All posts by h716a5.icu

This summer has not been ideal preparation ahead of the new campaign for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wolves have been severely impeded by a lack of finances available to them during the transfer window and consequently, they’ve not been too active in the market.

On the chalkboard

This summer could have been a lot different for the Old Gold, particularly from a negative point of view. They began the market searching for possible replacements for Adama Traore and Ruben Neves, who both looked certain to leave.

However, they’ve kept the pair of them at Molineux, which is vitally important if Bruno Lage wants to guide Wolves back into the top half of the table.

The returning Raul Jimenez will help them no end but one player who could inject a new sense of purpose to the team is Francisco Trincao.

With Pedro Neto still out injured while he recovers from a broken kneecap, the Portuguese sensation on loan from Barcelona could help supporters forget all about their Player of the Season from 2020/21.

The 21-year-old loanee is technically astute, quick and an incredibly tricky player for opponents to handle. Although he only started three times in La Liga last season, his form during a more productive loan spell at Braga tells you everything you need to know.

The winger racked up eight goals and six assists for the Portuguese club in 2019/20, numbers which would have usurped every player at Molineux last season.

Like Traore and Neto, he is a wonderful dribbler of the ball, completing as many as 2.3 per game during that temporary stint away.

If he can replicate those types of numbers while in England, Wolves’ fortunes in the attacking third should improve greatly. The following review from former Braga academy coach Jose Carvalho Araujo explains why Trincao could terrify Leicester on Saturday.

“He is not so fast or intense but I think he has a little more magic,” Araujo began.

“He was an amazing kid, very skinny. Physically, he was very poor but with the ball he was magic, doing tricks, so skilful.”

Although Trincao didn’t score or provide an assist in pre-season, he is a player who could set the Premier League alight this term.

Lage needs to harness the £22.5k-per-week attacker’s remarkable talent from the off against Leicester at the weekend.

AND in other news, “I understand” – Liam Keen issues Wolves transfer update which should leave fans aghast…

Despite his team claiming a comprehensive six-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the opening ODI, the Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene is still looking for improvement

Cricinfo staff20-Nov-2008Despite his team claiming a comprehensive six-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the opening ODI, the Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene is still looking for improvement.The visitors had an easy stroll in the park and only needed 33.2 overs to chase a paltry 127 set by Zimbabwe who were earlier blown away by Muttiah Muralitharan, the Man of the Match.”Winning games at this stage is always important and it does not matter who you are playing against,” Jayawardene said. “It was, however, not a good performance from our players and we were looking for a much better standard than what we showed today. I think we should have bowled them out for a much [smaller] score than 127.”Jayawardene also paid tribute to Muralitharan for his match-winning spell. “It’s not only today that he was outstanding with the ball. It is always a good option to have Murali in the team because he can come in any situation and completely turn things around in our favour. Murali was the main difference in this match because Zimbabwe were looking good.”At 124 for 3, with Tatenda Taibu and Stuart Matsikinyeri still at the crease, it seemed Zimbabwe would set a challenging target, perhaps even as high as 250. But Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis were brought into the attack, blitzing the Zimbabwe middle and lower order. They lost five wickets in 12 balls.Prosper Utseya, the Zimbabwe captain who yesterday said Muralitharan was “not as effective” as he once was, conceded they had underestimated his impact. “We need to revisit our technique in the next matches because we have learned a lot of things from this one,” he said. “Although Murali got four wickets I think we were coping with his turn.”Looking at the match Taibu and Stuart were in control of the situation and if only they had continued in that same vein maybe we would have got a huge total. If we revisit our technique we will be in a better position to counter him in the next game.”The second of five ODIs gets underway on Saturday.

A rousing tournament produced a damp finale as Punjab Stallions romped home in the Pentangular Cup final defeating the Federal Areas Leopards by eight wickets at the National Stadium in Karachi

Cricinfo staff24-Dec-2008
Scorecard

Wahab Riaz’s 5 for 44 set up Punjab’s win © Sohail Abbas
A rousing tournament produced a damp finale as Punjab Stallions romped home in the Pentangular Cup final defeating the Federal Areas Leopards by eight wickets at the National Stadium in Karachi.Punjab had been the strongest team through the tournament, going into the final undefeated, and they lived up to their billing as favourites with solid displays in all departments. Wahab Riaz’s mid and late-innings five-for set the game up before fifties from the top three saw them overhaul the meagre 219-run target with over eight overs remaining.A later-than-normal start still didn’t stop Shoaib Malik from fielding after winning the toss, and the decision never seemed in danger of backfiring. Sarfraz Ahmed was tidy from the off, a wrong-foot action, an ambling run-up and a tight line stifling FA’s openers.Mohammad Talha was less restrictive, but his energy and pace kept both openers honest and though Babar Naeem began to open up, Raheel Majeed was soon gone. The hugely impressive Umar Amin then took over responsibility for building a defendable total on a flat pitch.Amin has stepped in to the national limelight after an impressive tournament and here was evidence why. Unfussed and compact, he kept runs ticking over, occasionally pinching a timely boundary. Runs came all around the wicket and the pace never really flagged; the task of having a total built around him clearly not much of an ask.Unfortunately others around him weren’t on the same page. Three partnerships through the middle of 46, 57 and 47 threatened but never went on. Two of those were ended by the excellent Riaz, who came on over halfway into the innings and proceeded to bowl a nuanced limited overs spell.He struck in his first over but with variations in pace and angles, he kept striking through the second half of the innings. Usman Saeed and Mohammad Salman both fished outside off and Amin himself fell leg-before to a fine yorker as he looked to accelerate: the three were the jewels of Riaz’s five-wicket crown. Talha returned impressively and together the pair ensured that FA lost their last six wickets for only 47 runs in barely eight overs.Punjab’s greater strength has been their top order and unless the mood took Shoaib Akhtar and Sohail Tanvir, you felt, the target was never going to trouble them. It didn’t, as Shoaib pitched repeatedly short and Tanvir too wide, allowing Nasir Jamshed, in particular, a breezy start.Jamshed fairly sped away soon after the start – Shoaib was pulled repeatedly to the fence and once driven arrow straight down the ground in grand fashion. The slower-paced bowlers were charged, as a Gambhir or Hayden might do, and lofted around midwicket and straight.Azhar Ali provided inconspicuous support, nurdling and nudging away and as the pitch became duller than dishwater, the only way to a wicket seemed a run-out. Duly it came, a horrendous mix-up leaving Jamshed stranded for a blazing 56-ball 63. With him went the entertainment and it was left to Salman Butt to elegantly, if quietly, craft his way to a fifty and Punjab to the title.Azhar snuck up unnoticed, occasionally lifting his head above the surface with a boundary and a low-key 87 sealed the final deal. Riaz it was, however, who deservedly got the player of the final award for his game-breaking spell earlier in the day.

Celtic won’t be signing Manchester City right-back Yan Couto on loan this summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas.

The Lowdown: Couto’s Parkhead visit

The Hoops have been interested in the Brazilian since the beginning of the summer and appeared to make their move for the 19-year-old last Thursday.

Couto was given VIP treatment at Parkhead for Celtic’s Europa League qualifier with Jablonec and was pleading with City to grant a temporary move to Scotland as a result.

However, it now seems as if any loan move is off the table.

The Latest: Thomas’ tweet

Thomas took to Twitter to provide an update of Celtic’s pursuit of a right-back on Monday morning.

He suggested that the push to loan Couto has ‘come to nothing’, with Celtic now eyeing up Legia Warsaw’s Josip Juranovic instead.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-12/” title=”Celtic updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: All eyes on Juranovic

As Thomas mentioned, it now appears as if all eyes are on Celtic’s pursuit of Juranovic, with Ange Postecoglou keen to secure a right-back before the window shuts.

The Hoops have since had an offer for Juranovic rejected, so it’ll be interesting to see if Dominic McKay manages to bring in a right-back for Postecoglou and if it is indeed the Croatia international.

It won’t be Couto, though, despite Celtic’s attempts to impress the South American last week.

In other news: Move still possible: £6.1k-p/w midfielder wants to join Celtic, says journalist in his homeland. 

The former treasurer of the Conservative party, Lord Marland of Odstock, has been unveiled as Giles Clarke’s only challenger for the post of ECB chairman

Cricinfo staff19-Jan-2009
Giles Clarke has indeed found a challenger © Getty Images
The former treasurer of the Conservative party, Lord Marland of Odstock, has been unveiled as Giles Clarke’s only challenger for the post of ECB chairman.Clarke was proposed by Nottinghamshire and seconded by Northamptonshire and Middlesex, Marland by Lancashire and seconded by Hampshire and Leicestershire. The ballot will close on February 9.Marland, 52, was initially understood to have been assured of seven of the 19 votes in the ballot, with 10 required for a clear majority. Lancashire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire have pledged their support, along with Surrey, Warwickshire and Hampshire, although Charles Fry, the chairman of MCC, has since cast doubt on the solidity of Marland’s support by suggesting that the club will favour the incumbent Clarke.Should that be the case, then the election battle could be as good as over before it has begun. According to The Guardian, Clarke, who saw off Surrey’s Mike Soper in last year’s ballot, already has at least nine counties on his side, with Yorkshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire still to decide on their allegiance.A millionaire financier who was made a life peer in 2006, Marland has said he will stand because he has become frustrated at Clarke’s governance, and cited the Stanford Series as evidence that the ECB had lost its way. “I believe it is vital for English cricket in its current situation to have a contest for the chairmanship of the ECB,” said Marland. “There are deep schisms within the game which need to be healed, and I believe I can be a unifying candidate.”The image of our game has been very badly damaged during Giles Clarke’s time at the helm and the Stanford and Moores/Pietersen affairs of recent months have highlighted both errors of judgement and management failures. An uncontested election would imply endorsement of these errors and failures, and that would be wrong.”There has been non-stop fire-fighting in the ECB,” said Marland. “They’ve had firefighting after their failure to get on with India, Australia and South Africa in the IPL, the disastrous Stanford cricket match and their failure to deliver the Middle East tournament as an alternative to the IPL. There needs to be much more harmony in Test match cricket and in cricket in this country. There is clearly a big divide among the counties as to how it is run and things are not harmonious – my approach would be more conciliatory.”Marland was also critical of the ECB’s handling of the recent leadership crisis, telling BBC Radio Five Live that Kevin Pietersen had been badly treated by his employers. “I thought Pietersen showed great leadership taking the team out to India,” said Marland. “I thought that was a brave thing to do and a good thing to do and I don’t think he was treated very well when he returned.”There was then a continual barrage from various camps in the press about his role and that of Moores and I think it’s terribly unseemly. I don’t believe in this airing of one’s laundry in the press. Any well-run operation sorts itself behind closed doors and that is what the ECB needs to do.”Marland held the post of Tory party treasurer from 2003 to 2007, and was a key figure in the successful candidature of Boris Johnson in last year’s London mayoral elections. His sporting credentials are enhanced by his involvement with the independent body, Sports Nexus, which specialises in the structure, governance and accountability of sports.In 2004, pre-empting the controversial Bradshaw-Stewart plan that was squashed by the ECB Board last summer, he co-authored a report which proposed an IPL-style domestic competition, among whose critics was the then-Somerset chairman, Clarke. In 2007, he came close to becoming the first independent chairman of the Football Association, and in 2008, he was appointed president of Salisbury FC.Marland’s nomination came on the day the ECB held a conference at Leicester to discuss the future of Test cricket. That meeting instead became a de facto election campaign, with Neil Davidson, the Leicestershire chairman, outspoken in his desire for change. “It is not healthy for the ECB to be chaired by someone who is basically unacceptable to a significant number of chairmen and their clubs,” he told The Guardian.

There’s been a lot of talk surrounding the big-name arrivals at Manchester United this summer, but a potential departure could undo some of their good work in the transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to 90min, the Red Devils are open to Donny van de Beek’s exit before the August 31st deadline, just 12 months after he first arrived on English shores in a £40m deal from Ajax.

The arrivals of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane from Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, respectively, have reportedly depleted United’s budget, meaning the Old Trafford outfit may need to offload some fringe players before they can bring in another acquisition.

Outcasts such as Phil Jones, Eric Bailly and Alex Telles are believed to be deemed surplus to requirements by the club’s hierarchy, although allowing Van de Beek to move on could be a decision they come to regret.

Solskjaer will be gutted

After scoring 41 goals and laying on a further 34 assists for his teammates in 175 games for Amsterdam, as well as winning a domestic double in 2018/19 as they reached the Champions League semi-finals, Van de Beek arrived in the Red half of Manchester with an enviable reputation.

However, the physical demands and fast-paced nature of the Premier League often looked to overwhelm the technically gifted midfielder last term, limiting him to just four starts in the top-flight throughout 2020/21.

The Netherlands international did show glimpses of his true potential on occasions, though. One such time was against Istanbul Basaksehir while on European duty, and his impressive showing drew praise from former United midfielder Owen Hargreaves.

“I thought Van de Beek was close to perfect. He is so unselfish, he can just fit in and play the right balls everywhere,” said the BT Sports pundit.

The 24-year-old has embarked on body transformation over the summer months after injury meant he had to pull out of his nation’s Euro 2020 squad, improving his strength, balance and agility.

“He’s put on a bit of muscle,” Solskjaer said of the Van de Beek “He’d had last season to learn about English football, and he’s used the summer well.

“You never know how players from abroad come in. Some players need a year. You see Fred’s development, but there are other players that just come in and take to it straight away. It depends.”

Therefore, the Norwegian would surely be gutted if United’s hierarchy exiled Van de Beek after a single season in English football.

The Premier League has seen its history littered with foreign imports who has excelled after a tough first campaign, and Solskjaer will need a squad full of quality and strength in depth if he’s going to bring silverware back to the club, not just an outstanding starting XI.

With Paul Pogba yet to commit himself to a new contract, Van de Beek’s importance and role within the side could grow over the coming months, and letting him go could be new football director John Murtough’s first transfer nightmare.

And, in other news…The Athletic journo provides Man Utd update that’ll have Red Devils fans buzzing 

Opening batsman Justin Guillen, offspinner Sunil Narine and fast bowler Atiba Allert have been named in Trinidad & Tobago’s 13-man squad in an away game against Barbados

Cricinfo staff03-Jan-2009
Justin Guillen, 23, made his Twenty20 debut for T&T in the Stanford Super Series © AFP
Two uncapped players have been named in Trinidad and Tobago’s squad for their opening game in the regional four-day competition starting on January 9.Offspinner Sunil Narine and fast bowler Atiba Allert have been named in the 13-man squad for their away fixture against Barbados. Allert was in the squad last season but did not get a game, while opening batsman Justin Guillen, who made his Twenty20 debut for T&T in the Stanford Super Series, received his first call-up to the first-class squad.William Perkins, who played last season and was part of the T&T side that beat Middlesex in the Stanford Super Series, is missing along with Denesh Ramdin and Kieron Pollard, who are currently on West Indies’ tour of New Zealand. Daren Ganga will lead the side, which will also includes Gibran Mohammed as wicketkeeper, and spinners Dave Mohammed and Amit Jaggernauth.Narine Bidhesi, T&T’s new chairman of selectors, said he expected the team to do well since there were several players in the squad hoping to make a comeback to the West Indies side. “The team is a mixture of youth and experience,” Bidhesi was quoted as saying to . “The opportunity was there for the younger players to show their worth as the West Indies cricketers are on international duty, also two of the team’s key players – Dwayne Bravo and Ravi Rampaul – are on the injured list.”Batsman Rohan Nurse, who scored a century in the trials, is the only new member for Barbados, who announced their squad for the whole season. Alcindo Holder, Carlo Morris and Sharmarh Brooks failed to find a place this season. Jason Haynes, who led Barbados in the regional one-day tournament, will captain the first-class side as well, in place of last season’s captain Corey Collymore.Trinidad & Tobago squad: Daren Ganga (capt), Adrian Barath, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Justin Guillen, Sherwin Ganga, Gibran Mohammed (wk), Rayad Emrit, Richard Kelly, Dave Mohammed, Amit Jaggernauth, Atiba Alert, Sunil Narine.Barbados squad: Jason Haynes, captain, Sulieman Benn, Tino Best, Patrick Browne, Jonathan Carter, Pedro Collins, Corey Collymore, Ryan Hinds, Rohan Nurse, Dale Richards, Kemar Roach, Dwayne Smith, Kevin Stoute.

When it comes to the injury front at Wolverhampton Wanderers, they’ve hardly had luck pouring out of their ears.

Nuno Santo’s final season at Molineux was marred by a number of fitness issues to his best players as Wolves suffered considerably without the likes of Raul Jimenez.

The Mexican was missing from November 2020 onwards after suffering a fractured skull and has only just returned to action.

They are still missing Pedro Neto who suffered a setback in his quest to recover.

Bruno Lage has also tasted similar pills in recent weeks. He was without a number of players in the early weeks of the campaign with Neto sitting on the sidelines alongside Daniel Podence, Yerson Mosquera, Willy Boly and Jonny.

However, in positive news, Podence returned in the 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest and he is set to be joined by Boly and Mosquera.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game with Manchester United, Lage said: “Yerson [Mosquera] and Boly started to work with us. That’s the good news. And Daniel [Podence] played 60 minutes on Tuesday night at a good level, scored one goal, so that’s three more top players with us.

“It’s very good to have them back and for them to be on the pitch and everyone to be working hard to be better.”

This is a huge boost for the Old Gold who have been working with an extremely limited squad this season.

Lage admitted before their match with Spurs that they’d been training with just 15 senior players so the returning members will add a great deal to the senior group.

Podence’s goalscoring return in midweek bodes well given that the Molineux outfit are yet to score in the league this term. Mosquera, meanwhile, looks a promising player and will bolster their limited defensive options.

Yet, it’s Boly who will be the biggest boost. The Frenchman has been a rock at the back for Wolves throughout the years and we saw just how big a miss and influence he was last season.

During a three-month layoff due to an ankle problem last term, Wolves played 15 league matches and kept just one clean sheet in that timeframe. Once the defender returned, they didn’t concede over the next 283 minutes of league action.

They had let in 13 goals in their last eight league games without him but conceded only two in their first six matches after he was back.

To see him return to the matchday squad on Sunday, especially against Man United, will be extremely handy. Lage should be elated to see his face once again.

AND in other news, Boly returns, £37k-p/w dud axed in 8 changes: Wolves predicted XI vs Man United…

Many Aston Villa fans have been left slamming the display of Matt Targett in the first half of their home game against Brentford on Saturday afternoon.

It was a slow start by Dean Smith’s team who went 1-0 down very early on to the Bees through Ivan Toney, as Targett ended up losing his man in the build-up.

His half did not improve much there, as he was guilty of losing possession of the ball on several occasions, while not offering too much of an attacking threat from left-back.

Targett, who currently earns £35,000-per-week at Villa Park, will need to improve on his performance in the second half if AVFC are going to get a positive result in the match, and may have one eye over his shoulder at the likes of Ashley Young who could well take his position if he does not step up his game.

Aston Villa fans on Targett display

These AVFC supporters slammed his performance on Twitter:

“Targett has lost it.”

Credit: @des700

“Is this the same Targett we were all annoyed didn’t get in the England squad for the Euros? Just checking…”

Credit: @MillingtonVilla

“Targett loses his man to let Brentford score, he is not Premier League quality play a young left-back now”

Credit: @AJo23p

“Matt Targett have some shame”

Credit: @lochiewaller

“Targett hasn’t been at his best so far”

Credit: @LucAvfc

“Targett ain’t the same man”

Credit: @HarveyyAvfcc

In other news, find out which ‘really good’ player Villa may lose before the deadline here!

Middlesex have signed Australian left-hand opening batsman Phillip Hughes for the 2009 season

Cricinfo staff13-Feb-2009Middlesex have signed Australian left-hand opening batsman Phillip Hughes for the 2009 season.Hughes, 20, fresh from celebrating a call up to the Australian Test side, will join Middlesex on a short-term contract for the first six weeks of the summer as cover for overseas signing Murali Kartik, who will be absent due to his participation at the IPL tournament.”To have signed Phillip for the early part of the season is a major coup for Middlesex, as there is no secret of the fact that many respected voices in the game are billing Phillip as one of the most talented young batsmen in world cricket today,” Angus Fraser, the director of cricket, said.”Phillip arrives with us in early April and will be available for our season’s opening Championship fixture against Glamorgan at Lord’s. The addition of such a top-quality batsman to our top order will prove invaluable in the early part of the season, given the absence of both Andrew Strauss and Owais Shah.”Hughes made his first-class debut at the age of 18, finishing his first season with New South Wales with a first-class average of 62.11 and was instrumental in his side’s victory in the Sheffield Shield, with his 116 making him the youngest ever player to score a hundred in the final.He is currently the second highest run-scorer in this season’s Sheffield Shield, scoring 963 runs at an average of 68.78. He won the Bradman young player of the year award of 2009.