Newcastle United are set to make a massive move to sign a new forward in 2025, according to a former Premier League scout.
Newcastle keen for additions
It was a tough summer for Eddie Howe and Newcastle United, and that has translated into a difficult start to the 2024/25 campaign too.
A 3-3 draw against Liverpool in their most recent outing was one of their best performances of a season that has otherwise been inconsistent, with the Magpies having managed just a point more than Manchester United at this point, though the congested nature of the league means that they remain just three points outside the top five.
With a favourable run of fixtures ahead, they will be hoping that they can finally string together a run of form to push back towards the top of the Premier League, but there is concern that they will struggle to strengthen in January amid financial fair play concerns and hefty prices.
Brentford (Away)
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Howe’s demands have been clear since the summer, with the Newcastle boss wanting at least another centre-back and a right-winger added to his side. So far this season, Anthony Gordon has been asked to play on the right flank this season, while Dan Burn has been repurposed in central defence, but neither are long-term solutions at St James’ Park.
There is a hope that the club can move Miguel Almiron on to raise some funds, and now they have been tipped to secure a massive deal in the summer.
Newcastle want to make statement signing
That is according to former Manchester United scout Mick Brown, who has claimed that the Magpies are looking to complete a summer deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford.
The Bees attacker enjoyed an excellent start to the season under Thomas Frank, with eight goals to his name, leading to the Brentford boss labelling him a “top” player.
“For me, he’s a top player. I’m convinced one day he will play for a bigger club; I will definitely buy him if I was at a bigger club”, Frank explained.
Brentford'sBryanMbeumocelebrates scoring
Now, it is Newcastle that want to secure the Cameroon international, who they believe could be the perfect upgrade on the right-side of attack in the wake of a potential Almiron departure.
According to Brown, Mbeumo is “definitely their top target for the position”, but that it would “take a huge fee” to get him out of the G-Tech Stadium.
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“It won’t happen in January, I’m fairly certain of that, because Newcastle are restricted in what they’ll be able to spend”, he added, pointing to a summer deal being far more likely.
Brentford are not prepared to let Mbeumo leave in January unless a massive offer is tabled for him, something that Newcastle may struggle with midseason. However, the forward has just 18 months left to run on his £45,000 a week deal in London as things stand, and the summer could be the last time for the Bees to land a serious fee for the talent.
His potential summer arrival could finally provide Howe with balance in attack, and allow Gordon to return to his favoured left-wing position while providing a massive upgrade on Almiron for the Magpies.
The fast bowler enjoyed a productive BPL season in late 2017, particularly impressing with his yorkers and slower balls in the death overs
Mohammad Isam30-May-2018Bangladesh have called up Abul Hasan as Mustafizur Rahman’s replacement in their squad for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in Dehradun. He is scheduled to arrive in India on June 1, the day Bangladesh play their only warm-up game on the tour.Abul last played for Bangladesh in an ODI in January during the tri-series that also involved Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. He has struggled for wickets since his international debut in 2012, taking only five in 14 matches across formats, at an overall average of 144.60.In the 2017 BPL, however, Abul was one of the better performers among the local fast bowlers, particularly impressing with his yorkers and slower balls in the death overs. He took 10 wickets at an average of 24.40 and ended the tournament with an economy rate of 8.13.Mustafizur was ruled out on the eve of Bangladesh’s departure for Dehradun, with a toe injury sustained during the last game of Mumbai Indians’ IPL season.Bangladesh play their first match of the series on June 3.
Tottenham Hotspur are back in Premier League action again today, seeking to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign with what is, on paper, a far easier task than their recent clashes.
Having overseen challenges from Arsenal and Liverpool to hand them a first loss, Ange Postecoglou, with the help of James Maddison and co, will be hoping that it is not newly-promoted Luton Town who now achieve the unthinkable.
How is James Maddison playing?
Should their £40m creator maintain his blistering form, there is little worry of any kind of upset occurring at Kenilworth Road, who are yet to oversee a win at home.
The former Leicester City man has taken to life in north London with remarkable ease, translating his impressive form from last term and arguably taking that up a level. His 8.03 average match rating actually makes him the division's second-highest-rated player, with his six goal contributions, 3.1 key passes and ball recoveries per game emphasising his relentless creativity but impressive work rate, via Sofascore.
11 Mar 1992 (a)
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Stats via 11v11
Whilst Heung-min Son seeks to alleviate the huge offensive burden the 26-year-old carries, with six goals and zero assists, the South Korean is doing little in the way of creating.
That is a task seemingly left solely to Maddison, who would likely love some additional firepower to both afford him more space and allow him to push into those goalscoring zones.
Fortunately, the fitness of Giovani Lo Celso might just have returned at the perfect time.
How good is Giovani Lo Celso?
There is arguably no easier game for Postecoglou to ease the injury-prone Argentine back into action, given they are set to dominate possession and enjoy an easy afternoon.
After all, the former Real Betis magician has reportedly trained throughout the week, and could be handed a start to blow the hosts away before substituting him early.
Having spent last season on loan with Villarreal, the £70k-per-week maestro showcased that creativity that Maddison would surely crave alongside him, with the former Celtic boss having also favoured a system boasting two offensive number eights in the past.
In fact, when compared to other attacking midfielders across Europe, Lo Celso actually ranks in the top 6% for assists per 90, the top 4% for shot-creating actions per 90, and the top 1% for progressive passes per 90, via FBref.
There are arguably few better players to place beside the 5 foot 9 maestro, especially given the additional praise that journalist Milena Gimon handed to the left-footed star. Translating his Spanish adulation, she branded the 27-year-old "the master of the last pass".
With his ability to dictate a game from deep, perhaps his inclusion could truly unlock Maddison, helping him inject more goals into a play style that is already seemingly at its peak.
Were Lo Celso to start today, as the Lilywhites seek to make it six wins from eight games in the league, it would actually mark just his second start for Spurs in over 20 months, having featured in their EFL Cup defeat to Fulham last month, spent all the last campaign and a half on loan, and last started in their cup exit to Chelsea back in January 2022.
Even if it's for a half, the former Foxes superstar would certainly be appreciative of his presence.
Despite the emotion of becoming Ireland’s maiden Test centurion, batsman believes his finest hour has already happened
ESPNcricinfo staff14-May-20182:02
‘A great feeling to get there in the end’ – O’Brien
Kevin O’Brien joked that he would take pride in seeing his name put up on the “imaginary honours board” at Malahide after becoming the first Ireland batsman to score a Test century, and only the fourth batsman to do so in his country’s maiden Test match.However, he insisted that the moment, though “very proud and emotional”, still ranked second in his personal annals, behind the blistering 50-ball hundred with which he stunned England at Bangalore in the 2011 World Cup.This was O’Brien’s first hundred for his country since that balmy night seven years ago, in which Ireland hunted down a massive target of 328, having at one stage slumped to 111 for 5.”For me, Bangalore is definitely No.1, for the sheer moment of where it was and who it was against, in the World Cup. If I I can continue [tomorrow] for another hour and a half, to 170-odd, this could top it,” he said.”It was a very proud and emotional moment, to get there is a great honour, and hopefully we’ve put ourselves in a good position to go on and win it,” he added. “There’s no reason why we can’t. We’ve just got to start off well tomorrow.”
Ireland officially have a Test Match honours board and Kevin O'Brien becomes the first name to grace it here at Malahide Cricket Club pic.twitter.com/Ry0lvoZ0cy
— Irish Cricketers (@IrishCricketers) May 14, 2018
For the crowd at Malahide, the occasion of the first Irish Test century appeared to happen twice. On 97, O’Brien looked to have tickled a leg glance for four through fine leg, and the celebrations began the moment the ball hopped over the boundary. However, O’Brien himself had known all along that the shot had come off his pads, and a loud groan went round as umpire Nigel Llong signalled leg byes.”I knew it hit my leg, but the crowd were going mad,” said O’Brien. “I was running past Tyrone [Kane] saying ‘bloody leg byes’.”Two more singles took him to 99, whereupon Pakistan turned back to their main man, Mohammad Amir, much to O’Brien’s chagrin.”Then they bring on their strike bowler, I was hoping for one more over from Shadab [Khan] because I was fairly comfortable against him, but yeah, they sniffed an opportunity to get me on 99, but fortunately a thick edge went past the fielder and I got two runs.Kevin O’Brien became the first Irishman to score a Test hundred•ESPNcricinfo Ltd”It was just relief, and emotion,” he said. “In my first Test as well, it’s a great honour to join a small list of players who have done it.Ireland’s ambitions are unsated now they they’ve got Full Member status, with a new stadium commissioned for the National Sports Campus in nearby Abbotstown. As such, the existing facilities at Malahide are still a touch Spartan.”It’ll be nice to be on the imaginary honours board here in these portacabin changing rooms,” O’Brien joked. “But hopefully when Abbotstown is fully built I can get my name up there.”The O’Brien family was well represented for the historic occasion, with O’Brien joking that he had about “85 whatsapps” to trawl through later that evening. “Mum and dad don’t miss a game,” he said. “And my wife was there, and obviously Niall in the side as well. It’s good to have support from family and friends.”After surviving a tense final few overs, in which he relied on luck more than judgement to keep his wicket intact, O’Brien admitted that he wasn’t used to “these longer forms” and paid tribute to his batting partners, Stuart Thompson, who also made a half-century, and Tyrone Kane, who was unbeaten on 8 at the close.”We’ll have to see how we pull up tomorrow,” O’Brien said. “Batting for five hours takes its toll. But Thompson was brilliant after tea, he took pressure off me, letting me score in singles while we were going at 3.5 an over, and for TK to bat 60-odd balls in tough circumstances against an unbelievably high quality attack, hats off.”It’s a new-ball wicket,” he added. “There’s still a bit of nibble around and if it’s overcast, it’ll certainly swing. If we can get up 180-odd that gives us a chance of hopefully a draw, and if we can get a few to stay low, we’ve a great chance to put them under pressure.”
West Ham United co-chair David Sullivan is attempting to back manager Graham Potter ahead of the next Premier League campaign, as the Hammers hold transfer talks with a prolific forward’s camp.
West Ham eye new forwards for Graham Potter this summer
The east Londoners secured a loan deal for Brighton starlet Evan Ferguson in the January window, but his move includes no option to buy, meaning the 20-year-old won’t be at West Ham for the 2025/2026 season unless Sullivan returns to the negotiating table.
West Ham player "in talks" to leave with February transfer expected
He’s keen on a new challenge.
ByEmilio Galantini Feb 22, 2025
However, reports have suggested that a permanent West Ham deal is unlikely to materialise for Ferguson, which is made all the more evident by some media sources claiming that Potter’s side are already weighing up striker alternatives.
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Man United’s Rasmus Hojlund is on West Ham’s list of summer targets, as per TEAMtalk, while The Boot Room recently reported Potter’s interest in Roma striker Tammy Abraham – who’s currently enjoying a solid loan spell at AC Milan.
AC Milan'sTammyAbraham
West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus has also attracted from Arsenal ahead of the summer, with the Ghanaian’s contract including an £85 million release clause which will become active in the next window.
Uncertainty surrounds the future of creative midfield star Lucas Paqueta as well, amid his legal battle against spot-fixing allegations, so Potter could find himself in need of a new attacking player or two ahead of next campaign.
A player believed to be attracting serious interest from Rush Green is Lille star Jonathan David, who’s been a prolific force in Ligue 1 for many years.
The 25-year-old Brooklyn-native is set to be one of the most sought-after free agents of the year, with his contract expiring in July. David boasts 20 goals from 26 appearances in total this season, and 141 strikes from 302 career club appearances.
He’s a proven striker in front of goal with a very impressive goal record, and his 31 goals in 59 international caps for Canada is further incentive for elite sides to consider a zero-cost swoop for the former Gent sensation.
West Ham hold talks with Jonathan David ahead of the summer
According to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, writing in his weekly column, West Ham have held talks with the representative of David, as they seek to steal a march on fellow competitors for his signature.
That being said, La Liga giants Barcelona and Serie A champions Inter Milan pose serious competition for Potter’s side, meaning it is unlikely that the centre-forward will choose a move to east London as things stand.
Premier League sides will most likely be considering a move for David as well, especially when factoring in his very impressive conversion rate.
A new scheme, fronted by David Gower, is offering members of the public a chance to buy shares in Lord’s
Andrew Miller25-Apr-2018David Gower, the former England captain, insists that his aim is to be a “good neighbour” to MCC, the owners of Lord’s, after being unveiled as the public face of a consortium that is offering members of the public an opportunity to own parcels of land at the Nursery End of the ground – the scene of numerous development battles in the ground’s recent history.Gower unveiled the New Commonwealth consortium alongside Keith Bradshaw, the former MCC chief executive, at a breakfast meeting in St John’s Wood on Wednesday. Allan Lamb, his former England team-mate, was also in attendance, while other grandees of the game, including Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd, are also believed to be supportive of the scheme.The radical venture comes as a direct consequence of the vote in September, by the 18,000 members of MCC, to reject ambitious plans for a complete overhaul of the ground and instead press on with their own GBP194 million “MCC Masterplan”, funded from the club’s own resources.The alternative “Morley Plan” would have involved collaboration with Charles Rifkind, the property developer whose purchase, in 1999, of a 999-year lease on the disused tunnels beneath the Nursery End of the ground, effectively denied MCC an outright say in the future of their ground.MCC does still own the leasehold on the top 18 inches of land at that end of Lord’s, but the club members baulked – by an overwhelming 90% majority – at Rifkind’s desire to fund a complete overhaul of the venue through the erection of two blocks of flats alongside the Wellington Road.That vote might have been assumed to be the end of the saga. However, Rifkind’s decision to now sell off GBP500 shares, through the use of Blockchain technology, means that the debate will rumble on.Furthermore, the return of Bradshaw to the fray will add an extra layer of intrigue, given that he stood down from the MCC in 2011 in frustration at his ambitious “Vision for Lord’s” being kiboshed by the then-chairman Oliver Stocken.As SACA chief executive, Bradshaw has since gone on to oversee an even more ambitious redevelopment of the Adelaide Oval, which this winter played host to the first day-night Ashes Test – another concept that he championed during his five-year tenure at MCC.”We love Lord’s, but it is generally accepted that the stands are becoming tired, the facilities are tired and need some redevelopment. That requires money, and the Vision for Lord’s was one of the plans that was looked at,” Bradshaw told ESPNcricinfo.”The MCC and members made a decision not to go down that path and I would say we accept the umpire’s decision – there’s no DRS – and we move on.”The lease is for 120 years and if there’s no development on that piece of land and no agreement between MCC and New Commonwealth, then that land will revert back to the people who today acquire a piece of that land.”Millions and millions of people around the world have an emotional attachment to Lord’s,” he added. “Well, now they can go beyond an emotional attachment and have a financial attachment.”Gower, who scored two Test centuries at Lord’s in 17 appearances, was an outspoken advocate of Rifkind’s plan prior to the September vote, and says that the need to reinvigorate the look and feel of his favourite Test venue is the overwhelming reason for his involvement.”Before the vote in September I was quite vocal about what I saw as an opportunity to make the place look better,” Gower told ESPNcricinfo.”I still say that perimeter wall on the Wellington Road and St John’s Wood Road looks like a prison wall. It doesn’t look like something outside the most iconic cricket ground in the world. If they had opted to do something with it at that stage, it could have been a fantastic frontispiece.”That strip of land at the end has had a million hours of conversation about it. We’ve seen what happened with the club in September when the vote was to leave it as it is. They don’t want to develop it and we respect that.”So what we are doing now is saying ‘shall we get some fun out of that land, get some good use out of that land, offer it to people to have a stake in that land?’ Why not?”It’s a glorious ground with a glorious history. I can honestly say I’ve got some very good memories of playing out there, and some downright appalling ones.”Lord’s is iconic in the world of sport. It’s a wonderful place but it needs some TLC to regain its status as the No.1 ground in the world, because there are grounds around the world – Adelaide for one, where they are doing wonderful things to improve facilities.”We want to be good neighbours to the MCC. This is not about confrontation in any shape or form, it’s about making good use of a valuable piece of real estate.”We’re not anti-Lord’s, we’re not anti MCC. I’m a proud member of MCC. This is done if anything for love.”
It's Tottenham Hotpsur vs Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend. This is one that dates back a long, long way and they've met a whopping 179 times over the years.
For Spurs, they've only faced three clubs more often than they've come up against the Reds. You'll wrack up those kinds of numbers when you play top-flight football practically every year since 1963, though.
There's a lot of history here, then, and the pair have competed in six different competitions against one another – including three finals. Just who has gotten the best of the other, though?
We're going to look into that history and find out.
Tottenham vs Liverpool: Who has the better head-to-head record?
These two teams first met all the way back in 1909. That was in the old First Division and, notably, all league fixtures have been in the top flight – and there have been a lot of them. 160, in total, with this one being played in the league for all but one year since 1963 (Spurs were in the second division in 1978).
But they've also met in the Champions League, the Europa League, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Community Shield. In fact, they've met in every possible competition – without both being relegated at the same time.
Just how does that head-to-head record look after 179 meetings, though? Well, as with most of their records, Liverpool come out on top. They've won 86 of them – so not quite half, but not far off.
Spurs have managed 48 wins in response, leaving 45 draws. You're just about more likely to see the Reds fail to win this one, then – but it's very close.
Tottenham wins
48
Draws
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Liverpool wins
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Tottenham vs Liverpool: Who has the better record at Spurs?
When at Spurs, the home side do boast the superior record – not too many teams can say that against Liverpool. This one has taken place in North London 88 times in all, and Tottenham have exactly 40 wins.
The Reds have managed 28 in response – a decent-enough number – with 20 finishing in draws.
So as you'd now expect, Tottenham have more goals when playing at home, too. They've bagged 127 in those 88 games to Liverpool's 111. It's notable, though, that the pair of them comfortably average a goal per game in the fixture. You can usually expect a back-and-forth game.
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Tottenham vs Liverpool: Who has the better record at Anfield?
There have also been 88 Anfield fixtures – something that sounds obvious as they play twice a season, but cup ties usually unbalance the figure. We're completely even here, though.
Liverpool have a particularly dominant home record against Spurs. While many sides have far worse, Tottenham have only ever won eight times at Anfield across those 88 attempts. There have only been 25 draws, too, meaning the Reds have triumphed 55 times.
That dominance is reflected in the goals column. Liverpool have 168 home goals vs Spurs, so they're closing in on two per game. The visitors, in contrast, have 77 – comfortably under one per game.
What's clear, then, is that you can expect a very different fixture depending on where this one is played.
Tottenham wins
8
Draws
25
Liverpool wins
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Tottenham vs Liverpool: Who has the better Premier League record?
Diogo Jota scores Liverpool's late winner against Tottenham.
These are two clubs who have never been relegated since the inception of the Premier League in 1992. Two of only six clubs to achieve that, we should add.
Thus, this has been a fixture every year. There have been 62 Premier League meetings in total and as you likely expected, Liverpool have the much better record.
The Reds have won exactly half of the games (31), which means you're as likely to see them beat Spurs as fail to. Tottenham, in response, have only managed 14 wins. That's a surprisingly low number, given they've competed towards the top of the table for some time now.
It's also worth mentioning that Liverpool have 20 clean sheets in this one. That's very nearly one every three games – again a surprise as Spurs are not a side that's lacked attacking talent over the years. For whatever reason, though, they fairly regularly fail to score against the Reds.
As for total goals, Liverpool have 109 and Spurs sit on 73. Both clear the goal-per-game average fairly easily, then, but the former are awfully close to averaging two. They could hit that mark this season with a couple of high-scoring games.
Tottenham wins
14
Draws
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Tottenham vs Liverpool: What's their record in the cups?
These two have an extensive record in the cup competitions. They've played in five of them, with three finals over the years.
Of course, the Champions League final in 2019 is the biggest fixture of the lot between these two. It was Spurs' first-ever Champions League final, while the Reds had been there the year before. The experience proved decisive as Liverpool won 2-0 in Madrid.
Before that was the Community Shield in 1982 – a fixture Liverpool also won. They'd faced one another in the League Cup final earlier that year and, in what is a clear pattern now, the Reds won that, too (3-1).
There has been a major semi-final meeting on top of it all. It came in the 1972/73 UEFA Cup and the pair traded wins at home. Liverpool, however, scored an away goal that proved decisive – they'd go on to beat Borussia Monchengladbach in the final for their first-ever European trophy.
Of course, there have been plenty of non-final and semi-final fixtures in cup competitions. 19 in total, with Tottenham winning six of them. They've proven particularly strong against Liverpool in the League Cup, winning four of the eight fixtures in that competition.
The Reds, though, boast the stronger overall cup record with nine wins (there have been four draws, usually leading to replays).
Tottenham wins
6
Draws
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Liverpool wins
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What is Tottenham's record win vs Liverpool?
You have to go back quite some way to find this one. It happened in 1963, when the great side under Bill Nicholson won 7-2 against Liverpool at home.
Jimmy Greaves stole the show, as you might expect. The legendary striker scored four of them, with Cliff Jones getting two and Frank Saul the other. Roger Hunt got both Liverpool goals.
Of course, you might be after a more recent result. In the Premier League era, Spurs' record win over Liverpool is 4-0 and it happened in 2011. Again it was at home and fans saw Luka Modric, Jermaine Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor (2) score in a dominant result.
What is Liverpool's record win vs Tottenham?
We're going back 45 years for this one. Liverpool tore Spurs to shreds in 1978, winning 7-0. Kenny Dalglish got two, as did David Johnson. Ray Kennedy, Phil Neal and Terry McDermott got the other three between them.
As for the Premier League era, there was a 5-0 win back in 2013. Spurs had their new-look team after the Gareth Bale sale but things weren't clicking together. The last thing they needed, really, was for a Luis Suarez-led Liverpool to show up.
The Reds smashed Spurs on their own patch, with Suarez getting two. Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Jon Flanagan completed the rout.
Tottenham vs Liverpool: What are the recent results?
Liverpool's Darwin Nunez in action with Tottenham Hotspur'sOliverSkipp
This fixture has been incredibly kind to Liverpool in recent years. In fact, it's debatable whether that kindness is even recent anymore – Spurs have won once in the last decade.
That came as a 4-1 win at home against the Reds back in 2017. It's the only time they've beaten a Jurgen Klopp-led Liverpool.
But if we are sticking to 'recent', we'll look at the last six results. They see four Liverpool wins and two draws. The two draws actually came in the same season, 2021-22, with the Reds taking six points last season.
What is notable, though, is the goals column. There hasn't been a clean-sheet in this one since January 2020, seven games ago. In fact, since Klopp joined Liverpool, there have only been four clean sheets for either side.
This one typically brings goals for both sides and has done over the last three seasons. Expect both defences to be tested, then.
Tottenham vs Liverpool: How have they started the season?
Both very well. Spurs are into a new era, not just with boss Ange Postecoglu but also without Harry Kane. They're showing no signs of struggles, though, and are unbeaten with 14 points after six games.
That's included a draw at Arsenal and a 2-0 win over Manchester United. Perhaps most notably, though, was their 2-1 win over Sheffield United. Spurs were 1-0 down with 98 minutes on the clock but someone found a way to win.
Liverpool are into something of a new era, too. A midfield overhaul this summer is bringing positive results and they're currently second in the table on 16 points. In fact, their only dropped points came in the opening game at Chelsea.
The only real problem is that they keep conceding goals. The Reds have gone behind in nearly every fixture this season – something they must fix ASAP.
Tottenham vs Liverpool: When is it?
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
Tottenham will host Liverpool at 17:30 UK time on Saturday, September 30th.
It feels like an enormous fixture for both teams and will tell us a lot about where they stand. A win for either would be a massive statement that they're competing at the very top this season.
Defeat would suggest the opposite – that they're not quite where they want to be, even if the track is right. Fully expect both teams to go all-out, then, as they seek that statement win.
India’s ODI captain has hinted that Jemimah Rodrigues will make way for her return from illness rather than the experienced Punam Raut
Annesha Ghosh in Baroda14-Mar-2018For a batting line-up, relying too much on one player can become a way of inflicting self-harm. On Monday, this showed most tellingly when an unwell Mithali Raj sat on the sidelines and watched India’s top six batsmen squander away starts. Even a gritty lower-order fightback proved insufficient to prevent Australia from going 1-0 up in the ODI leg of their tour.Raj’s team-mates, however, will derive much confidence from her participation in catching drills and a fairly long hit in the nets on the eve of Thursday’s second ODI, a must-win game to keep the three-match series alive. “I’m on a recovery path. I’m definitely better than what I was,” Raj, the ODI captain, said at the pre-game press conference on Wednesday, minutes after she wrapped up her training session at the Reliance Stadium in Baroda.The statement and her demeanour during training suggested she is most likely returning to the starting XI and taking back the captaincy from her deputy Harmanpreet Kaur. This was also her first media appearance during the series, as a bout of fever had forced her to depart from training early on Sunday.On Monday, the cavalier shot selection that cost openers Punam Raut and Smriti Mandhana their wickets after they had got their eye in was a reminder of the inconsistency that runs through India’s line-up, and of how much it missed Raj’s solidity. For her part, Raj has faith in the ability of her team-mates to pull the team through even when she isn’t around.”Consistency I can’t say, but, yes, this team, without me, is still good enough,” Raj said. “It’s just that they need to believe in themselves as much as I believe in them that they are capable of scoring runs.”After their previous defeat to Australia in the group stage of last year’s World Cup, Raj had lamented the other senior batsmen’s failure to take responsibility in clutch situations. In the recent past, too, amid an otherwise prolific run during the South Africa tour, India posted below-par totals and went on to lose when Raj was dismissed for single-digit scores in the third ODI and the third T20I.”Everything is a process, and it’s gradual. Overnight a team doesn’t become bad, or become the best,” Raj said when asked what the future holds for the Indian side without herself and Jhulan Goswami, who has been sidelined from the series with a heel injury.”There’s a certain period of time the team needs to come into a position. It is much better than what it was earlier. I’m sure you’d agree with that: none of top five stayed [in the first ODI] and yet we reached 200. There is still time for these girls to come into a position where they can hold the responsibility of the team on their shoulder.”Harmanpreet Kaur plays a glance down the leg side•Getty ImagesWhile acknowledging the need for setting “bigger targets” to stand a chance against a reinvigorated Australian team, and calling for “more discipline from the spinners”, Raj suggested that adapting to a switch between formats – India are coming off a five-match T20I series in South Africa – may have contributed to the batsmen’s inability to drop anchor when needed. “We’re coming from the T20 format, the last match we played was in the T20 format, so maybe we’ll see a different batting unit tomorrow.”Raj also heaped praise on 18-year-old allrounder Pooja Vastrakar and wicketkeeper-batsman Sushma Verma for their contributions in an area that has time and again cost India matches: their lower-order batting.”For the last couple of years, I wanted the lower middle order to contribute with some runs. I’m happy to see she [Vastrakar] stepped up and Sushma again to get the team to the respectable total of 200. It’s just that they probably won’t get to bat every match, but whenever they do, they contribute. It gives them more confidence as players.The World Cup final was one example of India’s lower-order failure costing them a match they could, and probably should, have won. Chasing 229, India collapsed from 191 for 3 to 219 all out. Raj reiterated the importance of a “30-odd” from one of the lower-order batsmen in such situations.”Those are the matches where we expect them to score runs and step up. So these knocks will give them the confidence to perform in similar situations.”Raj also hinted that the 17-year old Jemimah Rodrigues, who made her ODI debut on Monday, would have to make way for the captain’s return rather than the more experienced Raut, especially in light of Raut scoring a brisk 37 on Monday and Rodrigues managing only 1.”I think tomorrow’s XI will give you the answer,” Raj said. “But doesn’t mean that after a game if [younger players are] sitting out, doesn’t mean they are dropped. As a youngster, you have years in front of you, so you have opportunities knocking at your door. It’s just that on that day you may not be a fit in the best XI.”
As Newcastle United marked their return to the Champions League with a commendable goalless draw away to AC Milan on Tuesday evening, it proved to be a relatively unhappy return to San Siro for Magpies midfielder, Sandro Tonali.
How did Tonali perform against AC Milan?
Signed from the Serie A giants on a £55m deal this summer, the Italy international was the most high-profile addition of the window for Eddie Howe's side, with the Tynesiders looking to kick on from their impressive fourth-place finish last term.
Despite the excitement surrounding the prospect of partnering the 23-year-old alongside Bruno Guimaraes in the centre of the park, it has not been the dream start for the playmaker thus far, even after netting on debut in the 5-1 victory over Aston Villa.
The one-time Brescia maestro subsequently started in the defeats to Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion – while being substituted in all three – having also sat out the recent win over Brentford, in preparation for the return to Milan.
That 'homecoming' did not go smoothly, however, with Tonali 'rather useless in possession as he failed to pose a threat to his former team' – according to GOAL's Peter McVitie – with his lack of impact showcased by the fact that he made just 20 touches in his 72-minute outing, while also losing the ball on nine occasions.
Having also committed four fouls and won just one of his six total duels, as per Sofascore, it may be time for Howe to consider shaking things up by removing his new man from the side, as 'midfield questions continue to be asked' – according to The Chronicle's Lee Ryder.
Who could replace Tonali?
Against Stefano Pioli's side, the northeast side had lined up with a midfield trio of Sean Longstaff, Guimaraes and Tonali, prior to the latter man being withdrawn in the closing stages in favour of promising youngster, Elliot Anderson.
72 minutes played
20 touches
7/10 passes completed
9x possession lost
1/6 duels won
4 fouls
0 key passes
1 shot blocked
6.4 match rating (worst of any starting player)
Stats via Sofascore
The former Bristol Rovers loanee – who has been likened to Paul Gascoigne in the past – has featured in every game so far this term and even started against the Bees at the weekend, having been handed his chance amid injuries to the likes of Joe Willock and Joelinton.
With 35 first-team appearances under his belt for the St James' Park outfit, the 20-year-old does only have a solitary assist and no goals to show for it thus far, ensuring that he still has work to do to establish himself as a regular fixture in the side.
The Whitley Bay-born starlet – who has courted the attention of both England and Scotland at senior international level – is not the only academy asset who could be worthy of a chance to shine, however, with young Lewis Miley also a figure that Howe may look to despite his relative youth.
Who is Lewis Miley?
Rather than turning out for Newcastle's U19s in the UEFA Youth League, the 17-year-old was included as part of the matchday squad for the senior side's trip to Milan, showcasing just how highly regarded he is by Howe and his staff.
While the teenager was not able to get on the pitch for the midweek clash, he has already made his senior debut after coming on as a late substitute in the 1-1 draw away to Chelsea on the final day of last season.
That promotion to the first-team set-up has been warranted amid the youngster's fine displays in the youth ranks in recent times, having notably contributed seven goals and assists in just 13 appearances for the club's U21 side.
The England U19 international – whose brother Jamie is also on the books at St James' Park – was rewarded for such form after being handed his first professional contract back in May, having even featured for Howe's side during the World Cup break last year against Riyadh.
Such great strides would suggest that Miley is not too far away from being given a proper chance to prove himself at first-team level, with the likes of Tonali – and Anderson – needing to watch out as their starting berths could be under threat sooner rather than later.
How good is Lewis Miley?
The fact that at 17 the Englishman is already in the manager's thinking is a clear indication of his talent, with respected insider Ryder having previously hailed the academy star as a player who has "bags of potential", following the announcement of his new deal.
Young Miley was also the recipient of hefty praise from Daily Mail journalist Craig Hope after starting in the pre-season friendly clash with Chelsea back in July, with the reporter providing a glowing review of his performance in that 1-1 stalemate:
"Lewis Miley has been Newcastle's best player so far. And that isn't in the context of him only being 17 years old. He's just simply been their best player. So elegant on the ball & brave in how he uses it."
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe.
A silky and classy operator in possession, the Stanley-born sensation could offer a real creative spark to the Magpies as a link between the midfield and attack, with journalist Mark Carruthers having hailed the emerging superstar as "a powerful runner, [with] good close control and can pick a pass".
As Carruthers also stated, it looks as if Newcastle have a "real player" on their hands with regard to the 6 foot 1 maestro, with the wait now on to see if his chance will come in the first-team this season, amid the club's current midfield woes.
Of course, it would be a gamble to turn to such a raw and youthful talent as the answer to Howe's concerns in that department, yet the fact that Miley was included for the trip to San Siro shows that he is certainly in the thoughts of the Newcastle boss.
ECB’s standards of corporate governance ‘fall well short of what’s acceptable’, says former Somerset chairman
George Dobell07-Mar-2018A county chief executive has called for an independent inquiry into the ECB’s decision to make payments to Test-hosting grounds, in the wake of the resignation from the ECB Board of Andy Nash, the former Somerset chairman, who cited standards of corporate governance which “fall well short of what’s acceptable”.Nash, once tipped as a potential successor to Colin Graves as ECB chairman, was responding to revelations – published by The Times in recent days – that several Test-hosting counties will receive large payments (understood to be GBP500,000 a year) in years they do not host Tests. These payments, Nash alleges, were agreed without the ECB board’s approval or even knowledge.As a former Somerset chairman, Nash was alarmed that the payments would marginalise the 10 non-Test hosting clubs and “clearly signals to many a move to promote eight counties as the first among equals”.It is not hard to understand Nash’s concerns. In recent days Hampshire – a club who will benefit significantly from the arrangement – have announced the signing of Sam Northeast in the face of substantial opposition from other counties. Kent, Northeast’s club since his schooldays, will not benefit from the payments. Is it fair, Nash asks, for such counties to be disadvantaged in these situations? Equally, is it fair that a club such as Glamorgan – that has seen loans of public money written off and has a modest record of producing England players – is rewarded with extra funds?It is also understood that Nash’s attempts to raise his concerns in recent days have been most unwelcome to members of the ECB executive – especially Graves – and he therefore came to the conclusion that he could serve no further purpose on the board.”I hereby resign with immediate effect from the ECB Board,” Nash wrote in a letter to Graves.”I’ve recently become concerned that the standards of Corporate Governance at ECB are falling well short of what’s acceptable and in all conscience I can’t allow myself to continue to be associated with it.”I would be failing in my duty as a director if I didn’t bring these to the Board’s attention and this I’ve tried to do. The current fiasco over the actual / alleged / planned payments to TMGs is an exemplar. Whether intentional or not it clearly signals to many a move to promote 8 Counties as the first among equals. As an ardent supporter of the 18 FCCs this is not a direction of travel I can live with.”It’s also come to my attention in the last 24 hours that my actions as a listening and conscientious NXD are sadly misunderstood and misinterpreted by yourself. I sincerely regret that because all I want is the best for the game and for good governance of the ECB.”I wish English cricket every future success: it’s been an enormous privilege to serve this great game as a County Chairman and ECB Board Director since 2004.”At this stage, the resignation is only an embarrassment to an ECB executive that have talked a good game about corporate governance – Tom Harrison, the chief executive, even used it as mitigation for Ashes defeat. But it has the potential to become much more serious.In the event of an independent inquiry, one obvious area of interest would be the on-going situation whereby Yorkshire, who fared well both in major match allocations and in terms of being awarded the right to host one of the new T20 teams, owe family trusts set up by Graves over GBP20 million. Those Grave trusts also retain a right of veto over who joins or leaves the Yorkshire board.Graves, it might be remembered, left the room when the ECB Board approved the recent major match allocations, as he accepted there was the possibility of a perception of conflict of interest. But did he leave the room when Durham were stripped of their Test status, or when the chairman’s meeting rejected the ECB’s own working-party recommendation into a future T20 competition featuring promotion and relegation rather than the new-team version?There may also be scrutiny of a letter, signed by Graves and sent to Somerset, at a time when the club was faltering in their support of the new-team competition. In the letter, Graves seems to imply that Somerset would be well placed as a future host of one of the new teams, though they subsequently missed out on that opportunity. ESPNcricinfo understands that Somerset did briefly consider a legal challenge to that decision but have been assured they will be better served, in the long term, if they accept their fate.And that may be considered the nub of the problem. For too long, deals have been conducted out of sight and scrutiny. For too long, counties have been forced into acquiescence by offers of patronage or fears of retribution. The ECB, who insisted on non-disclosure agreements during the debate over the future direction of domestic T20, has now reacted to recent negative publicity by threatening to report anyone suspected of ‘leaking’ information to the media to their new regulatory committee designed to uphold standards of integrity. Does that sound like an organisation that welcomes scrutiny and openness?Nash had served as a board member and county chairman for more than a decade but this act, bringing to light the high-handed management of the game, may prove to be his most influential moment.