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Crystal Palace chiefs tell Parish there's a £25m midfielder he must sign

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has now been told by club chiefs to sign a “special” £25 million star this summer, according to a new report.

Crystal Palace eye multiple free transfers

The Eagles have still got an FA Cup final to prepare for this season, but already club chiefs are working hard behind the scenes to bring in new players this summer. Winning the FA Cup would see Palace play European football next season, and that might have something to do with the fact that the club are not wasting any time when it comes to contacting potential transfer targets.

Crystal Palace make enquiry to sign 28 y/o on free transfer ahead of Fulham

Crystal Palace are now in a race with Fulham to sign an experienced midfielder from La Liga.

ByBrett Worthington May 7, 2025

It’s been recently reported that Palace have made an enquiry to sign midfielder Yvan Neyou, who will leave Leganes at the end of the season. The 28-year-old will be a free agent this summer, and Palace as well as Fulham have already made contact over a move to England.

As well as Neyou, the South Londoners have also been in contact with the agents of Junior Firpo over a possible move to Selhurst Park. The attacking left-back looks set to leave Leeds United when his contract expires, and Palace have now joined the long list of teams who are keen on snapping him up.

The free transfer targets don’t stop there, as a report has now revealed that the Eagles are close to signing Bright Osayi-Samuel from Fenerbahçe. Palace have offered a four-year deal to the right-back worth £3.8 million a season, and it seems to be enough to bring him to Selhurst Park.

Parish now told to sign £25m Newcastle star

According to The Everything is Black and White Podcast, relayed by The Chronicle, Crystal Palace officials have recommended signing Newcastle United’s Joe Willock.

Joe Willock

Toon podcast host Andrew Musgrove revealed that Palace chiefs have put the idea forward to Parish: “I’ve been told that transfer chiefs at Crystal Palace have recommended Willock to Steve Parish and that they think they can get him. I think that move would work out for them.”

Willock, who was once dubbed a “special talent” by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, has been at Newcastle since August 2021, during which he has been a regular in the side. However, this season the 25-year-old has found it hard to nail down a regular starting spot, as he’s started just 11 of the 30 Premier League games he’s played.

Willock has fallen down the pecking order behind the likes of Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, and therefore he could be a player the Magpies look to move on this summer.

Apps

157

Goals

15

Assists

9

His arrival at Palace could take some of the burden off finding a direct replacement for Eberechi Eze, who may be on his way out of Selhurst Park. Willock may not have produced the numbers Eze has, but the Newcastle man has shown that he can produce moments of quality in the Premier League, and his goals from midfield would take some pressure off any attacking signings.

Newcastle spent £25 million to get him from Arsenal, and the likelihood is that they are going to want to get their money back for the midfielder, who still has two years left to run on his contract.

Worth way more than Manhoef: Celtic have struck gold on "breathtaking" star

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

That nagging sense of complacency was somewhat put to bed following Saturday’s thumping 5-1 win at home to Kilmarnock, with Champions-elect Celtic surging into a four-goal lead inside 25 minutes to nudge themselves even closer to a fourth successive Premiership title.

Such an emphatic result represented a perfect response following the shock defeat to bottom side St Johnstone a week earlier, with manager Brendan Rodgers having stated his players may now be “too comfortable”, amid a run of three defeats in six league games.

Even amid the weekend win at Parkhead, however, Rodgers’ point still stands, with the Northern Irishman suggesting that “change is needed”, having outlined his desire to “improve the team”.

The Hoops did notably move to bring Jota back to the club in January, albeit with that switch seeing Kyogo Furuhashi head to Stade Rennais in the opposite direction, with the Old Firm side still needing to strengthen, rather than merely seeking to plug the gaps.

Thankfully, as far as Rodgers is concerned, it would appear that work is already being done on bringing in fresh faces ahead of next season, with rumours rife regarding the Glasgow side’s interest in Million Manhoef.

Why Celtic are targeting Million Manhoef

As reported in recent days, the Hoops appear to be among the clubs interested in signing the Stoke City sensation this summer, with the 23-year-old having dazzled across the last year or so in the EFL.

The suggestion is that Rodgers has set his sights on signing the winger amid the need for increased depth in the attacking ranks, with Honduran forward Luis Palma set to depart permanently at the end of the season, following his current loan stint at Olympiakos.

It was not revealed how much the Dutchman would cost this summer, albeit with Celtic likely hoping to strike a deal for close to the £3m fee that Stoke paid to snap Manhoef up from Vitesse Arnhem back in February 2024.

The Netherlands U21 international has made his way onto Rodgers’ radar amid his sparkling displays for a struggling side of late, with the right winger registering ten goals and assists for the Championship side in all competitions this season.

With 15 goal involvements in total for the Potters in 49 outings – after previously racking up 30 in 88 games in Holland – the in-demand forward has that golden touch in the final third, with the hope being that he can kick on again should he move to Glasgow.

There will also be optimism that Manhoef can follow in the footsteps of another exciting, left-footed winger who has since dazzled in green and white.

Celtic have struck gold on 'breathtaking' star

Whether it has been the lack of competition at the summit, or their cruel exit from the Champions League, it’s fair to say that Celtic have somewhat stepped off the gas in recent weeks, amid those defeats to Hibernian, Rangers and the Saints.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Among those who have looked particularly off the boil in 2025, in general, is Nicolas Kuhn, with the 25-year-old – who did score in the second-leg clash with Bayern Munich – having failed to find the back of the net in the league since early February.

Such a drop-off is certainly a reason for concern – with Chris Sutton pinpointing the German’s ‘attitude’ as a potential problem – although it shouldn’t overshadow what has largely been a stunning campaign for the wing wizard, amid his return of 36 goals and assists in just 45 games in all competitions.

Who can forget his stunning brace against RB Leipzig, or that finish on the break against Bayern? Yes, his form has slumped of late, but at his best, the former Rapid Vienna star truly is “breathtaking”, in the words of pundit Marvin Bartley.

Regardless of his impact in recent months, it still appears that Rodgers and co struck a bargain by managing to land Kuhn from his former employers for just £3m during the 2024 winter window, with reports already linking him with a £25m exit to the Premier League.

Games (starts)

28 (21)

31

Goals

10

5

Assists

8

4

Big chances created

10

10

Big chances missed

9

9

Key passes*

1.7

1.6

Pass accuracy*

76%

79%

Successful dribbles*

1.9

1.5

Possession lost*

11.3

13.4

That would represent a mammoth profit on a player who had actually only recorded seven goals and ten assists in 51 games during his time in Vienna, thus boasting a similar record to what Manhoef has achieved at Stoke.

Hopefully, if the Dutchman does link up with Rodgers this summer he can emulate the success of Kuhn on the flanks, although at present, it is clear to see who the superior talent is. Indeed, as per Transfermarkt, Kuhn is now deemed to be worth around €12m (£10m), while the Stoke star, by contrast, is currently worth just €3.5m (£2.5m).

As Rodgers has shown with the German to date, however, he could just be the perfect coach to nurture Manhoef and turn him into yet another exciting, young attacking talent for the Hoops.

The next Liel Abada: Celtic plotting exciting move for £3m star

Celtic are reportedly interested in signing a star who could be Liel Abada 2.0 fo the club.

1 ByDan Emery Apr 14, 2025

Is Virat Kohli's 76 the highest individual score in a T20 World Cup final?

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

And how many World Cups have featured two teams reaching the final undefeated?

Steven Lynch02-Jul-2024Was Virat Kohli’s 76 last Saturday the highest score in a T20 World Cup final? asked Armugam Lokesh from India
That important innings of 76 by Virat Kohli was the highest of the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Bridgetown, but there have been five higher scores in the course of the previous eight such finals – including Kohli’s own 77 against Sri Lanka in Mirpur in 2014.There have been two scores of 85 in T20 World Cup finals. The first, which was not out, was by Marlon Samuels, for West Indies against England in Kolkata in 2016; New Zealand’s Kane Williamson was out for 85 against Australia in Dubai in 2021. Samuels also hit 78 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2012.Was Louis Kimber’s double-century the other day the fastest ever in terms of balls received? asked David Powell from England
That astonishing onslaught by Leicestershire’s Louis Kimber broke several records, for the English first-class game at least. Kimber blasted 243 against Sussex in Hove last week, and reached his double-century in just 100 balls, the fastest in England (beating 123 by Aneurin Donald for Glamorgan against Derbyshire in Colwyn Bay in 2016). The only faster double-century in all first-class cricket came from 89 balls, by the Afghanistan batter Shafiqullah Shinwari, playing for Kabul against Boost in Kunar in 2018.During his innings, Kimber smote no fewer than 21 sixes, surpassing the County Championship record of 17, established two years ago by Ben Stokes for Durham against Worcestershire at New Road. In all first-class cricket the record remains 26 sixes, by Tanmay Agarwal during his 366 for Hyderabad against Arunachal Pradesh in Secunderabad in January 2024.Kimber had come in at No. 8, at 144 for 6, with Leicestershire still 320 short of their target of 464, but took them agonisingly close – when he eventually dragged the ball into his stumps, only 19 more runs were needed. The only higher scores from No. 8 in first-class cricket are Cecil Maxwell’s 268 for Sir Julien Cahn’s XI against Leicestershire in West Bridgford in 1935, and Wasim Akram’s unbeaten 257 for Pakistan in a Test against Zimbabwe in Sheikhupura in 1996-97.The 59th over of Leicestershire’s innings, delivered by the England Test seamer Ollie Robinson, cost 43 runs. The sequence was 6,4,4,6,4,4,4,4,1, the second, sixth, and eighth deliveries being no-balls that also incurred two-run penalties. The only first-class over to leak more runs was the somewhat contrived instance of 77 by Wellington’s Bert Vance, in a New Zealand Shell Trophy match against Canterbury in Christchurch in 1989-90: he bowled 17 deliberate no-balls, most of them inviting full-tosses, in an attempt to keep the opposition interested in chasing their target. In the end the umpires and scorers lost count: there were only five legitimate balls in the over, and Canterbury finished just one short of victory, as this article recalls. John Morrison, Wellington’s captain, said: “I nearly had heart failure when I learnt a little time after the game that Canterbury only needed one to win.”Louis Kimber’s double-century, off 100 balls, is the second fastest in all first-class cricket, behind only Shafiqullah Shinwari’s 200 off 89 for Kabul in 2018•Leicestershire CCCHas any World Cup final featured two teams who were undefeated in the lead-up to the final, as the 2024 T20 World Cup did? asked Prithvi Sreenivasan from the United States
You’re right that both India and South Africa were unbeaten on the way to the T20 World Cup final in Bridgetown last weekend. This hadn’t happened in a men’s T20 World Cup before but, in the days when there were fewer preliminary matches, it was the case at the 60-over World Cup in England in 1979, when England and West Indies were both unbeaten before meeting in the final at Lord’s.In the women’s game, it happened during the T20 World Cup in 2009 in England, when the hosts and New Zealand both won all their group games then prevailed in the semis. England won the final at Lord’s. A similar thing took place a year later in the West Indies: Australia and New Zealand won all their group games, then the semi-finals, before Australia squeaked a three-run win in the final in Bridgetown.Arguably it also happened at the women’s World Cup in India in 1978, when both England and Australia were undefeated before the last round-robin game in Hyderabad, which decided the trophy as there was no actual final. Australia won by eight wickets after England managed only 96 for 8 in their 50 overs.Has anyone ever taken all ten wickets in an innings on their first-class debut? asked Tahir Rashid Ahmed from Pakistan
The only man to achieve this did it a long time ago: seamer Albert Moss took all ten wickets for Canterbury against Wellington in his maiden first-class match, in Christchurch in 1889-90. Moss, who was 26, had not long emigrated to New Zealand from his native Leicestershire. He played only three further top-level matches, and finished with 26 wickets, the fewest of any of the 83 men who have taken ten wickets in a first-class innings.I saw that Geoff Boycott once carried his bat for 99 not out in a Test. Has anyone else done this? asked Michael O’Sullivan from England
Geoff Boycott carried his bat for 99 through England’s innings of 215 against Australia in Perth in 1979-80. The last man out was Bob Willis, who turned down the run that would have taken Boycott to three figures, because he wasn’t keen on facing Dennis Lillee. “I asked him why,” wrote Boycott, “and he said ‘Because he will get me out.’ I don’t suppose there is any answer to that, but I thought that Geoff Dymock from the other end, slanting the ball across the right-hander, represented just as big a threat to him.” He was right: Willis fell in the next over to Dymock for a duck, giving Australia victory.There are six other instances of a player scoring 99 not out in a Test, but none of those was by a player who also carried his bat. There have been five other cases of an opener carrying his bat for 99 in first-class cricket.Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Who is a genuine allrounder? Do Kallis, Hadlee and Jadeja fit the bill?

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Looking at it on the basis of players’ batting and bowling contributions per match throws up some interesting lists

Kartikeya Date04-Jul-2022In his book , Trevor Bailey wrote that an allrounder is a player who commands a place in the XI either as a batter or as a bowler. Another common definition accepts any player as an allrounder if their batting average exceeds their bowling average. Among the 399 Test players who have at least 50 wickets in men’s Test cricket to their name at the time of writing, 46 satisfy this condition. Take away bowlers who bowl fewer than 20 overs per Test match on average and 31 satisfy it. The newest addition to this list at the time of writing is Kyle Jamieson, who has 372 runs at 19.6 and 72 wickets at 19.5.Jamieson’s example points to the difficulties presented by Bailey’s definition for the statistical standard. The next three players on this list of 31, arranged by increasing batting averages, are Vernon Philander (24.0), Alan Davidson (24.6) and R Ashwin (26.9). While these three are not tailenders, they would not command a place in their respective Test teams for their batting alone. The allrounder remains difficult to define.The “genuine allrounder”, remains even more controversial. Is Jacques Kallis a genuine allrounder? Was Richard Hadlee one?Considering batters and bowlers by position, the average runs, wickets and balls bowled per match in each position are in the table below. Readers should note that a team has used an eighth bowler in only 244 out of 2466 Tests, while a tenth has only been used in 18 of those matches. By contrast, a team has used a sixth bowler in 2012 out of 2466 Tests. The figures suggest that a Test XI includes up to eight players who can be considered capable of batting (either as specialists or as capable lower-order bats), and up to six who can be considered capable of bowling (part-time or otherwise)

This enables a couple of tentative definitions. A “genuine allrounder” is one who averages at least 49.3 runs per match with bat and takes at least two wickets per Test with the ball – i.e. their contribution with the bat is equivalent to that of a player batting in the top seven, and with the ball, equivalent to that of a bowler in the top five bowling positions.The 54,287 Test caps won by players at the time of writing have been plotted in the chart below. They are arranged according to the two measures considered here – wickets per match and runs per match. As an example, Dale Steyn’s Test caps are highlighted in the chart (outlined circles with no fills).All caps in Test history, plotted by runs scored and wickets taken per match. Dale Steyn’s caps highlighted (outlined circles with no fill)•Kartikeya DateEach point on the chart represents one Test cap. A Test cap is a selection to a Test XI earned by a player. Over his career, Sachin Tendulkar earned 200 Test caps.The caps in blue represent the genuine allrounders. There are 943 such caps, or 1.7% of all Test caps in the history of the format.The caps in red represent players whose contributions are equivalent to those of a top-eight batter and a top-six bowler, but not those of a top-seven batter and top-five bowler. There are 3345 such caps, or 6.2% of all caps.The caps in grey represent specialist batters or specialist bowlers (like Steyn).There is a relatively small number of caps in the bottom left corner of the chart; players who don’t contribute with either bat or ball tend to be dropped. The vast majority of caps won by players with zero wickets per Test and fewer than 40 runs per Test have been won by wicketkeepers.This is illustrated in the chart below, which shows all Test caps earned by players who have played at least 20 Tests; numbers from their first 20 caps are excluded.All caps in Test history by players who have played at least 20 Tests, plotted by runs scored and wickets taken per match after the 20th match. Dale Steyn’s caps highlighted (outlined circles with no fill)•Kartikeya DateAny player who played less than 20 Tests overall does not feature in the chart above. As readers will note, the bottom left-hand corner is emptied out, and the chart only features the specialist bowlers (the grey cluster between two and six wickets per Test and fewer than 37 runs per Test), specialist batters (fewer than one wicket per Test and at least 37 runs per Test), and the two categories of allrounders.The ruthless meritocracy of Test cricket is illustrated in these two charts. Only 479 out of the 25,261 Test caps won by players who have played at least 20 Tests (or 1.9%) have been won by genuine allrounders. By his 20th Test, Dale Steyn’s record had stabilised and his caps since then all hover around his eventual career record mark. Eagle-eyed readers will see some caps around the 130-140 runs per Test mark in the chart. These belong to Don Bradman.Five categories of players can be readily identified based on their average contribution per match (not per dismissal) at the end of each match:1. Genuine allrounders, who contribute on average at least 49.3 runs per Test and 2.00 or more wickets per Test2. Bowling allrounders, who contribute on average between 37.0 and 49.3 runs per Test and at least 2.00 wickets per Test3. Batting allrounders, who contribute on average at least 49.3 runs per Test and between 1.03 and 2.00 wickets per Test.4. Specialist batters, who contribute at least 49.3 runs per Test and less than 1.03 wickets per Test.5. Specialist bowlers, who contribute at least 2.00 wickets per Test and fewer than 37.0 runs per Test.We now have a systematic account of player contributions. Here, let’s introduce an admittedly arbitrary, though hopefully reasonable, threshold. Let’s say that to qualify as a successful Test player, a candidate must earn at least 20 Test caps. If the thresholds above are applied to all such players, then there have been 13 genuine allrounders in the history of Test cricket, 17 bowling allrounders, and 15 batting allrounders.

The figures in the tables above contain some categorisations that might seem surprising to cricket fans. There were certainly phases in the careers of a few players who are not in the first table during which they would qualify as genuine allrounders.Imran Khan’s categorisation as a bowling allrounder seems noteworthy. As his Test career developed, his batting advanced, and towards the end, his bowling declined. His last 15 Tests (out of a total of 88) brought him 947 runs (out of a career total of 3807) and only 28 Test wickets (out of a career total of 362). Taken as a whole, his career, the record suggests, is more similar to that of a bowling allrounder (perhaps the foremost in this category) than it is to a genuine allrounder. It goes without saying (as Imran’s chart below shows) that he was among the very greatest bowlers to ever play Test cricket.All caps in Test history by players who have played at least 20 Tests, graphing runs scored and wickets taken per match after the 20th match. Imran Khan’s caps highlighted (outlined circles with no fill)•Kartikeya DateThe batting allrounders list shows Kallis as being more similar to Frank Worrell, Ted Dexter and Wally Hammond, than he is to Garry Sobers or Keith Miller.There are a few notable omissions in these lists. Four of these players are listed below.All caps in Test history by players who have played at least 20 Tests, graphing runs scored and wickets taken per match after the 20th match. Ravindra Jadeja’s caps highlighted (outlined circles with no fill)•Kartikeya DateThe method of categorising Test players demonstrated in this essay involves giving greater emphasis to contributions than to ability. In Ravindra Jadeja’s case, his recent Test matches have featured several eye-catching batting performances, and much like Imran’s, the trajectory of his career indicates that he is transitioning from being a top specialist bowler to a top bowling allrounder.All caps in Test history by players who have played at least 20 Tests, graphing runs scored and wickets taken per match after the 20th match. Shaun Pollock’s caps highlighted (outlined circles with no fill)•Kartikeya DateFew would doubt that Shaun Pollock had the ability to be a genuine allrounder, let alone a bowling allrounder. But his record shows that his batting was a scarcely utilised luxury.All caps in Test history by players who have played at least 20 Tests, graphing runs scored and wickets taken per match after the 20th match. Andrew Flintoff’s caps highlighted (outlined circles with no fill)•Kartikeya DateAndrew Flintoff’s career represents both the stress and the triumph of the all-round contribution. His was a career with a pronounced peak following a long apprenticeship. It is extremely difficult to sustain all-round efforts with bat and ball of the kind Flintoff produced for about three years, over the length of a career.All caps in Test history by players who have played at least 20 Tests, graphing runs scored and wickets taken per match after the 20th match. Richard Hadlee’s caps highlighted (outlined circles with no fill)•Kartikeya DateWhat the record really shows is that allrounders in Test cricket are born as much out of necessity as from ability. Teams use players in roles and positions that are most advantageous to the side, even if this means keeping some of a player’s capabilities on the shelf. England, for example, use Ben Stokes as a shock weapon when their specialist bowlers have been used up. Stokes is an attacking bowler who hits the pitch hard, is capable of being seriously quick from time to time, and is prepared to concede runs in the pursuit of wickets. England’s circumstances have turned him into a genuine all-round contributor.Some of these categorisations may come as a surprise to readers. But while there have unquestionably been notable Test allrounders who dominated Test cricket at their peak, there have also been others who were consistent all-round contributors throughout their careers. Admittedly, this was as much due to their ability as to the circumstances which provided opportunities for them.Tony Greig for instance, was a freak player, who, quite apart from being a terrific middle-order bat, could also bowl seam and spin (much like the great Sobers). This ability, and England’s need to field an allrounder once Ray Illingworth retired, gave Greig the opportunities to match his capabilities. His extraordinary record is the result. Would Jadeja have had a Test record similar to Shakib Al Hasan’s if he played in a Test team that could accommodate him in the middle order? Very likely, yes. It just so happens that Jadeja has played in a very strong Indian Test XI, where his spin bowling has been far more valuable than his batting.

In an alternative universe, Pollock, Jadeja, Kallis and Hadlee would all play for teams that would desperately require every last bit of their considerable all-round talents. In this universe, the list of the most prolific Test allrounders would look very different.

Balance and madness – when Marcus Stoinis gets it right

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

On some days, the real-world Stoinis and the Stoinis of our imaginations align perfectly and you get a T20 powerhouse

Karthik Krishnaswamy21-Sep-20203:10

IPL 2020: ‘Decorum’ v ‘Common sense’: Manjrekar and Moody discuss the short-run incident

If you were to close your eyes and think of the T20 hitter of the distant future, you’d probably picture someone who looks like Marcus Stoinis. Big, muscly, sitting deep in his crease to pummel your marginally misdirected yorker to distant parts.On some days, the real-world Stoinis and the Stoinis of our collective imaginations align perfectly, and you get an innings like, say, this one. At other times, there’s a disconnect, and he looks like a Renaissance sculpture attempting to wield a bat.Earlier this month, for instance, Stoinis walked in at No. 5 with Australia needing 36 off 30 balls to beat England in Southampton. He finished with 23 not out off 18 balls and England won by two runs.Stoinis has lately found more cheer batting further up the order, and the rest of that England tour brought him useful top-order runs but not enough to suggest he’d made any sort of breakthrough. Then he arrived at the IPL, where the Delhi Capitals only really had room for him in their lower middle order. It wasn’t like he could dictate where he would bat; this was his third franchise in his fifth season.He didn’t seem a certainty to play Sunday’s game against Kings XI Punjab, and it was probably his bowling that got him picked ahead of Alex Carey, who ended Australia’s England tour with a match-winning ODI hundred.The expectations, in short, were probably not sky-high. The Capitals were struggling when he walked in: 86 for 4 after 14 overs. His first three overs at the crease brought his team only 14 runs.Marcus Stoinis slammed a 21-ball 53 to lift the total•BCCIYou expect Andre Russell to defy that sort of scorecard with a blaze of sixes. Or Kieron Pollard. Stoinis, not so much.But sometimes, it only takes a few things falling in place.For one, Kings XI’s end-overs bowling was, for this level, not particularly great; too many of Chris Jordan’s slower balls landed right in Stoinis’ hitting arc, and both he and Sheldon Cottrell kept missing their lengths while attempting the yorker.But you need to do exceptionally well to face 14 balls of mediocre end-overs bowling and score 49 runs off them, especially on a day when the rest of your team-mates and extras have cobbled together 104 off 99. And it’s quite possible that Stoinis made Cottrell and Jordan’s efforts look worse than they actually were.The Stoinis who lit up Dubai on Sunday was a different Stoinis to the one who’d repeatedly played and missed in Southampton a few weeks ago. There seemed to be a greater sense of stability at the crease, a decisiveness in his footwork and execution.The most obvious change between Southampton and Dubai was in the guard he took. Against England, Stoinis had started with his back foot on middle and leg, and then made a small trigger movement across to off stump just before the bowler delivered. Here, he was starting on off stump, and deeper in his crease.At the innings break, Stoinis told that he had shifted his guard across as a response to bowlers trying to restrict him with wider lines and the wide yorker in particular. Fast bowlers often use this tactic against statuesque hitters like Stoinis, who rely on a stable base for their power and don’t move around their crease too much.By shifting his guard to off stump – and then moving further across in his trigger movement – Stoinis achieved a two-fold benefit. He was able to get closer to the line when the bowlers went wide of off stump, close enough to hit into unexpected areas. Jordan definitely wouldn’t have expected to see the first ball of his final over – which eventually went for an eye-watering 30 runs – sail over the square leg boundary.The off-stump guard also left Stoinis in a better position to deal with the full ball on the stumps. England’s quicks had cramped him for room with this straighter line in Southampton, landing the ball roughly in line with his toe. Here, whenever Jordan or Cottrell bowled a middle-and-leg line, Stoinis was far enough across his stumps to be able to place the ball either side of short fine leg. On one occasion, he even scooped a short ball from Cottrell over this fielder.Sitting deeper in his crease also reduced the margin for error when the Kings XI quicks attempted the yorker – when Cottrell underpitched in the 19th over, Stoinis drove him between mid-off and extra-cover, and when he served up a full-toss in compensation, he sliced it away between backward point and short third man.The slower ball is usually the best response to a batsman sitting deep in his crease, forcing him to reach for it and lose shape in the process, but on this day Stoinis was always perfectly balanced and Jordan’s offcutter in particular seemed too easy to pick out of the hand.The balance was perhaps the most striking feature of Stoinis’ innings. In Southampton, his trigger movement seemed a touch off-kilter, leading him to hurry through his shots, whereas in Dubai he was moving when he had to and staying perfectly still when he had to.Perhaps it was just a question of rustiness at the start of that England tour, after months spent without the feel of ball on bat. Perhaps that rustiness is gone now, and Stoinis has arrived in the UAE in perfect rhythm, ready to finally show the IPL what he is and what he can be.

Ryne Sandberg, Hall of Famer Who Helped Restore Cubs’ Glory, Dies at 65

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman and third baseman for the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies, died Monday, per the Cubs. He was 65.

Sandberg was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in 2024, and though he was briefly cancer-free later that year, the disease came back. He threw out the first pitch before Chicago's home opener as recently as April.

Born in Spokane, Wash., Sandberg was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and played 13 games with them in 1981. He was traded to the Cubs in Jan. 1982 in a move the Phillies would come to sorely regret.

After two solid seasons as a regular, Sandberg became a superstar in 1984. He slashed .314/.367/.520 with 19 home runs and 84 RBIs, leading the National League in bWAR, runs and triples. With his help, Chicago stopped its infamous postseason drought at 39 years, winning the East Division title.

It was the first of 10 All-Star years with the Cubs, who he also helped make the playoffs in 1989. He led the league in runs on two other occasions, and added a 40-home run season in 1990.

Well-liked throughout the game and long a strident evangelist of baseball's fundamentals, Sandberg managed Philadelphia from 2013 to '15. He went 119-159 in three seasons.

USMNT's Christian Pulisic likely to miss AC Milan’s clash with Lazio this weekend, says Massimiliano Allegri

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Christian Pulisic’s impressive season for AC Milan has hit another setback, with manager Massimiliano Allegri revealing the American is expected to miss this weekend’s Serie A matchup against Lazio. The winger, who scored the decisive goal in Milan’s derby win over Inter, withdrew from training on Wednesday due to muscular discomfort, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming fixture.

  • Getty Images Sport

    Pulisic is unlikely to play

    At his prematch news conference, Allegri said Pulisic “is unlikely to play,” while noting that there were still two days for the situation to change. He added that the rest of the squad is in good condition. Pulisic missed training on Wednesday after reporting muscular discomfort, prompting Allegri to be cautious given the American’s recent recovery from a hamstring issue.

    “Pulisic is unlikely to play, although there are still two days until the match and anything can happen,” Allegri said according to ESPN.

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  • Getty Images Sport

    Recent injury history

    The timing is particularly frustrating for Milan, as Pulisic had only recently returned to full fitness after a hamstring injury suffered during U.S. national team duty in October. He made a substitute appearance in Milan’s 2-2 draw with Parma on Nov. 8 before starting and scoring the winner in the derby against Inter on Nov. 23. With seven goals and two assists in just 10 appearances across all competitions this season, Pulisic has been instrumental to Milan’s strong start despite missing four games earlier in the campaign.

  • Impact on Milan's tactical approach

    The timing of the setback underscores Pulisic’s rise as Milan’s attacking catalyst since his €20 million ($22 million) move from Chelsea. His versatility under Allegri this season has made him a central piece of the system, with no player in Serie A producing more goal contributions than Pulisic since his arrival in 2023 (48, tied with Inter’s Lautaro Martínez).

    Losing Pulisic against a well-organized Lazio side would be a significant blow to Milan’s attacking options and could force tactical adjustments, especially with the Serie A title race tightening at this stage of the campaign.

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    What's next for Milan?

    Milan currently sit second in the Serie A table with 25 points, level with Napoli and just two points behind leaders Roma, making the Lazio fixture crucial to their title aspirations. 

Can Roma win the Serie A title? Fabio Capello backs surprise leaders to replicate his success after 24 years but warns AC Milan might have the upper hand

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Legendary Italian coach Fabio Capello has praised Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini for his impact in guiding the Giallorossi to the top of the Serie A table. The former AC Milan and Roma coach drew comparisons between Gasperini’s current Roma and his own title-winning side of 2000-01, but stressed that the team still lacks a prolific goal scorer akin to Gabriel Batistuta.

  • Getty Images Sport

    Capello's Scudetto winning Roma

    Capello famously moved from a traditional 4-4-2 to a more dynamic 3-4-1-2 formation, maximising the potential of key signings like Walter Samuel and Batistuta to guide Roma to their third and latest Serie A title almost 25 years ago. Combined with the brilliance of Cafu, Francesco Totti and Vincenzo Montella, Roma finished two points clear of Juventus at the top of Serie A.

    Gasperini’s Roma are drawing comparisons to that legendary side already this season. With 27 points following a convincing win over Cremonese, the capital club lead Serie A. Their defensive record is particularly impressive, having conceded only six goals – the best in the league. Like Capello’s squad, this Roma demonstrates tactical intelligence, defensive organisation, and the ability to capitalise on attacking moments. Capello himself has noted the familiar blend of discipline, resilience and strategic flexibility. If maintained, Gasperini’s side could etch their name in Roma’s rich history.

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  • Capello's praise

    In an interview with , Capello praised Gasperini for the confidence he has instilled in Roma and the way he has developed players like Paulo Dybala and Matias Soule, bringing out the best in them. 

    Capello said: “He has instilled strength, determination, character and, above all, consistency in this team. That's the hardest thing to do in Rome, an environment where people get carried away after victories and depressed after defeats. Maintaining focus is very complicated. Gasperini has been very good at instilling confidence in the players. He has had moments where he has tried to understand the characteristics of the players at his disposal, and I believe that he now knows everything they can give him. The players feel the confidence; they understand that the system of play is very demanding and they must always be alert and focused. He has developed players such as Dybala, but above all Soule. This means that the coach has got into the players' heads.”

    He added: “He knows how to motivate, he knows how to command respect in the dressing room and within the club, he knows how to convince players to do something different from what they are used to doing.”

    Capello also drew comparisons between Gasperini and himself during his title-winning Roma side of 2000–01, emphasizing the importance of a good goalscoring striker. He said, “Rome is a place that loves to enjoy itself, and for Gasperini, enjoyment means only winning: nothing else matters. He resembles me in this respect. The real enjoyment is winning, seeing the team do what they have prepared for, seeing the young players mature.”

    “In my first year, I had a team under construction, like this one, while in my second year we were looking for something more, a centre forward: we signed Batistuta. He was crucial.”

  • Capello feels Milan have the upperhand

    Roma’s struggles in attack remain a pressing concern. Of the top six teams, they have scored the fewest goals, underscoring the urgent need for a reliable number nine. The departures of Tammy Abraham to Besiktas and Eldor Shomurodov to Istanbul Basaksehir have left a significant gap in the frontline.

    The club expressed interest in Rasmus Hojlund, but he chose to join Napoli instead. Their loan acquisition of Evan Ferguson from Brighton has so far failed to make an impact, with the forward contributing just one goal and one assist in eight appearances. Artem Dovbyk has also struggled, managing only two goals and one assist. 

    Capello was quick to warn that with Roma juggling multiple competitions such as the Europa League and Coppa Italia along with Serie A, players may not have enough time to recover between games, giving AC Milan an edge as they only have Serie A and Coppa Italia to focus on. 

    "[Gasperini is] similar to me in this respect: the real pleasure is winning, seeing the team do what they've prepared, seeing the young players mature. He'll be on the ball until the end: Roma will be competitive," he added. “Let's not forget that Roma are involved in cup competitions, which are costly and don't allow for recovery, so this will probably favour Milan.”

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    Roma's Europa league clash

    Roma are set to face Midtjylland in the Europa League this week, aiming to replicate their strong league form on the European stage. So far, Roma have recorded two wins and two losses in four Europa League matches this season and will be looking to secure a positive result to boost their campaign.

Roma open talks to sign Mathys Tel in January amid Tottenham struggles as Evan Ferguson disappoints at Serie A title hopefuls

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Italian side Roma are interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur striker Mathys Tel on loan in the January window. Tottenham are not considering a permanent sale but are open to a loan move until the end of the season, having just signed the forward on a permanent basis in the summer. Roma are in the market for a striker after both Evan Ferguson and Artem Dovbyk failed to deliver the expected performances this campaign, leaving the team in need of a more reliable attacking option.

Roma's interest in Tel

Tel joined Tottenham permanently in the summer of 2025 for €35 million (£31m/$40m) after a promising six-month loan spell from Bayern Munich during the 2024-25 season. He made an immediate impact, scoring three goals and providing an assist while playing an important role in Spurs’ Europa League triumph. However, this season Tel has struggled for regular game time, attracting interest from Roma, who reports are closely monitoring his situation. Tottenham are unwilling to let the young striker leave on a permanent transfer but are open to a short-term arrangement. Roma are ready to propose a six-month loan in January, viewing Tel as a valuable reinforcement who can strengthen their attack without a long-term financial commitment.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRoma's striker problem

Roma find themselves in a strong position this season, sitting second in Serie A and boasting the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just five goals. However, their attacking output remains a major concern. Among the top six teams, Roma have scored the fewest goals, highlighting the urgent need for a reliable number nine. The club parted ways with Tammy Abraham, who joined Besiktas, and Eldor Shomurodov, who moved to Istanbul Basaksehir, leaving a noticeable void in the frontline. Roma had shown interest in Rasmus Hojlund, but he opted to join Napoli instead. Their loan signing of Ferguson from Brighton has not worked out so far, with the forward registering only one assist in seven games before suffering an injury in late October. Meanwhile, Dovbyk has struggled as well, managing just two goals and one assist. The search for a dependable striker continues.

Tel's underwhelming season at Tottenham

Tel’s rise began in August 2021 when, at just 16 years and 110 days, he made his debut for Rennes, becoming the youngest player to appear for the club and breaking Eduardo Camavinga’s record. His potential quickly drew attention across Europe, and in 2022 he secured a major move to Bayern. During his time in Germany, Tel scored 16 goals in 83 appearances and won two Bundesliga titles, establishing himself as one of Europe’s brightest young attacking talents.

A versatile forward, Tel is naturally a centre striker but is equally capable of playing across the entire frontline, including as a winger in a three-man attack. His pace, movement and ability to attack space make him a valuable option in multiple systems.

However, after joining Tottenham permanently following a positive loan spell, Tel has found minutes difficult to come by this season. He has featured for only 359 minutes under new manager Thomas Frank, who has consistently preferred Richarlison as his first-choice striker. This lack of playing time has raised questions about Tel’s short-term future, with interest emerging from other clubs eager to offer him more regular opportunities.

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AFPCan Gasperini revive Tel?

Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to push for a new striker in the upcoming transfer window, with Roma’s attack proving inconsistent this season. In the past, forwards like Duvan Zapata and Mateo Retegui have been crucial in bringing Gasperini’s dynamic, high-intensity tactics to life. A signing such as  Tel could provide the mobility, pace and finishing that Roma currently lack, potentially transforming them into genuine Scudetto contenders.

For Tel, a loan move to Roma would offer valuable playing time after limited opportunities at Tottenham. Working under Gasperini could significantly accelerate his development and help him unlock the next stage of his career.

Tottenham line up transfer kitty as Napoli set huge Scott McTominay demand

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Tottenham Hotspur will look to kick on once the January transfer window opens and could be willing to put their money where their mouth is to sign Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, but circumstances will need to align.

The Lilywhites have become a thorn in the side of many Premier League outfits this campaign due to their physicality and new-found ability to convert from set-pieces, making them a dangerous opposition to come up against on any given day.

Mohammed Kudus has shone in the forward areas and Spurs have earned a new lease of life after their domestic form last term, with Thomas Frank deserving of credit for managing to solidify the Lilywhites in all areas.

Despite his mixed start to life in North London, the Dane made clear before his side took on Chelsea that Xavi Simons is another figure he expects to come to life in the heart of his side.

He said: “Yes. No doubt about that. I’m not in doubt that Xavi will perform very well for us. That is down to him, to me, to the team, to everyone to get it done. The one thing you don’t have in football is time, but it will take time.

“It’s completely natural. Sometimes we can’t talk about processes and time and all that, but the reality is you need it, everyone needs it. I’m confident. I’m sure it will happen.”

Frank’s outfit appear to be solid from middle to front, that much is true, but there is always room for improvement when you are eyeing a slot in the Champions League places.

With that in mind, Spurs are now plotting a January bid for a star who they may be set to put their large transfer kitty towards.

Tottenham line up Scott McTominay amid huge Napoli demands

According to Football Insider, Tottenham will look to put their sizeable transfer kitty towards signing Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, who could be at the centre of an intriguing saga involving both parties.

Fabio Paratici has set his sights on the Scotland international and the money on offer could be a lure for the former Manchester United man to return to the Premier League. However, Pete O’Rourke believes it would take a ‘huge’ statement of intent from Spurs to push a deal over the line.

Scott McTominay’s time at Napoli

Appearances

47

Goals

17

Assists

7

He said: “Napoli won’t want to weaken their squad by losing such an important player like Scott McTominay. He’s under contract until 2028, so, to even consider selling him would be a huge fee as well.”

Intriguingly, the same report has floated the idea of Kobbie Mainoo joining Napoli, which could pave the way for movement to take place elsewhere, albeit that remains unlikely for now.

Tottenham are also eyeing another Serie A goalscorer

Still, McTominay has been a titan since joining the reigning Serie A champions in 2024 and has continued that form into this term, placing seven of his 16 shots taken on target, per Fotmob, hence why Frank is keen to do a deal.

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