Newcastle fans were left astonished after Magpies striker Nile Ranger handed them a Twitter scolding after they booed the team off St James’ Park on Saturday, Sky Sports report.
Frustrations boiled over on Tyneside at the weekend as the Toon Army turned against Alan Pardew following the 2-1 defeat against fellow Premier League strugglers Reading.
Ranger, who was left on the bench by Pardew, leapt to the defence of his manager in the aftermath advising supporters to stay away if they are intent on booing.
“Certain fans need to not come and support this team… Coming out to BOOO us.. Stay at home.. Don’t need ur BOO’s…. SAY NO MORE !!!!
“To all the fans. U are not forced to buy season tickets.. Or pay our wages.. Please remember that.
“If u are loyal fans.. Be with us.. When we are out there on the field.. Be the 12th man.. Don’t come and BOO.. That aint going to help any1.
“Team is going through rough patch.. Last thing we need is fans against us.
“We are a TEAM u BOO 1 player… Ur booing all of us !!!”
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The 21-year-old misfit’s assertions sparked outrage on the social networking site, which could lead to Newcastle disciplining a player who has been on the wrong side of the law on more than one occasion in his short career.
Shinji Kagawa is a victim of his own versatility. It’s a classic example of stick him out on the flanks to accommodate someone else, no matter whether they’re better or not.
The thing is there aren’t too many better than playing the advanced playmaker role behind the striker, and certainly not within the Manchester United ranks. The one-two punch of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie may have looked pleasing on the eye while on paper, but that ship looks to be sailing, creating a clear path for Kagawa to become one of United’s most important players – as he was during his final season at Borussia Dortmund.
Much like his first season in England, Kagawa’s debut year with Dortmund was filled with frustration. He arrived on the scene and hit the ground running, seamlessly adjusting to life in Germany – much like many of his compatriots – and helping the eventual Bundesliga champions gather momentum that would continue well into the following season.
The winter break of that first season, however, is where it came to an end. Playing behind Lucas Barrios that year, Kagawa only registered one assist, yet it was his propensity to come up with the goods in front of goal himself that made him stand out. In his 18 leagues games of that season he scored eight. For many playmakers, the job is done once they hit double figures in the assists column. Kagawa is one of the special players that finishes like a striker and uses his own ingenuity as a creator to make space for himself inside the box.
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No one is oblivious to his talent, but the difficulties Kagawa faced in his first season in England can force people to forget. There were no personal triumphs for him, despite lifting the Premier League title. It was stop-start from the word go, with little to no continuity built up in those vital early stages of the campaign. Even Jurgen Klopp became edgy at the thought of Kagawa playing out on the flanks and moving him away from the pivotal central role, where once he was such an important figure in Dortmund’s back-to-back title wins.
Though that’s not the whole story. Kagawa isn’t a winger by trade. Like most players who are inclined to drift inside when played on the flanks, Kagawa used his brilliant movement to confuse opposition back lines. He creates space for others, drags defenders away, then pops up as the furthest forward of all the attackers and finds himself clear through on goal.
Manchester United absolutely need another body for the midfield, yet a creative player isn’t an absolute necessity. Like Dortmund, much of United’s attacking play can be focused around Kagawa and players like him. Added quality in the midfield two will see United retain possession better, win the ball back high up the field and offer the kind of retention that was provided by Michael Carrick. The Englishman’s age and seemingly late bloom in a United shirt is, however, an obvious disappointment.
In hindsight, it may be much easier to see what Alex Ferguson was planning. A van Persie/Kagawa partnership would have accomplished two things: a revamped and potentially lethal attacking duo, while also addressing the Wayne Rooney “problem” that was created with that first transfer request in 2010. Something about Ferguson never forgetting.
But Kagawa, if fully fit, can form the hub of United’s creativity next season – and that’s what most should be expecting. It’s easy for the idea of him to get washed away in the seemingly endless struggle to find a midfielder on the market this summer, yet a signing in the mould of Cesc Fabregas or Thiago could prove to be counterproductive for someone like Kagawa.
The Rooney situation looks to have one outcome, despite David Moyes talking up the idea of him working with the player into next season. Kagawa, however, amid discussion – however hollow – of him returning to Dortmund, should be the manager’s priority. The Japanese international deserves to be given a clear indication of what his role is in the team. Despite his ability to play on the flanks, he is too good to be neglected for the sake of others. And like we saw at Dortmund, he’s too good to fall beneath the disappointment of a troubled first season.
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Should United focus their attacking play around Kagawa next season?
Manchester City will be looking to keep up the pressure at the top of the table when they travel to Upton Park to take on West Ham on Saturday evening.
Roberto Mancini’s men have closed the gap at the top to just one point, and will be looking for their fifth consecutive Premier League win on Saturday.
Sam Allardyce will be mindful that this is the first of a tough run of fixtures for the Hammers, with games against Newcastle, Tottenham, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool looming in the coming weeks.
It’s been a decent start to the season for West Ham, who currently sit in 9th place, although last weekend saw them go down 2-1 at Wigan, putting in a disappointing performance.
Manchester City will be in confident mood having won seven and lost just one of their last 10 meetings with the Hammers.
Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta is set to hand Manchester City a boost by returning for the trip to Upton Park. The news is timely for Mancini, following the injury to Micah Richards which is set to keep him out for four months.
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Ricardo Vaz Te (shoulder) and Jack Collison (knee) are West Ham’s long-term absentees.
While Everton are expected to be one of the more active teams in this transfer window, not a lot has happened at Goodison Park yet. Though, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Goal), the Toffees could finally get things moving after making contact with Inter Milan for Joao Mario. Mario, however, may not be the best option out there for the Premier League side.
The Breakdown
After finding himself on the periphery of the Inter Milan squad, Mario joined West Ham on loan for the second half of last season. And while the 25-year-old did put in some decent performances at the London Stadium, it wasn’t enough to secure a permanent transfer to east London.
Mario, though, is still pushing for a move back to England with Everton and Bournemouth touted as potential suitors. But if the former are indeed looking to bring in a new attacking midfielder, then they should forget about Mario and make an ambitious raid on Borussia Dortmund’s £16.2m-rated (via Transfermarkt) Mario Gotze.
Gotze has recently been linked with a move to Everton’s rivals Liverpool (via Liverpool Echo), but with Jurgen Klopp’s interest in Lyon attacking midfielder Nabil Fekir not dead, according to the Daily Mirror, the Toffees could potentially have an easy run at the Germany international.
Injury has really had an impact on Gotze’s career, but the 2014 World Cup final goalscorer featured in over 30 games for Dortmund in their 2017/18 campaign and could soon start hitting top form again.
Gotze’s goal and assist numbers during his first spell at Dortmund and the early part of his Bayern Munich career are impressive and better than anything Mario has ever produced.
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Furthermore, Marco Silva should end any pursuit for Mario and turn his attention to Gotze.
Liverpool and Arsenal are on red alert following news that Newcastle are ready to sell Demba Ba, report The Mirror.
The Magpies are believed to be growing more and more frustrated by the Senegalese international’s reluctance to commit to a new deal and are prepared to let him leave in January.
They are said to be looking to move the 27-year-old on as early as possible, to give themselves a chance to bring in a replacement, with Marseille hit-man Loic Remy top of a list of targets.
Ba is reportedly seeking a bumper contract of £80,000-per-week, a figure that Toon owner Mike Ashley is unwilling to match.
Due to a much reported clause in the striker’s contract, Newcastle will be forced to accept a rock bottom fee, in the region of £7m, which will tempt a whole host of Premier League clubs.
Liverpool are thought to be leading the race, with their desire to bring in attacking reinforcements well known.
The club’s owners are reportedly willing to back Brendan Rodgers in the transfer market, as the Reds look to step up their pursuit of Champions League football.
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Arsenal are also in the hunt, with summer signing Olivier Giroud struggling to lead the line for the Gunners.
Ba was in fine for the St James’ Park team last term, notching an impressive 16 goals.
David Moyes managed Everton for 11 years. It’s not quite the 26 years that Sir Alex Ferguson managed at Manchester United. But 11 years is a long time.
Long enough to see a generation of players come and go. Long enough to build a club in your image. And long enough for your identity, and that of the club’s, to become entwined.
David Moyes had become Everton for many people. Or perhaps more accurately, Everton had become David Moyes.
When you thought of the club, no player’s name sprang to mind. Because it wasn’t about the players. Everton always had good players, but they had a star manager.
You never worried about Everton under Moyes. You only worried about what would happen after he left. But as it’s transpired, there was no need for worry.
Everton’s finances have not crumbled, and they are nowhere near the abyss. If anything, they stand on the cusp of glory. Whether they reach the Champions League or not, Roberto Martinez has shown that succession need not be difficult.
No one likes change. Change is difficult. Change takes time. But sometimes, change is exactly what we need.
Everton didn’t appear in the need of change. If anything, it was the opposite that was required. More Moyes, and as much Moyes for as long as possible – that’s what the club wanted. A Moyesless future was the last thing they needed, and yet this is what was being planned by the man himself.
David Moyes had grown tired at Everton. He was tired of fighting chairman Bill Kenwright for money, tired contenting himself with challenging for Europe, tired of seeing his best players leave. He was just tired of the struggle.
And so Moyes cast his eye east. He had long been a scholar of German football, and having apparently reached the glass ceiling of the British manager in England, a move to the Bundesliga seemed like the next logical step. Of course, Alex Ferguson had other ideas in mind.
The flirtations of a fellow Scot left Everton Moyesless. With no manager, and no money to give a new manager, the future looked bleak on Merseyside. However, the diverging fortunes of Martinez and Moyes have proved that succession doesn’t always have to be difficult.
One of the reasons that Roberto Martinez has been so successful in taking over from David Moyes is that he’s nothing like his predecessor. Moyes is pragmatic man, who seeks to work as best as he possibly can within his limitations. His natural tendency is always to reduce the risk of the catastrophic rather than reach for the spectacular.
Martinez is the opposite of this. He’s the eternal optimist, the man who told Bill Kenwright ‘I’ll get you into the Champions League’. The Spaniard is always trying to win first, rather than simply avoid defeat.
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And this positivity has rubbed off on his players. How could it not? Such absolute change can only be refreshing.
This is the trick that was missed at Old Trafford. Ferguson was given the responsibility to choose his successor, and in a great act of vanity, chose the man who most closely resembled himself.
However, when change is forced upon a club, it’s not always best practice to try and minimize its affect. This may be especially true when it concerns a manager who has been at a club as long as Moyes and Ferguson were. Although the natural reaction may be to go for ‘more of the same’, the potential refreshing benefits of going for something different are all the greater.
Em meio ao tumultuado dia na Chapecoense com as graves acusações envolvendo o goleiro Ivan, o Verdão do Oeste apresentou nessa quinta-feira (14) na cidade de Chapecó o zagueiro Gum, confirmado como reforço da equipe para a temporada 2019 na última quarta.
O jogador de 33 anos de idade fez questão de dizer o porquê da demora ocorrida entre a proposta, o acerto de todos os termos do contrato e a devida oficialização do vínculo apenas nessa semana. No total, as tratativas como um todo tiveram duração de mais de três meses.
-Dia 2 de janeiro houve a proposta, conversa com a Chapecoense. Naquele momento não achei justo com a Chapecoense, meu coração estava ligado ao Fluminense. Foram quase 10 anos, me entreguei ao clube e precisava de um tempo para me desligar ao clube emocionalmente. Chego com o coração na Chapecoense.
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Gum chegou a dizer que, quando entendeu a dimensão de como a cidade é ligada ao clube de maneira tão próxima, só reforçou a sua ideia de que não entendia como algo correto ter sido anunciado antes por existirem “resquícios” de pensamento ainda ligado ao clube carioca.
– A cidade respira a Chapecoense e isso é lindo de ver. Quando vejo isso nas pessoas, eu fico feliz, porque minha decisão foi certa no momento. Hoje eu vejo o tamanho da responsabilidade, minha e de todos aqui. Pelo trabalho que a diretoria tem, a imprensa, a cidade, que sofre quando a Chapecoense não vence, sei da responsabilidade. Mas ao conversar com cada pessoa, você vê o quanto amam a Chapecoense. Hoje tenho certeza que não era o momento de vir no começo, porque vocês não mereciam um atleta ligado emocionalmente a outro clube. Mas agora não, fica a gratidão e estou pronto para honrar todos na cidade – detalhou o defensor.
A ratificação de ter um projeto a longo prazo com o Verdão do Oeste ficou por conta de um trecho de sua resposta onde ele garante não estar pensando em somente dar continuidade na sua carreira, mas sim criar vínculo com o clube. Ao ponto de, inclusive, analisar seriamente seguir na Chape até a sua aposentadoria.
– Vim não para ficar pouco tempo, vim para me entregar por inteiro com luta, foco, dedicação, junto dos meus companheiros, para ficar muito tempo aqui. Se possível, até aposentar – finalizou Gum.
According to The Liverpool Echo, Everton director of football Marcel Brands has outlined how much The Toffees would be willing to pay for Mexican star Hirving Lozano.
The Dutchman said that Everton would pay no more than €20m for the PSV winger, due to the fact that he has no experience in the Premier League.
However, this approach by Brands is the shrewd attitude that Everton, and indeed all other Premier League teams, need. Too often Premier League teams spend extortionate fees on players that have no credentials in England, and they ultimately fail.
What is more important is that Brands is perhaps aware that The Toffees do not have a desperate need for wingers. With the likes of Bernard, Theo Walcott and Ademola Lookman at the club, as well as Richarlison being a natural winger, the club are quite well-stocked in this department.
On the other hand, there is an alarming demand at Goodison Park for an out-and-out striker that is performing well. Perhaps Brands does not want to use up too much of the club’s transfer budget if they are not addressing their greatest problem.
However, a move for Lozano could mean that Marco Silva is planning on fashioning Richarlison into a striker permanently. In which case, this opens up the door for a lethal partnership.
In a day and age where some players are going for unfathomable prices, particularly when they do not have the ability to back up their price, this was a wise move from Brands.
كشفت تقارير صحفية أن نادي تشيلسي لا يتعجل عودة الجابوني بيير إيميريك أوباميانج إلى تدريبات الفريق الاستعدادية للموسم الجديد.
ومن المعروف أن مستقبل أوباميانج مع تشيلسي غير مؤكد حتى الآن، خاصة أنه لم يحظ بأي فرص لعب منتظم في الموسم الماضي.
وارتبط أوباميانج بخطوة الرحيل عن تشيلسي هذا الصيف، حيث يسعى النادي اللندني إلى التفريط فيه لصالح نادِ سعودي، ولكن اللاعب نفسه يرفض تلك الخطوة.
ويرغب أوباميانج في مغادرة تشيلسي بالفعل ولكنه يتطلع للعودة إلى نادي برشلونة، وهو أمر غير ممكن نظرًا للظروف المالية للفريق الكتالوني.
اقرأ أيضًا.. كايسيدو يفتح باب انتقاله إلى تشيلسي
ووفقًا لصحيفة “تليجراف” الإنجليزية، فإن تشيلسي طلب من أوباميانج ألا يكلف نفسه عناء التواجد في التدريبات الأولية للفريق، استعدادًا للموسم الجديد والمزمع انطلاقها غدًا الأربعاء.
وأشارت إلى أن تشيلسي أكد لـ أوباميانج أنه يستطيع الانتظار حتى يوم الإثنين المقبل، 17 يوليو، والاشتراك في التدريبات.
وأفادت بأن تشيلسي يسعى إلى إيجاد حل للتخلص من أوباميانج بحلول ذلك الوقت، مثلما فعل كذلك مع البلجيكي روميلو لوكاكو، الذي لا يُعد جزءًا من الفريق.
وقضى لوكاكو الموسم الماضي على سبيل الإعارة في صفوف إنتر ميلان، ويرغب في البقاء مع النادي الإيطالي.
Helen Mahon-Stroud, former coach of the New Zealand A and Canterbury Tactix netball teams, has been named manager of the country’s women’s cricket team
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Aug-2013Helen Mahon-Stroud, former coach of the New Zealand A netball side, has been named manager of the country’s women’s cricket team. She had attended a training camp with the side at Maroochydore in Queensland last week and felt the trip had been a valuable experience.”Maroochydore was a helpful starting point and gave me good insight to the environment and the systems in place,” she said. “I’m really excited by the challenge in front of me and will endeavour to add as much support as possible.” Mahon-Stroud will travel with the team for their tour of the West Indies in October.Coach Katrina Keenan was thrilled with the addition of Mahon-Stroud, who has also coached the Canterbury Tactix netball side for three years since 2008. “We’re delighted that Helen has taken up the role of White Ferns manager and know she will make a positive contribution to the group. Her skill set is well suited to the role and her previous experience in sports administration gives her a great understanding of what is required.”Mahon-Stroud has been a member of the New Zealand police for 23 years and will continue her role part-time.