Celtic are back in Scottish Premiership action once again as they play host to Hibernian at Parkhead this evening in the hope of securing a second successive victory.
Brendan Rodgers' side come into this clash off the back of a 3-1 win over St Johnstone on Sunday as they came from 1-0 down to secure all three points.
Second half goals from Callum McGregor, Matt O'Riley, and James Forrest won the match for the Hoops, who were trailing at half time.
Despite the win, it was far from a perfect performance from the Bhoys and Rodgers could look to make some alterations to his starting XI from the game.
With this in mind, the Northern Irish head coach must brutally ditch Hyun-jun Yang from the line-up and bring Michael Johnston in from the start.
Hyun-jun Yang's performance against St Johnstone in numbers
Speaking on Sky Sports' official coverage of the match, co-commentator Chris Sutton – a former Celtic centre-forward – described the South Korean winger's performance as "sloppy".
The pundit criticised Yang's poor touches and failure to control the ball, particularly after one incident where the ball bounced up and appeared to go between his legs before rolling out for an opposition throw.
Celtic winger Hyun-jun Yang.
Rodgers started him on the right flank but the 21-year-old lightweight was not able to make an impact at the top end of the pitch in the first half.
Yang only completed 68% (13/19) of his attempted passes and did not produce a single shot, 'big chance' created, or completed dribble in 45 minutes.
These statistics show that the forward was unable to make things happen in the final third and left a lot to be desired with his all-round play, which meant that he was not a reliable outlet for the side.
The summer signing, who lost three of his four ground duels, was withdrawn by Rodgers at half time and Johnston came on to replace him.
Johnston's performance against St Johnstone in numbers
Throughout the second half, the Ireland international caught the eye with an impressive display that should earn him a start ahead of Yang this evening.
Johnston produced one shot, one completed dribble, and two key passes in his 45 minutes on the pitch, which shows that he made a tangible impact at the top end of the pitch, albeit it did not lead to a goal or an assist for him.
The 24-year-old whiz, who was once hailed as a "throwback" winger by Joe Hart, also completed 100% of his 27 attempted passes and this shows that he was anything but sloppy with his use of the ball, in contrast to Yang.
Celtic forward Mikey Johnston.
Celtic's academy graduate provided an exciting, yet reliable, outlet down the flank with his impressive play in possession and should, therefore, be unleashed from the start against Hibernian.
Johnston is yet to start a Premiership match this season but has completed four dribbles, made three key passes, and created one 'big chance' in just three appearances as a substitute for the Hoops.
It is now time for Rodgers to ruthlessly ditch Yang in order to open up a space on the right flank for the 5 foot 9 wizard to start in the attack.
Rangana Herath prepares to play his final Test, as England size up a number of potential debutants on a surface that’s bound to favour spin
The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando in Galle05-Nov-2018Big PictureIt’s Galle. It’s going to spin. Given it is Rangana Herath’s final Test and England are the opposition, it might spin like crazy. Unfortunately, it also looks as if it’s going to rain, at least for parts of the Test. The weather forecast is for thunderstorms, generally in the afternoons. That doesn’t mean we won’t get a result, of course. None of the last 21 Tests in Sri Lanka have ended in draws. Many of those had had to contend with the weather as well.England cruised through the limited-overs series, but in Tests, where Sri Lanka have been a more robust opposition, particularly at home, there are many more questions that the visitors will have to answer. Is Rory Burns, essentially Alastair Cook’s replacement at the top of the order, ready for a challenge as great as defusing some of the best spinners in the world, on a pitch that is one of the most treacherous?In fact, save for Joe Root and Ben Stokes, who are reputed to be decent players of spin, England’s entire top order seems a little frail;. Keaton Jennings hit 112 on debut in Mumbai, then 54 in Chennai a week later, but those matches were two years ago, and there has not been an encouraging volume of runs since then. Jos Buttler averages 23.5 in Asia, even if it is possible he is a much improved batsman in these conditions since he last toured the continent. The injury to Jonny Bairstow has further weakened England – though it is a huge opportunity for Ben Foakes, who is in line for a Test debut. None of the top eight, in any case, have ever played a Test in Sri Lanka before.The hosts’ approach over the past few years has been fairly straightforward on the difficult pitches at home. Attack the spinners and attempt to unsettle them early. Score your runs quickly, before the inevitable good ball gets you out. A score of 300 here could be worth as many as 450 on most other tracks in the world, particularly given the tenacity with which Sri Lanka’s two senior spinners – Herath and Dilruwan Perera – defend scores at this venue.As always, the first-innings score is crucial – if England can get themselves to a creditable score, they not only set themselves up nicely in this Test, they gain the belief that they can crack these conditions going into Kandy and Colombo. South Africa, the last team on these shores in July, began badly, skidding to 126 in their first outing, and proceeded to crash even more dramatically in subsequent innings – their batsmen unable to lift themselves out of a psychological rut. England’s technique is sure to be tested, but if Sri Lanka play well, so will their mettle.Form guideSri Lanka WWWDL (completed matches, most recent first) England WWLWWIn the spotlightLost in all the buzz about Herath, has been the return of Angelo Mathews to the Sri Lanka team. Feelings had clearly been hurt during his axing from the limited-overs sides, as you would expect. The relationship with coach Chandika Hathurusingha, in particular, had soured. But perhaps the message has been received. He is back looking noticeably leaner. He has also begun to bowl in the nets, even if it is unlikely he will do so in this series. A fit, performing Mathews at No. 5 turns this half-decent Sri Lanka top order into a pretty good one. But it remains to be seen whether the bruises sustained following the Asia Cup debacle have healed enough for him to be able to focus on his cricket.Adil Rashid has had a strange year. Having announced he would not play red-ball cricket for Yorkshire, he found himself picked for the home Tests against India, but was called upon in short, irregular bursts throughout that series. Now, suddenly, he is required to lead England’s attack in what is perhaps the spin-bowling capital of the world. Is he equipped to deliver in the long format? His numbers in Asia are not particularly encouraging. He took 23 wickets across a five-match Test series in India, but his average was a mediocre 37.43, and he also went at 3.7 an over. In the UAE, where the Kookaburra ball is used – just as in Sri Lanka – and where pitches are more like the ones found on the island, Rashid’s figures are even worse – though he did claim a second-innings five-for on debut in Abu Dhabi, having conceded a chastening 0 for 163 first-time out. It is possible that his confidence from excellent performances in the limited-overs series will flow into his Test game, but that is not a given. Plenty of foreign spinners have prospered in Sri Lanka in ODIs. Not many have had the same success in Tests.Team newsThere are a lot of unknowns with this England XI. Will Moeen Ali bat at No. 3 or lower down the order? Burns is almost certain to get a Test debut, and Foakes is likely to join him with Jos Buttler playing as a specialist batsman, meaning that Joe Denly may have to wait for his chance later in the series. They are likely to play three spinners as well.England (possible): 1 Rory Burns, 2 Keaton Jennings, 3 Moeen Ali, 4 Joe Root (capt.), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler, 7 Ben Foakes (wk), 8 Sam Curran, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Jack Leach, 11 James AndersonSri Lanka will almost certainly play three spinners themselves. Dhananjaya de Silva might take the lower-order spot over Roshen Silva, who has been a little out of form in recent months. Opener Kaushal Silva will return to the XI for the first time in over a year. Lahiru Kumara, who had been in the 16-man squad for the series, has been dropped for disciplinary reasons. Dushmantha Chameera comes in as his replacement.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Kaushal Silva, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal (capt.) 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 7 Dhananjaya de Silva, 8 Dilruwan Perera, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Akila Dananjaya, 11 Rangana HerathPitch and conditionsThe pitch looks dry to start with and, given the wind blowing across the ground, is likely to dry further very quickly over the first three days. Rain is forecast for the first two days in particular, and there are likely to be interruptions.Stats and trivia No other nation has ever hosted 21 result Tests consecutively. The last draw in Sri Lanka was against South Africa at Colombo in July 2014. Rashid’s recent Test form is much better than his overall numbers. He has taken 10 wickets at 30.9 this year. Mathews’ Test form in recent years has been modest. He averages 28.59 across 37 innings since the start of 2016. These teams have played four matches in Galle. Sri Lanka have won two of those, and two – in 2003, and 2007 – have been draws.Quotes”We’ve got a very balanced squad with plenty of different options. Whichever XI we go with, we’re going to be blessed with that. From that point of view I feel we’ll be very well prepared for whatever surface is thrown at us.”England captain Joe Root“When you look at the Test records in the last couple of years, both teams are equal. When you’re playing in Sri Lanka, definitely the spinners will come into play. Maybe because of that, we are a little ahead of England.”Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal
Leeds United are now set for a major boost off the field at Elland Road following an encouraging start to proceedings this term under Daniel Farke, according to a report.
Leeds United see off Swansea City…
On Wednesday night, Leeds United strengthened their grip on third position in the Championship after seeing off Swansea City 3-1 at Elland Road, courtesy of goals from Joel Piroe, Georginio Rutter and Daniel James. Resembling a genuine challenger for promotion, the Whites now find themselves on 35 points from 18 fixtures played in the English second-tier, seven behind Ipswich Town in second position.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, German coach Farke praised his players' determination after they were initially pegged back by a Jamie Paterson opener, stating via BBC Radio Five Live: "I have to give compliments to my lads. Although it was a difficult and complicated game in the first half, we didn’t lose our nerve, we were spot on and didn’t give any chances away.
"They caused us some problems with their possession and pressing, but nevertheless we were able to turn the game around, we had fantastic goals and great chances."
Rest and recuperation will now be key for the Yorkshire outfit as they prepare for a second home game in quick succession against Middlesbrough on Saturday, with the visiting side in good form after losing just once in their last five fixtures in all competitions.
Leeds United's next five fixtures – all competitions
Competition
Opponent
Venue
Sky Bet Championship
Middlesbrough (H)
Elland Road
Sky Bet Championship
Blackburn Rovers (A)
Ewood Park
Sky Bet Championship
Sunderland (A)
Stadium of Light
Sky Bet Championship
Coventry City (H)
Elland Road
Sky Bet Championship
Ipswich Town (H)
Elland Road
Nevertheless, Leeds United now look set for some major off-field excitement after agreeing a deal that could change the landscape of the club for years to come, according to a new report.
Elland Road expansion…
According to Football Insider, Leeds United have brought forward plans to expand Elland Road after securing more external investment to fund the project. The aim is to expand the stadium to around 55,000 spectators in a development that could cost around £100 million to carry out.
Utilising money gained through a second minority sale following the deal with Ackerley Partners this summer, 49ers Enterprises have pinpointed the West Stand as an area where the extended capacity will come into play as they plan to renovate that section of Elland Road completely.
Leeds United's home stadium, Elland Road.
Following a summer of upheaval after Leeds' relegation to the Championship, Farke's men look to have finally found some level of stability on and off the field, which can only bode well for the future as the club aim to establish themselves in the Premier League and maximise their potential revenue streams.
For now, at least, the festive period will take precedence in Yorkshire as Leeds United look to close the gap on Ipswich Town at the top end of the Championship table.
Leeds United's "poor" £60k-p/w player wants to leave on loan in January
The Whites could sanction the exit of one of their senior squad members in the new year.
A semana D. Ou semana P. O elenco profissional se reapresenta nesta segunda-feira à tarde, no Ninho do Urubu, para a primeira de quatro semanas e meia cheias para treinamentos, ou seja, com jogos espaçados. E o clube terá até o dia 10, quinta-feira,para oficializar ao clube italiano que irá exercer a opção de compra do atacante junto à Fiorentina, que o emprestou até o fim deste mês.
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Artilheiro do Flamengo no ano, com 20 gols, Pedro é o reforço com melhor desempenho na temporada. Caso o acordo com a Fiorentina seja concretizado, o centroavante de 23 anos assinará por cinco anos com o clube da Gávea.
Pedro retornou ao Flamengo no último sábado, após cerca de três semanas sem vestir rubro-negro por conta de uma lesão. O camisa 21 deve custar14 milhões de euros, cerca de R$ 87 milhões, aos cofres do Rubro-Negro, que tende a parcelar o valor em até seis vezes num intervalo de três anos – algo já acordado com os italianos – e trabalha com otimismo em relação à contratação, mesmo sem contar com as premiações previstas anteriormente via Copa do Brasil e Libertadores.
O Flamengo também vive imbróglio com Diego Alves, que está em reta final de vínculo, mas Pedro é prioridade por conta do prazo de emergência a expirar esta semana. O sinal é verde, e o negócio deve ser selado sem contratempos.
CURIOSIDADE ENVOLVENDO O CENTROVANTE
Para o próximo jogo, Pedro estará à disposição de Ceni e, com uma semana voltada para treinamentos e com um provável final feliz em sua permanência,tende a estar em melhores condições físicas e psicológicas. O duelo será contra o Santos, no domingo (13), que marcará a 40ª partida do atacante pelo Flamengo na temporada.
E 40, curiosamente, foi o número de jogos da temporada em que Pedro mais havia jogado por um clube: em 2018, ainda pelo Fluminense. Pelo Flamengo, dos 39 até aqui, foi titular em 23 ocasiões. O goleador já tinha manifestado o seu interesse de permanecer no clube carioca.
No suor, o Botafogo garantiu a classificação para a final da Taça Rio sub-20, o segundo turno do Campeonato Carioca. Nesta quarta-feira, a equipe comandada por Ricardo Resende empatou em 1 a 1 com o Bangu no CEFAT, em Niterói, e passou de fase. O gol foi marcado pelo estreante Marcos Vinícius.
O jogador que balançou as redes chegou essa semana ao clube de General Severiano. Ele é meio-campista e pertence ao Três Passos Atlético Clube-RS, mesmo time que revelou Luís Henríque, a maior venda da história do Botafogo, e Cesinha, que atualmente está no time profissional do Alvinegro. As equipes possuem uma parceria.
Por ter a vantagem do empate pela melhor campanha na fase de grupos, o empate serviu para o Botafogo se garantir na decisão do segundo turno do Estadual. O adversário na final será o Volta Redonda, que eliminou o Flamengo. A data ainda será divulgada pela Federação de Futebol do Rio de Janeiro.
O vencedor do turno encarará o Vasco, campeão da Taça Guanabara, na final do Estadual. O campeão será conhecido após a disputa de duas partidas, uma no respectivo mando de cada equipe.
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“Muscled” is a term that might be applied quite liberally to Australia’s approach to T20 batting. They huff and puff and heave and swing at the ball as if they mean to rip the leather clean off it. Slightly built and a shade under six feet tall, Fakhar Zaman doesn’t have the hardware to follow the same method. Pakistan’s free-wheeling opener’s game instead marries hand and eye and has made him the leading run-scorer in T20I cricket this year, with 516 runs in 13 innings capped by a career-best 91 when it really mattered against Australia in the tri-series final.”I think nowadays he’s in the best form of his life,” reckoned Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed. “The way he’s batted throughout the series has been good for us and good for his career. If he keeps playing like this, he’s only going up and up.”It’s not just how Fakhar’s been scoring his runs, but also when. His century in the Champions Trophy final last year is an obvious case in point for big match temperament, and his innings in the tri-series final will only enhance that reputation.”Yes, he’s definitely [a big-match player],” said Sarfraz. “He performs in big games, consistently. Like the Champions Trophy, in the final, he got that hundred. In New Zealand, he scored a fifty and then a 40-odd (in successive T20Is, to help Pakistan come from 1-0 down to win the three-match series). He’s a big-game player and he’s getting better day by day.”His innings against Australia was all the more remarkable considering the early strife Pakistan were in. Flummoxed by Glenn Maxwell in the first over, they were 2 for 2 needing almost 10 an over pretty much as soon as their innings began. That’s a position most other teams would be unable to rise from, but an hour later Pakistan’s fans at the ground (and a few hundred turned up to support them) were singing “” and “” as their team improbably, inexplicably romped home. Pakistan can drop Aaron Finch first ball, concede 10 an over for the first 10 overs and then surge back into the game with eight wickets in the next 10. They can be 2 for 2, and then complete a record run chase with five balls to spare. It’s become an obvious cliche, but Pakistan remain an absorbingly mercurial team.”We know they’re an emotional team, and they’re a highly skilled team,” Australia captain Finch said. “When they’re on, they’re incredibly good. We let them back into the game with bat and ball today. We had a chance to get up around that 200 mark and almost put the game to bed after that start with the ball. To chase 10 or 11 an over for 18 or 19 overs is incredibly hard. So if we’d had a few more runs, if we’d squeezed a little more with the ball early on and made them take risks. They didn’t have to take too many risks to get boundaries early on.”Fakhar’s batting wasn’t entirely risk free, but his aggressive strokes came in a calculated manner. In that regard, he’s not entirely dissimilar to his current batting coach Grant Flower, who came close to mastering the delicate risk/reward balance with his own batting, particularly towards the end of his career. Flower and Fakhar have certainly spent enough time together in the nets. Flower has been Pakistan’s batting coach for four years now, which is enough time for the famously committed former Zimbabwe batsman to have sent down tens of thousands of throwdowns.”He works really hard with the boys,” Sarfraz said of Flower. “He’s worked very hard for the last four years. He’s always in the nets.” Whatever he’s doing, it’s working for Fakhar, who has also looked to learn from the old heads around him in the playing XI.”In the start in T20 cricket I was hitting every ball in my striking zone, and after playing eight to 10 games I sat with some senior players like Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed, and spoke about my gameplans with them,” Fakhar had said after Pakistan’s previous match. “I realised that I could play proper cricket shots and be successful, and that’s what I’ve been doing recently.”Fakhar has certainly made an impression on the Australians. Finch called him “a thorn in our side” earlier this week, today adding: “We’ve all seen the form that Fakhar has been in. We saw with Shoaib Malik there, towards the end, if you have a batter who’s in, they can control the game, they control the strike.”Capped by Fakhar’s career-best 91 and Malik’s masterclass, Pakistan had veered between ordinary to extraordinary all morning. Shadab Khan dropped a sitter at point and then pulled off a one-handed blinder at mid-off. Hasan Ali’s massive, ballooning no-ball didn’t even bounce before it landed in Sarfraz’ gloves, leaving Pakistan’s captain – finally – lost for words. Two balls later, Hasan shattered Ashton Agar’s stumps, brilliance and farce bookending the over.Whether it’s letting the opposition sprint to 95 for 0, or slipping to 2 for 2 at the start of a record chase, Pakistan are the sort of team who get themselves into these situations. But they’re also the sort of team that can get themselves out of them. “You can’t take anything for granted against the number one team in the world,” said Finch. “Or any international team.” But especially if that team is Pakistan.
Newcastle United have started slow in the Premier League this season but have the opportunity on Sunday to make it successive victories, travelling to Bramall Lane to take on Sheffield United.
Earlier this week, Eddie Howe's side drew 0-0 against European giants AC Milan in the Champions League, having returned to the pre-eminent domestic competition after two decades away this year.
That's because a remarkable upswing in performance and results since Howe's appointment and the PIF takeover in 2021 has wiped away the obscurity that the club was engulfed in not too long ago, having finished fourth in the English top-flight last term and doing so at the expense of top divisional outfits such as Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
Sure, Newcastle are now one of the most opulent clubs in world football, and will be able to utilise their wealth on the transfer market to sustain a spot at the forefront of domestic football, challenging for a European spot each year, but they have plied their trade with great diligence and deserve all the plaudits for how this newfound position has been erected.
Newcastle summer signing 23/24
Price (via Sky Sports)
Sandro Tonali
£55m
Harvey Barnes
£39m
Lewis Hall
Loan (£35m obligation to buy)
Tino Livramento
£32m
Yankuba Minteh
Undisclosed
The acquisitions made this summer have enhanced a cohesive crop of players, but thus far, the Tyneside club haven't quite clicked into the same, slick gear that reaped so much success last season.
Why did Newcastle sign Sandro Tonali this summer?
One of the pillars of last term's feats was the robust and reliable midfield trio, with Bruno Guimaraes the "orchestrator" – as he has been dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – in the middle, and energetic peers Joelinton, Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock all competing for the pivot spots astride the Brazilian's deep-lying position.
Sandro Tonali was purchased from AC Milan in a £55m transfer in July to enrich the ranks with a fresh dimension, a newfound layer of playmaking prowess and creativity to unlock the next level of this side's performance.
Efficient with both feet, intelligent, and clean in his ball retention and passing ability, the 23-year-old's arrival captured the excitement of a devout fanbase, who welcomed a player of immense quality to consolidate the new position of power.
alexander-isak-sandro-tonali-newcastle-opinion
Magpies winger Anthony Gordon lauded the Italy international as "one of the best midfielders in the world", and his addition signalled a possible shift in dynamics in the centre, with Howe open to Guimaraes shifting further upfield.
Tonali is not a traditional No. 6 though, but was utilised in that position by Rossoneri manager Stefano Pioli last term, who recognised the success to be found in his ball-playing skills served from the very centre.
Ranking among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists per 90, as per FBref, the £120k-per-week ace is undeniably of first-class quality, but has not found his feet on English soil yet.
Indeed, Tonali has been praised as "incredibly gifted" by former Italy boss Roberto Mancini and already boasts a Serie A title to his name, but has found it tough adapting to life in England thus far, admitting himself that he has struggled with the move somewhat.
Pundit Gabby Agbonlahor issued harsh rebuke for the Newcastle players after losing three of the opening four matches of the Premier League campaign, claiming that they needed to "wake up", while the Daily Mail's Craig Hope noted that he is "struggling to impact" proceedings, after the player indeed failed to impress against his former club on Tuesday night, taking just 20 touches and completing only seven of ten passes across his 72 minutes of action.
There are concerns that the axis of Tonali and Guimaraes is not working, but after such little time to gel together and a very tricky start to the season, playing some of the division's best, it is premature to suggest that it's not going to work.
Regardless, following the stuttering start, perhaps it might have been worthwhile for the Toon to have followed up their interest in OGC Nice centre-midfielder Khephren Thuram, who arguably boasts a more dynamic skill set.
Were Newcastle interested in Khephren Thuram?
Liverpool were known to be tracking Thuram for much of the summer, though Newcastle had also been credited with an interest in the Frenchman, whose French side were rumoured to be willing to discuss terms if their €60m (£52m) asking price was met.
The “midfield star” – as he has been dubbed by 90min's Graeme Bailey – ultimately remained with Nice, though Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be tracking him ahead of a possible move in 2024.
Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram.
A powerful and multi-functional midfielder, Thuram is neither the natural holding midfielder that some believe Newcastle should have targetted, but he is unequivocally a talented midfielder who would have made a marked improvement on the St. James Park engine.
How good is Khephren Thuram?
Described as an "elite ball carrier" by journalist Zach Lowy, Thuram is typically found across the scope of the midfield, and has impressed for Les Aiglons over the past few years, making 143 appearances, scoring eight goals and supplying 11 assists.
This season, he has started off in Ligue 1 in impressive form, earning an eye-catching average Sofascore rating of 7.26 across his five displays, completing 88% of his passes, making two key passes per game, and averaging 2.2 tackles and five ball recoveries per outing.
Tonali, comparatively, has recorded an average match score of 6.88, scoring on his debut against Aston Villa during a 5-1 rout but since not really excelling, completing 84% of his passes, making one key pass, one tackle and three ball recoveries per game.
Khephren Thuram
Thuram would have provided the energy and exuberance needed, having been called a "monster" by writer Sam McGuire and boasting a far more rounded arsenal to Tonali.
Indeed, the £14k-per-week Frenchman ranks among the top 13% of positional peers for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for progressive carries, the top 5% for successful take-ons and the top 19% for interceptions per 90.
In all likelihood, Tonali will come good and prosper at the highest level, but considering Thuram's expansive skills, it's perhaps a shame that he was not signed to bolster the midfield.
A má fase do Bragantino não acaba. Neste domingo, o Massa Bruta foi até Goiânia e acabou derrotado pelo Atlético-GO por 2 a 1, resultado que complicou ainda mais a vida do time paulista.
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Na saída de campo, o atacante Ytalo, que ganhou uma chance no time titular devido aos desfalques, não escondeu o jogo e foi sincero ao analisar o desempenho do Braga no torneio.
‘A gente tem sentimento de vergonha nesse momento. A gente está tentando sair dessa situação, mas não estamos conseguindo. Temos que continuar trabalhando para sair o mais rápido possível dessa situação’, afirmou na saída de campo ao Premiere.
Com apenas duas vitórias em 15 jogos, o Bragantino é o penúltimo colocado do Brasileirão, com 12 pontos.
Manchester City have a Premier League midfielder shortlisted at the Etihad Stadium despite being locked in the process of trying to acquire Wolverhampton Wanderers star Matheus Nunes, according to reports.
What's the latest news involving Manchester City?
According to Sky Sports, Nunes refused to train at Wolves on Sunday or Monday and has gone on strike to try and force through a move to Premier League champions Manchester City.
Manchester City have seen a bid of £47 million for Nunes turned down for the Portugal international last week, with Wolves said to value the former Sporting Clube de Portugal midfielder at in the region of £60 million. The Citizens are expected to return to the table with an improved offer before the transfer deadline.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has also delivered an update surrounding the permutations of a new bid from Manchester City to try and land Nunes, stating on X:
"Understand Manchester City are increasingly confident to get Matheus Nunes deal done very soon after new bid revealed yesterday, in excess of €60m. Negotiations entering final stages after the agreement reached with Matheus on personal terms days ago."
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, transfer insider Dean Jones has insisted that despite noise surrounding the future of Nunes, his mooted transfer to join Manchester City is "likely to happen this week" due to his head being turned by the prospect of being able to pitch up at the Etihad Stadium.
The Citizens have favoured bringing in quality over quantity this window and have made just three signings so far in the form of Jeremy Doku, Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol, as per Transfermarkt.
Young duo James McAtee and Tommy Doyle could be set to depart Manchester City on loan before the end of the window after attracting interest from Sheffield United and Scottish Premiership holders Celtic, respectively.
Who else could Manchester City bring in?
According to Pete O'Rourke's exclusive column for Football Insider, Manchester City are still keen on Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze and have shortlisted the England international despite their ongoing pursuit to try and tempt Nunes to the North West.
Nevertheless, the report states that Crystal Palace will not sell £30k-a-week earner Eze unless a significant offer for his services arises due to his stellar performances for the south London-based outfit.
Eze has been a major player for Crystal Palace since joining the club and has gained admirers due to his creativity, vision and goalscoring capabilities, which have seen him notch 15 strikes and 11 assists in 96 appearances for his current employers in total, as per Transfermarkt.
Making his presence known in 2023/24, Eze hasn't been shy to try and take on opportunities to score and has averaged 5.3 shots per fixture in Crystal Palace's opening three matches in the English top-flight this term, as shown on WhoScored.
Dubbed "influential" by Jamie Redknapp back in 2021, Eze could be an ideal solution to help with the workload Kevin De Bruyne is unable to take up at the moment due to being ruled out with a hamstring problem.
Juan Cazares chegou como aposta do Corinthians para reforçar seu elenco e ajudar o time a melhorar a classificação no Brasileirão, mas a contratação do equatoriano indica que o clube terá de abrir mão de um de seus estrangeiros em cada lista de relacionados para os jogos do campeonato e da Copa do Brasil, segundo prevê o regulamento da CBF. Dor de cabeça para o treinador.
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A entidade máxima do futebol brasileiro não limita o número de estrangeiros inscritos para as suas competições, porém restringe o número de jogadores nascidos fora do Brasil nas partidas: apenas cinco são permitidos entre os escalados como titulares e para o banco de reservas. Atualmente, com a vinda de Cazares, o Timão conta, ao todo, com seis gringos em seu elenco.
Os estrangeiros que vestem a camisa do Corinthians são: Angelo Araos, do Chile, Mauro Boselli, da Argentina, Bruno Méndez, do Uruguai, Victor Cantillo, da Colômbia, Romulo Otero, da Venezuela e, agora, Juan Cazares, do Equador.
Pelo menos um deles obrigatoriamente terá de ficar fora da lista de relacionados das partidas do Timão nesta temporada, seja na Copa do Brasil, seja no Campeonato Brasileiro. Essa dor de cabeça ficará a cargo do treinador do Timão, que hoje é Dyego Coelho. Ele, provavelmente, terá dificuldade para escolher o “excluído”, já que cada um deles tem função importante no grupo.
No momento, a decisão é facilitada pela ausência de Boselli, que ainda se recupera de entorse no tornozelo direito e a falta de ritmo de Cazares, que ainda não tem presença confirmada para estrear pelo Corinthians na próxima quarta-feira, diante do Atlético-GO. Ambos, porém, devem ficar aptos a serem escalados e colocarão um problema para Coelho resolver e administrar.
Otero, que chegou e já garantiu a titularidade, é presença garantida. Bruno Méndez, apesar de jogar pouco, é a única opção para Gil e Danilo Avelar no elenco atual. Cantillo é um dos protagonistas do time em 2020. Araos tem sido utilizado constantemente neste Brasileirão e já teve certo destaque. Boselli é o único reserva imediato de Jô e Cazares chegou para ser titular da equipe.
Tirando de lado a questão esportiva, vale lembrar que o centroavante argentino só tem contrato com Corinthians até o final deste ano e ainda não teve a prorrogação definida até o término do Brasileirão, em fevereiro de 2021. Nesse caso, se não houver essa extensão contratual, ele está fora do elenco a partir de janeiro, o que deixaria o Timão com cinco estrangeiros.