Tuesdays Champions League round up

Hello and good morning, here I provide a round up of yesterday’s Champions League action.

Pictured: Jordan Henderson (Yellow jersey) and Koke (Red and White jersey) competing for the ball

The Sports Buff’s T20 World Cup preview

Hello and good evening, here I Ayyaz Malik aka the sports buff preview this years 2021 World Cup.

Have a watch here;

India are seen as one of the favourites for the T20 World Cup

India T20 Captain contenders

He had one of the most difficult jobs in sport, the same way then Manchester United manager David Moyes did in replacing Sir Alex Ferguson, arguably the most successful British manager of all time.

It was a similar job that then Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola was tasked with when he came out of his sabbatical to replace Jupp Heynckes. In cricketing terms, former RCB captain and soon to be ex India T20 captain Virat Kohli faced a similar job when he replaced MS Dhoni as India captain.

CSK skipper Dhoni, over saw a trophy laden era. The Champions trophy, World Cups in 50 overs and 20 overs had also been won in his tenure. Quite the trophy cabinet, for MSD and whoever was going to be the occupant of the India captaincy and succeed Dhoni, had a huge task to rival such success as their predecessor.

Seen as the air to the Tendaulkar throne, with his stats backing it up, India opted for RCB’s Delhi born batsmen Virat Kohli taking the top job. Fiery, passionate and motivaional, Kohli was a polar opposite of his predecessor, but not able to scale the heights of MSD.

A final, in the World T20 and Champions trophy, accompanied by that semi-final defeat by New Zealand, who are somewhat of a bogey team for the men in Blue. The World Test Championship defeat in the summer, which saw The Black Caps become test champions of the new tournament, gives weight to our argument.

The team here at The Sports Buff, since the news emerged that Kohli will be stepping down as T20 captain after the World Cup, want to offer our thoughts on who should replace Viru.

Rohit Sharma

This is one of the most obvious names on the list and would be seen as some what as a safe move. Now, please don’t misinterpret that. To have the option of appointing a four-time IPL winning captain and pass it up? BCCI would be mad!

Sharma did also win the tournament with Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural event as a player, so is a five-time IPL winner. This is noteworthy because in Rohit Sharma, you have a winner, a proven winner.

One, not so much criticism in Kohli’s leadership is that, just maybe he hasn’t had the nous like MSD always seems to and to a point Sharma as well in the big moments of big games. We are a fan of the current India test Captain we also want to add.

He is a very passionate, heart on sleeve cricketer, his India team which has been number one for a sustained period is a reflection of that. India hierarchy, give the reigns to the Mumbai Indians captain Sharma, and you can feel rest assured the T20 captaincy is in safe hands for 2-3 years at least.

T20 is a young mans game, so a new appointment would need to be made again soon as it will soon be time for Rohit to call time on a sparkling career.

A point to consider BCCI?

KL Rahul

The choice of KL Rahul, is linked to the appointment of Rohit Sharma. The Sports Buff team thinks Sharma will be favourite for the job, but the BCCI should take a look at KL Rahul in the role.

With his side Punjab Kings, falling short in big matches, at big times, this is a stick that could be used to beat him, but in game we feel we’re on to something. The Punjab captain, we feel is quite an innovative captain.

Eoin Morgan he is not, but the 29-year old should be worth a mention. . KL Rahul age is a factor, which should put him into consideration for the T20 captaincy, unlike Rohit Sharma he we feel still has 5-6 years at top level in International T20 cricket.

For mid term consideration KL Rahul is a good option, a lot of the other players are coming into their 30’s.

Rishabh Pant

The last of our three man short list is Delhi Capital’s captain Rishabh Pant. Pant who is now the first choice wicket-keeper for his country, has seen many challenges at this level. As a batsmen and keeper, Pant is seen as one of the characters of the game.

For a young man at 24, it’s clear to see has a fantastic temperament, we feel (although early doors) it’s showing in his captaincy. A semi-final defeat in his maiden IPL campaign as captain, would have hurt but it’s one where he can gain some priceless experience from.

Although a long shot, we have been slightly critical of the youngsters that are coming through, if the Indian board were to start rebuild, something similar to arch-rivals Pakistan how they have Babar Azam as their captain, then Rishabh Pant should be the player that a new Indian revolution is built around.

We do suggest a wildcard, in the form of Pritvhi Shaw. You will notice that we haven’t written a compelling argument for him, but we feel he should be mentioned in the future if he keeps improving like he is.

The Delhi Capitals opener was Under 19 captain of course, so he has leadership experience.

The 24-year old Pant would be long term thinking, which would be very bold from the Indian cricket board

So that’s our list, do you agree? Let us know in the comments.

Pictured Rohit Sharma (left) we tip as the next India captain, to replace Virat Kohli after the T20 World Cup

Jesse Lingard rejects new deal (satire)

He’s seen as something a cult hero. When I say cult hero, think Martin Braithwaite and of course Nicholas Bendtner, or as he’s affectionately known ‘Lord Bendtner’. For those of you who watch the Inbetweeners, our Nicholas isn’t Jay in disguise! Jay would probably say he taught Ronaldo all he knows, (both Ronaldo’s that is).

Not quite so sure why there’s a Danish feel to this cult hero thing, but another player on the list is Englishmen Jesse Lingard. Seen as a youngster at 28, coming on 29 this lad is surely going to be the Benjamin Button of football.

Under Louis Van Gaal and Mourinho more so, Lingardinho flourished but Jesse’s form declined and our young hero became trapped in the footballing dungeon (the subs bench). Jesse did have some freedom and on loan he went and into the sunset he went (well East London).

Our Dabbing Jesse and flute playing young gun got the stardust sprinkled into his feet and scored goals and got assists too, something that eluded him for over a year. This was amazing for our hero Lingard, he can go back to the castle and show he’s a man and not a boy.

The king of the Manchester United castle Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has not been fully convinced and has only afforded Prince Lingard minimal time of freedom from the football dungeon that is the subs bench.

Lingard agreed a deal with King Ole, he wrote it in ink too! He can leave at the end of the season if he isn’t freed, but this is mismanagement by OGS. He had the chance to get 30 million piece of gold coins, but Mr J Lingz is still here at Old Trafford.

With dance floor moves smoother than silk and a clean shaven man’s face, Jesse could go into reality TV whether it be Dancing on Ice, Strictly or I could even see him on Love Island. Jesse Lingard has one of those faces.

The Strictly come dancing option would be one Lingard will love, think about it strictly dancing! Just came to me as I was trying to help Jesse with a potential alternative career path, TikTok star! Instead of Kiki do you love me, Jess will be singing Ole do you love me right?

If you do Lingardinho, please for the love of God don’t walk in the middle of the road and do dances that only you could muster with your car door open.

We have seen the former West Ham loanee be quite the prankster and joker on many a video, so why are we suggesting all these alternate careers? Well sports fans, the reason is simple Jesse Lingard is in the last year of his Man United contract and well, with the 28-year old snubbing West Ham, the team that were the most serious of signing, the next move for Lingard is far from certain.

Bruno Fernandez, might not have the moves on the dance floor, but after the defeat against Aston Villa, the Portuguese man has shown he too is multi-skilled, if Portugal do get a Rugby Union side, he will be their kicker in waiting.

Sure the former Lisbon man could convert the conversion from a try or score a drop-goal if needed. Bruno Fernandez and Paul Pogba and several other players who are blocking the route into the first team for the Warrington born Lingard.

It was a very admirable move by Lingard to stay and fight for his place, but with Pogba who is also in the last year of his contract and Anthony Elanga amongst an impressive crop of new youngsters coming through, Jesse Lingard’s decision although admirable is turning out to be naive.

No football player wants to be locked in the footballing dungeon (ask Van Der Beek). Manchester United who in the past never allowed this happen, have seen two players who Ole has publicly said he wants to keep, have just one year left on their contracts with no extension agreement appearing to be not forth coming.

Maybe Newcastle Riyadh (sorry United) could be the saviour? Never say never.

Man United with their poor management of player contracts sound like a certain club from London, Arsenal is that you?

Have you moved to South Manchester? Well it would be easier for London based Manchester United fans if that was the case.

Jesse Lingard (Right) is in a contract stand off with the club, which is a sign of the changing times in football

The Fist of Fury

WBC World Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, brutally dismantled Deontay Wilder to retain his title in their trilogy fight in Las Vegas. In the second bout, that saw Wilder lose his unbeaten record, in the American’s words due to a heavy costume, was out for revenge here.

If you were like me, then the thought of a third bout between these two gladiator fighters, could have been argued, was not good for the heavyweight division, due to waning fan interest. As both men, obviously read articles from this website, they were adamant to prove this sports writer wrong.

The scorecards in this matchup at the halfway stage were showing The Bronze Bomber Wilder, actually ahead on points. Manchester born Fury, who has yet to taste defeat was floored twice by Wilder.

Any thoughts of this match up being as one sided as the second fight, became clear wouldn’t happen. Passion, skill, heart and courage were just some of the words to describe this fight.

As the cliche goes, there can only be one winner. Tyson Fury, just maybe wanted it that little bit more, but The Alabama Slammer more than played his part, he just ran out of steam it can be argued.

Deontay Wilder huffed and puffed and tried to pull out all the stops to win the title he lost to Tyson Fury, but he would be floored for the third and final time, which ended a classic contest.

The American Wilder after the fight wasn’t in congratulatory mood for his rival, but the former world champion can be proud of his efforts. After the fight, rumours began to circulate that Wilder would retire, something he fiercely denied.

Next up for Fury, potentially is a fight against Dillian Whyte and for Wilder well maybe a match up with Andy Ruiz or Anthony Joshua (after his rematch with Alexander Usyk).

Tyson Fury (left) delivering a killer blow to Deontay Wilder (right)

A satire look of life on Tyneside

Hello and good evening, here we try to take a satire look at life at Newcastle United, bow the takeover is complete;

Antonio Conte (pictured) insisting he doesn’t want the Newcastle job as they remind him too much of Juventus.