All posts by h716a5.icu

Danny Cowley’s Portsmouth side are interested in a deal to bring Harry Toffolo to Fratton Park this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to the BBC reporter Andrew Moon, who claimed in a post on Twitter that Pompey are targeting the Huddersfield Town left-back ahead of a potential move in the upcoming transfer window.

Catlin must swoop

Having joined the Terriers from Lincoln City back in January of 2020, Toffolo has so far gone on to make 51 appearances for the club, scoring three goals and providing seven assists along the way.

In the season just gone, the 25-year-old highly impressed over his 31 Championship fixtures, scoring two goals, registering three assists and creating four big chances for his teammates, as well as helping his side keep eight clean sheets and making an average of 1.9 interceptions, 0.8 tackles and 1.1 key passes per game, culminating in an average SofaScore match rating of 6.91 – ranking him as the club’s joint fifth-best player in the second tier.

However, considering just how well the £1.62m-rated defender performed for Huddersfield last season, it is questionable whether, firstly, the club would be willing to let him go this summer and, secondly, whether he would be willing to drop back down in division.

Although, Danny Cowley could prove to be a decisive factor in the potential switch, as the 42-year-old has signed Toffolo on two separate occasions in the past, firstly for Lincoln back in 2018 and then for Huddersfield in 2020.

As such, when taking into account the faith the Portsmouth manager has shown in him previously, perhaps the former England U20 international will be more inclined to make the move to League One this summer.

And, with Cowley obviously being a fan of the defender – whom he himself dubbed as “rampaging”, “hard-working” and “one of the best human beings we have ever worked with” – it would seem highly advisable for Mark Catlin to do all he can to land the £7.5k-per-week ace for his manager this summer, as the relationship between the two could well prove to be a key factor in Pompey securing a play-off position next season.

Kim Barnett’s unbeaten 92 led Gloucestershire to 247-7 on the first day ofthe Cricinfo Championship Division Two match with Middlesex atBristol

Mark Easterbrook09-May-2001Kim Barnett’s unbeaten 92 led Gloucestershire to 247-7 on the first day ofthe Cricinfo Championship Division Two match with Middlesex atBristol.Play ended 20 overs early because of bad light and 40-year-old Barnett, theoldest player on the county circuit, will have his sights on the 58thfirst-class hundred of his career when he resumes tomorrow.At 58-3 in the morning and then 162-6 in mid-afternoon, Gloucestershirelooked to be heading for a below-par score on a typically slow County Groundpitch.But Barnett was in obdurate mood and he found good partners throughout theday in Ian Harvey, Reggie Williams and Mike Cawdron.Home skipper Mark Alleyne elected to bat first when he won the toss and,following an opening stand of 43 between Tim Hancock and Rob Cunliffe, SimonCook claimed three wickets for seven runs in the space of 12 balls.He had Hancock caught at extra cover, Matt Windows at mid-off and Cunliffesnapped up by wicket-keeper David Nash.Harvey, back in the team after a chest problem ruled him out of the Benson& Hedges Cup defeat by Somerset on Monday, then helped Barnett add 93 forthe fourth wicket.The Australian struck seven boundaries in his 41 before he attempted to cutan Angus Fraser delivery which bounced a bit more than expected and he wascaught by Nash.Alleyne fell for a duck, lbw as he pushed well forward to Tim Bloomfield,and Jeremy Snape quickly followed him back to the pavilion after he drove acatch to Cook at extra cover off Bloomfield.Williams, however, provided gritty support to Barnett in a seventh-wicketstand of 55. The Gloucestershire wicket-keeper took ten balls to get off themark with a single and then required a further 32 deiveries to score again.Williams became Nash’s third victim behind the stumps when he drove at PaulWeekes’s off-spin, but that was Middlesex’s last success of the day.Cawdron was unbeaten on 15 when umpires Neil Mallender and Allan Jonesbrought the players off the field just after 5.30pm.

Queens Park Rangers will look to complete deals to bring a number of their loan stars back to the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to the Rs’ manager Mark Warburton, who, speaking to West London Sport, claimed that he would like to bring all four of Charlie Austin, Stefan Johansen, Sam Field and Jordy de Wijs back to the club ahead of next season.

He said: “With Charlie, Stefan, Jordy and Sam we have been very lucky. They have adapted to our style of play and it suits their games and they have suited us perfectly. That doesn’t often happen. You can get loans where it is difficult and you have young players who can’t adapt, but in this case, it has worked out really well for us.

“They have embraced the way we play. They are footballers who want to get on the ball, be brave and play forward. All these things you hear managers say, they sound like the same old rhetoric, but the fact is that every party benefited.

“Do they enjoy coming to work to play for QPR? I think the answer is yes. I hope very much we can [sign them] but you never know and you always have to have alternatives.”

Fans will be buzzing

Considering just how impressive all four of the players Warburton discusses have been for QPR since arriving at the club in the January transfer window, it is unsurprising to hear that the 58-year-old would like to bring them back to west London once again this summer.

Arguably the most impressive performer of the quartette has been the Hull City defender De Wijs, as, over his nine Championship appearances for the Hoops, the £1.08 million-rated centre-back has made an average of 1.3 interceptions, one tackle and 5.1 clearances per game, culminating in an average SofaScore match rating of 7.19 – ranking him as the club’s best performer in the second tier.

The £1.8 million-rated Fulham midfielder Stefan Johansen has also highly impressed during his short time at the Rs, scoring four goals, providing two assists and making an average of 1.6 key passes over his 21 league appearances, with his average SofaScore match rating of 7.00 ranking him as the club’s sixth-best performer in the Championship.

The West Bromwich Albion duo of the £1.8 million-rated Charlie Austin and the £900,000-rated Sam Field have also been in fine form for the club, with Austin bagging eight goals and providing one assist over his 21 league appearances, averaging a SofaScore match rating of 6.94, while Field has made an average of 1.1 interceptions, 1.4 tackles and 1.3 clearances over his 19 Championship fixtures, culminating in an average SofaScore match rating of 6.74.

As such, considering the impact all four have had on QPR’s form since their January arrivals, with Warburton’s side winning 13, drawing two and losing seven of their last 21 fixtures – results that have left them sitting in fourth place in the Championship table over this 21 game period – the fact that Warburton is keen to bring the quartette back to the club this summer is likely to have fans buzzing, as retaining these players would appear highly beneficial in terms of the Rs mounting a promotion push next season.

In other news: Get him gone: Warburton must axe £7k-p/w QPR flop this summer, fans have had enough – opinion

South Africa’s cricketers put the controversy of the past 24 hours behindthem with a courageous 53-run win in the sixth one-day international at theQueen’s Park Oval, dismissing the home side for 137 after they themselveswere bundled out for 190

Marcus Prior12-May-2001South Africa’s cricketers put the controversy of the past 24 hours behindthem with a courageous 53-run win in the sixth one-day international at theQueen’s Park Oval, dismissing the home side for 137 after they themselveswere bundled out for 190.Fielding an 11 which included all five of the players implicated inthe drug scandal which hit the team on Friday, South Africa dug as deep asthey have had to all tour and simply ground the West Indies out of a gamethey must have thought was theirs.It was a memorable day for debutant Andre Nel, the youngster picking up3-20 and looking for all the world like he was born to the internationalstage. The only disappointment for Nel was that he was not on the field atthe end of the game after pulling up lame in his ninth over.The fall of the first wicket was a special moment for Nel, Ganga’s edgeto Justin Kemp at first slip providing the huge fast bowler with his firstinternational scalp. Ganga made 11 as he and Shivnarine Chanderpaulstruggled to score off Nel and Shaun Pollock’s controlled line on or aroundoff-stump.Chanderpaul then played a supporting role as Brian Lara (43) began totake control. Lara looked in superb touch, driving Roger Telemachus throughcover for four and the next over pulling Jacques Kallis to the midwicketfence for four more.He struck two further boundaries in the first over from Kemp, but as heand Chanderpaul faltered over a single, Jonty Rhodes provided a masterclassin ground fielding, swooping from backward point and throwing down thestumps at the non-striker’s end with Lara well short of his ground. It wasprobably the moment South Africa started to believe.Chanderpaul’s vigil was then ended by a brilliant piece of bowling fromleft-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams, the batsman misreading a googly as hecame down the wicket to present Mark Boucher with a rare stumping.Chanderpaul gone for 27 from 84 balls.Nel then produced a double blow. The first was a brilliant climbingleg-cutter which Carl Hooper (8) nicked to Boucher, the second a horriblelong-hop at which Ricardo Powell (0) swung wildly to give Boucher anothercatch. The West Indies 108-5 and requiring over six an over.When Marlon Samuels swung wildly at Roger Telemachus and was bowled for 29,South Africa knew they had the game won. Ridley Jacobs (7) had already swungKallis high to Adams at deep square leg, and after Dinanath Ramnarine (1)edged Kemp to Boucher, Telemachus struck again, bowling Kerry Jeremy for aduck.Pollock tore the ball from Telemachus as he went in search of the finalwicket, which he duly claimed, Corey Collymore adjudged leg-before for one.Earlier South Africa struggled their way to 190 all out as the WestIndies bowlers backed their captain’s decision to field first with a superbcollective effort on a pitch that offered generous assistance throughout,paceman Cameron Cuffy playing a star role.Opening the bowling, Cuffy worked through his ten overs in one spell,claiming the wickets of both openers and finishing with 2-26 as South Africastruggled to get out of the blocks in their customary explosive manner.Neil McKenzie, back in the South African side for the first time sincethe first game of the series in Jamaica, top-scored with 73 from 117 ballsand held the innings together after Cuffy bowled Herschelle Gibbs for oneand trapped Boeta Dippenaar leg-before for seven. He was fifth out as hetried to accelerate, brilliantly caught by ‘keeper Jacobs (who earlierdropped him on 23) off Colleymore. It was his second one-day half-centuryand he hit eight fours.After the first two wickets fell with just 31 on the board, McKenzieshared a crucial stand of 92 for the third wicket with Kemp. The youngall-rounder hit three fours and a six before he was harshly adjudgedleg-before to Hooper for 46, television replays clearly indicating thebatsman was struck outside the line of off-stump.Jacques Kallis (3) was bowled by a Hooper delivery which turned sharply and keptlow as it squeezed between bat and pad, McKenzie followed soon afterwardsand then Pollock was smartly gathered by Samuels off his own bowlingfor five to leave South Africa 157-6.Although Jonty Rhodes and Mark Boucher steadied things briefly with astand of 23 for the seventh wicket, Boucher (3) was bowled by Jeremy, theball takng the inside-edge before clipping leg stump. Telemachus (2) playedon to Jeremy in similar fashion and Adams (6) was bowled having a wild oldslog at Samuels.Rhodes (25) was last out in the final over, carving Colleymore straightto Lara at backward point.

Adam Gilchrist will lead Australia in the one-day cricket match against Northamptonshire tomorrow while Steve Waugh takes a rest.

Will Swanton06-Jun-2001NORTHAMPTON – Adam Gilchrist will lead Australia in the one-day cricket match against Northamptonshire tomorrow while Steve Waugh takes a rest.Steve and Mark Waugh, Wade Seccombe and Shane Warne have been omitted as Australia continues its policy of rotating players.Fast bowler Nathan Bracken has been named in the XI despite having a minor shoulder strain.The match, starting at 8pm (AEST), is the last for Australia before back-to-back internationals against Pakistan and England in the tri-series tournament at Cardiff on the weekend.The team is: Adam Gilchrist (c), Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Michael Bevan, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Ian Harvey, Damien Fleming, Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Nathan Bracken (12th man to be added).

Xisco Munoz’s Watford have confirmed the signing of Kwadwo Baah.

What’s the latest?

According to a statement posted on Watford’s official website, the former Rochdale winger has signed a five-year contract with the Hornets and will link up with Xisco’s squad ahead of the club’s 2021/22 Premier League campaign.

In a separate report by the BBC, it is claimed that the England under-18 international cost Watford a ‘six-figure fee’ and had turned down the offer of a new deal at the Crown Oil Arena.

Xisco will be buzzing

The signing of Baah can be viewed as a rather large coup for Watford and represents a fine first piece of summer transfer business that Cristiano Giaretta has got over the line for his club.

The 18-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City in the January transfer window, with the deal only falling through due to an issue with his medical, while clubs such as Juventus, Bayern Munich, Rangers and West Ham United had also been credited with an interest in the youngster.

Indeed, the amount of interest in Bahh is hardly surprising when taking into account that the winger had scored three goals, provided two assists and created one big chance over his 30 League One appearances for Rochdale this season, only 13 of which came as starts.

However, while the forward – who can operate from either wing as well as a striker – will probably link up with Watford’s youth side before going on to make his Premier League debut, Xisco will undoubtedly be buzzing with the arrival of yet another highly-rated youngster, following the Hornets’ acquisition of Joao Pedro last year.

As such, with a Premier League campaign ahead of them, and a squad which is increasingly filling up with talented youngsters, things appear to be very much on the up at Vicarage Road.

In other news: Big Watford transfer news emerges on “outstanding” £3,000-a-week gem, fans will be gutted – opinion

Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a huge injury blow ahead of today’s crunch match with Leicester City…

What’s the latest?

Interim head coach Ryan Mason has confirmed that Japhet Tanganga will not make the trip to the King Power Stadium after suffering a serious injury during their 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa in midweek.

Speaking ahead of kick-off, he told reporters, via football.london:

“Japhet and Ben are the only two [absent] at the moment,” the 29-year-old revealed. “Japhet sustained a naughty ankle injury I think to his ligament so he won’t feature at the weekend and hopefully it isn’t too long for him out. Ben resumed some light training today [Friday] so they’re the only two at the moment who aren’t available for selection.”

Huge blow

This will come as worrying news to Mason as he has trusted the Hotspur Way academy graduate to start at right-back in recent outings, over both Serge Aurier and Matt Doherty, who were Jose Mourinho’s first choices.

The 22-year-old gem had started to come into this own in the role, putting in a solid performance against Wolves, building on his pair of outings against Aston Villa and Newcastle United over a month ago.

It now means Mason has a tough decision to make at right-back – does he go back to Aurier, who he’s not trusted in their last two outings, or will Doherty earn a rare start?

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/spurs-managerial-latest-update-transfer-rumours-gossip” title= “Read the latest Spurs news, managerial gossip, transfer rumours and more!”]

The Ivory Coast international has been blasted for his displays in recent matches. Jamie Carragher slammed him as “one of the biggest liabilities in the Premier League” and one that would “put you off management” following their Carabao Cup final defeat, for example.

Whilst at one stage, the Irishman looked to already be on his way out of the club after just one season, with ESPN reporting that Mourinho was close to putting him up for sale due to his poor performances back in late February.

It’s no wonder that Mason has turned to the young academy starlet as a result, so to not have him available in their biggest game of the season is certainly a devastating blow that’ll leave the caretaker manager hugely gutted.

Spurs have to pick up a victory to stand a chance of qualifying for Europe. A defeat, with results going against them elsewhere, would condemn the North London outfit to their first season without European football since 2009/10.

That will certainly make them a less attractive prospect for Daniel Levy’s next hire.

The Lilywhites could well rue the absence of young Tanganga today, and having to pick between Aurier and Doherty in such a crucial match is like having to pick your poison.

Good luck, Ryan.

AND in other news, Mason must brutally axe £75k-p/w flop who’s “not good enough” today, he’s holding Spurs back…

Tariq Saeed16-Jun-2001

Aston Villa must avoid making a major howler this summer as news emerges of Spurs’ transfer interest in Ollie Watkins.

What’s the story?

Reports from Football Insider had previously claimed Liverpool are keen on bringing in a new forward before next season and that they like the look of Watkins.

Now, Dean Smith’s side are set to face even more of a battle to keep hold of last summer’s star signing, with fellow Premier League side Spurs said to be eyeing the striker up too.

According to new reports, the Lilywhites have put Watkins high up on their transfer short-list should they lose Harry Kane this summer, with Southampton’s Danny Ings also said to be one of the names they’re looking at.

Forget Grealish

Make no mistake about it, while Jack Grealish would be a massive loss for Villa were he to leave, losing Watkins would be a hammer blow for Smith too, and it’s no wonder Lee Hendrie has insisted his former club must desperately keep him this summer.

After suggestions initially emerged that Liverpool were interested in signing Watkins, the ex-Villa star told FFC: “If you’re going to start selling those players to the bigger clubs, how are you meant to compete? I get that you’re possibly going to get £60m for someone, but then who do you go and buy that’s going to replace Ollie Watkins?

“You’ve got to go and spend decent money on someone to go and bring him in and then it could possibly be a gamble.”

Given how he has performed in his first season with Aston Villa, it’s only logical to think that Watkins could go to even greater heights with a full campaign of Premier League football under his belt.

The striker led Villa’s charge up the table, bagging 16 goals in all competitions and netting in home and away fixtures against Liverpool (including a hat-trick at Villa Park) and also against Arsenal.

It’s no surprise then that the likes of Liverpool and Spurs both have their eye on signing a “machine” like Watkins, and it will leave Smith very worried about trying to hold on to his main man up front.

Were the Villa hierarchy to decide that they should cash in on Watkins, Smith may not forgive them. The Villa boss worked with the striker back at Brentford, and then brought him to Villa Park and clearly has a real rapport and relationship with him, and the 25-year-old’s performances have been a real vindication of that faith.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/villa-dean-smith-transfer-gossip-rumours-news-premier-league-buendia-berge-mcneil-trezeguet-villa-park” title=”Read the latest Villa transfer rumours and news!”]

Chucking that all away for a quick buck, even if it might be a decent sum of money, would have Smith absolutely fuming.

Meanwhile, Villa are eyeing this free agent…

Hampshire retain the same 12 that suffered a bad defeat in the Benson & Hedges cup against Kent on Monday, for their visit to holders Surrey at the AMP Oval, on Wednesday.

Vic Isaacs30-Apr-2002Hampshire retain the same 12 that suffered a bad defeat in the Benson & Hedges cup against Kent on Monday, for their visit to holders Surrey at the AMP Oval, on Wednesday.The twelve: JRC Hamblin, NC Johnson, DA Kenway, JP Crawley, RA Smith, WS Kendall, N Pothas, GW White, SD Udal, CT Tremlett, AD Mullally and LR Prittipaul.