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The scenes at Adelaide Airport reflected these strange and tumultuous times for Australian cricket, with players called in to and on their way out of the Test squad crossing paths

Daniel Brettig21-Nov-20162:59

‘We can build something new together’ – Hazlewood

While a few metres away Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb collected their bags for the very first time as Australian Test cricketers, Callum Ferguson reflected on how he had been picked and discarded in the space of a single week.The scenes at Adelaide Airport – apart from the scuffle between South Africa’s support staff and an eager television reporter – reflected these strange and tumultuous times for Australian cricket. Handscomb and Matthew Wade arrived from Melbourne a few minutes before Renshaw and Usman Khawaja jetted in from Brisbane.They were accompanied by the South Australian side that failed by 12 balls to eke out a draw against Queensland in the Sheffield Shield match at the Gabba. After the travails of the past two weeks it isn’t hard to imagine numerous figures at Cricket Australia hoping the Test team can be that competitive against South Africa this week.The last man out at the Gabba, Chadd Sayers, wandered through the arrivals hall in an Australia team polo Ferguson had donned only a few days before. Though he had every reason to be upset, even bitter about his treatment, Ferguson put on a commendably brave face, befitting the even temperament of a man who has retained his perspective and hunger to perform even in the face of two knee reconstructions.Asked whether he was confused by how he had been dumped so rapidly, Ferguson did not bite: “Just disappointed at this stage, as you are whenever you get left out of a team. It is disappointing anytime you get left out of a side, so it’s back to the drawing board. Make runs for South Australia, win games and hopefully fight my way back in.”It was certainly a really exciting week but a disappointing one. We had a really tough week on the field. I’m backing the Australian side to bounce back after this, it has been a tough few months but certainly they’ve got the quality in the side so I think they can bounce back.”The interim selection chairman Trevor Hohns had offered Ferguson a slight glimmer of hope for the future when informing him that his services were no longer required – there has been talk of taking him to India. “I spoke to Trevor the other day and he said the door is certainly not shut,” he said. “Get out there, make runs and certainly you’ve got an opportunity to get back in there if you do put them on the board.”The sheer turnover of Australian players was not lost on Josh Hazlewood, formerly a young bowler in the team yet now one of the more senior members. “I think with such a young group, it is exciting,” he said. “We get to build something together. I think there is not as much pressure because it’s everyone’s first game. We need to start from a point moving forward and hopefully this group gets an opportunity to do that, not only in one game but over a period of time.”Later in the afternoon, Renshaw trained at Adelaide Oval for the first time, and in practice occupied the first slip post that had until last week belonged to Adam Voges. All connected with Australian cricket, even Ferguson, will hope the revolving door stops here.

Liverpool are in advanced talks to sign Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram in summer transfer window, according to a fresh rumour.

Are Liverpool looking for midfielders?

The Reds have a crucial summer ahead of them in the transfer market, with a number of new signings required after a hugely disappointing season in the Premier League – one that saw them finish fifth in the table, which few expected back in August.

There is no question that midfield is the most important area for Liverpool to strengthen in, with too many players either looking jaded or injury-prone, whether it be Fabinho, Jordan Henderson or Naby Keita, to name just a few.

It looks as though the Reds are closing in on the signing of Brighton star Alexis Mac Allister, though, with the Argentine representing a strong addition after an excellent season with the Seagulls.

Liverpool look highly unlikely to stop there, however, with several new faces needed in the middle of the park, and a new claim has emerged regarding their search for new arrivals.

Are Liverpool keen on signing Thuram?

According to Football Transfers, talks with Thuram are at an "advanced" stage, with Jurgen Klopp believed to be a big admirer of him:

"We hear that talks with the Nice star Thuram are advanced. Indeed, Anfield appears to be the favoured destination for the France international, whose father, legendary defender Lillian, is leading the negotiations. Jurgen Klopp is a huge fan of the midfielder, and the player seems happy to join Liverpool over rival interest, which includes Paris Saint-Germain."

Feyenoord midfielder Orkun Kokcu also "remains high on the recruitment list" for the Reds this summer, and the report goes on to add that Manu Kone and Romeo Lavia are seen as potential targets, too.

This is a hugely encouraging Liverpool transfer update, with it very clear that they are well aware of how important midfield reinforcements are before the beginning of next season, especially as Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all departing the club.

Thuram could therefore prove to be a fantastic signing for the Reds, with the £14,000-a-week Frenchman being described as a "very dangerous" player by former Arsenal man Aaron Ramsey, as well as "a very strong dribbler of the ball", highlighted by the fact the player ranks in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons that lead to a shot attempt and 94th percentile for progressive carries.

The 22-year-old scored two goals and registered four assists in Ligue 1 in 2022/23, and also averaged 1.5 tackles per game, and he is a player who may only mature into a formidble player with age, but be a key figure from the off, too.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has shortlisted Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim, but he is set to take his time over a new managerial appointment, according to a report from Football Insider.

What's the latest Tottenham manager news?

Tottenham are still searching for a long-term heir to Antonio Conte, and it has now been reported that Graham Potter could soon contend for the job, as he still maintains a reputation as a top coach, despite being sacked by Chelsea last season.

Brendan Rodgers is also still a candidate, with recent reports even claiming that he has been formally offered the job, although Spurs will keep their options open, with Luis Enrique also believed to be of interest.

Roberto De Zerbi, Marco Silva and Ange Postecoglou have also been linked with a move to N17, and Football Insider have now provided an update involving the latter manager.

Postecoglou, Enrique and Amorim are said to be on Levy's new three-man shortlist, with the chairman keen to take his time over the appointment, due to the importance of appointing the right man.

Amorim is considered an attractive proposition by Spurs, having impressed during his time with Sporting CP, winning the league title during the 2020-21 campaign. At 38 years of age, the Sporting boss fits the bill as a "young, up-and-coming coach", which is of key importance to the Tottenham hierarchy, according to talkSPORT's Alex Crook.

Who is Ruben Amorim?

The Lisboa-born manager has made a name for himself over in Portugal, winning a total of five trophies during spells with Braga and Sporting, most notably winning the 2020-21 Liga Portugal title, and his side have shown some promising signs this season.

Although they were unable to compete for the title, Sporting achieved a respectable fourth-place finish, while they also performed very well in Europe, knocking out Arsenal in the Europa League round of 16.

Given his age, the Portuguese tactician is not yet the finished article, and he has received some criticism at times, with journalist Zach Lowy querying some of his "bizarre" man-management decisions.

However, other members of the media have heaped praise on the former Braga boss, with journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke describing him as "the most exciting young manager in European football" just over a year ago.

Appointing Amorim could be a risk, but his success up to this point indicates he may well go on to be a top manager, and a move to Tottenham could well be one to keep an eye on.

Nick Selman, the Glamorgan opener, carried his bat for a maiden Championship century, as Glamorgan battled to stay in contention against Northamptonshire at Swansea

ECB Reporters Network05-Aug-2016
ScorecardLaurie Evans pressed Northants’ advantage in the second innings•PA Photos

Nick Selman, the Glamorgan opener, carried his bat for a maiden Championship century, as Glamorgan battled to stay in contention against Northamptonshire at Swansea. However, by the close, the visitors were strongly placed to push for their first Championship win of the season, as they closed with a lead of 315 with three wickets still in hand.Selman’s battling effort, which lasted 302 minutes and included 15 fours from 208 balls, meant he became the first Glamorgan batsman to carry his bat since the Australian Matthew Elliott achieved the feat against Hampshire in Cardiff in 2004.Although he received some support from the lower order, with Andrew Salter, Ruaidhri Smith and Owen Morgan all falling in the twenties, six of Glamorgan’s batsmen were dismissed in single figures as Northants’ seam attack, led by Mohammad Azharullah and Ben Sanderson, thrived in the conditions.Azharullah was their most impressive bowler with 3 for 58, as Northants’ seamers observed the virtue of bowling a full length on a pitch that does give them some assistance. However, had Selman not been dropped by Rory Kleinveldt from an easy caught and bowled chance from the first ball of the day, the damage would have been even greater.As it was, Northants secured a first-innings lead of 85, and were once again rattled by the teenaged debutant, Lukas Carey, who dismissed both openers early in the innings. Ben Duckett failed for the second time in the game when he drove loosely outside the off stump, and he was quickly followed by Rob Newton who edged to second slip. Laurie Evans remained steadfast however, and passed fifty for the second time in the game in adding 75 with David Murphy, who was eventually lbw to Carey. The 19-year-old then claimed his fourth wicket when Saif Zaib edged to the wicketkeeper, before Northants lost two wickets in successive balls to Tim van der Gugten.After striking 32 from 17 balls, Kleinveldt holed out on the extra cover boundary then Evans, who scored 73 with eight fours, was visibly annoyed with himsef when he pulled a short ball to the fielder on the square leg boundary. Graeme White and Sean Terry added some useful runs towards the end of the day as Northants closed on 230 for 7.

Leeds United have had a difficult Premier League season, with struggles to perform on the pitch and managerial changes aplenty, which has ultimately led to the threat of relegation to the Championship growing by the week.

The Whites have just two league fixtures remaining to retain their top-flight status as they are currently two points inside the relegation zone and recently appointed Sam Allardyce will be desperate to deliver a positive climax to a stressful season for the supporters.

Andrea Radrizzani and the powerbrokers at Elland Road will be feeling the pressure this summer after failing to put together a successful recruitment strategy to comfortably compete in the Premier League, while reckless decisions combined with their poor planning will ultimately be pinpointed should Leeds be relegated next weekend.

Indeed, the club did make an ambitious effort to replace key players like Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips in the summer, and in the attacking department, newcomers like Wilfried Gnonto and Luis Sinisterra have shown promising signs, however, the same can't be said for some of the midfield personnel acquired.

USMNT's World Cup star Tyler Adams was brought in to replace Phillips, signing a five-year deal at Elland Road last summer and becoming a revelation in the centre of the pitch, but a season-ending hamstring injury in March has left Leeds to rely on his less than impressive international teammate, Weston McKennie.

Will Leeds sign Weston McKennie permanently?

The 24-year-old Juventus midfielder was a warmly welcomed signing in the January transfer window, joining the West Yorkshire club for the rest of the season to add some depth in midfield.

However, McKennie has not had the desired impact whilst occupying a spot in the heart of the Leeds team since the turn of the year and has struggled to make the difference desperately needed to get Leeds out of trouble.

Over 17 Premier League appearances, the American liability has failed to complete the majority of his duels (57%) and offered no goal contributions so far, as well as averaging just 24.6 accurate passes, 0.6 successful dribbles and losing possession of the ball 11.2 times per game.

Not only that, McKennie has been the recipient of a lot of criticism for his displays in a Leeds shirt, with Sky Sports commentator Joe Blitz slamming the player for his performance against Fulham last month:

“It’s such a poor pass out from McKennie which Tete intercepts. And an even worse challenge. Very reckless,” said Blitz.

“He is not quite flavour of the month with the Leeds support due to a couple of high-profile errors leading to goals. That won’t help his cause.

“A lot more was expected from him when he arrived from Juventus in January.”

It is reported that the club have an option to complete the permanent signing of McKennie for £30m this summer, but with the club in such a precarious position in the Premier League, it seems unlikely that a deal is something that would make sense at this moment in time.

With that being said, when considering the transfer fee and salary commitments alongside the midfielder's lacklustre performances, it would also make little sense to commit to a permanent deal – and instead, Radrizzani should be focusing his efforts on finding new additions who can improve the team next season.

YouTuber Conor McGilligan has slammed Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk after he gave away a penalty in the club's recent defeat.

What's the latest on Pascal Struijk and Leeds?

Arriving to replace Javi Gracia with just four Premier League games left to save the Whites from relegation, new manager Sam Allardyce was unable to win on the weekend.

In fairness, three points were never really expected for Leeds as they came up against league leaders Manchester City at the Etihad.

At least, then, they kept the scoreline respectable as a brace from Ilkay Gundogan – who later missed a penalty – was enough to see the home team win 2-1, with Rodrigo later netting a consolation.

Ahead of the match, Allardyce opted to leave Struijk out of the starting lineup and only brought him on for the final ten minutes.

However, seeing as the £50k-p/w defender gave away a penalty just three minutes after coming on, it's easy to see why some were critical of his cameo.

For instance, while speaking on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan tore into the left-back, outlining just how exasperated he immediately became.

He said (26:05): “I nearly threw something at the TV when Pascal Struijk came on. Gave possession away three times, then gave a penalty as well.

"He's not having a good run of it at the minute…"

How bad was Pascal Struijk against Man City?

This was actually Struijk's first appearance for Leeds after spending the last three games on the bench and you can see why he hasn't been playing much.

For instance, when you look at the stats on SofaScore, he delivered the lowest match rating of 5.6 despite only playing for ten minutes. In that period, he lost the ball three times and had away that penalty, even though he only had five touches – completing 1/4 attempted passes.

Evidently, this was a nightmare cameo and in the player ratings for the Yorkshire Evening Post, journalist Graham Smyth was pretty damning of the defender too as he handed him a 3/10.

He also wrote: "Gave away a penalty, lacked composure on the ball, looked a bit shaky."

It was hardly the sort of substitute appearance that will have Allardyce considering a change in the lineup next time out and so if Struijk is to play his part in Leeds' survival over the coming weeks, he'll probably have to do so now from the bench.

Liverpool will look to add another three points to their tally this weekend when they host relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest in their Premier League clash at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp will be hopeful that his team can take some confidence from their huge 6-1 victory over Leeds United at Elland Road on Monday night, as they will need it if they are going to fight for their outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League in their remaining eight games.

The Reds are nine points adrift of Newcastle United in fourth and with just 24 points left for the taking, Liverpool are in no position to rest on their laurels and will need to put everything they can into their battle to climb the table.

It will be no easy task for Klopp to put together a winning formula for the final hurdles of the season as there has been no individual player that has really stood out as a consistent performer over the season so far apart from Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who has had to contend with some torrid defensive displays in front of him.

As a result, unleashing the players in the team that are explosive and passionate in their approach could be the key to snatching important from opponents and there is no player more chaotic in a Liverpool shirt than club-record signing Darwin Nunez.

Will Darwin Nunez start vs Nottingham Forest?

There is no doubt that Nunez has quite literally burst onto the scene since penning his £85m deal on Merseyside last June and despite some criticism for his missed opportunities in front of goal, has been a real breath of fresh air for the Reds.

The fiery £140k-per-week Uruguayan has scored 15 goals and registered four assists over 37 appearances in all competitions so far – with a goal contribution every 113 minutes, which is a pretty impressive output for a striker who has missed 18 big chances in the Premier League.

Nunez proved just how explosive he can be in the attacking threat when he made his nine-minute cameo against Leeds earlier this week with ten touches, an 89% pass completion rate (8/9) and one shot on target, which he comfortably converted to deliver the sixth and final goal in West Yorkshire.

Klopp has wasted no time in lavishing praise on his 23-year-old attacker and made his admiration for the player known after he scored against Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this season:

"I would say he is really getting there. Everybody can see he is just a handful, just a proper threat."

With that being said, it would make perfect sense for Klopp to unleash Nunez on the Garibaldi Reds this afternoon at Anfield as he could cause absolute chaos for their defenders throughout and deliver the important three points needed.

أثار أنجي بوستيكوجلو، المدير الفني لفريق توتنهام، قلق منتخب السنغال حول طبيعة إصابة اللاعب بابي ماتار سار قبل بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا 2023.

وفاز توتنهام في مباراة اليوم ضد بورنموث بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف، في الجولة العشرين من الدوري الإنجليزي.

وسجل بابي ماتار سار الهدف الأول لصالح توتنهام، في الدقيقة 9، ولكنه اضطر إلى الخروج في الشوط الأول بعد تعرضه لإصابة قوية أجبرته على البكاء (لمطالعة التفاصيل من هنا).

تأتي إصابة ماتار سار قبل أيام قليلة من بداية كأس أمم إفريقيا، حيث إن اللاعب تم استدعائه من قِبل منتخب السنغال.

وقال أنجي بوستيكوجلو في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “أشعر بخيبة أمل تجاه بابي سار، لست متأكدًا من حجم الإصابة بعد، ولكنها أوتار الركبة، شعر بشيء ما في تلك المنطقة”.

وأضاف: “كان بابي سار متأثرًا لأنه يريد اللعب مع منتخب بلاده، إنها بطولة كبيرة بالنسبة لهم، لقد كان جيدًا في المباراة، بغض النظر عن هدفه، ثم تعرض للإصابة”.

وواصل: “إنه أمر مخيب للآمال بالنسبة له، لكني آمل ألا يكون الأمر خطيرًا للغاية، وأن يكون قادرًا على الرحيل والمساهمة مع منتخب بلاده”.

The Glazers have ‘reservations about selling Manchester United’ ahead of tonight’s deadline for second offers, talkSPORT report.

The Lowdown: Glazers’ stance

Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe appear to be the frontrunners in a deal with the Glazers, with the pair making first offers for the club last month. The deadline for second bids is this evening, with both Jassim and Ratcliffe holding talks at Old Trafford last week.

Reports last month suggested that the Glazers ‘could end up staying at Manchester United after receiving backing from American hedge fund Elliott investment’. However, recent speculation following United’s talks with Jassim and Ratcliffe claimed that the Glazers are ‘keen on relinquishing their asset, if the price is right’.

Another update on United’s current owners has now emerged, with Joel and Avram potentially making yet another takeover U-turn.

The Latest: Glazers update

TalkSPORT provided an update on the Glazers’ stance on selling Manchester United on Tuesday, saying that they once again ‘retain reservations’ regarding a takeover.

‘Joel and Avram Glazer retain reservations about selling Manchester United. They’re undecided about whether to sell up completely or accept offers from bidders who want to purchase a minority stake. – talkSPORT sources understand.’

The Verdict: Clarity needed…

A number of Manchester United supporters have wanted the Glazers out for years, with some even forcing their way inside Old Trafford back in 2021, leading to a Premier League fixture with Liverpool being postponed. Protests haven’t stopped following Erik ten Hag’s arrival as manager, with fans even chanting against the current owners on a regular basis, including during their Carabao Cup triumph against Newcastle United at Wembley last month.

Therefore, plenty of the United faithful could be left extremely frustrated at this update regarding the Glazers’ indecisive stance, especially just before the deadline for second offers.

It would help everyone if they were to make their position at the club clear, however, they tend to stay away from public addresses, with Avram Glazer saying this on a possible sale back in December:

“It’s not necessarily a sale, it’s a process and we’re going forward with the process, so we’ll see what happens.”.

We haven’t really heard much from either of the Glazers since then, with CEO Richard Arnold the one to greet Ratcliffe outside Old Trafford last week, and it looks as if were are still none the wiser when it comes to if a full sale will go through at some point this year.

Everton face Aston Villa in the Premier League this afternoon in another crucial match in their fight against relegation.

Sean Dyche has led the Toffees to two wins from his opening three matches in charge, and this new manager bounce has moved them out of the drop zone – for now.

Everton fully deserved their win against Leeds United last week, having been much more effective going forward than their opponents with six shots on target, and Dyche will be expecting a similar performance from his side today.

Against the Whites last Saturday, Dwight McNeil proved to be quite the attacking threat, making three key passes and completing 50% of his dribble attempts while delivering 15 crosses in total and Dyche will require some of the same from him today.

Will McNeil start against Aston Villa?

The winger may not post outstanding numbers – registering only four goal contributions this term – but he has created five big chances, and his threat from both set pieces and crosses will make him a crucial asset against Villa.

Indeed, among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues, McNeil ranks in the top 3% for crosses (6.34), top 1% for successful take-ons (2.18) and top 8% for carries into the opposition penalty area (0.52) per match. These figures suggest that he is amongst one of the finest exponents of his position in Europe when it comes to crossing and dribbling past opponents.

Having played under Dyche during his spell at Burnley, the 23-year-old will surely be able to benefit from such prior working knowledge of his manager going forward, becoming more effective in this Everton side.

This appointment by the Toffees could help in rejuvenating McNeil to fulfil his potential. He was dubbed a “special player” by journalist Andy Jones, while Dyche has previously described him as a “real threat”. Such praise suggests that Everton have a real player on their hands, and that they just haven’t been able to get the best out of him yet.

In Dyche’s first three games in charge, the £25k-per-week dynamo has an average Sofascore rating of 7/10, a solid start which should only improve once the rest of the team gets used to the new manager’s methods.

McNeil could cause Villa a few problems today ,and judging by his display last week, he should be one of the first names on the Everton team sheet.