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The intrigue at what he could do demanded we know more, but delivering the ball was only part of it

Shannon Gill12-Mar-2022Shane Warne was born in 1969, the year the world gathered around televisions to watch the moon land. The year he started primary school colour television came to Australia. These two events coronated television as the dominant cultural force in Australia for the next 30 years. They’re also neat coincidences because this environment shaped, and then showcased, Shane Warne as the customised sporting star made for Australian television.He was a child of television’s golden era, his own populist aesthetic of loud, flashy but still endearing was exactly how television presented in the late 70s, 80s and into the 90s. Happy Days characters, Countdown-era pop, and references to gross out comedy flicks seemed permanently imprinted on his brain, evident through his commentary and social media feeds. And while television informed the kitsch pop culture lens he saw the world through, it was also the medium made for the bowling that would enchant the world.If World Series Cricket was the television revolution that transformed the game, appropriately given it was some of Warne’s first cricket memories, it only reached its full potential as a TV product when Warne arrived.For all the thrill of fast bowling, it’s a skill most appreciated in person, and in retrospect 1980s broadcasts did not offer many layers to the blur of pace.Related

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• Shane Warne gave us so much and he had so much more to give

Warne offered something very different, his simple grip and delivery stride allowed you to watch the ball out of his hand at its slower pace, follow its trajectory and then its bounce and spin. It didn’t matter if you’d played hundreds of games of cricket or were a novice, understanding that Warne had magic was simple because it all played out so clearly in front of you. There’s not been a pace ‘ball of the century’ to rival the Gatting ball, because apart from it being simply astounding, it allows time for the dip, swerve and turn to be savoured by television viewers. It’s a three-part act that no other type of bowling, or bowler, can rival.Within 12 months of Warne’s emergence as a bona fide superstar the then Australian Cricket Board was attempting to extricate itself from the PBL strait jacket and allow itself to sell its television rights for their true worth. Just in the nick of time it now had a beacon that would draw droves to their TV sets, and the board was rewarded handsomely when it sold the rights back to Channel 9 unencumbered.4:34

Mark Nicholas remembers Shane Warne

Warne’s role in that and the future financial riches that would tumble in cricket coffers over the next 25 years cannot be underestimated, because Warne was the most accessible bowler on television we’d seen.He was the magician who didn’t use a handkerchief to hide his tricks, your eyes saw it all unfold. It was why, as many have said this week and for years prior, you could not look away from a Warne bowling spell.While fast bowlers can bang the ball into the pitch in a whir that can over upon over look almost identical to the untrained eye, every Warne ball was an unfolding event. The child of television knew you had to have plot twists to keep people interested, so what would he bowl next? Each over was a new television episode, and for the 90s and first half of the 2000s it was the most popular show on the box.If television innovations like super slo-mo and spin-vision in the mid-90s were not created because of Warne, they were made essential to broadcasts by his presence. Now we could watch in greater definition, slower, the revolutions of the ball visible and the magic closer. The intrigue at what he could do demanded we know more, but delivering the ball was only part of it.Dennis Lillee captured the hearts and minds of Warne’s generation with television close-ups of his theatrical wiping of the brow and appealing. Whether it was deliberate or subconscious, Warne turned the Lillee approach up to ten. If every over was a television episode, the facial reactions and exaggerated body language were just as important as the balls themselves.There was also theatre when Shane Warne bowled•Getty ImagesThe close ups of his oohing and aahing with the blonde hair and earrings completed the package. He to stand out on TV like his idols, sporting and otherwise. It played a part in one of his most infamous scandals, his explanation for taking the diuretic pill that resulted in a 12-month ban was that he wanted to lose weight to “look good on television”.This was all indicative of a man who, while sometimes sensitive to the criticism that came with it, seemed more at home in the TV spotlight than any Australian sports star before or after. It’s why he never left the spotlight.After retiring from international cricket, he came back to the BBL where he was essentially a playing commentator. From there he globetrotted the world as a constant commentary presence on screen. He even had a go at hosting a tonight show, which you suspect is what he would have ultimately loved doing most; Warnie talking about all the things other than cricket that he liked.He completed the television experience by acting as a Shane Warne impersonator in the Australian sitcom , a show that satirised and celebrated the characters’ low-brow suburban tastes, most of which were based on what they saw on television. If that and the jokes about texting weren’t meta enough, Warne was one of those tastes. He was unashamedly a kindred spirit of Kath and Kim.And now amidst a pall of sadness there’s some solace to be found that will become more prescient as the years go on.Less than three months before his passing Warne released a made-for-TV documentary that most significantly revealed to the public the dedication and love in his relationship with his children. The man made for television had unknowingly left us with a perfectly wrapped package of his extraordinary life for the small screen. Like the Gatting ball, we’ll watch this final episode time and time again, just the way he would have liked it.

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Cássio voltou a ser criticado por falhar na derrota do Corinthians para o Argentinos Juniors, nesta terça-feira (23), pela Sul-Americana, e desabafou sobre sua situação no clube. O goleiro, inclusive, falou em deixar o Timão.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão

➡️ A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

Ele deixou claro que está cansado de ser considerado um dos principais culpados pelo momento ruim da equipe treinada por António Oliveira. Cássio não se eximiu das falhas, mas afirmou que a cobrança passou dos limites.

– A cobrança faz parte. Mas passam dos limites das coisas, da falta de respeito. Esse ano saíram um monte de jogadores, mais velhos. Eu fiquei, um dos mais velhos, sabia que a cobrança seria grande. Errei em alguns gols? Errei sim. Mas é isso, tudo de errado do Corinthians parece que é minha culpa. Eu sou o culpado de tudo. Se eu sou o culpado, de repente é melhor eu sair e seguir meu caminho – disse, em entrevista à Espn.

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Cássio quer que o início de temporada ruim do Corinthians sirva de aprendizado para a temporada e explicou que, para ele, também está difícil a situação atual. O goleiro também reforçou o cansaço de ser considerado o culpado pelo momento delicado do Timão.

➡️ Raul Gustavo é expulso por agressão a bandeirinha; VEJA

– Eu vou estar aí, sou o capitão do time. Não me eximo de erros. O treinador e o presidente decidem, se eu tiver atrapalhando o Corinthians, se não estiver agradando… Para mim está muito difícil também. Na verdade, tudo de mal que acontece com o Corinthians sempre sobra para mim. Time não faz gol, é culpa do Cássio. Time não joga bem, é culpa do Cássio. Tenho humildade em saber quando eu erro. É um momento difícil. Tem muita coisa pela frente, esse começo de temporada tem que servir de aprendizado. Estamos nessa situação e temos que tentar sair – concluiu.

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O Corinthians, de Cássio, perdeu a liderança do grupo na Sul-Americana, após a derrota por 1 a 0 para os reservas do Argentinos Juniors. Agora, o Timão jogará no domingo (28), contra o Fluminense.

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Cássio Roberto RamosCorinthians

Manchester United managed to return to winning ways in the Premier League last night, after a dominant 4-1 thrashing of bottom-placed side Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Ruben Amorim’s men produced one of their best performances of the campaign to date, to put themselves into sixth place and just a point off the top four.

Hearts will no doubt have been in the mouths of all supporters at the break, after Jean-Ricner Bellegarde ensured the game was level going into the break.

However, three goals in the second half secured a seventh league victory of the 2025/26 campaign for the Red Devils – now extending their run to just one loss in the last nine outings.

One player deserves massive credit for his showing at Molineux on Monday night, with the first-team member massively excelling during the well-deserved triumph.

Bruno Fernandes’ stats against Wolves

Bruno Fernandes has often struggled throughout the ongoing campaign, as Amorim has decided to utilise him in a deeper-lying midfield role rather than the number ten position.

It’s required the Portuguese international to think more defensively, which has no doubt had an effect on his output within the final third in the Premier League.

However, his showing against Rob Edwards’ men was arguably his best of the season to date, with the 31-year-old notching two goals and an assist in the triumph.

Such a tally takes him to 10 combined goals and assists in his first 15 appearances of the season, but it was his underlying figures that highlighted his impressive display.

He featured for the entirety of the contest and registered 55 completed passes, whilst creating five chances for his teammates – with both the highest of any player in the meeting.

Bruno also completed 12 passes into the final third, and only misplaced eight passes in total, further highlighting his incredible performance with the ball at his feet.

However, without the ball, the midfielder was just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 100% tackles won, seven recoveries made and a total of five combined aerials and ground duels won.

The United player who is as undroppable as Bruno

As seen by his tally of 15 starts out of a possible 15 in 2025/26, there’s little denying that Bruno is undroppable and certainly one of Amorim’s most important players.

Numerous other players are starting to force themselves into such a bracket, with Bryan Mbeumo just one player who should be a starter week in and week out.

The Cameroonian international netted once again in the clash in the West Midlands, subsequently taking his league tally to six this campaign – the most of any player in the squad.

He registered four shots on target against the hosts, whilst also completing two dribbles – largely being a menace to the Wolves backline during the victory last night.

However, the backline has been a cause for concern over the last couple of weeks, especially with the absence of centre-back Matthijs de Ligt in the last two matches.

As a result, youngster Ayden Heaven has been thrown in at the deep end, but he’s managed to impress – with his showing at Molineux certainly one to remember.

It was just his second start of the season, but the 19-year-old appeared unfazed and produced numerous impressive figures that could make him undroppable within the manager’s current side.

The teenager registered 36 passes during his minutes on the pitch, subsequently achieving a completion rate of 100% – the highest of any player who started the match.

Minutes played

69

Touches

49

Passes completed

36

Pass accuracy

100%

Blocks made

1

Clearances made

7

Duels won

100%

Fouls won

2

He also made seven clearances, three of which were with his head, whilst making three recoveries, which enabled him to be in the right place at the right time when called upon.

Heaven’s dominance at the heart of the three-man defence was further highlighted by his impressive tally of six combined duels won – also at a success rate of 100%.

It’s no mean feat for such a young defender to start in the middle of a Premier League defence, but Heaven has made it look routine over the last couple of weeks.

Given his tender age, expectations will no doubt need to be managed by Amorim, but it is certainly hard not to get excited by the youngster after his showing at Molineux.

He’s certainly done enough to cement his place in the starting eleven for the run-up to Christmas, potentially being a huge asset for the club in their hunt for Premier League glory in the years ahead.

Bad news for Mainoo: INEOS make £70m "passing machine" Man Utd’s no.1 target

Man United’s need for a new centre-midfielder is as pressing as ever.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 8, 2025

Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to 10-man Everton in the Premier League on Monday night highlights the job Ruben Amorim still has on his hands at Old Trafford.

Kiernan Drewsbury-Hall’s effort in the first half was enough to secure all three points for David Moyes’ men, which will no doubt leave the Red Devils boss scratching his head.

His men spent 77 minutes with a one-man advantage, but none of his first-team squad could pop up with the goods to extend their unbeaten run in England’s top-flight.

Despite spending £200m on a new attacking trio over the summer, the Red Devils looked largely toothless in front of goal, as seen by their tally of 100% big chances missed.

However, the manager will desperately want added reinforcements in the upcoming January window to aid him in his quest for success during his time at Old Trafford.

United’s hunt for added attacking signings in January

Over the last couple of weeks, Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo has been identified as just one player whom United are targeting for the January transfer window.

The Ghanaian international has been in remarkable form during the early stages of 2025/26, with the winger already netting six goals and three assists in just 11 appearances for the Cherries.

However, Amorim’s men aren’t alone in the pursuit of the 25-year-old, with Arsenal and Liverpool just two other top-flight clubs seeking a £65m move for his signature.

He’s not the only player on the Red Devils’ shortlist, with Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior a player who INEOS are potentially considering a move for in the coming months.

According to The Mirror, the Brazilian international could leave the LaLiga giants in the coming months, with the forward having just 19 months left on his current deal – leading to keen interest from the Red Devils.

It also states his recent bust-up with senior members at the Bernabeu could see them cash in on his services to avoid losing him for nothing in the near future.

How Vinicius Junior compares to Bryan Mbeumo

As part of their £200m spending spree in the summer, United forked out a reported £71m on the services of forward Bryan Mbeumo from fellow Premier League side Brentford.

The Cameroonian generated huge excitement within the Red Devils fanbase after netting 20 times in the league last season, with the 26-year-old already making an excellent start to life at Old Trafford.

He’s already netted five goals in his first 12 league outings for the club, with such a tally currently making him the top goalscorer within Amorim’s squad.

However, his showing against Everton yesterday was one to forget, with the attacker struggling to provide the goods amid the absence of Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha.

Mbeumo was only able to register a single effort on target whilst also failing to complete any of his three attempted dribbles – further highlighting his lack of impact in the final third.

There’s no doubt he’s been a shrewd addition to date, but ultimately, he hasn’t been able to get near the levels produced by Vinicius during his opening matches in LaLiga.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats this campaign, the Brazilian has massively outperformed Mbeumo – showcasing why he’d be a better addition for the Red Devils.

Vinicius, who’s been dubbed the “best in the world” by Thierry Henry, has racked up more combined goals and assists this season – subsequently handing Amorim a more threatening option in front of goal.

He’s also registered more key passes and more passes into the final third per 90, with such numbers allowing those around him to be on the end of more chances in attacking areas.

Games played

13

12

Goals & assists

9

6

Progressive carries

8.9

2.8

Progressive passes

4.8

2.7

Pass accuracy

80%

73%

Key passes

2.9

1.7

Passes into final third

1.9

1.5

Take-on success

38%

33%

Carries into final third

2.9

1.9

The Brazilian’s all-round dominance over Mbeumo is further highlighted in his higher take-on success and greater tally of carries into the final third per 90, which showcases his ability to go alone when needed.

A player of Vini Jr’s quality would cost a small fortune in today’s market, with such a move likely to break the club’s current transfer record of £89m paid for Paul Pogba.

However, it would be a deal worth every penny, with the winger having all of the tools to take the United frontline to the next level for many years to come under Amorim’s guidance.

Not just Zirkzee: Man Utd man who was among the 'world's best' must be axed

Manchester United’s flaws were brutally exposed in Monday’s dismal defeat to Everton.

ByRobbie Walls Nov 25, 2025

While the draw on Sunday was less than ideal, this season is shaping up to be a special one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side have looked imperious in the Champions League, winning all five games, and are far and away the best team in the Premier League.

While the whole squad has played a role in the Gunners’ incredible form, one player who has been one of the most important has undoubtedly been Declan Rice.

In the words of creator Jamie Kent, the Englishman is looking like “the best midfielder in Europe,” and therefore, fans should be excited about reports linking Arsenal to someone who could be their new Rice.

Arsenal target their new Rice

The transfer window is now less than a month away, and, as a result, Arsenal are starting to be linked with a host of tremendously exciting players.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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Real Madrid’s incredible £70m Rodrygo, for example, has once again been touted for a move to the Emirates, as has Bayern Munich’s £100m+ Michael Olise.

However, while both of these wingers would help to raise the Gunners’ ceiling, neither could really be described as being Rice-esque, unlike Eduardo Camavinga.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in signing the Real Madrid monster.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Chelsea and Liverpool are keen on the French international, who is valued at €80m by the Spanish giants, which is about £70m.

It could therefore be a costly and rather complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Camavinga’s immense ability, Arsenal should be pursuing him, especially as he could be another Rice.

Why Camavinga would be another Rice for Arsenal

So, the first and most obvious similarity between Rice and Camavinga is the fact that they are midfielders who can and have played as a six and an eight in recent years.

Moreover, the pair of them are currently plying their trade at two huge clubs, and while Real Madrid is less important to his team than the Englishman, he’s still racked up 194 appearances for them in which he’s provided 16 goal involvements.

The last clear comparison between them at this point is that they’re both regulars for a top international team as well.

For example, the former Stade Rennes star has now won 28 senior caps for France and featured in the last Euros and World Cup.

Now, it’s all of these reasons that the 23-year-old could become another Rice-type player for the Gunners, in addition to the fact that, when playing, he is a sensational talent and someone who could massively improve the team’s midfield options in a way the former West Ham United captain did when he arrived in 2023.

Don’t just take our word for it, though; Madrid manager Xabi Alonso has described the versatile international as someone with “enormous potential”, and his underlying numbers back that opinion up.

According to FBref, the Cabinda-born “war machine,” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for tackles and tackles won, the top 4% for blocks, the top 8% for progressive carrying distance and more, all per 90.

Camavinga’s Scout Report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

Tackles

4.19

Top 1%

Tackles Won

2.72

Top 1%

Tkl+Int

5.44

Top 1%

Blocks

1.87

Top 4%

Goals/Shot on Target

0.67

Top 5%

Passes Blocked

1.42

Top 6%

Pass Completion %

90.8%

Top 6%

Progressive Carrying Distance

122.51

Top 8%

Passes into Final Third

6.40

Top 12%

Successful Take-Ons

1.13

Top 12%

All Stats via FBref

Add to that the fact he has helped Los Blancos win two La Liga titles, two Champions League titles and a smattering of other cups, and it’s hard to disagree with the notion he’s one of the best midfielders in Europe.

Ultimately, Camavinga already shares plenty of similarities with Rice, and were Arsenal to sign him, he could have a similar transformational impact on the midfield.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 2, 2025

The National Baseball Hall of Fame has announced its inductees for the class of 2025. Three players are set to be enshrined in Cooperstown in this year's class: Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner.

Ichiro received 99.7% of the vote, meaning just one Hall of Fame voter left him off their ballot. As such, former New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera remains the only player to ever get the nod from 100% of voters.

A legendary outfielder and one of baseball's most unique hitters, Ichiro was a one-time AL MVP, a 10-time All-Star, 10-time Gold Glove winner and two-time batting champ. He collected 3,089 hits in his 19-year career, despite not debuting in MLB until the age of 27. He becomes the first Asian-born player inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Sabathia, one of the all-time great left-handed pitchers, racked up 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts in his illustrious career for the New York Yankees, Cleveland and the Milwaukee Brewers. He ends his career as a Cy Young winner, a six-time All-Star and a World Series champion, and now, a Hall of Famer.

Both Sabathia and Ichiro got in on their first year of eligibility.

Wagner was one of the most dominant relief pitchers in history, racking up 422 saves across a 16-year career that saw him make seven All-Star teams. 2025 was his final year on the ballot, but he made it into the Hall of Fame nonetheless.

Just missing out on the 75% requirement this year included Carlos Beltran (70.3%) and Andruw Jones (66.2%). This was Beltran's third year on the ballot and Jones's eighth.

As Arsenal have improved in recent seasons under Mikel Arteta, supporters have had to come to terms with moving on from beloved players.

When the team was underperforming, it is easy for fans to say good riddance to players they felt no attachment to, naming no names, but this has not been the case in the last three years as the Gunners have challenged for the Premier League title again.

For example, Hale End graduates Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah struggled for minutes during their final season at the club before being sold.

Meantime, when Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus arrived from Manchester City, they changed everything, elevating the standards and improving the team but, once Arsenal reached Man City’s level, the pair became surplus to requirements.

Former number one, Aaron Ramsdale, was another who was ruthlessly thrown to one side, Arteta favouring David Raya instead.

So now, is one of the most popular members of the current squad in danger of becoming the latest player phased out by Arteta?

Aaron Ramsdale's rise and fall at Arsenal

When Ramsdale joined Arsenal from Sheffield United for around £30m in the summer of 2021, there was much bemusement about the signing; why were the club paying such a huge amount for a guy who’d been relegated in both of the last two seasons?

Well, the young Englishman would quickly prove everybody wrong, usurping Bernd Leno as number one four games into the season, starting 76 consecutive Premier League games thereafter.

Ramsdale was a key figure in Arsenal’s first title challenge, thereby named in the 2022/23 PFA Team of the Year, alongside teammates William Saliba, Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka.

The goalkeeper was therefore rewarded with a new contract, in which he emotionally discussed how he feels the love from the supporters, stating that he could not imagine calling anywhere else home.

Well, a matter of weeks later, Raya had arrived, quickly dislodging Ramsdale as number one, with the Englishman making just 11 appearances in 2023/24, three of which came against Brentford with Raya ineligible, before being sold to Southampton.

When Raya was signed, few Gooners were onboard with this, having taken Ramsdale to their hearts, but ultimately Arteta has been proved right, with the Spaniard keeping 45 clean sheets in 105 appearances for the club, a feat the boss described as “unbelievable”, adding “I was hammered when I brought him”.

So, is another beloved player in danger of following in Ramsdale’s footsteps and being reluctantly sold?

Arsenal star in danger of becoming Ramsdale 2.0

So far this season, Riccardo Calafiori has started all seven Premier League matches at left-back, thereby consigning Myles Lewis-Skelly to the bench.

Thus, the 19-year-old’s only starts to date have come against Port Vale and Olympiacos, seeing just 83 minutes across five substitute cameos in the league.

Last season was very much Lewis-Skelly’s breakout year; on 8 October 2024, he was starting for the U21s against Milton Keynes in the EFL Trophy in front of 2,427 before, six months later, starting both legs of Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid and then the semi-finals against Paris Saint-Germain.

This led to Adam Keys labelling him a “sensational talent” while club insider, Hand of Arsenal, even suggested that people at Colney believe he is a “future captain”. The table below underlines his importance last season.

Minutes

2,303

13th

Completed passes

946

9th

Pass completion %

91.2%

2nd

Progressive passes

95

9th

Shot-creating actions

43

11th

% of dribblers tackled

87.5%

1st

Ball recoveries

75

11th

Touches

1203

12th

As the table rubberstamps, despite the fact he did not make his first Premier League start until 14 December against Everton, Lewis-Skelly was a pivotal figure for Arsenal, with only Saliba completing a higher percentage of his passes, also ranking highly for defensive metrics too, memorably scoring his first senior goal during the demolition of Manchester City.

So, why has he fallen down the pecking order this time round?

Well, Arteta has stated that “sometimes it’s form, sometimes it’s the fact that we want to do certain things in relation to the opposition”.

Despite this lack of club minutes, Lewis-Skelly has been called up by Thomas Tuchel, having started England’s 2-0 win over Andorra at Villa Park last month, hoping for more minutes against Wales at Wembley on Thursday and then Latvia next week.

Tuchel himself has expressed his concern about the teenager’s lack of club minutes, but is this a major issue long-term?

Well, Calafiori has certainly proved himself to be very injury prone, both since arriving at Arsenal and before; the beginning of this season is the first time he’s started seven successive league matches since February 2024.

Also, the Gunners will be hoping to play as many as 65 matches this season across all competitions, so there will be plenty of opportunities for Lewis-Skelly who, just like Ramsdale, signed a new contract in the summer, but will be hoping to avoid a similarly abrupt ending to his Arsenal career. For now, however, he’s been surprisingly bumped down the pecking order, just as the goalkeeper was.

Arsenal sold Hale End's answer to Gyokeres for £4m, now he's worth 464% more

As Viktor Gyökeres continues to find his feet at Arsenal, did the Gunners sell their own home grown version for just £4m, now worth 464% more?

Oct 6, 2025

Russell Martin’s tenure at Glasgow Rangers looks like it could be a short one, as there are already rumblings about him being removed from the role.

Earlier in the month, The I Paper’s chief football correspondent, Daniel Storey, wrote about how the 49ers Enterprises were at Ibrox and saw “the poor fare, they heard the boos, and they will not have missed the banners of dissent”, which would likely have had an effect on their thoughts around Martin.

Since then, things haven’t improved at Rangers as they remain winless in the Scottish Premiership, and their only wins have come in the Scottish League Cup.

With the situation nearly becoming untenable, the board may soon start to look at a previous managerial candidate to fill the role, should they give Martin the boot.

Rangers could look to recreate Celtic's Postecoglou's success

As per The Daily Record journalist Gavin Berry, one of the candidates that could be top of the list if Martin leaves is Kevin Muscat:

Muscat’s career thus far has followed a similar trajectory to that of Postecoglou’s, where he started in Australia and has now moved on to the Asian Leagues. The similarities go even further with both coaches having tenures at Melbourne Victory and Yokohama F. Marinos, with Muscat taking over from Postecoglou at both clubs.

Muscat is currently at the Chinese club Shanghai Port FC, where he has won both the Chinese FA Cup and the Chinese Super Cup.

Martin vs Postecoglou and why Muscat is the best candidate

Martin and Postecoglou had very different styles of play when managing in Scotland, and at the moment, it seems like the new Nottingham Forest manager’s style better fits the Scottish Premiership.

At Southampton, Martin’s style of play focused on playing out from the back and dominating possession. With a Premier League-quality side in the Championship, they were able to dominate games and secure promotion, but when they were promoted and were one of the weaker teams in the league, the tactic was ineffective.

When Martin was appointed to Rangers, it was speculated that he might be able to recreate the dominance he found in the Championship, but this has yet to happen.

Postecoglou’s method also saw his side with a high level of possession, but with a much higher line and greater attacking output. This saw his Celtic side average 2.3 points a game during his time there, leading to his winning the domestic treble. Muscat’s career may have been influenced by Postecoglou, and his sides have demonstrated the same attacking ethos.

Based on this, Postecoglou’s style of play seems to be the better one for the Scottish Premiership, so if they do decide to sack Martin, then Muscat and his attacking tactics would be the best possible replacement.

If there is one area of the pitch where David Moyes has improved Everton at the start of this season compared to the start of the previous campaign, it is in front of goal.

Seven games into the 2024/25 season, the Toffees had struggled to find the back of the net.

According to Understat, they’d scored seven goals in the same number of games under Sean Dyche. Yet, this term under the tutelage of Moyes, they have already scored nine goals, with more points to their name.

Goals are coming from the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and Jack Grealish, but Moyes will be hoping strikers Beto and Thierno Barry can kickstart their campaign soon enough.

Barry and Beto’s start to the season

There are certainly different expectations that surround Beto and summer signing Barry. The Hill Dickinson Stadium may expect more frequent goals from the former, whereas their summer signing from Villarreal deserves more time.

Starting with Barry’s form this term, he has yet to find the back of the net in nine appearances for the club so far. To caveat that, the France under-21 international has only played 314 minutes in those games, equalling just 3.4 full 90-minute games.

Given the time it can take for a player of his inexperience to adapt to the Premier League, it is hard to criticise him.

Beto, on the other hand, could well be deserving of more criticism. At 27 years of age, he could certainly be considered the elder statesman of the two centre-forwards, but has just two goals in nine appearances this term.

Only one of those strikes has come in the Premier League, with Grealish setting him up to score thanks to a wonderful headed cross away to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Yet, he has certainly left a little to be desired, and has now gone four consecutive starts without a goal, playing 45 minutes in all of those.

It is a conundrum for Moyes. He needs goals to come from centre-forward, although the man to do that might be an outside-of-the-box alternative.

Moyes’ Barry and Beto alternative

At the moment, solving the issues that the Toffees strikers are having in front of goal is not an immediate concern for Moyes. After all, they are scoring from other areas of the pitch, with Ndiaye the chief goal-getter at the moment.

But, eventually, the Scot is going to want to fix the issue. With no other natural number nine in the squad, he may have to get creative. One player who could slot in up front is summer signing Carlos Alcaraz.

The Argentine attacker is no stranger to leading the line. He’s done it nine times in his career, according to Transfermarkt, scoring and assisting two goals each from that area.

He’s a number 10 by trade, and is used to getting into the box and on the end of crosses.

In his short Everton career so far, the 22-year-old has only ever operated in attacking midfield, a little deeper as a number eight, and on each flank.

That has been to some degree of success, though; Alcaraz has bagged three goals and has three assists in just 23 Toffees appearances so far.

The “special” forward, as football scout Antonio Mango described him, actually scored on his first start for the club last February.

The strike came away to Crystal Palace, where he showed good instinct in the penalty area to pounce on a loose ball and fire home from 10 yards.

He can be a real thorn in the side of Everton’s opponents, that is for sure. The underlying stats from last season in the top flight highlight his high shot on target total per 90 minutes, with 1.4, which ranks him in the top 2% of Premier League attackers.

He can usually cause goals out of nowhere, too. The 22-year-old notched up 0.7 goal-creating actions each game last season, placing him in the top 7%.

Goals and assists

0.58

82nd

Shots on target

1.4

98th

Shots on target %

44.4%

87th

Passes into penalty area

2.21

88th

Goal-creating actions

0.7

93rd

There is certainly evidence to suggest that experimenting with Alacaraz up top could work well for Moyes. The Argentine attacker can be a nuisance in forward areas, and knows where the back of the net is.

It would be a bold call if the Toffees boss was to go down this route, but, it could certainly benefit his side in the short-term.

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