Waqar Younis, the Pakistan coach, has called the team’s second-innings batting in Abu Dhabi “unacceptable” after they were left grateful for the arrival of dusk to prevent defeat in a Test where the final day had begun with the first innings incomplete.England declared with a lead of 75 and Pakistan were rocked early by James Anderson, who struck twice in an over, followed by the run out of Mohammad Hafeez. A stand of 66 between Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq had appeared to calm the nerves and confirm the draw, only for Younis to spoon Adil Rashid into the covers and Misbah to charge down the pitch at Moeen Ali and miss his expansive shot.”It’s unacceptable to bat like we did in the second innings,” Waqar said. “It should have been a straightforward draw but we allowed them to threaten us and beat us. We allowed them to come that close, we allowed them to threaten us and run away with the game. We should realise that we are a very good Test side but we committed some silly mistakes, especially in the batting which could have cost us the game.””The way they played, we have to really pull our socks in the second Test. What happened was not on and we have to really improve on that if we want to win the series. We have experience in our batting, we know our batting and know it should have lasted the final day, or the final session but we didn’t and that we have to consider.”I am confident that my side can bounce back but we have to realise that it is all about playing all sessions equally well and if you don’t in one session the opponents come down hard on you as England did.”Waqar knows that Pakistan will be boosted by the return of legspinner Yasir Shah, who missed the opening Test after suffering a back spasm the day before the game, but said that they cannot afford to purely rest on the comeback of their star bowler, even suggesting the favourites tag has shifted in the series.”Fair enough we will get Yasir back but they will be thinking that they can compete. Before the series started it was their own verdict that they were underdogs but now we are the side which have to stage a comeback.”Yasir’s return, at the expense of either Rahat Ali or Imran Khan, will also be welcomed by England according to their coach Trevor Bayliss who said the “ego” of international cricketers meant they wanted to be tested by the best players.”The boys want to be the best team in the world and that means you have got to play the best players and he is the best player,” Bayliss said. “I’m sure these guys would like to test themselves against any of the best players and come out on top.”At this level the egos are right up there, they want to play the best and show the best that they are better than them. They will want to show him they can play him as well as any other these other players.”The lack of specialist spin cover in the original squad to cover for a circumstance like Yasir’s injury has angered Misbah and could lead to more back-up being available this time. Bilal Asif, the offspinner whose action is currently being tested, has been added to the squad for the second Test.
Leeds United are reportedly eyeing up a move for Coventry City midfielder Gustavo Hamer but face competition for his signature from numerous clubs.
The Lowdown: Hamer impressing for Coventry
The 24-year-old has shone for the Championship side so far this season, proving to be one of their most influential performers in the middle of the park.
Hamer has chipped in with two goals and six assists in 25 league starts in 2021/22 to date, enjoying an average of 1.4 key passes per game, too.
It could be that a summer transfer materialises for the Dutchman, moving up to a higher level as he hits his prime, with a fresh update emerging regarding the situation.
[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]
The Latest: Leeds keen on move
According to Football League World, the Whites are one of the clubs ‘keeping tabs’ on Hamer but they are not alone in showing an interest.
Scottish Premiership giants Celtic and Rangers are also mentioned in the report, as well as Premier League duo Brentford and Norwich City.
[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-36/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]
The Verdict: Good for squad depth
Central midfield has been an issue all season long at Leeds, with too much dependency on Kalvin Phillips and his injury absence, therefore, proving to be damaging.
Hamer is someone who could come in and provide new Leeds manager Jesse Marsch with an extra option, being hailed as an ‘unbelievable’ player by teammate Marko Marosi.
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At 24, he is still at an age where he is developing as a player, allowing Marsch to potentially get the best years of his career, turning him into a key player over time.
While Hamers’s aforementioned quality on the ball stands out, he is also averaging 1.6 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game in the league this season, showing that he can be a force out of possession, too.
In other news, Marsch reportedly wants to sign one player for Leeds. Find out who it is here.
Cast your minds back to 19 October 2010, a time that marked perhaps the most turbulent week off-the-pitch for Manchester United in recent years. A delusional Wayne Rooney voices his intentions to leave arguably the greatest club side in the world because he wasn’t given any assurances about the future of the squad. The world gasps, Barcelona and Real Madrid immediately announce their interest whilst Sir Alex Ferguson is declared clinically ‘dumbfounded’.
However just days later normality is resumed when Rooney signs a bumper new deal, which will see him remain at Old Trafford for a further five years as the club’s highest earner. Ferguson breathes a sigh of relief as ‘Wazza’ attributes his bizarre behaviour to his meddling agent and other ‘outside influences’, proving that he can pass blame almost as well as he can pass the ball. The fallout is significant, Rooney is quickly welcomed back into the arms of his supporters with his reputation relatively intact whilst the rest of country accepts that ‘power plays’ are now a prominent feature in modern football.
Since then we’ve seen Cesc Fabregas’ tear-soaked plea to Arsene Wenger rewarded with a move home to Barcelona and Carlos Tevez worm his way back into the title-winning Manchester City squad after effectively going on strike. Are football clubs merely puppets for their prized superstars or do the employers still hold all the cards in such situations?
Fans of long, drawn out transfer sagas have been rewarded with not one but two shining examples in North London this summer. Robin Van Persie is eyeing up one last ‘big’ move after questioning Arsenal’s ambition whilst Luka Modric is very keen on becoming the latest Galactico, but I think he’d settle for Champions League football. Despite the players differing contract situations, both parent clubs have stonewalled any potential move unless a certain valuation is met. A refreshing stance in the eyes of many, especially as many buying clubs seem to believe that a player’s desire to leave somehow reduces their market value.
In my opinion the transfer value of a footballer is dictated solely by how important or valuable they’re to their current club, which is why we see players leave for peanuts when they’re no longer wanted and extortionate sums if they are. Of course there are other contributing factors but this is the reason Andy Carroll was ‘worth’ £35m and you can acquire Dimitar Berbatov for a paltry £5m.
In the case at Arsenal, Wenger is understandably reluctant to let his star striker join a league rival, all the while signing players that make Van Persie’s ‘ambition’ comments look rather futile. Unfortunately Arsenal are still a far cry from title contenders, which is therefore unlikely to deter the Dutchman in his quest to leave. Wenger has undoubtedly learnt a great deal since watching a smug Samir Nasri lift the Premier League title with Manchester City.
Over at White Hart Lane, new manager Andre Villas-Boas appears to have found his perfect partner in the form of chairman Daniel Levy. Villas-Boas suffered a torrid time at Chelsea as key players within the squad staged a mutiny but because of Levy’s strict leadership, he is unlikely to endure a similar fate this season. Both men boast a stubborn approach when it comes to rogue individuals, which should provide the foundations for a successful period in the wake of ‘pally’ manager Harry Redknapp.
Speaking of Redknapp, the currently unemployed wheeler-dealer was one of many individuals to voice their concern about player power in the aftermath of the Rooney saga in 2010.
“I worry about it with kids now. We’ve ended up in a situation where you give young kids long contracts now, for fear of losing them. They come in here at 17; suddenly they get a four- or five-year contract.
“They’ve got their feet under the table; they can go and do what they want; they’re getting plenty of money. When you’re dealing with top players, it’s a difficult one. When you’re dealing with kids, I personally would take a chance on losing them.”
“If they don’t want to stay at your club, well okay, fine.” (Telegraph)
Sir Alex Ferguson would appear to share a similar view, having refused to bow down the demands of young starlets Ravel Morrison and more recently Paul Pogba. Both players embody an ugly trend within the next generation of stars who lack both the respect and brain cells to realise how privileged they are to exist at club with United’s reputation and history.
Of course it would be naive of me to consider the impact of ‘player power’ without acknowledging the flip side of the coin. Football is a brutal business, for every dream made, hundreds are shattered as clubs continually look to trim their wage bill and offload any perceived deadwood. Should we pity the unfortunate players who suffer such harsh realities anymore than we hate those players who happen to be in demand? There are no heroes or villains in this football fairytale, only human beings driven by personal gain.
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The speculation will continue to circulate above the futures of both Modric and Van Persie, much to the delight of tabloid newspapers who appear to be the only winners in such situations. However should either player remain at their respective club once the transfer window slams shut then you can rest assured they will be back in the team come October. The reason they are perceived to have such ‘power’ stems simply for their incredible skills as a footballer, teams cannot and will not let such talent waste away in the reserves. In the same vein, few footballers will be able to cope with the humiliation of sinking below Marouane Chamakh in the pecking order.
If a week is a long time in football then a month is an eternity, which perhaps suggests player power is only worth considering in the short term. At the right time, in the right environment a player can easily bring a club to its knees but with enough determination and resilience, the club should always come out on top.
It is safe to say that money still talks in football, but perhaps one day fewer people will listen as careers go south and reputations tarnished beyond repair as a result of a transfer tantrum.
Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub where I’m hoping Wilf Zaha doesn’t end up throwing the toys out of his diamond encrusted pram
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has expressed his concerns about hanging on to star striker Hugo Rodallega.
The Columbian striker is yet to sign a new contract at the DW Stadium and with only a year left on his current deal, Wigan are desperate to get the striker’s future resolved one way of other, so they can get some sort of fee if a new deal cannot be reached.
Both Tottenham and Liverpool sent scouts to Wigan last Saturday, however was left disappointed as he was put on the bench due to the uncertainty over his future.
Martinez is desperate to keep hold of Rodallega, but admits that he won’t stand in his way if the right offer comes in. It is believed that Wigan are holding out for £9m, a fee that is unlikely to scare off the Premier League duo.
“He is a very important part of our plans. If he does well enough, it’s only fair that we do not stand in his way if the chance of a big move comes along.
“Unless we can go on to the next level, and perhaps make it into one of the European competitions, it is impossible to keep players when they are in the best moments of their careers.
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“When you are successful at a club like Wigan, you are going to lose players. That is the reality and you have to accept it.
“I think we are prepared to lose players, allow them to move on when a big offer comes in, as we showed with Charles.” (Mirror)
There have been several men knighted for their services to football. The bloke on the training pitch at Tottenham may join them before long, apparently. Though perhaps for services to the male grooming industry. Yet if anyone should be honoured for services to fellow footballers, it has to be Jimmy Hill.
Fifty years ago last week, he won his greatest victory, when, as campaigning chairman of the PFA, the maximum wage of £20 a week was abolished. Football was cheap back in 1961. I would regularly play in front of 65,000 crowds at Stamford Bridge, who each paid two shillings and sixpence (12 and a half pence) for the privilege of seeing plenty of goals and some of the most hilarious defending in the western world. Twenty quid a week was just above the national average wage, which stood at about £16, but it only applied to first-team players. If you got injured, you could be down to little more than half of that figure and would be genuinely struggling to pay your mortgage.
While a top-flight striker and an England Under-23 international, I was still weeding the terraces at Wimbledon’s Plough Lane ground to make ends meet during the summer months. Two Chelsea team-mates, Peter Sillett and Dave Cliss, set up a window-cleaning business, buying themselves a van before they got round to realising that they shared one another’s fear of heights. Something had to give – but it needed the immense courage of Jimmy Hill and PFA secretary Cliff Lloyd to make it happen.
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When the maximum wage was finally declared illegal, players were about to go on strike. With the entire football programme about to be wiped out, a series of exhibition matches had been arranged on the Saturday afternoon for places like Hackney Marshes, at greyhound stadiums and other venues not affiliated to the FA. It would have been some spectacle and it’s a bit of a shame that the maximum wage was abolished just before we took our action. It was an extraordinary time to live through. I was convinced that the PFA would be proved right and always attended the southern branch meetings at the Great Eastern Hotel near Liverpool Street station.
The most famous story came from a northern PFA meeting, when one player spoke up against a strike by insisting that his father worked long hours down a coal mine and earned less than a footballer. To which Tommy Banks of Bolton stood up and said: “If tha father wants to mark brother Matthews on Saturday for 20 quid a week, he’s welcome to it” – we were all ‘brothers’ and ‘comrades’ at that point, even Sir Stanley.
While support for a players’ strike was supposedly unanimous, there was actually a remarkable lack of courage among many of my fellow pros, especially in the south. Many were frightened about their financial futures, short-term and long-term. Half a century on, in an era of immense player power, this is difficult to imagine. But clubs were bullies. After the maximum wage was abolished – a decision which would come into effect in the summer of 1961, just as I was leaving Stamford Bridge for AC Milan – I was fined my final week’s Chelsea pay for refusing to go on a post-season tour of Israel. The club even had me banned from playing for England against Mexico at Wembley.
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It was another couple of years before George Eastham won freedom of contract for players, so footballers continued to be bound by rules which would never have been allowed in any other industry. Fulham chairman and music-hall star Tommy Trinder made himself few friends among fellow club owners when he claimed he wanted to pay his captain Johnny Haynes £100 a week. I used to play tennis with Tommy and was well aware that Mr Trinder was somewhat backwards in coming forwards when it came to buying a round. Having made the £100-a-week comment to raise a laugh, Tommy had to stick by it.
When I returned from Milan at the end of the year, I was actually offered £120 a week to go back to Chelsea and £60 a week to join Tottenham, the league and Cup double winners. Chelsea’s previous treatment of me had been so poor that I had little hesitation in choosing Spurs.
It was not until the Premier League and the Sky TV money in the 1990s that footballers’ wages lost all semblance of reality. Although I’ve never felt jealous of modern players, I do find it laughable to hear average footballers earning silly money. You can only hope that those who rake in £40,000 a week for sitting on the bench, will be raising a glass to 82-year-old Jimmy Hill this week.
The fallout from the John Terry case took a new twist when Rio Ferdinand laughed at a derogatory tweet about Ashley Cole that was sent following the Chelsea star’s acquittal from his racism charge on Friday afternoon. The term ‘choc ice’ was used to describe Ashley Cole and while Ferdinand got a sizeable reaction to his response “I hear you fella! Choc ice is classic! hahahahahahha!!” the lawyers of Cole claimed that although client was made aware of the tweets, he wouldn’t be making any official complaint given that he and Rio are such good friends.
Elsewhere in the news Fabio Capello set to take the Russian job; pressure mounts on the FA to charge John Terry, while Andre Villas-Boas remains impressed by Daniel Levy’s vision.
Headlines
Didier Drogba didn’t move for the money and insists that he wants to ‘help football develop in China’ after joining Shanghai Shenhua – [Guardian]
The pressure is mounting on the FA to charge John Terry, following the Chelsea star’s acquittal on Friday afternoon – [Guardian]
Andre Villas-Boas is confident his project at the club can succeed after being given assurances by Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy – [Sky Sports]
Fabio Capello is delighted that John Terry was cleared and feels vindicated over his decision to stand by him when England manager – [Daily Telegraph]
Demba Ba has rubbished reports that he is set to leave St James’ Park this summer – [Sky Sports]
PFA call for players to be sent off for X-rated rants at each other – [Independent]
Both Manchester clubs United and City are set to battle it out for Robin van Persie – [Daily Mail]
Real Madrid players are assuming Tottenham’s Luka Modric will be joining them next season – [Daily Mail]
Vurnon Anita is putting pressure on Ajax to win his dream move to Newcastle, according to his agent Harry Lulofs – [Mirror]
Lukas Podolski has urged Robin van Persie to stay on at Arsenal this season – [Sun]
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Chelsea looks set to beat Tottenham to the signature of Internacional star Oscar – [Express]
Please note – to view full the articles click on the sources
Sky Sports understands that Chelsea will make another offer for Tottenham star Luka Modric.
It will be the third time they have tried to sign the Croatian midfielder after having two previous bids of £22 million and £27 million rejected.
An offer of £30 million is now being prepared by the Stamford Bridge club and will be submitted early this week.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas is refusing to give up on landing the playmaker despite Tottenham insisting he isn’t for sale.
Modric is seen as a vital part of Villas-Boas’ plans as he continues to remodel the dressing room in West London.
Manager Harry Redknapp is keen to retain his services and has insisted that his star player is going nowhere.
“He told Sky Sports: We are not going to sell our best players, the likes of Modric and (Gareth) Bale. We’re looking to sell some fringe players but we have had no takers.”
The 25-year-ol is keen to leave White Hart Lane and believes he has been mistreated claiming agreement was in place to let him leave for a ‘big club’ after he signed a new contract last year.
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A transfer request was handed in during pre-season only to be rejected by chairman Daniel Levy who is adamant he will remain at the club.
The New York Cosmos have appointed former Manchester United star Eric Cantona as director of soccer.The Cosmos were one of the biggest club’s in the MLS throughout the 1970’s, and were successful in luring Brazilian legend Pele to play out his final years as a professional in the US, before the franchise folded in 1985.
They were re-launched in August last year by English businessman and former Tottenham director Paul Kelmsey, who has brought Pele on board as president and revived the club’s aim of returning to the MLS.
Cantona will be assisted by former Coventry player Cobi Jones who has been appointed as an associate director of soccer.
“It’s a wonderful project. It’s kind of a mix between football and art,” Cantona said.
“The Cosmos are very strong, beautifully made, with a great past.”
“I will do everything that I can to help us first find our way to regain the number one position in the United States, and then for us to become one of the best clubs in the world over the coming years.”
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The 44-year-old Frenchman, who was voted Manchester United’s player of the century in 2000, shocked the football world in 1997 when he announced his retirement from the game at the age of 30.
Do you remember that iconic Mr Bean episode where he profusely contemplates how to pack his pocket-sized suitcase before realising he possesses a full scale version? You must recall the moment he cuts up his trousers to make them fit only to discover he owns an identical pair of shorts? If you don’t then you haven’t really lived. But thats how I envisage Arsene Wenger’s preparations transpired as he prepares to jet off on his holidays. Destination? I’d say somewhere in Eastern Europe. Poland or Ukraine perhaps? After all it would be foolish of Mr Wenger not to take in the European Championships. It’s a prime opportunity to sound out potential summer transfer targets and keep tabs on the 10 Arsenal players present at the tournament. Because, in fact, it’s all gone a bit quiet at the Emirates Stadium since the acquisition of Lukas Podolski was announced and Robin Van Persie’s contract talks were put on ice until after the finals. Whilst this is all merely hypothetical and Wenger is probably trenched deep in the bronzing process on a idyllic Caribbean beach the thought that he is getting his teeth into some real scouting would certainly put the minds of Gunners supporters at rest. They wouldn’t want a repeat of the events of the previous summer now would they?
This week on FFC is extending Van Persie’s stay in North London more important than new signings and which Argentinian midfielder will Arsenal battle Real Madrid for?
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Best of FFC
The kind of reformation Arsenal have needed?
A true Measurement of Success within the Premier League?
Just as important as big signings for Arsenal
Will Financial Fair Play open up the door to a breakaway?
Barcelona sniffing around Arsenal ace
Time for Wenger to display ruthlessness and show them the door
Could Arsenal do with a similar ambassador at the club?
Arsenal face £8m transfer battle with Madrid
Arsenal chief eyeing quality signings
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Best of WEB
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One of Us Speaks: False Sense Of Entitlement – A Cultured Left Foot
Is this Belgian star the missing piece to Wenger’s puzzle? – Gunnersphere
Ivan Gazidis believes in the fairies – Online Gooner
From Dagenham & Redbridge to Poland & Ukraine – Gunnersphere
Just ten more minutes! – Arseblog
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Another out the door at Arsenal, still no one in though. Are we keeping our powder dry for a reason? – Le Grove
Van Persie deal done? Signings on the way – could Stan Kroenke influence one of them? – Highbury House
HOLTBY & RONDON BOTH LINKED WITH EMIRATES TRANSFER – Transfer Tavern
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Quote of the Week
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“Robin sat down with us at the end of the season and we had a good discussion. What we agreed at that meeting was that we would keep all the discussions we had over the summer to ourselves and make announcements when it is the right time.
“We have to respect the fact we have agreed to keep that among ourselves. Robin is clearly focused on the Euros at the moment and we wish him well, and at the right time we will make the right announcements.” Ivan Gazidis reveals he’s held contract talks with Robin Van Persie and they will resume after Euro 2012
[divider]Arsenal to reward Arteta with new contract
Sunderland have returned to training ahead of the new English Premier League season with no fewer than nine new faces at the club.Having seen his squad beset with injuries over the last campaign, manager Steve Bruce has been busy in the transfer market and has added plenty of experience to squad.
Former Manchester United duo Wes Brown and John O’Shea have joined in defence, while midfield has been bolstered by the arrival of Birmingham City duo Sebastian Larsson and Craig Gardner.
Highly rated striker Connor Wickham, 18, joins from Ipswich Town for a fee that could rise to 12 million pounds, while goalkeeper Kieron Westwood (Coventry) and David Vaughan (Blackpool) arrive on free transfers.
“It’s nice to see that the club’s been able to attract players like O’Shea and Brown – big players who’ve been at a big club for a long time,” Larsson told the BBC.
“I think it’s a sign that the club’s trying to move in the right direction.”
Sweden international Larsson signed for the Black Cats after the expiry of his contract at Birmingham, who were relegated to the Championship in the same season they won the League Cup.
The right-sided midfielder said he was keenly anticipating playing alongside Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan, and wanted to play his part in helping Sunderland improve on their 10th place in 2010/11.
“I’m not saying that we’re going to be playing Champions League football next season but you’ve got to always keep trying to move in the right direction, step-by-step,” he said.
“Hopefully, that’s what the club’s doing right now.”