A deal for one £50 million star could now be "too hard to do" for Newcastle United and Eddie Howe, with Tottenham "ready to swoop" and take advantage.
Spurs tipped to strengthen in key areas this summer
Lilywhites boss Ange Postecoglou will be looking to bolster his Spurs squad in a number of key areas over the summer window.
Simeone really wants Tottenham star with Atletico prepared to pay 8 figures
The big-name boss has expressed his desire to sign him behind-the-scenes.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 23, 2024
As reliably reported by Fabrizio Romano last month, Tottenham will be looking to add more goals and assists to Postecoglou's squad in the form of a star winger, with Barcelona's Raphinha and Wolves winger Pedro Neto among the players on their radar.
“Look, a player they appreciate for a long time is Raphinha from Barcelona. We know the financial situation at Barcelona is not easy, so he could be one of the names. They will look at that kind of player," said Romano to JD Football.
Son Heung-min
7.34
James Maddison
7.28
Pedro Porro
7.10
Manor Solomon
7.05
Cristian Romero
7.02
"Another player they appreciate is Pedro Neto, but he has this issue with his injuries, so I’m not sure Liverpool, Tottenham or the other clubs following the player will be prepared to play big money for Pedro Neto this summer. That kind of player is the priority for Tottenham, I see them going for that kind of winger, a quality player to help with goals and assists."
As well as a goalscoring winger, another reliable media source in football.london correspondent Alasdair Gold has reported that Spurs want to sign a number 6 and new striker to replace Harry Kane.
The north Londoners, who are preparing for an all-important clash against arch-rivals and title-chasing Arsenal, have been repeatedly linked with bringing in a potential midfield replacement for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – as it is widely expected the Dane could leave this summer.
One name who stands out above all others is Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, as the Blues may need to sell one of their star men with just a year remaining on his contract amid FFP worries.
Tottenham in pole position to sign Gallagher over Newcastle
Rumoured to command a £50 million price tag, an update has emerged on the 24-year-old's future this week.
According to Football Insider and journalist Pete O'Rourke, Tottenham are "ready to swoop" for Gallagher and favourites to sign him over Newcastle, as Howe's side are being restricted by the boundaries of FFP and a deal could be "too hard to do" for them.
Spurs are apparently "well-placed" to sign the Englishman over Newcastle as a result, which will come as a welcome bit of good news for Postecoglou.
The Australia opener conceded he didn’t capitalise on his good form last season and is determined to put it right against India should the series take place
Andrew McGlashan07-May-2020Australia opener Joe Burns has conceded he didn’t capitalise on his good form last season as he returned to the Test team and is determined to put it right against India should the series be able to take place later this year.Burns’ stop-start international career resumed last summer as he partnered David Warner through Australia’s unbeaten campaign against Pakistan and New Zealand. He made 97 at the Gabba, his home ground, as part of an opening stand of 222, but managed just one further half-century in seven innings to finish with 256 runs at 32.00.However, he finished the truncated Sheffield Shield season strongly with Queensland, including a century against Victoria, and last week was handed a Cricket Australia contract to confirm he remains the favoured man for the role next season, having seen the chance of two Tests in Bangladesh scheduled for next month ended by Covid-19.”I feel like I batted pretty well and left a lot of runs out there,” Burns said. “As an opening batter you get through the first hour of the first session – they’re the times you set yourself up to go on and get a really big score.”Unfortunately, I didn’t go on and get too many big ones but I felt like I did my role pretty well. The satisfying thing for me was to go back to Queensland once the Test series finished and going on and getting those bigger scores. That confirmed to me I was in a really good spot with my batting.”I’m just looking forward to the next season now and continuing that. If I am in that form and in those positions where you get through the first session or lunch [on] day one, you’re in a position to get a big hundred and drive the game as an opening batsman.”ALSO READ: Players’ association casts doubt on Cricket Australia’s financial warningsThis time last year Burns was about to abort a county stint with Lancashire and would eventually be diagnosed with post-viral fatigue disorder. Though he returned in time for the Australia A tour of the UK, he did not make the cut for the Ashes. Even before the pandemic he did not have plans to return to county cricket this season although he would look at another deal in the future – instead focusing on some downtime, which included a now-cancelled trip of the United States – and believes he has learnt from the illness.”I certainly managed myself a lot differently this summer,” he said. “I was in a really good spot physically. An enforced lay-off now for everyone gives you the opportunity to get yourself right and reset. It’s probably the longest off-season anyone has had for a long time. From a physical perspective, it gives us the opportunity to be in a strong position. In the back of our minds we know once we do start playing again, it will be non-stop looking at the calendar.”If the 2020-21 home season, which is also meant to include a one-off Test against Afghanistan, is able to take place as scheduled – albeit probably without crowds – the major challenge facing Burns will be the India Test attack which vies to be the most potent in the world. It could feature the same names who were successful in Australia in 2018-19 when they won the four-match Test series 2-1, although the home side were without David Warner and Steven Smith, who were serving their year-long bans at the time following the Newlands ball-tampering scandal, while Marnus Labuschagne has since emerged as a formidable force.”I look at Australia and India as having two incredibly strong bowling attacks and that’s going to be so exciting to watch the teams go at it,” Burns said. “As an opening batter, that’s why it’s so exiting for myself; it’s going to be a huge challenge this summer, a big role to play in nullifying the Indian bowlers, especially early in the match, morning of day one with the new ball.”There remain a lot of questions about how next summer will look with a report in The Australian saying the Sheffield Shield could be cut to eight rounds without a final, the WBBL reduced and pathway programmes stripped back as part of Cricket Australia’s cost-cutting measures. Burns acknowledged the pandemic was leading to huge challenges, but hoped the Shield could retain its current 10-round format.”For me, I love the fact we have a really strong first-class system, the 10 games where you play everyone twice is really strong,” he said. “It leads to world-class players coming into Test teams. You don’t want to see that get changed or adjustments made to that. It’s pretty unique circumstances at the moment. There’s a lot of things to work through. Speaking purely as a player, I love the fact that it’s 10 rounds.”
As Everton anxiously anticipate the result of their appeal against their 10-point deduction for breaching Financial Fair Play rules earlier this season, Sean Dyche is beginning to turn his attention to the summer transfer window and preparing to make some ruthless decisions at Goodison Park, according to reports.
Everton transfer news
The Everton headlines have been centred around potential exits rather than incomings for a few months now and that's unlikely to go away anytime soon with the summer transfer window fast approaching.
The two biggest names linked with a move away are Amadou Onana and Jarrad Branthwaite. Onana is still reportedly attracting interest from Chelsea and has a price-tag of £51m. Branthwaite, meanwhile, has seen his name linked with clubs as big as Real Madrid in what would likely be a dream move for a hefty fee.
Everton's 6/10 star with fewer touches than Pickford was Dyche's villain
He only managed 34 touches during last night’s 1-1 draw.
By
Ethan Lamb
Feb 20, 2024
It's no major surprise that big-money moves could be possible out of Everton this summer, given their need to balance the books after two FFP charges. If the Toffees do drop down from the Premier League, they will be left with no choice but to sanction the sale of a number of key players. There is one player who Dyche isn't exactly desperate to keep, however.
According to Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, Mason Holgate no longer has a future at Everton whilst Dyche is in charge. The defender is currently on loan at Sheffield United and made the headlines for the wrong reasons last time out when his horror tackle on Kaoru Mitoma resulted in a red card inside 13 minutes.
Holgate's loan spell is his second of the season, having failed to earn a place in Russell Martin's Southampton side on a consistent enough basis earlier in the campaign, before being recalled by Everton and sent to the Blades.
"Brilliant" Holgate needs fresh start
Holgate's Everton career has taken a downward dive in recent years, having initially got off to a promising start after completing a move worth a reported £2m in 2015. 18-years-old at the time, Holgate is now 27 and may look back on what might have been in Merseyside, with his time at Everton seemingly destined to come to an end.
Everton defender Mason Holgate.
There was a point in which the defender was at the centre of praise from the likes of Peter Crouch, who told the Daily Mail after Everton's victory over Liverpool in 2021.
Three years later, however, and Holgate isn't the player that Crouch predicted and must now go again at the end of the season, when he may finally get a permanent move away from Goodison Park.
da luck： Glasgow Rangers have the chance to bounce back to winning ways this evening as they travel away to face off against Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.
da fazobetai： The Light Blues were supposed to play them before the recent international break but the match was postponed shortly before kick-off due to a waterlogged pitch.
Three points for the Gers will send them back to the top of the league, as they only one point behind rivals Celtic, and that should be the aim for Philippe Clement's side.
Rangers come into this match off the back of a 3-3 draw in the Old Firm clash with the Hoops on Sunday, a game in which they battled back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to secure a point.
Goals from James Tavernier, Abdallah Sima, and Rabbi Matondo ensured that the Gers avoided defeat and provided themselves with a chance to return to the top of the Premiership tonight.
It was far from a perfect performance from the Light Blues, given that they conceded three goals at home, and Clement could look to make some changes from the starting XI that lined up on Sunday.
One alteration the Belgian head coach should make is to brutally ditch attacking midfielder Tom Lawrence from the lineup to bring Todd Cantwell back into the team.
Tom Lawrence's performance against Celtic
The former Derby County wizard was selected to start as the number ten behind Cyriel Dessers, with John Lundstram and Mohammed Diomande behind him in midfield, in the big clash with Celtic at Ibrox.
Unfortunately, the Wales international failed to step up to the mark as he produced a disappointing performance before being taken off with the score at 2-1 to the Hoops.
23/24 Premiership
Tom Lawrence
Appearances
18
Sofascore rating
7.10
Goals
1
Assists
3
Key passes per game
1.3
Dribble success rate
61%
Pass accuracy
82%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Lawrence has usually been a creative presence in midfield for Rangers with his quality and reliability in possession of the ball.
However, that was not the case on Sunday as the 30-year-old midfielder only completed 58% of his attempted passes and did not contribute with a single key pass or shot on target.
The Gers dynamo, who lost possession 13 times, was also tackled in both of his attempted dribbles and had a 0% long pass success rate in his 69 minutes on the pitch.
Glasgow Rangers forward Tom Lawrence.
These statistics show that Lawrence, who also committed a foul that caused Dessers' goal to be ruled out, did not make a positive impact on the game in possession, with his wasteful play on the ball.
This is why Clement must now drop the experienced maestro to the bench for this clash with Dundee, as Cantwell could be a better option than him in the number ten role tonight.
Todd Cantwell's bright Old Firm cameo
The former Norwich City star was brought on with 21 minutes left to go and the score at 2-1 to Celtic and caught the eye with an energetic cameo.
He created one chance in those 21 minutes, whilst Lawrence made zero key passes in 69 minutes, and was heavily involved in the build-up to the equaliser from Matondo in stoppage time.
The English magician held onto the ball well under pressure and released it to Lundstram on the edge of the box, who then had a simple pass to set up Matondo for the sensational curling effort into the far corner.
Rangers midfielder Todd Cantwell.
Cantwell buzzed about the pitch to get on the ball and make an impact, with 25 touches and nine passes completed in 21 minutes. Whereas, Lawrence only had 36 touches and completed 11 passes in more than three times as much time on the field.
His energy helped to get Rangers back into the match, by getting the Gers up the pitch and into the Hoops third, and then played a big role in the third goal.
The 26-year-old star has also showcased his ability to directly impact matches with goals and assists since his move from the Canaries at the start of last year, which is another reason why Clement should unleash him against Dundee.
Todd Cantwell's Premiership record
During the second half of last season, Cantwell hit the ground running in Glasgow with a fantastic return of six goals and four assists in 16 Premiership matches for Michael Beale.
The right-footed talent, who also created five 'big chances' and made 1.3 key passes per game, was directly involved in more than one goal every other game on average.
This season, the English wizard has once again provided quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals for the Gers at the top end of the pitch, having been deployed out wide and through the middle as an attacking midfielder at times.
23/24 Premiership
Todd Cantwell
Tom Lawrence
Appearances
24
18
Sofascore rating
7.35
7.10
Goals
5
1
Assists
4
3
Big chances created
5
4
Key passes per game
1.6
1.3
Pass accuracy
84%
82%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Cantwell has outperformed Lawrence in the Premiership this season with his reliability on the ball, his creativity, and his goal threat in the final third.
This is why Clement must brutally ditch the Welshman to unleash the former Premier League ace, who journalist Josh Bunting once claimed "makes things happen", against Dundee tonight, particularly when you consider how vulnerable their defence is.
Only Livingston (55) have conceded more goals than Dundee (54) in the Premiership, which suggests that there will be chances for the Gers to secure a convincing win as they do not have a tight backline.
Todd Cantwell
Therefore, Rangers need players who can make the most of that leaky defence, and Cantwell's statistics so far this season suggest that he is the right man for the job as he has showcased his quality as a goalscorer over the last 18 months.
Lawrence, who has only scored one league goal for the Gers this term, does not provide enough of a goal threat to be considered a lethal threat in the final third, which is why he should be dropped to make way for the ex-Canary whiz tonight.
With Liverpool's attempts to fill the vacancy in their dugout ongoing, it appears that the Premier League side are set to begin talks with targets imminently.
Liverpool's managerial manhunt
As soon as Jürgen Klopp announced his decision to leave Liverpool at the end of the season, the rumours began swirling as to who would replace the German in the Anfield dugout.
Liverpool "following" elite new winger amid Luis Diaz links to Barcelona
What a signing this could be for the Reds.
ByHenry Jackson Mar 5, 2024
The obvious front-runner for much of this period has been Xabi Alonso. The current Leverkusen boss played 143 times for Liverpool during his playing career and has earned plaudits during his time in Germany. Currently ten points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, it may prove tricky to tempt to Spaniard to move back to Merseyside.
Rumours linking Ange Postecoglou with a move to Anfield have been put to bed in recent days as well as Lens boss Franck Haise who had also been touted to fill the vacancy. With the search for Klopp's successor continuing, it has been reported that FSG have settled on a shortlist with talks set to begin soon.
Two young managers set for Anfield interviews
As first reported by Football Insider, both Ruben Amorim and Julian Nagelsmann are on Liverpool's manager shortlist. Sources have told the outlet that the pair are both "set for interviews" with the club in the coming weeks as the club look to replace Klopp this summer.
The outlet states that the pair have joined Alonso on the list however, it is suggested that Liverpool's attention is now turning away from the Spaniard as he appears more drawn to offers from elsewhere.
Amorim is currently in the dugout at Sporting CP, who sit one point clear at the top of the Portuegese Primeira Liga. His Sporting side's stats have seen them score two goals per game and only lose twice all season, whilst still competing in the Europa League. The 39-year-old fits a similar mould to that of Alonso and would be a strong successor to Klopp's high energy, attacking style of play.
Sporting's Ruben Amorim
Nagelsmann will be a familiar name to English fans with the current German national team manager previously linked with a move to Spurs before Ange Postecoglou took over this summer. A compatriot of Klopp, Nagelsmann's style of play has often been likened to that of the Liverpool boss with both favouring a high pressing, attacking tactical profile.
Still in the infancy of his management career, his development has been closely followed by many in the game with Klopp himself tipping him for big things back in 2017.
Bayern's Julian Nagelsmann
Seven years on and Nagelsmann has made waves as one of the most impressive young managers working today. First with Hoffenheim then RB Leipzig, the 36-year-old has a knack for getting the most out of young sides and delivering success.
Regardless of whether it is Amorim or Nagelsmann who ends up in the dugout at Anfield, it is clear that Klopp's legacy would be in safe hands.
Galatasaray advisor and prominent agent George Gardi has dived into the behind-the-scenes developments with regards to the transfer to Leroy Sane to the Turkish heavyweights. The 29-year-old, who left Bayern Munich as a free agent at the end of last season, signed a three-year deal with Galatasaray after the club managed to convince him of his importance in the project.
Sane settling into new club Galatasaray
The former Manchester City and Schalke star left Bayern Munich as a free agent upon the expiry of his contract over the summer and joined reigning Turkish Super Lig champions Galatasaray on a three-year deal. He is one of the highest-earning players in Turkey, pocketing a hefty €9 million annual bonus along with a net loyalty bonus of €3m.
His first few months at the club weren't as good as many expected. The German international struggled to maintain his fitness and looked rusty during games. In fact, he was even dropped from the starting XI for the Champions League encounter against Liverpool in September.
However, things have started to fall in place for Sane in recent weeks. In a recent interview with , the winger admitted that "things didn't quite go as planned on the pitch at the beginning," but after getting regular minutes under his belt and spending more time with his new team-mates on the field, he was "very happy with my performances and how I've played."
Advertisement
Getty Images
Galatasaray advisor reveals how the Sane transfer developed
Galatasaray transfer advisor George Gardi – one of the most prominent agents in Turkey, having facilitated the arrivals of Mauro Icardi, Victor Osimhen and Mario Gomez – has shed light on the behind-the-scenes developments surrounding the Sane transfer.
"This idea came about many, many months before the transfer window opened. I knew this player was needed to take the team to the next level. He was an essential player for building the squad for the upcoming season," Gardi told .
"When I started negotiations – many months in advance – I initially began with his then-agents. Then there was a change in management, and I continued with the new agents. Of course, it was difficult. He had offers from top clubs in England and Germany. He had a huge offer from Saudi Arabia. With the Club World Cup coming up, it was a big decision for his career."
Speaking about the negotiations, Gardi further explained: "I spoke a lot with the agents and also with him personally. I told him that Galatasaray could be a place where he would become one of the leaders. That he would fit perfectly into the system and could win in a place that would give him great emotions and great satisfaction – perhaps even with a chance to win something in Europe, something the club had never achieved before. I explained to the board and the president that we had to make this transfer very early. If we waited too long, the competition would be even greater and it would be almost impossible to get him. That's why I insisted on completing the deal before the Club World Cup. He travelled with Bayern Munich on the US tour and to the Club World Cup – and it was absolutely unusual for Galatasaray and generally for the Turkish market to sign such a player so early in the transfer window. Normally, these top players only arrive in the winter. Signing such a player so early sent a strong signal to the transfer market."
How Sane was convinced to join Galatasaray
Sane spent much of the 2024–25 season in a secondary role at Bayern Munich, logging just over 2,500 minutes in all competitions. Any club hoping to convince him would have needed to guarantee a larger role. At Galatasaray, he has already played nearly half as many minutes as he did last season. And that’s after only 15 matches.
"The deciding factor was the role he would have at the club," Gardi revealed. "The team needed a player with his qualities. The discussions with the coach – who made it very clear how important he would be to the team. And of course, the love of the fans, which he wouldn't have received elsewhere. To pull off transfers of such iconic players – players from such top clubs, with such fierce competition in the market – and to bring them in at the peak of their careers, and then at the beginning of the transfer window… that's a huge success for the club, for the president, the vice president, and the coach. We worked together brilliantly as a team to bring in such an important player. And hopefully, we will pull off similar transfers again in the future."
Getty Images Sport
Sane yet to unleash his best version for Galatasaray
Although he has scored three goals and delivered as many assists so far this season, the general consensus is that the 29-year-old is yet to display his best version for the Turkish heavyweights. In recent weeks, his prominence has increased and his convincing performances for Germany during the recently-concluded international break – where he scored twice – will only further boost his morale as the season progresses.
Gardi, as such, remains unflustered about Sane's impact. "There was a certain adjustment period – to the league, to the country. But now his performance is a key factor for the team, especially in the Champions League," he claimed. "And I believe we haven't yet seen his full potential. In the coming months, he will show his full potential – and raise his level even further, although it is already extremely high."
Manchester United could make a return for an old target to replace Raphael Varane this summer, and he could be available at a bargain price.
United in need of defensive additions
Manchester United's defence has been the subject of constant scrutiny this season. Harry Maguire has remained at the club and somewhat returned to the fold, but had previously been strongly linked with a move to West Ham over the summer and could well be on the move again if Erik ten Hag is granted a stay of execution.
Manchester United's defensive options
Contract until
Harry Maguire
2025
Victor Lindelof
2025
Raphael Varane
2025
Lisandro Martinez
2027
Jonny Evans
2024
Willy Kambwala
2025
Meanwhile, Lisandro Martinez has been sidelined for much of the campaign, and there has been constant speculation linking Raphael Varane with a move to Saudi Arabia this summer. With Victor Lindelof's long-term future also uncertain, it is clear that a defensive overhaul will be necessary at Old Trafford no matter who is at the helm.
Manchester United ready to poach another Premier League backroom staff star
INEOS are changing things behind the scenes and are lining up another addition
ByBen Browning Mar 6, 2024
Enter, Trevoh Chalobah. The Chelsea defender has been on the radar of Manchester United previously, with his versatility thought to be a major factor in their interest. Chalobah can play at centre-back or right-back comfortably, and he was strongly linked with a move to Bayern Munich in January, only for the Bavarian giants to opt to sign Eric Dier instead due to Chelsea's hefty asking price.
With Dier now having confirmed his permanent move to Bayern, and Chalobah's biggest admirer Thomas Tuchel leaving the club at the end of the season, there could be less competition for the Englishman's signature.
Chalobah has largely missed this season after picking up an injury at the beginning of the campaign, with Pochettino instead opting for other options over the Englishman. He made his first start of the season in their most recent outing, but could not prevent them from slipping to a 2-2 draw against London rivals Brentford, a result which leaves them 11th in the Premier League with 11 games left to play.
Chelsea need to sell in latest twist
Chelsea's latest financial results paint a grim picture, with the club posting a loss of £90m for the financial year, and the Telegraph report that 'Chelsea’s rivals believe the club need to raise at least £100 million by June 30'.
It means that just like last summer, Chelsea are under pressure to balance their books for financial fair play reasons. Unfortunately for them, however, the figure that they need to raise is now thought to be even greater than last summer, and they can no longer rely on their golden goose to get out of trouble, having sold him to Manchester United for £60m 12 months ago.
Manchester United player Mason Mount
They could well be on their way to raising some of those funds already, with options to buy included in loan moves for both Ian Maatsen and Lewis Hall. Should both deals go through, that could raise around £70m of pure profit, but they are thought to need a further £30m, something which is most easily achieved by selling homegrown talent.
To that end, the options are limited to Armando Broja (on loan at Fulham), Conor Gallagher and Chalobah, who has drawn admiring eyes from Old Trafford for a long time. It may be an opportune moment for clubs to re-open lines of communications for those players, with pressure firmly on the selling side to strike a deal quickly, and a potential bargain to be had.
Lynn did not pull any punches following his side’s latest performance when speaking immediately after the extraordinary finish
Alex Malcolm19-Jan-2020Brisbane Heat captain Chris Lynn has lambasted his side’s record BBL collapse against the Melbourne Renegades as “piss-poor” and “embarrassing”.The Heat were 0 for 84 after 5.5 overs chasing a target of 165 at the Gabba only to lose a record 10 for 36 to fall 44 runs short and put their finals hopes in severe jeopardy.This followed an embarrassing 10-wicket loss to the Adelaide Strikers last Thursday when they were bowled out for 100. They were also bowled out for just 109 earlier in the tournament against the Perth Scorchers attempting to chase just 150.Dan Christian wins an lbw against Ben Cutting•Getty ImagesLynn did not pull any punches following his side’s latest performance.”I’ve seemed to be in this position a couple of times this year,” he told Channel Seven. “I can’t really sugar-coat it, it was a piss-poor effort. Another embarrassing effort. We got off to a flyer. These guys that are playing they’re not first or second-year players, they’ve got four or five years under their belt.”We’re doing all the right things at training but I don’t know what is going on out in the middle because we just seem to panic. It’s not just a wicket or two, it’s a train wreck.”Lynn was the first man to fall holing out to deep long-on in the last ball of the powerplay which then triggered the stunning collapse. The Heat lost three wickets in four balls including AB de Villiers and Matt Renshaw, who both fell to Player of the Match Cameron Boyce in the seventh over.Lynn and coach Darren Lehmann called a strategic timeout at the end of the seventh over to try and steady the ship but the message to rebuild consolidate was not heeded.”Something has got to change,” Lynn said. “Our preparation has been awesome, you can’t fault that but it’s just out in the middle. I don’t know what goes through our guys’ heads. We had our strategic timeout, we had our plans in place not to play dumb cricket, knock it around, hit the guys in the deep, no run-outs, um … yeah, I’m pretty speechless.”Lynn was probed further by former Heat captain Brendon McCullum, now a Channel Seven commentator, and fellow commentator Ricky Ponting, as to why the Heat’s batsmen are recidivists but he could not find an answer.”I don’t know,” Lynn said. “I’m standing here for the second time after an embarrassment. It’s the biggest record loss after a powerplay of [84]. We were cruising and doing better than walking it in, I don’t really know what to say, to be honest.”Every player has got to look in and not out. We’re playing as a group of individuals and unless we change that we’re going to end up missing the finals again which is not good enough in the position we’re in and the players we’ve got in the line-up.”The Heat could have moved to fourth on the table with a victory, ahead of both the Sydney Thunder and the Perth Scorchers, but instead they remain sixth with just three games remaining and their net run-rate took a battering as a result of the stunning collapse.
Allrounder insists there’s only one man for the job currently and it is Root
George Dobell in Hamilton27-Nov-2019
Getty Images
Joe Root “has the backing of everybody” in the England dressing room, according to Ben Stokes.Root has endured a tough few days. After experiencing perhaps his worst Test as captain – England suffered an innings defeat and he recorded his lowest return in any Test as leader where he has batted twice – questions about his position as captain have resurfaced. In particular, there are concerns over whether the leadership is compromising his ability to contribute with the bat. He now averages under 40 as captain and under 30 in 2019.But it is clear he retains the full support of his teammates. Certainly Stokes, who might be considered one of the few viable alternatives for the position and is now, at No. 9, two places above Root in the Test batting rankings, is unequivocal in his support. He believes that it is unfair to pin the failures of the whole team on one man and that there is “no one else to do” the job.”Joe knows that he’s got the backing of everybody in the changing room: players, backroom staff and management,” Stokes said. “That’s the main thing that counts for us as players in a very tightknit group. He knows that everybody in that changing room 100 percent backs him, as I do.”The pressures of being England Test captain is huge. It can be one of the most criticised jobs in England at times. And sometimes that criticism is unfair, I would say. There are 11 guys that contribute to a win or loss. It doesn’t all fall on the captain.”We put our hands up as players when we don’t perform. But unfortunately Joe cops most of that [criticsm]. But as a playing group, we stick together and we hold our hands up together as well.”He’s fine. He’s Joe Root. He is England captain and there’s no one else to do it.”There is unanimity within the England squad about where they went wrong in Mount Maunganui. Having squandered first use of the pitch, they then found themselves bowling on it at its best and were given a batting masterclass by BJ Watling. So, despite the scorecard, they know it was the batsmen, rather than the bowlers, who were most responsible for the defeat.”We fought as hard as we possibly could with the ball,” Stokes said. “I’m not quite sure what else we could have done. We spent 201 overs in the field and we left nothing out there. Scoring 350 in our first innings didn’t quite cut it. On a wicket like that, you have to get five or six hundred if you bat first. We knew we were under-par when we got bowled out.”Stokes was as disgusted as anyone by the comments directed at Jofra Archer towards the end of the first Test. As a man proud of his New Zealand and Maori heritage, he was at pains to point out how unrepresentative the incident was of the welcome England’s players – and supporters – receive in the country.”I’m obviously very proud of my heritage and where I’m from,” Stokes said. “I’ll always respect that. The tattoo on my arm just signifies where the family comes from.”Coming back to New Zealand, it’s not just a cricket tour for me. It’s also a great time to be able to catch up with family that I don’t get to see that often. I came out a week before the Test guys to stay with my mum and dad, which was awesome. I got to see brothers, sisters, cousins and everything like that. Every time I manage to come back it’s really good.”It wasn’t a nice way to end the Test match and it’s a shame because that doesn’t represent New Zealand is about as a country whatsoever. New Zealand is more accurately represented by how much support Jofra has had, not just from the New Zealand cricket team, but New Zealand in general after that incident.”That’s the main things for us now: making Jofra aware that we’ve got his back. It was a pretty horrific incident and something that shouldn’t happen in sport or in the world in general in 2019.”Archer was among the England seamers to return to training on Monday. While he didn’t have a long bowl, he appeared in no discomfort after his exertions in Mount Maunganui and is expected to play in the second Test. Indeed, England may well be unchanged.All the bowlers involved in the first Test bowled without issue on Wednesday though Matt Parkinson, the reserve spinner, took one ferocious blow to the thigh when Root thrashed one back at him. Parkinson will have a terrific bruise, but he was fine.Some of the fringe players have impressed, though. Saqib Mahmood continues to bowl well, while Zak Crawley is catching swallows in training and would appear to be a rare example of a county player reaching the England set-up with fitness levels to rival the very best in the squad.The 21-year-old scored a century in his only innings on the trip and is making a good case for his retention in the squad to tour South Africa despite the anticipated recall of Jonny Bairstow.
da mrbet： O Corinthians sofreu dois gols, mas conseguiu o empate com o Palmeiras por 2 a 2, na noite desta quarta-feira, na Neo Química Arena. Os gols alvinegros saíram quando chovia bastante em Itaquera e o gramado estava encharcado. Após a partida, o técnico Vagner Mancini disse que a chuva ocorreu em momento “importante” e valorizou a superação do time que teve diversos desfalques por causa do surto de coronavírus.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansVaranda espera ‘gritaria, beijos e abraços’ da família após marcar primeiro gol pelo CorinthiansCorinthians03/03/2021CorinthiansATUAÇÕES: Corinthians falha, mas gol e assistência de Vital garantem empate com o PalmeirasCorinthians03/03/2021Futebol NacionalEmbaixo de muita chuva, Palmeiras sai na frente, mas cede empate ao Corinthians em DérbiFutebol Nacional03/03/2021
da betano casino： – Acho que a chuva veio num momento importante para nós, o Palmeiras era superior, tinha aberto dois gols de vantagem e a chuva acabou equilibrando. Mas o grande momento do Corinthians foi no segundo tempo, com um pouco de chuva e um pouco sem. Acho que o Corinthians se encaixou melhor a partir do momento que entendeu o jogo, mas a grande virada foi na segunda etapa, o time voltou diferente, independentemente da chuva. Não deu espaços, brigou, valorizou mais a bola – avaliou o treinador.
Mancini disse que o time foi montado na “palestra”. Na terça-feira, oito jogadores haviam sido diagnosticados com coronavírus. Nesta quarta, Camacho apresentou febre e deixou a concentração, e Léo Natel sentiu dores decorrentes de um trauma na perna.
– Temos que enaltecer a superação do Corinthians em campo, um time que foi montado na palestra, não fez um treino tático. Embora seja um elenco que treina diariamente, para esse duelo foi feito tudo na palestra dentro do vestiário. Isso de certa forma oferece uma facilidade ao adversário até o time encaixar – afirmou Mancini.
Camacho realizará exame para saber se a febre é por causa do coronavírus. Os jogadores que foram infectados pela doença e são desfalques certos são os goleiros Cássio e Guilherme, os laterais Fagner e Fábio Santos, o zagueiro Raul, os volantes Gabriel e Ramiro e o atacante Cauê. Além disso, mais 11 profissionais do clube tiveram testes positivos para a Covid-19.
Com dois empates nos dois primeiros jogos do Campeonato Paulista, o Corinthians volta a treinar nesta quinta-feira, no CT Joaquim Grava. O próximo jogo da equipe será no domingo, contra a Ponte Preta.