Category Uncategorized

Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing exciting Fulham youngster Fabio Carvalho, but they are not alone in being linked with a move for the starlet.

The Lowdown: Carvalho shining for Fulham

The 19-year-old has been a key player for a Cottagers side currently leading the way in the Championship this season, scoring eight goals and registering two assists in 14 league starts. He has also represented England at various youth levels, including six caps for the country’s under-18 side.

The attacking midfielder’s performances have caught the eye of a number of clubs, and according to a fresh report, Leeds are among the suitors.

[freshpress-quiz id=“383507″]

The Latest: Leeds linked with Carvalho move

According to The Daily Mail, the Whites see Carvalho as an exciting option to bring in during the January transfer window, with a move to the Premier League this month potentially ‘too tempting to turn down’. Indeed, the 19-year-old rejected the offer of a new contract at Craven Cottage in November.

Liverpool and West Ham are also credited with taking an interest in the Fulham starlet, so it may not be easy for Whites to get a deal over the line if they are battling with two of the top flight’s current top five.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-leeds-united-news-32/” title=”Latest Leeds United news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Verdict: Hugely exciting prospect

It is crucial that Marcelo Bielsa plans for both the present and the future, ensuring Leeds that continue to grow after he has left the club, and Carvalho could be a great prospective signing in that respect.

He possesses huge long-term potential, already a standout performer for a team who have scored a ridiculous 73 goals in just 27 league matches this season, and he has been hailed as ‘fantastic’ by his current manager Marco Silva.

The lure of Liverpool in particular could act as a stumbling block for Leeds, but a greater prospect of first-team action at Elland Road – where young talents like Charlie Cresswell, Cody Drameh and Joe Gelhardt have all earned Premier League starts this season – could possibly give the Whites an edge.

In other news, Leeds have been linked with a move for another talented attacking player. Find out who it is here.

A number of Liverpool supporters are over the moon after journalist David Lynch claimed that Mohamed Salah will be available to face Chelsea next week.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are set to be without Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita for a chunk of next month due to their involvement at the Africa Cup of Nations. The Egyptian could be a particularly big loss having had a remarkable season to date, scoring 15 goals and registering nine assists in the Premier League alone.

[freshpress-quiz id=“375258″]

Liverpool face a huge clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next Sunday in a game which could have a huge bearing on the eventual outcome of the title race.

According to Lynch for The Mirror [via Anfield Watch on Twitter], Salah will be available for the Reds next week as they take on his former club prior to heading off on international duty.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-liverpool-transfer-news-15/” title=”Latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=“none”]

Liverpool fans react to Salah update

These Reds fans reacted positively to the update on Twitter, with some unsurprisingly calling it “great news”.

“Great news. @MoSalah has so much to prove indeed we @LFC are a different team with him”

Credit: @AbdulMijinyawaD

“Hopefully he’ll be available for that crucial match”

Credit: @Seyjith

“Sadio and Naby are fantastic players but Mo is the most important player having him available is a massive bonus. Any news on Joel Matip getting recalled by Cameroon?”

Credit: @tartanmarvel89

“Lovely mannnn”

Credit: @cloppoflopp

“Well considering the comments of the Guinea manager it’s looking unlikely they’ll let him go if they’re given the final say”

Credit: @onlyfooty22

“Zero choice as LFC WON’T release them until 7.30pm on 2nd Jan…………….sorted”

Credit: @lfcmli4eva

In other news, some Liverpool fans are fuming at an update regarding one player. Find out who it is here.

The strict action taken by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) against the top players for their dismal performance during the tour of Australia, has drawn mixed reactions from former players

Cricinfo staff10-Mar-2010Inzamam-ul-Haq: “What sort of message are we delivering to the world by taking such decisions at a time when nobody is agreeing to come to Pakistan to play cricket?”•AFPPlayers’ power was affecting team’s performance badly. There was no discipline in the team and it had become impossible for the board to tackle the players. That was why the board has been budging down to players’ pressure. The decision is beneficial even if we lose in the Twenty20 World Cup. The move has a lesson for budding players. They will always have in mind that if senior players can be punished, then they too are no exceptions
Zaheer Abbas,
Younis and Yousuf should go to court to challenge the decision. This is not a good decision for Pakistan cricket. The board is not setting a good example before young cricketers. I don’t understand the thinking that led them to take such a decision. The committee comprised employees of the PCB and there was no neutral person in it. What sort of message are we delivering to the world by taking such decisions at a time when nobody is agreeing to come to Pakistan to play cricket?
Inzamam-ul-Haq,
Our main problem was discipline, but barring players, I am not sure, it doesn’t look nice to just end the international careers of such talented players. It is surprising, but at the end of the day, the PCB needed to make an example and took a step to clean up the lack of discipline in the team. I am sure the players will challenge the life ban though.
Ramiz Raja,
Younis I think has been treated unfairly for long now, what was his fault and yet he is banned for life. This is not the way to improve things in Pakistan cricket. If things were so wrong in Australia then what was the team management doing. I am getting a feeling that the board has taken these decisions to save themselves after the recent poor performances and controversies.Rashid Latif,
It’s the end of players’ power from our national team, which is a very good sign. From now on, every player will be very careful because they know that they can be fined or banned if they violate discipline. Younis and Yousuf had played their innings in international cricket as they have got too old, but Naved and Akmal should have also been banned for one year.
Sarfraz Nawaz,

كشف بنيامين بافارد لاعب فريق بايرن ميونخ والمنتخب الفرنسي، عن تأثير الفترة التي نشط فيها فيروس كورونا، على حياته الخاصة.

بطل العالم 2018 مع منتخب فرنسا، وجد نفسه يعاني من الاكتئاب، وسط تفشي فيروس كورونا، وتوقف العالم كله بسبب ذلك الفيروس.

طالع أيضًا | أراد كسر ساقي.. ليفاندوفسكي يختار أصعب مدافع واجهه في مسيرته

وقال لاعب بايرن ميونخ في تصريحات لصحيفة “لو باريزيان” الفرنسية: “بعد فترة كورونا، خرجت كـ رجل، لم أكن على أحسن ما يرام في ذلك الوقت”.

وأضاف: “كنت أقول كل يوم أن كل شيء سيمر، ولكن ترى أن الأمر مستمر، ثم تبدأ التدريبات ولا توجد ابتسامة على الوجوه، لذلك كان عليك أن تتأثر”.

وأكمل بافارد: “كنت بحاجة إلى اتصال بشري، ليس مجرد مشاهدة التلفزيون والمسلسلات والطهي، كما لم تكن لدي أي شهية للطعام”.

واختتم: “فخور بنفسي أنني خرجت رجلًا من تلك المرحلة الصعبة، لقد كنت أعاني من الاكتئاب كل يوم”.

A round-up of the latest batch of warm-up games ahead of the Under-19 World Cup

Cricinfo staff11-Jan-2010An unbeaten 108 not out from Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie guided Ireland to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Afghanistan at Redwood Park during Monday’s Under-19 World Cup practice matches.Ireland overtook Afghanistan’s total of 221 for 8 from 50 overs with five overs to spare, in part thanks to Balbirnie’s innings, made from 139 balls. Ireland had an early setback when Adrian Darcy was out to the fourth ball of the innings. A partnership of 148 between Balbirnie and James Shannon (66) assured Ireland of the win with just 31 required.Afghanistan were teetering at 78 for 3 before a 75-run partnership for the fourth wicket between captain Noor ul Haq 50 (from 74 balls) and Hashmat Shaidi steadied the innings. Shaidi (91 not out) then combined with Khushal Rasooli (11) for a useful partnership of 45. Shaidi needed just 85 balls while hitting 12 fours and a six, and was particularly savage in the batting Powerplay, as 42 runs came in the five over spell. George Dockrell, called into the senior Ireland squad for the World Twenty20 finished with 3 for 46, while Balbirnie (2 for 41), kept it tight as well.After the win, Balbirnie said, “It was satisfying to get another win under our belts. I timed the ball well and felt good out there. I gave a few chances, but they didn’t take them. James Shannon batted superbly, and we seemed to complement each other during our stand. It’s something we’ve talked about, building substantial partnerships and players getting big scores when set.”I thought Craig Young bowled great, and I had no hesitation bowling him straight through. The win gives us confidence, and we showed we can chase down targets. We play the West Indies on Tuesday, and that will be a good test for the At Christ’s College, Canada recovered from 37 for 6 to add a veneer of respectability to their reply to South Africa’s 247 for 6 from 50 overs. A 75-run partnership between Asif Manijra (30) and Hamza Tariq (55*) allowed Canada finish on 154 for 9 from its 50 overs to lose by 94 runs. South Africa’s total had been boosted by the openers, who got into the forties, and Cody Chetty (54). Parth Desai (2 for 40) achieved Canada’s best return.A massive total with the bat was followed by a tidy bowling display as Sri Lanka brushed aside Hong Kong at Hagley Park. The openers Udara Jayasundera and Andri Berenger hit brisk centuries in a 223-run stand before they retired, as nine bowlers were used, and after a mammoth 313 for 1 Sri Lanka were clearly on top. Irfan Ahmed, who took the sole wicket to fall, scored 55 in a plucky Hong Kong reply of 226. Mark Chapman was the star of the Hong Kong innings though, hitting an unbeaten 69 from 77 balls which included six fours and a six.India eased to a comfortable win over USA at Mainpower Oval after posting 266 in 48.5 overs. Their openers Rahul Kannaur (54) and Monish Agarwal (104) retired after setting a strong platform, but there was no really big contributions to follow. The captain Ashok Menaria used all 11 players to bowl and it worked, as India won by 112 runs. The USA’s Ryan Corns demonstrated why he was the Player of the Tournament at the World Cup Qualifiers with an unbeaten 60, with six fours and a six as USA reached 154 from 48.2 overs.In Lincoln, Australia clinched a Duckworth-Lewis win over West Indies. A clutch of good innings carried them to 319 for 7, after which West Indies failed to gather steam after their top order folded. There was only one half-century, from Yannic Cariah in the middle order, and Australia’s bowlers maintained their control for the entire duration in the field.Bangladesh boosted their preparation for the big tournament by beating hosts New Zealand by 36 runs at Lincoln Green. Three half-centuries at the top or the order, after Bangladesh opted to field, got New Zealand to 242 for 6. It was not enough, however, as Bangladesh chased down a D/L revised target with ease. Despite the first-ball exit of Anamul Haque, they cruised thanks to Amit Majumder (41), Saikat Ali (72) and Monimul Haque (66).Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 38 runs at St. Andrew’s College Ground, after Babar Azam’s century carried them to 257. A pair of half-centuries followed the opener’s fine effort and set a tough target, Zimbabwe failed to get partnerships going. Raza Hasan, bowling his slow left-arm spin, did the most damage with 5 for 36. Only Andrew Lindsay down the order offered much sting, blasting 61 from 45 balls.At Christ’s College, Canada recovered from 37 for 6 to add a veneer of respectability to their reply to South Africa’s 247 for 6 from 50 overs. A 75-run partnership between Asif Manijra (30) and Hamza Tariq (55*) allowed Canada finish on 154 for 9 from its 50 overs to lose by 94 runs. South Africa’s total had been boosted by the openers, who got into the forties, and Cody Chetty (54). Parth Desai (2 for 40) achieved Canada’s best return.Papua New Guinea fought back from 8 for 2 to be bowled out for 141 in 46.3 overs after being sent in by England at Elmwood Park. PNG’s Lega Siaki (20) and Tony Ura (29) combined to put on 54 for the third wicket. Only the middle-order batsman Sese Bau (33 from 57 balls) bolstered the PNG total. England romped home in 24.2 overs to win by eight wickets, the opener Joe Root (72*) and Joe Buttler (62*) putting on 135.

As per El Nacional, there has been an update in Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Juventus star Matthijs de Ligt involving Antonio Conte.

The Lowdown: Paratici eyeing move…

Tottenham managing director Fabio Paratici has been tasked with strengthening Conte’s options in north London as the Italian duo seek to guide them back to the summit of European football.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/spurs-developments-2/” title=”Spurs developments!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

It’s been over two years since Spurs last hit those lofty heights, with ex-boss Mauricio Pochettino guiding them to the 2019 Champions League final, but Conte’s glittering CV could point to a coach capable of reigniting the club’s fortunes.

As such, the 52-year-old’s pulling power has seen Spurs linked with a host of Serie A stars including de Ligt (Calciomercato.it), with Football Insider even claiming that Paratici personally believes a deal ‘can be done’.

Now, in an update, El Nacional have shared some news on Tottenham’s interest.

The Latest: Conte personally eyeing ‘priority’…

According to the Spanish source, Spurs’ new manager has now personally listed de Ligt as a ‘priority’ target for the club.

This comes as the 22-year-old’s representative, super agent Mino Raiola, offers him out to the likes of Real Madrid as he seeks a move away for his client.

He is also aware of Premier League interest, though, with Conte eyeing the player for Spurs as well as Premier League champions Manchester City taking an interest.

The Verdict: Ambitious…

Conte ambitions for Spurs could be perfectly summed up by this claim, especially given de Ligt’s plaudits and sky high valuation.

As per Transfermarkt, Juve’s defender is valued at a lofty £63 million – a figure which would break Tottenham’s transfer record and eclipse the £53.8m fee they paid to sign Tanguy Ndombele.

The Old Lady could feasibly demand more given his age and potential for sell-on value, not to mention he has attracted some pretty big praise.

Former Premier League star Edwin van der Sar, as relayed by TRANSFERmarketWEB, likened the Netherlands centre-back to Cristiano Ronaldo for his mentality and application in the gym.

On a reported wage of around £200,000-per-week, Spurs would have to break the bank in more ways than one to sign de Ligt – so pulling this transfer off would be quite the ambitious move.

In other news: Spurs agreement to sign star now possible as Paratici makes exciting plea to club chiefs, find out more here.

Once James Forrest decides to part company with Celtic and leave the luscious green grass of Parkhead behind, it will be a sad day for everyone associated with the Hoops.

The flying winger has been a fabulous signing for the Bhoys since arriving as a boy all the way back in 2002.

There have been a number of success stories emerging out of Lennoxtown over the last few decades with the likes of Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor and Aiden McGeady all climbing through the ranks.

However, only club captain, McGregor, can boast the same loyalty as Forrest.

Since breaking into the first team in Glasgow, the 30-year-old has pulled on the famous green and white on 422 occasions. Over those matches, he has beaten the goalkeeper 95 times and supplied 96 assists.

Sadly, despite the flanker now in what should be his peak years, his career is dwindling and petering out as fresher blood comes through.

Livewire Kyogo Furuhashi, the rampant Liel Abada and the dazzling Jota have all surpassed him this term as the Scot struggles with injury again.

Forrest has gone from being the club’s go-to player on the biggest of occasions to a position of relegation on the treatment table or substitutes bench.

He has played just 17 times in the Premiership over the last 18 months but he now needs to be wary of those lower than him in the pecking order, not just those in and around him.

It is only a matter of time before Karamoko Dembele makes his true breakthrough at senior level but another youngster is now pushing him close.

That happens to be Rocco Vata, a tricky and frantic 16-year-old who is capable of dominating defences.

The teenager has benefited from Celtic Bs inclusion in the Lowland League this term, as he’s put in some truly eye-catching performances. The type of displays we’re seeing on a regular basis are enough to remind you of Forrest.

Famed for his ability to beat players and fashion chances for teammates, those are two traits the Vata has in his own armoury.

Speaking about the attacker’s talents recently, coach Darren O’Dea could only praise him.

“The most impressive thing about him is his mentality and attitude to the game. There was a pre-season friendly this year and it didn’t go particularly well. But he’s someone who has a killer attitude. He never stops,” O’Dea began.

“He’s got a fantastic ability to beat people and to create chances. But on top of that, he’s got a really strong, strong mind. He’s very, very young and needs to be managed well but he’s going in the right direction.”

Those traits that the Celtic guru describes are very much in tune with Forrest, somebody who has honed his skills over multiple years at a top level, scoring and assisting with great regularity.

“I’m confident to say if he reaches his full potential, which is our goal as a staff to help him do that, that potential could take him to the top,” O’Dea concluded.

With that in mind, it must be hugely exciting for Celtic supporters to see him making such impressive strides. It is timely too, with injury struggles for Mikey Johnston, Forrest and Dembele this season.

It must only be a matter of time before Ange Postecoglou decides to take a closer look and hand Vata his initial taste of first-team life. Should he give him a chance to thrive, then the Australian tactician may well unlock the club’s next Forrest.

AND in other news, Ange must ruthlessly axe “selfish” £16k-p/w Celtic flop in Jan, he’s stealing a living…

Andrew Flintoff has said he would like to be remembered as a good bloke first and foremost, after bowing out of Test cricket with the Ashes regained

Andrew Miller24-Aug-2009

Andrew Flintoff has said he would like to be remembered as a good bloke first and foremost, after bowing out of Test cricket with the Ashes regained and few regrets to haunt him in retirement. Dispelling the notion that he qualified as a “great” player, Flintoff added that the timing of his departure, after 79 Tests in 11 years, would allow him the joy of watching his young family grow up, and that, ultimately, was of far greater value than further glories on the field.”I would rather be regarded as a decent bloke rather than any sort of cricketer I might have been,” Flintoff told reporters on the morning after the triumph. “That is far more important to me. Whatever you do on the cricket field is one thing, but being able to face yourself in the mirror every day and say ‘You’re not a bad egg’, that is far more important. Cricket is one thing, but I want some friends afterwards.”I don’t think I ever achieved greatness and I don’t profess to,” he added. “I was asked, ‘have you been a great cricketer’, and the obvious answer is no. That’s the Bothams, the Sobers, the Imran Khans, the Tendulkars, the Ricky Pontings, who achieved greatness over a long period of time by playing Test after Test after Test.”I have had an Ashes victory twice, I have had a Test career where I have played 79 Test matches, and hopefully I will go on playing one-day internationals, so from a professional point of view I am happy,” he said. “For the bulk of my career I have played through pain and with injury, so to be out on the field was an achievement in some ways. But is that greatness? No.”Flintoff’s final day as a Test cricketer contained two moments typical of the man. He was unable to touch the heights of old with the ball, but his exocet arm at mid-on plucked out Ricky Ponting’s off stump to turn the contest decisively in England’s favour, and then, at the very end of the game, when Mike Hussey flicked Graeme Swann to short leg to fall for a gutsy 121, his first instinct was to walk straight past the cavorting huddle of team-mates that had gathered on the edge of the square, and offer the crestfallen Hussey a consoling handshake.Flintoff, of course, made a similar gesture at the end of the Edgbaston cliffhanger in 2005, when Brett Lee was left high and dry, a mere three runs short of victory. He said that his attitude in victory had been coloured by his own experience in defeat, at the end of the thrilling ICC Champions Trophy final in 2004, when Iain Bradshaw and Courtney Browne guided West Indies to a remarkable two-wicket victory in near-darkness.”When we won, the opposition ran around all over the place,” Flintoff recalled. “We put our hands out, but there was no-one to shake hands with. When you play in a series like that you have to respect the opposition. We had plenty of time to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. It is par for the course to show the opposition some respect and shake their hands.”So often the heart and soul of England’s victory celebrations, this time it was a more muted Flintoff who drank in the surroundings at the end of his farewell performance, and he even admitted a few tears were shed in the dressing-room as he reflected on the fact that he’ll never again play in the ultimate form of the game.”It was quite strange, to be honest,” he said. “I didn’t think I would get emotional but I did a little bit. I went up there and sat in the corner, the place I always sit at The Oval, on the left with my kit everywhere, and while the lads were jumping around and celebrating, it was a teary moment. Then I saw the Sky Sports cameras coming into our dressing room and I thought: ‘No-one’s seeing me crying’. I nipped into the toilets to give myself a minute and pull myself together.”The euphoria of being in an Ashes victory again, the realisation that I will not walk out in whites again, there was a lot of mixed emotion walking around the ground,” he said. “Seeing my family up in the box – my missus, the kids, my mum and dad and everyone. I enjoyed last night, however, it has actually dawned on me this morning that the next time England play a Test match I am not going to be involved, and that is something I will desperately miss. At this moment in time I am not sitting too comfortably.”Nevertheless, there was a flip side to Flintoff’s emotion, and that came when the players’ families – including his wife, Rachael, and their three children, Holly, Corey and Rocky – joined in the celebrations. “I was looking at the lads and how happy they were which was one thing, but then I looked at my wife and kids and I thought ‘I’ve made the right decision here’.”I’m probably not going to get 25,000 people in my house chanting my name,” he joked. “Or people shouting ‘Super Fred’ when I am doing the school run. However, you know, for me, spending time with my family and having the opportunity to do that is far more important and something I’m really looking forward to doing.”Holly, the eldest, turns five in September, and Flintoff admitted that the days of long overseas tours was something he was happy to put behind him. “It is quite a nice time for me to finish,” he said. “The kids are coming to an age where they need their Dad around, and I am going to be there for them. Bittersweet as it is, having to finish Test cricket through injury, the one thing I am excited about is being at home. That is far more important than pinging a few down in a Test match.”Five minutes after Flintoff’s press conference had finished, he went nil- by-mouth in preparation for a general anaesthetic, ahead of the knee operation that could make or break his future as a limited-overs specialist. Already, however, he was looking beyond the knife, starting on Saturday, with the wedding of his long-standing physio, and the man who will guide his rehabilitation, Dave “Rooster” Roberts.”That’s the next biggest day in my life,” he said. “Beefy is best man and I’m a page boy, which is quite fitting.”

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard could fix the club’s biggest summer transfer window mistake by signing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara.

What’s the story?

Following Dean Smith’s exit from Villa Park earlier this month, NSWE moved quickly to replace him by luring Gerrard away from Ibrox.

Transfer insider Dean Jones has now claimed that the 41-year-old could return to his former club Rangers and snare a couple of their key players.

The journalist told GIVEMESPORT: “Rangers think Glen Kamara will be linked very quickly. I think Ryan Kent as well is somebody that they’ll be expecting Villa to be linked with. So, we’ll have to wait and see on those two.”

Fixing Dean Smith’s summer mistake

The fact that Villa ended the summer transfer window without having signed a new central midfielder must surely go down as a major howler on the part of Smith and Johan Lange.

That sentiment follows on from comments made by The Birmingham Mail’s Ashley Preece, who said during a Q&A earlier this week: “You wouldn’t say Ward-Prowse was a Roy Keane-esque player as Villa missed out on the Saints man but it’s clear as day that they need an imposing ball-winner in there. I thought Stan Collymore made a good point the other day outlining how Villa are generally a small team, which they are.”

In Kamara, they would be getting someone who is superb in screening the back four, but also has the passing range to be a real deep-lying play-maker.

Neil McCann, his former manager at Dundee, said: “He looks small but he’s strong and he’s a playmaker. When Rangers signed Glen, I sat there thinking he would smash it. Glen will end up back in the English Premier League. I’ve no doubts about that.”

McCann added: “He isn’t a big, physical lad but he’s made of iron and really strong. I knew immediately that he could handle the ball under pressure and not give it away, so he was perfect. He’s a special talent.

“He’s lightning-quick but he doesn’t show it. He’s a player who takes instruction well.”

Injuries this season have already exposed the glaring lack of depth in Villa’s midfield engine room, with an awful lot being asked of the likes of Jacob Ramsey to try and provide that bit of quality.

The 40-cap Kamara could be exactly what Villa need in midfield, and with McCann saying that the Finn will end up back in the English top flight – he was once on the books at Arsenal – Villa Park could be an ideal destination for him.

Meanwhile, Ashley Preece has revealed what Gerrard has “transformed” at Villa Park…

For Paul Collingwood, one word – “Adelaide” – is all that will be required to ensure that his competitive juices are fully flowing come Wednesday morning

Andrew Miller in Cardiff06-Jul-2009

On the eve of an Ashes series, extra motivation is not something that either side will lack, but for Paul Collingwood, one word – “Adelaide” – is all that will be required to ensure that his competitive juices are fully flowing come Wednesday morning.For Collingwood, the second Test of England’s disastrous campaign in 2006-07 truly was the best of times, and the worst of times. On the second day of the match he completed the double-century that seemed destined to lead England’s fightback from their 277-run drubbing in the first Test at Brisbane; by the final afternoon, however, he was clinging to the wreckage of England’s second innings, 22 not out from 119 balls, as Shane Warne led the charge towards Australia’s incredible six-wicket victory.After that astonishing turnaround, of which there had been no prospect until Andrew Strauss’s dismissal midway through the morning session of the final day, there was no holding Australia back. They swarmed to victory in the remaining three Tests to complete their first Ashes whitewash since 1920-21, and claim absolute vengeance for their thrilling defeat in England in 2005. For better or worse, Collingwood has been clinging to the events of that Test ever since.”I’ll be honest with you, it still hurts me and hurts the team talking about Adelaide,” he told Cricinfo. “We got ourselves into a great position to win or draw the game, and the whole Ashes series could have turned out a lot differently if that had happened. Looking back, it really took the guts out of us as a team – and certainly as an individual, it took the guts out of me – because we had been in such a great position.”It’s amazing how high you can get in terms of your emotions, scoring a double hundred as an individual, and then how quickly a game can turn, and how low you can actually get within such a short space of time,” he said. “As a cricketer, I went from as high as I’ve ever been, to as low as I’ve ever been, in the space of a day. That’s the amazing thing about cricket. You’ve got to be so mentally strong as a cricketer to go through the emotional range in the space of days.”No player is better placed than Collingwood to pass on the lessons that England were taught that day, not even Kevin Pietersen, who also scored a century in that Test, but whose success against all opponents and in all forms of the game somehow set him apart from his colleagues. As Collingwood himself put it: “For most of my career, I’ve always learned from adversity rather than success.”Nearly three years on, however, and there is plenty that is different about the two line-ups, particularly Australia’s, which has been stripped of many of the men who made that Adelaide turnaround possible – most notably Warne, but also Glenn McGrath and now Brett Lee as well.”They were a team who pounced on an opportunity, and that hurt a lot,” Collingwood said. “Last time they had a lot of experience and skill, and they knew about taking opportunities, which we were slow in doing ourselves. They gradually wore us down, but if you give it a good go from ball one, and if you have that aggressive attitude against Australia, you’ll do pretty well.”I guess it’s about going out there and believing in yourself,” he said. “They are a very good side so you’ve got to get your technique in place, but the mental side of playing against Australia is the crucial thing, and that’s going to be new for a lot of the players in both sides. You’ve got to adapt your game and strategies to overcome everything that goes with the Ashes – the media hype, the atmosphere in the grounds. It’s completely different.”Collingwood happens to believe that the attitude within the England team is completely different as well, and attributes that to the lessons learned in the midst of humiliation. “Coming off the pitch last time in Australia, I had conversations with the boys, and we talked about what we were going to do to make sure that [experience] doesn’t happen again. It’s amazing how it hits you hard as sportsmen.”There were certainly a few nerves going into that [series] but there were also a few grey areas in the team,” he said. “This time we are more confident in what we are about, and what we’re doing, and that’s crucial. Mentally it’s a belief thing. It’s not about being overconfident or arrogant, but about going at them – not in a verbal sense, but in body language.”Given the history of Anglo-Australian relations, verbal jousting will undoubtedly play a major part in the series, although Collingwood – who toughened up his game in Aussie grade cricket in the mid-1990s, and was at the forefront of England’s aggressive approach in 2005, particularly in an incident involving Simon Jones and Matthew Hayden at Edgbaston – questioned whether any banter that takes place on the field can really be bracketed as “sledging”.”It’s a bit of a silly word, an overused term” he said. “If it’s a chat, or a joke, is that sledging? Sometimes situations come around when you need to back each other up as a team, like with Hayden last time around, but we’re not going to go looking for it. With the Aussies, they sometimes sniff a moment to get right on top, but sometimes – like at Adelaide – they were like any other team that you are on top of, and went very quiet.”They are very good at it though,” he said. “I played a lot of cricket out there in 1996 as a youngster, and it’s in their culture. They come hard at you, with people coming up to you who don’t like Pommies, simple as that. But people react in different ways. Mentally some people take it personally and let it affect their techniques, some people don’t even listen to it. We have strong characters who can stand up to it.”Whatever transpires in the coming months, Collingwood could hardly be more primed for the challenge. “I’ve got no need for extra motivation,” he said. “From a very early age, all I wanted to do is win the Ashes, and what happened last time fuels me even more to win, no matter who is in the team.”It can only happen against Australia, because it’s the ultimate. Without putting down the likes of South Africa and West Indies, you just don’t get all the emotion against any other side. When you do well against Australia, it’s such a buzz because you know you’re playing against the best in the world.”