Real Madrid have derailed Tottenham's ambitions of signing Nico Paz, with the Spanish giants hoping to bring him back to the club next year.
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Ruben Amorim reportedly continues to enjoy the backing of the Manchester United ownership despite the club's humiliating exit from the Carabao Cup. United lost 12-11 in the penalty shootout to League Two side Grimsby Town and were eliminated by a fourth-tier club in a cup competition for the first time in their history.
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On the first day of the season, Headingley’s floodlights were enveloped in a demented mist
Dan Norcross13-Apr-2018″Nothing happens. Nobody comes, nobody goes. It’s awful.”Samuel Beckett, the Nobel Prize winning avant-garde playwright who penned these abstruse lines in Waiting For Godot was a first-class cricketer. The fear for many fans of the County game is that, in a typically avant-garde turn of current events, it has become essential reading for administrators at the ECB.196 days since the end of the 2017 County Championship, every single one of those days counted down on various Twitter and Facebook accounts, devotees of the oldest and best first-class domestic competition in the world emerged from their hibernal cocoons. Many in modestly-priced hotels and guest houses in Leeds. They like their county cricket here, in case you hadn’t heard.”Throw those curtains wide” sing Elbow. We did. As wide as they could possibly go. “One day like this a year’d see me right.” Well, not so much. Unless it was just one and no more. Peering through the sepulchral gloom of a Headingley morning from an eighth floor window, it was just about possible to discern the floodlights, enveloped in a demented mist.Breath didn’t so much emerge from your mouth in visibly condensing waves, as envelope your soul in sadness and refuse to release its malignant grip.This time last year, give or take a week, the Championship season got off to a vivid, gleaming start in glorious sunshine. Chelmsford was as hot as Chennai, The Kennington Oval no less a paradise than Kensington, but clouds hang over county cricket this season, and its Gods were intent on coating its worshippers with a fine film of physical symbolism.Just as we devotees may not know quite what we’re worried about, so did the mist and mizzle hang in the air. No thunderbolts from above laying waste and spreading devastation. No ululating harpies skimming across a blood red sky. Just this unnerving and irrational fear that what we’ve all been waiting for for six months may be endlessly postponed.The start of play was delayed by rain•Getty ImagesBut county cricket, whilst vulnerable to the actual laws of Physics as well as, less acceptably, the bogus laws of suited speculators and cod economists, is a resilient beast. The Media Centre was bustling with friendships renewed (“did you winter well?”) and memories of loved ones lost. The rightly revered Yorkshire BBC commentator Dave Callaghan, who died suddenly in the close season, was in everyone’s thoughts, from the gatemen to the Chairman; but before you knew it, laughter at his joyful memory was shaking us out of the doldrums.The spectators, who had come in good numbers despite the absolute impossibility of play, were also shaking off their morning gloom. The grunted curses and existential wailings (“what’s the bloody chances of this weather? It were fine two weeks ago”) were being replaced by gallows humour and the ritual sharing of packed lunches.Before long talk actually turned to the game. Somehow, and in a testament to the enduring genius of the Championship, Yorkshire, who were until very recently talking up their chances of a hat-trick of titles are now being quietly tipped to struggle. Essex, who only two years ago were trying to work out how to get out of a second division they seemed eternally tethered to, are now the all- conquering unbeaten champions of 2017 and most people’s much louder tip to win again.To add to Yorkshire’s woes, they lost Steve Patterson to a broken finger on the eve of the match as well as Plunkett and Willey to the IPL. Josh Shaw looks set to start for Yorkshire, a man about whom no one in either the crowd or the press box seems to know much.With a bit of luck, maybe a steady breeze and a little of the forecasted sunshine, we will find out more about young master Shaw tomorrow. And so will begin the cycle of renewal. Of thrills at the unknown. At stories yet to be told. And you know what? Lots will happen.Many people will come via computers and tablets and radios. Many, albeit fewer, will go in person and gabble excitedly, and share their sandwiches and their wine decanted into mineral water bottles and argue about the relative merits of competing middle-order batsmen. And it will be wonderful.We just have to wait a little while longer.The start of play was delayed by rain•Getty Images
The Chicago Cubs–St. Louis Cardinals rivalry is alive and well. On Tuesday night, the Cardinals took the upper hand by taking full advantage of a costly mistake by Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is having one huge year.
In the bottom of the fourth inning in St. Louis, Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson hit a fly ball to Crow-Armstrong for an easy out. However, the Cubs centerfielder miscalculated how many outs there were in the inning, so he slowly made the catch and started to run to the dugout. He quickly realized it was only the second out of the inning, but by then, Masyn Winn, who had started on second base, was already charging for home.
Winn was already at third, if not farther, by the time Crow-Armstrong threw the ball infield. The throw to the plate was way overthrown, giving Winn the easy run to put the Cards up 8-5.
Crow-Armstrong will be thinking about that one for a while.
Fans have accused Maya Jama of 'ruining' Manchester City star Ruben Dias as the defender was trolled for being bitter after drawing at Southampton.
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The Danish striker missed three clear chances, but the worst sight on a grim Sunday was the young French defender hobbling off the pitch
Manchester United were brought back down to earth after their euphoric passage to the Europa League final as they slumped to their first home defeat against West Ham in 18 years, going down 2-0 and sinking all the way to 16th in the Premier League table. And to make matters worse, they will almost certainly be without Leny Yoro in the final after the Frenchman limped off the pitch while looking utterly distraught having suffered a foot injury.
Former United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka was in brilliant form against his old club, playing a huge role in Tomas Soucek's first-half opening strike and then setting up Jarrod Bowen to score the second goal. Bowen's goal further killed the mood after Yoro had been forced off and had to be comforted by Harry Maguire as he trotted down the tunnel, almost certainly believing he will miss the showdown in Bilbao against Tottenham on May 21.
United's European run has been the only good thing about their dire campaign and this defeat, their 17th of the season, was a reminder of how big a job Ruben Amorim faces in making his side a force again in the competition that matters the most.
GOAL rates United's players from Old Trafford…
The Club World Cup has already bent plenty of rules, and should disrupt once again to bring a brash legend to the U.S. this summer
One of the stranger moments in American soccer happened last week. You'll be forgiven if you weren't watching. But there was iShowSpeed, YouTuber, internet personality, Cristiano Ronaldo enthusiast, and, somehow, a representative of soccer in the United States, sitting at his desk, streaming to millions.
He was up to his usual act of screaming, talking, and just sort of saying words in various orders that supposedly mean something to the kids these days.
And then he was interrupted by a bald-headed man, slick polo, nice fitting pants, shoes brandless and suspiciously clean. It was a supposedly impromptu appearance, Gianni Infantino walking in on Speed, who willingly stopped his stream mid game, stood up in a choreographed manner, and watched as the FIFA president reached the exact right spot, so he could be seen by the masses.
The usual stuff followed: a cool bro hug, an exchange of gifts, an excited introduction from Speed, and, finally, the hundredth unveiling of the Club World Cup trophy (because, of course a random man can show up to someone's house unannounced with a massive block of gold hidden underneath black cloth.)
After that the two talked about the Club World Cup. They covered all of the bases: number of teams, big names, how much of a spectacle the United States will be in store for this summer. But somewhere in the jumble of it all, Infantino came up with the most unexpected words he could have uttered: "Ronaldo might play for one of the teams as well."
Cue, Internet explosion. Surely this couldn't happen. Cristiano Ronaldo, under contract al Al-Nassr at the time, still under control of a club that wasn't playing in the tournament, could not simply show up to this thing, on loan at a random club, who haven't trained with him, haven't set up their squad for him, and cannot guarantee the same kind of generational wealth that his current club could?
Not a chance, even in a world of make believe, could this transpire.
Well, it turns out that it just might. Ronaldo's contract is up at the end of the month. There have been a smattering of reports of talks on an extension, but nothing official. Meanwhile, chatter about Ronaldo potentially joining a Club World Cup participating team has only grown louder. Another Saudi Pro League side is supposedly interested. He could also, apparently, represent a Moroccan team for a month.
But the logistics don't matter here. Reality doesn't really matter here. Reason is out of the window. The is showing up on YouTube to support this? There will be matches at the Club World Cup, yes, but it's somehow transformed into a marketing event.
And yes, Ronaldo, someway, somehow, in whatever manner possible, simply has to play this summer – whatever it takes from the relevant parties to make it happen.
Hendricks was involved with Malan for a 121-run second-wicket stand before Willey’s opening burst undid Kings chase
Associated Press19-Feb-2024Multan Sultans, who lost last year’s thrilling final against Lahore Qalandars by one run, opened their campaign with a thumping 55-run victory against allrounder-heavy Karachi Kings at the Multan Cricket Stadium.Sultans’ overseas signings Reeza Hendricks of South Africa and Englishman Dawid Malan struck half-centuries in the home team’s challenging total of 185 for 2 after Kings won the toss and elected to field.Veteran Shoaib Malik struck 53 off 35 balls and Kings captain Shan Masood struggled for his 30 off 31 balls against his former franchise as Sultans restricted their opponents to 130 for 8 in 20 overs.West Indian power-hitter Kieron Pollard (28 not out) was the other batter to reach double-figures in an otherwise lackluster performance by former champions Kings.Hendricks struck an unbeaten 79 off 54 and Malan made a resolute 52 as both set up a strong total with a 121-run second-wicket stand. Malan fell soon after completing his half-century when he holed out in the deep off Daniel Sams’ slower delivery, but Khushdil Shah provided a late flourish with a 13-ball 28 not out.Fast bowler Mohammad Ali (3-23) ran through Karachi’s lower order and David Willey (2-22) chipped in with the wickets of James Vince and Saad Baig off successive deliveries in his second over as Kings’ chase never got going against Sultans’ pace.
Eddie Howe's Newcastle are preparing a lucrative contract extension to fend off a potential £65 million bid from Manchester City.
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The selection panel led by Ajit Agarkar will meet on Friday to pick India’s squad for the last three Tests against England
Nagraj Gollapudi09-Feb-2024Retain Shreyas Iyer or drop him? That is set to be one of the first questions for the selection panel when it meets on Friday evening to pick India’s squad for the three remaining Tests of the England series.ESPNcricinfo has learned that Iyer had informed the team management that he had experienced back spasms a day or two after the end of the second Test in Visakhapatnam, which India won to level the series 1-1. The BCCI medical staff, though, are understood to have cleared Iyer for selection.Apart from Rohit Sharma, Iyer is the only senior India batter to not register a significant score in the first two Tests – he made 35 and 13 in Hyderabad and 27 and 29 in Visakhapatnam. Considered one of India’s best batters against spin, Iyer has, however, struggled to find fluency, struggling both in his defence and in his strokeplay.Related
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Insiders believe Iyer’s struggles could be a result of him feeling stiffness in his back as he bats for long periods. A pinched nerve in his lower back flared up originally during the fourth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2023. Last April, he had undergone back surgery to deal with a slipped disc, which had caused him “excruciating pain” and made him doubtful about his future.Iyer then missed the IPL, where he leads Kolkata Knight Riders, but returned to play for India in the Asia Cup. However, recurring back spasms restricted his involvement to just two matches. But a successful ODI World Cup, where Iyer played impact innings in the middle order – including in the semi-final against New Zealand – suggested he had completely recovered.Dropped from India’s T20I squad in the home series against Afghanistan in January, Iyer tested his match fitness for the England Test series by playing a Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai against Andhra, where he batted once and scored 48.2:58
Are captaincy duties affecting Rohit’s batting?
While he was in the squad for the first two Tests, there was no assurance that he would be in the XI – he was competing with KL Rahul for one middle-order slot. But once Virat Kohli ruled himself out for the first two Tests for personal reasons, and could be out for longer, Rahul and Iyer got into the XI for the first Test.Rahul, who was ruled out of second Test because of a quad niggle, is expected to be fit for the second part of the England series. Now the selectors have to decide whether they want to retain Iyer or place their faith in Rajat Patidar, who made his debut in the second Test and impressed with his technique and composure. Not to forget, Sarfaraz Khan was also in the squad for the second Test, but didn’t get into the XI.
One other significant talking point for the selectors will be Jasprit Bumrah, who is the leading bowler so far in the series with 15 wickets. While Bumrah has shown no fitness concerns since resuming to play at the World Cup after undergoing back surgery last March, the selectors are understood to have acknowledged the point made by the BCCI medical staff about manging the workload of Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, both all-format players.Siraj was rested for the second Test, but is expected to return for the third in Rajkot starting February 15. Bumrah, too, is set to play the match, but is likely to get a break for one of the two final Tests – in Ranchi and Dharamsala.