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West Bromwich Albion have conceded their chances of getting promoted back into the Premier League next season after failing to sustain their charge for automatic promotion and slipping out of the play-off spots – the Baggies now currently lie in 13th in the Championship.

As a result, Steve Bruce will be working hard over the summer and next season to ensure that the Baggies can challenge again and hopefully secure promotion back into the top flight in their second season following relegation in 2021.

The Baggies boss has given an in-depth interview with The Express & Star this month on his plans for his revival of the team at The Hawthorns, with one player, in particular, being singled out as a key player for the future of West Brom.

Bruce has been full of praise for Taylor Gardner-Hickman and his progress in the team saying;

“He has done very, very, well for us in midfield. He’s young. He’s desperately eager to succeed. He is one of our own and that always goes down well.

“He has had a decent start to his career. And we’re looking at big things for next season.”

The 6 foot 1 ace who was hailed “menacing” and “a cut above the rest” by journalist Joe Ellis, has been in fine form since becoming a more consistent starter for his boyhood club in the Albion senior team this season.

Gardner-Hickman has won the majority of his ground duels (55%), is successful in the majority of his dribbles (53%) and has made 2.2 tackles, 0.7 key passes and 0.6 interceptions on average per game in his 19 Championship appearances, proving that he clearly has the potential to offer a lot to his team next season as they push for promotion.

The 20-year-old secured his long term future with the club by signing a contract back in December that extends his stay at the club for another four-and-a-half years, so judging by Bruce’s comments the plan is to fully integrate him into the team with the youngster able to offer his services in both a full-back and right midfield position.

There is no doubt the future is bright for Gardner-Hickman but the West Brom manager will have his work cut out to improve and rebuild the team following a disappointing season to inspire better quality performances and positive results next season to compete for their opportunity to climb out of the Championship.

AND in other news: Talks ongoing: WBA must swoop for “talented” £25k-p/w target who’d be a “big asset”

Daniel Vettori berated New Zealand for a familiar batting collapse on the third evening in Seddon Park, as the hosts crumbled to 110, handing Pakistan a 10-wicket victory

Andrew Fernando at Seddon Park09-Jan-2011Daniel Vettori berated New Zealand for a familiar batting collapse on the third evening in Seddon Park, as the hosts crumbled to 110, handing Pakistan a 10-wicket victory. New Zealand lost their top six batsmen for 25 runs within the space of an hour, falling prey to excellent spells from Wahab Riaz and Abdur Rehman.”I think we fought pretty hard in the morning to give ourselves a chance to come back into the game,” Vettori said, after New Zealand bowled Pakistan out for 367 in their first innings. “The three seam bowlers had to work pretty hard throughout, but then to let it all slip with a familiar batting performance in the third innings leaves a really sour taste.”The match had been well poised at the tea break, with New Zealand 59 runs in arrears and all their wickets in hand before they capitulated catastrophically in what turned out to be the final session of the Test. The hosts lost ten wickets for 74 runs and Vettori blamed poor decision making for the collapse. “You need to make good decisions in Test cricket. There were four or five today, run outs, rash shots, bad decision-making and it all adds up to being bowled out for 110.” Ross Taylor was run out attempting an ill-advised single, while Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill and Reece Young all fell to injudicious strokes.Vettori claimed that despite the woeful performance, there was enough talent in the top order to justify their places in the team. “Brendon’s obviously been outstanding since he became an opener and Timmy McIntosh got a 100 two Test matches ago. There’s been some good performances from everyone in that top six, but we are just going to have to become more consistent.”Vettori also said that he and coach John Wright had already reproached the side for the collapse and expressed a desire to bid farewell to batting efforts like today’s. “You have to look pretty closely at your own performance. [John Wright] and myself have spoken to the team and there were a lot of harsh words. Wrighty stated quite emphatically that things have to change, you can’t keep putting those performances together. He wants to be part of the change and obviously I do too, so it’s got to start at the base.”Pakistan’s bowling in the second innings should also be given credit, Vettori said, after Wahab stunned New Zealand with an exhibition of brilliant fast bowling with a tailing ball, while Rehman bowled a tight line as he had done throughout the match. “Riaz in particular came in, bowled a ten over spell and really gave them the impetus to come hard at us.”The match wasn’t completely devoid of positives for Vettori however as he reserved praise for Tim Southee, who bowled 32 nagging overs in the first innings at an economy rate of 2.56, for two wickets. “I thought this was [Southee’s] most impressive Test match performance. It was a flat wicket and for him to come in and bowl so much and so consistently was what we’ve really been looking for from Tim. He could have easily taken five or six wickets the way he bowled. He batted well in the first innings too, so it was a pretty good Test match and those are the performances that we expect of him, particularly with his talent.”Reece Young too, received plaudits from his captain on debut, after a tidy performance behind the stumps. “He looked composed with the gloves and with the bat. He’ll obviously want to go on with the bat and get some runs, but I thought he looked pretty good.”Vettori allayed fears about his own health, stating that he expects to make a full recovery after he had been ill on day two, seeming sapped of energy in the outfield. There were also reports that he had undergone blood tests for various diseases. “I feel a lot better today, all my results have come back clear. I need a couple of days’ rest but I’ll be alright for the Basin Reserve.”

Renowned Glasgow Rangers bloggers Four Lads Had a Dream hailed John Lundstram as an ‘absolute monster’ in their Scottish Cup semi-final clash on Sunday afternoon.

The Lowdown: Crunch clash at Hampden

The Gers faced another huge game after their Europa League heroics on Thursday night, taking on Celtic for a place in next month’s Scottish Cup final.

It ended up being a tense afternoon for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side, who went behind after Greg Taylor’s strike but responded thanks to captain Scott Arfield’s equaliser.

Extra-time was required to separate the two sides, with the Gers eventually prevailing to reach the final thanks to Fashion Sakala’s late strike.

The Latest: Lundstram’s influence hailed

Taking to Twitter during the match, Four Lads Had a Dream lauded Lundstram’s influence at Hampden Park:

“Been the better team but nothing to show for it. Playing ourselves into trouble the only times they have threatened. John Lundstram playing like an absolute monster. Wee bit more quality in transition needed. C’mon Rangers.”

The Verdict: Superb effort from midfielder

Lundstram hasn’t always had a big impact since trading Sheffield United for Rangers last summer, but this was undoubtedly one of his stronger days at the office.

He was a dominant presence in the middle of the park, as he hit the post with a stunning long-range effort in the first half, and the frustration that was met with him being substituted summed up his performance, as he came off to a standing ovation.

The Athletic journalist Jordan Campbell added to his praises, claiming that he was ‘superb’ and ‘got through a power of work’.

The hope is that Lundstram can continue this form until the end of the season, as van Bronckhorst’s men look to narrow the gap on Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race and win the Europa League.

In other news, a transfer expert has dropped some summer Rangers transfer news. Read more here.

MatériaMais Notícias

Com duas derrotas consecutivas no Campeonato Paulista, o Corinthians buscará a reabilitação contra o Red Bull Brasil na próxima segunda-feira, e nesta sexta intensificou a preparação com um treino técnico no CT Joaquim Grava. Uma novidade foi a presença do zagueiro Marllon, recém-contratado da Ponte Preta.

Ele ainda não treinou com o grupo, mas foi a campo após a atividade normal. O reforço assinará contrato de quatro anos e será anunciado tão logo finalize a parte burocrática. Também contratado, mas ainda não anunciado, o volante Ralf também esteve no CT, mas ficou apenas na parte interna. Já o atacante Matheus, do ABC, também tem tudo certo para assinar com o Corinthians, mas ainda é aguardado no clube para sacramentar a negociação. Ele tem 19 anos.

Já no campo, o técnico Fábio Carille dividiu os grupos. Quem foi titular na derrota para o São Bento na última quarta-feira fez atividade mais leve, na maioria do tempo sem bola. Romero ficou apenas na academia. Já quem participou do jogo-treino desta quinta contra o Atlético-PR também não foi a campo. Os demais fizeram atividades em campo reduzido, com trabalho de passes e finalizações.

Carille ainda comandará mais dois treinos até o duelo contra o Red Bull, que será disputado em Campinas às 20h na próxima segunda. Neste sábado, a equipe treina com portões abertos às 10h. Já no domingo, no mesmo horário, o treino será fechado para a imprensa. O treinador pode fazer mudanças na escalação.

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CorinthiansFabio Carille

A Spanish outlet has dropped a key update in Barcelona’s attempts to sign Leeds United star Raphinha this summer.

The Lowdown: Summer shake-up?

It looks as if there could be a major summer shake-up at Elland Road over the coming months, with Jesse Marsch hopefully preparing for a first full season as manager in the Premier League.

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Along with Raphinha, exit links have emerged on Kalvin Phillips, Jack Harrison and Robin Koch. Three Premier League sides are interested in signing Phillips, whereas Tottenham are keen on Harrison while Marsch and Victor Orta are apparently ready to move on Koch.

Raphinha could well be the biggest exit from Elland Road, though, with his agent Deco travelling to Barcelona over the weekend for talks.

The Latest: In the next few hours…

A Spanish outlet dropped an update on Barcelona and Raphinha, leading with a headline that negotiations are indeed underway for the Brazilian.

Barca chiefs Mateu Alemany and Jordi Cruyff are set to meet with Deco ‘in the next few hours’ to lay the foundations of a deal, with Raphinha himself keen on a move to the Nou Camp.

The Verdict: Leeds still in control

For now, Leeds are still in complete control over Raphinha’s future and are doing the right thing by putting talks on hold until the end of the season.

Should the club remain in the top flight, they will hold the cards over a big-money move, with Raphinha under contract until 2024. However, if they drop back down to the Championship, a €25m relegation release clause will allegedly be active in the 25-year-old’s deal.

The next few weeks will be key, both on and off the pitch, but it seems as if Deco is doing all he can to get a deal in place ahead of the summer.

In other news: ‘Leeds fans won’t be happy…’ – Sky Sports man reacts to major update emerging from Elland Road

The Northern Echo reporter Scott Wilson has said that is ‘utterly unforgivable’ that Sunderland haven’t appointed a new manager ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Cheltenham.

The lowdown

It has been nine days since the Black Cats sacked Lee Johnson following a 6-0 defeat away to Bolton Wanderers, and they don’t appear to be on the verge of announcing his replacement just yet. According to The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, they are due to hold a second round of interviews this week.

Mike Dodds is set to remain in caretaker charge for the time being, having overseen a 2-1 defeat against bottom-of-the-table Doncaster Rovers at the weekend.

The latest

In a snippet of his The Northern Echo column that he posted on Twitter, Wilson wrote that it was already a ‘bad decision’ to go into the game against Doncaster without a manager in place.

Hearing that a ‘temporary managerial structure’ is still in place for Tuesday’s game at Whaddon Road, he has been left aghast.

He stated on Twitter: “Heading into Saturday’s game with Doncaster Rovers without a manager was a bad decision. Journeying to Cheltenham tomorrow with a temporary managerial structure still in place rather than a new boss would be utterly unforgiveable.”

The verdict

If Saturday’s shock defeat is anything to go by, Sunderland’s slide could continue as they weigh up their options. Back-to-back losses have seen them slip to fourth place, with their automatic promotion prospects now thrown in doubt.

Leaders Rotherham United are now eight points ahead of the Wearsiders, and although the gap to second-placed Wigan is only two points, it’s worth stressing that the Latics have a full four games in hand.

Sunderland’s hierarchy must find the balance between sufficient deliberation and the pressing need for stability, with the automatic promotion chase in danger of getting away from them.

In other news, Luke Edwards dropped a lunchtime update on Roy Keane’s chances of getting the manager’s job

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O Santos apresentou Eduardo Sasha nesta sexta-feira, mas não solucionou a busca por um centroavante. Emprestado pelo Internacional, o novo reforço do Peixe vai usar a camisa número 27, que era de Bruno Henrique, e promete disputar espaço com o destaque do time.

Apesar de já ter atuado como camisa 9, o gaúcho de 25 anos prefere atuar pelos lados do ataque, posição que ocupa desde as categorias de base do Colorado.

-Fiz toda a minha base jogando como extrema (pelos lados). Sempre que precisaram de alguém na frente, pude contribuir com isso. Se precisar, vai ser tranquilo, não vai ser novidade – disse Sasha.

Em janeiro de 2017, ele passou pela quarta cirurgia, no tornozelo, e sofreu problemas físicos. Um ano depois, ele diz estar inteiro.

Em relação ao restante do grupo, Sasha perdeu uma semana de treinos por conta da negociação com o Peixe. No início do mês, ele se apresentou no Internacional, mas não fez treinos físicos.

-Me apresentei normalmente no Inter, mas só fiz a parte clínica. Os treinos mais pesados eu comecei aqui no Santos. Tem bastante coisa para recuperar da semana perdida. Com certeza em mais uma semana estarei preparado – acrescenta.

Contratado sem alarde, Sasha não foge da cobrança de ser um dos poucos reforços do Santos na temporada (antes dele, apenas o lateral-esquerdo Romário foi contratado).

-A perda de jogadores importantes é normal. A pressão vai ser para todos que vestem essa camisa. Não vai ter pressão específica em cima de algum jogador – finalizou.

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O Vasco segue se movimentando no mercado para reforçar o time para a temporada 2018. Precisando de contratações para a defesa, o Cruz-Maltino negocia com o zagueiro Douglas Grolli, que atuou na Chapecoense no último Campeonato Brasileiro, mas pertence ao Cruzeiro. Procurada pelo LANCE!, a diretoria do Vasco preferiu não comentar a negociação.

O técnico Zé Ricardo terminou a temporada com Anderson Martins, Breno, Paulão, Rafael Marques, Lucas Rocha e Jomar, além do jovem Ricardo Graça, que alternou entre o profissional e a equipe sub-20. Dos sete, apenas Anderson Martins, Breno e Graça continuam para 2018. Jomar ainda é do Vasco, mas a diretoria já o comunicou que ele não faz parte dos planos.

Grolli tem vínculo com o Cruzeiro até fevereiro, mas vai renovar o contrato com o clube mineiro para que exista um novo empréstimo. O jogador tem passaporte italiano e isso facilita uma futura transferência. Por isso, a Raposa quer mantê-lo. Em entrevista ao portal Superesportes, o vice-presidente de futebol do Cruzeiro, Itair Machado afirmou que o jogador ainda tem proposta da Romênia (que é do CFR Cluj, líder do Campeonato Romeno), da própria Chapecoense e de mais dois clubes da Série A (Vasco e mais um).

Como a estreia do Vasco no Campeonato Carioca é dia 18 e logo no dia 31 de janeiro a equipe tem o primeiro confronto contra a Universidad de Concepción (CHI), pela pré-Libertadores, a diretoria quer definir a contratação de um zagueiro o quanto antes.

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Wolves defender Jonny could return from a lengthy absence as early as the end of January, according to injury expert Ben Dinnery.

The Lowdown: Jonny missing for many months

The 27-year-old is yet to play a single minute of action this season, having picked up a serious knee issue back in April, ending his 2020/21 campaign prematurely.

Jonny may not necessarily have been a huge miss in this campaign, due to the emergence of Rayan Ait-Nouri, but having him back will still be a major shot in the arm for a team on the fringes of challenging for European football.

The left-back is continuing to work hard on his recovery and it looks as though his return could be in sight.

The Latest: Expert provides positive update

Speaking to Football Insider, Dinnery claimed Jonny could even be back in the fold at the end of next month, also hailing his recovery ability:

“This was a difficult one. It was a recurrence of his ACL rupture in his right knee. It was his ACL and MCL this time around.

“The initial setback put him out for around six months. At the turn of this year, it will have been around eight months for this injury.

“I would err on the side of caution and add that extra month, so it will have been nine months. We know a return before that nine-month period means your chances of a recurrence are enhanced significantly.

“They reduce month on month by about 50 per cent. The longer you can leave these things, the better it is.  We know he is a quick healer. To return after six months from his first injury was pretty remarkable.

“He looks well on schedule. We are maybe looking at the end of January or the beginning of February based on what we know.”

The Verdict: Huge boost for Wolves

Jonny is a popular figure at Molineux and having him fit again will feel massive for Bruno Lage, suddenly strengthening his squad options in the second half of the season.

The Spaniard has 95 Wolves appearances to his name and was averaging 1.6 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game in the league last season before his injury setback.

He could battle Ait-Nouri for that starting left-back spot, although it is vital that he isn’t rushed back, given his injury history and the importance of looking at the long-term picture.

In other news, a pundit has talked up one Wolves hero’s potential exit. Find out who it is here.

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Na noite desta quinta-feira, o São Paulo tornou oficial a chegada de Raí como novo diretor executivo de futebol. O ex-meia chega para substituir Vinicius Pinotti, que pediu demissão por divergências com o presidente Carlos Augusto de Barros e Silva, e será apresentado à imprensa às 12h30 desta sexta-feira, no CT da Barra Funda.

– Estou muito motivado, porque é um momento bom na minha vida pessoal. E, obviamente, na reflexão sobre a decisão final, priorizei como primeira atividade o São Paulo. Farei isso com o foco total. A minha história no clube, no futebol e as minhas experiências me credenciam para fazer um grande trabalho no São Paulo. Estou tranquilo e confiante – disse o ídolo, reforçando à torcida estar preparado para o novo cargo.

– Estou muito feliz, muito contente e muito confiante, apesar de saber da responsabilidade que isso exige. Eu me considero preparado, não só por tudo que passei dentro de campo, também pelo Tricolor, mas pelas minhas experiências pós-carreira e pelo meu momento de vida, de maturidade. Conto com vocês, sei que vocês também estão otimistas, e tenham segurança de que vamos ter um futuro vitorioso pela frente para o nosso Tricolor – falou, em recado à torcida.

Raí recebeu o convite de Leco pouco após Vinicius Pinotti pedir demissão, nessa quarta-feira. O ex-meia respondeu positivamente nesta quinta-feira e já se reuniu para discutir o planejamento e as prioridades para a próxima temporada com o presidente, que mostrou ânimo com sua chegada.

– Trata-se de uma figura maiúscula da história do São Paulo, que chega à nova função respaldado não só por sua ligação com o clube, como também por uma bem-sucedida carreira como empreendedor e gestor, por seu conhecimento do futebol dentro e fora de campo e por sua mentalidade moderna, vencedora e ambiciosa. Tenho certeza de que ele desenvolverá um grande trabalho – declarou Leco.

Raí já vem participando mais ativamente da vida política do Tricolor desde maio, logo após a eleição de Leco para o mandato atual. O ídolo passou a fazer parte do Conselho de Administração do São Paulo e, desde então, o presidente é pressionador a trazê-lo para o futebol – e gostou da ideia.

Ao longo do ano, em meio à briga do time para escapar do rebaixamento no Campeonato Brasileiro, o nome do ex-meia foi cotado para a função de coordenador técnico. Raí tem feito cursos de gestão esportiva, o que, segundo a presidência, reforça sua condição para ocupar o novo cargo.

Como jogador, Raí atuou pelo São Paulo em 395 partidas, marcando 128 gols. Foi campeão paulista em 1989, 1991, 1992, 1998 e 2000, brasileiro em 1991; da Libertadores em 1992 e 1993 e mundial em 1992. Está com 52 anos de idade.

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