Ruben Amorim will take charge of his first Manchester United game this afternoon, away to Ipswich Town. The Red Devils are coming off the back of a four-game unbeaten run, with interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy seeing them to three wins and a draw during his spell in charge.

The competition for places will be tough, with every player looking to impress the new manager. Amorim is set to use his 3-4-3 system that saw so much success at Sporting. There are plenty of options for the Portuguese manager in the attacking areas, as journalist Rich Fay pointed out on Friday…

One player who might not get a starting spot is Marcus Rashford.

Where Rashford fits in under Amorim

Rashford’s campaign has been mixed so far. The United number ten has four goals and three assists in 18 games so far this term, but the number of minutes Erik ten Hag played him for was certainly odd.

Following a goal against Southampton, he was promptly dropped for United’s next league game away to Crystal Palace. In a Europa League game away to Porto, Ten Hag substituted Rashford at half-time after a goal and assist, citing rest as the reason for his withdrawal.

There is perhaps a concern that the United academy graduate has no obvious spot under Amorim. He plays his best football as a winger, although the 39-year-old does not set up with them in his system.

That leaves two potential positions for Rashford to play. One of those is wingback, although to restrict a player of his extraordinary attacking ability to a more defensive role seems like a waste of his talent.

The other role the Englishman could play is as the number nine. Amorim got the very best out of Viktor Gyokeres at Sporting; the Sweden striker scored 66 goals in 68 games under his former manager. It is certainly an environment Rashford could thrive.

However, Rasmus Hojlund is knocking on the door for a starting spot and is a very similar profile to the Sporting centre-forward. Former United scout Mick Brown told Football Insider the Dane is similar to Gyokeres. He explained that like the Swede, Hojlund can “put defenders under pressure, he can be physical and he can run in behind”.

It remains to be seen where Rashford fits into Amoirm’s system, but there might not be a starting sport for him at all against Ipswich. Alejandro Garnacho is another player who might only be a substitute for the Red Devils’ trip to East Anglia.

Why Garnacho may not start against Ipswich

It has been an impressive season for 20-year-old Garnacho. The Argentina international has scored seven goals and has four assists to his name in 18 games. Ten Hag was full of praise for the youngster, describing him as the Red Devils “best player” earlier in the season.

Stat

Premier League

Europa League

Carabao Cup

Community Shield

Games

11

4

2

1

Minutes

713

223

157

31

Goals

3

0

3

1

Assists

1

0

3

0

Thus, it might be strange to suggest the United number 17 does not make the starting lineup. However, he largely has the same problem as Rashford, because he seemingly does not fit in anywhere.

There are several players ahead of the youngster in the pecking order for one of the attacking midfield spots. They include the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and Amad, so it is unlikely Garnacho will start as a number 10.

His physical profile does not really suit an Amoirm centre-forward, the mould of Hojlund or Gyokeres, despite his direct nature and pace to run in behind.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The only place he could likely feature is at wing-back, but United’s new boss told Gary Neville in an interview they will “start with full-backs in wing-back roles because to teach a winger to defend is harder”.

That is not to say that he can’t operate as a wing-back further down the line. He works hard defensively, as shown by his FBref stats. Per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season, the Argentine makes 5.66 ball recoveries, ranking him in the top 7% of wingers.

It is frustrating for Garnacho, who might face a few weeks as a substitute, making cameos off the bench rather than starting games. However, he will be hoping to make an impact still, and eventually break into the starting lineup, be it at wing-back or in a more advanced role.

Alongside Ugarte: Amorim must now unleash "embarrassing" Man Utd star

The Manchester United ace has struggled to make a huge impact since his big-money transfer.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 21, 2024

Real Madrid are now sniffing around Chelsea once more and reportedly want to take another of their stars to the Spanish capital in the not too distant future, according to a fresh report.

Chelsea and Real Madrid do regular transfer business

Prior to the arrival of Todd Boehly and Enzo Maresca, Chelsea and Real Madrid have not been strangers to doing transfer business together. 18 players have played for both clubs, and Eden Hazard, Antonio Rudiger and Thibaut Courtois have all made the move fromthe Premier League giants to the Santiago Bernabeu in recent seasons, all to differing outcomes.

Prior to that, the likes of Ricardo Carvalho and Arjen Robben also made the switch, while Mateo Kovacic, Claude Makelele and Alvaro Morata have all moved the other way.

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In recent years, it seemed most likely that Reece James would be the next one to tread that path, with reports claiming that Los Blancos were eyeing a move for the Englishman to replace Dani Carvajal 12 months ago.

However, no such move materialised, and injuries have halted Reece James’ career once more after he missed most of last season following surgery. In the time since, Real Madrid have changed their focus, and now want to sign England teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will become a free agent at the end of the current campaign and could well leave Liverpool to join friend Jude Bellingham in Spain.

Though that may spell good news for Chelsea, Real Madrid’s newfound interest in one of James’ teammates at Stamford Bridge may be far worse.

Real Madrid want "special" Chelsea man

That comes as a shock report in Spain claims that Real Madrid are now monitoring Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer ahead of a potential move for the England international. Palmer found the net twice in the 4-2 win over Tottenham to take his tally to 11 goals for the season alongside six assists, and helping Chelsea move up to second in the Premier League in the process.

In fact, since moving to Stamford Bridge a little over 12 months ago, the former Manchester City man has blossomed into one of the Premier League’s best players, registering 50 goal contributions in just 47 outings.

After his latest performance, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher dubbed him a “special” player and one of the best in Europe.

“He is going to go down as one of the biggest players for Chelsea if he keeps doing what he is doing. He is a very special player, and that’s not just in the Premier League it is in Europe and world football as well”, he explained.

Cole Palmer in the Premier League since joining Chelsea

Appearances

47

Goals

33

Assists

17

Minutes per goal/assist

78.4

And that has reportedly caught the eye of the European Champions, with the report claiming that Real Madrid “have him in their sights” for a future window and Florentino Perez values “both the midfielder’s footballing qualities and his potential to become a global icon”, in keeping with his former Galacticos project.

In truth, any deal in the near future seems highly unlikely, with Palmer and Bellingham already fighting for the same position for England, and likely to end up doing so for Real Madrid.

That is even before the cost of the operation is taken into account, with Palmer still having a mammoth nine years left to run on his £130,000 a week deal at Stamford Bridge and not agitating for a move, which would likely force Real Madrid to put up a record fee to land the Englishman.

With Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler all among the stable of young talent already at Carlo Ancelotti’s disposal, and Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr both key memebers of the squad, adding Palmer seems more like a pipe dream than a reality.

Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal has praised Shakib Al Hasan for showing “big heart” by staying back in South Africa and playing the third ODI despite several members of his family back home being in hospital.Shakib took the evening flight out of Johannesburg on Wednesday evening, shortly after Bangladesh clinched the ODI series 2-1 in Centurion. He is scheduled to land in Dhaka on Thursday. Four members of his family including his two children, his mother and mother-in-law are all in hospital with different ailments.”It takes a very big heart to endure what Shakib is going through,” Tamim said. “Not many people could have done it. There would be nothing wrong to want to be with one’s family in such a situation. For me his performance wasn’t important. But the dedication that he showed, it was the most important thing. I am telling you. Four or five members of his family are in the hospital. He is still playing and smiling with the team. It takes a big heart.”Shakib initially planned to miss the third ODI and fly home early after hearing about the seriousness of his family’s situation. But after his air ticket was confirmed, Shakib changed his mind and stayed back to play the decider.Shakib took two wickets and later hit the winning runs as Bangladesh won with 141 balls to spare.The allrounder is reportedly in talks with the Bangladesh team management for a possible return to South Africa in time for the second Test. The first Test of the two-match series is scheduled to run from March 31 to April 4 in Durban, and the second from April 7 to 11 in Port Elizabeth.

The Reds' mounting fatigue and worrying lack of strength in depth was brutally exposed by Eddie Howe's inspired Magpies at Wembley

It's just as well Liverpool have such a healthy advantage at the top of the Premier League, because it feels as if the Reds are unravelling. Just five days after being knocked out of the Champions League by a superior Paris Saint-Germain side at Anfield, Arne Slot's side were outplayed in even more worrying fashion by Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final.

Sunday's game may have finished 2-1, but the final scoreline flattered the defending champions, who were abysmal during a horribly flat first-half performance and not much better after the interval.

It was only after the introductions of substitutes Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa, who netted a consolation goal in injury time, that a disturbingly lame Liverpool showed any signs of life. Indeed, Newcastle fully deserved a victory that ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought for one of the largest and most likeable fanbases in English football.

GOAL runs through all of the big winners and losers from a massive 'cupset' in front of a raucous crowd at Wembley….

AFPWINNER: Thomas Tuchel

The boy from Blyth, the teenager who lost a finger in a freak accident, the adolescent who had to forge his adulthood in non-league, now the senior pro with a senior England call-up and an everlasting hero to Newcastle. What a week it’s been for Dan Burn.

Thomas Tuchel brought about headlines for the wrong reasons when he decided to include the uncapped 32-year-old in his first squad as Three Lions boss. “He has had a very impressive career and he’s a very solid player,” was the German’s explanation. "He’s a very solid defender and a leader in the group. I have spoken to Dan and it was a very impressive phone call with very impressive messages that made me very comfortable in this call-up that we have picked a top team player that will help us build the right team."

Indeed, Burn provided for his team at both ends at Wembley. It was his towering header that broke the deadlock shortly before half-time. It was his commanding display that kept Liverpool at arm’s length for 95 minutes before Federico Chiesa wriggled free of the Magpies’ shackles.

Today, tomorrow, forever, Burn is the winner of Newcastle. No one can take that from him. In footballing terms, Tuchel has been vindicated before he’s even taken charge of a match. They all laughed at him, but they’re not laughing now. Roll on the international window.

AdvertisementAFPLOSER: Mohamed Salah

It feels wrong criticising Mohamed Salah given everything he's done for Liverpool this season. Put quite simply: the Reds wouldn't be 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League without their Egyptian King, who's putting together arguably the finest individual campaign we've seen since Thierry Henry's heyday.

However, the game's greatest players are judged by the highest of standards, and there's simply no hiding the fact that Liverpool's talisman went missing twice in the same week. After being once again pocketed by PSG full-back Nuno Mendes on Tuesday night, Salah also failed to show up against Newcastle.

Perhaps we shouldn't have been too surprised. The winger has a poor record at Wembley – it's now one goal in EIGHT appearances at the home of English football – but it was still staggering to see Salah fail to register a single shot over the course of the 90 minutes for the first time in his Reds career.

One imagines that whatever hope Salah had of winning the Ballon d'Or is now over after his – and Liverpool's – week from hell, but Slot needs his star man to rediscover his spark immediately after the international break because the league is not yet won, particularly with the leaders looking emotionally and physically drained after a second shattering setback in five days.

Getty Images SportWINNER: Alexander Isak

When Newcastle spent a club-record £63m to sign Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad in 2022, it was considered a bit of an overpay. He had just come off a year in which he scored merely six goals in La Liga, and though he was heavily linked with Arsenal for months, the Gunners plumped for Gabriel Jesus instead.

Nearly three years on, and everyone associated with the Magpies will consider that a bargain worth paying a hundred times over. Isak has been the face of Newcastle’s season to this point, and it was only fitting that he got in on the act with a goal – and several iconic images in the aftermath – to boot.

Virgil van Dijk, the Player of the Match in the 2024 final against Chelsea, appeared to have had the Swede’s number in the first half, winning essentially every duel and clearing every ball that came his way. But out of the blocks for the second half, Isak looked reborn. There was an extra oomph in his step, the eyes of a man who knew his moment was to come.

Isak had the ball in the net twice. Firstly, he was denied by an offside flag having turned a loose ball over the line following a corner, only for captain Bruno Guimaraes to be penalised for offside. Nothing would stop Isak at the second attempt, however. Andy Robertson was targeted by high balls and crosses all day long, and the resistance eventually broke when Tino Livramento’s delivery to that side was met by Jacob Murphy. There stood Isak, a couple of crucial yards free of Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, to turn home with precision, right in the side of the net away from Caoimhin Kelleher.

Someday, up may go an Isak statue, a smirk widening over his face and his thumb pointing backwards at the mess he’s left defenders in. In the not-too-distant future, Newcastle must bat away offers from other clubs who will try and pry him away. He’s their best striker since the great Alan Shearer, and this doesn’t have to be the end of his legend, rather the start for a new era in a more competitive English landscape.

AFPLOSER: Arne Slot

Just like Salah, Slot has worked wonders this season. With essentially the same squad as Jurgen Klopp, he's put Liverpool in an incredible position to win what would be just their second Premier League title – and has received plenty of plaudits as a result. However, the Dutchman undoubtedly made some mistakes on Sunday.

Slot's distrust of Darwin Nunez is obviously understandable, but the decision to persist with Diogo Jota up front was ill-advised at best. The Portuguese has just not looked right since returning from his latest injury lay-off and, after a poor performance against PSG, it was a genuine surprise to see Jota chosen to lead the line at Wembley.

The wisdom of persisting with his preferred midfield trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai also has to be questioned, given each one of them appears to be running on empty. Surely, it would have made more sense to inject some much-needed vitality into the engine room by recalling Jones, who made a positive impact when he came on?

Slot also needs to explain exactly why he's been so reluctant to use Chiesa, who gave Liverpool a flicker of hope with his injury-time goal. The Italian's injury issues are well-known, but he surely deserves more game time – particularly as so many of Liverpool's forwards are toiling either physically or mentally right now.

Of course, the title is still there for the taking for Slot and his players. But there is still work to be done, and the coach definitely has a job on his hands lifting a team running worryingly low on energy at the worst possible time. Because just sticking with his tried-and-trusted starting line-up is clearly not going to cut it anymore, as both Newcastle and PSG have proven.

Half-centuries from Scott Borthwick and David Bedingham put Glamorgan on back foot

ECB Reporters Network09-Apr-2022

An undefeated hundred from England opener Alex Lees put Durham in charge of their LV= Insurance County Championship fixture against Glamorgan in Cardiff as the visitors reached 348 for 3, a first-innings lead of 114.Much of the previous two days have been lost to weather but Durham have put themselves in a position where they could push for a win.Lees was well supported by captain Scott Borthwick who made 64 and David Bedingham who made a quick-fire half-century as just three wickets fell on the third day of this match. Durham will resume their first innings on the final day and will need quick runs and quick wickets if they are to claim a positive result.Lees, back with Durham after making his Test debut last month in the Caribbean, looked in excellent touch on his way to 163 not out. He took his guard outside off stump when the Glamorgan seamers came around the wicket and this neutralised much of their threat, although there were two very good shouts for lbw early in his innings that were turned down.Michael Jones and Sean Dickson were both dismissed by Timm van der Gugten who bowled with decent pace and late movement. The other Glamorgan seamers found success harder to come by and although there were times when Lees played and missed, edges were not found and appeals were not upheld.With the short boundary on the Grandstand side of the ground and a quick outfield Glamorgan’s bowlers did a good job to keep things tight even with wickets hard to come by. The best chance for a further dismissal in the afternoon session was when van der Gugten induced a leading edge from Borthwick that ballooned just over the head of Kiran Carlson in the covers.Durham reached the tea interval at 163 for 2 with Lees and Borthwick both in control. Lees reached his 18th first-class century from 226 balls, getting to the landmark with a lovely drive for four through wide mid-on off Callum Taylor.Borthwick passed his fifty from 93 balls as he and Lees shared a stand worth 147 for the third wicket. It was the seventh bowler Glamorgan used, Andrew Salter, who got the breakthrough when Borthwick drove one into the hands of Sam Northeast at midwicket.There was a changed of gears once Lees reached his hundred with the scoring rate ticking upwards, but it was when Bedingham came to the crease that the push for the win really started. The South African continued his fantastic form for Western Province in his first match of this season with Durham as he passed fifty from just 56 balls. His last three first-class innings before this match were 81, 71 and 199. He was on 74 from 78 balls at the close.There are 104 overs scheduled for Sunday and the quick rate that Durham put on their runs in the evening session has set up an interesting final day.

Early handshakes after 1,163 runs and 20 wickets fall across four days

ECB Reporters Network10-Apr-2022Kent 581 for 9 dec (Compton 129, Cox 129, Muyeye 58, Stevens 51) drew with Essex 514 and 68 for 1 Dan Lawrence, having quickly established himself with the bat in the England middle-order, made a case to be taken seriously as a bowler with career-best figures as Essex and Kent played out the tamest of draws at Chelmsford.Not only did the occasional off-spinner record figures of 3 for 98, but Lawrence’s 24-and-a-half-over stint was more than double anything he had ever been asked to produce in an innings. At the other end, Matt Critchley plugged away for a marathon spell of 46 overs, taking 4 for 114 on his Essex debut.Even Alastair Cook turned his arm over as Kent batted on and on for 187 overs in their first innings to eventually eclipse Essex’s total of 514 on the flattest of flat wickets. It was not until the cusp of tea on the fourth day that Kent lost their ninth and final wicket – Joe Denly being unable to bat because of a hamstring injury – to finish 67 runs in front.The captains shook hands at 4.50 pm with Essex 68 for 1 after a game of 1,163 runs, five individual centuries, but only 20 wickets. Earlier, Jordan Cox had finally departed for 129 at the end of a seven-hour vigil, while Matt Milnes and Jackson Bird became the eighth and ninth players to pass fifty in the match.The tone for the day was set from the start when Essex’s Australian debutant Mark Steketee, who had leaked 96 runs from his first 25 overs in English cricket, bowled a four-over opening burst of more accurate line and length without conceding any further runs.Essex rotated the bowling to little effect, though with Critchley and Lawrence rattling through the overs in tandem, they took advantage to work on their over-rate, avoiding any possible sanction by reducing it from minus two at the beginning of the day to plus two by the end.Cox had batted brightly in the early stages of his innings but shrank into his shell as Kent’s batting adopted a no-risk policy. He had added just 29 runs to his overnight score in more than two hours when he popped up a dolly to short mid-on off Lawrence.Ironically, given Lawrence bowling’s style, the wicket came soon after Essex had taken the second new ball.Critchley added his third wicket when Nathan Gilchrist chose to leave a ball rather theatrically and was suitably embarrassed to turn and see his off-stump pinned back.Milnes, having reached his half-century, launched a six over Critchley’s head. But two balls later he had a rush of blood and picked out substitute Luc Benkenstein on the midwicket boundary.Bird recorded the fastest fifty of the match having faced just 45 balls when he hit a second six back over Critchley’s head. He had had a reprieve of sorts just before when Cook senior’s first ball induced a thick edge that would have been meat and drink to third slip if his captain had given him one.Essex batted for 22 overs in their second innings for the loss of Nick Browne, one of the first-innings centurions, who edged Gilchrist to a diving slip for nine.

With the transfer window just a couple of weeks away, new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim will have the opportunity to bolster his squad as he looks to turn around their poor early-season form.

However, the 39-year-old will have to work with the current crop of players in the time being and try to create a system that can get the best out of a group who have failed to hit the heights many expected during pre-season.

The Red Devils currently occupy a lowly 13th place in the Premier League, after claiming just four wins from the opening 11 outings under former boss Erik ten Hag.

Sunday’s meeting with Ipswich Town presents Amorim with the perfect opportunity to start his time at the helm with all three points – facing a side who are yet to claim a victory at Portman Road this campaign.

However, there are still question marks around whom the Portuguese boss will utilise at the top end of the pitch to provide the goods, but it’s safe to say he does have a plethora of options to choose from.

Amorim’s centre-forward options at United

After such heavy investment from the hierarchy in recent years, it’s unsurprising to see a catalogue of attacking options within the first team at Old Trafford to try and push for a top-four spot come the end of the season.

However, goals have been hard to come for so far in 2024/25, registering just ten in the Premier League, with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland scoring more on his own than the whole United squad combined.

Academy graduate Marcus Rashford has often featured off either flank in recent times, but could be handed an opportunity under Amorim to start in a more natural central role.

The 27-year-old was pictured featuring as a striker during the first training session under the new boss, hoping to recapture his goalscoring form which saw him register 30 goals during the 2022/23 campaign.

Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund are the other two senior members of the side who have shared the role during the opening months of 2024/25 before Ten Hag’s dismissal.

Despite the trust shown in the aforementioned pair, they’ve unfortunately been unable to produce the goods in attacking areas – leading to the club’s current poor goal tally.

Winger Alejandro Garnacho takes the honours of currently being their highest league scorer since August, registering three goals – currently sitting one ahead of captain Bruno Fernandes.

Given their lack of edge in recent times, the hierarchy may be intrigued by the displays of one player who has recaptured his form away from Old Trafford after his exit in 2023.

The former United player who’s outscored Hojlund & Zirkzee

Striker Wout Weghorst joined United on loan from Burnley during the second half of 2022/23, providing an experienced option for former boss Ten Hag.

The Dutchman made 17 Premier League appearances in his short-stint in Manchester, failing to score a goal, but did find the net in the Carabao Cup and the Europa League.

The 32-year-old’s aerial presence brought that focal point for attackers such as Garnacho and Rashford to play off – with the latter registering his best-ever goalscoring total alongside the striker.

However, the hierarchy decided against making his temporary stint permanent, with Weghorst now plying his trade for Ajax in his homeland.

His move back to the Netherlands has allowed the centre-forward, who was previously deemed “not good enough” for United by Ruud Gullit, to thrive with regular game time, scoring four times in his opening nine matches.

Weghorst’s subsequent tally is higher than both of Amorim’s current options Hojlund and Zirkzee, who have only managed two goals and one goal, respectively, this campaign.

There’s no denying that the aforementioned duo have failed to deliver at times under Ten Hag, with Amorim needing to work his magic to get the best out of the big-money signings.

It really does show how desperate the Red Devils are in need of a change of fortunes when Weghorst is outscoring their current crop of forwards, with the new manager potentially wanting to address the situation should it fail to improve come January.

Alongside Ugarte: Amorim must now unleash "embarrassing" Man Utd star

The Manchester United ace has struggled to make a huge impact since his big-money transfer.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 21, 2024

Crystal Palace have experienced a slight turnaround in form, now unbeaten in their last four Premier League games, which has seen the Eagles rise from the relegation zone.

In those four games, Oliver Glasner’s side have drawn three times, including against last season’s champions, Manchester City. Their one victory came against Ipswich, winning 1-0 with a goal from Jean-Philippe Mateta securing all three points.

The Eagles’ next game is against Brighton at the Amex Stadium, and Glasner will need to prepare his side in order to stop the high-flying Seagulls, who are currently seventh in the Premier League.

In order to stop Brighton, Glasner will have to ensure his defensive scheme is correct, and luckily for him, he has the perfect right-side combination to deal with Kaoru Mitoma.

Why Crystal Palace need to stop Kaoru Mitoma

Mitoma has made 16 appearances for Brighton this season, scoring three goals and providing two assists.

The 27-year-old is averaging 5.39 progressive carries and 3.40 progressive passes. He is also averaging 1.49 key passes per 90, and 1.35 passes into the penalty area, being a primary creator for the Seagulls.

Therefore, stopping their main hub of creation would go a long way for Palace in stunting Brighton, and this is the right side of defence Glasner must deploy in order to do that.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Crystal Palace's right-side combination

In recent weeks, Trevoh Chalobah, who is on loan from Chelsea this season, has been playing as the right-sided central defender in a back three.

The 25-year-old defender has made ten appearances for the Eagles since joining, scoring one goal, and contributing to two clean sheets in 883 minutes played.

Supporting him on the right is Daniel Munoz, who has been in excellent form as the right wingback, scoring two goals in his last three games, and showing his defensive qualities, making 11 tackles in the game against Newcastle.

Goals

0.10

0.12

Assists

0.00

0.12

Progressive Carries

0.68

1.57

Progressive Passes

2.95

2.43

Shots Total

0.71

1.01

Key Passes

0.45

1.00

Tackles

1.82

3.79

Blocks

1.70

1.00

Interceptions

1.63

1.01

Aerial Duels Won

1.82

2.36

Chalobah has provided the team with an element of recovery pace, alongside new signing Maxence Lacroix and captain, Marc Guehi. Allowing Chalobah to be aggressive by jumping out of the back three, he can make interceptions, win his duels and launch counterattacks with his progressive passing.

Munoz makes 3.79 tackles per 90, whilst also getting forward and providing the width for Palace, scoring 0.12 per 90, assisting 0.12 per 90, and taking 1.01 shots per 90 minutes. His ability and industry to get up and down the pitch, doubling up with Chalobah in defensive situations down his side, and then having the energy to burst forward and overlap in attacking areas, when possession is regained.

If Palace choose to deploy this right side that has handled the likes of Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers and Matheus Nunes in recent weeks, there is nothing to say they cannot deal with the threat of Mitoma, and help the Eagles to another big result.

100% dribbles & 80% duels: Crystal Palace ace was even better than Lacroix

Crystal Palace secured an excellent point against Manchester City.

1 ByConnor Holden Dec 8, 2024

Geovany Quenda has rejected Manchester United to agree a move to Chelsea, and the reason why he turned down the Red Devils has now been revealed.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Quenda agrees a move to Chelsea
• Rejected Man Utd reunion with Amorim
• Didn't want to play in Amorim's system

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Quenda has had a breakthrough season at Sporting this season as the 17-year-old has played a major part in the Portuguese club's successes. As such, a number of top clubs have targeted the winger for a summer move including United and Chelsea. The Red Devils believed they had the upper hand in the fight due to Ruben Amorim having worked with him at Sporting earlier this season.

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  However, Quenda decided to make a move to Chelsea, and has now revealed that he decided to reject United as he prefers Enzo Maresca's tactical set-up over Amorim's 3-4-2-1. Quenda believes that he would have to play as a wing-back at United but he would prefer to play higher up as an actual winger.

• Getty Images
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  The report has also suggested that Amorim could be faced with another headache in the summer as Quenda's acquisition may prompt Chelsea to decide against making Jadon Sancho's loan deal into a permanent purchase this summer, which would leave United with yet another unwanted player.

• WHAT NEXT FOR QUENDA?

  Despite agreeing to make the move to Stamford Bridge, Quenda will remain at Sporting CP until the summer of 2026.

England fast bowler’s injury problems deepen with news of latest setback

Matt Roller19-May-2022

Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the 2022 English summer with a stress fracture of the lower back as the injury saga which threatens to jeopardise his career rolls on.Archer, who last played for England in March 2021, had hoped to make his comeback from a long-term elbow injury for Sussex in the T20 Blast next week and had planned to play some second-team warm-up matches before their opening fixture against Glamorgan next Thursday.But he never made it on to the pitch and the ECB confirmed on Thursday morning that had been ruled out for the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a back problem.Related

Archer left IPL to visit elbow specialist in Belgium

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Zaheer: To see Bumrah and Archer bowling in tandem 'will be worth the wait'

Archer targets T20 Blast comeback after injury nightmare

“No timeframe has been set for his return,” a statement read. “A management plan will be determined following further specialist opinion over the coming days.”Archer, 27, has undergone three bouts of surgery in the last 14 months: one on his hand to remove a shard of glass, and two on his elbow.He made an aborted comeback after the first elbow surgery, playing one T20 Blast game and one Royal London Cup warm-up match for Sussex, before he was diagnosed with a stress fracture, prompting the second operation in December.He trained with England in Barbados as part of his rehabilitation during their T20I and Test tours to the Caribbean earlier this year and skipped the ongoing IPL – after he was signed for INR 8 crore (USD 1.06 million) by Mumbai Indians – with the intention of returning to competitive cricket in time for the start of the Blast.Archer admitted earlier this month that he had feared for his career at one stage during his lay-off and his latest setback will raise unavoidable concerns as to whether his body will be able to cope with the demands of first-class cricket again.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The ECB was already concerned about the number of English fast bowlers suffering injuries, with Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, Olly Stone, Saqib Mahmood and Matthew Fisher among the seamers who were not considered for selection for the first Test squad of the summer.”It’s definitely a concern and trying to find out why this is happening is something that we need to look into,” Rob Key, England’s managing director of men’s cricket, said on Wednesday. “We need to make sure that hopefully, it never happens again. But as you know with all fast bowlers, these unfortunately are the things that do happen – stress fractures in particular.”Archer is the third quick to be afflicted by a back stress injury this season. Mahmood was ruled out for the summer earlier this week, while Fisher was initially rested for four weeks due to concern around a “hot spot” before Yorkshire said he would face a further spell of monitoring.