All posts by h716a5.icu

When Nottingham Forest returned to the Premier League last season, before welcoming an incredible number of new signings, some may have questioned whether they had been too active in the transfer market, unbalancing Steve Cooper's side. One year later, however, and the Midlands club look comfortable enough to secure back-to-back survival in England's top flight hopefully without too much fuss.

In their first game back after the international break, Forest square off against Luton Town in a crucial six-pointer – it is the type of a game that a side hoping to create distance between themselves and the dropzone should be winning.

The likes of Taiwo Awoniyi and Morgan Gibbs-White have been particularly successful for Forest, helping their side to their most impressive moment this season in a 1-0 defeat of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Even with Cooper's attacking options flourishing, however, those at the City Ground are still reportedly eyeing a move for one wantaway forward in the January transfer window, perhaps due to Awoniyi's injury.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

Nottingham Forest's summer spending reportedly reached the €122m (£106m) mark, as a number of names arrived, from Callum Hudson-Odoi to Anthony Elanga in what turned out to be a successful transfer window. The Midlands club will be well-aware of the need to keep their foot on the gas, however, and could, therefore, return to the market in January.

The latest Michy Batshuayi transfer news certainly looks positive for Forest, too. According to Turkish newspaper Sozcu, the forward has requested to leave current club Fenerbahce, and Forest, alongside RC Lens, are tracking the former Premier League winner, who will reportedly cost just €10m (£9m).

With Awoniyi, Origi, and Chris Wood to call upon up top, it could easily be argued that Forest don't need Batshuayi. Given his Premier League experience, desire to leave for more game-time, and relatively low price-tag however, he could be an option worth pursuing to add that extra piece of depth in case any more injuries pop up.

How many goals has Michy Batshuayi scored?

Now 30-years-old, Batshuayi has lost his place in Fenerbahce's starting line-up, having fallen down the pecking order. When he has been given a chance, though, to his credit, the forward has delivered. In three starts in the Super Lig this season, Batshuayi's stats have been impressive, having scored twice and assisted once, whilst also scoring in a Europa Conference League start. It seems like all the former Borussia Dortmund man needs is consistent game-time.

When he has earned minutes on the pitch in the past, Batshuayi has been the centre of praise, including from former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, who said, via the club's official website: "It was interesting to see not just the player – I kind of knew the quality Michy had and it’s always good to see that up close – but also the personality.

"Since early season, how he’s trained, his demeanour, his positivity, and quality when he’s come on, which is obviously the most important thing, have been top class.

"When Tammy is scoring regular goals and getting a firm foot in the team, that’s not easy. It’s the same for Oli [Giroud]. Michy has shown all the right ways of handling that. He has been very good for us so far, and that positive spirit when you’re not playing regularly is not just important for him, cause that’s tough sometimes, but it’s important for the group. He deserves extra praise for that. He’s positive, hard-working, loves scoring goals."

The ball held sway on the opening day and Mohammad Abbas helped Leicestershire hit back after being bowled out

ECB Reporters Network19-Aug-2018
ScorecardOvercast conditions and a lively pitch ensured the bowlers were very much on top as the first day of the Specsavers County Championship match between Leicestershire and Kent ended with honours approximately even.Heavy cloud over the ground at the start of play ensured Kent skipper Sam Billings exercised the away team’s right to bowl first, and opening bowlers Harry Podmore and Darren Stevens made the ball swing from the start.With the ball also nipping off a pitch previously used for a T20 game, it was hard going for the Leicestershire batsmen, and although Harry Dearden hit two fine drives through the covers, Stevens swung one back in to the young left-hander to have him leg before in the eighth over.Grant Stewart dismissed Colin Ackermann lbw with a delivery that swung late from middle and leg and would have gone on to hit off stump, and Ivan Thomas, in his first over, found extra bounce to bowl Mark Cosgrove with an inswinger that came off glove and bat handle and bounced on to the stumps.In the final over before lunch legspinner Joe Denly found the edge of Ateeq Javid’s bat and Sean Dickson held the catch at slip, but Leicestershire captain Paul Horton, who earlier in the day confirmed he had signed a two-year extension to his contract until the end of the 2020 season, battled his way through to lunch.Horton scored just two runs in the first hour, and was dropped by Kent debutant Oliver Robinson at fourth slip off Stewart when he had scored just three, but kept his head down and at the interval had reached 26, having faced 94 deliveries.After lunch saw Kent drive home their advantage. Ned Eckersley and Horton had taken the score on to 114 without too many alarms when Podmore nipped one back off the seam to beat Eckersley’s back foot defensive shot and win a leg before decision.Podmore’s next delivery knocked back Ben Raine’s off-stump, and two overs later Horton, having fought his way through to 49 off 119 deliveries, tried to guide a delivery from the former Middlesex seamer to third man only to get an inside edge on to his stumps, leaving the Foxes struggling on 119 for 7.Zak Chappell and Callum Parkinson added 29 for the eighth wicket before Parkinson edged Ivan Thomas to wicket-keeper Sam Billings, but Chappell, looking to be positive, hit four boundaries in going to 31 when he was hit on the helmet by a Thomas bouncer and retired hurt with the score on 163. It was subsequently confirmed the concussion protocol had been invoked and he would play no further part in the game, with Dieter Klein replacing him.To Kent’s frustration, Abbas and Gavin Griffiths added a further 39 runs for the ninth wicket, and with Klein also chipping in, Leicestershire’s total of 220 did not look uncompetitive.That was certainly the case after Dickson edged an expansive drive at Raine and was caught by Cosgrove at first slip. Raine was also a factor in the dismissal of Heino Kuhn, taking a fine catch falling forward at gully after the South African edged Abbas, while Daniel Bell-Drummond never looked settled before edging Abbas to wicketkeeper Eckersley.Joe Denly survived a huge leg-before shout off Raine, and he and Billings were relieved when the umpires took the players off the field for bad light, with 13 overs remaining in the day.

Erik ten Hag has issued a rallying cry to both players and fans alike ahead of the blockbuster "do-or-die" FA Cup tie against Liverpool this Sunday.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

United set to face Liverpool in FA Cup quarter-finalThe Merseysiders in an incredible run of formTen Hag wants a synergy between fans and players to beat the RedsGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The Dutch manager emphasized the pivotal role of Old Trafford's unwavering support in propelling the team towards victory and securing a last-four berth at the expense of a high-flying Liverpool. Highlighting the historical dominance of United at home against Liverpool in the FA Cup, with no losses recorded for over a century, Ten Hag tried to instil confidence in the Red Devils' ability to triumph once again.

AdvertisementWHAT TEN HAG SAID

In his column for the matchday programme, United Review, Ten Hag wrote: "Just as we need our players on top form, the same is true of our fans. The challenge to you is to help us make the most of our home advantage in the last cup game to be played at Old Trafford this season. Cup games are do-or-die and we need the players and fans to give energy to each other if we are to progress to the semi-finals. The prizes on offer today are huge: a return to Wembley, a step closer to a major trophy and a win over our biggest rivals. To achieve those goals, everybody inside Old Trafford has a part to play, working as one big team. Together, we are a formidable force."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Ten Hag also invoked the memorable 2-1 triumph in the previous Premier League season at Old Trafford to further boost the morale of his troops.

"This fixture always demands concentration, calm and confidence," he explained.

"Every player, whether in the starting XI or on the bench, has a job to do and has to take responsibility for doing it correctly.

"We also had incredible support from the stands when we beat Liverpool at Old Trafford last season and we know, from that experience and other big games, what a difference the fans can make when we really bring the noise.

"I don’t need to explain to anybody the significance and size of this game. We have the two greatest clubs in English football, with the greatest pedigree and the greatest rivalry, facing each other in a knockout tie in the world’s greatest cup competition. When you are a child watching football, these are the games that make you fall in love with the sport; how could anybody not be excited to be a part of this spectacle?"

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images WHAT NEXT?

As United prepare to face their fiercest rivals in a high-stakes encounter, Ten Hag's rallying cry serves as a powerful reminder of the magnitude of the encounter. With players and fans united in purpose, Old Trafford is poised to exhibit an electrifying atmosphere. Whether it will be enough remains to be seen.

ECB chairman forced to abandon plans to present the County Championship trophy after tense meeting with the chairmen of the first-class counties

George Dobell27-Sep-2018Colin Graves, the ECB chairman, was forced to abandon plans to present the County Championship trophy after a tense meeting with the chairmen of the first-class counties.Graves was hoping to present Surrey with the trophy after the meeting at The Oval. Instead Jim Wood, a non-executive director on the ECB board, was charged with making the presentation as the meeting over-ran due to significant disagreements between those present.Some other chairmen, notably Surrey’s Richard Thompson, did make the ceremony, however, with another suggesting Graves was either too angry or too nervous about the reception he may receive from county supporters to appear at the event.The key disagreement at the meeting centred on the spiralling costs of the ECB’s new competition, The Hundred. With those projected costs understood to have more than trebled from £13m to over £40m, the projected profits for the counties have dropped sharply.So heated was the debate that, at one stage, it is alleged a visibly upset Graves told the chairmen that, if they were not happy with the situation, there were mechanisms open to them within the constitution of the ECB to change things. This has been interpreted by some present as an offer to resign, though others have dismissed that as overstating things.If Graves did have any hope of staying on for another term as chairman, however, it has now almost certainly been dashed. It is also likely there will be a review into the costs associated with setting-up The Hundred.Other takeaways from the meeting saw apparent agreement on a reorganisation of the County Championship so that, from 2020, the top division will feature ten sides and the bottom eight. That decision is still subject to a vote, but it seems there is little resistance towards it. As a consequence, three teams will be promoted from Division Two at the end of 2019 and only one relegated from Division One.A request to expand the T20 Blast from 14 group games per team to 16 went nowhere. While it is, in theory, still an option, it looks unlikely to happen at this stage.Meanwhile, the chairmen were shown the key points of the Good Governance Institute (GGI) report commissioned after the controversy into payments made to Glamorgan in return for their agreement not to bid to host Test matches. While the report found an “overuse of informal process”, a “lack of effective stakeholder engagement process” and “the historic absence of appropriate levels of trusts… between board members”, it concluded there had been “no issues of breach of formal policy or procedure which require action against individuals”.And, while it concluded there were “a number of important issues which require reflection and action by the new board of the ECB”, it also found “no evidence of failure to fulfil fiduciary requirements, no decisions which reflect conflicts of interest or failure to provide appropriate levels of leadership”.

Reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano has shared some Tottenham Hotspur transfer news as Spurs cast their eyes on an "interesting" £39m star

Spurs striker targets

The departure of star forward and club-record goalscorer Harry Kane has scarcely been noticed so far. Instead of suffering without their former talisman, Spurs have reinvented themselves as a more fluid attacking team, with new captain Son Heung-min thriving in a more central role. Tottenham, after their latest 2-1 win on Friday night, have extended their unbeaten run to 10 games; winning eight of them in a real statement to the rest of the Premier League.

New manager Ange Postecoglou is seemingly transforming the club, and things haven't looked better than this for quite a long time. However, despite thriving without a traditional number nine of Kane's ilk, there have been suggestions that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and incoming new transfer chief Johan Lange could still sign a new striker next year.

Tottenham are interested in Brentford's Ivan Toney, for instance, who looks set to become one of the hottest commodities in English football once he returns from his ban for alleged gambling breaches. Spurs are eyeing Feyenoord forward Santiago Gimenez as well, according to recent reports, with one agent even saying this week that Spurs are among the "closest" sides to getting him.

Gimenez really "interesting" Tottenham

Now, a very reliable transfer source in Romano has shared his own update on the matter. While he confirms that Gimenez is being watched by Spurs, things don't appear as advanced as previously suggested. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the journalis backs that he's a player really "interesting" Postecoglou's side. Romano also says that Gimenez could leave for just £39 million.

“We know very well that many top clubs around Europe are keeping an eye on the boy,” said Romano.

“From what I’m hearing, something around €45million (£39million) could be the right fee to make it happen. Let’s see if (it’s) in the January window or in the summer window it depends on Feyenoord, more than on the player. The interest of many clubs is there. I think we saw Tottenham linked, because from what I’m told, Tottenham scouts have been following the player already last year.

“While they were following the manager (Slot) they saw that Santi Gimenez is absolutely a very good striker. So Santi Gimenez for sure is a player interesting for Tottenham, but also for many other clubs around Europe, and this is why decisions will be made in the next months. But at the moment, no statement from people close to the player and the only person (handling his transfer business) is the father.”

The 22-year-old has stood out as one of Europe's most in-form strikers this season. Scoring 13 goals and notching a further three assists, his tender age and pedigree could make his reported £39 million valuation a price really worth paying. Gimenez's departure from the Netherlands is surely one to watch as we head into 2024.

Wrexham will have found joy in Mansfield Town's draw with Colchester United on Saturday, with the Red Dragons able to close the gap later in the day.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Mansfield drop points to ColchesterWrexham have chance to move within three points of topThree automatic promotion spots availableWHAT HAPPENED?

The U's took an unlikely lead just 12 minutes into the game at Field Mill, scoring through Harry Anderson's low effort into the bottom left corner from a narrow angle. With the Essex side hovering just above the drop zone on goal difference, Mansfield would have expected to steamroll to three points. The league leaders did find a way back into the game through Lewis Brunt's leveller but could not find that all important winner.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

By dropping two points, Mansfield have opened up the opportunity for those snapping at their tails to crawl ever-closer. Wrexham have the chance to move within three points of the top should they win away at Grimsby Town. However, the Red Dragons will be checking over their own shoulders at Stockport and MK Dons, who could yet prevent them from achieving automatic promotion. There are three places up for grabs.

DID YOU KNOW?

It was revealed that Wrexham's club value has over tripled under their Hollywood ownership of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Shaun Harvey, the club's director, disclosed that since February 2021 the club's value has grown from £2 million ($2.5m) to £9m ($11m). Should the Red Dragons be promoted again, the club stocks will surely only continue to swell.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MANSFIELD AND WREXHAM?

The two sides face off next weekend in a major top-of-the-table clash in League Two. Should the Red Dragons beat both Grimsby and Mansfield, they can go level on points at the top with just six games of the season to play.

West Bromwich Albion are considering a loan move to sign a new forward in January, but a fresh report has revealed that there are two other clubs who are also looking to bring him to the Championship.

West Brom's weaknesses

Carlos Corberan’s side have made a generally positive start to the new campaign having won seven, drawn five and lost three of their opening 15 games, meaning that they currently find themselves fifth in the league table.

Swansea City (3-2)

Leeds United (1-1)

Blackburn Rovers (2-1)

Middlesbrough (4-2)

Bristol City (0-0)

Huddersfield Town (2-1)

Preston North End (4-0)

Watford (2-2)

Birmingham City (3-1)

Sheffield Wednesday (1-0)

Millwall (0-0)

QPR (2-0)

Plymouth (0-0)

Coventry City (2-0)

Hull City (3-1)

The Baggies being in the play-offs at this stage of the term means that the boss is likely to be confident that his squad are capable of competing for promotion against their rivals, but that hasn’t stopped him from wanting to assess his options in the market as to who he could bolster his ranks with.

The Hawthorns outfit currently don't have a natural left-winger in the building as it stands, so that is an area that the manager will be keen to address during the upcoming window, and he already appears to have set his sights on Villarreal’s Ben Brereton Diaz who joined earlier in the summer from Blackburn Rovers.

The Chile international has been reduced to limited game time at his new club having been handed just two starts and six substitute appearances in La Liga (WhoScored – Brereton Diaz statistics), so with the 24-year-old keen for more minutes, chiefs are open to sanctioning a temporary exit for him next year.

West Brom keen on loan for Ben Brereton Diaz

According to TEAMtalk, West Brom are interested in Ben Brereton Diaz, but they aren’t alone in their pursuit of the in-demand attacker.

“TEAMtalk can exclusively reveal that a number of clubs are tracking Brereton Diaz, with Villarreal willing to sanction a loan move for him in January. We understand that amongst those keen are Premier League clubs Crystal Palace and Burnley.

"Crystal Palace and Burnley are not alone in their interest, however, with Championship sides Leicester, Southampton and West Brom also understood to be keeping tabs on the former Blackburn man.”

Brereton Diaz is an "extraordinary talent"

Since the start of his career, Brereton Diaz has posted 81 contributions, 58 goals and 23 assists, in 247 appearances (Transfermarkt – Brereton Diaz statistics), with his prolific form in the final third having previously seen him hailed an “extraordinary talent” by his former manager Tony Mowbray.

The Stoke On Trent born-talent, who pockets £33k-per-week (Villarreal salaries), also has an impressive record against the Baggies having scored three goals vs the Midlands side when part of the opposition, so if he performs this well on the away side, imagine what he’d be capable of under the guidance of Corberan.

Additionally, Brereton Diaz shares the same representative, Wasserman, as Semi Ajayi and Tom Fellows (West Brom agents), so this existing connection that his management already have to the club could give chiefs a small advantage should they decide to pursue a deal for their target in January.

Mikel Arteta shared an update on Bukayo Saka's fitness ahead of Arsenal's clash with Luton Town after seeing him limp off against Manchester City.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Saka had to be taken off against Man CityStruggled to make an impact in the matchArteta issued a positive update on his fitnessWHAT HAPPENED?

Saka, who was initially a fitness doubt leading up to the game against City after pulling out of international duty with England, had to be substituted in the 78th minute of the encounter at the Etihad Stadium, which ended in a goalless draw. The England international was evidently in pain and discomfort as Gabriel Martinelli replaced him in the final quarter of the match.

AdvertisementWHAT ARTETA SAID

Despite fears of a potential injury, Arteta has now confirmed that Saka is "fine" and available for selection against Luton Town on Wednesday night.

"We haven’t trained, just recovered," Arteta told reporters. "We have a short, light session today to prepare for the game, and we will see if he’s in the best condition to start or not."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Saka was far from his best against City as he could complete just 11 passes and was unable to dribble past any defender during his stay on the pitch. However, Arteta remains optimistic that he will play a significant role against Luton as Arsenal aim to keep their title charge on track.

When asked about Saka's ability to play the full 90 minutes, Arteta affirmed: "He certainly is today. We will train today and see the state of every player and make the right decision tomorrow."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT NEXT?

The update from Arteta comes as a relief for Arsenal fans, as Saka's availability adds depth to the squad ahead of a crucial fixture. The manager will hope that his talismanic forward shrugs off any discomfort and revives his scoring touch ahead of a busy schedule for the Gunners, which will see them travel to Brighton on Saturday before hosting Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on April 9.

Rahul Johri was given seven days by the CoA to form an explanation for the anonymous allegation made on Twitter

Nagraj Gollapudi16-Oct-2018The Committee of Administrators (CoA) will take charge of the daily management of the BCCI with the board’s chief executive officer, Rahul Johri, going on leave. Johri, who was named last week in an anonymous allegation of sexual harassment as part of the #MeToo movement, had been asked by the CoA for an explanation and ESPNcricinfo understands he has taken leave to prepare it.Johri – who has not yet publicly reacted – has not visited his office at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai since the allegation surfaced. The CoA had also “exempted” him, at his request, from attending the ICC’s chief executive committee meetings later this week in Singapore. The ICC, ESPNcricinfo has learned, also had reservations about Johri attending the meeting and is understood to have conveyed them to the BCCI.The CoA will rely on the operations teams to minimise the impact of Johri’s absence on the running of cricket as well as the BCCI.Ever since the CoA was appointed on January 30, 2017 as the supervisory authority of the BCCI, Johri has been the panel’s point man, while being in charge of running the board and the main decision-maker. Last week, he and the CoA met the Indian team management, including captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri, to discuss the roadmap to next year’s World Cup, preparation for the forthcoming Australia tour, injury and workload management among other important issues.Vinod Rai, the CoA chairman, told ESPNcricinfo he did not want the issue to “simmer”, and hence gave Johri seven days to respond to the allegations. “It is a purely anonymous complaint,” Rai said. “It is on an unknown Twitter handle and it pertains to a period much before he [Johri] joined BCCI. The CoA felt it would only be fair to us and him that we give him a chance to explain.”Rai, who had also consulted independent voices, pointed out that it was important to seek Johri’s explanation as he was a BCCI employee, and consequently not just his but even the board’s image would be in question.The big challenge for the CoA is that the person who has made the allegation against Johri has not identified herself or written to the CoA directly. In the absence of any investigative powers, it remains to be seen how the CoA will deal with Johri’s response.Other than the CoA, the other arbitrators who will judge Johri’s submission will be the BCCI’s legal team and, if need be the Complaints Committee, which was formed this April under the Sexual Harassment against Women at Workplace Act 2013.

Amidst an injury crisis at the club, Newcastle United's midfield looks bare, with Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali out with an injury and a suspension, while academy product Elliot Anderson is set to be absent for the remainder of the year.

Significant injuries within the squad have impacted the Magpies' performances on the pitch, with Eddie Howe's side picking up just two victories from their previous six games in all competitions.

Head coach Howe has already begun the process of looking for quality players to bolster his midfield department this January and could even make a move for an England international

Newcastle's plan to strengthen the midfield

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Geordie club are keen to bring Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves back to English football, having signed for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal during the summer after six years with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However, the Italian transfer expert has also revealed that Newcastle are keeping tabs on Kalvin Phillips' situation at Manchester City.

It has previously been reported that any deal for Neves would be a loan until the summer but a transfer between the two clubs is increasingly unlikely as Premier League sides have rushed to vote on a ban on multi-club loans, preventing the Magpies from completing any deals with the four teams in Saudi Arabia in which the PIF holds a 75% stake.

With a deal for Neves unlikely to come to fruition, Newcastle could make a move for Manchester City's Phillips, who was once described by former Crystal Palace and Everton winger Yannick Bolasia as a "monster" for England during EURO 2020 when Gareth Southgate's men reached the final of the competition.

How Kalvin Phillips compares to Ruben Neves

Phillips was a star at Leeds United under legendary coach Marcelo Bielsa before earning a £42m move to Premier League champions Man City in 2022. Despite winning a treble in his debut season at the Etihad Stadium, Phillips' game-time has been massively diminished, with the Englishman making merely 29 appearances in all competitions at City, including 16 in the top flight.

This season, the Leeds-born midfielder has featured just four times in the league under Pep Guardiola and the Catalan coach has publicly admitted that the door will be left open for Phillips to leave if the right offer comes in, paving the way for Newcastle to sign him.

Despite his limited game-time over the past calendar year, Phillips is still in the top 2% for passes attempted per 90 compared to others in his position across Europe's top-five leagues, according to FBref.

Furthermore, the 27-year-old is in the top 4% for shots per 90 and the top 4% for clearances per 90, proving his box-to-box presence for City. Additionally, Phillips outperformed Ruben Neves in a number of key metrics last season when both men were plying their trade in the Premier League.

Progressive Passes

7.33

6.51

Pass Completion

90.4%

82.1

Passes to Final Third

10

6.03

Expected Assists

0.07

0.04

Progressive Carries

4.67

0.84

Dispossessed

2

0.39

Tackles Won

1.2

1.24

Stats via FBref

Both players have strengths and weaknesses but Phillips' stats are still quite impressive despite his lack of minutes on the pitch.

The midfielder is hungry to explode and show the quality he possessed at Leeds, so Howe could be making a smart acquisition by bringing the European champion to St. James' Park.