A derrota para o São Paulo no Morumbi, nesta quinta-feira, não tirou o oitavo título do Campeonato Brasileiro do Flamengo. De quebra, o Rubro-Negro garantiu uma premiação milionária. Pelo primeiro lugar da tabela – posto que alcançou só há duas rodadas do fim -, o clube receberá da CBF R$ 33 milhões.
No orçamento da temporada, feito e aprovado internamente no final de 2019, antes da pandemia do coronavírus, a direção contava com a arrecadação no Brasileirão. A expectativa era de que o time terminasse em primeiro ou segundo lugar. O Internacional, vice-campeão, receberá R$ 31,7 milhões.
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Manchester United have been slammed as "clueless" by fans after extending manager Marc Skinner's contract.
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Man Utd win Women's FA CupSkinner given new contractFans angry over decisionWHAT HAPPENED?
Days after United won the Women's FA Cup for the first time with a 4-0 win over Tottenham at Wembley, Skinner has been handed a new one-year deal – with the option of extending a further 12 months. Despite leading them to this major trophy, many Red Devils supporters are not best pleased at this contract extension.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING
@UTDBOSS369 tweeted: "This guy should have gotten the sack he is not the manager to take this team forward that FA cup win has helped him scale through."
@trivelamanutd commented: "WHY DO YOU HATE US SO MUCH? @INEOS @ManUtd @ManUtdWomen."
@unitedhan concurred: "WHAT?! That FA cup has clouded judgment here, he’s been subpar in the league😐 we can do better sorry."
Finally, @mickeosterdahl added: "Absolute disgrace. #SkinnerOut," and @UTDKara put: "Ohhhhhhh no we never winning WSL then. This club is clueless."
WHAT MARC SKINNER SAID
The Red Devils boss told United's website: “It’s an honour to extend my stay at Manchester United. I’ve always felt at home here, with our excellent players, staff, and fans. Being able to secure the team’s first major trophy at Wembley was a real career highlight for me and another sign of our continued growth, on and off the field. Thanks to everyone who has supported me on this journey, and I look forward to creating many more winning memories together.”
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Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
United finished second in the Women's Super League last season but this term they are 17 points behind league leaders Chelsea in fifth. Throughout the campaign, the 41-year-old has beenheavily criticised by some United fans – which Blues boss Emma Hayes deems to be unfair. However, if Skinner can not get the Red Devils firing up the table in 2024/25, his days at the club may be numbered and the fans' outcry could be even fiercer.
While New Zealand will look to shut out the series, India will have to balance their goal of testing bench strength with the need to keep the series alive
Sidharth Monga07-Feb-20193:50
Can we expect another run-fest at Eden Park?
Big PictureOn this tour of New Zealand, India have suffered their biggest defeat in ODIs – in terms of balls left – and T20Is – in terms of runs they fell short by – but it has unequivocally been an impressive tour for India so far. Before that Hamilton debacle in the ODI came a clinical surge to an unassailable 3-0 lead in the ODI series, and the response to Hamilton was the Wellington ODI, in which India deliberately chose to bat in difficult conditions, overcame them and pulled off an unlikely defence. All this without the best white-ball bowler in the world, Jasprit Bumrah.Watch India v NZ live
Followers in the United States can watch the second T20I live on ESPN+
Now people want to see how India respond to the Wellington T20I defeat where their bowlers seemed to have a collective off day. There might also be the realisation that they need to play at least one more wicket-taking bowler and compromise a bit of depth in batting. These bilateral T20Is, though, are an opportunity to experiment. India want to test their bench strength, but now it will have to marry with the need to stay alive in the series. Their bowlers – whoever plays – will be asked to put in a better show and bowl to the plans and the fields.For the first time during this trip by India, New Zealand are in the lead, and they will want to seal the series in Auckland. They seem to be better suited to the shorter format right now. They seem to have all-round options without necessarily sacrificing one suit or the other. Colin de Grandhomme, for example, wasn’t even required to bowl in Wellington even though one of the bowlers, Scott Kuggeleijin, had a bad day. They will want a repeat in Auckland.Form guideNew Zealand (completed matches, most recent first) WWLLLIndia LWLWW In the spotlightRohit Sharma won’t like this mini dip in his scores. After a brace of fifties in Mount Maunganui – he looked good for a double in the first of those – Rohit has had scores of 7, 2 and 1. In a way it is less frustrating to get out without a start rather than wasting one, but Rohit won’t be happy with the nature of his dismissals. Twice movement got him, and on the third occasion his favourite shot – the pull – landed in the lap of a deep fielder. Watch out for how he responds.Tim Southee is an unusual player: he is a shoo-in in Tests and T20Is, but out of favour in ODIs. He showed his worth in his first international back with figures of 3 for 17 in his four overs. He will want to continue doing that to push for a return to the ODIs too.Getty Images
Team newsThe only change New Zealand might think of is to possibly find a way to include James Neesham. He could replace Kuggeleijn or de Grandhomme.New Zealand (likely) 1 Tim Seifert (wk), 2 Colin Munro, 3 Kane Williamson (capt.), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 James Neesham/ Colin de Grandhomme, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Scott Kuggeleijn, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Lockie FergusonIndia could go in with a few changes. One of the three wicketkeepers or one of the allrounders could be left out. They could want to play two wristspinners too.India (likely) 1 Rohit Sharma (capt.), 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Shubman Gill/ Vijay Shankar, 4 Rishabh Pant, 5 Dinesh Karthik, 6 MS Dhoni (wk), 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Krunal Pandya/Kuldeep Yadav, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Khaleel Ahmed/ Mohammed Siraj, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalPitch and conditionsEden Park is oddly shaped and a tough ground to defend. This is a ground where last year Australia successfully chased down 244 with seven balls to spare. Chasing 143, New Zealand once got there in 10 overs. Yet nine matches have been won by sides batting first to six by chasing sides. A pleasant day is expected for the game.Stats and trivia India have a 2-7 head-to-head in T20Is against New Zealand. Their seven losses include all three matches they have played in New Zealand. Yuzvendra Chahal needs five wickets to reach 50. Only Jasprit Bumrah (48) and R Ashwin (52) have taken more for India. Hardik Pandya has never conceded more runs in a T20 international than the 51 he did in Wellington. It was his second-most expensive analysis in all T20 cricket.Quotes”Sometimes in T20 cricket, it can feel really nice and your figures can look really different. It was just a part of almost the perfect puzzle last night, the perfect team performance.”
‘If I make mistakes, or it is because of me that the team is losing then I will definitely think about it, and if there is someone better than me to do the Test captaincy, then he should’
Osman Samiuddin in Abu Dhabi07-Dec-2018
Sarfraz Ahmed and Kane Williamson during the post-match presentation•AFP
Fresh after a second home-series defeat in two seasons, and with a daunting series in South Africa to come, Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed has admitted that results could eventually force his hand. Defeat to New Zealand on the final day in Abu Dhabi consigned Sarfraz to a fourth loss in seven home Tests, a stark contrast to the seven years that preceded his ascension.Asked whether there could come a time in South Africa when he reconsiders the Test captaincy, Sarfraz said, “When things like this happen, you do start to think about it.”But let’s see what happens. The tour of South Africa is a tough one and if you start thinking like this before it then it is not helpful for anyone. If I make mistakes, or it is because of me that the team is losing then I will definitely think about it, and if there is someone better than me to do the Test captaincy, then he should.”In the background, Mohsin Khan, the head of Pakistan’s cricket committee, has argued publicly that Sarfraz should relinquish the Test captaincy. He has been given no guarantees by the board to stay on as leader, other than on a series-by-series basis. And Pakistan have retained Mohammad Rizwan in the Test squad for South Africa, a wicketkeeping understudy who has recently started getting selected once again, and is also in a rich vein of form with the bat.As far as facing the music goes, Sarfraz will not be alone. The pressure will be as high on his fellow seniors Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq. Both scored centuries in this Test, but crucially both were out cheaply on the final day. And both had failed to take Pakistan home in their chase of 176 in the first Test in Abu Dhabi.Neither is under pressure of the axe, but a poor series in South Africa could tip that equation.”They are both senior players, you can’t drop them,” Sarfraz said. “They scored hundreds and took us out of trouble. That time we needed their hundreds. In the second innings, Azhar was out to a good ball, they did not commit mistakes. But if the batsman is in good form then he has to carry that in both the innings.”We have that example of Kane Williamson who carried his team’s batting throughout the series. Our batsmen have scored runs, but not consistently. If they played a good and big innings then they did not score big in the next.”Neither was Sarfraz going to shift the blame onto the coaching staff. Mickey Arthur has been coach during all six of Pakistan’s final-day blowouts since 2016. Grant Flower has been the batting coach since 2014, and the failures of Azhar and Shafiq to progress over the last year, as well as the nature of these collapses, is bound to bring scrutiny on their roles.”The head coach has his job, the batting coach has his, but it’s the responsibility of the players as well,” Sarfraz said. “Mentally, we have to be strong as a batting unit. The batting pair who play the new ball has to set the momentum because it’s not easy to bat on the fifth day.”Before the series I had said that it’s the responsibility of the batsmen. The batting coach does his job. He tells them the basic faults and helps them improve their technique. But if the batsman is in form then he has to carry that form.”
O Vasco anunciou oficialmente a contratação do seu novo diretor executivo do Departamento de Futebol Profissional, nesta sexta, primeiro dia do ano. Trata-se deAlexandre Pássaro, que estava no São Paulo desde janeiro de 2015 e exerceu o cargo deGerente Executivo de Futebol do Tricolor Paulista do final de 2017 até o dia 31 de dezembro de 2020.
+Confira a tabela do Campeonato Carioca 2021
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Alexandre Pássaro é o novo diretor executivo do futebol profissional.
– Estou muito feliz por assumir esse grande desafio que é estar à frente do departamento de futebol do Vasco da Gama. É um sonho para qualquer profissional de futebol trabalhar neste clube, com tanta história e tradição. Minha motivação é enorme e tenho certeza que juntos – diretoria, comando técnico, jogadores e torcida – teremos momentos felizes pela frente – afirmou Pássaro ao site oficial do Vasco da Gama.
No Tricolor Paulista, o profissional foi um dos responsáveis pela modernização do Departamento de Futebol do São Paulo, que incluiu a criação do setor de Análise de Mercado e desenvolvimento da Análise de Desempenho, integração da área de saúde, criação de software de gestão interna, desenvolvimento e implantação de processos internos de gestão do departamento e criação, implantação e fixação da política contratual de atletas da base.
Durante sua passagem pelo atual líder do Campeonato Brasileiro, ele conduziu as principais negociações do clube, com nomes como: Daniel Alves, Hernanes, Bruno Alves, Tiago Volpi e Juanfran. Por outro lado, o dirigente também esteve à frente das saídas de David Neres, Antony, Luiz Araujo, Lucas Pratto, entre outros atletas.
Por fim, vale destacar que Alexandre Pássaro irá se apresentar ao elenco vascaíno neste sábado.
The West Indies allrounder lit up the first night of the Women’s World T20, but she isn’t close to being done
Melinda Farrell in Guyana10-Nov-2018Most players don’t like to reveal individual goals. It puts too much on the line, raises expectations and lays a marker; anything short of reaching it can too conveniently be deemed as ‘failure’.But Deandra Dottin is refreshingly upfront, if economical with words. So, still sporting the sweat that bore witness to her career- and tournament-best figures of 5 for 5 against Bangladesh, she chuckled and calmly revealed she plans to score two centuries during this tournament, to add to the brace already in her locker. Not one, but two.”I have two more coming for sure,” she told reporters. Two more coming for this tournament? “Yes, please.”Dottin was the first woman to score a T20 international century, against South Africa during the 2010 edition of the World T20. She did it in just 38 balls. It wasn’t just a lightbulb moment for the women’s game, it was a supernova: Oh guess what? Women can play a power game.And while many were – rightly – in raptures over Harmanpreet Kaur’s brilliant century in India’s opening match against New Zealand, it’s worth remembering that Dottin reached that milestone in 11 fewer balls.On a marathon first day of the WT20 that started with the blinding batting of Kaur, it was Dottin’s bowling that provided the fireworks at night to go with the drum beats that rumbled around Providence. In a way that reflected the conditions and the reality of playing three international T20s on one pitch, batting became progressively difficult during the day as the pitch wore and the humidity and lights became factors.Deandra Dottin’s juggling act after an impressive show with the ball•International Cricket Council
But Dottin’s performance was as much about using her natural abilities as it was about exploiting the conditions. After Bangladesh’s bowlers had restricted the defending champions to 106, there was little room for error in the West Indies bowling attack.Dottin had been promoted to open the batting – reflecting West Indies recent sluggishness in the Powerplay – but she became Jahanara Alam’s second victim when she misjudged a cut shot and was well caught by a diving Fahima Khatun. She decided to use that as motivation; if she could no longer win the match with the bat then she could still do it with the ball.The allrounder has a relatively short run-up that belies the power she generates; she was regularly touching 75 miles per hour on a pitch that was at its most sluggish.”We’ve been working a lot on sprinting and moving fast, running between the wickets and stuff, our turns and those quick steps,” Dottin said. “But for me, I’ve been putting in a lot of extra work, doing a lot of running and a lot more sprints.”I think it’s having a big input on my bowling, as well.”Dottin beat the Bangladesh batsmen for pace and fooled them with subtle movement; four of her five wickets came from the ball clattering into the stumps. The Bangladesh batsmen, sometimes lacking in foot movement and defensive technique, had no answers.She has two main expressions: one, a glowering frown of a glare, was evident when she was out for just eight runs. The other, a joyful and gleaming metallic grin burst through a little brighter with each of her wickets. When she took her fifth, she broke out into a dance with her team-mates, “Just a crazy dance that we all made up off of a song called ‘Level Up,’ she explained after the match.To what extent Dottin will continue to level up in this tournament remains to be seen. She has already bowled what she regards the best T20I spell of her extensive career (only two players in this competition – Jennie Gunn and Suzie Bates – have played more matches).”Well, I rate this one as one of the top performances I’ve had,” said Dottin. “Most of the performances I’ve had in the past were with the bat, but coming through with the ball is very tremendous.”And, if Dottin ticks off her goal of notching two centuries in the next couple of weeks, it won’t be just a level up but an unprecedented level unlocked.
Craig Miles and Matt Taylor shared eight wickets at Gloucestershire closed in on victory over bottom side Glamorgan
ECB Reporters Network12-Sep-2018 ScorecardWhen Timm van der Gugten joined Kieran Bull, with Glamorgan 150 for 8 and 32 overs still to play, Gloucestershire were contemplating a win within three days, a 45-minute drive up the M4, and a well-earned day off after outplaying Glamorgan for most of the game.The Glamorgan tailenders, however, had other ideas as they resisted Gloucestershire’s bowlers for the next 28 overs, with Bull showing commendable application in occupying the crease for 135 balls over nearly three hours. They shared a partnership of 73 for the ninth wicket before Bull was out for 30, but van der Gugten saw out the day unbeaten on a career-best 58.Although the visitors should win easily enough on Thursday morning – the new ball is due in five overs – Glamorgan have avoided a fourth defeat by an innings, with a slender lead of 18 runs.Gloucestershire had resumed their first innings on 284 for 6. Jack Taylor scored the two runs he needed to reach his seventh first-class century, before his seventh-wicket partnership of 155 with Ben Charlesworth was ended when the 17-year-old was caught at slip off van der Gugten for a composed 72.Taylor then became van der Gugten’s fourth victim when he was caught behind the wicket for 112, an innings that lasted 214 balls, with 14 fours and a six, while the bowler completed a splendid morning’s spell of 10-6-12-2.After Craig Miles and David Payne had further punished a tired Glamorgan attack, who were handicapped by a side injury to Ruaidhri Smith, the visitors were all out for 354, with Glamorgan facing four overs before lunch.They swiftly descended to 6 for 3, as Miles, who is leaving Gloucestershire for Warwickshire at the end of the season, demolished the top order. He took three wickets in ten balls without conceding a run to leave Glamorgan reeling, having started their second innings 217 runs adrift.Connor Brown was out first ball, then three balls later Miles trapped Tom Cullen leg before, and in his second over, he dismissed Kiran Carlson who collected a pair. Miles then dismissed Stephen Cook shortly after lunch, with Glamorgan on 34 for 4 and heading for yet another defeat within three days.David Lloyd counterattacked with a brisk 54 from 59 balls with nine fours, but there was little resistance as Cooke and Wagg both departed cheaply. Smith emulated Lloyd with his attacking approach, and with Bull an able partner, the eighth-wicket pair put on 49, before Smith, who had struck seven fours in an enterprising innings was caught behind to give Matt Taylor a fourth wicket.
Após a saída de Eduardo Coudet, a diretoria do Internacional agiu rápido e o escolhido para guiar o time na reta final dos torneios foi Abel Braga, que tem uma vasta história dentro do clube.
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Mesmo com o prestígio da diretoria, o novo comandante ainda não deu alegrias ao torcedor Colorado. Nos dois jogos a frente do Inter, nada de gols e derrotas doídas.
A estreia foi na Copa do Brasil. Diante do América-MG, o time não conseguiu apresentar um bom futebol e saiu de campo derrotado por 1 a 0. Resultado que coloca a equipe em situação delicada para a volta.
O segundo jogo foi pelo Brasileirão. Na Vila Belmiro, o Inter de Abel encarou o Santos, um adversário recheado de desfalques por Covid-19 no elenco e comissão técnica. Mesmo assim, nada deu certo e o Peixe venceu por 2 a 0, resultado que tirou o Colorado da liderança do BR-20.
Agora, no meio da semana, diante do América-MG, o técnico Abel Braga terá mais uma chance de quebrar esse jejum incômodo para responder aos críticos e torcedores que não confiam em seu trabalho.
Tottenham Hotspur are absolutely flying in the Premier League under Ange Postecoglou right now, but there is a lingering sense that a new starring centre-forward is still needed following Harry Kane's transfer to Bayern Munich in August.
The Australian quickly got to work in restoring the Lilywhites squad with exciting additions spread across the pitch, and the results have been nothing short of resounding thus far, joint-first after eight matches.
That being said, among those summer signings, Spurs didn't replace Kane with a new first-class frontman, but this could now be the club's priority, and a prolific star is on the radar.
Who are Tottenham interested in signing?
27-year-old forward Serhou Guirassy has attracted the attention of more than a few outfits across Europe after his devastating attacking displays of late, and Tottenham are among the suitors, according to transfer insider Dean Jones, who claims that moves may be made in January.
As relayed by Football365, Jones stated that "Tottenham are one of the teams already keeping an eye on his development", ensuring that an approach may not be too far away when the winter window is open.
The Stuttgart striker reportedly holds a release clause of €20m (£17m), with this affordable figure attracting further attention from Bournemouth, Brentford, Crystal Palace and West Ham United.
How good is Serhou Guirassy?
The Guinean sharpshooter's release clause simplifies what could have turned into a convoluted matter, with his German Bundesliga outfit reliant on his loyalty should the offers start drifting in.
And while the French-born ace only joined his side on loan last season, making the deal permanent this year, his “outrageous” goalscoring exploits, as remarked by The Athletic's Seb Stafford-Bloor, have now paved the way for a spot at the front of one of Europe's elite squads.
Despite the mounting intrigue, Spurs really do present an enticing offer, as well as a position at the club that promises opportunity for a player who has now hit their prolific prime.
This season, Guirassy has already scored a staggering 14 goals from just eight appearances, including 13 from seven in the league; remarkably, he has now equalled his complete tally from last year, 14 from 29 matches.
It's an astounding level of prowess, with the eight-cap international ranking among the top 1% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 14% for total shots, the top 20% for touches in the attacking box and the top 18% for pass completion, as per FBref.
Effectively, this underscores just how impressive he has been in front of goal, scoring with frightening constancy despite ranking lower for shots taken and for the actual time he spends in the penalty area.
Serhou Guirassy League Goals By Season (Transfermarkt)
Season
Apps
Goals
23/24
7
13
22/23
22
11
21/22
37
9
20/21
27
10
19/20
23
9
Take Erling Haaland, for example. The Manchester City phenomenon bagged 52 goals from 53 outings en route to a treble last season, and he ranks among the top 8% for goals scored and the top 7% for total shots taken per 90 – a far more levelled representation of his efforts.
This season, indeed, the Norwegian has posted eight goals from 12 matches, with even his striking inevitability falling well below Guirassy's current rate.
Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy.
The £36k-per-week goal machine would offer a striking threat that would be tailor-made for prominence in this Tottenham team, providing a different dimension to a thriving, swift-flowing outfit.
Heung-min Son, newly-appointed captain, has scored six times from eight matches in the Premier League this season in his new role as the centre-forward, but Guirassy would serve as the perfect counterweight to a phenom of his quality – which could be crucial as the season stretches into the later stage.
How would Serhou Guirassy fit in at Tottenham?
The fact that Guirassy could be playing ahead of James Maddison is truly a frightening prospect for the rest of English football, with the innovative playmaker arriving from Leicester City in a £40m deal in the summer.
Last season, Leicester did suffer relegation from the Premier League but at no detriment to Maddison's efforts, with the five-cap England international scoring ten goals and providing nine assists from only 28 starts in the English top-flight.
Hailed among the "world-class" crop of talent England boast at present by Dean Saunders, the 26-year-old has started life in London with aplomb, earning the Premier League Player of the Month for August after catalysing Spurs' attacking efforts.
The £170k-per-week magician ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers over the past year for assists, the top 1% for shot-creating actions and the top 7% for progressive passes per 90.
As per Sofascore, he is also completing 85% of his passes in the league this season while also forging 3.3 key passes per game; a stunning rate, considering Kevin De Bruyne, for example, averaged 3.1 per game last year.
Maddison is also winning 57% of his ground duels and averaging 1.3 tackles per match, which embodies the tenacity and application across the pitch that is serving Tottenham so well in Postecoglou's vision – this is also something that would provide Guirassy with greater threat and stability in his own exploits.
One can only imagine the kind of success Maddison could find in channelling his creativity toward a focal point such as Guirassy, having already plundered two goals and five assists in the Premier League this season.
While, in all likelihood, the Stuttgart man will not maintain a rate of scoring that surpasses Haaland with regularity, he is starting to demonstrate just how effective he can be in the final third, and undeniably boasts a fearsome and powerful shot that could be the perfect solution to Tottenham's problem – albeit one that is not causing any grief – of a Kane replacement.
Tottenham must strike and secure this man's signature, with Maddison behind him only Postecoglou truly knows the incredible offensive feats that could be achieved.
And while everything is going well for Spurs at the moment, there is always the possibility that form will slip in the business end, but with a sensation such as Guirassy entering the fray, the additional angle could tip the odds firmly in the Lilywhites' favour.
Tottenham Hotspur's start to the Premier League season has been completely unprecedented, with nobody expecting Ange Postecoglou to hit the ground running with such immediacy.
However, the Australian is good value for their fine form, having instantly cultivated a feel-good atmosphere around an outfit that has been severely lacking positivity in recent years.
The football is free-flowing and all-action, yet remains methodical and exciting. With no European matches to burden them either, it remains to be seen just how high this season's ceiling could be.
What makes such a stellar start to the term even more impressive is that, whilst he did delve into the market, the former Celtic boss hardly overhauled the entire squad. Wisely trimming it down by pushing out the dead wood, whilst acting shrewdly to bolster in key areas, the bulk of his first team is still made up of stars from previous regimes.
From the side that beat Sheffield United last weekend, four of the starting XI were signed during the last window, whilst the rest had been brought in by Antonio Conte aside from one other. Given their performances throughout last season, the difference in play style and results is stark.
However, there has arguably been one standout player from those latter seven starters, who has made the most surprising resurgence after just five Premier League games. Although James Maddison is stealing every headline, whilst Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero continue to excel at the back, Yves Bissouma has been undeniably bossing it in the engine room.
How good is Yves Bissouma?
Having signed for just £25m in the summer of 2022, this acquisition turned heads with the splendid bargain they had seemingly achieved after the 27-year-old had starred for Brighton and Hove Albion.
As a combative midfield general with the ability to pick a pass or pull out a piledriver from long range, it was expected that the Mali international would uphold Conte's midfield with power and poise.
However, for whatever reason the Italian seemingly lost all faith in the ability of his new signing, and he would make just ten league starts all season. In September he did note: "The only player that is struggling a bit with the tactical aspect is Bissouma, but also he is improving a lot in every aspect."
The £55k-per-week star would see little increase in game time though despite his tactical knowledge surely growing, with his 6.68 average Sofascore rating a truly disappointing figure for someone who promised so much.
As is often the way with a new managerial appointment though, Postecoglou's clean slate has allowed the 6-foot enforcer to recapture, and even surpass the form that saw him lauded on the South Coast.
After all, his 7.56 average rating makes him Spurs' fourth-highest-rated player for this current league term, buoyed by a 90% pass accuracy, one key pass, 2.4 interceptions, 3.4 tackles and 7.2 ball recoveries per game, via Sofascore.
Such exploits simply had to be lauded, as Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville led the praise after their opening-day draw with Brentford: "Bissouma is my player of the match. He has been brave, gone past people, broke play up. An all-round performance."
Sitting at the base of the midfield, screening the back four with a creativity and calmness not seen since Mousa Dembele, Bissouma is integral to the way Postecoglou wants to play by offering the defensive foundation and a metronome all-in-one.
However, there is a star of the past, a certain Luka Modric who would arguably occupy this role better if hypothetically, were he to return in his prime, given that such a period saw the star in question named as the best player in the world.
Why did Luka Modric leave Spurs?
Although his period in north London did not even come close to the heights he would reach elsewhere, Modric still remained a classy presence with the potential to do great things under Harry Redknapp.
After all, in his final season in England, the Croatia international clearly did enough to warrant the £30m fee paid to secure his services; a figure that looked even better after the now 38-year-old was voted the worst signing of the season in Spain.
The story behind his Lilywhites exit is an interesting one too, as it was Chelsea who he first pushed to join in 2011 after a string of bids from the Blues were turned down by Daniel Levy. Unsurprisingly unwilling to sell to a rival, when the Santiago Bernabeu came calling, he saw his prayers answered.
Despite that, the 5 foot 8 trickster remained full of regret regarding the manner of his departure: "My one regret is that I didn’t win a trophy with Tottenham, despite us being a strong team who played good, attractive football. I’m sorry for the way I left. I wish we had parted in a nicer way. I hope fans understand that I followed my dreams."
Luka Modric Trophies Won, via Transfermarkt
League Titles
6
Champions Leagues
5
Domestic Cups
8
Ballon d'Or's
1
The silky maestro would quickly put such foolishness behind him with years of fine performances though, with age seemingly having no bearing on the quality the Croat delivers.
It would be hard to argue against the notion that Modric reached his peak during the 2017/18 season, as his stellar domestic displays fed into a sensational World Cup run, which led to the creative hero ending Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's Ballon d'Or monopoly by winning the award in 2018.
Journalist Liam Canning would offer his praise to the Los Blancos ace, supporting his secondary award of winning the World Cup's Player of the Tournament: "Luka Modrić is the rightful player of the tournament. Makes football look so easy. World-class."
His showings in La Liga that year help to outline exactly what made that such a special year for the former Dinamo Zagreb superstar, as his 7.34 average rating was buoyed by a 90% pass accuracy and six assists, alongside 1.5 key passes, 1.2 interceptions and 1.3 tackles per game, via Sofascore.
As the best in his role during these prime years, it seems that Bissouma would understandably never be able to compete with the levels of the man capable of dictating the pace of any game due to his immense talent. Admittedly, there are few in history who even come close.
Modric will forever remain a legendary figure who was given the platform for his initial success by Spurs, and for that, the club should be proud.
Whilst their current squad will go about their business with incision as they seek to maintain their fine form, it must be noted that swapping Bissouma out for the 168-cap wizard would likely take them from a plucky, overperforming outfit to genuine challengers for the elite honours. What they would give for that.