All posts by h716a5.icu

The Red Devils have broken the transfer record a number of times in the last three decades, but which players have been their best signings?

Getty Images1Eric Cantona – 1992 – £1.2 million from Leeds UnitedManchester United started the Premier League era with a couple of marquee signings, bringing in Dion Dublin from Cambridge United and Eric Cantona from Leeds United. Dublin was Alex Ferguson's second-choice in the transfer market, bringing him to Old Trafford after Alan Shearer moved from Southampton to Blackburn Rovers. He scored just two league goals for the Red Devils before leaving for Coventry City in 1994. On the other hand, Cantona was a revelation for the club, reaching double figures in the Premier League in four of his five seasons, picking up four league titles and two FA Cups along the way.AdvertisementGetty2Roy Keane – 1993 – £3.75m from Nottingham ForestRoy Keane became the most expensive player in English football when he joined United as a 21-year-old and was the face and heart of the team for the next 13 seasons. He played 480 times for the Red Devils winning seven league titles as well as the Champions League in 1999. The Republic of Ireland midfielder was the team's captain for their European success, but missed the final due to suspension after picking up a yellow card during a career-best performance against Juventus in the semi-final.Getty Images3Andy Cole – 1995 – £7m from NewcastleAndy Cole was an immediate success at Manchester United after signing in January 1995. The England attacker ended the season in double figures in the Premier League despite playing just 18 times in half-a-campaign. He went on to score 121 times in all competitions for the club, finishing with five league titles and a Champions League medal.ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images4Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – 1996 – £1.5m from MoldeOle Gunnar Solskjaer would go down in Manchester United history for one single moment, but scored almost 100 Premier League goals as he became the world's best 'super sub' under Alex Ferguson. He was signed by United after local rivals Manchester City were not willing to take a chance on him, and ended up coming off the bench to score the winner in the club's miraculous comeback in the 1999 Champions League final.

With a semi-final spot on the line, West Indies captain Darren Sammy opted to bowl against South Africa in Nagpur, a decision he took because he did not know what to expect from the Nagpur surface

The Report by Firdose Moonda25-Mar-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsA composed knock of 44 from Marlon Samuels saw West Indies through to their third win on the trot•AFPWest Indies secured their spot in the World T20 2016 semi-finals with a third successive win but made hard work of chasing a small target of 123. With just a shave over a run-a-ball needed, West Indies were routinely dragged back, to a point where they needed 20 off the last two overs. However, a solid start from Johnson Charles, a composed innings from Marlon Samuels and a six from Carlos Brathwaite in the final over saw them sneak over the line.South Africa’s bowling attack did their best to make up for the blunders of their batsmen, who had slumped to 47 for 5 in the ninth over before eking over 120. Aaron Phangiso, playing in his first international match in five months and the first since remodeling his action last month, and David Wiese both conceded under six runs to the over, but it was Imran Tahir who kept South Africa in the match. The legspinner gave away only 13 runs in four overs and took two wickets off successive deliveries in the 17th over. In the end, it was not enough and South Africa could exit the tournament before playing their final group match. If England beat Sri Lanka on Saturday, South Africa’s campaign will be over.Unusually for the format, this was a battle of the ball. Batsmen from both sides failed to adjust to the sluggish pace of the pitch but South Africa’s line-up were also caught unawares by a surprise addition to West Indies’ attack. Chris Gayle proved their nemesis in an unexpected way by removing two of South Africa’s top six, and he played his part in pegging them back in the Powerplay, a situation from which they never really recovered.The match-day pitch was not the same as the one used for the qualifying phase or the game between India and New Zealand, so there was some uncertainty as to what a good score would be. That’s why Darren Sammy chose to chase and why South Africa were anxious for every run.Their desperation showed as early as the third ball when Hashim Amla was run out by Andre Russell, who carried that success to his bowling by dismissing Faf du Plessis, caught by Sulieman Benn at mid-off. Russell also took a catch at point when Rilee Rossouw, promoted to No.4 in his first appearance in the tournament, skied the ball.South Africa held AB de Villiers back after their initial setbacks and he came in at No.5. He saw the side through to the end of their most meagre Powerplay so far – 39 for 3 compared to scores over 60 in the previous two matches – but could not do too much more.When Dwayne Bravo, the sixth bowler used by Sammy in the first eight overs, was brought on, de Villiers’ innings ended. Sammy sensed South Africa were shaken and brought Gayle back on, with success. He broke through David Miller’s defences to leave South Africa at 47 for 5.That score could have become 59 for 6 had Denesh Ramdin completed a stumping off Benn, who foxed Wiese with a flighted delivery. Wiese had come out of his crease and missed, but Ramdin also missed and the reprieve proved a gift for South Africa.The Quinton de Kock-Wiese partnership, worth 50 runs for the sixth wicket, was the most profitable of their innings. But the going was tough for the pair. They only found the boundary three times in the 44 balls they were together but, by the time de Kock was bowled around his legs by Russell, they had given South Africa something to work with.Chris Morris took South Africa over 100 but they could only find eight runs off the last two overs and it did not seem enough until they received some reassurance that it could be.Kagiso Rabada found late swing with his fifth delivery and beat Gayle to remind West Indies it was not going to be easy. West Indies, however, showed they were up to shifting gears.They waited until the last ball of the third over for their first boundary, when Andre Fletcher lofted Rabada over midwicket for six. Johnson Charles found the going slightly easier off Chris Morris, whose second over cost 11 runs. In the absence of Dale Steyn and Kyle Abbott, Faf du Plessis recognised the need to try something and turned to spin in the Powerplay.Tahir was brought on to bowl the fifth over and he proved difficult to get away. Wiese was tasked with doing the same at the other end. Collectively, South Africa frustrated West Indies into trying to steal a single where there wasn’t one. Fletcher was halfway to the striker’s end in the sixth over when Charles sent him back but, even if he had not slipped, Rossouw’s direct hit was always going to beat him.With the fielding restrictions lifted, South Africa brought on their second specialist spinner, Phangiso. Although he has changed his action, his approach appeared the same and he was typically strangling. Phangiso conceded just one run off his first over and six singles off his second. His third over was headed for a similarly economical result but Charles had had enough. He heaved Phangiso over long-on for six and the pressure dissipated.Charles’ aggression did not serve him well a second time. When he swiped at Wiese three balls later, he only managed to sky the ball to du Plessis at cover and the tension was back.Du Plessis wanted more wickets and brought Rabada back. He started with a leg-side half-volley that Bravo flicked for four. That was followed up by two similar deliveries to Samuels, who carved one over point and then played an upper-cut to third man. West Indies scored 14 off that over to bring the required run rate to under six.South Africa switched to squeeze mode again. Phangiso’s final over cost only three and included Bravo’s wicket. West Indies needed 36 off six overs but Samuels was still there. With Andre Russell, he took eight off the next over before du Plessis played his strongest hand.Tahir’s final over – the 17th of the innings – could have seen Samuels dismissed off the first ball but the bowler could not hold on to the return catch. Three balls later, Russell holed out and, the next ball, Sammy was bowled off a googly. Advantage South Africa. The next over – Wiese’s final – cost just three. Advantage South Africa. Even though Samuels was still there with West Indies needing 20 off the last two overs.He hit the first ball of Morris’ final over through third man for four and, off the fourth ball, found the same area with the same result. Then he skied the ball. Still advantage South Africa.Rabada was asked to defend nine off the final over and started with a slower ball. Brathwaite hit the second ball for a six to break the tension, and West Indies completed the win with two balls to spare.

The World Cup winners didn't need their superstar as they made it three wins from three in qualifying with a 1-0 victory over Paraguay.

Lionel Messi did end up making an appearance, featuring off the bench as a substitute. As it turns out, though, Argentina didn't really need him to take care of Paraguay in Thursday's World Cup qualifying clash at the Estadio Monumental.

Argentina got their goal early from an unlikely source as another familiar face led the way in the 1-0 win. Defender Nicolas Otamendi fired home a fantastic volley just three minutes in, and Argentina never looked back.

Thanks to fantastic performances from the midfield trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo de Paul and Enzo Fernandez, Paraguay never really got a sniff of the game. By the time Messi came into the match early in the second half, replacing the impressive Julian Alvarez, it felt like the game was only going one way.

Messi hit the post twice, despite looking far from his best, but it wouldn't come back to bite Argentina, who made it three wins from three in CONMEBOL's qualifiers as they march on in their World Cup defense.

GOAL rates Argentina's players from the Estadio Monumental.

ALEJANDRO PAGNI/AFP via Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Emiliano Martinez (6/10):

Had just one save and didn't have to do too much else as Paraguay were contained by those in front of him.

Nahuel Molina (7/10):

Similar to Tagliafico, but just a bit less involved. Still, a very good day out for the Atletico Madrid man.

Nicolas Otamendi (8/10):

A striker's finish! The defender smashed a fantastic volley for his fifth international goal and then turned around and locked down Paraguay for all 90 minutes. A massive performance.

Cristian Romero (7/10):

Didn't do as much on either end as his centerback partner, but was still as solid as can be.

Nicolas Tagliafico (8/10):

Won't get the attention, but put in a quietly solid defensive shift at left-back while being near-flawless with the ball at his feet.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Alexis Mac Allister (7/10):

A few fantastic tackles and did what he always does to keep things ticking with the ball. Absolutely dazzled on one Messi-esque sequence at the edge of the Paraguay box.

Enzo Fernandez (7/10):

Did a little bit of everything for Argentina, proving once again why he fits so perfectly in this team.

Rodrigo De Paul (8/10):

Provided the assist from the corner on Otamendi's goal and nearly scored himself by hitting the post later on in the first half. Totally ran the game from the midfield, ensuring Argentina didn't have much trouble with whatever Paraguay threw at them.

GettyAttack

Julian Alvarez (7/10):

Was unlucky to be taken off somewhat early for Messi, as the Manchester City star was the best player in Argentina's attack. Played a big role creatively, even if he didn't get a goal or an assist on the day.

Lautaro Martinez (5/10):

He continues to score for Inter, but it's now been over a year since he scored for Argentina. With Alvarez shining, is his place in danger? This performance won't help as he mustered just one total shot.

Nicolas Gonzalez (6/10):

Had a chance just before the half, but couldn't convert. Pretty wasteful, overall, as Paraguay were happier to let him have the ball than the other two in attack.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettySubs & Manager

Lionel Messi (6/10):

Didn't look fit, but still hit both an Olimpico and a free-kick off the post because he is who he is. Probably didn't need to be risked in this game, though.

Leandro Paredes (N/A):

Came on late to provide fresh legs in place of Fernandez, who was also sitting on a yellow card.

Lionel Scaloni (8/10):

Got the team selection spot on as Argentina navigated a Messi-less line-up. Another game, another win on the road to the World Cup. Questions to be asked of his usage of Messi remain, however.

India and Rajasthan Royals fast bowler Sreesanth has been handed a life ban by the BCCI for his alleged involvement in spot-fixing in IPL 2013

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Sep-2013India and Rajasthan Royals fast bowler Sreesanth has been handed a life ban by the BCCI for his involvement in spot-fixing in IPL 2013. His Royals team-mate and Mumbai spinner Ankeet Chavan was also banned for life, following the board’s disciplinary committee meeting in Delhi on Friday.Amit Singh, the Gujarat cricketer-turned-bookie, got a five-year ban, while Saurashtra and Royals seamer Siddharth Trivedi was suspended for a year for not reporting an approach among other things. Twenty-one-year-old Harmeet Singh, who was part of India’s Under-19 World Cup winning team in 2012 and had a similar charge against him as Trivedi, has been cleared of wrongdoing due to a lack of evidence against him.There has been no ruling as yet on offspinner Ajit Chandila, the third Royals player who was arrested in May, since he is yet to be questioned by Ravi Sawani, who led the BCCI’s probe into the matter and whose report formed the basis for the board’s actions. Save for a few days when Chandila was out on bail due to a death in the family, he has been in police or judicial custody since his arrest on May 16, meaning Sawani could not speak to him. However, he was granted bail on September 9, so his case should come up soon. Sreesanth and Chavan were out on bail since June 11.While Trivedi is banned from playing any BCCI-organised cricket, the other three are banned from playing any such cricket or in any way being associated with activities of the Indian board or its affiliates. The penalties were decided upon by the disciplinary committee, comprising board president N Srinivasan and vice-presidents Arun Jaitley and Niranjan Shah. The ban means Trivedi will have to be replaced in Royals’ squad for the Champions League T20, which begins on September 21.Sreesanth tweeted soon after the news of his ban broke, saying he found it “surprising”. “Been tracking the news channels… Me getting a life ban??!! Very surprising,” he said. The tweet was deleted soon after.The Sawani report had recommended bans ranging from five years to life for the four players it found guilty on multiple accounts, including “match-fixing” and “seeking or offering a bribe as a reward for match-fixing”, the reported earlier in the day.Despite Sreesanth’s “surprise”, a BCCI insider revealed the committee was unanimous in handing him a life ban, with the intention of sending out a message. Amit Singh, the source said, benefitted from the fact that he wasn’t involved in IPL 2013 as a player. “Moreover, even though he has introduced players to bookies, it has been established that he hasn’t played any direct part in fixing. However, since he is a registered player with BCCI, he falls in the ambit of the BCCI ACSU code. As a result, five years was sought to be a suitable punishment,” the source said.However, the committee overruled Sawani’s guilty ruling on Harmeet Singh, its sole divergence from the recommendations. Harmeet was given benefit of doubt. Since he was coerced into a solitary meeting, reported it to the Rajasthan Royals team management and ACSU immediately after Chandila’s arrest and then co-operated with the police, it was felt it would be too harsh to spoil a youngster’s career.The disciplinary committee’s task was made relatively easy by the tough tone of the final report, which said none of the players were naive to the propositions of manipulation.”There is no specific mitigating factor that would require any mercy while sanctioning the aforesaid guilty players,” Sawani said in the report. “Sreesanth has played a number of international games and was part of the Indian national team which won the inaugural T20 World Cup, 2007 and ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011. He has received the ICC ACSU education programme on many occasions. In any case all the three players of Rajasthan Royals who are now being accused and found guilty by the under-signed received the ICC Education Programme just prior to the beginning of the IPL-6 season i.e. on April 5, 2013. The programme was delivered to the entire Rajasthan Royals team by Mr Arrie De Bear, regional security manager of the ICC ACSU.”Obviously, the anti-corruption education given to the three players had no impact on the conduct. Therefore, the three players deserve no leniency whatsoever.”The players, minus Chandila, were summoned by the board to present their case in the disciplinary committee meeting in Delhi.Sreesanth, Chavan and Chandila were arrested by Delhi Police on May 16 in Mumbai, for the alleged fulfilling of promises made to bookmakers, along with eleven bookies including Amit Singh. Royals later suspended their players and the BCCI set up an inquiry into the matter, headed by its Anti-Corruption and Security Unit chief Sawani. Apart from the action taken by the board, the players face possible prison sentences should they be found guilty in a court of law. They were among 39 persons named in the Delhi Police’s chargesheet on alleged corruption in the IPL in July, charged with criminal conspiracy, cheating and dishonesty under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.

If the role of a county cricket club is to win trophies and produce players for England, Yorkshire are doing an excellent job

George Dobell at Trent Bridge12-Sep-2014
ScorecardYorkshire get into their victory huddle•PA PhotosIf the role of a county cricket club is to win trophies and produce players for England, Yorkshire are doing an excellent job.A club that was, in the words of its chairman, 48 hours from going out of business a few years ago has now lifted the 32nd County Championship title in its history. No club has as many.And they have done it while providing several players for England – five of this team have played Test cricket for England in the last 12 months – and while developing a production line of talent that will serve club and country for years to come.On the final day of this match, their hero was Ryan Sidebottom. He claimed four wickets for six runs in 7.2 overs to complete the 26th five-wicket haul of his first-class career and end Nottinghamshire’s resistance. Bowling a tight line and nipping the ball away off the seam, he produced beauties to account for both Chris Read and Luke Fletcher and, when James Taylor, left in a desperate position, slashed to cover, the match and the title were Yorkshire’s. Victory was wrapped up by 11.36am.”Pride” is a word that occurs often in conversations with those associated with Yorkshire. Pride in the club’s history, pride in the club’s values, pride in the club’s role. Cricket still matters in Yorkshire. And Yorkshire cricket matters most of all.That explains the spirit and unity which has seen this squad through the dark days. The spirit and unity that gave the team strength when they gained only one win in their first five Championship games of the season. The spirit and unity that saw them overcome the England withdrawals and the crushing defeat at Lord’s when an inspired Chris Rogers led Middlesex to a miraculous victory.The captain and coaches will, quite rightly, gain many of the plaudits for this victory. Certainly Yorkshire’s record since Jason Gillespie arrived is exceptional: the club have lost three Championship games in three years. The director of cricket, Martyn Moxon, has made some shrewd signings and remains largely responsible for the development of the batsmen, and Andrew Gale remains a calm and selfless leader.But the skills and spirit that have led to this title are generated long before players reach the first team. When you have coaches like Ian Dews, steeped in Yorkshire cricket, in the academy and others likes Richard Dawson and Kevin Sharp (now with Worcestershire) working below the first team, players graduate to the first-class game knowing what is expected of them and prepared technically and temperamentally.This, truly, was a victory not just for the team but for the entire club.It was telling that, of the 19 men who represented Yorkshire in the Championship this season, only five were not born or brought up in the county. Two of the team that lifted this trophy are the sons of former Yorkshire and England players. It brings a unity of purpose and understanding to the dressing room. It brings shared values and a sense of pride in representing this team that, on the tough days, just might make all the difference.Certainly, they were at their best when they were challenged. In these last few weeks, they have won five games out of six and four games in succession. When confronted by their closest rivals – Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire – they responded with innings victories. Such has been their dominance this season that five of their eight victories came by innings margins, another by nine wickets and two more by 220 runs or more. They have proved themselves, by a distance, the best side in the land.And there is more to come. In Alex Lees and Adam Lyth they have an opening pair who have contributed, on average, 76 runs per stand and both have realistic England aspirations. They have a legspinning allrounder in Adil Rashid who continues to press for international opportunities and, just below the surface, the likes of Matt Fisher, a young seamer who could not break into the side this season, but who has a wonderfully bright future. Throughout the club, from first team to academy to youth teams, talent is burgeoning.It was a shame, therefore, that their captain was not able to share in the moment of triumph. The exact nature of Gale’s misdemeanour remains, at the time of writing, unclear but it does seem odd that ECB, who have failed to make any specific comment or condemnation of the shameful booing of Moeen Ali at Edgbaston, appear so keen to flex their muscles here.But such a controversy should not overshadow Yorkshire’s success. Nothing should deflect the credit that the likes of Jack Brooks, who has taken 64 Championship wickets, or Lyth, who has scored 1,428 Championship runs, deserve. Nothing should deflect from that fact that, for the second year in succession, a club has won the Championship not through its expensive imports, but through its home-grown talent.Yorkshire have endured many setbacks over the years. They have suffered internal conflict, economic catastrophe and such bitter infighting. Until today, no club in the land had gone so long since they last won a trophy.But, on the pitch at least, they are delivering. Yorkshire cricket is strong again. And for that, all England should be grateful.

A five-for from pacer Kane Richardson set up a 28-run win for Australia A against India A in the opening game of the quadrangular A-team one-day series

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Jul-2014
ScorecardMitchell Marsh scored 63 off 62 balls and took 3 for 41•Getty ImagesA five-for from pacer Kane Richardson set up a 28-run win for Australia A against India A in the opening game of the quadrangular A-team one-day series. Earlier, a 116-run, fifth-wicket stand between Alex Doolan and Mitchell Marsh lifted a struggling Australia A innings to 7 for 252. Doolan missed his maiden List A hundred by four runs, while Marsh scored a brisk 63.Richardson got the first breakthrough for Australia A, breaking an opening stand of 39 between Unmukt Chand and Robin Uthappa. However, the game turned in Australia A’s favour during an eight-over period between the 12th and 20th overs, when India A lost five wickets for 19 runs. Marsh accounted for Manish Pandey in the 12th over and in the next one, Richardson dismissed Uthappa and Manoj Tiwary off successive balls. India A had limped to 4 for 84 in the 20th over, when Marsh got the wickets of Ambati Rayudu and Akshar Patel. He eventually finished with figures of 3 for 41.India A looked to be slipping away but Sanju Samson’s fighting half-century and his stands with the lower order kept the chase alive. Samson added a quick 45 with Parvez Rasool but Australia A managed to peg the scoring rate back after Rasool fell. The eighth-wicket partnership between Dhawal Kulkarni and Samson yielded 45 runs in 12.5 overs. India A went into the last five overs needing 48 off 30 with five overs and one wicket in hand. Samson took 17 runs off Marsh in one over, but his departure in the next brought the innings to a close at 224.Australia A faced similar struggles after being put in to bat. Mohit Sharma, who joined the India A squad for the quadrangular series, and Kulkarni reduced Australia A to 3 for 41 within two overs. Phillip Hughes was caught behind off Mohit , while Kulkarni got rid of Cameron White for 15 and Chris Lynn for a duck. Doolan then shepherded the side’s rebuilding effort, sharing an 80-run stand with Calum Ferguson. His rapid century stand with Marsh ensured that the innings did not lose momentum as the overs progressed. The two kept turning the strike over between the boundaries and then stitched together some big overs towards the end of the innings.Richardson said the pitch at the Marrara Oval aided bowlers from both sides more than the track for the four-day games in Brisbane.”The last two four-day games in Brisbane were quite tough on the bowlers and it was good to get up here and see some grass on the wicket,” he said. “As their bowlers showed upfront, it was going to be tough work for the batsmen. We started pretty slow with the ball but once we got into it, I think the bounce helped us with a bit of movement.”

Riyad Mahrez has explained why he left Manchester City for the Saudi Pro League while still having “unfinished business” in the Champions League.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Won the Treble with City last seasonGuardiola wanted him to stayNew challenge sought in Middle EastWHAT HAPPENED?

The Algerian winger formed part of the mass exodus that saw leading lights in European football head for the Middle East in the summer of 2023. Mahrez linked up with Al-Ahli in a £30 million ($37m) transfer, with that move completed on the back of savouring Treble glory with City.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT MAHREZ SAID ABOUT LEAVING CITY

Pep Guardiola wanted Mahrez to remain at the Etihad Stadium, despite leaving him on the bench for a Champions League final win over Inter, and the 32-year-old forward has told of why he bid farewell to England: “I had two years left on my contract with Manchester City, I could have stayed. It was really me who decided to leave. I felt that this opportunity would not come again. Maybe it was time to leave because I had spent five years at City and won everything. Txiki Begiristain (technical director) really wanted me to stay, and even Pep Guardiola. They made it clear to me. I weighed the pros and cons. And finally, I decided to leave. I don't regret it, I'm happy to be here."

WHAT MAHREZ SAID ABOUT THE SAUDI PRO LEAGUE

Mahrez added on the quality of the Saudi Pro League: "The level of the Saudi league is not bad. It's going to get better and better. It’s a championship that I’m learning. Here, they have put the resources into recruiting the best players. There's definitely quality, I think it's just the beginning. Can we compare it to Europe? I don't think so yet. But at this rate, in the near future, they can be among the five, six or seven best Championships in the world."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT MAHREZ SAID ABOUT UCL FINAL SNUB

Mahrez has signed a contract worth £43m ($53m) per year in Saudi Arabia and is fully committed to his new cause despite having some regrets at how his time in Europe finished – as he failed to take to the field before claiming a Champions League winners’ medal. He added: “To be honest, I still have a taste of unfinished business. In the Champions League, I did not play the semi-final or the final. In previous seasons, I always started in the Champions League while always being impactful for my team. This last year, I couldn't say it went badly, but I have a bit of this feeling of unfinished business. I was offered four years in Saudi Arabia, in a Muslim country where I can definitely protect (and provide for) my family. There was also a new challenge, and a new project. So, I decided to leave, it wasn't a big deal.”

[ad_pod ]Newcastle have completed the signing of Miguel Almiron for a club-record fee, with the playmaker signing on a five-and-a-half year deal after leaving Major League Soccer champions Atlanta United, as revealed on the Magpies’ official website.

What’s the word, then?

Negotiations over a move for the Paraguayan international have been ongoing throughout January, but the Magpies finally got their man on deadline day with Almiron signing for a fee of around £20m, via the BBC, which has finally broke the previous club-record deal to sign Michael Owen from Real Madrid for £16m, also as per the BBC, back in 2005.

Almiron starred for Atlanta last season, scoring 13 goals and recording 13 assists as he became an MLS champion, and has scored 21 goals in 62 league appearances throughout his career, all according to Transfermarkt.

The only people more shocked by Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Man City than City fans were the Magpies fans themsleves! Check out their brilliant reactions in the video above…

He becomes the Tynesiders’ second signing of the winter transfer window, following the arrival of Antonio Barecca on a six-month loan deal from Monaco, as per the club’s official Twitter account, although the club’s fans are far more excited by the arrival of the 13-cap Paraguayan international playmaker.

Where does he fit in Rafa Benitez’s 5-4-1 system?

Almiron is an exciting attacking midfielder who thrives in a No.10 role behind the striker. As seen on Whoscored, Benitez opted for a flat, four-man midfield in the 2-1 win over Manchester City, with Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff in central midfield and Christian Atsu and Ayoze Perez on the flanks.

If the former Liverpool and Chelsea boss is to carry on with that system, he will need to drop one of his central midfield two in order to deploy Almiron in a more advanced role.

Benitez could possibly adapt his system slightly, which he probably should do for a record signing. The Spaniard could change to a 5-3-1-1 system, with Almiron playing just behind Salomon Rondon up top, which would be an exciting blend of physical power, craft and guile in Newcastle’s attack. Whatever the formation, the St James’ Park faithful should be salivating over this signing.

Rajasthan Royals registered their eighth win in Jaipur beating Chennai Super Kings by five wickets and rose to No. 2 on the points table

The Report by Devashish Fuloria12-May-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsStuart Binny had a rapid 93-run stand with Shane Watson•BCCIAt the mid-innings break, Michael Hussey had thought the 141-run total put up by Chennai Super Kings was competitive because the pitch was aiding seam bowling, but he was wary of the “Watson factor”. In the end, it was Shane Watson who turned out to be the difference with a 34-ball 70, as Rajasthan Royals registered their eighth win in Jaipur – a cleansheet – and rose to No. 2 in the points table, behind the Super Kings only on net run rate.Royals had been left scarred by 10 overs of menacing bowling by the Super Kings’ seamers and were left looking at a mountain to climb. With 93 required off the last 10, and Rahul Dravid already back in the dugout, a way back looked difficult. Then Dhoni introduced R Ashwin in the 11th, and the match turned on its head. The third ball of the over was slog-swept by Stuart Binny and it just cleared Ravindra Jadeja at deep midwicket, but it was the fifth and the sixth deliveries that signalled the start of the onslaught. Watson swept both comfortably over the midwicket boundary, making it 23 runs of that over, Ashwin’s most expensive in all IPL. It was the first over of spin in the game.It seemed like a switch had been flicked on, and Dhoni’s immediate reaction to go back to his seamers in the next over didn’t really make a difference to the batsmen. Binny cut and flicked Morris for a couple of boundaries, and then Watson took over. He first drove the impressive Jason Holder for a six over long-off, then bludgeoned two of Dwayne Bravo’s next over. The switch in gears left everyone gobsmacked. Morris lost his line in the next over and was duly hit for four boundaries in all directions, the first of which brought Watson’s half-century, off just 25 balls. Royals scored 81 between overs 11 and 15. By the time Watson was dismissed, the job had been done. Binny finished the chase with six over long-off to remain unbeaten on 41.The start of the innings had been nothing like the finish. Royals were peppered with pace and bounce from the Super Kings fast bowlers and they struggled as MS Dhoni maintained pressure with slip fielders. It was only Dravid who seemed adept enough to handle the bowling, similar to how Michael Hussey had steered the first innings for Super Kings, but even he edged a lot.Royals, who had won five straight matches chasing, had asked Super Kings to bat on a spicy pitch and Hussey and Vijay played the initial period watchfully to thwart the bowlers, then raised the 11th half-century stand between them to set up a strong base for the hitters to follow. But Kevon Cooper struck twice to remove Suresh Raina and Dhoni, derailing the Super Kings’ innings and the pitch was too hot to handle for the rest. Had it not been for a brief cameo by Bravo, Super Kings would not have had a competitive total. In the end, however, Royals won with 17 balls to spare.

Subrota Roy, the chairman of Sahara India, has questioned the BCCI’s credibility after their decision to oust Pune Warriors from the IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Oct-2013Subrata Roy, the chairman of Sahara India, has criticised the BCCI over its different standards in dealing with IPL franchises and said he felt “betrayed” by the board’s decision to terminate the IPL franchise Pune Warriors – owned by Roy – for failing to pay their bank guarantee for the 2014 season. He cited the case of Gurunath Meiyappan and the Chennai Super Kings franchise, who were cleared of any involvement in corrupt activities, though Gurunath was charged by the Mumbai Police with allegations of betting.”If the chief of any institution can create and allow such bad example like that of Gurunath, how can a body function independently? Had Gurunath been an owner or principal of some other team, what would have happened to that team?” Roy told the . “After this example, BCCI has lost the right to take action against anyone. Their whims and fancies are more important to them than anything else.”Sahara had threatened to pull out of the IPL last year, barely an hour before the auction. The main point of contention has been the franchise fee, which was negotiated for 18 matches per team in the league stage. However the minimum number of matches was reduced to 16, after which Sahara sought to resolve the matter through arbitration. Even though the BCCI and Sahara agreed to the arbitration, no further steps were taken after the parties failed to agree over who would oversee the abitration.In March this year, Sahara was required to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 170.2 crore for IPL 2014. The franchise had defaulted on 70% of the payment last season and had its bank guarantee encashed by the BCCI in May. Subsequently, Sahara announced its decision to pull out of the IPL, detailing its concerns against the board, and also stated its intentions to withdraw sponsorship of the national cricket team.”They have false egos and high-handedness and the Board will realise how big a financial loss it is suffering after Sahara pulls out of team sponsorship”, Roy said. “I don’t think any corporate would be interested to pay so much money to cricket at a time when there is so much of ego in the cricket bosses.”The decision to oust Pune Warriors from the IPL was taken at the BCCI working committee meeting in Chennai on October 26, but Roy felt such drastic measures were unnecessary. “I felt betrayed,” he said. “Had they sat across the table, we would have continued with the Indian team sponsorship.”