All posts by h716a5.icu

Manchester City have been dealt a potentially huge injury blow ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, as Kevin De Bruyne confirmed that he played through the pain for Belgium against Italy earlier this week, after suffering ligament damage in their win against Portugal earlier in the tournament.

The 30-year-old midfielder, who could not prevent his side from crashing out of the European Championships on Friday, confirmed after the game that:

“Personally, I can say thanks to the medical team. Playing with a torn ligament, and I played 90 minutes, is incredible.”

“There were too many problems in the team (with many injuries) to be at 100 per cent.”

Considering the new season is just over a month away for Manchester City, Pep Guardiola will surely not be impressed that one of his most influential players has been playing with such an injury.

It is suggested that a player can take up to six months to recover fully from a torn ligament ankle injury, so whilst it is easy to see why De Bruyne was desperate to play in the quarter-final match, he really should not have been risked by Roberto Martinez, as it could create a lot of problems for City next season if he isn’t at 100%.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-manchester-city-transfer-rumours-and-news” title=”Read the latest Manchester City transfer rumours and news!”]

Considering the former Chelsea man was rated as the best performer in City’s side last season as they won the title, averaging an incredible 7.65/10 rating from WhoScored for his performances, it comes as a huge blow to Guardiola that he might well end up missing the start of the new campaign as he begins his recovery.

With two of City’s rivals for the title, Liverpool and Manchester United, already strengthening their sides, the Etihad outfit will have to be at their best again next season if they want to retain their crown, and having the “world-class” De Bruyne fit is key to their success.

[freshpress-quiz id=“577936″]

Therefore, Guardiola should rightly be angry that the talismanic midfielder risked making his injury worse for Belgium, and will be hoping that he can make a swift recovery in time for the season opener.

And, in other news… Bye-bye Laporte: Txiki should seal Man City swoop for £40.5m-rated beast likened to Hummels

A MONTH after facing disciplinary action from the local and regional cricket bodies, Sulieman Benn has found favour with the West Indies selectors

04-Dec-2002A MONTH after facing disciplinary action from the local and regional cricket bodies, Sulieman Benn has found favour with the West Indies selectors.The tall, 21-year-old, left-arm spinner was one of seven Barbadians and one of four players without international experience named Monday in a 30-man provisional squad for the 2003 World Cup in Africa.The other three uncapped players are Barbadian all-rounder Ian Bradshaw, Windward Islands opener Devon Smith and Jamaican wicketkeeper Keith Hibbert.It is a significant achievement in Benn’s career. He came under the microscope last month when he found himself in hot water with the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).Eleven days after the BCA announced it was withdrawing him from its year-round national programme following a series of events, the WICB fined him ten per cent of his tour fee for breaching the code of conduct on the West Indies "A" team’s summer trip to England and Canada.Benn has been a consistent performer in two seasons of first-class cricket and has been even more effective in the shorter form of the game. During this year’s Red Stripe Bowl, he was Barbados’ top wicket-taker with 11 scalps at an economy rate of 3.68 and last season his rate of 3.02 was the third best among bowlers who delivered more than 30 overs.Floyd Reifer, the heavy-scoring left-hander, has been given consideration after his outstanding returns in the last three regional limited-overs competitions in which he scored 719 runs (ave. 59.91).He was especially dominant this year when his 355 runs (ave. 118.33) earned him the Most Valued Player award.Bradshaw, a left-handed all-rounder, joins fellow Barbadian fast bowlers Vasbert Drakes, Pedro Collins and Corey Collymore in a squad that also features the return of Windward Islands fast bowler Nixon McLean.McLean last played for the West Indies in the 2001 home series against South Africa before taking up a contract with KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins in South Africa where he helped the club win the Super Sport first-class competition and the Standard Bank Cup.His 44 wickets, taken at 16.27, in the Super Sport, were the second-most in the competition and his 15 wickets in the Standard Cup were taken at an economy rate of 3.48.McLean’s unavailability ruled him out of West Indies selection, but was once more eligible for selection after playing in the Red Stripe Bowl three months ago.With the benefit of his experience in South Africa, McLean could be a genuine contender for the final squad of 15 that will be named by December 31 in accordance with the regulations set out in the Participating Nations Agreement between the International Cricket Council and the 14 countries taking part in the World Cup.All countries had to submit a provisional squad of 30 to the ICC by November 30 or the first working day that followed.Players not named in the provisional squad of 30 can only be included in cases of injury or exceptional circumstances.West Indies, who play South Africa in the opening match of the World Cup on February 9, leave the Caribbean on January 28 following a two-week training camp in Antigua.The 30 includes five players who have not played for the West Indies in 2002. They are McLean, Reifer, fast bowlers Reon King of Guyana and Kerry Jeremy of the Leeward Islands and left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell who has not played international cricket this year.

New Zealand’s teenaged fast bowler, Tim Southee, is a doubt for the second Test against England at Old Trafford, after succumbing to a bout of vomiting and diarrhoea following his team’s arrival in Manchester

Cricinfo staff21-May-2008
Tim Southee is a doubt for the second Test at Old Trafford © Getty Images
New Zealand’s teenage fast bowler, Tim Southee, is a doubt for the second Test against England at Old Trafford, after succumbing to a bout of vomiting and diarrhoea following his team’s arrival in Manchester.Southee made his debut for New Zealand in the third Test in Napier in March, where he burst into the limelight with 5 for 55 in the first innings and boundary-laden 77 from 40 balls from No. 10 on the final morning of the match. He had a quieter time during last week’s Lord’s Test, but his absence would still be a major blow to a side that took several positives from a comfortably drawn match.According to reports on New Zealand radio, Southee sat out practice at Old Trafford on Tuesday afternoon, but is starting to take food again and hopes to rebuild his energy levels sufficiently over the next two days. The match starts at 11am local time on Friday.John Bracewell, New Zealand’s coach, was quoted as saying that Southee was “going at both ends” and had been laid low by the bug for 48 hours. Should he fail to recover, Iain O’Brien and Michael Mason will contest the final bowling slot, assuming the Old Trafford groundstaff produce their familiar fast, bouncy wicket.

Lots of Wolves fans have been flocking to a transfer update on Adama Traore.

As per Football Insider, Liverpool have made an enquiry over the possibility of signing the Spain international in the summer transfer window as they look to increase their attacking options.

Although Traore had a disappointing 2020/21 campaign by his high standards, with just six goal contributions in 41 matches across all competitions, he was absolutely electric in the previous term, notching six goals and a further 12 assists (Transfermarkt).

Furthermore, the Molineux club would be selling yet another player to a rival in the Premier League, after Diogo Jota joined the Reds and Matt Doherty signed for Tottenham Hotspur last summer.

Therefore, it is understandable to see why so many of their supporters would like to keep hold of Traore, who is renowned for his searing pace.

Wolves fans on Traore transfer update

These Wolves supporters bemoaned the exit rumour as it was shared on Twitter by Talking Wolves:

“IMO would be a big loss”

Credit: @ma316hdi

“Nooo”

Credit: @AriKonra

“Don’t strengthen our rivals”

Credit: @Adam11520205

“We should defo keep him if Adama wants to stay, you don’t sell your best players”

Credit: @satsomboon

“@LFC still owe @Wolves money for Jota!!! #wwfc”Credit: @gjp12775″Yawn, yawn! Yes and if they want him they will get him!”Credit: @TewNickIn other news, find out what transfer update has left these Wolves fans gushing

A clinical performance from Pakistan had them coast to a ten-wicket win in the inconsequential final Super Four match of the Asia Cup

The Bulletin by Siddarth Ravindran04-Jul-2008
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Abdur Rauf’s picked up three top-order wickets as Bangladesh were bowled out for 115 © AFP
A clinical performance from Pakistan saw them coast to a ten-wicket win over Bangladesh in the inconsequential final Super Four match of the Asia Cup. In a refreshing change at the National Stadium in Karachi, the bowlers dominated the proceedings in the first session but for Bangladesh it was the same old story as their innings folded at 115 all out – the tournament’s lowest total.On a pitch offering sideways movement and extra bounce, Abdur Rauf sliced through the top order with three wickets and Iftikhar Anjum bowled an astonishing six maidens – equalling the record for a Pakistani – to put the hosts on course. Half-centuries from openers Nasir Jamshed and Salman Butt helped complete the formalities with more than 30 overs to spare.The plethora of big scores that have been easily chased down hasn’t dissuaded captains from choosing to bat first, and Mohammad Ashraful continued the trend. While Sohail Tanvir extracted significant lateral movement from the pitch initially, it was Rauf who got the early wickets.On one of the cooler days of the tournament, on a difficult pitch, Bangladesh’s batsmen compounded their troubles with some ill-advised shots. Opener Nazimuddin attempted to pull a short delivery in the second over from outside off and only managed to top-edge it to Shoaib Malik at cover.Ashraful and Tamim Iqbal didn’t bring out their strokes except when the bowlers erred, but their steady approach lifted Bangladesh to 41 for 2. Ashraful hadn’t connected with an attempted hook in the ninth over but got hold of a short one from Rauf in the next to launch it over the midwicket boundary. Rauf’s next ball was a fast bowler’s classic reply: a snorter aimed at the body which forced Ashraful to give Misbah-ul-Haq a catch at point.Raqibul Hasan has shown a heartening and – for a Bangladesh batsman – rare ability to stick it out in the middle but this time he went for an ambitious hook first ball off Tanvir to hole out at short fine leg.With Bangladesh at a dicey 49 for 3, Rauf came up with the best over of the match. The first ball was a sharp bouncer which Tamim fended to slip, and Alok Kapali barely survived the next five torrid deliveries – a couple of well-directed bouncers, and a mixture of incoming and away-going deliveries.Iftikhar Anjum followed the Rauf formula of throwing in a surprise bouncer while also testing the batsmen against the deliveries which seamed off a length. Kapali struck three boundaries in Anjum’s first over but he was undone by the extra lift in the pitch as well. It was a superb comeback by Anjum, conceding only seven runs in his last nine overs and beating the bat on umpteen occasions. He finished with figures of 10-6-20-2 and was unlucky to not get more wickets.Saeed Ajmal backed up the good work of the fast bowlers, picking up two late-order wickets off his doosra, which the batsmen struggled to pick as Bangladesh folded in the 39th over.The flimsy total wasn’t going to be much of a challenge for a Pakistan batting line-up that convincingly chased down 309 against India on Wednesday. Jamshed provided the early momentum, repeatedly carting the bowlers in the arc between long-on and midwicket as Pakistan went into the dinner break at 23 for no loss.Shahadat Hossain extracted the same bounce which aided the Pakistan bowlers, and troubled both openers in the first over after the resumption but there were few alarms after that. Pakistan scored a boundary in virtually every over with a series of off drives off Mashrafe Mortaza and Shahadat.There was a brief lull after spin was introduced at both ends before Butt carved Abdur Razzak through extra cover in the eighteenth over. That opened the floodgates as Jamshed pummelled Mahmudullah over long-on for six and brought up his fifty with a swept four to midwicket. Butt also completed his fifty with three sweeps to the boundary off Razzak before an authoritative cut put Bangladesh out of their misery.Bangladesh are still without a win against challenging opposition since last year’s World Cup and the poor showing at the Asia Cup isn’t the sort of preparation they’d want ahead of a tough tour of Australia.

Tottenham Hotspur have made a bid in an attempt to bring Pierluigi Gollini to north London this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Calciomercato, who claimed that, along with Wolvers and Everton, Spurs have made an offer to Atalanta regarding the the goalkeeper.

The report added that the Serie A club expect to reap in the region of €20m (£17m) from the sale of the 26-year-old, with the shot-stopper himself believed to be keen on a move in order to attempt to establish himself as Italy’s number one for the 2022 World Cup.

Nuno would love him

With Hugo Lloris turning 35 in December, as well as being linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain earlier this year – although this now appears an unlikely transfer following Gianluigi Donnarumma’s move to the French capital – the argument could easily be made that Nuno Espirito Santo should be planning for life after the French veteran in north London.

Considering how impressive Gollini has been for Atalanta in recent seasons, as well as being almost nine years Lloris’ junior, a move for the Italian would very much appear to be a transfer that Nuno would love to get over the line this summer.

Indeed, in the season before last, the £15.3m-rated man was in exceptional form over his 33 Serie A appearances for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, keeping eight clean sheets and averaging 2.5 saves and 0.5 successful runs out per game.

These returns saw the Italy international earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.82, playing a key role in helping Atalanta secure an impressive third-placed finish in the league.

The £25,000-per-week goalkeeper was also in decent form over his 25 league appearances last season, keeping nine clean sheets and averaging 1.6 saves and 0.4 successful runs out per fixture. However, a cruciate ligament injury kept him sidelined for a number of games at the start of the campaign.

In any case, the man Steve Clarke once dubbed a “big prospect” would appear to be a fantastic addition for Spurs this summer. The 26-year-old would not only be an excellent backup to Lloris, he also seems to possess the ability to strongly push the Frenchman for his starting spot between the sticks for Tottenham next season if he swaps Bergamo for north London.

In other news: Spurs dealt transfer blow over “important” £73k-p/w target, Paratici will be livid

Pluck a tricky winger from thin air and it’s reasonable to think that Everton have targeted them this summer.

Football FanCast exclusively revealed earlier this year that a key priority was to sign somebody who could play on the right flank.

What’s the word?

Everton have already secured the services of Andros Townsend this summer but further wide players are on their radar.

In recent days, the Toffees have been linked with moves for Leon Bailey and Samuel Chukwueze.

However, they’re also after individuals who can feature on the opposite flank.

According to The Daily Mail, Everton have shown an interest in Jeremie Boga. They will face competition from Crystal Palace and Leeds, while Atalanta are due to make a second bid.

The Italian side have already had one offer rejected by his current club Sassuolo.

Dream Richarlison heir

Everton are in danger of losing some of their key players this summer.

One of the most likely exits could fall at the feet of Richarlison who has reportedly taken a call from Carlo Ancelotti who is interested in taking him to Real Madrid.

Eurosport claimed this week that he was seeking an exit to Spain and if they do go, they could replace him immediately with Boga.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/check-out-the-latest-everton-news-benitez-kamara-romero-dumfries” title= “Read the latest Everton transfer news!”]

The 24-year-old endured an unsuccessful spell with Chelsea but has flourished since moving to Serie A.

He’s one of the most tricky players to deal with in the Italian top-flight, despite not possessing the greatest set of offensive numbers.

Boga has 18 Sassuolo goals to his name but only four of them came in 2020/21. That said, he was among the best in the division for take-ons.

He completed 3.2 dribbles per game last season, a number that was only bettered by Rodrigo de Paul who has recently moved from Udinese to Atletico Madrid.

One of Richarlison’s best attributes is dribbling but the Ivorian usurps him in that department quite considerably. The Brazilian forward completed 1.8 last season by comparison.

Boga ranks in the 98th percentile for dribbles completed by players in his position in the last year which is way above the man he could succeed, who is in the 61st percentile.

Speaking about the spritely forward in the past, former Chelsea coach Michael Beale said: “The most unique talent and I’m talking in a window of being 13/14 and he just beat the other team possibly on his own is a young boy called Jeremie Boga.

“He just beat teams on his own, such a lovely boy. I thought wow, this boy is a supreme talent. he can stop and go and over three or four yards, he can just drift past you.”

Boga’s career hasn’t quite lived up the dizzy heights expected of him when he was younger but he’s still progressed very well.

He is lively, can beat most defenders in world football and can usually fashion a chance at the end of it.

Benitez would be wise to pick him up if Richarlison departs.

AND in other news, Rafa could discover Everton’s new Leon Osman by signing “special” 34-cap maestro…

Shivnarine Chanderpaul is to appear for the All Stars at this year’s Hong Kong Sixes on November 8

Cricinfo staff17-Jul-2008
Shivnarine Chanderpaul adds experience to the All Stars © Getty Images
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is to appear for the All Stars at this year’s Hong Kong Sixes on November 8.”I’m delighted to be taking part in the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes and I’m looking forward to what promises to be another fantastic weekend,” said Chanderpaul. “The event has built up a deserved reputation as the best sixes tournament in the world, one that is great fun for spectators and players alike, so it will be a pleasure to be involved.”The competition promises to be tough, but the All-Stars will be doing their very best to put on a great show and, hopefully, carry off the trophy.”The Hong Kong Sixes has been an annual fixture since 1992, attracting a wide number of the world’s best. Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Steve and Mark Waugh, Viv Richards, Andrew Flintoff, Adam Gilchrist and Wasim Akram have all taken part, with the proceeds of the tournament going directly into funding development of cricket in Hong Kong.”It’s great news for the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes that a player of Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s stature is taking part,” Mark Burns, the tournament director, said. “He’s a world class cricketer at the very top of his game and I’m sure Hong Kong fans are going to enjoy seeing him in action.The organisers have opted against including Damien Martyn and Inzamam-ul-Haq for this year’s team, however, due to their involvement in the unofficial Indian Cricket League. The ICL, unlike the Indian Premier League and indeed the Hong Kong Sixes, is not officially recognised by the ICC.”Both players are contracted to the unofficial Indian Cricket League.” Burns said, “and we have decided out of respect for the Indian authorities not to involve them in the Sixes.”The All Stars, who were led by Shane Warne last year, were beaten by Sri Lanka in last year’s final.

Liverpool have reportedly shown an interest in Cagliari defender Sebastian Walukiewicz as Jurgen Klopp eyes further additions to his backline.

What’s the story?

That’s according to Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, who claim that the Reds are monitoring the 21-year-old centre-back ahead of a possible move this summer.

The report claims that the Serie A outfit will demand a minimum of £8 million for their prized asset after an impressive showing last season.

Fans will surely be delighted

Liverpool suffered from a severe injury crisis in 2020/21, with their three senior centre-backs all suffering season-ending injuries by January.

The absence of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip saw Klopp turn to midfielders Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, but that caused problems in the club’s engine room, forcing the German tactician to trust fringe player Nat Phillips, loanee Ozan Kabak and youngster Rhys Williams in the second half of the campaign.

An upturn in results saw the Anfield outfit finish third in the Premier League standings, but the club’s hierarchy have wasted no time in adding reinforcements, signing Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig.

The arrival of the France Under-21 international has seen Phillips heavily linked with a £15m move away from Merseyside, although his departure would potentially leave Liverpool light on numbers at the back.

Therefore, news that the club’s hierarchy are reportedly plotting a move for Walukiewicz will surely leave the supporters feeling delighted.

As per WhoScored, the 6 ft 1 beast made 1.9 interceptions per league game last term, three clearances and 0.7 blocks, placing him in the top three for all metrics when compared to his teammates.

After spending a year alongside former Atletico Madrid and Inter stalwart Diego Godin at the Sardegna Arena, Walukiewicz will have had an education in the art of defender that many youngsters can only dream about.

With money tight, Klopp may be tempted to sell Phillips over the coming weeks despite his impressive showing last term and replace him with Walukiewicz, maintaining a variety of options at the heart of the defence while making a healthy profit.

The funds generated could help Director of Football Michael Edwards bring in another one of Liverpool’s top transfer targets while ensuring the first-team squad should no longer be decimated by injuries so easily.

And, in other news…Liverpool make bid for “extraordinary” wizard but Reds fans should be gutted 

The ICC’s annual conference in 2009 will be held at Lord’s, David Morgan, the ICC president, has confirmed

Cricinfo staff10-Jul-2008
David Morgan: “It is perfect timing as it will allow Lord’s, the ICC’s home for the first 96 years of its existence, to play a central role in our organisation’s centenary celebrations, as 2009 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the ICC” © AFP
The ICC’s annual conference in 2009 will be held at Lord’s, David Morgan, the ICC president, has confirmed. Lord’s had held the yearly conference since the first in 1909, but the meeting this year was hosted in Dubai, the first time it had been moved from the body’s former London headquarters.The shift to Dubai, where the ICC headquarters is located, came after it emerged that officials from Zimbabwe may not be granted visas by the British government due to the prevailing political situation in that country. But it’s believed the conference will be held at Lord’s next year even if visas are not granted to Zimbabwe officials, as the decision to host the meeting in England was unanimously endorsed by the ICC board, which includes Peter Chingoka, the president of Zimbabwe Cricket.”It is perfect timing as it will allow Lord’s, the ICC’s home for the first 96 years of its existence, to play a central role in our organisation’s centenary celebrations, as 2009 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the ICC,” Morgan said. “That central role will involve not only the hosting of our biggest ever annual conference week, with all 60 Affiliate Members invited for the first time alongside the Associate and Full Members, but also the staging of matches in the ICC World Twenty 2009, including the finals of both the men’s and women’s events on 21 June.”The ICC’s centenary will be a time to look back at the legends who have shaped the game over the previous 100 years,” he said. “It will also provide an opportunity to look forward and celebrate the thousands of volunteers who sustain the game’s grassroots and, at the same time, the ICC will use the year to highlight the special spirit of cricket on and off the field of play.”Looking ahead to his two years as ICC president, Morgan said he would spend much of the next year meeting the ICC’s members – their officials and their stakeholders. “We are a members’ organisation and so we need to know what type of ICC our members want.”Do they want a toothless tiger that is only useful to blame for any failings when things go wrong? Or do they want a strong governing body invested with the power to run, and make decisions based on the best interests of, the game, and a body they can trust to do just that?”Haroon Lorgat [the ICC’s new chief executive officer] and I will travel to Full Members, Associates and Affiliates over the next 12 months to seek some answers,” he said. “But we also want it to be a two-way street. We want to meet boards and key stakeholders including players, ex-players, media, sponsors, even governments.”We want those stakeholders to know what the ICC does and to ask if we can do anything differently or better. And, at the same time, we will ask what they can do for the ICC.”By this time next year, when I report back to the ICC’s annual conference, we should have a better idea of how we can help our members – and how our members can help the ICC to ensure cricket remains a strong sport, growing stronger.”