Category Uncategorized

ECB reporters Network07-Jul-2017
ScorecardIan Bell led Warwickshire;s successful chase•Getty ImagesIan Bell returned after injury with a 39-ball half century to lead Birmingham Bears to a crushing eight-wicket victory over local rivals Worcestershire Rapids in their opening NatWest T20 Blast encounter at a packed New Road.Bell had missed Warwickshire’s one-wicket defeat by Middlesex in the County Championship with tendonitis in an elbow – a setback which leaves them staring relegation in the face in the four-day competition.But it was a different story in the short format of the game as captain Bell and fellow opener Sam Hain put on 98 in 12 overs to ensure their side made light work of a modest 153 target.Bell ended unbeaten on 75 from 55 balls with eight fours and one six while Hain contributed 47 as the Bears won with one over to spare.The veteran bowling duo of Rikki Clarke and Jeetan Patel were largely responsible for the Rapids being restricted to a modest 152 for nine with combined figures of five for 38 from their eight overs.Then the Bell-Hain partnership ensured the Bears lifted the Norman Gifford Trophy – played for by the two counties in the T20 Blast – for the first time.The Rapids were put into bat and were pushed onto the back foot by a fine opening spell from Rikki Clarke.The 35-year-old accounted for Joe Clarke – the replacement at the top of the order for Tom Kohler-Cadmore – who holed out to mid on for 13.Daryl Mitchell (18) then pulled Rikki Clarke into the hands of deep square leg and Brett D’Oliveira (four) was trapped lbw by the same bowler, who finished with excellent figures of three for 20 off his four overs.Olly Stone bowled with good pace on his debut for Birmingham – 13 months after suffering a knee ligament injury celebrating the wicket of Rapids batsman Moeen Ali at Wantage Road when a Northamptonshire player.But it was another golden oldie in spinner Patel who kept Worcestershire in check during the middle overs of the innings.Worcestershire skipper Joe Leach (nine) was trapped lbw by the 37-year-old New Zealander who then bowled his compatriot Mitchell Santner (12).Only when Ben Cox and Ross Whiteley joined forces was there any meaningful acceleration from the home side.They plundered 78 in seven overs before Cox went for a reverse scoop and perished at short third man off Colin de Grandhomme, having scored 43 off 27 balls.Worcestershire needed early wickets to put their local rivals under any pressure but Hain and Bell were quickly into their stride.Hain lofted John Hastings for a straight six and Bell drove Joe Leach for successive boundaries.The opening six-over powerplay yielded 52 runs and only spinner Santner, at the start of his second spell at New Road, was able to exercise much restraint.It needed a mix-up to end the partnership on 98 in the 12th over with Hain run out as he tried to reclaim his ground off the bowling of Mitchell.William Porterfield (five) was stumped by Cox off Mitchell after giving the medium pacer the charge, but that proved to be the only wicket the home bowlers picked up.Bell went to his fifty with seven boundaries and survived a difficult caught and bowled chance on 58 against Hastings before seeing his side to the winning post.

The summer transfer window officially opened for business last month and Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been able to make two additions to his squad so far.

Marco Tilio and Odin Thiago Holm have arrived, from Melbourne City and Valerenga respectively, to bolster the head coach's options in midfield.

The Hoops still have until the 1st of September to make further signings ahead of the 2023/24 campaign and strengthening the wide department appears to be on their agenda.

It was reported by the Daily Record last month that the club have been scouting Gwangju winger Ji-sung Eom.

Although, it remains to be seen if they will act upon their interest over the coming weeks.

How good is Ji-sung Eom?

The versatile attacker, who is capable of being deployed on either flank, has been in impressive form over the last 18 months and his performances suggest that the potential is there for him to be an exciting player for Celtic.

At the age of 21, Eom could come in as a long-term prospect for Rodgers rather than someone who would be required to make an immediate impact on the pitch, which could make him the dream heir to James Forrest's position within the squad.

The current Hoops winger turned 32 earlier this month and is now in the final two years of his contract at Parkhead, which could leave the manager to think about what life will look like after the Scotland international moves on.

Signing an heir, in the form of Eom, prior to Forrest's actual departure could be a shrewd move as it would allow the promising South Korean talent to soak up all of the veteran ace's experience to aid his transition to football in Scotland.

The long-serving maestro has racked up 467 first-team appearances during his time in Glasgow to date and, therefore, knows what it takes to consistently perform at the club.

Forrest averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.94 across 16 Scottish Premiership matches last term – the 18th-highest score within the team. He contributed with four goals and 0.9 key passes per match, with the latter statistic being the 13th-best record among the squad.

Eom, with an average Sofascore rating of 7.01, has scored two goals to go along with two assists in eight K League 1 starts this year, whilst the talented gem has also created 0.9 chances per game – drawing a parallel with the Celtic gem.

However, his form throughout the 2022 K League 2 campaign is what suggests that there is an exciting prospect for Rodgers to unearth.

The 5 foot 10 whiz averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.13 across 29 outings, which is a score only seven Hoops players bettered during the 2022/23 campaign, as he plundered nine goals from out wide.

Meanwhile, only three Celtic stars hit double figures for Premiership goals last season, and one of them – Jota – has since departed to join Al Ittihad.

Eom, who has been described as "underrated" by scout Ali Can Kutlu, has the potential to provide an excellent goal threat from a wide position, whilst also being able to offer a similar level of creativity to Forrest, which is why he could be the dream heir to the Scottish forward under Rodgers.

There is an 11-year gap between the two players and this means that Celtic could invest in the South Korea U22 international to be a part of their long-term plans, with the 21-year-old gem able to be an understudy to the veteran over the next few seasons.

New Zealand will wait till the eve of the second Test to determine Trent Boult’s availability. The left-arm pacer is nursing a sore hip from the first Test in Dunedin

Firdose Moonda in Wellington14-Mar-2017

Trent Boult’s availability for the second Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington will be decided on the eve the game. Boult is nursing a sore hip from the Dunedin Test and didn’t train full tilt with the squad on Monday.Boult left the field on the fourth day of the first Test after bowling just 15 overs in South Africa’s second innings. He was touted to return on the final day that was washed out. Should he be ruled unfit, New Zealand can choose from Tim Southee, left out in Dunedin to accommodate an extra spinner and Matt Henry, who joined the squad ahead of the game. Henry, incidentally, isn’t reinforcement; his inclusion was planned leading into the series.South Africa expect Southee to return on a surface with the most bounce and carry in the series, although there is also a possibility of New Zealand including both Southee and Henry if Boult is ruled out.”Southee is a quality bowler, very skilled, especially in these conditions,” Temba Bavuma said on Monday. “Fortunately, we’ve played against him, I’ve played against him. We are aware of what he brings to the party. We will make sure we pay as much attention as we can to him and make sure he is not successful against us.”Bavuma has not yet looked at Wellington pitch that was uncovered on Tuesday, for the first time since Friday when the city’s rains began More than 70 mm of rain has fallen over the last four days. Two days before the Test, the strip was covered in green grass, which may not have the batsmen smiling but should suit South Africa’s attack.”I haven’t had a look at the pitch. I never really have a look at the pitch. We are expecting something quite close to Dunedin, maybe a bit more pace, maybe a bit more bounce,” Bavuma said. “On the first day, we will just have to assess the conditions. In Dunedin we didn’t do that as well as we could have. We’ll make sure that we learn from that and make sure that in the first session, whether with bat or ball, we are able to throw the first punch.”With rain around, the groundstaff are racing against time to get the surface ready. “With the weather we’ve had we’re just trying to produce the best wicket possible. It’s been pretty tough going,” Hagen Faith, the groundsman told “We’re focusing on getting the surface hard and having the wicket ready for day one. That’s the ultimate goal.”Heavy clouds and high winds dominated Tuesday but the weather is set to improve and clear up in time for the match, which Faith expects to be a cracker. “A lot of first-class stuff has gone down to that last day, final session, and we have seen that here with Test matches as well.”

أدى منتخب مصر الأول تحت قيادة حسام حسن، تدريباته الجماعية، على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي في معسكره الحالي، ضمن الاستعدادات لخوض البطولة الودية الدولية التي تقام في مصر.

ويشارك منتخب مصر في بطولة ودية دولية خلال التوقف الدولي الحالي في شهر مارس الجاري، مع منتخبات تونس وكرواتيا ونيوزيلندا.

وسيلعب منتخب مصر مع نيوزيلندا يوم الإثنين المقبل الموافق 22 مارس في مباراة دور نصف النهائي وإذا حقق الفوز سيلاقي الفائز من مباراة كرواتيا وتونس في المباراة النهائية يوم 26 من الشهر ذاته.

وشارك في مران منتخب مصر، 21 لاعبًا، حيث ظهر الثنائي حمدي فتحي المحترف في صفوف الوكرة القطري ومحمد شريف مهاجم الخليج السعودي ضمن اللاعبين في التدريبات عقب إنضمامهم للمعسكر أمس الأحد.

حضر مران منتخب مصر، محمد يحيي لطفي رئيس مجلس إدارة الشركة المتحدة للرياضة.

وتعد البطولة الدولية هي الأولى للجهاز الفني الجديد لـ منتخب مصر بقيادة التوأم حسام وإبراهيم حسن عقب توليهما المسؤولية الفنية بعد إقالة البرتغالي روي فيتوريا.

Leeds United have been relegated from the Premier League and are still without a permanent manager with the transfer window in full swing, but that has not stopped the club from pushing for Coventry City's Viktor Gyokeres.

What's the latest on Viktor Gyokeres to Leeds?

According to the Coventry Telegraph (June 19, page 38), via MOT Leeds News, an exit is on the cards for the Sky Blues star talisman, and while suitors from all across Europe push for his signature, the likes of Championship promotion contenders Leeds and Middlesbrough are hoping to tempt the ace with a move.

Speaking to the publication, former manager Gary McSheffrey believes it will take 'big money' for a move to a divisional rival to come into fruition, with fees as high as £17m touted for the Swede's services.

He said: “If it’s one of the bigger Championship clubs like a Leeds or a Middlesbrough, unless it’s mega-money for Coventry, then I am not sure it would be the right move for him, although it might be financially good for him.

“I know there’s firm interest and there will be a couple of clubs who have come down that will want him, the likes of Leeds United, who can still afford to pay him good money.”

How good is Viktor Gyokeres?

Given that the 25-year-old only has just one year left on his current deal and no sight of a resolution, it is increasingly likely that he will be sold this summer as the defeated play-off finalists look to rebuild and push for promotion once again.

And with Leeds hoping for an immediate return to the top flight after devastating relegation this year, Gyokeres could be tempted to complete the transfer and spearhead a club back toward prominence.

Over the past two campaigns, the 13-cap international has posted 21 and 17 goal returns in the second tier, illustrating exactly the kind of potency that the Whites require to succeed in their seasonal endeavours.

He would be an almighty upgrade on Leeds' current centre-forward, Patrick Bamford, who captured the attention of the throngs of supporters with his performances in the Championship when the club secured promotion – scoring 16 times – before playing an exemplary term upon the outfit's return to the Premier League – finishing with 17 strikes in the top-flight.

However, injuries and a fall from form over the past two years have left the former Chelsea youngster in ill regard, being branded as a "liability" by journalist Hunter Walker, and replacing him with the younger, more exuberant Gyokeres would only enhance the squad's prospects.

Said to be "unplayable" on his day by teammate Maxime Biamou, Gyokeres has averaged three shots and 1.8 key passes per match this season, as per Sofascore, whereas Bamford's 1.8 shots and 0.4 key passes illuminate the lack of robustness that stung Leeds in their travails.

Considering this, the 49ers would be wise to secure Gyokeres' signature this summer and wipe the slate clean; relegation materialised and left the club in ignominy, but there is now a stunning opportunity to rectify the past wrongs and the Coventry dynamo is the man to lead the charge.

Arsenal are thought to be closing in on a deal for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, according to reports.

What’s the latest on Declan Rice signing for Arsenal?

The Gunners have made Rice their top transfer target this summer and have already reached a verbal agreement with the player ahead of a move to the Emirates.

Rice, who recently helped West Ham win the Europa Conference League, is expected to leave the Hammers over the coming months, something which was recently confirmed by co-owner David Sullivan.

Arsenal aren’t the only side keen on the England international, though, with three or four clubs interested, however, it looks as if the Gunners are in a good position to seal a deal.

Now, according to The Guardian, ‘Arsenal are close to agreeing a fee with West Ham for Rice and are expected to pay more than £100m for the midfielder if certain add-ons are achieved.’ A bid is yet to be made, but talks are progressing smoothly and there is confidence an agreement will be reached.

The report adds that ‘Mikel Arteta is a huge admirer’ of Rice and feels he will be key to helping Arsenal to mount another challenge for the Premier League title.

Rice is also a fan of Arteta’s football in north London, with Arsenal also eyeing Brighton’s Moises Caicedo and Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan as further midfield additions alongside a move for the West Ham star.

What is Declan Rice’s salary?

Rice has made a total of 245 appearances for West Ham after coming through their academy, scoring 15 goals and registering 13 assists. The 24-year-old's first Hammers strike was actually a winner against Arsenal back in 2019, and he now looks on course to make the move to the Gunners.

When it comes to salary, Rice has gone from being on £100-a-week back in 2015 to £62,000-a-week as of today and actually rejected a £200,000-a-week deal to stay with West Ham. Therefore, you’d expect that Arsenal would be willing to make the midfielder one of their top earners alongside the likes of Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard.

All the signs ahead of a transfer are certainly exciting, and by the looks of it, a record transfer is close to materialising. Arsenal’s current record transfer was set back in 2019 on a €80m deal for Nicolas Pepe, and should Arsenal get the green light, Rice, hailed as a "special talent" by David Moyes, will surpass that figure ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Chelsea are interested in signing Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone to kickstart their rebuild under the incoming Mauricio Pochettino.

What’s the latest on Manu Kone to Chelsea?

In an interview with GIVEMESPORT, reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed that the Blues are tracking his availability.

He noted that while the Londoners have "an eye" on the midfielder, there are also "other clubs interested."

Previous reports from Germany detail that the 22-year-old could be allowed to leave the German outfit for around £26m while 90min have claimed that Liverpool and Newcastle have also been tracking the Frenchman.

Kone’s chances at Stamford Bridge could be boosted by the departures of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher, who have both linked with moves away from the capital.

As Pochettino begins his revolution in west London, the signing of this talent for such a modest fee could be a stroke of transfer genius.

Who could Manu Kone replace at Chelsea?

At the beginning of his career with Die Fohlen in 2021, his former manager Adi Hutter described the prodigy as someone with "a lot of potential" and this has been proved in glorious fashion.

The youngster has made 30 Bundesliga appearances for his team this season and his statistics make for fabulous reading. Within the Mönchengladbach squad, the 6 foot 1 machine has registered the most tackles (2.5) and dribbles (1.9) per game, according to WhoScored.

The Toulouse academy starlet has demonstrated himself to be a sensational midfield all-rounder that acts as a protector for the backline, but also effortlessly links play with his graceful control and agility.

It is not just within his own team that he excels, as the £6k-per-week titan ranks in the top 4% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for successful take-ons per 90, as well as the highest 20% for blocks per 90.

Judging by this evidence, he appears the perfect replacement for Mateo Kovacic, whose contract expires in 2024 and attracting the interest of other Premier League sides.

The Croatian has been a shadow of his former self in recent times, averaging just the 23rd-highest average rating in the squad, whilst only managing 0.7 dribbles per game.

He has previously prided himself on his impeccable intricacy, technique, and skill, but his slump in form was encapsulated by a cheap giveaway and lack of reaction that led to Nottingham Forest’s opener in a 2-2 draw earlier this month.

As such, he could immediately be ditched for Kone, a player who comparatively has been lauded as a "one-man army" by scout Jacek Kulig. Indeed, his blend of defensive and offensive capabilities will be crucial to Pochettino’s rebuild.

Liverpool are reportedly at the forefront of clubs eyeing Sporting Lisbon star Manuel Ugarte, who is being linked with a summer move away from Portugal.

What's the latest on Manuel Ugarte to Liverpool?

According to Portuguese outlet Record (via Sport Witness), Liverpool have 'advanced' negotiations for the signing of Ugarte and now leads the race for his signature over divisional rivals Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.

The publication states that after observing Ugarte's progress in his homeland, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp is prepared to instigate formal discussions as he looks to replenish his midfield ranks this summer.

The 22-year-old has a €60m (£52m) release clause wedged into his contract, with makes him a relatively affordable option given his skill set and the inflated nature of the current market.

As such, the sharks will be circling and Liverpool will need to move quickly to tie up a deal.

How would Ugarte fare at Liverpool?

Despite his relative inexperience, Ugarte has swiftly asserted himself as one of the most exciting midfield talents on the European scene, having played 83 matches for Sporting and been hailed a "warrior" by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his exploits.

The eight-cap Uruguay international was also called up to the 2022 World Cup squad, though he failed to make an appearance and was stuck to the bench for all three of the nation's group matches, unsuccessfully qualifying for the knockout phase.

As per Sofascore, Ugarte boasts a 7.04 rating in Liga Portugal this term, starting 26 times and impressing with his 91% passing accuracy, 3.9 tackles, 1.9 interceptions and 0.5 key passes per match from his anchoring deployment in the midfield, also succeeding with 60% of his dribbles and 57% of his contested duels.

Liverpool are stuck in fifth in the Premier League with just three matches to play this season, underwhelming with just 62 points on the board and the ignominy of nine defeats – for reference, Klopp's outfit lost just twice in the top flight last year.

The midfield has been illuminated as the area of primary concern, and Fabinho's place at the foot of the centre is no longer untouchable after a stark decline, with the Brazilian described as a "liability" by journalist Daniel Bach earlier this year.

His failure to protect his back-line has been clear: an average of 1.6 tackles, one interception and 0.6 clearances per match falls well below his imperious career average of 2.5, 1.6 and 1.6 of the same metrics, as per WhoScored.

This has severely affected the influence of the Reds' starring centre-back Virgil van Dijk, who has been embroiled in a lacklustre campaign after years of world-class success following his £75m transfer from Southampton in January 2018.

While the £220k-per-week titan is not blameless himself, with Samuel Luckhurst remarking at his "staggering" seasonal decline, his ball-playing prowess is the crux of his skill set, with FBref ranking him among the top 6% of centre-backs across Europe for passes attempted per 90.

He has been unable to implement his "Rolls-Royce" arsenal – as he was once hailed by Zach Lowy – due to the barrage of defensive mishaps and sustained pressure on Liverpool's defensive third – the Merseyside outfit conceded more goals by February this term than in the entirety of the 21/22 campaign, conceding the fewest strikes in three of the past four seasons.

Ugarte, who ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Men's Next 8 divisions for pass completion and the top 1% for tackles and interceptions per 90, can be the "midfield machine", again as lauded by Kulig, to whir the Anfield side back into life.

Liverpool's current six-match winning run has reminded the footballing world that form, however poor, is temporary, and the class of Klopp's creation is stroking the city once more. The blocks are in place for a bright future, and with several well-placed signings, a return to the very top could be forthcoming.

Newcastle United have been warned by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville amid the recent reports surrounding a potential move for Neymar in the summer.

Do Newcastle want to sign Neymar?

Defeat on the weekend has put the brakes on Newcastle's push for a spot inside the top four with Liverpool closing the gap down to just three points.

Eddie Howe's men will have the opportunity to potentially increase their margin back to six points when they play their game in hand over the Reds.

With the target now firmly set on playing Champions League football next season, the calibre of players being linked with a potential move to Tyneside has increased.

Indeed, reports are now claiming the Saudi-based owners would be keen on the possibility of bringing the Brazilian star, Neymar, to St James' Park.

There is the suggestion that Paris Saint-Germain could be open to the notion of selling Neymar in the upcoming summer window with Newcastle keen to add at left-wing.

However, speaking on his own podcast, Gary Neville has warned Newcastle that this may not be a possible signing which would benefit the club:

(23:05) "That would scare me to death, that sort of signing, not because I mean Neymar's a sensational player. But I think Eddie Howe all of a sudden would sort of have a circus. Eddie Howe doesn't need a circus up here.

"You know, you think about what Newcastle are at this moment in time they're building, they've got foundations, what you don't want to do is basically go and disrupt that."

"Eddie Howe and Dan Ashworth are going to have to be strong I think. They're going to have to be strong with the ownership who may want an acceleration [in calibre of signings]."

Should Newcastle sign Neymar?

The notion of signing a player of Neymar's calibre can potentially be viewed as the moment when Manchester City signed Robinho back in 2008.

It is a deal which perhaps not many people could see happening, but it would certainly put the Toon on the map when it comes to their ambition for the future.

The Brazilian is a player who has won enough trophies to fill out a number of cabinets from his time at Santos, Barcelona and PSG.

His ability on the ball is something which almost any club would welcome at their club with the Brazilian ranking inside the upper second percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 minutes (via Fbref).

Broadcaster Damien Bartonek has hailed the 31-year-old as a "magician" and it is clear to see why when he has provided over two (2.21) successful take-ons per game this season.

However, this is a player who could potentially bring a number of off-field issues to what appears to be a tight-knit Newcastle side.

The £946k-per-week star has reportedly not been shy of speaking his mind to senior officials at the club in front of the squad which is something which would surely rock the current Newcastle side.

Adding to his issues off the field, the Brazilian is not a player who has proven reliable on the pitch with yearly injury issues seeing him miss significant game time.

Of course, the signing of Neymar would be a real statement for Newcastle, but it could certainly present a host of issues too.

Leeds United defender Liam Cooper could miss the rest of the season and is definitely ruled out of the Premier League game vs Manchester City on Saturday, according to Sam Allardyce.

What's the latest injury news on Cooper?

The Whites suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth during their last top-flight outing but will be hoping to hit the ground running during the new manager's first game in charge when his side make the trip to the Etihad Stadium to take on Pep Guardiola's current league leaders this afternoon, but they will have to do so without the services of their 31-year-old captain.

The Scottish international limped out of the most recent fixture at the Vitality Stadium and was forced off the pitch after just 34 minutes with what is believed to have been a hip injury, and having a history of several spells on the sidelines, there are question marks about how long he will be out for on this particular occasion.

Speaking during his Friday pre-match press conference, Allardyce confirmed that Cooper and four other of his first-team squad members were ruled out of the highly anticipated showdown vs Man City. As quoted by Leeds Live, he said:

"I've only got [Stuart] Dallas, [Tyler] Adams, [Luis] Sinisterra and [Liam] Cooper injured. The rest around that will be picking a team and a system today."

Directly asked whether Cooper had played his final game of the 2022/23 season, the boss responded:

"I have no idea. There's no disrespect but I haven't really focused on that as I was told he wouldn't be fit for this game. So I've only been focused on the players who would be fit for this match."

Will Cooper's absence be a blow for Leeds?

Leeds will know that Cooper is their "leader" with the armband, as lauded by journalist Josh Bunting, and considering the authoritive qualities that he brings to not only the defence but the whole team, it will definitely be a massive blow for Allardyce if he was to not feature again for the remainder of the campaign.

The Elland Road centre-back, who currently pockets £25k-per-week, was averaging 3.2 aerial wins and clearances prior to his absence, via WhoScored, not to mention that he's won 22 tackles from 34 players challenged so far this season.

Cooper also led his side to top-flight promotion back in 2019/20 so knows what it means and feels like to have the honour of playing at the highest level, but with this drive and motivation missing from the squad, it will be an uphill battle for his troops trying to maintain that status that he worked so hard to achieve.