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It’s been a mixed start to the Premier League season for Ipswich Town this year.

Kieran McKenna’s side currently sit in the relegation zone with just four points and a goal difference of minus 11, yet the feeling is that they have played some good football here and there and still have a real chance of survival.

Moreover, considering that they have already faced teams like Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Brighton & Hove Albion in those nine matches, their four points look a little better.

However, the Tractor Boys will need to start picking up more points, and today’s six-pointer against Leicester City is the perfect opportunity to do so, although McKenna will have to start someone else in place of the injured Chiedozie Ogbene, and it shouldn’t be Wes Burns.

Why Wes Burns shouldn't start against Leicester City

Okay, so the first thing to say is that during his career at Portman Road, Burns has shown himself to be a reliable provider of goals and assists.For example, in his 38 appearances last season, the Welshman scored six goals and provided four assists, equating to a reasonable average of a goal involvement once every 3.8 games.

However, in his seven appearances so far this season, the 29-year-old has yet to score or assist a single goal, and considering he’s played 402 minutes of football, that’s an issue.

Moreover, aside from the match against Southampton, the former Fleetwood star has yet to impress with his all-around game. For example, the East Anglian Daily Times’ Alex Jones gave him a 6/10 match rating vs Brentford, 4/10 vs Everton and 5/10 vs West Ham United.

Overall, Burns will undoubtedly have a role to play should Ipswich stay up this season, but given the importance of this afternoon’s game, he should remain on the bench, and another dynamic attacker should start in place of Ogbene.

Why Jack Clarke should start against Leicester City

Yes, McKenna should look to bring Jack Clarke into the starting lineup for the injured Ogbene.

Now, it is true that the former Sunderland star hasn’t started the season in scintillating form, but he has still shown more attacking intent than Burns has, and in his ten appearances, totalling 577 minutes, he’s scored one goal and provided two assists.

That means the £15m Englishman is currently averaging a goal involvement once every 3.33 games, or every 192 minutes, which isn’t too bad for the start of his first full season of regular top-flight football.

Appearances

50

42

Goals

11

15

Assists

14

4

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

0.45

Moreover, during his final two seasons with the Black Cats, the “unplayable” winger, as pundit Adrian Clarke dubbed him, was simply sensational, racking up a tally of 26 goals and 18 assists in 92 appearances, equating to an average of a goal involvement once every 2.09 games, and while it’s unlikely that he’ll be able to produce numbers that impressive in the Premier League, he could get close with more game time.

Lastly, while the York-born star has primarily played off the left in recent seasons, he has made 44 appearances at right-wing in his career and is naturally right-footed, so starting on that side shouldn’t be an issue for him and his ability to play on both sides might help him to interchange with the likes of Sammie Szmodics and Conor Chaplin, thus making the team’s attack less predictable.

Ultimately, Burns is a useful player, but if McKenna wants to help Ipswich continue to develop and move forward as a team this season, he should look to bring in Clarke for the injured Ogbene instead of the Welshman.

Ipswich loanee who was unreal in McKenna's 1st season is now in Non-League

The loanee couldn’t find his feet after leaving Ipswich.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 1, 2024

Plymouth owner Simon Hallett has spoken positively about Wayne Rooney and his wider impact at the Championship club beyond just on-field results.

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Plymouth owner lifts lid on RooneyEx-Man Utd made positive impressionResults & style trumped everything elseFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Hallett discussed in an interview with the kind of things that Rooney achieved in his short coaching spell at Plymouth, which included knitting people together at the training ground by "literally knocking down walls" to create open working spaces.

AdvertisementGOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Overall, Rooney's time at Plymouth will be remembered as the latest short-lived stop on his fledgling managerial career. In August, he was named permanent successor to Ian Foster, who had similarly struggled after replacing the very successful Steven Schumacher. Plymouth lost 4-0 against Sheffield Wednesday in Rooney's first game in charge and had only won four league games by the time he left on New Year's Eve, officially by mutual consent, sitting bottom of the Championship. And yet, Hallett remembers those seven months more fondly than results alone would suggest.

WHAT SIMON HALLETT SAID

"Wayne literally knocked down walls," Hallett revealed. "He had walls between various people in the football department removed (at the club’s offices), so they sat together. He was wonderful around the club. He was very good with fans, to the point where we had to restrain him. I remember we were having a meeting with somebody and one of their staff said, 'My sister runs a local primary school, can you visit?'. And Wayne said, 'Sure'. But we had to say, 'Wait a minute, he is very busy!' I know it sounds silly because he's such a big celebrity and he's famous for some bad decisions, but he's a very decent human being. The impact he had saved the club from fraying."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Although Rooney seemed a great fit for Plymouth in many ways, Hallett admitted that the split was ultimately down to the former England and Manchester United captain insisting on a very specific style of play. Hallett added: "He was committed to a way of playing football we were simply unable to execute."

The champions gifted the Gunners their first two goals, and from there they fell apart in north London

Manchester City showed their struggles are far from over as they suffered a humbling 5-1 loss against Arsenal on Sunday. The reigning English champions were self-destructive from the beginning, and the likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva didn't put up much of a fight under Arsenal's pressure.

It was the worst possible start for City as Maniel Akanji surrendered an early goal. The defender failed to deal with John Stones' risky pass and Arsenal were quick to pounce, with Kai Havertz setting up Martin Odegaard. The visitors almost gave away a second goal thanks to an awful ball from Stefan Ortega resulted in a shot from Havertz, but the German's effort went wide.

City grew into the game with Savinho and Omar Marmoush looking to create something as Erling Haaland was kept silent up front for the entire first half. The striker reminded the Gunners he should never be written off, though, when got up to meet Savinho's perfect delivery and head past David Raya.

However, just 38 seconds after the restart, Arsenal were ahead again through a deflected strike from Thomas Partey, and just six minutes later they were 3-1 up through a fantastic Myles Lewis-Skelly strike.

City hoped the humiliation was complete in the 76th minute when an Arsenal counter-attack ended with Havertz squeezing it past Ortega, but Ethan Nwaneri added a fifth late on.

GOAL rates City's players from Emirates Stadium…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

Stefan Ortega (5/10):

Gave Arsenal a great chance with a silly pass that Havertz wasted. Perhaps should have done better with a couple of goals, too.

Matheus Nunes (5/10):

A weak point defensively and didn't offer enough going forward.

Manuel Akanji (3/10):

Gave the ball away for Odegaard's goal in the worst possible start.

John Stones (4/10):

Set Akanji up for failure with his early pass and put up no resistance for either of Lewis-Skelly's or Havertz's goals.

Josko Gvardiol (5/10):

Had some decent moments but was exposed defensively.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Bernardo Silva (5/10):

Took the sting out of City's attacks by constantly passing backwards.

Mateo Kovacic (7/10):

Put in a solid performance. He fought for the ball and tried his best to get something going.

Omar Marmoush (6/10):

Excellent dead-ball deliveries and a few good passes before he went off after 72 minutes.

Getty Images SportAttack

Phil Foden (4/10):

His terrible pass sent Partey on his way to a stunning goal, summing up the Englishman's performance.

Erling Haaland (5/10):

Was out of the game until he popped up with the equaliser in the 55th minute.

Savinho (7/10):

Was really lively on the wing and teed up Haaland with a fantastic cross.

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James McAtee (5/10):

The damage was done by the time he came on, and he was kept quiet.

Kevin De Bruyne (5/10):

Didn't have much of an impact after his 72nd minute introduction.

Pep Guardiola (4/10):

His team were always second best in this game, with his key men kept quiet and others making glaring and costly mistakes.

Aston Villa were victorious against Fulham this weekend, beating them 3-1 at Craven Cottage. It was an eventful game, entailing four goals, two red cards, and a missed penalty.

Fulham took the lead after just five minutes, with Raúl Jiménez scoring his fourth Premier League goal of the season. Morgan Rogers quickly equalised, scoring in the ninth minute to make it 1-1. Then, after just 27 minutes, Fulham had the chance to make it 2-1, with Andreas Pereira missing a penalty (saved by Emiliano Martínez).

Villa struck next, making it 2-1 in the 59th minute, Ollie Watkins netting his 5th of the season, before Joachim Andersen received his marching orders for a “last man” foul in the 64th minute, leaving Fulham with 10 men. In the 69th minute, Issa Diop scored an own-goal, making it 3-1 to Aston Villa.

Jaden Philogene was then sent off in the final minutes of the game, despite only coming on in the 61st minute, after receiving two yellow cards in the 88th and 93rd minute. Villa now sit fourth in the Premier League on 17 points, and a large part of that is the excellent form of Youri Tielemans.

Youri Tielemans' performance

The 27-year-old has started the season in fine form, now making ten appearances, scoring one goal, providing three assists, and totaling 891 minutes played. The Belgian has formed a brilliant partnership in midfield with international teammate, and new signing, Amadou Onana, providing Unai Emery’s side with brilliant balance.

And Tielemans shone once again, making 62/68 passes (91% completion), four key passes, 4/5 long balls, getting his assist, and winning 5/8 of his ground duels, showing his ability to contribute on both sides of the ball.

Stat

Tielemans

Minutes

90

Assists

1

Touches

92

Accurate Passes

62/68

Key Passes

4

Crosses

3/10

Long Balls

4/5

Dribbles Completed

1/1

Ground Duels Won

5/8

Aerial Duels Won

1/1

Tackles

2

The form of the Belgian duo is keeping some talented names out of Emery’s first XI, with Ross Barkley, Boubacar Kamara, and even John McGinn on the bench against Fulham. Whilst Barkley and Kamara are slightly more likely to be affected by the form of that double pivot, McGinn can play a number of positions, so the fact he is missing out is down to the form of another Villa star, in the shape of Rogers.

Morgan Rogers' performance

Rogers was given an 8/10 match rating by BirminghamMail for his performance against Fulham, which included his 2nd goal of the season.

The 22-year-old has made ten appearances for Villa in all competitions this campaign, scoring two goals, and providing two assists so far.

The English attacking midfielder took three shots in the game, scoring a goal, providing one key pass, and completing his only attempted dribble (100% success rate) during the game.

Rogers’ persistence to make things happen in the final third for Villa, driving them forward, and looking to create for himself and others, has been a breath of fresh air this season for the fans, which is why he was just as good as Tielemans on Saturday.

If the form of Tielemans and Rogers, who scored his first goal of the campaign against Ipswich in the clip above, can continue, along with many others such as Watkins, Jhon Duran, and Martinez, Villa could be in good stead to challenge for the top four again.

All four teams in tier 1 now have one win each

Mohammad Isam03-Nov-2021All four teams in tier 1 of National Cricket League 2021-22 now have one win each. Khulna Division was the latest to win, when they trounced Dhaka Division by an innings and 27 runs at the Sylhet Academy ground.Earlier in the day, Rangpur Division beat Sylhet Division by six wickets in the adjacent Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, where Enamul Haque Jr became the second Bangladeshi bowler to take 500 first-class wickets.Best batters
Nahidul Islam’s maiden first-class century set up Khulna’s big win. Having played 31 matches in seven years, Nahidul is more known for his T20 exploits in the BPL. Here, he hammered 12 fours and six sixes in his 175, helping Khulna to 419 in the first innings.Amite Hasan got his second first-class century when he made 170 not out against Rangpur. The 20-year-old struck 17 fours in his 385-ball knock during which he spend more than eight hours at the crease, but it couldn’t help Sylhet prevent the loss.Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Mominul Haque struck centuries for Chattgoram Division against Dhaka Metropolis, with the pair adding 208 runs for the third wicket. Joy made 112 with nine fours while Mominul struck 11 fours in his 103. Dhaka Metro’s Shadman Islam also made 132 off 228 balls, hitting 17 fours and a six.Sohag Gazi, playing for Barishal Division, slammed five fours and ten sixes in his 95-ball 113, before veteran Farhad Hossain made an unbeaten 108 for Rajshahi Division in their drawn tier-2 encounter.Best bowlers
Rangpur’s opening pair of Robiul Haque and Mukidul Islam took seven wickets each in the game to help their side to the win. But it was Enamul who stole the limelight when he took his career tally to 500 wickets when he had Jahid Javed caught behind on the fourth day. Only Abdur Razzak, who retired earlier this year, has more first-class wickets (634) for Bangladesh.Taijul Islam, meanwhile, picked up his sixth ten-wicket haul, when he took 10 for 220 against Barisal. Monir Hossain also took a five-wicket haul in the same game.Mehidy Hasan Miraz had a good outing against Dhaka Division, taking 6 for 41 in the second innings to go with his 67. Raihanuddin also registered a match-haul of 9 for 154 in the same game.Best match
Khulna, who won the last completed NCL in 2019, picked up their first win this season against Dhaka Division. Batting first, Khulna posted 419 all out with Nahidul’s career-best 175. Dhaka were 162 for two in reply but were shot out for 231. Asked to follow on, Dhaka dragged the game into the fourth day but Miraz’s six-wicket haul dashed their hopes, as they were bowled out for 161.Points to ponder
Rangpur are on top of tier-1’s points table with 15.89, followed by Khulna (13.75) and Dhaka (13.63). Barisal lead tier-2 with 16.9 points.Players to watch
Among those who will be involved in the Pakistan Tests later this month, Mominul, Shadman, Taijul and Miraz all performed very well in this round. Allrounders Nahidul and Gazi struck centuries too.

Manchester United fan Luke Littler believes his beloved team can still win a trophy this season despite a torrid campaign so far.

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Man Utd struggling this seasonLittler still believes in Red DevilsBack them to win trophy this seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The 2025 PDC World Championship winner has backed the Red Devils to lift the Europa League trophy this season, while also discussing the positives and negatives of playing in the competition next term.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT LUKE LITTLER SAID

He told : "I think if we get Europe it’s a good thing, but if we don’t it’s a good thing too. You’ve seen the likes of Chelsea do really well with no European football, so if United don’t get it this season they will be really fresh because they won’t have to play as many midweek games. I do have high hopes for us in the Europa League this season, though. I think we can win it."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Ruben Amorim's side sit 13th in the Premier League and are well off the pace in the hunt for European football in 2025-26. However, they can still play on the European stage next term if they either win the Europa League or FA Cup in the coming months.

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United will hope to progress to round five of the FA Cup when they host Leicester City on Friday night.

South Africa play the second game on Saturday and will know what they need to qualify

S Rajesh04-Nov-2021Australia’s stunning victory against Bangladesh, with 82 balls to spare, has completely turned around the net-run-rate story in Group 1. With West Indies knocked out, it is now a straight race between Australia and South Africa for the second semi-final spot. Here is a look at what they need to do in their final games to qualify.Australia
South Africa
From -0.627, Australia’s net run rate has jumped up to 1.031, thanks to their ridiculously one-sided win against Bangladesh. This means they are now the frontrunners to take the second spot in the group: South Africa, who are also on six points, have an NRR of 0.742 and have table-toppers England to negotiate in their last match, while Australia take on West Indies, which should surely be an easier proposition.Australia will be through if they beat West Indies and if England beat South Africa. If Australia lose their last game and South Africa win theirs, then South Africa will qualify as the second team.If both Australia and South Africa lose and remain on six points, then the defeat margins will determine which team ends up with a higher NRR: if Australia, chasing 161, lose by 20 runs, then South Africa can lose by no more than three runs (chasing 161) to be ahead of Australia on run rate. If Australia score 160 and win by 10 runs, South Africa will have to win by at least 32 runs (with the same score) to finish with a better NRR than Australia. Since South Africa play the second game on Saturday, they will know what they need to do to qualify.While Australia’s NRR has improved significantly, England still remain firm favourites to top the group. Even if Australia beat West Indies by 100 runs, they will need England to lose by around 43 runs to top the group.

Rangers have received a big boost regarding their current injury situation, with Light Blues boss Philippe Clement providing a key update on a 23-year-old “fighter”.

Injury problems hampering Rangers

The Gers return to Scottish Premiership action on Sunday lunchtime, making the trip to Kilmarnock ahead of what feels like a must-win clash for Clement’s side.

It has been an adequate start to the season for Rangers, but a far from perfect one, allowing Celtic and Aberdeen to gain an advantage at the top of the league table, while Champions League elimination at the hands of Dynamo Kyiv has already come their way.

One thing that has played a part in the Scottish giants not always hitting top gear is injuries, with Clement having to make do with numerous key players throughout this season. The likes of Ridvan Yilmaz, Rabbi Matondo and Ross McCausland are among those struggling with fitness issues.

Having a fully fit squad could make such a difference for Rangers, handing them stability while also giving them more opportunities to rotate – and a positive update has now emerged about the situation.

Rangers given injury boost

Speaking ahead of the weekend clash with Kilmarnock, Rangers manager Clement said that Yilmaz should return to training “next week”, also giving an update on other players:

“Hagi is suspended. Cortes will be out for several weeks. Ridvan I expect back in training next week, Matondo later on next week or the following week. Danilo is back training with the squad – we will see how fit he is for the weekend.”

This is welcome news regarding Yilmaz, and others for that matter, with the left-back limited to just two starts in the Scottish Premiership so far this season. His last appearance came against Dynamo Kyiv back in August, with his two-month absence a big blow for Clement.

His 2023/24 stats for Rangers show that he averaged 1.5 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per game across 26 league appearances last season – ranking third and first respectively within the Gers squad – showing his attacking quality.

The £12,000-a-week Turkey international has been hailed as a “fighter” by Clement, while Barry Ferguson said of him last season: “The little man has made a huge impression ever since the winter break and has nailed down the left-back berth for himself.”

However, it is important that Yilmaz is eased back into the fold rather than rushed back in, with his lengthy absence potentially meaning he may take time to get back to his sharpest form.

If he can get fully fit and back in the team by the end of the month, it will be fantastic news for Rangers, providing Clement with more depth and giving sterner competition to the likes of Jefte and Dujon Sterling.

Clement could move on from Hagi by unleashing "exciting" Rangers teen

Rangers will be without the Romania international for their next three Premiership games.

ByDan Emery Oct 19, 2024

Yilmaz is still a young player with so much to offer for the Gers, so the hope is that this latest absence is his last injury setback for a while, allowing him to excel as his side’s first-choice left-back.

Ipswich Town’s rise to the Premier League over recent years has been nothing short of remarkable, securing back-to-back promotions from League One – a feat unheard of in today’s game.

Boss Kieran McKenna is the man to thank for the club’s recent success, coming into Portman Road during a tricky spell on the field, before galvanising the first team, instilling belief into the players which led to their phenomenal achievements.

A season in England’s top flight would’ve been a distant dream to many supporters, but after McKenna’s magic, a generation of supporters will enjoy a season of a lifetime in 2024/25.

Unsurprisingly, the hierarchy had to splash the cash this summer to give the Tractor Boys a fighting chance of securing survival this season, with over £100m spent on new arrivals during the recent transfer window.

One signing in particular has caught the eye after his recent move to East Anglia, taking the Premier League by storm during his first full season at this level.

Liam Delap’s stats for Ipswich Town

After joining the club in a deal rising to £20m this summer, eyebrows were raised by many over a deal to sign striker Liam Delap from champions Manchester City.

The 21-year-old had spent last season on loan at Championship side Hull City, whilst only making two brief substitute appearances in England’s top-flight during his time at the Etihad.

However, the youngster has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water, making an immediate impact in the final third for McKenna’s side.

Delap has already notched four goals in his opening seven league outings for the Tractor Boys, currently sitting joint fourth in the top goalscorer charts.

His two goals against Aston Villa are undoubtedly the highlight of his time at the club so far, with his double securing a huge point against a side who finished within the top four during the 2023/24 campaign.

The striker backed up his brace with another goal in his most recent outing, against West Ham United, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to secure any points as they fell to a 4-1 defeat.

There’s no denying that this season will be tricky for Ipswich, but their chances will do no harm if the striker can keep up his excellent form in front of goal.

However, despite his stellar start at the club, one other first-team member earns the same as him per week, but it’s safe to say his wages don’t reflect his importance to McKenna’s side.

The man who earns just as much as Delap

Despite the influx of new additions during the transfer window, there are numerous first-team members still at Portman Road who secured promotion from the Championship last season.

One of those is goalkeeper Christian Walton, but the 28-year-old did only make a single appearance in the league last season, mainly utilised as a back-up to Vaclav Hladky.

However, despite his lack of minutes during the 2023/24 campaign, he did start the season opener against Liverpool before new addition Aro Muric took over the reins as the club’s number one between the sticks.

As a result, Walton is yet to feature since, taking his place on the bench as backup, but still pocketing a small fortune in the process.

The shot-stopper currently earns a reported £20k-per-week, a figure the same as starman Delap, with his huge earnings not reflected in his importance to McKenna’s squad.

2021/22

38

34

15

2022/23

47

35

24

2023/24

4

6

0

2024/25

1

2

0

Total:

90

77

39

Given his hefty wages, the club could look to offload the ‘keeper and allow for youngster Cieran Slicker to gain valuable experience as second-choice to Muric.

There’s no denying Walton is a capable talent, but given his current salary and lack of first-team action, it could see him offloaded at the next opportunity in January.

Ipswich let a "great" player leave for £0, now he's outscoring Szmodics

This former Ipswich Town player continues to shine away from Suffolk.

ByKelan Sarson Oct 9, 2024

There is little doubt that Tottenham Hotspur are in need of some added firepower before the end of the summer transfer window at the start of next month.

Who have Tottenham signed in attack this summer?

Ange Postecoglou has bolstered his forward options with the signings of attacking midfielder James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski on a permanent basis after his 18-month loan from Juventus.

19-year-old striker Alejo Véliz has also joined from Rosario Central but is yet to play a career game outside of Argentina.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

They recently lost star striker Harry Kane to German giants Bayern Munich for an initial fee of £86m, which has come as a huge blow after his 30-goal haul in the Premier League last season.

Who could replace Harry Kane at Tottenham?

It will be difficult for Spurs to get a direct replacement for the England captain, as Manchester City star Erling Haaland (36) was the only other player to reach 30 in the top-flight.

However, Postecoglou could find a new lethal partner for Heung-min Son in attack and a player who could develop into a Kane-esque figure further down the line by signing Evan Ferguson from Brighton & Hove Albion.

Spurs are reportedly interested in signing the Ireland international and his impressive start to life in senior football suggests that he has the potential to be an exceptional striker for the club.

The 18-year-old has scored an excellent 11 goals in 30 first-team matches for the Seagulls, which includes seven goals in 21 Premier League games despite only starting ten times.

This means that Ferguson, who has reportedly been valued at £120m, is currently on an average of one goal per 0.7 top-flight starts, which would work out at between 26 and 27 goals over a 38-game season.

Of course, there is no guarantee that he will be able to develop to the point where is able to sustain that over the course of an entire Premier League campaign, but the scope is clearly there for him to turn into a lethal centre-forward.

This could make the teenage ace, who was once described as "incredibly prolific" by Jacek Kulig, a superb partner for Son if he is able to fulfill his potential.

The Spurs skipper has hit double figures for goals in each of the last seven Premier League seasons and won the Golden Boot with 23 strikes during the 2021/22 campaign.

He has also racked up 36 assists over the last four top-flight terms combined and led the club in key passes per game in each of the last three seasons, which shows that the South Korea international carries a significant threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

These statistics suggest that Son is an outstanding creative talent who could form an excellent link-up with Ferguson to provide the Irish marksman with plenty of chances in front of goal to hit the ground running in north London.

Kane and Son hold the record for the most joint-goal involvements in Premier League history and this shows that the ex-Bayer Leverkusen star is capable of thriving alongside an excellent number nine, which could be the case with the £120m-rated starlet.