Graeme Hick will be out of action for up to six weeks after breaking a bone in his left hand while batting for Worcestershire against Glamorgan last Sunday.The news is a big set-back for Worcestershire, who immediately felt its effect when they were deprived of Hick’s services for their Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy quarter-final against Leicestershire. Club doctors were hoping Hick would be available for the game, but it was confirmed shortly before that he has in fact broken a bone and is likely to be sidelined for four to six weeks.Worcestershire are currently riding high at the top of Division Two on the back of three consecutive wins, and Hick has contributed 424 runs in six Championship games at an average of 50. Along with the injured Nantie Hayward, who has a damaged ankle, he will be sorely missed in their bid for promotion.
A dogged opening partnership of 152 between Zimbabwe’s openers AlistairCampbell and Dion Ebrahim gave Zimbabwe an excellent start in a shortenedfirst-day’s play in the Second Test match against South Africa at QueensSports Club in Bulawayo.Just before bad light stopped play, though, theyfell for 77 and 71 respectively, leaving Zimbabwe on 154 for two wickets.The weather in Bulawayo was most uncharacteristic for September: cold,overcast and with a strong blustery wind. Noel Peck’s Queens pitch was muchmore characteristic, looking a beauty for batting, and he did not expect itto give undue assistance to the spinners. Heath Streak won the toss forZimbabwe this time and was delighted to be able to bat.Indeed there were no early problems for openers Alistair Campbell and DionEbrahim, who quickly broke Zimbabwe’s previous record opening partnershipagainst South Africa – of 13. Campbell got off the mark by driving ShaunPollock wide of mid-on for four, and practically the only appeal of thefirst hour came when Ebrahim tried to emulate his second-innings dismissalin Harare by padding up to Pollock.The 50 partnership was raised in 87 minutes, but runs then came moreslowly as South Africa put back their field and adopted a less attackingapproach. They were still together at lunch, Campbell with 40 and Ebrahim28, having done all their team could have asked of them.After lunch, left-arm spinner Claude Henderson tied down the batsmen,especially Ebrahim, but Campbell finally cut him backward of point to reachhis 50. It took another 50 minutes after lunch before the hundredpartnership came up; in this the fifth Test match between the two countries,it was the first time at any point that Zimbabwe could claim any advantage.This, one would expect, would be the time for the batsmen to open upsomewhat, but they were unable or unwilling to do so, preferring to continueto graft in traditional Test-match fashion. With the total on 116, theyplayed out four maiden overs in succession before Ebrahim finally reachedhis 50 in just under four hours. Realistically, though, it could well bethe best game plan for their side, as it is hard to imagine Zimbabwe’sbowlers, massacred in Harare, bowling South Africa out twice on this pitch;once would be a major achievement.Campbell had not added to his 67 at tea when South Africa believed they hadhim caught at the wicket off Makhaya Ntini, between bat and pad; replays appeared toshow that umpire Kevan Barbour had made an excellent decision in declaringit not out as it had apparently touched only pad. Minutes later Ebrahim on59 clipped a ball straight at Herschelle Gibbs at square leg and the chance went down.Campbell (77) finally fell to a half-hearted drive, Gibbs making up for hisdropped catch by holding this one off Lance Klusener’s off-cutters at backwardpoint. The opening partnership of 152, off 80 overs, was Zimbabwe’sthird-best. Then Ebrahim, stuck on his hoodoo score, fell for 71 for thethird time in his Test career, as a ball from Henderson turned sharply andhad him caught at slip.As Stuart Carlisle arrived at the wicket, the umpires offered the batsmenthe light, ending play 40 minutes early. The weather had remained gloomyall day, and more of the same unpleasant conditions are forecast for themorrow.Leg-spinning all-rounder Paul Strang returned to the Zimbabwe team; he lastplayed in India in November last year, when he suffered a recurrence of anarm injury during the First Test at Delhi. He replaced pace bowler DouglasHondo, whose performance in Harare seemed to indicate that he is not yetready for Test cricket.In another change, Craig Wishart had the predictability of the selectorsconfirmed when he found that, yet again, one bad Test has cost him hisplace. Carlisle, injured against West Indies, replaced him in theZimbabwean team. South Africa have kept their winning side.
ScorecardJames Vince led the way as Hampshire kept hopes of qualification alive•PA Photos
Hampshire kept their NatWest T20 Blast hopes alive following a thrilling four-run victory over Sussex at Hove.James Vince made an unbeaten 90 and Adam Wheater a quickfire 51 as Hampshire amassed 204-3 after being put in to bat but Sussex looked on course to pull off an unlikely win when Chris Nash and Luke Wright put on 98 for the opening wicket inside ten overs.Nash fell for a career-best 88 in the 17th over but successive sixes from Craig Cachopa in the penultimate over got the equation down to ten from the last six balls. But former Sussex bowler Yasir Arafat came back to haunt his old club with a brilliant final over to restrict Sussex.It means Hampshire can still secure a quarter-final spot if they win their final game against Somerset on Thursday while Sussex missed out on the chance of guaranteeing their progress.Vince and Wheater laid the platform for Hampshire’s biggest total for five years after Michael Carberry was well caught by Ollie Robinson off the bowling of Chris Liddle for 14. Wheater dominated a stand of 93 from 53 balls but could have been out without scoring as he survived a close run-out appeal.
Insights
For much of this season Hampshire’s progress towards qualification was serene. More recently they have struggled and have not strung consecutive wins together since early June, but this win keeps them in contention for the quarter-finals heading into the final week. Wickets win matches. At least that’s what Sussex’s run-chase suggested. For the first 15 overs of the chase, the run rate remained steady at 10 – and then wickets started to fall. Sussex lost four wickets in their final four overs as they cracked under pressure. Hampshire live to fight another day.
The wicketkeeper pulled his fourth ball for six off Robinson and also cleared the ropes off the bowling of Will Beer and Liddle. He brought up his 50 with his fourth four off Chris Nash but was out the very next ball when he mistimed a pull and was caught at midwicket by Liddle.Wheater’s departure did not slow Hampshire’s momentum, however, as Owais Shah blasted a quickfire 40 in a stand of 72 from 36 balls.Vince also survived a scare when Robinson put a tough chance down on 41 and made the most of the reprieve. He brought up his 50 from 38 balls but was left short of a first Twenty20 century.Sussex needed to make a quick start and in-form opening duo Nash and Wright provided it. Nash smashed Will Smith for two sixes in the opening over as the Sharks raced to 66-0 at the end of the Powerplay.Nash brought up his 50 – from 28 balls – with a delightful inside out cover drive but was denied a third century partnership of the season with Wright when the Sussex skipper was bowled for 42 by Yasir Arafat. Legspinner Mason Crane picked up the wicket of Matt Machan in the next over to swing the momentum back in Hampshire’s favour.A partnership of 65 from 39 balls between George Bailey and Nash kept Sussex very much in contention until both fell in the space of three balls. Nash holed out to former Sussex player Joe Gatting at long-on off Chris Wood for 88 and then Bailey was well caught right on the rope by Gatting for a 21-ball 33.Sussex needed 35 runs from 19 balls at that point but there hopes seemed to have disappeared when the equation became 22 from eight balls. Successive sixes from Cachopa off Wood got it down to ten from the final over but Arafat produced a brilliant final over to deny his old club.
Football fans often get caught up on ‘big money’ transfer deals and rightly so, but what about the players that combine their transfer fee’s to build up an incredible amount of money. Most clubs will have had the sort of player that arrives, plays ok, then leaves the following season and will go on to do that throughout their career.
It will nicely line their own pocket and give them another team to claim ‘they supported as a boy’ as well as giving them another set of fans that can adore them for roughly 12 months. Passed around from club to club, it is usually a striker who clubs feel will solve all of their problems based on their passed goalscoring history but they will once again start well and fade, probably claiming home sickness.
Click on Robbie Keane to unveil the top 10
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Be prepared that one of these players has probably played for your club and done the same thing as they usually do but have I missed any of the top ten players that love a transfer out? Let me know on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard
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Everyone has been hailing the success of the Reds Academy over the last few months with the emergence of players such as John Flanagan and Jack Robinson. For other youngsters though, this summer, rather than being the start of their Anfield careers, could see the end of their time on Merseyside.
Nathan Eccleston – After being an integral part of Liverpool ’s FA Youth Cup team in 2009, partnering Lauri Dalla Valle, Eccleston quickly moved up to the reserve team last season, and then made his senior debut under Rafa Benitez in the Carling Cup against Arsenal. To give him more first team experience, he was sent out on loan to Huddersfield Town, but after a Red card, he was used sparingly as a substitute. He became more involved in first team affairs under Roy Hodgson at the start of this season, appearing in the Europa League, but was again loaned out to Charlton where he made 8 starts and 13 substitute appearances, scoring 3 goals. Will he get any opportunities in the Red of Liverpool next season?
David Amoo – The winger/forward moved from the youth ranks of Millwall in 2007, and quickly settled into Liverpool’s U18 team. He scored 12 goals in the 2008/09 season as he helped the Reds to their third FA Youth Cup final in four years. Known for his electric pace, he moved up to John McMahon’s reserve side last season, and continued impressing, although it was felt he could still score more goals. He played Liverpool’s first match in the Europa League this season under Roy Hodgson against FK Rabotnicki, but the lack of first team opportunities meant he was given the opportunity to go out on loan to Hull City. He mostly was used as a late substitute at Hull but he did score a spectacular goal against QPR and stated afterwards:
“It was all about being patient to get my chance in the team. I spoke to the gaffer [Nigel Pearson] and he said to me just do what you’ve been doing in training and you’ll get your chance and I’m delighted to have got it. Regarding my future, we’ll see how it goes. It’s up to the coaches and they’re the ones who see me every day. But I am enjoying it at Hull. I’ve just got to work hard and I’ve really had a good time here.”
Perhaps another season out on loan for Amoo then.
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Daniel Ayala – The Spaniard defender was poached from Sevilla a few years ago, and a start for the Reds first team against Stoke at the start of last season led many to believe he would be the first defender to breakthrough into the first team. Since, he has seen Martin Kelly, John Flanagan and Jack Robinson get game time while he has got first team experience during two loan spells at Hull City and Derby County. Unhappy with how Hull treated an injury Ayala sustained, former manager Roy Hodgson vowed not to send another player on loan to Hull again. From January onwards, Ayala found himself on loan against relegation threatened Derby, helping the club keep Championship status for another season.
Chris Mavinga – The French defender accused Roy Hodgson of favouring home-grown youngsters back in August:
“I was disappointed [not to feature in first team]. I thought that with this success [European under-19 Championship] and what I produced on the training ground I would have the opportunity to train with the first team and play bits of games. Roy Hodgson, who replaced Rafael Benitez, is changing the organization of the club as he tries to encourage English players against foreigners, unlike the predecessor. He clearly stated he wanted to remake Liverpool as an English club. It is a choice I must respect.”
He was subsequently sent out on loan to Racing Genk, where he hasn’t always featured regularly. He has only made 4 appearances all season but yet there was speculation that he could make the move permanent in the summer. We will have to wait and see on this one.
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Stephen Darby – The right back has seen his chances greatly diminished by the rise of Martin Kelly and John Flanagan. He spent last season out on loan at Swindon Town, where he impressed while helping the Robins to the playoffs. He was snapped up by Paul Ince’s Notts County this campaign and there was talk of making the move permanent. The departure of Ince, and his return to Merseyside after the end of the season, makes such a move now doubtful. Still, it is likely he will depart Anfield this summer.
FootballFanCast.com WORLD Exclusive, Robbie Savage’s Face in a Baby Scan
After just over a year at Chelsea, Yuri Zhirkov is supposedly considering his future due to the lack of games he has been given. The only time he had a regular run in the team was when Ashley Cole broke his ankle at Goodison Park, and most of the remaining season was sidelined. So will the club’s latest big money acquisition, the wire-limbed Ramires, suffer the same fate?
In the case of Zhirkov, it is very difficult to attain whether it was actually he that complained about his situation. He has publicly quashed any rumours about a potential move away, but he knows that he would be a first team regular at a lot of other big clubs. As it stands, the Russian is reduced to substitute appearances and Cup games.
The situation could be a similar one for Ramires. He is currently starting games in Ancelotti’s midfield three with Essien and Mikel, but will almost certainly make way for Frank Lampard when he returns from injury. It is an almost identical situation that Zhirkov found himself in when filling in for Ashley Cole.
So far in his Chelsea career the Brazilian has equipped himself well. His nationality makes him obviously comfortable on the ball, and he has an attacking intent that his current teammates in the middle may lack (although both Essien and Mikel have been more aggressive this season thus far). Against Man City he struggled, and got beaten up (not in the Ben Arfa sense of the word) by Nigel De Jong, who dominated the midfield that day. He recovered well to put in a much stronger performance against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge last Sunday, and created the first goal.
Ordinarily, when a player is given a run in a team and performs well, it is enough to keep that place. Trying to picture Frank Lampard not walking straight back into the team however, is bordering on the surreal. At 23, Ramires is a player for the future as well as the present, but neither Essien nor Mikel are pensioners, and Lampard will be around for a few more years at least. For someone of Ramires’ ability it may not be the ideal situation to hang around; eventually a player will want to move on, just like Joe Cole did. But for every Cole, there is a Kalou: a player who has forever been on the fringes, but still picks up around thirty games a season, and becomes an important part of the squad.
What Ramires has going for him is that if any of the first choice midfielders are unavailable, regardless of which one it is, he will be the next choice, because the players in question are adaptable enough to shift roles. It is far too soon to question whether Ramires has made the right decision in moving to Chelsea. Since recovering from an early injury, he has featured in every game for his new club, but this may be down to the fact that as well as Lampard, Yossi Benayoun is also unavailable.
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It may be a case of ‘wait and see’ for Ramires. It has been an encouraging start so far, and it is important to remember that Chelsea is still a step up for the player, and that he has just made the biggest move of his career. He should have confidence in his own ability, but he must also be aware that you can simply waltz into the team at a club as good as Chelsea. I am certain he will play a big part in Chelsea’s season, and in their future.
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It would take a brave (or stupid) man to suggest that Lionel Messi was not the greatest footballer on the planet right now, but is the Argentine the greatest goal scorer?
Taking into account goals scored in all league and European competitions, this article examines which stars have hit the net most consistently over the past four and a half seasons. The contenders are judged not just on how many goals they have scored, but on their goal to games ratio, thus proving just who the world’s greatest goal scorer really is.
The likes of Luis Suarez and Falcao have been omitted, as most of their goals have been scored outside of the big five European leagues, and it’s generally bit easier to score in Holland or Portugal. Just ask Alfonso Alves.
Click on Mario Gomez to unveil the top 10
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The Pigeon Detectives are back with their third studio album. We spoke to frontman Matt Bowman about his love of Leeds, being friends with Alan Smith and why he’d steer clear of having a pint with Joey Barton…
Ideal song for teams to walk out to?
Anything that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck, something that gets the blood flowing. At the minute The Pigeons walk out to Beastie Boys ‘Sabotage’ and that does the trick!
First match you went to see?
Middlesbrough vs Wimbledon with my dad. Leeds vs Crystal Palce was my first Leeds game.
Do you have any celebrity football friends?
I’m friends with Alan Smith (Leeds United, Manchester United, Newcastle United and England). We grew up in the same village of Rothwell.
Why it’s better being a rockstar than a footballer
We can abuse out bodies with drink, food, lack of sleep and general partying. The lack of early morning training sessions is a bonus too!
Which current player would you most like to have a pint with?
Luciano Becchio – he speaks hardly any English but seems like a decent lad and you can tell he loves Leeds, which is good enough for me.
Which current player would you least like to have a pint with?
Joey Barton – he’d probably just want a tear up after a couple of shandy’s!
Recorded at Brooklyn Recording Company, the new album ‘UP,GUARDS AND AT ‘EM!’’ is out now on Dance To The Radio and will be available here
You can win a copy of the Pigeon Detectives’ new album Up, Guards And At ‘Em! by answering this simple question…
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How many members of the Pigeon Detectives are there?
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
Send your answer to [email protected] to be in with a chance of winning!
The sign of a great team? One that can compete on all fronts. Inter last season, Barca the year previously, and as much as it pains me to say it, the United team of ’99, were perfect examples of having the versatility, ability, fitness and depth within a squad to be successful across the board. Very few teams have the resources to do it and so must prioritise one competition over the next, so which do you choose?
In the case of Barca and Inter’s treble-winning seasons, and this is by no means in disrespect of their achievement, their respective leagues were won with relative ease. At this present moment (we will have to wait to see how much Mourinho can galvanise the egos of Los Blancos) they are so much stronger than their opponents that resting players, and dropping the odd point here, and there doesn’t have too much of a detrimental effect on their league ambitions. For Man United and Chelsea, you could flip a coin over who will win the league and so rather than the domestic room afforded to Inter; theirs is a much more claustrophobic affair.
Roman Abramovich is now craving the Champions League in the way Rob Green wants a rewind button on the last six months of his career. Three Premeir League titles cannot be underestimated as an achievement, but for the Russian, European glory is the holy grail. Further north, Sir Alex Ferguson has publicly admitted that his only regret during his time at the helm of United is that they have not won more Champions League titles. Considering they are regularly contenders, he is right to feel that his return could have been greater than two. But neither team is willing to sacrifice the bread and butter of the league and so must fight on both fronts.
Below the Premierships top table of dinner for two, there is less of an expectation to win the title and so teams can perhaps apply their focuses elsewhere.
For Arsenal – who I don’t believe have the squad, or the keeper, to win the league, despite a glittering array of talent – there is however an opportunity in Europe. They have the ability to beat anyone on their day, and so may be better suited to the smaller amount of games required in Europe. That said, the period without a Premier League title is beginning to border on the stagnant.
For Spurs and Man City, they simply have to focus on the league. That is their priority, no doubt. If Man City are serious about their aspirations (which I truly believe they are), then they have to be in the Champions League. It’s like a boy at school hanging around, waiting to be asked to the party that all the cool kids and hot girls are going to, buying all the booze in the hope of an invite. City will be dancing around at that party, showing off their expensive clothes and sparkling jewellery, very soon.
In regards to Spurs, they have to see the Champions League as a bonus this year; in football and financial terms. It will be a far greater achievement to qualify again this year than to go out in the second round and miss out on a top four spot. Ominously for White Hart Lane regulars, it already looks as though it will be a tall ask.
And what of Operation Hodgson at Anfield. The low league finish last season means that any improvement on that will be seen as progress, thus giving him the scope to try and win the Europa League. The biggest challenge will come from Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, but his side have a definite chance, better than the one he had with Fulham last year, and we know how that went.
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For the rest of the league the status quo remains: get as higher finish as possible and enjoy any extra perks along the way. The Carling Cup is a ticket to European away days, and any team not fighting relegation should remember the money that creates, not to mention the buzz it gives their followers; a fact Fulham and Middlesbrough will remind you of. To the Premier League teams in Europe this week, I wish you all well, even United (just this once).
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For any wannabe Wenger’s, Mourinho’s or Ferguson’s, Football Manager has been the place to cut their teeth. Over the years millions have sat in front of the computer screens, deciding on their matchday tactics and delving into the transfer market to make their team unbeatable.
Like the managerial greats, we have all made a few bad signings but we have also unearthed a number of gems. Whether we have been fortunate enough to bring them to our club or have seen somebody snatch them from under our noses, their importance has not been missed.
Here are those players that we love, together in a Football Manager XI that would bring guaranteed success in this free-flowing 4-3-3 formation.
Click on Febian Brandy to unveil the Football Manager XI
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