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Former Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Francisco Trincao has spoken out on his recent upturn in form, after his hugely disappointing form in England last season.

What did Francisco Trincao say?

The 23-year-old expressed his happiness at this current time with perhaps a disguised swipe at Bruno Lage for how he was managed last term.

Speaking to Sport TV, related by O Jogo, he said:

“It’s like the manager has said about me, I need the consistency that I haven’t had in recent years. I feel good here, I’m happy. I hope to gain this consistency to be able to give more and be better.”

What went wrong for Trincao at Wolves?

The Portuguese joined Barcelona on a five-year deal in January 2020 and was handed his debut in October later that year.

Over a year later, the winger netted his first goal for the Catalan Giants in a 3-2 away win at Real Betis in the Spanish League. The following weekend, he then recorded two assists in a 5-1 thumping of Alaves, which included some delicious link-up play with Lionel Messi.

Due to the incredible competition at Barcelona and with an obvious talent that needed some more regular minutes to be developed and nurtured, the attacker joined Wolves on a season-long loan with an option to buy in the summer of 2021 and was tipped to become a real force within English football.

However, the playmaker endured the least productive campaign of his career and only registered four goals in 30 appearances in all contributions.

It was an incredibly disappointing return, heightened by the fact that he was a player who obviously had an oozing attacking flair but a damaging lack of end product – a painfully similar trend to what compatriot Goncalo Guedes experienced in the Midlands.

The fellow Portugal international has endured a comparatively dismal spell in England. Signed last summer, he has only scored twice and registered a solitary assist in 18 appearances. A better rate than Trincao, but still far from mindblowing.

Like the former Barca man, he is already elsewhere – on loan at Benfica.

After Trincao's disastrous spell, the £13m-rated man has also returned to his homeland, signing on loan for Sporting CP. Across 45 appearances for the Lions, he has contributed 15 goals and assists in a season where Ruben Amorin’s side has defeated Arsenal in the Europa League and Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League group stage.

In a recent league match, the former Braga man netted a hat-trick against Casa Pia and also recorded two key passes, two successful dribbles, and a monstrous 9.3 rating, as per Sofascore.

Trincao opting against signing permanently for Wolves emerged as the best option for parties, his short spell in England will be one he'll swiftly forget.

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has offered to step down after the side’s poor performance at the World T20 2016 but has warned that cosmetic changes will be insufficient to address the deeper issues within Pakistan cricket. Speaking to the media in Lahore before meeting with a committee set up to look into the side’s performance, Waqar also apologised to the fans for the poor World T20 result.Pakistan won only one of the four group matches in the World T20, after a debacle in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh last month where they failed to qualify for the final. Following the team’s early exit in the Asia Cup, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan had hinted at sweeping changes, and the board formed a special committee to monitor Pakistan’s performance. This committee is expected to submit its recommendations to the PCB chairman later this week. Waqar’s two-year contract ends in June but it is learnt that his tenure with the side is unlikely to be extended.”I apologise to the whole nation, to all of you and to all the people who were at the airport chanting against us, all the people at the NCA [National Cricket Academy] who look after us,” Waqar said. “I apologise to everyone. Literally, I fold my hands and request all of you to forgive us for the way we performed, it should not have been this way. Our performance should have been better, but unfortunately that didn’t happen.”This is Waqar’s second stint as coach, after he had guided the side in 2010-11. He had parted ways with the team in 2011 due to a rift with captain Shahid Afridi. With Waqar and Misbah-ul-Haq at the helm, Pakistan had climbed to No. 2 in the ICC Test rankings, and are currently at No. 4. Their position in the limited-overs rankings, however, has been weak. They are currently ranked No. 8 among ODI sides and No. 7 in the T20I format. The side’s last win in a T20I series came in September 2015 against Zimbabwe, and they subsequently lost series to England and New Zealand in the lead-up to the Asia Cup and the World T20.Waqar refrained from blaming individuals, and instead urged the PCB to address the deeper issues in the system.”These days there is a notion being discussed to dismiss the chairman, selectors or the coaches, but the point is whether the problems are really being understood. Are we really getting down to the problem in our country and mending it? Are we really correcting the system which needs to be rectified?”So cosmetic changes will not help. This might bring temporary relief, might make you feel that things have changed and everything is fine but I think we should think about this deeply and mark the problems,” he said. “We know where the problems are and we have to open our eyes, eradicate the politics from cricket and get things right. I had mentioned these problems in 2015 and have put them up again. I can hope the PCB can deal with them.”We don’t need to hide anything, everything is in front of us, they way we played. It’s not like I am hiding anything. In fact, the time to sweep things under the rug is over. It is time to step up and solve problems. People have blamed me. That’s not an issue. I will go home but the problem remains. If the problem is solved by sacking me, then sack me. Not tomorrow, but today. But the problem is deeper than that.”Waqar also chose to play down the uncertainty surrounding his future in the role.”My future as coach isn’t relevant. Why is there a sense that Pakistan cricket is linked with my future? It is definitely not. I had a stint previously as well and I am here again but I may not be there in the future and someone else may come in. The point is, I am not the problem. We have to find the real problem.”Waqar has submitted his report of the tournament to the PCB chairman and it is learnt that the report covers a wide range of issues, from selection matters to the players’ capacities and the issues he has faced in last two years. While he refused to divulge information about the report, he said that most of the issues facing Pakistan cricket were in the public domain, prime among them being the lack of international cricket in country.”It’s not that roots have always been weak in the country … cricket not being played here in Pakistan is one of the many problems but we have to take care of our stadiums and domestic cricket to get it going.”Yes not having international cricket in Pakistan did make an impact and disturbed the roots of cricket. Whatever you have made in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, a home away from home, isn’t really a solution. India and other countries are producing cricketers by playing at home grounds. Cricket the game isn’t for stars, it’s a game for heroes. We often mix it as you may see a star doing TV ads but cricket is played by heroes and those who play the game don’t see other things around. So we want heroes and not the stars.”

Arsenal have reportedly joined the race to sign Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister this summer.

The Lowdown: More business with Brighton

Arsenal have done plenty of business with Brighton over the last couple of seasons, signing both Ben White and Leandro Trossard, as well as having a £70m bid rejected for Moises Caicedo in the January transfer window.

It looks like they could try and do business again with them this summer, with Mac Allister emerging as a new target.

The Latest: Arsenal join Mac Allister race

As per Football Insider, the Gunners, as well as Manchester United and Manchester City, have joined Liverpool in registering an interest in signing Mac Allister this summer.

The Seagulls have set a £70m price tag on his shoulders, and he is thought to be ‘ready to go’ to a bigger club.

They have the option to extend his deal by another year, with his current contract set to expire in 2025.

The Verdict: No-brainer

If a player of Mac Allister’s quality becomes available, it is surely a no-brainer for Mikel Arteta’s side to try and sign him.

Hailed as a ‘stunning’ player by his manager Roberto De Zerbi, he is enjoying an outstanding season for both club and country.

His eight goals and one assist in all competitions has helped Brighton challenge for the European spots in the Premier League, and reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Mac Allister also played six times for Argentina on their way to winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, recording one goal and supplying one assist.

Nonetheless, with the North Londoners looking to compete in the UEFA Champions League as well as the Premier League next term, the 24-year-old would be a top signing.

A statistical look-back at Sachin Tendulkar’s career in ODIs

Mathew Varghese10-Oct-2007Sachin Tendulkar will become the first to play 400 ODIs for his national team, when he takes the field in Vadodara on October 10. Tendulkar, though, is a close second to Sanath Jayasuriya in reaching the mark in ODIs. Jayasuriya played his 400th against England in Dambulla, but four of his 402 appearances have not been for Sri Lanka. (For Tendulkar’s career summary, click here.)Since his debut in 1989, Tendulkar has risen to become the face of the one-day game. His 15,000 runs – and counting – will take some overtaking, considering that the only player younger than him in the 10,000-plus club is Ricky Ponting.

Besides the 15,000 runs, even his mark of 41 centuries looks a tough ask for any batsman.In the last 15 matches, Tendulkar has scored 716 runs at an average of 47.73. Fitness problems have plagued him in the current decade, and the 25 ODIs he’s played this year are the most he’s played in a calendar year since 2000, when he played 34 matches.Tendulkar’s average of 46.63 and strike-rate of 83.41 this year are marginally better than corresponding figures in the last three years, a clear indication that his powers are not on the wane.

The only conundrum Tendulkar has faced of late is reaching the three-figure mark. However, he will be playing in Vadodara, where he scored his last, against West Indies earlier this year. Since then, in 21 matches, he has come agonisingly close on four occasions, getting out in the nineties. Two of those came in successive matches, while he was out on 99 twice, the only other batsman to do so besides Jayasuriya.Had Tendulkar been Bradmanesque in converting his scores in the nineties to hundreds, he would be one short of a remarkable 100 hundreds in international cricket.Tendulkar was edgy in the previous match in Chandigarh, scratching around for a rather dull 119-ball 79. More importantly, though, he and Sourav Ganguly gave India a solid start with their stand of 91. The duo have been prolific opening the batting this season, commencing with the ODIs in Ireland.

Ganguly and Tendulkar have opened in seven of the eight matches India have won since June this year, and have averaged 89.14 in those games.Tendulkar is the highest run-getter against Australia in ODIs, and his tally of 2321 in 51 matches is second to his best of 2436 from 65 matches against Sri Lanka.Although the centuries aren’t coming as easily, his appetite for runs hasn’t reduced and he’s been able to consolidate on the starts he’s got, scoring marginally higher this year once he’s got a look-in.

Tendulkar’s batting largely overshadow his bowling abilities. He’s more than a handy bowler, with 152 wickets in ODIs so far. He also has two five-fors to his credit – both coming at Kochi – and his mix of spin and seam-up make him both an enigmatic and erratic bowler.With 118 catches as well, it’s no wonder he’s usually in the thick of the action.

The IPL has signalled that it might move away from the auction system after criticism of the system as “undignified and cruel” and “humiliating” to players

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jan-20186:20

Manjrekar: ‘A lot of cricketing sense at the auction’

The IPL has signalled that it might move away from the auction system, which was this week criticised as “undignified and cruel” and “humiliating” to players.New Zealand has become the first country where administrators have dared to voice disapproval of the auction. Heath Mills, chief executive of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association, told the : “I think the whole system is archaic and deeply humiliating for the players, who are paraded like cattle for all the world to see.”Mills was endorsing a tweet from Peter Clinton, a former chief executive of Wellington Cricket, who said: “The IPL Auction is such an undignified, cruel and unnecessary employment practice. Ridiculous that it exists today, belongs in the medieval ages.”The IPL is firmly established as the most lucrative career option for Twenty20 cricketers of note – the place where virtually every player wants to be – but Mills suggested that the acquiescence of the players should not be interpreted as contentment about the system.”There’s a lot of good things about the Indian Premier League and it’s been great for cricket but I’d like to see it mirror the rest of professional sport in the way they engage athletes,” Mills said.”Some players do exceptionally well out of if but the vast majority would like to see the system changed. They would like to negotiate with coaches and owners behind closed doors.”Mills’ criticism centred upon the players’ lack of control over their own destiny. Under the auction system, they are commodities, available to the highest bidder, and have no input as to where they play.”The players enter the auction not knowing where they are going, who their team-mates are going be, who’s managing them, who the owners are — no other sports league in the world engages players on that basis,” he said.”We’ve seen some players play for five or six teams over the 10 years the league has been going. Coaches cannot build an affinity with players, they can’t build a long-term culture. Players’ associations around the world would like to see it change.”Supporters seeking to identify with a club have also traditionally valued a mix of continuity and new signings, although the IPL’s heavy turnover does not seem to have hampered its popularity as it has become an irresistible part of the world cricketing calendar.The 2018 IPL auction kicked off in Bengaluru on Saturday•BCCINevertheless, the IPL is aware of the scepticism form the rest of the cricketing world towards its “mega auctions”. Hemang Amin, the IPL’s chief operating officer, said that auctions might give way to a draft system, which is well established across a wide range of sports.”Going forward, the thinking is that we will reduce, maybe not have mega auctions, but consider having a draft system for new players to come in, which acts as feeder system to teams,” Amin said at the end of the two-day IPL auction last weekend. “Hence, IPL Governing Council is thinking on the lines of how to cut down on the big auction and have the continuity with teams.”This year the IPL made it mandatory that teams had to spend a minimum 75% of their purse before and during the auction. That would include both retentions and buying new players. The total purse available for all eight franchises was US $100 million, out of which Amin said $96.875 million was spent by the end of the auction.Amin said the IPL had decided to reduce the number of players that remained unsold compared to the previous big auction, in 2014, so reducing the number of players actively rejected during the auction process.”If you look at the 2014 auction, we had presented around 320 players then before going into the accelerated bidding process. This time, we have taken learnings from previous years. We presented 170 players of which around 120 were sold. So if you compare to 2014 when 200 players went unsold, this time it was 50 or 60 who went unsold. Also on day one, 70 out of 110 were sold. So we’re trying to reduce the number of unsold players.”In all, however, 581 players were named in the final auction list. New Zealand managed to find seven sales from 24 names; England a similar outcome.Mills was not confident about change. He told the , “It’s almost got to the point where there’s more interest in the auction than the games and I think they’ll keep doing it even though the general player view it is that there’s better ways to do it.”

Elliot Anderson would be "massively, massively unlucky" to not make Newcastle United's starting XI for the opening game of the season, according to Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope.

The academy product has been impressive this pre-season.

Where does Elliot Anderson play?

The 20-year-old seems to be being deployed as a midfielder this season, despite making a number of appearances last season as a winger.

This is based on the way manager Eddie Howe has used the youngster throughout this pre-season. The Newcastle academy product has played across both advanced midfield positions so far this summer, and impressed in the roles during the club's US tour as part of the Premier League Summer Series pre-season competition.

According to reports, the Magpies originally planned to bring in two midfielders this window, but the emergence of Anderson, as well as 17-year-old Lewis Miley, has resulted in that aim being put on the back burner following the £55m arrival of Italian Sandro Tonali from AC Milan.

Anderson has drawn comparisons to Paul Gascoigne in recent weeks since his deployment in central midfield, and manager Howe has been full of praise for the midfielder, suggesting he has a real chance of breaking into the Magpies' starting XI.

"He is very much knocking on the door, his journey has been interesting. The loan at Bristol Rovers (season before last) certainly helped him, as much from a confidence perspective. Sometimes, you need evidence to believe how good you actually are.

Coming back last season, he had a few niggly injuries which was frustrating and hampered his progress. This year, he looks stronger and ready to contribute regularly for us."

Speaking on his YouTube channel following the side's pre-season clash with Fiorentina, journalist Hope revealed that he believes Anderson would be really unlucky should he miss out on a place in Howe's starting XI against Aston Villa on Saturday.

He said: "I tweeted after the game if Elliot Anderson doesn’t find himself in the starting eleven next weekend, I think he’ll be massively, massively unlucky.

"For me, I think he was the best performer in America, I thought overall Anderson was the best player throughout the States tour, and today I thought he was brilliant."

Who could start in Newcastle's midfield?

It seems like there will be a tough battle to start in Newcastle United's midfield next season.

One player who is expected to start is Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian has been a revelation since his arrival from Olympique Lyon in 2021. The midfielder has received a number of awards during his time on Tyneside, and is expected to start at the base of the Magpies midfield next season.

Another player who would expect to start is Joelinton. The striker-turned-central midfielder is a cult hero on Tyneside and has been a stalwart in Howe's Newcastle sides since his arrival.

The player who won the Magpies' Player of the Year award in the 2021/22 campaign would be one of the two advanced midfielders, assuming Howe maintains his current system.

Anderson would face competition from fellow youth academy graduate Sean Longstaff, former Arsenal man Joe Willock and new signing Tonali for the final spot in the starting XI. Longstaff was the most regular starter last season, making 41 appearances last campaign, however, he seems the most likely candidate to lose his spot to Anderson to start the campaign.

Either way, it seems Howe has a big decision to make ahead of the weekend given the depth now at his disposal at St James' Park.

Harry Kane could be reunited with Eric Dier as Bayern Munich have reportedly reached a surprise 'verbal agreement' to sign the Tottenham outcast.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Dier could leave Tottenham
• Could reunite with Kane at Bayern
• Has agreed personal terms with the German club

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to the centre-back is on the verge of leaving north London after seeing his minutes dwindle under head coach Ange Postecoglou. It is believed that Dier has already agreed to personal terms with the reigning Bundesliga champions and could once again share the dressing room with Kane.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Thomas Tuchel has taken a keen interest in Dier and believes that the centre-back could be useful in his setup as he is versatile enough to play in a variety of positions. With the defender keen for a fresh challenge to revive his career a decision is expected in the next few days.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite suspension and injuries to key players like Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, Dier has failed to nail down a starting berth under Postecoglou. With less than six months remaining on his contract, it is anticipated that the 29-year-old England international will leave Spurs for greener pastures in January.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Spurs are reportedly pursuing Genoa's Radu Dragusin as a potential replacement and Dier could head out once the transfer is sealed. However, the Bavarians are likely to push for the transfer before they return to action on January 12 against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.

A Caribbean Select XI will take on a Trinidad team on October 14 to help raise money for victims of the hurricanes that ravaged the Caribbean islands in September

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Oct-2017A Caribbean Select XI will take on a Trinidad side in Port of Spain on October 14 to raise funds for the victims of recent hurricanes in the Caribbean. The Trinidad side will be captained by Kieron Pollard, while St Lucia’s Darren Sammy will lead the Caribbean Select XI in the charity match themed ‘Rebuilding the Caribbean one over at a time’. Alongside the proceeds from ticket sales – a tickets cost $100 – containers will be placed around the ground to collect canned items and clothing.The move sustains fundraising efforts that took place during the ODI series between West Indies and England. Members of the West Indies team management, such as Joel Garner, could be seen during games taking collection buckets around the crowd. It is understood that all members of the playing squad have contributed.The Caribbean islands were ravaged by two Category 5 major hurricanes, Irma and Maria – the former being the most powerful recorded in the Atlantic since 2005 – among other hurricanes through August and September. Such was the level of devastation in some parts of the region, notably Dominica, Barbuda and St Martin, that communication with some communities is still difficult. Offspinner Shane Shillingfordwas only recently found, having gone missing for some time following the hurricanes. He is understood to be in good health.

Birmingham boosted their hopes of qualifying for the NatWest T20 Blast knockout stages with a 30-run win over Leicestershire at Grace Road

ECB Reporters Network26-Jul-2017
ScorecardFile photo – Sam Hain’s half-century provided the platform for Birmingham•Getty Images

Birmingham boosted their hopes of qualifying for the NatWest T20 Blast knockout stages with a 30-run win over Leicestershire at Grace Road.Sam Hain struck 57 off 35 balls as the Bears recovered from a shaky start to post 187 for 7 after they were stuck in. Boyd Rankin and Aaron Thomason then each took three wickets and Jeetan Patel was at his economical best to restrict the Foxes to 157 for eight.The win moved Birmingham level on eight points with Leicestershire, who slipped to their second consecutive defeat, in the North Group.Young opener Ed Pollock, who had hit 66 off 40 balls on debut against Derbyshire in the previous game, was stumped by Luke Ronchi for 5 from a clever piece of bowling by left-arm spinner Callum Parkinson. Then Ian Bell, having lofted one straight four, tried to repeat the shot against Clint Mckay and skied high to Tom Wells at mid-off.But having been struggling on 23 for 2 off four overs, Hain and Will Porterfield took 29 off the last two overs of the Powerplay, with the latter hitting the offspin of Colin Ackermann for two sixes.Hain was fortunate to survive on 21, when Gavin Griffiths dropped a straightforward caught-and-bowled opportunity, and it was to prove an expensive miss by the Foxes.Porterfield was also caught by Wells, at long-on off Parkinson, having added 63 with Hain off just 39 balls, but Hain went on to a half-century from just 28 deliveries. His presence enabled Colin de Grandhomme and Grant Elliott to hit out to good, if brief, effect.Mat Pillans, expensive in his early overs, came back well to pick up the wickets of Thomason and then Hain, but Keith Barker and Alex Mellor compiled an unbroken partnership of 43 for the eighth wicket to ensure the visitors went into the break having maintained the initiative.On a flat pitch, a run-rate of 9.3 looked attainable, and 32 came off Keith Barker’s opening two overs. But Leicestershire’s top order found Rankin harder to get away, and Cameron Delport could not clear mid-on.Mark Cosgrove looked in wonderful touch before wastefully carving Thomason’s gentle medium-pace to Birmingham captain Bell at extra cover to go for 22. Patel bowled Ackermann and the writing was on the wall when Thomason bowled Ronchi for 27.Wells and Pillans added 53 for the seventh wicket, but it was a case of steering the Foxes’ score towards respectability as Patel conceded just 17 from his four overs.

Chamara Kapugedara has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy with an injury to his right knee, which was sustained during training on Wednesday

Andrew Fidel Fernando07-Jun-2017Sri Lanka batsman Chamara Kapugedera has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy with an injury to his right knee, which was sustained during training on Wednesday. He has been replaced with opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka, who was on stand-by in England.”Kapugedara [had] a heavy pounding on the right knee when he landed on it awkwardly during a fielding drill this morning, and radiographic investigation has revealed a meniscal tear coupled with an acute tendon injury,” a board release said. “Tournament and SLC Medical experts have recommended a supervised convalescence of two weeks, followed by a review of the injury.”Though Gunathilaka, who is likely to play the match against India on Thursday, is officially replacing Kapugedara, he will effectively be taking the place of Upul Tharanga at the top of the order. Kapugedara’s middle order position, meanwhile, will be assumed by Angelo Mathews, who is set to play his first ODI since August last year.Kapugedara was out first ball in Sri Lanka’s tournament opener against South Africa, but had been in some form in the approach to the tournament.