Man Utd: Ten Hag must ditch Mount for "world class" gem

Manchester United suffered yet another Champions League defeat, this time to Galatasaray and the 3-2 loss represents the first time that the Red Devils have lost their first two matches in the competition.

Erik ten Hag is under pressure, there is no doubt about it and with a Premier League fixture coming up against Brentford on the weekend, he will task his side with improving otherwise they could slip to their fifth league defeat of the season and it's only October.

There were only a couple of shining lights in midweek. Rasmus Hojlund scored two goals and he has looked at ease on the European stage which will give Ten Hag confidence he could repeat these performances domestically.

Rasmus Hojlund

Bruno Fernandes also tried to make a difference, making two key passes while succeeding with four of his six dribble attempts and winning seven out of ten ground duels, which suggested he was keen on making an impact.

The majority of the side were poor, however, and Mason Mount failed to showcase why Ten Hag shelled out £60m for his services.

How did Mason Mount perform vs Galatasaray?

The Englishman has played just five times for the club so far and managed to record only one assist, hardly earth-shattering numbers.

Against the Turkish outfit, the 24-year-old was rather ineffective while being deployed on the left of a three-man midfield, a slightly deeper position than he is used to.

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Indeed, the former Chelsea man completed just 30 passes during his time on the pitch, while failing to score despite having four shots in total.

Mount didn’t even attempt a dribble while he won just two of the nine duels he contested and these statistics indicate that he didn’t quite enjoy the finest of performances.

Ten Hag should consider a change for the weekend, with Christian Eriksen being unleashed in the starting XI against his former club.

Will Christian Eriksen start for Manchester United vs Brentford?

The Dane came on at half-time for Hannibal Mejbri and took almost the same amount of touches as Mount did despite playing nearly 45 minutes fewer (48 to 49), while he managed to make three key passes compared to zero for Mount and completed 29 passes, again just one fewer than the one-time Derby County gem.

Christian Eriksen

Eriksen hasn’t quite been at the races so far this season, receiving a Sofascore rating of 6.9 which ranks him 13th across the United squad in the Premier League, but he does have one goal and one assist to his name and this metric ranks him third, proving that his attacking talents haven’t deserted him.

The £150k-per-week gem has previously been dubbed as a “world class player” by former Manchester City forward Craig Bellamy and there is no doubt he could make the difference against the Bees should he be given a chance.

When compared to his positional peers in Europe's top five leagues, the 31-year-old ranks in the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90 (3.96) while also ranking in the top 2% for assists per 90 (0.32) across the previous 12 months and if he recaptures this type of form in the next few weeks, United may begin to win a few matches.

Four new teams in the ICC's ODI rankings

Scotland, UAE, Netherlands and Nepal, the four latest teams to gain ODI status, have been integrated into the ranking system

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jun-2018The four latest teams to gain ODI status have been integrated into the ICC team rankings for ODIs, effective June 1, 2018. Scotland and United Arab Emirates (UAE) have slotted into 13th and 14th places respectively, while Netherlands and Nepal will be added after they’ve played four more ODIs (teams need to play a minimum number of ODIs to get a ranking). The addition of these teams did not affect the standings of the 12 Test-playing nations above them on the table.The ICC ODI rankings

1 England (125 points)

2 India (122)

3 South Africa (113)

4 New Zealand (112)

5 Australia (104)

6 Pakistan (102)

7 Bangladesh (93)

8 Sri Lanka (77)

9 West Indies (69)

10 Afghanistan (63)

11 Zimbabwe (55)

12 Ireland (38)

13 Scotland (28)

14 UAE (18)

Netherlands secured ODI status by winning the World Cricket League Championship last year, while Scotland, Nepal and UAE earned ODI status by finishing as the leading Associates (along with Netherlands) at the World Cup Qualifier 2018.The introduction of these four teams means that any matches they play against each other or the 12 other ODI teams now count for rating points, which will influence their ranking. The initial rankings for the four new teams are based on games played – under various criteria – since May 2015. For all teams on the rankings, matches played between 1 May, 2015, and 30 April, 2017, will be weighted at 50%, while matches played after 1 May, 2017, will be weighted at 100%.

Spurs: Tottenham could pay "serious" money for two club stars

Tottenham Hotspur can pay "serious" money to sign two stars from the same club for manager Ange Postecoglou, according to reports.

Who have Tottenham signed in 2023?

On the field, Spurs supporters have enjoyed an absolutely thrilling ride under their new head coach. The north Londoners have showcased a new style of attack-minded football during Postecoglou's early tenure, coming after their regrettable eras under Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte. Chairman Daniel Levy, in a show of faith, backed his boss with seven major signings over the 2023 summer transfer window (not including permanent deals for Dejan Kulusevski and Pedro Porro).

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, defender Micky van de Ven, England star James Maddison, winger Brennan Johnson, Israeli attacker Manor Solomon joined Spurs as first team signings, while exciting young duo Ashley Phillips and Alejo Veliz came in as more project transfers. The Lilywhites spent just over £200 million, which includes the moves for Kulusevski and Porro, but reports in the last month suggest they could strengthen further in January.

Who could Tottenham sign in January?

Spurs are apparently targeting another central defender after van de Ven, with the likes of Lloyd Kelly (Bournemouth), Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen), Victor Nelsson (Galatasaray) and Juventus star Gleison Bremer all being mentioned recently. A new striker to fully replace Harry Kane is also in the offing for 2024, with both Brentford star Ivan Toney and in-form Stuttgart marksman Serhou Guirassy on the Spurs agenda.

According to a report from Turkish news outlet FotoSpor, as translated and shared by Sport Witness, it appears Tottenham have their eyes on a defensive duo from the same club. Indeed, Galatasaray pair Nelsson and right-back Sacha Boey are apparently of interest to Tottenham. It is believed the Lilywhites could pay "serious amounts" for them as well, and they're set to run the rule over both as Spurs plot sending officials to assess them in action.

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Nelsson has been a pivotal figure for the Super Lig side, featuring over more Super Lig minutes than any other outfielder in their squad last season (WhoScored). The Denmark international also made more blocks and won more aerial duels per 90 than any other Galatasaray player in the Turkish top flight over 2022/2023.

Meanwhile, Boey performed an equally impressive fashion. A rumoured transfer target for Arsenal over the summer, the Frenchman ranked as one of Galatasaray's best-performing players per 90 in the Super Lig last season. Over 22/23, Boey averaged Gala's joint-highest rate of tackles and second-most interceptions per 90 – perhaps highlighting why Tottenham are monitoring developments.

Former Arsenal star Bacary Sagna, commenting on the Gunners' links to Boey over the summer, seriously endorsed the 23-year-old as one to watch.

"Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey is a player I really like," said Sagna.

"I think he will fit perfectly into Arsenal. As a right-back too, I have to say I think he’s great. I’m sure many clubs have Sacha Boey in mind. There is a contract to sign.”

Still young with plenty of potential, he could come as a brilliant alternative to the likes of Emerson Royal and Pedro Porro.

The next Harry Kane loading? Bayern Munich forward’s wife Kate Goodland shares wholesome video of England captain having kick-about with son after Mainz victory

Harry Kane marked his historic appearance in Bayern Munich's 8-1 win against Mainz by enjoying a kick-about with his son in the club's famous stadium.

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Kane played football with son in Bayern stadiumStriker made Bundesliga history twice in one gameScored three as champions won 8-1 against MainzWHAT HAPPENED?

The striker's wife, Kate, posted a video on Instagram showing the 30-year-old England star passing the ball back and forth with his son on the side of the Allianz Arena pitch following his team's victory in the Bundesliga.

IG: katekanexAdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

It was a subdued wind down for Kane considering the three goals he scored to help the reigning German champions trounce the relegation candidates. His treble saw him break two records in the Bundesliga – becoming the first to score four hat-tricks in his first season and to strike at least twice in eight matches in his maiden campaign in the German top-flight.

DID YOU KNOW?

Kane now has 30 goals to his name in the Bundesliga, needing just 25 games to reach that milestone. With nine games left to play, he could still break Robert Lewandowski's record of 41 goals in a single season in the division. However, Bayern look certain to miss out on the title this season as Bayer Leverkusen could restore their 10-point lead at the top of the table by beating Wolfsburg on Sunday.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR KANE?

The England international will attempt to add even more goals to his record next week when his side take on Darmstadt in the Bundesliga. Two weeks later they will come up against rivals Borussia Dortmund.

Will India recall Rohit and try out Pant?

ESPNcricinfo predicts the big questions facing India’s selectors as they sit down to name the Test squad for the England Tests

Nagraj Gollapudi17-Jul-2018Is there space for Rohit Sharma in the middle order?
India will want a third middle-order batsman to support Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli. In South Africa, Rohit was given the opportunity to bolster the lower middle-order but he failed. The selectors felt Rohit was “less than satisfactory” in that series, in which he was played in the first two Tests ahead of Rahane. Rohit managed 78 runs in four innings and was dropped in the final Test in Johannesburg. He was also left out of the Afghanistan Test, with India A captain Karun Nair replacing him in the squad.Likely Test squad

Openers: M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul
Middle order: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma/Karun Nair
Allrounder: Hardik Pandya
Wicketkeeper: Dinesh Karthik, Wriddhiman Saha/Parthiv Patel
Spinners: Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja
Fast bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami

Rohit recently said that he was not going to lose sleep wondering if he would be picked or not in the longest format, given half his career was over. But he has been in top form in the limited-overs leg of the UK tour, with two centuries and a fifty. And, in the prevailing hot conditions in the UK, the selectors might be tempted to consider Rohit – once again – ahead of Karun Nair, who has got starts for India A but hasn’t scored big. However, the main question Kohli and India coach Shastri would like to figure out is whether Rohit remains a viable long-term option. India are playing four Tests in Australia later this year, and they ought to invest wisely.Will Kuldeep Yadav be the X-factor in the Tests too?
England would have thought they had sorted Kuldeep out after the second T20I, but the left-arm wristspinner proved otherwise, taking nine wickets in the first two matches of the ODI series, including a six-for in his maiden ODI in England. Kohli revealed that he would be tempted to include Kuldeep in the Test squad based on his ODI form.Kuldeep has already played two Tests and has shown the attitude and hunger to duel with the batsmen. If picked, he will ideally be part of a three-pronged spin attack alongside the senior pairing of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.Getty ImagesWho will be the reserve wicketkeeper?
Rishabh Pant the batsman has rattled many a bowler in domestic and List A cricket, making a strong and legitimate case for a place in the limited-overs squad. But it is his keeping skills that have remained unconvincing, with experts pointing out that his technique as a wicketkeeper needs work. He has not played a lot of first-class cricket either.Pant is only 20 years old, so he has time to grow and should not be worried. And, despite all this, there are whispers that he could be one of the contenders for the reserve wicketkeeper’s post for the England Tests. With Wriddhiman Saha likely to miss at least part of the five-Test series, Dinesh Karthik is likely to be the first-choice wicketkeeper. If Saha’s thumb injury does not heal in time for him to even be named the reserve keeper, then India will need another back-up for Karthik.In the past decade and a bit more the selectors have turned to Karthik and Parthiv Patel each time MS Dhoni and – later – Saha missed out in Tests. Parthiv did play the last two Tests of the South Africa series this year, but the team management was not happy with his glovework.So will the selectors gamble with a left-field choice in Pant, an unfinished product as far his keeping goes? It is plausible. Pant is currently touring England as part of the India A series, and has 15 dismissals in eight matches including 14 catches and one stumping. India A arrived in England in the early part of June, which means Pant is well adapted to the conditions and the grounds.If he is picked, it will not only be a bold move, but clearly a forward-thinking one too.Should KL Rahul open or bat at No. 3?
India should retain the three openers that featured in the previous two Test series this year – South Africa in January and the one-off match in June against Afghanistan. Although M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul hit form against first-timers Afghanistan, neither of the three men lasted long in South Africa. Still they remain India’s best available options.Rahul also offers the added advantage of coming in at No. 3 as he did in the Afghanistan Test, displacing the incumbent Cheteshwar Pujara to No. 4. With Kohli’s penchant for boldness and intent, Rahul is likely to be part of the first XI, which might add pressure on Pujara to produce his very best.

Soumya Sarkar in T20I squad due to management's plea – chief selector

Chief selector Minhajul Abedin says the panel were undecided about picking Soumya, but deferred to the team management’s insistence on getting the batsman

Mohammad Isam25-Jul-2018For the second T20I series in a row, Bangladesh’s selectors submitted to the team management’s demand to include Soumya Sarkar in the squad. On Wednesday, chief selector Minhajul Abedin said that their plans to keep Soumya in the Bangladesh A setup ahead of the Ireland tour next month had to be changed because of his inclusion in the senior team.Soumya, who along with Ariful Haque left Dhaka on Tuesday to join the Bangladesh squad in Guyana, scored only 129 runs in six innings, across both first-class and List A games, against Sri Lanka A during the recent home series. This was an attempt to bring him into contention for Tests and ODIs after he was being predominantly called up for T20Is this year. He has scored only 119 runs in nine T20Is since February, finishing with 18 runs in two matches against Afghanistan in June.When Soumya was selected for the T20I series against Afghanistan, Minhajul had also said that his selection was the team management’s choice. At the time, the management consisted of captain Shakib Al Hasan and interim coach Courtney Walsh. This time, the management includes new coach Steve Rhodes and manager Rabeed Imam.”We have already sent Soumya Sarkar and Ariful for the T20 series,” Minhajul said. “We, the selectors, had backed Ariful, but we were in two minds about Soumya because of his recent form. The team management really wanted Soumya, and since we allocate one spot for the team management’s choice, Soumya was picked. We had other plans for Soumya. Bangladesh A has plenty of matches. He played against Sri Lanka A. We are still hopeful that he will do well [in the T20Is against West Indies].”Minhajul, who didn’t confirm which players will return once the ODI series is over, said that the team management is of the view that Soumya does well on pitches that offer pace and bounce. He averages 31.58 in 11 international games in Australia and New Zealand, and also had a couple of fifties in Ireland last year. However, he managed only 34 runs in four Champions Trophy matches in England in 2017, and averaged 22.20 in five innings in South Africa later in the year.”He has played well abroad. He plays well square of the wicket on bouncy wickets. He hasn’t been among the runs in the last eight months, for which we have suffered a lot. But since the wickets in the West Indies and Florida are slightly quicker, the management wanted him.”Soumya has shown flair while attacking short balls, but too often, he has got himself out after a quick start. He hasn’t scored an international hundred since 2015, and hasn’t held a regular place in all three formats since 2016.

Spurs: Ange could ease Bissouma blow by handing £100k-p/w "monster" his last chance

Tottenham Hotspur are enjoying life under Ange Postecoglou and barely appear to have noticed the club-record sale of club-record goalscorer Harry Kane.

The London club currently top the Premier League table after eight matches and look poised to maintain pace at the forefront of the pack, having failed to qualify for Europe after slumping to an eighth-placed finish last season.

While James Maddison, Micky van de Ven and co have been transformative summer signings, some supporters will be most delighted with the resurgence of Yves Bissouma, with the all-action midfielder now at the heart of the exploits after previously moored in mediocrity.

How is Yves Bissouma performing for Tottenham?

Tottenham signed Bissouma from Brighton & Hove Albion for £25m plus add-ons in the summer of 2022, with the Malian midfielder having dazzled on the south coast and earned praise as a "top-class player" who has "everything" by pundit Ray Parlour prior to his transfer.

Last season, he didn't hit the ground running and actually languished in tandem with Spurs, and it was a far cry from the player who had won the high-flying Seagulls' Player of the Year award just one year before, but tactically, he clearly needed time to get up to speed.

However, The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare has now proclaimed him to be among the club's "standout" performers this season, and he really has been immense in recycling possession and producing energetic, combative displays in the engine room.

As per Sofascore, the 27-year-old has completed 91% of his passes, made 3.3 tackles and 6.1 ball recoveries per game and succeeded with an incredible 77% of his dribbles, also winning 62% of his duels.

Picking up two yellow cards against Luton Town last time out, however, the £55k-per-week ace will now miss the forthcoming contest against Fulham in the top-flight on Monday evening, and Postecoglou will be most displeased after the player's integral work thus far this term.

yves-bissouma-tottenham-hotspur-spurs-postecoglou-luka-modric-real-madrid

As robust and omnipresent as they come, he ranks among the top 2% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 7% for passes attempted, the top 12% for progressive passes, the top 15% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

While Bissouma's suspension leaves a hole in Tottenham's team, it does offer the opportunity for another star to swoop in and prove their worth, and it appears to be Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg who is the man for the job.

How good is Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg?

The £100k-per-week ace has been a regular member of the starting line-up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since signing from Southampton in a bargain £15m deal in 2019.

Indeed, Hojbjerg has made 153 displays for Tottenham, scoring ten goals and supplying 16 assists, though since Postecoglou's appointment, he has yet to play in the Premier League from the opening whistle, featuring in every top-flight contest since sitting the season opener against Brentford on the bench but introduced after the break on each occasion.

Tottenham's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

The 69-cap international is attracting interest from La Liga side Atletico Madrid and Italian giants Juventus, but whether either side would be willing to meet the Lilywhites' €30m (£26m) valuation remains to be seen.

Given that the 28-year-old is in the penultimate year of his contract with the Premier League club, there is every chance that he will be sold in the summer, or perhaps even January.

The indications certainly point to that conclusion, and while Bissouma is only sidelined for one match, Hojbjerg could make a marked impact with his metronomic presence.

While this is entirely speculative, Tottenham's social media acknowledgement of the Danish midfielder's resounding strike last time out hints that a starting berth may be provided on Monday night, and given that Bissouma is unquestionably sidelined, this could indeed prove to be the case.

And it's not exactly as if Hojbjerg is untested on Premier League soil; he may be out of sorts at present, but his qualities are well-suited to stifling a resolute Cottagers team, providing calmness and composure in the centre to allow his offensive-minded peers to flourish.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 17% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues for pass completion, the top 14% for passes attempted, the top 18% for progressive passes, the top 19% for interceptions and the top 13% for clearances per 90.

He is a first-class distributor and while he is somewhat conservative in possession, he is effective as the fulcrum and will be hungry to impress after sitting on the fringe thus far.

Player

No. of Passes

Lewis Dunk

3,208

Rodri

2,977

Virgil van Dijk

2,581

Gabriel Magalhaes

2,396

Trent Alexander-Arnold

2,309

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

2,256

And who knows, perhaps a stellar showing against Marco Silva's outfit will work wonders in reestablishing him as an important component and proving to his manager that he can serve an important role.

Indeed, last season in the Premier League Hojbjerg completed 89% of his passes and averaged 0.9 key passes per game, as per Sofascore, and while the latter is nothing to write home about, it is not too shabby for a midfielder of deeper-lying placement.

For a phenom who has completed 225 appearances in the Premier League and has previously been hailed as a "monster" by former Denmark and Derby County midfielder Morten Bisgaard, who also remarked at his intelligence.

Spurs will be determined to maintain the early-season purple patch that tantalises something more, but if Spurs truly wish to announce themselves as new contenders they will need to demonstrate quality in rotation.

And with Hojbjerg ready to step in, the requisite midfield depth looks to be at Postecoglou's disposal.

Lionel Messi injury update: Inter Miami boss Tata Martino shares why Argentine was removed in 49th minute of their CONCACAF Champions Cup victory over Nashville SC

Inter Miami boss Tata Martino has revealed that Lionel Messi was removed from their CONCACAF Champions Cup match Wednesday due to a leg injury.

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Inter Miami defeat Nashville SC 3-1Messi scores and assists in victoryHerons star sustains new leg injuryWHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking postgame after their 3-1 (5-3 aggregate) victory over Nashville SC, Martino shared that the Argentine is likely to be a doubt this weekend when the Herons take on D.C. United. Messi was subbed off in the 49th minute of the match, having already scored a goal and provided an assist in the first half of the game.

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"He is overloaded on the right posterior (leg). We don't want to run a risk. We tried to see if he could go for a little longer, but it was bothering him. I imagine that for Saturday's game [against D.C. United] he is not going to be available."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The Miami Herald's Michelle Kaufman reports that the injury sustained is a hamstring strain. Ahead of two international friendlies with Argentina starting next week, the Herons talisman's status for both club and country is now seemingly up in the air.

He recently missed Inter Miami's shocking 3-2 loss to CF Montreal due to what Martino described as 'rest' for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, but many suspected it was due to a shin injury that had him listed as on the club's injury report just hours before the match.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Last Fall, when Messi was sidelined with a "scar tissue flare-up", he missed four matches for Inter Miami. The Herons went winless in the six matches – across all competitions – that followed. In 2024, their one match without the Argentine is currently their only loss across all competitions.

Lionel Messi-less Inter Miami suffer ultimate humiliation in MLS as Lewis Morgan – who David Beckham got rid of in 2021 – crushes former club with stunning hat-trick for New York Red Bulls

Lewis Morgan destroyed his former club Inter Miami, scoring three and setting up one more in a 4-0 win for New York Red Bulls.

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Morgan scores three against MiamiWas traded by Herons to Red Bulls in 2021Martino's side suffer embarrassing 4-0 lossWatch Inter Miami with the MLS Season PassStream nowTELL ME MORE

Inter Miami were without Messi, but it was their defense that once again let the Herons down on Saturday. For the third time in as many MLS matches, Tata Martino's men conceded early. Having shipped goals to CF Montreal and D.C. United within the first 15 minutes of those games, Miami collapsed even earlier at a rainy Red Bull Arena as the hosts went ahead inside three minutes courtesy of Morgan.

Playing against his former club, the ex-Sunderland striker opted not to celebrate and he would add another goal to his tally in the 51st minute. The Scot then turned creator 15 minutes later as he beat his defender to help set up Wiki Carmona for 3-0, effectively burying Inter Miami.

Morgan, though, wasn't done there, as he completed his hat-trick in the 70th minute, capping arguably the best performance of his career.

AdvertisementDID YOU KNOW?

Twice-capped Scotland international Morgan scored seven goals through his two seasons with Inter Miami, having joined the club after featuring for St. Mirren, Celtic and Sunderland prior to making the leap to MLS.

THE MVP

Absolutely no doubt here, as Morgan gets the nod. It was something of a revenge game for the forward, who couldn't be stopped by his former club. Having been one of the bright spots of Inter Miami's initial years in MLS, the club was forced to trade him after being hit with punishments for violating financial rules.

That'll make the fact that it was Morgan who inspired New York Red Bulls to the 4-0 win even more painful. It's been a while since the ex-Celtic striker left and so much has changed for the Herons since, but there's no doubt that he'll have a big smile on his face after taking it to the team that got rid of him.

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THE BIG LOSER

Take your pick. When you lose 4-0, no one covered themselves in glory. No matter where you look on the field, you could find someone on Inter Miami to criticize.

Suarez has bought some goodwill, so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt. The defense… well, plenty has been said about how bad they are. This game surely won't change opinions.

The big loser, though, was probably the midfield. Without the pace of Diego Gomez and Federico Redondo, the Herons simply couldn't cope with the Red Bulls' press. Sergio Busquets was left to fend for himself, with Julian Gressel and Dalton Sunderland unable to help him out.

The defense was terrible and the attack was quiet, but the midfield played a big part in Miami's total collapse.

Arron Lilley helps Leicestershire cope with Ben Raine departure

Former Lancashire allrounder Arron Lilley has signed a two-year contract with Leicestershire

George Dobell01-Oct-2018Arron Lilley has joined Leicestershire on a two-year-contract. Lilley, an offspinning allrounder, was released by Lancashire at the end of the season and joins seamers Chris Wright, from Warwickshire, and Will Davis, from Derbyshire, in signing for Leicestershire.Lilley developed through the Lancashire system and has a decent record in all forms of the game. Due to Lancashire’s strength in spin bowling, however, he struggled for opportunities – he has played only one first-class and one List A match in the previous two seasons – and saw most of his appearances come in T20 cricket, where he has batted in the top-order and sometimes opened the bowling.He was a member of the Lancashire side that won the T20 Blast in 2015 and will join left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson, who also developed through the Lancashire Academy, at Leicestershire.The club hopes the signing of Lilley will go some way to filling the chasm left by the departure of Ben Raine, who has returned to Durham. Zak Chappell has also left, signing for Nottinghamshire, while Ned Eckersley, Richard Jones, Tom Wells, Mark Pettini and Rob Sayer were released at the end of the season. The club have also been in a long-running dispute with Michael Carberry, who has not played since he was deposed as captain in May. It seems most unlikely he will return.Leicestershire also confirmed last week that Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas, who had an outstanding 2018 season, will be returning next year.”Arron will add great value to our side,” Leicestershire’s head coach, Paul Nixon, said. “He is a three-dimensional cricketer who will be valuable in all formats. Lancashire are renowned for producing high-class spinners, and he wants to compete for a place in all three competitions.”Arron also has a very good white-ball record and will add to our plans nicely. Arron is a hard-hitting batsman, fine off-spinner and tremendous fielder, and we’re delighted to have him on board for the 2019 season.”Lilley said: “I am delighted to be joining up with Paul Nixon and the squad. I am keen to develop my game in all three formats and am confident that Grace Road is the best place for me to do that. I can’t wait to get started.”

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