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Wolves suffered yet another defeat in pre-season on Saturday afternoon as Bruno Lage’s troublesome start to life at Molineux continued.

The Old Gold now have just a week to prepare for their opening Premier League clash and you sense they need a few more recruits.

On the chalkboard

One area Wolves have been looking at improving is their midfield.

Ruben Neves has been linked with the exit door on a regular basis while Joao Moutinho is growing older.

Tim Spiers revealed last season that he thought it would be Moutinho’s final campaign as a regular starter and thus, they need younger players to come through.

The good thing is that Wolves are no longer actively looking to sell Neves. A move to Arsenal never materialised so it looks as though he’ll stay in the Midlands.

That being said, Neves will be expendable heading into further windows so it would be wise of Bruno Lage and co to consider alternatives.

The solution

Towards the end of last week it became apparent that Wolves were interested in signing Celta Vigo midfielder Okay Yokuslu.

Wolves tasted defeat to the same opposition this weekend but Yokuslu wasn’t actually in action.

That said, the Turk was in inspirational form for West Brom last season while embarking on a loan spell at the Hawthorns.

Yokuslu wasn’t able to prevent Albion from beating the drop but he attracted plenty of admirers along the way.

He’s a tough-tackling player capable of bursting forwards much in the same way as Neves has done for Wolves.

Capped 37 times by his country, the midfielder has been described as “tenacious” by defender Kyle Bartley.

His ability to get stuck in is what sets him apart from many other players in the same position. Last term, Yokuslu won 2.4 tackles per game and made an incredibly impressive 2.2 interceptions per game.

On top of that, he produced 0.8 shots per match and successfully completed 1.2 dribbles over the same metric.

Compare that to Neves and there are clear similarities. The 24-year-old made the same number of tackles – 2.4 – and registered 1.8 interceptions per outing.

The one area where Yokuslu reigns supreme is dribbling, an area that hasn’t been a strong point in the Wolves midfield for a while now.

On that evidence, he’d be a great signing for Lage and Fosun.

AND in other news, Wolves set for huge boost after Tim Spiers update, fans surely buzzing…

Express and Star journalist Luke Hatfield believes that Wolves are more than happy to keep hold of winger Adama Traore this summer.

Traore featured for Wolves on 41 occasions last season, scoring three goals and providing three assists, but has been linked with a move away from Molineux this summer.

The Daily Mail reported that should Harry Kane leave Tottenham in this transfer window, then Wolves are braced for an approach from Spurs for Traore.

The Spain international has two years left on his current deal with Wolves and Hatfield believes that the club value him highly, telling Football FanCast: “Yeah, I think he’s very much in a similar boat to Ruben Neves, in the fact that Wolves obviously value him highly, if they were to sell, they’d want a big fee and if no one’s willing to meet that then they’re happy to keep hold of him.

“The only difference is with Traore is that his contract still hasn’t been signed so he’s slowly running that down and it puts Wolves in a weaker and weaker position regarding him.”

The winger played the full 90 minutes of Wolves’ first Premier League match of the new campaign against Leicester City, and also featured in pre-season, so is clearly in the plans of new manager Bruno Lage.

Lage and Wolves have been active in the market this summer, signing five new players, with Jose Sa, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Yerson Mosquera, Louie Moulden and Francisco Trincao all arriving at Molineux.

تحدث هيثم فاروق لاعب منتخب مصر السابق، والمحلل الفني الحالي عن مواجهة الفريق القومي أمام إثيوبيا التي أٌقيمت مساء اليوم، وخسرها الفراعنة بهدفين دون رد.

جاء ذلك في المباراة التي أقيمت على ملعب بينجو الوطني بمالاوي، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية من تصفيات كأس أمم إفريقيا 2023.

فيديو | مباراة للنسيان.. منتخب مصر يخسر أمام إثيوبيا بثنائية في غياب محمد صلاح

وقال فاروق في تصريحات تلفزيوينة عبر فضائية “بي إن سبورتس”: “أُحمّل الجهاز الفني واللاعبين نتيجة الخسارة، مباراة سبة في جبين ايهاب جلال”.

وأضاف: “المدير الفني لم يخض أي مباراة ودية، لكن اليوم هو من وضع التشكيل وأجرى التغييرات، ويجب أن يكون هناك محاسبة للاعبين”.

وأردف: “هل تتخيل أننا سعداء لأن المنتخب المصري لم يدخل مرماه أهدافًا في الشوط الثاني؟”.

وتابع: “حزين عندما أرى أداء مصر بهذا الشكل، حزين لأنني رأيت اشباح على أرضية الملعب، حزين أنني حللت هذه المباراة”.

واختتم: “اتحاد الكرة لن يقيل إيهاب جلال لكن لو كنت مكانه لاعتذرت عن استكمال المهمة”. تصريحات هيثم فاروق عقب مباراة مصر وإثيوبيا

تحدث وائل رياض لاعب الأهلي السابق، عن مباراة منتخب مصر وغينيا في تصفيات كأس أمم أفريقيا 2023، مشيرًا إلى أنه يجب عدم تغيير طريقة لعب الفراعنة.

منتخب مصر يواجه نظيره غينيا على أرضية ملعب استاد القاهرة اليوم وذلك في إطار منافسات الجولة الأولى من التصفيات المؤهلة للكان.

قال رياض في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر فضائية “المحور”: “إيهاب جلال المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر،  مهمته صعبة، خاصة أن حال المدربين في مصر غريب، فالمدرب المصري لا يتلقى دعما كبيرًا، وإيهاب جلال يستهدف تحقيق معادلة صعبة تُحقق اللعب الجيد مع النتيجة في آن واحد”.

طالع أيضًا.. تشكيل منتخب مصر المتوقع أمام غينيا في تصفيات أمم إفريقيا

وواصل: “الانتقادات في مصر أصبحت لاذعة وشديدة وقد تؤثر سلبا على المنتخب، لذلك يجب دعمهم”.

وأوضح: “منتخب مصر يمتلك لاعبين قادرين على الظهور بشكل مميز على مستوى الأداء، ومن الذكاء عدم تغيير طريقة لعب الفراعنة قبل مواجهة غينيا اليوم”.

وأردف: “خاصة أن اللاعبين أسلوبهم معروف لذلك التغيير بشكل كامل قد يأتي بالتأثير السلبي على منتخب مصر”.

وعن التشكيل الأمثل لمباراة غينيا قال: “حراسة المرمى: محمد أبو جبل، وعمر كمال عبد الواحد، الونش، ياسر إبراهيم، كريم حافظ في الدفاع”.

وأضاف: “حمدي فتحي، عمرو السولية، أحمد سيد زيزو في الوسط، وفي الهجوم محمد صلاح، مصطفى محمد، تريزيجيه”.

Shane Warne, the Rajasthan Royals’ captain, has said that his side will seek to extend their four-match winning streak, despite having already booked their berth in the semi-finals of the IPL

Cricinfo staff21-May-2008
Shane Warne wants the ‘Rajasthan Express’ to keep rolling © Getty Images
Shane Warne, the Rajasthan Royals’ captain, has said his side are keen to extend their four-match winning streak after a six-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders made them the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the IPL.”We hope the Rajasthan Express keeps rolling. The strength of our team is that every member is good enough to contribute and pull off a win,” Warne said. Talking about his side’s latest victory, he said: “We wanted to send a message to the rest of our competitors that we are not taking our foot off the pedal.”Warne, whose captaincy in the IPL has received widespread praise, said his team’s strategy was to target Kolkata’s part-time bowlers. “[Umar] Gul has been one of their best bowlers in the competition, so we had to plan our batting order accordingly. We knew that [Sourav] Ganguly and [David] Hussey would have to bowl some overs in the middle. That’s why we sent Yusuf Pathan down the order.”Pathan, whose unbeaten 18-ball 48 took Rajasthan to victory after they had been struggling at 69 for 4, came in for praise from Kolkata coach John Buchanan. “He took the game away from us, didn’t he? He hit the ball very well, and is a very strong on side player. If we had got one more wicket after they were four down, who knows?”Buchanan blamed his side’s batting and several missed run-out opportunities for the loss. “Another 20-25 runs would have done the trick,” he said, referring to Kolkata’s modest total of 148. “We certainly failed to hit the stumps when we needed to.”With Kolkata’s semi-final hopes almost extinguished, Buchanan said that the lesser-known players in the squad could get a look-in for their remaining two games. “We want to give the younger guys more experience in handling tough match situations. It’s also about learning to play together as a group.”

Leeds United have been handed a major boost over England’s EURO 2020 star Kalvin Phillips amid speculation over a move away.

What’s the story?

Reports in recent weeks have claimed that Serie A giants Juventus are interested in signing the midfielder this summer, but his agent, Kevin Sharp, has moved to dismiss that, instead insisting he is “happy at Leeds”.

He said: “Before Kalvin signed his last contract, we had good interest so we sat down and explored all the pros and cons. His desire was never to leave, it was to be rewarded and stay and play for the team he supported as a kid. Within the contract he signed in September 2019, we included provisions within it for if Leeds reached the Premier League, so it’s all set up for the top flight.

“We knew it was a bit of a gamble, but we knew Leeds would get there under Bielsa and obviously they did. There may be clubs who are actually looking at Kalvin now because the more successful you are – playing for England in big tournaments – naturally breeds interest. But Kalvin is happy at Leeds and has no desire to move whatsoever. It’s more a case of ‘carry on what you’re doing for club and country’.”

Fans will be buzzing

Make no mistake about it, news that Phillips has “no desire to move whatsoever” is music to the ears of Leeds fans.

The 25-year-old has come through the academy system at Elland Road to play 212 times for the club, and under Marcelo Bielsa’s guidance, has grown into an England international starting in the semi-finals of a European Championship.

And, speaking exclusively to FFC, former Leeds man David Norris said he could become a one-club man: “We’ve seen it with (Harry) Kane, he’s stayed with Spurs, it’s his club and he’s a legend with the fans. But his is coming to the end now, if he wants to win something he must move on.

“With Kalvin, it’s still early days, Leeds are progressing, he’s still progressing, so it doesn’t feel like anything needs to be done drastically soon.  Potentially, depending on how Leeds progress, he could stay there and become a one-club man, with the relationship he’s got. But for now, he doesn’t want to leave, they don’t need to sell.”

The Yorkshire Pirlo’s importance to this Leeds side is unquestionable, with the Whites having won only two of the nine Premier League games that he missed last season – not only would it be a gut-wrenching loss to lose him in terms of what he means to the club as a whole, but also the impact it would have on the pitch too.

So, the fact Sharp was so unequivocal in his statement that Phillips is happy at Leeds, and that he’s got no interest of moving on, will delight fans.

The midfielder is very much Leeds United through and through, and so this latest transfer update will have them buzzing no end.

Meanwhile, Leeds could sign a dream De Paul alternative in this star…

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo encerrou a preparação para o clássico com o Vasco com um treino tático fechado, neste sábado, no Estádio Nilton Santos. Mas a parte fechada durou cerca de 40 minutos. Em seguida, a torcida teve acesso à arquibancada do estádio e incentivou os jogadores durante o trabalho técnico.

Quem eles não viram foi o zagueiro Marcelo. Opção também para a lateral direita, ele sentiu o músculo posterior da coxa direita na sexta-feira e está praticamente descartado da partida deste domingo. Por outro lado, Matheus Fernandes e Leandrinho reapareceram no campo.

O volante teve uma lesão no músculo anterior da coxa direita, enquanto o meia sentiu o anterior da coxa esquerda. Ambos na partida contra o Volta Redonda, na quinta-feira da semana passada. Matheus esteve de chuteira, enquanto Leandrinho trabalhou de tênis.

Eram cerca de 200 botafoguenses, que apoiaram os jogadores na primeira parte da atividade deste sábado promovida pelo departamento de marketing do clube, no estádio. Eles recepcionaram também outros atletas como Bochecha e Luis Ricardo, que ainda não têm prazo de retorno aos jogos.

Caio Granado
Momentos de emoção também aconteceram na atividade: Caio Granado, jogador do Botafogo Reptiles (time de futebol americano do Glorioso), morto após acidente de carro na noite de terça-feira, foi homenageado pela torcida. Os presentes cantaram o nome do atleta e familiares receberam abraços dos jogadores da equipe de futebol.

RelacionadasFutebol NacionalClássico entre Botafogo e Fluminense, pela Taça Rio, será no Nilton SantosFutebol Nacional17/03/2017BotafogoCom lesão de Jonas, Emerson pode ganhar mais espaço na LibertadoresBotafogo17/03/2017BotafogoSem Marcelo, Fernandes deve ser o titular na lateral contra o VascoBotafogo17/03/2017

Waqar Younis was retained Pakistan captain till this September’s ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka. The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt Gen Tauqir Zia believed Friday that it was never a difficult decision to make.”The team is doing great and Waqar’s own performance is an inspiration for his boys. I don’t think it is a difficult decision to make,” Tauqir said.Waqar reached the peak of his brief captaincy’s tenure when he led Pakistan to a marvellous 2-1 victory over Australia in the Super Challenge Series-II in Australia.”Of course we are looking at Waqar as potential Pakistan captain for next year’s World Cup. But we have to stick to our policy of series-by-series appointments.”It gives the establishment as well as Waqar himself to monitor his progress. But so far, the PCB is absolutely satisfied with Waqar’s performance and of his team,” Tauqir said.Waqar will now spearhead Pakistan in this month’s Morocco Cup, the golden jubilee tournament in Kenya and finally the Champions Trophy. He will have a minimum of 10 one-day internationals and a maximum of 15 one-dayers to further consolidate his position as captain till the World Cup.”I can’t be more delighted. I feeling is superb and I am over the moon at this stage,” Waqar said from Lahore.”It gives the player an added boost to do better and improve his performance and justify the confidence that has been trusted upon him,” Waqar said.Waqar didn’t mince words in saying that he would like to lead Pakistan in the World Cup – the biggest achievement for any cricketer – but added that leading Pakistan has always been a great honour.”Leading the Pakistan cricket team is something that makes me very proud. It is an honour that very few cricketers have got and I am one of them. “But I must thank my team-mates here without whose cooperation and support I have never been successful. I feel very lucky to have players who want to deliver for the country and keep the green flag aloft,” he said.Team: Waqar Younis (captain), Inzamam-ul Haq (vice captain), Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Imran Nazir, Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Rashid Latif, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Shoaib Malik, Wasim Akram, Mohammad Sami, Saqlain Mushtaq and Misbahul HaqManager: Yawar Saeed. Coach: Mudassar Nazar.

Former Rangers star Graham Roberts insists he has never heard of new Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou and believes that it is a strange appointment from the Gers’ Old Firm rivals.

Celtic have appointed the 55-year-old as Neil Lennon’s replacement after the resignation of the Northern Irishman.

Postecoglou is not exactly well known on these shores, given that he has spent the majority of his career in Asia.

Indeed, his playing career saw him feature for South Melbourne and Western Suburbs and he has managed the former club, Australia’s U17 and U20 sides, along with the senior squad, Panachaiki, Whittlesea Zebras, Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory, and Yokohama F Marinos.

It is his first foray into western football, and Ball believes that Postecoglou is a bizarre hire for a club that has struggled so deeply in 2020/21.

Indeed, Celtic ended the season 25 points behind Rangers, who won the title after a remarkable unbeaten campaign under the management of Steven Gerrard.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, he said: “I don’t know what he’s like. I’ve never heard of the fella. Just for me, it’s strange because the Scottish league’s very tough but I’ve been told he likes to attack and he’d rather win a game 6-5 instead of 1-0 so, okay, we’ll wait and see.”

SHARJAH – It was the best crowd for the event so far, and it was offered a treat throughout the afternoon and early evening, easily the best match of the event

Agha Akbar12-Apr-2002SHARJAH – It was the best crowd for the event so far, and it was offered a treat throughout the afternoon and early evening, easily the best match of the event. Shoaib Akhtar bowled the fastest recorded ball in cricket history (at 159.6 kilometres per hour, just shy of his dearest wish of 100 mph), Wasim Akram notched his 450th scalp in one-day cricket, and there was rearguard action aplenty by both Sri Lanka and Pakistan. And this time round, as it went down the wire, Pakistan again lost it from a handshake’s distance, by just nine runs.This second loss against Sri Lanka means that the second spot for the final remains open.In the last 20 overs, with the asking rate steep and the chase hotting up, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Wasim Akram hit some lusty blows yet failed to deliver the victory. And only because of some tremendous bowling by Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa who, when all Pakistan needed was a run a ball, between them conceded just nine runs in three overs and bowled neither a wide nor a no-ball. Their discipline and accuracy stood them in good stead when it seemed all but a lost cause. More so, as Akram had had bludgeoned them for 36 in just 29 deliveries with 4 fours and one six.But they didn’t allow him or Rashid Latif any room to score even a single boundary in the last three overs.The two quick wickets, those of Inzamam (37, off balls, 2 fours, 1 six) and Younis (45, 55 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) in the 41st and 42nd over, didn’t bring any jitters as Akram and Rashid went about the task of scoring runs at a brisk rate. And they were well on course till Vaas and Zoysa so effectively blocked their charge.Chasing 240 for victory, Pakistan were off to a bad start, one for nought in the second over. But just as the Sri Lankan comeback was based on two partnerships, Pakistan’s was on three, and in the meanwhile a few runs were taken off Muttiah Muralitharan while he was kept wicketless – a rarity indeed.Youhana and Imran added 72 runs for the second wicket off 117 balls, Inzamam and Younis 85 for the fourth wicket in only 98 balls and Akram and Rashid 45 off 48 balls.Yet it was not enough. Perhaps Pakistan should have gone for the kill when the Lankans were 41for four, or maybe started big hitting a trifle sooner. Or maybe Afridi got out too soon.Whatever, this time round, they didn’t lack organisation in their chase. All they lacked was a finish.Sri Lanka recover from a disastrous start:
Earlier, Pakistan failed to make the most of a great beginning, allowing Sri Lanka to affect a recovery from a perilous 41 for four to 239 for six, not really an imposing total but a highly competitive one.And for the Pakistanis it definitely was a few too many for comfort, particularly given their dislike for a chase.Jayasuriya won the toss and elected to bat first, and then went hammer and tongs after his counterpart Younis, clobbering the latter for 14 runs in one over. But Pakistan struck back, and tellingly so. Younis produced that sight so rare in cricket these days, the middle stump cartwheeling. He went through Jayasuriya’s defences to bowl him neck and crop. Next over, he accounted for Kaluwitharana, splendidly caught by Rashid Latif.At this point Akram too got into the act as he had incentive enough too, for Kumar Sangakkara was his 450th ODI wicket. And next over he too added another to his already quite impressive tally, Rashid Latif holding on to his third catch of the afternoon as Mahela Jayawardene edged Akram.But the remainder of the evening was all Sri Lanka’s. While for the most part, the sedate 91-run stand off 138 balls for the fifth wicket between Atapattu and Arnold affected the recovery, and then better than a run a ball partnership between Atapattu and Chandana (107 off 105 deliveries) briskly restored the balance of the game in Sri Lanka’s favour.It was first a nice recovery job, then great consolidation, followed up with a superb finish that brought Sri Lanka roaring back into the game. And it all took two partnerships to retrieve the situation in such a major way.Having worked their way to recovery, Russell Arnold was now venturing shots; he went after Afridi with a wild shot, the swipe ending in Imran Nazir’s safe hands at short mid-wicket.This brought Upul Chandana on the field. And he batted with gay abandon against whatever skipper Younis pitted against him. Such was the Lankan ascendancy that Pakistan’s fielding became ragged at the edges, and he was dropped twice by Razzaq, first at deep third man and then at long-off. But by the time he was disposed off, off the last ball of the innings, he had put on 64 runs of just 58 deliveries, with the help of nine fours – with none out of Akram, Waqar, Shoaib or Saqlain spared.His partner, the unassuming grafter, Atapattu in the meanwhile remained unbeaten at 77, compiled off 109 deliveries with five shots to the fence and also was declared the Man of the Match.