All posts by h716a5.icu

When John Stones came to Everton as a teenager, he was a rare breed, especially for an English centre-half.

Previously, you had to look far and wide for a player with his attributes in England. Stones could play the ball out from the back and dribble forward like a number 10.

He was calm, composed and looked like he’d be at the heart of Everton and England’s defence for years to come.

Stones consequently moved to Manchester City in a deal worth £47.5m, but has since struggled to consistently nail down a place in their starting XI.

He still earned a place among Gareth Southgate’s squad for the 2018 World Cup – a tournament he scored twice at – but his club form began to deteriorate.

City might have sold him and a return to Everton nearly materialised. Yet, the ball-playing defender grabbed the bull by the horns and fought for his place.

The result of which was one of his most mature campaign to date in 2020/21. He played more often Aymeric Laporte and wasn’t forgotten about despite the £65m addition of Ruben Dias.

Stones won the league title and has impressed again at Euro 2020. Though, if the Toffees now have zero chance of bringing him back to Merseyside, they could find a like-minded player in Ben White.

Cut from a similar cloth, Rafa Benitez has been touted with making a £55m switch for the Brighton defender.

[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!”]

Just 23 years of age, he has only one year of Premier League experience under his belt but looks wise beyond his ears.

His short passing success rate is impressive, completing 90.2% last season compared to Stones’ tally of 95.8%.

White’s dribbling is also an eye-catching characteristic. Throughout 2020/21, the newly capped England defender completed 0.68 successful dribbles per 90 minutes. By comparison, Stones managed 0.42 per 90.

Speaking about the Everton target during 2019, Noel Whelan compared the two, saying: “He is going to be an England international and is heading for a top club, a Champions League club. There’s no doubt he’s good enough.

“Right now, he’s on a par with John Stones, if not better than him. Ben White is much younger, has room for improvement and has a massive career ahead of him.”

Whelan isn’t wrong about his assessments. Arsenal are also in the race to sign the centre-back and even if he favours a move to north London, he mustn’t forget what Everton did for Stones before he joined Manchester City.

This would be a massive outlay for someone with little experience at the top level but he’d surely improve Benitez’s defence.

AND in other news, Brands must seal Everton swoop for “unstoppable” £40m star, Rafa thinks he’s “great”…

The PCB will not object to any decision by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to lift the lifetime ban on former captain Saleem Malik

Cricinfo staff21-May-2008
PCB lawyer: “If the Supreme Court now overturns the ban [on Saleem Malik], we will have no issues with that decision” © AFP
The PCB will not object to any decision by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to lift the lifetime ban on former captain Saleem Malik.Malik was banned in 2001 from playing cricket, holding any office and from involvement in any cricket-playing activity on the recommendations of an inquiry into match-fixing conducted by Justice Qayyum, then a high court judge and currently Pakistan’s Attorney General.Malik appealed against the ban in the Lahore High Court, but after it was turned down, approached the Supreme Court the same year. The matter lingered on in Pakistan’s highest court until earlier this month, when they granted Malik a right to appeal.Malik had regularly expressed his desire to move into coaching and in the recent past toyed with the idea of opening up an academy, only to have the suggestion shot down because of his ban.And as the court prepares to hear the appeal tomorrow, in a further boost to Malik’s hopes, the PCB has said they will not stand in the way if the ban is overturned.”This was not a ban imposed by the PCB or any administration,” Tafazzul Rizvi, the board’s lawyer, told Cricinfo. “This was a recommendation of an independent inquiry and the board at that time only implemented the recommendation. If the Supreme Court now overturns the ban, we will have no issues with that decision.”

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar recently and the Frenchman could be a superb addition to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side ahead of next season.

What’s the word?

According to French news outlet Le10 Sport, Spurs have joined their North London rivals Arsenal in the race for the Lyon star this summer.

The report claims that whilst Lyon are keen to keep him at the club, they have been hugely impacted by the issues with the TV deals in Ligue 1 that have left the majority of French clubs under financial strain, which means that they could be willing to let him go for less than the £45m they demanded of Arsenal last summer.

Would he be a good signing?

Aouar has been a regular at Lyon in the past four seasons, making 170 appearances for the French giants, in which he has contributed an impressive 32 goals and 31 assists from midfield.

Last season saw the 23-year-old contribute seven goals and three assists in 30 Ligue 1 appearances for Les Gones, averaging a solid 6.83 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

Whilst that would rank him above the majority of Spurs’ midfield options from last season, Spurs should perhaps be wary of the fact that Tanguy Ndombele, who was also signed from Lyon, has thus far failed to reach the level he was consistently showing in Ligue 1, despite some improved performances last campaign after a nightmare first season at the club.

However, Aouar is clearly a player who is held in high regard across Europe, with legendary Barcelona star Lionel Messi naming him as one of 15 young players to watch, whilst also singing his praises in 2020, saying:

“He is always calm with the ball at his feet with an excellent technical quality.”

Therefore, if he is able to adapt to the Premier League then he could prove to be a superb addition to Espirito Santo’s side this summer, so sporting director Fabio Paratici should definitely be looking to bring him in.

And, in other news… Paratici can sign Nuno a serious Dier upgrade with swoop for “brilliant” beast

Newcastle United fans have been urged to forget about the potential takeover at St James’ Park by former Toon star John Barnes.

The Lowdown: Newcastle takeover case

The arbitration case between the St. James’ Park faithful and the Premier League over the failed takeover deal between Mike Ashley and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) group is set to take place over the coming months, and the results could be pivotal in terms of the direction of where the bid is heading.

Amanda Staveley, who is a member of the consortium, has spoken to Sky Sports referencing a letter that she wrote urging both the UK government and football regulators to ensure that the arbitration process is to be made public in order to give more transparency over the whole saga.

The Latest: Barnes on takeover

Speaking in a recent interview (via The Chronicle), former Magpies winger Barnes has urged supporters of the Toon Army to stop thinking about the potential takeover, and believes that Steve Bruce is the right man to take the North East club forward:

“A takeover would be a turning point for any club if someone comes in with loads of money.

“They’ve been talking about a takeover for many years and it hasn’t happened, so they have to stop thinking about a takeover.

“If it does happen, they can assess it then, but they can’t look too far into the future.

“Steve Bruce is the right man to take them forward and what they need is harmony.

“They need togetherness until the club is sold.

“They have to support the manager.

“If they keep having problems and fans are booing, that’s not going to help the players and the manager.

“As much as they have their reasons for not liking the owner, that is not going to help the club.

“Until he (Ashley) sells, support them.

“When you’re there for 90 minutes, support the team.”

The Verdict: Do not give up

Although the Tyneside club’s main focus should of course be how to best prepare themselves for the new 2021/22 season ahead, Ashley should not give up on trying to secure the takeover.

The arbitration hearing could well go in his favour, and a positive result could speed up the whole takeover process.

In terms of backing Bruce as the manager, the majority of the fanbase seemingly do not see him as the man to take them forward, with as many as 97% wanting the former Aston Villa and Sunderland boss to be sacked in a poll back in March.

The owners-in-waiting may want to go for their own coach anyway to take NUFC into a new era, and so it is difficult to see Bruce keeping his job if a takeover happens.

In other news, find out which ‘excellent’ Newcastle ace has been left out of pre-season here!

Mitchell Johnson will remain a Queensland player despite his decision to move from Brisbane to Perth

Cricinfo staff04-Jul-2008
Mitchell Johnson is keen to stay in Queensland colours © Getty Images
Mitchell Johnson will remain a Queensland player despite his decision to move from Brisbane to Perth. Johnson is keen to live in Western Australia to be closer to his partner Jessica Bratich, a Perth-based karate champion, but he did not want to switch to the Warriors.Queensland Cricket has agreed to the move, which leaves Johnson in a similar position to his Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who lives in Sydney but plays for Tasmania when not required for international duty. Johnson will probably have less state responsibilities in coming seasons as he is a first-choice player in the Test and ODI side and he believes the arrangement will be workable.”I’m really pleased we’ve been able to reach this outcome,” Johnson said. “I’m looking forward to the move to Perth but didn’t want to cut my ties with the Bulls. I’m confident the arrangement will be beneficial for both parties.”Trevor Barsby, the Queensland coach, said there was no reason Johnson had to live in Brisbane to remain a Bulls player. “We spoke to the players about it and they were very open to the idea,” Barsby said. “As Andy Bichel pointed out, we are in a highly professional era that brings with it different issues, and we should support our international players the best we can. Mitch can bunk down at my place for the week before a game if he happens to come back.”Graham Dixon, the CEO of Queensland Cricket, said Johnson had informed the state of his intention to move and discussed with them the possibility of occasional commutes across the country. Dixon said there was no way Queensland wanted to lose Johnson.”He is a Queenslander through and through,” Dixon said. “Having come through our development system, he is a most popular player within our organisation and we certainly want to keep him in the maroon cap whenever possible. We anticipate we would still see Mitchell on a semi-regular basis because he has close family ties in Townsville, and we are happy to go with the long-distance relationship.”

Andre Botha struck an unbeaten 41-ball 62 which included four fours and two sixes to take Ireland to 161 for 6, before their bowlers combined to bowl out Bangladesh A for a paltry 79 to complete an emphatic 82-run win in Eglinton

Cricinfo staff28-Jun-2008
Scorecard
Andre Botha struck an unbeaten 41-ball 62 which included four fours and two sixes to take Ireland to 161 for 6, before their bowlers combined to bowl out Bangladesh for a paltry 79 to complete an emphatic 82-run win in Eglinton.Junaid Siddique chose to field in blustery conditions, and except for the dismissal of Thinus Fourie in the second over by Mahmubul Alam, things weren’t rosy the visitors. Paul Stirling, with 20, initially gave the momentum to Ireland’s innings, before Botha, first with Reinhardt Strydom (30 off 32) and then Trent Johnston (21 off 10) went into attack-mode. The most successful bowler for Bangladesh was Naeem Islam, who picked up three wickets, including that of Strydom, with his offspin.Bangladesh had a disastrous start to their chase when they lost Imrul Kayash on the second ball, done in by a direct hit from Stirling. The middle order then faltered against the seamers, Fourie, Botha and Johnston, who took a wicket apiece. They were also hampered by two more run outs – those of Siddique (from a direct hit from Andrew Poynter) and Suhrawadi Shuvo. Bangladesh had fallen to 66 for 6 by the 12th over, after which Kyle McCallan hastened their end with three quick wickets.

There aren’t any guarantees that Liverpool and Mohamed Salah will reach an agreement over a new contract, according to The Athletic’s James Pearce. 

Salah has been with the club since 2017, and has gone on to score 125 goals in 203 appearances for the Reds, scarcely believable numbers in a hugely impressive spell to date with the Premier League side.

The 29-year-old is contracted with Liverpool until the summer of 2023, although it remains to be seen as to whether he’ll commit his future to the club anytime soon.

Pearce reports that agreeing a new contract with Salah remains Liverpool’s biggest priority out of their current front-three options, but it is not set in stone.

Liverpool are set to get their 2021/22 league campaign underway on Saturday 14th August, when they take on newly-promoted Norwich City at Carrow Road.

Many Liverpool fans took to social media to voice their frustrations after this update on Salah’s future at Anfield heading towards the 2021/22 campaign.

Take a look at the best of the reaction from Twitter below….

Reds fans fume at Salah uncertainty

“We’re finished club.”

Credit: @lfcxtn

“Trying to force him out lol this club is beyond pathetic.”

Credit: @cavaalli_lfc

“FSG are an embarrassment to football.”

Credit: @GazWiIIiams

“We are owned by billionaires. Stop spending money on your 4000th yacht and pay Salah and Henderson what they ask for to keep them at the club.”

Credit: @goncalvesfc2

“If they are at this sort of nonsense now imagine we had missed out on top 4.”

Credit: @Corballyred

“We can not fumble this.”

Credit: @lewinh0_

“We’re going to lose everyone.”

Credit: @CraigYB1989

When South Africa last toured England, left-hand batsman Jacques Rudolph played all five Tests. Five years later, Rudolph is in the middle of a Kolpak contract with Yorkshire

Cricinfo staff19-Jul-2008
Jacques Rudolph has had a successful stint with Yorkshire © Getty Images
When South Africa last toured England in 2003, left-hand batsman Jacques Rudolph played all five Tests. Five years later, Rudolph is not with the visiting South African side, but in the middle of a Kolpak contract with Yorkshire, which will keep him at the county till 2011.Rudolph signed an initial three-year deal with Yorkshire in January 2007, effectively cutting short his international career with South Africa at the age of 25. Rudolph’s first-class average with Yorkshire is 58.38 – in contrast to his 36.21 in 35 Tests – and he is not unhappy with his decision to leave.”I’ve got no regrets,” Rudolph told the . “There are no hard feelings.” Although he had made his way to the South African squad in the 2001 home series against India, Rudolph made his Test debut over 15 months later in Bangladesh. The proposed third Test in Centurion against India was deemed unofficial after the Mike Denness episode, and later in Sydney, he was controversially omitted in favour of Justin Ontong, a Cape Coloured, after Cricket South Africa president Percy Sonn vetoed his selection on grounds of racial discrimination.Rudolph, though, started his Test career with an unbeaten 222 against Bangladesh in April 2003. However, he wasn’t able to firm a place and was dropped from the XI during the home series against India in December 2006. “At that stage of my career, I felt I needed stability and security,” Rudolph said. “I was in and out of the South Africa side and it was creating a lot of stress for me and my family.” Rudolph played his last Test, against Sri Lanka, in that year.”For that reason, I signed for Yorkshire. It was a great opportunity and I think I’m in a much better position at the moment.”Rudolph didn’t rule out returning to South Africa. “Will I play for South Africa again? There’s a possibility,” he said. “I’ve got three more seasons on my Yorkshire contract after this one and after that, I could qualify for England. I’ll make a decision on that if and when I get there. At the moment, I’m just enjoying my Yorkshire career.” Rudolph could also qualify to play for England under residency rules by 2012.Rudolph was not surprised by the manner in which South Africa’s batsmen saved the Lord’s Test after following on. “You can’t take anything away from South Africa’s batting,” he said. “I still take an interest in this series, of course I do. I’m friendly with some of the younger guys in the team.”Left-arm spinner Paul Harris, in his diary on Cricinfo, had mentioned he would speak to Rudolph about the conditions at Headingley, home to Yorkshire. “A little bit of me wants South Africa to win,” Rudolph said. “I played for them for so many years, and you don’t just change overnight.”Rudolph expects South Africa to come back strongly after the Lord’s performance. “England will take a lot out of the first Test – a lot of people expected South Africa to roll them over. This will be a wake-up call for South Africa and I think they will hit the ground better at Headingley.”They are renowned for their character and their ability to fight back, and they showed that at Lord’s in the second innings.”We haven’t seen the best of the South African attack. Dale Steyn has had an unbelievable couple of years. I think Headingley will suit them better than Lord’s, and Morne Morkel should be able to give them some insight from his time at Yorkshire.”

An update has emerged on DL Pro striker Salomon Rondon, regarding Everton’s potential interest in his services.

What’s the talk?

According to The Echo, Everton have been considering a swoop for Rondon this summer to compete with Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The report claims his name has been mentioned in transfer discussions, although the club have no immediate plans to pursue a deal for him.

Tosun 2.0

Everton must avoid repeating their Cenk Tosun howler by swerving this deal for Rondon.

The Turkish international, Tosun, has been on £60k-per-week throughout his time at the club and has done little to repay the owners with his performances on the pitch following a £27m switch.

He has scored nine Premier League goals for Everton since arriving at the club in January 2018 from Besiktas, a tally that rises to ten if you include the solitary strike he managed on loan to Crystal Palace in 2020.

Rondon was reportedly set to be paid £250k-per-week in China and was on £70k-per-week at Newcastle during his loan spell on Tyneside. This suggests that the forward would command a fairly sizeable pay packet if he were to arrive at Goodison Park this summer, perhaps similar to the amount Tosun has been earning. So, is he worth that?

Once upon a time, yes. Rondon managed 11 goals and seven assists in the 2018/19 campaign for Newcastle and has scored 35 goals in the Premier League in his career.

Lee Clark once said of the striker: “I was fortunate enough to play with Les Ferdinand and Rondon reminds me of him. They’re both swashbuckling centre forwards, who hold the ball up well and provide a focal point for their team-mates.”

Rondon, who has been capped 83 times by his country, will be 32 in September and has not been playing at a high standard since the end of that loan spell with the Toon. He has played in China and Russia in recent seasons, scoring four goals in 13 games for CSKA Moscow last term.

Given his potential wage demands, his age, and his uninspiring form in the Russian league during the 2020/21 campaign, Everton must avoid signing Rondon.

He would likely be another Tosun; paying a large sum of money each month to contribute little on the pitch whilst taking up a seat on the bench that a younger player could have instead.

AND in other news, Greg O’Keeffe drops Everton update that should leave fans buzzing…

The third and fourth Tests of Australia’s tour to India have been pushed back by a day because of the festival of Diwali

Cricinfo staff08-Aug-2008The third and fourth Tests of Australia’s tour to India have been pushed back by a day because of the festival of Diwali and will now begin on October 29 and November 6 respectively.The third Test was scheduled to start in Delhi on October 28 which is when Diwali will be celebrated in the country. The fourth Test will be played in Nagpur.Australia’s tour to India consists of four Test matches, the first of which begins on October 9 in Bangalore, immediately after the proposed Champions Twenty20 League is scheduled to end on October 8. The Australians will also play a warm-up match between October 2 and 5.