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Wolverhampton Wanderers are finally up and running under Bruno Lage as the Old Gold scored their first goals and points of the season last weekend.

It has been a long and arduous few weeks for Wolves but they finally have something to savour.

What’s the word?

The transfer window has only just ended but already we’re seeing rumours resurface about Adama Traore’s future at Molineux.

He was linked with a move away from the Midlands on a regular basis this summer but Lage eventually managed to keep him at Wolves.

Traore had attracted the interest of Spurs who lodged a loan bid before submitting an offer in the region of £30m.

That was ultimately knocked back by his club who wanted to keep their best players unless a seismic offer came in.

That said, reporter Dean Jones has delivered a potentially crushing blow in an interview with GIVEMESPORT.

Speaking about events behind the scenes, he said: “I think Traore himself certainly has certain expectations bigger than Wolves in his career.”

Crushing blow

It is natural for a player of Traore’s calibre to see himself at a large club; he did come through Barcelona’s famous La Masia after all.

The Premier League’s big six have already registered their appeal in the dazzling winger with Liverpool having an interest in the past and Jurgen Klopp calling him “unplayable.”

That quote explains in a nutshell why he’d be such a huge loss to the Wolves squad.

The Spain international struggles for goals – he netted just twice last term – but on his day he is an electric ball of fun, capable of tearing apart the sternest of defences.

He has registered a whopping 9.5 dribbles per game from his four top-flight outings this campaign, a number that no other player across Europe’s top five leagues can usurp.

Wolves have had issues in attack this term and it took Lage’s side until the fourth game in the league to finally find the back of the net.

Traore hasn’t beaten the goalkeeper himself but he’s played a crucial part in some vibrant performances in the early days of the new manager’s tenure and he can change a match instantly.

They do have Pedro Neto to return from injury in the coming months but it’s evident that for the time being, their human roadrunner is one of the first names on the team sheet.

Based on that, Wolves can’t afford to lose him in January or beyond. It is a huge blow if Traore really does see his future away from the Old Gold and Lage will have every right to feel gutted.

He is undeniably the Portuguese coach’s main man right now.

AND in other news, Lage could unearth Wolves’ next Joao Moutinho in “intelligent” rarely-seen 19 y/o…

Many Wolves fans have been left fuming as an update emerged on their game at home against Brentford in the Premier League at Saturday lunchtime.

As per the official website of the Premier League, Stuart Attwell has now been appointed as the VAR official for the match.

He has already caused controversy in a game earlier on in the season involving the Midlands club, as he failed to give them a penalty in their 1-0 home loss to Tottenham Hotspur, which was heavily ridiculed by some members of the Molineux faithful.

Attwell has also given more yellow cards and yellows leading to reds to the Wanderers over any other side in his career so far (Transfermarkt), suggesting that they have not had the best of luck whenever he has been officiating.

Wolves fans on Attwell news

These WWFC supporters were left fuming as the update involving Attwell was shared by Talking Wolves on their Twitter page:

“Omg Attwell on VAR AGAIN”

Credit: @Pinhead1210

“Mad VAR decision incoming then”

Credit: @chayward_9

“The PL are trolling us hard with Attwell on VAR”

Credit: @UltimateJeffShi

“Might as well unplug VAR now as it won’t be needed with that clown”

Credit: @Johnboy42370177

“What is it with us and Attwell on VAR?”

Credit: @Wrightgal80

“This making me feel Att-unwell”

Credit: @Tom_Parker12

In other news, find out which ‘powerhouse’ Wolves could sign in January here!

كشف مصدر برابطة الأندية المصرية، عن الاستعدادات لنهائي كأس الرابطة بين فيوتشر وغزل المحلة.

غزل المحلة يواجه نظيره فيوتشر غدًا الخميس في نهائي بطولة كأس الرابطة التي تقام لأول مرة هذا الموسم، على استاد القاهرة الدولي.

وقال المصدر في تصريحات خاصة لـ “بطولات” إن رابطة الأندية وجهت الدعوة لمجلس إدارة اتحاد الكرة بالكامل لحضور نهائي كأس الرابطة، بين غزل المحلة وفيوتشر.

طالع أيضًا..  اتحاد الكرة يُعلن طاقم تحكيم إسباني لإدارة مباراة غزل المحلة وفيوتشر في نهائي كأس الرابطة

وأختتم: “وستوجه الرابطة الدعوة لنجوم الكرة المصرية بجانب اتحاد الكرة وأيضًا لوزير الشباب والرياضة، من أجل حضور النهائي الأول لهذه البطولة المُستحدثة حديثًا”.

Sheffield United are said to be favouring sending Daniel Jebbison out on loan to Belgian side Beerschot, according to The Sun.

What’s the story?

Jebbison caught the eye with some impressive showings towards the end of the 2020/21 season with United, as he featured after their relegation from the Premier League was confirmed.

The youngster scored on his first-team debut against Everton at Goodison Park and will have been hoping to build on that moving forwards into the new league campaign.

However, the Blades are seemingly set to send him out on loan for this season, with the likes of Doncaster, Burton Albion and Sunderland being reportedly interested in landing his signature.

The Sun claim that Sheff United are reportedly keen to send him out on loan to Belgian side Beerschot, instead of the Black Cats, where he could have gained valuable experience in English football at a senior level.

‘Shining light’

Jebbison is still only 18, and had an average Whoscored rating of 6.43 from the four appearances he made for United last term, as they dropped out of the top-flight after a disappointing season.

Speaking in an interview in the 2020/21 season (quotes sourced from Yorkshire Live), Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards issued high praise for Jebbison, and labelled him as ‘the shining light’.

“I really like the look of him. He just gets in the right areas, and they needed that with all the negativity that’s gone on at the club.

“You want to bounce back straight away, and you want to go to the end of the season with positivity. They’re playing for pride, and he’s the shining light.”

The forward is early into his senior career and you have to trust Slavisa Jokanovic’s judgement with this transfer update on Jebbison’s future.

The Blades already have a number of strong options in a similar position, and so you can understand Jokanovic’s decision on the 18-year-old moving forwards in the summer transfer window.

It’s refreshing to see him looking at sending Jebbison out on loan, as he could easily have him playing Under-23s football once again, but it looks as though he’ll be furthering his development with a move elsewhere before the transfer window closes.

However, it is surprising to see United looking to send him out on loan to Beerschot instead of Sunderland, who are likely to be able to offer him regular game time in English football.

English football is known for playing at a high intensity, compared to other leagues around Europe. Therefore, it has come as an eye-opener to see the Blades looking at sending him on loan to Beerschot, instead of a club in England.

The Black Cats are still searching for a replacement for Charlie Wyke, with the forward opting to pursue a move to Wigan Athletic instead. So, you would have imagined that Lee Johnson’s side would have been able to offer Jebbison regular game time in senior football. It’s surprising that United are choosing to send the youngster abroad rather than to another English side.

AND in other news…Sheffield United look set swoop for this Championship star…

Andrew Symonds has a month to prove his commitment to the Australia team ahead of the India tour after he was banished from the squad in Darwin for going fishing and missing a team meeting. The side’s leadership group sent Symonds home to Brisbane following the incident, which was the latest in a string of misdemeanours.Symonds is taking no part in the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh but the stand-in captain Michael Clarke said that provided Symonds could “get his head right” there was no reason he would not be available for the India trip. Clarke said Symonds, one of his best friends within the squad, was usually terrific to have around because of his laid-back nature.”That’s why we love him,” Clarke said. “That’s why we want him as part of our squad, because he is such a great guy. But like I say, we believe as a leadership group and a team that he is not fulfilling commitments 100% and right now he needs some time away from the game.”Symonds’ passion for fishing is well documented and he took to the water early on Friday, the day before the first Bangladesh match. When a compulsory team meeting was called later that morning, Symonds did not know about it as he was already wetting a line. An optional training session was later held at the Marrara Cricket Ground, which he had already decided not to attend.The coach Tim Nielsen confirmed that Symonds was fishing and said his lack of preparedness left the group worried about how Symonds was mentally coping with his cricketing demands. “He wasn’t organised enough to understand what his commitments to the group were that day and therefore he missed it,” Nielsen said. “That to me raises concerns about how and what sort of space he’s in in his own mind.”The scenario ahead of a Bangladesh game is worryingly familiar for Symonds, who in 2005 was told not to play in Cardiff after turning up to the ground under the influence of alcohol. Australia went on to lose that match, the only time they have been defeated by Bangladesh in an ODI. Nielsen said drinking was not “a standout part of the decision-making” this time.Cricket Australia stressed that the incident itself was a minor one, although he has been told in the past that his contract would be revoked if he became involved in another serious incident. Their concern this time was with his ongoing attitude and the poor example he was setting for a young squad already missing Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee. His series of transgressions include failing to board the team bus in the Caribbean in June after sleeping in.In the past year Symonds has also been outspoken about not touring Pakistan and was involved in the race row with India’s Harbhajan Singh at the SCG. In the aftermath of the Sydney event Cricket Australia cut one of his columns for a Sunday newspaper and Symonds was also disappointed the players did not receive more backing from their employers.Following the Australian season he became the highest overseas signing with the Indian Premier League, joining the Deccan Chargers for US$1.35m. The Australian international players were desperate to appear in the tournament, despite previously complaining about overload, and had to deal with more of Cricket Australia’s administrative concerns.Symonds was told of the decision on Friday night in a meeting with the leadership group, which included Clarke, the coach Tim Nielsen, the team manager Steve Bernard, and Ponting via a teleconference. “Andrew was obviously very disappointed but he accepts our decision,” Clarke said. “I know Andrew pretty well – I hope he goes away from this and gets himself right and gets himself back into our team.”Symonds flew out for Brisbane on Saturday afternoon and the ball is now in his court as to how he will respond to the team’s concerns. A replacement player will be sent to Darwin to boost the squad, which had only 11 fully fit players available for the first match.Symonds’ most famous fishing incident came in 1999 when he went out with Matthew Hayden and their boat sank off Queensland’s North Stradbroke Island. The men were forced to swim for more than an hour through Moreton Bay in areas well-known for sharks. On that occasion everyone was relieved the pair returned in good health.Additional reporting by Peter English

After a damaging defeat to Manchester United last time out in the Premier League, Leeds United will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways when they take on Everton this afternoon.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side fell to a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of the Red Devils but will be confident of a far better outcome when they entertain the Toffees in their first game back in front of a full Elland Road crowd.

The Leeds manager may be tempted to make a couple of changes considering the nature of that defeat at Old Trafford, and one man who the Argentine should start from the off today is Junior Firpo.

The summer signing from Barcelona was brought on at half-time last Saturday, replacing Rodrigo at the break and seeing a tactical shift from Bielsa – the Spaniard went to his natural left-back role, and Stuart Dallas moved into central midfield.

Against an Everton side with an ageing Seamus Coleman at right-back, Firpo will feel confident of using his pace to hurt the Toffees defender going back towards his own goal.

Speaking to The Yorkshire Evening Post, player analyst Josh Hobbs said of the flying full-back: “My feeling is that he’s not great at winning the ball in duels but I don’t think it matters hugely. He is an excellent athlete and in our man-marking system that can cover for a few issues in defensive fundamentals.

“Going forwards, he’s a good dribbler – particularly when he gets up to speed and he can steam past players. He likes to play a pass into midfield and then sprint down the line to receive in behind and get into the box.”His delivery in wide areas is usually a fizzed low cross, which is dangerous as often if the player at the front post misses it, can be met by somebody running centrally or to the back post.”In his real breakthrough season with Real Betis during the 2018/19 campaign, Firpo managed three goals and four assists in La Liga, as well as averaging 0.8 shots, 0.8 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per game.The £7.2m-rated ace has the attacking instincts to cause real problems for the Toffees this afternoon, and Bielsa should be throwing him into the starting line-up after his runout against Manchester United last weekend.He could be the game-changer the Whites need.

Meanwhile, Phil Hay has confirmed a major Leeds United boost…

As per L’Equipe, Tottenham have held talks to sign Marcus Thuram from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach.

The Lowdown: Season approaching

With Nuno Espirito Santo now in charge at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs can now properly look ahead to the 2021/22 campaign.

However, if they want to compete towards the top end of the table after a seventh-placed finish last term, they must make some transfer headway soon – they are yet to make a single new signing this summer.

The Latest: Spurs eye Thuram

As per this report from L’Equipe, Spurs have held talks to sign France international Thuram.

Serie A duo Roma and Napoli have both also been linked with a move for the 23-year-old winger. whose father Lilian was a legend of French football.

The Verdict: Top talent

Thuram would no doubt be a quality signing for Spurs if they could get him through the door. Since making the move to Monchengladbach, he has managed 25 goals and 21 assists in 79 appearances (Transfermarkt).

His time there has not been without controversy – he received a six-game ban after spitting at Hoffenheim’s Stefan Posch last season (The Guardian) – but he has generally been a success in Germany. Indeed. he appeared for France at Euro 2020 off the back of his displays at club level.

Gladbach midfielder Zakaria even called him “phenomenal” (via bulinews.com), and Thuram seems a quality player who could be a danger for Spurs in the Premier League. Valued at £31.5m by Transfermarkt, he would not come cheap, but Daniel Levy must speculate to accumulate if he wants Tottenham to be truly successful.

In other news, Tottenham have entered the race to sign this Ligue 1 ace.

When Graeme Hick takes to the field in Worcestershire’s Twenty20 Cup match against Somerset at New Road, he will set a record for the most games played in senior cricket.

Cricinfo staff19-Jun-2008
Graeme Hick: 42 and no sign of slowing down © Getty Images
When Graeme Hick takes to the field in Worcestershire’s Twenty20 Cup match against Somerset at New Road, he will set a record for the most games played in senior cricket.It will be Hick’s 1196th match – taking into account all county, representative and international appearances – and that takes him past Graham Gooch’s career aggregate.”It’s not really that meaningful to me, apart from the fact that I have had a long ride and a very enjoyable one,” Hick told the BBC. “If nobody had mentioned it, I wouldn’t have even realised as it’s not the sort of milestone you go out to set. I’d rather just get it out of the way so that people stop asking the question.”Asked for his most special memory, Hick, in his 24th season at Worcestershire, said: “I think maybe my hundred against the West Indies, which brought up my thousand runs, in May in 1988, was my personal favourite. But there have been some important knocks along the way that have been quite influential in the results of games and they are always the ones that you enjoy the most.”Although he is 42. Hick’s appetite for the game remains undiminished and he is only 1386 runs shy of 65,000 in his career, and 13 catches short of 1000.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians fala em garantir a classificação na semifinal do Campeonato Paulista, neste domingo, contra o Botafogo-SP, nos 90 minutos, mas se preparou para ter de decidir a vaga nos pênaltis. Na véspera do duelo na Arena, titulares e até mesmo reservas ensaiaram cobranças.

O aproveitamento da marca dos 11 metros foi bom por parte dos titulares, apesar de Jadson e Fagner terem errado uma de suas duas batidas. Guilherme Arana foi um dos poucos que não treinou.

Já os reservas foram chamados para cobrarem pênaltis após o treino técnico, antes de deixarem o campo. Cada um dos relacionados para a partida deu um chute.

O Timão já encarou uma disputa de pênaltis nesta temporada e venceu. Foi contra o Brusque, pela segunda fase da Copa do Brasil. Na ocasião, apenas Jadson errou.

Corinthians e Botafogo-SP empataram sem gols a primeira partida das quartas de final do Paulista, em Ribeirão Preto, e decidirão a classificação nos pênaltis em caso de nova igualdade.

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Otago Cricket will utilise an unchanged selection panel for the 2002/03 State Otago Volts side.Volts coach Glenn Turner will again convene the panel and he’ll be joined again by the Invercargill-based Chris Taylor and former Otago representative Michael Austen.That trio will enlist the services of Otago’s coaching director Mike Hesson in selecting the Otago A side, Hesson to coach that team, and all four will play a part in the naming of the Otago Development XI, which will be coached by Taylor.