All posts by h716a5.icu

Everton’s Farhad Moshiri could hire the club’s own Marcelo Bielsa in Ralf Rangnick this summer, after confirmation of Carlo Ancelotti’s departure to Real Madrid.

What’s the story?

The shock news that Ancelotti would be making his return to the Santiago Bernabeu has left the Toffees in the lurch in terms of hiring a new boss, and already, there have been plenty of names linked with the top job.

And now, according to The Telegraph, Everton are eyeing a move for the 62-year-old Rangnick, who is currently out of football after leaving his position as head of sport and development at Red Bull.

The report adds that fellow Premier League side Spurs are also interested in him, so the Toffees may have to get a move on to get him through the door.

Everton’s own Bielsa

Given the fine success and plaudits Bielsa has earned at Leeds after the Yorkshire club’s impressive return to the Premier League, finding Everton’s own version of the Argentine could really help transform the Toffees just like Bielsa has at their Elland Road counterparts.

And in Rangnick, they could find exactly that man.

The Athletic described his approach as being “Bielsa-esque” as he plays a high-pressing game that looks to dominate on the front-foot – it’s perhaps no surprise then that he is actually renowned as being the pioneer of the ‘gengenpress’ system.

As well as that, Rangnick has also been dubbed as “a professor, a scientist of football,” and the “architect” of RB Leipzig’s rise into a Champions League outfit, bringing through the likes of Timo Werner, Naby Keita and Marcel Sabitzer in his time there at the club.

And when links emerged between Rangnick and Spurs, former Leeds man Noel Whelan spoke of the kind of similar impact that he could have just like Bielsa at Leeds.

He said: “When you’ve got experience, that amount of knowledge in the game and you’ve helped along some really fantastic managers to present, you do think to yourself: ‘The German Marcelo Bielsa.’

“Bielsa had that with Pochettino and other managers as well, that massive respect. You look for somebody that can improve a team, that has experience. However, we didn’t know too much about Marcelo Bielsa when he came to Leeds United. Let’s not start judging until he’s started the season and see where they end up. You can never rule out anybody at any age.”

Given how Leeds fans have taken to Bielsa, both in terms of the results and the attacking football the Argentine has instilled at the club, the same could happen on Merseyside were Moshiri able to convince Rangnick to take the reins at Goodison Park.

Toffees fans would be buzzing to have someone transform their club like Rangnick could do.

And in other news, Brands is heading for a summer transfer disaster at Everton.

England’s cricketers needed just 18 overs on the final morning at Durban to wrap up a thumping innings-and-98-run victory in the second Test

The Bulletin by Andrew Miller30-Dec-2009England 574 for 9 dec (Bell 140, Cook 118) beat South Africa 343 (Kallis 75, Smith 75) and 133 (Swann 5-54) by an innings and 98 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsGraeme Swann – nine wickets in the match•Getty ImagesEngland’s cricketers needed just 18 overs on the final morning at Durban to wrap up a thumping innings-and-98-run victory in the second Test, as South Africa’s tail crumbled under the sheer weight of scoreboard pressure bearing down on them following the team’s desperate performance on the fourth evening. Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad were once again the stand-out performers, as they shared nine of the ten wickets in the innings, with Swann claiming the spoils with 5 for 54 in 21 overs.South Africa resumed their fight on 76 for 6, with Mark Boucher and Morne Morkel entrenched in a 26-run stand for the seventh wicket, and though Morkel pulled Broad with some confidence through midwicket for the first boundary of the day, he was unable to deal with the wiles of Swann, who continued once again his extraordinary penchant for striking early in a spell.In total, Morkel faced three deliveries from Swann, and might have been dismissed by the lot. The first was tossed up from round the wicket and spun sharply past his edge. The second was snicked to slip, where Andrew Strauss – deputising in that position for the injured Paul Collingwood – couldn’t get a hand on the chance. The third, however, was the perfect follow-up. Fuller, flatter, and faster, and Morkel barely moved his pad before he’d been pinned lbw for 15.Paul Harris was the next man in, and he received a rough reception from Broad in particular, who sensed a vulnerability to the short ball, and tested it to the max with a barrage of lifters that struck him variously on the chest, ribs and armpit. But he did his best to endure as he anchored himself on the back foot, and each of his first three fours came from steers through point off Broad, only one of which was genuinely involuntary.The real body blow for South Africa’s faint hopes occurred at the other end, however. Boucher is one of the best scrappers in world cricket, but the magnitude of this particular task proved to be beyond him. On 29, Broad fizzed a lifter down the leg-side, and there was an audible snick as the ball flew through to Matt Prior behind the stumps. Umpire Aleem Dar initially turned down the appeal, but Strauss and his team-mates were convinced, and the referred decision showed a clear deflection off the glove.Harris did his best to hang in there, edging Swann through third man before cracking him more emphatically down the ground for another boundary, at which point Strauss decided it was time for a change. James Anderson entered the attack from the Umgeni End, and he needed only four balls to make the breakthrough, as Harris was deceived by late swing from a full length, and Broad – though denied a shot at a five-wicket haul – nevertheless made good ground at mid-off to scoop a low catch.Instead the honour of the five-for went to Swann, the man who had set the collapse in motion before tea on the fourth day. Dale Steyn propped forward in front of off and was instantly sent on his way lbw for 3, and England’s fielders hurtled from the field to begin their celebrations. The final Test of the decade had finished as a remarkable innings victory for England, their first in South Africa since 1964, as they set off to Cape Town with their spirits soaring and the series seemingly theirs to lose.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 ticketing computer is currently busyprocessing applications for individual match tickets on the Ticket Windowrandom draw system

WC Press Release30-Nov-2002The ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 ticketing computer is currently busyprocessing applications for individual match tickets on the Ticket Windowrandom draw system.The Ticket Window was open between October 8-November 22, during which thepublic was invited to make application for 100 000 tickets available forindividual CWC matches.The computer is now randomly drawing applications and the process is beingmonitored by auditors Deloitte & Touche.Towards the end of next week, applicants will be contacted via email toinform them of their success or otherwise.No tickets will be on sale to anyone other than those who are notified oftheir success in the Ticket Window.Successful applicants will be sent a Transaction Reference number and maythen purchase their tickets through any of the following mechanisms:The ICC CWC 2003 Website: www.cricketworldcup.com.The ICC CWC 2003 Call Centre – 083 123 2003 (International +27 83 123 2003).Any of the ICC CWC 2003 Stadiums in South Africa.The recommended method of purchasing the tickets is either through thewebsite or the call centre. Payment can be made by credit card, and ticketswill be delivered to the physical address specified by the applicant, freeof charge anywhere in South Africa.A delivery charge of R120 is levied for international deliveries.Successful applicants may choose to collect their tickets at any of theStadiums, but must take their Transaction Reference number and ID documentor passport along when doing so.If successful applicants contact the the call centre or go to any of thestadiums, they must have their ID or passport ready.Tickets must be purchased on or before 10 January 2003, otherwise thereservation will be released.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has revealed Glasgow Rangers have closed the Old Firm revenue gap by a huge £48m.

The Lowdown: Rangers could be in for CL finance boost

Last term, the Gers won the Premiership title for the first time in 10 years, a huge achievement for the club from a sporting point of view.

However, financially, it could be even bigger, as their success means they will enter the Champions League in the third qualifying round – they are therefore just two rounds away from the lucrative group stages on the competition.

The Latest: Maguire provides update

Speaking to Football Insider, Maguire has revealed the Gers have closed the gap to Celtic in terms of revenue by £48m, and could even overtake their fierce city rivals provided they do well in Europe. He said:

“The revenue gap was £59million between the two and now it’s decreased to £11m. That was without Rangers playing in the Champions League.

“They need just one good season where they are more successful in Europe. If they are in the Champions League and Celtic are in the Europa League, for example.

“We are reaching an intersection point if Rangers are successful in the preliminary rounds.”

The Verdict: The right direction

As has been well-documented, the Gers have had their finance difficulties this century. In 2012, they went into administration (BBC) and, as a result, they were demoted to the fourth tier of the Scottish footballing pyramid. It has taken them a long time to get back to where they belong.

Now, though, things are on the up. Success domestically is a building block for positive European runs. If the Gers do reach the Champions League group stages and Celtic fail to do so, that could put them in a very strong position for a good few years to come.

In other news, Rangers fans were livid as this video emerged.

Somerset go into their county championship match against Kent at Taunton tomorrow knowing that nothing short of an outright victory will be enough to help them to escape relegation to the second division next season

Richard Walsh03-Sep-2002Somerset go into their county championship match against Kent at Taunton tomorrow knowing that nothing short of an outright victory will be enough to help them to escape relegation to the second division next season.Earlier this season when the two sides met at Canterbury it was the `White Horse’ county who came out on top. Since then Kent have recruited the services of Aussie superstar Steve Waugh, himself a former Somerset player, to boost their championship chances.Everyone in the Somerset camp is only too well aware of the situation that they find themselves in.Captain Jamie Cox told me: "We need to win this one, because we are sitting last at the moment and the only way that we can improve our position is to win matches. If we don’t win then we will be playing in the bottom division next season which we don’t want, but I am confident that we will be staying up in the top flight."All rounder Mike Burns told me: "This is another huge game for us, and if we perform as well as we did in our last home game then we should win. We had a shocker at Blackpool but we played well against Warwickshire down here, its just a pity that we couldn’t take that last wicket."The former Warwickshire player continued: "I reckon that we need to win at least two of our remaining games and get good points from the other to stay up, and I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t. Everybody is thinking that we can stay up, and we have bailed ourselves out of this sort of situation before."Somerset coach Kevin Shine told me: "We are looking for a win, its as simple as that."What was the side likely to be I asked the coach. He told me: "We have a few aches after our hectic weekend and will not decide on a final line up until the morning."With Andy Caddick and Marcus Trescothick both back on England duty the squad for the match will be: Jamie Cox, Matt Wood, Mike Burns, Peter Bowler, Keith Parsons, Ian Blackwell, Rob Turner, Keith Dutch, Richard Johnson, Matt Bulbeck, Stefan Jones and Piran Holloway

Leicester City could be offered Joe Willock in a player-plus-cash deal by Arsenal as they attempt to prize James Maddison away from the King Power Stadium.

What’s the story?

That’s according to The Express, who claim Gunners chief Edu is hoping to slash the Foxes’ £60 million asking price in half by including Willock as part of a deal for the England international.

Maddison has been one of Leicester’s standout performers since arriving back in 2018 and was unfortunate not to be included in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2020 squad.

Rudkin risks ruining Rodgers’ project

The former Norwich City ace has been central to the success of the Midlands outfit in recent years, bagging 27 goals and providing 20 assists in 118 appearances, winning the FA Cup along the way.

While Maddison’s magnificent performances have understandably attracted attention from one of the Premier League traditional ‘Big Six’ clubs, director of football Jon Rudkin must refuse the proposed bid if Edu does make the offer.

Leicester have founded their recent success off the back of incredibly smart work in the transfer market.

Young stars such as N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez and Harry Maguire have been picked up for minimal fees before being sold on for astronomical profits a few years later.

The proceeds have then been wisely reinvested into the first-team squad, allowing Brendan Rodgers’ charges to punch well above their weight.

However, after two consecutive fifth-place finishes, it’s time for that tactic to come to an end. If Leicester want to become a Champions League club, then they must act like one.

Realistically though, if the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, or Chelsea come in for one of their prized assets then there’s not much the club’s hierarchy can do to stop them from leaving.

But the Gunners have finished below the King Power Stadium side for the last two years and face a first season without European football for 25 years next term.

Allowing Mikel Arteta’s men to poach one of their most important men when Arsenal are at their lowest point in recent history would have the potential to ruin the project Rodgers has worked so hard on over the last two-and-a-half years.

Willock may be a very talented player, but he’s not at Maddison’s level, and the domino effect could be even more costly for Rudkin and co.

And, in other news…Leicester must land “ferocious” £6.3m-rated gem with more key passes than Maddison 

Somerset Second Eleven have suffered the effects of the weather on both of the first two days of their three day championship match against Yorkshire at Taunton

Richard Walsh08-Aug-2002Somerset Second Eleven have suffered the effects of the weather on both of the first two days of their three day championship match against Yorkshire at Taunton.Yesterday the visitors scored 250 for 3 before the rains fell to put paid to the day just before teatime.Today play did not get underway until 1.30pm, and then after just 8.5 overs the rains fell again and play was abandoned for the day with Yorkshire having taken their score onto 290 for 3.With heavy rain having fallen since play ended, both teams could well face another frustrating day on Friday.

Hampshire Second XI coach Tony Middleton is preparing to put his youngest ever Academy side into the field in tomorrow’s key Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 championship clash at Easton & Martyr Worthy, 1pm

Mike Vimpany (as published in Daily Echo)31-Jul-2002Hampshire Second XI coach Tony Middleton is preparing to put his youngest ever Academy side into the field in tomorrow’s key Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 championship clash at Easton & Martyr Worthy, 1pm.It’s a vital game in the title stakes, with just one point separating the Academy from Easton.But Middleton isn’t worried that neither Jimmy Adams nor Chris Benham, whose unbeaten 64 won last week’s game with Lymington, will miss the Cockets Mead clash."As I’ve said all along, this is a development exercise and it will be great experience for these youngsters to learn what it’s like going to places like Easton."They are a super little village side, very difficult to beat in their own little bowl – and a team that, above all, will be going full tilt to beat us," he said.Easton, narrowly beaten at the Rose Bowl earlier this season, will be looking to Australian country boy Francis Gill and the Green brothers to fire them.Lymington, who fell behind in the promotion race after last weekend’s two wicket defeat by the Academy, send out an unchanged side against Sparsholt at the Sports Ground.With Kevin Foyle now available, Sparsholt have a greater middle-order presence, but will need to be wary of how their bowlers cope on Lymington’s shirt-front pitch, which is usually a batsman’s paradise.United Services, effectively out of the contest after three successive defeats, should get their season back on course at Hungerford, who are not yet safe.Trojans face a `must win’ home game against arch rivals Old Tauntonians & Romsey at Stoneham Lane.They are falling behind in the relegation survival stakes and, if Rowledge happen to beat Winchester KS, could find themselves cast adrift at the bottom.Dave Booton has a broken finger and may also miss Rowledge’s National Village Championship quarter-final tie with Langleybury on Sunday.Purbrook have stolen a seven-point march on St Cross Symondians at the top of Premier 3 after last week’s dramatic two-wicket win.They will expect to win at Leckford, while St Cross face a difficult home test against in-form New Milton, who have climbed in to a challenging position after winning five games in a row.Third-placed Hursley Park go to Flamingo, with Alton aiming to halt a run of three successive defeats at Hook & Newnham Basics, who are gradually inching away from trouble.Hartley Wintney will slip further into the mire if they fail at Havant II, where skipper Matt Gover is beginning to reassert his bowling authority with eight wickets in the past fortnight.

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley will not get rid of Steve Bruce, says Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry.

At one point, it did look like Bruce’s job was in real danger, with The Telegraph reporting at the start of April that relegation to the Championship would have possibly forced Ashley’s hand.

In the end, though, Bruce was obviously able to keep Newcastle up after picking up some brilliant results in the final stretch of the campaign.

And now, unless the Tyneside club are taken over, Fry cannot see Bruce going anywhere. Speaking about what the future could hold for Newcastle, the former manager told FFC:

“I think if Mike Ashley’s in charge, he’ll leave Steve in charge, no doubt about that whatsoever.

“If somebody else comes in and buys the club off him, then they’ve got their own ideas, and normally if a consortium takes over a club, they’ve got their own manager, their own management team all set up before they take over.”

Newcastle’s future as a football club has been up in the air, or more so, since the attempted takeover by a Saudi Arabian-backed consortium, which includes Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF, PCP Capital Partners and Reuben Brothers. What happens next is now anyone’s guess.

Fulham manager Scott Parker is attracting interest from one of the Cottagers’ Championship rivals this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by The Sun, who claim that the Bournemouth hierarchy are contemplating parting company with their incumbent manager, Jonathan Woodgate, in the coming months, with Parker lined up as a potential replacement for the 41-year-old.

It is reported that the Bournemouth bosses are far from happy with Woodgate’s failure to achieve promotion through the play-offs, with the Fulham manager seen as an alternative who could go one better than the former Leeds United defender at the Vitality Stadium next term.

Khan must not allow Parker’s exit

Despite Fulham’s relegation from the Premier League last season, Parker has demonstrated in his time at Craven Cottage that he is more than deserving enough to have a shot at getting the Cottagers back to the top flight of English football next term.

Over his 105 fixtures in charge of the club, the 40-year-old has overseen 37 victories, 25 draws and 43 losses, picking up an average of 1.3 points per game – a decent record considering he took over an all-but-relegated Fulham side in the club’s 2018/19 Premier League campaign.

And, having guided Fulham back to the top flight at the first time of asking in the 2019/20 season, as well as earning plaudits for installing an eye-catching brand of football in west London, if Shahid Khan were to allow one of Fulham’s potential promotion rivals to poach the promising manager this summer it would easily go down as being one of the Fulham owners’ biggest mistakes throughout his tenure at the club.

Indeed, it has been reported that Parker’s future at the club is shrouded in doubt as Khan felt let down by the manager’s comments regarding Fulham’s transfer business last season, with the owner thought to be considering pulling the trigger on Parker’s sacking this summer.

However, this would more than likely be a decision that Fulham fans would simply not forgive Khan for, as the Cottagers very much appear to be a club on the up under the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder.

In other news: Fulham confirm transfer news on “valuable” £24k-p/w flop which will leave fans furious