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The ECB is set to launch a high-performance review into English cricket with the ambition of making the England men’s team “the best in the world in all formats”, according to Interim managing director Andrew Strauss.Speaking in Barbados where the second Test is due to start on Wednesday, Strauss laid out the plans for the review, for which recommendations are due to be published in September with a view to potentially restructuring the English season from 2023. He also confirmed that England hope to have a new head coach in place for the first Test of the summer, against New Zealand at Lord’s in June.Addressing the Test team’s so-called “reset”, Strauss said: “The perception so far is that it’s all about red-ball cricket and that it’s all about the domestic game. But the way we’re approaching it, and I believe the only way you can approach these things is to start at the beginning, which is what is the scale of our ambition for the game in this country?”And I believe we’re looking very strongly at being the best in the world in all formats. I think the knock-on effects, right the way through the game if the shop window is functioning well, are enormous, so as a game we need to get alignment behind that ambition.Related

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• Anderson-Broad absence a chance to grow leadership options

“If you take a longer-term perspective on these things you have to say, ‘How can the two teams run concurrently alongside each other?’ and ‘How do we best support our white- and red-ball specialists to allow that to happen?'”The review will be led by an independent body that is yet to be chosen and who will undertake the first two stages of the review before their recommendations are presented to the ECB board and the county chairs.”We need to look at how the game is evolving,” Strauss said. “All of us know that the rise of white-ball and T20 cricket has been hugely dynamic and happened very quickly. So we need to understand how that affects our game and on the one hand how can we leverage that and on the other how do we protect the relevance and importance of the game in our country. And then we need to do a lot of independent analysis on getting information from the game on what’s working well and what’s not working well currently. So a very big consultation piece needs to be done.”We want recommendations to be signed off in time for the 2023 domestic season so that really means by the end of September this year ideally. You could stretch it a bit but these projects can get very broad and you can get stuck. So it’s important to focus on people’s minds. If we’re going to do it we’ve got to do it for 2023.”The review is just one of many significant developments expected at the ECB over the coming months, with a number of senior management positions only filled in an interim capacity. As well as the head coach vacancy, applications opened on Monday for the full-time men’s team managing director role (which Strauss is currently performing).It has also been reported that England will revert to having a full-time selector, separate from the head coach, as was the case before Chris Silverwood’s job specification was expanded last year.Asked whether he considered himself a candidate to return to the managing director position full time, having held a similar position between 2015 and 2018, Strauss was non-committal.”I haven’t considered that really,” he said. “I’ve got unique personal circumstances that makes doing that role difficult and quite frankly there’s always value in getting a new perspective and new views. Nothing ever stays the same or goes backwards. I’m certain there’s going to be some good candidates for this role.”The ambition is certainly to have the Test coach in place by that first Test of the summer. With recruitments there are all sorts of moving pieces, including notice periods. I don’t think we can categorically say that, but it’s the ambition.On the question of splitting the head coach role between red ball and white ball, he said: “Ultimately, that will be the new director of cricket’s decision to make. My perspective is that it’s time to go down that route. We have unique schedules in this country. It is very hard to plan, prepare, play and review for one coach doing all formats. There are opportunities for us to make some performance gains in that respect. But again, that’ll be up to the new director of cricket.”England produced a battling performance in Antigua•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

On the field, England came away from Antigua with a creditable draw. But the failure of their seamers to take a wicket with the new ball across the Test match, with Chris Woakes and Craig Overton proving particularly expensive in the first innings, led some observers to bemoan the decision to leave James Anderson and Stuart Broad at home – a decision that had already provoked severe backlash from England’s fans.”I think the reaction was entirely predictable,” Strauss said. “You don’t do these things worried about what the reaction is, you do it because you think it’s the right thing to do. I think it’s great to see [Matt] Fisher and [Saqib] Mahmood as part of the England set up.”I think we’re learning about them all the time and they’re getting more and more comfortable in this group. And as we said right at the start it’s forced some of our senior players to have slightly different roles.”It’s early days but the feedback I’m getting from the dressing room is that they’re accepting the challenge as a group of not having those senior players involved and I thought in terms of attitude, the willingness to do the hard graft, the spirit and togetherness were there to see. We didn’t get the result we wanted in Antigua but there were a lot of positives coming out of it.”

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Com o anúncio do entendimento entre Vasco e a777 Partners, o perfil oficial do Genoa publicou, em sua rede social, uma mensagem de boas-vindas ao clube carioca. Com investimentos no futebol mundial, a empresa norte-americana comprou integralmente o clube italiano e adquiriu participação minoritária no Sevilla, da Espanha.

RelacionadasVascoVasco e 777 Partners assinam memorando de entendimento da SAF: ‘O marco zero de um novo futuro’Vasco21/02/2022VascoAvanço na SAF e possível novo dono: Conheça a 777 Partners, empresa que pretende ser a investidora do VascoVasco21/02/2022VascoVasco chega a acordo com a 777 Partners para a venda da SAF; investimento será de R$ 700 milhõesVasco21/02/2022

– Bem-vindo à família 777, Vasco da Gama – publicou o Genoa em seu perfil oficial.

Ainda não é assinante do Cariocão-2022? Acesse www.cariocaoplay.com.br, preencha o cadastro e ganhe 5% de desconto com o cupom especial do LANCE!: GE-JK-FF-ZSW

Desde que a 777 Partners chegou ao Genoa, em setembro de 2021, mudanças significativas aconteceram. O clube, que é um dos mais antigos da Itália com 9 títulos nacionais – o último em 1924 – viu a eraEnrico Preziosi, proprietário por 18 anos, se encerrar com essa transação. Na época, a equipe caiu para a Série C e teve como melhor desempenho um quinto lugar na Série A do Calcio em 2009.

Segundo a imprensa italiana, o acordo com os norte-americanos girou em torno de € 150 milhões (R$ 872 milhões), incluindo as dívidas do clube. Apesar das mudanças, o time ocupa a penúltima colocação do italiano com 16 pontos em 26 partidas. Desse modo, tenta refletir em campo as mudanças estruturais.

Na presidência, o escolhido foi Alberto Zangrillo,torcedor do clube e um dos médicos mais renomados da Itália, assumiu o cargo. No departamento de futebol, o Genoa trouxe oalemão Johannes Spors, que já teve passagens porHoffenheim e Hamburgo e deixou o Vitesse, da Holanda.

Na Itália, as mudanças foram elogiadas pelos torcedores do Genoa, mas ainda não refletiram em campo. As críticas ficam por conta da escolha no comando técnico, o ex-jogadorShevchenko. Com um mau desempenho, ele foi substituído porAlexandre Blessin, que estava no Oostende, da primeira divisão belga, e trabalhou na base do Red Bull Leipzig.

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Carioca

Recentemente, em janeiro, foram anunciados 9 reforços com o investimento de€ 16,2 milhões (R$ 94 milhões). Por outro lado, outros nove atletas deixaram o clube. Em relação ao patrocinador máster,a empresa farmacêutica Pool Pharma, estampa a marca MG.K Vis na parte da frente da camisa. E o clube tenta iniciar os frutos também dentro das quatro linhas.

🤝 Welcome to 7️⃣7️⃣7️⃣ family, @VascodaGama! pic.twitter.com/K4aX3dHCYY

— Genoa CFC (@GenoaCFC) February 21, 2022

Over the last couple of years, Everton have managed to stabilise a sinking ship on the pitch, since the appointment of Sean Dyche back in January 2023.

The 53-year-old builds his side with the impetus of being solid defensively, often nicking the game with the odd goal after managing to shut out the opposition’s attackers.

James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite were two of the Toffees’ star performers in the Premier League last campaign, forming an impressive partnership that helped their defensive record tenfold.

They contributed to the tally of just 51 goals conceded in the 38 outings – with only the division’s top three of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City conceding fewer.

However, their attack has always been the part of their game that has prevented them from progressing, scoring just 40 times in 2023/24, with the same issue rearing its head once more this time around.

Everton’s attacking stats in the Premier League during 2024/25

Over the summer, the Everton hierarchy attempted to combat the club’s biggest issue in the final third, looking to add more firepower to Dyche’s side, subsequently allowing for improved results.

Iliman Ndiaye, Jesper Lindstrom and Armando Broja were all signed as a result, with the latter still yet to feature following his arrival due to his ongoing injury issues.

The trio, combined with the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Beto and Dwight McNeil, offers a plethora of quality, forming a variety of combinations that should easily be of a mid-table Premier League side.

However, 11 matches into the new league season, the Toffees faithful are still yet to see the new look forward line click, posting a tally of just ten goals scored.

Dyche’s side have already failed to find the back of the net in five of the matches – which works out to a measly 45% of games they’ve played so far this campaign.

McNeil is currently the leading scorer within the first-team squad, netting three times in matches against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa – with his double against Oliver Glasner’s side claiming all three points for the first time in six attempts.

However, the Toffees wouldn’t find themselves in the current disarray they are in within the final third, had they kept hold of one star who’s found his shooting boots after leaving Goodison Park.

The former Everton ace who’s outscoring Salah

Striker Moise Kean arrived on Merseyside with huge expectations following his huge £25m move from Italian side Juventus during the summer of 2019.

However, his time in England was nothing short of a disaster, featuring for a total of just 39 matches, scoring on just four occasions – costing the club £6.25m every time he found the back of the net.

The then-youngster would be sent on multiple loans to PSG and back to former side Juve, before rejoining the Serie A side for the same fee that they forked out for him four years prior.

However, he’s now plying his trade for another Italian side in the form of Fiorentina, making a phenomenal start to life with his new outfit after his transfer early this summer.

The “world-class” 24-year-old, as dubbed by commentator Matteo Bonetti, has already registered 11 goals in all competitions since the start of the season, including a hat-trick against Hellas Verona last weekend.

His subsequent tally is higher than that of Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah, who’s notched ten since the appointment of Arne Slot during the off-season.

1) Mateo Retegui

11

2) Moise Kean

8

3) Marcus Thuram

7

4) Ademola Lookman

6

= Dušan Vlahović

6

5) Láutaro Martínez

5

Kean’s league tally of eight goals is only two fewer than the entirety of Dyche’s current side put together – further highlighting his impressive form away from Merseyside.

Given the fact he was only 19 upon his big-money transfer to Goodison, more leeway should’ve been handed his way, handing him more time to settle into life in England.

However, the Italian international – who now has a peak value of around €54m (£45m), according to CIES Football Observatory – has proven that he’s still capable of producing the goods at the top level, with the Toffees undoubtedly ruing their decision to allow him to leave.

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Everton sold a high-class talent under Dyche’s wing, and now he’s worth more than Branthwaite.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 13, 2024

Each year, the Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual award, is handed to the player who has been the world’s best in the previous season. At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work.

Players, managers and the media have voted on the Ballon d’Or, though they don’t always get it right. Now solely voted for by a jury of journalists from across the world, the event will hopefully be more representative of who truly deserves the award moving forward.

However, plenty of players in the past have been disgracefully overlooked, from World Cup-winning goalkeepers to treble-winning shoo-ins.

With that in mind, we’ve put together a starting XI of the best players to have never won the Ballon d’Or. It’s worth noting that while Maradona and Pele would be on this list, neither player was ever eligible to win the award due to it only being open to non-European players since 1995, by which time Maradona was nearing the end of his career and Pele had long retired.

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1 ByBarney Lane Oct 23, 2024 1 Gianluigi Buffon Goalkeeper (best: 2nd 2006)

Only one goalkeeper in history – Lev Yashin – has ever won the Ballon d’Or, with the Soviet shot-stopper scooping the prize way back in 1963. Gianluigi Buffon arguably should have been the second.

In 2006, Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro was awarded the Ballon d’Or after captaining Italy to glory at the 2006 World Cup. While Cannavaro winning the prize wasn’t exactly a shock, Buffon was certainly worthy of it himself.

At the World Cup, the Juventus ‘keeper kept a record five clean sheets, conceding just two goals in the entire tournament, and made a match-saving save in extra-time of the final when he tipped a goal-bound Zinedine Zidane header over the bar.

2 Cafu Right-back (best: =14th 2002)

In December 2020, France Football – the magazine that conceived the Ballon d’Or – published a Ballon d’Or Dream Team. Voted for by journalists, the idea was simple: create and crown the best team in football history.

Logically, you’d think it would be full of Ballon d’Or winners, no? Think again.

Pele and Maradona made the cut, as did Spanish midfielder Xavi – none of whom have ever won the Ballon d’Or. Brazilian defender Cafu, another player to have never won the award, was also included at right-back.

Cafu’s place in the team was no doubt deserved. He is the one of the greatest right-backs to ever play the game. So why did he never win the Ballon d’Or itself? Perhaps he was too overshadowed in Brazil in the Ronaldo era.

3 Paolo Maldini Centre-back (best: 3rd 1994, 2003)

Paolo Maldini is your favourite defender’s favourite defender.

Take John Terry, for example. “I also hope that one day I will be as good as Maldini,” the Chelsea legend once said of the Italian. Or Rio Ferdinand: “Paolo Maldini, he’s the best,” he said recently.

Maldini is also your favourite attacker’s least-favourite defender – which is perhaps an even bigger compliment.

“Paolo Maldini is the best I’ve played against,” Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario once said of him. Zlatan Ibrahimovic once said: “Maldini was the best and toughest defender I ever faced. He had everything: he was a complete defender, who was strong, intelligent, and an excellent man-marker.”

However, despite him being revered by his peers, Maldini, who won seven Serie A titles and five European Cups during his career, never won the Ballon d’Or. He came closest in 1994 and 2003, finishing third on both occasions.

4 Virgil van Dijk Centre-back (best: 2nd 2019)

If Maldini is everyone else’s favourite defender, then who is the Italian’s favourite defender? No, it’s not his former AC Milan teammate Alessandro Nesta, nor his Italy counterpart Cannavaro.

Instead, and perhaps surprisingly, it’s Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk.

“I have played with some of the greatest defenders like Nesta, Baresi, Cannavaro, but I feel I was unlucky not to pair with Van Dijk,” Maldini said of the Dutchman in 2022, as per transfer guru Fabrizio Romano. “Virgil will be the best defender in history of football soon.”

Now 33, Van Dijk has been one of the world’s most outstanding defenders over the past decade, winning almost everything there is to win with the Reds, including the Premier League and the Champions League. He finished second in the 2019 Ballon d’Or behind Lionel Messi, but has yet to scoop the prize himself.

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ByBarney Lane Oct 24, 2024 5 Roberto Carlos Left-back (best: 2nd 2002)

In 2002, shortly after Brazil had lifted the World Cup, Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos came close to winning the Ballon d’Or, finishing second behind compatriot Ronaldo.

It’s difficult to argue that Roberto Carlos should have beaten Ronaldo in 2002 given that the striker was the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals, two of which came in the final against Germany. However, had it not been for his countryman’s exploits, the full-back would have been a deserving winner.

Widely regarded as the greatest left-back of all-time, “The Bullet Man” was renowned for his marauding forward runs, mazy dribbles, and, of course, trademark bending free-kick.

6 Xavi Centre-midfield (best: 3rd 2009, 2010, 2011)

The lynchpin in what many people believe to be the greatest midfield trio of all time, Xavi was a truly exceptional deep-lying playmaker, (or regista, if you will) who was a master of controlling the tempo of matches with his unparalleled passing range and vision.

He saw space that other players simply didn’t, allowing him to turn seemingly innocuous moments into dangerous attacks in the blink of an eye.

The Spaniard finished third in the Ballon d’Or for three years running between 2009 and 2011, with Messi winning the top prize in each of those years.

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1 ByBarney Lane Oct 25, 2024 7 Andres Iniesta Centre-midfield (best: 2nd 2010)

Alongside Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Xavi were the heartbeat of the Barcelona and Spain teams that dominated world football between 2008 and 2012, winning the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League, La Liga, and countless other honours.

However, unlike Xavi, who ran things from deep, Iniesta had more of a prominent role in the final third. As such, he had some notable moments of glory, including his extra-time winner in the 2010 World Cup final. After that goal, Iniesta finished second behind Messi in the Ballon d’Or, a tale that has proven all too familiar over the years for many a player.

8 Kevin De Bruyne Centre-midfield (best: 3rd 2022)

Kevin De Bruyne has arguably been the Premier League’s best midfielder for almost a decade now.

Since joining Manchester City in 2015, he’s steered City to six Premier League titles and a first-ever Champions League triumph, contributing 103 goals and 171 assists along the way.

It’s difficult to understand quite how, amid those achievements, he has never been awarded the Ballon d’Or, especially in 2018, when he starred as the club won the Premier League with a record points total of 100.

“The way he’s played it’s difficult to find one [better] in Europe,” City boss Pep Guardiola said of De Bruyne at the time.

9 Thierry Henry Right-wing (best: 2nd 2003)

Not strictly a right-winger, but we had to put him somewhere; at his peak, Thierry Henry was simply unstoppable.

Fast, skilful, and with an unmatched eye for goal, the Frenchman scored 226 goals for Arsenal between 1997 and 2007, winning the Premier League’s Golden Boot a record four times and firing the Gunners to the title on two separate occasions. He was also a key man for his country, playing starring roles in France’s 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 triumphs.

Henry’s finest hour came in 2003/04, when he scored 39 goals in all competitions as Arsenal won the Premier League title without losing a game. His achievements, however, went unrecognised by Ballon d’Or voters, with the striker somehow finishing fourth behind Ronaldinho, Deco, and Andriy Shevchenko having been pipped by Pavel Nedved a year earlier.

10 Robert Lewandowski Centre-forward (best: 2nd 2021)

Robert Lewandowski has been robbed of the Ballon d’Or on two occasions.

In 2020 after a stunning season in which he scored 55 goals in all competitions as Bayern Munich won the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup, the award was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The following year, the Pole then put up similar numbers, scoring 48 goals, but was controversially snubbed in favour of Lionel Messi, who had endured a hit-and-miss first season with Paris Saint-Germain.

It’s not too late for Lewandowski, however. This season, despite being 36, he’s already scored 17 goals in just 14 games for Barcelona thanks to his recent double in El Clasico. Keep going at that rate, and he may well find himself in contention next year.

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1 ByBarney Lane May 10, 2025

Newcastle United want to complete the signing of an “exceptional” attacking player on a free transfer in 2025, according to former Premier League scout Mick Brown.

Newcastle transfer rumours

The Magpies’ interest in Lille striker Jonathan David isn’t showing any sign of going away, and they could even be the club most likely to snap him up next summer. That’s because their financial muscle may give them the edge over Inter Milan and Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze is also said to be of interest to Newcastle, as Paul Mitchell and Eddie Howe eye an upgrade on Miguel Almiron.

Another rumoured target is Red Star Belgrade prodigy Andrija Maksimovic, with scouts sent to watch the highly-rated 17-year-old in action, ahead of a potential long-term move to St James’ Park.

Omar Marmoush has made a sensational start to the Bundesliga season for Eintracht Frankfurt, scoring eight goals and registering four assists in just six appearances. He is seen as an attacking option for Newcastle, too, as they look to add more firepower in the final third.

Newcastle linked with Bayern Munich star on free transfer

Speaking to Football Insider, ex-Man United, Sunderland and Tottenham chief scout Brown claimed he’s heard that Newcastle want to sign Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sane on a free transfer next summer:

“Given their financial situation as it has been, they’ll be pushing to get this one over the line. I’ve often wondered why he left City, to be honest, and I know clubs have been tracking him since then. I’m surprised nobody here took him in the first place before he went to Bayern Munich, but there’s definitely interest.

“He’s 28 now and he still looks the type of player that has something to offer at the top level. I’ve heard Newcastle are among those clubs who will be looking to bring him in, and I’d be surprised if they didn’t at least try to get it done. Given his availability on a free, they’ll be looking to get him in with no outgoing fee which would be perfect for their finances.”

Sane’s pedigree as a top-level player is undeniable, with the £323,000-a-week winger arguably one of the most naturally gifted attacking players in Europe.

The fact that he has enjoyed long stints at Manchester City and Bayern is proof of his ability, and his former manager Thomas Tuchel is a huge admirer of his compatriot, saying earlier this year:

“You always try to have a bond with the sensitive and exceptional players. We want Leroy to be a team player. I know that he has been training with pain for seven or eight weeks – and yet he still makes himself available for the team. He’s played with pain that was almost unbearable. He deserves the highest praise for that.”

This also hints at a potential attitude issue, however, which has been aimed at Sane before, but if Howe can get him firing on all cylinders, he could be a sensational signing by Newcastle next year.

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1 ByHenry Jackson Oct 8, 2024

The fact that he would be available on a free transfer makes it even more of a no-brainer, allowing the Magpies to offer him huge wages, not to mention taking away a slight risk element if it doesn’t work.

GOAL US writers debate Gio Reyna's future, whether Tim Weah should transfer, and which megastar might move to MLS

So, Gio Reyna probably needs to leave Borussia Dortmund. The American playmaker has been in and out of the side for over a year now, a mixture of injuries and manager's selections making him a bit-part player in the Bundesliga. This was known for some time.

And after Mauricio Pochettino said that he wanted to play with a No. 10 in his new system, the need for more minutes was only further crystallized. But how does this all work, and where does he go? He might have to accept a step down in quality. Then again, with a new manager soon to arrive following the sacking of Nuri Sahin, he might just have an impetus to stick around.

Tim Weah's situation seems more well-established – if equally unstable. He yet to earn himself consistent minutes under Thiago Motta, despite turning in a few solid performances. That has been the story of his career – a series of almost successes at European-level clubs. He, too, may need to go elsewhere – but speculation of an Everton switch might not be so prudent.

And elsewhere, MLS seemingly has all-but missed out on Neymar. Talk of a Chicago Fire move has quieted, and it appears near-inevitable that he will sign a six month deal to play for his boyhood club, Santos. Where does that leave MLS now? Does the league need another megastar this January? It will make for interesting debate.

Finally, Jack McGlynn has impressed for the USMNT, including a stunner of a goal in a friendly vs. Venezuela last weekend. Is it time for him to leave the Philadelphia Union and look to play in Europe? And is he ready for a step up in quality? These are all intriguing questions as the world of soccer continues to turn.

GOAL US writers discuss all of that and more in the latest edition of… The Rondo.

• Is Reyna USMNT's next No. 10? Does Dortmund coaching move change anything?

  Tom Hindle: On talent alone, there's no doubt. He's the most technically gifted player in the USMNT setup not named Christian Pulisic. But being naturally good alone doesn't guarantee success (see Oscar for more.) There are all sorts of concerns here: injuries, attitude, a lack of playing time at club level. Even a new manager can't fix the fundamentals. What Reyna needs is stability, and a new boss coming in – unless it's a return from Jurgen bloody Klopp (not happening) – isn't going to help. He probably needs to go somewhere a little out of the spotlight, if possible. He's still young enough so that a lateral – or perhaps even lesser – move could suit his game. Go play somewhere for a couple of years and then get the big move everyone sort of knows you're good enough to get. Poch will be watching.

  Jacob Schneider: Regardless of Sahin’s sacking, leave, leave, leave. Leave, leave, leave. However, for the love of all things soccer, don't let outside sources influence your move like last January. Find an actual, proper fit, a coach who appreciates you and a team that needs you. Gio has constantly shown his class for club and country, but it's time to leave Dortmund so that he shows it consistently. A move to a different club in Germany, or perhaps Italy, could be career-changing for him. He's still just 21, but it's time to go.

  Alex Labidou: The on-and-off nature of Reyna at Dortmund needs to mercifully come to an end. It is hampering the development of a player who could arguably be the second – or even the best – American soccer player at the moment if he was playing consistently and building confidence. Reyna's management and Dortmund need to find a way to amicably split. The "will-he-go?" conversation every transfer window is becoming cumbersome at best, and detrimental to his career at worst. Yes, Sahin’s departure could signal a fresh start but it feels like this is a conversation every time Dortmund change their manager. A fresh start somewhere else is desperately needed for Reyna.

  Ryan Tolmich: If the Milan interest is real, get your stuff packed and hope. That seems as if would be a good landing spot for Reyna, who would have the comfort of playing with two USMNT teammates. Milan have also been a great place for players in need of a fresh start, which is something Reyna really does need. Maybe the new coach coming in at Dortmund gives that to him, but we've heard that talk before, haven't we?

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• Getty
  

  If Neymar bypasses MLS, what global star should league target?

  TH: Tough to say. The idea is to go for a mega star, right? And there aren't loads on the market at the moment. Let's start with the pipe dream and say Cristiano Ronaldo. There are scattered reports that the Portuguese star has signed a new contract at Al Nassr, but nothing concrete. It is known that Sporting KC – yes, you read that right – made a serious push for him a couple of years ago. Why not take another stab? It would actually melt America. In the land of realism, MLS probably keeps its powder dry for the next six months before perhaps going after Neymar in July (similarly to what Miami did with Messi in 2023.) Kevin De Bruyne and Antoine Griezmann have also been linked, but neither really moves the needle – Griezmann is one of football's great underrated players, but he isn't selling shirts. There's no unreal need to rush this thing, especially if Messi sticks around until 2026. By then, a certain Christian Pulisic might just be tempted to triple his salary.

  JS: The Chicago Fire's interest in Neymar was a valiant effort, but it always felt like it was Miami, one of the LA teams or bust. With that assumption in hand, Miami have an open DP spot and have money to play with. With the Argentine contingent already growing in South Beach, it would be fascinating to see them target a player such as Paulo Dybala. One of the LA teams, meanwhile, could be the destination for Griezmann. Another name to watch, though, is Alexandre Lacazette, who is out of contract this summer with Lyon.

  AL: Neymar's reported move to Santos is a backbreaker for MLS, which needs stars to drive viewers. There isn't a like-for-like replacement for Neymar, who is injury-prone but still in his prime. His popularity is at a scope that only two others can match or exceed: Messi and Ronaldo. So why not sign Ronaldo? Listen, he's not everyone's cup of tea – but one could make an argument he's been a better ambassador for the Saudi League than Messi has been for MLS.

  Soccer fans around the world know exactly how he feels about playing in the Middle East. Messi has given less than a handful of media appearances since joining MLS and has said nothing of substance about playing in North America's top flight. If Ronaldo arrives, he would be a running advertisement for MLS akin to what David Beckham did when he arrived. Only issue, similar to Neymar, is there are other suitors. Al-Nassar reportedly offered him $573,000 a day to stay. Offer him a similar package to Messi's and see if that's enough to change his mind.

  RT: De Bruyne is the most linked one, yeah? The Manchester City star has been tied to San Diego FC, which would certainly make that team a whole lot of fun. Spreading the wealth is good, and not every star can land with Messi in Miami. So, in general, it would be nice to see teams like the Fire and San Diego really push to bring in a big name. De Bruyne makes as much sense as any from an on- and off-field perspective, and it would be fun to see him ping passes around the field in MLS.

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  Should USMNT breakout McGlynn go to Europe?

  TH: Chill, please. Jack McGlynn is a solid footballer. But, lads, it's a backup Venezuela team. McGlynn is a funny player. He strikes the ball so well, and can certainly pick a pass. But he's a woeful athlete. It puts him in a weird spot: not technically good enough for a top European league, but not athletic enough to serve alone in an engine room in MLS. Stick around with Philly for a couple more years and see what happens.

  JS: McGlynn is in a similar situation to Aidan Morris when he left the Columbus Crew for Middlesbrough last summer. He is one hundred percent ready for Europe, but the move has to be perfect for him, if he has 2026 ambitions with the USMNT. For Morris, he was immediately a member of the XI until he was hit with an injury in November. In McGlynn's situation, he needs to find a landing spot that is both at a competitive level, and one where there is an opening in the midfield. If he can find that, move to Europe, absolutely. If not, another year won't hurt.

  AL: Let's not get ahead of ourselves. McGlynn hasn't necessarily shown that he's even an MLS star yet, but he definitely has the potential to be a star stateside – and potentially abroad – in the future. Yet, there are still wrinkles for the midfielder to work on, including athleticism and building strength. The smart move is to put together a dominant season or two in MLS, shine when given opportunities with USMNT, and hope that's enough to earn a ticket to 2026.

  RT: Give it a few more months. This feels like a discussion to revisit in the summer, which is almost always a better time for players to make the big hop to Europe. If McGlynn is out of challenges in MLS by then, it would be a good time to start fresh with a new team with a year-long run up until the World Cup. That's plenty of time. Moving to soon is a risk. So too is moving too late. This summer, if all goes to plan, could be just right.

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  Should Weah move on from Juventus?

  TH: At some point you probably have to ask what Weah's level is. The winger/midfielder/striker/defender has made a career off being sort of good at multiple big clubs – without really settling in one spot. His USMNT career has been mixed, too, with a silly red card in Copa America his only lasting moment for his country. Juve don't seem sold on him, so it does appear to be the right time for a move. Serie A might remain a good spot, but he might be more regular minutes at Fiorentina than occasional spells off the bench for Juve. And there's nothing wrong with that whatsoever. As for Everton… lol.

  JS: Not to Everton, surely. However, a move to a similar UCL caliber and title-contending club wouldn't hurt if he's guaranteed game time and starting minutes. The thing about Weah is he just needs consistency, and perhaps, a manager who has a little faith in him game-in and game-out. Staying with Juventus makes a ton of sense, too, though. He's comfortable, plays rather regularly – although he should be rewarded with a starting role more often due to his production rate – and in general, seems to be adored by the fans. It's a good fit, so a move should not be forced.

  AL: Weah potentially leaving Juventus is intriguing, but a move to Everton seems far from ideal. The club has been poorly run in recent years, narrowly avoiding relegation each season. While the Toffees now have new American owners in the Friedkin Group and a state-of-the-art stadium under construction at Bramley-Moore Dock, they still exude chaos. It’s also worth noting that the Friedkin Group has left AS Roma in disarray since taking over. If Weah is considering a move, he should prioritize a more stable situation or continue fighting for his place at Juventus.

  RT: Absolutely not. It's hard to find a good thing on the club level, and Weah has a good thing. He's a legitimate contributor for a gigantic team, and there should only be a handful of clubs that should be able to tempt him to leave Juve. Of course, the Premier League money makes a difference, but that Championship money doesn't hit so sweet. Because of that, Everton should be ruled out immediately while any other Premier League team outside of the big boys should be treated with skepticism given his current role at Juve.

Over three months away from the January transfer window, Arsenal chiefs have reportedly already given the green light for one player to seal his exit away from North London.

Arsenal transfer news

The Gunners were a difficult side to judge in the summer transfer window. They were in no position to panic after two unsuccessful title charges in a row, with Mikel Arteta’s project beginning to impress more and more, but it wouldn’t be absurd to suggest that they needed an out-and-out goalscorer.

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Their occasional blunt nature going forward without a real killer in front of goal has been Arsenal’s one point of weakness, yet even after the summer, they remain without a boost in that department.

Instead, those in North London strengthened elsewhere with Riccardo Calafiori surely now completing Arteta’s defensive options and Mikel Merino arriving to provide backup for Declan Rice in midfield, before Raheem Sterling joined on loan in a shock move from Chelsea.

As things stand, it’s been business as usual after those arrivals too. Arteta’s side once again look like Manchester City’s closest challengers in an attempt to stop the Citizens from winning a stunning fifth Premier League title on the bounce. When January arrives, however, they may need to complete that task without one want-away player.

According to CalcioMercato via Sport Witness, Arsenal chiefs have now given the green light for Takehiro Tomiyasu to depart in the January transfer window, with Juventus reportedly preparing an approach. Ready to leave The Emirates after three years at the club, Tomiyasu will be granted his exit if the likes of Juventus match his reported €20m (£17m) valuation set by the Gunners.

An exit certainly makes sense following the arrival of Calafiori and the return of Jurrien Timber, but that will not take away from the solid job that the defender completed during his time at the club.

Right time for "popular" Tomiyasu to leave Arsenal

Tomiyasu’s potential January exit is one that could suit all parties. Arsenal are no longer in desperate need of the full-back’s services, whilst he seems ready for a new challenge and well aware of his place in the pecking order. With recent injury woes too, the Japan international is far from guaranteed a place in Arteta’s side when he does return to full fitness, such is the depth of competition at The Emirates.

Although he’s likely bidding farewell to the 25-year-old in either January or next summer, Arteta has been full of praise for Tomiyasu throughout his time at Arsenal, previously telling the club’s official website: “I love him. Everybody loves him. He’s one of the most popular in the dressing room. You can see the reaction of his team-mates towards him.

“They wanted him there at the front, enjoying it. He’s always very reserved and always doing things for the rest of the boys. He’s a fantastic player for the team.”

All good things must come to an end, however, and 2025 represents the perfect time for Tomiyasu to swap North London for elsewhere around European football.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has torn into Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, claiming “they don’t care” amid controversial ticket price hikes.

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• Scholes tears into Ratcliffe & INEOS
• Claims they're 'not doing anything for fans'
• Ratcliffe's cost-cutting measures proving unpopular

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ratcliffe, who is Britain’s richest man, is now a co-owner at Old Trafford alongside the unpopular Glazer family. His arrival was initially welcomed by a disgruntled fan base crying out for further investment and positive progress to be made on and off the pitch.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ratcliffe has, however, overseen a number of cost-cutting measures behind the scenes, while passing fund-raising efforts onto supporters that are now shelling out big money to watch a brand of football that remains alarmingly inconsistent.

• WHAT SCHOLES SAID

  United great Scholes has been left less than impressed by the new regime in Manchester, with the 11-time Premier League title winner telling The Overlap Fan Debate brought to you by : “[INEOS Group] have been in charge for nearly a year now and everything is still negative. I can’t think of something positive that they’ve done for the football club. Things are getting worse on the football pitch so couldn’t they have just said that they’d do cheaper tickets – couldn’t they just give us something positive. How can you ask Manchester United fans to pay more money with what’s on the football pitch.

  “£66 for a ticket is ridiculous. If you think of Manchester, there are so many deprived areas and Sir Jim Ratcliffe himself is from Failsworth – which is a deprived area. If you take one kid with you, that’s £120, if you take a family, you’re looking at £300-400 – it’s not right. Where do these owners get the front to put ticket prices up? For the value – we’re probably having our worst ever Premier League season and they’ve got the cheek to put the prices up.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  United have claimed positive results against arch-rivals Manchester City and Liverpool since appointing Ruben Amorim as successor to Erik ten Hag, but they remain 13th in the English top-flight table. Scholes sees little progress being made, adding: “There is nothing positive happening with that football club. The team look bang average. They’re not doing anything for fans. If we’ve got Sir Jim Ratcliffe, compared to all these American owners, who’s been a United fan since growing up in an area in Manchester – he’s still hiking prices up. It just shows that they don’t care.”

Aston Villa supporters will be reasonably happy with the way their side have started this season back in the thick of it in the Premier League, with three wins and one loss notched up from their opening four top-flight encounters.

Of course, the 2-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal is a stain on an otherwise flawless league start, but Unai Emery’s men showed a lot of character last time out to beat Everton 3-2 to ensure another loss wasn’t next to their name, after finding themselves two goals down early on.

The popular Villa manager will hope his team can stand up to the almighty test of Champions League football that is now in front of them as well, with their opening clash in the esteemed tournament against Swiss outfit Young Boys taking place on Tuesday evening.

Emery will know he will have to rotate here and there to ensure there is a level of freshness to his side against their European opponents, but will also be abundantly aware that fans travelling out to Switzerland won’t want to watch a second string XI take to the pitch.

With that in mind, here is what the Villa line-up could look like for the trip to Young Boys, with players such as Amadou Onana potentially dropping out amidst three changes…

1 GK – Emiliano Martínez

It is likely that the long-standing Villa number one goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez will be given the nod to start in his side’s opening Champions League test, having been everpresent under Emery so far this season in league action.

He did struggle last time out in the dramatic 3-2 win over the Toffees, with zero saves made as Everton netted twice, but the Argentine shot-stopper will pride himself on being a man for the big occasion, having played in the World Cup and won it for his South American nation. This big stage is certainly made for him.

2 RB – Lamare Bogarde

With Matty Cash still sidelined with an injury, Emery will be prepared to throw young Villa prospect Lamare Bogarde in at the deep-end of the Champions League, having been impressed with his individual display against Everton.

The lively 20-year-old won seven duels facing off against Sean Dyche’s visitors, whilst also making five total tackles, with his reward for a bright showing potentially being another starting spot this Tuesday night.

3 CB – Ezri Konsa

Ezri Konsa also stands a good chance at retaining his spot in the Villa XI for the trip out to Switzerland, having only lost one of the five duels that came his way in the back-and-forth contest versus the Toffees.

Moreover, he’s a steady presence Emery will be able to rely on in high stakes situations to come in the Champions League, with Konsa now up to 192 first team appearances for his side, having also played on the big stages of the European Championships just a few months ago.

4 CB – Pau Torres

Joining Konsa in the heart of defence could well be Pau Torres, who is yet to miss a single minute of Premier League action so far this season, and for good reason.

His display on the opening day was particularly impressive, as the Spanish centre-back won all of the duels that came his way against West Ham United, on top of only misplacing nine of his 56 passes.

Torres is well versed in what it takes to play in the Champions League too, having played in the competition 12 times before moving to England, and will be perfect for the big occasion that awaits.

5 LB – Ian Maatsen

The final part of the back four could be adjusted, however, with Ian Maatsen potentially pushed into the starting line-up over Lucas Digne; the first of three changes.

That could well be the case owing to the fact the former Chelsea youth prodigy was impressive from off the bench late on against Everton, with hree key passes managed from just 21 minutes of action on the Villa Park turf.

Digne could also do with a rest, leading to Maatsen – who played in last season’s Champions League final – being given time to shine in the spotlight.

6 RM – John McGinn

John McGinn will be another face, much like Torres, that Emery will feel he can rely on in pressurised games to come in the Champions League, having built up plenty of experience of being a top performer in massive matches for Villa.

Comfortable at playing down the left or right flank, as well as operating centrally, he could be given a starting spot versus Young Boys from the right wing, having played here against Dyche’s visitors for the full 90 minutes.

7 CM – Ross Barkley

Another switch-up on Emery’s end could see Amadou Onana miss out for tomorrow’s big clash, owing to the fact the Belgian midfielder was hooked at half-time by his manager after a dire first half performance against Everton.

Whilst Onana underperformed, Barkley sparkled against his former employers and could be starting from the get-go in Switzerland, having only misplaced just one of his 45 passes in a stylish second half cameo.

8 CM – Youri Tielemans

Youri Tielemans might partner Barkley in the centre of the park – as opposed to lining up next to his fellow compatriot – in a more attack-oriented role.

This would suit his game well, having seen his creativity come to the forefront in that recent 3-2 victory, with two key passes managed from his staggering 147 touches.

This change in set-up to a 4-4-2 formation would see Morgan Rogers miss out, who underwhelmed against the Toffees, with the Villa star wastefully surrendering possession 15 times.

9 LM – Jacob Ramsey

The option down the left flank that Emery could call upon is Jacob Ramsey, with the homegrown Villa product a mature and established Premier League player now, away from his humble beginnings.

He wasn’t quite at his most electric against Everton, but has done enough this season so far to warrant a starting spot mid-week, with an assist falling his way on the opening day as a substitute.

10 ST – Ollie Watkins

Emery will be tempted to switch up the formation and go with two strikers up top to try and catch Young Boys off-guard, but also to ensure he has the maximum firepower at his disposal that he wants.

There is an argument to rest Ollie Watkins here, with the England international only just back from injury, but his brace against Everton suggests he will be purring to bag more this Tuesday night.

Big picture

The Chennai Super Kings’ opening-game defeat and the Kolkata Knight Riders’ first-match win both seem so long back already – since then, their fortunes have headed in opposite directions.A long batting line-up together with a combination of swing bowlers and spinners have made the Super Kings early contenders for a playoff spot even though they are only three matches old at the moment. MS Dhoni’s own batting form has been far from great, but the other batters seem to have more clarity in how to maximise their scoring, with everyone is chipping in across various periods in different games.Deepak Chahar made the ball talk one night, Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali did the same another night, and Sam Curran has been consistently tight with the new ball. It’s still early days, but the Super Kings are looking like the classic yellow team that always found a way to cross the line. They have two wins in three now and are favourites to make it three wins in four. The only major worry is the form of Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has struggled in all three matches. Maybe it’s time for Robin Uthappa to have a go against his former IPL side.Related

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The Knight Riders, meanwhile, are just not getting enough from their batters. Shubman Gill has been breezy but hasn’t batted long enough. Barring the first game, it’s the same with Nitish Rana and Rahul Tripathi. Eoin Morgan is not pulling his weight as the experienced pro, Shakib Al Hasan is not scoring quickly enough, and Dinesh Karthik has struggled against spin. That has left too much for Andre Russell to do, and he has an average of 15.00 and a strike rate of 112.50 this season so far.Their bowling has been doing better than in the last season, taking more powerplay wickets and ending innings well (barring that one brilliant afternoon of batting from AB de Villiers). The jury is out: they need more from their batters if they are to avoid a hat-trick of defeats.It’s also going to be their first game in Mumbai in IPL 2021, so is there a case for Shakib to be dropped? Sunil Narine and Lockie Ferguson are frontrunners to grab that spot, depending on conditions. Harbhajan Singh, too, could be rested as the team moves away from Chennai. Either way, the Knight Riders will hope a new city brings in a change in fortunes.

In the news

Jason Behrendorff is not yet available for the Super Kings, as he continues to serve his quarantine. He was drafted into their squad after Josh Hazlewood had pulled out.Brendon McCullum revealed after the Knight Riders’ third game that Narine was supposed to start in their first game, but a niggle was the reason for Shakib getting the nod. There’s no formal update on the Narine situation.If fit, Sunil Narine might get back into the Knight Riders’ playing XI•BCCI

Likely XIs

Kolkata Knight Riders 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Nitish Rana, 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Shakib Al Hasan/Sunil Narine/Lockie Ferguson, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Harbhajan Singh/Shivam Mavi, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Prasidh KrishnaChennai Super Kings 1 Robin Uthappa/Ruturaj Gaikwad, 2 Faf du Plessis, 3 Moeen Ali, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 Ambati Rayudu, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Sam Curran, 8 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 9 Dwayne Bravo, 10 Shardul Thakur, 11 Deepak Chahar

Strategy punt

• There’s a case for the Super Kings to open the bowling with Shardul Thakur – instead of the Chahar-Curran combination. Thakur has bowled to Gill in three T20 innings: in 16 balls, the bowler has dismissed the batter three times.
• Narine in the XI can work well for the Knight Riders. His weakness as a batter is facing short balls from express quick bowlers, and the Super Kings pacers are not the fastest. With the ball, Narine is very successful against the Super Kings batters too. In T20s, du Plessis’ strike rate against Narine is 62, Gaikwad’s is 80, Rayudu’s is 83, Dhoni’s is 45, and Jadeja’s is 102.

Stats that matter

• Russell has never hit an IPL six at the Wankhede Stadium and averages 8.20 there. That, however, is mainly because he has struggled against the usual home team at the venue, the Mumbai Indians.
• Since IPL 2020, Gaikwad has the lowest powerplay strike rate (84) of all batters (minimum fifty runs). Uthappa has the third-highest strike rate in the first six (142.5) in the same period, behind only Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes.
• Since IPL 2019, the Super Kings have won 70% of their games when they have taken two powerplay wickets. The win-rate boosts up to 80% when they take three or more. Also, they have never lost a game when Curran has taken a powerplay wicket.
• du Plessis is one run away from becoming the sixth South Africa international to reach 6000 T20 runs. AB de Villiers, David Miller, Colin Ingram, JP Duminy and Quinton de Kock are ahead of him.