From the national coaches’ unending job insecurity to a bloated domestic competition, there’s a lot that’s not right with Sri Lankan cricket. When will this change?

Andrew Fidel Fernando20-Aug-2019Sri Lanka have won another Test, their third in a row chasing a tough score. Their captain dug in for a tenacious fourth-innings hundred. The victory has yielded 60 Test Championship points – an excellent start to their campaign in that competition. Away from Tests, they have comfortably won their most-recent ODI series, against Bangladesh, and performed better than expected at the World Cup, finishing sixth. With young players suddenly coming through, and a capable captain at the helm, it is tempting to believe Sri Lanka have begun to recover following a several-year lull.But are these improvements sustainable? Here is what’s happening in administration.Right now, Sri Lanka Cricket is still trying to sack its coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, roughly two weeks after it sent him a letter detailing what the board claims are his many flaws. So far they have not succeeded in sacking him, because, anticipating turmoil at SLC, at the time of joining Hathurusingha had insisted on what appears to be an iron-clad contract. Lawyers are yet to properly shake each other down, but there is a strong possibility that if SLC does terminate his contract, they will be forced to pay him for the remainder of his contract period, which amounts to around 16 further months. In 2012, a previous SLC board had sacked Geoff Marsh and then had had to pay him a substantial settlement.The board itself has not publicly stated its grouses with Hathurusingha. On a purely performance front, Sri Lanka have won a higher percentage of matches under Hathurusingha than they had in the year prior to his arrival, across formats. What SLC president Shammi Silva did say, however, was that he “was also in the board that recruited Chandika Hathurusingha, and we’ve made some mistakes”. Adding: “If we are to do right by cricket in future, we have to correct those mistakes.” Okay, but had not the same board that Silva had been a part of also hire Graham Ford at the start of 2016, then essentially forced him to resign in the middle of 2017? Was that also a “mistake”? If board members keep hiring coaches and then getting rid of them 18 months in, is the problem really with the coaches? If mistakes are made this frequently, are these board members fit to continue making decisions?Hathurusingha, by the way, is the 10th head coach appointment (including interim coaches) SLC has made since the end of the 2011 World Cup, which means Sri Lanka have had a new head coach every nine months, on average. Every time the team fails, the board blames the coach and has him fired. It’s worked so many times. Why would SLC stop now?

If board members keep hiring coaches and then getting rid of them 18 months in, is the problem really with the coaches?

Among those leading the charge to have Hathurusingha sacked, also, is sports minister Harin Fernando. He has only been in the job since December, but like most sports ministers before him, desires to be seen as the saviour of Sri Lanka’s cricket, by far the island’s favourite sport. Although it has never been a secret that Hathurusingha is the highest-paid Sri Lanka coach ever, Fernando has taken the unusual step of publicly announcing Hathurusingha’s salary in order to effectively shame the coach for failing to deliver consistently outstanding results.It’s true that Hathurusingha’s early insistence on being selector as well as coach proved unsuccessful, but you wonder if Fernando knows that Sri Lanka had lost nearly three-fourths of their international matches in the year before Hathurusingha arrived (there were 40 losses, 14 wins and two draws in completed games across formats in 2017). As the size of Hathurusingha’s salary is the product of SLC’s desperation to lure him away from Bangladesh, back in late 2017, you wonder whether Fernando understands how contracts work. You also wonder whether he feels Hathurusingha is a soft target, on account of Hathurusingha being a Sri Lankan – no foreign coach has ever had remuneration so publicly picked apart.And if Hathurusigha is successfully discarded, how many top international coaches would seek out the Sri Lanka job, given its many insecurities?Fernando’s one saving grace may be his stated desire to see SLC’s utterly pathetic domestic tournament structure transformed. And yet, on that front, he is yet to deliver any tangible results. This year, the only first-class tournament played in Sri Lanka was the club competition, which features 14 teams and has long been derided as bloated and of little use. In 2017, Karunaratne himself had voiced his frustrations with it. Despite several former greats, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara in particular, repeatedly stressing that Sri Lanka needs a stronger, more condensed domestic structure, the board has continued to prioritise the club competition, season after season, while a series of sports ministers have shown no political will to actually instigate changes that benefit cricket in the long term.The Sri Lanka team may suddenly be performing, but don’t let the administrators and politicians hijack credit. Don’t let them preach, as they did after the Test series win in South Africa this year, that their archaic domestic tournaments are responsible for such triumphs. If Sri Lanka succeeds, it is in spite of the system. They are winning now, but how much better could they have been with administration that is not incompetent?

Lack of big names continue to affect attendance at the Bangladesh Premier League

Mohammad Isam05-Jan-2020Rajshahi, Chattogram confirm playoff berths
Rajshahi Royals’ convincing wins over Rangpur Rangers and Sylhet helped them book a place in the playoffs with six days in hand, while Chattogram Challengers, with their six-wicket win over Khulna Tigers, also cemented their spot in the final four.Andre Russell’s fitness situation, however, should worry Rajshahi – he has missed their last two games because of an injury. Chattogram, too, have their captain Mahmudullah on the injury list, but both of them are likely to return to action in Dhaka after January 7.Who will join Chattogram and Rajshahi in the playoffs is the question now. Dhaka Platoon are in third place and look primed to get there, but Khulna losing their last two games has given Cumilla Warriors, whose fourth win was after the Super Over against Sylhet, some hope. Rangpur are also not out of the race completely – they must win their remaining games and hope for other results to go their way.Where are the promised legspinners?
Alok Kapali’s six wickets at an average of 21.83 is the best by a legspinner in the BPL so far. That speaks volume of the veteran’s fitness and desire, but is also a comment on the BCB’s stance of leggies.Months ahead of this year’s BPL, board president Nazmul Hassan had stressed that all teams must field legspinners, as well as genuine fast bowlers. The BCB had also spoken about promoting young legspinners Aminul Islam, Rishad Hossain and Minhajul Abedin Afridi, while Jubair Hossain, who last played for Bangladesh five years ago, was also given a BPL team. But of them, only Aminul has picked up any wickets – two – taken two wickets while Afridi and Rishad have bowled three overs between them; Jubair hasn’t played a single game yet.Ebadot Hossain sends off a batsman•Raton Gomes/BCBBatsman of the week
Afif Hossain and Liton Das have formed the BPL’s most prolific partnership this season, putting together six 50-plus opening partnerships for Rajshahi. They are by far the best batting pair, with the next best – Khulna’s Mushfiqur Rahim and Rilee Rossouw – 152 runs behind them.Afif and Liton have added 432 runs in nine innings so far, both looking in prime form. Afif in particular has looked like someone the Bangladesh selectors can bank on in the upcoming T20Is against Pakistan.Bowler of the week
Hasan Mahmud became the fourth Bangladeshi pace bowler to pick up a four-wicket haul in this season’s BPL as his 4 for 32 worked through Khulna in Sylhet. It was a superb bowling performance from the youngster who is touted for big things by many scouts and coaches in Bangladesh.The highlights of the 20-year-old performance against Khulna were the deliveries to remove Rossouw and Robbie Frylinck. Against the left-handed Rossouw, Mahmud got the ball to jump off a fullish length and catch the outside edge. He then got the ball to swerve in quickly to bowl Frylinck. The four-for was in the bag when he took the prized wicket of Mushfiqur with a low full-toss.

Andrew Strauss’s axing of England’s veteran pairing is a message to the entire Test set-up

Andrew Miller08-Feb-2022And there we were all thinking, the response to another Ashes train-wreck had been just a little bit … meh.At no stage of the winter just gone had there been any sense that an alternative narrative was there to be grasped; from the moment that Rory Burns’ stumps were splattered at Brisbane, there was not even a fleeting flicker of hope that England had any residual control over their destiny.And so, after just another bog-standard beating in Australia, out the ECB had trotted with a seemingly bog-standard response: the sacking of a coach who had been thrown in over his head, and the execution of the executive who had set him up for that failure. A cigar-chewing assistant then made it a trio of sacrifices in as many days – and that, quite conceivably, could have been that. A sufficiency of blood-letting to meet the needs of the news cycle, then swiftly onwards to the next big date in England’s never-relenting diary.It turns out that Andrew Strauss had alternative plans, and not for the first time in his iron-fisted role as England’s maker-of-stuff-to-happen. “Red-ball reset”, you say? Coming right up – here comes the only man at the ECB with the spine to stand up his platitudes, and this time he’s delivered with the most extraordinary bonfire of vanities this side of the central contracts era.It’s hard to recall a more ruthless cull of England’s red-ball ranks since the turn of the millennium. The fall-out from the 2013-14 Ashes was every bit as gory, of course, though less startling, given that the dismantling of a great England team had already taken place on the field, rather than in the selection committee. Aside from the thorny issue of Kevin Pietersen, there wasn’t much left to be decided where the likes of Jonathan Trott and Graeme Swann were concerned, let alone Scott Borthwick and Boyd Rankin.This time, however, you’d arguably have to rewind to Graham Gooch’s legendary tour of the Caribbean in 1989-90 for a comparable headline shock – the binning-off of two all-time England legends (for James Anderson and Stuart Broad now, read David Gower and Ian Botham then), and the investment in a gang of impressionable rookies, charged with nothing more complicated than looking to the example of their captain for clues as to how to seed their own revivals.Related

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“[The players] have the best possible example right there with them in the dressing room in Joe Root, in terms of what world-class performance looks like,” Strauss said at Lord’s last week, in perhaps the first real attempt to frame Root’s otherwise questionable leadership credentials in unequivocally positive terms. “That has to be their ambition, to reach that level of performance.”Strauss has previous in this regard of course – specifically where the two most totemic men in his sights are concerned. Back in the spring of 2015, in his first incarnation as director of cricket, Strauss followed up his dismissal of Peter Moores as head coach by backing the incumbent captain, Eoin Morgan, and sanctioning an ODI squad to face New Zealand that had neither Anderson nor Broad in its ranks … nor Gary Ballance, Ravi Bopara and Ian Bell, to name the other men who never played in coloured clothes again after that winter’s abject World Cup showing.It just so happens that the white-ball squad never looked back after that – and that’s a precedent that won’t have been lost on Strauss either, as he banks on a similar shock to the red-ball system providing equally tangible short-term gains.When asked last week about the message that Silverwood’s sacking would send, Strauss had hinted that he was only just getting started on the unleashing of ructions within the squad. Throughout the Ashes, England’s previous management had been broadly protective of their team’s on-field failings, citing bubble fatigue and rain-wrecked build-ups, rather than address the huge technical shortcomings that had allowed Australia to run riot in the key moments, and prevent their opponents from reaching 300 in any one of their ten innings of the series.Stuart Broad and James Anderson discuss bowling plans•Getty Images”You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see performances have been poor for the last 12 months,” Strauss said. “Anyone who thinks otherwise is deluding themselves. The players have to … get better. International cricket is a tough old gig and you have to have resilience, toughness, you have to want it.”And so, the question has been posed to every man in the squad – directly through the ditching of eight men who featured in the Ashes, and indirectly through the retention of a select few whose places will now be challenged by the likes of Alex Lees and Saqib Mahmood. Do you want it? Genuinely?On the face of it, Strauss appears to have asked the right question of the wrong two people. Of all the myriad failures during the Ashes, the contributions of two veteran seamers who averaged 23 and 26 respectively would appear to be low on the list. And yet, there was a sense in the course of the Ashes – most particularly after the Adelaide defeat, when Root complained publicly about the defensive lengths that his senior pairing had bowled, but again at Sydney, when Broad’s refreshing but condemnatory monologue laid the squad’s failings straight back at the door of the batters – that the captain’s view of the campaign didn’t entirely chime with the views of his key lieutenants.Either way, the irony of the situation will not be lost on Anderson and Broad, for their pre-eminence as a pairing has scarcely been challenged for 14 mighty years – ever since the famous moment at Wellington in 2008, when the same question was posed to their own new-ball forebears, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard.It’s already been made clear by the ECB that this does not need to be the end of the line for either man. Indeed, history shows that that moment of baton-passing at the Basin Reserve was not the final sign-off for Harmison – he flitted about the margins for another 18 months before bowing out in glory with England’s Ashes recapture at The Oval. Hoggard, however, never played again, despite having seemed the only seamer still at the races on that Ashes whitewash the previous winter. The end for elite sportsmen, just like politicians, tends to be swift, surprising and distinctly unglamorous compared to the status they had previously taken for granted.So, here we go then, with the question that may come to define the summer of 2022, and by proxy, England’s fortunes therein. Do England’s most garlanded fast bowlers genuinely retain the hunger to redouble their efforts in the early weeks of the English season, and rip back that shirt that has been so unjustly swiped from them? Or is this a cunning display of bluff-calling from Strauss – a team-mate who went through his own moment of reckoning on that quietly seminal New Zealand tour, and a captain who knows better than anyone what this pairing’s pomp was truly like, as they led the push to England’s No.1 Test ranking way back in 2011.The easy option would be to retire and soak up the plaudits for two of cricket’s most remarkable careers, but that of course is precisely the point. If anyone is expecting to be able to take the easy option for England, at this abject juncture of their Test-match story, then there’s no point in coming on board.

Liverpool have now made contact to sign a “world-class” striker ahead of Premier League rivals Arsenal, who are also vying for his signature, according to a report.

Reds pursuing new forwards this summer

It would be fair to say Darwin Nunez has failed to justify his club-record £85m price tag ever since arriving at Anfield, with the striker particularly struggling this season, netting just five Premier League goals.

Amid widespread reports Nunez could be heading for the exit door, the Reds have started to step up their pursuit of a new striker, and they have some very exciting targets in mind.

Arne Slot’s side seem willing to spend big on a top striker, with a report stating they could fork out £142m for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, who could be brought in if Mohamed Salah decides not to extend his stay at Anfield.

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Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike are also among the targets for the Merseyside club, with a move for the latter striker perhaps more likely, given that the Magpies are determined to keep hold of their talisman.

There is no shortage of options for the summer window, and Liverpool have now taken the first step towards signing a Premier League star, having made contact over a deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Matheus Cunha.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states the Reds have enquired about the conditions of a potential deal, while they are also trying to gauge whether the move would be of interest to Cunha.

Arsenal and Nottingham Forest are also in the race for the Brazilian, with Slot’s side now making the first move to potentially move ahead of their Premier League rivals despite the Gunners doing “work” on the deal.

The Wolves star has a £62m release clause in his contract, which applies to any club in the Champions League, meaning Liverpool should be well-positioned to complete a cut-price deal.

"World-class" Cunha could be Nunez upgrade

The 25-year-old has played a major role in Wolves’ push for Premier League safety, having amassed 13 goals and four assists this season, outscoring Nunez by a considerable margin.

The “world-class” striker has also now managed to make a name for himself at international level, bagging his first goal for Brazil in a World Cup qualification tie against Argentina last week.

In another boost to Liverpool’s chances of getting a deal done, the former Atletico Madrid man has now admitted he wants to compete for the top honours, which he would be well-positioned to do at Anfield.

The only slight concern about signing Cunha will be the fact that, much like Nunez, there are concerns over his discipline, having been charged by the FA for a headbutt on fellow target Milos Kerkez earlier this season, but his ability cannot be questioned.

Reportedly prepared to spend to make the deal happen, Aston Villa and NSWE have reportedly set their sights on winning the race to sign a defender worth £50m this summer.

NSWE prepared to spend despite Aston Villa PSR concern

This summer wouldn’t be the first time that those at Villa Park spent big, given how they’ve splashed the cash to improve Unai Emery’s side in recent windows. Unlike in the past, however, NSWE will reportedly have to walk a fine line if they are to avoid breaking any profit and sustainability rules in a problem that they’re already looking to solve in an unexpected way.

Whether selling stakes in the women’s team solves Villa’s problem remains to be seen, but such a possibility certainly adds pressure to the achievements that the men’s team are in pursuit of. By qualifying for the Champions League for a second consecutive campaign, Emery’s side would undoubtedly provide the entire club with some added funds.

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What will have certainly helped on that front is their 2-1 victory over top-four rivals Nottingham Forest to maintain their push to sneak into European contention. Emery was well aware of just how important the result was, telling reporters: “I’m very happy because here in Villa Park we are feeling very strong.

“We are transmitting our energy to the supporters and their energy is transmitting to us. We are, more or less, winning, responding well.

“The supporters are happy with how we are responding and getting challenges like today against Nottingham, who are having a fantastic season. We’re trying to keep going in the challenges we have: today, next Wednesday, then again in Premier League, the FA Cup semi-final in London.”

What’s more, that financial boost courtesy of European qualification could yet see Aston Villa win the race to sign an in-demand defensive reinforcement in the coming months.

Aston Villa targeting £50m Diomande

As impressive as Aston Villa’s depth has been since the January transfer window, it won’t be long before they lose loanees Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Axel Disasi. And that’s when they could turn towards a £50m defender.

According to Football Insider, Aston Villa and NSWE are now prepared to spend to sign Ousmane Diomande from Sporting Club, who value their talented defender at £50m ahead of this summer.

The 21-year-old has also attracted interest from Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea to form a hectic Premier League race for his signature. Whether other clubs are willing to spend like Aston Villa seemingly are remains to be seen, however.

Described as an “aggressive” and “tough tackling” defender by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Diomande would be worth every penny in a £50m deal this summer, no matter who wins the race for his signature.

Arsenal were finally back in action on Tuesday night, and after months off with a hamstring injury, so was Bukayo Saka.

The Hale End icon didn’t start the Premier League game against Fulham, but he did come off the bench midway through the second half and then, just seven minutes later, scored what ended up being the winning goal.

It was a cameo that reminded everyone of just what the Gunners have been missing since December, and if they are to get past Real Madrid in the Champions League, it’ll no doubt be in part down to him.

In even more exciting news, Andrea Berta seems intent on supporting Saka next season by signing an international star who’d be his dream teammate next season.

Arsenal's transfer targets

Following what is likely to be another season without any silverware, it’s no surprise that the transfer rumours around Arsenal are already coming thick and fast, with one of the most significant in recent days concerning Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian is supposedly another one of Berta’s targets, as not only has he seriously impressed for Wolverhampton Wanderers this season, producing 19 goal involvements in 29 games, but he worked with the Italian during his time with Atlético Madrid and has a release clause of around £62.5m in his contract.

Someone who could join for free in the summer is Bayern Munich ace Leroy Sané, as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season and has reportedly held “concrete” talks with the North Londoners.

However, with the German set to turn 30 midway through next season, fans might want the club to sign a younger winger for the long term, which is what appears to be happening with Nico Williams.

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According to the Guardian’s Ed Aarons, Arsenal are currently “exploring a summer move” for the Athletic Bilbao gem, who has a release clause worth about £48m in his current contract.

In fact, he goes a step further, revealing that, as one of “his first acts as the club’s sporting director”, Berta has already “held talks” with the player’s representatives.

It could still be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Williams’ incredible ability and potential, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be unreal alongside Saka.

Why Williams would be a dream for Saka

When it comes down to it, there are a couple of intertwined reasons why Williams would be such a good signing for Arsenal and, specifically, Saka, with the first being his raw output.

For example, in just 37 appearances last season, the “world-class” talent, as dubbed by journalist Zach Lowy, scored eight goals and provided 16 assists, which comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.54 games.

Williams’ recent record

Season

23/24

24/25

Appearances

37

38

Goals

8

9

Assists

16

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.64

0.42

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Then, this season, he’s scored nine goals and provided seven assists in 38 appearances, which comes out to a slightly reduced but nonetheless impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.37 games.

Having a player who is this productive on the left wing will not only reduce the burden on the Gunners’ mercurial number seven, but with how frequently the Spaniard scores or assists, he will likely see his own tally increase.

Moreover, the fact that he’s so dangerous will force opposition defenders to focus on both wings instead of doubling up on the Englishman as they do today, which should open up space for the 23-year-old, which is the second reason he’d be a dream teammate.

Finally, according to FBref, the Bilbao dynamo sits in the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, for successful take-ons per 90, which again, should see him pull defenders away far more than the North Londoners current left-wing options do.

Ultimately, Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign Williams this summer, as his output is spectacular, and even when he’s not scoring or assisting, he has the ability to make things happen, which will make him a dream to play with for Saka.

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This summer could be an exciting one for Everton and their supporters, having the opportunity to strengthen the first-team squad with investment from The Friedkin Group.

It will be the first full transfer window David Moyes has to make his own mark on the side after taking the reins from Sean Dyche back in January – largely having to work with the players already at Goodison Park.

A move to Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season could play on the mind of any player linked with a move to join the Toffees, possibly being a star in a new chapter for the club and taking them to the next level.

It’s no secret that the side have been underperforming for numerous years, being involved in countless relegation battles, with the summer a huge opportunity to push the side closer to the top half of the table.

Rumours have been swirling over the last couple of weeks ahead of the opening of the transfer window, with a shock move potentially on the cards for one player already on Merseyside.

Everton planning shock move for £30m star

According to Football Insider, Everton are ready to target a surprise summer move for Liverpool’s young forward Ben Doak.

The 19-year-old, who’s spending the season on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough, could be available for £30m with the teenager unlikely to break into the first-team picture at Anfield.

He’s had an impressive debut season in England’s second tier, notching three goals and seven assists in his 24 outings, playing a key role in Michael Carrick’s play-off push.

The report claims that the Toffees have a growing interest in the Scottish international, with Arne Slot’s side having no issue with selling him to their rivals should an acceptable offer present itself.

It would be a huge investment from the board, but one that could set them up for future success – potentially being their own version of a leading Premier League star.

Why Doak could become Everton’s own Salah

Mohamed Salah has been a leading talent in England’s top flight over the last few years, undoubtedly to the annoyance of Everton supporters.

The Liverpool winger has notched 184 goals in the Premier League after his move to Anfield back in the summer of 2017, with eight of his efforts coming against the Toffees.

There’s no denying that he’s an elite-level talent, but Moyes’ side could land their own version of the Egyptian this summer should Doak move across Merseyside.

The similarities between the Scotsman and Salah are there for all to see, with the pair both having blistering pace and their desire to cut inside onto their favoured foot – with the obvious factor being that both currently are on the books of Slot’s side.

Joining from the Reds would undoubtedly be a controversial move, but one that could excite supporters, with Doak producing some similar stats to the Liverpool star – albeit in a lower-quality division.

Games played

24

31

Goals & assists

10

44

Shot-on-target accuracy

52%

46%

Progressive carries

6.8

4.2

Pass accuracy

79%

71%

Take-ons completed

1.8

1.6

Fouls won

1.3

1.1

The Scotsman, who’s been labelled a “generational” talent by one analyst, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but has managed to achieve a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – showcasing the attacking threat he carries.

He’s also completed more take-ons per 90, whilst also achieving more progressive carries per 90, highlighting his superb talent with the ball at his feet.

Doak is still only 19, having the ability to develop further down the line, subsequently taking his career to the next level with more minutes in the top-flight, something which he won’t receive with the Reds.

Whilst £30m would be a huge sum to splash out on a young prospect, he’s already demonstrated that he has the tools to make it at the top level, potentially being a bargain should he continue on his upward trajectory.

Should he get anywhere near the levels produced by Salah over the last few years, it would be a sensational piece of business, taking the side to new heights upon their move to the new stadium.

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It was a night of mixed emotions for Arsenal on Tuesday.

Mikel Arteta lost another player to a hamstring injury, this time Gabriel Magalhaes, but the team picked up all three points at home to Fulham, and Bukayo Saka made his long-awaited return.

Moreover, the Hale End icon scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal just seven minutes after coming off the bench.

The importance of the Englishman’s return cannot be overstated, although it could spell trouble for one of the club’s leaders.

Saka's importance to Arsenal

It was on December 21st, away to Crystal Palace, that Saka injured his hamstring, and since then, the points gap to Liverpool has grown from just seven points to 12.

If that wasn’t evidence enough of the winger’s importance, then how about the fact that of the 13 league games he’s missed this season – including the away defeat to Bournemouth – the North Londoners have dropped points on six occasions.

Those included four draws against Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and Manchester United, plus the defeats against West Ham United and the Cherries.

Games

17

13

Wins

10

7

Draws

6

4

Losses

1

2

Points per Game

2.11

1.92

In comparison, the Gunners have dropped points in just seven of the 17 league games the mercurial winger has played this season, courtesy of six draws and one loss.

That means that when Saka plays in the Premier League this season, the Gunners have averaged 2.11 points per game, whereas when he has not played, they’ve averaged just 1.92, which is a significant drop.

In short, the fact he’s back in action is brilliant news for the club, but it could be less so for one of Arteta’s regular starters.

The Arsenal star who might be in trouble

So, there might be a number of you who assume the player who could miss due to Saka’s return is Ethan Nwaneri, and while that’s a perfectly logical assumption, it’s not.

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In fact, due to the teenager’s own impressive form this season, scoring eight goals and providing two assists in 1153 minutes of action, and the fact he’s more than capable of playing in the middle of the park, we would not be surprised to see Arteta move him there for the game tomorrow, in place of Martin Odegaard.

Yes, the starter in danger is none other than the club captain, who may be an incredibly talented midfielder in his own right but has been undeniably poor this season.

For example, despite the fact he is supposed to be the creative hub of the team, the Drammen-born international has only scored five goals and provided eight assists in 33 appearances this season, which comes out to a disappointing average of a goal involvement every 2.53 games.

That’s a not-so-insignificant drop from his 22 goal involvements in 48 appearances last season, an average of one every 2.18 games, and worse yet, his actual performances have been far more frustrating this year, as he consistently struggles to make his mark on games.

Appearances

45

48

33

Minutes

3404′

4053′

2579′

Goals

15

11

5

Assists

7

11

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.48

0.45

0.39

Minutes per Goal Involvement

154.72′

184.22

198.38′

It was the same story on Tuesday, as the Standard’s Dom Smith awarded him a 6/10 match rating, writing that he ‘should have done better’ with the opportunities he received and that it just ‘didn’t quite happen for him’ on the night.

Fans are also starting to lose their patience somewhat, with content creator Rimedi arguing he’s “not at the level” at the moment while fellow content creator Alex Moneypenny claimed he was “falling out of love” with the Norwegian following another dismal showing.

Ultimately, Odegaard is an incredibly talented player, but he has not shown that this year, and with Saka back at right-wing and Nwaneri in red-hot form and capable of playing in attacking midfield, he might be in real danger of losing his place in the team.

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ByEmilio Galantini Apr 4, 2025

Leeds United are back in action once again this evening as they prepare to travel to Oxford United in the Championship for the first of their two Easter matches.

The Whites play after Sheffield United face Cardiff City earlier in the day and this means that they could go eight points clear of third place with a win, if results go their way.

Daniel Farke has already shown that he is willing to make bold selection decisions ahead of big games, having already played a blinder by dropping Illan Meslier recently.

Why Illan Meslier was dropped by Leeds

The French dud was dropped by the German head coach after making two crucial mistakes in the 2-2 draw with Swansea at Elland Road at the end of last month, dropping a cross onto Harry Darling for the first goal and being beaten too easily for the second strike.

Meslier conceded 2.73 more goals than expected and made three errors that directly led to goals in the Championship before finally being taken out of the team in favour of Karl Darlow.

The English shot-stopper has prevented 0.56 xG in his three appearances since he came into the XI, without making a single error, and provided a solid presence between the sticks.

His ability to claim crosses and take danger out of situations has been appreciated by the fan base, as shown by the post from reporter Beren Cross above.

Farke could, now, repeat the trick he played by dropping Meslier by dropping another regular starter in Joel Piroe, whose performances have dipped of late.

Why Joel Piroe should be dropped

The Dutch centre-forward started the 2-1 win over Preston North End and came off the pitch without a goal or an assist to show for his efforts for the eighth game running.

Chalkboard

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

Piroe started all eight of those matches, returning zero goals and zero assists, and has only scored one goal in his last ten starts in the Championship for Leeds.

The left-footed forward was described as “anonymous” by reporter James Marshment in February, and that is one of the issues with his performances for the Whites because the striker does not offer enough in his general play without goals to go with it.

Appearances

42

xG

15.06

Goals

15

Key passes per game

0.8

Pass accuracy

77%

Ground duel success rate

33%

Aerial duel success rate

18%

Dribble success rate

31%

As you can see in the table above, Piroe is regularly dominated by Championship defenders in duels on the ground and in the air, whilst he does not excel as a passer, creator, or dribbler in possession.

This means that the former Swansea City attacker has been a lightweight in the Whites starting XI in the past eight matches as a starter, because of his poor all-round displays as well as his lack of impact in the final third.

Therefore, Farke could repeat his Meslier trick by ruthlessly ditching Piroe from the team to unleash Patrick Bamford, who recently came off the bench to win six of his nine duels against Middlesbrough.

The English number nine could provide more physicality at the top end of the pitch, as the Dutchman has been too easy for defenders to play against, as Leeds look to get their Premier League promotion over the line in the coming days.

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ByDan Emery Apr 16, 2025

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk peeled away after scoring the late winner against West Ham United at the weekend and kissed the badge, effectively confirming that his story on Merseyside will continue beyond the current campaign.

The captain’s contribution put the Reds within touching distance of lifting the Premier League title: should Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur be turned over in the fixtures to come, gold will be secured.

Van Dijk, 33, has been engaged in protracted contract discussions with FSG over the past several months, with a breakthrough seemingly found in the past week.

An announcement has yet to be confirmed, but a two-year extension for the awe-inspiring centre-back is, by all accounts, sealed.

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ByStephan Georgiou Mar 31, 2025

Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah’s new deal has already been confirmed. The 32-year-old forward has been Liverpool’s driving force this season, surely a shoo-in for the division’s Player of the Year award.

Sadly, Liverpool have been luckless in trying to tie Trent Alexander-Arnold down to his boyhood club for the prime years of his career. The right-back has been sold on the dream of plying his trade for Real Madrid.

This is a terrible shame, one which will sit sour with the fanbase for a long time. However, Liverpool are already proving that they can overcome the painful setback.

How Liverpool are forgetting about Trent

Liverpool are planning to defend their incoming Premier League title by means of attack, attack, attack. This summer, the Reds are planning to throw down with the best of them and strengthen across a range of positions.

Getting Van Dijk and Salah’s deals done means such things can be prioritised, with several exciting signings – alongside the title – sure to ease the anguish over Alexander-Arnold’s departure.

Of course, Liverpool will need to sign a new right-back, but Conor Bradley has proved that he has what it takes to star as Liverpool’s first-choice.

Talented, athletic and more conventionally tailored to the positional berth than his English counterpart, Bradley, 21, is making headway, with The Liverpool Echo awarding him an 8/10 match rating for his performance against West Ham, completing 91% of his passes and winning six of eight contested duels, as per Sofascore.

Liverpool can cope with Alexander-Arnold’s exit; indeed, those in the Anfield offices may have been tacitly resigned to the outcome for many months at this stage.

Real Madrid are a greedy lot, though, and might not be content with just Liverpool’s Scouse-born sensation. Florentino Perez might actually have his sights set on another of Arne Slot’s prized members.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Liverpool facing another Trent disaster

According to reports over in Spain, Real Madrid have their eye on Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, billing him as an option ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report notes that he is ‘considered attractive to Real Madrid due to his quality’ and few would suggest he isn’t worthy of playing in the finest midfields around.

The shops might be shuttered right now, but Los Blancos are doing groundwork and might be buoyed in their intrigue after the player’s father publicly discussed the La Liga giants’ interest.

Given the magnitude of Liverpool’s transfer task this summer, it would be a detrimental blow to lose their midfield linchpin when some more punch needs to be added to the engine room anyway.

Why Liverpool can't lose Alexis Mac Allister

When Liverpool signed Brighton’s Mac Allister, they signed him for £35m. A recently-crowned World Cup winner and the midfield fulcrum behind the Seagulls’ fast rise to prominence, this was considered a bargain from those in the know.

An all-action, intelligent and technically gifted player, the 26-year-old was instrumental in steadying Jurgen Klopp’s ship last season, in returning to the Champions League, in lifting the Carabao Cup.

Now, in Slot’s system, he’s been the centrepiece of a looming Premier League triumph.

The Argentine has kept his level just so across his two campaigns in Liverpool colours, adapting to a different role under Slot’s wing while maintaining his quality.

Matches (starts)

33 (31)

31 (28)

Goals

5

4

Assists

5

4

Touches*

74.2

57.6

Pass completion

88%

87%

Key passes*

1.4

1.2

Dribbles*

0.5

0.5

Ball recoveries*

5.9

4.3

Tackles + interceptions*

4.1

3.3

Duels won*

5.9

5.0

Hailed as a “superstar” who “can play anywhere” by pundit Joe Cole, losing Mac Allister this summer would be tantamount to losing the glue that keeps Slot’s system ticking over.

Reporter Bence Bocsak has very neatly drawn attention to his far-reaching influence, having won the most tackles for the Merseysiders this term while also sparking more shot-creating actions than all but, you guessed it, Salah.

Liverpool have had ample time to prepare for Alexander-Arnold’s departure and indeed have a factory-built replacement waiting in the wings. However, no one plays the £150k-per-week Mac Allister’s role to the same degree.

He plays his football with an almighty fusion of combativeness and creativity, further evidenced through FBref’s data: Mac Allister ranks among the top 15% of Premier League midfielders for shot-creating actions, the top 14% for tackles and the top 4% for interceptions per 90.

Liverpool have much to get on with this summer, and though Mac Allister is highly valued – Transfermarkt record the player’s market price at about £78m right now – Slot and co will surely consider the drawbacks to cashing in on the central linchpin.

Make no mistake, losing Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid is going to be a bitter blow that will sting for a long time, but if the Spaniards swoop in for Mac Allister, it could unravel all the good work being put in at Anfield.

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