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Fit again captain Kieron Pollard says his team has “put in the effort to get it right” for the T20Is, after the ODIs loss

Shashank Kishore15-Feb-2022For a while when West Indies trained on Tuesday, the men designated to put up sponsor boards around the edges of the first tier above the dressing rooms waited and watched to see if the batters would stop hitting the ball in the direction. After a while, it became amply clear this was part of a skills-specific training routine. They stopped and enjoyed a power-hitting show for a good 40 minutes, before they got to work again.Big hits routinely flew off the blade, one after the other. If Nicholas Pooran tried to hit them 80 meters, Odean Smith went 85. Romario Shepherd gunned for 90. The white-ball destroyers who’ve thrilled audiences around the world surfaced. Balls were disappearing into the empty stands routinely.After a while, Kieron Pollard walked out with his weapons and whacked them big. Over the past week, he’s worked on repairing his ankle that was sore due to fluid accumulation. On match-eve, he declared himself fit, and even proved it by not just flexing his muscle in hitting big but also completing regular drills. If the weekend was about relaxing and soaking in multi-million-dollar bids at the IPL auction, the last two days have been about training hard and ironing out areas they want to focus on. Two long sessions later, West Indies are confident heading into the series opener on Wednesday.”It’s down to execution,” Pollard asserted. “That’s the conversation we’re having. Being precise in what to do and being as accurate as possible. We’re clear and have worked on specific things in the nets. Skill-sets of the group are different. One thing you can be rest assured of, we have put in the work to get it right.”Related

West Indies batters 'got caught' in India's spin trap, admits Nicholas Pooran

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Pollard fit for West Indies as India look to get their combination right

Barring Kyle Mayers, Dominic Drakes and Shepherd, the allrounders, the rest of the squad have had a taste of conditions in India, either from earlier or during the ODIs. They may have been thumped in the ODIs, but Pollard insisted every bit of learning has been taken onboard and there are no hangovers from the IPL auction euphoria.”Every time you get an opportunity to represent your team, you want to do well,” he said. “The IPL auction is done and dusted. To be selected there, you should have done something great on the field. When the IPL comes, we will deal with that. For now, it’s about representing the West Indies and putting our best foot forward. From a one-day perspective, it didn’t go how we wanted it to. Come tomorrow, hopefully we can deliver the plans we have.”West Indies have now lost back-to-back ODI series, to Ireland and India, but go into the T20Is with the confidence of having beaten England 3-2 at home. Pollard termed it “confidence boosting”, but felt there were weaknesses they got away with.”For us, it’s about consistency,” he said. “We had a good series against England. A couple of times with the bat and at the back end of the innings, we could have been better at executing. Our fielding performance, we can take it up a notch. That is an area we need to improve. And try to be as consistent as possible from a batting perspective. We have not been consistent at all. That’s a fact. We want to put it right in the limited opportunities in the shorter format of the game. It’s about continuing to improve in all facets and executing to the best of our ability.”Kieron Pollard trained and did all his fitness drills•Associated PressPollard hinted at continuity at the top, which means Mayers could line-up to open alongside Brandon King. Mayers, who made his mark in a record-breaking Test match chase in Chittagong last year on debut, is just four T20Is old, but brings multi-dimensional skills with his ability to chip in with a few overs of medium pace.”I’m very impressed, he’s aggressive in nature and is doing tremendously, and has improved a lot from the first time I interacted with him in the 2013 CPL,” Pollard said of the 29-year-old. “He’d done well in the Test arena, in a couple of T20s too. We want that to continue, for him to give that impetus. He is clear what he has to do for the team. We look forward to consistent performances. We know he can give us a few overs with the ball as well.”Some captains don’t like talking about individuals, particularly if they aren’t chosen. Pollard is the exact opposite. He was asked what it would take for Shimron Hetmyer to make a comeback. The big-hitting Guyanese batter was signed for INR 8.5 crore last weekend by Rajasthan Royals, but finds himself out of the white-ball setup on fitness grounds. Coach Phil Simmons has made it clear he will only return if he passes the required parameters.”I think the coaches have spoken on their assessment of Shimron,” Pollard said. “I miss Shimron when he is not around. He is a young player and a superstar in his own right. He will get it right and get back to the West Indies squad pretty soon. I will be looking forward to having him. We know what he can do as an individual and he has a bright future. You can never write off a guy who is 25. My love for Shimron is paramount, and he knows that, and we all know that. It is a matter of time for him to do all that is necessary to get back to the team. We will welcome him with open arms.”

“I miss Shimron when he is not around… He will get it right and get back to the West Indies squad pretty soon. I will be looking forward to having him. My love for Shimron is paramount, and he knows that, and we all know that.”Kieron Pollard on Shimron Hetmyer

What about Pooran, another big name with a big reputation, but with the kind of returns that may make you tear your hair out. “He is still trying to find his foot to become consistent and perform as an individual before thinking about leadership,” Pollard said. “He is in a good space. We have had a lot of conversations. He has got different opportunities at different times. We can see what he can do, and that is exciting.”The T20 set up has long been about the Gayles, Pollards, Russells, Bravos and Narines. Pollard, however, sees big things going forward with what he terms an “exciting group” that is ready to step up and take over the mantle.”What I see is that these guys are all wanting to do well,” he said. “Odean Smith, Drakes, Hetmyer, Romario – these are the guys we look to, to take our cricket forward. Some of the guys are selected in IPL and if they can use that experience to enhance their cricket, and get some expertise from the coaching staff, it augurs well for us in that aspect. They will be soaking in the knowledge, so it is exciting times for us going forward.”

Nottingham Forest have begun contract talks with an “outstanding” player after his impressive start to the 2024/25 Premier League season, according to a new report. It has been a fantastic campaign for the Reds so far, as they sit in seventh place on 16 points, two behind fourth place Aston Villa and 12 ahead of 18th place Ipswich Town.

Liverpool and Chelsea seriously monitoring £30k-p/w Nottingham Forest star

Forest have a fight on their hands to keep hold of one of Nuno’s top stars. 

ByBrett Worthington Oct 28, 2024 Nottingham Forest transfer news

Nuno Espirito Santo couldn’t have wished for a better start to a season, but it may have come with a consequence, as two big Premier League teams are now circling with interest in one of their key defenders.

Both Liverpool and Chelsea are monitoring star defender Murillo, as they consider a move in the upcoming transfer window. The centre-back has become a key player under Nuno, but his performances have put him on the radar of both clubs. Liverpool are looking at potential replacements for Virgil van Dijk, while Chelsea are yet to decide if signing another centre-back is a priority but will move for him if they do.

But Forest have their own plans when it comes to transfers, and the Reds are interested in signing Batista Mendy from Turkish side Trabzonspor. The versatile defender/midfielder has become a key player for his side, playing 31 league games last season, and he could now be available for a transfer for a price around £16 million.

The transfer window doesn’t open for a few months yet, but Forest could be about to complete the best bit of business they’ll do all season, as they look to tie a star player down to a new contract.

Forest begin Chris Wood contract talks

According to John Percy of The Telegraph, Nottingham Forest have opened contract talks with striker Chris Wood. The New Zealand international, who earns £80,000 a week, which is just over £4 million a year, has made an excellent start to this 2024/25 season, scoring seven goals in nine league games.

Wood, who was described as being “outstanding” by Match Of The Day pundit Stephen Warnock earlier this month, has been at the City Ground since January 2023, and Percy reports those within the club are “hopeful of wrapping this up quickly”. It was reported earlier this month that Nuno was pushing the club to offer the star striker a new deal to remain a Forest player.

Apps

51

Goals

23

Assists

1

Wood has performed very well in the English top flight before, as he was impressive while at Burnley, but even at the age of 32, he looks to have taken his game up a level, as he continues to be in sensational form for Forest. The forward added to his tally last time out, grabbing two goals as the Reds beat Leicester City 3-1.

Preparing for Ruben Amorim’s arrival, INEOS have reportedly set their sights on a new Manchester United target who has earned comparisons to Real Madrid wonderkid Arda Guler.

Man Utd transfer news

It would be an understatement to suggest that Amorim has a hefty task on his hands at Old Trafford. Several managers have tried and all have failed to awaken a sleeping giant, from Jose Mourinho all the way to Erik ten Hag. This time, as the first coach to arrive with a new sporting director in place in the form of Dan Ashworth, the Red Devils will be desperate to see their latest choice finally succeed.

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Manchester United secured their first win of the Europa League last night.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 8, 2024

The former Sporting boss is due to arrive on November 11 to take charge of a side that he will hope is fresh from a four-game unbeaten run since Ten Hag’s dismissal, with Leicester City up next for interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy. If the Dutchman defeats the Foxes for the second time in his short spell then he should consider his four-game tenure quite the success.

United’s recent turnaround doesn’t end the need for reinforcements, however, and those at Old Trafford seem to be well aware of that. According to reports in Spain, INEOS have now set their sights on Yunus Akgun, who has been compared to Turkey teammate and Real Madrid star Arda Guler.

The 24-year-old winger has reportedly emerged to become Manchester United’s latest target for Amorim after scoring six goals and assisting one other in 15 games for Galatasaray this season. On the scoresheet against United’s Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a recent 3-2 victory, Akgun is one to watch.

"Wonderful" Akgun would replace Antony

One of the first problem positions that Amorim must deal with is right-wing. Jadon Sancho tried and failed to star in that role to leave Manchester United spending big once again. Like Sancho, however, splashing the cash on Antony only added to the issue that the Red Devils must now solve once and for all, which could see Akgun arrive.

The 24-year-old is finally bursting into life at Galatasaray and living up to the praise that Football Talent Scout’s Jacek Kulig sent his way in 2022, describing Akgun’s season as “wonderful” at the time.

Following Antony’s failure, Manchester United must spend wisely and Akgun represents an interesting option who has shown plenty of signs that he could be the man to finally solve their problem on the right-hand side.

How much does every Forest player earn annually and who receives the most into their account?

The Premier League title race has been intensifying in recent weeks, with Liverpool emerging as the front-runners. However, several other teams are making a compelling case to challenge the Reds for the crown, and one of the most intriguing contenders are Nuno Espirito Santo's Nottingham Forest.

Forest have surprisingly established themselves as serious top-four contenders, with a real shot at securing a return to the Champions League next season – a competition they have won twice in their storied history.

It's quite hard to fathom that a team that returned to the top flight just two seasons ago after a 24-year absence are performing as well as they are, especially considering their relatively limited spending power. Their rapid rise is a testament to the quality of their management, squad cohesion, and the resilience they've shown in navigating the challenges of Premier League football.

So, who is the highest earner at City Ground this season? And who is on the opposite end of the spectrum?

GOAL delved into the numbers from Capology and found out!

*

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Goalkeepers

  Belgium international Matz Sels is the highest-paid goalkeeper at Forest with an annual package of just under £2m. Carlos Miguel as the only other senior goalkeeper in the squad is the lowest-paid keeper at City Ground.

  Name	Salary
  Matz Sels	£1,820,000
  Carlos Miguel	£780,000

Advertisement

• AFP
  

  Defenders

  Arriving from Fiorentina ahead of the start of the current season, Serbian centre-back Nikola Milenkovic is turning out to be an excellent signing for Forest and is rightly their highest-paid defender.

  Former Liverpool full-back Neco Williams finds himself on the second spot, with Willy Boly, Ola Aina, and Murillo jointly sharing the third spot.

  Alex Moreno, Andrew Omobamidele, Harry Toffolo, and Morato are the joint-lowest paid defenders.

  Name	Salary
  Nikola Milenkovic	£5,460,000
  Neco Williams	£2,600,000
  Willy Boly	£2,080,000
  Ola Aina	£2,080,000
  Murillo	£2,080,000
  Alex Moreno	£1,820,000
  Andrew Omobamidele	£1,820,000
  Harry Toffolo	£1,820,000
  Morato	£1,820,000

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfielders

  James Ward-Prowse, who was signed on loan from West Ham United for the season, is currently the highest-paid midfielder at the club, surpassing Morgan Gibbs-White in terms of wages. This has raised some eyebrows among Forest fans, many of whom would argue that Gibbs-White, with his consistently standout performances, is more deserving of such recognition.

  Ivory Coast international Ibrahim Sangare is the third-highest paid midfielder, with the English duo of Lewis O'Brien and Ryan Yates jointly-sharing the fourth spot.

  South American duo of Nicolas Dominguez and Danilo are the lowest-paid midfielders at Forest.

  Name	Salary
  James Ward-Prowse	£5,980,000
  Morgan Gibbs-White	£4,160,000
  Ibrahim Sangare	£3,900,000
  Lewis O'Brien	£2,600,000
  Ryan Yates	£2,600,000
  Elliot Anderson	£2,080,000
  Nicolas Dominguez	£1,820,000
  Danilo	£1,560,000

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attackers

  This one's a no-brainer as veteran striker Chris Wood, who is also the club's top scorer this season, is the highest-paid forward along with Callum Hudson-Odoi.

  Nigerian pair of Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis come next on the list, followed by Ramon Sosa.

  After struggling to secure a regular spot at Manchester United, Anthony Elanga has finally blossomed into a dangerous Premier League attacker. However, it’s surprising to see that, despite his growing influence on the pitch, he is one of the lowest-paid players at the club, not just in attack, but across the squad as a whole.

  Name	Salary
  Chris Wood	£4,160,000
  Callum Hudson-Odoi	£4,160,000
  Taiwo Awoniyi	£2,600,000
  Emmanuel Dennis	£2,080,000
  Ramon Sosa	£1,560,000
  Jota Silva	£1,300,000
  Anthony Elanga	£1,300,000
  Eric da Silva Moreira	£416,000

MatériaMais Notícias

Nesta quinta-feira (14), é comemorado o Dia do Treinador de Futebol e o Bragantino, através das redes sociais, não deixou de parabenizar em especial os comandantes das equipes principais tanto no masculino como também no feminino.

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Aplicativo de resultados do LANCE! está disponível na versão iOS

Pelas redes sociais, o Massa Bruta deixou uma mensagem de carinho e agradecimento voltada a Mauricio Barbieri e a recém-contratada Rosana Alves.

Você aí: sabia que hoje é Dia do Treinador de Futebol?

O estagiário parabeniza 👏🏾 o professor Barbieri, a professora Rosana e os demais treinadores das categorias de base do clube. Obrigado por todos os ensinamentos diários aos nossos jogadores! pic.twitter.com/S0yrM459aY

— Red Bull Bragantino (@RedBullBraga) January 13, 2022

No caso de Barbieri, o treinador de 40 anos de idade que chegou após trabalho realizado no CSA acumula números importantes no Massa Bruta da ordem de 101 partidas com 43 vitórias, 32 empates e 26 reveses. Como feitos mais marcantes, a conquista da vaga direta na fase de grupos da Libertadores e o vice-campeonato da Copa Sul-Americana.

Já em relação a Rosana, a ex-jogadora da Seleção Brasileira chega com as boas referências acumuladas em seu último trabalho onde comandou a equipe do Athletico-PR. Para a atual temporada, o principal desafio será a manutenção da equipe na elite do futebol feminino nacional, já que se trata da estreia do time nesta competição.

Board claims 16.1 million people watched new tournament on TV, with 510,000 tickets issued

George Dobell23-Aug-2021

The winners of the men’s and women’s Hundred•Getty Images

The ECB has hailed audience figures for the first edition of the Hundred as “incredible” and promised it will lead to pay rises for women cricketers.Sanjay Patel, the managing director of the tournament, claimed 16.1 million people watched the tournament on TV – a figure he said was more than the men’s World Cup in 2019 – with 510,000 tickets “sold or issued”.Although the tournament was billed as offering equal prize-money for men and women, actual payment was far from equitable. While the lowest-paid male cricketer (involved in the entire event) was paid £25,000, the highest-paid women cricketer was paid £24,000. The lowest pay bracket for women players was £3,600. But with Patel also claiming the tournament was on target to provide a “£10m surplus into the game”, the ECB is now committed to narrowing that gap.Related

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“There’s going to be some good news for women’s salaries,” Tom Harrison, the ECB chief executive, said. “You can expect that.”Among other figures published by the ECB were claims that 55% of ticket buyers for the Hundred had not bought tickets for cricket in England or Wales previously; that, of those watching on Sky or the BBC, 57% hadn’t watched any other live ECB cricket in 2021; and that 19% of all tickets sold were for children. As a result, it allowed Harrison to claim the competition was “delivering” in “throwing cricket’s doors open” to a new audience.”We’ve seen in year one how it’s already delivering,” Harrison said. “It’s provided outstanding entertainment for new and existing fans alike, unearthed new cricketing heroes, and it’s been fantastic to see so many children and families enjoying the action. It’s also changed the game for women’s cricket, smashing record after record and creating role models for girls and boys to be inspired by.”We need to grow cricket, reach more people and inspire more children to pick up a bat and ball and that’s exactly what the Hundred does.”Despite hailing the viewing figures, Harrison did admit that there had been “huge amounts of learnings” from the first edition. For one thing, he conceded there had been “little pockets of anti-social behaviour” (which he partially ascribed to “Covid-related issues”) while he also accepted there was “a concern” about collateral damage to other formats of the game.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“We obviously understand the complexity and difficulty of having no red-ball cricket when you’re playing a premium Test series,” Harrison said. “That’s an issue and we need to try and find ways of resolving it. We have to get to a place where we provide opportunities for players to get into good form and continue to play red-ball cricket during a Test series. It’s not an easy thing to solve, but we’re working hard on that at that moment.”The whole point of growing the base of the sport is so that you protect the things that are most precious to us. And that is Test cricket for us.”Patel’s predictions of a “£10m surplus” are also controversial. Patel quoted the projected revenue of the tournament to be around £50m against projected costs of £40m. The ECB does not, however, include the £1.3m payment made to each of the counties and the MCC (£24.7m a year in total) in return for their agreement to support the tournament as part of the tournament’s profit and loss. Were such a figure included, the tournament would have made a loss of in excess of £14m.The ECB also confirmed that double-headers would continue for the foreseeable future. While the original plan was to host men’s and women’s games at different ground, the demands of Covid forced a rethink. It subsequently resulted in large crowds at women’s games”The double-header model wasn’t the original proposition,” Harrison said. “We were forced to do that through Covid. But actually it’s turned out to be one of the best things that’s happened. It was an enforced change which has turned into a huge benefit.”Patel agreed. “The men’s and women’s games just have to go together,” he said. “For the next three or four years at least I think they have to be together.”

Chelsea's summer business has been chaotic to say the least. There have been some impressive captures with the likes of Pedro Neto and Joao Felix both arriving.

That said, there has been some controversy surrounding player exits. Conor Gallagher, Chelsea through and through, was alienated from the playing squad before joining Atletico Madrid.

Now, there is the curious case of Raheem Sterling on transfer deadline day. There are two possibilities; he stays at Stamford Bridge or heads off to Arsenal following a reported phone call with Mikel Arteta.

A striker continues to elude the Blues, although they could yet launch a late swoop for Victor Osimhen. However, in their endeavours to replace the potentially departing Sterling, they've found a winger.

Chelsea make deadline day bid

With transfer deadline day reaching its conclusion, the transfer team at Chelsea have launched a late move to bring in another attacking player.

That happens to be Jadon Sancho, the man at the centre of Sterling's future in west London.

That's according to Fabrizio Romano who stated on Friday afternoon that they were now speaking with Manchester United regarding a deal.

Here's what the ever-reliable transfer insider said…

How Sancho is similar to Willian and Hazard

Now, going from one underperforming winger in Sterling to another in Sancho might defy belief. However, this is Chelsea we're talking about. They don't do things by the book.

That said, the former Borussia Dortmund man is a captivating prospect and at his best is one of the finest wide forwards in the game.

You only need to look back at his performances in last season's Champions League when his loan side, Dortmund, reached the final.

In the semi-finals against PSG, he was electric. During the first leg, the Englishman completed 12 dribbles. That was the most by any player in a Champions League semi-final since Lionel Messi in April 2008 against United (16).

On that evidence, it's hardly a surprise that he was once described as the “the next Eden Hazard” back in 2020 by former Liverpool star Steve Nicol.

Eden Hazard's Chelsea career in numbers
Season	Games	Goals	Assists
2012/13	62	13	21
2013/14	49	17	8
2014/15	52	19	12
2015/16	43	6	7
2016/17	43	17	7
2017/18	52	17	13
2018/19	52	21	17
Stats via Transfermarkt.

Hazard was renowned as one of the finest dribblers in the Premier League during his spell on English shores. In 2017/18, the Belgian ranked in the top 1% of positionally similar players in the top flight for progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, illuminating how good he is at beating a player.

It's a quality he clearly shares with Sancho, who could well become Hazard incarnate by making a late move to London this summer.

What's interesting is that the United outcast is also comparable to another ex-Chelsea forward in Willian. FBRef notes that the Brazilian is the fourth-most similar player based on data across the last 365 days. Why? Well, as we can see in the graphic below, their passing metrics are largely rather alike, making a similar number of progressive passes per 90.

So, with Todd Boehly and Enzo Maresca making one last-gasp dart to sign a new player before the deadline, Sancho feels like a no-brainer on a loan deal for the rest of the campaign.

Chelsea can forget Osimhen & Toney with last-gasp move for £25m "monster"

The Blues’ transfer window is going to the eleventh hour…

By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 30, 2024

Newcastle United are ready to return to Premier League action, travelling to Molineux on Sunday to face Wolverhampton Wanderers.

With a frustrating summer behind them, the Magpies have started the campaign on strong footing, with seven points from nine available and a fifth-placed spot in the standings.

The road ahead is long and winding, and Newcastle need to build a strong run of form to restore their place among Europe’s elite. Wolves have not had the best of starts to the term but are coherent and resilient, and will present a tough test.

Newcastle team news

Newcastle had enjoyed the time off as international action took to the forefront, with Howe working on developing his side’s cohesion and fluency.

Fabian Schar is available again after suspension in a big boost given that Sven Botman and Jamal Lascelles’ long-term injuries continue.

Howe has a newfound abundance of options to pick from, and he will hope that the woes of last season are gone. One of the main questions heading into Sunday’s clash is whether Sandro Tonali will be handed a starting berth, but he definitely should.

Why Howe must unleash Sandro Tonali

Tonali has made his return to Newcastle action this season, receiving his first slice of action during the second-round Carabao Cup victory over Nottingham Forest and coming off the bench during the emphatic win against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Having been suspended for ten months for breaches relating to betting in October 2023, last summer’s £55m signing from AC Milan has endured a testing point in his career, but brings style and technical flair to the Magpies’ centre and could be vital in unlocking a gritty Wolves defensive block.

Described as “incredibly gifted” by manager Roberto Mancini, the Italy international is a creative and enterprising midfielder who can seamlessly shift into a more defensive frame of mind, and he could be the perfect counterbalance to Bruno Guimaraes.

Minutes played

90′

90′

Goals

0

0

Assists

1

0

Touches

58

54

Shots (on target)

0 (0)

1 (1)

Accurate passes

32/46 (70%)

37/41 (90%)

Key passes

2

0

Dribbles (completed)

0 (0)

1 (1)

Tackles

3

2

Interceptions

1

2

Ground duels (won)

7 (5)

5 (4)

Tonali might even prove to be more effective than Joelinton in the engine room, with his precision and patience allowing him to unlock the Old Gold defence.

Joelinton is a raging bull of a midfielder, repackaged as a robust central figure after initially struggling as a striker at St. James’ Park. There’s much to like about the Brazilian but he’s erratic and has only won 38% of his ground duels this season, as per Sofascore, also counting his blessings after escaping a red card when pulling back former Cherries goalkeeper Neto last month.

Tonali demonstrated over the international break that he has the steeliness and interchangeability to adapt to the situation, and he must be unleashed tomorrow, helping his side toward the upper echelons of the Premier League.

Newcastle star was worth just £2m in 2023, now he's worth 1350% more

He’s soaring toward stardom…

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 13, 2024

Glasgow Rangers delivered yet another subpar performance, this time in the League Cup, but the Ibrox side secured a victory which took them through to the quarter-finals.

In front of a sparse crowd at Hampden, St Johnstone more than matched the Light Blues throughout the first half, as the ‘home’ side failed to impose themselves during the tie.

Cyriel Dessers came on for Danilo at half-time, and he opened the scoring not long after joining the game, albeit in controversial circumstances.

The Nigerian had the ball in the net, but the whistle had originally blown for an apparent foul he committed in the buildup. After a VAR review, the referee awarded the goal.

Ross McCausland scored a second late on with a nice finish as the club secured a spot in the last eight.

Several players underperformed yet again, however, with captain James Tavernier continuing to look uninspired throughout the match.

How James Tavernier has performed this season

The Englishman hasn’t quite enjoyed the start to 2024/25 as he would have anticipated, registering just one assist in five matches so far.

Following a campaign which saw the defender score 24 times in all competitions, Tavernier would have looked to have bagged a few times at least at this stage of the season.

James Tavernier's Premiership stats in 2024/25
Goals	0
Assists	1
Key passes per game	2.5
Big chances created	1
Total duels won per game	4
Possession lost per game	25
Via Sofascore

Is this a sign of things to come? Tavernier failed to offer anything positive against the Saints on Saturday evening either, delivering a few crosses into the box without any success.

Journalist Michael McEwan criticised the right-back for his display, saying: “James Tavernier really does have the look of a guy who's going through the motions. Absolutely not a leader.”

Tavernier was given a match rating of just 6/10 by Glasgow World for his performance against the Saints at Hampden.

The £30k-per-week captain saw his bottle collapse towards the end of last term as the Light Blues lost both the Premiership title and Scottish Cup final against Celtic, without putting up much of a fight.

As a result, is it time for Philippe Clement to finally drop the player?

The candidates to replace James Tavernier

The most obvious player in the squad at present is Dujon Sterling. Last season, the former Chelsea youngster showcased his positional flexibility by playing across six positions, including stints at right-back, right-wing and the centre of the midfield for Clement.

While Sterling may not provide as much of an attacking threat in front of goal, his defensive abilities would more than make up for this.

Last season, the 24-year-old won 50% of his ground duels while averaging one tackle per game, despite averaging only 53 minutes each outing.

Another option could be unleashing Adam Devine, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Motherwell.

Again, he isn’t much of a force going forward, but considering he won 70% of his ground duels while losing possession just 5.4 times per game for the Steelmen, suggests he should perhaps be given a chance under Clement.

Tavernier has built up a reputation during his time at Ibrox, but this season could see that being unravelled if these poor displays become a regular occurrence.

Rangers line up swoop for Yilmaz replacement with 47 PL appearances

The Light Blues might need cover for the left-back area…

By
Ross Kilvington

Aug 17, 2024

Dominic Thornely will leave his role as head coach of New South Wales Breakers and move into the male pathway with the state.Thornely had been in the job for the last two seasons during which New South Wales failed to win the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL).They finished as runners-up in the 2019-2020 season, losing to Western Australia in the final, only the fourth time they had not won the title, then in the recent campaign finished fourth which meant they missed the decider for the first time.”Like we do every season we have reviewed all of our elite programs and as part of that concluded that it was important that Dom’s expertise was not lost to the organisation, and that his skillset is best suited to contributing in the Male Pathways area,” Greg Mail, New South Wales’ head of cricket, said.”He may not have achieved everything he set out to do with the Breakers but his coaching career continues to develop. Dom will start his new role with a focus on developing young talent in Country NSW and we are really excited to see the impact he can make.”Leah Poulton, the head of female cricket, praised Thornely’s work with the younger players.”Dom has worked as both an Assistant and Head Coach over the past four seasons and over that time he has overseen the development of our next generation of athletes,” she said. “He leaves the program with strong foundations and I wish him well in his future endeavours.”Thornely said: “As a coach, it is important to experience a broad range of coaching opportunities. I have really enjoyed my time in the female programme but the one area I haven’t had an opportunity to explore is the male pathway.”I believe my playing experiences will compliment my coaching background in this role and I look forward to the challenge of developing future Test cricketers.”