da winzada777： Arsenal are poised to revamp their squad in many areas this summer, as manager Mikel Arteta looks to end their 20-year-long-plus wait for a Premier League title.

Related Arsenal "set to sign" another player, it means "sensational" ace will leave

Mikel Arteta’s side have been very busy in the last week.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jun 27, 2025

da leao： The Gunners are already set to sign both midfielder Martin Zubimendi and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, with the former signing his paperwork as a new Arsenal player last week and the latter completing a medical in the last few days (Sky Sports).

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Joining Zubimendi and Kepa will be Denmark international midfielder Christian Norgaard. Brentford’s captain has been handed the green-light to join Arsenal, after Keith Andrews’ side and the north Londoners agreed an initial £10 million transfer, which could rise to £5 million if performance-related add-ons are met (Sky Sports).

Arsenal are also in advanced talks over a deal for Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera, so new sporting director Andrea Berta’s extensive work behind-the-scenes appears to be paying dividends after this plethora of updates from the last week.

Norgaard’s signing wasn’t initially expected, but news surrounding £200,000-per-week midfielder Thomas Partey and his imminent departure seems to have pushed Berta into sourcing an immediate replacement for the Ghanaian.

The 32-year-old enjoyed his best campaign to date at Arsenal last season, making over 50 appearances whilst putting his past injury worries firmly behind him, and that prompted the club to open talks over a contract extension.

However, those discussions ultimately failed to reach a positive outcome, and Partey is now “set to leave” the Emirates after his contract expires on June 30.

Now, the question is: what’s next for the ex-Atletico Madrid stalwart?

Fenerbahce chief travelling to UK for talks with Thomas Partey

According to Turkiye Gazetesi, as translated by Sport Witness, Fenerbahce sporting director Devin Ozek is flying to the UK for talks with Partey.

Ozek is also set to speak with exit-bound Leicester City midfielder Wilfried Ndidi about a potential move to the Turkish Super Lig, but it is believed that Jose Mourinho “especially” wants Partey, as the ‘special one’ looks to build a team capable of challenging Galatasaray.

Ndidi remains contracted at the King Power until 2027, but Partey’s soon-to-be free agent status has gifted Fenerbahce a golden opportunity to reinforce Mourinho’s midfield with proven experience and quality, at zero transfer cost.

The terms on offer from Fenerbahce are yet to be detailed, but it will be interesting to see if they can tempt Partey with an equal or similar wage to his current earnings at Arsenal, which are set to dry up in the next few days.

MatériaMais Notícias

da betano casino： O Internacional venceu o Boca Juniors por 5 a 0 pela Libertadores Feminina nesta quinta-feira (12) e segue com 100% de aproveitamento na competição continental. A partida que aconteceu no Estádio Metropolitano de Techo, em Bogotá, teve um festival de gols das Coloradas, Roberta, Priscila – duas vezes -, Letícia e Soll, fechando o placar.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasInternacionalPróximos jogos do Internacional: datas e horários das partidasInternacional12/10/2023InternacionalAránguiz recupera forma e vira peça-chave do sistema de Coudet no InternacionalInternacional11/10/2023InternacionalRoberta, do Internacional, fala sobre depressão: ‘Não somos super-heroínas’Internacional10/10/2023

da blaze casino： ATAQUE AVASSALADOR
O destaque da partida fica para Letícia e todo o poder ofensivo do Internacional. Com incríveis 12 gols em três jogos, o ataque do Colorado é um dos melhores da competição. Letícia é a comandante desse ataque com um gol em cada jogo na competição.

Com a vitória, o Internacional se mantém na liderança no grupo, com 100% de aproveitamento e já está classificado para a próxima fase. O Boca Juniors permanece na segunda posição, com quatro pontos, após vencer o Nacional-URU e empatar com o América de Cali.

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???????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????? ????% de aproveitamento! Com gols de Priscila, duas vezes, Soll, Roberta e Letícia Monteiro, Gurias batem o Boca por 5⃣ a 0⃣, fecham a primeira fase com nove pontos e avançam como líderes para as quartas de final da Libertadores! ???????? pic.twitter.com/UzoDHxIlUX

— Gurias Coloradas (@GuriasColoradas) October 13, 2023

Tudo sobre

InternacionalLibertadores

As soon as promotion to the Premier League was officially confirmed earlier this year, the powers that be at Leeds United knew that they would need to be busy this summer.

The Whites have been fairly quick out of the blocks so far, as they have wrapped up the free transfer signing of Lukas Nmecha and signed Jaka Bijol on a permanent deal from Udinese.

Improving the team’s options at the top end of the pitch is a priority for the Championship champions, and they have already started their efforts to do that by signing Nmecha.

In May, Football Insider claimed that the club have doubts over whether or not Joel Piroe has what it takes to make the step up to the Premier League next season, and that they are not going to build their attack around the Dutchman.

This suggests that the former Swansea star is unlikely to be the first-choice number nine option for Daniel Farke when the new campaign gets underway.

However, the only new centre-forward signing so far has been Nmecha, and he does not appear suited to firing the team to safety as a regular starter next term.

Why Lukas Nmecha may not be a regular starter for Leeds

The Whites have taken a gamble on the former Manchester City academy prospect on a free transfer, after a rough few seasons for the former Germany international.

Since the start of the 2023/24 season, Nmecha has only played 24 games in all competitions for Wolfsburg in Germany, scoring five goals in that time.

24/25 (Wolfsburg)

8

20

3

23/24 (Wolfsburg)

39

4

2

22/23 (Wolfsburg)

17

18

4

21/22 (Wolfsburg)

9

31

10

20/21 (Anderlecht)

0

37

18

19/20 (Wolfsburg + Middlesbrough)

4

25

0

18/19 (Preston North End)

0

41

4

As you can see in the table above, the 26-year-old striker has consistently struggled with injury issues over the past four seasons, missing far too many games and not delivering enough quality on the pitch.

These statistics suggest that Nmecha is unlikely to be available to be a regular starter for Farke, nor does he have the goal return to suggest that he can step up to be a regular goalscorer in the Premier League.

Therefore, the German forward may be more suited to being a squad option, who can come off the bench or start the odd game, rather than being the replacement for Piroe as a regular in the XI.

That thought process is further backed up by a new report that claims that the Championship champions are eyeing up another number nine signing.

Leeds make contact to sign Premier League striker

According to iNews writer Mark Douglas, Leeds United are one of the teams interested in a deal to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer before the end of the summer transfer window.

The reporter writes that the Whites have already made initial contact with the former England international to discuss a possible move to Elland Road when his contract at Everton expires at the end of this month.

Transfer Focus

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

Douglas adds, however, that his future at Goodison Park is not set in stone as of yet, as the striker wants to remain at the club, but has yet to agree to an extension on Merseyside.

The journalist reveals that West Ham United and Leeds are both looking to take advantage of his potential availability, as they have both picked up the phone to make contact.

However, neither team have progressed anything beyond that at this point, which may suggest that they are waiting for final confirmation on his future at Everton before taking it any further.

Why Leeds should sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin

The Whites should push to win the race for the English striker’s services if he becomes available on a free transfer this summer because the forward would come in as an immediate upgrade on Nmecha at Elland Road.

Calvert-Lewin does not have the best injury record out there, having missed 21 games since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, but Nmecha has been absent for 16 more matches in the same period, suggesting that the Everton man is likely to be more reliable as an option for Farke.

The Toffees marksman has played 38 games or more in five of the last eight seasons. Meanwhile, Nmecha has only played more than 25 times in three of the last eight seasons, and has only featured in more than 37 matches once in his career, in the 2018/19 season with Preston.

As well as potentially being available more often, Calvert-Lewin could also be an upgrade on the German striker because of the proven Premier League quality that he would provide.

The 28-year-old star has been a staple of the English top-flight over the last eight seasons or so, and has proven that he can score goals at that level.

Appearances

239

71

Goals

57

16

Games per goal

4.19

4.44

xG per 90

0.47

0.51

xA

14.85

3.09

Assists

15

0

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin has scored goals and created goals more regularly than Nmecha has in the Bundesliga, which suggests that he would offer more to Farke’s team in front of goal next season.

As well as his ability in the final third, the Everton forward also provides physicality up front. Just last year, journalist Connor O’Neill claimed that the “sensational” striker “bullied” Liverpool defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate with his physical play.

Calvert-Lewin won 51% of his aerial battles in the 2024/25 campaign, winning 3.3 per match, which further speaks to his ability to hold his own in contests with Premier League centre-backs, something that will be important to the Whites as they battle relegation.

Overall, Leeds should sign the Toffees frontman because he is a known quantity who would give Farke a reliable, proven, top-flight striker as an upgrade on what he already has.

Best signing since Raphinha: Leeds close to landing "exceptional" £21m star

Leeds United are closing in on a deal for a star who would be their best signing since Raphinha.

1 ByDan Emery Jun 23, 2025

It’s not really worked for West Indies so far, but their spiritual successors have made a strong start, and have Pakistan’s bowlers in their sights

Matt Roller28-Oct-2021It was the batting approach that defined the most successful men’s T20 international side of the last decade: why worry about minimising dot balls when you can hit more sixes than the opposition? West Indies embraced that volatile, high-risk, high-reward strategy on their way to winning the 2012 and 2016 World Cups but it has faltered so far in the UAE: lose to Bangladesh on Friday and they will effectively be knocked out less than a week after their title defence began.But West Indies have natural successors as the poster boys for their focus on six-hitting. In the five-and-a-half years between men’s T20 World Cups, Afghanistan were by far the closest team to West Indies in terms of balls per six, dot-ball percentage, and ratio between fours and sixes. They have adopted a similar gameplan: packing their batting line-up with power-hitters rather than strike-rotators, and accepting that occasional low scores were worth the trade-off. “Boundary-hitting and outscoring the opposition in terms of boundaries is very important to your chances of success in T20,” Andy Flower, their consultant coach, said in the build-up to this tournament.But Pakistan, their opponents on Friday, will present a stern challenge. They have restricted India and New Zealand to 151 and 134 respectively in their first two games and their attack is an enticing combination of left-arm swing, two right-arm quicks, and three different types of spinner. With the game played in Dubai – where even West Indies’ power-hitters have struggled to clear the vast boundaries – Afghanistan’s batters will need to strike a balance, looking to target specific bowlers when match-ups are favourable.”We don’t have that kind of mindset that we just have to focus on hitting many sixes. You have to adjust yourself with the wicket as well,” Rashid said on Thursday in a virtual press conference. “Initially it’s very hard to go out and start hitting sixes and that’s what happened in the last couple of warm-up games against West Indies and also the main game against Scotland: the openers took a bit of time in the middle and they read the conditions, they read the situation, and then started going hard.”It’s all about targeting your own bowler and when you get that, you have to target that. It’s not about just going across for every ball. Whenever we get the opportunity to score some runs and we get the balls in our own zone, we as a team, we have that planning that we just need to go there and finish it with full confidence.”It’s not just about hitting too many sixes. These grounds are very hard to hit sixes [on], the wickets are not as good to hit the sixes. But still, taking ones, twos and boundaries will be something that is very key.”As ever with Afghanistan, there is a wider context to their performances. This World Cup is their first series since the withdrawal of US troops and the Taliban’s takeover and while Rashid insisted that “things are getting better, getting normal back home”, he reiterated that it was crucial for his team to “give [people] the kind of performances and kind of wins that they can celebrate” at a time of upheaval and distress.”We have only this thing in the mind: that we’re here for the World Cup,” he said. “We’re playing five games and we need to win three games. We have the skills and quality in the team that we can qualify for the semi-finals. That’s the only thing at the moment in the mind of each and every player. You can only do what’s in your hands.”It’s in our hands to play the five games of this group stage and try to qualify to the semi-finals and make the country proud.” If their batting line-up clicks on Friday, they will be well-placed to do just that.

The allrounder revealed she has been nursing an elbow problem after a matchwinning display to start the Ashes

Valkerie Baynes12-Jan-2025

Ash Gardner made a big impact on the opening game of the Ashes•Getty Images

Confidence can go a long way, but it can be quickly over-run and Australia are well aware of both dimensions as they carry the first points of the Women’s Ashes into Tuesday’s second ODI in Melbourne.A four-wicket win led by Ash Gardner’s all-round effort and Alyssa Healy’s half-century in the series opener – worth two points – at North Sydney Oval gave the hosts an early upper hand.But, having gone 6-0 up in the 2023 Ashes in England only to draw eight-all, means this year’s hosts will be checking any natural instinct to feel like they’re properly on top. Adding to their caution will be the fact that England threatened – ever so fleetingly – to make what looked like a straightforward run chase for Australia more difficult than they would have liked.Related

Calls for Women's Ashes to include three Tests

Two teams with points to prove provides ingredients for Ashes epic

Healy and in-form Gardner give Australia opening points of Ashes battle

Alice Capsey’s spilled catch off Ellyse Perry on 7 didn’t prove overly costly after Lauren Bell bowled the dangerous Australian allrounder for 14. But what might have been if Sophie Ecclestone hadn’t dropped Garder, having controlled the ball for a time at mid-off before she tumbled to the ground and it popped out of her grasp, will never be known.At the least it would have provided an intriguing twist if Gardner was dismissed on 31 with Australia needing 22 more runs for victory and what would have been three wickets in hand. As it was, Gardner remained unbeaten on 42 as she and Alana King reeled in the deficit with with 11.1 overs to spare.Gardner and King had also combined with the ball, taking 3 for 19 and 2 for 35 respectively after seamers Kim Garth and Megan Schutt had kept a lid on a nervy England start.For Gardner, it was a continuation of her fine form against India and New Zealand last month after a lean run by her standards with the bat. Against India, she scored fifty and took five wickets in the third ODI, her first international half-century in white-ball cricket since July 2023, her 49 for the Sixers against crosstown rivals Thunder her only innings of note in the most recent WBBL season, where she was more damaging with the ball. She went on to score 74 in the third ODI against New Zealand immediately before this series.”I’ve taken a lot of confidence out of what I was able to do in the New Zealand series,” Gardner said. “To contribute with both bat and ball was something that I wanted to do to start the series off well and take some confidence into the back end of this series. We know that there’s a long way to go in this Ashes series.”We realised that pretty quickly in England last time we were six-nil up and then that got chased down pretty quickly. We could be playing amazing cricket, but England is such a good team and they always find a way.1:19

Gardner ‘super excited’ by Australia’s Ashes potential

“They certainly fought really hard in that series and we know that they’re going to look at this game today and look at the things that they didn’t do too well and the things that they did do well. We know that they’re going to come back firing next game.”Gardner revealed that she has been nursing an elbow problem for a couple of months but insisted it wasn’t an issue.Healy, meanwhile, completed her comeback from a knee injury, scoring 78-ball 70 after returning to wicketkeeping duties for the first time since mid-November in England’s innings.”She’s going to take a lot of confidence out of today,” Gardner said. “Even just watching the way that she was batting through that New Zealand series, she was striking the ball really well and got some starts, but then I think today scoring 70-odd in front of her home crowd as well probably spurs you on as captain, she’s leading from the front.”But I know just from a body point of view that she’s going to take a lot of confidence out of keeping for as long as she did and then being able to back that up at the top of the order, so really pleasing for her and hopefully it’s some signs to come that she can score heaps more runs.”Sometimes you can get caught in chasing a low total, just chasing the total rather than actually just trying to bat properly, and we always speak about if you’re chasing small total, sometimes they’re the hardest to actually chase. Today it will just give our team a lot of confidence. People stood up in different moments, whether that was with bat or the ball, and going forward we can take a lot out of today.”Alyssa Healy made a controlled half-century in the chase•Getty Images

Gardner claimed the important wickets of England’s top-scorer Heather Knight and regular match-winner Nat Sciver-Brunt, both sweeping to Perry at deep midwicket, which will give the tourists something to think about ahead of the next game at Melbourne’s Junction Oval.In fact, it was Australia’s bowling combined with a rash of soft dismissals that restricted England to a below-par score and left them with things to work on.A record crowd for a women’s international at North Sydney Oval of 6236 was a fine start to a series with lofty ambitions for attendance, particularly at the day-night Test at the MCG which closes the contest from January 30.”This is my home ground, I’m from Sydney, I’ve played a lot of cricket here and I’ve played a lot of successful games of cricket here for either the Sixers or Australia,” Gardner said. “So I guess to start the series off in front of what that crowd was, hopefully it leads to more crowds like that throughout the rest of the series.”We are playing at some really cool venues, so to hopefully play some entertaining cricket throughout the series will, fingers crossed, draw people in to come and watch us and hopefully lead to some more success.”

Gomez said the league is accommodating the Argentine superstar above other considerations, even after recent sanction

• Gomez says Messi basically gets whatever he wants
• Said league is only interested in gaining casual fans
• Argued MLS has a Messi-centric strategy

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED

  In the wake of the recent Lionel Messi MLS All-Star Game controversy, former USMNT star Herculez Gomez questioned tension between Major League Soccer's treatment of the Inter Miami star and the league's longtime supporters.

  Gomez said the league is accommodating the Argentine superstar above other considerations, even after MLS suspended Messi and teammate Jordi Alba after the pair skipped last week's ASG in Austin, Texas.

  “Nobody should be above the law, but when MLS puts all their eggs in one basket, they've made it very clear who is above the law," Gomez said on his podcast. "I'm here to talk about the pushback. It seems like the hardcore MLS fans, they've taken this stance of 'F-Messi, He's been bad for the league. It's not Messi league soccer, this is Major League Soccer.'

  "It’s Messi this, Messi that….and they’re fed up with it and I sympathize and almost relate to it. But don't for a second, think Major League Soccer has your best interest at heart. They don't. They’ve got your money, they want the casual fans and the casual fan wants Messi… This is a the way they've operated and you should not be surprised."

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• WHAT GOMEZ SAID

  Gomez also addressed the MLS roster construction rules that have allowed Inter Miami to assemble an unusually star-studded squad around Messi – including the recent addition of Rodrigo De Paul.

  "It's pretty much a super team to do whatever the hell they wanted to do," he said. "And there's been this push back from the general fan. Well, Zlatan, David Beckham, Chicharito they did a late-night circuit. They did the rounds. Why doesn’t Messi? And you may be right? You may have a point… Major League Soccer doesn't care.

  "And you should not be upset when that happens because we've allowed it to happen. So Messi – the eggs of MLS are all in the Messi basket. And I feel they positioned themselves in a situation where they almost have to see it through. If Leo Messi were to not re-sign through the 2026 World Cup… I don't know where you move forward. It could be a blow, not a death blow, but it's a major blow that sets you back. So, this is the Messi basket that you're in. I think you have to ride it out.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Lionel Messi’s current contract with Inter Miami expires at the end of the 2025 MLS season and he is reportedly in negotiations with the club over a new deal.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT’S NEXT?

  Inter Miami will face Atlas, Necaxa and Pumas in Leagues Cup, with De Paul cleared to make his debut with the team on Wednesday night.

تحدث آرني سلوت مدرب ليفربول في مؤتمر صحفي عن لقاء أستون فيلا غداً على ملعب أنفيلد في الجولة العاشرة من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وقال سلوت في تصريحات نشرتها “ليفربول إيكو” عن إصابات فريقه: “تدرب جرافنبيرخ أمس ولم يتدرب بعد إيزاك وجونز، قلت مراراً في المرحلة الأخيرة من الإصابة قد تتحسن الأمور، لننتظر ونرى النتيجة، تدرب جرافنبيرخ معنا أمس واليوم وسنقرر ما إذا كان بإمكانه اللعب أساسياً أما الثنائي الآخر لن يلعبان”.

وأضاف عن عمق الفريق: “أنا سعيد بالفريق وبالجودة التي نمتلكها ومقتنع باستراتيجيتنا وسياستنا، لم تكن هذه المشكلة، لم يخض الجميع فترة تحضيرية للموسم ولم يتعرضوا للإصابة جميعاً، أنا مقتنع بأن 20 لاعباً كافياً، لكننا نكافح للحفاظ على لياقتهم البدنية لأسباب واضحة، لقد انضم لنا إيزاك في الأول من سبتمبر وكان الحفاظ على اللياقة البدنية صعباً، ربما كنا محظوظين الموسم الماضي والآن غير محظوظين، لكننا لعبنا بعض المباريات خارج ملعبنا ولم نستطع سوى الحصول على بضعة أيام راحة، لا أعذار، قبل أن يقول الناس، علينا إدارة الوضع، 3 مباريات في 7 أو 8 أيام، لذا لا علاقة لنا بعمق الفريق، بل بالإصابات وتوافر اللاعبين”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. ردود أفعال جماهير ليفربول على العرض الخيالي لرحيل محمد صلاح: لم يبقى لك شيئًا آخر

وسئل سلوت عن عقده مع ليفربول: “هذا آخر سؤال كنت أتوقعه، تركيزي على إعادة ليفربول للانتصارات، مفاوضات العقد حتى لو كانت موجودة فإننا لا نتحدث عنها هنا، لذا دعونا نبدأ بالفوز من جديد وهذا هو تركيزي الرئيسي”.

وتحدث سلوت مرة أخرى عن الإصابات: “الكثير من الإصابات، نتعامل مع الوضع كما هو، إيزاك كمثال، كانت الفترة التحضيرية ويسأل الناس لماذا يلعب، وإلا يجب إشراك هوجو إيكتيكي في كل مباراة، كلا المهاجمين لعبا 34 مباراة الموسم الماضي بينما نلعب نحن 60 مباراة، لذا أحتاج لمشاركة إيزاك قدر الإمكان، هذا ينطبق على بعض اللاعبين الآخرين أيضاً، فريمبونج وبرادلي إذا غاب أحدهما فعليه المشاركة أكثر ومن هنا جاء دور سوبوسلاي في مركز الظهير الأيمن، هذا ينطبق على كل فريق، لذا فهو ليس عذراً ولكنه كان مختلف بعض الشئ عن الموسم الماضي، الذي كنت أمتلك فيه جميع اللاعبين خبرة في الدوري الإنجليزي وحافظوا على لياقتهم البدنية، الآن على البعض اللعب أكثر مما نرغب، لدينا ما يكفي من المباريات لكن يجب أن أهتم ببعضهم ولهذا السبب قررت عدم إشراك 7 أو 8 لاعبين”.

وتحدث سلوت حول ما تعلمه من الفترة الماضية: “ربما يأتي التعلم لاحقاً، التركيز بشكل رئيسي على مباراة السبت وليس الماضي، التركيز على المستقبل وكيفية تحقيق أداء ونتيجة جيدين ضد أستون فيلا”.

وعن العوامل الرئيسية لتغيير الأداء الفترة القادمة ذكر سلوت: “أعتقد أن الشوط الأول ضد بالاس كان مشابهاً لـ60 دقيقة ضد برينتفورد، جودة اللاعبين تمنحني الثقة، والفرص التي نخلقها ستؤدي في النهاية لتسجيل المزيد من الأهداف، علينا معالجة أمور أخرى، إذا تحدثت عما يجب تحسينه يقول الناس إنني اختلق الأعذار، لدينا الكثير من الإيجابيات ونخلق عدد فرص كاف للمنافسة على البطولات”.

وأكمل سلوت عن ضعف اللياقة البدنية في الفريق: “يزداد الأمر أهمية في كل مباراة في الدوري الإنجليزي، لا يجدي نفعاً أبداً أن تنتهي المباراة بكرات ثابتة أمام مانشستر يونايتد ونستقبل هدفاً ثم نستقبل هدفاً آخر من رمية تماس مباشرة، دافعنا جيداً في 15 كرة ثابتة من 16 ضد برينتفورد، لقد سمعت أنه لا خطة تصمد أمام اللمسة الأولى، هذا يجعل الأمر صعباً بعد خمس دقائق، يخسر الفريق بهدف، هذا ليس جيد لثقتنا، إذا أعجبتني نقطة في أداء برينتفورد فهي بعد استقبالنا لهدف، خلقنا فرصنا ولم نسجل، في آخر 10 دقائق أصبح أسلوب لعبهم أكثر تركيزاً”.

وعلق سلوت على الكرات الطويلة :”إنهم بارعون جداً في ذلك، لعب تشيلسي مباراته ضدنا ولم نفز بها أيضاً، عندما يسألني الناس عن سبب صعوبة المباراة وأحاول شرحها، لا يسألونني هل يمكنني اختلاق أعذار ثم أجيب؟ أنا قللت من شأن الكثير من المحللين، إذا سألتني عن سبب صعوبة المباراة لأقول هذا سيكون صعباً دون أن أكشف شيئاً لخصومنا القادمين، فيلا ومانشستر سيتي يعتمدان على الخلف أكثر من الكرات الطويلة لكنهما بارعان جداً في ذلك، فاز فيلا على سيتي بركلة ثابتة”.

وأتم سلوت حول الخروج بشباك نظيفة في مزيد من المباريات القادمة: “لقد فزت بمباريات سابقة في الماضي عندما خالفت قناعاتي، خارج ملعبنا ضد السيتي، أنا منفتح على التكيف مع ظروف معينة، الوضع الحالي لا يتعلق باستقبال الفرص، ربما باستثناء مباراة بالاس، استحقينا أكثر مما حصلنا عليه في جميع المباريات الأخرى، لا أعتقد أننا سنستقبل الكثير من الفرص ولا أرى سبب لتغيير أسلوب لعبنا كلياً لكننا بحاجة لتقديم أداء أفضل”.

وتحدث سلوت عن أستون فيلا: “هو علامة على أن أدائهم أفضل من أدائنا، إذا لم تفز في البداية يقول الناس إننا لسنا الفريق نفسه ثم تفوز، فيصبح الأمر إيجابي مجدداً، أما نحن فالعكس صحيح، معظم الفرق متقاربة في النقاط باستثناء آرسنال لذا يقال إن الدوري الإنجليزي صعب، يمكنك أن ترى دلائل أداء أستون فيلا، أسلوب لعبهم رائع حقاً ولم يعتد فيلا على الخسارة”.

Ireland needed just 18.3 overs on day five – with threat of rain looming – to close out the game

Ekanth10-Feb-2025Rain was the biggest threat Ireland faced when they came to the Queens Sports Club on day five. But in 18.3 overs, they wrapped up the one-off Test against Zimbabwe with a 63-run win. They needed to create seven chances for the last three wickets, and in the process completed their first hat-trick of Test wins in their ten-match history. It is the earliest point any team has earned a hat-trick of Test wins, bettering South Africa, who needed 14 matches.Matthew Humphreys converted his overnight four-for into a career-best 6 for 57, with Andy McBrine – his spin-bowling partner – closing out the game by knocking over Richard Ngarava with the new ball.Wessly Madhevere, Zimbabwe’s last ray of hope, battled through 195 balls for his 84. When his outside edge was beaten and stumps rattled by a quicker length ball from Humphreys, he could not drag himself out of the field, covering his face with his bat in despondence as the game was effectively done.The day started 30 minutes earlier than scheduled with 37 overs lost on day four. Humphreys, who had bowled 18 overs to stumps, was handed the ball. He needed three overs to create a chance – when he got Madhevere to nearly chip a drive to cover – and one more ball to trap Newman Nyamhuri plumb in front and complete his five-for.McBrine replaced Mark Adair right after and created two chances in his second over, both of which went down. Lorcan Tucker dropped one that went low off Richard Ngarava’s edge, while McBrine failed to hold onto a low skimmer the next ball. In the next over, Paul Stirling shuffled to the right at first slip when Madhevere’s reverse-sweep went aerial but couldn’t get within reach.Ireland took the new ball in the 81st over and McBrine found extra bounce with it right away. The sun broke out but Zimbabwe’s hopes flickered off in the 84th, when Humphreys got Madhevere, his sixth scalp.Blessing Muzarabani had put on 67 for the last wicket in the first innings with Trevor Gwandu, but to put on 74 with Richard Ngarava was too much of an ask. Ngarava hung around for 39 balls and took a couple of swings. He was beaten in the 86th over and knocked over in the next.McBrine flighted a full ball on middle stump, beat the slog sweep, and set the smiles free in Ireland’s camp. When asked about the hat-trick of wins at the presentation, Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie said, “Just waiting for the DVD to come out! We are desperate to play, we don’t know when our next Test match is.”As per the FTP, they are scheduled to play Afghanistan at home in July.

New South Wales were named champions when the season was brought to an abrupt end. Who stood out from the summer?

Alex Malcolm17-Mar-2020Leading run-scorers
Leading wicket-takersJoe Burns, Queensland (515 runs at 51.50)Burns only played six of the nine matches due to Test duty but was remarkably consistent given he played five of the six on the typically bowler-friendly Gabba surface. Only once did he fail to reach double-figures and he made three half-centuries and 135 in the fourth innings against Victoria to give Queensland a chance at a remarkable victory.Daniel Hughes, New South Wales (665 runs at 44.33)The left-hander had another consistent season for the eventual champions. He made a critical 66 not out to guide the Blues home in a nervy fourth-innings chase against Queensland at the start of the season and also made two half-centuries in a win over Western Australia plus twin hundreds against South Australia. He had a very similar year to South Australia opener Jake Weatherald but was a fraction more consistent. Weatherald mixed two big hundreds with six single-figure scores compared to Hughes’ four.Nic Maddinson, Victoria (780 runs at 86.66)Maddinson put together another phenomenal season for Victoria passing 50 in seven of his 10 innings including two centuries. He made a career-best 224 in the opening round of the season and never looked back. Even after a dismal BBL season, he was able to leave that behind and help drag Victoria into finals contention after they were winless at Christmas. He made scores of 95, 105*, 66 and 66 in wins over New South Wales and South Australia and was rewarded with Australia A selection for the second time this summer. He also made runs in three different positions for Victoria, opening, at No.3 and No.5.Cameron Green drills one down the ground•Getty ImagesShaun Marsh, Western Australia (724 runs at 48.26)Marsh started the Shield season in vintage touch with a double century against Victoria and an unbeaten hundred against South Australia. His form fell away a touch after the BBL where he was coming off a hamstring injury. He registered three ducks in a row including a pair against Tasmania, but his overall season at No. 3 for Western Australia was impressive as he passed 50 five times, the majority of which were scored as acting captain.Moises Henriques, New South Wales (512 runs at 51.20)Henriques was selected to captain Australia A and remains in calculations for Australia’s Test tour of Bangladesh (if it goes ahead) after an excellent Shield campaign where he helped the Blues to the title. He made two centuries and a 91. His 116 against Queensland earned him player of the match honours while he had two mammoth partnerships with Steve Smith in wins over Tasmania and Western Australia. He only bowled 20 overs for the season but he did pick up two wickets. Henriques squeezed out Tom Cooper who was the competition’s second-leading scorer. Cooper is unfortunate to miss out but he scored 271 not out in a farcical draw with Victoria where just 12 wickets fell in two innings over four days but averaged 35.28 in his other 14 innings for the season.Cameron Green, Western Australia (699 runs at 63.54)The 20-year-old allrounder was unable to bowl for most of the season but finished as Western Australia’s most reliable specialist batsman. His three centuries all came with WA under immense pressure and his consistency across the season in an inconsistent team was remarkable. His best came against Queensland at the Gabba where he made 87 not out and 121 not out to single-handedly save his side from defeat. Green and Doug Walters are the only two players in Sheffield Shield history to have scored three centuries and have two five-wicket hauls before turning 21.Tim Paine celebrates his second first-class century•Getty ImagesTim Paine, Tasmania (313 runs at 39.12 and 29 dismissals; capt & wk)The wicketkeeper’s role was the toughest to fill. Alex Carey and Seb Gotch could both make cases having made two centuries each but they only played six games between them. Gotch made two centuries in two games, including a player of the match performance against Queensland, but unfortunately missed the other seven through injury. Jimmy Peirson completed 40 dismissals at the bowler-friendly Gabba but made just one fifty and averaged 29.75. Paine and Peter Nevill had the dual role of keeping and captaining and Nevill led New South Wales to the title, but Paine did have a good year making his second career Shield century against Western Australia in Perth. He also made a half-century on a green seamer at the Gabba and 48 not out in a fourth innings chase to beat WA by five wickets in Hobart. Nevill had a similar output with the bat (411 runs at 37.36) making three half-centuries but benefitted from better batting conditions in Sydney and better platforms from his top order. Paine completed 29 dismissals in 12 innings for the season.Michael Neser, Queensland (33 wickets at 17.30)Neser had another phenomenal season despite playing only six games due to Australia A duty. He went wicketless just twice in 12 innings and took a five-wicket haul and three four-wicket hauls. He is a beneficiary of the seamer-friendly conditions at the Gabba but of the 10 bowlers who took 25 wickets or more this season, he had the best average (17.30) and strike-rate (43.3) by some margin.Peter Siddle, Victoria (32 wickets at 19.87)Siddle is an ageless wonder. After retiring from international cricket he was supposed to step back into a support role for Victoria’s developing quicks but instead almost carried his state to a Shield final after they were last at Christmas. Siddle was ultra-consistent and had the best economy rate (2.28) of the top 20 wicket-takers in the competition. His best performance came in the key victory over New South Wales after the BBL when he took 5 for 49 in the fourth innings as the Blues tried to save the game.Wes Agar celebrates•Getty ImagesCameron Gannon, Queensland (38 wickets at 20.92)Gannon enjoyed his best season in the Sheffield Shield and finished as the leading wicket-taker with 38. Gannon took a five-wicket haul and four four-wicket hauls and only went wicket-less twice for the season. He took eight wickets for the match against Western Australia. He also made a career-best 45 as a night-watchman against Victoria at the MCG that was critical in Queensland’s thrilling win.Wes Agar, South Australia (33 wickets at 24.21)Agar was named Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year during an excellent Shield season for South Australia. His best performance came against Tasmania in South Australia’s first Shield victory in over two seasons when he took eight wickets including a career-best 5 for 53 and was named player of the match. He took five crucial wickets across two innings in the Redbacks’ second victory of the season again Western Australia. He also took a four-wicket haul against Queensland on debut, ripping through a Test-quality top order.