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Newcastle United were handed yet another defeat in the Premier League with a disheartening 2-0 loss against Arsenal at The Emirates Stadium thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Despite conceding two goals and not managing to give the travelling Toon supporters a goal of their own to celebrate, one player managed to stand head and shoulders above the rest of his teammates on the day and put in a solid display for the Tyneside club – Jonjo Shelvey.

Before being replaced by Isaac Hayden after 89 minutes, Shelvey had a total of 56 touches of the ball, more than any other Newcastle player on the day and managed to complete 40 of the 42 passes he attempted including four accurate long balls.

The midfielder also managed to prove himself to be a bit of a nuisance for Arsenal’s defensive players by having four shots at goal with three on target as well as managing to the woodwork.

Shelvey additionally played his part defensively as well by making three interceptions, three clearances and blocking one shot in the process.

This latest performance for the Toon earned the 29-year-old an overall match rating of 7.5/10, making him the highest-rated player on the day according to SofaScore, higher than Fabian Schar who was the only Newcastle defender that managed to not pick up a yellow card.

With this in mind, it’s safe to say Shelvey was Howe’s only shining light on this occasion in terms of individual performance.

Also, given how the newly appointed Newcastle manager previously said that he thinks Shelvey will be an “important” player for the Toon going forward, his performance today certainly backed that up.

Considering how Shelvey also managed to put in a solid display during Newcastle’s 3-3 draw against Brentford last weekend, it seems as though Howe’s arrival at St. James’ Park has revitalised the midfield man, which will be a big positive for everyone at the club.

Moving forward, with Newcastle’s next game putting them up against Norwich City in midweek, who are also fighting for their survival in the Premier League, if Shelvey can make it three impressive performances out of three and the players in front of him can get some goals while the defenders behind him can keep a clean sheet, this could give the team a great chance of picking up their win of the campaign.

In other news, PIF can land Howe’s dream NUFC deal with “world class” £126m gem, he’s the next Suarez…

Shane Warne has accused Andrew Strauss of showing a lack of respect to Test cricket by resting for England’s tour of Bangladesh, and has questioned whether Alastair Cook is up to the task of leading the team in his absence

Cricinfo staff08-Feb-2010Shane Warne has accused Andrew Strauss of showing a lack of respect to Test cricket by resting for England’s tour of Bangladesh, and has questioned whether Alastair Cook is up to the task of leading the team in his absence.”When I heard that Andrew Strauss is being rested it just doesn’t sit right with me,” Warne told journalists at the launch of the Royals 2020 franchise at Lord’s. “When I am captain I want to get the best out of my players. Maybe that means putting an arm around them or maybe it means giving them a kick up the backside.”Alastair Cook might be completely different. He might want to treat everyone the same way. If I am captain of a side I want to stop my authority on a side.Warne also questioned the timing of Cook’s appointment, suggesting that following his encouraging return to form during the recent tour of South Africa, he would be better served concentrating on his batting and spared the burden of captaincy. Instead, he is likely to be opening alongside the debutant, Michael Carberry, who could prove to be a rival in the long-term if he enjoys a productive series.”I think he has been under pressure for his place in the side,” said Warne. “He’s suddenly found himself, he’s made a hundred and now he is captain. What happens if Michael Carberry gets three hundreds and Alastair Cook gets a couple of runs? What happens then? Do you drop an England captain?I hope they [England] are not taking Bangladesh too easy because they can be quite strong,” he added. “What if they win the first Test? Does Strauss fly out for the second? I hope it’s not the start of a trend. It’s a lack of respect for Test cricket.”It’s disappointing that the captain of England decides to have a rest from a Test series, I can’t comprehend that. Any time you represent your country it’s special and I cannot understand how you can rest your captain.”

Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum, who broke several records during their 339-run stand, were pleased with the impact their performance has had on the match

Andrew Fernando16-Feb-2010Martin Guptilland Brendon McCullum were satisfied with their record-breaking stand that rescued the New Zealand innings from a precarious position in Hamilton. “We just tried to get a significant partnership together at the start and we were happy to provide the runs that were needed by the team,” McCullum said.During the course of his career-best 185, he eclipsed Ian Smith’s record for the highest score by a New Zealand wicketkeeper, but McCullum chose to focus on the significance of the effort from a team’s perspective.”Once we built a substantial partnership we knew that those sorts of things are always around the corner, but the important thing is that we were able to take the team to a good position.”Guptill was pleased to bring up his maiden Test ton. “Getting your first Test hundred is always a great feeling,” he said. “It was also fantastic to get past that 150-mark, there was a lot of elation.” In his short international career, Guptill has featured mostly at No.3, and said that the shift to No.5 was initiated by his coach.”It was Mark Greatbatch who suggested I move to No.5, and I’m pretty pleased with the way it went.” McCullum too, was appreciative of Greatbatch’s impact, claiming “it was helpful to have someone like [Greatbatch] to talk to during the innings, someone who had played for New Zealand and been in similar situations.”McCullum acknowledged New Zealand’s stranglehold on the match. “We just have to keep hitting the good areas and execute our plans and there is every chance that we can effect the follow on,” he said.Rubel Hossain, who picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests with the scalps of the two centurions, was optimistic about his sides chances. He believed that if the Bangladesh top order batted well, as Tamim Iqbal had done thus far, there was no reason they couldn’t avoid the follow on.

Rangers have been dealt a ‘massive blow’ with the news that Connor Goldson is intent on returning to English football. 

That’s according to the former Leeds United forward Noel Whelan, who was speaking to Football Insider.

The lowdown

The publication reported last Thursday that, as per information from Rangers sources, Goldson had rejected the offer of a contract extension at Ibrox.

The 28-year-old, formerly of Brighton and Hove Albion, wants to test himself in the Premier League once again. In recent months, hopes that he will remain in Glasgow have ‘evaporated’.

Goldson’s £27,000-per-week deal – the second biggest at the club – is due to expire at the end of the current campaign. That means January could be their last opportunity to cash in.

The latest

Whelan reckons Steven Gerrard’s move to Aston Villa marked the point of no return for Goldson.

And he worries that they’ll find it ‘hard to replace’ such a key figure.

“I think it was a big blow that he had such a good relationship with Steven Gerrard,” he said. “I think that was probably a turning point as well.

“It’s been ongoing. You would think that after winning the Premiership and their run in Europe they would have nailed him down, if he wanted to stay on a new contract, before now.

“It seems like he had it in his head and in his heart that he kind of wanted to leave in the first place.

“So yeah, it’s a massive blow because he’s been a big fixture at the heart of the defence for Rangers. He’ll be hard to replace.”

The verdict

Even amidst the uncertainty over his future, Goldson has started all but one SPFL game for Rangers this season. His average WhoScored rating of 7.07/10 ranks him a mere fraction outside the club’s top five players for the campaign.

The £6.75million-rated defender has clearly established himself as a key player at Ibrox.

Indeed, he was named in the team of the season for 2020/21 after helping Rangers to the Scottish title.

A January departure feels likely. The extent of Rangers’ losses means they probably can’t afford to turn down a reasonable offer, and what’s more, reported suitors West Ham United have just lost Angelo Ogbonna for the remainder of the season and may need a replacement.

In other news, this trio struggled at the weekend.

Speaking live on broadcast TV channel 7 Gold, as shared by Area Napoli, transfer journalist Fabio Santini has made an exciting Tottenham Hotspur claim involving Napoli star Lorenzo Insigne.

The Lowdown: Spurs eye Insigne move…

The Italy international is a player who Spurs have been repeatedly linked with since the summer, with a claim from another reporter in Paolo Paganini (via Area Napoli) also having emerged that Fabio Paratici made an offer for Insigne.

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Tottenham’s transfer chief, it seems, hasn’t exactly ceased his interest since then with Calciomercato.it recently revealing that Paratici, as well as West Ham and Newcastle, have already ‘probed the ground’ pre-January.

Insigne’s contract at Napoli expires in 2022 as it stands meaning Spurs could snap up Euro 2020’s star performer for free at the end of the season.

In a development, Santini has now made a rather exciting claim.

The Latest: Santini makes exciting Insigne claim…

According to the Italian transfer expert, speaking live on 7 Gold (via AN), Tottenham are now favourites to sign the 30-year-old.

“Antonio Conte is crazy about Lorenzo Insigne and would like the footballer as early as January,” Santini explained.

“In the winter sales and sales campaign. Lorenzo Insigne, of course, is flattered by the interest of both Conte and Tottenham , but he is undecided. He would not want to break up with Napoli during the current season.

“There have been meetings with Inter and Juventus, but Tottenham is the club closest to the player.”

The Verdict: No brainer?

One of the stars of the summer at Euro 2020, Tottenham could completely bypass his £43.2 million market valuation and snap up for no transfer fee at all – making this move somewhat of a no brainer.

Insigne, judging by his incredibly threatening numbers so far this season, would certainly offer Conte a real outlet out wide.

According to WhoScored, Insigne has averaged a very impressive 3.5 shots per match so far this season – eclipsing the rates of every Spurs star in that regard.

He’s also made 2.1 key passes in the final third every match in that time, again, with no Tottenham man able to match those numbers domestically this season (WhoScored).

Standing out as a real threat when compared to Conte’s current crop, this has got to be a sure-fire swoop on a free deal.

In other news: Spurs also in pole position to sign ‘perfect’ player for Conte after price tag drops by nearly half, find out more here.

The IPL has been hit with another potential controversy with Indian news broadcasters deciding not to cover the third season in protest against what it called “arbitrary” guidelines and contentious clauses regarding tournament footage

Cricinfo staff16-Feb-2010The IPL has been hit with another potential controversy with Indian news broadcasters deciding not to cover the third season in protest against what it called “arbitrary” guidelines and contentious clauses regarding tournament footage. The decision followed a meeting between the News Broadcasters’ Association and officials of the IPL and Set Max, the tournament rights holder.The NBA, which has 34 member channels, said the IPL and Set Max officials “arbitrarily” refused to abide by the 2008 norms, which had been agreed on by all.”In view of this position, unilaterally taken by IPL/Set Max, members of the NBA are unable to offer to their viewers any coverage in relation to IPL or its proposed matches,” the association said. “Inconvenience caused to our viewers by this unreasonable commercial approach of IPL/Set MAX is regretted.”The media coverage guidelines for 2010 have reduced the duration of match footage that news channels can carry — 30 seconds per bulletin and seven minutes a day. Repeats will be allowed three times a day, as against four previously, and while match footage could earlier be telecast with a five-minute delay from the end of the live telecast, it has been expanded to a half-hour delay.The first IPL season was boycotted by the international news agencies over certain contentious clauses in the media accreditation guidelines, including a bar on supplying photographs to cricket-specific websites such as Cricinfo.The second season witnessed a repeat after News Media Coalition, the umbrella body that includes global news and photograph agencies Reuters, AP, AFP and Getty Images, objected over the same clause. However, the boycott was lifted after the IPL removed the clause from the terms of coverage.The 2010 tournament has already run into controversies with Shiv Sena threatening not to allow the Australian players in Mumbai as long as attack continues on the Indians living in Australia.

Aston Villa loanee Conor Hourihane has revealed the latest on his career plans after leaving Villa Park for Sheffield United on loan ahead of becoming a free agent next summer.

What’s the latest?

When opting to leave Villa on loan earlier this year, the midfielder was departing for good ahead of the expiration of his contract next summer.

However, the move to Bramall Lane hasn’t gone exactly to plan, with the 30-year-old yet to score for the Blades and registering just two assists in 11 Championship appearances. However, Sheffield United’s decision to swap manager Slavisa Jokanovic for Paul Heckingbottom could prove vital, with the midfielder having played under the new boss at Barnsley.

When asked about his future, the Irishman said: “I’m going to be a free agent, we’ll see how it pans out over the next few months and then go from there. I’m old enough and wise enough to know what direction it’s going in, I know that the people there (at Villa) plan to invest heavily.”

Hourihane also added that “there has been no contact” from Gerrard, further emphasising that his Villa career has effectively concluded.

Villa fans will be buzzing

During Aston Villa’s promotion push in the 2018/19 season, Hourihane was excellent and played a massive part in getting Villa back into the Premier League, with eight goals and 12 assists in that Championship campaign. However, there have been utterances from some fans that “he isn’t good enough” for where Gerrard’s side are now.

The step-up to the Premier League has proven too tall a task for the 30-year-old, making just 31 appearances in the top flight since the club’s promotion, scoring four goals and setting up another six.

A loan move to Championship outfit Swansea City midway through last season was also uninspiring, with five goals scored in 19 league appearances as the Swans made it to the Championship play-off final.

Many Villa fans may also be delighted to hear firsthand from a current player that the club “plan to invest heavily”, suggesting that the upcoming transfer window could be an exciting month for the Villans.

In other news: Lange eyeing Aston Villa swoop for £18m-rated “soldier”, Gerrard will be buzzing

Harbhajan Singh needed only 18 balls when he batted and just one delivery when he bowled to win the game for Mumbai Indians

The Bulletin by Sriram Veera28-Mar-2010
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Harbhajan Singh’s innings changed the game•Indian Premier LeagueThey say a Twenty20 match can be won in ten minutes of violent batting or inspired bowling. Harbhajan Singh needed only 18 balls when he batted, and just one delivery when he bowled, to win the game for Mumbai Indians. Double-strikes from RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha had reduced Mumbai to 119 for 7, but Harbhajan played a wickedly-entertaining cameo to charge his team to 172. He wasn’t done yet and opened the bowling to remove Adam Gilchrist with his second delivery, dealing the most crippling blow to the Deccan Chargers chase.The game changed in a Mumbai minute at the DY Patil Stadium. When Harbhajan entered in the 17th over Mumbai had lost the plot after a good start, but he led a stunning turnaround with an 18-ball 49. He hit a six and a four off Andrew Symonds in the 18th over but it was in the next, bowled by Kemar Roach, who until then had looked impressive, that he went berserk. Harbhajan started with a slapped four over extra cover before swinging merrily to the on side, including a shovelled six over square-leg, to plunder 19 runs. In the final over bowled by two bowlers – Jaskaran Singh was no-balled out of the innings after hurling two beamers and Rohit Sharma finished the over- Harbhajan crashed four boundaries, this time concentrating on the straight boundary.Deccan needed a blitz from Gilchrist when they chased but he was undone by the combo of Harbhajan and Sachin Tendulkar. He edged an attempted cut low to the right of first slip where Tendulkar held on to a sharp one-handed catch. Herschelle Gibbs blasted a few boundaries but he fell, swatting a full toss from Zaheer Khan to cover point, and when Lasith Malinga induced Andrew Symonds to slash a short delivery to third man, the game was all but over.Rohit Sharma tried valiantly with an attacking knock but Harbhajan ensured that he didn’t get much support by picking up two more middle-order wickets. Zaheer returned in the 17th over to york Rohit and terminate the chase.Until Harbhajan’s adventure with the bat, it was Deccan who had held all the cards. Mumbai had reached 63 in seven overs, with the well-settled Tendulkar and Dwayne Bravo looking in roaring form, and looked set for a big score before it started to unravel for them. It was RP Singh who triggered the slide with a double strike in the eighth over. Until then, he was struggling to keep the batsmen quiet as Tendulkar and Bravo kept driving him to the boundary, but he struck twice in succession to remove Bravo and Saurabh Tiwary. They weren’t wicket-taking balls – Bravo holed out to long-off and Tiwary edged a wide one – but the blows pushed Mumbai on the back foot.Tendulkar slowed down, looking for someone to stay with him, and Ojha sparkled with a teasing spell of left-arm spin. The runs came in a trickle and Ambati Rayudu, looking to break free, was done in by a beauty: Rayudu was lured out of his crease by a flighted delivery that dipped rapidly before spinning past the bat for an easy stumping opportunity. Ojha proceeded to apply more pressure with deliveries that turned and bounced. R Sathish was his next victim, edging the sweep to backward square-leg and, when Kieron Pollard fell top-edging a pull off Jaskaran, Mumbai were wobbling at 93 for 5 in 13.1 overs.It seemed, at that juncture, that only Tendulkar could save the day for Mumbai but he fell off the first ball after the second time out, edging a pull against RP Singh. Just when you thought Deccan had done it, Harbhajan decided to seize the day with a devastating knock.

Unlike Essex, conquerors of the Durham attack at Chester-le-Street, Kent’s introduction to Division One cricket has been painful

Jon Culley at Trent Bridge16-Apr-2010
ScorecardAndre Adams caused Kent a host of problems as they were forced to follow on•PA PhotosUnlike Essex, conquerors of the Durham attack at Chester-le-Street, Kent’s introduction to Division One cricket has been painful. If day three goes as badly for them as days one and two they can cancel their Saturday night out in Nottingham.By close of play here, last season’s Division Two champions were into their second innings, having been asked to follow on some 256 runs behind. They had at least managed to secure a batting point, off a misfield the ball before their 10th wicket fell, but it was hardly consolation.The difference has been in the quality of the bowling. With a good covering of grass and little pace, the pitch has not been one to make a batsman feel comfortable. Yet only one of the Kent seamers conceded fewer than 3.58 runs per over. To their captain, the others must have been unacceptably expensive. At no stage were they able to offer him control.By contrast, Nottinghamshire’s attack, spearheaded by a Ryan Sidebottom clearly enthused by his selection for the World Twenty20, rarely had their hand off the tiller. Like Rob Key, Nottinghamshire captain Chris Read would have chosen to bowl first. His bowlers, hostile and generally accurate, demonstrated why.Nottinghamshire began the day in a commanding position, four runs away from a batting maximum. Nonetheless, they were eight wickets down after Andre Adams’s give-away wicket to the last ball of the opening day and Kent would have expected not to be too much longer in the field. Yet Nottinghamshire continued pretty much without restraint, almost for another 17 overs, adding another 60 runs.Paul Franks did much of the extra damage. The 31-year-old, who might have made a career as an England all-rounder had he not been bedevilled by injuries, has found a little bit of the old form lately. He scored a century against Durham UCCE last week, his first in a first-class match for five years. Here, hitting the ball cleanly and with power through the off side, he advanced to 73 before playing around a ball from Matt Coles. The score was his best in the Championship since May 2007.The wicket was a second in five overs for 19-year-old Coles, who saved his best spell until last, having dismissed Luke Fletcher via a catch at second slip with his third delivery. It is the senior bowlers from whom Key will want more. Had Stuart Clark been able to come their prospects would look a lot stronger but with Amjad Khan and Azhar Mahmood they should at least be competitive.Nottinghamshire, on the other hand, could assemble several different sets of bowlers were their full complement fit and available. Here they have no Darren Pattinson (injured) nor Charlie Shreck (rehabilitating after surgery), while it goes almost without saying that neither Stuart Broad nor Graeme Swann is available.Yet with Sidebottom fiercely motivated, the powerful Fletcher eager to build on the promise of last season, Adams developing his skills with the ball and Franks a usefully canny back-up, they still fielded a seam quartet to which most counties would doff their caps.Sidebottom made the first incisions as Kent began their reply, bowling Joe Denly and trapping Key leg before with a couple of tasty inswingers. From 13 for 2, Kent staggered to 58 for 5 as Adams claimed the next three wickets.He had some help. Geraint Jones, who had looked capable of organising a recovery, made a complete misjudgment of what would be the last ball of the morning – bowled offering no stroke. Then Martin van Jaarsveld tickled one down the leg side, although it took a super diving catch from Chris Read to make him pay for it. It was a better ball that accounted for Darren Stevens, on the back foot, giving Neil Edwards the first of five catches at second slip, handing the debutant the distinction of being the first Nottinghamshire outfielder to claim five victims since Derek Randall in 1987.The one that removed the dangerous Sam Northeast, over his right shoulder off Fletcher, was the best of the lot. The others were routine, enabling Adams to make James Tredwell his fourth victim, Sidebottom to add Coles and Franks to claim his second after first slip Ali Brown had pouched Mahmood, without whose lusty nine-four 52 Kent would have been in even worse shape.When Kent began their follow-on, with Tredwell a nightwatchman from the start, neither Sidebottom nor Fletcher was as tight as before. But then two wickets in as many overs – Fletcher bowling Key and Tredwell falling to Adams – left Kent staring at a three-day defeat, still 205 behind.

Crystal Palace are keen on signing Everton left-back Lucas Digne, according to French outlet Jeunes Footeux.

The Lowdown: Palace’s left-back shortage

Patrick Vieira made a number of signings in his first transfer window as Eagles boss, but he failed to add to his left-back ranks after Patrick van Aanholt left the club.

That has left Tyrick Mitchell as the club’s only senior recognised left-back, with the 22-year-old not missing a minute of Premier League action so far this season.

It now seems as if Everton will be bringing in Ukraine left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko in a deal worth a reported £17.9m, and it appears as if Palace want to take Digne from Goodison Park.

The Latest: Digne links

Jeunes Footeux shared a story on Friday afternoon regarding the French defender, who Vieira is reportedly keen on signing.

The report claimed that Digne has been involved in an altercation with Everton manager Rafael Benitez and a Toffees exit could be on the cards, especially with Mykolenko set to join the Merseyside club.

The Verdict: Big fee required?

The 28-year-old has made 113 appearances in the Premier League, so based on that ample experience, he would certainly challenge Mitchell for a starting spot at Selhurst Park. However, the Eagles may need to spend big for Digne’s services, as he holds a Transfermarkt valuation of £31.5m and is earning £110,000 per week on Merseyside.

Regardless of his reported altercation with Benitez, Everton would still look to receive the best deal possible should they part ways with the defender.

On that basis, Palace may need to decide whether they are willing to splash the cash on a player like Digne, or else look to spend the money bolstering other areas of the pitch and bring in a second-choice left-back with Mitchell as first choice.

In other news: ‘Going to be insane’ – Many Crystal Palace fans react to ‘wild’ club update