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Jamaica Tallawahs keep knockout hopes alive after inflicting third defeat in a row on table-toppers

Alan Gardner08-Sep-2021Jamaica Tallawahs kept their hopes of involvement in the knockout stages of the CPL alive with a 22-run win over Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the early game at Warner Park. Shamarh Brooks top-scored for Tallawahs with 43 but they were grateful to a pair of six-laden cameos from Rovman Powell and Andre Russell to get them up to a challenging score after being inserted at the toss.Defeat was table-topping Patriots’ third in a row – after they had started the tournament with five successive wins – and left them with two fixtures against Trinbago Knightriders, currently lying in second, with which to confirm their progress to the semi-finals.A target of 170 was only a few runs more than the 167 Patriots had chased in the fixture between these sides a week ago. But Sherfane Rutherford, Player of the Match on that occasion, missed out after splitting the webbing on his hand and regular captain Dwayne Bravo was also not fit to return.Chris Gayle, the stand-in skipper, was one of two Patriots wickets to fall in the Powerplay, as they limped to 34 for 2 with just four boundaries. Evin Lewis was caught behind off Migael Pretorius for 5 and Gayle was bowled by Chris Green’s first ball, leaving Devon Thomas and Joshua Da Silva with a rebuilding job to do.It was arguably a brief the pair took too seriously, as Patriots reached 56 for 2 at halfway – needing a further 114 at almost two runs a ball. Da Silva hit Veerasammy Permaul over long-on for six in the ninth over and took the same bowler for a brace of fours in the 11th, before benefitting from two drops in as many overs. He was eventually run out for 28 off 31 in the 13th, and although Thomas responded by hitting six and four off Carlos Brathwaite, when he top-edged Permaul to short third the asking rate had risen to 79 off 35.Dominic Drakes and Fabian Allen cleared the ropes a few times to keep an unlikely win just about within range but Pretorius finished with 3 for 26 as Tallawahs closed out their third win of the tournament after a run of three straight defeats.Tallawahs made a solid start to their innings, with Kennar Lewis clubbing the second and third balls of Allen’s opening over for six. Lewis departed in the Powerplay to Fawad Ahmed’s second delivery – hoicked heedlessly straight to deep backward square leg – but Brooks kept things ticking as Tallawahs reached 74 for 2 after ten overs, Kirk McKenzie the other batter to fall.The wheels began to come off for Patriots when Powell thrashed Drakes for back-to-back sixes over the short leg-side boundary as the 11th over cost 18. Powell struck two more sixes in Allen’s next over, before miscuing another cross-batted heave into the off side; then Brooks began to find his range as Drakes leaked 13.Worse was to come as Paul van Meekeren was mangled for two fours and two sixes by Russell in an over that included two wides and a no-ball and went for 24. Drakes and van Meekeren responded well at the death, conceding just seven runs from the 19th and 20th overs, but Tallawahs already had enough.

How do England mask their flaws and make the most of their assets in the make-or-break third Test? ESPNcricinfo assesses the options

Andrew McGlashan in Sharjah28-Oct-2015Jos Buttler is set to be dropped for the final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah which would mean Jonny Bairstow taking the gloves and James Taylor being recalled. That may be the only change for England as they aim to level the series, but what other options do they have? Here are some of the permutations, in no particular order of likelihood. You are welcome to offer your own in the comments section below.New selections in bold, positional changes in italics1. Hail Alex?Getty ImagesAlastair Cook, Alex Hales, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James AndersonThis team would involve Alex Hales making his Test debut to become Alastair Cook’s eighth opening partner since Andrew Strauss retired. He would come into the XI in place of Jos Buttler, with Bairstow keeping wicket and Taylor missing out again. A greater reshuffle of the batting order would also involve Moeen slipping down to the middle order. It would be tough for Hales, he has had just one brief innings on tour, but he is at least a specialist opening batsman.2. Back to the summerCook, Hales, Bell, Root, James Taylor, Stokes, Bairstow (wk), Moeen, Broad, Wood, AndersonThe model is the same balance which reclaimed the Ashes for England last summer. Adil Rashid misses out as the junior spinner, Hales fills Adam Lyth’s role as a specialist opener, Moeen returns to No. 8 where he prospered throughout the English season while Bairstow moves to No. 7 with the gloves. It wasn’t broke, but they tried to fix it.3. Hit them hard

Mark Butcher: Moeen is wasted as an opener

“Moeen Ali is an asset to England. In English conditions he provides – in that rather dismissive phrase – a “spin option” and gives the opposition kittens when they think they are through the batting line-up. However, in Asian conditions, he is so much more. A potential match-winner if his bowling is in top order and, as an excellent player of spin, a “horses for courses” option at No. 5, leaving room for a second spinner in the process.

By opening with Moeen, an asset has been turned into a liability. Given a truly specialist role at No. 2 (on top of the one as main spinner that he already has) his bowling has suffered. Not only that, he has not been able to reassure the middle order with his expertise against the spinners; because he has been nailed by the new ball, tired and befuddled after bowling and fielding in extreme heat for hundreds of overs.

There has been much to admire about England’s performances in the UAE so far and, with a little luck, they might even be 1-0 up. But their experiment with Moeen could also have a knock-on effect because, while he’s been doing the role, a specialist opener has been denied the chance to get his feet under the table on flat tracks ahead of a tough tour of South Africa later this year.”

Cook, Moeen, Bell, Root, Taylor, Stokes, Bairstow (wk), Broad, Liam Plunkett, Wood, AndersonEngland’s strength is not in spin, that is abundantly clear, but they do have a strong stable of quick bowlers. So why not deploy arguably the quickest of them? It was an idea put forward by the ‘s Mike Selvey and would involve one of the spinners making way. If we presume that Taylor replaces Buttler, then Rashid would have to sit this one out so that Moeen could continue to open. Liam Plunkett would then come in as a battering-ram of a fast bowler to ensure there is rarely a time when Pakistan aren’t facing pace from both ends.4. Do three spinners equal one?Cook, Moeen, Bell, Root, Taylor, Samit Patel, Stokes, Bairstow (wk), Rashid, Wood, AndersonTrevor Bayliss said that England had put some serious thought before the series started to playing three spinners in Sharjah – something New Zealand did last year when Daniel Vettori was recalled for a one-off Test and they won. And that would mean a Test recall for Samit Patel, three years after his last appearance on the tour of India in 2012-13. This option is now highly unlikely given the success of England’s quicks, but if one were to be left out, in terms of wickets taken, Stuart Broad would be the unlucky man.5. Bell tolls?Cook, Hales, Root, Taylor, Moeen, Stokes, Bairstow (wk), Rashid, Broad, Wood, AndersonHas time taken its toll of Ian Bell? The selectors don’t yet think so, but his numbers are not adding up. He has averaged 20.94 since his hundred in Antigua and, though he looked more confident in his second-innings 46 in Dubai, scores of 40 and 50 aren’t really sufficient for a player of his experience. In this option, both Hales and Taylor come in at the expense of Bell and Buttler, with Moeen relocating to the middle order. Joe Root, the world’s No. 1-ranked batsman, is more than capable of batting at No. 36. The 1990s answerCook, Hales, Root, Taylor, Patel, Bairstow (wk), Rashid, Chris Jordan, Plunkett, Wood, AndersonWhat would Ted Dexter, England’s chairman of selectors during an era where consistency was not a buzzword, have done? It would never happen – not these days, at least – but, just for fun, here’s an XI featuring all five squad players who haven’t featured yet. Four quicks, two spinners. Rashid and Moeen could be interchangeable – as they doubtless would have been, 20 years ago.

How ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball commentary called the tumbling of Australia wickets on the first morning at Trent Bridge

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Aug-2015Smith c Root b Broad 6 – What a start for England! Another beauty from Broad. Just back of a length outside off, Smith gets squared up and a thick edge flies comfortably to third slip. 10 for 2•Getty ImagesWarner c Buttler b Wood 0 – Three down! Unbelievable scenes. Back of a length from Wood, nips back off the seam and takes the inside edge. Wonderful bowling. 10 for 3•Getty ImagesMarsh c Bell b Broad 0 – This is outstanding bowling from Broad. Full outside off, brings him onto the front foot, seams away from the left-hander and the edge flies to Bell at head height. 15 for 4•Getty ImagesVoges c Stokes b Broad 1 – What a catch! Stokes flings himself to his right and takes the ball almost behind him! 21 for 5•Getty ImagesClarke c Cook b Broad 10 – Clarke has a horrid slash which finds first slip. Smart catch by Cook above his head. What was Clarke thinking? Counter-attack, I suppose, but it looked awful. 29 for 6•Getty ImagesNevill b Finn 2 – That’s a beauty, but no footwork from Nevill. Full at off stump, a challenging length, nips back off the seam and the off stump gets hammered. That ball had a very large gap to find. 33 for 7•Getty ImagesStarc c Root b Broad 1 – Root pouches it with no fuss. Good length ball in the channel, Starc is caught in the crease as he flirts and nicks it to third slip at a comfortable height. 46 for 8•Getty ImagesJohnson c Root b Broad 13 – Good length and nips away a touch off the seam. Johnson is crease-bound as he wafts and edges it to Root again at third slip. Broad has seven in seven overs. 47 for 9•Getty ImagesLyon c Stokes b Broad 9 – Phew, that was quick! Good length and swerves away outside off with some extra bounce. Lyon simply pushes his bat in the channel, does so with firm hands and edges it to sixth slip. 60 for 10•PA Photos

Aston Villa have reportedly slapped a massive price tag on Jhon Duran, who sunk Bayern Munich in Europe, amid renewed interest from Chelsea.

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• Duran fired Villa to a win over Bayern in UCL
• Chelsea rekindle interest in the striker
• Birmingham club likely to demand over £80m

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Duran has been in exceptional form this season, with his stock continuing to rise with each passing game. The 20-year-old Colombian forward delivered a stunning display on Wednesday, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory over the Bavarians in the Champions League, which has attracted further attention from top clubs, including the London outfit.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  According to Villa have set Duran’s transfer fee at a minimum of £80 million ($105m), a figure that could rise to £100 million ($131m) if his performances continue to improve. Unai Emery is reluctant to let the forward leave and the club had already resisted several offers for the Colombian.

  Over the summer, Chelsea held discussions with Aston Villa over a potential deal, but those talks ultimately stalled as the Blues shifted their focus towards signing Napoli’s Victor Osimhen. West Ham also showed interest in the forward, with negotiations reportedly progressing to the point where Duran believed he was on the verge of joining the London club.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite the interest from Premier League rivals, Villa were able to retain Duran, thanks in part to the long-term contract he signed with the club, which runs until 2028. This gives Villa a strong hand in any future negotiations, as they are under no pressure to sell the player.

  Remarkably, Duran boasts a superior goal-to-minute ratio compared to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and has already found the back of the net four times despite having played only 28 per cent of Aston Villa’s available minutes in the Premier League.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR DURAN?

  As the January transfer window approaches, speculation about Duran’s future is bound to intensify. According to insiders, a January move is not out of the question, though any club hoping to sign the Colombian international will need to meet Villa’s considerable asking price. For now, Duran remains a vital part of Unai Emery’s plans and will be back in action against Manchester United on Sunday in the Premier League.

Chelsea’s decision to sack their manager, Mauricio Pochettino, on Tuesday afternoon sent shockwaves through the footballing world. Whilst rumours of his sacking had been brewing, the Argentine had begun to pull things back for the Blues, and they started to find their best form.

In all competitions since February, Chelsea have lost just four times; twice in the Premier League, against Wolves and Arsenal, once in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, and once in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.

With that being said, Todd Boehly decided to pull the plug on Pochettino’s management of Chelsea, despite his side reaching European qualification ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. The Blues were not in Europe this season, but Pochettino ensured Thursday night qualification.

The reports linking Chelsea to a new manager have already begun to intensify. One of their primary targets is thought to be Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna. The former Manchester United assistant has done a wonderful job with the Tractor Boys, earning them back-to-back promotions from League One and the Championship, sealing a Premier League return next summer.

According to Darren Lewis of The Mirror, other targets include the unattached Roberto De Zerbi, Leicester City’s Enzo Maresca and Thomas Frank of Brentford. However, there could well be one more name Chelsea pursue.

Chelsea’s managerial plans for the summer

The manager in question here is Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness, who has done an incredible job as manager of the five-time German champions. Unsurprisingly, this has led to Hoeness being linked with a whole host of jobs this summer.

Indeed, Hoeness has done a wonderful job with Stuttgart this season. His side pipped former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern to second place on the final day. This came around one year on from a relegation playoff which could have sealed their fate and sent them down to the Bundesliga 2.

Fabrizio Romano explained that, after rejecting Bayern Munich, Hoeness’ “intention remains to continue at Stuttgart, so it’s not easy”, albeit while reiterating the fact that Chelsea are keen on him.

Given the pedigree Hoeness has built up this season, he could fit the bill perfectly with the Blues, and whilst it is a tough deal to do, it does not necessarily mean Chelsea will shy away from it.

How Hoeness would benefit Chelsea

Hoeness’ Stuttgart are a well-coached and compact side, who aim to keep lots of possession. As per SofaScore, they averaged 60.3% possession in the Bundesliga this season, bettered only by Bayer Leverkusen with 62%, and Bayern with 61.5%.

Stuttgart are deadly on the counterattack, utilising through balls to great effect and finding lots of joy from crosses and cutbacks. The brand of football that the 42-year-old has employed at Stuttgart is enjoyable to watch. It is clear to see why he is currently being chased by so many of Europe’s elite clubs, even if he does not wish to leave Stuttgart.

However, perhaps the most attractive reason for Chelsea to appoint Hoeness this summer is his renowned ability to improve youngsters. Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig highlighted this on X, who noted Hoeness “has the superb ability to develop young talents”, which is one of the things that makes him such a good coach.

Interestingly, Stuttgart have the joint-11th youngest squad in Europe’s big five leagues this season, according to Fbref, at 25.9 years old. What makes Hoeness’ achievements even more impressive is that, of those sides with an equal or younger average age to Stuttgart, only PSG finished higher in their respective leagues.

Chelsea actually have the youngest average squad in Europe’s big five leagues this season, with an age of 24.2 years old. Whilst this is arguably cause for concern, Hoeness’ ability at developing, and succeeding with youngsters could be a major selling point for the Blues.

As is widely known, Chelsea have a particularly inexperienced squad, and have a transfer policy of signing under-25 players, and Pochettino suggested that they needed more experienced players in the squad.

Whilst the deal seems tough to do, given Hoeness’ desire to stay at Stuttgart, bringing in a manager so adept at coaching youngsters would be a smart move for the Blues to make. Only time will tell if they do manage to appoint Hoeness, but it certainly does not seem like a bad move at this moment.

McKenna may be the name on everyone's lips, but as shown above, Hoeness certainly has his own sparkling credentials.

Chelsea in talks for “incredible” Poch heir who’d make Enzo world-class

The Chelsea manager target went unbeaten against Kieran McKenna this season.

By
Tom Lever

May 24, 2024

The midfielder quietly became an alternative Premier League icon with his collection of sublime goals for Blackburn Rovers in the noughties

'The Barclays'. While the Premier League was technically sponsored by the aforementioned bank between 2001-16, the period which is so wistfully looked back upon by fans of a certain vintage is the first decade of the 2000s.

After its initial emergence in 1992, the English top flight enjoyed a secondary boom in popularity following the turn of the millennium, as overseas television deals and a secondary influx of foreign stars gave the league a truly global appeal. It played host to a number of the game's modern icons, too, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry and Didier Drogba among those who lit up the Premier League on a weekly basis.

When fans talk about 'The Barclays', though, it is not those household names they are referring to. Instead it is the players who were largely in the background when it came to being headline-grabbing, but were seen as key cogs in the Premier League machine by die-hard fans, while still able to produce moments of magic on occasion.

These players have come to be known as the 'Barclaysmen', but what made them so beloved, and what became of them once their Barclays life was over? Here at GOAL, we will endeavour to find out with our latest series, 'Ultimate Barclaysmen'.

When you think of ultimate 'Barclaysman', one name in particular springs to mind: Blackburn Rovers legend Morten Gamst Pedersen. Quite simply, he ticks all the boxes: a back catalogue of outrageous goals, a cannon of a left foot, a mop of highlighted blonde hair, adidas Predators and a storied career with one of the Premier League's unfancied sides. A man with one of the best highlight reels around, Pedersen is an alternative icon.

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  Where he came from

  The true mark of a 'Barclaysman' is someone who emerged out of nowhere, captured the imagination in the Premier League and then faded into obscurity as soon as they left British shores, and that was certainly the case for Pedersen.

  Hailing from the small Norwegian town of Vadso, which has a population of just 6,000 and is located within the Arctic Circle, Pedersen's breakthrough came at Tromso in his homeland, where he would spend the first four years of his senior career. Something of a late bloomer, he was already 22 when Blackburn came calling in 2004.

  The £2.5 million transfer was prompted by Pedersen's fine form for the Eliteserien side, where he had scored seven times in the first half of the March-to-November season alone. He made the switch to the Premier League in August, with Blackburn and then-manager Graeme Souness still looking to replace Damien Duff, who had joined Chelsea a year earlier.

  Pedersen joined Rovers among a host of other notable Blackburn 'Barclaysmen' that summer, including the likes of Ryan Nelson, Robbie Savage and Aaron Mokoena.

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• Barclays highlights

  Pedersen's start to life in the Premier League was far from memorable as he struggled for minutes after Souness was replaced by Mark Hughes in September 2004, but that would all change in early 2005 as he forced his way into the team with three goals in as many games and effectively made himself un-droppable.

  With his smiley demeanour, blonde highlights, classy technique and traction engine of a left foot, Pedersen would go on to become a cult hero at Blackburn and one of the finest midfield players outside of the established top six at the time. Dubbed the 'Norwegian David Beckham', outrageous goals became his trademark, and in nine years at Ewood Park he put together quite the repertoire.

  The standouts among his substantial back catalogue include a thunderous volley on the run against Fulham in August 2005 and a match-winning brace against Manchester United at Old Trafford the following month, coming in the form of a direct free-kick and an emphatic finish into the roof of Edwin van der Sar's goal. That performance is widely considered to be his best in the Rovers shirt.

  He wasn't just all about spectacular goals, though – he 'had that dog in him', too. The winger developed a reputation for playacting and was capable of rubbing opponents up the wrong way, once clashing with now-Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta against Everton and even taking a punch in the gut from ex-Newcastle man Joey Barton.

  Despite playing for an often-middling Blackburn team for the best part of a decade, Pedersen made a creditable 75 goal contributions in 259 Premier League appearances for the Lancashire side, with 2006-07 his most productive season as he scored 11 times and laid on eight more.

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  'Morten is up there with Beckham'

  The main reason Pedersen is remembered so fondly by noughties football aficionados is undoubtedly his ball-striking ability, with the midfielder capable of unleashing rockets off both feet. He didn't actually start developing his famous left until the age of 15, when his father noted that there were too many right-footed players coming through in Norway.

  His reputation as one of the cleanest strikers of a ball in Premier League history is no fluke, then – coming as result of countless hours of practice on the training pitch. "We have just highlighted certain things to Morten and he has worked on it," ex-manager Hughes said in 2007. "He works extremely hard after training every day, hitting numerous balls into the net, with or without 'keepers in goal. David Beckham was one of the best set-piece experts in my time at Manchester United and Ryan Giggs before him, but I would say Morten is up there with David."

  Pedersen was something of a trailblazer – a fleet-footed technician in an era when the Premier League was all about power and physicality, before the days of David Silva and Eden Hazard, loyally plying his trade for a club the size of Blackburn for the peak years of his career. "I like to try different things," he told UEFA back in 2005. "In some parts of the game it's not the thing to do, but when you have time you can maybe try something. I like to play with the ball and give something back to the crowd. It's fun to try things but you have to be at the right place at the right time."

  He also endeared himself to Barclays followers with his cheery manner, seemingly joying every single second out on the pitch. "I always have a smile on my face, off the pitch as well," he said. "That's a part of me, a smile and a good mood."

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  Moving on

  After nine years of loyal service, Pedersen's Blackburn career arguably came to its natural conclusion back in 2013, but he didn't actually want to leave the club.

  Rovers had been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2011-12 campaign and the 31-year-old had admirably gone down with Rovers amid top-flight interest. However, despite providing seven assists in the Championship the following season without being a regular starter, he was told he could move on in August 2013.

  It was reported at the time that his preference was to stay, but he wanted regular game time and that was not forthcoming at Ewood Park. Financial constraints following their relegation also meant Blackburn needed to trim their wage bill, putting relatively high-earner Pedersen in the firing line.

  "There is no big issue. Morten is a top, top professional who wants to play football," ex-Blackburn chief executive Derek Shaw said at the time. "He has found himself out of the team and we will do anything we can to assist a move. You don't meet people as professional as Morten too often and he is a man who wants to play football."

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti personally has his eyes on an £86 million Arsenal star who is absolutely crucial for Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal set for busy summer transfer window

Sporting director Edu looks set to oversee a busy summer transfer window at the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners likely to overhaul a few key areas of Arteta's squad.

Arsenal table formal bid to sign £52 million man who's "perfect" for Arteta

The Gunners are moving quickly pre-summer.

By
Emilio Galantini

May 15, 2024

The north Londoners' defence could look slightly different next season, as it is believed that Arsenal could replace goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale following his season relegated to the bench in favour of David Raya.

Standard Sport also state that Arsenal will look to bring in another defender. Ben White has shone at right-back under Arteta yet again this season, but it is believed they're keen to acquire a more natural full-back option on that side.

Girona defender Yan Couto has been linked with Arsenal this week, alongside Turkey international Ferdi Kadioglu before him, and it hasn't been ruled out that they bring in a new centre-back as well. Sporting Lisbon starlet Ousmane Diomande is a rumoured target for Edu in that regard, but he'll find it very hard to play his way into the first team if he does join.

The Ivory Coast ace has both Gabriel and William Saliba ahead of him in the pecking order, with the Arsenal duo forming an excellent partnership since the beginning of 2022/2023. Spending the season prior out on loan at Marseille, few expected the Frenchman to come in and be quite this pivotal.

Saliba is now an indispensable member of Arteta's starting elevens, playing every single league game this term, and many pinpoint his injury at the end of last season as a key reason why Arsenal lost the title to Man City that year.

The 23-year-old's form hasn't gone unnoticed across Europe, and it is now believed Ancelotti has taken a personal interest.

Ancelotti eyeing Real Madrid move for Saliba

According to CaughtOffside, Ancelotti is personally an admirer of Saliba and Real Madrid are eyeing a move, but they'll be disappointed. Arsenal have no intention of selling their star defender, who they value at around £86 million, and even plan to extend his contract to tie him down further.

"His attitude, the way he came in and said I’m going to prove that I’m very good and I deserve to be here," said Arteta on Saliba's excellent form over the last two years.

“Without any looking back or being shy, he was doing it the right way and giving the right reasons to think that he was going to be really good for us. He had an immediate impact. The first two training sessions that we looked at home we went: There’s huge potential here.

“He took out every question mark that we could have with him and gave us all the reasons to play him. And I think he’s been exceptional since that day.”

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor revealed she was going to text her predecessor Emma Hayes after their thumping pre-season friendly win over Feyenoord.

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• Bompastor succeeds Hayes at Chelsea
• Blues trash Feyenoord in pre-season friendly
• Ex-Lyon boss reveals text to USWNT manager

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chelsea warmed up for the start of the new Women's Super League season with a 9-0 thrashing of Feyenoord on Saturday, while also losing Niamh Charles to injury. When it was pointed out to her that the victory eclipsed an 8-0 win against Bristol City in Hayes' last home game in charge of the Blues in May, the former Lyon boss quipped she would text her about the result.

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  WHAT SONIA BOMPASTOR SAID

  "That’s not a competition, but I am going to text her to make sure she knows about the result! I am sure she will be happy for me and for the team especially," she said, laughing.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bompastor has huge shoes to fill following Hayes' unprecedented success at Chelsea. The legendary Blues manager decided to step away from the west London outfit earlier this year to take up a role as United States women's national team manager. Now, the Frenchwoman will be tasked with delivering more trophies for Chelsea this season. While it won't be easy, her success of winning a whole heap of silverware at Lyon may put her in good steady for this big task ahead – and wins this like may help, too.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Chelsea continue their pre-season preparations on Saturday when they host Dutch side PSV Eindhoven, before beginning their WSL campaign at home to Aston Villa on Friday, September 20.

Over the last couple of years, Everton have conducted excellent business in the transfer market, turning their attention to younger talents and allowing them to develop at Goodison Park.

James Garner and Jarrad Branthwaite have both arrived on Merseyside in recent seasons, making huge impacts on the club's first-team – including in the 2-0 victory over Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Wednesday night.

The latter only joined the Toffees from Carlisle United for a reported £1m back in 2020, with the youngster having to bide his time before making an impact under Sean Dyche.

However, this season he's started 31 times in the Premier League, with his performances attracting interest from fellow Premier League side Manchester United, who are rumoured to be targeting a big-money move for the 21-year-old this summer.

Despite the excellent incoming in recent seasons, the club have also conducted fantastic business in offloading multiple players who weren't up to the level required of the Premier League, including one former Toffee whose market value has plummeted.

Nikola Vlasic's stats at Everton

After joining the club in an £8m deal from Croatian side Hadjuk Split, midfielder Nikola Vlasic arrived at Goodison with high expectations following three goals in six appearances at the start of the 2017/18 season.

However, he struggled to make any meaningful impact, failing to score or assist in any of his 12 Premier League outings and only featuring for a total of 574 minutes.

Despite his poor form in the league, Vlasic impressed in the Europa League under boss Ronald Koeman, grabbing himself two goals and an assist in his six European appearances for the Toffees.

His impressive record in Europe wouldn't be enough for the Croatian to secure a regular place at Goodison, however, departing the club on a season-long loan to join Russian side CSKA Moscow for the 2018/19 campaign.

The move would see the midfielder recapture his excellent form, achieving 15 goal contributions in his 31 appearances for the club in all competitions.

After taking Russia by storm, CSKA decided to permanently buy Vlasic, departing Merseyside less than two years after arriving – but making the club a tidy profit of £6m, as the Toffees managed to secure a £14m fee for the former Hadjuk Split talent.

Nikola Vlasic's market value in 2024

Nearly five years on from his Everton departure and Vlasic has struggled to recapture his form in multiple leagues across Europe, returning to the Premier League to feature for West Ham United, before making a move to Italy in 2022.

His time at Torino has been a struggle, only managing 18 goal contributions in 70 games for the Serie A outfit, with his market value plunging as a result.

The Croatian is now only valued at £10m, as per Transfermarkt – a figure that is £2m less than current Everton youngster Nathan Patterson, who boasts a value of £12m, despite enduring a bit-part role this season after starting just nine league games.

Given Vlasic's recent form and drop in value, the club made the perfect decision to sell the now 26-year-old, with the club making a decent profit on a player who has undoubtedly failed to live up to his potential.

His time in Italy is further evidence that he simply isn't able to produce his quality on a consistent basis in any of Europe's top five leagues, with his £14m deal allowing the club to invest in the likes of Garner and Branthwaite in recent seasons.

Everton's 9/10 ace is now as undroppable as Tarkowski after Liverpool

He produced a brilliant display during the Merseyside derby.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 25, 2024

Lionel Messi is “enjoying it” at Inter Miami, says new team-mate Oscar Ustari, with the Argentine superstar not allowing “stubbornness” to set in.

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• All-time great joined the Herons in 2023
• Has won just about every major honour
• Showing no sign of slowing down at 37

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has achieved just about everything that it is possible to accomplish at the very top of his chosen profession. He has won trophies with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami, while capturing World Cup and Copa America crowns with his country.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The all-time great has broken countless records down the years, as the history books are rewritten, and could hang up his boots at any point safe in the knowledge that many of his exploits will never be repeated. Messi is, however, still going strong at 37 years of age.

• WHAT USTARI SAID

  He has been joined in Florida by another familiar face – one that he savoured Olympic gold medal glory alongside in 2008 – and Ustari has said of the Messi that he has been reunited with some 16 years on from their last professional engagement: “What I value most is how he always leads with the right foot forward, he’s never forgotten his roots. In the case with me, he has always been the same, so it makes me very happy that he hasn’t changed and with time he hasn’t developed that stubbornness. He has achieved everything there is to achieve and he’s earned it by working hard. I am in a stage of enjoyment with Leo and I am happy to be here and to see him also enjoying it.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Messi could be forgiven for feeling a little frustrated at present, with an unfortunate ankle injury having been picked up in the 2024 Copa America final. That knock has prevented him from rejoining the ranks at Inter Miami, but a long-awaited return to action is expected to be made in MLS action against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.