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‘You come directly under a head coach as it’s his domain and you work according to his mindset. We will try to help Misbah as much as possible and move forward,’ Waqar says

Umar Farooq in Lahore20-Sep-2019

Waqar Younis at a media interaction during a training camp•PCB

When Waqar Younis twice served as the Pakistan head coach in the past – 2010 to 2011 and 2014 to 2016 – Misbah-ul-Haq was the Test captain on both occasions. Three-and-a-half years since his last stint with the team, Waqar has returned to the support staff set-up as the bowling coach and Misbah is now the head coach.Waqar will, as a result, work under Misbah after the PCB overhauled the support staff that was led by Mickey Arthur until the World Cup. Waqar and Misbah have shared a cordial relationship and the former fast bowler brings with him loads of coaching experience. This will be his fifth term in the Pakistan support staff, having served twice as the head coach, as the bowling coach in 2006-07, and the bowling and fielding coach briefly in 2009-10.His two stints as head coach had not ended on a good note earlier as he resigned both times before the end of his tenure. In 2011 he stepped down amid differences with then limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi and in 2016 he quit after a dispute with the PCB’s management following that year’s T20 World Cup.Will working under Misbah be a “demotion” of sorts for Waqar? He doesn’t think so.”As far as thinking like it’s a demotion, it’s only a myth that you go up or down,” Waqar said. “Our goal is how to make Pakistan a better team. For me the exciting thing is to try and help some of the promising youngsters who are in the pipeline, and some more who will come in the near future too.”You come directly under a head coach as it’s his domain and you work according to his mindset. The others are helping hands like the fielding coach and bowling coach. We will try to help Misbah as much as possible and move forward.”In three years lots of things have changed,” Waqar said when asked what made him come back. “The format has changed in domestic cricket, new people have come, there are new coaches, new thinking has come. I am not here to make controversies, I will try to make the Pakistan bowling attack a good one.”Waqar clarified that he wasn’t “mentally ready” to apply for the post of head coach again and he knew that Misbah was the main contender for the job. Waqar applied for the bowling coach position and he was the main candidate after another shortlisted applicant, Mohammad Akram, withdrew at the last minute.”I decided that I wasn’t mentally ready to get back into the set-up [as head coach] so I applied for bowling coach,” Waqar said. “I think I have a very good chemistry with Misbah, I’ve got a very good understanding with him and it will help in the future. The PCB has given Misbah an opportunity and it’s our responsibility to support and back him because he’s a very honest man and passionate about the game.”My role is very simple and well-defined. I had done both the roles as a head coach and a bowling coach so I have an idea. The best thing is that I know about Misbah’s mindset because whatever coaching I had done was with Misbah as the captain.”Their first assignment together will be two limited-overs series against Sri Lanka starting September 27 in Karachi with three ODIs followed by as many T20Is in Lahore next month. Currently, Waqar and Misbah are holding a training camp at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore where Waqar is working with young fast bowlers.”The emphasis of the camp is on training and fitness, we are always focusing on fitness with our bowlers,” Waqar said. “We have bowlers in the pipeline like Mohammad Hasnain and Nasim Shah and in the next few months they will come on the scene.”The best thing is Sri Lanka is coming, it’s a plus for Pakistan, and other teams should also come. Our short-term goal is that we should win matches early on and build the confidence.”

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O Corinthians está pronto para mais um compromisso pelo Campeonato Paulista. Nesta quinta-feira, o Timão realizou o último treino preparatório para a partida diante do São Bento, nesta sexta, 20h, na Neo Química Arena, pela sétima rodada da primeira fase do estadual. Em meio à maratona, Vagner Mancini deve voltar a escalar os jogadores considerados titulares.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansElencos sub-20 e sub-23 do Corinthians passam por testes de Covid e preparam volta às atividadesCorinthians15/04/2021CorinthiansNeo Química Arena lança promoção para visitante fechar turma exclusiva em tour Casa do PovoCorinthians15/04/2021CorinthiansCorinthians é condenado a pagar R$ 1,2 milhão para entidade de atletasCorinthians15/04/2021

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Paulistão-2021 clicando aqui

GALERIA
>Jornal espanhol elege as melhores torcidas do mundo! Confira o top 40

Os atletas, que estão respeitando o sistema de bolha concentrados no Hotel Gildásio Miranda, dentro do CT Joaquim Grava, realizaram exames RT-PCR para detecção da Covid-19 pela manhã e todos os resultados foram negativos.

No período da tarde, o técnico Vagner Mancini comandou a atividade no gramado. No Campo 1 (Ronaldo Soares Giovanelli), os jogadores fizeram o aquecimento. Na sequência, o treinador corintiano organizou um treinamento tático para ajustar a equipe titular que enfrentará o time de Sorocaba amanhã. Por fim, o elenco trabalhou bolas paradas ofensivas e defensivas.

Vale lembrar que os jornalistas não podem acompanhar as atividades in loco por conta do protocolos de saúde em decorrência da pandemia de coronavírus. As informações são fornecidas pela assessoria de imprensa do clube,

Como ainda terá mais um jogo pelo Paulistão nesta maratona de quatro partidas em oito dias, e já projetando a estreia pela Copa Sul-Americana na próxima semana, Mancini deve optar por voltar a usar os titulares, muitos deles poupados na derrota diante da Ferroviária, na última terça-feira. Assim, um provável Timão é: Cássio; Fagner, Bruno Méndez, Gil e Fábio Santos; Gabriel, Cantillo (Ramiro) e Luan (Otero); Gustavo Mosquito, Rodrigo Varanda e Cauê.

Nesta sexta-feira, toda a delegação do Timão que estará na Neo Química Arena passará por testes antígenos para identificação do coronavírus, também como parte do protocolo da Federação Paulista de Futebol.

Confira a lista de relacionados do Corinthians para pegar o São Bento:

Goleiros: Cássio e Matheus Donelli
Laterais: Fábio Santos, Fagner e Lucas Piton
Zagueiros: Bruno Méndez, Gil, Jemerson e João Victor
Meias: Araos, Cantillo, Gabriel, Gabriel Pereira, Luan, Otero, Ramiro, Roni e Vitinho
Atacantes: Cauê, Gustavo Silva, Jô, Léo Natel e Rodrigo Varanda

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It's been a busy deadline day at the City Ground so far, with Nottingham Forest kicking things off by signing teenage striker Rodrigo Ribeiro on loan from Sporting with an option to buy, having already tied up a temporary move for Borussia Dortmund's Gio Reyna on Wednesday night.

Manager Nuno, who's overseeing his first transfer window at the club after his appointment in December, has also been pursuing a new goalkeeper, and it looks like Matz Sels will be his man after Forest agreed a deal worth €6m, or £5.1m, to sign him from Strasbourg. Sels is now travelling to the UK to undergo a medical and complete a move that will likely spell the end of interest in Sam Johnstone at Crystal Palace.

Somewhat remarkably, the 31-year-old will become the third different goalkeeper signed by Forest this season after owner Evangelos Marinakis spent around £11.5m on Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos during last summer's transfer window.

Sels move baffles one reporter

Reacting to the move for Sels on Twitter, presenter and pundit Jack Collins appeared to criticise Marinakis for his reliance on transfers to solve every problem in his squad. With two comparable stoppers already on the books, he feels that the transfer makes no "sense" unless it heralds an imminent departure.

Sels shares same issue as Turner and Vlachodimos

First things first, you can see why Nuno wanted to bring in his own man between the sticks. After all, it's not his fault that neither of Steve Cooper's 2023 signings have impressed.

While Turner has started every Premier League game under the Portuguese, he had a five-game spell out of the side before Cooper's sacking, with Vlachodimos drafted in. Neither has been able to definitively make the spot their own, and that's partly because they've combined for the poorest shot-stopping record in the division.

Premier League goalkeeper stats

Post-shot xG faced

Goals conceded

Nottingham Forest

30.0

40

Brentford

26.6

36

Crystal Palace

29.1

36

Bournemouth

33.0

39

Brighton

30.9

37

The big question now, then, is whether Sels is the answer. Well, unfortunately, he too has under-performed this season, letting in two more goals than 'expected'.

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Even if he does ultimately offer a marginal improvement on what came before, you can see why Collins believes the investment isn't justified. Perhaps it was better to hold fire until the summer and press the reset button in that position, but Nuno clearly thought he couldn't afford to wait.

It's important to remember that Tottenham Hotspur have made great strides in their overall performance since Ange Postecoglou was appointed in the summer, but their defeat against Manchester City in the FA Cup was a sombre reminder of the progress still to be made.

Restricted to one paltry shot on goal all night, the hosts were out-fought and out-thought by last season's champions in the cup competition, whose profligacy looked set to drag the game toward Manchester for a replay, with dynamic defender Nathan Ake thumping in a messy goal, the only goal, from a late corner.

The loss means that Postecoglou's chance of securing silverware in his first season in English football borders on infinitesimal, falling in the Carabao Cup in the second round and failing to qualify for European competition last term, eight points behind top-placed Liverpool in the Premier League.

But it's important to put things in perspective: Tottenham have conducted astute and effective business in the transfer market since the end of the 2022/23 campaign, rekindled the finest form of stars such as Son Heung-min and Cristian Romero, and absorbed and adopted an identity that bespeaks the high-class potential of Postecoglou in his bid to bring eventual major honours to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

But, as already stated, Spurs were not on par with City last night; limp in attack but defiantly resilient in defence, Postecoglou's side might have lost, but the return of Micky van de Ven is crucial heading into the business end of the campaign.

Micky van de Ven's game vs Manchester City in numbers

James Maddison returned to action off the bench having spent over two months on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury against Chelsea in November to kick off a five-match winless run, but for all his brilliance, the influential playmaker might not be the most important cog in the system.

Fellow summer signing Van de Ven, who completed a £43m transfer from VFL Wolfsburg in August, was also injured against Chelsea, but has now started two matches in succession for Tottenham and was utterly mesmerising in his defensive duties versus the Sky Blues.

As per Sofascore, the Dutchman took 76 touches and completed 97% of his passes, losing the ball only twice, and remarkably made seven clearances as he consistently thwarted City attacks and rid his zone of advances.

Also winning two of his three contested ground duels and succeeding with three out of four long balls, illustrating his laser-focussed distribution, Van de Ven is truly an exceptional star in the Tottenham rearguard, with his electric pace and elite athleticism making for a singular skill set.

To emphasise this, the £50k-per-week ace ranks among the top 9% of centre-halves across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 12% for progressive carries and the top 5% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

Penning his post-match thoughts, the Evening Standard's Dan Kilpatrick bestowed the 22-year-old with an 8/10 match rating despite defeat, writing: 'Spurs' last line of defence made several important last-ditch interventions, including a block to deny Julian Alvarez a certain goal.'

It was another monstrous showing from a young gun with so much potential yet to be realised on English shores, and while Van de Ven attracted attention for his efforts, left-back Destiny Udogie deserves plaudits for his protection and energy, another big reason behind the Lilywhites' resurgence this season.

Destiny Udogie's performance vs Manchester City

Described as an "absolute brick" for his efforts down the left channel, Udogie might not have captured the awe like the Dutch defender to his right, but the 21-year-old produced yet another impressive performance against high-calibre opposition.

Destiny Udogie: Key Characteristics

Strengths

Weaknesses

Dribbling

Ball retention

Passing

Crossing

Interceptions

Tackling

Source: WhoScored

His aptitude as a defensive force was on full show as is becoming pleasingly usual, and while Udogie didn't enjoy the attacking success that he might have liked, he can hold his head high as one of the best performers on a tough evening.

Winning a whopping nine duels, Udogie was indeed crucial in stifling the visitors' surging forward motions. He also took 70 touches, completed 88% of his passes, and made three clearances and tackles apiece to further underpin a noteworthy effort.

Pundit Clinton Morrison was certainly impressed, remarking during the first-half battle that Udogie "has been the best left-back in the Premier League" this season.

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As was Kilpatrick, who handed the 6 foot 2 full-back an 8/10 match rating to perch alongside Van de Ven as Postecoglou's shining light, writing that he 'covered confidently behind the back four and stepped into midfield with usual poise.'

With Son, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr all returning from international duty in the coming weeks, Tottenham will feel that they boast a squad of varied talent and sufficient depth to challenge for a Champions League spot come May.

But without doubt, Udogie's fitness will be imperative in this endeavour, with the Italian signing for the club from Udinese for £15m in 2022 and spending last season back on loan with the Serie A outfit, now vital in the north London team's project, having now played 20 matches across all competitions this term, starting every time.

Tottenham's best chance of a trophy this season closed when Ake fired into Vicario's goal with minutes of normal time left, but that's okay, sting as it may.

Postecoglou is creating a dynasty, and rising stars such as Udogie are evidence of a glittering future. It's heard in the euphonious bellowing in the stands, it's felt in the manner that the players conduct themselves on the pitch.

The Australian will stick to his style and know that success will come, and Udogie and Van de Ven will indeed be right at the centre as Tottenham return to the success that it yearns for with every fibre of its being.

The January transfer window opened for business on Monday and Leeds United could be in the market to add more quality to their playing squad.

They are in the hunt for automatic promotion back to the Premier League and this month provides them with an opportunity to improve their chances of securing a return to the top-flight.

Whites head coach Daniel Farke could improve his options by landing the right players to complement his current starts at Elland Road ahead of the second half of the campaign.

Leeds are currently seven points adrift of Ipswich Town in second place and have struggled of late with a run of two wins in their last six Championship outings.

Farke's side failed to score more than one goal in all four of the matches that they failed to win and this suggests that he could benefit from bolstering his attack this month.

With this in mind, the German tactician must push for the club to sign reported transfer target Kerem Akturkoglu, who could be a big upgrade on Jaidon Anthony.

Leeds transfer news – Kerem Akturkoglu

It was reported by Turkish outlet Fanatik in December that Leeds were one of a number of clubs interested in a deal for the Galatasaray winger.

The outlet claimed that the Whites and Italian side Lazio are both eyeing up a swoop to sign the impressive forward during the January transfer window.

It also stated that unnamed clubs from England, France, and Italy have been in frequent contact with the player's representative ahead of a possible winter switch.

However, Fanatik added that Galatasaray are not interested in sanctioning an exit for their star winger this month as they would like to keep hold of their key players.

They are only prepared to sell the players they already have placed on the transfer list and deemed surplus to requirements, rather than cashing in on their top talent.

This means that it could be a very difficult deal for Leeds, or any of the other interested parties, to get over the line before the window slams shut.

However, things can change quickly and the Whites should stay alert to any potential changes in the Turkish side's stance as Akturkoglu could be a fantastic addition to the squad.

This means that all hope is not completely lost, albeit a deal looks unlikely to happen based on the current information available, with regards to him joining in January.

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Farke should push for the club to convince Galatasaray to do a deal as bringing him to Elland Road could improve their chances of securing promotion to the top-flight.

He has the attacking quality to be a difference-maker at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis, whereas Anthony has struggled for both game time and form since his move from Bournemouth in the summer.

Anthony's season in numbers

The 24-year-old attacker was allowed to leave the Premier League side on a temporary basis ahead of the 2023/24 campaign after he struggled in the top-flight last term.

Appearances

30

Sofascore rating

6.63

Goals

Three

Assists

One

Big chances created

Zero

As you can see in the table above, Anthony failed to provide a consistent threat as a scorer or a creator of goals from a wide position last season.

However, the young whiz had caught the eye during their promotion in the 2021/22 campaign. He plundered eight goals and seven assists in 45 second tier appearances.

Leeds may have snapped him up last summer in the hope that Anthony would be able to replicate that impressive form in front of goal in Yorkshire.

However, that has not been the case as the English gem has produced one goal and zero assists in 18 Championship appearances this season.

He has one goal from 1.32 xG and is yet to accrue 1.0 xA (0.93) with zero 'big chances' created and 0.4 key passes per game across those 18 outings.

These statistics show that the Cherries loanee has been a disappointing signing for Leeds due to his lack of production at the top end of the pitch.

Anthony has not done enough in training to convince Farke to hand him starts on a regular basis and, as evidenced by the statistics, has not done anywhere near enough as a substitute to justify a starting XI berth.

The statistics that show why Leeds should sign Akturkoglu

Meanwhile, Akturkoglu has been in sensational form for Galatasaray over the past 18 months and has the potential to be a stunning signing for the Whites.

Last season, the Turkey international played 34 Super Lig matches and contributed with nine goals, 11 assists, and 17 'big chances' created for his side.

During the current campaign, the 5 foot 8 whiz has managed five goals, five assists, and 11 'big chances' created in 17 top-flight outings for the Turkish giants.

This means that he has averaged a goal or a 'big chance' created every 1.21 league games with 42 in 51 appearances, whilst Anthony has four goals and zero 'big chances' created in 48 league matches since the start of last term – one every 12 clashes.

Appearances

Six

Starts

Five

Goals

Two

Big chances created

Three

Assists

Zero

As you can see from the table above, Akturkoglu has also been productive in the Champions League for Galatasaray this term as both a scorer and a creator, although his teammates have let him down with their finishing from the opportunities he has created.

These statistics suggest that the "unstoppable" – as he was once dubbed by scout Antonio Mango – hotshot has the ability to be a difference-maker for Leeds in the final third on a frequent basis.

His knack for scoring and assisting goals could help them to turn frustrating draws and losses, as seen in the recent poor run of form, into more points to catch up with the likes of Southampton, Ipswich, and Leicester.

Anthony has not done enough, as a starter or off the bench, to suggest that he can help to close that gap and Akturkoglu's impressive form for Galatasaray indicates that the Turkish gem would come in as a big upgrade on the English flop.

Leeds United have had issues at left-back in recent years, arguably ever since academy graduate Charlie Taylor left for Burnley back in 2017.

The Whites currently have Sam Byram and Junior Firpo in that position as senior options for Daniel Farke’s side, as they look to win promotion from the Championship following relegation last season. However, injury problems have impacted both defenders, leaving the club needing to bolster their ranks in 2024.

Unfortunately, Leeds haven’t had the best of luck when it comes to left-backs over the past ten years, with plenty of misses and not many hits, so as they enter the January transfer market in need of a new addition, what's happened to the last ten left-back signings at Elland Road?

Adam Drury 2012/13

Back in 2012, Leeds secured the services of Adam Drury after he spent more than 10 years at Norwich City. He clocked up more than 350 appearances for the Canaries and arrived with plenty of second-tier experience to bolster Neil Warnock’s side, but things didn’t go to plan for the Englishman.

Drury featured 18 times for Leeds in just over a year and went on loan to Bradford City in 2013/14 before retiring from professional football at the end of that campaign.

Stephen Warnock 2012/13

With Drury struggling, Warnock turned to another experienced left-back in Stephen Warnock, who penned a two-and-a-half-year contract at Elland Road on deadline day in January 2013.

The former Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa full-back was a regular straightaway in Yorkshire and ended up staying at the club until 2015, even replacing Jason Pearce as club captain towards the end of his stint.

Stephen Warnock stats at Leeds

Appearances

67

Goals

3

Assists

5

Red cards

1

He left for Derby County in 2015, with Taylor coming through the Leeds academy and taking his place in the first-team. Warnock, after retiring in 2018, now features regularly as a pundit on Sky Sports.

Alfonso Pedraza 2016/17 (loan)

With Taylor becoming a regular for the Whites between 2015 and 2017, Leeds were quiet in the transfer window for a few years when it came to full-back additions. They did turn to the loan market under Garry Monk in 2017, with Alfonso Pedraza joining on a temporary basis from Villarreal.

The Spaniard was actually utilised further forward as a left-winger, making 14 appearances for Leeds before returning to Villarreal after the Whites missed out on the play-offs.

Now, Pedraza is known as a left-back for Villarreal and has gone on to become a regular for the La Liga side, approaching 200 games for his current employers.

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson 2017/18 (loan)

A new season and a new manager in Thomas Christiansen, Leeds once again turned to the loan market as they looked to replace Taylor, with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson arriving from rivals Manchester United.

However, things didn’t go to plan for Borthwick-Jackson, and after starting the first Championship game of the season, didn’t play for the Whites in the league again, with his last appearance coming in an FA Cup defeat to Newport County. The Englishman went on to play for Scunthorpe United, Tranmere Rovers, Oldham Athletic and Burton Albion but moved to Poland last summer to join Slask Wroclaw.

Ezgjan Alioski 2017/18

Initially coming in as a winger from Swiss side Lugano, Ezgjan Alioski has arguably been the club’s best left-back signing over the past 10 years.

The North Macedonia international was transformed into a full-back under Marcelo Bielsa and helped take the club to the Premier League in 2019/20, before also playing his part as the club recorded an incredible 9th place finish in their first season in the top flight.

Ezgjan Alioski stats at Leeds

Appearances

171

Goals

22

Assists

19

Minutes played

12,037

Since leaving Elland Road in 2021, the 31-year-old moved to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli and also went on loan to Fenerbahce, where he has continued to ply his trade at left-back.

Laurens De Bock 2017/18

Another full-back who joined during the 2017/18 season was Laurens De Bock, with Victor Orta securing his services from Club Brugge in January in a permanent transfer.

The Belgian only played seven times for Leeds and was quickly sent out on loan to KV Oostende, before joining Sunderland, ADO Den Haag and Zulte Waregem on temporary deals, eventually joining the latter on a free transfer. Now, De Bock is in Greece with Atromitos, with his move to Leeds being another one to forget.

Leif Davis 2018/19

Davis was brought to Leeds by Bielsa from Morecambe back in 2018 and initially was viewed as an academy addition, although he was a regular in and around the first-team matchday squad during the Argentine’s tenure at Elland Road.

The youngster made 14 senior appearances for the Whites, two of which came in the Premier League before he moved to Bournemouth on loan.

He completed a permanent move to Ipswich Town in 2022 when the Tractor Boys were in League One and the Whites were still in the Premier League, and now, that deal looks to be a mistake from Leeds. Davis has played a starring role for Ipswich over the last 18 months, becoming a creative outlet from left-back.

Barry Douglas 2018/19

Free-kick specialist Barry Douglas was seen as the star left-back addition ahead of Davis prior to Bielsa’s first season in charge, joining from Wolves on a permanent transfer.

However, the Scot never lived up to expectations at Elland Road, failing to score a goal and registering five assists in 44 games. Injury issues also impacted his stay in Yorkshire, although he was part of the squad that won promotion. After leaving Leeds in 2021 for Lech Poznan, Douglas is still with the Polish side and has made more than 100 appearances for the club, although his deal is up at the end of the season.

Junior Firpo 2021/22

Leeds were calling out for a left-back addition in the Premier League, which resulted in Junior Firpo arriving from Barcelona ahead of the club’s second season in the top flight.

However, like many that have come and gone, things haven’t worked out for the Spaniard, who has been in and out of the side due to various injury problems.

The 27-year-old has managed more than 50 appearances in a Leeds shirt but has also been out with knee, hamstring and ligament problems, failing to help the club stay up last season as a result.

Sam Byram 2023/24

With a shortage at left-back over the summer, Farke brought Sam Byram back to Elland Road, over six years after he left Leeds for West Ham. The former right-back has been transformed into a left-back in recent years with Norwich City, and a free transfer materialised after he proved his fitness in pre-season.

Byram began the campaign as a regular at left-back for Leeds, but unfortunately, minor injury issues have once again returned, which leaves the Whites on the search for another left-back.

A poor show with the bat was followed by a toothless performance with the ball as Lahore finished last for the fourth season in succession

The Report by Danyal Rasool11-Mar-2019How the game played outUnlike JK Rowling, for whom “rock bottom had become the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life”, Lahore Qalandars don’t seem to have any intention of moving from the bottom of the PSL table.In one of their poorest performances of the season so far – remember, they were shot out for 78 just weeks ago by Peshawar Zalmi – Lahore were brushed aside in a dead rubber by Multan Sultans. Having stumbled to a below par 140 for 8, a shocker of a bowling performance allowed Multan to go past the target in a mere 12.3 overs. That concluded the Qalandars’ fourth successive campaign propping up the PSL table.Fakhar Zaman declared somewhat confidently after losing the toss and being asked to bat that he would have batted first anyway. One wonders why. The Lahore captain himself scored a respectable 36-ball 53, but there was no one else who looked capable of exploiting the short boundaries at the National Stadium in Karachi. It didn’t help that Mohammad Abbas was at his consistent best, while Shahid Afridi, playing his first ever PSL match in Pakistan, was the most economical, taking two wickets and conceding just 18 in his four overs.If the Qalandars’ batting performance was because of the pitch, then explain the Multan Sultans innings. The carnage they inflicted on the hapless Lahore bowlers was stunning in its brutality. A pair of sixes in the second over from Umar Siddiq set the tone, but in truth, no Multan batsman allowed Lahore any relief. Shan Masood’s 24-ball 48 broke the back of the already toothless attack, while Johnson Charles and James Vince helped Multan bring up their 100 in just the eighth over. In the end, it was every bit the cakewalk matches against Lahore have tended to be often this season.Turning pointFakhar holed out to Afridi just after reaching a half-century. In an innings where none of his teammates could really get going, it was crucial for the Lahore captain kick on and push his score closer to, and maybe even beyond, three figures. When he fell for 53, it seemed inevitable that Lahore would end with a well below-par total.Star of the dayIn the first two matches since the PSL returned to Pakistan, it appeared Karachi wasn’t the best place for bowlers to bolster their economy rates. But Multan’s bowlers put together a real team performance, complementing each other and systematically putting the pressure on the batsmen. Abbas’s waning form has been the subject of much attention of late, but the last two matches suggest he may be regaining his powers. Chris Green has been in and out of the team, but he got the ball rolling with a beautiful delivery that beat Riki Wessels and tickled the leg-side bail, while Afridi showed he still had something to offer with the ball. Combined, the three bowlers’ figures read 12-0-65-6, and with numbers like those, even the slightly more expensive Junaid Khan and Mohammad Ilyas didn’t hurt Multan too much.The big missWhen Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Luke Ronchi off the first ball in the last game, it seemed like the 18-year-old pacer would go on to show his fans in Pakistan what a bowler he is turning out to be. But that game ended with the teenager on the wrong side of a merciless assault, as he conceded 62 runs in his four overs. The scars have stayed for the left-arm bowler, who turned in another off-colour performance, the two overs he sent down costing the side 25 runs. He wasn’t by any means the only bowler who went for runs, but it’s been a damp end to a promising PSL season for Shaheen Afridi, just as it has been for his unfortunate team.Where the teams standMultan leapfrogged Lahore to ensure they don’t finish bottom, and Lahore occupied that position for the fourth season in succession. Both teams bow out, however, with just three wins in ten matches each.

No one has been able to breach the Gabba fortress since West Indies in 1988, and Sri Lanka’s winless record in Australia does not suggest they can be the team. The visiting captain Dinesh Chandimal, however, hopes for a “miracle” as he chases his dream of securing a Test victory in the country.Sri Lanka have lost 11 of their 13 Tests in Australia but the vibe around the team is that they will never have a better chance of breaking their duck against a vulnerable home side who have again shuffled their top six.”It will definitely be a challenge for us,” Chandimal said. “If we can take this challenge as a batter or bowler, if you can give your best shot…we can do some miracle here. That’s what we want to do as a team.”If Sri Lanka are to make history, they will have combat a pitch which has proved too much for most touring sides over the last 30 years. There was a good tinge of green the day before the match, and allied with the day-night factor, there could be some testing periods for batsmen, although the previous floodlit Test at the Gabba, against Pakistan in 2016, included totals of over 400 for each side.”I hope it’s nice and fast, the usual sort of Gabba wicket,” Tim Paine said. “Hopefully there’s plenty of bounce and it’s good to watch.”There was also a strong hint from Paine that Australia wouldn’t hold back on the short stuff, with his view that it was underused in the series against India. Australia’s bowling tactics often came under scrutiny, especially in the Melbourne and Sydney Tests, with them unable to gain a single lbw for the quicks in the four matches but Paine believed that smart use of the bouncer could also bring the stumps into play.”Clearly we need to be hitting the stumps a little bit more than we were and it’s been spoken about, but I also didn’t think we used our bouncer as much as we would like,” he said. “When you are using your bouncer a couple of times an over and then when you pitch up it’s a bit more effective. We know the majority of the time we want to be hitting the top of the stumps a bit more, but there’s also a way to set that up.While Chandimal expected his batsmen to have their techniques challenged by the Australia quick bowlers, he was confident he had the firepower to respond in kind. “When you look at the pitch you can see a lot of grass on the wicket, but we have got really good fast bowlers who can bowl over 140.”He also wanted his batsman to take a leaf out of Cheteshwar Pujara’s book and force Australia’s pacemen back for multiple spells. Whatever balance of side Australia select, they won’t have more than three pace-bowling options, although Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins were rested from the India ODIs with this series in mind.”Pujara made a difference, especially these days the weather is really hot here. They brought the Australian bowlers back for more spells. That’s what I think Pujara did, and after that it helped the other batters enjoy their batting in the middle. That’s one area I think we learned in the India-Australia series.”Chandimal drew on the memories of his Test debut against South Africa in 2011, when Sri Lanka secured their first victory in the country, in Durban. He scored two half-centuries in the match to play a key part in a 208-run win.”That was a really good memory. I made my Test debut against SA and we won that game and that was the first time we won a game in SA in their soil,” he said. “One of my dreams as a captain and player is to win a Test match here. But that’s not an easy thing coming here. You have to do a lot of hard work…that has to come from all 11 players for all five days. That’s what we are looking at as a team. It is a really good opportunity to make history and we just want to do that as a team.”

Ange Postecoglou and his Tottenham Hotspur squad will know that falling to defeat against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday will result in a four-match skid to throw their grip on Champions League qualification into the abyss.

The season is still far from reaching the crucial business end but with so many outfits pushing for prominence slip-ups could be detrimental, and falling to yet another loss in the Premier League would allow those below to potentially sink Spurs down to seventh.

Injury-hit Tottenham lost on home turf to Aston Villa last Sunday but did have their chances, with Giovani Lo Celso opening the scoring and the hosts taking 18 shots and hitting the target eight times.

City are formidable but their rearguard is not impregnable, as has been evidenced by RB Leipzig in the Champions League earlier this week, and Postecoglou will maintain a stoical belief that his side can whir into life with a galvanising performance.

Absences are rife, however, with the Australian manager set to potentially issue four changes for the trip to Manchester…

1 GK – Guglielmo Vicario

Thank goodness Guglielmo Vicario has remained steadfast in his availability and performance since joining from Italian side Empoli for an initial £17m in the summer, having been touted to become a "phenomenon" by Kosovo technical director Sami Ujkani.

He has saved 75% of shots faced in the Premier League this term, as per FBref, which is behind only Alisson and Andre Onana, and he will be expected to stand strong against the Sky Blues.

2 RB – Pedro Porro

Pedro Porro will retain his place down the right channel, providing energy and supplementing his offensive peers ahead, having posted three assists already in the Premier League this term.

The graph's delineation of Porro's skill set evidences his superlative offensive credentials, while also ranking highly within his tackling and blocking metrics.

The Spaniard will need to be on his a-game to stifle the fleet-footed Jeremy Doku, but he certainly boasts the physicality to do so.

3 CB – Eric Dier

Eric Dier has completed 362 appearances for Tottenham but has fallen by the wayside under Postecoglou's leadership, having flattered to deceive last season as his side struggled.

Postecoglou opted to field four natural full-backs in the backline last time out, but against City, this will be exposed and Dier's experience as a central defender will be needed, especially aerially, where he ranks among the top 11% of positional peers for aerial duels won per 90.

Emerson Royal must be the man to drop out, with the Brazilian winning just one ground duel and failing to make a tackle against Unai Emery's side last week.

4 CB – Ben Davies

Micky van de Ven's hamstring injury and Cristian Romero's red card have provided Ben Davies with the platform to earn some minutes, having now started three of the past four games in the top flight after missing out from the outset across all nine of the opening fixtures.

Filling in at centre-half, the 30-year-old hasn't been half bad, completing 94% of his passes and. winning 70% of his ground duels thus far, as per Sofascore.

5 LB – Destiny Udogie

Spurs signed Destiny Udogie from Udinese in 2022 but he was immediately loaned back to the Serie A outfit, finally joining the fray this summer and proving to be one of the most exciting and dynamic young full-backs across Europe.

He won seven of his nine contested duels against Villa, made four tackles and completed 86% of his passes, and given that footballJOE's Hunter Godson remarked that he "gets into nearly every team in the world already", it's a big plus that he will start against Pep Guardiola's side.

6 DM – Yves Bissouma

Absent for the Aston Villa match last weekend after picking up a one-match suspension following an accumulation of yellow cards, Yves Bissouma will be the central cog in the engine room against Manchester City, having enjoyed a meteoric rise under his 58-year-old manager's guidance.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Passing

Discipline

Tackling

Aerial duels

Interceptions

*Sourced via WhoScored

As per FBref, the Malian midfielder ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 10% for tackles, the top 16% for interceptions, the top 7% for successful take-ons and the top 19% for clearances per 90.

7 CM – Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

Pape Matar Sarr might be building back his fitness after missing out last week with injury but the exciting prospect might not be ready for a starting return against City, in what is sure to be a rigorous affair.

As such, the industrious Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg would be a worthy addition to the starting line-up, with the opportunity arising for the Dane after Rodrigo Bentancur's injury.

The 6 foot 1 "monster" – as he has been called by Morten Bisgaard – could provide the metronomic presence needed to fight against City's suffocating style.

8 CM – Giovani Lo Celso

Lo Celso's goal last weekend may well have secured him a place in Postecoglou's starting line-up for perhaps the most daunting fixture of the Premier League season (on paper, at least).

Enterprising and creative, the Argentinian ace also created three key passes and won seven ground duels against Villa, as per Sofascore, and he will be needed to act as the conduit between the midfield and the attack tomorrow.

9 RW – Dejan Kulusevski

Three goals and zero assists from 13 starts in the Premier League this season is a modest return but certainly not the stuff of awe, but Dejan Kulusevski's game is so much more.

Having completed 81% of his passes and averaged 2.1 key passes per game, as per Sofascore, the robust Swede's energy and penetrating presence have been invaluable for Postecoglou.

He has scored and won two of his three matches against Pep Guardiola's side, and could be the difference-maker come Sunday.

10 LW – Brennan Johnson

Signed from Nottingham Forest for £47.5m in the summer, Brennan Johnson has capitalised on Richarlison's recent pelvic injury to prove his worth in this Spurs side.

While his team has toiled over recent weeks, the Welshman, aged 22, has impressed with his directness and "frightening" pace – as has recently been noted by content creator HLTCO.

Manager Ange Postecoglou has shared that one Tottenham player is just waiting to go and prove himself after working very hard in training recently.

Spurs gearing up for Villa clash on Sunday

The Lilywhites, after a third international break in as many months, are gearing up to take on in-form Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tomorrow.

Amid an injury and suspension crisis sweeping N17, Spurs could hardly have asked for a more tough next few games, with Premier League champions Man City awaiting Postecoglou after Villa.

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It's one game at a time for Spurs, though, and Unai Emery's side are next in line to face a Tottenham side who are currently suffering with various absentee issues.

Star defender Cristian Romero will serve the second of a three-game suspension and is set to be unavailable, while Postecoglou is unable to reintroduce star summer signings James Maddison and Micky van de Ven until after the new year.

Ashley Phillips, Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic, Richarlison and Ryan Sessegnon are also unavailable, with Pape Matar Sarr also a doubt to play against Villa (Postecoglou's latest press conference).

The good news is that left-back Destiny Udogie is back and ready to play, easing the burden somewhat, but a win against Emery's men is now looking like a pretty almighty task.

Spurs come in to the game off the back of two consecutive losses in the Premier League, while Villa have lost just once in their last five with three victories in that time.

Skipp aching to prove himself at Spurs

A lot of the noise before this clash has centred around how Postecoglou will line up without an array of key players.

Tottenham's last shaken-up eleven fell to a dramatic 2-1 defeat away to Wolves, and their manager will be determined to set things right against a much tougher opponent on paper.

Midfielder Oliver Skipp, who's started just one league game all season, hasn't exactly been able to get a look-in ahead of Sarr or Yves Bissouma.

However, Postecoglou's woes appear set to hand Skipp a potential opportunity, especially considering Bissouma will be suspended as well.

Skipp has actually been working very hard in training in an effort to impress, with Postecoglou saying as much in his latest press conference.

"Skippy has been working hard in training," said the Spurs boss (via football.london).

"He’s obviously one of the guys who has stayed back with us — we’ve had four or five. He’s done a lot of good work, the last couple of weeks. He’s working hard, waiting for his opportunity. But that doesn’t mean he can’t make an impact — and he has made an impact coming on during games and helping us.

"The challenge for him, for all the guys, is there’s no doubt the way we are at the moment with the numbers, they’ll all get an opportunity to play. It’s about what they do with that."

The 23-year-old started 18 league games last season, playing fairly regularly under Antonio Conte, but his campaign was during a loan spell at Norwich City in 2020/2021.

Skipp started 44 Championship matches and played a key role on their way to promotion.