Tag Futebol

Both teams have had little ODI practice since the 2019 World Cup, but Pakistan will be under more pressure following a dismal outing against England in July

Danyal Rasool16-Sep-2021

Big picture

After all those years of vying for wider international acceptance of its ability to host cricket in the country, one of the elites have come marching into Pakistan at long last. There is no other way to describe New Zealand – finalists at the last two ODI World Cups and the No.1-ranked side in the world – who gear up for three ODIs in Rawalpindi over the coming week. They might not have some of their biggest stars, off to the IPL, but if you know anything about New Zealand, it’s that their quality lies in the collective rather than the individual.For some on the outside, these ODIs might not appear to carry much significance. The world’s eyes will likely be transfixed on the IPL, and with the T20 World Cup approaching, it is that format that lays claim to greater pertinence. Besides, an inability on Pakistan’s side to secure DRS for the series, and New Zealand’s subsequent reluctance to accept these ODIs as part of the ODI World Super League canon, means the three games won’t build towards World Cup qualification. They will instead stand alone as three 50-over games that do little more than offer a glimmer of each side’s strengths and weaknesses in a format that doesn’t quite become relevant for at least another year.Related

• Pak-NZ ODIs not to be part of WC Super League

• Blundell ruled out of Pakistan ODIs

• Pocknall happy with where Allen's game is at

• de Grandhomme stares at uncertain NZ future

But for Pakistan, these games carry more significance. New Zealand are among the teams hardest to persuade to return to play cricket in Pakistan after a tour in 2002 had to be cancelled mid-way following a bomb attack at the hotel where the sides stayed. In 2015, the New Zealand Cricket Players Association chief Heath Mills criticised Zimbabwe for deciding to visit Pakistan, saying independent security experts advised against touring. That, six years on, a top-ranked New Zealand side turn up in Islamabad will be seen as proof, both home and abroad, of the very tangible progress Pakistan has made.Pakistan saw major upheavals off the field, too, with the recent appointment of Ramiz Raja as PCB chairman and the resignations of Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis as coaches. With ODIs few and far between since the 2019 World Cup for Pakistan, predicting how they might go is an even trickier task than it normally might be. However, after a truly dismal outing against a second-string England in July, Babar Azam’s side will be under pressure to show that was the exception rather than the norm.There’s even less recent data to go on when it comes to New Zealand, who have played a mere seven ODIs since heartbreak at Lord’s. That included clean sweeps against India and Bangladesh at home, but the World Cup finalists haven’t played in Asia since November 2018, when they split a three-match series against Pakistan in the UAE 1-1. There are new faces and places up for grabs in the side in the absence of the likes of Kane Williamson and Trent Boult. Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra are the more exciting ones among them. And while stand-in captain Tom Latham might never have played in Pakistan, he has tended, historically, to feel more at home in this continent than anywhere else in the world.

Form guide

Pakistan: LLLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
New Zealand: WWWLW

In the spotlight

With the extent to which spin dominated New Zealand’s tour to Bangladesh and the unavailability of fingerspinner Mohammad Nawaz due to a positive Covid test, this might be Iftikhar Ahmed’s best shot at securing a place in the Pakistan ODI side. The batting allrounder hasn’t ever got going in this format and fell from favour in T20I cricket after a fairly bright start under previous head coach Misbah, but a case of needs might see him becoming a mainstay of the lower-middle order this series. His contributions with the bat have historically been meatier than Nawaz’s were, and while five of his six ODI wickets came in a single game against Zimbabwe, an economy rate of 4.67 means the control he can provide through the middle order is likely to be useful.Rachin Ravindra endured a challenging first tour with the bat against Bangladesh, but really, who didn’t on those tracks? If the surface at Pindi Cricket Ground is more amenable to batting – and history suggests it will be – the longer format will give him a bit more space to fully express his talents. His List A record does need improving on, but a strike rate in excess of 92 and a highest score of 130 appears encouraging for New Zealand.Babar Azam’s team will be looking to make the most out of home advantage•AFP

Team news

Nawaz’s absence opens up a spot for Ifktikhar in the side, while Imam-ul-Haq will open alongside Fakhar Zaman. Shadab Khan and one of Usman Qadir and Zahid Mehmood will play, so spin is set to play a dominant role for Pakistan’s bowling strategy.Pakistan: (probable): 1 Fakhar Zaman 2 Imam-ul-Haq 3 Babar Azam (capt) 4 Saud Shakil 5 Mohammad Rizwan (wk) 6 Iftikhar Ahmed 7 Shadab Khan 8 Hasan Ali 9 Usman Qadir 10 Haris Rauf 11 Shaheen Shah AfridiTom Blundell being ruled out means Tom Latham is set to take on the gloves in addition to the captaincy, while top-order batter Finn Allen is set to make his ODI debut. With Ajaz Patel the only specialist spinner in the squad, offspin-bowling allrounder Cole McConchie might fancy his chances of getting an ODI cap, too.New Zealand (possible): 1 Rachin Ravindra 2 Finn Allen 3 Will Young 4 Tom Latham (capt&wk) 5 Henry Nicholls 6 Colin de Grandhomme 7 Cole McConchie 8 Scott Kuggeleijn/Doug Bracewell 9 Ajaz Patel 10 Jacob Duffy/Blair Tickner 11 Matt Henry

Pitch and conditions

It’s the tail-end of the monsoon season in Pakistan, but there’s little chance of rain on the day. Conditions should be hot and humid, and dew may kick in towards the back end of the second innings.

Stats and trivia

• Latham’s career ODI average is 34.02, but in Asia, it soars to 46.81.
• Pakistan have won all three ODIs the two sides have played in Rawalpindi.
• Azam is 15 runs away from reaching 4000 ODI runs. Should he get there in the first ODI, he will have taken 84 matches to get there, joint quickest with Hashim Amla. Amla, however, reached the mark in 81 innings, while Friday will be Babar’s 82nd, should he get to bat.

Quotes

“In Bangladesh, the surfaces dictated the sort of variations that the bowlers needed to bowl whereas potentially here, we’re a little bit unsure – we haven’t played in these conditions before. For us, it’s about trying to adapt to the conditions and try to think on our feet a little bit.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Perto de completar 40 dias no comando do Santos, Cuca tem méritos na evolução do time na temporada. Alguns pontos específicos dão o tom do trabalho do treinador neste segundo semestre. Talvez o principal deles seja a recuperação do bom futebol de Gabriel, com estímulo, mudança de posicionamento e conversa com o camisa 10. O Peixe não perde há oito jogos, não sofre gols há sete e subiu rodada a rodada da 17ª colocação para a oitava, com uma invencibilidade de cinco partidas.

O posicionamento de Gabriel em campo mudou com Cuca. Embora siga fazendo a função de centroavante, o camisa 10 passou a ocupar melhor as faixas do campo, como o próprio treinador ponderou. Se antes jogava mais de costas para o gol, agora joga mais de lado, podendo se munir da própria arrancada em direção ao ataque. Antes, seu jogo era ceifado pelo falta de intimidade com a função. Gabigol tem ótima finalização e velocidade para ser um camisa 9 mais móvel.

Gabriel funciona muito melhor quando ganhar liberdade no ataque, mas pode continuar a jogar próximo da área, sem perder, assim, o bom chute a gol. Na prática, não precisa ficar preso ao modus operandi de um centroavante clássico, mas também não deixa de ser a referência no ataque santista. É o norte do ataque alvinegro.

– Gabriel foi mais uma vez decisivo, ocupa bem os espaços. Não é para ser a referência, não fica só na área. Tem uma arrancada muito boa, presença de área, arrancada para acompanhar a jogada do Derlis para fazer o gol. Tem ocupado melhor as faixas do campo que centroavante ocupa. Estamos melhorando. Temos buscado isso – disse Cuca a respeito do Menino da Vila.

RelacionadasSantosCuca compara Rodrygo a Neymar e valoriza evolução de Gabigol no PeixeSantos09/09/2018SantosCuca valoriza Santos construtor e vê rival em vantagem antes de clássicoSantos09/09/2018BrasileirãoArtilheiro do Brasileirão brilha, Peixe bate lanterna e aumenta série invictaBrasileirão09/09/2018

Os números do Santos nos últimos jogos:

8 partidas invicto
7 jogos sem sofrer gols
5 rodadas sem perder no Brasileirão

Além de Gabriel, outros pontos chamam a atenção no time. O primeiro deles é a capacidade de organização e bom posicionamento da defesa com o treinador. Mesmo com a mudança das peças – Lucas Veríssimo e Luiz Felipe perderam alguns jogos, embora o segundo já esteja recuperado. Gustavo Henrique tem feito ótimos jogos e Robson Alves, o antigo Bambu, aos poucos mostra suas qualidades também.

Por fim, chama a atenção em Cuca a capacidade de buscar soluções. Rodrygo não vinha bem nos últimos jogos, mas tem sido treinado pelo “professor” para atuar mais centralizado, desafogando o setor mais carente do time. Se antes parecia um desperdício ter o Rayo por ali, no jogo contra o Paraná mostrou que pode ser sim um bom “construtor” de jogadas para o Santos.

Forte mesmo com a mudança de algumas peças – um dos melhores nos últimos jogos, Carlos Sánchez, por exemplo, está lesionado, o Santos vai provando que o trabalho está sendo bem feito e dando certo.

A round-up of the first day’s play from the quarter-finals of the Ranji Trophy Elite League

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Jan-2012A vigilant, unbeaten 82 from Aakash Chopra, aided ably by Dishant Yagnik helped Rajasthan recover from a vulnerable position against Hyderabad and finish the first day at 220 for 5 in Uppal.Rajasthan’s decision to make first use of the pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium ran into early trouble against Hyderabad’s spirited new-ball bowlers. Anwar Ahmed struck in the very first over of the match, removing Vineet Saxena for a first-ball duck. Pagadala Naidu too made a quick impact, getting Hrishikesh Kanitkar to nick behind to make it 8 for 2. The in-form Robin Bist suggested a recovery, but he too was dismissed soon, by left-arm spinner Lalith Mohan, as the defending champions slumped.Chopra battled through the tough times, before dragging his side out of the rut with three partnerships. The first two, with Rashmi Parida and Puneet Yadav for company, averted the danger of a collapse, but it was the third – an unbroken 91 with Yagnik for the sixth wicket – that pushed his side towards parity. Parida and Yadav both perished after making starts, with the former falling to left-arm spinner Mehdi Hassan who conceded only 13 runs in his 12-over spell. Mohan trapped Yadav in front for 33, to leave Rajasthan 129 for 5 before the Chopra-Yagnik show began. Chopra scored just six fours in his dogged innings that lasted 272 balls and counting. The senior partner played second fiddle to Yagnik, who was more adventurous in scoring his 60 off 130 balls, with seven hits to the boundary. The pair will be keen to extend their association into the second day, and push Rajasthan towards a safe first-innings total.Maharashtra ground their way towards a decent total, reaching a solid 202 for 4 on the first day against Tamil Nadu at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Maharashtra’s progress was founded upon a 116-run opening stand between Harshad Khadiwale and Chirag Khurana, though the hosts will be pleased with the extent to which they managed to claw back into contention by stumps.The openers departed in quick succession after building Maharashtra an impressive platform. Khadiwale’s 61 came off 157 balls and featured eight fours, while Khurana missed out on a half-century, falling to Aushik Srinivas for 44. Thereafter, No. 3 batsman Sangram Atitkar guided Maharashtra with an unbeaten half-century. Tamil Nadu made two more breaches at the other end, with Srinivas ending the day with figures of 2 for 64, though he was guilty of bowling eight no-balls. Maharashtra’s go-slow approach meant L Balaji and Yo Mahesh boasted economy-rates close to 1.5 runs per over. The slow rate of scoring also means that quick strikes on the second morning will allow the hosts to claim control.Haryana, on the back of a haul of 8 for 40 from 21-year-old Harshal Patel, took control against Karnataka at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Karnataka chose to bat first on a pitch that had a dark tinge and came up against an inspired Haryana attack. While Harshal kept the batsmen guessing at one end – he got some balls to move away, while others held their line – and invariably snared them, the other bowlers kept things tight. They were backed up by their captain, Amit Mishra, who set attacking fields all through. Harshal, who is in his debut season in first-class cricket, finished with what are the best figures in the Ranji Elite season so far.Robin Uthappa settled down and looked like the only Karnataka batsman to have any measure of the bowling in an attacking innings of 35, but it did little to help Karnataka. The hosts did not get any relief even when they took to the field, as Haryana’s openers, Nitin Saini and Rahul Dewan, batted out 38 overs and struck unbeaten half-centuries. They went to stumps only 31 behind, with all ten wickets intact.Harshal spoke to ESPNcricinfo at the end of the day’s play. Click here for more.At the Holkar Stadium in Indore, Madhya Pradesh’s fast bowlers fought back with relentless discipline, after their batsmen displayed poor application against an average Mumbai attack, on a wicket that demanded it. Click here for the full report of the day’s action.

Paul Nixon, the former England wicketkeeper, believes that India captain MS Dhoni has “sore hands” which could be affecting his wicketkeeping on the ongoing England tour

Nagraj Gollapudi28-Aug-2011

Paul Nixon, the former England wicketkeeper, believes that India captain MS Dhoni has “sore hands” which could be affecting his wicketkeeping on the ongoing England tour. “I have been watching and studying the way he is keeping. From what I have seen I think he has sore hands,” Nixon said.”He normally catches the ball strong and aggressively. I have seen him keeping the ball in an exaggerated manner. You do that as a keeper when your hands are sore.”Dhoni came to England in 2007 on India’s previous tour as a wicketkeeper-batsman, unburdened by leadership duties. It was his first trip to England and he was keen to learn the right habits from the likes of Nixon, who, at 40, is still keeping wicket for Leicestershire. “We looked at certain body positions and did a few drills,” Nixon said.A combination of a relentless schedule, captaincy duties and, importantly, questionable positioning behind the stumps culminated into Dhoni committing frequent mistakes during India’s 4-0 defeat to England in the Pataudi Trophy. Embarrassingly, Dhoni missed some easy takes while his indecision to go for catches at times affected the slip fielders. In a way it also had an impact on his batting when he could muster only two half-centuries in eight innings.Nixon, a veteran of 22 first-class seasons with stints at Kent, Leicester and briefly England, could only sympathise with Dhoni. “England is one of the toughest places in the world to keep because of the conditions and pitches mainly. The touring is relentless, and as a captain you have other things to do rather than go on a little bit of practice after the odd game,” Nixon said, adding, however, that there was always a way out.”That is when you need good guys around you to say, ‘come on, let’s go and do a bit of [keeping].’ Because most times you sacrifice yourself and say, ‘I will be alright,’ and that is the type of character Dhoni is. He is a giver and a magnificent character.”Dhoni skipped the optional training session today and decided to travel to Old Trafford to watch the Premiership football game between his favourite club Manchester United and Arsenal.Nixon said that if their “paths cross tomorrow” he would be more than happy to have a chat again with Dhoni. “He is a strong character, has got a lot of pride. I am intrigued to talk to him tomorrow.”

Middlesex took a massive step closer to promotion by claiming maximum batting bonus points against Leicestershire at Grace Road

13-Sep-2011
Scorecard
Middlesex took a massive step closer to promotion by claiming maximum batting bonus points on the second day of their County Championship Division Two game against Leicestershire at Grace Road. Top-of-the-table Middlesex reached stumps on 401 for 8 and now needed just to avoid defeat to book their place in Division One next season.A fine knock of 97 from Dawid Malan and half-centuries for John Simpson and Gareth Berg were the bedrock of the total that put Middlesex on the brink of promotion with Northamptonshire managing only three batting points against Gloucestershire.There were times, however, when the nerves kicked in for Middlesex and at 320 for 8 in the 85th over they were by no means certain of reaching the 350 total required to collect a fourth batting point. But Berg, joined by Tim Murtagh, safely saw them pass that mark and then the pair cut loose, adding another 50 runs in the next five overs to leave Middlesex in a powerful position with a lead of 82 at the close of play.Berg finished on 70 not out from 81 balls having hit three sixes and five fours as the Leicestershire attack toiled in the evening session. Only off-spinner Jigar Naik, who picked up three wickets, really troubled the Middlesex batsmen who were in control for much of the day.Andrew Strauss and Sam Robson gave them a solid start with an opening stand of 75. Strauss, who survived a confident lbw appeal from Nathan Buck before he had scored, looked in good touch and the partnership produced 50 in nine overs. A 30-minute rain interruption stopped the flow of runs and Strauss was out on the resumption, caught behind by Ned Eckersley for 32 off the bowling of Alex Wyatt.Robson then edged the same bowler to wicketkeeper Eckersley for 46 but Chris Rogers and Malan shared a third-wicket stand of 71 in 22 overs to give Middlesex command again. But, when Rogers and Jamie Dalrymple were both dismissed by successive deliveries from Naik, Middlesex looked in some trouble again.Malan, however, continued to play some fine shots against some loose bowling from the Leicestershire seamers, reaching his 50 off just 59 balls. The 200 total came up via the 31st boundary of the innings with Malan clipping Rob Taylor away to the ropes.But, with a century looking certain Malan was out for 97 off 142 balls, caught behind as he chased a wide delivery from Wayne White. Simpson steadied things again, scoring a half-century off 86 balls before top-edging a catch off Taylor and, when Ollie Rayner and Steven Crook both fell cheaply, Middlesex looked to be stumbling in their bid for the prize.But Berg and Murtagh regained the initiative and by the close the visitors were in a commanding position with every chance of achieving the double over the bottom-of-the-table hosts.

تقدم ولفرهامبتون بهدف أول أمام نظيره ليفربول في المباراة الجارية بين الفريقين بكأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي.

وتأتي تلك المباراة بين ليفربول وولفرهامبتون في إطار منافسات دور الـ32 من بطولة كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي، موسم 2022/23، على ملعب “الآنفيلد” معقل الريدز. هدف ولفرهامبتون الأول أمام ليفربول

وسجل جونزالو جيديس هدف ولفرهامبتون في الدقيقة 26 بعد خطأ فادح من أليسون بيكر حارس مرمى ليفربول.

البداية كانت بعد تسديدة راؤول خيمينيز ناحية المرمى، ليمسك أليسون الكرة، قبل أن يرسلها إلى تياجو ألكانتارا الذي لم يتمكن من التعامل جيدًا مع الكرة، لتُقطع منه.

ثم ينجح أحد لاعبي ليفربول في استخلاصها وتمريرها إلى أليسون، الذي حاول بدوره تمريرها إلى دفاع ليفربول، ولكنها اصطدمت بـ جونزالو جيديس الذي استغل الفرصة وسدد الكرة في الشباك.

ويمكنك متابعة البث المباشر بالفيديو لحظة بلحظة لمباراة ليفربول وولفرهامبتون من خلال الرابط.

MatériaMais Notícias

As últimas semanas no Vasco estão sendo aceleradas. Eliminação na Conmebol Libertadores, protestos dos torcedores, drama na Copa do Brasil, crise política… Para apaziguar o clima no vestiário, o técnico Zé Ricardo e a cúpula do departamento de futebol, com o diretor executivo Paulo Pelaipe, conversam com os jogadores e os mesmos estão correspondendo com o entendimento pela situação vivida no clube de São Januário. Pelaipe lembrou que o mesmo elenco que está passando por estas situações está bem no Campeonato Brasileiro.

– O que nós conversamos no vestiário com o treinador e a cobrança que fizemos aos jogadores ficou no vestiário. São coisas internas. É evidente que ninguém ficou satisfeito com a atuação, nem o treinador, nem a comissão técnica e tampouco os atletas. É importante ressaltar, entretanto, que essa equipe que jogou contra o Bahia é a mesma que conquistou sete pontos em três jogos disputados no Brasileiro. Temos um jogo a menos e se tivéssemos vencido essa partida, estaríamos hoje na ponta da tabela. É preciso equilíbrio para avaliar cada momento – destacou o dirigente.

O pagamento em sua totalidade das dívidas salariais com os jogadores relacionadas a 2018 contribuiu para amenizar o clima. Após a goleada sofrida para o Bahia na última quarta-feira em Salvador, uma conversa no vestiário da diretoria foi feita. Há a lembrança de que ninguém está satisfeito no elenco – todos sabem, inclusive, que uma possível eliminação em julho na Copa do Brasil prejudicaria também os vencimentos, já que as premiações dos jogadores são estabelecidas de acordo com os valores fase a fase recebidos pelo clube. Pelaipe também comentou sobre estes débitos.

– Estamos trabalhando dentro do que é possível. Possuímos uma folha de pagamento e temos que honrá-la. Acabamos de pagar o salário de abril no sétimo dia do mês de maio e também quitamos algumas coisas pendentes de direito de imagem. Em 2018, é importante deixar claro, não temos nenhum atraso com nenhum dos atletas que estão aqui. Está tudo acertado. A pendência que possuímos é o mês de dezembro de 2017. O pagamento dele depende da liberação de uma verba da Caixa Econômica Federal para o Sindicato. É uma coisa que está sendo tratada diretamente pela área financeira do clube. Os jogadores são profissionais e estão entedendo o momento do clube – finalizou.

RelacionadasVascoPelaipe garante Zé: ‘Fica no Vasco até o fim do contrato’Vasco11/05/2018VascoReforço do Vasco, Fernando Miguel faz o primeiro treino com o elencoVasco11/05/2018VascoRamon fica perto de retorno no Vasco; Veja raio-X do departamento médicoVasco11/05/2018

Rahul Sharma threatened to win it but Murali Kartik lost the plot and Rajasthan’s Ross Taylor seized the moment, with valuable support from Ajinkya Rahane, to clinch a thrilling win

The Bulletin by Sriram Veera01-May-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
The contest of the gmae: Robin Uthappa took on Shane Warne, but eventually fell to him•AFPIt was a tale of contrasting performances from two Pune Warriors spinners. Rahul Sharma threatened to win it for them but Murali Kartik lost the plot and Rajasthan Royals’ Ross Taylor seized the moment, with valuable support from Ajinkya Rahane, to clinch a thrilling win. Rajasthan moved to the top of the table while Pune stayed frozen at rock bottom.With 52 runs required from six overs, Rahul bowled a gem of a maiden over that included the wicket of the aggressive Ashok Menaria to end his spell with figures of 4-1-13-3. However, Kartik gifted two short balls and a full toss in the next over and Taylor looted 17 runs with the help of two fours and a six. Suddenly, the equation came down to 29 from 18 and despite two relatively disciplined overs from Alphonso Thomas and Jerome Taylor, Rajasthan just needed the odd boundary here and there to squeeze past the line.Two boundary hits from Rahane and Ross Taylor sealed the contest. When they needed 24 runs from 14 balls, Rahane sliced a slower length ball from Jerome Taylor to the point boundary and when they required 17 from 11, Ross Taylor slugged a length delivery from Thomas deep into the midwicket stands. Game over.Pune will look back and rue the reprieve they offered Ross Taylor. When Rajasthan needed 32 from 20, Taylor, on 31 then, heaved Thomas to left of deep midwicket where Nathan McCullum did all the hard work to get there but couldn’t hold on. He lunged out to take it but it bounced off his palms as he fell to the ground and bounded off his chest and right thigh.It was that kind of night for Pune. Only Rahul sparkled with the ball and almost single-handedly pushed them to the cusp of victory. His evening changed with a long hop in his second over, the seventh of the innings. Rahul Dravid, who again failed to convert a start, pulled it back to him and Rahul started to choke the run-flow with a slew of bouncing top spinners. However, Kartik had a horror day, leaking 41 runs from his four overs.Pune will also look back at their batting effort and wish if they could have done a bit more. The top order flattered to deceive. The contest of the afternoon was between Shane Warne and Robin Uthappa. It had an overload of skill, adrenaline, ego, canniness and a dash of foolhardiness. It lasted eight deliveries but it encapsulated everything that is good about Twenty20. It had an aggressive batsman intent on attack and an ambitious bowler focused on hunting down his prey. Throw in an umpire ready to brave ferocious appeals and rule on the side of conservatism, and you had a thoroughly entertaining package.Uthappa unfurled the reverse-sweep and conventional sweep to collect two fours. Warne ripped a big leg break next, starting from just about leg stump – part of the ball was outside leg – and it beat the bat to strike the pad. It was the start of Warne’s increasingly vocal tussle with the umpire Shavir Tarapore. He yelped out a huge appeal but Tarapore perhaps thought it pitched just outside leg and turned it down. Warne looped the next delivery on a length but Uthappa stretched forward to slog-sweep it over midwicket.Three boundaries in four balls and the heat was well and truly on Warne, who responded with a front-of-hand skidder that landed on the line of leg stump and just about straightened to hit the pad. Warne screamed, Tarapore stayed frozen and Uthappa survived. Warne got the final delivery to skid on towards the leg stump, Uthappa was caught in a tangle and yet again, got stuck on the pad. Replays suggested it would have clipped leg stump but you could understand why the umpire didn’t give it.Warne removed himself from Tarapore’s end and appeared at Simon Taufel’s in the ninth over. Uthappa again reverse-swept the first ball to the boundary but Warne shortened the length off the next and got it to skid and bounce towards middle. Uthappa ended up top-edging the swat to the keeper. Uthappa’s exit was sandwiched between the dismissals of Jesse Ryder, stumped off Johan Botha, and Yuvraj Singh, run out after he backed up too far at the non-striker’s end, and it derailed the innings.

Pundit Gabby Agbonlahor believes Leeds United should be punished after what’s happened at Elland Road this week, Football Insider report.  

The Lowdown: Paper everywhere

Leeds organised a pre-game mosaic for fans against Manchester City, with sheets of paper left on seats in the east stand for supporters to hold up ahead of kick-off.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-updates-2/” title=”Latest Leeds United updates!” poster=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cropped-2022-03-10T184055Z_1834933207_UP1EI3A1FW561_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-ENGLAND-LEE-AVA-REPORT-1-scaled-1.jpg” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

However, once the game got underway and the Whites fell behind, fans were quick to throw sheets at visiting players, especially Jack Grealish in the second half, with Gary Neville lambasting the Elland Road faithful during Sky Sports’ coverage.

Even Leeds star Raphinha had some thrown his way when preparing to take a corner, with Jesse Marsch’s side eventually losing 4-0.

The Latest: Agbonlahor’s comments

Agbonlahor, who contributes for Sky Sports, was talking to FI regarding the antics on the weekend. He labelled it as ‘very strange behaviour’ and feels the club ‘should be punished’ as a result.

“It doesn’t matter that it’s only paper, they were putting the players off.

“It came to the stage where they throwing it at Raphinha, their own player, and he was having an argument with his own fans.

“It’s very strange behaviour and it’s very strange from the stewards and the police to not stop it. It came to a stage where there was loads on the pitch.

“If they get away with throwing paper then what’s next? Do they put something inside the paper and throw it?

“You can’t say it’s not a problem. I think they should be punished for that to stop them doing it again.”

The Verdict: No more paper…

Elland Road doesn’t need regular pre-game mosaics to provide an atmosphere, so we feel as if Leeds chiefs should stay away from the paper sheets going forward.

Leeds supporters regularly use scarves to create a brilliant visual atmosphere, something that would work better and keep the club out of any possible trouble with the FA.

It wouldn’t be a shock if the club were contacted regarding Saturday’s events, but hopefully, we won’t see any more paper in the club’s final two home games with Chelsea and Brighton.

In other news: Leeds want to sign ‘X-factor’ attacker despite possible relegation.

Ex-BBC pundit Noel Whelan believes that Celtic will be continue to lose their brightest youngsters to Premier League clubs. 

The lowdown: Precedent set?

This comes after the Hoops lost talented young winger Ben Doak to Liverpool, with the 16-year-old confirming the switch on his Instagram profile last week.

A recent report from the Daily Record claimed that Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool once more were looking at emerging playmaker Daniel Kelly, whilst full-back Mitchel Frame was also attracting interest from the English top flight as the Hoops attempt to stave off potential suitors.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/key-latest-celtic-updates-3/” title=”Key latest Celtic updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

However, with an apparent production line coming out of Lennoxtown, the Glasgow giants may face a conflict of interest when it comes to keeping the brightest prospects at the club.

The latest: Whelan fears the ‘inevitable’

Speaking to Football Insider, former Aberdeen striker Whelan has claimed that Celtic need to sell their prized assets in order to compete at the senior level.

He stated: “It’s inevitable. Even the giants of Celtic and Rangers, the stature they have in Scotland and in Europe and the big sides they are, they can’t afford not to sell. This is what keeps them surviving and being competitive in Europe and then the Scottish Premiership. They have to sell certain players to bring money into the football club.

“That allows them to progress and keeps them at that level. It’s not ideal. But if you go and ask any of the top players if they would have a chance to move to the Premier League in England? That’s their pinnacle.

“They start off at a club. Inevitably if you become successful and do very well, I can’t see them staying there too much longer. Especially if one of the Premier League clubs come in.

“Because of the wage structure and the gap between finances between Scotland and England, it’s very hard to turn down. The managers must be really frustrated, but it’s just the order of things.”

The verdict: Change coming

Financially, Celtic may previously have needed to operate as a selling entity in order to remain competitive in the Premiership. However, that may be about to come to an end as the Hoops stand on the brink of a spot in the Champions League group stages for the 2022/23 campaign.

That brings with it a healthy windfall believed to be in the region of £13.4m simply for participating at the stage, with further income dependent on results.

Champions League participation also brings a certain allure which could also help the Parkhead hierarchy to persuade the club’s best young talents that Celtic is indeed the right place to be in order to reach the very pinnacle of their game.

In other news, journalist urges Celtic to offer key backroom man a new deal. Read more here.