It was a novel twist on that age-old debate but Bernardo Silva was not being drawn into taking sides between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
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Jack Taylor’s hundred was the latest stitch in a Cheltenham tapestry of Hammond, Zaheer and many more
Paul Edwards at Cheltenham09-Jul-2017Gloucestershire 343 for 8 (Taylor 118*, Dent 65, Mustard 50; Barnard 4-67) vs Worcestershire
ScorecardJack Taylor’s hundred added to Cheltenham’s history•Getty ImagesThere are grounds of which hardly a stick remains from three decades ago; then there is Cheltenham which, from most angles, looks much as it did when Wally Hammond cover-drove his path to glory and that wily Bolshevik Charlie Parker spun teams to perdition in summers from silent films.Perhaps that is one reason people return to the festival and the fortnight remains profitable. While Jack Taylor was making a fine unbeaten hundred, people enjoyed a glass under the limes, much as they did when Zaheer Abbas was wristing the ball to the marquees. At few grounds does immediacy give way so gracefully to timelessness; at fewer still is cricket as much the context as the centrepiece.Yet if you forget the immediacy, you are prey to nostalgia and the preservation of the past in aspic. So let us record that on an afternoon of woolsack clouds Taylor did his best to blunt Worcestershire’s hope of promotion with a century which contained some thunderous cracks towards the many tents as well as rather quieter periods when he was respecting and reassessing the bowling.The pivotal ball of the day was bowled by Josh Tongue in the 49th over when Taylor looked to play to leg but only edged a two-handed chance straight to third slip where Joe Clarke dropped the catch. The reprieved batsman had made 16 and he celebrated his fortune by taking two fours and a straight six off George Rhodes’ next over. Most of the crowd relaxed into their enjoyment and the hills towards Winchcombe were tinged with blue and rich in memories.Taylor’s measured assault on Joe Leach’s attack seemed only distantly connected to a first session in which Gloucestershire had lost four wickets for 87 runs in 30 overs. So keen had been the spectators’ anticipation of collapse that they were hustling like poolside Germans for the best seats at the College Ground this morning and one could see their point. After all, 25 wickets had fallen on the first day of the match against Glamorgan, and when Cameron Bancroft was leg before, barely playing a shot to Joe Leach’s first ball of the match, we readied ourselves for something similar.And readied ourselves to no good purpose as things turned out. The pitch had little to do with last week’s processions and this wicket was true enough to allow Will Tavaré to drive John Hastings to cover point in the second over before picking his next ball up for six over square leg, the ball thudding into the aptly-named Optimum hoarding.Worcestershire’s next three wickets could all be explained by bowlers’ merit or the batsmen’s errors. Tavaré pushed forward at Leach but only nicked a low catch to Ben Cox behind the wicket; Gareth Roderick skied an ill-judged pull off Ed Barnard to John Hastings in the gully; and Graeme van Buuren effected a quite horrid poke outside the off stump which merely gave the off-spinner Rhodes a wicket and Cox another victim.That left Gloucestershire on 85 for 4 a few minutes before lunch with the majority of those runs having come from Chris Dent, whose frequent cover-driving rattled the advertising boards in front of the marquees sponsored by Old Patesians and Charlton Kings Club. The inhabitants of both refuges toasted Dent’s strokes with their morning sharpeners.The middle session of the day was dominated by Gloucestershire’s batsmen. Dent reached his fifty with a single off Brett D’Oliveira and Phil Mustard celebrated the achievement later in the over by pulling an outrageous long hop to the Members’ Marquee. But the pair’s brief restorative partnership ended when Dent was leg before to Barnard for 65, the ball cutting in off the pitch and the batsman walking before Russell Evans gave his decision.Three further wickets were to fall but none of them affected the fresh momentum of the innings. Mustard was content to support Taylor and took 125 balls over his half-century before being bowled through the gate when driving loosely at Barnard, whose four wickets accurately reflected his value to Leach’s attack. Tongue, on the other hand, had two chances dropped and was ill-served by figures of 1 for 61. There was, though, never a time when all bowlers came alike to Gloucestershire’s batsmen.Tongue’s labours finally received some sort of reward when Kieran Noema-Barnett could only glove a well-pitched short ball to Cox but the evening session was further enlivened by an 89-run stand for the eighth between Taylor and Craig Miles. The latter looked a candidate to be caught at short leg at any moment but he included a pulled six off Hastings in his 39 runs.The new ball was taken by Leach and frequently dispatched by Taylor, who reached his 122-ball century with a straight drive off the Worcestershire skipper which was as fine as anything we saw all day. The excellent Cox took his fourth catch to remove Miles and give Barnard another wicket yet David Payne kept Taylor company until close of play by which time the mood of the crowd had changed utterly from their morning apprehension.The day ended, as have hundreds at this precious festival, with the players being welcomed back into the broad shadow of the pavilion. Taylor led them, of course, on an evening when his first century of the season had set up a match Worcestershire must seek to win. Yet there were better reasons than even achievement and anticipation to make one feel at peace with the world this Sunday evening. If the sight of a swallow curving towards Cleeve Hill and the soaring glories of Prothero’s chapel do not lift our spirits, there is something wrong with us.
India’s impressive batting line-up made a collective statement of intent, not least their 20-year-old prodigy Smriti Mandhana, as England, the hosts, were overwhelmed by a display of power and finesse
The Report by Andrew Miller24-Jun-2017India’s impressive batting line-up made a collective statement of intent, not least their 20-year-old prodigy Smriti Mandhana, as England, the hosts, were overwhelmed by a display of power and finesse in the opening match of the Women’s World Cup at Derby.After winning the toss and bowling first under overcast skies, England’s captain Heather Knight had anticipated an opportunity for her side to lay down a marker of their own as they embark on their first home World Cup campaign since 1993, and the first ICC event on home soil since their victory in the world T20 in 2009.But they had reckoned with the silken skills of Mandhana, who capitalised on a nervy opening gambit from England’s bowlers, not least the veteran Katherine Brunt, to lead the charge with an innings of 90 from 72 balls.Despite the insistence from India’s captain, Mithali Raj, that women’s cricketers should not be judged against their male counterparts, it does Mandhana no disservice to say there were shades of Sourav Ganguly in her strokeplay, particularly her powerful driving on the up and through the covers. She also swung hard through the line for two big sixes over long-on, as she and Punam Raut left England with no place to hide in an enterprising 144-run stand for the first wicket.Raut was the sheet anchor as Mandhana went for her shots at the other end, seeing off a restrictive opening burst from Anya Shrubsole en route to an 86-ball fifty before lifting her tempo as her innings progressed. She benefited from a brace of drops from Tammy Beaumont at long-on and Shrubsole at midwicket, but was looking good for a century until she picked out Danielle Wyatt with a slog-sweep to deep midwicket in the 43rd over.Mandhana, by this stage, had also perished, holing out to Danielle Hazell at midwicket as she climbed into a short ball from Knight and trooped off, proud but disconsolate for 90 from 72 balls. It was a stunning performance from a young player who is on the comeback from cruciate ligament tear sustained at the WBBL this winter. There were concerns of a relapse when she limped from the field midway through the England innings, but she later confirmed it had been a hamstring twinge, and she is confident of being ready for the rest of India’s tournament.Her departure paved the way for the entrance of Raj, who in her 15th year of international cricket is in the midst of a golden vein of form. She charmed her way to a women’s record seventh consecutive ODI half-century before holing out for 71 from 73 balls from the final delivery of the innings. Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s aggressive allrounder, showed glimpses of her strength with a big six over midwicket off Hazell, and finished unbeaten on 24 from 22.In reply, England opened with a notable returnee, as Sarah Taylor stepped in for the absent Lauren Winfield in her first full international appearance for more than a year. It was an achievement in itself to complete her comeback after her much-publicised battle with anxiety, but she found India’s bowlers hard to dominate in a 31-ball 22, which ended with a mistimed slap to mid-on.Beaumont was dropped off a top-edged sweep early in her innings but failed to capitalise as Mandhana clung on to a sharp edge to slip for 14, whereupon England’s middle-order was becalmed by India’s slow bowlers, who dropped the ball on a good length and gave the batsman nothing to work with. England relied on a diet of sweeps to keep the score moving before Knight stepped up the pace with a pair of sweetly struck sixes down the ground. But, after Nat Sciver had been caught down the leg side via the first DRS review of the tournament, Knight fell victim to a sharp pick-up-and-throw from Kaur, to be run out for 46.At 134 for 4, England seemed in peril, although Fran Wilson wasn’t done yet. Her hard-hitting 81 from 75 balls gave her side genuine hope going into the final eight overs. But a spate of run-outs – three in four overs, including Wilson herself and the dangerous Brunt – wrecked their fightback. Victory was duly sealed with 15 balls to spare, as Shrubsole slogged to deep midwicket, moments after a defiant six had been caught in the stands by the father of her team-mate, Jenny Gunn. For India, it was their 18th victory in their last 19 matches, and a very impressive show of force at the outset of the tournament.
The USA Cricket Association’s (USACA) continued existence after more than 52 years as an Associate Member of the ICC may be nearing its end. The ICC announced on Monday that a resolution will be put forward at its annual conference in June to consider expelling the USACA.The ICC notice is the latest step in an attempt to clean up governance issues that have plagued cricket in the USA for decades. The USACA has been suspended since June 2015, its third ICC administrative suspension since 2005. Though it was reinstated on two prior occasions, the ICC has taken a far more hands-on role during the third suspension in an effort to satisfy the majority of cricket stakeholders across the country whereas USACA’s current membership – self-reported to be at 45 leagues as of April – puts them in a minority position.”The decision to pass this resolution was not taken lightly by the ICC Board,” ICC chief executive David Richardson said. “Our focus throughout this two year process has been on the unification of the USA cricket community behind USACA to grow and develop the sport. But it has become clear that this is just not possible and, having invested so much time and resources into helping USACA and with little in the way of cooperation from USACA, the ICC Board now felt that the only remaining option was for the ICC Full Council to consider expulsion of USACA as a member of the ICC.”The tipping point in the current phase of the governance dispute came on April 8 when USACA’s membership rejected an ICC-approved version of a revised constitution at a Special General Meeting in New York. Ratifying a new constitution that met certain ICC stipulated requirements, including term limits for board members and having independent directors, was one of 39 terms and conditions laid out by the ICC in August 2015 for the USACA to be reinstated. Meanwhile, the suspension also meant that the USACA’s annual funding grants from the ICC were discontinued and their debts surpassed $4 million as of their most recent financial disclosure for the 2014 tax year.The USACA was initially given until October 1, 2015, to present a constitution for the ICC’s review and approval before a deadline for ratification by February 1, 2016, but the deadline was extended on multiple occasions. During this time, the ICC formed four national advisory groups to address various areas of concern. The advisory groups included members of the USACA as well as the rival American Cricket Federation (ACF) in an effort to unify the parties. Among the four groups was the 10-person Sustainable Foundation Advisory Group (SFAG), tasked with helping to draft a new constitution.Despite invitations to be included in the process, the USACA has maintained an adversarial stance throughout much of the current suspension. The ICC stated on Monday that the USACA had been uncooperative, most significantly with their refusal to ratify an ICC-approved constitution.”USACA’s refusal to engage in the process, to meet a number of fundamental reinstatement conditions, to provide responses to further requests for information and its apparent failure to put the ICC Board-approved constitution before its members without legitimate excuse undermines the all-important objective of uniting the sport,” Richardson said.The ICC has also assumed control of sanctioning authority for other cricket events in the USA while the USACA is under suspension. In that time, there has been increased interest in having the USA serve as a neutral venue for high-profile events including the Cricket All-Stars tour of 2015, Caribbean Premier League matches in Florida in 2016 with another round scheduled for 2017 as well as West Indies and India playing a T20 international series in Florida last August.The USACA’s previous ICC suspensions resulted in the men’s and Under-19 national teams being barred from competing in ICC tournaments. The most significant blow came in 2007 when USA were relegated to World Cricket League Division Five just three years after having been one of two Associates – along with Kenya – to play in the 2004 Champions Trophy in England. However, the ICC has appointed members of the regional ICC Americas office to serve in a caretaker role overseeing USA’s operations during the current USACA suspension.In the event that a resolution is passed to expel the USACA, it is believed that the ICC Americas office will continue administering USA cricket affairs for at least another year and perhaps longer until a new governing body is formed. Alternatively, the ICC may review an application from another governing body, such as the rival ACF, to take the place of USACA as the ICC’s member governing body in the USA, though at the moment that appears unlikely due to unresolved administrative issues with the ACF.Though the USACA’s debt is in millions, the ACF has had difficulty generating revenue since it formed in 2012 and at the moment would not have independent funding sufficient to sustain operations for the various national teams without assistance from the ICC. Their flagship national inter-league tournament has struggled to stay afloat since it was launched in 2014, and is dependent on self-funding from member teams. Meanwhile, the ACF’s chief executive position has remained vacant for two years since the resignation of Jamie Harrison in May 2015.
At Chepauk, Andhra captain Hanuma Vihari struck an unbeaten 58 to take his team to a tense two-wicket win in a chase of 128 against Madhya Pradesh. Four of Andhra’s top-five batsmen, Vihari excepted, were dismissed for single-digit scores. Vihari then steadied them from 26 for 4 with a 38-run stand with Dasari Chaitanya (19). Duvavarapu Siva Kumar and Dasari Swaroop Kumar made identical contributions of 16 each to take Andhra closer to the target, but it was Vihari who stayed till the end, having ground it out for 112 balls. Ishwar Pandey led the wicket charts for MP with 3 for 31.Siva Kumar and Swaroop Kumar also came good with the ball after Andhra opted to put MP in. Siva Kumar took 3 for 17 in nine overs, while Swaroop Kumar took 2 for 27 in five overs. Bandaru Ayyappa and Bhargav Bhatt took the other five wickets between them as MP were bowled out for 127. Saransh Jain top-scored for MP with 56.Rujul Bhatt’s maiden List A five-wicket haul helped Gujarat bowl out Goa for 199 and defeat them by 78 runs. Bhatt broke an important partnership of 119 for the fourth wicket between Amogh Desai (61) and Snehal Kauthankar (64) in Goa’s chase of 278. Kauthankar was sent back next over, and from there, Goa never recovered. Gujarat’s new-ball pair of Ishwar Chaudhary (3-34) and Jasprit Bumrah(2-34) took the other five wickets.Gujarat’s total of 277 for 9 was set up by their openers Parthiv Patel and Priyank Panchal. Patel top-scored with 89, while Panchal’s golden domestic season translated into yet another half-century. The duo put on 118 before Panchal was caught behind off legspinner Ganeshraj Narvekar for 57. Manprit Juneja struck 39 at No. 4, even as a procession of wickets reduced Gujarat from 154 for 1 to 182 for 6. Bumrah then scored an unbeaten 42 off 24 balls with the help of four fours and three sixes to lead a late revival.Mumbai showed their all-round dominance over Rajasthan with a five-wicket win. After opting to put the opposition in, Mumbai restricted Rajasthan to 181 for 9 in a match reduced to 38 overs per side. Mahipal Lomor top-scored for Rajasthan with 49 and Salman Khan made 37, but the rest either did not get off to starts or failed to convert them. Mumbai’s bowlers shared the wickets around, but Shardul Thakur topped the wickets column with 3 for 47 in eight overs, while his new-ball partner Shivam Malhotra also shone with 2 for 19 in eight overs.Mumbai’s top and middle order came good in the chase. Akhil Herwadkar scored 50 and shared a second-wicket stand of 67 with Shreyas Iyer (41 off 32), before Aditya Tare, the captain and wicketkeeper, struck an unbeaten 36 to close out he game at the start of the 30th over. Offspinner Tajinder Singh took three wickets for Rajasthan, but was expensive, leaking 45 runs.
Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah is reportedly the subject of a world-record £215 million ($271m) transfer bid from Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ittihad.
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Window still open in the Middle EastEgyptian star a top targetReds reluctant to do businessWHAT HAPPENED?
The Egypt international has already seen the Reds reject one approach for his services that was said to be worth £150m ($189m). That offer was lodged prior to the summer window in England slamming shut. Teams in the Middle East are still in a position to bolster their respective ranks, meaning that Liverpool’s resolve continues to be tested.
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According to , Al-Ittihad have a deal on the table that is worth an initial £170m ($214m) – with that package rising to £215m once various add-ons are taken into consideration. Salah is also said to have been presented with a contract that would earn him £2.45m ($3m) a week.
DID YOU KNOW?
Salah’s contract would include a number of added incentives, with the 31-year-old set to be awarded a share of all shirt sales, a £55,000 win bonus as well as ambassadorial roles with three major Saudi companies that would be active throughout the length of his stay.
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Jurgen Klopp has maintained that Salah is not for sale, and that stance is unlikely to be relaxed with Liverpool in a position where they would be unable to bring in a replacement for their talismanic forward if he were to move on. If Al-Ittihad failed to land the Premier League icon at this stage, then they will rekindle their interest when the transfer window reopens.
Manchester United bidders INEOS, who are fronted by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, are 'cautiously optimistic' over their chances of sealing a deal to take over at Old Trafford, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
What's the latest takeover news involving Manchester United?
As per Sky Sports, Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS are said to be the 'leading candidate' to assume control of Manchester United from the Glazer family.
The report states that Ratcliffe wants to buy a majority controlling stake in the Premier League giants that would leave Joel and Avram Glazer in minority stakeholding positions and INEOS remain the preferred option despite a new offer from rival bidder Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Former Manchester United icon Gary Neville has spoken about his frustration surrounding the ownership debacle on Twitter, stating: "Plainly obvious the Glazer family aren’t going to announce anything on the ownership until the season is closed! They’ve been spinning it out unprofessionally for weeks and months now. They know fan protests would have been more significant than they already have if matches were still being played and the end result of the sale process is unpopular."
INEOS want to purchase 69% of the club, whereas Sheikh Jassim and the Nine Two Foundation want to claim 100% of Manchester United and clear debt owed by the club, as per GOAL.
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs thinks that Ratcliffe and his INEOS team will be quietly confident over their chances of becoming the new owners of the Red Devils.
Jacobs told FFC: "INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have a flexible offer on the table, they're prepared to get in control of the club and allow Joel and Avram Glazer to stay, but they're also prepared to buy 69% of the football club. As a consequence of that and because their valuation is higher than the Nine Two Foundation, at around £6.5 billion, there's less of a negotiation there and more questioning around technical points of that bid and INEOS remain cautiously optimistic."
What next for Manchester United?
Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag will be keen to focus on matters on the field and will be readying his side for another tilt at trophy glory this weekend as they prepare to face Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.
The Red Devils have already recorded Carabao Cup success this term and Ten Hag will want to add another trophy to his cabinet to complement what has been a commendable season in charge as his side will also have Champions League football to look forward to in 2023/24.
Transfer targets will also be on the agenda for Manchester United and they are reportedly going to make a 'formal approach' to try and acquire Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, as per Sky Sports.
Mount may be the first of several arrivals at Old Trafford as things get set to hot up on and off the pitch at Manchester United in the next few weeks.
Lord’s has hosted many memorable encounters over the years, but Wednesday’s meeting between the counties and the ECB executive promises to rival the best of them for ferocity and, in its way, significance
George Dobell13-Sep-2016Lord’s has hosted many memorable encounters over the years, but Wednesday’s meeting between the counties and the ECB executive promises to rival the best of them for ferocity and, in its way, significance.The chairmen and chief executives of all 18 counties and the MCC are meeting to discuss their options for the future shape of the domestic T20 competition in England and Wales. It is no exaggeration to state that the conclusions reached could amount to the most significant changes to the face of England cricket since the introduction of limited-overs cricket in 1963 or the birth of professional T20 cricket in 2003.On one side you have those who insist a new T20 tournament featuring eight city-based teams is essential if cricket is to recapture the interest of the general public. On the other, you have those who warn that such a move will marginalise several first-class counties and further decrease the visibility of the game in the market towns and small cities where it is still relevant.The issue of free-to-air broadcasting and the value of potential broadcast deals will also be relevant. Some counties are incredulous at the difference in value placed on the options by the ECB’s ‘independent’ broadcast analysts. Some insist that free-to-air is essential if the game is to return to relevance in the public consciousness.It seems unlikely the consensus the ECB executive seeks will be reached today. They were hoping to agree one of the five options they set before the counties a few weeks ago with a view taking it to the ECB board for approval in October. But, with counties still asking for more information about the details and several insistent that their members have to be consulted, not enough seem ready to commit.Indeed, as they consider the implications of a city-based tournament – and as their members learn of those implications – it seems support for a two division tournament featuring all 18 teams has grown once more. This was the original recommendation of the ECB working party charged with looking into options a year or two ago, but it was subsequently shelved after concerns that it might limit the opportunity for lucrative local derbies.But a suggestion made by Glamorgan could offer a solution. ESPNcricinfo understands that they have put forward a plan whereby the T20 season would start with a weekend of local derbies – double-headers if necessary – that do not have any connection with the competition. While it is not a perfect solution – the issue of who would host such games is one problem – it may be enough to convince the waverers.One of the primary concerns is the implication to all other cricket by trying to create a July window for the new T20 tournament. The counties are worried that either the Championship will be diluted by the absence of around 100 of the best players, or that it will not be played at all for a month.ESPNcricinfo understands a suggestion has been made about cutting the Championship season to as few as 10 games – featuring three divisions of six teams – to make space for the new T20 competition while even Mike Fordham, the man hired by the ECB to launch the new competition (he fulfilled a similar role with the IPL and the CPL) has warned against comparisons with the BBL. Research has shown a tournament based in eight Test-hosting cities in England and Wales would cover only 25% of the population compared to 65% in Australia cover by the six BBL-hosting cities.While NatWest Blast attendances have risen by more than 60% since the introduction of a predictable schedule (generally on Friday nights) three years ago, it is ironic that many of the potential hosts of the eight-team tournament have seen ticket sales stall in recent times.Hampshire’s have grown by just 1% in that time (and dropped in 2016) while Lancashire’s have grown by 3% and again shrunk in 2016. Yorkshire’s and Durham’s attendance figures also fell in 2016. It may well grate on those counties where attendances have increased sharply – Northants, Gloucestershire, Essex and Worcestershire, for example – to forgo their place in the premier T20 competition to those who have failed to seize the format’s potential as well.If the ECB executive force a vote – and it seems unlikely they will take such a chance – it is far from certain they will win. And if they lose, it may well be that the resignation of the ECB chief executive and, perhaps, its chairman are requested.
The ICC has formally opened an application process on Wednesday for a new USA coach, who will officially start duty at WCL Division Four in Los Angeles later this year.A minimum level 2 coaching accreditation is among the qualifications listed for the role. The role came under scrutiny following USA’s performance at the World T20 Qualifier last year when opener Akeem Dodson criticised coach Charlie Javed for lacking a Level 1 certificate and the team’s inability to qualify for the World T20 in India.Prior to Javed, USA had been coached on a contract basis by Robin Singh although his tenure produced fractious moments with players. Most notable was the dispute between Singh and players Orlando Baker and Timroy Allen, who vowed never to play for USA again. Allen has not played for USA since he was vice-captain at the 2013 World T20 Qualifier, but has since participated in ICC-conducted trials in USA. He went on to play for a combined ICC Americas squad in January and performed well enough to earn a Caribbean Premier League contract with Jamaica Tallawahs.Among those believed to have expressed interest in the role are Mike Young and Doug Watson. Young has built his reputation as one of the world’s premier fielding coaches, having been part of the coaching staff of three World Cup winning squads with Australia, and was also on the coaching staff of IPL champions Deccan Chargers in 2009. Young was part of the coaching team for the ICC Americas squad in January and has been heavily involved in the talent evaluation process at ICC Combines conducted around USA in 2015 and 2016.Watson is a former South African first-class player who served as assistant coach for Mumbai Indians in 2009. He most recently served as head coach of Namibia from 2012 to 2015.The ICC stated in a press release that applications will be accepted till July 20. A 30-man shortlist of players chosen from the recent ICC Combines is due to arrive in Florida on July 27 for a week-long USA national team camp, of which a 14-man squad is expected to be chosen for WCL Division Four.
Manchester United forward Anthony Martial has been slammed after walking straight down the tunnel on Sunday as his teammates offered their appreciation to the travelling fans.
Will United still finish in the top four?
It was a dismal display at St. James' Park from Erik ten Hag's side who comfortably beaten by Newcastle United and that was acknowledged by the Dutch manager: “Today the best team won, I hate to say it,” he said after the defeat.
The loss on Tyneside saw Eddie Howe's men climb above the Red Devils in the table and up to third spot with Tottenham Hotspur playing their game on Monday night.
United still have games in hand over the north London club so the defeat has not put too much of a dent in their hopes, however, it was the manner of the defeat which will hurt most.
And for the travelling fans, the least they will expect is to be thanked by the players on the back of such a poor display away from home.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Alex Crook learned the £250k-per-week Martial was a player to ignore the fans as he headed for the dressing room which enraged the pundit:
(0:35) "That is shocking from the Manchester United players. If they're not wanting to salute the away fans, Martial in particular, where have you been all season, fella? You make one appearance and think you can skulk off down the tunnel. Unbelievable!"
Does Martial have a future at Old Trafford?
The Frenchman's big-money arrival from Monaco has failed to really match the expectations set on him, however, this is something which is unlikely to go down well among the fans.
Martial now has just over one-year remaining on his current deal with the Red Devils and it could certainly be envisaged that a potential move could be lying ahead in the summer.
Having made 10 appearances this season in the Premier League, Martial has returned three goals and two assists (via Transfermarkt).
Considering he has only played 489 minutes of league action, this is actually not too shabby of a return, however, it is evident he is not in the immediate plans of Ten Hag.
It is apparent why Martial will have frustrations over his lack of game time and on the back of a dreadful display from all in a red shirt.
He came on with around half an hour remaining, but he failed to provide much of an impact having only recorded 16 touches of the ball (via SofaScore).
But failing to acknowledge the travelling fans will certainly fail to endear the Frenchman with the United faithful ahead of what could be a pivotal summer in his career.