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At the end of what has been a rather catastrophic season for Sheffield Wednesday, Darren Moore’s side narrowly failed to complete what would have been a great escape from the Championship relegation zone.

Following a decent run of form which ensured that the Owls’ battle for survival lasted until the final day of the Championship season, Wednesday could not overcome Wayne Rooney’s Derby County despite battling to a 3-3 draw against the Rams.

A number of Wednesday’s players turned in impressive displays despite the result, but one man who will undoubtedly want to forget his performance in the fixture as quickly as possible is Adam Reach.

Over the 90 minutes, the midfielder was incredibly wasteful with his passing, completing just 18 of his 27 attempted passes – his success rate of 67% ranking him as Wednesday’s fourth-worst passer of those who started the fixture – as well as not finding his man with any of his eight crosses and successfully completing just two of his five attempted long balls.

Furthermore, the £23,000-per-week Reach lost possession of the ball a whopping 22 times, as well as being dribbled past twice by Derby players, highlighting just how much of a passenger the midfielder was on a day when the Owls needed everyone on song.

Indeed, this is reflected in the 28-year-old’s overall SofaScore match rating of 6.5,with his score only bettering that of Keiren Westwood’s 5.9 and Joey Pelupessy’s 6.3 of the Wednesday players who started the game at Pride Park.

With the result meaning Wednesday will be playing their football in the third tier of English football as of next season, Reach now has a long summer ahead of him to reflect on his performance, which appears to have cost Darren Moore and his Sheffield Wednesday teammates most dearly.

In other news: Encouraging update emerges on “excellent” SWFC star, Moore and fans will be buzzing – opinion

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Spurs legend, Paul Stewart, has claimed that Nuno Espirito Santo would not bring trophies to Tottenham Hotspur if he was appointed as their new manager.

Nuno has been linked with the Spurs job after his most unsuccessful season at Wolves, as they find themselves in the bottom half of the Premier League table after back-to-back seventh-place finishes.

Daniel Levy will know that their next manager needs to win a trophy, as Tottenham have not won anything since the League Cup back in 2008.

Speaking on how Nuno would not bring trophies to Tottenham and how he wouldn’t be excited to see the 47-year old manager at Spurs, Stewart exclusively told FFC:

“I know that he takes all his coaching staff with him and buys players through one agent, so I’m not sure that’ll bring trophies to a big club.

“I’m not knocking what he’s done at Wolves though because he’s done a great job but I wouldn’t get excited if he came to Spurs.”

Levy was reportedly looking to target Brendan Rodgers after Julian Nagelsmann joined Bayern Munich but the Leicester City boss claims he is happy at the King Power stadium.

A new round of CricInfo Championship games sees several fascinating clashes in both divisions

CricInfo08-May-2001A new round of CricInfo Championship games sees several fascinating clashes in both divisions.In the division one clash at Headingley Yorkshire play host to a much-changed Somerset side.
Andy Caddick: Back for Somerset
Photo © CricInfo
Though both teams will be boosted by their Test stars, including the England opening attack of Caddick and Gough, Somerset will miss Peter Bowler who is busy with his university studies and Keith Parsons who has a knee injury. Also absent will be new fast bowler, Richard Johnson, who is suffering from a side strain.Johnson had started the season in the sort of fine form that attracted the national selectors a few years ago, but in a story that has mirrored much of his career, injury has intervened at an inopportune time.”Somerset are a pretty good all-round side. They’ve got good players in Trescothick, Caddick and Cox,” admitted David Byas, the Yorkshire captain. “We’ve got them at home, which is to our advantage; but they’re a very capable team and we’ll look at them very closely.”But he was confident his side could do well: “We’re looking to win the game and take maximum points,” said Byas, who has added Simon Widdup to the Yorkshire XI.Jamie Cox, the Somerset skipper was equally full of respect for his opponents: “Yorkshire are all very solid. Both sides are at full strength as far as England availability goes.”James Ormond (hamstring) and Neil Burns (groin) are doubts for Leicestershire who meet Lancashire at Grace Road. Skipper Vince Wells was quick to identify the main threats for his team: “Muralitharan is a major threat in the four-day game, and Athers (Michael Atherton) will be looking to get into a bit of form before the Tests start.”Neil Fairbrother is back for the visitors, but Flintoff is expected to miss another couple of weeks following his side injury.Elsewhere Northamptonshire host Surrey. Steve Coverdale, Northants’ chief executive, admitted that his team faced a stern challenge in the coming days.”In our first two games, we played the two teams which were promoted with us(Glamorgan and Essex),” he explained. “Now we’re up with the big boys, we’ve got Surrey, Yorkshire and Lancashire in our next three games. Surrey have got more than 11 outstanding players.”Surrey are not taking the encounter lightly however. Their coach, Alan Butcher, expects spin to play a significant part in the game and is wary of their opponents home-record. “Northants had a good year last year at home, where their pitches turned,” he said. “Their overseas player (Michael) Hussey looks in good nick at the moment and has scored runs already.”Meanwhile, in the second division, Notts will be missing several players for their journey to Sussex. Andrew Harris, Jason Gallian, Richard Logan and John Morris all miss out for the visitors.Durham are similarly troubled by injuries to Daley, Speak, Brown and overseas player Martin Love who is nursing a bruised thumb. All four are unfit for the encounter with Warwickshire at Edgbaston.James Hamblin and Irfan Shah stand-by for Hampshire with Shaun Udal a doubt. He will undergo a fitness test prior to the game against Worcestershire, for whom Paul Pollard is unavailable.Gloucestershire’s key overseas player, Ian Harvey, is hoping to have recovered from a blow on the chest that adversely affected his breathing and is looking to take his place in the side to play Middlesex.

West Indies batsman Ricardo Powell will not be able to accept a late offer to attend the Shell Cricket Academy now under way at St George’s University in Grenada

Derrick Nicholas30-May-2001West Indies batsman Ricardo Powell will not be able to accept a late offer to attend the Shell Cricket Academy now under way at St George’s University in Grenada.Chief Executive Officer of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), GregoryShillingford, said that, while grateful for the opportunity, Powell hadindicated he would be playing league cricket in England this summer.Shillingford explained the Board decided to invite Powell to participate in the SCA’s inaugural three-month programme after he was not among the 22 players chosen for the training camp for the West Indies upcoming tour to Zimbabwe and Kenya.”We felt that a young talented player like Ricardo could benefit from this experience and we felt the opportunity should be made available to him although we had already announced the 24 players who would be in the Shell Cricket Academy,” he said.In thanking the WICB, St George’s University and Shell for the invitation, the young cricketer indicated his alternative plans were finalised shortly after he learnt he would not be in the West Indies training camp.”I appreciate this gesture by all parties involved with the Shell Cricket Academy, especially considering that the programme had already started. I wish I could have accepted but I had made plans to play cricket and train in England this summer.”When I made my decision I had no idea the Academy would have been an option for me,” said Powell, reaffirming his commitment to West Indies cricket.Meanwhile, the WICB wishes to indicate that an incorrect statement byChairman of Selectors, Mike Findlay, that Powell would attend the Academy was based on inaccurate information received by Findlay. At that time, he was not aware that Powell was unable to accept the offer.

Forgotten Leeds United man Rafa Mujica could seal a permanent move to Las Palmas this summer, with the Spanish club keen on completing a deal.

The Lowdown: No Leeds future for Mujica

Mujica has had a nomadic career in recent years, having loan spells at the likes of Extremadura, Oviedo and Las Palmas. It is quite clear that Marcelo Bielsa doesn’t see a long-term future for the 22-year-old at Leeds, with the Argentine surely showing trust in him by now if that wasn’t the case – the Spaniard hasn’t even made a matchday squad for a competitive Whites fixture.

That is despite him impressing some of the Elland Road faithful during a pre-season fixture in 2019, only for it to prove a false dawn.

Mujica is currently at Las Palmas, where he has only managed four Segunda Division appearances this season and not made a single start.

The Latest: Las Palmas keen on permanent signing

Despite that, AS reported [via Sport Witness] that the Spanish club ‘show interest’ in signing the forward on a permanent basis this summer.

Las Palmas have an option to buy and it appears as though they are willing to take Leeds up on the offer.

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The Verdict: Time to move on

In makes perfect sense for Mujica to leave Leeds at the end of the season in order to settle at a club and begin the next chapter of his career. Bouncing from club to club is not benefiting anyone, in truth, and with his Leeds deal expiring in the summer, a new contract is highly unlikely to come his way.

The Whites are now at a point where they should be aiming for the the European places next season, in which case they need a higher calibre of player than Mujica.

In other news, Leeds are reportedly battling some heavyweight clubs for the signing of one player. Find out who it is here.

Liam Kennedy has predicted that Steve Bruce will make two changes to the starting eleven for Newcastle United against Manchester City at home.

The Lowdown: Newcastle great against Leicester

The St. James’ Park faithful go into the game against Pep Guardiola’s men off the back of a great performance and result against Leicester City away from home last time out in the Premier League.

The 4-2 win all but ensured their safety in the top flight for another season, which was confirmed when Fulham lost 2-0 at home to Burnley on Monday night.

The Latest: Two Newcastle changes predicted

Writing in his latest piece for The Shields Gazette, Kennedy has predicted that the North East club will make two changes to the starting eleven that beat the Foxes.

One is an enforced one giving the hamstring injury suffered by Callum Wilson in that match, with Joelinton predicted to take his place.

The other is tactical, as Jonjo Shelvey is predicted to be dropped, with Sean Longstaff replacing him.

The Verdict: Shelvey should be dropped

Shelvey, who currently earns £70,000-per-week on Tyneside, should be dropped not just for this game, but for the Magpies’ remaining fixtures as well.

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Kennedy himself has recently been very critical of his performances this season, while The Chronicle journalist Lee Ryder was certainly not impressed with him in the Toon’s 3-2 home win over West Ham United back in April.

One goal and two assists in 27 appearances in total in the PL so far in the 2020/21 term (Transfermarkt) is simply not good enough for a midfield player, and so it is time to give other players a run in the side with safety now confirmed.

In other news, find out what big Mike Ashley claim has been dropped after a takeover statement here!

Everyone knows what Sachin Tendulkar does with his bat to bowlers andrecords

04-Jun-2001Everyone knows what Sachin Tendulkar does with his bat to bowlers andrecords. Very few know how much help he offers to his team-mates andtheir cricket.Any number of his young team-mates on this tour are spending a lot of time with the best batsman in the world and putting that advice into practice, often profitably.Shiv Sunder Das got over his opening blues with a century against CFX Academy on Saturday. He gratefully acknowledged the technical advice that Tendulkar had shared with him during the net sessions.”He told me a few things with my foot movement and body position in the nets,” said the little opener from Orissa. “I put it into practice in the middle and had immediate results.”Time and again Tendulkar had taken Das aside in the nets and given him practice against rising deliveries. Das had landed in a no-man’s land on a few occasions against bouncers aimed at his body by Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie during the recent tour by the Australians.It had been saving Das injuries but not his wicket. Tendulkar then advised him how to drop his bat and not instinctively raise it in front of his eyes. Also, he told him how he could deflect these bouncers away behind square for some runs.Das’ partner Sadagopan Ramesh is another case in point. Ramesh has this tendency to reach for the balls. On these bouncy wickets, it is the surest way to doom.”In this innings (of 42) against CFX, I was committing this mistake in the first hour. Sachin offered a fairly valuable piece of advice. He told me how I should look to play shots off my pads and also those cuts behind square. I had a far better stay thereafter.”Vice-captain Rahul Dravid says he seeks out Tendulkar whenever he feels the latter could be of help. “I check him out on little things, when I feel he could offer a valuable piece of advice”.The openers alone are not singing Tendulkar’s praises. Wicketkeeper and state-mate Sameer Dighe is also full of praise for the maestro.”He is always there when you need him. I remember the Chennai Test, my debut game. When I went into bat in the second innings, Tendulkar asked me to wear an elbow guard. Usually I never go for it. But I was so lucky I heeded his advice. When I went in, we needed some 40-odd runs for victory. As we inched closer, Gillespie started throwing bouncers. One such delivery hit my elbow guard and went to fine leg for two runs. The way that Test went, those two runs were absolutely critical. What is more I could have injured myself and been ejected out from the middle,” Dighe recalls.Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is a die-hard Tendulkar fan too. “Anyone who plays this game, I think, is a fan of this little master”. The ‘Turbanator’, who tore apart the mighty Aussies in the recent series, acknowledges he learnt how to bowl with the new ball from Tendulkar.”I also seek him out to test myself in the nets, as often as I can. I want to test myself and do my best when bowling to him. It is a great confidence booster if I do well against him,” said Harbhajan.Yesterday morning, before the start of the second day’s play against the CFX Academy, Tendulkar sought out Ramesh, VVS Laxman and Hemang Badani for catching practice in the slips.He decided to make it interesting by giving grades to the catches the three picked: A for the best and B and C for the next best efforts.After a few hits, Ramesh indicated Tendulkar was hitting spliced catches too hard at him. But Tendukar would have nothing of it as he smashed the next ball with a full swish of the bat and the ball rocketed behind the slips and thudded into the sight sreen.Ramesh raised his hands in mock surrender and later admitted it was tough but “valuable practice.”Any discussion on the matter and Tendulkar shrugs his shoulders in his characteristic manner and is close to being embarrassed. “I only try to do what I observe, the little things that I notice,” the champ says modestly.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting said that his side’s ability to keep digging themselves out of trouble was the mark of a great team

Peter Robinson06-Apr-2002Australian captain Ricky Ponting said that his side’s ability to keep digging themselves out of trouble was the mark of a great team.Speaking after Australia had succeeded in the highest run chase in one-day history to beat South Africa by three wickets at St George’s Park on Saturday, Ponting said: “Every time we’ve got ourselves into trouble, we’ve been good enough to get out of it. That’s the mark of a great team.”Australia hauled in South Africa’s 326 for three with five balls to spare to take a 5-0 in the six-match series after a blistering 52 from Adam Gilchrist and contributions of 92 from Ponting and 91 from Darren Lehmann.”It’s the best run chase I’ve been involved with,” said Ponting. “We had an amazing start from Gillie. But I’d be lying if I said I was confident of winning at the start. But the way we approached it was outstanding. We threw caution to the wind and attacked from ball one.”Australia discarded veterans Steve and Mark Waugh for this series, but Ponting said that other players such as Lehmann had stepped up.”Darren was outstanding the way he played today,” said Ponting. “You can tell he’s an experienced player. I think he’s one of the best one-day players in the world.”He noted, however, that Australia had not bowled or fielded particularly well.”We broke another record today – the highest score against us,” he said. “It’s probably good that it happened to us, though. To go for 326 is a bit of a wake-up call for some of the bowlers and the fielders.”Australia’s one-day series here should serve the side well during next year’s World Cup campaign, felt Ponting.”We’ve had a chance to play under all conditions here,” he said. “We’ve played on all the major grounds. This one here will have one of the World Cup semi-finals. It will all hold us in good stead for the World Cup, there’s no doubt about that.”Beaten captain Shaun Pollock said it had been a “pretty awesome effort by them. They came out with all guns blazing. We expected them to come hard at us, and I thought we did pretty well after the first six overs or so.”They’re playing with a lot of confidence at the moment. You need the little breaks to go your way, but it’s not running for us at the moment,” he said.”They’ve got a good unit. It takes a brave team to drop the Waugh brothers, but at the end of the day they were probably right,” said Pollock.

Serge Aurier has been at Tottenham Hotspur since Mauricio Pochettino signed him in 2017 from PSG but Paul Stewart, who scored in Spurs’s 1991 FA Cup final victory, spoke exclusively to Football FanCast about how now is the time for the full-back to leave.

In a somewhat surprising move, Pochettino has been linked with a move for Aurier in what would be a surprising reunion with the full-back, considering how his last 12 months were like in Paris.

Spurs have struggled with the right-back position this season as neither Aurier, Matt Doherty or Japhet Tanganga have managed to cement a regular starting spot under either Jose Mourinho or Ryan Mason.

Aurier, who just two months ago was handed a 3/10 rating by Football London journalist Alasdair Gold following his display against Dinamo Zagreb, has worked under three different managers at Tottenham having made 110 appearances but his time could be up this summer, Stewart spoke exclusively to FFC:

“He’s been poor but I did hear that he’s been linked with PSG so I think it would be good business to let him go. Would PSG want him with Pochettino there? I can’t see it, but he does need to leave Tottenham.

“That is why I keep talking about the defence and how that’s where we’ve got to improve before we even think about moving forward.”

Spurs have been linked with Janik Vestergaard at Southampton as they look to improve an outstanding weakness that has been in their team for several seasons.

For years, Tottenham had a solid centre back pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld but since the former departed for Benfica last summer they appear to have struggled all the way across the backline.

RAWALPINDI, April 23: As overnight rain and cloudy skies Tuesday brought temperatures down, Pakistan’s pace ace Shoaib Akhtar was still sizzling and said he would be going all-out to break the 100-mile barrier in Wednesday’s second day-night One-day

Imran Naeem Ahmad24-Apr-2002RAWALPINDI, April 23: As overnight rain and cloudy skies Tuesday brought temperatures down, Pakistan’s pace ace Shoaib Akhtar was still sizzling and said he would be going all-out to break the 100-mile barrier in Wednesday’s second day-night One-day International against New Zealand.While making it clear that taking five wickets in each match was more important for him than the speed record, he said he would however give it a shot.”I’ll try to achieve that with the fourth ball of my third over and then again the third delivery of the fourth over,” he said on the eve of the match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.Shoaib, 26 was recorded to have bowled one at a speed of 98.9 miles in the recent Sharjah Cup. But Rawalpindi provides him his best opportunity yet to achieve the feat in front of his hometown fans.”The kind of pitches we have at home suit me but then weather I am able to break the barrier or not, the bottom line is that I am enjoying my cricket.”