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Dean Henderson, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford were all disappointing in Manchester United’s shock FA Cup fourth round defeat at home to Middlesbrough.

The Red Devils were expected to breeze past their Championship opponents on Friday evening, but another damaging outing unfolded at Old Trafford.

Jadon Sancho’s goal looked set to send United on their way to victory but a controversial Matt Crooks equaliser took the game to extra-time and the visitors prevailed in a long penalty shootout.

There were three United players who stood out as the worst performers, of those to have played at least 45 minutes of action, and using statistical experts Sofascore we have looked at the men who may be fearing for their place under Ralf Rangnick.

Dean Henderson – 6.8/10

Henderson started between the sticks instead of David De Gea but he did his chances of keeping the Spaniard out permanently very few favours.

While the England international had little to do in the 120 minutes of normal time, five of his 12 long balls were still inaccurate and he played no key passes.

In the shootout, Henderson failed to get close to the penalties, barring one that squirmed under him in sloppy fashion.

Luke Shaw – 7.4/10

Shaw has dipped well below last season’s high standards in 2021/22 and this was another disappointing night at the office for him.

The left-back lost possession a whopping 34 times in total, also losing six out of 14 of his ground duels.

Not only that, but Shaw also only managed to complete four out of nine crosses and long balls apiece, highlighting a sloppy outing from him.

Marcus Rashford – 6.3/10

It was Rashford who took home the lowest rating at Old Trafford, however, as his hugely below-par form continues.

The Englishman lost the ball on 11 occasions overall, missed one big chance and won only two out of eight ground duels, meaning he and Shaw combined to lose 55% of their individual battles on the ball.

Rashford also won no aerial duels and failed to make any defensive contribution, highlighting his lack of effective pressing from the front.

In other news, a journalist has ruled out one player joining United. Find out who it is here.

Despite having been heavily linked with a move to Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side in the January transfer window, Hannes Wolf’s potential switch to Parkhead ultimately did not come to fruition, with the Borussia Monchengladbach winger eventually going on to secure a temporary switch to Swansea City.

However, while missing out on a deal for the 22-year-old who Christoph Freund dubbed “perfect” initially appeared to be something of a blow for Bhoys, considering the Austria U21 international’s form so far during his spell in Wales, it is beginning to look as if Postecoglou dodged something of a bullet in failing to land the forward last month.

Indeed, over his seven Championship outings in the current campaign, the £4.5m-rated attacker has so far failed to hit the back of the net, is yet to provide his teammates with a single assist and has created just one big chance, as well as completing an average of a mere 0.3 crosses and losing possession of the ball 11.4 times per game.

These returns have seen the £27k-per-week winger average a rather disappointing SofaScore match rating of just 6.76, ranking him as Russell Martin’s 11th-best performer in the second tier of English football.

As such, while hindsight is a wonderful thing, when taking into account the fact that Wolf would have cost Celtic around £621k in wages – plus whatever loan fee Swansea are playing the Bundesliga side – during his proposed spell in Glasgow, Postecoglou looks as if he has saved the club a considerable amount of money by missing out on the forward.

Not only that, but considering the 22-year-old’s poor returns in front of goal so far for the Swans, it very much looks as if the Austrian may not be cut out for the demands of British football – something that all involved with Celtic will be delighted was not discovered after the attacker moved to Parkhead.

In other news: Forget Scales: “Really Poor” Celtic dud with 30 touches made Ange look foolish vs Bodo

Speaking to GiveMeSport, journalist Paul Brown has delivered some worrying transfer news involving Everton. 

The lowdown: Big name exit coming?

As the Toffees suffer a disappointing 2021/22 campaign attempting to stave off the threat of relegation, there could be more issues coming when the summer transfer window opens.

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Newly appointed manager Frank Lampard may face a battle to keep hold of Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin as both forwards are linked with a move away from Goodison Park.

With the end of the season now in sight, it appears that the reality of losing a star name could also be coming into view…

The latest: Brown issues exit warning

Speaking to GMS, the journalist claims it’s ‘inevitable’ that one of Calvert-Lewin or Richarlison leaves Merseyside due to their financial situation.

Brown explained: “It’s inevitable that one of them goes because the financial position the club finds itself in is so dire that they know they have to sell someone to generate some revenue.”

Despite the financial constraints, Everton were able to add Vitaliy Mykolenko, Nathan Patterson and Dele Alli in the January transfer window following the departure of Lucas Digne to Aston Villa for £25million (Sky Sports).

The verdict: Worrying times ahead

Should Premier League football be secured for next term Lampard is going to want to strengthen the squad with the likes of Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin in situ.

Albeit both players have struggled with injuries this term, the pair have still managed a combined 10 goals across all competitions and would undoubtedly be key members of any necessary rebuild on the Blue half of Merseyside.

However, should a sale indeed be the only possible outcome, then the club’s hierarchy must do everything in its power to ensure that they receive the best fee for either of its two most prized assets in order to find suitable replacements.

In other news, Premier League giants eye Everton youngster. Find out more here!

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has said he will retire from Test cricket following the second Test against Australia at Headingley starting next Wednesday

Cricinfo staff16-Jul-2010Shahid Afridi made the decision that seemed inevitable from the day he took over as Test captain, by announcing his Test retirement immediately after leading his side to a 150-run loss against Australia at Lord’s.Afridi has been a reluctant Test player over the years and this Test was his first in four years. A poor personal performance, capped by a four-ball 2 on the last day – out slogging to deep midwicket – didn’t help matters and the second Test against Australia at Headingley, starting on Wednesday, will now be his last. Afridi’s participation at Headingley, however, will depend on whether he passes a fitness test for a side strain in the days leading up to the match.Salman Butt, the vice-captain, is likely to take over the leadership for the England series though that is not set in stone until the PCB makes a final decision. Whoever does take over will be Pakistan’s fifth Test captain since the start of 2009.”With my temperament I can’t play Test cricket,” Afridi said. “It is better a youngster comes in my place, probably a genuine batsman or even a genuine bowler. I picked up a side injury during the Asia Cup and unless you are 100 percent fit you can’t perform in Test cricket.”I wasn’t interested in playing Test cricket but the board asked me to go and take a look as they didn’t have a choice. So I took up the responsibility. They asked me to take a chance and may be I would enjoy it. But I wasn’t really enjoying Test cricket but I tried. I wasn’t good enough. A captain should lead by example which I did not. And if I played the way I played in this match it is better to leave.”If Afridi’s side injury rules him out of the second Test at Headingley his final shot in the five-day game will be the slog-sweep that picked out Mike Hussey and Afridi was honest enough to admit he just couldn’t hold back. “You are right,” he said. “I am coming back to Test cricket after four years and in the interim I’d played a lot of ODI and Twenty20 cricket so I came in with the same [attacking] temperament. I was in two minds. You can say I was not strong mentally.”Yawar Saeed, Pakistan’s manager, confirmed Afridi’s decision to Cricinfo, though he insisted he wouldn’t call it a retirement. “Afridi had a side strain and felt that he shouldn’t keep a specialist out of the side. Temperamentally he feels not comfortable with the format so Leeds will be his last Test,” he said.Saeed said that Butt is likely to take over, but that any decision would have to be made in consultation with the board. Ijaz Butt, chairman PCB, is in England currently. “Salman Butt was appointed vice-captain for the tour and he will take over unless the PCB meets and decides otherwise. But as per procedure, he will take over,” Saeed said.”Salman is the vice captain and he should ideally be the man,” Afridi added. “The way he has shown the maturity he is good enough to carry forward the responsibility.”The development will bring into sharp focus the PCB’s decision to appoint Afridi as Test captain in the first place. He had already retired from the format once before, in 2006, only to return, ironically, for the tour to England that summer. He played a couple of Tests before pulling himself out of the format again.Since his appointment recently, his hesitancy towards the format has surfaced repeatedly. In an interview to before the series began, Afridi hinted he might not play Tests for long. “I’m confident I am fine fitness-wise,” he said then. “But I came back to Tests because I am doing it for the team only. If I think I am fit to do it, I will continue playing Tests. Otherwise I will not burden the side.”In a more recent interview to Cricinfo, Afridi said, “If down the line I become aware that I am not a good captain, or not a successful one, and the team is unable to make any use of me as a captain, I will not chase it. If I don’t have the ability then I will leave it on my own … I did not ask anyone forcibly to give me the captaincy, nor will I forcibly captain the team. If I am good I will prove it through my performance. If I am not good I will say khuda hafeez [God be with you].”

Leeds United are still ‘pressing’ to seal the signing of Torino right-back Ola Aina in the January transfer window, according to a fresh transfer rumour.

The Lowdown: Aina linked with Leeds move

It has been a quiet start to the month at Elland Road but it would be a surprise if no new faces arrived in the coming weeks, given the horrendous injury crisis Marcelo Bielsa is currently contending with.

One player who has been linked with a move to Leeds is Aina, who has made 13 Serie A appearances for Torino this season, continuing to impress after graduating from Chelsea’s youth academy.

Despite this, the Italian club don’t appear to be against the idea of letting the 25-year-old leave this month, no doubt giving the Whites hope that a deal can be struck.

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The Latest: Whites still ‘pressing’

According to Corriere Granata [via Sport Witness], Leeds are still hoping to get a deal sorted imminently and the two clubs will ‘continue to negotiate’.

It is stated that there is ‘no agreement’ in place yet for the former Chelsea man, though.

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The Verdict: Good news

Given the number of stories emerging, it does look as though Leeds see Aina as a genuine option and he could be a shrewd signing for Bielsa.

At 25, he is five years younger than Luke Ayling and could represent a long-term replacement for him, having made an impressive six tackles and four clearances for Nigeria in their Africa Cup of Nations opener against Egypt earlier this week, earning him Whoscored’s Man of the Match award.

On the contrary, Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah was completely shut down by Aina and his Super Eagles teammates, as he mustered the second-lowest rating of the 22 starters while the Serie A man thrived.

Aina’s current Torino deal expires in the summer of 2o23, highlighting the fact that they are running out of time to receive a fee for him, which arguably makes a move even more likely.

In other news, a journalist has claimed that Leeds won’t be signing one player. Find out who it is here.

Newcastle United reportedly want to sign Lucas Digne in the January transfer window.

The Lowdown: On his way out?

Last month, it was reported that the Everton defender had a row with Rafael Benitez over how he was being used tactically, and he has since missed their last three games in the Premier League.

As such, he has been linked with a move away from Goodison Park, and the recent announcement of the signing of left-back Vitaliy Mykolenko has only enhanced those rumours. Therefore, January may be the perfect opportunity for the Magpies to pounce.

The Latest: Digne wanted

As per ESPN, Newcastle want to sign Digne, but Chelsea, Inter Milan and Napoli are also interested in his signature.

Everton want a fee of at least £25m to let him go, which would ‘not deter’ the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) consortium, but talks are expected to take place with Chelsea.

The Verdict: Sign

If an opportunity presents itself to lure Digne away from Goodison Park, the Magpies simply have to take it.

Described as an ‘exceptional’ player by Noel Whelan, the France international would surely be a starter at St James’ Park, as he averaged more tackles, interceptions, clearances, shots, dribbles and passes than Jamal Lewis and Matt Ritchie in the top flight so far this season (WhoScored).

Despite not setting up a goal in 2021/22, Digne is also known for grabbing plenty of wand of a left foot’. He would certainly seem to be a smart signing for the Toon.

In other news, NUFC have sent an offer for this La Liga maestro

The PCB has sent a legal notice to Mickey Arthur, who suggested that an ODI between Pakistan and South Africa in 2007 had “a strong suspicion of match-fixing” around it

Osman Samiuddin08-Nov-2010The Pakistan Cricket Board has sent a legal notice to former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur, asking him to respond within seven days about comments he made recently, suggesting that an ODI between Pakistan and South Africa in 2007 had “a strong suspicion of match-fixing” around it.The PCB had issued a statement last Friday expressing concern over Arthur’s comments and indicated that legal action would be taken. Arthur has since said his words were taken out of context, but the same claims are set to be made in his soon-to-be published autobiography. That might now cause further problems.In the legal notice, a copy of which is with ESPNcricinfo, the PCB finds it “extremely startling” that Arthur has said this more than three years after the ODI. “They [the PCB] have reason to believe that such scandalizing statements have been made by you inter alia to “sell” your biography.” The notice concludes that without any proof, the claims and allegations are “whimsical, frivolous, defamatory, disparaging, denigrating, libelous, slanderous and derogatory.”Arthur has been directed to “unconditionally and publicly retract” the statement and offer an “unqualified and unconditional apology” for the allegations. Pertinently, as far as the publication of the book is concerned, the board has asked for a written undertaking that no such statements will be made publicly again and “that your biography will not contain such or similar libels and disparaging statements against the Pakistan team or any of its members.”The PCB has also directed Arthur to put forward a proposal for paying them a “substantial sum” in damages. Arthur now has seven days from the receipt of this legal notice – a copy of which has also been sent to Cricket South Africa and the ICC – to respond.

Writing on Twitter, relaying his piece for football.london, reliable reporter Alasdair Gold has shared the latest transfer news out of Tottenham in a promising update.

The Lowdown: Spurs set for busy window?

As per many English sources, Tottenham boss Antonio Conte and transfer chief Fabio Paratici don’t plan on dwindling in the winter January window.

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Indeed, London World reporter Rahman Osman claims that the Italian boss is ‘working on some deals’ behind the scenes as he wants to ‘bridge the gap’ between Spurs and top Premier League sides as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Sky journalist Lyall Thomas says that the Lilywhites will ‘almost certainly’ do business this month as Gold now shares the latest on what Conte and Paratici’s plans are.

The Latest: Gold shares priorities for Conte and Paratici…

According to the reliable source, Conte has ‘four priority positions’, with his piece detailing they are the signings of a right-wing-back, left-sided central defender, centre-midfield player and forward.

Taking to Twitter, he shared his article for football.london, whilst also stating:

“A piece on the four priority positions I understand Antonio Conte wants strengthening within his squad. Obviously other unexpected opportunities can arise with players coming on the market or leaving Spurs, but Paratici will try to start the rebuild now.”

The Verdict: Promising claim…

It’s safe to say Tottenham’s ‘rebuild’ has been long overdue, with former boss Mauricio Pochettino claiming they were in need of a ‘painful’ one near the end of this tenure.

As such, this latest Gold update comes as a promising one with Conte and Paratici now eyeing key additions in a plethora of important Spurs positions.

Who they manage to sign in a difficult winter window remains to be seen, but this January looks set to be Tottenham’s most eventful in recent memory.

In other news: Tottenham ‘working strongly’ for ‘phenomenal signing’ as reporter drops Twitter claim, find out more here.

Jimmy Adams’ tentative 60 edged Hampshire into a narrow 148-run lead at the Rose Bowl as they bid to avoid a sixth straight domestic defeat of the season

06-May-2010
ScorecardJimmy Adams’ tentative 60 edged Hampshire into a narrow 148-run lead at the Rose Bowl as they bid to avoid a sixth straight domestic defeat of the season. Adams was the only Hampshire batsmen to make a significant impact on the scorecard as Samit Patel’s two wickets left Nottinghamshire in a strong position to avoid defeat and maintain their strong start to the County Championship Division One season.Nottinghamshire allrounder Steven Mullaney had earlier taken the away side past Hampshire’s first innings total with a sturdy unbeaten 100, ably supported by Paul Franks’ 48 from 90 deliveries. Mullaney frustrated the home attack, taking the game to Hampshire and striking 12 boundaries during his century.Mullaney and tailender Franks put on 79 for the eighth wicket before the latter was trapped lbw by Dominic Cork with the Hampshire veteran then cleaning up the tail with the wickets of Darren Pattinson and Charlie Shreck to dismiss them for 329 and claim figures of 4 for 34.Hampshire began positively with in-form Michael Carberry looking to add to his first innings haul of 132 – and he and Adams looked in good shape building an encouraging first-wicket stand. However the England batsman nicked a swinging delivery from Pattinson to wicketkeeper Chris Read with Hampshire just five runs ahead – and you could almost feel the nerves enveloping around the Rose Bowl.Chris Benham did little to quell those fears with an underwhelming 18 from 44 balls, failing to find the boundary rope before he was removed lbw by Samit Patel, unable to judge a well-pitched delivery from the spinner. At the other end Adams kept his head with some fine drives and intelligent pinch-hitting to keep the score ticking over.He lost another partner when South African Neil McKenzie again failed to deliver on his return to England as he edged a quick Shreck delivery to Read for another disappointing score of just 12. Adams’ resolve lasted until the 49th over when he popped one up to BilalShafayat in the field from Patel and the collapse continued with Nottinghamshire eyeing a total below 200 to win.Thankfully for the hosts the experienced head of Nic Pothas (29 not out) and teenager James Vince (29 not out) glued together a 50-run partnership inside 30 gruelling overs at the end of the day’s play just when it was needed.

Brendon McCullum said it was a big day for the New Zealand team to win the ODI series despite narrowly missing out on inflicting a whitewash on South Africa in Potchefstroom

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jan-2013Brendon McCullum said it was a big day for the New Zealand team to win the ODI series despite narrowly missing out on inflicting a whitewash on South Africa in Potchefstroom. New Zealand were a wicket away from their third consecutive win, but a six off the last ball by Ryan McLaren gave South Africa a consolatory win.”It would have been great to win the series 3-0,” McCullum said. “But winning the series, achieving what we’ve achieved in this series and even how we’ve played today as well, we’ve showed the characteristics that we want to be known for.”New Zealand made a shaky start after choosing to bat and were 68 for 4 in the 22nd over. But resurgent half-centuries by Grant Elliott, Colin Munro and James Franklin lifted them to a competitive 260. South Africa responded with a controlled chase, but the fall of Graeme Smith towards the end of the innings allowed the New Zealand bowlers to exert pressure on the inexperienced middle-order and almost pull off another win.”Our bowlers tried hard all day. The wicket did skid on a little bit, and it was probably slightly easier to bat on in that second innings,” McCullum said. “But that’s the nature of the toss as well and playing in foreign conditions. I can’t speak highly enough of the effort from our guys.””I thought we showed some real character and some real fighting qualities to hang in there, when we were behind the eight ball and get ourselves back in the game. Graeme Smith’s innings today was a phenomenal innings and deserved to be on the winning side.After the humiliation in the two Tests, McCullum saw the result in the ODIs as a big boost. He said the team showed it was capable of competing with the best but now needs to do it on a consistent basis.”We competed in the Twenty20s, but South Africa deserved the result; in Tests we were blown off the park by a team at the top of their game. It was a learning opportunity to see the best in action and see how far we need to improve, but to win the ODI series has been satisfying, not only for the group of players, but also for the management and the fans.”