All posts by h716a5.icu

Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge has claimed that Jack Clarke will not make it at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Lowdown: Clarke failing to make an impact

The 20-year-old made the move to Spurs from Leeds United in the summer of 2019 when Mauricio Pochettino was in charge, but he has so far struggled to make an impact at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

He has made just four appearances for the north Londoners (Transfermarkt), with him leaving the club to move on loan to Queen’s Park Rangers and Stoke City since that 2019 transfer, and even all four of those were as a substitute (Transfermarkt).

The Latest: Bridge sees no future for Clarke at Spurs

Although Clarke is still just 20, Bridge believes that he has no future at Spurs. The journalist told Give Me Sport:

“Even Leeds fans found it odd and then when he was loaned back Leeds fans were saying to me, they didn’t want him back.

“He didn’t get back into their team, so that was a season wasted for him. He’s had a lot of problems.

“He looks skinny to me, he hasn’t really bulked, he’s playing in the Under-23s, he’s never on the bench for the first-team.

“There becomes a time when they have to say, well have to sell him, he’s not going to make it at Spurs.”

The Verdict: Big improvement needed soon

With just those four appearances to his name, it could be argued Clarke has not been given a chance to really show his ability at Spurs. There has not been too much indication during his loan spells that he has what it takes to make it at the highest level, even if his former Stoke boss Michael O’Neill said that the 20-year-old has “great quality” (via Stoke Sentinel).

If Clarke is to make a telling contribution at Tottenham, he must do so quickly. At 20, it’s not as if his whole career is over, but you would have hoped for him to have done more than he has so far. The next 18 months could well decide whether it will ever happen for him at Spurs, with none of Pochettino, Jose Mourinho or thus far Nuno Espirito Santo putting much trust in him.

In other news, this man wants to leave Tottenham.

Manchester United will be hoping to maintain their upturn in fortunes when they take on Atalanta in the Champions League tonight.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s charges bounced back from their humiliating 5-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool with a comfortable victory over Tottenham Hotspur last time out, providing hope that they’ve turned a corner under the Norwegian’s tutelage.

Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Edinson Cavani and Marcus Rashford wrapped up a much-needed three points against Spurs, and the Red Devils will be firmly focussed on putting in a similar performance against tonight’s opponents.

The two sides clashed at Old Trafford just a couple of weeks ago in what turned out to be a hugely entertaining encounter. United’s dramatic comeback win after being 2-0 down at half-time moved the Red Devils to the top of Group F, but with just three points separating all four teams, there’s still all to play for.

Solskjaer confirmed in his recent press conference that he has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the game in Italy, so Anthony Martial’s lack of match sharpness is his only concern.

With that in mind, here’s how Football FanCast expects United to line up in Bergamo as Solskjaer attempts to build some momentum…

David de Gea is set to remain between the sticks for United after maintaining his fast start to the season, so Dean Henderson will once again have to settle for a place on the bench.

Ahead of the Spanish shot-stopper, Solskjaer has some big decisions to make. He had great success playing a back five against Spurs, but we fancy him to be slightly more ambitious this time around. That means Victor Lindelof will watch on from the sidelines while Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane and Aaron Wan-Bissaka comprise the defensive unit.

In midfield, the pragmatic double pivot of Fred and Scott McTominay is likely to remain as United adopt a safety-first approach, allowing Bruno Fernandes the freedom to join in the attacks ahead of him.

Completing the starting lineup is Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Ronaldo, so the £5.4m-rated Edinson Cavani misses out in favour of the 24-year-old, who comes into the side after scoring on Saturday.

In other news… Ole must controversially unleash “dreadful” £19.8m-rated MUFC dud, he’s a game-changer 

Steve Harmison has expressed surprise at his omission from England’s squad for South Africa after speaking to team director Andy Flower

Cricinfo staff17-Oct-2009Steve Harmison has expressed surprise at his omission from England’s squad for South Africa after speaking to team director Andy Flower prior to the announcement earlier this month. Harmison was the most notable absentee from the 16-man squad and the general consensus is that it draws a line under his England career – seven weeks after he helped regain the Ashes at The Oval.”I had spoken to Andy Flower three or four times before and everything coming out of that was positive,” Harmison told BBC Sport. “But they [the selectors[ made a decision about building for the Ashes in 2010-11 and I didn’t think I would be around then.”Harmison has only contributed bit-part performances for England in Tests in the last four years. Since 2005 he has provided one truly match-winning display – against Pakistan at Old Trafford in 2006 – with the next-best effort coming against South Africa, again at The Oval, last year.Despite the latest snub – which came nearly a month after he lost his ECB contract – Harmison was noncommittal on an international retirement. “I don’t see the point because I don’t think they’re going to pick me,” he said. “At this moment in time, I’m not in. If it came about again we’d have to see where we are.”England have got a group of five fast bowlers who have got a chance of winning them a series in South Africa. I hope they do do that then questions won’t be asked anymore. Comments about an ultimatum disappointed me, there was never none given from me.”

Newcastle United are interested in a deal to bring Tyrone Mings to St. James’ Park in the January transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Spanish publication Marca, who claim that the Aston Villa centre-back is one of the names on PIF’s shortlist of Newcastle transfer targets ahead of the winter market.

The report goes on to state that, while Eddie Howe did not afford the 28-year-old much game time when both men were at AFC Bournemouth, Mings’ development into a “defensive leader” at Villa Park could see Howe offer the England international the chance to work together once more at St. James’ Park.

He’d solve Howe’s biggest issue

Considering the fact that Newcastle have already shipped 24 goals over their opening 11 fixtures of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, it is evident that, if Howe has any chance of keeping the Magpies in the top flight come next May, defence is an area in which he must strengthen in January.

And, while Aston Villa have not exactly been rock solid at the back so far this season, having conceded 20 goals over their own 11 league fixtures, Mings would nevertheless be a signing who could help to solve Howe’s biggest issue at Newcastle.

Indeed, over his 36 Premier League appearances for Villa last time out, the £27m-rated man helped his side keep 14 clean sheets – double the amount Newcastle managed last season – as well as making an average of 1.1 interceptions, 0.9 tackles, 4.7 clearances and winning 4.1 duels per game.

These returns saw the player who Gareth Southgate dubbed an “outstanding” defender earn a seasonal SofaScore rating of 6.95, ranking him as Villa’s joint ninth-best performer in the top flight.

As such, as long as the £67k-per-week Mings can refind this level of form after his potential switch to Newcastle, the 28-year-old could well be the man to solve Howe’s defensive crisis at St. James’ Park.

In other news: Howe must make “perfect” £120k-p/w dynamo his first NUFC signing, he’d love it at SJP

Australia lost five players to injury during the tour of India – now there are more than 20 players sidelined around the country

Brydon Coverdale17-Nov-2009Australia’s team bus during the tour of India was more ambulance than luxury coach as player after player went down with injuries. Five men were sent home during the seven-match series having picked up problems on tour, and another four first-choice players were already unavailable before the trip began.Things haven’t become much better and with just over a week until the first Test of the home summer, the Australians are anxiously monitoring the status of several key players. Brett Lee is already out of the equation with an elbow injury, Michael Clarke is being closely watched to see how his back copes with a four-day Sheffield Shield clash this week, and Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus are resting less serious niggles.There has been some good news. Marcus North hurt his wrist last week but is playing for Western Australia; Phillip Hughes overcame a hand injury to take his place at the top of the New South Wales order; and Brad Haddin has made good progress since his finger surgery.But it hasn’t been just the international players who have been affected – several of the state teams are nursing extensive casualty lists. This week there are at least 28 players sidelined through injury, which is seriously testing the depth of Australia’s talent pool.THE CASUALTY WARDVictoria
Peter Siddle (side), Brad Hodge (hamstring), Shane Harwood (shoulder), Damien Wright (hamstring), Dirk Nannes (hamstring), Steve Gilmour (knee)Queensland
James Hopes (hamstring), Ryan Harris (knee), Ben Laughlin (abdominal strain), Grant Sullivan (hamstring), Chris Swan (groin), Glen Batticciotto (knee)New South Wales
Nathan Bracken (knee), Brett Lee (elbow), Mitchell Starc (side strain), Mark Cameron (knee), Aaron Bird (side)Tasmania
Brett Geeves (side strain), Ben Hilfenhaus (knee tendonitis), Tim Paine (broken finger), Adam Griffith (triceps), Gerard Denton (broken thumb)South Australia
Callum Ferguson (knee), Mark Cosgrove (hamstring), Chris Duval (stomach strain), Mark Cleary (back)Western Australia
Ben Edmondson (fractured finger), Drew Porter (side strain)

A round-up of the third day’s action of the eighth round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2009-10

Cricinfo staff24-Nov-2009

Group A

Habib Bank Limited eased to a ten-wicket win over Pakistan International Airlines in Islamabad. They gained a lead of 123, and bowled out PIA for just that score with left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman increasing his match haul to ten wickets by taking 4 for 31. HBL are at the top of the Group A table with six wins from eight games.Karachi Whites, after gaining a lead of 215, decided to impose the follow-on on Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited in Karachi. SNGPL put in a better performance with the bat in their second innings, reaching 353 for 8 at stumps, thanks to three half-centuries from their batsmen, and got into the lead; they are only 138 ahead though, with Misbah Khan taking five wickets.Pakistan Customs capitulated to the bowling of Uzair-ul-Haq at the National Ground, losing by an innings and 23 runs against National Bank of Pakistan. Uzair took 6 for 67, and despite opener Jibran Khan’s 98, PIA failed to erase the deficit of 219. NBP are now third on the Group A table.Four-wicket hauls from Shakeel-ur-Rehman and Dilawar Khan helped Sui Southern Gas Pipelines Limited bowl out Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited for 345 but not before they had gained a lead of 81 at the Gaddafi Stadium. In reply, ZTBL were struggling at 80 for 4 at stumps.Rafatullah Mohmand scored 148, Ali Azmat made 87 and there were important contributions from the lower order that boosted Water and Power Development Authority to 462 in Rawalpindi. In reply, Khan Research Laboratories had reached 71 for 2 with Saeed Anwar jnr unbeaten on 40.

Group B

Rauf Akbar and Nasrullah Khan combined to derail Abbottabad and record a mammoth 420-run win for Islamabad at the Diamond Club Ground. Chasing an improbable 502 for victory – set largely due to Umair Khan’s 194 – Abbottabad were bowled out for just 81. As a result, Islamabad moved to fourth place in the Group B table.Centuries from Naved Latif and Zeeshan Asif propped up Faisalabad to 465, and a lead of 164 against Hyderabad at the Niaz Stadium. In reply, Hyderabad had eaten 144 runs into the deficit with nine wickets in hand.Lahore Ravi progressed to 295 for 7 at stumps on the third day and secured a lead of 24 against Rawalpindi at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. Lahore Ravi were boosted by half-centuries from Wahaj Aslam, Sohail Ahmed and Mohammad Asim.Quetta sealed a 114-run win over Multan in Okara but are placed ninth in the points table. Quetta’s own batting was abysmal, as they were bowled out for 100 – Ansar Javed took 6 for 34. But they had managed a lead of 233, and thanks to the efforts of Arun Lal, who took 4 for 45, they managed to skittle out Multan for a paltry 119.Faisal Khan was the star for Sialkot, as he smashed 205, and was supported by captain Mohammad Ayub, who made an unbeaten 166, in a score of 522 at over five-an-over against Peshwar at the Jinnah Stadium. Sialkot gained a lead of 227 but Peshwar, led by the openers, started in encouraging fashion, reaching 95 without loss at stumps.

Celtic are definitely interested in signing young Gremio midfielder Fernando Henrique, confirms Matheus D’Avila (via Portal do Gremista).

The lowdown

Henrique is predominantly a central midfielder but he can also play in a more defensive or attacking role.

The £810,000-rated 20-year-old still has three years to run on his contract at Gremio (via Transfermarkt).

But he appears to have fallen out of favour at the club, with his most recent action coming in the Copa do Brasil clash with Flamengo back in mid-September.

As an indicator of his playing style, Henrique has been compared to Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti by The Daily Record’s Gabriel McKay.

The latest

The report from Porto Alegre states that Celtic are indeed keen on Henrique, as recent reports have claimed, who’s looking poised to leave Gremio at the end of the season.

The club regard him as a ‘future talent’, but he’s not been able to produce his ‘best football’ and so will be allowed to leave.

There’s no firm offer on the table from Glasgow just yet, but he’s an active target for the Hoops.

The verdict

It seems that Henrique is a promising starlet who’s lost his way a little, and maybe Celtic feel that they can unlock his potential.

Given that the Brazilian season ends in December, a January move might well be logical.

It’s been reported that Celtic are after two midfielders in the mid-season window, and perhaps Henrique, who may well cost less than £1million going by his reported market value, is a suitable candidate.

In other news, Celtic have been dealt a blow ahead of the semifinal.

An update has emerged on PSG centre-back Abdou Diallo, regarding interest from Newcastle United…

What’s the talk?

According to Foot Mercato, the Magpies are showing an interest in the defender as Eddie Howe plots his targets for the January window.

The report claims that Diallo is happy at PSG, where he was signed for £26.8m (€32m) in 2019, and it remains to be seen whether or not he would be open to leaving.

Howe’s new Ake

Howe developed Netherlands international Nathan Ake into being good enough for Pep Guardiola to want him at Manchester City and he could find his next central defensive prospect in Diallo.

Ake played 121 times for Bournemouth after joining Howe there at the age of 21 before signing for Manchester City in the summer of 2020. He has since won the Premier League and League Cup with the Cityzens.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/check-out-the-latest-newcastle-howe-ter-stegen” title= “Read the latest Newcastle news!”]

Diallo, however, is similar to the Dutchman. Both are classic modern-day defenders who can play a multitude of roles on the pitch. Ake has played left-back, centre-back and holding midfield throughout his career, whilst the current Magpies target has also played on both sides of a centre-back partnership and at left-back for PSG and Dortmund.

The French defender has started seven games for PSG in Ligue 1 this season and averaged a WhoScored rating of 7.15. He has averaged 3.0 tackles and interceptions per game, with all of his appearances coming at left-back. This is why a move to Newcastle could be tempting, as Howe could offer him the chance to play centre-back on a regular basis – the position he has played the most in his career – rather than solely on the left side.

Speaking about him in detail, Dortmund director Michael Zorc once said: “He’s a modern player who’s good on the ball and is a very intelligent centre-back. He can also play at full-back or in defensive midfield. This combination of potential and versatility is what made him so interesting to us.”

His performances for the French giants in a less-favoured position show the quality he could provide to the Magpies. He has shown that he can put in consistently strong displays at full-back, which suggests that he could thrive if played in the middle instead.

That is why Howe could find his new Ake if PIF are able to secure a deal for Diallo in January. He is a similar profile to the Dutchman and has the potential to be a Premier League performer.

AND in other news, NUFC could make waves with deal for £33.6m-rated tank with “extraordinary physicality”…

Kris Srikkanth has attributed India’s climb to the top of the Test rankings to their balance and depth with both bat and ball

Cricinfo staff08-Dec-2009Kris Srikkanth, the chairman of the BCCI’s selection panel, has attributed India’s climb to the top of the Test rankings to their balance and depth with both bat and ball, and their ability to finish off games after gaining the advantage.Srikkanth said India’s batting line-up was the best around, and had displayed a tendency to withstand early setbacks with players down the order stepping up. “This is the best top-seven in the world,” Srikkanth told the . “This line-up has aggressive players such as Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The side also has Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and VVS Laxman who are very solid.”Srikkanth spoke of India’s resilience in the Napier Test earlier in the year, when, after following on and losing Virender Sehwag early, they batted close to two full days, losing just four wickets, to save the game and preserve India’s lead in the series. “When India began its second innings 314 runs behind New Zealand in the Napier Test last season, the batsmen led by Gambhir and Laxman batted with great resolve to save the Test,” he said.And yet, when the opportunity was there to force a win, like in Chennai against England, where Sehwag set the tone with a blistering 83 and Tendulkar guided India home with a rare fourth-innings century, they took full advantage. “If you had seen the conditions for batting in the fourth innings, it was an incredible chase. The side believes in itself,” Srikkanth said.Srikkanth also lauded M Vijay, the Tamil Nadu opener, who replaced Gautam Gambhir in two Tests, against Australia in Nagpur and Sri Lanka in Mumbai, and impressed with 161 runs, giving Sehwag solid support. “On two occasions in Nagpur against the Australians and here, Vijay has batted really well,” he said.The variety in the bowling attack and the ability to take 20 wickets, even on tracks where assistance was minimal, was another crucial factor in India’s success, Srikkanth said. “Everyone said the pitch was flat against Australia at Mohali last year. But Zaheer and Ishant made inroads into the line-up.”We have variety, right and left-arm bowlers, pace men and spinners in contrasting styles. The pace men have struck telling blows with the new and the old ball. Harbhajan Singh is an experienced campaigner now. Both Pragyan Ojha and Amit Mishra are promising spinners. You got to give them time.”The contribution of former captains Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble, Srikkanth added, was also critical. “The side has been consistent and delivered away from home. We have to acknowledge the contribution of Ganguly, who made the side believe in itself. Someone like Kumble brought great value and commitment to the side.”

A round-up of the third day’s play of the second round of the RBS Pentangular Cup

Cricinfo staff09-Jan-2010Karachi Blues 172 for 6 (Kamal 39, Yasir 4 for 66) and 272 lead Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited 400 (Hafeez 110, Mughal 98, Haroon 4-87) by 44 runs
Scorecard
Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited are in an excellent position to force a win over Karachi Blues at the National Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex. Though they were able to add just 73 more to their overnight score, losing five wickets, they had gained a substantial lead of 128; soon enough, their bowlers, led by legspinner Yasir Shah’s 4 for 66, had added significant pressure on Karachi, limiting them to 172 for 6 at stumps, just 44 ahead.SNGPL captain Saleem Mughal, the overnight batsman, missed his century, dismissed for 98 but his team was backed by other important contributions, including the 41 extras, to reach 400. Karachi, in their second innings, had struggled from the outset, losing their first three wickets with just 40 on the board, and though Ali Asad (23), Asim Kamal (39) and Azam Hussain (37) got starts, they failed to consolidate. Karachi lost their sixth wicket just before stumps, and have much to do to achieve a draw tomorrow.
Scorecard
The Rest have reached a position of control at the National Stadium after bowling Sialkot out for 280, and extending their lead to a healthy 302 with five wickets in hand at stumps on the third day. Sialkot had competed well on the second day, reaching 280 for 5, but a five-wicket haul from fast bowler Tabish Khan allowed them to add just 65 more to their overnight score. As a result, The Rest secured a first-innings lead of 67, and their batsmen, in the second innings, ensured the advantage remained with them.They did suffer an early wobble, however, with three wickets down for 52, but Aamer Sajjad (88) and Naved Yasin (71), the stars with the bat from the first innings, continued their excellent form, adding 132 for the fourth wicket. Though both were dismissed before stumps, the lead remains substantial and some quick runs from the two unbeaten batsmen, Saeed Bin Nasir and Naeem Anjum, on the final day could prompt a declaration in an effort to bowl out Sialkot.