All posts by h716a5.icu

Before Newcastle United took to the pitch against Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday night, supporters knew that ceding ground in the Premier League for a third successive match could prove detrimental to their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

Trepidation was in short supply from the bellowing St. James' Park home faithful, supporters turned from doubters to believers in their swathes after the exploits of the past 18 months, having cast aside the cynicism that in football is so often interlinked in negative results on the pitch.

Despite the recent defeat against Arsenal, and despite the away draw to imperilled Leeds United, the Magpies knew that victory would return and against high-flying Albion Eddie Howe's outfit produced a scintillating display of control, composure and creativity, emerging 4-1 victors and illustrating their Champions League credentials with a uniform display of steely conviction.

There were laudable performances from all angles, but it was Miguel Almiron, who didn't get on the score sheet himself, who dazzled with a dynamic performance for the ages on the right flank.

How did Miguel Almiron perform vs Brighton?

The high-octane Seagulls simply couldn't keep up for large portions of the affair, with Howe lauding his squad as "relentless" after a win which now leaves his side requiring just three more points to confirm top four.

And while Callum Wilson, Bruno Guimaraes and Dan Burn all etched their names onto the score sheet, it was the Paraguayan Almiron who truly stole the show, with podcaster Alex Hurst stating it was "one of the great non-goal scoring performances".

Wilson in particular caught the eye with his late surging run to make it 3-1, latching onto Almiron's through ball and clinching his 18th Premier League goal of the season, but Almiron was indeed the orchestrator.

As per Sofascore, the 29-year-old produced an impressive match rating of 7.6 and earned a late assist after playing Wilson through on goal in the closing stage of the match, but it was the expansive scope of his showing that cemented his "excellent" night on Tyneside, as he was praised by Chris Waugh.

Making four key passes and completing 89% of his total passes, Almiron's ball-playing aptitude was on full show, while his tenacity was also evident after making two tackles and interceptions apiece, winning nine of his 19 ground duels and picking up four fouls; he also succeeded with three of his five dribbles and forced a stunning save from Brighton stop-stopper Jason Steele.

Hailed for “one of the finest” displays out of possession by one analyst, the £42k-per-week star reminded English football of his prowess on Thursday night, and while he couldn't add to his 11 divisional goals this term, he has seemingly returned to top form at the optimum moment, steering his club toward Champions League nights.

Everton have had a surprise contract offer for Liverpool midfielder James Milner rejected, according to reports.

What's the latest on Milner's future?

The Premier League veteran has made 329 appearances during his time at Anfield which is more than any other club he’s played for throughout his professional career, but with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, he’s about to become a free agent on the market.

The Reds were reportedly looking to offer the 37-year-old a new deal but the fact that it wasn’t high on their list of priorities mean that he is keen to seek a new challenge elsewhere to a destination he’ll be needed more often, and he isn’t short of potential suitors queuing up to recruit him.

90min report that Leeds United, who are his boyhood club, and Nottingham Forest were both hoping to get him on board, but Fabrizio Romano soon put an end to their ambitions after revealing that he’s agreed a one-year deal to join Brighton and Hove Albion, but it turns out they weren’t the only side that submitted a proposal.

According to Football Insider, Everton actually made a “late move” to sign Milner but had their offer personally “rejected” by Liverpool’s long-term servant. The Toffees are believed to have tabled a “lucrative” contract in the hope of bringing him to the blue half of Merseyside, but he “turned down” the opportunity and instead chose to link up with the Seagulls. Sean Dyche is “likely” to target the free agent market for new signings as a result of Financial Fair Play rules and regulations, so this will be a transfer setback.

Is Milner's contract rejection a blow for Everton?

Everton will know that Milner would have only been a short-term signing given his age, but having been hailed a “role model” to his Liverpool teammates by Jurgen Klopp, Farhad Moshiri and Dyche will definitely have suffered a blow in missing out on securing his services.

England’s former international is naturally an aggressive player and loves to get stuck in having won 189 tackles from 193 players challenged throughout the latest stage of his career, but can also contribute to efforts in the final third having posted 221 goal involvements since bursting onto the professional scene.

The Nike-sponsored athlete, who is a versatile operator with his ability to play in 11 various positions across the pitch, also knows what it takes to be successful and compete at the highest level having secured 12 pieces of silverware so could have passed his winning mentality onto the rest of the current squad at Goodison Park, but that now won’t be the case.

India fast bowler Mohammed Shami and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha have offered positive reviews of the pink ball, two days into the first pink-ball match in India

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jun-2016India fast bowler Mohammed Shami and wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha have offered positive reviews of the pink ball, two days into the first pink-ball match in India: the Super League final at Eden Gardens between club teams Mohun Bagan and Bhowanipore. While Shami was excited by the swing on offer, Saha termed the pink Kookaburra ball’s visibility “perfect”.”It’s very bright and glows like radium,” Shami said, according to PTI, after claiming a five-for for Mohun Bagan. “With red or white balls, there was some visibility problem as it took [on] the colour of grass. Definitely I will prefer this ball, this is much better. The biggest plus point is [the swing] under lights, what else does a bowler want?”There was a bit of moisture in the afternoon, so it helped initially. But then, under lights, there was more movement undoubtedly. It’s challenging for both batsmen and bowlers.”In response to concerns raised after day one over whether the pink ball would reverse-swing, given the ball does not deteriorate much, Shami said: “[Yes] the ball retains it colour and shine. But if we can maintain the dryness, I’m sure it will reverse. It did [reverse], I noticed.”Saha agreed the ball offered the fast bowlers quite a bit, but said there should be few problems picking it up under the lights. “Every ball is swinging a bit either way, which was never the case with the red Kookaburra. [But] the visibility is perfect.”Red or white, the ball invariably lost its colour after it became old. But here there’s no such difficulty at all. The pink ball has better visibility. But batsmen will have problems if a pacer consistently bowls 140kph.”Saha had referred to the demands the pink ball makes of the batsmen after the first day as well, pointing out how they had taken guard outside the crease to counter the swing. After adding 81 for the fifth wicket with Anustup Majumdar for Mohun Bagan, he had told the : “The ball continued to swing even during the latter stages, which doesn’t happen with a red ball. [But] if you apply yourself against the pink ball and on this kind of a green wicket, you will surely get runs. That’s what Anustup did. I too could’ve got more if not for [a] false stroke.”

Ben Stokes and Mark Wood are both set to return to competitive cricket in the coming days as they continue their rehabilitation from surgery

George Dobell24-Jun-2016Ben Stokes and Mark Wood are both set to return to competitive cricket in the coming days as they continue their rehabilitation from surgery.Stokes, who was forced off the pitch during the first Investec Test against Sri Lanka in Leeds and subsequently underwent knee surgery, will play as a specialist batsman in Durham’s NatWest T20 Blast match against Yorkshire tonight. He is expected to field throughout.He was given special dispensation by the ECB to come on as a substitute fielder on the final day of Durham’s Championship game against Yorkshire on Thursday and soon took a slip catch to dismiss former England teammate Adam Lyth.He will not, though, now play club cricket this weekend. Given a choice of whether to play in the T20 on Friday or the club game on Saturday, he elected for the Durham match.Stokes has not yet returned to bowling so the ECB are reluctant to put a date on his likely return. They remain hopeful, however, that it will be in July.Wood, meanwhile, has not played since the end of October when he represented England in the Test against Pakistan in the UAE. He has, since then, undergone two bouts of ankle surgery.But he will play as a specialist batsman for Durham in the four-day match against Sri Lanka A that starts on Sunday and will work on his bowling during the intervals. He also came on as a substitute fielder on the final day of the Championship match against Yorkshire.If all goes to plan, it is hoped that Wood will make his full return in the County Championship fixture against Lancashire in Southport that starts on July 16.

An update has emerged on Sunderland and their efforts to add another talented young player to their squad in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Jobe Bellingham to Sunderland?

According to the Northern Echo, Birmingham City central midfielder Jobe Bellingham is closing in on a permanent transfer to the Stadium of Light as Kristjaan Speakman attempts to get a deal over the line in the coming weeks.

The report claims that the 17-year-old brother of Borussia Dortmund and England star Jude Bellingham was in attendance to watch the Black Cats beat Luton Town 2-1 in the Championship play-offs on Saturday.

When asked about the youngster's presence at the match, manager Tony Mowbray said:

"One of our coaches is very close to the Bellingham family, he talks on national telly sometimes about his big brother at Dortmund. Maybe he's just come to watch a big game as their season has finished, I don't know the answer to that and it's not something I'm privy to."

What is Jobe Bellingham's style of play?

The Birmingham prospect is a versatile midfield player who can play in a variety of roles across the middle of the park and out wide.

Sunderland have already showcased their ability to bring through players in his position by turning Dan Neil into a first-team regular and Bellingham could be the next version of the Academy of Light graduate.

In the Championship this season, Neil has played 45 matches and made 3.3 tackles and interceptions per game whilst completing 83% of his attempted passes and chipping in with two goals and four assists – as per Sofascore.

As such, the 21-year-old has proven himself to be a reliable player at both ends of the pitch with his ability to win possession back for the side before using his quality on the ball to find a teammate, score a goal, or create a chance.

Bellingham, meanwhile, has only started five of his 22 appearances in the second tier this term but has shown great promise in his limited minutes.

The teenager ranks in the top 14% of players in his position for tackles, aerials won, and clearances per 90 in Europe's next eight leagues (after the top five divisions) over the last 365 days.

Given his lack of starts, these statistics show that the 17-year-old is an active defender in the middle of the park who can cut out opposition attacks and win physical contests in the air on a regular basis.

He also scored five goals in 12 U18 matches for his club prior to making his first-team breakthrough and this indicates that the goalscoring potential is there for him to be a threat in the final third.

Therefore, Bellingham, who scout Jacek Kulig described as a "huge talent", has the scope to develop into Sunderland's next version of Neil by breaking into the side as a young central midfielder and offering plenty of offensive and defensive quality.

Sam Hain powered Birmingham Bears to an impressive six wicket victory over Notts Outlaws on the opening evening of this season’s NatWest T20 Blast competition

ECB Reporters Network20-May-2016
ScorecardSam Hain silenced a 10,000 crowd with a thrilling debut at Trent Bridge•Getty ImagesSam Hain powered Birmingham Bears to an impressive six wicket victory over Notts Outlaws on the opening evening of this season’s NatWest T20 Blast competition.Set to score 180, the Bears reached their target with two balls to spare, in front of a Trent Bridge crowd of 10,423.Hain, playing the first T20 match of his career, had opened the innings and finished on a highly impressive 92 not out. The 20-year-old scored his runs from only 54 balls, hitting 12 fours and two sixes.Riki Wessels, the Nottinghamshire batsman, said: “Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say, “Well played” because that was a brilliant innings from Sam Hain.”We thought 180 was a challenging target, I found it quite difficult out there to bat. It was a new wicket and the ball stuck in the wicket a touch and I thought we’d got a really good score but unfortunately the rain and the dew spiced the wicket up beautifully for batting.”Earlier, Notts made 179 for seven, with Riki Wessels contributing 52, having scored his runs from 41 deliveries, which included four fours and two sixes. Jeetan Patel was the pick of the Bears’ attack, taking three for 23, whilst both Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Chris Wright each claimed two wickets.The Bears’ reply took some time to get under way, with Harry Gurney starting with a maiden and then Luke Fletcher’s opening over only cost a single. Ian Bell’s departure, for only eleven, to Brett Hutton, put the home side briefly in the ascendancy but a second wicket stand of 47 wrestled it back for the visitors.William Porterfield fell for 26 and Laurie Evans made only 10 but Hain stood firm, playing a selection of elegant cuts and drives on his way to a 32-ball half century.Luke Ronchi blasted 22 from only 10 balls in his first match for last season’s semi finalists and Chris Woakes remained unbeaten on 16 at the end, hitting Luke Fletcher for the six that won the match.Wessels and Greg Smith provided the platform for the Outlaws’ total, with the pair adding 83 in just 8.3 overs after Michael Lumb and Sam Wood had both fallen in the fourth over.Smith made 43, before hitting Jeetan Patel out to Sam Hain at deep midwicket. Wessels needed only 37 balls to get to his 50 but he was then bowled, attempting a reverse sweep.That brought Samit Patel to the crease, to face his namesake. In Wednesday’s championship match, between the two teams, the batsman hit the former New Zealand international for seven maximums in his breathtaking innings of 124. This time Jeetan Patel exacted swift revenge, having his man caught second ball for only four.Steven Mullaney hit 16 from only eleven deliveries but was then bowled by Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who also dismissed Dan Christian three balls later, for 34.Christian, who lit up the recent Big Bash League with some enormous blows, carried his six-hitting form into his first match back in the Blast.The new Outlaws captain clubbed Recordo Gordon for three enormous blows in the same over, leaving the bowler to reflect on figures of nought for 58, from his four overs.

West Ham are "on the lookout" for former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi ahead of a potential summer move, according to a new transfer report.

Is Guendouzi a key man at Marseille?

The Frenchman first made a name for himself during his time with the Gunners, although he was still very much a young player at that point. He has since left to join Marseille, however, where he has matured into a more formidable all-round footballer, becoming a key man for the Ligue 1 side.

Guendouzi has made 30 appearances in the league this season, 22 of which have been starts, and he has scored twice and registered four assists in the competition. Not only that, but he has enjoyed an impressive 88.2% pass completion rate, and averaged one interception per match across six Champions League games.

The 24-year-old is contracted to Marseille until the summer of 2025, so time is gradually running out, should they want to receive good money for his signature. That's where West Ham come into the play, as the Hammers look for potential midfield additions at the end of the season.

Could Guendouzi head to West Ham?

According to Foot Mercato [via Sport Witness], the Hammers are "on the lookout" for Guendouzi this summer, although they are not alone, in that respect. Newcastle United are also believed to be tracking the France international, and look likely to have the lure of Champions League football as an advantage next season.

The report states that the ex-Arsenal man "should return to the Premier League" in the summer, with Marseille asking for "around €25m (£22.1m)" to sign him. West Ham were thought to be interested in him back in January and see him as a possible replacement for Declan Rice, who appears nailed on to leave the London Stadium once the current campaign reaches its conclusion.

Guendouzi could be a really shrewd signing by the Hammers, considering he already has Premier League experience in his locker, having made 57 appearances in the competition during his time with the Gunners. His combative style is well-suited to the division and he has been hailed as "formidable" by former midfielder Juninho, so he could be just the man to fill the likely void left by Rice.

At 24, this would be a great time to sign him – he is the same age at Rice – and Premier League fans could see a far superior player to the one that left the country in 2022.

This summer will see mass change at Glasgow Rangers, with various members of the first team squad moving on from the Ibrox side, either due to their contracts expiring or with Michael Beale selling them to make way for new recruits.

This certainly means it is the last hurrah for club stalwarts such as Allan McGregor and Steven Davis, two players who have given so much for the Light Blues, yet all good things have to come to an end, and they have perhaps stayed on a tad longer than what was necessary.

Davis suffered a serious injury to his knee prior to Christmas that resulted in him missing the rest of the season, and it looks as though he may have played his final game for the club.

Across two spells, the Northern Irishman has made himself an icon at the club after making 360 appearances for the Gers and winning ten major honours, including four league titles while also playing in two European finals.

The question is, who could replace him? Beale will be on the lookout for players to sign of course, yet there may be a young talent in the academy who could eventually become Davis’ heir; Bailey Rice.

Who is Bailey Rice?

The 16-year-old only joined the Gers from Motherwell last summer, touted as a “prospect” by journalist Mark Hendry, it’s evident he has all the talent to make the step up to the Ibrox first team.

Indeed, he made his debut for the club against Livingston earlier this year as a spritely teen, and it clearly proves how much hope Beale has for the youngster that he would give him a run out in the league.

The youngster has amassed 21 caps for the Scotland U17 side, representing them in the U17 European Championship and his next steps will be to make inroads in the higher age groups.

This season, Rice has played 21 matches for the B team, scoring twice and grabbing an assist and his ability to play either as a defensive or central midfielder strikes him as a similar player to Davis, who could also chip in with the odd goal or assist for good measure.

It’s a testament to how good the former Well starlet is that several top European teams, including Real Madrid, Porto and Borussia Dortmund among others, are keeping a close eye on his progress something that will no doubt have given him a serious confidence boost.

With Davis set for the exit door, Rice could eventually make further progress and add in similar qualities that enabled the 38-year-old to shine during his two spells. If Beale can keep the youngster happy, he could have an excellent future with the Light Blues.

Leeds United face what could be a defining week in their season, with the Whites set to take on fellow strugglers Leicester City later today, before taking on another relegation rival in AFC Bournemouth on Sunday.

Currently just a point from safety, the Yorkshire side face the very real prospect of a return to life in the second tier, having only secured promotion back to the Premier League in 2020, after a 16-year absence.

A positive result against the Foxes this evening at Elland Road, however, would likely do wonders in helping to calm any nerves among Leeds supporters, with Javi Gracia's side needing to shake off their recent run of three successive defeats in the league.

The club's most recent loss saw them on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline against a high-flying Fulham side at Craven Cottage, with that having come after previous, shambolic showings at home to both Liverpool and Crystal Palace.

With Gracia and co needing to avoid yet another thrashing on their own turf, one man who should seemingly drop out of the starting lineup is right-back, Rasmus Kristensen, with the former Red Bull Salzburg man having distinctly underwhelmed in the last two league games.

Will Kristensen start against Leicester?

Having replaced Luke Ayling in the side following the debacle against the Eagles, Kristensen was among those who simply wilted up against Jurgen Klopp's side last week, having lost possession on 24 occasions from just 61 touches in that 6-1 drubbing, while also winning just six of his 14 total duels on the day.

Despite having been something of a liability both defensively and in an attacking sense against the Reds, the Denmark international kept his place for the trip to west London on Saturday, only to endure another afternoon to forget against the Cottagers.

The £10m summer signing has arguably "failed to make the step up from the Austrian Bundesliga to the Premier League", according to writer Zach Lowy, with those woes having been evident against Marco Silva's men.

The £40k-per-week dud was simply run ragged by opposition winger, Willian, with the latter man – who will turn 35 later this year – having had the defender "on toast" all afternoon, as per talkSPORT pundit Scott Minto.

That viewpoint was also echoed by Yorkshire Evening Post's Graham Smyth, who also went on to state that Kristensen simply 'couldn't get near' the veteran Brazilian at times.

The 25-year-old's struggles were showcased by the fact that he was dribbled past on three occasions and completed just 26 of his 33 passes, having subsequently been described as like a "League One defender" by Leeds Youtuber, Conor McGilligan.

That dismal display should ensure that the 14-cap brute is ditched for tonight's clash, even if that means bringing back Ayling into the fold, with it clear to see that 'right-back has been the biggest of many positional problems in the team this season', as per Leeds Live's Beren Cross.

A potential Arsenal offer to sign Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha is seen as 'increasingly serious', according to reports in France.

Who could Arsenal sign this summer?

Gunners sporting director Edu is allegedly preparing for next season behind-the-scenes as this summer edges ever closer. Mikel Arteta's are still chasing a first Premier League title in nearly 20 years but close rivals Man City are slowly catching up to the division leaders.

If the north Londoners end up just missing out on the domestic crown, fingers could well be pointed at a lack of squad depth when compared to that of City.

This could be one reason for Arsenal's apparent activity ahead of the next transfer window, while another could be that Edu is determined to build on what has ultimately been a successful campaign overall.

Arteta is guaranteed Champions League football next season after missing out to bitter rivals Tottenham last year, something which will help them attract some big name players.

Arsenal are reportedly targeting West Ham star Declan Rice, and are rumoured to be in pole position, while the likes of Dusan Vlahovic are also being looked at for the attacking areas.

As well as the Serbia international, it is believed they could make a move for Zaha with his Palace deal ticking down and expiring this year. He could sign for Arsenal on a free deal, with French news outlet Foot Mercato sharing an update on their pursuit.

According to their information, sharing news from an 'inside Gunners source', an Arsenal offer for the winger is seen as 'increasingly serious' and they could well make a 'firm' attempt to sign him on a Bosman.

However, they're not the only side displaying a real interest in Zaha, with Ligue 1 side Marseille also said to have made contact with the player through his entourage.

Should Arsenal sign Zaha?

Arsenal, alongside Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco, apparently wanted to sign Zaha last summer and now they have been handed a chance to do it at zero cost.

He is certainly worth the punt in that regard, having been praised for his 'incredible' form at Selhurst Park, with former Arsenal defender Kolo Toure even once calling him 'the next Didier Drogba'.

Zaha has continued to impress in south London, averaging more attempts at goal and completed dribbles per 90 whilst also ranking among Palace's top five best-perfomers overall (WhoScored).

This is a move Edu should undoubtedly consider to give Arteta more attacking options.