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Head coach Walsh said the transition period in Oman was “mentally taxing” after the World Cup qualifier was called off

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Dec-2021The West Indies women have been cleared to fly home on Friday after an 11-day quarantine in Oman. The contingent was stranded in Oman since the ICC called off the women’s World Cup qualifier in Zimbabwe on November 27 after travel restrictions were imposed on large parts of southern Africa following the detection of the Omicron Covid-19 variant.Related

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“We are pleased to confirm that the West Indies Women’s squad will soon be making their way back home,” CWI CEO Johnny Grave said.”We want to thank them for their patience and understanding as we worked with our counterparts at the ICC and Oman Cricket to facilitate their return at the earliest opportunity. We want to express our appreciation to the ICC, Oman Cricket and our operations team, who have worked tirelessly to ensure everyone was comfortable and remained safe.”Head coach Courtney Walsh said that the team is “relieved” to head back home and be with their families before Christmas and that the transition period in Oman has been “mentally taxing” on the entire team, both for the players and management staff.”As a management group, we tried to ensure that the players remained in a positive frame of mind,” Walsh said in a statement. “Our strength and conditioning coach created a fitness challenge for all of us to participate in for the duration of the quarantine period, as it was something to take our minds off what was happening. I must say thanks to our Team Manager, the ICC and Oman Cricket, for all their logistical work, in ensuring we’re on our way home as quickly as possible.”The squad was flown to Oman via an ICC private charter, with a short stopover in Namibia, along with eight other international squads. Oman was used as a staging area for the West Indies contingent while they awaited an available route home.With the ODI World Cup set to take place next March and April, the qualifier cannot be held at a later date, and the ICC said that the three remaining spots will be decided according to the rankings. Following the termination of the qualifying event, Bangladesh, West Indies and Pakistan secured their places. Hosts New Zealand, Australia, England, South Africa and India have already qualified for the marquee event.

Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has proven that he is willing to offer opportunities to young players from the academy in the Premier League.

He has handed first-team minutes to the likes of Crysencio Summerville, Sam Greenwood, and Joe Gelhardt as they have all played their part in the top-flight so far this season but they are not the only talented youngsters on the books at Thorp Arch.

One player who has caught the eye for the under-21 side this season is Northern Irish central midfielder Charlie Allen and he is someone Marsch could strike gold with.

The 18-year-old gem recently impressed in the EFL Trophy against Bolton in spite of the team losing the game 3-0. He was a shining light in the middle of the park as he won seven of his 12 duels and made five tackles, three interceptions, and two clearances, whilst also creating one chance – as per SofaScore.

Allen is an under-21 international for Northern Ireland and has been a regular in Leeds’ under-21’s since the start of last season – playing 32 matches at that level.

He is a central midfielder by trade but Jim Magilton previously hailed the gem’s versatility, saying:

“Charlie is one of those kids you can play anywhere and he’ll probably still be the best player on the pitch. He can play right back, central midfield, on either wing, at No10 or at centre forward.”

This indicates that he can play in a multitude of roles for Marsch in the Premier League, which could boost the teenager’s chances of making the step up to the first-team as there are a number of positions that he could fill in for – including in midfield.

Patrick Van Dort, who is the deputy sports editor for JPIMedia, also heaped praise on the youngster in the past. The reporter said:

“He doesn’t try to do too much, he doesn’t get flustered on the ball, speaking to team-mates they trust him.”Fans have compared him to [ex-Chelsea youngster] Billy Gilmour in terms of playing style, he’s got game intelligence and at first-team level for Linfield he’s been disciplined.”People say he’s a dream to coach, a good listener and ticks the boxes you’d expect of someone so highly rated.”These quotes suggest that he is someone Marsch would enjoy working with on the training pitch, as he is willing to learn and improve so that he can progress as a player.Therefore, the Leeds head coach could strike gold with Allen as he is a talented midfield enforcer with the scope to grow and develop over time. He has the mentality required to make it to the top and it is now down to him to prove that he has the quality to go alongside that, with his recent performance against Bolton indicating that he has the potential to do that.

Sunderland battled well to earn a fine victory last night away to Huddersfield Town, who continue to prop up the bottom of the Championship.

Despite conceding 16 shots and only putting three on target themselves, it marked a clinical performance from the Black Cats to hold them whilst scoring two themselves.

This proficiency can be attributed to the tricky set of attackers deployed by Tony Mowbray, with Amad Diallo holding particular pressure as he continued his inclusion.

The 20-year-old – who was dubbed a “special one for the future” by Owen Hargreaves – has yet to live up to the incredible ceiling bestowed upon him.

However, finally handed a run in the side and clearly playing with confidence, he put the final nail in the Terriers’ coffin with his late strike.

This shot his SofaScore rating up to 7.3, the highest on his team other than Alex Pritchard who opened the scoring.

However, he was decidedly more involved than the attacking midfielder who recorded just 47 touches.

His performance aside from the goal would have warranted merit, as his desperation for the ball was outlined in his 64 touches.

 Of this possession, he was certainly not wasteful.

He was accurate in 87% of his passes and successful in his only dribble of the game. To pair his skill and flair with pinpoint accuracy makes him a frightening prospect for the rest of the league, should his form continue.

He also managed three shots, outlining him as a true goal threat despite deputising across the front line.

The Ivorian has struggled since his big-money move to Manchester United, with various loans yet to spark his career into action.

However, with this classy and workmanlike performance, he has shown signs of the player that was so highly rated.

He competed in eight duels throughout the game, winning an admirable half of them.

It was a complete performance where he really stepped up for his manager, capped off by his goal.

This could truly see his career take off at the Stadium of Light, as he hopes to return to Old Trafford to stake his claim as part of Erik ten Hag’s revolution.

Wolverhampton Wanderers take on Premier League table toppers Arsenal in their final match before the mid-season break due to the World Cup.

The Old Gold have finally hired a new manager, with 56-year-old Julen Lopetegui appointed last week, however, he won’t take charge of the club until after the break for international football.

Steve Davis led the Molineux outfit to a midweek EFL Cup win over Leeds United courtesy of a late Boubacar Traore strike as the interim manager made six changes from the loss to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.

Davis will most likely revert back to a full-strength side ahead of this evening’s clash and we at Football FanCast predict the Wolves starting XI…

Predicted Wolves XI

Jose Sa will come back into the side after being rested against Leeds in midweek and he will aim to keep just his fifth league clean sheet this season.

Nathan Collins and Max Kilman will form the heart of the Wolves defence and they will be flanked by Nelson Semedo at right-back – who served his one-match ban in midweek – and Hugo Bueno at left-back.

The midfield will see two changes from the win over Leeds.

Ruben Neves will keep his place and he is currently the club’s highest scorer this season with four goals, while Matheus Nunes will hope to put in a solid performance before joining up with the Portuguese World Cup squad.

The £100k-per-week Joao Moutinho will drop to the bench in favour of Boubacar Traore – dubbed a “dribbling machine” by analyst Liam Henshaw – and he will look to build upon his goal against Leeds.

Adama Traore will retain his place on the right wing, while Daniel Podence will come back into the side on the left.

Goncalo Guedes, who missed out on a place in the Portuguese squad for the World Cup, will lead the line and hope to score for the second league game in a row after his goal against Brighton last weekend.

It will be a tough ask for Wolves to secure a positive result tonight, but if they do, it could be a perfect way to head into the break with a new era under Lopetegui to look forward to.

Predicted Wolves XI: Sa; Bueno, Kilman, Collins, Semedo; Traore, Neves, Nunes; Podence, Guedes, Traore

West Ham United could now make a winter move for Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo, according to reports.

The Lowdown: West Ham transfer planning…

The Hammers are reportedly making transfer plans despite a summer of heavy spending, coming amid a lacklustre start to the 2022/23 Premier League season for David Moyes’ team.

West Ham are among the division’s lowest scorers, with only fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Everton bagging fewer goals than the east Londoners.

Winning just four out of 15 games so far, the pressure is truly on Moyes to turn things around and save his job, with reports suggesting that GSB could turn to the market as a possible resolution.

The Latest: West Ham ‘could make’ January move for Tosin…

As per a club insider, it appears that Fulham defender Tosin could be on the agenda mid-season for the Irons.

Claret & Hugh claim that West Ham ‘could make a January move’ for the former Manchester City centre-back, who has impressed since joining the Cottagers. Moyes has personally been interested in signing Tosin, with the player’s contract set to expire in 2023.

The report adds that soon-to-be sporting director and club legend Mark Noble is set to have a ‘major say’ on transfer incomings and outgoings at the London Stadium.

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The Verdict: Get it done?

Moyes could always use more depth in the defensive areas, with Emerson Palmieri, Nayef Aguerd and Kurt Zouma already struck down at various intervals this season, and Tosin could be a solid candidate to come in.

Dubbed ‘sensational’ by reporter Rahman Osman, the 25-year-old has made more clearances per 90 than any Fulham player in the top flight, according to WhoScored.

Tosin also stands at a colossal 6 foot 5 and would most certainly add to West Ham’s impressive physicality.

West Ham United seem to be closing in on moves for both Pablo Maia and Luizao.

What’s the latest?

That’s according to Dean Jones, with the transfer insider revealing in an interview with Football FanCast that there is clear communication between the Hammers and the players involved in the deal.

Regarding how far along the deals are, Jones claimed:

“They’re not players I know loads about but clearly a path of conversation is open here. From a West Ham point of view, you’re always going to be excited when you hear about talents like this joining the club.”

Maia is expected to cost around £9m, whilst his Sao Paulo teammate is likely to be available on a free transfer in January.

Mascherano & Parker 2.0

This double swoop could draw comparisons with the Irons’ controversial 2016 unveiling of both Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, given how both of these deals saw young talent shipped straight from Brazil to east London.

Around the time of this West Ham team, and just after the latter had moved to Liverpool, it marked the emergence of Scott Parker.

Both Luizao and Maia share qualities with these impressive stars who graced the Boleyn Ground before going on to achieve huge things in the game, and given the fact that they are both just 20 years old, the future is truly blinding for these two at the London Stadium.

The former boasts a particular bite and nastiness that could share similarities with the Argentine defender who went on to play 334 times for Barcelona.

He already has five yellow cards this season in 14 appearances, but his 3.8 clearances and 1.0 tackles per game outline him as a fine defender.

Meanwhile, the relentless midfielder has proven himself a dependable asset in the engine room, becoming a talismanic figure for Sao Paulo despite his youth.

Boasting a 90% pass accuracy, he too manages to get through the dirty work as Parker did before him which endeared him with fans.

Maia is averaging 1.3 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 0.9 clearances per game alongside his stunning ability with the ball.

Should he translate this form to the English game, he might be the next man to win Hammer of the Year, of which the former Bournemouth manager won three.

Although that period is somewhat mired by its relegation, these two stars will often leave fans romanticising such a dismal period in the club’s history.

Hopefully, in Maia and Luizao, they can underpin what will be a bright future for David Moyes’ side that is brimming with talent.

Glasgow Rangers have appointed 42-year-old English head coach Michael Beale to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst in the dugout at Ibrox.

The former Gers assistant manager has joined at an almost perfect time as the break for the 2022 World Cup has offered an unprecedented chance for teams to work on their shape and tactics, with the players who are not involved in the competition.

Borna Barisic is the only first-team squad member in Qatar with his country and this means that the boss has the majority of the squad available to him.

Beale can now work with the group and put his ideas across to them in the next few weeks ahead of the return to action against Hibernian in the Premiership on the 15th of December.

He will need to re-energise the group and find a way to turn the form around after inheriting a side that is currently nine points off the top of the table in the Scottish top flight.

Pundit Michael Stewart, whilst speaking on BBC Sportscene, claimed that the Light Blues were missing an “X-factor” on the pitch during van Bronckhorst’s tenure. 

Beale could now find the missing X-factor by giving talented 19-year-old attacking midfielder Alex Lowry a chance to stamp his mark on the first team this season.

The teenage gem broke into the senior squad last term and caught the eye with one goal and one assist in three Premiership outings towards the end of the 2021/22 campaign.

However, he suffered an injury in the early stage of the current season whilst playing for the B team and only made one appearance, in the Champions League, for Van Bronckhorst’s side after returning to fitness.

Beale must now unleash him from the start in the Premiership as the gem has the potential to be the missing spark in the final third. He has showcased his quality in possession with seven goals and one assist in 10 matches for the B team this season from a number 10 position.

The Scotland U21 international, who reporter Joshua Barrie claimed is “step above everyone else” at youth level, is a player capable of producing moments of brilliance in matches.

Journalist Graham Falk dubbed him a “proper talent” and described his goal against Celtic for the B team as an “absolute worldie”, which shows that he has the capacity to provide special strikes.

Lowry, who can play on either flank and in the middle of the park, has also been hailed as “carefree and gallus” by Scottish coach Andy Goldie and this suggests that he has the flair, with his statistics backing up his quality, to provide what Rangers have been missing in the Premiership.

Therefore, Beale must start the Ibrox academy prospect against Hibernian to see if he can step up to the first team and prove to everyone that van Bronckhorst was wrong not to give him more opportunities this season.

Aston Villa have reportedly made contact over a potential move for Atletico Madrid forward Matheus Cunha.

The Lowdown: Cunha profiled

The 23-year-old is primarily a centre-forward who can also play out wide and joined Atletico last year. He has scored 39 goals during his career so far and has been described by his former Hertha Berlin boss Bruno Labbadia as a player who has “something special”.

Cunha’s former club RB Leipzig also hailed him on social media as a “magician”, and it looks as if a move to the Midlands could be on the cards in 2023.

The Latest: Villa contact Cunha

Birmingham Live reporter Ashley Preece relayed an update from an Italian transfer specialist regarding Villa and Cunha on Thursday.

He claimed that NSWE and Villa have a ‘real interest’ in the Brazilian and that ‘first contacts between the parties have taken place’.

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The Verdict: One to watch?

Unai Emery is keen to land a new A-list forward in the New Year who can operate all across the front three.

Cunha can certainly do that, so a possible move to Villa could be one to keep an eye on heading into the New Year.

An Olympic gold medallist for Brazil, the 23-year-old has scored just seven goals in 54 games for Atletico, so he may well be open to a new challenge, possibly in the Premier League alongside compatriot Douglas Luiz.

West Ham United are set to battle it out for the signature of Djibril Sow, who has recently returned from the World Cup with Switzerland.

The Lowdown: West Ham target midfielder

In light of West Ham’s poor start to the Premier League season, currently sitting 16th in the standings, manager David Moyes has identified the need for some new blood in the middle of the park, and 36-time Swiss international Sow is deemed to fit the bill.

The midfielder started every game for his national side in Qatar, before they exited the tournament at the quarter-final stage against Portugal on Tuesday night, and the Eintracht Frankfurt ace is now being eyed for a move to England.

The Latest: Sow in Moyes’ sights

As per Sport Witness, who are sharing news from Sport 1, the 25-year-old is in the sights of both the Hammers and Aston Villa for a January swoop, although Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krosche is not keen on a deal, saying: “We don’t want to sell any player in the winter.”

However, their stance could change if an ‘insane’ deal is offered, with the price the German club are holding out for believed to be in the region of £26m.

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The Verdict: Make it happen

The £38k-per-week earner was recently praised for his ‘extremely composed’ nature in and around the box by journalist Sam Tighe, highlighting one of the key aspects of his game, but he also excels in his defensive duties at the opposite end of the pitch.

Over the past year, the enforcer has averaged 1.64 interceptions per 90 minutes, a figure that places him in the 88th percentile compared to his positional peers and puts on show his acumen in cutting out the opposition supply.

Not only that, but the Zurich-born midfielder also put in a string of solid performances at the World Cup, displaying his creative talents with an assist in the 3-2 round of 16 victory against Serbia.

With West Ham struggling at the wrong end of the table, Moyes could really use a dependable option in central-midfield to partner Declan Rice, and Sow has proven himself as a consistent and well-rounded performer in the Bundesliga this season, averaging a 6.92 match rating, as per SofaScore.

Liverpool have suffered a concerning start to their Premier League season not only on the pitch but off it too, with several changes ahead for the Merseysiders.

Not only have the Reds fallen into sixth in the table, but it has been revealed that FSG are plotting to sell the club as soon as they can find the right buyer, while sporting director Julian Ward has resigned from his role at Anfield after just six months.

As a result, Jurgen Klopp could be about to experience a huge transition period during his remaining managerial tenure on Merseyside, and although the upheaval will be concerning, there is an opportunity for a fresh start to take place.

Liverpool’s successful squad which was built by the German alongside his reliable recruitment team have started to take on new paths at other clubs or are coming to the latter stages of their careers, with many key players now into their 30s.

Virgil van Dijk, Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, James Milner and Joel Matip are all 30 or over, and with several contracts expiring in the summer, it’s the perfect time for Klopp to start thinking about the next generation of success.

Indeed, there will be opportunities to strengthen the squad in the upcoming transfer windows, with Enzo Fernandez and Jude Bellingham two players Liverpool are pushing to sign, although they could already have some of their stars in the future in the youth setup.

One player who penned his first professional contract for Liverpool on Thursday was Michael Laffey, a young midfielder who could be part of the future in the middle of the park.

The Merseyside-born midfielder has risen through the ranks of the youth setup to become a key player in the U18s, with Liverpool’s official website claiming that the youngster earned his new contract due to his ‘good passing range’ and ‘impressive awareness’.

Laffey earned high praise from a Liverpool legend upon securing his future at the club, with Jamie Carragher hailing the player as a “great prospect” on Twitter.

The talented 17-year-old has been polishing his trade in Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s side since earning his U18 debut last season, tallying 12 appearances and registering three assists so far.

It has been claimed by Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth that Liverpool could part ways with Naby Keita in the New Year, which would be the perfect opportunity for Laffey to capture the attention of Klopp by taking his opportunities to impress when they eventually arise.

The future is looking very bright for Laffey, and if he can continue to flourish in the U18s, it will surely be no time at all before he is given the chance to prove himself in the first team.