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Crystal Palace fans will be a great deal happier with their performances over the last two encounters, as their side overturned a two-goal deficit in the last 15 minutes against Manchester City to earn a 2-2 draw before sharing the points with Brighton a few days later.

However, in truth, their season has been far from exciting, with the Eagles sitting in 15th with four wins from 18 games. Sadly, they are still on a dismal run of form, extending their winless streak to seven consecutive matches.

With that in mind and the fact that Roy Hodgson is only contracted until the summer, Palace will be looking at potential replacements, which could come sooner than expected if results do not improve.

Here are five managers that could potentially replace the Crystal Palace boss.

1 Steve Cooper

Despite recently being sacked by fellow Premier League club Nottingham Forest, Steve Cooper is deemed to be the favoured Hodgson successor, with Palace expected to “re-open talks” with the Welshman according to reports.

Cooper’s experience in developing youth fits in with the Palace ethos, and the club believes he could be the best option to lead the project forward.

He has also proven to be excellent at man management, and with the former Forest boss currently without a role, he is surely desperate to bounce back swiftly.

2 Julen Lopetegui

Many believe that Julen Lopetegui was unfairly sacked by Wolves in the summer after he brought the club stability and saved them from relegation. According to Marca, Palace have registered their interest in the Spaniard, and they view him as a potential Hodgson replacement.

The Spanish manager has proven to be a quality boss, as highlighted by his time at Sevilla, where he guided them to a Europa League triumph.

Lopetegui is also without a club at the moment, and he has expressed his desire to stay in the Premier League. Selhurst Park may just be the perfect environment to reignite his managerial career.

3 Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick may just be the young manager that Palace are willing to take a chance on to improve the side. The 42-year-old nearly returned to the top flight with Middlesbrough last season, but they fell short in the play-offs.

Carrick has extremely high standards, which most likely stem from his successful career at Manchester United as a player, and if a Premier League side came knocking, it is reasonable to assume he would jump at the opportunity.

Carrick’s exciting approach to the beautiful game would go hand in hand with Palace’s ambitions, and he could definitely get the fans on side. It's worth noting, however, that no concrete links have emerged regarding the Eagles' interest.

4 Kieran McKenna

Kieran McKenna is doing an outstanding job at Ipswich Town, and he is on course to reach the Premier League next season with the Tractor Boys after winning 16 of their 23 Championship matches.

However, if the Eagles wanted to steal McKenna away from the club he guided up the EFL pyramid, they would be able to secure his services, according to Dean Jones.

He told GIVEMESPORT: "I don't think Kieran McKenna would be out of reach for Crystal Palace if they decided they wanted to go and get him, but I do believe that Steve Cooper is the man they want."

That said, the chances of the boss leaving Ipswich behind are unlikely, but he would bring some fantastic football to Selhurst Park if he were to join, and the squad would fit his approach rather well.

5 Graham Potter

Although Graham Potter would be a slightly unrealistic signing given the fact that he has turned down plenty of offers from the likes of Lyon, Leicester, and the Sweden national team, he would be the perfect fit to develop Palace into a top team.

Despite failing to impress during his small stint at Chelsea, ultimately being sacked after a matter of months, Potter has a proven track record of turning average teams into top-performing clubs, as shown when he was the manager of Brighton.

The ex-Blues boss would get the best out of the likes of Ebere Eze and Michael Olise while transforming the style of play, which the Palace faithful deserve after years of uninspiring performances. That said, the fans may not give the ex-Seagulls' manager a massively warm welcome.

Steve Cooper’s status as Nottingham Forest’s manager seems to be hanging on by a thread following their poor run of form since the September international break.

Forest have won just one of their last 12 Premier League matches, failing to win any of their last five, which puts the side in 16th place on 14 points.

The heavy 5-0 away defeat to Fulham last Wednesday has seen the pressure on the Welsh boss increase, with rumours circulating about his future at the helm of the side he led to the top flight. According to the Daily Mail, Nottingham Forest have selected Oliver Glasner as a potential successor.

Oliver Glasner’s managerial stats

Glasner is a 49-year-old Austrian manager, who is mainly known for his time in the Bundesliga as manager of VfL Wolfsburg and most recently, Eintracht Frankfurt. The coach left Die Adler in June last summer after losing to RB Leipzig in the DFB Pokal final and finishing seventh in the German first division.

Last season, Glasner coached Frankfurt out of Champions League Group D, before being knocked out by Napoli. They earned a place in the most elite European competition by winning the 2021/22 UEFA Europa League, Glasner's biggest managerial achievement by far.

It is clear that the Austrian has plenty of experience and the table below showcases his record as a manager.

Eintracht Frankfurt

97

39

VfL Wolfsburg

87

41

LASK

161

96

SV Ried

37

13

Oliver Glasner’s style of play

The "meticulous" manager – as dubbed by fellow coach Niko Kovac – has opted for a three at the back variant since his days at LASK, however, he often used a four-back at Wolfsburg, before returning to his trusty system at Frankfurt.

The 3-4-2-1 formation has become his most favoured and it is anticipated that he would deploy it at Forest.

Glasner’s system would work perfectly for the Reds given the current squad and the fact that Cooper has opted for a three-back multiple times this season. The Garibaldi team has a solid blend of athleticism and technical quality, which suits the Austrian’s approach.

The wide centre-backs in the back three must be comfortable at defending in the channel, entering duels and playing out from defence, which Murillo in particular is excellent at. The wingbacks will provide the out-ball and a large attacking responsibility, with their width creating more space in central areas.

The midfield two must be able to cover the ground well and reliably feed the ball to the two supporting attackers, who will stay inverted and use their technical quality to unlock the opponent.

Morgan Gibbs-White fits this role perfectly and he could become Glasner’s next Daichi Kamada. Taiwo Awoniyi Is also a typical striker that fits the mould, with the ex-Frankfurt coach utilising a forward that can link up play, run the channels and press from the front.

Overall, Glasner is the perfect fit for the Forest squad which means he is more likely to have an instant impact. He is a like-for-like swap for Cooper, and you could argue that it would be a safe appointment.

Those of a Tottenham Hotspur persuasion will be more than a little discontented with the events of recent weeks after such an emphatic start to life under Ange Postecoglou's management, but such is the way of football.

Spurs had had little to cheer about over the past year, with an exciting start to the 2022/23 campaign quickly spiralling into a disastrous year, with second-half-of-the-season form resulting in Antonio Conte's dismissal, an eighth-placed finish, no European football and – perhaps most poignantly – Harry Kane's sale to Bayern Munich in the early days of Postecoglou's reign.

But Postecoglou knows how to cultivate a winning mentality and he implemented his system and style swiftly, with the early results sending Tottenham into first place after ten matches before injuries and suspensions ravaged the purple patch and beset the squad with a three-match skid.

Were Spurs not to succumb to the onslaught of woes against Chelsea, it's entirely possible that a position at the forefront might have been maintained, but while the setbacks have been detrimental to Postecoglou's recent progress, Brennan Johnson has emerged as something of a shining light.

Brennan Johnson's season in numbers

Spurs signed Johnson from Nottingham Forest for £47.5m on transfer deadline day in August after the 22-year-old enjoyed a starring role under Steve Cooper's guidance over the past few years, leading his former side into the Premier League and then avoiding relegation.

Across 44 appearances last year, the Welshman clinched ten goals and three assists and led journalist Josh Bunting to note how he "causes so many problems" for opposition.

The £70k-per-week star arrived in London and enjoyed a lively game during his first start against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, but sustained a hamstring injury that ruled him out for the following two league fixtures.

Having now posted a goal and an assist across his past four outings, Johnson is becoming increasingly important under Postecoglou's stewardship and could now prove to be the centrepiece that leads his club back into form.

Brennan Johnson's style of play

While Johnson still needs to work on sustaining his threat across the entirety of encounters, he is excellent with his ball-carrying ability and offers a directness that could work in perfect tandem with the creative ingenuity of James Maddison, when the influential England international returns from injury after the new year.

Spurs might have fallen to defeat against Aston Villa last time out but there were plenty of positive moments, with football.london's Alasdair Gold penning his post-match thoughts and saying of Johnson's performance: 'Involved in some bright moments with good movement but just couldn't force the ball home, including controlling and firing an effort that Martinez saved from point blank range.'

Remarking on his performance against Aston Villa, content creator HLTCO took to Twitter to say: 'Brennan Johnson is such an exciting player to watch. He’s got frightening pace and directness; constantly looking to make something happen, it must be an absolute nightmare to defend against him.'

As per FBref, Johnson ranks among the top 5% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 8% for tackles per 90, emphasising his tenacity and energy.

The 25-cap international has so much potential and could develop into a starring figure under Postecoglou in the coming years, and as he continues to grow over the duration of the campaign, his rise might come at the expense of a desired resurgence for Richarlison, who has yet to bloom into brilliant form down the N17.

Richarlison's Tottenham career so far

Prior to his £60m transfer to Tottenham, Richarlison had been among the most menacing forwards in the Premier League and had posted 53 goals and 14 assists across 152 appearances for Everton, even leading erstwhile Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti to tip him for the Ballon d'Or.

Speaking on the situation, Richarlison said: "Ancelotti himself has already said that I'm among the 10 best strikers he has coached and that's an honour for me. It motivated me a lot, I want to improve even more. He already told me that I'll win the Golden Ball (Ballon d'Or), that I'll win several championships. I'll trust the man's word.

"Now I just need to improve, working hard in training, so I can continue to evolve."

Well, the move to London promised to be the perfect stepping stone to establish himself as one of the leading attacking outlets on English shores, but his maiden year was anything but auspicious, with just one Premier League goal scored all season, in a defeat against Liverpool.

He has improved since Postecoglou took to the dugout this year, posting one goal and three assists from ten matches thus far, having also scored in the Carabao Cup against Fulham.

However, given that Johnson has started to find success on the left wing, Richarlison's future at the club could be thrown into jeopardy, with the Brazilian dynamo currently among the absentees after having an operation on a groin issue last month.

Spurs' forthcoming run of fixtures will be crucial in maintaining a spot in Champions League contention for the foreseeable, and if Johnson can contribute with some effective displays then Postecoglou could be convinced to relegate Richarlison to the bench – with Dejan Kulusevski's position on the right flank seemingly untouchable right now.

Johnson's proclivity to drive into promising areas and instigate passages of play that could lead to a goal is something that Postecoglou simply cannot ignore, and while Richarlison has improved, his overall performance is still some way below the desired standard.

Kylian Mbappe scored an audacious-looking goal for Paris Saint-Germain against Lorient, but fans were left wondering whether he really meant it.

Article continues below

Article continues below

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• Mbappe scores eye-catching goal for PSG
• But fans not convinced he meant it
• PSG closing in on Ligue 1 title

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  PSG were already 1-0 up through Ousmane Dembele when Mbappe found the back of the net midway through the first half against Lorient. The French superstar met a ball in from the left and produced a flicked finish that flew past the goalkeeper to make it 2-0. On first viewing it seemed a wonderful effort, but slow-motion replays suggested Mbappe may have got a bit lucky.

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• WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  Mbappe's goal left viewers baffled and certainly not convinced his flick had been intentional.

  Football fan @HodgeLuke wrote on X: "Not in a million years did he mean that!"

  Another supporter, @PaulTheFace_ , added: "He meant that about as much as Ben White meant that volley last night."

  Arsenal fan @stuafc71 also compared the goal to Ben White's finish against Chelsea: "What a cheeky back flick goal from mbappe. If he meant that Benny blanco defo meant his goal v Chelsea."

  However, Mbappe fan @Tezzathekchen was convinced by the PSG forward: "Brilliant Mbappe backheel goal! He starts the move with a good pass to the wings and then displays his GOAT tier movement, anticipation and finishing!"

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mbappe followed up his goal with a brilliant assist for Dembele to score his second of the match. The striker nutmegged his defender down the left flank before sliding a ball across goal for the former Barca star to tap home. Mbappe would make it a brace later in the game, making the score 4-1 on the night. Luis Enrique's side will be crowned champions on Wednesday if Monaco fail to beat Lille in the later kick-off.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Mbappe has become the first French player in history to score 25 goals in four consecutive seasons in Europe's top five leagues.

The feel-good factor at Tottenham Hotspur has taken an almighty hit after Ange Postecoglou's nine-man side fell to defeat against Chelsea in the Premier League on Monday night.

Now, second-placed Spurs travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers to get back to winning ways, but will have to do so without multiple players in that injury and anarchy-strewn fixture.

Tottenham team news vs Wolves

Where to start? Tottenham are set to be without a heap of first-team stars for the trip to Wolverhampton, with Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie both suspended after red cards against the Blues.

To compound the woes, impressive summer signings James Maddison and Micky van de Ven are both set to be sidelined until the new year, which hits Postecoglou's fluid system with the force of a steel hammer.

Richarlison is also going to be unavailable for around one month after undergoing a groin operation, but Postecoglou will at least welcome defender Ben Davies back to the fold following injury.

Eric Dier's stats vs Chelsea

It is unfortunate that the absentees are all some of the most crucial cogs for Postecoglou, but such is the way of football and Tottenham will now need to improvise and overcome.

Davies was hooked at half-time during his only Premier League start of the season a few weeks ago against Crystal Palace, but the Welshman will now be required to partner Eric Dier in central defence, who has played a similarly peripheral role.

However, Dier was impressive off the bench against the Blues and won 100% of his duels, made three clearances and one interception, as per Sofascore.

The 29-year-old also came oh-so-close to restoring unlikely parity in the closing stages after his second-half goal was ruled out by VAR, but he proved that he has what it takes to impress in this ambitious Spurs side at present.

It was a stoical display that lived up to previous praise from pundit Jermaine Jenas, who once called him “sensational”, but there is no disputing the fact that Dier is second-choice – with Monday's defeat just his first appearance of the campaign.

Nonetheless, the 6 foot 2 defender has been presented with a big opportunity to steer the Spurs ship back on course at Molineux.

Why Eric Dier should start vs Wolves

The obvious reason that Dier deserves a starting spot against Wolves is simply that Postecoglou's side is rather threadbare following the chaotic contest against Chelsea.

But the England international can certainly play a convincing role over the weeks to come, having previously been described as "reliable" by former Spurs manager Antonio Conte.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 18% of central defenders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for blocks and the top 11% for aerial wins per 90, highlighting the strengths that Postecoglou will strive to utilise.

The £85k-per-week ace has also won four of his six matches against the Old Gold, and his experience and leadership at the back could be integral today.

Postecoglou's preference to keep Dier on the sidelines has been clear; after all, the experienced asset is only going to start in exceptional circumstances, and were Van de Ven and Romero to be available it is possible that he would have reached the winter transfer window with a shadow of a role in the squad.

But now, Dier has the perfect opportunity to impress, and he must grasp it with both hands if he is to preserve Tottenham's renaissance and potentially even salvage his career in north London.

A centre-back partnership of the former Sporting CP man and Davies may not inspire too much confidence, but as it is, needs must for Postecoglou and his high-flying outfit.

أكد سانتي دينيا، المدير الفني لمنتخب إسبانيا الأولمبي، اللعب من أجل الصدارة في مواجهة مصر، ضمن الجولة الثالثة من دور المجموعات بمنافسات كرة القدم بأولمبياد باريس 2024.

منتخب إسبانيا حسم تأهله للدور الثاني بعد الفوز في مباراتي أوزباكستان والدومينيكان، ويسعى للانتصار على مصر من أجل الصدارة.

على الجانب الآخر، يكفي المنتخب المصري التعادل مع إسبانيا من أجل التأهل، أما في حالة الفوز سيتأهل الفراعنة في الصدارة، بينما الخسارة في حالة فوز الدومينيكان بفارق هدفين على أوزباكستان، ستؤدي لخروج مصر.

طالع أيضًا.. معلق مباراة مصر وإسبانيا في أولمبياد باريس 2024

مصر تواجه إسبانيا غدًا الثلاثاء، ضمن الجولة الثالثة من المجموعة الثالثة، على ملعب نوفو ستاد دي بوردو.

وقال مدرب إسبانيا في تصريحات نقلتها وسائل الإعلام الإسبانية: “هدفنا قبل دخول البطولة هو أن نتأهل أولًا إلى دور الثمانية، والآن نحن حققنا هدفنا قبل مواجهة مصر”.

وأضاف: “نريد الفوز بالتأكيد من أجل الصدارة، من المحتمل أن نجري بعض التغييرات في مواجهتهم لعدم جاهزية البعض مع الإرهاق والإصابات، ولكن هدفنا الأساسي هو التأهل في صدارة المجموعة”.

وعن إيقاف كوبارسي مدافع برشلونة أمام مصر، قال: “تواصلنا مع الاتحاد الدولي قبل أن تبدأ الأولمبياد، وقلنا لهم إن قرار الإيقاف بسبب بطاقتين صفراوتين، بحاجة لإعادة النظر، لأننا نلعب بطولة قصيرة للغاية”.

واختتم بالحديث عن مارك بوبيل: “لن يشارك أمام مصر، إنه يعاني من آلام في القدم، لكننا سنحاول استعادة الجميع بداية من دور الثمانية”.

Worcestershire captain Moeen Ali heaped praise on his young bowler after a masterful display of skill on Finals Day

David Hopps16-Sep-2018Pat Brown was hailed by Moeen Ali as possessing England quality after completing an outstanding breakthrough season in the Vitality Blast by helping Worcestershire to their first T20 title.Brown was barely known, even in the tight-knit community of county cricket, in April, but he finished the Blast season with 31 wickets, a figure only exceeded by Alfonso Thomas – the Great Alfonso as they dubbed him in Somerset – who took 33 wickets in 2010.Brown had a great start to Finals Day when he took four wickets in a semi-final win against Lancashire. He missed his chance to surpass Thomas’ record, in what would have been two fewer matches, when he went wicketless in the final, but he attracted great recognition nevertheless as he conceded only 15 runs in four overs with Sussex becoming the latest county to be baffled by his variations.Talking T20 Podcast

Cox pips Sussex as T20 Finals Day turns Pears-shaped: Dan Norcross anchors from Edgbaston where Pat Brown announced himself as a T20 superstar in waiting

It was all ample reward for his ambition two years ago when he showed the ambition to travel from Lincolnshire to Wellington School in Somerset to attend a Cricket Strength Pace Factor trial day run by Ross Dewar, Worcestershire’s strength and conditioning coach, and the former county fast bowler and coach, Steffan Jones.Moeen, relishing his role as Worcestershire captain despite a tough England schedule, said of Brown, a slightly-built 20-year-old seamer from Lincolnshire. “From game one this season, I felt he was getting better game by game. The quality he is showing is international standard. I’ve not seen anybody in county cricket get hold of him yet.”It’s not just what he bowls. He has the character and the guts to go a long way. I don’t want to get too carried away but he has a bright future, hopefully for England.”I don’t face him that much. I just get a few underarms from time to time. Even in the nets it is difficult. No-one can pick him at the moment. It’s not just that. He is very smart with the lengths and lines he bowls.”ESPNcricinfo LtdBrown’s stock ball is his knuckle ball, which he utilises about 65% of the time. Added to that is an off-cutter and a quicker ball which now regularly is clocked above 80mph. Add accuracy and changes of length that at his best have felt almost telepathic and he has made quite an impression.Moeen does not feel that talk of England is over the top. “I think after today he is very close,” he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets something in the winter. I can see him getting a chance in T20 or one-day matches or something.”If we keep winning, and on big stages like this, I’m sure people will raise eyebrows about some of our players. But that’s a long way away. Today is about celebrating Worcestershire’s success.”James Anderson, who was part of the BBC commentary team at Finals Day, also did not stint with his praise. “Pat Brown is possibly the find of the tournament,” he said. “It is a phenomenal effort for a 20-year-old.”He has had a good tournament but to come to Finals Day, when the pressure is on and show such amazing maturity, was superb. He looks as good as anyone I have seen in T20 cricket. He has got all the skills.”Brown went to the Wellington School pace trial primarily to see if he could increase his pace, but his potential was immediately appreciated by several counties. He opted for a cricket scholarship at the University of Worcester, a path favoured in the past by Worcestershire players such as Daryl Mitchell and George Rhodes. His T20 debut came in a handful of matches in 2017 and he also made his Championship bow in the final game of Worcestershire’s promotion season.Kevin Sharp, Worcestershire’s head coach, stressed that Brown’s development had been very much a team effort, not just with Dewar but also the previous coach and bowling coach, Steve Rhodes and Matt Mason, both of whom have now left the county. Most closely of all throughout this summer, Brown has struck up a strong relationship with Alan Richardson, the county’s bowling coach.”I think it is also about having a good support network for a player,” Sharp said. “Pat has a fine bowling coach in Alan Richardson, that’s for sure.”He is a good learner and a good listener and he has a big heart. He really is the sort of lad who is really up for the occasion. He is quite aggressive at times with his bowling but he has developed a fantastic array of deliveries.”So which deliveries were devised by Brown and which by Richardson? “It’s a secret between them two,” Sharp smiled. “I just let them get on with it.”

Newcastle United have looked right at home among Europe's elite this season, even defeating Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 in their first game back in the Champions League at St James' Park. Their recent loss against Borussia Dortmund brought them back down to earth, but Eddie Howe will still be looking towards that PSG victory as a building point for the season as a whole.

The more they perform on Europe's biggest stage, the more attractive they become for some top talents, too, which could see even more reinforcements walk through the door at St James' Park in both the January transfer window and next summer. And that could include one particular Bundesliga star.

Newcastle transfer news

With Harvey Barnes struggling with injury and Sandro Tonali facing a 10-month ban for betting breaches, Newcastle's summer transfer window hasn't exactly aged well. The Tonali news is a particular blow, and one that they must bounce back from by using the market and welcoming another midfield option. It gives Howe a headache that he didn't expect to have, but it's one that could lead to the arrival of another top player.

The latest Exequiel Palacios transfer news suggests that he could be among the options on Newcastle's shortlist, too. According to TeamTalk, the Magpies, alongside Manchester City, PSG, Atletico Madrid and Burnley, have watched the midfielder in recent months, and PIF are hugely impressed by what they have seen.

If Newcastle are to land Palacios, they may need to act fast, given the incredible number of clubs reportedly interested in securing the Leverkusen man's signature in the near future. They have shown their pulling power in the past when landing the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, and will undoubtedly need similar persuasion to lure Palacios away from the Bundesliga in the coming months.

Exequiel Palacios is Xabi Alonso's "excellent" ball winner

Palacios has impressed many this season at the heart of a Bayer Leverkusen side who are yet to suffer the taste of defeat in all competitions, with Xabi Alonso's team sitting at the top of the Bundesliga. Palacios' stats show just how valuable he has been for Alonso in the current campaign – when compared to current Newcastle midfielders, things look mighty good for the Argentine.

Player

Goals

Assists

Interceptions

Exequiel Palacios

2

2

15

Bruno Guimaraes

1

1

4

Sean Longstaff

2

1

3

Currently on course for a title charge at Leverkusen it would have to be some pitch from Newcastle to land Palacios as soon as January, particularly given the praise that he has received in Germany, including from Alonso, who said, via News Rebeat: “First, I think he’s buying it. The improvement comes organically from himself. The experience of the World Cup, with the role he had, makes him feel that he has that self-esteem. When you feel like you’re not, when you’re a world champion, and when you take that trophy, it gives you that edge of wanting more and having more ambition.

“Pala is back from the World Cup, he’s been playing at an excellent level for two months. The great improvement of the team has come, in large part, thanks to the step forward that Pala has made in his game."

علق محمد ناجي جدو مدرب نادي بيراميدز على الفوز الذي حققه الفريق على حساب سموحة بنتيجة 3-2 في المواجهة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري.

واستكملت مباراة بيراميدز وسموحة، التي لعبت ضمن مواجهات الأسبوع الـ 28 من المسابقة المحلية، بعد أن توقفت يوم الجمعة الماضي بسبب حريق في أحد مدرجات استاد الإسكندرية.

وفاز فريق بيراميدز على سموحة، بنتيجة 3-2، ليحصد 3 نقاط جديدة تضاف إلى رصيده في صدارة جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وقال جدو في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة اون تايم سبورتس: “الحمد لله على الفوز، وخضنا مباراة صعبة بدأت في الإسكندرية وانتهت في برج العرب”.

طالع | مدرب سموحة: هدفا بيراميدز من أخطاء.. وأتمني نظام جديد لـ الدوري في الموسم الجديد

وأكمل: “حصدنا ثلاثة نقاط مهمين في جدول الدوري، أشكر سموحة وأحمد سامي على أدائهم، وأتمنى لهم التوفيق في الفترة المقبلة”.

وتابع: “صعب جدًا أن نلعب 41 دقيقة، كان الأفضل لنا أن نلعب مباراة كاملة، اللاعبون كانوا مستعجلين ويريدون فعل كل شيء”.

واختتم: “كنا نستعد لفريق زد، وفي اليوم التالي تم إبلاغنا أننا سنستكمل مباراة سموحة، وأتمنى اللاعبين يكونوا جاهزين للمباريات المقبلة”.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have survived a challenging summer, as the break in play became far from a time of reflection and more of a time for action for the Old Gold.

From a change in managers to financial restrictions, arrivals and departures, Molineux experienced a wave of tests on the back of the 2022/23 campaign that at one point saw them struggle as relegation candidates.

The Midlands side were bottom of the Premier League table on Christmas day, resurrected by Julen Lopetegui who combated the odds and ensured Wolves were granted survival, however the Spaniard’s reign came to a blunt end days prior to the 2023/24 opening fixture.

The former Real Madrid manager was unable to sign much-needed reinforcements throughout the transfer window due to Financial Fair Play (FFP) restrictions, with his frustrations amounting to him ending his tenure five days before the season opener.

Gary O’Neil saved the day and emerged as the man to take Wolves forward, however the problem remains for the Englishman, who has a depleted squad due to an influx of players leaving with minimal replacements.

It was hoped that the Old Gold would salvage the funds to hire a new striker this summer, after ending the 2022/23 campaign as the Premier League’s lowest-scorers, despite making a statement attacking signing during Lopetegui’s reign.

Matheus Cunha arrived in January from Atletico Madrid on a loan-deal with an obligation to buy, making him Lopetegui’s first signing at Wolves, a player that had the trust placed in him to get the side firing again.

How much did Wolves sign Matheus Cunha for?

Just months after breaking the club transfer record to welcome Matheus Nunes to Molineux for £42.2m, Wolves smashed the record fee again by shaking hands with Cunha.

The Brazilian was signed with an obligation to buy for €50m (£44m), a brilliant deal for Atletico who had only paid £22m for the forward in the summer of 2021 from Hertha Berlin.

At the point that Wolves officially sealed the deal for the 24-year-old in January, the attacker had an expected transfer value (xTV) of just €19.7m (£16.8m), via Football Transfers, suggesting that the price to be paid for Cunha was far beyond the figure he was appropriately valued at in the market.

What was the reaction when Cunha was signed?

Hindsight is a powerful thing, however there was great excitement when the forward arrived from Atletico Madrid in January, as Wolves were desperate for a change in personnel leading the line.

Just before he was officially unveiled, journalist Pete O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT of how the Brazilian could be the ideal successor to Raul Jimenez, who had fallen out of form after his heroics early into his Molineux career.

The Mexican was the driving force to Wolves’ success under Nuno Espirito Santo on their return to the Premier League, cementing himself as the squad’s lead talisman and an ever-reliable source of goals.

In the 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns, the two following the Old Gold’s promotion, Jimenez scored 30 goals across the two terms, a feat that was cruelly ended by his life-threatening skull fracture in 2020.

Subsequently, the explosive forward spent a significant amount of time away from the action, returning and scoring just 10 goals onwards from his dynamic two years at the beginning of his time in the Midlands.

Last season, the 32-year-old failed to score at all for Wolves in the Premier League, putting weight on Cunha’s shoulders when he arrived as the man to replace him.

O’Rourke told GIVEMESPORT that he saw the former Atletico forward as a “long-term replacement” for Nuno’s star striker, based on his performances prior to his touchdown in England.

How many goals did Matheus Cunha score before joining Wolves?

The Brazil international was snatched up by Atleti due to his impressive performances in Germany, where he had a hand in 12 Bundesliga goals in 27 appearances the season prior to his exit from Hertha.

In total, the striker, deployed on the wing in Germany, scored 14 goals and registered 10 assists in his 74 Bundesliga appearances representing both Hertha and RB Leipzig, before making the move to Spain.

In Madrid, Cunha opened his La Liga career with six goals and six assists in 29 appearances, however his form dropped the season after, where he failed to score in 11 appearances which prompted his move to Wolves.

What is his market value now?

Fast-forward to now and the forward that was once tipped to replace Jimenez has found the net just three times in 24 appearances, suggesting that there is a long way to go until he can be considered as a viable replacement to the Mexican.

Purchased for £44m in July, Cunha’s current xTV sits at €23.4m (£20m), almost £25m under the price that he was bought for with little to show for his price tag at this point in his Wolves career.

Was it a good deal?

The Athletic journalist Steve Madeley gave his thoughts on the capture of Cunha, branding the deal as a “significant overpayment”.

It’s a fair judgement considering that at the point of the transaction earlier this summer, the Brazilian’s xTV was just €20.7m (£17.7m), displaying what can only be described as a costly piece of business for Wolves and a jackpot for Atletico.

Despite the glaring difference between market value and transfer fee, it’s also fair to consider that the forward could still blossom at Molineux, with the four years remaining on his contract buying time for him to properly impose himself.

Madeley also explained that Cunha has the tools to “come good” in England, with progression shown early into this season with his average Sofascore match rating sitting at 7.03 after four games, growth on his average rating of 6.83 last term.

All in all, there is a long way to go before the 24-year-old can be considered as a replacement for Jimenez, who on his best days was one of the most prolific strikers in England and a reliable output in the final third at Molineux.

It will be interesting to see what the season ahead entails for Cunha, who seems to be an important cog in the squad that O’Neil is building, starting all the league fixtures so far in the number nine role.