Newcastle travel to the south coast tomorrow knowing that they are only two points off the relegation zone, and facing a Bournemouth side who are on something of a hot streak at the moment – having gone seven games unbeaten prior to losing to Huddersfield 12 days ago.
The Magpies will be looking to build on their heroic 1-0 victory over Manchester United before the FA Cup break, but will be daunted by the fact that they haven’t won back-to-back games since September.
Newcastle will be hoping that Ciaran Clark’s knee will be ready to take to the pitch tomorrow, while Bournemouth will be waiting to find out whether Jermaine Defoe will return from a foot injury.
Here is what our writers think will happen at the Vitality Stadium tomorrow…
Christy Malyan
A score draw. Bournemouth always seem to do well against the sides near or below them in the table lack the defensive quality to resist their flowing football and I think Newcastle will struggle at the Vitality Stadium this weekend.
That being said, Rafa Benitez’s side need to pick up points more than the Cherries and there’s a new sense of optimism surrounding Newcastle following their late January business. Bournemouth will control the game but Newcastle will get a goal and hold tight. 1-1.
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Chris McMullan
Draw. Bournemouth will probably be safe, but they still need to keep their points tally ticking over. Newcastle, however are only two points above the relegation places and are in need of points. Given anyone can beat anyone else outside of the top six, this could go either way, but on the basis that both teams would take a point, shared spoils is my prediction.
Charlie Coe
Newcastle win. The Magpies need this win badly given the narrow gap between them and the drop, and with Ciaran Clark looking like he may make it into the starting XI in his return from injury, it looks like the Tyneside club will be as defensively rigid as they were in their victory over Manchester United two weeks ago.
We’re now midway through the summer and the World Cup is over, so attention can officially switch to the new Premier League season! The transfer window, like or loathe it, brings excitement and opportunity, which teams across the division are sure to exploit in search of all important upgrades.
From big money signings, to clever under the radar arrivals, there are many ways to take advantage of the situation, and there are some clubs that will need to make more use of it than others.
Here are five outfits we at FFC believe will be looking for much-needed upgrades in the coming weeks.
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Tottenham
Although they ended the season in sixth, hopes were much higher at White Hart Lane heading into last season. Okay Gareth Bale had been sold, but with £110m having been spent on talent from across Europe, there was a genuine belief in the white half of north London that the top four and maybe even a trophy was possible.
However, managerial disruption and arrivals failing to settle saw the Lilywhites’ campaign end in disappointment, which was amplified by massive defeats at the hands of top four clubs and Liverpool – dubbed as direct rivals for a Champions League spot – taking the title battle to the final day.
Pochettino has been brought in as an upgrade to the much-maligned Sherwood, and there is a lot of talk of new signings heading to ‘The Lane’. Bony or Lukaku would be a cut above Soldado up top, while Davies of Swansea is seen as an upgrade on Rose at left-back.
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Manchester United
The Moyes reign ended in an absolute farce, with the Scot seemingly dismissed via Internet rumours as he barely touched the sides of Sir Alex Ferguson’s large boots at Manchester United.
Signings are already through the door at Old Trafford in the shape of Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw, who should be able to provide the upgrades needed in their respective roles.
Vidal, Hummels and di Maria are said to be the next targets, which would certainly hint at a better season at the Theatre of Dreams for 2014/15 and maybe even a title push.
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Arsenal
Arsenal did what Arsenal do last season, started well with a title push before slipping away to a fourth place battle… which they won. As well as this they ended a nine-year trophy drought with the FA Cup, but there is still a feeling that a few upgrades could be the key to better times.
Sanchez is through the door and looks to be the real deal, while Debuchy will fill the Sagna-shaped hole at right-back, however there are more upgrades needed, chiefly in central midfield, where Arteta’s best days are behind him. Bender of Leverkusen is being talked about, but the ultimate upgrade would be Vidal, who could be the man Arsenal have missed since Vieira’s exit.
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West Ham
West Ham were pretty difficult to watch last season. Allardyce’s brand of direct football may always be enough to ensure safety, but the Irons’ fans are beginning to dream of more after watching the likes of Swansea make inroads at the upper end of the Premier League in recent years.
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Zarate should add more flair but to play better football, many new players will be needed across the pitch. Upgrades on the likes of Nolan, Jarvis and Downing would almost guarantee that Carroll gets the service he needs, with the big man boasting a proven record of scoring goals with both his head and his feet.
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Swansea City
The burden of Europa League football was a big one for Swansea last season, as they slipped from upper mid-table to relegation fodder. The Swans play attractive football, but sometimes a soft underbelly can be exploited by more savvy sides, which could be addressed with a few upgrades.
A new midfielder and a top class partner for Williams at the back – Chico can be a liability – would bulk out the core, while a fresh winger with a little more end product could help to maximise Bony’s output.
have suffered an injury blow with the news that Lukasz Fabianski could face another three months on the sidelines, according to The Daily Mail.
The Polish stopper has been unavailable for the north London club since February due to a shoulder injury, but it is thought that the stopper went over on an ankle in training on Tuesday.
This could well keep the stopper out of action until the new year, with initial reports stating that Fabianski could be unavailable for as long as three weeks.
First-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is still on the sidelines also with injury, as an ankle knock has kept him out of consideration for the Gunners over recent weeks.
It is believed that Szczesny is still at least three weeks off making a return, with rehabilitation ongoing on his injured ankle.
In the meantime young Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone has been deputising between the sticks for Arsene Wenger’s men, but the inexperienced stopper has shown some nerves whilst playing in big games in the Premier League and Champions League.
Arsenal have a frantic fixture list upcoming over the next month, with Norwich, Schalke, Tottenham and Fulham are ready to take advantage of any weakness in the north London club’s backline.
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At the moment the only other options for Arsenal in goal are Damian Martinez and James Shea, who have yet to make a first-team appearance for the Emirates Stadium side, and Wenger would prefer to continue to assess the pair rather than throw one of them into the dead end.
In terms of strengthening, Liverpool’s attack is not an area that is in desperate need of attention.
Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane set the Premier League alight last season by terrorising defences with their pace and clinical touch.
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However, if the Reds want to take that next step and become consistent title and trophy challengers, then they need strength in depth in all sections of the pitch.
Fatigue and injuries are a major reason why a squad needs bodies to bring in if needed.
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RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner had an impressive season in the 2017-18 campaign, scoring 21 goals and creating nine assists in all competitions.
Despite being just 22 years of age, the forward has been selected to lead the line for Germany at the World Cup in Russia.
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His first outing was on Sunday in the reigning world champions’ Group F opener against Mexico, but it was a disappointing afternoon as Joachim Low’s team were beaten 1-0.
If Werner thrives during the tournament, plenty of suitors will probably have their eye on the forward, so we asked you if Liverpool should make a move, and the overwhelming majority are keen on the idea.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United are looking to sign Bayern Munich’s star midfielder Arturo Vidal this summer.
What’s the story?
There have again been question marks about United’s midfield in games against elite teams this season with a lack of defensive discipline in the middle of the park proving to be a real issue for Jose Mourinho’s side, notably seen recently in their defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
In order to help solve that problem, Jose Mourinho is looking to one of European football’s best midfielders – Bayern Munich stalwart Arturo Vidal.
That’s according to the Manchester Evening News, who say that United are ready to test Bayern’s desire to keep hold of the Chilean international, with his contract due to expire in 2019.
Can the club reunite him with Paul Pogba after their successful partnership at Juventus?
What can he offer Mourinho’s midfield?
With Paul Pogba seemingly desperate to have an impact on the game in the final third, it has left United’s midfield exposed and overrun up against more organised outfits this season.
Rated at £31.5m by Transfermarkt, Vidal can help solve that by bringing his tenacious all-round game to the middle of the park and at 30 years of age, with over ten seasons worth of experience at the top level, has the experience to bring more composure in that area too.
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With Pogba, he was part of one of the most respected midfields in the world at Juventus and reuniting the pair this summer could be a masterstroke on Mourinho’s part.
As much as Manchester United needed to sack David Moyes after the disaster of this season, it couldn’t have happened in a worse year.
There’s no getting around the idea that last summer was the time to appoint a top manager. Carlo Ancelotti, who may yet be moved on from Real Madrid, though increasingly unlikely after his side’s performance over two legs against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, was there for the taking. Similarly, Jose Mourinho, bringer of ‘anti-football’ though successful nevertheless, couldn’t hide his interest in Alex Ferguson’s job. Laurent Blanc was up for grabs, too, if United were after a manager who knew the club. Importantly, United weren’t burdened with the feeling of trepidation at having made a recent mistake on the managerial front.
This time, they must get it right. They must restore order and a winning mentality. The charitable nature of United at Old Trafford this season needs to be done away with and teams need to genuinely fear the current reigning champions. Crucially, the players need to fear and respect the man chosen to replace David Moyes.
Ryan Giggs is the sentimental choice, but the wrong one. There’s an ease and familiarity about what may come with the Welshman in the dugout, but this isn’t a time for gambles of that nature.
Instead, Louis van Gaal looks the most likely candidate. United were ambiguous in their statement on the weekend that nothing was signed between the club and the Dutchman. Nothing has been signed, OK, but there may be an agreement? Talk of Patrick Kluivert assisting the current Netherlands coach allows us to assume so.
But van Gaal will be caught up in the World Cup, unavailable until sometime in July and seemingly a world away in Brazil. The mistakes of the short-lived Moyes Era was that the club dithered, looked lost, missed out on excellent players in the market, particularly in midfield, and ended up with something they certainly didn’t need and likely didn’t want.
This summer, the overhaul is set to be huge. At the very least, United need three defenders. The fact that they’ve only scored 60 goals in the league at this stage (Liverpool have 96, Manchester City have 93) more than suggests added firepower is needed. But where is the figure to lead that campaign in the market?
Van Gaal knows the market, he knows what he likes and where to find them. If he is set to become United manager, he’ll more than likely lean on the rich-in-talent German market. But if left to him, United may only get their first major piece of business done by August. Clubs know this is a team who are desperate and willing to spend. There’ll be no easy ride.
The positive, though a small one, is the expertise at securing Juan Mata from Chelsea in January. Reportedly, United’s communications with Chelsea was kept at a distance and indirect, thus avoiding a discussion on Wayne Rooney. Ed Woodward, equally culpable for the tone-setting summer last year, may be learning the ropes quickly if we look to the signing of Mata, but the difficulty of this summer’s operation will dwarf that of landing the Spanish midfielder.
Do United need a director of football? It wouldn’t go amiss. This may be a club who end up appointing a small handful of managers over the next few years before they land on one who is set to be a mainstay in the United dugout for a prolonged spell – and that’s only if we accept United’s ideal of wanting consistency and stability; modern football may not allow for it.
A director of football – maybe Woodward, the title isn’t as important as effectiveness in the role – will allow the club to buy and sell without having to rely on a manager. This summer, it would be extremely useful. Develop a dialogue with van Gaal while he’s in Brazil; you’d assume the club wouldn’t be so naïve as to hold off on first contact until after the tournament. So gather an understanding of what the manager wants and needs.
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In all of this, you really struggle to ignore the negligence of allowing both Ferguson and David Gill to move on without one bedding in the other’s successor.
But for now the worry is that United still look leaderless on that front. It’s not just in finding an individual to take on the job, it’s in finding an individual who is capable of getting the job done and avoiding humiliations that led to no-goes with both Cesc Fabregas and Ander Herrera.
With the sight of Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini generously handing out fruit pastels just after half time during the City game, it made me wonder not just about why Mancini has a fondness for the sweets, but about the other traits managers have become famous for over the years.
Of course we are all used to seeing managers of just about every level getting irate and swearing on the touchline – even getting sent to the stands on occasion, with their job just about the most pressurised one in football. Every substitution is analysed and focused on, every word spoken in a press conference, so is it really any wonder that from time to time a manger loses it or does something slightly out of the ordinary on the side-lines?
Here is a look at the top ten traits of a manager – from ones so recognised they should be copyrighted by the manager who originated them to ones that all manager have been guilty of from time to time.
Click on Rafa Benitez below to unveil the 10
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Ireland were bowled out for just 132 inside 32 overs
Abhimanyu Bose02-Oct-2024South Africa 271 for 9 (Rickelton 91, Stubbs 79, Adair 4-50, Young 3-45) beat Ireland 132 (Dockrell 21, Williams 4-32, Fortuin 2-28, Ngidi 2-35) by 139 runs Career-best ODI scores from Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs respectively and career-best List A figures of 4-32 from Lizaad Williams helped South Africa crush Ireland by 139 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Rickelton and Stubbs put on a 152-run partnership in the middle of two mini-collapses to help South Africa get to 271 before Williams’ three-for in an eight-over opening spell left Ireland five down inside 14 overs. Ireland eventually only got to 132.South Africa got off to a watchful start, with Rickelton doing a majority of the scoring early on. He cut Mark Adair through point for a boundary off the first ball of the match before hitting a couple of cover drives off Graham Hume and Adair.In between, Hume induced the outside edge from him but was dropped by wicketkeeper Stephen Doheny.But Adair got the breakthrough in the seventh over, when he changed tactics and banged one in short. Tony de Zorzi got a top edge as he looked to pull and was taken at deep backward square.Temba Bavuma was then given out lbw first ball as a length ball jagged in from outside off, but was reprieved as he reviewed and ball-tracking showed the ball going over middle stump.But it was short-lived relief for the South African captain, as Craig Young got another inducker to beat his defence and crash into the stumps.Two wickets in two overs became three in three as Adair ended his first spell by getting Rassie van der Dussen to edge to second slip.Once the first powerplay ended, spin came in and that led to more chances. Stubbs tried to reverse-sweep Andy Mcbrine but hit it straight to short third where Craig Young shelled a catch in the seventeenth over. One ball later, Rickelton lofted debutant legspinner Gavin Hoey down the ground and just cleared long-on, who was standing a few yards inside the ropes and had to track back.Hume came back into the attack in the 22nd over, and was launched over long-on by Stubbs as he brought up a half-century stand with Rickelton.Rickelton brought up his maiden ODI half-century off 74 balls in the 26th over and immediately put his foot down on the accelerator.Hoey bowled a couple of half-volleys and Rickelton first lofted him down the ground before slog-sweeping him over midwicket. When Hoey shortened his length, Rickelton adjusted to steer it past the wicketkeeper for a boundary in what was an 18-run over.Stubbs brought up a 62-run fifty in the next over, before Rickelton slapped Campher through backward point for another boundary to bring up the century stand. While the first fifty runs of their partnership took 73 balls, they took just 39 balls to get the next fifty.Stubbs then came down the ground to Craig Young for a six over long-on that brought up 150 for South Africa in the 30th over, before Hoey was swept behind square by Rickelton next over.Even as Stubbs hit McBrine and Adair for boundaries, that was the last one Rickelton hit. After facing ten balls without a boundary, Rickelton tried to go after a full and wide delivery from McBrine but ended up dragging the ball on, falling nine runs short of a maiden ODI century.File photo: Lizaad Williams ended with 4 for 32•ICC via Getty Images
That dismissal sparked another mini-collapse as Adair combined with Balbirnie for two wickets in his next two overs. Stubbs pulled the fast bowler to Balbirnie at short midwicket before Phehlukwayo was done in by a slower ball and ended up spooning it short cover.A slower ball brought about another wicket as Wiaan Mulder was early in his attempt to pull Young and holed out at deep midwicket.Young then had his third when Williams skied his pull to deep midwicket, as South Africa lost five wickets for 38 runs.Bjorn Fortuin took South Africa past 250 as he hit Young for two boundaries before pulling Hume to midwicket for a 34-ball 28. Ngidi then hit a four and a six to take South Africa to 271.Ngidi continued giving South Africa momentum when the chase began, as he got Paul Stirling to chop on.Balbirnie and Curtis Campher then rebuilt for Ireland, adding 35 runs including top-edged sixes from both batters, before Williams drew an inside edge from Balbirnie that hit the stumps.Harry Tector brought out two gorgeous drives, one through point and one down the ground, off consecutive balls from Williams before he was trapped in front next ball.Williams then got one to stop on Campher, who was early into a shot and ended up offering a simple catch to cover.Debutant Ottneil Baartman then had his maiden ODI wicket when he got one to jag in and go through Doheny’s defence. George Dockrell and Adair hung around before the latter got a feather edge off Ngidi in the 21st over.Four overs later, Dockrell chopped on off Mulder before Fortuin trapped Hoey in front next over to ensure all of South Africa’s bowlers got on the wickets column.Williams returned to complete his quota and bounced McBrine out in his final over before Fortuin had Hume caught at mid-off to wrap up the win.
Short-ball plans trigger Australia collapse but visitors closing in on 2-0
Andrew McGlashan01-Jul-2023Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins put Australia within touching distance of a 2-0 Ashes lead as they cut through England’s top order during the final session of a day that had earlier been marked by the home side’s unprecedented short-ball plan, which reached reaped rewards but ultimately looked to have no bearing on the outcome.For periods of the fourth day the game almost game to a standstill as Australia ducked and swayed away from bouncer after bouncer, but overall they lost 8 for 92 which, given England’s recent history of chases, including one of 378 against India last summer, offered them a glimmer with a target of 371 in four sessions.However, those hopes were blown away by the brilliance of Starc and Cummins which left them 45 for 4 and the absence of Nathan Lyon, who had astonishingly appeared to bat at No. 11, likely not proving a factor. It appeared they were five down shortly before the close when Starc superbly caught Ben Duckett’s attempted upper cut at fine leg, but the third umpire ruled the catch wasn’t clean as the ball scraped along the outfield, much to Australia’s amazement and frustration.The first wicket of England’s innings was not among the memorable ones as Zak Crawley tickled Starc down the leg side. But Starc was finding movement with the new ball and produced a wonderful delivery which came back sharply into Ollie Pope and clattered middle stump.Cummins, who is no stranger to creating viral Ashes moments, then produced what may go down as the over of the series as he roughed up Joe Root with a delivery which struck his forearm before having him fending to slip. He then produced a ball to take Harry Brook’s off stump which matched the one Root received at Old Trafford in 2019.Australia were two wickets away from England’s bowlers and there was a chance the game could hurtle to a conclusion but Duckett, with his second half-century of the match, and Ben Stokes – who had earlier put his knee on the line with a 12-over bouncer-laden spell – forged a stand of 69 to ensure that there would be room for a few further mentions of Headingley, even though the task of 257 more runs remained huge with a long tail.After briefly trying to find the outside edge when play began, England soon resorted to short-pitched bowling and basically did not shift from it until Australia were all out. The two sessions on the fourth day record the highest number of short deliveries in ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball database going back to 2015. TV graphics showed that 98% of the deliveries England bowled in the second session pitched eight metres or shorter.It was a slow burn of a tactic and created much debate, particularly after England’s previous proclamations of entertainment, but wickets did start to fall. It began when Usman Khawaja’s fine innings, which took him to 300 runs for the series, ended with a top edge to long leg.Mitchell Starc roars after dismissing Ollie Pope•Getty Images
In what then became a frenetic period, Travis Head was dropped at backward point before he had scored by James Anderson – his second miss of the game – then next ball Steven Smith top-edged to deep square leg. Head soon fended a catch to short leg which was superbly caught by Root as Australia lost 3 for 10 to spark some life into England.Cameron Green and Alex Carey played carefully until lunch then the afternoon session was when the game hit a virtual stalemate, although Australia held a strong advantage the whole time. By and large the pair did not have huge trouble avoiding the short deliveries, although Green was struck on the badge of the helmet by Stokes and a few moments later pulled Robinson to deep square leg after a 13-over post-lunch period which brought 17 runs.Stokes was into one of those marathon spells which have dotted through his Test career – the most famous being at Headingley in 2019 before his batting heroics. Whether this time, with the state of his knee, it was a sensible approach remains to seen and he was clearly grimacing at the crease when he later batted.But he certainly played a role for England as wickets fell at the other end. Carey was another to bunt a catch to short leg – Robinson then ending with a spell of 9-6-7-2 – and Cummins fended to gully after being given a life when Stokes had overstepped.Stokes finally earned a wicket when Josh Hazlewood turned the ball to short leg but the innings was not yet done with its bizarreness. Lyon, unable to use a runner under ICC playing conditions, limped down the steps of the pavilion and hobbled to the middle with his badly damaged calf, which will surely rule him out of the rest of the series. Barely able to stand and unable to walk he helped Starc add 15 runs and managed one pulled boundary himself.Australia may have felt they needed every run available, but the new-ball bursts from their opening pair have meant it will take another extraordinary turn of events for this match to come down to such fine margins.
Players will start to arrive from the IPL but Trent Boult and Daryl Mitchell remain involved in the play-offs
ESPNcricinfo staff19-May-2022New Zealand coach Gary Stead is confident that Kane Williamson will be able to bounce back from his IPL struggles in the Test series against England next month, but the first match of the series may come too soon for Trent Boult.Williamson left the IPL early to return home for the birth of his second child, ending a tournament where he scored 216 runs at 19.63 and a strike-rate of 93.50. It marked his comeback to cricket for the first time since last November having missed the entire home season with an elbow injury.He is expected to arrive in England around the time of New Zealand’s second warm-up match against a County Select XI which starts on May 26 ahead of the first Test at Lord’s on June 2.Related
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“He’s a bit disappointed he hasn’t got the runs he wanted during the IPL,” Stead said. “You don’t often see the great players often miss out perhaps as much as he has, but I think what we have to understand, coming back in to red-ball cricket, I think that will suit where he’s at with his game, his temperament as well.”Among New Zealand’s other IPL-based players, Tim Southee has now become available to join the tour after Kolkata Knight Riders’ tournament ended with their defeat against Lucknow Super Giants. Devon Conway’s campaign will also be complete in the group stage with Chennai Super Kings eliminated.However, Boult and fellow Rajasthan Royals player Daryl Mitchell will continue to be involved into the play-offs. Depending on how deep Royals progress into the final week, Stead said a call would then be taken on availability.”That’ll be something that’ll just play out in the next week or so,” he said.Mitchell could be in the frame for a spot in the middle order if Henry Nicholls does not recover from the calf strain he picked up shortly before leaving New Zealand. Nicholls has returned to light training but won’t feature in the first warm-up match against Sussex.Neil Wagner will also miss that game having stayed in New Zealand for the birth of his second child and he will arrive next week.