West Ham United boss David Moyes should drop one of his regular starters at the London Stadium as he does not fit a possession-based style of play, according to pundit Frank McAvennie.

West Ham United's up and down season

In the Premier League, West Ham sit 12th in the table having taken 14 points from their first 11 fixtures; nevertheless, Scottish boss Moyes has had to battle with a recent slump in form at the London Stadium. Questions surrounding Moyes' future have never been far away in East London, with a report from Football Insider last month claiming that a decision on his tenure could be set to unfold later this campaign.

The former Everton manager remains in his post for now and secured a much-needed victory on Thursday against Olympiacos in the Europa League, as a strike in the 73rd minute from Lucas Paqueta helped to alleviate some of the pressure on his shoulders.

Winning just his second match in seven games, Moyes complimented his side for navigating their way through a challenging tie against the Greek outfit, stating: "We were a bit gritty, we could have done some things better, but overall winning the games in Europe is really important. Tonight was a tough opponent, it really was, and it proved that way at Olympiacos and it was again tonight."

Domestic momentum has been something that has evaded the Hammers in recent times, though they could potentially move into the top half of the Premier League standings if they defeat Nottingham Forest at the London Stadium on Sunday Already undertaking his pre-match press conference duties before the Nottingham Forest clash, Moyes has indicated that it is too soon to know whether club captain Kurt Zouma will return from knee issues to play a part against the Tricky Trees.

Frank McAvennie not happy with Tomas Soucek

Speaking to Football Insider, pundit McAvennie has claimed West Ham boss Moyes should drop midfielder Tomas Soucek, or he will have a "problem".

McAvennie also indicated that he would like to see Moyes alter the Hammers' style of play, as he stated: "We’re a really good team with really good players and we don’t need to counter-attack. He doesn’t have to, we have players that can keep the ball for fun.

"Moyes is playing Soucek but I don’t think he’s been hitting the heights that he has been. He’s a good player, but David is going to have a problem. Mohammed Kudus can’t get out of the team now, Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen, Said Benrahma, James Ward-Prowse – you’ve got all these midfield players. They’re better than just counter-attacking.

“He’s going to have a headache. For me, they should all be playing before Soucek. He’s shown little flashes but for me, he’s not been influential the way he was.”

Of course, the Czech international has been linked with the likes of Serie A giants Inter Milan in recent times; nevertheless, it will be intriguing to see what the near future holds for Soucek.

After rain delayed the final day in Melbourne, India needed just 27 balls to wrap up victory

Andrew McGlashan29-Dec-2018The first session was washed out, Google Trends for ‘Melbourne weather’ from India went through the roof but in the end, it took them just 27 balls to retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy.Jasprit Bumrah claimed his ninth wicket of the match, the first India quick to reach such heights in Australia, when Pat Cummins’ fine innings ended with a catch to first slip. Then in the next over, Ishant Sharma found Nathan Lyon’s top edge as he hooked and with that, it was all over.”The credit has to go to our bowlers, especially Jasprit, they have been outstanding,” Kohli said after the game. “The way Jasprit bowled in Perth it was almost criminal not to get wickets, but the management told him they would come in bunches.”Australia had managed to take the match into the final day and the first part of Sunday was spent with the teams kicking their heels in the dressing room as showers scudded across the ground. Any early lunch was taken at 12.15pm but during the interval, the skies cleared to allow India to resume their quest.The new-ball was only five overs old and was in the hands of Ishant and Bumrah, the latter immediately making life uncomfortable with his angle and bounce as he has throughout the match.Cummins had put Australia’s top order to shame with his display, but hopes of a maiden Test hundred – or something even greater – vanished when Bumrah found the outside edge and Cheteshwar Pujara, the man who set this all up for India, grasped a good low catch at first slip.There was no final-wicket stand to annoy India when Ishant sent down a bouncer to Lyon who hooked and sent the top edge to Rishabh Pant to allow the celebrations to begin.The Border-Gavaskar trophy has been retained, a wonderful end to 2018 for India, but an even bigger prize awaits in Sydney at the start of the New Year. “Nothing will distract us from winning that last Test,” Kohli said, “we’ve worked really hard for this.”

Cricket South Africa is being sued for over half a million dollars by one of the franchise owners of the defunct T20 Global League. Hiren Bhanu, owner of the Pretoria Mavericks, is claiming damages of USD 515,627.91 plus interest and costs of the suit from CSA.Legal documents accessed by ESPNcricinfo provide detail on that total, with Bhanu claiming he has spent USD 81,247.76 on marketing, USD 68,538.68 on legal fees, USD 107,216.81 on salaries and wages and USD 103,754.22 on travel as well as various other expenses. Atthe end of June, CSA paid Bhanu USD 179,989.00 as compensation for the initial deposit made towards securing a GLT20 team license and that amount is taken into account in the legal claim.”We’re going to sue them for damages for the efforts that we put in,” Bhanu confirmed to ESPNcricinfo before launching legalaction. “Some people were paid their expenses, and they are happy with that. I’m not happy with that. We just want to be compensated for our time and effort.”The GLT20, CSA’s initial foray into franchise T20 cricket, was the brainchild of former chief executive Haroon Lorgat, and was supposed to have taken place this time last year, but was postponed by CSA. This came shortly after* Lorgat had parted ways with CSA, in part over differences in the handling of the GLT20. In September 2018 CSA’s members board voted to go ahead with a re-structured league. Weeks later, CSA announced that it would be the owner of the teams in the new league, re-named the Mzansi Super League (MSL), leaving the GLT20 franchise owners disgruntled.When asked about the status of any potential legal wrangling ahead of the start of the MSL, Thabang Moroe, CSA’s chief executive, had told ESPNcricinfo: “We have a legal team tasked with dealing with those matters.”CSA appears to have been caught unawares by the latest legal claim, however. “We’re not aware of his decision to sue us,” a CSA spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo on Saturday. “Once something official comes our way we’ll then be able to make a comment.”The particulars of the legal claim rest on written and verbal agreements between the parties in August 2017 relating to Bhanu’s company, Hermis Sports Ventures Limited, being granted a license to operate a team in the T20 Global League. The suit claims that CSA refused to fulfill the agreements. The informed opinion seems to be that the legal wrangling could revolve around the terms of the original contract that the owners signed with CSA – what was warrantied by CSA, and what was not.Bhanu is being represented by Bowman Gilfillan, a law firm based in Sandton, Johannesburg, with offices elsewhere in Africa, and known as one of the so-called “Big Five” law firms in South Africa. CSA, meanwhile, this year switched to the firm Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs, who are also legal big hitters and one of the Big Five.Bhanu is not the only former team owner communicating with CSA’s lawyers. ESPNcricinfo understands that another of the former owners is in the process of calculating damages from the failure of the 2017 league, and is amenable to a financial settlement with CSA, as well as seeking remuneration of the deposit paid by the owner for the licensing of the team.GMT 1830 The story was updated to include information about the other former owner calculating damages from the GLT20.December 9, GMT 1615 The story earlier mentioned that Lorgat stepped down after the postponement of the GLT20. The error has been amended.

The Premier League's hopes of securing an additional place in next season's Champions League have taken a hit following Arsenal's defeat to Bayern.

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• Arsenal beaten by Bayern in UCL
• Germany leapfrog England in the UEFA coefficient
• Will miss out on an additional spot

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Next season, two nations will be granted an extra spot in the expanded Champions League tournament. Initially, it seemed plausible that the Premier League might secure one of these additional places. However, the outstanding performance of Italian clubs in European competitions has all but guaranteed Serie A a place in the Champions League, leaving only one slot remaining.

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  The battle for this remaining spot was primarily between the Premier League and the German Bundesliga, determined by coefficients. Before this week's quarter-final fixtures, the Bundesliga held a slight advantage over the Premier League in the coefficient rankings. However, Bayern Munich's triumph over Arsenal further extended Germany's lead, tipping the scales in favour of the Bundesliga side.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  In recent Champions League fixtures, Manchester City suffered elimination at the hands of Real Madrid, while Borussia Dortmund progressed to the semi-finals alongside Bayern Munich after defeating Atletico Madrid. Additionally, Bayer Leverkusen hold a commanding position against West Ham United, further enhancing Germany's prospects.

  Nation	Points
  Italy	18.248
  Germany	17.462
  England	16.875
  Spain	15.312
  France	15.250

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The Premier League's plight is exacerbated by the precarious situations of West Ham and Liverpool in their respective quarter-final ties. With Aston Villa likely to secure a spot in the Europa Conference League last-four, fifth place in the Premier League would then guarantee qualification for the Europa League rather than the Champions League.

  Currently, Tottenham Hotspur occupies fifth position in the Premier League standings, trailing fourth-place Aston Villa by three points with a game in hand. However, their hopes of Champions League qualification are still alive and kicking as they have six games left to try and turn around their fortunes and leapfrog Villa.

The opener led a boundary-laden assault by Stars’ batsmen as they racked up 230 before Heat crumbled under the magnitude of the chase

The Report by Akshay Gopalakrishnan30-Nov-2018

Reeza Hendricks cracked the maiden century of the Mzansi Super League as Jozi Stars buried Durban Heat under a mountain of runs to climb to the third place. Asked to bat on a belter in Johannesburg, Stars’ batsmen pulverised the opposition, one after the other, in a savage assault. It gave them a cushion of 230 runs – 21 clear of the previous highest total of the tournament, which also belonged to Stars – a good 146 of which came from fours and sixes.What started out as a lesson in the art of preserving wickets and pacing a T20 innings, wound up being an exhibition of death-overs batting. By the time the Stars innings ended, Heat had no idea what had hit them. Specifically, the overs between 14 and 20 were a haze, as Stars pillaged 114 runs in that period.As it is Johannesburg is a treat to bat on – this is the venue of AB de Villiers hundred, remember? – owing to the ground’s natural topography. The high altitude means the ball flies off the bat, and the hardness of the surface gives batsmen the ideal pace they need off it. Add to that small boundaries, and you either have to be a genius who can conjure magic at will, or be extremely adroit with your variations. If you’re unable to tick either of those boxes, you simply close your eyes and pray for the best.It was the last of those that was on display on Friday. Heat’s bowlers offered up an assortment of poor deliveries. They bowled too full. They fed the arc of the batsmen, giving them the ideal amount of room. Changes in pace were sussed out early, and tighter lines were dealt with by smart movements around the crease.Hendricks and Ryan Rickelton took minimal time to get down to business. Barring three, every over in the first ten contained at least one boundary. As one would expect with such striking, Stars’ progression wasn’t without some slice of luck. Hendricks, in particular, walked a slippery path early, his first three fours arriving via a powerful whip over midwicket, an inside edge to fine leg, and a leading edge through backward point.But the streaky strokes soon made way for more meaty ones. A full-blooded shovel over midwicket by Hendricks brought up the fifty of the opening stand, in the last over of the Powerplay. With Rickelton too finding frequent boundaries at the other end – three fours and two sixes in 33 balls – Stars were closing in on the 100-run mark at the start of the 11th over when respite finally arrived. And it took a tremendous catch – Hashim Amla falling to his right at point to snare a Rickelton cut – to end a start so good.However, the worst was yet to come. Rassie van der Dussen provided the first glimpse of that when he cracked four successive sixes off Tladi Bokako in the 14th over, and ended it with a powerful drive through extra cover, making it 30 from the over. Hendricks kept the punishment going with three sixes and a four in the 16th over, off Vernon Philander.Once van der Dussen departed, Heat were in for an even ruder shock as Daniel Christian unleashed a boundary barrage of his own. The manner of Christian’s progression meant that Hendricks had to wait until the last over to get to the hundred despite having moved into the 90s in the 17th over.Heat put up a brave effort in their response, especially considering they lost three wickets to Kagiso Rabada in the very first over. Everything Heat’s bowlers couldn’t discover in the first innings, Stars’ did: pace, bounce, and movement off the deck. Even so, with Johannesburg’s reputation for putting up thrilling chases, nothing could be ruled out. Morne van Wyk kept the fight alive with another six-heavy attack, but with Heat unable to plug the fall of wickets at the other end, it was a lost battle. Through the first half, Heat maintained a run rate of over ten, but had lost six wickets. In all, Heat managed four overs of 17 runs each, and struck 17 fours and nine sixes in their innings. It made for an entertaining viewing, but was nowhere close to enough as they crumbled under the magnitude of the task in front.

Tottenham Hotspur’s early season dominance has faded in recent weeks, with Ange Postecoglou’s team failing to win any of their last five matches, despite taking the lead in each tie.

Injuries and suspensions to key players kickstarted the poor run of form, which has seen Spurs reside in fifth place in the Premier League table.

The Lilywhites have had no issues in the final third this campaign, netting in every single game, yet they have been defensively vulnerable as of late, conceding 2.6 goals per game on average over the last five matches.

With Richarlison and Brennan Johnson failing to take their opportunity on the left of the attack and the previous issue in mind, the boss may turn towards 21-year-old Italian, Destiny Udogie, who has particularly impressed going forward since being drafted into the starting XI at left back.

Spurs transfer news – Samuel Iling-Junior

Postecoglou is keen to reinforce the left-side of his team, with Samuel Iling-Junior reportedly among the transfer targets, according to TuttoSport via SportsWitness.

Juventus are open to offloading the England U21 international, as he has failed to nail down a spot in the starting XI and his contract expires in 2025.

The move could be completed in January and contact has already been made between the two clubs ahead of a possible transfer next month.

How Samuel Iling-Junior compares to Destiny Udogie

The potential acquisition of Iling-Junior may have a domino effect on the positioning of Spurs’ left-hand side. The Juventus wide player is a “flamboyant” – as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – and versatile individual, who can comfortably operate all down the left, just like Udogie, and has often been deployed as a left wing-back for the Italian outfit.

The two players share similar strengths, including successful take-ons, progressive carries, and tackles, as shown in the table below.

Udogie vs Iling-Junior stats this season

Successful take-ons

1.58

1.42

Progressive carries

3.61

3.01

Tackles

2.51

2.85

Tackles (Att 3rd)

0.35

0.63

Shot-creating actions

2.61

2.85

Stats per 90 via FBref.

From a positional standpoint, the current Spurs full-back has shown his ability to invert at times this season, whereas Iling-Junior thrives as a touchline player.

Therefore, the manager has the option to field Udogie as a left-winger, who can come inside in possession to breakdown opponents with his hypnotising dribbling, whilst still having a threat on the wing via the 6 foot Juventus youngster.

The ex-Udinese star has already showcased glimpses of how dangerous he can be in the final third, registering two assists and ranking in the 97th percentile for touches in the opponent’s box. He has also missed two big chances this season, which shows he can find himself in goal-scoring positions, but his current biggest downfall is his decision-making, but that should naturally improve with more experience.

Tottenham would be an extremely difficult to side to breach if Udogie is opted for in a higher role, as they could form a solid 4-5-1 out of possession with the two wingers tucking in and aiding the full-back. This could have been useful over the last month, when Spurs have been far too easy to breach.

The number 38 who idolised legendary left back Marcelo when he was growing up, boasts impressive defensive stats, making 3.08 tackles per game, 1.54 interceptions, and 3.34 clearances, so despite showing signs of inexperience, his underlying statistics are amongst the best in the Premier League this season.

Any left-back who possesses attacking traits – such as Iling-Junior – and Udogie as a duo, would work superbly and provide balance at both ends of the field, in and out of possession.

The Spurs faithful have experienced a young left back be converted to a flying winger with incredible pace and carrying ability previously, and Udogie could follow in the footsteps of Gareth Bale.

Mason Greenwood could become a transfer makeweight for Manchester United, with a part-exchange deal for Juventus defender Gleison Bremer being mooted.

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Winger currently enjoying Getafe loan spellPermanent move predicted this summerBrazilian defender may head in opposite directionWHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils are expected to reinforce their back line in the next window, with World Cup winner Raphael Varane approaching the end of his contract. Questions have also been asked of how long England international Harry Maguire will be sticking around at Old Trafford.

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Brazilian star Bremer is said to be registering on United’s recruitment radar. There may be a creative option to explore there – with Greenwood, who is currently enjoying a loan spell at La Liga side Getafe, worked into the equation.

DID YOU KNOW?

It is considered unlikely that Greenwood will be absorbed back into the Red Devils’ ranks this summer, despite talk of a contract extension option through to 2026 being taken up, and a permanent move elsewhere is on the cards. Serie A giants Juve have been credited with interest, as former Bianconeri boss Fabio Capello talks up a swoop for Greenwood.

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According to , United may look to include Greenwood in an approach for Bremer. Juve are said to be open to the idea of making a move for Greenwood “more sustainable in some way”, due to his high asking price, and a part-exchange agreement could prove beneficial to all concerned.

كشف أيمن الشريعي رئيس نادي إنبي، عن قيام إدارة الأهلي بتحويل نصيب الفريق البترولي من صفقة انتقال حمدي فتحي إلى الوكرة القطري خلال الأيام المقبلة، معلقًا على عودة زياد كمال المعار إلى الزمالك إلى النادي من جديد.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي وإنبي مساء غد الأربعاء في المواجهة التي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات الدوري المصري.

طالع | الأهلي في اختبار قوي أمام إنبي للحفاظ على سلسلة انتصاراته بـ الدوري

وقال أيمن الشريعي في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة ام بي سي مصر2: “لنا مستحقات لدى النادي الأهلي بشأن حمدي فتحي وتواصلت مع سيد شلبي المدير التنفيذي للأهلي”.

وتابع: “استقبلونا في النادي الأهلي بالتجمع واتفقنا على كل الأرقام بكل أريحية، وخلال الأيام المقبلة القليلة سيحولون المبلغ”.

وأردف: “هذا المبلغ من إعادة بيع حمدي فتحي إلى الوكرة، المبلغ سيتم دفعه كاش، نسبة إعادة البيع 20%”.

وكان حمدي فتحي قد انتقل إلى صفوف الوكرة القطري في الصيف الماضي 2023 بعد مسيرة 4 سنوات مع الأهلي.

وأكمل: “لا يوجد شيء رسمي من نادي الزمالك بعودة زياد كمال إلى إنبي، وشروط انتقاله للزمالك لم تكن مجحفة”.

واختتم: “لم تكن هناك أي شروط مجحفة كما ردد البعض، بل توجد بها العديد من التفاصيل، الغاء اعارة زياد يجب أن تتم بموافقة الطرفين الزمالك وإنبي”.

Glasgow Rangers overcame a poor start at Ibrox this afternoon to eventually prevail 3-1 against Dundee.

The Dens Park side took the lead after just five minutes, yet goals from Cyriel Dessers and James Tavernier turned the tables, before Abdallah Sima added a third with ten minutes of the first half remaining.

It looked as though the Gers would run away with the tie, yet Jose Cifuentes was sent off following a VAR review and Philippe Clement’s men had to play the second 45 with ten men.

In the end, the sending-off didn’t make a difference and there were some solid performances, with Sima continuing his sparkling run of form.

Abdallah Sima’s statistics vs Dundee

The on-loan Brighton and Hove Albion winger scored in his previous two league matches prior to the match today, and he managed to keep his streak going with yet another fine effort.

With Danilo out injured and the form of Cyriel Dessers hardly setting Ibrox alight, there was a chance that Clement may have unleashed Sima in a more central role.

The 22-year-old was deployed in his usual left-wing slot and impressed once again, taking four shots during the tie, along with making one key pass and succeeding with two of his three dribble attempts.

His pace was a constant threat to the Dundee defence and the Light Blues will need to wrap him in bubble wrap over the coming days as he is their most valuable player at the moment.

Tavernier also put in an impressive display, and he led from the front when the Gers went a goal down.

James Tavernier’s game in numbers vs Dundee

During the midweek win over Hearts, the captain grabbed an assist with a stunning pass to Sima and it led to praise from journalist Mark McDougall, who said: “That pass from James Tavernier is outstanding. A wildly disrespected footballer.”

Of course, he divides opinion at times, but there is no taking away from what Tavernier brings to this Rangers side, and he showed his leadership skills after they went down a goal in the first five minutes.

The Englishman scored his trademark penalty which gave the Ibrox side a 2-1 advantage, but he also hit the woodwork too.

Tavernier took 84 touches throughout the game as he was eager to constantly get on the ball and his attacking traits were on full display and, along with the goal, the 32-year-old made three key passes, delivered three successful crosses and succeeded with 100% of his dribble attempts as he bombed up and down the right flank.

Being so far up the field at times ensured he was dispossesed a total of 18 times during the tie, but that didn’t matter in the end, as the club secured all three points.

Four dream players Koppen could sign for Rangers including Dessers upgrade

The new director of football recruitment could bolster the manager’s squad in January.

ByDan Emery Dec 5, 2023

He won four of his six aerial duels and wasn’t dribbled past once, indicating how solid he was defensively, and it was an all-around excellent performance from the captain.

With a crucial Europa League clash on Thursday against Real Betis, this win will have further boosted confidence heading into that tie.

The India captain’s comments come with the Australian team facing an uproar over their on-field behaviour in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Nov-20184:02

‘We believe we have the quality to win in Australia’ – Kohli

India captain Virat Kohli has made it clear that he, and his side, will be drawing their own “line” about behaviour on their tour of Australia, and will not stand for conduct that goes against their “self-respect”.”Aggression depends on the situation on the field. If the opposition is aggressive towards you, then you counter it,” Kohli said on the eve of the first T20I in Brisbane. “We have never been a team that started something, but we always draw a line at our self-respect. If we feel that someone is crossing that line, then we stand against it.”But aggression can also mean how much effort you are putting in for each wicket as a team. Aggression is shown through your body language on the field, or for bowlers how long they can keep bowling in the same area. For batsmen, aggression can definitely be there in your body language, without saying a word or doing anything. For me, aggression is a passion for winning, and an obsession that I have to win every ball for my team. People have different meanings for aggression, but as far as I’m concerned, for me it is winning the match come what may, and giving 120% for my team every ball. Whether I’m on the field, or sitting outside and clapping for someone else, or batting, whatever it is.”Kohli’s comments come, with the Australian team facing an uproar over their on-field behaviour, in the aftermath of the Newlands ball-tampering scandal that resulted in bans for Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. In that series in South Africa where the scandal exploded, the first two Tests had been marked by heated exchanges between players even before the ball-tampering incident happened. At the time, the Australians had talked about the ‘line’ and how they always pushed it but never crossed it.Kohli’s words could ignite the debate again, with the India captain firm that his team would have its own code.Aaron Finch, the Australia captain, said that his team would focus more on being intense with their actions rather than words, echoing Kohli’s comments on aggression. “Going hard doesn’t mean being verbal or in people’s faces,” Finch said. “It can be about your body language, your presence at the crease, when you’ve got the ball in your hand. How you move around the field as a team, diving in the circle and cutting off ones. That’s presence and fierceness and that’s tough cricket. The verbal stuff’s the easy stuff, and that gets lost sometimes.”We’re still as intense and desperate to win no doubt. It’s about going about that the right way and playing hard is part of the Australian way of doing it. For different people that means different things, it might be the intensity you go about it, it might be your body language. It’s not all about verbal and things like that, which people tend to get confused with sometimes. They talk about being tough and aggressive and that means verbal, but I don’t see it that way. It’s about your presence on the ground.”On Monday, fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile had said that he hadn’t been sledged by India on the field, and that he, personally, wasn’t one to indulge in chatter on the field. “I’ve never been sledged by them,” he said. ” [In] T20 it’s a little bit hard to sledge, you don’t have that time in the field to really get angry, so I don’t think you’ll see too much of it during the T20s. I don’t talk to any of the batters personally, in T20s I don’t think people have too much to say. If they get an opportunity, I don’t think that’ll happen, it’ll just be talk with the ball, talk with the bat.”