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Former Glasgow Rangers defender Alan Hutton has revealed he is worried about the lapses of concentration the Gers experienced during their Champions League third qualifying round defeat to Malmo.

The Lowdown: Gers lose to Malmo

The Gers had the chance to reach the Champions League group stages after winning the Premiership last term, and they faced Swedish champions Malmo in the third qualifying round.

However, the Light Blues lost 2-1 in both games, meaning they dropped down to the Europa League instead.

The Latest: Hutton shares fears

Speaking to Football Insider, Hutton, who remains the Gers’ record sale (The Scotsman) since making the £9m switch to Tottenham in 2008 (The Mirror), shared his worries over the lapses of concentration.

He said it will be a big concern for Steven Gerrard at Ibrox:

“The biggest worry is lapses in concentration really, so far.

“I mean, if you go all the way back to the first game, those defensive mistakes. I thought Rangers had got rid of them, especially last season. They were so strong.

“To take the game back to Ibrox, they knew what they had to do. They started off really well. It’s the best I’ve seen them in a first-half performance in the competition.

“Malmo going a man down, everything was in Rangers’ favour. They came out the second half and they just didn’t look the same. There wasn’t the same intensity, they looked a little bit fearful at times.

“Whenever there was a lot of pressure on them, they didn’t look the same Rangers team to me. To lose two goals from two throw-ins, I think that’s what’s going to really hurt the most.

“I thought they eradicated those sort of mistakes a couple of seasons ago. To see them come back and then get nervous after that, that’s probably the most worrying thing for me. Probably Steven Gerrard as well.”

The Verdict: Need to improve

The worrying thing from those two matches was that the Gers effectively lost the game in the same way. During the first match, they conceded twice in four minutes at the start of the second half, while they shipped two in two minutes in the second clash.

If you want to compete at the highest level, you simply cannot switch off – the game can be won and lost in a matter of moments.

Gerrard will have been livid with this way his team imploded in a short amount of time not once but twice. Perhaps the current Gers squad just aren’t quite ready for the Champions League yet, but they still have the chance to reach the Europa League group stages instead if they can get past Alashkert.

In other news, Rangers fans rage at these club struggles.

Liverpool are reportedly interested in a deal to sign Lille midfielder Renato Sanches, with the French champions willing to cash in on the 23-year-old, according to journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter.

The lowdown

Sanches has been with Lille since 2019, having previously been on the books with Bayern Munich and Benfica earlier in his career.

The Portuguese midfielder has made 60 appearances in total for the French club, which includes 29 in the 2020/21 season as they won the Ligue 1 title. The 23-year-old has two years remaining on his contract, although it remains to be seen whether he sees out that deal with Les Dogues as they begin the defence of their domestic crown.

Former Liverpool defender Jose Enrique has previously claimed that Jurgen Klopp could help Sanches become a world class player in the future, saying: “He’s always been a great player. If I’m not wrong he was named best player of the Under-21 tournament that he was involved in.

“The problem he had is like many young players he had everything too quick and until he settled it took him a few years, but he looks like the type of player that I believe Klopp can help him become a world class player.”

The latest

Liverpool are rumoured to be weighing up a move for Sanches, and Toubache-Ter claims that a fee in the region of €40m to €42m (£33.9m-£35.6m) could be enough to secure a deal.

It’s reported that the Lille board could look to move him on for that fee, although it remains to be seen whether Liverpool are willing to pay that amount for the 23-year-old.

The verdict

This could be a fantastic bit of business by Liverpool this summer as they look to strengthen their midfield options ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

We’ve already seen Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain linked with a loan return to Southampton, which met with opposition from some Liverpool’s supporters as the Reds aren’t exactly blessed with a considerable amount of midfield depth following Georginio Wijnaldum’s summer exit.

However, the Englishman’s departure could pave the way for Sanches to arrive, and it would be a real statement of intent by the Reds if they were to secure a deal to land the Lille maestro’s signature this summer.

In other news, some Liverpool fans had mixed reactions to this potential loan exit from Anfield

Phillip Hughes and Peter Forrest, two of the so-called “baby Blues”, posted impressive centuries to hand New South Wales first-innings points as they dominated South Australia on the second day

Cricinfo staff25-Oct-2008
Scorecard
Peter Forrest scored his second first-class century © Getty Images
Phillip Hughes and Peter Forrest, two of the so-called “baby Blues”, posted impressive centuries to hand New South Wales first-innings points as they dominated South Australia on the second day. The 253-run stand between the two was finally broken when Forrest was run out for 135 but Hughes continued unimpeded and finished the day unbeaten on 170.It was his highest first-class score and his second century – the first came in last summer’s Pura Cup final victory. At the close he was batting with Grant Lambert, who had 19, and New South Wales had extended their lead to 59.The powerful Hughes-Forrest partnership was an indication of the depth of talent in New South Wales, a team that this season has lost top-order men Simon Katich, Brad Haddin and Phil Jaques to the Test squad. The youthful New South Wales batting line-up this summer will rely heavily on Hughes, 19, and Forrest, 22.The men came together in the second over of the innings after Greg Mail was run out for 2. They batted through until after tea as South Australia’s attack failed to have any impact. Even Shaun Tait, who destroyed the Blues in a one-day game on Wednesday, had no answers and it took another mix-up between the wickets before Forrest finally departed.Dan Cullen was costly – his 11 overs conceded 65 – and both centurions enjoyed reaching their milestones off his bowling; Forrest with a boundary through midwicket and Hughes with an all-run four. The Redbacks fought back with four wickets in the final session but with Hughes still at the crease having batted the whole day, the third morning could provide some more headaches for South Australia.

The West Indies batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, has become the fifth player to win the coveted Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy

Cricinfo staff10-Sep-2008
Shivnarine Chanderpaul: top of the pile for 2008 © Getty Images
The West Indies batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, has become the fifth player to win the coveted Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy after being named as the 2008 Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards ceremony in Dubai.Chanderpaul, who also made the short-list last year, fought off competition from other nominees, Mahela Jayawardene from Sri Lanka, as well as South Africa’s Graeme Smith and Dale Steyn to take the top award.”I am honoured to be given this prestigious award tonight and I am very thankful to God for blessing me with the talent that I have,” Chanderpaul said. “I would like to thank my family – in particular my wife Amy – for their constant support over the years.”A special thank you goes out to my manager, my agent and all my supporters in the Caribbean and throughout the world. It’s also important that I thank my team-mates without whom this wouldn’t have been possible.”My congratulations go out to all the other winners tonight – these awards are great for the players and it is an honour even to be nominated. I am thrilled to have won.”Chanderpaul follows in the footsteps of India’s Rahul Dravid (2004), Andrew Flintoff of England and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (joint winners in 2005) and Ricky Ponting of Australia (2006 and 2007), all of whom have claimed the top award.Leading the tributes to the 2008 Cricketer of the Year was the ICC president, David Morgan. “Shivnarine has been a rock in the West Indies batting line-up for many years and he thoroughly deserves this award,” said Mr Morgan. “His contribution to the game has been immense and he epitomises the sort of dedication, bravery and skill required to excel at the highest level.”I would like to extend my very best congratulations to Shivnarine for winning the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy. He had some tough competition to overcome in the form of Mahela, Graeme and Dale but no one can deny that he has been one of the shining lights in the world game over the past 12 months or so.”During the voting period, Chanderpaul played eight Test matches, scoring 819 runs at an average of 91.00, including three centuries and six fifties, all of which were against the top seven teams in the world.He also played 13 ODIs during that time, finishing top of the averages with 74.75 having scored 598 runs, a haul that included a century and five fifties. He is currently ranked No. 1 in the ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen and is sixth in the rankings for ODI batsmen.The Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Cricketer of the Year was one of eight individual prizes given at this year’s awards. Chanderpaul also featured on the ICC Test Team of the Year as picked by the ICC selection panel.The panel was chaired by the former West Indies captain, Clive Lloyd, and included the former Australia captain, Greg Chappell, the recently retired South Africa allrounder Shaun Pollock, the former Sri Lanka opener Sidath Wettimuny and the former Bangladesh batsman, Athar Ali Khan.

Celtic were in discussions over a deal for Royal Antwerp right-back Aurelio Buta on Tuesday, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Buta links

Romano was the man who shared the initial links to Buta back in July. Since then, reports have suggested that the 24-year-old was closing in on a £3m move to Glasgow, but as we know, a move is yet to be confirmed.

Buta, who is on £4,500 per week with his current employers, has just 12 months left on his Antwerp deal, and it seems as if the Hoops are still chasing him after they announced the signings of Joe Hart and James McCarthy on Tuesday.

The Latest: Update emerges

Romano posted on Twitter on Tuesday evening, confirming Hart’s move to Scotland before adding that negotiations have been ‘ongoing in the last hours’ between Celtic and Antwerp for Buta.

Another reliable reporter, Scott Burns, also took to Twitter on Tuesday, with his morning post suggesting that the Hoops have actually agreed on a deal with the Belgian club for the 24-year-old.

Burns added that personal terms have actually been the main issue, even though the right-back is not looking for ‘bank-breaking money’.

The Verdict: Contrasting reports

Even though Romano and Burns’ posts were different, one thing we know for sure now is that Celtic’s interest in Buta is well and truly alive.

A new right-back appears to be next on the agenda following the confirmation of Hart and McCarthy’s moves, as Ange Postecoglou has just Anthony Ralston and Lee O’Connor as options on the right-hand side of defence at this moment in time.

Should a move for Buta go through, Celtic will be getting themselves a right-back who has Europa League experience and can play further forward if required, so it may turn out to be a shrewd piece of business in the long run.

In other news: Celtic now ‘in talks’ for ‘really, really good’ 6ft 3 ace; may cost ‘significant’ fee. 

West Bromwich Albion are lining up a swoop for Sheffield United striker David McGoldrick, as reported by Football Insider.

In 2020/21, the Republic of Ireland international enjoyed a quite productive season for the struggling Blades, registering 11 goal contributions in 40 appearances; nine goals and two assists [Transfermarkt].

Now moving into the new campaign, the 33-year-old may well swap Yorkshire for the Midlands following recent reports.

West Brom are believed to be in the market for an experienced forward with a track record in the Sky Bet Championship, with McGoldrick fitting the bill [Football Insider].

The Baggies are said to have made an approach for his services, with Sheffield United ready to listen to offers for the 6ft 1in ace.

In light of this news, no wonder loads of West Bromwich Albion diehards took to Twitter to vent their dismay at recent events.

West Bromwich Albion fans react:

Replying to popular West Bromwich Albion fan outlet WBA Report, here is what some Baggies supporters had to say about the links:

“Absolute travesty of a signing , another centre forward that doesn’t score goals. Excellent. Peak Albion.”

Credit: @LeeWestwood11″No better than HRK. I’m guessing we’re going for the cheap options again…..”Credit: @DJAndyMole”Oh god please no”Credit: @Brett_J89″Please no”Credit: @stelongy87″Oh dear”Credit: @bakeyboy0″We would honestly be better off re-signing HRK”Credit: @GeeCeeWBAIn other news, a West Brom star has been linked with a move to a Premier League giant.

Rahul Dravid will play for Karnataka in the Buchi Babu All-India invitation tournament to be held in Chennai from September 2 to 19. The tournament, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association’s curtain-raiser to 2008-09, will enter its 99th year this season

Cricinfo staff31-Aug-2008
Rahul Dravid is part of the Karnataka squad for the Buchi Babu tournament in Chennai © Getty Images
Rahul Dravid will play for Karnataka in the Buchi Babu All-India invitation tournament to be held in Chennai from September 2 to 19. The tournament, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association’s curtain-raiser to 2008-09, will enter its 99th year this season.It is likely the Buchi Babu tournament, which consists of three-day games, will see more national players this year since the postponement of the Champions Trophy has left a gap in the international calendar. Also, the Indian board wanted its top players to play in key domestic tournaments and participate in a preparatory camp ahead of the four-Test series against Australia starting in Bangalore on October 9.C Raghu, the offspinning allrounder, who scored 359 and picked up nine wickets from seven Ranji matches last season, will lead the Karnataka side in the tournament that will also include an Andhra Cricket Association side captained by Gnaneswara Rao.Karnataka squad Rahul Dravid, KB Pawan (wk), CB Karthik, V Cheluvaraj, Deepak Chougule, Amit Verma, Sunil Raju, Udit Patel, Ryan Ninan, NC Aiyappa, KP Appanna, S Aravind, Raju Bhatkal, Devraj Patil, Akshay.Andhra Cricket Association Gnaneswara Rao, AG Pradeep, Prasad Reddy, V Manoj Sai, DR Chowdary, Dasi Prabhu Kiran, ASK Varma, Bodapati Sumanth, Sameer Ali Khan, M Dinesh Kumar, P Vijay Kumar, D Kalyankrishna, GV Sharath Babu, YL Kishore, M Suresh, K Ravi Shankar.

India showed how the hectic pace of Twenty20 cricket could be replicated in ODIs, pounding 330 on a sluggish pitch before their bowlers rounded off a thumping win in their opening match of the tournament

The Bulletin by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan10-Jun-2008
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Virender Sehwag made his first ODI fifty in a year © AFP
India showed how the hectic pace of Twenty20 cricket could be replicated in ODIs, pounding 330 on a sluggish pitch before their bowlers rounded off a thumping win in their opening match of the tournament. Pakistan, coming off 12 successive wins against weak opposition, crashed to their worst defeat against India and their coach Geoff Lawson, who had hoped for a 150-run win, would have been embarrassed to see the shoe on the other foot.India’s domination was complete. Their mammoth total was made possible not by one but three batsmen: Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir made the most of some sloppy catching, getting within four runs of India’s highest opening stand against Pakistan, before Yuvraj Singh raised visions of a 375-plus total. They settled for 330 but that didn’t matter in the final analysis. Once Pakistan crumbled to 26 for 3, it was only a case of picking up the pieces.A run-rate of 6.6 is impressive in all conditions but the fact that India kept it up on a sluggish pitch that offered some assistance to the medium-pacers added more gloss to the effort. Their fifty came up as early as the seventh over but Pakistan’s four-pronged pace attack didn’t start as badly as the run-rate suggested. They troubled the batsmen with swing and seam and even managed the edge on a few occasions but they were let down by poor fielding. Younis Khan allowed Gambhir two lives – on 4 and 29 – with identical edges flying past him at second slip and Kamran Akmal let off Sehwag on 43 when he lost control of the ball after appearing to have snared an edge to his right.Sehwag, who walked all the way back to the boundary before returning, made the most of his good fortune, racing to his first fifty in a year. He was dropped for the final stages of India’s CB Series but an injury to Sachin Tendulkar allowed him another chance. He wasn’t his customary buccaneering self, and that was probably because of the nature of the surface, but he continuously peppered the region behind square. Preferring to use the pace of the bowlers, he walked across and whipped a few off his pads while settling for the judicious glide on other occasions.The area behind square was productive for Gambhir as well but it was the occasional skip down the ground that unsettled the bowlers. He didn’t hesitate charging the quicker men and actually cut one over the infield, off left-armer Wahab Riaz, with both his feet in mid-air.Riaz dismissed both openers in the space of a couple of overs but went on to have a forgettable day. It was the first time he was up against top-class opposition and the wheels began to come off once Yuvraj went after him. He even let slip two beamers – the second was probably because of the slippery ball – and wasn’t allowed to complete his final over. It meant he earned the dubious distinction of bowling the most expensive spell against India, conceding one more than what Ata-ur-Rahman did in Sharjah back in 1996.
Praveen Kumar’s four-wicket haul floored Pakistan’s hopes of chasing 331 © AFP
Incidentally it was in that game where India passed 300 for the first time in an ODI. Here, more than 12 years later, they were in sight of much more as Yuvraj began striking it clean. He gauged the slow nature of the track and ensured he played late. A couple of half-trackers were swatted away over midwicket and his neat clips towards square leg suggested a batsman preparing to explode, but he fell to Umar Gul in the quest for quick runs.It was always going to be an uphill task for Pakistan and the contest was all but over once Praveen Kumar struck four big blows, including a two-in-two. Swinging the new ball either way, he showed how dangerous he could be in congenial conditions. Praveen had Rohit Sharma to thank for the opening breakthrough: a sensational reflex catch at short cover got rid of Salman Butt.A slightly wide ball was lashed hard but Rohit, throwing himself to the left and ensuring his hands got around a low chance, hung on superbly. There was no need of any such acrobatics for the next one: Younis Khan snicked to the wicketkeeper and walked back for his second successive duck.Akmal and Misbah ensured Praveen didn’t have a perfect day – taking 17 off his fifth over, including four cracking fours – but Akmal was livid after falling to a full toss, lobbing a leading edge to mid-on. Misbah too couldn’t carry on, falling to an injudicious waft, and it was left to Shoaib Malik to pick up the pieces. He soldiered on to a fifty but his meaty blows were largely inconsequential in the face of a steep mountain. Chawla finished with four wickets, tormenting the tail and giving the finishing touches to a near-perfect day for India.

Some Everton fans have been left fuming as the Goodison Park faithful confirmed the signing of Andros Townsend on their official Twitter page.

The Merseyside club advertised the signing of the former Crystal Palace winger in an announcement video, as he was pictured wearing the new home kit.

As per their website, Townsend has signed on a two-year deal on a free transfer after his contract expired at Selhurst Park.

While he is an experienced Premier League player, having played for both Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United as well as the Eagles in the past, the signing has not impressed some Toffees supporters.

Townsend scored just one goal in 36 games in total over all competitions across the 2020/21 season (Transfermarkt), and at 30 years of age, is already past his peak.

Everton fans on Townsend news

These Blues fumed as the signing was confirmed on Twitter, with one even going as far as to claim that it is ‘garbage’:

“Could not be more underwhelmed. Average at best signing #efc”

Credit: @sicurrie

“I’m sorry but that is an embarrassing signing, absolutely embarrassing. Our club is broken beyond all repair – a slow motion tragedy that just continues to unfold before your eyes.”

Credit: @bradburynick

“Joke of a club”

Credit: @EFCJosh7

“Since 1987 Everton have sunk without a trace”

Credit: @DavidFo38145364

“Absolute garbage”

Credit: @efceddie1878

“We aren’t serious”

Credit: @chris8marlow

In other news, find out what Paul Joyce transfer update has Evertonians talking here!

In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Dean Windass has claimed that should Jack Grealish leave Aston Villa this summer, then the Midlands club won’t also sell fellow midfield star John McGinn.

Speaking to FFC, Windass said:

“Certainly, Dean Smith won’t want to lose him if Jack goes, no chance. If Grealish does go then Dean will have to hold on to a lot of players and then bring some more in, but I can’t see McGinn leaving.”

After an incredible season for club and country, Grealish has been linked with an eye-watering £100m move to Manchester City, so if the talismanic captain were to leave, Villa would certainly not be low on funds, and therefore, they shouldn’t feel the need to sell McGinn.

The Scotland international has been linked with a move to Liverpool in recent weeks after another impressive season in the top-flight, where he was once again a mainstay in Dean Smith’s side.

The 26-year-old would feature 37 times in the top-flight, contributing three goals and five assists, averaging an impressive 6.88/10 rating from WhoScored for his performances.

This was enough to rank him as the seventh-best performer at Villa Park last season, so it is clear that he is an extremely important member of Smith’s squad, and it would be a devastating blow if he were to follow Grealish out of the door.

Villa fans would certainly be frustrated if, after a promising summer of investment thus far, two of the key players from Villa’s squad in recent seasons were both to depart ahead of the start of the 2021/22 campaign, where the Villans look a safe bet to challenge in the top half of the Premier League table.

McGinn has also established himself as a fan favourite for both club and country, with former Scotland manager Gordon Strachan singing his praises in 2020, saying:

“John McGinn is a top, top player – do you know why? He’s a top, top man.”

It would be a disastrous decision by sporting director Johan Lange to allow both Grealish and McGinn to depart this summer, so fans will be praying that if their captain does depart, that at worst, it ensures that McGinn remains an Aston Villa player next season.

And, in other news… Dean Smith receives huge Jack Grealish boost