Chris Taylor has been named as Gloucestershire’s new captain, and the Pakistan fast bowler Shabbir Ahmed has been signed as their second overseas player, as preparation for the 2004 season gets underway at Bristol.Taylor, 27, takes over from Mark Alleyne, who has become the new club coach, although he will remain in charge of the one-day team. Taylor only made his county debut in 2001, but according to the club chief executive, Tom Richardson, he has been in their thoughts for some time. “I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to captain the four-day side,” said Taylor. “It is an exciting challenge.”Meanwhile Shabbir, 27, who has taken 33 wickets in his six Test matches, will join compatriot Shoaib Malik as Gloucestershire’s second overseas player. “Shabbir is an exciting bowler who is well suited to English conditions and I think he will greatly strengthen our side,” explained Alleyne. “We are very excited by the prospect of fielding these two Pakistani stars this year. I feel they will feed off each other and, as a pair, they will add great value to what is already an exciting squad.”The only slight concern is that Shabbir’s action was reported during a one-day international in New Zealand in January. He is currently working with Daryl Foster in Australia to correct any faults. “We do not anticipate any further problems,” said Alleyne. “We greatly look forward to Shabbir having a successful season with us.”
India will leave a decision on whether ace batsman Sachin Tendulkar will be able to help their attempt to win the second One-Day International against New Zealand at Napier tomorrow until a fitness test in the morning.Tendulkar turned his ankle bowling the last ball of the side’s practice session before the first match in the National Bank Series and was ruled out of the game.However, Harbhajan Singh and Sanjay Bangar will both be considered for inclusion in the side after being passed fit yesterday.Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said Tendulkar would have a fitness test but he felt he would be fit for consideration.Ganguly said he was sure his batsmen were one innings away from hitting form.”Spending some time in the middle, having a few balls hitting the middle of the bat early in the innings does more for your confidence than a week in the nets,” he said.It was important that batsmen stick to what has worked for them in the past.Napier had a reputation for being a good pitch, it had been on India’s previous tour in 1998/99 and had been good for their opening match on this tour, a three-day game against Central Districts.”We are keen, we have worked hard on our game since the start of the series and I think it is a matter of winning one game. We’ve come close in Hamilton, in Auckland where we couldn’t take the last two or three wickets.”It’s a matter of one win,” he said.
Liverpool have fallen off a proverbial cliff this season, but Arne Slot’s subtle tactical tweaks over the past several weeks have steadied the ship, with Liverpool unbeaten in four in the Premier League and with a win at San Siro over Inter Milan secured in the Champions League.
However, the Premier League champions still need to raise their levels if they are to put to bed fears of missing out on a top-four (or five) finish, as well as competing out on the continent and in the FA Cup.
And with Mohamed Salah now off with Egypt at the African Cup of Nations, it’s time for Alexander Isak to step up and help steer his new side back into the ascendancy.
Isak, 26, joined Liverpool from Newcastle United in a British-record £125m move at the end of the summer transfer window, but he has struggled to click into gear.
Why Alexander Isak is struggling at Liverpool
When Isak completed his transfer to Liverpool, his reputation preceded him. Now under Slot’s wing was a striker whose exploits led Newcastle United to Champions League qualification twice in three Premier League seasons, and it was his goal against Liverpool at Wembley that sealed the Carabao Cup title last year.
He scored 27 goals in all competitions last year, and his movement and intelligence in the final third marry up with devastating shooting skills to fashion a talisman fit for a starring role at any of Europe’s finest outfits.
But this hasn’t been the case for the Anfield side. The data makes for somewhat painful viewing, with Isak clearly punching well below his weight class of last season.
Alexander Isak – Past Two Prem Campaigns
Stats (per 90)
24/25
25/26
Goals scored
0.75
0.18
Assists
0.20
0.18
Touches
33.47
22.59
Shots taken
3.10
2.57
Pass completion (%)
75.3
65.2
Progressive passes
2.87
1.47
Progressive carries
2.71
0.92
Shot-creating actions
3.00
0.92
Successful take-ons
1.37
0.18
Ball recoveries
1.80
1.84
Tackles
0.39
1.10
Data via FBref
The Sweden international’s very name struck fear into defenders across England last year, with pundit Jamie Carragher even anointing him “the best striker in the Premier League right now” during his destructive purple patch last winter.
But he’s been dismal since moving to Liverpool, one goal in the Premier League and none in the Champions League. Circumstances matter, but Isak’s form is a big concern, especially with Hugo Ekitike firing on all cylinders are joining the club from Eintracht Frankfurt in July.
As Slot said: “We signed him for six years, not six months.” Even so, Isak needs to improve, especially when the Reds have an up-and-coming youngster who has the potential to go right to the top as a free-scoring number nine.
The Liverpool teen who could steal Isak's shirt
When Isak joined Liverpool and put on that number nine shirt, it was universally accepted that he would swiftly assert himself as a powerhouse in the Premier League and out in Europe too.
But Isak has flattered to deceive, and Keyrol Figueroa may fancy his chances of ruffling a few feathers down the line, perhaps convincing the powers that be that they don’t need to sign another striker any time soon, instead investing their faith in the academy.
Figueroa, 19, has been hailed as a “lethal, ruthless number nine” by Liverpool U21 manager Rob Page, who has been in awe of the USMNT youth international’s destructive start to life in the Reds’ side’s underbelly.
This season, the powerful young forward, son of former Premier League star Maynor Figueroa, has scored seven goals from only nine matches in the Premier League 2, just five of which came from the starting whistle.
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He made the bench during Liverpool’s Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield, and it is only a matter of time before he makes his bow for Slot’s seniors.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
Strength and pace are key facets of Figueroa’s game. Recognised from the off for possessing something a bit different, the American prospect may well rival Isak down the line, if he retains and develops those central attributes and guides them toward something that can withstand the harsh climate of the Premier League.
Should Isak be worried? Not yet. As Slot stressed, Liverpool are ready to play the long game when it comes to their record purchase.
But Isak will have to deliver at some stage, and perhaps by then, Figueroa will have finished building the blocks and will be ready to take the professional stage.
Semenyo clone: Liverpool have a young star who's more exciting than Ngumoha
Liverpool have a number of teenage talents looking to break through to the surface.
Rarely has the statement ‘you don’t now what you have until it’s gone’ been more applicable to a Liverpool player than with Lucas Leiva. The 25-year-old Brazilian was in excellent form before his unfortunate injury at the end of November last year. Following the departures of Xabi Alonso and then Javier Mascherano to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, Liverpool were in dire need of a player to plug the gap. Lucas did more than that.
Initially, many believed that Lucas was of a similar calibre to Arsenal’s Brazilian experiment – Denilson. The 2010/11 campaign proved that to be a fallacy, the point was emphasised as Lucas began 2011/12 in a similar fashion. Before his injury at the end of November, Lucas had the highest tackle success rate in the league. He appeared the perfect linking player between midfield and defence, there to break up attacks before passing the ball on to more attacking team-mates.
Before Lucas was injured Liverpool were, in the Premier League, conceding on average 0.9 goals per game. They were also earning 1.76 goals per game and were sixth in the table.
After his injury Liverpool conceded an average of 1.11 goals per game an earned around 1.2 points per game, they finished eighth in the league.
Now, clearly there were other factors that contributed towards Liverpool’s slide in form, such as the suspension of Luis Suarez. However, due to the club’s fixtures in the Carling and FA Cup Suarez’s ban don’t impede on the league as much as it could have done.
Moreover, considering that most of the teams Liverpool were competing against were involved in European football you would imagine that Liverpool, having no such distraction, would be less tired towards the end of the season. Subsequently, you would expect them to perform better than their rivals, not worse. It is also important to remember that Steven Gerrard returned from injury for the second half of the season and Liverpool’s form still dipped.
The problem for Liverpool was the lack of an ample replacement for Lucas. Jay Spearing was drafted in to take the mantle yet in his first game as Lucas’ replacement he was sent off for a rash challenge on Moussa Dembele.
Eight months on and Lucas is on the mend. His knee surgery had him crutches for over two months and the midfielder admitted that he was worried he may never be the same again.
“To be honest, in a few moments I thought I couldn’t come back any more,” the Brazil international told the BBC.
“It comes through your head that you might not be at the same level you were before, but at the same time you see big players who had the same injury come back and be even better. There is no need for me to be scared. Rather than stay protecting myself, I need to work on my head as well to come back and play the same way I was playing before. One of the things which made me strong in the team was how aggressive I was in tackles and things like that, so I cannot lose that.”
And Liverpool fans will indeed hope that Lucas not only returns for the beginning of the season, but returns with the same enthusiasm and form that earned him a place in Liverpool’s starting eleven.
The former Gremio man will undoubtedly need time to adjust after such as long period away from the game yet with the mentality depicted in his words he is already on the right path.
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Brendan Rodgers may not have the level of money that was available when the club’s American owners first arrived but in Lucas he has a player returning around which he can build a midfield. Lucas may be understated, but is importance to the team should not be underestimated.
Whether Manchester United ever get round to signing Wesley Sneijder remains to be seen, but you can’t help feel that this current squad is certainly good enough to retain their title this coming season. The fringe players have certainly stepped up in pre-season and given Fergie some genuine food for thought.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Manchester United blogs that includes one rule for United and one for everyone else; Italian puts Fergie on transfer alert and while one door closes another opens at Old Trafford.
We also look at the best Manchester United articles around the web this week.
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Caption Competition: Manchester United’s ‘Mr Cool’ flying the nest?
Has Ferguson’s transfer spending gone far enough?
As one door closes at Old Trafford, another one opens
One rule for United and one for everyone else
Will injury see the changing of the defensive guard at Old Trafford?
Why Michael Carrick Must Put His Money Where His Mouth Is?
The perils of dragging your transfer feet
London vs Manchester, who has the power?
Paolillo puts Manchester United on transfer alert
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Best of WEB
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Now Rooney must come of age – United Rant
‘What now?…’ Can we silence our noisy neighbours next Sunday? – The Busby Way
Getting Filled Up On The Infamous Prawn Sandwich – The United Religion
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Has Fergie Simply Ignored The Barcelona Problem? – Red Flag Flying High
England to benefit from United’s transfers? – Stretford Enders
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Click on Davide’s misses below to see here in all her glory
Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute believes Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho’s vocal criticism of referees is a ploy to influence the officials.
Kanoute’s side face Real Madrid at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in the first-leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final on Wednesday.
Mourinho has been publicly critical of referees throughout the season, claiming that officials have treated his Real side unfairly.
But former Tottenham striker Kanoute believes the Portuguese manager’s constant complaints are intended to influence the officials in Real’s favour.
“This is all a tactic. I don’t think that they really think that,” Kanoute said.
“I don’t think that the referees are against Real Madrid, not at all. You have to have more confidence in the referees, thinking that they aren’t going to fall into this trap. That’s what I hope.”
“It seems a little aggressive, but I don’t think that people are stupid either. It’s just to motivate the team, and I hope that on the pitch everything will be in good spirit.”
Kanoute is also unperturbed by his side being the underdogs heading into the clash, and thinks they have what it takes to cause an upset.
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“It doesn’t bother us at all not to be favourites. We will play our role, but we won’t have any troubles.”
As the final whistle of this season was blown this weekend at Wembley and now everybody knows who they will be up against next campaign, managers and fans will turn their attentions to assembling their team’s squads for August and the season that awaits them.
Scouring forums, checking retained lists and reading local newspapers fast becomes a part of the football fans daily routine as they scout out potential signings for a club and follow the ins and outs of the clubs around them.
Now every club will have released their retained lists fan focus will turn to replacing those players who have either been released or turned down a contract offer. So far at Shrewsbury we have witnessed seven players depart, four of which were released and the other three leaving for other clubs and two players come in.
This leaves us with a lot of gaps in our squad that need filling and Turner will no doubt already be talking to potential signings with him confirming this week that the arrival of new faces were imminent.
So what positions need covering and who could be the men to cover them? With the release of Ben Smith and with Chris Neal still not having put pen to paper for next season (though it seems likely he will) bringing in a new goalkeeper should be our first priority. The release of Steve Simonsen after his heartbreaking penalty miss this past weekend at Wembley will no doubt have caught the attention of many managers in league one and I for one would be more than happy to see him arrive at our club. An experienced player and one who has just had a fantastic season at arguably the biggest side in the division would be a more than welcome addition to the side. Another name that is doing the rounds at the minute is transfer listed Paul Rachubka the Leeds United stopper was listed at the end of the season by manager Neil Warnock after a string of high profile mistakes for the Yorkshire club earlier in the season had seen him sent on loan to Leyton Orient and Tranmere. A lot of Shrewsbury fans don’t seem too happy about this so fingers crossed it is nothing more than idle speculation.
With the recent departures of Ian Sharps and Shane Sherriff we have lost our central defensive pairing which was so pivotal in keeping our unbeaten home record and sealing our promotion to League one. Whilst I feel Sharps will be replaceable Shane will not be so easy to replace. A name which seemed to be appearing on a lot of message boards and in Newspapers was that of Rory McArdle. The former Rochdale centre back has just been released by Scottish premier league side Aberdeen and in my opinion would be a fantastic signing. Another possible signing that has reared its head in the last few days is Huddersfield Town’s Nathan Clarke. A defensive pairing of Clarke and McArdle could certainly be a solid back two next season and with the return of Reuben Hazzell to fitness we would once again look very good at the back.
The big rumour going around Shrewsbury Town’s message board is our supposed interest in Ryan Hall of Southend United. The midfielder would require quite the transfer fee I Imagine and there appears to be no real substance behind the rumours. Hall would be a fantastic addition to the side but if the transfer fee is too high I’m sure Turner could find us better value for money somewhere else.
That just leaves up with the strikers. We have managed to keep hold of three strikers from last season in Bradshaw, Morgan and Gornell and we are now playing the waiting game for James Collins. The only name going around for us at the moment is that of James Brown from Hartlepool. Some fans were hoping for a bid for Lewis Grabban but to no avail and it would appear there are very few other rumours going around at the moment.
So who will our new signings be and more importantly when will they be announced? I for one hate waiting around and can’t wait to see us get some new signings in. Patience is a virtue though and I trust in Turner to bring together a great squad for next year.
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Chelsea are set to make another bid for Luka Modric according to The Sun despite reports of them shying away from a deal.
Reports over the last week indicated that the Blues were preparing to give up on signing the Croatian and turn their attentions to other targets.
However it now seems that they are set to offer Spurs £30 million straight or £27 million plus Yossi Benayoun in an attempt to land the midfielder.
Modric has already stated his desire to leave White Hart Lane this summer to sign for Chelsea as they can offer him Champions League football.
Andre Villas-Boas is desperate to bring some creativity to the his midfield at Stamford Bridge and has chased the 25-year-old all summer.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has so far resisted any attempts to cash in on the clubs prized asset refusing to accept anything below their asking price.
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Manager Harry Redknapp was also unwilling to let Modric leave but is now coming round to the idea of selling him to generate funds to sign players.
Pocketing £30 million for the Croatian, who is unlikely to feature in Thursday’s Europa League game against Hearts, would certainly give him more than enough to secure his top targets.
1992 was a big year for sport. The Dallas Cowboys beat the Buffalo Bills 37-24 in Superbowl XXVI, we had an Olympic Summer to enjoy from Barcelona, Nick Faldo won the British Open and English football was about to unveil it’s newest concept: The Premier League.
On paper, the only thing that changed was instead of seeing the words ‘First Division’ written above England’s top tier, it now read ‘The FA Carling Premiership’. But away from the lexical alterations, football in England was about to become a very different place.
As English football moved away from the hooliganism and stadium disasters that blighted its progress in the 80s it was seeking a new, prosperous future. The national team’s success at Italia 90 and the upgrade of stadia in the top divisions gave a good platform for wide scale changes to be made to the structure of the domestic game.
Fears were mounting that the English top flight had fallen a long way behind other top divisions in Europe and less money in the game meant that top sides were less able to attract the world’s best players. Disgruntled at the way English football was heading, ten of the top teams threatened to create a new division which would break-away from the Football League which they’d been a part of for over 100 years, and it was this notion that took the first steps towards the creation of the Premier League.
As with much in football, the foundation of the Premier League revolved heavily around money and it was a lucrative television deal with Sky that brought the new league to the fore. Previous television deals had seen any money split equally between all 92 Football League teams, but the new rights would see the 22 Premier League sides share over £250 million exclusively between themselves. It was initially feared that putting football on subscription television would prove to be unpopular and that Rupert Murdoch had made a huge gamble in his efforts to launch his new satellite channel. Sebastian Coe said of the deal: “I think it is wrong that only two million dish owners get access to such events”. But the Premier League/Sky Sports combination proved to be a pairing that benefited both parties and, of course, still exists today.
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Prior to the 1992 kick-off, the newly formed elite quickly used their newly found wealth to finance a host of transfers above the £2 million mark with Teddy Sheringham, Dean Saunders and David Rocastle among the big movers. The season provided excitement and entertainment at both ends of the table. Manchester United ended up running away to their first league championship for 26 years while Oldham made a great escape after winning their last three games of the season including a win at high-flying Aston Villa. As previously mentioned, the original Premier League contained 22 teams, however this was reduced to 20 in 1995 after a FIFA ruling regarding the reduction of games in European domestic leagues.
All of a sudden the prizes for being promoted into the top division had become much greater and suddenly meant a lot more than pride alone. After the dawn of the Premier League, taking your place among England’s elite not only now meant a healthier bank balance, it also guaranteed you wider commercial exposure both nationally and internationally which would in turn give you greater sway in the transfer market. Before the age of the Premier League, being able to watch international stars like Dennis Bergkamp and Gianfranco Zola week in week out would not have been possible.
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However, after a while it became clear that the gap was widening significantly between Premier League clubs and the Football League, both in terms of quality and financial clout. With so much money being diverted from the lower leagues into the Premiership, the rich were getting richer and the poor were getting poorer. As a result it was getting far harder to newly promoted teams to compete with the big boys, long gone it seemed were the days when a promoted side (like Newcastle in 1994/94) could finish as high as third in their first season. This fact was plain for all to see when Crystal Palace, Barnsley and Bolton were all relegated despite only being promoted the season before. In an attempt to stop this happening in the future promoted clubs began spending beyond their means in order to stay in the Premier League. When this tactic worked they earned the right to a second season, but when it didn’t the relegation meant that the clubs now had players whose wages they couldn’t afford to pay.
Since the inception of the Premier League the amount of money paid in combined television deals has risen from over £300 million to a staggering £1.9 billion and viewing number in China alone are thought to have top the 100 million people mark. The Premier League has undoubtedly made English football into a global game and it is loved by millions of people all over the world. While there have been casualties as a result of the vast sums of money being pumped into the game, English football is unquestionably in a healthier state now than it was only 20 years ago.
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