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Micky van de Ven has opened up on the departure of Ange Postecoglou just weeks after Tottenham won the Europa League.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

• Postecoglou sacked due to Premier League form
• Players believed to be unhappy at decision
• Van de Ven opens up on 'strange' decision

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite ending their 17-year wait for silverware, Postecoglou was dismissed by chairman Daniel Levy less than three weeks after winning the Europa League in Bilbao. The Australian head coach did the unthinkable but sacrificed the club's Premier League campaign for the run in Europe.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After his dismissal, reports emerged that several Spurs players were unhappy at the decision, with Postecoglou creating a tight-knit dressing room atmosphere. Nearly the entire squad took to social media in thanks for the former Celtic boss, and now Van de Ven has spoken out on international duty.

• WHAT VAN DE VEN SAID

  Speaking to Voetbal Zone after scoring his first goal for the Netherlands in an 8-0 win over Malta, Van de Ven said: "That was ultimately a choice from the club. We, as players, have little to say about that.

  "Of course, he is the first coach in a long time who has won a trophy has had success at Spurs. So if you look at it that way, it is of course a strange choice.

  "It is a choice from the club about which we have little to say, so we will see what happens now. Of course, we see some rumours about the Brentford head coach [Frank], who it will probably be. So yes, a choice from the club about which we have little to say.

  "I think many of the players got along with [Postecoglou] well. And of course, what I say, he is the first coach who has brought success to Spurs in a long time. That also shows that he has a certain quality. That also means that he has a winning mentality. 100 per cent.

  "From that, you would of course say that it is strange that he was fired. What we have shown in the Premier League is, of course, unacceptable. That would, of course, have multiple factors, but that would not only have been the coach."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Thomas Frank is on the verge of being named as Postecoglou's replacement but the Brentford head coach may have some damage control to manage on his arrival in North London. Frank will however have a chance to immediately win silverware when Spurs face Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup on August 13.

“There’s a lot of good that can come from it if guys have the right attitude,” says former England captain

Vithushan Ehantharajah09-May-2024

Joe Root has backed the use of the Kookaburra ball in the County Championship, believing it can help upskill domestic cricketers and bridge the gap to Test cricket.The Australian-made ball was used for the first two rounds of the Championship season, in which there were 17 draws across 18 matches. Though a large part of that was down to rain – Durham vs Hampshire and Derbyshire vs Gloucestershire were abandoned without a ball bowled – players complained the flatter seam was ineffective on damp, soft pitches and that the ball lost its shape quickly, compared to the regular Dukes.Those first two sets of fixtures saw a wicket fall every 73.7 balls, compared to 54.9 balls in the first two rounds of 2023. Among a large volume of runs was more playing time for spinners, with Surrey legspinner Cameron Steel topping the wicket-taker charts. The Kookaburra will return for another two rounds in August and September, when better weather should help produce firmer surfaces and lend itself to a fairer assessment.Related

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The Kookaburra trial, one of the recommendations from Andrew Strauss’ high-performance review to encourage fast bowlers and spinners, began in 2023. While panned in some quarters – Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart regards the experiment as “the worst decision ever” – England men’s managing director Rob Key has suggested the Kookaburra could replace the Dukes as the domestic ball of choice.Root, who recently completed a five-game stint with Yorkshire – his first County Championship appearances since 2022 – has plenty of experience with the Kookaburra overseas, particularly in Australia, and sees the benefit of its use in England, not just for the Test side.”I don’t think it’s all about being able to use the Kookaburra ball when you go to Australia or South Africa,” Root said. “I think it’s about finding ways of taking wickets when nothing’s in your favour – and that’s a great skill.””I guess you could look at it and think: ‘there’s been a load of draws’ but also you could think: ‘well, this is an opportunity to upskill’ as well. ‘How am I going to take wickets with this ball in this format on these kinds of pitches? How can I become better?'”I think there’s a lot of good that can come from it if guys have the right attitude.”Root cited England’s progression in limited-overs cricket since 2015 as something that could be replicated by regular use of the Kookaburra. The evolution under Eoin Morgan, which saw ODI and T20I World Cup success in 2019 and 2022 respectively, trickled down and has resulted in a pool of high-calibre white-ball cricketers, many of whom missed out on selection for next month’s T20 World Cup.”Look at the progression and the development in white-ball cricket in this country over a five-year period. Look at the amount of players that we’ve got that can do special things. Look how quickly that transition has been made through the mindset shift in white-ball cricket in our country. I think the same thing can happen in red-ball cricket.”You’ve got to be open minded enough and understand that you might have to go through a little bit of pain to get there.”If we want to keep upskilling and getting the standard as close to Test cricket as we can, it’s not going to happen overnight. But in five, six, seven years’ time, if we can bridge that gap then that transition for guys coming into Test cricket will be a lot smaller.”

CSK captain also admits lack of wickets in the powerplay has been an area of concern for his side this season

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Apr-2024Chennai Super Kings suffered their third loss in seven games going down to Lucknow Super Giants by eight wickets at the Ekana Stadium on Friday, their total of 176 not stretching the opposition. Speaking after the game, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad agreed they were short on runs – by about 10-15, he said – and put it down to their middle-overs slowdown.”I know we finished off really well – couldn’t have asked for more – but I think after the powerplay, we couldn’t just kick off from the start we got until the 14th or 15th over,” Gaikwad said. “We kept losing wickets at regular intervals. I think [we were] 10-15 runs short.”After getting to 51 for 2 in the powerplay, CSK managed only 62 runs in the ten overs after that, losing four wickets along the way. That included a period where they went 34 balls without hitting a boundary, with one in the tenth over followed by another only in the 16th. Five out of the ten middle overs were bowled by LSG’s spinners Ravi Bishnoi and Krunal Pandya. Those went for only 29 runs, and Pandya bowled a well-set Ajinkya Rahane for 36 off 24 balls and had CSK’S Impact Sub Sameer Rizvi stumped for 1.Related

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LSG captain KL Rahul said that it was a pre-planned strategy from his side to use a mix of pace and spin in the middle overs to not allow the opposition batters to get set against “one type of bowling”.”It depends on the kind of wicket we are playing on, and the kind of batters there are [in the opposition],” Rahul said. “Obviously, there’s a bit of time we spend on doing homework, [and] talking about tactics and strategies against the opposition. And yeah, that was one of our strategies: to use pace, use spin, and make sure that they don’t get settled into playing one type of bowling. So [I] tried to mix it around.”And I think credit goes to the bowlers: I can do all the changing, but if they don’t execute, then all of us look stupid as a team. They executed really well. We work really hard at training, and it’s good to see that the team is sticking to the plans.”Despite MS Dhoni thumping 28 not out off only nine balls and Moeen Ali hitting 30 from 20 including three successive sixes in the 18th to raise the tempo at the death, and Ravindra Jadeja playing anchor to hit 57 not out off 40, CSK’s total of 176 was chased down with an over to spare. Gaikwad felt that the pitch was “slightly difficult” to score on in the first innings, and that the presence of the Impact Player meant teams need to have “maybe 20 runs extra”.”Even on these kind of pitches – I felt it was a sluggish one to start off with, with dew coming later [and the pitch] getting better – I still feel 180-190 would have been a good score,” he said.Gaikwad also said that CSK needed to strike more with the ball in the powerplay. Tonight, LSG’s openers Rahul and Quinton de Kock did not let them do that, putting on 134 in 15 overs. Overall this season, CSK have taken just seven wickets in the first six overs, which is the second-least by any side behind RCB. Their bowling average of 56.85 in that phase is also the second-worst.”[That] is the one area where we would like to improve going forward,” Gaikwad said. “It really puts the opposition on the back foot if we get wickets in the powerplay – especially when we are about ten runs short – and definitely that is one area we need to work on.”CSK play LSG again on Tuesday, but this time back home in Chennai.

They might not have won anything, but Mauricio Pochettino’s peak Tottenham Hotspur team was packed with talent.

The North Londoners were blessed with some truly sensational players from front to back during that period.

Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Dele Alli were scoring for fun, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld created one of the best defensive pairings in Europe, and Hugo Lloris was, more often than not, a rock at the back.

However, perhaps the most underrated player – among non-Spurs fans – of them all from that period was the incredible Mousa Dembélé, and it looks as if Ange Postecoglou may have just uncovered his own version of the Belgian.

Mousa Dembélé's Spurs career

In the summer of 2012, after spending just over two seasons with West London side Fulham, Dembélé completed a £15m move to Spurs.

The former AZ Alkmaar star made an instant impact in North London, scoring on his debut – against Norwich City – and ending his first campaign at the club with 42 appearances across all competitions.

Already an established part of the first team, the Belgian “monster,” as dubbed by Eric Dier, took yet another step forward when Pochettino joined the club in May 2014.

Under the Argentine’s leadership, the Antwerp-born dynamo turned into one of the very best central midfielders in the Premier League, someone capable of winning the ball in his own half and carrying it all the way up the pitch for someone else to finish.

His immense abilities weren’t lost on his teammates or manager either, with Kyle Walker describing him as “the best player I’ve ever seen play football” and Pochettino claiming that he was a footballing “genius.”

In all, the 37-year-old made 249 appearances for the Lilywhites, scoring ten goals and providing ten assists, before moving to the Chinese Super League in January 2019 and retiring four years later.

Dembélé was an utterly sublime footballer, and while the club haven’t been able to replace him, Postecoglou may have just stumbled upon the club’s next version of the Belgian.

Appearances

249

Starts

181

Minutes

16115′

Goals

10

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.08

Minutes per Goal Involvement

805.75

Spurs' next Dembélé

Now, we are aware that such a label can be both a blessing and a curse for players, but we reckon Lucas Bergvall has more than enough talent to make good on it.

The young midfielder was signed from Swedish outfit Djurgårdens for around £8.5m last winter but didn’t officially join the squad until last summer, and while it took him some time to get up to speed in the first team, he has recently been one of the club’s most impressive players.

Like Dembélé, the young Swede is seemingly a natural in a few positions in midfield, making 34 appearances in central midfield, 16 in attacking midfield and 13 in defensive midfield.

Moreover, while each role requires something a little different from the 19-year-old, be that a dangerous final ball from the ten position or a brilliant interception at the base of midfield, he’s shown one quality that the Belgian star was known for: ball-carrying.

According to FBref, the “generational” talent, as dubbed by journalist Mitch Fretton, sits in the top 3% of midfielders in the Premier League this season for total carrying distance, the top 5% for successful take-ons, the top 7% for progressive carrying distance, the top 10% for carries and more, all per 90.

Finally, while the “uber-complete” teenage phenom, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, certainly has what it takes to play in the number ten position in the future, it does seem like Postecoglu and Co will be able to get more out of his incredible skillset by playing him in the middle of the park, where Dembélé used to boss games.

Ultimately, while he’s still incredibly young, and a lot could happen over the coming years, it looks like Spurs might just have their next genuinely great central midfielder in Bergvall.

Leading candidate to replace Ange: Spurs want "special" Iraola alternative

The experienced manager could be just what Spurs need.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 19, 2025

رد فينيسيوس جونيور نجم ريال مدريد على منتقديه بأسلوب رائع خلال الفوز بهدفين لهدف ضد ريال مايوركا على ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو في الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

وكان فينيسيوس قد جلس على مقاعد البدلاء في وقت سابق، قبل أن يعود ويقدم أداء رائعًا ويتسبب في مشاكل مستمرة لدفاع ريال مايوركا.

وإلى جانب تألق فينيسيوس الهجومي فقد أبهر الجميع بأدائه بدون كرة حيث واصل الركض والضغط بقوة، وهذا الأمر لطالما كان ينادي به تشابي ألونسو جميع لاعبيه في الخط الهجومي.

وحرص ألونسو بعد المباراة على تسليط الضوء على جهود فينيسيوس في غرفة الملابس ووفقاً لصحيفة “ديفينسا سنترال”: “إذا لعبت بهذه الطريقة، ملتزماً دفاعياً وحاسماً هجومياً، فأنت لا تقهر”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. رجل مباراة ريال مدريد ومايوركا في الدوري الإسباني

وقد غادر البرازيلي أمس الملعب مبتسماً حيث يدرك أنه استعاد ثقة مدربه الكاملة، وسيستفيد اللاعب من فترة التوقف الدولي إذ لن ينضم إلى تشكيل المنتخب في تصفيات كأس العالم.

ونشرت الصحيفة الإسبانية أيضاً أن فلورنتينو بيريز رئيس ريال مدريد حرص على التوجه لغرفة خلع الملابس وقد أشاد بالوافد الجديد ألفارو كاريراس وأدائه في مباراة أمس.

ووصف بيريز مساهمات كاريراس في دفاع ريال مدريد بأنها كانت حاسمة، وبشكل خاص وجه لتشابي ألونسو رسالة عن الظهير الأيسر بعد صافرة النهاية: “إنه لاعب رائع، لقد أنقذ المباراة بفضل مساهماته الحاسمة”.

MatériaMais Notícias

da betano casino： Lesionado no dia 2 de fevereiro por conta de um problema nos ligamentos do tornozelo direito, Carlos Alberto retornou aos gramados no último sábado, no Mané Garrincha, em Brasília. O atacante entrou em campo aos 15 minutos do segundo tempo para dar velocidade ao setor ofensivo, mas não conseguiu impedir a vitória do Flamengo em cima do Botafogo por 1 a 0.

Apesar da derrota no clássico pelo Carioca, Carlos Alberto mostrou muita dedicação e personalidade. O jogador vinha sendo um dos destaques da equipe alvinegra antes da contusão e volta para ser opção em um setor considerado “carente”.

+Com Marcelo no Fluminense, Brasileirão chega a 23 jogadores que já disputaram Copa do Mundo

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A ponta direita vem sendo uma das principais preocupações dos torcedores. Lucas Piazon e Gustavo Sauer têm sido utilizados na posição, mas ambos não estão conseguindo desempenhar atuações constantes neste começo de temporada.

O Botafogo busca um atacante no mercado e chegou a procurar nomes do futebol europeu. Os dirigentes demonstraram interesse em jogadores como Facundo Pellistri e Edigar Junio, mas as negociações não avançaram.

Carlos Alberto é jovem e conta com apoio de boa parte da torcida. O jogador tem apenas 20 anos e chegou ao Glorioso no início deste ano após boas atuações no América-MG. O atleta está emprestado até dezembro deste ano.

A tendência é que ele seja utilizado por Luís Castro nos próximos jogos e ganhe respaldo do clube para se desenvolver e amadurecer. O atacante mostrou muita personalidade nas partidas que atuou e retorna para ser um reforço importante ao longo da temporada.

O Glorioso entra em campo na próxima quinta-feira, diante do Sergipe, às 20h, fora de casa, pela terceira fase da Copa do Brasil. O time de Luís Castro precisa apenas de um empate para se classificar para próxima fase da competição. Relembre a vez que Botafogo e Sergipe se enfrentaram na Copa do Brasil.