All posts by h716a5.icu

Lee Johnson saw his Sunderland side fall to their first League One defeat of the 2021/22 season on Tuesday evening, despite the Black Cats appearing far the better team for long periods of the game.

Indeed, over the course of the 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat to Burton Albion, Sunderland enjoyed 61% possession, hit the target with seven of their 20 shots – compared to the host’s 12 shots with only being on target – created two big chances and completed nearly 200 passes more than their opponents.

However, despite this dominance, Jonny Smith’s powerful drive was enough for Albion to seal all three points, as Johnson’s side were ultimately left to rue their chances missed in the fixture.

Perhaps the biggest of these misses came from Aiden McGeady, when, in the 12th minute of the match, the 35-year-old found himself through on goal, only for his chipped attempt to be saved by Brewers goalkeeper Ben Garratt.

And, while it was far from a nightmare performance by the Republic of Ireland international, as he still managed to provide his teammates with a whopping seven key passes, it was also quite evidently not the winger’s best performance in a Sunderland shirt.

Indeed, the £19k-per-week man was somewhat sloppy in possession of the ball, giving it away on a whopping 20 occasions (the second-worst on the pitch for the Black Cats).

Whilst neither his crossing – completing two of his seven attempted – nor his long balls – completing one of three attempted – were overly accurate either.

Furthermore, as mentioned previously, the £653k-rated man also missed one of Sunderland’s two big chances in the fixture, with his 12th-minute sitter perhaps being the most pivotal, as, considering the Black Cats’ domination in the game, should he have put away this chance it could well have been enough for Johnson’s side to secure at least a point, if not all three, at the Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday evening.

However, despite this below-par performance, McGeady will undeniably come good for Sunderland over the course of their campaign, with the 35-year-old undoubtedly hoping he is given a chance to instantly atone for his mistakes in the club’s clash with AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

In other news: Medical planned: Sunderland get breakthrough over 23 y/o beast, Johnson surely buzzing

Glasgow Rangers fans were livid with the performance of Borna Barisic during their 2-1 defeat to Malmo in the Champions League on Tuesday.

The Gers were in action in the second leg of their third qualifying round Champions League clash against Swedish side Malmo, and they looked to be in a good position when they were 1-0 up at half-time and a man to the good after Bonke Innocent’s red card.

However, Antonio Colak’s second-half brace meant the Gers lost 4-2 on aggregate and were therefore knocked out of the competition.

Barisic started the match at left-back and struggled to keep Malmo at bay when they did press forward. The Croatia international spent much of the summer injured (The Daily Record), missing the majority of his country’s Euro 2020 run to the round of 16, and therefore looked a little unfit here.

The fans were far from happy with what they saw from the £5.4m-valued 28-year-old (Transfermarkt), and they took to social media platform Twitter to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about Barisic below

“Barisic looked petrified mate. The difference between the first and second half is staggering”

Credit: @chris_cambo88

“Barisic was rotten last night.”

Credit: @Danishbear55

“The whole back four have gone from an unbreakable barrier, to four strangers, Tav and Barisic wouldn’t get a game for a Junior team right now, imo it’s time for Patterson and Bassey and bring back Helander, who should not have been left out last night”

Credit: @TheBluezulu2

“Barisic and Kent played hide and seek for most of the 2nd half”

Credit: @Cammy26_2

“Tell u what, barisic was absolutely atrocious last night, hiding in a game of that magnitude is totally unacceptable, bassey has to replace him”

Credit: @nemi1872

“Barisic as well. So far off the pace.”

Credit: @ronniephipps

In other news, Rangers fans were livid at this SPFL move.

Despite Jason Krejza’s topsy-turvy return of 12 for 358, the coach Tim Nielsen did not wish he had been preferred in the opening three games, when Cameron White was the main spinner

Cricinfo staff09-Nov-2008
Tim Nielsen: ” We’re not regretting, it’s always hard not to look back when someone has taken 12 wickets and think ‘what if'” © AFP
The offspinner Jason Krejza showed his eight wickets in the first innings were not a fluke by adding four more breakthroughs in the second to finish with the fourth-best figures of any debutant. Despite Krejza’s topsy-turvy return of 12 for 358, the coach Tim Nielsen did not wish he had been preferred in the opening three games, when Cameron White was the main spinner.”We’re not regretting, it’s always hard not to look back when someone has taken 12 wickets and think ‘what if’,” Nielsen said. “The great thing for Jason is he has had six or seven weeks of bowling in Indian conditions. He’s been able to watch a spinner like Harbhajan Singh bowl in Indian conditions and learnt day-in, day-out about spin bowling.”Krejza’s performance in one of the tour games, where he finished with 0 for 199, showed he was not ready for Test action a month ago, but he developed quickly and Nielsen expects him to be a future part of the team. “I really believe the work Jason has put in over the last six or seven weeks, you’ve seen in this Test,” he said.”He wasn’t quite ready to play in Hyderabad and if we had played him in the first or second Test with that level of play, he may have found himself struggling to work out the game. A little bit of patience from the selectors, and with Ricky Ponting using him well, has seen some great success and I’m sure we’ll see him more in the future.”In the second session Krejza bowled VVS Laxman with a well-flighted and big-turning offspinner before being on a hat-trick with the smart return catch of Sourav Ganguly. After tea he helped finish the innings by picking up Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Zaheer Khan to capture 4 for 143 from 31 overs.His match figures were the second most expensive of all time, but until Shane Watson arrived on the fourth day, Krejza was the only bowler able to upset the Indians. He will now hope for a game against New Zealand at the Gabba later this month.

According to L’Interista, Tottenham are interested in signing Lautaro Martinez if Harry Kane forces a move away from the club.

The Lowdown: Kane proving a problem

Kane has already indicated to Tottenham that he wishes to leave the club this summer (Sky Sports), but so far Daniel Levy and Fabio Paratici have held firm.

The England international then failed to report for training on Monday (The Guardian), which appears to indicate he is looking to force a move away from north London by any means necessary.

Of course, any exit for the Lilywhites talisman would come with a significant boost to the transfer kitty, and a direct replacement would be a necessity.

The Latest: Spurs eye Martinez

If Kane is able to get a transfer elsewhere, Tottenham will make a move for Internazionale striker Martinez according to reports in Milan.

They claim Paratici and co have now lined up the Argentina international as the main alternative to their skipper.

The Verdict: Top target

Signing Martinez would more than soften the blow of Kane’s departure if he does leave this summer. With 49 goals in 132 games for Inter and 14 strikes in 28 Argentina caps (Transfermarkt), including three at the Copa America as his country lifted the trophy, the forward is already a star talent and is still just 23 years of age.

Lionel Messi has even previously called Martinez a “complete” player in the past (via 90min.com) – praise does not come any higher than that.

Valued at £72m (Transfermarkt), Martinez would set Spurs back a big fee, but any sale of Kane would surely cover that. If Tottenham’s star man does leave, Martinez would be a fantastic replacement.

In other news, Tottenham are interested in signing this Euro 2020 ace.

The IPL’s drugs tribunal has set November 29 as the date for hearing Mohammad Asif’s appeal in Mumbai after adjourning the first hearing for a month

Cricinfo staff12-Nov-2008
Mohammad Asif will look to get back into the international fold after last featuring for Pakistan against Zimbabwe back in April © AFP
The IPL’s drugs tribunal has set November 29 as the date for hearing Mohammad Asif’s appeal in Mumbai. The tribunal, comprising former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, the former vice-chancellor of India’s Maharashtra University of Health Sciences Dr Ravi Bapat, and lawyer Shirish Gupte, had adjourned the hearing after Asif had appeared before them on October 11.The announcement comes two days after Asif had written to the PCB asking it to help him resume his career. He last played for Pakistan in April, before taking part in the IPL.The IPL had announced in July that Asif had tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone during its first season, held from April 18 to June 1. His B sample also showed traces of the drug but the levels varied between both samples. Shahid Karim, Asif’s lawyer, said that the discrepancy could work to Asif’s advantage.”It’s a matter of Asif’s international career and we hope something positive will come out after the hearing,” he said. “Evidence will be recorded during the hearing and we will present witnesses. It is our chance to fight the case and we will do it with full force.”We have worked on legal and medical aspects of the case and hope that after the November 29 hearing the drug tribunal will reach some conclusion,” he said.Asif was suspended by the PCB from all forms of the game pending the result of the IPL inquiry. He previously tested positive for nandrolone just before the 2006 Champions Trophy in India. Though he was banned for one year by a PCB tribunal, the punishment was overturned a month later on appeal.

Crystal Palace must revive their interest in Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham this summer, with the Blues reportedly willing to consider any offers for the 23-year-old.

What’s the story?

The Eagles were first linked with a move for the England international back in 2018 and have been keeping an eye on the 6 ft 2 forward ever since.

According to Sky Sports, Chelsea are set to demand £40 million for Abraham over the coming months after he was deemed surplus to requirement by Thomas Tuchel.

However, the report also states that fellow Premier League sides Arsenal and West Ham United are interested in acquiring his signature, meaning chairman Steve Parish may have to move quickly to secure his services.

Crystal Palace need him

Abraham first rose to prominence during an extremely productive loan spell with Aston Villa in the Championship during 2018/19 when he bagged 25 goals in 37 league appearances for the Midlands outfit.

And he evidently still has some admirers from his time at Villa Park, with club captain Jack Grealish revealing his admiration for his former teammate last year.

In a Q&A session on his Instagram, Grealish admitted he could not believe the levels Abraham showcased during his time with the Villans, writing: “Unbelievable. Couldn’t believe how good he was with the ball for how tall he is. Loved playing with him.”

However, despite impressing under former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, the highly-rated attacker has struggled for game time under Tuchel.

Abraham made just two Premier League starts under the enigmatic German manager last term and was substituted at half-time on both occasions. He subsequently failed to make the matchday squad for either the FA Cup final or the Champions League final, indicating his time in west London is coming to an end.

But Palace could offer the youngster a way out of his Stamford Bridge nightmare.

The Eagles are currently undergoing a major overhaul of the first-team squad under Patrick Vieira, with Joachim Andersen expected to join new arrivals Marc Guehi and Michael Olise in south London.

Despite their strong early showing in the current window, Palace are still in need of extra attacking reinforcements following the departures of Michy Batshuayi and Andros Townsend.

Adding Abraham to Vieira’s ranks would significantly boost the French tactician’s options, meaning Parish must revive his interest in the colossus before a domestic rival makes their move.

And, in other news…“Excellent signing” – Matt Woosnam reacts as Palace deal confirmed, he’s a big upgrade 

Justin Vaughan, New Zealand Cricket’s (NZC) chief executive, says he isn’t worried over the number of employees quitting the board as part of its restructuring program

Cricinfo staff29-Aug-2008
Vaughan: “If we are going to achieve the strategic goals we have set then there needs to be some regeneration of staff involved” © Getty Images
Justin Vaughan, New Zealand Cricket’s (NZC) chief executive, says he isn’t worried over the number of employees quitting the board as part of its restructuring program. In June, Vaughan announced the scrapping of 11 positions and the creation of 20 in a revamp aimed at turning NZC into a world-class organisation.”We knew that as a result of the restructuring a number of people were going to leave. Previously NZC has been a stable environment with a lot of people having worked there over a long period of time,” Vaughan told the .”If we are going to achieve the strategic goals we have set then there needs to be some regeneration of staff involved. With a change in the way we are operating you can expect a change in personnel.”The resignations reported so far include Alec Astle, the national development manager, who quit after 10 years of service, and Dayle Hadlee, former bowling coach and New Zealand Academy head, who is considering an overseas offer. Dayle Shackel, the physiotherapist, has not renewed his contract; Warren Frost, whose position as sports science medical coordinator was among those scrapped, has also left. Brian Aldridge, the umpiring manager, and Steve Jenkin, the coach of the women’s team, had quit recently. Gary Stead, the former New Zealand batsman, was appointed in Jenkin’s place.The position of Lindsay Crocker, the New Zealand team’s general manager, remains unclear. Crocker was originally a contender for the new position of general manager (cricket), but Vaughan couldn’t confirm details on that position. “We want to get the right person in that job and things will flow from there,” he said.New Zealand are still on the lookout for John Bracewell’s replacement as the national coach. Reports suggest that some of the contenders for the post are Andy Moles, Greg Shipperd and Dipak Patel.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have begun their search for a new coach, nine months before the current coach John Bracewell ends his contract and returns to Gloucestershire

Cricinfo staff17-Jul-2008New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have begun their search for a new coach, nine months before the current coach John Bracewell ends his contract and returns to Gloucestershire.”We are looking for candidates who have the experience and drive to both improve the Blackcaps (New Zealand) in both forms of the game,” Justin Vaughan, the NZC chief executive, said.”We have a very good core group of players and the new coach should be looking to develop a side that will regularly win world events in the one-day arena as well as improving their Test performances.”Bracewell had coached Gloucestershire since 1998 before joining New Zealand in 2003. Though he was appointed in November, Bracewell did not take over from stand-in coach Ashley Ross for New Zealand’s tours of India and Pakistan.Under his reign, from February 2004, New Zealand have played 35 Tests out which they won 12, lost 17 and drew six. In ODIs they won 55 matches out of 98.Vaughan said NZC was looking for a coach who will build on the current solid foundation and take it to the next level. Applications for the post – available on the New Zealand Cricket website – will be accepted till August 4.

Everton are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen winger Demarai Gray as Rafael Benitez looks to make his mark on the first-team squad.

What’s the story?

According to well-known journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Toffees are set to secure the services of the 25-year-old over the coming days.

He tweeted: “Everton are closing on signing Demarai Gray from Bayer Leverkusen, confirmed. Deal now at final stages, buy out clause around €2m – contract until 2024.”

Everton fans will be buzzing

The former Leicester City forward was a very highly-rated prospect at the beginning of his career and much was expected of him after he made the switch from Birmingham City to the King Power Stadium back in 2016.

However, he struggled for consistency during his time with the Midlands outfit, failing to make over 23 Premier League starts in a single season before Brendan Rodgers cut him out of the first-team setup.

A move to Bundesliga outfit Leverkusen materialised last January after Gray was afforded just 18 minutes of top-flight action in the first half of 2020/21.

After some initial success in Germany saw the former England Under-21 international score once and provide two assists in his opening three appearances for Die Werkself, he struggled to make an impact, and an immediate return to the Premier League looks to be on the cards.

The flying winger would be Benitez’s first signing since taking charge of Everton, and news that they are set to secure Gray’s signature for such a small fee will surely have the club’s supporters buzzing.

In the modern era, a €2m (£1.7m) price tag for a player with bags of potential who’s yet to hit his prime is an extremely astute piece of business which director of football Marcel Brands should be commended for.

While success is far from guaranteed for Gray, who still has a lot to prove, his age and talent mean Everton should easily be able to make a profit on him, should they decide to sell him in a few years time.

And, in other news…Rafa could discover Everton’s new Leon Osman by signing “special” 34-cap maestro 

The Kolkata Knight Riders have signed Ajantha Mendis, the Sri Lankan slow bowler, till the end of the current season

Cricinfo staff18-May-2008
Ajantha Mendis has become the Kolkata Knight Riders’ latest buy © AFP
The Kolkata Knight Riders have signed Ajantha Mendis, the Sri Lankan slow bowler, till the end of the current season. Mendis, who shot into prominence in the ODI series against West Indies with his unusual action and crafty variations, flew into Kolkata yesterday.The agency which manages Mendis’ affairs was certain that their client will be able to deliver the goods. “Kolkata is a place where the pitches are generally slow and receptive to spin and a bowler like Mendis would be able to make the maximum use of the conditions,” the spokesman told the , a Colombo-based daily.Mendis, 23, made a sensational debut when he took 3 for 39 against West Indies in Port-of-Spain on April 10. He flummoxed Chris Gayle and Darren Sammy as the Windies batsmen struggled to pick his assortment of deliveries. Mendis, however, failed to take a wicket in his second match, and did not get an opportunity to bowl in the third.Meanwhile, Mendis’ compatriot, allrounder Kaushal Weeraratne, has been invited to join Kolkata in training for a week. Weeraratne has scored 97 runs in 13 ODI innings at 16.16, and taken six wickets. He is also the record holder for the fastest fifty in List A cricket, which he completed off only 12 balls while playing for Ragama against Karunegala in Sri Lankan domestic cricket in 2005-06.