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Abdul Samad expects new approach to take him where he hasn't gone before

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

A naturally aggressive batter, Abdul Samad has become choosier with his shot selection, and is hoping to see the results in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season

Deivarayan Muthu04-Sep-2025Jammu and Kashmir’s Abdul Samad, a naturally aggressive batter, is hoping that a more measured approach brings him a big output in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season.Samad, 23, had scored twin centuries against Odisha in J&K’s second game of the 2024-25 Ranji season, becoming the first J&K batter to achieve this feat in a first-class game. However, he couldn’t sustain his form, and managed only 158 runs in his other eight innings in the season.”Scoring two hundreds in a game obviously gives you a lot of confidence, and carrying forward from that, we got to play on the green tracks back home,” Samad said on the sidelines of the pre-season Buchi Babu tournament in Chennai. “[I] didn’t get to capitalise on those two hundreds and [convert] it into a big season like a 700-800-run season, but still I’m working on my batting. Hopefully, this season will be a good one for me.Related

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“I think from last year to this year, I’ve become a bit choosy [with my shots]. Like I wait for the ball to land in my area and I keep waiting for that one and when it pitches in my zone, I go for it.”On Tuesday, against TNCA President’s XI in the Buchi Babu semi-finals, Samad batted on a turning track at the CSK High Performance Academy ground. He was fairly selective in his strokeplay and showed good judgment against spin. He was right forward or right back to defend, and deployed the reverse-sweep only when the lines of the spinners didn’t threaten the stumps. During his 75 off 96 balls, he also took some trips down the pitch and made sure he met the pitch of the ball while doing so.”Yeah, I’ve changed something in my technique while playing spin and that thing is helping me – I’m trying to apply myself, especially against spin bowling,” Samad said. “I’ve been working with our head coach Mr Ajay Sharma for the last two years and my batting has changed a lot after that. He always says one thing while playing spin: ‘Keep your head down and try to reach the ball’. And that’s working for me.”Samad has also drawn confidence from his stint with his new IPL team, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). He faced 93 balls in 12 innings for them, hitting 164 runs at a strike rate of 176.34.”A new team was a good changeover for me,” Samad said. “Changing from SRH [Sunrisers Hyderabad] to LSG… I got to see new people and new team-mates. Last season was good for me [but] I couldn’t finish well in the last three games. But I felt good [with my personal form]. I really like Rishabh Pant’s mindset and he doesn’t bother much when batting. See the ball hit, the ball. If it’s there, [he] hits it.”On moving from SRH to LSG: “A new team was a good changeover for me”•BCCIIn the previous season, J&K had made the Ranji knockouts for the first time in five seasons, following wins against Mumbai and Baroda. They nearly advanced to a maiden Ranji semi-final, and have now tuned up for the new season by making the Buchi Babu semi-finals.To Samad, J&K are among the top Ranji sides at the moment.”I think at the moment, we will be in the top three teams in the Indian domestic circuit,” he said. “If you see the batch we have, the potential in the guys and experience, I see my team in the top three. I think this batch is playing from the last five years with each other and now we’re getting that combination and coordination. We know what the guys can do, so the combination is very good at the moment.”Samad’s occasional legspin gives J&K an extra bowling option, especially on pitches that aid slower bowlers. He has been working behind the scenes on his secondary skill, and sees himself performing a support role for frontline spinner Abid Mushtaq and offspin-bowling allrounder Sahil Lotra.”I think my job is to do what is required for the team,” Samad said. “So, I keep working on my bowling at the nets. Whenever there’s a requirement, whenever a partnership builds, I come and give my team a breakthrough.”

Ice cool Cummins has the last laugh

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Australia captain and his team hold their nerve in the face of a ‘Bazball’ onslaught on the field and ‘boring’ taunts off it

Andrew McGlashan21-Jun-2023Pat Cummins started and finished the Edgbaston Test with boundaries. The first cracked off the middle of Zak Crawley’s bat as England made their intentions clear, but it was the last which decided a pulsating match as his thick edge down to deep third, palmed over the rope by Harry Brook, gave Australia a heart-stopping victory that appeared to be beyond them a little more than an hour earlier.It isn’t that Cummins doesn’t do emotion on the field – he can be as pumped as anyone taking wickets, as he showed with the key scalps of Ollie Pope and Ben Stokes on the fourth day – but there was something more about the roar, leap, bat throw and fist-pump that followed those winnings runs.This game had taken everyone involved (on and off the field) to the wire. Cameron Green looked on with his head buried in his top. Fans of both sides struggled to watch. Only when that final delivery bounced into the boundary markers at 7.21pm, after a delayed start on the eve of the longest day of the year, was it finally clear there would be no more twists.Related

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As morning broke in Australia, the result was, perhaps unsurprisingly, being proclaimed as one of the team’s greatest. Yet even when the immediacy of it all dies down this is a match – and victory – that will stand the test of time.A team playing a fast game had been trumped, just, by a team playing the long game. That is not to say that Australia have found the solution to ‘Bazball’ – things could look very different again after the Lord’s Test – but they did not get drawn into trying to match their opponents. “Boring, boring, Aussies” came the chant from the Hollies Stand as Usman Khawaja ground out his runs on the fourth afternoon. A couple more wickets and Australia’s approach may have been viewed differently, but this is a tough cricket team and they dug as deep as they have ever had to.Adaptability has been a hallmark of them over their successful World Test Championship run. They weren’t perfect, but having billed the Pakistan tour as a “15-day marathon” they won the series in the final session (yes, England won all three of their Tests playing an entirely different style). In Sri Lanka they took a Test on a bunsen and even in India, where they had got it wrong to start with, they avoided a meltdown and secured a famous victory in Indore. Now they are 1-0 up in an away Ashes.

“You just need that belief that you can win from anywhere…that belief that anyone is a match-winner and you can be the guy to step up and win. When you are in the backyard as a kid, you wish to be in these moments and going out there in the middle of an Ashes series.”Pat Cummins

Australia’s opening-day tactics at Edgbaston came under the spotlight – Cummins began with a deep point, Nathan Lyon with four fielders in the deep – when they appeared happy to defer to England’s inevitable aggression. They certainly didn’t make the running, but neither did they allow England to completely run away.”We are a fairly stable team and we know what we need to do to be at our best and will keep doubling down on that,” Cummins said.Then on the final afternoon, there was a period against Joe Root and Ben Stokes operating with the old ball where the scoring almost froze. Alex Carey tried to change the tempo but rifled a drive back at Root who held the stinging catch brilliantly in his follow-through. At that point, Australia needed 54 with two wickets in hand. On the fourth evening, Lyon had said he hoped he would not have to strap on the pads, although added he “would give it a crack” if he had to.England delayed taking the second new ball and Cummins seized his moment with two sixes off what became the final over of Root’s spell. Suddenly it was 37 needed; still plenty with Josh Hazlewood to come, but carefully the pair whittled it down although had Stokes held a stunning catch running back off from square leg offered by Lyon the game was probably done. Such were the margins. Lyon’s princely off-drive against Stuart Broad felt like a big moment. “I looked at him, he walked past and said ‘nice shot Garry!’ Think he was happy,” Cummins said at the presentation.Successful fourth-innings chases of significant size been rare for Australia (that is often because they have dominated games from the start, especially at home) and this was their highest since the 310 for 8 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2011 which just so happened to be Cummins’ debut. The then 18-year-old, who had earlier taken a six-wicket haul, finished unbeaten on 13, swinging the winning runs through midwicket off Imran Tahir. It would be another six years before Cummins played another Test.”I actually did think back to my debut,” he said. “At one stage, batting out there with Nathan I was imagining him in the sheds praying like he was on my debut.”Pat Cummins had his best Test with the bat•AFP/Getty ImagesThere had been promise in Cummins’ batting earlier in his career. After 18 Tests he was averaging 21.12 with two half-centuries but that has steadily slipped. However, this has been his finest game with the bat – his first-innings 38 helping narrow England’s lead to just seven while overall it was the most runs he had contributed in a Test – and if it’s the signs of a longer-term revival in his run-scoring it will add a valuable component to a strong Australia side at No. 8 or 9.As well as the large chase, there was also the narrow win. While comparisons with 2005 are inevitable – “I think we were all about 10 years old,” Cummins joked – for the pair at the crease when it ended this offered some redemption for Headingley in 2019 when, in the field that time, Cummins and Lyon were central to the drama that unfolded around Stokes’ great innings.”Think it’s huge,” Cummins said. “You just need that belief that you can win from anywhere…that belief that anyone is a match-winner and you can be the guy to step up and win. When you are in the backyard as a kid, you wish to be in these moments and going out there in the middle of an Ashes series.”The result was also significant for the lack of runs contributed by Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith – just 35 across their four innings, the lowest in a win. Having spent so many hours bowling against Smith in particular, that will sting England. It may yet prove decisive over the five Tests that Australia have the best opener and best spinner on either side.However, for all the analysing and deep-diving that will be part of this series, perhaps the most fitting final word on its first chapter should go to the Player of the Match, Khawaja who spent all but 25 overs on the field. “Not going to lie, I was absolutely s***ing myself for the last five minutes there,” he said. “It’s so heart-wrenching. An unbelievable game.”

Sikandar Raza: 'I drink coffee in Europe and tea in Asia'

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The allrounder talks about his favourite Scottish drink, and the Pakistani food he’d like his Zimbabwe team-mates to try

As told to Mohammad Isam11-Aug-2021What’s your favourite meal?
My favourite meal when I am home has to be an African braai. We love to do a braai in the house, and Zimbabwean beef is very tasty, so a beef steak is my favourite meal.What meal do you eat most often during the course of a week?

Everything about my food has changed after the two surgeries in two months [to remove a tumour], with the medicines and injections. I think I am usually a very disciplined eater, so I’d be eating grilled food, and most of the time I like to have brown rice and chana dal.Which cricket venue has the best food?
Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore has the best food. I remember every Zimbabwean player found the food to be very nice back when we went in 2015. We had rice, naan and chapatis, mutton, chicken and beef dishes. There was fresh watermelon and orange juice. There was pasta too. It was a massive selection, so I’m sure I’m forgetting some of it.Related

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How do dressing-room meals vary between Tests and T20s?
There isn’t the same variety in a T20 menu as there is in a Test match, and rightly so. It is a 15-minute turnover anyway. Guys shouldn’t be focusing on eating in that little time.What is your favourite snack before or after a workout?
Fruits. [Now] because of the injury, I think I have to add protein shakes as well.When did you implement a structured diet in your lifestyle?
About four years ago. I have a team behind the scenes – my own nutritionist, and a guy who does my body readings, like how much muscle and fat is there. I get in touch with him after I’m back from a tour.Is there something you really love to eat but have removed from your diet as part of a fitness regimen?
There are a lot of things that I’d love to eat but I haven’t had in a long time. I used to love white rice. I haven’t had it in five years. Curries, french fries, a good burger. Soft drinks, at times. I remember pizza being an on-the-go kind of food for me when I was a student.Now I try to stay away from all oily foods. I try to take the masala route instead of the curry route.

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Are you a big coffee drinker?
I am a very, very big coffee drinker, but only when I’m in Europe. When I’m in Asia, I’m a big tea drinker. I’m a fan of desi tea.What was the food like when you studied at the Pakistan Air Force school?
There was a set menu for all the students and we knew what day we would get the nice food. Regardless of what food came our way, though, we had to eat it. We weren’t fussy about it, because of our training.How different are your meals when playing for Zimbabwe and when playing in franchise tournaments?
It is not very different. There’s always so much variety in the food served by a franchise league that there’s something that suits your diet. They also ask about dietary requirements, so you can let them know in advance if you are a vegetarian or a vegan, or you eat halal food all the way through. The leagues make sure your food comes separately and is exactly what you wanted.Is there a Pakistani specialty you’d like to introduce to your Zimbabwe team-mates?
I would love Zimbabweans to know what golgappe or fruit chaat or dahi bhalle really are. They need to eat these types of food.You went to university in Scotland. Is there any Scottish food that you miss?
Scottish food wasn’t halal, so I don’t miss any of their delicacies. However, I do miss a cold can of Irn-Bru [a carbonated soft drink].What’s your favourite city to eat out in?
Dubai, Melbourne and Lahore. We also enjoyed going out in Sri Lanka. The food is just lovely in these places.What sort of fast food is okay to eat as a professional sportsperson?
No sort of fast food – but that’s just me. I have made a commitment to myself and I am sticking with that.Who is the most fun team-mate to share a meal with?
Timycen Maruma and Imran Tahir. It’s the conversations, drama, stories, acting humour, jokes and the mimicry – there’s too much to tell you.If you could reward yourself with a cheat meal after a century or a five-for, what would it be?
I would reward myself with a cold can of Irn-Bru with a buttered fried fish with chips from one of those corner shops we used to call chippies in Glasgow. That would do.Who is the best cook among the cricketers you know?
I never played age-group cricket, where players shared a flat and you cook for yourself. But I spent a large portion of my life in hostels, so I am a half-decent cook. My signature dish is chicken karhai and chicken achari.

MLB Fans Were Split After Aaron Judge Was Named AL MVP Over Cal Raleigh

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Unlike in the National League, where Shohei Ohtani was unanimously voted as the league MVP, the result of the American League MVP award was always going to be more heavily disputed. There were two very worthy finalists in Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh, both of whom enjoyed fantastic seasons.

In the end, Judge won. It’s hard to argue that he wasn’t deserving, even if there’s a laundry list of reasons Raleigh was deserving. The decision from the Baseball Writers Association of America to select Judge was a narrow one. The Yankees outfielder took home 17 of the 30 first-place votes, with Raleigh claiming the other 13. Neither player received a single vote below second place. Judge had 13 second-place votes, and Raleigh had 17. Judge won by 20 points, 355–335, in what was an incredibly close race.

Judge’s second straight AL MVP win led to plenty of discussion on social media among MLB fans. There were mixed feelings about the result, with some supportive of the decision to name Judge MVP, due to his prolific hitting numbers, while others were upset, feeling that Raleigh was robbed after a historic season.

أكرم توفيق: نشعر بحزن الجماهير المصرية.. وسنقاتل للتأهل في كأس العرب

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

تحدث أكرم توفيق، لاعب منتخب مصر، عن الاستعداد لمواجهة الأردن المرتقبة، التي تقام بين المنتخبين غدًا الثلاثاء، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس العرب.

ويلتقي منتخب مصر مع الأردن، في إطار الجولة الثالثة والأخيرة من مواجهات دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس العرب 2025، المقامة في قطر.

وقال توفيق خلال تصريحات لقناة “أون سبورت”: “يوجد تركيز كبير من اللاعبين، ونشعر بحزن الشعب المصري من النتائج في المباراتين السابقيتن”.

طالع | المنتخبات المتأهلة إلى دور الـ8 من كأس العرب 2025

وأضاف: “أول مباراتين لم يحالفنا التوفيق، أتمنى التوفيق يكون في صالحنا ونسعد الشعب المصري خلال مباراة الأردن”.

وتابع: “توجد مباريات لا تريد فيها الحديث، (تشيل قلبك وتركنه على جنب)، أهم شيء المكسب من أجل التأهل ونسعد الجماهير”.

وأكمل: “نفتخر بالجمهور وأحب أن تدعمنا الجماهير وتساندنا وأتمنى أن نسعدهم، وسنقاتل على هذا الحلم من أجل اسعاد الجمهور ونصل لأبعد مدىء في البطولة”.

ويسعى منتخب مصر لتحقيق الفوز أو التعادل على أقل تقدير أمام الأردن، من أجل حسم التأهل إلى دور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس العرب.

ويحتل منتخب مصر المركز الثاني في ترتيب المجموعة الثالثة لبطولة كأس العرب، برصيد نقطتين من التعادل مع الكويت والإمارات في الجولة الأولى والثانية.

Shohei Ohtani Busted Out Signature Celebration After Padres Pitcher’s Brutal Error

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Shohei Ohtani had a quiet night on Monday as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 8-7 in 10 innings. Ohtani doubled in his first at-bat, but was held hitless the rest of the night.

Ohtani did reach base twice more in the game as he walked in the top of the fourth and then reached on a throwing error in the eighth. Facing a 2-2 count with two outs, Ohtani bounced the ball back to Adrian Morejon who fielded the ball cleanly and made bad throw to first. Ohtani was jogging down the line when Luis Arraez failed to catch the ball for the out.

Ohtani continued to jog to the bag as he watched to see where the ball would end up. Then he reached first and turned on the jets to advance to second. Once he was there he pointed to the dugout and did his signature Decorte celebration.

Some might wonder why the best player in the world would need to do a celebration after hitting a ball back to the pitcher and only reaching because of a throwing error. This isn't the kind of behavior you would expect out of someone who says hello so often.

It's possible he has just been watching too much college baseball lately where the celebrations and other extracurriculars are on a whole other level. Or maybe having won the World Series last fall, the Dodgers are just putting an emphasis on having fun this season.

Rangers now in talks to sign "fantastic" January target who Danny Rohl loves

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Rangers are now reportedly in ongoing talks to sign David Watson from Kilmarnock as early as the January transfer window, as they look to fend off competition from Scotland and the Championship.

The Gers are slowly but surely turning things around on the pitch, with new manager Danny Rohl aiming to make it four wins from four in the Scottish Premiership this weekend. And that progress must be matched off the pitch when the January transfer window arrives. It’s repeat or redemption for sporting director Kevin Thelwell, who has come under fire for his decisions in his first few months at Ibrox.

The former Everton man recently spoke about the club’s January plans, sharing that Rangers have given Rohl the chance to evaluate the players already at his disposal ahead of the winter window.

A number of names have already emerged as potential targets for the Gers ahead of 2026, too. According to recent reports, the Scottish giants have set their sights on signing Shea Charles from Southampton.

The former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder starred previously starred on loan under Rohl and could now reunite with the manager at Rangers. But he’s not the only name on their list of targets. Reports have also name-dropped Watson in recent weeks and it now looks as though Rangers’ move is advancing.

Rangers now in talks to sign Watson

As reported by TeamTalk, Rangers are now in ongoing talks to sign Watson from Kilmarnock in the January transfer window. The 20-year-old is out of contract next summer, but the Gers could fend off competition from the Championship and Scotland by securing his signature for a cut-price this winter.

Rohl is also reportedly a big fan of the young midfielder and believes that his energy, tenacity and technical ability would improve his current Rangers side when 2026 arrives.

One of the SPFL's 'most influential players' now can't get a game at Rangers

Rangers have a star who was one of the most influential players in the league last season, now he can’t get a game.

ByDan Emery Nov 19, 2025

The praise that Watson has received during his time at Kilmarnock only backs up the verdict that he’s one of the best young talents that Scottish football has to offer. His teammate, Robbie Deas, told reporters: “Davey’s fantastic, honestly. He’s one of the hardest workers you’ll ever meet. He’s absolutely fantastic. You see that today, and he’s putting those tackles in later on.

“Davey’s got all the ability to go to the top, and I’ve no doubt he does, but I’m glad he’s here and he’s playing for us week in, week out, because I would hate to play against him.”

Much of Rangers’ focus was on Championship talent in the summer, but in Watson they would have someone who knows exactly what it takes to thrive in the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers can avoid Gilmour repeat by playing teen who's a "heck of a player"

Compton doubles up as Kent bat out for draw

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

Opener completes the task of securing draw after rain wrecked day three

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay01-Aug-2025

Ben Compton made a career-best 221 for Kent•Andrew Miller

Kent 445 for 8 (Compton 221, Finch 54*) drew with Leicestershire 471 (Rehan 119, Patel 85) The Rothesay County Championship match between Division Two leaders Leicestershire and Kent at Canterbury ended in a draw, after the hosts reached 445 for eight on day four, trailing by 24 when bad light stopped play.Ben Compton hit a career-best 221 and Harry Finch made 54 not out, while Rehan Ahmed three for 134, but the chances of a positive result were effectively neutered on day three, when a mere 9.5 overs were bowled.Leicestershire remain top of the table, while Kent stay bottom.Conditions were significantly better on Friday morning but as soon as Kent passed the follow-on target of 321 a draw seemed inevitable.The nightwatch, George Garrett, survived 67 balls spread across days two, three and four but he was the first man out when he edged Logan van Beek to Louis Kimber for 10.The first shot of Ben Dawkins’ first-class career was a stylish drive that might have gone for four but for the slope, but he was out for seven, inside-edging Ben Green behind.Compton, 111 not out overnight, reached 150 in the penultimate over of the session when he cut Tom Scriven for four and Kent eased to 307 for four at lunch.Scriven subsequently had Joey Evison caught behind for 38, but an elegant sweep off Rehan saw Compton to 200. He took a single off Patel to pass his previous highest score of 217 and was finally out when he came down the wicket to Rehan and was stumped.Rehan then had Matt Parkinson lbw for two and Kent were 429 for eight at tea, after which Finch cover-drove Rishi Patel to bring up his half-century, but play was suspended at 4.40pm and both sides looked as eager as the umpires to shake hands on the draw.

فليك: لامين يامال تغير.. ولا أتوقع مشاركة لاعب برشلونة أمام سيلتا فيجو

by h79snht.top Uncategorized

أجرى هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة مؤتمراً صحفياً قبل مواجهة فريقه أمام سيلتا فيجو غداً على ملعب بالايدوس في الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

وبدأ فليك المؤتمر الصحفي بالحديث عن سيلتا فيجو في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية: “حالياً سيلتا فيجو في حالة جيدة، أربعة انتصارات متتالية، ربما يكونون في وضع أفضل منا، هذا ما تحدثنا عنه هذا الصباح وهذا المهم، نريد الفوز لأنه من المهم أن ندخل التوقف بثلاث نقاط إضافية”.

وأضاف عن الثقة التي تأتي من تحقيق النتائج الجيدة: “من المهم دائماً أن نحظى بثقة النادي، نحن بحاجة لمزيد من الثقة، رأينا ذلك في مباراة كلوب بروج حيث يكون خط دفاعنا عميق جداً في بعض الأحيان، المهاجمون متأخرون أكثر مما ينبغي، نحن بحاجة لنكون أكثر ترابطاً مع الكرة وبدونها، هذا ما ينقصنا، تحدثنا عن ذلك وآمل أن نؤدي بشكل أفضل وأنا مقتنع تماماً أن اللاعبين يعرفون ما يجب عليهم فعله”.

وسئل فليك عن خوض التدريبات المفتوحة على ملعب الكامب نو: “كان الانطباع الأول رائعاً، لا يصدق، يمكنك الشعور بتاريخ هذا الملعب العريق، عندما دخلنا الملعب ورأينا الملعب والجماهير، كان الأمر عاطفياً، وعشت شعورا رائعا، وسيساعدنا اللعب في هذا الملعب بالتأكيد وشعرت بذلك أمس، الجماهير أقرب لنا كثيراً مما كانت عليه في مونتجويك، هذا هو الأهم لمستقبل النادي، لقد قاموا بعمل رائع، تهانينا لكل من ساهم في نجاحه”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. ألفاريز يكسر صمته بشأن اهتمام باريس سان جيرمان وبرشلونة بضمه

وتحدث فليك عن عودة خوان جارسيا لتدريبات برشلونة الجماعية: “نحن سعداء جداً بتقدمه وسننتظر حتى فترة التوقف، وسيعود بعد فترة التوقف”.

وتلقى فليك سؤالاً حول مقارنة فترته مع برشلونة بفترته مع بايرن ميونخ :”من السهل المقارنة وقول ما يسمعه الجميع، ولكن علينا النظر في الصورة العامة، لا أريد الحديث عن بايرن هنا، فزنا بالدوري في الموسم الثاني أيضاً، هذا ليس عذراً بل حقيقة، لدينا العديد من المصابين وهم كبار وأساسيين، ندير الأمور جيداً بأفضل ما نستطيع، نود الحصول عى نقاط إضافية لكننا لن نحصل إلا على نقطة واحدة في بروج، الآن نحن متأخرون بخمس نقاط عن ريال مدريد في الدوري وعلينا الاستمرار حتى مايو، الطريق لا يزال طويلاً، اللاعبون يدركون أن علينا تقديم أداء أفضل بكثير،من المهم أن يعودوا جميعاً ويكونوا في أفضل حالاتهم وسيساعدونا كثيراً، حتى ذلك الوقت علينا القتال”.

وعلق فليك على خط دفاع برشلونة: “إريك قادر على اللعب ومرتاح بالقناع، كوندي لم يكمل التدريبات بعد وهناك شكوك حول مشاركته غداً، لا أعتقد أنه سيشارك وسننتظر ونرى، لدي شكوك”.

وسئل فليك عن الموسم الماضي مقارنة بالموسم الحالي: “كان العام الماضي مختلفا ولعبنا بمستوى مختلف، تحدثنا بالفعل عن مباراة كلوب بروج والجميع يعلم ما نريد رؤيته على أرض الملعب، اللاعبون يفهمون ما أريد وعليهم إظهار ذلك، التحدث والتواصل وهذا ما أفعله، أمر مختلف لكن علينا أن نرى العمل ينعكس على أرض الملعب”.

وأتم فليك تصريحاته عن جافي: ” من الجيد الحديث عنه وعن كيفية مساعدته لنا، لكن هذا ليس خيار وارد الآن، الجميع يعلم مدى أهميته وشخصيته، وكل شئ، سأكون سعيداً عندما يعود لكن في الوقت الحالي علينا الانتظار”.

وأكمل فليك عن لامين يامال واستدعائه لمنتخب إسبانيا: “أطلب منه نفس الشئ عندما يلعب هنا، أن يعتنوا به، لقد تغير وأصبح أفضل بكثير الآن، يتدرب بشكل جيد حتى في صالة الألعاب الرياضية، يخضع لبرنامج علاجي يومي وهو أمر مهم لإصابته، نراه يستعيد أفضل حالاته لكنه لم يصل بعد لكامل لياقته، لا يزال يعاني من بعض الانزعاج وعلينا الاعتناء به، أعتقد أنهم يفعلون الشئ نفسه مع المنتخب ولم أتحدث مع جهازهم الفني حول عدد دقائقه”.

وأثارت أحد أسئلة المؤتمر الصحفي استغراب هانز فليك حول أهمية النجم في الفريق ليرد: “اللاعبين العظماء دائماً موجودون لكن الفريق هو الأهم وليس الأفراد، لم أفهم سؤالك”.

Bigger coup than Clark: Celtic want to re-sign £160k-per-week star

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Given the very underwhelming start to the season the club have endured, Celtic supporters are demanding reinforcements when the transfer window re-opens in January.

During the summer, the Scottish Premiership champions did make 11 senior signings, albeit the arrivals of Marcelo Saracchi, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Sebastian Tounekti and Kelechi Ịheanachọ all came right at the end of the window, after the club had crashed out in the Champions League play-off round against Kairat.

Meantime, Brendan Rodgers’ side were beaten 2-0 by Dundee at Dens on Sunday, so are currently five points adrift current league leaders Hearts, who they face at Tynecastle in an eagerly-anticipated clash on Sunday.

In summary, supporters are not happy, chants of “sack the board” can be heard loud and clear at every game, so could a new signing or two this Christmas help lift the mood?

Celtic targeting January reinforcements

Last week, totally out of the blue, it was reported that Celtic were close to signing Bobby Clark for £6m; the 20-year-old midfielder is currently on loan at Derby County from RB Salzburg.

However, Rodgers told Sky Sports “I haven’t a clue where that has come from”, pretty emphatically shutting those rumours down.

More recently, according to a report by Sports Boom, Celtic ‘have expressed an interest’ in re-signing Andy Robertson from Liverpool.

While the defender learned his trade at Queen’s Park and Dundee United, he was in the Hoops academy from 2003 to 2009.

The report adds that the Scotland captain is into the final 12 months of his £160k-per-week contract on Merseyside, so will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement come 1 January, but the Premier League champions may be willing to sell before then, ‘providing the price is right’.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

So, could the 31-year-old soon swap Anfield for Celtic Park?

Why Celtic could seal a bigger coup than Clark

Since joining Liverpool from Hull City for around £8m eight years ago, Robertson has been an absolute stalwart of the Reds’ success.

Right now, only nine men have made more Premier League appearances for Liverpool than Robertson, set to overtake Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Robbie Fowler in the next few weeks.

During the 254 appearances, the left-back has accumulated 56 assists, meaning he ranks among the very best defenders in Premier League history by this measure, as the table below documents.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

67

Andy Robertson

56

Leighton Baines

56

Antonio Valencia

52

Graeme Le Saux

44

Kieran Trippier

38

Kyle Walker

37

Andy Hinchcliffe

36

Ian Harte

36

César Azpilicueta

36

As the table documents, Robertson is behind only former partner-in-crime Alexander-Arnold in terms of Premier League assists by defenders, underlining his attacking prowess, with Liverpool legend, and former Rangers manager, Steven Gerrard labelling the duo “world-class”.

He has been such a key contributor at Liverpool for so many seasons, making his current predicament peculiar.

The Scotsman started 29 Premier League games last season, but hasn’t started any this time round so far, following the arrival of Miloš Kerkez from Bournemouth, despite the fact the Hungarian is yet to impress.

Speaking on Sky Sports following Manchester United’s shock victory at Anfield on Sunday, Jamie Carragher said that he thinks it’s “strange” that Robertson is “getting treated like Tsimikas”, where Kerkez is the undisputed first-choice and Robertson is a deputy, rather than even a rotation option.

If that continues to be the case, it appears pretty likely that he’ll be on the move in 2026, so could Robertson fulfill a lifelong ambition?

Born and raised in Glasgow, Robertson has spoken repeatedly about his desire to play for Celtic one day, having been released by the club as a 15-year-old, before going on to play for Queen’s Park and Dundee United.

In 2022, he stated that he’s “always dreamed” of representing his boyhood club, elaborating that “when you watch them and see a packed Celtic Park… as a fan you always have that dream”.

At international level, the 31-year-old now has 88 caps to his name, just three behind Jim Leighton, while chasing down Sir Kenny Dalglish’s all-time record of 102 that has stood since 1986.

Of course, the eternal dilemma for Scotland managers has been how does one get both Kieran Tierney and Robertson into the same side, a headache that could soon not only occur at Hampden, but three miles across the city at Celtic Park too.

Nevertheless, the addition of the national team captain would represent a major coup for the Hoops, with his Premier League experience and title-winning credentials far exceeding the undoubted promise of a player like Clark, one who previously struggled to make his mark after joining Red Bull Salzburg last summer.

With Celtic also already boasting similar talents to the Englishman, a deal for a figure like Robertson should well be the priority, helping to get supporters back on side, adding much-needed experience and quality to this struggling outfit.

Not just Yang & Scales: 18-touch Celtic dud must be dropped by Rodgers

Celtic suffered their first Premiership defeat of the season at Dundee on Sunday, and one flop, not Liam Scales or Yang Hyun-Jun, must be dropped.

ByBen Gray Oct 20, 2025

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