Newcastle United had scored through Alexander Isak's penalty. Nottingham Forest, without a win in seven matches and losing lionised manager Steve Cooper as a result, were surely headed for further misery.

But Newcastle's faltering form proved to unravel what promised to be a triumphant day at St. James' Park, and Chris Wood came back to haunt his former club with a well-taken hat-trick to offer some respite.

Related PIF eyeing Newcastle deal to sign "great" goalkeeper in January

This could be a shrewd move by the Magpies…

Posts ByTom Cunningham Dec 28, 2023

The Magpies, having qualified for the Champions League last season, have now lost six matches from their past seven across all competitions and are in dire need of some reinforcements, having been decimated by injuries across the campaign.

Eddie Howe will remain convinced of his squad's ability to succeed in the Premier League, but there is no disputing the fact that something needs to change in January, with recent rumours suggesting that a summer transfer target could now make the move to Tyneside.

Newcastle transfer news – Kalvin Phillips

According to the Daily Telegraph, Newcastle bosses are confident that a deal can be struck to sign Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips on loan for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Magpies are desperate to fortify their squad with impactful signings this winter but are constrained by Profit and Sustainability rules, effectively restricting the options available in the transfer market.

Phillips would be allowed to depart the Etihad Stadium on loan and would bring industriousness and Premier League experience, with Howe and United's technical director Dan Ashworth hoping to agree a deal swiftly.

Transfer specialist Rudy Galetti has confirmed that the club are "set to open talks" to sign their number one target, but with Juventus also pushing for a deal, it's right that efforts are made early to secure his services.

Kalvin Phillips' Manchester City career in numbers

Having dazzled with Leeds United and played an instrumental role in his boyhood club's rise from the Championship and sublime return to the Premier League, Phillips turned the heads of more than a few top European outfits.

And when Manchester City came calling in 2022, the 28-year-old couldn't resist the allure of English football's standout side and completed a £45m transfer.

However, a dream move turned into a nightmare when injuries precluded a chance at wedging his way into a prominent position, and the £150k-per-week ace would ultimately only start four matches across the entirety of the 2022/23 campaign as the Sky Blues won the treble.

Kalvin Phillips: Key Characteristics

Strengths

Weaknesses

Tackling

Aerial duels

Intercepting

Discipline

Blocking

Direct free-kicks

*Sourced via WhoScored

Despite a full pre-season under his belt this summer, Phillips' fortunes have not turned any brighter and he remains marooned on the fringe of one of English football's greatest squads.

Often, pragmatism is a virtue and it seems that all parties have accepted that a change of scenery would be apt for Phillips' future, and Newcastle are only too happy to accommodate.

Kalvin Phillips' style of play

At his best, Phillips is a tenacious and cultured midfielder with a wealth of tools fit to serve a squad like Newcastle's challenge for continental qualification.

The 31-cap England star was fantastic as Leeds recorded a ninth-placed Premier League finish in 2020/21, on their return, captivating with their offensive efforts and winning over supporters through their energy and expression.

Across 29 appearances that season, he made 2.6 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 1.7 clearances per game and completed 85% of his passes, leading The Times' Henry Winter to marvel over his all-encompassing skill set.

As per FBref, Phillips ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 2% for passes attempted, the top 9% for shots taken, the top 7% for clearances and the top 19% for aerial wins per 90.

While he has only received limited action over the past 12 months, such statistics do highlight the crispness and composure that Phillips holds within his skill set.

Once described as a “monster” of a midfielder by former Crystal Palace maverick Yannick Bolasie, Phillips' struggle to make an impact under Pep Guardiola's tutelage does not define him as a player, and he would be a credit to Newcastle's impressive team, perhaps even merging with Bruno Guimaraes in the centre to revive the squad's success.

Imagine Kalvin Phillips & Bruno Guimares

Howe is the mastermind behind Newcastle's stunning rise to the fore since the PIF takeover in 2021, but the £40m acquisition of Lyon midfielder Guimaraes has proved to be one of the most influential additions to any Premier League side in recent memory.

Having now amassed 84 displays for Newcastle, scoring 11 goals and supplying nine assists, the Brazilian is regarded as one of the division's standout stars, with teammate Dan Burn even dubbing him "world-class" for his performances.

Ranking among the top 16% of midfielders for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive passes and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90, the 26-year-old is the perfect orchestrator in the centre, but Sandro Tonali was signed in the summer to complement his style, and after struggling to acclimatise the Italian was banned from football for ten months in October for breaching betting rules.

Bruno Guimaraes: Similar Players

#

Player

Club

1

Gavi

Barcelona

2

Adrien Rabiot

Juventus

3

Manuel Locatelli

Juventus

4

Rodrigo Bentancur

Tottenham Hotspur

5

Guido Rodriguez

Real Betis

*Sourced via Football Transfers

Once hailed as a “Rolls-Royce” by journalist Josh Bunting, Phillips is composed and assured in his passing and could offer the kind of style to allow Guimaraes to assume an even more remarkable role.

While Newcastle probably need to make several signings to combat the injury problems, Phillips' availability on a loan deal marks an excellent opportunity to complete an astute move, and Howe must ensure that this one gets over the line.

Journalist Dean Jones has shared an "interesting" transfer update on West Ham United and their pursuit of Stuttgart star Serhou Guirassy.

Steidten targeting new striker in January

Technical director Tim Steidten is rumoured to be growing in power at the club, with insider ExWHUemployee claiming he is now viewed as co-chairman David Sullivan's 'right-hand man' behind-the-scenes.

High earner "ready to quit" club as West Ham want him, Declan Rice is a fan

A January exit is very much on the cards.

By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 13, 2023

The German was employed earlier this year to assist West Ham in their recruitment, and it is believed his "main focus" is now bringing in a striker next month.

The January window is open for business in just under two weeks, with other reliable media sources like Fabrizio Romano claiming West Ham's board are "working" on transfers for the winter window.

Many strikers are regularly being tipped as candidates to strengthen manager David Moyes' forward line. RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner could reportedly join West Ham as one option, while there have also been links to Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke, Bayer Leverkusen starlet Adam Hlozek, Paris-Saint Germain forward Hugo Ekitike and, of course, Guirassy.

The Guinea international has been in scintillating form this campaign, scoring 16 goals in just 12 Bundesliga appearances. He also sits just behind Harry Kane in the division's scoring charts, with Guirassy's contract also containing a very tempting £15 million release clause.

West Ham are among the sides chasing a deal for the 27-year-old, and according to GiveMeSport reporter Jones, they stand a decent chance of landing him if certain conditions are met.

Journalist shares "interesting" Guirassy to West Ham update

Speaking to GMS, Jones says West Ham are sure-fire contenders for Guirassy who is in "red-hot" form right now.

“The race to sign Guirassy is getting quite interesting because half the Premier League are now considering whether they should be signing him in January, but I’m learning that this will probably come down to big pay offers," said the reporter.

“The release clause makes an actual transfer relatively easy to get going, but because of that, the player himself will probably be looking for a handsome package that lands in his account, and as such, I think it’ll come down to who can put the best terms on the table.

“West Ham are definitely on the lookout for a striker, and they would probably have a decent chance of getting him if they are willing to push the boat out and offer him the sort of deal they might not usually put out there for a player of this age that has had this career path.

“But he’s on fire, a European boot contender, and goals are hard to find these days at the top level.”

The African's record is made all the more impressive by the fact he sustained an injury earlier this campaign. Despite missing a chunk of matches, he is still among the Bundesliga's most potent marksmen by goals scored, a sure indication he would seriously strengthen Moyes' options.

Gary Neville has urged Manchester United not to appoint England manager Gareth Southgate as a possible successor to under-fire Erik ten Hag.

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• Southgate tipped as possible successor to Ten Hag
• Neville advises United against hiring England boss
• Believes the timing is not right for all parties

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ten Hag is under pressure to keep his job at Old Trafford and amid their underwhelming results, Three Lions manager Southgate has been linked with replacing him. However, former Red Devils star Neville said Southgate to United "can't happen".

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• Getty Images
  

  WHAT GARY NEVILLE SAID

  He said on the Stick to Football podcast: 'I've come to the conclusion that [Gareth] Southgate can't happen. There's no way Manchester United can wait until mid-July, when pre-season's already started. They'd look like they don't know what they're doing. And, there's no way Gareth can announce it before a major tournament. He won't do that."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United appear to be going backwards under manager Ten Hag, despite them reaching the FA Cup final this season. They are eighth in the Premier League, may fail to qualify for Europe and they could end the campaign trophyless. While Neville is an admirer of Southgate, it appears he wants his old club to look elsewhere should the former Ajax boss get dismissed.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  While Southgate is preparing to lead England at this year's Euros in June and July, Ten Hag's United face Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, followed by another home clash against Newcastle United on Wednesday.

Kylian Mbappe hinted at his impending Real Madrid transfer as the French forward insisted he's leaving PSG with his "head held high".

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Mbappe set to leave PSG as free agentAdmitted that Ligue 1 has a "special place" in his heartBut remains "excited" for his next ventureWHAT HAPPENED?

The 2018 World Cup winner has already announced that he is not going to continue at Paris Saint-Germain beyond the summer, bringing an end to a seven-year stint at the Parc des Princes. Mbappe has won several accolades during his tenure with the Parisians and was recognised as the Ligue 1 Player of the Season for the fifth successive time for his goal-scoring exploits in 2023-24, which have propelled his side to another league title.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Despite winning several domestic titles with PSG, Mbappe once again fell short of guiding them to European glory after falling to beat Borussia Dortmund in the last four of the Champions League. Nonetheless, he claimed to be proud of his achievements with PSG and is "excited" to embark on a fresh challenge – which is most likely to be with the champions of Spain.

WHAT MBAPPE SAID

Speaking at the UNFP (French Players’ Union) awards, Mbappe said: “A page is turning. A chapter in my life is closing. You can prepare all you want, but when the time comes, it still means something. Ligue 1 has always had a special place in my life. I have always honoured and tried to be a worthy representative of the league, to bring it to the top level.

"I’ll leave with my head held high, having done everything I could but I couldn’t have done it without the clubs that I played for, firstly AS Monaco and then of course PSG. I’m going to miss it. A page is turning in my life. I’m very excited by what is to come but that is something else. Today, I am here to say thank you and repay the trust that I have been shown. It has been a long path and I am very happy to have played a part in the league’s history."

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Mbappe could reportedly be unveiled as a Real Madrid player after the Champions League final on June 1. However, he remained tightlipped when asked about his next club at the end of the award show.

"Now is not the time. There’s a right time for everything," he said.

The French forward will return to action with PSG against Nice on May 16 and will follow it up with a trip to Metz on Sunday evening. He will play his last game in PSG colours against Lyon on May 25 in the French Cup final.

Western Province Cricket Association chief executive was confident the problem had been resolved and would not affect the T20I

Liam Brickhill19-Mar-2019The floodlight failure that brought a premature end to the fifth and final one-day international between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Newlands on Saturday “could not have been detected early in any pre-match testing which takes place before any domestic or international match,” according to a statement from the Western Province Cricket Association.One of the floodlight pylons failed during the match, and the lighting problem became an issue as the sun set just after 7pm and artificial lighting took over, with the umpires leading the players from the field at the end of the 28th over of the innings. Technicians worked on the problem for a full two hours, but the umpires took the decision to end the game after making an inspection at 9.10pm and deciding that no play would be possible in the prevailing conditions, with South Africa winning by 41 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.WPCA chief executive Nabeal Dien expressed regret at the lighting failure, and explained the cause of the problem. Many South African fans who took to social media to voice their disappointment suggested that load-shedding might have been the cause – South Africa is currently experiencing an energy supply crisis and Cape Town has been hit with multiple daily power cuts – but Dien explained that a short circuit was to blame.”According to our electrical engineers, there was an underground cable that short-circuited due to rodents or age,” he said. “This also caused the switches and circuit breaker to trip continuously in the pylon.”Dien was confident that the problem had subsequently been resolved, and that the Twenty20 international on Tuesday evening would be unaffected. “We apologise to both the Proteas and Sri Lankan teams as well as to the general public who attended the match and who were viewing on television,” he concluded.

Liverpool progressed through to the semi-finals of the League Cup with an emphatic 5-1 win over West Ham United at Anfield on Wednesday night.

It was a clinical display from the Reds as they dispatched the Hammers with relative ease to secure their clash with Fulham in the last four of the competition.

This was a much-needed result and performance after the disappointment that came from their 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp's side had 34 shots and racked up 2.38 xG but failed to come away with all three points as their finishing, and shot selections, left a lot to be desired.

One change that the German boss made for the cup clash was to move Darwin Nunez out to the left flank, instead of through the middle as a centre-forward, and he thrived in that position.

Liverpool could now unleash the Uruguay international on the wing on a permanent basis by securing a deal for a player to lead the line.

Liverpool transfer news – Karim Adeyemi

It was reported during the summer transfer window that the Reds were looking at Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi as a possible target to bolster their attack.

The outlet also named Federico Chiesa and Leroy Sane as targets if the club lost Mohamed Salah, who was being pursued by Al Ittihad at the time.

Calcio Mercato claimed that Klopp likes Adeyemi 'a lot' and that is why the Germany international was on the list of players to possibly replace the Egypt international.

However, Liverpool could reignite their interest in the £32m Dortmund attacker and look to revive his career as a centre-forward, rather than viewing him as a winger.

This would then provide Klopp with a number nine to spearhead his attack, which would then allow Nunez to be permanently moved to a wide role.

Nunez's performance against West Ham in numbers

The former Benfica star lined up on the left of the attack, with Cody Gakpo as the number nine, and caught the eye with a fantastic performance.

Nunez created an eye-catching four chances for his teammates and registered one assist as he teed up Curtis Jones for the second goal.

Klopp's "superb" Liverpool star looked as good as Curtis Jones vs West Ham

Anfield returned to winning ways with a sumptuous attacking performance to advance to the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 21, 2023

No player on the pitch produced more key passes than the Liverpool whiz, who also completed one of his two attempted dribbles in 90 minutes.

He was able to use his physicality and pace to be a constant threat to the Hammers defence to create chances for others, rather than being there to get on the end of passes from others, which is where the forward has struggled this season.

Nunez has been far too wasteful in front of goal as a centre-forward in the Premier League and moving him out wide to be a creative outlet could be a fantastic piece of management by Klopp.

Nunez's Premier League record in numbers

The 24-year-old dynamo joined the Reds from Benfica in the summer of 2022 and has failed to prove himself to be a reliable scorer in the top-flight.

During the 2022/23 campaign, the Uruguay international produced nine goals and three assists in 29 league appearances for Liverpool.

In that time, Nunez missed a staggering 20 'big chances' but was able to create 11 'big chances' for his teammates. This suggests that he did not make the most of the opportunities that came his way and the same could be said for the players he was setting up.

His finishing has not improved since the end of last season as the forward has produced four goals and spurned a whopping 15 'big chances' in just 16 Premier League outings this term.

He has, once again, been a solid creative outlet for the Reds, though, with five assists and six 'big chances' created in his ten league starts.

This means that Nunez has missed 35 'big chances' and created 17 of them for his teammates since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, which suggests that creating for others is a bigger strength of his than finishing off opportunities.

As you can see in the chart above, the Liverpool ace is an outstanding creator who can cause constant problems for opposition defences.

Therefore, a wide role could be perfect for the chaotic attacker as the team would rely on him to create for his fellow attackers rather than the other way round.

In order to make Nunez a winger on a permanent basis, Liverpool could need to sign a centre-forward in January and this is where Adeyemi comes in.

The statistics that show why Liverpool should sign Adeyemi

The German ace has spent the majority of his career at Dortmund so far playing as a winger and it has not brought the best out of him.

Adeyemi has produced 11 goals and eight assists in 50 appearances for the club since his move from Salzburg in 2022, with two of those outings coming as a number nine.

He has not been a consistent performer as a scorer or a creator of goals whilst playing on the left or the right flank and has not been given a fair opportunity to prove his worth down the middle.

Whereas, the 21-year-old marksman was mainly deployed as a number nine throughout his time in Austria with Salzburg and it allowed him to thrive in the final third.

The £83k-per-week finisher racked up 32 goals and 19 assists in 67 competitive appearances as a striker for the club before his move to Dortmund.

During the 2021/22 campaign, Adeyemi, who was once dubbed a "nightmare" for defenders by talent scout Jacek Kulig, plundered 19 goals and only missed 14 'big chances' in 29 Bundesliga matches for Salzburg.

Appearances

29

Starts

11

Goals

Seven

Big chances missed

Five

Assists

Seven

These statistics suggest that the Germany international has the potential to be a prolific centre-forward for the Reds if they are able to get the best out of him, rather than being wasted out wide at Dortmund, due to his impressive finishing and goal record as a striker.

This would then free up Nunez, who is currently being wasted through the middle when his creativity could be harnessed out wide week-in-week-out, to play on the wing on a permanent basis.

Patrick Bamford blew off any visible cobwebs beginning to form for Leeds United last game, turning back the clock as the lone striker for the Whites and scoring in a 3-0 demolition job of Birmingham City.

The injury-prone 30-year-old dazzled up top throughout the win before being substituted off late into the second half, registering three on-target efforts – as per Sofascore – in an attempt to add to his total.

Yet, with his sketchy injury record worrying those at Elland Road still, Farke and co could sign a brand-new striker this month to ease any concerns and give competition to the likes of Georginio Rutter and Joel Piroe.

Leeds transfer latest – Kieffer Moore

The Sun reported earlier this week that Leeds, among many other Championship suitors, are interested in securing a deal for Kieffer Moore this month, with his current club AFC Bournemouth now stating that they're open to letting the 6 foot 5 striker leave.

The lofty attacker is the subject of interest from a barrage of second-tier outfits, which includes Ipswich Town, Sunderland, Birmingham and West Bromwich Albion, alongside Farke's Whites – according to the report.

Alex Crook of talkSPORT has claimed too that Moore is wanted by his ex-club in Cardiff City, the Bluebirds hopeful of pulling off a potential homecoming.

Leeds will want to race to the front of the ever-growing queue for the 31-year-old regardless of any Welsh-based sentiment or interest from elsewhere, landing a big upgrade on Bamford if a move is pulled off.

Kieffer Moore's style of play

Moore would provide Leeds with an imposing presence up top, unique compared to the current group at Elland Road with Rutter more of a stylish and silky footballer and Piroe more agile and poacher-like than the Welshman.

The 31-year-old – who is valued at €5m (£4m) by CIES Football Observatory – could be utilised as an effective weapon by Farke when games are slipping through Leeds' fingers therefore, a more direct attacker that the ball can be launched at to grab a goal when the going gets tough.

The last 10 Leeds United left-back signings – and where they are now

It has been a problem position for the Whites.

ByCharlie Smith Jan 3, 2024

Despite struggling in the Premier League this season for the Cherries, Moore has a reputation for being a prolific forward when featuring in the division below.

That killer instinct in the Championship was very much apparent during his Cardiff days, hence the attraction from the Bluebirds to land Moore again this January.

Season

Games

Goals

21/22

26

9

20/21

42

20

19/20

36

10

17/18

20

4

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Hitting double figures in back-to-back seasons for Cardiff before leaving the club midway through the 2021-22 season for pastures new on the South Coast, Moore will want to get back to his goalscoring best in the division with Leeds if signed.

The towering striker was snapped up for a £5m fee at the time to win his services, a fee Bournemouth might now regret paying with Moore unable to bag goals for fun in the top flight.

Moore's statistics at second tier level trump Bamford's best numbers in the league, the ex-Nottingham Forest youth product turned seasoned Leeds figure's best total was scoring 17 goals for Middlesbrough during the 2014-15 campaign, with his second-best goal tally coming in at 16.

The 6 foot 5 forward's rich vein of goalscoring form for Cardiff before his departure saw manager at the time Mick McCarthy shower Moore with praise, describing the current Cherries man as "terrific" and "a very effective centre forward" that was a crucial focal point for his side.

Leeds will pray that Moore playing semi-regularly again at Elland Road can awaken this ice-cold finisher from within him once more, with Bamford likely fearing for his Whites future consequently.

With Piroe and Rutter cemented starters under Farke, Moore would bring experience and quality in spades as a backup with youthful Mateo Joseph providing the Championship outfit with another tricky attacker if needed from off the bench.

Nick Winter took four wickets to leave the first-innings scores almost level before the South Australia captain held firm

Alex Malcolm04-Mar-2019

Travis Head works into the leg side•Getty Images

A fighting unbeaten 72 from South Australia captain Travis Head helped the Redbacks propel their lead beyond 200 against Western Australia at the WACA.Head became the first player in the match to pass 50 and remained unbeaten at stumps alongside Daniel Worrall after Warriors paceman Matt Kelly had taken four wickets.The Redbacks started their second innings with a lead of two runs after left-arm seamer Nick Winter claimed 4 for 23 to wrap up WA’s first innings. fiveRedbacks opener Jake Weatherald fell early, caught behind off Kelly for 5, before Conor McInerney and Jake Lehmann prospered with a 67-run stand.Much like the first innings, Hilton Cartwright was called into the attack to make the breakthrough, and it worked as McInerney fell caught behind within sight of 50 for the second time in the match.Lehmann was Kelly’s second scalp for 30 before Cartwright picked up another, rattling Callum Ferguson’s stumps.But Head stood firm as wickets tumbled at the other end. Kelly was on a hat-trick at one stage but the Redbacks skipper kept the scoreboard moving, reaching a fluent half-century that featured 11 boundaries.He found an ally in Worrall as the pair put on 39 in the last 12.3 overs of the day to reach stumps unscathed with a lead of 220.Earlier, Winter and Worrall took the last six wickets between them to leave the Warriors all out for 157 with a two-run first-innings deficit.Winter bowled nightwatchman Kelly early in the day before Cartwright and D’Arcy Short both fell caught in the slips driving at Worrall. Josh Philippe rode his luck for an enterprising 47. He hooked a six but was fortunate that three outside edges found the third-man boundary as South Australia opted for only two slips instead of three.Philippe and Joel Paris put on 51 for the eighth wicket and looked set to give WA a lead but Winter picked up Paris and Liam Guthrie in three balls before Philippe holed out to mid-off an over later off Worrall.

Karnataka trounced Maharashtra to clinch their maiden domestic T20 title in Indore. In doing so, they extended their T20 winning streak to 14 matches, the joint-highest winning streak for an India-based side along with Kolkata Knight Riders.The IPL franchise, incidentally won their second IPL title in 2014 during this run after Manish Pandey struck a match-winning 94 then. Incidentally, it was Pandey at the forefront for Karnataka, leading them to their first domestic title since they won the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2017-18.While this was in no way a balm to sooth their disappointment of crashing out of the Ranji Trophy in the semi-finals stage for two seasons back-to-back, the emergence of a young batting group would please the team management, headed by former Karnataka and Railways strongman Yere Goud and former fast bowler S Aravind.While it was Mayank Agarwal, who capped off a relatively lean tournament with a sparkling unbeaten 85 in the final to make a mockery of a 156 chase – Karnataka won by eight wickets and nine balls to spare -it was rookie Rohan Kadam who led their batting charts all through.PTI

Kadam, a 24-year old left-hander whose batting style elicits comparison with Mumbai stalwart Abhishek Nayar, set the tempo at the top to make a destructive 39-ball 60 in a 92-run second-wicket stand with Agarwal off just 61 deliveries. Kadam finished the competition as the highest run-getter: 536 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 129.78. In all, he stuck five fifties and a century in his first full tournament for Karnataka.It was a comeback of sorts for him, given he was nowhere in the state reckoning after making 17 in his only List-A appearance two years ago. In KL Rahul and R Samarth’s absence, he played the role of an enforcer at the top, providing momentum for the middle order. Pandey, handed Karnataka’s captaincy full-time, aggregated 331 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 171.5.It wasn’t just their batting that clicked. The bowling, with the presence of experienced R Vinay Kumar and Abhimanyu Mithun – who have missed the IPL bus after being unsold at the auction – provided early breakthroughs time and again. In a relatively high-scoring final on a tired surface that has hosted two weeks of cricket, Mithun’s contribution of 2 for 24 was invaluable.The scalp of Ankeet Bawne in particular, to break an 81-run stand with Naushad Shaikh, after Maharashtra were wobbling at 55 for 3, prevented a final kick. Mystery spinner KC Cariappa too, bowling with the new ball, didn’t do his credentials too much harm, finishing with a frugal 1 for 26 off his four overs.Karnataka were immensely benefited by the presence of a third pacer to back their experienced duo. With Prasidh Krishna, who made a name for himself with Kolkata Knight Riders last season, playing a sporadic role, V Koushik made use of his opportunities to finish as Karnataka’s highest run-getter: 17 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 13.13 and economy of 6.36. While his figures in the final were a modest none for 31 off his quota, he’d left a considerable impression on the team, with Pandey singling out his efforts during the tournament at different times.For Maharashtra, this was a game of what-ifs. Shaikh, their only batsman in the top 10 run-getters in the tournament, impressed with his six-hitting prowess, as did Nikhil Naik, fast becoming a T20 only player for them.In fact it was Naik, who brought them into the title clash on the back of a destructive 95 not out in the semi-finals against Railways, single-handedly converting a sub-140 score into a match-winning 177. His 58-ball knock had four fours and eight towering sixes, two of which were sent over the roof. Incidentally, it was these big-hitting qualities that earned him a bid from Knight Riders for IPL 2019. In Naik and Shaikh, Maharashtra may have found some consolation as they were made to reflect on another tale of being ‘so near but yet so far.’

MatériaMais Notícias

Nos primeiros minutos de uma ligação que perdurou para além de uma hora, dona Maria, aos 81 anos, já deixou claro: “(…) eu amo o Palmeiras.” E ouse duvidar dessa mulher que mora sozinha, aliás, muito bem acompanhada de seu cachorro, o Felipão, e sua enorme coleção de porquinhos. Sua vida? O Palmeiras. Sua história? Venha conosco pra conhecer.

>> Confira a classificação atualizada do Brasileirão e faça sua simulação
>> Sampaoli de malas prontas para a França, PSG mira substituto para Mbappé… Veja o Fim de Semana do Mercado

Maria Heloísa Moreira Lemes ganhou a internet na última sexta (20), ao ligar na rádio Jovem Pan, no pós jogo da emissora, para criticar a abordagem dos jornalistas na cobertura de São Paulo x Palmeiras, mas também contra a postura da imprensa no dia a dia com relação ao clube de coração dessa alviverde.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasPatrick de Paula celebra marca de 50 jogos no Palmeiras: ‘Um sonho realizado’Palmeiras21/02/2021PalmeirasGanhando minutos preciosos, Renan cita momento de aprendizado no PalmeirasPalmeiras21/02/2021Futebol NacionalPalmeiras x Atlético-GO: onde assistir, arbitragem e escalaçãoFutebol Nacional21/02/2021

Pra quem não entendeu a história, esse é o acontecimento. pic.twitter.com/UEPTNcOiC7

— JG Falcade (@GFalcade21) February 20, 2021

Dona Maria contou ao Nosso Palestra sobre essa ligação que viralizou entre os palmeirenses nas redes sociais.

Sincerona

– Eu não peço desculpas daquilo que falo, se falei foi porque quis. O Abel é educado e ainda pediu desculpas (após se exaltar com a arbitragem). Mas acho que ele estava certo (ao reclamar com a arbitragem), pois ele tem que defender aquilo que faz. Só que a imprensa está engasgada em “como o Palmeiras descobriu o Abel?”. Não é da conta deles, eles não têm nada a ver se o Palmeiras pediu informações aqui ou acolá e descobriu o Abel. (O clube) foi atrás de um treinador e trouxe, está ai! Todo o dia eles sentam o pau nisso, criam especulações, estão jogando verde para colher maduro. Essa gente não vale o ar que respira! – esbravejou a torcedora.

E sua indignação com a imprensa já não é de hoje. Em uma lembrança querida com Valdivia, personagem querido e polêmico do Verdão, Dona Maria contou que adora o meia e que não achou nada justa a forma como parte dos jornalistas tratou a saída do chileno.

– Falei pra eles a respeito de jogadores também. Não gostavam do Valdívia, eu adoro o Valdívia. Gosto demais dele. Mas no dia em que ele ia embora do Palmeiras, pela última vez, o comentarista falou “poxa, o Valdívia tá indo embora, cairia como uma luva no São Paulo”. Pô, viviam falando mal, diziam que tinha a “sala do Valdívia” na Academia (o Departamento Médico), aí depois falaram que cairia como uma luva no São Paulo. Se o Valdivia saía a noite, todos ficavam sabendo quem ele beijava e tudo mais. – criticou.

Vida de estádio

Dona Maria não liga pra idade. Sua vida é ligada ao Palmeiras de forma visceral e incontestável. Em tempos normais, estar no Allianz Parque é um hábito. Não à toa, o Palmeiras já entrevistou a ilustre torcedora e até apresentou sua coleção de porquinhos e suvenir do time do coração.

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Nome: Maria Heloísa Moreira Lemes
Idade: 78 anos
Plano: Avanti Prata
Função: apoiar o #MA10RDOBRASIL

Venha você também ➤ https://t.co/62NhQ66LM6#SomosAvanti #SomosPalmeiras pic.twitter.com/2ab7WDuBtS

— SE Palmeiras (@Palmeiras) December 10, 2018

– Eu gosto muito de ficar atrás do Gol Sul. Se eu chego em cima da hora ao Allianz e está lotado, a torcida abre espaço e eu fico ali, adoro. Amo o Palmeiras. – Quando meu filho ficou maiorzinho, ele era palmeirense e ia ao estádio. Eu ouvia os jogos no rádio, ficava doente quando o Palmeiras perdia, porque está no sangue, né? – contou.

Dona Maria pausou o papo e quis contar como foi sua primeira ida ao antigo Palestra e trouxe uma das mais bonitas histórias dessa entrevista.

Quando meu filho ia casar, ele estava de mudança para o Rio Grande do Sul e quis assistir a um jogo no estádio antes de se mudar. Minha filha disse para eu ir junto com ele, era o começo da passagem do Luxemburgo no Palmeiras, aquele timaço, com o Mundinho (Edmundo), e acabei indo com meu filho. Fui livre, leve e solta. Chegamos ao antigo Palestra, ficamos bem ali na arquibancada, no parapeito, e o Edmundo fez um gol. Nossa, pra mim aquilo valeu muito. Só que ele havia batido a cabeça no lance e fiquei com medo de ele ser substituído, então fiquei gritando “Mundinho, eu quero mais um!” e, logo em seguida, ele fez outro gol. Aí eu desabei e o Palmeiras acabou fazendo seis gols. Nossa, cheguei em casa feliz da vida! Então, minha filha disse que eu tinha que ir mais ao estádio e passei a ir com meus sobrinhos.

O jogo em questão era Palmeiras 6 x 1 Rio Branco-SP. Edmundo, de fato, marcou aos 33′ e aos 35′ do primeiro tempo.

E quando Maria Heloísa fala sobre seu amor pelo Palmeiras, não é exagero. Ela tem relação com o clube até no nome de seus cães, além de defender veemente alguns nomes polêmicos da história do clube.

– Eu adoro o Felipão. Tenho um pastor alemão e adivinha o nome dele? Felipão. Eu já tive um outro também chamado Edmundo, chamava ele de Mundinho. Gosto do Valdívia. Quanto mais polêmica acontece com um jogador, é atrás desse que vou. Adoro o Felipe Melo! Quando completei 81 anos, minha filha fez uma festa surpresa para mim e, bem atrás do meu bolo, tinha uma foto enorme do Felipe Melo, eu dei muita risada porque gosto dele, gosto de gente assim. Não gosto dos jogadores moles, gosto de gente que não engole seco.

O dia do tiro

Por fim, Dona Maria contou sua história mais incomum. E tudo aconteceu em meio à ditadura militar. Com sues filhos, em sua casa, ela teve um dos piores momentos da vida protagonizado por Fleury, delegado e um dos nomes mais repugnantes do período.

Era na época da ditadura, acho que 5 de julho de 1971. Falei para a minha vizinha: “Marisa, vai sair tiro”, porque ele (Fleury) tinha uma metralhadora, mas eu demorei a perceber porque eu não sabia quem era ele, e ele não estava numa viatura, era um Fusquinha normal. Então ela correu para a minha garagem e se escondeu no vão da escada que ia para o sobrado; eu, como já estava na escada, coloquei as crianças no terceiro degrau e meu pé ficou no primeiro. Quando pisei no primeiro degrau, a bala entrou na minha pele e se alojou na parede. Abaixei a cabeça para ver a minha perna e, nesse instante, uma bala atingiu a parede atrás de mim. Eu só não morri porque não era meu dia. Após o susto, alguns rapazes do açougue da minha rua me socorreram e fui levada ao hospital, graças a Deus fiquei recuperada. – detalhou, ainda assustada.

Dona Maria Heloísa espera poder voltar ao Allianz Parque após a pandemia. E fica a questão: quem não quer torcer 90 minutos ao lado dessa palmeirense?

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