All posts by h716a5.icu

Some Everton fans have been left to fume as a transfer update emerged on James Rodriguez.

Speaking to Sports Blog (via Marca), football journalist Javier Hernandez Bonnet has claimed that the Colombia international has the option of returning back to Real Madrid and reuniting with Carlo Ancelotti on a free transfer.

Rodriguez was such a key player for the Goodison Park faithful in the 2020/21 season, scoring six goals and making a further nine assists in 26 games in total over all competitions (Transfermarkt), and so it would be such a shame to see him leave after just one campaign, especially given that he largely played without supporters in the stadiums.

Nonetheless, to lose the 29-year-old for free would be a devastating blow, as he would not be easy to replace without spending a bit of cash.

Everton fans on Rodriguez transfer update

These Toffees fumed as the transfer update was shared on Twitter, with one Blue even going as far as to claim that it was a ‘joke’:

“Smashing my head against the wall”

Credit: @tomefc14

“Joke”

Credit: @danevans_tm

“What did I do in my past life to be forced to support Everton”

Credit: @FylesAj

“Honestly believe we are the worst run club in world football”

Credit: @patto1878

“Not sure I can take much more this week”Credit: @smmoore4″It never rains….”Credit: @RaRaRiggaIn other news, find out what Paul Joyce update has been slammed by EFC fans here!

A culmination of poor batting, poor wicket and the dreaded Duckworth/Lewis method saw Hampshire Hawks fall to the fourth successive defeat in the Norwick Union League at Derby on Saturday.

Vic Isaacs04-Aug-2002
Duckworth & Lewis
Photo Vic Isaacs
A culmination of poor batting, poor wicket and the dreaded Duckworth/Lewis method saw Hampshire Hawks fall to the fourth successive defeat in the Norwick Union League at Derby on Saturday.The Derby saga started on Friday when the team were told not to travel up to the Midland county until word was received as to the fitness of the ground. Hampshire coach Jimmy Cook and local umpire Budd Hill held the inspection and then telephoned the ECB, who after deliberations suggested that Hampshire travelled.So on Saturday, the teams, umpires, spectators all arrived for a prompt start!!!Although conditions following heavy thunderstorms were not ideal, Hampshire Hawks chose to bat but they struggled off the seaming ball on the damp green wicket, and lost 7 wickets for 50 before the first stoppage for rain. Apart from a run out when Crawley drifted down the wicket at the non-strikers end, the wickets belonged to the seamers, Dominic Cork was unplayable and he conceded just 9 runs from his 8 overs, 6 of them wides.Five overs per side were lost when another shower sent the players scurrying for cover. Nic Pothas saved a complete disaster with a polished half century, first sharing a 51 run stand with Shaun Udal and then a more unlikely 42 undefeated atand with Alan Mullally.Much scratching of heads around the ground as the Duckworth/Lewis came into effect, asking Derbyshire Scorpions to score 137 in 40 overs to win, some 6 runs less than Hampshire had scored. Even a phone call to Mr.Duckworth confirmed the scorers calculations as correct.The Scorpions innings owed much to their overseas star Michael diVenuto, as wickets fell at steady intervals. Hampshire used five seamers, with Shaun Udal resigned to a fielding roll, and at 100 for 7 the home side looked in trouble, Skipper Will Kendall bowled out his top bowlers early in an attempt to find a fginal breakthrough, but the Scorpions scraped home with 5 balls remaining, and left the Hawks cursing the D/L method.

Essex has signed fast/medium bowler Nick Denning on a one-year contact forthe 2003 season

Essex CCC Media Release20-Sep-2002Essex has signed fast/medium bowler Nick Denning on a one-year contact forthe 2003 season.Denning, 23, has played minor county cricket for Berkshire since 1999, and now joins the Club after after impressing the Essex selectors in the 2nd XI at Colchester.Chief Executive, David East, commented:
“Nick clearly has great ambition and will undoubtedly strengthen the squad’sbowling for next year. We wish him well for the future”.Denning was educated at Bradfield College – the school in Berkshire that has produced Hampshire’s Will Kendall, former Hampshire captain Mark Nicholas and, before them, Surrey and England’s Graham Roope.

Birmingham City remain keen on bringing Jordan Graham to St. Andrew’s this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Birmingham Live, who claim that Lee Bowyer has retained his interest in the Gillingham winger and is considering a move for the 26-year-old in the summer transfer window, news that should delight the club’s loyal supporters.

It is reported that the 44-year-old attempted to sign Gramham during his time in charge of Charlton Athletic, and, following a highly impressive season in League One, it would appear as if Bowyer believes the £225k-rated man would make a fine addition to his attacking arsenal at Birmingham City this summer.

Fans will be delighted

With Bowyer guiding the Blues to safety in the Championship last season, this summer is an opportunity for the manager to build a side capable of more than just surviving the drop in their upcoming campaign.

And, considering just how impressive Graham was for Gillingham last term, it is not difficult to see why the 44-year-old believes that the winger could help take his Birmingham side to another level next season.

Indeed, over his 39 League One appearances for Steve Evans side in 2020/21, the former England U17 international scored 12 goals, registered six assists and created a whopping 14 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of one shot and making 1.9 key passes per game.

These returns saw the 26-year-old earn a highly impressive seasonal SofaScore match rating of 7.20, ranking him as the Gills’ second-best performer in the third tier of English football.

Graham also impressed in the cup competitions, scoring one further goal and providing three assists over six appearances in the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup and the EFL Trophy, taking his total haul for the season to 13 goals and nine assists.

As such, should Bowyer indeed go on to finally make his wish come true of landing the £2.1k-per-week forward this summer, whom Evans dubbed a “frightening” player, it would certainly appear to be a step in the right direction for the Blues, as well as being a transfer that would delight fans of the club.

In other news: Get it done: Bowyer must sanction Birmingham City swoop for “explosive” £10k-p/w beast

There is so much time left in this Test match and that is the key factor for both sides from here on

Anand Vasu19-Oct-2002There is so much time left in this Test match and that is the key factor for both sides from here on. At the end of the third day’s play, West Indies reached 186/4 and secured a slender lead of 37, but lost the vital wickets of Carl Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the process. With two days left to play, India will now be keen to get into the West Indian tail soon and keep the target down to a minimum as batting last on this wicket will be difficult, even in the face of a modest target.It was a bit of a see-saw day for the Indians. Beginning the day on 190/5, they managed to reach 316 thanks to some positive batting from tail-enders Harbhajan Singh and Javagal Srinath. Once again, the West Indies had a poor session in the field, grassing as many as five catches. This was one of the major factors in ensuring that the home team gained a first innings lead of 149.In the morning, the fall of VVS Laxman’s wicket, caught and bowled by Gareth Breese for 24 did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of India’s lower-order batsmen.Harbhajan, in particular, was effective with his unorthodox strokes. Helped by the fact that the West Indies took the second new ball and sent down several short deliveries, the offie swished, swatted and swiped his way to 37 off just 43 balls, with the help of five boundaries and a six. By the time Merv Dillon put one delivery in the right slot and knocked over Harbhajan’s stumps, India had reached 255.Parthiv Patel, stroking the ball well but failing to find the gaps, made a laboured 23 before charging down the wicket and being stumped off the bowling of Breese.Srinath, who had prospered in Patel’s company, though, ensured that the visitors’ gained little heart from the dismissal, continuing to clatter the ball to all parts. When the bowling was full, the bat came neatly down the line and sent the ball sailing over the off side field. Anything short wascross-batted through midwicket. Scoring a crucial 39, Srinath made his primary job as a bowler much easier.Little did he know how easy though. In just the fourth ball of the West Indies second innings, Chris Gayle slashed a Javagal Srinath delivery down Anil Kumble’s throat at third man. The opener was dismissed for a duck even before his team’s innings could kick off.But with Wavell Hinds, Gayle’s opening partner, and Ramnaresh Sarwan forging a 96-run partnership for the second wicket, his loss was soon forgotten. Hinds was aggressive for 61 but it was that trait that eventually brought about his downfall. Attempting to hit Harbhajan Singh over the top, against the spin, Hinds only managed to top edge the ball for Ganguly to complete an easy catch.For once Chanderpaul, who replaced him, fell early. Flicking on the up to a delivery that was full and on his pads, Chanderpaul (3) only managed to hit a Srinath delivery straight to Harbhajan at midwicket.Hooper, in majestic touch, though, did not allow the West Indies innings to stutter, hitting three boundaries and two spectacular sixes in an innings of 46, but fell in the 52nd over of the innings when he attempted to push Kumble through the off-side. The googly came back in a touch, kissed the glove and went to Parthiv Patel behind the stumps.Ramnaresh Sarwan, criticised so many times for getting good starts and not going on, has batted well to reach 62. He will, however, have to do a lot more work tomorrow. The elegant middle-order batsman has showed that he clearly had class. Yet that alone is hardly going to be enough for the visitors.Ryan Hinds is at the wicket with Sarwan, with Ridley Jacobs and Gareth Breese to follow. The trio of all-rounders have done little to show that they can stay at the wicket for extended periods. Ganguly will bank on this when he sets his bowlers on the West Indians early on the penultimate day. A confident Virender Sehwag said earlier in an interview, "”We should be able to force a result on the fourth day itself.” The trail-blazing opening batsman also said, “There is lot of bounce and turn in the wicket and in the first innings our spinners got eight wickets. A lead of 150 should be enough for us to win.”India missed a lead of 150 by a whisker but should still have enough firepower to wrap this game up on the fourth day.

Southampton have often been known as a selling club given their great recruitment and academy system, but they will be desperate to keep hold of their captain James Ward-Prowse.

However, former Newcastle United defender Steve Howey believes it will take at least £60 million for the Saints to consider selling him.

It has been a hectic 2020 for Southampton as they have seen their star players all linked with a move away from the south coast with Ward-Prowse, Danny Ings and Jannik Vestergaard all tipped to leave this summer.

Ward-Prowse was not a guarantee to start under former manager Mauricio Pellegrino but since Ralph Hasenhuttl arrived, he has instilled confidence in the midfielder handing him the captain’s armband and he has not missed a single minute of Premier League football for two seasons.

When you look at reports suggesting that Aston Villa would demand £45 million for John McGinn who has only had one season in the Premier League, Howey delivered a stern verdict when asked if £30-35 million would be a fair price for Southampton to accept for Ward-Prowse, telling Football FanCast exclusively:

“I think they’d want a lot more than that. I think you’d be looking at double that for him.”

It was the £35,000-per-week midfielder’s best season for the Saints as he found the net eight times and registered seven assists, with the majority of them coming from dead-ball situations as he is undoubtedly on penalties, free kicks and corners.

If the Saints don’t look to make obvious improvements to their side this summer, players such as Ings and Ward-Prowse may feel like they have to move on for the good of their careers to try and win trophies.

Rafa Benitez has barely set foot inside Goodison Park but the incoming Everton manager is already busy on the transfer front.

What’s the word?

The Toffees are yet to flex their financial muscles in the window with no manager at the helm but that doesn’t mean that Marcel Brands and co haven’t been busy behind the scenes.

According to the print version of Portuguese outlet Record (via Sportslens) Newcastle are interested in signing Sporting midfielder Matheus Nunes.

However, Everton are also in the race to sign the 22-year-old and are now expected to sign him.

A deal could be worth as much as €20m (£17m) with Everton closing in on their first acquisition of the Benitez era.

Big upgrade

If you focus on Nunes’ statistics then it doesn’t exactly paint a very vibrant picture.

The young midfielder contributed to five goals in the top-flight of Portugal as Sporting won the league but he appeared from the bench on 19 occasions.

As a result, he made 0.6 tackles and 0.4 interceptions per game, while registering just 0.5 shots and 0.2 key passes a match.

Those numbers put him well below other midfielders already at Goodison Park with Abdoulaye Dourcoure, Tom Davies, Andre Gomes and Allan more productive in the final third.

Meanwhile, only Davies registered attacking statistics below Nunes.

However, his game is about a lot more than that. What the Sporting gem brings to the table is relentless energy, jaw-dropping speed and the ability to carry the ball forward.

Last term, Nunes managed 1.2 dribbles per game despite his limited minutes on the field, a tally that was bettered by just four other players in the Everton squad.

A glowing review from close friend and former teammate Goncalo Santos reveals what he’d add to the side.

“It’s unbelievable when he has the ball at his feet. Nobody can catch him; it’s impossible because he’s too fast,” Santos told the Liverpool Echo.

He added: “Matheus is a box-to-box player. He’s not so strong like midfielders in the Premier League but he’s very fast. He’s very good with the ball because he is a Brazilian boy.”

But what player at Everton is he similar to? Santos continued: “If you compare him, he is similar to Doucoure; he is physical, he runs so much but Matheus has more quality with the ball. He makes better decisions, has better passing, better control and he understands when he needs to slow the game down.”

Despite the initial statistics proving otherwise, this suggests that the Brazilian could actually be an upgrade for Benitez next term.

Everton aren’t the quickest of teams from a central area so Nunes could get the team up the pitch in a swifter fashion, enabling them to be more devastating and clinical on the counter-attack.

AND in other news, Benitez can make an instant impact at Everton by signing “exceptional” 33-goal monster…

MELBOURNE, Nov 3 AAP – Tasmania set a record for the highest score in a domestic one-day cricket match at the MCG when it amassed 8-311 from its 50 overs against Victoria today.

AAP03-Nov-2002MELBOURNE, Nov 3 AAP – Tasmania set a record for the highest score in a domestic one-day cricket match at the MCG when it amassed 8-311 from its 50 overs against Victoria today.The Tigers’ total beat Victoria’s 4-280 against Queensland in the 1998-99 season at the ground.Opener Michael Dighton and middle-order batsman Graeme Cunningham shared the top score of 69 after Tasmania won the toss.Dighton and Michael Di Venuto set the tone of the innings when they thrashed 133 from the first 19.5 overs.Part-time spinner Brad Hodge removed them in the space of two overs, but a fourth-wicket stand of 93 between Cunningham and Jamie Cox (43) helped ensure Tasmania would pass 300.Apart from his two wickets, Hodge took a great overhead running catch at deep mid-on to remove Damien Wright for nine and his direct hit ran out George Bailey for two.

Florian Lejeune’s time at Newcastle United ‘looks to be done’, Shields Gazette journalist Liam Kennedy reports. 

The lowdown

Newcastle paid £8.7million to sign Lejune from Spanish outfit Eibar back in 2017, committing him to a five-year contract (via BBC Sport).

He went on to make 46 appearances for the club before a loan move back to La Liga with Alaves last September.

Lejeune faced numerous injury problems during his spell on Tyneside, most notably suffering a pair of knee injuries in the space of a year that kept him out for a combined 39 matches.

But he was able to maintain fitness in Spain last season, making 34 league appearances for Alaves as they successfully staved off the threat of relegation.

The latest

Kennedy expects Lejeune’s four-year spell in the North East to conclude this summer, with a permanent departure appearing the ‘most likely outcome’ as opposed to a second loan move.

The report claims Steve Bruce ‘isn’t the biggest fan’ of the 30-year-old, quashing any hopes he may have of resurrecting his Newcastle career.

The verdict

Newcastle can afford to let Lejeune go, even if he probably won’t fetch a big transfer fee given his age and the fact he has only one year left on his deal.

They already seem to be well-stocked in the centre of defence, with Ciaran Clark, Paul Dummett, Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles and Federico Fernandez all on their books.

If they can retain at least one of Fernandez or Schar and successfully swoop for report target Kristoffer Ajer, then they can be more than happy with their options.

In other news, Steve Howey has tipped another possible centre-back target to shine at Newcastle. 

In the opening day of the Vidarbha-Services Plate Group tie at Nagpur, the hosts reached 330 for six, with opener Amit Deshpande top-scoring with 86 off 150 balls (15 fours)

Staff Reporter20-Nov-2002In the opening day of the Vidarbha-Services Plate Group tie at Nagpur, the hosts reached 330 for six, with opener Amit Deshpande top-scoring with 86 off 150 balls (15 fours). Fellow opener VC Naidu also made a fifty, hitting 74 and helping to put on 164 for the first wicket.The other significant contributor to the total was NS Gawande, who made 63 in 121 balls. At the close of play, RD Jadhav and Chandrasekhar Atram were unbeaten on 14 and 4 respectively.