All posts by h716a5.icu

Celtic have held further talks with Josip Juranovic’s representatives over a possible Parkhead switch, according to The Daily Record’s Scott Burns.

The Lowdown: Juranovic on, off, back on

The Hoops were thought to be closing in on a £3m deal for the 26-year-old last Wednesday.

However, 48 hours on, a Polish reporter suggested that a Hoops deal expired for the Legia Warsaw man.

It now seems as if a move for the versatile right-midfielder is once again back on, though, going off recent reports.

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The Latest: Burns, Sky Sports claims

According to Burns on Monday evening, Celtic have re-opened talks over a move for the Croatia international.

Celtic are keen to get a deal over the line and have held further talks with those close to Juranovic.

Sky Sports have since confirmed talks with a story on Tuesday morning, revealing Juranovic is keen on a move to Parkhead.

The Verdict: Sign

Ange Postecoglou recently admitted he would like more signings before the window closes at the end of the month, and bringing in Juranovic could be like signing two players due to his versatility.

He’s turned out as a right-midfielder in all six starts for Warsaw this season and is also capable of playing as a right-back and a centre-back.

On that basis, he could provide centre-back cover while, challenge Anthony Ralston at right-back and could even push for a right-midfield spot in Postecoglou’s 4-2-3-1 system.

In other news: Leeds keen on another Celtic ace alongside Leo Hjelde. 

Former South African Test cricketer Ossie Dawson has died at the age of 89.

Cricinfo staff24-Dec-2008Former South African Test player Ossie Dawson died at his home in Umhlang on Monday at the age of 89.Dawson, who made his Test debut against England at Trent Bridge in 1947, was a fine medium-pace bowler and a useful lower-order batsman. He played nine matches, scoring 293 runs at 20.92. His highest score of 55 came in the drawn Test against England at The Oval in 1947.He also represented Natal and Border at the domestic level, and played 75 first-class matches, scoring 3,804 runs at 34.58. Apart from the six centuries and 20 half-centuries, he took 123 wickets, including three five-wicket hauls.He was as active off the field as on it. said Dawson saw service in World War II with the Royal Durban Light Infantry, fighting in North Africa, where he took part in the Battle of El Alamein in 1942, as well as in Italy, where he earned the Military Cross.Dawson was the fourth-oldest surviving South African Test player, behind Lindsay Tuckett (89), Denis Begbie (94) and Norman Gordon (97), the last South African survivor of the Timeless Test in Durban in 1938-39.He is survived by his wife, Maureen, and five children.

Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge believes there is still a possibility that Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu. 

Tomiyasu has been linked with a move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this summer with Sky Sports reporting that Bologna had rejected a £12.9m plus an extra £2.6m in add-ons bid from Spurs.

Sky Sports also reported that Tomiyasu is said to prefer a move to north London, after claiming that Wolves had inquired about him and Nikola Milenkovic.

Spurs have already completed the signing of one defender this summer, with Cristian Romero joining the club on loan from Atalanta, but Bridge believes there is still interest in the defender from Spurs telling Transfer Tavern: “Are Spurs still keen on Tomiyasu, I don’t know, is that still going to go ahead? I mean, there is interest there still, but they’ve been negotiating with Bologna for about two months now.”

The 22-year-old can play as both a centre-back and a right-back and featured for Bologna in 33 matches last season, scoring two goals, and he played for Japan at the Olympic Games, where he featured on three occasions.

It was reported by football.london that Tottenham wanted to bring in two centre-backs this summer, but with the August 31 transfer window deadline looming, time is running out fast.

It isn’t quite protocol, but nobody could blame Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, for being at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport to greet the arrival of Sri Lanka on Sunday morning

Osman Samiuddin18-Jan-2009
Mahela Jayawardene speaks to the media after arriving in Karachi © AFP
It isn’t quite protocol, but nobody could blame Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, for being at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport to greet the arrival of Sri Lanka on Sunday morning. Pakistan needs international cricket like humans need water, and given that Mahela Jayawardene’s men were the first team of standing to visit Pakistan for a bilateral series since September 2007, the gesture was both well-meant and indicative of the hosts’pleasure.Not that the generosity of spirit is likely to infect Sri Lanka, for they don’t arrive as the obliging tourists. They are a hardy bunch, well-balanced between young and old, and have a fair sprinkling of game-changing superstars. Pakistan closely followed the “grey areas” in sketchy recent ODI performances in Bangladesh, but they wouldn’t have failed to notice that they still managed to win. Just in case they did, Jayawardene was on hand to remind them.”We’re still winning,” he said. “There are periods when you go through tough times as a team and you need to pull through them. That’s what character is all about. I haven’t seen too many teams being 6 for 5 [as Sri Lanka were in the tri-series final against Bangladesh] and still winning. Even when we came here for the Asia Cup, we weren’t favourites and we won it.”But since then they have been decidedly patchy, winning nine of 13 games, including a home series loss to India and a spate of unconvincing wins against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Batting is the concern, as a highest of 227 in that period suggests.”The wickets were tough in Bangladesh but we have to struggle through that and challenge ourselves,” Jayawardene admitted. “But consistency is something we are working on. After the 2007 World Cup some new guys came in and we went through a transition. It has been patchy, especially if you consider the bowling attack we have. But Upul [Tharanga] and Sanath [Jayasuriya] are back and they bring some experience, but we can be much more consistent with our batting.”It might very well be an instruction from captain Jayawardene to batsman Jayawardene. Those 13 games have produced a personally wretched run: just two fifties, an average of barely 21 and four ducks. Jayawardene thus finds himself in territory Mark Taylor and Nasser Hussain, among many other captains, have visited in recent years. You may lead a nation, but you can’t buy yourself a run.”I’ve always said that I have two different roles. When I’m captain, I’m a captain and I always consider myself as a batsman for the team. It is a concern because, as a batsman, I need to contribute. I don’t see that I’m out of form because, when I play Tests, I’m batting really well, getting big runs. It’s just the application and batting in different situations, trying to get through those periods that I need to work hard on.”The opponent will need to be worked on as well, for Pakistan are straining to play some serious cricket. Aggressive cricket, secret strategies and some young talent has been promised by the hosts. Jayawardene’s response is to keep it simple: “This is not warfare, just a simple game. Our way is to play hard and tough. Pakistan is always Pakistan and they are a very tough side whether they play regularly or not. They have got quite a fewindividuals who can take the game away from you on a given day so it’s going to be a tough series. We are looking forward to the challenge.”As is all of Pakistan.

The Harry Kane saga may be rolling on but Tottenham Hotspur were keen to show that there is life after their key striker. A 1-0 win over champions Manchester City on the opening day of the new campaign proves that this Spurs side can beat anyone in the league, irrespective of whether Kane is involved.

It’s also thought that the club is keen to sign another centre forward before the end of the window, either as a partner for Kane or a direct replacement. The media is naturally fascinated but there is a young striker in reserve who seems to have a big future ahead of him.

Spurs Turn to Scarlett

Many young strikers have come and gone at Spurs: For every Harry Kane there is a John Obika and a Cameron Lancaster to balance things out. That’s why the fans are being cautiously optimistic over Dane Scarlett and the potential for the 17 year old to have a big future.

He’s already featured in the first team and, while he’s yet to score, Scarlett has looked sharp in his brief substitute appearances to date. He was prolific at Under 23 level for the club and, when called up for the England Under 16s in 2019, he scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Denmark.

It’s early days but Spurs have rewarded the young striker with a two-year contract and there is genuine optimism among the supporters.

Realistic Aims

2020/21 was a disappointing season for Spurs fans as their club finished outside of the Champions League places. Having finished in seventh, Tottenham will now compete in the new Europa Conference League which is little consolation for the likes of Harry Kane.

With or without Kane, it would be unrealistic to expect Spurs to win the title this season. A more realistic aim for the club under Nuno Espirito Santo would be to finish inside the top four and claim a Champions League place.

Having beaten Manchester City in their first game of 2020/21, Tottenham have shortened to fifth favourites for that top four finish. Sports betting sites affiliated with sbo.net list Manchester City as the favourites, followed by Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.

Those figures will continue to change throughout this 2021/22 Premier League season and the markets will remain open until such time as the final places are decided. Sbo.net’s recommend sportsbooks will react to results and update the figures accordingly.

Readers of the website will also be able to take in news items and opinion pieces relating to the world of football. Those articles may well help make decisions and, if it’s time to place a bet, there is a panel of recommended sportsbooks listed, many of whom have generous welcome promotions.

Once on board, there is a range of funding options available together with some effective customer service. It’s a useful website for the betting community but anyone looking to stake on Spurs will want to see the club solve their striker issues.

Falling out of Favour

Talking up a young player before they are ready is a dangerous business and another striker on the Spurs staff is proving that theory. Before Irish teenager Troy Parrott had made his senior debut, he was being referred to as the next Robbie Keane.

Keane had been one of Tottenham’s most prolific and popular performers of recent years and he was known for his impressive scoring return from a young age. Parrott duly made his Spurs debut as a 17 year old but he’s subsequently been loaned out to Millwall and Ipswich Town. In 32 combined games for those lower league clubs, he scored just twice.

There are many more examples of young players failing to live up to their hype but there is genuine hope that Dane Scarlett will be different. The fact that he’s yet to be loaned out suggests that Spurs will offer him a genuine chance in the first team although that situation could change before the close of the summer window.

If he remains in North London, the teenage striker could get an opportunity to shine in the EFL Cup and the Europa Conference League. Good performances in those competitions could well prove the belief that Tottenham have a true star on their hands.

Daniel Vettori had no complaints over New Zealand’s near-miss for a first one-day series win in Australia, but he was disappointed the rain did not stay away for a couple more overs

Peter English at the Gabba13-Feb-2009
Martin Guptill scored 64 off 34 balls before rain ended the contest © Getty Images
Daniel Vettori had no complaints over New Zealand’s near-miss for a first one-day series win in Australia, but he was disappointed the rain did not stay away for a couple more overs. Martin Guptill’s breath-taking 64, which came from only 34 balls, pushed the tourists to 33 short of their target of 156 with six overs remaining when the weather closed in again.Guptill and the debutant Brendon Diamanti, who was 26 not out, still had the batting Powerplay in hand before the rain. The untimely cloud burst forced the match to be abandoned and allowed Australia to keep the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy after the 2-2 series result.”It’s an odd feeling,” Vettori said. “You wanted to see the game pan out to get a result because it could have been a really good game. It probably would have come down to the Powerplay, so it’s a strange feeling. We’re happy with the overall 2-2, but still would have loved a chance to win the series.”Only the fantastic draining powers of the Gabba allowed the match to start, but New Zealand had the worst of the batting conditions after beginning their chase in light rain. “It just became too hard, the rain,” Vettori said. “You could see the umpires wanted to stay out there to get a result, but it was too hard.”There was further pain for the visitors with injuries to Kyle Mills and Ross Taylor in the greasy conditions. The game was delayed by more than five hours and Mills hurt his right Achilles during his opening spell of 2 for 33.Mills will fly home on Saturday and miss Sunday’s Twenty20 at the SCG, with Diamanti taking his spot in the squad. Taylor is also doubtful for the last match of the tour after hurting his hamstring and requiring treatment the ball before he holed out to Mitchell Johnson on 4.The Australians had Brad Haddin’s 88 and Callum Ferguson’s 55 to thank for their competitive total of 4 for 168, which was reduced to 155 when two overs were cut because of more rain. Ponting grew frustrated towards the end of a “topsy-turvy game” but was satisfied to have taken the trophy.”It was right in the balance actually when the heavy rain came,” Ponting said. “At the same time we felt if we grabbed one more wicket the momentum would have swung back in our favour.”

A number of Liverpool supporters have been reacting to Roberto Firmino’s injury, saying the Reds must now sign another attacker in the coming days.

Jurgen Klopp’s team could only draw 1-1 at home to Chelsea on Saturday evening, in what proved to be a thrilling contest at Anfield.

Liverpool couldn’t break down their ten-man opponents for the entirety of the second half, with the Blues defending expertly and the hosts running out of ideas.

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The Reds suffered a first-half blow when Firmino had to go off with a hamstring injury, with Klopp admitting after the game that the forward will need a scan [via The Times‘ Paul Joyce on Twitter].

It looks as though the Brazilian could now be absent for a number of weeks, potentially highlighting the need for another attacker to come in before deadline day on Tuesday.

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Liverpool fans call for another attacking signing

These Liverpool took to Twitter to react to the injury, calling for business to be done in the transfer market.

“Sign forward now I beg, the only good forward we have right now is Salah and Jota, idk what happened to Mane”

Credit: @dnlfc_

“If we don’t buy one more attacking option, we will end up having another trophyless season. Prove me wrong please”

Credit: @mrafihdyt

“Oh no”

Credit: @concobhar2017

“So it begins”

Credit: @rebekkarnold

“This is just the beginning. yeah we don’t need any new signings”

Credit: @CarloMarlito

“Christ we’re even more done”

Credit: @RHLFC7

In other news, some Liverpool fans are unhappy with Klopp’s recent comments. Find out why here.

Straight-jacketing a bowler to stick to a pre-determined plan might at the outset seem like killing the creativity of a bowler but Mahendra Singh Dhoni sees it just as sticking to a method and being disciplined

Sriram Veera in Colombo07-Feb-2009
Mahendra Singh Dhoni: “It’s better to have a plan – may be a bad plan – in mind than be confused.” © AFP
In early 2008, RP Singh spoke of Mahendra SinghDhoni’s captaincy. “Sometimes in ODIs, since Dhoni is behind the wicket, you don’t get to communicate that often. The nature of the format means you don’t change your plans too much. There are generally just two spells to be bowled,” he had said. “So under Dhoni, you execute what you have already decided off the field and when you change, he would come running toyou and discuss.”Nearly a year later, Dhoni has been running to Ishant Sharma during match situations almost pleading with his bowler to bowl to a plan and to set fields, and to experiment only within those parameters. This is the mantra Dhoni has been harping on since he became captain.Strait-jacketing a bowler within a pre-determined plan might seem like killing his creativity but Dhoni sees it just as sticking to a method and being disciplined. According to him, the plan is drawn up before a game in conjunction with the bowler andthus allows for the creativity to flourish as a part of the system; he is simply against making an impromptu decision on the fly. “It’s better to have a plan – may be a bad plan – in mind than be confused,” Dhoni said. “When you are the top of the bowling mark, you need to have one clear thought of where to bowl.”If you are going to bowl a slower one, then you need a deep midwicket, not a third man,” Dhoni said after the second ODI. He wanted better clarity of thought from Ishant, who took the mostwickets but was expensive in the Powerplay in that game.In the absence of Harbhajan Singh, Dhoni has relied on his fast bowlers to take wickets. And in the era of the batting Powerplays, especially on flat tracks and without your specialist spinner, the role of a fast bowler becomes critical.Ishant knows what he has to do and where he is going wrong. “I get to bowl three or four overs at the start and then I have to come again and bowl in the Powerplay,” he said today. “You just have to stick to your fields. I don’t have to do too many experiments.”Ishant has seven wickets at an average 26.14, second to the left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, butit has come at an economy rate of 6.10. That is the highest for an Indian bowler to have bowled over seven overs in the series.Ishant, who likes to hit the deck and derive pace off the track, has struggled a bit on the sluggish pitches. “Bowling has been difficult as the ball does not come on. It’s not a big thing,” he said. “The Indian wickets are similar and I am learning to bowl in all conditions. Zaheer [Khan] advises us in the nets and even during matches. When I am struggling or not bowling well in the game, he comes and tells me what to do.”When you are winning everything, the team spirit does tend to be exaggerated. But there are some pleasant signs that have been a constant feature in the series. Zaheer has constantly talked with Ishant in the nets and during the games. Venkatesh Prasad, India’s bowling coach, has been intensively working with all the bowlers in the practice sessions. During practice Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag have been suggesting to the bowlers on where they are going wrong and what lines to bowl.In the middle, the captain has led by example. Dhoni got out in the 90s in the last game, going for the big shot and he explained it thus: “There was a ball change in the 34th over and we had to take the second Powerplay as well. So I thought one of the batsmen had to quickly get his hundred and capitalise in the Powerplay.” Even cynics will have to admit that that there is at least clarity of thought and a sense of purpose in the ranks. Every one appears to know what their role in the team is. Not for nothing are India ranked No. 2 in the official ICC rankings.The doubters will say that the hard job is sustain over a period of time – year after year, month after month, day after day, spell after spell, ball after ball. India is looking at it in the other way – Do it ball after ball and the rest will follow. An interesting 2009 lies ahead of us.

After seeing the transfer window shut on Tuesday night, Aston Villa boss Dean Smith will be quickly turning his attentions towards his side’s next Premier League game against Chelsea.

While they may not have got the midfield signing they seemed to want – Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse was of course one of their main transfer targets – they will be getting Morgan Sanson when he returns from injury.

But while the January signing will be hoping to finally make his mark on the first-team after seeing his first few months interrupted, Smith should instead look to unleash Carney Chukwuemeka.

The 17-year-old has already been pictured in Aston Villa’s first-team colours this season, appearing in both the Premier League and Carabao Cup.

Question remarks remain about whether he will be a permanent member of the starting line-up when Villa get all their players back from various issues, but Chukwuemeka certainly has the natural talent and ability to keep his place.

The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece has already suggested “Chukwuemeka will have a big role” to play, while former Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has previously urged Smith to throw Chukwuemeka into the deep end with the first-team.

He exclusively told FFC: “I kind of go off the fans’ views – I know he’s been scoring goals in the Under-18s. When someone is scoring goals, they’ve showed they’re a massive threat, it does attract football clubs and when you’re getting Manchester City and United hovering around the vicinity and are trying to take the young players away.

“This is where I feel if he’s that good we need to see him filtered through to the first team especially at this stage of the season. We’ve seen the likes of Louie Barry, who I felt would have had more of a chance this season, and I would put him in that category. I’d like to see more of him playing, because if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”

The 6 foot 1 starlet is beginning to fill out in his physical frame, and that only bodes well for his chances of acclimatising to the rigours of the Premier League.

He’s already got a taster of football at the highest level. Now it’s time for Smith to unleash him, even despite the impending return of Sanson.

Meanwhile, Villa had a howler on transfer deadline day…

A number of Liverpool supporters believe Jurgen Klopp has hinted at staying at Anfield beyond 2024, following an interview regarding his future.

The German has done an incredible job in charge of the Reds, overseeing one of the greatest periods in the club’s history.

Having arrived in October 2015, the 54-year-old has guided Liverpool to both Premier League and Champions League glory, playing some breathtaking football along the way.

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Klopp is undoubtedly one of the best managers in world football, so the hope is that he remains at Anfield for as long as possible.

His current contract expires at the end of the 2023/24 season, and while he could choose to leave at that point, he has hinted in an interview with RTL [via Anfield Edition on Twitter] that he will take a break “whenever it will be”:

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Liverpool fans react positively to Klopp remark

These Liverpool fans reacted to Klopp’s comments on Twitter, claiming it means he could stay on longer than 2024.

“‘Whenever it will be’ seems to suggest he’s not ruling out another extension”

Credit: @LoungeActJack

“‘Whenever it will be’ he might sign a new contract”

Credit: @Georgelfc196

“‘Whenever it will be’…extension till 2030 let’s gooooo”

Credit: @Karunagaraa

“‘whenever it will be’, extension incoming song with Mo”

Credit: @MR_LFCRN

“Four word love story: ‘whenever it will be'”

Credit: @officialgy_

“Sorry la you’re not allowed to leave”

Credit: @Lallanatelli

In other news, Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing an England international. Find out who it is here.