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Lots of Everton fans have been left gushing over some off-field news that has emerged.

As per 90min, the Goodison Park faithful are now ‘keen’ on Brighton and Hove Albion technical director Dan Ashworth, who has previously been linked with a job at Newcastle United.

He already has plenty of pedigree, having been a key figure as his work at the Football Association (FA) helped lead to England winning the U20 and U17 World Cups, in addition to the U19 European Championships, back in 2017.

In 2019, Ashworth became the technical director with the Seagulls, and thus oversaw the appointment of Graham Potter, who has become a great success in guiding them to the top half of the Premier League table, and has since been touted for the Manchester United job.

Nonetheless, he seems to be an appointment that would be very popular among Merseyside club supporters.

Everton fans on Ashworth news

These Toffees gushed as the Ashworth news was shared on Twitter:

“Now we’re talking.”

Credit: @PeterFearns

“YES!!!”

Credit: @PortlandToffee

“Please. Oh my god”

Credit: @jlgg94

“That’s more like it”

Credit: @AlwaysBlue7

“IN MY DREAMSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS”

Credit: @Cryptys

“If this happened, this would be the best thing to happen to Everton Football club in literally the last 6 or 7 years.”

Credit: @RyanSoccerAA

In other news, find out what manager update has Blues buzzing here!

Just to prove that their first win over India wasn’t an upset at all, Zimbabwe won even more convincingly – with a bonus point this time, making their qualification for the final a distinct possibility

The Bulletin by Sidharth Monga03-Jun-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
M Vijay consumed 56 balls for his 21 before being stumped•DESMOND KWANDE/AFP

Just to prove that their first win over India wasn’t an upset, Zimbabwe won even more convincingly – with a bonus point this time, making their qualification for the final a distinct possibility. A combination of disciplined bowling and fielding, and directionless batting from India, meant Zimbabwe were chasing an ordinary total. Just to show the pitch had no demons that could justify a total of 194, Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza punished the bowlers, adding 128 runs in 26.3 overs.The pitch wasn’t exceptionally slow nor did it have much movement. Even without a specialist new-ball bowler, Zimbabwe choked India’s scoring, and kept getting regular wickets. India didn’t help themselves with a 1980s-style opening that was lacking in intent, followed by the quick departure of the openers, and then the run-outs of two of their mainstays, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina.Zimbabwe’s attack might be built on four spinners and a military-medium bowler, but they were as aggressive as fast bowlers – in intent, in field placings and in body language. Greg Lamb, who bowled a fine mixture of offbreaks and floaters that went straight on, was the pick of the bowlers with the wickets of the openers in back-to-back overs after they had consumed almost 19 overs for 63 runs. There were 182 dot balls in the innings, and just 12 boundaries – that too thanks to some late hitting from Ravindra Jadeja, who escaped two plumb lbws before going on to score 51.It was a strange ceasefire at the top of the innings: India kept waiting for poor deliveries, Zimbabwe for loose shots. Andy Blignaut and Ray Price, the opening bowlers, gave no free scoring opportunities but Dinesh Karthik and M Vijay sought no adventure. Only 26 runs came in the first 10 overs, five of them in wides, as the bowlers consciously tried to cut out shots through the off side and ended up bowling down the leg side.Both batsmen had put themselves under pressure with that slow start, making it imperative to not get out after wasting so many overs. And get out they did, following each other to the pavilion. If Karthik got too adventurous with a reverse-sweep, Vijay charged at Lamb and fell to a floater that went straight as opposed to breaking in. While it was smart bowling, it could also be argued that Lamb had been bowling straighter ones throughout his spell, and it wasn’t as big a variation as the sight of Vijay swinging way inside its line suggested.Zimbabwe were not going to let India’s middle order play the game of four singles an over followed by a late assault. In as late as the 23th over, they had six men inside the circle, and the slip hardly ever moved out. Virat Kohli soon fell to a straighter one from Prosper Utseya. Raina, an over after a misunderstanding with Rohit, went for a single that wasn’t there, and paid the price. Soon Rohit went for a tight single but Jadeja lacked the urgency, sending him back straight to the pavilion. Fifty-eight for 0 after 16 overs was good enough for Zimbabwe, 95 for 5 was a dream.Jadeja got favours from umpires at either end even before he was set, but Yusuf Pathan wasn’t so lucky. And despite a 35-run batting Powerplay, India had hardly given their bowlers anything to defend.And the bowlers again failed to impress. Despite a slow start, thanks to the move of opening with Pragyan Ojha, Zimbabwe raced to 76 by the end of 15 overs. Once again it was Taylor who started the assault. After four quiet overs, he punched Ashok Dinda on the up, square of the wicket, and suddenly it seemed strokeplay was not that difficult at all. Masakadza followed lead, charging at Ojha and lofting him over mid-on.In the next two overs, Dinda and Umesh Yadav tried to intimidate Taylor, and were pulled for a four and a six. There was time for a stylish extra-cover drive too, and Masakadza got his own back at Amit Mishra by welcoming him with two fours in his first over. In the previous match, Mishra had done the batsmen in with a googly. And as soon as the fielding restrictions were lifted, India inexplicably spread the field. Wisdom, conventional or otherwise, would suggest an attacking approach.By the time India realised they needed to attack, Taylor had reached his fifty, Zimbabwe had crossed 100, and India’s first set of consecutive losses to Zimbabwe was all but sealed. In the second match of the tournament, when India were on their way to chasing Sri Lanka’s target, Virat Kohli and Rohit gestured to the dressing room, wanting to take the Powerplay. They were not allowed to. Zimbabwe, though, showed much more clarity of thought, imposing the field restrictions in the 31st over, and finished the game off with 11.4 overs to spare.

غادر محمود حمدي الونش مدافع الزمالك مباراة فريقه أمام سموحة الجارية ببطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز بسبب عدم قدرته على استكمالها إثر إصابته.

وتقام مباراة الزمالك وسموحة اليوم على أرضية ملعب المقاولون العرب ضمن منافسات الجولة الأولى من الدوري.

طالع أيضًا.. مباشر بالفيديو | مباراة الزمالك وسموحة في الدوري

وتعرض الونش للإصابة في الدقيقة 29 من عمر المباراة بعد التحام قوي مع إليا سيلا لاعب سموحة.

وقرر البرتغالي جوسفالدو فيريرا المدير الفني لنادي الزمالك استبدال الونش لعدم قدرته على استكمال المباراة والدفع بالتونسي حمزة المثلوثي. إصابة الونش في مباراة الزمالك وسموحة واستبداله

أكد شادي حسين، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، أن الفريق جاهز لاستهلال مشواره في دوري أبطال إفريقيا أمام الاتحاد المنستيري.

ويلاقي الأهلي نظيره الاتحاد المنستيري في تونس في ذهاب دور الـ32 بدوري أبطال إفريقيا بعد غدٍ الأحد. أهمية مباراة الأهلي والاتحاد المنستيري

وقال شادي حسين في تصريحات عبر المركز الإعلامي للنادي “الأهلي”: “هذه أول مباراة في دوري أبطال إفريقيا وندرك تمامًا أنها مهمة للغاية، لا سيما أنها أمام أحد الفرق التونسية المميزة وهو الاتحاد المنستيري والذي سيلعب على ملعبه ووسط جماهيره، ولكننا مستعدون بشكل جيد وقادرون على تحقيق نتيجة إيجابية بعد التحضير الجيد للمباراة طوال الفترة الماضية”.

طالع أيضًا.. رسميًا.. الأهلي يعلن عن الزي البديل للموسم الجديد

وأضاف: “مباريات الأهلي مع الأندية التونسية تكون صعبة، لا سيما أن الفرق المنافسة ترغب في تحقيق نتيجة إيجابية أمام الأهلي، الذي يدركون قيمته ومكانته في قارة إفريقيا، ونأمل في تحقيق نتيجة إيجابية تساعد الفريق في مباراة العودة التي تقام في القاهرة”. استعادة لقب دوري أبطال إفريقيا

وأوضح مهاجم الأهلي: “الفريق بشكل عام استفاد من المعسكر الذي خاضه في القاهرة تحت قيادة مارسيل كولر المدير الفني”.

وواصل: “الجميع لديهم رغبة في العودة إلى منصات التتويج بدوري أبطال إفريقيا من جديد، والكل تعاهد على استعادة اللقب من جديد وأن ضربة البداية في غاية الأهمية لأي فريق بشكل عام يشارك في البطولة”.

وتابع: “جميع لاعبي الأهلي اعتادوا على ضغط المباريات والحضور الجماهيري والذي يمثل قوة الفريق المنافس، ولكننا على درجة عالية من الاستعداد الجيد”. تعليمات كولر

وتحدث شادي حسين عن علاقته بلاعبي الأهلي قائلًا: “اللاعبون ساعدوني على التأقلم السريع داخل الفريق، خاصة أنني أعرف أكثر من لاعب وتربطني بهم علاقة جيدة من قبل وصولي إلى النادي”.

وأردف: “أتمنى أن تنعكس الروح الجيدة التي تجمع اللاعبين على الفريق، ويحقق النتائج التي يسعى إليها لتلبية رغبة وتطلعات جماهير الأهلي في التتويج بكافة البطولات التي يشارك بها الفريق”.

واستأنف: “مارسيل كولر يتحدث مع اللاعبين بشكل جماعي، للتأكيد على تحديات المرحلة المقبلة والتي تبدأ بمواجهة الاتحاد المنستيري، والتي ينصب تركيز الفريق عليها إلى جانب حديثه عن الجوانب الفنية الخاصة بكل لاعب في جلسات منفردة”. رسالة لجمهور الأهلي

وأكد حسين أن وجوده ضمن قائمة الأهلي في المباراة الأولى له بإفريقيا تحد له على المستوى الشخصي، وأنه يأمل في إسعاد جماهير النادي.

واختتم تصريحاته بتوجيه الشكر إلى جماهير الأهلي التي تدعم الفريق بشكل دائم، مؤكدًا أن اللاعبين تعاهدوا على الفوز بالبطولات التي يشارك بها الفريق خلال الموسم الحالي لإسعادهم.

Just what is it with the Eden Gardens and dramatic collapses? Nearly a decade ago, in the match that few in this part of the world will ever forget, Australia were in complete command at tea on the opening day. Matthew Hayden had biffed his way to 97 in typically muscular fashion and the scoreboard showed 193 for 1. Four balls after the interval, he went to hit Harbhajan Singh against the turn and found Hemang Badani at deep midwicket. Six more wickets fell in the final session, with Harbhajan taking a hat-trick, as Australia closed on 291 for 8.On the final day of the same game, Waugh’s side plummeted from a relatively secure 161 for 3 at tea to 212 all out. That collapse changed the course of an enthralling series, but what we witnessed in 25 overs after tea today was an even more drastic reversal of fortune.Alviro Petersen’s debut innings had ended shortly before tea, but there’d have been few alarms in the dressing room with the score a rudely healthy 228 for 2. But two indiscreet shots, from the two men who were the foundation of the victory in Nagpur, and everything changed. Hashim Amla misjudged a pull off Zaheer Khan, and Jacques Kallis top-edged a slog-sweep off Harbhajan that VVS Laxman took brilliantly over his shoulder while running towards fine leg.”When you looked at it at tea, we were in trouble,” said Gary Kirsten, India’s coach. “Let’s be honest about that. All credit to the bowlers for turning it around. They showed tremendous resilience. They have bowled pretty well this series without the rewards. When you’re picking four bowlers every Test, it’s an enormous workload on them. We’ve got to give them credit for the way they run in Test after Test. This is our fourth on the trot.”Perhaps the key passage of play had come just before the tea break, when Ishant Sharma gave a glimpse of what he can do when the rhythm is right. He went wicketless in a four-over spell that cost 12 runs, but Amla, who had eased to a hundred with few alarms, suddenly appeared troubled. Zaheer, who replaced Ishant, continued the good work, putting together an outstanding spell either side of the interval – 6-3-11-2.”We’ve felt that he’s just on the edge of doing some good stuff again,” said Kirsten of Ishant’s spell. “We know that he’s an exceptionally talented bowler and he’s just coming back to some really nice form. He bowled a nice aggressive spell. He wanted to get his pace up closer to the 140s where he wants to be. He was letting the ball go beautifully today. It was a very important spell because more than getting wickets, it set the tone for what we wanted to achieve after tea.”Suddenly, the same attack that had looked largely innocuous for the first two sessions found its bite. More importantly, chances were grabbed, and the stumps hit to catch the dangerous AB de Villiers out of his ground. “If you’re not getting wickets because the ball’s doing a bit, you’ve got to build pressure,” said Kirsten. “And there’s no better way of building pressure than getting a few wickets.”It happened to us in the first Test. We were going nicely with the bat, we lost a wicket and pressure was created. We did that in this game. We mustn’t always be looking for assistance to get wickets. When you can create pressure by doing some creative things on the field, which I thought we did today, batsmen play very differently.”Harbhajan Singh’s pitch map from Hawk-Eye•Hawk-Eye Innovations

For two sessions, with both spinners seemingly incapable of bowling a maiden, the decision to go in with two slow bowlers and leave Sreesanth out had looked decidedly dubious. Amit Mishra was unlucky with a couple of leg-before shouts, and Harbhajan far from amused after Laxman dropped a straightforward chance at slip when Amla had made just 60. But there were too many four balls, and too little pressure, especially with a debutant at the crease.”We’d always like to have a third seamer, and two spinners,” said Kirsten, explaining the omission of Sreesanth. “But the balance of our team doesn’t work that way. We either have to opt for three seamers and one spinner or two and two. We felt that an extra spinner on this wicket is going to be important.”And after the criticism that Harbhajan Singh has received in recent times, Kirsten was understandably delighted with his efforts after tea, with both Ashwell Prince and JP Duminy quickly joining Kallis in the pavilion in a passage of play that utterly changed the complexion of the game. “I thought Harbhajan bowled really well in the last game, and I thought the South Africans played him very well,” he said. “Even though he was in good rhythm, he needed to come up with ways to get wickets. I’ve been very confident that his rhythm has got better and better as the series has gone along. When the confidence is going and the rhythm’s good, he’s going to get wickets.”The [Dale] Steyn menace looms large on day two, but Kirsten was quietly confident that there was nothing in the conditions to worry his batsmen. “We didn’t feel it took too much turn,” he said. “We didn’t feel that it offered that much assistance to the seamers. There’s a long way to go in the Test, but it looks a fairly good wicket at the moment. There was a lot less grass on the wicket today than there was yesterday, otherwise we would have gone for three seamers.”There was little encouragement in the Nagpur pitch either, but Steyn still ended up with a 10-wicket haul. It’s advantage India for the moment, but on a pitch where there’s been enough bounce for those willing to hit the deck hard, it would be foolhardy in the extreme to discount South Africa. Back in 2001, India were dismissed for 171 after Waugh had stretched Australia’s innings to 445 all out. If Monday sees that kind of drama, the roof might just come off a stadium that’s already half rubble.

Javed Miandad has written a letter to the president, Asif Ali Zardari, in which he has criticised Ijaz Butt as being “too old” to hold a position of such importance

Cricinfo staff02-Feb-2010Javed Miandad, a former Pakistan captain, has written a letter to the country’s president, Asif Ali Zardari, in which he has criticised Ijaz Butt, the Pakistan board chairman, for being “too old” to hold a position of such importance. Zardari, who is also the patron of the PCB, had appointed 71-year-old Butt as chairman in 2008 in place of Nasim Ashraf.”The chairman has become too old for the position he is holding as he seldom remembers his own important official commitments and agreements,” Miandad, who is currently a PCB director general, wrote in a letter seen by Cricinfo. “Most of the staff working under the chairman, including many directors, are fed up with his style of working; evidence of which is that many directors have left their jobs during his tenure.”Aamer Sohail, the PCB’s director of academies, Salim Altaf, the chief operating officer, and Abdul Qadir, the chief selector, all resigned in 2009 because of differences with Butt. Miandad also quit in January 2009 before accepting the post of director general and returning, though his relationship with Butt has been frosty since; the pair recently exchanged bitter words publicly over Miandad’s salary. Incidentally, Miandad was also appointed to the board by Zardari, as the former captain acknowledges in the letter.”The chairman is being disapproved by the whole nation,” Miandad wrote. “Pakistan cricket is in real bad shape and the whole nation is looking towards me to be the saviour of their favourite sport. But unfortunately the chairman PCB is not willing to take me along and he has sidelined me for reasons only known to him.”The Pakistan team is currently in Australia where they have had terrible results, losing the Test series 3-0 and the ODIs 5-0.

Victor Orta is reportedly lining up a move to replace Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United…

What’s the word?

According to Valencian outlet Super Deporte (via Sport Witness), the Whites director of football has already made a first approach to former Granada boss Diego Martinez about the possibility of taking over from the Argentine.

It’s thought that everything points towards the 40-year-old being Bielsa’s replacement at Elland Road by the start of next season.

The Yorkshire giants have made a poor start to the 2021/22 season, having finished inside the top-ten last campaign, so the chances of the 66-year-old not renewing his contract is a distinct possibility.

Bye-bye Bielsa?

This may be a sign that Orta and co are prepared to make one of their biggest calls yet as life without Bielsa wouldn’t have crossed the minds of many around Thorp Arch.

The fan-favourite manager has been in dugout since June 2018, where he has since guided the club to the Premier League for the very first time in 16 years.

Across 155 matches, United have won 78 matches (50.3%), also averaging 1.66 goals and 1.68 points per game, via Transfermarkt, but it’s no secret that injuries and perhaps poor – or a lack of – recruitment has curtailed their progress this term.

Leeds sit one place and two points above the relegation zone after 12 games, and whilst there is plenty of time still left in the season, just two wins is worrying reading.

Martinez would be a really intriguing option from Orta, seeing as he’s never managed outside of Spain across a near 18-year coaching career, having held roles as an assistant at Sevilla and manager at Osasuna.

He has even achieved promotion to LaLiga with Granada and then steered them into the Europa League, making the quarter-finals last term.

However, given the loyalty and admiration to Bielsa around Elland Road, this move would certainly be a surprising one from Orta and it is perhaps even more strange given the timing.

Of course, Leeds need to think about post-Bielsa but you can’t help but feel he is far from finished in his journey here.

AND in other news, Bielsa gifted double Leeds United injury boost as Thorp Arch footage emerges…

Manchester United may keep Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in charge until the end of the season.

That’s according to reliable reporter Samuel Luckhurst of The Manchester Evening News, and, as to be expected, his update has had plenty of Red Devils fans talking.

Solskjaer has been under pressure at Old Trafford following comprehensive home defeats to rivals Liverpool and Manchester City prior to the international break.

Recent reports claimed that Leicester City’s Brendan Rodgers reached a verbal agreement to take over from Solskjaer.

Luckhurst shared a story on Wednesday morning, claiming Solskjaer could remain in charge until the end of the campaign due to a lack of readily available replacements.

He added that Rodgers could be the man to replace Solskjaer, while the United hierarchy are also impressed by Ajax coach Erik Ten Hag and Spain coach Luis Enrique after deciding a change of manager will eventually be required.

United fans react

@utdreport shared the claim on Solskjaer potentially seeing out the 2021/22 campaign on Twitter. This is what these fans had to say in reply, with many not happy at that possibility.

“Will this pain ever end?”

Credit: @omartamimm

“You’re actually joking”

Credit: @AJLawton1

“oh goodness.”

Credit: @blobsterino

“This club is Truly FINISHED. I’m done watching this team”

Credit: @abkhani_

“This will be a very painful year. Football is supposed to be entertaining.”

Credit: @FhelleStarck

“We are finished as a football club”

Credit: @abdkaba2021

Manchester United have received a boost in their prospective pursuit of Ajax manager Erik ten Hag as they continue to search for Ralf Rangnick’s long-term successor.

What’s the story?

Rangnick took charge of his first United game over the weekend after arriving at the club as an interim manager until the end of the season before taking up a consultancy role for the subsequent two years.

However, talk has already turned to who could replace the 63-year-old next summer, and Ten Hag appears to have opened the door to a potential switch, explaining that he feels he is ready for the next step in his managerial career. Speaking amid speculation with United, he said:

“I think I’m ready for it (to move to a top foreign club),” the Dutchman told de Volkskrant. “I would be happy to take up that challenge. But I’m not chasing it.

“If it turns out that that step will never come, I will not say that my coaching career has failed. But I think I have sufficient competencies to take on that challenge.”

Man Utd fans would love him

Current Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino has been widely regarded as the favorite to take over the Old Trafford hot seat in recent months, but Ten Hag may prove to be a more appropriate appointment.

During his four-year stay at Ajax, the Dutch tactician has achieved a remarkable win percentage of 74% after coming out victorious in 139 of his 188 games in charge of the capital club.

Ten Hag has also shown himself to be capable of claiming silverware on a regular basis, winning two Eredivisie titles, two Dutch Cups and one Dutch Super Cup, while guiding Ajax to the Champions League semi-final in 2018/19.

And his entertaining style of play and success on the pitch has earned him several plaudits, including Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

“Erik (ten Hag) is rightly regarded as one of the most exciting coaching talents in world football at the moment because of the work he does with Ajax,” Klopp said in December 2020.

“Of course, it is a wonderful club – one of the stellar names of European football – but in this moment it is clear they have outstanding leadership of the organisation, and Erik is a big part of that.”

Meanwhile, former striker Pierre Van Hooijdonk lauded his ability to develop young players, citing the raft of exciting talent to be produced under his tutelage at the Johan Cruyff ArenA.

“What he is managing to do with such young players is remarkable,” former striker Van Hooijdonk told TV station NOS in May 2019 (as relayed by Planet Football).

“The likes of (Matthijs) De Ligt, (Frenkie) De Jong and (Donny) Van de Beek have only just come out of the academy and are already playing like veterans. Ten Hag deserves huge credit.”

Whether the United hierarchy make a move for Ten Hag at the end of the current campaign remains to be seen, but the club’s supporters would surely welcome his arrival with open arms.

The Red Devils fanbase would relish the 51-year-old’s arrival due to his reputation for playing fast, exciting, football, something the 20-time English champions have traditionally prided themselves in.

And, in other news…Murtough must seal MUFC deal for £40k-p/w beast who “fits exactly” what Rangnick wants 

Celtic are reportedly closing in on the signing of Kawasaki Frontale defender Reo Hatate as the January transfer window approaches.

What’s the story?

According to the Daily Mail (as relayed by the Daily Record), the Hoops are expected to bring the 24-year-old to Glasgow on a free transfer at the beginning of 2022.

Hatate’s contract is set to expire in January and he was left in tears as he said farewell to Frontale fans after their most recent title success, indicating that an imminent exit is on the cards.

Talks between Celtic and the attack-minded left-back are said to be “well down the road” as Hoops manager Ange Postecoglou continues his rebuild at Parkhead.

He would be a dream transfer for Ange

Securing Hatate’s signature could be a dream transfer for Postecoglou after the 56-year-old admitted that further reinforcements are needed following Thursday’s 3-2 defeat at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen.

He said: “There is no doubt. We are still just four or five months into building a team and it was never going to happen in one transfer window.

“We know that we need more depth and players in certain areas that I think can help us to bridge the gap. You look at the Leverkusen side and they have quality all the way through.

“What we want to do is be able to compete at that level and we need to continue to look to improve our squad and add depth so that we can compete in lots of competitions.”

When taking into account just how impressive Hatate has been for Kawasaki Frontale in recent months, the former Japan under-21 international appears to be an ideal fit for Celtic’s ongoing revolution.

In his 29 J-League appearances throughout 2021, the £720k-rated gem bagged five goals and laid on a further two assists for his teammates, creating three big chances and providing 1.1 key passes per game along the way.

The player who Opta analyst Sacha Pisani claimed “has a rocket of a left foot” also impressed in the defensive aspect of his game, averaging 1.4 interceptions and 1.3 tackles per league match, while winning 5.3 duels per fixture.

Therefore, he could be an ideal acquisition over the winter as Celtic seek to reclaim their Premiership crown and end Rangers’ reign as Scottish champions.

In other news… Lost possession 21 times: £4.5m-rated Celtic passenger badly failed his manager v Leverkusen