تحدث جراهام بوتر، المدير الفني لفريق وست هام، عن الصعوبة التي وجدها أحد لاعبيه ضد النجم محمد صلاح خلال مباراة اليوم ضد ليفربول، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
وتلاقى الفريقان في إطار منافسات الجولة الثانية والثلاثين من الدوري الإنجليزي، حيث فاز ليفربول بهدفين لهدف.
كان محمد صلاح قد صنع هدف ليفربول الأول، الذي سجله لويس دياز في الشوط الأول من عمر المباراة.
وتم استبدال محمد صلاح في الدقيقة 85، قبل أن يسجل آندي روبرتسون هدفًأ بالخطأ في مرمى فريقه، ثم جاء هدف قاتل من قِبل فيرجيل فان دايك في الدقيقة 89.
وعانى لاعب وست هام الشاب، أوليفر سكارلز، صاحب الـ19 عامًا أمام محمد صلاح، حيث قاتل ضد المصري قبل استبداله في الدقيقة 57.
اقرأ أيضًا.. كاراجر: محمد صلاح يلعب كما لو كان يتدرب.. وما فعله أمام لاعب وست هام لن يُنسى
من جانبه، قال جراهام بوتر في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “إندبندنت” الإنجليزية: “كان من المهم أن يكتسب هذه الخبرة، كان يلعب ضد أفضل لاعب في العالم من حيث الأهداف والتمريرات الحاسمة، لقد كان درسًا رائعًا له”.
وعن المباراة بشكل عام، قال: “كان أداءً قويًا للغاية، ربما كان أفضل أداء قدمناه على الإطلاق، كان التوازن بين الدفاع والهجوم ممتازًا طوال المباراة”.
واسترسل: “أعتقد أننا عانينا في البداية، كانت الأجواء حماسية، وبدأ ليفربول المباراة بقوة وسرعة، وواجهنا صعوبة، ولكن حافظنا في الوقت نفسه على تماسكنا ووحدتنا، وهو ما لم يحدث دائمًا”.
وأوضح: “تحسن أدائنا وسنحت لنا بعض الفرص، كانت لدينا تسديدة في العارضة في الشوط الأول، بعد ذلك صنعنا بعض الفرص الخطيرة في الشوط الثاني وتعادلنا، كانت لدينا تسديدة أخرى في العارضة”.
واسترسل: “ثم بدأنا نشعر بأننا قادرون على إظهار ذلك بفضل جهودنا وجودة لعبنا، لكن ربما هذا هو الفرق. يمتلك الفريق المتصدر للدوري عقلية الصمود والتحدي، وللأسف لم نستفد من المباراة بأي شكل (النقاط)”.
Arsenal came into Saturday night’s clash knowing they could put the pressure on Chelsea and Liverpool heading into a big Sunday of football.
Manchester City had lost yet again a few hours earlier and the thought of an evening under the lights against Crystal Palace probably won’t have given the Gunners too much hope.
However, despite a first-half scare in the opening 20 minutes, they came through the clash with relative ease once all was said and done.
As the full-time whistle blew in south London, Mikel Arteta’s men had given their supporters the finest Christmas gift, winning 5-1.
Gabriel Jesus was Palace’s nemesis again. Just days before the Brazilian had scored a remarkable hat-trick against Oliver Glasner’s side in the Carabao Cup, and on this occasion, he scored two more goals.
It was a terrific performance from the attacker who all of a sudden now looks like a key cog in the Arsenal attack.
However, although there were encouraging performances from the likes of Kai Havertz in midfield and Gabriel Martinelli on the wings, it was a 5-1 win in which some negatives did crop up. The biggest of which was an injury to Bukayo Saka.
Arteta given big injury worry after Arsenal’s 5-1 win
Saka has played a whole heap of football over the last few years and the need to find some added competition on the Englishman’s right-hand side has been well-documented.
Raheem Sterling did arrive on a loan deal back on transfer deadline day but Arteta hasn’t really trusted him.
Understandably, the club have been reliant on the young forward again this term and he has been the biggest source of creativity in the Arsenal side, registering the highest number of assists (10) in the entire division.
So, to see him hobble from the field rather gingerly in the first half will have been a gutting sight for everyone associated with Arsenal.
Saka dribbled down the right-hand side and delivered a cross but immediately went down holding his hamstring and called to be replaced. He couldn’t carry on and left the field, replaced by Leandro Trossard.
Arteta said at full-time that the player’s injury was a “worry” and that was made abundantly clear when he was videoed leaving the stadium on crutches.
Fortunately for the Gunners, they were helped big time by Martinelli’s performance on the right wing who showed extreme quality to tee up Arsenal’s third goal, scored by Havertz after Jesus’ header rebounded off the post.
The performance of Arteta’s two Brazilians in attack will no doubt have been a source of comfort for the manager but it was a 5-1 thrashing where there wasn’t just the negative of Saka’s injury.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Arsenal’s underperformers against Crystal Palace
One of the strangest performances on Saturday evening came from William Saliba, so often regarded as one of the finest central defenders in European football.
He was not at the races this time around and was fortunate to be bailed out by a combination of the Arsenal attack and goalkeeper David Raya.
Saliba was perhaps at fault for Ismaila Sarr’s equaliser as the Frenchman dropped off and didn’t attempt to make a tackle. The end result was an easy run and finish for the Eagles winger who was only too happy to drive at a backtracking centre half.
Arsenal’s number 2 nearly made things worse a little later on when Sarr dispossessed him close to the Gunners’ penalty box. Really, Glasner’s side should have found the net but for a brilliant save by Raya. After picking up possession, Sarr fed Jean-Philippe Mateta but Raya raced out to stop a goal-bound effort.
The performance of Arsenal’s midfield, chiefly Thomas Partey also raised question marks. The Ghanaian has largely been very consistent in the middle of the park this term but alongside the more attack-minded Martin Odegaard and Havertz, was overrun and looked out of sorts.
It looked as though the experiment of playing Havertz as a midfielder had ended but it was brought back this weekend and from an offensive point of view, it really worked a treat.
Playing as a left-sided 8, the German gave the team more attacking threat and showed as much for his goal on the night.
That said, with Declan Rice not starting due to fitness, he now simply has to start on Boxing Day against Ipswich Town.
He’s far more mobile than Partey, can eat up more ground and would be far better suited to covering off spaces when Arteta plays two more attacking midfielders in front of the holding player.
Partey vs Crystal Palace
Minutes played
90
Touches
66
Accurate passes
51/55 (93%)
Key passes
1
Crosses
0
Accurate long balls
3/3
Successful dribbles
1/3
Ground duels won
2/6
Aerial duels won
1/3
Possession lost
7x
Fouls
2
Interceptions
3
Tackles
1
Stats via Sofascore.
Partey struggled because of that, winning just three of his nine duels and making two fouls. While the former Atletico star did look composed in possession, succeeding with 93% of his passes, his ability to control the tempo of the game was lacking.
That was highlighted by the Standard’s Simon Collings who awarded the player a 5/10 match rating and stated that he ‘struggled’ and ‘did not give the defence enough protection’.
As a result, if Arteta wants to find a way to squeeze Havertz and Jesus into the same team again, it is Rice who needs to play at the base of the midfield, not Partey.
Saved by Jesus: Arsenal were let down by "awful" 116-touch star at Palace
Arsenal returned to form in the Premier League with a thumping win over Crystal Palace.
Opener’s unbeaten 118 shows benefit of winter technical work
Paul Edwards05-May-2022
Dom Sibley anchored Warwickshire with a century•Getty Images
Dominic Sibley will never be a gainly cricketer but he might become an exceptionally effective one once more. Those Warwickshire and England supporters who watched Sibley struggle dreadfully when playing Test cricket last summer would be heartened by such a renaissance and they may be further encouraged when he finally talks about the work he did over the winter.The evidence of that labour – apparently Sibley was often in the Edgbaston nets at eight in the morning – was plain during this marvellously well-contested day at Emirates Old Trafford. When it ended, in glorious May sunlight, the opener had 118 runs against his name. He had batted through the three sessions and had faced 278 balls, 15 of which he had hit for four. So much, so statistical. But the true merit of his innings was plain not in its figures – he has made centuries before, some of them big ones, two of them in Test matches – but in the manner the runs were made.It is, of course, absurd to say Sibley should now be recalled to the England side. Yet innings like this revealed an improved technique and underlying that, the sort of humble, illusionless approach any sportsman needs if he is to recover from the setbacks that will certainly be part of his career. The late wickets taken by Lancashire with the new ball may have given their side the slightest of edges but there is little doubt whose contribution will attract the most notice when this game is reported on the media’s many platforms. Sibley’s “journey”, to borrow the current buzz-word, might be one from which other young cricketers can learn and perhaps it began, ironically, with opting not to play for an England team.When selected for the England Lions squad last autumn it would have been easy for Sibley to go to Australia in the hope of picking up a big hundred and somehow getting straight back in the Test team. Instead, he clearly recognised that such an approach would do little for his technical shortcomings and he opted to spend his winter mornings with Tony Frost and the other Warwickshire coaches in the Edgbaston nets, working on his balance and rebuilding a game that had come close to disintegration in two Tests against India’s pace attack.As a result, Sibley’s batting is no longer an unlucky bag of technical problems. He does not fall across the line of the ball; his hands are less likely to grope out towards the off side; his attacking strokes to leg in front of square have become controlled clips rather than wild shovels. He is also playing much straighter, with his head over the ball; a fine straight drive off George Balderson was a perfect example off this modification. In short he no longer topples over like a hat-stand in a stiff breeze. His batting is characterised by commitment without compulsion.There were sins amid all this righteousness; Sibley’s 380-minute innings was chanceless but by no means faultless. Yet one only needed to recall his fraught cricket last year to realise how much has now changed. And one had to see the struggles some of his partners endured to understand the merit of his innings.The first wicket to fall was that of Alex Davies, whose departure from Lancashire last July came as a surprise to most people at Emirates Old Trafford, maybe even, in a sense, to Davies himself. However, the opener experienced a more predictable leave-taking in the third over of the day’s play when he shouldered arms to a ball from Tom Bailey and lost his off stump. Davies had already been flummoxed twice by his former colleague so one can hardly say his dismissal for an eight-ball eight-minute nought was much of a shock.Sibley’s difficulties, though, have never been of the temperamental variety and throughout the rest of the day he bore the departures of his partners with a phlegmatic shrug. Nearly an hour after Davies’ dismissal, Rob Yates was bowled for 15 by a fine outswinger from Luke Wood that curved back from a middle-stump line and knocked out the off stick. The stump had barely stopped moving before Sibley had turned to the dressing room and indicated he needed new gloves. It would be wrong to interpret this as indifference to reverses; rather it revealed a determination to prepare for a new stage in his side’s innings. The over after Yates was dismissed Sibley cover- and straight-drove Balderson for fours. It was hard to recall him playing the second of those strokes with comparable assurance a year ago.Lancashire, though, are a flinty bunch of cricketers and they allowed Warwickshire few liberties in the afternoon session. Sam Hain batted very competently for his 38 runs but then turned a legspinner from Matt Parkinson into a full toss and drove it to straight to short extra-cover where Rob Jones, the substitute fielder, took the catch above his head. Will Rhodes, who seems out of sorts at present, went back to a legspinner from Parkinson when he should have gone forward and was bowled for 16.Warwickshire came into tea on 169 for 4 and by then it was clear that the nature of the day, although not its balance, might be defined by whether or not Sibley, who was on 76, completed one of the most important centuries of his career. That matter was resolved relatively swiftly. A glanced four off Bailey and a cut off Wood took him nearer the nineties and two fours off Parkinson eased nerves. A single off Balderson brought up the landmark but Sibley acknowledged the matter in the most low-key fashion. He probably knows there is so much more to do in this match, this season and his career. Others can kiss badges if they wish.Lancashire, though, struck the day’s final important blows. Bailey, who seems never to bowl badly, had both Chris Benjamin and Michael Burgess leg before wicket, the former for a fine 47, and Hasan Ali snared Danny Briggs well caught at slip by Keaton Jennings. Sibley watched from the other end and then trudged off. Weather permitting, he will be there again tomorrow. And suddenly, it looks as though there might be a lot of fine tomorrows for him.
É bem verdade que o elenco do Goiás está concentrado na decisão do Campeonato Goiano onde, neste sábado (2), a equipe precisa reverter a derrota sofrida na partida de ida da decisão por 1 a 0, diante do Atlético-GO. Porém, isso não tem impedido o clube de pensar em valorizar os atletas vindos da base, caso do jovem zagueiro Daniel Nolasco.
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>Aplicativo de resultados do LANCE! está disponível na versão iOS
Não à toa, o jogador de 17 anos de idade que foi elevado a categoria Sub-20 após boas aparições no Sub-17 assinou, recentemente, seu primeiro contrato profissional com o Esmeraldino, estabelecendo a duração do vínculo até janeiro de 2024.
Empolgado com a possibilidade de ter cada vez mais espaço no clube do Centro-Oeste, o defensor de 1,87 m não escondeu que enxerga esse momento como o início de uma trajetória onde espera fazer da temporada 2022 seu ano de consolidação.
– Estou muito feliz em assinar meu primeiro contrato profissional com o Goiás, é um sonho de criança realizado. Minha meta é conquistar o Goiano (Sub-20), fazer uma boa participação na Copa do Brasil (Sub-20) e estar no elenco principal esse ano. Ou, ao menos, participar, estar ali no meio – projetou Daniel.
Enquanto a previsão de início da competição nacional Sub-20 é apenas para o mês de agosto, o estadual da categoria terá o Goiás estreando na próxima terça-feira (5), diante do Morrinhos, no CT Edmo Pinheiro.
Sune Luus will lead a group that includes one new cap in batting allrounder Delmi Tucker
Firdose Moonda23-May-2022
Marizanne Kapp and Lizelle Lee are both recovering from illnesses, while Mignon du Preez has also been left out of the squad•Getty Images
South Africa will be without Marizanne Kapp, Lizelle Lee, Mignon du Preez, Sinalo Jafta and Masabata Klaas during their white-ball tour of Ireland next month.Kapp, Lee and Jafta are all recovering from illnesses, Klaas is out with a shoulder injury, and du Preez, who retired from ODIs but remains available in the shortest format, has been left out of the squad scheduled play three T20Is and three ODIs in Dublin. Regular captain Dane van Niekerk is also not in the touring party as she continues to recover from the ankle injury that ruled her out of the World Cup.That means van Niekerk’s participation in the England tour that follows, which includes a one-off Test, three ODIs, three T20Is and the Commonwealth Games, is in doubt. The final squad for those matches will be announced in the first week of June, which gives van Niekerk little over a week to make the cut. She returned to training earlier this month and is currently still on an individual program, and not training with the rest of the group. The South African squad that travels to Ireland will remain in the UK, with any personnel changes for the England series and Commonwealth Games to travel in or out as needed.For the Ireland matches, Sune Luus will lead a group that includes one new cap, batting allrounder Delmi Tucker, who has recently played for the South African Emerging side against Zimbabwe and Thailand. Tucker also had a successful domestic season for Western Province, where she scored 409 runs white ball cricket and took 15 wickets with her right-arm off-spin. “Delmi Tucker has been rewarded off the back of a very successful domestic season and has really made positive strides with significant contributions, and we are looking forward to seeing her transition into the international arena,” Clinton du Preez, South Africa’s selection convener, said.The rest of the squad includes the familiar faces of Shabnim Ismail, Laura Wolvaardt, Chloe Tryon and Ayabonga Khaka as well as all three reserves who traveled to the World Cup – Raisibe Ntozakhe, Nadine de Klerk and Andrie Steyn. Anneke Bosch, who missed the World Cup with a fractured thumb, also returns.While the T20Is are part of South Africa’s preparation for the Commonwealth Games and next year’s T20 World Cup, the ODIs are part of the 2022 to 2025 Women’s Championship, which will determine qualification for the 2025 World Cup.”When we are looking at the T20Is, there is a bigger picture when it comes to that. It is a new beginning for us this year, building up towards the T20 World Cup and the Commonwealth Games,” Hilton Moreeng, South Africa’s coach, said. “The senior players know what is at stake. The ODIs are the ICC Women’s Championship qualifications for the next 50-over World Cup, so there is a lot at stake in the sense that we are also looking to grow our base.”Squad: Anneke Bosch, Tazmin Brits, Trisha Chetty, Nadine de Klerk, Lara Goodall, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Sune Luus (capt), Nonkululeko Mlaba, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Tumi Sekhukhune, Andrie Steyn, Chloe Tryon, Delmi Tucker, Laura Wolvaardt
Com a preparação finalizada para o jogo contra o Athletico, neste sábado na Arena da Baixada, o Flamengo divulgou a lista de atletas relacionados para o duelo válido pela terceira rodada do Brasileirão. O técnico Paulo Sousa, que não conta com oito atletas em recuperação, convocou 22 jogadores. A maior expectativa é pela estreia do zagueiro Pablo, que já esteve à disposição contra o Palmeiras, na quarta-feira, e, por questão de minutos, não entrou em campo.
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Os relacionados do Flamengo para enfrentar o Athletico, neste sábado, na Arena da Baixada.
São oito desfalques para Paulo Sousa: Rodrigo Caio, Gustavo Henrique, Fabrício Bruno, Ayrton Lucas, Matheuzinho, Matheus França, Vitinho e Bruno Henrique. #lanceFLA pic.twitter.com/0BnUaDgm6J
— Matheus Dantas (@matheusdantasfr) April 22, 2022
A delegação rubro-negra embarca às 16h rumo à Curitiba. Enfrentar o Athletico na Arena da Baixada é historicamente desafiador para o Flamengo, que, neste sábado, não terá Bruno Henrique, decisivo nas vitórias mais recentes do clube carioca diante do Furacão como visitante. Relembre as partidas clicando aqui!
Além de Bruno Henrique, Vitinho, Matheus França, Ayrton Lucas, Matheuzinho, Gustavo Henrique, Fabrício Bruno e Rodrigo Caio não estão à disposição.
Um provável Flamengo tem Hugo Souza (Santos); Arão, David Luiz e Filipe Luís; Isla, João Gomes, Thiago Maia e Lázaro; Everton Ribeiro, Arrascaeta e Gabigol.
Goleiros: Diego Alves, Hugo e Santos Laterais: Filipe Luís, Isla, Rodinei e Wesley Zagueiros: David Luiz, Léo Pereira e Pablo Volantes: Andreas Pereira, Daniel Cabral, João Gomes, Thiago Maia e Willian Arão Meias: Arrascaeta, Diego, Everton Ribeiro e Lázaro Atacantes: Gabi, Marinho e Pedro
Glasgow Rangers Old Firm victory last week was meant to be a turning point in their season, especially given how well they played against their rivals.
Instead, it proved to be yet another false dawn for Philippe Clement and Co. A trip to Easter Road is never easy at the best of times, but this was a chance for the Ibrox side to follow up the 3-0 win over Celtic with another three points.
Despite going two goals ahead due to Hamza Igamane, Hibs pegged the Gers back to 2-2, before scoring a late equaliser to snatch a point.
Several members of the starting XI struggled, including defender Robin Propper, who hasn’t enjoyed the best of seasons.
Robin Propper’s season in numbers
On the surface, Propper’s statistics, particularly regarding his passing, have been excellent. Indeed, the centre-back has an average pass success rate of 90% in the Premiership this term, while succeeding with over half of his long ball attempts.
This is all fine and well, but Propper has failed to adapt to the physicality of Scottish football since joining the Light Blues. In the top flight, he loses possession 8.5 times per game while committing 1.1 fouls every match.
The former Twente captain simply does not look robust enough to cope with the demands of football in Scotland, something which will constantly hurt the side if he continues to play.
With Clement’s defensive options limited at this moment in time due to injuries, perhaps he could save millions in the transfer market by unleashing an academy graduate over the next few weeks.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Rangers can save millions with Propper replacement
A few years ago, Leon King was being talked about as the next big thing to come out of Auchenhowie, especially as he played in all six of the club’s Champions League games during the 2022/23 campaign.
Indeed, Manchester United and Newcastle United sent scouts to monitor the youngster, but he ended up signing a new contract at Ibrox.
Across his six games in the Champions League, King won 50% of his total duels while averaging a pass success rate of 79%, not bad for someone thrown into the deep end aged just 18.
Leon King’s statistics during the 2022/23 campaign
Metric (per 90)
Champions League
Premiership
Accurate passes
25.5
36.8
Tackles
1.7
1.3
Total duels won
2.7
3
Ball recoveries
2.3
N/A
Possession lost
7.2
5.5
Via Sofascore
Before that season, former Rangers defender Alan Hutton lavished the defender with praise, saying: “I think when I did watch him last season, he was like a big Rolls Royce, very elegant on the ball. He came out, kept possession and looked very comfortable for someone of such a young age.”
Since the start of last season, however, King has made just seven first-team appearances, with his progress seemingly stalling.
The 20-year-old only made his first senior appearance this term during the 3-3 draw with Hibs. There is no doubt how good King can be, but the Scotsman needs a chance to display his qualities in the starting XI.
Glasgow Rangers defender Leon King.
Instead of splashing millions on a couple of centre-backs this month, if Clement managed to sign one while giving King much-needed game time, it could work wonders for his development.
Worse than Kelly: Rangers man who lost the ball 16 times let Clement down
The Glasgow Rangers defender let Philippe Clement down with a poor display.
أعلن الجهاز الفني لمنتخب مصر تحت 20 عامًا بقيادة أسامه نبيه التشكيل الأساسي الذي سيبدأ به مباراة سيراليون في المباراة التي تجمع بينهما اليوم ضمن منافسات كأس أمم إفريقيا.
ويلتقي منتخب مصر مع سيراليون ضمن لقاءات الجولة الثانية بالمجموعة الأولى من كأس أمم إفريقيا للشباب، على ملعب هيئة قناة السويس بالإسماعيلية.
وأجرى أسامة نبيه 3 تغييرات على التشكيل الذي بدأ به مواجهة جنوب إفريقيا بالجولة الأولى وجميعها في الخط الأمامي، حيث دفع بمحمد عبد الله وعمر خضر ومهند محمد بدلاً من عمر أسامة ومؤمن شريف ومحمد زعلوك.
طالع | لاعب منتخب مصر يغيب عن مباراة سيراليون في كأس أمم إفريقيا للشباب
منتخب مصر يدخل هذا اللقاء وفي رصيده 3 نقاط من فوز على جنوب إفريقيا، مقابل نقطة واحدة لمنتخب سيراليون الذي تعادل مع نظيره الزامبي بدون أهداف. تشكيل مصر اليوم أمام سيراليون في كأس أمم إفريقيا للشباب
حراسة المرمي: عبد المنعم تامر.
خط الدفاع: محمد سمير – عبد الله بوستنجي – أحمد عابدين – مهاب سامي.
وفي الوسط: أحمد خالد “كاباكا”– محمد السيد – أحمد وحيد.
وفي الهجوم: محمد عبد الله – عمر خضر – مهند محمد. بدلاء مصر اليوم أمام سيراليون في كأس أمم إفريقيا
أحمد وهب – أحمد منشاوي –محمد جمال –يوسف عبد الحفيظ – محمود لبيب –سيف سفاجا –عمر أسامة – محمد رأفت –أحمد شرف –محمد زعلوك.
Manchester City have struggled so far this season, finding themselves in an unfamiliar position, not only 12 points off top, but also two points outside the top four in the Premier League. The Citizens have only won 10 of their opening 20 games, drawing four and losing six, which is double the three losses they were dealt in the entirety of last season.
Despite conceding just 9.7 shots per game on average (the fewest in the Premier League), the xG being conceded per shot is extremely high, with each shot they conceded averaging a 0.17 xG value (the highest in the division).
Much of this can be whittled down to the injury of Rodri, who has been an ever-present piece for Pep Guardiola since joining in 2019, not only setting the tempo on the ball, but protecting the side in transition (an area they have struggled in so far this campaign).
With these troubles persisting, Manchester City look ready to attack the January transfer market, plugging gaps to improve their defensive record (especially their ability to defend in transition), and put things right with a strong second half of the season.
Manchester City close in on first January signing
According to reports from Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City have ‘agreed personal terms’ with Palmeiras defender Vitor Reis. The package would reportedly be around €40m (£33m) with a deal now ‘advancing fast’ between all parties.
The 18-year-old has been subject to interest from plenty of other clubs (including Brighton) but City look like they are set to steam ahead of the pack, getting ahead of their rivals for the young defender’s signature.
Vitor Reis for Palmeiras
City have done well to lure some of South America’s best young talent away from their homeland in years gone by with Gabriel Jesus one prominent example.
Perhaps the best business they did from that part of the world was Julian Alvarez. Lured from River Plate before selling him on for a huge profit (£81m), this could be a move that goes down equally as well at the Etihad.
How Reis compares to John Stones
Reis is considered to be one of the biggest talents in Brazil, with data analyst Ben Mattinson labeling the defender a “John Stones type” due to his passing quality, “pausa” on the ball and intelligence both in and out of possession.
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Stones has only made 12 appearances for City so far this season, scoring three goals and contributing to three clean sheets in his 673 minutes so far.
But City’s poor run of form started with Stones being out injured, and has continued in his absence, signaling the need for defensive reinforcement.
Vitor Reis vs John Stones comparison
Stats (per 90 mins)
Reis
Stones
Goals
0.05
0.29
Progressive Carries
0.16
2.55
Progressive Passes
3.02
6.55
Passes Attempted
49.8
80.9
Pass Completion %
88.0%
93.5%
Tackles
1.87
1.27
Blocks
0.77
0.55
Interceptions
0.88
0.58
Aerial Duels Won
3.08
2.00
Stats taken from FBref
Reis stands at a similar 6 foot 1 to Stones, but currently has a far leaner frame. However, this doesn’t deter him from getting stuck in, having a brilliant understanding at such a young age of how to use his body in duels, when to be aggressive and when he has to retreat. His defensive actions per 90 highlight this, making 1.87 tackles and winning 3.08 aerial duels per 90.
Whilst Stones currently ranks quite far ahead in passing and progressive metrics, you can identify the skill set of Reis, which could see monumental improvements to his underlying numbers, playing in an elite team who circulate possession more regularly, given he would be getting nearly double the touches/passes attempted per 90 (see Stones for reference).
Whilst the Brazilian centre-back is by no means the finished article, he has all the attributes of an elite-level central defender. Given time to fill out his upper body and coaching under one of/if not the best manager in the world, Reis could become one of the best defenders in the Premier League in years to come.
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