Carlo Ancelotti says Kylian Mbappe is "more motivated" to succeed at Real Madrid and that his "adaptation period is over".
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Mbappe yet to fire at MadridAncelotti gives verdict on forwardSays "adaptation period is over"Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Former Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe has not proven to be the blockbuster signing Madrid thought they would be making so far. However, his manager Ancelotti says the Frenchman is playing well, can improve, and is "excited" to kick on for Los Blancos.
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“His adaptation period is over, he’s already showing a good version of himself, but he can still improve. He’s recovered from his last injury and I see him more motivated, excited. He needed this time, like anyone else, but it’s over now," he told reporters.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Mbappe is one of the best players in the world but his return of 12 goals and two assists in 22 games for Madrid does not reflect that. However, the 26-year-old has scored four goals in his last six matches in all competitions and may be about to catch fire.
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Mbappe's Madrid, who sit third in La Liga, will round off the year at home to 12th-placed Sevilla in the Spanish top-flight on Sunday afternoon.
Southampton are yet to get up and running in the Premier League this season, with only one goal scored and zero points on the board for Russell Martin's downbeat Saints from three lacklustre games.
The possession-heavy style that worked a treat in the Championship isn't quite working up a division for Martin and Co, with Thomas Frank's Brentford beating the South Coast side 3-1 last time out, despite only possessing 36% of the ball.
Plenty more will be expected from Martin's low-on-confidence group moving forward, therefore, especially from the likes of Ben Brereton-Diaz, who hasn't broken his goalscoring duck for his new employers yet in the Premier League.
Brereton-Diaz's performances for Southampton
The main bit of action that has caught the eye from Brereton-Diaz's short-term stay with the Saints to date was his wild outburst with Fabian Schar on the opening day, an incident which saw the Newcastle United defender receive a red card after retaliating.
Away from this moment of drama at St. James' Park, the former Blackburn Rovers man has been quiet up top, leading to Southampton's goal-shy displays worrying those on the South Coast.
From the first three Premier League fixtures of the season, the new Saints number 17 has only found the target once with an effort on goal but did see three of his shots get blocked versus Brentford last match.
It just hasn't worked out so far for the adopted Chile international during the infancy of his playing days for Martin's men, but the Saints boss will know he has lots more to give away from any shaky early performances, as Brereton-Diaz managed to net six goals from 14 league games playing for Chris Wilder's doomed Sheffield United last campaign.
His poor early start for his new employers hasn't negatively impacted his transfer value, however, when glancing at Football Transfers, with the ex-Riversiders striker worth a hefty £9.9m.
But, another new face that now calls St. Mary's home has seen his value increase above Brereton-Diaz's value already. That man is Yukinari Sugawara.
Sugawara's increasing value at Southampton
It is already looking like a masterstroke from those at Southampton involving a deal to pick up Sugawara for only £6m, with the Japan international already proving himself to be a gem for his new side.
The ex-AZ Alkmaar defender has the impressive label above his head currently of being the only goalscorer for the Saints this season in the league, firing home late on away at Brentford to try and raise spirits in the despondent away end.
Minutes played
45
72
90
Goals scored
0
0
1
Assists
0
0
0
Touches
41
62
100
Accurate passes
58%
75%
88%
Key passes
1
0
2
Total duels won
3/3
6/8
4/5
Endearing himself to his new set of supporters with lively and tenacious displays, with 100 touches of the ball managed last match against Brentford as a presence constantly trying to make openings happen, it isn't a great shock to see his value has increased already.
He was even described as an "awesome" talent by journalist Sam Tighe recently, off the back of his superb start in England.
Market Movers
Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?
Sugawara is now worth £10.2m as per Football Transfers, which is now around £300k more than his teammate Brereton-Diaz's value, but the former Alkmaar man could actually help the goal-shy forward get up and running in his new location soon by linking up with him even more in games to come.
Southampton fans knew that this campaign was going to be difficult, but there could be rays of positivity to come if the Saints can pick up a win in the league soon, starting with a tough lunchtime kick-off against Manchester United this coming weekend.
Sugawara would no doubt cement his status further as a new fan's favourite if he starred against Erik ten Hag's Red Devils, whilst Brereton-Diaz would love nothing more than to score his first-ever Saints goal this Saturday.
Reporter reveals dispute at Southampton which could now get Martin sacked
Buttler injury opens door to extended run in ODI squad after luckless tour of India
Matt Roller25-Jun-2021At the start of March, Sam Billings was full of positivity about an upcoming three-match period that could have locked him into England’s T20 World Cup squad: he had not been given an opportunity in their T20I series in India, but had expected to play all three of the ODIs that followed before trying to force his way into the Delhi Capitals team in the IPL. “It’s really exciting,” he said at the time. “The strategy was always to give myself the best chance of being selected in the World Cup.”But things have not gone to plan. Billings suffered a shoulder injury diving on the boundary in the first ODI, ruling him out of the next two games, and after starting the IPL on Delhi’s bench, was in line to make his first appearance of the season against Kolkata Knight Riders but watched as the worsening Covid-19 situation caused the tournament to be postponed. That meant a flight home to the UK and 10 days of self-isolation in a hotel room, “watching the planes fly over [Heathrow] Terminal Five”.Desperate to get onto the pitch, he was the first English IPL player back in the County Championship, playing straight after his quarantine period was complete, before spending three weeks as a back-up wicketkeeper in the Test squad – dropping a tough catch at fine leg when he got onto the pitch as a sub fielder – and playing three Blast games for Kent, taking his social-media trolls to task after an innings of 30 off 30 balls on a tough Cardiff pitch proved to be match-winning.”It’s just nice to be playing, full stop,” he said on Friday morning, before England’s T20I squad travelled from Cardiff to the Ageas Bowl. “I think [last night] was my fourth innings of the summer and my fifth since January. It’s been an experience, definitely, to say the least.”It has been deflating at times, not playing any cricket and missing out on all fronts, really. It’s kind of been a close shave in all formats at the moment and it was just nice to be back out there playing last night: it’s a lot better than running the drinks.”In that light, Billings’ innings of 24 off 29 balls was more important than the numbers suggest. He put on 54 off 48 balls with Liam Livingstone for the fifth wicket, and while he chopped on against Wanindu Hasaranga with 13 runs required, their stand had secured the game after a nervous stumble to 36 for 4 in the run chase.Specifically, Billings highlighted the fact that, while in years gone by, he might have looked to play some shots and “make a statement”, he instead focused only on taking the game deep and nudging ones and twos to build a partnership on a turgid pitch.Related
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“Last night was really pleasing from my point of view,” he said. “In the past I would have tried even harder to make a bit more of a statement as opposed to just getting the job done. It was a real shame to get out but to get stuck in and play the role that was needed for the team: it wasn’t pretty from Liam and I at times but ultimately it’s about getting the side over the line.”In the past, I’ve put way too much pressure on myself, but I think last year for me was a huge turning point. I put myself under a lot of pressure, of course, when I got that opportunity initially, but the consistent run of games against very good attacks in Australia and Pakistan really give me confidence just to back my own game, and it was a consistency more for me that was really pleasing last year.”[Last night] was my fourth game in about six months so for me the pressure was actually off a little bit in that I just concentrated on doing the basics really well. When you haven’t played in a while, you just strip it right back and concentrate on those kind of things. And I’m 30 now – I’m no spring chicken anymore – so I’ve got a bit of experience behind me. The age thing definitely helps in giving you some perspective.”Billings was likely to continue in the middle order during the ODI series against Sri Lanka regardless, but Jos Buttler’s injury – confirmed on Friday to be a calf tear, which had opened up a spot for Billings in the second T20I – effectively locks him in as a middle-order batter. While Ben Stokes is certain to come back into the side when fully fit, Billings will have an opportunity to build on an impressive run last summer against Ireland and Australia, which included his first international hundred, and force some tricky selection decisions further down the line.”In terms of ODIs, I had a really good summer last year and averaged 83 [78.75] throughout that summer in that format so I would be pretty disappointed if I didn’t get a gig. But this team is a very hard one to get into to.”[England] have two of the best white-ball batsmen and wicketkeepers in the world [in Buttler and Jonny Bairstow] but at the end of the day, you never know with injuries. You have just got to try and offer as much as you can to any side you go into. The more options you can give any side, it definitely helps your case; I’m working on the offspin as we speak…”
Manchester City are reportedly ready to sell half of their regular starters in 2025 as Pep Guardiola ushers in a “new era” at the Etihad Stadium.
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Premier League champions stuck in a rutAlready planning rebuild for 2025Senior stars will be moved on in that processFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Sweeping change is being mooted as the reigning Premier League champions find themselves stuck in a rut that has delivered just one win from their last 12 games in all competitions. No questions are being asked of Guardiola, after committing to a new contract, but underperforming players are facing the threat of being axed.
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City resisted any urge to splash the cash in the summer of 2024, but their approach to recruitment could be markedly different 12 months on. That is because the Blues are being tipped to part with a number of supposed stars as they look to freshen up their ranks and rebuild.
WHAT BALAGUE SAID
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague has said in the : "They are generally achieving their targets and something that gets the renewed target of this season is top four. That is what City want to do. That is the target they have all put I their head. I think they will achieve that. They are not that far away at the moment. You are talking about an achievable target.
"They want to recover the essence of the team, the look of the team. But quite clearly Pep Guardiola is going to use the last two years of his contract – which are probably be the last two of his career as a club manager – to prepare a new Manchester City. I have got a very clear idea that they will want to get rid of five or six regular starters for Manchester City and bring five or six new starters. Half of the team. It is a new era. The end of this one and a new era starting.
"The cycle is over but remember that only a month-and-a-half ago they had not lost a game and were top of the table. But that in my eyes is what is happening. That is what they are going to do next."
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Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan will be out of contract in the summer of 2025, while Kyle Walker is seeing a move elsewhere speculated on at the age of 34. Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson has suitors in Saudi Arabia, Bernardo Silva has been linked with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain for some time, while City will reportedly listen to offers for Portuguese centre-half Ruben Dias.
It hasn't been the start to the Premier League season that fans of Tottenham Hotspur would have been hoping for over the summer.
Ange Postecoglou's side have played some brilliant football in their three games thus far, but a lack of clinical finishing has seen them draw away to Leicester City, win at home to Everton and then lose away to Newcastle United.
The Australian coach will need his attacking players to find their shooting boots ahead of this weekend's North London Derby, and while the team's defence was quite porous last season, there is undeniable quality there.
The main starters across the backline are some of the club's most valuable players, especially one of them who has seen his valuation soar in the last year or so.
Spurs' defensive stars
Okay, so the first thing to point out is that yes, Spurs did concede 61 times last season, and while that would suggest that their defence is subpar, most fans will tell you that's not the case.
1
Arsenal
29
2
Manchester City
34
3
Liverpool
41
4
Manchester United
58
5
Chelsea
63
6
Tottenham Hotspur
61
Instead, the North Londoners' tendency to concede is more down to the ultra-attacking style of football employed by Postecoglou and his determination to play a high-line as well, and while that's caused issues at the back, it has also made Tottenham one of the most entertaining sides to watch in the country.
So, let's look at the value of some of the club's primary defenders, starting with Pedro Porro, who, after joining the club for around £40m in January 2023, has established himself as one of the best attacking fullbacks in the league.
In his 57 matches for the club, he has already racked up eight goals and ten assists, equating to a seriously impressive average – for a fullback – of a goal involvement once every 3.16 games.
Moving onto the Lilywhites' starting centre-back pairing, while Radu Dragusin is a talented player, he's firmly behind Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.
Micky van de Ven for Tottenham
The former cost Daniel Levy and Co a cool £43m just last summer, and while he has suffered from a worrying number of injuries in his career, his rapid pace makes him an essential component to Postecoglou's ultra-aggressive style of play.
Romero, on the other hand, cost Spurs just a fraction less at £42m, and made the move from Serie A side Atalanta in August 2021. While the World Cup winner isn't quite as fast as his defensive partner, he is the team's leader at the back and is co-vice captain alongside James Maddison.
Moreover, with Lionel Messi describing the Córdoba-born titan as the "best defender in the world", it would be fair to say that he might just be the most crucial member of Tottenham's back four.
However, the last player in this group is currently worth considerably more than the club paid for any of his defensive teammates, and it's not even close.
Destiny Udogie's valuation in 2024
Yes, the final key member of Tottenham's talented back four is, of course, Destiny Udogie, who was signed from Serie A outfit Udinese by Antonio Conte's Spurs in the summer of 2022 for just £15m plus add-ons.
The Verona-born star then remained in his home country for another season on loan before joining the North Londoners just as Postecoglou was doing the same.
The Australian took a liking to the 21-year-old's fearless style of play and attacking attributes and, even though he was a relative unknown to most football fans in England at the time, opted to make him his first-choice left-back – and what a decision that was.
In all, Conte's "masterclass signing," as talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, made 30 appearances last season. In those appearances, he scored two goals, provided three assists, and became Tottenham's first player ever to be nominated for the Premier League's Young Player of the Season Award.
Unsurprisingly, such a rapid development from an obscure name to one of the best full-backs in the league has seen his valuation soar. According to the CIES Football Observatory, he is now worth up to €83m, which converts to about £70m, or a 366% increase on the fee paid by the club two years ago.
Ultimately, Spurs are blessed with a seriously talented back four, and while they are all worth a considerable sum of money, the explosion in Udogie's value is a testament to his importance to the club.
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High-scoring thriller comes down to the final over as Durham take it deep
Paul Edwards16-Jul-2021 Lancashire do not have blissful memories of this fixture. Three years ago they failed to score six off the final over when they had four wickets in hand. That defeat led to one or two frank exchanges in the dressing room and the departure of Jordan Clark to Surrey, albeit that had been possible for a while. Then last year their batsmen were swept aside like shingle in a perigean spring tide by an ecstatic Matty Potts.And for much of this magnificent and vital contest it looked as though Durham were up to their quite recent tricks yet again. Chasing 200 for victory, a total they had never scored to win a T20 match, Cameron Bancroft’s men approached their task with very typical courage. David Bedingham was largely responsible for his side taking 78 runs off their Powerplay overs and even after he had been caught at short third man for 50 by the substitute fielder Jack Blatherwick off Tom Hartley, the visitors’ pursuit was maintained on a very good batting pitch by Sean Dickson. With two overs to be bowled 26 runs were still needed but Luke Wood had Dickson caught at long-off by Steven Croft for 53 and Danny Lamb kept his no doubt febrile nerve to bowl a series of yorkers when Durham needed 15 off the final six balls. Lancashire won by half a dozen runs but the visitors came closer than that and as so often in such contests the emotional polarities at the end of the match were revealing.For this game mattered a lot. The Vitality Blast season has moved from simple entertainment to dread consequence. Most analyses of this evening’s programme began with “if” and ended in a labyrinth of knotted possibilities. Simplicity was rarer than Prime Ministerial truth. And even now Lancashire have secured the victory, things are not completely clear. True, Durham now have no chance of reaching the quarter-finals, a fate they hardly deserve, but Lancashire’s place in the last eight rests on – wouldn’t you guess it? – the game against Yorkshire. Win that and they can look forward to an away quarter-final. Lose and their fate depends on Northants and Leicestershire defeating Birmingham and Worcestershire on Sunday.The most straightforward way of dealing with affairs – and also the most pleasing from head coach Glen Chapple’s point of view – would be simply to beat Yorkshire, and that task will be facilitated if Finn Allen and Keaton Jennings bat as they did in the opening overs against Durham. As though carrying scarred, second-hand recollections of recent games against these opponents, Lancashire’s openers began by dismantling Bancroft’s attack and then demolished it almost completely. The first four overs of the innings brought 45 runs, the Powerplay 75. Spin or seam, left hand or right, it made no difference. Allen hit three sixes in reaching his fifty off 21 balls, equalling the second quickest in the county’s short-form history. He and Jennings put on 101 in eight overs before the New Zealander holed out to Scott Borthwick’s leg spin for 66, Carse taking the catch at long-off. Two overs later Jennings top-edged the same bowler to Paul van Meekeren at short fine leg and departed for 43.The run-scoring slackened in the third quarter of the innings and perhaps it could scarcely have done otherwise. Alex Davies and Dane Vilas took stock to the extent that none of the overs between the ninth and fifteenth yielded ten or more runs. Then Davies whacked Trevaskis for a six and a four and Lancashire were off again. Well, at least Davies was. The endlessly combative batter reached his fifty off 36 balls in the 19th over but holed out to Borthwick off Potts at long-on for 56 four balls later and Lancashire finished on 199 for 5. Borthwick was the pick of the Durham bowlers and his 2 for 30 were the best figures. That is not always the way. Statistics sometimes wrong-foot performance in this game.Similarly a side chasing a tall total can often fold up and subside. But that has never been Durham’s way. Bedingham belted almost every bowler in the Powerplay and Dickson’s approach to his task was epitomised when he whacked a straight six off Croft that smashed a window in the home dressing room and left an outraged Chapple standing arms akimbo on the balcony as if making the points that someone had got to pay for the damage and Lancashire are not made of windows.So the T20 season comes down to the last weekend of group games. Lancashire can be encouraged that they have now won five of their six home games and tied the other. On the other side they would not be facing such a tense denouement to their campaign if they had more than just one win from seven matches on their travels. An incompetent philanderer could not have played away with less success.
Arne Slot cited Steven Gerrard's example to warn Real Madrid over their Trent Alexander-Arnold pursuit.
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Slot issued a warning to Real MadridUsed Gerrard's exampleTrent yet to sign a new Liverpool dealFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Alexander-Arnold, whose Liverpool contract expires next summer, has been linked with a move away from Anfield with Real Madrid being the favourites to secure the defender's signing. Los Blancos reportedly placed their first bid for the player on New Year's Eve, however, the Reds immediately rejected the offer.
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Amid uncertainty over the England international's future, manager Slot issued a warning towards the Spanish champions as he cited club legend Steven Gerrard's example. In 2010, the then-Real boss Jose Mourinho tried to sign the midfielder, however, Gerrard rejected the offer to stay back at his boyhood club.
WHAT ARNE SLOT SAID
Speaking to reporters, the Dutch coach said: "There was one player (Gerrard) they would have really loved to have but he didn’t come. You know him better than me. So it has happened."
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?
The Merseyside club will be back in action on Sunday as they play their first match of the New Year against rivals Manchester United at Anfield.
Everton’s season has gone from bad to worse in recent days as Sean Dyche’s side were knocked out of the EFL Cup by Southampton, meaning there are no distractions from the Premier League until January.
At the time of writing, the Goodison Park side have conceded 15 times this term, and this defensive record must improve, otherwise it will be another relegation battle this term.
Everton manager Sean Dyche
Despite the poor performances on the field, there are several players who have bright futures in the game who are at the club, notably defenders Jarrad Branthwaite and Jake O’Brien.
How much Branthwaite and O’Brien earn at Everton
The Englishman became a first-team regular at the Toffees last term after a successful loan spell at PSV Eindhoven. Under Dyche, he made 41 appearances in all competitions, becoming one of the few shining lights in the side.
Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite
O’Brien joined the club from Lyon during the summer transfer window, already making three appearances for the club and aged just 23, could form a long-term partnership with Branthwaite.
The English centre-back currently earns £35k-per-week, while the Irishman earns £40k-per-week, which means the pair are both on salaries that clearly won’t break the bank.
Indeed, both are actually earning less combined than fellow defender Michael Keane, who has been underperforming for a while now. Surely he will be on his way out of Goodison sooner rather than later?
Michael Keane’s wages at Everton
The 31-year-old has been with the Toffees since 2017, making a total of 219 appearances for the club in that time period.
The defender is currently earning £80k-per-week, however, and his performances on the pitch in recent months mean he is being way overpaid, that’s for sure.
Season
Games
Goals
2023/24
12
1
2022/23
14
1
2021/22
38
3
2020/21
41
4
2019/20
34
2
2018/19
35
1
2017/18
38
1
Last season, Keane made just nine appearances in the top flight, finishing the campaign by averaging a 78% pass success rate, winning only 39% of his ground duels and keeping one clean sheet in that time.
When compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues, Keane even ranked in the lowest 75% for tackles per 90 and ranked in the lowest 67% for blocks per 90 over the previous 365 days.
These statistics clearly show that he is on the decline as a player. His contract expires at the end of the season and Dyche shouldn’t be offering him an extension, especially as the £80k-per-week he currently earns could be reinvested back into the transfer market.
Branthwaite and O’Brien, who have yet to play together in the first team, have the potential to form a dependable partnership at the heart of the defence, which could be the difference regarding Everton’s top-flight status.
Keane was a decent signing when he joined seven years ago, but with real competition emerging in the centre-back ranks, his time could well be up sooner rather than later.
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The 23-year-old is hoping to make a mark in the Ranji Trophy and be eligible to play in the IPL as a local player
Shashank Kishore29-Aug-2021Anshuman Rath, the former Hong Kong captain, is set to play for Odisha in India’s upcoming 2021-22 domestic season. Holder of an Indian passport, Rath has completed the mandatory year-long cooling-off period that makes him eligible to feature as a local player under BCCI’s ambit.The 23-year-old left-hand top-order batter was earlier vying for a spot at Vidarbha. However, he was left out of their set-up altogether for the truncated 2020-21 season, and that is when talks began with Odisha, Rath’s state of birth.”I had served a year’s cooling-off period, played club cricket in Nagpur and hoped to be picked for Vidarbha. But when things didn’t happen, I had to look for a new opportunity, and that is when Odisha happened,” Rath told ESPNcricinfo. “I can speak Oriya, I was born in Bhubaneswar, so in many ways this was a logical next step for me.”Related
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One of Rath’s burning desires is to make a mark in the Ranji Trophy and be eligible to play in the IPL as a local player. He is currently playing inter-district matches in Bhubaneswar, hoping to impress the state selectors ahead of the season-opening Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in October.”I have spent over a month with the squad,” he says. “The team is talented, but have been flying under the radar for some reason. The talent is abundant, and I hope we can all make a difference this season. For me personally, it’s about doing whatever I can to put myself up for selection. The best way to do that is keep scoring runs wherever I play.”Rath is looking forward to working with former India, Mumbai and Vidarbha batter Wasim Jaffer, who was named Odisha head coach last month. “Being an opener myself, it was good to pick his brains at the short camp we had,” he said. “Obviously he has just come in, so I haven’t had a great deal of time. But from the short camp, the takeaways were plenty.”It’s not hard to see why he’s respected so much. He can be a tough coach [and] at the same time be someone who can put his hand around your shoulder when you need it. His record speaks for itself. If I can tap into all that experience, it’ll be beneficial to me and the team.”The move to Odisha is another step in what has been a “nomadic career” for Rath. As a teenager, he set sights on a cricket career in England, where he attended boarding school. But immigration rules that don’t allow players from an Associate nation to qualify as a professional meant he had to stay back in Hong Kong, where he had moved with his parents as a 14-year-old.In all, Rath featured in 18 ODIs and 20 T20Is for Hong Kong. He led them to the Asia Cup in the UAE in 2018, where they nearly pulled off an upset over India. Rath made the decision to step away from his Hong Kong career after they lost ODI status later that year, following a last-place finish in the WCL Division 2 in Namibia, where Rath topped the run charts.
Glasgow Rangers suffered their first defeat in the Europa League group phase as Lyon emerged 4–1 victors at Ibrox on Thursday evening.
Following a run of four successive wins, featuring four clean sheets, it was their first loss since the defeat to Celtic at the start of September.
Philippe Clement will have a lot on his mind as he tries to get his players to bounce back ahead of the final Premiership match before the international break, with St Johnstone the visitors to Ibrox on Sunday evening.
Due to the sharp turnaround between games, there will likely be a few changes to the starting XI, especially considering how poorly several members of the team performed against the French side.
One player who should be dropped to the bench is Vaclav Cerny, who was woeful on Thursday evening.
Vaclav Cerny’s game in numbers vs Lyon
The Czech winger started the game on the right flank, despite Ross McCausland enjoying a decent cameo during the previous European match against Malmö.
Cerny missed a glaring chance in that first match, although it didn’t matter as the Gers won 2-0. Against Lyon, however, he somehow missed an open goal after just seven minutes following some good work down the left flank.
This clearly hampered his confidence, as the winger took just 31 touches during his spell on the pitch, managed one key pass and failed to even attempt a dribble, clearly showing his lack of effectiveness.
Goals
0
Assists
0
Big chances missed
1
Key passes
1
Dribble attempts
0
Total duels won
0
The former Ajax star completed just 13 passes during the match, five fewer than goalkeeper Jack Butland, while he didn’t win a single duel throughout his 69 minutes on the field. It was a dismal showing from a player who Clement signed to have an impact in games such as these.
Cerny was even given a match rating of just 5/10 by the Rangers Review, yet more evidence of how uninspiring he was during the game.
Clement could drop Vaclav Cerny vs St Johnstone
Clement faces one final game before yet another international break and a win will be required against the Saints to keep in touch with Celtic and Aberdeen at the summit of the league table.
Cerny will most likely be dropped to the bench, with young McCausland given a start in his place. The Northern Irish winger has already scored twice this term along with grabbing an assist.
Despite starting only once in the league, the 21-year-old averages one key pass per game and succeeds with 60% of his dribble attempts, indicating that he offers a solid threat going forwards.
Could this see the Belgian make this change on the right flank? Only time will tell. A decent performance along with three points will go a long way to appeasing the Ibrox faithful ahead of the break, no doubt about that.
5/10 Rangers man who lost possession 20x was just as bad as Barron
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