All posts by h716a5.icu

Derbyshire still trail by 221 after Notts’ huge first-innings 618 for 8 declared

ECB Reporters Network21-Jul-2022Derbyshire wicketkeeper Brooke Guest scored his fourth century of the season to hold up Nottinghamshire on the third day of the LV=Insurance County Championship match at Derby.Guest batted six-and-a-quarter hours for his 109, sharing a third wicket stand of 140 in 52 overs with Wayne Madsen, who made 74.Luke Fletcher took 3 for 44 and Nottinghamshire captain Steven Mullaney 3 for 51 to bowl Derbyshire out for 318, 300 behind the visitors who enforced the follow-on.That left the Division Two leaders 38 overs to push for victory but Harry Came with 38 and Luis Reece,30, stood firm to steer Derbyshire to 79 without loss.Nottinghamshire’s bowlers had also been kept at bay for a large chunk of the morning before Mullaney’s relentless accuracy was rewarded.Madsen had never scored a century against Nottinghamshire and he missed out again when he steered the all-rounder to slip.Mullaney struck in his next over when he found just enough movement to have Leus du Plooy caught behind before rain interrupted a Derbyshire championship game for the first time this season.After an early lunch, the visitors chipped away at Derbyshire’s middle and lower order with only Guest offering the prolonged resistance the situation required.Hilton Cartwright played on trying to force James Pattinson who breached Anuj Dal’s defence with a ball that seamed away late.When Mattie McKiernan edged another good ball from Mullaney, Guest was in danger of being stranded in the nineties but a straight drive off Dane Paterson earned him the distinction of becoming the first Derbyshire wicketkeeper to score a hundred against Nottinghamshire since Bill Storer at Trent Bridge in 1898.Guest went for the same score as Storer made 124 years ago, although his chances of matching his illustrious predecessor who removed his pads and took three wickets in that game are slim at best.With Guest out, Nottinghamshire would have expected to wrap up the innings quickly but the last two wickets took another 10 overs out of the day before Derbyshire were sent back in.Under cloudy skies with the floodlights on, Derbyshire openers faced a challenging end to the day but Reece and Came showed good judgement and restraint to get to the close and, with rain in the forecast tomorrow, increase the home side’s chances of saving the match.Away from the game, Derbyshire batter Tom Wood has been cleared to resume his career after serving a six month ban for the prescribed use of a controlled substance.Wood returned a positive test last September for terbutaline which was in an asthma inhaler he has used since 2004.His request for a retroactive Therapeutic Use Exemption was rejected although it was accepted he had no intention of breaching anti-doping rules.Derbyshire chief executive Ryan Duckett said: “This has been an extremely challenging and distressing time for Tom who has handled himself impeccably throughout the process.”This was a genuine mistake, regarding an inhaler Tom has been prescribed since he was a child.”Last season, Wood made 109 off 59 balls, the third fastest century in Derbyshire’s history, in the Royal London One-Day Cup against Nottinghamshire.

Manchester United have started the new year with the kind of resilience and unity that Ruben Amorim’s budding system needs to flourish across so many years.

Make no mistake, it’s been a tumultuous decade for the Red Devils, and though the trophy-winning aura has remained intact, threaded so carefully into the club’s fabric, consistency and the biggest prizes have been elusive.

Amorim has enjoyed some statement results in recent weeks, dispatching Manchester City in their backyard, drawing against Liverpool at Anfield and leaving the Emirates with the win in the third round of the FA Cup.

INEOS will no doubt see the potential that his sharp-minded Portuguese has to offer. However, he needs to be backed and, more importantly, still, allowed to sign the right players.

Why Ruben Amorim needs to be backed at Man United

Amorim has proven through these recent and tentative steps that he has the capacity to galvanise a Manchester United side that have suffered a dearth of confidence and togetherness this season.

Spirit is the watchword. Etihad, Anfield, Emirates. Ostensibly, they are the toughest grounds in English football right now, but United have impressed at each in recent weeks.

Bruno Fernandes has been the talisman that the outfit needs, an influential leader. You’d think that the one-time Sporting Lisbon star, who left for Manchester a matter of months before Amorim’s appointment, will be central over the coming seasons.

2025 is going to be a big year for INEOS, for all of an Old Trafford persuasion. Amorim, certainly, will expect backing to marry into his promising vision. That’s why we should pay attention to transfer news relating to United’s interest in Goncalo Inacio.

Amorim looking to raid Sporting

As per Portuguese outlet A Bola, Amorim is interested in raiding his former club for one of Portugal’s prized defenders. It’s understood that INEOS chiefs have held discussions with Inacio’s agent and are ready to make their move preferably on a loan deal with an obligation to buy for a reported €60m (£50m) fee.

The agent, Miguel Pinho, also oversees Fernandes in a link that could hold sway as Liverpool weigh up a move themselves. The left-footed defender would add depth and dynamism to Amorim’s backline.

Most importantly, however, he’d dovetail right in, with his breezy ball-playing game exactly what is needed to create a technical domino effect and advance the resurgence at the Theatre of Dreams.

Why Man Utd should sign Goncalo Inacio

First, the obvious reason. Inacio is a tried and tested success in Amorim’s preferred style of play, winning two Liga Portugal titles and two Taça da Liga cups too.

The 23-year-old has been described as a high-level distributor by analyst Raj Chohan, who said that his “build-up quality is extraordinary.” This is imperative for the success of Amorim’s project.

Man United ranked tenth for possession in the Premier League last term with a 50.6% average, as per FBref, whereas title-winning Sporting were Portugal’s joint-second-most dominant team on the ball for 2023/24 with a 59.1% retention rate.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Such metrics will swing toward the upper end of the graph now that Amorim is in charge, but he needs to put his own stamp on the outfit and Amorim would be key in achieving this.

Goals

0.11

0.00

0.07

0.06

Assists

0.22

0.00

0.00

0.06

Shot-creating actions

1.99

0.89

0.35

1.39

Passes attempted

97.2

58.89

61.75

68.74

Pass completion

90.6%

86.2%

91.4%

89.6%

Progressive passes

9.50

2.78

1.86

5.92

Progressive carries

2.21

0.33

0.21

1.03

Ball recoveries

5.52

3.00

2.62

4.41

Tackles

1.66

1.35

0.97

2.05

Duel success

49%

62%

59%

55%

While Sporting’s centre-back lacks authority and command in the duel, this can be worked on, and given that Amorim employs a three-back central defence, he might sit nicely on that left side, jockeying with Lisandro Martinez for a starting berth and perhaps even working well alongside him.

As you can also see from the table, Inacio is by far the most expansive and technical defender in possession, looking to make sweeping forward strokes that reach the surging wide players or, say, Fernandes in the centre. He’s actually been praised for his “insane” level of technical quality by journalist Antonio Mango.

On the note of Fernandes, Amorim could find that signing Inacio this January would mark his own version of the deal that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer oversaw for the Portugal playmaker’s signing back in January 2020, for a fee rising to £68m.

Manchester’s Magnifico has been the architect of most of the good stuff that’s emerged from the Red side of the city in recent years, instrumental in winning Carabao Cup and FA Cup trophies across the past two campaigns.

His debut half-season was an unforgettable thing, the now 30-year-old posting 12 goals and eight assists across 22 appearances as he revelled in a 14-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.

It was the lift that the club needed, and while Solskjaer’s feel-good project proved to be a fleeting thing, there’s little question that Amorim has more than a bit more tactical nous than the Norwegian coach, capable of bringing a player like Inacio into the fold to an emphatic and lasting success.

The Red Devils have long enjoyed a forged Portuguese connection and that’s hardly going to flake away now that Amorim has displayed signs of growth at the helm.

The manager’s fellow countryman, Inacio, isn’t there yet, but he’s still only 23 and has showcased so much exciting potential. Just imagine if United fail to show the kind of decisiveness required in this situation, and Liverpool steal ahead in the race.

INEOS need to get it done, repeating a one-time winter trick in bringing Fernandes to Old Trafford and turning a corner – perhaps this time it can be sustained.

Saved by Bayindir: Amorim must upgrade on 4/10 Man Utd dud who won 0 duels

Ruben Amorim led his Manchester United side to an FA Cup triumph over Arsenal.

5 ByEthan Lamb Jan 12, 2025

Harry Duke’s opening role also pays dividends

ECB Reporters Network10-Aug-2022A polished Yorkshire display with bat and ball on a used pitch which got slower and slower inflicted a first Royal London Cup defeat of 2022 on champions Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens.The Vikings won an important toss and compiled what proved a commanding score of 257 for nine, winning by 23 runs as the Welsh side could only muster 234 all out inside 49 overs.Harry Duke made 87 and captain Jonny Tattersall 55, the pair both busy but far from destructive as they set things up for off-spinner Jack Shutt to claim a career best four for 46 from 10 overs.Yorkshire won for the third time in four Group B games, leapfrogging Glamorgan into the all important top three qualifying places. This ended the hosts’ two-game winning start to their title defence.Yorkshire opener Will Fraine crashed four boundaries in four balls off James Weighell in the contest’s fifth over, which went for 21, after Tattersall had elected to bat.Fraine was the most aggressive batter on show for 40 off 40 balls.That Glamorgan captain Kiran Carlson only hit two boundaries in 64 as he tried to steer the chase indicated just how tricky the pitch had become on a blazing hot Cardiff day.Shutt’s career best haul came in only his seventh List A game, while Matthews Revis and Waite supplemented his work with two wickets apiece.New ball seamer Ben Coad impressed with a miserly one for 26 from his 10.Both sides dropped catches, but their ground fielding was without fault as the run-rate was squeezed.Glamorgan’s hopes had long gone by the time last pair Weighell (33) and McIlroy shared 42 from 192 for nine in the 43rd over.Given the margin of victory, you could look at that aforementioned fifth over of the match which yielded 21 from Fraine’s blade as being key to the outcome.Just as important, though, was a 90-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Duke and Tattersall to hold Yorkshire’s innings together from 112 for three in the 26th over.Tattersall’s impressive day later continued when two bowling changes – Revis and then Waite – yielded immediate success in their first overs back.One of those was Revis getting Carlson caught at midwicket by the captain as the chase fell to 146 for six in the 32nd over. A Glamorgan recovery from there was as steep as the valleys which surround this city.

Sheffield United look to be the main big spenders in the Championship this January transfer window, with a deal edging ever closer for in-demand attacker Tom Cannon to join for around £10m.

On top of that, one confirmed transfer is already through the door in Ben Brereton Diaz, who links back up with the Blades after a fruitful loan switch during the 2023/24 season which raised a rare smile on the faces of United fans even as a depressing relegation was confirmed.

Chris Wilder will hope the Chile international goes on to be as successful as James McAtee was over two loan stints in South Yorkshire, before the exciting midfielder then found it immensely hard to make the grade back at Manchester City.

James McAtee's time at Sheffield United

Indeed, the City man was a great success when donning United red and white, with his efforts during the 2022/23 season helping his new side win promotion to the Premier League.

He amassed nine goals and three assists in league action as a lively presence from the middle of the park, leading to a second spell coming his way up in the promised land of the top flight.

The tricky 22-year-old would succeed here too, much like Brereton Diaz managed despite all the on-field difficulties, with a further six goal contributions coming his way in the league before heading back to the Etihad pleased with his time in South Yorkshire.

There must have been some temptation on the end of the Blades to get even more of the old band back together when it was widely reported this month that the Salford-born midfielder was growing restless with his game-time under Pep Guardiola, with Championship rivals Leeds United allegedly sniffing around.

But, no such reunion has occurred. Yet, that doesn’t mean Wilder wouldn’t welcome back another familiar midfielder instead…

Sheffield United looking at "brilliant" PL star

Much like McAtee, Wolverhampton Wanderers man Tommy Doyle must also be getting slightly agitated with his lack of consistent minutes at Molineux, with only three starts coming his way this season in the Premier League.

Off the back of that, the promotion chasers could be willing to test the waters with the Old Gold over securing a deal for Doyle to return to United, with the Sheffield Star reporting earlier this month that a move would be considered owing to the team’s light numbers centrally.

Like his former teammate in the middle, however, Doyle did more than enough during his first stint at the club to suggest he could stroll straight into Wilder’s starting XI, as seen with a thunderbolt effort finding the back of the net to send the Blades to an unbelievable FA Cup semi-final.

In truth, as much as McAtee would often steal the limelight as the standout loanee coming from a top-flight giant, Doyle was equally as key for Paul Heckingbottom’s men in promotion being tasted, despite not being front and centre of every single of the now Preston North End manager’s lineups.

Games played

33

Games started

21

Goals scored

3

Assists

4

Big chances created

6

Touches*

43.3

Accurate passes*

24.5

Doyle more than delivered in crunch times at Bramall Lane with seven goal contributions managed from just 21 league starts, with Wilder wanting to bring in the 23-year-old for some added depth to help out the likes of Sydie Peck with Ollie Arblaster sidelined for the foreseeable.

Noted as being a “brilliant” talent in the past by Wolves journalist Lewis Keen when starring in spurts, United could really show they mean business in the promotion race by winning a loan star that has been successful in reaching the Premier League just two years ago.

Whilst Leeds United continue to be quiet in the window, their Yorkshire foes continue to flex their muscles, as the race for promotion heats up once more.

Wilder's next Egan: Sheffield United make enquiry to sign "immense" star

Chris Wilder might now be looking for some new defensive additions at Sheffield United.

ByKelan Sarson Jan 20, 2025

The Brazil international has been nowhere near as decisive of late as in recent years, and Los Blancos are suffering as a result

"I'll do it 10x if I have to. They're not ready." Or so we were told. Vinicius Jr tweeted those words after Rodri won the Ballon d'Or in October following a laughable episode of melodrama. Real Madrid found out that their star man would not take home the Golden Ball and thus boycotted the ceremony in Paris. Should Vinicius have won it? Perhaps; it was close. But it wasn't a good look regardless of your position in the argument.

But while revenge was on the Brazilian's mind in the immediate aftermath, things have continued to not go his way in the months that have followed. Vincius is having a bad season – at least, by his lofty standards. Eleven goals and seven assists in La Liga aren't numbers that scream Ballon d'Or contender. And while 10 goal contributions in the Champions League about save his skin, this is not what "doing it 10x" looks like.

Even worse is his form since the start of 2025. Vinicius has scored only six goals and assisted five more in all competitions since the turn of the year. The revenge tour hasn't failed; it just never really started. The Vinicius that was promised is yet to arrive, and what happens next could make or break Madrid's season.

Getty ImagesFailing to walk the walk

The first thing that needs to be established is that it's probably pretty hard to be Vinicius. This is a footballer who has always been in the spotlight, mostly for things he cannot control. He was the subject of vitriolic abuse first from Madrid fans – who really didn't like him when he had the audacity to miss a few good chances as a teenager – and later from supporters of opposition clubs. A lot of it was the kind of sad racism that still exists in football, while the rest focused on the fact that Vinicius is really very good and clearly knows it. Some people just don't like that kind of arrogance from their sportsmen.

The difficulty with the latter is that it has to be backed up by performance and production. Talk the talk, and you simply have to walk the walk. And so far, Vinicius has stumbled. The numbers aren't really there, and that has then led to his swagger and confidence also going missing. That intangible quality that made defenders buckle at Vinicius is lacking, and he can now be got at, manipulated and shoved around a bit.

AdvertisementGettyDeclining numbers

And his decline has been reflected in the stats. Dive deeper into his goals since the turn of the year, and it's not just the fact that they're fewer and further between that is concerning – they've also been remarkably unimportant.

Two of the six came against a poor Red Bull Salzburg side who were already eliminated from the Champions League when the two teams met, while another came in a dramatic loss to Valencia. Only one, Madrid's second in a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano, nominally goes down as a 'winning' goal – and even that doubled a 1-0 lead at the time.

In that same period, Vinicius has missed two crucial penalties. The first came in the 70th minute of the second leg of Los Blancos' last-16 Champions League tie with Atletico Madrid while he followed that up by having a pretty tame effort saved against Valencia on April 5. In total, Vinicius has now missed three spot-kicks this season.

The deeper numbers behind his attacking production paint a picture of a player being afforded fewer opportunities – and doing slightly less with the ones he gets. Last season Vinicius averaged 3.72 shots per 90 minutes; this campaign, it's down to 3.26. Last season, he averaged 1.83 shots on target per 90 minutes; now it's down to 1.01. Last season, he overperformed his expected goals by 1.9; this year, it's 1.4.

Yet there are some signs that not all is lost. Vinicius' numbers on successful take-ons are up from 37 percent to 43%. He is being tackled fewer times, too. His numbers are more comparable with those of the 2021-22 season – his breakout campaign in Madrid. That season he was immensely impactful, and formed a deadly duo with Karim Benzema – a partnership that Los Blancos rode all the way to a Champions League win. Except back then, Vinicius outperformed his expected goals by 4.7.

Maybe, then, this is who Vinicius really is: a world-class talent whose numbers – and confidence – are taking a hit from elsewhere.

Getty ImagesThe Mbappe conundrum

And who be responsible for all of this? It didn't take a footballing genius to point out that getting Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe into the same team might prove to be a tactical nightmare. They are both most comfortable playing off the left of a front three and are at their best when they have the ball. But while Vinicius has faltered this calendar year, Mbappe has really started to find form in a Madrid shirt. In 25 games, he has found the net 19 times (though, rather amusingly, has just one assist in that time).

Mbappe is showing up in big games, too. He was dominant against Manchester City in the Champions League in February, and scored the equaliser in a crucial derby draw with Atletico in La Liga. Since then, he has chugged along, providing goals here and there while looking more and more like the player who set Paris Saint-Germain's all-time goal-scoring record at the age of 25.

Of course, there are still some issues for Mbappe to resolve. He probably shouldn't go around trying to break people's legs – not least four matches before a Clasico that could define the title race. It would be ideal, too, if he decided to defend every now and then. But Mbappe has never been perfect, and Madrid agreed to take the world-class with the frustrating all the same. Vinicius, it seems, is paying the price.

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Getty Images'Don't talk, play'

There is an easy argument to be made here that things might just be different if Carlo Ancelotti was a true tactician. Perhaps a progressive, more thoughtful and attuned manager like, say, Xabi Alonso, wouldn't let this happen.

If Madrid wanted tactical absolutes, they would have let Ancelotti go long ago. So much of the Italian's success is based on vibes and control. The Italian has his tactics and ways of playing, but he is more of a perfect PR man, the manager who can take a bunch of world-class pieces and fit them all together. Ninety percent of his job is about media management and perception. Ancelotti needs to say the right things, and control the noise around his players.

"It's hard to say," Ancelotti told a press conference when asked about the form of Vinicius and his Brazil team-mate Rodrygo. "In the last week above all, there's been a general slump, not just in the efficiency we've had in attack. We've conceded too many goals in these recent games, and that's where we need to cut back. Defensive solidity is very important, especially in moments when the forwards aren't as effective as they've always been."

There have, however, been glimmers of discontent growing between Vinicius and his manager. A recent episode in a Copa Del Rey clash with Real Sociedad rather summed it all up. Vinicius was being fouled a lot an complained to Ancelotti. The manager told him, in no uncertain terms to "stop talking and play." Vinicius continued to complain, and Ancelotti reacted by telling Brahim Diaz to warm up. Vinicius miraculously got his head down from there.

These are isolated incidents, but ones that perhaps speak to larger discontent.

Manchester United have some exciting young talent in the first-team squad. One of their best players this term has been Amad. The Ivorian has been a pivotal player for Ruben Amorim so far, playing as either a wing-back or in the number ten role. So far this season, he has nine goals and seven assists in all competitions.

Another star youngster in the Red Devils squad is Kobbie Mainoo. Amorim has managed his minutes well this season, ensuring not to overplay him, something former boss Erik ten Hag was guilty of. Mainoo’s best performance of the season came away to FCSB on Thursday night in the Europa League, after he managed to score and assist in a 2-0 win.

United are now eyeing up a couple more young stars, Mathys Tel and Geovany Quenda, who could add to the quality that Amad and Mainoo give them.

Man Utd's pursuit of Tel and Quenda

It would be a bold move for Amorim’s side to bring in two premium talents in Europe. Tel is wanted by the Red Devils on loan, according to Florian Plettenberg, with fellow journalist Fabrizio Romano suggesting Tottenham Hotspur have had a £50m bid accepted by Bayern Munich, although the race is still open.

Although opportunities have been limited for Tel this term, he showed what he can do in the 2023/24 season. The Frenchman scored ten goals and provided six assists in 41 games, although he played the equivalent of just 16 games.

Quenda, who is valued at £33.4m according to David Ornstein, is wanted by the Red Devils next summer. The journalist suggests the 13-time Premier League champions are yet to make a formal offer but implies they are likely to make a move.

He was compared to Arsenal star Bukayo Saka by Sporting CP academy coach Fabio Roque. The youngster has two goals and six assists for Amorim’s former side this term, having played 34 times.

As good as these youngsters are, United might have someone even better in the first-team squad, who is actually worth even more than both of them combined.

The United star worth more than Tel and Quenda

The player in question here is United’s number 17, Alejandro Garnacho. It has been an exceptional rise to the top for the Red Devils “generational” star, as football statistician Statman Dave described him.

The Argentina international has played 121 times already for the English giants, despite being just 20 years of age. He has scored 23 times and registered 15 assists.

Perhaps his best goal for the club came against Everton, an incredible overhead kick which won him the Puskas award.

This season, the Red Devils attacker experienced a dip in form but still has eight goals and six assists in 35 games. It has been a tough campaign for United as a team, but Garnacho has still put in some impressive performances this term.

Competition

Games

Goals

Assists

Premier League

22

3

1

Europa League

8

1

1

EF Cup

3

3

3

Community Shield

1

1

0

FA Cup

1

0

1

There has been talk of the winger departing Old Trafford in the January transfer window. Romano reported earlier in the month that Chelsea and Napoli were interested in signing the winger, although that seems unlikely at this stage of the window.

Market Movers

In terms of a price, the 20-year-old is valued at far more than both Tel and Quenda, with CIES Football Observatory pricing him at as high as £95m.

Whilst that might be considered a lot of money for suitors to pay, it also seems an insignificant amount given what he offers United.

He has already made many key contributions in a United shirt, including a goal in an FA Cup final against Manchester City and the Puskas award-winning goal against the Toffees. That, surely is worth more than £95m.

It surely seems like a mistake for United to sell Garnacho, given his potential, ability and knack for scoring big goals. He might well form a key partnership with Tel and Quenda, but the fact he is worth more than both combined speaks great volumes about his ability and value to the club.

Dream Rashford upgrade: Man Utd plotting to sign £80k-p/w star after Dorgu

He could be Man Utd’s second signing after Patrick Dorgu

ByJoe Nuttall Jan 30, 2025

Jamie Carragher has jokingly accused Gary Neville of getting "embarrassed" on U.S. TV, with the Sky Sports pundit "schooled" during an NBC appearance.

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Neville questioned Gunners' campaignConsidered to have lost that argumentEx-Liverpool star poked fun at colleagueFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Former Manchester United defender Neville formed part of the punditry team for NBC Sports' coverage of Arsenal’s recent Premier League clash with Brentford. Following a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium, the ex-England international said: "What's happened this season is I think they've gone backwards from the start of the season in terms of their recruitment. They never covered themselves for their likely injury to (Kai) Havertz, who was their only centre-forward."

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Former Middlesbrough midfielder Robbie Mustoe responded with: “I wouldn't agree that they have regressed. (Arteta) is getting closer, it was just a difficult season with injuries.” Neville went on to say that Arsenal are “always trying to be let off the hook” and have “'the worst attacking squad out of the top six”.

WHAT JAMIE CARRAGHER SAID

Those comments attracted criticism, with Mustoe considered to have won a lively debate. Carragher has now poked fun at his Sky Sports colleague, telling the podcast during a conversation with Rebecca Lowe: “Has Gary recovered? I mean he got absolutely battered didn't he by Robbie Mustoe. I mean he absolutely destroyed him on air.

“I didn't know if we'd even want him back on Sky. I mean he's gone over there and absolutely embarrassed us. He got absolutely schooled. He's gone over there to crack America, and he can't even crack Robbie Mustoe.”

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WHAT NEXT?

Neville was back on Super Sunday duty with Sky for Premier League leaders Liverpool’s narrow 1-0 win over relegated Leicester. Carragher, meanwhile, continues to entertain American audiences as part of the team that covers Champions League action for CBS Sports – alongside Kate Scott, Thierry Henry and Micah Richards.

First red-ball appearance since early 2019 brings game-changing 85-ball ton

David Hopps14-Sep-2022Northamptonshire 339 and 209 for 5 (Procter 55, Vasconcelos 51*) lead Surrey 421 (Amla 133, Curran 115) by 127 runsTom Curran had begun to feel like a cricketer who might become a limited-overs specialist more by circumstance than design. Injuries have plagued him in recent years and he had not played a Championship game for Surrey since before Covid-19 announced its baleful presence on the world. A hundred before lunch in his first four-day match for 41 months was quite a way to put that right.Since an early-season match against Essex in 2019, he has played 84 T20 and 17 List A matches for seven different teams. An itinerant cricketer, much in demand, but with an England career that has recently lost impetus and a Championship career that felt as if it belonged to different times.Such misgivings were banished, hopefully for many years to come, by a remarkable return: a maiden first-class hundred in 85 balls which became more audacious which each passing over and which energised Surrey’s Championship challenge.With each shot, he appeared to be pouring out his frustration on a period where he has suffered prolonged absences, firstly from a side strain and then from a stress fracture of his back which caused him to leave Sydney Sixers early last December midway through the Big Bash. He has sat in England bubbles, but not played international cricket in over a year.Curran came to the crease at 244 for 6 after four overs of the third morning. Surrey still trailed by 95 and Hashim Amla had just completed a dedicated hundred which appeared to be all that stood between Northamptonshire and a useful first-innings lead. Shortly before lunch, the Wantage Road crowd rose as one to give Curran a heartfelt standing ovation for a century of great gusto that changed the complexion of the game and may have changed the destination of the Championship. Somewhere, a dog barked in excitement; his Championship dog days were over.”I haven’t played a lot of Championship cricket in the past few years and I wanted to come in and be more positive,” Curran said. “The red ball tends to do a little bit more than I’ve been facing in the past few weeks, but there is not much in the wicket for the bowlers and I knew if I put some pressure back on them it would make it tough. It’s no secret that Northampton means a lot to me so it was extra special to get my first hundred here.”Northampton is a special place for the Curran family. Tom’s father, Kevin, was a great servant of the county, and Tom is the only one of the three brothers not to have been born in the town. But his hundred perhaps dispelled some sadness, too, because this week Ben Curran, the brother who never quite managed a Championship hundred, was released by Northants and may have to accept that his county career is over at 26.Surrey would be under considerable pressure from Hampshire if they fail to win here. They are level on points going into the final day, and will stretch that lead to eight points if they draw, 16 if they win, with two matches remaining. With Northamptonshire holding a precarious lead of 127, with five wickets remaining, Surrey probably need wickets before a second new ball that is still 15 overs away.The career of the two most celebrated Curran brothers advanced in harmony once more. In late June, Sam had also made his maiden Championship hundred, against Kent at Kia Oval, a run-strewn match in which four Surrey batters passed 100 in the same innings. Tom joined him by flat-batting the offspinner Rob Keogh through mid-on at a time when he felt he could do no wrong. His last 30 runs had come in a torrent, including a hold-the-pose straight drive against James Sales to bring up the hundred stand, Amla by then a virtual spectator, and a six against Keogh that flew wide of the coffee shack at long-on, purveyor of the best coffee on the ground.There were times during his withering assault when Northants did not bowl well at him, particularly the South African quick, Lizaad Williams, the only player with international experience. Spin made but a brief appearance. He had a couple of fortunate top-edged pulls that flew over the keeper’s head, one of which took him to his half-century. But for a player whose previous first-class best was only 60, he dismissed the ball with abandon.Amla fell eight balls after Curran reached his century, lbw as he tried to work Keogh to leg. Keogh took three of the last four wickets to return 4 for 41, and bowled well enough to deserve some late adornment of his figures. One more bold shot over mid-off from Curran would have beaten his father’s career-best score, but this time Williams had his measure and Luke Procter held an excellent running catch.Intriguingly, the two not out batters who will lead Northants’ resistance on the final morning are Ricardo Vasconcelos and Saif Zaib, two players who have dropped down the order in search of form. Vasconcelos, 51 not out, at the close, passed 50 for only the third time in a season where he was burdened with the captaincy unexpectedly at the start and has never recovered.Surrey’s quicks began aggressively against the new ball, and removed both openers by tea. But Northants will particularly regret losing two wickets in the final session to full tosses – Josh Cobb diverting one from legspinner Cameron Steel to short midwicket and Procter’s half-century ending when he missed a full ball from Gus Atkinson.

Overton has a hand in ruining both batters’ days but Surrey falter in response to hosts’ 512

ECB Reporters Network27-Sep-2022Keaton Jennings and George Balderson both narrowly missed out on personal landmarks but Lancashire are sitting pretty at the end of a rain-effected day two of this final match of the County Championship against title winners Surrey.Jennings fell agonisingly short of double century after he was dismissed lbw by a brilliant Jamie Overton inswinger for 199 before Balderson was the last man out four runs away from his maiden first-class century.But after reaching 512 in their first innings, Lancashire took five Surrey wickets for 123 to put them firmly in the box seat at a damp Emirates Old Trafford.The day began full of anticipation for Jennings, who needed just 10 runs to reach 200 and become the first Lancashire player to hit three double tons in a season since Frank Watson in 1928. But Overton produced a vicious delivery which swung into Jennings’ pad to leave the opener out for 199 and Lancashire 430 for 6.Balderson, meanwhile, passed his personal-best first-class score of 77, but when Tom Hartley was bowled by an excellent turning delivery from Dan Moriarty for seven, it became clear holding on to partners might be a problem.Hartley was replaced by Tom Bailey whose free-scoring style was easy on the eye but probably not on Balderson’s nerves. When Bailey charged down the wicket and holed out to Kemar Roach at mid on off Moriarty for 22, Balderson was in the 90s with only Will Williams and Matt Parkinson left to help.In the end Williams lasted 15 balls for his seven before edging Cameron Steel to Rory Burns at slip leaving Balderson to decide he couldn’t trust Parkinson as the young allrounder opted instead to try and hit Moriarty out of the ground and succeeded only in finding Overton at deep midwicket for an excellent 97.Moriarty finished with 5 for 163 and Steel 3 for 65 but the spinners’ figures were the only real highlights in a lacklustre bowling display from the visiting champions who are perhaps suffering a little for motivation after last week’s celebrations.Batting for a solitary over before lunch, Surrey continued after the break with Burns and Ryan Patel instantly on the back foot when faced with Bailey’s accurate opening spell.Bailey would claim his 50th wicket of the season soon after when Patel edged to Jennings at second slip for 19 before Burns fell to Will Williams in the next over as the New Zealander got one to jag back and hit the skipper’s off stump.Surrey were 37 for 2 and that quickly became 38 for 3 after Jamie Smith was trapped in front by Bailey who was putting the seal on an excellent season with the ball.The prize dismissal of Hashim Amla came courtesy of Balderson who shrugged off his disappointment at missing out on a century by dismissing the South African for 29 with Jennings pouching another sharp chance at slip.A succession of showers and subsequent breaks late in the day made for an even harder session for Surrey’s batters and Williams struck again when he cleaned bowled Tom Curran for 11.It was left to former Lancashire player Jordan Clarke and Steel to see things through to the end as Surrey closed on 123 for 5 still trailing by 389.

Away from the one loss next to their name this season in the Premier League, Liverpool have been near faultless in the top-flight under Arne Slot.

Indeed, the high-flying Reds sit at the very top of the division with a hefty 56 points accumulated from 23 games as both Arsenal and Nottingham Forest desperately attempt to catch up on 47 points each.

If all goes to plan from this point onwards, Slot’s men should cruise to a title success during their new manager’s very successful first campaign, with the Dutchman now looking ahead to the future – away from any silverware to come – with a new transfer target.

Liverpool submit offer for teenage star

As per the Daily Express, Liverpool have now submitted an offer to sign Red Star Belgrade starlet Andrija Maksimovic.

Aston Villa are also named as another interested party looking at the Serbian teenager, with Maksimovic’s agent Zoran Stojadinovic further elaborating that the attacking midfielder could go for a fee around the £17m mark.

Whilst this wouldn’t be a purchase for the here and now, this would still be an exciting pick up for the Reds to get done, with the 17-year-old a gung-ho style attacking midfielder that would slot into the free-flowing Liverpool side nicely alongside both Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz.

What Maksimovic could offer Liverpool

Already capped four times at a senior level for his nation, Maksimovic could well make this next big step in his career look effortless as well.

After all, the teen has played in seven Champions League clashes this season and not look fazed whatsoever by the glitz and glamour, with plenty of goals and assists coming his way in both the youth set-up at Red Star and in the first-team fold.

Amazingly, a sublime free-kick effort earlier in the campaign was Maksimovic’s first-ever senior strike for Red Star, with the promising Reds target now up to three goals and four assists overall for his Serbian employers from 23 clashes.

Maksimovic’s youth numbers for Red Star further reinforce why his price tag stands at such a steep £17m, with the 6-foot gem helping himself to a ridiculous 31 goals from 33 appearances, before then becoming a consistent starter up an age bracket.

Therefore, he could fit in superbly alongside both Salah and Diaz. The pair of them have been exceptional this term but this move could gift Slot’s men even more firepower, as the table-toppers are somewhat reliant on the dazzling magic of the Egyptian or Diaz as a lone striker.

Staggeringly, Salah has a combined goal and assist haul in the Premier League alone of 34, whilst Diaz also comes in at double digits at ten.

Player

G/A combined

1. Cody Gakpo

11

2. Diogo Jota

7

3. Trent Alexander-Arnold

7

4. Darwin Nunez

6

5. Curtis Jones

6

Looking at the table above, the goals and assists are spread out across the squad quite evenly, but there is a slight lack of contributions coming from the middle of the park with the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai only on five for the campaign.

The Hungarian midfielder played in the number ten role last time out versus AFC Bournemouth, despite often being launched into clashes in a far deeper spot, with there a need perhaps for Slot to have more personnel to throw into games behind the lone striker.

That’s where Maksimovic could come in handy to help out Salah and Diaz, with Liverpool also gaining another top youngster in the process who could be used as an impact face like Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones.

After all, Liverpool don’t need whole host of instant improvements this January, with this signing one that could go on to be an inspired purchase if everything goes to plan down the line.

The next Van Dijk: Liverpool pursuing move for future "world-class CB"

Liverpool are eyeing up a swoop for a talented South American.

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 2, 2025