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In the end, whether Howard does or doesn’t get the job–the fact is that there are many, many people better suited to the job

Cricinfo25-Feb-2013

The nomination of John Howard is an act of severe short-sightedness
© Getty Images
Gideon Haigh has made himself a name for writing spanking pieces taking apart moral and economic flaws in the cricket fraternity. Unfortunately, his case for John Howard wasn’t one of them. It’s a fine piece in its own right, filled with Haigh’s typical bafflement at the hypocrisies and short-sightedness of some of the world’s most vocal bodies–yet it fails, I’m afraid, to make a case for the much-maligned Howard.First of all, let’s get the prerequisites out. What Howard was as prime minister of Australia really doesn’t matter; the way and pattern he went about his work does, as that is what will be transferred to the ICC should he become vice-president or president. What he said or didn’t say about Murali doesn’t matter, either; it’s his personal view, and though it may be mind-numbingly frustrating for some fans (myself included) to have to continually beat a dead horse every time Murali grabs a seven-for, Howard is entitled to his opinion.Nor is the fact that he can’t bowl to save his life of any consequence–mere knowledge and awareness of his responsibilities as an ICC official should suffice, and he is at least academically aware of cricket norms.Indeed, it can be argued that his outsider rank is a strength and not a weakness, seeing as it removes a significant chip from his shoulder. But the fact remains that he is in no way qualified whatsoever for the job either. Those who attacked him as a racist or politician were indulging in ad hominem, trying to break their opponent’s case by attacking his character instead of the issues at hand.The temptation to expose their hypocrisy must have taken over, but instead of presenting a case for Howard’s candidature Mr Haigh only attacked the double standards of the opponents; the subtitle to his piece, saying that Howard’s opponents “are not exactly shining examples of rectitude themselves”, signifies as much.The fact is that there is a broadly divided view on Howard, and most of it is, unfortunately, not positive. To overcome that Howard would have to be a shining example of level-headed diplomacy, firmness and cool–yet his chuntering, in-your-face manner while leading his country suggests otherwise. His regular forays into the world of cricket went beyond endearing–that was a John Major, or a Robert Menzies–to simply tasteless. He is, unfortunately, seen in some parts of the cricket world as a divisive influence.The fact is that from all the wonderfully capable administrators who surely must exist in the Anzac realm–that capable former NZC administrator, Sir John Anderson, springs immediately to mind–choosing Howard, whatever the hypocrisy of the nay-sayers, was almost mind-blowingly short-sighted. You may as well have appointed George W Bush head of FIFA–he may be a hell of a nice guy personally and his politics may have nothing to do with his views on the sport, but the fact is that people don’t like him.To overcome that he would have to be a genius at management–and that, unfortunately, is not evident either. Howard would have to change his public image dramatically–and serenading India, unfortunately, won’t be enough. Indeed it is a sign that instead of standing up for the Anzac divide, Howard may just end up pandering to the hulking Indian board. In the end, whether Howard does or doesn’t get the job–the fact is that there are many, many people better suited to the job, and the nomination is an act of severe short-sightedness.

Solid fifties from both openers, and Siddle’s four-for, paved the way for Hurricanes’ exit as they fell well short of a 189 chase

Tristan Lavalette21-Jan-2022Alex Carey starred with a half-century in his BBL return as in-form Adelaide Strikers ended Hobart Hurricanes’ season to start the finals with a 22-run victory at a barren MCG.In the Eliminator, a must-win match between the fourth- and fifth-ranked teams, Carey smashed 67 off 45 balls in his comeback from Ashes duties and combined brilliantly with opening partner Matthew Short, who made 89 of Strikers’ 6 for 188.Their strong attack then nullified Hurricanes, whose inconsistent season finished on a sour note.Strikers have stormed into unlikely title contention after their fifth straight win to book a clash with third-placed Sydney Thunder in the Knockout on Sunday.Carey and Short destroy HurricanesAshes heroes Carey and Travis Head returned for their first BBL matches of the season to significantly bolster Strikers’ batting order. Carey stole the show early with a calculated assault on the smaller boundaries down the ground.He showed his intent with a powerful straight blow off Test team-mate Scott Boland and stormed to 20 runs off his first 10 balls in an impressive switching of gears after playing in the long format.Carey’s fast start eased the pressure on Short, who, for most of a breakout season, had provided the fireworks during the four-over powerplay. He had a back seat to Carey before notching his half-century with a huge six off speedster Riley Meredith in the 12th over during the Power Surge.He then put his foot down just as a bogged-down Carey holed out in the 15th over to end the 145-run partnership. Short smashed spinner Wil Parker for consecutive sixes in the next over but his dismissal snuffed Strikers’ momentum at the death.Boland returns but Hurricanes struggleBoland was back in the BBL after playing his sole game this season in mid-December just before he became an Ashes cult hero. But this MCG deck was nothing like the green top he decimated England on during the Boxing-Day Test, with Boland suffering against a red-hot Carey.Hurricanes mostly struggled and badly missed frontline spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, who has left the BBL due to national commitments with Nepal. Parker, his replacement, was on a hiding to nothing and promptly smashed for 42 runs off four overs although picked up Short with his final ball.Hurricanes weren’t helped by ragged fielding marked by several dropped catches, with Tom Rogers’ sitter to reprieve Short on 15 particularly costly. Their sloppiness seemed to suggest the wheels were falling off but Hurricanes fought back late to give them some hope.Peter Siddle celebrates after sending back Tim David•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Strikers impress with ball and in the fieldShort’s terrific game continued with the key wicket of Ben McDermott as he bowled four overs of his handy offspin on the trot. Peter Siddle, who took the most wickets in the BBL’s regular season, then claimed opposite number Matthew Wade to tighten Strikers’ stranglehold and he finished with four wickets to lead from the front.Strikers have not missed a beat since losing talisman Rashid Khan late in the season with veteran spinner Fawad Ahmed proving a more than useful replacement.They’ve also been rejuvenated by the inclusion of quicks Harry Conway and Henry Thornton, whose fast and straight bowling has been a revelation after playing just one BBL game before this season for Sydney Sixers five years ago.The duo claimed four wickets between them with Thornton holding his nerve against a rampaging D’Arcy Short, who briefly rattled Strikers.In a major contrast to Hurricanes, Strikers were sharp in the field to underline their remarkable resurrection, having spent most of the season in the bottom two.Short fires in vainHurricanes’ batting oozes with firepower on paper but hasn’t quite clicked all season. They’ve been reliant on McDermott, whose terrific tournament ended when he fell in the first over. A failure from Wade made their chase particularly grim and they needed Short to recapture his belligerent best from his heyday.He responded with his best knock of a sluggish season to give Hurricanes a flicker of hope. He smashed 22 runs in the Power Surge but his wicket in the 15th over triggered a collapse.Big-hitter Tim David, who has been their designated finisher all season, showed off his prowess but it was too late. Perhaps Hurricanes’ brains trust will rue once again not allowing the Singapore national player more time at the crease.There was much hype over Hurricanes heading into the season but their early finals demise should be considered a disappointment.

da 888： We are just a couple of days away from Arsenal kickstarting their Premier League campaign with what could be a tough opening fixture at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

da fazobetai： Mikel Arteta's side will be hoping to go one better than last year and finally end their two-decade title drought, but to make that objective more attainable, Edu Gaspar and Co must bring in some more quality reinforcements.

Riccardo Calafiori is the only new addition to the first team thus far, although it does appear that some progress is being made regarding the signing of Mikel Merino.

The Spaniard would be a brilliant addition to the midfield, and based on recent reports, the North Londoners could also be looking to sign a new attacker who'd work brilliantly with him.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a report from yesterday's print edition of the Portuguese newspaper Record, Arsenal have maintained their interest in Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres.

The report claims that the Gunners have recently held 'informal' talks with the Lisbon outfit about the superstar forward.

However, the bad news is that while a transfer is undoubtedly possible, Sporting are resilient in their valuation of the Swedish international, which stands at a massive £86m.

Now, while it would require a herculean financial effort from Arsenal to complete this deal, they have shown a willingness to spend big before, and with so much on the line this season, they must do so again. Moreover, Gyokeres could form a brilliant partnership with Merino at the Emirates.

Why Gyokeres would be a great signing for Arsenal and Merino

Okay, so the first thing to say is that if Merino does end up joining Arsenal in the coming weeks, as it looks like he will, he'd almost certainly be able to form effective partnerships with the team's current striking options, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

However, there is one fundamental reason a partnership with Gyokeres would be more fruitful: his output.

For example, in his 50 appearances for Sporting last season, the "outstanding" number nine, as dubbed by analyst and former player Adrian Clarke, scored a mammoth 43 goals and provided 15 assists for good measure, meaning he maintained a world-class average of a goal involvement every 0.86 games or 1.16 per game.

Gyokeres vs Havertz vs Jesus in 23/24

Player

Gyokeres

Havertz

Jesus

Appearances

50

51

36

Goals

43

14

8

Assists

15

7

8

Goal Involvements per Match

1.16

0.41

0.44

All Stats via Transfermarkt

In contrast, Havertz racked up 21 goals and assists in 51 appearances, while Jesus managed 16 in 36, meaning the German averaged a goal involvement every 2.42 games, and the Brazilian averaged one every 2.25 matches.

However, this potential partnership would be built on more than just the Swede's impressive record. The Sociedad ace has a few attributes that would make him a dream to play with for a poacher like the former Coventry City ace, notably his ability to win duels.

For example, according to Squawka, the 6 foot 2 "monster", as dubbed by data analyst Ben Mattinson, won a staggering 326 duels last season and was the only player in Europe's top seven leagues to win over 300.

Moreover, according to FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues, the 28-year-old unsurprisingly sits in the top 1% of midfielders for aerial duels won, winning on average 5.99 per 90.

Now, the reason this would be so beneficial for the Sporting star is that these duels are not all defensive; many of them will be the Spaniard getting to a ball from a teammate first and heading it on to his attackers, meaning that if Arsenal decided to go long from David Raya during a game, there would be a very good chance that Merino would get to it first and then quickly get it up the pitch into the path of the Stockholm-born marksman to bury in the back of the net.

Ultimately, signing Gyokeres will cost the North Londoners a king's ransom, but given his incredible form last season and what's on the line this season, he's worth spending the money on, and he could be unreal alongside Merino.

Related Imagine him & Toney: Arsenal could sign £22m "monster" who's like Martinelli

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 14, 2024

Kalvin Phillips is a player who has constantly been linked with a move to Everton this summer as Sean Dyche looks to provide added quality and depth to his midfield.

The Manchester City talent, who cost Pep Guardiola’s side £45m back in 2022, has failed to make an impact at the Etihad, featuring just 31 times for the club – costing them £1.4m per appearance.

He was subsequently sent on loan to West Ham United in January for the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, but could only muster ten appearances – in another unsuccessful stint in the Premier League.

Given his recent drop in form, it would certainly be a risk to sign the 28-year-old with the Toffees undoubtedly having to contribute a large portion of his £150k-per-week wages should they sign him on a temporary basis.

As a result, the club could look elsewhere for midfield reinforcements, potentially reigniting interest in one talent who’s previously been on their radar.

Everton could land £17m midfield sensation

In recent weeks, numerous midfielders have been linked with a move to Merseyside, including Colombian talent Richard Rios.

The 24-year-old, who plies his trade for Palmeiras in Brazil, has also been subject to interest from Manchester United as Erik ten Hag aims to rebuild his squad ahead of the upcoming campaign.

It’s previously been reported that Rios could be available at around the £17m mark this window, with Everton undoubtedly able to pay the rumoured price tag after the £50m departure of Amadou Onana to Aston Villa.

Whilst they face competition from one of the biggest clubs in the division, he would be an excellent addition, potentially being the Toffees’ version of a talent who cost over £100m.

Why Rios could be like Caicedo for Everton

12 months ago, Moises Caicedo caught the eye of almost every football fan, with his eye-watering £115m move to Chelsea from Brighton.

The Ecuadorian arrived in England as an unknown quantity, but a few years on from his move, he’s now one of the leading midfielders in England’s top flight – as his transfer fee suggests.

However, when comparing his stats from this summer’s Copa América, he was unable to get the better of Rios in multiple key areas – with FBref ranking the pair as similar players – ensuring Everton can potentially grab themselves a bargain.

The Colombian averaged 2.2 progressive carries per 90, along with 3.6 successful take-ons – backing up analyst Ben Mattinson’s description of Rios as a “ball-carrying machine”.

Games played

6

4

Pass accuracy

80%

80%

Progressive carries

2.2

1.8

Successful take-ons

3.6

0.8

Passes into penalty area

0.8

0.8

Take-on success

64%

27%

He also matched the Chelsea man with his passing, achieving the same pass accuracy rate, whilst averaging the same amount of passes into the opposition’s penalty area.

Whilst it’s unknown if a deal could still be completed after their previous interest, his form at the Copa América is evidence of the quality he possesses, with the Toffees needing to make a move to secure his services.

The loss of Onana will undoubtedly hurt Dyche’s side, but, although they possess different styles of play, Rios has the ability to be a real hit at Goodison Park.

Everton battling to sign "freak" £10m talent who's better than Onana

The club are looking to replace the Belgian who departed Goodison this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 7, 2024

West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui is working hard to build a side which could get back to securing European qualification next season.

So far, Max Kilman and Luis Guilherme have joined the side, while a deal is reportedly close for Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville.

Lopetegui is also chasing another centre-forward, with Borussia Dortmund’s Niclas Füllkrug closing in on a move to London after the side agreed a fee of £27m with the German side for the player.

Slowly, but surely, a team which could break back into the European spots during the 2024/25 campaign is being built.

Opponent

Date

Aston Villa (H)

August 17

Crystal Palace (A)

August 24

Manchester City (H)

August 31

Fulham (A)

September 14

Chelsea (H)

September 21

West Ham United closing in on World Cup winner

It isn’t just his attacking options that Lopetegui is looking to bolster, as a move for Argentinian World Cup winner Guido Rodriguez is reportedly close.

That’s according to the Standard, who claim that the Irons are in advanced talks with the former Real Betis midfielder, who is currently a free agent after leaving the La Liga side at the end of his contract.

The 30-year-old will bring a wealth of experience to the club, and he would be an ideal signing for Lopetegui, especially on a free transfer.

Could the Spaniard land Rodriguez a perfect midfield partner? As he is chasing a midfielder who has won the Champions League twice…

West Ham United eyeing up move for ex-Barcelona midfielder

According to Pete O’Rourke, who was speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast (via Football Insider), West Ham are considering a move for Sergi Roberto, the former Barcelona midfielder.

Having left the Catalan giants following the expiration of his contract, Lopetegui would be able to sign him for nothing in a move similar to that of Rodriguez. Judging by his experience at the highest level, he could be a worthwhile addition to the squad.

Roberto and Rodriguez may even form a wonderful partnership in the heart of the midfield as West Ham chase a top-eight finish next season.

Sergi Roberto & Guido Rodriguez partnership

Rodriguez typically operates as a defensive midfielder, making 29 appearances in that position for Real Betis last season.

He demonstrated his defensive capabilities in the Spanish top flight last term, winning 4.9 total duels per game – a success rate of 60% – while making 2.2 tackles and recovering 6.5 balls per game throughout the 2023/24 campaign.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Rodriguez ranked in the top 13% for interceptions per 90 (1.49) and the top 12% for clearances per 90 (2.05), yet more evidence of his defensive skills.

Roberto, on the other hand, tends to perform slightly further forward than Rodriguez, and he made 24 appearances for Barcelona last term, registering six goal contributions – three goals and three assists – in the process.

During his 14 La Liga appearances, Roberto created one big chance, succeeded with 75% of his dribbles, averaged 0.6 key passes per game and finished the season with a 90% pass success rate, not bad considering he only averaged 62 minutes per game.

Metric

La Liga

Champions League

Goals

3

0

Assists

2

1

Accurate passes per game

40.7

23.8

Total duels won per game

2.6

1.6

Big chances created

1

2

Despite this lack of game time domestically, he still shone when compared to his peers. Indeed, across Europe’s top five leagues, Roberto ranked in the top 2% for non-penalty goals (0.25), the top 5% for assists (0.25) and the top 4% for touches in the opposition penalty area (3.22) per 90, showcasing his attacking talents from the heart of the midfield.

These statistics clearly show that Rodriguez and Roberto could form a solid partnership in the West Ham midfield, offering both defensive and attacking skills to complement each other well.

Not only that, but the Spaniard is also like a current Manchester City star who was the player of the tournament at Euro 2024…

Why Sergi Roberto could be West Ham’s own Rodri

Rodri shone for Spain as they won their first major international tournament since 2012, finishing the tournament with a stunning 93% pass success rate while recovering 6.8 balls per game and winning 5.2 total duels per game.

He was the beating heart of this wonderful Spanish side and if Lopetegui could sign a player who performs like him, then West Ham would be all the better for it.

According to FBref, Rodri is the seventh-most comparable player to Roberto, which means the club could be signing their own version of the City gem should a deal be made for the 32-year-old this summer.

Last season, the pair registered similar domestic statistics with regard to shots per 90 (1.05 vs 1.9), pass success percentage (89% vs 92%), successful take-on percentage (50% vs 65.6%) and goal-creation actions per 90 (0.31 vs 0.71), evidence of their similarities last term.

Although he may not be at his peak anymore, Roberto – who has been described as "extraordinary" by ex-Barca boss, Xavi – would bring a host of big game experience to this West Ham side.

Throughout his career, the Spaniard has won seven La Liga titles plus two Champions League crowns, proving that he has what it takes to shine on the biggest stage of all.

Overall, Roberto made 373 appearances for his boyhood club since making his debut during the 2010/11 campaign, scoring 12 goals while grabbing 34 assists in the process.

It would certainly signal a major statement of intent if they were to bring the former Spain international to London in the next few weeks, showing that Lopetegui means business in the transfer market.

If deals can be done to bring him and Rodriguez to the club, then the midfield area will be bolstered significantly heading into the new season.

If the pair hit the ground running, completing both signings without spending a penny could soon be seen as a masterstroke by the former Wolves manager.

Time will tell however, but the signs are looking good for West Ham heading into a new season.

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ByAngus Sinclair Aug 2, 2024

India v Australia in India has provided the most memorable Test matches of my life. Ahead of the latest installment of this unique rivalry, these are six of the most memorable matches I have seen

Shyam Sundararaman25-Feb-2013My first memories of Test match cricket are of a batsman vomiting. Five-year-old me watched Dean Jones puke, many times over. I don’t remember what I thought or what my dad and his friends told me as the Australian batsman puked, peed and sweat his way to a double hundred. But I remember watching his innings, and the extraordinary finish three days later, knowing I had watched something special. My dad regaled me with stories of the first Tied Test as if he’d been there. He then explained how rare it was to see a tie, how a tie was different from a draw and that Ravi Shastri should never have given up the strike during that last over. Since that day, India v Australia in India has provided the most memorable Test matches of my life. Ahead of the latest installment of this unique rivalry, these are six of the most memorable matches I have seen.The second Tied TestAllan Border set India 348 runs to win on the final day. I remember Indian batsman after Indian batsman playing aggressive shot after shot all through the day. I remember first innings centurion and captain Kapil Dev being the lone failure as a vaunted middle order, fresh off success in England, took on two spinners who bowled marathon spells. Greg Matthews bowled with his baggy green cap on, a gregarious character who reacted to every dismissal with a lap around the ground. I remember Allan Border looking puzzled, scratching his prickly beard all through the day (unaware of the era of success and dominance that lay ahead of his team and nation). I remember being excited by a spree of Ravi Shastri boundaries. I remember thinking this would be an Indian win. I remember Maninder Singh being given out lbw with one measly run to get.The worst wicket-taking delivery ever bowled: Australia did not play a Test match in India for another decade. The next time I got to see Steve Waugh play a Test on Indian soil, it was on a smoggy October afternoon at Feroz Shah Kotla. It was the first appearance on Indian soil for Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Ian Healy and Glenn Mcgrath. Shane Warne’s absence, though, meant that Australia fielded mediocre spinners in the form of Peter McIntyre and Brad Hogg, who were no match for the home team. India pulled off an easy win. Nayan Mongia scored a hundred and Anil Kumble made the batsmen dance but my lingering memory from the game is of a horrendous Michael Slater dismissal. David Johnson was one of the many fast bowlers who played for India in the 1990s. He was inaccurate, inconsistent and lasted all of two Test matches. One of his deliveries to Michael Slater would have been called a wide except the batsman decided to have a go at it only to be caught at slip by Azharuddin. Slater would be dropped from the Test side for a couple of years. Rarely has a ball that bad produced a shot even worse, and affected a batsman’s career as much.Tendulkar vs. Warne: I was at the Chepauk on March 6, 1998. Sachin Tendulkar was the best batsman in cricket and Shane Warne was the best bowler. Their head-to-head battle was much-anticipated and lasted 7 minutes. Sachin was out caught at slip for four as Warne won bragging rights and shed any psychological baggage he may have held from a practice game in Mumbai, a few days earlier. Seventy-two hours later, the two men were at it again as the match lay poised on a razor’s edge. No one who witnessed the carnage that Monday afternoon will ever forget it. Tendulkar was prepared for everything the maestro had up his sleeve. He played strokes with and against the turn, and negated the greatest spinner of all time on a fourth day Chepauk pitch. It was beautiful and brilliant, and the first sign that the all-conquering Aussies would have to work a little harder to conquer what would eventually be called the ‘final frontier’.The miracle of Kolkata: Faith, fandom and fairness in life were all questioned midway through the Kolkata Test of 2001. A new India captained by Sourav Ganguly and coached by John Wright was supposed to stop the omnipotent, 16-wins-in-a-row Aussie squad from conquering the final frontier. The only issue – the Aussies were pretty darn good. If Test cricket had a hall of fame, that Aussie team had eight hall-of-famers. I remember days four and five like they happened yesterday. Day four dawned with prayers to the gods that India would put up a fight. By tea on that day, pride and passion were restored. By lunch on day five, an impossible dream seemed very possible. By the end of the match, I was speechless, stunned, unable to believe what I had just seen. Harbhajan Singh picked up 13 wickets, including a hat-trick, and that was only the third biggest story of the game. I remember frustration turning into tears of joy. A generation of Indian fans would come to believe that anything was possible as the country entered its most fruitful decade of Test cricket not with a whimper, or a bang, but with a sonic boom.Do you believe in shambles? There are few moments that match the abyss that Indian cricket reached in October 2004 at Nagpur. India had retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy in Australia and won a Test series in Pakistan in the last 12 months. Few fans expected this hard-earned success to be lost any time soon, especially at home. Oh, how we were wrong! After rain destroyed the prospects of a thrilling fifth day at Chennai, Australia entered the Nagpur Test with a chance to win the trophy and an away series in India. The pitch resembled Napier more than it did Nagpur, and Ganguly and Harbhajan were injured. An insipid Indian team would get dragged all over the stadium as Australia wrapped up their first series win in India in 35 years.Very Very Special Laxman’s final hurrah: VVS Laxman was Australia’s nemesis from 2000-2010. Something about the baggy green made him elevate his game to heights seldom seen. And in a decade full of special knocks, VVS produced one final masterpiece at Mohali. I didn’t watch this game live. Let me rephrase that – I couldn’t watch this game live. India needed close to a 100 and, with only two wickets in hand, I had given up. For some reason, I couldn’t fall asleep and kept refreshing the scorecard and my Twitter feed. VVS Laxman was shepherding Ishant Sharma at one end and I held on to my steadfast belief that my inability to watch the contest was in some way responsible for what was going on. India’s one-wicket victory was an unbelievable, too-good-to-be-true sporting moment. Like so many that seem to happen when India plays Australia.

Heading into Ange Postecoglou's second Premier League campaign at Tottenham, Daniel Levy will be looking to equip him with a few extra tools with the aim of breaking into those Champions League places next season.

One position of interest is central midfield, with many different profiles being mentioned and a focus being set on this area for Postecoglou due to injuries in the middle last season. James Maddison spent a prolonged period on the sideline through injury, whilst the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma also had their own problems.

Spurs has already made one midfield acquisition in Leeds United star Archie Gray, but who else could they target in order to add composure and passing ability in the middle of the park?

Tottenham searching for more midfielders

According to reports from Spain, Tottenham are amongst three clubs interested in PSG midfielder Fabian Ruiz, including Real Betis and Atlético Madrid.

After some impressive performances for Spain at EURO 2024, Postecoglou reportedly sees Ruiz as "the perfect complement to James Maddison in the Spurs midfield".

Ruiz has played three of Spain's four games at the Euros so far, scoring two goals and providing two assists from central midfield, forming a formidable pairing with Manchester City midfielder Rodri.

How Ruiz compares to Christian Eriksen

Christian Eriksen is perhaps the best example in recent years for Tottenham of a creative passer, who can add goals and assists from midfield whilst controlling the game at his own tempo. However, they've not really had anyone in this ilk since.

The Denmark international made 305 appearances for Spurs, scoring 69 goals and providing 88 assists in his time at the club.

The "incredible" Ruiz, as dubbed by Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, was a key part of Luis Enrique's PSG side, making 35 appearances in all competitions, including nine Champions League appearances, as PSG lost out in the Semi-Finals to Borussia Dortmund.

The Spaniard scored three goals and provided seven assists in his 35 appearances, as he helped PSG towards another Ligue 1 title, finishing nine points above second-placed Monaco.

Eriksen was a primary creator for Tottenham, using his extensive passing range to dictate games and make his mark. The Dane averaged 2.65 key passes per 90 for Tottenham in the 2017/18 season, whilst also providing an xAG (expected assisted goals) of 0.32 per 90.

Ruiz isn't quite making the same print on games as the more attack-minded Eriksen was, averaging 1.35 key passes per 90 this season, and providing an xAG of only 0.09 per 90.

However, the 28-year-old shows a similar level of progressive passing from midfield, averaging 6.24 progressive passes per 90 this campaign.

In comparison, Eriksen averaged a whopping 9.3 progressive passes per 90 in the 2017/18 season, but in the following two seasons, he produced 6.88, and 6.07 progressive passes per 90, almost parallel to what Ruiz produced last term at PSG.

Whilst Ruiz might not add the instant G/A levels of Eriksen at Tottenham, he definitely adds composure on the ball and an ability to play through the lines. He has also shown for Spain his eye for a goal and the ability to get forward and impact the game when partnered with some defensive protection like Rodri.

Spurs struck gold on "titanic" ace worth millions more than Archie Gray

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 2, 2024

“We’re just here to have some fun, enjoy this series completely, and take a lot of positives”

Varun Shetty06-Jul-2021The India players who are in Sri Lanka for the upcoming limited-overs series are paying no heed to conversations about them being a second-string team – as Arjuna Ranatunga called them – according to Suryakumar Yadav, who is focused on taking “a lot of positives” from the short tour.”Not really [thinking about being a squad of non-first-choice players]. Everyone is completely focused,” Yadav, 30 but still a newbie at the international level, said on Tuesday. “The way the practice sessions are going, the way the [intra-squad] game went yesterday, it’s going completely fine and we’re really excited about the challenge.”We’re just here to have some fun, enjoy this series completely, and take a lot of positives from here.”Related

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Dravid: Winning series against Sri Lanka the priority

Sakariya – 'Would have been happy just as a net bowler'

The squad, on tour even as the expanded Test squad gets ready for a five-match series in England after finishing the World Test Championship final, features as many as five players who have earned their maiden call-ups to the national team, and a string of others who are new at the international level – like Yadav. He made his international debut earlier this year at home in a T20I series against England, but, in many ways, is among the senior-most players in the touring party.”That [England] was a different series. This is a different series. But the challenge remains the same – I’ve to go out and perform the same way I did,” he said. “So pressure will be there because if there’s no pressure, there’s no fun. It’ll be a great challenge and I am really looking forward to it.”Every year I’ve learnt something different from all my team-mates [at the Mumbai Indians]. That tournament is a great learning every year. It really helps me wherever I am playing. If you sum up, it’s a great learning process and it has obviously helped me gain a lot of experience.”The bedrock of Yadav’s game as an attacking batter in the IPL has been his ability to be innovative on slow pitches just as well as he is on true batting surfaces. India are scheduled to play all their games at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, and tiring pitches are more than likely to be a feature as the series begins on July 13.”From a conditions perspective, we play in similar conditions in places like Mumbai and Chennai, where the humidity is high,” Yadav said. “Most importantly, we have come here 15-20 days before the series to acclimatise to these conditions. We are adjusting well. Talking about the pitches, the surface for the intra-squad game [on Monday] was really good, and I hope it stays the same. If there are slow pitches, you need to take time and apply yourself. It will be a good challenge and I am really looking forward to it.”

Overtakes Kane Williamson; the England captain is at the pinnacle for the first time since December 2015

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Sep-2021Joe Root’s unstoppable run-making in the series against India has carried him to No. 1 in the ICC Test batting rankings, displacing Kane Williamson at the top. Root tops the Test batting rankings for the first time since December 2015, and is just one rating point off his career-best aggregate of 917, which he also achieved back in 2015.Three Tests into the India series, Root has three centuries and a fifty to his name, for a tally of 507 at 126.75. Speaking on the eve of The Oval Test, Root said: “It [the news of going to No. 1] is a nice thing to hear. My main focus is on trying to keep scoring runs and get us across the line in this series. As nice as it is, there’s still so much hard work to do and the focus doesn’t change. It’s all about continuing to try and keep getting better, continue scoring runs and hopefully setting up games to win Test matches.”It’s obviously nice but it’s not something I have as a goal or a main focus in what I’m trying to do, but I’m obviously proud to hear that I’ve achieved that. It would be nice to be able to stay there now and continue playing in the way I am.”The series is currently tied 1-1 – Root having carried England’s batting all through so far – with two Tests to play.Other gainers from the series include England’s spearhead James Anderson, who has moved back into the top five of the Test bowling rankings following his match haul of four in England’s win in Headingley. And from the India camp, Rohit Sharma moves up to No. 5 among the batters, pushing Virat Kohli down to No. 6 – Rohit’s numbers in the series currently read 230 runs at 46.00, compared to Kohli’s 124 at 24.80. This is the first time since November 2017 that a batter other than Kohli is the top-ranked Indian on the table.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is in the market for attacking quality and could now turn to a Premier League star who is high up on his shortlist at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City leave it late to see off Leeds United

Despite sitting at opposite ends of the table, Manchester City dug deep to see off Daniel Farke’s Leeds United in a dramatic clash on Saturday afternoon that helped to narrow the gap on Arsenal and Chelsea in the top-flight standings.

Phil Foden’s early and late strikes were enough to seal the deal. However, Guardiola will be frustrated at surrendering a two-goal lead when it appeared his side were in cruise control.

Either way, Foden made it clear that he and his teammates were ‘delighted’ with the end result as the Citizens avoided dropping points in back-to-back fixtures after the conclusion of the international break.

He said: “When there was a short break, the manager got us together, and we adapted to their formation. We had a few half-chances, and finally, I’ve found a bit of space and found the bottom of the net.

“There are still things we can improve. We’re delighted with the result. The title race is never straightforward. There are always ups and downs and periods where you can’t seem to get going, and we’ve had that. The belief and togetherness came through at the end.”

For some, an overreliance on Erling Haaland is something Manchester City need to be cautious of moving forward, hence they may now make a move to sign Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo as he is available for £65 million.

Looking to scale up in all areas, Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson could be at the centre of a transfer battle between the Citizens and Manchester United. In other news, he isn’t the only player Guardiola is willing to fight over.

Manchester City have Everton's Iliman Ndiaye high on their shortlist

According to Foot Mercato, Manchester City have Everton attacker Iliman Ndiaye high on their shortlist after his excellent start to life in the Premier League this campaign.

Scoring four times and notching an assist in 15 matches across all competitions, the Senegal international is also wanted by Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, with the trio all keen to bolster their frontline once the transfer window opens.

Man City now frontrunners to sign "world-class" £80m star, Pep's a big fan

There has been a new update on City’s pursuit of a new forward, who Pep Guardiola has dubbed “extraordinary”.

By
Dominic Lund

Nov 27, 2025

Labelled “top drawer” by Jamie O’Hara, initial contact has been made for the Rouen-born man as Guardiola steps up his hunt for invention, even if Ndiaye is unlikely to be an out-and-out alternative to Haaland.

Over a long Premier League season, his ability to operate almost anywhere in a front four is a commodity most managers would love to have, especially given he has created 15 chances in the top-flight circa 2025/26, per Fotmob. Based on that, it’s perhaps no wonder previous reports have suggested he is valued at £70m.

Now, it remains to be seen whether they can push a deal over the line as Guardiola seeks reinforcements in order to further Manchester City’s title challenge.