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The issue of West Indies’ poor form was analysed in forensic detail after the first Test

Alex Brown03-Dec-2009The issue of West Indies’ poor form in Brisbane has been discussed in many quarters, but never in more forensic detail than in the tourists’ change-room immediately after the first Test. The crisis meeting in the bowels of the Gabba stretched well into Saturday night, and included extensive video analysis of their various failings and solemn pledges to never again open themselves to such embarrassment and ridicule.It is customary after a Test match for the vanquished to slip away early while the victors entrench themselves at the ground into the wee hours recounting their performances. But whereas Australia’s players took advantage of the three-day finish to return home for a rare mid-season weekend, West Indies’ senior management used the occasion to impress upon their players the gravity of their innings-and-65-run defeat.Chris Gayle, Joel Garner and David Williams all addressed the squad and discussed, among other topics, the need for each individual to take more responsibility at the crease. It was the collective failure of the senior batsmen in the face of disciplined Australian bowling that contributed most heavily to the lop-sided scorecard and Gayle, one of the main culprits, vowed a better display in Adelaide from Friday.”We did have a long discussion about what took place in Brisbane,” Gayle said. “We’ve tried to put that behind us. We all know where we went wrong. It wasn’t any secret at all to debate. That was the situation, we’re looking forward to [Friday] and hopefully we can get away to a better start. We all know where we went wrong with our batting. The display was terrible. A better batting surface here should put us in a good position but we’re not going to take anything for granted.”Travis Dowlin, West Indies’ sole source of resistance in the first innings at the Gabba, looms as the unlucky omission if, as is expected, Ramnaresh Sarwan recovers from a back injury. Sarwan was ruled out of the first Test after an awkward fall on match eve, but has successfully completed two net sessions in Adelaide and is favoured to resume his place at No. 3.The tourists are also considering a double-switch in the bowling department. The uncapped Gavin Tonge is rated the front-runner to take the place of Jerome Taylor, who has withdrawn from the tour with a back injury, while Darren Sammy is placing pressure on Ravi Rampaul for the final place in the XI. Sammy’s all-round skills are viewed by team management as a potential asset on an Adelaide wicket expected to adhere to its batsman-friendly reputation, although a final decision will be delayed until the morning of the match.”One will definitely get an opportunity,” Gayle said of Tonge and Sammy. “We’ll have a selection meeting sometime today. Maybe Gavin Tonge might make his debut and Darren Sammy might fit in as well. We’ll have some discussion about it. The last couple of one-dayers [Tonge] played he looked really good. He got the ball to do a bit. He swings the ball a bit, not at great pace, but he hits good areas.”[Sarwan] said he felt a bit stiff but batting was okay. I’m guessing coming back from the injury automatically these things will happen. Hopefully he’ll be fine. With so many Test matches under his belt, having Sarwan around, who has been in good form, will be a big boost for us.”On a personal level, Gayle is confident of improving upon his modest first-Test returns of 31 and 1 against an Australian attack that, for just the second time since 1986-87, will feature a pair of left-arm pacemen. His 11th hour arrival into Brisbane hardly helped his preparation, and with an extra week to shake out the jetlag, Gayle is expecting better things.”It would have been nice to have Ben [Hilfenhaus] around to even things up a bit more,” Gayle said of the injured Australian paceman, who accounted for him in both innings at the Gabba. “He’s out and it’s tough luck that they have lost their match winner from their last game. Another guy will get his opportunity. The first game was a bit of a rush for me. A lot has been happening. I’m settled down now and acclimatised a bit and I’m back and ready to go again.”

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Everton were comfortably beaten by Wolves on Saturday in a truly shambolic showing from the Toffees, and one statistical trend shows Marco Silva may not have what it takes to turn it all around.

On the chalkboard

Everton fans were delighted when Silva arrived this summer, as after months of watching turgid football with no chances at either end of the pitch, they suddenly had a young manager eager to excite the fans with attacking football.

The boss hasn’t quite delivered on that promise yet though, despite the occasional glimpse of quality play.

What’s worse is his team have completely capitulated at the other end of the pitch, and not for the first time in his career.

Raul Jimenez’s header to put Wolves 2-1 up on Saturday was not only the easiest goal the Mexican international will ever score, it was also the 11th set piece goal Everton have conceded this season, the most in the league, and that continues a very worrying trend.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he would have snubbed Tottenham for Arsenal if they’d come knocking in 2005…

A worrying trend

Silva’s defensive deficiencies were the subject of much conversation in the summer, as plenty of pundits and fans felt hiring a manager who has yet to show he can organise a back four was a huge risk.

Those concerns have proved well and truly justified, and the underlying stats behind Silva’s set piece troubles beg the question if he even knows how to fix his mistakes.

Aforementioned, Everton are leading the way in set piece goals conceded this season, tied with West Ham on 11, but Whoscored’s stats show both of Silva’s last two English clubs suffered from the exact same problem.

Watford were second in the league for set piece goals conceded last season, letting 17 in, and Hull City led the way in the 2016-17 season, conceding a frankly ridiculous 21 goals from set plays.

It should be noted that Silva was only in charge for half of the respective seasons with Watford and Hull, but this must still be a huge worry for the Everton hierarchy.

Plenty of teams go through phases of struggling to defend set pieces, even Sean Dyche’s extremely physical Burnley side, but three consecutive years of the exact same problem suggests Silva has absolutely no clue how to cure the plague spreading through his ranks.

So, Everton fans, can Silva turn it around? Are you Silva in or Silva out? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

Leeds United are reportedly lining up a bid for John Swift this January…

What’s the word?

That’s according to Football Insider, who claim the Yorkshire giants are keen on landing the Reading midfielder during the winter transfer window as he enters the final six months of his current contract.

The Championship outfit previously put a £7m price tag on his head amid interest from Marcelo Bielsa and co in the summer but that valuation may well have dropped given his contractual situation – January will be the last time the Royals can secure a fee for him.

It’s thought that director of football Victor Orta is scouring the market for an attacking no.8 and it seems as if Swift fits the bill nicely.

Hernandez heir, finally?

Indeed, the 26-year-old maestro – once on the books at Chelsea – has been one of the second flight’s best players this season.

After missing the bulk of last season with a pair of serious hamstring problems, Swift has bounced back in an exciting fashion by providing the Championship strugglers with eight goals and nine assists from 21 appearances.

It somewhat echoes his form from the 2019/20 campaign, where he directly contributed towards 16 goals across 41 games.

He is by far and away Reading’s best talent, topping the WhoScored charts with a 7.40 average rating. Swift is also managing a whopping three key passes per game, making him the Championship’s most creative talent, on top of 1.9 dribbles per match, too.

That makes him a prime candidate to solve Marcelo Bielsa’s attacking midfield woes. It could be argued that United failed to replace the reliable influence of Pablo Hernandez, who left in the summer.

Only five teams have scored fewer goals than Leeds this season. No player has registered more than two assists, with Raphinha leading the way for key passes per game (1.8) – still some way off Swift’s impressive form.

Bielsa is said to be a huge fan of the Reading dynamo, according to the reliable Phil Hay of The Athletic, so he should be trusted if he wants him at Elland Road in January.

“[It] was interesting to see John Swift linked over the weekend because Swift is someone Bielsa quietly admires,” he revealed last month.

Therefore, the attacking midfielder who has been lauded as a “grafter” and as being “super-talented”, should be one of Orta’s biggest priorities heading into 2022.

Leeds could well finally replace Hernandez with a bargain swoop for Swift this winter.

AND in other news, Bielsa can finally axe Leeds’ “absolute disaster” by signing “spectacular” 5 ft 9 gem this winter…

It’s been one hell of a ride for Tottenham Hotspur supporters in 2021.

Jose Mourinho was sacked back in April after 17 months in charge and it’s another former Chelsea boss now at the helm in Antonio Conte.

He’s won a Premier League and FA Cup, so many around north London will be hoping he’s the man to finally end their barren 13-year wait for a piece of silverware.

Things do look up for the Lilywhites, however, as they have a real shot at finishing inside the top four for the first time in nearly three seasons – not bad for a side that has been through more managers than Harry Kane has Premier League goals this term.

Now Christmas is upon us, can you remember everything that has happened in what has been a whirlwind 12 months at Spurs?

Here are 15 questions that only the most die-hard fans will be able to answer. Think you can get more than ten right? We bet you can’t…

Retired goalkeeper Ben Foster says Rob McElhenney is the 'brains' behind Wrexham, with co-owner Ryan Reynolds taking a more "relaxed" approach.

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Foster talks up McElhenney's role at WrexhamAlso reveals how Reynolds got involvedEx-keeper reveals truth of Hollywood pair's relationshipGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Appearing on Foster discussed a bit of the detail behind Wrexham's ownership, explaining that McElhenney is the true driver, even though Reynolds is the more well known of the duo. The former Manchester United and England goalkeeper, who hung up his gloves last summer after a second spell at Wrexham, also reiterated that the Hollywood duo weren't actually friends before their investment in the Welsh club.

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Foster said: "Rob is the brains behind it, Rob is fully in. Don't get me wrong they're both fully in but Rob, you can tell this is his baby, genuinely it's his baby, Wrexham is. Ryan, I think at first he joined along for the ride and was like, 'Yeah I'll help you out.' And then he's fallen head over heels in for it as well. He's a bit more relaxed, whereas Rob is, 'No, we want to do something here.'"

When asked if McElhenney and Reynolds are "best friends" away from the club, Foster added: "No, they're not. They didn't even know each other. Before they started the Wrexham thing, [Rob] had never even spoken to [Ryan]. He just sort of reached out and said, 'I'm going to do this crazy thing, do you want to be part of it?'"

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Although, as Foster says, it would be unfair to suggest that Reynolds isn't as emotionally invested, fans have seen just how passionate McElhenney is about Wrexham thanks to insight given in each series so far of . On the occasions when he hasn't made the trip over, McElhenney gets up at the crack of dawn at home in Los Angeles to watch games via a live stream.

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DID YOU KNOW?

McElhenney was inspired to invest in Wrexham, based in a working class town, thanks to his own upbringing in Philadelphia, one of America's traditionally working class cities. The project is more to him than just the club itself, as he hopes to help regenerate and bring new life to an area that had fallen into decline.

A tremendous run-a-ball century by Mark Pettini helped Essex power to a 25-run victory over Worcestershire

29-Jul-2012
ScorecardMark Pettini laid the foundations for Essex’s victory with 111•Getty ImagesA tremendous run-a-ball century by Mark Pettini helped Essex power to a 25-run victory over Worcestershire in the Clydesdale Bank 40 Group A match at New Road.The opener smacked 111, containing three sixes and seven fours, as his side piled up an impressive 269 for 4 after being put into bat. Worcestershire were then restricted to 244 for 8, despite a battling 68 from Phil Hughes.It enabled Essex to register their second Group A victory of the season and gain revenge for a seven-wicket defeat against the Royals at Chelmsford in May.Pettini was in dazzling form and was solidly backed up by 62 from Tom Westley and a stunning unbeaten 50 off 24 balls from Ryan ten Doeschate, who punched four sixes and three fours.Essex, despite Westley offering a couple of difficult chances to James Cameron, made an excellent start to their free-scoring innings. He and Pettini completed a half -century stand in nine overs before Westley went on to register his 50 off 47 balls with one six and seven fours.His fine efforts, coupled with Pettini’s eyecatching progress, enabled Essex to confidently move past the three-figure mark in the 19th over. Pettini went on to notch his 50, containing one six and two fours off 62 balls, before Westley was run out to a direct throw by Brett D’Oliveira from gully for 62.He hit one six and seven fours off 60 balls and put on 113 in 20.3 overs with Pettini, who had a lucky let-off when he was dropped on the boundary by substitute fielder Matt Pardoe. Pardoe only succeeded in pushing to ball over the rope for six to enable grateful Pettini to move into the seventies.He went on to add 65 in 11 overs with Owais Shah, whose dismissal for 28 paved the way for Ten Doeschate to set about some grim Worcestershire bowling. Captain Pettini eventually fell to a catch by Daryl Mitchell at wide mid-off off David Lucas to leave Ten Doeschate to continue his 33-minute assault.Worcestershire tried hard to get to grips with their formidable run chase, but in the end tumbled to their fourth CB40 defeat on the trot. Vikram Solanki and Moeen Ali had both been removed before the hosts reached the halfway mark in their innings on 100 for two with Hughes and Cameron both fighting to keep in touch with the target.Their 52-run stand ended when Cameron was run out going for a hesitant single. After Mitchell and Neil Pinner had been removed, Hughes and Gareth Andrew did their best to gather momentum.But once Andrew was ousted, the writing was on the wall for Worcestershire – despite Hughes’ knock which contained one six and four fours off 75 balls.

Tottenham Hotspur are unlikely to seal a move for Dusan Vlahovic this winter, according to recent claims…

What’s the word?

Speaking in a recent Q&A with supporters, ever-reliable football.london reporter Alasdair Gold delivered a fresh update on Spurs’ interest in the 21-year-old talisman ahead of the January transfer window.

“He’s a player Spurs really like, as do other clubs, but prising him away in January could be tough because he’s scoring the goals Fiorentina need,” he said.

“With 11 Serie A goals this season, he’s netted more than half of his team’s total in the competition so far and he plays 90 minutes in every game.

“Fiorentina can’t really do without him and would struggle to replace him. This is the problem with the January transfer window and clubs not wanting to let players go in mid-season.

“The pull of Antonio Conte and the negotiating of [Fabio] Paratici will play a part, and he looks perfect physically for the Premier League, but Spurs might have to battle for his services in the summer.

“His goals mean his price may not drop hugely, particularly in January, but that contract situation means it can’t rise.”

Gutting setback

The north Londoners have regularly been linked with a move for the 14-time Serbia international.

Earlier this month, Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla claimed that Spurs had actually held talks with the La Viola frontman, though they were only going to sell for a fee between €60m (£51m) and €70m (£56.7m), via Sport Witness.

Whilst, there were suggestions in Italy that manager Antonio Conte had made Vlahovic among his top targets in 2022.

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It’s no secret that the 6 foot 3 colossus has been an absolute goal machine in the Serie A.

Last season, he found the net 21 times in 37 appearances and that electric form has rumbled into this campaign, where he has scored 12 goals from 15 matches, averaging a strike every 111 minutes, per Transfermarkt.

Indeed, as a result of his performances, Vlahovic has been dubbed a “complete number nine” and has said to be ‘up there’ with the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in terms of potential.

Harry Kane has scored just once in 11 league appearances this term, so that’s certainly a worry and Spurs’ problems in the final third have certainly been well-documented, with the side sat rock-bottom for shots-per-game total (10.3), alongside third-from-bottom Norwich City.

The £45m-rated marksman would be an intriguing option to remedy this issue and the striker dubbed a “machine” would provide the perfect foil to the England international as both a backup and a partner. After all, Conte’s title-winning success at Inter Milan saw him deploy a two-man frontline.

Therefore, the fact that a move for Vlahovic seems rather unlikely next month is bitterly disappointing for the Lilywhites faithful, who have every right to be annoyed, and it will certainly come as a gutting setback to Conte and Paratici, who are evidently keen, as per some reports.

Then again, chairman Daniel Levy and the club’s owners, the ENIC Group, have very rarely dipped their hands into their pockets to back the manager in January, only adding to supporters’ angst.

AND in other news, Conte could right Levy’s ghastly £32m transfer mistake…

Jonas Eidevall admits that Arsenal must do more to bring the best out of striker Alessia Russo, who was signed from Manchester United in the summer.

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Russo joined Gunners in the summerHas scored four goals since arrivingArsenal boss Eidevall says more can be done WHAT HAPPENED?

Russo has struggled somewhat for goals since her arrival in north London. Having scored 22 goals in 46 games for United, her return of two goals in the WSL and two goals in Europe is not exactly what the Gunners were hoping for and Eidevall believes her team-mates need to learn to bring her into play more regularly.

AdvertisementWHAT EIDEVALL SAID

Speaking to reporters, Eidevall said: "It is always a big step when you move to a new club and there are far more things than just on the pitch, you need to settle all the things in your life, the area, your house.

"Alessia works so hard and she is such a great individual and team player. Do we have room for improvement in how we involve her more, especially in the penalty area and how we get her more touches and shooting opportunities in there? Absolutely.

"Especially when she plays as a 9, that has to be the aim when she plays there so we can get her more goals because from a finishing perspective, she is probably the best finisher I have ever worked with. She has a lot of variety in her finishing and for us, it’s how many times she can get those opportunities rather than what she is doing with them. Those are things we are working with, with her application and her effort, it is amazing."

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Arsenal have enjoyed a fine start to the season and have only lost one league game, although they have been knocked out of the Champions League. Russo has not won a trophy in her time in England, having previously played for North Carolina Tar Heels, and was a runner-up in the FA Cup last season with United.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

One has to think that Eidevall will be working closely with the Arsenal attacking unit in order to get Russo firing. They are next in action against West Ham on Sunday.

Jose Mourinho's prediction could yet come true for Diogo Dalot

It didn’t take long for Diogo Dalot to learn where he would be playing his football this season. While a host of Manchester United players endured a summer of uncertainty, the Portugal international was told in no uncertain terms that he was part of Erik ten Hag’s plans.

That vote of confidence represented a remarkable reversal of fortune for a player who has experienced a rollercoaster of emotions at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old was hailed as United’s new Gary Neville under Jose Mourinho, turfed out by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – before being thrown a lifeline by Ralf Rangnick.

But even after forcing his way ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the second half of last season, he looked like one of the more vulnerable members of an imbalanced squad inherited by Ten Hag in the summer.

GettyOverhaul

A manager who places such importance in his full backs, the Dutchman was expected to strengthen in that department as he embarked on a major overhaul in his first transfer window at the club.

It was perhaps a surprise then that he opted to recruit a left back in Tyrell Malacia, despite having Luke Shaw and Alex Telles on that side.

On the right, meanwhile, he had Wan-Bissaka – a £50million signing whose attacking deficiencies are at odds with Ten Hag’s system – and Dalot, whose best hopes of staying at United looked likely to be in a back-up capacity.

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Had United been able to find a buyer for Wan-Bissaka then Dalot may well have faced greater competition for a starting berth.

Denzel Dumfries was among the targets identified.

But after being handed the role of first choice, Dalot has seized the opportunity with both hands.

He has started every game this season, won more tackles than any other player at the club (14), won more aerial battles (12) and had more touches (408).

In a recent report by research group, CIES Football Observatory, Dalot was cited as the most impactful full back under the age of 25 in the Premier League this season.

Across Europe, only Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies ranked above him.

GettyUndroppable

Dalot is very much the modern full back, with an attacking instinct, as well as the energy to track back – even if his defensive awareness is still an area in need of development.

But it is easy to see why both Rangnick and Ten Hag considered him a better fit than Wan-Bissaka, who is an outstanding one-on-one defender – but offers little as an offensive weapon.

It has left United in the awkward position of trying to make whatever return they can on the enormous outlay spent on the former Crystal Palace defender, which proved to be particularly problematic over the summer.

It leaves Dalot – a player largely written off after the arrival of Wan-Bissaka and a subsequent loan to AC Milan – as an unexpected undroppable for Ten Hag.

The close of the window has only cemented his position on the right of United’s defence – and given him the opportunity to prove he can be the long-term option.

While Ten Hag remains determined to strengthen in that department, much is dependent on securing a move for Wan-Bissaka.

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So far Dalot has proved himself capable of fitting the profile of the type of player the new United manager has looked to add to his squad – energetic, hungry and enthusiastic.

The chest-bumping and fist-clenching that greets each block fits with the attitude Ten Hag is trying to instil. Malacia shares similar qualities, with a tenacious thread stretching right across the defence and embodied by Lisandro Martinez at the heart of it.

But Ten Hag wants quality as well as spirit – and it will be intriguing to see how Dalot develops under the Dutchman’s guidance.

Mourinho was so enthused by his potential that he predicted he’d be United’s right back for 10 years.

Solskjaer was less convinced – persuading the club to pay such a high fee for Wan-Bissaka after infamously whittling down a long list of 804 options.

Atletico Madrid were among the clubs interested in offering Dalot a route out of Old Trafford – but he was determined to establish himself at United.

Rangnick gave him that chance in his interim role last season – and Ten Hag informed him almost immediately that he was in his plans as he shaped a new-look United.

Sadio Mane, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Emre Can and Andrew Robertson make the cut after the Reds rolled to a 4-1 victory over the Hammers

Nick Pope | BurnleyPope made four saves against Southampton as Burnley were held to a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor.AdvertisementGetty ImagesAntonio Valencia | Manchester UnitedValencia produced two key passes and made six clearances against Chelsea — both joint-highs among Manchester United players.GettyShane Duffy | Brighton and Hove AlbionDuffy made more clearances (nine) and blocks (three) than any other player in Brighton's 4-1 win over Swansea.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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GettyDavinson Sanchez | TottenhamThe Colombian defender completed 94% of his passes and made eight clearances in Spurs' 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.