All posts by h716a5.icu

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, former Premier League defender Michael Ball believes Chris Wilder would be a good fit for West Brom if Sam Allardyce ends up departing the club.

Allardyce has been unable to turn around West Brom’s fortunes and his future at the Hawthorns remains unclear.

As for Wilder, the 53-year-old is available for work following his exit from Sheffield United back in March.

It means he could be one name West Brom possibly consider should they decide to part ways with Allardyce at the end of the season, and Ball thinks the Midlands club could do much worse than the former Blades boss.

He told TT in an exclusive interview:

“It seems to be the right fit. He’s got that right experience of bringing teams together, improving them, knows how to win promotions.

“The Championship, you’ve got to be more on the front foot, and Chris Wilder has that in abundance and experience in how to do that. So, yeah, it seems a good fit.”

As Ball mentioned, Wilder has a track record of winning promotion, though the same can be said about Allardyce.

Bearing that in mind, whether it is Wilder or Allardyce, West Brom would be in good hands next season and should be well placed to bounce back after a largely disappointing 2020/21 campaign.

Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram says he doesn’t intend to retire in the near future, and is fired up to play in England

CricInfo29-Apr-2001
Wasim- ready for tour
Photo CricInfo
Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram says he doesn’t intend to retire in the near future, and is fired up to play in England.”I am all geared up to play as this will be my last tour of England,” saidAkram, 35 next month. “I have played most of my cricket in Englandand I love playing there.”Akram has been included in Pakistan’s 17-strong squad for next month’s tour, which includes two Tests and a tri-nation one day series, also involvingAustralia.Akram palmed off reports of any disagreements with captain Waqar Younis, saying:”I don’t believe in rumours so I can’t comment on whether my selection wascontentious or Younis said anything against me.”We have played a lot of cricket together and will continue to play with eachother, its exciting to bowl with him.”Akram missed Pakistan’s last four Tests due to fitness problems. “It happensto every fast bowler and its not because of my age,” he said.Between them, Akram and Younis have taken over 700 wickets, and they formed aparticularly impressive pace attack during the 1990s.They spearheaded Pakistan’s wins over England in the 1992 and 1996 tours. WhileAkram took 23 and 11 wickets, Younis’ contribution was 22 and 16.”I have the experience of playing in English conditions and will do my bestto help the side win again,” he said.Pakistan have won their last three series in England but lost a home series1-0 to Nasser Hussain’s side last December.”We now have a young team but all the players are fighters and I hope we canwin the series in England, although the wet climate favours them,” he said.Pakistan leave for England on May 2.

England have admitted that they are worried by an injury to key all-rounder Craig White prior to Thursday’s Lord’s Test against Pakistan

CricInfo14-May-2001England have admitted that they are worried by an injury to key all-rounder Craig White prior to Thursday’s Lord’s Test against Pakistan.White was forced to sit out part of the England team’s training session with a stiff back.”We’ll be monitoring it overnight and see how he is in the morning,” confirmed physiotherapist Dean Conway. “It’s something that has bothered him for the last few days and he struggled a bit to get through his bowling.”Certainly the loss of White would be a big blow to the England team. His all-round skills provide crucial balance to the side and he is expected to play a prominent role throughout the summer.Alex Tudor is a possible replacement if White is deemed unfit tomorrow, though with Dominic Cork already included in the squad as an all-rounder, England may decide to play both new call-ups: Ian Ward and Ryan Sidebottom.

Leeds United have reportedly shown interest in signing Chelsea youngster Conor Gallagher on loan, but he looks set to stay at Stamford Bridge.

The Lowdown: Several loans for Gallagher

The 21-year-old has found himself out on loan a number of times in his fledgling career in order to enjoy guaranteed playing time.

Gallagher has spent this season at West Brom, making 25 starts in the Premier League and chipping in with two goals and two assists apiece for the Baggies, whose relegation was confirmed on Sunday.

With his spell at The Hawthorns now coming to an end, the youngster will be looking to see what the next chapter in his career has in store.

The Latest: Leeds show Gallagher interest

According to journalist Alan Nixon on Twitter, Leeds are among several clubs who have expressed an interest in taking Gallagher on loan next season, with Crystal Palace and Newcastle United also mentioned as potential suitors.

However, it is stated that the midfielder now wants to fight for his place at Chelsea, aiming to catch the eye of manager Thomas Tuchel.

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The Verdict: Look for more experience alternatives

Gallagher is clearly a talented young player, being hailed by his former boss Slaven Bilic as an “energetic” midfielder who “has a lot of everything” [football.london].

However, Leeds may be better looking for a slightly older midfielder, bringing them in permanently in order to settle.

Someone like 26-year-old reported transfer target Rodrigo de Paul would be perfect, in that respect, with the Udinese man scoring nine goals and registering eight assists in Serie A this season, shining in one of Europe’s biggest leagues.

Leeds need to be in a situation where they are signing players who are highly likely to instantly make the squad stronger – while Gallagher has definite potential, that wouldn’t be a given considering his tender age.

In other news, a pundit has been left baffled by one Leeds player’s lack of football this season. Find out who it is here.

Security is to be increased at Trent Bridge in preparation for tomorrow’s One-Day International between Australia and Pakistan

CricInfo18-Jun-2001Security is to be increased at Trent Bridge in preparation for tomorrow’s One-Day International between Australia and Pakistan.Temporary plastic fencing and a doubling of the stewards are just two of the methods being used to avoid a repetition of the scenes at Headingley yesterday where a steward was seriously injured in a pitch invasion.Notts chief executive David Collier, speaking on BBC Five Live, revealed that the authorities at Trent Bridge have learnt from the example of Rugby and are preparing a package of measures to prevent further trouble.”During the winter months we did commission a report by independent consultants looking at the safety risks, in conjunction with the ECB, and in particular how we stopped incursions onto the field,””For the match at Trent Bridge, not only have we doubled the number of stewards, but we’ve also been in contact with the RFU (Rugby Football Union) at Twickenham, who have been most helpful.”Twickenham has utilised some plastic barrier fencing in recent years, which has proved to be very successful. That will be utilised at Trent Bridge tomorrow night.”On both occasions that games in the NatWest Series have been affected by crowd invasions the majority – but not all – of the offenders have been Pakistan fans. In order to appeal directly to them, the authorities at Trent Bridge have ensured the presence of Urdu and Punjabi speakers at the game tomorrow.”We’ve got Urdu and Punjabi speakers on our public address, we’ve got posters that we’ve printed up asking people to assist us,” Collier revealed. “The Pakistani community are very enthusiastic about their cricket and we do wish to appeal to them to work with us to maintain safety.”Collier also admitted that the club had been in contact with government officials to see if a series of deterrents could be put in place before the game.”We have previously been in contact with the Home Office, through the ECB, to see if we can prevent people coming onto the field of play with some deterrent penalties, such as fines,” he said. “We will be re-contacting the Home Office to see if that can be utilised in both the short and long term.”Meanwhile Yorkshire chief executive Chris Hassell has insisted that the club did everything they could to prevent trouble at Headingley. He hinted that government help in the form of deterrents would need to be instigated if a repetition is to be avoided.”I don’t honestly think any other measures we could have taken would have made any significant difference because if a couple of thousand people want to get onto the pitch it would take a huge army to stop them,” Hassell said.”So we have to go down some different routes such as legislation and banning people coming onto the pitch at any time.”

Tottenham Hotspur have received a gutting injury setback this week…

What’s the latest?

Ahead of their Premier League encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers this afternoon, interim head coach Ryan Mason delivered a fresh update on the situation surrounding left-back Ben Davies.

He told reporters in his pre-game press conference, via the club’s official website:

“Ben is the only player who hasn’t trained [with the group], I’ll be honest, I’ll be surprised if he’s in contention for any of our remaining three fixtures.

“Ben was out on the training pitch today doing some individual work and hopefully he’ll progress over the next few days and next week. It’s too early to make a decision on the Euros but I’m sure Ben feels confident about that.

“We just know because he’s been out for such a long time that it’s not realistic to expect or think that he will return to training and will be playing for us in the next 10 days.”

Gutting blow

This will come as devastating news to Mason as he’s likely to be without one of his key players for their final three matches and with Spurs still in the race for the top four, it could certainly prove to be a huge blow.

A win over Wolves today would see the North Londoners leapfrog local rivals, West Ham, into sixth place and that would put them just five points behind the top four, with six points left on offer.

Champions League qualification could prove to be out of reach but if Mason guides his side to three wins from three, then a place in the Europa League should be confirmed.

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Davies may well be sat behind Sergio Reguilon in the pecking order, having started only 14 times in the Premier League compared to the Spaniard’s 23 starts, but had he been fit, then you’d imagine he’d have started a lot more recently.

And that’s because Reguilon’s form has fallen off a cliff since his return from injury.

The 24-year-old has just not looked the same player after a muscle problem ruled him out of some key games against Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea across the end of January and the start of February.

Three of his last five league appearances has seen him perform well below average rating (6.76), failing to register above a 6.09, including a shocking low of 5.46 last time out, as per WhoScored.

Wolves may be without Raul Jimenez this season but their threat from wide areas cannot be understated and if Reguilon endures another tough outing, then it’s only going to make it harder for Mason and his defence.

He really could have done with the vast experience and the defensive qualities of Davies heading into these crucial matches.

AND in other news, Mason must axe £26m-rated liability who “looks lost”, he’s let Spurs down for too long…

This summer is a crucial one for Celtic Football Club. A new manager, director of football and CEO are set to take up roles at Parkhead while a number of the playing staff look set to exit.

The biggest fear is that Hoops striker Odsonne Edouard will finally depart in the coming weeks but few would blame him.

This has been a disastrous season for the Bhoys, one they’ll want to quickly forget about once the window opens.

On the chalkboard

If Edouard does leave, something that feels likely, it will leave the Hoops without a recognised goal scorer in their side.

The Frenchman helped himself to 22 strikes throughout the season but beyond that, options are limited.

Leigh Griffiths could be released while Albian Ajeti hasn’t set the world alight since signing.

The Swiss cost Celtic £5m last summer and looked a positive purchase initially. The former West Ham attacker scored five goals in his opening ten matches but he’s only found the net once since September.

With that kind of record in mind, the Hoops could find themselves slipping even further away from Rangers in the next year.

The solution

Celtic have been linked with a number of new strikers including Josh King and Kyle Joseph.

However, the hierarchy could save themselves some funds by taking another look at Vakoun Bayo.

The Ivorian arrived under Brendan Rodgers back in 2019 but he’s not had a very profitable spell in Scottish football.

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Bayo has played just 17 times for Celtic, scoring two goals in the process. He was left out of their Europa League squad just a month after arriving and then wasn’t able to find a route into the team under Neil Lennon either.

A loan spell was exactly what the doctor ordered this season. Sent on loan to Toulouse in the second tier of French football, he’s found a decent run of form.

The 24-year-old has scored 12 goals in all competitions, four of which have come in his last three outings.

Described as a “powerful” forward by the boisterous and controversial Chris Sutton, he possesses similar qualities in that regard to Edouard.

His goal scoring instinct doesn’t compare but he’s demonstrated now that he can actually find the net on a regular basis.

A return for Bayo feels far-fetched but the option is certainly worth exploring during pre-season.

AND in other news, Move over Howe: Celtic must consider hiring 42 y/o who left Rodgers “really impressed”…

Wellington slid inexorably towards defeat, an outright loss with far-reaching consequences, on the third day of their State Championship match against Central Districts at McLean Park today

Steve McMorran20-Mar-2002Wellington slid inexorably towards defeat, an outright loss with far-reaching consequences, on the third day of their State Championship match against Central Districts at McLean Park today.Central established a 320-run lead when it reached 281 in its second innings and by stumps on this third day, Wellington was 71/4 in its second innings, almost 250 runs from victory with only six wickets in hand.The match was all but Central’s when stumps were drawn with a day remaining. Tomorrow, on its final day, they need only mop up the Wellington tail to take a win which might well lift them to within one point of the top of the Championship table with only one round to play. Their status depends on the outcome of the match, in progress, between Canterbury and Auckland.Central had established a 38-run first innings lead when they dimissed Wellington on the second day of 180 – in reply to their 218 – achieved when they had batted first on losing the toss.By stumps on the second day, Central had enlarged their lead to 152 and were 114/3 – well in charge of the match with seven second innings wickets in hand.They went on today to 281 in 109 overs and by the end their overall lead was 319 and Wellington had largely been played out of the match.Central owed its dominance to the innings on the second day of Mathew Sinclair, who made 41, but more particularly to the innings today of Ben Smith who went on from 30 overnight to 64, to Jacob Oram who made 42 and to Andrew Schwass who made 42.Wellington needed to run through the Central second innings quickly today to take charge of the match but they were unable to do so. They gained Glen Sulzberger’s wicket when Central was 163/4 and when Sulzberger, with Smith, had added 60 for the third wicket after Sinclair’s dimissal at 103.Smith, Oram and Schwass built on a solid platform. They took Central to 149/7, then 213/8 when Michael Mason was out. Central was 214/9 when Brent Hefford fell and 231 when Schwass was out – the last man to fall for the second time in succesive innings.Wellington needed a dominating opening partnership to force their way back into the match, trailing as they did by more than 320 runs.They were quickly in trouble. Chris Nevin – suffering from a broken toe and opening the innings in an unuusal step – was out for 21 when they were 37. There followed a cavalcade of wicketfalls.Matthew Bell was out when Wellington was 37, Richard Jones when they were 46 and Luke Woodcock when they were 48. Woodcock had taken three catches as substitute keeper during Central’s second innings.Grant Donaldson, on 11, and Leighton Morgan, on 12, were not out when stumps were draw and Wellington was 71/4 but the only hope of victory seemed to lie with Central who will attempt to wrap up Wellington’s innings on the final day tomorrow.

PORT-OF-SPAIN – There was drama all the way through that drained the emotions and left finger nails chewed to the quick

Tony Cozier24-Apr-2002PORT-OF-SPAIN – There was drama all the way through that drained the emotions and left finger nails chewed to the quick.There was both the unexpected and the predictable and a bit of controversy to spice the ending. But the storyline on the final day of the second Test did not follow the script prescribed by the West Indies and the heroes were on the other side.Always striving to regain parity after India were sent in and compiled 262 for four on the opening day, the stoic West Indian effort finally exhausted itself just over an hour into the final session yesterday as they were dismissed for 275 in pursuit of a winning target of 313 to lose by 37 runs.An involved, colourful crowd of around 12 000, most heavily packed into the open Carib Stand, savoured every ball, willing the West Indies to an exceptional victory, but had to leave crest-fallen.They exploded at every boundary with the sound of a volcanic eruption. They booed in unison for the numerous roared Indian appeals, of which none was given.They applauded defensive blocks by the inadequate West Indian tailenders and cheered wildly even for Indian wides and no-balls.But they were also dumbfounded by the fall of their two likeliest match-winners, Brian Lara and Carl Hooper, in successive overs from the young left-arm swing bowler Asish Nehra an hour into the day and the customary collapse of the last six wickets for 38 that brought an end to an engrossing match.In the two hours, ten minutes in between, expectations were encouraged by an untroubled fifth wicket partnership of 73 between the two contrasting left-handers, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle.It was the only significant West Indian resistance and, in the end, the flags fluttering highest and the faces wreathed in smiles were east, not West, Indian.They were celebrating India’s third victory in their 34 Tests since they first came to the Caribbean in 1953 and on the same Queen’s Park Oval where they gained their previous two, in 1971 and 1976.In those triumphs, their bowling heroes were the magical spinners with magical names, Prasanna, Bishen Bedi, Chandrasekhar and Venkataraghavan.This time, they decided swing and seam would be their key to success, excluding their celebrated leg-spinner Anil Kumble to accommodate three fast bowlers, Nehra, his fellow left-armer Zaheer Khan and the experienced Javagal Srinath.Villified at home, they were vindicated by the outcome.The 22-year-old Nehra, in his first match of the series, seized the initiative with the wickets of Lara in his first over and Hooper in his second after which it was obvious a West Indian victory would depend on Chanderpaul, short and slim, and Gayle, tall and powerful.They responded with level-headed play that threatened Indian captain Saurav Ganguly with a nervous breakdown but, with a low order that had managed an average of 14 runs from the last four wickets in the previous six Tests, they would have to bat to within a few runs of the target.They couldn’t manage it.The West Indies resumed 182 short of their goal at 131 for two with their fortunes seemingly dependent on the stand between Lara and Hooper.Lara was 40 at the start but it was immediately evident he was gripped by the tension of the moment.He had not managed a hundred in his eight previous Tests at the Queen’s Park Oval that has been his home ground for club and country and there was no better time to make the breakthrough.Yet his uncertainty was clear when he signalled to the usually bacchanalian "Trini Posse" Stand to mute its music even before facing a ball.He spent an uncharacteristically nervous hour adding seven when he sparred at Nehra’s fourth ball that left him with an angled bat and edged a catch to Rahul Dravid at first slip. The method of dismissal was similar to that in the first innings when Zaheer was the bowler.The Oval was as hushed as the nearby Lapayreuse Cemetery as Lara turned and headed back to the pavilion. It was to remain so for some time.Positive from the start, Hooper stroked three boundaries in moving from one to 22 but, in Nehra’s next over, was out of position for a pull shot, tugging the ball from outside low off-stump low to Shiv Sunder Das at mid-wicket.The Indians whopped with joy at their crucial successes that left the West Indies 164 for four with Chanderpaul and Gayle the last specialist batsmen to be followed by the shaky wicket-keeper Junior Murray and the four negligible fast bowlers.Chanderpaul, as aggressive from the start as he was in his first Test 140 at Bourda, and Gayle, 21 as he resumed his innings interrupted by forearm cramp the previous day, saw the West Indies through to lunch at 210 for four.The mood around the ground was altogether more optimistic as the pair batted through nine overs with the second new ball on resumption without alarm.Ganguly, by now chewing on his fingers and conversing with his bowlers after almost every ball, replaced Nehra with the less menacing Zaheer.The crowd’s roar after he sent his first ball so far outside Chanderpaul’s off-stump it was signalled wide immediately changed to shocked quiet when Gayle carelessly slapped the next delivery straight and chest-height to cover.The 22-year-old Jamaican batted with astute judgement for 176 balls all told for his 52, quick to put away the loose balls as his eight fours indicated. But his demise set off the almost inevitable after-shocks.Junior Murray, all pent-up nerves after the ducks in his previous two innings, got an ironic cheer when he got off the mark but promptly and ridiculously ran himself out – probably right out of the team.He charged down the pitch as Srinath’s delivery deflected fine on the leg-side and, as Chanderpaul turned him back, was well short on wicket-keeper Ajay Ratra’s return to Sunder Das by the stumps.Next ball, Dillon’s middle stump received an awful crack as he played back and the match was as good as over.Marlon Black spent 24 balls as Chanderpaul’s partner, then gloved Srinath’s lifter to short-leg, Adam Sanford’s ambitious drive at Nehra took leg-stump by way of inside edge in the over after tea and, after 55 minutes and 29 balls of solid forward defence, Cameron Cuffy steered Zaheer to gully to complete India’s victory.Chanderpaul remained until the end, unbeaten 67 after four and a half hours and 162 balls of solid resistance. But for a baffling decision on the television replay by third umpire, Eddie Nicholls, he, not Cuffy, would have been the last wicket and India would have won by 43 runs, not 37.Standing umpire Asoka deSilva sought Nicholls, verdict on whether Chanderpaul’s edge off Srinath was a bump-ball catch to the diving wicket-keeper Ratra. The Indians were aghast when the green light flashed to keep Chanderpaul in for several replays indicated an authentic dismissal.In the end, it was immaterial but it was a final exclamation mark to the generally ordinary standard of umpiring in the match.

Celtic have reportedly won the race for Scunthorpe United youngster Joey Dawson.

The Lowdown: Dawson’s record-breaking past

Dawson, who appears to be on his way to Parkhead, became the youngest player in Scunthorpe’s history back in 2019.

He was just 16 years, 75 days old when he played in the Carabao Cup for the Iron.

Dawson, who can play as an attacking midfielder or a striker, is also the nephew to Tottenham Hotspur hero Michael Dawson, who made 325 appearances for Spurs between 2005 and 2014.

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The Latest: Dawson passes Celtic medical

According to Iron Bru, Dawson has rejected a long-term deal at Scunthorpe.

He was attracting interest from a number of Championship clubs but has now reportedly passed a medical ahead of a proposed move to Scotland.

The Hoops will have to pay a fee for Dawson, but he appears to be a player who fits the club transfer strategy of being a UK-based prospect available for a nominal fee.

The Verdict: Howe’s first signing?

Reports have suggested that Eddie Howe has agreed to become the new Celtic manager, with an official announcement possibly spilling into next week.

With Howe agreeing on a Celtic Park deal, you’d expect he would be fully aware of a move for Dawson.

So, it appears as if the teenager could become Howe’s first signing as Hoops boss, should the 43-year-old be announced prior to Dawson.

Celtic have already secured the services of Sheffield Wednesday’s Liam Shaw on a pre-contract, and with the pending arrival of Dawson, it appears as if the Hoops are looking at building for the future.

In other news: Olivier Ntcham contract speculation refuted, find out more here.