All posts by h716a5.icu

Leeds United have been in the midst of a sorry campaign and are staring down the barrel at relegation to the Sky Bet Championship unless result fall their way on the final day of the Premier League season.

Stability has been missing at Elland Road over the last year as the Whites desperately try to maintain their top-flight status, which has seen former coaches Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia discarded and eventually yielded the appointment of survival specialist Sam Allardyce, who is yet to win a game since taking over.

In the long-term, Leeds United have been linked with a variety of managers to steady the ship heading into next season, though it is difficult to predict as of yet who would be interested in taking the reins as what league they will be plying their trade in next term is still yet to be decided.

What's the latest news involving Ange Postecoglou and why are Leeds United interested?

Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Dean Jones has indicated that he thinks Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou would be a good fit to take over as Leeds United manager.

Jones told FFC: "I think tactically, some of the things he's managed to enforce in his time at Celtic have been pretty smart. There's reason to think that he could definitely progress this team. I guess the big drawback, would be judging exactly how well he can do in the Premier League if Leeds manage to stay up."

Football Insider claim that Postecoglou on Leeds United's 'wanted list' and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with the in-demand Australian.

The report states that the 57-year-old is on a 12-month rolling contract at Parkhead and his successful ventures into the Japanese and broader Asian transfer markets have impressed his Premier League suitors.

Interestingly, the Australian already has one up on Brendan Rodgers according to Kris Commons, with his Celtic being labelled as "already" better than Rodgers' invincibles.

Postecoglou has won four trophies out of five available so far in Scotland and has the opportunity to make it five from six if his side can defeat Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Hampden in the Scottish Cup final next month.

Of course, there is absolutely no guarantee that Postecoglou would leave Glasgow giants Celtic for the riches of the English top flight. In an interview earlier this year, the former Yokohama F. Marinos manager gave an insight into his future, as per The Sun, stating: “I’m hoping that over the course of time as long as I’m here — and I am still here even though people have been getting me out the door and I think you’ll be surprised how long I am here — I’m consumed by trying to make this club the best it can be. And I’ll enjoy every minute of it."

In the event he was to seek a new challenge amid links to Leeds United, there is a fair comparison to be made between Postecoglou and former Whites' boss Marcelo Bielsa.

As per Coaches Voice, Postecoglou likes to play a high-intensity brand of football in a 4-3-3 formation, with inverted full-backs, something that Bielsa also did at Leeds United, albeit in a slightly different style.

Pressing with aggression is also something widely on the agenda for Postecoglou, with the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda helping to suffocate the opposition with their uniquely high work rate, forcing defenders into going long or being dispossessed.

Furuhashi shared an insight into the demands bestowed upon Celtic under Postecoglou in an interview cited by The Athletic in December 2022, saying: “As a team, we know exactly how we want to play. Regardless of whether it’s in the first minute or in the 90th minute, we want to actively defend from the front, pressing on the opponent’s defensive line and attack the opposition player on the ball — like a pressing wave.

He then added: “During our attacking phase or at throw-ins, we don’t want to get into a resting mode — we stay in active mode, and if we keep our intensity high, it will be difficult for our opponent to stay focused for 90 minutes. Maybe this is why we’ve scored goals at the beginning of the game but also at the end of the game.”

Preventing ball progression is vital for Celtic in their attempts to regularly wrestle control of possession from the opposition, something that Bielsa regularly implemented at Leeds United in his man-marking counter-pressing system, as per Breaking The Lines.

Leeds United have pacy attackers such as Wilfried Gnonto, Luis Sinisterra and Jack Harrison, who have all shown distinctive qualities this campaign, though it remains to be seen whether they could adapt tactically in the event of a manager such as Postecoglou coming in.

Despite this, Postecoglou is highly unlikely to consider an opening at Leeds United if they end up in the Sky Bet Championship and there are question marks over if he would be interested even if they are still a Premier League side come next term.

A partnership of 55 in nine overs for the eighth wicket between Ben Brown and Danny Briggs enabled Sussex to gain their second Championship win of the season

ECB Reporters Network26-Aug-2016
ScorecardBen Brown squeezed Sussex home in Cardiff•Getty ImagesA partnership of 55 in nine overs for the eighth wicket between Ben Brown and Danny Briggs enabled Sussex to gain their second Championship win of the season in an grippung finish at Cardiff.Although Briggs was out for an aggressive 36, Brown and George Garton guided Sussex home with 20 balls remaining. The win lifted Sussex to fourth place but, although they have a game in hand over Essex, they trail by 43 points.At one stage they had been reduced to 156 for 7 chasing 233 in 62 overs, with Timm van der Gugten taking 5 for 73, his third five-wicket haul of the season, but the eighth-wicket partnership swung the game.Glamorgan had resumed after only 29.3 overs had been bowled on the third day, on 149 for 2, but soon lost their overnight batsmen Will Bragg and David Lloyd, who had put on 77 for the third wicket.Despite an attractive innings of 59 from 64 balls from Aneurin Donald, Glamorgan then lost their way as the last five wickets fell for just 17 runs. Donald was behind off Garton, who then dismissed Mark Wallace with his next ball.Graham Wagg, who had lost the ball when he stuck Briggs into the River Taff, attempted a shot two overs later, but mistimed and was caught at mid-off. The reckless approach continued, and instead of setting Sussex a challenging target, they were left a chase of less than four an over.Van der Gugten gave Glamorgan the perfect start when he trapped Ed Joyce leg before with the first ball of the innings, but Chis Nash and Luke Wells were seldom in trouble adding 87 for the second wicket before Wells, was lbw to Owen Morgan’s left-arm spin for 33.At tea, Sussex were comfortably placed on 92 for 2, before Wagg dismissed Nash for 64, following his 132 in the first innings. Sussex then lost 3 for 12, as van der Gugten, who had changed ends, and after dismissing Christian Davis leg before, bowled David Wiese and Luke Wright.When Briggs joined Brown, after Jofra Archer’s dismissal, Sussex required another 77, but Briggs, who has played some useful innings recently, was soon into his stride, striking boundaries on both sides of the wicket. He eventually holed out to mid-on but Brown and Garton finished the job.

Chelsea are assessing the possibility of bringing Southampton’s Romeo Lavia to Stamford Bridge.

What’s the latest on Romeo Lavia to Chelsea?

According to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, the Blues may push for the 19-year-old in the summer transfer window, after Southampton’s relegation to the Championship.

Crook has suggested that Joe Shields, who joined the West London outfit earlier in the campaign as the club’s new Co-Director of recruitment and talent, is leading the case to sign the highly talented teenager.

Shields was the main protagonist in Lavia’s move to the South Coast from Manchester City last summer.

It has been revealed by The Times that the Saints are set to demand around £40m for the youngster, and Liverpool are also an interested party.

The 2021 Champions League winners previously launched an audacious £50m deadline-day swoop for Lavia last August, but this was ultimately rejected.

Why do Chelsea want Romeo Lavia?

The one-cap international has been a shining light in a poor Southampton side, displaying commendable tenacity and composure.

Indeed, throughout 29 Premier League appearances, he has averaged 2.1 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game, as well as forging an 86% pass accuracy, according to Sofascore.

That ensured that he ended the campaign as the second-best tackler in the squad while his pass success rate wasn't bettered by anyone, not even the immaculate James Ward-Prowse.

As a result, the former Manchester City starlet has caught the eye of several clubs and has also dazzled Pep Guardiola, who said: “I am really impressed with what Romeo has done and is doing.

“We had, and we have, an incredible opinion about him. We thought to keep him, but maybe he would not (get) enough minutes like he has in Southampton.”

Chelsea are set to begin a monumental rebuild and a new midfielder has been earmarked as one of the priority targets.

The Blues have also been linked with Manuel Ugarte and the 22-year-old could form a frightening partnership alongside Lavia in a completely new-look and youthful midfield.

The Uruguayan made the most tackles (121) in Liga Portugal and the Champions League (29) this term as a marker of his incredibly bullish and aggressive approach to the game.

With the futures of Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Conor Gallagher all looking murky, the addition of these two glimmering prodigies would be an excellent first step in the monstrous rebuild that needs to take place in the capital.

Lavia would be an exciting and promising addition for Pochettino as the club looks towards a brighter dawn.

Gareth Batty has been summoned by England for the Test tour of Bangladesh but at 38, and after a decade out of the side, he is not about to lose focus as he leads Surrey in the final of the Royal London Cup against Warwickshire at Lord’s

Andrew McGlashan16-Sep-2016At the end of a week where the future shape of the English domestic game was again at the forefront, it was another reminder that the Lord’s one-day final does not have the lustre it once did. However, the cumulation of the Royal London Cup on Saturday should not lack for quality and a lot rests on 100 overs for Surrey and Warwickshire.This is the last match of Surrey’s season, their Championship campaign having finished with a narrow defeat against Durham at Chester-le-Street but their Division One status is secure. The same cannot be said of Warwickshire. If Hampshire win against Durham, who are now safe, in the final round of matches then Warwickshire will be in a relegation dogfight against Lancashire.Dougie Brown, the Warwickshire coach, has termed it two finals in a week. “We know what we are playing for,” Brown said. “We have two finals in effect. We are the ones who have got ourselves into this position in the Championship but we are taking some pretty good form into the final and we are hopeful we can take that into the game and then into the match next week.”While the news of Gareth Batty’s England recall dominated the agenda, the player himself was determined not to lose focus on a game that will also define Surrey’s season.Surrey failed to get out of the group stages of the NatWest T20 Blast – a particular disappointment for a club that puts such a huge stack on the format on and off the field – while a mid-table finish in the County Championship, although very respectable in their first year after promotion, means tangible success rests on this match.”It is a huge day for us,” Batty said. “It will be the difference between us feeling we have had an okay season – maybe just about average – or that we have just flattered to deceive a little bit. We didn’t start particularly well. We had a good bit in the middle and we have just dropped off in the Championship.”I feel like in this competition we have played some good cricket and we are a good team but Warwickshire are too so we need to be at our best. It would be a wonderful end to a progressive season.”Last year there was heartbreak for Surrey when Gloucestershire pipped them to the title in a thrilling final-over finish. They were on track as Kumar Sangakkara and Rory Burns added 101 for the third wicket, but when Sangakkara chipped to mid-on the innings started to unravel with Gloucestershire’s spinners to the fore.It came down to needing seven off the last over with Batty alongside Sam Curran, who had played a fantastically mature hand, but he fell to the first ball of the over and then Batty swung to deep midwicket. It is something he still takes to heart because of his decision to bowl first.”I made a decision at the toss and we lost a game of cricket on the back of that, I take full responsibility and never shirked away from that but it is up to us tomorrow to play our best cricket.”It has the makings of a superb final, involving a mouthwatering blend of players. There are the current internationals such as Jason Roy and Chris Woakes, the new call-ups of Batty and Zafar Ansari, the great Sangakkara, two outstanding batsmen of recent England vintage in Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott alongside those – Sam Hain, the Curran brothers and Ben Foakes – pushing for higher honours.Hain, the 21-year-old batsman, who is a doppleganger for Trott at the crease, is the leading scorer in the tournament with 528 at 66. Trott has also made 433 runs including three centuries. Surrey’s leading run-maker is Steven Davies with 373 at 41.44 this will mark his final match for the county, having signed with Somerset.On a late-season pitch, and despite the heavy rain which swept through London on Friday, spin is likely to play a key role. Surrey have their two England men, Batty and Ansari, who was a crucial absentee for them last year after breaking his thumb, while Warwickshire can call on the leading slow bowler of the competition in Jeetan Patel as well as the promising legspin of Josh Poysden if they require a second option.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale failed to secure a single trophy in his first campaign, albeit not a full one, in charge of the Scottish giants.

The English boss is now working hard to build a team that is capable of competing for major honours next term and has already secured deals to sign Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling on free transfers from Norwich and Chelsea respectively.

Along with incomings, there could be plenty of players on their way out of Ibrox this summer and following the likes of Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent, whose contracts expired at the end of last month.

Back in May, The Scottish Sun reported that the Light Blues are open to bids for the Croatian number nine and claimed that the centre-forward would be interested in a move to the Bundesliga in Germany if an offer comes his way.

Who could replace Antonio Colak at Rangers?

Beale could brutally ditch Colak and move him on from Ibrox in the coming weeks or months by sealing a deal to snap up reported target Sam Lammers, as the Dutchman could replace the ex-PAOK star.

According to the printed edition of The Scottish Daily Mail (via Ibrox News) on Monday of last week, the Gers have been keeping tabs on the attacker, who sees his contract with Empoli expire at the end of the month.

The £17k-per-week titan could, therefore, be available on a free transfer, unless he pens a new deal with the Italian side, and has the potential to be an excellent replacement for the current Gers marksman.

Lammers, who talent scout Jacek Kulig once hailed as "perfectly two-footed", has only scored four goals in 50 appearances in the Serie A and his record in Italy does not suggest that he would be a prolific scorer for Rangers.

However, the former Dutch youth international did plunder 19 goals and five assists in 35 matches for Heerenveen in all competitions and was directly involved in 40 goals in 63 outings for PSV at U21 level prior to his move to the Italian top-flight.

During the 2018/19 campaign, Lammers averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.24 across 30 starts and contributed with 16 goals and 12 'big chances' created for his teammates on loan at Heerenveen.

These statistics suggest that there is an excellent striker, who can regularly find the back of the net and open up spaces for his teammates to score, for Beale to unearth, and he could replace Colak, who managed three goals and one assist in 11 Scottish Premiership matches after the World Cup break.

The Gers head coach could brutally ditch the 29-year-old Gers forward by signing Lammers as it would allow the club to jettison the Croatian finisher without worrying about the space his exit would create in the squad.

Some last-minute additions to the available technology have made the implementation of DRS possible for the second Zimbabwe-Sri Lanka Test in Harare

Tristan Holme in Harare05-Nov-2016The Decision Review System will make a long-awaited debut in Zimbabwe during their second Test against Sri Lanka after some last-minute additions to the available technology have made its implementation possible.Having borne the brunt of a catalogue of poor umpiring decisions in their past three Tests, Zimbabwe are hopeful that the introduction of DRS will help level the playing field as they look to bounce back from a 225-run defeat in the first Test.The DRS will also be used in the triangular one-day series that follows.While Zimbabwe have never objected to the use of the DRS on principle, the cost of hiring the technology has previously made it prohibitive. However pressure from overseas broadcasters to improve television production of Zimbabwe’s matches led to Hawk-Eye being used during the broadcast of their Test series against New Zealand in August.With Hawk-Eye once again being utilised in the broadcast for the series against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) expressed their desire to use DRS in the two Tests, but were unable to make the necessary arrangements in time for the first game. The DRS requires a form of ball-tracking technology as well as slow-motion cameras and either HotSpot or Snicko. It also requires a specialist third umpire to be arranged with the ICC.Because ZC did not provide the ICC with adequate notice prior to the series, the world governing body were unable to arrange a third umpire before the first Test. Ahead of the second Test, slow-motion cameras have been flown in from South Africa and the ICC have provided a third umpire.The presence of Hawk-Eye in recent broadcasts has highlighted a number of incorrect decisions against Zimbabwe. Nine of the 10 bad decisions during the New Zealand series went against the hosts, while six of the seven in the first Test of this series benefitted Sri Lanka. While the Zimbabweans have been cautious about blaming their defeats on this decision-making – especially given that they dropped six catches in Sri Lanka’s first innings – there is a feeling that umpires have a tendency to give fewer decisions to lower-ranked teams.The worst decisions have often come on the final day of Tests when Zimbabwe were fighting to save the match. Zimbabwe had progressed to 68 for 1 in 29 overs in their second innings against Sri Lanka, giving them hope that they could bat out the final day, only to see Tino Mawoyo given out lbw to a delivery from Dilruwan Perera that Hawk-Eye believed was missing leg stump by some distance. They subsequently collapsed to 74 for five over the next four overs, and after a valiant effort by the lower order, came within 7.3 overs of earning a draw.”I think (the errors) have been well documented,” Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak said on Saturday. “I think the DRS is good and it’s fair for everyone because it can negate the element of human error. Obviously anyone can make a mistake, but the less of those that have an influence on the game, the better.”One other issue that came to the fore in the first Test was the manner in which Zimbabwe appealed to the umpires, particularly in comparison to Sri Lanka. While the hosts seemed to make little more than polite enquiries and failed to earn a single lbw in the match (Hawk-Eye showed that they should have had at least three), the Sri Lankans were vociferous with their appeals and had 10 Zimbabwean batsmen given out lbw.”It is something we’ve spoken about,” Zimbabwe captain Graeme Cremer said after the match. “We’re trying to get more verbal and louder. It can definitely change a game or change an umpire’s mind. We don’t want to crowd the umpire, but I think Sri Lanka have got it down. Those decisions seem to go against us.”

Sunderland may have narrowly missed out on promotion from the Championship this past season, but the Black Cats look well positioned to have another go should the club strengthen in a few positions.

Replacing the goals of Amad Diallo in attack is a priority, as is bringing in another centre-back after being left short in that position last month when Luke O'Nien and Trai Hume were asked to fill in.

According to the Daily Mail, former Sunderland defender Dion Sanderson – contracted to Wolverhampton Wanderers for another two years – is a possible option for a number of second-tier rivals for a player valued at £3m. The news comes amid links to his former loan club.

Do Sunderland need to strengthen at the back?

Losing captain Danny Batth to injury in April was a big blow for Sunderland, especially with Daniel Ballard also on the sidelines, forcing a rejig at a crucial time of the season.

Batth still featured 40 times for Sunderland in the regular season – only five others played more regularly – and was a rock at the heart of a defence that conceded 55 goals in 46 games en route to finishing sixth.

The former Wolves and Stoke City player averaged four clearances a game – only Ballard (4.6) managed more among Sunderland players – while no team-mate bettered his 0.8 blocks per game.

As pointed out by football reporter Josh Bunting at the start of last season, Sunderland's defensive unit is "so strong", with Batth and Ballard described as "powerful" and "excellent in the air", but that is not to say the backline cannot be made stronger.

What can Dion Sanderson offer?

That is where Sanderson comes into the equation. The Wolves defender is already well known to fans of Football League clubs, having spent five separate spells out on loan with Cardiff City, Birmingham City (twice), Queens Park Rangers, and indeed Sunderland in 2020-21.

Sanderson made 26 appearances for Sunderland in a season in which they finished fourth in League One and lost to Lincoln City in the play-offs – only last season has he played more times in a single campaign, featuring on 31 occasions for Birmingham City.

Then aged 21, he looked comfortable when asked to plug gaps and was labelled a "Rolls-Royce" of a defender by then-boss Lee Johnson, who also revealed he was hoping to sign Sanderson permanently that summer.

A move did not transpire, with Wolves instead keeping the Englishman on their books, but that could change this window as he will turn 24 in December and is seemingly no closer to earning regular first-team football at Molineux.

Wolves' loss would very much be another club's gain, especially if Sanderson can match his figures from the 2022-23 season. He ranked fifth in the entire Championship for the percentage of dribblers tackled (76.7), showing he can more than hold his own against any type of opponent.

As Brian Dick of the Birmingham Mail put it midway through the season, Sanderson is "a classy presence", and a player who is surely now very much ready to go his own way to embark on a career away from Wolves. Indeed, he would be a perfect figure to complement the likes of Ballard and Batth.

England captain Jos Buttler said that Bangladesh’s celebration of his dismissal in the hosts’ eventual 34-run win was over the top

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur09-Oct-2016England captain Jos Buttler said that Bangladesh’s celebration of his dismissal was “over the top”. This was the most talked-about flashpoint in Bangladesh’s 34-run win that leveled the ODI series 1-1, and ultimately the turning point, when Buttler was given out leg-before through a review after the umpire had turned down Taskin Ahmed’s leg-before appeal.After they got a signal from their dressing room that the on-field umpire’s decision would be overturned, the Bangladesh team started celebrating and some of them turned towards Buttler who was standing behind them with Chris Woakes. At that point, Buttler started to move towards the celebrating Bangladesh players only to be stopped by the umpires. Mashrafe and Woakes then tried to calm things down in the middle.”I thought it was a little bit over the top,” Buttler said. “I don’t mind guys celebrating just together. I know that’s obviously a very passionate cricket country and the players are very passionate and I have got no problem with that. I was just a little bit disappointed in the fashion they celebrated. I don’t mind them celebrating a wicket but to run and celebrate in my face… Rightly they are happy to get a wicket but there is no need to run in someone’s face and celebrate.”Buttler said that there was a bit of history between him and the Bangladesh players but didn’t elaborate. “For me personally, that was the first bit, but that is part and parcel of the game,” he said.Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said that he wasn’t in the right place to listen to what was being said to Buttler from his players. But he said that control of emotions would be necessary in the next game.”I don’t know who spoke to Buttler. I was focusing on the review that I took, and then I got excited by the decision. Sometimes, a lot of things happen in the heat of the moment. But players from both sides should control themselves.Buttler however said that he regrets his own reaction, which he felt should have been to ignore the fielders. He said that it will be important for him to stay calm in these situations in the next game.”Maybe in hindsight I could just walk away but it is what it is,” Buttler said. “Emotions were running high and obviously they were delighted to get the wicket. Maybe I should have just walked off.”It’s certainly much more emotional as captain and you try to react, but it’s something I will learn if I do it much more. I only have one more. It’s something I will try to improve on, trying to keep levelheadedness, not letting your emotions get too high or too low.”But that wasn’t the end of the confrontations. After Bangladesh had won the game, Ben Stokes and Tamim Iqbal also got into an argument. Buttler said that Stokes was upset with what had happened.”Obviously emotions run high, and Ben is an emotional guy,” Buttler said. “But he would not have reacted like that if nothing had happened.” In a tweet after the game, Stokes said, “What I won’t stand for is someone putting a shoulder to my teammate at handshakes,” though no Bangladesh player was named.Mashrafe meanwhile said that he is yet to find out what had happened in that situation since he was ahead in the line of those shaking hands with the England team. “I was ahead in the line so I didn’t see what happened. I can tell you after I find out,” he said.

Leeds United can finally start preparing for a new era following confirmation that the 49ers Enterprises have agreed a full takeover of the club, buying out Andrea Radrizzani in what is seen as a major positive for the Championship club going forward.

The first port of call for the North American owners is finding a new manager following the failed experiment to hand the job to Sam Allardyce for the closing stages of last season, which ultimately ended in a disappointing relegation from the Premier League.

Former Rangers and Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard has been named as a possible candidate to take charge at Elland Road, while the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Scott Parker have also been linked.

After a period of upheaval in which the club have gone from Marcelo Bielsa to Allardyce via Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia, it is imperative Leeds get their next appointment spot on if they are to have any hope of challenging for an immediate return to the top flight.

The next man in the dugout needs to have experience of the second tier and, more than that, understand what it means to be associated with United, who will undoubtedly have a target on their backs once again next season.

That is why former Leeds U23 coach Carlos Corberan, is in the running and could be ideally positioned to land the job.

Should Leeds appoint Carlos Corberan?

Corberan is now well known as a manager in his own right following spells in English football with Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion, but it was during a three-year period with Leeds' U23 side he cut his teeth in the coaching world on these shores.

The Spaniard arrived at Elland Road in 2017 and was promoted to the position of first-team coach following the arrival of Bielsa the following year. Fan favourite Bielsa clearly saw something he liked in Corberan, who he described as a "very talented" coach and said he valued the latter's opinions "more than his own".

After balancing work as Leeds' first-team coach and U23 manager, it was inevitable Corberan would go on to become a senior manager in his own right, and so that proved in July 2020 when taking over at Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield.

Corberan guided an unfancied Huddersfield side to a third-place finish in his only season in charge, before losing 1-0 to Nottingham Forest in the play-off final. If not for a cruel own goal, Corberan could well have already been a Premier League manager.

The 40-year-old's decision to step down a little over a month later was surprising, and an underwhelming short spell with Olympiacos followed – where he took charge of just 11 matches – but he has got his career back on track with an impressive first season at West Brom.

Albion were second from bottom when Corberan took over 16 games into the 2022-23 season and, helped by a run of 10 wins in 12 games, finished ninth, missing out on the playoffs by just three points.

Corberan was highly praised by those within the club and was rewarded with a new contract, but links to Leeds persist. Those who have previously worked with the Spaniard, who favours a 4-2-3-1 formation, can also vouch for his coaching ability and also his likability.

"He's a great guy and so talented," former Leeds academy player Romario Vieira told Yorkshire Live. "When he told us how he wanted us to play, we thought he was crazy. Then it clicked and we were like, 'This guy's a genius'.

Corberan's contract situation will not make agreeing a deal straightforward, but should they do so, the 49ers Enterprises will pull off an early masterstroke to usher in a new era at Elland Road.

A round-up of the second day of Group C matches in the sixth round of the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Nov-2016Hyderabad staged a remarkable recovery against Services with B Sandeep and No. 9 CV Milind, a former India Under-19 player, stitching together 267 – the highest eighth-wicket partnership in the team’s history, and also the first instance of a Hyderabad No. 9 scoring a century – to take them to 580 for 9 declared at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.Hyderabad, 141 for 6 at one point on the opening day, resumed on 303 for 7 and continued to pile on the runs. Sandeep, not out on 83 overnight, notched up an unbeaten 203 – his maiden double-hundred in first-class cricket. Milind, the left-arm pacer, scored his maiden first-class century. In response, Services began solidly, ending the day on 77 for no loss. However, there was a moment of concern for Services, with Anshul Gupta having to retire-hurt.A few kilometres south of BKC, Rituraj Singh, who has moved from Rajasthan to Goa, inflicted a big collapse on Kerala as they went from their overnight 290 for 2 to 342 all out at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. Rituraj’s 7 for 42 were his best first-class figures. He bowled “nice controlled outswing”, according to an expert present at the venue, as Kerala lost their last eight wickets for 41 runs. Five of Rituraj’s victims were caught behind.As many as seven of Goa’s batsmen reached double figures, but nobody crossed 33. At stumps, they were 169 for 6, with Saurabh Bandekar and Shadab Jakati, unbeaten on 22 and 19, holding the key for first-innings points.Beginning the day on 99, Rajat Paliwal, who has moved from Services to Haryana, ended six short of a double-hundred as Haryana piled on 502 against Jammu & Kashmir in Cuttack. He was helped along by No. 10 Sanjay Pahal, who scored 59 and was part of a 123-run ninth-wicket partnership with Paliwal. Pahal also added 25 with Mohit Sharma for the last wicket, before removing J&K opener Umar Nazir in the first over. Shubham Khajuria (48*) and Pranav Gupta (25*), though, saw J&K through to stumps without further damage. They ended the day on 84 for 1, still 418 behind.Himachal Pradesh’s new captain, left-arm spinner Bipul Sharma, took his side close to first-innings points after lifting them from 150 for 6 against Chhattisgarh in Kanpur. Adding 60 for the seventh wicket with Sumeet Varma, Bipul took his side to within 28 of Chhattisgarh’s 238.Offspinner Gurvinder Singh gave Himachal a good start to the day as he took three quick wickets to prevent Chhattisgarh from adding many to their overnight 212 for 7. Himachal made a good start, but lost six wickets for 72 after being 78 for 0. Left-arm spinner Sumit Ruikar was the wrecker-in-chief, with his second first-class five-for.DB Prasanth scored a second consecutive hundred, to go with Hanuma Vihari’s first hundred of the season, as Andhra lost only two wickets in the day on their way to a 206-run lead at stumps against Tripura in Valsad.Andhra resumed on 47 for 1, having bowled Tripura out for 171 the previous evening. They didn’t lose a wicket till the 60th over of the day, when left-arm spinner Gurinder Singh (2 for 92) dismissed Prasanth for 129 to end a second-wicket partnership of 240 with Vihari. Ricky Bhui (64) then put on 100 for the third wicket with Vihari, who ended the day unbeaten on 144, along with DB Ravi Teja (10*). Andhra were 377 for 3, after having elected to field on the first day.