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Steven Smith is on the verge of becoming Australia’s newest Test spinner but his captain Ricky Ponting believes Smith’s bowling still has plenty of room for improvement after a disappointing tour match in Derby

Brydon Coverdale at Lord's12-Jul-2010

Steven Smith is on the verge of becoming Australia’s newest Test spinner but his captain Ricky Ponting believes Smith’s bowling still has plenty of room for improvement after a disappointing tour match in Derby. Although Ponting is confident Smith can put in a strong performance at Lord’s, he had some concerns after the legspinner was handled with ease by Derbyshire’s batsmen last week.Smith collected 1 for 87 from 24 overs and his only wicket came late in the innings, after he struggled to find the right line and length for much of Friday. Pakistan have given Australian spinners plenty of wickets in recent years – Shane Warne, Stuart MacGill and Nathan Hauritz all have lower averages against Pakistan than overall – but it will be a big challenge for Smith to replicate those results.”Smithy has got a bit of work to do with his bowling yet,” Ponting said on Sunday. “He probably didn’t get out of the [Derby] game what he wanted the other day. He was a little bit off the mark there but you can understand that with a young guy playing his first game for Australia, a bit nervous and wanting to impress and wanting to do everything right.”We’ve worked a bit with him today on that, mainly on just the line that he bowled. I thought he bowled a little bit too straight to the right-handers down at Derby and got picked off through the leg-side a bit too much, so we’ve worked on that today [and on] a few other little things that will hopefully help him out.”Although Smith will be chosen primarily as a bowler, he will offer some serious batting depth at No. 8 and should provide a spark in the field. Ponting doesn’t believe Smith will be overawed by the occasion of becoming Australia’s 415th Test player – Tim Paine will be regarded as the 414th – despite his below-par bowling in the warm-up game.”He’s a great kid to have around,” Ponting said. “He’s very aggressive and you can see in the way he bats that’s pretty much the attitude he has with all of his cricket. If he does get that opportunity to play I think he’ll acquit himself nicely.”Shane Warne is another who believes there is much room for improvement in Smith. Warne would have preferred Smith to gain greater first-class experience before making his Test debut, but he is confident that Smith has all the deliveries a legspinner needs.”I think he has all the toys,” Warne told the . “But he is pretty raw and is a work in progress is nowhere near the finished product. He will almost certainly have some good days and some bad days. He will have to learn his craft on the run, while playing Test cricket. That is pretty difficult to do. But as long as he is patient with developing slowly I am okay with that. “Regardless of how Smith is handled by Pakistan, Ponting expects to draw on his part-time spinners for plenty of overs during the two Tests. It’s rare to see Simon Katich send down many deliveries in the nets but at Lord’s on Sunday he was given a long stint with the ball, and had his New South Wales team-mate Usman Khawaja noticeably perplexed.Katich’s left-arm wrist-spin has been used sparingly in recent years, but he has a knack of collecting wickets and since the start of 2009 has taken eight at an average of 17.25, having been called on in only six Tests. Given Pakistan’s poor record against Australian spinners over the past couple of decades, Katich could be a useful weapon.”The only reason he hasn’t bowled much in the last couple of years is he’s had a bad shoulder ,” Ponting said. “But since he’s been here in England he’s actually bowled a bit more than normal and his shoulder feels good, so whenever he’s feeling good we’ll try to get what overs out of him that we can.”I think him and [Marcus] North will both bowl quite a bit in the series, just for the sheer fact we’ve got a lot of guys coming back from [injury]. Mitch has come back from a pretty long lay-off and Hilfenhaus from injury, so we’d better look after the quicks and be mindful of how much they are doing through the series.”

West Ham United are interested in a deal to bring Brennan Johnson to the London Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a claim made by ExWHUemployee, with the club insider revealing on a recent episode of The West Ham Way podcast that the Hammers are keeping an extremely close eye on the development of the Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder ahead of a potential swoop this summer.

Speaking about David Moyes’ interest in the 20-year-old, Ex said: “Of the other players that are on the radar and that we are keeping tabs on ahead of potential summer offers – the main one is Brennan Johnson.

“He plays for Nottingham Forest, he’s very highly-rated and very impressive. He’s standing out a lot at Nottingham Forest in their recent resurgence and a number of clubs are looking at him.”

Moyes badly needs him

While it is true that a new centre-back and centre-forward will be the 58-year-old manager’s priority positions in the summer transfer window, a player in the mould of Johnson is also badly needed by the Scotsman.

Indeed, despite Moyes currently having the options of Nikola Vlasic, Pablo Fornals, Said Benrahma and Manuel Lanzini in the number 10 role, it is arguably only the latter of this quartet whose best position is playing off the striker, with the other three appearing much better suited to attacking from out wide.

And, while the Argentina international has enjoyed something of a resurgence this season – scoring four goals and registering two assists over his 19 Premier League appearances – the £12.5m-rated 29-year-old has typically been something of a bit-part player for West Ham in recent seasons.

As such, it would indeed appear a wise move for Moyes to start planning for the future in the position, and, considering the sheer amount of potential Johnson quite clearly possesses, the 20-year-old would very much look to make an excellent addition to the Hammers’ current options in attacking midfield.

Indeed, over his 31 Championship appearances so far this season, the £900k-rated starlet has been in breathtaking form for Forest, having scored nine goals, registered six assists and created 11 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots and making 1.3 key passes per game.

These returns have seen the forward who Sabri Lamouchi dubbed an “unbelievable” talent and Glenn Murray labelled a “special” player who is “destined for the top” average a rather remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.07, ranking him as Steve Cooper’s third-best player in the second tier of English football.

So, considering Johnson’s obvious ability, as well as West Ham’s need of a fresh face in attacking midfield, it would appear an extremely smart move by Moyes and his Irons transfer team to do all they can to get a deal over the line for the £20m talent this summer.

In other news: Moyes can land WHU’s next Ogbonna with 18 y/o “big talent” who will “play at the top”

Scott Styris will return to Northern Districts for the 2010-11 domestic season after playing for Auckland Aces for the past five seasons.

Cricinfo staff23-Jul-2010New Zealand allrounder Scott Styris will return to Northern Districts for the 2010-11 domestic season after playing for Auckland Aces for the past five seasons. Northern Districts are the defending Plunket Shield (domestic four-day cricket) and domestic one-day champions from 2009-10.”Scott is a hugely experienced player and proved how significant his performances are at an international and domestic level, when setting up wins for the Blackcaps (New Zealand) and Aces last year,” Northern Districts chief executive, David Cooper, said. “He has continued to show that skill in the UK this winter. This ability to perform under pressure and being a Blackcap adds another string to our bow as we aim for more trophies this coming season.”Styris is currently in Sri Lanka with the New Zealand squad.

Tottenham Hotspur make their long-awaited return to competitive action this evening as they host Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup fourth round proper.

Spurs had a busy end to the January transfer window, bolstering Antonio Conte’s playing squad with two additions and letting as many as four first-team players depart north London on deadline day.

However, it’s the return of Cristian Romero from injury that could provide the most excitement as his presence amongst the backline has been sorely missed over the past few months.

The Argentinian picked up a serious hamstring problem during international duty back in November, soon after the Italian took over from Nuno Santo – now he’s in line for just his third start under Conte.

In his absence, the likes of Davinson Sanchez and Japhet Tanganga have struggled to make much of an impact and if anything, have hampered things somewhat.

They were largely at fault for a cataclysm of blunders during their three encounters against Chelsea in January. It’s telling that Ben Davies continues to get the nod over the pair, despite being a full-back by trade.

Valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt, Romero is an aggressive beast at the back and that much has already been seen in his seven Premier League appearances this campaign.

He has averaged more interceptions (1.7 per game) than any other player in the squad and ranks second for tackles (2.3 per game). He also leads the way for aerial duels won (2.4 per game) and is even an accomplished passer with an accuracy of 84.8% on the season, via WhoScored.

It’s no wonder he has been dubbed an “animal” by his peers.

“This guy is an animal, I swear. He’s perfect for the Premier League,” goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini told the Evening Standard earlier this season. “He’s played for many years with three at the back and especially when you play with a very aggressive style and play man for man.”

Conte has even described the defensive powerhouse as an “important player”, which only goes to show just how valued he is, despite rarely featuring under the Italian.

Forget about the arrivals of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski, it is the 23-year-old must be instantly unleashed on his return to the starting XI tonight.

AND in other news, Conte could unearth his next Cesc Fabregas at Spurs in “aggressive” £22.5m-rated beast…

Newcastle United are reportedly now moving to sign Issa Diop before the January transfer window shuts.

The Lowdown: Centre-back still needed

Despite the good business that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium have done so far this window, a central defender has still not been signed.

They have been strongly linked with moves for Brighton and Hove Albion duo Adam Webster and Dan Burn, and with just a few more days left in the month, expect the new owners to be very busy on their phones as the clock ticks down.

And now, according to reports from the player’s homeland, it is another Premier League club that the Magpies are plotting to raid.

The Latest: Diop move

As per L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), the North East club are now ‘making moves’ to sign Diop, and there have been ‘discussions in recent hours’ with the player’s camp over a potential switch.

They ‘considered’ signing the West Ham United centre-back at the start of the window before moving on to other targets, but now it looks as if they have gone back in for him.

The Verdict: Get it done

With the clock ticking by, the Tyneside outfit just need to get this deal done as soon as possible.

Diop would be an upgrade on what Eddie Howe currently has at his disposal, as he is currently averaging more tackles and passes at a higher success than Ciaran Clark, Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles in the Premier League so far this season (WhoScored), and is at a good age at 25.

With his six-foot-four frame, the Frenchman is a bit of a beast, and Jose Mourinho even went as far as to dub him a ‘monster‘ back in 2018, after dominating duels against his Manchester United team.

Nonetheless, with his added experience of playing in the top flight, Diop would be a very smart signing.

In other news, find out what exciting transfer update Keith Downie has dropped here!

MatériaMais Notícias

Diogo Barbosa saiu logo nos primeiros minutos do jogo-treino entre Palmeiras e Atibaia por conta de uma entorse no tornozelo esquerdo. O clube realizará nesta sexta mais exames para ter um diagnóstico definitivo sobre o camisa 6.

O lateral-esquerdo do Palmeiras deixou o gramado andando, e mesmo que estivesse mancando isto é um bom sinal. Ainda assim, vai realizar agora à noite uma ressonância magnética para avaliar se houve algum problema ósseo no tornozelo.

Contratado do Cruzeiro, Diogo começou a atividade como titular, mas teve de ser substituído após dez minutos. Victor Luis foi quem entrou no seu lugar.

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Outro jogador que saiu na primeira etapa foi Keno. O atacante sentiu dores nas costas e deu a vaga para Willian, autor do gol da vitória do Verdão sobre o Atibaia, 1 a 0, na Academia de Futebol.

Newcastle have been dealt a big setback over Callum Wilson and his injury situation…

What’s the latest?

Magpies boss Eddie Howe has revealed that the forward is set to be out until the latter stages of the campaign, with no specific return date set.

Wilson has been named in the club’s 25-man Premier League squad but will play no part against Everton on Tuesday night or in any matches for the foreseeable future.

He told the Daily Mail: “We were never going to leave Callum out. We feel he can come back and play a huge part at the end of the season. We are taking a slight risk in that because he’s not fit at the moment. I felt it was a risk worth taking.’

“There’s a time when he’s due back but, as always with these types of injuries, it is not absolutely clear. We’ll go more on how he feels rather than a specific time given by the physios or doctors. It’s been slow progress for him since the initial injury. He’s been on crutches. I think he’s come off those crutches now and is walking normally, which is a big step.

“When he comes back, he’s got to be fit and ready to give his best. I don’t think it’s going to be short-term. Hopefully he can make the last few games of the season and really help us in a key moment.”

Gutted

Newcastle fans will surely be gutted with this news as it comes as a major blow to Howe’s squad. He has been the club’s best goalscorer since arriving in the summer of 2020 and losing his talents in front of goal could hinder their chances of avoiding the drop.

This season, he has scored six Premier League goals and Allan Saint-Maximin (five) is the only player who has more than two for the club. Last term, he managed 12 top-flight strikes and was the only Magpies player to reach double figures and one of two, alongside Joe Willock, to score more than four times.

He is a reliable scorer when fit, as he has proven over the last 18 months that he can find the net on a regular basis in the Premier League. This is why fans will be gutted by his extended absence as he leaves a huge hole to fill at the top end of the pitch.

Chris Wood was signed from Burnley in January and he has only scored three goals in 19 league outings this term. Therefore, he may not be able to score the goals they are set to miss out on because of Wilson’s injury, which is another reason why fans will be frustrated by Howe’s latest update.

The New Zealand international will likely feature for just a third time in Newcastle colours versus Everton this week and will do so with a huge burden on his shoulder, knowing that Wilson won’t be back for a considerable period of time.

AND in other news, Major blow: NUFC dealt big setback ahead of Everton that’ll leave fans gutted…

MatériaMais Notícias

Matheus Sales não será aproveitado pelo Palmeiras em 2018 e está perto de um acerto com o América-MG. O meio-campista será emprestado por um ano para a equipe mineira, que disputará a Série A no ano que vem.

Cria da base alviverde, o volante chegou ao profissional em 2015, tendo grande participação na reta final do título da Copa do Brasil. No ano seguinte, esteve na campanha da conquista do brasileiro também, mas já sem o mesmo protagonismo, tanto que foi emprestado em 2017 para o Bahia.

Outro jogador formado no clube que já tem destino certo é o zagueiro Augusto. Capitão do time sub-20 que conquistou o Paulista, ele foi cedido também até o fim de 2018 ao Santa Cruz. A intenção da diretoria é dar experiência ao jogador, que no próximo ano estoura a idade na base e não será usado por Roger.

O goleiro Vagner, que estava no Guarani, atuará pelo Ituano no Paulistão, enquanto Gabriel Leite permanecerá no Bugre. Lucas, Taylor, Mateus Muller, Leandro Almeida, Bruninho, Daniel, Renato, Juninho, Patrick Vieira, Kaue, Mouche e Rodolpho são atletas que voltam de empréstimo em janeiro e não foram repassados a outros times até agora.

continua após a publicidade

MatériaMais Notícias

Diretor executivo de futebol do São Paulo, Raí chamou um ex-companheiro do clube para ajudá-lo na função de dirigente. Ricardo Rocha, bicampeão paulista (1989 e 1991) e campeão brasileiro (1991) pelo Tricolor e vencedor da Copa do Mundo de 1994 ao lado de Raí com a Seleção, aceitou o convite para ser coordenador de futebol.

– Estou feliz por voltar ao São Paulo, uma casa que conheço bem e onde tenho história. Estou muito feliz. Venho muito motivado. Estarei atento a tudo e tentarei cumprir da melhor maneira possível para resgatar o que é o São Paulo. Ninguém pode prometer que será campeão, mas prometo que lutaremos por todos os títulos possíveis. O São Paulo não cria só jogadores, ele cria campeões da vida – falou o ex-zagueiro, que atuava como comentarista no Sportv e, agora, será um elo entre jogadores e direção:

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– Vou ser esse elo entre campo e direção. E tenho muito conhecimento também. Fiquei três anos e meio na imprensa e tenho muito conhecimento fora de campo, conhecendo muita gente no Brasil e fora. Isso é importante. Relacionamento não é só em campo, na motivação dos jogadores, mas fora também. Os jogadores precisam ter confiança em mim, e vão me conhecer no dia a dia. Prometo vontade e alegria enormes pelo convite.

A chegada de Ricardo Rocha foi um pedido de Raí, que já apresentou o CT da Barra Funda ao ex-zagueiro. Ambos atuaram juntos no São Paulo e na Seleção Brasileira nos anos 1980 e 1990 e o clube, ao chamar Raí, já procurava alguém para ajudar o ídolo em suas novas funções.

-Atuei com o Ricardo Rocha tanto na Seleção Brasileira quanto no São Paulo, e tenho extrema confiança nele. Tenho certeza de que ele tem muito a contribuir no dia a dia dos atletas e da comissão técnica. Ele é o primeiro nome que indico e fará parte da nossa nova equipe permanente no CT da Barra Funda – disse Raí.

– O convite veio do Raí. Conversamos e gostei do que ele me apresentou, isso foi importantíssimo. É claro que eu estava cômodo na televisão, mas eu pensava em, um dia, voltar ao campo, e não como treinador. Ele apresentou o que quer, a grandeza do São Paulo, resgatar tudo que acreditamos ser o São Paulo, e acredito nesse resgate. Começando por ele, que é um dos maiores ídolos, junto com o Rogério Ceni, e uma pessoa com caráter e índole – elogiou Ricardo Rocha, definindo sua missão.

– Precisamos resgatar a autoestima, a vontade de ser campeão, trabalhar, alegria do dia a dia. Um clima conturbado fora de campo, às vezes, afeta. E essa torcida foi um ponto positivo, e esse apoio tem de continuar, porque a torcida acreditou nos jogadores, lotando o Morumbi. É o que precisamos.

واصل الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي تدريباته صباح اليوم الأحد على ملعب التتش بالجزيرة بدون راحة، وذلك في إطار الاستعدادات لمواجهة الإسماعيلي في بداية منافسات الدوري الممتاز.

وفاز الأهلي على اتحاد المنستيري التونسي في إياب دور الـ32 من دوري أبطال إفريقيا بنتيجة 3-0 في المباراة التي جمعت الفريقين مساء أمس على ملعب الأهلي we السلام.

واجتمع مارسيل كولر، المدير الفني للفريق مع اللاعبين قبل انطلاق المران؛ للحديث عن بعض الأمور الفنية الخاصة بالمباراة الأخيرة.

وحرص الجهاز الفني على التأكيد للاعبيه خلال الاجتماع على ضرورة التركيز في المباراة القادمة وأهميتها في انطلاق مشوار الفريق بالدوري الممتاز.

وخاض اللاعبون جانبا من التدريبات البدنية في الجيم وتدريبات متنوعة بالكرة في بداية المران، قبل أن يقود كولر اللاعبين لتنفيذ بعض الفقرات الفنية والتكتيكية في تقسيمة مصغرة شارك فيها جميع اللاعبين.

طالع | محمد بركات: سلبية وحيدة في أداء الأهلي مع كولر.. والتزام كهربا يعجبني

وقاد ميشيل يانكون ثلاثي حراسة المرمى بالفريق؛ محمد الشناوي وعلي لطفي ومصطفى شوبير في تدريبات متنوعة شهدت جوانب فنية مكثفة لثلاثي حراسة المرمى.

كما شارك بيرسي تاو، لاعب وسط الفريق في التدريبات الجماعية للفريق بشكل كامل بعد انتهاء برنامجه التأهيلي خلال الفترة الماضية.

وانتظم تاو في المران الجماعي مع باقي اللاعبين وذلك بعد تعافيه من الإصابة التي أبعدته خلال الفترة الماضية.

ويستعد الأهلي لمواجهة فريق الإسماعيلي والمحدد لها الأربعاء المقبل في انطلاق منافسات الدوري الممتاز للموسم الجديد.