Yorkshire chairman welcomes ‘courage’ of Adil Rashid as he speaks out on claims
ESPNcricinfo staff15-Nov-2021Lord Patel, Yorkshire’s chairman, says that he welcomes the opportunity for the club to be held to account in a parliamentary select committee hearing this week, after acknowledging that the investigation into Azeem Rafiq’s claims of institutional racism was “flawed”.The hearings are due to take place in Westminster on Tuesday from 9am, and though Patel himself will not be giving evidence, his precedessor Roger Hutton will be one of three past or present club administrators to do so – along with Mark Arthur, the former chief executive, and Wayne Morton, the Director of Medical Services, standing in for Martyn Moxon, the Director of Cricket, who has been signed off work due to a stress-related illness.Rafiq himself is also due to make his first in-person comments on the case, having last week been awarded substantial damages, and offered an apology from Patel on behalf of Yorkshire, at the conclusion of his long-running employment tribunal.”We welcome the formal meeting of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on sport governance,” Patel said in a statement issued by Yorkshire. “I will be listening to the session with great interest to help us understand the past and address the many challenges which have come to light.”It is right that the issues which were initially brought up by Azeem Rafiq, and the way in which they were handled, are properly examined by the Committee. We have provided the Committee with a copy of the full report, given its legal interest in the case.”It is clear that we have handled this issue badly and the investigation was flawed. Azeem giving evidence is an important moment and, as a whistleblower, he should be praised for speaking up. I have said from the outset that we need to listen and to learn in order to create urgent change at Yorkshire Country Cricket Club”.Related
Yorkshire come to grief over Azeem Rafiq affair, but acceptance is a way off yet
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Adil Rashid backs up Azeem Rafiq's recollections on Michael Vaughan comment
The DCMS hearings come in the wake of a significant intervention from Adil Rashid, the Yorkshire and England legspinner, who acknowledged in a statement released to ESPNcricinfo that he too had overheard Michael Vaughan’s alleged remarks about the Asian players in the team: “There are too many of you lot; we need to do something about it.” Vaughan continues to deny the claim, which was cited in the report into the investigation’s findings.Rashid’s statement called for the “cancer” of racism to be “stamped out”, adding that he was “encouraged” by the prospect of further scrutiny in the parliamentary hearings.”I am aware of the recent statement from Adil Rashid, and I welcome his courage in speaking up at what is a difficult and distressing time for all those who love this Club and the sport of cricket,” Patel added.”It is essential that those who have experienced or witnessed racism, discrimination and abuse are able to come forward to share their experiences.”I have been in touch with Adil personally today so that we can talk through the issues as soon as he is ready and able.”
Manchester United have a 51-year-old manager under consideration as a possible replacement for Erik ten Hag, according to a new report. The Red Devils are beginning their search for a new manager after the dismissal of the Dutchman on Monday morning, after being beaten 2-1 by West Ham on Sunday afternoon.
Ten Hag sacked: Man Utd now considering 37 y/o "great coach" as replacement
INEOS have pulled the trigger and are already lining up a new coach.
ByBrett Worthington Oct 28, 2024 Man Utd manager latest
United find themselves looking for a new manager after the decision to end Ten Hag’s reign after two and a half years at the club. The decision was made on Monday morning, with a statement confirming the decision and United placing their thanks and good luck to Ten Hag on record.
The Red Devils have been linked with several managers for a few weeks now. Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim is one manager who has growing interest in his services. Meanwhile, Xavi has also emerged on the club’s radar in the last week, but it appears his chances of becoming the new manager are slim, as Xavi plans to wait until the summer before taking on his next job.
A new name that has come into the United hotseat is German national team manager Julian Nagelsmann. The German has been in charge of the national team since 2023, and now that the Red Devils are looking for a new manager, they could look to make a move for him.
But the options do not stop there for United, as they also have their eye on a former player of theirs as they weigh up the best move for them.
Former player under consideration for Man Utd return
According to Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst, Manchester United have former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær under consideration for a return to the club. The 51-year-old joined the Red Devils as a player in 1996 and enjoyed great success with the club right up until he left in 2007.
Solskjaer returned to Old Trafford in 2018 as caretaker manager, and his return saw a positive swing in results, and that earned him the permanent role. He was appointed manager in March 2019 and kept the role until November 2021, managing 168 games in total.
Since leaving United, Solskjaer has been out of management and has been working as a UEFA analyst since January of last year. Last month, Solskjaer admitted that he would be “open” to an Old Trafford return, and if he was offered a way back, he would say “yes”.
Games
168
Won
92
Drawn
35
Lost
41
Now, according to this report, the Norwegian is under consideration for returning to the club, but it is unclear if he is viewed as a long-term replacement for Ten Hag or as a backroom staff member. Before taking over at Old Trafford, Solskjaer’s only other experience in management came at Molde, where he managed from 2011 to 2018 on and off, while he also had a spell as Cardiff City manager.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea are currently two for two in the UEFA Conference League, having beaten Gent 4-2 in the opening fixture, and Panathinaikos 4-1 in the second fixture.
This leaves the Blues top of the Conference League table on six points, scoring eight goals and conceding three. Chelsea take on FC Noah in the third clash, who have won one and lost one, leaving them on three points in 18th place.
One man who is likely to start, and who has been playing well in this competition for the Blues so far, is Ukrainian superstar, Mykhailo Mudryk.
Mykhailo Mudryk's form
Mudryk joined Chelsea in the 2022/23 January transfer window, joining from Shakhtar Donetsk for a fee of around £88.5m, some of which is add-ons.
Since joining, the 23-year-old has made 70 appearances for the Blues, scoring eight goals, providing nine assists, and totalling 3,411 minutes played.
The Ukrainian speedster hasn’t lived up to the price tag and potential thus far, but under Maresca, the winger is starting to find himself in better positions to thrive and get the best of his skillset.
So far this season, Mudryk has made 12 appearances, scoring one goal, and providing five assists in 648 minutes played.
Being isolated in 1v1 scenarios out wide with opposition full-backs, having runners in the halfspaces for him to pick out with his clever passing, and having that extra coaching detail to attack the back post in the box, and get himself goals in this fashion, have all seen improvements for Mudryk.
But there is another change Maresca could make ahead of the Noah game in order to get the very best from the mega-money signing.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
How Chelsea can improve Mudryk further
Described as having “pure quality” by Jacek Kulig, Enzo Fernández could be unleashed in a deeper role against Noah, replacing Moises Caicedo and Roméo Lavia.
The 23-year-old thrives in this deeper role, being able to use his expansive passing range, pick out his teammates, and kickstart attacks from deep zones.
By putting Mudryk on the left, and continuing to add the extra coaching details for the Ukrainian to make runs in behind and attack the box, both players could benefit, allowing Fernandez the opportunity to play those longer balls in behind, and the Ukraine international the chance to stretch his legs and show off his electric pace.
The midfielder has made 75 appearances for the Blues since joining in that same 2022/23 January transfer window as Mudryk, scoring seven goals, providing six assists, and totalling 5,823 minutes played.
But in recent weeks, the Argentina international has found himself on the bench, with Caicedo and Lavia forming a more physical midfield duo, providing Chelsea with that little bit more defensive balance out of possession. Maresca even said the only reason Fernandez finds himself on the bench currently, is because he prefers the “physicality” of his other two battling midfielders. As a result, he’s been linked with a possible exit in the direction of Barcelona.
So what do Caicedo and Lavia bring to the team that Maresca values and what can Fernandez bring that is different to them?
Caicedo & Lavia compared to Fernandez
Caicedo joined the club for around £115m from Brighton in August 2023. Since then, the 23-year-old has made 60 appearances for the club, scoring two goals and posting six assists.
Lavia also joined the club in August 2023, signing for a fee of around £58m from Southampton. The 20-year-old had a tough first year in London, suffering from multiple big injuries, the biggest being a hamstring problem which kept him out for 28 games. Therefore, Lavia has only made seven appearances for the Blues.
Goals
0.10
0.00
0.00
Assists
0.20
0.33
0.00
xAG
0.16
0.17
0.15
Progressive Carries
0.92
0.67
1.10
Progressive Passes
5.10
3.33
5.21
Shots Total
0.61
0.00
0.84
Key Passes
0.92
1.00
1.51
Passes into Final Third
5.51
5.33
5.48
Shot-Creating Actions
2.14
1.33
2.74
Tackles
3.57
3.33
2.60
Blocks
1.33
1.33
1.23
Interceptions
1.73
2.33
0.36
Instantly, the defensive actions stand out when analysing the trio’s metrics so far this season, with Caicedo and Lavia making more tackles, more blocks, and more interceptions per 90. Part of the reasoning for this is the deeper positions they are placed in (holding midfield) compared to Fernandez, who has often had to push slightly higher to help the team.
However, it is obvious Caicedo and Lavia are more physically able, covering ground, winning duels and recovering at pace. Fernandez, whilst not bad at duelling and winning tackles moving from side to side, his ability to get up and down the pitch quickly isn’t as good as the other two.
Moises Caicedo celebrates for Chelsea
The metrics tell us that the South American does bring a more creative spark to the team, leading the trio in progressive carries, progressive passes, key passes, and shot-creating actions per 90 minutes. His ability to find line-breaking balls, and get the team into advantageous positions purely through his passing ability is a huge positive when he is in the team.
Maresca is often finding himself making the decisions for his midfield based on what the opposition can offer, with all three of Caicedo, Lavia and Fernandez starting against Manchester City on the opening day, for that extra level of control and solidity.
Enzo Fernandez for Chelsea
Whilst having one of these three on the bench isn’t what they will want, having three midfielders of this calibre is only a positive for the Chelsea boss, and across the entirety of the season, it is likely having this midfield quality and depth will play into their hands, allowing Maresca to make tactical tweaks at his own peril.
Chelsea must regret selling a PL star who Palmer would have loved
Chelsea may rue their decision to offload the Premier League star.
Betis winger Antony was sent off during his team's 2-1 win against Getafe, meaning he will miss the upcoming game against Real Madrid.
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Betis beat Getafe 2-1 in La LigaAntony set up Isco for first goalWinger sent off in stoppage timeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Brazilian winger, who has been in excellent form for Betis since joining on loan from Manchester United, was shown a straight red card for a late sliding challenge on Juan Iglesias in second-half stoppage time. With Betis set to meet Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid next week, they will be without their January signing due to suspension.
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Antony's reckless moment was the worst possible way to end an otherwise positive display from the Brazil international as he set up Isco for his team's opening goal. His dismissal came so late that Getafe were unable to capitalise on their advantage and Manuel Pellegrini's men held out for a 2-1 win.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Seville club have won three and drawn two of the six matches they have played with Antony involved, with the 24-year-old scoring three goals and providing two assists. His absence will be a huge blow as they gear up for Madrid's visit.
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Betis are seventh in the table after earning a second straight La Liga success and will hope to put up a good fight against Madrid without in-form star Antony.
“In many ways, I had already retired as a cricketer, but hadn’t been able to make a formal announcement”
ESPNcricinfo staff24-Dec-2021Harbhajan Singh has announced his retirement from all formats of the game. In a video message on Twitter, the former India offspinner said that “in many ways, I had already retired”, but because of his commitments with Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, he was forced to delay the announcement.”There comes a time in your life when you must take some tough decisions and move ahead. I have been meaning to make this announcement for the last few years, but I was waiting for the right moment to share it with all of you: today, I am retiring from all formats of cricket,” he said. “In many ways, I had already retired as a cricketer, but hadn’t been able to make a formal announcement.”I haven’t been an active cricketer for a while. But I had a commitment to Kolkata Knight Riders, and wanted to spend the (2021) IPL season with them. But during the season itself, I had made up my mind to retire.”Harbhajan last turned out for India in March 2016, in a T20I against UAE in Dhaka in that year’s Asia Cup.
All good things come to an end and today as I bid adieu to the game that has given me everything in life, I would like to thank everyone who made this 23-year-long journey beautiful and memorable. My heartfelt thank you Grateful .https://t.co/iD6WHU46MU
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) December 24, 2021
Harbhajan, now 41, made his international debut back in March 1998, in a Test match against Australia in Bengaluru, picking up two wickets in an eight-wicket defeat. He went on to play 103 Tests, for a haul of 417 wickets – still the fourth-highest for India – at an average of 32.46, with an innings best of 8 for 84 and a match best of 15 for 217, both recorded in India’s two-wicket win over Australia in the Chennai Test of 2001, which gave them a 2-1 win in an iconic series. In the previous Test in Kolkata, made famous due to VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid’s batting all day while following-on – Harbhajan had played a major role too in India’s stunning come-from-behind win, bagging 13 wickets in the match.Harbhajan also turned out in 236 ODIs from 1998 to 2015, taking 269 wickets at 33.35 and an economy rate of 4.31. He played 28 T20Is, taking 25 wickets at an average of 25.32 and an economy rate of 6.20. His overall tally of 707 international wickets is the second-highest for India, behind Anil Kumble’s 953.
“I have no idea about the future, but whatever I am today is because of cricket. I will be immensely happy if I can be of help to Indian cricket in any role in the future”Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan has had great success in the IPL too, taking 150 wickets in 163 matches, fifth on the all-time list. Harbhajan also took 20 wickets in 22 Champions League T20 matches, leading Mumbai Indians to victory in the competition in 2011. Harbhajan’s longest association with a franchise was with Mumbai Indians, who bought him in the 2008 auction and retained him ahead of the mega auctions in 2011 and 2014. Released ahead of the 2018 mega auction, Harbhajan had two years with Chennai Super Kings before finishing up with Knight Riders.”It has been a beautiful journey over 25 years, right from the of Jalandhar to becoming the Turbanator of India,” he said in the statement. “Nothing has been more motivating for me than stepping out on the field while wearing the India jersey.”Like every [Indian] cricketer, even I wished to bid goodbye in an India jersey, but fate had something else in store for me. Irrespective of the side I represented, I have always given my 100% commitment to ensure my team finishes on top – whether it was India, Punjab, Mumbai Indians, CSK [Chennai Super Kings], KKR or the county teams of Surrey and Essex.””My first real happiness was the hat-trick I took in Kolkata”•Hamish Blair/ALLSPORTHarbhajan had plenty of success across formats, including being part of two World Cup winning teams with India – in 2011 and in 2007 for the inaugural T20 World Cup. His greatest achievement, arguably, remains the performance in the series against Australia in 2001, where he bagged 32 wickets in three Tests, where no other Indian bowler took more than three wickets. Harbhajan’s feat included taking a hat-trick in Kolkata.”If you ask me about my cricket career, my first real happiness was the hat-trick I took in Kolkata, becoming the first Indian bowler to do so in a Test match. I also got 32 wickets in the three Tests in that series, which is still a record,” he said. “Following this, the T20 World Cup win 2007 and the [ODI] World Cup win in 2011 were most important for me. Those were moments that I can neither forget nor express in words as to how big that happiness was for me.”As for the future, Harbhajan said that he has “no idea” what he would do, but indicated that it would be connected to the game.”Cricket was, is and will always be an important part of my life. I have served Indian cricket for years, and will continue to strive to serve them in the future,” he said. “I have no idea about the future, but whatever I am today is because of cricket. I will be immensely happy if I can be of help to Indian cricket in any role in the future.”Now I begin a new chapter in my life, which starts with its own challenges. Believe me, your Turbanator is ready for the examination! Just keep showering your love on me.”
Since the Premier League’s inception in 1992, each season seems to throw up a host of memorable games that supporters simply won’t forget.
Think Liverpool v Newcastle United in 1996, or Newcastle v Arsenal in 2011. Portsmouth v Reading in 2007 and Manchester United’s titanic derby clash with Manchester City in 2009 can also lay claim to being some of the most exciting games in the history of the top flight.
In terms of the biggest wins in the history of the competition, several teams have won by either an eight or nine-goal margin, clicking into top gear effortlessly.
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There have been some brilliant takers from 12 yards over the years.
ByCharlie Smith Nov 6, 2024
In this list, Football FanCast takes a look at the 11 biggest wins in Premier League history.
Rank
Match
Date
Liverpool 9-0 Bournemouth
August 2022
Man Utd 9-0 Southampton
February 2021
Southampton 0-9 Leicester
October 2019
Man Utd 9-0 Ipswich
March 1995
Sheff Utd 0-8 Newcastle
September 2023
Man City 8-0 Watford
September 2019
Southampton 8-0 Sunderland
October 2014
Chelsea 8-0 Aston Villa
December 2012
Chelsea 8-0 Wigan
May 2010
Tottenham 9-1 Wigan
November 2009
Newcastle 8-0 Sheff Wed
September 1999
11 Newcastle 8-0 Sheff Wed, September 1999 Sir Bobby Robson starts St James' Park tenure with thumping win
After a poor start to the season under Ruud Gullit led to the Dutchman’s sacking, Sir Bobby Robson was a popular choice for his replacement as Newcastle United boss – and his first home game couldn’t have gone any better.
Sheffield Wednesday were the opponents and the Magpies raced into a four-goal lead by the interval. Another four efforts in the second half saw them record a stunning 8-0 win.
Shearer became the first Newcastle player to score five goals in a single top-flight match as the game kickstarted the Robson era.
Date
19th September 1999
Venue
St James’ Park
Goalscorers
Hughes, Shearer (5), Dyer, Speed
10 Tottenham 9-1 Wigan, November 2009 Spurs run riot against Wigan at White Hart Lane
Tottenham Hotspur secured their biggest top-flight victory by smashing nine goals past a shell-shocked Wigan Athletic side.
Surprisingly, the home side led just 1-0 at the break, but they soon started scoring for fun. Jermain Defoe scored five second-half goals, becoming the first player to net five in a Premier League game since Shearer in 1999, while the likes of David Bentley, Niko Kranjcar and Aaron Lennon also got involved.
This was the first time since 1995 that a team had scored nine goals in a top-flight fixture, and it was one for the Spurs fans to look back on fondly.
9 Chelsea 8-0 Wigan, May 2010 Blues seal Premier League title with final-day thrashing
Chelsea and Man United headed into the final day of the 2009/10 season in contention to win the title. The Blues needed a win to reclaim the title they had last won in 2006, and when Nicolas Anelka scored after just six minutes, the floodgates were opened.
Over the next 84 minutes, Chelsea scored seven more goals to wrap up a stunning 8-0 win over Wigan. The empathic victory also saw them net 103 times in the top flight that term, a new record.
It was the second time Wigan had conceded eight or more goals in the Premier League that term following their mauling at the hands of Spurs.
Date
9th May 2010
Venue
Stamford Bridge
Goalscorers
Anelka (2), Lampard, Kalou, Drogba (3), A. Cole
The best points totals in Premier League history
No room for the Invincibles here…
ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 2, 2024 8 Chelsea 8-0 Aston Villa, December 2012 The Blues continued their resurgence under Rafa Benitez
Chelsea’s 8-0 win over Aston Villa marked the second time the club had scored eight goals in the Premier League, with seven different players getting on the scoresheet this time around.
Rafael Benitez had taken over from the sacked Roberto Di Matteo, enjoying a solid start to life in west London.
Villa were hardly in bad form, defeating Liverpool a week before, but they conceded three goals in the first half. Frank Lampard netted the fourth on his 500th start in the top flight, before two goals from Ramires, a penalty by Oscar and a wonderful solo effort by Eden Hazard wrapped up the massive win.
The Blues didn’t win the league that season, although Benitez did lead the club to the Europa League title.
7 Southampton 8-0 Sunderland, October 2014 Saints record their biggest-ever Premier League win
Southampton became just the fifth team in Premier League history to score eight goals in a single game, sending Sunderland packing after a rout at St Mary’s.
The thrashing began after Santiago Vergini scored a comical own goal, with his attempted clearance flying into the back of the net. Two more goals before half-time practically secured all three points, but it was the second 45 in which the home side came alive.
Sunderland scored another two own goals, while strikes from Graziano Pelle, Dušan Tadić and Victor Wanyama sealed the record win.
6 Man City 8-0 Watford, September 2019 Citizens race clear of Hornets in record time
In May 2019, Manchester City faced Watford in the FA Cup final, winning 6-0 to complete a domestic treble during the 2018/19 campaign.
It couldn’t get any worse for Watford, could it? A few months later, the same teams met in the Premier League, with City sealing another win – and by an even bigger margin.
The home side scored five goals in the opening 18 minutes, running riot against the Hornets. Three more goals were added before the end of the game, which represented the highest margin of victory for Pep Guardiola in the Premier League.
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ByLuke Randall May 31, 2024 5 Sheff Utd 0-8 Newcastle, September 2023 Magpies score eight once again in the Premier League
kieran-trippier-bruno-guimaraes-newcastle-opinion
Nearly 14 years to the day since the Magpies scored eight against Wednesday, they repeated the trick against their Sheffield rivals to equal their highest-ever Premier League win.
Incredibly, eight different scorers got the goals to hand the Toon victory. The result proved that Sheffield United simply couldn’t hack it in the top flight, and they were subsequently relegated at the end of the campaign.
The result means Newcastle are the only team to inflict 8-0 defeats on two teams from the same city.
4 Man Utd 9-0 Ipswich, March 1995 Fergie's boys make history in record victory
Chasing a Premier League and FA Cup double for the second season in a row, Sir Alex Ferguson went into the clash against Ipswich needing three points to maintain Manchester United’s title challenge.
What followed next was Premier League history. Missing Eric Cantona, the Old Trafford side were relying on January signing Andy Cole. He duly delivered against the Tractor Boys, scoring five goals – the first player to do so since the inception of the Premier League three years earlier.
Despite the record win, Fergie’s men finished the season empty-handed, losing the league title to Blackburn Rovers and the FA Cup final to Everton.
3 Southampton 0-9 Leicester, October 2019 Foxes smash nine goals past hapless Saints
James Maddison
Only Manchester United and Spurs had scored nine goals in a Premier League game, but Leicester City joined the club in 2019.
Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez scored three goals each against a Southampton team who looked lost at sea that evening, who had to play 80 minutes with just ten men following Ryan Bertrand’s sending-off.
The club were slowly improving under Brendan Rodgers and would go on to secure a fifth-place finish by the end of the season. While they narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification, that night against the Saints was one of his standout moments in charge of the club.
2 Man Utd 9-0 Southampton, February 2021 United become first team to hit nine twice
Just over 15 months after losing to Leicester 9-0, Southampton slumped to the same margin of defeat against Man Utd.
Similar to the loss to the Foxes, the Saints had a player sent off early, which gave United momentum straight away, scoring four first-half goals to wrap up the three points.
The second half saw the Red Devils score another five goals as Jan Bednarek saw red for the visitors during the second half in what was a miserable evening for the south coast side.
Al-Nassr were stunned by a second half comeback from Al-Ettifaq, losing 3-2 in the Saudi Pro League, hugely denting any lingering title hopes.
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Al-Nassr suffer damaging 3-2 lossAl-Ettifaq complete comeback winFive goals in the second halfFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱TELL ME MORE
Al-Nassr spent most of the first half camped inside Al-Ettifaq territory, but were unable to make that dominance count – Cristiano Ronaldo went closest, forcing a handful of good saves out of Marek Rodak. It was 0-0 at the interval, but Al-Ettifaq had been so close to breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, hitting the post and Bento making a double save one after the other in stoppage time.
There was a huge slice of luck about Ayman Yahya's breakthrough less than two minutes after the restart, the ball cannoning off the Al-Nassr winger's head as Al-Ettifaq tried to clear Sadio Mane's cross. A VAR check allowed a Georginio Wijnaldum equaliser to stand after an offside flag had initially ruled it out, with Yahya then seeing an immediate response chalked out at the other end.
Al-Nassr looked good for the win when Mohammed Al-Fatil scored a free header to restore the lead, only for the centre-back to then turn the ball into his own net in the closing stages. It still went from bad to worse for Ronaldo & Co. after that, with Wijnaldum grabbing an 89th-minute winner on the counter attack and Jhon Duran sent off for a petty swipe at an opponent in stoppage time.
AdvertisementAFPTHE MVP
Georginio Wijnaldum rolled back the years in this one. The former Liverpool midfielder is 34 now, but he scored two very good goals here, breaking forward from midfield to round Bento for the first and keeping up with the play to finish off a swift break for the decisive second.
THE BIG LOSER
Mohammed Al-Fatil had a rollercoaster night, but ultimately a very bad one. He was the player at fault when Al-Ettifaq equalised the first time, miscontrolling a simple ball that squeezed under his foot and made its way through to Wijnaldum. He made amends by putting Al-Nassr back in front, but the own goal brought Al-Ettifaq level for the second time and irreversibly swung the momentum against his team.
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WHAT COMES NEXT?
If Al-Nassr are to have any chance of staying in the title race, they desperately need a favour from Al-Hilal on Saturday night. The champions, currently second, are up against leaders Al-Ittihad, who have a healthy lead at the top of the table. Victory for them in that game would certainly end Al-Nassr's hopes of catching up, already eight points off the pace, and probably be close to a deathly blow to Al-Hilal as well.
England allrounder might be a doubt for the final Ashes Test, in Hobart from January 14
Andrew Miller06-Jan-2022Ben Stokes is unlikely to bowl again in the ongoing fourth Test, and could be a doubt for next week’s Ashes series finale in Hobart, after sustaining an injury to his left side on the second day of play at SCG. On Thursday, he managed just five balls of his fourth over before leaving the field, clutching his side, whereupon Mark Wood delivered the final ball of the over.For now, the England management has held off sending Stokes for a scan, and having returned to the field soon after his assessment he would be free to bat at No. 5 if he is fit to do so. However, he spent much of the rest of the day fielding in the slip cordon – a position that allowed him not to run as much as he might have elsewhere on the field, but one from which he has been shielded in recent times, in the aftermath of the recent finger injury.Related
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In his absence, England’s seam burden was shared between James Anderson, Wood and Stuart Broad, who was the standout performer with figures of 5 for 101.”He’s one of the toughest blokes I’ve ever met, the toughest cricketer I’ve ever met,” Broad said at the close. “For him to go off and not bowl… it’s obviously sore. But he’s icing it at the moment. We’ve no information on what’s happened in his side.”Hopefully we give him a lot of rest tomorrow. Twelve-24 hours in cricket is quite a long time. It gives the body a lot of time to heal. We’ll wait and see. He stayed on the field so he could bat in his usual position. He’s a tough character. He’ll be out there if it’s not torn to shreds. We as England fans and team-mates hope it’s not as bad as him not bowling again on this trip.”Stokes, who came into the Ashes after a lengthy break during the English season to manage his mental health in the wake of a broken finger, has struggled to make an impact on the series so far, with 101 runs at 16.83 and four wickets at 71.50 in the first three-and-a-bit Tests. However, with the ball, he has been consistently used in an enforcer’s role by Joe Root, tasked with bowling lengthy spells of short-pitched bowling to unsettle Australia’s batters.
Barishal, chasing 152 for the trophy, were 107 for 2 in the 13th over before losing their way completely
Mohammad Isam18-Feb-2022How the match played out The BPL title clash, after some fantastic pendulums swings, came down to three runs from one ball. On strike was Towhid Hridoy, with Mujeeb Ur Rahman 22 yards away from him. Shohidul Islam had the ball in his hand. The quick bowler sent in a wide half-volley, and Hridoy’s powerless drive only reached the covers. They got one run, a second wasn’t possible, and Litton Das broke the stumps at the striker’s end to run Mujeeb out, and Comilla Victorians had scripted a remarkable recovery beat Fortune Barishal, by just one run.Shohidul was the last action hero – Barishal needed just ten off the final over – but it was the brilliant Sunil Narine who made it all possible. At the start of the 18th over, Barishal had already lost a clutch of wickets but were at a healthy-looking 134 for 5, chasing 152 for victory. Narine conceded just two runs and picked up the wicket of Dwayne Bravo. If that was special, so was Narine’s performance with the bat at the start of the match, when he smashed 57 off 23 balls after his captain Imrul Kayes had opted to bat.Despite what Narine achieved on the night, though, Shohidul had work to do. The first two balls went for just three runs, before he bowled a wide, a somewhat contentious one that Comilla reviewed for a nick behind. It was shot down, leaving Barishal with seven to get from three. Hridoy got two of the next, and then had a huge slice of luck as Tanvir Islam dropped a sitter off him at deep midwicket next ball. They took two more, leaving three for the last ball. Then, Shohidul got it right.Barishal will rue messing this one up. They could have closed the game out at various stages of the chase after restricting Comilla to 151 despite Narine’s heroics at the top. Then they got to 107 for 2 in the 13th over courtesy Shykat Ali’s 34-ball 58. But then they lost six wickets for 43 runs in 7.2 overs. Comilla cashed in.Sunil Narine smashed a quick half-century before returning 2 for 15•AFP/Getty ImagesBig hits Shykat became the second uncapped cricketer from Bangladesh to hit a half-century in a BPL final, after Irfan Sukkur had hit a 35-ball 52 for Rajshahi Royals in the 2019-20 final against Khulna Tigers.Shykat’s burst of boundaries – he hit 11 fours and a six – pushed Comilla against the wall, as he easily overshadowed his partner for the second wicket, Chris Gayle. He found the gaps with his nifty wristwork; he struck three fours through the point region, two through the covers, and hit two sweet straight drives. Shykat’s only six came at midwicket, as he hit four fours on the leg side.But after Shykat’s 74-run second-wicket stand with Gayle, Barishal lost the plot completely.Gayle started far too slowly before picking up speed a bit, and both Shakib Al Hasan and Nurul Hasan gave away their wickets well before the pressure had started to build. Najmul Hossain Shanto couldn’t get the big hits going in the last five overs either, and then it all turned pear-shaped for Barishal as Narine, Mustafizur Rahman and Shohidul rose to the occasion.Narine had already played his part, scoring just over a third of Comilla’s runs in just 23 balls. He gave his team a rollicking start with four sixes in the first two overs. He hit straight, over extra-cover and swung leg side against Mujeeb and the left-arm quick Shafiqul Islam. Narine got to his fifty with three fours in a Shakib over, but after hitting Mehedi Hasan Rana for a straight six, he fell to the same bowler down the ground.Much like Barishal did later, Comilla crashed after Narine’s dismissal. Dwayne Bravo’s brilliant pick-and-throw, while being off balance, accounted for Mahmudul Hasan Joy, and Faf du Plessis and Ariful Haque fell to Mujeeb, while Bravo had Imrul caught behind.The difference, however, was that while Barishal couldn’t get going after Shykat was dismissed, Comilla had Moeen Ali (38 in 32) and Abu Hider (19 in 27), who added 54 runs in 8.4 overs for the seventh wicket.Shakib Al Hasan (R) didn’t have a good game, ending up losing his third BPL final•AFP/Getty ImagesBig miss Shakib has now lost his third BPL final as captain – he has been part of two winning sides too – and his performance, 1 for 30 in four overs and a run-a-ball 7 when his team was in a comfortable position, wasn’t enough on the day.Shakib had, in the league phase, become the first cricketer to win Player-of-the-Match awards in five consecutive T20s. Although he didn’t do well in the first qualifier, Barishal got through.But ahead of the final, Shakib left the managed environment of the team’s hotel for an ad shoot. The team had initially said that he had stomach trouble, when asked why Shakib had missed the captains’ photoshoot at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on the eve of the final. Then the truth came out. He even had to undergo a Covid-19 test before being allowed to play the match.If he had done well, it might not have mattered. In the end analysis, it wasn’t the best look.
New Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim will be hoping to hit the ground running in his first game in charge against Ipswich Town this Sunday.
The 39-year-old has been tasked with saving the sinking ship overseen by Erik ten Hag, with the Dutchman unable to get the best out of a talented crop of players at Old Trafford.
Amorim will want to implement his own playstyle and philosophy on the squad, undoubtedly taking time to get across, but hopefully, a system that could lead to long-term success – something which the fanbase has desperately been desiring.
The former Portugal international has already been seen trialling his preferred 3-4-3 system in his first few training sessions as manager, hoping to have a similar success in the Premier League as he did during his time at Sporting CP.
He claimed the league title in two of his four years in charge, playing various players in unfamiliar roles but transforming them in the process – a huge factor behind his success.
Numerous players may have to do the same thing in Manchester over the coming months, either trying to recapture their form or kickstart their flailing United career.
Man United players who could benefit from Amorim’s arrival
It’s no secret that striker Viktor Gyokeres has been a huge hit under Amorim during his time in Portugal, notching a total of 66 goals in his 68 appearances for the Liga Portugal outfit.
However, goalscoring has been something which has troubled United over the last few months, only registering 12 goals in their opening 11 league outings so far this campaign.
The new boss could repeat his success with striker Rasmus Hojlund in the coming months, with the Dane’s frame and pace similar to that of the Swede who has caught the eye in Europe over the last couple of campaigns.
Amad Diallo is another player who has ultimately failed to reach the heights many expected him to after his £37m move from Italian side Atalanta back in January 2021, scoring just six goals for the club.
However, it’s likely that the Ivorian will be utilised in one of the two roles just behind the centre forward, giving him frequent opportunities to cause chaos in the final third.
During his temporary stint with Sunderland during the 2022/23 season, he was handed a free role, registering 14 goals in the process – something which Amorim may look to replicate during his tenure at Old Trafford.
Whilst those two aforementioned players have the tools to succeed under the 39-year-old’s guidance, numerous others may not be part of the plans of the new boss.
On the other hand, there are a couple of positions that are in desperate need of investment, with Amorim already targeting one player to help bolster his options.
United still targeting move for £180k-p/w talent
According to German journalist Christopher Michel, Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies remains on United’s shortlist ahead of the upcoming window or even the summer transfer window.
Alphonso Davies for Bayern Munich.
The 24-year-old, who is out of contract in June 2025, could agree to a pre-contract deal should he fail to sign a new deal with the Bundesliga side, or even become a free agent at the end of the season.
Davies, who currently earns £180k-per-week as per Capology, would provide the upgrade needed in the wing-back area, especially considering the injury records of both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
Luke Shaw
The Canadian international has made nine league appearances so far this campaign, registering just one assist – but it’s his underlying figures that would make him the perfect option on the left-hand side within Amorim’s three-back system.
He’s completed 5.8 progressive passes and two successful take-ons per 90 so far this campaign, showcasing he has all the tools to have an impact in attacking areas from his wing-back role.
Games played
9
Goals & assists
1
Pass accuracy
90%
Progressive passes
5.8
Progressive carries
3.6
Successful take-ons
2
Tackles won
1.8
Clearances made
1.2
Percentage of dribbles tackled
88%
Davies has also averaged 1.8 tackles and 1.2 clearances – demonstrating his ability to also be solid defensively – leading to teammate Thomas Müller previously dubbing the talent as “world-class”.
Whilst it remains to be seen if they can agree a deal for him in January or wait until his contract expires, it’s clear that Davies would be a phenomenal addition – fitting perfectly into Amorim’s system with his high energy and impact at both ends of the pitch.
Sporting's Ruben Amorim
He would also solve a huge issue for the club at left-back, having the potential to star in such a role for many years to come.
Amorim must unleash future Man Utd "superstar" who could be their Vini Jr
Ruben Amorim has the opportunity to transform the Manchester United youngster at Old Trafford.