Netherlands captain Peter Borren, 34, has retired from international cricket with immediate effect. Pieter Seelaar, the 30-year old left-arm spinner, will take over the captaincy. Jeroen Smits, the former Netherlands wicketkeeper, has been appointed the new team manager.The Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) paid tribute via a press release issued on Wednesday evening. Though Borren is only 34, the KNCB’s press release said a “mutual decision” was reached between Borren and the selectors, with an eye towards building a squad for the 2020 World T20 and 2023 World Cup.Borren had been captain since July 2010, when he took over the role from Smits. Among teams that currently have at least ODI status, the only players with longer ongoing captaincy reigns are Ireland’s William Porterfield, and Nepal’s Paras Khadka.Borren last featured for Netherlands in the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe in March, where he could manage just 52 runs in six innings and passed double-figures just once. Netherlands won just once in the group stage, failing to reach the Super Sixes, before bouncing back with two wins over Hong Kong and Nepal in the playoffs to finish seventh.Born in New Zealand, Borren was the leading wicket-taker for the country at the 2002 Under-19 World Cup, where he played alongside Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Neil Broom, Rob Nicol and Michael Bates. Three months after the tournament, he began his first season in the Dutch Hoofdklasse for VRA, eventually settling for good in his adopted homeland.After completing the four-year residency requirement under ICC eligibility guidelines, Borren made his Netherlands debut against Denmark in June 2006, and his ODI debut a month later against Sri Lanka. He ended his career with a total of 58 ODIs and 43 T20Is across 12 years, making him the most capped player in both formats for Netherlands. He is one of just four Dutch batsmen to score 1000 runs in ODIs, and is their third highest wicket-taker in the format, behind Mudassar Bukhari and Ryan ten Doeschate. In T20Is, he in their third-highest scorer with 638 runs at 19.33, just 24 behind current leader Wesley Barresi. Borren’s replacement as captain, Seelaar, debuted in 2006, the same year as Borren, and has represented Netherlands in 37 ODIs and 39 T20Is.Borren played a huge part in Netherlands establishing themselves as a thorn in England’s side at the World T20. His 30 off 25 balls in a 50-run stand alongside Tom de Grooth while chasing 163 propelled Netherlands to a famous win over England on the opening day of the 2009 tournament at Lord’s. Under Borren’s captaincy, Netherlands repeated the feat in Bangladesh in 2014, where they won by 45 runs in Chittagong.But perhaps Borren’s finest hour came earlier in the same tournament, in a stunning chase against Ireland. Needing to get 190 in 14.2 overs to pip Ireland on the net-run-rate tiebreaker for a Super 10 spot, Borren promoted himself to open, and produced an inspired effort, his 15-ball 31 setting the tone for a stirring victory.That win was particularly meaningful as it came just two months after one of the biggest lows in Dutch cricket, when a loss to Kenya at the World Cup Qualifier in New Zealand resulted in the loss of ODI status, and broke their streak of three consecutive World Cup appearances. The sting of that defeat could have crippled Dutch cricket, with a reduction in ICC funding resulting in the downsizing of central contracts. Instead, it chastened them to work harder to climb back up the world rankings.Borren was reduced to tears after Netherlands’ triumph in the 2015-17 World Cricket League Championship in December: the conclusion of three years of hard work to reclaim ODI status, and a spot in the upcoming 13-team ODI league, beginning in 2020. It wound up being the emotional climax for Borren as a captain and player.For all his on-field achievements, Borren was just as well-known for being outspoken in criticising ICC decision-making that resulted in reduced opportunities for Associate teams. It earned him admirers, not just in the Netherlands, but throughout the Associate cricket community.The KNCB said of Borren: “Peter Borren has been of tremendous value to the Dutch team, leading the national side over the last nine years.”He has seen the Netherlands team grow into a much more professional set-up resulting in winning the World Cricket League and qualifying for the ODI Championships in December 2017. With his inspirational leadership, Peter has played a more than important role in this success.”

The 23-run win put the hosts on the path to promotion with two wins out of two games. Vanuatu, meanwhile, may be on the road to relegation after starting with two losses

The Report by Peter Della Penna in Kuala Lumpur30-Apr-2018

Peter Della Penna

In a tense low-scoring affair, Ahmed Faiz was the difference with an innings of 86 off 101 balls – the next-best score from the line-up was 27 – in a 23-run win over Vanuatu at Kinrara Oval to put Malaysia on the path to promotion with two wins out of two games. Vanuatu, meanwhile, may be on the road to relegation after starting off with two losses at WCL Division Four.Vanuatu took wickets at regular intervals after sending Malaysia in as the hosts’ best partnership of the day was 44 runs. But Faiz stuck around till the 35th over after arriving at the crease 11 balls into the match, anchoring Malaysia and providing them just enough runs to defend for the second day in a row at Kinrara.After 20 overs, Vanuatu were well on course in their 197-run chase having reached 63 for 2. But Patrick Matautaava edged behind off the spin of Virandeep Singh in the next over. Captain Andrew Mansale and player-coach Shane Deitz rallied Vanuatu back in contention with a 54-run fourth-wicket stand but Vanuatu lost Mansale for 26 and key allrounder Nalin Nipiko for a golden duck in the space of four balls to make it 119 for 5 in the 38th.Deitz struggled to get adequate support down the stretch from Vanuatu’s long tail as the run rate climbed dramatically. By the end of the 45th, Vanuatu needed more than ten per over to win. Deitz slammed a boundary straight past Syed Aziz in the following over, Vanuatu’s first boundary since Deitz hit one in the 34th, but Aziz foxed him with a change of pace on the next delivery to bowl Deitz for 46. The 42-year-old has top-scored for Vanuatu in both matches at Division Four – 36 against Jersey and 46 against Malaysia – since his remarkable international debut following a right-hip replacement surgery just seven months ago, but both his efforts have been in vain.Aziz finished with figures of 2 for 22 to lead the way for Malaysia with the ball while offspinner Mohammad Shukri helped spin out the tail with 2 for 39. For the second day in a row, a run-out by wicketkeeper Shafiq Sharif – this one far less controversial than the one against Uganda – clinched victory as Sharif’s throw into the non-striker’s stumps denied Callum Blake’s attempt to steal a leg bye in the final over.

Glasgow Rangers' opening nine matches of the 2023/24 campaign promised so much, yet Michael Beale has managed to secure just four victories from these games.

The international break arrived at precisely the right time and hopefully the players will realise that staying in second gear won't be enough to claim domestic prizes this term.

Having signed nine players during the summer, initial signs aren’t promising that the vast majority of them will make a difference in the quest for success this season.

Jack Butland is perhaps the only one who can receive pass marks and Beale missed out on a variety of players which could potentially have bolstered his squad, such as Harry Souttar and Luis Palma.

The 43-year-old also recently submitted his Europa League squad for the group stages and two new signings miss out, Kieran Dowell and Leon Balogun, as just 22 players were chosen.

A lack of homegrown players is clearly an issue and this could have been solved had the Light Blues managed to keep hold of a player who is now currently shining on the continent; Lewis Ferguson.

Did Rangers release Lewis Ferguson?

Ferguson, the son of former Gers star Derek and nephew of Barry, was a part of the youth setup at the club between 2009 and 2013, before leaving to join Hamilton Academical that very same year, and it now looks like a major mistake.

With a father and uncle who had starred for the Glasgow side across two different eras, it was evident that Ferguson knew the standards expected, but obviously, the club didn’t share the same vision.

What happened to Lewis Ferguson?

After just one campaign in the Hamilton first team, Ferguson moved to the North East and joined Aberdeen in the summer of 2018 having initially signed a pre-contract agreement in May.

Dons boss Derek McInnes praised the teenager, saying: “Lewis is a promising young player who I look forward to working with and developing here at Pittodrie.”

He exploded into life during his maiden season in Aberdeen, going on to make 45 appearances in all competitions while registering 16 goal contributions – eight goals and eight assists – which included scoring the winner at Hampden against Rangers in the League Cup semi-final along with a goal against Premier League side Burnley in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League.

His potential seemed limitless and over the following two seasons he continued to be a mainstay in the heart of the Dons midfield while regularly chipping in with goals and assists, showcasing his attacking abilities.

Writer Stefan Bienkowski hailed the midfielder and his abilities during the 2020/21 season, saying: “Big fan of Lewis Ferguson just deciding he’s going to boss every game, every week this season.”

During the 2021/22 season, Ferguson enjoyed his most productive season to date. Over 36 league matches, he netted 11 times, took 3.4 shots per game, averaged 0.8 key passes per game and won a staggering 8.1 total duels each match, demonstrating how effective he was over a wide range of metrics.

Indeed, these figures would see him rank first, first and 12th across the squad and with these performances, interest was slowly building with regard to him moving away from Aberdeen.

Where is Lewis Ferguson now?

Prior to this wonderful season, Rangers were linked with a move for their former academy gem, yet it failed to materialise and just a year later, the midfielder was heading to Italy, as Serie A side Bologna secured his services for a fee of just £3m.

Former Hamilton owner Ronnie MacDonald believed that the Gers should have gone all out to get the 24-year-old, saying: “He was their (Aberdeen's) midfield enforcer when he’d just turned 19 years of age. If there was a hole in their team, he was the one they’d look for to fill it. But he’s a terrific lad with a great attitude and he’d have done it without questioning it. As a person and a player, Lewis is a diamond.

“He’s captaincy material and, when I look at him, he looks like a Rangers player and captain-type to me. Considering his family background, I can’t understand why there hasn’t been interest from them in him. But if he’s going to go to Italy, the best of luck to him."

His spell on the continent has been an extraordinary success for the young Scot. During the 5 foot 11 midfielder's debut season, the former Aberdeen star notched seven goals in 32 league matches for the Serie A side, including a goal against eventual champions Napoli as he took to Italian football with ease, following in the footsteps of former Scots who played in the country such as Denis Law and Graeme Souness.

Journalist Kenny Millar lauded him for his display against Inter Milan back in February, saying: “Class to see Lewis Ferguson more than hold his own as Bologna beat Inter Milan.

“Clear how highly thought of he is over here when you speak to staff and supporters.”

He has even been linked with European giants Juventus and AC Milan recently, proving that his move to Italy has worked wonders for his development.

How much is Lewis Ferguson worth now?

Having left the Gers for nothing a decade ago, the Scot now finds himself valued at €20m (£17m) according to the CIES Football Observatory and there is no doubt that this value will continue to rise with every positive display.

Rangers must be kicking themselves now having missed out on the midfielder and indeed let him go all those years ago. They could’ve signed him for £3m just a year ago, yet, if the club had more faith, he may not have left for anything way back in 2013.

With the need for more homegrown talent in the squad, especially for European football, it makes the decision much worse and hopefully, Beale will keep this in mind when keeping tabs on young talent which emerges through the academy.

Ferguson has been a beacon of light for Scottish football on the continent, and it is no secret that moving to Italy has helped progress his game massively, playing against far better players than if he remained in Scotland.

Hopefully, this is a wake-up call to the club and that this mistake will be avoided in the future.

Liverpool have now been provided with an update on their pursuit of Brentford defender Aaron Hickey, who is being targeted by some of the Premier League's top clubs.

Is Aaron Hickey leaving Brentford?

The Reds have recently been linked with a move for Hickey, but they are not the only top club eyeing a deal, with Football Insider reporting that Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich are now ready to battle it out for his signature in January. However, the 21-year-old is currently said to be happy at the Gtech Community Stadium, despite the widespread interest, and Brentford are under no obligation to sell him anytime soon, given that he is contracted until the summer of 2026.

The Scot has solidified his place in the Brentford starting XI this season, appearing in all six of their Premier League games up to this point, and he deputised for Rico Henry in the 3-1 loss against Everton on Saturday, after the left-back suffered a serious knee injury.

As such, the Bees may be even more unwilling to let the full-back leave in the January transfer window, and Football Insider report it will take a huge bid for elite clubs like Liverpool or Arsenal to prise him away from his current club.

Brentford have no plans to let the youngster leave at any point in the near future, in what could be a blow for the Reds, whose links to him come amid the recent injury setback suffered by Trent Alexander-Arnold. Joe Gomez has been deputising at right-back, but the Brentford defender is a more natural option, and Klopp had been hoping he could get a deal done this winter.

However, the Scotland international is keen to play regularly ahead of next year's European Championships in Germany, and he does not want to disrupt his flow of first-team football ahead of the tournament with a mid-season move.

How good is Aaron Hickey?

Lauded as "brilliant" by members of the media, the right-back has impressed for both club and country over the past 18 months, establishing himself as a first-team player for Brentford, and racking up 11 caps for his country since making his debut in March 2022.

Given that the Glasgow-born defender's career is just starting to take off, it is clear to see why he may be unwilling to move to Liverpool this January, where he would undoubtedly be behind Alexander-Arnold in the pecking order.

Considering he is still young, the former Bologna man is still prone to the odd bad performance, and he was withdrawn early against Everton at the weekend, receiving a Sofascore match rating of 6.1, the lowest figure of any player on the pitch.

As such, it is clear that Hickey needs regular first-team football, if he is going to fulfill his potential, and a move to Anfield may not be exactly what he needs at this point in time.

Considering Brentford are set to hold out for a huge fee, it is probably wise for Liverpool to steer clear, and begin to look at other right-back targets.

Derby County are set to discover the extent of an injury to one of their first-team players this week, according to reports.

What's the latest injury news at Derby?

Paul Warne currently has Conor Hourihane, Tyreece John-Jules, Joe Ward, Liam Thompson and Jake Rooney out of action on the sidelines, but whilst the boss is missing five of his senior stars, he has recently been handed a boost over another ace set to return.

Max Bird has been absent from the last five games in League One with an ankle injury, but reports have claimed that he is expected to return to training on Monday as he prepares to stage his comeback, but unfortunately, someone else is ready to take his place in the treatment room.

Since joining the club on a season-long loan from Sunderland over the summer, Elliot Embleton has so far made two appearances for the Rams, though it seems like he won’t be making his third anytime soon having sustained a concerning injury at Moor Farm.

On Friday, the attacking midfielder pulled his quad in training which meant he was ruled out of the 2-0 third-tier victory over Carlisle United on Saturday afternoon, and the manager has now delivered an update on the fitness of the 24-year-old.

How long is Elliot Embleton out for?

Speaking to the media over the weekend, Warne confirmed that Embleton will travel for a scan to find out how serious his injury is. As quoted by the Derby Telegraph, he said:

"It is disappointing. We've built Elliot up really slowly, he's done his rehab and we've built his minutes up. He played on Tuesday night, had a recovery day Wednesday, had a light session Thursday, and a light session Friday. He took a set-piece, the fourth corner he had taken, and felt something in his quad so it's hugely disappointing.

"In my career, I've never seen anybody pull anything taking a corner and it was right at the end of the session. You feel for Elliot first and foremost. He's worked really hard to get himself into a position to play and then that happens. He was heartbroken. He will have a scan on Monday and see where we go from there."

How good is Elliot Embleton?

Whilst Embleton has only made two outings for Derby, Warne will know that he is an “aggressive” player, as described by journalist Josh Bunting, therefore, it will be a huge blow for the manager to not have him available for however long he is set to be on the sidelines for.

The Durham-born talent, who earns £5.3k-per-week, has posted 46 contributions (24 goals and 22 assists) in 194 appearances since the start of his career, whilst ranking in the 94th percentile for shots and number of attacking touches in the opposition’s penalty area.

Alongside his ability to pose a threat in the final third, Embleton is also a versatile operator having been deployed in seven different positions since first bursting onto the scene, including everywhere across the midfield and even as a second striker and at centre-forward, so the boss will be hoping that he can return to action as soon as possible.

أعلن فينتشينزو مونتيلا المدير الفني لمنتخب تركيا تشكيل الفريق لمواجهة البرتغال في كأس أمم أوروبا “يورو 2024”.

وتلتقي تركيا مع البرتغال ضمن مباريات الجولة الثانية لدور المجموعات على ملعب “سيجنال إيدونا بارك”.

ويتواجد أردا جولر لاعب ريال مدريد الشاب على مقاعد بدلاء تركيا أمام البرتغال.

طالع تشكيل البرتغال أمام تركيا في يورو 2024.. تغيير وحيد ورونالدو يقود الهجوم تشكيل تركيا اليوم أمام البرتغال

حراسة المرمى: ألتاي بايندير.

خط الدفاع: فيردي كاديوجلو، عبد الكريم بردكجي، سامت أكايدين، زكي شيليك.

خط الوسط: هاكان تشالهان أوغلو، أيهان.

خط الوسط المهاجم: يونس أكجون، أوركون كوكو، محمد كريم أكتوركوجلو.

خط الهجوم: باريس ألبيريلماز.

وحققت تركيا الفوز في الجولة الأولى أمام جورجيا بنتيجة 3-1، والبرتغال تغلبت على التشيك بهدفين لهدف.

Muslim Uddin’s camp for women cricketers in Bogra, run out of a toilet converted into an office and storeroom, has produced international cricketers such as Khadija Tul Kubra, Ritu Moni and Sharmin Akhter

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Apr-2018A local coach has found an innovative way to deal with the lack of funds and support for women’s cricket in Bangladesh. Muslim Uddin, who runs a training camp at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra, a district town situated 200km north of Dhaka, has settled upon a toilet in the stadium to be his office and equipment storeroom.Muslim, an assistant coach under the Bogra Sports Association, has been running this camp for the last 11 years. The camp was initially backed by the district women’s sports body but after they pulled out of the programme, such was his commitment that he continued the training camp on his own volition. And with some success too – he has so far produced international cricketers such as Khadija Tul Kubra, Ritu Moni and Sharmin Akhter.Women’s cricket is still in its nascent stages in Bangladesh, with only a handful of districts like Bogra, Khulna, Rangpur, Gaibandha and Jessore thought to be serious about it. Dhaka, the capital, also has a few women’s cricket training academies. Bogra stands out, mainly because of Muslim.The toilet, as described in a report earlier this week, is about 35-40 square feet in area. It has three stalls and a couple of sinks and mirrors. Bats, balls, stumps, nets and pads rest on top of the toilet seats while a vase adorns the flush tank. Pictures of cricketers hang on the wall. The sink is filled with cricket balls.”We had another room which we had to give up,” Muslim told . “I asked for this toilet as it wasn’t being used. My players and I really did a good job organising this room. We have been keeping our things here for the last three years.”Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, BCB’s high performance manager now in charge of women’s cricket, said characters like Muslim were making a difference in the development of women’s cricket in Bangladesh.”I know Muslim personally,” he said. “Thankfully, he is not externally motivated, but internally motivated. He is happy at seeing his players develop into club-level and international-level cricketers.”Habibul Bashar, the Bangladesh selector who was on duty in Bogra during a first-class match last week, said Muslim’s ingenuity at making catching bats and nets and other equipment for batting training was impressive.”What he has so thoughtfully produced is very useful,” Bashar said. “I am surprised to see that these can be made locally. I don’t see much of a difference between what he has made and what the international teams even use.”It is estimated that currently around 300 female players take part in at least some training at all levels in Bangladesh, with 22 clubs in Dhaka running a two-tier league system. The BCB also has an eight-team division-level competition, and is now hoping to begin an Under-18 programme at the division level to create a pathway for budding cricketers.

Manchester City kept the pressure on league leaders Arsenal on Sunday with a 3-0 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League.

Erling Haaland added two goals to his tally for the season, either side of a long-range strike from Phil Foden, who is now into double figures for the campaign with ten.

Matheus Nunes added his third assist for the season at right-back, in a new role for Pep Guardiola’s side, with a brilliant cross to the back post for Haaland’s first goal of the match.

Man City want to sign Crystal Palace star

Despite the Portugal international’s emergence as a genuine starting option at right-back for City, the club are reportedly keen on a star who could come in and take his place.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City are interested in a deal to sign Crystal Palace wing-back Daniel Munoz ahead of the January transfer window.

The report claims that Guardiola admires the Colombia international because he feels that the defender’s aggressive style of play would be a good fit for the way that he wants his full-backs to play.

It adds that City have done extensive scouting work to assess the experienced wing-back as a possible transfer target, who is also attracting interest from Barcelona, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid.

This shows that there could be plenty of competition for the Palace star’s signature next month when the January transfer window opens, yet the report does not reveal how much the Eagles would demand to part ways with him.

Why Man City should sign Daniel Munoz

The Cityzens should push to win the race for the Colombian star, albeit it remains to be seen how much he will cost, because the defender could arrive at The Etihad in January as a big upgrade on Nunes at right-back.

As impressive as his assist for Haaland was on Sunday, Nunes has still been very questionable defensively. Per Sofascore, the former Wolves star has made three errors leading to shots, goals, or penalties for the opposition in the Premier League this season.

Munoz, meanwhile, has made no errors leading to shots, goals, or penalties in 14 appearances in the top-flight for Palace this season, per Sofascore, which comes after he only made one in 37 starts in the division in the 2024/25 campaign.

This suggests that the Colombia international would be a big upgrade on Nunes from a defensive perspective, as he is far less likely to make critical defensive errors in the Premier League that could cost the team points.

Munoz was described as “one of the best RWBs in the Premier League” by one scout on X, and that is because he has attacking quality to go along with his impressive defensive work for the Eagles.

Appearances

14

14

Goals

3

1

Big chances created

4

3

xA

2.00

0.97

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.5

2.7

Duels won per game

5.2

4.0

Error led to shot, goal, or penalty

0

3

As you can see in the table above, the Palace star has produced seven goals and ‘big chances’ combined in the Premier League this term, which is almost twice as many as Nunes has managed in a title-challenging Manchester City team.

The statistics also back up that he would be a big upgrade on the Portuguese full-back as an out-and-out defender at right-back, as he is more effective in his defensive duels, without making any errors that cost his side.

Munoz also scored four goals, created seven ‘big chances’, and provided five assists in the Premier League for Palace in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, which shows that his current form is not a flash in the pan, and that he is a consistent contributor at the top end of the pitch.

Therefore, City would be signing a tried and tested, proven, Premier League wing-back option to bolster Guardiola’s squad if they manage to get a deal over the line for the 29-year-old star ahead of the second half of the season.

Man City preparing move for £28m English star after direct request from Pep

Pep Guardiola has set his sights on an “incredible” Premier League player.

ByDominic Lund 2 days ago

That is why the Cityzens should be pushing hard to beat the likes of Bayern, Chelsea, and United to his signature, because he could hit the ground running as a player who already knows the league and has shown that he has the quality defensively and offensively to be a big upgrade on Nunes.

It remains to be seen whether Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool next summer, but journalist Ben Jacobs has picked out a "good fit" to replace him at Anfield.

Will Mohamed Salah leave Liverpool?

The Egyptian was once again in impressive form for the Reds on Saturday, registering three assists in the 3-1 victory over Molves at Molineux. He again highlighted how priceless he is to his team, reminding everyone how important it was that he stayed put this summer.

There was strong interest from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, who saw a huge £150m bid rejected for Salah's services, and while he is going nowhere at the moment, they are unlikely to go away any time soon.

With the 31-year-old's Liverpool deal expiring in 2025, next summer could prove to be a pivotal time, at which point the player's head could be turned by a move, and the Merseysiders could weigh up whether to accept an offer.

Should that happen, a fantastic player would need to come in and help fill the void left by Salah, with various options mooted in recent months.

Will Liverpool sign Jarrod Bowen?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jacobs talked up West Ham winger Jarrod Bowen as a potential successor to Salah, seeing him as a strong option to bring in:

"Liverpool are planners anyway. So, it's not like because of the Saudi interest this summer, they're suddenly thinking about replacing Salah. Liverpool will have already had a list of Salah replacements long before they knew about the Saudi interest because that's how they plan.

"That's how they work and how the dynamic is. I think that Bowen is a good fit for Liverpool. He will have seen Declan Rice leave and, in the same way that Rice had said at the World Cup that he was jealous of his colleagues playing Champions League football, I think that Bowen will now watch Rice go and play Champions League football and will get that same sense of jealousy, or ambition, whatever you want to call it.

"Because he does want to play Champions League football, and he knows he's capable of it. He's been a great servant to West Ham, but next summer might be the time, and let's see whether the Liverpool links grow."

Bowen is an excellent player who has proven to be a great signing from West Ham, making the step-up the Premier League effortlessly after starring for Hull City in the Championship, not to mention being hailed as "unbelievable" by Jurgen Klopp.

The £60k per week ace isn't remotely close to being at Salah's world-class level, however, and it is arguably difficult to ever see that happening at this point in his career, so he wouldn't be a good enough replacement for the Egyptian King.

Bowen could certainly be an astute signing by Liverpool, assuming he came in as a strong squad option, but to expect him to reach the heights of the Reds' legendary No.11 would be asking too much, considering the most league goals he has scored in a season in his career is 22, which came in the Championship with Hull.

MatériaMais Notícias

Depois de passar algum tempo sem conseguir ganhar em Pituaçu, o Bahia emendou o segundo triunfo consecutivo em casa ao bater por 3 a 1 o Atlético-MG na última segunda-feira (19).

Para o auxiliar técnico James Freitas, comandante do time na ausência do expulso contra o Goiás Mano Menezes, a ideia foi de encontrar o melhor equilíbrio tanto na questão de balanceamento da equipe como também pensando no desgaste das peças disponíveis:

-Jogo de futebol, a gente não escolhe como vai desempenhar. Penso que, no primeiro tempo, pode ser que a gente não tenha tido situações, também muito em função do que o adversário estava propondo. Claro que, no segundo tempo, a gente consegue transitar um pouco melhor. A gente conseguiu reter um pouco mais a bola na nossa linha de meio e trabalhar para trocar de corredor, que era o nosso objetivo, tínhamos treinado para isso, que a gente não conseguiu fazer no primeiro tempo. Mas o jogo tem que ser analisado como um todo. Faz parte. Você vai alternar. Em jogos desse nível, vai ter um primeiro tempo em que o adversário vai ser melhor que nós ou a gente vai ser melhor que o adversário. E um segundo tempo em que vai ser inferior. O que a gente procura é ter equilíbrio para que a gente não faça tempos distintos e consiga ter uma regularidade melhor na competição.

-A formação se dá em função do desgaste que a gente vem acumulando com os jogos. Fizemos um jogo em Goiânia, retornarmos na madrugada. A condição de descanso, de sono, não foi tão boa. A gente praticamente só recuperou os jogadores no sábado e optou por treinar, no domingo, quem estava mais inteiro. A formação inicial se dá muito por isso, em virtude de a gente colocar jogadores com condições de competir mais no primeiro tempo – acrescentou.

Com Mano fazendo seu trabalho no Esquadrão há pouco mais de um mês, James aproveitou para frisar o pouco tempo como um dos elementos naturais quando se pensa na instabilidade de atuações e resultados:

— Uma equipe de futebol passa por esses momentos. Penso que a gente está aqui num início de trabalho. O Bahia tem uma forma de jogar, e a gente está retomando essa forma de jogar. O que a gente busca é essa regularidade, que a gente alternou um pouco em relação a desempenho. É o que a gente busca. Na medida em que o trabalho vai transcorrendo, a gente vai adquirindo essa regularidade melhor e poder fazer não tempos distintos. Poder ter uma caminhada mais segura dentro da competição.

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