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The Bangladesh head coach opens up on his time at the helm so far and the challenges that lie ahead for him while coaching one of the most mercurial sides in world cricket

Mohammad Isam19-Sep-2018At some point early in Bangladesh’s innings in Dubai on Saturday, Steve Rhodes must have felt he’d been transported back to early July in Antigua. Back then, West Indies had bowled out the visitors for just 43 runs, the lowest Test total in 44 years.In Dubai, Lasith Malinga removed Liton Das and Shakib Al Hasan in the first over before Tamim Iqbal retired hurt. Bangladesh were effectively 3 for 3 in the second over. It all ended well, though, Mushfiqur Rahim’s powerful 144, Mohammad Mithun’s maiden ODI fifty and an excellent bowling performance leading Bangladesh to a resounding win.Things turned out very differently in Antigua. At one stage, Kemar Roach picked up Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah – three-fourth of Bangladesh’s senior brigade – in the same over to reduce them to 18 for 5 within the first 30 minutes. Whenever the camera focused on the Bangladesh sitting area, Rhodes sat still, looking straight.It was his first match day as Bangladesh head coach, his first job in international cricket. Rhodes’ new job was, at that moment, the least desirable in world cricket. What helped him cope, though, was his CV: a former England wicketkeeper who became a leading county coach at Worcestershire, a life of professional cricket.”I wonder whether any of the coaches has had a baptism like this in international cricket,” Rhodes told ESPNcricinfo in a lengthy conversation before the Asia Cup. “Nobody could have imagined an opening day like that. But I have been involved in cricket for a long time. I understand that you have good and bad days, whether it is park, club, county or international cricket. It was a bad day for us.”Previous Bangladesh coaches have also overseen poor starts to their tenure. Jamie Siddons lost his first series badly in New Zealand in 2007-08; Stuart Law’s first assignment in Zimbabwe in 2011 was a humiliating loss while Chandika Hathurusingha, too, made a losing start in the West Indies in 2014.This time, Bangladesh recovered to beat West Indies in the ODI and T20I series – a remarkable turnaround given the Test drubbing and given West Indies’ relative strength in the shorter formats. Rhodes didn’t come in for too much public praise from the players but he understood how everything shifted once the ODI regulars, particularly captain Mashrafe Mortaza, arrived in the Caribbean.”I could see that after the inclusion of some of the one-day players who arrived. There was a different vibe around the place. I think it was good to have some energy back in the dressing room. It was almost like [the Test series loss] was put to bed, which is what I wanted, and a fresh start with the one-dayers.Steve Rhodes and Mashrafe Mortaza lend audience to Neil McKenzie•BCB”We believed we could win the T20s but the rankings were far apart. They are the world champions. [Beating them] was very special indeed. We finished on an incredible high. Although it was low when it started, there’s a bit of realism in that, so I was happy that the tour went. I am not sure the last time we won two series away but it was very special for me with Bangladesh,” said Rhodes.The overall win in West Indies and Bangladesh’s resounding win over Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup must have come as a relief to the BCB, who had spent the first half of 2018 looking for a new head coach. After Hathurusingha’s sudden resignation in October last year, the board faced refusals by Tom Moody, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Andy Flower, Justin Langer, Paul Farbrace and Geoff Marsh.They called Richard Pybus and Phil Simmons to Dhaka for interviews but called neither back. Negotiations went into the final stages with Marsh and Farbrace, but both turned down the offers. When Gary Kirsten was approached, he suggested a consultancy role. The BCB then asked him to recommend coaches; Rhodes featured in both the BCB’s and Kirsten’s list, and the appointment was swift. Apart from his vast coaching experience, the venue for next year’s World Cup also came into consideration for BCB and Kirsten.”It was the challenge and excitement for myself, personally, of being involved with an international team knowing that there was a World Cup in England coming up,” said Rhodes. “But I am also fully aware of the passion that this country holds for cricket. There’s a lot of people who work extremely hard for a living in Bangladesh. But there’s one thing in common in the 120 million people: their love for cricket.”That passion, desire and excitement that they’ve got is sometimes daunting as a coach. But actually, what if we did something special? And if we do something special, what a smile we can put in the faces of 120 million people. I think it is a big thing for me to give this a go.”Hathurusingha’s three-year reign was testament to how much power Bangladesh’s foreign head coach can enjoy if he has the BCB bosses on his side. The cricket operations chairman’s position was changed twice during his time after he had a run-in with Naimur Rahman in 2015. The selection policy was completely revamped to fit him in as a selector the following year, prompting the resignation of Faruque Ahmed, the highly successful chief selector. Hathurusingha was known for regularly overlooking the BCB’s cricket operations committee, and going right up to the BCB president Nazmul Hassan for minor to big things.Whatmore and Siddons enjoyed a bit of power as they were credited with the rapid progress of the one-day side, as well as the rise of a second batch of cricketers including the likes of Shakib, Tamim and Mushfiqur. Pybus fell out with BCB directors during his brief reign as head coach in 2012. Shane Jurgensen resigned in 2014 after some BCB directors said they were actively looking for a new coach after Bangladesh did poorly in the Asia Cup and World T20 that year.In his first three months, Rhodes has seen how unpredictable the Bangladesh cricket team can be. It is a similar situation off the field too. If things go wrong, as many former foreign coaches have found out, it can rapidly escalate into a crisis. But, as Hathurusingha saw all too often, success on the field is all that matters and, so far, Rhodes’ successful start as Bangladesh coach should serve him this exact lesson.

It was always going to be a tough ask on the type of surface the Australians have dreamed of all season, but it was still disappointing that the visitors capitulated twice

Andrew McGlashan at the Gabba26-Jan-2019They came hoping they could compete. In the end Sri Lanka were beaten in less than eight sessions at the Gabba. Given the history and conditions it was always a long shot even taking into account Australia’s own problems, but the capitulation was still a woeful performance.Sri Lanka’s run tally of 283 over the two innings was their second-lowest in Australia behind Darwin in 2004 and Melbourne in 2012. This wasn’t quite as bruising as the latter of those two contests when Sri Lanka’s second innings ended with only seven batsmen out, due to two being unable to bat and another having retired hurt, but it was a pretty brutal experience nonetheless.The batsmen appeared to have come through physically unscathed, but Lahiru Kumara has been ruled out of the rest of this series and the South Africa tour with a hamstring injury and Dushmantha Chameera has also picked up an niggle.Pat Cummins and Jhye Richardson bowled exceptionally well, while Nathan Lyon was an excellent support act to ensure a below-par Mitchell Starc was accommodated. It left a crestfallen Dinesh Chandimal, who himself had fallen for scores of 5 and 0 in the match, short of answers.”Credit to the way they bowled. We don’t want to give excuses,” he said. “But we need to find ways to score runs. As I said before the game started our main concern was our inability to post a decent total in the first innings. That’s one area we need to improve.”Unlike in New Zealand recently, where their second-innings performances showed improvement in both Tests, this time it was even worse than the opening day as they folded for 139. Few gave them a chance of escape when the third day began, but they were hoping for a contest – instead it was done and dusted by lunch with Sri Lanka five down.Niroshan Dickwella shapes up to play the ramp•Getty ImagesWhile some were victims of fine pace bowling from Cummins and Richardson, there was a helping hand in a few dismissals and foremost among them was Kusal Mendis, who entered the series with significant expectations and the need to carry a batting order without Angelo Mathews, when he drove widely at Cummins and edged to slip.The captain himself had already gone, fending a delivery into the gully off Cummins, but Chandimal said he would be continuing at No. 3. “I used to bat at five because I had to take gloves as a wicketkeeper. [Niroshan] Dickwella has shaped up well. I being an experienced player need to come up the order and take up the responsibility.”Sri Lanka’s previous experience of facing Cummins had been just three T20Is back in 2017 in which only two of this team – Mendis and Dickwella – had featured. On the type of surface the Australians have been dreaming of all season, but had only really materialised before in Perth, it was always going to be a tough ask.In victory, Tim Paine graciously acknowledged the difficulty of conditions. “For Sri Lanka to come to the Gabba first up is really, really tough. It’s out of their comfort zone,” he said. “It’s hard for the Australians to come from the southern states to play on that wicket with the extra bounce. We expect Canberra will probably suit them a little bit better and we’ll have to be on top of our game again to beat them.”Canberra, hosting its first Test next week, will be an unknown for both teams – evidenced by Australia’s decision to call up the uncapped allrounder Marcus Stoinis – and Sri Lanka will be hoping for a surface where the bounce is more stump height than chest height. Even then, however, you wonder whether they can lift themselves after these tough few days in Brisbane.

According to ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats, Trent Boult and Kane Williamson had a combined contribution of nearly 60% to New Zealand’s thrilling five-run win

ESPNcricinfo stats team22-Jun-2019New Zealand’s nail-biting five-run victory was set up by two players, and it shows in ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats numbers. Kane Williamson came in second ball, and stayed on to score a magnificent 148 off 154 balls, scoring 52% of New Zealand’s bat runs; Trent Boult took 40% of New Zealand’s wickets, and went at only three runs per over when the match run rate was 5.8. According to Smart Stats, Boult’s impact to New Zealand’s win marginally pipped Williamson’s.Smart Stats takes into account not only the runs scored or wickets taken, but also the context in which these contributions were made, in terms of match situation, relative strike rate/economy rate, and the quality of batsmen dismissed and the match situation when those wickets were taken. Bowlers get extra value for dismissing batsmen early in their innings, before they can cause damage. All of those factors are quantified, with batting and bowling performances put on an equal scale, and player impact is calculated by summing up the batting and bowling values.ESPNcricinfo LtdBoult dismissed Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran for 1, derailing West Indies’ run-chase early, and then returned to dismiss Ashley Nurse and Evin Lewis. All four batsmen fell cheaply, giving Boult a Smart Wicket value of 4.11 (which means his four wickets were actually worth 4.11). To add to that, his economy rate was almost half the match run rate, and he bowled five overs in the Powerplays and two more in the death (44th and 46th), conceding only eight runs in those two overs.Putting a percentage to Boult’s numbers compared to the total contribution value of all players to the win, his impact is an extremely high 30.6%.WATCH on Hotstar (India only) – Williamson’s brilliant hundredWilliamson’s contribution was outstanding too. He batted almost throughout the innings, scoring 148 off 154 while seven other batsmen combined to score 135 off 147. This, after New Zealand lost both openers for golden ducks, only the third such occurrence in one-day internationals. The fact that the combined contribution of Boult and Williamson was almost 60% of the total of all the players to New Zealand’s win illustrates just how much of a two-man display this was.

The former Hong Kong captain relocates to India where he hopes to qualify as a local and “one day play Test cricket”

Shashank Kishore13-Sep-2019After fighting his way up the cricketing ladder in Hong Kong only to hit a dead end because of lack of exposure and financial viability, Anshuman Rath, who was their captain until recently, has put a temporary hold on his international career to move back to India, the country his family hails from. He hopes to now qualify as a local and “one day play Test cricket.”Having made himself unavailable for Hong Kong’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers campaign in October, Rath, 21, is set to move to Mumbai, a city he will live and train in, as he looks to break through into India’s first-class system. Having held talks with a number of associations through his agent and father, who hails from Bhubaneswar, Rath has his eyes trained on Vidarbha, the two-time Ranji Trophy champions.

“When the Indian national anthem was played, I got goosebumps and was humming to the tune even though we were playing against them. That moment I thought maybe I could potentially play for them in the future.”Rath on playing India at the Asia Cup

Over the past few weeks, he has held talks with Prashant Vaidya, the VCA’s Director of Cricket, and while no formal agreement has been reached yet, Rath is hopeful of completing the paperwork soon. However, just merely holding an Indian passport won’t guarantee an immediate entry into India’s domestic system. Rath will have to serve a one-year cooling-off period before becoming eligible in October 2020. At the same time, his moving away from Hong Kong for good and his Indian citizenship means he can enter the IPL auction as a local uncapped player. For the moment, though, he is set to feature in club cricket in Nagpur.”The VCA has spoken to Saba Karim (BCCI’s general manager) about my road map, and all indications are that they are the team I’m most likely to turn up for, provided I put in the hard yards in club cricket and show them performances that will help my selection,” Rath told ESPNcricinfo. “They have been very professional. They have won the Ranji Trophy for two years in a row now, and they have a credible reputation.”The amount of talent there is in India, it’s easy for state sides to overlook me, but the VCA have been very transparent and supportive. Their message is: ‘The door is open’, but I have to do whatever I can to put myself up for selection. I’m not going to be put on a pedestal. At the end of the day, if you’re scoring runs, you will be picked. Hopefully, I can do that. They’ve kept me in the loop with everything, and about the club system there. The facilities are top notch and I’m looking forward to it.”ALSO READ: The brains and the brawn behind Vidarbha’s rise to the topThe India move is the latest chapter of what Rath calls a “nomadic” career. As a 14-year old, he moved from Hong Kong, where his family was based, to the UK and went to the famous Harrow School. As a teenager, he emerged as one of the most promising pathway cricketers alongside current England stars like Sam Curran and Ollie Pope at Middlesex. However, “complex visa rules” that don’t allow players from Associate countries to feature as full-time professionals left him with no option but to return to Hong Kong after putting his college degree on hold.”It’s been brewing for a while now,” he said. “Being in the English system and having grown up there, you understand simply how different the Associate system is. My dream is to play Test cricket and unfortunately Associate cricket doesn’t provide that platform. Mark Chapman is a prime example. He used Associate cricket as a benchmark to play a higher level of cricket in New Zealand. The opportunities are rare, it’s not financially viable playing in Hong Kong. I don’t want to have three-four years here and then move away. I’m looking at the next 10-15 year horizon, and for that, the India move is the best way forward.”Rath had a quick chat with Simon Cook, the former Hong Kong coach who had a decade-and-a-half long career with Middlesex. It merely reinforced the decision he had already made. “Simon Cook knew of my ambitions from when I was playing in England,” Rath says. “I knew this was likely to happen one day, so it’s a bittersweet feeling for me, even though I’m excited about going to India. The guys at Hong Kong Cricket have been extremely cooperative about it and understand the choice I’ve made.”At this time last year, Rath nearly orchestrated a mighty upset against the Rohit Sharma-led India at the Asia Cup. He put on a 174-run opening stand with Nizakat Khan to set the tone for a chase of 286; Hong Kong eventually fell short by 26 runs. Twelve months on, he looks back at that game with a lot of fondness. Incidentally, that was his last official ODI for Hong Kong, for whom he finishes with an average of 51.75 in 18 ODIs.

“Vidarbha’s message is: ‘the door is open’, but I’ve to do whatever I can to put myself up for selection. I’m not going to be put on a pedestal. End of the day, if you’re scoring runs, you will be picked”Rath on his next move

Hong Kong have endured a bumpy road since that memorable Asia Cup outing, finishing last in WCL Division 2 in Namibia earlier in the year, where Rath topped the run charts. This relegated them to the third tier of the ICC’s 50-over competition for Associates, with the side having already lost its ODI status in 2018. Partly, Rath’s decision also stemmed from the ICC’s decision to reduce the World Cup to a 10-team show. With things unlikely to change for 2023, it’s a decision he says he had to make “sooner than later.””When I wasn’t allowed to play in England, I had to find a new base to develop my game and progress,” he says. “If you told me a year ago that I’d be in the Indian system, it’s not like I would’ve said ‘you’re joking’ because I had to decide at some point. In that game against India, when the Indian national anthem was played, I got goosebumps and was humming to the tune even though we were playing against them. That moment was when I had the realization that I could potentially play for them in the future. I want to give myself every opportunity to do so. There are no guarantees, but at least I know the ball is in my court and there is a structure and a pathway for me to make it happen.”

Rather than preserving his wicket, he played with the freedom befitting an Australian wicketkeeper

Daniel Brettig at the MCG27-Dec-2019Four months ago, on the eve of the final Ashes Test in England, Tim Paine was asked whether he might lead Australia as far as the 2021 ICC World Championship final, and gave the following, fuzzy response: “Jesus, I don’t know about that. I haven’t thought about it to be honest. I haven’t thought much past this Test match, as I’ve said in the last 18 months, I think it’s foolish at my age if you do. I’m just taking each day as it comes, as boring as that is.”The aforementioned fuzziness was evident on the opening day of the Oval Test, too, as Paine sent England in upon winning the toss, giving away the advantage of letting Steven Smith dominate in first innings as he tends to do, and seeing Australia’s chance to win the series – as well as retain the Ashes – slip away.Tim Paine works through the leg side•AFP”Something didn’t feel right,” Langer told this week. “Were we satisfied we’d won the Ashes? Painey won the toss and bowled, which surprised us a bit. We dropped some catches that first morning.”At that time, Paine was commonly being referred to as a “wartime captain” who had seen the team through to peace and success and performed his role as well as might have been expected. But there had never been much thought as to what lay beyond the steep assignment of an away Ashes series. Similarly, his batting had been characterised by a desire to preserve his wicket and the Australian innings for as long as possible, something underlined by how he had developed a knack for lower-order partnerships, commonly at a sedate scoring rate.Fast forward to the Boxing Day Test, however, and Paine was able to bat with a clarity of thought about his role and his future that reflected a far greater degree of focus on how he best serves his team, and for how much longer he may do so. Late December, generally a time of stocktaking, also saw him state far more frankly that yes, he is now looking at leading the team all the way through to the 2021 championship final at Lord’s, should Australia manage to qualify.”We want to win every Test we play, especially now with the Test championship and I think we have an eye more on that than the official ranking. We’re very aware of what games are worth, what points [are needed]. It’s not looking too far ahead now, that’s not how it is,” Paine said on Christmas Day. “It’s Test match by Test match because there is so much on the line. We have some goals as a team where we want to be and winning Test matches is a huge part of that.”Coming in to bat at the fall of Smith’s wicket an hour into the second day, Paine was facing a scenario where his former self may have looked to dig in. If even Smith had found things so difficult as to score only eight runs in the morning – the visitors continued to frustrate him with short balls – then what chance did Paine, a fighting if not quite fluent Travis Head, and the tail have?Tim Paine raises his bat after reaching fifty•Getty ImagesBut over the past few months, there has been a growing realisation that, as captain, wicketkeeper and No. 7 batsman in a team that is growing in strength and confidence, Paine needs to be able to play with freedom befitting the proud tradition of Australian wicketkeepers seeking to change the momentum of a game. As Brad Haddin, the former gloveman and then Australia assistant coach, has put it: “One thing for a keeper is understanding what your role is, and that’s to change the momentum in games and get through some tough situations.”And although no one has done this more often or more masterfully for Australia than Adam Gilchrist, he is not the only one. Rod Marsh, Ian Healy, Haddin and Matthew Wade in his first Test match incarnation. Other, more circumspect wicketkeeper-batsmen have not tended to last: Peter Nevill the most recent example.Paine was himself given a reminder of this role during the Ashes by no less an authority than Healy, who at a time when Australia were still playing somewhat conservative cricket under Allan Border and Bob Simpson, could commonly be relied upon to provide the innings with a shot of adrenaline-fired cut shots, flicks and dabs. Speaking to Paine after the traumatic Headingley defeat, Healy’s advice was summed up as “bat like a wicketkeeper”.”He just said, and he was probably right, in the Test match at Headingley we got so close to retaining the Ashes that I probably just tried a little bit hard,” Paine said. “And traditionally with me, when I try too hard, particularly with batting, it gets worse and worse. His message was to go out and bat like a wicketkeeper, and I think that’s when I play my best – when I’m looking to score, getting in the contest and just watching the ball rather than thinking too much about it technically because it certainly hasn’t worked for me over the journey.”In Perth against New Zealand, on a more challenging pitch, Paine had reverted somewhat back to his previous batting posture, seeking survival and crease occupation to push the start of the tourists’ first innings further into the evening. But in Melbourne, after perhaps growing a little frustrated with Australia’s slow progress alongside most of the 59,676 present at the MCG, Paine set out to play a classical wicketkeeper’s innings.Tim Paine and Travis Head enjoyed an excellent partnership•AFPWhile it did not all work for him early in the innings, Paine was positive in everything he did. He connected with some strong pull shots when Neil Wagner banged the ball in short, and when Trent Boult pitched fuller in search of the outside edge, he drove with wonderful fluency through cover. After 11 balls, Paine had 12 runs and had already brought a previously drowsy morning crowd to considerable life.”At that stage the wicket was still on the slowish side. He lunged quite a bit, hit on the up, hit through covers and there wasn’t much swing on offer,” Wagner said. “We sort of felt like the first couple of balls to him was pitch it up and nick him off and a couple of plays and misses, if you get an edge there, then you open up an end and it’s a different sort of game, but he looked to take the short ball on, which obviously creates opportunities but you’ve got to give credit where it’s due, he played well.”He scored off it, he was real decisive in the ones he wanted to attack, and then the ones he left there were a lot he pulled out of, which full credit goes to him, the way he played it. You want to try and get him out like that, but he was still able to score on it, and at the time we got him out, for some reason the ball started swinging again and just a little bit of nip. The whole innings there wasn’t one ball that hit the pad, and then finally two balls in a short space of time started hitting the pads, which tells you it’s quickening up a little bit.”Having fought so hard for more than 104 overs, New Zealand’s response to this aggression from Paine was to lapse into waywardness, allowing the Australian captain to carry on adding runs to the tally with damaging speed – he had never reached a Test fifty in fewer than the 72 balls he managed here. At the same time, Paine gave Head the confidence to score more freely himself, going on to a century that may well come to be seen as a vital, formative moment for the South Australian left-hander after so many squandered starts in the past.All up, their stand was worth a bold 150 in 43.3 overs, quite a contrast with the furtive 68 squirrelled away in 31.1 overs by Head with Smith either side of stumps on day one. Paine had thus collected the majority share of the partnership that ensured Australia would surpass 400 for the fourth consecutive Test match, a position which the coach Justin Langer knows is just about impregnable for a team with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon to call upon.In the end, Paine was deprived of the chance to go on to a first Test century by a hearty Wagner and a ball-tracking verdict that appeared to miscalculate the first point of impact with the stumps: a dose of misfortune for Paine that he appeared more than a little miffed about. But given the chance to ponder the innings and its impact from the cooler vantage point of the dressing room, Paine will be able to conclude that he has now set a clear marker for how to play as the No. 7 in this team, and to do so until 2021’s championship decider.If he needed anymore perspective, it was provided in the closing overs when Pane’s opposite number Kane Williamson exhibited his own case of fuzziness. Needing to survive until stumps, Williamson hooked unwisely at James Pattinson, and the running catch was pouched by none other than an exultant Paine. No longer just a wartime leader, Paine is improving alongside his team.

Whilst it still looks far-fetched, Ipswich Town did manage to breathe life back into their faint Premier League survival hopes with a mightily impressive 2-1 win on their travels to AFC Bournemouth on Wednesday night.

The away masses making the long trip to the South Coast for the mid-week clash would have been anticipating a defeat, considering the home side harbours aspirations of Europe far away from relegation trouble, but Kieran McKenna’s men would flip the script to secure their first league victory of 2025.

The game-clinching man of the hour would unsurprisingly be Liam Delap, with the ex-Manchester City striker’s price tag only increasing more and more if he can put in further displays like this before the campaign is out.

Delap's performance in numbers vs Bournemouth

Being looked at intensely by most of the Premier League’s elite sides – with Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal sniffing around just to name a few – Ipswich face a losing battle attempting to keep their 22-year-old hotshot around, particularly if an expected relegation is served up.

Still, before any major money move is signed off on, Ipswich supporters will want to bask in the goalscoring prowess of their clinical number 19 whilst they still can, with his well-worked goal against Andoni Iraola’s Cherries taking his top-flight tally to a sturdy 11.

Combining well with left-back talent Conor Townsend before slotting an effort home, it was a much-improved showing from Ipswich in the attacking areas when contrasted with their recent 1-0 loss away at Crystal Palace, with Nathan Broadhead also getting in on the act in the first half.

Whilst Broadhead and Delap managed to shine bright throughout, there were some notable underperformers on the end of the Suffolk side, including one of their attacking teammates who could now face the axe.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Ipswich's worst performer against Bournemouth

Despite the Tractor Boys being obviously jubliant at the end with their efforts, not everyone came away from the contest having put in a sterling individual offering.

Ben Johnson fits into that unwanted category, with the ex-West Ham United man noticeably wasteful on the ball with possession squandered a sizeable 21 times across a torrid 89 minutes against the Cherries.

Minutes played

89

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

46

Accurate passes

10/17 (59%)

Key passes

1

Possession lost

21x

Accurate crosses

1/7

Successful dribbles

0/1

Total duels won

3/12

Stats by Sofascore

Indeed, the table above makes for some pretty uninviting reading, with the versatile number 18 only managing to amass ten accurate passes from his 46 touches of the ball, alongside only one accurate cross being registered down his right flank.

Moreover, Johnson – who often lines up as a defender down the right – could only win three duels all night, with a miscued clearance late on also allowing Evanilson the chance to fire home Bournemouth’s only goal.

With no Omari Hutchinson available for selection, McKenna was is in a slight pickle about who he picked on the right wing, but based off this showing on the South Coast, he would be better off not persisting with Johnson as his chosen man here.

Instead, there are other faces such as Jaden Philogene-Bidace who could work better in this role moving forward, with the former Hammers figure a body McKenna can rely on as a utility presence if needed.

As is often the case in the beautiful game, it’s the hope that inevitably kills you, but wins such as these on road will give Ipswich some drive that survival against all the odds can still be achieved, even as the season quickly ticks away to its end point.

He cost just £1.5m: Ipswich already have their perfect Delap replacement

Ipswich Town might not need to splash the cash if Liam Delap departs.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 1, 2025

Glasgow Rangers gave their supporters a moment to remember last time out in the Scottish Premiership when they beat Dundee 4-3 away from home.

A last-gasp winner from Cyriel Dessers to complete a comeback from 3-1 down to win 4-3 last weekend was a joyous moment for the travelling support, but it was still a game that illustrated the team’s flaws.

The club’s city rivals are inching closer to a fourth successive Premiership title, as they sit 13 points clear of the Light Blues as it stands, and the Gers have to do something to change the tide next season.

Sky Sports reported last month that a takeover including US investors Andrew Cavenagh and San Francisco 49ers Paraag Marathe has been agreed in principle, which suggests that the dawn of a new era at Ibrox is a matter of months away.

This could mean that there is a longer-term replacement for Philippe Clement than Barry Ferguson, but it is not just the management side of the team that should be looked at.

If Rangers want to get back on top in Scottish football then they may need to kickstart their new era by moving on from some of their experienced players who have become used to finishing second, including Jack Butland and James Tavernier.

Why Rangers should move on from Jack Butland and James Tavernier

The Gers captain has been a terrific servant for the club over the years, scoring 130 goals in 504 appearances in all competitions, but he has only won one Premiership title in his career.

Tavernier has also lost a whopping 25 of his 40 appearances against Celtic, winning just ten of those games, and Rangers may need new leadership if they are to progress and move past the Hoops, as he has become used to being behind the club’s rivals on the pitch.

Therefore, it could be time to move on from the 33-year-old veteran, who has lost possession 20.8 times per match in the league this term, to make room for new leaders to step up and lead the team forward.

Butland, meanwhile, has been error-prone in the Premiership this season and it could be time for Rangers to find a new number one to provide more stability between the sticks, after two years of the Englishman at Ibrox.

Appearances

25

Save success rate

69%

Goals prevented

-0.37

Error led to shot

2

Error led to goal

2

Penalties committed

1

As you can see in the table above, the former Stoke City star has underperformed as a shot-stopper and made too many unforced errors to gift shots and goals to the opposition in the league, which is why Rangers should consider moving him on this summer.

The issue for the Light Blues, however, may be finding suitors to buy Tavernier and Butland, as the veteran stars are no longer among the most valuable talents at Ibrox.

The top ten most valuable Rangers players

As per Transfermarkt, both English players are worth £2.5m at this moment in time, and that does not earn either of them a place in the top ten most valuable stars at the club.

Wolfsburg loanee Vaclav Cerny is currently the most valuable player at the club, at a whopping £7.6m, and it remains to be seen whether or not the Gers will be able to keep hold of him beyond the end of his current loan spell.

The Czechia international has provided a regular threat at the top end of the pitch, racking up 17 goals and four assists, in the Premiership and the Europa League to earn his valuation.

Vaclav Cerny

£7.6m

Mohamed Diomande

£5.9m

Nicolas Raskin

£5.5m

John Souttar

£3.8m

Cyriel Dessers

£3.4m

Dujon Sterling

£3.4m

Danilo

£3.4m

Nedim Bajrami

£3.4m

Jefte

£3.4m

Hamza Igamane

£3.4m

As you can see in the table above, Rangers have many players on a market value of £3.4m, which is still £900k more than Tavernier and Butland are currently valued at.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Some of those players could play key roles moving forward, into the dawn of a new era at Ibrox, and one of those the club have hit the jackpot with in recent years is versatile defender Dujon Sterling.

Dujon Sterling's soaring market value

The Scottish giants swooped to sign the English talent in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer after he had been released by Premier League side Chelsea.

It was an opportunistic signing by the Gers, as they took advantage of his contract situation, because he was valued at £2.4m by Transfermarkt at the time, which shows that the club landed a £2.4m-rated talent for £0.

His first season at Ibrox, in the 2023/24 campaign, was a struggle because Michael Beale and Clement utilised him in a multitude of positions, with his appearances stretched between right-back, left-back, right midfield, defensive midfield, left midfield, and right wing.

This meant that Sterling did not have a chance to build any consistency in his performances because he was constantly being moved around the pitch to fill different holes in the team.

The 25-year-old star has had slightly more clarity in his game this term, however, as the vast majority of his starts have come as a centre-back or a defensive midfielder, which has allowed him to build a rhythm in the middle of the pitch.

Starts

7

Centre-back starts

7

Clearances

37

Blocks

5

Tackles

12

Duels won

31/44 (70% success rate)

As you can see in the table above, Sterling has started at centre-back in seven of his last eight league appearances and provided a dominant presence at the back for the Gers, winning 70% of his duels in those matches.

His overall form for the club and his success in finally nailing down a consistent position on the pitch has led to his market value soaring up to £3.5m, which shows that Rangers hit the jackpot when they signed the defensive ace.

The Light Blues snapped him up for £0 and he has turned out to be an incredibly valuable player, with his quality at centre-back and versatility to play in other roles, as well as being an asset that continues to grow in value.

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He is now among the top ten most valuable players at the club, making him worth even more than the likes of Tavernier and Butland, and the defender could have a big future as a centre-back at Ibrox if he can continue his current, dominant, form.

It has been an interesting season in 2024/25 for Chelsea. They face a fight on their hands to secure a spot in the top five, and are still competing in the UEFA Conference League, a competition many expect them to win.

In the top flight, the west London side are one of the biggest underperformers when it comes to expected goals, highlighting an issue in front of goal. As per Understat, they have an expected goals tally of 64.83xG, but have actually managed just 56 goals, an underperformance by 8.83. There are only four top-flight sides with a bigger underperformance.

Thus, it might not be a surprise that the Blues are targeting a new attacker this summer.

The forward Chelsea want to sign this summer

It has been a theme in the last few years that Chelsea have signed players, and even a manager, from Brighton and Hove Albion. Well, this summer might be no different, given they are linked with Seagulls attacker Georginio Rutter.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from Florian Plettenberg, Enzo Maresca’s side are thought to be ‘closely monitoring the development’ of Rutter down on the South Coast, and could make a move for him this summer, having ‘added him to their shortlist’.

The situation between the versatile attacker and the West London outfit has been described as ‘one to watch’ by Plettenberg, ahead of what will be a busy summer at Stamford Bridge.

He did not clarify a price, but Football Transfers value him at upwards of £39m.

Why Rutter would be a good signing for Chelsea

It has been an impressive season so far for Rutter in his debut campaign for the Seagulls. This term, he has eight goals and five assists across all competitions for Fabian Hurzeler’s side, including five in the Premier League.

In fact, the 22-year-old Frenchman, who is capped at under-21 level for his country, might certainly help with the expected goals deficit at Stamford Bridge. He is generally a lot more consistent this term, with 5.68xG, a 0.68 difference from his actual tally, as per Understat.

Another reason Chelsea fans can get excited about signing Rutter is the flair he brings as part of his game. Described as an “entertainer” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, the former Leeds United star is a tricky customer for most defenders, and oozes confidence in one-vs-one scenarios.

Indeed, it is not just that video that showcases how exciting Rutter can be with the ball at his feet, but the numbers from FBref are also there to back it up.

For example, the Seagulls’ number 14 averages 1.47 successful take-ons per game, ranking him in the top 9% of forwards across Europe over the last year.

Take-ons attempted

3.86

94th

Take-ons completed

1.47

91st

Progressive carries

2.28

86th

Carries into final third

1.96

95th

Carries into penalty box

0.87

71st

There are certainly shades of Chelsea legend Eden Hazard in Rutter. At his peak, the former Blues winger was described as the “best player in the league” by Jamie Carragher, who said he “does things that others can’t do”.

The legendary Belgian attacker was phenomenal in a Chelsea shirt. He scored 110 goals and grabbed 87 assists in 352 games for the west Londoners, becoming one of the most exciting players to watch in the Premier League.

That was thanks to his fearlessness on the ball, all the tricks at his disposal and the ability he had to glide past players. As per Sofascore per game, he averaged 5.8 successful dribbles in 2017/18, his highest on record.

If Rutter – registered 24 goals and assists for Leeds last season – is even half as good as Hazard was for Chelsea, they will have a world-beater on their hands. He certainly comes with lots of the flair their former number ten possessed, and has that ability to beat players in one-vs-one scenarios.

At just 22 years of age, there is plenty of time for Rutter to develop, too. He is a player who can score, create and carry in an effective manner, just like Hazard did. He could be a player Chelsea fans fall in love with.

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Wesley Fofana consistently finds himself on the treatment table with long-term injuries, which has been the case ever since his £75 million move from Leicester City, while it appears likely Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi will be sold by Chelsea this summer.

There are even reports in France that Chelsea are seriously considering Fofana’s sale as well, leaving little wonder a centre-back is high on the agenda at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounding Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho means Chelsea have reportedly opened talks for Borussia Dortmund starlet Jamie Gittens already, as they seek to get deals done early before their Club World Cup campaign.

A host of strikers are being linked with moves to Cobham as well, including Benjamin Sesko, Liam Delap, Jonathan David, Hugo Ekitiké and Victor Osimhen (Sky Sports), so it appears Enzo Maresca’s side are set for yet another busy window.

Going back to the defensive area of their squad, links to Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen are refusing to go away.

The 20-year-old’s £50 million release clause has piqued interest from a host of elite sides, including Chelsea, and the reliable Simon Phillips recently reported that they’ve held “very positive” talks with Huijsen’s representatives in the last fortnight.

Chelsea apparently hold a serious belief that they could be frontrunners for the Spain international’s signature, but it is a complex saga to say the least.

“So what has happened so far is that Barat [his agent] is pushing Huijsen to join Chelsea, but Don [his father] is pushing him to join Liverpool,” wrote Phillips last week (Substack).

“The belief is that ideally, Huijsen would want to go to Real Madrid but he is being advised to stay in the Premier League for now and also, Real have yet to make a solid move other than register some interest. I have not heard that Champions League football is a deciding factor, but it could be ‘a’ factor.”

Bournemouth identify Albian Hajdari as replacement for Dean Huijsen

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It is now believed that the Cherries are very much planning for his exit from the Vitality this summer, with Bournemouth identifying Lugano defender Albian Hajdari as a replacement for Huijsen.

This is described as a boost for Liverpool in their pursuit of Huijsen, as Bournemouth grow more aware he is heading out of the door this summer, but it also comes as a piece of encouragement for Chelsea – especially after their discussions with the player’s camp.

Huijsen has been a mainstay under Andoni Iraola this season, passing his first season in the Premier League with flying colours, and the sky appears to be the limit for a centre-back who could still be miles away from reaching his ceiling, given his young age.

Manchester United are in desperate need of added reinforcements in attacking areas this summer to give themselves the best possible chance of returning to the heights they’ve previously achieved.

The Red Devils still occupy a place in the bottom half of the Premier League with just a couple of games remaining, highlighting how disappointing they’ve been throughout 2024/25.

Ruben Amorim has brought the feel-good factor back to Old Trafford, but their tally of just 42 goals in 35 matches showcases how disappointing they’ve been in the forward areas.

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have been the two senior options at his disposal, but have only registered seven combined league goals and contributing to their lack of form in the final third.

As a result, it will be no surprise to see the club delve into the market to try and improve the situation, with work already being done behind the scenes ahead of the summer.

The latest on United’s hunt for new forwards this summer

Countless names have already been thrown into the mix for the striker position over the last few weeks, with Viktor Gyokeres, Liam Delap and Hugo Ekitiké all being mentioned with a switch to join United.

Delap, in particular, was seen as their number one option ahead of the window, with his £30m relegation release clause potentially seen as somewhat of a bargain.

However, Wolves star Matheus Cunha appears to be the most likely forward to make the move to Old Trafford this summer, that’s if Fabrizio Romano’s latest update is to be believed.

He stated that the Red Devils are leading the race for the 25-year-old’s signature this summer, with talks already at an advanced stage – as personal terms should now be a formality.

The reliable journalist also claimed that the hierarchy have no issues with paying his £62.5m release clause, with a move edging closer to completion.

Why United’s target would be amazing alongside Osimhen

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has been another name widely linked with a switch to join United in the summer, handing Amorim the ammunition he needs.

The 26-year-old is currently spending the year on loan at Galatasaray from Italian side Napoli, enjoying an excellent spell in front of goal – netting 33 goals in 37 games.

Such a record would be hugely welcomed by the Red Devils manager if he completed the move, forming a superb partnership with Cunha in the final third.

The Brazilian would be signed to operate in a number 10 position behind the striker, with his stats from 2024/25 certainly aiding Osimhen’s quest for goals in the Premier League.

He’s managed to register 2.0 chances created per 90, along with 2.15 successful dribbles per 90, evidently aiming to get the ball forward at any given opportunity – subsequently aiding Osimhen in the process.

The Brazilian’s figures within attacking areas are simply remarkable, with his skillset handing himself and the Nigerian the best chance to help United’s frontline.

Cunha, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by journalist Eduardo Hagn, has registered 3.6 shots per 90 – also having the tools to find the back of the net given his tally of 15 Premier League goals to date.

He has also won 6.4 duels per 90 this campaign, making 4.6 recoveries per 90 – fitting perfectly into Amorim’s system at Old Trafford by working tirelessly in and out of possession.

It would be a huge investment to bring the pair to the Theatre of Dreams this summer, but their talents are there for all to see based on the figures they’ve produced in recent months.

Games played

31

Goals & assists

21

Shots taken

3.67

Pass accuracy

79.3%

Duels won

6.4

Recoveries made

4.6

Chances created

2.0

Successful dribbles

2.15

If they could land both players, it would create a deadly partnership at Old Trafford, with the aforementioned duo having the chance to make themselves heroes as they aim to play a key role in their revival.

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