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West Ham United advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon as they beat fellow Premier League outfit Leeds United 2-0 at the London Stadium to set up a trip to National League North outfit Kidderminster Harriers.

Manuel Lanzini and Jarrod Bowen scored the goals in a routine performance against Marcelo Bielsa’s side, who will make the same trip down from Yorkshire in seven days time for the Premier League fixture.

However, despite progress in the competition for David Moyes’ outfit, one of the Scotsman’s most reliable players, Tomas Soucek, had a forgettable afternoon in East London.

The Czech Republic international mustered a 6.7/10 rating from SofaScore, below his average rating of 6.99 in the Premier League this campaign.

The 26-year-old, who is usually a colossal presence in the middle for West Ham, could only complete 46% of his duels whilst making just one tackle and two interceptions.

Moreover, the midfielder only made 46 touches whilst losing the ball on seven occasions, an average of 6.57.

In fairness to Soucek, he did have an impressive passing accuracy of 92%, however, the performance was below the admittedly high standard that he has set for himself since arriving in East London from Slavia Prague in July 2020.

Last season the £47k-per-week Czech was a revelation as the Hammers went on to finish sixth in the Premier League and qualify for the Europa League group stages.

Soucek played every single minute of West Ham’s Premier League campaign last season as David Moyes’ side secured European football, scoring ten goals whilst operating as a defensive-minded midfielder.

This campaign, the 26-year-old has picked up from where he left off, making 28 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals, all of which in the Premier League.

It is because of these high standards that an average performance looked particularly underwhelming and Moyes will hope to have the best version of his midfielder as often as possible with the Hammers set for a significant second half of the season.

In other news: West Ham interested in promising forward

MatériaMais Notícias

MatériaMais Notícias

A postura do Corinthians na vitória por 3 a 2 no clássico contra o Palmeiras, principalmente no primeiro tempo, virou exemplo para os seis jogos finais do Brasileirão. A entrega e o alto nível de concentração já haviam sido mostrados neste segundo turno no empate sem gols com o Grêmio, e a preocupação é que caia novamente nas próximas partidas.

Com seis pontos de vantagem na ponta, a comissão técnica trabalha para não haver um novo relaxamento no elenco, como aconteceu após terminar o primeiro turno invicto. Os próprios jogadores sabem que precisam manter a postura para garantir o título brasileiro.

– Jogamos 90 minutos como Corinthians. Não ganhamos nada, faltam seis finais, mas vamos em busca do título. Com essa união e concentração, vamos conquistar o título – afirmou Romero, em entrevista à TV Corinthians.

– Vimos a cara do Corinthians: é alma e dedicação os 90 minutos. Temos certeza de que esse jeito vamos conseguir coroar o campeonato – disse Clayson.

Outro atacante que analisou a entrega e concentração foi Jô, que admitiu a necessidade de o Timão melhorar em partidas consideradas menos importantes.

– Quando é um jogo grande não precisa de motivação, ela vem de dentro por saber o tamanho da partida. Nesses jogos damos a vida e sabemos que é importante ganhar. Em outros talvez deixamos isso escapar um pouco e às vezes tivemos resultados adversos. É um erro, temos de saber que todos os jogos são importantes – avaliou Jô.

O Corinthians volta a colocar à prova seu nível de concentração nesta quarta-feira, a partir das 21h, contra o Atlético-PR, pela 33ª rodada do Brasileirão. O duelo será realizado na Arena da Baixada, em Curitiba.

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Tottenham Hotspur are pushing hard to sign Antonio Rudiger on a free transfer in the summer, according to emerging reports…

What’s the word?

Eurosport transfer insider Dean Jones delivered a fresh update on Spurs’ pursuit of the Chelsea centre-back during an exclusive interview with GIVEMESPORT earlier this week.

“Rudiger’s people, the biggest offer they’re hearing about is coming from Tottenham, in terms of wages,” he revealed.

The north Londoners were linked with a move for the German, whose £100k-per-week contract expires at the end of the season, back in the summer, so they have seemingly always maintained an interest in his signature.

However, Spurs will face fierce competition from some of Europe’s elite teams, including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but it is an encouraging sign that they have made the biggest offer thus far.

Conte would love him

It would be a signing that would leave Antonio Conte mouth-watering.

There have been reports in his home county suggesting that the Italian would like a new central defender during the January transfer window and that’s hardly a surprise given he has selected left-back Ben Davies in his back three and in Cristian Romero’s absence tried both Japhet Tanganga and then Davinson Sanchez.

Rudiger is vastly experienced in the Premier League, as many around N17 should know, given his 70% win record against the club since arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2017.

Since then, the 6 foot 3 colossus has featured 110 times in the English top-flight and has clinched Europe’s biggest prize, the Champions League, too. This season, Thomas Tuchel has kept the faith in him despite his contractual situation, having started 14 of their 15 games across both competitions.

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Meanwhile, 45 of his 165 Blues appearances came under Conte – currently the most of any Chelsea boss he’s worked under – and the pair worked together during their FA Cup success.

Rudiger even dubbed the 52-year-old a “very good coach” back in 2018.

His form under Tuchel earned a glowing review from Premier League legend Rio Ferdinand back in August this year, as he told his podcast (via Metro):

“Look at Rudiger, he’s arguably, since Tuchel has been there [at Chelsea], been the best defender in the Premier League. Him or [Ruben] Dias in that time. He’s been unbelievable, he’s like an animal.”

On the above evidence, Rudiger and Conte could strike up quite the relationship once again, so this latest update should leave the Spurs boss absolutely buzzing.

A back three involving the £31.5m-rated German international and Romero is an exciting prospect and one that is ultimately a dream for a manager like Conte.

AND in other news, Forget Reguilon: £92k-p/w Spurs powerhouse who had 76 touches stole the show for Conte against Leeds…

Scorecard
Ateeq Javid stole the show with 63 off 85 balls, comprising six boundaries and a six•Bangladesh Cricket Board

England Under-19 continued to impress late on their tour of Bangladesh with a three-wicket win against the Under-19 home team at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. It was their second win on the trot, with Bangladesh already having sealed the seven-match series, by winning the first four encounters.Put in by England, Bangladesh looked to be in trouble at 66 for 4, before opener Anamul Haque led the fightback with a fluent 74 off 121 balls, comprising three fours. He starred in the fifth-wicket partnership of 92 with Sabbir Rahman, who scored a quick 53. Both batsmen were sent back by Calum Haggett (3 for 21) before Alauddin Babu and Abul Hasan added 59 for the seventh wicket, courtesy their breezy cameos.The opening stand of 52 between Joe Root and Michael Bates put England in control during the reply. While Bates played the aggressor with 35 off 39 balls, Root worked hard for his 96-ball 48. But it was Ateeq Javid who stole the show with 63 off 85 balls, comprising six boundaries and a six. It was his knock that effectively sealed the match for the visitors, even as Mahmudul Hasan struck three crucial blows. Paul Best and Haggett completed formalities with eight balls to spare to better England’s series scoreline at 2-4.

Australia are already without their captain Ricky Ponting in England and soon they will also lose their coach, with Tim Nielsen set to take leave before the end of the ODI series

Cricinfo staff02-Sep-2009

Australia are already without their captain Ricky Ponting in England and soon they will also lose their coach, with Tim Nielsen set to take leave before the end of the ODI series. Troy Cooley, the assistant coach and bowling mentor, will take over as coach when Nielsen heads home following the fourth one-day international.Cricket Australia said in a statement that Nielsen’s early departure from England was intended to allow him to spend time with his young family in Adelaide with a hectic year of international cricket on the horizon. Nielsen will rejoin the squad in South Africa on September 22 as Australia prepares to defend the Champions Trophy.”The Australian team has played back-to-back international cricket since September 2008 and looking at the busy schedule over the next 12 months, we believe it is the right time for Tim to take a break,” Michael Brown, Cricket Australia’s general manager of cricket, said. “This will also provide an excellent opportunity for Tim’s assistant, Troy Cooley, to continue his professional development by stepping up as acting coach for the remainder of the tour.”Cooley will be in charge for the final three one-day internationals against England, starting on September 13. The team is already short on experience in its playing ranks with Ponting being rested for the start of the ODIs – although he could return for the tail-end of the series – and Brad Haddin recovering from surgery.Nielsen is one of the few members of Australia’s group who has been in England right throughout the disappointing tour, which began with their early exit from the ICC World Twenty20 three months ago. Prior to that, he guided the squad through their tours of South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. After the Champions Trophy, Australia head to India for a one-day series before returning home to prepare for the Tests against West Indies and Pakistan.

Micah Richards has picked out Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira as a ‘potential successor to Pep Guardiola’. 

The lowdown

Vieira only took charge at Palace this summer, replacing Roy Hodgson in the Selhurst Park dugout.

They’ve won only one of their first nine matches, but equally their only defeats have come away to league leaders Chelsea and second-place Liverpool.

Having racked up a Premier League-high six draws, they find themselves 15th in the table.

While the team is still ‘a work in progress’, Vieira has won plaudits for making the Eagles ‘entertaining to watch’ (via London Evening Standard).

Meanwhile, current City boss Guardiola suggested in August that he would leave The Etihad when his contract expires at the end of the 2022/23 season.

Vieira played for the Cityzens shortly before his retirement, helping them win the FA Cup in 2011 (via BBC Sport).

The latest

Writing in his column for The Daily Mail, Richards expressed excitement at the trajectory of his former team-mate’s career.

He thinks the five-time Premier League champions may consider Vieira when Guardiola decides to move on.

“Should his managerial career continue to progress the way I hope it will, I see no reason why his name wouldn’t at least be in the conversation as a potential successor to Pep Guardiola,” he wrote.

The verdict

Clearly, Vieira is winning appreciation for his work at Palace in spite of his team’s mediocre league position. It’s good to see observers looking beyond the results at this early stage of his tenure.

There have been some impressive performances against quality opposition. They put three past Spurs and restricted them to two shots, they edged the ‘expected goals’ in their draw with Leicester City and they were only denied three points at The Emirates by a 95th-minute Arsenal goal.

But could the City job, and the opportunity to compete for titles at his former club, persuade him to abandon his Palace project? Potentially.

In other news, fans reacted to this major development for the club.

Celtic chiefs have been left unimpressed at the Republic of Ireland’s treatment of Hoops defender Liam Scales, according to Extra.ie.

The Lowdown: Scales’ international break

Scales was a late inclusion in Stephen Kenny’s squad for a World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan and a friendly with Qatar after replacing Swansea City’s Ryan Manning who withdrew through injury.

Ireland won both games without conceding, however, Scales didn’t feature in either.

He made the 6,400-mile round-trip from Dublin to Baku for the meeting with Azerbaijan but was left out of the squad and also didn’t make the team sheet at home to Qatar.

The Latest: Hoops not happy

Extra.ie shared a story on Thursday, looking at Kenny’s future as manager.

Towards the end of their report, they suggested that Celtic aren’t happy with the FAI with their treatment of Scales after not using him in a matchday squad following a late call-up.

The Verdict: Not ideal

Scales has made just one Celtic appearance following his £540,000 move from Shamrock Rovers in the summer, so his international break appears to have been a waste of time.

He’s made a long journey to sit around and is still awaiting his first cap for Ireland. It would’ve made more sense for Scales to have remained at Lennoxtown to work with Ange Postecoglou ahead of the first game back against Motherwell, which could have helped him force his way into the manager’s Parkhead plans.

In other news: BBC man thinks Ange will now axe big earner who’s been a regular after update from Celtic source. 

Reported Wolverhampton Wanderers target Sven Botman has revealed Bruno Lage’s side made an offer for his services this summer.

What’s the talk?

In a recent interview with Dutch media outlet NOS (via TEAMtalk), the LOSC Lille centre-back confirmed that Wolves made an approach to the Ligue 1 Champions regarding his signing in the summer transfer window, as well as suggesting that he was open to a move to the Premier League side.

When asked whether the rumours regarding a switch to Wolves were true, the 21-year-old said: “I can’t lie about that.”

As for why he ultimately remained in France, the defender continued: “[It came] from the club, but I didn’t think that was a bad idea in the end. I have a starting place and play in the Champions League, so it certainly wasn’t wrong to stay. In football, sometimes things go quickly, but I believe that, in the end, everything will fall into place.”

However, while Wolves ultimately failed to get a deal for the Netherlands U21 international over the line this summer, Lage recently stated that centre-back will be a position in which he looks to strengthen this January, suggesting that a move for Botman could once again be on the cards this winter.

Fosun must move

Considering just how impressive Botman has been for Lille in recent seasons, in addition to summer signing Yerson Mosquera’s long-term injury and Romain Saiss and Willy Boly’s likely absences in January due to the Africa Cup of Nations, it would certainly appear wise for Fosun to reignite their interest in the 21-year-old this winter.

Indeed, over his nine Ligue 1 appearances for Jocelyn Gourvennec’s side this term, the €40m-rated (£34m) man has scored one goal and helped his side keep one clean sheet, as well as making an average of 0.6 interceptions, one tackle, 4.4 clearances and winning 4.2 duels per game.

These returns have seen the player Christophe Galtier dubbed a “leader” average a SofaScore match rating of 6.96, ranking him as Lille’s sixth-best performer in the top flight of French football.

The defender has also impressed over his two appearances in the Champions League this season, helping his side keep one clean sheet, as well as making an average of one interception, one tackle, 3.5 clearances and winning six duels per fixture, with these returns seeing the £19k-per-week defender average a SofaScore match rating of 6.95.

As such, the signing of Botman this January would not only solve one of Lage’s biggest problems at Molineux – a considerable lack of depth in the heart of his defence – it would also undoubtedly raise the level of the 45-year-old’s options at the back, something that would only appear to bode well for the club’s top-half Premier League ambitions this season.

In other news: Wolves could be set for big boost after key development, fans surely buzzing

Lee Johnson’s Sunderland side head into their upcoming League One fixture on Tuesday evening in fantastic form, with the Black Cats remaining unbeaten over their last seven fixtures in all competitions, as well as currently sitting second in the third tier standings.

However, while the visit of 14th-placed Cheltenham Town should not cause Sunderland too many problems on paper, the Mackems boss has a number of fitness concerns in his first-team squad at present, something which could well pose the 40-year-old with something of a selection headache against the Robins.

So, will Johnson make any changes to the team that started last time out against Bolton Wanderers? Here’s how we think Sunderland could line up against Cheltenham, along with the latest team and injury news…

With both Callum Doyle and Dennis Cirkin appearing to be doubts for the Cheltenham fixture due to injury, Johnson may well be forced into at least two changes from the side that defeated Bolton last weekend, however, we predict the 40-year-old will make one further adjustment to his starting XI on Tuesday.

Regarding Doyle and Cirkin, the two players who replaced the stricken duo against the Trotters, Bailey Wright and Niall Huggins, come into the side to face the Robins, with the 20-year-old Leeds United loanee playing on the opposite flank to his natural position at right-back.

Elsewhere, the duo of Luke O’Nien and Dan Neil retain their spots in the middle of the park, while Elliot Embleton, who started on the left-wing in place of the sidelined Lynden Gooch last time out, moves into central attacking midfield.

As such, the £2.25m-rated Alex Pritchard could be set for a return to the Sunderland bench, with 20-year-old Bayern Munich loanee Leon Dajaku staring on the left-hand side of the Black Cats’ attack, while Ross Stewart retains his place up top ahead of Nathan Broadhead.

In other news: Johnson must unleash “fantastic” £180k-rated SAFC ace vs CTFC, could be a game-changer