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A number of Liverpool fans are unhappy with the fact they did not manage to offload goalkeeper Loris Karius in the summer transfer window, with some fans even calling to ‘terminate his contract’.

The 28-year-old goalkeeper has spent the previous three seasons away from Anfield on loan at Besiktas and Union Berlin after his memorable Champions League final performance against Real Madrid in 2018.

Of course, it was memorable for all the wrong reasons, leading Jurgen Klopp to bring in Alisson to replace Karius before also signing Adrian as back-up, pushing the German shot-stopper further down the pecking order.

Despite their best attempts to find Karius a new club, there was no deal struck before Tuesday night’s deadline and the goalkeeper will now likely remain at the club until at least January, taking home £25k-per-week.

It concludes a pretty quiet and disappointing transfer window for the 2019/20 champions. Their only incoming was defender Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig, with the likes of Georginio Wijnaldum, Marko Grujic, Harry Wilson and Xherdan Shaqiri all departing on permanent deals.

Liverpool fans furious with Karius situation

These Liverpool fans took to Twitter to make their feelings known that Karius is still at the club whilst they failed to bring in more faces in the transfer window, with one supporter calling it a ‘shambolic decision’.

“Making some living that lad”

Credit: @ShaneByrneKK

“Doing what Exactly???”

Credit: @XclusiveDjmiles

“Oh boy”

Credit: @RoiSoleilXIV14

“Terminate the contract”

Credit: @Paddydasitmane

“The club is answerable for these horrible decisions. They say affordability was an issue, so why is the limited money we got being wasted on the wages of 2 of the worst GKs in recent memory and a forward who can’t make the matchday squad? Shambolic decision making”

Credit: @NKopOuts

“That sums it up doesn’t it”

Credit: @F1Bennn

Liverpool fans couldn’t believe this piece of deadline day news…

Nick Jewell says there is a different feel in Victoria’s squad as the players push to end their losing streak in domestic finals

Cricinfo staff11-Mar-2009
Nick Jewell: “We haven’t conceded a point all season and I don’t think we’re about to start now” © Getty Images
Nick Jewell says there is a different feel in Victoria’s squad as the players push to end their losing streak in domestic finals. The Bushrangers host Queensland in the Sheffield Shield decider at the Junction Oval from Friday and have a serious advantage after scoring 806 against the Bulls at the MCG in the last game of the regular season.Jewell, a key batsman in the Victoria squad, hoped the performance would leave the visitors demoralised. “A few of their quicks bowled 50-odd overs,” Jewell told AAP. “If we get off to a good start, win the toss and bat and get through the new ball, there’s going to be some sore bodies and a few scars there from this game.”The Bushrangers, who are unbeaten in first-class matches this summer, have been runners-up twice in the past three years and have lost the FR Cup and Twenty20 deciders in 2008-09. “It feels different to the other Shield finals I’ve played in,” Jewell said. “There’s a bit more of an air of confidence about us.”The one a couple of years ago, in Queensland, we had to make 360-odd to beat Western Australia in the last game at the Junction Oval to make it. That was like our grand final. We chased that total down and I think we played our grand final in that match because we got smashed in Queensland. Last year we did pretty well but came up against basically the Test team [playing for New South Wales].”This year it feels different within the group. We haven’t conceded a point all season and I don’t think we’re about to start now. Everybody’s pretty confident and determined to get the job done.”Jewell will appear in his 50th match during the final and wants to correct the previous losses. “You could almost retire and walk away at the end of the season if we get away with the result that we’re after on the weekend,” he said. “It would be that satisfying.”

Pakistan captain Younis Khan has urged India and other Asian cricketing nations to come together to help allay security fears in the region and save the game in the subcontinent

Cricinfo staff02-Apr-2009Pakistan captain Younis Khan has urged India and other Asian cricketing nations to come together to help allay security fears in the region and save the game in the subcontinent. “Cricket hit by security fears is no longer Pakistan’s problem alone … I think Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will have to unite in allaying security fears in the region,” Younis said.Pakistan’s home Test series against Sri Lanka was terminated abruptly following an attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in which eight people, including six policemen, were killed and seven players injured. The incident exacerbated security fears in the region with Bangladesh postponing their home series against Pakistan.It was not the first time that the country had been at the receiving end of several tour suspensions and cancellations, with West Indies calling off a proposed tour and India, following a government directive, opting not to tour Pakistan in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks.Big-ticket tournaments like the Champions Trophy, originally proposed to be held in Pakistan last year, have also been moved to an alternate venue (South Africa). Serious doubts also persist on Pakistan’s chances of hosting its share of matches in the World Cup 2011, to be co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.Younis called for a joint effort that would help all the Asian countries avoid any kind of alienation. “With the 2011 World Cup just two years away, a joint effort will be in every nation’s benefit because we have to save cricket in the region,” he said.The next assignment for Pakistan is a five-match ODI encounter and a Twenty20 international against Australia, who have not toured Pakistan since 1998. The series however, will be played from April 22-May 7 in Abu Dhabi and Dubai owing to safety fears expressed by the Australian players.Younis admitted that security demands had increased since the Lahore attacks. “I am confident that Australia will play in the UAE,” he said. “Australians have every right to be satisfied on security before touring.”

West Ham first team coach Stuart Pearce has praised Michail Antonio after the striker made his international debut for Jamaica on Sunday.

The Lowdown: Reggae Boyz bow

The 31-year-old made his long-awaited international debut for Jamaica at the weekend after he chose to represent the Caribbean country. He lasted 70 minutes and was replaced by Sporting Charleroi’s Shamar Nicholson as Panama ran out 3-0 winners over the Reggae Boyz in Kingston.

West Ham’s strong start to the season has been fuelled by Antonio’s performances, with four goals in three games seeing the striker nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award for August alongside team-mate Said Benrahma.

With the World Cup just over a year away, consistent appearances for his nation could see the former Nottingham Forest man play on the grandest stage of all.

The Latest: Pearce confident for Antonio

Speaking on talkSPORT (via football.london), Pearce has been discussing Antonio’s career and elaborated on what he thinks the striker will be thinking.

The Irons coach said: “He’ll be looking and saying ‘Can I qualify for the World Cup and play at the World Cup?”

“He’s shown a real level of consistency, over the last couple of years I’ve got to say. I signed him at Nottingham Forest as a winger, and it was at that level of consistency you always striving for.

“His level of professionalism, his level of consistency have gone through the roof working under David [Moyes] and David’s really getting the best out of him. And I think from a Mich’s point of view, he’s really enjoyed his football.

“Whether his injuries now and then has stopped him from getting a level of consistency from the managers, who knows.”

The Verdict: Pearce is right

Pearce is quite right to laud Antonio’s “consistency”, with the 31-year-old hitting double figures for goals in each of the last two Premier League seasons and already nearly halfway to repeating the feat again in the current campaign.

It’s great to see him representing his nation on an international level, but there may be a slight concern among some supporters as to whether the travelling and game-time will affect him for West Ham, with the Europa League on the horizon along with the bread and butter of the Premier League.

His performances in the last couple of seasons more than warrant a chance to show his talents at a bigger stage, but his injury record doesn’t bode well with the number of games coming up. Let’s just hope that such fears prove unfounded.

In other West Ham news, many supporters loved one moment from the international break. Find out more here.

Former Scotland international Ian Stanger has launched a scatching attack on the team’s professionalism in the aftermath of their failure to qualify for the 2011 World Cup

Cricinfo staff25-Apr-2009Former Scotland international Ian Stanger has launched a scatching attack on the team’s professionalism in the aftermath of their failure to qualify for the 2011 World Cup. Top of his list of issues is that of what he terms “Jock Boks”, a reference to the influx of South African-born players in the squad.Despite the insistence of the board that there is no cause to panic, expressions of unease with the whole set-up won’t go away. Stanger’s is the latest to have his say, and coming as it does from a player until recently inside the camp, his comments will carry more weight than most.”We are not a well-drilled one-day outfit and this was another muddled affair,” he wrote is his column in the Herald. “Ireland came to win this tournament, whereas it seemed we merely sought to qualify. The Irish have imposed themselves with a vibrant, aggressive and well-oiled unit (alcohol bans to boot) and are setting the pace where Scotland did so a decade before.”Turning to selection, he pulled no punches. “There has been no evidence of any long-term strategy and three areas have highlighted this: use of our county-based players, overseas pros and newly-qualified Scots.”We have witnessed an unprecedented period of cap handouts, the Jock Boks. There is no doubt this has undermined the development of some of our home-grown players. [Ryan] Watson aside, there have been very few standouts from the southern hemisphere, certainly not a cut above the local lads. At times the selectors have acted like kids in the candy shop, unable to resist the temptation to try something new in favour of a more tried and tested choice.”Why do we persist in handing out Scotland jerseys to players with foreign accents on the evidence of a few games? Why do we have a tendency not to rate our own guys and abandon rather than seek to support their development? The thistle has become devalued through all this, none more so than in the selection of the Australian Glenn Rogers: he got a dream World Cup spot put on a plate, not earned or deserved. Is it any wonder that Scottish-bred players have lost hope and heart?”Stanger laid the blame at the feet of “the all-powerful Craig Wright, former chairman of selectors Dave Loudon and chief executive Roddy Smith,” adding that “too often, the deliberations inside the walls of Raveltson have offered little long-term team stability.”

A cosy culture has set in at the top. There is a lack of sporting honesty about our preparations and under par performances

He also said that the lack of consistency with the team coach was an issue. “Four national coaches in four years: hardly reflective of a country which knows where it is going. This unsettling episode has had a critical effect on the growth of a team and the style of play. Successive personalities and approaches have striven for short-term gain in the face of job insecurity and influential player power.”A cosy culture has set in at the top. There is a lack of sporting honesty about our preparations and under par performances. We need to confront our weaknesses and constantly strive to improve our game if we are to compete consistently at international level.”Stanger’s comments are said to have caused more than a few shock waves with Scottish Cricket. One insider told Cricinfo that “while some of the rhetoric can be dismissed as being over-the-top, there are valid points raised and ones that cannot be ignored. The coaching is a mess and the selection policy has failed.”Once they have calmed down a bit, the board would be daft not to listen to Ian’s criticisms.”

An update has emerged regarding English Premier League interest in Rangers defender Connor Goldson.

What’s the talk?

According to Football Insider, West Ham are lining up a January swoop for the Gers centre-back.

The report claims the Hammers are one of the clubs eyeing the former Brighton man, who is out of contract at Ibrox at the end of the season. Rangers are said to have rejected offers for him over the summer and are looking to extend his deal in order to avoid losing him on a free transfer.

Fans would love it

Rangers chief Ross Wilson must now work his magic to ensure that a nightmare situation does not arise in the January transfer window. Fans will not want the club to be in a position where they could be forced to accept a lowball offer for Goldson due to the threat of losing him for nothing at the end of the season.

If the Gers are unable to agree a new contract with the defender, he could then leave on a free transfer next summer and Premier League clubs such as West Ham could simply wait to snap him up. Alternatively, they could submit a cut-price offer in January to convince Rangers to cash in on him at the last possible opportunity.

This is why Wilson must work hard to persuade the 28-year-old to extend his contract at Ibrox rather than leaving to chase a Premier League dream. There is no guarantee that Goldson will return to England and be a regular starter at West Ham and he will be 29 in December, which means he may not have the time to wait and fight for his place in the Irons’ starting XI.

Therefore, the Rangers chief could make this point to him and suggest that staying in Scotland could be the best decision for his career. He gets to compete for trophies and play in Europe for Steven Gerrard’s side, as he lined up at centre-back against Ligue 1 side Lyon on Thursday night.

Fans would love it if the defender put pen to paper on a new deal as he is a crucial member of the squad. Earlier this year, Goldson was hailed as a “mountain” in the defence for Rangers by Gerrard, who told The Scotsman: “Connor has been an absolute mountain for this team, a warrior.

“I can’t describe to you how well he has done for this team, not just in terms of what you have seen on the pitch but also his leadership on the inside of the club and his availability every single day.”

He also averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.39 as he helped Rangers to keep an astonishing 26 clean sheets in 38 appearances last season in the Premiership. This shows how strong he has been at the back for the Gers and why fans would be over the moon if he signs a new contract, as it would secure his future at the club in the wake of West Ham’s reported interest.

AND in other news, 62% duels lost: Rangers lightweight who lost possession 12 times badly let Gerrard down v Lyon…

Former Premier League midfielder Carlton Palmer thinks Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles could push for a move to Everton in January if he struggles to find regular game time at the Emirates.

Everton were interested in signing Maitland-Niles on loan during the summer transfer window, a move he was seemingly keen on, but were unsuccessful in their pursuit of the 24-year-old.

Since his failed move to Goodison Park, Maitland-Niles has gone on to make one start in the Premier League for Arsenal, a 1-0 win against Norwich City, so he does look to be in Mikel Arteta’s thinking.

However, should that be an exception and not the norm, Palmer believes a transfer to Everton could be revisited.

“If he’s not playing regularly for Arsenal and he can’t get in the side, I would assume in January he’d want to go on loan or he’d want to leave permanently,” the ex-Leeds United player told FFC when asked if he could see Maitland-Niles joining Everton in the future.

“Like I’ve said, Saturdays and Wednesdays are for playing football, they’re not for sitting on the bench and not for sitting in the stand.”

Maitland-Niles is obviously a very versatile footballer – something his former manager Arsene Wenger raved about after he first burst onto the scene – so it is hardly a surprise that Arteta wanted to keep him at the club.

A round-up of the third day of the 14th round matches of the Regional Four Day Competition

Cricinfo staff14-Apr-2009Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) ended their season in style with a 63-run win against Trinidad and Tobago at the Three Ws Oval. Chasing 174, T&T crumbled to 110 in a low-scoring game and the chief wicket-takers for CCC were Khismar Catlin, Ryan Austin and Kavesh Kantasingh. The T&T openers got off to a steady start, adding 44 before the innings suddenly fell apart. Catlin was the first to break through, dismissing Imran Khan and after a steady fall of wickets, T&T were all but out of the contest at tea when they were 84 for 6. That only three batsmen managed double-figures summed up their performance. Catlin took 4 for 56 while the spinners, Austin and Kantasingh, took three apiece. The win was set up by Kyle Corbin who made a valuable 70 to help his team to a match-winning lead of 173. This is CCC’s fourth win of the season.Centuries by Ryan Hinds and Kevin Stoute helped Barbados gain a first-innings lead of 63 against Guyana at Providence. Resuming on 267 for 3, the pair extended their partnership for the fourth wicket to 239 and in the process pushed the score past Guyana’s 334. Stoute, overnight on 104, hit 24 fours and two sixes in his 186 from 258 balls in just over six hours. Hinds added only 17 to his overnight score before he fell for an even 100 to the legspinner Davendra Bishoo who took 4 for 125. Barbados stumbled to Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul as they lost their last seven wickets for 82 runs. Sewnarine Chattergoon got Guyana off to a good start when he hit three sparkling boundaries off Kemar Roach and he proceeded to end the day unbeaten on 72. Guyana lost Assad Fudadin and Gajanand Singh in the space of three balls with the score on 132 but Chattergoon held firm at the other end till stumps. Guyana ended with an overall lead of 104 but Barbados claimed the day’s honours thanks to their first-innings lead.A four-wicket burst by Gavin Tonge put Windward Islands on the path to victory against Leeward Islands at St Thomas. Chasing 249, Windwards stumbled to 110 for 7 after Tonge ripped through the top order. Leewards dominated right at the start when their lower order, led by Devon Thomas (74*), carried the score from an overnight 102 for 5 to 271. Montcin Hodge and Thomas scored half-centuries and added 73 for the sixth wicket. Thomas’ 74 came off 109 balls while Hodge’s 58 came off 142. Tonge made an impression with the bat as well, hitting 24 before being dismissed by the captain Rawl Lewis. Tonge struck very early in his spell when he picked up three in a single over. Windwards were in deep trouble at 16 for 4 and it got worse when Bront de Freitas took two more to reduce them to 37 for 6. Lyndon James counter-attacked with 50 off 53 balls and added 73 with Shane Shillingford to give Windwards some hope. James’ dismissal, lbw to Antony Martin, was a setback at the end of the day, leaving plenty of work for the tail on the final day.

Writing for Eurosport, journalist Dean Jones has dropped an update on Luka Jovic and his future at Real Madrid as West Ham United eye a move.

The Lowdown: West Ham in striker chase…

Despite a plethora of last gasp signings during the summer window, one area manager David Moyes didn’t strengthen is the and out-and-out centre-forward area.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-developments/” title=”West Ham developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Indeed, the likes of Alphonse Areola, Kurt Zouma, Alex Kral and Nikola Vlasic have bolstered West Ham’s spine with their summer arrivals but Michail Antonio is still without a supporting option up front.

Now, journalist Jones has dropped an update on West Ham’s links to Galacticos outcast Jovic.

The Latest: Jovic will ‘begin the search for a new club’…

Unable to get any game time at Real Madrid this season, the reporter says he will now ‘begin the search for a new club’ amid links to West Ham, which are backed in the report.

Indeed, as GSB eye a move, it appears Jovic is open to offers of leaving the Bernabeu in favour of more game time.

However, while West Ham and Arsenal are in the mix, it is believed that the Serbia international ‘would prefer’ a move to Germany or Italy.

The Verdict: Good option for Moyes?

If Jovic is willing to compromise on a move to the Premier League, despite his rustiness, he represents a good option for West Ham and one who has been called ‘lethal’ by Two Footed Podcast host Dave Hendrick for his time at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Scoring a career total of 59 goals since his senior debut, the 23-year-old still has plenty of years ahead of him and a real chance to resurrect his career away from Real.

Moyes and West Ham could just the side to help him do that considering their need for another striker.

In other news: West Ham source: GSB could now make move to sign ‘absolutely immense’ player for Moyes, find out more here.

Andrew Strauss has capped a memorable 12 months, which began with his recall to the Test team and culminated in his accession to the Test captaincy, by being named as England’s Player of the Year for the second time in four years

Cricinfo staff04-May-2009Andrew Strauss has capped a memorable 12 months, which began with his recall to the Test team and culminated in his accession to the Test captaincy, by being named as England’s Player of the Year for the second time in four years.Strauss marked his return to England colours with a career-best 177 against New Zealand at Napier in March 2008, and followed up by winning the Man of the Series award in the return rubber at home two months later. In all he made 1513 runs in 17 Tests at 54.03, a tally which included seven centuries, two of which came in a single Test against India at Chennai in December.Having taken over the leadership of the side in January in the wake of the Kevin Pietersen-Peter Moores debacle, Strauss led from the front with three further hundreds in consecutive Tests against West Indies in the Caribbean. Although he was unable to secure victory for his team, he made amends with a matchwinning role in the subsequent five-match ODI series.”This is the second time that I have won this award and I regard it as a great honour to be named Vodafone England Player of the Year,” said Strauss. “The last time was in 2004 and I received the award in early 2005. Let’s hope that this is an omen for this extremely exciting summer ahead.”Last year was memorable for me – starting with a hundred in New Zealand and I was fortunate enough to end the 12 months with two centuries in the same game in Chennai against India. I would like to thank Vodafone for this award and all the awards for outstanding individual achievements. I know all the England players treasure these awards.”Previous winners of the award include Andrew Flintoff and Ryan Sidebottom, who was the previous recipient of the honour following his memorable comeback season in 2007. Strauss received the award at the England Teams’ Dinner in the Long Room at Lord’s, alongside the Women’s Player of the Year, Claire Taylor, whose Ashes and World-Cup winning exploits have already led to her being named one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year.”It’s a huge honour to be named two years in a row when so many of the England girls have put in great performances this year,” said Taylor. “The last 12 months have been an amazing time to be involved in women’s cricket with our unbeaten summer run and our World Cup triumph in Sydney. I’m looking forward to an exciting summer of cricket with the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 competition in parallel with the men’s and an Ashes and one-day series against Australia.”