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With Duncan Ferguson filling in on a temporary basis as caretaker manager while Everton look to appoint yet another new permanent head coach after sacking Rafa Benitez just over six months into his tenure in charge of the Toffees, it’s certainly a busy time for Farhad Moshiri.

However, it seems as though the Merseyside club could have taken a big step towards identifying a potential candidate to take the reins at Goodison Park.

What’s the news?

In a recent Twitter post from journalist Jason Burt, he shared some details on what the current situation is at Everton after it emerged that Fabio Cannavaro was in talks to become their new permanent manager.

He said: “Conflicting claims as to how Fabio Cannavaro fared in his talks with Everton. I am told that not only did he interview well – and speaks good English – but the shortlist may now just be down to him, Wayne Rooney or Frank Lampard.”

In his managerial career, the 48-year-old has had two spells in charge of Guangzhou Evergrande, as well as a few months at Al-Nassr FC and Tianjin Quanjian.

With a total of 211 games under his belt as a senior manager, Cannavaro has 123 wins to his name. While this highlights his experience, the fact that he hasn’t managed in any of the top European leagues may cast some doubt over his capabilities of being successful at a club such as Everton.

Fans will be amazed

With this in mind and the fact that Cannavaro has apparently got himself into the shortlist for the job alongside Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard after just one interview, Everton fans would surely be amazed if the Italy legend was appointed as their new permanent manager.

While it could be considered a risky move due to Cannavaro’s lack of experience managing at a big club in Europe, it’s worth remembering that Everton’s two previous permanent managers Carlo Ancelotti and Benitez had huge experience of managing elite clubs and winning titles in Europe, but that didn’t help them while they were at Goodison Park.

Therefore, maybe taking a chance on a comparatively inexperienced manager like Cannavaro who would garner a lot of respect due to what he achieved as a player could make him a good fit at Everton.

In other news: Everton must avoid another managerial disaster with “arrogant” 58 y/o, he’d be Rafa 2.0

Samit Patel’s second half-century in three days secured a third straight Friends Provident t20 win for Nottinghamshire Outlaws as they swept aside Worcestershire Royals by six wickets with 23 balls to spare

13-Jun-2010
ScorecardSamit Patel’s second half-century in three days secured a third straight Friends Provident t20 win for Nottinghamshire Outlaws as they swept aside Worcestershire Royals by six wickets with 23 balls to spare.After limiting the visitors to 150 for 7, with Dirk Nannes and Graeme White both picking up two wickets, Patel hit 63 from 34 balls with five fours and three sixes while David Hussey was unbeaten on 34, finishing off the match with a straight six.Moeen Ali top-scored for Worcestershire with 67 from 48 balls, supported by stand-in captain Daryl Mitchell (34 not out), but with Vikram Solanki missing with a pelvic injury, the visitors were always short of batting power. In particular, they were unable to deal with the pace and hostility of Nannes and England pair Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom, with the trio conceding only nine boundaries from their 12 overs.Mitchell chose to bat in this Trent Bridge contest after winning the toss but saw openers Jack Manuel and Phil Jaques both depart cheaply in the powerplay overs. Alexei Kervezee and Steve Smith also contributed little but a partnership of 64 for the fifth wicket between Ali and Mitchell gave Worcestershire a score closer to par, with Ali hitting three sixes in the 13th and 14th overs to boost the run-rate.He then hit White for a further maximum with a slog-sweep before perishing with the same shot to the next ball, while Nannes yorked James Cameron and ran out Gareth Andrew in the final over. The pedigree of Nottinghamshire’s international pace trio was amply demonstrated in the first two overs of their innings, as openers Alex Hales and Ali Brown took 26 off bowlers Imran Arif and Richard Jones.That set the tone for the chase and while Hales, Brown and Matt Wood all departed in the powerplay overs, the hosts were well ahead of the run-rate and Patel ensured they only pulled further ahead with a succession of sweet boundaries over extra cover. He was one of two wickets for leg-spinner Smith but Hussey and Chris Read completed the win to leave the Outlaws sitting pretty at the top of the North Group.

The South African cricket team is in a “beautiful space” ahead of next year’s World Cup in the subcontinent, Herschelle Gibbs has said

Firdose Moonda01-Nov-2010The South African cricket team is in a “beautiful space” ahead of next year’s World Cup in the subcontinent, Herschelle Gibbs has said, thanks to a change at the management and personnel levels that has translated into a change of attitude on the field. It’s a far more positive view of the team than is painted in the much-publicised extracts from his autobiography , in which he wrote of a disjointed unit, run by a clique of players and paralysed by a fear of failure.Gibbs was speaking to ESPNcricinfo in a long and wide-ranging interview on Monday, the day the book was published. He’s been part of the South Africa team for 14 years, and in his time has seen it go from a “fantastic team” that was unlucky to lose out on the 1999 World Cup final to a “team without focus” that crashed in the 2003 tournament to a unit that could not “handle the pressure” in 2007 to the men he sees them as now.The current South African squad under Corrie van Zyl doesn’t get a mention in the autobiography – though he praised the coach in his interview – but all the regimes from the Bob Woolmer era do. Gibbs feels the team never reached the heights it did in the Hansie Cronje era and is particularly harsh on Mickey Arthur’s tenure. He wrote that Arthur was “not the most forceful personality” and that “without Graeme (Smith’s) backing Mickey didn’t have influence over guys.”Gibbs wrote that during that time the team was run by a clique consisting of Smith, Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis and later AB de Villiers. It’s a charge he repeated on Monday. “That particular clique was an issue I was asked about a lot, even by ordinary people,” he said. “They’d always see those guys together because they are good mates and they (Boucher, Kallis and de Villiers) were senior players and they were outspoken so they assisted Smith.”The book reveals how Arthur was often held hostage to this clique and “bowed to senior players’ opinions.” Gibbs also described Smith as being “too powerful.” Arthur reacted in an article published by the South African paper , saying that Gibbs “didn’t know what was going on” when it came to player and management relationships. Gibbs had not had word of Arthur’s reaction but said he expected his former coach to react in that way and stood by what he published in the book.Smith reacted in a more personal manner. “He actually sent me a BBM (Blackberry message) this morning. I know he’s just going on what he’s seen in the papers but he didn’t even say ‘Good morning Hersch’ or anything. He just wrote ‘Too powerful? Is that what you really thought?’ And I said it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out.” Gibbs said he was never in Smith’s “inner circle” of friends but that he hopes the two will not have a strained relationship going forward.”I can’t ever feel resentment or hatred for him because he was my opening partner and partners go through a lot together. We might have not spoken for a bit of time, but when I saw him the other day at the Cobras I SMSed him and said ‘I can’t be upset with you. It’s just not possible.’ He just replied saying he respects my opinion,” said Gibbs.One of the other members of the alleged clique also communicated his unhappiness. “Kallis has voiced his opinion and I believe is not entirely happy and he will support any move by Cricket South Africa (CSA) if they decide to take any action against me,” Gibbs said. However, he hasn’t only incurred wrath. Long-time friend Mark Boucher, he said, hasn’t taken the revelations too badly. “Bouchie is a hardcore sort of boy and he went through the book and he said it’s not as bad as people make it out to be.”Gibbs said the clique does not hold the same sway anymore, because van Zyl is now in charge, and, though he didn’t write about it in his book, admits that the team are gelling. “Maybe they (the clique) are still close but they don’t have as much influence on the coach.” Van Zyl’s induction has played out on the field, he said. “We had a workshop a couple of days before the Zimbabwe series started and for the first time in a long time, I felt the team was a unit. There was a sense of togetherness and they are in a much better space.”He also thinks that the likes of David Miller, Colin Ingram and Rusty Theron have added to the new sense of hunger in the side. “There are a couple of youngsters now, who have brought in a lot of self-confidence. Those guys haven’t struggled to make the adjustment to international cricket and it bodes well for the World Cup.”The 2011 tournament is one Gibbs would dearly love to be a part of. “All I’ve ever wanted to do”, he said, was win the World Cup, and didn’t even hang on to his man-of-the-match trophies because he only aimed to keep a winner’s medal. Gibbs signed a new contract with CSA this year and van Zyl has assured him that he is in their plans for the tournament, but Gibbs has resigned himself to not taking part. “I can’t see the current squad changing too much. They’ve got such depth, both with batters and bowlers.”Although it was a lifelong ambition of his, Gibbs said he won’t be disappointed if he doesn’t get to participate in the tournament. “Maybe when they’ll play without me, they’ll win,” he said in jest.He has two pieces of advice for the team that will travel to the subcontinent in February. The first is to lose the “fear of failure” that he says has crippled South Africa since the 1999 tournament. The second is more of a warning. “Until we win a World Cup, the chokers tag will stay.”

A huge Rangers transfer update has emerged from an insider on winger Ianis Hagi, following recent speculation over his future at Ibrox…

What’s the talk?

The forward’s famous father, Gheorghe Hagi, has claimed that his son will be remaining in Glasgow despite the reported interest in his signature.

Romanian journalist Emanuel Rosu quotes him as giving this eight-word update: “He’s staying with Rangers, he loves it there”

Galatasaray and Premier League side Aston Villa have both been touted with an interest in the wide man with the January transfer window on the verge of opening.

Ecstatic

Rangers fans will surely be ecstatic with this news as it suggests that the Romania international will be going nowhere anytime soon.

Supporters may have been worrying about what could be about to come next month due to the speculation surrounding his name at the moment, but his dad, who clearly has inside knowledge on Rangers and his child, has now allayed those fears.

He may not be getting the goals and assists to catch the eye this season but his overall performances have been excellent. Hagi has averaged an impressive SofaScore rating of 7.15 in the Premiership, despite having one goal and zero assists, which shows that he is performing well without getting the rewards he possibly deserves.

Former Gers boss Steven Gerrard once heaped praise on the attacker, saying: “We’re really happy with Ianis Hagi, he’s a joy to work with.

“He’s a student of the game. He’s always looking at areas to improve, whether that be from a physical point of view or tactically or technically. He’s someone you have to drag off the training ground.

“Ianis is always in the analyst department too. He’s never out of the gym, so he’s an absolute dream to work with, very low maintenance. We’re delighted with how he is developing and progressing and we’re happy to have him.”

Last season, he produced seven goals and 11 assists in just 23 league starts, whilst averaging a score of 7.02. This suggests that his all-around play has improved in the current campaign but he has lost his magic touch when it comes to the final action to score or create a goal.

If he can maintain his current high standards and recover his contributions in the final third from last term then he could be a phenomenal player for the club. That is why fans will be ecstatic with the prospect of him remaining in Gio van Bronckhorst’s squad, as it will give the Dutchman more time to extract the best from the young talent.

AND in other news, GVB heading for his first big disaster at Ibrox, it may be season-defining for Rangers…

India cruised to a nine-wicket win over Pakistan in St Kitts to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals

Cricinfo staff08-May-2010
Scorecard
Poonam Raut starred with an unbeaten 54•Getty ImagesIndia cruised to a nine-wicket win over Pakistan in St Kitts to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. Pakistan slid to their second defeat in as many games as a result of a poor performance by their top order and some miserly bowling, led by Priyanka Roy’s leg spin, from India. Their score of 104 for 6 proved woefully inadequate in the wake of a dominating batting display from Player of the Match Poonam Raut, who finished with an unbeaten, run-a-ball 54, and Mithali Raj, who supported Raut in a match-winning 79-run stand.After opting to bat, Pakistan started badly, losing their first five wickets for 45 inside the first ten overs. Roy nipped out three of those, backed up by the left-arm spin of Gouher Sultana and the medium-pace of Rumeli Dhar. Captain Sana Mir lent some respectability to the Pakistan innings, scoring steadily to post 35 off 41 balls with three fours. She was assisted by Urooj Mumtaz in a partnership of 53 for the sixth wicket which helped take Pakistan past 100 and give their bowlers something to defend.India, however, were unforgiving and the high of dismissing opener Sulakshana Naik with the score on 27 was washed away by Raut and Mithali, who struck nine fours between them and saw to it that the target was reached with 20 balls to spare. Mithali scored at better than a run-a-ball and her experience, combined with Raut’s equally attacking innings, sealed India’s success.

Everton have reportedly entered the race to sign wantaway Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Gini Wijnaldum ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.

What’s the story?

According to 90min, the Toffees are one of several Premier League clubs interested in securing the 31-year-old’s signature over the coming months, with Newcastle United, Arsenal, Tottenham, West Ham, Leicester and Aston Villa all listed as potential suitors.

The report stated: “Gini Wijnaldum’s representatives have sounded out several Premier League and European clubs with a view to a loan move in January, 90min understands.”

It added that a move to England over Germany and Spain is most likely due to his hefty £300,000-per-week wages, but PSG are far from guaranteed to let Wijnaldum leave halfway through the campaign, with a hectic schedule still to play out.

Rafa Benitez can seal big Everton coup

Wijnaldum briefly played under Rafael Benitez during their time together at Newcastle, and bringing him to Goodison Park would be a significant coup for the 61-year-old.

That’s because the Dutch international established himself as one of European football’s elite midfielders during his five-year stint at Everton’s local rivals Liverpool, scoring 22 goals and providing 16 assists in 237 appearances.

The £27m-rated gem also played a pivotal part as the Reds secured their maiden Premier League title back in 2019/20 and their Champions League success the season before, with his eye-catching performances across Stanley Park earning praise from several impressed onlookers.

“I have no words for Gini’s performances and quality,” former Liverpool and Netherlands forward Ryan Babel told Liverpoolfc.com. “He’s an incredible person. His energy is incredible, he has lungs for days. You can tell when he has the confidence, he’s really unbeatable and very hard to play against.”

However, things have not worked out as planned for Wijnaldum since he swapped Merseyside for Paris over the summer.

So far this season, the creative talent has started only seven Ligue 1 fixtures, completing the full 90 minutes on just four occasions in all competitions as Mauricio Pochettino has regularly picked the likes of Ander Herrara and Idrissa Gueye ahead of him.

With Wijnaldum’s growing frustration at his lack of action appearing to open the door to an imminent exit, Benitez could be reunited with the dynamic midfielder, adding some much-needed star quality to his struggling side.

In other news… Patrick Boyland issues behind-the-scenes Everton claim which should leave fans buzzing

Shane Warne, the Rajasthan Royals captain, has described Yusuf Pathan’s brutal 37-ball century against Mumbai Indians as the best innings he’s seen in his 21-year career

Cricinfo staff13-Mar-2010Shane Warne, the Rajasthan Royals captain, has described Yusuf Pathan’s ferocious 37-ball century against Mumbai Indians as the best innings he’s seen in his 21-year career. Yusuf blasted nine fours and eight sixes to haul Rajasthan back into the game in their chase of 213, after they had required 143 in 57 balls at one stage. However, his innings – the second-quickest Twenty20 century – was in vain, as he was brilliantly run out by R Sathish, marking a decisive moment in Rajasthan’s four-run defeat.”I’ve played cricket for 21 years and I have seen Sachin Tendulkar as the best batsman against whom I have played as he has murdered attacks and hit them all over the park. But today was the best innings I have ever seen,” Warne said. “From a situation of 37 for 3 in seven overs and chasing 213 and come so close thanks to a 37 ball-100. It’s a special innings. We believe we can win from anywhere. We just have to sort out our batting in the first six overs. In the last two IPLs we have won more games than anyone and we have won more close finishes.”Lasith Malinga and Zaheer Khan, Mumbai’s fast bowlers, delivered yorkers consistently at the death when 19 were required off 12 balls. Rajasthan only managed 14, but Warne said the three run-outs in his team’s innings and some lapses in the field while Mumbai were batting cost them in the end.”Malinga is a good bowler at the death. We had plans to get to within eight runs of the target,” Warne said. “The start wasn’t great with a run out in the first over. Three run outs in the innings, a couple of dropped catches and some extras. That probably cost us the game in the end. We’re proud of the way we played. We have a lot of young players who will take a lot from this.”Yusuf regretted his dismissal but took heart from his team’s spirited comeback. “I made an error because of which we lost, else we would have won,” he said. “We’re sad right now but we are also very happy that we played good cricket apart from the extras we conceded. When such flat wickets get made, records get broken and runs get scored. We will learn a lot from this loss and there is not a lot to worry as this is a long tourney.”Mumbai’s strong batting performance was a result of half-centuries from Saurabh Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu. Shaun Tait, the South Australian fast bowler, proved the most expensive, conceding 46 in four overs and undermining a big reputation coming into this tournament. Warne, however, defended Tait and was confident he’d get better. “Shaun Tait is probably one of the most exciting bowlers in the world,” he said. “Unfortunately today he didn’t get it right. There were patches where he did. But he’ll be better for the run.”Sachin Tendulkar, the Mumbai captain, hailed Yusuf’s knock as “special” and said he was aware of his ability to spark such a turnaround. “It was a special innings from him, but even the effort from R Sathish to get him run out was special,” he said.”Before he came in and played that knock, I thought we would win this match with ease, but that’s the beauty of this great game. You can never take anything for granted. I knew Yusuf was in great form and if he connects the ball well, the target was achievable.”

Bayern are on the lookout for a new manager after confirming that the ex-Chelsea boss will be leaving in the summer

On Wednesday morning, we got the news we had all been expecting for some time: Thomas Tuchel had been given his marching orders by Bayern Munich. The announcement did come with a twist, though, with the German not set to depart his post until the end of the season.

It's an odd decision, considering that many of Bayern's top players have seemingly lost faith in Tuchel and they have a campaign-defining Champions League last-16 second-leg clash with Lazio to come next month. Perhaps finding someone to take the job mid-season seemed impossible, or maybe the club are looking to save some money by avoiding a hefty compensation package.

Regardless, the search is now firmly underway to find Tuchel's successor and there is a lot of options out there. Below, GOAL has analysed 10 of the top candidates who could end up in Bavaria this summer.

Getty ImagesXabi Alonso

Liverpool will have greeted the news of Tuchel's imminent departure with trepidation. The Reds are understood to have identified Bayer Leverkusen boss Alonso as their No.1 target to replace Jurgen Klopp at the end of the season.

However, with Bayern now on the lookout for a new head coach too, competition for his services is about to ramp up significantly. It's not hard to see why both clubs are so besotted by Alonso. In a short space of time he has overhauled Leverkusen's playing style, making them one of the most watchable teams in Europe, while also getting extremely impressive results.

For now, the Spaniard's focus will very much be on bringing the Bundesliga title to western Germany, but in the summer he has a seismic decision to make. Both the Bayern and Liverpool jobs are appealing, though he could even disappoint both by opting to stay put for the time being.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesZinedine Zidane

Zidane has been out of the game for some time now, having not returned to management since he left Real Madrid in May 2021. There's been plenty of rumours since, with interest coming from Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and the United States, but Zizou has remained on the sidelines.

Could that change this summer now the Bayern job has come up? He would seem to be a pretty good fit at least. Tactically flexible, Zidane's main strength appears to be his squad management. And with Bayern possessing a lot of egos at present, his ability to be a unifying figure who commands respect would be welcomed.

Whether he would be interested in the role is another matter. Zidane holds a burning desire to manage France one day and during a tournament year – after which Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps could feasibly leave – he may prefer to remain a free agent.

GettyHansi Flick

Flick's reputation took a battering during his time in charge of Germany. However, it should not be forgotten what an outstanding job he did at Bayern between 2019 and 2021.

Parachuted in to save Die Roten's season following Niko Kovac's disastrous reign, Flick would go on to lead the club to only their second-ever continental treble. His only full campaign wasn't quite as successful, but he still led Bayern to the Bundesliga title – something Tuchel is currently proving is far from the guarantee it is often portrayed as.

The less said about his time as Germany boss the better, but if the club are looking for a safe pair of hands, Flick could be the ideal, short-term choice to provide a bit of stability.

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Getty ImagesJurgen Klopp

If Klopp wishes to sever all ties with his beloved Borussia Dortmund, while also severely p***ing off Liverpool fans, he could give Bayern a call. We're pretty sure he's happy enough sitting back and relaxing, though. At least for the next year anyway.

An update has emerged on Colorado Rapids forward Dantouma Toure, regarding interest from Ibrox giants Rangers.

What’s the talk?

US-based journalist Brian Sciaretta has claimed that the youngster was recently training with the Gers and is now on trial with Premier League side Arsenal.

He Tweeted: “I heard Colorado Rapids homegrown winger Dantouma Toure, 17, is doing offseason training with a bunch of European teams. Was recently at Rangers, now training with Arsenal. Born in Guinea, Toure has played for USYNT’s in the past.”

Exciting

This update will surely excite Rangers fans as it suggests that the club could be considering a swoop for the promising young forward.

The 17-year-old, who has picked up the nickname “Yaya Toure”, has shown great promise in his career so far, playing professionally in the USL Championship last year for New York Red Bulls II. He also made his MLS debut earlier this year for the Rapids, showing how much trust they have in him despite his age.

Colorado’s general manager Padraig Smith lauded the forward as a ‘difference-maker’ upon his arrival at the club as a 16-year-old. He said:

“Yaya is an exciting talent who has already shown tremendous potential through his performances in the USL Championship as a 16-year-old.

“He’s powerful and explosive on the ball and has an ability to take on defenders that allows him to be a difference-maker. We believe he has all the qualities necessary to develop into an elite player and are excited to see what the future holds for him.”

This, along with the experience he already has under his belt, highlights how exciting he is as a young forward and why Rangers fans should be delighted with the prospect of him joining the academy. He is already making strides at senior level despite being almost three years away from hitting the age of 20 and he could be a promising long-term addition to the team.

Of course, he is currently training with Arsenal and the Gers would need to convince the teenage wiz to make the switch instead of making a move elsewhere. Gio van Bronckhorst and Ross Wilson must work hard to tempt him into making a full-time switch to Ibrox if possible, as he could be a fantastic signing for the academy given the potential he has shown.

AND in other news, 64x possession lost: GVB must work his magic on £5.6k-p/w Rangers dud with 0 assists…

Michael Lumb will help Queensland’s push for a berth in the Champions League after agreeing to join them for this summer’s Big Bash

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Nov-2010England’s Michael Lumb, who has played seven Twenty20 internationals, will help Queensland’s push for a berth in the Champions League after agreeing to join them for this summer’s Big Bash. Lumb, a left-handed opener, was part of the World Twenty20 victory in the Caribbean in May and will aim to provide the Bulls with some much needed power hitting.”When we learned that Andrew Flintoff was not going to be able to take up his contract with us, we looked at a few players that we felt would bring something special to our group,” the Queensland coach Trevor Barsby said. “Having caught a few of his performances for England and Rajasthan Royals, Michael was pretty well at the top of the list as far as I was concerned.”Lumb, 30, has a strike-rate of more than 140 in both international and domestic T20 competition, and will be released by the state if he is called into England’s plans. “It’s going to be an amazing experience playing in Australia – I honestly can’t wait,” Lumb said.”I’ve come across lads like Ryan Harris and Andrew Symonds in the IPL and have had a good chat with Trevor Barsby, so the tournament can’t come soon enough.” He is the second English player to join the event, which starts in late December, after Sajid Mahmood was picked up by Western Australia on Tuesday.