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Will the Capitals turn to Nortje? And how much longer can the Knight Riders persist with Gill?

Himanshu Agrawal28-Apr-20218:18

Can Narine take the pressure off of Gill?

Big pictureAll games in the IPL are crucial, even when it pits one of the top teams against another that hasn’t had things go its way much. The Delhi Capitals are flying high, on eight points from six games, while the Kolkata Knight Riders are in the bottom half, with two wins from six. Following consecutive cliffhangers, the Capitals would want a quieter ride, and while their batting has worked very well so far, Avesh Khan’s emergence and Amit Mishra’s re-emergence have given their side a nice, all-round sheen.Their four wins so far have been largely down to their attacking openers, though. Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan have three times had stands worth 50 or more, with the Capitals going on to win every time. The Knight Riders have lived the opposite experience. Nitish Rana started with consecutive half-centuries, but he has only 49 runs from his last four outings, and Shubman Gill has managed 89 runs in six innings.Related

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That’s not all. Their middle order has stuttered too, and when they have done well, it has been because Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik or Pat Cummins breaking free in the late overs. As the halfway stage of the season approaches, they would want a quick fix. Sunil Narine and his spin colleague Varun Chakravarthy, as well as Cummins and the others, must be desperate for some assistance from their batters before it gets too late for the Knight Riders, who did, however, look good in their last game against the Punjab Kings. A couple of wins, and a lot might change.Team newsThe Capitals may stick to the same XI that went down to the Royal Challengers Bangalore by one run in their previous game. That said, Steven Smith has been jogging at a strike rate of only 112.67, which has often resulted in pressure on those who follow. Kagiso Rabada, too, hasn’t yet met expectations, having gone at 8.94 with five wickets in as many matches this season. Sam Billings, Anrich Nortje and Chris Woakes are waiting for their chances.The Knight Riders may decide to either push Gill down the order or drop him altogether. Could Karun Nair be an alternative? As a T20 opener, he strikes at 155.49 and has two centuries. Or Narine could be shifted up.Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan have thrice had stands worth 50 or more this season•BCCI

Likely XIsDelhi Capitals: 1 Prithvi Shaw, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Steven Smith/Sam Billings, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Marcus Stoinis, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Amit Mishra, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Ishant SharmaKolkata Knight Riders: 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Nitish Rana, 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Sunil Narine, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Dinesh Karthik, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Shivam Mavi, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Prasidh KrishnaStrategy punt There is a case for the Knight Riders to open the bowling with Narine and Shivam Mavi to try and restrict the Capitals’ in-form openers. While Shaw strikes at only 100 against Narine in the IPL, his strike rate of 141.7 against Mavi is lower than what he goes at against Cummins and Russell (marginally). Mavi has kept Dhawan relatively quiet in their exchanges so far – strike rate 90.9 – while against Narine, Dhawan scores at only 119.2, having also been dismissed twice. The Knight Riders must try to keep Russell away when Mishra is in operation – and the Capitals would like the legspinner to have a go at the big-hitter. In five innings in the IPL, Mishra has conceded just 21 runs off 20 deliveries to Russell, and got him out once. That strike rate of 105 stands out when compared to what Russell has done against Axar Patel (216.7), Rabada (256.3) and Marcus Stoinis (344.4).Stats that matter Shaw has scores of 66, 99, 14 and 62 in four innings at a strike rate of 163.94 against the Knight Riders, with the Capitals winning all four matches. Dhawan is the second-highest run-getter of the tournament so far, while Avesh Khan is the second-highest wicket-taker. In the IPL, Eoin Morgan has a strike rate of 358.33 against Rabada, who is also yet to dismiss him. Chakravarthy has 24 wickets since IPL 2020, which is the third-highest among spinners, with only Rashid Khan and Rahul Chahar ahead of him.

MatériaMais Notícias

da aviator aposta： Palmeiras e Atlético-MG empataram por 2 a 2 nesta terça-feira (23), em jogo válido pela 35ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, no Allianz Parque. No último jogo das duas equipes antes de duelos importantes valendo taças, os times travaram um duelo movimentado e intenso, com muitas chances de gol.

RelacionadasFutebol NacionalTorcedores de Palmeiras e Atlético-MG vivem clima amigável e dividem ansiedades no Allianz ParqueFutebol Nacional23/11/2021PalmeirasVem mais um? Lembre os títulos internacionais do Palmeiras na história do clubePalmeiras23/11/2021LibertadoresLibertadores: torcida do Flamengo tem superado a do Palmeiras e já adquiriu 95% dos bilhetes para finalLibertadores23/11/2021

da betsul：
CONFIRA A TABELA ATUALIZADA E SIMULE OS JOGOS DO BRASILEIRÃO DE 2021!

Com o resultado, o Palmeiras, que jogou com o time reserva, segue na terceira posição do Campeonato Brasileiro. O Atlético-MG, segue na liderança e, após empate do Flamengo contra o Grêmio, precisa ainda de duas vitórias para ser campeão da competição nacional.

JOGO COMEÇA MOVIMENTADO! PALMEIRAS COMEÇA MELHOR

Logo de cara, mesmo com os reservas, o Palmeiras se lançou ao ataque e por pouco não abriu o placar. Com apenas dois minutos de jogo, Deyverson deu belo passe para Wesley ficar cara a cara com Éverson. O camisa 11 bateu pro gol, mas parou no goleiro atleticano, que fez bela defesa. Aos 11 minutos, o time chegou novamente, dessa vez com Kuscevic, que cabeceou para o gol e obrigou Éverson a fazer boa defesa. Usando a velocidade de seu ataque e bastante aguerrido, o Palmeiras começou melhor.

GALO EQUILIBRA E O JOGO ESQUENTA

Conforme o início de primeiro tempo passou, o Atlético-MG equilibrou o jogo. O time visitante subiu de produção e conseguiu boas oportunidades no ataque. Em um dos lances, porém, o clima esquentou quando Kuscevic e DIego Costa se provocaram na beira do gramado. As faltas passaram a aparecer com mais frequência e o jogo ficou mais quente. Com o Galo explorando o ataque, o Palmeiras chegou a buscar os contragolpes como arma e contou, ainda, com um chute do meio de campo de Patrick de Paula, que tentou surpreender Éverson, que estava adiantado.

PALMEIRAS ABRE O PLACAR COM GOLAÇO DE WESLEY

Aos 27 minutos, o Palmeiras abriu o placar em um belo gol de Wesley. A jogada começou pela direita, Gabriel Veron recebeu a bola e deu belo passe por cima da defesa, na medida para Wesley, no lado esquerdo da área, cortar a marcação e bater cruzado, sem chances para o goleiro Éverson. Logo na sequência, o Atlético-MG foi ao ataque para tentar o empate e quase marcou com Diego Costa, mas Renan travou por baixo e impediu o gol atleticano.

GALO EMPATA COM ZARACHO!

Aos 36 minutos, foi a vez do Atlético-MG balançar as redes do Allianz Parque e empatar o placar. Após boa jogada pela esquerda, Guilherme Arana finalizou e parou em Jaílson. O goleiro, porém, deu rebote e, na sobra, Zaracho bateu de voleio para o fundo do gol, empatando a partida em um primeiro tempo movimentado e com dois times buscando o ataque.

FIM DE PRIMEIRO TEMPO!
​
O jogo ainda seguiu movimentado, com os dois times atrás de seus segundos gols, tentando ficar à frente no placar. Assim, o jogo terminou com o Galo com mais tempo de bola no pé e o Palmeiras buscando os contra-ataques. Sem mais gols, o primeiro tempo foi encerrado em 1 a 1.

SEGUNDO TEMPO COMEÇA COM PÊNALTI PARA O PALMEIRAS E DEFESA DE ÉVERSON

Logo no início do segundo tempo, o Plameiras saiu ao ataque em do desempate. Aos sete minutos, Danilo Barbosa chutou para o gol, mas a bola foi parada pelo braço de Júnior Alonso. Daronco, a princípio, não marcou, mas, após revisar o lance com o VAR, assinalou a penalidade para o time da casa. Na cobrança, Patrick de Paula bateu no canto esquerdo de Éverson, que fez bela defesa e impediu o gol palmeirense.

PALMEIRAS DESEMPATA APÓS PERDER PÊNALTI

Logo na sequência do pênalti defendido por Éverson, aos 11 minutos, em cobrança de escanteio, Deyverson pulou mais alto que a defesa e cabeceou a bola para o gol atleticano, superando o goleiro e colocando o Verdão à frente no placar. Na comemoração, o camisa 16 foi para a torcida, o que lhe rendeu um cartão amarelo. O gol coroou o bom início de segundo tempo palmeirense.

HULK FAZ BELO GOL E EMPATA NOVAMENTE PARA O GALO

Somente cinco minutos após o gol do Palmeiras, o Galo voltou a marcar e empatou novamente a partida. Em lance de ataque dos visitantes, a bola sobrou na entrada da área para Hulk, artilheiro do Brasileirão. Com liberdade, o camisa 7 bateu forte, no canto do gol de Jaílson e fez o segundo do Atlético-MG. Após o gol, os reservas pediram ânimo do time para buscar o resultado e, a partir do gol, a equipe mineira subiu de intensidade e produção, passando a ocupar mais o campo de ataque.

PARTIDA FICA MAIS TRUNCADA E VICTOR LUIS PERDE GOL INCRÍVEL

Ainda em muito equilíbrio, o jogo passou a ser mais físico conforme o passar do segundo tempo. As chances de ataque, que aconteciam incessantemente, foram substituídas por toques de bola no meio de campo, com as duas equipes muito precavidas na defesa para não tomarem um gol na reta final do jogo.

Os times alternaram momentos de domínio do jogo e, no momento em que o Palmeiras teve mais a bola, criou grande chance com Breno Lopes, pela direita, que cruzou a bola na área para Victor Luis, sem goleiro, chutar por cima do travessão, desperdiçando a principal chance da equipe.

FIM DE JOGO! PALMEIRAS E ATLÉTICO-MG EMPATAM POR 2 A 2

O final do jogo foi mais cadenciado, com o Palmeiras trocando passes sem pressa em busca de uma oportunidade de ataque. O Galo, por sua vez, era um pouco mais objetivo, subindo mais as linhas e chegando mais rapidamente ao campo de ataque, porém não conseguiu levar muito perigo ao gol de Jaílson. Assim, o jogo terminou em 2 a 2 e, apesar do final mais burocrático, ficou marcado por atuações intensas das duas equipes, que criaram mais.

Os dois times tem jogos importantes no final de semana, buscando títulos. O Palmeiras volta a campo no sábado (27), às 17h, no Estádio Centenário, em Montevidéu, no Uruguai, para enfrentar o Flamengo, pela final da Libertadores. O Galo joga no domingo (28), no Mineirão, diante do Fluminense, em duelo que pode deixar o título do Campeonato Brasileiro muito próximo do Atlético-MG.

PALMEIRAS 2 X 2 ATLÉTICO-MG
Data: 23 de Novembro de 2021, terça-feira;
Horário: 21h30 (de Brasília);
Local: Allianz Parque, em São Paulo-SP
Árbitro: Anderson Daronco – FIFA/RS
Assistentes: Rafael da Silva Alves – FIFA/RS e Michael Stanislau – RS
VAR: Jean Pierre Gonçalves Lima – RS, Lucio Beiersdorf Flor – RS e George Alves Feitoza – AL

Gols: Wesley (27’/1ºT)(1-0), Zaracho (36’/1ºT)(1-1), Deyverson (11’/2ºT)(2-1) e Hulk (16’/2ºT)
Cartões Amarelos: Marcos Rocha, Renan, Gabriel Menino e Deyverson (PAL) Diego Costa, Júnior Alonso e Nacho (CAM)
Cartões Vermelhos:

PALMEIRAS
Jailson; Marcos Rocha, Kuscevic, Renan e Jorge (Victor Luis, aos 28’/2ºT); Danilo Barbosa, Gabriel Menino (Matheus Fernandes, aos 28’/2ºT) e Patrick de Paula; Gabriel Veron (Breno Lopes, aos 28’/2ºT), Wesley (Willian, aos 32’/2ºT) e Deyverson. Técnico: João Martins.

ATLÉTICO-MG
Éverson; Guga (Mariano, aos 15’/2ºT), Nathan Silva, Junior Alonso e Guilherme Arana; Jair (Eduardo Vargas, aos 15’/2ºT), Allan, e Zaracho (Sasha, aos 43’/2ºT); Nacho (Tchê Tchê, aos 28’/2ºT), Hulk e Diego Costa (Keno, no Intervalo). Técnico: Cuca.

da pinup bet： In every great Manchester United side, you’ll typically find a midfield lynchpin, a driving force behind it all from the centre of the park.

da bet7k： In Sir Alex Ferguson’s pomp, he was blessed with two such figures in the form of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, the two men forming the bedrock of the side that would claim treble-winning glory in 1998/99.

Ironically, also the two men who actually missed the crowning moment at Camp Nou through suspension and injury, respectively, the Keane and Scholes pairing is arguably the best there’s ever been at Old Trafford.

There’s an argument, too, that they are the “best pair in the history of English football”, in the view of an – unbiased – Gary Neville.

It would be unfair to suggest that the modern-day duo of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes are way off that status, considering their own individual quality, but this is still a brittle pairing, a short-term fix that Ruben Amorim has almost been forced to resort to.

Having bolstered the top end of the pitch over the summer, United are just about getting by despite a lack of midfield reinforcement – could that all change in 2026?

Latest on Man Utd's midfield search

There is a frustration that the Red Devils left themselves somewhat short in midfield for the new season, although it was fanciful to assume that after splashing out £250m on four senior signings, another sizeable investment would be dished out on a midfielder.

There was notable interest in the likes of Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba, with the latter man believed to be particularly keen on making the move to Old Trafford. A reported £100m plus price tag, however, proved prohibitive.

Rather than merely turning to a bargain alternative, United have perhaps wisely played the waiting game instead, ready to attack the market again, be it in January or next summer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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According to recent reports from Caught Offside, there is said to be a growing confidence that Jason Wilcox and co can strike a deal for Nottingham Forest star, Elliot Anderson, with the England international said to be ‘open’ to making the switch.

That willingness to join Amorim’s ranks has sparked hope back in Manchester that United can secure a ‘bargain’ fee for his signature, seemingly far below the widely touted £100m asking price that Forest are believed to have set.

As per the report, a figure closer to £60m might be more realistic, with Anderson perhaps representing the midfield solution that Amorim is desperate for.

How Man Utd's £60m target compares to Casemiro

Anderson is certainly man of the moment right now, with recent international breaks seemingly seeing him nail down a number six role alongside Declan Rice for England, ahead of next year’s World Cup.

Kobbie Mainoo might be a cautionary tale of what can happen to those who enjoy a meteoric rise at club and international level, but the Forest man can only be judged on what he’s doing right now.

At present, he’s looking sensational.

In the view of talkSPORT’s Max Scott, the 22-year-old simply “has it all”, with the reporter even going as far as to suggest that the ex-Newcastle United talent has “a bit of Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Zinedine Zidane all rolled into one”.

A rising English star, like Scholes, Anderson could well follow in the footsteps of Keane by moving from the City Ground to the Theatre of Dreams, with that switch having proven so fruitful for the Irishman under Ferguson.

Those might be wild, hyperbolic comparisons to be making, although that is the level of quality that the £60m maestro possesses, having even been likened to a young Paul Gascoigne amid his prior emergence on Tyneside.

Newcastle’s PSR-related loss has certainly been Forest’s gain, with United now hoping that they can steal a march on the competition and tempt the £40k-per-week playmaker into jumping ship in 2026.

Casemiro is currently holding the fort alongside Fernandes, although the 33-year-old’s inability to last the full 90 minutes is a growing problem, having been substituted off on seven occasions this season, while seeing red against Chelsea.

Only five of the 20 goals United have conceded in all competitions have come when the resurgent Brazilian is on the pitch, but he certainly isn’t the Champions League-winning force that he once was. On current evidence, Anderson is looking a step above.

Casemiro vs Anderson (25/26)

Stat (per 90)

Casemiro

Anderson

Non-penalty goals

0.44

0.00

Assists

0.15

0.09

Shot-creating actions

1.32

4.18

Passes attempted

52.77

76.45

Pass completion

81.4%

83.4%

Progressive passes

4.40

8.82

Progressive carries

0.15

1.36

Successful take-ons

0.29

1.27

Tackles

3.22

2.64

Interceptions

0.72

0.91

Stats via FBref

In the Premier League this season, for instance, the younger man ranks in the top 1% of midfielders for passes attempted and progressive passes, as well as in the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90.

Casemiro, by contrast, ranks in just the top 36%, the bottom 45% and the bottom 30% for those same three metrics, respectively, albeit while coming out on top for both non-penalty goals and tackles made.

That said, Anderson is certainly no slouch in that latter department – as his 2.64 tackles per 90 record illustrates – providing Amorim with a potential all-round, all-action, athletic upgrade who can instantly hit the ground running in the much-discussed 3-4-2-1 system.

While it remains to be seen if it will require a bid of closer to £100m or £60m to secure his services, United must do what they can to make Anderson the new centre-piece of Amorim’s ageing midfield.

Related Man Utd "confident" they'll sign Anderson for £40m less than Forest's asking price

He’s keen on an Old Trafford transfer.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Nov 22, 2025

قرر مجلس إدارة شركة غزل المحلة لكرة القدم، برئاسة المهندس وليد خليل، توجيه الشكر للجهاز الفني للفريق الأول بقيادة الكابتن شوقي غريب وجهازه المعاون، وذلك بعد سلسلة من النتائج السلبية التي مني بها الفريق في الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وأكد المهندس وليد خليل في بيان رسمي عبر الصفحة الرسمية للنادي، أن هذا القرار لا يقلل من قيمة الجهاز الفني بقيادة الكابتن شوقي غريب، الذي بذل جهداً كبيراً خلال فترة توليه المهمة، مشيراً إلى أن الإقالة تأتي في إطار البحث عن حلول أخرى لتحسين وضع الفريق.

وشدد خليل على أن العلاقة الطيبة التي تربطه بالكابتن شوقي غريب، كأحد أبناء نادي غزل المحلة الذين شرفوا النادي في المحافل الدولية، ستظل مستمرة.

من جانبه، وجه الكابتن شوقي غريب الشكر لجماهير غزل المحلة التي ساندته طوال فترة وجوده في النادي، الذي يعتبره بيته وصاحب الفضل عليه.

طالع أيضًا | رسميًا | محمود فتح الله مدربًا عامًا لـ غزل المحلة

وأعرب عن أسفه لعدم تمكنه من تحقيق النتائج المرجوة، مؤكداً أنه كان يتمنى أن تكون النتائج أفضل من ذلك. كما شكر مجلس إدارة شركة الكرة برئاسة المهندس وليد خليل ونائبه المهندس تامر خليل على الدعم الكبير الذي قدموه للفريق خلال فترة وجوده.

وطالب غريب الجميع بالالتفاف حول الفريق خلال المرحلة المقبلة من أجل البقاء في الدوري الممتاز، مؤكداً أن الفريق يستحق ذلك. كما وجه الشكر للاعبين الذين بذلوا أقصى جهد لتعديل المسيرة، لكن التوفيق لم يحالفهم في أوقات كثيرة.

تجدر الإشارة إلى أن فريق غزل المحلة تحت قيادة شوقي غريب لم يحقق أي فوز في الدوري المصري الممتاز، منذ أن تولى المسؤولية، حيث خسر في خمس مباريات متتالية، أمام البنك الأهلي، بيراميدز، حرس الحدود، سيراميكا كليوباترا، فاركو، وخلال هذه المباريات، استقبل الفريق 9 أهداف وسجل هدفين فقط.

Surrey battle back despite conceding first-innings deficit of 106 to Gloucestershire

ECB Reporters' Network10-Apr-2021

Reece Topley claimed a five-for before Rory Burns got stuck in with the bat•Getty Images

Ben Foakes and Rory Burns kept Surrey alive against Gloucestershire as they closed day three at Bristol 232 for 5 in their second innings, leading by 126.After Gloucestershire took a first-innings lead of 106, Surrey lost three for seven to slip to 48 for 3, still trailing by 58. But Burns, who made 74, and Foakes, unbeaten on 81 at the close, shared 97 for the fourth wicket.Related

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Burns fell before tea and when David Payne bowled Jamie Smith with the last ball of the session, Surrey were 187 for 5, only 81 ahead. But Foakes and Jordan Clark took their side to the close still in the game.It’s been a difficult few months for Burns who never got going during last summer’s internationals and whose paternity leave interrupted his winter with England that eventually saw him dropped for the final two Tests in India. A skittish dismissal in the first innings here was not the start to the season he envisaged but a 130-ball stay would have raised hopes of a return to form.He began with two back-foot steers for four off Payne and punched the same bowler to deep square to raise fifty in 93 balls. He dismissal would have grated – top-edging a pull to sky a catch to long leg where Payne took a smart catch.Burns guided Surrey through a concerning wobble as Mark Stoneman fell over trying to work Ryan Higgins to leg and departed lbw and Hashim Amla edged Matt Taylor behind for a 12-ball duck. Ollie Pope was also caught at the wicket to Taylor, again playing a loose drive, and Surrey were heading out of the contest.But Foakes settled with Burns after lunch and the pair moved the visitors into the lead with Foakes passing fifty in 92 balls and will return on day four hoping to build the lead beyond 200. Surrey lost Burns and then Smith before tea, the latter to one from Payne that held its line from round the wicket, as Gloucestershire reclaimed the ascendency.The hosts nudged their lead into three figures at the start of the day as Reece Topley added the wicket of Jack Taylor to claim 5 for 66 – his first five-wicket haul in a first-class match since 2014.

MatériaMais Notícias

da luck： Apesar de ser volante, Renê Jr soma gols na carreira. Entre eles, um justamente contra o Flamengo, adversário da Chapecoense na noite desta segunda-feira, às 20h, na Arena Condá. Aconteceu em 2012, quando o meia ainda defendia a Ponte Preta. A partida em questão terminou empatada em 1 a 1, mas Renê Jr lembra do gol marcado com carinho.

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da doce： >Dentinho ficou livre no mercado: veja 30 jogadores interessantes sem clube

– Minha estreia na Série A como titular foi justamente contra eles e eu ainda tive a oportunidade de marcar o gol. Foi um momento marcante e depois disso contra o Flamengo sempre fiz bons jogos – explicou.

Renê Jr também projetou o jogo desta noite, que é válido pela 30ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. O meia admitiu que espera um confronto difícil, mas destacou que quem estiver em campo pela Chape “vai procurar dar o melhor”.

> Veja e simule a tabela do Brasileirão

– Eles têm um elenco muito qualificado, quem entrar vai estar com mais vontade ainda. O jogo, normalmente, fica até mais difícil porque os reservas tem que provar que tem qualidade. Nós sabemos da nossa responsabilidade, sabemos do nosso momento e quem entrar para jogar vai procurar dar melhor.

da dobrowin： Southampton are taking significant steps in their search for a new manager after sacking Will Still last week.

da dobrowin： The Saints, after an underwhelming start to the campaign, sit 19th in the Championship, just six points above the relegation zone, having won just three of their 14 league games so far.

Southampton’s turbulent season took another dramatic turn when the club parted ways with Still after just five months in charge. The 33-year-old’s brief tenure at St Mary’s came to an abrupt end following a 2-0 home defeat to Preston North End, their third consecutive loss and fifth straight game without a win at the time.

Still recorded a dismal average of just 0.92 points per game in the Championship, leaving Southampton chiefs with no choice but to pull the plug.

Will Still’s tenure at Southampton

Competition

Matches

Wins

Draws

Losses

Points

Points per match

Championship

13

2

6

5

12

0.92

EFL Cup

3

2

0

1

6

2.00

Total

16

4

6

6

18

1.13

via Transfermarkt

It marked yet another chapter in Sport Republic’s chaotic ownership, with Still becoming the latest in a long line of coaches sacked during their regime.

Still arrived with growing pedigree after a few successful years in France and was once regularly linked with a Premier League move, but struggled to translate that success to English football.

The Belgian native was tasked with securing an immediate return to the Premier League following last season’s relegation, but instead left Southampton perilously close to a second consecutive drop that would represent an unthinkable disaster.

Now, the process to hire his successor has begun, and there are a few noteworthy candidates who are being mentioned by the media.

Under-21s boss Tonda Eckert has been appointed interim manager and immediately guided the team to a 2-1 victory at QPR, temporarily halting the rot. However, Southampton’s hierarchy are actively searching for a permanent replacement.

Reports suggest high-flying Coventry City boss Frank Lampard is an ambitious option for Southampton, with the Saints also weighing up a reunion for Russell Martin.

A number of other candidates are being assessed too, including Stoke City manager Mark Robins (talkSPORT), England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley, and Gary O’Neil.

In terms of the latter, Telegraph reporter Mike McGrath shared news earlier this week that O’Neil is a strong contender for the Southampton job, and there’s now been another update on the Englishman’s potential appointment.

Southampton 'looking to finalise' Gary O'Neil deal after making approach

As per TEAMtalk, O’Neil is emerging as the clear frontrunner to take charge.

The south coast club have now made an approach to O’Neil over their vacant position, with talks expected to intensify in the coming days as both parties “look to finalise an agreement”.

O’Neil is said to be in pole position to become Southampton’s new manager, with the club having admirers of his previous Premier League work.

Southampton’s search has apparently narrowed to three main candidates. Former Manchester United star Michael Carrick, who was most recently manager of Middlesbrough, remains in contention due to his strong reputation, while Martin is also still a candidate and would be open to discussions about returning to St Mary’s after his Rangers dismissal.

O’Neil is said to be “highly respected” in Premier League circles after his work at Bournemouth and Wolves (Miguel Delaney), even if his tenures did end in sour fashion, and he was briefly considered for the West Ham job recently.

The 42-year-old steered a hapless Bournemouth side clear of relegation in his first season with limited resources, and took charge of Wolves in very difficult circumstances after Julen Lopetegui’s sudden exit — briefly steadying the ship at Molineux.

His track record suggests that O’Neil could be an astute appointment by Sport Republic, and given his free agent status, Southampton won’t have to fork out a compensation fee.

O’Neil has also been called an “underrated” tactician.

قام ماركوس تورام، نجم نادي إنتر ميلان، بتحذير ليفربول، وذلك قبل المباراة التي سوف تجمع بين الفريقين في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا على ملعب جوزيبي مياتزا.

إنتر ميلان سوف يستضيف نظيره ليفربول غدًا الثلاثاء، ضمن منافسات الجولة السادسة من مرحلة الدوري في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويرغب نادي إنتر ميلان في استغلال حالة ليفربول السيئة خلال هذا الموسم، حيث دخل الريدز في سلسلة سلبية من عدم تحقيق الفوز في كافة المسابقات.

ودخل ليفربول في أزمة مع نجم الفريق محمد صلاح، والذي أكد أنه ليس سعيدًا بوضعه الحالي مع النادي الإنجليزي وأن علاقته قد انقطعت مع المدرب آرني سلوت.

وأكد تورام خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص باللقاء، والذي نقلته ”lefigaro”، أن إنتر ميلان يعتبر فريقًا صلبًا حقًا في دوري أبطال أوروبا خلال السنوات الأخيرة ومن الصعب أن يتعثر.

وتمكن إنتر ميلان من الوصول إلى نهائيين في آخر ثلاث سنوات من دوري أبطال أوروبا ويعتبر فريق صعب حقًا في المسابقة.

أقرأ أيضًا .. أورنستين يوضح حقيقة رحيل محمد صلاح عن ليفربول في الميركاتو الشتوي

وقال تورام: “إنتر ميلان نادرًا ما يتعثر في دوري أبطال أوروبا في المواسم الأخيرة، منذ انضمامي إلى إنتر حققنا الفوز في مباريات مهمة، في مباراة بهذا الحجم، كل شيء وارد لكن من المؤكد أننا افتقدنا شيئًا ما في المباريات الحاسمة هذا الموسم”.

وأضاف تورام في حديثه: “نعلم ما نحتاجه للتحسن، نادرًا ما يتعثر إنتر ميلان في دوري أبطال أوروبا في المواسم الأخيرة”.

كما تطرق تورام إلى أزمة محمد صلاح مع ليفربول ومستوى الفريق السيئ بشكل عام، حيث أوضح: “الحقيقة هي أنه عندما تظهر الشكوك يريد البطل إظهار قيمته الحقيقية، لم أشاهد مباريات ليفربول هذا العام، صلاح من أفضل لاعبي العالم، لكن ليفربول يضم العديد من اللاعبين الأقوياء، سيحاولون إثبات خطأ ادعاء الجميع بأن هذا هو الوقت المناسب لمواجهتهم”.

واختتم تورام في حديثه: ”قد يعتقد الجميع أن هذا هو الوقت المثالي لمواجهة ليفربول ولكن ربما لا، سنواجه فريقًا قويًا يضم لاعبين مميزين، علينا مواصلة ما قدمناه مؤخرًا بل وتحسينه”.

Several performers against Bangladesh, including Kyle Mayers, retain their place in the side

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2021

Mominul Haque and Kraigg Brathwaite at the toss•BCB

West Indies have named their first Test squad since their captaincy swap, with outgoing leader Jason Holder and Darren Bravo both featuring in the Kraigg Brathwaite-led side.Though they return, the squad announced by Cricket West Indies for the first Test against Sri Lanka also retains several “second-string” players who starred in West Indies’ series win in Bangladesh, including the hero of the first Test, Kyle Mayers. Ten players had pulled out of that tour due to concerns over travelling during the pandemic.Jermaine Blackwood is the vice-captain. The first Test will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium from March 21 to 25.Speaking on the squad, chief selector Roger Harper said: “It is good to be able to put together a Test squad with a number of players coming off very good performances in their last series in Bangladesh. It is a fantastic opportunity to build on the good work that was done in Bangladesh. It is very important to continue the process of working hard, playing with great passion, playing with determination and a great desire to succeed. Doing that consistently will bring us the right results.””A number of players seized the opportunity that the tour of Bangladesh presented and booked a place for themselves in the Test team for this series. This now means that there is keen competition for places which should drive better individual performances and that of the team. I also think that these players are looking forward to displaying their skills on home soil.”Sri Lanka play two Tests in Antigua, with the second Test starting from March 29.West Indies squad: Kraigg Brathwaite (captain), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, John Campbell, Rahkeem Cornwall, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican

“We want to be a side that plays free cricket, not have any baggage of lack of [batting] depth”

Saurabh Somani11-Mar-20211:34

Kohli promises India’s batsmen will play more freely

India are set to embrace a more dynamic approach to their T20I batting, which has tended in the past to blend caution with aggression. The main ingredient that prevented India from being more aggressive in the past, according to captain Virat Kohli, was a lack of batting depth. The squad picked for their five-match T20I series against England has addressed that issue, in Kohli’s view, while also adding several “X-factor” players.”The kind of players we have added into the squad is precisely to give our batting line-up more depth and not play in a similar kind of pattern that we have played with in the past,” Kohli said on Thursday, the eve of the first T20I. “We want to be a side that plays free cricket, not have any baggage of lack of depth and one guy having to bat long enough to make sure we get to a big total.”We have explosive batsmen in the team now, who can change the game at any stage even if you are two or three wickets down. That’s exactly what we’ve tried to address in picking this squad. So this time around, you will see guys a bit more expressive in terms of approaching the innings, and playing more freely. Not worried about whether we have enough batsmen to take care of things if we lose a couple of wickets early, which was the case before to be honest. We didn’t have enough depth in the batting to be able to play freely throughout the first 10 or 12 overs. But I see us being much more positive and free from this period onwards.”Related

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In the past India leaned towards the conservative approach of keeping wickets in hand for a final-overs charge, as against the strategy favoured by teams like England and West Indies (when at full strength), who bat deep and consequently go hard from the start. The presence of players like Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya, alongside allrounders such as Washington Sundar and Axar Patel and newcomers like Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, is likely to free up the top order and allow them to be more expansive.That also means that of the three openers in the squad – Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan – only two can be fitted into the XI, and Kohli said Rohit and Rahul are India’s first-choice options.In the past, India have leaned on their top order to bat deep into T20 innings•BCCI

“If Rohit plays, then it’s quite simple, KL and Rohit have been consistently performing at the top of the order for us and those two would start,” he said. “In a situation where Rohit takes rest or KL has a niggle or something like that, then Shikhi obviously comes in as the third opener. But the starting composition, Rohit and Rahul will be the ones who start.”Earlier, one of the openers or Kohli at No. 3 have tended to take on the anchor’s role, and India haven’t done too badly with that approach. But the evolution of the T20 game has meant it’s time to take the next step. Since 2018, while batting first, India’s run rate while batting first in T20Is is 8.79, behind only England (9.05) and New Zealand (8.87). However, their run-rate during powerplay overs, a key indicator of the strategy adopted by the top order, is 7.99 in this same time-frame, fifth best among the top ten sides.On the other hand, in that same period, India’s batting average of 35.24 is the only one above 30 among the top ten sides. And their powerplay average of 45.95 is the second best overall, behind Australia’s 48.38. Now, with more batting depth, they can trade-off average for run rate – batsmen going harder would typically mean more wickets falling, but also give them a better chance of putting on extra runs.With the firepower of Pant and Pandya available in the middle order, and the added freedom for them of having bowlers who can bat in the lower order – especially when Ravindra Jadeja returns – India have recognised that keeping wickets in hand could be counter-productive.”I think we have played with a certain kind of pattern in the past. We didn’t probably have a big tournament to work towards, but if you look at the squad and the additions we’ve made, we’ve tried to address a few things that we needed in specific: guys who can be X-factors with the bat, do things which are the need of the hour in T20 cricket,” Kohli said. “These guys have done so in the IPL on a regular basis. We have tried to cover all those bases.”Now it’ll be interesting to see how they go about things in these five games because these are the only games we have as a team before the World Cup and we want to see how these guys fare out there in the middle. I feel like the squad right now with what we have, barring Jaddu [Jadeja] who will come back whenever fit, is the squad that I feel is the most balanced in terms of all the options readily available for us to take on the field as and when we want.”