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Aston Villa had a sensational summer of business in the transfer window, bringing in five new faces to bolster Unai Emery’s high-flying squad.

Not many could have anticipated the positive effect that the Spaniard has installed at the club, taking the relegation form side of Steven Gerrard and turning them into a team finishing with a European spot.

The former Arsenal manager has excelled so far on the field, with his success translated into the market as he and Monchi teamed up to deliver some valuable new additions to the ranks at Villa Park.

The club record-breaking deal for Moussa Diaby saw the Villans spend £51.9m on the winger, with the move later proving to be highly beneficial as the Frenchman has already netted two goals in the opening four matches of the Premier League season.

Villa’s progression and rise in ambition on the pitch seemed to be reflected in the window, as big names were not only recruited but eyed by the club in what was a statement of intent for Emery’s first full term in charge.

While high-profile names walked through the doors of Villa Park, other rumoured targets weren’t delivered, with some names having the potential to be marquee deals in the club's market history.

Who were Aston Villa linked to over the summer?

After dipping into the La Liga pool to obtain Pau Torres, it seemed for a moment that Emery would once again buy from his homeland, with two Barcelona talents linked with moves to the Midlands throughout the course of the window.

Ferran Torres was mentioned as a target for the Villans, with news in Spain suggesting that the Spaniard could make a sensational return to the Premier League as part of a loan deal to Villa Park.

The former Manchester City forward found his form in pre-season, making a move relatively impossible as the Catalan giants saw his true worth.

Another Barcelona star that could have made his way to Birmingham was Ansu Fati, who was linked to the club before making the move to Brighton on loan.

Having seen the Seagulls pull off a coup as audacious and impressive as Fati, it will have been a disappointment for Emery to have not sealed a deal for the 20-year-old, who was hunting for game time away from his boyhood club.

Within the Premier League, Jadon Sancho was another figure that was suspected to be wanted by the Midlands side.

In hindsight, the move would have been beneficial for the player as he continues to duel with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

A report from Football Transfers suggested that the Red Devils were open to selling the Englishman earlier in the summer, with Villa named as a club interested in the 23-year-old, who was said to be valued in the region of £60m.

The one that truly got away from the hopeful grasp of Emery was Joao Felix, who was reported to be “on their radar” by journalist Rudy Galetti via GIVEMESPORT.

Did Aston Villa nearly sign Joao Felix?

After leaving his loan spell at Chelsea, Felix was left with the keys to discover his next club, with his future at Atletico Madrid unimaginable after a falling out with Diego Simeone.

The forward was linked with a host of clubs who would have benefitted from his signature, with interest from the Premier League and Saudi Arabia noted.

A recent report from Spain, relayed by GOAL, revealed that the Portuguese turned down a potential move to Aston Villa, Manchester United and Liverpool in the bid to join Barcelona, his dream destination.

For most, dreams are an escape from reality, however, the 23-year-old made his dream a reality as he penned a loan deal with La Blaugrana, marking his return to La Liga away from the hostility at Madrid.

Signing the former Benfica starlet would have arguably been the Midlands’ biggest-ever capture, however, it wasn’t meant to be as the former Chelsea man yearned for the Spanish champions.

How much could Joao Felix have cost?

While it was a dream to have even eyed Felix, there were huge questions over his cost, with the 23-year-old on both a huge salary and with a monumental price tag.

Signed by Atleti for a staggering £113m at the age of 19, it was expected that Simeone’s side would expect a fee of a similar amount to sanction his departure.

It was reported that the Spaniards were firm on their valuation of €100m (£86m) for the versatile forward, with the magnitude of his wage being another vast obstacle that Villa would have had to consider.

From earning £3,900-per-week to making £238k-per-week at Atletico, Felix would have walked into the side at Villa Park as the club’s highest earner with ease. That said, Football Transfers placed a much more realistic expected transfer value on the play of £39m.

In football nowadays, it’s somewhat arguable that you get what you pay for, however, in the instance of a talent hailed as “generational” by development coach Aldo Sainati, the price is surely worth paying.

What could Joao Felix have offered to Aston Villa?

Deployable all over the front line, the 23-year-old is truly a master at playing the false nine role, with strengths in finishing, playmaking and the gift of innate flair.

Before the opening of the summer window, Emery identified a partner for Ollie Watkins as a target for the market when speaking to The Athletic, with Felix fitting the description perfectly.

Tipped by Cristiano Ronaldo to repeat his success in La Liga, it’s easy to forget just how early the Portuguese gem is into his career path, due to his formidable records in both Spain and Portugal.

With Premier League experience now under his belt too, the forward has become a decimal more employable by admirers in England, able to display his ability in one of the world’s best leagues.

Joao Felix Domestic League Record

Club

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

Benfica

2018/19

26

15

9

Atletico Madrid

2019/20

27

6

1

Atletico Madrid

2020/21

31

7

6

Atletico Madrid

2021/22

24

8

4

Atletico Madrid

2022/23

14

4

3

Chelsea

2022/23

16

4

0

All figures via Transfermarkt.

For Villa, Felix would’ve undoubtedly been the main man, and a figure adored in the Midlands which given the status of his career in Atletico could have almost certainly boosted his performance and confidence.

As for his potential role in the squad, the free-roaming forward could have added a significant amount of quality to the front line, with a spearhead of Watkins, Diaby and Felix one of monstrous capability under Emery.

Leon Bailey would be the man to make way for the Portuguese talent should he have arrived in the Midlands, a player who has failed to hit true form since arriving at Villa Park from Bayer Leverkusen.

While the Jamaican has shown glimpses of his ability in the wide areas of attack, the 26-year-old has netted only six goals in 54 Premier League appearances so far in claret and blue, suggesting that the end product is missing.

Representing Genk, Leverkusen and Villa in his domestic career, the winger has never hit ten goals in a league campaign, with his highest tally being the nine Bundesliga goals he recorded on two occasions.

For Felix, his numbers in the final third are more than assured despite being three years younger than the Villa man, with his best scoring season recording 15 Liga Portugal goals for Benfica as a teen.

To communicate the calibre between the two forwards, Felix equalled Bailey’s highest-scoring Premier League tally in his debut 16 appearances in the league, scoring four last term to match the four scored by the Jamaican in 33 appearances.

Villa could’ve quickly forgotten about their winger by signing Felix, who could have epitomised the change in direction since Emery’s arrival.

Ultimately, no club would have sufficed for the 23-year-old, who simply wanted Barcelona to be the next destination to rediscover his form.

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Pela 12ª rodada do Brasileiro Feminino, o Corinthians foi até a cidade do Gama enfrentar o Minas Brasília e venceu as donas da casa por 4 a 1, mais uma goleada alvinegra na competição. Dessa vez as autoras dos gols foram Giovanna Crivelari e Victoria Albuquerque, com dois gols cada uma. O resultado mantém a equipe na liderança da competição com três pontos de vantagem.

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O sol e a baixa umidade fizeram com que o jogo começasse em um ritmo um pouco mais contido. Ainda assim, o Timão garantia o comando do jogo, acelerando as ações quando necessárias.

Assim, aos 18 minutos, o Timão acelerou o jogo com Andressinha, que armou um ataque de três contra três. Com muita categoria, ela carregou a bola para o meio e, com um toque de genialidade, abriu na esquerda, enganando todo o sistema defensivo do Minas Brasília. Ali, Giovanna Crivelari só precisou escolher o canto para abrir o placar e deixar o Alvinegro em vantagem.

Depois, aos 21 minutos, Gabi Zanotti encontrou Adriana em um passe em profundidade. Esperta, a camisa 16 tocou para trás, para Giovanna Crivelari chegar batendo. Apesar da defesa da goleira na primeira tentativa, a atacante conferiu na segunda bola e ampliou o marcador para o Corinthians.

Vencendo e com o controle do jogo, o Corinthians seguia atacando, apesar da vantagem. As adversárias viviam de lances esporádicos. Em um deles, aos 32 minutos, Gabi Arcanjo, em posição duvidosa, diminuiu de cabeça, mas não houve nem tempo para as donas da casa comemorarem.

Sete minutos depois, Katiuscia encontrou Victoria Albuquerque em um passe por elevação e a camisa 17 não perdoou, marcando contra seu ex-clube e aumentou a vantagem alvinegra na partida para 3 a 1.

Na segunda etapa, já vencendo, o Timão cadenciou o jogo, também por conta do forte calor, e as chances de gol diminuíram. De longe, Katiuscia chegou a assustar o Minas Brasília, com um chute forte que parou no travessão.

Ainda houve tempo para o derradeiro gol corintiano. Aos 31, Gabi Nunes encontrou Victoria Albuquerque pelo meio. Com um lindo passe, a camisa 11 deixou sua companheira livre para tocar por cima da goleira e fechar o placar.

Com a vitória, o Corinthians chega aos 33 pontos e, já classificado, garante mais uma rodada na liderança do nacional. As comandadas por Arthur Elias retornam para a capital paulista nesta quinta-feira e voltam a campo no domingo, quando enfrentam o São José, às 15h30, na Fazendinha.

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England completed their four days of preparation in Auckland with a far more convincing batting display than against the pink ball

Andrew McGlashan at Seddon Park17-Mar-20182:23

England look sharper with red ball ahead of Test series

England completed their four days of preparation in Hamilton with a far more convincing batting display than against the pink ball. Captain Joe Root led the way with a century as only James Vince missed out on the final day when he was trapped lbw. There remain question marks over the balance of the side for the first Test which are largely centred around the bowling fitness of Ben Stokes and will be clearer next week.Stokes ends six-month waitIt had been a long time since Stokes last faced the red ball – September 8, when he made 60 against West Indies at Lord’s. He strode out at an almost deserted Seddon Park, Root allowing others a chance ahead of him, at No. 5 which could yet be the position he takes up at Eden Park if he is unable to bowl or has a reduced workload capability. Stokes looked in good order, striking five boundaries in his 32-ball stay, until top-edging a pull and being superbly caught by Glenn Phillips who ran in from deep square-leg. He also had a gentle run through his action on the outfield before play and will bowl at higher intensity in the nets on Monday.Everyone gets somethingEngland got better over the four days and just about took what they could from the fixtures. The lowest combined return over the multiple innings for the top order was Vince’s 50 runs and at various time each of the top order showed encouraging signs. Mark Stoneman responded to his twin failures against the pink with a positive 48 before getting a sharp lifter from Scott Kuggeleijn, Alastair Cook was finding the middle of the bat and Dawid Malan was at ease before chipping a full toss to midwicket.Captain comfortableAfter a brief stay in his first knock against the pink ball, Root has looked especially at ease with the bat. He made a half-century after he came back in under the lights and followed that with 115 off 150 deliveries against the red ball. He looked set to bat to the close until another fantastic catch by Phillips, this time at point. Root ended his wait for an ODI century in Dunedin; it has been 12 Test innings since he has reached three figures (which was in the day-night Test at Edgbaston) and in that time he has failed to convert six half-centuries – not including when he was ill at Sydney. His last red-ball century was against South Africa, at Lord’s, last July. If England do go with the extra bowler in Auckland there will another debate over whether Root should move to No. 3.On to AucklandIt has been a low-key week in Hamilton and England will need to make sure they quickly find the higher intensity needed for a Test match. It makes the lead-up days in Auckland important – Monday is set to be an optional training day, although Stokes will bowl, before the session two days out from the Test which will be most full-on. The New Zealand squad have had a two-day camp in Mount Maunganui to step up their preparations. The main decision for them is which of Colin de Grandhomme, Todd Astle and Matt Henry misses out.

تلقى منتخب إنجلترا الأول لكرة القدم، ضربة قوية بإصابة لاعبه قبل انطلاق منافسات كأس أمم أوروبا يورو 2024.

وتنطلق بطولة كأس الأمم الأوروبية يوم 14 يونيو الجاري وتستمر حتى 14 يوليو المقبل، وتستضيفها ألمانيا.

اقرأ ايضاً.. ساوثجيت يوضح مستقبله مع منتخب إنجلترا حال الفشل في التتويج بـ يورو 2024

وكشفت صحيفة ميرور البريطانية عن سبب غياب المدافع جون ستونز عن تدريبات المنتخب الإنجليزي، اليوم الأربعاء.

وتابعت أن ستونز يعاني من مرض مزمن ووفقًا لبروتوكولات اتحاد كرة القدم، فقد تم عزله في غرفة نومه لتقليل خطر انتشار المرض.

وشارك ستونز أساسياً في مباراة أيسلندا الجمعة الماضية، حيث غادر مصاباً بحلول الدقيقة 45 من عمر الشوط الأول.

ولا تزال الشكوك قائمة حول إمكانية مشاركة ستونز في المباراة الافتتاحية للمنتخب الإنجليزي في منافسات يورو 2024، أمام صربيا.

ويتواجد منتخب إنجلترا في المجموعة الثالثة ضمن منافسات يورو 2024 بجانب كل من، صربيا وسلوفينيا، بالإضافة إلى الدنمارك.

وخاض المنتخب الإنجليزي مواجهتين وديتين قبل خوض منافسات يورو 2024، بالفوز على البوسنة والهرسك والهزيمة أمام أيسلندا.

Newcastle United did not win at the San Siro this week, but the goalless draw against AC Milan marked a return to the forefront of the European game following so many years mired in mediocrity.

Indeed, the Magpies had spent two decades away from the Champions League before the PIF club takeover rewrote the narrative on Tyneside, with the subsequent appointment of manager Eddie Howe proving to be a masterstroke of equal distinction.

While a fleeting trip to continental competition did occur in 2012, built on the unforgettable 2011/22 campaign under Alan Pardew, with Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse wreaking havoc on hapless Premier League defences, this proved to be a one-time date and the subsequent campaign proved unsuccessful, finishing 16th.

The Magpies would suffer relegation before seeing the upper echelon of the English top flight again, but now, the club are poised for a lasting position among Europe's elite, boasting affluence and diligence to ensure the increments continue to be made.

It all could have been so different, however, with one Luka Modric nearly signing for the Toon way back when, before joining Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur instead.

Had the Croatian midfielder made the move, it all could have been so different, with years of malaise replaced by a sustained spot in and around European contention.

Did Newcastle nearly sign Luka Modric?

According to former Magpies manager Sam Allardyce, he was pushing to sign Modric from his homeland outfit of Dinamo Zagreb before despised owner Mike Ashley pulled the plug in 2008, citing concerns over the somewhat exorbitant price tag.

He said: “I was then on the way to getting Luka Modric from Dinamo Zagreb, but by then, Mike saw the scale of the full debut and put the clamps on, so I had to make do with Geremi from Chelsea.”

Geremi, aged 28 at the time, joined the Magpies in his stead and proved to be a colossal failure, notoriously receiving harsh rebuke from an angry St. James' Park faithful against West Ham United in 2009 before joining Besiktas for just £1.5m after failing to impress.

Modric would likely have been a transformative signing, stopping the club from suffering relegation in 2008 and instead instilling confidence and quality throughout the squad.

Ultimately, it was Tottenham that won the race for the highly-rated prospect, beating competition from Newcastle – as well as Arsenal and Chelsea – for his signature and completing a £15m transfer in the summer of 2008.

How good was Luka Modric at Tottenham?

Today, Modric is a prominent name and one of Europe's foremost midfielders, but when Spurs took a punt on his precocious skill set, he was an unknown, if talented, commodity.

Across four campaigns, the ace would make 160 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring 17 goals and supplying 25 assists, integral for his side and praised by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2009, who said that "he could play in any team."

The 168-cap international (staggering numbers, right?) never saw his Premier League match rating drop below an impressive 7.30 across his final three campaigns in English football, as per WhoScored, with his pass success rate always above 86%.

Chelsea attempted to sign him in 2011, with Modric even handing in a transfer request to force through a move, but Daniel Levy proved characteristically obstinate, refusing to allow him to join such a heated rival.

However, this ended his Premier League career, with the calling of pre-eminent European juggernauts Real Madrid resulting in his £30m sale, beginning an illustrious journey that has yet to drape the curtain.

Is Luka Modric one of the greatest midfielders?

Undoubtedly, Modric is not just one of the finest midfielders of his generation, but one of the greatest players across any position, captivating in his seamless, effortless ball-playing skills.

A player of superlative technicality and undeniable class, he has been heralded as a “legend of the game” by the likes of writer Usher Komugisha.

Despite now perching in his twilight years, aged 38, the phenom still ranks among the top 3% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 5% for progressive passes, the top 2% for shot-creating actions and the top 14% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

A maestro and bona fide prodigy, in 2018 Modric proved to be the first man not named Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Ballon d'Or since Brazil icon Kaka gleaned the prestigious honour in 2007.

Luka Modric honours, via Transfermarkt

Team

Individual

Champions League (x5)

Ballon d'Or (x1)

LaLiga (x3)

FIFA Best Men's Player (x1)

Copa del Rey (x2)

UEFA Best Player in Europe (x1)

FIFA Club World Cup (x5)

Croatian Player of the Year (x5)

Spanish Super Cup (x4)

UEFA Super Cup (x4)

A born leader and a "world-class" sensation – as he was dubbed by journalist Liam Canning – Modric was the centrepiece, winning the Player of the Tournament, as Croatia came second at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and was once again integral last year as the European nation came third in Qatar.

Had Newcastle succeeded in securing Modric's signature, they might have nurtured a star with a bigger legacy than Paul Gascoigne, who is revered as one of the finest players to ever don the Toon shirt.

'Gazza', as he was affectionately known, was one of the most exciting, mercurial players to have ever graced the English game, with Barcelona legend and current manager Xavi once saying he's "one of the best midfield players" he has ever witnessed.

Born of ridiculous talent but plagued by off-field troubles, Gascoigne completed 104 matches for Newcastle, his boyhood club, before departing for Tottenham in 1988, where his career really took off.

Winning only one FA Cup with Spurs and several honours in Scotland with Rangers, the one-time England international might be held in the highest regard by those on Tyneside but given Modric's tremendous career, awash with honours of all shapes and sizes, he might just have eclipsed Gascoigne had he joined the club, especially as he might have kept the club up and contributed instrumentally on the European stage.

It's a career soaked in success, having won countless club honours with Los Blancos, catalysed Croatia's exploits in the most prosperous era of the nation's history and even been the man to halt the unstoppable Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi from adding to their abundant Ballon d'Or accolades, Modric is truly a legend.

It's a shame Ashley didn't see the value in securing his services all those years ago. Just imagine what might've been…

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Negociado com o Grupo City em agosto, Vinícius Souza, enfim, foi apresentado no SK Lommel, da Bélgica e que pertence ao conglomerado dos Emirados Árabes Unidos – cujo principal clube administrado é o Manchester City. A jovem promessa do Flamengo assinoupor cinco anos com a nova casa.

No site oficial doSK Lommel, além das boas-vindas ao volante de 21 anos oriundo de um clube “top do Brasil”, é destacada a sua alta estatura (1,87m).

Vinícius Souza tinha contrato com o Flamengo até dezembro de 2021. Sem espaço no clube da Gávea, o meio-campista estava no Fla desde o 13 anos de idade e, a partir de 2019, passou a integrar o elenco profissional de maneira definitiva. Era constantemente elogiado por Jorge Jesus.

Ao todo, o volante acumulou oito partidas pelos profissionais do Flamengo, sendo quatro na temporada passada e o restante, nesta, quando iniciou os quatro primeiros jogos do Carioca, comandado por Maurício Souza.

Vinícius se juntará ao lateral-esquerdo Caio Roque, de 18 anos, cria do Ninho e também negociado com o Grupo City, inclusive sendo repassado ao mesmo clube belga.

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نجح منتخب إنجلترا في التقدم بهدف أمام صربيا في المباراة الجارية بين الفريقين ببطولة كأس الأمم الأوروبية “يورو 2024”.

ويلتقي منتخب إنجلترا مع صربيا، في إطار مباريات الجولة الأولى لدور المجموعات لبطولة يورو 2024.

الهدف جاء في الدقيقة 13 من عمر المباراة لتتقدم إنجلترا بهدف أول في شباك صربيا.

وجاء الهدف بعد تمريرة عرضية من بوكايو ساكا، لينجح جود بيلينجهام في وضع الكرة بالرأس في شباك الخصم.

يذكر أن بطولة كأس الأمم الأوروبية انطلقت يوم الجمعة، وتستمر حتى يوم 14 يوليو القادم، وتستضيفها ألمانيا.

ويقدم بطولات تغطية مباشرة لمباراة إنجلترا وصربيا في منافسات يورو 2024 من خلال هذا الرابط. هدف بيلينجهام في مرمي صربيا

Colin de Grandhomme and BJ Watling fought to keep New Zealand’s first innings afloat on the second afternoon at Hagley Oval

The Report by Andrew Miller30-Mar-2018

Stuart Broad had Ross Taylor caught at slip for 2•Getty Images

New Zealand 192 for 6 (Watling 77*, Southee 13*) trail England 307 (Bairstow 101, Wood 52, Southee 6-62, Boult 4-87) by 115 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsBJ Watling battled through to the close, after Colin de Grandhomme had battled against his natural aggressive instincts, as New Zealand clawed their way back into contention in the second Test in Christchurch, after a throwback performance from Stuart Broad with the new ball looked, at 36 for 5 in the 20th over of their innings, to have cracked their resolve entirely.Broad claimed three of those wickets at the top of the innings, then later returned to break a dogged and vital sixth-wicket stand of 142, as de Grandhomme flicked fatally outside off and fell for 72 from 151 balls – his longest Test innings in terms of balls faced.Watling, however, endured to the close – becoming the second wicketkeeper in this Test to haul his team off the canvas, following Jonny Bairstow’s efforts on the first day (which were rewarded by a fifth Test century when England completed their first innings in the first half hour of the day). By the time bad light brought the day’s action to a premature close, Watling was firmly entrenched on 77 not out from 196 balls, another example of his under-rated brawling qualities, and how his team had needed them.New Zealand’s predicament had not been quite as dire as the 27 for 9 that England themselves had registered at Auckland last week, but it was a decidedly rocky position all the same. Broad had spent much of his downtime since the Australia tour working on his wrist position in the nets at Trent Bridge and, from the outset, he bowled a full and threatening length, notably quicker than many of his lacklustre spells during the Ashes, and looked set to get on one of his trademark ‘rolls’ until Watling and de Grandhomme found new depths of resolve.New Zealand’s problems began in the second over of their innings when Tom Latham strode on to the front foot and aimed a hard-handed drive at a ball that nipped off the seam and grazed through to Bairstow for a duck. And with the first ball of his fourth over, Broad added the key scalp of Ross Taylor for 2, whose wild swishing drive to another full-length ball outside off ended up in the hands of Alastair Cook at first slip.In between whiles, Anderson made his mark as well, luring Jeet Raval into a loose drive to Bairstow for 5 before, two balls later, pinning Kane Williamson on the front pad with a big inswinger, only for New Zealand’s captain to be reprieved by the most marginal of umpire’s calls.It didn’t matter greatly, however, as DRS was soon back working in their favour. Henry Nicholls, a centurion at Auckland, was nailed in front of middle by a big inducker from Broad, and sent on his way via a review for 0. And then, having taken lunch on a perilous 32 for 4, New Zealand’s situation reached its nadir when Williamson flicked at a leg-side delivery in Anderson’s second over after the break and was caught behind for 22.After that, however, New Zealand found a means to battle back. De Grandhomme quickly realised that attack was the best form of defence in such a situation, and though Mark Wood was cranking up the pace in an encouragingly rapid spell, he took it upon himself to launch a counterattack with three pulled fours in the space of four deliveries.Watling was never remotely as comfortable in taking on the short ball, and on 10, he was slammed in the helmet by a savage lifter as Wood switched his line to round the wicket. But the blow did nothing to shake his resolve, as he bedded in for the remainder of the session to reach 40 not out.The post-tea session was a cagey, low-scoring affair, as England rang their changes, and attempted to lure a mistake out of two increasingly well-set batsman, with a ball that was losing its venom and lateral movement with every over. Wood, in particular, opted for the Neil Wagner approach of pounding the middle of the pitch and testing the batsman’s patience and resolve, and though he went wicketless in his 17.5 overs, he looked energetic and match-fit, both of which were big pluses for England after his year of ankle problems.De Grandhomme, who had brought up his fifty shortly before the interval, resisted the temptation to continue his fusillade of boundaries, in spite of his reputation as a compulsive hooker – although he did lash Anderson through the covers when he offered some rare width before taking on Broad’s bouncer with another slightly top-edged pull for four through square leg.But it was Watling who grew the most in stature as his innings wore on. In particular, he found fluency and footwork against the spin of Jack Leach, who went wicketless on his first day of bowling in Test cricket, but impressed nonetheless with his flight, accuracy and variety. Twice he swept Leach with authority over the leg-side – one of his blows flew clean over the ropes for the only six of the day – and Anderson also felt the full authority of his strokeplay with a beautifully timed drill through the covers.But Broad, who was left unused for an hour and a half either side of the tea break, eventually returned to break the crucial stand. It took him two deliveries to do so – a tempter in the channel outside off lured de Grandhomme into a fatal drive and he had already thrown his head back in self-disgust before the ball had nestled in Bairstow’s gloves.Tim Southee endured to the close as New Zealand moved to within 115 runs of England’s first-innings total. As had been the case on the first day, the momentum had shifted to the batting team by stumps, but their top-order incisions meant that England were still very much in control of the contest.

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A vitória do Corinthians por 1 a 0 sobre o Athletico-PR, na última quarta-feira foi extremamente importante para o clube, que conseguiu sair da zona de rebaixamento do Brasileirão-2020. Por essas e outras ela continua repercutindo. Nesta sexta-feira foi a vez de Fagner falar do alívio que o resultado trouxe, não só para e para o grupo, mas também para sua família.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansApós sete meses, Tour da Neo Química Arena retoma atividades na próxima quarta-feiraCorinthians16/10/2020Fora de CampoNeto faz post com ‘direta’ ao elenco do Corinthians: ‘Orgulho da época em que jogador se dedicava ao clube’Fora de Campo16/10/2020CorinthiansZaga do Corinthians sofre novo desfalque e clube deve ir ao mercadoCorinthians15/10/2020

Em entrevista coletiva virtual antes do treinamento, o lateral-direito conversou com a imprensa e não escondeu o quanto o triunfo fez bem para a rotina corintiana, que convivia com um período de cinco jogos sem vitória. Para explicar a consequência da conquista desses três pontos, ele usou um exemplo de sua casa, quando revelou o choro de sua esposa e filho após o apito final.

-Como jogador que cresceu no clube, sei a grandeza do Corinthians, incomoda não vencer. Chegar a entrar na zona de rebaixamento. Sabemos da forma que é, da cobrança, como a gente sente isso. A gente viaja, deixa família, nos dedicamos buscando vitória. Muita das vezes, acaba não acontecendo. Falta de sorte, situações de jogo. A gente sente muito isso. Nossos familiares sentem. Ontem (quinta-feira), minha esposa falou que ela e meu filho choraram. É o peso que a gente carrega sem a gente saber. O quanto a nossa família sente.

– Não é por falta de entrega, de dedicação. Todo mundo se dedica. A gente só sai dessa trabalhando. A gente tem corrido bastante. Num momento você está mal, em outro as coisas melhoram e a coisa engrena. Espero ter essa segurança, subir na tabela e colocar o Corinthians onde ele tem que estar, brigando por título, por Libertadores – completou o camisa 23.

Recentemente, via rede social, Fagner e esposa revelaram ameaças a seu filho por parte um torcedor do Corinthians. O caso revoltou o lateral, mas isso não o fez pensar em deixar o clube. Para ele, a cobrança tem de ser em cima de seu futebol, já que é ele que vive disso e não seus familiares. Objetivo é continuar trabalhando e batalhando por mais conquistas com a camisa alvinegra.

-Óbvio que chateia, a gente sabe que por você jogar no Corinthians, é um clube de massa, clube grande, tem que estar na parte de cima da tabela, existe uma cobrança. Chateia bastante, principalmente por envolver meu filho, nas redes sociais as pessoas se empoderam, acham que podem falar o que pensam. Eu ser cobrado é uma coisa, porque é meu trabalho, é minha profissão, agora cobrar esposa, criança de dez anos, isso não vai acrescentar em nada.

– Vivo aqui desde os dez anos de idade. Consegui coisas grandes dentro do clube. Quando vence no clube, você acha que está bom, para de almejar títulos, não é meu caso. Tenho vontade de atingir mais marcas pessoas dentro do clube. É continuar trabalhando. Vamos trabalhar e melhorar, sair dessa situação – avisou um dos ídolos do atual elenco corintiano.

O Corinthians volta a campo neste domingo. às 16h, para enfrentar o Flamengo, na Neo Química Arena, pela 17ª rodada do Brasileirão-2020. Atualmente, o Timão está com 18 pontos, na 14ª posição na tabela.

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It is fair to say that it hasn't been a perfect start to life back in the Championship for Leeds United, although if Saturday's convincing win over Watford is anything to go by, manager Daniel Farke could be assembling a team that is ready to fight it out for promotion.

Despite having lost a raft of first-team assets, the Whites' new faces are beginning to click into gear, with £10m arrival Joel Piroe – who scored 41 league goals across the last two seasons for Swansea City – having already netted four times for his new side.

The towering Dutchman looks to have emerged as the centrepiece of what is an exciting attacking unit at Elland Road, with club-record capture Georginio Rutter finally beginning to prove his worth with a mesmerising display through the middle.

On the flanks, Farke also has the pace and precision of Daniel James to call upon – with the 25-year-old boasting four assists this term to date – as well as fleet-footed gem, Crysencio Summerville, who was particularly "impressive" at the weekend, in the words of journalist Leon Wobschall.

That stellar showing came despite the Yorkshire side having been without the stricken Wilfried Gnonto, with it truly exciting to imagine the increased carnage that the frontline can cause once the teenage Italian is back fit and firing.

For all the excitement surrounding the 19-year-old "firework" however – as described by pundit Noel Whelan – Leeds could potentially have had a bigger attacking talent on their hands, had a deal for Brennan Johnson been completed in the recent past.

Why didn't Leeds sign Brennan Johnson?

The club's interest in the former Nottingham Forest man stretches back to his teenage years, with ex-sporting director Victor Orta having revealed that he had "tried" to sign the youngster from the Tricky Trees when he was just 16, albeit while failing to do so:

“Like Brennan Johnson now, he is a Welsh international again, the best young player in the English second division.. Already he is 20. He has rejected Brentford from Forest. My model was to have reached Brennan Johnson when he was 16 and we tried. But it could not be.”

With the England-born, Wales international subsequently rising up the ranks at the City Ground, reports in January 2021 again indicated that there was interest in his services from those at Elland Road.

At the time, Johnson was enjoying a profitable loan spell in the third tier with Lincoln City, as he scored 13 goals and contributed 14 assists in just 49 games during the 2020/21 campaign, having also been handed his senior international debut in that same season.

The forward continued to catch the eye of Orta and co after returning to his parent club for the following campaign, eventually playing a crucial role in Forest's promotion push after bagging 18 goals and registering nine assists in the Championship in 2021/22.

That sparkling form led to reports heading into the 2022 summer window which suggested that Leeds would be in the mix for his signature if they were to stave off relegation, albeit with the youngster ultimately staying put in Nottingham regardless.

With there having evidently been a string of missed opportunities for the Yorkshire outfit with regard to signing Johnson, it looks as if their hopes of snapping up the wing wizard may have now come and gone.

What is Brennan Johnson worth now?

While still just 22, the "frightening" talent – as hailed by international colleague, Joe Allen – has already proven his credentials in the Premier League, having scored eight goals and registered three assists in the top flight last season for Steve Cooper's side.

That impressive haul is beyond what young Gnonto managed to achieve in his debut campaign in England, with the former Zurich speedster scoring just twice and registering four assists in total last term.

Highest value Leeds players (as per CIES Football Observatory)

Player

Value

Wilfried Gnonto

£35m

Illan Meslier

£26m

Georginio Rutter

£17m

Pascal Struijk

£17m

Crysencio Summerville

£17m

Joel Piroe

£13m

Both figures who can operate all across the frontline, Johnson also illustrated his creative quality as he laid on four big chances in the league in 2022/23, again ahead of what the current Leeds man achieved (three big chances).

Having played such a vital role in steering the Garibaldi to safety – while Leeds, by contrast, slipped to relegation – Johnson was unsurprisingly the subject of intense interest throughout the summer, with Brentford having been particularly keen to sign the 21-cap ace.

As it proved, it was Tottenham Hotspur who ultimately won the race for his signature on deadline day, with Daniel Levy forking out a sizeable sum of around £47.5m in order to bring the forward to Elland Road.

That hefty figure is likely to have been far higher than the fee that Leeds would have had to pay to sign Johnson as a 16-year-old, hence the potential frustration at having missed out on such "a beautiful footballer" – as described by journalist Josh Bunting.

How good is Brennan Johnson?

The £70k-per-week speedster has so far featured just twice for his new club since his arrival in north London late in the day, albeit while producing a 'lively' first start against rivals Arsenal at the weekend – according to the Independent's Jamie Braidwood.

That outing saw the former Forest man notably go close to getting off the mark for Spurs only to see an effort expertly denied by the sprawling David Raya, albeit with it having been a positive sign of things to come under the tutelage of Ange Postecoglou.

As Wales boss Robert Page has previously stated, Johnson is "arguably one of the best counter-attacking centre-forwards in the Premier League at this moment in time", having proven himself to be a truly "unbelievable asset" for both club and country of late.

With comparisons having already been made between himself and compatriot, Gareth Bale, the sky really is the limit for the Nottingham native, with Leeds left to reflect on a case of what might have been had Orta and co acted more astutely.

Of course, those at Elland Road do have the dazzling Gnonto to provide a devastating threat from the flanks, although it remains to be seen how long the diminutive dynamo will be at the club, having itched for an exit over the summer.

In truth, despite all the excitement surrounding the Italian, the contrasting record between himself and Johnson in the Premier League last year would suggest that it is the latter man who is arguably the bigger talent.