All posts by h716a5.icu

Football Insider pundit Kevin Campbell has been reacting to Celtic’s planned move for Sunderland striker Charlie Wyke.

The Lowdown: Hoops plan long-term offer

According to Football Insider, who have been informed by a Hoops source, Celtic will step up their pursuit of the Black Cats forward this week.

He is out of contract in two weeks’ time and Celtic are reportedly planning to offer Wyke a long-term offer.

The 28-year-old, who scored 30 goals last season, is thought to be ‘very keen’ to move to Parkhead.

Wyke stands at 6 foot 1 and it seems as if he fits the bill for the Hoops due to his availability, age and pedigree.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-5/” title=”Celtic updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Campbell reacts

Campbell was talking to Football Insider following that transfer update.

The 51-year-old believes Wyke would score goals at Celtic Park and labelled him ‘exceptional’ in the air.

“Wyke is no Edouard but at the end of the day there is different ways to skin a cat.

“You do not always have to follow the same plan.

“I just think a good player in Wyke could go up there and play with better players and show another level of performance. I think he could have a real impact up there, I do.

“It is a case of watch this space. He has not played at that level but he has shown this season that he is a very good player.

“I think he will score goals, especially if you give him the right kind of service. He’s exceptional in the air.”

The Verdict: Edouard and Wyke compared

Odsonne Edouard looks set to leave Parkhead after telling friends he will be joining Leicester City.

Edouard and Wyke appear to be different types of strikers, so the Hoops may have to alter their attacking style, should the latter replace the Frenchman.

As per WhoScored, Wyke averaged 4.8 aerial duels won in League One last season, compared to Edouard’s one per match in the Scottish Premiership.

Edouard completed more successful dribbles 1.6, to Wyke’s 0.3, so Celtic may have to take a more direct approach when it comes to getting the best out of Wyke, should he move to Scotland.

If Leigh Griffiths fails to earn a new Hoops deal, Celtic may have to look at another attacking addition, but it seems as if right now, their focus is on signing Wyke.

In other news: Trophy-laden club captain wanted by Ange Postecoglou; he is a big fan of Celtic coach, find out more here. 

Pakistan, lately used to depending on the match-winning feats of Shoaib Akhtar, meet South Africa in the opening match of the Morocco Cup Monday at the Tangiers Cricket Stadium

Samiul Hasan12-Aug-2002Pakistan, lately used to depending on the match-winning feats of Shoaib Akhtar, meet South Africa in the opening match of the Morocco Cup Monday at the Tangiers Cricket Stadium.Waqar Younis’s men then face Sri Lanka Wednesday on their 55th Independence Day in the first round action of the double league tournament, which carries a prize-money of US$250,000, with the winners to get $120,000.The 5,000-seater stadium in this French-speaking northern African country becomes the 141st venue to stage one-day cricket.Shoaib’s re-emergence last year gave a new impetus to the underachieving Pakistanis who had been struggling to find the winning combinations before then. But now with the team settled and on a roll, the temperamental Shoaib gave preference to his own interests and skipped this competition citing personal reasons.If Shoaib’s withdrawal amidst contradictory claims has dealt a blow to Pakistan’s chances, it has also given the remaining players an opportunity to show that this sport remains a team game. Thus, this provides them a chance to scrap the tag of a one-man team.Pakistan has produced several outstanding cricketers in their proud history. And though it might be a bunch of individuals in the past, it was never a one-man team and nor it is now. One would prefer it leaving to the team and let them prove the pundits and probably Shoaib wrong.Pakistan has been playing some heart-throbbing cricket with the senior boys producing inspiring performances. Waqar Younis has led from the front and the support he has received from his men is a clear indication that the often disintegrated team is now well-knitted and united.It is this fact that even a player of the experience and stature of Saeed Anwar now looks a misfit. The left-hander will be playing only his third one-dayer Monday in almost 12 months. Personal problems have affected his performance and consistency.It is because of Saeed that Pakistan is compelled to reshuffle their batting order and demote hard-hitting Shahid Afridi and keep Shoaib Malik confined to the dressing room after Imran Nazir cemented his place with heroics with the bat and in the field. One is not a big supporter of this experiment and strongly believes Shahid’s exploits deserve to be utilized on top of the order because he is technically more conducive against the quickies than the slow bowlers.The Morocco Cup also launches a hectic season for Pakistan team in the run-up to next year’s the World Cup.A tally of nearly 25 One-day Internationals and seven Tests are enough to take the toll on the players and there is no hidden secret that the Pakistanis lack the highest level of fitness. That makes the task of Australian physio Dennis Waight even tougher.South Africa have nothing to lose in this tournament despite the drama of their luggage being misplaced. They have not played any cricket since April and they are straight coming from a home winter season.The Proteas in their last appearance on the international scene, were virtually run over by the Australians.Sri Lanka also had terrible run upto this event when they were convincingly beaten in the Tests in England and also failed to qualify for the finals of the triangular series.Nevertheless, both South Africa and Sri Lanka remain dangerous opponents and Pakistan will require to play out of their potential to topple them and emerge winners.Also on the line will be the tag of the second best one-day team behind world champions Australia. Pakistan narrowed the gap after beating Ricky Ponting’s men 2-1 in the Super Challenge-II.However, the gap between the three teams here is not big and Pakistan would certainly be attempting to win the unanimous vote of the experts as the team that is only capable of challenging Australia.All said and done, exciting cricket on an unknown but marvellous territory is on cards. Though one would hate to predict but still Pakistan looks the best bet.Teams (from):Pakistan: Waqar Younis (captain), Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif, Abdul Razzaq, Wasim Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Malik, Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Sami, Misbah-ul-Haq.South Africa: Shaun Pollock (captain), Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Allan Donald, Boeta Dippenaar, Justin Ontong, Paul Adams, Roger Telemachus.

With leaders Surrey not in action in this round of matches there was a chance for Warwickshire to close up on the champions-elect

Ralph Dellor05-Sep-2002With leaders Surrey not in action in this round of matches there was a chance for Warwickshire to close up on the champions-elect. However, things have not gone exactly as the team in second place in the table would have wanted. Lancashire took their first innings total on to 598 with Chris Schofield reaching 91 before he was out, sharing a ninth wicket partnership of 109 with Peter Martin was remained undefeated on 117 with 12 fours and six sixes. Before the close, Glen Chapple had taken the wicket of Mark Wagh to leave Warwickshire trailing by 560 runs.It took only eight overs for Kent to take the final five wickets of the Somerset innings on the second morning at Taunton. Martin Saggers and Amjad Khan both finished with four wickets. Then Ed Smith reached 115 by stumps, James Treadwell reached a fifty while Paul Nixon is 79 not out as Kent got to within 160 of the Somerset total with seven wickets in hand.Ryan Sidebottom took five wickets for Yorkshire as Leicestershire were bowled out for 279 at Scarborough. That total was only achieved with fifties from Neil Burns and Javagal Srinath down the order but it gave Leicestershire a first innings lead of just three runs. Before the close, Yorkshire had 137 for three on the board.Sussex enjoyed the better of the first day of another relegation battle, taking 399 for three off the Hampshire attack. Murray Goodwin and Richard Montgomerie put on 193 for the first wicket after Hampshire had won the toss and elected to field. Goodwin was out for 119 but Montgomorie is still there with 168 to his name.The battle between the top two teams in Division Two is evenly poised. The last three Middlesex wickets added only 12 runs on the second morning, but then the Essex batsmen struggled. They were all out for 278, thanks to a fifty from Aftab Habib on his comeback from injury, to trail by 17 on first innings. Essex got right back into the game by taking three Middlesex wickets before stumps with the lead now extended to 38.Derbyshire also harbour hopes of promotion, but they are struggling in their match with Gloucestershire. Gloucestershire lead by 295 with five second innings wickets in hand. Derbyshire were all out for 187 to trail by only five runs, with Mike Smith taking five wickets. Matt Windows was the other Gloucestershire hero of the day, reaching 143 not out by stumps in the second innings.In the match starting today, Glamorgan enjoyed a solid all-round batting performance to reach 290 for four by the close. Michael Powell was top scorer with 84, Ian Thomas reached a fifty, as did Adrian Dale who is still there.

Southampton fans appear eager to see Dan N’Lundulu leave the club this summer after he was linked with a move to French club Amiens.

The Saints have a busy summer ahead of them as they aim to prepare for the new campaign. They will be looking for considerable improvements on their previous term – while they did reach an F.A Cup semi-final, they could only manage a 15th-place finish in the Premier League table and looked in danger of relegation for part of the term.

There are likely to be plenty of outgoings as well as incomings and, according to @AmiensSCUnited, the Ligue 1 outfit are interested in signing 22-year-old N’Lundulu. The forward has made 16 appearances for the south-coast outfit, but he has scored just one goal (Transfermarkt).

The news was shared on Twitter by @SaintsExtra, and it seems the Southampton fans would be happy to see him leave. They took to the social media platform to share their thoughts.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the N’Lundulu news below

“I wouldn’t mind letting him go for the right price if it means we have more chances in the transfer market.”

Credit: @bfgfox

“If permanent and decent money then let him go.”

Credit: @HackedOffStuart

“Not up to it, bye”

Credit: @stgranty1

“Pls”

Credit: @dazstevnson1953

“His first touch should take him over the channel”

Credit: @saintstevo85

“Always runs round like a headless chicken. Get rid of”

Credit: @learnonskype

In other news, Southampton lead the race for this striker.

Ringing in his 32nd birthday with a lethal spell of bowling that saw him scalp 5/30, the twentieth five-wicket bag of his career, Anil Kumble put Indiafirmly in the driver’s seat at the end of the first day of the second Test at the MA Chidambaram

Anand Vasu17-Oct-2002Ringing in his 32nd birthday with a lethal spell of bowling that saw him scalp 5/30, the twentieth five-wicket bag of his career, Anil Kumble put Indiafirmly in the driver’s seat at the end of the first day of the second Test at the MA Chidambaram stadium at Chepauk.An obviously tired Kumble, ice-pack on a stiff shoulder, spoke to a handful of pressmen soon after the day’s play. And yes, he did think the wicket ofShivnarine Chanderpaul was one he would remember for some time to come.”Obviously it was special to get Chanderpaul’s wicket. He has scored heavily against us so many times and it was good to get him today. Parthiv Patel took abrilliant catch to dismiss Chanderpaul as there as quite a bit of extra bounce in that delivery. Patel is doing well and I think he has a bright future ahead of him,” said the Karnataka leggie.When the day began, there was disappointment for fans as India lost the toss and were asked to field. Kumble agreed that losing the toss was a blow.”The toss was crucial and when we lost it we tried to go out there and get them out as quickly as possible. It’s a new wicket we’re playing on and we were notsure how it would behave. We were happy to restrict West Indies to just 167.”The newly-laid wicket was a topic of much discussion and despite picking up five wickets Kumble admitted that it was not an ideal wicket to bowl on.”I don’t think it was a great first-day wicket because there was nothing in it for the fast bowlers. In the beginning there was not much bounce and all you could do was bowl wicket to wicket and maintain a good line. This was the best thing to do and it worked,” he observed.After an initial spell of 1/20 from 15 overs, Kumble really turned the heat on in the post-tea session where he scalped 4/10 from 8.3 overs.”After I got a couple of wickets, things started happening for me. There was a bit of bounce in the wicket after tea and I was helped by the fact that (Harbhajan) kept one end tight. Sri (Srinath) and Zaheer also picked up crucial wickets and that helped us a lot,” he said.In the recent past several of Kumble’s critics have had ammunition to go after him as the leggie was not returning the kind of figures that saw him becomeIndia’s spearhead. The Karnataka ace insisted that this put no pressure on him coming into this series.”I was never under any pressure. Having played cricket at this level for so many years I know that you have to take things as they come. People will talk and write different things, that’s their opinion. My job is just to go out there and take wickets. I’m not there to answer to critics. I feel that I can still deliver with the ball and I will keep playing so long as I feel that way. When I can’t do this, I will know and people will come to know.”

Former Rangers star Michael Ball has hailed the form of Connor Goldson after the Ibrox outfit’s phenomenal season.

Steven Gerrard’s side enjoyed an unbelievable campaign in the league, going unbeaten and winning the Scottish Premiership title at a canter.

6 ft 3 man Goldson was a key member of Rangers squad throughout the campaign, making 56 appearances in all competitions.

In total, he scored eight goals and also laid on three assists, even from his position of central defence.

The 28-year-old was even suggested as a potential inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2020, though he ultimately missed out on selection.

And Ball believes that the defender has emerged as a genuine star following his £3m move from Brighton in 2018.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “He’s been a fantastic buy for the club. It was a bit of a risk, a gamble, I think around 3 million pounds for him, he needed to kick-start his career and he’s been a success year on year.

“Last year was very successful for him, so it’s great that people are talking about the fact that he could be part of the England squad, it shows how far he’s come as a player.”

Goldson has made a total of 162 appearances for Rangers since his move from the south-coast club and has scored 16 goals, while also laying on five assists.

It would be a risk for Kalvin Phillips to leave Leeds United and join Juventus this summer, warns the club’s former midfielder David Norris.

According to TuttoJuve, Juventus are interested in signing Phillips as they look to wrestle back the Serie A title from rivals Inter Milan.

The 25-year-old had a very strong season with Leeds, making 29 league appearances and averaging 2.6 tackles per game, more than any other midfielder in Marcelo Bielsa’s squad (via WhoScored).

The above, and the fact that he is now starring at Euro 2020 with England, makes it no surprise that Phillips has caught the attention of other clubs.

Norris, however, is not too sure about a move to Italy. The ex-Leeds player told FFC in an exclusive interview:

“It’s a risk. He’s still learning, he’s still developing as a player. He’s getting better and better, but it’s a totally different league, totally different environment.

“Another country, another language, another culture, it’s hard. Some tough English players have gone over there and struggled, so it’s a risk and I don’t think he needs to take it at this time.”

Interest in Phillips is something Leeds will have to get used to. Now that he is an established England player who has featured at a major international tournament, his stock is undoubtedly on the rise.

Rob Nichol, leading spokesman for the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association (NZCPA), opened a press conference in Auckland today with the genial promise that, given the right support from New Zealand Cricket, all the NZCPA members would return to

Don Cameron05-Nov-2002Rob Nichol, leading spokesman for the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association (NZCPA), opened a press conference in Auckland today with the genial promise that, given the right support from New Zealand Cricket, all the NZCPA members would return to playing action within a fortnight.The players’ association would also invite NZC to address players directly on the issues under negotiation.However, this amiable tone at the start of the conference soon gave way to bitter criticism of the way NZC had conducted earlier negotiations since the players’ association called a month-long strike during October from Nichol and his colleagues Heath Mills, one of the players’ association founders, and Dion Nash, the former New Zealand player.In his opening statement Nichol rejected the NZC final payment offer made last week and which ran until 4pm today. This NZC offer included a further increase in player payments but if the players’ association did not accept the new offer NZC would break off the negotiations and approach the players individually.Nichol said the decision not to accept the final NZC offer was guided by advice from its accountants and lawyers. The accountants said the NZCPA needed further financial forecasts from NZC before it could agree with future payment plans for the players. The lawyers said the NZC settlement offer contained uncertain terms, with unknown consequences.The Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA), containing several players’ associations from overseas countries, also advised the New Zealanders not to sign the current player terms on the same basis.As the press conference proceeded, the NZCPA criticism of NZC and its negotiation methods drew strong criticism from the three players’ spokesmen.Nichol claimed that NZC released details of the negotiations and its payment offers in an attempt to sway public opinion against the players’ plans. Nichol did not agree that the players’ association had opened up the issue to the public, and that NZC was merely giving its side of the argument in reply.Nichol also claimed that two NZC offers had been made public before he had received them. NZC had, said Nichol, released information in an attempt to shore up public opinion against the players, and to attempt to break the players’ unity.The players had remained unified, said Nichol, and not long before the press conference two players had been contacted with offers by NZC. Neither player had accepted the offers, said Nichol. Later Martin Snedden, the NZC chief executive, denied that the national body had approached any players.Nichol chose not to name the players. Rather than cause friction Nichol said the players’ association had tried to play a part in forming a controlled environment for future negotations, and these could only be conducted round a conference table.A later question revealed that the players’ association contained 128 members, who paid an annual subscription of $100, starting in June of last year. It appeared that of the three representatives at the press conference today Nash and Mills were working in an honorary capacity.

According to a report by The Athletic, Tottenham attacker Erik Lamela has now expressed an interest in leaving the club during this summer transfer window alongside the likes of Harry Winks and Serge Aurier.

The Lowdown: Sell-to-buy…

Tottenham will need to offload players this summer if they’re going to attack the market and bolster new manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad options ahead of 2021/22.

Many players have been named as possible outgoings in the last few months, including Aurier, Winks, Lamela, Moussa Sissoko, Lucas Moura and even Dele Alli (football.london), and The Athletic have brought an update on the situation involving potential exits.

The Latest: Lamela open to leaving Tottenham…

Lamela has now apparently expressed an interest in playing elsewhere this summer, with his stance on leaving seemingly unknown until now.

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

The 29-year-old had been touted as a name to make way and The Athletic have now reported that he is open to doing just that. Lamela is joined by Aurier and Winks as other men who want to leave alongside defender Toby Alderweireld, with the latter apparently informing Spurs of his wishes a while ago.

The Verdict: Time to go…

The Argentine’s career in north London is perhaps best summed up by his contribution during Tottenham’s most recent derby with Arsenal in March.

In a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, Lamela scored one of the goals of the 2020/21 Premier League season, burying a sumptuous, improvised rabona into the bottom corner through a crowd of bodies. However, he later went on to receive a second yellow card and was subsequently dismissed for a hand-off into the face of Kieran Tierney (BBC).

Pundit Noel Whelan said at the start of the season that Lamela can be a ‘world beater’ on his day, but those glimpses of quality can be overshadowed by disciplinary problems and a torrid injury record.

Therefore, we believe that an exit for player would suit all parties this summer.

In other news: ‘Understand’…Alasdair Gold backs reports of big news coming out of Tottenham, find out more here.

The South African National selectors have made some surprise selections for the South African squad that is to meet Sri Lanka in the Standard Bank International Series starting at the Wanderers on Wednesday 27 November.

Keith Lane23-Nov-2002The South African National selectors have made some surprise selections for the South African squad that is to meet Sri Lanka in the Standard Bank International Series starting at the Wanderers on Wednesday 27 November.Monde Zondeki must consider himself fortunate to be included in the 14-mansquad announced during the South Africa A, Sri Lanka match in Potchefstroom.With a limited-overs record of 20 wickets in 12 matches and an economy rate of 5.29 there must be more to his selection than meets the eye. A bowler who does generate some pace, he is going to have to learn discipline quickly if he is to perform at the highest level.Lance Klusener must also be counting his blessings. Having only scored 207 runs in his last 10 international innings with a highest score of 39 not out against Sri Lanka in Morocco, his form has to be questioned. In the domestic limited-overs competition he has scored 15 runs in two innings.In the bowling department Klusener has, also in his last 10 internationals,taken 12 wickets at an average of 26 with an economy rate of 4.03. Not figures to write home about, nor to bowl an opposition team out. In the domestic season he has only been able to capture one wicket.Robin Peterson is very unlucky not to be included. Called up as a late replacement during the ‘mini-world cup’ in Sri Lanka, Peterson walked straight into the team, ahead of Justin Ontong, for the semi-final against Sri Lanka and performed well with the ball without taking any wickets.Recalled to the team for the third one-day international against Bangladesh,Peterson managed to take 2/39 in his 10 overs. He has yet to bat for South Africa, but has shown his talents for South Africa A against Australia A,Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.Steve Elworthy, Gary Kirsten and Neil McKenzie have also not found favour with the selectors. For the rest the team looks well balanced, with the return of the Free State trio of Boeta Dippenaar, Nicky Boje and Allan Donald.SA Squad: Shaun Pollock (captain), Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Boeta Dippenaar, Allan Donald, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener, Makhaya Ntini, Justin Ontong, Jonty Rhodes, Graeme Smith, Monde Zondeki.