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Moises Caicedo opened up on Chelsea's target for the 2024/25 season after the team came back from behind to beat West Ham on Monday.

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• Caicedo revealed Chelsea's target for the season
• Blues came back from behind to beat West Ham
• Chelsea back among the top four teams

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea approached the West Ham game on Monday after a series of disappointing results, having won just one of their previous seven league outings. The Hammers further rubbed salt into the wound when Jarrod Bowen handed the visitors a first-half lead at Stamford Bridge. The Blues, however, responded strongly after the break, as Pedro Neto's equaliser and Aaron Wan-Bissaka's own goal helped the English giants get back to winning ways and reclaim their position among the top four teams.

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• WHAT MOISES CAICEDO SAID

  After a brilliant performance against the Hammers that earned Caicedo the Player of the Match award, the Ecuadorian midfielder said: "The most important thing was the performance. The team is happy and we want to continue like this. We are really together and working hard every day. The last couple of games have been tough for us but we reacted so well last night and got the three points.

  "It was really important because we needed this victory to get our confidence higher. So I think it was really good, even if we were 1-0 down. The team was good and we showed good character. It was a great win for us. We were working for this and we got it yesterday."

  He added: "The team showed our character in the second half. We talked between us in the dressing room. We wanted to win this game and then showed our full worth in the second half. We reacted really well. The manager said, 'Just be relaxed, we are doing well, the goal is going to come, stick to the plan and we will get the win'.

  "It was frustrating to be behind because we were dominating the game, but the team stuck to the plan like the manager said. We showed our character in the second half and got the three points."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Speaking on the club's target for the 2024-25 campaign, Caicedo added: "It was really important to get back into the top four. We are in the fourth position and we are happy. We want to keep working hard to keep ourselves up there, that’s it. We always get more confidence when we win a game, it’s very important for us to get the confidence higher. The team is so happy, now we’re going to keep working hard to stay there."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  Enzo Maresca's side will be back in action this Saturday as they take on Brighton in a fourth-round FA Cup clash.

Leeds United, despite dominating the possession at a weighty 71.3% and bettering Burnley in terms of shots, still fell to their first defeat of the Championship season last time out.

Scott Parker’s Clarets managed to get the better of Daniel Farke’s wasteful Whites courtesy of a counter-attack goal by Luca Koleosho, with the one-time Wolverhampton Wanderers target’s strike the difference on the day, as the likes of Mateo Joseph and Wilfried Gnonto fluffed their own opportunities for the hosts.

The manner of the defeat will sting for Farke and Co, but it’s unlikely that wholesale changes will be needed moving forward, with players such as Junior Firpo in particular having a standout start to the campaign regardless of this narrow 1-0 loss.

Firpo's resurgence at Leeds

The former Barcelona man continues to look like a resurgent figure in the Leeds first team, having once found his footing at Elland Road to be on shaky foundations, after a dismal time of things in the Premier League, having been relegated with the side in the 2022/23 campaign.

Since dropping down to the Championship, however, the Dominican Republic international has shone brightly, with his creativity from down the left a massive plus.

Last campaign, alongside the skills of Georginio Rutter and Crysencio Summerville to name a few, Firpo would pick up an impressive seven assists from 27 regular season contests, alongside also helping himself to six clean sheets.

His willingness to burst forward and create openings has helped the Whites out during the infancy of this fresh season too, with Firpo galloping forward to assist Joel Piroe’s late strike against Hull City, which helped his side close out August with a comfortable 2-0 victory before Burnley soured the mood in West Yorkshire.

The rejuvenated Leeds number three did try and unlock the Clarets in a similar manner but was met by a resilient Burnley defence, as the 28-year-old trudged off the pitch with only one key pass next to his name come full-time.

There will be concerns about Firpo’s future around Elland Road now, with his contract up next June, and he already has clubs circling for his services.

Firpo's future at Leeds

There will be some grave concerns in the air as Firpo might well exit West Yorkshire for £0 if everything isn’t resolved shortly, with TEAMTalk revealing that one of his former employers in Real Betis is keen to win his services for zilch.

With his deal at Leeds entering into its final six months in January, he could well agree a pre-contract agreement with another side and then leave on a free transfer in the summer, which would be a nightmare situation for Farke and Co.

Year

Value

2024

£1.9m

2023

£2.7m

2022

£3m

2021

£12.8m

Sourced by Football Transfers

Although his value has fallen year on year he’s been at Leeds, with his valuation now standing at a low £1.9m compared to his original £12.8m fee, it would still be a sad state of affairs for the Whites if Firpo was to just leave for nothing.

His value could also increase over the next couple of months if he can keep up his electric displays in attack, which might – in tow – lead to his side tasting promotion.

Labelled as “immense” in the past by Leeds content creator Conor McGilligan, it would be a devastating end to his time in West Yorkshire if another club did poach him for £0 and an almighty blunder, given his impressive performances in the Championsnhip.

Before any of that happens, however, Firpo will no doubt just be keen to kick on and help his side in their aim to win promotion, as bottom of the table Cardiff City await Farke’s men next as the perfect way to bounce back, after the demoralising defeat to Burnley.

One of the worst players in Leeds' history is now struggling in Japan

This major Leeds United flop has continued to struggle even after leaving Elland Road behind.

1 ByKelan Sarson Sep 15, 2024

He might have to stay on in the team’s bubble in Zimbabwe to be eligible for the full series

Mohammad Isam13-Jul-2021

Mushfiqur Rahim had requested a break from the bio-bubble•AFP/Getty Images

Mushfiqur Rahim could be one of two players asked to stay back with the Bangladesh contingent after their ODI series against Zimbabwe, to avoid a longer quarantine period ahead of their T20I series against Australia next month. Rahim had been granted a leave by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after he had requested to skip the T20Is against Zimbabwe.The BCB and Cricket Australia (CA) had agreed on the condition that both sets of players must be in quarantine ten days before entering the tour’s bio-bubble in Dhaka. Being in the Harare bio-bubble counts as being in this quarantine, which means Rahim’s personal break – which was supposed to be from July 22 – wouldn’t allow him to enter the Bangladesh-Australia bio-bubble until the day of the first T20I between the two sides, proposed to be in the first week of August.Related

Mushfiqur Rahim out of Australia T20Is after missing quarantine deadline

Mushfiqur Rahim to miss remainder of Zimbabwe tour

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Rahim to opt out of playing T20Is on Zim tour

Chief selector Minhajul Abedin said that they have to keep the Australia series quarantine in mind, but said a final decision will be taken after discussions with the team management in Harare. Any player on the current Zimbabwe tour who wants to be available for the full Australia series has to remain in Zimbabwe till July 27.”Everyone has to be in quarantine for ten plays to play in the Australia series,” Abedin told ESPNcricinfo. “We have planned to keep two players from the ODI side that’s playing against Zimbabwe, with the T20I side, just in case. We are not taking any chances because there is always the chance of someone getting sick.”After discussion with the team management, we will finalise on July 15 about whether Mushfiq will remain in Zimbabwe. Mushfiq wanted a break from the bio-bubble which is completely understandable. It is very difficult to live inside a bio-bubble. Even we have got tired staying at home, and imagine how the players feel being in hotels for such long periods.”Bangladesh play the ODI series against Zimbabwe from July 16 to 20. The T20Is are from July 23 to 27, and the return flight will bring them home on July 29. Australia, currently in the West Indies, are likely to arrive in Dhaka on July 27 after their last match on that tour on July 25.Apart from the ten-day quarantine, the BCB have already agreed to other requests from, CA including the visitors avoiding the airport hallrooms, stricter control in the team hotel, and playing all five T20Is in Dhaka.

Manchester City are set to be offered the chance to sign an exciting young defender in a player plus cash deal, according to a recent report.

Man City now keen on "sensational" new international valued at £70m

Man City have their eye on an exciting talent who could cost them a lot of money.

ByBrett Worthington Sep 17, 2024 Man City transfer updates

The Blues are said to be looking to tie Kevin de Bruyne and Rodri down to new contracts over the coming months, as the Belgian has entered the final year of his deal at the Etihad and Rodri is the subject of interest from Real Madrid.

But as well as looking to tie players down to new contracts, Pep Guardiola and Co. are also looking at potential transfer targets for January or next summer. The latest player to be on the radar of Man City is midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

The Blues are said to be keeping an eye on Gibbs-White and have compiled a detailed dossier on the midfielder after his impressive performances, which recently saw him handed his first senior England cap. The scouting network at the Premier League club are said to be huge admirers of Gibbs-White but may face a battle on their hands, as Nottingham Forest are keen on tying the player down to a new and improved contract.

But while City potentially look into a deal for Gibbs-White, they now potentially face a difficult task in keeping one of their star players as a European side prepares an interesting offer.

Barcelona prepare Araujo-Haaland swap bid

According to a report from Spain relayed by Football365, Manchester City could be offered the chance to sign Ronald Araujo from FC Barcelona. This report states that the Spanish giants are keen on signing Erling Haaland, and they are prepared to offer Araujo in exchange plus around £40m to sign the Norwegian.

The Blues are said to have “huge interest” in Araujo, who has been described as an “athletic monster” by BBC analyst Raj Chohan in the past. Guardiola is also keen to add a new centre-back to his squad, but the report states Barca expect City to reject their advances due to the inclusion of Haaland.

The 25-year-old has been at Barça since August 2018 and has played 150 times for the Catalans, scoring eight goals. Were Araujo to join Man City, he could become the Blues’ very own Virgil van Dijk, as the pair are very similar when it comes to their style of play and what they offer on the football pitch, as shown by Fbref’s comparison tool.

Ronaldo Aruajo

Virgil van Dijk

Pass completion rate

88.8%

91.4%

Shots per 90

1.04

1.27

Shot creating actions per 90

0.99

1.67

Tackles won

22

23

Fouls

25

23

Aerial duel win rate

73.2%

81.4%

The club’s president, Joan Laporta, sees Haaland as his dream signing for Barcelona and they think offering Araujo is a “galactic exchange”, albeit one they expect City to reject in its current format.

MatériaMais Notícias

Quando questionado sobre a sensação de confirmar a vaga para a Copa do Mundo de 2022, no Qatar, o técnico Tite tentou ser polido.

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-Eu não posso falar o palavrão que eu tava com vontade de falar – disse o técnico brasileiro.

No entanto, o auxiliar-técnico da Seleção Brasileira, Cléber Xavier, deixou o protocolo de lado e colocou para fora o que o treinador do Brasil queria falar.

– PQP! Estamos no Qatar – externou o integrante da Comissão Técnica.

Tite já havia dito em entrevista coletiva antes da partida contra a Colômbia, nesta quinta-feira (11), na Neo Química Arena, que enxergava a Seleção Brasileira classificada para a Copa do Mundo, mas o triunfo por 1 a 0, pela 11ª rodada das Eliminatórias colocou os brasileiros matematicamente no Mundial do ano que vem.

Mas o duelo contra os colombianos não foi fácil. Após um primeiro tempo truncado, com forte marcação da seleção adversária, o treinador precisou mexer no time no intervalo, colocando Vinicius Júnior no lugar de Fred, modificando o esquema de jogo e principalmente o posicionamento de Lucas Paquetá, autor do gol da vitória.

-Quando as equipes vêm enfrentar o Brasil, temos que nos preparar para situações que possam acontecer. Quando eu ia jogar contra o Santos de Neymar, eu tinha que fechar os links para a bola não chegar nele. Muitas vezes conseguimos construir essa situação. Foi o que a Colômbia fez, ela fez um tripé no meio-campo, fechou o lado do Neymar e colocando intensidade de marcação restringindo os espaços – disse Tite em entrevista coletiva após o jogo.

– Como colamos o Neymar no Paquetá, ficamos com a posse, mas não tínhamos a infiltração e finalização contundente. O que teve no segundo tempo? Aí é agradecimento a minha comissão. Em cima dos movimentos do que a Juventus faz, o Alex Sandro e Danilo fazem. Eles fazem construções como terceiro defensor e como jogador mais avançado. Como fecharam o lado do Neymar, trouxemos o Paquetá para dentro e colocamos um aberto de lado. Para criar mais espaços e gerar dificuldade ao adversário. Amplitude do Raphinha, do Vinícius, um entrelinhas, o Paquetá, um construção ofensiva, Neymar, e Gabriel Jesus na frente – acrescentou o treinador.

Agora, matematicamente classificado para a Copa do Mundo, Tite e a Seleção Brasileira terão como missão fazer diferente do que foi na Mundial da Rússia, em 2018, quando os brasileiros foram derrotados por 2 a 1 pela Bélgica nas quartas de final e deram adeus antecipadamente à competição.

Na ocasião, o técnico não ficou durante todo o ciclo de preparação de uma Copa, tendo sido contratado em junho de 2016, após a saída de Dunga. E para o treinador, o fato de agora ter feito um trabalho de ponta a ponta entre mundiais é algo motivador.

-A única coisa que me move é fazer um ciclo inteiro, coisa que na última oportunidade não foi feito. Foi isso que me moveu. Eu não me ofereci para a Seleção, o meu empresário não foi buzinar no ouvido de ninguém, eu trabalhei para chegar. Eu peguei na metade de um processo, fomos até o final, vocês sabem a história, fui convidado depois de novo para um processo inteiro. Tal qual fiz no Grêmio, Corinthians, Caxias… Aí pensei, pensei, poxa, talvez essa minha trajetória profissional me permita fazer um período inteiro. É isso que me move – destacou o comandante da Seleção Brasileira.

O primeiro desafio da Seleção após a confirmação de classificação para a Copa do Mundo, será na próxima terça-feira (16), em San Juan, ainda pelas Eliminatórias. Será o último confronto do Brasil em 2021, já com a cabeça no ano que vem, com a disputa do Mundial.

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has praised youngster Leny Yoro after the defender finally made his Premier League debut against Arsenal.

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• Amorim praises Yoro
• Young defender made debut against Arsenal
• Returned from lengthy absence

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Yoro came on as a substitute during Amorim's first defeat as United boss, a 2-0 reverse against Arsenal at the Emirates. He looked better than some of his team-mates during the loss, and Yoro's new manager has heaped on the praise on the French teenager following his return to action.

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  WHAT AMORIM SAID

  In an interview with , Amorim said: "Of course, Leny Yoro, you can feel the talent. The speed, the way he handled one against one, in a very difficult stadium… [After] a lot of time without playing, you can see the quality."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yoro was injured in the summer and forced to spend months on the sidelines, eventually returning to training in October following surgery. Against the Gunners, he got his first match action in a long time and will be desperate to kick on and get a run of starts.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  Amorim's side will want to bounce back from a disappointing away defeat and their home fixture against surprise high-flyers Nottingham Forest this weekend offers them a great chance to do so.

Five years, four stress fractures, one bout of surgery and countless injections separate Reece Topley, the England rookie who took part in his side’s wide-eyed journey towards the final of the last World T20 in India in 2016, from the seasoned, 27-year-old pro whose career could yet come full circle as England’s latest T20I campaign prepares to get underway in Ahmedabad.The fact that Topley is still playing cricket at any level is remarkable in itself. By his own admission, he was “totally done with it” at one stage of his interminable injury agonies – not least on one grim afternoon in the summer of 2018, when a call to say he had been picked for the India ODIs was trumped by another confirming that, yes, he would be undergoing a back operation.But the fact that Topley has fought back from the brink, to muscle himself a berth in England’s full-strength T20I squad, is a testament to the enduring attributes of a 6ft 7in left-arm seamer – a rare breed of bowler who can generate good pace and sharp swing from his awkward high action, and whose skills at the death have not been diminished in the interim.It remains to be seen whether those attributes can earn him an instant recall (“if I get an opportunity it’s about performing that role to Morgy’s standards,” he said) but, having flirted with all manner of alternative career paths – including human-rights lawyer and financial markets analyst – during his years on the sidelines, he’s gagging to get back to the career he thought he’d fallen out of love with.Related

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“It’s unbelievable to be back amongst the set-up and with these lads,” he said. “The last time I played, I had that innocence of youth when it was that natural progression. I took it in my stride and it never really fazed me.”This time round, I seemed to enjoy the process of getting selected, working back into the team a lot more. It feels like I have really had to work hard for it, and possibly I took that for granted first time round. But this time it is something I cherish.”This will not be Topley’s official England comeback. That milestone was ticked off in the summer, against Ireland at the Ageas Bowl in August, where he capped a very serviceable return to the fray by claiming his first international wicket for 1597 days with the final ball of the innings.But, having also travelled to South Africa on the curtailed white-ball tour before Christmas, these five matches in Ahmedabad could yet mark the start of his true comeback – especially given what they could mean for the T20 World Cup in the autumn.”I do view this as a second career in a way,” Topley said. “I had such a long break in the middle, I’m older and more mature as a person, I have a totally different outlook on what being a pro cricketer is.”The last time I played in a T20 was at the World Cup, that game in Mumbai where we chased down 230-odd,” he added. “It was a very memorable game. A lot has happened between that, obviously, but I’m very pleased to be back, and quite proud of everything I have overcome.”Reece Topley played his first England international in four years against Ireland•Getty Images

That contest, against South Africa at the Wankhede, remains England’s highest T20I chase, and the third-highest for any nation. And for Topley, it proved to be the end of the road in the short term, as his two overs were slammed for 33 runs, only days after he had endured similar treatment from Chris Gayle and West Indies.But the format, in Topley’s estimation, has accelerated in the interim, and as and when he gets his chance to prove his mettle once more, he’s confident that he’ll have the mental resolve to rise to the evolving challenges, just as he had to overcome his numerous and daunting threats to his career.”I’ve still got certain attributes from last time I played for England,” he said. “I’m still a swing bowler up top and a fairly decent death bowler, but any progression that has been made, it’s probably inside my own head.”I moved away from cricket for a year, and when I came back, the game had moved on. It wasn’t until I played that I realised how batsman are taking the Powerplay differently, how things are changing at the death. It was only through that competition that you really get a grasp of how the game has moved.”Back at the start my career, you’d have your five best bowlers bowling. Whereas now, every position has a role and everyone, 1 to 11, is more under the microscope now. It’s not necessarily about the individual performances, it’s about the death bowlers closing out an innings, it’s about the guys up front taking wickets, it’s about spinners or fast bowlers taking wickets in the middle, if that’s your role.”Topley returns to a very different team dynamic as well. Whereas England’s last World T20 campaign was conducted on a wing and a prayer, with Eoin Morgan instructing his players to “embrace the naivety” of being the competition’s outsiders, this time they arrive as 50-over world champions, and the No. 1-ranked side in both white-ball formats. As such, the chances to impress may be scarcer, but the rewards of success could be more lasting.”If I get the opportunity, it’s for me to force [Morgan’s] hand and take that chance,” Topley said. “Whatever the role for the game that I’ve been given, perform that for the team so that Morgs has a difficult choice of leaving me out, whenever that time comes.”It’s probably one of the harder teams in the world to try and crack into. I can only do that by taking opportunities if any come my way. Healthy competition for places is what you need in a great side and, if you look back to the one-day series leading up to the World Cup that England won, there was massive competition for places there. I think that shows it’s healthy. I am going to try and take all the opportunities that come my way and hopefully perform my role for the team.”But whatever happens, Topley is at least back on the stage that his ability has long warranted, even if his body has struggled to match up to the expectations.”I’ll be honest, I did sort of give up at one point,” he said. “I was totally done with it. I remember people saying I wouldn’t play cricket again. I’d washed my hands of cricket and was well on to looking at other things. But I think it was something to do with being told you can’t do something. When it comes full circle to playing cricket, it is extremely rewarding. And thankfully I can say it’s pain free. It’s something I won’t take for granted again.”

Anthony Gordon admits that he was “quite close” to joining Chelsea during Thomas Tuchel’s time with the Blues, as a “big opportunity” passed him by.

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• Blues wanted winger in summer of 2022
• Tuchel discussed deal with forward
• Pair will now work together with England

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Premier League heavyweights at Stamford Bridge made an approach for Gordon towards the end of the summer transfer window in 2022. Chelsea played Everton on the opening day of that campaign, and Tuchel saw enough to suggest that the fleet-footed winger would be a shrewd addition to his ranks.

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• WHAT GORDON SAID

  Tuchel spoke with Gordon on the pitch after the clash at Goodison Park, but no deal was done. Gordon, who ended up joining Newcastle in January 2023, has said of that saga: “I spoke to him after the game, when I played for Everton and we played Chelsea. I spoke to him after the game when I shook his hand. That was about it. He said some really complimentary things to me, which I’ll keep to myself. But, yeah, I spoke to him and I felt a lot of warmth from him, which then made me really want to play for him. I didn’t get that chance.

  “It was quite close to be honest. I was desperate to go at the time and work with him, especially. I felt like my style would suit his style of play, the way he was playing at Chelsea which was very exciting for me. It was a big opportunity for me that didn’t end up happening and I’m looking forward to getting to work with him a couple of years later.”

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Tuchel is preparing to take the reins as England manager, with his contract due to start on January 1. Gordon will get a chance to work with the Champions League-winning German after all, but added when asked if he could have imagined that such an opportunity would come with the Three Lions: “No, definitely not. He was doing so, so well at Chelsea at that point, that it’s hard to imagine what’s going to come in the future.”

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Gordon is working under interim boss Lee Carsley at international level for now, with England preparing for two more UEFA Nations League fixtures against Greece and the Republic of Ireland – with the first of those contests taking place on Thursday.

Tim Paine said scratching a guard is something Smith did regularly with no intention of removing another player’s mark

Daniel Brettig12-Jan-2021Australia have closed ranks around Steven Smith and his habit of shadow batting and re-marking guard during matches, after stump camera footage that showed him doing so during Rishabh Pant’s SCG innings raised suspicions of sharp practice.In an episode not a million miles away from when Justin Langer once tapped the bails off during a Test in Sri Lanka in 2004, an extension of his habit of touching them regularly when walking past as a fielder, Smith was seen shadow batting at Pant’s end as if left-handed and then scraping his spikes down the line of middle.While he apologised for his own behaviour during a Test match that Australia would most likely have won without him dropping three critical catches on the final day, Paine was adamant that Smith had meant nothing sinister or annoying to Pant by what he had done on the crease line. Even so, Paine conceded that Smith would need to reconsider venturing into those areas in future “because of the perception of it”.”I’m glad you asked that, because I have spoken to Steve about this. And I know he’s really disappointed with the way it’s come across. If you’ve watched Steve Smith play Test cricket, that’s something he does every single game, five or six times a day,” Paine said. “He’s always standing in the batting crease, shadow batting. We know he’s got those many Steve Smith quirks and one of them is he’s always marking centre.Related

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“He was certainly not changing guard and I’d imagine if he was then the Indian players would have kicked up a bit of a stink at the time. When he’s in the field, he likes to walk up to where he bats and visualizes how he’s going to play. Yesterday you could see him up there, playing a couple of shots as a left-hander – as if [working out] where he wanted Lyno to pitch the ball.”And one of his mannerisms – he does it a lot – was marking centre, he wasn’t by any stretch of the imagination trying to change guard or do anything like that.”Smith, winner of the match award for his scores of 131 and 81 – his first century on Australian soil since the Newlands scandal in April 2018 – was “quite upset” in Paine’s words to be facing further questions of his character around re-marking the crease.”Steve’s quite upset about it. It’s something we always have a laugh about because he just loves batting so much and even when he’s out on the field he’s shadow batting and marking centre,” Paine said.Rishabh Pant put plenty of pressure on Australia during the final day•Getty Images”I’m sure if people are happy to look back at the footage you’ll see it happens probably more than once a Test match with Steve. There’s no way in the world he was trying to change Rishabh Pant’s guard or anything like that. Now that it’s come up as it has it’s something he might have to look at because of the perception of it.”The close examination of all actions and words on the field, whether through the many camera angles or the now ubiquitous recording of conversations around the stumps, did not reflect well on Australia on the final day of the Test, something Paine was more than happy to acknowledge during his unscheduled media appearance. But he also defended some of the mindless chatter being offered by the likes of Matthew Wade and Marnus Labuschagne as they fielded in close to the bat for long periods as Nathan Lyon tried to bowl India out.”We fully understand that they are on all the time,” Paine said of the stump microphones. “Was it the stump mics that took away from the Test or me? It was probably my behaviour. I know – for some silly reason you forget at times they’re on. But I need to be better than that. I know they’re on. We’ve seen plenty of instances in the past when you can get stuck into the batsman and do it in a way that’s a lot better than the way I did it yesterday. We understand that.”I love the way Wadey goes about it. He and all of us need to understand that sometimes how things can look are not how they are in the middle. That’s something we need to be aware of. Yesterday wasn’t our finest day as a team, and it’s something we’ll address this morning. I certainly don’t want to change the way Wadey goes about it or anyone in our team goes about it.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers will be hoping to build on an impressive 2023/24 season next campaign. Last term, many thought they would struggle to survive the drop in the Premier League with huge financial constraints in the transfer market.

However, they defied expectations and managed to finish 14th in the table on 46 points, just three points behind tenth place Crystal Palace, meaning a top-half finish was not out of the realms of possibility. Wolves’ finish is a real testament to the wonderful job O’Neil has done at Molineux.

It is a baptism of fire at the start of next season for Wolves. They travel to the Emirates Stadium on the opening day, to face back-to-back runners-up Arsenal, before hosting Chelsea at Molineux in game week two. The Midlands club then make the trip to the City Ground to face a Nottingham Forest side who will no doubt be desperate to improve on their 17th-place.

With a big season coming up, the Old Gold could well look to move some players on from their squad. There is one major player who could well be on his way out, after almost leaving last summer.

Nelson Semedo could leave Wolves

The player in question here is Portugal international right-back Nelson Semedo, who is currently representing his country at Euro 2024. The 30-year-old was linked with a move away during the 2023 summer window, but could now depart this year, instead.

Semedo is one of three senior players who are entering the final year of their contract after the club triggered a two-year extension to his current deal last season. However, as per Steve Madeley of The Atheltic, he has the “most delicate situation” out of the three expiring players’ deals.

Madeley explains that, due to such a high value, the Portugal right-back “will have to sign a new deal or be sold this summer” for the club to maximise his value. They paid upwards of £37m to sign the player from Barcelona back in September 2020.

The 30-year-old played a fair amount in 2023/24 under O’Neil, 41 times to be exact, including 36 appearances and 3,093 minutes in the Premier League. However, his contract situation means a move could well come about for the defender, and they might well have a ready-made replacement in the academy.

Why Dexter Lembikisa could be Semedo's replacement

The player who could be an ideal replacement for Semedo is young right-back Dexter Lembikisa. The 20-year-old spent last season on loan at Rotherham before Scottish side Hearts took over his loan spell in January.

The young right-back played an important part for both Rotherham and Hearts. He featured 44 times in all competitions for both clubs, playing an impressive 3,336 minutes. He is also a full international with Jamaica, picking up ten caps so far, and recently making his Copa America debut.

Lembikisa mins per competition 2023/24
Competition	Games	Minutes
Championship	25	2,008
FA Cup	1	81
Carabao Cup	1	78
Scottish Premiership	9	682
Scottish Premiership Top Six Split	4	292
Scottish Cup	4	195
Stats from Transfermarkt

Lembikisa is highly thought of at Molineux. He has already played four times for Wolves' first team, making his debut on the 12th of November 2022, against Arsenal. His most recent appearance for the Midlands side came against Liverpool in the FA Cup in 2023, although he has only ever played once in the Premier League.

His former academy coach at Wolves, Steve Davis, is one man who speaks highly of Lembikisa. Following an FA Youth Cup victory over Tottenham in 2022, Davis described the youngster as a “top player”, explaining that he is “a great example to the other lads”, before calling him “outstanding”. That is high praise from such an important figure on your footballing journey.

Given Lembikisa’s experience on loan this year, and his importance for Jamaica at the Copa America, he could well be ready to step into the shoes of Semedo in 2024/25. Should the Portuguese full-back leave Molineux over the summer, Lemibikisa could be a surprise replacement.

The youngster is a right-back who is confident going forward and is a good crosser of the ball. Not only that, he is great defensively, averaging 3.59 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes as per Fbref.

The 20-year-old could be the ideal replacement for Semedo and an excellent option at right wing-back for O’Neil in his transitional back three system.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 22, 2024