All posts by h716a5.icu

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.

West Ham take on Gent in the second leg of their tense Europa Conference league quarter-final, just four days after their brilliant comeback against title-chasing Arsenal at the London Stadium.

When the Hammers conceded two goals in the opening ten minutes against the Gunners, it seemed the occasion could have been a brutal repeat of the embarrassing 5-1 defeat they suffered to Newcastle in their previous Premier League home game.

If David Moyes wants to ensure progression into a European semi-final for a consecutive season, then he must avoid the temptation to rest Said Benrahma, who has been one of the Irons’ shining lights in a troublesome and uneasy campaign.

Why should Benrahma start vs Gent?

Alongside Jarrod Bowen, the 27-year-old has registered the joint-most Premier League goals (5) and assists (3) this season for the Hammers to establish himself as one of Moyes’ most important and trusted figures within this struggling team.

His significance was stirringly conveyed for his role in the recent London derby against Arsenal. The former Brentford man recorded the highest rating of any West Ham player (7.7) in that showdown and netted the first goal to halve the deficit and kickstart a rousing second-half renaissance.

The £55k-per-week man also contributed two key passes, created one big chance, won five ground duels, and completed 75% of his passes, as per Sofascore.

It was an effervescent, busy, and tricky display from the forward, who nearly produced the match-winning assist when he out-muscled Rob Holding and delivered a measured cross to Michail Antonio, whose header agonisingly clipped the bar.

Chelsea legend Joe Cole has previously lauded the winger for his attacking verve and dazzling skill, and he told BT Sport (via Read West Ham) that Benrahma can be "unplayable."

Furthermore, the £19m-rated man has created the most chances in the West Ham squad in all competitions (51) this season at a rate of 1.31 per 90, as per BBC Sport.

In the first leg against Gent, Benrahma began proceedings on the bench, and the East London outfit was completely dominated and failed to create many opportunities. The Belgian side had 54% possession and 20 shots, in comparison to West Ham’s four.

Benrahma was eventually introduced on the hour mark for Manuel Lanzini, but Moyes cannot afford to follow a similar trend in this game. His side will need to stamp their authority and set the agenda with the latter arguably in need of being dropped this time around.

To unleash Benrahma is a necessity, who could be the match-winning catalyst.

Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing Italy sensation Mateo Retegui this summer and his potential arrival at Elland Road could see Patrick Bamford finally leave.

Could Leeds sign Mateo Retegui?

According to Italian news outlet Area Napoli, Leeds are one of the sides showing an interest in the 23-year-old ahead of the summer transfer window but could face competition from both Milan clubs and Eintracht Frankfurt for his signature.

The Argentine-born striker, who qualifies for Italy through his maternal grandfather, has enjoyed an impressive campaign at club level, contributing seven goals in just nine league appearances for Tigre, having joined them on loan from Boca Juniors for the season.

This has led to him earning a strong 7.11 rating from WhoScored for his performances in Argentina's top flight, while he has a 7.07 rating in the European Championship after scoring in both of Italy's games in the recent international break, including once in the 2-1 defeat against England.

The forward also spent the 2022 season on loan with Tigre, crashing in 23 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions, so it is easy to see why he earned the call-up to Roberto Mancini's side recently, which has clearly attracted the interest of clubs across Europe.

2006 World Cup-winning manager Marcelo Lippi was full of praise for the Boca Juniors star on Super Deportivo Radio after his performances during the international break, outlining attributes that should come as music to the ears of everyone associated with Leeds.

He said (via FC Inter News): "He’s the classic centre-forward who scores. He has a strong header. I like how he plays in the box, that’s why I think he’s a good striker.”

It does seem that Retegui's future lies away from Argentina and if Leeds do sign him this summer, it would surely see one of the strikers at Elland Road leave, with Bamford a prime candidate given he has just two goals in the Premier League so far this term.

How has Bamford played this season?

This campaign has been an extremely underwhelming one for Bamford, with the former Chelsea man once again failing to live up to the performances he showed under Marcelo Bielsa in the top-flight, when he managed 17 goals.

Not only has the 29-year-old only bagged twice in 2022/23, but he has massively underperformed his xG by nearly five, and that could be the difference between safety and relegation in what is an extremely tight battle to avoid the drop.

Considering Bamford is ranked as the 22nd-best performer in Javi Gracia's squad with a 6.34 average rating according to WhoScored, it seems clear that he cannot be considered a reliable long-term option at Elland Road.

Retegui has also averaged more shots (3.9 vs 1.7), key passes (0.6 vs 0.5) and dribbles (0.4 vs 0.2) per game than Bamford, outlining him as a better all-rounder in attack.

As such, it is evident that the Italy star could be a big upgrade on the struggling Leeds star this summer.

Injury expert Ben Dinnery has warned of "red flags" over Leeds United winger Wilfried Gnonto amid concerns of a bad ankle injury.

What's the latest Wilfried Gnonto injury news at Leeds?

The young attacker had actually started the Euro 2024 qualifying match against Malta for Italy on the weekend but lasted just 22 minutes.

Indeed, he limped off early and after the game, his national team manager Roberto Mancini seemed cautious about the situation saying (via LeedsLive): “Gnonto is dealing with a sprain, I hope it is nothing to worry about.”

The Athletic has since reported that the teenager is now a doubt for the upcoming Premier League game against Arsenal on Saturday.

What's more, while speaking on FPL Injuries, Dinnery suggested that the uncertainty could suggest a "big red flag" about his current and long-term fitness.

He said: "Wilfried Gnonto, he was replaced early doors for Italy last time out.

"Now, Roberto Mancini post-match said it was a sprain in the ankle – again, the severity of which was yet to be determined. So there's certainly a big red flag over his availability for the next game for Leeds."

When will Gnonto be back from injury?

That report from The Athletic explains that Leeds are optimistic that Gnonto – as well as Max Wober, who also picked up an injury while on international duty – won't be sidelined for too long.

However, while we await a final prognosis, fans will have to wait on nervously. After all, the £20,000-a-week star has proven himself to be a pretty important member of the team despite his young age.

Indeed, still only 19, the Italian has scored two goals and provided three assists in 16 Premier League outings this term. What's more, as per WhoScored, he delivers 1.1 key passes per game (the third-highest in the team) and wins the most fouls per match (1.9), while he is joint-third when it comes to dribbles (one per game).

Evidently, he can be quite a handful for opposition players and he has picked up plenty of praise in the media during his debut campaign with the Whites.

Indeed, back in January, Gary Neville gushed over the player's quality, telling Sky Sports (via Daily Mail): "To see someone so mature, so young is very unusual in that position.

"Sometimes you see potential and talent, but watching him so closely, his understanding of where to be, his choice of pass, when to run with it, his awareness of teammates, really good, honestly."

Aston Villa are thought to be plotting a move for Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu this summer, according to Football Insider.

The Lowdown: Expecting a busy summer

NSWE were willing to hand Unai Emery a ‘huge’ January transfer budget after he took over from Steven Gerrard last year, however, the Spaniard only brought in two players in Alex Moreno and Jhon Duran.

He has improved the current squad, taking them comfortably away from the danger zone after picking up 26 points from his opening 14 Premier League games in charge.

It seems as if there could be plenty of incomings and outgoings in the summer following a relatively quiet window, with chief executive Christian Purslow “expecting an extremely busy summer”.

Ashley Preece has previously said that ‘a new No.9 to partner Ollie Watkins is at the top of Villa’s shopping list this summer’, while also adding that ‘the defence will be strengthened’. It seems as if Emery and co may have identified their defensive target in Salisu.

The Latest: Villa keen

Football Insider shared a transfer update in the last 24 hours regarding Salisu and Villa. They revealed that those at Villa Park are plotting to sign the Southampton defender over the coming months, with Salisu possibly available for £25m.

Premier League rivals Leicester City and Manchester United are also thought to be keen on the 23-year-old, with the report adding that the Saints are bracing themselves for interest.

The Verdict: Shrewd signing?

Salisu arrived at Southampton back in 2020 and has gone on to make 80 appearances for the club, 28 of which have come during the current campaign.

The Ghana international has been a solid performer in what has been a struggling Saints side. Salisu is currently Southampton’s joint second-best performer behind James Ward-Prowse, as per WhoScored, averaging a better match rating than any Villa defender.

He has been hailed as a ‘nasty’ defender in his duels by his old Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl, something which is proven with Salisu making more tackles per 90 than any of his teammates. The centre-back has also averaged a whopping 5.4 clearances per game, more than the likes of Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa.

The Saints man appears to be at the top of his game in England with a career-high €18m Transfermarkt valuation, so if he is unable to help keep his current employers in the top flight, a move to the Midlands could be one to keep an eye on.

Journalist Charles Watts has claimed that Rob Holding is a "really influential figure" behind the scenes at Arsenal despite only being a squad player.

What's the latest on Rob Holding and Arsenal?

Up to this point in the campaign, the centre-back hasn't exactly been key for the Gunners on the pitch. Indeed, he has started just once in the Premier League all season.

Incidentally, that came in the club's most recent game – Sunday's 4-1 win over Crystal Palace. Holding started that match because William Saliba picked up a back injury midweek and looks set for a spell on the sidelines.

Fortunately, the Englishman performed pretty well and earned the praise of the Arsenal support with fans on Twitter making their feelings known after the game.

Despite this being a rare appearance for the backup defender, while talking on his YouTube channel, Watts explained just how important Holding is to the team behind the scenes at London Colney.

He explained "Clearly, people who were there [at the Emirates] said he played well.

"And he's no Saliba, there's no doubt about it, but as a squad player, I think he's a very valuable, and really, really influential figure behind the scenes. Everyone loves him at Arsenal.”

Will Rob Holding help Arsenal in the title race?

Speaking after the game, teammate Saka exemplified some of what Watts has been talking about. Indeed, he said (via football.london): "I gave him [Holding] a big hug when he came into the changing room because he deserves it.

"He was magnificent. We need that, you know, when he’s coming in to stay at the level that we’ve been playing. He was unbelievable today, so credit to him.”

As per stats given on Sofascore, Holding managed to win four ground duels, seven aerial duels, completed 91 per cent of his passes, and also completed five out of five long balls. With that in mind, it's not hard to see why Saka was so happy to lavish the centre-back with praise on this occasion.

Of course, though, for the most part, the defender hasn't been able to prove his quality on the pitch as he's had to patiently show his value within the dressing room and on the training field.

Now 27, Holding is one of the club's older and more experienced players – having been at Arsenal since 2016 – and while he might not have the potential of someone like 21-year-old Saliba, it seems as though his importance to the team should not be forgotten.