As reported by The Sun, Arsenal are interested in signing Norwich City star James Maddison during this summer’s transfer window.
What’s the story?
Gunners supporters are set for an exciting summer of transfer business with an incoming new manager likely to put his stamp on the squad with fresh signings and a fresh philosophy after the departure of Arsene Wenger.
That doesn’t mean that the club aren’t planning ahead though and identifying targets already though.
One such target is Norwich City attacking midfielder James Maddison.
That’s according to The Sun, who say that the club will compete with the likes of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur for his signature.
He is set for big move this summer, say the paper, after receiving a better diagnosis on a potential ligament injury than expected.
The report states any move could be worth as much as £25m.
Would he be a good buy?
It’s always difficult to know whether a player can make the transition from second-tier football to the Premier League and the step up to playing for a top six side is obviously even more difficult.
At 21 years of age though, Maddison has shown impressive consistency and ability this season.
He scored 15 goals and assisted eight times for the Canaries from midfield, which is even more impressive when you consider they a mid-table outfit.
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With exceptional technical ability, passing range and an eye for goal at any distance, he has a style of play and confidence that could make him a big hit at the Gunners.
His age means he could improve even further too, so Arsenal should ensure they beat their Premier League rivals to his signature this summer, or risk missing out on a big English talent.
Mike Ashley appears to be breaking Mike Ashley tradition and actually spending money.
Rejoice! In this most strange of circumstances, £13m Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has arrived from Anderlecht to add much needed firepower to the Magpies front line.
With QPR hitman Charlie Austin rumoured to be the next through the door, attention must now turn to brining in a wing wizard to provide them service.
Mitrovic and Austin were both lethal in front of goal for their respective clubs last year, so Newcastle need to bring in players that will complement them.
Other attacking options are Siem De Jong, Ayoze Perez and Pappis Cisse, though none are out and out wingers.
Exciting young talent Rolando Aarons will work on the wings this year no doubt, but more players should be brought in to help. It is a long season and the Toon Army cannot march with such a small army.
Here are FIVE wicked wing wizards to drive the Toon Army barmy this year…
MO SALAH
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A move for the Chelsea outcast may seem rather ambitious, having been linked with some of the top teams in Italy.
The Egyptian midfielder impressed while on loan in Serie A last season, showing the dynamism in his game he could not ignite at Chelsea.
Roma and Inter Milan have both been linked with him, but the chance to stay in England may appeal to all parties. The recent TV deal affords even mid-level Premier League sides the chance to pay eye watering sums to their players.
Salah would provide the injection of pace not currently found in the Newcastle front line. Despite a frustrating time in West London, the former FC Basel man is a top player on his day.
His blistering pace and abundance of flair would excite the baying Geordies and work well with their new £13m man.
Nicknamed the ‘Egyptian Messi’, Salah is exactly the sort of player Newcastle should be targeting to shoot them up the league. Perhaps he is not yet the level of Willian and Eden Hazard, but some time cutting his teeth in the Premier League could help him fulfil his potential.
Mitrovic and Salah could be just the double team to shoot the team up the league.
ANDROS TOWNSEND
Should a move for Salah not come off, England winger Andros Townsend could be available to prize away from White Hart Lane.
Linked with a move to North East rivals Sunderland, the Spurs man appears to be surplus to requirements in North London.
Townsend can frustrate at club level no doubt, but he is an out and out winger with an eye for goal. His international form is excellent, with a great strike against Italy in a recent friendly.
Newcastle are well stocked in central areas it seems, but Townsend hugging the touch line would be a welcome sight at St. James’.
A winger with blistering pace to counter attack with, to provide a decent cross for a fox in the box like Mitrovic, Cisse and potentially Austin may not be the most ground breaking of tactics, but it could prove to be mightily effective.
His ability to cut inside and shoot from distance could add another dimension to a team who barely had a single one last year. Perhaps not the most nuanced of fancy feet wing men, Townsend’s smash and grab style could suit the Toon to a tee.
ASHLEY YOUNG
After an excellent season last year, it seems rather strange to include the Manchester United man in this list.
The exiled England international was in danger of becoming a forgotten man at Old Trafford, but a string of excellent performances kept record signing Angel Di Maria out of the side.
However, United’s quest for all things galactico may leave Young out in the cold. Louis van Gaal’s admission that the former Watford man is not in the same class as Neymar seems like a rather obvious statement, but suggests United would be willing to sell.
Linked with a return to former club Aston Villa, Newcastle should go in for Young should he become available. The versatile 30-year-old was excellent against Newcastle last season and scored the winning goal in the dying embers of the game.
Able to operate on the right, left and even as a wing back, Young’s crossing skills would pair nicely with the aerial prowess Mitrovic and perhaps Austin would bring.
His willingness to track back could make him a crowd favourite, and guaranteed first team football may help his chances of making it back into the England camp.
MATT PHILLIPS
Though it’s QPR team mate Charlie Austin who the club appear to be after, Matt Phillips could also fit nicely into Steve McClaren’s side. He may not be the most glamorous of names, but some excellent performances in a dire Rangers side last year proved there is a player in there somewhere.
As Newcastle enter a new dawn, signing fashionable European names appears to be the flavour of the month. However, this Scotland international enjoyed a great run of form during the second half of the season, with nine goals in eight games.
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The Toon Army desperately need reinforcements on the wing and the former Blackpool winger linked well with top target Charlie Austin.
Capable of producing moments out of nothing, a stunning strike against Crystal Palace is a contender as one of the best in Premier League history. A year ago we may find it odd to talk so highly of the man, but under Chris Ramsey he was rejuvenated.
Only Lionel Messi had notched more assists than the QPR man throughout the five top European leagues.
Linked with a move to West Brom, the Magpies could do a lot worse than bringing the QPR man.
XHERDAN SHAQIRI
Perhaps the least likely of all the options, Inter Milan winger Xherdan Shaqiri would be a stellar signing for Steve McClaren.
The Swiss wizard is a top class player, though he is constantly linked with a move away from Milan. The stocky former Bayern star is a Champions League winner, and is the sort of calibre of player Newcastle should be targeting if they are serious about a top eight challenge.
A magician on the ball, Shaqiri was cast aside from Bayern and has wound up playing for Inter. The Italian giants accepted a bid from Stoke for his services, though a move did not come to fruition. Should he be on the market, he is perhaps the best signing Newcastle could possibly make this summer.
Much more of a technician, he does not provide the same natural width as perhaps Townsend or Young, but a lot more creativity. He is probably too talented for the club in their current state, but Inter appear willing to shift the Swiss.
For the good times to roll back at St. James’ Park, Shaqiri is the sort of addition they need.
Somewhere in the negotiations to secure Carlo Ancelotti as Real Madrid’s latest manager, President Florentino Perez would have used the good nature between his club and PSG to try and create a barrier between the French club and Cristiano Ronaldo.
PSG have been one of the leaders in the hunt for Ronaldo’s signature, along with former club Manchester United. The Paris club can afford Ronaldo and, they need Ronaldo as their building to superpower status continues.
For United it’s slightly different. New manager David Moyes needs to set a marker for the start of his tenure with the club. It’s been said that the new financial deals for the club could help fund the move for the Portuguese, while conflicting statements suggest that the player could run down his contract with Real Madrid and move on free, securing himself a substantial signing-on bonus.
[cat_link cat=”manchester-united” type=”list”]
It’s not really a matter of whether United need a player like Cristiano Ronaldo – who would say no to either him or Lionel Messi on the basis that they’re well-stocked or unable to accommodate them? It’s lunacy. Any club would be infinitely better with the Portuguese in their side. The real matter is that of the financial side of things, whether United can indeed afford to shell out on the player.
Such is Ronaldo’s contract situation at Madrid that it seems unlikely that Florentino Perez would be in a position to demand £80 million or above – at least beyond this summer. United were said to be in for Radamel Falcao – of which we don’t know how much is true – meaning they’d have had to pay somewhere in the region of £60million for the now Monaco forward; possible indicators as to how much flexibility the club would be willing to offer Moyes.
But from a purely football perspective, United have dropped off from their ability to match the very best in the Champions League. The signing of Robin van Persie did a lot to wrestle back the Premier League title from Manchester City, yet the squad as a whole could do nothing to force a place alongside the class of Bayern Munich, Dortmund or even PSG in Europe. There is also a case to be made that had the rest of the Premier League’s top clubs not been so inconsistent last season, United would certainly not have walked the title in the way they did. Something about parallels to Spain and Germany.
A move for Thiago is well within the boundaries of reasonable outlay, and the youngster will help to turn the club’s fortunes around on the European stage. Are United simply looking to make use of the convenience of the player’s buy-out clause? Not unless you believe the stories which say United were in for Thiago two summers ago. The club would even be a good fit for Gareth Bale, provided, in the unlikely event, Daniel Levy opts to enter negotiations with the United instead of Real Madrid.
But neither do quite as much as what Ronaldo would. It would send shock waves around Europe, much in the same way as Mario Goetze’s transfer from Dortmund to Bayern. Not necessarily as an implication that the German youngster is an equal to Ronaldo, but purely because of shock value.
There’s no doubt that Bayern are now the dominant power of European football. They possess the strongest squad, to such an extent that they’re barely flinching at the idea of losing a goal machine like Mario Gomez. They now have one of the best managers in the game today taking over from their treble-winning coach in Jupp Heynckes, all the while able to lure the majority of the world’s best to the Allianz Arena.
Wouldn’t it just be in the script if Ronaldo helped United to topple Bayern’s empire, if only for a short time, in the way he did for Real Madrid two seasons ago? The bedding-in period took some time, but eventually it become very much an even duel between Ronaldo and Messi in the Clasicos, sometimes with the Madrid forward bettering the Argentine.
For now, however, United are likely to look where there is a clear path to what they want, and that points towards Thiago. Ronaldo’s future isn’t any clearer now than it was when he announced his “unhappiness” at the start of last season. Stories emerging indicate that Florentino Perez has unearthed new confidence in his bid to keep the Portuguese at the Bernabeu, while follow-up stories point to an exit.
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United do need the player back at Old Trafford. Now that Alex Ferguson has moved on, there’s no way the club can try to mask the idea that they have fallen some way since their Champions League final appearance in 2011. It’s not that other players combining at the club couldn’t take United back to that level, but Ronaldo’s arrival would accelerate that leap forward considerably.
Do Manchester United need Ronaldo back at the club?
Swansea have agreed a £5.5 million fee with Valencia for Spanish midfielder Pablo Hernandez, Mirror Football claim.
The Liberty Stadium side have started to splash the cash made from the sale of Joe Allen to Liverpool, and have this week secured Ki Sung-Yueng from Celtic for a club-record £5.5 million.
However, Michael Laudrup’s spending is not over yet, and after having a number of offers for the right winger rejected, agreed a fee with the Mestalla side on Wednesday night.
Hernandez, who has been capped by Spain four times, will now travel to Wales to discuss personal terms, with a deal likely to be finalised before the end of the week.
Laudrup worked with the 27-year-old at former club Getafe, and the player is said to want a move to the Premier League to be reunited with the Dane.
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Swansea have started the campaign in convincing style, winning both of their first two fixtures.
Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani’s company have won the rights to broadcast La Liga football, and fans are using it to bash the Italian once again.The big news from Leeds this week was nothing to do with the club itself, but with its owner and chairman Andrea Radrizzani.The Italian businessman has taken plenty of stick since taking over at Elland Road, although fans would surely agree he’s better than Massimo Cellino.[ad_pod ]This week, news broke that Radrizzani’s company, Eleven Sports, have won the rights over Sky to broadcast Spanish football, but fans don’t seem all that happy about it.While he is definitely an improvement on Cellino, the Elland Road faithful have not exactly enjoyed Radrizzani’s reign, particularly his trust in the infamous Victor Orta and his bizarre rant about Wolves’ transfer business.Some fans may feel the owner’s big news will give them a boost pursuing Spanish players in the transfer market, but most are annoyed that the 43 year-old isn’t spending more money and time on his club.Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…
Although all bar the relegation battle between Hull and Newcastle was decided heading into the final day, the Premier League still delivered. Thrills, spills, odd incidents, horror showings, it was all on show. Okay we didn’t get this drama…
The greatest ever Premier League final day, back in 2012. pic.twitter.com/7aOYoCZjf8
— BeforeFootball (@BeforeFootball) May 24, 2015
… But there were still some stories. We at FFC Towers set out with our popcorn to watch it all unfold, and here’s our trip through the hour and a half of incident!
Ashley makes it a must win…
“Now it’s to win something – and by the way, I won’t be selling it until I do. Not at any price.”
If Newcastle fans weren’t praying for a win before KO, then they certainly were after Ashley’s words on Sky Sports. Not even relegation will get rid… may as well win then, lads!
Emotion sets in…
Wipe away those tears… Gerrard, Lampard and Drogba will be no more in just over under two hours’ time…
We’re gonna win EURO 2016!!!!
Who said he only got called up due to England’s U-21 commitments and injuries. All hail King Vardy!
Arsenal are the best when it doesn’t matter…
3-0 up in 17 minutes… Arsenal the kings of games that have no consequence…
Heartstopper!
Hull score, disallowed. Elmohamady forces a fine save with the above header. Quinn offside after the ball hits the net. Scenes.
Defo win the EUROs
As if Vardy hadn’t made it clear enough, Kane nets his 31st of the season. We’re gonna win it, aren’t we…
Just odd…
We all love the Drog, but what on earth is this?!
Rodgers out!
The cap an awful week for Liverpool, Rodgers’ men undered the berak 5-0 down at Stoke… against Charlie ‘midfield schemer’ Adam’s side…
Riviere the villain…
Riviere misses a sitter… Perez watches on from the bench… John Carver: Managerial Genius!
The bomb is dropped…
GOALLLLLLLL Moussa Sissoko with a bullet header. Steve Bruce will need to sink a few pints of gravy to get over this one tonight…
Elsewhere…
Man City’s 1-0 scoreline keeps Liverpool in the Europa League…
The endless debate…
Only one winner today… Man City 1-0…. Liverpool 5-0 down…
King Carver…
https://vine.co/v/eZYq2KBWTxX/embed/simple
Could he do it? After losing eight games on the spin? Madness.
Oh well. All is saved for Liverpool
So what if it’s 5-1. Gerrard has scored. That’s. All. That. Matters.
Straight up brawlin…
Abel Hernandez gets away with punching Phil Jones in the stomach… Wayne Rooney donning his gloves for a bout…
https://vine.co/v/OVZZg09h6p3/embed/simple
Frankie goes to Hollywood…
Farewell Frank, it’s been a blast!
The dream still alive…
Fellaini off…
Naughty from Fellaini. #mufc pic.twitter.com/7hoMaYLH6P
— Back Page Football (@bpfootball) May 24, 2015
What’s that about leopards and now changing their spots? Stamp on McShane’s privates!
https://vine.co/v/OizdWgFuWv9/embed/simple
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How are they staying up?!
Newcastle can’t make a four on one count…
Game set and match… 2-0
Jonas ends the final day early with a lovely goal. We’ll let him off, though!
First Adam, now Crouch…
The beanpole makes it 6-1… 47th headed Premier League goal, taking the record from Alan Shearer. Breaking records and hearts…
PEEEEEEEEEEP
It’s all over. Months of action and the highs and lows are finished. Newcastle stay up, Steve Bruce’s Hull go down alongside QPR and Burnley.
Esteban Granero has admitted he is seeking an exit from QPR following relegation but is keen on staying in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old was a big-name summer arrival from Real Madrid but he has failed to hit the heights expected of him in England and could do nothing as Harry Redknapp’s side slipped miserably down into the Championship last month.
Granero, who has been linked with a move back to Spain recently, with Real Betis among a clutch of clubs thought to be interested, says he does not want to play in the second tier and appears to be inviting offers from around the Premier League.
“Now I do not plan to play in the second tier because I think it is not the place for me,” he told Spanish newspaper AS.
“I mean that in the most humble way but it’s how I feel. We will see what happens.
“The Premier League experience has been very good and I would love to play here more.”
Granero could interest the likes of Fulham or West Ham if he intends to stay in London but he insists he only wants to play and is not motivated by the lure of a lucrative contract elsewhere.
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He added: “For me, the most important thing is football. I’ve never given priority to economic issues or other things.”
Everyone loves Fantasy Football, it dominates our thoughts the closer we get to a new Premier League season, we can spend hours pouring over the information before we settle on our side. A key component of this is picking players that will score goals in positions that don’t normally rely upon them, such as a goalscoring centre-half or full-back. With this in mind, do we overrate goalscoring defenders? Ando do we let them off lightly when it becomes to their defensive deficiencies because they happen to be good at finding the back of the net? Fantasy Football has a lot to answer for….
I’m a sucker for goalscoring defenders may I just say begin with. My fantasy football teams at school always, always included Everton’s David Unsworth (45 goals in 445 games) and Leicester’s Matt Elliott (70 goals in 589 games), with the occasional nod to Julian Dicks (55 goals in 379 games). They were invaluable, the poorness of the defences they played in was completely counter-acted by the points they’d get me for their inevitable solid five-goal a season return. Heck, I even had Gary Cahill (21 goals in 234 games) and Mats Hummels (17 goals in 162 games) in my Euro 2012 side until injury cruelly robbed me of the former, while the other never bloody scored.
The short but simple fact is that everyone loves a goalscoring defender. We love the unexpected nature of their forward forays up the pitch. We love the fact that because they can clear the ball a whopping great distance means, this all of a sudden qualifies them as a free-kick expert. However, does this mean that we shy away from criticising them for doing the job that they are actually paid to do, which is defend?
According to the Premier League’s own player performance index, Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen was the 58th best player in the top flight last term. His season was interrupted by injury on ocassion, but he still managed to complete 29 league games, scoring six goals in the process. He made 29 clearances, 11 blocks and helped his side to 11 clean sheets during his time in the starting eleven. At the other end of the pitch, though, he finished the campaign with 37 shots, five crosses and one assist – not too bad at all for a centre-back it has to be said, certainly more than a lot of the deadwood currently at the club are capable of (I’m looking at you Park Chu-Young and Marouane Chamakh).
On the face of things it would seem like he had a very good season, would it not? However, Vermaelen has developed a worrying propensity to get dragged out of position, as was clearly in evidence during the 3-3 draw against Norwich last season at home, where he was quite frankly all over the place. He was far from his best throughout the course of the campaign, with partner Laurent Koscielny the superior partner for the most part.
Upon arriving in England, it was noted that at just 6ft tall, he looked a tad on the short side to be a commanding centre-half, but his aerial ability is one of his greatest strengths and plays a large part in his prowess in front of goal. To talk about Vermaelen in terms of criticism, he rarely comes in for any flak considering his poor positioning. He’s quick on the ground, mobile and decent on the ball, so anything that isn’t seen as a positive is conveniently glossed over.
Jonny Evans last season was the main beneficiary of Nemanja Vidic’s season-ending knee injury, going on to play 27 times for Manchester United as they were pipped to the post for the title by bitter rivals Manchester City. He has often been made out to be a scapegoat by many fans, yet he managed 30 blocks, 56 clearances and 16 clean sheets in less games than Vermaelen. The crucial difference is he doesn’t offer anything going forward and any mistake at the back is magnified tenfold, whereas with Vermaelen it is not.
We often gloss over the glaring weaknesses in a defender if they manage to chip in with the odd goal. John Arne Riise had an excellent first few years at Liverpool, but then spent his last two seasons trying to replicate his goal against Tottenham from 40 yards out every single time he crossed the halfway line. Matt Taylor suffers from a similar flaw. To call it frustrating to watch would be an understatement, yet at Fulham last season, shorn of his pace at 31 years of age, he looked a much better defender than his final couple of years at Anfield, but he had no goals in 40 appearances to show for it, despite his best efforts at breaking his duck.
Taye Taiwo managed to score 23 goals in 253 games at Marseille, where his job was to bound beyond the winger down the left-hand flank and he became a key part of their style of play. He then moved to AC Milan but struggled, as it seemed nobody actually checked first if he was any good at this defending lark before being farmed out to QPR on loan in the second half of last season. He’s full of energy, built like a tank but seems oddly unsure of where to actually stand when he’s on the back foot and is hugely susceptible to a ball played in behind him, a common occurrence for pacy full-backs these days.
Andreas Granqvist managed to bag 11 goals for Groningen in the Eredivise the year before last, but Wigan fans will remember a defender frightfully out of kilter with the pace of the top flight, yet AC Milan and Inter are rumoured to be interested in the Swede this summer after a decent first year at Genoa in Italy. It’s all about striking the right balance.
Ian Harte, Marco Materazzi, Daniel van Buyten, Naldo, Alex all made headlines for their goalscoring exploits in their respctive leagues over the years but they all have obvious flaws to their game. It’s when the goals become solely what they are remembered for that you start to worry and Vermaelen is in danger of falling into that trap.
The likes of Brazilian centre-half Juan, Sami Hyypia, Robert Huth, Sergio Ramos and Diego Lugano are all remembered for their defending first and foremost, with their attacking prowess just an added bonus, which is why they’re quite rightly regarded as superior players to the aforementioned list above, Vermaelen aside.
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It may not solely be the result of Fantasy Football, but something has become distorted along the way – goalscoring defenders are judged on their abilities further forward just as much as they are on their ability to stem an attack at the back and that’s a worrying trap to fall into. We should treat the goalscoring defender as a positive, they bring unexpected joy to the terraces and every side likes to have one in their side, but they have to be good enough defenders first, otherwise, that’s a slippery slope to head down.
The four-day squad has Matthew Breetzke from the current Test tour to West Indies, while Dewald Brevis is in both squads
Firdose Moonda01-Aug-2024Discarded Test captain Neil Brand, who led a second-string South African side in New Zealand in February, has been tasked with leading a South Africa A side against Sri Lanka A next month. Brand will take charge of a home series that includes two four-day matches aimed at preparing players considered to be on the fringes of the national side to make the step up. The red-ball matches are preceded by three one-day games, with Test wicket-keeper Kyle Verreynne in charge of the white-ball squad.South Africa’s fifty-over playing group also includes David Bedingham, who scored a Test century in New Zealand under Brand, Tony de Zorzi, who made his ODI debut last year and Tristan Luus, who played at the Under-19 World Cup. The four-day squad also has Matthew Breetzke from the current Test tour to West Indies. Dewald Brevis, the breakout star from the 2022 under-19 World Cup, is in both squads.Interestingly, the number of black African players in the squads far exceeds the national target of two players per XI (on average over the course of a season) with six black African players in the one-day squad and four in the Test squad. Allrounder Mihlali Mpongwana, who is currently captaining a South African Emerging squad in Zimbabwe, is in both squads along with Lutho Sipamla, the bowler who has been capped 17 times across all formats internationally but has struggled with recent injuries. In the four-day squad, batters Tshepang Dithole and Sinethemba Qeshile are included while in the one-day squad batters Andile Mokgakane and Andile Simelane are joined by allrounder Andile Phehlukwayo.The selection indicates a clear focus on Cricket South Africa’s aims to develop more black African batting talent as they plan for the home ODI World Cup in 2027. There were no black African batters at the recent T20 World Cup and only Temba Bavuma plays regularly in ODIs. CSA’s recently concluded Diversity, Equality and Inclusion conference placed an emphasis on ensuring there is enough black African talent at provincial level for the national coaches to select, after white-ball coach Rob Walter asked for the domestic set-up to “up the ante,” when it comes to advancing transformation.The series is set to run from August 31 to September 18. Walter and Test coach Shukri Conrad selected the two squads. Conrad will oversee the entire tour, with Walter involved with the national team on trips to West Indies and the UAE. All three one-day games will be played in Potchefstroom and the four-day matches in Kimberley and Benoni. South Africa A one-day squad: Kyle Verreynne (capt), David Bedingham, Eathan Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Dayyaan Galiem, Tristan Luus, Mihlali Mpongwana, Andile Mogakane, Senuran Muthusamy , Andile Phehlukwayo, Andile Simelane, Lutho Sipamla, Codi Yusuf South Africa A four-day squad: Neil Brand (capt), Marques Ackerman, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tshepang Dithole, Jean du Plessis, Patrick Kruger, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Mihlali Mpongwana, Migael Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile, Lutho Sipamla, Prenelan Subrayen, Beyers Swanepoel, Codi Yusuf
Veteran batter takes charge after interim period; Andy Balbirnie retains Test captaincy
ESPNcricinfo staff31-Oct-2023Paul Stirling has been confirmed as Ireland’s new men’s white-ball captain, having done the job on an interim basis since Andy Balbirnie stepped down in the summer. Balbirnie will continue in his role as captain of the Test side.Stirling, 33, has led the side on 22 occasions previously, including steering Ireland through qualification for the 2024 T20 World Cup. His appointment comes at the start of the cycle for the next ODI World Cup, to be held in South Africa in 2027, with Ireland aiming to secure a return in the expanded, 14-team format after missing out in 2019 and 2023, and will also encompass the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.”Playing for Ireland has always been a source of pride for me and to be confirmed the permanent white-ball captain is a recognition I don’t take for granted,” Stirling said. “I have very much enjoyed working with Heinrich [Malan] and the coaching staff over the last few months as interim skipper, but we all know that we have potentially three World Cup campaigns over the next four years and the work starts now.Related
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Balbirnie steps down as Ireland ODI and T20I captain
Ireland already 'building towards 2027' as World Cup prep overshadows ODI series
“I said recently that ODI cricket was my favourite format, and to watch on as the 50-over World Cup has been underway is actually been a great motivator for me to ensure we are there at the next event in 2027. I know this desire is a common feeling throughout the squad, and so we’ll look to harness this drive into the next series scheduled for December.”We also recognise that there is only eight months now to the next T20 World Cup, so the clock has well-and-truly started on our preparations.”Balbirnie gave up the white-ball captaincy after Ireland’s failure to make it to the ongoing ODI World Cup in India, finishing seventh at the qualifier in Zimbabwe. Stirling subsequently took charge for the T20 World Cup Europe qualifiers, as well as series against India and England. Ireland are next in action on a tour to Zimbabwe in December.Andrew White, Ireland’s national selector, said that he expected both Stirling, who is closing in on Kevin O’Brien’s record for highest caps for Ireland, and Balbirnie to be available across all three formats, despite the split leadership.”I am pleased that we have now settled the captaincy matter and I know the planning between the coaching and senior leadership group has already begun,” White said. “We have an exciting four-year period coming up and I look forward to working closely with Paul and Andrew as we take this squad forward.”Heinrich Malan, Ireland men’s head coach, added: “The last few months of dealing so closely with Paul has confirmed that we have an asset of vast experience and knowledge within the playing group – experience and knowledge he has gained from his time with Ireland, in franchise cricket and formerly within county cricket.”While fans may appreciate Paul’s talent on the field, his leadership skills and ability to communicate within the squad is a much under-estimated attribute. He lives and breathes cricket and has a passion for Irish cricket that is plain for everyone to see. It’s incredible to think Paul has been playing international cricket for 15 years and still has more good years ahead to lead this team and help improve Irish cricket.”We know the challenges we have in Irish cricket, but we are very much a coaching and leadership unit that looks for solutions rather than finding excuses. Paul exemplifies this – he is an outright optimist and I know is driven to succeed. It is indeed welcoming to settle the leadership question, and we are very much looking forward to taking Irish cricket forward over coming years.”