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With both sides already booked in for Champions League football, today’s game at Old Trafford was always going to be a little odd. You could tell from the off that the sides were not quite at full tilt, however, it was hosts who took control early on, with Ander Herrera opening the scores.From there they bossed it until the last 10 minutes, when Theo Walcott’s cross deflected in past Victor Valdes.There were many talking points though, including David de Gea’s waves at the crowd (his last game at the Theatre of Dreams?), Arsenal’s failure to register a shot in the first 45 minutes and Phil Jones’ headed sliding tackle… but here are the THREE things we took from the game.[interaction ]

Falcao is off

Manchester United fans have been nothing but patient with Radamel Falcao. Even when he’s been off the pace and unable to finish, they’ve cheered him, backed him and willed him to find the net. However, it’s fair to say it hasn’t worked out, and he was poor once again today. Keeping the 29-year-old would not be cheap – both in terms of a fee and wages – and it appears he knows his own fate. Falcao made a point of waving to the crowd as he was subbed off.

The Stretford End salute @D_DeGea #MUFC #MatchdayMac pic.twitter.com/Kj3K6inW97

— Full Time DEVILS (@FullTimeDEVILS) May 17, 2015

Third spot is Arsenal’s

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United led for much of match and looked on course to leapfrog the Gunners into third, but a late Theo Walcott deflected cross beat Victor Valdes to hand the travellers a draw. The result leaves Wenger’s side two points above their enemies, and with a game in hand against Leicester – who are already safe – they could have it all wrapped up by midweek. The Londoners goal difference, seven greater than United’s, is also effectively another point.

Herrera is key for United

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While Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao stole the transfer headlines at Manchester United last summer, it’s been Ander Herrera who has truly impressed. The Spaniard has developed into the key man in LVG’s midfield, with his neat passing and energy vital in the high pressing, transition football being deployed.

He netted the winner at Old Trafford today, and looked classy throughout the 90 minutes.

Goran Popov and Steven Reid are back from injury and both vying to start in West Brom’s away trip to face Norwich City on Sunday.

Full-back Popov has been struggling with a calf problem of late, while midfielder Reid has also been battling to shake off an injury. The pair were fit enough to sit on the bench in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at Manchester City and will now be looking for a place in boss Steve Clarke’s starting XI for the game at Carrow Road this weekend.

Clarke will give skipper Chris Brunt as long as possible to prove his fitness as the influential midfielder has virtually overcome a knee injury which he picked up during last month’s 1-1 draw against Newcastle at the Hawthorns and has sidelined him for three games.

Gabriel Tamas will be available despite requiring stitches to a head wound caused by Aleksandar Kolarov’s high foot in a first-half challenge at City on Tuesday.

Clarke told the club’s website: “He’s got a bad cut, with stitches in it, and he lives to fight another day.

“I haven’t heard any complaints and I haven’t seen that incident again.

“You can’t make too much of it – these things happen in a game.”

James Morrison should again feature after showing no ill-effects of his recent groin injury when he got through the full 90 minutes at the Etihad Stadium following on from his 12-minute cameo appearance coming off the bench against Wigan last Saturday.

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Marc-Antoine Fortune is again unavailable as he serves the final game of his three-match ban for his red card in the 3-0 win at Southampton.

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According to Portuguese journalist Marcus Alves via his official Twitter account, Liverpool could be set to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves this summer.

It was a huge shock when the highly-rated 21-year-old left FC Porto to join the Championship club last summer as part of a deal involving super-agent Jorge Mendes, and the midfielder has proven to be a key part of the Wolves side that has already secured promotion to the Premier League following an outstanding campaign under Nuno Espirito Santo.

Meanwhile, Liverpool already have RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita arriving at Anfield this summer and while Emre Can could go with his contract due to expire at the end of the season and with no progress in him potentially staying on Merseyside, it is unclear whether the Reds would need Neves as well as Keita – especially when you compare their statistics.

Considering they already have Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Adam Lallana that can play in the central midfield three, Neves should perhaps not be a priority for manager Jurgen Klopp, and the fans may agree – even if they have told the club to sign Tottenham Hotspur’s Mousa Dembele.

While the Portugal international has scored some incredible long-range goals – netting on six occasions in total –and has averaged 2.2 shots per game across 39 Championship appearances from the middle of the park, according to WhoScored.com, he has only provided one assist and has shown his indiscipline by accumulating 11 yellow cards.

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Considering Keita has scored eight goals and provided a further seven assists – as well as picking up 11 yellow cards and two red cards – in 36 outings in all competitions for Leipzig, as per Transfermarkt, it is hard to see Neves proving to be an upgrade on the Guinea international right now.

Following arguably the club’s worst performance of the season at the weekend, Tottenham’s need to freshen up their playing squad has become painstakingly apparent.

The North London club have again missed out on Champions League football, despite having the core group of players needed to finish in the top four.

As such, this summer Mauricio Pochettino will look to add quality across the park, with a number of players set for a White Hart Lane exit.

Although there are a considerable amount of candidates to be moved on, here are three international players that are simply not good enough for a club with ambitions of taking a place amongst Europe’s elite…

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Vlad Chiriches

Following his red card against Stoke at the weekend, the Romania international looks to have played his last game for the North London side and not many fans will complain at his impending departure.

Chiriches was signed last summer and initially looked to have the attributes needed to fill the void at centre-half; a turn of pace, confidence in possession and a sound reading of the game.

However, over time the 25-year-old has proven that he is out of his depth, with some calamitous mistakes costing Spurs dear.

With a questionable attitude to boot, Tottenham need to get rid of the Romanian as there are plenty of other more suitable options that can be introduced in his place.

Andros Townsend

Tottenham’s current generation of young homegrown players is a source of pride for the White Hart Lane faithful, but despite the exploits of Harry Kane and Ryan Mason this season, one of their team-mates is not up to the task.

Andros Townsend has been given a chance to play in the Spurs team since Gareth Bale’s departure last summer and initially burst onto the scene with some captivating individual displays.

However, once opposition got wise to the winger’s pace and intention to cut in from the right onto his favoured left foot, Townsend’s form dipped.

With a lack of goals and assists from open play and end product in very small doses, the former QPR loanee is arguably the most frustrating player in Spurs’ ranks.

Tottenham need a sound option on the right-hand side of the midfield; Townsend has been given time to prove himself and he isn’t it.

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Younes Kaboul

The decision to bring the France international back to Tottenham after he had been sold was baffling; his appointment as this season’s club captain another ridiculous decision.

Kaboul is clumsy, error-prone and positionally naive, with his pace and stature papering over the cracks for this shambolic defender.

Pochettino has quickly realised that Kaboul is simply not good enough and the centre-half has not featured as a result, but having the Frenchman on the wage bill is not necessary.

Even as a back-up option the former Portsmouth man is not up to standard, with Spurs wise to cut ties with the defender this summer.

Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Robert Green could be set to regain the number one shirt after Julio Cesar endured an afternoon to forget at Villa Park.

The former England stopper was initially first choice down at Loftus Road, but an opening day mauling at home to Swansea left then manager Mark Hughes dipping into the transfer market for a replacement. However the Brazilian’s poor display during their defeat to Aston Villa could well have reopened the door to Green.

“We should have dealt with it,” Redknapp told The Daily Mail when questioned on the opener.

The QPR manager’s thoughts on Andreas Weimanns’ goal were hardly positive and there was certainly no vote of confidence for Cesar and his defence when it came down to Benteke’s late winner.

When asked whether or not Green would have been in goal, had he been fit Redknapp replied: “Oh, I couldn’t say that, could I?

“I’d be putting myself right under the cosh. I don’t need that as the moment. Why would I cause myself a problem by saying that?”

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In the end it was a tale of two keepers at Villa Park as Brad Guzan took all the plaudits. The American was on fine form and produced a stunning save to deny Christopher Samba what looked like a sure fire opener in the first half.

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The Mumbai Indians batsman is happy he was able to “finish the game” against the Royal Challengers Bangalore

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Oct-2020″Suryakumar Yadav from Mumbai to watch out for in future!”That’s part of a tweet from Rohit Sharma, circa 2011. Since then, Yadav spent two years with the Mumbai Indians, then five with the Kolkata Knight Riders, and, since 2018, he’s back with the Mumbai Indians. Cameos have been aplenty, runs have flowed at different periods of his IPL career, but the one thing that was missing in his game was the ability to finish the matches that he helped set up. Till now.After hitting an unbeaten match-winning 43-ball 79 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore – that took his team to 16 points after 12 games – Yadav said it was overcoming that deficiency, of not being there till the end in chases, that gave him the most joy in Wednesday’s win, and that it was something that had been discussed in the camp before the season began too.”When we started the tournament, the team management and Rohit came to me and said ‘you have played enough cricket now, it’s high time now you take the game deep, and bat as long as possible; it provides a good platform for the team and even it will be good for yourself’,” Yadav told host broadcaster Star Sports after the match. “So I badly wanted to do it and I’m very happy with that.”I was looking to finish the game since a long time. And sitting back in the [hotel] room I was thinking how do I do it? So I wanted to learn what my game is exactly, and just go out there and finish the game for the team.”Yadav, who scored 512 and 424 runs in the IPL in 2018 and in 2019 respectively, and is on course for another 400-plus season, however, has not played for India yet. And he did not make either the 16-man ODI squad or the 15-man T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Australia. Yadav chose not to bring up the topic, but Kieron Pollard, leading the Mumbai Indians in Sharma’s injury-enforced absence, wasn’t going to ignore the elephant in the room.”Imagine you have someone who bats at that strike rate, especially when you lose an early wicket because he comes at No. 3. Time and time again, no matter the situation he continues to show the class of a player he is,” Pollard said. “Deep down inside, he must be very disappointed not getting to don the blue for India but I’m sure he’s very, very close, I’m sure.”He’s done some amazing things for us as a franchise, and the most he can do is continue to let the bat talk and score more runs for us and take us all the way. To me, he just keeps getting better. If he continues to be this consistent then at some point in time, you are going to get rewarded. Nothing happens before its time, and long may it continue for us as a franchise.”

“With my heart full of pride, I choose to join you [Dhoni] in this journey,” Raina’s Instagram post said

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Aug-2020Suresh Raina, 33, has joined MS Dhoni in announcing his international retirement, he confirmed via press statements on Sunday after he had hinted at it through an Instagram post on Saturday. Raina’s Instagram post came only minutes after Dhoni’s retirement message on the same platform, and read: “It was nothing but lovely playing with you, @mahi7781 . With my heart full of pride, I choose to join you in this journey.”On Sunday, Raina put up a definitive statement – including a copy on Instagram – announcing that with a “lot of mixed feelings”, he was announcing his retirement.”With a lot of mixed feelings I’m able to make this announcement of my retirement. From a very young age, I as a small boy had literally lived Cricket on every street, and [nooks and corners] of my small town before making it to the Indian team. All I have known is cricket, all I have done is cricket & it runs through my veins. There hasn’t been a single day without counting my blessings & without acknowledging everything I have received from god & my people who showered nothing but love on me.”All I strived for was to value those blessings & give my everything in return to my game, to my country & everyone who has been a part of this journey. I had multiple surgeries, set backs & moments when I felt that this is it but I didn’t stop or settle for anything which was not justified. It’s been an incredible ride and it would not have been possible without everyone who supported me during my ups and downs,” he said.ALSO READ: MS Dhoni announces international retirementRaina’s international career began 15 years ago, in an ODI against Sri Lanka in July 2005. Even though he started with a golden duck in ODIs and a century in Tests, against the same opposition five years later, his limited-overs career was much more successful. In ODIs, he finished after 13 years – the last match in July 2018 in England – with 5615 runs from 226 games at an average of 35.31, with five centuries and 36 half-centuries. In 78 T20Is, he scored 1605 runs, averaging 29.18, at a strike rate of 134.87, also including a hundred a five fifties.He was a part of India’s first T20I, in South Africa in 2006, and was also the first Indian to score a T20I hundred, again against South Africa in the 2010 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.But Raina played only 18 Tests, the last of which came against Australia in January 2015 – in what was a comeback after a two-year gap – when he scored two ducks.His attacking game combined with athletic fielding in the 30-yard circle made him a regular member of the ODI and T20I sides for many years, and he played his part in helping India win the 50-over World Cup in 2011 and the Champions Trophy in 2013. He was also part of the runners-up India side in the 2014 T20 World Cup, which Sri Lanka won.”Suresh Raina has been one of the key performers in limited overs cricket for India. Coming lower down the order and playing some of the match-winning knocks requires a lot of skill and talent. He along with Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni formed a solid middle order for India in ODIs. I wish him and his family all the very best,” said BCCI president Sourav Ganguly .Raina’s retirement on the same evening as Dhoni’s didn’t come as too much of a surprise as the two are known to be close; the left-hand batsman played as many as 153 of his 226 ODIs under Dhoni. Raina also captained India in 12 ODIs between 2010 and 2014. In the IPL too, the two have had a long partnership, which will continue next month; Dhoni is the only IPL captain Raina has played under, except when Raina himself led Gujarat Lions.In ODIs, Dhoni and Raina still hold the record for most runs scored for the fifth wicket overall, with a tally of 2421 that include five centuries and 13 half-centuries.

Two teams have withdrawn from the second edition of the Corporate Trophy, causing a revision in schedule

Cricinfo staff26-Aug-2010Two teams have withdrawn from the second edition of the Corporate Trophy, causing a revision in schedule. Canara Bank and Vijay Bank pulled out which makes tournament, starting next Wednesday, a 14-team affair.Instead of the original four groups of four teams, there will new be two sets of three sides and two of four. The table toppers in each group progress to the semi-finals in Visakhapatnam on September 5 and 6 to contest for a place in the final on September 8.Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI’s chief administrative officer, told PTI that while teams had been provided with accommodation and given a daily allowance last year, this season the tournament had been brought on par with other domestic tournaments as per the decision taken by the BCCI’s Working Committee.”They [the two teams] said they were withdrawing as they cannot afford the extra expenses and that the BCCI had changed the rules,” Shetty said.Group A (based in Visakhapatnam) – All India Electricity Board, State Bank of Hyderabad, India Cements
Group B (based in Chennai) – Tata Sports Club, BPCL, Indian Oil Corporation

Group C (based in Hyderabad) – Air India, BSNL, Chemplast, State Bank of Mysore
Group D (based in Bangalore) – ONGC, Income Tax, State Bank of Patiala, MRF

The Australia captain replaces South Africa’s Aiden Markram in the role

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Mar-2024Pat Cummins has been appointed captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for IPL 2024, replacing Aiden Markram who had led the team in the 2023 season.Cummins has not led a side in the IPL before – in fact, he has not led a team in top-flight T20 cricket before – but his appointment comes after a successful period as captain of Australia, during which he led them to victory in the World Test Championship and the 2023 ODI World Cup, with both wins in the finals coming against India.The move means that SRH will have the flexibility of playing their new signings – Australian batter Travis Head and Sri Lankan legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga – in addition to finisher Heinrich Klaasen instead of Markram if they want to do so, while Cummins slots in as the overseas fast bowler. Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi and South Africa’s Marco Jansen are the other overseas quicks in the squad, while New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips rounds off their roster of eight overseas players.Related

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Cummins had withdrawn from IPL 2023 to focus on international cricket but entered the auction for the 2024 season, where he became the first player in IPL history to get a bid of INR 20 crore (USD 2.4 million approximately). SRH’s record bid of INR 20.50 crore (USD 2.47 million approximately) for Cummins was shortly broken by Kolkata Knight Riders, who bid INR 24.75 crores (USD 2.98 million approximately) for Mitchell Starc. Cummins, coincidentally, had been part of the KKR squad from 2020 to 2022.