The first day of the second Test was mostly about one outstanding individual performance: Virender Sehwag destroyed the West Indian attack with his magnificent 180 which put India on course for a huge first-innings total

On the Ball with S Rajesh10-Jun-2006The first day of the second Test was mostly about one outstanding individual performance: Virender Sehwag destroyed the West Indian attack with his magnificent 180 which put India on course for a huge first-innings total. Though Pedro Collins pulled it back somewhat with a wholehearted bowling effort, taking 4 for 75 and getting to 100 Test wickets in the process, India still ended the day well on top.On a pitch which was expected to assist the fast bowlers early, Sehwag completely snatched the initiative at the start with his aggression. It wasn’t just mindless hitting either: when Wasim Jaffer was going strong at the other end en route to their 159-run first-wicket stand – beating India’s previous highest in the West Indies, 136 between Sunil Gavaskar and Anshuman Gaekwad at Kingston in 1975-76 – Sehwag went hard at the bowling, taking advantage of the close-in fielders and the large gaps in the outfield. He scored 99 off 75 balls in the first session, missing by a whisker the opportunity to become the fifth batsman to score a century in the first session of a Test. When India lost Jaffer and VVS Laxman in the second session, he slowed down considerably, before picking up again in the final session when Rahul Dravid assured him of solidity at the other end.

Sehwag’s session-wise progress

Session Balls Runs 4s/ 6s

Morning 75 99 15/ 2 Afternoon 72 43 4/ 0 Evening 43 38 1/ 0 The point and cover region were again the most prolific regions, but 40 of those 68 runs came before lunch, when there were more gaps in the field. As Lara packed the off side after lunch, Sehwag was good enough to work the balls on leg side for his runs.And as usual, Sehwag again proved that what’s a good length to most batsmen is a good run-scoring length for him – he scored at 5.45 per over off good-length deliveries, only marginally lower than his scoring rate off the balls which were too full or too short. The bowler who felt the Sehwag effect the most was Dwayne Bravo – he disappeared for 51 from the 37 balls be bowled to Sehwag; 28 of those deliveries were on a good length, and yet they cost him 37.The only West Indian who came out of the day’s play with his reputation enhanced was Collins, who became the 17th bowler from the region to get to 100 Test wickets. The most impressive aspect of his performance was his control: 110 out of 120 balls reached the batsman on or outside off stump; with Lara putting most of his fielders in a cordon around point and cover, that was the perfect channel to bowl.

Matt Prior became only the third wicketkeeper to score a hundred on debut, and the fifth batsman to do so at Lord’s

S Rajesh and HR Gopalakrishna18-May-2007Four batsmen managed three-figure scores against a hapless West Indian attack, but the man of the moment was undoubtedly Matt Prior, the 25-year-old debutant wicketkeeper. While the rest of the batsmen scored at a strike rate of less than 60, Prior blasted 126 off a mere 128 balls, a scoring rate of 98.43 per 100 balls.As the table below shows, Prior’s most productive stroke was the pull – he played it 12 times for 36 runs, including eight fours. The drives on either side of the wicket fetched him plenty of runs too.

Prior’s most productive strokes

Shot	Balls	Runs	4s
Hook/ Pull	12	36	8
Front-foot drive – off side	24	32	5
Front-foot drive – on side	20	21	2
Other strokes	72	37	4

Prior had little problems in dealing with the good-length stuff – West Indies’ bowlers sent down 93 deliveries around that length, and he scored at more than a run a ball, including 14 fours.

The lengths that West Indies bowled to Prior

Length	Balls	Runs	4s
Good length	93	95	14
Short	20	25	5
Full	15	6	0

With this hundred, Prior has become only the third wicketkeeper to score a hundred on debut, after two Sri Lankan glovemen – Brendon Kuruppu (201 not out against New Zealand in 1986-87) and Romesh Kaluwitharana (132 not out against Australia in 1992). He also became the fifth batsman to score a hundred on debut at Lord’s – after Harry Graham, John Hampshire, Sourav Ganguly and Andrew Strauss – and needs only five more runs to become the highest scorer on debut here. The record is currently held by Ganguly, who scored 131 in 1996.West Indies, on the other hand, didn’t have much to celebrate in the field. Four of their bowlers conceded more than 100 runs – it’s only the second time this has happened to the West Indians in a Test against England: the only earlier occasion was in Jamaica in 1930, when England amassed 849. The only consolation for West Indies is that with two days of play already done, it’s highly unlikely England will attempt to get anywhere near that total.

What the stats have to say about the Australia-West Indies Champions Trophy final

S Rajesh04-Nov-2006

Brian Lara: an average of 26.20 in his last ten ODIs against Australia © Getty Images
Australia have unquestionably been the dominant team over the last few years, but West Indies will fancy their chances in the final of the Champions Trophy. For one, the final will be played at the Brabourne Stadium, the venue of West Indies’ ten-run win in the group stage of the tournament. Also, they have put it across Australia twice in their last three ODIs. In the last three-and-a-half years, though, Australia hold an 8-5 edge. Winning the toss is usually an advantage, but that clearly hasn’t been the case in this tournament – in 20 matches so far, on 14 occasions the team losing the toss has gone on to win. In the four Champions Trophy matches at the Brabourne Stadium, the team winning the toss has won just once. (That, incidentally, was the game in which West Indies beat Australia by ten runs.) West Indies’ batting fortunes will probably depend considerably on how Brian Lara and Chris Gayle perform. Gayle has been sparkling form in this tournament, but his stats against Australia aren’t so impressive – an average of 32.37 from 16 matches. Lara made a crucial 71 in their win against Australia in this tournament, but his recent form against Australia has been disappointing – he averages just 26.20 in his last ten games against them. Ramnaresh Sarwan, too, has struggled against the Australians. Shivnarine Chanderpaul bucks that trend, though – his average of 37.94 against Australia is marginally higher than his career average. If Lara has disappointed against Australia recently, then the same can be said for Ricky Ponting’s last few performances against West Indies – in his last seven completed innings against them, on five occasions Ponting has failed to get into double digits. Adam Gilchrist hasn’t enjoyed much success against West Indies either, but Damien Martyn clearly relishes the Caribbean attack – in 14 matches he averages 53.62. Glenn McGrath has had plenty of success against the West Indians in Tests, but in 28 ODIs against them he has only managed 31 wickets at more than 28 runs per wicket. The bowler who has had their number in ODIs has been Brett Lee, with 32 wickets from 14 games at less than 17 apiece.

Anand Vasu says Wasim Jaffer hardly played a false shot during his unbeaten 192 on the first day of the Kolkata Test

Anand Vasu in Kolkata30-Nov-2007

Wasim Jaffer has always scored a high percentage of his runs in boundaries, looking exceptionally elegant when he strikes the ball through the leg side © AFP

On January 28, 2003, Mumbai needed 127 to beat Himachal Pradesh in a Ranji Trophy match when Wasim Jaffer received news that his mother Zulekha had died. Jaffer was shattered and unsure of whether to play on the final day. Chandrakant Pandit, then coach of the Mumbai team who had suffered a similar fate, spoke to Jaffer of his experience to which Jaffer replied, “I’ll do it for my team”. He scored 47 off 51 balls as Mumbai won without losing a wicket. Only then did Jaffer leave to attend his mother’s funeral.Determination is one of Jaffer’s stronger suits and he prefers to make statements on the field rather than off it. Ask around for a tale of some sort from his past, and apart from descriptions of his long innings in domestic cricket, you draw a blank. Soon after scoring 192 on the first day of the Kolkata Test, Jaffer faced the media. When a journalist asked if he was distracted – or forced to concentrate harder – by the presence of his wife Ayesha in the stands, who was frequently on the giant screen, Jaffer only said, “I always know where my wife is,” displaying a sense of humour that isn’t always obvious.What is obvious, though, is Jaffer’s tremendous hunger to score. In Indian cricket, the role of an opening batsman is not to be envied. They don’t get too many chances, and once dumped, there isn’t a way back. Ask Sadagoppan Ramesh, Shiv Sunder Das, or even Aakash Chopra. But Jaffer has done it twice – he made his debut in the home series against South Africa in 2000-01 and was dumped, following which he was picked again for the 2001-02 tour of West Indies before being dropped once again.”I’ve gone through a lot of lean phases in my career,” Jaffer said. “I’ve been brought up like that. I’ve been dropped two or three times and gone back to Ranji Trophy, got big scores and come back. I’m used to scoring big. It’s just that I haven’t done that much in international cricket and I’ll try to do that from here on.”On the day, Jaffer faced 255 balls and was rarely beaten. Even Rahul Dravid was troubled early on, especially by Sohail Tanvir, but Jaffer hardly played a false stroke. He has always scored a high percentage of his runs in boundaries, looking exceptionally elegant when he strikes the ball through the leg side, and he hit 32 fours today.

Contrary to popular belief Wasim Jaffer isn’t bland or colourless, just quiet, and at the moment very valuable to this Indian team © AFP

“I don’t think I’ve batted so fluently so far in my Test career,” Jaffer conceded at the end of the day, but refused to compare this knock with his double-century against West Indies in Antigua. “All hundreds have been special. I’ve got only few so I’ll count all of them as special. Scoring 192 runs in a day is something I haven’t done before. It feels good that we’re in a strong position and I’ve got runs.”Jaffer has five centuries in 23 Tests but you can break his career up into two phases. In the seven Tests he played before his latest comeback, and the 16 he has played since. In Phase I, Jaffer made 261 runs at just over 20, scoring three fifties and no hundreds. Since returning to the team against England at Nagpur, Jaffer has been a different batsman. He’s not so hampered by that half stride forward, is being trapped half-cocked much less, and has been far more assured outside the off stump. And it’s shown in his numbers; an average of 41.89 with five hundreds, one of them a double.”I was conscious that I have got a few starts in the England series [earlier this year] and did not convert them into hundreds,” Jaffer said. “The same happened in the Ranji Trophy so I was a bit conscious and tried to be focused once I was past 60-70.”And focus he did, past 100 and then 150 and to the doorstep of 200 while VVS Laxman, the man who owns an epochal 281 at this ground, sat padded-up and watched. In a team of stroke-makers Jaffer barely gets mentioned, and more talk is centred round players who aren’t even in the Test side. Almost without anyone noticing, Jaffer has become the third highest run-getter in the world this year behind Jacques Kallis (1125) and Kevin Pietersen (881), with 718 to his name so far. Contrary to popular belief Jaffer isn’t bland or colourless, just quiet, and at the moment very valuable to this Indian team.

Stats preview of the second Test between India and Australia in Sydney

S Rajesh01-Jan-2008

Sachin Tendulkar: an average of 249 in three Tests in Sydney © Getty Images
After being demolished in the first Test in Melbourne, the Indians will be relieved that the venue for the second Test is the Sydney Cricket Ground, a stadium that has pleasant memories for most of their players.The team results here have been better than at any other Australian venue – one win and three defeats in eight Tests. The last time India played at this ground, they had the home team in all sorts of bother till a battling Steve Waugh and Simon Katich bailed them out. Rahul Dravid, in the middle of a batting rut at the moment, will do well to watch tapes of his batting in that game: with India looking for quick runs in the second innings, Dravid hammered an unbeaten 91 off 114 balls. In the same number of deliveries in the Melbourne Test last week, Dravid managed a mere 16.Most of the other Indian heavyweights have done well here too. Sachin Tendulkar leads the pack: in five innings at the ground, he has scored two centuries – including that unbeaten 241 on his previous trip – and averages 249. VVS Laxman isn’t far behind, with two centuries in his two Tests here. The only failure has been Sourav Ganguly, who averages just 14 here. The kind of form he is in, though, he won’t be too bothered by his track record in Sydney.

Indian batsmen in Sydney

Batsman Tests Runs Average 100s/ 50s

Sachin Tendulkar 3 498 249.00 2/ 1 VVS Laxman 2 352 117.33 2/ 0 Virender Sehwag 1 119 59.50 0/ 1 Rahul Dravid 2 158 52.67 0/ 1 Sourav Ganguly 2 42 14.00 0/ 0 The performance of the Indian batsmen is only one side of the story, however. The other side is the fact that the Australians have relished the conditions here as well. Their overall record here is an impressive 51 wins and 27 defeats, but their recent form is scary: in their last 13 Tests they have won 11, with their only loss – to England in 2002-03 – coming after they had already sealed the five-Test series by winning the first four games. The only other team to escape a defeat during this period is India, which drew in 2003-04.The Australian batsmen have enjoyed the pitch here as much as the Indians. Ricky Ponting has scored 1226 runs in 12 Tests at an average of more than 81, while Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden have been among the runs as well. Michael Clarke hasn’t flourished on his home ground, though, with just 90 runs in four innings.

Australian batsmen in Sydney

Batsman Tests Runs Average 100s/ 50s

Ricky Ponting 12 1226 81.73 5/ 4 Adam Gilchrist 10 722 60.16 2/ 4 Matthew Hayden 9 756 54.00 3/ 3 Michael Hussey 2 82 41.00 0/ 0 Andrew Symonds 2 60 30.00 0/ 0 Michael Clarke 3 90 22.50 0/ 0 Sydney has traditionally been a spin-friendly venue, but the table below indicates that spinners haven’t had a lot more success than the fast bowlers in recent years. Since 2000, slow bowlers average 38.55 per wicket, which is only marginally better than what the fast bowlers have achieved during this period.

Pace v spin at the SCG since 2000

Wickets Average Strike rate 5WI/ 10WM

Pace 171 39.15 66.6 3/ 2 Spin 118 38.55 68.0 7/ 1 The last time he played here, Anil Kumble had plenty of success, with match figures of 12 for 279, but his overall average here is only 33.75, thanks to his wicketless performance in 1999-2000. It isn’t the favourite venue for Australia’s leading bowler either: Brett Lee has only managed 31 wickets from eight games at an average of more than 35.In the last 17 Tests here, the captain winning the toss has chosen to bat. The last team to insert the opposition was India, way back in 1992. The Indians didn’t do badly then, taking a first-innings lead of 170 and forcing Australia to hang on to a draw.Teams have generally jumped at the opportunity to bat first, but as the table below shows, batting in the fourth innings hasn’t been such a tough task recently.

Average runs per wicket in each innings in Sydney Tests since 2000

1st innings 2nd innings 3rd innings 4th innings

38.97 41.13 33.24 44.79

da dobrowin： Liverpool have boasted their fair share of foreign talents over the years, signing the likes of Fernando Torres, Luis Suarez, Xabi Alonso and, of course, Mohamed Salah to aid the Premier League side in their ambitious endeavours over the years.

da bet esporte： That list is by no means exhaustive, but the prestigious outfit have housed some of the division's finest names, and while they only secured their maiden Premier League title in 2020, the memories made by superlative stars will last forever in the Anfield folklore.

Of course, none have been greater than Steven Gerrard. Captain, leader, legend, the Scouse-born sensation enjoyed a lengthy and distinguished career with the Reds.

What did Steven Gerrard win at Liverpool?

Gerrard may well be the greatest player to ever don the Liverpool shirt. Having completed 710 matches for the side, scoring 186 goals and providing 157 assists, he is irrefutably one of the finest players of his generation.

Winning the Champions League, two FA Cups, three League Cups, the UEFA Cup, two UEFA Super Cups and the UEFA Best Player in Europe award in 2005, the now 43-year-old has been praised by many, with Ballon d'Or winner Kaka saying: “For me, and I have always said this, he will be regarded as one of the greatest midfielders ever. No doubt.”

His career was one for the record books, no doubt, and on an individual record, he was one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, perhaps in the history of the game.

So often the man of the moment at Anfield, he was let down too often by his languishing teammates, and ultimately didn't quite enjoy the sustained success that his skill set deserved.

That could have been very different if only Liverpool had followed up their clear interest in David Silva, who then forged quite the career for himself.

Did Liverpool nearly sign David Silva?

According to the Guardian, Liverpool held a vested interest in Spaniard Silva in 2009, when he plied his trade for Valencia, but were dissuaded by ostensible intrigue from Barcelona and Real Madrid, as well as concerns over the LaLiga side's £25m asking price.

It was in anticipation of the possible sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, who indeed completed a transfer to Los Blancos for around £30m in August that year, and while the Reds had bolstered their transfer war chest, they opted to delve down the cheaper route.

That culminated in the £20m acquisition of Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who proved to be a colossal failure, playing just 28 times across two seasons, partly hampered by injury, and failing to make his mark as Liverpool started to sink into mediocrity, in what became known as the dark days.

One year later, Manchester City signed Silva from Valencia for £30m, proving to be quite the successful deal, wouldn't you say?

How good was David Silva?

Playing the lion's share of his senior career in Manchester, Silva would make 436 appearances for the Citizens, scoring 77 goals and supplying 140 assists as the fulcrum of their midfield for a decade. Coincidentally, that happened to be a goal involvement every two games, the same as Gerrard managed at Anfield.

The 125-cap Spain star has been hailed as a "terrifying talent" and a "legendary footballer" by compatriot David Villa, who paid homage to his journey with Manchester City upon his departure.

Boasting an unparalleled footballing intellect and an innate eye for a line-breaking pass, Silva is easily one of the greatest players to have ever earned their wage in the Premier League, and the impact that he has had at City (and could have made in Liverpool) has been nothing short of profound.

Now 37-years-old, Silva has revelled in a glittering career of the highest pedigree and served as a creative centrepiece across two phases of world-class Manchester City sides, also a distinguished champion with his nation and having enjoyed success in his Spanish homeland with separate outfits.

David Silva Career Accolades

Times won

World Cup

x1

European Championship

x2

Premier League

x4

FA Cup

x2

Copa del Rey

x2

English League Cup

x5

Community Shield

x3

Truly, an incredible player, and as his time with the Sky Blues neared its culmination in 2020, former teammate Raheem Sterling heaped praise on the midfielder.

The England international said, "He's a perfect example of how to be a great professional and a top player, with many, many trophies behind him." Full of adulation, Sterling continued, "If it is his last season (in English football), he'll be sorely missed because he brings so much to the club and if you want to follow in his example it is always to keep that humility."

Gerrard achieved some brilliant things with his boyhood club and has more than etched his name into the club's record books: he is the embodiment of the Merseyside outfit, the celestial midfield machine and forever the catalyst of some of the greatest nights in Liverpool's history.

Liverpool pushed for Silva in 2009 and failed to get the deal over the line, indeed opting for the shrewder route of signing Aquilani, which turned out to be a tremendous success. Sigh.

It was a watershed moment for Liverpool, unbeknown at the time, the Reds would slowly sink away from prominence and into an abyss, and while the 2013/14 season brought the joy of an enthralling, albeit unsuccessful, title race, it wasn't until Klopp took the helm in 2015 that the future started to show signs of prosperity once again.

Sadly, that came too late for Gerrard to secure a maiden Premier League trophy, with his outfit labouring for much of the latter phase of his Anfield career – an end unbefitting for such an immortalised figure for the club.

Had Silva been signed, there's no telling the impact that he could have made, and indeed the partnership that could have been forged with the iconic skipper.

Silva's elegance and supreme technicality joining with Gerrard's all-conquering style would have melded like a stream into the sea, and indeed the unrelenting torrent of Liverpool's might would have been quite the thing to behold.

Alas, it didn't happen. But surely, had Silva arrived and made his mark for Liverpool instead of Manchester City, it all could have been so different.

da brwin： Back in the 2002-03 season, Arsenal's Highbury stood on the cusp of something brilliant. An axis of sporting supremacy had been half-stepped with the league and FA Cup double the year prior, yet unbeknownst to global football fans across – a true seismic shift was near.

da premier bet： It was a shift so large, it would extend the rest of the league out onto a teetering platform whilst the domestically undefeated Gunners perched victoriously with 2004's golden Premier League title.

While 2002-03 may not have seen a league repeat, it still reaped FA Cup and Community Shield success. For an Arsene Wenger team of ever-developing serial champions, it was but a placeholder in the Arsenal storybook. It was perhaps a moment to catch a collective breath before pushing for further glory. An alternative to this metaphor, one particularly breathtaking Thierry Henry was reaching his north London prime.

How good was Thierry Henry?

It feels like a basic question, doesn't it? Especially for football-watching readers. I could bore you about the Frenchman's formative Monaco beginnings. The Juventus falter. The Arsenal redemption. Yet I feel you know most of this. Let's just focus on this Thierry. The early 2000s Thierry with the certain wiry gravity and grace. Devilish finesse. A wry smirk and slide, after doing something so insane in the most nonchalant regard.

He was a mercurial scorer just begging defenders to nibble at the bait so vapour-rubbed enforcers Vieira and Keown could engage. With a mix of brawn and grace, Henry and Co. at this time were the epitome of Wenger's Arsenal.

There's so many quotes to choose from to epitomise Henry at Arsenal. We;ve gone for one from one of his esteemed victims:

“I’ve used this analogy before and I make no apology for using it again. When he hit top gear and ran past you, it was like trying to chase after someone on a motorbike." – Jamie Carragher

Undoubtedly, as we move towards this article's true topic of a missed star, it does feel that Arsene Wenger would've thought up a Thierry alternative if things hadn't worked out.

With hindsight, and knowing the striker's importance – as well as Arsenal's relative European failings, it comes as excruciating reading to learn that Zlatan Ibrahimovic could've once boosted the ranks in the iconic red and white O2-kissed shirt.

How did Arsenal miss out on Zlatan Ibrahimovic?

While Henry was free-scoring, a 21-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic was surfing on the mini-tides of his early success. After making visible waves with Malmo and then Ajax, his wake licked cruelly at England's shores.

He was raw and rough around the edges, and knew just what he could do. Seemingly in this case, it was just a matter of whether he could be bothered to truly show it. Everything was on his terms and his terms only, as Wenger once found out several years prior.

As the Telegraph reported, a youthful Zlatan once turned down Arsenal after starring in and then leaving an inconsistent Malmo in 2001. That's right, even at just 17 years old – you don't reject Zlatan, Zlatan rejects you. Effectively, it was a breakdown in communication which lost the Swede's interest. He thought he was getting a big move out of contract. Yet, a precautious Wenger wanted to see a trial. It's not a hard scenario to picture as Ibra later reflected in trademark style:

"Arsène Wenger asked me to have a trial with Arsenal when I was 17. I turned it down. Zlatan doesn't do auditions." – Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Seemingly spurred on by Wenger's interest, Ibra was inspired in the Swedish second division. Ajax's Technical Director Leo Beenhakker showed more faith after additionally watching him in a friendly and the Amsterdam club picked the forward up for around £6m (or 80 million Swedish Kronor).

How did Zlatan compare to Thierry Henry?

Football fans saw Ibrahimovic and Henry somewhat inconsistently paired at Barcelona. However, under Wenger, scenarios would likely have been different. How would he have managed the two? Would it be a case of one starting and one benched? Well, let's compare the two, as well as their all-round stats for a clearer reflection on what could've been, had they been nurtured under Wenger's watchful eye.

Although of course at different stages of respective careers, (and for this narrative's sake) a sophomore Zlatan turned heads with 2002-03's Ajax. In that spell in the Eredivisie, Zlatan scored a total of 48 goals in 110 appearances across all competitions.

In the 2002-03 Eredivisie season alone, the 6 foot 5 Swede notched an attention-grabbing 13 goals in 25 games. This was a total he matched the season after but in three fewer games before achieving his believed worthy destination of Juventus in 2004.

Zlatan's goals directly influenced the silverware haul. In his time at Ajax, he won the league twice (2001-02, 2003-04), picked up one KNVB Beker (2001-02), and also a Johan Cruyff shield (2002). In his brilliant career, Zlatan ultimately turned out for nine teams across Europe, England, and even the USA. The towering striker scored a total of 442 goals in 701 all-time appearances.

Compared to Henry, Zlatan scored more in a longer career. Where Henry was halted by injuries and knowing his limits, Ibrahimovic was determined to break all age stigmas it seemed. Playing in multiple positions across the front three, Henry bagged an impressive 237 goals in 456 games. In terms of titles, the Swede admittedly bagged the titular 32 compared to Henry's 20.

Zlatan may have had more, but arguably Henry is simply the more impressive for what he won and the nature of such. Yet it could work in multiple ways in the varying strands of comparison. Neither won the Champions League. Both won things together at Barcelona although disfunctional.

Zlatan didn't win the Premier League. He also didn't achieve anything with Sweden on the international stage. It seems that although Zlatan won more, it was always a case of him vs the World.

He was very often the player for any given team he was in. That's likely why he moved around so frequently. Henry on the other hand, more so understood the values of an effective team dynamic – himself heartbreakingly humbled by missing out on the 1998 World Cup Final as his teammates won on home soil.

da betsson： The international break is well underway and a number of Leeds United players have been in action for their respective countries over the last few days.

da heads bet： It has been an opportunity for some of the club's squad options to get some much-needed minutes away from Elland Road in order to stay match fit and give Daniel Farke a reminder of what he has at his disposal ahead of their clash with Norwich next weekend.

One player who may have given the German head coach something to think about is Bulgaria international Ilia Gruev, who lined up at centre-back against Lithuania on Saturday.

Statistic

Gruev vs Lithuania (via Sofascore)

Minutes played

90

Duels won

Three

Duel success rate

75%

Pass completion rate

88%

How many games has Gruev played for Leeds?

The summer signing from Werder Bremen has made three substitute appearances for the Whites so far this season and is yet to make his full debut.

He is a central or defensive midfielder by trade but his outing for Bulgaria as a centre-back suggests that he is also comfortable in defence, which is something that Farke could look to explore.

Gruev lined up on the left of the defence, despite being right-footed, and could, therefore, develop into a surprise heir to 32-year-old Leeds captain Liam Cooper, whose contract expires next year, instead of working his way into the midfield set-up.

Could Gruev replace Cooper for Leeds?

The Bulgaria international has strong defensive instincts and could eventually replace the Scottish defender at Elland Road if Farke unleashes him as a centre-back and helps the ace to utilise his impressive skills in defence.

Gruev made 2.5 tackles and 1.25 interceptions per 90 in the Bundesliga for Bremen last season, which placed him within the top 26% of his positional peers respectively.

That came after he managed 2.64 tackles and 1.58 interceptions per 90 for the German side during the 2. Bundesliga campaign the previous year, which ranked him within the top 12% of players in his position.

The 23-year-old battler also ranked above average for Bundesliga midfielders for blocks (1.31) and clearances (1.19) per 90 last term.

These statistics show that Gruev, who his former coach Ole Werner dubbed "clever", is an excellent defensive option in midfield who is able to make multiple vital interventions per game to cut out opposition attacks.

Cooper, meanwhile, has made 1.8 tackles and interceptions combined and made 1.4 clearances per game across five Championship outings this term.

The Scotland international, who has completed 89% of his attempted passes this season, turns 33 next year and it remains to be seen whether or not Leeds are prepared to extend his current deal.

If Farke and the club opt against a new contract for Cooper then a place in the squad as a centre-back to challenge Pascal Struijk for the position on the left of the defensive pairing could be up for grabs.

Gruev's strong defensive qualities suggest that he has the raw tools to be utilised as a superb option at the back and his display for Bulgaria shows that the 6 foot 1 enforcer is willing and able to play in that role.

da imperador bet： Newcastle United just keep building the blocks and it's becoming increasingly clear that St. James' Park is going to house European nights for many years to come, but manager Eddie Howe will understand the importance of continual growth.

da premier bet： Indeed, the PIF club takeover provided the Magpies with the financial means to bolster the squad with a multitude of new additions, but it is the diligence of the transfer work that resulted in a fourth-placed Premier League finish last year.

That opened the door to Champions League football after two decades away in a remarkable ascendancy to the forefront of the game, eclipsing the speed of development that would have been targetted two years ago.

With Howe navigating away from relegation danger in 2021/22, the following campaign resulted in the ecstasy of newfound success, courtesy of the brilliant transfer activity merging with the Englishman's tactical vision on the pitch.

The backline, in particular, was at the heart of the club's endeavours, with Newcastle actually finishing the Premier League campaign with the joint-best defence in the league, conceding 33 goals alongside Manchester City.

Sven Botman has been the rock and leader at the back, but Fabian Schar has been immense in his Tyneside renaissance under Howe's wing.

The Swiss international, aged 31, is out of contract next summer however, as is captain Jamal Lascelles, and it's becoming clear where the priority area will be when the next course of action is assessed.

Who are Newcastle interested in signing?

Newcastle have been linked with a move for Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe of late and the creative ace would undoubtedly pump fresh life into the St. James' Park side and offer a kind of dynamic threat to add another angle to their offensive efforts.

According to the Northern Echo, the Gunners star is on the Toon hierarchy's radar this January, disgruntled having last started in the Premier League in the penultimate match of the 2021/22 campaign.

A loan move appears the most probable course of action for the three-cap England international, and while this is an exciting prospect for Newcastle, the news that Jean-Clair Todibo is on the club's radar is even more electrifying.

Indeed, as per Spanish sources, the OGC Nice central defender is a Toon target, with Howe hoping to consolidate his team's position of strength with a lasting defensive acquisition of merit.

Having been pursued by Manchester United in the summer for a fee of around €40m (£34m), Newcastle may need to act swiftly to entice the player with a package, but given the club's snowballing stature, this is more than feasible.

Why are Newcastle interested in Jean-Clair Todibo?

As previously mentioned, Schar and Lascelles are both currently playing their final season in England's North East, and while Lascelles is not a regular starter he has been important this season, with Botman missing five matches due to injury.

Schar, however, has been a pillar of strength in the Dutchman's absence this season, earning praise for his "magnificent" performances by the Daily Mail's Craig Hope.

Callum Wilson's recent one-year contract extension could be followed by the renewal of the former Basel player's deal, and indeed the Northern Echo report that advanced discussions have taken place to reward Schar for his role over the past two years under Howe.

Despite this, it would be wise to bolster the backline further, and Todibo, hailed as a “Rolls-Royce” by journalist Antonio Mango, appears to be a custom-made choice, boasting the kind of playing style to slot sweetly into life on Tyneside, fighting for one of the most ambitious projects across Europe.

Jean-Clair Todibo – Most Similar Players

Player

#

Gabriel Magalhaes

1

Eder Militao

2

Ronald Araujo

3

Manuel Akanji

4

Pau Torres

5

Sourced via Football Transfers

The former La Blaugrana talent was always going to offer passing proficiency after rising through the ranks in Catalonia, and while he is contracted to his French Ligue 1 side until 2027, the financial package Newcastle are able to present could seal a deal cross the line.

How good is Jean-Clair Todibo?

The Les Aiglons defender has been sensational so far this season, completing 91% of his passes in the French top-flight, making 8.4 ball recoveries per game and winning 66% of his contested duels, offering skills that would provide the Magpies with a truly terrifying rearguard.

Botman is a superb distributor of the ball but is more conservative in his play, with the £90k-per-week machine ranking among the bottom 7% of defenders for progressive passes per 90, instead keeping it crisp with his innate composure and awareness in front of Nick Pope's goal.

Praised for his "incredible impact" by pundit Leon Osman since joining Newcastle from French team Lille for £35m in 2022, the 23-year-old has been fantastic and has worked so well with Schar, who plays a more creative, fluid game – ranking among the top 5% of positional peers for shot-creating actions per 90.

Todibo could serve as the dream heir, with the perfect range of qualities to bolster the pack and, eventually, succeed Schar to form a formidable partnership with Botman, who may well remain at St. James' Park for many years to come.

The Frenchman is very much omnipresent at the back, more than comfortable on the ball and eager to wade into the thick of the action, controlling the flow and direction of the game through his ball-playing ability and intelligence in possession.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 18% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 13% for passes attempted, the top 17% for progressive passes, the top 4% for successful take-ons and the top 6% for tackles per 90.

Very much the "complete package", as has been said by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Todibo is exactly what is needed to serve as the dream heir to Schar's position at St. James' Park, offering a similarly pass-reliant individual gameplan to work in tandem with Botman's dominant style.

Although the respective players have their differences on the pitch, this really could be utilised to great effect by an adept tactician such as Howe, and Newcastle's exciting journey would find a good chance of scoring illustrious success should this defensive machine be signed in 2024.

Aston Villa are believed to be keen on signing a midfielder in January who would be open to leaving his current club, according to recent reports.

Aston Villa updates: Zaniolo meeting, Vissel Kobe partnership, Williams blow

In a recent Aston Villa news update, the West Midlands-based club have confirmed on their official website that Italy international Nicolo Zaniolo is cooperating with the Italian Football Federation's investigation into alleged illegal betting activity in the country. Having also met with club officials at Aston Villa, Zaniolo remains available for selection under Unai Emery and no further comment will be made by the Premier League side on the matter.

Strengthening their reach across the globe, Aston Villa have also confirmed a strategic partnership with Japanese side Vissel Kobe as they aim to establish a platform for young players from Japan to have further pathways to further their career in Europe and potentially one day turn out at Villa Park. The J1 League side will send a delegation of individuals over to Birmingham at the end of November to formalise the partnership and two of their Under-16 players will train with Aston Villa's academy side as part of their visit to England.

Athletic Club winger Nico Williams is a transfer target for Aston Villa, with reports claiming that his current employers will look to put a new deal on the table to try and prevent the youngster from leaving in 2024. Barcelona have also been touted as a potential destination for the Spain international; however, he could now commit his future to Athletic Club and diminish any chance of Emery being able to tempt him to Villa Park.

Nico Williams statistics – 2023/24 (Transfermarkt)

Appearances, goals and assists in all competitions

Appearances: 6

Goals: 0

Assists: 4

Aston Villa transfer update – Carlos Soler

According to an Aston Villa transfer update from Le Parisien, the Villans, and by extension president of football operations Monchi, are also believed to be keen on Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler, who is open to departing the Parc des Princes in the January transfer window. Brighton & Hove Albion, alongside La Liga side Valencia, are interested in the Spain international, who has been on the periphery at his current employers this term.

In 2023/24, Soler has featured on seven occasions for Paris Saint-Germain and has struggled to become a regular feature of Luis Enrique's plans, registering one goal and a solitary assist (Soler statistics – Transfermarkt).

Described as a "majestic and complete footballer" by Breaking The Lines in an analysis piece on his abilities during his time at Valencia, Soler has managed to record a pass success rate of 89.1% in Ligue 1 this term for Paris Saint-Germain and is a tidy presence in the midfield who can be relied upon to distribute possession efficiently, as per WhoScored.

Aston Villa find themselves in a position where they need to juggle both domestic and European footballing endeavours and bringing in someone such as Soler would serve to further bolster Emery's depth in the engine room.