All posts by h716a5.icu

Leicester City will be aiming to build on their Community Shield victory last weekend by picking up three points against Wolves this afternoon.

The Foxes suffered late heartbreak for the second consecutive season last term, missing out on a Champions League qualification spot on the final day following defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

However, the Midlands outfit will not be disheartened. They have continually punched above their weight under Brendan Rodgers, and their maiden FA Cup triumph in May capped an outstanding two-and-a-half years under the Northern Irishman.

However, following several astute purchases in the transfer window, Leicester will be hoping to go one better and finish in the top four next May.

Rodgers will have to cope without several first-team players in the opening weeks, though, with James Justin, Wesley Fofana, Jonny Evans and Nampalys Mendy all currently sidelined.

With that in mind, here’s how Football Fan Cast thinks the 48-year-old will line up his team at the King Power Stadium today…

New club captain Kasper Schmeichel is a certainty to start between the sticks for the Foxes, although there’s set to be a couple of fresh faces ahead of the Denmark international.

His compatriot and international teammate Jannik Vestergaard has completed his move from Southampton in time to be registered for this one, so he should make his club debut after his transfer was announced yesterday evening, partnering Caglar Soyuncu in the heart of defence.

That means the £4.5m-rated Daniel Amartey is set to drop to the bench after starting at Wembley a week ago, with Ricardo Pereira and Vestergaard’s former Saints team-mate Ryan Bertrand occupying the full-back positions.

In midfield, the dependable trio of Wilfried Ndidi, Youri Tielemans and James Maddison will take up their usual residency in the Leicester engine room.

Up top, talismanic striker Jamie Vardy is expected to be partnered by the returning Harvey Barnes and Ayoze Perez as they look to supply the goals on the Premier League’s return. The veteran’s 15 top-flight goals last season make him too difficult to drop, despite the summer arrival of Patson Daka.

In other news… Journalist drops transfer update that’ll leave Leicester fans buzzing 

It took Australia only 48 minutes on the fourth day to wrap up New Zealand’s final four wickets and claim a 149-run win in the first Test at the Gabba. Mitchell Johnson finished with his first five-wicket haul in Tests and Stuart Clark ended up with four

The Bulletin by Brydon Coverdale23-Nov-2008
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Mitchell Johnson bowled well in India and he remained in form on his return to the Gabba © Getty Images
It took Australia only 48 minutes on the fourth day to wrap up New Zealand’s final four wickets and claim a 149-run win in the first Test at the Gabba. Mitchell Johnson finished with his first five-wicket haul in Tests and Stuart Clark ended up with four victims as New Zealand’s collapsible tail lived up to its reputation and they were bundled out for 177.The match finished so early – it was not yet 11am in Brisbane – that it gave the satisfied local spectators plenty of time to head off for a Sunday brunch. They had filed into the stadium knowing that a long day was improbable but the swiftness of the finish was still rather startling.New Zealand began the day needing 184 runs for victory with six wickets down but the already unlikely scenario became completely unfeasible when they lost Daniel Vettori and Ross Taylor to Johnson for the addition of 18 runs. Vettori fell in almost identical fashion to the first innings when he drove to point and Andrew Symonds jumped to take a one-handed catch above his head.Taylor followed in Johnson’s next over when he drove at a ball that moved across him and edged behind to Brad Haddin for 75. When Clark added Iain O’Brien, who lobbed a simple chance to Michael Clarke at point, the score was 9 for 164 and the only remaining points of interest were whether Johnson would collect his fifth and Chris Martin would make his 24th Test duck.The answers were yes and no. Martin managed to squeeze a single off Clark – and then watched as Tim Southee pounded a pair of sixes straight down the ground – but his bat returned to near hologram status when he was bowled from the first straight ball he received from Johnson. The stumps rattled, Australia celebrated and it left Johnson with 5 for 39, match figures of 9 for 69, and the Man-of-the-Match award.He was perhaps fortunate to receive the honour ahead of Simon Katich, whose unbeaten 131 was a matchwinning effort on a pitch where only two other batsmen posted half-centuries. Johnson was Australia’s leading wicket-taker on the tour of India but he was still pleased to return to more familiar and friendly conditions after the lifeless surfaces he had encountered recently.”It is good to get back on a bouncy fast track,” Johnson said after the match. “I felt pretty good over in India. I just try and hit the deck as hard as I can and that’s what I did out here, so I’m feeling pretty good about my bowling at the moment.”The challenge for the fast bowlers will be greater on a flatter pitch at the Adelaide Oval, where the final match of the two-Test series begins on Friday. Australia will likely squeeze the offspinner Jason Krejza into the side while New Zealand have serious questions over their batting and could bolster the line-up by including Peter Fulton.

Plenty of Everton fans have been reacting to a transfer update on Thierry Small.

As per Football Insider, Southampton have made contact with the Goodison Park faithful over a potential deal to sign the left-back before the summer window ends.

The Merseyside club would be likely to receive a compensation fee of £5m should he make the move to the Saints, but a number of other clubs including the likes of Manchester United, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are all queuing up for the young talent.

Small has been able to sign pro terms since turning 17 years of age on August 1st due to his ‘immense potential’, and the Toffees have tabled a ‘very generous’ contract offer for the Englishman, which he has since rejected.

However, despite all of the top teams linked with his signature, it seems to be Southampton looking the most likely to sign him, leaving several Blues supporters questioning whether he would be making the right move.

Everton fans on Small transfer update

These EFC fans reacted to the exit claim as it was shared on Twitter:

“So he left us to go to Southampton? Weird.”

Credit: @Toffeelewl

“Southampton wake up lad”

Credit: @Michael30936218

“Silly boy”

Credit: @Riceyyy

“Don’t think that was the kind of move he was looking for when he left Everton.”

Credit: @GarethWDavies

“Thought the lad wanted first team football for a top 6 club?”

Credit: @JamesBrownEFC

“If this goes ahead, classic example of a very promising teenager taking daft advice from their agent.”

Credit: @Getintothis

In other news, find out what transfer update has Evertonians talking here!

The PCA Stadium in Mohali has been confirmed by the ECB as the venue of the second Test between India and England, to be played from December 19-23. The announcement follows two days of inspections by board officials, including Reg Dickason, its security

Cricinfo staff10-Dec-2008
The go-ahead for the second Test comes after two days of inspections by ECB security adviser Reg Dickason and board officials © Getty Images
The PCA Stadium in Mohali has been confirmed by the ECB as the venue of the second Test between India and England, to be played from December 19-23. The announcement follows two days of inspections by board officials, including Reg Dickason, its security advisor.Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, ended the speculation over the shifting of the match to another venue by saying they were “very satisfied” with the security arrangements.”Reg Dickason has been here for two days now and we rely on him as far as security is concerned,” Morris said. “We have received fantastic cooperation from not just the officials, but from the local security authorities as well. We are also satisfied with the security plans that have been put into place and we are looking forward to the second match being played here.”The safety of both the management and the team is of paramount importance to us, so we just wanted to make sure that everything is in place when our team arrives. The response from the local authorities and police has been very good.”The terror attacks in Mumbai a fortnight ago cut short the seven-match ODI series and cast doubts on the two-Test series, the second of which was originally to have been played at the city’s Brabourne Stadium. Ahmedabad, which had witnessed serial bomb blasts three months ago, was the original venue for the first Test but subsequently ruled out given its proximity to Mumbai.A revised itinerary saw the BCCI proposing Chennai and Mohali as possible replacement venues for the two matches. Chennai was given the go-ahead for the first match, beginning Thursday, after security inspections by Dickason. The ECB had asked for a southern Indian venue instead of Mumbai for the second Test, possibly because it would have a lower threat perception from a security point of view.Mohali presented different problems for security experts and the fans. One perceived drawback was its proximity to the border with Pakistan. The other was its lack of an international airport – the nearest is in New Delhi – which meant that, with the match due to finish on December 23, England fans travelling to Mohali would face difficulties finding a connection to get them home in time for Christmas

Intermittent rain is forecast in Napier for Tuesday’s match, increasing the prospect of the five-match series sputtering to a 1-1 score line

Cricinfo staff12-Jan-2009Match factsJanuary 13, 2009
Start time Noon (2300 GMT)Big Picture
Chris Gayle scored a masterful 197 in Napier three weeks ago. Can he deliver in coloured clothing, when West Indies need it? © Getty Images
The Tests and Twenty20s were shared, and now the one-day series is dexterously poised at 1-1. And – just to keep with a familiar pattern over the last six weeks – the weather stands prepared to throw a spanner into the works. Intermittent rain is forecast in Napier for Tuesday’s match, increasing the prospect of the five-match series sputtering to a 1-1 scoreline.New Zealand and West Indies will hope the forecasts are completely wrong, because both sides are frantic to grab a series in what has been a tour of stalemates. Incentive, thankfully, will not be a worry.New Zealand, ranked three places above West Indies at No. 8, face a winner-takes-all situation to defend a home record of five series wins and a draw since December 2005. Daniel Vettori, the captain, has expressed his pleasure with the majority of New Zealand’s performances, but there’s no denying the sense of authority the home side search.West Indies are chasing their first series win in New Zealand since a 3-0 scoreline in 1995. Chris Gayle has readily admitted that the catching has been poor, and he knows how important it is that West Indies return home with a win.ODI form guide (last five completed games, most recent first)West Indies: LWLLL
New Zealand: WLWWLWatch out forMartin Guptill, who carried his bat and wrote himself into the history books with an unbeaten 122 on debut at Eden Park, breaking Stephen Fleming’s record (90) for the highest ODI score by a New Zealander in his first match. Guptill was dropped three times before he reached 35, but rode his luck to guide New Zealand to 275 for 4. He hardly resembled a debutant after a scratchy start and, positively for his side, his century put in the shade the Jesse Ryder fiasco.Chris Gayle has been in good form this tour. He showed his devastating power in West Indies’ win in the Boxing Day Twenty20, and was batting on an impending match-turning 46 when rain forced the abandonment of the fourth ODI in Auckland. Back at the venue where he scored a brilliant 197 during the second Test three weeks ago, Gayle once again remains West Indies’ best shot at victory.Team newsRyder comes straight back into the team after drinking indiscretions in Wellington last week saw him being stood down for Saturday’s washed-out match in Auckland. Ryder, 24, will go back to opening with Brendon McCullum while Guptill will bat at No. 3, the spot he was initially selected for. The line-up looks strong – McCullum, Ryder and Ross Taylor should provide the explosive strokeplay while Guptill, Daniel Flynn and Neil Broom offer ballast. Mark Gillespie, who was preferred to Jeetan Patel in Auckland, should retain his spot.New Zealand: (probable) 1 Brendon McCullum (wk), 2 Jesse Ryder, 3 Martin Guptill, 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Daniel Flynn, 6 Neil Broom, 7 Grant Elliott, 8 Daniel Vettori (capt), 9 10 Tim Southee, 11 Kyle Mills.Neither Sewnarine Chattergoon nor Xavier Marshall has managed to truly grab their opportunities this series. Chattergoon has looked out of place in the ODIs, while for Marshall this tour has been riddled with low scores. Chattergoon should play, but Marshall will face competition in the middle order from Shawn Findlay. Jerome Taylor was rested for the previous match and, given the magnitude of this ODI, should play. If he is passed fit, there are two options for West Indies – play four fast bowlers and rest the left-arm spinner Nikita Miller, or overlook Edwards, who has not had a good series when compared to Daren Powell’s success with the new ball and Lionel Baker’s economical spells.West Indies: (probable) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Sewnarine Chattergoon, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 5 Shawn Findlay, 6 Brendan Nash, 7 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 8 Jerome Taylor, 9 Daren Powell, 10 Nikita Miller, 11 Lionel Baker.Pitch and conditionsNew Zealand and West Indies have carried the bad weather around with them during the one-day series and they were greeted by drizzle on arrival in Napier. The fifth ODI is scheduled for a belter of a track at McLean Park so, if the weather holds up, West Indies would hope their batsmen make good use of the conditions.Stats and Trivia West Indies have lost both their matches in Napier, both after 2000.Fifteen of 28 completed matches at McLean Park have been won by the team batting second.Daniel Vettori is the highest wicket-taker at McLean Park, with 19 victims at 33.52.Quotes”This is the ultimate must-win game. It decides the whole series, the Test matches have been drawn and the Twenty20s have been drawn. This is the real decider.”
“I’m in good form. The last innings is the one that’s going to count.”

Everton have now been backed to sign Nathan Patterson before the summer transfer window ends, providing that one condition is met.

The Lowdown: Patterson bid

As per The Daily Mirror, the Goodison Park faithful have made a £5m bid to try and sign Patterson from Glasgow Rangers.

As cited by The Scottish Sun, Steven Gerrard labelled the reported offer as ‘a joke’ when asked about it.

The Latest: Whelan on Patterson

Speaking to Football Insider, former Leeds United and Coventry City striker now pundit Whelan has backed the Merseyside club to sign Patterson before the window shuts, so long as they can up that offer ‘significantly’:

“They are obviously testing the water but Gerrard knows Patterson’s worth because he works with him every day.

“Let’s be honest, £5 million for a player of Patterson’s quality is a joke in this day and age. I would agree with Gerrard in that respect. It’s a bit disrespectful to put in an offer like that.

“If the money is right though, I think a deal could be struck there. One thing is for sure though, Everton are way off the mark right now so they will have to up their bid significantly if they want to sign him.”

The Verdict: Sign

Seamus Coleman struggled a bit with injuries in the 2020/21 season, and at 32 years of age, he is not getting any younger.

Thus, Rafa Benitez’s team need to think about signing a long-term replacement for him, and Patterson may well fit the bill.

At just 19, he has already shown his potential by getting called up to the senior Scotland squad for Euro 2020, playing in two games in total under Steve Clarke (Transfermarkt).

The right-back has already played in a total of 17 games in over all competitions for the Light Blues, including an appearance in the Scottish League Cup this season, in which he bagged two goals (Transfermarkt). He could look at the likes of Kieran Tierney as players who have made the step up to the Premier League from the SPL.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-updates-5/” title=”Everton updates! (5)” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Nonetheless, Patterson would be a smart investment for the future, should the Toffees be able to secure his signature.

In other news, find out whose display against Huddersfield Town was slammed here!

An update has emerged on Crystal Palace’s pursuit of Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah.

What’s the talk?

According to the Daily Mail, Palace are set to intensify their talks with Arsenal over a deal for Nketiah.

The report claims Patrick Vieira is looking to bolster his squad before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline and a move for Nketiah is due to pick up pace in the coming days.

Imagine him and Benteke

Vieira could land a dream attacking partnership by signing Nketiah as he could form an excellent relationship with Christian Benteke. They could be the little and large duo at the top end of the pitch to cause opposition defences problems this season, which is why Palace must ensure that they can get a deal over the line for the Gunners forward.

The 6 foot 3 Benteke won an impressive 6.8 aerial battles per game in 30 Premier League appearances for Palace last term. Nketiah, meanwhile, has a career average of 0.4 aerial battles won per game for Arsenal, which suggests that he struggles with holding the ball up and winning flick-ons for his teammates.

This means that Nketiah may not be the ideal option for Vieira when playing with one striker on the pitch. However, playing him alongside Benteke could create the perfect foil for the attack, with the Belgian striker able to provide the out ball by holding off defenders and allowing Nketiah to use his movement and pace to get in behind or pick up the ball in pockets of space.

The English forward scored five goals in ten starts for Arsenal last season in the Premier League and Europa League, which suggests that he has the quality to score goals at the top level if given the minutes. In 2020, Mikel Arteta hailed Nketiah’s personality as ‘immense’ and said that he is continuing to develop as a player. He said:

“I want him to keep doing what he’s doing. The way he played last night against those players, in those difficult conditions, for me is extraordinary at his age.

“He has an immense personality to play, confidence, he’s powerful and is developing in every area, I think. I have a lot of faith in him.”

This shows that Nketiah also has the potential to improve further, which is another reason why Palace must sanction this deal. They could be getting a player who could work well alongside Benteke, whilst also making an investment on a talent who could grow and become more valuable in the future.

AND in other news, The Athletic drop big CPFC transfer claim that will leave Vieira over the moon… 

Andy Atkinson, the temporary Glamorgan groundsman, is confident that Sophia Gardens will be ready to host the first Ashes Test on July 8

Cricinfo staff13-Jan-2009
Glamorgan will be hoping this scene isn’t repeated during the Ashes Test © Getty Images
Andy Atkinson, the temporary Glamorgan groundsman, is confident that Sophia Gardens will be ready to host the first Ashes Test on July 8.Atkinson, the ICC’s pitch consultant, was brought in as an emergency measure by the club after Len Smith, the long-serving groundsman, left in September. The ground was criticised during the rained-off ODI between England and South Africa with the feeling it wasn’t up to hosting such a major match as an opening Ashes encounter.However, Atkinson has no such concerns after spending the winter overseeing preparations. “This ground compares very favourably to other Test pitches I have worked at and is better than some,” he told the . “It seems to have had a lot of criticism but I don’t think people like change. Cardiff is a capital city and deserves a Test venue.”Atkinson hands over to the new groundsman, Keith Exton, in February and said there is plenty of time to complete all the required work – including a new drainage system – before the Test match.”We have got until July and that should be enough time,” he said. “We have put everything in place and the field will be in great condition. If we can get a lucky break with the weather then things will be fine.”Atkinson’s main piece of advice for Exton is to be ready for a lot of focus to be on his pitches. “Keith comes highly recommended from the ECB He has an excellent reputation. His biggest problem could be the amount of exposure, you have to get used to it and you need to have skin like a rhino.”

The Hussey brothers ensured the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy would be decided by Friday’s final match in Brisbane after they helped Australia to a six-wicket win that levelled the series 2-2

The Bulletin by Brydon Coverdale10-Feb-2009
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

David Hussey made his highest ODI score © Getty Images
The Hussey brothers ensured the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy would be decided by Friday’s final match in Brisbane after they helped Australia to a six-wicket win that levelled the series 2-2. For the first time in the series New Zealand batted first and they posted a moderate 244, which on a good pitch was not enough against an Australian batting order starting to find form.The game was to some degree overshadowed by the Victorian bushfire appeal that surrounded it, with contributions from players, sponsors, spectators and administrators totalling just over $6 million. But while Australia had failed to beat South Africa at the same venue on Australia Day, this time they did get over the line at Adelaide on another special, if more sombre, occasion.Fittingly Michael Hussey brought up the win with a six over long-on, adding another $5000 to the tally after the Commonwealth Bank pledged that amount for every six in the game. It confirmed the win with ten balls to spare but much of the hard work was done by Australia’s bowlers, who did well to restrict New Zealand to a middling total.However, there were a couple of jitters in the Australian camp when Brad Haddin, fresh from a century in Sydney on Sunday and looking good once again, was run out for 43 thanks to an awful call from David Hussey. It left Australia at 3 for 101 in the 25th over and the match was very much in the balance.The onus was then on the out-of-form Hussey to repay his side with a big innings and he delivered. He struck his highest one-day international score of 79 and combined in a 115-run partnership with his older brother that made sure the required run-rate was never too much more than six.Importantly Australia made sensible use of the batting Powerplay, which they took with nine overs to go and a further 55 runs required. David Hussey punched the ball confidently through the off-side gaps and although he fell during the five-over period, bowled by an Iain O’Brien yorker, Australia were by then in control and took 37 runs from the Powerplay.Siddle’s appealPeter Siddle flew to Adelaide to join the Australia squad for the ODI against New Zealand but could not break into the side to make his debut. Instead, he found another way to occupy his time while his team-mates were on the field.Siddle was roaming through the crowd collecting money for the Victorian bushfire appeal and there was a personal significance for him. Siddle’s family lives in Gippsland, where some of the fires took place, and he said his brother had lost friends to the deadly blaze.”It’s hard to get a word out of him,” Siddle said. “He doesn’t want to talk about it. It’s tough times for everyone.”By the end of the game, the Commonwealth Bank appeal had raised $6,023,643 via a combination of donations from players, spectators and TV viewers, the bank, Cricket Australia, the South Australian Cricket Association and gate receipts.In his first ODI at his home venue, Callum Ferguson calmly helped Michael Hussey pick off the remaining runs and they got home with ease. Michael Hussey’s unbeaten 75 was yet another superb innings – he entered the game with a lowest score of 49 from his past four efforts – and he made New Zealand pay for putting him down twice.The first was a terribly hard chance when he was on 3 and pulled Daniel Vettori viciously to midwicket, where Martin Guptill just got his fingertips to the ball. But the second opportunity was particularly frustrating for New Zealand as Hussey pulled Grant Elliott hard and flat into the deep, where Craig Cumming spilled what he should have taken. It was not a good return to ODIs after a near four-year absence for Cumming, who had earlier made a duck.He was not the only one of the New Zealanders who struggled with the bat and they were unsure of the right tempo in setting a target. Chasing is their preferred method and in the past two years they have won nine ODIs batting first compared to 19 batting second. Only a late spike from Ross Taylor and Kyle Mills pushed them to a respectable score after they had stumbled to 6 for 173 in the 42nd over.Mills added $5000 to the bushfire appeal when his enormous hook off Mitchell Johnson went out of the ground. But it was Taylor who was in charge of the recovery mission and his 76 from 71 balls continued his impressive series.He was eventually caught top-edging a pull off Johnson, who finished with 3 for 51, and Taylor was one of four New Zealand specialist batsmen who lost their wickets to top-edged hooks and pulls. The extra pace and bounce surprised them and Johnson used it to get rid of Guptill (45) and Elliott (26), while Neil Broom also skied one off Ben Hilfenhaus.James Hopes was again dangerous with 2 for 37 and Michael Clarke proved an economical spin option. He also removed Brendon McCullum, who passed a late fitness test on his right shoulder and played an uncharacteristically cautious innings of 33 from 55 balls.Like most of his team-mates, McCullum seemed unsure of how quickly he needed to score batting first and there seems little doubt that at the Gabba on Friday, New Zealand will be keen to chase if given the chance. The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy could depend on it.

Fabrizio Romano has dropped an update on Amad Diallo’s prospective loan from Manchester United to Feyenoord.

What’s the talk?

According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United midfielder Diallo’s scheduled move to the Eredivisie has collapsed following an injury in training for the Red Devils.

The reporter claims that a deal had been agreed to send Diallo to the Eredivisie club on a season-long loan, but a muscle injury has now laid waste to those plans with the player now set to stay at Old Trafford.

Frustration

This update from Romano will surely leave United fans feeling frustrated as it has rid the teenager of the chance to go and play regular first-team football at senior level for the first time in his career.

The 19-year-old started two Premier League games for United last season, the only two starts of his league and European career to date. He made seven appearances for the club across the Premier League and Europa League, scoring once and assisting one goal as he averaged a solid WhoScored rating of 6.78 in the former.

His involvement in the senior squad for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, albeit limited, suggests that the Norweigan head coach sees potential in him. He has been willing to offer him minutes to show what he is capable of, but he may not get the 20-30 games that his development may need at Old Trafford this season.

After all, they have the likes of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Dan James, Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood, Edinson Cavani and a certain Cristiano Ronaldo also in the mix for the attacking spots.

The loan to Feyenoord could have allowed him to experience first-team football every week, competing at the top end of the Eredivisie and honing his skills. This could have helped him to continue his development before returning to England next summer prepared to push himself into Solskjaer’s starting XI for the 2022/23 campaign.

Instead, he will now need to, firstly, get over his muscle injury and then train hard to make sure that Ole gives him opportunities in all competitions between now and January. If he can get to January with his fitness in-tact then he could look at another loan move for the second half of the season.

However, for now, United fans will be frustrated that one of their young talents has been deprived of a potentially beneficial loan due to an injury in training. If this ends up halting his progress as a player then it could be a big blow for him on a personal note, and one that fans will not be happy about due to his aforementioned potential.