Jason Sudeikis is reportedly preparing to bring Ted Lasso back, with Lloyd Griffith “praying for a series four, five and six” of the hit show.
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Chelsea are facing a serious challenge in complying with UEFA’s stringent financial regulations after the European body modified its rules.
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The decision has been taken to begin a restructuring process at the NCA to transform it into a high-performance centre
Umar Farooq10-Apr-2020Director of domestic cricket Haroon Rasheed and chief curator Agha Zahid will leave the PCB at the end of their contracts. Rasheed’s contract concludes at the end of this month, while Zahid’s ends on May 31. The duo had been working on a rolling contract and held prominent positions within the setup for several years. ESPNcricinfo understands the decision has been taken to begin a restructuring process at the National Cricket Academy to transform it into a high-performance centre.The PCB has already dispensed with the services of Ali Zia, senior general manager academies, while director academies Mudassar Nazar decided not to seek an extension once his contract ends next month. Senior general manager domestic cricket Shafiq Ahmed was also released last year, as was Subhan Ahmed, one of the central figures of several PCB administrations of past years.The drive to replace older, more experienced officials with younger ones has begun to be laid since Wasim Khan entered the fray at the PCB last year. Upon assuming his position as the COO, he had told ESPNcricinfo that he wanted “to bring a change by recruiting players from the present era to work in the system. Naturally, in the modern game, we need people who are relevant, hungry and are committed to making a difference. It’s a new era and we have exciting plans for the future. We won’t be derailed in doing what’s right for Pakistan cricket.”Budgetary concerns may well have played a part, too, with the NCA long seen as eating into the available finances without quite pulling its weight in terms of output. Khan had on more than one occasion hinted changes of this nature in his interactions with the media, which makes this revamp somewhat unsurprising. David Parsons, who worked with the ECB as performance director, came to Pakistan last year and gave the PCB a detailed report containing advice on how to go about revamping the National Cricket Academy and streamlining the pathway programme to the national side.Rasheed, 67, has been in the system since 1985 after he retired as a player. His roles have been as diverse as they have long-standing. He served as a team manager, senior and junior coach, chief selector, head of youth and game development, and the head of the NCA. He is presently working as a director of domestic cricket, where his last significant project included an overhaul of Pakistan’s domestic structure, getting rid of departments and reducing the number of teams from 16 to just six provincial sides.”On behalf of the PCB, I want to sincerely thank Haroon Rashid and Agha Zahid for their hard work and services over a vast number of years,” Khan said. “With Mudassar Nazar having already announced his departure in May, the PCB will now use this opportunity to restructure the NCA and domestic cricket to create a different and streamlined high-performance structure that serves the game and it’s cricketers in a more seamless way. Amongst many areas, the new system will focus on coach education and the assessment and re-training of our current elite coaches; in addition, the improved streamlined system will enable us to further bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket.”ESPNcricinfo understands the position of director domestic will be abolished. However, the chief curator’s position will be filled by Ali Raza, who has a PhD in Soil Science. Raza had served as Zahid’s deputy recently and will take over the role until the PCB complete its restructuring process.
A few Liverpool supporters might have subscribed to the thought of Jurgen Klopp leaving after Anfield was dismantled in shocking fashion by an Atalanta side sat in sixth place in the Serie A.
If Liverpool's chance of progression in the Europa League hangs in the balance, it is dangling by a tenuous thread, with a 3-0 home loss littered with individual errors, an absence of discipline, and, frankly, a mess of organisation – creating a new, gnawing sense of unease.
Liverpool were breezing at Old Trafford on Sunday, a goal ahead at the break and in breathtaking command, only for a mistake from Jarell Quansah to allow Bruno Fernandes to score a remarkable lob.
Mohamed Salah rescued a draw late on after Kobbie Mainoo's sumptuous strike, but Liverpool have ceded first place in the Premier League and desperately needed a reaction that did not come against Atalanta.
Caoimhin Kelleher and Ibrahima Konate will hang their heads following detrimental errors, while the motley, mishmash nature of the squad's performance is ultimately the central point of the defeat, but Darwin Nunez's third-rate striking performance cannot go without rebuke.
Darwin Nunez's performance vs Atalanta
A dismayed Klopp railed at his club-record, £85m striker, a man who had a host of detractors last season with some remaining this term, though 18 goals and 13 assists in all competitions speaks of the 24-year-old's growing importance and influence.
He has earned the moniker of "agent of chaos" – as has been relayed by BBC Sport's Phil McNulty – during his time on Merseyside but this is not always attributed with affection. Nunez is wild, wily, wonderful, but also perplexing, and profligate.
Against Atalanta, the Uruguayan rifled three off-target shots, striking on goal timidly on one further occasion, failing with both of his dribbles, winning one of his eight contested duels, and taking just 25 touches before being hooked on the hour mark, as per Sofascore.
Kelleher, the goalkeeper, touched the ball 81 times, painting a clear picture regarding the location of Liverpool's creative hub.
The chastening nature of the collective effort is alarming heading into the final stretch of the campaign; Liverpool have been out of sorts for a while, candidly, and face juggernauts in Arsenal and Manchester City for the Premier League title.
That said, if Nunez had rallied a modicum of his goalscoring prowess, Liverpool might find an altogether different narrative, one fitting for the swansong of Klopp's illustrious tenure.
But he's not only to blame, far from it. Liverpool have been slow starters for much of the season and, in fact, for much of Klopp's reign. Dominik Szoboszlai should have instilled energy and confidence, one nil down, after half-time. He did not.
Dominik Szoboszlai must now be dropped
Szoboszlai joined Liverpool from RB Leipzig in a £60m package last summer and hit the ground running, revitalising a sapped midfield and leading correspondent Neil Jones to name him Klopp's "dream signing".
But his powers have waned over recent months and potentially suffered the nadir of his Liverpool career so far against Gian Piero Gasperini's side on Thursday night, listless and error-strewn after his introduction after the interval.
Despite being in the thick of the action, the Hungarian flattered to deceive as he contributed with not a single key pass, failing to make a tackle or win a duel, languidly losing the ball to Gianluca Scamacca in the build-up to Atalanta's third.
Szoboszlai's arrival on the field was supposed to signal a fresh burst of energy and enthusiasm but he trudged off at full-time as arguably the worst, bluntest performer of the occasion, epitomising the summary of the Athletic's James Pearce.
The reporter said: "What a mess of a performance. The worst of the season by some distance. So much wrong. So many errors. 14-month unbeaten run at home is ended."
Minutes played
45'
Touches
48
Accurate passes
32/36 (89%)
Shots taken
2
Key passes
0
Possession lost
10x
Dribbles completed
0/2
Duels won
0/4
Tackles
0
Dribbled past
1
Errors leading to goal
1
As you can see in the table above, the former Bundesliga star was completely ineffective in and out of possession throughout his time on the pitch, which shows that the substitute had a horrorshow on Thursday night.
He was so poor that the Liverpool Echo's Ian Doyle branded him with a 3/10 match rating, writing: 'Had one shot blocked early on but looked way off the pace and lost ball for third. Not his best night.'
The error aside, Szoboszlai was simply ineffective at a time that begged for his finest attributes, attributes that have proved demonstrably game-changing during his time at Liverpool so far.
But the thing is, Alexis Mac Allister is probably the first name on the team sheet right now, he's that good. It doesn't matter where he plays in the centre of the park, but he's certainly more threatening in a more attacking role, thus demanding the inclusion of Wataru Endo, who's been largely brilliant since a surprise £16m signing from Stuttgart last August.
Szoboszlai simply hasn't produced the level of his early-season performances by half over these recent months. Marred by injury and setbacks, yes, but this is kitchen sink time and Liverpool can ill afford another slip-up.
Curtis Jones is back and Harvey Elliott is invariably creative and impactful when unleashed. Moreover, Stefan Bajcetic is back and could make a world of difference if he picks up where he left off in the Premier League, albeit over one year ago.
Liverpool may have to drop 4/10 star after Atalanta horror show
It was a frustrating night for Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour.
ByJoe Nuttall Apr 12, 2024
Szoboszlai was the most expensive of the lot last summer and is clearly an immensely talented player, having produced six goals, eight assists, and 14 'big chances' created in the Bundesliga for Leipzig during the 2022/23 campaign for the German side.
However, he should now be dropped, having started the last Premier League match against United, lest Liverpool give Klopp a send-off inappropriate for one so vital, so extraordinary in their impact since arriving in 2015 and lifting the city back toward greatness.
It will then be down to the Hungary international to make the most of his opportunities off the bench in future matches to earn his way back into the starting XI.
Athletic Club star Nico Williams has reportedly made a decision regarding his future amid Barcelona's interest in his services.
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Barcelona keep hoping for Williams signingWinger has ruled out possible move to PSGAthletic Club offer winger extension at San MamesGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Williams has been Barcelona's number-one transfer target this summer as they look to bolster the squad for Hansi Flick, but the Spain star's future is uncertain as the Basque club look to keep the the winger at San Mames for at least another season. However, both Barcelona and Athletic Club are unsure as to what the Pamplona-born player's decision will be.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Catalan publication has reported that Williams is yet to make a final call on his future, but he has decided that he will not be joining Paris Saint-Germain, who have been hoping to challenge Barca to his signing. Instead, he wants to continue his career in La Liga, meaning he will be at one of Athletic or Barca next term. Williams wants his future to be clear to both parties before he begins pre-season training under Ernesto Valverde.
Getty ImagesWHAT VALVERDE SAID
While speaking to the media earlier this week, Valverde was asked about Williams' future and he said: "We already know that Nico is good, we'll see what happens because every day something new comes out in the press and what we can't do is let ourselves be guided by that, but simply by the things that are happening."
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WHAT NEXT FOR WILLIAMS?
La Liga is set to commence later this month with Athletic Club set to take on Getafe on August 15 and the Basque club will be hopeful that Williams will have made his decision by then.
No time frame for Moeen’s Test return following his absence from England’s squad for South Africa
George Dobell07-Dec-2019It is “by no means certain” that Moeen Ali will be available for England’s tour of Sri Lanka, according to Ed Smith.Smith, the national selector, admitted there was “no time frame” for Moeen’s return to Test cricket after he was, once again, absent from England’s squad for the tour of South Africa.Moeen asked for a break from Test cricket at the end of the 2019 English summer and, despite conversations with Smith, fellow selector James Taylor and England captain Joe Root in recent days, remains unavailable by his own choice. His absence does not extend to white ball cricket and it would be a surprise if he did not return to the England party for the limited-overs part of the South Africa tour.Also read: Bairstow, Anderson, Wood return to England Test squad”He asked to take a break from Test cricket at the back end of last summer and that is what has happened,” Smith said. “At this stage we don’t know when he will return to being available for Test cricket but it’s our hope that he does. We all know that Moeen is a talented and valued cricketer for England. But we don’t know if and when that might happen.”Hopes that Moeen could return for the Sri Lanka tour, where he played a key role in England’s 3-0 victory a year ago, in March were not boosted by his inclusion in the PSL draft. The competition takes place at the same time as the tour. But while Smith admitted there were no guarantees Moeen would return for that tour, he felt it was possible.”I don’t think it’s ruled out and it’s also by no means certain he will be available,” Smith said. “At the moment there’s no time frame. But what I did discuss with Moeen – what we all discussed with him – was our aspiration that he’s available to play Test cricket for England. He’s a valued England cricketer. From my point of view and a selection view, the sooner he was available the better and that would include Sri Lanka.”He did say that there are more Test runs and more Test wickets in him and that was very encouraging. It’s disappointing when a player of Moeen’s ability and track record is unavailable for selection. In an ideal world, we’d like Moeen to be available.”While Moeen lost his place in the England side during the Ashes – and the Test part of his central contract at the end of the season – his potential value as a Test cricketer may have been reappraised a little in his absence. Not only does his non-availability leave England with the prospect of a diplodocus-length tail – Jack Leach, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer seem most likely to feature from No. 8 to No. 11 in South Africa – but his relative potency with the ball has been missed. After 60 Tests (and 181 wickets), he has a better strike-rate (60.6) than hugely respected spinners of the past such as Jim Laker (62.3), Derek Underwood (73.6) and Hedley Verity (77.5). Leach, after 10 Tests, has a strike-rate of 60.9.Although Moeen was nowhere near his best with the bat – he averaged 10 in five Tests in 2019 – in his most recent Tests, England remain hopeful that a return to his best will give them greater penetration with the ball and an easier balance in the team. England claimed only 21 wickets in the two Tests in New Zealand and went into the second Test without a front-line spinner for the first time since 2013.Smith also defended the selection of Ollie Pope as England reserve keeper for the New Zealand tour, but declined to clarify who had been selected as reserve keeper in South Africa with Jonny Bairstow recalled to the squad.”That would be a question for the captain and coach to answer,” Smith replied when asked who would keep should Jos Buttler suffer another back spasm on the morning of a Test in South Africa. “They’ve got pretty good options.”We were very clear when we discussed the tour party to New Zealand that we were going to take a 15-man party for a very short time. We had discussed the possibility of a last minute injury to Jos and we were comfortable with Pope keeping wicket. He has kept a great deal in his life. I’ve seen him keep a lot, James Taylor has seen him keep a lot and not only for the Lions but for Surrey.”In the last 10 years that’s the only last minute injury to a keeper. Jonny got injured in a different format in Sri Lanka, which brought about a change when Ben Foakes came in. But for it to happen at the 11th hour is very unlikely. But it was discussed and we were comfortable with Pope coming into the side if a last minute injury happened to Jos. We knew he was a very capable keeper.””Bairstow has been picked as someone who could add value to an England Test team. He’s a talented batsman who has scored a hundred at No. 3 as well as hundreds lower down the order. And he’s kept wicket in many games for England so he covers both of those possibilities.”Since the moment he was selected as a batsman for England – he was the first of his generation to be selected, in 2012 – he has a non-Test first-class average of 57. He wants to get back into the team and he knows when he’s playing well he has a number of routes.”
Douglas Luiz shared a kiss with Alisha Lehmann in the stands after Brazil's Copa America draw with Colombia and hailed her as "my best support".
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The stadium was in danger of losing the iconic fixture against England due to construction and administrative issues
Firdose Moonda03-Oct-2019
Newlands has hosted the New Year’s Test 21 times since South Africa’s readmission•Getty Images
Cape Town’s Newlands Stadium will host South Africa’s 2020 New Year’s Test against England. The stadium had run the risk of losing the iconic fixture due to potential disruptions stemming from an ongoing construction project, and concerns over the administrative and financial affairs of the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA). Late last month, CSA CEO Thabang Moroe said Newlands may not be in a position to host the match – which will bring with it big numbers of touring supporters – but ESPNcricinfo has learned that the match will go ahead.The confirmation means major rearrangements for the summer have been avoided and the four-Test series against England will go ahead as originally planned. The venues for the matches are SuperSport Park (Centurion), which will host the Boxing Day Test, Newlands, St George’s Park (Port Elizabeth) and the Wanderers (Johannesburg).”We are currently gearing up to host the New Year’s Test match at Newlands as planned,” Moroe said in a press release by CSA. “The readiness of the stadium is on track and, barring a significant change in circumstances, it is unlikely that the venue for this Test will change from our schedule.”However, this does not bring an end to the difficulties the WPCA are facing as they remain under CSA administration. The WPCA board remain suspended and under CSA administration with former CEO Andre Odendaal at the helm. CSA, who lent WPCA R81 million (US$5.3 million) for the construction of four office blocks and a refurbishment on the existing structures, are looking into WPCA’s finances and governance.”WPCA chief executive Nabeal Dien will be in charge of the smooth running of all cricket operations and will report directly to the CSA administrator, professor Andre Odendaal, until such time as CSA is reasonably of the opinion that the WPCA administrative and financial affairs are being conducted according to best practice,” Moroe concluded.
Chelsea are considering making a summer bid to sign Brazilian defender Murillo from Nottingham Forest, according to a report.
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Worcestershire 161 for 6 (Barnard 42*) Nottinghamshire 133 for 9 (Hales 52, Moeen 4-18)Ed Barnard wasted no time in pronouncing himself a Twenty20 cricketer of England potential with vital interventions with bat, ball and in the field as Worcestershire began their defence of their Vitality Blast crown with an emphatic 28-run victory over Notts Outlaws in front of a near-capacity crowd at Trent Bridge.This was a poor Twenty20 pitch, used, slow and grippy and not remotely in keeping with the sort of batsman-friendly surfaces that have made T20 nights at Trent Bridge one of the heaviest-scoring venues of the Blast.But Worcestershire assessed it with great intelligence, posting 161 for 6, far more than they had anticipated thanks to Barnard’s late intervention with an unbeaten 42 from 19 balls, and then defending it with ease. Three overs from the end of their innings, they were 117 for 6 and vulnerable, but he changed the face of the game.As Moeen Ali, Worcestershire’s captain, back immediately after England’s World Cup success, remarked: “It was the performance of a side that won the tournament last year, a side with a lot of confidence.”Notts are rooted to the foot of Division One of the Championship, 38 points adrift with only four matches remaining and seemingly bound for relegation. Any imagining that the arrival of T20 would be a miraculous cure were rudely dispelled. It is a long tournament – 14 group games – but limp dismissals from two high-profile signings, Joe Clarke and Ben Duckett, set the tone on the opening night for a disappointing batting display.To his credit, at least Alex Hales has returned to county cricket ready for the fray. He was blackballed from England’s World Cup squad in the most clinical fashion after his failing of a second drugs test, following other misdemeanours, led those in charge to conclude that he had become a liability.He has kept a low profile, but the evidence of his 52 from 34 balls suggested he is one Notts batsman in good frame of mind. When he twice slog-swept Brett D’Oliveira for six, he had positioned himself for victory, only to be bowled by Barnard as he made room to cut him through the offside.That opened the way for Moeen to settle the match with 4 for 6 in his last two overs, by doing little more than hitting consistent areas. His first wicket owed much to Barnard’s electric fielding as he dashed 20 yards to his left from long-off to pluck a diving catch to dismiss Jake Libby.Dan Christian’s first-ball nought again emphasised Worcestershire’s sharpness in the field as his inside-edge onto his thigh was brilliantly collected to his right by the wicketkeeper, Ben Cox. In Moeen’s final over, withy 59 needed off five, Tom Moores and Samit Patel went for broke and both holed out.As an aside, it was worth wondering whether the racists (because some were) who denounced Moeen on social media for quite cheerfully opting out of England’s champagne-shaking celebrations to mark the winning of the World Cup would even know or care that four days later he was back in county cricket, skippering Worcestershire with an air of calm and playing as much as his international commitments allow.The World Cup has made additional demands on pitches at international venues, and Notts have limited outground options to lighten the load. It is to be hoped this is not a sign of things to come at the bigger venues.Barnard found an answer to it. At 23, this slender allrounder is of an age where he can convince England of his attributes as a T20 cricketer. His flourish with the bat was a gem, carrying them to 161 for 6 when they must have felt 150 was optimistic; an innings of dexterity and common sense.Barnard was the dominant partner in a stand of 59 from 30 balls with Ben Cox, rescuing Worcestershire from 102 for 6 after 15.2 overs. They had run aground on a grippy pitch which played into the hands of Harry Gurney, but Barnard dealt with his mix of slower offcutters with intelligence, running him through slips to the boundary as only 15 came off his first three overs. In Gurney’s last over he switched mood, 18 runs lost as he struck him over midwicket for six and then added a Buttler-esque scoop to the next ball for good measure.Martin Guptill would value the taste of victory, too. He had a modest World Cup – 186 runs at 20.66 – but before the match became the latest New Zealand player to respond to their desperately unlucky World Cup final loss in philosophical fashion. The gist of his remarks was that, as the beers went down, New Zealand had found contentment in the recognition that we had shared in one of the greatest one-day games in history.Guptill’s share at Trent Bridge was 22 from 24 balls, in an innings in which he was starved of the strike before he hit a full toss from Luke Wood back to the bowler. It could have been worse; before he had scored, he survived a run-out appeal by about an inch, the first sign for weeks that his luck might be on the turn.