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Journalist Beren Cross has slammed Leeds United winger Jack Harrison after he put in a "poor" display on the weekend as his team slumped to another loss.

What's the latest on Leeds and West Ham?

Coming up against West Ham on Sunday afternoon, the Whites were in desperate need of a win – or at least a point.

In the end, though, Sam Allardyce and co came away with neither and so defeat means they now go into the last round of Premier League fixtures inside the bottom three.

Although Rodrigo fired Leeds into an early lead, they let things slip from there as unanswered goals from Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini saw the Irons win the match 3-1.

Evidently, it was a difficult afternoon for a number of men in white but it seems as though Harrison was one of the most disappointing performers on the day.

Indeed, in the player ratings for LeedsLive, the winger was slammed by Cross who gave him a lowly score of just 3/10.

The journalist also wrote: "Poor decisions with the ball when it came to him, poor execution when he seemed to make better decisions or simply not involved enough to make decisions at other times."

How bad was Harrison against West Ham?

On the Whites' last league trip to the London Stadium, Harrison stole the show as he netted a hat-trick to help his side take all three points in a thrilling 3-2 win.

This time around, he couldn't repeat the trick and was comparatively woeful when you consider the heights he scaled with that past outing.

Indeed, Cross wasn't the only one to be left hoping for more from Harrison's appearance, as Graham Smyth handed him a 4/10 in the Yorkshire Evening Post and wrote: "Gave some forward impetus but missed a big chance at the end of the first half. Not enough."

And when you look at his stats on SofaScore, it doesn't make for pretty reading either. Indeed, the £90k-p/w winger struggled with just 35 touches which is six fewer than goalkeeper Joel Robles.

He also lost the ball eight times despite not being that involved and failed to find a teammate with two attempted long balls, while he didn't help out much defensively either as he was dribbled past twice and made zero tackles, interceptions, clearances or blocks.

All in all, a day to forget for the Englishman as his side takes another step towards relegation.

New Zealand Cricket is monitoring the unrest in Zimbabwe ahead of its team’s tour to the country later this month

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jul-2016

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) is monitoring the unrest in Zimbabwe ahead of its team’s tour to the country later this month. Widespread protests against economic and civil issues have taken place in Zimbabwe this week.New Zealand’s departure for Africa will not be delayed as of now, NZC public affairs manager Richard Boock told the , but the board will keep a close watch on the situation as the team prepares for the two Tests against Zimbabwe at a camp in Pretoria, South Africa.”We are monitoring closely what is happening in Zimbabwe,” Boock said. “There are no plans to delay the players leaving New Zealand. While in camp in Pretoria, we will be able to keep an eye on what is going on. South Africa A are in Harare at present, and we will be liaising with South Africa Cricket and the British High Commission in Harare.”Currently, South Africa A are in Zimbabwe to play two four-day games, one each in Harare and Bulawayo. In June, India had played three ODIs and three T20s in Harare without incident.The New Zealand team is scheduled to fly to South Africa on July 11, before moving to Zimbabwe in time for a three-day warm-up game in Harare from July 22. The Tests are set to be played in Bulawayo between July 28 and August 10.A nationwide strike to protest a lack of jobs and unpaid wages was organised in Zimbabwe on July 6, leaving city streets deserted. On Monday, taxi drivers clashed with security forces in Harare over issues of extortion, leading to many arrests. Several other strikes – reportedly featuring the likes of civil servants, doctors, teachers – have also taken place in the drought-hit country.

West Ham United return to the London Stadium this evening as they face Manchester United in their ongoing fight against relegation from the Premier League.

Saturday's results mean that the Hammers are still just four points clear of the bottom three and cannot be considered safe, but a positive result against Erik ten Hag's side would definitely put them in a strong position ahead of the final three games of the season.

David Moyes' side were soundly beaten by champions-elect Manchester City in midweek to make it three defeats in a row, although they were without the likes of Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and Nayef Aguerd due to illness.

All three are expected to return this evening, however, which will surely boost the east London side's chances of securing a vitally important three points.

How should West Ham line up against Manchester United?

Lukas Fabianski has been Moyes' first-choice for the vast majority of the Premier League season and the experienced shot-stopper looks unlikely to lose his place in between the sticks this evening.

Vladimir Coufal was forced off with a hamstring injury in the defeat at the Etihad on Wednesday night so looks unlikely to be fit for the visit of United, which suggests that Thilo Kehrer will move to right-back as his replacement.

The Germany international should move from centre-back to the full-back position, which allows Nayef Aguerd to return to the side in the first of four changes, partnering Angelo Ogbonna in the heart of the Hammers defence in the absence of the stricken Kurt Zouma.

Moyes has a big decision to make at left-back, where he has alternated between Aaron Cresswell and Emerson throughout the campaign, but it is the Italian defender who should get the nod for this one.

Against a dangerous counter-attacking United attack, Cresswell's lack of pace could prove a problem for West Ham, as was seen with his "desperate" defending last season – as per Dean Ashton. Indeed, that came as he inexplicably earned a red card in the crucial Europa League away tie against Eintracht Frankfurt.

In midfield, changes seem like a must as Flynn Downes once again showed little to suggest he was a worthwhile purchase having 'frustrated Moyes' – as per Jonty Colman – versus City. That performance wouldn't have helped his cause with the Englishman still yet to register a goal or assist so far this term.

Rice and Soucek return after illness, with Lucas Paqueta moving back into the attacking-midfield role which has seen him notch goals against Bournemouth, Liverpool and KRC Genk in recent weeks.

Said Benrahma can offer magic in the attack, so he comes in for Pablo Fornals on the left-hand side, with Jarrod Bowen unsurprisingly keeping his place on the right.

They support the in-form Michail Antonio up front, in the hope that he can inspire the Hammers to a much-improved display this evening.

Predicted West Ham XI (4-2-3-1): Fabianski, Kehrer, Aguerd, Ogbonna, Emerson, Soucek, Rice, Paqueta, Bowen, Benrahma, Antonio.

Leeds United could look at former Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl as a ‘credible last-minute option’ to replace Javi Gracia, according to The Daily Express’ Ryan Taylor.

What’s Taylor said about Leeds and Hasenhuttl?

Gracia took over at Elland Road back in February after the club parted ways with Jesse Marsch weeks earlier. The Spaniard penned a flexible contract in Yorkshire and has so far won three of his eight Premier League games in charge of the Whites, with the club just two points above the relegation zone.

However, Leeds have recently suffered heavy back-to-back home defeats against Crystal Palace and Liverpool, with the club already conceding a whopping 16 goals this month.

Taylor shared a story for The Daily Express in the last 48 hours, looking at four possible short-term candidates who could be considered if Gracia was sacked in a last-chance saloon.

One of those was Hasenhuttl, with Taylor saying he was a serious contender to replace Marsch and that ‘his experience battling survival in previous seasons with Southampton could make him a credible last-minute option if Gracia's situation does not improve’.

Stick with Gracia?

Hasenhuttl has been hailed as ‘outstanding’ in the media and has managed over 150 games in the Premier League with Southampton.

The 55-year-old, who likes to play a 4-4-2 system, has been out of work since leaving St Mary’s in November and has seemingly been on the radar of a number of top-flight sides including relegation rivals Crystal Palace, Everton and Leicester.

However, with just seven Premier League games remaining, you could say that Leeds have made their bed and need to lie in it when it comes to Gracia, with another change in the dugout potentially doing more harm than good.

Bringing in a new manager so late in the season has historically had very little effect on the team’s overall position, so the Whites may be keeping everything crossed they remain in the top flight under Gracia and take stock of the managerial position in the summer.

Andrea Radrizzani faces losing out on £270m if the club are relegated, so he’ll be desperate for a positive outcome before looking likely to sell up to the 49ers Enterprises. You’d expect that both Radrizzani and the 49ers will be in constant dialogue when it comes to all things Leeds, and it would be a real surprise if they were to bring in another new manager for the remaining fixtures.

YouTuber Conor McGilligan has slammed Leeds United manager Javi Gracia for bringing on Rasmus Kristensen at left-back in the club's most recent game.

What's the latest on Leeds and Javi Gracia?

With the threat of relegation looming large, the Whites were hoping for a big performance at Elland Road on Easter Sunday.

However, they really failed to do that as they were humiliated by Crystal Palace in front of their own fans as they suffered a 5-1 Premier League defeat.

Patrick Bamford actually gave Leeds the lead but goals from Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze, Odsonne Edouard, and a brace from Jordan Ayew saw the Eagles pick up all three points with ease.

Not long after going 3-1 down, Gracia tried to change things up as he subbed off Junior Firpo and brought on Kristensen.

This seemed to baffle McGilligan, who questioned why the right-back came on when the 52-year-old manager had more natural options at left-back

When talking on the One Leeds Fan Channel, he said (5:19): “Rasmus came on at left-back which I mean was almost hilarious in itself. Rasmus hasn't got a left foot.

"I was wondering why [Liam] Cooper didn't come on, then [Pascal] Struijk was put out to left-back. Don't really know why Rasmus is going on at left-back.

"But seriously, seriously worrying times."

Can Rasmus Kristensen play left-back?

As you can see from his WhoScored profile, Kristensen hasn't played any football at left-back this term. What's more, his passing is noted as a weakness, so to put him in a position where he will be using his weak foot to try and build attacking play and mount a comeback certainly isn't the best plan in theory.

In addition, as McGilligan mentions, Struijk could have moved across to left-back seeing as the 23-year-old has played there 20 times this season already.

In the end, it's safe to say Gracia's plan didn't work out at all as Palace went on to score two more goals in the final stages of the game with Kristensen playing out of position as club captain Cooper sat on the bench as an unused defensive option.

In the LeedsLive player ratings, Beren Cross also noted just how badly Kristensen played after coming on for the final half-an-hour of the game.

Indeed, the journalist handed the 25-year-old Denmark international a three out of ten. He also wrote: "Switched off when the centre-backs stepped up to play Ayew onside for the fifth goal. Caught badly out of position by [Michael] Olise at left-back several times."

Aston Villa host Bournemouth in the Premier League this afternoon as they attempt to head into the international break off the back of a win.

The Villans have won two of their last three matches in the division but were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham United in their game last weekend.

Unai Emery's side took the lead through Ollie Watkins' header but Leon Bailey fouled Lucas Paqueta in the box and allowed Said Benrahma to equalise from the spot.

Despite being unbeaten in the last three outings, the Spanish head coach may look to freshen his team up in their last match before the break.

How will Aston Villa line-up against Bournemouth?

We predict that Emery will make three alternations to his starting XI. Firstly, Ashley Young could be recalled to start at right-back ahead of Matty Cash.

The Poland international lost 100% of his individual duels against the Hammers and the veteran – who has the third-highest Sofascore rating (6.92) in the squad – could come in to replace him after that weak display.

In midfield, John McGinn and Douglas Luiz could continue as the central midfield pairing as Boubacar Kamara continues to recover from his injury.

There could be two changes in the attacking areas, however, as Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia could find themselves on the chopping block.

Starting on the right, Bertrand Traore could be given a big opportunity to catch the eye to replace Bailey. The Jamaica international gave away a penalty against West Ham and has one goal and zero assists in his last 14 appearances, which could tempt the manager to take him out of the firing line.

Buendia, meanwhile, has one goal and zero assists in his last eight outings in the Premier League and has recorded a Sofascore rating of 6.5 or lower in four of those games. This could open the door for Jhon Duran, 19, to come into the team alongside Ollie Watkins at the top end of the pitch.

The dynamo, who talent scout Jacek Kulig once dubbed an aerial "threat", is yet to start his first league match for the club but scored eight goals and provided three assists in 14 MLS starts in 2022 and could offer more of an attacking threat than the Argentine playmaker.

Liverpool have held no ‘concrete talks’ with Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha this summer, according to an update from renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Lowdown: Palhinha shining for Fulham

The 27-year-old made the move to Craven Cottage from Sporting CP last summer and he has made a huge impact to date, proving to be a key man in their surprise push for European football, rather than battling for relegation.

Palhinha has been a hugely dominant figure in Fulham’s midfield, averaging an eye-catching 4.2 tackles per game in the Premier League across 24 appearances, and he has arguably been one of the standout players in the division in his position.

Aside from his tackling expertise, the Portuguese has also chipped in with three goals and averaged 2.1 aerial duel wins per match, highlighting his strong all-round ability in the middle of the park.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Palhinha in recent days, as Jurgen Klopp eyes up midfield additions during the summer transfer window, and a new update has now emerged regarding his future.

The Latest: No concrete talks yet

Speaking to Caught Offside, Romano revealed that no genuine negotiations have taken place, whether that be from the Reds or Manchester United:

“It’s normal to have (these) headlines for Joao Palhinha, also Andreas Pereira has many clubs tracking him and same for Manor Solomon.

“They are all doing very well, but Fulham have not had any contact with clubs yet. For sure Palhinha is very appreciated but I’m not aware of concrete talks with Liverpool or Manchester United yet.”

The Verdict: Would be an ideal signing

Palhinha’s performances for Fulham this season make you wonder why bigger clubs weren’t in for him last summer, with statisticians describing him as ‘incredible’ on Twitter, due to his unrivalled tackling ability in the league this season.

Liverpool’s midfield has been absolutely crying out for his dynamism and tenacity all season long, with the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson looking past their best, while youngsters Stefan Bajcetic and Harvey Elliott continue to learn their trade.

Palhinha would be an ideal signing for the Reds this summer if a move ended up materialising, with the 18-time capped Portugal international possessing all the tools that would suit Klopp’s midfield, from power to quality on the ball (81.5% pass completion rate in the league).

If he and Jude Bellingham were both brought in, Liverpool would immediately resemble a different animal in the middle of the park and whole team would improve because of it.

West Ham United may have just endured a relatively quiet January transfer window, but they could already be plotting for another big summer…

When was Nelson linked with West Ham?

That’s according to journalist Steve Kay, who added some specifics to Fabrizio Romano’s claim that two Premier League clubs are considering an end-of-contract move for Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson.

Kay wrote on Twitter: “West Ham are interested in signing Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson in the upcoming summer transfer window”.

This news emerged late last week and could see Mark Noble secure the Irons’ next iteration of Jarrod Bowen, as Nelson’s £15k-per-week deal at the Emirates Stadium draws to a close in June.

How can Nelson be the next Bowen?

Both Nelson and former Hull City winger Bowen share striking similarities, although the latter has been afforded far more freedom and game-time to flourish whilst the former has struggled behind numerous options at Arsenal.

With Leandro Trossard the latest attacking addition at the Emirates, any chances of a career revival for the 23-year-old at the club are likely scuppered.

A move to east London could see him reignite a career which once promised so much, with the hope that he can emulate the development of Bowen into one of the Premier League’s most feared wingers.

Last season saw the 26-year-old score 18 goals and set up a further 13 in all competitions, using his dynamism and skill to terrorise defenders and score with his wicked left foot.

Should he sign for West Ham as well, Nelson could operate on the opposite flank as a mirrored alternative to their leading marksman.

Despite seeing his chances limited once again this term, the Gunners dynamo took his chance when he was handed it. His brace against Nottingham Forest in October captured the imagination, and he has four goal contributions in just seven short appearances this season.

Forest manager Steve Cooper was quick to sing Nelson’s praises following that match, saying: “[Reiss Nelson] and I always had a strong relationship. He was a standout player for England U17s. It’s good to see him doing well, I just wish it wasn’t today.”

Clearly boasting vast untapped talent, alleviating that pressure by moving to a smaller club could be imperative in the 23-year-old’s growth. He again offered glimpses of that whilst on loan at Feyenoord last season, where he recorded 11 goal contributions in the Netherlands.

His contributions compared to his playing time might inflate his metrics somewhat, but when compared to other wingers across Europe’s major leagues, he is up there with the best. Over the past year, he ranks in the top 2% for assists, the top 5% for progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 2% for tackles (via FBref).

To add such an offensively outstanding asset to David Moyes’ squad, who also boasts the work rate to match, could be a stroke of genius by West Ham if they bring him from N5 to E20. It would benefit all parties involved, as Bowen could help to shape the Arsenal youngster in his image.

Aston Villa could still look to complete the signing of Marseille midfielder Matteo Guendouzi in the summer transfer window, expert Dean Jones has claimed.

The Lowdown: Guendouzi linked with Villa move

The Frenchman was strongly linked with a move to Villa Park throughout January as reports even claimed a contract offer was made to the player, as Unai Emery eyed up a former student to reinforce his midfield.

In the end, Guendouzi ended up staying put at Marseille, however, where he has made a total of 20 appearances in Ligue 1 so far this season.

The 23-year-old could depart at the end of the season, though, and Villa could be hovering once again when that time arrives.

The Latest: Summer transfer on the cards?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, transfer insider Jones claimed that Villa’s interest in the former Arsenal man could resurface in the summer:

“It wouldn’t surprise me if the link came back onto the radar.

“I’d say it also depends how Marseille’s season plays out. I think they had a reasonably good transfer window themselves, and it might be quite an exciting place for him to be.”

The Verdict: Could be a strong option

Guendouzi is someone who could represent an excellent option for Villa moving forward, as he continues to mature as a footballer all the time.

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During his Arsenal days he was still very young and immature, but he is now a key figure for one of France’s leading teams, averaging an 88.8% pass completion rate and 1.2 tackles per game in the league this season, showing both sides to his game.

Guendouzi has been hailed for his ‘contagious’ approach and incredible attitude by Jorge Sampaoli in the past, not to mention making one appearance for France at the 2022 World Cup, and he should be coming into his best years now.

Fresh blood is required in Villa’s midfield, in order to ensure it doesn’t stagnate with the same players in it year after year, and the Marseille leader can be that man to come in and add quality and bite alongside compatriot Boubacar Kamara.

Journalist and stats guru Gavin Buckland has admitted he is a fan of Ralph Hasenuhttl amid Everton’s search for a new manager.

The Lowdown: Everton can take their time

The Toffees were dumped out of the FA Cup a couple of weeks ago, which means they have a free weekend and no game until next week, so the Everton hierarchy don’t need to make a quick appointment.

Everton decided to pull the trigger and sack Frank Lampard following a horrific run of form which has seen the Toffees occupy a spot inside the relegation zone, and managers such as Marcelo Bielsa and Sean Dyche are being linked with the vacant role.

However, another former Premier League manager without a club could be a decent appointment in the eyes of Buckland in the form of Hasenhuttl, who lost his job at Southampton prior to the World Cup.

The Latest: Hasenhuttl would be a left-field choice

Buckland was asked on the All Together Now podcast who he’d like to see appointed as Everton’s next manager, and while a fan of ex-Burnley man Dyche, he also revealed his admiration for Hasenhuttl because of what he did on the south coast.

He said: “I’d got for Dyche, [but] I tell you who hasn’t been mentioned and I’ve always liked is Hasenhuttl. He’s out of a job, I’ve always liked him, possibly he’d be somebody.”

The Verdict: Moshiri should go for experience

Given the precarious position Everton find themselves in and that they have won just once in their last 14 games, it would be sensible for Moshiri to opt for an experienced Premier League manager who’s been there and done it at the bottom of the league.

This would therefore make candidates such as Dyche and Hasenhuttl viable options for Everton, while they are also out of a job, so would be more attainable financially for the Toffees who are severely cash-strapped.

According to TalkSPORT man Alex Crook, Hasenhuttl was judged rather harshly on the south coast when he was sacked last year by both the club and the Southampton fanbase, and with them failing to have improved under Nathan Jones, that could suggest he was doing a better job than people gave him credit for, so perhaps Buckland’s shout is worth considering.