All posts by h716a5.icu

A number of Liverpool supporters are relieved that the Reds didn’t sign James Ward-Prowse this summer amid a revelation that they were interested in the midfielder.

Jurgen Klopp was expected to sign a replacement for Gini Wijnaldum in the summer transfer window, but no such move materialised.

The Dutchman was an influential player for Liverpool over a five-year period, so there is a clear risk in not signing anybody to fill the void he left behind.

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Klopp will now need to rely on the likes of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain staying fit for long periods – something which has been a problem in the past for both players.

According to Goal’s Neil Jones [via LFC Transfer Room on Twitter], Liverpool looked at the possibility of signing Southampton captain Ward-Prowse, but a deal didn’t happen in the end.

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Liverpool fans react to Ward-Prowse claim

These Reds fans took to Twitter to show their relief, believing that the midfielder isn’t good enough for Klopp’s side – perhaps given that his Southampton team finished a lowly 15th in the Premier League last season.

“He’s fine but seriously, they couldn’t aim higher?”

Credit: @JDsJustTalking

“What else does he bring to the table?”

Credit: @mugemastephen

“I looked at Jennifer Lawrence and…”

Credit: @pembsLFC

“Then Southampton wanted money for him and we decided not to”

Credit: @JotaBelievelt

“Who are they trying to convince with them stories?”

Credit: @acupoftea100

“What is the point now”

Credit: @Riz1Islam

In other news, some Liverpool fans are excited about an update regarding one Reds player. Read more here.

Mark Lane, the England women’s coach, is aware that his team will need to be on top of their game during the World Cup in Australia even though they are one of the tournament favourites following a splendid run in 2008

Cricinfo staff19-Feb-2009
The England women are tipped as one of the pre-tournament favourites
Mark Lane, the England women’s coach, is aware that his team will need to be on top of their game during the World Cup in Australia, starting on March 7, even though they are one of the tournament favourites following a splendid run in 2008. Lane will fly to Sydney with six of the players on Thursday night to join the other nine who are already in Australia.”We have spent a lot of time talking about executing our skills at the right time,” Lane told the ECB website. “In tournament cricket, five overs might change the course of the game – for good or bad – and it is about making sure we are on the top of our game and that we are ready at any given time to perform.”Lane has been extremely successful during his stint as coach. He started in caretaker capacity on the tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2007-08. England drew the ODI series 2-2 in Australia and won the one-off Test to retain the Ashes. Following his appointment as coach in April 2008, the team had an unbeaten 16-ODI run during the home series against West Indies, South and India, with 12 wins and four abandoned games.Lane, however, warned that things could be different in a big tournament. “In series cricket you can go 1-0 down and win 4-1, but in tournament cricket you can’t do that. I am very excited and I am looking forward to this event,” he said. “I would say that our preparations have been excellent. We spent some time out in Bangalore and we already have nine players out in Australia.”The one big disadvantage for this event is that we are in our off-season and it is on the other side of the world. We have set up a mini camp with the girls who are already out there and [captain] Charlotte [Edwards] is leading the way. We are looking forward to meeting up together and having some training time before we get stuck into the main event.”England begin their campaign against Sri Lanka on March 7, before facing India, the 2005 finalists, three days later. England had trounced India 4-0 at home last year. “India can be a very dangerous side and they do have some very good individuals, such as Jhulan Goswami, Mithali Raj and Anjum Chopra, who has come back into the squad,” he said. “Last summer we didn’t let them perform but playing them in a tournament, it could be very different. Goswami could take three early wickets and change the course of the game, but we are aware of how we are going to play her.”The focus will be on Edwards, who was awarded the ICC Women’s Player of the Year last year, Claire Taylor and Isa Guha, who lead the ICC rankings for batsmen and bowlers respectively.”We have some very exciting cricketers and lots of match-winners, the likes of Sarah Taylor and Katherine Brunt, down to Anya Shrubshole, who has just turned 17,” Lane said. “The whole squad will play their part throughout the tournament.”England have been drawn in the same group as India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, with the top three progressing to the Super Six stage.

If you looked at the Premier League table, it would tell a sorry story for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Bruno Lage has failed to see his team win or even score a goal in the top-flight yet. However, that isn’t fully indicative of their performances.

The Old Gold have created plenty of opportunities to score and have looked like the better team in matches against Tottenham and Manchester United.

On the chalkboard

With Wolves in desperate need of scoring goals this weekend, we could see a mini change in the forward line.

Hwang Hee-chan signed late in the transfer window after he arrived on a loan deal from RB Leipzig.

The South Korean is a player who Wolves have tracked for a while and an opportunity to finally acquire his services finally arose this summer.

The £53k-per-week earner was in good form for his country over the international break and could provide Lage with the firepower that he’s been desperately lacking.

Adama Traore has so far been Wolves’ most vibrant player in attack this season but his end product has deserted him.

The Spanish roadrunner has been electrifying in offensive areas, accumulating 9.3 dribbles per game. That’s not only a Premier League high but it’s also a tally which eclipses every player in Europe’s top five divisions this term.

Yet, as Lage has already spoken about, he needs to work on his finishing.

However, if you combine him with Hwang, then they could form quite the partnership in Wolves’ frontline. After all, the duo have already been compared to each other.

Speaking to Birmingham Live, South Korean football expert Sungmo Lee said: “Hwang Hee-chan is a player famous for his fast, strong and daring playing style.

“Many Korean fans compare him with Adama Traore as, just like Traore, Hwang enjoys beating the opponents with his speed and physical strength.”

That paints a captivating picture of a forward who has a proven track record inside the penalty area.

During the 2019/20 campaign, Hwang was sensational for RB Salzburg. He scored 16 times and also produced 22 assists for his teammates.

That record is utterly scintillating, and if he can replicate that in England, Wolves will be onto a winner.

What that record also depicts is that he simply has to play this weekend. Lage needs goals and Hwang has them in his locker.

AND in other news, Wolves may have a new Conor Coady in rarely-seen 17 y/o who’s a “super kid”…

It’s funny what runs on board can do. It may not have been comprehensive, but there was a reversal of roles here in Napier. It was India who dropped on to the defensive too early, spilled the catches and struggled to stay alert

Sidharth Monga in Napier27-Mar-2009It’s funny what runs on board can do. It may not have been comprehensive, but there was a reversal of roles here in Napier. It was India who dropped on to the defensive too early, spilled the catches and struggled to stay alert.Jesse Ryder continued to bat like a dream, Brendon McCullum plundered when India were down, and Daniel Vettori put on aggressive fields and snuck out crucial wickets at the end of the day. Vettori the bowler and Vettori the captain were completely different from what we witnessed in Hamilton.He brought himself on first-change in the ninth over. After a characteristic charge from Virender Sehwag, who hit him for a six first ball, Vettori bowled the next one slower. Sehwag was late into the shot, but was also drawn into it. And when another move worked for Vettori, with Jeetan Patel getting Gautam Gambhir in his first over, New Zealand were on an all-out attack for the first time on this tour.Never before on this tour had their batsmen delivered so dominantly. Vettori has been quite a stranger to this feeling. This is only the third time New Zealand have scored 600 in their history but, more importantly, only the third time they have gone past 400 in 18 matches under his captaincy.After a remarkable comeback from 23 for 3 on the first day, they ground out India’s fielders today thanks to Ryder’s hunger and McCullum’s aggression. Ryder, in particular, went from strength to strength, getting his maiden double-hundred, and frustrated the bowlers with a chanceless innings, as opposed to Ross Taylor’s chancy knock yesterday.”I can’t ask for anything more at this stage of my career,” Ryder, always a man of few words, said. “It has been quite sensational for me. Everything seems to be working for me.”For McCullum, though, not everything had been working. Even as he has continued maturing as a limited-overs batsman, his Test batting has had a lot of room for improvement. His only centuries have come against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, the last one in 2005. So, from a stage where he could have become an important middle-order batsman for New Zealand, he has found himself not being entrusted with a job higher than No. 7. He couldn’t have argued against that.”It has been so long between hundreds. There were some 90s and 80s in between. No disrespect to Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, but to get one against a top-quality side like India means a lot,” McCullum said.”It has been a long time coming. There was a bit of emotion there as well when I got to three figures. It has been far too long between centuries for my liking. It is nice as well to get it against a side as good as India. It was a good time to bat.”What will also please New Zealand is the timing of this combined effort from the three most exciting batsmen in the team: they were in danger of being completely outclassed in a home series. Three days ago, Vettori spoke about how the New Zealand public deserved to see the team fight, no matter if they win or lose. After first two days of the Napier Test, the public won’t be complaining.

Sussex have unveiled their plans for the redevelopment of their home at Hove

Cricinfo staff17-Apr-2009Sussex have unveiled their plans for the redevelopment of their home at Hove, and Dave Brooks, the county’s chief executive, has insisted it will remain a traditional setting and not, as many feared, become a soulless stadium.The initial plans had led to concerns that the unique atmosphere of the County Ground would be sacrificed, but Brooks told the Argus that “it’s not about money but doing what fits best with our ambitions for the county.” He continued: “We are trying to build a seaside country cricket ground, not a stadium. We will not be staging one-day internationals or Tests. I was at the Oval and they have a huge stand which looks great there. But it would be an abomination in Hove.”We will not be getting rid of the deck chairs on the grass banks because they are unique to Sussex. I would have liked to have kept the marquees but according to the members I have spoken to they can be a nightmare when it is windy.The redevopment, which will cost £8 million, includes an enlargement to the pavilion, the demolition of the Gilligan Stand and its replacement with a new building with seating on top, and a new uncovered stand replacing seats in the south-west corner which will incorporate offices and a museum.The grass bank and deckchairs at the Cromwell Road end will stay and capacity will remain at about 7,000.The proposal, which is all being funded through a £10.6 million legacy from former vice-president Spen Cama, will be put to the members at an AGM in May. If approved, work will start at the end of the summer and should be completed in time for the start of the 2012 season.

A source from Football Insider on Tuesday morning has claimed that Aston Villa manager Dean Smith is ‘fighting for his job’.

And, as to be expected, the update from a Villa source has had plenty of supporters talking on social media.

According to the recent report, Smith will come under increasing pressure if Villa’s results don’t improve prior to the next international break.

Villa currently sit 12th in the Premier League after four rounds of fixtures with four points. They have just come off the back of a defeat to Chelsea and take on Everton, Manchester United and Tottenham before the next international break.

Should results not improve and Villa remain in their current position or below, the Villa hierarchy won’t hesitate in their search for a new manager.

Villa fans react

@AvfcEnthusiast shared a snipped of Football Insider’s report on Smith on Twitter. This is what these Villa fans had to say in reply, with a selection of responses available below.

“If he gets sacked we’re done out here”

Credit: @stupidbii

“DEAN SMITH GARNN TEARS IN MY EYES”

Credit: @SurfaceOfTruth

“It was coming”

Credit: @LOCKEYAVFC

“Utter nonsense”

Credit: @markyoneillu2

“We can’t get on his back with this hard run of games coming up. We’ve had a terrible pre season with games being cancelled, players getting injured and having to replace Grealish. We just need to settle”

Credit: @18AVFC74

“Lots of our recent problems are out of smith’s hands. Nevertheless, our owners are achievers. If we’re still at a point a game by Christmas, doubt he’ll keep his job.”

Credit: @B6Utfv

In other news: ‘Bad attitude’ – Aston Villa ace’s comments have got loads of fans talking. 

Liverpool supporters have bemoaned an injury update regarding Thiago, with the Spaniard set for a spell on the sidelines.

The 30-year-old arrived as a star signing last summer, coming in from Bayern Munich after a wonderful period of success at the Bundesliga club.

Thiago’s first season proved to be an injury-prone one, however, and he was unable to make a major impact, partly because of the Reds’ struggles as a team.

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He was arguably Liverpool’s best player in the final 10 matches in the Premier League, though, and he has made a strong start to 2021/22, too.

Unfortunately, the Spain international limped off against Crystal Palace with a calf injury last weekend and missed the Carabao Cup win over Norwich City.

Jurgen Klopp has now confirmed [via Paul Joyce on Twitter] that Thiago will be out until next month’s international break, ruling him out of the games against Brentford, Porto and Manchester City.

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Liverpool fans react to Thiago latest

These Liverpool fans bemoaned the news on Twitter.

“Injury crisis. The midfield edition 21/22 loading. Stay tuned”

Credit: @9squeeze

“The Spanish Naby Keita”

Credit: @DIA_LXVI

“Here we go AGAIN”

Credit: @nasir_l

“This what we all have been preventing, stupid owners”

Credit: @Eminez_1

“I’m convinced this guy is made out of glass”

Credit: @ravisc0_

“Yeah he’s not playing until 2022”

Credit: @exdes10

In other news, some Liverpool fans are unhappy with one transfer rumour that has emerged. Read more here.

A £30 million redevelopment plan for Edgbaston cricket ground has been given thego-ahead, after meeting with the approval of Birmingham City Council despite opposition from local residents

Cricinfo staff12-May-2009A £30 million redevelopment plan for Edgbaston cricket ground has been given thego-ahead, after meeting with the approval of Birmingham City Council despite opposition from local residents.Capacity at Edgbaston will be increased to 25,000 under the proposals, in a development that will include floodlighting, conference facilities, a hotel, housing and offices. Fourteen homes will be demolished to make way for the new development, whichis expected to be completed by 2011.Colin Povey, Warwickshire’s chief executive, said: “We recognise that this wasn’tan easy decision for the planning committee and thank them for theirsupport. Our new ground, and the enabling development, will generate thousands ofnew jobs and help to secure international cricket for the next generation.”Had the plans been rejected, Warwickshire could have been forced to move to an entirely new home to meet new ECB guidelines. The deputy leader of Coventry City Council, Kevin Foster, had invited the club to visit a potential site close to the Ricoh Arena, the home of Coventry City FC, but in the end such drastic measures were not required

Mikel Arteta’s young guns ran riot as Arsenal’s fine form in the Premier League continued with an emphatic win over arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday’s north London derby.

Three quickfire goals in the first half practically sealed the Gunners’ fourth win in a row across all competitions.

Emile Smith Rowe opened the scoring when he arrived unmarked to glance home Bukayo Saka’s cross and then he turned provider for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The 21-year-old’s productive performance saw him named as Gary Neville’s ‘Man of the Match’ on Sky Sports commentary duty, although his fellow Hale End youth product deserved just as much praise.

Saka not only provided the assist for the opener but he also got his name on the scoresheet ten minutes before the break after the young England winger broke free from two Harry Kane tackles to slot past Hugo Lloris.

The £58.5m-rated dynamo was a constant thorn in Nuno Santo’s side and as such, he earned SofaScore’s highest rating of 8.1.

He did so much more than just score and assist, too.

Saka was among Arteta’s most influential players as he recorded 54 touches, the most of the Gunners’ front three, whilst he also contributed three key passes, two shots on target and 30 passes, via SofaScore.

The 20-year-old gem also got back to do his defensive duties, managing three tackles, which was only bettered by two players in the whole game – his defensive teammate Kieran Tierney and Spurs’ anchor, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. That’s on top of one interception and one clearance.

football.london waxed lyrical about Saka’s performance in their post-match ratings column.

‘The England international has faced questions over his quality in the final third this season but firmly answered them with this display. A great assist for Smith Rowe and although there was a touch of fortune with Harry Kane slipping for his goal it was still a good finish.’

All in all, Saka absolutely ran the show in Sunday’s north London derby at the Emirates Stadium.

AND in other news, Edu could secure Arsenal’s next Alexis Sanchez in swoop for £19.8m-rated “phenomenon”…

A round-up from the latest Friends Provident Trophy matches

Cricinfo staff17-May-2009Group BPhil Hughes cracked his fourth century of the season, 119 from 112 balls, as Middlesex posted a massive 341 for 7 at Lord’s, their highest one-day score of all time. It was not enough for victory, however, as Somerset romped to victory by five wickets in a rain-affected thriller. On another belter of a batting track, Somerset were initially set 333 from 48 overs, and were given a flying start by Marcus Trescothick and Craig Kieswetter, who added 78 for the first wicket with Kieswetter the first to go for 40 from 31 balls. Ben Phillips kept up the frantic pace with 24 from 13, but when James Hildreth and Trescothick went in quick succession (the latter for 62 from 54 balls), Somerset were 148 for 4 with their hopes in the balance. At 209 for 4 after 31.4 overs, the rain returned, at which stage Middlesex were three runs ahead on Duckworth-Lewis. But the shower passed, and Somerset knocked off their remaining 81 runs in 9.2 overs, with Justin Langer making 78 not out from 69 balls.Group DNorthamptonshire managed 18 overs of their match against Essex at Wantage Road before rain forced an abandonment. In that time they reached 124 for 4, with Rob White top-scoring with 51 from 57 balls. Essex need just one point from their final two games to make the last eight.

Worcestershire 7 4 2 0 1 9 +0.710 1357/256.1 1163/253.3 Nottinghamshire 6 4 2 0 0 8 +0.884 1196/234.2 1057/250.3 Hampshire 6 3 2 0 1 7 -0.278 1150/241.3 1260/250.0 Leicestershire 7 2 3 0 2 6 -0.621 1130/229.0 1162/209.1 Ireland 6 0 4 0 2 2 -1.378 677/148.0 868/145.5

Group B Team Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts Net RR For Against

Somerset 7 6 0 0 1 13 +2.305 1621/231.4 1309/279.0 Warwickshire 6 3 2 0 1 7 +0.669 1075/214.2 1025/235.5 Middlesex 7 3 4 0 0 6 +0.181 1556/341.0 1186/270.4 Kent 6 3 3 0 0 6 -0.432 1236/259.3 1465/282.0 Scotland 6 0 6 0 0 0 -2.150 1108/292.0 1611/271.0

Group C Team Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts Net RR For Against

Gloucestershire 7 5 1 0 1 11 +0.553 1429/295.4 1284/300.0 Sussex 6 3 2 0 1 7 +0.242 1259/243.2 1215/246.2 Yorkshire 6 3 3 0 0 6 0.000 1224/282.2 1224/282.2 Durham 7 2 5 0 0 4 -0.749 1509/350.0 1734/342.4 Surrey 6 2 4 0 0 4 +0.127 1416/283.0 1380/283.0

Group D Team Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Pts Net RR For Against

Lancashire 7 6 1 0 0 12 +0.737 1590/314.5 1394/323.1 Essex 6 4 1 0 1 9 +0.681 1060/208.3 1053/239.1 Derbyshire 6 2 3 0 1 5 -0.451 1099/237.0 1194/234.4 Northamptonshire 7 1 4 0 2 4 -0.160 1197/239.0 1187/229.4 Glamorgan 6 1 5 0 0 2 -0.993 1161/266.1 1279/238.5