Familiar failings undermine England top order before tail comes to the rescue in fine style

Andrew Miller24-Mar-2022

Close England 204 (Mahmood 49, Leach 41*, Seales 3-40) vs West IndiesIf variety is the spice of the Spice Island, then the pitch at St George’s served up a two-course taster on the first day in Grenada. After ten days of often enervating attrition in Antigua and Barbados, the façade of English batting competence crumbled at the first sign of heat from a pumped-up West Indies seam attack, before a mighty final-session rescue act from England’s tenth-wicket pair dropped a sizeable hint that the truest mischief in the surface had already been and gone.And by the close, who could rightly say where the balance of the series truly lay? In slumping to a nadir of 67 for 7 in the hour after lunch – a passage of play that included three key wickets for no runs in ten balls, and six consecutive single-figure scores from Nos. 2 to 7 – England seemed hell-bent on resetting their very own red-ball reset. After the earnest insistences from Joe Root and Paul Collingwood that lessons had been learned and progress had been made since the all-too-recent misery of the Ashes, the hyper-implausible figure of Kyle Mayers begged to differ, as his startling morning figures of 5-5-0-2 instigated a collapse that could have come straight out of Scott Boland’s playbook.But then, out of the wreckage strode the batting saviours of Jack Leach – still as diffident as ever, even with his contrasting heroics at Headingley and Lord’s to serve as cult-status proof of his unlikely prowess – and England’s newest recruit Saqib Mahmood, who fell to the day’s final ball for an agonising 49, the highest score of his professional career. With Leach left high and dry on 41 not out, Nos. 10 and 11 had top-scored in a Test innings for the first time since 1885, when Australia’s Tom Garrett and Edwin Evans had made 51 not out and 33 not out respectively, in what turned out to be a thrilling six-run win against England.Related

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Only time will tell whether this stand will be as critical, but together Leach and Mahmood sapped the resolve of an all-too-easily deflated West Indies attack, whose collective legs were weary after the exhaustions of the first two Tests, and whose adrenaline bonked all too soon after the fall of Chris Woakes to the second ball after tea – at which point, with England in tatters at 114 for 9, their opponents seemed mentally to check out and put their pads on in anticipation of what promised to be the decisive innings of the series. They were still waiting, 90 runs and more than 46 overs later.Nevertheless, the final analysis of England’s innings revealed two men with scores in the 40s, and next to nothing else – and so on balance, West Indies’ decision to bowl first remained amply justified, even in a topsy-turvy fashion.From the outset it had been clear that a cracked and grassy surface with more than a hint of moisture underneath would be a prime bowl-first deck. However, when Kraigg Brathwaite unleashed an apparent four-pronged seam attack, following the decision to reinforce their batting at the expense of the spinner, Veerasammy Permaul, few could have expected it would be that extra batter, Mayers, who would prove to be the morning’s most penetrative option.For the first 40 minutes of the day, England’s openers Alex Lees and Zak Crawley seemed just about to have the measure of conditions that were closer to Chester-le-Street and Canterbury than they had faced all winter, as they withstood a torrid but occasionally over-eager burst from Jayden Seales in particular, to inch along to 23 for 0.But then West Indies clocked that less might well be more on a surface offering purchase for those who were willing to grip the ball on the track in the manner of an old-fashioned English seamer. And so Mayers, with his Darren Stevens-esque medium-paced wobblers, was tossed the ball in advance of West Indies’ fastest option, Alzarri Joseph. And from that moment on, it was a different dynamic.Kyle Mayers grabbed two early wickets for West Indies•Associated Press

Crawley, a centurion in Antigua, quickly lost patience with Mayers’ impertinence in the channel outside off. Having made his discipline on the drive such a feature of that apparent breakthrough innings, it was a familiar failing that sent him on his way for 7 as he flung his hands through a cunningly bowled legcutter, and spooned a simple chance to Brathwaite in the covers.Enter Root, with a hundred in each of the first two Tests of the series, but reunited with a situation more akin to England’s collapse to 48 for 4 on the first morning of the series in Antigua. And Mayers never offered him a chance to settle. His fourth ball hit the seam and wobbled wildly round Root’s outside edge; five balls later, Mayers scrambled that same seam, and kissed the edge of a defensive push down the line to have Root caught behind for a nine-ball duck.Lees’ introduction to the Test team has now featured a new highest score in four of his five innings, which must count as progress of sorts. He played a compact holding role throughout the morning session, but before England’s position could be claimed to have improved, they were three-down for 46 at lunch. Dan Lawrence – another player who seemed to have made visible strides in the first two Tests – had no answer as Seales returned with his discipline reframed. Despite burning a review after been pinned on the knee-roll by a nipbacker, he was sent on his way for 8 from 31 balls.In Antigua, England’s pre-lunch struggles had proven to be their nadir; here, however, they was merely the prelude. Four overs after the break, Ben Stokes – his blood pumping after a restorative century in Barbados – tried to take on Joseph’s short ball, and shovelled a spliced pull straight back into the bowler’s lap for 2 (53 for 4).Five balls and no runs later, Lees’ vigil was ended in uncompromising fashion by a pumped-up Roach, who was adamant that he’d found the edge two balls earlier, but when Brathwaite declined to waste his final review, he merely bombed the edge from round the wicket once more, and this time there was no doubt as Joshua da Silva sent him on his way for 31 (53 for 5).And then, as if it prove that the events of the previous fortnight had been a fever-dream, Jonny Bairstow capped England’s dramatic reversion to the mean with their third wicket for no runs in the space of 10 balls. Joseph – easily the quickest bowler on either side in the absence of Mark Wood – bent his back on another off-stump lifter, and Bairstow nicked off to da Silva for the 15th duck of his Test career, and his fifth since the start of 2021.From 53 for 6, it was now a familiar race to the bottom for England’s lower order. Ben Foakes was duly pinned on the crease as Seales ripped a bail-trimmer through his defences for 7, at which point England’s run of scores – +31 708207 – read like they were planning an international call to the Netherlands to fill the dead playing time on the final two days of this Test (though hopefully not for a T20I, to judge by past experience).Saqib Mahmood produced unexpected resistance from No. 11•Getty Images

At least Chris Woakes and Craig Overton broke the run of single-digit scores, not that this had been their original plan for first-day heroics, following their unlikely (and some might say, unwarranted) reprieves in England’s seam attack. But Roach prised them apart after an eighth-wicket stand of 23 – at the time, England’s joint-best of the innings – as he leapt wide on the crease to spear an outstanding nip-backer into the top of off stump (90 for 8).Woakes held the line well for the remainder of the session – during which time, in the absence of a regular spinner, Brathwaite even turned to Nkrumah Bonner and Jermaine Blackwood for an over apiece of speculative moon-balls. It seemed he had merely been stalling for time, especially when Woakes drove loosely at his second ball after the break to be bowled by Seales for 25. But it didn’t quite turn out like that.At first it was simply a matter of holding up an end – and few batters do that better than Leach, as shown by that epic 1 not out alongside Stokes three years ago. But as their stand extended, and both men’s eyes got in, a late-evening counterattack was the order of the day. Mayers, brought back in the hope of more magic, was slapped into the stands by Mahmood, while Leach’s love of a length ball became more and more apparent as he brought his favourite cover-drive out of mothballs.The new ball came and went, with ample swing but no major threat, but Blackwood’s return for the day’s final over proved a passion-killer for Mahmood, as he thwacked a fierce drive through the line to move to the brink of a memorable fifty, only to get too greedy to his very next ball, and under-edge a wild hoick into his own stumps. Nevertheless, he had given his team a chance – and his A game is still to come on what promises to be a pivotal second day.

MatériaMais Notícias

Certamente o maior ídolo atual do Palmeiras, o atacante Dudu dá sinais de que pretende encerrar sua carreira pelo clube.

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Em entrevista ao portal Nosso Palestra, o camisa 7 revelou que seu estafe já iniciou conversas com a diretoria de futebol do Verdão para prolongar o atual contrato,válido até o final de 2023. Atualmente com 30 anos, Dudu diz que pretende atuar pelo Palmeiras ‘até quando seu corpo permitir’.

-O Anderson Barros está conversando com o André Cury, que toma conta dessa parte para mim. Tenho certeza de que vai acontecer. É ficar focado, defender o Palmeiras com unhas e dentes. Quem acompanha meu dia nos treinamentos sabe que não gosto de perder nem no bobinho. Quem está no Palmeiras precisa estar dessa forma. A gente cobra isso dos jogadores que chegam. Você tem que ter o DNA vencedor, e, se você não tem, precisa criar dentro do clube. A torcida vê isso em mim. Essa é minha meta aqui no Palmeiras.

-Não tem jeito de jogar em outro clube do Brasil. É uma identificação muito grande. Sabemos que somos jogadores de futebol, vivemos dia após dia. Minha intenção é essa. Quem joga no Palmeiras quer ficar bastante tempo aqui. Você tem estrutura, um bom contrato, um estádio maravilhoso, pessoas que te ajudam. Tem tudo para eu jogar mais uns oito anos. Quero dar meu melhor, até quando der. Não adianta ficar prolongando a carreira para jogar só com nome, fazendo hora. Sabemos como é a competitividade, jogar num grande clube. É preciso estar preparado para estas decisões.

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Pelo Palmeiras, Dudu já conquistou duas Libertadores (2020 e 2021) e dois Campeonatos Brasileiros (2016 e 2018). Além disso, o jogador também tem em seu currículo a Copa do Brasil de 2015, o Campeonato Paulista de 2020 e a Recopa Sul-Americana de 2022. Ao todo, são 345 partidas e 77 gols marcados pelo Verdão, contando antes do duelo com o Ituano na quarta-feira (23).

Além disso, o atleta falou sobre seu filho, Pedro, que joga no futsal do Verdão e, também, sobre todo o reconhecimento que vestir a camisa alviverde desde 2015 gerou em sua carreira.

– O Pedro está metendo gol lá no futsal do Palmeiras. Quando eles estão comigo, no dia de treinar, de jogar, sempre estou levando eles no clube. Eu sou um jogador diferente a partir do momento em que comecei a jogar no Palmeiras. Antes ninguém me conhecia, hoje é o Dudu do Palmeiras. Ninguém sabe que joguei no Cruzeiro, Coritiba, Grêmio. Hoje é o Dudu que jogou no Palmeiras. Tenho certeza de que quando eu parar de jogar vai ser assim que vou ser conhecido.

An increase in the number of central contracts for Australia’s female players is likely to be a key discussion in the next round of pay deals.Talks around the next Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) are ongoing with the women’s game expected to be one of the areas to see improved terms amid considerable on-field success capped by the recent ODI World Cup triumph.Currently the agreement between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association allows for up to 15 female contracts but such is the depth in the game that there is an increasingly strong argument for more – there can be up to 20 men’s contracts awarded.”When that MoU was agreed five years ago, [since then] the game has evolved a little bit more,” national selector Shawn Flegler said as the deals for 2022-23 were announced. “It might be a point where there’s more expanded contracts.”We still don’t have the same Future Tours Programme as the men, they still probably play more games and are on the road a bit more than us, whereas the girls get to play a bit more domestic cricket. I think there’s a chance to review the contract system and have a look at what best suits our needs.Related

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“It’s always going to be tough to squeeze in [all the players], whether it’s 15 or 18 or 20…the depth of the talent pool in Australia just keeps increasing, but certainly something to discuss for the next MoU, I’d imagine.”The female game was given a significant financial boost in the previous pay negotiations – which were often acrimonious at a time when the women’s team was playing the 2017 ODI World Cup in England and had to sign temporary deals to stay employed – and last October there was a pay rise for domestic players.The investment Cricket Australia has made in the women’s game has been evident over the last few years with the national team sweeping all before them with the T20I and ODI World Cup titles, Ashes series victories and a world-record run of ODI wins, along with the growth of the now standalone WBBL. It all came together with victory over England last weekend as Meg Lanning’s team completed their five-year mission of bouncing back from their semi-final exit five years ago.”It’s not just about the Australian cricket team, it’s the Australian cricket system that’s contributed to this win,” Flegler said. “There’s been commentary on the depth of Australian cricket and that doesn’t happen automatically or easily, it’s investment, commitment by a lot of people and we saw that cumulate in a great win on the weekend.”Further indication of that depth was shown by Sophie Molineux, the left-arm spinner who played all formats against India last year, missing out on a new contract following a period sidelined by injury.Australia were able to go unbeaten through the World Cup without her, Georgia Wareham and Tayla Vlaeminck while they also dealt seamlessly with Ashleigh Gardner missing early matches due to Covid. Legspinner Alana King, who only made her debut in January, has become an integral part of the team and was their second-leading wicket-taker at the World Cup.Flegler admitted the conversations with Molineux were “terribly difficult” but was confident she would be able to push for a return and even suggested the Commonwealth Games and tri-series in Ireland that precedes it were not out of reach despite the loss of her CA deal. He explained that Wareham (ACL) and Vlaeminck (foot) retained their contracts because it was felt their recovery from long-term injuries needed more support.”Soph has been a really important part of this team for a few years now. We’ve got 15 contracts to work with and we talk about the depth of Australian cricket, it’s very hard to fit everyone in,” he said. “Soph is a world-class bowler and we are very keen to see her back involved. It was a tough call to make.””We’ve got world-class players sitting on the bench. You only have to look at the players on the bench in the World Cup final who could be playing for any other team around the world. We’ve got this sweet spot of world-class performers having success and we have this next level coming through pushing for spots. That keeps pushing performances up and up which is nice to have but it’s a challenge from a selection point of view.”Flegler also followed up Matthew Mott’s comments about expanding the Australia A programme saying he was hopeful of more matches for the second team and that there would be another concurrent tour during the 2023 Ashes in England. There had been plans for Australia vs Australia A matches ahead of leaving for the Commonwealth Games but those have been shelved with the senior side now taking part in the tri-series in Ireland.

Glasgow Rangers confirmed that Nils Koppen will be taking up the role of technical director at Ibrox following his stint as the head of recruitment.

The Belgian chief arrived at the start of the year and worked with Philippe Clement to develop a new transfer strategy in Glasgow – bringing in young players with the potential to improve.

He was, of course, heavily involved in the recruitment during the recent summer transfer window and it remains to be seen how successful that was, as many of the players signed are young prospects who need time to hit their stride at Ibrox.

Supporters may not be too patient with them at this moment in time, however, as results on the pitch have, quite simply, not been good enough.

The Light Blues are currently 11 points adrift of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership table, after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Dundee United on Saturday.

Rangers have lost three and drawn two of their opening 12 matches in the competition, which could cause some questions to be asked of the recruitment in the summer.

How Rangers' summer signings have fared

The Light Blues brought in 11 recruits to bolster Clement’s squad in the summer transfer window, although Mohamed Diomande and Oscar Cortes joined on new deals after their short-term loan stints at Ibrox in the second half of last season.

That meant that nine fresh players were added to the group, seven of which arrived on a permanent basis to go along with the loan additions of Neraysho Kasanwirjo from Feyenoord and Vaclav Cerny from Wolfsburg.

The Bundesliga loanee has been one of the best summer signings and enjoyed a superb season so far, with a return of seven goals and five assists in 19 appearances in all competitions, which shows that he has provided quality as a scorer and a creator of goals from the wing.

Connor Barron came in on a free transfer from Aberdeen and has impressed in the middle of the park, making 3.0 tackles and interceptions per game across 11 starts in the league so far.

20-year-old full-back Jefte also came in and has caught the eye. In nine starts, across ten league appearances, the Brazilian has averaged an eye-catching 4.3 tackles and interceptions per game – more than any other player in the squad.

There needs to be a degree of patience with players like Clinton Nsiala, who is yet to make his senior debut, and Moroccan forward Hamza Igamane, though.

The 22-year-old striker has only started two of his ten appearances in the Premiership and Europa League combined and needs more time to adapt to life at Ibrox, and Scotland more broadly.

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Rangers have already hit the jackpot, however, with one signing that Koppen brought in to bolster the club in the summer, as Nedim Bajrami has hit the ground running in Glasgow.

Nedim Bajrami is similar £100m star

Over the last 365 days of action, the Albania international’s form for Sassuolo in the Serie A and for Rangers in the Europa League has earned him a comparison to a player who is currently valued at £100m.

Per FBref’s ‘similar players’ tab, Newcastle United and England forward Anthony Gordon is one of the most similar players to Bajrami over the last year in the Men’s Big 5 Leagues and European competitions.

Both players operate down the left flank but can also play centrally and look to get involved in matches by providing goals and assists in the final third.

Gordon and Bajrami both excel at carrying the ball up the pitch for their respective teams and being involved in attacks that end in a shot. The former has averaged 4.71 shot-creating actions and 4.19 progressive carries per 90 over the last 365 days, whilst the Albanian whiz has averaged 4.48 shot-creating actions and 4.23 progressive carries per 90.

In the summer, Football Insider reported that Liverpool were told a fee of £100m would be needed to sign Gordon from Newcastle, amid interest from Arne Slot’s team in the English speedster.

The left winger has scored two goals and provided one assist, having created three ‘big chances’ for his teammates, in 12 Premier League games this season, and the comparison to Bajrami – in style – is a fair one.

Nedim Bajrami's form this season

The Light Blues whiz may not have the blistering speed that Gordon possesses but that does not stop him from using his ability on the ball to beat opposition players, as shown by his progressive carries per 90.

Bajrami has completed 3.3 dribbles per game, with a 72% success rate, in the Europa League and 2.4 per match, with a 63% success rate, in the Premiership so far this season, which shows that he is constantly taking the ball past defenders to progress the team up the pitch.

Another thing that he shares with Gordon is that his teammates have not made enough of the ‘big chances’ that he has created for them this season.

In the Premiership, Bajrami has only produced one goal and zero assists in eight appearances, but that does not tell the full story. He has created four ‘big chances’ and made 1.5 key passes per game but his fellow attackers have been far too wasteful in front of goal to reward him with assists.

As you can see in the table above, the 25-year-old magician has been incredibly unfortunate not to have registered an assist on the European stage, with zero from five ‘big chances’ created.

Bajrami, who Willie Miller claimed has “magnificent footwork”, has created nine ‘big chances’ for his teammates in the Premiership and Europa League combined and is yet to record an assist.

On an individual level, his performances have been phenomenal and Rangers have hit the jackpot by signing him, as the Albania international has proven that he can provide consistent quality as a dribbler and a creative threat domestically and in Europe, and long may it continue.

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Sky Sports have sent their top pundits some advice ahead of the verdict on Manchester City's 115 FFP charges being announced.

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Verdict on Man City charges due soonSky Sports pundits handed adviceBroadcaster wants to avoid controversyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester City are expecting a verdict from the independent commission shortly over the club's alleged breaches of more than 115 rules relating to Financial Fair Play. Ahead of the verdict, broadcaster Sky Sports has issued advice to its top pundits including Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane about how to discuss the subject on air, according to the .

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The pundits have been sent a factfile of the case and warned against "jumping to conclusions on air and on social media" and to ensure they "stick to the facts." The broadcaster is eager to avoid any controversy on the topic and wants to be seen to be "accurate, fair and balanced in its reporting." Staff have also been reminded that both sides could claim victory and that any potential punishments may be subject to an appeal.

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The saga has already drawn plenty of headlines and prompted much speculation about potential punishments if City are found guilty. Pep Guardiola's side are believed to be confident they will avoid tough sanctions, while speculation persists that the club could be hit with a fine, a hefty points penalty or even relegation from the Premier League.

GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY

A final verdict has long been expected in March, meaning fans may not have too much longer to wait to discover the outcome. In the meantime, Manchester City are back in action after the international break against Bournemouth in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur have endured an extremely stop-start 2024/2025 season under Ange Postecoglou so far, blowing hot and cold, with one player very keen to quit the club in January.

Tottenham face high-flying Chelsea after disappointing Premier League results

There have been reports in the last 48 hours clarifying Tottenham’s stance on sacking Postecoglou, which is never a good sign for any manager as pressure slowly starts to build on the Australian.

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They prepared to push hard in January.

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The notion of Postecoglou’s dismissal was far away from anybody’s mind after Spurs thumped Premier League champions Man City at the Etihad Stadium just two weeks ago, but a dismal run of results has since followed that memorable night in Manchester.

Tottenham failed to beat Serie A strugglers Roma in the Europa League, and then couldn’t secure all three points at home to mid-table Fulham. The most disappointing result of them all occurred soon afterwards, with Postecoglou’s side losing 1-0 to Bournemouth on Thursday evening.

It was an abject display where the Cherries cut Spurs open at will, and the Lilywhites could only muster four attempts on target despite enjoying the bulk of possession down south.

Postecoglou hasn’t been helped by the fact goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero – who form a major part of their spine – have been sidelined recently, but you could also argue that Tottenham’s inconsistency was present even with the trio fit and available.

Luckily, some reports have suggested that Spurs could go after a new defender and winger in January, which is apparently in chairman Daniel Levy’s thinking for when the transfer window reopens next month.

While it isn’t certain who they could sign in the winter, or if they’ll be able to complete a single deal at all, Postecoglou’s side need some form of inspiration from somewhere.

Spurs face-off against London rivals and high-flying Premier League hitters Chelsea this weekend, and a win against the Blues would do wonders to lift spirits at N17, at least for now.

Sergio Reguilon desperate to leave Tottenham as Getafe open early talks

One man who is unlikely to play any part in the encounter is left-back Sergio Reguilon, who has failed to make a single appearance under Postecoglou this term.

The Spaniard is being regularly linked with a January exit as a result, with Getafe expressing a real interest, amid claims Reguilon could even terminate his Spurs contract and leave before it expires in the summer.

Reports from his homeland indicated this week that Getafe may open talks for Reguilon ahead of January, and now Estadio Deportivo have provided a further update on the matter.

It is believed Getafe are in talks to sign Reguilon from Tottenham, and while they’re at an “embryonic” stage, meaning early, the 27-year-old is said to be desperate to leave north London before the expiry of his deal.

Whether that be on loan or permanently, Getafe are looking to take advantage of this situation and strike a mid-season deal for the “very quick” defender (Toby Alderweireld).

Tottenham are now making a move to sign a new defender in January as they look to find fresh cover for Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero in the winter window.

Makeshift Tottenham face serious problems

Injuries to both of their first choice centre-backs has left Ange Postecoglou with massive problems to solve, added to by the absences of Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie.

The result, somewhat inevitably, is chaos. The Spurs boss has named teenage midfielder Archie Gray at the heart of a defence that also contained rarely seen Djed Spence at left-back and veteran Fraser Forster in goal in recent weeks, with predictable results.

With Romero and Van de Ven playing 15+ minutes

Without Romero and Van de Ven

Games

8

9

Wins

3

3

Losses

4

5

Clean sheets

2

2

Goals conceded per game

0.88

1.78

The Lilywhites shipped six goals against Liverpool in their most recent Premier League outing, and in truth it could have been more. It follows recent games that have seen them concede three in midweek and four two weeks prior against Chelsea. Currently 11th in the Premier League, Spurs have kept just four clean sheets this season, but Postecoglou will not be changing his tactics despite the injuries.

“If people want me to change my approach, it is not going to change”, he emphasised again after the loss to Liverpool. “We are doing it for a reason. We are doing it because we think it will help us to be successful.”

To reach that goal, they will have to be active in the winter window though, with the club only having three recognised centre-backs on their books as things stand. Now, they are seemingly doing just that with their latest enquiry.

Tottenham chasing new defender

That comes as Football Insider report that Spurs have lodged an enquiry to sign former Everton defender Ben Godfrey in January. The defender only joined the Bergamo side over the summer, but has seen his game time limited for the Serie A leaders, making just a single substitute appearance in the top flight so far.

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Though he still has nearly five years left to run on his £73k a week deal with La Dea, it has been reported that the club are already open to his departure in the January window, with a loan move being the most likely solution.

Godfrey can play across the backline, and certainly possesses the speed to work out in Postecoglou’s high defensive line, something Spurs have been missing since Van de Ven’s injury. Dubbed “really fast” by Carlo Ancelotti during his time on Merseyside, Godfrey clocked up a speed of 35.45 kmph in the 2020-21 campaign, the fastest in the Everton squad.

If indeed available on loan, Godfrey could be a low-cost solution to Postecoglou’s problems should other targets not be available in January, though there will be plenty suggesting that it is once again a financially-motivated decision in north London rather than a purely footballing one.

Nonetheless, it is clear that Spurs need help, and Godfrey could be a ready made fit with plenty of Premier League experience already under his belt.

Tottenham have now turned their attentions to a new signing in January as they look to fix a problem area for manager Ange Postecoglou in a bid to deliver silverware to north London.

Tottenham continue inconsistent start to the season

Following their 4-0 statement win over Manchester City, Spurs have been held to two draws in six days. Conceding in stoppage time to Roma, they were then held to a 1-1 draw in the Premier League by Fulham, who played the final minutes of the game with 10 men.

After the game, Postecoglou was quick to point out the problems that faced the Lilywhites as their mixed form continued, claiming that his second choice defenders would naturally see a drop off in performance.

“I’ve seen so much violin-playing over [other teams having] one centre-back out, but we’re just supposed to get on with it,” Postecoglou told reporters.

“Benny and Radu have been outstanding throughout this spell. I mean there aren’t too many teams in the league who have both their centre-backs out.

“I love the characters they’re showing. I love the fact that they’re not seeking excuses or wanting me to make allowances for it. But at some point, I need to also acknowledge the massive effort that all these guys are putting in. Radu and Ben were outstanding again today.”

It is not the first time that Spurs have found themselves in this position in Postecoglou’s reign, with both Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven missing chunks of last season too but Spurs opting not to add another defender to their ranks over the summer.

Now just a point ahead of Manchester United, Spurs are turning their attentions to the January transfer window, and have reportedly identified a potential solution to their defensive issues.

Tottenham eyeing £25m signing

That comes according to reliable journalist Mike McGrath, who reports that Tottenham are one of as many as seven sides keeping tabs on Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov ahead of a potential January swoop.

The Uzbek defender, who joined Lens in 2023 for just €100,000, has quickly risen through the ranks to become a key man for Will Still’s side, and has drawn no shortage of praise in the process.

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Taking to X, Football Analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed him an “absolute unit” and a “warrior” who “just loves to defend”, adding that he has been “really impressed” by his performances so far this season.

So have Tottenham, according to the report, with the Lilywhites and Newcastle United both “chasing” the 20-year-old, who is set to “fetch more than £25 million in the current market”, a fee that would put him among Lens’ biggest ever sales.

Player

Year

Fee

Lois Openda

2023

€40m

Elye Wahi

2024

€25m

Seko Fofana

2023

€25m

Cheick Doucoure

2022

€22.3m

Loic Bade

2021

€17m

Spurs have made a point of signing younger talent in recent transfer windows, with both Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert being examples of that in the most recent summer window. In Khusanov, they could have found another future star to add to Postecoglou’s ranks, while he may well come in useful across the second half of the season thanks to his ability to play on either side of defence, which could allow the Spurs boss to rotate his first choice options more regularly.

GOAL sat down with the midfielder to talk about World Cup memories, his aspirations and where he needs to improve

LOS ANGELES – Last summer, during a rare break from his career, U.S. international Yunus Musah made a return trip to Qatar. It was something he felt compelled to do. The best moments of his life had happened there during the 2022 World Cup, and he wanted to relive them – or at least savor them from a new perspective. At the time, it had all been a whirlwind. Coming back gave him a chance to reconnect with those memories and finally appreciate what they meant.

He stayed at the same hotel where he and his teammates had lived for weeks, hoping to recapture some of that magic. He walked the same hallways, sat in the same courtyards. Of course, he knew it wouldn’t be the same – no games to play, no rush of adrenaline to relive. But that wasn’t the point. Musah just wanted to feel as much of it as he could one more time.

"Everything was like a throwback," Musah says to GOAL, smiling ear to ear as he reflected on his second-best stay in Qatar. "The smell! I could smell it again. Everywhere smells so nice. The room, the view. I would just walk around and it felt like I was experiencing all of those moments from the World Cup all over again. It felt good.

"For me personally, the World Cup was the best experience ever. I loved it so much."

It was at that World Cup where, at just 19 years old, Musah went toe-to-toe with the world's best. Just days before his 20th birthday, Musah found himself wrestling England's best under the bright lights of Al-Bayt Stadium. There, he was facing the country he grew up in with the whole world watching.

He never looked out of place. In fact, Musah and the U.S. men's national team midfield outplayed their English counterparts, a star-studded group that included Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice. Something few could have predicted before it actually happened. Still, just a teenager, Musah had achieved his dreams and, in many ways, they were better than he could have imagined.

That's why he found himself feeling the need to go back to Qatar. It's also why that trip back likely helped him move past it a bit. That's the funny thing about achieving your dreams at 19: they don't go away. Dream chasing isn't always linear. Neither is progress.

The Musah that is approachingthe 2025 CONCACAF Nations League semifinals is a very different one than the one that lived those moments in Qatar. He's at AC Milan now, still learning to cope with the pressures that come from playing at a club of that size. He's come out of his shell a little bit as a result, starting to shed the "shy and quiet" labels that followed him for his first few years with the USMNT.

He's a father now, too, having just welcomed a baby girl a few weeks back. That will certainly impact his perspective, to put it lightly. That type of life change makes anyone think about the future a little bit more.

For Musah, this is all just getting started, and that applies to both life and his career. Even if many outside of his circle don't always realize it, he's far from a finished product. Still just 22, American soccer fans have, in some ways, got a chance to watch Musah grow up, even if his time as part of it has gone so quickly.

Now, though, with a new World Cup, a new dream, just over a year away, Musah is coming out of his shell, on and off the field, and his ability to do so will help define this current generation of American soccer.

"At one point, I was the young player with the most minutes in Europe," he says. "Having that opportunity, you make so many mistakes in a game that are costly. You learn from all of these experiences at such a young age. They helped. They helped shape me. They helped me handle these pressures. I have so much experience already in my few years and I'm grateful because it's definitely going to help me in the future."

Ahead of the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals, GOAL sat down with Musah to talk about his journey, what he needs to do to get better, and why he's now starting to become just a little bit more comfortable with everything thrown his way.

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  Musah's arrival

  It's been almost exactly four years since Musah officially committed to the USMNT. He'd joined the U.S. for the first time in late 2020, but reports at the time said England were still in the mix. In March of 2021, it became official: Musah had committed to the USMNT. It was a pivotal moment for the U.S. program, one that would ultimately give them a key piece of their World Cup team just a year and a half later.

  "It sounds like a lot of years, but it's all happened so quickly," Musah says. "So much has happened in four years."

  The World Cup in Qatar is the big one, of course. There have been multiple Nations League trophies in there, too. The move to Milan, the Copa America, a U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year award mixed in – it feels like American soccer has known Musah for a while. Yet, it's really only been just a few years. He's earned 45 caps during that time. Given his age, it's safe to assume he'll be among the most capped USMNT players in the program's history if everything keeps moving in the same direction it has.

  "We knew that when he came in and was making the decision of which country he'd represent that he'd be an amazing addition to the team," said midfield partner Tyler Adams, who helped form the MMA [McKennie, Musah, and Adams] unit that defined the 2022 World Cup cycle. "He's not only an unbelievably talented player but a great person in the changing room as well. He's grown so much over the years since we first started playing together. You can see with this transition to Milan, a well-deserved move, that he's continuing to grow, too."

  Upon Musah's arrival all those years ago, the first thing that struck him was how quickly he struck up friendships within the USMNT group. It was something that, in hindsight, he'd been doing all of his life. His childhood had taken him from New York to Italy to England. His club career took him to Spain with Valencia, too. For much of his life, Musah has been put in situations where he had to make friends quickly. He always found it easier to do so when the ball was at his feet.

  "It felt like second nature, I guess," Musah said. "I had to do that a lot. I had to do it all the time, really. Coming into the team, not knowing anyone, I think maybe just knowing Gio [Reyna] from playing against him, but when you're open to new friendships, you manage to do it. At the end of the day, with football especially, it's easier to become friendly once you get on a pitch."

  Still, all talk about Musah's demeanor generally has included the same descriptions: shy, quiet, reserved, calm. But the 22-year-old midfielder is beginning to open up, bit by bit.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Breaking out his shell

  There's been a common theme from those around the USMNT when it comes to Musah. "Yeah, he's pretty quiet, but once you get to know him, you see the real Yunus."

  That version of him hasn't come out particularly often throughout his first few years with the national team. During media availabilities, he often doesn't say much, if anything at all. His answers are direct, and to the point. Everything is quick, everything is positive, and nothing makes waves or headlines.

  Musah is still far from someone to rock the boat. He's nowhere near as boisterous as say Weston McKennie, the third member of that MMA midfield. During a USMNT media call on Tuesday, a bulk of the questions were largely directed at Adams, leaving Musah as a passenger for so long that Adams picked up a microphone and stuck it in his face. to remind journalists that he was open to questions, too.

  But Musah admits he's starting to feel more comfortable with all of this. He's starting to feel a little bit more confident when it comes to being himself.

  "I think, just being in the game for longer, knowing how it all works, it makes you feel more comfortable," Musah says. "Just as a person, now I'm… less shy, I guess? I've done so many interviews and talked to so many people now, this is all becoming second nature now.

  "For sure, though. I can say for sure I've changed."

  By nature, though, Musah is still a private person. He doesn't go out much. In fact, he hardly goes out at all. His big hobby? Managing business and financial opportunities he's been working on. When he isn't at home with family, he's at training. And if he's not there, he's at the mosque every Friday. Fatherhood has helped him focus even more on family, too, as he adjusts to his new role.

  "I'm very blessed to have my family now," he says. "I'm just happy, man. Just happy. That's all I can say. I'm enjoying the moment and I'm still being me, but this is just another beautiful thing in my life."

  Not everything is perfect, though. Musah is still feeling the pressures of playing at one of the world's most prestigious clubs and, because of those pressures, he often finds himself in the crosshairs at Milan.

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  More pressure in Italy

  Musah knew exactly what he was signing up for at Milan. He'd gotten a taste of it as a youth player at Arsenal. He got more experience dealing with it during his time with Valencia. But life at San Siro is different and, nearly two full seasons into his Milan career, Musah is still learning to deal with the pressures.

  Since making the move to Serie A, Musah has been a frequent contributor to Again, still just 22, he's made 75 total appearances for Milan, including 16 in European competitions. At an age where many players are just starting to become first-team contributors, Musah has now been a regular at two big clubs in two top leagues. It's an impressive resume, no doubt.

  This season in particular, though, has been a rollercoaster. Manager Paulo Fonseca arrived in the summer and was gone by December. His replacement, Sergio Conceicao, immediately led Milan to a Supercoppa Italiana trophy before things took a downward turn. In recent weeks, Milan have been eliminated from the Champions League at the hands of Feyenoord and tumbled down the Serie A table as they now fight to claw their way back into the race for European spots.

  Musah has drawn criticism for his part in it all. A red card against Dinamo Zagreb, fortunately, didn't prove costly at the time but was still a rough moment for the midfielder. What was most frustrating was how avoidable it was: he picked up two yellow cards in a matter of minutes to earn his marching orders. It was a low. He's been OK since, but some familiar themes remain, namely his inability to get his name on the scoresheet.

  Most players say they don't hear the criticism. Musah admits he does. It's just no longer quite as loud as it used to be.

  "Being at Milan, you expect to have this pressure," he says. "It's a privilege because, at the end of the day, if I wasn't a professional footballer, I wouldn't experience this stuff. You have to take the positives as well and then, when people are criticizing you, saying bad stuff about you, I've found so much of that during my career that it doesn't phase me at all now. At the beginning, you see it and you listen to it. Then afterward, you just see it and it still gets inside. You get better at ignoring the comments, but you still see them. It gets inside you."

  He adds, "Because people have been seeing me play for longer, I'm getting less slack. They're not as patient anymore. When you've been in the game for longer, you need to be better. I understand that. I understand that, for sure."

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  Setting up (and scoring) goals

  In October, facing off with the same Panama team that the U.S. faces on Thursday, Musah finally had his big moment. In cap No. 42, the first of the Pochettino era, Musah finally scored a goal.

  The outpouring of joy was immediate. As Musah screamed into the Austin sky, his teammates chased after him. First on the scene was Christian Pulisic, his running mate for club and country. Pulisic later joked that Musah must have been studying his own film to finally get that goal. Deep down, though, it was a moment of pride, not just for Musah but for longtime teammates like Pulisic, who finally got to be a part of his big moment.

  "It felt like all of those goals that I'd missed, I didn't remember one of them," Musah said, thinking back on the moment that goal hit the back of the net. "It overshadowed all of that, you know? It was so meaningful for me. I didn't remember anything that happened before. I still just love that moment so much. It's just joy. Absolute joy."

  Musah isn't a goalscorer. It's one of the big criticisms that still come his way. They're justified. When he arrived on the scene, the scouting report depicted him as an incredible dribbler, one that would only reach the highest levels of the game if he could develop something else on either side of the ball. Could he add goals and assists to his game? Could he develop better defensive instincts? Both? Developing something would be the difference between good and great or, perhaps, the difference between great and elite.

  So far, Musah hasn't quite taken that leap. According to FB Ref, when compared to midfielders, Musah is in the 99th percentile of progressive carries, 96th percentile of take-ons, and 82nd percentile in touches in the opposing penalty area. He's also a decent passer of the ball at 86 percent. Defensively, though, Musah is nowhere near the best in his league and his lack of goals and assists have started to become talking point at Milan.

  Just this past week, a Musah sequence against Como went viral on social media. After rounding the goalkeeper, Musah was seemingly caught in two minds. As a result, his shot/pass across goal was neither on target nor near the feet of his teammates, who were rushing in for a tap-in. It was another moment of frustration, and Musah understands it most of all.

  Of all the players in Serie A, only three have a higher amount of expected goals without actually having one. That stat tells two stories. The first says that Musah needs to be more clinical in dangerous moments. The second says that this is a guy who would really benefit from a confidence booster or, perhaps, a little bit of luck.

  "I just need to have some more composure because, in training, I can finish, I can score goals, I can do all of that," he says. "It's just in the games, I put this pressure on myself because I haven't scored in so long. When I get to that situation, it's been really tough for me to have that composure. I need to work on being able to focus. I'm working on it! God-willing, I'm going to get those goals, don't worry.

  "I just try to improve parts of my game day to day with the things that are missing. Obviously, in the final third, I need to get goals and assists. I definitely think with work, it will come."

Concussion sub Kasun Rajitha strikes twice to give visitors some respite in Chattogram

Ashish Pant17-May-2022

Stumps Tamim Iqbal had been dismissed in the nineties twice in his the last five innings against Sri Lanka, coming into the first Test. He had seven half-centuries against them in the format, but had not breached the three-figure mark even once. The 31-year-old made sure he set the records straight as he notched up his 10th Test century on the third day, helping the hosts take control of the first Test, in Chattogram.By stumps, Bangladesh had piled on 318 for 3 and were just 79 runs away from Sri Lanka’s first-innings score of 397. Mushfiqur Rahim, who is just 15 runs away from becoming the first Bangladesh player to reach 5000 runs in Test cricket, ended the day unbeaten on 53. Litton Das, who added 98 with Mushfiqur, was also unbeaten, on 54. Tamim, for the most part looked like reaching the 5000-run mark first, but was forced to retire hurt on 133 because of cramps. He is now 19 runs away from the landmark.The third day, though, firmly belonged to Tamim, who fought the weather, and some tight bowling. He was his usual aggressive self from the get-go and found boundaries at regular intervals in the morning session. Unbeaten on 35 overnight, Tamim raced to his fifty in the fifth over the morning and notched up his ton shortly after lunch. However, the humid conditions got the better of him and he could not come out to bat after tea.Resuming on 76 for 0, still 321 runs behind, Bangladesh’s batters quickly went about their job. In a near-perfect morning session, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Tamim added 81 runs in 28 overs, as Bangladesh went to lunch unscathed on 157 for 0.Tamim brought up his fifty by cutting Ramesh Mendis wide of point for a four and it did not take long for the duo to bring up Bangladesh’s first century stand for the opening wicket in over five years.Mahmudul, too, raised his second half-century in just his fifth Test with a flick through midwicket but fell shortly after lunch. Having had a reprieve on 51, when Lasith Embuldeniya failed to hold on to a catch at the fine-leg, the 21-year-old finally fell for 58 to Asitha Fernando. Continuing with his ploy of bowling short from around the wicket, Asitha induced a faint tickle off Mahmudul’s bat and glove down leg through to the keeper, with the opening stand ending on 162.Tamim though continued on his merry ways, as he coasted through the nineties with a couple of fours before reaching his century by flicking Asitha to deep midwicket.However, having looked flat in the morning, Sri Lanka were much better with their control in the second session. Kasun Rajitha came in as concussion substitute for Vishwa Fernando, who suffered from dizziness after he was struck on the head late on day two by a Shoriful Islam bouncer. And it was Rajitha, who pulled Sri Lanka back in the game with two quick strikes.Concussion sub Kasun Rajitha picked up two quick wickets•Getty Images

The seamer accounted for Najmul Hossain Shanto for 1, in his very first over before sending back Mominul Haque for 2. Bowling from around the wicket, he first induced an outside edge off Najmul’s bat through to the keeper and then crept through the gap between Mominul’s bat and pad to clean him up.With the surface playing a few tricks, Sri Lanka had the chance to take control. Ramesh seemed to have Tamim caught behind on 102 but the decision was overturned on review. When the outside edge did arrive off Tamim’s blade a few overs later, Dhananjaya de Silva failed to hold to the chance at first slip, when the opener on 114.Mushfiqur and Tamim survived the 45 minutes or so before tea, but it was evident that the heat was getting to Tamim. Sri Lanka would have sensed a chance to stamp their dominance on the game in the final session. However, Litton and Mushfiqur had other ideas.Litton, in particular, showed maturity. He started off cautiously but made sure the loose deliveries did not go unpunished. Mushfiqur,too, held his end up well.Litton was the first to reach his fifty, his 12th in Test cricket, with an elegant flick wide of mid-on. He looked untroubled for the most part. Barring a chance at short leg, which the fielder failed to latch on to, Litton gave nothing away.Mushfiqur too reached his fifty soon after and will be hoping to break the 5000-run barrier early on day four. For Sri Lanka, their only bright spot was Rajitha, who wasn’t originally included in the starting XI.