All posts by h716a5.icu

Gio van Bronckhorst is in with a chance of securing a treble of trophies with Rangers before the end of the season as we enter the clutch stage of the campaign.

The Gers are second in the Premiership as it stands and are in the semi-finals of the Europa League and the final of the Scottish Cup. This means that the Dutchman can end his debut term at Ibrox in glorious style if they can get over the line on multiple fronts.

He is looking to carry on the excellent work done by his predecessor, who won the Scottish top-flight title ahead of their rivals last season.

Steven Gerrard led the Light Blues to glory in 2020/21 as he enjoyed an unbeaten league campaign, with his sublime work in the transfer market playing a big role in that success.

One signing he played a blinder with was the addition of English winger Ryan Kent, who joined on a permanent deal in 2019 – after initially arriving on loan a year earlier.

At the time of the move, he was valued at just £1.58m by Transfermarkt as he finally left Liverpool after a number of loans away from Anfield.

Gerrard previously labelled Kent “a constant threat” while others have claimed he’s “the Mbappe of Scottish football” and it is easy to see why when you look at his statistics for the club over the years.

In 2020/21, the Englishman produced ten goals and 11 assists in the Premiership to help the side secure the title and he has carried his fine form over into this season. Under Gerrard and van Bronckhorst combined, the forward has three goals and 17 assists domestically and in Europe.

Kent has averaged a SofaScore rating of 7.14 in the league this term and this shows that he has been consistently delivering superb displays throughout the campaign. He is a reliable player for the Dutch head coach and has gone from strength to strength since making the switch from Merseyside.

At the time of writing (21/04/22), Transfermarkt value him at a whopping £12.6m, just over £11m more than his price tag in 2019. This highlights his incredible progression in Glasgow over the years as he has been able to drastically raise his market value by performing on the pitch for the Light Blues.

Bringing him to Ibrox was a sensational piece of business by Gerrard and it will be interesting to see where his career goes from here, whether that be at Rangers or elsewhere – hopefully the former.

AND in other news, Sources: Shock Rangers transfer claim emerges that will leave Wilson excited…

Taking to Twitter, talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has made a Tottenham Hotspur transfer claim involving Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz.

The Lowdown: Tottenham eye late moves…

Various reports from overnight and this morning indicate that Spurs are far from done as Antonio Conte reportedly eyes a plethora of late moves.

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It is believed that the likes of Atletico Madrid forward Yannick Carrasco and Brighton star Yves Bissouma are on the Lilywhites’ radar in what is looking to be a very interesting final day.

Some sources have even suggested ‘several’ incomings at Tottenham today, with talkSPORT reporter Crook now dropping an enticing claim on social media.

The Latest: Watch out…

Taking to Twitter, the journalist has said that Luiz to Spurs could be ‘one to watch’ today.

Villa’s midfielder has recently earned praise from his manager Steven Gerrard, but with 18 months left on his contract, Luiz has been linked with a move away from the Midlands club.

The Verdict: Get it done?

Since moving to the Midlands from Manchester City in 2019, the 23-year-old has impressed overall, with journalist Gregg Evans of The Athletic calling Luiz an ‘absolute star’, a ‘joy to watch’ and ‘fantastic’ (1874 Podcast, via This is Futbol) in the summer of 2020.

The Brazil international’s young age and Premier League experience could also be a real incentive for Spurs to move for him, especially considering that some sources suggest he could be available for around €35m (£29m).

In what is shaping up to be a very interesting deadline day at Tottenham, the coming hours could either shape or unravel this potential move.

In other news: Spurs prepared to pay £49.8m release clause for 54-cap forward, find out more here.

A round-up of the first round of matches in the Logan Cup

Cricinfo staff09-Sep-2010
Scorecard
Mountaineers’ Bernard Mlambo was one of Njabulo Ncube’s four victims in the first innings•Zimbabwe CricketMark Vermeulen’s unbeaten century guided Mountaineers to a five-wicket victory over Matabeleland Tuskers in Bulawayo on the final afternoon after fast bowler Shingirai Masakadza’s five-wicket haul on the third day had left them with 249 runs to chase.Mountaineers were in some trouble at 78 for 3 but a 114-run stand between Vermeulen and Prosper Utseya steadied the innings. After Utseya’s dismissal, Vermeulen kept his cool to steer his side to a win in what could have become a tense chase.Masakadza, who made his one-day and T20 debut against West Indies earlier this year, set up the chase with impressive bowling in Tuskers’ second innings. He first reduced them to 26 for 3, including the big wicket of Charles Coventry, and then returned to take three of the last four wickets as Tuskers were dismissed for 243. That total was possible largely due to Keegan Meth’s aggressive 94.The match had been reduced to a second-innings battle after both teams were dismissed within five runs of each other in the first innings. Coventry’s century in an otherwise uninspiring performance took Tuskers to 267, legspinner Natsai Mushangwe taking 4 for 68. Njabulo Ncube and Chris Mpofu ensured Mountaineers didn’t cross that total, taking seven wickets between themselves as Mountaineers were bowled out for 262.Mountaineers earned six points for their win to go to the top of the table while Tuskers got a point for taking the first innings lead.A last-wicket stand of 20 enabled Mashonaland Eagles to take the first-innings lead against Southern Rocks and earn themselves a point in a drawn game dominated by batsmen at the Masvingo Sports Club.Forster Mutizwa had played a captain’s innings of 114 but his side still needed 14 runs to overhaul Rocks’ total of 325 when the last pair of Tinotenda Mutombodzi and Mark Mbofana came together. Mutombodzi ensured his team went ahead and Eagles finally declared on 331 for 9. He had earlier taken 5 for 97 with his legspin, including the wicket of top-scorer Chamu Chibhabha for 85.After conceding the slender lead, Rocks piled on the runs in the second innings, eventually declaring on 449 for 5. Tatenda Taibu was unbeaten on 153 while former Kenya captain Steve Tikolo and Steve Marillier missed out on centuries, both getting dismissed in the nineties. Eagles batted for less than five overs in their second innings before the match was called off.

Paul Collingwood had no qualms about spelling out where the balance of power now lay after England took a 2-0 lead against Australia

Cricinfo staff25-Jun-2010Confidence is surging through the veins of England’s cricketers both on and off the field as they sit with a 2-0 series lead over Australia. Paul Collingwood, who became his country’s leading one-day runscorer during the victory at Cardiff, called for the team to “go hard” before this series started and had no qualms about spelling out where the balance of power now lay.”We’re confident every time we go out and play Australia. It’s not arrogance. We are now confident we can beat anyone in one-day cricket on any given day,” he said. “If you look at Australia’s record over the last year or so they still have that air of invincibility, because they haven’t lost many games. But we are the better side at the moment.”The side that Collingwood debuted in during the 2001 season lost all six matches in the NatWest Series against Australia and Pakistan – just one many limited-overs debacles – but this current unit are a far cry from the callow one-day teams that England have often fielded. They have now stitched together a seven-game winning streak which is their longest since 1997-98 and are on the verge of gaining revenge for last summer’s 6-1 hammering against Australia which followed the Ashes.Collingwood’s new-found aggression with the bat matches England’s ‘no fear’ approach to the one-day game which began at last year’s Champions Trophy, continued through South Africa and culminated in winning the World Twenty20 in West Indies last month.”After they hammered us last year we all thought we had to do something about it. We are a much better team now,” said Collingwood. “But we want to be the best one-day side in the world and we want to win the World Cup next year – and as we stand, we are a long way down in the rankings.”Collingwood’s ascent to become England’s leading one-day runscorer after surpassing Alec Stewart during his 48 on Thursday is yet to fully sink in for him. He now holds England’s runs and caps record having overtaken Stewart’s appearance mark last year, something few would have imagined when he barely made an impression during his debut series.”It was a huge surprise to me when they announced it on the tannoy – and I think there were quite a few Australians out there who were even more surprised than me,” said Collingwood. “It put a smile on my face. To know you have scored more runs in one-day cricket than any other Englishman is a lovely feeling.”Collingwood’s innings, which formed an important stand alongside Eoin Morgan as England chased down 240, was his first significant score of the season after he sat out the Bangladesh Test series as part of the squad rotation policy following the World Twenty20. He made a scratchy 11 in the opening game at The Rose Bowl and was beginning to fret over the need to make a contribution.”I’ve felt a bit rusty so far this summer,” he said. “I went into the match at Cardiff thinking ‘I need to start playing well again, I need a bit of confidence’.”Then they announced I’d broken Stewie’s record and I thought to myself ‘why do you worry so much?’ Alec Stewart was a great player, and sometimes you have to pinch yourself to believe that you’re playing for England – let alone overtaking someone like him.”It’s all a bit surreal at times. I was thinking ‘surely not me?’ I knew I had overtaken Stewie’s number of appearances – but his runs? Are you kidding me?”

Nottinghamshire are back on top of the First Division but felt robbed nonetheless after wet weather came to Yorkshire’s aid and denied them the chance to put clear daylight between themselves and the rest as the race for the County Championship enters its

Jon Culley at Headingley06-Aug-2010
ScorecardNottinghamshire are back on top of the First Division but felt robbed nonetheless after wet weather came to Yorkshire’s aid and denied them the chance to put clear daylight between themselves and the rest as the race for the County Championship enters its decisive phase.Yorkshire were eight down and only 39 runs ahead at tea on the last day, with 34 overs still left in the day’s schedule. But heavy rain meant no further play was possible. With five matches left against Yorkshire’s four, the Trent Bridge side’s five-point advantage makes them favourites, although Somerset – only eight points behind Yorkshire – remain contenders and they might yet pose the greater threat.But Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire’s director of cricket, did not pretend the comfort of a bigger cushion would have been preferable, particularly with Somerset at home next week while his side sits out a round.Nottinghamshire do have one advantage in that three of their remaining matches are at home, where they have tended to play their best cricket. Bottom of the table Warwickshire are due at Trent Bridge on August 16.By then, Nottinghamshire will hope to have clarified the future of their England fast bowler, Ryan Sidebottom, who has yet to sign a new contract offer. The left-armer’s current deal expires at the end of this season and Sussex are believed to be in the hunt should he leave Nottingham, where he is holding out for a longer deal.Sidebottom indicated this week that he would like “to see out my career with Nottinghamshire” and Newell said that the parties hoped to reach an agreement after Twenty20 finals day.”You could see by the way Ryan bowled in this match that there is no doubt about his commitment when he wears a Nottinghamshire shirt. This will probably be the final contract of Ryan’s career and we feel we have made him a good offer, although there is sticking point over the length of the deal.”Newell said the result at Headingley left the race for the title in the balance. “It is frustrating because we had a chance to open up a 20-point lead, although everyone has at least one game a season in which they feel they were robbed. A lead of five points at this stage is neither here nor there and we need to start winning games.”Yorkshire’s plan had been to bat through the day but it was a risky strategy, given that they did not have the cushion of runs in the bank were Nottinghamshire’s bowling to prove more effective than it had been on day three.They resumed still 95 in arrears and, while eight wickets in hand gave them a degree of security, under cloud cover and with rain in the air there was always the danger that a couple of good balls early on could give fresh impetus to the visitors.Yet Yorkshire showed no inclination to hurry, mindful perhaps that the weather might come to their aid in accounting at least for a few overs. Steve Patterson, the nightwatchman, had a job to do and applied himself diligently, but Anthony McGrath lasted only five overs before playing back to a ball from Darren Pattinson that deviated late enough to catch the edge of his defensive bat and fly into the gloves of Chris Read behind the stumps. It left McGrath still 20 short of joining Adam Lyth and Jacques Rudolph in completing 1,000 first-class runs for the season.Incoming batsman Andrew Gale continued Yorkshire’s defensive plan. An hour and 35 minutes passed before there was a four scored off the bat – the one previous boundary was in leg-byes -and it was Patterson who claimed it, steering a ball from Ryan Sidebottom through the gully area.But the possibility of the plan backfiring began to gather strength just before lunch as Gale, seeking to meet a delivery from Sidebottom with a firm push, somehow hit himself on the foot with his bat and the ball ended up in the hands of the bowler. Sidebottom appealed and the umpire’s raised finger confirmed that the ball had come off Gale’s bat and the Yorkshire captain departed, limping.The morning session had produced only 53 runs in 30 overs, with just that one boundary, but the statistic of more concern was that Yorkshire, while only four down, were still 42 short of requiring Nottinghamshire to bat again, let alone have something of substance to chase.It had been a good effort by Patterson, but his vigilance was exhausted 10 minutes after lunch when Mark Wagh snapped up a bat-pad catch at silly mid-off as the nightwatchman tried to work left-arm spinner Samit Patel into the leg side, and when Jonathan Bairstow drove down the wrong line to Sidebottom, alarm bells began to ring for the home side.Six down and still 31 behind, the potential for embarrassment was now very real and it was perverse, in a way, after what had gone before, that Bairstow’s departure prefaced a stand between Adil Rashid and Gerard Brophy that, by comparison, was positively expansive.Rashid’s instincts are clearly curbed less easily. The stroke-playing leg-spinner picked up five boundaries – off Andre Adams, Patel and Paul Franks – from some meaty drives through the off side, which at least put Yorkshire in front.But when Sidebottom had Brophy caught behind after tempting the wicketkeeper to drive a ball just short of a length, and then had Shahzad caught by Adams at gully, Yorkshire were 406 for 8 and facing the prospect of trying to survive a minimum of 34 overs in the final session – probably more – with a lead of only 39.Happily for them – frustratingly for Nottinghamshire – rain was already falling as they left the field and continued long enough to make mopping up time to resume impossible.

Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool contract situation will only become a major issue if it is not resolved by the summer transfer window, according to James Pearce.

The Lowdown: Concern over Salah’s future

The 29-year-old has enjoyed a remarkable season to date, carrying the Reds at times and scoring 23 goals, in all competitions.

Salah is currently on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt and is already being missed, with Jurgen Klopp’s side drawing 0-0 at home to Arsenal on Thursday night.

The forward’s current Liverpool deal expires in the summer of 2023, and with a new contract not yet agreed, there is understandable concern regarding his future.

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The Latest: Pearce provides key update

Speaking in a Q&A for The Athletic after the Arsenal game, Pearce gave his verdict on Salah, saying he hopes a deal can be agreed sooner rather than later, even if he couldn’t confirm it:

“As for Salah, I understand the concern as he’s so incredible you want the contract sorted asap. However, I’ve said and written a few times that I only think it becomes a major headache if we get to April/May and it’s still unresolved. Then you’ve got the alarming prospect of him entering his final year.

“I don’t go along with those saying ‘just give him whatever he wants’. That’s no way to run a business. It’s a process of negotiation. Salah says he wants to stay and the LFC hierarchy say they are desperate to keep him so let’s hope a compromise can be reached soon. Trying to replace Salah would be impossible.”

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The Verdict: Surely it will happen

The thought of Salah suddenly leaving Liverpool doesn’t bear thinking about, considering he is widely regarded as the world’s best player at the moment.

It is simply imperative that the Reds tie down the Egyptian King for many years to come, with his fitness levels and incredible drive meaning he should be able to play at the top well into his 30s.

While Liverpool shouldn’t necessarily bow down to a player’s wage demands, Salah is a special case and FSG would receive huge criticism if the Reds’ star man moved on because he was unhappy with the terms being offered.

In other news, some Liverpool fans have slammed one player’s performance against Arsenal. Find out who it is here.

After being knocked out of the FA Cup thanks to a 2-0 defeat against fellow Premier League side West Ham United, it seems as though Leeds United have been dealt a further blow that will surely leave a lot of fans unhappy.

What’s the news?

In a recent Twitter post from Leeds journalist Phil Hay, he revealed that striker Patrick Bamford was supposed to start in the game against West Ham but “had a problem around his hip.”

Hay then added in his tweet that Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa is “still waiting to find out the full extent of it.”

Back in September, after starting in their first five league games of the season, Bamford picked up an ankle injury that kept him on the sidelines until early December.

Nightmare blow

Upon returning to action as a substitute in Leeds’ 2-2 draw against Brentford where he scored a late equaliser for the Whites, the striker, unfortunately, suffered a hamstring injury during the celebrations of his goal.

Having heard that he was supposed to make a return at the weekend against West Ham, this latest issue will be very disappointing for Bamford, Bielsa and the Leeds fans.

Given how Leeds already have the likes of Rodrigo, Tyler Roberts and Joe Gelhardt out injured, it would be a nightmare for everyone if Bamford will have to spend another significant period of time out of action again. After all, the idea of Leeds being even more severely depleted in the attacking area is likely to leave supporters fuming.

With Bamford scoring 17 goals in 38 Premier League games last season, it’s safe to say that he is an important figure for the Yorkshire club and has been a big loss for them this time around, which is presumably why their current campaign has been rather underwhelming compared to last season where Bielsa’s side managed to finish in the top half of the table after coming up from the Championship.

Moving forward, everyone at Leeds will undoubtedly be hoping that this hip issue will not be a serious one and that Bamford can keep his fitness up for the remainder of the season, as his goals could potentially push the team away from being involved in a possible relegation scrap.

In other news: Bielsa must ruthlessly axe Leeds’ “shocking” £47k-p/w passenger, he’s not good enough…

third-wicket partnership of 223 between Vikram Solanki and Moeen Ali saw Worcestershire recover well from the shock of losing both openers without scoring on the second day of their County Championship match against Surrey at Whitgift School

22-Apr-2010
ScorecardVikram Solanki’s silky hundred rescued Worcestershire from a tricky position•PA PhotosA third-wicket partnership of 223 between Vikram Solanki and Moeen Ali saw Worcestershire recover well from the shock of losing both openers without scoring on the second day of their County Championship match against Surrey at Whitgift School.Facing an intimidating Surrey total of 493 in the Division Two encounter, Worcestershire started poorly when Andre Nel claimed Daryl Mitchell leg before in his first over and Iftikhar Anjum had Phil Jaques caught behind in his second.But Solanki and Moeen countered with a century apiece before Worcestershire closed on 262 for 3, 122 runs behind. The pitch was remarkably dry for April and the ball was turning for Gareth Batty and Chris Schofield, two former England spinners, but Solanki, still one of the best batsmen in county cricket at 34, and Moeen, the former England Under-19 captain, did not allow them to dominate.Solanki greeted both spinners by hitting them for four and six in their first overs and on one occasion Moeen hit Schofield for eight – a six over long-on and two penalty runs for a no ball.Solanki had a fright on 94 when he gave Schofield a return catch off another no ball but was the first to his hundred off 153 balls with four sixes and 12 fours. He had made 114 when he was bowled pushing forward to a ball from Nel that seemed to nip back at him.Moeen reached his century off 179 balls with two sixes and 14 fours and was still there on 122 at the close. Their partnership was a record for Worcestershire’s third wicket against Surrey, beating the 165 set by Solanki and Ben Smith at New Road in 2007.Surrey had started the day on 415 for 6 but lost Schofield in the second over without addition to their score when he drove Richard Jones to Moeen at cover point. Steve Davies, playing against his former county, added 18 to his overnight 119 before skying Moeen to mid-wicket where he was well caught by Alan Richardson running round from mid-on. He had scored his 137 off 200 balls with a six and 16 fours.There were more useful runs from Nel until he was run out by Solanki’s direct hit from mid-off and Iftikhar before he holed out to mid-on off Moeen .

South Australia have signed the fast bowlers Ben Edmondson and Tim Lang to boost their squad for 2010-11

Cricinfo staff13-May-2010South Australia have signed the fast bowlers Ben Edmondson and Tim Lang to boost their squad for 2010-11. Edmondson, who originally moved from Queensland to Perth to pursue his career and has 51 first-class games to his name, was not offered a contract by Western Australia after a 2009-10 that was severely interrupted by injuries.At 31, Edmondson will add experience to a mostly young pace attack, and he will be looking to recapture the form he showed in 2006-07 when he was third on the Pura Cup wicket tally. He remains a bowler capable of genuine pace and swing, although he managed only one Sheffield Shield game last summer after a three-month lay-off due to a fractured finger.Lang, 29, was a more surprising pick-up for the Redbacks, having not represented New South Wales since he played four Twenty20s for them in January 2007. Lang had a consistent season in Sydney grade cricket last summer, taking 34 wickets, and will join an attack that has lost the allrounder Mark Cleary to Victoria.South Australia had already recruited the Victorian fast man Rob Cassell and his former Bushrangers batting colleague Aiden Blizzard. The Redbacks have opted for plenty of change during the off-season, sacking Mark Cosgrove and Dan Cullen and appointing Michael Klinger to replace Graham Manou as captain.South Australia squad Cullen Bailey, Aiden Blizzard, Cameron Borgas, Rob Cassell, Daniel Christian, Tom Cooper, Chris Duval, Ben Edmondson, Callum Ferguson (Cricket Australia contract), Peter George, Jake Haberfield, Daniel Harris, Michael Klinger (capt), Tim Lang, Tim Ludeman, Graham Manou, Aaron O’Brien, Kieron Pollard, Gary Putland, James Smith, Shaun Tait (Cricket Australia contract).Rookies Tom Brinsley, Michael Cranmer, Joel Davies, Michael Delaney, Tom Moffat, Kane Richardson.

James Anderson recorded his best Championship figures since 2002 as Lancashiredominated the opening day’s play at Chelmsford after putting Essex in

21-Apr-2010
ScorecardJimmy Anderson caused problems for all the Essex batsmen as he collected 6 for 44•PA PhotosJames Anderson recorded his best Championship figures since 2002 as Lancashiredominated the opening day’s play at Chelmsford after putting Essex in.The England fast bowler finished with six wickets for 44 runs from 20.5 oversas Essex were bowled out for 176, to which the visitors responded with 83 for3 before the close.Anderson quickly announced his arrival by having openers Billy Godleman andAlastair Cook well taken in the slips in his second and third overs. And with Glen Chapple producing inswingers to claim leg before wicket verdicts against John Maunders and Jaik Mickleburgh, Essex found themselves in dire straits at 16 for 4 in the 14th over.Captain Mark Pettini and James Foster launched a recovery with a partnership of62 before both fell just before the lunch interval. Foster slashed a wide delivery from Sajid Mahmood to backward point after making 27 while Pettini, on 28, edged Anderson to second slip.Two more wickets fell cheaply but some semblance of respectability was achievedthrough the efforts of Ryan ten Doeschate and Chris Wright. They stuck it out for 27 overs while adding 70, during which time play was twice held up during an over from Mahmood in which ten Doeschate required attention following blows suffered on his forearm.But Anderson, who maintained an admirable line and length throughout, was towrap up the innings to leave ten Doeschate stranded unbeaten with 55 whichspanned 115 balls and included just three boundaries.A feature of Lancashire’s performance was their fielding, seven catches beingheld by fielders behind the wicket. Whereas the visitors held everything which came their way, Cook – who contributed just three with the bat – put down a straightforward catch at firstslip in the opening over of Lancashire’s reply.Tom Smith was the batsman to escape but he failed to make the most of hislet-off, departing lbw to David Masters for only 7. However, by then Stephen Moore was well into his stride. He quickly assumed control by collecting three fours and a six from Wright’s second over and went on to complete his half-century from 37 deliveries.Moore eventually fell for 61, containing 10 fours and two sixes, and lbw victimof Maurice Chambers from a delivery that kept low. Anderson, sent in as nightwatchman, was caught in the slips in the next over from Masters but despite those two late setbacks, it still proved Lancashire’s day.