Category Uncategorized

The Delhi High Court has lashed out at the DDCA for “crossing its limit” and undermining the authority of Justice Mukul Mudgal by sacking the selectors appointed by him

PTI07-Nov-2016The Delhi High Court has lashed out at the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) for “crossing its limit” and undermining the authority of Justice Mukul Mudgal by sacking the selectors appointed by him. The court said the association’s move “attracts contempt of court”. The bench comprising Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Deepa Sharma suspended the decision of the DDCA, restoring the selection panel appointed by Justice Mudgal.The court said the DDCA was “testing everyone’s patience here”. It slammed the DDCA for “targetting” Justice Mudgal, former Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court who was appointed by the Delhi High Court to oversee the functioning of the association, which is plagued by alleged financial irregularities and nepotism in selection of players.On November 5, the sports working committee of DDCA removed former Indian cricketers Maninder Singh, Atul Wassan and Nikhil Chopra from their roles in the senior and junior selection panels, stating conflict of interest issues. The bench said: “DDCA should have informed the court about such a move when the order was reserved so that it could have taken preventive steps at that time only.”The bench said of the selectors: “Various selections have been made by them and they are doing their job properly and there is no chance of any misconduct.”The high court also made it clear that the DDCA will not interfere with the working of the selectors and asked them to proceed with the selection of Under-14 and Under-16 players.While allowing the selection panels to continue till further order, the bench said: “We really don’t know where things are going. It is unfortunate. You [DDCA] are after the committee, you are targetting Justice Mudgal.”Justice Mudgal, through his counsel Nitin Mishra, had moved the court seeking direction to declare the DDCA’s decision as “null and void”.In a status report filed with the court, Justice Mudgal had said: “Selectors, who were appointed under my supervision through the process of interview by a selection panel, are in process of picking up senior and junior teams at the moment. The act of removing the selectors unanimously by certain directors and the convener, sports working committee (DDCA), without any approval from the selection panel formed by me or by the Delhi HC is only aimed to scuttle the domestic season.”He said the selectors were appointed by the selection panel keeping in mind the recommendations of the Lodha Committee on conflict of interest norms.Considering Justice Mudgal’s report that the DDCA has not paid the players’ dues, the bench also directed the association to make immediate arrangements for cricketers playing or staying at hotels, and clear the dues within 48 hours.The bench also asked DDCA to clear, within a week, the dues of vendors and caterers that have been pending for the last three years.

As Manchester United claimed a narrow victory over AFC Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon courtesy of Casemiro's goal, it proved yet another impressive outing for the Red Devils' backline, having racked up a 17th Premier League clean sheet of the season.

That latest shut-out away at the Vitality Stadium saw long-serving stopper, David De Gea once again prove "vital" in the sticks – as per journalist Samuel Luckhurst – having ensured that he will be taking home the division's Golden Glove award.

For all the fury surrounding the shambolic defeats to the likes of Brentford, Manchester City and Liverpool, the "defensive improvement" for Erik ten Hag's side has still been "impressive", according to Luckhurst, with the club's number one having been a central part of that fine work so far this season.

While there has been much talk about how De Gea will fit into the Dutchman's long-term plans at Old Trafford – amid the continued talks surrounding a new contract extension – the 32-year-old proved against the Cherries that he remains a key asset for the top-four hopefuls in the short-term, at least.

How did De Gea perform against Bournemouth?

On a day in which United were far from at their brilliant best, De Gea was instrumental in keeping Gary O'Neil's men at bay, having produced two "excellent saves", according to The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell.

The £375k-per-week ace notably did well to deny substitute Kieffer Moore late on, standing strong to deny the towering Welshman after the visiting defence had been caught napping.

Not that the former Atletico Madrid man was often left exposed, however, with those in front of him also proving their worth, with experienced ace Raphael Varane having been "unbelievable", according to journalist Liam Canning.

The composed Frenchman was particularly 'solid' alongside Victor Lindelof – as per Luckhurst – having provided a reminder of his quality amid continued speculation surrounding the club's interest in Napoli defender, Kim Min-jae.

De Gea, too, may well have also seen reports that he could be usurped as the starting option next season, although the 30-touch ace also answered his critics with his standout display yesterday, with his 8.0 match rating having been the second-best of any player for either side – as per Sofascore.

Even if the 6 foot 4 rock is to be replaced this summer, he will still be counted on over the coming games, with it a real asset for Ten Hag to be able to rely on such experienced figures like the 45-cap gem and teammate, Varane.

Manchester United are reportedly leading the way in the battle to sign Benfica hotshot, Goncalo Ramos, as manager Erik ten Hag seeks to strengthen his centre-forward ranks this summer.

What's the latest on Ramos to Man United?

According to Portuguese outlet, Record – via Sports Witness – the Red Devils are said to be 'at the head' of the list of suitors for the 21-year-old, with the promising striker attracting interest from a host of Premier League clubs.

The piece adds that the Portugal international is looking increasingly likely to leave the Lisbon outfit at the end of the season, despite still having three years left to run on his existing deal.

If United are to prise the seven-cap gem from the Estadio da Luz this summer, Football Insider has previously claimed that a deal could be struck for a fee of around £70m.

Should Man United sign Goncalo Ramos?

Much of the talk at present is centred on the Old Trafford outfit's apparent interest in England captain Harry Kane in order to solve their centre-forward woes, albeit with the Carabao Cup winners seemingly wary of engaging in protracted negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur chairman, Daniel Levy.

With rumours also suggesting that Kane – who is set to turn 30 in July – could have an asking price of around £100m, Ten Hag and co could well find a more affordable and youthful alternative in the form of Ramos.

The latter man has certainly warranted the interest in his services after bagging 26 goals and 12 assists in 45 games in all competitions so far this season, having also hit the headlines after netting a hat-trick against Switzerland at the World Cup back in December.

Evidently a man in form, the 6 foot 1 ace has been tipped to go on to make a big impact in the game over the coming years, having even been hailed as the "next [Karim] Benzema" by former youth coach, Joao Fonseca.

That comparison has come amid reports that Ramos could also be of interest to Benzema's current side, Real Madrid, with the La Liga giants lining him up as a successor to the veteran icon.

As the Benfica man's form in his homeland has shown this season he is able to offer a clinical and creative threat when leading the line, with that mirrored by the experienced Frenchman who boasts a haul of 29 goals and six assists across all fronts this term.

The two men seemingly come alive in the opposing 18-yard box, as Ramos has averaged 6.54 touches in the attacking penalty area per 90 over the last 365 days, while Benzema has averaged only slightly more at 7.31 touches per 90 for the same metric.

The Madrid sensation – who also offers a real focal point due to his 6 foot 1 frame – is undoubtedly a stellar name to be likened to, with the five-time Champions League winner having been recognised as one of the finest in Europe after claiming the Ballon d'Or last year.

To think that United could find the 35-year-old's heir apparent in the form of Ramos is certainly an exciting prospect.

Glasgow Rangers are thought to be in talks to bring Aris Thessaloniki winger Luis Palma to Ibrox this summer.

What’s the latest Rangers transfer news involving Palma?

Palma has been linked with a move to Glasgow in recent weeks, with Rangers and Michael Beale looking to be aggressive in the transfer market, looking to get deals done early.

Reports suggested that The Gers have watched the player in action, with Palma impressing Ibrox chiefs. The 23-year-old is primarily a left-winger who can also play as a centre-forward or an attacking midfielder, and a move to Scotland could well be on the cards.

Journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos shared an update regarding Palma in the last 48 hours. He stated that Rangers are keen to sign Palma, however, there has been no official bid made as yet. The reporter added that talks are in progress, although many clubs are interested in the forward, with Aris wanting a €5m (£4.3m) fee.

Next target after Sterling?

The Light Blues are reportedly closing in on signing Kieran Dowell and Jack Butland for free, whereas Chelsea’s Dujon Sterling also looks set to move north for nothing over the coming months.

Rangers have been given the green light to sign the right-back, and after Sterling, Palma could be the club’s next main target. The Honduras international has enjoyed a successful season, scoring 13 times and registering eight assists in 35 games, turning out in a range of attacking positions.

Bolstering the final third looks set to be required for Beale ahead of his first full season in charge, especially as Alfredo Morelos will depart over the coming months, whereas Antonio Colak has also been linked with a move away.

However, Palma could be viewed as a direct replacement for Ryan Kent, with the 26-year-old set to become a free agent when his Ibrox deal expires at the end of the month.

Palma is three years Kent’s junior and has contributed to eight more goals in nine fewer appearances than the Englishman this season, and after Palma was linked with a move to Manchester United last month, Rangers could be targeting a possible hidden gem.

According to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, you 'can't rule out' Mauricio Pochettino taking charge as soon as possible.

What's the latest manager news involving Chelsea?

As per Football Insider, Chelsea are set to formally appoint Pochettino 'by the end of this week', bringing their lengthy search for a new manager to a close.

The report states that Lampard will remain in post for the rest of this term before being replaced by the 51-year-old at the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

Similarly, The Athletic have also revealed that the Blues' search for a new boss looks likely to come to an end this week, giving everyone at Stamford Bridge some much needed stability following a torrid 2022/23.

Last weekend, Chelsea won their first match since early March, bringing an end to a nine-game winless run with a 3-1 triumph over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, courtesy of goals from Conor Gallagher, Benoit Badiashile and Joao Felix, as per BBC Sport.

Nevertheless, Chelsea remain 11th in the Premier League table and have a lot of collective groundwork to get through in the summer to get back among the elite of English football.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Sky Sports reporter Sheth has signalled that he believes Lampard will take charge of the Blues' last four matches of the season, but did state that there is a chance Pochettino could come in now.

Sheth said: "I'm not sure. I think you'd have to ask Pochettino that question as well, simply because all the noises we were getting when he was being linked with Chelsea, being linked with Tottenham, being linked with Real Madrid was that he wanted to assess all of his options and make a fresh start in the summer.

"Could he come in now? You can't rule it out, but all the noises we're hearing is that Frank Lampard will be in charge of Chelsea until the end of the season."

What next for Chelsea?

With very little left to play for, Chelsea don't really need Pochettino to come in right away but as Dharmesh says, perhaps there could be a window of opportunity for him to come in and trial some things in the last couple of games. Never say never.

While their managerial situation is ongoing, Lampard will be charged with trying to ensure Chelsea finish this term in a strong fashion before the curtain is brought down on a frustrating time of things for all involved at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues still have some tough fixtures to come, with Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United being the four outstanding matches to complete.

To be honest, Chelsea don't have any real meaningful objectives to work towards between now and the end of 2022/23, seeing as they are well out of contention for continental qualification. However, pride is at stake and fringe players will also be looking to make a claim for a starting spot in 2023/24.

Winning over Bournemouth last Saturday will have instilled some confidence in Lampard's men and the 44-year-old will be keen to record a second consecutive victory when Chelsea take on Nottingham Forest this weekend.

Liverpool gave supporters a performance to be proud of in their Premier League clash with Leeds United last night and Jurgen Klopp will be pleased that his decision to stick with an unchanged starting XI paid off significantly.

The Reds delivered a 6-1 thrashing under the floodlights at Elland Road to keep their outside chances alive of securing a Champions League qualifying spot inside the top four – currently nine points adrift with eight league games remaining.

Despite their shocking away form that has seen the side collect just four wins from 16 league outings, Liverpool comfortably dominated in West Yorkshire last night with 74% possession, more shots on target (7 v 3), more big chances created (4 v 2) and over triple the amount of accurate passes completed (774 v 202).

It took a while to rise to the occasion in the first half for Klopp's side with Leeds comfortable in allowing Liverpool control of the ball for large parts without troubling their defence or Illan Meslier.

However, Cody Gakpo's opening goal in the 35th minute finally brought some life to the game with a second to double their lead from Mohammed Salah just four minutes later to put them comfortably in front at half-time.

Indeed, Luis Sinisterra looked like he had revived Leeds' hopes of getting back into the game with a strike converted just seconds into the final 45 minutes.

However, it only lit a fire in the visitors, leading to another four goals netted as the hosts capitulated defensively to allow Salah another, Diogo Jota a brace and Darwin Nunez the sixth and final blow just before the final whistle.

Whilst the Egyptian goal machine proved exactly why he is one of the most highly-rated forwards in the league, also bagging an assist on top of his brace, Trent Alexander-Arnold stole the show with a tweak to his position unlocking a side to the right-back rarely seen in recent months.

How did Trent Alexander-Arnold get on vs Leeds?

The talented right-back has been the target of huge scrutiny this season with Liverpool's defensive stability becoming questionable following a string of disappointing performances.

However, Alexander-Arnold will finally hit the headlines for all the right reasons following his influential display at Elland Road.

Over his 90-minute performance, the 24-year-old ace tallied up a whopping 124 accurate passes and 153 touches.

Initially fielded as a right-back, the Liverpudlian spent the vast majority of the game playing in central pockets, dictating the game with consummate ease.

That saw the £180k-per-week earner play two key passes which resulted in a brace of assists and 11 long balls, as well as winning three tackles and completing two clearances.

All of that proved that not only was he at his creative best, but he also got stuck in defensively from his newly defined inverted right-back role.

Alexander-Arnold's undeniable impact was hard to ignore for even his biggest critics and the club's brightest academy graduate earned huge praise, with The Times' chief football writer Henry Winter taking to Twitter to suggest is display was a "playmaking masterclass."

With that being said, there is no doubt that Klopp should continue to capitalise on Alexander-Arnold's clear strength in his adapted role over the remainder of the season as it could be the key to unlocking more victories and a Champions League spot at the end of the campaign.

Insider Dean Jones has claimed that Tottenham Hotspur should "fold the club" if they can't win a trophy with possible next manager Julian Nagelsmann.

What's the latest on Julian Nagelsmann to Spurs?

It looks as though the 35-year-old could potentially be the next man to take charge of Spurs after being sacked from his position at Bayern Munich and replaced by Thomas Tuchel this week – who had also been named as a manager target for Tottenham.

Indeed, with Antonio Conte looking set to leave north London in the near future, Nagelsmann has already been touted as the club's next manager.

If that were to happen, it would have meant the likes of Harry Redknapp, Andre Villas-Boas, Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho, and the Italian would have all failed to end the club's trophy drought.

While talking on the Chasing Green Arrows podcast, Jones claimed that if Nagelsmann continues this unwanted tradition, then Spurs may as well "fold".

The journalist said: “If Nagelsmann takes it and he can't win anything even then, you might as well fold the club.

"Because it turns out that Poch and Mourinho and Conte and Nagelsmann, if none of them managed to bring a trophy into the club, then yeah, it's time for AFC Tottenham and we start all over again."

Would Nagelsmann be any better than Conte at Spurs?

What could be exciting about the possible arrival of Nagelsmann, is the fact that despite being just 35 years of age, he has already won three pieces of silverware as a senior manager (all with Bayern Munich).

Still, it's not as though the likes of Conte and Mourinho hadn't won plenty before they arrived at Tottenham, only to fall short of their main goal in north London.

And so, there's every chance that Nagelsmann could join the club but find it impossible to do any better than his predecessors but maybe Spurs fans aren't too worried about trophies right now.

After all, a lot of supporters have been critical of the style of football under the Italian with the first half of matches being so bad at times this season, that, as per The Athletic, it’s a running joke that fans may as well only turn up after half-time.

And so, if Nagelsmann – who also often plays with a back three like Conte – could come in and at least bring some excitement on the football pitch, perhaps that would be enough in the short term.

Tottenham Hotspur could well have identified a possible successor to Antonio Conte at N17, with the Italian looking increasingly likely to be axed in the near future.

What's the latest on Oliver Glasner to Spurs?

According to German outlet, BILD, the Lilywhites are believed to have made 'contact' with Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner regarding the possibility of replacing the former Chelsea boss in the dugout, with recent reports claiming that Conte could be sacked this week, following his recent, post-Southampton outburst.

The suggestion is that the north Londoners are 'now interested' in potentially turning to Glasner to fill the position, with the 48-year-old – who has been in charge of the Bundesliga side since 2021 – having just over a year left on his existing deal in Frankfurt.

Would Glasner be a good fit for Spurs?

The former LASK head coach has certainly caught the attention as a result of his fine work in Germany of late, having notably guided his side to Europa League glory last season, before securing progression into the last-16 of the Champions League this time around, finishing second in Group D – just a point behind Conte's men.

Despite the solid body of work that the Austrian has amassed in his managerial career thus far, there may be concerns that Tottenham would be simply appointing a carbon copy of their current manager, were chairman Daniel Levy to make a concrete approach for Glasner.

That likeness to Conte is showcased by the fact that the pair both typically utilise a back three, while the former Wolfsburg boss also appears something of a pragmatic coach, with his side's playing style having been outlined by Barcelona's Xavi last season:

"They play on the counter-attack and counter-press in a way I’ve only seen from a few teams in my career."

With Spurs supporters likely sick to death of Conte's "negative", counter-attacking methods – as described by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville – the fear will be that Glasner's arrival could merely continue that brand of football, rather than spark a transformation to a more progressive and free-flowing model.

Equally, on a weekend in which Conte simply exploded following his side's late collapse away to the Saints – hitting out at his "selfish" players – the Frankfurt man also publicly outlined his anger with his squad following the defeat to Union Berlin, having questioned the "quality" of his charges.

Although that may simply be a sign of Glasner's desire to win, such an approach has seemingly not proved fruitful for managers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium of late, with the typically ruthless Jose Mourinho having also alienated members of the squad prior to his sacking in 2021, with The Athletic referencing the 'divide' that had emerged in the latter days of the Portuguese's time at the club.

Not that there is anything wrong with having a demanding manager who strives for perfection, yet Levy will likely be wary of repeating recent managerial errors by securing a dominant figure who could ultimately end up alienating the squad.

As such, while there is undoubtedly merit in the links to Glasner, the Austrian's apparent likeness to the under-fire Conte should well be something of a red flag.

Chelsea supporters have been handed a significant update on Graham Potter’s future by talkSPORT and presenter Jim White.

The Lowdown: Fallen giants…

The Premier League giants have fallen from grace this season, winning just one league game since the beginning of 2023. In that time, Potter’s side have had an alarming lack of punch in the final third, having scored just three goals since January 1.

Those numbers will be of real concern to both the Chelsea hierarchy and fanbase with the west Londoners currently miles off a potential European qualification place.

Ten points separate them and fifth-placed Newcastle, with White sharing a Potter update on talkSPORT.

The Latest: White shares update on Potter future…

Reports have suggested that Chelsea have sounded out possible replacements for the Englishman, including a rejected approach for ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.

White, speaking to the broadcaster, has now shared what a member of the Chelsea hierarchy has told him about Potter and his future at the club.

He explained:

“I woke up to a text message, it came from a member of the Chelsea hierarchy.

“I’m going to paraphrase it, ‘I understand the club feels there are extenuating circumstances, they’ve had 12 players injured, they’ve had eight new starts, and Potter himself had no pre-season – Graham Potter, in the hierarchy’s eyes, is the right coach for the Chelsea rebuild’.”

The Verdict: Right call?

Looking across London, capital rivals Arsenal endured a lacklustre start to Mikel Arteta’s reign, yet now they’re competing for league titles and currently lead Man City at the top of the Premier League.

Arteta also failed to guide Arsenal to a top four finish last season, yet rather than dismissing their Spaniard, the Gunners board stuck with him and are now reaping the rewards.

Perhaps Chelsea could follow a similar model with Potter and display patience in these next few seasons.

Under Roman Abramovich’s ownership, managers would often leave as quickly as they came in after a slump in form, with Todd Boehly and co now seemingly determined to move on from that philosophy.

Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth was again active last month in order to help bolster Eddie Howe’s squad, with the Englishman notably moving to secure the services of Harrison Ashby and Anthony Gordon from West Ham United and Everton, respectively.

The signing of the latter man was undoubtedly the more high profile of the Magpies’ January business – with Garang Kuol also joining from Central Coast Mariners – as the 21-year-old was snapped up on a hefty £45m deal from Goodison Park.

While that willingness to fork out such a sizeable fee for the Englishman is a testament to the faith that Ashworth and co have in him, it is believed that Gordon was not the only attacking option that the Tynesiders had been targeting, with Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams also having been on the club’s radar.

Did Newcastle want to sign Nico Williams?

According to The Athletic, the 20-year-old starlet was a possible ‘non-English alternative’ to that of the Toffees man for Newcastle, with journalist George Caulkin suggesting that a move for the promising Spaniard had been “discussed” by those at St James’ Park.

That follows reports during the winter window that suggested that fellow Premier League side Aston Villa were willing to meet the player’s £45m release clause, albeit with the forward himself said to have rejected the prospect of moving to the Midlands.

It is difficult to know whether Williams could have been tempted to link up with Howe’s side had the northeast outfit made a firm approach of their own, although nevertheless, it may well prove something of a blunder to have plumped for Gordon instead.

Should Newcastle have signed Williams rather than Gordon?

The Bilbao “sensation” – as described by journalist Shina Oludare – has already made a big impression for the Basque outfit in recent times, having scored seven goals and provided six assists in 26 games in all competitions.

The 5 foot 11 winger now boasts a tally of ten goals and seven assists in just 68 first-team appearances for the La Liga side to date, with the seven-cap speedster having also been part of La Roja’s World Cup squad in Qatar.

The aforementioned Gordon, by contrast, had just three goals to his name and no assists across all fronts this season for the Merseysiders prior to his recent switch, having recorded only seven goals and eight assists in 78 appearances for his former employers.

The England U21 international also appears to lack the dynamic brilliance of Williams as he ranks in just the bottom 39% for progressive carries among those in his position in Europe, while the Pamplona native ranks in the top 6% in that same metric.

Equally, the latter also appears to offer more in a creative sense from his usual left-wing berth as he ranks in the top 15% for progressive passes received, while Gordon only ranks in the bottom 10% in that regard.

Although Newcastle’s new man has ample opportunity to go on and thrive under Howe in the coming years, he has already faced notable criticism in recent times, with Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler (Sunday Mirror, 12/02/2023, page 75) stating that the forward’s price tag was “ridiculous” as he has “hardly done anything” in the game.

Gordon will no doubt be striving to prove the now-retired icon wrong, although it is hard to shake the fact that the club may well have been better served landing a higher-quality asset with the signing of Williams.