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Despite currently sitting eighth in the Premier League table with 28 points from 19 games, Wolves have only scored 14 goals in the top flight, leaving rock-bottom Norwich City as the only team to have found the back of the net on fewer occasions this season.

One figure who has not been a stranger to scoring goals for Wolves over the years but seems to be having some struggles this season is Raul Jimenez, who has only bagged three goals in 18 league games so far in the current campaign.

With a total of 51 goals in 129 appearances across all competitions under his belt for the Old Gold, the 30-year-old perhaps hasn’t been as clinical in front of goal this term as Bruno Lage and the Wolves fans would have hoped.

Given the serious head injury that the Mexican suffered in November 2020 which kept him out of action for so long, it’s safe to say that this could have impacted his ability to score goals at the same rate as he had been beforehand.

Taking into account his age, if Jimenez doesn’t start scoring regularly again, this could force the club to start looking at new strikers they could bring in to potentially replace him in the future.

Having been linked with a move for Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa – also known as Gabigol – in recent weeks, he could be an ideal candidate to come in and potentially become Wolves’ next version of Jimenez.

With 129 goals scored in 263 club appearances across his career, the 25-year-old – who is currently earning £49k-per-week according to Salary Sport – certainly knows how to find the back of the net regularly, something which can’t really be said of Wolves at the moment.

Also, with WhoScored listing finishing as one of Barbosa’s strengths but one of Jimenez’s weaknesses, this shows how deadly an attacking outlet the Brazilian could be for the Old Gold.

One former player who  knows a thing or two about scoring goals is Brazil legend Ronaldo, who has previously described Barbosa as having “a lot of quality”, highlighting what an exciting prospect it could be for Wolves to have him in their squad.

Looking ahead to the future, the 25-year-old is a player that Wolves and their executive chairman Jeff Shi should definitely keep an eye on regarding a potential transfer if their goalscoring situation doesn’t improve soon.

In other news: Fosun plot deal for £26k-p/w Wolves beast who’s “got everything”, Lage surely buzzing

Durham continued to dominate the county curtain-raiser against MCC at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, setting their opponents an improbable target of 526 for victory on day three

31-Mar-2010Close MCC 156 for 7 (Murtagh 27*, Lewis 32*, Blackwell 3-39) and 162 (Malan 41, Borthwick 4-27) require 370 runs to beat Durham 228 for 6 dec (Thorp 79*, Coetzer 52*, Kirby 2-10) and 459 for 9 dec (Coetzer 172, Di Venuto 131, Malan 4-20) with three wickets remaining
ScorecardKyle Coetzer followed up his first innings hundred with an unbeaten fifty in the second innings•PA Photos

Durham ripped through MCC’s batting line-up for the second day in a row to move within three wickets of a resounding victory on day three of the county curtain-raiser at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.If MCC’s labours in the field on Monday suggested the pink ball being trialled in this fixture offers little for the bowlers, Durham have gone about proving the opposite ever since, rolling their opponents for 162 yesterday and leaving them 156 for seven at stumps.That left MCC 370 runs adrift of a nominal target of 526, with Scott Borthwick and Ian Blackwell sharing six wickets in the final session.Steve Kirby, who took two late wickets last night to leave Durham seven for two, started with another fiery spell this morning. First he beat Blackwell with a bouncer and then clattered Will Smith on the helmet with another short-pitched delivery.Jon Lewis, who has been struggling with a thigh problem for much of the match, came on first change and proceeded to bowl Smith via the bottom edge with his first ball of the innings. Dean Cosker matched that feat, snaring Blackwell’s outside edge with his loosener. Phil Mustard was in at five in a changed Durham order and quickly opened up with a handful of crisp attacking strokes.But debutant Ben Stokes could only add seven before he was pinned lbw by MCC skipper Alex Gidman as Durham stumbled to 74 for five. Mustard dashed a single just before the break to bring up his 50, which included eight fours, but fell two balls into the second session, carving James Middlebrook into the hands of James Taylor.That brought day one centurion Kyle Coetzer and Callum Thorp together and the pair were offered some fairly easy pickings as the frontline bowlers were withdrawn from the action in favour part-time spin from Taylor and Malan.Thorp took full advantage, helping himself to a rare half-century before moving up the gears to pass his previous first-class best of 75 with two thrashed boundaries off Taylor. Coetzer, meanwhile, followed up his career-best 172 in the first innings with an organised but low-key 52 not out. Despite the awkward twilight period closing in, Smith delayed the inevitable declaration by a handful of overs before calling his men in at 228 for six.Just seven of those had been scored when Steve Harmison struck in his third over, Scott Newman playing on for a second failure of the match. MCC soon set about replicating their implosion on day two, with David Sales (2) trapped lbw by Blackwell and Malan (13) lifting the same bowler to substitute fielder Mark Stoneman. Blackwell’s left-arm spin continued to trouble the batsmen, with Gidman bowled for a breezy 17 after missing a paddle sweep.At 44 for four, MCC were in deep trouble. They struggled to 74 before James Foster went lbw for six, Borthwick striking with his first ball of the day. That was his fifth scalp of the match and a sixth could have followed from the next ball when Middlebrook survived another strong shout.Yet he could not capitalise on his reprieve, making just nine before picking out Smith to give Borthwick a second success. Taylor, the 2009 Young Cricketer of the Year made a composed 39 before he too capitulated to Borthwick, pulling a shorter one to Coetzer, who held a smartcatch. By now the result was a formality but Lewis (32 not out) and Murtagh (27 not out)forged a solid eighth-wicket stand to ensure the match would reach a fourth day.Even Harmison, who had puzzlingly contributed just three overs with the new ball, was tempted into a second spell without joy.

Other decisions taken by the ICC

• ICC will conduct “urgent product research and analysis” into providing greater context to Test, ODI and Twenty20 cricket, including a look at day/night Tests

• Ian Bishop and Mark Taylor reappointed to the Cricket Committee as media representatives, Kumar Sangakkara and Tim May as current player representatives; Gary Kirsten takes over from Mickey Arthur as national coaches’ representative

• A meeting with broadcasters in March will aim to refine the UDRS, which, it was reported, had seen 97.44% correct decisions (up from 91.3%) in 13 Tests

• ICC Security Task Force’s recommendations – in the wake of the Lahore attack – unanimously accepted by the board. Recommendations include full-time security manager for each member

• Relocation to Lord’s was discussed but ICC will continue due diligence before reaching any decisions

The ANZ Stadium in Sydney, the main venue of the 2000 Olympics, could play host to one of England’s fixtures on their Ashes tour later this year, after the ICC Board gave the green light for international cricket to take place at the ground.The decision was confirmed in a press release on Thursday morning, following a recommendation from the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee, and it redraws the battlelines between Cricket NSW, who have staged domestic 20- and 50-over matches at the ANZ for several seasons, and the SCG Trust, who are determined to keep their historic ground as Sydney’s foremost venue.The current tenancy agreement, which was signed in 2004, expires at the end of 2010, leading to the outside possibility that the ANZ, with its 80,000 capacity, could seek to poach the traditional New Year Test from the SCG. Although the more likely scenario is the awarding of one of the seven ODIs that follow the Test series, Dave Gilbert, the Cricket NSW chief executive, told Cricinfo back in November that they would be keeping all options open.”ANZ is focused on getting a major cricket match to its venue,” Gilbert said. “I know Test cricket will be a difficult one to do at this stage – and you have to weigh up tradition and history and the drama at the SCG – but when I was a kid growing up at the SCG, rugby league Test matches and union Test matches were only ever at the SCG. Not anymore.”If you’re a 15-year-old kid, you’ve only ever known big sport events to be played at ANZ Stadium – that’s not meant to be an inflammatory comment, it’s a fact. If you take the heat and emotion out of it, as CEO of Cricket NSW, I have to do what is best for cricket to generate revenue to keep this game going, and this is what this process is about.A spokesman for ANZ Stadium said the venue’s primary focus was to attract ODI and Twenty20 international cricket, but would not rule out a bid to poach Test matches from the SCG.

Leeds United could sign an exciting upgrade on Rodrigo in Juventus star Aaron Ramsey.

What’s the story?

According to a recent report from Calciomercato (via Sport Witness), Marcelo Bielsa’s side have their sights set on the Wales international as they look to reinforce their squad during the upcoming January transfer window.

Upgrade on Rodrigo

One of the big problems the Whites have faced since their return to the Premier League has been their lack of goals from midfield, with Patrick Bamford being tasked with a sizeable burden up front – last season, Mateusz Klich led the way for midfielders with just four goals to his name. In Ramsey, they would be more than addressing that issue.

Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger raved about the Welshman’s ability to get into the box and find himself on the end of moves, saying: “In my head, Ramsey was going to be a player between 10 and 15 goals a year. He is a Frank Lampard type. He is (about) getting in the box and he has a huge capacity to run.

“Physically, he has a combination of stamina, power and his capacity to repeat high intensity is certainly the best in the league.”

Described as an “outstanding technician”, Ramsey would offer Leeds that much-needed knack of getting into the box at the right times and scoring those poacher-type goals.

In fact, Lampard himself wrote in a column for The Evening Standard about the 74-goal star: “It will probably come as no surprise to people that I like Ramsey. Like me, he makes late runs in the penalty area and he showed that with aplomb for the second goal at AC Milan last week.”

With Rodrigo badly struggling for form since his arrival at Elland Road – he has managed only nine goals in 43 games, including just two in the Premier League this season – bringing in Ramsey would provide Leeds with a genuinely proven option in the English top-flight.

Added to reports that another goal-shy forward in Tyler Roberts has been touted with a potential exit in the near future, Ramsey could come in and take over from his fellow Welshman at Elland Road.

Meanwhile, Adam Pope has dropped an early morning Leeds United update…

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard has showered young midfielder Jacob Ramsey with praise. 

Speaking ahead of Villa’s Premier League clash with Burnley on Saturday, Gerrard admitted that ‘outstanding talent’ Ramsey has developed further then he had by the age of 20.

He believes that the Englishman can ‘go all the way to the very top’ if he continues to improve.

Ramsey making headlines

Ramsey earned the compliment off the back of his starring performance against Norwich City in midweek.

His solo goal set the Villans on their way to a 2-0 victory, and he also won 70% of his duels and completed 86% of his passes. That was enough to earn him a SofaScore rating of 8.0/10.

Ramsey has started 11 PL matches for Villa this season, including five of Gerrard’s first six.

Is Ramsey’s long-term future at Villa?

The £7.2million-rated ace is under contract with the Midlands outfit until June 2025, having signed an extension in February (via Transfermarkt).

But Spanish outlet Fichajes.net reported in September that he was ‘catching the eye’ of reigning champions Manchester City, who took Jack Grealish from Villa Park in the summer.

Fan feed Villa Report relayed Gerrard’s comments, and here’s what supporters made of them.

Villa fans flock to Ramsey praise

“I’m gonna get my heart broken again aren’t I”

Credit: @MisterGuilbert

“With Villa”

Credit: @AndyServicel1

“Wow high praise indeed”

Credit: @dan54287301

“Hands off city”

Credit: @Gaz57333644

“Sold Jack for a 100mil because villa knew this is the man who’s going to take us to Europe… love it”

Credit: @MattFothers

“Starboy”

Credit: @JamesVilla73

In other news, Gabriel Agbonlahor reacts to a big blow for Villa. 

Everton were unable to secure a single point in their game against Crystal Palace on Sunday evening and faced a defeat of 3-1 to the Eagles away from home, putting the Merseyside club firmly in 14th for the foreseeable in the Premier League table.

Rafa Benitez’s side failed to dominate throughout the game against Crystal Palace with just 39% possession throughout, which ultimately lead to a brace from Conor Gallagher and James Tomkins scored his first goal since December 2019 against the Toffees to secure a 3-1 comfortable win.

One player who failed to offer dominance and control in his position was Abdoulaye Doucoure, who started the game in his usual position, but over the course of the match had become a complete liability for the Toffees. Richarlison may have been the one to hauled off early after a shoddy evening but his midfield colleague didn’t have the desired impact either.

Via SofaScore, Doucoure lost possession a total of 16 times (once every 2.8 touches), won fewer than half of his ground duels, and failed to make any creative impact on the attacking third of the game with no key passes or crosses over the entire 90 minutes of play.

The £75k-per-week beast furthered his forgettable performance by committing two fouls, one of which cost him a yellow card, which he aggressively contested against with Kevin Friend, where he was lucky not to receive further punishment for his reaction.

In the French midfielder’s defence, he was playing further back during the first half, which would have added an element of hindrance to his ability to be creative in his play for the forwards.

However, it does not excuse his wasteful performance, losing possession on many occasions and failing to dominate the midfield to break down the build of play from Crystal Palace.

Benitez will go back to the drawing board early this week with the hopes of emulating the confidence his Everton side displayed against Arsenal last week, but they face an extremely difficult challenge as they are away from home again, against Chelsea on Thursday evening.

There will be time for the manager to assess the situation, and potentially make some changes to his team to refresh his side, ready to take on the challenge the Merseyside Blues face at Stamford Bridge midweek.

In other news: Everton can form a scary duo by snapping up Derby County’s Jason Knight

India begin 2010 with a tour of Bangladesh in January. The teams participate in a triangular ODI series, also involving Sri Lanka, and play two Tests. The Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur will stage the tri-series and the second Test; the first will be held in Chittagong. India last toured the country in 2007, after the World Cup, and this assignment follows their home series against Sri Lanka.The tri-series starts on January 4 and the tour concludes on January 29. No warm-up games have yet been scheduled.This will be India’s fourth tour of the country, but they’ve never hosted Bangladesh for a Test or a bilateral ODI series. Upon becoming a Test-playing nation, Bangladesh played their first Test against India in Dhaka, losing by nine wickets. They then hosted India in 2004, losing 0-2, and in 2007, when they drew a rain-affected first Test in Chittagong before being thumped by an innings in the second in Dhaka.ItineraryJanuary 2 – Indian team arrives
January 4 – Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (D/N), Mirpur
January 5 – India v Sri Lanka (D/N), Mirpur
January 7 – Bangladesh v India (D/N), Mirpur
January 8 – Bangladesh v Sri Lanka (D/N), Mirpur
January 10 – India v Sri Lanka (D/N), Mirpur
January 11 – India v Bangladesh (D/N), Mirpur
January 13 – Final (D/N), Mirpur
January 17-21 – First Test, Chittagong
January 24-28 – Second Test, Mirpur
January 29 – Indian team departs

Daren Ganga, the Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) captain, has been cleared to play the Champions League in India next month after his employers, Petrotrin, had initially refused to grant him leave for the Twenty20 tournament.Ganga, who works as a community relations officer with the state-owned oil company, wrote to the T&T Cricket Board, West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and the West Indies Cricket Board stating his case but his request for time off was granted only after two politicians stepped in.Jack Warner, a vice-president of football’s governing body FIFA and a member of parliament, had acted first by contacting National energy minister Conrad Enill, who then intervened to get the leave sanctioned for Ganga. Warner was very critical of the company’s attitude towards to an employee who has represented West Indies in senior cricket.”I still can’t believe in this day and age, people are still being refused time off to represent our country, particularly by a state-owned company. Petrotrin should be ashamed,” Warner told CMC. “Imagine that. Using your annual leave and sick leave to go on national duty. This is absolutely ridiculous.”Ganga leads a 15-member squad for the Champions League which runs from October 8 to 23. Trinidad is the only team representing West Indies in the tournament.

Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been left buzzing over an admission from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of their game away at Liverpool in the Premier League this evening, the Spaniard admitted (via Sky Sports Scotland) that he is a Gers fan: “As a Rangers fan I must say thanks so much to Stevie”.

Of course, he is referencing the departed Steven Gerrard, who has left to go and manage Aston Villa, while Giovanni van Bronckhorst has now taken his place.

Nonetheless, members of the Ibrox faithful picked up on the fact that he is a Light Blues supporter, despite growing up in Spain and currently managing the Gunners.

Arteta won a Scottish Premiership title with the Teddy Bears as a player, as well as two other domestic trophies (Transfermarkt), and must have enjoyed his time in Scotland so much to call himself an RFC supporter.

Rangers fans on Arteta admission

These Rangers fans buzzed as his admission was shared on Twitter, with one claiming that they ‘love’ it while another even went as far as to call it ‘superb’:

“Class, well said Mikel! Always a Ranger”

Credit: @KenM_inCzechRep

“Outstanding Mikel”

Credit: @gazza226

“Now this does put a smile on my face”

Credit: @Gsinclair291

“Superb”

Credit: @douglasjamesgr2

“Love this”

Credit: @buntymunn

“Cutting onions”

Credit: @RssGrhm

In other news, find out who van Bronckhorst is bringing with him to Rangers here!

Bangladesh Under-19s won the ODI series against England Under-19s after a thrilling one-wicket victory in the deciding fifth one-dayer

Cricinfo staff25-Jul-2009
Scorecard
Bangladesh Under-19s won the ODI series against England Under-19s after a thrilling one-wicket victory in the deciding fifth one-dayer at Hove on Friday.In a low scoring game, Bangladesh needed six runs to win in the final two overs with two wickets in hand, but Nur Hossain was run-out to give England a sniff of victory. However, Bangladesh scrambled past the finish line with a single when England missed a run-out opportunity to hand the tourists a win.Bangladesh’s chase was led by captain Mahmudul Hasan, who top scored with 70 from 85 balls. Coming in after his team was reduced to 59 for 4, Hasan anchored the innings, and was well supported by Alauddin Babu, who stayed till the end with an unbeaten 24 off 30 balls.Earlier, England could not generate any momentum while batting, and the in-form Sam Northeast scored the only half-century of the innings. The Bangladesh bowlers kept a tight leash, limiting England to 196 for 8 in 50 overs.Bangladesh won the ODI series 2-1 after losing the two-match Test series 0-1, and will finish their tour of England with two Twenty20s beginning on Tuesday at Lincolnshire.