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So much change has occurred at West Bromwich Albion in such a short space of time.

It doesn’t feel too long ago since Carlos Corberan was still situated in the Baggies dug-out, with Tony Mowbray going on to face the wrath of the Hawthorns hierarchy after the much-loved Spaniard departed for Valencia.

Fast forward to this summer and Ryan Mason is now tasked with attempting to put West Brom back on the map by guiding them up to the Premier League.

This will be no easy feat for a manager still learning the ropes – but unlike Mowbray – he should have a fully fit Josh Maja at his disposal from the second football gets back underway, which is a definite boost for a team attempting to accelerate out of the traps.

Maja's explosive form for West Brom

Despite only lining up for a mere two league games in total during an injury-ravaged 2025, the former Sunderland marksman would still be crowned West Brom’s top goalscorer of the season when the dust had settled.

Maja bagged a deadly 12 strikes from only 26 clashes, with a clinical brace picked up against Preston North End on New Year’s Day his final meaningful contributions during an up-and-down campaign.

When performing at the peak of his powers, the explosive Maja would constantly be linking up with assist king Tom Fellows to terrorise Championship defences, culminating in the homegrown winger registering a colossal 14 assists.

Mikey Johnston was the second most effective assist maker for the Baggies with a lesser five next to his name, with the addition of a new, entertaining attacker perhaps getting even more out of Maja in the long run when considering their previous blistering exploits in the EFL’s top division.

The "fabulous" talent who could be a dream partner for Maja

Of course, as Fellows became more well-known for being a creative menace, the pressure significantly ramped up on his shoulders.

Consequently, the exciting Hawthorns prodigy would only pick up two goals and three assists across his last eight Championship appearances of the season. To add more context, it would only take Fellows three games right at the start of the season to reach the same assists tally.

This is where former Derby County ace Tom Lawrence could come to the rescue in lessening the burden on Fellows to solely create, with a recent report by TEAMtalk suggesting that Mason and Co. are keen to add the free agent to their ranks this summer, alongside competitors to his signature in Wrexham and Coventry City.

Maja will already be raring to go ahead of next season as he pushes his injury issues hopefully to one side.

But, if he knows he also has Lawrence as a potential teammate feeding him chances, alongside Fellows and many other stars at Mason’s disposal, the potent number 29 will be aiming for an even heavier goal return than the 12 he just managed.

Lawrence’s G/A numbers for Derby
Season	Games	Goals	Assists
21/22	39	11	5
20/21	23	3	2
19/20	40	10	5
18/19	38	7	5
17/18	42	6	8
Sourced by Transfermarkt

Whilst his celebrated stint with the Rams did see him score plenty of audacious strikes – as seen in his 37 goals from 185 appearances – the ex-Derby captain would also go on to amass a healthy 25 assists at Pride Park across five memorable campaigns.

More specifically, 22 big chances would be created on the end of the Wrexham-born forward across his five Championship seasons in Derbyshire, with the potential here for Lawrence to recapture this previous EFL best if he moves to West Brom shortly.

With a thunderous effort like this one up his sleeve also, the “fabulous” midfielder – as he was once labelled by ex-Rams boss Gary Rowett – could even compete with Maja at the top of the goalscoring charts, with Mason fancying his team’s chances at promotion even more if the free agent was to relocate to the Hawthorns.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Jun 16, 2025

The ‘FSG out’ brigade appear to have run out of steam. Liverpool’s American owners have long been divisive within the Reds community, with some segments of the fanbase criticising their so-called frugal approach in the transfer market.

There are grains of truth to these claims: after Jurgen Klopp won the Premier League in 2019/20, he was rewarded with only Diogo Jota, Thiago and Kostas Tsimikas. Admittedly, FSG had jam-packed the squad with high-level quality over the past several seasons, rarely missing the mark.

Liverpool summer transfer window in 2020

But this time around, the Anfield side aren’t resting on their laurels and are instead strengthening across the park to ensure Arne Slot can defend his newly-won league title and forge a dynasty of his own on Merseyside.

It’s a formidable show of financial strength and merciless ambition. The £100m signing of 22-year-old Florian Wirtz (which could rise to a British-record £116m) hands Slot one of the prized playmakers of the modern game, and another new defender may yet be inbound.

Liverpool's new-look defence

Although Liverpool have extended captain Virgil van Dijk’s contract for the next two years, a £30m deal plus add-ons has been agreed for the transfer of Jarell Quansah to Bayer Leverkusen.

Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate’s future remains unclear after a recent contract proposal was rejected by the Frenchman’s camp.

Change may well be afoot. Well, more change, in any case. Trent Alexander-Arnold is already two competitive matches into his Real Madrid career, and Jeremie Frimpong has been signed on as his successor after the Leverkusen right-sider’s £29.5m release clause was met.

On the left side of the rearguard, Andy Robertson, 31, continues to mull over the chance to see out his autumn years in Spain, Atletico Madrid having registered their interest in the left-back.

Robertson is a stalwart and a two-time Premier League champion besides. But he’s waning, and anyway, Liverpool are on the brink of signing Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez as his successor.

And still, another defender could arrive before too long.

Liverpool nearing agreement with Premier League star

As per Football Insider, Liverpool are close to reaching an ‘agreement’ for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who is entering the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

In January, Tottenham Hotspur saw a £70m offer rejected, but now Palace chairman Steve Parish knows free agency could become a real situation for the Three Lions star, and Liverpool are thought to be confident that a £50m fee can be agreed.

Football Insider’s Mick Brown even believes Guehi will turn down interest from Arsenal to sign for the Anfield because he is concerned his match action would be limited in Mikel Arteta’s team.

How Guehi could follow in Salah's footsteps

Liverpool’s transfer ethos over the past decade or so has often seen players plucked from clubs lower down the ladder; rarely have Liverpool raided one of their ‘big six’ rivals for a top talent.

Guehi could be the latest in that regard, and having been regarded as a player of high potential right from his maiden days when he was at Chelsea’s Cobham academy, it’s clear he’s got the natural potential to reach even higher levels than have been witnessed over the past several years.

Quansah’s departure opens up space at Liverpool to be sure, but Guehi’s presence could weave into the heart of Slot’s backline for many years to come, with his two-footedness lending itself to the left side of the central defence, an area that Van Dijk will have to vacate at some stage.

Apps

132

Goals

6

Assists

4

Clean sheets

33

Wins

41

Draws

46

Losses

45

Tackle success

55%

Duel success

62%

Cards (Y/R)

21/1

Three years ago, Palace signed Guehi from Chelsea in a deal worth £18m. He has since completed 155 appearances in all competitions, historically winning the FA Cup last month.

A composed, intelligent and technically sound centre-back with steely defensive roots, Guehi could be an incredible fit for a Liverpool side looking to solidify their position at the top of English football.

It wouldn’t be the first time the Reds have signed a former Chelsea reject either, with Mohamed Salah joining Liverpool from AS Roma back in 2017 after previously falling by the wayside as a younger prospect in west London, scoring just two times across 19 matches.

Salah has, of course, grown into one of the most legendary forwards in Premier League history, with his 186-goal tally in the division placing him fifth on the all-time rankings, only 27 strikes behind Harry Kane in second place.

After finding his feet and playing in European competition in Italy, the Egyptian King has since risen to the fore, winning so many team and individual accolades across his Anfield career.

Almost single-handedly driving Slot’s side to the Premier League title in 2024/25, FSG certainly know the benefit in pursuing a player who had once been held by a divisional rival, even if they failed to bring it all together on enemy territory.

Guehi might not be a player of a similar style of positional value, but he does have the potential to become one of the best in his position just as Salah has, with Palace reporter Bobby Manzi even declaring him to be a “monster in defence” after one stunning performance for the Three Lions.

Moreover, the 24-year-old has led his team to trophy-winning success and, while he hasn’t played on the European scene yet, knows that his efforts last term sealed Palace’s place in next year’s Europa League proper, a fine feat indeed.

Guehi has rebounded from the heartbreak of failing to make the final grade at Stamford Bridge, but given that Chelsea have since been interested in re-signing their one-time graduate, it’s Liverpool who may have the last laugh once again. Just as they did with Salah.

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ByAngus Sinclair Jun 24, 2025

Will Wolverhampton Wanderers require a major summer rebuild?

Wolves were in the relegation zone when Vítor Pereira was appointed in December, but he managed to win ten of his 22 Premier League fixtures in charge, including leading the club to their first six-match winning streak in the top division since October 1970.

This saw the Old Gold finish 16th, 17 points clear of the drop zone, but, with many of their key assets coveted by other clubs, it is set to be a busy summer at Molineux.

That has all started with Matheus Cunha’s departure.

Why Matheus Cunha was a wanted man

On Sunday afternoon, it was officially announced that Cunha had joined Manchester United, the Red Devils paying his reported £62.5m release clause.

This is obviously a blow for Wolves because, as Matt Furniss of Opta’s the Analyst outlines, he has been Wolves’ ‘most influential player’ across the last two seasons, describing Cunha as a ‘revelation’ and praising his consistent ability to over-perform his xG statistics.

Meantime, Steve Madeley of the Athletic notes that the Brazilian has undoubtedly been ‘Wolves’ player of the season’, adding that very rarely is an entire campaign linked ‘so intrinsically to one player’, with Cunha always the main character, ‘for better and worse’.

Since making him move from Atlético Madrid permanent for £44m two summers ago, Cunha has scored 31 goals in 72 appearances for the club, numbers that are going to be difficult for anyone to replicate.

However, is a current member of the Wolverhampton Wanderers squad primed and ready to become the main man?

Wolves' unsung hero ready to step-up after Cunha

When Wolves signed Jørgen Strand Larsen last summer from Celta Vigo, initially on loan but with a £23m obligation to buy, there was very little fanfare, it is fair to say.

Thus, the Norwegian striker certainly surpassed all expectations, scoring 14 Premier League goals, meaning only nine players across the entire division managed more.

The Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer Alan Shearer praised Strand Larsen’s performance during a vital 2-1 victory at Ipswich in April, saying “his hold-up play was excellent… his touch and his control were superb”, adding “I actually think they’ve looked a better team” without Cunha during his four-match suspension.

Meantime, manager Pereira described his form as “fantastic”, adding “he helped the team” a lot.

Nevertheless, the key question remains: does Strand Larsen have the quality to be Wolves’ main man for goals now that Cunha has departed?

Well, let’s compare the duo in an attempt to answer this question.

Strand Larsen vs Cunha 2024/25 PL comparison

Statistics

Larsen

Cunha

Appearances

35

33

Minutes

2,603

2,603

Goals

14

15

Assists

4

6

Shots

54

110

Shots on target %

61.1%

40%

Goals – xG

+3.7

+6.4

Big chances missed

13

2

Big chances created

6

13

Shot-creating actions

42

132

Goal-creating actions

6

16

Aerial duels won

67

13

Touches per 90

26

54

% of touches in opposition box

15%

8%

Stats via Transfermarkt, FBref, Sofascore & Squawka

As the table outlines, Cunha’s statistics are largely more impressive, which shouldn’t be too surprising, given that he’s the one who has just earned a big-money move to Manchester United.

However, what the table also crystallises is the fact that they are very different types of centre-forward.

Ryan Benson of Opta’s the Analyst labelled Strand Larsen a ‘fox in the box’, documenting how he is a classic target man whose ‘presence alone keeps centre-backs occupied’, an assertion that is supported by the data, with 15% of his touches coming in the opposition penalty area, nearly double the ratio of Cunha.

While the Brazilian ranked second in the Premier League this season for non-penalty goals – xG, his teammate was not too far behind, sat seventh for the same metric.

Strand Larsen also ranked sixth for aerial duels won amongst strikers, albeit his big chances missed tally of 13 leaves room for improvement.

Nevertheless, still only 25 years old, the Norwegian has all the attributes to be a successful centre-forward in this league, so is well-equipped to fill the massive void vacated by the outgoing Cunha.

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Posts BySean Markus Clifford May 30, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur could strike a summer reunion with one of their former players, and one who Mauricio Pochettino rated “very highly”, according to an update this week.

Spurs await season-defining Europa League final in Bilbao

Ange Postecoglou will soon face a blockbuster 90 minutes in Bilbao, which has the power to define his potential final season in charge of the Lilywhites.

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3 ByEmilio Galantini May 14, 2025

Spurs play fellow Premier League strugglers Man United in the Europa League final on May 21, with the club’s first piece of major silverware in 17 years and qualification for next season’s Champions League all on the line.

Son Heung-min

7.05

Pedro Porro

6.98

James Maddison

6.98

Dominic Solanke

6.88

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

After Tottenham broke their record for most Premier League losses in a single season last weekend, Postecoglou could save face by clinching a precious trophy for Spurs, amid reports that the 59-year-old is likely to leave once the campaign has concluded (David Ornstein).

Unfortunately, following news of Dejan Kulusevski’s knee surgery, Postecoglou will be without a trio of his star midfielders, with the Swede joining both James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall on the injury list.

Injury absences have been a thorn in Tottenham’s side throughout 2024/2025, and they’ve seriously exposed the lack of depth in Postecoglou’s squad whilst emphasising the need for chairman Daniel Levy to acquire fresh faces.

Spurs will need to be clever when the summer window reopens, though, as they’re apparently likely to adopt a ‘sell to buy’ policy amid their lack of funds (The Telegraph).

Tottenham make contact with Southampton defender Kyle Walker-Peters

The free-agent market could be a fruitful pool of talent for the club, with ex-Spurs defender Kyle Walker-Peters currently set to leave Southampton on a Bosman once his contract expires on June 30.

A host of English sides are showing interest in Walker-Peters, who has arguably been one of the better performers in an otherwise dismal Saints side this term. According to journalist Graeme Bailey, in an interview with Leeds United News, Postecoglou’s side are among them.

Bailey states that Tottenham have held talks with Walker-Peters’ camp, but the competition for his signature will be rife.

“I’m told no decision just yet,” said Bailey on the Englishman’s future.

“Leeds have had contact, but as we know they’re one of many clubs to be in touch with him. West Ham, Spurs, Everton, there’s loads. And some foreign clubs are lurking too. Can Leeds get him? Of course. But from what I can make out it’s going to be tough.”

While Spurs eventually let the right-back, described as a “beautiful” footballer by ex-Saints boss Russell Martin, depart in 2020 for around £12 million, Pochettino did shower Walker-Peters with praise during his time in the English capital.

“For me, he’s one of the best options,” said the Argentine about Walker-Peters in 2018.

“Like always, who deserves it more is going to play — you know me. I’m so happy with his performance. I’m so happy and so proud of how he managed the pressure. I’m very pleased and I talk very highly of him.”

Celtic are through to the final of the SFA Cup after they cruised their way to a 5-0 win over Scottish Premiership side St. Johnstone at Hampden Park on Sunday.

The Hoops scored four times in the first half to blow their opponents away and seal their spot in the final with ease, thanks to two goals from Daizen Maeda and strikes from Callum McGregor, Adam Idah, and Jota.

There were a number of impressive performers on the pitch for Brendan Rodgers in this comfortable win, including Japanese forward Maeda.

Daizen Maeda's performance against St. Johnstone

The Japan international started the game on the left flank, with Idah through the middle as the centre-forward, and extended his tally to 33 goals in all competitions this season.

St. Johnstone (SFA Cup)

2

0

Kilmarnock (Premiership)

1

0

St. Johnstone (Premiership)

0

0

Hearts (Premiership)

2

0

Rangers (Premiership)

1

0

Hibernian (SFA Cup)

1

0

St Mirren (Premiership)

1

0

Aberdeen (Premiership)

2

0

Hibernian (Premiership)

1

0

Bayern Munich (Champions League)

0

0

As you can see in the table above, Maeda has been in exceptional form, particularly recently, with 11 goals in his last ten games in all competitions.

Both of his goals in this clash with St. Johnstone came in similar circumstances. The first was a pass from McGregor that provided him with a chance to roll the ball into the bottom right corner, before he faced up a defender and rolled the ball into the same corner for his second goal, just inside the box on the left side.

Maeda was not the only top performer at the top end of the pitch for the Hoops in this semi-final clash, though, as Reo Hatate was even better than him and proved why he is even more important than Engels.

Why Reo Hatate is more important than Arne Engels

The Japan international delivered a sensational performance in the middle of the park for the Scottish giants, particularly in the opening 45 minutes, and was even better than Maeda, as he was involved in three of the goals.

He was directly involved in the opening goal from Callum McGregor with a clever, inventive, backheel to the skipper on the edge of the box, teeing him up to find the back of the net.

Hatate, who earned a player rating of 8/10 from 67HailHail, then made a brilliant run down the left and delivered a perfect cross for Adam Idah for the third goal, putting the ball on a plate for the striker to convert.

The Japanese midfielder completed his hat-trick of assists with his play in the clip above, dribbling into the box to tee up Maeda for his second of the game. These three assists show that he was even better than his international teammate because he was at the heart of everything for the Hoops, whilst the winger provided the final action for just two of the goals and did not register any assists.

Hatate has now hit ten goals and nine assists in all competitions in the current campaign, and all of those goals came from open play. Whereas, Engels has scored two goals and provided 12 assists, excluding the eight penalties he has scored, which means that the Japan international has provided more at the top end of the pitch from open play.

Engels, who earned a player rating of 6/10 from 67HailHail against St. Johnstone, has not been as consistent as his midfield teammate as a goalscoring threat, as is to be expected of a young player in his first season in Scotland.

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In the here and now, though, Hatate is even more important than Engels on current form with his contributions at the top end of the pitch, after another stunning display on Sunday.

A sprint to victory or a draw for the win. Pick between two opposite games as we begin to identify The Greatest Test of the 21st century

ESPNcricinfo staff04-May-2025Update: This poll has ended. The IND-ENG 2008 Chennai Test moves to the round of 16.

India’s triumph of belief vs England – Chennai, 2008

It was not a match India were supposed to win. For three days and two sessions at the Chepauk, England were on top. India were staring at a target close to 400, when nothing above 300 had ever been chased before in the country (and the highest target chased at the venue was 155).But then the English bowlers were met with a belligerent Virender Sehwag, who laid down the platform for India to push for the win on the fifth day. Gautam Gambhir put in the grind at the top. And then Yuvraj Singh, with his Test credentials under the scanner, joined Sachin Tendulkar at the crease to take India over the line on a pitch with awkward bounce.Tendulkar applied the icing on the cake, hitting the winning runs – which also brought up a fine fourth-innings century. Only six higher totals have been chased in Test history than the 387 by India in Chennai, only two of which have come in Asia, and none in India. It was a win, as ESPNcricinfo’s Editor-in-Chief Sambit Bal noted at the time, forged by unwavering belief to go for the jugular and not just settle for a draw.

South Africa’s blockathon vs Australia – Adelaide, 2012

If this Test was part of a video game, you’d autoplay the final innings once South Africa were 45 for 4. There were 110 overs to go, Nathan Lyon – who had been the curator at the Adelaide Oval, had a two-for. Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle almost hypnotically kept hitting a good length.Faf du Plessis, on Test debut, joined AB de Villiers with a South Africa win out of the window. So, they abandoned the search for runs and committed to the blockathon for 408 balls despite nervy moments.Du Plessis was given out lbw twice but overturned the decision using DRS; he also survived a sharp caught-behind chance with Matthew Wade standing up to the stumps. De Villiers faced 220 balls but when he was bowled by a nip-backer from Siddle, 60 overs still remained in the day.The partnership between Jacques Kallis and du Plessis – 99 runs in 235 balls – wasn’t as stoic but took up nearly 40 overs. Lyon got turn and bounce to dismiss Kallis and Siddle got a couple of tailenders. High resilience and hyper-aggressive fields led to 71 maidens in 149 overs, but couldn’t stop du Plessis from getting a maiden ton and staying unbeaten as Morne Morkel played out Siddle.For nearly four days, only one result seemed possible. Australia had done everything right. They made 550 at a run rate of 5.12 in their first innings on the back of Michael Clarke’s 257-ball 230 and Michael Hussey’s 137-ball 103. They had taken a 162-run lead and set a 430-run target which should have ensured a win.There were no caveats or rain, just a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition of defensive batting that denied Australia a series lead. South Africa went on to win the next game and became the first team in the 21st century to win back-to-back Test series in Australia.

It ought to have been a clash of equals, but the unavailability of key players for India could hobble them

Ian Chappell21-May-2023Two staunch rivals in India and Australia will compete in the prestigious World Test championship final at The Oval next month.As it should be, this is a hard match to predict. That’s mainly because of injury concerns and neither team having played a Test since completing a hard-fought series earlier this year. To make matters even more difficult, many of the players involved have only competed in the IPL in the lead-up to the one-off Test.While this may not seem to be the ideal preparation, it’s worth recalling the opinion of former England batter Ravi Bopara. In 2009, Bopara went from the fledgling IPL into a Test series against West Indies and reckoned he was ideally prepared because T20 got his feet moving and put him in a positive frame of mind.Related

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Heft was given to that view because Bopara reeled off successive Test centuries. The modern cricketer regularly has to adapt, going from one format to another, so Bopara’s theory should be even more applicable.Therefore expect the players, especially the batters, to be ready for the Test. It’s up to the bowlers to prepare specifically for the longer spells required in the five-day format.If Australia’s classy pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are available, that makes them slight favourites. They are good bowlers any time, but England in early June should be right up their alley. Nevertheless, an Indian pace attack containing Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav is also strong and only just behind the Australian trio in wicket-taking capability.Mental strength will play a huge part in this Test. The team that displays the most resilience is likely to win as long as the contest is not unduly affected by bad weather. Being able to maintain a decent line and length under attack is now mandatory in the tougher series, and a fully fit Australian attack should benefit if the opposition are overzealous.

The injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant badly affect India. They would be outright favourites with these two playing

Therefore much will depend on how the batters treat the talented opposing pace attacks. Australia rely heavily on Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja’s big scoring ability but the enigmatic David Warner shouldn’t be overlooked. Despite his struggles in England, Warner is a dangerous player because he can score quickly. If he gets a start, India need to be wary because of the danger Warner presents.On the Indian side Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara are a handful because they have enjoyed success in Test cricket. Their job will be tough against a strong Australian attack.The Australian bowlers also need to pay careful attention to Shubman Gill. He tends to play with no fear and has a stroke-making mentality, which will not change even on this momentous occasion. If he is allowed the freedom to score quickly and hit boundaries, Gill will be a headache for Australia.One selection dilemma for India will be Ajinkya Rahane. Judging by the current squad, Rahane is likely to play, which means he will largely be relying on past form against Australia. If he plays, he will help in the slips to the spinners, as he is easily India’s best catcher in that position.India have an advantage in spin bowling because of Ravindra Jadeja’s ability to bat in the top six, which allows them the luxury of including the efficient R Ashwin. While Nathan Lyon is a good bowler, he will be Australia’s sole spinner. However, this shouldn’t be detrimental in England, as allrounder Cameron Green’s genuine pace is well suited to the conditions.The injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant badly affect India, as they would be outright favourites with these two playing. The somewhat surprising unavailability of allrounder Hardik Pandya also harms India, as he could have provided them with the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle.With the match being played under English conditions, this slightly favours the strong Australian pace attack. However, as Bopara showed, you should never underestimate the value of IPL preparation for batters.

Jurgensen reveals Southee’s unusual inswinger was developed at a camp in Lincoln just before the England tour

Karthik Krishnaswamy28-Jun-20211:41

Southee: ‘Not having express pace, I look to skin the cat differently’

There’s a lot more to it, of course, but at its deadliest, Tim Southee’s method is all about that old three-card trick: outswing, outswing, and the one that goes the other way.Except it isn’t just the “one” that goes the other way, but three different ways of delivering a ball that moves into the right-hander.Take the second-innings wickets of India’s openers in the World Test Championship final in Southampton. Both were lbw, playing for non-existent outswing, but the balls that dismissed them were entirely different.Shubman Gill, first to go, was out to Southee’s well-known three-quarter-seam ball, which is delivered with the seam scrambled, and moves into the right-hander off the pitch. Rohit Sharma, however, was bamboozled by something that hasn’t been seen all too often.Every now and again on this tour of England, Southee had delivered the traditional inswinger, with the seam canted towards fine leg, but most had come out of the hand noticeably slower than Southee’s stock ball. The ball to Rohit wasn’t the traditional inswinger; the seam was canted towards slip, like it is for an outswinger, but the ball was flipped around so its rough side – this was the 27th over of India’s innings – was facing the leg side. And unlike Southee’s attempts at bowling the genuine inswinger, this one came out at normal speed.It’s entirely possible that Rohit saw the seam position, judged the ball to be leaving him, and decided to shoulder arms. Instead, it veered in towards the stumps and struck Rohit’s front pad.3:21

Dale Steyn explains the concept of the three-quarter seam

The Dukes ball that is used in England moves significantly more – in the air and off the pitch – than the Kookaburra that’s used in New Zealand, and this allowed Southee to try and develop the inswinger on this tour.”I think all players in any sport are always looking to try and get better and looking at ways you can improve your game,” Southee said in a media interaction on Monday. “I obviously don’t have express pace, so you’re looking to skin the cat differently, and that’s using subtle variations and I obviously rely heavily on my outswing, but with the Dukes ball and the ability to move the Dukes ball a little bit more than what you can with the Kookaburra, a lot of work went in, leading into that series, about just trying to get the ball to move both ways.”Shane Jurgensen, New Zealand’s bowling coach, said Southee came up with the new variation during the camp New Zealand held in Lincoln before they left for England.”I actually think that wicket of getting Rohit out was a long time of Tim trying a few things and always trying to improve,” Jurgensen said. “I think that goes for every bowler in our group and I think that’s really stood out more in the last two years. It has always happened, but I really think it really started in our camps in May at Lincoln, when he was playing around with bit of an inswinger and it was good.”It took him a while to sort of get it and all of a sudden he learnt of possibly turning the ball around the other way and bowling it the exactly same way. [It] probably has a little more pace on it compared to the [traditional] inswinger and I think that’s been a credit to Tim.”He’s always looking to improve and he’s been such an outstanding performer for New Zealand for such a long time; 600-plus wickets for New Zealand now and that breakthrough of Sharma was at a really crucial time. In fact both of those wickets were, to give us a chance to get Virat Kohli in early.”

أعلن الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم ”فيفا” عن موعد ومكان حفل ذا بيست، والذي يقام في آواخر كل عام، وهي الجائزة التي تضاهي البالون دور.

ويقام حفل ذا بيست في كل عام، حيث تقرر له يوم الثلاثاء المقبل الموافق 16 ديسمبر، في تمام الساعة السابعة مساءً بتوقيت مصر والثامنة مساءً بتوقيت السعودية.

وأكد فيفا أن حفل ذا بيست سوف يقام مباشرًة، عقب نهاية نهائي كأس إنتركونتيننتال، والذي سوف يلعب بين باريس سان جيرمان وفلامينجو.

وأفاد فيفا في بيان رسمي، أن حفل ذا بيست سوف يقام في الدوحة عاصمر قطر، لأول مرة في الأراضي العربية.

وسوف يحضر حفل ذا بيست أكثر من 800 فرد من بينهم رئيس الفيفا، جياني أنفانتينو ، وممثلو الاتحادات الأعضاء من جميع أنحاء العالم، وسفراء ورواد آخرون لكرة القدم على المستويين المحلي والإقليمي.

الجدير بالذكر أن المرشحين تم الإعلان عنهم في كافة الجوائز بحفل ذا بيست خلال الشهر الماضي، وفي جميع الفئات التي تشمل أفضل لاعب، وأفضل حارس مرمى، وأفضل لاعب شاب، وأفضل لاعبة، وأفضل نادي، وأفضل مدرب.

ويعتبر باريس سان جيرمان وبرشلونة وريال مدريد وليفربول، من بين الأندية التي سوف يكون لها حضور قوي بالفعل في حفل ذا بيست.

وكان فيفا قد أعلن مسبقًا عن المرشحين لجائزة أفضل لاعب في حفل ذا بيست وكان من بين أبرزها، محمد صلاح، نجم نادي ليفربول.

وكان فيفا قد أعلن مسبقًا عن المرشحين لجائزة أفضل لاعب في حفل ذا بيست وكان من بين أبرزها، محمد صلاح، نجم نادي ليفربول.

ويمكن مطالعة قائمة المرشحين لجائزة أفضل لاعب في العالم 2025 من هنا، بينما يمكن مطالعة قائمة المرشحين جائزة أفض مدرب في العالم من هنا.

أما قائمة المرشحين لجائزة أفضل حارس مرمى في العالم من هنا، أما قائمة المرشحين للتشكيل المثالي عام 2025، من ضمنهم محمد صلاح، من هنا.

كما تتواجد لاعبة مصرية في قائمة المرشحات للتشكيل المثالي لعام 2025، فئة السيدات، ويمكن مطالعة التفاصيل من هنا.

وفيما يتعلق بالمرشحين لجائزة بوشكاش، أفضل هدف في العالم للعام نفسه، يتواجد أحد اللاعبين المصريين، ويمكن متابعة التفاصيل من هنا.

Cole Palmer scored on his first Stamford Bridge start in almost four months as Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 to move back into the Premier League’s top four, but it was another attacking player taking all the plaudits.

Chelsea cruise past Everton 2-0

After four winless matches, Enzo Maresca could hardly have asked for a better moment for his most influential player to announce his return from the groin injury that has wrecked his season up to now, and it came in the 21st minute, the England forward sweeping his side into the lead from Malo Gusto’s clever pass.

Fresh from scoring a first-ever career goal in November, it was Gusto who then got the second from Pedro Neto’s cross before half-time.

Everton’s last win at Chelsea came in 1994 whilst David Moyes had never tasted victory on this ground. After four league wins in five and with the Blues in faltering form, it looked an opportune moment to settle both of those scores, but Maresca’s talisman ensured the day would be all about him.

This has been the most difficult year of Palmer’s career, suffering two significant injuries and making a fraction of the impact he enjoyed during his first 18 months at Chelsea His last goal from open play on this ground came in January, but when his chance came finally to correct that aberrant stat, he took it as though he had been banging them in all season.

Wesley Fofana played a short ball in midfield to Gusto, whose pass through the lines was wonderfully calibrated. Palmer’s run caught Everton cold and he breezed through the centre of their defence and smacked the ball by Jordan Pickford at his near post.

Alejandro Garnacho attempted the spectacular in search of Chelsea’s second with a wicked drive that cleared the bar by a fraction, then suffered a horror miss when he pounced on Carlos Alcaraz’s woeful pass but tapped wide of an open goal.

Chelsea’s second was delightfully simple. Neto made it, zipping around Vitalii Mykolenko on the right and crossing low for Gusto, arriving in the box at speed and knocking it past Pickford.

And it was the Portugal international who left former defender Stephen Warnock feeling relieved he is no longer playing, as he gushed about the 25 year-old during punditry duty for BBC.

Pedro Neto	vs Everton
Minutes	90
Assists	1
Dribbles (successful)	4 (2)
Duels (won)	11 (6)

Jack Grealish missed a golden chance to bring Everton back into it with a shot on the slide that sailed across goal and wide before Reece James was denied from a free-kick by a save by Pickford.

The final chance was Everton’s, Iliman Ndiaye rolling the ball against the post with Robert Sanchez beaten, but Chelsea by then had done enough.