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Many Glasgow Rangers fans have been slamming the display of Alfredo Morelos in their game at home to Hearts in the Premiership this afternoon.

It was not the Colombia international’s best day as he was guilty of missing several decent chances to make the match more comfortable for Steven Gerrard’s men, after John Lundstram had given his team the lead late in the first half at Ibrox.

The striker was also guilty of giving the ball away far too cheaply and far too often throughout the match in an overall performance which would have disappointed his manager considering what Morelos can produce.

Nonetheless, he must now put this performance behind him and try to make amends in the Europa League in midweek.

Rangers fans on Morelos display

These Rangers fans slammed Morelos’ performance on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that he was ‘rotten’:

“Morelos looks miles off it. Again.”

Credit: @BMCRangersRants

“Not alone. Morelos has been rotten”

Credit: @Grove1969

“Announce the 2019/20 Morelos please”

Credit: @johnbucky81

“Get that Morelos off!!!!”

Credit: @RFC5572

“Hook Morelos. Please”

Credit: @FinlayV3

“If Morelos could finish game would be over”

Credit: @Dp1973Dp

In other news, find out what Michael Stewart comments have left these Gers fans raging

Celtic tried to sign former Hearts left-back Aaron Hickey from Bologna during the summer, according to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness).

The lowdown

Hickey was actually on Celtic’s books between 2017 and 2018 before rejoining their Edinburgh counterparts.

He then enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2019/20, making 22 Scottish Premiership appearances and catching the eye.

Bologna boss Sinisa Mihajlovic says Hickey possesses ‘both personality and quality’ and has a ‘great future ahead of him’ in the game.

Last year, he featured on a list compiled by the CIES Football Observatory of the 100 most valuable most young players in the top-five leagues. Also on the list were the likes of Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden.

The latest

The report states that Celtic, along with their arch-rivals Rangers, made approaches ‘again’, indicating that he’s a long-term target.

There was also interested from English Premier League side Aston Villa but Bologna made clear to Hickey’s suitors that he was ‘absolutely not transferable’.

The verdict

Celtic’s left-back situation has been described as a ‘mess’ which ‘captures the squad’s dysfunction’ by The Athletic’s Kieran Devlin, but it’s hard to imagine it would have been a problem position had they been able to pull off a deal for Hickey.

Unfortunately for the Hoops, it seems unlikely that Hickey would go back to Scotland having established himself in one of Europe’s big-five leagues.

That may feel like something of a sideways step for a player who’s attracting interest in England and no doubt beyond.

In other news, there’s been positive news on a key Celtic player. 

Charlton Athletic have entered into talks with Corey Blackett-Taylor regarding a contract extension at The Valley.

What’s the latest?

In recent comments cited by London News Online, Nigel Adkins revealed that he is relaxed about the contract situation of the 24-year-old, whose current deal is set to expire in January, as the left winger is enjoying his time in south London after signing a short-term deal with the Addicks this summer – with the League One side having already started negotiations regarding an extension to his contract.

On the future of the former England U17 international, Adkins said: “We’ve had conversations. He’s loving his time with us. He gets well looked after, he is enjoying his football and we’ve got a real good group of players.

“Whether he is going to be fit now for the weekend…. we’re talking about players at different levels of fitness and different injury records and injury history. We’ve got to be mindful we don’t want to lose a talented player.”

Fans will be buzzing

Considering how exciting Blackett-Taylor has looked for Charlton so far this season, the news that the club are working towards tying the winger down to a new deal is sure to have left fans buzzing.

Indeed, having impressed in his first start for the Addicks in their 6-1 romp of Crawley Town in the Carabao Cup back in August, getting himself on the scoresheet against the Reds, the 24-year-old also was directly involved in a goal in his first league start for the club, registering an assist in the 1-1 draw with Gillingham on Tuesday.

As such, considering the Addicks’ extremely poor start to the season, it would indeed appear a wise move to offer a player who clearly has an impact when given a chance in matches a new deal, as Blackett-Taylor could well go on to prove an influential part of a Charlton Athletic side that, at present, looks as if it could be battling to stay in the third tier come the end of the season.

In other news: Ridiculous detail emerges about Charlton Athletic deal, it’ll frustrate supporters

بدأ نادي تشيلسي ومالكه، تود بوهلي، في التحرك من أجل ضم لاعب وسط الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، فرينكي دي يونج، خلال الميركاتو الصيفي الحالي.

واستفسر بوهلي من إدارة برشلونة خلال اجتماعه بهم في المدينة الكتالونية مع بداية الشهر الحالي عن إمكانية ضم الهولندي، ولكن لم يقدم تشيلسي أي عرض رسمي حتى الآن.

وبحسب صحيفة “سبورت” الكتالونية أن تشيلسي ما زال يتابع وضع دي يونج في برشلونة الذي يريد إرغامه على الرحيل بسبب أزمته المادية وعدم الدخول تحت طائلة قانون اللعب المالي النظيف، ولكنه ينوي التقدم بعرض رسمي خلال الأيام القليلة المقبلة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. جوارديولا يوضح موقف لاعبي مانشستر سيتي من استلام الميداليات بعد الخسارة أمام ليفربول

علاقة تشيلسي مع برشلونة جيدة ومن الممكن أن تحسم صفقة دي يونج رغم استمرار رغبة مانشستر يونايتد في ضم اللاعب الهولندي الدولي والذي لن يستسلم بسهولة، ولكن هذا ما اعترف خوان لابورتا به أن العلاقة رائعة مع، تود بوهلي.

بوهلي أثناء هذا الاجتماع الذي تم عقده في أحد المطاعم في “برشلونة”، أكد لإدارة النادي الكتالوني أنه سيسمح لرحيل سيزار أزبيليكويتا وماركوس ألونسو إذا كان هناك اتفاق مالي بينهما، لكن في المقابل لم يكن هناك أي تحرك من جانب تشيلسي رسميًا لضم دي يونج.

ويأتي السبب وراء ذلك أن تشيلسي يركز في الوقت الحالي على ضم مدافعين نظرًا لرحيل أنطونيو روديجر إلى ريال مدريد وأندرياس كريستنسن إلى برشلونة ولم يكن هناك تعاقدات دفاعية سوى مع مدافع نابولي السابق، كاليدو كوليبالي.

يتمنى برشلونة أن يدخل تشيلسي في السباق مع مانشستر يونايتد بعرض رسمي حتى يفاضل بينهما ويختار الأفضل له لبيع دي يونج وتحقيق أعلى استفادة مادية ممكنة.

Plays of the Day in the fourth ODI between New Zealand and India in Hamilton

Sidharth Monga11-Mar-2009
Virender Sehwag hit a six to reach his 100 off 60 balls © Getty Images
New Zealanders don’t forget
It’s been a month and 10 days to the day Neil Broom was bowled during the Chappell-Hadlee series while Brad Haddin seemed to have his gloves in front of the stumps. But they don’t forget such incidents in New Zealand. A banner at Seddon Park proclaimed what is still open to debate: “Haddin is a cheat.” Just as well they didn’t carry character certificates for Greg Dyer and Greg Chappell. The two gentlemen might have been forgotten, but definitely not forgiven.Brendon, Jesse and Seddon
Last time Jesse Ryder and Brendon McCullum opened together at Seddon Park, they added 165 runs in 18.1 overs. They were more sedate today but still managed a 100-run stand in 19 overs. Seddon Park has something in it for the openers: Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir went on to outdo the New Zealand openers, and by some margin.Not the ground to defend in
New Zealand have been adamant about wanting to chase in this series, but who would want to give the Indian batting line-up first use of batting-friendly conditions? So Daniel Vettori chose to bat at a venue where no team has successfully defended a total under lights. In the end, the toss remained the only thing New Zealand have won in this series.Six times faster
This is a man who missed a Test double-century at the MCG because he tried going for a six. But that dismissal hasn’t changed Sehwag’s mindset when approaching landmarks. Today he stepped out to Vettori, wasn’t close enough to the pitch of the ball, and still managed to hit it for six over long-off.What a time to go
After 19.2 overs, India were 76 ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis par score. Just then it started to drizzle. Common sense would dictate that the umpires let them play out the next four deliveries, and let there be an official game. At that point, one team had outplayed the other and deserved to win the match. The umpires, though, went by the principle: when you gotta go, you gotta go. Thankfully the rain relented, but things wouldn’t have been pretty if it hadn’t.

Andrew McGlashan presents the plays of the day from Jamaica

Andrew McGlashan in Jamaica07-Feb-2009
Kevin Pietersen was clean bowled by a beautiful delivery from Jerome Taylor © AFP
A hint of Gordon
Sulieman Benn had a fine game. Not content with taking plenty of wickets he then showed he is no pushover with the bat, in a valuable stand with Brendan Nash. One shot, early on the fourth morning, stood out when he effortlessly flicked Stuart Broad over the square-leg boundary for six. The way he played it, on one leg with rapid bat speed, had more than hint of Gordon Greenidge about it and it got the home supporters jumping.A breakthrough in every sense
Broad needed a haul to settle himself into Test cricket. In his 10 previous Tests he’d never managed more than three wickets in an innings, so it was a key moment for him when he had Benn taken at point off a loose drive. Broad is a work-in-progress, but England are keen to see him develop as swiftly as possible because he brings extra skills to the side with his batting and fielding. With four scalps under his belt he then got his first ‘statistical’ haul when Nash was caught behind, and his first five-fer was in the bag.TV pictures, human error
Another day, another controversial moment for the TV umpire. Daryl Harper will be quite happy to vacate his seat after this Test. This time the issue was that there was evidence that Tony Hill – yes, sadly it was him again – had made an error in giving Daren Powell out, caught down the leg side. Replays showed daylight between bat and ball, yet Harper decided there wasn’t enough evidence to overrule Hill. The consensus around the ground was he hadn’t hit it and the debate rumbles on.In, out, in
West Indies wanted early wickets and the tone was set when Alastair Cook pushed lazily at a full ball from Jerome Taylor. Devon Smith, though, at second slip did his best to drop it, parrying the ball to his right before lunging after it and grabbing the second attempt. He did remarkably well to hold himself together and West Indies set off on what would be the first of many celebration sprints.Pure Caribbean
Jerome Taylor will never forget this day, and he may never bowl a better ball than the late, full outswinger that castled Kevin Pietersen. It was his first delivery after lunch, but there was no thought of a loosener. The ball began on a path to middle and Pietersen shaped to whip it through midwicket. But then, at the last minute, it straightened and beat his closing face to send the off stump cartwheeling back towards the wicketkeeper. It was the type of dismissal that lit up the Caribbean during the 1980s and West Indies were finding a new generation of heroes.Light relief
The Barmy Army resorted to singing Monty Python’s , the old staple of many an England collapse, and one moment of small relief came when Andrew Flintoff thumped Sulieman Benn for a boundary in the 28th over. Such had been England’s struggle that it was the first four of the innings, however it was laced with the forlornness that had enveloped much of the visitors’ effort.Party time
It’s been a decent few months for Chris Gayle; a million-dollar winner in the Stanford tournament and now this memorable victory. He enjoyed himself a little too much at Sabina Park five years ago, but this time he is perfectly entitled to let his hair down. “I went into the party stand and got into a bit of trouble,” he said. “But I’ll be going over there today.” After his efforts over the four days of this Test no one will begrudge him.

West Ham will be looking to continue their unbeaten start to the 2021/22 season when they make their Europa League group stage debut later today.

David Moyes’ side head to Croatia to face Dinamo Zagreb and they are not a side to take lightly, having knocked the Irons’ rivals Tottenham Hotspur out of this very competition in stunning fashion last season.

And the Scotsman has plenty of crucial decisions to make, especially with the small matter of facing league leaders Manchester United on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League in his thoughts.

None of his summer additions have made their full debuts, so this encounter could represent an opportunity for a shuffle to the starting XI, affording some key names a bit of rest as the games start to come thick and fast.

One player who underwhelmed during the Hammers’ draw with Southampton at the weekend was Said Benrahma. The winger started the season on fire, providing two goals and two assists across their opening two games but is yet to record any more since.

At St Mary’s, he struggled to have much of an influence on the game and lost the ball more than any other West Ham player (16 times), so perhaps he could do with a little refresh before the weekend.

In his place, Moyes should unleash his new playmaker, Nikola Vlasic, who made a cameo from the bench at the weekend.

He could prove to be a game-changing influence, in more ways than one.

The Croatia international will be heading back to his home country, where he once played for Zagreb’s top-flight rivals Hajduk Split. He has come up against the league giants on 14 occasions, so that experience could be crucial in what could be a hostile atmosphere.

Furthermore, the £27m-rated maestro will offer the Hammers some much-needed creativity, perhaps something they lacked in abundance during the Saints stalemate.

Last season at CSKA Moscow, Vlasic delivered 11 goals and five assists, adding to his 17 direct contributions in 2019/20, whilst the 23-year-old averaged a whopping four shots and 2.8 key passes per league outing, via WhoScored.

By comparison, his predecessor, Man Utd loanee Jesse Lingard, averaged just 2.6 shots and 1.1 key passes per game, also per WhoScored.

Moyes has already talked up Vlasic’s presence on the training pitch, so it’s surely time to see what he can do from the off.

“We’ve been really impressed by Niko. His attitude as a professional is first-class,” the Irons boss told the club’s official website before later adding:

“He can play 7, 10 or 11, so can play several roles for us which is important, and will be important through the season, but we also want to give him the chance to adapt and adjust. He’s only been really impressive since he’s been at the Club and we’re really hopeful that he’ll turn into a really good player for us.”

It’s time to see what Vlasic can offer West Ham and there won’t be a better environment to do it than in his home country. Moyes must turn to the Croatian playmaker over Benrahma.

AND in other news, Signed for £15m, now worth 140% more: Moyes struck gold over “unplayable” West Ham gem…

عاد مسؤولو اتحاد الكرة إلى نقطة الصفر في ملف تعيين المدير الفني الجديد لمنتخب مصر الأول خلال الفترة الحالية.

ويكثف اتحاد الكرة جهوده للبحث عن مدير فني لخلافة إيهاب جلال، الذي أدار منتخب مصر في 3 مباريات فقط قبل رحيله.

وقررت الجبلاية من قبل توجيه الشكر لـ إيهاب جلال بعد قيادته لمنتخب مصر في 3 مباريات فقط، تمكن خلالها من الفوز أمام غينيا وخسر من إثيوبيا، في التصفيات المؤهلة لأمم إفريقيا 2023، وهُزم أمام كوريا وديًا برباعية مقابل هدف.

وعلم “بطولات”، أن بيتكوفيتش اعتذر رسميًا عن عدم تولى مهمة قيادة منتخب مصر بعدما أرسل رسالة نصية لحازم إمام أثناء اجتماع مجلس اتحاد الكرة بعد ما رحب بالمدرب كل أعضاء الجبلاية.

طالع | وزير الرياضة: كنت متحمسًا لعودة كيروش.. وخطأ اتحاد الكرة مع الأهلي لا يستوجب الرحيل

وكان بيتكوفيتش قد اقترب بقوة في الساعات الماضية من تولى مهمة المدير الفني للفراعنة، خاصة في ظل امتلاكه سيرة ذاتية متميزة.

وحتى الآن الأقرب عدم صدور قرار باسم المدير الفني الجديد لمنتخب مصر اليوم، وذلك لأن هناك اختلافات داخل المجلس على الأسماء الأخرى المرشحة.

A round-up of the fourth day’s play of the first round matches of the Ranji Plate League

Cricinfo staff07-Nov-2008
Scorecard
After starring with the bat yesterday, Vineet Jain shone with the ball on the final day to help Tripura close out a tense 54-run victory over Services in Delhi. Services’ batsmen put up a much-improved show in the second innings in a determined pursuit of 316.The innings revolved around Jasvir Singh’s patient 67 after Ashish Mohanty had made the most of a reprieve – being bowled off a no ball – to score 52. Jasvir also got support from No. 9 Shuvra Karmakar, who made a quick 43, as Services looked to clinch their first win since their ten-wicket victory over Tripura two years ago. With the match in its final session, and Services on 249 for 7, it could have still swung either team’s way.Medium-pacer Vineet secured five points for Tripura by removing both Jasvir and Karmakar in the space of five runs before knocking over Hari Prasad’s middle stump.
Scorecard
Kerala grabbed three points for their first-innings lead after playing out a high-scoring draw against Goa in Palakkad. With Kerala still batting on the morning of the fourth day, an outright result was always out of the question but there was still plenty of drama.Preambhastn Prem’s 138 steered Kerala towards the first-innings lead and at 426 for 4, with only 35 more needed, the three points seemed in the bag. But they had to endure some nervy moments before getting them as left-arm spinner Shadab Jakati struck thrice to reduce Kerala to 458 for 8. The match then meandered to a stalemate; Kerala’s tail-enders took the score to 486 and Goa replied with 69 for 3 before play was called off.
Scorecard
Shafiq Khan’s century came too late for Jammu and Kashmir since Jharkhand had already gained a first-innings lead in a match that eventually meandered to a draw in Jamshedpur. Twelve wickets fell on day one as Jharkhand bowled J&K out for 225 and their openers with 23 on the board. Half-centuries by Manoj Joglekar (77) and debutant Aditya Pratap and a quick lower-order 37 by Vijay Sharma by boosted J&K’s total after medium-pacer Kuldeep Sharma had reduced them to 52 for 5.In reply, Jharkhand’s first-class debutant Ishank Jaggi scored a half-century and, along with Saurabh Tiwary, helped his side to 301. Shafiq’s 143 anchored J&K’s second innings though he was assisted by Joglekar, who scored a second half-century, Samiullah Beigh, with a useful 40, and Sharma, with 30.Their total at the end of day three – 309 for 7 – was not enough to set a target their bowlers could defend so J&K batted on and were finally dismissed for 366 on the final day giving Jharkhand 50 overs to chase 291. The hosts chose to play for a draw and Subroto Ghosh and Jaggi helped themselves to half-centuries on the way to three points.

Rob Quiney’s maiden first-class century gave Victoria a handy advantage at the Gabba, where their lower order caused major frustration for Queensland

Cricinfo staff22-Oct-2008
Scorecard
Rob Quiney has been a useful one-day player for Victoria and has now converted his success to the first-class arena © Getty Images
Rob Quiney’s maiden first-class century gave Victoria a useful advantage at the Gabba, where their lower order caused major frustration for Queensland. The final three pairs added 153 after the Bulls troubled the middle order and looked a chance to take first-innings points.The Bushrangers were 7 for 200 when Damien Wright top-edged an attempted pull off Ryan Harris and the tail had some work to do. But Quiney combined with the No. 9 Clint McKay for a 69-run stand that pushed them past Queensland’s total, and then with the No. 11 Dirk Nannes for a 79-run partnership that allowed Quiney to reach triple figures and finish on 127.It meant a 108-run advantage for Victoria, who made immediate inroads in Queensland’s second innings when Ryan Broad was lbw to Nannes without scoring. At stumps the Bulls were 1 for 6 with James Hopes having scored all the runs and Chris Simpson yet to get off the mark.Queensland’s bowlers had shown similar spark late on the first day when they reduced Victoria to 2 for 18 but Chris Rogers and an aggressive David Hussey (39) led the recovery on the second morning. Rogers finished with 51, his second half-century in two Sheffield Shield outings for his new state, before becoming one of three victims for Harris.McKay was the third and final wicket for Ashley Noffke, but not before he had made a career-best 34. The star of the late resistance was Quiney, who has settled into the No. 6 position having opened at times last season. Quiney had some nervous moments on 99 when Nannes had to face out nearly two full overs, but he reached his milestone with a single clipped through midwicket.