magala, Shamsi and Smuts are currently involved in a three-week-long strength-and-conditioning camp at CSA’s Centre of Excellence in Pretoria which ends on January 31 with a fitness test. All four are required to pass before they will be considered for the ODIs.For Ngidi, the challenge will be proving his match fitness, after being on the sidelines since the late stages of the MSL where he sustained a hamstring injury. “His workloads are on the rise and his progression is coming along nicely,” Zondi said.The other three have relatively long-running fitness concerns, with Smuts having been withdrawn from the T20 squad to play in India last September, Magala failing to pass fitness tests recently and Shamsi regarded as the first-choice spinner. Zondi is particularly hopeful Magala will improve quickly because “he has special skills in white-ball cricket.”Magala had an impressive domestic fifty-over cup in the 2019-20 season and a good MSL and could be a shoe-in for a more sustained role in future. The only other bowler who could not be considered is Junior Dala, who topped last summer’s 50-over wicket-charts, but picked up a knee problem in the MSL.South Africa squad: Quinton de Kock (capt), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Jon-Jon Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Janneman Malan, Kyle Verreynne.

A Tottenham transfer target has refused to rule out a move to England this summer amid reports that the club have maintained contact with his side ahead of a potential transfer.

Tottenham targeting new forwards

Spurs and Ange Postecoglou are on the hunt for at least one new face to freshen up their frontline this summer, it has been reported, as they look to push on from a strong Premier League campaign this time around.

Currently fourth in the Premier League, they seem highly likely to be playing Champions League football next season, and will need a bigger squad as a result in order to combat the extra games.

Tottenham's attacking options

Player

Contract until

Heung-Min Son

2025

Dejan Kulusevski

2028

Richarlison

2027

Brennan Johnson

2028

Bryan Gil

2026

Manor Solomon

2028

Timo Werner

2024 (Loan)

Meanwhile, Heung-Min Son will be 32-years-old heading into the new campaign and will not be able to lead the Spurs attack for ever, despite his best efforts to take up the mantle put down by Harry Kane last summer.

As a result, there is an expectation that the club will add at least one winger to their ranks, with Timo Werner a possible candidate after impressing on loan, and another striker may also be required.

Antonio Nusa coy when asked about his future

Now, it has emerged that Antonio Nusa is leaving the door open to a move to north London this summer. The Club Brugge attacker was subject to intense speculation in the winter transfer window, with Tottenham, Chelsea and Brentford all linked with a move for his services and Daniel Levy making 'formal contact' in a bid to try and push through a move to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

Tottenham planning to accept offer for forward Christian Eriksen loves

The former midfielder called him a “great striker”.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 8, 2024

It was the Bees that thought they had won the race, only for a reported knee injury to scupper their £25m deal for the Norweigian starlet.

As a result, he is set to be back on the market this summer, and Spurs are thought to maintain a strong interest in the Club Brugge talent, with Football.London claiming that they are 'continuing to monitor' the situation.

Now, Nusa has admitted that anything can happen this summer in a boost to Tottenham's hopes of signing the young winger.

“First and foremost: I had always intended to stay here until the summer. That also makes it much easier today", he explained. “I really can’t say what will happen. This season I had to miss a lot of matches. Now I want to play as much as possible. I can’t rule out staying here, but I also can’t rule out leaving. At the moment everything is open.”

Quizzed on the injury, Nusa assured readers that fitness was not going to be a problem going forwards after being cleared by the national team physios.

“That’s what it was about. All I can say is that I am 100% fit and never had any problems with that knee. In the end, it also became clear that there was no problem.”

New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has responded after Carlo Ancelotti praised his knowledge and predicted him to do well at Stamford Bridge.

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Maresca responds to Ancelotti praisePleads for patience at Stamford BridgeChelsea will take on Real Madrid in U.S.GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Ancelotti dished out the praise when asked about Maresca on John Obi Mikel's podcast recently. "Experience is not the most important part of our job; it's part of our job, of course, but the most important part is the knowledge," the 65-year-old said. "And the fact that he has experience with [Pep] Guardiola and with Leicester City, I think he has the knowledge to manage and to do well at Chelsea."

Maresca, who replaced Mauricio Pochettino at the helm of the west London outfit in June, responded ahead of his side's meeting with Ancelotti's Real Madrid in the United States.

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Things have been patchy for Maresca and Chelsea so far in pre-season. They kicked things off by drawing with League One side Wrexham and were beaten by Celtic and Manchester City, shipping four goals in both defeats. Chelsea owner Todd Boehly hasn't been afraid to pull the trigger since purchasing the club in 2022 but new boss Maresca wants time to get the Blues competing for major trophies again.

GettyWHAT MARESCA SAID

"This is a process. You cannot think after a month that everything is going to work in the right way," the 44-year-old said, per Chelsea's website.

"I really appreciated Carlo’s words. I worked under Carlo and his career is something unbelievable. He knows better than me and better than many, many people in this business, the way to reach something important.

"I worked with Carlo when he was near enough my age in this moment and he was sacked by Juventus but at the end, it is not something magic that you can reach in two days. That is something different. That is PlayStation, not football."

Maresca added: "Day-by-day, you need to work and you need time and I know most head coaches ask for time and it sounds like an excuse but it is not an excuse, it is the reality."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Maresca and Ancelotti have known each other for more than 20 years. In 2000, Ancelotti was in charge of Juventus and he wanted a young, versatile midfielder, so he signed Maresca from West Brom.

Pressure on hosts after second-Test defeat, but England still dealing with loss of key players

George Dobell in Port Elizabeth15-Jan-2020It’s the expectations that are the problem. If most young cricketers claimed three five-wicket hauls in their first seven Tests, the reports would be glowing. Equally, if most young cricketers achieved a bowling average of 27.40 in that time and showed the skills and maturity to be trusted with the Super Over in the World Cup final a couple of months into their international career, you could think they were doing pretty well. But for one reason or another, more seems to be expected of Jofra Archer.Look at Sam Curran. He’s played 14 Tests and not taken any five-fors. And if that feel like an unfair comparison – Curran is an all-rounder, after all – then compare Archer’s record to those of Stuart Broad and James Anderson over a similar period. After seven Tests, Broad had a Test bowling average of 45.33 (with a best of 3 for 54), while Anderson’s was 31.57 (with two five-fors and a best of 5 for 73). Even compared to the best of modern England, Archer is flying.One of the things that has become clear from watching England training in Port Elizabeth over the last few days – and not everyone with the strongest opinions has been doing so – is that Archer is not fully fit. It’s not a case of him coasting or England demanding anything unreasonable. It has been a case of them asking him to prove his match fitness and him struggling to do so.He was significantly slower than Mark Wood on Monday – not 5 or 6mph, but 10 or 20 – and spent much of Wednesday talking to the physio and doctor. After one of the 20 or so deliveries he bowled, Paul Collingwood – one of the assistant coaches – said “Well bowled, Colly” to him; a reference to the gentle pace he was generating. It was said, and taken, in good spirits but it wasn’t as inaccurate as you may think. Archer simply did not look match-fit.In such a scenario, it would not just be unwise but irresponsible to include him in the team for the Port Elizabeth Test. He has a precious skill and he requires careful and sympathetic handling. He is not the first fast bowler to miss a game or two through injury and he will not be the last. Such incidents do not usually precipitate questions about the management of the player or the player’s desire for the task. There’s not much evidence to suggest they should here, either.The good thing, from an England perspective, is that they have Mark Wood to come into the side in his place. Wood is probably the one man in England who can bowl at least as quickly as Archer and he has worked hard to earn this opportunity. He has reported some soreness after his exertions on Sunday and Monday and hardly bowled on Wednesday but, as long as he suffers no adverse reaction on Thursday morning, he is likely to be selected ahead of Chris Woakes here. With a bit of luck, Archer and Wood may play together in Johannesburg.But for all the Tests Wood has missed and all the injuries he’s suffered, it’s hard to recall an occasion when his desire has ever been questioned. For some reason – and it may simply be that Archer, like David Gower before him, makes the game look so absurdly easy that we set unreasonably high standards for them – Archer seems to face questions over his commitment and his desire. It’s far from clear the motivation of all the critics is good.Jofra Archer looks on during England nets•Getty ImagesIt’s surely relevant, though, that Archer moved to a nation crying out for a fast bowler. Yes, England has had glimpses of fast bowlers in recent times – Devon Malcolm, Andrew Flintoff (who took just four five-fors in his 183-match first-class career), Steve Harmison and Wood for example – but not for many years have they had a man with what appears to be the whole package: the repeatable action; the pace; the skill; the fitness. There were times during the World Cup when he made bowling over 90mph look ludicrously easy.But it never is. And England’s desire to play with their new toy has seen Archer used pretty unsparingly in the first eight months or so of his international career. He was the only man in the World Cup to bowl 100 overs and required a pain-killing injection ahead of the Super Over in the final. He bowled 42 overs in an innings – more than Broad has ever managed in a Test innings – in Mount Maunganui and then heard Joe Root, his captain, suggest “there are certain spells when he can unleash a little more”.To be fair to Root, it’s understandable he would want to keep returning to a man of Archer’s skill so often. Previous captains used to rely on James Anderson and Graeme Swann in a similar way. But we have, perhaps, been spoiled by Anderson’s resilience. He really has been something of a freak. It’s better, perhaps, to remember that Swann retired relatively early with an elbow injury.Comparisons with Anderson probably don’t help, either. “He’ll never play 150 Tests,” a sour-faced England supporter sneered as he watched nets on Wednesday. Well no, he probably won’t. But only one fast bowler in history has. If all others are deemed half-hearted failures, we are setting the bar impossibly high.Root also seems to be learning how to handle his key fast bowler. Ahead of this game, he spoke sensibly of the need to take the long-term view with fitness management and provided another reminder of Archer’s relative inexperience. Temper those expectations, was the basic takeaway.”Jofra is very much at the start of his career and I think managing workloads is important,” Root said. “He’s played a huge amount of cricket since he’s come into the international arena and we’ve seen a little bit of pushback from his body with that elbow injury.”He’s come into international cricket off the back of some brilliant domestic Twenty20 cricket, in particular. His reputation was made in IPL cricket, Big Bash cricket and performing and excelling in that. He came into Test cricket already with a reputation on a standard of Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad. People were matching him with Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc. These guys have played a lot of Test cricket, very experienced.ALSO READ: Series in the balance as familiar foes take it to the wire”For him it’s about managing where he is in his career and for us as a management group understanding that he’s very young and every game he’ll pick things up. He’s a very fast learner – he showed that in white-ball cricket – and we have to give him that opportunity in Test cricket as well.”But even then, Root suggested Archer needed to be bowling not just well, but quickly, too.”Of course, if he’s fit and raring to go you want him in your side,” Root said. “But you want to make sure he’s 100 percent ready and he can deliver all his skills: not just seam and swing it around but bowl at 90mph too. We’ve got to look after him as a player as well as just trying to win the series.”The very best – the likes of Malcolm Marshall and Richard Hadlee – did not bowl flat out all the time. Far from it. They used their pace as one of the skills in their armoury and unleashed it when required.Perhaps Archer is still learning when it is required. Perhaps there is something to be said for him warming up better and bowling quicker at the start of spells rather than easing into them. But his Test-best performance to date – 6 for 45 at Leeds – came when he concentrated on control and movement and rarely operated at anything approaching the pace seen for a while in the previous Test at Lord’s. And his quickest spells – notably against Steve Smith at Lord’s and Matt Wade at The Oval – didn’t necessarily produce many wickets. The point being, Archer is about far more than pace. He’s much better than that.Perhaps he is having something of a tricky second album phase to his career. Perhaps he is struggling with the Kookaburra ball and a series of surfaces – in New Zealand, in particular – that might have been designed to thwart him. Perhaps, as Root says, his body is simply pushing back after being asked to do a bit much.But he’s doing very well, really. Extraordinarily well, by comparison to England’s other seam-bowling newbies in recent times. Craig Overton (averaging 44.77), for example, Jake Ball (114.33) or Tom Curran (100.00).Archer is missing this Test due to an elbow injury. It happens. He’ll be back. And in him England have something quite special. He deserves appreciating and looking after.

After an impressive first season for Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager, in which he won the Carabao Cup and finished third, the Red Devils’ form in 2023/24 has taken a big nosedive.

This term, United have lost 12 Premier League games so far, and sit on just 50 points, and finished rock bottom of the Champions League group. Incredibly, United conceded 15 goals which is the most by a Premier League side in the group stage, as per Opta Joe.

Ten Hag’s side currently sit sixth in the Premier League, although they are significantly underperforming. According to Understat, United should be 13th according to expected points, on 37, and would be just eight points clear of the relegation zone.

There have been longstanding rumours that United’s new minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who owns a stake of 27.7% in the club, will look to bring in a new manager ahead of the 2024/25 season. Reports have suggested various names, including Ruben Amorim, who seems destined for Liverpool, although he has denied agreeing personal terms.

However, there could be one former Premier League manager, who won the Champions League with his previous club, in with an outside shot at getting one of the biggest jobs in club football.

A manager with a point to prove in England

According to Caught Offside, German boss Thomas Tuchel is an outsider to take over at Manchester United next season. Brus says “experienced” managers like Tuchel “are liked by United”.

With Tuchel set to leave Bayern Munich this summer, United could have a free run at the German manager, and would also not need to pay a release clause, which would save the Red Devils money.

It certainly feels like Tuchel has a point to prove. Having been sacked by Chelsea in 2022, after winning the Champions League in 2021, he moved to Bayern Munich. It has not worked out at the Allianz Arena for Tuchel, who failed to win the Bundesliga after Bayer Leverkusen ended their 11-year dominance emphatically.

However, Tuchel’s Bayern side did beat Ten Hag twice this season in the Champions League group stages, at the Allianz Arena and at Old Trafford.

Tuchel’s availability could present an opportunity which United could capitalise on next summer, with a potential sack incoming for Ten Hag, and no release clause to provide a stumbling block for the German.

How Tuchel’s style translates to Man United

So, how did Tuchel set up his Chelsea side at their best, and how that could translate over to United? The German manager took over an underachieving team and within months had won the Champions League and reached an FA Cup final.

Essentially, Tuchel did this by resting a defensively solid team who were athletic and fit enough to get back and stop counterattacks, with quick and direct attacking play, using wingbacks for maximum width.

Defensively, Chelsea under Tuchel were well drilled and had a good rest defence to prevent counterattacks, which had been an issue under Lampard. As explained by JJ Bull of The Atheltic in a YouTube video from September 2011, “If there is a turnover and they have to get back, they are back immediately”. Thus, they needed to be an athletic and fit side to get players back to help ensure they were not leaving their defenders exposed.

Going forward, Chelsea under Tuchel attacked with maximum width created by their wingbacks, and positional rotations which allowed for space in behind to attack with direct and vertical passes. These rotations included attacking players dropping deep to drag defenders with them and create space for teammates in behind an opponent’s backline.

Relating this back to Manchester United, some of the pieces of Tuchel’s Chelsea-style system fall into place. Mount is an obvious one, playing the same role he did at Stamford Bridge. Captain Bruno Fernandes might also be a good option to play next to the former Chelsea man.

Rasmus Hojlund would also offer an astute option at centre-forward, with Tuchel liking a striker of such a profile. Kobbie Mainoo would fit the role Mateo Kovacic played under Tuchel well, receiving the ball off the centre-backs and using his carrying skills to progress play, and Andre Onana is an easy pick in goal.

However, there are certainly some positions United must target. They would likely need at least one new fullback, and should also look to recruit at centre-back and in midfield to enhance their squad and fit Tuchel’s style.

Despite their direct nature, Tuchel’s Chelsea were a side who loved to keep possession of the ball. In 2021/22, they had the third-highest average possession in the Premier League, with 62.3%. Only Manchester City, with 68.2%, and Liverpool with 63.2%, had more than the Blues did in 2021/22, as per Sofascore.

This season, Manchester United have struggled to retain any substantial amount of possession under Ten Hag. They have the tenth most in the Premier League, with just 50%, according to Sofascore.

Therefore, you could certainly argue that United simply do not have the quality of player who can keep up with the demands of Tuchel’s high-possession game. However, it is worth bearing in mind that in Ten Hag’s first season in charge, they had the sixth most in the Premier League, with 53.8%, as per Sofascore.

Often this season, we have also seen United’s players, particularly in midfield, looking tired and unable to cover the copious amounts of space left open. Whilst Tuchel would surely not be so reckless as to leave big gaps in midfield, he will certainly place demand on his side to get back quickly to help prevent counterattacks, which they may struggle with.

Should the German take charge at Old Trafford, it would be fascinating to see what moves he makes in the transfer market, and how he would utilise the existing players at United.

Tuchel is clearly a wonderful manager who has struggled of late, described by Fabrizio Romano on X as “incredible” in 2020. He would certainly have a point to prove at Old Trafford, and only time will tell if, and how, he would fare as Manchester United manager.

Man Utd could now replace Ten Hag with "best young coach in Europe"

Erik ten Hag’s time at Manchester United feels like it is coming to an end.

ByMatt Dawson Apr 14, 2024

While hope springs eternal heading into a new campaign, there are a number of coaches who will need to avoid a slow start to stay in employment

Given the amount of sport that has dominated the summer months, you'd have veen forgiven for not realising that the new Premier League season was just a few days away before Saturday's Community Shield. And so while teams are still finessing their transfer business and making final tactical tweaks even after the traditional curtain-raiser, everything is pretty much in place for the 2024-25 campaign to begin.

That means its predictions season, and here at GOAL we're no different. Over the next week our writers will be giving their takes on all the biggest issues, from the teams who are likely to be scrapping for survival to those who will be fighting for top-four finishes and the title, and everything in between.

Today, we've taken a look at the managers who are vying to avoid being the first to be sacked once the new campaign gets under way:

Getty Images'No shocks with shams at Chelsea'

Mark Doyle: Erik ten Hag is still under scrutiny after overseeing Manchester United’s worst-ever Premier League campaign, but INEOS have clearly decided that the Dutchman deserves more time to prove himself. It would be a surprise, then, to see Sir Jim Ratcliffe hit the panic button during the early stages of the season. Todd Boehly, though?… Chelsea sacked Thomas Tuchel just six games into the 2022-23 Premier League campaign – and he was a Champions League winner. Therefore, it would not come as a shock to see the shams at Stamford Bridge ditch new manager Enzo Maresca if Chelsea start the season poorly.

AdvertisementGetty'Forest's business not good enough'

Amee Ruszkai: Back in December, Nuno Espirito Santo's tenure at Nottingham Forest started well, with wins over Newcastle and Manchester United within 10 days of his appointment – but only Luton Town and Sheffield United lost more matches from that point on. It was an unconvincing end to the season and I don't think the summer business at the City Ground has been good enough to get them off to a strong start for this coming campaign. This will force the club to make a change – something it has become accustomed to doing through six permanent managers in six years.

Getty Images'Could get ugly for Maresca'

Richard Martin: Chelsea has never been a safe place for managers, and under Todd Boehly's ownership it has resembled a bullring. So Godspeed Enzo Maresca, the fifth coach to take the poisoned chalice in the last two years. The Italian has got off to an inauspicious start in pre-season, suffering heavy defeats against Celtic and Manchester City while displaying some particularly shoddy defending. Maresca is committed to playing the ball out from the back and the Blues appear a long way from mastering his style of play, making them highly vulnerable to high-pressing opponents. Chelsea fans are often quick to get on the back of an unproven manager when they do not make a strong start, and things could get ugly quickly, particularly with them playing Maresca's former employers City in his first game.

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Getty 'Ten Hag kept on as a useful idiot'

Matt O'Connor-Simpson: Erik ten Hag seems to have been kept around as a useful idiot, a sacrificial lamb to be offered to the braying media once it becomes clear that one summer is not enough time to fix the most dysfunctional football club in Europe. It’s quite remarkable the Dutchman was retained in the summer, considering all of the damning statistics that populated social media for most of the 2023-24 campaign. If he can’t fix the midfield soup, tighten up the defence and get a centre-forward scoring, Ten Hag will soon be freed to “go win somewhere else,” as he alluded to in the wake of last season’s FA Cup final.

Fast bowler fined after being found to have used an “audible obscenity” in Johannesburg Test

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jan-2020Stuart Broad has become the fifth player to be fined and handed a demerit point during the Test series between South Africa and England. Broad was found to have used an “audible obscenity” in an incident that saw Faf du Plessis and Jos Buttler briefly come together on the fourth afternoon in Johannesburg.Broad, who was fielding in the covers, appeared to become involved in a heated discussion with du Plessis, after the South Africa captain had been hit on the pads by a throw to the keeper. Du Plessis said after the match that he had been “trying to show fight as the leader”, as South Africa battled in the face of a hefty fourth-innings target. “It was just myself and Broady having a go,” he said.The match officials subsequently charged Broad with a Level 1 offence, under Article 2.3 of the ICC code of conduct. He was fined 15% of his match fee and now has two active demerit points on his record – following a reprimand for giving Rishabh Pant a send-off at Trent Bridge in 2018.Vernon Philander and Ben Stokes were both hit with Level 1 penalties during the Wanderers Test, a game that Kagiso Rabada sat out after collecting his fourth demerit point within a two-year period in the third Test at Port Elizabeth. Buttler was found guilty of a Level 1 offence in Cape Town, after being picked up by the stumps mics swearing at Philander.England won the Test series 3-1, following a 191-run victory in Johannesburg. The tour will also encompass six limited-overs internationals, starting with the first ODI at Newlands on February 4.