Curran unbeaten on 48 as rain disrupts play from lunch onwards
ECB Reporters Network04-Jun-2019
Ben Curran of Northamptonshire batting•Getty Images
Glamorgan’s push for a second win in this season’s Specsavers County Championship was held up by bad weather on the third afternoon at Wantage Road, preventing any play after lunch with Northamptonshire closing on 68 without loss, trailing by 270 runs.Having taken a first-innings lead of 338 after finally being bowled out for 547, Glamorgan only had time for 18 overs in Northants’ second innings until lunch.The rain was a big help to Northants’ chances of saving the match. They began their second innings with 186 overs remaining in the game but with two sessions lost, 72 of those were scratched. They are still left, for the second game in succession, with the final day to bat out to salvage a draw having been well behind the game.Ben Curran gave their hopes a boost in making a fluent 48 before the weather closed in. Playing the ball late, he flicked Dan Douthwaite for four before cutting the same bowler for another boundary. Ricardo Vasconcelos was scratchy at the other end and survived two large lbw appeals but also got through, 18 not out.The weight of scoreboard pressure was made heavier by a 46-minute blast by Glamorgan’s No. 10 and 11, Tim van der Gugten and Michael Hogan at the start of the day. They flogged 95 runs in 69 balls to boost the visitors’ overnight 452 for 9.Hogan began the fun by clearing his front leg to heave Ben Sanderson into the trees behind deep square and struck another maximum over deep cover to the short side of the ground. He reached just his third first-class fifty in 44 balls before finally holing out to long-off for 54.Van der Gugten also enjoyed himself, uppercutting Nathan Buck for six over third man and driving a boundary wide of long-off in making 30 from 26 balls.
In truth, the Manchester United faithful will just want this disaster of a season to end already.
However, Sir Jim Ratcliffe hasn't given up hope of Erik ten Hag's team turning their campaign around and sneaking into a Champions League spot by the end of the campaign.
Therefore, the Red Devils will look to bring a new addition to the club by the end of the month.
The fix to United's attacking woes
According to Fabrizio Romano, via GiveMeSport, United have been discussing Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting internally.
The transfer expert mentioned that the 34-year-old is "appreciated" by the English club.
However, any move for the Bayern player will be a short-term loan deal till the end of the season, with financial fair play restrictions preventing United from splashing the cash.
The news comes amid talk of a rather more staggering move potentially being in the pipeline with reports suggesting the Red Devils have held talks over a move to sign Karim Benzema following Anthony Martial's injury.
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ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 The stats that show Choupo-Moting could revive Antony
Life as a Man United player for Antony has been far from a memorable period. The Brazilian followed in Ten Hag's footsteps from Ajax to Old Trafford last season, coming with a whopping £86m fee and huge expectations. Fast forward to today, and the 23-year-old has failed to register a goal contribution all season while also being labelled as last year's 'flop of the season' by talkSPORT's Tony Casacrino.
Despite the left-footed winger being a frustrating player to watch, he has been a tad unfortunate this season, with just the output missing from some decent performances. The environment for him to succeed has also not been provided, which is more of a recruitment issue than the player's fault.
However, Choupo-Moting could provide the perfect profile for Antony to finally flourish in a United shirt. The table below shows a handful of the striker's stats from the last year that proves why.
Choupo-Moting's Stats
Stats (per 90)
Choupo-Moting
Percentile
Goals
0.54
Top 21%
Touches (Att pen)
6.86
Top 7%
Passes received
31.23
Top 11%
Pass completion %
79.7%
Top 9%
Key passes
1.53
Top 12%
Stats via FBref
Antony isn't a player that boasts blistering pace or power to make a run in behind and beat a man like Marcus Rashford on the opposite flank, but he does thrive when in a settled attacking shape where he can combine with those around him. This is shown by his rank in the top 6% and top 1% for passes into the penalty area and touches in the attacking third during Ajax's 2021/22 Champions League campaign, as per FBref.
Choupo-Moting has been described as an "out-and-out centre forward" by former Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann, and his ability to link play is excellent, as shown by his high passes received, key passes, and high pass completion percentage. The addition of the £116k-per-week Cameroon star would make Antony far less isolated on the right and allow him to drift inside onto his left foot much more often.
Man United winger Antony
That side of Antony's game is yet to be seen, with United lacking a true number nine last season and Rasmus Hojlund rarely showing for the ball, as shown by the fact he ranks in the bottom 13% and bottom 4% for passes attempted and touches in the Premier League, according to FBref.
The Brazilian also ranked in the top 6% for xA during that competition, therefore, having a finisher in the box like Choupo-Moting would give him a constant target to aim for and allow his creativity to shine through.
Forget about a certain aforementioned Benzema, it is clear that Choupo-Moting could just save Antony's career at Man United.
O Botafogo conheceu a primeira derrota na temporada 2021. O time de General Severiano foi superado pelo Flamengo por 2 a 0 nesta quarta-feira, no Estádio Nilton Santos, pela 4ª rodada do Campeonato Carioca.
CONFIRA A CLASSIFICAÇÃO E A TABELA DO CARIOCA
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Após a partida, Felipe Ferreira afirmou que faltou mais combatividade para o Alvinegro dentro de campo, apesar de reconhecer que a equipe voltou melhor para a etapa complementar, quando estava perdendo por 1 a 0.
– Voltamos com outra atitude (para o segundo tempo). Uma coisa é perder e não ter atitude. Pode faltar um monte de coisa, menos atitude. Isso não é nem no treinamento, é espírito. É algo que a gente tem que se cobrar para os próximos jogos – afirmou o camisa 17, à “BotafogoTV”.
Felipe Ferreira, contratado nesta temporada, entrou no intervalo da partida, no lugar de Marcinho.
حقق الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك فوزًا عريضًا على فريق الشباب بالنادي مواليد 2005، بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف واحد، في مباراة ودية أقيمت على ملعب النادي.
يأتي هذا الفوز في إطار استعدادات الفريق الأبيض لمواجهة الأهلي في لقاء السوبر الأفريقي المرتقب.
شهدت المباراة سيطرة واضحة من جانب الفريق الأول، حيث تمكن من فرض أسلوبه منذ بداية اللقاء، وسجل محمد حمدي الهدف الأول مبكرًا، من تسديدة من خارج منطقة الجزاء لتسكن الكرة على يسار الحارس.
وفي الدقيقة الرابعة عشر نجح سيدي ندياي في تسجيل هدف التعادل لفريق الشباب من تسديدة قوية من داخل منطقة جزاء الفريق الأول.
وتوالت محاولات الفريقين للتسجيل لكن دون جدوى لينتهي الشوط الأول بالتعادل الإيجابي.
طالع أيضًا | إسماعيل يوسف قبل السوبر الإفريقي: “قوام الأهلي مكتمل ومش عاجبهم.. أومال الزمالك يعمل إيه”
في الشوط الثاني، زاد ضغط الفريق الأول، وتمكن من تسجيل ثلاثة أهداف أخرى، حيث سجل الكبار الهدف الثاني من عرضية لعمر فرج اصطدمت بأحد مدافعي فريق الشباب وسكنت المرمى.
وأضاف البولندي كونراد ميشالاك الهدف الثالث للفريق الأول في الدقيقة 76 من تسديدة من داخل منطقة جزاء فريق الشباب لتسكن على يمين الحارس.
وسجل ناصر منسي الهدف الرابع للفريق الأول في الدقيقة 80 من تسديدة قوية من داخل منطقة الجزاء لتسكن على يسار الحارس، لينتهي اللقاء بفوز الفريق الأول برباعية مقابل هدف.
وكانت المباراة فرصة مثالية للجهاز الفني للزمالك بقيادة البرتغالي جوزيه جوميز، لتجربة التشكيلات والتكتيكات المختلفة قبل مواجهة الأهلي في السوبر، وتم استغلال اللقاء لمنح الفرصة لبعض اللاعبين البدلاء والجدد للظهور وتقديم أنفسهم.
ويعتبر الفوز على الأهلي في السوبر هو الهدف الرئيسي للفريق، ويتطلب ذلك بذل أقصى جهد وتقديم مستوى عالٍ من التركيز والانضباط.
ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الزمالك مع الأهلي يوم الجمعة الموافق 27 سبتمبر الجاري، على ملعب “المملكة آرينا”، بالسعودية، للمنافسة على لقب السوبر الإفريقي.
India captain calls Edgbaston dimensions ‘bizarre’ and ‘crazy’
Nagraj Gollapudi at Edgbaston30-Jun-2019Virat Kohli has questioned Edgbaston’s short, 59-metre boundary where England openers picked off a substantial percentage of runs against the Indian bowlers. Although Kohli did not blame the shorter boundary for India’s first defeat of the World Cup, he did raise an eyebrow over the dimensions on one side, which he called “bizarre” and “crazy” on a pitch that was flat, and slow.The shorter boundary was a bother for India. On Saturday, as soon India arrived at the ground, the coaching staff comprising Ravi Shastri, Sanjay Bangar and Bharat Arun were seen having word with the head groundsman. As the host of the tournament, the guidelines for pitch and ground conditions are set by the ICC.The shorter boundary was a concern for India only because they have consistently played the two wrist spinners in their first XI this World Cup in Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.Watch on Hotstar (India only): Bairstow’s centuryThe England batsman, particularly Jonny Bairstow, who hit an explosive 111, took full advantage of the short boundary. Five out of the six sixes Bairstow hit went over the shorter boundary. Four of those hits were against Chahal and one against Kuldeep. Ben Stokes, too, took advantage by hitting an audacious reverse-swept six against Chahal, who was hit over the boundary half a dozen times on a day when he returned the worst ever figures for an Indian bowler in World Cups with 10-0-88-0.Kohli was seen frequently rushing to Chahal, urging him to stick to bowling on lines that did not allow the batsmen to take advantage of the shorter boundary. In the end Kohli did not hide his frustration.Colour correction: Virat Kohli leads a new-look India team out•Getty Images
“It’s a coincidence that it (the short boundary) just falls under the limitations of the shortest boundary you can have in the tournament,” Kohli told the host broadcaster in the post-match briefing. “So quite bizarre on a flat pitch, it’s the first time we’ve experienced that so it’s crazy that things fall in place like that randomly.”Kohli said the pressure was obviously then on the spinners not to falter, although he did admit that the lines Indian bowlers pitched could have been much better.When Sanjay Manjrekar, who was conducting the post-match briefing, asked whether he had tactically miscalculated by not bringing in part-time off-spinner Kedar Jadhav, Kohli disagreed. “I don’t think so because if batsmen are able to reverse sweep you for a six on a 59-metre boundary then there is not much you can do as a spinner. There is no sort of room to think whether you are going to get out or not and one side was about 82 (metres) or something like that. Yeah, look, they had to be smart with the with lines they bowled, but with one short boundary it was very difficult to contain runs.”
O meia Zé Rafael voltou a treinar quase que integralmente com o elenco do Palmeiras no último sábado (3), após um período de trabalho individualizado devido às lesões no tornozelo sofridas na temporada passada. Em entrevista à TV Palmeiras, o camisa 8 comentou sobre o cronograma de recuperação física deste início de temporada e também sobre suas expectativas para a final da Recopa entre Palmeiras e Defensa y Justicia-ARG.
– Esse período sem jogos do Paulista foi bom para mim porque pude trabalhar e ter um tempo que não tive em 2020 para me recuperar e fortalecer o tornozelo. Pude fazer um cronograma diferente com a equipe do Núcleo de Saúde e Performance para aprimorar e agora estar mais próximo do meu 100% – afirmou o jogador, ressaltando o prejuízo físico da maratona de jogos do ano anterior.
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Em relação à decisão contra o time argentino, Zé Rafael comentou sobre a importância de iniciar a temporada conquistando um título e garantiu que, apesar das dificuldades, o Verdão está preparado para o duelo.
– A gente sabe que vai ser um jogo muito difícil. É sempre muito difícil enfrentar equipes argentinas, é uma final, e estamos nos preparando para chegar lá e fazer uma grande partida. Iniciar a temporada com um título é sempre muito importante e muito bom. Espero que a nossa equipe consiga trazer esse dois títulos que a gente tanto almeja – declarou.
Além disso, o meia também analisou a vitoriosa temporada de 2020, que coroou o Alviverde campeão de três campeonatos, enfatizando todo o processo que levou a equipe até essas conquistas.
– Acho que 2020 vai ficar marcado na memória de todo o palmeirense. Nossa equipe trabalhou muito. Teve um período parado na pandemia onde a gente trabalhou, continuou se dedicando diariamente em casa para que pudéssemos colher frutos. Acho que tudo que a gente conquistou durante esse ano foi fruto de muito trabalho, dedicação e comprometimento – explicou Zé.
Com Zé Rafael à disposição de Abel Ferreira, o Palmeiras encara o Defensa y Justicia nesta quarta-feira (7), às 21h30, no Estádio Norberto “Tito” Tomaghello, em Florencio Varela-ARG, pela partida de ida da Recopa Sul-Americana. O jogo de volta está marcado para o dia 14 deste mês, no Mané Garrincha, em Brasília, às 21h30.
Last month, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp announced that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season, with the Reds' search for a replacement already under way.
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, who previously played for the Reds, has emerged as the primary candidate for the position and Liverpool are reportedly planning to make an approach, but naturally there are alternatives on the list too.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
One of those is Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou, who's "on the radar" of the Liverpool hierarchy, as well as Brighton's Roberto De Zerbi and Brentford's Thomas Frank. Postecoglou was only appointed Spurs boss last summer but he said in September that he supported Liverpool as a child and had Reds posters up on the walls of his room.
Spurs not concerned by Liverpool's Postecoglou interest
Now, speaking to Give Me Sport, Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge has offered an Ange Postecoglou to Liverpool update. He admits that the Australian could be targeted if things don't work out with Alonso, but the feeling at Spurs is that he's enthusiastic about the club's long-term project.
He said: "It looks to me that the logical step would be Xabi Alonso. If it wasn't Xabi Alonso, then maybe it opens it up a little bit more for the likes Ange Postecoglou. But until then, I don't think Spurs have many concerns,
"I think people will say, well he doesn't stay at many clubs for long. True, but I think that he always leaves clubs in great hands. Even in Australia, Japan, and even at Celtic, he left them dominating Scotland. He's got a job to do here at Tottenham. He's only been here for less than a season. I feel he's sort of enjoying his role here. He's part of a big transfer committee where he has the final say. He gets on well with the board and the chairman. So I don't think there are too many concerns.
"I can't say I'm 100% convinced that he would stay if Liverpool make an approach because the only person who knows that answer is Postecoglou. But I think as it stands, I don't think Spurs have got too many concerns inside the club."
Financial backing gives Postecoglou little incentive to leave
Spurs fans will likely be desperate to keep Postecoglou, who's led a team that missed out on European football entirely last season into the race for next season's Champions League. His style of play will only have enhanced that affection, with Spurs scoring the third-most goals (49) and averaging the fifth-highest possession share (59.6%) in the Premier League.
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As Bridge points out, some concerns may stem from his track record of leaving clubs when a new opportunity crops up. As you can see in the table below, he had an especially short stint as the manager of Melbourne City FC in his homeland just over a decade ago, and more recently, he jumped ship from Yokohama and Celtic.
Club
Joined
Left
Games
Brisbane Roar
Sept 2009
Apr 2012
84
Melbourne
Apr 2012
Oct 2013
32
Australia
Oct 2013
Nov 2017
49
Yokohama F Marinos
Feb 2018
Jun 2021
161
Celtic
Jun 2021
Jun 2023
113
Spurs
Jun 2023
Ongoing
26
This case, though, is different. All of Postecoglou's previous moves were surely geared towards reaching the top of the football pyramid, and that's where he finds himself now. A January deal for centre-back Radu Dragusin, who arrived in addition to loan signing Timo Werner, has taken Spurs' net spend for the season to £128.4m, the second-highest in the Premier League, and with that level of resources, he should be able to make Spurs a title contender long-term.
From that point of view, there's little incentive to leave, and abandon his plans in North London at such an early stage.
Leeds United are pushing for automatic promotion in the Championship, and there have now been claims they could look at signing a free-agent midfielder.
Leeds United’s January transfer window
The Whites left it late in the winter market to secure their only signing of the month, with right-back Connor Roberts joining on loan from Burnley. Daniel Farke arguably needed a new full-back, especially after Djed Spence’s season-long loan was terminated early and Luke Ayling left for Middlesbrough and was delighted at signing Roberts, saying:
“So we wanted to bring a specialist in. “We found one with Connor Roberts, in a perfect age, experience, we wanted to add a bit of experience. Great, great CV. Even last season he was in the Team of the Year in the Championship as a right-back.
Connor Roberts
“One hundred and eighty games on this level, 40 Premier League games, top-class character, available right now and also fully committed. I’m pretty happy with him. “So it feels a bit like half of the Welsh national team is meanwhile with us, but I also quite like the mentality, so we will prepare them properly for a play-off final against Glen Kamara’s Finland.
“Overall, a really good signing and we had to be patient with this one because we wanted to bring a proper one in and also someone who improves our group.”
Roberts arrived too late to make his debut against Bristol City and was cup-tied in the week, so he could be in line to make his debut against Rotherham United. There were more Elland Road departures last month as well, with Darko Gyabi, Ian Poveda and Sean McGurk joining Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon Town respectively.
Even though the window is shut, Luis Sinisterra has made his move to Bournemouth permanent, and with the free agent market always open, there have been claims of potential targets.
Leeds free agent transfer claim
Leeds Live shared a story in the last 48 hours, looking at four free agents who Farke could consider bringing to Elland Road to help Leeds continue their promising start to the calendar year. One of those was midfielder Josh Onomah, who has actually been without a club since the summer after leaving Preston North End.
“Onomah has experience both at Championship and Premier League level, most recently representing Preston North End. His career began at Tottenham Hotspur, who he represented 32 times before joining Fulham in 2019. His first goal for the Cottagers ironically arrived against Leeds in December of that year and he remained with the London club until moving to Preston in January 2023. Still only 26 years of age, Onomah could serve as a useful option in central midfield between now and the end of the campaign.”
Josh Onomah.
Onomah, a former England U21 international, has made ten or more appearances in four different midfield roles, so the 26-year-old would bring plenty of versatility to his next club.
However, with Leeds having Glen Kamara, Ilia Gruev, Archie Gray and Ethan Ampadu as options in the middle of the park, you could make an argument that someone like Onomah isn’t desperately needed in Yorkshire.