All posts by h716a5.icu

The discussion of ticket prices is perhaps one for another day, but Manchester United supporters have rightly condemned the recent announcement regarding the rise in costs at the Theatre of Dreams, with the new INEOS regime so swiftly turning their backs on those who welcomed them in with open arms.

What remains particularly egregious is the preaching of PSR in relation to this, with it certainly not the Old Trafford faithful who opted to splash out £86m on Antony, or £70m on Casemiro. It is, however, the supporters who are now ‘paying’ for it.

It is the Red Devils’ wretched recruitment record and scattergun transfer approach of recent times that has played its part in the looming spectre of financial constraints, with £600m notably spent under Erik ten Hag, only for the Dutchman to take the club no closer to Premier League title glory.

Far too often in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era – or more so, the Glazer era – have funds been spent unwisely in Manchester, with new boss Ruben Amorim, backed by the likes of Dan Ashworth and Omar Berrada, needing to oversee a new approach moving forward.

That said, there are perhaps mere glimpses that some positive moves have been made of late, providing Amorim with a nucleus to work with over the coming months and beyond.

Man Utd's best recent signings

Let’s face it, it certainly isn’t a long list.

On the whole, fans and pundits alike have largely looked to Bruno Fernandes as the only successful addition since the days of Ferguson, with club legend Gary Neville stating that the Portuguese playmaker is the only player who has “done more than I thought he would” since arriving at Old Trafford.

That said, one can also look to the reported fee of just £420k that was spent on a 16-year-old Alejandro Garnacho as particularly astute business, with the former Atletico Madrid asset already boasting 12 goals and assists in all competitions this season.

Equally, while the club did miss the chance to snap him up on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, the £47.2m spent on Andre Onana last year now looks like money well spent, with the Cameroon shot-stopper having arguably been United’s “best player this season”, in the words of journalist Steven Railston.

Perhaps the greatest coup rests in a move made this summer, however, with the decision to fork out just £12.8m on Noussair Mazraoui looking like something of a masterstroke.

Man Utd's £50m + star in the making

Signed as part of a double deal from Bayern Munich, alongside Matthijs de Ligt, the Moroccan was arguably the most low-key acquisition of the recent window, having been viewed as a needed replacement for the departing Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Market Movers

Football FanCast's Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club's star player or biggest flop worth today?

In the view of some – including treble winner Dwight Yorke – the former Ajax man wasn’t actually an “improvement” on Wan-Bissaka, who only chalked up two goals and 13 assists in 190 games for the club. It’s fair to say Mazraoui – who already has two assists in just 19 appearances – has proved any doubters wrong.

As the 27-year-old showcased in midweek against Bodo/Glimt, he is a truly classy operator wherever he is deployed, having teed up Rasmus Hojlund’s first goal of the night, prior to also playing his part in the Dane’s second, after producing a threaded, forward pass.

Silky smooth on the ball, but with that much-needed steel off it, it is no surprise that the versatile sensation is already earning rave reviews, having been described as a “10/10 every game” by Statman Dave.

On current evidence, Mazraoui looks to be the “bargain of the year” – as per writer Liam Canning – not least due to the fact that he’s deemed to be a similar player to Arsenal’s £50m star, Ben White, as per FBref.

Stat (per 90)

White

Mazraoui

Non-penalty goals

0.00

0.00

Assists

0.13

0.10

Shot-creating actions

1.04

1.48

Pass completion

83.5%

86.2%

Progressive passes

3.88

4.44

Progressive carries

0.52

1.28

Successful take-ons

0.00

1.68

Tackles

1.30

4.14

Interceptions

1.42

1.09

Blocks

0.78

1.18

Aerial duels won

1.30

1.88

As shown above, the two players both offer an outlet in an attacking sense and composure in possession – as shown in their progressive passes and pass completion record – but can also muck in defensively, with the United man ranking in the top 1% among those in his position in Europe’s top five leagues for tackles made per 90.

Much like White – who can operate at centre-back, right-back or central midfield – Mazraoui’s flexibility makes him such an asset for any manager in the dugout, with Amorim having thus far deployed him as a right-sided centre-back over the past week.

Described as an “incredible player” and the “future” of United by his new boss, the £135k-per-week machine looks set to buck the transfer trend at Old Trafford, should his current form be maintained.

As his impact has shown, it doesn’t require big bucks to bring in quality additions, with that initial £12.8m fee likely to look almost laughable over the coming months and years. If the aforementioned White can fetch £50m, Mazraoui’s value must surely sit at a similar level.

Bellingham 2.0: Man Utd want to sign exciting £120m star in the making

Ruben Amorim already appears to be eyeing up new additions for Manchester United.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 28, 2024

Tottenham Hotspur star James Maddison has lavished praise on a "beast" youngster at Spurs, who he says is "so powerful".

Tottenham's form so far…

Spurs and new manager Ange Postecoglou are really loving life at the moment, having won six out of a possible eight league matches heading into the newest international break. Indeed, this is their best start to a season since 1960, and they went on to win a double that year.

Tottenham also remain unbeaten in the top flight, and while supporters aren't getting too carried away, it's safe to say that an air of real positivity has been restored at N17. Antonio Conte slammed the culture of Spurs – tearing into chairman Daniel Levy and his squad – in his last hurrah before departing as manager last year. However, his vicious rant now seems like a thing of the distant past.

The Premier League table-toppers remain in very good stead after their latest win, a 1-0 victory over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, with summer signing Micky van de Ven scoring the only goal as Spurs scraped past them with ten men. Postecoglou has praised the spirit of his players, but also insists that they're goals are to improve and Spurs haven't achieved anything just yet. Here's nearly every word Postecoglou said on Tottenham's season so far:

“We’ve played some good football and we’ve had all sort of different challenges thrown at us. We’ve been behind in games away from home, we’ve had to score last-minute winners. It’s not like it’s been smooth sailing.

"We’ve had to work awfully hard to be in the position we are and I guess from my perspective it’s great that they’re getting rewarded with results and that can only help us grow as a team. But it’s not like they’re sitting in there thinking we’ve achieved anything. We haven’t achieved anything, all we’ve done is lay some really good foundations. Our goals and ambitions lie in improvement."

Destiny Udogie: Spurs' new "beast"

There have been a few star players to pick out of Tottenham's eleven. The likes of Maddison, van de Ven, Son Heung-min, Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr, Dejan Kulusevski and Destiny Udogie have really impressed on-lookers, with the latter already looking like a very important player already after joining up from Udinese over the summer.

The Italy international starlet actually signed in the summer of 2022 but spent the entirety of last term on loan at Udinese. Coming straight into the Spurs fold, Udogie has started all eight of Tottenham's league games, with Maddison now calling him a "beast" and heaping praise on the left-back's "powerful" style of play.

Dribbling

Holding on to the ball

Ball interception

Crossing

Tackling

“Destiny is just a beast, man. He’s so good. When I talk about learning and adapting with the manager’s new style, him playing inside is not natural to him. He’s still working on that himself," said Maddison on Udogie (via football.london).

“He’s actually better on the ball and he can take the ball and dribble in the middle of the pitch and open it up for us. He’s got good receiving skills and he’s so powerful and so good.”

Glasgow Rangers are on the search for a new head coach during a season for the third campaign in succession after they decided to part ways with Michael Beale on Sunday.

The Light Blues kicked off this run of bad luck in the dugout when Steven Gerrard was poached in November 2021.

He was replaced by Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who had previously played for the Light Blues, but the Dutchman only lasted until November of the following year.

Despite winning the SFA Cup and leading the club to the final of the Europa League, Rangers sacked the former defender during the break for the 2022 World Cup and appointed Beale as his successor.

Steven Gerrard

13/11/2021

Gio van Bronckhorst

21/11/2022

Michael Beale

01/10/2023

That move has turned out to be an error on Ross Wilson's part as the sporting director, who has since gone on to join Nottingham Forest, failed to bring in a suitable replacement for the Dutch boss.

Current chief executive James Bisgrove is now tasked with finding a manager who can bring success back to Ibrox and, hopefully, not be sacked by November 2024.

Who could replace Beale at Rangers?

Speaking on the BBC Radio 5 Live Monday Night Club (2 October), New York Times journalist Rory Smith named Bodo/Glimt head coach Kjetil Knutsen as one of the managers who is likely to be under 'consideration' by the Scottish giants, among a number of options.

This comes after the Norwegian boss was tipped as one of the 'frontrunners' to replace Van Bronckhorst during the 2022/23 campaign by The 4th Official.

He was also named as a possible alternative to the Dutch tactician in 2021 after Gerrard's move to Villa, as Ross Wilson was a fan of his work, but the club ultimately opted for the former Light Blues full-back instead.

It could now be third time lucky for Rangers if they decide to go through with a swoop for the 54-year-old to take on the role this month.

Bisgrove could get Ibrox rocking with a move for Knutsen as he plays an exciting brand of football and would come in with a proven track record of coaching teams to win trophies.

What is Knutsen's style of play?

Bodo/Glimt captain Ulrik Saltnes once described his manager's style of play as “kamikaze” as his team is based around an intense, high-energy, press, a far cry from the turgid football of Beale's Rangers tenure.

Knutsen's side wants to dominate possession and control the game and do so by winning the ball back quickly after they lose it, which allows them to stop the opposition from countering them whilst providing themselves with more chances to make things happen at the top end of the pitch.

The 54-year-old typically deploys a high-pressing 4-3-3 set-up and this, along with his excellent attacking coaching, has led to them being a free-scoring team in recent seasons.

Journalist Connor McGilligan once claimed that his brand of football would be "fantastic to watch" for supporters, which is backed up by the statistics.

Bodo/Glimt scored a mind-boggling 103 goals in 30 Eliteserien matches throughout the 2020 campaign as they won the title with only one loss to their name and a positive goal difference of plus 71.

Whereas, Rangers have not scored more than 82 Scottish Premiership goals across 38 league games since their return to the top flight at the start of the 2016/17 campaign.

Meanwhile, Celtic scored 103 league goals on their way to the title under Ange Postecoglou during the 2022/23 season and this shows that it is possible for Knutsen to replicate his success with Bodo/Glimt in Scotland, as the Hoops have proven that you can dominate the division as a free-scoring, prolific, side.

How many trophies has Knutsen won?

The Gers managerial target has won two league titles in the Norwegian top-flight with his current club and his side are currently one point clear at the top of the table with seven games left to play in the 2023 campaign.

Knutsen won the Eliteserien in 2020 and 2021 but finished second in 2022 as Molde ran away with the title by 18 points. However, he is now closing in on a third title in four years and has proven himself capable of instilling a winning mentality within his squad.

The former Asane head coach has been able to deploy an exciting style of play based on pressing high and getting the fans onside with aggressive play and a constant stream of goals to dominate and win matches, which has led to excellent success on the pitch and trophies on top.

Therefore, Bisgrove could get Ibrox rocking by appointing a manager whose brand of football could resonate with supporters and get them to buy into the process, due to the style and his proven track record of implementing it.

How many trophies has Beale won as a manager?

The fans in Glasgow did not have many reasons to get behind Beale's future at the club as he arrived without trophies to back his pedigree and failed to deploy an attractive style.

He has not won a single piece of silverware in his managerial career to date, with QPR or Rangers, and journalist Derek Clark claimed, earlier this season, that there was no sign of a clear way of playing from the English boss' team.

Reporter Graham Spiers also described Beale's style of football as "hapless" and the results on the pitch did not make up for the dull football as the Gers lost three of their first seven Premiership matches.

The Light Blues also failed to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League as they were hammered 5-1 by PSV in the second leg of their play-off tie, which shows that Beale struggled domestically and in Europe.

This suggests that it was the right decision by Bisgrove and the club to part ways with the former Aston Villa assistant manager as the performances and results were not going in the right direction.

There was very little for supporters to cling to in order to have faith that Beale would eventually be a success at Rangers and the Light Blues can now get the fans back onside by bringing Knutsen and his 'Kamikaze' style to Ibrox.

A day after clinching a four-run win against Ireland, Netherlands went on to chase 159 with an over to spare against the same opponents in the second match of the tri-series in Rotterdam

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jun-2018Peter Della PennaA day after clinching a four-run win against Test nation Ireland, Netherlands went on to chase 159 with an over to spare against the same opponents in the second match of the tri-series in Rotterdam. The four-wicket win was led by their openers before Roelof van der Merwe scored 37 off 26 and then captain Pieter Seelaar saw them through with an unbeaten 22. Van der Merwe had also taken two wickets earlier as Ireland scored 158 for 6 with an unbeaten 42-ball 45 from Gary Wilson.Netherlands never let the required run rate out of control once Tobias Visee started the chase with a 15-ball 25 and his opening partner Max O’Dowd scored a brisk 39 off 24. George Dockrell broke the stand when he bowled Visee in the fourth over and Nos. 3 and 4 Ben Cooper and Bas de Leede got out cheaply. Between those two wickets, O’Dowd was caught behind off Stuart Thompson and Netherlands were 97 for 4 in the 12th over.However, van der Merwe and Seelaar stitched a stand of 39 runs in 32 balls, as van der Merwe struck three fours and a six. Even though he was bowled by Barry McCarthy in the 17th over, Netherlands needed another 23 runs from 20 balls and Seelaar’s unbeaten knock took them home.Earlier, Ireland opted to bat and their openers Paul Stirling (27 off 16) and James Shannon (31 off 21) gave them a flying start. They put on 58 runs by the fifth over but were both bowled within a space of nine balls and it reduced Ireland’s run rate thereafter. The middle order could not capitalise on the platform, as left-arm medium-pacer Fred Klaassen and van der Merwe strangled the scoring rate. William Porterfield and Wilson could not score at a strike rate of over 110 in the 62 combined balls they faced together to score a total of 65 runs and even though Kevin O’Brien struck 13 runs off six balls, 158 did not prove to be enough.

Middlesex’s relegation last season felt even more bizarre as they dispensed with Northants in confident fashion within three days at Lord’s

Alex Winter15-Apr-2018
ScorecardAt the end of the 2017 season, among crossbow-gate and threats and counter-threats of legal action, Middlesex shrugged their shoulders, magnanimously accepted relegation and vowed to return to Division One of the County Championship at the first attempt. A 160-run victory over a Northamptonshire side who challenged for promotion until the final day of last season laid down a marker for their immediate return.Middlesex were clever and clinical in conditions where Northants should have been competitive and it took only 38 deliveries after lunch on the third day to take the five remaining wickets for victory.This was a Middlesex team missing Steven Finn and Tom Barber, the latter a left-armer clocked quicker than any at the National Performance Centre in Loughborough, and a host of batsman – Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan, Nick Gubbins and Stevie Eskinazi, last season’s top runscorer in the Championship, all injured and Nick Compton not considered for selection. Added together, it is bizarre that Middlesex were even relegated last season but they took no time in proving they are too good for Division Two.Their bowling injuries actually worked out perfectly as Tim Murtagh and James Harris, neither of alarming pace but skiddy and skilful, shared 17 wickets in the match. Murtagh should make his Test debut next month for Ireland against Pakistan – has anyone done so with more than 700 first-class wickets behind them? Harris’ attempts to add pace to achieve England recognition failed but here provided a reminder of why he was so sought-after six years ago.”We’re open minded” – Robson

Sam Robson (Middlesex captain): “It’s a great start – obviously with what happened last year, you want to bounce back strongly. We’ve had a good win here, but things are going to get harder, there’s no doubt about that. We just want to crack on and be open-minded about what we come up against.”
Alex Wakely (northants captain): “It was a bowler’s paradise and it was always going to be very difficult to score runs. I think the pitch was slightly under-prepared, possibly too soft to play first-class cricket on. But it was the same for both sides and ultimately Middlesex bowled better than we did.”

Murtagh began the hosts’ push for victory, getting the fifth ball of the day to bounce on Ben Duckett and take a glove to short leg. Duckett was not expected to play after finger surgery but he might have wished to still be in rehab after a second single-figure score in the match.Northants did settle through Rob Newton and Alex Wakely, who compiled stand of 51 for the fourth wicket, and at 95 for 3 were still very much in contention chasing 303. But Newton – having been dropped at gully trying to drive Tom Helm – went to force Toby Roland-Jones off the back foot and edged behind.Newton perhaps encapsulates the nearly-nature of Northants’ red-ball cricket. He passed fifty 11 times last season in the Championship but made only one century. Here, the new ball had been seen off as he reached 44 but he failed to make the major contribution Northants needed to be competitive. It was a familiar tale for Northants – “good but not right” as Roy Walker used to say – whose batting collapses last season and the failure to grind out batting bonus points was the chief reason for their failure win promotion.Any chance of them producing a close finish here – with the pitch making it perilously difficult for batsman to get set – rested with Newton and Wakely. And when Wakely was pinned on the toe in Hilton Cartwright’s first over for his new club – an afterthought signing for Middlesex only after their injury list had swelled – the game was up and Northants crumbled before the scones could be put in the oven for tea.Tim Murtagh in action for Middlesex•Getty ImagesWith a bowling attack to rival most in the country, Northants should challenge again but they were not as persistent as Middlesex here, with the fuller length of Murtagh and Harris trumping the good-looking but less effective back of a length the visiting attack erred towards. Short of a gallop they may have been – Middlesex enjoyed better preparation with their marquee at Marchant Taylor’s School – Northants were edged in all facets of this game and a chance to run the title favourites close was squandered. The Middlesex juggernaut flattened the first obstacle.

Having recently enjoyed the exhilaration of Champions League competition, Newcastle United return to the domestic scene to face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in the Premier League.

The Magpies battled to a goalless draw against AC Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday night, having ended a three-match skid in the English top-flight with victory over Brentford on Tyneside last weekend.

The Blades, newly promoted, have endured a tricky start to the season and boast only one point after five matches, though that did come against Everton in their previous home match.

Paul Heckingbottom's side have actually performed quite well, narrowly losing to both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, conceding late on; in fact, all four defeats have come by a single goal, but an increase in attacking intent will certainly be needed to bypass Nick Pope's goal.

Failure to win in Sheffield would constitute a poor start to the season, but Eddie Howe's outfit now have a glorious opportunity to bag successive league victories and start to close the gap on those at the forefront.

What's the latest Newcastle team news?

Howe has confirmed that midfielders Joe Willock and Joelinton will remain sidelined for the forthcoming Premier League clash, with full-back Emil Krafth still absent as he looks to build fitness following a long-term injury.

While there are not believed to be any fresh concerns for Howe and co to nurse, the weight of European competition has now beset the shoulders of the Magpies squad, many of whom had previously never tasted continental competition.

As such, the Toon boss might look to stir things up somewhat and unleash several changes on the affair, with talented young full-backs Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento both pushing for their first starts in black and white.

Fabian Schar has played every minute of the season so far, and – while he is a solid and dependable defender – could be among those to receive a rest today, especially considering Manchester City await in the Carabao Cup next Wednesday.

How is Fabian Schar performing?

For much of his time on Tyneside, Swiss centre-half Schar failed to impress, having struggled to cement a regular starting role after joining from Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna in 2018 after his reported £3m release clause was met.

Journalist John Gibson branded the 31-year-old a "walking mistake", though he continued to state that he has "eliminated" the blemishes in his skill set under Howe's tutelage.

Last season, he started 36 matches in the Premier League and contributed enormously toward Newcastle's keeping of the joint-best defence in the division, also keeping 12 clean sheets.

However, the £40k-per-week titan – who has entered the final year of his contract at St. James' Park – has not quite lived up to the same standards as last year this time around, earning an average Sofascore rating of just 6.78 and winning only 46% of his duels as opposed to an average of 65% last year.

Last year, he was hailed for his "incredible" performances by his manager, with Statman Dave also claiming that he is "important at both ends" for his ball-playing skills and aptitude in the final third, having registered five assists for club and country across the 2022/23 campaign.

And, as per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for total shots taken, the top 7% for assists, the top 5% for shot-creating actions and the top 17% for aerial wins per 90, illustrating the dynamic skills that have allowed him to prosper for the fast-rising Magpies.

Having yet to receive a break, however, it might be time for Schar to earn a breather, and club captain Jamal Lascelles might now be set to seal his first start of the campaign.

How good is Jamal Lascelles?

Lascelles has been a stalwart for Newcastle, having made 225 appearances for the Tyneside club since signing in a double £7m deal from Nottingham Forest in 2014, alongside Karl Darlow.

Last season, as United forged a tremendous campaign, the 29-year-old only received four starting roles in the Premier League, very much on the fringe as Sven Botman and Schar thrived together.

Described as a 'leader on and off the pitch' on Newcastle's official club profile for the titan, Lascelles has been the captain since the 2016/17 season, and may well prove to bring the tenacity and composure to overcome the physicality and toughness of the Blades.

While he found scant action on the pitch, the ace did manage to produce some solid showings when he did feature, completing 85% of his passes, winning 67% of his aerial duels and averaging 2.4 clearances per game.

Sheffield United are not the most goal-happy of sides – having taken the joint-lowest amount of shots in the division this season (41), alongside Burnley, who have a game in hand. But they are physical and have jumped into 93 tackles thus far – the sixth-highest tally.

And after failing to bag a win across the opening phase of the term, they will be desperate to kickstart their campaign, and buoyed by what promises to be a cacophonous Bramall Lane support, will not roll over and allow Newcastle to steamroll them.

Lascelles, who was heralded for one "heroic" display in the Carabao Cup last season by Howe, playing on after breaking his nose, is a 6 foot 2 powerhouse and can match the home side in both tenacity and toughness.

Clearly, Schar is the best fit for Howe's side and offers a more expansive skill set than his skipper, but it would be ludicrous for Howe to start him across every match of every competition of this congested campaign, and Lascelles, next to a peer of Botman's merit, could be more than capable of providing his side with the mettle requisite for success.

Manchester United are weighing up a move for a "sensational" goalkeeper, with Erik ten Hag already looking at options to replace Andre Onana, according to reports from Spain.

How well is Andre Onana playing?

Onana has not had the easiest of starts to life at Old Trafford, having joined from Inter Milan in a £47.2m summer deal, with Mark Goldbridge recently suggesting Man United would have been better off keeping David De Gea, saying: "I really do like Onana but it's a mistake. It's a mistake.

"I don't like saying I told you so but so many people were clipping De Gea up last season, saying he's a problem in the team. This, that, and the other.

"He's not a problem in the team. Man United have conceded 10 goals in five games. They're averaging two goals per game, going in."

As pointed out by Goldbridge, the Cameroonian has already shipped ten goals in the Premier League, while De Gea conceded 43 across the whole of the 2022-23 campaign, and collected 17 clean sheets, winning the Golden Glove award for his efforts.

Although it is still very early days for the 27-year-old, there have now been reports that Ten Hag is already looking into signing a replacement, with a Spanish publication suggesting they are now interested in acquiring the services of Diogo Costa (via Foottball 365).

The Red Devils are now willing to launch an offer close to €70m (£60m) to sign the FC Porto goalkeeper, who is also on the radar of some of Europe's other top clubs, namely Bayern Munich and Barcelona.

The report states that Onana "does not offer guarantees despite Ten Hag's confidence and the club is thinking about safer options", with Costa reemerging as a target, having been considered in the summer transfer window.

Are Man United replacing Onana?

In truth, it seems a little far-fetched to suggest United are already looking at replacing their summer signing, considering we are only five games into the Premier League season, but Ten Hag will be hoping his form picks up in the near future.

The former Inter Milan man has conceded the joint-third highest number of goals in the top flight, but he must be given more time to adapt to the Premier League, having put in some top performances for his old club over the past year.

During that time period, the 6 foot 2 goalkeeper has picked up a clean sheet in 40% of his outings, placing him in the 92nd percentile compared to his positional peers, while he ranks in the 88th percentile for touches per 90, displaying his willingness to get on the ball.

Onana clearly has the talent to be a success at Old Trafford, and it is far too early for his future to be in doubt, but there is no doubt that Costa is also a top goalkeeper.

The Porto shot-stopper has been lauded as "absolutely sensational" by members of the media, and it would not be a surprise if he gets a big move in the near future.

Sean Abbott and Peter Nevill had an unbeaten 130-run eighth-wicket stand to give them a 139-run lead against Queensland

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Mar-2018<ScorecardA blistering 87 from Nic Maddinson put New South Wales in control of the Sheffield Shield clash in Wollongong.Maddinson smashed 11 fours and two sixes in his 63-ball innings, which helped the Blues pass the Bulls' first-innings total with five wickets in hand.Sean Abbott and Peter Nevill then combined for an unbeaten 130-run stand for the eighth wicket. Abbott moved to 79 not out at stumps while Nevill was 52 at the close of play.Mitchell Swepson picked up three wickets for the Bulls but conceded more than five runs an over. Mark Steketee nabbed both openers in quick succession in the morning session.

Life without Harry Kane has started brightly as far as Tottenham Hotspur are concerned, with new boss Ange Postecoglou already ensuring that the England skipper is something of a distant memory, following his move to Bayern Munich last month.

The Lilywhites have made a strong start to the campaign despite not actually acquiring a direct replacement for the 30-year-old goal machine, although there will likely come a time in the not-too-distant future when a successor to the club's record scorer will have to be found.

Whether it is an emerging academy star – such as teen sensation, Will Lankshear – or a high-profile, big-money addition, at some stage sooner rather than later someone will have to live with the burden of attempting to emulate Kane's heroics.

To be constantly likened to or compared with such an elite figure is likely to be more of a curse than a blessing for any player, however, with one current Spurs dud having only recently fallen by the wayside despite prior comparisons to another legendary Tottenham icon – Gareth Bale.

Currently on the sidelines with yet another injury blow, it is fair to say that one-time wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon has not lived up to the hype at N17 to date, with those prior whispers that the heir to Bale had been found now looking rather foolish.

Why did Tottenham sign Ryan Sessegnon?

The once-promising wideman had caught the eye after bursting onto the scene for fellow London club, Fulham, making his first-team debut for the Cottagers at the tender age of just 16 as an indication of how highly-regarded he was at the time.

The Roehampton-born speedster – who, like Bale, can operate at left-back or in an advanced attacking berth – had captured the interest of the Premier League's elite following his standout showings in the second tier, enjoying a particularly remarkable 2017/18 season.

Despite having still been a teenager at the time, Sessegnon proved integral in helping the Craven Cottage outfit to secure promotion, netting 15 times and providing six assists in 46 Championship appearances, prior to adding another three goal involvements in the playoffs.

It was at that time that the murmurings regarding the 'next Bale' began to surface, with then-teammate Matt Targett having made the comparison between the two wing wizards in February 2018:

"He’s going to have a great future in front of him,” said Targett, as reported by the Independent. "He’s a massive threat and to score over ten goals already in the Championship for any midfielder that’s good, but he’s 17. It’s a massive achievement and he’s got a massive future in front of him. He’s definitely right up there with the likes of Luke Shaw, Gareth Bale, you could even put."

The end to that stellar season also earned the youngster lofty praise from manager Slavisa Jokanovic, with the one-time Watford boss describing the precocious talent as "a mix between Marcelo and Bale".

Such hype was followed by a respectable first season in England's top flight as Sessegnon contributed two goals and six assists in 35 league games, prior to those at Spurs having come calling…

How much did Tottenham pay for Ryan Sessegnon?

The buzz around the 5 foot 10 whiz had ensured that the Lilywhites weren't alone in their interest, with rivals Manchester United believed to have made contact regarding a possible move for the wideman in the summer of 2019, while Serie A giants Juventus were also said to be keen at the time.

Despite that growing list of suitors, it was Spurs and Mauricio Pochettino who eventually won the race in that same window, forking out a reported fee of around £25m.

That appeared something of a bargain considering figures of closer to £50m had been suggested prior to that, with Sessegnon quickly raising the excitement levels after scoring on his first Champions League start away to Bayern Munich.

Such an introduction onto the European stage unsurprisingly had supporters dreaming that an heir to Bale had finally been found, with the Welshman memorably announcing himself to the wider world after scoring a hat-trick against Inter Milan back in 2010.

Described as a "massive asset" by pundit Noel Whelan amid that promising start to the 2019/20 campaign, Sessegnon had also talked up the likeness to the ex-Real Madrid star, having stated in January 2020:

"I think [the comparisons are] definitely a confident boost. [Bale] was one of the players that I looked up to when I was younger, especially when he was at Southampton bombing up on the wing."He has attributes that I want to add to my game. In terms of attacking intent, the mentality to get in behind on the left flank and dribble with the ball, I'm trying to add a little bit of that into my game."If I could ever become as great as he has become it would be a massive achievement. I'm so far off at the moment."

Manager

Games

Goals

Assists

Ryan Mason

7

6

Jose Mourinho

27

10

3

Andre Villas-Boas

44

26

14

Harry Redknapp

137

27

39

Juande Ramos

13

0

1

Martin Jol

9

3

1

Total

237

72

58

As the Englishman stated in that final line, he was still 'so far off' emulating the one-time Southampton gem, however, with that still looking like the case today…

What has gone wrong for Ryan Sessegnon at Tottenham?

There may be a sense of what might have been had Pochettino remained in charge to help guide the emerging sensation, although with Jose Mourinho appointed in late 2019, Sessegnon's hopes of regular game time were inhibited, as he subsequently joined Bundesliga side Hoffenheim for the 2020/21 season.

Following his return from Germany it has largely been a tale of woe for the £55k-per-week asset, with injuries restricting him to just 15 and 17 league appearances across the last two seasons, respectively.

When the 23-year-old – who has scored just three times and chipped in with only four assists in 56 games in all competitions for the club – has featured he has also hardly set the world alight, with Spurs insider John Wenham brutally describing him as "a Championship player" earlier this year, while going on to add:

"We bought him as this kid with great potential and all of the attributes. I was so excited when we got him, he was exactly the signing I wanted the club to make. But you can have hindsight and you can be allowed to be wrong about things. I was absolutely wrong about Sessegnon.

"He has no pace. Ever since he had his hamstring injury he doesn’t take players on. What is the point of setting your team up to benefit from attacking wing-backs if you have a wing-back who can’t beat a man, has no pace, has no strength and cannot deliver a cross?"

It is then fair to say that the struggling dud – who is yet to feature this season due to injury – has come nowhere close to making the same impact as Bale, with the latter man having only been a year older when he sealed his £85m move to Madrid in 2013.

While it may be too soon to completely write off Sessegnon, he has certainly not built on his strong first impression, with it yet to be seen what his future will be at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – if he has one at all that is.

With three balls to go on the fourth day, Trent Boult was coming to the end of an exacting final burst with the pink ball under lights

Andrew McGlashan in Auckland25-Mar-2018Another unconverted half-century for Joe Root. This time with added pain.With three balls to go on the fourth day at Eden Park, Trent Boult was coming to the end of an exacting final burst with the pink ball under lights. Almost every delivery had demanded attention from the batsmen. From round the wicket, he sent down a short-of-a-length ball which climbed and smacked into Root’s right glove.Wringing his hand, he immediately moved to the side of the pitch and the physio was quickly on. The glove came off and the right index finger, now throbbing red, was prodded and pulled as Root winched. Eventually, as the clock moved towards the close-of-play at 9.30pm, Root prepared to face again.Boult delivered shorter, this time angled into the rib cage. Root tried to jump inside the line but he couldn’t get out of the way. The ball brushed the glove through to BJ Watling. As one the New Zealanders roared.A disconsolate Root, now in pain in more ways than one, trudged, head down, back to the dressing room and had not emerged by the time Stuart Broad was speaking to the cameras.”I’ve not seen him – I think he’s still sat in the toilet,” Broad said. “We were watching from the viewing area, he came straight in and put his bat down and went straight into the back room. He’s probably doing a few breathing techniques to calm himself down at the minute.”Could Root have retired hurt, let the pain settle, and ensured he lived to fight another day? Craig Overton was padded up as nightwatchman. He may not have seen out two deliveries, but having Root for the final day may have been a price worth paying.”We mentioned it,” Broad said, “but when a bloke has been out there for 120 balls on 50, he’d have been backing himself to see off those last two balls. Trent Boult has got a bouncer bang on. I think it was a really good short ball, at the left shoulder.”That’s a really tricky one to deal with. Maybe I’m in the bowler’s union, but you’ve got to credit him sometimes – good bouncer to rap a batter on the finger, and then a good follow-up – well bowled. It was a real shame to lose Joe to the last ball of the day. We all felt it, after he’d played so brilliantly as well.”Boult’s plan to Root paid off and the wicket perhaps also owed something to Kane Williamson’s declaration. New Zealand could have called an end to their innings earlier than they did – and the ultimate judgement on the timing has to wait until the final day – but they had factored in still wanting a reasonably hard ball late in the day under lights.Pull out 10-15 overs earlier and Root would have been facing a 60-over old ball. Instead, Boult was able to get enough bounce from the 47-over one to dismiss England’s best batsman. If day-night Test cricket continues to evolve, such thinking may become more common place in declarations.”We wanted the ball to be nice and hard under lights so we could hopefully get the bounce and kiss off the wicket that Trent did, so it was nice that the planning came through,” Henry Nicholls explained. “The wicket of Joe tonight is huge so credit to the guys, the way they put them under pressure in that last half an hour.”With eight wickets in hand and Root at the wicket, the draw would have been a far more realistic prospect for England. Still, they can look back at not-too-distant history for inspiration. Five years ago on this ground they began the final day four down and saved the game thanks to one of Matt Prior’s finest innings, a tail that refused to budge, Broad’s 77-ball 6 and Monty Panesar’s dive for the line. They batted 143 overs; when this innings began 148 were left in the match. This time, runs could also be a factor.”We’ll need a hero tomorrow,” Broad said. “Five years ago, Matt Prior was the hero with a hundred, and someone’s got that chance tomorrow. I’d prefer not to bat … but we’ll wait and see.”If you’d said at 27 for 9 there was a chance of drawing the game we’d have bitten your hand off. Obviously the rain has helped a lot. But there’s a chance, and we’ve just got to make sure we’re good enough to do it.”