Chris Gayle, the West Indies captain, has been rested from the 13-man squad for the only Twenty20 international against Zimbabwe in Trinidad on February 28. Denesh Ramdin has been named captain for the match and a West Indies board media release said that Gayle was “expected to be available” for the five-match one-day series that follows.”Chris Gayle went to Australia, and while there, his mother was ill, and he had to come back,” WICB chief Ernest Hilaire said. “We thought, in discussion with him, that he should probably go home for a few days to see his mother, to be with her, then join the team in Guyana.”West Indies have been boosted by the return of four players who were injured for the recent ODI series in Australia, which they lost 0-4. Shivnarine Chanderpaul has recovered from the thumb injury he sustained during the Test leg of the Australia tour, Sulieman Benn’s knee has healed and so has Adrian Barath’s hamstring. Darren Bravo, who suffered a shoulder injury during the Champions League Twenty20 in India last November, has also returned to the squad but his brother, Dwayne, is still out after breaking his thumb while playing for Victoria during the Big Bash.Chanderpaul, who last featured in the Adelaide Test in December, is happy with his recovery from the injury that laid him low. “I am feeling okay. It just needs to be tested at the higher level and see where we are,” he said.Apart from the four injured players returning to the mix, allrounder Dave Bernard jnr and opener Andre Fletcher have also been recalled. They were part of West Indies’ Champions Trophy squad in September 2009 but missed the trip to Australia.Zimbabwe’s tour begins with a 50-over practice match against a University of the West Indies’ Vice-Chancellor’s XI at the Frank Worrell Oval in Trinidad on Friday before the Twenty20 on Sunday.Squad: Denesh Ramdin (capt & wk), Adrian Barath, Sulieman Benn, David Bernard jnr, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Andre Fletcher, Nikita Miller, Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Dwayne Smith.

Everton extended their dire run in the Premier League to one win in 14 matches with a 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa in the early kick-off on Saturday.

The Toffees were headed towards the contest being goalless at half-time before Emi Buendia rose highest to head in Lucas Digne’s corner, scoring the only goal of the game.

The defeat also kicked off Duncan Ferguson’s spell as caretaker manager in the worst possible way after Rafael Benitez was sacked earlier this week, with the Merseyside club 16th in the Premier League.

Once again for Everton, a handful of players failed to live up to their quality, with the likes of Mason Holgate, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Jonjoe Kenny all struggling. However, midfielder André Gomes was particularly disappointing at Goodison Park.

Will Everton now get sucked into a relegation battle?  If you are looking for the odds, it is obviously crucial to pick a reputable site. Mikael at  the Swedish betting comparison site spelbolagutansvensklicens

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Gomes cost Everton today

With Allan on the bench, this was an opportunity for Gomes to ignite a run of regular starts in the team, having been on from the first whistle in just three league games this season prior to today. However, the Portuguese midfielder failed to offer significant influence in the middle of the park as Everton lost their third consecutive league game.

According to SofaScore, the 28-year-old only had 26 touches all afternoon, a ridiculously low tally for a midfielder, whilst attempting just 16 passes and completing a mere 12.

The midfielder also failed to make a notable contribution in both the offensive and defensive aspects of his game, failing to contribute a single shot, key pass, interception or block, while not attempting a single dribble either and making just one tackle. Gomes also lost 62% of his duels and was dribbled past on four occasions prior to being withdrawn after just 51 minutes (SofaScore), an insipid performance which went a long way to costing his team this afternoon.

What will make the performance particularly frustrating for the 28-year-old is that it was an opportunity to shine in front of Ferguson, who is set to take charge of the next few games while the club look for a permanent successor to Benitez.

Allan has been a regular for the Toffees this season, starting 16 Premier League matches, whilst Abdoulaye Doucouré was statistically Everton’s joint-best player against Steven Gerrard’s side, with a 7.4 ranking from SofaScore.

With a new manager set to come into the dugout at Goodison Park soon, the next few games will be an opportunity for players to make an impression, whether they are looking to keep their place or get into the team, and Saturday’s performance wouldn’t have helped Gomes’ claims.

Granted, a calf injury kept him out of action earlier in the campaign, but the 28-year-old is now fully fit, and chances could prove limited if he performs at a similar standard to what he provided against Aston Villa today.

In other news: Everton must avoid another manager disaster with “arrogant” 58 y/o, he’d be Rafa 2.0

An update has emerged on Rangers and their January transfer window plans for gem Joe Aribo…

What’s the talk?

According to The Scottish Mail of Sunday journalist Gary Keown, via Ibrox News, the Gers are keen to ‘strike while the iron is hot’ by cashing in on the midfielder this month.

The report claims that he is attracting ‘strong interest’ from a number of English Premier League teams, although no potential fee is mentioned.

Infuriation

Gers fans will surely be left infuriated by this update as it suggests that the club have decided that now is the best time to sell Aribo.

However, Rangers could be headed for a major January blunder if this is the case because they would be frustrating their own supporters and weakening their side in the midst of a title battle.

Supporters will be up in arms as he has been in terrific form this season and his exit would harm Gio van Bronckhorst’s chances of winning the Premiership. He has averaged an excellent SofaScore rating of 7.20 this term, scoring six goals and providing three assists, showing that he is delivering consistently brilliant displays for the Scottish giants.

His former Charlton teammate Ezri Konsa once praised Aribo’s style of play, saying: “Having Gerrard as his manager at Rangers, that has made him go up another level.

“Joe’s style is unique. When I was with him at Charlton he did remind me for a while of a left-footed Yaya Toure. But you don’t get a lot of midfielders like Joe, there aren’t many around.

“Like Toure, for a tall guy he’s got such great feet. But that languid style he’s got is actually fairly unique in the game.”

These comments, in particular, highlight why selling Aribo could be a big disaster for the Gers. He is not a run-of-the-mill midfielder who the club could go and easily find a replica of. He is unique and replacing him in the transfer market, particularly in the winter window, could be extremely difficult, which is why selling him now would be an error.

Therefore, Ross Wilson must reverse his decision to seek a sale for Aribo and avoid striking ‘while the iron is hot’ to keep him at Ibrox. He is a crucial player for the Gers and selling him now could have a major impact on the pitch and off it in terms of the fan reaction it could bring.

AND in other news, Expert makes “transformational” £50m Rangers claim that will leave Ross Wilson buzzing…

Wolverhampton Wanderers have had a great first half to their season and will be hoping to continue their consistency and improve areas of their team in the transfer window in order to elevate their chances of finishing in a position which could secure European football next term.

What’s the word?

talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook spoke on Jim White’s morning show on Thursday to discuss potential January transfer, giving updates on the rumoured activities of Premier League clubs.

Crook spoke about the potential deal between Wolves and Renato Sanches, claiming that the Old Gold are “looking quite closely” at the 24-year-old. He revealed: “Wolves were trying to push through a deal for Renato Sanches (on deadline day). That move broke down due to a medical issue. He is now fit and is a player, as I understand it, that Wolves are looking quite closely at again.”

The £47k-p/w gem has been heavily linked to a move to Molineux for a while now, and it seemed in the summer that Sanches would become a Wolves player, but the deal fell through on deadline day. However, Bruno Lage could now potentially get a second chance of securing his signature in January.

Fans will be buzzing

Fans will surely be buzzing with the news that Wolves could be reigniting their interest in the Lille midfielder, who won the European Golden Boy award five years ago after his starring role in Portugal’s Euro 2016 triumph.

After popular fan account Wolves Fancast tweeted: “Where do you stand on the rumours Wolves could return to sign Renato Sanches in January? Think it’s possible? Think it’s a PR move that will allow the club to say they tried but couldn’t get over the line before announcing the signing of Hwang to soften the blow?”, one fan replied: “His quality warrants us going in for him again. I’d rather give it everything and fail than not try at all.”

Signing him would be a phenomenal achievement for the Midlands club, considering that Sanches has played his part in qualifying with Lille for the Champions League round of 16, whilst Wolves are currently challenging just to finish in a top half spot in the Premier League. If he were to join the Old Gold, it would surely be with the expectations to secure European football.

Lage could have an outstanding transfer window if he can get this potential signing over the line for the club, and he will be likely working hard to avoid another deadline day disappointment.

In other news: Lage must make a bold decision on this Wolves youngster

Tributes pour in for Brett Lee after his Test retirement

Cricinfo staff24-Feb-2010

Brett Lee has retired from Tests after 76 games and 310 wickets in the hope of prolonging his one-day and Twenty20 careers. Here are some tributes from current and former players and administrators.Dennis Lillee
“Brett is going to go down as one of the great all-time express bowlers in the world … 150-plus kph puts a huge strain on the body and it can only take so much. For him to play 76 Tests and 300-odd wickets doing what he does is a credit to him.”Andrew Flintoff
“It is very sad to hear the news that Brett is to retire from Test cricket. Everyone will remember our little moment we shared after the Edgbaston Test in 2005, but for me the great battles with bat and ball against Brett will live with me for a long time.”Richie Benaud
“I hope Brett is able to continue to play for Australia in limited-overs internationals, he is a master of orthodox and reverse-swing and no one has ever been more proud to represent his country in Test cricket. Lee and Glenn McGrath formed a splendid partnership with the new ball in both forms of the game from 1999 to 2007 and being one of only nine Australian pace bowlers to take 200 Test wickets is a great achievement.”Damien Fleming
”Of the genuine quicks [of his era], he would have played twice as much as the other guys. We just thought we had discovered the Shane Warne of fast bowling [when he emerged]. That probably put unrealistic expectations on him, but that was my thinking because he actually bowled in really good areas in those first couple of Tests, and he was lightning.”Jason Gillespie
“To always come back fitter, hungrier, stronger and bowling the pace that he bowled, I just think is a testament to his character. I don’t think the public would appreciate how much pain he bowled in … and he always wanted another over.”Justin Langer
“There are few better sights in the game of cricket than Brett Lee in white, sweat band pumping, high leap, poetic follow through and then a smile. Test cricket will be poorer without Brett, who apart from his fitness and skill, is one of the most likeable people I have met in the game of cricket.”Merv Hughes
“You look at Shoaib Akhtar and Shaun Tait and certainly Brett Lee was right up there in pace, his longevity at that pace was superb and I really can’t believe that people questioned his ability.”Andrew Hilditch, Australia’s chairman of selectors
“Brett has made an outstanding contribution to the Australian Test team over a long period and it has been a great pleasure to see him develop as a person and a cricketer over that period. He’s been one of the world’s quickest bowlers in Test cricket for a long period of time and a key member of Australia’s squad during a very successful era in Australian cricket. While Brett has announced his retirement from Test cricket, we will continue to monitor his progress as he returns from injury and will be keeping a close eye on his form in the shorter formats.”James Sutherland, Cricket Australia’s chief executive
“Brett’s had a fantastic career in Test match cricket for Australia over a long period and I take this opportunity to congratulate him on the way he has represented his country and the outstanding contribution he has made. Brett has played a key role in helping the Australian team be one of the most successful Test teams in history. But it’s also the way he went about his cricket, with a readiness to smile and a clear enjoyment of what he was doing, which also helped lift the team’s popularity and won the support of fans in Australia and throughout the world.”

أعلن ماسيمليانو أليجري المدير الفني لفريق يوفنتوس عن تشكيل اللاعبين الذين سيواجهون تورينو، في ديربي مدينة تورينو ضمن الجولة العاشرة من الدوري الإيطالي.

تشكيل يوفنتوس شهد مشاركة مويس كين أساسيًا لأول مرة هذا الموسم، بجانب دوسان فلاهوفيتش، مع جلوس ميليك على مقاعد البدلاء.

طالع أيضًا.. أليجري يرد على أنباء تمرد لاعبي يوفنتوس قبل ديربي تورينو

ويجلس بونوتشي بديلًا أيضًا، ويترك مكانه لـ بريمر ودانيلو في قلب الدفاع البيانكونيري، بينما ماكيني ورابيو ولوكاتيلي في وسط الملعب. تشكيل يوفنتوس اليوم أمام تورينو في الدوري الإيطالي

حراسة المرمى: تشيزني.

الدفاع: دانيلو، بريمر، ساندرو، كوادرادو.

وسط الملعب: لوكاتيلي، ويستون ماكيني، أريان رابيو.

الهجوم: كوستيتش، مويس كين، دوسان فلاهوفيتش.

A report has now revealed the big offer that Newcastle United have already made to try and sign Lucas Paqueta.

The Lowdown: Offer now known

Foot Mercato reported earlier this week that the St. James’ Park faithful had had an offer rejected for Paqueta, of whom they are targeting in the January transfer window, because the player’s camp did not think that they would be a step-up in terms of quality from Lyon.

However, it was not disclosed how much they offered in terms of a transfer fee, but an amount has now been revealed.

The Latest: Big offer

As per le10sport, the North East club have made a ‘first offer’ worth €40m (£34m) to sign Paqueta, and are ‘clearly able to climb higher’.

It is not quite the club record £40m that they paid for Joelinton back in 2019, but as a first offer, it suggests that it could take a transfer fee which would then eventually surpass that mark.

However, the £34m offer has now been rejected by Lyon, as Paqueta himself does not want to leave.

That said, money talks, and if the Tyneside outfit were to come in with a huge bid, it may be hard for the Ligue 1 team and Paqueta to say no again.

The Verdict: Do what it takes

With seven goals and four assists in 21 games in total over all competitions so far this season mainly from midfield (Transfermarkt), Paqueta could be the missing piece in an attacking set-up that would be very difficult to stop in the Premier League.

Lauded as ‘exemplary’ by his teammate Karl Toko-Ekambi earlier on in the campaign, he is also a player that Arsenal and top-flight legend Thierry Henry loves, and at 24 years of age, the world is still at his feet.

Of course, it would be extremely difficult to persuade him to join a relegation battle, but if the right offer comes in, the Brazilian maestro could well be persuaded.

In other news, find out which ‘exceptional’ title winner NUFC are now targeting here!

MatériaMais Notícias

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has dropped a promising injury update regarding Giorgos Giakoumakis.

What’s the latest?

In a recent interview with The Scottish Mail on Sunday (via 67hailhail), the Bhoys boss revealed that the centre-forward is now back in training after recovering from a knee injury, as well as suggesting that the 27-year-old should be in line for a return to first-team football after the winter break.

Speaking about the condition of the Greece international, Postecoglou said: “Giako is close. One session was not enough for him to be right for Sunday. He is back now to almost being available. If we had one more game he would probably be available but we are now looking to get him back after the break.”

Fans will be delighted

Considering the excitement that surrounded Giakoumakis’ £2.5m move to Parkhead this summer, the news that the striker – who has so far started just two games in his Celtic career – is finally back in contention for first-team football is sure to have delighted the Hoops fanbase and the 56-year-old manager alike.

And, if the £2.25m-rated man can hit anywhere near the heights he did at VVV-Venlo last season in the second half of the current campaign, his return from injury will very much feel like a new signing for Postecoglou and his side.

Indeed, over his 30 Eredivisie appearances last time out, the £8.2k-per-week hitman scored a remarkable 26 goals, registered one assist and created three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 3.2 shots – 1.5 of which were on target – and making 0.5 key passes per game.

These returns saw the centre-forward earn an extremely impressive seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.35, ranking him as the joint sixth-best performer in the entirety of the division – a rather extraordinary feat when considering the fact that he was playing for a side that suffered relegation from the top flight.

As such, should Giakoumakis indeed be able to refind this form in the second half of the current campaign, it would undoubtedly come as a game-changing boost to Celtic’s chances of reclaiming the Premiership crown come next May – an outcome that would delight everyone involved with the club.

In other news: Ange can finally axe £41k-p/w Celtic deadwood with January swoop that “should happen”

MatériaMais Notícias

No Maracanã, milhares de pessoas de todas as idades, classes, gênero, renda, raça, escolaridade, torcendo pelo Mengão. Isto é Flamengo! É futebol, é cultura popular! Faz parte da história do Brasil e reforça nossos símbolos e identidades coletivas. Porém, no Maraca, o que vimos foram grupos de vândalos criminosos agredindo, roubando, barbarizando, organizados pelas redes sociais em nome do ódio, da intolerância e da violência.

Isto não é Flamengo. Não é futebol, é selvageria. É reflexo do país (e, mais ainda, do Rio de Janeiro). Reforça nossa crise social e moral, amplia nossa impunidade. Infelizmente.

Desde o primeiro jogo, na Argentina, grupos de torcedores, muitos banidos dos estádios, planejavam pelas redes sociais “uma guerra suja contra os hermanos”, o que culminou com a noite de ataques aos hotéis. A prevenção é sete vezes mais barata, mais rápida e mais eficiente do que a repressão, embora esta seja necessária. Por que nada foi feito antes, para prender a bandidagem infiltrada e prevenir a estupidez?

Ainda mais que o jogo era contra argentinos, rivalidade histórica e perigosamente incentivada por alguns setores da mídia. E, no dia do jogo, faltou também maior policiamento e melhor distribuição operacional da tropa, tanto que “a partir de um determinado momento a revista foi perdida”, como declarou o comandante do Gepe da PM/RJ

A crise é aguda e se manifesta na segurança pública, de forma irresponsável e assustadora. As polícias civil e militar vivem uma situação dramática: despreparo, falta de recursos, salários, infraestrutura, ameaças. Futebol é lazer e lazer é direito de todos, assim como segurança é dever do Estado. Que cada cidadão possa exercer o seu direito e os governantes cumpram as suas funções constitucionais. Não é favor, é obrigação!

* Mauricio Murad é sociólogo e autor do livro ‘A Violência no Futebol: Novas Pesquisas, Novas Ideias, Novas Propostas’

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