All posts by h716a5.icu

Many Liverpool fans were critical of captain Jordan Henderson for his display against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon. 

Jurgen Klopp selected an unchanged starting XI for the first time in two months, which meant that the 31-year-old kept his place alongside Fabinho and Thiago in midfield.

The Reds were looking to make it five wins on the bounce, having beaten Arsenal, FC Porto, Southampton and Everton since the November international break. They had the added incentive of potentially going top of the Premier League table, for a few hours at least, after West Ham United stunned leaders Chelsea in the lunchtime kick-off.

Henderson’s Wolves struggles in numbers

However, Henderson’s SofaScore rating of 6.8 was the third-lowest of Liverpool’s outfielders on the day – only Diogo Jota (6.6) Mohamed Salah (6.5) ranked lower. Also, the Englishman was guilty of giving up possession on 12 occasions over the course of the game and won only one duel.

Klopp withdrew the Reds captain after 68 minutes, putting Divock Origi on in his place.

Here’s what a selection of Kopites on Twitter made of the 31-year-old’s “embarrassing” display at Molineux.

These Liverpool fans frustrated with Henderson

“Matip, Henderson & Mané are incapable of passing today”

Credit: @KoloTourbae

“Henderson is awful”

Credit: @DamnDanielll

“Henderson is absolutely embarrassing”

Credit: @sadeef_1305

“I respect Henderson for what he’s done but we need to start phasing him out”

Credit: @Idontm1sscuh

“Get Henderson off he ruins anything decent”

Credit: @RHLFC7

“Henderson and Robertson battling it out to win the worst performance of all time competition I see”

Credit: @Constingbia

In other news, many Liverpool fans flocked to this AFCON update

Celtic have made contact with Jeando Fuchs regarding a deal to bring the 24-year-old to Parkhead.

What’s the talk?

In a recent interview with French media outlet Foot Mercato, the Dundee United midfielder revealed that he is considering his options before making a concrete decision on his future at Tannadice, with the Cameroon international’s contract at the Premiership side set to expire at the end of the season.

Fuchs went on to claim that a number of clubs have already made contact with him regarding a potential switch next summer, including the likes of Celtic, Rangers, VfB Stuttgart, a plethora of EFL clubs and an unnamed Premier League side.

Regarding the interest in his services, the midfielder said: “I am at the end of my contract in May. I’m waiting to see something concrete and see if I have a choice to make at that time. I am not in a hurry.

“There has been contact with Blackpool, Peterborough and Wigan. Stuttgart have taken information since the summer. There has been contact from Celtic and Rangers as well, but nothing more. A Premier League club as well. England would be good.”

Disaster

While there are undeniable traits in Fuchs’ game that would suggest the defensively-minded midfielder is a very decent player in the middle of the park, whether or not the 24-year-old is up to the standard required to be a starter for Celtic is another matter altogether.

Indeed, over his 15 Premiership appearances so far this season, the £720k-rated man has made an average of two interceptions – the joint-highest in the league – 2.3 tackles – the joint eighth-most in the division – and won an impressive 5.8 duels per game.

However, the £3.1k-per-week midfielder’s passing – something that is an incredibly important factor in the way Ange Postecoglou likes his side to play – leaves a lot to be desired, with Fuchs completing a mere 20.9 passes – with a success rate of just 71% – per fixture.

It is more than likely this shortcoming that has contributed to the former Deportivo Alaves player averaging a disappointing SofaScore match rating of 6.74, ranking him as Thomas Courts’ 13th-best performer in the top flight of Scottish football.

As such, considering the options that Celtic currently have in his position, such as Ismaila Soro, Nir Bitton, Liam Shaw and James McCarthy, it would very much appear as if signing the man who the Dundee United boss dubbed a “top player” would be something of a disaster for Postecoglou, as the Cameroonian would not seem to be much of an upgrade – if any – on the current crop at Parkhead.

In other news: Ange can save millions with “Roy of the Rovers” who’s got a “big future at Celtic”

Mountaineers put their disaster of the previous morning behind them to beat the favourites, Mashonaland Eagles, in magnificent style by nine wickets to win the final of Zimbabwe’s inaugural Twenty20 competition

John Ward20-Feb-2010
ScorecardHamilton Masakadza led the chase with an unbeaten 64•Zimbabwe CricketMountaineers put their disaster of the previous morning behind them to beat the favourites, Mashonaland Eagles, in magnificent style by nine wickets to win the final of Zimbabwe’s inaugural Twenty20 competition. After bowling their vaunted opponents out for a mere 105 runs, they stormed to victory on the back of impressive innings by the two renowned internationals and former schoolmates, Hamilton Masakadza and Tatenda Taibu.The rain, so common in February in Zimbabwe, threatened to spoil the finals day at Harare Sports Club, and there were showers just before and after the toss. But the tournament’s good fortune continued, and despite the uncertain weather a large multi-racial crowd of several thousand attended. They did not get the bonanza of boundary hitting that they no doubt expected, but they seemed to have a good time. Mountaineers continued their remarkable run with the toss, putting Eagles in to bat.Doug Marillier, after playing and missing the first two balls from Tendai Chatara, drove the third over the covers for four. His partner, the aggressive Cephas Zhuwawo, hit a couple of boundaries before he was well caught at deep midwicket for 13. The opening pair put on 26, and this was destined to be the highlight of the innings as far as Eagles were concerned. Without addition Marillier drove a catch to mid-off, and the slide was on.For a while Prince Masvaure and Greg Lamb consolidated, adding 20 before the former, on 10, skied a catch to deep mid-off. The 50 came up in the ninth over with three wickets down, but after this the tension certainly seemed to affect the Eagles batsmen, even as the Mountaineers were stimulated to their best bowling and fielding standards. Lamb, swinging at a ball from the legspinner Natsai Mushangwe, was caught at the wicket for 14, and Forster Mutizwa and Regis Chakabva quickly followed.This left Elton Chigumbura carrying the burden of the innings, as he has done with such success before. But this was not to be his day: having scored 20 off 17 balls, he appeared to be caught in two minds and presented Timycen Maruma with a simple return catch. Mountaineers celebrated with great excitement, certain now that they were right on top; 84 for 7 in the 15th over. So it proved, and only minutes later Mushangwe, not yet a regular Mountaineers player, achieved a brilliant direct hit to run out Admire Manyumwa. The innings did not even go the distance, closing for 105 in the 19th over. Greg Smith and Prosper Utseya both took three wickets.After their collapse the previous morning, Mountaineers could take nothing for granted. Masakadza slashed the second ball of the innings over the slips for a one-bounce four. He soon lost Greg Smith (1), however, who pulled a ball from Douglas Hondo low to midwicket in the third over. Taibu joined Masakadza, and these two experienced players were not about to repeat the mistakes of the previous morning against this opposition. They played the bowling on its merits, which were considerable, with Taibu especially careful until he swung a ball from Lamb over midwicket for six, followed by another six over extra cover in Lamb’s next over. Eagles fought desperately hard to break through, but the team that is so often an irresistible force in Zimbabwe cricket now met two immovable objects, and the runs kept coming at the ample rate of about six an over.The match was as good as decided when, on 101, a powerful smash by Taibu burst through the hands of the mid-off fielder. Masakadza pulled the following ball for a thunderous four to tie the scores, and then swung the next to long leg for the winning run, bringing the entire team running on to the field to celebrate. Quite a section of the crowd followed, to congratulate the popular winners. It was indeed a thrilling achievement for the team based in Mutare, the small city in Zimbabwe’s eastern highlands.This tournament has been an unqualified success for cricket in Zimbabwe – or Harare, at least. Dominus Sports ran a successful marketing campaign that quite outdid expectations, drawing crowds numbering thousands at the weekends, more than have been seen at most international matches. Given that Twenty20 is basically ‘gimmicky’ cricket, the general standard of play was good and the feeling abounds that cricket in Zimbabwe is vibrant again and only a short distance away from regaining Test status with honour.

Cricinfo presents the plays of the day from day two of the second Test between India and South Africa in Kolkata

N Hunter15-Feb-2010A blunder storm
Bat went first, thrown to the ground. Helmet was got rid of next, then the right glove, followed by the left as Virender Sewhag stood there, bewildered: watching the big screen. He had punched Wayne Parnell behind square, ran the first run hard and turned for the second. Gautam Gambhir, his partner, responded positively but Sehwag abruptly stopped, leaving Gambhir helpless and red faced. It was a gross blunder, and all Sehwag’s fault. Standing alone at far end of the pitch, Sehwag arched back, sighed in anger at his folly. At least he made up with a superb century.AB takes the punches
Wicketkeeping is no easy job, especially when the ball comes at you at speeds between 85 and 90-plus mph. Even AB de Villiers, who has kept wickets on many occasions for South Africa, had to sustain some hard knocks and remained jittery behind the stumps throughout the day. His biggest blunder, though, came after tea when he missed a stumping of Virender Sewhag, who, on 129, stepped out against a leg-stump delivery from Paul Harris. But de Villiers, keeping for the injured Mark Boucher, was never in a position to collect the ball cleanly and knock the bails off. The only thing both he and Harris could do was outstare each other.Vijay’s rite of passage
It hurts, but it makes Test cricket the theatre that is supposed to be. M Vijay lined up to face his third ball. Morne Morkel banged it in short at 85 mph. Vijay thought it would be a harmless one flying past his head and arched back but, to his horror, the ball came in and hit him flush on the grill as his helmet toppled over his face. It was no embarrassment; it was a young Test cricketer’s rite of passage.JP drops the world No.1 ranking?
“Sh**ts”, screamed Morkel. JP Duminy had just failed to cling on to the easiest catch of the match after Sehwag’s thick outside edge travelled to him at first slip. Usually Graeme Smith stands in that position but he was at mid-off with an injured finger. Laxman’s drop of Amla cost India 54 runs. Meanwhile Sehwag, given a chance on 47, not only notched a century, but shared a vital 249-run partnership with Sachin Tendulkar, allowing India to take the upper hand.Tendulkar’s (E)den
It was not just Tendulkar, who got edgy as he neared his second straight century in the series, even the 40,000-odd spectators at Eden Gardens were nervous. And when he was on 99, they refused to remain silent. To drive away their anxiety, they started revving each other up and boosted the spirits of their hero, who crossed the three-figure mark for the 47th time with a firm flick to the fine-leg boundary, sending those thousands into a tumultuous uproar.

As per L’Equipe, via Sport Witness, Tottenham Hotspur, and by extension managing director Fabio Paratici, have been gifted a transfer boost involving Paris-Saint Germain striker Mauro Icardi.

The Lowdown: Spurs offered chance…

Last week, news had emerged concerning the Argentina international and both Spurs and manager Antonio Conte had been presented with a chance to sign Icardi in January.

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According to Foot Mercato, the player’s representatives have been working on trying to find him a new club with his chances at PSG limited, with Icardi’s agents offering him out to Tottenham among others.

This comes as Spurs search for a striking alternative to Harry Kane up front, with the most linked forward so far coming in the form of Fiorentina star Dusan Vlahovic.

The Latest: Paratici boost emerges…

As Spurs’ transfer chief Paratici sets his sights on January, he may well have been gifted a boost if he wishes to bring Icardi to north London after the offer from representatives.

L’Equipe (via SW) explain that PSG, while wishing to make back their €50 million (£42.6m) transfer costs for the striker, may well accept less for his services.

As such, they state that it would be a ‘surprise’ if the Ligue 1 giants don’t now accept a more reasonable offer.

The Verdict: Take advantage…

The 28-year-old would undoubtedly strengthen Conte’s forward line so this bit of news comes as a real potential transfer boost.

Icardi’s 121 goals and 31 assists in 219 Serie A appearance before his move to France is a real indicator of the player’s quality in front of goal and there is little doubting he could challenge Kane for a place going forward.

The £157,000-per-week star has even been lavished with praise by legendary Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini, who called him ‘world class’ and extremely tough to play against.

For a potential discounted price as PSG seek to offload, how can Paratici say no?

In other news: Conte wants player gone in January with final decision made, Spurs chiefs already told to sell…find out more here.

Rangers recently announced the arrival of Zeb Jacobs as the club’s new head of coaching in the academy, with the Belgian set to officially join in January.

The Royal Antwerp youth development coach’s move to Glasgow could indicate a willingness from Giovanni van Bronckhorst to bring through the next batch of talent into the first team, and that could include signing new players to the academy.

US-based journalist Brian Sciaretta reported that the Gers recently had 17-year-old Colorado Rapids winger Dantouma ‘Yaya’ Toure on a trial. The forward has since gone on to train with Arsenal, although it remains to be seen where his future lies.

Reyna 2.0

Gers chief Ross Wilson must work with Van Bronckhorst to convince Toure to make the move to Ibrox to work with Jacobs from January onwards, as he could be the club’s next Claudio Reyna.

Reyna played 91 games in all competitions for the club, scoring 13 goals in total, before heading off to England to play for Sunderland and Manchester City. He lifted two Premiership titles and one League Cup trophy with the Gers during his time at Ibrox, highlighting the success he had in Glasgow.

The midfielder ended his career with 112 caps for the USA and was inducted into the country’s Hall of Fame in 2012.

In Toure, Rangers could land their next American star. He has already been capped by the USA at under-16 and under-17 level, whilst he made his MLS debut for Colorado Rapids earlier this year, having been on loan to Switchbacks FC in the USLC prior to that, playing 23 times.

Colorado’s general manager Padraig Smith previously pointed to the teenager’s ‘tremendous potential’ and claimed that the forward is ‘powerful’, saying: “Yaya is an exciting talent who has already shown tremendous potential through his performances in the USL Championship as a 16-year-old.

“He’s powerful and explosive on the ball and has an ability to take on defenders that allows him to be a difference-maker. We believe he has all the qualities necessary to develop into an elite player and are excited to see what the future holds for him.”

This suggests that the 17-year-old has the potential to push on and make an impact at senior level, with Smith claiming that he could become an ‘elite player’. Therefore, Rangers could land a future star by bringing Toure to the club and find their new Captain America – Reyna 2.0 – as he has shown promise as a young player and is seemingly highly-rated in the USA.

There is also the potential financial boost from the marketing side of it. A successful young American international athlete could bring increased publicity across the Atlantic and uncover new markets for Rangers to explore, be it through advertising or shirt sales. However, it is hard to gauge how big of a factor that would be until it happens.

AND in other news, Wilson could pull off Rangers masterclass with key talks scheduled, GvB would love it…

The IPL is set to unveil its two new franchises in Chennai on Sunday, with at least five bidders competing for the slots

Cricinfo staff20-Mar-2010The IPL is set to unveil its two new franchises in Chennai on Sunday, with five bidders reported to be competing for the slots. The process was to have been completed on March 7 but was postponed by two weeks after the bidders and the BCCI objected to stiff financial clauses.The cities in the fray are Pune, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Kanpur, Dharamsala, Vizag, Rajkot, Cuttack, Baroda, Kochi, Indore and Gwalior. Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, said on his Twitter feed that there were five bidders and media reports have suggested they include some of the biggest business houses in the country – Videocon, Adani, the Sahara group (which sponsors the Indian team), the Jaypee group and Pune-based builder Anirudh Deshpande. Bollywood actors Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty are also believed to have bought tenders.The problem arose in Mumbai when the bidders wanted a clause requiring the bidder to have a net worth of $1 billion, removed. The IPL agreed to remove it and delayed the announcement. The new process will also amend two existing clauses: One will be a reduction of the advance deposit from $100 million to a $10 million “performance guarantee”, to be submitted 24 hours in advance of the bid being opened. Another original clause gave the IPL’s governing council the discretion to seek from the winning bidder 100% of the amount with a minimum time-frame; under the new process, the winning bids will be expected to pay 10% of their bid within 48 hours. The minimum bid amount, however, remains the same at $225 million.From next year, the IPL will feature ten teams and – if the current format is retained – a total of 94 games, from the existing 60. After the first season in 2008, the league has already expanded its reach to other centres such as Cuttack, Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Dharamsala.

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick is pushing to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.

That’s according to The Manchester Evening News’ chief writer Samuel Luckhurst, and a number of United fans have flocked to the update on social media.

Haaland came close to making the move to Old Trafford two years ago and appears to be firmly back on the club’s radar ahead of the New Year.

The 21-year-old, who has scored 76 goals in 79 games for Borussia Dortmund, has a €75m (£63.7m) release clause that becomes active in 2022 and looks set to leave the Bundesliga side.

According to Luckhurst, Rangnick has recently made contact with Haaland’s father over a possible move to United, with Champions League football essential to attract the forward.

United fans react

Well-known page @utdreport shared the news regarding Rangnick’s contact with Alf-Inge Haaland on Twitter. It didn’t take long for several United supporters to have their say on a possible move, with one labelling it as ‘huge’.

“If Ralf gets Haaland over the line could be our biggest win since Fergie left”

Credit: @MurphyDec

“RALFFFFFFFF. DOUBLE RRRR. ROLLS ROYCE’S”

Credit: @BigTeezo

“It would be huge, but I doubt it will happen”

Credit: @prze_bialy

“Rangnick will be a United legend in my books if he pulls this off”

Credit: @kwasibrainy11

“Please make it happen”

Credit: @itsryynnn_

“OLE’S DREAM IS COMING TRUEEE”

Credit: @MSSG_11

In other news: ‘Finally, it’s not McFred anymore’ – Lots of Man Utd fans go wild over another Luckhurst transfer claim. 

Andrew Symonds’ sparkling 54 gave Deccan a defendable total, which they protected with an inspired fielding performance led by Rohit Sharma and disciplined bowling

The Bulletin by Sriram Veera18-Apr-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Deccan Chargers won five games in a row to qualify for the knockout stage•Indian Premier LeagueThey were the IPL’s nomads, they needed to win five games in a row to reach the semi-finals, and things looked heavily loaded against them. But Deccan Chargers, the defending champions, made it. On a slow pitch at Feroz Shah Kotla, Andrew Symonds’ sparkling 54 gave Deccan a defendable total, which they protected with an inspired fielding performance led by Rohit Sharma and disciplined bowling. Paul Collingwood kept Delhi in the chase until the end but he lacked the firepower, and support, to pull off a victory.It boiled down to Delhi needing 17 runs in the final over and Chaminda Vaas bowled exceptionally, mixing his slower ones with near-perfect yorkers. Deccan had earlier wobbled at the start before the Symonds show and slowed to a crawl post his fall to reach 145 for 7. It was a slow pitch, better than the previous tracks in Delhi though, and the chase was unlikely to be a stroll for the hosts. And it wasn’t.Rohit, who contributed only 11 the bat, took a couple of breathtaking catches to tilt the game Deccan’s way. He flew low to his right at first slip, grabbing a one-hand catch to remove Virender Sehwag. In the seventh over, he flung himself to his left at short midwicket to get rid of Gautam Gambhir. Both his catches, however, were created by clever bowling. Vaas, who replaced Ryan Harris, had deceived Virender Sehwag with a slower off cutter and Pragyan Ojha had beaten Gambhir in flight, forcing him to drag the ball squarer than intended. Between those wickets, Tillakaratne Dilshan had fallen while trying to paddle scoop. The slower one from Harmeet Singh trapped him in front as he moved across.The loss of three quick wickets had derailed the chase and, considering Paul Collingwood’s recent struggles against spin, Delhi depended heavily on Dinesh Karthik. When Mithun Manhas was run out after a mix-up with Collingwood, Delhi needed 78 off 49 deliveries. Karthik entered the fray but didn’t last long. The delivery from Ojha landed on middle and off stump and turned just enough to go past Karthik’s bat and hit off. Collingwood hung around for a while and was even dropped couple of times by, of all the people, Rohit and Symonds but couldn’t finish it off.It was an inspired bowling performance from Deccan but if it wasn’t for a superbly-crafted knock from Symonds, the bowlers would not have had much to defend. The story of their innings was summarised after the first time-out in the tenth over. Amit Mishra bowled with a slip and a silly point to the new batsman Mitchell Marsh, but when Symonds came on strike most fielders were back patrolling the boundary. Delhi were on the attack and knew only one man posed a threat. Marsh preserved his wicket and allowed Symonds to play a fine knock.Symonds initially reserved his aggression for Amit Mishra. The legspinner troubled Symonds with his googlies, which he picked only off the pitch, but he would time and again counterattack with a muscled hit. He moved down the track to lift a legbreak over long off, followed it by biffing a googly into the same stand and slugged a flighted delivery from outside off over long-on. In between, he edged a legbreak between the keeper and first slip and just when Mishra was seemingly on the ascent, Symonds would break free. Symonds crashed Tillakaratne Dilshan’s offbreaks for two sixes and even played a delicate late cut against Paul Collingwood to collect a boundary.Deccan had reached 116 for 4 in the 15th over and things were set for a final assault when Symonds fell. Mishra had just switched to bowling from round the stumps to Symonds and had his man chipping straight to long off. Delhi applied the squeeze from then on, just as they had done in the first half of the game, but the total proved beyond their reach.

Liverpool are more likely to sign Renato Sanches than Florian Neuhaus in the summer transfer window, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Liverpool linked with Sanches

The Reds didn’t make any midfield additions last summer, with centre-back Ibrahima Konate the only arrival and Gini Wijnaldum not replaced in the middle of the park.

One player who was linked with a move to Anfield was Sanches, having impressed for Portugal at Euro 2020 and won the Ligue 1 title with Lille last season.

The 24-year-old, winner of the European Golden Boy award in 2016, is contracted to Les Dogues on a £47,000-per-week deal until 2023, so Lille may be keen to receive a fee for him this year.

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The Latest: Romano makes fresh claim

Speaking to Anfield Watch, Romano claimed that Sanches is a more viable option for Liverpool than Borussia Monchengladbach’s Neuhaus moving forward.

He revealed: “Florian Neuhaus is having talks with his agent, but nothing else at the moment. So for sure Renato Sanches has always been higher on Liverpool’s list than Neuhaus.”

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The Verdict: Too injury-prone

While Sanches possesses huge amounts of natural talent and an ability to break the lines in midfield – he has averaged 2.6 dribbles per game in the league this season, far better than Mo Salah’s 1.9 per game as the market leader in this regard at Anfield – he is also an injury-prone figure.

The Portuguese gem has never started more than 16 league games in a season in his career, so it is hard to see Jurgen Klopp justifying a move for him.

The Liverpool manager already has injury-plagued midfielders in Jordan Henderson, Thiago and Naby Keita, highlighting the need for signing a more robust operator in the mould of Wijnaldum, who was almost ever-present during his five years at the club.

In other news, some Liverpool fans have reacted to a Reds exit rumour. Read more here.