Pakistan were favourites to begin due to Sri Lanka’s misadventures more than their own conquests. Now that the ‘underdogs’ are leading 1-0, there’s much to play for with the pink ball

The Preview by Danyal Rasool05-Oct-2017

Big PictureIt is a truth universally acknowledged, that seven days ago, disillusionment with the Sri Lankan team was greater than it has been at any point in the past two decades. This was a team that had lost a five-match ODI series at home against Zimbabwe, a first in their history. This was a team that was whitewashed across formats by India at home just weeks earlier, losing all nine games; they had lost fewer home games to India in the entire 1990s. This was a team that couldn’t decide on a coach, settle on a captain, or chance upon a victory. They were just about to play a Test match against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, a venue where Pakistan had never lost in the format. It was the first match in a two-Test series against Pakistan, who had never lost a Test series in the UAE.Pakistan-Sri Lanka contests are often unpredictable, but Sri Lanka’s win in Abu Dhabi must still rank as one of the more remarkable in the island nation’s history. Since Pakistan shifted base to the UAE in 2009, England and Australia have combined to play eight Tests against them in the desert, losing seven and never winning one. It is the place Pakistan have sought refuge in after foreign wallopings, relishing grinding opposition to dust in the oppressive heat before spinning them out cheaply. For Sri Lanka to be at their weakest, and even more so playing without their talisman Angelo Mathews, and to match Pakistan and sucker-punch them at the death is an achievement that deserves more attention that it’ll get. But then again, that’s Pakistan-Sri Lanka contests for you.So the second Test in Dubai takes on a particularly fateful air for the hosts. The second day-night Test at the venue could finally see the sun set on Pakistan’s spotless record at their adopted home. If they cannot pull off a win, it will see Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka!) become the first team to win a Test series against Pakistan in Dubai.It could very well happen, too. Pakistan came into the series favourites not due to doing anything special themselves, but because of the turmoil of their visitors. The fifth day collapse in Abu Dhabi – an alarming trend over the past two years – reminded everyone how vulnerable they are in the absence of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan. Losing the toss and having to bowl first might have made people notice how frequently they’ve been lucky with the coin at home over the past few Tests; they had won the toss in all home Tests against Australia, Sri Lanka, England and West Indies in the past three years. Whether they can bowl teams out cheaply on the first day is very much up for debate.For Sri Lanka, who interim coach Nic Pothas recently said were sick of talking about transition, this is a marquee opportunity to build a solid foundation from the rock bottom they reached in the India series. Captain Dinesh Chandimal, who has often been derided as inconsistent, will have found form and confidence with a gritty unbeaten 155, while the evergreen Rangana Herath continues to lurk in the minds of Pakistan’s batsmen, needing no further invitation to prove his class now that he’s joined the elite 400-wicket club.For both sides, then, this is a rare phenomena. It is a Test that actually really matters.Form guidePakistan: LWLWLSri Lanka: WLLLWIn the spotlightWhile the clamour for Fawad Alam’s return to the side has grown to fever pitch, one can hardly overlook that Haris Sohail made a stellar debut in Abu Dhabi. He was the top aggregate run-scorer for Pakistan, scoring 76 and 34 – the only batsman to score more than 20 runs in that disastrous fourth innings. After a lengthy absence from the international stage, he showed the grit and patience required of any cricketer playing a Test match in theEmirates, batting intelligently with the tail in the first innings, and combining with his captain for a 42-run partnership in the second that at one stage looked like it might get his side home. There is a yawning gap in Pakistan’s middle order for reasons well documented, and if Haris wants to slot in there, he has made a good start. Dubai is a chance to build on it.Kusal Mendis, touted as a future Sri Lankan captain, had a poor outing in Abu Dhabi. With Kaushal Silva and Lahiru Thirimanne also disappointing in the first Test, Sri Lanka might be worried about looking to their lower-middle order to continue to bail them out. Niroshan Dickwella had a terrific game, but, he’s also the wicketkeeper, and Sri Lanka might not want to burden him with too many expectations in every game. The point need hardly be made, but Sri Lanka know better than anyone that not all left-hand wicketkeepers are the same.Team newsPakistan are set to continue with their 3-1 quicks-spin combination, with Wahab Riaz replacing Hasan Ali, who misses the game with a back complaint. No other changes are expected.Pakistan (probable): 1 Sami Aslam, 2 Shan Masood, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Asad Shafiq, 5 Babar Azam, 6 Haris Sohail, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 8 Mohammad Amir, 9 Yasir Shah, 10 Wahab Riaz, 11 Mohammad AbbasSri Lanka were dealt a blow when Angelo Mathews was ruled out of the second Test as well. Lahiru Thirimanne joins him on the sidelines with a back injury. Sadeera Samarawickrama is likely to make his debut in Thirimanne’s place.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne, 2 Kaushal Silva, 3 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Dinesh Chandimal (capt), 6 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 7 Dilruwan Perera, 8 Rangana Herath, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Nuwan PradeepPitch and conditionsDinesh Chandimal reckoned the pitch was similar to Abu Dhabi’s in its dryness. Humidity levels will be high, something Sarfraz thought would assist the quick bowlers. How the pink ball plays under lights is, to a large extent, still an unknown quantity.Stats and trivia Pakistan will slip to seventh in the rankings if they fail to win this match. That will be their lowest position since October 2010. This time last year, they were No. 1 If one can consider India’s Harbhajan Singh done with Test cricket – which he isn’t, officially – Rangana Herath is the only active spinner with 400 wickets. The only other active bowlers overall who have crossed the mark are England’s James Anderson and South Africa’s Dale Steyn

Of all the Premier League fixtures that are set to kickstart the new season, few games boast as much history as Newcastle United’s clash with Aston Villa.

Two absolute heavyweights of English football clash in what promises to be one of their most electric curtain-raisers in recent history, making it no surprise that it has been shifted for TV scheduling.

Fans can look forward to a much-anticipated 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday 12th August, knowing how important a win could be in realising the long-term ambitions of these evolving clubs.

Both secured European football against all the odds last term, and with that to contend with as well as a continued challenge in the league, it will be a juggling act for Eddie Howe and Unai Emery.

Although, with a host of new faces only adding to the excitement building around this clash, every facet of this game suggests it will be a thriller. The only hope is that those stars can treat the fans to such a delight after a busy day of fixtures before it.

Ahead of the game, Football FanCast takes a look at the head-to-head records between the teams.

Newcastle United vs Aston Villa: Who has the better head-to-head record?

Despite Aston Villa enjoying a history more laden with silverware, it is actually the Magpies who have enjoyed more success when the two have faced one another.

Their tumultuous history of failed title challenges and relegation has made them a tricky club to contend with, but their unrelenting support has remained throughout. A winless period for the Midlands club in the 2010s, which will be touched upon later, likely helped emphasise this gulf.

As such, they have enjoyed 14 more wins over the Villans, with the spoils having been shared on 39 occasions too.

Newcastle wins: 73 Draws: 40 Aston Villa wins: 58 Newcastle United vs Aston Villa: Who has more wins at St James’ Park?

The home advantage that St James' Park offers is showcased dramatically in the data, as Newcastle United have recorded a mammoth 52 victories when welcoming Aston Villa to Tyneside.

Just 14 wins on the road emphasise this dominance, with the fear factor that this football-crazed city brings on full show.

Given that Champions League football is finally set to return to this cathedral of football, that atmosphere is only certain to improve in the coming years.

Newcastle wins: 52 Draws: 19 Aston Villa wins: 14 Newcastle United vs Aston Villa: Who has more wins at Villa Park?

Although the disparity is not quite as dramatic when venturing up to Newcastle, Aston Villa unsurprisingly enjoy far greater success when backed by their own home support.

As one of the most iconic grounds in the country, with splendid stain-glassed windows to further showcase its uniqueness, an equally impressive reception comes with playing at this ground.

As such, the home side has triumphed on 25 more occasions, though they will have to battle to retain such a record as the Magpies continue to develop under their new ownership.

Aston Villa wins: 43 Draws: 21 Newcastle wins: 20 Newcastle United vs Aston Villa: Who has the better cup record?

As two of the most famous and successful clubs in English football history, it is no surprise that the two have enjoyed some famous cup battles against one another. However, with regard to domestic honours, it is Aston Villa who come out on top.

Their tally of seven FA Cups and five EFL Cups dwarfs that of their opening-day opponents, who despite winning the FA Cup on five occasions, are yet to win the latter. They came close last season, but were thwarted in the final by rivals Manchester United.

This dominance shows up in their head-to-head clashes within cup competitions, with the Villans recording two more victories over the Magpies, having last met in the 3rd round of the FA Cup back in 2000/01.

Newcastle United wins: 2 Draws: 1 Aston Villa wins: 4 Newcastle United vs Aston Villa: What were the last 5 meetings?

15th April 2023 – Aston Villa 3-0 Newcastle United: As both sides sought to make their unlikely pushes for European football a reality, two of the most in-form teams in the Premier League clashed at Villa Park.

However, stunning the visitors, Emery unleashed a masterclass on Newcastle United as Jacob Ramsey's opener and Ollie Watkins' brace resigned Howe to a crushing defeat. Both sides would still finish in European spots.

29th October 2022 – Newcastle United 4-0 Aston Villa: Having sacked Steven Gerrard after a torrid run of form, caretaker boss Aaron Danks was handed the unenviable task of taking his side to one of the toughest grounds in the country.

The result almost seemed a formality, and although it took 45 minutes for the first goal to come, a further three would follow. Miguel Almiron would continue his fantastic start to the season with another goal.

13th February 2022 – Newcastle United 1-0 Aston Villa: Despite the upturn in form Gerrard’s appointment had initially brought, it proved no match for the similarly impressive job that Howe would complete in securing their survival.

It was Kieran Trippier’s powerful deflected free kick that separated the sides, and despite Ollie Watkins heading home an equaliser, it was ruled out for offside.

21st August 2021 – Aston Villa 2-0 Newcastle United: With a renewed sense of hope surrounding Villa Park, Danny Ings lit up his new home on what was his first appearance in the stadium. As an innocuous ball floated up in the air, an acrobatic bicycle kick sent fans into raptures. Anwar El Ghazi’s penalty later in the game would seal up the three points.

12th March 2021 – Newcastle United 1-1 Aston Villa: In what was a largely mundane encounter on Tyneside, the final five minutes saw the clash explode into life.

Ollie Watkins’ header struck Ciaran Clark to hand Aston Villa the lead before Newcastle United's Jamaal Lascelles rescued a point with a late header of his own. This put the Magpies just two points from the relegation zone, although they would comfortably avoid the drop in the end.

Who has played for Newcastle United and Aston Villa?

James Milner (Newcastle United 2004-2008; Aston Villa 2008-2010): A true staple of modern English football, this 37-year-old workhorse has been all around the block.

Capitalising on Leeds United’s financial troubles, Newcastle first snagged him from his boyhood club. Slowly integrating at first, a loan to Aston Villa helped kickstart his career on Tyneside before he moved to Villa Park permanently.

There, he would win the PFA Young Player of the Year award before a mouth-watering bid from the up-and-coming Manchester City forced another sale.

David Ginola (Newcastle United 1995-1997; Aston Villa 2000-2002): Having shone for Paris Saint-Germain, it was expected that his exit would invoke the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona in the market.

However, as Kevin Keegan sought to turn Newcastle United into their own powerhouse, he offered a strong financial incentive to tempt the wizard to Tyneside. The Frenchman starred as they failed in their attempt for the title.

Leaving for Tottenham Hotspur, and subsequently winning PFA Player of the Year, he was reluctantly sold to Aston Villa. His time in the Midlands was marred by a dispute with manager John Gregory and a two-match ban he would receive for stamping on an opposition player.

Shay Given (Newcastle United 1997-2009; Aston Villa 2011-2015): Struggling to break through at a title-winning Blackburn Rovers side, Given would move to Newcastle United as part of Kenny Dalglish’s revolution.

Over a decade later, he had made 463 appearances, having challenged for numerous elite honours with little success.

Leaving despite being just 34 games away from breaking the club’s appearance record, a two-year stint at Manchester City saw him eventually join up at Villa Park. He would even enjoy a stint as temporary assistant, whilst starring as his side reached the 2015 FA Cup final.

Nolberto Solano (Newcastle United 1998-2004, 2005-2007; Aston Villa 2004-2005): Moving to Tyneside from Boca Juniors, Nolberto ‘Nobby’ Solano became the first Peruvian player to play in England.

He was a fan favourite around St James’ Park, even describing himself as an “adopted Geordie”. Despite that, he enjoyed a one-year hiatus in the Midlands after his relationship with Bobby Robson had soured, finishing that season as their top scorer.

Despite that, he would relish the opportunity to return to his favoured club in 2005.

What is Newcastle United’s biggest victory over Aston Villa?

22nd August 2010 – Newcastle United 6-0 Aston Villa – In what was just the second game of this Premier League campaign, the Magpies ran riot in front of a thrilled St James' Park.

Joey Barton would hand them an early lead before Andy Carroll stole the show with his stunning hat trick. One BBC report even stated he had performed "reminiscent of former Magpies number nine Alan Shearer in his pomp." He would leave for Liverpool in a £35m move just six months later.

What is Aston Villa’s biggest victory over Newcastle United?

29th November 1902 – Aston Villa 7-0 Newcastle United – In front of just 10,000 fans at Villa Park, this rampant pre-wartime side put the Magpies to the sword with their biggest win in over three years.

Goals were spread out amongst the team, but Joe Bache and George Johnson's braces stood out amongst Bobby Templeton and Alex Leake's strikes.

Aston Villa would finish second this campaign, missing out on the title by just one point.

Key match stats

This will be the 172nd meeting between these two teams. Between 2011 and 2019, Aston Villa failed to register a single victory against Newcastle United, home or away. Whilst the highest-scoring match in Premier League history is Portsmouth’s 7-4 win over Reading, a Division One clash back in 1928 saw these sides play out a 7-5 thriller in which Aston Villa came out on top. Newcastle United vs Aston Villa: Classic meetings

30th September 1996 – Newcastle United 4-3 Aston Villa (Premier League): Just one year after Kevin Keegan’s infamous “I would love it if we beat them” rant, the Magpies were once again pushing for the title.

However, a stubborn visiting Villa side would pose an early threat to that, as Dwight Yorke’s hat-trick forced them to their limits.

A Les Ferdinand brace and goals from Alan Shearer and Steve Howey saw them edge this contest, but again fall short of Manchester United in the race for the league.

28th August 2004 – Aston Villa 4-2 Newcastle United (Premier League): During a campaign in which both sides finished comfortably in mid-table, these two heavyweights put on quite the show at Villa Park as goals were exchanged freely.

When Olof Mellberg had the hosts in front after four minutes, the visitors likely expected the worst. However, Patrick Kluivert and Andy O’Brien were on hand to have the Magpies ahead at the break.

A second-half collapse saw the game shift once again, as Carlton Cole, Gareth Barry and Juan Pablo Angel all scored for Villa to compound a crushing victory.

كرم مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك، برئاسة حسين لبيب، الفريق الأول لكرة الطائرة سيدات بالقلعة البيضاء، وذلك عقب تتويجه ببطولة إفريقيا للعام الثاني على التوالي، والتأهل لكأس العالم للأندية.

وفاز فريق الكرة الطائرة “سيدات” بلقب بطولة إفريقيا، بعد الفوز على الأهلي بنتيجة 3-2، في اللقاء الذي جمع الفريقين مساء السبت الماضي، على الصالة المغطاة بالقلعة الحمراء.

وأشاد رئيس مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك، بالأداء الذي قدمه الفريق خلال مشواره بالبطولة، معبراً عن سعادته بحصد اللقب القاري، خاصة وأنه أول بطولة في عهد المجلس.

وطالب حسين لبيب، من الجهاز الفني واللاعبات، مواصلة تحقيق النتائج الإيجابية خلال الفترة القادمة، وتقديم أفضل أداء خلال منافسات كأس العالم للأندية.

من جانبه، أوضح حسام المندوه أمين صندوق نادي الزمالك، أنه كان يثق في قدرات الفريق، على تجاوز الفترة الصعبة، والاحتفاظ بلقب بطولة إفريقيا للعام الثاني على التوالي.

ياسمين نوح تُعلن اعتزالها بعد فوز الزمالك ببطولة إفريقيا للكرة الطائرة

وقال حسين السيد عضو مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك، إن بطولة إفريقيا كانت بمثابة تحدي خاص للفريق، مشيراً إلى أن فتيات الذهب قدمن أداءاً مميزاً خلال مشوارهن القاري، واستحقين التتويج باللقب عن جدارة واستحقاق.

ومن جانبها، أعربت نيرة الأحمر، عضو مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك، والمشرفة على ألعاب الصالات، عن سعادتها بحصد لقب بطولة إفريقيا للعام الثاني على التوالي، مؤكدة أن “فتيات الذهب” لا يعرفن المستحيل، واستطعن العودة لمستواهن المعهود خلال البطولة القارية، ونجحن في الاحتفاظ باللقب والتأهل لكأس العالم للأندية.

وأكد أحمد خالد حسانين عضو مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك، أن العزيمة والإصرار كانا سلاح الفريق لتجاوز عقبة الاخفاق في بطولتي الدوري وكأس مصر، والتتويج باللقب الأفريقي.

وأشار رامي نصوحي عضو مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك، إلى أن سيدات الطائرة كن على قدر المسؤولية، واستطعن تجاوز كل الصعوبات والوصول لنهائي البطولة، وإعتلاء منصات التتويج.

Aston Villa are reportedly eyeing a move for AC Milan midfielder Charles De Ketelaere, as Unai Emery and Monchi look to add more reinforcements to their attack.

The Spanish duo have hit the jackpot so far in the transfer window, obtaining the signatures of Youri Tielemans, Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby, however Monchi could face his first business blunder in chasing De Ketelaere.

Could Aston Villa sign Charles De Ketelaere?

As reported by news outlets in Spain, relayed by The Hard Tackle, Villa are keen on Milan’s attacking midfielder.

Read the latest Aston Villa transfer news HERE…

It’s claimed that the Villans have learned the 22-year-old’s price tag, which sits around the €28m (£24m) mark, just one year after moving to the San Siro in a deal worth €35m (£30m).

The report added that Milan are ready to offload the Belgian, after a difficult first year in Italy following his move from Club Brugge.

How good is Charles De Ketelaere?

Having once been hailed as a “special player” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the former Juliper Pro League wizard has failed to impress in Milan in a move that has been a big blow for the Rossoneri.

There’s little surprise that the 22-year-old was snatched by Milan after showcasing his talents in an impeccable 2021/22 campaign in the Jupiler Pro League, in which he scored 14 goals and registered seven assists in 33 appearances for Brugge.

Unfortunately for the Belgian, his form has not been transferable to Italy, where he has registered only a single assist in 32 appearances in Serie A in a hugely underwhelming individual season on the back of such an impressive feat at his boyhood club.

Criticised as “awful” by football blogger Rajath Kumar after a poor performance for Milan, the youngster was described as “deflated and dejected” in what was a term to forget for the Villa target.

For Emery and Monchi, the season played by De Ketelaere should be a warning sign for the Midlands club, who could cause a disaster in taking the 22-year-old from the hands of the Italian giants.

There’s little to deny the talents that the youngster possesses, however at this time in Villa’s progression, the room for error this window is not necessary considering the calibre of deals that Monchi has already delivered.

The Premier League is a competition that many stars come from abroad to taste and realise that their palette isn’t perhaps destined to enjoy the spices the English game can deliver.

After two full league seasons with Club Brugge, De Ketelaere opted to branch out to savour what the European stage had to offer in Italy, in a move that perhaps came too early for the budding star, leaving a further move to the Premier League a questionable one.

In capturing the 6 foot 4 midfielder, Villa could add to their ranks in the creative department in attack, considering that the player averaged an impressive 1.61 key passes per 90 for Milan last term, however, his ability suggested in Serie A could place him low in Emery’s midfield pecking order.

John McGinn has been revolutionised under the Spaniard’s regime in the Midlands, captaining the side to the highs of the 2022/23 campaign and earning a new contract last month that takes his stay at Villa Park to 2027.

The form of the Scotsman raises questions as to whether De Ketelaere would be worthy of having a spot in the side ahead of the 28-year-old, who performed at a consistently high-level last season.

Spending over £20m on a player not guaranteed to better the likes of McGinn makes little sense, added to the earlier capture of Tielemans who is another midfielder for Emery to add to the mix.

MatériaMais Notícias

Uma das grandes surpresas do futebol brasileiro em 2020 até o momento foi a história do Tombense no Campeonato Mineiro. Afinal de contas, o clube, do município de Tombos, na Zona da Mata Mineira, alcançou a final do Campeonato Mineiro. Foi derrotado para o Atlético-MG, mas a campanha que culminou com o vice-campeonato foi mais do que satisfatória. Nesse time, um maestro bem conhecido por diversos torcedores brasileiros chamou atenção: Ibson. Aos 36 anos, o meia foi o líder da equipe e eleito o craque da competição.

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Em entrevista ao “De Casa com o LANCE!”, o jogador experiente falou sobre a volta ao futebol com a camisa do time mineiro e a trajetória positiva que somou até o momento. Ele ainda menciona a experiência positiva que sua família teve na adaptação ao interior mineiro.

-No ano passado eu voltei dos Estados Unidos, onde eu fiquei quatro anos, e estava com objetivo já de curtir a minha família porque estou há bastante tempo jogando futebol e fiquei bastante tempo jogando fora. (…) Recebi o convite para vir pra cá no ano passado para jogar apenas dois, três meses, mas já conhecia esse projeto há bastante tempo do meu empresário Eduardo Uram e do presidente Lane Gaviolle. Fiquei dois meses e meio e fiquei encantado pela cidade, meus filhos ficaram encantados com a cidade e se adaptaram bem – afirmou.

Formado no Flamengo, o meia teve três passagens pelo clube e escreveu seu nome no futebol brasileiro com a camisa do rubro-negro. Em um momento bastante diferente do clube que é hoje, Ibson relembra as dificuldades da equipe quando ele chegou ao profissional e tece elogios à torcida.

– Aquela nossa época era um momento muito complicado porque o Flamengo vivia um momento financeiro não muito bom. A gente tinha bastante dificuldade, não tínhamos uma estrutura boa para trabalhar. Naquela época se você perguntasse quem iria querer ir para o Flamengo, muitos não queriam ir porque não recebiam em dia e muitos iam pelo nome e pela torcida do Flamengo, que é sensacional. Hoje, não. Todos querem jogar no Flamengo. O Flamengo paga em dia, tem um excelente elenco, tem um dos melhores do CTs do mundo, então hoje todo mundo quer jogar no Flamengo. Além de tudo, a torcida já chama. Você chegar no Maracanã lotado e a torcida grita o seu nome, isso é sensacional – contou.

Um dos momentos mais marcantes do clube de forma negativa nos últimos anos foi a fatídica eliminação para o América-MEX, em 2008, pela Copa Libertadores. No Maracanã lotado, o Flamengo, que tinha uma vantagem de perder até por dois gols, acabou sofrendo um acachapante 3 a 0 com show de Salvador Cabañas e deu adeus para a competição. Ibson relembrou o episódio e lamentou.

-Essa Libertadores foi bem frustrante, bem triste para nós porque sabíamos que tínhamos condições de irmos além. Ser campeão eu acho que é complicado, porque finais são definidas em detalhes, então para saber se a gente tinha condição de sermos campeões teríamos que ter alcançado a final. Porém, ficamos com o desejo. Fizemos uma bela campanha, fomos campeões do Carioca. Fomos lá contra o América-MEX, fizemos um grande jogo e conseguimos uma vitória muito boa que nos dava condições de perder em casa por até 2×0. Infelizmente, perdemos por 3×0. É um jogo que eu sempre brinco que o futebol é apaixonante por isso. O América-MEX deu três chutes ao gol, se eu não me engano com duas bolas desviadas. Foi uma noite muito triste para nós – completou.

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Chelsea have “made contact” to enquire about a deal that would bring Leeds United defensive midfielder Tyler Adams back to the Premier League, according to reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Tyler Adams leaving Leeds?

The United States international still has another four years remaining on his contract with Daniel Farke’s side having only joined last summer from RB Leipzig, but having established himself as their overall top-performing player with a WhoScored match rating of 6.73 during his debut season in the top-flight, he’s grabbed the attention of Mauricio Pochettino and Todd Boehly.

The Daily Mail recently reported that the Blues, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United all hold an interest in the 24-year-old, and CBS journalist Ben Jacobs has since confirmed what he’s heard on him potentially moving to Stamford Bridge.

Read The Latest Chelsea Transfer News HERE…

Speaking to Football FanCast, he said: “It may look on paper like Chelsea have got a lot of young midfielders already, but give it two weeks or so and two or three of them might have departed out on loan and there may be space for more than one midfielder. This is where somebody like Tyler Adams, as a squad player at Chelsea, may be one to watch. He's certainly on their list of possibilities."

Are Chelsea signing Tyler Adams?

Taking to Twitter, Romano revealed that Chelsea have held initial discussions with Adams’ team to discover how much it would take for them to get a deal over the line this summer. He wrote:

“Chelsea made contact with Tyler Adams camp to be informed on conditions of the deal, exploring costs. He’s one of the names being considered as £20m relegation clause is available. Focus remains on Moises Caicedo talks, separate deal and separate story."

As Romano stated above, Chelsea’s priority is still securing the services of Brighton’s Moises Caicedo but it’s believed that Adams putting pen to paper won’t affect that deal at all, so it could be a massive coup if the hierarchy could recruit the latter alongside their number one defensive midfield target this summer.

The New York native last season ranked in the 99th percentile for tackles and the 97th percentile for blocks, via FBRef, highlighting how strong he is at protecting his backline and clearing the danger before it gets through to his defence.

Whilst Leeds’ talisman isn’t effective at the opposite end of the pitch having recorded zero goals or assists since arriving, he has been dubbed the “heart and lungs” of the USA national team, of which he has captained, by talent scout Jacek Kulig, so he would also bring excellent leadership qualities to both the dressing room and out on the pitch.

Finally, Adams is a versatile operator having been deployed in an outstanding seven various positions since the start of his career, including four roles in the centre and even at centre-back, left-back and right-back, so he is extremely adaptable to meet the manager’s needs, another attribute that will no doubt be attractive to Pochettino.

Mayank Agarwal’s maiden triple-century drove Karnataka to 628 for 5 and a first-innings lead of 383 against Maharashtra at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Agarwal, who came into this match on the back of a pair, notched up an unbeaten 304 off 494 balls that included 28 fours and four sixes. Agarwal had put on 259 for the opening wicket with R Samarth (129) on the second day and resumed on 219. He stretched his third-wicket partnership with Karun Nair to 279. Nair, who was not out on 56 overnight, struck a century of his own, finishing with 116. Karnataka declared shortly after the pair was broken up. Thereafter, medium-pacer Abhimanyu Mithun took Karnataka closer to an innings win by dismissing Maharashtra’s openers cheaply and leaving them at 135 for 4 at stumps.T Ravi Teja continued to have a memorable debut, following his 63-ball 70, with 5 for 49 that helped Hyderabad limit Railways to 246 and enforce the follow on in Delhi. Railways’ openers survived three overs in their second innings and went to stumps unscathed.Resuming their first innings on 35 for 1, Railways began the day well with opener Shivkant Shukla and Nitin Bhille stretching their overnight stand to 78 before legspinner Akash Bhandari pinned Bhille in front for 43. Ravi Teja then had Shukla lbw and went onto slice through the middle order. From 93 for 1, Railways tumbled to 135 for 7. Anureet Singh (60) and Manish Rao (33) then put on 85 for the eighth wicket to haul the score beyond 200. Left-arm spinner Mehdi Hasan pitched in with two wickets as Hyderabad claimed a 228-run first-innings lead. Anureet’s maiden first-class fifty contained nine fours.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now plotting a move for West Ham United's Michail Antonio, with the Hammers willing to sell the forward once they bring in a replacement, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk.

Are Wolves signing a striker this summer?

In the final month of the summer transfer window, journalist Dean Jones believes that Julen Lopetegui will look to bring in another striker, recently telling Football Fancast: "I believe Wolves still have an eye on signing another forward, I do not think Lopetegui is satisfied at what he has at his disposal so someone else will also come in, even if that moment arrives after the season has begun.

Kalajdzic and Cunha definitely have potential to level up this Wolves team but can they totally rely on it? Probably not."

Jones is not totally convinced that Sasa Kaladzic and Matheus Cunha are capable of leading the line for the Old Gold next season, but there is an indication that Fabio Silva could be capable of stepping up to the plate.

Former Wolves man Steve Bull has recently praised the Portuguese attacker for his performance in a pre-season friendly, saying: "I was impressed with Fabio Silva against Luton – he’s come back very, very sharp.

"He looks strong, looks like he wants to be part of the team, so I would definitely give him a chance."

Even so, Lopetegui may be keen on adding a striker with some more Premier League experience to his squad, and TEAMtalk have now reported that Wolves are plotting a move for Antonio, having held a long-term interest in the West Ham forward.

As the Jamaica international is entering the final year of his contract at the London Stadium, the Irons are open to offers, but they will not sanction his departure until they bring in a suitable replacement, particularly considering they have recently sold Gianluca Scamacca.

Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq have also been linked with a move for the 33-year-old, but they may have cooled their interest after signing Lyon's Moussa Dembele, potentially opening the door for a move to Molineux.

How many goals has Michail Antonio scored?

The £85k-per-week striker has scored 123 professional goals in his career, including 61 in the top flight for West Ham, making him their all-time leading Premier League goalscorer, and he has been lauded as a "Hammers legend" by members of the media.

90min's Toby Cudworth has also praised the Jamaican for the "incredible" job he did replacing Sebastian Haller at West Ham, and his proven Premier League quality could be of great use to West Ham.

As previously mentioned, Silva is looking impressive ahead of the new campaign, and the hope will be that the 21-year-old can finally kick on this season, having spent the 2022-23 campaign out on loan.

However, it is important to have more experienced players in the squad, who have shown they are capable of scoring goals in the Premier League over the course of a number of years, and Antonio certainly fits the bill in that regard, so he could be a quality signing.

Chelsea have already spent ludicrous amounts this summer, but they could be set to unload yet another big fee in an effort to avenge a failure of the past…

Who are Chelsea signing this summer?

With Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo the latest to enter Stamford Bridge, it would be easy to assume that Mauricio Pochettino's midfield rebuild was complete.

However, given their free-spending philosophy thus far this window, it makes their next move simply impossible to predict.

There is every chance that they could even reignite an old rumour, with their reported interest in Everton's Amadou Onana from June fitting in with the transfer strategy employed thus far.

He is young, dynamic and progressive, and seemingly most importantly for the Blues, very expensive.

It is expected that the Toffees will command a fee of around £55m to sanction his exit, given he only joined last summer in a £33m deal.

How good is Amadou Onana?

In returning to Goodison Park for a young star, it is hard not to draw comparisons with their 2015 attempt to sign John Stones.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

The ball-playing centre-back had starred on Merseyside, with a skillset that was destined for things far greater than the struggles he was enduring with Everton.

Thus developed a huge transfer saga that lasted the entire summer of the aforementioned year, with Jose Mourinho desperate to bring the graceful defender to west London.

Three bids were rejected, and a satirical chant was forged by the fanbase of the Englishman: "Money can't buy you Stones" sung the Evertonians, to the tune of The Beatles' Can't Buy Me Love.

However, in the end, money did end up buying the now-28-year-old, as they accepted Manchester City's £47.5m bid the following summer. The rest is history.

He has risen to become one of the Premier League's finest defenders, becoming a mainstay for Pep Guardiola and his country, earning praise from the Spaniard recently as his game has evolved:

"At the same time, it’s a new position for him [playing in midfield] and he has to be able all the time to concentrate more than when you play as a central defender or other positions.

“When you see the game from behind it’s completely different to when you play in the middle and are surrounded. Some movement and patterns are a little bit more difficult that’s why I appreciate a lot what he has done."

The former Barnsley gem has gone on to make 230 appearances for the Citizens, playing a key role in the winning of five Premier League titles, numerous domestic trophies, and most recently a Champions League too.

FBref helps emphasise his stardom too, as when compared to other centre-backs across Europe he ranks in the top 4% for pass completion per 90, the top 11% for progressive passes per 90, and the top 7% for progressive carries per 90.

In Onana, there is certainly enough of a foundation for him to help spearhead Pochettino's side towards similar levels of success, especially given the wealth of talent he would be surrounded by.

After all, starring for a relegation-threatened outfit is no mean feat, and his 6.92 average rating suggested he did so.

Ranked fifth among those who started five or more games in the league, this figure was upheld through an 84% pass accuracy alongside 0.7 key passes, 1.1 interceptions and 2.2 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

Such was his importance to Frank Lampard and later Sean Dyche, his national team boss Roberto Martinez noted him as: "Another unique profile. Someone with such a physical presence and dynamics is needed, just think of Fellaini in 2018. He is also a leader on the field who has taken steps in his career."

Although his career is still in its infancy, should he emulate even half the success that Stones did at City with the west London outfit, Pochettino will be enamoured.

Victoria lost their last six wickets for a mere 10 runs on the second day, before Tasmania’s top order bolstered their first-innings advantage at the MCG

Daniel Brettig14-Nov-2017
ScorecardGetty ImagesTasmania rattled through Victoria’s lower order and forged into a strong lead through the efforts of former Test batting pair Alex Doolan and George Bailey on day two of the Sheffield Shield match at the MCG.Fuelled by a pair of four-wicket hauls to Gabe Bell and Thomas Rogers, the Tigers are in position to win their first outright points of the season after a pair of hefty losses to Western Australia and Queensland in the opening two rounds.In pursuit of the Tigers’ first-innings 172, the hosts seemed reasonably positioned at 4 for 134 with Marcus Harris and Daniel Christian in occupation. However, Harris’ exit for 86 signalled a shattering collapse, as the last six wickets went down for a mere 10 runs. Earlier, Victoria had lost their first four for 25, but were resuscitated to an extent by the century stand between Harris and Christian.The Tigers’ reply began steadily as Doolan found help from the erstwhile out-of-touch Jake Doran. Doran, who had been dropped after the first two Shield rounds, was parachuted into the match as a concussion substitute – the first in a first-class game – after Jordan Silk suffered delayed effects from being struck on the helmet by a Peter Siddle bouncer on day one. Cricket Australia recorded a marked increase in concussions this year when releasing their annual study of injury statistics, though this was partly attributed to greater awareness of the issue. The move to introduce concussion subs in the Sheffield Shield was formalised in August, after the ICC cleared the change while allowing the tournament to retain its first-class status.Upon Doran’s dismissal it was the captain, Bailey, who provided accompaniment to thoroughly frustrate the Bushrangers. Neither Doolan nor Bailey, both of whom played for Australia’s Test side over the 12 months from November 2013 to October of the following year, are in serious contention for selection in this year’s Ashes series.