The Basque coach is at the forefront of the new tactical trend sweeping across the Premier League and the Cityzens need to face up to it

The March international break is traditionally when clubs begin to focus their plans for the next campaign. Chelsea have already officially signed Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo while Real Madrid have effectively agreed a contract with Trent Alexander-Arnold. Some are already looking at potential new managers, too, and one name in particular is causing plenty of excitement: Andoni Iraola.

The Basque is reported to be Tottenham's top candidate should they decide to move on from Ange Postecoglou while he is also being viewed as a potential candidate for the Real Madrid job if Carlo Ancelotti should leave. It is easy to see why there is a lot of interest in Iraola.

The 42-year-old has made humble Bournemouth one of the most exciting teams to watch in the Premier League, if not Europe, and given them a fighting chance of qualifying for continental competition for the first time ever, with an outside shot at creeping into the Champions League. And he is a specialist at upsetting the biggest teams. His side have beaten four of the traditional 'Big Six' teams this season while outclassing the two big pretenders, demolishing Nottingham Forest 5-0 and thrashing Newcastle 4-1 away from home.

One Sunday he he will lead his team out in an FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester City, and with their visitors toiling in Pep Guardiola's worst-ever season as a coach and the Catalan even beginning to question if his methods still have a place in modern football, it is time City began to seriously consider Iraola as a potential successor in the not-too-distant future.

Getty Too intense for City

One of Bournemouth's most impressive wins in this remarkable campaign was when they became the first team in 11 months to beat Man City in the league. They only beat them 2-1 but Guardiola was in thrall to his side's victors, admitting his team could not live with the high-octane, lightning-quick Cherries.

"We couldn't match up to the intensity," he said. Iraola was also in no doubt that his side had deserved to win, remarking: "One thing is to beat City but another is to play better. We played with no fear."

Bournemouth will be aiming to replicate that performance when they host City in Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final tie, with a place at Wembley in the club's first ever FA Cup semi-final up for grabs.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportDefeat sparked existential crisis

Before City arrived at the Vitality Stadium in November they had won seven of their nine opening Premier League games and were top of the table. But the defeat sparked a shocking downward spiral of results, of six defeats and two draws in nine matches. And in January Guardiola seemed to be grappling with an existential question about the way football was heading. "Today, modern football is the way Bournemouth, Newcastle, Brighton and Liverpool play," the City manager told . "Modern football is not positional."

Guardiola's Barcelona led the possession-football revolution – also referred to as positional play – along with the all-conquering Spain team that had many of the same players. But this season some of the most successful teams in the Premier League are the ones that see the ball the least. Take Nottingham Forest, who have the lowest average possession in the league (39.5 percent) and yet are third in the table – six points better off City – and closing in on Champions League qualification for the first time.

City still lead the way in possession in the English top flight with 60.8% while runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool also love to have the ball, ranking third in the table with 57.2%. But several teams with high ball possession are having dire campaigns. Basement club Southampton, who have just nine points, rank 10th in the possession table. Tottenham are fourth in terms of possession but are 14th in the real table. Manchester United are seventh in the possession table and 13th in the one that matters, on course for their worst finish since 1990.

Getty Images SportAt the forefront of a new movement

Bournemouth rank 15th in possession but are among the highest performers in the key metrics relating to fast attacks. The Cherries lead the league in counter-pressures, also ranking highest for shots following a high turnover (winning the ball within 40 metres of the opposition’s goal-line) and shots from transitions.

Bournemouth terrorised City in November with their fast breaks, even though their two goals came from slower build-up moves. They also demonstrated their power at counters in their recent 2-2 draw with Tottenham, when Milos Kerkez hared down the pitch from his own area and crossed for Marcus Tavernier to score. While City are renowned for their propensity to recycle possession and reset when they win the ball back, Bournemouth's first thought when retrieving it is to attack as fast as possible.

Iraola explained to recently: "The first thing we try to do when we recover the ball is play to the number nine. Because that is usually the moment when the opponent is less well positioned and you can find better spaces."

The game is heading in the same direction. According to , this season has the highest proportion of all shots coming from fast breaks on record (10.2%), as well as the highest proportion of goals (7.1%). If City do not adapt to this new reality, then this harrowing season will cease to be an anomaly in their golden era and will be repeated. And in Erling Haaland they have the most formidable centre-forward in the world, one who would thrive in a more direct team.

Getty Images SportExhilarating football

Bournemouth are not just successful. Rather like Iraola's former club Rayo Vallecano, they are exhilarating to watch. And while City fans will forever be in debt to Guardiola for the success he has brought them, the uncomfortable truth is that many supporters get frustrated with their short-passing game and would like to see them adopt a faster, more exciting style of play.

Iraola began his playing career with Athletic Club just as Guardiola's era with Barcelona ended but he came up against him on a number of occasions when the Catalan was in the dugout. Barca won every single one of their meetings, including two Copa del Rey finals, but Iraola got his own back against Barca as a coach, when his Rayo Vallecano side did the double on them in their first season back in the top flight. In four La Liga games against Barca, Iraola won three and drew once.

And before the two men met as coaches for the first time in 2023, Guardiola said of Iraola: "In Spain he is one of the youngest managers that has a better future – and training in the Premier League is an incredible success for him." Iraola has not just made it to the Premier League, he has thrived there. And he is part of the new tactical vanguard.

The last month or so has been far from ideal for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side have dropped points in the Premier League and are now set to be without the talismanic Bukayo Saka for at least a couple of months.

However, the one positive development has been the return to form of Gabriel Jesus, who’s bagged five goals in his last three games and looks far more dangerous than he did just a month ago.

Unfortunately for the Brazilian, though, it might be too little too late, as recent reports have once again linked the club to one of Europe’s most exciting up-and-coming strikers, who could be his long-term replacement.

Arsenal transfer news

According to reports from Spain, Arsenal have maintained their interest in RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Šeško and he now wants to seal a move to England in 2025.

The report claims that following his impressive form for the German side this season, the Slovenian international has caught the eye of several potential suitors heading into next year.

While this competition is far from ideal for the Gunners, the good thing is that they now know how much they’ll need to offer to secure the 21-year-old’s services, as the report claims Leipzig will only listen to offers in excess of €70m, which is about £58m.

It would still require a significant investment from Arsenal to get this transfer over the line, but given Šeško’s ability and potential, it is worth pursuing, even if it could be bad news for Jesus.

How Šeško compares to Jesus

So, as things stand, it would appear that Jesus has reclaimed the starting number nine role at Arsenal, and given his five goals in the last three games, it’s a role he could be set to keep for a little while longer.

However, if the club were to go out and spend shy of £60m on Šeško either next month or in the summer, they’d surely only do so with the intention of giving him as many minutes as possible, putting him in direct competition with the Brazilian.

With that said, which one of them comes out on top in a direct comparison?

Well, when it comes to their pure output since the start of last season, it’s quite a comfortable victory for the Radeče-born “monster”, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson.

For example, he has found the back of the net 29 times and provided five assists in 65 appearances, which equates to a goal involvement every 1.91 games.

In contrast, the former Manchester City star has scored 14 goals and provided ten assists in 59 games across the same period, equating to a rather disappointing average of a goal involvement every 2.45 games.

Interestingly, things are a little closer when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers since the start of last season, although the Leipzig gem still comes out just ahead in the most relevant metrics.

Šeško vs Jesus

Statistics per 90

Šeško

Jesus

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.45

0.59

Actual Non-Penalty G+As

0.85

0.52

Shots

2.58

3.30

Shots on Target

1.38

1.13

Goals per Shot

0.27

0.09

Goals per Shot on Target

0.51

0.25

Goal-Creating Actions

0.42

0.52

Aerial Duels Won

2.47

0.94

All Stats via FBref for the 23/24 – 24/25 Season

For example, while he’s second best for non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots and goal-creating actions, he is comfortably ahead in metrics like actual non-penalty goals plus assists, shots on target, goals per shot and shot on target and aerial duels won, all per 90.

Moreover, the fact that the Sao Paulo-born ace scored a flurry of goals in the last month has improved his overall per 90 numbers, which could be misleading without that added context.

Ultimately, while Jesus is still a brilliant footballer and a player who could be a valuable asset for Arsenal, it seems unlikely that he’s going to develop into a goalscoring phenomenon in the coming years, which could be the case for Šeško.

Therefore, while it will cost the club a significant amount of money, the Gunners should do what they can to sign the Slovenian goal machine as soon as possible.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 30, 2024

Frank Lampard claims to have seen "things that cannot be right at elite football" during his troubled spell as interim manager at Chelsea.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Returned to Stamford Bridge in April 2023
• Saw out troubled Premier League campaign
• Proving his worth again at Coventry City

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Blues legend, who won Premier League and Champions League titles at Stamford Bridge as a player, spent 18 months at the helm during his first stint in charge of a club that will always hold a special place in his heart. He answered an SOS call when returning to west London in April 2023.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  With Chelsea giving Graham Potter just 31 games in charge, following the big-money takeover completed by Todd Boehly and BlueCo, somebody was required to steer the Blues through to the end of a troubled campaign. Lampard, fresh from leaving Everton a few months earlier, was asked to step in.

• WHAT FRANK LAMPARD SAID

  Emotional ties saw the ex-England international accept that challenge, but he picked up just one victory from 11 fixtures – giving him an awful nine per cent win ratio. Lampard has, however, told of the mess that he inherited: "I saw things that I know cannot be right at elite football and that's the truth. I didn't love working in that short period because it's hard to lay down an idea when you're going to be leaving but Chelsea will always be a massive club in my life.

  "But when I understand the standards of Chelsea – in that period of time a lot of players were in transition of maybe leaving and some problems and motivation were a problem – in an interim period you can't really affect that.

  "When you see the results of it, I'm experienced enough to know what's right and what's wrong and basic things in a training ground on a pitch. I didn't learn anything tactical but it did reinforce my beliefs of all my experiences of when you know what a group is really fighting in the same direction – how strong that can be and when it's not, it can be really challenging."

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite those struggles, Lampard claims to have taken important lessons from all of his managerial roles to date. He added: "In my first week at Derby I was fresh, open-eyed to everything and there were a lot of things I needed to learn quickly. So I've certainly matured through that and seen that, and to be able to work at Derby in the Championship was a real development year for me.

  "To then go to Chelsea and work in the Champions League and get into the Champions League, through the league – those things are all great experiences, so you kind of layer them up hopefully.

  "Everton in a relegation battle and we stayed up, and even going back to Chelsea's interim, it was a really tough time at the club and I saw a lot of things with people questioning like was it the right thing to do…I'm absolutely better for the experience of that, even though it was six or seven weeks."

Political uncertainty forced the relocation, with the ODIs expected to start at 4pm

Umar Farooq30-May-2022

Pakistan have relocated their home series against West Indies from Rawalpindi to Multan. The decision has been taken in light of political uncertainty in Islamabad – the country’s capital, adjacent to Rawalpindi. The fixtures and schedule, however, remain unchanged, with the three ODIs, which are a part of the Cricket World Cup Super League to be played on June 8, 10 and 12.The games were originally slated for Rawalpindi, but the PCB had kept Multan as a back-up option, with former Prime Minister Imran Khan potentially planning protest rallies in the capital over the coming days. The original protest rally took place on May 25, but there remains a significant possibility of further such rallies over the coming days.Multan remained the only viable option, with Lahore and Karachi’s pitches being relaid, and the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar undergoing renovation work.Multan is situated in southern Punjab, and among the hottest cities in the country, with temperatures in the high 40s expected on matchdays. Pakistan has never hosted elite cricket at this time of year due to the summer heat, with nearly all high-level competitions including domestic season played during the winter and spring months between September and April.During the summer months, the PCB has mostly held its training camps in northern side of the country mostly in Abbottabad, which is located in the hilly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and experiences relatively milder weather. Last year, the PCB had made an attempt to host women cricketers camp in Multan but had to call off the camp due to extreme heat.The games will start at 4pm in the afternoon to mitigate the weather conditions. Pakistan will carry out their training camp in Lahore from June 1-4, before the squad moves to Multan on June 5. West Indies will arrive in Islamabad as planned on June 6 and will travel to Multan on a charter flight. The ODIs have been carried over from the series scheduled last December, when only the three T20Is took place, a Covid outbreak in the West Indies camp forcing the postponement of the ODIs. There will be no biosecure bubble for the series.

A major European outfit is planning to make a move and sign an exciting Aston Villa player, but NSWE are not looking to sell anytime soon, according to a recent report.

Aston Villa transfer rumours

The 2024/25 Premier League season started off very well for Unai Emery’s side, but in recent weeks there has been an inconsistency in performances and results, and that has seen them fall away slightly in the table. Villa still have plenty to play for, and because of that, January is a good opportunity for Emery and co to bring in some fresh faces.

It could be a busy January for Villa given the number of players they have been linked with. Benfica defender Antonio Silva is probably the most high-profile player to be linked with a move to Villa Park. The centre-back is admired a lot by people at Villa, and contact has already been made with his representatives to get an understanding of the costs of a potential deal in January.

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Brett Worthington

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Silva is not the only defender on Villa’s radar, as they are also interested in signing Raul Asencio from Real Madrid. The young man has impressed in his limited appearances for the Spanish giants, and Emery sees him as someone who could improve his side’s defence, but they are not the only Premier League team interested in securing this transfer.

Emery also appears to have his eye on improving his forward line, as they are interested in signing Stefanos Tzimas. The 18-year-old has scored seven goals in 14 games for Nuremberg while on loan from Greek side PAOK. Tzimas is considered a very talented forward in his homeland, and if Villa are to secure his signature, it could cost them £19 million.

European side move to sign £30m+ Aston Villa ace

According to Il Mattino, relayed by Sport Witness, Napoli are prepared to make a move and sign Jhon Duran from Aston Villa. The 21-year-old has been at Villa Park since January of last year, when he joined from MLS side Chicago.

Duran arrived at Villa relatively unknown, but he had a growing reputation in the game due to his performances in the USA. It took the Colombia international a while to get familiar to his new surroundings, but from the back end of last season and now this campaign, Duran has become an important player for Villa and has scored some key goals, particularly the winning goal against Bayern Munich.

Duran has 11 goals in 24 games this season, and now this report states that Napoli are starting to take serious notice. It is claimed that the Italian giants are putting the “spotlight” on the Villa striker as they look for a “sidekick” to current striker Romelu Lukaku. Duran is said to be at the top of Napoli’s director of football, Giovanni Manna’s, wish list.

People at Napoli have been left impressed by Duran’s physicality and speed which are on show most weeks at Villa Park. Aston Villa are not looking to sell their forward, and it is claimed that should Duran leave, it would cost up to €40 million, which is roughly £33 million. Napoli have already begun contact with Aston Villa intermediaries, but they are described as “frenetic,” and it is unclear if this is a deal for January or the summer.

في أعقاب إعلان النادي الأهلي عن توجيه الشكر للمدرب السويسري مارسيل كولر وإنهاء التعاقد بين الطرفين بالتراضي، بدأت عدة تكهنات تدور حول وجهته المقبلة، خاصة بعد النجاحات التي حققها مع الفريق، وآخرها التأهل إلى كأس العالم للأندية.

وفي هذا السياق، ذكرت تقارير صحفية تونسية أن نادي الترجي فتح باب المفاوضات مع كولر لقيادة الفريق في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية المقبلة، وهو ما أثار العديد من التساؤلات حول إمكانية انتقال المدرب السويسري إلى بطل تونس.

من جانبه، علّق الإعلامي أحمد شوبير على هذه الأنباء خلال برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الثلاثاء، قائلًا: “هناك تقرير صحفي تونسي قال إن نادي الترجي فتح مفاوضات مع مارسيل كولر، لكي يقود الفريق في كأس العالم للأندية”.

طالع أيضًا | شوبير: أزمة كولر مع الأهلي مستمرة.. وبعض المسؤولين فسروا عقده بشكل مختلف

وأضاف: “إذا كان التفاوض على قيادة مارسيل كولر للترجي في كأس العالم فقط، هذا أمر وارد، لكن أن يتولى تدريب الفريق بشكل دائم، فهذا صعب، لأن كولر كان يتقاضى راتبًا كبيرًا جدًا مع الأهلي، والإخوة في تونس والمغرب لديهم سقف محدود للرواتب، لذلك أراهم بعيدين عن التعاقد معه بشكل دائم”.

وتابع: “من الممكن أن يتفق الطرفان على قيادة الفريق خلال كأس العالم فقط مقابل مكافأة أو مبلغ معين، أما الاستمرار بعد البطولة، فأراه أمرًا غير واقعي”.

واختتم شوبير حديثه قائلًا: “أسهم كولر ارتفعت كثيرًا، وبرأيي لن يحصل على نفس الراتب الذي كان يتقاضاه في الأهلي إلا في منطقة الخليج”.

A mind-boggling surge in the value of digital rights included

Nagraj Gollapudi14-Jun-20222:42

Just how massive is the IPL’s new media-rights deal?

196% – That’s how much the overall value of the IPL media rights has skyrocketed compared to the previous cycle (2018-22), when talking in India rupees. In 2017, Star India had bought the consolidated IPL media rights (that is, TV and digital) for INR 16,347.5 crore for a set of 300 matches (60 per season, for five seasons). This time around, the overall value is INR 48,390.5 crore for 410 matches, which is 2.96 times or 196% higher than the previous cycle. In US dollar terms, the hike is 143%, from $2.55 billion to $6.2 billion.The per-game value of the IPL over the seasons•ESPNcricinfo LtdNo. 2 – In terms of per-match value, the IPL is now only behind American football’s National Football League (NFL) and ahead of English football’s Premier League. Each NFL match is worth US$ 35.07 million* (based on the ten-year rights deal signed in 2022), while the value of a Premier League match as per the rights deal signed in 2022-25 is US$ 11.34 million**. Based on the overall value of INR 48,390.5 crore for a maximum of 410 matches in the next cycle, each IPL game is worth INR 118.02 crore (US$ 15.11 million approx.).1.96 – An IPL match, based on media rights, is now worth nearly double (1.96 times) that of an India home game. The average value of each India home game – as per a five-year deal bagged by Star India, in 2018, worth INR 6,138 crore (at the time US$ 944 million) – is INR 60 crore, while an IPL game now costs INR 118.02 crore ($15.11 million approx.).!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(e){if(void 0!==e.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var t=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var a in e.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r=0;r<t.length;r++){if(t[r].contentWindow===e.source)t[r].style.height=e.data["datawrapper-height"][a]+"px"}}}))}();