“When the decision was made to purchase him, we hoped that he came for the right reasons but one way or another, he didn’t fit in,” Friend told NRL.com.”I don’t know who made it, but [signing Hayne] wasn’t a great decision to be honest.”At the time the team was solid and going well. We had David Mead at fullback who was going quite well, and other fullbacks.”If bringing him to the club was a PR decision I don’t think it really transpired. He brought a lot of publicity early, but on the field the club as a whole has not gone as well as they would have imagined for the outlay they made.”One guy is not going to win a premiership, but I think we lose sight of that sometimes. You need a squad of 30 players all working together to get you to where you need to go.”Friend, who was a foundation Gold Coast player and lined up in 121 games for the Titans, said there would be benefits from giving a current squad member a crack at fullback. When coach Garth Brennan was asked about what he may do if Hayne departed, he left the option open of delving into his 30-man squad or going to the market.”In any organisation you want people who want to succeed and work for each other,” Friend said.”Hayne departing is going to give [an] opportunity for three or four younger blokes who may not have cemented themselves at fullback or even in first grade.”It can only be a positive and I guess that breeds success when you have young guys showing enthusiasm and with a new coach on board.”It will be interesting to see if they chase anyone. They will have the money but it doesn’t mean you need to spend it. It is nice to have funds available for someone that you really need.”Friend has called on fans to be patient with Brennan and his team after the club finished 15th last year. Losing Hayne would not be an impediment to success, he insisted.”No-one doubts the Coast’s ability and the players that are there,” Friend said.”Jarryd was there but they played better without him. When he goes they might kick it up a gear. We’ll just wait and see, but I won’t lose sleep over the decision.”I’m sure the new coach has a plan in place to turn the club around, but it won’t happen in a year. When we started in 2007 it took us three years to make the semis. “To have success you need depth and that is the building phase the Coast needs to embark upon.” Following Thursday’s announcement that Hayne and the Titans have parted ways, Gold Coast now have the salary cap space to target a quality fullback. Friend suggested the club look within to find a replacement.Friend was the captain of the side in 2016 when the Titans stormed into the top eight prior to Hayne’s arrival. The former Eel and San Francisco 49er arrived late in the season and the club reached the finals before bowing out on the opening weekend in a loss to Brisbane.At the time, Friend made the point the Titans had succeeded without Hayne and that they were no one-man band.Hayne scored eight tries in 23 games in his Gold Coast stint and never recaptured the form he had displayed before joining the 49ers in 2015. 
Benji and Brooks brilliant as Tigers stun Storm
It’s the second time in three weeks that the Tigers have beaten the Storm, both efforts based on courageous defence and new-found grit.It is the first time the Storm have lost consecutive away games since 2015.While Marshall grabbed the headlines, hitting the match-winner from 25 metres out, Brooks was the one getting pats on the back from his coach.Ivan Cleary said he felt his No.7 put in “one of his best” performances and stepped up when it mattered.”Late in the game, Benji and Luke came up with some big plays,” he said.”I thought Luke, in particular, played really well tonight. He looked dangerous every time he touched the ball.”Brooks laid on a try for Chris Lawrence with 20 minutes to play to level the match and almost put the game to bed moments later when he sliced through only for Marshall to lose the ball just a metre shy of the line.With the try, Lawrence became the Tigers’ all time leading try-scorer.Despite hitting the winning one-pointer, Marshall said he was unhappy with his individual performance but was glad Brooks was there to carry his side.”He was a big reason why we got home tonight. I really thought Brooksy took control of the game for us,” Marshall said.”When I felt a little bit off he really took over and sort of played the roll I have been playing for the last few weeks so, he was great.”When asked where Josh Reynolds, expected to be fit and ready to play next week, fits into the side, Cleary said he “had a few ideas knocking around”.”We’ll see how everyone pulls up, we have eight days before we play Manly so we’ll see.”Cleary said two wins over Melbourne was “a fair feather in the cap” and something his side will take a lot of confidence out of.
Botswana and Bahamas express interest in hosting 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games
The two countries have been in contact with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) about the prospect of bringing the event to their respective countries, with both now set to hold Governmental talks to decide whether to officially enter the race.Countries have until the end of September to express an interest before formal candidacies must be declared by the end of October.insidethegames also understands the Canadian city being proposed as their candidate is Edmonton, who withdrew from the race for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, eventually awarded to sole bidder Durban.A decision on the 2017 host is reportedly going to be made by the CGF at its Executive Board meeting set for January, although the official date and location is yet to be decided.Botswana’s capital Gabarone recently hosted the African Youth Games, where around 2,000 athletes from 51 countries competed in 21 sports.Bahamas meanwhile also has a history of staging major sporting competitions as capital city Nassau played host to the 2014 and 2015 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Relays.St Lucia, awarded the event in November 2011, decided they were not in a fit state to bring the Games to the Carribbean in two years’ time due to doubts over venues and financial concerns, particularly over the lack of a stadium to host athletics.A fire had caused severe damage to a hospital in the south of the island, meaning the George Odlum Stadium in Vieux-Fort, which contained the country’s only IAAF-accredited track, had been adapted into a temporary medical facility.“On the back of a hugely successful Youth Games in Samoa we are in positive preliminary discussions with a number of members about hosting future editions of the Games,” CGF spokesperson said.“Importantly, any aspiring host will need to undertake detailed engagement with respective partners and governments before confirming their intention.“The formal call for bids for 2017 will commence shortly as agreed at last week’s General Assembly.”The news comes following the conclusion of the 2015 Games here, the success of which prompted newly-elected CGF President Louise Martin to claim that the event had “got everyone talking” about the Commonwealth Youth Games as a concept.Around 900 athletes competed for 107 medals in nine sports at Samoa 2015, which has yielded positive reaction from participants and delegates alike, particularly due to the impressive set of venues which were used for the Games.
The debate of nine is still on the table
As much as Quique Setién’s debut was, Barça-Granada ended up like so many others. With goal of Messi. Despite starting injured the season, the Argentine has already intervened in 26 goals this course, only one more than Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan, with 14 goals and 11 assists, had been until Sunday as important as Lionel this season. But the bicefalia broke with the injury of the charrúa, forced to go through the operating room and he will be on leave for four months. LaLiga Santander* Data updated as of January 20, 2020 The match against him Pomegranate He made it clear that, without Suarez, Barça will have more Messidependence than ever to make goals. And that the Argentine needs help because the team will not be able to live off the Argentine every day left until the end of the season. Therefore, the debate of nine is still on the table. So much so that Monday is scheduled a meeting between Quique Setién, Eric Abidal and Ramon Planes. Barça is aware that it needs to sign a forward, but it will not air it. Sold out the wild card of errors with the signing of Boateng and announced that he would not sign a midway mid-season again, so he will have to be discreet with his negotiations and, above all, not fail if he decides to incorporate a player.Obsessed with signing Lautaro in the month of June, Suárez’s injury has blown the plan of the nine. Signing the Inter player today is impossible. The situation is undefined and opens up a dilemma for Barça’s technicians: sign a level forward and delay the Lautaro plan or endure it until the end of the season? The third way is to find a level player who agrees to arrive on loan, but that way you came to Boateng and repeating that mistake could point directly to Abidal. The sports vice president of Barça is its president. And with Bartomeu everything can happen.
Mbappé is seduced
Mbappé is loved. The crack has the PSG renewal proposal parked indefinitely and has fed during this last week the hopes of Madrid of getting your signing. He has done it in the most effective way in this type of seduction game, which is with microphones in between. “If you are French, you grow up with Zidane as an idol, then it was Christian,” he said last Monday at the presentation of his foundation. An act in which the media were urged not to ask about their future. Mbappé, in its own way, could not resist the wink in the direction of the Bernabéu…It was not casual. Also during this week he has chosen two prestigious media (the BBC and La Gazzetta dello Sport) to expand that account of references for Madrid and Madrid. Not only does he “offer himself” as the star that occupies the place that Cristiano left (“I have to inspire my career, yes or yes, in him,” says Mbappé), he also suggests that talking freely about his future would harm PSG: “The interest of Madrid? Everyone talks about it, but I know it’s not the time. The decisive moment of the season arrives. Imagine that I answer the question and say something. Everyone will talk about it and it’s not good for the PSG. I want to help you, so it’s not good to talk about my future. “ Mbappé hila fino, and also weave messages for the white wardrobe. “I’ve always liked how Brazilians play,” he repeated in those same interviews. It is a Madrid dyed the color of the canarinha (Marcelo, Casemiro, Militao, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Reinier …) and, in fact, at the last Golden Ball gala the international was seen bleu in good vibes with Vinicius, a now personal friendship that was born through Instagram.Not only Vini I would receive him in Madrid with open arms. Zidane returned the compliment to his compatriot before going to Salamanca in Copa (“Now Kylian is the example”) Y Nacho, restrained footballer, he had no empathy in opening the doors of the Bernabéu: “Mbappé is a world top soccer player, I don’t like talking about players from other clubs, but if he throws winks we will have to be prepared in case he wants to come …”.Hazard’s roadmap …As long as Mbappé continues to make a renewal, the situation adjusts to the Madrid strategy. Florentino Pérez will not make any aggressive movement given his good relationship with the PSGThat is why on the noble floor of the club, Mbappé’s daring to leave the door open is positively valued despite the pressure he continually receives in Paris to renew. “It’s a roadmap similar to the one Hazard followed and ended here “, it is argued.The great figure of French football has the time in its favor. With 21 years almost recently (he did last December 20), his contract ends in 2022 and allows room for maneuver. If this summer there was no transfer to Madrid, I could wait until the summer market of 2021 and have the pan by the handle in front of the PSG, one year after being able to leave for free. That is why Mbappé is not afraid to show so much nod to Zidane and the white club. And that is good news in Concha Espina.
Achraf talks about his dream: playing in the first team of Real Madrid
Of course, Achraf did not cut himself when talking about his dream: play at the Bernabéu. “I always dreamed of playing in the first team of Real Madrid. It was always my dream to train with the best players in the world “, explained the defender Borusser, who also did not want to forget Zinedine Zidane. “It was he who made me the footballer that I am today. Is there anything better than learning from one of the best players of all time?”Zidane himself has also realized the evolution of Achraf and has him for next season. It will be in summer when coach and player make a final decision. There were even rumors of an alleged interest of Bayern, but in that case it would still be Dortmund who would have the pan for the handle. When agreeing on the assignment, the right match was secured, which obliges whites to inform him when he receives an offer from a third party by the player in order to overcome it. Achraf’s future remains in the air. In statements collected by DAZN, the former Real Madrid sideman made it clear that he still does not know what will happen at the end of the season, at which time he ends his assignment contract with Borussia Dortmund. “I do not know what will happen in June, we will talk about it in the future. At the moment I see myself clearly in Borussia Dortmund, I am very happy here and I still have four months of contract left,” explained the Moroccan international.
Marcos Alonso, about Bayern a year ago: “I don’t know why anyone would go there to play”
However, this is not the most noteworthy of the Spanish side’s speech, which After learning about Bayern’s interest, he added the following: “Bayern Munich? We’re Chelsea, another great team. The Premier is the most competitive league in the world, I don’t know why anyone would go there.” Just over a year later, the team led by Hansi Flik swept the Frank Lampard with a 0-3 at Stamford Bridge, with double of Gnabry and Levandowski closing the win. Once again, the newspaper library is treacherous. In the winter market last year, Callum Hudson-Odoi was tempted up to four times by Bayern Munich. The English end I didn’t have back then with the leadership what did i expect in Chelsea, as he hardly played some FA Cup matches. This was the main reason he was waiting for the Teuton club’s offer to come to fruition and change clubs.In order to change his mind, Marcos Alonso alleged the following in statements collected by Sky sports: “Hudson-Odoi won’t find a bigger club to play than Chelsea. He is a great player, but he is very young. You need to be patient, hungry and fight for a place in this team. He has everything to be a great player, now it is up to him to fight for a place here or try to find more minutes elsewhere. “
1×1 of Madrid: Courtois and Vinicius return the smile
Valverde: A lung. Tireless in the round trip, he provided depth on the right wing, where only Carvajal was. It has become unquestionable for Zidane, who this time left Modric on the bench to make room for him.Isco: Something disappeared in the first half and very plugged in the second, where he touched the goal in two good actions. In the first Ter Stegen he took a shot looking for the squad and in the second Piqué cleared a header from his line. Replaced by Modric in ’78, the Bernabeu cheered him.Vinicius: It is still difficult to decide well in the last meters, although the imbalance it brings is key in this Real Madrid. He got the first white goal in one of his many internships. He did it with the help of Piqué (the ball bounced in the center), but he gave Madrid the victory.Benzema: He is still fighting with the goal in this 2020. In the associations he was well and he also emptied in the pressure to the Barça centrals so that they did not comfortably remove the ball played from behind.Modric: He played the final minutes and brought balance in the midfield.Lucas Vázquez: He barely had minutes, although it caused a dangerous foul on the front.Mariano: He went on the discount and scored after a good personal play on the first ball he touched. Impossible to take advantage of your opportunity. Courtois: Three fundamental stops in the first part, especially a hand in hand that took Arthur. He avoided that Barça got ahead in another outstanding performance.Carvajal: He improved after the doubts he left against Manchester City. Zidane left him the entire right wing and offered a very good level.Varane: Very complete meeting. Very fast to the cut and well in the exit of ball. Also, he was far superior to the Barcelona strikers.Ramos: Good game of the captain, who got along well with Varane and helped Marcelo on the left wing. He could score on a foul that crashed into the barrier.Marcelo: The big surprise of eleven. Still not regaining its best level. In defense he suffered and in attack was not decisive. In the second half an error of his was close to finishing in goal of Braithwaite. He made up for it with a key recovery before Messi minutes later.Casemiro: The balance of Madrid. Imperial. He was impeccable in the cuts, preventing the triangulations of Barcelona in the center of the field. Also very accurate with the ball on the feet.Kroos: Madrid improves with the German in charge of construction. He assisted Vinicius in his goal. He always offered support, alternated long and short game and delivered in high pressure, with several dangerous robberies.
Manolo Salvador laid the first stone of the current Granada
The passage of Manolo Salvador by the sports management of Pomegranate It was short and full of curves. He arrived for three seasons and left after finishing the first, and through the back door. It could be cataloged from bad experience. However, Faura left a heritage that still persists in the return of the Nasrids to First Division, the true goal of the Valencian when he took the reins of sports management after leaving the I raised. And it is that up to eight players continue in the elite of the template that configured the head of the sports area Granota. Seven of them signed them himself during that summer. The eighth in question, Rui Silva, arrived a year earlier, in the winter market, to fill the vacancy that left Oier Olazabal, which precisely pointed out in Orriols. Germán Sánchez (Tenerife, 100,000 euros), Álex Martínez (Betis, free), Victor Diaz (Leganés, free), Quini (Lightning, free), Angel Montoro (Las Palmas, free), Darwin Machís Y Antonio Doors (Almeria, free) have the seal of Salvador. Some of them remain fundamental in First.After a convulsive season, in his only experience outside the Levant, and with three coaches through, Granada changed course, gave the responsibility to Diego Martínez And the rest is history.“Without an owner on a daily basis, everything goes very slowly”“It was a bit strange. They are two different ways of working. When there is an owner who is not in everyday life, or an executive or the president is not on a daily basis, everything is going very slow. It takes many permits. To do any management cost God and help. Then he came, he wanted to do it all in one day, he went back and nothing was done. It has been an experience in which I think you have to take the positive, “Salvador explained in the interview with AS in the first round.”Here is more direct contact, things get faster much more when they are clear and there are more meetings of people who make decisions“he clarified.
Real Madrid are testing several players for their new plan
The Real Madrid Women It will be a reality from next June. The white club, with its base in the Tacon, has worked during this season to prepare a project as ambitious as possible for its official landing in Primera. The objective is to aspire to one of the Champions places, with the novelty that from next season there will be three European positions and not two. With this aspiration, the Madrid entity tracks the national market in search of quality reinforcements and has set its sights on the players who have signed this summer. With the signing of Maite Oroz (Athletic) almost assured, after sources close to the footballer take the operation for granted, other names begin to sound like that of the goalkeeper Tasting Coll, on loan from Barça at Sevilla, or the attackers Marta Cardona and Nahikari García, from Real Sociedad.But, they are not the only signings that are being considered. Since the entity of Chamartín has also been interested in Maitane and Eva Navarro, who are active in Levante, and by Atlético players, like goalkeeper Lola or forwards Ludmila and Olga García. All of them would be on Real Madrid’s agenda. A fact that maintains a widespread fear in the teams of the First Iberdrola.