A round-up of the Under-19 World Cup matches that took place on January 28, 2020
ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jan-2020 ScorecardSixteen-year old Emannuel Bawa must have had one of the sweetest experiences of his career on Tuesday. To score a century from No. 7 – with the team in deep trouble at 54 for 5 – and for it to end up match-winning too had to make him feel like he was on top of the world.Zimbabwe, at one point, were in very real danger of going down to Canada in Potchefstroom, but their lower-middle order showed great steel. The No. 5 Taurayi Tugwete hit a 50 off 75 balls and even the No. 9 Gareth Chirawu wouldn’t give his wicket away cheaply, cracking 54 unbeaten runs off only 45 deliveries. Bawa, though, was the star of the show, arriving to the crease in the 16th over and remaining unbeaten, with 13 fours and a strike-rate of 110.Canada suffered a similar batting malfunction, slumping to 69 for 5 in the 21st over, but they could find no one to rescue their innings as Chirawu, Sakhumuzi Ndlela and Nkosilathi Nungu picked up two wickets each.Uzzair Shah flicks•ICC via Getty ScorecardOsama Hassan produced a fine half-century from the lower order for UAE but his 81 off 68 balls did little to prevent defeat in the fourth quarter-final of the plate group in the Under-19 World Cup. Scotland cruised to victory with seven wickets to spare thanks to opener Uzzair Shah’s nearly run-a-ball 71 and wicketkeeper Tomas Mackintosh’s better than run-a-ball 57.UAE began the game in decent position. They were 129 for 3 in the 30th over after being put in to bat, eying up a strong total. But Daniel Cairns’ offspin triggered a middle-overs collapse where they lost four wickets for 35 runs. Hassan continued to fight though, hitting seven fours and a six during the course of his innings and was the last man out in the 49th over.Shah took centre stage after that, helping Scotland wallop 176 runs by the 27th over before he was finally dismissed, by which time the contest was pretty much done.
West Ham United signing Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah is a possibility this summer as the Gunners make a behind-the-scenes decision.
West Ham need to bring in new centre-forward
One of the glaring holes in manager David Moyes' squad is arguably a real lack of star striking options.
Sky Sports – West Ham chasing £17m forward likened to Marco Reus
The east Londoners need more attacking options.
ByEmilio Galantini Mar 14, 2024
The Hammers failed to bring in a new striker in January, despite their numerous failed attempts (Graeme Bailey), and that has left them with just Michail Antonio and Danny Ings to choose from after Gianluca Scamacca's move back to Italy last year.
If Moyes does indeed remain in east London past this summer, with his contract expiring soon as things stand, then it's quite simply a necessity that West Ham back him with a prolific new forward.
David Moyes.
Antonio suffers from reoccurring injury problems and isn't getting any younger, while Ings' stay in east London hasn't exactly pulled up trees despite his more regular spot in Moyes' squad in recent months.
West Ham are being tipped to sign a new striker in the next transfer window, leading to their reported interest in Nketiah. The Gunners forward, who has made the vast majority of his appearances off the bench this season, hasn't quite managed to become a fixture of Mikel Arteta's starting eleven.
West Ham are among the suitors for Nketiah, who's scored five league goals this season, and it would appear his future in north London is looking pretty far away.
Arsenal make Nketiah decision as West Ham given transfer hope
Writing on X, journalist Graeme Bailey claims that Arsenal are ready to sell Nketiah as West Ham eye a summer move for him.
The Englishman could apparently cost around £43 million to prise away from Arsenal, which is a pretty steep price considering his lack of both game time and output over 2023/2024.
“One of the best athletes we’ve got on our books in terms of his attitude and commitment,” said Athletic Development Club director Chris Varnavas to ESPN via talkSPORT.
“He’s just on another level. His goal was to build a bit of muscle, build some strength, improving his overall athleticism so his strength, his speed, his power
“We sat down with the family, with himself, we put a plan together.
Arsenal 5-0 Sheffield United
9.86
Bournemouth 0-4 Arsenal
7.92
Arsenal 2-1 Nottingham Forest
7.66
Crystal Palace 0-1 Arsenal
7.00
Arsenal 2-2 Fulham
6.96
“What we do in the gym, can we transfer it to the pitch? That’s the most important thing. As you saw the other day he had a good amount of strength to hold off the defender but also be agile enough to turn efficiently and score an amazing goal as well.
“I’m really happy for his progress so far and the opportunity he’s been given at the moment too and I definitely can see him staying at the highest level."
Folarin Balogun has been given VIP treatment by MLS, with the USMNT ace enjoying seats on halfway and free food when attending an Atlanta United game.
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Monaco striker enjoying summer break
Failed to inspire during Copa campaign
Watching domestic action in the States
Getty
WHAT HAPPENED?
The 23-year-old striker is currently enjoying a summer break. He was involved with the United States in their 2024 Copa America campaign, which finished in abject failure on the back of a group stage exit – leading to Gregg Berhalter being relieved of his coaching duties.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Balogun is not yet expected back at club side Monaco, with the Ligue 1 giants allowing him to relax and unwind after international commitments. New York-born Balogun is enjoying some free time in the U.S. and has made a point of passing through Georgia.
DID YOU KNOW?
Atlanta United got the red carpet out for Balogun when welcoming him to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. He was treated to some of the best seats in the house, which offered a perfect view of the field, while also being given something to satisfy any hunger pangs.
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WHAT NEXT?
Balogun proved to be a good luck charm for the hosts, as they came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Crew courtesy of a brace from Norwegian defender Stian Rode Gregersen. Monaco have already been in friendly action this month and will be delighted to get Balogun back, as they look for him to kick on from a testing campaign with them in 2023-24 that delivered just eight goals in all competitions.
Oman were well ahead in the chase before Namibia’s spinners began a dramatic collapse
Peter Della Penna in Dubai29-Oct-2019″Not again”. That’s what Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus said was going through his mind as Khawar Ali was torching his bowlers to take Oman to 55 for 1 after five overs chasing a target of 162. Namibia have gone through more heartbreaks than most teams at the T20 World Cup Qualifier, failing in five qualification playoff matches spread across 2012, 2013 and 2015. That sense of déjà vu was especially present for Erasmus for he was in the XI when Oman upset Namibia four years ago at Malahide chasing 149 to clinch a place at the 2016 T20 World Cup in India.This time Bernard Scholtz’s introduction in the seventh over sparked a stunning fightback as Oman lost 6 for 32 to the left-right spin tandem of Scholtz and Erasmus to help Namibia secure a 54-run win and their first ever trip to the T20 World Cup. JJ Smit was named Man of the Match for his stirring counterattack in the first innings, blitzing a 20-ball half-century before taking two wickets at the end to clinch victory, Namibia’s fifth straight after starting the tournament with back-to-back losses.After overcoming the loss of Jatinder Singh, caught at deep square leg on the second ball of the chase, Ali had been toying with the Namibian pace bowling unit through the rest of the powerplay and took a special liking to Christi Viljoen. Ali drove, pulled and cut him for a trio of fours to start the second over, then pulled him over midwicket and drove him over long-on for a pair of sixes in the fifth.But the wheels came off in the Oman chase upon the arrival of Scholtz. Aqib Ilyas tried to slog sweep the first ball he saw against the spinner and missed, struck on the back leg in front of middle for a straightforward lbw decision to end a 57-run stand. Despite being well ahead of Namibia’s position – they had ended their own powerplay at 36 for 3 – Scholtz and Erasmus seized on Oman’s batting hubris to run amok through the middle order.Captain Zeeshan Maqsood was out sixth ball lofting a drive to long-off in the eighth off Erasmus. Ali charged impetuously at Scholtz four balls later to be out stumped for 41 off 25. Suraj Kumar produced a reckless heave first ball and was fortunate to be spilled by Smit on a straightforward chance at long-on, but refused to adjust his approach and slog swept Erasmus to Jan Frylinck at deep midwicket for 6 in the 12th. Kaleem swatted Scholtz to Frylinck at cow corner for 13 five balls later before Sandeep Goud skied a slog over mid-on for Erasmus to circle back for a sharp over-the-shoulder catch to complete a shocking and in some ways self-inflicted collapse.Smit came back for a late spell to claim Khurram Nawaz with a full delivery in front of middle stump for a leg before decision and then induced a skier to backward point on the first ball of the 20th taken by JP Kotze to end the match.As pivotal as Scholtz’s spell was, there was no doubt that 23-year-old allrounder Smit would be Man of the Match for rallying Namibia with the bat. Erasmus looked like he may have made the same mistake as UAE earlier in the day by choosing to bat first as Namibia found themselves at 82 for 5 in 14 overs. Outside of Niko Davin’s brief flurry in the powerplay, the rest of the top and middle order failed as Oman took command.However, Smit and Craig Williams plundered 67 in a four-over sequence from the 15th through the 18th that turned the match upside down. Smit savaged Oman’s spinners in particular, driving Kaleem’s left-arm spin over long-off and extra cover for a pair of sixes in the 16th, then drove Ali’s legspin almost out of the stadium into the top row of the second tier over long-off to bring up his half-century at a strike rate of 250. One ball later he swatted Ali over wide long-on for six more to leave Oman shellshocked.Bilal Khan dismissed both Williams and Smit off a pair of full tosses in the 19th, adding to two exceptional deliveries in his opening two overs that claimed Stephen Baard at short midwicket on the first ball of the match and a nipbacker to bowl Kotze in the third. Namibia only added 12 runs off the final two overs as a result, but Khan’s spell went to waste.Namibia advance to the semi-finals where they will take on Papua New Guinea on Friday night. Oman get a second crack at claiming one of the final two berths at the T20 World Cup when they take on Hong Kong on Wednesday night in an elimination playoff.
England’s wicketkeeper steps down after long-term battle with anxiety issues
Andrew Miller27-Sep-2019Sarah Taylor, one of the most talented wicketkeepers in the history of the game, has announced her retirement from international cricket, having struggled in recent years with a long-term anxiety issue.Taylor, 30, made her England debut as a 17-year-old in 2006, and went on to make 226 appearances all told. Her tally of 6,533 international runs places her second on England Women’s all-time list of run-scorers, behind her long-term captain, Charlotte Edwards.In the course of her career, Taylor played key roles in some of England Women’s most memorable triumphs, including the World Cup and World T20 triumphs in 2009, and the unforgettable home World Cup win in 2017, in which she produced key innings of 54 and 45 in England’s semi-final and final victories over South Africa and India respectively.However, Taylor will undoubtedly be remembered primarily for her work behind the stumps. Her tally of 232 dismissals across formats is a record for women’s internationals, but the style and skill of many of her takes have marked her out as one of the most naturally gifted wicketkeepers of any gender and any era.The speed of her glovework was matched by her instinct for where the ball was going, not least when pulling off leg-side stumpings, a mode of dismissal which became her trademark when standing up to England’s seamers.But in recent years Taylor’s anxiety has affected her ability to enjoy the game, and having taken an extended break after England’s semi-final defeat at the World T20 in India in 2016, her appearances had been carefully managed – with her belated recall for the 2017 World Cup offset by her absence from last year’s World T20 in the Caribbean.”This has been a tough decision but I know it’s the right one,” said Taylor. “For me and for my health moving forward. I can’t thank my team-mates enough, both past and present, and the ECB for being supporters and friends along my journey.ALSO READ: Taylor interview: ‘I couldn’t handle being the best because the only way was down'”Playing for England and getting to wear the shirt for so long has been a dream come true and I have been blessed with so many great moments throughout my career. From making my debut in 2006, to Ashes wins, and of course the World Cup final at Lord’s, to name just a few.”I’ve also been blessed with travelling the world and making lifelong friends along the way.”Taylor’s final international appearance came during this summer’s drawn Ashes Test at Taunton, when she scored 5 in her solitary innings before withdrawing from the T20 leg of the series to manage her anxiety issues.England’s disappointing showing in the Ashes – they lost the points-based series 14-4, with a solitary win in the seven matches – led to the resignation of Mark Robinson, the hugely respected head coach who had been so integral in helping Taylor balance her priorities in overcoming her anxiety.Nevertheless, Taylor’s integral role in helping to grow the profile of women’s cricket, not least through her unique and stylish talents, cannot be understated.”To be right in the thick of women’s cricket as it’s gone from strength to strength – not only in England, but across the world – has been an amazing experience,” she said, “and I can look back on what women’s cricket has achieved with great pride at playing some small part in it.”The England girls are role models on and off the field, and they have undoubtedly inspired – and will continue to inspire – so many young people to take up the game, girls and boys. I can’t wait to see the heights that this team can reach.”I am extremely proud of my career. I leave with my head held high and with excitement for what my future holds and what my next chapter brings.”Clare Connor, ECB Managing Director of Women’s Cricket, said: “Sarah can be immensely proud of everything she has achieved in an England shirt, and of everything she has done for the women’s game.”She is someone that young people can look up to, for her achievements and talent on the pitch – but also for her bravery and resilience off it. She has come through significant adversity and performed on the world stage for her country.”We are very grateful to Sarah for her contributions to English cricket over the last 13 years. She has become a powerful voice within women’s sport and I’m sure she will make a success of the next stage of her professional life. We all wish her the very best.”
Ashley Giles says he ‘encouraged’ spinner not to turn his back on playing Tests in future
Andrew Miller20-Sep-2019Moeen Ali will miss England’s two Tests in New Zealand in November, and may also be omitted from the red-ball leg of the South Africa tour in December and January, after requesting a break from Test cricket in the wake of a gruelling English season.The news came as Moeen was omitted from England’s list of centrally contracted Test players for the 12 months to September 2020, which was announced on Friday at Lord’s by England’s director of cricket, Ashley Giles.Although he retains his white-ball contract, and will be a central part of England’s plans for the World T20 in Australia next year, this was the first time since 2014-15, the year of his England debut, that Moeen had been overlooked for the top tier of ECB contracts – a run that reflects the amount of international cricket, 186 matches in all formats, that he had been playing in the preceding five years.”It’s just to get away from it a little bit. I feel like I want to enjoy my batting and this will give me a bit of a break,” Moeen told ESPNcricinfo on the eve of T20 Finals Day at Edgbaston, where he is hoping to captain Worcestershire to back-to-back titles in the Vitality Blast.”I want to spend some time with the family. I’ve been playing for England for five years and it’s been quite tough. The intensity is obviously higher in Test cricket so this is just to give me a break and then we will see what happens after that.”I’m not ruling out playing Test cricket in the future. I’ve had long chats and thought about it quite a lot. I just want to give myself a bit of time to refresh my batteries and see where it goes after that.”Speaking at Lord’s, Giles was equally keen to stress that Moeen’s decision did not spell the end of his 60-Test career – a period in which he has claimed 181 wickets, second only to Graeme Swann among English spinners this century.However, Giles did indicate that Test retirement had been discussed during their conversations, as Moeen came to terms with a disappointing summer in which he was dropped after England’s defeat in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, having already lost his starting berth in the World Cup-winning team.”For all the guys, not just Moeen, it’s been a really challenging summer,” Giles said. “A World Cup and an Ashes back-to-back has had a massive effect on many of these guys psychologically, as much as physically. And some of those guys are still carrying [those issues], one of them being Moeen.”His experience in the first [Ashes] Test wasn’t a great one, but that’s cricket. He’s has been a great servant for his team. And that’s why I encouraged him to leave that option open to come back. He might just need to go away and freshen up. But he’s been a really good servant for this team. And he’s still relatively young.”England are due to tour Sri Lanka for two Tests in March and April, a country where Moeen last year claimed 18 wickets at 24.50 as part of a successful three-spinner attack, and that could, in theory, be an obvious time for him to return to the fray.However, with Jack Leach established as England’s first-choice spinner and with a new coach likely to be in place by that date, Moeen’s decision to step back from Test cricket comes with obvious risk – especially at a time when England have signalled their intention to redouble their focus on the format after a four-year cycle in which it played second fiddle to the needs of the white-ball squad.”The two Tests in New Zealand are not part of the World Test Championship, but actually they form a really important part of the build-up process to South Africa, which is a series that we’ve got to go and win,” said Giles. “And New Zealand are a strong team. We are not going there lightly, so we’ve got to be ready.”Moeen Ali was dropped for the Lord’s Test after a tough time at Edgbaston•Getty ImagesA further consideration for Moeen is that the Sri Lanka tour falls close to the start of the 2020 IPL, a tournament for which he has a lucrative contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore. While Giles insisted that Moeen’s decision would not be solely driven by any desire to play a full part in RCB’s campaign, he was adamant that the rewards of the tournament were not merely financial – as shown by the big-game experience that many of England’s 50-over stars were able to lean upon in key moments of the World Cup.”It is going to be very difficult for us to stop players going [to the IPL] without risking losing them,” Giles said. “We’ve got to accept that and manage our players outside that. They have to be reasonable in accepting we are making space for them, because their main duty is to represent England. But that window [in the schedule] is left open for them for a reason.”Giles acknowledged, too, that the incredible demands placed on England’s cricketers in the summer to end all summers were unsustainable, and that the board had a duty of care towards Moeen, and others who have struggled with the team’s multiple ambitions.”These are extraordinary circumstances, and some players deal with it better than others,” he said. “Some players are in different cycles of their own game, and where they are in terms of confidence – look at where [Ben] Stokes has been all summer compared to Moeen – but we’re going to support these guys to come back into the side. Our whole system has got to be better at picking them up and making sure that they’re better prepared for the rigours.”He conceded, too, that England’s achievement in drawing the Ashes with a memorable victory in the fifth Test at The Oval was a credit to the character of a team that “really ran through the line” for themselves and for their captain, Joe Root.”The players all suffered in different ways really,” said Giles. “But I have to say great credit to every one of them. It would have been easy to roll over and just give in. But they saw it right through, and if you started the summer and offered us a World Cup win and a drawn Ashes series, we probably would have taken it.”‘Neglected’ might be a strong word, but for the last four years, we know we focused primarily on white-ball cricket, and Joe has done a great job in challenging circumstances. And when a team runs through the line like they did for him this year, I think that’s great credit to him.”I said to Joe before Headingley, and this wasn’t a case of taking any eyes off the ball, that if we won this series, it would have been a fantastic effort. But it would have been more on pure performance than anything else.”Additional reporting by Paul Edwards.
John Campbell, Roston Chase and Keemo Paul have been recalled for the three-match series
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jul-2019Chris Gayle has found a place in West Indies’ squad for their ODI series against India. Gayle, who had announced in February that he would retire from ODIs after the World Cup, made a U-turn during the tournament, stating that he would “definitely” play the ODI series against India. The selectors have granted him his wish.Gayle is 12 runs short of Brian Lara’s tally of 10,405 ODI runs, the most by a West Indian batsman, and will get the chance to break the record.Opening batsman John Campbell and allrounders Roston Chase and Keemo Paul, meanwhile, have returned to the 14-member ODI squad. Campbell, Chase and Paul were part of West Indies’ squad for the tri-series in Ireland that preceded the World Cup, but did not make the cut for the big event.Campbell was particularly unlucky to miss out, having scored 179 in a world-record opening partnership with Shai Hope in Dublin before sitting out the rest of the tri-series injured.From the squad that was at the World Cup, the selectors have left out batsmen Sunil Ambris and Darren Bravo, offspinner Ashley Nurse, and fast bowler Shannon Gabriel.Allrounder Andre Russell, whose World Cup ended prematurely with a knee injury, doesn’t find a place either – though he is part of the T20I squad for the India series.The ODI series will begin in Providence, Guyana, on August 8, and move to Port-of-Spain in Trinidad for the second and third ODIs on August 11 and 14.West Indies ODI squad: Jason Holder (capt), Chris Gayle, John Campbell, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran, Roston Chase, Fabian Allen, Carlos Brathwaite, Keemo Paul, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas, Kemar Roach
Glasgow Rangers finally return to competitive action this evening as they face Dumbarton in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, and they will be hoping it will be the start of a journey which sees them win the cup for the 35th time come May.
Philippe Clement has already won the League Cup since arriving at Ibrox in mid-October, and it won’t just be the Scottish Cup he has his eyes on, especially as the Light Blues are in with a shot at winning the Premiership crown.
While the matches are set to come thick and fast, Clement will also be looking to bring in another signing or two following the arrival of Fabio Silva from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The injury crisis that engulfed the squad prior to Christmas showcased that the club need more depth in certain positions, and this should give the Belgian a licence to delve into the market.
Rangers’ search for new signings
According to the Daily Mail, the Light Blues are showing interest in West Ham United defender Ben Johnson.
They face competition from Leeds United and Premier League side Sheffield United in their chase for the 23-year-old as he has made it clear he is not signing a new contract at the Hammers.
David Moyes will now be keen to move him on during the January transfer window to rake in a fee for the right-back, otherwise he will lose him for nothing in the summer.
It remains to be seen how much of a budget Clement has to work with before committing to bringing him in this month, as tying him down on a pre-contract agreement may be the smarter move this month.
This could allow the 49-year-old coach to not only bring in a reliable defender for nothing, but also allow him to use whatever funds he has available to strengthen his midfield and attack in January.
Rangers have had plenty of success with signing players on pre-contract agreements from England, with Scott Arfield being one of the most notable examples, and Johnson could certainly follow in his footsteps.
Clement could land his next Sterling as Rangers eye £33k-p/w dynamo
The Light Blues are reportedly interested in a swoop for the young defender.
ByDan Emery Jan 16, 2024 Scott Arfield spent five seasons at Rangers
The former Canadian international spent five years at Burnley, featuring 86 times in the Premier League, before joining the Steven Gerrard revolution at Ibrox in the summer of 2018 on a free transfer.
He played a key role for the Gers during his first three seasons, culminating in the midfielder making 28 Premiership appearances as he helped end a decade-long drought without a league title in stunning fashion.
Arfield showcased his attacking abilities under Gerrard, registering 46 goal contributions during those first three seasons – 28 goals and 18 assists – but the last two years of his stint in Glasgow saw these tallies decrease.
Ex-Rangers forwards Fashion Sakala and Scott Arfield.
Indeed, across both 2021/22 and 2022/23, the 35-year-old notched 15 goals and grabbed just one assist as the club only won the Scottish Cup.
He ended his five-year stay in Scotland at the end of last season, and he could perhaps feel aggrieved at not securing at least another year on his deal as the midfielder would still have offered something from the bench.
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There is no doubt he was one of Gerrard’s finest signings, especially as it cost the club nothing, and they could replicate this move by luring Johnson north of the border.
How Ben Johnson could fit into the Rangers side
The £33k-per-week defender made his debut for West Ham during the 2018/19 campaign, yet it took until the 2020/21 season for him to make more than ten Premier League appearances as he firmly established himself as part of the senior squad.
A right-back by trade, Johnson is equally adept at playing on the left side of the defence or even in the centre of the midfield, and this positional versatility could be a huge advantage for Clement.
This adaptability could allow him to slot into a few different positions as and when required by the manager, and he could even become a potential long-term heir to James Tavernier, who turns 33 this year.
Indeed, WhoScored state that Johnson excels at crossing and ball interception, while he likes to play long balls and crosses often, indicating that he could be a decent option at right-back for the club.
Ben Johnson has been underused by West Ham this season
The youngster enjoyed a relatively decent campaign during 2022/23, particularly in the Europa Conference League.
Not only did the right-back rank fourth among the whole squad for overall Sofascore rating (7.15) in the competition, but he also ranked second for accurate passes per game (48.8), third for accurate long balls (2.7) and second for interceptions per game (1.7), clearly showcasing his talents on the big European stage as West Ham eventually won the trophy.
This season, however, Johnson has played in just seven matches for the senior side, including only two Premier League games, and it looks as though his time at the club is approaching an end.
During his only league start against Brighton and Hove Albion a few weeks ago, the 23-year-old made two tackles, two interceptions, two clearances and won three of his five ground duels, along with taking 61 touches, and it indicated that he still has plenty to offer.
He was praised by West Ham View on X, who said: “It would definitely be a mistake to let Ben Johnson leave the club this month or on a free in the summer.
“He looks quick, sharp, and hungry atm. Has been better than Coufal in the few games he played last few weeks for me as well.”
Johnson – who has been described as a "wonderful professional" by ex-Hammers coach Stuart Pearce – is still at an age when he is continuing to develop and making a move to a club that could give him more regular minutes would help him as a player and allow him to showcase his true potential.
If Rangers can convince him a move to Ibrox is the best thing for his career, he will have the chance to challenge for trophies alongside playing continental football for one of the biggest clubs in Britain.
Clement must act swiftly in order to tie him down to a pre-contract agreement, that’s for sure.
Durham slip to fourth straight Championship defeat to stay stuck to bottom of table
ECB Reporters Network22-May-2019
Chris Dent drives•Getty Images
Gloucestershire have secured their first win of the County Championship Division Two season by defeating Durham by six wickets at Emirates Riverside.The visitors required only 53 runs to win in the morning after the opening partnership between Chris Dent and Miles Hammond had knocked off more than half their target of 117 the previous evening. Although they lost three further wickets, Gloucestershire eased their way to victory to move up to third on the table, eyeing a potential charge for promotion.Meanwhile, Durham slipped to their fourth defeat in a row in the Championship, remaining rooted to the bottom of Division Two.Gloucestershire began the day only one wicket down but they lost nightwatchman Josh Shaw without adding to their overnight score as Chris Rushworth made the breakthrough. Shaw had been dropped two balls previously by Ryan Pringle at third slip, but Ned Eckersley claimed a routine catch to send him on his way.Hammond made a solid knock of 36 to put Gloucestershire on the verge of victory. However, Matt Salisbury struck with his first ball of day three to deny the opener the chance to see his team over the line, edging behind to Eckersley. Salisbury then bowled George Hankins just before James Bracey and Gareth Roderick were able to see out the comfortable win.The visitors’ clinical edge with the ball and in the field was the difference between the two sides. Gloucestershire capitalised on familiar failings in the Durham batting ranks to surge through the order twice in two days. Ryan Higgins, David Payne, Matt Taylor and Shaw were all on form, posing problems with their accuracy and the ability to find movement off the slow track.Graeme van Buuren played a pivotal role in Gloucestershire’s victory when he ran out Cameron Bancroft on day two. The Aussie looked well set on 40 not out in his attempt to dig Durham out of trouble. However, Bancroft hesitated after his partner, Liam Trevaskis, called for a tight single, allowing van Buuren to collect at cover before connecting with an accurate throw at the stumps.Bancroft’s dismissal epitomised Durham’s season in the Championship to date, failing in the decisive moments. Head coach James Franklin has made changes since replacing Jon Lewis, but he has yet to find a cure for his side’s batting woes in the four-day format.Franklin said: “It has certainly been a tough start. Four games and four losses. It is what it is and we have 10 more games to try to show improvement and progress in this format of the game.”Make no bones about it, the guys in the dressing room are hurting really badly. In some ways it’s quite good that we have 10 days until the next first-team game to clear their heads and regroup to get a method to compete in the next four-day game against Derbyshire.”Durham host Derbyshire and Northamptonshire in back-to-back matches at the beginning of June where they are in dire need of improvement to end their win-less run in the Championship. Gloucestershire now prepare for a showdown against Lancashire at Cheltenham, beginning on Monday.
The Manchester United faithful will be hopeful that the new year provides an opportunity for change following the 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
Erik ten Hag’s side have now lost the same number of games in the Premier League as they did in the whole of last season: nine.
The Red Devils are off the pace in the race for the top four, and therefore recruitment in January is a must.
Man Utd transfers latest – Antonio Silva
According to journalist Rudy Galetti, many top clubs admire Antonio Silva, with Man Utd being one of them.
The defender is contracted to Benfica until 2027, but he has an £87m release clause.
Silva is a key player for the Portuguese side, and due to financial fair play guidelines, a move this January is unlikely.
Antonio Silva’s style of play
It is well known that injuries have disrupted United’s season, with even Ten Hag referring to them as a reason why his side has been so inconsistent, and one of those players who unfortunately cannot provide reliability or availability is Raphael Varane, who has already missed seven games this season.
Benfica defender Antonio Silva.
Therefore, Ten Hag could look to replace the World Cup winner with a talented 20-year-old who has been described as “crazy” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig. Silva became a vital cog in the Benfica system last season, and over the last 18 months, he has developed into an incredible prospect, someone who more than has the potential to live up to Varane's name in the game.
The table below proves that via statistics from this season’s Primeira Liga, and how they compare to his positional peers.
Pass completion %
92.7%
Top 1%
Pass completion % (long)
74.2%
Top 1%
Tackles won
1.93
Top 1%
Dribblers tackled
1.36
Top 8%
Carries
42.32
Top 19%
Ball recoveries
6.79
Top 6%
As you can see, Silva is extremely confident and comfortable on the ball, and with Ten Hag persisting with playing out from the back, the Portugal international would fit the Dutch manager's system like a glove.
The Red Devils have been wasteful in possession this campaign, therefore, signing a defender who has such high pass completion percentages across a variety of ranges would elevate the side's ability to control periods.
Furthermore, the Benfica Acadamy star’s long passing is particularly impressive, and he could aid United going forward by playing direct diagonal passes to Marcus Rashford, in a similar way to how Virgil Van Dijk starts attacks by finding Mohammed Salah on the right at Liverpool.
Silva can also carry the ball forward, which not only helps United in the buildup phase but can also be useful against a low block.
FC Porto's Danny Namaso in action with Benfica's Antonio Silva
United’s biggest issue this season has been defending transitions and cutbacks, with the majority of their goals coming from that exact scenario. The addition of Silva would decrease this slightly, due to the defender's ability to read the cutbacks if the attack is on the opposite side or quickly get out to the forward on the ball and stop the pass.
Overall, Silva has the potential to become a world-class defender based on all the signs so far, and he fits the correct profile for the right centre-back role at United. Varane unfortunately, with his injuries, does not. The fee is steep, however, which will naturally add even more pressure to perform straight away, and his little experience could cost him if he were to make the switch.