Dolphins seeking second straight 3-0 start when they host the winless Broncos
The Dolphins opened the season with two road wins and will face the Denver Broncos on Sunday in their home opener
2023-09-22 08:25
USMNT rumors: Marsch's opinion, Reyna urged to leave, US to play Slovenia
Jesse Marsch voices his opinion on the current USMNT generation. Gio Reyna has been urged to leave Borussia Dortmund. Gregg Barhalter's side are to play Slovenia.
2023-11-29 21:02
Eminem to perform in Fortnite for special event
Rapper Eminem is ready to dazzle fans in Fortnite's new Big Bang event
2023-11-23 20:00
Everton complete loan signing of Leeds winger Jack Harrison
Everton have confirmed the signing of Jack Harrison from Leeds on a season-long loan. The 26-year-old has a minor injury so will not be involved immediately at Goodison Park.
2023-08-14 17:21
Surging Food Prices Spur Nigeria to Declare a State of Emergency
Nigeria declared a state of emergency that would allow the government to take exceptional steps to improve food
2023-07-14 19:02
Casemiro promised to fix Manchester United - the FA Cup final can prove that he has
Manchester United were pointless and headed for humiliation. As Brentford scored four goals in a half – and the first half at that – and Erik ten Hag’s reign began amid farce, a footballer who had starred in four Champions League final victories reached for his phone. United’s most high-profile transfer target texted his agent. But not to back out of a deal. The message, instead, was to tell United he would “fix” it. It was a sign of Casemiro’s confidence. If that self-assurance is a product of a career of rare success – the Carabao Cup took his trophy count to 21 – many another would have been deterred by the impression United were in crisis. They might have stayed at Real Madrid. Not him. “No second thoughts at all,” he recalled. “But to be honest I did say that. I was speaking to my agent, and with John [Murtough, United’s director of football] too about this afterwards. I’d said this after it had happened because I was also very excited and I was aware that my period at Real Madrid had come to an end and I was really upbeat about coming here and taking on this new project, this new challenge. It was clear in my mind.” Eight months later, it is tempting to contemplate an alternative reality where, after missing out on Frenkie de Jong last summer, Casemiro was put off by the shambolic display at Brentford, where instead of being a £63 million method of transforming a team, there was still a void at the heart of the midfield. “I knew that it wouldn’t be an easy challenge because it was a tough defeat to take but I think the excitement of coming here and making a change,” he reflected. Which he did: Casemiro provided a boost to United’s self-esteem even before he played, his unveiling at half-time of the win over Liverpool a sign of the club’s status. United only lost three of the first 32 games he started. He scored and was player of the match in the Carabao Cup final. United took 75 points from the 36 league matches after he joined and finished third. “We knew that it was a project in which you wouldn’t start winning things overnight,” he said, but they could complete a cup double at Wembley on Saturday. It appears as though he has fixed it. “It’s impossible for a single player to change performances but as a squad you can,” he demurred. Yet a turning point was October’s 6-3 defeat to Manchester City. Casemiro watched two-thirds of it from the bench: Ten Hag was still picking Scott McTominay ahead of him and if the Dutchman has made relatively few missteps, that seems one. The Brazilian marked his first Premier League start with an assist for Cristiano Ronaldo’s winner at Everton the following week. His first goal came a couple of weeks later, an injury-time equaliser at Chelsea. Each was a sign he tended to make telling contributions. Tallies of seven goals and six assists may be more than most expected; so, in a different way, are his two red cards. But they underline his centrality. He has been a fulcrum for United, the man at the heart of everything. Which is how he thinks it ought to be. City’s galaxy of gifted midfielders mean Casemiro’s skills as a nullifier will be required if Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva are to be kept quiet at Wembley. “When people talk about central defensive midfielders, they forget that you need to help your teammates, you need to defend, to slot in between the centre-backs, cover any gaps that the full-backs or midfielders leave,” said a man who forged a reputation as the world’s best holding midfielder in Madrid, before offering an explanation for his greater productivity. “These are the basic principles for a central defensive midfielder. Of course, beyond that, people want you to score goals, to pass the ball, to get the team playing because football’s changed. In the past it would be the No. 10 that would be required to do that.” He can be both destructive and constructive presence, which he sees as a sign of the evolution in tactics. “I saw an interview with [Juan Roman] Riquelme once talking about central defensive midfielders and specifically [Sergio] Busquets,” Casemiro explained. “He said that often the team didn’t play well because the central holding midfielder hadn’t played [well] and people forget that throughout the history of football, it was the No. 10 who was the playmaker. The central defensive midfielder was always someone that helped the centre-backs, helped in the midfield, helped the full-backs, filled in and stopped counter attacks. The way that central defensive midfielders have had to adapt has changed a lot.” But he will hope some things stay the same. He has an outstanding record in finals; with Real, United and Brazil, he has only lost one, in the 2018 European Super Cup. “Without doubt it’s a significant stat,” he said. He also has experience of getting the better of City; Real trailed for 178 minutes of the Champions League semi-finals last season and yet still overcame Pep Guardiola’s team. “They play very good football and have a great manager and great players but every game is a different story, a different film,” he said. But if the movie of United’s season started in ignominy and ended in glory, the Casemiro biopic might have a certain monotony, if only because he has won so much, so often. Read More Manchester United are obsessed with stopping Man City – their history depends on it The unlikely Manchester United answer to derail Man City’s treble hopes How Raphael Varane transformed Manchester United: ‘You need the character to fight’ Andre Marriner retires from refereeing Bruno Fernandes nets Man Utd winner in comeback against Fulham to clinch third Manchester United owe Champions League return to one man
2023-06-03 00:09
How to Unlock Legendary Kiriko Skin for Overwatch 2
With the release of Overwatch 2 just around the corner, here is way for players to get their hands on a legendary skin for support hero, Kiriko.
1970-01-01 08:00
Amazon Is Practically Giving Away This Best-Selling Vibrator For National Orgasm Day
If there’s anything we can count on from Amazon, it’s a great deal on a viral product. No matter what the occasion, it’s pretty much guaranteed that the mega e-tailer will have it (and at an ultra-affordable price). This National Orgasm Day, our favorite sex toys are being marked down left and right, so it’s no wonder that Amazon is also jumping in on these moan-worthy deals. In honor of the climactic holiday, Amazon is taking 40% off its top-rated sex toys from AVA, none of which are more popular than its best-selling wand vibrator, the personal massager.
2023-07-28 23:38
Messi out of Miami squad for US Open Cup final
Lionel Messi was ruled out of Inter Miami's squad for their US Open Cup final clash Wednesday with Houston...
2023-09-28 07:54
Chicago’s Entertainment Industry Gets a Major Boost with Construction of The First and Only Purpose-Built Film Studios in Illinois – The Fields Studios
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 2023--
2023-05-23 01:00
Microsoft stakes Xbox video game sales on long-awaited space adventure Starfield
One small step for an intrepid crew of 24th century space explorers could be a giant leap — or flop — for Microsoft when the Xbox-maker launches its long-awaited video game Starfield
2023-06-12 20:28
Unlikely hero lifts Sounders to 1-0 victory over Dynamo
Paul Rothrock subbed in in the 83rd minute and scored the only goal of the match four minutes later to propel the Seattle Sounders to a 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo
1970-01-01 08:00
You Might Like...
Apple unexpectedly supports Right to Repair Act
Stars auction dog walks and dinner to help crews on SAG-AFTRA strike
Internet mocks Joe Biden after ‘Fox & Friends’ hosts react to ‘Operation Bubble Wrap’ as POTUS turns 81
What happened to Dixie D'Amelio? Reality star rushed to West Hollywood hospital as she nearly faints after getting dehydrated
The best ice cream makers for every kitchen
Bereft but alive: dazed residents clean-up after Italy floods
Red River Rivalry returns as the name for the Texas-Oklahoma football matchup
As the NFL scouts for new European hosts, league still sees room to grow in Britain
