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Many Everton fans have been left slamming Mason Holgate as some transfer news emerged on his future this week.

As per The Liverpool Echo, both Brighton and Hove Albion and Norwich City made tentative enquiries about the possibility of signing the central defender in the summer transfer window, but it was made clear that he wanted to stay and regain a place in the starting eleven.

However, he has only managed to play in a mere four games in total over all competitions so far this season, with only two of those coming in the Premier League (Transfermarkt).

Holgate has recently said himself that his displays last season were not up to scratch (The Liverpool Echo), and with the January window coming up, a lot of Toffees supporters feel as if his time is now up at Goodison Park.

Everton fans on Holgate transfer news

These Blues slammed Holgate as the transfer news was shared on Twitter, with one EFC fan even going as far as to claim that he is a ‘liability’, averaging just a 66 per cent pass accuracy in the top flight this term:

“He didn’t kick on last season when I hoped he would do after the end to the season before when he played very well. I think the time is right for him to move on. He’s 25 and can’t see him improving significantly enough to improve our squad.”

Credit: @Toffee84Tim

“He was a liability last season… blew his chance. Not good enough.”

Credit: @MarkPhillipson

“Not. Good. Enough”

Credit: @shaun00012

“He could help Norwich get relegated”

Credit: @timjenkinson28

“No chance…if Keane and Godfrey are Sunday league then Holgate is schools league, sorry he just ain’t good enough either.”

Credit: @davemc45

“No way lad he’s absolutely garbage proved year in year out.”

Credit: @Sean1878Lowe

In other news, find out what transfer update has Evertonians talking here!

Shoaib Malik has said he is ready to take on the role of an opener in the upcoming Champions Trophy, but insisted he didn’t want the position to be a makeshift one

Cricinfo staff16-Sep-2009Shoaib Malik has said he is ready to take on the role of an opener in the upcoming Champions Trophy, but insisted he didn’t want the position to be a makeshift one. Pakistan have included one specialist opener in the squad, Imran Nazir, and are likely to employ Malik or wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal as the other opener. “I have no problems opening the innings,” Malik told reporters in Karachi. “I have done it before. But I don’t want to be tried in this position for just two or three matches. I want to be given a proper chance for 10 to 12 matches.”Malik, who’s played 181 ODIs, has opened the innings in 15 games, averaging 37.35 with two centuries and a fifty. He’s opened just once this year. However, he added that to be considered a specialist opener, he had to be given an extended run to prove himself. “If I get to open in 10 to 12 matches then I can prove myself,” he said. “I will feel comfortable in the role and I can carry on opening the innings in the future also.”Malik has had a poor time in ODIs in 2009, managing just one half-century in 11 games with an average of 21.44. He had a miserable tour of Sri Lanka, averaging seven in three matches. However, he dismissed any doubts over his place in the Pakistan side. “I struggled a bit in Sri Lanka but I am not out of form and I am confident of doing well in the Champions Trophy,” he said. “I am well accustomed to the conditions in South Africa.”South African conditions are conducive to pace bowling, but Malik singled out batting as the key if Pakistan are to win the tournament. He has a fairly good record in South Africa, averaging 77.50 in five games with one half-century. “I know pace bowlers will have an important role to play in the tournament because of the conditions,” he said. “But I know from experience that the batting is the most important thing while playing in South Africa. If our batting clicks we can win the competition.”The team whose batsmen adjust well to the conditions in South Africa will fare well. I don’t think they are any starting favourites in the tournament which is wide open as all teams are equally balanced.”Pakistan’s only success this year came in the ICC World Twenty20, but their performance in ODIs has been disappointing: they’ve lost all three ODI series they’ve played. However, when asked if the lack of international cricket and the unfavourable results would be a factor for Pakistan in the Champions Trophy, Malik said: “I don’t think so, because we are professionals and we have been training hard. The Sri Lanka tour was a long and hard one and we are prepared for the Champions Trophy challenge.”Pakistan end their training camp in Karachi on Wednesday, and leave for Johannesburg on Thursday.

The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards has dropped a brief two-word update on Newcastle United’s managerial pursuit of Paulo Fonseca.

What’s the story?

After initially seemingly like Villareal boss Unai Emery would be lured away from Spain to take the helm at St James’ Park, the former Arsenal manager revealed he would be staying put in his home country earlier on Wednesday.

And now, following a question from a fan on Twitter about whether the Magpies would turn their attentions back towards Fonseca, Edwards simply said a move for Fonseca now is “very unlikely”.

Fans will be fuming

Talk about making a complete mess of things.

After dilly-dallying over removing Steve Bruce as manager, the Magpies’ new owners appeared to have fumbled the bag with what appeared to be their leading contender for the job in Emery.

In Fonseca though, they would have got someone with similarly extensive experience of managing top clubs in European competition, not least with the likes of Shakhtar Donetsk and AS Roma most recently.

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A profile from The Shields Gazette revealed: “Fonseca is renowned for a high-pressing and attacking style of football. Often favouring a 4-2-3-1 or a 3-4-2-1 formation, Fonseca’s philosophy revolves around intense pressing and swift and dynamic attacks when they win the ball back.

“The 48 year-old also likes his teams to play out from the back and with an entertaining brand of football on offer, this could be an exciting appointment for Newcastle United supporters.”

Indeed, Fonseca himself has previously gone on record to say: “My coaching philosophy? Well, I have very clear ideas – ideas I think you can see in my teams. That involves having the ball, taking the initiative and being an offensive team. These are the aspects that define my game and my aim in matches.”

A move for Fonseca would have been a superb back-up option given his credentials, but Edwards’ latest update on him is sure to have Magpies fans fuming not only at missing out on another potential manager, but what this whole saga has now turned into.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are interested in this European star…

Shane Watson will not be locked in as a long-term Test opener despite performing solidly in the role during the Ashes, according to Australia’s chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch

Cricinfo staff10-Oct-2009Shane Watson will not be locked in as a long-term Test opener despite performing solidly in the role during the Ashes, according to Australia’s chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch. Watson is the incumbent alongside Simon Katich but Hilditch has declared Phillip Hughes will likely be recalled once back to his best form.Watson replaced the axed Hughes after two Ashes Tests and finished with three half-centuries from five innings. However, despite averaging 48 in the Test opening role, Watson will not be asked to open the batting for New South Wales ahead of Australia’s Test summer.It is possible that the Blues’ Sheffield Shield openers will be Hughes and Phil Jaques, while the current Test openers Watson and Katich could bat down the order. Hilditch believes Watson’s best option is to retain his versatility rather than committing to becoming a specialist opener.”That’s how he got on the Ashes [tour],” Hilditch said. “We saw someone who could bat from one to six, which we wanted on the tour.”I think he’d be well placed to stay pretty flexible. I wouldn’t be saying he should open in Shield cricket even. He’s shown he can go from a lower-order position to opening the batting in the Ashes without too much trouble.”It is unclear who would make way should Watson be bumped down into a middle-order containing Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Marcus North. However, the selectors are keen to see Hughes back in the Test side after making the tough call to drop him following two disappointing Ashes Tests.”Phil is a really talented young man,” Hilditch said. “It was a terrible call to have to drop him during the Ashes series. Probably in any other series we would’ve been more supportive of a young player – but we just needed to make a change at that particular moment.”It was a right decision but for him it was very disappointing. Our view is we still see him as part of our future, and we’ll probably look to reintroduce him once he’s back to form.”Australia’s first Test of the summer begins on November 26, against West Indies at the Gabba. However, due to New South Wales’ participation in the Champions League Twenty20, their players will have only two Sheffield Shield matches to prove their form ahead of the first Test.

A new Test summer starts on Thursday but for the Australians it is impossible to stop thinking about what is coming up next year. Like the long car journey before the holiday, the destination is what Ricky Ponting’s players are thinking of as they wait to

Peter English23-Nov-2009A new Test summer starts on Thursday but for the Australians it is impossible to stop thinking about what is coming up next year. Like the long car journey before the holiday, the destination is what Ricky Ponting’s players are thinking of as they wait to attempt revenge on England.While Australia have won two one-day series and lifted the Champions Trophy since the Ashes ended in a flood of bunting in August, it is the second loss of the urn at The Oval that will drive them during home affairs against West Indies and Pakistan. Michael Clarke, the vice-captain, was part of both defeats in England and said the most recent one was still painful.”Until they get out here and we beat them,” he said. “Of course it does [hurt]. It’s important we focus solely on what’s in front of us, personally and as a team. It’s important you do make sure you’re 100% prepared to play against whatever opposition it is. We’ve got about 10 Tests before England are back out here, but it’s important we’re playing our best cricket now against a team that has a lot of very good individuals, and we are playing well leading up to the Ashes in 12 months.”Four years ago Australia ran into West Indies after defeat in England, sweeping them aside with a 3-0 result and soon starting a record-equalling 16-match winning streak. Ponting’s side has changed significantly since then and if they go through this summer undefeated in the six Tests it will be a worthy triumph.West Indies, a side reconvening after a damaging strike, mix some outstanding players with a batch of relative unknowns. “[Chris] Gayle, [Dwayne] Bravo, [Ramnaresh] Sarwan, [Shivnarine] Chanderpaul, they’ve got a lot of good individuals,” Clarke said. “Taylor is a very good bowler. I’ve faced him a fair bit, last time in the West Indies and I’ve played a few one-dayers against him. Young [Kemar] Roach looks like he bowls real good pace as well.”As the Queenslanders found out in last week’s tour game, Roach is not someone who should be hooked early. “I’ll be ducking, I think,” Clarke said. “If I’ve got time to duck.”The last time West Indies toured Clarke didn’t finish the series after being dropped in Hobart and told by the selectors to tone down his dashing strokeplay. It’s highly unlikely Clarke would hook or pull before he is 20 – or even 50 – under his current method, unlike in those wonderful days in his first year when he was a fearless shot-maker. Chats with Trevor Hohns, the former chairman of selectors, were often life-changing.His hundreds in Bangalore and at the Gabba were amazing, but young boys learn they have to curb instinct to survive in an adult world. Clarke now averages 49.35 after 52 Tests, is Australia’s deputy, and if his back holds up will be captaining his country when Ricky Ponting retires. The degenerative problem that forced him out for two months has held up through three games in a week and he is confident it can be managed through the rest of his career.Clarke had that problem the last time West Indies were here, but everything else seems to have altered. “Four years is a long time,” Clarke said. “A lot of things have changed, my game has improved, shot selection has improved, I’ve learned how I play best more, worked out more, grown up and matured from a 24-year-old to a 28-year-old. That’s life, not cricket.”Consistency keeps players in the Test side and Clarke has become Australia’s most reliable, scoring a sensible century or half-century in four of the five 2009 Ashes Tests. Until the tour of South Africa this year, the last time he had played in a Test series and not scored a century was in Bangladesh in April 2006. It means the days like the one where he skipped to 141 against New Zealand, bringing his hundred up with a pull for four and then heading straight to lunch, are a pleasant memory.”That’s the thing, if I play like that, that’s probably why I got dropped,” he said. “You have your day in the sun sometimes then miss out five times.”

Many Everton fans have been left reacting to some news on Head of Medical Danny Donachie.

As per The Athletic, he has now left Goodison Park after Rafael Benitez led a review of the injuries suffered to key players while he has been in charge.

The Merseyside club are currently missing Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Andre Gomes, Yerry Mina and Abdoulaye Doucoure through various injury problems, and it is ‘unknown’ when the England striker will return (evertonfc.com).

It is certainly starting to take its toll on the pitch, as the Toffees have not won a game since September and have recorded three losses in their last five matches (evertonfc.com).

The news had a lot of supporters talking, with some not surprised that Donachie has left, while others felt as if it was the right decision given the spate of injuries at the club on his watch.

Everton fans on Donachie news

These Toffees fans gave some decidedly mixed reactions as the news was shared on Twitter, with one Evertonian claiming that it was ‘interesting’:

“Wow”

Credit: @COYB224

“Interesting”

Credit: @Thomas33466234

“It’s been a long time coming but the draining of the swamp finally begins. Too many charlatans have got off with a free pass within the club for too long now and we need a manager who is going to lead the cull”

Credit: @bluesofgoodison

“Not surprised in Rafa making a few changes, more players get injured at Finch Farm than actually playing in the Premier League games.”

Credit: @tomperry51

“Maybe we can field a proper first team back end of this season”

Credit: @Hauswerks

“NSNO”

Credit: @otrochris

In other news, find out what Lucas Digne revelation has left these Toffees fans fuming

Wolves are having a good start to their Premier League season so far, currently sitting eighth in the table and hoping to take three points today from West Ham which could see them moving above Manchester United.

Bruno Lage has many attacking options at Molineux, all with individual qualities which have helped the team to take five wins from their first 11 games of the season. However with the sheer amount of attackers at his disposal, it’s impossible to play everyone at once.

Adama Traore is one player who has taken a hit when it comes to game-time in Lage’s side, benched for four of the last six fixtures. The 25-year-old winger has had to share his place with Francisco Trincao and Daniel Podence this season.

The £27m-rated Spain international spoke out this week after he was ranked the number one dribbler in Europe in a study by CIES Football Observatory. He said: “I’m proud of that. If I’m the number one dribbler in Europe, it’s because I’m having chances too. I have to be the best that I can be, and if I take the chances I have, I can be the player I want to be in the future.

“This is my mentality, fulfilling that. If you see last season, I was not having the chances that I’ve had this season. But this is my mentality, to grow as a player each day, and then this season now, I’m having more chances close to the goalie and I hope, soon, the ball is going to be hitting the net.”

Lage must unleash the winger, who was once dubbed “unplayable” by Jurgen Klopp, against West Ham today as he would terrify their defenders with not only his proven dribbling abilities, but his forceful and direct attacking approach which sets him apart from many wingers in the Premier League.

These attacking qualities are obviously the reason that many top clubs have taken an interest in the winger, including Liverpool and Barcelona. Lage will need to give Traore game-time and convince him that he is in the 45-year-old’s plans to hold onto him next season.

Wolves will host an impressive and in-form West Ham side at Molineux today and it could be the perfect challenge for Traore to make an impact and try to secure a regular starting place in the team.

In other news: Here is our predicted XI for the West Ham clash

Greg Chappell has delivered a blunt message to cricket’s administrators: Test cricket is under threat from Twenty20 and something must be done to save the traditional form of the game

Brydon Coverdale19-Nov-2009Greg Chappell has delivered a blunt message to cricket’s administrators: Test cricket is under threat from Twenty20 and something must be done to save the traditional form of the game. Chappell believes the situation is so severe that there could come a time when only four or five nations play Test cricket, with the weaker countries focusing purely on 20- and 50-over games.The former Australia captain and India coach was in Melbourne on Thursday to deliver the annual Bradman Oration on the state of the game and he painted a worrying picture for the five-day format. He said while iconic tours like the Ashes retained their importance, many other series had lost relevance and administrators should focus on the quality of cricket played, rather than the quantity.”I’m of the belief that we can support the three formats but obviously we have to give a very long and hard think about how best they work together,” Chappell said. “I have a belief that we need to make each series, whether it’s 20-, 50-over or a Test match series, a lot more relevant.”I think the format that is under most pressure with 20-over cricket coming in is Test cricket. It has been struggling for some time. Economically, some countries find it very difficult to be competitive and therefore it affects economically the viability of Test series between some countries.”I have a feeling that Test cricket is going to reduce in size rather than grow in size. I can see the time when perhaps there will only be four or five major countries playing Test match cricket. It’s another reason why I think 50-over cricket needs to be supported and given a rethink because 50-over cricket could well become the Test cricket of the future for a lot of cricket playing countries.”There are only probably four or five countries that have the critical mass and have the infrastructure that will allow them to produce competitive Test match teams on a regular basis. That is a problem. That’s been exacerbated by the success of 20-over cricket.”

“I can see the time when perhaps there will only be four or five major countries playing Test match cricket”Greg Chappell

The prospect of separate divisions in Test cricket, which might help ensure matches are closely fought, was not an idea that sat well with Chappell. However, he believed that the introduction of day-night Tests, which appears to be a certainty when a suitable ball is developed, could help regenerate interest in the five-day format.”If you want people to come, then obviously you have to fit into their lives, not hope that they will fit into the life of cricket,” Chappell said. “I have no doubt that in the not too distant future we will see Test cricket played under lights and played at night time when it’s easier for people to come.”Chappell’s comments have come at a time when the ICC is considering ways to keep the public interested in Test cricket. An MCC survey recently found that only 7% of cricket followers in India regarded Test cricket as their preferred form of the game, while ticket sales for Australia’s SCG and MCG Tests against Pakistan this summer are 20% down on the Tests at the same venue last season.

After winning three of their four previous Premier League games prior to their international break, Southampton have a great chance to get back to where they left off with a match against Norwich City, who have only won one game in the league this season, next up for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side at the weekend.

Looking ahead to the match at Carrow Road, it seems as though the Saints have been handed a major squad boost just in time for the clash against the Canaries that will surely have a lot of Southampton fans buzzing given the various player’s importance to the squad.

What’s the news?

It has recently been reported by Hampshire Live that Valentino Livramento, Armando Broja, and Nathan Redmond have all returned to training after previously being doubts to feature in the match.

Presuming that all three will be fit enough for selection by Saturday, this will be a big boost for Hasenhuttl when it comes to choosing his starting XI to take on Dean Smith’s side.

With Livramento, who dropped out of the England U21 squad last week through injury, the fact that he has played 90 minutes in all but one of Southampton’s league games so far this season with one goal and one assist under his belt shows just how important he has been for the team and suggests that he will be in the starting XI at the weekend if he’s fit.

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Even though Broja, who has struggled with an ankle injury in recent weeks, managed to score his first two goals for the Saints in their games against Leeds United and Burnley back in October, the fact that Che Adams and Adam Armstrong have both found the back of the net since then could give Hasenhuttl a tough decision over who he plays up front against Norwich. That would hand the manager a rare selection dilemma, but one he’ll be delighted to have.

Then with Redmond, who missed Southampton’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa after testing positive for the pandemic, even though he’s yet to score in the league this season, the fact that he has provided two assists and started seven of their 11 league games shows that he is an important figure for Hasenhuttl.

Taking all of this into account, only time will tell if the trio will all start against Norwich or not, but Hasenhuttl will definitely be glad to have them back in training rather than out on the sidelines to give him more options across the pitch.

In other news: Ralph must ruthlessly axe £60k-p/w “nice guy” at Southampton, he’s their weak link – opinion

The PCB hopes the task force set up by the ICC would help revive its international cricketing reputation, which has been battered by security fears

Cricinfo staff03-Dec-2009The PCB hopes the task force set up by the ICC would help revive its international cricketing reputation, which has been battered by security fears. Earlier this year, the ICC established the task force to ensure that Pakistan would host international cricket in the future, security conditions permitting. The PCB was initially reluctant to accept the help of the task force when the idea was floated in February, but was now pinning its hopes of recovery on the efforts of the game’s governing body.”Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, will be apprising the task force about the issues being faced in our cricket and hopes that through the efforts of the task force, the best possible solutions can be worked out for Pakistan,” a release from the board said. “The efforts of David Morgan [the ICC president], Giles Clarke [the England and Wales Cricket Board chairman] and the other members are greatly appreciated by the PCB at a time when Pakistan cricket is facing its toughest challenges.”The task force, which will convene in Dubai on Friday and Saturday, is headed by Clarke and includes ICC general manager cricket Dave Richardson, former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja, former England captain Mike Brearley, and former Sri Lankan captain Ranjan Madugalle among its other members.Several countries have refused to tour Pakistan due to security fears. Cricket in the country was dealt a severe blow when the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked in Lahore in March this year, killing eight people and injuring five visiting players. The 2009 Champions Trophy was moved out of Pakistan to South Africa, while the country lost its share of 2011 World Cup matches later.