Manchester City players and staff do not deserve a bonus for their 2024-25 campaign, in the view of manager Pep Guardiola.
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Plays of the day from the World T20 game between South Africa and Afghanistan in Mumbai
Firdose Moonda20-Mar-2016The one-handed maximumSouth Africa dazzled with an array of boundaries in the first six overs but the most eye-catching one came when Faf du Plessis took on Mohammad Nabi. The offspinner dropped one short, du Plessis gave himself room by stepping outside leg stump, went deep into his crease, took his top hand off the handle of his bat and carved the ball over cover using just one hand.The mix-up Quinton de Kock knew Faf du Plessis had his dancing shoes on, so when du Plessis jabbed Amir Hamza into the covers, de Kock thought a quick run was on. Then de Kock saw Mohammad Nabi swooping in and realised it was too risky so he turned back. At the other end, du Plessis had already responded but soon saw it was wiser to turn back. He was late to undo his steps and Nabi’s throw came in quickly for Mohammad Shahzad to catch the South African captain short of his ground.The drop AB de Villiers had just started to threaten when he offered Afghanistan a chance. He sent a Samiullah Shenwari delivery straight back to him. Shenwari had to react quickly in his follow through and got his hands up in time but then it all became too much. He could not hold on as the ball burst through his hands and de Villiers got his 27th run. He would go on to score 37 more.The placementHis ability to hit the ball anywhere he wants had already been on display but to further emphasise the point, AB de Villiers bisected the gap between the stands in the middle of his assault on Rashid Khan. After hitting him through midwicket twice and straight down the ground, de Villiers smeared a short ball straight into the daylight that peeped through a gap in the stand at midwicket. That also brought up fifty for him, off 24 balls.The poser Mohammad Shahzad probably knows he is not model material but that did not stop him from striking a pose after a perfect lofted drive. As the Kyle Abbott delivery was sent cleanly over long-on, Shahzad held his stance: head down, bat straight, elbows high. And there he stood.The misfield Faf du Plessis had specifically asked for discipline from his attack but he may need to extend that to include his fielders. Mohammad Nabi sliced David Wiese to short third man, where Imran Tahir was stationed. Tahir failed to move quickly enough to his left and by the time he got there, the bounce had the better of him. Tahir could not even get a hand to the ball as it disappeared past his legs and onto the boundary. Wiese’s figures were already mangled, but that didn’t help.
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani is potentially set to go head to head with the incumbent Greg Barclay in the ICC chairman election scheduled for next weekend. ESPNcricinfo has learned that Mukuhlani, who has been on the ICC board for a long time as the ZC representative, has declared his intention to enter the contest – subject to his getting enough support from the smaller Full Member countries as well as the Associates.ESPNcricinfo recently reported that Imran Khwaja, the ICC deputy chair, was going to stand, but he is believed to have withdrawn. Khwaja suffered a fractious defeat in the 2020 elections against Barclay. Back then, Barclay secured influential support from the BCCI which paved the way for the New Zealander to win by 11 votes to five, in what turned out to be a two-round contest.In July this year, after the ICC annual general meeting, Barclay declared he was ready to contest for a second two-year term. Barclay is believed to be bullish about his prospects, especially as election rules have been tweaked with the winner to be decided on the basis of a simple majority. In 2020 the winning candidate needed a two-third majority from the 16-strong ballot. The 16 votes are from the ICC board of 12 Full Members, one independent director (Indra Nooyi) and three Associate directors which includes Khwaja.Khwaja had received six votes in the first round two years ago, but Cricket South Africa’s vote in the second round tipped the contest in Barclay’s direction. Once beaten, twice shy, Khwaja, one of the most experienced directors on the board, weighed his options and eventually decided not to contest this time, despite having got the mandatory one vote to get nominated.While it could not be confirmed on October 20, the nomination deadline day, Mukuhlani, too, had been proposed by one of the ICC directors. And now he has the second vote, enough to support a nomination. While he is keen to fight the elections, Mukuhlani will likely take a final call in the next week once he senses the kind of support he could expect.Greg Barclay is the current ICC chairman and is looking for another term•Kai Schwoerer/ICC/Getty Images
Mukuhlani is part of the ICC’s Audit Committee and chair of the Membership Committee. He is also part of the global body’s Olympics working group, which is tasked with pushing for cricket’s entry in the Summer Games. Popularly known as ‘Doc’ in ICC circles, Mukuhlani believes he has the experience to take over the leadership and become a voice for smaller members and Associates. He is hedging his chances mainly on getting support from a majority of Asian countries except for the BCCI. At the moment, it is believed that the BCCI vote is leaning towards Barclay, but options remain open till election date. The election is planned to take place during the ICC meetings, scheduled on November 12-13 in Melbourne.Mukuhlani’s manifesto revolves around striving for equity among members and advocating for governance changes. It aligns with the vision Khwaja has had for several years and was to an extent able to put into effect during the four years Shashank Manohar was ICC chairman (2016-20). Both men worked closely to dismantle the Big Three power structure and put in place a fresh financial model where smaller countries received an enhanced share from the ICC revenue pool.That pot has now grown much bigger after Disney Star* bought ICC broadcast rights for men’s and women’s events between 2024-27. The deal, to broadcast in the India market only, is reportedly worth over US$3 billion, considerably more than what the ICC got in the previous rights cycle (which was for eight years, and globally). Barclay, too, is drumming up support and is believed to have put a re-look at the financial distribution model as well as modifying the governance model at the forefront of his strategic plan for a second term. Other than looking at enhancing individual countries’ share of the pie, Barclay wants to invest money in strategic funds as well has promotion of women’s cricket.
Hopes are high for a resurgence from Renegades with the help of new overseas players including Andre Russell, Martin Guptill, Akeal Hosein and Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Alex Malcolm14-Dec-2022Captain Nic Maddinson
Coach David SakerSquad Nic Maddinson, Zak Evans, Aaron Finch, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Martin Guptill (New Zealand), Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Mackenzie Harvey, Akeal Hosein (West Indies), Ruwantha Kellapotha (Sri Lanka), Shaun Marsh, David Moody, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Tom Rogers, Andre Russell (West Indies), Will Sutherland, Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan), Jon WellsIn Martin Guptill, Peter Handscomb, Akeal Hosein, Ruwantha Kellapotha, David Moody, Corey Rocchiccioli, Tom Rogers, Andre Russell, Mujeed Ur Rahman
Out Unmukt Chand, Jono Merlo, James Seymour, Mohammad Nabi, James Pattinson, Cameron Boyce, Josh Lalor, Zahir Khan, Reece Topley
Renegades had an excellent draft on the night but their best-laid plans were thrown in chaos when Liam Livingstone, the No. 1 platinum pick and most sought-after man in the draft, was picked in England’s Test squad and decided to withdraw from the BBL. Renegades’ two other draft picks, Akeal Hosein and Mujeeb Ur Rahman are still coming to the BBL and could form a destructive spin duo, especially at Docklands Stadium and Kardinya Park in Geelong. But both will leave the tournament in early January to head to the ILT20 in the UAE. Renegades have been able to secure some very good replacements for Livingstone at least with Andre Russell available to play the first four games of the season while Martin Guptill is available for the next 10 after that, giving Renegades some real international quality in their batting department.Related
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Despite a change of coach and a stronger looking attack Renegades maintained their stranglehold on the BBL wooden spoon last season, finishing last for the third tournament in a row. They had aimed to build a game plan around a strong well-rounded attack but injuries cruelled them with only Zahir Khan managing to play the entire season. Their batters struggled again with not one single player capable of striking at more than 132 and availability was also an issue with Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh also battling injuries. They only managed three wins for the season, with one coming against a Covid-depleted Melbourne Stars side. Even in the last game of the season, they failed to get over the line against Sydney Thunder despite legspinner Cameron Boyce bagging four wickets in four balls and Finch making 82.
Marcus Harris is currently away with Australia’s Test squad but there is a possibility he could be released to play in the BBL at various stages where it suits. They had already lost Livingstone to England duty. Russell is playing the first four games but that will be offset by Guptill’s arrival. They will also lose Hosein and Mujeeb to the ILT20 after the January 7 game against Hobart Hurricanes but they are available for the first nine games of the season.
Nic Maddinson has flattered to deceive in T20 cricket. He has all the tools to be an outstanding T20 player. He has the power, the 360-degree capabilities and the experience having played for Australia, in the IPL, CPL and the Blast. But since moving from Sydney to Melbourne for a fresh start with Victoria, he has really struggled in the BBL despite flourishing at first-class level. He has averaged 14.44 struck at just 104 in his last 39 T20 innings. Renegades made him captain last year in his first season after moving from Melbourne Stars but he struggled in the difficult middle-order roles. He is set to go back to the top where he made his name for Sydney Sixers in the past. Fast starts and big runs from Maddinson will help set Renegades up for success given they have added more middle-order experience in Jon Wells.
It’s hard to call Sam Harper a young player given he is 26 and in his seventh season as a professional cricketer, but his batting looks in the best shape it has done for quite some time at Sheffield Shield level having posted a century and a half-century this season. He has shown glimpses in BBL’s past, including some excellent contributions in Renegades’ lone title in 2018-19. However, he has struggled to bed down a defined role since, but this might be the season where he could string together some consistency. He will be given the chance to play with some freedom given there are likely to be more experienced players around him than there has been in the recent past.
His tenure might not have ended in the best way possible, but Mauricio Pochettino turned Tottenham Hotspur into a sensational side during his five years at the club.
The Argentine took charge in 2014, turned a mediocre team into genuine title contenders, and even led the club to their first Champions League final.
This was achieved through a combination of brilliant tactics and astute recruitment, with players like Son Heung-min, Toby Alderweireld and Dele Alli all joining the club under the 52-year-old’s watch.
However, for all the incredible players he brought to N17, Pochettino was also responsible for his fair share of dud signings, including one who proved to be a massive mistake and earned as much as star attacker Brennan Johnson does today.
Pochettino's worst signings
Before we get to the offender in question, let’s look at some of the other poor signings made under Pochettino’s reign, starting with a striker who couldn’t score: Vincent Janssen.
Yes, the Dutch centre-forward joined the North Londoners for £17m in the summer of 2016 following a sublime season with AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, in which he scored 32 goals and provided seven assists in 49 appearances.
Unfortunately, the Heesch-born poacher seemed like a totally different player in England and after a few years which saw him go out on loan to Fenerbahçe for a season, the 30-year-old left N17 for just £6m, with six goals and four assists in 42 appearances to his name.
Another striker who failed to live up to expectations under Pochettino was Clinton N’Jie, who joined the club for £12m in August 2015, following a promising campaign with Lyon in which he scored eight goals and provided nine assists.
However, as with Janssen, the Cameroonian marksman seemingly lost the ability to score following his move and would eventually leave the club two years later following a loan move back to France, with no goals and just one assist to his name in 14 appearances for the Lilywhites.
That said, while N’Jie was a bad transfer, he didn’t cost the club anywhere near as much as the following transfer.
Pochettino's costly mistake
The player in question is former Spurs full-back Serge Aurier.
The North Londoners opted to pay Paris Saint-Germain £23m for the Ivorian defender in August 2017, and while the move raised a few eyebrows at the time due to him receiving a suspended sentence for assaulting a police officer a year earlier, his performances on the pitch were deemed good enough.
For example, in 32 appearances for the French giants in the 16/17 campaign, he produced a reasonable tally of five assists, including one against North London rivals Arsenal in the Champions League.
Unfortunately, instead of getting a reliable and effective attacking right-back, the Lilywhites got an unreliable and “erratic” liability, as dubbed by former icon Teddy Sheringham, who managed to get himself sent off on his first Premier League start for the club.
The Ouragahio-born enigma would get himself sent off for a second time just a couple of years later in a league game against Southampton, and when he gave away a pointless foul in the 2021 League Cup final that led to Manchester City’s winner, Jamie Carragher blasted him.
Truth be told, the criticism was incredibly scathing with the Sky Sports pundit labelling him as “one of the biggest liabilities in Premier League football” and the kind of player who would “put you off management with the amount of crazy decision he makes.”
It was in the aftermath of the defeat that his contract, which saw him earn £80k-per-week in his first season at the club and £70k-per-week for the next three, was finally terminated by mutual consent, with him having scored eight goals and provided 17 assists in 110 appearances.
So, when combined, the former PSG ace earned a whopping £15m in wages from the Lilywhites, meaning his total cost to the club, including his fee, was an enormous £38m, which does not seem like fair value considering the performances he put in.
Transfer Fee
£23m
Total Wages
£15m
Appearances
110
Cost per Appearance
£345k
Goals
8
Cost per Goal
£4.7m
Assists
17
Cost per Assist
£2.2m
Goal Involvements
25
Cost per Goal Involvement
£1.5m
When broken down, that comes to £345k-per-appearance, £4.7m-per-goal, £2.2m-per-assist and £1.5m-per-goal-involvement.
Ultimately, while he was able to put in some good performances here and there, the poor discipline, huge costs, and disastrous foul in the League Cup Final make it hard to look at Aurier’s transfer as anything other than a massive failure, especially when he earned as much as Johnson is today.
Incredible Spurs star sold by Mourinho is now outscoring Maddison & Son
The sensational international has been on a journey since leaving Spurs.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 19, 2024
da imperador bet： Tottenham are now reportedly ready to make a splash in the January transfer market as they look to bolster Ange Postecoglou’s options in defence following a tough start to the Premier League season.
Tottenham consistently inconsistent
da wazamba： Heading into the November international break, Tottenham continue to blow hot and cold under Ange Postecoglou. Currently 10th in the Premier League, they have recorded impressive wins over Manchester United and Manchester City (in the Carabao Cup), but have also given first wins of the season to Crystal Palace and Ipswich Town, losing to the Tractor Boys 2-1 at home in their most recent outing.
The upshot of that is that they have lost five of their first 11 games, winning another five and drawing just once, a run of form that leaves them three points outside the top six as things stand.
Spurs join race to sign £30,000-p/w Marmoush teammate Kulusevski knows well
He could be just what Ange Postecoglou’s side need to add to their ranks.
ByBen Browning Nov 11, 2024
As was the case across the 2023/24 campaign, issues in north London are particularly obvious when first choice defenders Cristian Romero or Micky van de Ven are sidelined, and Radu Dragusin has not made the desired impact in the 12 months since arriving from Genoa, with the Romanian defender yet to challenge either for a first team spot when everyone is fit.
Elsewhere, Ben Davies continues to flatter to deceive when asked to step into the breach, and with reported interest from Real Madrid in Romero and persistent injuries to Van de Ven, the Spurs defence is facing a pivotal few months. Now, they are ready to bolster it with a new addition in January.
Spurs ready move for "monster" defender
That comes as a report from Italy claims that Spurs are ready to offer up to 30m euros (£25m) for Inter defender Yann Bisseck in January.
The Cameroonian defender has started just four Serie A games this season for the Nerazzurri, but impressed in the Champions League against Arsenal as he helped Simone Inzaghi’s side to a 1-0 win over Tottenham’s north London rivals.
He was hailed as a “monster” by football analyst Pythagoras in Boots on X, who praised his “good athleticism complemented some good positioning” in the victory. Though right-footed, he is comfortable playing on either side of defence as part of either a back three or back four, and is under contract until 2028 at San Siro.
It has been claimed that he is set to sign a one year extension to that deal, but Inter.Live claim that Tottenham are ready to try and lure him out of Milan as soon as January.
Yann Bisseck 2024/25
Appearances
11
Goals
0
Assists
0
Yellow Cards
1
Pass Accuracy
89.3%
Tackles and interceptions per 90
1.78
It is claimed that Tottenham would be willing to shell out £25m, a fee that would see Inter make a massive profit on the £7m they shelled out to bring Bisseck to Italy.
Should he arrive in north London, Bisseck would be able to provide some much-needed cover and competition for both sides of Postecoglou’s defence, and would also leave Spurs less vulnerable should Real Madrid opt to pursue their early interest in Cristian Romero.
While Bangladesh are down on confidence, West Indies are bursting with it and coach Phil Simmons now wants his team to continue this progress for the rest of the World Test Championship cycle.The captain Kraigg Brathwaite has been a significant factor in West Indies’ rise in the last 18 months. He made the highest score (94) across all four innings in the Antigua Test against Bangladesh and, according to his coach, is constantly getting better as both a player and a leader.”Everyone has seen [Brathwaite’s] determination,” Simmons said. “His unique style. He doesn’t have a problem doing his job for five days. It is unique because a lot of batsmen nowadays like to play shots and be done with it.”From his point of view, he wants to be there for the team. That rolls into the captaincy. He is not loud but the players know what he wants. He makes them understand in his unique way. He seems to be growing in the role.”With their victory on Sunday, West Indies have now won three of their eight WTC matches and are unbeaten in their last four Tests.”We started 2021 in the same way,” Simmons said. “We won two in Bangladesh, and drew two against Sri Lanka. It is about how we go forward from here. I want to be unbeaten in all five Tests in this year. That would be good for me. Guys are getting confident in what they are doing. It makes your job and role easier the more confidence you have. It has happened especially after winning the series against England not too long ago. The confidence showed.”Kemar Roach too contributed heavily in the Antigua win, after nearly missing the game. The 33-year old fast bowler had to clear a last-minute fitness test to make himself available for selection, and once he did, he terrorised the Bangladesh batting line-up, finishing with match figures of 7 for 74 and equalling Michael Holding’s tally of 249 Test wickets.”[Roach] has taken things to the next level,” Simmons said. “He has been excellent. He is now tied with Mikey [Holding], but in the dressing room he is always leading the youngsters. He has played 70 Tests, so he educates them. It is great to have him in the dressing room.”There were other boxes ticked off as well. John Campbell made his first Test fifty in 15 innings, an innings which helped them recover from 9 for 3 and see off a chase of 84. “I think it was really important,” Simmons said. “He has had good starts in most of the games but failed to get past that 30-40 mark. The unbeaten fifty must give him some kind of confidence to get that big score, hopefully in the next Test match.”West Indies’ slip catching too was impressive in this Test match. They took 13 catches behind the wicket, dropping just the one. Six of those 13 catches were taken at slip, while wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva gobbled up the other seven. Simmons was asked to explain this and he said, “it is a matter of practice. I think the guys are enjoying the fact that the balls are coming to them. It is after a long time I am seeing the ball going to first slip in the Caribbean. It is nice to see.”There’s also the fact that Jason Holder might come back into the team later in the year so nobody wants to be put out of there. They know that he will walk right back into the slips. That could be a motivation too.”
تحدث خافيير ماسكيرانو، المدير الفني لفريق إنتر ميامي، بشكل مراوغ عن مستقبل النجم ليونيل ميسي وما إذا كان سيوقع عقدًا جديدًا مع النادي الأمريكي.
ومن المعروف أن العقد الحالي للنجم الأرجنتيني مع إنتر ميامي سينتهي نهاية عام 2025.
وذكرت تقارير صحفية في الفترة الأخيرة أنه لا يوجد أي اتفاق حتى الآن بين ميسي ومسؤولي إنتر ميامي بشأن التجديد، مما فتح باب التكهنات حول مستقبله وإمكانية رحيله.
في حين يستعد إنتر ميامي للمشاركة في كأس العالم للأندية الشهر المقبل، حيث يتواجد في مجموعة تضم كلًا من الأهلي المصري، بورتو البرتغالي وبالميراس البرازيلي.
وقال ماسكيرانو، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “espn” العالمية: “بصفتي مدربًا، أريد أن يجدد ميسي عقده في أسرع وقت ممكن، وأن يتم الإعلان عن الخبر في أسرع وقت، حرصًا على راحة الجماهير والنادي”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. الكشف عن الوجهة الأقرب لـ مودريتش بعد رحيله عن ريال مدريد
وأضاف: “لست مسؤولًا عن الإعلان عن ذلك أو التعليق عليه، فأنا لست طرفًا في المفاوضات”.
جاءت تصريحات ماسكيرانو بعد خسارة إنتر ميامي 5 من آخر 7 مباريات في جميع المسابقات.
واسترسل: “من الواضح أننا استفدنا من هذا الأسبوع للعمل على العديد من الأمور التي يتعين علينا تحسينها، وقد كان ذلك مثمرًا للغاية، ولكنه لا يختلف عما كنا نفعله”.
واختتم: “لقد تحدثنا مع اللاعبين وتجاوزنا المرحلة الصعبة، الأمر يتوقف علينا من أجل تحسين الأداء والسيطرة على هذه اللحظة”.
Cameron White and debutant Chris Lynn were the latest feel-good tales on another successful night for Australia
Vithushan Ehantharajah29-Jan-2014On a day that Hobart’s watching public apparently needed two trampolinists and two sets of breakdancers to tell us who was ahead, at any given moment, through tucked tumbles and Crip walks, it was something old and something new that helped Australia to an insurmountable 213.Even as Ravi Bopara smited gleefully into the dusk, finishing with a ridiculous 65 off 27 balls – featuring seven maximums, some wristy as sin – it only served to compound just how frustrating it all was. Where was this Bopara in Adelaide?But for Australia, the feel-good stories just keep rolling in, like the preliminary rounds of your favourite (definitely not rigged) talent show. Today was the turn of Cameron White – a man whose international highlights include debuting as an ODI substitute – yes, that was a real thing – for Damien Martyn against the ICC World XI – so was that – and playing in India as a Test legspinner (Sachin Tendulkar counts as one of his five wickets). He also used to be captain of this format.Today, at the top of the order, in a position he has embraced, White brought brains to Aaron Finch’s brawn, as the pair put on 106 inside 11 overs. White agreed with the insinuation that a spot at the top of the order in this form had reinvigorated him.At Northamptonshire, his runs from first-drop were one of the many contributing factors to the county’s Friend Life t20 win last season. In the final, his 54 not out helped blow Surrey out of the water before they had even began chasing. A familiar thought among those in the Northants dressing room was of disbelief that he had played so little international cricket.”It’s always nice to get back in these colours,” White gushed, oblivious to the fact he was donned in a kit best described as off-black. His last appearance in an Australia shirt came in the 2012 World T20, against the West Indies. His effort today
may, along with his form in the BBL – 201 runs at an average of 33.50 – see him push for the 2014 edition next month. But not in his books.”Obviously David Warner and Shane Watson have got to come back in – I’m not exactly sure I’ll be in the team. I can just concentrate on these next couple of games and put my best foot forward and score a few more runs. With that World Twenty20 around the corner, that’s a bit of an aim, but I expect those guys to come back in.”
Despite the dead-eye stare and the assurance he carries, Lynn has his insecurities, particularly over his hair, which he is paranoid about losing
White’s modesty is understandable. International sport, unlike House DJs, is more at ease fashioning shiny new things than recycling forgotten classics. As such, it was Chris Lynn taking Australia to an emphatic score, even with the abbreviated boundary, that probably resonated more.Lynn is on a very different path altogether, but one he hopes is not as stop-start as White’s. His debut knock of 33 from just 19 balls featured three maximums, none of which were to the short side. His first in internationals was straight over the bowler’s head, as was his third – sandwiched between both was a firm slap into the building site.A popular character, Lynn first came to prominence as a Test hopeful before developing his big-hitting. His emergence, now, as an international class T20 batsman owes a lot to the time and effort Queensland cricket have put into him. The last few seasons have seen him used sparingly in Sheffield Shield, with a view to honing his game for limited-overs work. It’s certainly paid off, with Lynn growing in stature as a power-hitting force with each season of the shortest form.But despite the dead-eye stare and the assurance he carries, Lynn has his insecurities, particularly over his hair, which he is paranoid about losing. He often wears caps, not unlike the ones you see in the Big Bash League, to ensure the top of his head is rarely on display.For a match, he will carry an array of caps in his kit bag for before, during and after, in a bid to cover his scalp. The story goes that one team-mate thought it would be funny to hide them, just before the lunch interval, to get a reaction out of Lynn. After sitting through the 40-minute interval, with no sign of him, Lynn’s team-mates returned to the dressing room to find him sitting in his regular spot, with his batting helmet on.Now, as he enters the international spotlight he’ll do well to keep his head – and his hat – in check for what could be a very fruitful career.
Manchester United’s 2024/25 campaign has simply been a disaster so far. The Red Devils cannot buy a win and are struggling to string good performances together. Erik ten Hag’s job as manager continuously comes under fire, and it could well get to the point where it becomes untenable.
United’s next game could be a defining one for the Dutchman. They face high-flying Aston Villa away from home and are in need of a win for a multitude of reasons. This is largely because they headed into the weekend sat in 13th place in the Premier League table, and have just seven points to their name from six games.
Should the Red Devils get a victory at Villa Park, which seems a tough ask given Unai Emery’s side are on a high after beating Bayern Munich, it would be their first victory in some time. United have failed to win in their last four games, chalking up three draws and one loss – that defeat being their devastating 3-0 defeat at home to Tottenham. Their last outing, against Porto in the Europa League, finished 3-3 thanks to a last-gasp equaliser from Harry Maguire.
It might well be time for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his newly appointed footballing structure to sack Ten Hag. That does beg the question, who would be next for the Red Devils? They have recently been linked with someone who would be hoping to quickly change things at Old Trafford.
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2 ByStephan Georgiou Oct 28, 2024 Who United are thought to be targeting
The manager in question here is former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel. Reports over the summer suggested the Red Devils wanted him in charge then as INEOS considered Ten Hag’s future. However, there were rumours the two parties disagreed over the club’s new transfer policies.
With that being said, the Red Devils may well go back in for the German in the future. According to a report from the i, United “are expected to resume talks” over a potential move should they remove Ten Hag from his post.
The report also claims the German has plenty of admirers within the new United hierarchy, and “is considered a world-leading coach”.
Should United decide to sack Ten Hag in the coming weeks, it could open the door to a return to English football for Tuchel, who has previously managed the Red Devils’ Premier League rivals Chelsea, as well as European powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern, his most recent job.
Why Tuchel would be a good appointment
It would be a real statement of intent for United to appoint 51-year-old Tuchel as Ten Hag’s replacement should the situation arise. Whilst the common misconception is that the German falls out often and does not stay at clubs long, there is one thing that cannot be denied: he is a winner.
At every major club the German has managed, he has won at least one trophy. At Borussia Dortmund, he won the DFB Pokal in 2016/17, while he won the league title twice and had success three times in domestic cups at PSG, as well as getting them to a Champions League final.
His finest hour arguably came in that historic competition when he won it with Chelsea in 2020/21, before winning the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup. In Munich, he won the Bundesliga.
The counter-argument for this is the fact Ten Hag also wins trophies. He has done so in his two and a bit seasons at Old Trafford, winning the Carabao Cup in 2022/23 and the FA Cup last term. Yet, Tuchel wins trophies and maintains a strong league finish – something the Dutchman failed to do last term, with United finishing 8th, marking their lowest finish in the Premier League.
The German’s lowest finish at the end of the season at any European powerhouse he has managed is fourth, with Chelsea in 2020/21, the year they won the Champions League. At Mainz, his first senior role, the 51-year-old helped them climb as high as 5th, and his lowest finish was 13th.
Football statistician Statman Dave described him as “transformational” part way through his Chelsea tenure, and understandably so.
United are clearly a club the German respects, and he even explained his excitement at managing in the Champions League at Old Trafford with Bayern last term. In an interview with TNT Sports, he explained how the iconic stadium has “a very special atmosphere”, before explaining he is “happy to have the privilege” of managing in the biggest club competition in Europe at the stadium.
Not only could Tuchel get instant success at United, but he might also be able to revive the career of one player at the club, Mason Mount. It is no secret that the United No 7 has struggled with injuries during his time at Old Trafford so far. He has played just 25 games, despite joining the club over 12 months ago, and has one goal and one assist to his name.
However, under the German at Stamford Bridge, England international Mount was in the form of his life and played a crucial part in winning multiple trophies. He has played 87 times under the German, scoring and assisting 19 goals apiece. That includes an impressive 11 goals and 10 assists in 32 Premier League games during the 2021/22 campaign, playing in multiple attacking positions.
Manager
Games
Goals
Assists
Frank Lampard
127
22
17
Thomas Tuchel
87
19
19
Gareth Southgate
36
5
5
Henk Fraser
33
8
5
Erik ten Hag
25
1
1
Graham Potter
25
3
5
Edward Sturing
6
6
5
After a hugely disappointing time at Old Trafford since his move from Chelsea for £55m plus £5m in add-ons, the appointment of Tuchel could be exactly what Mount needs to get his career back on track.
Football presenter Dougie Critchley described the England international as “Chelsea’s key man” under the German, calling him a “sensational footballer”. Whilst the Old Trafford faithful are yet to see the best side of Mount, there is no reason to doubt whether Tuchel could help him flourish once more.
This could be a masterstroke from Ratcliffe and the hierarchy at Old Trafford. After a horrendous start to the new campaign, Tuchel could be just the man to turn United around and help get them winning trophies, playing enterprising football and achieving strong league finishes before eventually pushing for the Premier League title.