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Defending champions Western Australia surged into the Marsh Cup final, where they will face New South Wales, on the back of a 159-run victory against Tasmania which secured them two bonus points to jump ahead of Queensland into second place.Having been put into bat the home side knew they needed to big total to give them enough of a target to defend to secure at least the single bonus-point win they needed, but a positive display – including brisk half-centuries for Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis – looked like falling short at 8 for 245 until the last two wickets added a crucial 62 runs.Both teams were still able to reach the final at the start of the day and after the first innings the scenario came down to Western Australia having to restrict Tasmania to 245 or less while the visitors needed to knock off 308 in 40 overs to secure their own bonus point.Jason Behrendorff, playing his first match for Western Australia since October 2018, produced a starring role with a career-best 35 before taking three top-order wickets in his first spell.He blew the Tasmania top order away, removing the dangerous Ben McDermott first ball before having Matthew Wade drag on and Caleb Jewell caught behind to leave them 3 for 39 in the seventh over.With the target quickly becoming out of reach, the only question became if Western Australia could achieve their aim. Jordan Silk was superbly caught by Liam Guthrie running back from short fine-leg and Tasmania aided in their demise with two gifted run outs.Western Australia had lost early wickets when both Josh Philippe and D’Arcy Short were caught in the slips off Jackson Bird but had little choice other than to continue to push on aggressively.Marsh sped to a 29-ball half-century while Sam Whiteman played a little more of an anchor role. The innings stumbled as Tom Andrews removed both batsmen and then Cameron Green was caught behind off Tom Rogers.Inglis, with 60 off 48 balls, and Ashton Turner stablised things with a sixth-wicket stand of 45 in seven overs but when that was followed by the loss of 3 for 14, Western Australia were eight down with 10 overs remaining.Behrendorff, Guthrie and Lance Morris proceeded to club precious runs – mixed with a little bit of fortune – and in the end it proved more than enough.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has claimed that the press are targeting him too much after Los Blancos' slow start to the season.

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• Real Madrid suffer poor start to the season
• Ancelotti's future at Real Madrid questioned
• Italian boss claims media taking shots at him

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• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Real Madrid were looking to follow up their La Liga and Champions League double with a strong start to the season, however, that has not been the case for Ancelotti's side as they have struggled for form and balance in the side after Kylian Mbappe's introduction to the squad. The 15-time European champions are four points off Barcelona in the La Liga standings and sit in 24th in the Champions League league stage standings, which is the last place that will achieve qualification to the playoff stage.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Real Madrid's poor form has put into question whether Ancelotti is the right man to bring the club back into form as he has been unable to bring the required balance into the team, with cracks seeming to open up in the dressing room as well. The Italian coach has now criticized the Spanish press for their constant criticism and claimed that they take 'too many shots' at him.

• AFP
  

  WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID

  Speaking to the media, Ancelotti said: “It’s normal because the team is not showing its best version, it’s criticism I have to accept, and as always happens in football, the manager is the one most responsible. That said, I think you are taking too many shots at me. Maybe you are tired of me. But I am not tired of this job. The criticism is acceptable, and I understand, also it’s worth noting that the stress can also be fuel for a reaction.”

  Ancelotti was later asked whether some of those shots at him in the media were justified, to which he added: “Your shots? You’re the one taking shots? Because sometimes I read them. I don’t live in another world, I live in this world, and I read. I read the criticism sometimes, and I note the journalist but I am not able to connect the journalist’s name with their face, so I need the press to give me a list of their names and their faces,” he said laughing.

  “As I said, when there is criticism, there has to be some truth behind it. Now if you’re asking me which shots annoy me most, some yes, some do annoy me. It affects, sometimes, your identity. Because I don’t mind when it’s I made a bad change, a bad line-up, that affects the professional side.

  “But when it affects your identity, what you are, who you are, that’s what annoys me. It’s the difference between saying you’ve said something stupid, or you’re stupid. It’s different.”

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• WHAT NEXT FOR ANCELOTTI?

  The Real Madrid boss has agreed that there is cause for concern after the start that his side have had, however, the Italian has also claimed that there is no need to write off the season just yet. He added: "It’s normal, it’s not a funeral, we’re still in the fight. We have to have optimism that we can solve the problems that we have had. We have a good squad with quality. So we have to be optimists."

With just a matter of weeks left until the transfer window slams shut, Wolverhampton Wanderers are still at risk of losing one particular player amid fresh attempts from a European club.

Wolves transfer rumours

Following an impressive debut campaign in the Midlands, Gary O'Neil may have been concerned about losing a number of stars this summer. But as the Premier League campaign approaches, Wolves have so far lost just Max Kilman and managed to keep hold of the likes of Pedro Neto and Matheus Cunha in a major boost.

That's not to say they haven't received interest, however, with Neto linked with Tottenham Hotspur and Joao Gomes reportedly attracting interest from Premier League giants Arsenal. Alas, as things stand, Wolves are set to start their season up against Arsenal with the majority of O'Neil's best players to call on as transfer deadline day approaches at the end of the month.

Instead of those who consistently steal the headlines at the Molineux though, one particular player who has found himself on the cusp of O'Neil's starting side rather than at the front and centre may yet head for the exit door amid recent interest.

Wolves could land a dream signing for Cunha in "superstar" target

Gary O’Neil could land a Colombian sensation this summer…

ByRoss Kilvington Aug 3, 2024

According to 1908 NL, Feyenoord have made contact with Hugo Beuno and his representatives over a potential loan move this summer, joining Celtic in the race for the left-back's signature. The Bhoys are yet to reach an agreement with Wolves and now face competition from Feyenoord to make matters worse.

Bueno finds himself at somewhat of a crossroads, having lost his starting place to Rayan Ait-Nouri last summer. If game time is what he wants then Feyenoord could be an ideal option in a loan move which could yet reportedly include a buy option. Perhaps joining Kilman out the door, Bueno would be leaving Wolves scrambling for left-back depth.

Wolves still need "excellent" Bueno

Squad depth is often the key in the Premier League, such is the packed fixture list of English football, and this season will be no different. As Wolves look to comfortably avoid relegation once again and perhaps even shock the rest of the league by fighting for a European place, they could look to keep hold of Bueno this summer. In the Spaniard, who earns a reported £10k-a-week, and Ait-Nouri, O'Neil has two strong options fighting for a place in his side.

Progressive Carries

2.68

2.59

Key Passes

0.73

0.97

Tackles Won

1.71

1.70

Ball Recoveries

4.51

5.25

The numbers suggest that there's still a place for Bueno to fight for at Wolves, just as there was for Ait-Nouri when O'Neil initially came in. The 20-year-old has earned praise throughout his time at the club, including from former interim manager Steve Davis, who told Wolves' website following Bueno's full debut in 2022: “I thought he was excellent, didn’t let anyone down. He felt we trusted him, we know him, as a character we know what he’s capable of, and he’s ready. He was ready for that moment and I thought he took it really well. I thought he was excellent.”

تستمر الأنباء بشأن مصير النجم المصري عمر مرموش، لاعب آينتراخت فرانكفورت الألماني، وإمكانية رحيله في انتقالات يناير، مع سعي مانشستر سيتي للتعاقد معه.

وارتبط مرموش في البداية باهتمام ليفربول وآرسنال، من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، مع تألقه بقميص فرانكفورت هذا الموسم.

ولاحقًا ظهر مانشستر سيتي في الصورة وتصدر السباق، من أجل الظفر بصفقة عمر مرموش لتعزيز صفوف الفريق.

وذكرت صحيفة “ذا أثليتك”، أن مانشستر سيتي بدأ الآن محادثات مع فرانكفورت من أجل ضم عمر مرموش.

اقرأ أيضًا | مانشستر سيتي يتوصل إلى اتفاق لحسم أولى صفقاته الشتوية

ويذكر التقرير أنه لم يتم التوصل إلى اتفاق بعد ولكن هناك علاقات جيدة بين مانشستر سيتي وفرانكفورت.

وأفاد أن هناك استعدادًا لاستكشاف إيجاد حل وسط، والذي من شأنه أن يحسم انتقال عمر مرموش إلى مانشستر سيتي.

وسبق وأوضحت “سكاي ألمانيا” أن فرانكفورت ينتظر عرضًا بقيمة 80 مليون يورو للموافقة على رحيل مرموش.

علقت جماهير ليفربول على أداء الدولي المصري محمد صلاح، في مباراة مانشستر يونايتد بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وشارك محمد صلاح أساسيًا في مباراة مانشستر يونايتد، والتي انتهت بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدفين لكل فريق، على ملعب “أنفيلد”.

اقرأ ايضاً.. تقييم محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول ومانشستر يونايتد بـ الدوري الإنجليزي ملخص لمسات محمد صلاح امام مانشستر يونايتد

وتمكن نجم فريق ليفربول، محمد صلاح، في تسجيل الهدف الثاني لصالح الريدز بحلول الدقيقة 70 من عمر المباراة، من علامة الجزاء.

وكالعادة عبرت جماهير ليفربول عن آرائها في أداء النجم المصري، خلال مباراة مانشستر يونايتد، عبر مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي المختلفة.  ردود أفعال جماهير ليفربول على أداء محمد صلاح أمام مانشستر يونايتد

“كنت أتمنى أن يسجل من لعب مفتوح أو أي لعبة أخرى. وليس ضربة جزاء”.

Yes, it is a goal. But, was hoping he scored in an open play or whatever play there is. Not a PEN. But, hey it is a goal. — hafizhabib (@hafiz_habib) January 5, 2025

“الفائز بالكرة الذهبية قريباً”.

Ballon dor winner soon — Billy_2Jfp (@ImNotBilly7) January 5, 2025

“محمد صلاح هو اللاعب الأفضل”.

the best player — Deal Sophia 🛍️ (@ShOPHIApromo) January 5, 2025

“امنحوه كل ما يريده”.

GIVE HIM WHAT HE WANTS — Waleed🇵🇸 (@Waleed_AlRamahi) January 5, 2025

“محمد صلاح أفضل عشر مرات من تيري هنري”.

Salah is 10 times better than Henry! — Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) January 5, 2025

“اللاعب الأعظم في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز”.

GOAT 🐐 of premier league — Domainking (@payeni906) January 5, 2025

“أفضل لاعب في العالم”.

BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD — 𝙉𝙚𝙤🌪 (@LFC_NE0) January 5, 2025

“لا يمكن إيقاف الملك صلاح وهو أفضل لاعب في الوقت الحالي”.

King Salah cannot be stopped the best player in the sport right now 👑 — Sauce (@1solanacoin) January 5, 2025

Gary Neville believes Arsenal have "got to go and win" games when they are down to 10 men in order to win the Premier League.

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Arsenal lose 2-0 to BournemouthGunners star Saliba sent off in defeatNeville says they should still winFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal fell to a 2-0 loss to Bournemouth on Saturday, as William Saliba's 30th-minute sending off came back to haunt them. This was the third time the Gunners have had a player red carded in the Premier League this season, one being the 1-1 draw with Brighton and the other a 2-2 thriller with Manchester City. Now, Manchester United legend Neville believes Mikel Arteta's side need to pick up all three points in these matches – even when they are a man down.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT GARY NEVILLE SAID

He said on the Gary Neville Podcast: "If you go down to 10 men, you've got to still go and win. Roy Keane said this a few weeks ago, I think after the City game where you could have some sort of sympathy. I think Roy was talking about it with the Brighton game and saying: 'Go and win with 10 men'. I do genuinely believe against Bournemouth at 0-0 with 10 men they should go and win that match. They have to go and win that match, they can't lose it."

He added: "That's the most disappointing thing. They've not gone and won the game against Brighton and Bournemouth and I think they should be with the quality they have."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

While this was only Arsenal's first defeat of the Premier League season, the number of red cards they are chalking up is a cause for concern. They will still feel they can compete for the title, though, as they are three points behind City and four adrift of table-toppers Liverpool after just eight games played.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Arteta's Arsenal will look to return to winning ways when they host Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday, before taking on Liverpool in a crunch Premier League clash at the Emirates on Sunday.

Player of the Series against West Indies, Sarah Glenn, takes next step alongside Sophie Ecclestone and Mady Villiers

Valkerie Baynes01-Oct-2020Sarah Glenn knows she’s part of something “special” so while she appreciates what she has from within, team-mates and fans can marvel at an exciting era in England women’s cricket.Named Player of the Series after England’s 5-0 sweep of their T20I series against West Indies on Wednesday night, Glenn is one element in a three-pronged spin attack that looks set to feature internationally for years to come.The variety offered by left-armer Sophie Ecclestone, the world’s No.1 T20I bowler, Glenn’s legspin and the offspin of Mady Villiers gives England a raft of options. Plus, Ecclestone and Glenn are just 21 and Villiers 22.”It’s really special,” Glenn said of being part of the close-knit trio. “I absolutely love it. We click really well together on and off the field and I feel like I can just go and talk to them about anything.”We help each other on the pitch, talk about what the pitch is doing, how they’re playing, what’s the best ball and then time off the pitch is great, we all have a great laugh. We’re just really happy for each other, seeing each other do well, it’s really exciting to see.”Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn arrive for the final T20I vs West Indies•Getty Images

She echoed similar sentiments at this year’s T20 World Cup in Australia from Ecclestone, who spoke of their “spin companionship”.”They are some of my best friends now, and it’s really nice to have them performing well and winning games for England,” Ecclestone said in March. “It’s a dream come true really.”Heather Knight, the England captain knows she’s been dealt an exceptional hand.”It’s great to have,” Knight says. “We’ve obviously got a lot of experience in our seam department and those spinners just give us a few different options so we can match up against different batters. In T20, that’s very important. They can take wickets, control other teams’ batters in different conditions. It’s really pleasing.”ALSO READ: Knight, five others head to WBBLWhat struck Knight most about her spinning youth brigade during the series against West Indies was their courage, epitomised in Glenn’s lbw dismissal of Deandra Dottin in the second T20I, a full, looping legbreak that Dottin aimed to sweep and missed.”Sophie and Sarah have been consistently in the side for a long time now and really done well for us,” Knight said “To see Mady take her opportunity like that – she obviously didn’t bowl in the first game due to a few tactical bits, but yeah really delighted for them.”They’ve been really brave as well, you saw Sarah Glenn get Deandra out the other day by tossing the ball up, and if you don’t quite get that right you know it’s going to go the distance.”It’s been really pleasing to see them be really brave in how they go about things in looking to take wickets which is something we want to keep on doing as a side – something we’ve addressed since the World Cup that we want to get better at, taking wickets particularly through that middle period – and those spinners are a massive part of that.”Glenn’s seven wickets for the series against West Indies came at an average of 12.00 and an economy rate of 5.60. Her 46 runs included a valuable 26 from 19 balls which rescued England from 96 for 6 and carried them to a what proved to be a winning total in a Player-of-the-Match performance in the second fixture.While Ecclestone played her first T20I as a 17-year-old in 2016, Glenn only made her international debut last December, against Pakistan in Kuala Lumpur in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, and she went on to impress in four matches at the global tournament, claiming six wickets.Villiers also truly came into the reckoning for England during that warm-up series in Malaysia having played just one international match, a T20I against Australia during the Ashes the previous July. She had to wait until the last group match against West Indies to feature at the T20 World Cup, but she dismissed Shemaine Campbelle with her fourth ball, a sharp return catch in a wicket maiden.Villiers’ fielding is seen as a huge asset and there are several observers keen to see her given more of a chance with the bat as well as the ball. Ecclestone has the ability to hit big and Glenn’s innings in the second match against West Indies prompted her to declare her ambition to become a genuine allrounder.Mady Villiers forms part of England’s formidable spin trio•Getty Images

It is a prospect Charlotte Edwards, the former England captain and now Sky Sports commentator, sees in the future for all three England spinners.”They’re so exciting as a three,” Edwards said. “All very different, so young, but in many ways quite experienced now. It’s unbelievable really to think how good they are and how good they can be.”I think with the three of them it’s their batting that’s the exciting element for me as well, not only are they going to be world-class bowlers but I think they’re going to be really handy allrounders.”To have to have some hard-hitting batters coming in down the lower order as well as world-class bowlers, that’s so exciting. The sky’s the limit for them all, I think.”Laura MacLeod, the former England international who is now Director of West Midlands Women’s Cricket – one of the eight regional hubs for the domestic women’s game – played against a teenage Ecclestone at club level. She saw then that Ecclestone was on the right path to the England team. McLeod has also been impressed by Glenn, who played two matches for her Central Sparks outfit in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, and by what she has seen of Villiers.”It’s really exciting,” McLeod said. “It’s just a coach’s dream to have a left-armer, to have a leggy and an offie that have all got talent and they’re not just talented with the ball they can all bat as well. The future for England, from a spin point of view is certainly bright.”

‘One or two [sixes], then it is easier for the batsmen to follow,’ says CSK captain

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Sep-2020

Sam Curran goes big•BCCI

When Ambati Rayudu fell for 71 after putting on a 115-run stand for the second wicket with Faf du Plessis, the Chennai Super Kings still needed 42 off 24 balls against the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2020 opener.Conventional wisdom suggested Kedar Jadhav or MS Dhoni, one of the two outright batsmen, would come out at No. 5 to push Super Kings to victory, but out came Ravindra Jadeja. It looked like Dhoni was employing the tried-and-tested method of going with a right-hand-left-hand batting combination to disturb the rhythm of the Mumbai Indians bowlers, as James Pattinson prepared to bowl the 17th over. The plan seemed to work, with Jadeja crunching ten runs in four balls, and Pattinson leaking 13.But Jadeja fell to Krunal Pandya off the 18th over’s first delivery, and the equation now read 29 off 17 for the Super Kings. Surely MS Dhoni would walk out now? Well, not quite. In came the Super Kings debutant, Sam Curran, and he crunched two sixes and a four off his first five balls before falling to Bumrah with ten balls to go. The game was now truly in the Super Kings’ hands. With ten needed off ten, du Plessis and Dhoni – who finished on 0 not out – finished the game with four balls to spare.Was it a tactical move or some of the famous Dhoni gut feel that made him push Curran ahead of himself and Jadhav?”At some point, I thought we needed to give Jadeja and someone like Sam [Curran] to go ahead in the batting order and express themselves,” Dhoni said after the match. “They still had two spinners remaining, and we tried to intimidate the bowler a bit, it was just a psychological aspect. We know we bat quite deep, and wanted them to go after the bowler. If you clear one or two [sixes], then it is easier for the batsmen to follow.”Curran, who had taken 1 for 28 earlier, said Dhoni’s move “surprised” even him. “I was actually really excited when I was coming to [the] Chennai [team],” the England allrounder said. “Haven’t met a lot of guys, straight on the bus, haven’t had much to think, landed two days ago [from the England-Australia series] and straight out there to do what I do.”To be honest, very surprised I went in [at No. 6] but he’s a genius, he obviously thought something. Great win in the end. I think [left-right combination was his plan]. That [18th over from Pandya] was the over we wanted to target – a six or out approach mentality. Take the risk, and if it comes off it comes off, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”Dhoni also said that the key to the win was adjusting quickly to the bowling conditions on offer in Abu Dhabi. “You can practise a lot, but when you go out, you need time to gauge what is a good length on this wicket,” Dhoni said. “[In the first innings], I felt if there’s not much swing, it’s better to peg the length back a bit. Initially, Mumbai Indians batted well and put pressure.”Overall very positive, still some areas to improve on. What teams will learn [is] that if the match [start] timing is same, that in the second half you’ll get a bit of movement if the ball isn’t wet.”Mumbai Indians, who lost their eighth season opener in a row, were hurt by their batsmen not expanding on their starts, according to captain Rohit Sharma.”Our batsmen didn’t carry on once they got in like how du Plessis and Rayudu did,” Sharma said. “You got to make it count when you’re in, that’s something we failed to do. We were 15-20 short and should’ve carried on from 80-something at the ten-over mark [to a better total]. But credit to CSK bowlers, they kept us guessing all the time. A few things for us to learn from his game, and that we don’t commit those mistakes. Early days but credit to CSK.”We’ve got to understand and adapt to the pitches. The pitch got better towards the end with dew coming. It’s not that we’ve not played at bigger grounds [like the Abu Dhabi stadium]. We’ve got to try and hit those gaps and make sure we get singles and doubles, and focus on that part of the game as well. It’s not just about hitting the shots. It’s all about understanding what one needs to do and it’s something that we failed to do today.”

Partnership of 200 puts visitors within one run of Leicestershire with just two wickets down

ECB Reporters Network23-Aug-2020

Haseeb Hameed builds his innings for Nottinghamshire•Getty Images

Openers Ben Slater and Haseeb Hameed put together a partnership of 200 as Nottinghamshire laid the foundations to build a formidable first-innings lead in their Bob Willis Trophy match against Leicestershire at the Fischer County Ground.In so doing they broke a record for the first wicket for Nottinghamshire against Leicestershire, beating the 159 compiled by George Gunn and Garnet Lee at Trent Bridge in 1919.Notts had resumed on 48 without loss, with Hameed on 34 and Slater on 12, and neither batsman gave a chance during the morning session as the Leicestershire seamers struggled to bowl a consistent line and length on an unrewarding pitch.Tom Taylor came closest to making a breakthrough, beating both batsmen with deliveries that swung late, but edges were rare, and when they came fell short of the waiting slips. Hameed, after picking up two boundaries in the first over of the day, played circumspectly, reaching his half-century off 80 deliveries, while Slater – who earlier this season had spent two weeks on loan at Leicestershire – mixed steady accumulation with the occasional flowing cover drive, reaching his 50 off 103 balls.By lunch they had beaten the previous highest first-wicket partnership in the Bob Willis Trophy, 153 between Slater and Hassan Azad, for Leicestershire against Lancashire.Rain meant only 5.1 overs were possible in the afternoon and the evening session saw Leicestershire bowling a better containing line. Even so, both batsmen looked odds-on to reach a century until Hameed, on 87, left a delivery from Alex Evans that swung back in and hit his back leg to be dismissed leg before.Ten runs later Slater – who had passed the landmark of 5,000 first-class runs earlier in his innings – was also dismissed, for 86, edging the persevering Taylor to second slip where Colin Ackermann held a sharp chance at the second attempt.Bad light saw play end when 10.5 overs remained to be bowled, but with better weather forecast to come over the final two days, Notts are in a strong position to end their run of 24 first-class county matches without victory.

The powers that be at Sunderland will know the next managerial appointment after Mike Dodds is crucial now, with the new man in the dug-out needing to pick up the pieces to try and steer the Black Cats back into the promotion reckoning in the Championship.

After going through Tony Mowbray and Michael Beale in this disastrous second-tier season, as well as Dodds, the Wearside outfit will just pray that the interim boss' successor is a settled face who can lift the spirits at the Stadium of Light alongside attempting a return up to the Premier League.

One rumoured new manager coming into the building could well end up transforming Sunderland if his current job post in the Championship is anything to go by, with Jack Clarke even potentially staying put after watching what this head coach has managed to get out of the attackers at his disposal elsewhere.

Sunderland's search for a manager

Sunderland have been fishing about for some time now for the perfect replacement to come in after Dodds departs in the summer, with the rumour mill throwing up various different names.

Both Danny Rohl and Paul Heckingbottom have been linked with a switch to Wearside in the off-season, with Sheffield Wednesday hopeful that this is all just speculative talk when it comes to their popular German manager who could pull off an unbelievable relegation escape for the Owls still on the final day of the season.

Sunderland could appoint an “unbelievable” John O’Shea alternative

Sunderland could look towards this John O’Shea alternative as their next manager.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 22, 2024

The Black Cats could set their sights elsewhere on another second-tier miracle worker, with rumours swirling that Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes is being eyed up by Sunderland after turning around the fortunes of the Hoops from relegation favourites to a side who can now beat Leeds United 4-0 with swagger.

The likes of Ilias Chair are loving life under the Spaniard going forward as was seen in that staggering demolition of job of the Whites – scoring once and assisting another two – with Clarke hopeful that Cifuentes could improve his game further if the two link up together at the Stadium of Light next campaign.

Why Cifuentes could be the dream Dodds replacement

Touted to be in the conversation for "manager of the season" by Justin Peach of The Second Tier Podcast, Cifuentes has been a revelation for QPR since coming in last October as an unknown entity from Swedish outfit, Hammarby.

Gareth Ainsworth would win just two of his 15 matches in charge of the Hoops at the start of this season before the left-field face of Cifuentes emerged onto the scene, who has since taken QPR all the way up 17th in the league standings after the club was hopelessly stuck in the bottom three under the ex-Wycombe Wanderers boss.

Manager

Games managed

Wins

Draws

Losses

Ainsworth

15

2

2

11

Cifuentes

32

12

9

11

Cifuentes has also managed to get more of a tune out of the attackers at QPR since coming in, with the aforementioned Chair picking up eight of his 14 goal contributions for the season under the watchful eye of the former Hammarby manager – predominantly operating from Clarke's trusty left-wing area.

Moreover, Lyndon Dykes has become a goalscorer again for the Hoops up top under Cifuentes with all but one of his seven goals for the season coming under Ainsworth's golden replacement.

Operating with a 4-2-3-1 formation over recent months, with a 4-3-3 also in his managerial repertoire, Cifuentes should instantly fit into the new environment at the Stadium of Light with the Black Cats already lining up in the first of those two formations regularly.

Sunderland need a new and fresh revamp in the dugout, and with Cifuentes a hot property in the second tier based off his exploits at QPR, the Wearside outfit should go all in to make him their next manager.

With rumours rife that the aforementioned Clarke – who has 19 goals and assists this season – could be on his way this summer, recruiting such an exciting appointment could well be the solution in tempting the former Leeds United star to stay.