All posts by h716a5.icu

The Catalan giants missed their top scorer as Olmo bagged the only goal of the game in a narrow win that sends Hansi Flick's side seven points clear.

Barcelona dominated proceedings and clocked up an extraordinary 40 shots throughout the 90 minutes of a 1-0 win but found it tough going against a determined Mallorca and an impressive Leo Roman in the visitors’ goal.

Ferran Torres saw an early effort saved by Roman, with Lamine Yamal blocked on the follow-up. The teenager then teed up Olmo for a snapshot with a trademark outside-of-the-boot pass, but the Spain star was also denied by Roman who flung out a hand to preserve his clean sheet.

Barca continued to pile on the pressure in a dominant first half. Gavi drilled a low shot onto the post, via a generous deflection, before a curling Yamal effort was blocked by Roman. This time the ball was pushed straight into the path of Ronald Araujo, but the defender could only fire wide when he really should have scored.

Pedri was pulling the strings for Barcelona and at the heart of all of the hosts' best play but could only watch on as Olmo, Fati and Yamal all conspired to miss chances before the half-time finally blew.

Yet Barca didn't have to wait too long to break the deadlock. Olmo was found inside the penalty area by Eric Garcia and cleverly tucked home a low finish within a minute of the restart.

The only surprise was that Barcelona couldn't add to their tally after finally going ahead. Yamal had the clearest chance of all after being sent clean through on 78 minutes by another clinical ball from Pedri but again Roman came out on top.

A frustrated Hansi Flick sent on Raphinha, Fermin Lopez and Pau Victor in the closing stages in search of another goal but it never arrived. Instead Barca had to settle for the 1-0 win that does at least send them seven points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table.

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Montjuic…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Wojciech Szczesny (6/10):

Didn't have much to do but commanded his box well.

Eric Garcia (8/10):

Started at right-back as Flick shuffled his pack and put in a good shift in an unfamiliar position. Set up Olmo for the opener.

Ronald Araujo (7/10):

Looked comfortable in central defence but missed a great chance to open the scoring in the first half from close range.

Inigo Martinez (7/10):

A quiet evening for the veteran as Mallorca offered very little going forwards.

Hector Fort (6/10):

A rare start at left-back and did well going forwards. However, a little suspect defensively as Mallorca got in behind the youngster on several occasions.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Gavi (7/10):

Went close in the first half with a deflected shot that hit the post. Otherwise, a typically committed showing and involved in the only goal.

Pedri (8/10):

Head and shoulders above every one else on the pitch. He was silky smooth on the ball and caused Mallorca all sorts of problems.

Dani Olmo (8/10):

Missed a couple of chances in the first half but broke the deadlock with a good finish. Replaced on the hour.

Getty Images SportAttack

Lamine Yamal (7/10):

A constant threat down the right for Barca as usual and a little unfortunate not to be on the scoresheet. Missed a glorious chance in the second half to finish Mallorca off.

Ferran Torres (6/10):

Took over from the injured Robert Lewandowski but couldn't add to his tally despite having a few sights of goal.

Ansu Fati (7/10):

Handed just his second La Liga start of the season and looked fairly sharp despite his lack of game time. Had a couple of chances but couldn't score and was hooked on the hour.

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AFPSubs & Manager

Raphinha (6/10):

Given the last 30 minutes and almost scored with one late surging run.

Fermin Lopez (6/10):

Added some fresh legs after taking over from Olmo but, like Raphinha, couldn't help Barca conjure a second goal.

Pau Victor (6/10):

Given some rare minutes as he gave Torres a breather. Had two shots but both were saved by Roman.

Gerard Martin (6/10):

Took over from Fort at left-back for the closing stages.

Frenkie de Jong (N/A):

A late substitute, only saw the final few minutes.

Hansi Flick (7/10):

A good night's work by the Barca coach. His side should have won by a greater margin but he will be happy to have picked up all three points on a night when he gave a number of key players a rest ahead of Saturday's Copa del Rey final.

Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Hooda and Axar Patel part of the squad going to Australia in October

Alagappan Muthu12-Sep-20226:27

Uthappa: Shami is a handful with the new ball and has experience

India will have a full-strength fast-bowling attack to take to Australia for the T20 World Cup with the return of Jasprit Bumrah and Harshal Patel.They’ve also placed a considerable amount of trust in young Arshdeep Singh, who only made his India debut in July 2022, but has been picked ahead of the likes of Deepak Chahar and Mohammed Shami, who only find a place in the reserves.India have, over the past few months, been investing heavily in super specialists. Arshdeep fits into this category having displayed exceptional skills as a death bowler in the IPL. In fact, last season, with a minimum of 40 balls bowled between overs 17 and 20, only Bumrah managed a better economy rate than the 23-year-old left-arm quick. And that too by a mere 0.2 points: 7.38 vs 7.58.ESPNcricinfo LtdA lot of the squad picked themselves, including the top four of Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav. India then turned to their allrounders with Deepak Hooda’s ability to provide a few overs of offspin pushing him into the main squad ahead of other contenders like Shreyas Iyer, who only found a place among the stand-bys.India’s standby players for T20 World Cup

Mohammed Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar.

Hooda is another of the bolters in the squad. He too played his first game for India in 2022, following a breakout season with Lucknow Super Giants for whom he made 451 runs at a strike rate of 136.66. Although his sample size is smaller – nine innings as opposed to 14 in the last IPL – in international cricket, he has pushed that strike rate up to 155.85.Hooda’s presence may also have become necessary with India losing Ravindra Jadeja to a knee injury. Axar Patel takes over the role of lead left-arm spinner in the squad but it remains to be seen if that means he gets a place in the India XI. At the Asia Cup, where Jadeja picked up the injury, the team management preferred Hooda’s batting ability over Axar’s.0:23

Karthik, Hooda in Uthappa’s likely India XI for T20 World Cup

Dinesh Karthik, meanwhile, has forced the selectors to make his “dream come true” by taking his game as a finisher to a whole new level. At IPL 2022, where he first began to make his case for inclusion, he had a death-overs strike rate of 220. Among batters who faced at least 50 balls between overs 17 and 20, only Jos Buttler (236.53) fared better.Karthik has shown sparks of the same ability in India colours as well, notably against West Indies in July when he came in to bat in the 15th over, with the score only 127 for 5, and took it up to 190 for 6. The 37-year-old who hadn’t played any T20Is between February 2019 and June 2022 will now turn up for his third T20 World Cup, and is among a handful of survivors who played the inaugural edition way back in 2007. Rohit is part of this group as well.Yuzvendra Chahal, the top wicket-taker from the last IPL, will lead India’s spin attack with support from R Ashwin. Ravi Bishnoi is among the reserves. All teams can make changes to their T20 World Cup squads until the first match they play, which in India’s case is on October 23.ESPNcricinfo LtdShami returns for home T20Is against Australia and SA
While most of India’s players have recent cricket to back them up, one of their reserves seems to have been picked based on reputation (and a solid one at that). Shami has not played anything since the end of the white-ball series against England in mid-July, but has been called up for the home T20Is against both Australia and South Africa that start on September 20 and has been placed on standby for the T20 World Cup.In IPL 2022, Shami was central to Gujarat Titans winning the title in their first season, claiming 20 wickets in 16 matches. Among Indian fast bowlers only Umran Malik (22), who played for Sunrisers Hyderabad, had more.Allrounder Hardik Pandya and seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar are part of the squad for the T20Is against Australia, but have been rested for the following series against South Africa. Arshdeep, meanwhile, has been rested for the Australia T20Is, but has been picked for the South Africa T20I series – India’s last before the T20 World Cup. Chahar was picked for both bilateral series.”Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be reporting to the NCA for conditioning-related work during the course of the home series against Australia and South Africa,” a BCCI media release said.India squad for Australia T20Is: Rohit Sharma (capt), KL Rahul (vice-capt), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit BumrahIndia squad for South Africa T20Is: Rohit Sharma (capt), KL Rahul (vice-capt), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah

Manchester United haven’t won very often under Ruben Amorim but they found a way to get over the line against Scottish opposition Rangers in Europa League action.

While they were given a helping hand from former United stopper Jack Butland via an own goal, Bruno Fernandes cemented himself as one of the best players of the Amorim era to date by bagging a late winner.

That wasn’t before a late scare. Harry Maguire misjudged the ball and sent Old Trafford into a panic with two minutes left when Cyriel Dessers found the back of the net.

This season has been all about panic, truth be told, but Fernandes, of course it was him, rescued Amorim’s side.

He wasn’t the only bright spark on a big night in Europe with a certain Alejandro Garnacho sparkling.

Alejandro Garnacho’s performance in numbers

This month the Argentine has found himself as a member of the team potentially on the chopping block.

It’s remarkable really, particularly as Marcus Rashford continues to be frozen out of the first team picture.

Surely United can’t lose two wingers in one window? Well, it seems unlikely now as Garnacho showed exactly why it would be “unforgivable” – in the words of MEN journalist Samuel Luckhurst – to sell him.

The 20-year-old has only started 11 times in the league and four times in Europe this term but has surely now staked his claim with a vibrant showing.

Chelsea are reportedly casting their eyes in the direction of the tricky winger but United now need to issue a hands-off warning.

Handed an 8/10 match rating by the aforementioned Luckhurst, he judged it to be the youngster’s ‘best performance under Amorim’.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast's Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

It was clear to see why as Garnacho attempted a whopping seven dribbles, three of which were successful while he also hit the woodwork and had five further shots.

He was a menace to the Rangers defence but the same cannot be said of Joshua Zirkzee, a man who continues to falter in English football.

Joshua Zirkzee’s performance in numbers

With rumours ramping up that Garnacho could depart the club this January, it should be Zirkzee who’s on the chopping block instead.

Put it simply, the Dutchman just hasn’t got going in a United strip.

His winning penalty against Arsenal in the FA Cup nearly two weeks ago could have kickstarted his career in England but that just hasn’t happened with another poor showing against Rangers on Thursday evening.

Given a 6/10 rating by Luckhurst for his performance, the Netherlands international did find himself starved of service but as the journalist noted, ‘he was never a goal threat against Scottish Premiership opposition’.

Minutes played

82

Expected goals (xG)

0.35

Shots on target

0

Shots off target

1

Touches

23

Accurate passes

6/9 (67%)

Key passes

0

Ground duels won

2/4

Aerial duels won

1/3

Possession lost

9x

Fouls

2

That in itself should be a huge worry for Amorim who dragged his striker from the field in the 82nd minute having had just 23 touches – 17 fewer than Altay Bayindir – and having completed just six passes all evening.

It spoke volumes of the anonymous figure we’ve seen in a United shirt and although at the age of 23 there is room for improvement, with Rasmus Hojlund also not firing regularly, the club need to find a goal scorer quickly.

Pre-kick-off fears were sparked over the Red Devils’ worrying PSR situation so perhaps it should be Zirkzee heading for the exit door rather than Garnacho. They need to find money from somewhere and he’s already pretty dispensable.

Their answer to Foden: Man Utd prepare offer to sign ex Man-City player

Man United are looking for attacking reinforcements and could sign their answer to Phil Foden.

ByJoe Nuttall Jan 23, 2025

There is growing frustration among the top players in the country, who feel they are missing out on big money

Umar Farooq02-Aug-2022The PCB is refusing to provide no-objection certificates (NOCs) to Pakistani players – contracted or not contracted – who want to participate in the upcoming BBL season. The board has also not clarified whether it will allow players to take part in the ILT20 in the UAE early next year. The reason for the stance, it is believed, is the packed calendar – domestic and international. But it’s unclear why players with no contracts at the national or the domestic levels are being barred.Though there were no Pakistanis in the list of 98 overseas players who nominated themselves for the BBL draft, many were expected to put themselves up within the deadline. And though no names have been announced as having signed up for the ILT20, speculation has been rife about a number of top Pakistan names being offered contracts there.Related

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Asia Cup: India vs Pakistan on August 28

There is history here, including a near-strike in November 2019. The PCB had, for some time, been operating an informal “PSL plus one” policy as a framework for their players’ participation in overseas leagues. But it is not clear if that is still the case under the administration of chairman Ramiz Raja.With the addition of the ILT20 and the CSA’s new league, the demand for Pakistani players is likely to be higher than before. But, currently, even putting one’s name down in a draft requires permission from the PCB, forget getting an NOC to play.As a result, there is a growing sense of frustration among the top players in Pakistan, who feel they are missing out on big monetary gains – they are effectively barred from playing in the IPL. There was a suggestion at one stage that the PCB might compensate players for not playing in other leagues, but the high value of contracts on offer in those leagues – upwards of US$ 400,000 in the ILT20 – has since seen the PCB go silent on their offer.Contributing to the mess is the upcoming issue of player central contracts, though the matters are not directly connected. The PCB announced it was offering 33 contracts split between white- and red-ball players for 2022-23. Players have asked the board for copies of the contracts in order to first run them past a set of legal eyes before they decide on signing.That is standard practice in most countries, but it has not been the case in Pakistan, where players are used to being given their central contracts – usually just ahead of a tour, or during a pre-tour camp – and told to sign and return them almost immediately. Often, these contracts go up to 150 pages.With the current administration, even putting one’s name down in a draft requires permission, forget getting an NOC to play•PCBHistorically, the PCB hasn’t formally negotiated with players on contacts, and players have rarely disputed any clauses, beyond ensuring satisfactory annual pay rises. But the current crop of players, are increasingly aware of their commercial value and how that should be represented in a contract.As one recent example, a player was told he could not sign an individual deal with a company that was in the same industry as one of the PCB’s associate [not title] sponsors. While clauses exist in the contract that bar players from signing deals that clash with Pakistan’s principle sponsorships – for example, an individual deal signed with a company that is in direct competition with Pepsi, PCB’s title sponsors – the policy isn’t clear about smaller sponsorships.Currently, there is no evidence that players may use not signing the contracts as a bargaining chip to force the PCB to step back on the NOCs issue, but the matter has the potential to flare up.As it was in November 2019, the absence of a players’ association in Pakistan is the elephant in the room, in negotiating central contracts and looking after player welfare, as well as putting in place broader policies that might act as a framework for such situations. Generally, player agents have played a role but the PCB refuses to deal with them over contracts. There have been several attempts in the past to form a union, none successful.The PCB has been approached for comment.**

Cristiano Ronaldo and long-term partner Georgina Rodriguez have starred in a new campaign for Saudi Arabian cruise line, AROYA Cruises.

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Ronaldo & Rodriguez star in campaignPromote Saudi cruise line, AROYACouple enjoy epic sea viewsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The campaign video sees the Al-Nassr star at home with his partner as they plan their holiday, with Ronaldo showing off his football skills and the couple transform their home into the state-of-the-art AROYA ship. They end the video by saying “Yalla,” an Arabic word meaning “let’s go”.

AdvertisementWHAT RONALDO AND RODRIGUEZ SAID

Ronaldo said: “Georgina and I are very happy to feature in this campaign together and can’t wait to take our family on a cruise. We enjoy the Saudi lifestyle, and AROYA Cruises is intrinsically Arabian, from its design to its cuisine. Yalla AROYA Cruises!”

Rodríguez added: “Working on this campaign was a lot of fun and we loved bringing AROYA Cruises to life in our home. As a mom, I love the kids offering onboard and I am sure families will have the best time on AROYA.”

THE GOSSIP

Ronaldo and Rodriguez have starred in AROYA Cruises' first-ever campaign, in what is the first Arabian cruise line. This company launched in December 2024, with the ship featuring 1,678 cabins, two swimming pools, 29 dining venues and a range of premium facilities, including a theatre, beauty salon and sprawling spa complete with salt and snow rooms.

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WHAT NEXT?

Aside from promotional campaigns, Ronaldo could feature for Al-Nassr on Saturday at home to Al-Riyadh in the Saudi Pro League.

Just a few days ago, it looked like Arsenal’s season was over, but now, a renewed sense of optimism permeates the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta’s side have Tottenham Hotspur to thank for that, as their North London rivals managed to blow a 1-0 lead in Wednesday night’s derby to give the Gunners a much-needed boost.

The likes of Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice looked back to their best, while Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba once again reminded the rest of the league why they’re the best defensive partnership in town.

Even Leandro Trossard, who’s been tremendously disappointing this season, looked bright, scoring the winner and turning Pedro Porro into a human pretzel with Cruyffian magic.

However, the Belgian still has a long way to get back to his very best, but he might be helped in that endeavour if the club go all out for a player who has been touted for a move to Arsenal in the past.

Leandro Trossard's lacklustre campaign

Now, while he did score the winner against Spurs and generally looked quite good for most of the game on Wednesday, it would be fair to say that Trossard has not been anywhere near his best this season.

For example, as things stand, the Belgian international has a rather middling haul of just five goals and three assists in 30 appearances this season, which equates to an average of a goal involvement every 3.75 games.

In comparison, the former Brighton & Hove Albion star racked up a haul of 19 goal involvements in 46 appearances last season and 11 in 22 during his first half campaign with the club, equating to an average of one every 2.42 and 2.00 games, respectively.

Appearances

22

46

30

Goals

1

17

5

Assists

10

2

3

Goal Involvements per Match

0.50

0.41

0.26

In short, there has been an undeniable regression from the 30-year-old this year, and while getting older hasn’t helped, such an aggressive reduction in output cannot be attributed to him being a year older, especially as he reminded us of what he could do against Spurs.

Therefore, it’s logical to assume that he can reach the levels of last season again, and that might be made more likely if the club went out and signed a player they’ve already been linked with earlier this season: Alphonso Davies.

Why Davies would revive Trossard

Now, there are likely several players Arsenal could sign who’d be able to get more out of Trossad, so why would Davies, who’s been linked to the club yet again this month, be one of the best options?

Well, in simple terms, it all comes down to his utterly sensational attacking abilities.

The Canadian international is no slouch in defence, but his ability to maraud up and down the left-hand side is undoubtedly his biggest strength, and as the Gunners’ number 19 isn’t the fastest around, having the Bayern star overlapping at a rate of knots would give him far more space to operate in.

Opposing defenders would have to be aware of the Belgian’s incredible technical ability and close control on top of the explosive running power of the UCL winner.

Moreover, he has the output to back up his boundless energy, as in just 29 Bundesliga appearances last season, the “unbelievable” full-back, as dubbed by football writer Jerry Mancini, racked up a haul of two goals and six assists, equating to an impressive average – for a defender – of a goal involvement every 3.62 league games.

Finally, despite being just 24 years old, the 56-capped international has bags of experience and a brilliant winning mentality, which can only help the rest of the Arsenal dressing room as they keep fighting for the Premier League title.

Ultimately, securing Davies’ services ahead of the countless other top sides this year will likely be a challenging task, but given his sensational ability, it would be more than worth it.

Way better than Wissa: Arsenal target £361k-p/w star who can leave in Jan

The incredible international would make Arsenal far more dangerous.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jan 17, 2025

Glasgow Rangers slipped 15 points behind their rivals following yet more away day woes on Thursday evening, dropping two points against Dundee.

The 1-1 draw followed the same pattern as many of the club’s away matches this season, and it is clear that the Premiership title is now out of reach.

The January transfer window may be open, but the only move the vast majority of the Ibrox faithful want to see is Philippe Clement shown the exit door.

Although this would be the popular choice, finances indicate it will be too expensive, especially considering the manager has a contract until 2028.

This means he will be responsible for who is brought into the team this month. With plenty of rumours circulating already with regard to transfer targets.

Several areas of the side need bolstering, especially the defence and midfield, with an upgrade potentially needed on Connor Barron amid his recent woes.

Connor Barron's game in numbers vs Dundee

Against Dundee, the midfield struggled to dominate things from the middle of the pitch, with Barron unable to make much of an impact as he started in place of the suspended Nico Raskin.

The former Aberdeen starlet arrived at Ibrox to much fanfare and duly impressed over his first few months, slotting in alongside Mohamed Diomande at the heart of the midfield.

Raskin was recovering from an injury sustained in pre-season, but since a return to full fitness, his displays on the field have kept Barron on the bench.

Indeed, the Scot hasn’t started a game since the Boxing Day defeat to St Mirren, but due to Raskin’s suspension, he was brought back into the starting XI for the clash at Dens Park.

Barron lasted just 66 minutes before he was subbed off, but while on the pitch, the midfielder lost possession 12 times, won four of his seven ground duels and was dribbled past twice.

Metric (per 90)

Premiership

Europa League

Accurate passes

42.4

27.5

Tackles

1.8

3.2

Interceptions

0.6

2

Possession lost

6.9

8.3

Ground duels won

2.7

4

He played a part in Dundee’s opening goal too, failing to clear his lines properly, which led to the home side scoring.

Not his finest display in the light blue, but there is clearly a player there, one that can be a fixture for the club over the next few years.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Adding in some experience, especially without paying a penny in transfer fees, is desirable for the manager, however, which could lead to a concrete move made to bring in one notable target this month.

Rangers make enquiry for Serbian midfielder

According to the Daily Mail, Rangers are showing interest in CSKA Moscow player Sasa Zdjelar and reports coming from Russia state that the Ibrox side have made an enquiry about the midfielder as they look to strengthen their squad.

It could be good news for the club. Zdjelar might be allowed to depart his current side for free as FIFA granted foreign players the right to suspend their contracts with Russian clubs due to the ongoing war with Ukraine.

Considering the financial issues at Rangers, being able to bring in a player such as Zdjelar, who has been capped nine times for Serbia, could be a wonderful start to the window.

Why Rangers should sign Sasa Zdjelar

Across his career thus far, the midfielder has played for five teams, making a total of 403 appearances at club level, while missing just 16 matches through injury since the 2020/21 campaign.

Given how prominent the injury problems have been at Ibrox over the previous few years, signing someone who hasn’t spent much time in the treatment room would be a welcome bonus.

Content creator Kai Watson hailed the 29-year-old amid the recent links with the Gers, lauding his versatility to feature in central midfield and at centre-back, while highlighting the fact that he is “vastly experienced”.

The Serbian has played 21 matches for CSKA throughout the 2024/25 campaign so far, notching up one assist in the process. Going forward is clearly not his forte, although he has succeeded with 75% of his dribble attempts in the Russian top flight, along with creating one big chance and averaging 0.3 key passes per game.

It is his defensive ability that will certainly appeal to Clement, as Zdjelar can control games from the heart of the pitch, giving his side the edge.

Indeed, in the top flight, the CSKA star averages a pass success rate of 87% per game, while averaging 61 touches, making 1.1 interceptions and recovering 3.8 balls per game, showcasing his defensive attributes.

Additionally, the midfielder has won 3.8 total duels domestically – an impressive 64% success rate – which suggests he doesn’t shy out of one-on-one battles in the middle of the pitch.

Compare this to Barron, however, and it becomes clear that the Serbian star could be an upgrade for Clement. The Scot may have a higher average pass success rate (90%), but there is improvement to be made with regard to his defensive ability, especially compared to Zdjelar.

In the Premiership, Barron averages 0.6 interceptions, recovers 3.4 balls and wins 3.2 total duels per game – a success rate of just 45% – as the CSKA midfielder outshines the current Rangers gem across these metrics.

With more game time, Barron will only improve, which will likely see him depart Ibrox in the next few years.

Zdjelar may be approaching the latter stages of his career, but adding some solidity to the midfield could be exactly what Clement is looking for this month.

With various names being linked to Rangers, much will depend on the type of profile the manager and club are looking for.

Signing a current international who has played across Europe and has demonstrated an ability to control matches while offering effective defensive support makes perfect sense for the club. At Rangers, however, sense is often overlooked.

0 duels won: Clement was let down by Rangers ace who lost the ball 19x

Rangers suffered yet more woes on their travels as they drew with Dundee on Thursday evening

ByRoss Kilvington Jan 10, 2025

The two will also train at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane and be part of Queensland Bulls’ pre-season preparations

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jul-2022Chetan Sakariya and Mukesh Choudhary will headline the overseas presence at the KFC T20 Max series in Queensland next month. They will also train at Cricket Australia’s National Cricket Centre in Brisbane and be involved in Queensland Bulls’ pre-season preparations, as part of the old exchange programme with the Chennai-based MRF Pace Foundation, which had been paused because of Covid-19.Sakariya, 24, made a name for himself during IPL 2021, playing for Rajasthan Royals, and has turned out in an ODI and two T20Is so far while also playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2022, while Choudhary was impressive in his debut IPL season, this year, for Chennai Super Kings, picking up 16 wickets in 13 games. The two will be joined by three Papua New Guinea internationals: Norman Vanua, Chad Soper and Charles Amini.Related

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Sakariya will play for Sunshine Coast, while Wynnum-Manly will have the services of Choudhary. Sandgate-Redcliffe have all the three PNG players – regulars with their national side, which finished third at the recent World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe – in their ranks. Vanua and Soper are medium pacers, while Amini is a legspinning allrounder.There will also be a strong list of current or recent BBL players, some of them internationals, in the mix too: Jordan Silk, Beau Webster, Cameron Boyce, Ben Cutting, Liam Guthrie, Nick Larkin, Clint Hinchliffe, Josh Lalor, Nick Hobson, Jake Lehmann, Arjun Nair, Chris Sabburg, Nick Bertus, Ryan Gibson, Spencer Johnson and Nathan McSweeney.In a note on its website, Queensland Cricket said, “Due to the popularity of the concept and a surge in the number of players expressing interest, Queensland Cricket today updated the competition rules to allow each Premier club to sign an additional interstate or international recruit, moving from three players per club to four.”Several regionally based players have already brokered arrangements with teams, while contracted Queensland Bulls and Brisbane Heat players will be available for selection as part of their pre-season preparations.”The tournament will be played over three weeks, from August 18 to September 4, at the club grounds as well as at the refurbished Allan Border Field, under lights.Exchanges between the MRF Pace Foundation, founded in 1987, and Australia began in 1992, when the academy opened its doors to players from beyond India’s shores.Among the first to come and train under Dennis Lillee, then the director at MRF, was Glenn McGrath, who later took up the directorship once Lillee retired after a 25-year stint in 2012. Fast bowlers from many other countries, including Mohammad Asif (Pakistan), Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka), Heath Streak (Zimbabwe), and premier quicks from Australia like Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson, have all trained at the academy over the years. Similarly, young Indian quicks have been given the opportunity to spend time in Brisbane as part of the programme. The last of these, in 2019, were Prasidh Krishna, who has since played ten ODIs for India, and Mukhtar Hussain, the 23-year-old right-arm quick from Assam.

Fans have vented their fury at Sir Jim Ratcliffe over Manchester United's "awful" post-season tour of Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong announcement.

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Man Utd to play final PL game on May 25Will fly out immediately to the Far East for two matchesFans slammed Ratcliffe for neglecting 'player welfare'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Back in February, United head coach Ruben Amorim admitted that the first-team squad carries a heavy responsibility in driving the club’s financial "engine". In today’s game, global tours are seen as essential tools for engaging with international fan bases and securing commercial revenue — something United have long prioritised. Yet, while Amorim understands the need to grow the club’s global footprint, the decision to immediately embark on a tour across Asia following the end of the 2024-25 campaign has not gone down well with supporters.

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United confirmed on Tuesday that the squad will travel to Malaysia and Hong Kong shortly after their final domestic fixture of the season. They will first play in the Malaysian capital on May 28 against an ASEAN All Stars side in the massive Bukit Jalil Stadium, which accommodates over 80,000 fans. Just two days later, United will head to Hong Kong for a fixture on May 30 at the Hong Kong Stadium, which has a 40,000 capacity. The timing has especially upset fans, with United potentially featuring in the Europa League final on May 21, followed by their last Premier League game at home to Aston Villa on May 25 – leaving barely any recovery time before the long-haul travel begins.

WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

Many fans voiced their disapproval online, expressing disbelief at what they see as another example of the club chasing profits at the expense of footballing priorities under the Glazer family and part owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS.

A United fan, @majorlaw2008, warned on about potentially repeating the mistakes of last summer, when Erik ten Hag saw a number of players suffer injuries before the start of the new season: "How about prioritizing tactics and match fitness of the players. Remember what happened with Ten Hag in the last pre-season."

Another fan, @TheNorthernLad_, bluntly wrote: "Money money money."

While, @charlesmarr22, added: "Awful. No wonder half the side is injured."

Meanwhile, @left_unheard, said: "This needs to be banned. Managers moan about fatigue and player welfare then 2 days after the season ends jet off to the other side of the world for a friendly in 30c weather all for money. Fans are bored of this and the over-commercialisation of football."

@ClairClair211, wrote: "No wonder they're knackered players deserve a proper break, not to be money-making robots for the club."

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WHAT OMAR BERRADA SAID

An elated Omar Berrada, chief executive officer at Manchester United, said of the tour: “We appreciate the amazing level of support that Manchester United enjoys around the world and this summer we are delighted to deliver a schedule that provides our fans in Asia, Scandinavia and the United States the opportunity to connect with the club and watch the men’s first team play live in local settings.

“Importantly, Tour fixtures drive significant additional revenue which helps make the club stronger, allowing us to keep investing in success on the pitch. They also create unique opportunities for us to collaborate with our valued commercial partners, and to deepen relationships with our fans in regions such as Asia and the US.”

Liverpool meet West Ham United at the London Stadium this evening as Arne Slot looks to claim another victory in the Premier League. First-placed and flying, the Reds have been rampant this season.

However, West Ham have a point to prove after a disappointing start to life under Julen Lopetegui but have hit a degree of good form in recent weeks, unbeaten across their past four top-flight fixtures (two wins, two draws).

While Liverpool have won ten of their past 12 matches against the Hammers in all competitions, they drew at the London Stadium last term in a heated contest that saw tempers flare between Mohamed Salah and outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp.

23/24

Premier League

2-2 draw

22/23

Premier League

2-1 win

21/22

Premier League

3-2 loss

20/21

Premier League

3-1 win

19/20

Premier League

2-0 win

Slot will demand cooler heads, but the harmony woven together within this Reds team is sure to remain intact and puts the visitors in a great position to continue their incredible title-chasing campaign.

Liverpool team news

Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley won’t be risked in east London, but both are in contention to return against Manchester United next weekend. The defenders have been sidelined since the beginning of December.

In midfield, Slot won’t be able to call upon the tireless energy of Dominik Szoboszlai, for the Hungarian has been suspended for one match after picking up his fifth yellow card of the year during the Boxing Day victory over Leicester City.

Up front, Liverpool might be tempted to unleash an unchanged line, but given the task at hand, Slot might be tempted to drop two members.

Slot must boldly drop Cody Gakpo

Salah, of course, will retain his starting spot on the right wing, looking to continue his staggering form this season, notching 19 goals and 15 assists across 25 appearances.

However, Darwin Nunez failed to take command at number nine on Boxing Day despite plenty of huff and puff. He brought energy and impetus, but Liverpool need Diogo Jota for this one.

Jota has been reduced to off-the-bench roles since returning from injury this month, with Liverpool’s coaches wary of his fitness record.

He should be fit enough for a starting role now though. With nine victories from ten matches against West Ham, the Portugal forward could be the difference-maker, bringing a clinical edge that Nunez simply doesn’t possess. As per FBref, Jota actually ranks among the top 15% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90.

If Jota is to start up top, Liverpool’s Dutch coach might want to boldly drop the in-form Cody Gakpo too. The 25-year-old has scored four goals across his past seven Premier League starts but Luis Diaz might be preferable to ensure Jota’s chances of scoring are maximised.

Once hailed for his “special skillset” by Pep Lijnders, Gakpo has been a revelation this season, taking the positives from his season-and-a-half under Klopp’s wing and playing almost exclusively on the left flank this year, something that has sharpened his goalscoring edge and then some.

Of course, he could thrive alongside Jota at the London Stadium, but Liverpool could do with Diaz’s electricity and multi-faceted threat.

The Colombian’s hardly a non-existent goal threat himself, bagging seven goals from 11 league fixtures this season.

Such exciting depth is a reflection of Liverpool’s devastating frontline, as deadly as it is deep. Slot’s success has been in large part down to Diaz and Gakpo being able to rotate and attack problems with their own distinct formula.

Whatever Slot picks, Liverpool will feel they have what it takes to complete the job, but Diaz might be the better man for the job today.

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