All posts by h716a5.icu

Mark Douglas has revealed what insiders at Newcastle United are looking for after the latest twist in the takeover saga.

The Lowdown: Arbitration adjourned

As shared by the official website of the St. James’ Park faithful, the arbitration proceedings between them and the Premier League have now been adjourned until early next year due to issues with the disclosure of evidence.

The process was expected to take place this month, but now further delays have been implemented, leaving the North East club in limbo for the foreseeable future.

The Latest: Insiders looking to Ashley

Writing in his latest piece for The Chronicle, football journalist Douglas has shared that insiders at the Tyneside club are now looking to Mike Ashely to re-engage with their immediate concerns and ‘set the parameters’ of summer recruitment.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium ‘remain committed’ to the deal, although the KSA’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) are ‘yet to be drawn’ on the arbitration delay.

The Verdict: Plan needed

With the adjournment to the arbitration case, there is certainly a plan that needs to be made by both Ashley about the direction in whic the club are heading in the immediate future.

There has been delay after delay, and for the hearing not to take place until 2022 is certainly a kick in the teeth but there is a new season on the horizon and plans must now be made to help the Magpies have a successful campaign.

It is not ideal for the Magpies to go into yet another season with uncertainty, but so long as the consortium ‘remain committed’ to the deal, then there is till hope that eventually the takeover can be completed.

However, in the short term, Ashley needs to re-engage and provide Steve Bruce with the funds he needs to build a squad that can compete in the Premier LEague in the upcoming season.

In other news, find out which £50,000-per-week target NUFC is a ‘huge lure’ for here!

South Australia have denied reports in the weekend’s newspapers that Michael Vaughan will look to them to provide him with a chance to regain his place in the England side

Cricinfo staff29-Sep-2008South Australia have denied reports in the weekend’s newspapers that Michael Vaughan will look to them to provide him with a chance to regain his place in the England side.Vaughan, who was today left out of the squad to tour India, was linked with the state, with former Yorkshire team-mate Darren Lehmann being touted as the middle-man in the deal.However, Jamie Cox, South Australia’s high performance manager, ruled out such a move. “This is categorically not the case,” Cox said. “The Redbacks have had no conversations with Vaughan regarding his recruitment to the side.”I am not familiar with any conversations Lehmann may have had with Vaughan regarding playing at grade level, and this may well be an option for him. But he has never been considered as a candidate for the Redbacks this season and he will not be playing for South Australia.”Vaughan may still look to grade cricket as a way back, but while the standard of cricket is high, it would not give him a first-class platform to kick-start his international career.

The Express and Star’s Luke Hatfield has dropped an update on Aston Villa’s pursuit of Manchester United star Jesse Lingard this summer.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks and months had suggested that Villa were ready to rival fellow Premier League side West Ham in a move for the England international.

And now, Hatfield has delivered his verdict on a potential move, and what he believes Dean Smith’s side’s current stance is.

He said: “I think in terms of his experience and stuff, he’d be the type of player they’d be interested in. I just think his age probably goes against it.

“And the issue that West Ham have had is the fee United want for him. I think Villa would probably agree with that for a player of his age because you’re not going to get much resale on him. If the money’s not right for them, then it wouldn’t shock me if it’s not right for Villa either.”

Lingard would be an exciting signing

After joining West Ham back in the January transfer window on a short-term loan, Lingard racked up an incredible nine goals and four assists in just his first ten Premier League games for the club – it was no surprise then that he was lauded as being “absolutely phenomenal”.

The England international’s ability to break the lines with his movement and constant running is something which added a different dimension to West Ham’s game, and could do so for Villa too, and is a trait that Michael Carrick was quick to praise back at Old Trafford.

The United coach said of Lingard: “He senses where the space is and how to use it. I wouldn’t necessarily say he’s a dribbler with skills and tricks but he’s dynamic. How he plays, he is unique in some ways. You don’t see so much of that now as everyone wants to get on the ball. Off the ball, he’s very effective.”

His performances with the Hammers showcased the kind of impact the £75k-a-week earning star can have when he’s on song and the confidence is flowing through his veins.

Giving him an opportunity to shine at Villa, where the spotlight is understandably less than somewhere like United, could offer him the kind of freedom that sees him become a really consistent performer and break back into the England side under Gareth Southgate.

Villa could strike gold with the United star this summer.

Meanwhile, Ashley Preece has made a major Aston Villa transfer claim…

All Leeds TV star Joe Wainman has hailed boss Marcelo Bielsa and director of football Victor Orta after the club plucked promising teenager Lewis Bate from Chelsea.

The midfielder has joined Leeds United for £1.5million ahead of the new season getting underway.

Bate, 18, has penned a three-year contract having been on Chelsea’s books for a decade and captained the Blues in the 2020 FA Youth Cup final.

Premier League rivals West Ham United, Liverpool, Leicester City and Brighton & Hove Albion were also looking to secure the talented youngster’s services after it became clear Bate was interested in a new challenge away from Stamford Bridge, but Elland Road proved to be his preferred destination.

Bate made 26 appearances at youth level last term, winning the Premier League 2 player of the month gong for December in the process, and was also named on the bench for the first-team’s FA Cup win at Barnsley in February.

Despite the lack of previous first-team opportunities in his career, Wainman believes Bate’s arrival should be seen as a coup for Leeds.

He told Football FanCast: “This kid is rated one of the best midfielders for his age group.

“I think he won the Premier League 2 player of the month for December and I know a lot of Chelsea fans were not happy that he was moving on. That’s always a good thing because the rivalry between Leeds and Chelsea is pretty healthy.

“For us to nick one of their better youth prospects is a massive plus. I can’t wait to see how he develops under Bielsa and at the club.”

Suresh Shastri will become the first umpire from India to officiate a South African first-class match when he stands in the match between the Dolphins and the Lions starting Thursday in Durban

Cricinfo staff08-Oct-2008Suresh Shastri will become the first umpire from India to officiate a South African first-class match when he stands in the SuperSport Series game between the Dolphins and the Lions, starting on Thursday in Durban.The BCCI and Cricket South Africa (CSA) organised an umpires’ exchange programme under which two umpires from India will officiate two first-class matches in South Africa’s domestic competition while two South Africans will stand in Duleep Trophy games in India. CSA has a similar programme with New Zealand Cricket for the past 11 seasons.”This programme will give us first-hand experience of the playing conditions in South Africa and vice-versa,” Shastri, a member of the ICC’s international panel, told the supercricket website. “So when the ICC asks us to [stand in] games in these countries, we will know what to expect.” After the Durban game, Shastri will head to East London for the match between Warriors and Titans starting on October 16.Brian Basson, CSA’s general manager for cricket operations, said the board was confident the programme would assist participating countries in producing quality umpires for the future.

Brendon McCullum has been named New Zealand’s Player of the Year following a prolific season during which he starred at both international and domestic level

Cricinfo staff05-Nov-2008
Brendon McCullum was the one-day batsman of the year © Getty Images
Brendon McCullum has been named New Zealand’s Player of the Year following a prolific season during which he starred at both international and domestic level. McCullum was given the award for 2007-08 at a ceremony in Auckland in addition to receiving the Walter Hadlee Trophy for one-day batting.Dion Nash, one of the national selectors and a member of the awards selection panel, said McCullum had earned the recognition not only through his explosive batting but also his first-rate glovework. “In the domestic and international one-day and Twenty20 competitions he outperformed everyone else,” Nash said.”Who will forget his 170 from 108 balls for the Otago Volts in the State Shield final or his 80 from 28 balls against Bangladesh in Queenstown? While his batting was breathtaking at times, so were some of the wicketkeeping catches he took. During a long and demanding season he retained his extremely high standards throughout, including the Test series against England in England.”McCullum’s year also featured one of the most memorable innings in Twenty20 history, when he kicked off the inaugural IPL match with a brilliant 158 from 73 balls. But despite his all-round success McCullum missed out on the new JR Reid Best Allrounder award, which went to Jacob Oram, who scored two Test centuries, three ODI fifties and collected 37 first-class wickets at 16.12The Walter Hadlee Trophy for bowling in one-day internationals went to Kyle Mills, who over the past year was making his return from a severe knee injury. Mills took 40 ODI wickets over the past 12 months, including a career best of 5 for 25 against South Africa in Durban last November.The Redpath Cup for the best batsman in first-class cricket went to Ross Taylor, who made his Test debut in South Africa late last year. Taylor’s maiden Test century came in Hamilton, where he helped set up a New Zealand victory over England, and he added another Test hundred in a losing side at Old Trafford.The Winsor Cup, for first-class bowling, went to Chris Martin. One of three players who appeared in all ten Tests during the past year, Martin collected 34 wickets at 30.64.Nathan McCullum was named the State Cricketer of the Year following an excellent all-round 2007-08 season in which he averaged 36.10 in first-class cricket and also picked up 17 wickets. The Young Player of the Year was Kane Williamson, who captained New Zealand to the semi-finals of the Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia.Nicola Browne was given the Ruth Martin Cup as the best batsman in women’s cricket, Helen Watson picked up the Phyl Blackler Cup for women’s bowling and Sara McGlashan was named Women’s State Cricketer of the Year. Richard Hadlee was also recognised for outstanding services to cricket and received the Sutcliffe Medal.

Shields Gazette reporter Liam Kennedy has confirmed Newcastle United are looking to sign Hamza Choudhury before the transfer window slams shut.

It appears as though the Magpies are closing in on their first signing of the summer after the club agreed a fee in excess of £20million for Arsenal’s Joe Willock.

The midfielder is set to head to St James’ Park on a permanent basis after enjoying a successful loan spell with Newcastle last season. During his temporary stay on Tyneside, Willock became the first player since Alan Shearer to score in seven consecutive Premier League outings.

But Magpies boss Steve Bruce wants to strengthen his midfield further by poaching Leicester City’s Choudhury, who saw a loan move to Newcastle fall through at the end of the January transfer window.

The 23-year-old made just four Premier League starts last term and Kennedy has revealed the central midfielder remains on Bruce’s wishlist after narrowly missing out earlier this year.

He told The Transfer Tavern: “He is a player who hasn’t ever come off the wanted list. He was a hair’s breadth away from signing in January on a loan deal.

“Hamza Choudhury is a player that Steve Bruce rates and they were very close to signing. They thought it would happen but Brendan Rodgers pulled the plug in January and kept him on at Leicester.”

Chennai Superstars remained atop the ICL points table thanks to a five-run win over Delhi Giants, who slipped to their third defeat

Cricinfo staff24-Oct-2008
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Hemang Badani highlighted his worth to Chennai © ICL
Chennai Superstars remained atop the ICL points table thanks to a five-run win over Delhi Giants, who slipped to their third defeat. It was a close game, with Delhi hitting 19 off the last over when needing 25, but ultimately the brace of top-order wickets were responsible for their defeat.Having chosen to bat, Chennai’s start was poor. Ian Harvey fell for 4, edging TP Sudhindra, R Jesuraj was run out for 5, and Abid Nadi trapped Russel Arnold lbw first ball. It was an uncharacteristic top-order failure, and Chennai owed plenty to a 77-run stand between Hemang Badani and R Sathish.Nabi’s second over went for 16, with Badani hitting 14 of them. G Vignesh played a few handsome shots but Shane Bond needed just four deliveries to strike. Vignesh backed away too far and was bowled for 24. Enter Sathish, who collected four boundaries in eight balls. With Badani smartly rotating the strike and finding the boundary, Chennai were back on course.Sathish picked up two more boundaries and a six in his 28-ball 41. Captain Stuart Law proved his worth with a cameo 28 from 17 and Badani finished unbeaten on 51 from 45 balls. Chennai finished on 166 for 6, meaning Delhi needed to score at 8.35 an over to win.Not for the first time, Delhi lost steam after a good start. Marvan Atapattu, who had just 29 runs in three games before this, and Monish Mishra hit 60 in 7.2 overs. Mishra was belligerent, carving 36 from 20 balls, before he was first out, bowled around his legs by Syed Mohammad. Atapattu was run out for 25 just after and Nantie Hayward removed Syed Abbas Ali for 3. Abhinav Bali’s wicket, bowled by Sathish for 10, hurt Delhi further.”The team haven’t been getting starts, though, and I’ve been going in with us needing 10 and 11 an over and having to hit boundaries from ball one,” Paul Nixon said before this match. When Nixon walked in at 90 for 3 in the 13th over, Delhi indeed needed boundaries. They didn’t come at any quick rate however, even though Nixon slapped Hayward for three in four balls. Shabbir Ahmed cleaned up Nixon for 24 at the start of the 19th over and Delhi went into the last over, bowled by Bond, needing 25. They got 19 thanks to some lusty hitting from Dhruv Mahajan.

An update has emerged on outstanding Celtic striker Odsonne Edouard, regarding a potential transfer to the Premier League.

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun’s Alan Nixon, Premier League clubs are dropping out of the race for Odsonne Edouard due to the Celtic attacker’s wage demands.

The report claims that both Southampton and Brighton have opted against a deal for the ex-PSG man because he is demanding £85k-per-week, with the Hoops wanting a £15m fee for his services.

Fans will be buzzing

Celtic fans will be delighted with this update from Nixon as it appears to increase the chances of Edouard remaining in Scotland beyond the end of the transfer window. His options are diminishing with clubs refusing to meet his extortionate, by their estimations, wage demands and that could leave him with nowhere to go between now and September 1st.

The Frenchman is seemingly pricing himself out of a move and that could come as a massive boost to Ange Postecoglou’s squad, as he is a quality player in the Scottish Premiership. He is a proven goalscorer and the Australian coach could need his ability to put the ball in the back of the net to stand a chance of reclaiming the title from their arch-rivals Rangers this season.

Former Hoops forward Frank McGarvey commented on speculation over the Frenchman in 2020 and hailed him as an outstanding footballer. He said:

“I just love watching Edouard. He has that bit of magic in his feet, and he reminds me of Charlie Nicholas.

“You just know if he gets the ball just outside of the box the other team are in trouble. Edouard has that ability to produce something out of nothing because he has such quick feet.

“I think someone will come in this summer and put £20million on the table for him. You can’t blame Celtic for taking it, especially in the current climate.

“I’ll be sorry to see him go because he is an outstanding footballer. His temperament and his ability are genuinely top class.”

His statistics for Celtic back up these claims. Last season, the forward scored 18 goals in 26 starts across the Scottish Premiership and Europa League and has one goal and one assist in one league start this term. This is why fans will be buzzing that he could now be set to stay at Celtic Park as they will continue to watch him – hopefully – score goals and win games for the club.

The window closing with him still at Celtic could also allow him to fully focus on his football without the distraction of a potential move away. Therefore, fans could enjoy seeing a motivated Edouard showcase what he can do throughout the 2021/22 campaign.

AND in other news, Report drops update on “incredible” £5m beast that’ll leave Celtic fans gutted…

Michael Klinger struck his third hundred of the season as South Australia won their first Sheffield Shield game of the summer

Cricinfo staff01-Dec-2008South Australia 411 & 7 for 334 (Klinger 137, Borgas 60) beat Queensland 352 & 392 (Watson 81, Hartley 75*, Love 50, Christian 4-89) by 3 wickets
Scorecard

Michael Klinger, who switched from Victoria to South Australia in the off-season, has starred at his new state and is the Sheffield Shield’s leading run-scorer © Getty Images
Michael Klinger struck his third hundred of the season as South Australia won their first Sheffield Shield game of the summer by chasing 334 on the final day at the Gabba. Klinger, the leading run-scorer in the competition with 775 at 96.87, steered the Redbacks as they recorded a three-wicket victory that lifted them to fourth.Everything was going well for the visitors when Klinger, an off-season recruit from Victoria, was there but when he left at 6 for 280 it set up a tight finish. Aaron O’Brien (26 not out) and Daniel Christian (30) made sure of the success as South Australia reached 7 for 334 with 2.1 overs remaining.Queensland suffered again from dropped catches after giving Callum Ferguson three lives during his first-innings 132. O’Brien was spilled by Shane Watson on 4, Klinger got a reprieve on 109, Cameron Borgas was missed on 12 and Martin Love grassed the opener Daniel Harris on 0 off Chris Swan. Love made up for the mistake in the same over when he caught Younis Khan without scoring.Harris and Klinger put on 97 and then Klinger combined with Borgas in a 136-run partnership that set the platform for the chase. They needed 124 in the final session, but had to overcome some nervous moments when they lost 4 for 45, including Klinger. Swan was the leading Queensland bowler with 3 for 56 and the Bulls stay in second on 18 points, four behind Victoria.