Redbacks bowler Paul Wilson is the only addition to an unchanged Pura Cuplineup that will take on the Tasmanian Tigers this weekend at Adelaide Ovalin a vital Pura Cup match.The Redbacks are currently sitting second on the Pura Cup table on 20points, with the Queensland Bulls leading the competition with 28. WesternAustralia and Tasmanina are both on 18 points.Redbacks paceman Paul Rofe currently leads the Pura Cup wicket takers with39 wickets at an average of 21.38.The Redbacks have named 13 players and will reduce the squad to 12 tomorrow.Squads:Southern Redbacks: Greg Blewett (c), Brad Young (v/c), Nathan Adcock, Chris Davies, David Fitzgerald, Mark Harrity, Ben Higgins, Ben Johnson, Graham Manou, Peter McIntyre, Paul Rofe, Mike Smith, Paul Wilson.Tasmanian Tigers: Jamie Cox (c), Daniel Marsh (v/c), Sean Clingeleffer, Gerard Denton, Michael Dighton, Michael Di Venuto, Xavier Doherty, Shane Jurgensen, Scott Kremerskothen, Scott Mason, David Saker, Shannon Tubb, Damien Wright.
Nottinghamshire’s Paul Johnson and Usman Afzaal capitalised on wayward bowling by Durham in an unbroken stand of 171 at Chester-le-Street.Scoring at five an over during the afternoon, they took the total to 277 for three before rain cut 32 overs off the day’s play.Coming in to face the second ball after lunch, Johnson looked likely to score a hundred in the session until his onslaught was checked by Paul Collingwood.Johnson had hit 88 off 108 balls at tea and added one more to stay one run ahead of his partner when the rain arrived.Many of Johnson’s 13 fours were pulled in front of square, and he also hit a straight six off Nicky Phillips.James Brinkley had Greg Blewett lbw for three in taking one for 27 in seven overs at lunch, only for his six subsequent overs to be thrashed for 44.Coming in after Guy Welton and Blewett fell in successive overs, Afzaal had ten fours in his 95-ball half century and added seven more against an attack missing Simon Brown and Neil Killeen.Ian Hunter sent down four wides and Steve Harmison three, one of which went for four, as 32 of the first 54 runs came from extras.Guy Welton fell for 16 when he drove Collingwood to cover to end an opening stand of 77, then Blewett was lbw aiming to drive wide of mid-on.Darren Bicknell fell lbw for 45 to a rare straight ball from Harmison, but the fourth wicket pair never looked like being parted.
Aston Villa journalist Gregg Evans has admitted that it was “weird” to see Steven Gerrard leaving Ezri Konsa on the bench.
The lowdown
The 24-year-old has watched Villa’s last two Premier League games against Leeds United and West Ham United from the substitutes’ bench.
He had started 22 of their first 23 league matches before he was sent off against Leeds on 9 February and had to serve a two-match suspension. He then returned to the starting line-up against Brighton, only to miss the win over Southampton through illness.
Despite Konsa regaining full fitness, Gerrard has opted to stick with Calum Chambers and Tyrone Mings as his centre-back partnership of late.
The latest
Evans wrote a piece for The Athletic in which he said that Gerrard faced a difficult decision over whether to restore the £22.5m-rated Konsa to the starting line-up.
The journalist shared a link to that article via Twitter, with the caption: “I think Chambers-Mings has worked quite well for #AVFC but it still feels weird seeing Konsa on the bench. Not since the Carabao Cup Final + last game before Project Restart has Konsa lost his place to a team-mate on form.”
The verdict
Chambers struggled somewhat against West Ham on Sunday, winning only one of his three ground duels, committing two fouls and misplacing six of the 10 long passes he attempted. That earned him a SofaScore rating of just 6.5/10, the joint-second lowest in the Villa ranks.
Perhaps that offers a pretext for Gerrard to restore Konsa to the team, but it may not be quite that simple. A recent report from Football Insider suggested that the 41-year-old has actually sanctioned the sale of the defender in the summer amid concerns over his reliability and consistency.
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Once considered undroppable, the 24-year-old may now face a period of uncertainty at Villa Park. With him coming in at a lowly 17th in Villa’s squad for WhoScored ratings this season, there’s no guarantee that he will get his place back in the team any time soon unless either of the current starting centre-backs were to become unavailable.
In other news, it wasn’t just Chambers who had a difficult day at the London Stadium
QPR have given themselves every chance of staying in the Premier League, after a 3-0 win over Swansea on Wednesday night moved them two points clear of the relegation zone.
Goals from Joey Barton, Jamie Mackie and Akos Buzsaky sealed a home win for the Loftus Road club, and Mark Hughes was delighted with the victory after the game.
“We had a game plan tonight and I thought the players were excellent,” the Welsh manager told Sky Sports.
“They got the job done. We’ve just got to get on with our business, and if we can do that we can be a match for anyone.
“You saw by the manner of our performance tonight that we can take on anyone here and that’s what we have to do – take maximum points from our home games and then take that form away with us.
“People looked at our run-in and told us it was too hard, but we’re getting good results at the moment. There are going to be twists and turns, but that will happen at the top and the bottom,” he admitted.
QPR have West Brom at the Hawthorns on Saturday next.
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Reports have suggested that this week Liverpool will open up negotiations with Blackpool over their midfield talisman Charlie Adam, who enjoyed a remarkable season in the Premier League, attracting many potential suitors. Liverpool are widely expected to continue their January transfer market approach by spending big, but is the former Rangers man actually needed on Merseyside?
Well, why wouldn’t a big side want Adam’s 12 goals and 9 assists? Imagine the statistics the Blackpool man could achieve next season with the likes of Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard around him. But perhaps the reason the Scot has done so well is because he was one of, if not the, main attacking outlet at Blackpool; on Merseyside he would be in amongst several world class players in the final third. Would Adam thrive or get lost in amongst some of football’s biggest names?
Tactically Adam is an ideal signing for any manager to have, centre midfield, attacking midfielder or even a deep lying striker, but who would he replace? Kenny Dalglish appears to already be onto a winning formation, so too much transfer activity could hinder his rebuilding process. If Adam were to join though, I simply cannot see who he would replace. Lucas’ performances have improved greatly this season, and he is the only defensive minded midfielder in the starting line up, so sacrificing the Brazilian would be foolish. Steven Gerrard is obviously the first name on the team sheet (even if his influence has dropped in the last couple of seasons) and then you have Raul Meireles and the returning Alberto Aquilani to consider. The main issue I would have in signing Adam is the impact it would have on Jonjo Shelvey and Jay Spearing, both youngsters who have enjoyed breakthrough seasons and are key in what ‘King Kenny’ is trying to achieve at Liverpool, but signing another centre midfielder would no doubt force the two Englishman out on loan or reduce them to merely a few league cup appearances. Oh, and there is of course a certain Jordan Henderson to consider.
The one thing Adam would add to Liverpool’s play is his ability from set pieces. Liverpool have always relied on Steven Gerrard for his free kicks, but when the Englishman isn’t available Liverpool lack that threat from free kicks and corners. Fabio Aurelio clearly demonstrates superb technique from short free kicks too, but since Liverpool are pursuing a new left back and with the Brazilian, now in the twilight of his career, already fighting for a place at full back with the ever-improving Martin Kelly and England international Glen Johnson, he will presumably have to settle for a place on the bench for much of next season. The Scotland international has a delightful left foot, that delivered some of the best corners last season as well as scoring a couple of contenders for Goal of the Season from set pieces.
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Adam’s sweet left foot surely isn’t worth £10 million though? Because in this writer’s humble opinion, that’s the only attribute Liverpool will be gaining in signing the guy who didn’t even get Blackpool’s player of the season award for the 2010/11 campaign.
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Let me know Liverpool are so Adam-ant on signing Adam at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Daniel-T-Blazer/185495024836102
Newcastle United boss Chris Hughton wants striker Andy Carroll to focus on football following his brush with the law.
Carroll, 21, was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £2,500 in compensation after pleading guilty to a charge of common assault at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday.
The England Under-21 international had scored the winner in Saturday's 2-1 Premier League victory at West Ham and Hughton is hoping Carroll can now concentrate on his football after closing the chapter on an unsavoury incident.
Carroll also appeared in court last weekend where he denied a charge of assaulting a former girlfriend.
"We are all delighted with today, but what everybody wants to do is just get back to watching him do what he does best, as he did on Saturday at West Ham," said Hughton.
Meanwhile, the Magpies boss is keen to keep expectations surrounding the Gateshead-born striker to a minimum.
He added:"We are very definite about what we say about him. He is still a young lad and he is still a young lad who has improvements in his game to make.
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"We are conscious of not building him into something he isn't at the moment.
"But he has wonderful potential and he is a young lad who is playing regularly now in the Premier League and if you are able to do that, you are able to make progress."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Four different groups of investors have bid to become the new owners of toiling Scottish champions Rangers.
The Ibrox club went into administration last month due to unmanageable debt, and were docked ten points by the SPL.
However, administrators Duff & Phelps have revealed that four bidding parties will battle it out for the club’s ownership.
“Following our announcement on March 30, that best and final bids for control of Rangers Football Club should be submitted by April 5, I can confirm we have received four bids by close of business today,” joint administrator David Whitehouse told the club’s official website.
“The bids are structured in various ways but I would describe them as positive and constructive.
“The administration team will now analyse these bids over the forthcoming days and hold discussions with relevant parties to gain further understanding of the details of their bids.
“It will be our intention to accept an offer next week and this will be followed by a period of due diligence and exclusivity.
“At this stage, we cannot be precise in timescale but estimate that an exit from administration before the end of the season is achievable.
“We appreciate the need to conclude this process as quickly as possible.
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“It is, however, most important to secure the best possible outcome for creditors, Rangers Football Club and its supporters,” he concluded.
Vegalta Sendai remain unbeaten and moved into second in the J-League after a 1-0 win over Montedio Yamagata on Sunday.A 52nd-minute strike from Naoki Sugai ensured Makoto Teguramori’s side are the only team yet to lose after seven games.
They are within one point of first-placed Kashiwa Reysol, while Montedio Yamagata remain in the bottom two following the loss.
Shimizu S-Pulse recorded just their second win of the season with a 4-1 thrashing of Omiya Ardija.
Striker Naohiro Takahara hit a brace after Australian attacker Alex Brosque had opened the scoring, with defender Shinji Tsujio chiming in with a fourth before Rafael’s late consolation goal.
Brosque made it 1-0 after 39 minutes, sliding into the back post to place home to give the visitors the lead.
The Australian forward was involved in the second as he provided the lay-off with his chest for Takahara to volley home.
Takahara was the beneficiary of a horrible defensive lapse for his second five minutes into the second half, capitalising on a wayward 20-yard back pass before placing home.
Tsujio hit a fourth 20 minutes from the end before Rafael’s 90th-minute goal, as Shimzu moved into 11th, one spot below Omiya Ardija.
West Ham United have officially confirmed their interest in moving into the Olympic Stadium in East London following the games in 2012.
The Hammers face competition from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the use of the stadium, with Irons vice-chairman Karren Brady confident that her club would make best use of the facilities.
She commented:"We believe this is the only bid that can deliver London's legacy commitment to the International Olympic Committee.
"The last thing anyone wants is for the Olympic Stadium to become a ghost of Olympics past. The only realistic solution is to make the stadium work for a Premier League football team and that should be West Ham United.
"As a top-flight football club, we have the necessary expertise in running a major multi-purpose venue.
"Working with Newham Council, we could ensure extensive use of the stadium that would create prosperity in the local area and see this club grow and move on to another level.
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"Our plan to keep most of the stadium in place protects the public investment."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Manchester City players David Silva and Joleon Lescott have welcomed temperamental striker Carlos Tevez back to their squad,
The Argentina international has recently returned from a self-enforced exile in his homeland, and after apologising to the club will be considered for a place in Roberto Mancini’s squad once more.
David Silva has hailed the potential impact of the returning attacker, and feels Tevez is an important player for the Etihad Stadium outfit.
“I just saw him this morning for the first time at training,” the Spain international told Sky Sports.
“I just wished him all the very best before he left. He was a very important player for us. If he is back with us, then perfect.
“Carlos is a great player and if he is physically fit he would be a very good player to have.
“But it will be down to the coaches and the technical team to decide who plays and who doesn’t,” the playmaker stated.
Despite Tevez’s reputation for scandal and controversy, Lescott does not feel the forward will make any waves upon his return to the team.
“No-one here sees Carlos as a disruption.
“If we can all get together and push in the same direction I am sure it’s a positive for the club.
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“With us, Carlos has never been an issue, and we are confident that if he does get his chance, he will score a lot of goals,” the England defender finished.