England cricket fans are an unlucky bunch

Sean Beynon03-Dec-2002England cricket fans are an unlucky bunch. For the past 15 years, the team has been struggling to transcend mediocrity, stumbling through the deepest troughs. Contrary to popular belief, the loss of the Ashes, and the spectacular style in which Australia routed their visitors, is not a cause to be too gloomy.The unluckiest England fans are those approaching 20. I have no memory whatsoever of England’s last Ashes victory, in Australia in 1986/87. While the 1990/91 series is similarly blurred, I do recall wondering why Graham Gooch kept letting Terry Alderman trap him leg-before in 1989.Things had not got much better by 1993, when a young, bleached-blond was set to take England by storm. At one of my first Test matches, I saw Shane Warne’s “ball of the century”. What was most amusing was the equal mixture of bemusement and terror in the eyes of the England fans. They looked as puzzled as Gatting, with the more knowing spectators realising that this man was going to be a torment.And what torment. Warne, along with the Waugh brothers, Mark Taylor and later Glenn McGrath, would dominate the Ashes Tests of my youth. But England did at least compete. They won two Tests in 1997, and still had a slim chance of squaring the rubber going into the last day of the 1998/99 series.None of those previous England teams have as much potential as that 2002. None of the Australians could possibly match the superb team they have now. This is not just a good side: at least five (Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Warne and McGrath) would walk into a World XI, with Jason Gillespie not far behind. They dominate Test cricket with swaggering ease, and are quite possibly invincible at home.What then, could England have done to prevent such a crushing defeat? It is a familiar complaint, but the injury list was a huge factor. Australia were able to select their best eleven, while Hussain’s side was a badly-botched DIY job. Missing Graham Thorpe, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Andrew Caddick and Simon Jones deprived England of six definite starters. John Crawley is more than a fringe player, while Michael Vaughan and Mark Butcher played without being fully fit. Australia would have won the Ashes even if England had been able to select their best side, but they would not have kept the urn with such ease.It is encouraging that Richard Dawson and Robert Key stood up and battled hard. Steve Harmison – in spite of his run-up jitters – also looked dangerous. Whether they will become genuine Test players remains to be seen, but they have survived the toughest possible induction into the game. Alex Tudor lacked zip, and will surely be affected by the sickening blow inflicted on him by Brett Lee. A word to commend the paceman is necessary, for he was helping Tudor with genuine concern within seconds. He blotted his copy-book by bouncing Harmison subsequently, but this was a tame effort, surely not intended to hit the batsman.So forget the nonsense about the game dying in England (just look at the crowds when South Africa tour next year) and look forward to the one-day series. It is a tough assignment, but a young England team might just be able to spring a few surprises. The Barmy Army certainly deserve a change in luck.

Sampdoria are considering a move for Celtic midfielder Ryan Christie, according to Scott Burns of The Daily Record, and a number of Hoops supporters have been reacting to the news on social media.  

The 26-year-old is actually free to talk to clubs outside of Scotland ahead of a pre-contract agreement, as his Parkhead deal expires in January.

Celtic are aware of the latest interest from the Serie A club and are waiting to see if they will make a concrete bid ahead of a possible immediate summer deal. French duo Monaco and Nice, along with Premier League side Burnley, have also been linked with a move, with Christie unlikely to extend his Celtic Park contract.

He featured in 45 minutes of Celtic’s 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic on Saturday, buthe may not add to his 142 competitive appearances for the Hoops.

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Celtic fans react

Both The Daily Record and @aboutceltic shared the news regarding Christie on Twitter. Here is what these Celtic fans had to say in reply.

“More importantly the league starts in 3 weeks and for me we’ve yet to sign one first team regular. Where are the brains. Where is the ambition. Where are the targets.”

Credit: @ryan60560880

“Please god”

Credit: @stan_paulanka

“Scottish newspaper editors wanting every story to have an Italian angle this weekend.”

Credit: @Hullbhoy

“Another Impostor, 4 to go. Maximize the fee ££, but he MUST GO!”

Credit: @s2drm1

“Hope so”

Credit: @JohnPMckinlay

“This ends in Christie signing new contact”

Credit: @Murrpphhy

In other news: ‘We’re a mess’ – Many Celtic fans fume as ‘mental’ news is confirmed. 

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.

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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”…

Pakistan must have heaved a sigh of relief. The rout has been savage and comprehensive, but the torture is finally over. Australia go back Down Under, hot and tired but none the worse for their exertions. Which weren’t considerable today anyway, as the Pakistani batsmen didn’t keep them in the field for very long, losing by an innings and 20 runs.It went into the fourth day, but only just, for an hour or so. Only the last rites remained, and once Hasan Raza (68, off 154 deliveries, 11 fours), was snapped up by Adam Gilchrist off Andy Bichel’s short one, it was all over. Nine deliveries later, Mohammad Sami holed out at mid-on essaying a pull to give Bichel his third wicket.With eight wickets in the match and 27 in the series, Shane Warne walked away with the man-of-the-match and man-of-the-series awards.3-0 winners for the second successive time against Pakistan, a team which has often expressed ambitions rather too loudly, with little to impress when it has mattered, of being the pretenders to their pre-eminence. Australia go on to another Ashes campaign, and though England has promised stout resistance, Steve Waugh dismissed it, with a casual remark and a shrug: “They’d said it the last time too”.For Pakistan the whitewash has not just been a massive blow to the ego. While everyone from the cricketing establishment, including skipper Waqar Younis, is looking at the ‘plus points’ from the series, nobody is sure of the complexion of the team which leaves for Zimbabwe in about a week’s time. We can be sure of more uncertainty.

MatériaMais Notícias

Nesta quarta-feira, às 21h45, chega ao fim a primeira fase do Campeonato Paulista. O último compromisso do São Paulo antes do mata-mata é em São Bernardo do Campo, no estádio 1º de Maio, com o objetivo de vencer e secar o Linense diante do Corinthians para avançar na primeira posição do Grupo B. Se isso acontecer, o Tricolor decidirá as quartas de final com o próprio Linense no Morumbi. Já o São Bernardo entrará em campo pela sobrevivência na elite do Estadual. Se vencer, o Tigre ainda precisará torcer por tropeços de um dos quatro times a sua frente para não ser rebaixado: Red Bull Brasil (Ituano), Ferroviária (Botafogo), Santo André (Audax) e São Bento (Mirassol).

Local: 1º de Maio, em São Bernardo do Campo (SP)
Árbitro: Vinicius Gonçalves Dias Araújo
Auxiliares: Herman Brumel Vani eBruno Salgado Rizo
Onde acompanhar: Premiere e tempo real do LANCE!

SÃO BERNARDO: Daniel, Eduardo, Anderson Conceição, João Francisco e Vinicius Kiss; Geandro, Rafael Costa e Fellipe Mateus; Walterson, Edno e Marcinho. Técnico: Sérgio Vieira.

SÃO PAULO (técnico: Rogério Ceni)

RelacionadasSão PauloWesley volta a ser relacionado no São Paulo após quase dois mesesSão Paulo28/03/2017São PauloEmprestado pelo São Paulo, volante entra em ‘time da semana’ da MLSSão Paulo28/03/2017São PauloAraruna joga todos os clássicos no Tricolor e se vê pronto para decisõesSão Paulo28/03/2017

Desfalques do São Bernardo: Paulo Henrique e Paulo Marcelo
Pendurados:Vinicius Kiss, João Francisco, Paulo Henrique e Rafael Costa

Desfalques do São Paulo: Sidão (lombalgia), Bruno (entorse no tornozelo direito), Lucas Fernandes (estiramento na coxa esquerda), Wellington Nem (suspenso), Buffarini, Cueva e Pratto (seleções)
Pendurados: Cícero, Bruno, Breno e Lugano

Palpites: Na redação do LANCE!, 40% dos palpites apontaram para vitória do São Paulo e 60% para um empate.

Glasgow Rangers defender Leon Balogun has hit out at the Nigerian Football Federation, claiming they are not giving the country’s team the best possible chance of success.

The Lowdown: Nigeria struggling

Balogun, who was born in Berlin, Germany, has 36 caps for Nigeria throughout his career.

The Super Eagles are currently not at their best, however – they have won just two of their last nine matches in all competitions, with their last clash a 4-0 defeat to Mexico (flashscore.com).

The Latest: Balogun speaks out

Speaking on The Beautiful Game podcast, Balogun hit out at the organisation. He said:

“We are not being provided with the best to do our job. It starts with pitches, or it starts with accommodation, but it goes on to the pitches and all these kinds of things.

“If you want to see us soar, then you need to make sure back home in Nigeria we have the best possibilities. Why don’t we have a base in Nigeria, where we meet up like St. George’s Park in England. We don’t have something like that.

“Then you’ve spoken of unpaid bonuses. It’s not a secret even, and then I have read something recently when people in charge, they contradict themselves said things have been paid, then they admit they haven’t been paid.”

The Verdict: Frustration

You can understand Balogun’s frustration. Nigeria are one of African football’s powerhouses, having won the African Cup of Nations on three occasions. Their recent record, though, is worrying, although it is not yet a disaster, but they are clearly not being given the best chances of success.

That will be in contrast to the situation at club level. The Gers are current Premiership champions and have a chance of competing in the Champions League group stages this season. Balogun, hailed as “excellent” by Alan Hutton last term, is likely to play a big part of that.

The Ibrox outfit look settled and ready for all that comes their way – Nigeria, clearly, are not quite at that level.

In other news, Rangers fans were livid at these comments on Alfredo Morelos.

According to the Daily Mail, West Ham have made a bid to sign exciting young Rangers forward Kai Kennedy this summer – with the Gers now replying to their offer.

The Lowdown: West Ham recruiting youngsters…

Already this summer, West Ham have been busy in landing a plethora of young starlet signings – including the likes of Armstrong Oko-Flex, Thierry Nevers and Pierre Ekwah Elimby (football.london).

Indeed, manager David Moyes appears to have his eye on restructuring the Irons’ academy whilst bringing some star future talent to Rush Green.

Now, it appears West Ham have their eye on another one in forward Kennedy.

The Latest: West Ham make bid to sign Kennedy…

As per the Mail, an offer has emerged from West Ham to sign exciting youngster Kennedy this summer – with the Gers firmly replying to the £600,000 bid.

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Rangers have rebuffed the approach, but the 19-year-old’s agent, Paul Tait, even confirmed the Irons’ fondness for Kennedy and that offers had been made. He confirmed that the club are ‘very keen’.

They apparently want to lure Kennedy down south and have been tracking him for months, but it appears they will have to wait longer to capture his signature.

The Verdict: Exciting starlet…

The teenager, lauded as a player who ‘excites people’ by former Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager John Robertson at the end of last year (Glasgow Live), would certainly come as West Ham’s biggest youngster signing yet.

He has even earned an admirer in Gers boss and Premier League legend Steven Gerrard, who once called Kennedy a ‘fabulous little player’ (Daily Record).

The forward is also pretty versatile and has experience playing in all sorts of positions up the pitch, including left wing, right wing, attacking midfield and even as a second striker (Transfermarkt).

Given his versatility, high praise and impressive form while on loan spells away from Ibrox, this certainly seems like an exciting one to keep an eye on for Hammers fans.

In other news: ‘Blimey’, ‘I am salivating’…West Ham fans flock to ‘exciting’ club announcement, find out more here.

انتقد علاء عبد العال المدير الفني لنادي ايسترن كومباني الأداء التحيكيمي في مباراة فريقه أمام سموحة، مشيرًا إلى أن الحكم مصطفى شهدي احتسب هدفًا للمنافس رغم وجود لمسة يد على المهاجم مروان حمدي.

واستطاع سموحة أن يقتنص التعادل من ايسترن كومباني في الوقت القاتل من زمن المباراة التي انتهت بهدفين لمثلهما وذلك في إطار منافسات الجولة العشرين من الدوري المصري الممتاز.

طالع أيضًا.. فيديو | في الوقت القاتل.. سموحة يخطف تعادلًا ثمينًا من إيسترن كومباني بالدوري

وقال علاء عبد العال خلال مقابلة على قناة “اون تايم سبورت”: “كان من الممكن أن نفوز بـ3 أو 4 أو 5 أهداف وألقيت اللوم على اللاعبين بسبب إهدار الفرص”.

وأضاف: “توجد قرارات غريبة من الحكم فالهدف الثاني يوجد شبهة لمسة يد على مروان حمدي مهاجم سموحة ولم يذهب لمراجعتها في الفار”.

وتعليقا على المفاوضات بين مجلس إدارة ايسترن كومباني والمدرب أحمد كشري، رد: “لا يعنيني ذلك، أنا مدرب وأؤدي ما علي، لكن أنا قدت الفريق عندما كان لا يملك أي نقاط حتى وصل لـ12 نقطة”.

واختتم: “في النهاية كرة القدم عبارة عن احتراف ويوجد عقد بيني وبين الإدارة وإذا كانوا يرغبون في رحيلي فهذا قرارهم”. اهداف مباراة سموحة وايسترن كومباني (2-2) الدوري المصري

Leeds United fans should be hugely excited about new signing Junior Firpo, according to former Premier League striker Kevin Campbell.

The Lowdown: Leeds snap up Firpo

The Whites have made their latest move in the transfer market, signing the 24-year-old from Barcelona in what looks like an intriguing piece of business.

The Brazilian struggled to oust Jordi Alba as the Blaugrana’s first-choice left-back last season, but he should now come in as a regular for Leeds following the exit of Ezgjan Alioski.

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The Latest: Pundits waxes lyrical over left-back

Firpo could be an exciting prospect and La Liga TV pundit Campbell has no doubt about his ability, outlining to Football Insider why Leeds fans should look forward to seeing him. He said:

“Firpo is incredibly fit, quick and strong. He is really athletic.

“I think he will fit right into what Leeds want to do because technically he is very good, you have to be to play for Barcelona.

“I’d say defensively, he is better than Alioski as well.”He hasn’t started that many games for Barcelona but you cannot read too much into that given that they have Jordi Alba ahead of him.”He has looked good when he has played so Leeds fans, you can get very excited.”

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The Verdict: Great signing for Whites

Firpo seems to be a perfect replacement for Alioski – if anything, the fact that he is an out-and-out left-back could make Leeds an even more balanced outfit.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a 92.9% pass completion rate in the Champions League last season, which suggests he will thrive in Marcelo Bielsa’s ball-playing style.

Firpo is also at an age where he should mature further in the coming years, potentially becoming a key figure over a long period for Leeds. With Campbell a regular analyst of Spanish football, for him to talk up the new Whites signing is very encouraging.

In other news, Leeds are believed to ‘retain an interest’ in one player this summer. Find out who it is here.

Mithali Raj may just have done more for Indian women’s cricketwith one innings than several others have in a lifetime

Anand Vasu17-Aug-2002Mithali Raj may just have done more for Indian women’s cricketwith one innings than several others have in a lifetime. Scoring214 in the second and final Test against England, the 19-year-oldnow holds the record for the highest individual score in Women’sTest cricket.This is, however, not the first time an Indian has held thisrecord. When Sandhya Agarwal made 190 in the third Test againstEngland at Manchester in 1986, it was a moment deserving ofcelebration in India. The highest score in women’s Test crickethad just been scored by an Indian, beating the 189 made by BettySnowball.The joy of Indian fans and the pride of the Women’s CricketAssociation of India were short-lived, however, as Denise Annetsof Australia made 194 in the following year in a Test againstEngland. Several former Indian players mischievously whisper,half jocularly, that the English bowlers perhaps did not trytheir best to dismiss Annetts as she approached Agarwal’s mark.Agarwal and that little tale apart, Mithali has inscribed hername in the record-books with little controversy. A player ofimmense talent, Raj has consistently impressed observers who haveseen her play at all levels. Beginning to play serious cricketwhen she was just nine, when her father started to coach her,Mithali constantly played her cricket against women both olderand more accomplished than her. Perhaps it is this that has madeher mature beyond her years.A shy girl off the field, Mithali stays away from most pressconferences and interviews, preferring to let her bat do thetalking. But that is hardly unusual for someone from Hyderabad. Aplace, they say, can shape a person. and Hyderabad has producedsome of the most stylish batsmen in Indian cricket history. FromML Jaisimha to Mohammad Azharuddin, every cricketer from thatcity has wielded the willow more with skill and flair than rawpower. A slightly built girl, Mithali is no different. Using thepace of the bowler to great effect, Mithali is more likely totime the ball through the gaps rather than thump it past thefielder.Those who have watched her bat are not in the least surprised byher success. Sudha Shah, former Indian captain and coach,stressed on Mithali’s ability to keep a cool head. “From the timeI first saw her bat, when she was about 10 years old, I’ve saidthis girl will go places. She makes batting look so easy,” saidShah. As coach, Shah has worked extensively with Mithali and hasalways believed that the middle-order bat would go far.”She’s cool-headed and quite mature for her age. Don’t be fooledby the fact that she’s 19,” added Shah. Coach of the Indian teamthat played the CricInfo Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, Shahfelt Mithali’s illness greatly hampered India’s progress in thattournament. “If she had been fit and played every match, I thinkIndia would have done much better. She’s a thinking cricketer andnever lets the pressure get to her,” explained Shah. Laid lowwith a rare strain of typhoid, Mithali missed most of the WorldCup, only able to watch as India made it to the semi-finalsbefore losing to eventual champions New Zealand.Mithali’s captain at the domestic level, GS Lakshmi, who hasprobably seen more of her than anyone else, was delighted to hearthe news of Mithali’s big score. “I’m extremely happy to hearthis. I believed she was the best bat India has produced sinceRajni Venugopal, but now I think she has surpassed even her,”said Lakshmi from her residence in Hyderabad.”She’s so young and yet so mature, and as captain I expect a lotfrom her. I would say this is a great achievement, but believeme, she has a long way to go and will be one of India’s leadingcricketers,” said an obviously proud skipper. Even in domesticcricket, Mithali has been in great form of late, scoring anunbeaten 99 in the final of a tournament against Air India, oneof the strongest sides around.Lakshmi remembers that innings, and many more like it, withclarity. “It would be wrong to pinpoint just one innings of hers.She has won so many matches for us at Railways and previously forother teams too. The best thing about her is the way she picksherself up after a failure. As captain, you know that a big knockis always round the corner. Even if she fails in two or threegames, she’ll come good,” explained Lakshmi. “And you also knowwhat, when wickets fall early at one end, she relishes thechallenge. Mithali is not one to let her partner do all the work.She rotates the strike well and will score at a good rate.”At this very moment, though, Mithali will not be too worriedabout the rate at which she is scoring. In just her fourth Testinnings, and with 0, 55, 9 not out being her previous scores, shehas arrived on the world scene in dramatic fashion. Now she cansit back and savour the moment.