All posts by n8rngtd.top

The Hungarian suffered a dip in form after a stunning start to his Anfield career, but he's re-emerged as a huge influence in recent months

It's not always easy but, in general, footballers don't like to look too far ahead. Things can change quickly on and off the field. Getting caught up in trophy talk can be dangerous. It's nearly always best to embrace the 'one game at a time' cliche. Dominik Szoboszlai learned that valuable lesson last season.

He never made any ill-advised or arrogant predictions or proclamations but, looking back on Liverpool's quadruple bid under Jurgen Klopp, which unravelled not long after their Carabao Cup triumph, the Hungary captain now feels he was a little too forthcoming about his team's chances of a clean sweep.

"When I came to Liverpool I wanted to win everything in my first season!" he recently admitted. "So, I don't like to talk about the title now."

Hardly surprising, then, that when Szoboszlai was asked about Liverpool fans singing 'We're going to win the league' during the closing stages of last Sunday week's 2-0 win at Manchester City, he swerved the issue. "I didn't hear that," he said before immediately adding, "I was so tired."

Of course, that could easily have been the case, because Szoboszlai really did run himself into the ground at the Etihad – quite literally, with the exhausted midfielder collapsing to the turf the moment the full-time whistle blew. Just three days later, though, he somehow summoned up sufficient energy to produce another 90-minute display of dynamism as Liverpool took another significant step towards winning the title by beating Newcastle at home to move 13 points clear of second-placed Arsenal.

What's more, Szoboszlai had scored in back-to-back games for Liverpool for the first time since arriving at Anfield in the summer of 2023 – further evidence that a player still being criticised just last month for his lack of an end product has become a staple in Arne Slot's side.

• £60 million 'steal'

  Not many players have made a more immediate impact at Liverpool than Szoboszlai. He'd been signed from RB Leipzig for £60 million ($76m), a not insignificant sum of money, but quickly set about showing why his former boss at Red Bull Salzburg, Jesse Marsch, considered it "a steal".

  There were no airs or graces about Szoboszlai, but from the moment he walked in the door, he looked right at home at Anfield. Even the incredibly colourful Klopp was struck by the Hungarian's "charisma".

  He clearly didn't lack confidence, either. Szoboszlai took the No.8 jersey once worn by his idol Steven Gerrard (he even has a tattoo inspired by the former Reds skipper) and plenty of comparisons were drawn between the two during the first few months of the 2023-24 season.

  Marsch felt that Szoboszlai was actually more like "a modern-day David Beckham" because "when the ball is on his right foot he can put it anywhere he wants. The precision and the pace he can put on the ball is ridiculous. And I say 'modern day', it's because he is more mobile and more dynamic [than Beckham]."

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Heavy work load takes its toll

  However, it wouldn't be long before Szoboszlai's all-action approach began to catch up with him. After playing every minute of Liverpool's opening 10 Premier League games, he almost inevitably began to slow down, before breaking down. He picked up a hamstring problem in January and never really recovered.

  Szoboszlai was directly involved in 11 goals last season, but only three after returning from injury – and all of those arrived during the two legs of the Europa League last-16 tie with Sparta Prague. Tellingly, he ran out of steam around the same time as his team, with Szoboszlai afforded just one start during Liverpool's final seven Premier League games.

  Unsurprisingly, he also struggled at Euro 2024 as Hungary failed to make it out of their group. "He was not in top form and this is also a consequence of the fact that he has not been at 100 percent since his injury in the winter," the president of the Hungarian football federation (MLSZ), Sandor Csanyi, told in July. "At the Euros, he had also been struggling with a minor injury for a long time."

• 'Numbers need to go up'

  Thankfully, Szoboszlai has had no such fitness issues this season. He's only missed two Premier League games to date: one through suspension, and the other through illness.

  Ryan Gravenberch's emergence as the solution to Liverpool's longstanding problem at No.6 has certainly helped, as Slot now essentially has four versatile potential starters to choose from in midfield (Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones are the other three), while Wataru Endo has proven himself an extremely useful option off the bench, a dual-winning machine that can be utilised when team-mates are exhausted and games need to be closed out.

  However, while Slot was happy with Szoboszlai's performance and fitness levels during the first half of the season, it was telling that he publicly demanded more decisive contributions from his first-choice No.10 in the final third.

  The Dutchman acknowledged that while the 24-year-old's pressing was "outstanding", he needed to be "even more involved in scoring goals and creating chances for us.

  "Last season he scored three [in the league] and, for an attacking midfielder at Liverpool, his numbers need to go up." They are now, though.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Stepping up

  Szoboszlai has already surpassed his tally of goal involvements for 2023-24 and he's in far better shape going into the business end of the season than he was at this point last year. Indeed, only three Reds played every minute of their crucial and gruelling recent run of five Premier League games in 15 days, and Szoboszlai was one of them (captain Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson Becker were the others).

  Even more encouragingly, he got stronger as the games got tougher. Szoboszlai was excellent in the 2-2 draw at Aston Villa and would have had a deserved, game-winning assist had Darwin Nunez not missed an open goal midway through the second half.

  Mohamed Salah, though, was never going to waste the clever near-post flick that bamboozled Man City at the Etihad, while Szoboszlai then netted the killer second goal after being released into space shortly before the break by the Egyptian.

Leeds United moved up to second in the Championship table after an emphatic and impressive 3-0 win over Plymouth Argyle at Elland Road on Saturday.

All three goals were, bizarrely, scored within eight minutes of each other and all came within the first-half, as the Whites saw out the match in the second 45.

Dan James opened the scoring with a superb finish, before Joel Piroe and Brenden Aaronson added a second and a third shortly after, to secure all three points.

The former Manchester United winger was key to the victory, having scored the opening goal, and put in an excellent performance down the flank.

Dan James' performance in numbers

The Wales international was teed up by Wilfried Gnonto on the edge of the box and managed to get a brilliant shot away under pressure that went flying into the top corner to make it 1-0.

It was a sublime finish, with defenders closing him down quickly, and it takes his tally to two goals in five starts in the Championship so far this season.

Aside from the goal, however, some of James’ play left a bit to be desired. He only completed three of his ten attempted crosses and failed to create a ‘big chance’ for his teammates.

The right-footed forward also lost three of his five duels in the game, which suggests that the Plymouth players found it a bit too easy to get the better of him at times.

James, due to his struggles at times in other areas, was not the real star of the show for Leeds, as Ao Tanaka was even better than him for Farke on Saturday.

Ao Tanaka's performance in numbers

The Japan international has benefitted from injuries to Ilia Gruev and Ethan Ampadu to enjoy a string of games in the middle of the park for the Whites, and thrived since coming into the team.

His qualities in and out of possession naturally help Leeds to dictate and control games in midfield, because he has the strength to win duels off the ball as well as the quality to keep play ticking throughout the match.

The Whites ended the afternoon with a whopping 78% of the ball and Plymouth did not have a single shot at goal, which meant that Illan Meslier was not tested at all.

As you can see in the table above, the former Fortuna Dusseldorf star dominated in duels, winning 83% of his battles, and was incredibly reliable in possession, with a 91% pass success rate.

Tanaka was also awarded a player rating of 8/10 by LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross, who highlighted his dominant display in the midfield for Leeds, and he played a part in the second goal – with his shot deflected into the path of Piroe.

The statistics back up that ‘dominant’ claim, as the central midfielder helped to control the match with his use of the ball and his strength in duels for Leeds.

Move over Gnonto: Leeds have unearthed next PL talent in "underrated" star

The Leeds United midfielder has caught the eye with his impressive performances this season.

By
Dan Emery

Oct 31, 2024

Therefore, Tanaka was even better than James, who was fairly average outside of his goal, because his all-round performance was sublime.

Chris Gayle’s innings’ of note have come at long intervals of late; he’ll be hoping to break that trend against South Africa following his punishing double against Zimbabwe

Firdose Moonda in Sydney26-Feb-2015

Gayle misses training on match eve

Chris Gayle did not train with West Indies the day before the match against South Africa as he continues to battle a back issue that has plagued him for almost two years. Gayle was “given the day off,” according to a team spokesperson but “is available,” for Friday’s match at the SCG.
After his World Cup record 215 against Zimbabwe on Tuesday, Gayle shed light on the injury which he said “can’t seem to be solved,” and restricted his ability to prepare for games. Gayle explained that he was not able to have as many gym sessions as he would like and that even simple movements like sitting down can become painful after a long day in the field.

Legend has it that Chris Gayle’s penchant for clearing the boundary developed when he discovered it was easier to do that than run between the wickets. You only have to watch a West Indies’ training session to understand where the myth sprouted from.While his team-mates bound about, Gayle sticks to saving his legs, if he is at practice at all. A near-crippling back injury has kept him on the sidelines more often than he has liked, and the result is that he has not been on a run, in the figurative sense, in almost six years.His last period of ODI form came between April 2008 and July 2009, when he scored four of his 22 centuries along with five fifties in 29 matches at an average of 45.57. Before that Gayle had profitable patches early in his career – four fifties in succession in 2002, three hundreds in four innings that same year against India, back to back centuries at the 2006 Champions Trophy – but his recent big scores have been followed by lengthy lean periods.After his 125 against New Zealand in July 2012, Gayle had just four scores over 20 from his next 14 innings, before scoring 109 against Sri Lanka. That was followed by two scores over 20 from his next 10 innings before he managed a half-century against Bangladesh. It was another eight innings after that, before his 215 came.Faf du Plessis joked that it was “unfortunate that Zimbabwe decided to bowl Chris Gayle into some really good form”, but Gayle’s record suggests South Africa may not have to be too nervous about Gayle blowing them over like he did to their neighbours, unless, according to Ian Bishop, he can replicate the most important part of what he did right against Zimbabwe.”One of the things I liked about his innings against Zimbabwe, which I think he has been trying for a while, is that he got himself in. Everyone says he should go in and have a dash. I disagree. I think he is good enough to get himself in,” Bishop told ESPNcricinfo at an ICC event in Sydney.Although Gayle did not bat slowly against Zimbabwe, he was noticeably watchful upfront, especially after surviving a lbw shout off his first ball that was reviewed. Gayle’s first four came after seven balls, he hit just one six and faced 27 dot balls in his first fifty runs. The time he took to his get eye in is what Bishop thinks allowed him to stay in, which is why Shaun Pollock advised South Africa to put all their energy into removing Gayle early.”Before he gets properly in, from a technical perspective, there are ways you can get him out. Within the first few deliveries you bowl to him, we’ve seen it in South Africa, you can get him out cheaply,” Pollock said. “But once he gets going you have to make sure each bowler has a clear game plan.”If Gayle is allowed to gust freely, Pollock would like to see bowlers challenge him by forcing him to look for runs in areas he does not usually score in. “There is an obvious hitting zone, you can see which balls disappear. He loves to play the ball straight down the ground so you if you can take him out of that comfort zone, bowl in different areas and make him try and score in different areas, you can get him out too,” he said.If that fails, Bishop had told South Africa to fight fire with fire and unleash everything they have at Gayle. “If you’ve got pace, you’ve got to run hard at him, you’ve got to be aggressive to him,” Bishop said. “Every bowler in the world has to be precise. Chris is an excellent player but his footwork may be a little bit slower.”Age is creeping up on Gayle, as it did on Jacques Kallis. When Kallis began skipping more training sessions than he took part in and workload was spoken about as something that needed to be managed, twilight found his career. The same could be happening to Gayle. AB de Villiers said his RCB team-mate “doesn’t train often” because “he needs to look after himself”. There has even been talk among those in the know that Gayle could call time on his ODI career after the World Cup.”He has obviously found it a little more challenging in fifty-over cricket in the last couple of years. Fitness wise, it’s also a challenge. Can he stay fit?” Bishop asked. “If he continues scoring runs and if he is happy, he is the only one who can judge if he wants to continue … But the team enjoy him, they enjoy his success and he keeps them going.”So much so that Bishop believes Gayle’s knock in Canberra has completed the batting outfit and put West Indies on course for the quarter-finals. “It has buoyed them hugely,” Bishop said, and the first mention of Gayle to Jason Holder confirmed it. “Chris is one of the most jovial people in the dressing room. He brings a lot of fun and he is a real team man. It was really good to see him get runs,” Holder said. “He has set the benchmark in world cricket, in a sense. We love him.” And they would love him to get on a good run too.

Hurricanes were never in the chase in what was a poor season-opening performance for them

Tristan Lavalette16-Dec-2022Joe Clarke smashed the first century of the BBL season so far as Melbourne Stars rebounded from a heart-breaking opening defeat against Sydney Thunder to overpower Hobart Hurricanes at the MCG.After being sent in, Englishman Clarke hit 101 not out from 66 balls to dominate Stars’ innings in batting-friendly conditions. Hurricanes were never in the chase in a poor season-opening loss, while Stars regrouped following their dramatic last ball defeat on Tuesday.Clarke bounces back in style
After the anguish of letting through byes on the final delivery against Thunder, wicketkeeper-batter Clarke bounced back and batted through the innings this time. Dropped on one by a diving Shadab Khan at short third, Clarke was unstoppable during the powerplay to get Stars off to a flyer.Clarke needed to fire, because Stars’ batting was shorthanded without Joe Burns, who joined Glenn Maxwell on the sidelines after injuring his hamstring against Thunder. Marcus Stoinis, who is recovering from Covid-19 and for the second straight match was not well enough to field, fell for a second-ball duck after his first-ball dismissal against Thunder.But it didn’t matter as Clarke scored all around the wicket to continue his strong form from last season, where he was Stars’ most consistent batter before Covid-19 swept through the team to derail their campaign.Clarke reached his first BBL century in the final over and smashed four sixes overall, but the biggest went to Beau Webster, who hit Riley Meredith into the third tier of the mammoth MCG.Dooley impresses as Hurricanes rely on spin
There was a lot of anticipation over the new era for Hurricanes, who are seeking an elusive title. Under new coach Jeff Vaughan and head of strategy Ricky Ponting, Hurricanes attempted to shake things up in their season-opener.After electing to bowl, Hurricanes decided to back spinners Shadab and left-armer Patrick Dooley, who had only played one BBL game before.Hurricanes’ strength has traditionally been their pace attack, but Shadab and Dooley were used in the powerplay, where Stars raced to none for 46 after four overs.Meredith and Nathan Ellis didn’t bowl in the powerplay. Ellis was held back until the tenth over in a bid to bowl in the backend, where his canny slower deliveries are especially proficient at the death. But it didn’t do the trick with Meredith and Ellis conceding a combined 81 runs from eight overs.In an encouraging note, Dooley – who has an action described as the bowling equivalent of a windmill – impressed amid an onslaught to finish with 1 for 27 from four overs, the wicket coming when he bowled Stoinis with a beautifully tossed-up delivery.Adam Zampa picked up three wickets in a good performance as captain•Getty Images

Stars’ bowling attack continues to impress
Stars’ bowling had been identified as their weak point in previous seasons, but their attack has started impressively against the high-voltage Thunder and Hurricanes.After an immediate impact against Thunder, prized recruit Trent Boult struggled, but it didn’t matter with Stars’ other bowlers stymying Hurricanes with disciplined bowling. English recruit Luke Wood picked up the key wicket of Ben McDermott, and his probing bowling in the powerplay ensured Stars maintained a stranglehold.Webster’s handy all-round performance continued with his nagging seamers conceding just 21 runs from four overs.It’s a strong start to the captaincy of Adam Zampa, who also claimed three wickets.David moves up but can’t get going
It was a daunting chase but Hurricanes’ explosive batting order looked capable of giving it a crack. Unfortunately, they couldn’t fire at any stage and fell behind the required rate early.As had been flagged from their new brains trust, big-hitter Tim David came in earlier than in past seasons as he entered in the tenth over batting at No. 5. There had been some criticism last season over David coming to the crease too late, although his proficiency as a finisher saw him earn a spot in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad. He hit a first-ball boundary but couldn’t find his rhythm as Hurricanes finally took the power surge in the 17th over in vain.Tribute to Warne
On the 23rd ball of the match, representing his famous jersey number, the smattering of fans at the MCG gave a standing ovation to Shane Warne, who passed away earlier in the year.As Stars’ inaugural captain, Warne’s marketing efforts and sheer magnetism helped mould the franchise into a drawcard, although they have generally underperformed through the years.Warne’s considerable heft was important for the BBL’s credibility in the early years as Stars retired his No. 23 jersey amid a tribute match for him.

They came to worship Kumar Sangakkara in his final ODI in Kandy and he did not let them down, delivering the farewell century of which his fans had barely dared to dream

Alan Gardner in Pallekele13-Dec-2014″Sanga! Sanga! Sanga!”The chanting began as Kumar Sangakkara moved into the 90s. Between the end of the 30th over and the start of the 41st, Sangakkara had faced just 15 deliveries for 15 runs, and the crowd was becoming impatient. But for one chance, spurned by England, Sangakkara had batted imperiously. His subjects had come to see a coronation and Sangakkara was not about to disappoint.”Sanga! Sanga! Sanga!”The noise echoed up into the sky as the sun began to set behind the hills. Sangakkara, the Man of the Match, was talking to the media but the throng remained outside the building, jostling for a glimpse. He came down to greet them, smiling, arms open. Moments later, he was being ushered back inside by lackeys and soldiers, fearful he would be mobbed. Sanga love can be hard to control.They had come in their thousands for Sangakkara, in his final match at Pallekele. The grass banks were packed with people who would call him one of them. The Trinity College schoolboy is now a statesmanlike figure in his country, one of the pre-eminent figures in world cricket and a batsman still capable of glorious deeds. But he will always be a Kandy .If the ancient Kandyan kingdom still existed, Sangakkara would surely sit on the throne. It is conceivable, were it put to a vote, the locals might choose to revert to an absolute monarchy. His regal touch with bat in hand is matched by a compelling charisma as a person, an easy smile and a gracious manner. King Sanga would have been a benevolent ruler.He is, however, set to abdicate as a cricketer. The World Cup will bring a close to his 15-year ODI career and this was necessarily a farewell. His 20th one-day hundred was therefore timed as sweetly as one of those scything front-foot drives through the covers.When he reached it, stroking one more single through the off side, the congregation worshipped. His dismissal a few overs later brought another ovation. The post-match presentations were only about one man. They hymned his name over and over again. “Sanga don’t retire” read a sign held up by one fan. “God of the cricket” said another.

He is right about knowing the time to go. Kings choose their own destiny and right now Sri Lankan cricket beats to the sound of a Kandyan drum

In the middle of Kandy stands the Temple of the Tooth. This holy place is home to the Tooth Relic, supposedly one of Buddha’s teeth, which is held in a casket and paraded in a ceremony once a year. Without being remotely sacrilegious, in a more inconsequential building nearby they might want to think about housing Sangakkara’s arm guard, or a wicketkeeping glove, for future generations to witness.Or perhaps the faithful will simply head to Asgiriya, the Trinity school ground where Sangakkara learned his game. They still talk of him fondly there, although that is probably the case in the smallest tea house – even the ones he has never set foot in.”I’ve been in Kandy since I was small,” he said afterwards. “I went to school here, I grew up here. I’m especially thankful to Kandy, my school, my friends, my teachers, and coaches. Today one of the sons of my Year 2 teacher had come to the presentation. I have great memories of growing up here, and it’s those experiences that have helped me to develop to this stage.”Rather than a leader, Sangakkara said he was a servant of the fans who had turned up to cheer him and Sri Lanka to victory. “I’m especially thankful for the love and support they’ve shown me. As cricketers, even if we sign our contracts with Sri Lanka Cricket, our real contract is with the Sri Lankan public. We play for them. I’m grateful that so many people have come here for my last match and supported the team. When your cricket life ends, you have to go. That’s not something any sportsperson can escape. My time is right.”After his 91 in defeat at Pallekele during the week, England knew they were in the hall of the mountain king. Twice in the series so far, he has picked out catchers with a hundred in his sights but the one opportunity he granted on this occasion came on 41, a miscued drive to mid-off that somehow popped out of Alastair Cook’s grasp. The offering was gratefully accepted.He was otherwise as sure-footed as ever, striding out to hit against the spin of Moeen Ali, effortlessly flicking Chris Jordan off his pads. With the gloves, he took four catches, extending his world record for ODI dismissals. He appealed for lbws with the vigour of a man half his 37 years of age. When a Joe Root edge flew between him and Mahela Jayawardene at slip, they dived towards each other like mirror images and shared a grin that said they are almost that close. The light is fading for both.He is right about knowing the time to go. This is the fourth year in a row he has tallied more than 1000 ODI runs. He is currently the leading run-scorer in Tests. He scored an unbeaten half-century to lead his country to the World T20 title in his final match. Kings choose their own destiny and right now Sri Lankan cricket beats to the sound of a Kandyan drum.

Match of the Day host Gary Lineker has told Arsenal to ignore £100 million-rated Victor Osimhen and sign Liam Delap instead.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Arsenal linked with Osimhen transfer
• Napoli ace & Galatasaray loanee rated at £100m
• Gunners told to sign young England star instead

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Premier League legend Lineker believes Arsenal should move for Ipswich Town's Liam Delap this summer as they try and solve their striker issues, despite Alan Shearer suggesting Napoli's Osimhen, who is on loan at Galatasaray, would guarantee them goals.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT GARY LINEKER SAID

  Shearer said on The Rest is Football podcast: "Victor Osimhen is there isn't he? He without a doubt would score goals for them. The problem they've got now is the whole world knows they need a forward. So a player who might have cost £60-70m is now going to be worth £100-110m when Arsenal come in. They need a top-class centre forward, they did before a ball was kicked this season and my opinion hasn't changed."

  Lineker then replied: "If I were them I'd go for Delap at Ipswich. I know he's young and not entirely proven but he's scored quite a lot of goals in the Premier League this season for a team that's obviously struggled having been promoted. I like him and his movement. There's talk of him going back to Man City but [Erling] Haaland has signed a nine-year deal, so you might have to wait an awfully long time to get a game."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arsenal are without forwards Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus for the rest of the season due to injury as calls for them to sign a new striker reach fever point. Osimhen has been prolific in Serie A for Napoli and the Nigerian has 20 goals in 25 games for Galatasaray this term but the 26-year-old is likely to cost more than Ipswich's Delap, who has 10 Premier League goals in 2024/25 in a relegation-threatened side. While it is not certain which attacker will join Arsenal this summer, it seems they have to sign someone of note to try and end their Premier League title drought.

• SPOX
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Transfer rumours aside, Arsenal, who are 11 points behind league leaders Liverpool, play their game in hand on the Reds away to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.

Juan Soto was one of the last New York Yankees players to leave the dugout after the team lost the World Series in a 7-6 Game 5 defeat against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.

In the biggest of moments, the Yankees couldn’t deliver, and now Soto could be looking for his next team amid rampant speculation over his future.

Soto’s teammates and coaches have made their opinion clear: “Stay with us,” Giancarlo Stanton said in a postgame media session. But Soto, who joined the Yankees this past December, is primed to test free agency this offseason.

The star slugger was asked if he expected the New York Mets to pursue him in free agency, and he gave a telling response.

“I don't know what’s the teams that are going to come after me,” Soto said. “But definitely, I’ll be open to this and every single team. I don’t have any doors closed or anything like that. I’m gonna be available for all 30 teams.”

Not a good indication of his chances of staying in the Bronx.

Soto, 26, helped the Yankees reach their first World Series since 2009, slashing .288/.419/.569 with 41 homers and a league-leading 128 runs during the regular season. He's reportedly expected to earn a contract in excess of $500 million.

In the wake of the Yankees’ crushing World Series loss, Soto elaborated on his time with the team and discussed whether the Yankees had an advantage in his upcoming free agency.

“Leaving any place that is a winning team is always hard. This place was really special. It’s been a blast for me. I've been really happy,” Soto said. 

“I feel like every team has the same opportunities when I go into free agency. I don’t want to say anyone has an advantage because at the end of the day we’re gonna look at what they have and how much they want me,” continued Soto.

Australia great passes away in Thailand following a suspected heart attack

Andrew Miller04-Mar-2022Shane Warne, one of cricket’s all-time greats, has died of a suspected heart attack at the age of 52 in Koh Samui, Thailand, while on holiday.Warne, who was named one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Century, claimed 708 Test wickets in a 15-year career for Australia between 1992 and 2007, and was also an ODI World Cup winner in 1999.According to his manager Michael Cohen, he died of a suspected heart attack.”Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived,” Cohen’s statement read. “The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course.”Related

• Warnie was a generous, honest champion

• Shane Warne: the showman who could do hard graft

• Great Southern Stand at MCG to be named after Shane Warne

• The highs and lows of Shane Warne's cricketing career

• Shane Warne's death leaves cricket fraternity 'shocked and gutted'

According to Reuters, Thai Police said Warne and three other friends were staying in a private villa and one of them went to inquire about him after the former cricketer did not turn up for dinner.”The friend did CPR on him and called an ambulance,” Chatchawin Nakmusik, an officer with the Bo Phut police in Koh Samui, told Reuters by phone.”An emergency response unit then arrived and did another CPR for 10-20 minutes. Then an ambulance from the Thai International Hospital arrived and took him there. They did CPR for five minutes, and then he died.”The police did not know the cause of death but were not treating it as suspicious, Chatchawin said.The shocking news comes hours after the death of another icon of Australian cricket, former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh, who also suffered a heart attack earlier this week at the age of 74.”Warnie”, as he was known throughout the cricketing world, was without question one of the true icons of world cricket, a man who almost singlehandedly revived the art of legspin in the early 1990s.Although luminaries such as Pakistan’s Abdul Qadir had kept the art alive, Warne brought a new glamour and attacking intent to legspin, with his bottle-blond hair allied to a keen tactical brain that he used to outfox a host of unwitting opponents in his pomp.After an underwhelming debut against India in January 1992, where his solitary wicket came at a cost of 150 runs, Warne hinted at his full potential in bowling Australia to an unlikely victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo, before – in his fifth appearance – he ripped out seven match-winning second-innings wickets against West Indies at his home ground of Melbourne in the 1992-93 Boxing Day Test.4:17

Shane Warne’s ball of the century

However, it was the 1993 Ashes tour that truly cemented Warne’s legend. In the opening match of the series at Old Trafford, and having been shielded from England’s batters during the preceding one-day series, Warne’s first delivery left the sport dumbfounded as he served up the so-called “ball of the century” to Mike Gatting – a drifting, dipping, spitting legbreak, that turned a full two feet from outside leg to hit the top of off.Gatting was so confused, he did not initially realise he had been bowled – and in that moment, Warne exerted a hold over England’s batters that was so absolute, they would not come close to reclaiming the Ashes for another 12 years. And even when they did, in the seismic summer of 2005, Warne’s fingers were the last to be prised from the urn, as he carried Australia’s attack with a career-best haul of 40 wickets.Away from the cricket field, Warne could not help but court controversy. He was rarely far from the front pages of the tabloids amid a string of revelations about his personal life. In 1995, both he and his then team-mate Mark Waugh were fined for giving information to an Indian bookmaker during the previous year’s tour of Sri Lanka.In 2003, on the eve of that year’s 50-over World Cup, Warne was suspended from international cricket for a year after a banned diuretic was found during a routine drugs test – he claimed it had been given to him by his mother to help him lose weight.However, though that setback might have ended lesser careers, the year away from the game arguably gave Warne an extra lease of life going into his mid-30s. He returned to action with four five-wicket hauls in a row to lead Australia to a memorable 3-0 series win in Sri Lanka in March 2004, and then played a quietly crucial role in their subsequent “final frontier” victory in India.He retired from international cricket with typical showmanship in the 2006-07 Ashes, leaving the field arm-in-arm with his long-term bowling ally Glenn McGrath – a fellow great in one of the all-time great Test teams – after reclaiming the Ashes with a 5-0 whitewash (the first that Australia had inflicted on England since 1920-21).Even at the age of 37, the Warne legend was not done. In 2008, he was recruited by Rajasthan Royals to captain their franchise in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), and duly delivered the title with 19 wickets at 21.26 in the course of the campaign. Though he went wicketless in the final against Chennai Super Kings, he couldn’t be kept out of the action, as he and Sohail Tanvir sealed the victory with the bat in a thrilling final-over finish.Prior to his IPL involvement, Warne had spent eight seasons (2000-2007) in county cricket with Hampshire, after being recruited by his friend and England rival, Robin Smith. He claimed 276 first-class wickets at 25.59 in his time at the club, and later had a stand at the Ageas Bowl named after him.In retirement, Warne became a trenchant commentator, primarily for Fox Sports in Australia – ever insightful on tactical matters, if at times a touch bombastic. He also dabbled in professional poker, a card game that he said replicated the sort of mind-games that he had revelled in during his playing days. He became a fixture at the Aussie Millions in Melbourne and at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, where in 2009, his deep run into the tournament meant that he arrived late for his commentary duties at that summer’s Ashes.Tributes to Warne have poured in from the cricket world, from team-mates and rivals alike. Brian Lara, arguably the greatest batter to have faced Warne in his pomp, tweeted an image of a broken heart, adding: “Speechless at the moment. I literally don’t know how to sum up this situation. My friend is gone!! We have lost one of the Greatest Sportsmen of all time!! My condolences goes out to his family. RIP Warnie!! You will be missed.”Adam Gilchrist, Warne’s team-mate in one of the greatest Test teams of all time, added: “Numb. The highlight of my cricketing career was to keep wicket to Warnie. Best seat in the house to watch the maestro at work. Have often felt a tad selfish, that Heals [Ian Healy] and I pretty much exclusively are the only ones who had that thrill and pleasure at Test level. Rip Warnie.”

Former France midfielder Emmanuel Petit is worried about Kylian Mbappe's current situation at Real Madrid amid his ongoing struggles at his new club.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Mbappe having rough time at Madrid
• Missed a penalty in the losses to Liverpool and Athletic
• Petit concerned about lack of friends at the club

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Former France midfielder Emmanuel Petit has shared his concerns about Kylian Mbappe's situation at Real Madrid and believes the star forward is all alone in the Spanish capital, having no friends in the team. Petit also shed light on how his overall image in the media hasn't helped his cause, especially after all the drama that has unfolded with the France national team following his expulsion by Didier Deschamps for the November games.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ever since his move to Madrid last summer, Mbappe has looked a shadow of the player that led France to back-to-back World Cup finals in 2018 and 2022. Mbappe has scored just 10 goals in 20 appearances in all competitions for Madrid and has evidently looked unsettled on the pitch. Additionally, reports from Spain have kept mentioning how his dynamic with the rest of the team is broken. Case in point, how Mbappe was apparently ignored by Jude Bellingham in the tunnel at Anfield last week.

• WHAT EMMANUEL PETIT SAID

  "I think Kylian Mbappe is so lonely at Real Madrid," Petit stated in an interview with Gambling Zone. "I saw Jude Bellingham ignoring him and it doesn’t even look like he has any help or any friends at the club.

  "He’s been hammered by the press and doesn’t seem like he has friends in Paris or Spain and he’s also gone to a public enemy number one in France because of what happened in the last international break. He’s so far away from his level this season, too. I know he’s scored ten goals but it’s just stats and he doesn’t look like himself.

  "I just say what I feel when I look at him and he looks miserable on and off the pitch. He was the king in France and could do whatever he wanted at PSG and with France and now it’s not the same anymore.

  "He’s lonely and with top players, the biggest game is against yourself and you have to be able to solve your problems on the pitch."

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR KYLIAN MBAPPE?

  Following another toothless performance against Athletic Club on Wednesday, in which he missed another penalty, Mbappe took to Instagram to post a story in which he vowed to come back stronger and show the player he is. “Bad result. A big mistake in a match where every detail counts. I take full responsibility for it. A difficult moment but it’s the best time to change this situation and show who I am," Mbappe wrote on Instagram.

  Real Madrid fans will indeed be hoping for Mbappe to turn things around in LaLiga as Los Blancos will be travelling to Catalonia to take on Girona in a tricky away game on Saturday, December 7.

Malick Thiaw has been constantly touted with a move to join Newcastle United this summer as Eddie Howe aims to try and bolster his defence ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Magpies have already added Lloyd Kelly on a free transfer from Bournemouth, but Howe seemingly still wants reinforcements to avoid a repeat of last season’s defensive crisis.

Jamal Lascelles and Sven Botman both suffered ACL injuries and could be out until 2025, with Thiaw just one of the options being considered over a move to St James’ Park this summer.

The AC Milan talent has been subject to bids from Newcastle this window, but no deal has yet been agreed, with the new campaign now less than three weeks away.

However, with the deal no closer to completion, the Magpies could turn their attention to another defender who is set to leave his current club this summer.

Newcastle could sign £30m talent instead of Thiaw

It has previously been reported that Newcastle are one of a number of Premier League sides monitoring the situation of Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah this summer.

The English youngster, who came through the ranks in West London, was omitted from the Blues squad for the tour of the US – a sign that new boss Enzo Maresca doesn’t see the talent being in his plans.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that he would be allowed to leave should the club receive an offer in the region of £30m – a great price for a player of his quality.

Chalobah made a huge impact at Chelsea towards the back end of 2023/24, starting eight of the final nine league matches, helping the club secure European football.

His potential departure could allow Howe to sign a very underrated talent, who’s previously been compared to one other player who’s been on his radar.

Why Chalobah could be Newcastle’s own Marc Guehi

In the club’s attempts to add defensive cover, they’ve been linked with a whole host of talents – including Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi, as reported back in May.

He represented England at Euro 2024 – an indication of how impressive he’s been for Palace – with his form catching the attention of the Magpies.

Like Chalobah, he left Chelsea back in 2021 for more regular first-team minutes – a decision that has worked wonders for his career, as displayed by his rapid rise to being a full international.

Newcastle now have the opportunity to complete a similar deal, with Chalobah a comparable talent to Guehi, as demonstrated by their respective stats on FBref, who have claimed the pair are similar players.

The “monster” Chelsea man, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, featured in 12 fewer games than the Palace star, but managed to achieve a higher pass accuracy rate – a quality that would undoubtedly slot him into Howe’s possession-based system.

He’s also won more tackles per 90, whilst winning more aerial battles, demonstrating the excellent defensive qualities that he possesses – helping the Magpies improve on last season’s tally of goals conceded.

Whilst Thiaw undoubtedly remains the club’s main target at the back, Chalobah could prove to be a brilliant option should no progress be made for the AC Milan star.

With his desire to leave his boyhood club evident, it could be a great opportunity for Howe’s side to secure a deal for a player who has the ability to improve Newcastle’s squad whilst having the potential to get even better with consistent game time.

Forget Madueke: Newcastle could land "the new Obafemi Martins" for £25m

The Magpies are still eyeing reinforcements in the final third.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 30, 2024