Aaron Nye will make his ING Cup debut for Queensland, missing four players on national duty in India, in the opening match of the domestic season against New South Wales at the Gabba on Sunday.Nye, 25, is expected to fill a middle-order role and will be hoping his domestic limited-overs career follows a similar path to his initial first-class experience.In 2003-04 Nye became the third Queensland batsman to score a century on Pura Cup debut when he made 102 against New South Wales at the SCG, an innings that helped Queensland snatch a spot in the final.The Bulls will be without the Test squad representatives Matthew Hayden, Michael Kasprowicz, Nathan Hauritz and Shane Watson, but Andrew Symonds and Wade Seccombe will return after missing the final loss to Western Warriors at the Gabba in February.New South Wales will depart for a training camp on the Sunshine Coast tomorrow and play warm-up matches against Victoria and Tasmania.Queensland Jimmy Maher (c), Martin Love, Andrew Symonds, Clinton Perren, Aaron Nye, James Hopes, Wade Seccombe, Chris Simpson, Andy Bichel, Ashley Noffke, Shane Jurgensen, Craig Philipson. (12th man to be named).New South Wales Brad Haddin (c),Nathan Bracken, Shawn Bradstreet, Stuart Clark, Phil Jaques, Jason Krejza, Greg Mail, Stuart MacGill, Don Nash, Matthew Nicholson, Aaron O’Brien, Matthew Phelps, Dominic Thornely (one to be omitted).
John Buchanan, the coach of the Australian team, wrote what he insisted was a “private” letter to the players after they were bowled out for 196 on the fourth day of the Adelaide Test. The Press Trust of India (PTI) has got hold of that letter, one that reveals his disappointment and the deep-rooted bond between him and his players.Buchanan’s disappointment was evident when he wrote, “I am so disappointed with the soulless, un-Baggy Green, immature performance [at Adelaide]. I love each and every one of you but like my own family, you thrill, you frustrate, you anger. I question, what progress have we made as a team, as individuals.”He also voiced his concern over the player’s priorities. “In the lead-up to this game and up till tonight, the issues that have dominated conversations, priorities and by definition (I may well be incorrect), your attention/focus/clarity-deal-making; sponsors, Tug’s [Steve Waugh’s] farewell to Adelaide; helmets; what the media is saying about you.”He cited a specific example to bring out the tough situations that the team had responded to in the past. “About this time, four years ago in Hobart [against Pakistan in 1999], Gilly [Adam Gilchrist] and JL [Justin Langer] responded to a `no-win’ situation with courage, conviction, and a toughness of character and concentration that is the pure fabric of the Australian cricket team. Today the only similar response I saw was Willo [Brad Williams who had injured his shoulder] bowling, batting, throwing and diving at mid-off!! What has happened in the interim?”Buchanan concluded by looking forward to the next two Test matches at Melbourne and Sydney. He adds, “However if the result does not go our way [in the Adelaide Test] then we would expect to see the Baggy Green spirit…the courage of Willo, Gilly, JL to be clearly on show to you all so that we march to the MCG and the SCG playing in the spirit.”When asked about the letter, Buchanan said it was “disappointing if it found its way anywhere.” He added: “It’s a matter between myself and the players, not just the players, the whole team. That would be my only comment.”This is not the first time that a leaked letter from Buchanan has found its way into the newspapers. On the Ashes tour in 2001, an inspirational note invoking theories put forward by Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, intended as a gee-up for his players, was pushed under the door of a reporter by accident.
The day after taking two wickets and scoring 41 runs in England’s second defeat at the hands of the Australians, Somerset all rounder Ian Blackwell reflected on the situation in the VB one day series.He told me: "What a formidable side the Aussies are, they are world class and will be very hard to beat. We knew things would be tough, especially with the young squad we have. We spoke before the tournament and we all agreed that Sri Lanka would be our ticket into the finals. We now have two massive games against them tomorrow and on Thursday."Regarding his own form he told me: "I am very pleased with the way that I am bowling and batting at the moment. I have come on in very difficult situations in each of the games and have performed amicably in both which has given me confidence in playing at the higher level."He continued: " Sometimes you can’t do much when you get a first baller, maybe a few nerves creep in and you don’t execute the shot quite as you would if you had been in for a little while.But these things happen in cricket which is why we play the game."`Blackie’ concluded: " I have learned a lot playing in these conditions and against the best players in the world. Things will be hard from here on in, the challenge has been laid down and I’m keen to take it up."
Part of New Zealand cricket’s tradition has slipped away with the news that Shell will no longer sponsor our domestic competitions.When a wrinkled one, such as myself, starts to talk about tradition and sponsorship in the same wheeze it might seem time to put on the carpet slippers and trade-in the exercycle.Yet Shell became the most munificent supporters of cricket in New Zealand with a gentlemanly regard for the ethics of the game and the support of those media people who covered cricket on newsprint, radio wave or television screen. Mainly because there was such a strong and sensible cricketing current running through the Shell administrations over the last 25 or so years.One of the first Shell men to work toward NZ cricket sponsorship was Trevor Barber, the former dashing Wellington captain who deserved more than one Test cap. Barber was with Shell in Auckland, a longish putt from the Herald office where I worked, and with a congenial hostelry just across the road. Barber, and perhaps Shell, did not want to belittle the great history of the Plunket Shield, and for a time there was the suggestion the two famous names be tacked together.My comment to Barber was that a hybrid trophy would offer no respect to Lord Plunket, nor sufficient commercial clout to Shell. So the Shell Trophy and later the Shell Cup came into existence. And flourished from Day One.When the sponsorship was first announced at Lancaster Park, David Tudhope, the head serang for Shell, politely side-stepped when I asked the cash amount of the three-year-sponsorship. That was a very sensitive issue, said Tudehope, not least because Shell was in the process of a wage blarney with their drivers, and they might not like the idea of Shell diverting thousands of dollars to cricket sponsorship.Why not ask the drivers what they think about the sponsorship, was my suggestion. Some days later Tudehope phoned back. The drivers thought the cricket sponsorship was a cracker idea, and by the way, it is about $120,000 over the first three years.With that basically sensible, straight-shooting approach the Shell sponsorship became a valuable and perfectly natural part of cricket coverage throughout New Zealand.It helped, of course, that there was a strong strand of cricket support among the Shell top brass. Tom McArthur almost overnight became a permanent and popular part of Auckland cricket. Barber flew the flag bravely, so did Barry Dineen later on, and doubtless there was similarly warm reaction throughout the country.In Auckland, Shell took over the media briefing and launch of each season – perhaps a couple of dozen folk, a few drinks and nibbles, a supply of that invaluable Cricket Almanack, and a generally genial introduction to another summer. Lately, and inevitably, the style of sponsorship changed. Shell began to direct more and more money to wildlife and charitable causes. In fact, with the heavier tread of the sponsors who clambered aboard the international team wagon, Shell must have wondered whether their loyalty was being over-stretched, their long financial support no longer given the strong billing it deserved.So it was probably inevitable that Shell, no longer the centre of cricketing attention, gradually turned its chequebook in other directions. But at least they left New Zealand cricket by the front door, and in style.Cricket will be lucky to gain such a loyal and long-service replacement for Shell. My only hope is that it is a sponsor with a handy headline-sized handle. Many years ago when the New Zealand Motor Corporation sponsored one-day cricket the NZMC principals sometimes wondered why they could not get their sponsorship mentioned in newspaper headlines or in the introductory paragraph of a match report. They were told that if they re-labelled the sponsorship as providing the Austin Shield or the Vauxhall Cup they would get more newspaper mileage. No-one in their right mind would throw the full New Zealand Motor Corporation Knockout into a headline or story. Surely there is a sponsor out there with a neat four or five-letter title so the tradition of the Shell series, Trophy and Cup, can be maintained.
After joining Celtic on a season-long loan deal last August, Jota rather quickly established himself as a first-team regular at Parkhead, with the 22-year-old turning in a number of highly impressive performances for Ange Postecoglou’s side.
Indeed, the Portugal U21 international has so far scored ten goals and registered ten assists over his 32 appearances for the Hoops, leading to widespread calls for the Celtic board to activate their option to buy clause for the Benfica starlet – believed to be worth around £6.5m.
However, as the forward’s form has dropped off somewhat since the turn of the year, with the £18.5k-per-week dynamo currently being on a run of 15 games in which he has scored just two goals, would it still be wise for Postecoglou to make a move for Jota this summer? Our writers give their verdicts below…
Matt Dawson
“If Celtic can get a deal across the line for Jota then it would be a seriously eye-catching signing. Ange Postecoglou hasn’t been afraid to dip his toe into the market since becoming Hoops boss but this would undoubtedly be his best piece of business yet.
“Forget Kyogo, forget Reo Hatate and forget Cameron Carter-Vickers. All of them have been superb in the green and white but none possess the quite frightening potential that Jota has in his locker.
“Capable of opening up the sternest of defences, the Portuguese dynamo has racked up 20 goal involvements in all competitions this term, showcasing his stunning ability in the final third.
“Like McGeady, he can leave the full-back in a spin and it would not be a surprise if, further down the line, he sources a transfer fee that eclipses that of £25m Kieran Tierney and £13m Virgil van Dijk when they left Parkhead.
“A mesmerising talent who is taking Scottish football by storm in his debut campaign, a deal simply must be completed this summer to take Celtic on a further gear under Postecoglou.”
Vijievan Jeevathayalan
“Getting Jota in on a permanent deal should be an absolute no-brainer for Ange Postecoglou.
“The Portuguese wizard has fans on the edge of their seats with his close control and skilful dribbling, and it’s no surprise that, among his current teammates, he ranks second and third for dribbles and key passes per game this season.
“The Hoops have already had a small taster of what Jota can bring to the table, and ensuring he stays on a permanent basis would be a masterstroke from Ange.
“If Celtic are intent on creating a new era of dominance in Scottish football, then having quality players like Jota in the fold, is what will scare their rivals.
“Indeed, with a full league campaign under his belt, he’d light up Celtic Park even more than he already has.”
James Thompson
“Jota has already proven during his time at Celtic exactly what he offers the side in terms of intense attacking play and plenty of goals and assists – making it a no brainer for the club to try and sign him permanently.
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“With a higher average of shots per game in the Scottish Premiership than the likes of Liel Abada, Kyogo Furuhashi and Giorgos Giakoumakis this season, the Portuguese starlet has what it takes to terrorise teams in Scotland and Europe for years to come.
“Looking to the summer transfer window, signing Jota on a permanent deal would undoubtedly have the Parkhead faithful buzzing and give Ange Postecoglou a deadly attacking option in his squad moving forward.”
AND in other news: £3.5m down the drain: Celtic’s “rank rotten” £43k-p/w “passenger” rinsed Peter Lawwell
Fernando Torres’ move to Chelsea caused much annimosity at Anfield, as the Spaniard went from being a club hero to a villain in the flash of an eye.
Glancing through player transfers over the last fifteen years, it is clear that Torres is not the first to endure the wrath of a particular set of fans after claiming love for his club, however, this season has seen a particular rise in players risking the wrath of their supporters by asking for high profile transfers to clubs with bigger ambitions or simply to sides providing a higher wage packet.
Ambition is not a bad thing in football, but some of the players on this list may have wished they hadn’t chosen their local rivals as a destination on leaving their previous employers.
Honourable, or rather dis-honourable mentions must go out to Gareth Barry, Nick Barmby, Javier Mascherano and Darren Bent, but each member of this top 10 have found a way to rub their club’s supporters up the wrong way.
Click on the image of a young Wayne Rooney scoring for Everton to see the Top TEN
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Arsenal need a win to ensure that they qualify automatically for the Champions’ League group stages and not fall into the lottery that is the qualifiers. Arsene Wenger couldn’t understand the reasons behind last week’s limp performance and he will be hoping for a positive response tomorrow afternoon.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Arsenal blogs that includes Ivan should ignore ticket farce at his peril; Wilshere makes a new acquaintance, while the real reason Walcott hasn’t hit the heights.
We also look at the best Arsenal articles around the web this week.
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Caption Competition: Jack Wilshere makes a new acquaintance
Would Arsenal welcome back old boy with open arms?
Would anyone care if Wenger were to cash in?
Arsenal should ignore this ticket farce at their peril
The real reason why Walcott hasn’t hit the heights… yet
Arsenal’s NEW No.2?
Starting to realise what Wenger has been on about all these years
Harry and Arsene on transfer alert as a fire sale looks likely
An ideology that the likes of Wilshere and Carroll would be key to
Ramsey proving that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Arsene Wenger weighs up double swoop
Arsenal braced for £9m Cham bid
*Best of WEB*
Why Arsenal don’t need a Plan B just two Plan A’s – Gunnersphere
It’s not us, Arsene. It’s you…It’s definitely you – Online Gooner
Arsène, It’s Easy. Sign & Motivate – Just Get On With It – A Cultured Left Foot
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Is Arsene Wenger a bad manager? – Le Grove
Diaby is to blame! Two young keepers have a great future!…… – Highbury House
On Sunday, the news finally came that Sven-Goran Eriksson had been appointed as manager of Leicester City. It was not a shock, the papers and media had been circulating the story soon after the unfortunate Paulo Sousa lost his job, but you certainly would not have predicted the former England manager would be taking over the Foxes at the beginning of the season. Since leaving the England job, Eriksson has not experienced a great deal of success as a manager, so is it a good appointment by the Leicester City board, and is having Sven back in English football a good thing?
Sven-Goran Eriksson has an enviable CV. After winning a host of trophies across Europe, Eriksson became manager of Rome giants Lazio in 1997, and this was where he established himself as one of top managers in the European game. Eriksson’s greatest glory came in 2000, where he ended Lazio’s 26 year wait for a Serie A title, and it had made the FA’s ears prick up. In January 2001, Eriksson became the first foreign manager of the English national team, and although by the end of his reign at England he was widely derided, the subsequent woes of other England managers have made Sven’s achievement of three consecutive quarter-finals look pretty good.
Eriksson’s career since his departure from the England job has not gone the way he would have wanted. I felt he was harshly treated at Manchester City, he enjoyed a sensational start to the season and inflicted two defeats on arch-rivals Manchester United, but the club faded in the second half of the season and this seemed to condemn him to losing his job. An unsuccessful spell as manager of Mexico followed, after which we saw a bizarre move to Notts County where he was installed as director of football. In the World Cup he managed Ivory Coast, and whilst they were in a tough group, it was a disappointing result that they were not able to make it beyond the group stage.
The last few years of Eriksson’s career may not have been his most glorious, but he has also not been given very much time in any of his last three managerial roles, and it would be harsh to judge him too negatively. I actually think Eriksson is a good manager, he may not wear his heart on his sleave but he is tactically astute, a calming presence and a good operator in the transfer market. I thought Paulo Sousa’s sacking was ridiculously premature but I also think Eriksson will prove to be a good appointment by Leicester’s board, so long as they give him enough time.
One huge positive for Leicester City is that Eriksson will be able to attract some very good players to the club. His reputation and name is such that footballers will want to play under him, and in the transfer market he will increase the attractiveness of joining Leicester massively. He is also simply a good manager, and whilst automatic promotion may now be too much to ask, the play-offs are still a distinct possibility, and how often have we seen the sides making a late run into the top six be the team that triumphs and gets promoted.
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Eriksson obviously believes Leicester City have the ambition and the capability to make it to the Premier League, and the board have made a big statement of their intent by signing up the Swede. Sven’s return to English football is in my opinion a good thing, and the main beneficiaries will be those involved at Leicester City.
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Patrick Vieria has stated that he feels that Premier League referees are singling out Manchester City players for punishment, and believes his side are getting short shrift from the officials.
The former France midfielder is now a football development executive at the Etihad Stadium outfit, and has complained about the standard of refereeing.
“It felt like that anything that City will do will be amplified and we get punished, compared to the other teams and the other players” Vieria stated to Mirror Football.
“I don’t want to think about it because I don’t want to say everyone is against City or anything like that.
“But when you look at the last few decisions, you are asking yourself if something is wrong here, if people don’t want us to win the league,” he continued.
Vieria was also quick to point out Frank Lampard’s tackle on Adam Hammill and Peter Crouch’s eye gouging of Jonas Olsson both were punished not as severely as Vincent Kompany’s red card against Manchester United.
“Lampard’s tackle looked dangerous compared to Vincent’s. Crouch, when he put his finger in the eye of another player, looked bad as well.
“We try our best to win the league, we accept our punishment. But when you look what is happening to the other ones, that makes us as a football club really frustrated.
“It seems like if you have one referee you get one decision but if you have a different referee the decision may also be different.
“It’s difficult to understand some decisions compared to the decisions we had. I think this is what brings the confusion. The confusion is dangerous for our game.
“Players are saying that they don’t know what the rules mean and if they are likely to be sent off or not.
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“Confusion is really dangerous, especially for the referee and the refereeing body. I believe that they’re making the referee’s job more and more difficult.
“A good referee is someone who referees with his personality and with common sense, to make the decision he thinks is right at the moment, not because he’s afraid of the consequences,” he concluded.
Juventus gave up a two-goal lead as their hopes of claiming a European spot took a blow after a 2-2 draw with Chievo in the Serie A.Luigi Del Neri’s team had gone 2-0 up in Turin on Monday when striker Alessandro Matri found the net 10 minutes into the second half, only to concede twice in as many minutes to settle for a point.
Veteran forward Alessandro Del Piero opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 13 minutes, days after signing a one-year contract extension with the club.
He set up Matri for the second as Juventus looked set to narrow the gap on sixth-placed Lazio to one point.
But goals from Colombian striker Fernando Uribe and defender Gennaro Sardo had Chievo level after 69 minutes.
Juventus could not find a winner, leaving them three points adrift of Lazio and five from fourth-placed Udinese with two games remaining.
The point means Chievo are guaranteed to be in the top flight next season after shooting seven points clear of the drop zone.