After more than 17 months of delays, USA Cricket’s 2020 general elections finally concluded this week
Peter Della Penna04-Aug-2022After more than 17 months of delays, USA Cricket’s 2020 general elections finally concluded this week with Atul Rai and Kuljit-Singh Nijjar prevailing in a stacked field for the club director and individual director positions respectively. Nadia Gruny was also reelected for the female elite-athlete director position in a candidacy that was unopposed.Rai, the southern California administrator who also served as president of the since-expelled USA Cricket Association (USACA) in the early 2000s, returns to the board after being league director from 2018 to 2020. He replaces the incumbent club director, Ajith Bhaskar of New York, after receiving 51.30% of the votes of club officials.Related
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According to a USA Cricket press release, approximately 77% of the 558 club officials eligible to vote wound up casting ballots, though no official vote total was released.Nijjar, of Dallas, Texas, replaces the incumbent Suraj Viswanathan of northern California, who had also been serving as the USA Cricket board secretary during his tenure. Nijjar eventually won 52.40% of the vote after three rounds of preferential voting, in which the candidate with the lowest vote total is eliminated after each round and votes retabulated until a 50% majority for the winner is achieved.As for the individual vote, the number of voters who submitted officially verified ballots was a tiny fraction of the eligible voting membership base of 12,381 members. According to USA Cricket, approximately 34% of those members wound up submitting a ballot during the two-week voting period that ran from July 8 to July 22, once again highlighting the apathy within theUS cricket landscape.The voting period was marred with issues symbolic of the 17 months of delays. The initial email ballots that were commissioned on July 8 wound up being nullified after a technical issue in which the election service, ElectionBuddy, sent ballots out to all voters to be able to vote for both the club and individual director positions instead of just the category they were eligible to vote for. It meant that anyone who did not submit a second ballot did not have their vote recorded.Another issue that arose during the voting period itself was the discovery of fraudulently registered individual members to various clubs. After voting began, USA Cricket’s nominating and governance committee sent out an emergency email asking club leaders to confirm and self-verify by the election deadline all true members that had previously been deemed legitimate members of their clubs by the NGC. It resulted in three clubs reporting fake voters claiming to be affiliated with their clubs, and subsequently those votes were cancelled.
Over the space of 24 hours, Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League have taken a huge boost. It’s funny how quickly football changes, isn’t it?
The Gunners have been dealt two bitter blows in their bid to win silverware across their previous two matches, losing in the Carabao Cup to Newcastle and then in the FA Cup to Manchester United.
However, after Liverpool drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, Mikel Arteta’s men managed to close the gap to four points at the summit by defeating their arch-rivals, Tottenham, 2-1 on Wednesday.
It wasn’t a vintage performance but it was enough and, positively, Arsenal are beginning to find solutions in the final third.
Over the last three games, the Gunners have created an xG tally of 7.78. Whereas in the few games before that they struggled to create at all, they are at least now coming up with chances. They’re just finding it difficult to find the back of the net.
Any chance of a new forward this month, Arteta? For a moment, however, let’s focus on the positives.
Arsenal's best players against Tottenham
Since Bukayo Saka’s fateful hamstring injury, the club have needed players to step up.
It’s been a challenge finding someone to replace him and they have now tried five different players; Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling on the right since Saka was ruled out.
All of them bar Sterling have scored – so you could say they have stepped up – but you’d still want more from your forward line.
One player who really needs to do more is Martin Odegaard. Thankfully, the Norwegian might be slowly creeping towards his best form again.
Performance in Numbers
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The club captain registered a whopping ten key passes in the FA Cup defeat to Man United a few days ago and dictated play beautifully again on Wednesday in the derby, registering four key passes and supplying the assist for Trossard’s winner.
Speaking of Trossard, it was about time the Belgian did something. He has struggled for form, notably not scoring in seven straight league outings before the visit of Ange Postecoglou’s side.
His goal was brilliantly taken, though, fashioning an opportunity onto his left foot before firing past new Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
Another to shine was 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, the first 18-year-old to start for Arsenal in a north London derby since a certain Cesc Fabregas.
The teenager was calmness personified at left-back, completing 94% of his passes and winning four of his five duels. He only lost possession five times from 46 touches too. He really is making that position his own and looks every bit a senior player already.
Sadly, not everyone caught the eye.
Arsenal's poorest performers against Tottenham
One man who appears to be struggling for confidence right now is Kai Havertz who just can’t seem to find the back of the net.
Against Newcastle a week ago, the German missed a gilt-edged headed chance from just yards out before he spurned a succession of opportunities last Sunday, most alarmingly firing over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Havertz struggled again this time, missing two big chances including a free header inside the area.
The goals will no doubt flow again for the former Chelsea man but his last three performances have summed up why Arsenal have reportedly considered signing a player like Benjamin Sesko.
Another underperformer was midfielder Thomas Partey, a player who showed why the Gunners are allegedly closing in on the signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
Minutes played
90
Touches
61
Accurate passes
41/45 (91%)
Key passes
1
Accurate crosses
1
Shots
1
Dribble attempts
0
Duels won
5/8
Possession lost
8x
Tackles
4
Interceptions
2
Dribbled past
1
Error leading to shot
1
Considering his average performance it was perhaps a surprise to see the Ghanaian last the full 90 minutes at the Emirates Stadium.
While the midfielder completed 91% of his passes and won five of his eight duels, had the player tracked back in the build-up to Spurs’ goal, they may have kept a clean sheet.
Indeed, Partey let Pape Matar Sarr run down the right-hand side of the pitch under no pressure, with Tottenham eventually forcing a corner that wasn’t cleared properly and then Heung-min Son finding the net.
It was a moment in the game that drew mass criticism with The Athletic’s Aaron Catterson-Reid commenting that “Partey is a ghost in transition” while Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley noted that “his lack of effort is shocking”.
So, while Partey cost £45m when he first penned terms with Arsenal, he shouldn’t be fetching a single penny over the summer with his contract due to expire.
It’s time for Arteta to replace him. Zubimendi, we’re waiting for you.
Arsenal have strong interest in £59m striker who's far better than Vlahovic
The exceptional talent could turn into a world-beater at Arsenal.
Rafa Benitez has set the record straight on whether Cristiano Ronaldo forced him out of Real Madrid in 2016.
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Benitez managed Real from June 2015 to Jan 2016Spaniard reportedly fell out with RonaldoHas now set record straightFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Benitez was sacked as Real boss in January 2016 after just seven months in charge due to reportedly falling out with the players, as well as failing to impress supporters with his style of play. There have been suggestions that Ronaldo was instrumental in the decision to fire Benitez, though the Spaniard has now insisted that is not the case.
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Benitez told Egyptian outlet this week: "It's not true that I left Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo. There was never any problem between us. He's a great player and a phenomenon. I left due to certain internal issues within the club, but they had nothing to do with Ronaldo."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Benitez has enjoyed a successful career in management elsewhere, winning European silverware with Liverpool and Chelsea in England, as well as lifting the La Liga title with Valencia in 2002. His stint at the Bernabeu was a disaster, though – with the lowest point coming in a 4-0 loss to arch-rivals Barcelona in El Clasico.
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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR BENITEZ?
Benitez left Celta Vigo last year but is still keen to return to management. He was quoted in March as saying that he is "waiting for the Premier League" after a deal to move to Brazilian side Botafogo fell through.
Hales recall may mark start of new era for England, as Pakistan look to bounce back from Asia Cup
Andrew Miller19-Sep-2022Big pictureSeventeen long years ago, in the cold of a misty December night, England’s cricketers made their way off the field at Rawalpindi after a consolation victory in the fifth and final ODI. It was the final act of a tour in which little had gone right for England in either red- or white-ball format, not least for their all-conquering 2005 Ashes team, which had collapsed to a 2-0 defeat earlier in the month, to mark the beginning of the end of Michael Vaughan’s reign.Even amid the heightened post-9/11 security that that trip had entailed, however, few could have imagined that England’s next visit would be put in abeyance for the best part of two decades. The sides have met on neutral soil in the UAE for three tours in the intervening years, most recently in 2015, but for many years – particularly after the events outside the Gaddafi Stadium in March 2009 – a return to actual cricket on Pakistani soil seemed inconceivable.Related
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Slowly but surely, however, the groundwork has been laid – first through the path-finding efforts of the Pakistan Super League, which was founded in exile in the UAE in 2016 before holding its knockouts and final on home soil the following year: the start of an inexorable process of myth-busting, not least for the numerous England white-ball players in this current squad who have long since been persuaded of the country’s warmth and hospitality.In fact, it was telling – even before a ball had been bowled in this series – quite how cordial the relations are between the England and Pakistan players on show. Footage shared by the PCB on Monday showed the likes of Alex Hales and Shan Masood bantering about the English summer just gone, while Mohammad Haris – a probable debutant behind the stumps – coyly introduced himself to Jos Buttler as the two squads mingled freely.Previous tours might have been tinged by suspicion at best and open hostility at worst, thanks to the legacy of mistrust that had existed between the two teams down the years, from rows about umpiring and ball-tampering in the 1980s and 1990s, through the spot-fixing crisis of 2010 and beyond.
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 17, 2022
But things are different now, partly because of the crossover between dressing-rooms – not simply the Englishmen in the PSL, but also the huge influx of Pakistanis into county cricket – but also due to the sheer ubiquity of England vs Pakistan contests in recent times. Remarkably, the summer just gone was the first since 2015 in which a Pakistan team had not played a single international fixture on English soil – a fact which serves only to deepen the sense in which this current visit is overdue – but that familiarity has undoubtedly deadened the contempt.Moreover, England arrive in Pakistan with a debt of gratitude to pay, not to mention an apology hanging in the air. Pakistan’s own willingness to travel to England in the Covid-stricken summer of 2020, and to tolerate the huge impositions of that bio-secure summer, effectively kept the ECB solvent during an unprecedented crisis for the sport, and so when last year’s goodwill return visit was cancelled with no plausible excuse, the outrage was palpable and justified.Seven T20Is is this year’s upshot – the most protracted bilateral T20I series ever arranged – but with a T20 World Cup looming in Australia next month, it comes at an opportune juncture in the development of two teams who were beaten semi-finalists in last year’s event in the UAE.The hosts may still be smarting from their defeat in the recent Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka, but with nine wins in their previous 11 games until the final stages of that competition, Pakistan remain one of the pre-eminent teams in the format. Even without the injured Shaheen Shah Afridi, whose rehab from a knee injury has been an ongoing saga, they possess a formidable and multi-faceted attack in which Naseem Shah is fast emerging as a star in his own right.Pakistan captain Babar Azam at a floodlit training session•Getty ImagesAs for England, this tour might come to be seen, for better or for worse, as the true start of the Jos Buttler-Matthew Mott era. Not that Buttler is likely to be involved on the field for a while yet, as he continues to manage the calf injury that ended his Hundred campaign, but given the abrupt handover this summer, with Eoin Morgan deciding enough was enough midway through their tour of the Netherlands, this extended trip is a first opportunity for the new management to put some distance between the two regimes – no easy feat, given how fondly the Morgan era will be recalled.Central to that, you suspect, is the recall of Hales – the designated cautionary tale of the Morgan era, a man whose banishment for crimes against team etiquette served to reinforce exactly where the boundaries of that etiquette lay. His return drives a coach and horses through any remaining cosiness that England’s class of 2019 might have been tempted to retain as they look to a new beginning. And the fact that he’ll be fronting up where Jason Roy, arguably the poster-boy of the Morgan ethos, once resided, will be lost on no one either.Fundamentally, though, such internal considerations will be of secondary importance at the National Stadium on Tuesday night, when the pageantry of England’s return to Pakistan will be front and centre of everyone’s attentions. About 2000 remaining tickets were selling rapidly as of Monday morning, which means that sell-outs are anticipated for all seven matches.Form guidePakistan LLWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first) England LLWWLIn the spotlightWith a top score of 6 in four previous ODIs against West Indies and Netherlands this year, Haris might have been forgiven for thinking he’d blown his chance, especially with the World Cup looming large. But the selectors haven’t lost faith in the attributes that made him one of the breakout stars of PSL 2022, and with Mohammad Rizwan sitting out, he is likely to get his shot near the top of the order. At the age of 20, he racked up 166 runs in five innings at 33.20 and strike-rate of nearly 187 for Peshawar Zalmi, including a match-winning 49 off 27 balls on debut against Karachi Kings. He also performed well in the 50-over Pakistan Cup last year, scoring 289 runs in eight innings at an average of 41.28 and strike rate of over 100, during Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s run to the title.Alex Hales prepares to bat during an England nets session in Karachi•Getty ImagesIt may have taken an extraordinary toppling of dominos, beginning with Morgan’s retirement and culminating in Jonny Bairstow’s slip on that Harrogate golf course, but the upshot is that Hales is back, at the age of 33, for an opportunity he himself believed would never come again. In a strictly sporting sense, this chance is entirely on merit. Since his banishment on the eve of the 2019 World Cup, Hales has become one of the pre-eminent T20 batters in the world, a fixture at franchise tournaments around the world – not least the PSL and the BBL, two competitions that make his recall for this World Cup winter all the more apposite. But with Hales, of course, the cricket has never really been the issue – and as Mott conceded earlier this week, the dynamic with his “former friend” Ben Stokes is unlikely to develop much warmth in the interim. And yet, for a post-Morgan team that, during a trophy-less home summer, was beginning to drift without an identity, the optics of Hales’ recall may have far more long-term implications than his own contributions. It’s a sign from Mott and Jos Buttler that they are willing to break down a champion side in order to build it back up again.Pitch and conditionsThe pitch at the National Stadium looks very hard, although the England players who have featured here in the PSL say it is likely to skid through. The weather is set to be hot and humid, and the crowd is set to be packed.Team newsMasood is set to make his T20I debut in place of the injured Fakhar Zaman, having relaunched his credentials across formats in a stellar season for Derbyshire, while Rizwan is expected to be rested after his exertions at the Asia Cup. Haris is the stand-in keeper, and could slot in at No.3 to allow the rest of the line-up to retain their usual batting positions.Pakistan (probable): 1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Shan Masood, 3 Mohammad Haris (wk), 4 Iftikhar Ahmed, 5 Khushdil Shah, 6 Shadab Khan, 7 Asif Ali, 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Mohammad HasnainButtler, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood won’t come into contention until the Lahore leg of the tour as they continue their respective returns from injury. Reece Topley will miss the start of the series with an ankle niggle. Phil Salt is set to keep in international cricket for the first time, and will open alongside the recalled Hales. England’s batting order is likely to be flexible depending on favourable match-ups.England: (possible) 1 Alex Hales, 2 Phil Salt (wk), 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Harry Brook, 5 Moeen Ali (capt), 6 Will Jacks, 7 Sam Curran, 8 David Willey, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Olly Stone, 11 Richard GleesonStats and trivia Pakistan have won six of their previous 20 completed T20Is against England, with 13 losses and a solitary tie in Sharjah in 2015 (in which England won the Super Over). The two teams last met in the summer of 2021, when England came from behind to win the three-match series 2-1, after Shaheen and Babar Azam had combined to win the series opener at Trent Bridge. Only one active international cricketer took part in England’s most recent match in Pakistan in December 2005 – James Anderson, who hasn’t played white-ball cricket since 2015, but was the matchwinner on that occasion with 4 for 48. Shoaib Malik – who last featured for Pakistan in November 2021 – also played in that match. England played (and lost) a solitary ODI in Karachi on their 2005 tour – and, amid presidential levels of security, were in and out of the city within 24 hours. This is their first protracted return to the city since the 2000-01 tour, when Nasser Hussain’s men famously sealed the Test series in near darkness. The teams will observe a minute’s silence before the first T20I, in memory of Queen Elizabeth II and victims of the floods in Pakistan.Quotes”Naseem, in some ways, reminds me of myself when I was a younger cricketer. He’s free-spirited, but – and I wasn’t – he’s quite intelligent. He’s been a breeze to work with. You’ve all seen his natural ability and his skill with the new ball, especially, is as good as it gets in the world.” “The only person that’s not here is Ben Stokes from the guys who could be. We still have a very good side. I don’t see it at all as a second-string team. It’s not through selection, it’s more through unfortunate injuries, but it gives opportunities for new players to come in.”
Will Celtic make any signings before Monday’s deadline?
So far, the Hoops’ only business has been with Stade Rennais, selling striker Kyōgo Furuhashi for £10m to the Ligue 1 side, but re-signing fans’ favourite Jota for a reported £8m from the same club.
Jota, Celtic forward (now Al- Attihad)
The “superstar from Portugal” is in line to make his second Celtic debut against Motherwell at Fir Park in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday.
However, before the window closes at 11pm on Monday, Brendan Rodgers is hoping to bring in another wide-attacker, with a huge Champions League tie against Bayern Munich to come in under a fortnight.
Celtic targeting a new winger
According to a report by Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports News, Celtic have had a bid of £4.6m rejected by Sarpsborg for winger Sondre Ørjasæter.
Sarpsborg sporting director Hampus Andersson told Sky Sports News “Sondre is and has been a highly valued player for us. Our main goal is not to sell him this window and keep him for at least to the end of the season.”
However, Eirik Nesset Hjelvik of TV2 in Norway believes Ørjasæter is valued at one hundred million Kroner, which converts to more-or-less £7m, a fee that would break Sarpsborg’s outgoing transfer record, set by Henrik Meister’s €7m move to Rennes, another mention for them, last summer.
Transfer Focus
It will be interesting to see if Celtic bid again and match that valuation or wait until the summer. As per Joseph – who also claimed that the Norwegian side are looking for a fee of £7m – talks are set to continue regarding a potential deal.
How Sondre Ørjasæter would fit in at Celtic
Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout describes Ørjasæter as “interesting”, praising his “intelligent” decision-making, while author Timothy Fellowes is impressed by Ørjasæter’s “skill & pace”, adding he would likely have an “excellent impact” should he arrive at Celtic.
Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates after winning the League Cup
Meantime, data analyst and scout Matthew Rowley notes he is “quick”, “very technical”, “creative” and a “good ball carrier”, all attributes Rodgers will be looking for in a new winger.
So, could Ørjasæter have a similar impact in Glasgow to that of another January arrival, in the form of Matt O’Riley?
Now a full Danish international, O’Riley was more or less a complete unknown when he arrived from Milton Keynes Dons three years ago, for a reported £1.5m, and was also 21 years old, the same age Ørjasæter is now.
So, let’s examine how the duo compare?
Statistics
Sondre Ørjasæter
Matt O’Riley
Appearances
32
54
Minutes
2,598
4,502
Goals
6
10
Assists
7
8
Big chances created
12
9
Dribble success %
66.7%
64%
Average Sofascore rating
7.6
7.17
As shown in the table, O’Riley wasn’t exactly putting up huge goals and assists numbers at MK, so there was little sign he would come into the Celtic side and have the immediate impact he did, registering an assist on his debut at Hearts, a key figure in Ange Postecoglou’s side that clawed back a deficit to pip Rangers to the title.
By the time he departed for Brighton last summer, for a joint-record club fee of £25m, he’d scored 27 goals and provided 35 assists in 124 appearances, thereby named Celtic Player of the Year and Celtic Players’ Player of the Year last season.
So, there’s little reason to suggest Ørjasæter could not do the same, given that he’s created more chances and has completed a higher number of his dribbles during the given timeframe. While operating largely from the flanks, unlike O’Riley, the Norwegian mirrors his fellow Scandinavian star in also being a hugely creative asset.
It is also worth noting that O’Riley was plying his trade in EFL League One, ranked the 53rd strongest league in the world by Global Football Rankings, while Norway’s top-flight, the Eliteserien, is ranked 20th, showing that Ørjasæter is plying his trade at a much higher-level; for reference, the Scottish Premiership comes in at 43rd.
As such, all the signs point to the Sarpsborg starlet potentially making his own stellar impact at Parkhead, should he arrive before Monday’s deadline.
Celtic eyeing loan for international left-back as Tierney alternative
Kieran Tierney will be back at Celtic Park, but maybe not until the summer.
Former Arsenal defender William Gallas explained what Declan Rice needs to do to reach world-class status.
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Rice starred in Arsenal's win over Real MadridGallas explained how he can become world-classGunners face Crystal Palace on WednesdayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Rice starred in Arsenal's two-legged win over Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals as the midfielder scored two stunning free-kicks in the first leg at Emirates Stadium. He won Player of the Match in both games as the Gunners knocked out the reigning champions.
AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE BIGGER PICTURE
While Rice has received a lot of praise from all quarters, ex-Gunners star Gallas expressed his doubt over the England international's world-class status yet. The former France defender advised Rice to bring consistency in his performances to further elevate his status in world football.
WHAT WILLIAM GALLAS SAID
Speaking to , Gallas said: "The two free-kicks Declan Rice scored against Real Madrid were brilliant, although I'll say the first one went in because of Thibaut Courtois' poor positioning. But the second free-kick was unstoppable, I think Courtois was actually in a good position too. We all wanted to see a performance like this from Rice.
"Now the big clubs will have their eye on Rice. What he's shown is amazing, but he has to be consistent with these big performances, that's how he reaches the next level. The most difficult aspect of football is to be consistent. "Anyone can score one or two goals in one game, then nothing the next game. The world-class players repeat their performances."
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Mikel Arteta's side will be back in action in the Premier League on Wednesday as they take on Crystal Palace at home, before facing Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last-four fixture on April 29.
Wrexham are gearing up for the 'transformative' impact of their Championship promotion, with the Welsh side stepping into a £100 million 'ecosystem'.
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Wrexham secured third straight promotionNew revenue streams to open up for clubAchievement will be 'transformative'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Red Dragons achieved an incredible third consecutive promotion on Saturday when they beat Charlton, ensuring they will finish second in League One and move up to the second tier of English football next season.
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Hollywood co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds will see a massive jump in their revenue as a result of the jump up the divisions, financial expert Dr Rob Wilson his highlighted, with a whole new universe of financial streams available for Wrexham.
WHAT DR WILSON SAID
"Significant. Transformative. Fantasy," he told when asked of the financial impact the achievement will have. "Championship status will place Wrexham in a £100m+ broadcast ecosystem, elevate match day and sponsorship revenues, and further globalise their brand, particularly in North America, where the underdog-to-elite storyline resonates powerfully. We should also remember that English football, while having a base in the US, is still finding its feet, and this will further drive engagement.
"It also enables Wrexham to dictate, to some extent, their own future. While they will rightly still leverage their owners Hollywood status, it does give the club more pedigree to earn its own revenues."
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?
Wrexham have skyrocketed to worldwide fame thanks to the presence of their film star owners. Their award-winning documentary series Welcome to Wrexham is still running on Disney+ and they have attracted sponsorships from the likes of TikTok and HP in recent years. It seems many more opportunities await the club in the coming months.
Everton have been enjoying life under David Moyes, but all of a Toffees persuasion know that the week ahead is one of significance.
While three successive Premier League victories have created a sizeable buffer between Goodison Park and the relegation zone, fans will no doubt clamour for a victory over Bournemouth in the FA Cup this afternoon, especially now that Moyes has been reinstated to the helm.
Everton managerDavidMoyesbefore the match
Moyes led Everton through the noughties and is a revered figure for his work at the club, but Everton’s trophyless run stretches way back to 1995 when they won the FA Cup and subsequent Community Shield.
The Cherries have been in fine fettle under Andoni Iraola this term and have done the double over Everton in the Premier League. Now, it’s time for revenge, with Moyes playing host to one of England’s in-form outfits.
Everton team news
Everton will need to be on their a-game to defeat a slick and stylish Bournemouth team. They were beaten by Liverpool at the Vitality last weekend but had previously gone 11 league matches undefeated.
The dearth of fit forwards means that Beto will reprise his role at number nine, buoyed by netting a brace in the 4-0 victory over Leicester City last time out.
However, next Wednesday’s Merseyside derby means that Moyes could make a few rotations where possible, albeit picking a team that is capable of sending the South Coast side packing.
James Garner and Tim Iroegbunam could play a part after recovering from respective issues last week. Dwight McNeil is still injured, so January recruit Charly Alcaraz could make his debut for the club in a forward-thrust midfield role.
Carlos Alcaraz
Everton have lost seven of their past nine meetings with Bournemouth across all competitions, and so will need to be on the ball, so to speak.
Defensive resilience will be crucial against such a coherent offensive force, but Moyes will want to ensure his team packs a punch too, and Iliman Ndiaye could hold the key.
How Iliman Ndiaye can hurt Bournemouth
Everton signed Ndiaye from French club Marseille for a £15m fee last summer, a deal that looks shrewder and shrewder by the week.
Everton star Iliman Ndiaye
Beto scored twice last time out but hasn’t been clinical or assertive enough throughout the lion’s share of his Everton career, joining from Udinese for an eye-catching £26m fee in August 2023.
With Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Armando Broja both injured, Ndiaye will need to step up to the plate and provide his outfit with a goal threat from wide, especially with Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom exacerbating the situation from the right, both wingers without a single goal contribution this year.
Jesper Lindstrom for Everton
Though Sean Dyche was dismissed from his duties in January after failing to provide Everton with any meaningful attacking flair, Ndiaye still managed to showcase his exciting quality, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp hailing the Senegal international’s “dynamite” talent.
It’s all the more impressive that he’s gone from strength to strength this Moyes’ appointment last month, scoring in all three of the Scottish manager’s recent victories in the Premier League.
This incisiveness will be crucial. Understat record that Bournemouth have outperformed their expected goals against (xGA) by 6.81 this season, effectively suggesting that the Cherries are solid and effective in the defensive third, even though they’ve cultivated something of a – deserved – reputation for being an attacking spectacle under their Spanish boss.
BBC Sport’s Oluwashina Okeleji has described “Everton’s standout performer this season” and it’s clear to see why. He’s scored six goals from 23 Premier League matches this season, missing only two big chances, but has also averaged 2.5 dribbles and 6.3 successful duels per outing, owing to his energy and combativeness.
He’s going to be a real thorn, with his complete skill set perfect to hit the attack-minded visitors on the counter.
Of course, Everton will have to deal with Bournemouth’s own fleet-footed wideman: Justin Kluivert. The Dutch winger has been immense this season, scoring 11 goals and adding four assists across 23 Premier League matches.
Goals scored
0.29
0.65
Non-penalty goals
0.24
0.28
Assists
0.00
0.24
Shots taken
1.17
2.53
Shot-creating actions
2.53
3.65
Pass completion
80.7%
71.8%
Progressive passes
1.85
3.76
Progressive carries
3.45
2.76
Successful take-ons
2.82
1.18
Ball recoveries
6.95
3.24
Tackles + interceptions
2.91
1.65
While Bournemouth’s star leads the way when it comes to contributions in front of goal, the electric Ndiaye caught the eye with his underlying metrics, bespeaking his quality and the importance of his involvement for Everton, aiding his team across attacking and defensive phases.
It’s also worth pointing out that Ndiaye has been playing in a far more restrictive attacking unit, evidenced by his low shots total. Even so, the Senegalese has bagged a respectable number of non-penalty goals, whereas six of Kluivert’s top-flight goals this term have come from the spot.
He’s also far more persistent with his successful take-ons, driving at defenders and adding a dimension that few teams are able to replicate with such vim and vigour.
One can only imagine how Ndiaye would be getting on within Iraola’s brood. Perhaps it would be he, and not Kluivert, claiming the Premier League Player of the Month award for January.
After all, Ndiaye has scored in each of Moyes’ recent victories, warming up at the perfect time as the Merseysiders look to score a seat-raising win over Bournemouth and advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup for only the third time in nine seasons.
To be sure, Ndiaye has played a lot of football this season. However, his crackling movements up and down the left flank, partnered with his ever-improving sharpness in front of goal, suggests that he could be the difference-maker in a tight affair.
Kluivert will be highlighted in the Everton defensive meeting, but Ndiaye, Moyes’ own version, might just be the one to emerge on top.
Worth 2x more than Ndiaye: Everton must regret selling "frightening" star
Everton have reached an exciting new era but must rue having lost this high-class talent.
Former India captain feels Ashwin was picked over Chahal to strengthen the batting
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2022India picked Mohammed Shami over Harshal Patel for their T20 World Cup campaign opener against Pakistan at the MCG and former captain Anil Kumble feels the biggest reason for that decision is to get early wickets with the new ball.”I think most importantly, the reason that Shami is ahead of Harshal Patel is to get wickets up front,” Kumble said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show. “That’s what Rohit will be hoping for. With Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami to get a couple of wickets early on.”Shami, who had not played a single T20I since the World Cup last year, was brought into India’s squad after Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out with injury and he bowled just one over in their warm-up game against Australia. That over was the 20th over of Australia’s chase, and Shami made an immediate impact with three wickets.India also picked offspinner R Ashwin ahead of legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal and Kumble said the reason for that could be to ensure more batting depth.”If you look at Harshal not being part of the team, then the batting would have stopped at No.7 with Chahal in. India thought we need a deep batting order, because the way they have gone about constructing their T20 innings now with the batting has been a bit more positive, a bit more intent, and if you have to have that kind of approach you need to have the longer batting order,” Kumble said. “So that’s one of the reasons why they have gone with Ashwin. And experience as well.”He also laid out what would potentially be India’s combination in the death overs. “At the death, Arshdeep two, Bhuvi one and Shami one, those will be your last four overs.”India are opening their T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan in front of a full house at the MCG. They are in Group 2 of the Super 12s, along with Bangladesh, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Netherlands.
Premier League champions Liverpool are reportedly ready to make three big signings in the summer as they aim to successfully defend their title.
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Slot to be handed transfer war chestWants to strengthen three positionsLiverpool out to defend title next seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Manager Arne Slot is set to be handed a transfer war chest in the summer in a bid to ensure Liverpool remain top of the pile in England, according to talkSPORT. The Liverpool manager is keen to make three major signings and wants to bring in a new left-back, centre-back and a striker before the start of the 2025-26 campaign.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
There appear to be plenty of players on Liverpool's radar already, according to the report. At left-back, the Reds are looking at Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez and Fulham’s Antonee Robinson to replace the ageing Andy Robertson. Dean Huijsen is a potential option at centre-back after an impressive season at Bournemouth, while Slot's side are also thought to be in the race for strikers Viktor Gyokeres, Benjamin Sesko and Victor Osimhen.
DID YOU KNOW?
Liverpool could also be set for several exits at the end of the season. Trent Alexander-Arnold has already confirmed he will leave Anfield, while the Reds are expected to try and sell back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and misfiring striker Darwin Nunez.
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL
Liverpool will wrap up their Premier League campaign with games against Arsenal, Brighton and Crystal Palace and will then look to start preparing for their title defence.