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The 2019-20 season is just a month away and some of the biggest names in football go into the campaign with question marks over their future, both on and off the pitch.

Where will they be playing, and when they get their boots on, can they deliver and live up to their reputations?

- When does the transfer window close?
- All major completed transfer deals

NEYMAR

Wherever the Paris Saint-Germain forward is playing his football next season -- and the most likely outcome is that he remains at PSG due to the sheer cost of trying to sign him -- he simply has to get back to being a footballer first and a celebrity a distant second.

At 27, the Brazilian should be at the peak of his career, but he has endured two injury-hit seasons in Paris since becoming the world's most expensive player following his €222m switch from Barcelona in 2017. He has also had issues off the pitch, having been accused of raping a woman at a Paris hotel in May (which he denied) and was criticised by PSG chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi for his lifestyle away from football.

PSG signed Neymar to take the club to the next level in the Champions League, yet they have not gone beyond the round of 16 since he arrived. A three-match ban hangs over him after last season's exit against Manchester United, when he was sanctioned for insulting match officials on social media while injured, so if he stays in Paris he really needs to start delivering.

PHILIPPE COUTINHO

Little has gone right for the Brazilian since his £142m move from Liverpool to Barcelona in Jan 2018 and this summer's arrival of Antoine Griezmann at Camp Nou is more bad news for the 27-year-old.

Booed by his own fans last season, Coutinho has cut an unhappy figure with the Spanish champions and a move would appear to be the best solution for player and club.

Barca are making it clear that Coutinho is not for sale, but with potential of interest from the Premier League before the English window closes on Aug. 8, there is a chance that the forward will get the chance to rebuild his career elsewhere.

A loan move looks most likely for Coutinho unless Barca are prepared to take a huge loss on their initial outlay.

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1:16

Why the captaincy won't keep Pogba at Man United

Paul Mariner and Steve Nicol can't believe Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is considering Paul Pogba for Manchester United's captaincy.

PAUL POGBA

Paul Pogba's future at Manchester United has now been a rumbling saga for over a year, with the midfielder upping the ante this summer by admitting recently that he wants a new challenge elsewhere.

United are determined not to sell and value him at over £150m anyway, so with potential buyers such as Real Madrid and Juventus committing their transfer funds elsewhere, there is an increasing likelihood that Pogba will still be at Old Trafford next season.

If he does stay, Pogba must show what he is capable of on a more consistent basis, otherwise the big clubs will look elsewhere and the United supporters, who have already started to lose patience, could become hostile towards their £89.3m star signing.

JOHN STONES

The Manchester City defender was signed by the club for £47.5m in 2016 to become the long-term replacement for Vincent Kompany, with Pep Guardiola comparing the England man to a young Gerard Pique.

But while Stones has since helped City to two Premier League titles and both domestic cups in England, the 25-year-old has seen his development stall at the Etihad, with Aymeric Laporte moving ahead of him as the cornerstone of the defence.

Kompany's departure at the end of last season has opened up a vacancy alongside Laporte at the heart of the defence, but with Guardiola still to be convinced by the former Everton defender's consistency, Stones faces a make-or-break season at City.

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Can Alexis Sanchez produce more than Lukaku for Man United?

If Romelu Lukaku leaves Manchester United this summer, Mark Ogden says it could give Alexis Sanchez a chance to revive his career at Old Trafford.

ALEXIS SANCHEZ

Having scored just five goals in 45 appearances for Manchester United since arriving from Arsenal in January 2018, Sanchez has been a huge disappointment at Old Trafford.

Injuries, Jose Mourinho's tactics and a general loss of form by the Chilean have all conspired against him in a United shirt, but with striker Romelu Lukaku likely to leave for Italy this summer and few, if any, takers for Sanchez due to his £400,000-a-week wages, the 30-year-old will get the chance to prove his worth under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

But the big question about Sanchez, and the one that only he can answer, is whether he still has the desire and energy to turn his situation around at United. If the answer is yes, United will have a world-class forward to call upon.

DELE ALLI

Remember when Dele Alli was being billed as English football's next thing -- a goal-scoring midfielder destined to end up at Real Madrid or Barcelona? Still only 23, the Tottenham player faces a big season in 2019-20 because his progress has slowed alarmingly for his club, and he is no longer certain of his place in the England team.

Having hit 10 and then 18 goals in his first two Premier League seasons with Spurs, Alli scored 9 in 2017-18 before netting just five last season, so it is clear where his game has deteriorated.

He still has time on his side to rediscover the form that made him one of the most sought-after players in Europe, but Alli needs to perform.

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Sid Lowe explains Real Madrid's plan to offload players

ESPN FC's Sid Lowe says it's still early, but he fully expects Real Madrid to make a big push to generate money from player sales this summer.

GARETH BALE

It is the same old story every summer for Gareth Bale. His Real Madrid future is always the subject of intense speculation, but with coach Zinedine Zidane making it clear that the Welshman will not be a central figure in his plans, this time around might finally signal the end of his six-year spell at the Bernabeu.

But Bale is 30 on Tuesday and is on huge wages at Real, so potential buying clubs will not be prepared to spend a big fee to land a player who, while clearly a world-class talent, has been plagued by injury problems in recent seasons.

Bale has vowed to fight on in Madrid, yet a loan move elsewhere looks the most likely outcome, and it could be a last-minute deadline-day deal that finally resolves his future.

ANTHONY MARTIAL

A player with undoubted talent, Anthony Martial must prove he belongs in the Premier League with Manchester United.

The 23-year-old enjoyed his second-best season in terms of Premier League goals at United last term, hitting 10 in 36 appearances, but he always leaves the impression that there is so much more to come.

When he signed for United in 2015, he was touted as one of the most exciting young players in Europe, but he has since been eclipsed by the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, so can Martial become a 20-goal-per-season forward, or have we already seen the best of him?

MESUT OZIL

The Arsenal midfielder divides opinion like few others. Many regard him as a luxury player who is out of place in the modern game, while others point to his ability to turn a game with a pass or moment of brilliance.

Arsenal coach Unai Emery appears to have a foot in both camps, although there were many times last season when the Spaniard's patience with Ozil looked to have run out.

Still, in 166 Premier League games for Arsenal, Ozil has scored 32 goals and racked up 52 assists, so his numbers deserve respect. But can he still do it, and more pertinently, does he want to?

JORGINHO

The Chelsea midfielder was key figure in Maurizio Sarri's passing style last season, but Premier League opponents quickly realised the Italy international was too slow and lightweight to inflict real damage.

Sarri stuck with him, however, and towards the end of the season, Jorginho began to win over the Chelsea fans and show signs of being able to make a difference in English football.

But he now faces perhaps the biggest challenge of his Chelsea career: persuading new manager Frank Lampard that he can fit into his system. It is not just a make-or-break season for Jorginho -- it could be make-or-break in the opening month of the campaign.

Khaled Mahmud set to be Bangladesh's temporary coach

Published in Cricket
Monday, 15 July 2019 07:48

BCB director Khaled Mahmud is "close" to becoming Bangladesh's temporary head coach for the upcoming three ODIs against hosts Sri Lanka, according to his colleague Akram Khan, the chairman of the cricket operations committee.

Mahmud will replace Steve Rhodes who was removed from the head coach's position last week through "mutual consent" after the BCB reviewed his performance following their World Cup campaign.

"Khaled Mahmud is close to becoming the senior team's temporary coach. The board will confirm the decision in a couple of days," Akram said but didn't comment on whether Mahmud continues to be a board director at the same time.

This is the second time Mahmud will become a director-coach after he took over in a temporary role (called the team's technical director) following Chandika Hathurusingha's resignation in October 2017. Mahmud has several roles in the BCB and within Bangladesh cricket, including that of the senior team's manager and selector, vice-chairman of the cricket operations committee, chairman of the game development committee and vice-chairman of the high performance committee

Mahmud is also the coach of Dhaka Premier League side Abahani Limited and the BPL's Dhaka Dynamites franchise, as well as head coach of Bangla Trac Cricket Academy. He recently said that he wouldn't mind leaving the BCB directorship if given a long-term coaching role with the Bangladesh team.

Meanwhile, Wasim Jaffer and Champaka Ramanayake, currently working as the BCB's high performance batting and bowling coach respectively, will be the senior team's batting and bowling consultants for the Sri Lanka tour. Both places in the team's coaching staff became vacant after the board didn't renew Courtney Walsh's contract after the World Cup while Neil McKenzie, the team's white-ball batting coach, is currently on leave.

"We have given charge to Wasim Jaffer and Champaka Ramanayake in these two roles. Since the series was arranged much later, McKenzie had already asked for a leave during the same time," Akram said.

Ramanayake had rejoined the BCB two years ago as a bowling coach, while Jaffer joined in May after he had impressed his Abahani coach Mahmud with his batting performance as well as the time he spent with the other batsmen in the nets.

The Bangladesh team is leaving for Sri Lanka on July 20, but with BCB chief Nazmul Hassan unlikely to return until the day before, the decision to appoint Mahmud and the rest of the temporary staff is looking like a last-minute call.

Fakhar Zaman signs up for Blast stint at Glamorgan

Published in Cricket
Monday, 15 July 2019 09:02

Fakhar Zaman, the Pakistan opener, has signed for Glamorgan for the first half of their Vitality Blast campaign as a replacement for the injured Shaun Marsh.

Marsh was ruled out of the closing stages of the World Cup with a fractured forearm, suffered while batting in the nets against Pat Cummins, and the club hope he will be available for the final six group games.

Zaman underwhelmed in the World Cup with 186 runs in eight innings, and only one score above 50, but has an impressive T20 record. He was Lahore Qalandars' leading run-scorer in an otherwise underwhelming PSL campaign this year.

The move will be Zaman's first stint in county cricket, though he briefly signed for Somerset in 2017 only to be recalled by the PCB for a training camp the day before he was due to fly to the UK.

Glamorgan will start their Blast campaign with only one overseas player, with their other signing - Mitchell Marsh - part of Australia's 25-man preliminary squad for the Ashes, though Colin Ingram rejoins on a Kolpak deal as captain.

Zaman holds fond memories of playing at Cardiff, which date back to his debut tournament for Pakistan, the 2017 Champions Trophy. Then, he made 57 off 58 in a partnership of 118 in their semi-final victory against England at the ground, the game before his memorable century in the final against India.

Glamorgan's director of cricket, Mark Wallace, said: "It is disappointing to lose Shaun Marsh for the start of the competition but to secure the services of Fakhar on short notice is great news for the club. He is a fantastic cricketer and one of the most destructive batsmen in the world who has a history of performing in big matches."

Glamorgan start their campaign on Thursday night against Somerset, before travelling to play Gloucestershire at Cheltenham the following afternoon.

Gary Stead, New Zealand's head coach, has suggested that the possibility of sharing the World Cup was something that "should be considered" after his side were denied in a heartbreaking finish at Lord's on Sunday. The teams could not be separated after 100 overs and also tied the Super Over, but England lifted the trophy after winning on boundary countback.

Having slept on the result, Kane Williamson described the manner in which the final was decided "a real shame". New Zealand had further cause to be disappointed, after it transpired that England should almost certainly have only been awarded five overthrows, rather than six in the final over of regulation time.

"Make sense of it? I think that'll take quite a bit of time actually," Williamson said. "Such a fine line. May be the worst part is there is so much you can't control in those situations and it still sort of eventuates the way it did. All in all it was a real shame that the tournament was decided in the way it was after two teams went at it. And two good teams were playing a cricket game, but it was still a tie.

ALSO READ: Kimber: How the greatest ODI finish played out

Stead and Craig McMillan, New Zealand's batting coach, agreed that allowing England and the Blackcaps to share the World Cup would have been an ideal finish. Asked during a media interaction at the team hotel whether he would have preferred New Zealand being declared joint winners, Stead was open to the suggestion.

"Perhaps when you play over a seven-week period and can't be separated on the final day, that is something should be considered as well," Stead said. "But again that's one consideration over a whole lot of things that went on over the World Cup. Everything will be reviewed, and I think that it's a good time to do it now. But probably just let the dust settle for a while."

However, McMillan, whose contract finished with the World Cup, was more straightforward, saying sharing the trophy would have been the "right thing" in contrast to the tie-breaker in the form of the Super Over, a rule adopted last year by the ICC. "It is not going to change yesterday's result. But what is probably fair to say at the end of seven weeks in a big tournament like this, when you have two teams can't be separated after a 50-over match and then a Super Over and neither team did actually lose in many ways in terms of runs scored.

"Then perhaps sharing the trophy would be the right thing to do. Wasn't to be yesterday, which we all are disappointed with. But it is sport and those were the rules."

There were a number of turning points during England's chase, with several occurring one after the other in the final half hour. The biggest was when Martin Guptill's return throw from deep midwicket hit the back of Ben Stokes' bat and ricocheted for four overthrows, thus reducing England's target to a mere three runs from two balls. The on-field umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Marais Erasmus consulted the TV umpire before declaring the six runs.

Subsequently, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, it seems England were actually wrongly awarded an extra run. Simon Taufel, a former ICC Elite Panel umpire, said the match officials had "goofed up". New Zealand remained unaware of exact wording of the rule even the day after.

Williamson said he trusted the match officials' word and refused to complain about how things turned out. "I actually wasn't aware of the finer rule at the point in time," Williamson said. "Obviously you are trusting the umpires in what they do. You throw that into the mix of few hundred other things that may have been different that we wouldn't be just talking about one thing.

"Two great campaigns. From our side of things, we are really proud of the ay the guys went about their business. And am sure the English were as well, they had a great campaign. It sort of showed - we went toe-to-toe and it was the fine print that decided it."

Watch on Hotstar (India only) - The final overs of the chase

Stead, too, tried hard to be realistic. He felt New Zealand could do nothing but accept their fate. He felt Super Over probably was currently the only way to pick a winner until the ICC devised a better solution. "That is one," he said of the idea of having several Super Overs, again and again, until there's a winner. "I guess a valid way as well. The hard thing I find is a 50-over competition being decided on a one-over bout, just doesn't seem quite right, but then I don't write the rules. That's the way it goes."

Both Stead and McMillan were confident the ICC would review whether the Super Over was indeed the best way to deal with the scenario like a tie in a World Cup final. But for New Zealand, as McMillan said, nothing would change now.

"Small margin this, isn't it? I don't know that rule to be perfectly honest. I have played a lot of games of cricket, watched a lot of cricket - overthrows have just been added to what has been run as opposed to the point of the throw coming in. So, again, it will be something that will be something debated, discussed, but again it doesn't change the result."

Jonnie Peacock’s passion reignited

Published in Athletics
Monday, 15 July 2019 09:04

The two-time Paralympic champion tells Jessica Whittington how his love for athletics is back with a vengeance

The saying goes that absence makes the heart grow fonder and that is certainly the case for Jonnie Peacock, who has regained a real hunger for athletics following a break from the sport.

Since storming to Paralympic success as a 19-year-old in 2012, the sprint star has remained in the spotlight thanks to his further global gold medal-winning achievements as well as a stint on television dance contest Strictly Come Dancing but, at the end of 2017, he decided it was time to refocus.

His year out did the trick and now the two-time world champion says his enjoyment is “back with a bang” ahead of a big couple of seasons featuring the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai and the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

“Taking that mental break was a big thing,” says the 26-year-old, who retained his Paralympic T44 100m title in Rio. “That real desire is back – the hunger, I guess, and I can’t see it going any time soon.”

It’s similar, he adds, to the feeling he had when just starting out in the sport in 2012.

“I guess the difference now is I know a little bit more about what I can achieve and I am super excited to train at the moment,” he says. “It’s my love, it’s my passion. I feel like I’ve rediscovered that, it’s been relit. Every night I’m sitting there excited to see what I’ve got the next day.

“I’m just enjoying it all again. I’m really looking forward to going to train, for the next speed session, the opportunity to race. I’ve always had that to a point but it’s really back with a bang this year.”

“That real desire is back – the hunger, I guess, and I can’t see it going any time soon”

In 2012, under the guidance of American coach Dan Pfaff, the single-leg amputee sprinter improved his 100m PB from 11.47 to 10.85. In 2017 he went even quicker, clocking 10.64, and Peacock is excited to see what the next couple of summers hold as the Loughborough-based athlete, who is also guided by Michael Khmel, is back on the same training programme that they used seven years ago.

“This is something I know works so hopefully we’ll pick up where we left off,” says Peacock. “I’m still really dying for that massive race where it all goes down. I don’t feel like it’s happened yet. I feel like there’s going to be a race at some point where we’re going to see a good six or seven guys run sub-11 and it’s going to be close.”

On his major medal ambitions, he adds: “I’ve got confidence in my team that whenever it comes to a major championships we’re always in good shape, so we’ll just have to pray that the same thing happens again.

“It’s not ideal for Dubai being insanely late,” he continues, with this year’s World Para Athletics Championships taking place from November 7-15. “It’s hysterical when you’re around Loughborough and you hear all the able-bodied guys going ‘our Worlds are so late this year’ and you just look at them like ‘really?!’

“Ours are in November, so it doesn’t help us because then we take a break and before you know it, it’s December and there’s seven/eight months to the Paralympics. But obviously it’s a world championships, it’s a major title and that’s something that we want to go out there and we want to defend.

“It’s also an opportunity to go and run fast. Dubai will be a good track, it will be perfect conditions.”

Before that comes a return to the London Stadium, scene of Peacock’s Paralympic success in 2012 and world gold in 2017.

Photo by Mark Shearman

However, his record at the Müller Anniversary Games doesn’t quite match his major championships achievements in the same stadium – a fact he hopes to change this weekend.

“It’s great (going back to the London Stadium for the Anniversary Games) but the only issue is I’ve never actually won there if it’s not been a championships! I’ve lost every other race!” he laughs.

“I feel like whatever I do this year, it’s going to be better next year. It’s about getting the body back into good shape, getting some consistency this year, and then next year I feel like we can really build on it. I’ve got a good feeling about where the body is going to be at.”

PHOTOS: Hell Tour Invades Oakshade Raceway

Published in Racing
Monday, 15 July 2019 07:00

Suspended Voynov signs 1-year deal with KHL

Published in Hockey
Monday, 15 July 2019 07:27

MOSCOW -- Former Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov has signed a one-year deal in the Kontinental Hockey League as he sits out the final months of his NHL suspension.

Russian KHL club Avangard Omsk says it signed Voynov to a one-year deal. His NHL suspension, imposed after the league determined he committed acts of domestic violence, will end midway through the season.

Voynov was suspended indefinitely in October 2014 after being arrested and accused of abusing his wife. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor, left the United States to go back to Russia and last year had the conviction dismissed by a judge in Los Angeles. His most recent suspension was imposed in April after he applied for reinstatement.

Voynov won an Olympic gold medal at the tournament last year which didn't have NHL players. He didn't play any pro hockey last season as he focused on his NHL appeals process.

"Experience, skill, reliability, scoring. That's how Vyacheslav Voynov is known to all hockey fans,'' said Avangard president Maxim Sushinsky, using Voynov's full first name. "In our case you can add Voynov's huge motivation to prove to everyone and most of all to himself that he can reach the very highest targets with a top club.''

Avangard didn't comment on Voynov's NHL situation.

Voynov won the Stanley Cup with Los Angeles in 2012 and 2014. Los Angeles still holds Voynov's NHL rights, but has said it won't sign a new contract with him.

Voynov previously played three KHL seasons with SKA St. Petersburg between 2015 and 2018, lifting the KHL's Gagarin Cup in 2017.

Where should the best remaining NHL free agents sign?

Published in Hockey
Monday, 15 July 2019 06:32

While hundreds of free agents have signed with NHL teams this summer (at the cost of hundreds of millions of dollars in total), some notable names remain on the market. Will they re-sign with their 2018-19 clubs, or move on to new opportunities? Our panel debates the 2019-20 destinations for five of the biggest names left:


Jake Gardiner, D

2018-19 team: Toronto Maple Leafs
2018-19 cap hit: $4.05 million

Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL writer: The New Jersey Devils have $19.845 million in cap space and two left-handed shooting defensemen in Andy Greene and Sami Vatanen coming off their cap next summer. The team's biggest need, besides an overall increase in quality depth, is on the blue line, even with the addition of P.K. Subban. Gardiner, and his offensive upside, would be a welcome addition.

Emily Kaplan, national NHL reporter: The Canadiens would be a great fit. They still have some cap space to spend -- call it the Sebastian Aho savings -- and they could definitely use some talent on the left side. A Gardiner signing could be bad news for Karl Alzner, though.

Dimitri Filipovic, hockey analytics writer: The Canadiens. It's weird just how little buzz there's been about Gardiner through the first two weeks of free agency, considering he came in as the best defenseman available. Montreal makes a ton of sense because the left side of their blue line is their biggest weakness, and they haven't really been able to find a viable partner for Shea Weber since he arrived. If Weber's nagging injuries from the past two seasons continue, Gardiner provides some insurance as someone that can carry a pairing and take some of the responsibility off of Jeff Petry's plate. The Canadiens want to play fast and get the puck up the ice as quickly as possible in transition, which is something we know Gardiner excels at after all of his years thriving in Toronto's up-tempo system.

Patrick Maroon, LW/RW

2018-19 team: St. Louis Blues
2018-19 cap hit: $1.75 million

Wyshynski: Maroon has a Stanley Cup ring for being the personification of the kind of heavy hockey a team (at times) needs to excel in the postseason. You know who could use a little bit of that DNA? A team that rolled over in the first round in a passionless sweep, the Tampa Bay Lightning. One year, tax-friendly cap hit. Let's go.

Kaplan: The Edmonton Oilers. Sure, the Oilers need to shake things up to get back on track, but I'm all for returning to nostalgia for this one. Maroon's best NHL season came when playing on Connor McDavid's wing. The fans would be happy to welcome back Big Rig.

Filipovic: The Oilers. I wouldn't give Maroon any kind of term considering his age and body type, but he can probably be had for a minimal commitment after St. Louis essentially thanked him for his services and wished him farewell this summer. We already know that he has the sense to know where to go and finishing ability around the net that's required to make the most of McDavid's playmaking prowess. Edmonton hasn't really done anything of note to improve their roster this summer, and while Maroon is hardly a game-changer at this point, the bar the Oilers need to clear to improve their wing position is exceedingly low.

Justin Williams, RW

2018-19 team: Carolina Hurricanes
2018-19 cap hit: $4.5 million

Wyshynski: At this stage, the Hurricanes are probably the only team for whom Justin Williams will play in the NHL. Rare is the athlete who comes back to the scene of a previous championship and has the kind of positive impact that Williams had with the "Bunch of Jerks" last season. But if we're asking "who should sign him," then my choice would be the Arizona Coyotes. Here's a team that needs more scoring on the wing, could use another veteran leader in that room ... and let's face it, could use a bit of enthusiasm in the fan base (and defiant attitude) that Williams brought to the Canes last season.

Kaplan: The Hurricanes. Williams and coach Rod Brind'Amour are tight, and Williams -- at age 37 -- was like a coach on the ice for the Canes last season. If he doesn't retire, he's returning to Carolina. They saved enough cap space to sign him.

Filipovic: The Hurricanes. Despite his age, he can still definitely play, and would be a logical fit both on and off the ice for pretty much every single contender in the league. Carolina brought in Erik Haula and Ryan Dzingel this summer for reinforcements on the wing, and Andrei Svechnikov looks ready for a much larger role as well. That might actually be good for Williams at this point of his career, considering he played more minutes last season than he had in any single campaign since 2007-08. They can now afford to be more selective with his usage, preserving him for what they presumably hope will be another extended playoff run.

Joe Thornton, C

2018-19 team: San Jose Sharks
2018-19 cap hit: $5 million

Wyshynski: Jumbo already indicated that he and the Sharks will "get something done" during the summer, after some meetings with GM Doug Wilson and owner Hasso Plattner. There's no reason to believe that won't happen, and the Sharks need his presence in the locker room more than ever with former captain Joe Pavelski now in Dallas. But if we're fantasy casting ... look, Joe Thornton needs a Stanley Cup. The Vegas Golden Knights need a better power play, as theirs was at 16.8 percent last season. Speaking from personal experience, there are ample short flights from San Jose to Vegas. He could, like, go home on the weekends

Kaplan: I can't imagine Joe Thornton signing anywhere but San Jose for his 22nd season. GM Doug Wilson will get it done. But I'd love to see a team like the Avalanche take a run at Thornton. A 1-2-3 punch of Nathan MacKinnon, Nazem Kadri and Joe Thornton down the gut? That would be the best center depth in the West.

Filipovic: The Sharks. I don't think I can see Joe Thornton in another uniform, and by all accounts he can't either. Because of the ridiculously team-friendly Kevin Labanc contract, San Jose now has some extra financial wiggle room to bring him back into the mix. Beyond just the obvious history between the two, the on-ice fit is also still there. The Sharks ostensibly have two top lines, which affords them the luxury of feeding Thornton the cushiest of minutes at five-on-five. At this point, feasting on inferior competition is what his skills are best suited for, especially when he can set up shop down low in the offensive zone and pick them apart like a pocket passing quarterback.

Patrick Marleau, LW/C

2018-19 team: Toronto Maple Leafs
2018-19 cap hit: $6.25 million

Wyshynski: Given the coach, the GM, the state in which the team plays and the apparent decision to go with the oldest lineup in the NHL, Marleau to the Los Angeles Kings feels so right -- even if seeing him in that jersey will feel so wrong for Sharks fans.

Kaplan: Not sure it will happen, but I'd love for the Florida Panthers to take a run. Marleau, at this stage of his career, is a third- or fourth-line winger. Even with offseason improvements, I'm not totally convinced the Panthers are a playoff team. Adding another solid depth forward like Marleau -- along with his leadership -- could help get them over the hump.

Filipovic: The Sharks. Let's get the band back together and reunite Thornton and Marleau for one last dance. They've made some sweet music over the years, sharing the ice for nearly 3,600 five-on-five minutes from 2007 to 2017. Because of how loaded the Sharks are, they won't need to overuse Marleau as much as Leafs coach Mike Babcock did towards the end of Marleau's run with Toronto. San Jose doesn't have much cash to work with (pending the Thornton deal), but considering Marleau is already getting paid out roughly $3.5 million after his buyout, that shouldn't be a concern. And after losing both Joe Pavelski and Joonas Donskoi this summer, the Sharks could actually use some reliable secondary scoring on the wing right now.

Dylan Frittelli won the John Deere Classic on Sunday at TPC Deere Run. Here's a look inside his bag:

DRIVER: Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero (10.5 degrees), with Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70TX shaft

FAIRWAY WOODS: Callaway Epic Flash Sub Zero (15 degrees), with Mitsubishi Diamana RF 70 shaft; Callaway Rogue Sub Zero (18 degrees), with Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80TX shaft

IRONS: Callaway X Forged UT (3), with KBS prototype shaft; Callaway X Forged (5-PW), with Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour105 shafts

WEDGES: Callaway Mack Daddy 4 (52 degrees) and Titleist Vokey Design SM7 (56, 60 degrees), with Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour105 shafts

PUTTER: Odyssey EXO Stroke Lab 2-Ball

BALL: Callaway Chrome Soft X Triple Track

Howell III withdraws from The Open, replaced by Harman

Published in Golf
Monday, 15 July 2019 03:01

After tying for sixth Sunday at the John Deere Classic, Charles Howell III seemed to be looking ahead to Royal Portrush.

"It's a place I've never been," Howell said.  "It's a place I'm excited to see and learn it."

A day later, Howell has decided to save his introduction to Royal Portrush for another day after withdrawing from The Open. He was replaced in the field by Brian Harman, leaving Martin Kaymer as the new first alternate.

A reason from Howell's WD has yet to be released by tournament officials.

Howell will now have played just two of the past seven Open Championships. He missed the cut in 2016 and '17. In 2014, he also withdrew before the championship.

Soccer

Liverpool gambling with high stakes over Salah, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool gambling with high stakes over Salah, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLiverpool could lose three of their best players -- Mohamed Salah,...

Leverkusen will be the true test of Kompany's Bayern revival

Leverkusen will be the true test of Kompany's Bayern revival

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMUNICH -- It's probably not an example of perfect planning to be st...

Messi, Miami seal Concacaf Champions Cup place

Messi, Miami seal Concacaf Champions Cup place

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsInter Miami has officially qualified to the 2025 Concacaf Champions...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Warriors set for camp thinking they're better club

Warriors set for camp thinking they're better club

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSAN FRANCISCO -- As the Golden State Warriors prepare to travel to...

Nuggets still within their 'championship window'

Nuggets still within their 'championship window'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDENVER -- With a blue banner commemorating the team's 2023 NBA cham...

Baseball

Dodgers wrap up 11th NL West title in 12 years

Dodgers wrap up 11th NL West title in 12 years

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League West...

Kershaw 'not giving up,' hopes to pitch in playoffs

Kershaw 'not giving up,' hopes to pitch in playoffs

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Clayton Kershaw is still not ruling out the possibil...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

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