All posts by h716a5.icu

Southampton flop Mario Lemina is reportedly closing in on a move to OGC Nice, which could be a huge boost for both Ralph Hasenhuttl and chairman Jisheng Gao.

What’s the word?

According to France Football (via Get Football France News), OGC Nice are in advanced negotiations with the Gabon international ahead of a summer switch and are now in pole position to land him, despite reported interest from Newcastle United.

The 27-year-old is clearly surplus to requirements in Hasenhuttl’s squad, having spent the last two seasons out on loan with Galatasary and Fulham, with whom he failed to impress, suffering relegation with the Lilywhites during the 2020/21 campaign.

End of a four-year Southampton nightmare?

Southampton signed Lemina from Juventus in a deal worth £18.1m, and he has managed just 52 appearances for the Saints since then, in which he contributed just two goals and two assists.

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He reportedly earns £4ok per week with the South Coast club, so both Hasenhuttl and Gao would be delighted to get him off the wage bill and perhaps put his fee towards bringing in another player who can compete in the squad.

Lemina was never likely to be a regular in Southampton’s midfield for next season, with James Ward-Prowse, Oriol Romeu, Ibrahima Diallo and Stuart Armstrong all arguably ahead of him in the pecking order, and with the report from GFFN suggesting that he won’t be at St Mary’s for much longer despite returning for pre-season, it looks as if Southampton fans can finally wave him goodbye on a permanent basis.

The £9m-rated flop did little to suggest in his spell at Fulham that he would be able to make an impact in Southampton’s first team for the upcoming campaign and he now looks set to follow other deadwood such as Wesley Hoedt and Angus Gunn out of the door at St Mary’s, which can only be a good thing for the Saints from both a footballing and financial perspective.

And, in other news… Romano drops Southampton transfer news on “excellent” gem that’ll leave Saints fans buzzing

Richard Parsons, the long serving Chairman of Somerset County Cricket Club who is stepping down from his post at the Annual General Meeting in December has written a letter to every member of the club that will be arriving on doormats up and down the

Richard Walsh04-Oct-2002Richard Parsons, the long serving Chairman of Somerset County Cricket Club who is stepping down from his post at the Annual General Meeting in December has written a letter to every member of the club that will be arriving on doormats up and down the country on Saturday morning.In his letter Mr Parsons outlines the proposed changes to the Club Rules that will be presented to the members at the AGM, changes that have been recommended by the Working Party that was set up to look at the Constitution, Rules and Committee of the Club.The aims of the changes are twofold. Firstly to streamline the running of the club and secondly to try to recruit more financial sponsorship for the club from the business community.The first major change that is being recommended is that to facilitate a smoother running club the General and Management Committees should be merged creating a single committee, consisting of one elected member from each of the areas of the membership.The second major change that is recommended is that in future the Club Chairman, who up until now has always been elected from within the General Committee, should be open to any person who is a member of the club.Referring to this point in his letter Mr Parsons says: "This will enable the Club to appoint a Chairman with the ability and opportunity to network business contacts throughout the country for the good of the Club. The post of Club Chairman would be honorary and therefore unsalaried."The Working Party is also recommending a greater importance for the role of Club Vice-Chairman.In his letter Mr Parsons continues: "The role of the Club Vice-Chairman elected from within the Committee should assume greater importance and his primary duty would be to safeguard the provisions of the new Club Constitution, if approved."Mr Parsons concludes by giving his personal recommendation to the new Rules which is backed by the retiring General Committee and asking members to approve them at the Club AGM which will be held on December 16th.

Lakmal Kasturiarachchige, who was one of the youngest players at the ECC European Championships has been rewarded for the promise he has shown at ECC tournaments, both in youth tournaments and for the national team, by being awarded one of three

Michael Bailey21-Nov-2002Lakmal Kasturiarachchige, who was one of the youngest players at the ECC European Championships has been rewarded for the promise he has shown at ECC tournaments, both in youth tournaments and for the senior national team, by being awarded one of three places available at Terry Jenner’s coaching clinic in London to be held in early January.Lakhmal, whilst originating from Sri Lanka, has learnt his cricket during his time in Austria, where he has become an automatic choice for his club Concordia CC. He broke into the National Team in 2002, with an impressive spell against MCC during their tour of Austria in June 2002 showing his calibre. Despite being one of the youngest players in the ECC Championships, he was unfazed by the demands of the tournament, despite it being his first experience of grass wickets, where he was Austria’s leading wicket-taker along with fellow youth team player Aman Deep, 16.Gary Palmer, Austrian National Coach, described Lakhmal as having great natural ability and strong technique, showing a great dealer of promise as a genuine all-rounder rather than just as a legspin bowler. He also commended Lakhmal’s willingness to learn, and believes that it is only a matter of time before Austria really sees his full potential as a matchwinner.

The Hampshire Academy are within one point of clinching the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 championship after a seven-wicket win over United Services at the Rose Bowl

Mike Vimpany (as published in Daily Echo)25-Aug-2002The Hampshire Academy are within one point of clinching the Southern Electric Premier League, Division 2 championship after a seven-wicket win over United Services at the Rose Bowl.They will almost certainly be crowned champions when they visit Trojans at Stoneham Lane on Saturday.Second-placed Easton & Martyr Worthy whipped Rowledge by 72 runs, but dropped two valuable points in the process.Jimmy Adams (3-41) and Ian Hilsum (3-41) reduced US to 93-6 before John Mann (38) picked up late support from Paul Barsby (23) and Guy Lewis (26) to lift the visitors to 182-9.Iain Brunnschweiler (31) for the Academy youngsters away to a brisk start before departing, alongside Peter Hammond, at 43-2.But it was Alex Richardson’s well crafted 70 not out that won the day for the Young Hawks. Adams (22) made his mark before Martin Bushell (36 not out) joined Richardson to secure victory.Beaten National Village Championship semi-finalists Rowledge are in desperate trouble at the bottom after crashing to defeat against Easton.They reduced EMW to 23-4 before Steve Green’s magnificent 98 not out hoisted the visitors to 199-5.Mark Stone (4-16) and Matt Bolland (2-16) wrecked the Rowledge top order before Andy Birch (3-13) ended the late order resistance by Chris Yates (38). Rowledge, dismissed for 129, will have to score a 22-point maximum at Hungerford, if they are to stand any chance of survival.Hungerford made themselves safe with an easy seven-wicket win over ten-man Winchester KS (116), but Old Tauntonians & Romsey are not entirely clear of trouble after a 21-run defeat at Sparsholt.Rob Savage (74) and Kevin Foyle (35) lifted Sparsholt out of early trouble created by Jeremy Ord (3-31) and pushed the Winchester club to a healthy 197 all out.Ord hit 48 not out for OTR, but Ian Stuart’s spell of 4-37 left the visitors well behind the rate. They closed at 176-8 (Paul Longland 33).Aaron Heal, Lymington’s Western Australian Under-19 all-rounder, is launching a late challenge for the Premier Division 2 individual batting prize after scoring 111 against Trojans.The century took Heal’s run aggregate to 603 – 39 behind Charles Forward, the hard-hitting Old Tauntonians & Romsey left-hander.But Heal’s efforts were to no avail as Trojans snatched a one-wicket win in a thrilling rain-cut finish.Glyn Treagus (35) and Chris Warde (35 not out) gave Heal support as Lymington reached 225-7, a total trimmed to 216 after a two-over rain interruption.Mike Durand (59) steered Trojans to 97-1, but it was Jon Gillespie’s unbeaten 39 that got Trojans home by one wicket in a tense finish.

Adam Hollioake will not be playing for Surrey in their Championship match against Hampshire this week because he is to play for the Angus Fraser XI in The Umer and Burhan Rashid Memorial Match at Hove on Friday 13 September

Sussex CCC Media Release10-Sep-2002Adam Hollioake will not be playing for Surrey in their Championship match against Hampshire this week because he is to play for the Angus Fraser XI in at Hove on Friday 13 September.Adam spoke of the decision: “When I first heard about the Rashid Memorial Match I knew I wanted to play, thankfully with the title race out of the way I can now do this. It’s been a terrible year and these tragedies have brought our two families together. I know how crucial support is at times like this and I’m glad to be representing the Hollioake family at this match.”Chris Adams, Sussex captain, is delighted that Adam will be playing: “One can only imagine what the Hollioake and Rashid families have gone through this year. Both Surrey and Sussex have lost sons, brothers and friends. Our two Clubs are linked forever and these integral members of our teams will never be forgotten. The evening is to be a celebration of Umer and Burhan’s lives and we will be honouring Ben as well, we are glad that Adam will be a part of it.”Gates open 4pm, welcome 6pm match starts 6.30pm. All donations welcome to the at the County Ground, Hove.We would like to express our thanks to Surrey for releasing Adam to play in this important match.

Marcus Bent believes that Eddie Howe would be a breath of fresh air should he become the new Everton manager.

It’s been almost a year since the 43-year-old left his position at Bournemouth by mutual consent, with his final game in charge coming against Everton at Goodison Park.

Howe has been strongly linked with several jobs in recent months and was expected to take over at Celtic before a deal to see him move to Parkhead recently collapsed.

Meanwhile, the former Cherries boss has been touted as a possible replacement for Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace, with that position still available following Nuno Espirito Santo’s recent failed move to Selhurst Park.

Everton themselves are still searching for a Carlo Ancelotti replacement after the Italian suddenly left to re-join Real Madrid at the beginning of this month.

Former Everton striker Duncan Ferguson is currently in the running, whilst ex-Wolves man Santo has also held talks, but Bent would be on board with the appointment of Howe.

He told Football FanCast:

“He did a great job at Bournemouth, he’s a young manager and has a lot of experience, he’s new school and he’d be a breath of fresh air for Everton.”

Whilst Howe is certainly no Ancelotti, having worked wonders during his time with Bournemouth, Everton could do a lot worse than appointing him.

Leicester City have almost become the role model of how a football club should be run and a lot of that has come down to their recruitment so often being spot on and they may have smashed it once again if the signing of Odsonne Edouard gets over the line, according to former Foxes defender Steve Howey.

It is a signing that makes sense as he appears to have outgrown both Celtic and the SPFL so, a move to the Premier League to work under his former boss Brendan Rodgers would be a sensible and safe option.

Reports have claimed that Leicester are currently in talks with the Frenchman who has constantly been on fire north of the border having netted 83 goals in 168 appearances for the Bhoys.

With Jamie Vardy now 34-years-old, signing a young striker in Edouard could prove to be a very astute piece of business by the Foxes, something Howey was quick to praise when he spoke exclusively to Transfer Tavern:

“I’ve watched him a few times despite Celtic being poor this season and Rodgers will know all about him and what he’s like both on and off the pitch.

“That would be a very good acquisition in my book and it will certainly help out the lads that they already have in that position.”

After a second successive year missing out on Champions League qualification on the final day of the season, Rodgers will want to add as much quality to his squad as possible to ensure it doesn’t become a hat-trick.

Edouard is still only 23-years old but his finishing and movement make him seem like a seasoned veteran so Leicester will be hoping that translates into the Premier League.

Three days after he and his fellow cricket selectors discarded the two players they had resurrected after an outstanding Busta Series, West Indies captain Carl Hooper is saying performances at that level should be taken with a "pinch of

Haydn Gill11-May-2002Three days after he and his fellow cricket selectors discarded the two players they had resurrected after an outstanding Busta Series, West Indies captain Carl Hooper is saying performances at that level should be taken with a "pinch of salt".After three years in the wilderness, the selectors recalled Stuart Williams and Junior Murray on the strength of their heaving scoring in the regional first-class championship, but have hastily discarded them following modest returns in the Cable & Wireless Test series against India."I know the selectors travel around and try to watch as many games as possible. When you watch Busta Cup cricket . . . at the end of the day if somebody scores 800 or 900 runs, you cannot ignore it, but I think you’ve got to take it with a pinch of salt really," Hooper said here yesterday."Our Busta Cup is not like [Australian] Sheffield Shield cricket, where if a guy scores 800 or 900 runs he must be playing well. Our Busta Cup is not to the level we would like it."Williams, the 32-year-old sweet-timing Nevisian opening batsman, won a recall after a phenomenal 2002 Busta Series that brought him a record 974 runs, while the 34-year-old Murray also won favour for blasting 642 runs that included four centuries.On their return to Test cricket, neither managed anything of note and, significantly, their dismissals were carbon-copies of errors committed in the past."Obviously, you’ve got to make sure that a guy is really, really batting well and there aren’t the same old faults there – if there are any – before you decide that this guy is ready for another play at Test cricket; or else he will make the same mistakes again and again," Hooper said."Junior Murray must have been batting well during the Busta Cup. Whether it is coincidence or not that he comes back into Test cricket and is doing the same thing and is getting dismissed in the same fashion is another story."I don’t know, but he must have been playing well, Stuart must have been playing well. The confidence must have been up. It is a tough job for the selectors, but it is something that they’ve got to try to do to the best of their ability."While Grenadian Murray kept tidily in the first two Tests, his three innings yielded two ducks and a single and twice he was lbw playing across the line of the ball. Williams, who was given three Tests, totaled 91 runs in five innings and was often let down by a lack of footwork and beaten by the movement of the ball.

Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce is in talks with Stade Brest over the signing of left-back Romain Perraud this summer, although they are set to face significant Premier League competition for him.

What’s the story?

Despite the Magpies signing Jamal Lewis from Norwich last summer and seeing Matt Ritchie make an impressive return to form in the final few weeks of the Premier League season, it seems that Bruce is keen on landing a new left-back.

According to French publication L’Equipe (via Get French Football News), the Tyneside club, along with Leeds United and Southampton, are in negotiations with Brest over bringing Perraud to the Premier League.

The report added, however, that the Saints currently lead the race to sign him and are hopeful of completing a deal in the coming days.

Far better than Lewis

In the £7.2m-rated Perraud, not only would they be getting a solid defender, but also someone who really comes into his own going forward and provides his team with a vital attacking outlet – this season has seen him record an impressive seven assists in Ligue 1 alone, compared to the measly one that Lewis managed.

Speaking on his podcast, The Athletic’s Leeds correspondent Phil Hay said: “He’s starting to become one of the leading left-backs, seen by many people, as the best left-back or one of them in France’s top division.

“It’s very clear from the performance data that he’s a very attacking left-back, who is good at creating chances, taking shots himself, a real threat going forward, but also really good at employing the press, good as part of a team that likes to press aggressively.”

A player profile from Get French Football News states: “Romain Perraud rapidly became a fan-favourite at the Stade Charlety, thanks to some Roberto Carlos-esque rockets from outside the box. Keeping everything in perspective, Perraud’s style is, on some points, quite similar to the former Real Madrid full-back’s. He has a fighting mentality, an incredible shot power and a left-foot that has proven throughout the season to be a deadly weapon for set-pieces.”

When you compare Perraud’s and Lewis’ stats, they are night and day. The Frenchman averaged more shots, key passes, dribbles, tackles and interceptions per game in the league last season and, at 23, is only a few months older than the Magpies defender.

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It’s no surprise that, given how Lewis has even fallen behind Ritchie in the pecking order, Bruce is keen on bringing in a more exciting, and attacking left-back this summer.

Meanwhile, Steve Bruce is interested in this Scottish starlet…

Many Southampton fans are far from happy after they were linked with a move for out-of-contract midfielder Robbie Brady.

With the Premier League season now over, the Saints can prepare for the 2021/22 campaign. With Ryan Bertrand leaving on a free transfer (southamptonfc.com) and plenty of interest in striker Danny Ings (Sky Sports), it is likely to be a busy summer at St Mary’s as the south coast outfit look to get their squad ready for August.

According to the Daily Mirror (Thursday 15:27 in live blog), [via Football FanCast], Southampton are interested in signing Brady.

The 56-cap Republic of Ireland international has had a solid career but he made just 19 appearances in the Premier League for Burnley last term and managed only one goal and one assist (Transfermarkt), so he would hardly seem an inspired signing. He has also been plagued with injuries in recent years since starring at Euro 2016.

The news was shared on Twitter by @SaintsExtra, and it attracted plenty of attention from Saints supporters. These fans took to the social media platform to share their thoughts on the transfer speculation, and they were less than impressed.

Let’s see what these fans had to say about the Brady links

“We really are at a low”

Credit: @saints_josh2

“Oh dear”

Credit: @SfcHarveyy

“Wow, we really are going down aren’t we”

Credit: @OliWren_

“What a tinpot signing that would be. Odds on we go for Danny Rose now he’s been binned by Spurs”

Credit: @James90044529

“I joked to myself today when I saw he was being released and thought I wouldn’t be surprised if we became interested. Laughable”

Credit: @Taylor1993White

“This time last week we were being strongly linked with Thomas Delaney, 1 week down the line and it’s Robbie Brady, this club never fails to amaze me…”

Credit: @MRankin8_

In other news, Southampton are interested in this ace who was previously compared to Lionel Messi.