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Yet again in the Scottish Premiership, it looks to be Celtic’s title to lose following what has been another imperious start to the campaign, with Brendan Rodgers’ side still unbeaten in the top flight following Wednesday’s win over Aberdeen.

The Dons had been the only side to take points off the Old Firm giants this season, although, at the end of another hard-fought contest, it was the Hoops who claimed the victory at Pittodrie, thus widening their gap at the summit.

Reo Hatate’s late strike – which was beautifully teed up by substitute Greg Taylor – sealed a 1-0 win on the road for the Glasgow outfit, ensuring their lead now rests at seven points with a game in hand on their closest rivals.

Rangers, meanwhile, remain 11 points behind amid what has been a dismal domestic season for Philippe Clement and co.

Despite that healthy advantage, there is no room for complacency for the champions, with Rodgers likely to be somewhat concerned by the displays of a few key individuals, including young Alex Valle.

Alex Valle's game in numbers vs Aberdeen

There’s certainly been a lot to like about the Barcelona loanee since his arrival at Parkhead over the summer, with the 20-year-old full-back already chalking up four assists from just 12 appearances in all competitions.

The former Levante ace was particularly impressive off the bench during the 1-1 draw with Club Brugge a week ago, having teed up Daizen Maeda’s equaliser just minutes after entering the fray.

Now looking like being Celtic’s new loan superstar – in the mould of Jota – the aim will now be for the youngster to achieve consistency under Rodgers’ watch, having been taught something of a lesson on Wednesday night.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast's Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Up against the lively Duk, Valle struggled to assert himself down the left flank, having notably been caught out early on by a lofted ball over the top which allowed his opposite number to get an attempt on goal.

In all, the promising Spaniard won just three of his 11 total duels and lost possession on 16 occasions from just 55 touches, having also failed to complete any of his five dribble attempts, as per Sofascore.

Having also picked up an undoubtedly soft yellow card just after the 30-minute mark, the defender was then replaced at the break, with the arrival of Taylor ultimately paying dividends due to his involvement in Hatate’s decisive effort.

A bad day at the office for Valle then, although he certainly wasn’t alone in failing to deliver for the visitors, with one first-team star having arguably been worse on the day…

Celtic's worst performer vs Aberdeen

The caveat to this is that Kyogo Furuhashi is not a striker who seeks to get involved in the build-up, offering a pure poaching presence, rather than that Harry Kane-like playmaking style.

Stat

Ange Postecoglou

Brendan Rodgers

Games

83

69

Starts

71

57

Goals

54

26

Assists

10

8

Yellow cards

6

2

Minutes per goal

100

177

Minutes played

5383

4589

That is all well and good, not least when the Japanese star is finding the back of the net – having scored 80 goals in 151 games for the club to date – yet when the goals aren’t forthcoming, it leaves little to fall back on. Valle may be a young kid learning his trade, yet Furuhashi is an experienced figure who should well be offering much more.

Indeed, the former Vissel Kobe man averages just 13.2 touches per game in the Premiership in 2024/25, having only registered 11 touches at Pittodrie, before being hooked just after the hour mark.

Having been rested for the weekend win over Ross County, the 29-year-old hardly made the most of that well-earned break amid his limp showing against the Dons, having also lost the ball on six occasions, while recording a pass accuracy rate of just 56%.

With the Hoops’ number eight also failing to win a single duel, while not even registering a single attempt on goal, it was a frankly anonymous display in attack, with the introduction of Adam Idah providing a far more effective focal point in the closing stages – as indicated below.

There is now perhaps a real decision to make over who should be Rodgers’ leading marksman moving forward, with Idah having scored eight times across all fronts this season, while Kyogo has just seven strikes to his name.

Equally, there may be a case to be made that the 6 foot 3 Idah represents a better fit for these battling away trips, emulating the role that Giorgos Giakoumakis often used to take on under Ange Postecoglou.

It is encouraging, at least, that Rodgers does have two quality options to choose from, with that depth of firepower set to be needed to maintain this rampant title charge.

159 touches, 100% duels won: Celtic colossus was even better than Hatate

The Celtic titan was the real hero for Brendan Rodgers against Aberdeen.

1 ByDan Emery Dec 5, 2024

The Ivory Coast international made his mark in his debut for Charlotte, with two goal-contributions in a shutout victory

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Charlotte FC defeat Atlanta United 2-0Wilfried Zaha scores and assistsCLT undefeated through two gamesGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowWHAT HAPPENED?

Wilfried Zaha had an MLS debut to remember with the winger playing a role in both goals scored for Charlotte FC on Saturday as they defeated Atlanta United 2-0 in MLS action.

The Ivory Coast international missed Week 1 due to the birth of his newborn child, but he left his mark with a goal and an assist in the second half in his first MLS game.

CLT took their initial lead through Spaniard Pep Biel, who was fed by Zaha from close-range in the 49th minute. Six minutes later, Zaha doubled the lead himself, smashing home a low-driven volley after an initial attempt from U.S. international Patrick Agyemang was parried away by Brad Guzan.

Courtesy of Zaha's heroics, CLT took all three points in their first home match of the year, and remain undefeated through two weeks after drawing the Seattle Sounders 2-2 on Matchday 1.

AdvertisementWATCH ZAHA'S GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Zaha joined Charlotte on loan from Turkish side Galatasaray until January 2026 with an option to extend the loan through June 2026 earlier this year.

Zaha is largely noted for playing for a decade in the English Premier League with Crystal Palace, Manchester United, and Cardiff City where he scored 68 goals in 305 appearances.

With CLT, he joins a budding franchise being led by former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith.

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Charlotte return to action next weekend for MLS Matchday 3, where they will take on Lionel Messi's Inter Miami.

Vandersay picks up 4 for 10 in 7.4 overs as hosts bowlers run rampant

Andrew Fidel Fernando21-Jan-2022Sri Lanka’s bowlers ran rampant in the early overs of Zimbabwe’s chase reducing the opposition to 20 for 3, then 31 for 5, and eventually 70 all out, decimating their hopes of chasing down 255 and claiming a series victory.Dushmantha Chameera blasted out the first two wickets, before the spinners claimed the limelight – Maheesh Theekshana squeezing one between Sean Williams’ bat and pad, Jeffrey Vandersay taking four of his own, before Ramesh Mendis also took two. Somewhere in that cascade of wickets, seamer Chamika Karunaratne struck too, to remove the dangerous Sikandar Raza.After 15 overs, Zimbabwe were 37 for 5, the required rate had crept above six, and the chase was essentially buried. Ryan Burl and Tendai Chatara fought briefly to put up 18 for the ninth wicket – the best stand of the innings. But it was all over by the 25th over, with Vandersay scything through the lower order.The collapse was particularly disappointing for Zimbabwe, because their attack had operated with such discipline to keep Sri Lanka to a manageable total. Where Zimbabwe’s own batters had put up totals in the 300 range batting first in the two previous matches, Sri Lanka lurched only to 254 for 9, with each of their top eight getting to double-figures, but only Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka managing half-centuries.Zimbabwe’s had been a collective bowling effort. Richard Ngarava claimed 2 for 46 from his nine overs while Chatara, Blessing Muzarabani, Wellington Masakadza, Ryan Burl, and Sean Williams all claimed one wicket apiece. Aside from an 80-run opening stand between Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, Zimbabwe never let another pair prosper for long, the next-best partnership coming much later in the innings, when Karunaratne and Ramesh Mendis put on 48 together.It was Chameera who precipitated Zimbabwe’s rapid downfall, in the third over. He bowled a shortish ball outside off stump to right-hander Regis Chakabva, who edged it to slip. Then, next ball, he angled one across captain Ervine, who nicked it to the keeper. When Theekshana sent a straighter one through Williams’ defences in the eighth over, Zimbabwe had lost their three best top-order batters in the series.Pathum Nissanka struck his second successive ODI half-century•AFP/Getty ImagesAfter the first powerplay, Kaitano was given out stumped off the bowling of Vandersay, although the evidence that his back foot was in the air when keeper Kusal Mendis took the bails off did not seem totally conclusive. Next over, Raza spooned a catch to cover, and all of Zimbabwe’s serious batting hopes had departed.Vandersay then took three of the five remaining wickets, and Ramesh Mendis claimed the other two. There was no substantial turn in the pitch – Sri Lanka were menacing, but not unplayable. Zimbabwe will feel they let themselves down.In the first innings, Sri Lanka had begun steadily with the bat – Nissanka and Kusal Mendis hitting only five boundaries in the powerplay, as they strode to 43 for 0 in ten overs. As has been the case right through the series, Zimbabwe’s quicks were disciplined and sharp, though they didn’t find the early wickets they had managed in the first two games.Perhaps sensing that he needed to raise the tempo if Sri Lanka were to near the 300 mark, Kusal Mendis was the first to depart, lofting the left-arm spin of Masakadza to long off. He was out for 36 off 51 balls. Nissanka brought up his second successive half-century of the series with a four through backward point, but was run out not long after that, thanks to an excellent direct hit from Zimbabwe’s substitute fielder.Asalanka struck a four through third man first ball, and provided Sri Lanka’s main thrust of the middle overs even as wickets fell around him. He was strong square of the wicket as usual, and hit five fours in his 56-ball 52. It was his second fifty of the series.Sri Lanka’s 2-1 victory pushes them up to fourth in the ODI Super League table, though they have played 18 out of their 24 games, and all other sides aside from Ireland (also 18) have played fewer. Zimbabwe are down at No. 11, on 35 points after 12 games. Only teams finishing in the top eight, effectively, gain direct qualification to next year’s ODI World Cup.

What started as a promising season, with wins away to Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, has quickly turned sour for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta’s side are winless in their previous four Premier League games and, as things stand, sit nine points behind leaders Liverpool.

There are several reasons for this worrying collapse, including suspensions, injuries and disappointing performances.

Chelsea

1-1 (D)

Newcastle (A)

1-0 (L)

Liverpool (H)

2-2 (D)

Bournemouth (A)

2-0 (L)

Southampton (H)

3-1 (W)

However, there is at least some good news, as recent reports have linked the club to a tremendously exciting attacker ahead of the January transfer window, a player who could give them a shot in the arm and even solve their Bukayo Saka problem.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, Arsenal are one of several sides interested in Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz.

Alongside the Gunners, Bailey has revealed that Premier League sides Spurs and Newcastle United are also keeping tabs on the 25-year-old, who is said to be unhappy over his lack of game time.

At the same time, AC Milan are supposedly open to welcoming him back as well, after he spent two successful seasons on loan at the club.

No price is mentioned in the story, but reports from earlier this year claimed that Real had placed a €60m price tag on the Moroccan’s head, which works out to about £50m.

Signing Diaz would represent a hefty investment from Arsenal, but given his ability and versatility, it would be worth making, especially as he may well be able to solve the club’s Saka problem.

Why Diaz would be a good signing and solve Arsenal's Saka problem

Okay, so the first thing to establish is exactly what Arsenal’s ‘Saka problem’ is, as it’s certainly not about his ability.

Instead, it’s the fact that the club still don’t have a player who can adequately fill in for him when he needs to rest or challenge him for his place on the odd occasion he’s out of form.

We saw this lack of alternatives cause issues last month, as a minor injury caused the Hale Ender to miss the games against Shakhtar Donetsk and Bournemouth, which led to the team to a laboured win in the former and an embarrassing loss in the latter.

So, why would Diaz be able to help with this problem?

Well, while he’s made more appearances in attacking midfield than anywhere else in his career, his second-most-played position is off the right, and with 59 appearances there, it’s not a position he just plays on the odd occasion; it’s one he’s very familiar with.

Moreover, while the Málaga-born gem has endured a lacklustre campaign this year, he has undeniable quality and was immense for Los Blancos last season.

For example, in his 44 appearances for the Spanish behemoths, the 5 foot 7 “Messi-esque” dynamo, as former professional Owen Hargreaves described him, scored 12 goals and provided nine assists.

Appearances

44

Minutes

2066′

Goals

12

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.47

Minutes per Goal Involvement

98.38′

That means he maintained an average of a goal involvement every 2.09 games at the very highest level, which is supremely impressive.

Ultimately, while Diaz is not going to come in and replace Saka, nor should fans expect him to, he would be an ideal candidate to rival him for game time here and there, as well as filling in for him when it’s clear he needs a rest.

In addition to that, he’s a more than accomplished midfielder, meaning Arsenal could have the perfect addition to their already talented squad.

Therefore, even though he might be quite expensive, Arteta and Co should do what they can to bring the Real ace to N5 in 2025, be that in January or the summer.

Arsenal must finally sell £32m dud who Odegaard thinks is a "great player"

The talented international is no longer needed at Arsenal.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 22, 2024

Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have created a formidable squad that has plundered illustrious success for several years now, with the astute work plied in the transfer market providing the German manager with apt tools to craft a dynasty.

The fruits of his labour have eclipsed anything the Reds could have dreamed of, with the whole gamut of silverware secured since his appointment in 2015 – barring the Europa League, which Liverpool will certainly be eyeing up this term.

While the likes of Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson, Gini Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane are just a few of the astute dealings to have turbo-charged an ascent to the forefront of the European game, the club's academy – which is by no means the most prolific in England – has also played its part.

Indeed, Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of the most devastating creative gems in the game and has been instrumental in the illustrious feats, having risen through the academy and now admirably standing as the club's vice-captain.

Curtis Jones has also been a burgeoning figure of late and just recently completed his 100th appearance for the club, having posted 11 goals and assists apiece.

The Anfield side have not really seen too many starring talents slip away, but, unknown to most, a certain Premier League star named Anthony Gordon once plied his formative years on the red half of Merseyside.

Did Anthony Gordon play for Liverpool?

Former Liverpool academy player Gordon has risen to prominence on the Premier League scene over the past several years, impressing for a struggling Everton side and forging 78 displays – scoring seven goals and supplying eight assists – before moving away earlier this year.

It all could have been so different; having been released from the Reds' youth ranks when he was only 11-years-old, Gordon was offered a place at Everton's Finch Farm academy and nurtured his precocious talents as a newfound blue.

Speaking to Everton's club website, Gordon revealed his thoughts on the heartbreak of receiving the chop at Liverpool, saying: "It was another chance for me to grow. But that was hard. It affected me mentally and dented my confidence. I had to pick myself up and go again.

“When I got to Everton, I never looked back.”

The 22-year-old is an electric player with scorching pace, and while his cutting edge still needs refining, he definitely boasts the attributes requisite for success at an ambitious outfit such as Liverpool, which is probably why high-flying Newcastle United decided to swoop for his signature.

How much is Anthony Gordon worth now?

With Everton toiling, Gordon decided that the allure of joining a fast-rising team such as Newcastle was an opportunity too enticing to turn down, and he forced his way out of his long-time club in January 2023, completing a £45m transfer to Tyneside.

The England U21 international – who has scored six goals from 16 appearances and won the Player of the Tournament at the 2023 U21 Euros this summer as England gleaned gold – has been praised for his "fearless attitude" by Premier League icon Alan Shearer.

And given that he now boasts a delightful blend of energy and athleticism, he's found a regular spot in the Magpies' starting XI this season, beginning all five fixtures in the English top-flight and scoring against, of course, Liverpool.

Why is Anthony Gordon worth that much?

While Gordon flattered to deceive for much of the 2022/23 campaign after making the move to Tyneside, taking until the final game of the season against Chelsea to break his duck, the wily winger's talents were evident, even if the confidence wasn't quite there at first.

The fleet-footed phenom was even branded "shambolic" by reporter Ryan Taylor for his substandard impact in the early days of his career with Newcastle, but his qualities were always there and now finding his feet, Gordon looks set to nurture his skills and continue to play an important role for Howe's side.

Now with a pre-season and starring role for the Young Lions behind him, the £60k-per-week star looks set for a role of significance for a Newcastle side that will play Champions League football this season, something that Klopp's Liverpool will have to do without after falling by the wayside last year.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for tackles and the top 11% for blocks per 90 – illustrating his tenacity and application across the pitch, evident after dispossessing a languid Alexander-Arnold and dribbling into the box to score at St. James' Park earlier this season. Indeed, during that game, he rather had "Trent on toast", as per Statman Dave.

Having also demonstrated his creativity with a "brilliant ball in" – as was said by CBS Sports' Ben Jacobs, who was remarking over his assist for debutant Sandro Tonali as Newcastle wreaked havoc against Aston Villa in August, there is an all-encompassing skill set still yet to reach its peak.

Liverpool do boast the likes of Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez as forwards capable of playing in Gordon's preferred left channel, but surrounded by a vibrant crop of talent at Anfield, there is no reason why the Liverpudlian's development might not have blossomed under Klopp's wing, amid so much world-class talent.

While Liverpool's attack is indeed burgeoning rapidly and looks as formidable as any across European football, Gordon's pace and directness would have been perfect as a youngster rising to the fore at Anfield.

While most of a Reds affiliation despise the former Everton star, it all could have been so different, and even if Klopp and co decided his future would have been best served away from Merseyside, to think they could have cashed in lucratively is a blow for a club that has done its transfer work so diligently over modern years.

Roy Keane is widely considered as one of the best Premier League players of all time. The 67-cap Republic of Ireland international won seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and one Champions League with Manchester United.

His stern, no-nonsense attitude is often trivialised within the media nowadays, as he commonly works as a pundit for Sky Sports and ITV, but back in his playing career, it brought him a lot of controversial moments, including a high-profile bust-up with Sir Alex Ferguson.

Notwithstanding that, there is also little doubt it contributed to many of his achievements and successes.

Today at Football FanCast we delve into Roy Keane’s career and most talked-about moments.

How old is Roy Keane?

Roy Keane was born on the 10th of August 1971, in Cork, Ireland.

He is 52-years-old.

Who is Roy Keane's wife?

Roy met Theresa Doyle in 1992, when the midfielder was playing for Nottingham Forest.

Keane’s family consists of five children, Shannon, Caragh, Aidan, Leah and Alanna. Roy also has two grandkids, a granddaughter and a grandson, which he revealed during his experiment on Instagram.

What is Roy Keane's height?

Roy Keane stands at a whopping 5ft 10 (177.8cm).

How much did Man Utd pay for Roy Keane?

Manchester United paid Nottingham Forest a British transfer record fee of £3.75m to sign 21-year-old midfielder Roy Keane in the summer of 1993.

Remarkably, Keane had agreed a deal with Blackburn Rovers prior to the switch but Sir Alex Ferguson’s 11th-hour attempt to hijack the move was successful, to the anger of Rovers boss Kenny Daglish.

Keane later recalled how the transfer saga unfolded: “I agreed a deal and shook hands with him. I went back to Cork and, on the Sunday morning, woke up and I got a phone-call from Sir Alex to my house back in Cork and he said will you come and meet with me for talks tomorrow. I said look, I shook hands with Blackburn and he said don’t worry about that! Kenny was fuming!”

“We had to sign Roy Keane,” said Sir Alex.“It was absolutely vital for the club’s future.”

And, as they say, the rest is history…

Why did Roy Keane leave Man Utd?

Roy Keane left Manchester United in November 2005, ending a 12-and-a-half-year spell, to the shock of football fans across the globe. A bust-up with Sir Alex three weeks prior was the catalyst for his departure.

Keane angered the United boss when he launched an attack on his teammates following a 4-1 defeat to Middlesborough at the Riverside Stadium.

MUTV interviewed the injured midfielder to get his thoughts on the game but he certainly didn’t hold back. In fact, the footage wasn’t allowed to be aired and the club attempted to delete the tape, as reported by The Mirror.

Sir Alex, whilst not naming Keane, appeared to provide his thoughts on his captain’s rant after United’s victory over Chelsea on November 6, 2005.

“You don’t criticise any Manchester United player outside the doors. I have never done and I won’t. I am unremitting in that respect. Totally unequivocal. My stance is there and it doesn’t change,” said Ferguson.

After a rocky few months thereafter, Keane left by mutual consent following a live MUTV phone-in, in which the Irishman announced it’d be his last season at the club.

And that was the final straw for Sir Alex and the hierarchy.

Was Roy Keane an aggressive player?

Roy Keane has certainly had his fair share of heated moments on the pitch, but perhaps ‘no-nonsense’ would be a better term to use.

The classic encounter between Keane and Patrick Vieira in the Highbury tunnel is an iconic moment that demonstrates his passion for defending teammates (maybe not in an MUTV interview).

The video below shows the midfielder confronting Vieira for ‘picking’ on his teammate Gary Neville prior to a fixture between Manchester United and Arsenal on February 1st, 2005.

In an interview after the match, the Red Devils skipper said: “I don’t want to go into too much detail but Patrick is six-foot-four… he says something about Gary Neville. I said ‘come and have a go at me’ – simple as that.

“If players want to intimidate some of my teammates, then let’s have a go at some of the other players. They think Gary Neville’s an easy target. I weren’t having it.”

Keane had the last laugh, though, as his side defeated the Gunners 4-2 on away soil.

How many red cards did Roy Keane get?

Roy Keane received seven red cards throughout his career but his dismissal for a challenge on Manchester City’s Alfie Haaland was by far the worst.

Journalist Paul Brown has shared some detail behind a "serious" last-gasp deadline day Fulham bid to sign Tottenham star Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Fulham deadline day signings

Despite the links to a plethora of stars very late in the window, Fulham did little business yesterday but did manage to seal a dramatic late loan move for AC Milan defender Fode Ballo-Toure.

The Senegal international, who plays as a left-back, joins Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez, Calvin Bassey, Steven Benda, Alex Iwobi and former Leicester City defender Timothy Castagne as Marco Silva's main summer signings.

Fulham were also boosted by star midfielder Joao Palhinha remaining at the club, as his proposed move to Bayern Munich collapsed in the eleventh hour.

The Portugal international had even travelled for a medical with Bayern, but the Whites ultimately didn't give the green light to the move, possibly because they couldn't source a late replacement.

Hojbjerg, who was a mainstay for Spurs under Antonio Conte last season, has found game time difficult to come by in Ange Postecoglou's new-look Tottenham system.

The Dane, as a result, was being chased by Fulham during the latter stages of the summer window – with journalist Brown sharing what he's heard on the matter to GiveMeSport.

Indeed, it is believed Fulham were the "last club" to make a "serious" last-ditch offer to sign Hojbjerg, but the move didn't come to fruition.

The former Southampton star is now left in "limbo" as a result of this, as explained by Brown to GMS:

“Hojbjerg is also one who isn't going to be allowed to leave. I think Fulham were the last club to make a serious offer, but they no longer need to decide what to do about how they replace Joao Palhinha, and I'm not sure he was their first choice there.

“So, he's currently in limbo. It is interesting that Ange Postecoglou also said today that he's not going to be freezing anyone out. If any of the fringe players they're trying to sell end up staying beyond the deadline, they will be reintegrated.

“He's not quite as strict on squad numbers as other managers and he is willing to work with a slightly bigger squad, while he says that right now it's not a problem in terms of numbers in training or anything like that.

How good is Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg?

While Palhinha staying reduces the need for Hojbjerg, in a hypothetical universe, he may well have been a capable deputy for the ex-Sporting CP ace.

The Denmark international ranked as one of Spurs' best-performing players per 90 last term, according to WhoScored, with Hojbjerg also registering the highest pass accuracy (88.6%) of any Tottenham player with over 10 starts.

He chipped in with nine goal contributions in the league, four goals and five assists specifically, and former Spurs keeper Paul Robinson praised Hojbjerg for his performances at the back end of last year.

"I’ve been surprised by how much he has stepped up this year," said Robinson to Football Insider.

“I thought he was the one who would make way for Yves Bissouma. The club spent a lot of money on Bissouma. I think Hojbjerg recognised that and stepped up.

“He is playing to a level that we have never seen before. He is playing his best football in a Spurs shirt."

Having played 12 Tests and 39 ODIs for Australia, the 36-year old fast bowler decided to quit a few days before the resumption of Sheffield Shield, as New South Wales look to younger quicks

Daniel Brettig05-Feb-2018Doug Bollinger, the rumbustious New South Wales fast bowler, has chosen to retire at the age of 36 as the Blues look towards more youthful pace options for the resumption of the Sheffield Shield later this week.Having first turned out for his state as far back as 2002-03, Bollinger played 12 Tests and 39 ODIs for Australia, with handsome records in each format. With 290 wickets for NSW, he is the one of the state’s most prolific fast bowling wicket-takers. Tall, fast and capable of swinging the ball both ways, Bollinger was also a popular cult figure, remembered for antics such as mistakenly kissing the sponsor’s badge on his shirt rather than the Australian coat of arms after taking a Test wicket in New Zealand in early 2010.That tour was part of a summer in which he took 37 wickets in seven Tests against West Indies, Pakistan and New Zealand, and formed a vital part of the Australian attack, notably enjoying repeated success against Chris Gayle. However, his time in the team ended abruptly: he injured his side while performing well in the Chandigarh Test against India later that year, and then bowled poorly in the Adelaide Ashes Test of the 2010-11 summer after entering the match short of full fitness.Bollinger did return to the fold as a back-up for Mitchell Johnson during the 2013-14 summer, and made his last Australian appearance in a Twenty20 against South Africa in November 2014. He has since been a consistent part of the NSW and Sydney Sixers sides, but has now decided to finish up at the same time the state looks to a younger generation.”I was pretty raw and they gave me a really good chance at cricket,” Bollinger said of his first state coaches Steve Rixon and Trevor Bayliss. “My first captain for NSW was Steve Waugh, which was unbelievable. I played under some great captains and players for NSW and Australia including Steve, Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting.”To play for 15 or 16 seasons with the SCG as my home ground has been amazing. It’s been a great ride. I met so many wonderful people and achieved the ultimate ambition of playing Test cricket for Australia. Now it’s time for the next stage of my life with my wife Tegan and my children Skye and Liam. I couldn’t have achieved everything I have without them.”Andrew Jones, the NSW chief executive, said Bollinger had enjoyed a remarkable career considering his late entry into the game as a teenager. “Doug was a larger than life presence on and off the field,” Jones said. “Whether it was charging in full throttle for another delivery, celebrating a wicket with unrestrained joy or being the personality of the dressing rooms, he was always imposing himself on the game.”Finishing his career as ninth on the list of NSW first-class wicket takers and playing all three forms of the game for Australia is a remarkable achievement given he did not play cricket until he was 15, joining local club Seven Hills-Toongabbie RSL in Sydney’s west. For someone who simply wanted to play with his mates in the park, Doug’s 290 wickets for NSW make him the state’s third most successful fast bowler of all time behind Geoff Lawson and fellow left armer Mike Whitney. Doug will always be an important part of the NSW Cricket family.”James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, said he hoped that Bollinger would stay involved in the game following his retirement as a player. “Doug has had a fantastic career, and we congratulate him on his achievements at international and domestic level,” Sutherland said. “He was a fierce competitor on the field who gave his all every time he represented his country.”He was a skilful bowler who claimed more than 100 international wickets and enjoyed success against the best in the world. Doug has made a tremendous contribution to cricket in Australia across more than 15 years – we thank him for his service, and hope he remains involved in the game following his playing career.”Mickey Edwards, 23, Charlie Stobo, 22, Harry Conway, 25, and Gurinder Sandhu, 24, are the young pacemen in the NSW Shield squad to face Western Australia from Thursday, alongside the experienced Trent Copeland.

Footage has emerged of Lucas Paqueta picking up a yellow card amid the West Ham United player now being under investigation for allegedly betting, leaving his rumoured summer transfer in jeopardy.

What's the latest Lucas Paqueta news?

It's no secret that gambling is an issue within the world of football and that appears to include Premier League footballers, too.

Most notably, Brentford striker Ivan Toney is currently serving an eight-month ban for breaching FA betting rules – admitting to and being found guilty of 232 charges.

Nottingham Forest defender Harry Toffolo was also charged by FA over 375 alleged betting breaches during the summer.

Paqueta of West Ham is the latest player currently being investigated by the FA for allegedly breaching betting rules – although the Brazilian denies placing any bets himself (via Sky Sports News).

Of course, this comes at just about the worst time possible, as the player was thought to be closing in on an £80m deal to join Manchester City, but that move is now in danger of breaking down.

Is Paquets joining Man City?

The midfielder is 25 years old and has spent one season in England after joining West Ham from Lyon last season in a club-record £51m deal.

And while it looked like his career was about to go to the next step, it could now be in danger – although a move to City could still happen.

Indeed, speaking on the Sky Sports News Transfer Show, journalist Dharmesh Sheth explained: "The deal is on hold, but it's not off – and it could be resurrected if this issue is cleared up and cleared up quickly.

"We heard from David Moyes, who said they have rejected a bid from Manchester City. West Ham value him at £85m or possibly even more.

"There is a release clause in his contract which kicks off next summer, which means West Ham can charge whatever they want. He has four years left on his contract with the option of an extra year.

He added: "We are told that Paqueta is focused completely on playing for West Ham and he's been training as normal today ahead of playing Chelsea on Sunday."

This latest development has certainly thrown a spanner in the works for Man City's transfer plans, and it will be interesting to see how they proceed in the coming days and weeks.

On the betting charges, footage has now emerged from his display last for the Hammers against Bournemouth last weekend as he picked up a needless yellow card in the dying embers of the game.

According to Globo (via Daily Mail), back in March, betting accounts linked to those close to the Brazilian were opened with Betway (West Ham's front-of-shirt sponsor) – with the 'maximum' amount allowed then deposited into those accounts.

Bets were then placed on Paqueta to be booked in West Ham's 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa in the Premier League that month. The player was indeed booked, as you can see in the footage below.

For the time being, Paqueta has denied placing bets himself and will now seek advice from his legal team as the FA's investigation gets underway. In fact, according to the Daily Mail, those discussions are likely to have already started.

In the dying moments of the fourth day, Sri Lanka lost a wicket to a fast bowler minutes before it was deemed too dark for the quicks to operate and two in an over to a spinner before it became the last over of the day

Sidharth Monga in Delhi05-Dec-2017As Sri Lanka faced the uphill task of batting out close to four sessions for a draw against India, they also became victims of a practice in Test cricket that has drawn the ire of many an observer. The natural light at Feroz Shah Kotla had been dodgy all day, with floodlights coming on even before the start of play. But in the dying minutes of the day, they lost a wicket to a fast bowler minutes before it was deemed too dark for the quicks to operate and two in an over to a spinner before it became the last over of the day.The umpires go by their light metres, and take the players off once the reading drops to a level that had become the precedent earlier in the match. However, it has often been observed – and not limited to this Test – that a wicket often brings action from the umpires.”At the moment I am just wondering if it is a coincidence that we lose a wicket to seam bowler and then all of a sudden the light is too bad for seam bowling, and then we lose two wickets to a spinner and then all of a sudden we come off,” Sri Lanka coach Nic Pothas said. “It is a bit of a coincidence, I would have thought.”Asked to elaborate on that comment, Pothas said: “It can be pretty frustrating. We are in India, playing against a very very good cricket team. Momentum is a big thing in sport. Luck plays a big part in sport. Sometimes you just want a little bit of a rub of the green.”As I said I am sure the light metre is absolutely spot on. I have no doubt about it. For me it is too much of a coincidence that we lose a wicket to seam and suddenly it is too dark for seamers, and then we lose two wickets to spinners and suddenly it is too dark and we are off? Can it deteriorate so quick? I am not an expert. I don’t know.”Then, after a pause, he said: “It obviously can.”Pothas, though, said he was happy to leave the decision making to the umpires. Asked if he had discussed this matter with the officials, he said: “No there is nothing to discuss. The officials make a decision. There is a light metre there, they have a number. There is nothing to discuss. I back their decision.”