Category Uncategorized

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has called for “good pitches” in the series against England, pitches that won’t turn on the first two days, to allow India to develop into a competitive all-conditions bowling side, especially their spinners. Ganguly, who will be part of ESPNcricinfo Match Day, the analysis show that will be aired on ESPNcricinfo and on the SONY ESPN channel on every match day of the five-Test series, said R Ashwin was a “top-class” bowler and that India were “unbeatable” at home, but also said he would only judge the captain, coach and star bowlers based on the next cycle of overseas performances.”I think the wickets are going to be good,” Ganguly said of the upcoming five-Test series against England. “And India should be playing on good pitches. I firmly believe they will continue to be unbeatable at home. But if you want to be a good bowling unit overseas, where your spinners come into play and win you Test matches, Ashwin and [Ravindra] Jadeja will have to learn bowling on good first-day, second-day pitches, where there is no turn, where you have got to bowl the right line and right length. And on day four, day five, the game will change very quickly in these conditions.”One of the favourite bowlers of Ganguly the captain, Harbhajan Singh, had recently created a stir about the pitches India have been playing on since last season, saying his and Anil Kumble’s record would have been something else if they had played on such pitches. Knowing this criticism had come from an insider, the current captain Virat Kohli, who has been snapping at anybody who as much as utters the word “pitch”, had to bite his tongue. Ganguly asked Harbhajan to move on, but he could also see where Harbhajan was coming from.”He has got to take it easy, I think, Bhajji,” Ganguly said. “He has been a champion for India. He has just got to move ahead. I know some of the pitches are square turners. That’s not Ashwin’s fault, though. He has probably got those pitches to bowl on, and he has bowled on them. I think Harbhajan is a great bowler, a great servant for Indian cricket, and he should enjoy the cricket and leave it at that. I know some of the pitches – against South Africa he would probably have got 40 wickets in that series – but even if he didn’t get those pitches in his career it doesn’t make him a lesser bowler than anybody.”On the whole, Ganguly saw improvement in Ashwin’s last series outside Asia, and expected more of the same. “There was never a doubt about him as a bowler in these conditions,” Ganguly said. “If you look at his record in the first 12-13 Test matches in the subcontinent, he has got 100 wickets. There is always a question mark on how he bowled in England and Australia and South Africa. And there’s definitely an improvement on that. He has definitely got better in those conditions.”He has continued to thrive on these turning pitches. I don’t think it is that difficult bowling on these turning pitches. You see Jadeja, his record home and away is like chalk and cheese. Ashwin will be very, very dangerous in this squad. Jadeja as well. Pitches turning. Fast. Hitting the rough and turning it away. He will be very, very hard to get away. So England will have to bat very well in the first innings. Toss will be crucial. They will be looking to win the toss and bat first. Lots of things will affect how this series goes but Ashwin is going to be a huge threat.”As part of the BCCI’s cricket advisory committee, Ganguly was instrumental in the appointment of Kumble as India coach, and he is a fan of Kohli: “I sit on my sofa and switch on my TV to watch Virat Kohli.” While he is impressed with Kumble and Kohli’s partnership so far, he is not getting carried away yet. “He [Kumble] has been brilliant but he has played a lot of Test matches at home,” Ganguly said. “And he is going to play about nine Test matches at home in the next six months, so I maintain as I maintained with other coaches that India will continue to beat teams in these conditions. But just like everyone, just like I asked of MS Dhoni whether he had the ability to win Test matches overseas, the same question remains for Virat Kohli and Anil Kumble.”Whether they can get together and get India going in overseas conditions. Because that is what is going to happen after these nine Test matches. We are going to go away to England, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand. And they will be tested. So for them and for me the real judgement will come once they complete that full circle. At the present moment, I don’t think they have been tested yet.”Ganguly doesn’t expect England to test India too much either, because, according to him, England are a depleted side from the one that beat India in India in 2012-13, and also because India are on a roll and high on confidence while the opposite was true of the side that lost in 2012-13. Ganguly expects India to continue playing just the two spinners, but if left to him he would add Amit Mishra to the successful pairing of Ashwin and Jadeja.”If I go by the New Zealand Test series, I think he [Kumble] is happy with four bowlers,” Ganguly said. “He knows in these conditions the spinners are capable of picking up 20 wickets, when the ball turns square. I just get a feeling that he will go in with four bowlers. And that will be Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. If he goes in with three spinners at some stage – and that will only happen if he is under pressure, if he hasn’t won the first Test in Rajkot, or of the wicket is Vizag is a minefield as we saw in the one-day game [against New Zealand] – maybe then he could come and have a third spinner.”Him going with three spinners [at the outset], I am not too sure. Because he will wait for the ball to reverse. Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav have been brilliant at that. Ishant Sharma is back, so he will probably get a go ahead of Umesh Yadav. So I see him going with Ishant and Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.”

The nightmare is over for Chelsea. The club’s first season under new ownership has ended in complete disaster but everyone cannot contain their anticipation for the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino.

According to GOAL, the 1-1 draw against Newcastle United on the final day sentenced the Blues to their worst-ever points total (44) in the Premier League era and their lowest domestic finish since 1994.

The upcoming transfer window is the pivotal first opportunity for the Argentine to attempt to trim a hideously bloated squad, whilst also adding some much-needed injections of quality.

During the tumultuous Graham Potter era, it was reported that after Todd Boehly’s inexplicable £600m outlay there were so many players that some had to get changed in the corridor.

It resulted in a team stricken with unhappiness, instability, and a pitifully distinct lack of motivation.

One player who embodied this feeling was Hakim Ziyech, and if the club are going to move forward, then the Moroccan must not be in Pochettino’s plans next term.

What should happen to Hakim Ziyech?

The 30-year-old has endured an ineffective campaign that has generated no productivity.

Across a ridiculous season, the west Londoners have had three different managers and no one has seemed to fancy the Morrocan; he has only started 13 games in all competitions, registering just three assists, whilst drawing a blank in front of goal, as per Transfermarkt.

In January, the £100k-per-week man was discarded by Potter, and was seemingly set for a move to Paris Saint-Germain. He was so desperate to secure the move that he made a late dash to the French outfit’s offices, but the deal collapsed leaving the player bemused and frustrated.

Since his move to England in 2020, the winger has often cut a dejected figure, which was made more apparent by his different demeanour when he represented his country.

This was recognised by Joe Cole during Morocco’s World Cup campaign, who said: “He just looks like a happier player for Morocco. He's had a very difficult time at Chelsea, and he hasn't had a rhythm to his game.

“The Premier League doesn't suit him. It's aggressive, up and down. Playing for Ajax he could hug the touchline and the team would very much play through the lines, give him the ball and he's got a lovely left foot, comes inside, and delivers the ball.

“But when we've watched him here [Qatar], he's playing with an intensity and a smile on his face. Ziyech is a talented boy but it's just not worked for him at Chelsea.”

Pochettino must not try to prevent the inevitable and persuade the former Ajax man to stay, as Ziyech’s exit would be the first significant step to herald in the new era at Stamford Bridge.

Having been dubbed "awful" on plenty of occasions during his spell in London, it would be a great surprise if we ever see him in a blue shirt again. This must be the end of the road for the diminutive winger.

انتهت مساء يوم الإثنين منافسات الجولة الرابعة والعشرين من الدوري الإيطالي، موسم 2023/24، حيث خسر يوفنتوس أمام أودينيزي بهدف دون رد.

وشهدت الجولة فوز إنتر ميلان على روما بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدفين، في حين انتصر ميلان على نابولي بهدف نظيف.

وانتصر أتالانتا على خصمه جنوى، في الجولة نفسها، بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف، أما بولونيا فقد فاز على ليتشي برباعية نظيفة. ترتيب الدوري الإيطالي بعد نهاية الجولة الرابعة والعشرين

1 -إنتر ميلان، 60 نقطة.

2 -يوفنتوس، 53 نقطة.

3 -ميلان، 52 نقطة.

4 -أتالانتا، 42 نقطة.

5 -بولونيا، 39 نقطة.

6 -روما، 38 نقطة.

7 -فيورنتينا، 37 نقطة.

8 -لاتسيو، 37 نقطة.

9 -نابولي، 35 نقطة.

10 -تورينو، 33 نقطة.

11 -مونزا، 30 نقطة.

12 -جنوى، 29 نقطة.

13 -ليتشي، 24 نقطة.

14 -فروزينوني، 23 نقطة.

15 -أودينيزي، 22 نقطة.

16 -إمبولي، 21 نقطة.

17 -ساسولو، 20 نقطة.

18 -هيلاس فيرونا، 19 نقطة.

19 -كالياري، 18 نقطة.

20 -ساليرنيتانا، 13 نقطة.

ويمكن متابعة ترتيب الدوري الايطالي، موسم 2023/24، محدث بشكل مستمر من هنا.

Joel Ward has been an excellent performer for Crystal Palace over the years, and his goal at Craven Cottage on Saturday was a moment he deserved, podcaster Dan Cook has claimed.

How did Ward play against Fulham?

The 33-year-old scored his first goal of the season as Palace came from behind to snatch a point, bundling in a late equaliser from a free kick.

The right-back has been a consistent performer over the years, having made 334 appearances for the club, but goals are a rare occurrence, with just six strikes in this time.

Speaking on the HLTCO podcast, Cook lauded Ward as a club hero following his goal, and praised what was a special moment for the veteran.

"Ward is not ever someone that you could expect to put in a 10 out of 10 performance as a modern full-back, he's not going to bomb on, put crosses into the box or affect the game from an attacking perspective week after week. But from a defensive perspective, he's always a seven out of 10," he stated.

"I mean this categorically, I have never seen Joel Ward have a stinker of a game. He is Mr. Consistent. He's just part of the furniture really at Crystal Palace and one of those players who is not really appreciated by those outside of our fan base.

"From my perspective individually, it was just fantastic to see Ward score."

Should Crystal Palace keep Ward?

The defender is out of contract at the end of the season, and with it currently unclear what direction Palace will go in when looking for a new manager, it remains to be seen whether the Englishman will extend his stay.

If Ward is keen on an extension then it's a no-brainer for Palace to keep Ward for another season, whilst also exploring the market for younger full-backs who can eventually be his successor.

Ward has been a consistent figure in the Crystal Palace team, apart from a spell where Aaron Wan-Bissaka broke through and earned himself a big-money move to Manchester United.

He was able to rack up 25 accurate passes on the weekend and also registered two shots on goal despite only having 43 touches of the ball (via SofaScore).

Palace should be in the market for a defender who can initially rotate with Ward, as the veteran may not be able to start for an entire season, but given his experience and his long affiliation with the club, keeping him in the dressing room could be important as the club prepares to make changes off the pitch.

Roy Hodgson has had a successful spell as interim boss, but there still remain questions over whether he should continue in his role or if Palace should look to start a different project.

Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy by extension hold the most serious interest in signing Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

What’s the latest Spurs transfer news?

Spurs have a plethora of issues to resolve before the summer transfer window opens for business, namely who they will be their permanent manager and Antonio Conte’s full time replacement.

Ryan Mason has been placed in temporary charge until the end of this Premier League campaign with Europa League qualification still very realistic.

In the meantime, Levy has been scouring the market for appointments, as well as looking out for a new sporting director to replace the departed Fabio Paratici.

On top of all this, Spurs must think about a long-term successor to goalkeeping mainstay Hugo Lloris, who is entering the final 12 months of his contract alongside star striker Harry Kane.

Tottenham have been repeatedly linked to signing Lloris’ replacement this summer, with Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret thought to be attracting serious interest.

As well as Meret, it is believed the likes of Mike Maignan (AC Milan) are in Spurs’ thinking, with a report by journalist Gaston Edul saying another shot-stopper is on the agenda.

According to the TYC Sports correspondent, writing on Twitter, Villa’s Martinez is a very serious target for Spurs and Levy with the north Londoners having a move “in the pipeline”.

Martinez, who helped Argentina to World Cup victory at the end of last year, could be on the move and Tottenham are very likely to go a ‘step further’ for his signature over rival clubs.

Edul explained:

What could Martinez bring to Spurs?

The 30-year-old has been praised for his form at Villa Park over the last 12 months, with defender Matty Cash summing up his quality perfectly.

Cash, speaking to the media (via The Shropshire Star), said:

“He (Martinez) normally buzzes off clean sheets. The first thing he said to me in the dressing room was: ‘I’m gutted we conceded’. He’s unbelievable. One of the best goalkeepers in the world. To have him there is really good for us. He has made so many big saves for us.”

To replace a figure as important as Lloris, this could be exactly the type of character needed at Tottenham, both in terms of goalkeeping contribution and elite mentality.

Members of the media have also called him “world class” for his exploits at international level.

Manchester United are now the "front runners" to sign PSG right-back

Achraf Hakimi this summer, according to Football Insider.

Will Manchester United sign a right-back?

The Red Devils looked almost certain to be in the market for a right-back earlier this season, with Sky Sports revealing the club were open to offers for Aaron Wan-Bissaka almost as soon as Erik ten Hag arrived at the club.

The Dutchman clearly preferred Diogo Dalot in that position, and although the former Crystal Palace starlet has forced his way back in during recent weeks, the manager may well stick to his guns and hunt for a more comfortable ball-playing full-back this summer.

Reports in March claimed Old Trafford chiefs could actually attempt so swap Dalot for Netherlands star Denzel Dumfries, and now it seems Hakimi is on the transfer shortlist as well.

According to FI, United have moved ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Hakimi due to the fact that the Blues will not be able to offer Champions League football. Both teams are "prepared to move for the 24-year-old defender at the end of the season after Paris Saint-Germain made it clear that they are open to offers", but it is the M16 outfit who are currently out in front and willing to meet his £60m price tag.

Would Hakimi be a good signing for Man United?

The Morocco international, currently earning £172k-p/w in Paris, certainly has what it takes to inject a bit more end product than has been provided by Dalot and Wan-Bissaka, racking up nine direct goal involvements in 36 appearances in all competitions this season.

For comparison, Aaron Wan-Bissaka only has 13 goal contributions during his whole career at Old Trafford.

According to FBRef, he ranks highly across Europe's top leagues in terms of important attacking metrics like assists, progressive passes, carries and succesful take-ons, drawing praise as a world-class player from legendary full-back Dani Alves.

The defender has however recently been the subject of a bizarre story involving his personal life, with everyone from UFC superstars to controversial social media personality Andrew Tate praising his actions in an apparent divorce settlement, while other rumours swirl suggesting the entire saga has been fabricated.

Still, assuming that cloud over his personal life is nothing serious enough to affect his actions on the pitch, Hakimi looks like he would be an excellent signing to really kick-start Ten Hag's new era at Manchester United.

West Ham United fans may not remember Havard Nordtveit fondly but the Norway international did make the club a significant profit, and his career since leaving the club suggests that the Hammers did phenomenally well to sell him for £8m.

How did Havard Nordtveit perform at West Ham?

West Ham confirmed the signing of the centre-back in May 2016, as he agreed to join on a free transfer ahead of his contract expiry at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Considering he had contributed four goals and one assist in 31 Bundesliga appearances the season prior, averaging a strong 6.96 rating from WhoScored for his performances, it was easy to see why the Hammers were anxious to bring him in, especially without a transfer fee.

Nordtveit arrived with plenty of experience of playing at the top level with both Norway and Monchengladbach, having helped Die Fohlen to a fourth-place finish in the Bundesliga in the 2015/16 campaign, while also featuring regularly for them in the Champions League stages.

Unfortunately, his time at West Ham proved to be far less successful, as he averaged a shocking 6.46 rating from WhoScored across just 16 Premier League appearances in the 2016/17 season, which unsurprisingly saw him moved on in the summer.

When discussing some of the worst players to ever feature for the Hammers in 2022, journalist Alan Rzepa went as far as to suggest that Nordtveit was "considerably worse than Diop," who also failed to win many fans with his performances in his last few seasons at the London Stadium.

Where is Havard Nordtveit now?

West Ham somehow managed to sell the defender to Hoffenheim for £8m, which was incredible business considering they brought him in for free the summer before, and his performances back in the Bundesliga suggested that the Hammers got the better end of the stick.

In five seasons with Die Kraichgauer, he accumulated just 74 appearances, while a return to England on loan with Fulham also didn't go to plan, as he featured just five times in the Premier League for the Cottagers as they were relegated from the top flight.

Therefore, it was no surprise when Nordtveit was released by Hoffenheim last summer upon the expiry of his contract.

Since then, he was only able to find a new club in his native Norway late last month, as he signed for Skjold IL.

Despite being just 32, Nordtveit's market value has completely fallen off a cliff since his West Ham exit, with Football Transfers now valuing him at just €200k (£175k).

That simply reinforces just how well the Hammers did to sell him, even if he was a disaster in his one-year stay at the club.

Aston Villa have been longing for an offensive catalyst since the £100m departure of beloved homegrown talent Jack Grealish to Manchester City in 2021, the fleet-footed demon's feats for the Lions undoubtedly going down in the club's folklore.

Sure, Ollie Watkins has been prolific in the Premier League of late; Emi Buendia is easy on the eye with his gliding gait, but no one has captured the panache and efficiency of the former gem.

A wholly contrasting skill set, but Villa's Finn Azaz could be the optimum name to send Villa Park into rapture once again, with the midfield maestro out on loan at League One high-fliers Plymouth Argyle this season and forging a season of emphatic success; a centrepiece to the club's promotion-pushing efforts.

Argyle are table-toppers after 38 matches, five points clear in the automatic playoffs with just eight matches to play.

The Republic of Ireland international Azaz has indeed been fantastic for The Pilgrims and will certainly be in contention for a spot in manager Unai Emery's system next year, so arresting has he been in his trade.

Who is Finn Azaz?

Azaz has been on the Claret & Blue's books since the summer of 2021, when he was signed from Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion and immediately loaned out to Newport County, praised as "exciting" by the club's official website.

WhoScored highlights Azaz's most arresting traits as his 'key passes', 'dribbling' and 'finishing', and his offensive midfield deployment could indeed provide the Villans with the offensive spark to complement the front-line next season.

Emery sold Danny Ings to West Ham United for £15m in January and only signed 19-year-old prospect Jhon Duran for £18m to bolster the offence, the dynamic Colombian precocious but perhaps not quite ready for the talismanic role.

The activity hints at a marquee addition in the summer, with the likes of £44m Lille sharpshooter Jonathan David touted, and as such, a creative and enterprising force situated behind would indeed go down a treat.

The 22-year-old Azaz has recorded an average Sofascore rating of 7.14 this term, scoring seven goals and supplying eight assists and complementing his direct return with 1.7 shots and 1.9 key passes per match, hailed as a "baller" for his exploits by journalist Alex Dunne.

If Emery does decide to offer the one-cap U21 international a platform, he could stake a claim for Philippe Coutinho's place in the team, with the distinguished Brazilian branded “disappointing” by former Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor.

The £125k-per-week man has scored just one goal and provided no assists from 22 outings across all competitions this season, recording a mediocre Sofascore rating of 6.66 and offering just 1.1 shots and 0.4 key passes per outing, inferior to Azaz's output, granted, playing two divisions below but exhibiting all the prowess requisite for success in the English top-flight.

How the "imposing" Azaz – as dubbed by Ashley Preece – has carried himself in the third tier this term has been extremely impressive, and if he can continue to nurture his abilities at Premier League level with Villa, he could become a shrewd, homegrown sensation in the midlands.

He might not quite have the flair or elegance of the likes of Grealish and Coutinho, but the mechanical, industrious way he exerts his authority and dynamism cannot be understated.

Leeds United boast a wealth of youth talent, many of whom have been handed their big break in the first team in recent years.

Marcelo Bielsa, Jesse Marsch and now Javi Gracia all have employed academy graduates, whilst acquired talent like Wilfried Gnonto also have earned acclaim for their sensational performances that belie their youth.

However, amongst all this academy production, one name has been somewhat pushed to the wayside despite his immense potential.

Cody Drameh was widely seen as one of the shining lights of the Whites' youth setup, with the expectance being that he would soon hold down their right-back spot for the foreseeable future.

However, having been shipped out on numerous loans and seemingly replaced in the market, his hype has died somewhat.

Given his sparkling displays during his current spell away from the club, he is surely playing his way back into contention, especially given the underperformance of his rivals in his role.

How is Cody Drameh playing at Luton Town?

The 21-year-old joined Luton Town in January as one of many questionable decisions made by Marsch, however, the young defender is currently proving why he boasts more than enough talent for a starting spot in a Premier League team.

This came almost exactly a year after he was handed his first loan, as he was sent to Cardiff City where he too was a big hit. Drameh would even win the young player and player of the season awards after just six months in the Welsh capital, an outstanding feat.

His boss at the time, Steve Morison, reserved special praise for the relentless dynamo, as he noted: "He is like a Duracell Bunny, isn't he? He just keeps going and going."

Meanwhile, this season Ayling has endured an average rating of 6.71, a slight depreciation from his supposed successor in Rasmus Kristensen. The Denmark international has only mustered a slightly improved 6.87 rating himself, marking both out as disappointments.

To compare this with their young counterpart, who has marked himself out as both an outstanding creative and defensive threat in the Championship, they will surely be fearing for their positions in the squad.

Drameh is earning a 7.11 average rating for the Hatters, where he is recoding 1.8 key passes alongside 3.3 tackles and 2.0 clearances per 90, via Sofascore.

He is the standout with regard to form, and his youth makes him a thrilling prospect that would surely get fans excited too. Should Gracia keep the Yorkshire outfit up and retain his place in the dugout, his first port of call next season must be to ditch Ayling for the sensational youngster who has earned his big chance.

Journalist Charles Watts has indicated that Gabriel Jesus could be set to return to full training soon, in what would be a massive boost to Arsenal.

What’s the latest on Gabriel Jesus?

The Brazilian has been absent since picking up a long-term injury during the World Cup, but Arsenal have kept their spot at the top of the Premier League with Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard deputising for the striker.

He has been in light training but could be set for a return to full training with the squad soon, as Watts pointed out a detail following Arsenal’s dramatic victory over Bournemouth at the Emirates.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Watts pointed out that Jesus took part in a squad warm-down following the game, including intense five-a-side drills with the ball, indicating that he could be set to return to action.

“Gabriel Jesus was there and was taking part which is a great sign. if you see after the game, he’s on the touchline celebrating with all the players as they came off and he’s in his training gear,” he stated.

“Even Elneny, but he’s obviously in his usual clothes, but Jesus was in his training gear and he went out and he took part in that training session with the substitutes that played in the match. It was quite intensive and he was part of it.

“I think that’s a really big step in terms of his recovery, to see him doing that and twisting and turning, taking part in the match. There weren’t huge goals going in or anything like that, but it’s still a really big indication that he’s fit, and must be very, very close now to coming back and joining in full training.”

How important is Jesus to Arsenal?

The £45m summer signing from Manchester City settled in instantly at the Emirates, scoring twice on his home debut, and quickly impressed with his work rate and technique as he led the line.

Arsenal lost just one league game with him in the side, and despite going on a goalless run pre-injury, his role in the team helped the likes of Granit Xhaka and Gabriel Martinelli hit their own scoring form.

Xhaka is yet to score this season without Jesus in the side, and his eventual return will provide a massive boost as Mikel Arteta’s side aim to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004.