All posts by h716a5.icu

Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has identified the paucity of fifty-over cricket at domestic level as the main cause of the team’s current ODI struggles

Umar Farooq18-Sep-2016Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has identified the paucity of 50-over cricket at domestic level as the main cause of the team’s current ODI struggles. Pakistan’s domestic structure has undergone several changes in recent years and Misbah said the one-day game has been getting the short shrift.”While a Pakistani domestic cricketer may play at least ten to twenty first-class matches a season, he doesn’t get the same match practice in the 50-over format,” Misbah told ESPNcricinfo. “I have long been saying that we need to lay greater emphasis on one-day cricket in our domestic system, and play more one-day games, because you can’t evolve by playing a maximum of five 50-over matches a year in the domestic circuit.”While Pakistan are the No. 1 Test team in the world, they languish at No. 9 in the ODI rankings. Misbah was clear the discrepancy in the team’s fortunes was due to lack of exposure, and not talent.”We have just one fifty-over tournament and the format is not even played at club level anymore,” he said. “Most of the cricket at grassroots level is 20 to 25 overs; this is one big reason that our ODI cricket has deteriorated and we are standing at No. 9. We needed and still need to develop our resources and we can only do so by increasing the number of games in our domestic tournament. The reason we are on top in Tests is because our players are getting enough games and exposure at domestic level. That is the only reason I see.”Otherwise, these players are talented and they have shown glimpses of their flair, though not consistently. So this talent needs to be nurtured by giving them more games at domestic level. Exposure to a lot of competitive cricket will enable them to polish their skills.”Misbah took over the ODI reins in May 2011 and led the side for almost four years, before stepping down after the 2015 World Cup. Having won 13 of their first 14 matches under Misbah, Pakistan’s results took a nosedive with 38 losses in the remaining 72 matches of his tenure. Azhar Ali has managed only nine wins in 25 matches. Misbah, however, insisted that the captain should not be the only one blamed for poor performance.”In Pakistan, there is a perception that the captain is the only one responsible for everything. Cricket is a team game and every player has to contribute,” he said. “We used every possible talent in the country but it didn’t work. Whenever you are forced to change, that is because team isn’t performing. Unfortunately, in one-day cricket, the boys haven’t performed well, like they have done in Test cricket. The bowling, after Saeed Ajmal, hasn’t done enough and the batting has never been consistent.”In the search for solutions to the team’s ODI slump, Pakistan’s selectors have tried well over 40 players since the start of Misbah’s captaincy, in a seemingly never-ending transition.”When the team doesn’t perform and keeps losing, then changes are necessary,” Misbah said. “But when you start winning then you can back the talent and just go into the future with that. But that wasn’t really the case for Pakistan. We tried a lot of players in a bid to find a good combination, but it didn’t give results and players were dropped because they never gave us a chance to retain them.”Nobody wants to carry on with failure and if a player is stuck with his weakness and not improving, regardless of his potential, you have to drop him and move on. This not only good for the team, but also for the player because you can’t allow him to play with consistent failure – it is really unfair as it can cost him his career, so you have to be think tactically as well.”Pakistan have 14 ODIs scheduled before the window for direct qualification into the 2019 World Cup in England closes and Misbah has backed coach Mickey Arthur’s efforts to make sure they are among the top eight teams by the September 2017 deadline.”The important thing is that he is trying to bring a structural change from top,” Misbah said. “There was connection missing in between and that is being connected. Players’ fitness, bowling actions, batting techniques are being taken into consideration before selecting a squad to represent the country. Fitness is a major component and players must realise that.”

Everton have increased their interest in Almeria striker El Bilal Toure ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Are Everton signing El Bilal Toure?

The Mali international has been Rubi’s best-performing offensive player at the Power Horse Stadium this season, so it’s no surprise that his high standard of performance has caught the eye of Sean Dyche, who has already been laying the groundwork on the forward behind the scenes.

Back in April, GOAL in Spain reported that the Toffees had made contact with the 21-year-old’s agent to ask what it would take to complete a deal during the upcoming window despite him having missed 11 consecutive games due to sustaining a muscle injury.

The Goodison Park outfit were later claimed to have been considering submitting an offer but accepted that their financial budget was dependent on whether they survived relegation, though with their top-flight safety now confirmed, they appear to be going ahead with their pursuit.

According to The Daily Mail, Everton are "stepping up" their interest in Toure, who can run at 35km/h which is the same speed as a Spinytail Iguana, ahead of a potential move to Merseyside. The Toffees "want to ensure" that the striker has "fully recovered" from his spell on the sidelines before tabling him a deal, and it's believed that he's priced at £25m by Almeria.

Would Toure be a good signing for Everton?

Everton are clearly serious about landing Toure having made progress in the hunt to sign him over recent weeks, and having been lauded a “major talent” by journalist Graeme Bailey, Almeria’s centre-forward could be a fantastic acquisition at Goodison Park.

The Africa Cup participant, who has the ability to play with both feet, has eight goal contributions (six goals and two assists) to his name in 20 La Liga appearances this season, not to mention that he’s also an ideal target man averaging 2.1 aerial wins per game.

The Adjame native, who has the versatility to operate out wide on both flanks and even in attacking midfield alongside his natural position through the middle, ranks in the 99th percentile for clearances so additionally likes helping out defensively which will be yet another attractive attribute for the boss.

Salernitana are reportedly expected to re-sign Neal Maupay this summer after failing to make a significant impact since joining from Brighton and Hove Albion, so should he depart, Toure may prove to be his ideal replacement and possible upgrade on the Frenchman in L4.

It could be a wonderful climax to the Championship season, but Ryan Sidebottom was not in the mood to enjoy it as chances went astray at Headingley

Paul Edwards at Headingley07-Sep-2016
ScorecardScott Borthwick steadied the reply with 53•Getty ImagesBooks half-price in the pavilion and the trees half as green as they were in June’s lush carelessness. For not much longer will drinkers at The Original Oak or The Skyrack spill out onto Headingley Lane in the half-light of what might masquerade as an August evening.The abundant warmth on the second day of this vital game could not disguise the sense of gentle closure. That could be seen as much in the first yellowing of leaves on Shire Oak Road as in the announcement of new season fashions in Briggate and the Headrow. To paraphrase Louis MacNeice: Close and slow, summer is ending in Yorkshire. Six more days of this stuff at Headingley, then four at Lord’s, then…But what a ten days they could be. The intensity of the occasion has overpowered the soft incipience of change throughout this game and so it was on the second afternoon when Yorkshire’s triumphant quartet of seamers strove to wreak havoc after their batsmen had made 460 in the first innings. As so often in September, poignancy was accompanied by climax and Yorkshire’s attempt to steal an advantage over Middlesex in the run-in for the title.Just as news of Nick Gubbins’ attempt to sink his roots into the Trent Bridge turf reached Headingley during the second session of this game, so Yorkshire supporters knew that any rattle of Durham wickets would be heard in Nottingham. The players may insulate themselves from their rivals’ progress – does anyone quite believe that, by the way? – but spectators are not bound by such a self-denying ordinance.Yet in two sessions there was little to disconcert James Franklin’s men. The first ten overs of Durham’s reply to Yorkshire’s formidable 460 featured boundaries, as Gale’s seamers overpitched, and one notable escape as third slip, Jake Lehmann, dropped Keaton Jennings off Ryan Sidebottom before the batsman had scored. This was bad enough, given that Jennings is the leading scorer in the Specsavers County Championship, but even had this been a beer match and the reprieved batsman been wearing one pad, a monocle and a beatific smile, such errors are still likely to send Sidebottom over the edge of reason.Four overs later Jennings skied the same bowler towards the vacant cover area and Sidebottom railed against the world as he grumped down to long leg. More iniquity unpunished; more sinfulness unchastised. Slumped shoulders, dark mutterings and wrath.Yet in its way those lax ten overs rather set the tone for the rest of a day in which wickets punctuated partnerships rather than falling in the batches beloved of Andrew Gale’s attack. Those stands were sometimes risky and pitted with hazardous drives – Jennings and Mark Stoneman added 56 in 10.3 overs before Stoneman nicked Brooks to Lyth – but they took Durham to 205 for 4 at the close and left Yorkshire with plenty of work to do, even before the new ball becomes due in ten overs’ time.Jason Gillespie identified his team’s cricket as lacking “ruthlessness” on the second afternoon and the Yorkshire coach may find few people ready to give him an argument. Gale’s four seamers hit better lengths as Durham innings progressed but one rarely felt that runs were really hard to come by. The only other wicket to fall in the afternoon session was that of Jennings, who nicked Steve Patterson to Hodd when he had made 40 but even the Beverley time-signal had conceded 14 runs off his first four balls before leaking fewer in his next ten overs.Patterson at least had the fillip of taking one of the two wickets to fall in the final session of the day when Scott Borthwick’s defensive push only gave Lyth his second catch. But by then Borthwick had batted 152 minutes for 53 runs and had played with increasing assurance after being given something of a working over by Tim Bresnan. Even the loss of Paul Collingwood for 6, the Durham captain being bowled by Bresnan when his inside edge disturbed the leg bail, did not produce the collapse most spectators wanted.Instead, Jack Burnham, who was also dropped by Lehmann, this time off Jack Brooks, made his way to 34 by the close in company with Graham Clark, another batsman who is still discovering what cricket in the First Division is all about. Collingwood gone but Durham still defiant: it was as if a torch was being passed on.So Yorkshire were frustrated and all of this after a morning which was something of a bring-an-innings party as the champions’ last five wickets added 119 runs to their side’s total. As has become routine, almost all the later batsmen made some contribution to the general revelry with only Steve Patterson being dismissed in single figures. Although Tim Bresnan could do more than double his overnight 11 before losing his off stump when playing down the wrong line to Chris Rushworth, Andy Hodd batted well once again before rather giving his wicket to Barry McCarthy in the search for a fifth bonus point.That search failed by just eight runs but Azeem Rafiq’s stylish 45 and Brooks’ less aesthetically appealing 36 ensured that Durham would have to bat for something like a day even to avoid the follow-on. In many respects, it was the sort of invitation to create mayhem that Sidebottom and Brooks, party people both, in their fashion, rarely pass up.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe will look to use his squad's Champions League-qualifying feats this season to fortify the squad with formidable additions, and Napoli defender Kim Min-jae is on the summer shopping list.

What's the latest on Kim Min-jae to Newcastle?

That's according to Fabrizio Romano, with the prominent transfer specialist confirming that Newcastle and Premier League rivals Manchester United are "interested" in the South Korean star, whose release clause activates in July.

It is believed that the clause, which kicks in for two weeks at the start of July, will not exceed €60m (£52m), which is a staggering distance away from his true market valuation of (£87m).

The 26-year-old has been a central figure in Napoli's scintillating Serie A triumph this term, but with manager Spalletti confirming he is departing this summer, hopes of clinging on to the coveted Kim are weakened.

Should Newcastle sign Kim Min-jae?

The newly-crowned champions of the Scudetto only signed Kim for £16m from Turkish outfit Fenerbahce last summer, but he has already exceeded expectations and been heralded as "incredible" and "the best CB in Serie A" by his manager.

As per Sofascore, the 6 foot 3 colossus has recorded an impressive average league rating of 7.22 this term, clinching two goals and assists apiece, completing 91% of his passes, and making 1.6 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 3.5 clearances per outing, also winning 62% of his duels.

He is a truly all-embracing central defender, confident with his ball-playing skills and tenacious in his defensive duties, praised as "perfect" by reporter Ivan Zacharoni.

As per FBref, the 47-cap titan ranks among the top 14% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for passes attempted, the top 14% for aerials won and the top 12% for both progressive passes and progressive carries per 90.

Those numbers outline him as a sublime modern-day centre-back, boasting a ball-carrying ability unlike many others in European football.

Hailed as "the monster" by fans and the media in his homeland, his commanding, perhaps even imperious demeanour on the pitch could leave him emulating Virgil van Dijk's impact at Liverpool, should the Partenopei phenom make the overseas switch to Tyneside to join the ranks at St. James' Park.

The 31-year-old Dutchman joined Jurgen Klopp's Reds for £75m from Southampton in 2017, with his arrival transforming Anfield and crafting an obsidian foundation for illustrious success to ensue.

Indeed, he has been the figurehead with which centre-backs are now measured and there is every sign that Kim has similar qualities.

When asked where the Dutchman ranks in the pantheon of the game's great centre-backs, Slaven Bilic said: "for me, nobody is better than him", and with his Anfield arrival decorated with success in the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup, among other major honours, and individual accolades such as UEFA Men's Best Player and second place in the 2019 Ballon d'Or – just a few points behind Lionel Messi.

His playing style certainly bears a semblance to Kim's, with Van Dijk ranking among the top 18% of positional peers for rate of goals, the top 21% for rate of assists, the top 4% for passes attempted, the top 25% for progressive passes and the top 8% for aerials won per 90.

The South Korean could emulate his prowess with the Toon, and as such may well be the centrepiece of a new era that would not just mimic Liverpool's trophy success since Van Dijk's arrival but transcend the feats for years to come.

Bruno Guimaraes 'seems ungettable' for Liverpool this summer transfer window, according to The RedMenTV's Ste Hoare.

Fabrizio Romano claimed last month that the Reds were "tracking" the Newcastle United midfielder, alongside LaLiga champions Barcelona, but are well aware of the Magpies' stance and how important the 25-year-old is to Eddie Howe, having signed him for £40m in January of 2022.

Liverpool transfer news – Bruno Guimaraes

Whilst Liverpool will surely continue to track Guimaraes but it must be said, however, that given Newcastle's Champions League qualification in the season just gone, a move away from St James' Park seems very unlikely.

The Magpies are also reportedly prepared to offer the Guimaraes a new long-term deal, having already started discussions.

It comes as little surprise to see Liverpool linked with a move for the Brazilian, given Jurgen Klopp's desperate need for midfield reinforcements this summer.

So far, the Merseyside outfit have signed Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion, and have held talks with both Manu Koné and Khephren Thuram, according to Romano, as they look to rebuild into a squad capable of making an instant return to the Premier League's top four next season.

What has Ste Hoare said about Bruno Guimaraes and Liverpool?

Speaking to Football FanCast when asked about Guimaraes, Hoare said:

"When I first saw the report that Liverpool were interested, I was like, it makes sense, but it just seems ungettable unfortunately, and that’s a shame. It goes to show there’s another big fish in the pond.

"Newcastle, you’ve got to take them seriously, because I’d say two years ago, if Newcastle had a player, I’d have been quite confident that Liverpool could get them. Mike Ashley probably would’ve sold at the right price. We know he would’ve because that’s kind of his MO.

"Under the Saudi ownership, that just doesn’t seem like it’s going to be possible. But he is a very good player. He was linked to Real Madrid, wasn’t he? That’s how good he is."

How important is Bruno Guimaraes at Newcastle United?

Guimaraes' importance at Newcastle cannot be overstated enough.

The former Lyon midfielder, who is valued at £87 million, has played a vital role in the club's transformation from a potential relegation contender into a Champions League outfit.

Last season, he made 32 Premier League appearances, where he scored four times and laid on a further five assists in an impressive return from the engine room.

With the chance to impress in the Champions League next season, too, Guimaraes may just take things up another level.

A midfielder of the Brazilian's quality should certainly be on Liverpool's list of targets, even if that list is unable to include Guimaraes himself.

A roundup of the third day’s action at ICC World Cricket League Division Four in Los Angeles

Peter Della Penna in Los Angeles 02-Nov-2016Legspinner Timil Patel’s second five-wicket haul of the tournament was followed by a devastating century by captain Steven Taylor as USA crushed Oman by eight wickets at Wright Cricket Field. The win put USA in the driver’s seat for one of the two promotion berths available at WCL Division Four while Oman’s promotion chances were dented not only by the loss, but also by USA’s chase of 164 in only 29.3 overs, which wrecked Oman’s net run rate.Taylor sent Oman in to bat on an overcast morning, giving debutant fast bowler Ali Khan the new ball. Ali, contracted by Guyana Amazon Warriors, had missed the first two games due to a left hamstring injury and clearly was still not 100%. He started off with a wide on a shortened run-up of just 12 paces, but on the last ball of the first over, he bowled the dangerous Zeeshan Maqsood through the gate with an inswinger for a duck.Khan laboured through the rest of his six-over opening spell but managed to nab Arun Poulose with a sharp return catch for 18, to leave Oman at 29 for 2. It was one of the few catches USA held on to over the next 12 overs; they missed six chances on the day.Swapnil Khadye benefited most from USA’s sloppy fielding, surviving a run-out chance and a drop at cover on 21 in the space of three deliveries, in the 20th over by Danial Ahmed. Khadye eventually added 46 runs with Khawar Ali before Elmore Hutchinson broke the partnership, getting Khawar to edge a drive to Akeem Dodson behind for 22. Khadye was bowled for 36, beaten in flight by Taylor’s offspin.With the middle order exposed, Timil was brought into the attack in the 32nd over and struck in the 34th, getting Zeeshan Siddiqui caught at deep midwicket for 22. Jatinder Singh and Amir Ali both fell attempting to slog Timil over midwicket only for Taylor to take brilliant catches at cover. Timil then trapped Ajay Lalcheta in front for his fourth wicket before Mohammad Nadeem’s leading edge went to Taylor to complete the five-for. Alex Amsterdam had Munis Ansari caught on the boundary at long-on two balls into the final over to wrap up the innings.The last time Taylor faced Oman at 2013 WCL Division Three in Bermuda, he was yorked for a second-ball duck by Ansari. On this occasion however, Taylor saw off the new ball with confidence and held firm after the early loss of Fahad Babar.Taylor moved to a sedate 12 off 20 balls before showing his menace in the eighth over against Ansari. He flicked the bowler off his hips for six before angling an attempted yorker behind point for four more. Ansari finished wicketless for the third successive match in the tournament. Taylor drove Amir’s offspin over mid-on for his seventh four in the 16th over and tapped a single to cover next ball to bring up his fifty in 44 balls.Taylor took the same number of deliveries to move from a fifty to a century, but gave two chances along the way. The first was on 66, an inside-edge in left-arm spinner Lalcheta’s first over that popped up off his pads in the region of silly point. Khadye bolted from behind the stumps and dived but the ball slipped through his gloves. On 90, Taylor edged Maqsood to Jatinder at slip but a sharp chance was spilled. One ball later, he slog-swept Maqsood over deep square leg to go to 96 and brought up three figures in the following over off Lalcheta with a crisp cover drive.Jersey kept their slim promotion hopes alive with a three-wicket win at Severn Cricket Field over Italy, who fell squarely in the relegation zone after their third consecutive loss. Jersey’s next match is against Bermuda on Wednesday where the winner will go to 2-2 and have an outside chance of promotion while the loser will fall to 1-3 and be in danger of relegation.Sent into bat, Italy made 235 with the top score from Gian Meade who scored 61 after being promoted to No. 3, and added 66 with Alessandro Bonora for the third wicket.Italy were on track for 250, having reached 211 for 5 by the 45th over with Carl Sandri and captain Damian Crowley well set. Anthony Hawkins-Kay struck a crucial blow in the 46th over, bowling Sandri for 40 off 32 balls to end a 91-run stand. It sparked a slide of six for 23 with the lower order collapsing. Offspinner Rhys Palmer plucked out two of those wickets and ended with 3 for 57 while Crowley fell for 58 in the 49th over to Ben Kynman, after which the pair got into a verbal exchange, one of several heated moments in the match.Man-of-the-Match Nat Watkins opened Jersey’s chase and top-scored with 77 off 101 balls. He added 64 with Luke Gallichan for the second wicket and then added another 75 for the third wicket with Jonty Jenner before he was stumped off Sandri. Will Harris’ hit-wicket dismissal off Sandri’s bowling nearly pulled Italy back into the game while Meade ran out Hawkins-Kay in the 39th to make it 167 for 5.Italy then struck twice in the space of three balls to remove Jenner for 65 and Charles Perchard for a first-ball duck, leaving Jersey needing 44 to win off 40 balls. Corey Bisson calmly saw the side home with an unbeaten 42 off 31 balls, hitting the winning single with three balls to spare.Corey Bisson roars after completing the winning run for Jersey to get past Italy by three wickets•Peter Della PennaBermuda got their first win of the tournament, beating Denmark by 38 runs at Wong Cricket Field to keep the tournament wide open heading into round four. This was Denmark’s first loss in the tournament. Sent in to bat, Bermuda posted 221 for 7 and were boosted by the arrival of Delray Rawlins, who had missed the first two matches while training with the England Under-19 squad across the Atlantic. Rawlins made a top score of 39 batting at No. 3, sharing in a 71-run second-wicket stand with captain Oliver Pitcher.Offspinner Bashir Shah took two wickets to stay tied with USA’s Timil on the tournament wickets list, with 10 dismissals in three games. His double-strike removed Steven Bremar and Curt Stovell in consecutive overs and pinned Bermuda down at 161 for 7 in the 40th. Jordan DeSilva and Dennico Hollis, however, held Denmark’s bowling at bay with a valuable 60-run unbroken stand for the eighth wicket. Denmark also paid for a sloppy effort in which they conceded 36 extras, including 26 wides.Man-of-the-Match DeSilva and Cejay Outerbridge each took two wickets in the first six overs to leave Denmark floundering at 21 for 4 and Bermuda struck regularly thereafter. Denmark were struggling at 106 for 6 in the 31st over with the wicket of Zameer Khan who top-scored with 47.Denmark then switched their strategy to batting out the 50 overs to limit the damage to their net run rate, following Oman’s heavy loss. The last two wickets added 62 before DeSilva finished off the match, getting Basit Raja caught at long-on before bowling Yasir Iqbal one ball into the 49th over. DeSilva ended with returns of 4 for 23 as Denmark were bowled out for 183.In the next round on Wednesday, a win for USA over Denmark could clinch promotion into Division Three with a game to spare in the league stage, while Oman are scheduled to take on winless Italy at Wong.

An appointment with an eye specialist on Monday will determine if Ross Taylor will be fit in time for the second Test against Pakistan starting in Hamilton on November 25

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Christchurch20-Nov-2016New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor will see an eye specialist on Monday to determine his fitness for the second Test against Pakistan, after a preliminary eye examination had revealed a growth which coach Mike Hesson believed has affected Taylor’s batting.The ailment – in Taylor’s left eye – was cited as one of the reasons he ceded his usual no. 4 position to Henry Nicholls in the second innings of the Christchurch Test. It may also have contributed to a dip in batting and catching form in recent months.”Ross is at the moment having a little bit of trouble with his eyes so he’s looking after those at the current point and will take all the necessary steps to make them better,” captain Kane Williamson said after New Zealand’s eight-wicket win at Hagley Oval. “At this stage we are not 100% sure what it is. There’s a growth that’s come across a little bit. It’s been fine for long time, and been monitored for long time. It is a gradual thing as opposed to something that’s very sudden.”Taylor had a similar eye test about a year ago, before he scored a career-best 290 against Australia. However, Hesson said his vision may have worsened since then. Taylor has averaged 11.44 across his last 10 Test innings, and has not made an international half-century in his last 15 innings, though he did have an outstanding run of scores against Zimbabwe immediately prior to this period.”Twelve months ago he had his annual check-up, got some eye drops and scored 290 in next game,” Hesson said. “In last few months it appears to have deteriorated a little bit. We’ll get some further info from the specialist. We all need regular check-ups, and about six months ago, Ross had no issues at all. It might have come on a little bit quicker than we would like. Ross was keen to get it seen to.”

Leeds United are believed to be interested in making Daniel Farke their next manager, according to an update from reliable journalist Phil Hay.

How is the Leeds manager search going?

The Whites have been hard at work looking for a new manager since Sam Allardyce departed earlier this month, with a host of names thought to be in the conversation. It is an appointment that is so important as Leeds prepare for life back in the Championship, so it is imperative that the decision isn't rushed, with the right man coming in.

The likes of Steven Gerrard and Carlos Corberan have emerged as apparent frontrunners to take charge at Elland Road as things stand, but there doesn't appear to have been any significant progress made with either.

A new update suggests that another candidate has now been thrown into the race to find Leeds' new manager, in what could be an interesting appointment.

Could Farke be heading to Elland Road?

Taking to Twitter, Hay claimed that Farke was a strong contender to replace Allardyce and begin the rebuild with the Whites, also naming four other individuals at the same time:

"Appointing a head coach is the club’s key priority. Corberan/Parker/Gerrard/Rodgers all been looked at. Mentioned in this piece, Daniel Farke now very much in the mix too."

Farke could be a really positive appointment this summer if a move comes to fruition, with the 46-year-old proving himself in English football in the past.

He guided Norwich City to the Premier League on two separate occasions, winning the Championship title in 2018/19 and 2020/21, while he is also fresh off the back of a spell at Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach, albeit after being sacked recently.

Farke is more proven than someone like Gerrard or Corberan in terms of age and experience at this level, so he could be considered a safer pair of hands by incoming Leeds owners 49ers Enterprises.

The fact that he has proven to be an expert at getting out of the Championship is arguably his greatest asset, though, with the Whites desperately in need of making a quickfire return to the Premier League rather than languishing in the second tier for too long.

Jurgen Klopp once hailed the "incredible" job that Farke was doing at Norwich, which is big praise from such a huge figure in the game, and he should be considered one of the stronger candidates to take over at Leeds.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann diverges from Justin Langer’s view of allrounder Mitchell Marsh’s role in the team

Daniel Brettig08-Dec-2016Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann has hinted at a difference of opinion with his possible successor Justin Langer over the future of Mitchell Marsh, whose recent struggles in the Test team have been attributed to a lack of mental clarity over his best means of success.Marsh made a halting start against New Zealand in Canberra on Tuesday before freeing his arms to devastating effect, and Lehmann said this was the way he wanted to see the allrounder bat in the future – as a destructive middle-order player capable of changing the momentum of a game.However he also indicated that there had been plenty of people in Marsh’s ear in recent times with differing views as to how he should bat, and pointed towards the Perth Scorchers and Western Australia state team – both coached by Langer – as places where that may have emanated from.”It’s good to see him make some runs,” Lehmann said of Marsh. “He struggled the first 13-14 balls and then he got one away and away he went. I think he said yesterday he’s got to play with a bit more freedom, and he certainly is a highly talented young player, and he’s got to find his way.”You’ve got so many coaches and different views – a Scorchers view, a WACA view, Australia view – and different coaches around the place. For him he’s got to work out what works for him, and my personal opinion is when he’s playing shots he’s a lot more dangerous.”Langer, who coached the Australian ODI team to a victorious triangular series in the Caribbean earlier this year and is widely thought to be in line to succeed Lehmann in the future, has made a point of encouraging Marsh to be used up the batting order. He also spoke publicly about his belief that Marsh had the potential to be a top-four batsman in all formats – a role that would entail a more sophisticated method than the power hitting he exhibited at Manuka Oval.”He can easily become a four or five in all formats of the game,” Langer said earlier this year. “That’s what he’ll be aspiring to do and he’s certainly got the ability to do that. With maturity I think he could easily do that in all formats. He’s that talented.”Marsh has batted in the top five for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield this season without once passing 50, and for his part has said he now thinks he is best suited simply trying to play with freedom.Mitchell Marsh smashed 76 not out off 40 balls against New Zealand in Canberra•Getty Images”I’ve had a few conversations with Boof [Lehmann] … I think in red-ball cricket the last couple of years I probably haven’t played my natural game,” Marsh said this week. “I’ve tried to be a batsman that bats time but for me I’m a hitter of the cricket ball and for the next few months I think I’m going to bat like that and really back myself. I might get out a few ugly ways at times, but I feel it will give me the best chance to score runs and score big runs.”When you’re not scoring runs you tend to try plenty of different things in the nets to make something work. The last week or two I’ve simplified it to watching the ball as hard as I can and then letting my natural ability take over. I felt much better once I’ve done that and really just clearing my head.”Lehmann, meanwhile, was complimentary of Glenn Maxwell’s attitude in the wake of his team fine for comments about Victoria captain Matthew Wade. Maxwell may be slotted back into the Australian ODI team for the third match against New Zealand at the MCG on Friday as Lehmann looks to shuffle his options and potentially rest one of his fast bowlers.”He’s been fantastic. Full credit to him the way he’s handled it and the way he’s been around the group in getting prepared to play each and every game,” Lehmann said of Maxwell. “We’ve named the team quite late both times because we’ve only got down to the ground just before. He’s missed out at the last minute and he’s handled that really well. For him he’s just got to be ready to play, if he gets his opportunity then away he goes.”More light was also shed on the “leadership group” that elected to fine Maxwell. Lehmann said he had instituted a group of senior players in each of the teams he had coached, starting with Brad Haddin, Shane Watson and Peter Siddle four years ago. The group is now comprised of David Warner, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, with input too from the captain, Steven Smith.”I’ve had that wherever I’ve gone really,” Lehmann said. “I think that’s a good idea because sometimes they might have a problem with the coach or the skipper, so it’s a good idea to have those senior players, and the skipper working closely with that leadership group, as staff we sit back and let them go with that.”It gives them responsibility for how they want the team to run and perform and act and all those sorts of things. We’ve had that the last four years, it’s just chopped and changed depending on who’s playing and selection a little bit. Now that we’ve got a core group, they can pretty much do it and run it.”It just gives the players a voice to us if they’re not happy or want to change something they can go through that. Some players aren’t happy to deal with it direct [with me] and that’s fine too.”

Aston Villa could complete the signing of Napoli winger Hirving Lozano in the summer transfer window, according to his former advisor Alessandro Monfrecola.

Are Villa linked with Lozano?

The £97,000-a-week Mexican has enjoyed a hugely successful season at club level, winning the Serie A title with Napoli and becoming an instant hero along with his teammates, considering it is their first league crown since 1990.

That being said, Lozano wasn't actually a guaranteed member the starting lineup throughout 2022/23, invariably having to settle for a squad role and starting only 20 of his side's 38 league matches.

In recent times, the winger has been linked with a summer move to Villa, as the club look to make a number of significant signings to strengthen an already-impressive squad.

What's the latest transfer news on Lozano?

Speaking to Area Napoli [via Sport Witness], Monfrecola admitted that he could see Lozano joining either Villa or West Ham as he enters the last 12 months of his contract:

"West Ham’s proposal for Lozano? I believe that if Lozano leaves Napoli he will do so for an English club. The rumours coming from Mexico tell me that there is interest from English clubs. I think Aston Villa or West Ham will be the solution for Lozano.

"He’s had a year below his expectations, so such a large salary in De Laurentiis’ view is not good. When Raiola died, he was one of the few to change agency, moving towards an agency developed towards buying and selling in England, this is his dream, the boy’s signal is clear. He is fine in Napoli, but his dream is to play in the Premier League."

Lozano could be an excellent signing for Villa, possessing real pedigree at both club and international level, considering he is now a Serie A champion – he won the Erdedivisie with PSV in the past, too – and has also scored 17 goals in 64 caps for Mexico, including one at the 2018 World Cup.

The 27-year-old would add a spark out wide that has arguably been lacking, with someone like Leon Bailey not a consistently strong performer – he only scored four goals in 33 Premier League appearances last term – with his speed and directness having the potential to cause opponents nightmares.

These are exactly the type of signings that Villa need to be making, in terms of taking them to that next level, and bringing in Lozano would feel like a big statement of intent.