Tag Futebol

Nathan Lyon recalls nerve-shredding final moments of Old Trafford Test

Daniel Brettig09-Sep-2019

Nathan Lyon celebrates the final wicket of Craig Overton•Getty Images

Nathan Lyon’s spinning finger made a good metaphor for the Australian spin bowler’s nerves by the end of the Old Trafford Test, its callus split in two, held together by superglue, painkillers and a fierce desperation to win the Ashes.As his teammates all looked achingly towards one of the ground’s big screens for confirmation of the final wicket with less than an hour’s play remaining, Lyon’s head was turned in the other direction – he could be forgiven for not bearing to look. After Edgbaston, where Lyon had dominated England with a second innings display redolent of the 2017-18 series in Australia, he and the team had looked set for a straightforward steamrolling. The story that has unfolded since has taken it out of Lyon in ways he has never had to deal with before.First, he drew level with Dennis Lillee’s Australian wickets tally at Lord’s, then struggled to go past him, a sensation shared by none other than Shane Warne in 2000. Next, came Headingley with all its many traumas. Lyon fumbled the critical run out chance, was denied the crucial lbw, and sank to the floor in desolation when Ben Stokes fashioned victory in the following over. With that result arrived a torrent of abuse, referencing some of Lyon’s more unkind comments about England in 2017 and the fact that he had effectively dropped the Ashes.At Old Trafford, the crowds took to ironically cheering him whenever he caught the ball before ambling in for his next delivery, meanwhile hurling all sorts at him from closer range. For a team that had already weathered the persistent booing of David Warner and Steven Smith, this underlined, as the captain Tim Paine said, “It’s a nice place to play cricket but it is bloody difficult in England if I am honest.”Also read: A scream, a win and an urn dearly earnedCertainly Lyon, his spinning finger cut open in the first innings then only barely held together in the second, could relate. “I split my finger in the first innings but in Test cricket you have to find a way to compete,” Lyon said. “It’s probably like a singer losing the vocals probably. I was pretty proud of that bowling effort, to take 20 wickets on that pitch.”You hear it [the crowd] for the first over or two then it just becomes white noise, if that makes sense. I know that’s hard to believe but when you’re a professional sportsman – your job is to come out and bowl well, compete against whoever you’re playing. To be honest with you, I didn’t really feel it or hear it at the back end, so it doesn’t worry me. We’re sitting up there, we’re going to have a couple of beers tonight and celebrate because the urn is coming home. I’m not sure what the 9000 people in that stand are doing tonight.”What Lyon was doing after Headingley was grieving the defeat, his role in it, and trying to deal with a myriad of personal issues back home, one of which has been an ill uncle. But somewhere, perhaps from Paine’s early advice to him in the aftermath of defeat, or perhaps from a text message sent to him by Smith – relating his own learnings from his one-year ban from cricket – Lyon found a way to drag himself back into a frame of mind capable of doing a job in Manchester.”Obviously you’re devastated. I wear my heart on my sleeve and playing cricket for Australia means everything for me, it’s not about personal success for me,” he said. “But I’ve had some family issues over the past – my uncle’s quite sick. You realise quite quickly it’s just a game. It does impact a lot of people. Mistakes happen. I didn’t meant to drop the run out or anything like that but I had him plumb next ball. That’s just the game of cricket. You’ve got to pick yourself up and it’s just the way you bounce back.”I would’ve loved to win five-nil, don’t worry about that. That means a lot of parties. But you’ve got to give credit where credit’s due. Both sides have played some really decent cricket. You’ve got to respect the opposition. We’re playing against some absolute superstars of the game. You look at Archer, Root, Stokes – that’s just three and we could sit here all night and talk about them – but they’re absolute superstars of the game. I think this series is rivalling the ’05 series, as a spectator back then you were riding the waves with the Australian cricket team. The sport in this country, England, alone over the past five months has done wonders for cricket.”You get the chance to come out here and play cricket for Australia and represent your family, friends and everyone back home. I guarantee when I get my phone back I’ll have a fair few messages from mates staying up – I think it’s about 3.30am back home. It’s quite a special moment that a sport can bring a nation together. I daresay that the boys in that change room up there, where we’re going to celebrate tonight, have brought a nation together.”Nathan Lyon doffs his hat as Steve Waugh looks on•Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

In both the first innings and on the final day, Lyon was not the dominating figure of the last Ashes series or Edgbaston, rather a supporting character to the unstinting brilliance of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, with help at vital times from Mitchell Starc and, finally, Marnus Labuschagne. Their collective performance was enough for Lyon to make the sort of blanket statement that comes with winning Ashes series.”Everyone is going to think this is a big statement but I think the bowling squad in that change room there is the best in the world,” Lyon said. “I believe that and I’m very confident that we are the best in the world. To have the fast-bowling stocks that we’ve got as the Australian Cricket Team at the moment we’re very lucky. But in saying that the boys are working their backsides off. There’s no surprise they’re out there reaping the rewards they deserve.”You’ve got Pat Cummins, the best bowler in the world in my view but then Josh Hazlewood, jeez, if he’s not second I don’t know what is. That’s my personal view. But then you’ve got Starcy, Patto, Sidds, Michael Neser as well. We had an hour to do our skill [get the last wicket] and, to be honest with you, I was quite confident in our skill, we’d be able to get the job done.”It’s about positive thoughts and backing the bowlers, even the decision from Tim Paine to give Marnus a bowl was a very brave and ballsy decision but it paid off. Marnus is a guy who wants to do well for the Australian cricket team, he wants the ball in his hand. Hats off to him, spinning into the rough into a left-hander. Personally, I’d rather bowl to a right-hander on those wickets. Hats off to Marnus and hats off to Tim.”But for all that bravado there were nerves, of course there were. Lyon knew from his square position that Craig Overton’s lbw was not going over the top of the stumps, but the interminable moments before the final confirmation arrived were torturous given all that had come before, as the words in the team huddle emphasised. “‘Is it out? Is it out? What do you reckon Josh? Is out out? Is it sliding’?” Lyon recalled.”I felt pretty confident from point. I know I can’t see the line or anything but I can see the length and I knew it wasn’t going over the top, so I was pretty confident. But I was nervous. All I was hoping was three reds or umpires call and it was out. It’s a dream come true. I’ve wanted this. Personally and as a team, it’s pretty special that the urn’s coming home.”As a kid growing up, and as soon as i got my baggy green – the biggest goal in my career has been to win the Ashes away. We’re 2-1 up and I want to go 3-1 up and when we hold the urn up at The Oval, it’s going to be an amazing feeling. Yeah we’re going to enjoy this tonight and take in this moment, but there’s still a lot of work to do if we want to become a great cricket side and get to where we want to go to.”

Three times in the last four years, Aston Villa have broken their transfer record. First, when Dean Smith was manager, they shelled out £33m to sign Ollie Watkins from his former club Brentford and then, 12 months later, they agreed to pay £38m to land Emi Buendia from Norwich.

Last summer, under Unai Emery, NSWE blew both of those transfers out of the water by parting with up to £52m to recruit Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen, having previously signed Leon Bailey from the same side.

Rank

Player

Signed from

Year

Fee*

1

Moussa Diaby

Bayer Leverkusen

2023

£52m

2

Emi Buendia

Norwich City

2021

£38m

3

Ollie Watkins

Brentford

2020

£33m

4

Pau Torres

Villarreal

2023

£32m

5

Leon Bailey

Bayer Leverkusen

2021

£30m

*With potential add-ons included

Could they eclipse it again this year? Well, on the one hand, they could potentially have some Champions League money on the way, even if they end up losing out to Spurs in the race for the Premier League top four. As part of the new competition format, the two-best performing nations in this year's tournaments will be entitled to an extra spot, and England is only a fraction behind second-place Germany in the current standings.

On the other hand, though, there's a sense that Villa may have to sell a first-team player before the end of June in order to comply with the league's Profit and Sustainability Rules. Those circumstances may not be especially conducive to a historic outlay.

Villa now set sights on Paqueta

Undeterred, NSWE are now eyeing up a deal for Lucas Paqueta, according to West Ham outlet Claret and Hugh. The Brazilian would like to move to reigning champions Manchester City, but Villa have joined Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester United in making it clear that they will try to sign him if that deal doesn't materialise. Significantly, the 26-year-old's contract includes an £80m release clause.

Paqueta is currently under investigation for alleged breaches of betting rules, which he denies, and is apparently considering legal action against the FA if he doesn't receive a verdict by April. Any move, of course, will hinge upon whether he avoids a ban.

"Magician" Paqueta combines the ugly and the beautiful

Signing Paqueta could be a huge statement, and not just because of the record-shattering transfer fee. Villa and West Ham are two clubs of a similar status, each playing in European competition and trying to pierce the big-six bubble, so it may say a great deal about the former's trajectory if they can poach a player from the latter.

Dubbed a "magician" by former Premier League midfielder Robbie Mustoe, Paqueta can play as a left winger, number 10 and number eight. He's capable of playing the final ball – he ranks second in the West Ham squad (among those with at least 1,000 minutes played) for expected assists per 90 (0.17) and key passes per 90 (1.55) – but he can also launch dangerous attacks from deeper positions too. Nobody in the Irons ranks averages more progressive passes or passes into the final third than Paqueta (6.9 and 4.76).

Aston Villa eyeing Tielemans repeat to land "gifted athlete" for Emery

Two other Premier League clubs are also in the running.

ByDavid Comerford Feb 16, 2024

With a penchant for dazzling tricks, the former Lyon man also places second for successful take-ons with 29, only behind Mohammed Kudus (60). However, he embraces the dirty side of the game too, having won the fourth-most tackles (53) and made the seventh-most fouls (50) in the division. That, clearly, is a midfield combination that appeals a great deal to Emery, but Villa could face some mighty competition for this particular transfer.

Having already added Joe Rothwell to their midfield on loan from Bournemouth, Southampton could now return to the transfer market to make a late swoop for yet another reinforcement in the middle of the park. One point behind second-place Ipswich Town and on a historic unbeaten run, the Saints could use the remainder of the January transfer window to gain an edge over their Championship promotion rivals.

Southampton transfer news

With just seven days left in the transfer window, Russell Martin is in no position to panic over reinforcements. His side are flying and remain within touching distance of an Ipswich side who are beginning to show signs of weakness in England's second tier. Southampton's 21-game unbeaten run has broken a club record that has stood for 103 years, highlighting just how good a place the Saints are in at the moment. Now, amid that record-breaking run, they could welcome yet another fresh face.

According to Bence Bocsak, a Hungarian reporter for The Boot Room, Southampton are interested in Mihaly Kata, who is the captain of MTK Budapest at just 21-years-old.

Those at St Mary's aren't alone in their interest, however. According to Bocsak, The City Group, SC Heerenveen and several other German sides are also eyeing moves to sign the Hungary international in what could prove to be a busy race for his signature. If it is to be Southampton who win the race, then the deal will reportedly cost around £1.5m, though Kata is reportedly not rushing any decision over his future just yet.

"Clever" Kata will only get better

Now could be a better time than ever for Southampton to secure a deal to sign Kata for as little as £1.5m. The young midfielder is on course to get better and better, given his status as a fully-fledged Hungary international and club captain at just 21. As the Saints look to leapfrog Ipswich, a player of Kata's calibre may well make all the difference. X account Hungarian Scout spoke highly of the MTK Budapest man earlier this season.

With Rothwell's move only a short-term solution in midfield, Martin would be wise to welcome a more permanent fix in the form of Kata, whether that be this month or during the summer transfer window.

Southampton will likely be forced to fend off plenty of interest if they want to sign the Hungarian, but everything points towards a player ready to step straight into English football.

Liam Plunkett knows he can’t bowl consistently as fast as he used to but he is determined to turn what could be seen as a shortcoming into a weapon.After all, there is a World Cup on his doorstep and Plunkett admits he turns into a green-eyed monster if he is not on the big stage.Even during England’s last warm-up, a nine-wicket win against Afghanistan on Monday, he couldn’t help himself. Plunkett was officially rested for the match but came on as a substitute fielder, took a catch and was involved in a run-out.While Plunkett’s ability to frustrate opposition teams during the middle overs was his big selling point for World Cup selection, a drop in pace – inevitable at the age of 34 – was also noted as pundits weighed up the possibilities ahead of England naming their final squad last week.”I find it harder to bowl as quick as I used to consistently,” Plunkett said. “But I feel that’s something that helps me. I’ll try and bowl the same speed and sometimes it will come out at late 80s and sometimes it will come out at 81. So I feel I’ve got to use that as my variation. If I don’t know what speed it’s going to come out, the batters won’t either.”Plunkett’s role is also helped by England’s formidable batting line-up which is threatening to become the first team to reach a total of 500.”I’ve gone through patches since I came back when I was bowling consistently quick,” Plunkett said. “We call our bowlers the ants as they just do the job, go home and let the batters get the glory. We’ll take that.”I just try and go about my business and do the hard yards with the boys in the middle and make it as boring and difficult as possible for the batters.”Obviously it’s been harder now for people as we can score at eight and nine an over so you know the batters will come after you. Maybe that’s helped with wickets because people know they need to score and that gives you a chance to get wickets.”Plunkett returns to England’s World Cup fold ahead of Thursday’s tournament opener against South Africa having last featured in 2007, when he took four wickets in three matches. He has secured his place with 85 wickets at 28.43 from 53 matches since 2015.He can’t remember exactly where he was during the last World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, but he was watching, sometimes.”I was watching,” he said. “When I’m not in the squad I get a bit bitter. I don’t like watching England because you’re always jealous because you want to be there. So I didn’t watch too much to be honest with you.”At that point I wasn’t sure I was going to play in the white-ball team so much. So, to be a couple of years down the line and be on the brink of playing on Thursday is exciting.”Plunkett can empathise with fellow fast bowler David Willey, who missed out when England opted for back-up spinner Liam Dawson for the World Cup. It is a feeling compounded by the squad’s closeness, developed under captain Eoin Morgan.”Even though people were thinking about the World Cup squad and the Pakistan series, the bowlers who didn’t play were helping each other out,” Plunkett said. “Me down at fine leg, one of the other bowlers would come and say, ‘what do you think about this?’ which is something that can be hard to do in a team, especially when you know the squad is coming up.”Do you want to give that guy extra credit or something you know about the batter? So the guys have been really good, because we all get on with each other. But at the end of the day it is international sport.”You want people to do well. I’ve never been a person who wanted someone to go out there and fail because I feel that can come round and bite you on the backside. This team, the support we have as a unit, is the best I’ve ever played in.”Meanwhile, Jofra Archer, whose inclusion also contributed to Willey missing out, wished he could have bowled double the amount of overs he had in preparation for the tournament since making his international debut against Ireland last month.”I’ve bowled about 20 overs in the last month in a match situation which isn’t really ideal,” Archer said. “The flip side of that is you get to rest and I’ve had a long six months going back to October.”I was 100 percent fit but I guess they were just trying to rest me. I didn’t have any niggles or anything like that. I can get by, but personally I’ve not played a lot of 50-over cricket in the last year so I just wanted to top up.”

Squad named for one-off ODI against England, and tri-series against West Indies and Bangladesh

ESPNcricinfo staff01-May-2019

Getty Images/Sportsfile

Wicketkeeper Gary Wilson, who missed Ireland’s winter tours for the T20I Quadrangular series in Oman and the tour of India to play Afghanistan, has been declared fit for the start of the Ireland home season. He has been included in a 14-man ODI squad for the one-off ODI against England in Malahide on May 3 and the start of the ODI tri-series with West Indies and Bangladesh, which kicks off on May 5.Wilson, 33, had to stay at home in February and March to receive treatment for a condition that was affecting his vision, but has since sufficiently recovered.The uncapped Lorcan Tucker has been retained in the squad from the series against Afghanistan ahead of Durham-contracted Stuart Poynter, who made 15 runs in four innings against Afghanistan in a series that Ireland drew 2-2 in Dehradun. Tucker, a tall 22-year-old from Dublin, has started off the Irish domestic season in good form, making 81 last week for Leinster in a win over Northern Knights in La Manga. He also excelled on the Ireland Wolves tour of Sri Lanka, scoring a century in Hambantota.Left-arm spinner James Cameron-Dow and offspinning allrounder Simi Singh have also been dropped from the group that played Afghanistan in March, leaving George Dockrell and Andy McBrine as the only specialist slow-bowling options in the squad.Josh Little, who has played ten T20Is, has been called up as the Ireland selectors opted for more seam options in home conditions. The 19-year-old left-arm pacer has impressed with his variations at the death in particular, and joins an attack led by veterans Tim Murtagh, Boyd Rankin, Barry McCarthy and allrounder Stuart Thompson.”Of those emerging players, we have been delighted to watch the continued improvement of Josh Little and Lorcan Tucker – both of whom will now be in the running to make their debuts in one-day international cricket,” Cricket Ireland selection chairman Andrew White said. “Josh gives us that left-arm pace variation and he has continued to impress with some consistent performances – we believe he can transfer his T20 skills into the one-day arena.”As for Lorcan, fans of Irish cricket have seen some stellar performances by him over the first few months of the year, most notably in Sri Lanka and La Manga. While he has been on our radar and around the senior squad in recent times, we’ve started to see greater confidence and consistency in his approach, and he is definitely one of those putting his hand up at the moment.”Cricket Ireland has announced that the squad for the remainder of the tri-series will be announced at a later date to give members of the Ireland Wolves squad a chance to press for selection when they take on Bangladesh on May 5, the same date as Ireland’s first ODI of the tri-series against West Indies.Squad: William Porterfield (capt), Andrew Balbirnie, George Dockrell, Josh Little, Andrew McBrine, Barry McCarthy, James McCollum, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O’Brien, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Gary Wilson (wk)

It's fair to say Michael Beale's opening game in charge of Sunderland was a harsh reintroduction to Championship life for the ex-QPR manager, the Black Cats humbled on their own patch by Coventry City with the Sky Blues running out 3-0 victors.

Beale will just hope that this was a blip, his new second-tier side getting poor performances out of their system early on into his reign at the Stadium of Light.

The fixtures don't get any easier for the divisive head coach however, travelling to Hull City on Boxing Day who have similar promotion aspirations to the Tyne and Wear side.

Beale could change his team up significantly after such a disappointing loss last match, with three potential changes on the cards in this predicted XI…

1 GK – Nathan Bishop

Beale could really ruffle a few feathers at Sunderland with this selection choice, dropping £10k per week figure – as per Capology – Anthony Patterson in-between the sticks who has been everpresent up to this point in the league.

The new head coach could well just want to assess what other options he has at his disposal after Patterson's horror show versus the Sky Blues, handing Nathan Bishop his first-ever start in the Championship in his place – the former Manchester United shot-stopper waiting patiently in the wings desperate for a chance to impress.

2 RB – Trai Hume

Trai Hume should be retained even if Sunderland's number one goalkeeper is axed, the Northern Ireland international registering a combined seven interceptions and tackles last match – as per Sofascore – despite the one-sided scoreline.

3 CB – Daniel Ballard

Daniel Ballard will also remain in Beale's first-team plans for the Hull game, the ex-Arsenal man performing admirably even on a collective off-day against Coventry – winning all but one of his duels when facing the Sky Blues attackers.

4 CB – Luke O'Nien

Despite receiving a 4/10 rating from Sunderland Echo journalist Phil Smith off the back of his display against Coventry – singled out for his feebleness attempting to thwart Haji Wright in the build-up to the opener – Luke O'Nien will more than likely start again on Boxing Day.

5 LB – Jenson Seelt

Beale will have to think outside of the box as to who he picks in the left-back spot for the Hull game, Niall Huggins stretchered off last match leaving Sunderland with zero fit left-backs owing to Dennis Cirkin still being sidelined with an injury.

Jenson Seelt was utilised by Beale at left-back versus Coventry with Huggins stricken by injury, the Dutchman filling in competently and so will be handed a start in this unfamiliar spot against the Tigers.

6 CDM – Pierre Ekwah

Pierre Ekwah started as the only holding midfielder option in Beale's first lineup as Sunderland head coach, the former Rangers man opting for a 4-1-4-1 formation in his first taste of action in the Black Cats dug-out.

Ekwah should be retained in this spot by the 43-year-old, despite substituting off the midfielder late into the second half.

7 RM – Patrick Roberts

Patrick Roberts' positive display against Coventry wasn't rewarded with a goal or an assist that he desperately longs for, the ex-Celtic winger lively throughout however with four successful dribble attempts and seven ground duels won.

Beale should stick with Roberts for the game away at the Tigers directly after Christmas therefore, hoping the 26-year-old can contribute with a strike or help a teammate out on the way to a win.

8 CM – Dan Neil

Dan Neil also shone in midfield alongside Roberts, even with his team losing 3-0 on a dire day overall.

Neil was involved constantly in passages of play attempting to unlock a determined Sky Blues defence in Saturday's game, amassing 94 touches as a key figure in the middle of the park.

He just couldn't quite muster up another assist or goal despite always being available and eager to receive the ball, hopeful of playing his part still in a Boxing Day victory if selected for the trip to Hull.

9 CM – Jobe Bellingham

With superstar brother Jude Bellingham in the stands for the festive clash against Coventry, Jobe Bellingham wasn't quite at his electric best unfortunately even with his family intently watching on.

The 18-year-old is still not the finished product and will have off-days, frustrated by a resilient opposition defence who blocked all three of his efforts in the game.

10 LM – Jack Clarke

Jack Clarke was another tricky player in the Sunderland midfield for Coventry to cope with, completing their task of nullifying the Black Cats top scorer somewhat unconvincingly despite Clarke firing blanks in the game.

On another day, Clarke would have added to his ten-goal total in the second tier this campaign – hitting three shots on target during a typically lively 90 minutes for the ex-Tottenham Hotspur man.

Football shirts are big business, and fashion has become as big a part of football as having a pie and a pint with your mates. In this modern age, football clubs have to walk the tightrope of making money through sponsorships, but also having a kit that looks good.

In this exploration of iconic football pairings, Football FanCast journeys through time and leagues to uncover the stories behind some of the most memorable alliances.

From Barcelona's historic collaboration with UNICEF during their golden era to PSV Eindhoven's record-breaking bond with Philips, each pairing tells a unique story and has helped to create some of the most memorable shirts in history.

In this list, shirts are ranked by the look on the shirt itself as well as its standing in football culture.

13 Dr Martens West Ham United 1998-2003

Talk about knowing your audience. Dr Martens' sponsorship of West Ham is an almost perfect match; the only way it could have been made any better is if Stone Island made the kits instead of FILA. Paolo Di Canio was stomping about the old Boleyn Ground wearing this, which is very fitting.

The partnership came to an end in 2003, lasting just five years. In that short period of time, the boot company helped make some of the best claret and blue shirts in history, not just for West Ham. Seeing them dotted around the new Olympic Stadium is a throwback to where West Ham came from.

12 Unicef Barcelona 2006-2012

Having previously gone sponsor-less entirely, Barcelona's commitment to the charity UNICEF came at arguably the most successful period of their history. Between the years of 2006-2011, players like Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, and Andres Iniesta were sporting the logo while banging in goals and winning trophies.

"FC Barcelona is highly committed to work with UNICEF to advance the global message of the importance of children's issues and to promote education and sport," said ex-Barcelona director Ramon Pont. The partnership yielded around €19m for the charity, but in the end, money won out, and the Catalan club ditched Unicef for the Qatar Foundation in 2011.

11 Parmalat Parma 1987-2004

From the late 90s to the early 2000s, Parma were a major force in Italian football. Gianluigi Buffon, Hernan Crespo and Fabio Cannavaro were all ripping it up in the picturesque Italian city before the club went bankrupt in 2004. Parmalat, a food and dairy corporation, were with them all the way.

Parma aren't the only football club Paramalat have sponsored, Benfica, Boca Juniors, Palmeiras, and even Real Madrid have had the brand strewn across the front of their shirts. The company sponsored their hometown club as they got promoted to Serie A in 1990.

Interestingly, the period of time Parmalat sponsored Parma also turned out to be when the fraud began. The company is still operating, but it's a shell of its former self, much like Parma Calcio.

10 Philips PSV 1979-2016

PSV and Philips is the only duo on this list to be in the Guinness Book of World Records – it's the longest sponsorship of a sports team in history. The technology company founded the club in 1913 as a pastime for its employees.

The history of both club and sponsor are so deeply interlinked, it would be impossible to imagine one without the other. PSV's ground is called Philips Stadion, which is just a few minutes from the company's headquarters in central Eindhoven. They ended their shirt sponsorship deal in 2016, but Philips still works with the club in other ways.

9 Quilmes Boca Juniors 1994-2002

For good and bad, beer goes hand in hand with football. This won't be the only brewery sponsorship on this list, but it is arguably the coolest. Football hipsters across the globe weep tears of joy when they spot a Quilmes-sponsored Boca shirt out in the wild.

It's Juan Roman Riquelme, it's late-career Diego Maradona, it's La Bombanera going nuts. If you close your eyes and think of a Boca shirt, it probably has Quilmes on the front. The beer is pretty good, too.

8 T-Mobile Bayern Munich 2002-present

Bayern Munich being sponsored by T-Mobile just feels right. Their minimalist, no-nonsense logo suits a club with the ruthless efficiency of Bayern. The partnership started in 2002 and has coincided with a period of unprecedented dominance for the Bavarians.

Bayern have now won 11 Bundesliga titles in a row, and could yet win another without breaking much of a sweat this season (unless Bayer Leverkusen are able to maintain their superb start). T-Mobile are the biggest telecommunication company in Germany, and Bayern are the biggest club. It was meant to be.

7 Carlsberg Liverpool 1992-2010

Fernando Torres' beautiful, long blonde hair blowing in the wind as he runs off to celebrate yet another goal is exactly what comes to mind when we think of Liverpool and Carlsberg. There isn't a better advert than that; in the end, that's what sponsorship is all about.

Although not technically against the rules, alcohol shirt sponsors have dwindled in the UK. There hasn't been a Premier League club sponsored by an alcohol company since 2017/18, they're all betting companies instead now.

6 Opel AC Milan 1994-2006

It's no coincidence that a lot of these sponsors coincide with a very successful time in the club's history. Who remembers the sponsor AC Milan had on their shirt when they were relegated in 1979/80? (They didn't have one, but the point still stands).

When German car manufacturer Opel sponsored AC Milan, Italian football was at its best, and I Rossoneri were the poster boys. Maldini, Kaka and Shevchenko won Champions League with Opel front and centre of their iconic shirts.

5 O2 Arsenal 2002-2006

O2, an iconic sponsor for an iconic club at the most iconic time in its history. Wenger's Invincibles, arguably the best side in Premier League history, won the league title without losing a single game. The Gunners weren't the only ones who struck gold – think of all that sweet, sweet publicity O2 got by being associated with that team.

Arsenal have had their fair share of iconic short sponsors; JVC or Dreamcast could both have easily made this list, but it's hard to look past that famous Henry kneeslide. The partnership ended in 2006, and with it, Arsenal's ability to win Premier Leagues…

Top 10 best games from Arsenal's Invincibles season

Football FanCast takes a look at the best games from their Invincible season.

ByAlex Roberts Dec 7, 2023 4 Vodafone Man Utd 2000-2006

Old Trafford used to be where megastars were made. Becks with his long, dirty blonde hair was pulling in enough sponsorship money that he might end up buying the club if the Glazers ever sell up. Rooney was pre-hair transplant, and Cristiano Ronaldo was a skinny boy with something to prove. All of these players' careers started with Vodafone.

None of us here were privy to what was said in either Vodafone's or O2's boardrooms, but do we think it's a coincidence that two of the country's biggest telecommunications companies sponsored Arsenal and Manchester United at a time when their rivalry was at it's fiercest.

Arsenal are reportedly ready to embrace the January transfer window, as Mikel Arteta aims to deliver the Gunners their first Premier League title since 2004.

The north Londoners came agonisingly close to winning the league last season, however battles with injury and lack of squad depth exposed the weaknesses of Arteta’s side, blemishes that are already showing this term.

The January transfer window will be fundamental for the manager to bolster his squad and combat injury scares without fear, with another title race there for Arsenal to be a part of if form can be maintained for the entirety of the season.

Aside from building depth around the first team, the Gunners could also look to improve their current favoured XI, with a range of positions speculated to be targeted for improvements in the near future.

A report from the Mirror explained that the midfield is Arteta and Edu’s first port of call to strengthen in January, with links also made to a number of forwards to add more of a prolific presence to the already dazzling front line.

Arsenal transfer targets – forwards

One forward that has been named as a potential target at the Emirates is Brentford talisman Ivan Toney, who admitted his admiration for the Gunners during the Diary of a CEO podcast.

The Englishman is claimed to be valued at £100m by the Bees, with a report from the Mirror stating that the west Londoners' valuation of their striker comes in an attempt to ward off Arsenal’s interest.

Last season, the 27-year-old finished third in the Premier League scoring charts behind Erling Haaland and Harry Kane with 20 goals, reinforcing how potent he could be in Arteta’s attack.

Away from England, Football Insider have now suggested another leading target alongside Toney, with the north Londoners having been named as a party interested in Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic.

Earlier this month, Football Transfers claimed that the 23-year-old remains as Arteta’s preferred number nine target, following on from the Gunners’ interest in the forward last January prior to his move to Turin.

In a refreshed report from Italy, as relayed by The Sun, it’s claimed that the Premier League outfit look ‘set to beat’ the likes of Real Madrid to the 6 foot 3 dynamo, with the forward’s price tag said to be in the region of £50m.

With a current market value of €80m (£70m), Arsenal could capture a bargain in signing the Serbian for a lesser price than his value, with Vlahovic possessing a host of attributes that could take the squad to the next level.

Dusan Vlahovic’s career in numbers

With 116 domestic goal contributions in 230 appearances, the Juventus hitman has cemented himself as one of the most potent forwards in Europe following his rise at Fiorentina.

The 2000-born gem scored 44 Serie A goals while with La Viola, with his magnificent 17 goals in 21 appearances by January 2022 luring Juventus to capture his signature last year.

In 45 appearances in 2021/22 representing both Fiorentina and Juve, Vlahovic contributed to 35 goals, scoring 29 and assisting six to announce himself to the European stage.

Despite struggling to hit such levels since that season, the 23-year-old would undoubtedly be a strong signing for the Gunners, with his ability to convert far greater than the current options on show at the Emirates.

Why Dusan Vlahovic would be a good signing for Arsenal

Once lauded as a “goal machine” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Vlahovic’s 2022/23 campaign was disappointing by his standard, scoring only 14 goals in 42 appearances for the Bianconeri.

Former Juventus midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi explained how the reason for the Serbia international’s dip in scoring form is attributed to Juve’s playing style, saying that the team don’t “put him in a position to score” or “create chances”, as relayed by Football Italia.

In the instance that the 23-year-old signed for Arsenal, the issue surrounding the Serie A giant’s negative playing style would dissolve, with the Gunners creating 73 big chances last season in the Premier League.

What the notorious goalscorer could bring to north London is a more reliable presence to lead the line, as communicated in the table below.

Dusan Vlahovic vs Gabriel Jesus career stats
	Dusan Vlahovic	Gabriel Jesus
Age	23	26
Domestic appearances	230	334
Domestic goals	99	131
Highest scoring season	21 Serie A goals 20/21	14 Premier League goals 19/20
Figures via Transfermarkt

Currently, Gabriel Jesus prevails comfortably as Arteta’s favoured number nine, however the Brazilian isn’t as clinical in the final third as one would assume for a striker.

Arriving in the Premier League in 2017, Jesus’ highest scoring tally in a Premier League season is the 14 goals he netted for Manchester City in the 2019/20 campaign, numbers far below the expected levels for a centre-forward.

Despite him shying away from recording show-stopping goal tallies, the 26-year-old offers a host of qualities to Arsenal’s front line aside from putting the ball in the net, making him a difficult player to drop from the team.

How Gabriel Jesus could make room for Dusan Vlahovic

If Arsenal were to sign Vlahovic, the assumption would be that the Serbian would replace Jesus based solely on his more prolific track record in front of goal, although Arteta could opt to utilise both forwards to an even greater effect.

Previously, the manager has opted to play two forwards in a 4-4-2 formation at the Emirates, which has been replicated in play through Martin Odegaard’s ability to assume more advanced positions when play is progressing.

The Spaniard could replicate his past set-ups by fielding Jesus alongside Vlahovic, combining the Brazilian’s creative energy with the 23-year-old’s assured finishing ability.

Gabriel Jesus 22/23 Premier League
Statistic	Average	Rank in squad
Dribbles per game	1.7	1st
Key passes per game	1.2	5th
Shots per game	3	1st
Aerials won per game	1.7	4th
Figures via WhoScored

As portrayed in the table above, Jesus supplied a constant threat and energy in Arsenal’s front line last season, with his movement and relentless desire to be in possession making him an essential outlet in Arteta’s side.

If paired with Vlahovic, the manager could reap the benefits of the four-time Premier League without the pressure of him being the sole leader of the line and more of a playmaker than the summit of the squad.

Fuelling the strengths that the Brazil international consistently showcases at the Emirates could be a smart move for Arteta, who could also play a part in reviving Vlahovic’s proficiency in front of goal by providing him with a creative asset as complete as Jesus.

Only time will tell how serious the Gunners are in battling to secure the Juventus star’s signature, particularly if his form fails to kick start throughout the remainder of 2023.

Chris Tremain’s third five-wicket haul of the Sheffield Shield season helped Victoria dismantle Tasmania on day one of the clash at Bellerive in Hobart.After being sent in to bat by Victorian captain Peter Handscomb, the Tigers were bowled out for 81 in just 29.5 overs.Tremain picked up three of the first four wickets of the innings trapping Alex Doolan in front, getting Jordan Silk caught at point with a sliced drive and finding Beau Webster’s outside edge to leave the home side 4 for 34.James Pattinson and Scott Boland also got in on the act. Pattinson picked up three scalps of his own in a brisk five-over spell while Boland claimed Jake Doran and the crucial scalp of Matthew Wade.Tremain returned to claim the last two wickets of the innings including Australia’s Test captain Tim Paine.Victoria were in early trouble at 2 for 21 in reply after Travis Dean was run out and Handscomb nicked a superb delivery from Gurinder Sandhu. Marcus Harris failed to capitalise on a start edging an attempted cut off Riley Meredith.Cameron White steadied with a calming half-century. His patient 63 from 121 balls featured just five boundaries but put Victoria in control. He got good support from Seb Gotch who remained 23 not out at close and will look to build a significant lead early on day two with the help of Victoria’s lower order.

Pakistan’s batsmen need to step up and take greater responsibility. That was the short, sharp message their captain Sarfraz Ahmed had for them ahead of the first of two Tests against Australia in the UAE.It may as well be taken as a timeless message, appropriate for almost any era of Pakistan history, but it could hold greater resonance in this time, when they’re still scrambling to fill some mighty gaps.Their have been a couple of good days post-MisYou; the very first time they batted, in Abu Dhabi last year; and as fine an away batting performance in difficult conditions as they have managed in years at Lord’s. In and around those, however, have been some scary days; the final day in Abu Dhabi; all of Leeds ; even Malahide had its peek-through-fingers moments.And though it may seem that inexperienced, spin-naïve Australian batsmen vs Pakistani spin is the defining narrative of this series, it could well turn on how a vastly-improved Nathan Lyon goes against a batting order without two of his greatest tormentors from four years ago.Younis and Misbah swept Lyon to irrelevance then, his three wickets costing 140.66, his 110 overs ceding nearly four an over. But in India and Bangladesh, Lyon has expanded his range and Pakistan, never as good against spin as the stereotype had it, a little less good now.”We played against Nathan Lyon in 2014, and at the moment we see he is a different bowler,” Sarfraz acknowledged. “He has lots of wickets in Asia. So we have a plan in the batting and hopefully we will execute well against him in the match.”None of the other broader batting issues are unfamiliar though. There’s still no settled opening pair at hand – Mohammad Hafeez being back, as a kind of horses-for-courses opener, should tell you that much. Azhar Ali has dropped off ever so slightly from his 2016 self. Asad Shafiq has not stepped up decisively.”Batsmen need to take responsibility,” Sarfraz said. “In the past, our batsmen have always scored the runs and put the team in strong positions. Now our batsmen haven’t been able to convert their starts.”Hopefully, they will be able to do that in this series. Our batsmen have really worked hard in the practice sessions. When we get the opportunity, hopefully we will be able to score big.”He should consider himself within the ambit of that edict. It’s been some time since he played the kind of game-breaking innings that set him up for leadership. It’s been some time since he scored any kind of runs, just three fifties in his last 14 innings, and one in nine innings as Test captain.Given that runs are the true currency for a Pakistani captain (Misbah-ul-Haq, by contrast, had seven fifties in his first nine innings as Test captain), it has been a difficult year for Sarfraz.”That was my first Test series last year. I have learned a lot in this one year obviously. We did make some mistakes last year because of which we suffered. But now we have learned from them and my aim is to take the team forward. Our first target is to perform well in these two Test matches and win the series.”