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Southampton would have been annoyed, come full-time at St James' Park, that they weren't travelling back down to the South Coast with something to show for their promising Premier League opening day display.

In the end, a costly goalkeeping error from Alex McCarthy – who passed straight to Alexander Isak lackadaisically for Joelinton to then convert – allowed the Magpies to pick up a fortuitous 1-0 win, despite the fact Eddie Howe's men had to play all of the second 45 minutes with ten men.

The stand-in Saints shot-stopper had barely any shots to save otherwise, as Southampton dominated proceedings with 19 shots to Newcastle's meagre three.

He could soon be replaced in the line-up, therefore, with a new addition in-between the sticks, who is more naturally suited to playing out from the back with confidence.

Southampton's search for a goalkeeper

As per journalist Darren Witcoop, Southampton are lining up a swoop of Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Jason Steele, to bolster their options away from McCarthy.

Steele did start Brighton's emphatic 3-0 victory against Everton on the weekend, however, but the Saints will try and win his services regardless, desperate for more numbers in between the sticks with Gavin Bazunu sidelined until 2025 with a serious knock.

Noted as being a "ball-playing" 'keeper by Witcoop, snapping up the 34-year-old would ensure errors like the costly one McCarthy made versus Newcastle are eradicated from the Saints' game moving forward, on top of winning a shot-stopper who has impressed for the Seagulls in terms of keeping the ball out of his net in the elite division before.

How Steele would suit Southampton

On the opening day, Steele impressed those watching on from a Brighton perspective at Goodison Park, far more than those in the away end at Newcastle grimly spectating McCarthy's display.

Coming away from the 3-0 win with a 90% pass accuracy in-tact, the Seagulls 'keeper also had to remain alert when the Toffees ventured forward on occasion, with one save and two punches also registered.

Steele's passing stats vs McCarthy's (over last year) – FBRef
Stat	Steele	McCarthy
Attempted passes	36.45	31.80
Pass percentage launched (longer than 40 yards)	18.2%	21.4%
Pass completion percentage when launched	34.4%	27.8%
Defensive actions outside penalty area	2.59	0.20
Stats by FBref

Looking at the above table, Steele is a far more competent ball-playing option than McCarthy, hence why Martin is targeting the former Middlesbrough 'keeper as a replacement, with far more passes attempted per 90 minutes as a braver presence in between the sticks.

Moreover, the £20k-per-week shot-stopper – as per Capology – is more willing to come outside of his penalty area to help orchestrate moves, with 2.59 defensive actions registered outside the penalty area over the last year per game, compared to McCarthy's paltry 0.20.

FBref even makes bold comparisons that Steele's game is similar to that of Manuel Neuer's and Ederson's, with both of those world-class 'keepers renowned for their unerring coolness on the ball.

Not having everything his own way at Brighton during his time at the club, however, Steele would become a surprising starting figure for ex-Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi last campaign, after having to make do with an unsteady place on the periphery for large spells.

Steele also has far more encouraging recent numbers for Brighton, compared to the current Saints number one, with 79 goals shipped from 54 games.

This is contrasted next to McCarthy's alarming 231 goals leaked from 148 contests, with only 38 clean sheets picked up from those starting games for Martin's men.

Described as being "outrageous" for his ability to play under pressure, and pass with swagger, by ex-Watford 'keeper Ben Foster last season, Steele could soon become a hero for the Saints, if he puts in calm displays that help in their aim to stave off relegation.

Southampton close in on signing their next Gaston Ramirez

Southampton could sign their next Gaston Ramirez with this purchase.

By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 18, 2024

Celtic ensured that they will be in the hat for the next round of the League Cup with a relatively comfortable 3-1 win over Hibernian at Parkhead on Sunday.

The Hoops failed at the same stage last season, with a loss to Kilmarnock, but two goals from Daizen Maeda and one from Nicolas Kuhn sealed the win at the weekend.

Brendan Rodgers went with a very strong starting XI, rather than handing opportunities to other players in the squad, with Kyogo Furuhashi dropping out through injury and being replaced by Maeda through the middle.

The Japan international caught the eye with a brace in a rare outing as the centre-forward for Celtic, with his usual position out wide on the left.

Daizen Maeda's performance against Hibernian

With Idah left on the bench, having only just arrived on a permanent deal from Norwich City, Maeda was given a chance to stake a claim for a place through the middle as a striker.

His first goal came with a fantastic run and cross by Reo Hatate down the right flank. The Japanese forward did well to get across his marker at the front post and saw his prodded effort deflect into the back of the net.

Maeda's second goal came just 14 minutes later, in the 17th minute, with a brilliant run in-behind the defence and a clever, stretched, finish to poke the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper.

However, the winger-turned-striker did have a number of chances to secure a hat-trick but failed to take them, wasting one huge chance when Matt O'Riley slipped him in down the middle in the second half, but he was too slow to get his shot away.

Celtic's real hero against Hibernian

Rodgers' real hero against Hibernian was German forward Nicolas Kuhn, who was a magician on the pitch for the Scottish giants at Parkhead.

The definition of a constant threat on the right flank. Always available for the ball, always probing to make something happen, and he has the quality to back it up.

His pass for Maeda's second goal was beautiful with the perfect amount of curl and perfect weight for the Japan international to finish and make it 2-0. It really is no surprise to see that he earned a 9/10 rating from The Celtic Way's Ryan McGinlay.

Appearances

2

Goals

2

Assists

1

Key passes per game

1.0

Dribbles completed per game

2.0

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn came into the match off the back of a fantastic start to the season in the Scottish Premiership, with three goal contributions in two matches.

He carried that form over into this cup clash with his third goal in as many games, closing down Josef Bursik to, essentially, deflect a pass into the back of the net.

That goal typified the 5 foot 9 maestro's industrious performance on the wing, as he constantly pressed and probed in and out of possession to make things happen for Celtic.

Kuhn was at the heart of pretty much everything that was good about Celtic's play, with his direct dribbling, pressing, and intelligent passing, and that is why he was the real hero for Rodgers.

Imagine him & Idah: Celtic eyeing up move for "tricky" 6 ft star

The Hoops are reportedly one of the teams keeping tabs on the England youth international.

ByDan Emery Aug 14, 2024

Wolverhampton Wanderers have tabled a bid for an impressive teenager as they look to bolster their ranks this summer, it has been reported.

New Premier League season brings questions for Wolves

Gary O'Neil's side kick off the 2024/25 Premier League season with a trip to last season's runners up Arsenal, a game which kicks off a challenging start to the campaign. The Old Gold face Newcastle United, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Manchester City in their opening eight games, alongside tricky away trips to Nottingham Forest and Brighton in a brutal opening to the season.

Transfer business in the Black Country has been slow too. They have sold club captain Max Kilman to West Ham in a deal worth £40m, but are yet to bring in a replacement for the Englishman, who played every minute of their 2023/24 campaign.

PL Games missed by Max Kilman in the last three seasons

Season

Games Missed

2023-24

0

2022-23

1

2021-22

8

They have made just two permanent signings (plus the confirmation of Tommy Doyle's loan move becoming permanent), adding 18 year old Pedro Lima and 20-year-old Rodrigo Gomes to their ranks alongside a loan move for Norweigian forward Jorgen Strand-Larsen.

Approach made: Wolves move to sign new striker who scored 18 goals in 23/24

He was hailed as “clinical”.

ByCharlie Smith Aug 8, 2024

It means that they head into the final few weeks of the transfer window needing to do business to add depth to their ranks, and they look set to continue down the youthful route as they explore a move for a centre-back.

Wolves target £2k per week teenager

That comes as reports in France claim that Wolves have identified FC Nantes defender Bastien Meupiyou as a potential new addition at Molineux this summer.

As it stands, O'Neil can only call upon Toti Gomes, Craig Dawson, Santiago Beuno and the returning Yerson Mosquera in the heart of his backline, and the Old Gold feel light in that area.

According to French outlet L'Equipe, they have moved to fix that by tabling an offer for Meupiyou, who has impressed at youth level for Nantes and the French national team.

The left-footed centre-back is down to the final 12 months of his £2,000 a week deal in France, and Nantes boss Antoine Kombouaré has made it clear he must be sold this summer if he doesn't pen fresh terms with the Ligue 1 side.

Wolves had one bid turned down but have returned with a fresh 4m euro (£3.3m) bid for the teenager's services recently. However, L'Equipe relay that Nantes turned this down too, and are set to demand 10m euros (£8.5m) for the youngster to leave the club this summer despite his contract situation.

Despite being highly rated, Meupiyou has made just a single Ligue 1 appearance, seeing red nine minutes into his debut against Marseille before a torn meniscus saw him sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Given the circumstances, it seems unlikely that Wolves will stump up anything close to the asking price this summer, especially when he is set to be available for nothing in 12 months' time.

Alejandro Garnacho has been told football is “not for him”, with the Manchester United star displaying “thin skin” after refusing to celebrate a goal.

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• Target found in style against Foxes
• Initially reluctant to celebrate
• Goaded by fan ahead of PAOK clash

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Argentina international winger put the finishing touches to the Red Devils’ 3-0 win over Leicester at Old Trafford, as he curled a stunning 82nd-minute strike into the top corner. Garnacho appeared reluctant to acknowledge that effort after seeing it hit the net, with several team-mates – including club captain Bruno Fernandes – holding deep discussions with the 20-year-old forward.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Garnacho had been goaded by a United supporter ahead of a midweek Europa League clash with PAOK and is said to feel as though fans are turning against him. Ex-Premier League striker Troy Deeney believes anyone playing for a team the size of Manchester United needs to be able to turn a deaf ear to any detractors.

• WHAT EX-PREMIER LEAGUE STRIKER SAID

  Deeney has told of Garnacho’s sulky antics: “It goes twofold. One, it says what players are like nowadays, where their skin is so thin that one gentleman can say what he wants to say and everyone sulks. And secondly, if he's getting affected by that, I would say to him, just as an older pro: '[I] don't think this football game is for you, big man'.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  The ex-Watford frontman added: “Because you play for the biggest club in world football. If you play poorly, you're going to get people to get on your case. If you play really well, you're still going to get people to get on your case. You play for Man United. It's called jealousy and that's part of the game. So, disappointed that he didn't celebrate. It's an unbelievable goal. But this will be the making or breaking of him, because if he can't handle that from one gentleman with an iPhone in his face, then I don't think this is the game for him, unfortunately.”

Vinicius Jr.'s entourage might be reconsidering the player's future in Spain following an unforeseen Ballon d'Or snub.

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Vinicius Jr. finished second in Ballon d'Or rankingsMight be tempted to leave MadridHas garnered interest from Saudi Arabia and EnglandFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Vinicius Jr. could decide to reconsider his future at Real Madrid following his surprise Ballon d'Or snub earlier this week, with Manchester City's Rodri taking the honours at the gala in Paris. Per a report from AS, the 24-year-old's entourage are studying options for the future as they feel a number of circumstances are not quite right for the attacker at his current club.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Vinicius has had a tough time in Spain ever since he arrived from Brazil at the tender age of 18 in 2018. His first few seasons at Real Madrid were riddled with inconsistency, until Carlo Ancelotti unlocked his potential and transformed him into a world-beater.

While Vinicius certainly feels loved by his coach, team-mates, president Florentino Perez, as well as Madridistas all over the world, the story flips whenever he visits opposition stadiums.

Not only does the Brazilian winger feel unprotected by the referees, but has also had to deal with countless episodes of racial abuse over the years. That, coupled with the Ballon d'Or snub and interest from Saudi Arabia and the Premier League, could see Vinicius seek greener pastures, with his Real Madrid contract expiring in 2027.

DID YOU KNOW?

According to Vinicius' management staff, it was the player's continued battle against racism which led to his Ballon d'Or snub. "The football world is not ready to accept a player who fights against the system," Vini's management staff told Reuters.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS JR.?

The former Flamengo prodigy will now turn his focus to Real Madrid's important visit to the Mestalla this weekend, where he has been targeted with racial abuse in the past two seasons.

The U.S. were brushed away 2-0 by their rivals, ending a seven-game unbeaten streak against Mexico

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Mauricio Pochettino is many things. He isn't a wizard. There was no magic or spells he could wave over this U.S. men's national team to make it perfect. If you didn't think so before, you definitely realize now.

Ultimately, a short-handed USMNT didn't have what was necessary to go toe-to-toe with their fierce rivals. Poch magic or no Poch magic, this was Mexico's night from bell to bell.

El Tri ran away 2-0 winners on Tuesday night at the Estadio Akron and, in reality, it wasn't even that close. Facing a USMNT group missing seven starters – including team leader Christian Pulisic – Mexico showed no mercy. This was their chance to end five years of frustration, beating their rivals for the first time since 2019 and and taking out their frustration on a USMNT group that felt like a proverbial deer in the headlights.

Raul Jimenez's stunning free-kick midway through the first half opened the scoring but, in reality, that didn't tell the story. A free-kick is an individual moment, but this match was team-wide dominance. Mexico outshot the USMNT 16-5. They nearly doubled their passing output in the opposing half. The USMNT had less than a dozen touches in the Mexico box. That paints a picture of how one-sided this was.

When Cesar Huerta's goal hit the back of the net just four minutes after halftime, it felt like there would be no way back for the USMNT. Whatever halftime speech Pochettino game was instantly rendered meaningless the moment Mexico collectively celebrated their 2-0 lead. There was that infamous "Dos a Cero" again but, this time, it went the other way. The USMNT's all-time record in games vs.  in Mexico fell to 1-24-4.

The USMNT is 18th overall in the latest FIFA rankings, while Mexico is 17th, the highest current rank among CONCACAF teams.

"It wasn't a great performance," Pochettino said following the match. "It's perfect for us to learn [from]…We started the game well, but after we conceded the goal after 22 minutes the impact was massive for us."

A hard lesson, for sure, but one that comes at the right time for the USMNT. The shine wore off a little bit in Guadalajara on Tuesday night, coming off a 2-0 win over Panama in his USMNT debut. And it came in a match that will leave Pochettino with about as many questions as answers.

GOAL rates USMNT players from Estadio Akron.

• Getty
  

  Goalkeeper & Defense

  Matt Turner (6/10):

  Nothing he could have really done on either goal. Did make one big save in the second half, though.

  Antonee Robinson (7/10):

  Probably the only USMNT player that can say he played well in the first half. Even when most of the pieces around him struggle, Robinson's level never seems to drop.

  Tim Ream (4/10):

  Did a good job to win an initial tackle before the second goal, but he'll know as well as anyone that he needed to just hoof it right after. He didn't, and the ball was in the back of the net almost immediately after.

  Miles Robinson (4/10):

  Ream will get a chunk of the blame for Mexico's second, but Robinson also got dusted in a 1v1. That can't happen either, particularly for a player who was handed an unlikely chance to step up.

  Joe Scally (6/10):

  Wasn't fantastic, but also didn't have any horrific moments, either, which puts him ahead of many of his teammates.

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  Midfield

  Yunus Musah (5/10):

  Started out wide again before Pochettino moved him back into the midfield. Was nowhere near effective as he was during the Panama game on Saturday night, even taking away the goal.

  Gianluca Busio (4/10):

  Never coped with the physicality of the game. Was put into the midfield to be the ball-mover and pace-setter, but he was overrun from the opening whistle.

  Aidan Morris (4/10):

  Brought some attitude, but didn't quite have the street smarts for this game, as evidenced from his first-half yellow card. He was admittedly right to be angry about that, but it was a sequence that will have taught him the cleverness required to play in games like this.

• Getty
  

  Attack

  Malik Tillman (4/10):

  Just couldn't get going. Tried to do too much the few times he did get the ball and it never really came off for him. The USMNT needed him to take over this game and he never got close to doing so.

  Brenden Aaronson (3/10):

  To his credit, he battled back in the second half, but Aaronson's first-half was about as bad as it could have been. Unable to really handle the physicality, and the refereeing, Aaronson was pressed into some bad giveaways that could have been bad goals.

  Josh Sargent (4/10):

  Had a whopping 13 touches and zero shots on goal. Never got service, but also never really found a place where he could influence the game, either.

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  Subs & Manager

  Kristoffer Lund (5/10):

  Was caught just a bit too high on Mexico's second goal, leaving Ream's lack of pace exposed. Other than that, was fine.

  Alejandro Zendejas (7/10):

  Brought life to the game in more ways than one. Had one fantastic cross that amounted to one of the USMNT's better looks and then was shown yellow for scrapping with Angulo. To be fair, this game needed that from someone.

  Tanner Tessmann (6/10):

  Replaced former club teammate Busio and definitely looked the better of the two. Did well when he did get the ball, showing off the composure that defined his Olympic run this summer.

  Brandon Vazquez (7/10):

  Made his presence felt almost immediately by winning a header on the edge of the box and then had the USMNT's best shot on goal in the 79th minute.

  Haji Wright (6/10):

  Had just a few touches over his 30-minute run out.

  Auston Trusty (N/A):

  Was given a few minutes at the end. Would have been nice to see more.

  Mauricio Pochettino (5/10):

  Vibes convinced people that Pochettino and the USMNT could walk into Mexico with a weakened team and compete. This result said otherwise. The coach wanted this chance to see how his team would handle an occasion like this in a raucous environment like this. What did he learn? There are plenty of players on this team not yet ready for this spotlight.

Celtic have received an offer in the region of £4m for a player who seemingly wants to quit Parkhead.

Celtic transfer rumours

With the transfer window officially open today, the Hoops and Brendan Rodgers can look to bolster their squad after another Scottish Premiership title triumph last season.

Celtic preparing approach to sign "high-class" star who could be Hart 2.0

The Hoops are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the Premier League ace this summer.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 12, 2024

There could be plenty of change at Celtic Park, though, with a new goalkeeper required to fill the void left by Joe Hart, who has now retired. Rodgers admitted back in February that the club could be brave with their signings.

“I would go with supporters thinking we could maybe be a little bit braver in terms of bringing in another level of player. But that’s up to me to try and fix that over the course of my time here. You look at the strategy here and you have to be careful because in some ways it has worked. You bring in players for a minimal fee and then they go out and make the club a lot of money.

“What I want to hopefully balance in my time here is that we can still do that, because it is an important part of the modern game. But we also want to be brave enough to hang our hat on a ready-made player.”

Along with any incomings, though, there could also be sales at Parkhead, with star midfielder Matt O’Riley continuing to attract intrest and centre-back Gustaf Lagerbielke in the middle of an approach from Italian club Lecce. The Hoops have also received a proposal from KRC Genk for striker Hyeon-gyu Oh, and there have now been further details on a possible move away.

Hyeon-gyu Oh transfer latest

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, an offer Celtic have received from Genk for Oh is worth around £4m, with talks ongoing and the player keen to leave for regular game time.

It has since been added that personal terms between Oh and Genk have been agreed, so it looks as if Celtic are in line to make a profit on the £2.5m they paid Suwon Samsung Bluewings for the forward last year.

The 23-year-old played just 722 minutes of football last season, scoring five goals in 22 appearances. In total, Oh is poised to leave Glasgow with 12 goals in 47 games, winning five major honours.

He has impressed at times during his short spell in Scotland, though. Rodgers said late last year after a 4-1 win over Hibernian where Oh scored a brace: “Oh was excellent. He was a really good reference for the team, his hold-up play, in the box he’s there and obviously his second goal shows he can also run in behind.

“Great strength and then really good composure. I was really pleased with him. He came into the game and did really well.

“Kyogo can’t play every game but when you have someone like Oh who can come in and make an impact, it’s good.”

يخوض فريق الكرة بـ الزمالك مباراة قوية أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا مساء اليوم الخميس، خلال اللقاء الذي يجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري.

ويلتقي الزمالك مع سيراميكا كليوباترا، على أرضية استاد القاهرة في إطار لقاءات الجولة الخامسة من المسابقة المحلية.

ويدخل الزمالك مباراة اليوم وهو يحتل المركز الثاني في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، ولديه في رصيده 9 نقاط بعدما فاز في 4 لقاءات وتلقى هزيمة وحيدة.

أما سيراميكا كليوباترا فيتواجد في المركز الخامس بسلم الجدول برصيد 7 نقاط حصدها من انتصارين وتعادل فيما نال خسارة واحدة.

ويخوض الزمالك مباراته الأولى مع المدير الفني الجديد كريستيان جروس، في الظهور الأول له بعد التعاقد معه رسميًا يوم الإثنين الماضي.

طالع | جروس يعلن تشكيل الزمالك أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا.. الجزيري يقود الهجوم

ويشهد التشكيل المتوقع للزمالك، استمرار المدافع محمود حمدي الونش للمشاركة أساسياً مع الفريق، وذلك بعد تعافيه من الإصابة التي كان قد تعرض لها بالرباط الصليبي، بجانب وجود مفاضلة بين الثنائي مصطفى شلبي وميشالاك للتواجد بمركز الجناح.

طالع أيضا | ترتيب الدوري المصري بعد تعادل الزمالك مع سيراميكا كليوباترا تشكيل الزمالك المتوقع أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا في الدوري المصري

حراسة المرمى: محمد عواد.

خط الدفاع: أحمد فتوح – حسام عبد المجيد – الونش – عمر جابر.

خط الوسط: (المفاضلة بين مصطفى شلبي وميشالاك) – دونجا – عبدالله السعيد – محمد شحاتة – زيزو.

خط الهجوم: سيف الدين الجزيري.

The USMNT boss offered insight into his conversations with Matt Crocker and U.S. Soccer

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Pochettino reveals 2026 World Cup goal for USMNTSpeaks on podcast Reveals key people who influenced decision to join U.S. SoccerWHAT HAPPENED?

Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that both he and U.S. Soccer have set specific targets over the next two years in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tournament will be played in Mexico, Canada and the U.S., and the new coach is beginning preparations and outlining the approach.

Speaking with Gary Neville, Rebecca Lowe and Jamie Carragher on – a podcast featuring all three media personalities – the USMNT boss discussed expectations, while also offering insight into who helped influence him to take the U.S. job.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT POCHETTINO SAID

The new U.S. manager said that in conversations with the U.S. Soccer Federation and sporting director Matt Crocker, they targeted – at minimum – advancing to the quarterfinals for the USMNT.

"The truth? It's a quarterfinal, it's the target, no? They were very clear and I am very honest to you," Pochettino said to Neville. "I think that was the idea, the challenge, they know that it is going to be difficult, but I am a person, we are people that really believe we can. We think this talented group can perform better. So we accept the challenge."

Pochettino also said that there were two key people that helped influence him to take the USMNT job – USWNT boss Emma Hayes and Inter Miami boss Tata Martino.

"Of course Emma, the first," he said, "and then Gerardo Tata Martino that is in Miami, because he was my captain when I was at Newell's Old Boys."

Pochettino played for the Argentine club from 1989-1994, while Martino repped the club's badge for a decade from 1980-1990. Before accepting the USMNT job, Pochettino's last managerial role was with Premier League side Chelsea – where at the time – Hayes was the manager of the Blues' women's side before taking over the USWNT.

DID YOU KNOW?

Pochettino said that he did not speak with Lionel Messi ahead of his move to the USMNT, despite the duo working together at PSG from 2001-2003. However, in conversations with Martino, the Inter Miami boss – who now coaches Messi – helped convince him this was the right move for his career path.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR POCHETTINO

Pochettino will take to the touchline with the USMNT for the first time in October in a pair of international friendlies against Mexico and Panama. Until then, he'll be working with U.S. Soccer to implement his coaching styles and techniques ahead of the fall camp.

Says going wicketless in the first Test made him “wonder what’s going on”, but now he’s “definitely back”

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jul-2020Becoming the first West Indies bowler to reach 200 Test wickets in 26 years is not Kemar Roach’s favourite moment of his career. At least, not yet.Roach reached the landmark when he bowled Chris Woakes on the second day of the third Test against England at Old Trafford, but the seamer is aware the three-match series, currently tied at 1-1, is still very much alive. In fact, West Indies were in more than a spot of bother at 137 for 6 at the end of day two, after Roach’s four-wicket haul helped them restrict England to 369 in the first innings.”I think winning the series would obviously be the pinnacle right now,” Roach told ESPNcricinfo on Saturday. “We are a little bit behind on the eight-ball but I am sure guys have it in them to come back out of the pit and fight. It [reaching 200 wickets] will be a favourite [moment] for me if we win the series but right now it’s up there as one of the best moments in my career.”Roach had 193 wickets at the start of the series but went wicketless in the first Test in Southampton. Roach is used to an occasional barren spell but this one definitely made him sit up and think. Therefore, getting to 200 wickets brought more a sense of relief than elation.”It did play on my mind, I would be lying if I say it did not,” Roach said. “Some nights I was wondering what’s going on but it’s all about staying focused, staying positive, come out there and keep putting the hard work. That’s how we can break what we call a jinx.”It was tough but I have played cricket for long enough to understand those things happen. It’s all about remaining positive. Go out there, keep fighting every day and we all know once the spell is broken and then you are back into your own. Definitely back [now], close to where I want to be.”[The landmark gave me] a little bit of relief. Obviously it was a bit emotional. I know the journey I have had. It has been very very tough to get back on the field. To get that milestone is a weight off my back. It’s all about how much I can go now, 250, 300 [wickets], probably 100 Test matches. Let’s see how much the body stays up and how long I can play cricket for West Indies.”Once a tearaway fast bowler, Roach had to rebuild his game after a car accident in 2014. But with that came a greater understanding of his bowling and body. When asked what West Indies should do to have him around for a longer period, Roach said: “It’s all about workload management and working smart. I am 32 now. I am not 21 anymore, so the body isn’t the same but I think I am still in good shape to carry on for a couple of more years. I obviously know my game a little bit better now and it’s all about staying on that path. So that’s the goal moving forward.”His 200th wicket aside, Roach will also probably have fond memories of setting up the in-form Ben Stokes in this Test. Roach bowled him a couple of outswingers before breaching his defence with the one that seamed in.”Obviously he [Stokes] has been playing well in the series. I thought he was lining me up very well. So I tried to change something, do something different. I talked to some guys, I talked to Roddy Estwick [West Indies’ assistant coach], I talked to some other guys at home and they told me that I have to change a little bit as he seems a little bit comfortable facing me. I just tried something different and luckily for me it worked out. So let’s see if I can do it again in the second innings and hopefully can get him out for even cheaper.”In a congratulatory video message, West Indies’ leading wicket-taker of all time, Courtney Walsh, praised Roach’s work ethic and asked him to target 300-wicket mark next.”He [Walsh] is obviously one of the greats of the game and we all know how hard he worked when he was playing,” Roach said. “So for him to say he is happy with my work ethic is really good to hear coming from him.”I am always willing to learn. Have some very good people around me bowling-wise, Corey Collymore, Roddy Estwick, my former games teacher Peter Vaughan. I get a lot of advice from these guys every day. They want to see me do well. So it would be sin for me to not put the work in and obviously reward them with some performances. It’s pretty emotional for me right now but I am very proud of what I have achieved today.”