All posts by h716a5.icu

Michael Bracewell and Ish Sodhi set the tone for New Zealand to register their first points in the tri-series

Mohammad Isam09-Oct-2022
New Zealand opened their account in the tri-series with an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh in Christchurch. Their spinners Ish Sodhi and Michael Bracewell turned the screws in the middle overs before Devon Conway and the captain Kane Williamson put on a match-winning 85-run stand for the second wicket.Conway was undefeated on 70 off 51 balls when New Zealand strolled home in the 18th over, with Glenn Phillips finishing things off with consecutive sixes. The winning shot, hit over long-on, struck a fan sitting on the grass bank in front of the Hadlee Stand, prompting Phillips to run over to check up on her. New Zealand Cricket later said of the incident: “The young girl was struck by the ball just above the eye. She is lucid and has been assessed by doctors at the ground. She will now go to hospital for further checks.”Sodhi, the legspinner, and Bracewell, the part-time offie, had set the tone for the win after New Zealand elected to bowl first, putting the brakes on Bangladesh and claiming four wickets between them. Sodhi became only the third bowler from New Zealand – behind Tim Southee and Sophie Devine – to 100 T20I wickets along the way, and Trent Boult (2 for 25) too, was at his miserly best.Adam Milne’s fitness will be of concern to New Zealand, with the pacer bowling only two overs before going off with an abdominal muscle niggle; he was playing his first competitive match since March this year due to an Achilles tendon strain. They have already lost Lockie Ferguson and Daryl Mitchell to injury this series, two weeks out from the T20 World Cup.Trial by spin for Bangladesh
Bangladesh perhaps left even New Zealand surprised when they succumbed to spin after a decent start against pace. Bracewell broke up a half-century stand with his third ball, and the visitors slipped from the comfort of 53 for 1 to 78 for 5 in the space of six overs.Bracewell had Litton Das caught and bowled for 15, deceiving him with a subtle change of pace, before Najmul Hossain Shanto holed out to long-off off Sodhi to give him wicket No. 100. Shanto had showed a bit of fight with 33 in his first outing since August; his selection had sparked widespread criticism back home in the last few weeks.Sodhi and Bracewell then got rid of Mosaddek Hossain and Yasir Ali cheaply, as Bangladesh’s good start gave away to a middle-order collapse. The spin duo finished with 4 for 45 from their combined eight overs.Hosts clumsy in the field
The home side however had a sloppy evening in the field. They missed a spate of clear – and mostly simple – chances, some of them drawing smiles from the fielders.First, Bracewell missed a catch at cover against Mehidy Hasan Miraz, having had sighting issues due to the setting sun. In the next over, James Neesham dropped Litton’s soft push towards cover-point, before substitute fielder Martin Guptill missed the stumps at the striker’s end with Litton and Shanto involved in a mix-up.Later, Milne dropped Afif Hossain on eight, another sitter at the deep-fine boundary. There was also a chance against Nurul Hasan in the final over when Conway got his gloves in the way of what could’ve been a direct hit and failed to collect the ball with the batter short of his ground. Nurul would go on to hit another boundary, his unbeaten 25 off 12 lifting Bangladesh to a respectable 137 for 8.Conway drives the chase
Bangladesh removed Finn Allen in the fourth over when the opener hit a pull shot straight down Shanto’s throat at deep square leg.Conway however didn’t allow the Bangladesh bowlers to take charge, hitting timely boundaries, while Williamson rotated the strike at the other end. Conway especially went about attacking Shakib Al Hasan – back in the side after visa issues kept him out of the first game – in his first two overs, which went for 18. Given the small target, the second-wicket pair could afford to play out balls when needed, before Conway inevitably found the boundary. He struck two consecutive fours off Taskin Ahmed in the 13th over, leaving New Zealand needing just a touch above a run a ball from there. Williamson and Conway hit one more four each in the following two overs, so that when the captain was out chipping Taskin to mid-on, they needed just 29 runs from 30.That wicket had come all too late for Bangladesh, who remain without a point after two outings in the tri-series, the only team winless after two games each for all three sides.

Everyone associated with Birmingham City will be hoping that 2025 is the year they triumphantly return to the Championship, with the demoralising relegation down to the third tier acting as a major wake-up call for those at St. Andrew’s to start afresh.

Chris Davies is now in the hot seat for the Blues and is doing a competent job at the moment, helped by lots of cash being thrown at the squad to make that instant return up a league a reality, with the sleeping giants in and around the promotion spots in League One.

Still, he will want more from his troops who have shown chinks in their armour as of late, with a shock 3-2 defeat to Shrewsbury Town in November a reminder that teams in the tricky division won’t just roll over for Birmingham to pick up routine victories.

January will act as a crucial month for Birmingham to flex their muscles once more in the transfer market, with a couple of incomings no doubt on their mind as games become tenser near the summit of the league, in order to add in even more quality.

Here is what their dream lineup could look after that hectic month has come and gone, with a new £3.4m recruit potentially entering the building…

1 GK – Ryan Allsop

Ryan Allsop is likely to retain his spot in-between the sticks for Birmingham past the transfer window, having recently taken over duties of being the club’s number one goalkeeper from Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

From his eight league contests, Allsop has kept an encouraging three clean sheets, with Davies hopeful more will come his way as the season drags on.

2 RB – Ethan Laird

Ethan Laird will also feel he’s worthy of keeping his first-team spot at right-back moving forward, having impressed when thrown into action this season in League One.

Laird has won a stunning 6.3 duels on average when playing and will want to make this position in the team even more his own as a frantic 2025 comes into view.

3 CB – Christoph Klarer

Christoph Klarer begins in the centre-back spots and rightly so, with the towering Austrian a revelation at the back for Davies’ men ever since leaving Germany behind this summer for new English shores.

His importance at the back as a cool customer was exemplified in Birmingham’s last win in the league versus Exeter City, with 82 touches of the ball amassed, alongside also imposing himself onto the game with four duels successfully won.

4 CB – Phil Neumann

He could be joined by another recruit from the German leagues in the form of Phil Neumann, with Birmingham reportedly interested in the Hannover 96 star this summer but to no avail.

They could go back in for Neumann this January, which could result in Krystian Bielik shockingly dropping out of the first team fold, with the potential £3.4m purchase not acquired to warm the substitutes bench.

He has very much impressed in the 2. Bundesliga for his current employers too, accumulating six clean sheets across his 14 displays in the league.

Transfer Focus

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

5 LB – Alex Cochrane

Finishing the back four is former Heart of Midlothian defender Alex Cochrane, who has shone in spurts for the League One titans this season to date.

He also stood out versus Exeter last time out, with two key passes tallied up as a left-back not afraid to join in with attacks, alongside also making five interceptions to preserve his team’s clean sheet.

6 CM – Seung-Ho Paik

The first central midfield spot in the side is occupied by South Korean gem Seung-Ho Paik, who is yet to miss a league game for Davies’ men since making the drop down.

He’ll hope he keeps this up versus Stockport County later on, as his side hunt down their 11th win of the campaign to date.

7 CM – Tomoki Iwata

Much like his teammate next to him, Tomoki Iwata has turned into a real fan’s favourite at St. Andrew’s this season.

The ex-Celtic man has stunned supporters with some stylish displays from the middle of the park, alongside chipping in with five goals and an assist.

If Birmingham amazingly miss out on an instant jump back up to the Championship, expect a whole host of suitors to be eyeing up the confident Blues number 24.

8 RM – Sontje Hansen

The other bit of business Birmingham should explore – away from strengthening at the back – could be to go after a former target in Sontje Hansen down the right wing, as Davies goes about making his side even more eye-catching in the attacking areas.

Birmingham have had lots of success shopping in Holland, with the NEC Nijmegen winger – who has been hailed as “special” by former Netherlands U17 coach Peter van der Veen – needing to be back on their radar, having bagged four goals in Eredivisie action this season.

9 CAM – Jay Stansfield

Birmingham fans must have found the whole transfer saga involving Jay Stansfield rather surreal, especially when the money-rich Blues managed to convince him to return on a permanent basis.

He has shone for Davies’ promotion-chasers since his return, with a brace managed on his second debut against Wrexham bedding himself back in nicely to his familiar location.

Since then, the smooth former Fulham attacker has helped himself to another five league strikes, as he strives to be a key performer in the crunch months to come to ensure promotion is reached.

10 LM – Willum Thor Willumsson

Alongside Stansfield, Willum Thor Willumsson has equally been an important source of goals and assists.

The tall Icelandic winger is amazingly matching Stansfield’s output, with four goals and four assists next to his teammate’s haul of eight, and he will hope he can play a starring role in another win being picked up tonight.

A major shake-up of the women’s game in England could reportedly lead to the League Cup competition being scrapped and removed from the calendar.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Chelsea lifted the trophy in 2025Arsenal are seven-time winnersRevamp of calendar is plannedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The competition has formed part of the domestic schedule since 2011, as it was introduced alongside the launch of the Women's Super League. Prior to that, top-flight sides had been challenging for major silverware in the Women’s Premier League Cup.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The current format of the tournament is now in doubt as reports that "the Women’s Professional Leagues Ltd, the organisation responsible for the Women’s Super League and Championship, explores possible league expansion and reviews competition structures".

DID YOU KNOW?

Title sponsors Subway have a two-year deal in place, but the "WPLL has been extremely transparent with the company as it explores changes to the game". The WPLL “will consult clubs, the Football Association, fans and players on all alternatives under consideration”.

GettyTELL ME MORE

Chelsea savoured League Cup glory for a third time when seeing off Manchester City in the 2025 final. Across 14 stagings of the competition, only Chelsea, City and Arsenal have emerged triumphant – with the Gunners lifting the trophy on a record-setting seven occasions.

In May, James Anderson became the first England bowler to take 400 Test wickets but a side injury which forced him to miss the final two Ashes Tests raised questions as to how much longer he would play. At 33, he still feels he has plenty left in the tank

Andrew McGlashan in Dubai29-Oct-2015James Anderson has a lower Test bowling average in the UAE than any other country he has played in. For a fast bowler, that is quite some badge of honour.It is not a skewed sample size either. He has now played five Tests in the region, the same number he has clocked up in South Africa and New Zealand and only two fewer than India and West Indies.In those five outings, Anderson has collected 16 wickets at 23.93, his seven wickets at 19.14 so far in the two matches of this tour nudging his average below his figure playing in West Indies where his returns come at 24.92.In terms of visiting pacemen in the UAE he has the fourth lowest average after Glenn McGrath (7.40), Andy Bichel (13.25) and Vernon Philander (23.00). The figures of McGrath and Bichel are helped by having been involved in the 2002 Test in Sharjah when Pakistan were bowled out for 59 and 53 in Sharjah.Spoils have not come that easily for Anderson on this tour – and he can only dream of a scenario where Pakistan are skittled in such fashion in the final Test – but he takes extra satisfaction from earning success on pitches which test a fast bowler’s skill and endurance to the limit.”It is a real test of your skills and it is quite good fun,” he said. “If you have a good day out here you feel you get more out of it personally. There is more reward.”Anderson, with 67 overs, has also bowled more in this series than any other England quick (Wahab Riaz is top overall with 83 overs) but the workload has been very evenly shared between him, Stuart Broad (56), Mark Wood (62.5) and Ben Stokes (58.1). After some initial worries when they first arrived and the temperature was in the mid-40s, Anderson said that conditions have not proved too demanding.”The first couple of days we were worried about how we were going to get through because the heat was quite severe but as the series has gone on the temperature has dropped and we have got used to it as well. We have been bowling three, four, five over spells which doesn’t actually take too much out of you.”Anderson has operated in a variety of guises through the two matches – both of which have seen England bowl first after Alastair Cook lost the toss – from a traditional new-ball bowler for the few overs where the ball might swing, to searching for reverse later on and also bringing out a repertoire of slower balls.”In these conditions you’ve got to try and get something out of it as a seamer, you try all sorts of things,” he said. “We’ve had the keeper up at different stages, you bowl offcutters and things like that. The ball that got Misbah the other day was a genuine offspinner, you just try it.Anderson’s economy for the series is a parsimonious 2.00 while Stokes at 3.00 is England’s most expensive seamer as Pakistan have sought to play out the pacemen and target the spinners – Moeen Ali has conceded 4.34 an over and Adil Rashid 4.27 – which has left Anderson wishing the batsmen would play more shots against him.”It has been frustrating as well because you need people to go after you on these wickets to get the chances, so that is why we’ve set certain fields and tried to be aggressive with our plans,” he said.The four-man pace attack is likely to be retained for Sharjah, where England need to win to level the series, which would be a move away from the pre-series thoughts they had on playing three spinners. It would also be significant because Mark Wood will have played three consecutive Tests where the initial suggestion was his body may only allow him two.England may have to consider relieving him of ODI or T20 duty later in the tour – with an eye on the South Africa Test series which starts on Boxing Day – but he produced his most impressive Test performance in Dubai where he collected five wickets in the match and, especially in the first innings, troubled Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq with short deliveries.”He has done brilliantly. Him and Ben Stokes, their bowling has improved out of sight on this trip,” Anderson said. “The first week we were here, the first warm-up game I remember both of them saying it was pretty boring. They both want to take wickets, they want to steam in and rough people up but you can’t just do that out here.”The way Mark bowled in that first innings [in Dubai] going away from his natural game… I thought he was outstanding and he’s getting to grips with bowling different balls, cutters and little subtle variations which again will improve his game no end.”Not that Anderson has any plans on permanently passing England’s fast-bowling baton onto the younger models anytime soon. In May, Anderson became the first England bowler to take 400 Test wickets but a side injury which forced him to miss the final two Ashes Tests raised a question as to how much longer he would play. At 33, he still feels he has plenty left in the tank.”You’re making me feel really old … as if I’m coming to the end! But why can’t I play for another five years? I’m loving it at the minute, loving bowling, loving playing, enjoying taking wickets and the challenges we’ve got ahead. I’m going to keep going till my body can’t take any more.”James Anderson is speaking on behalf of Waitrose, Official Sponsor of the England Cricket Team. For exclusive player content visit waitrose.com/cricket

Surrey’s rookie skipper left with frustration as Gloucestershire keep hopes alive

ECB Reporters Network19-Aug-2022Tom Price was the tail-end hero with 38 not out from 34 balls as Gloucestershire pulled off a breathless two-wicket Royal London Cup victory against Surrey at the Kia Oval.Ben Geddes, Surrey’s 21-year-old Royal London Cup captain, had done his best to inspire his team by scoring 71 in Surrey’s 292 for 9, running out Tom Smith with a direct hit on the bowlers’ stumps during a tense finish and also juggling his rookie bowling attack with skill.But fast bowler Price, who came in at No 8 with Gloucestershire seemingly making a mess of a chase that had initially looked well on course, kept his head in an unbroken ninth wicket stand of 42 with Paul van Meekeren.Price pulled the winning four off Matt Dunn to clinch a win, with 2.3 overs to spare, that is Gloucestershire’s fourth Group A victory and keeps alive their hope of qualification for the knock-out stages.Earlier, Jack Taylor had followed up his 3 for 38 with five sixes in a 46-ball 51, but Gloucestershire kept losing wickets at vital times as a crowd of more than 3,500 lapped up the entertainment in warm sunshine.Related

Grant Stewart's last-ball six wins it for Kent

Taylor Cornall falls just short of maiden century in Worcestershire win

Tom Bevan's maiden hundred stops Hampshire in their tracks

Taylor’s seven overs of leg breaks contributed to 34 overs of spin bowled by Gloucestershire, with Pakistan international Zafar Gohar not conceding a single boundary in his ten overs. Gohar also bowled five of those overs in the first powerplay, having Ryan Patel held on the deep square leg ropes for five and, in the end, impressing with 1 for 35.Gloucestershire’s chase did not start well, with Ben Wells bowled off stump for 12 by a beauty from Dunn and Australian Test left-hander Marcus Harris chopping into his stumps against Tom Lawes.But, from 34 for 2, they counter-attacked through James Bracey and Ben Charlesworth, who added 61 in nine overs with some sparkling strokeplay.Six of Bracey’s first seven scoring shots were fours, including extra cover driven and forced offside boundaries from the second and third balls he faced, from Lawes.On 34, however, Bracey lifted his 25th ball to cover off Cameron Steel’s leg-spin and, on 49, Charlesworth chipped a return catch to Yousef Majid, Surrey’s 18-year-old slow left armer, just out of Cranleigh School.Majid was then struck for three sixes in four balls by Taylor but Gloucestershire’s progress was checked when 21-year-old Oli Price, having batted commandingly to reach 45 from 33 balls with eight fours, was strangled down the legside by seamer Nick Kimber.Gohar made a useful 30 before reverse-sweeping Majid to short third man, and Taylor struck further legside sixes off Lawes and Majid before holing out to deep midwicket in the 39th over. When Smith was run out by Geddes in the next over, the game was in the balance at 252 for 8 – but Price and Van Meekeren were equal to the task in hand.Surrey’s innings was built upon a 102-run second wicket stand in 17 overs between Geddes and Steel, and then a further partnership of 51 for the third wicket by Geddes and Josh Blake.But that initial momentum stalled when Van Meekeren had Steel caught at the wicket for a fine 54-ball 61 with one that bounced and Oli Price’s off spin then dismissed both Geddes and Blake (31) during his excellent seven-over spell of 2 for 34 from the Vauxhall End.Smith’s left-arm spin accounted for both Nico Reifer, brilliantly caught and bowled with a diving left-handed effort for 11, and Sheridon Gumbs, who on 17 was unfortunate to pick out Wells at short third man with a sweetly-hit reverse sweep.Suddenly, 181 for 2 had become 222 for 6 in 11 overs of struggle against the two spinners and it took Lawes’ third successive Royal London Cup half-century to pull Surrey up to a defendable total.Lawes flipped Van Meekeren for an extraordinary six to fine leg when the Dutch international fast bowler was reintroduced for the 45th over, and then produced a similarly cheeky stroke to the next ball to flick it to fine third man for four.Kimber managed a few meaty blows before skying Taylor to square cover on 17 and Gloucestershire’s skipper – taking on the responsibility of bowling three death overs – then dived to his right to send back Conor McKerr for 2 with a smart caught and bowled.Lawes swatted Van Meekeren over deep midwicket for his second six and then reverse-slapped Taylor for four to reach his fifty in the final over before, on 50 from 40 balls, mis-hitting to short third man where Van Meekeren ran in to take a good tumbling catch.

Reliable news outlet The Athletic is reporting that a 21-year-old is now actively looking to leave Chelsea when the January transfer window opens.

Players who could be sold or loaned out by Chelsea in January

Enzo Maresca has a few players who have been deemed surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge, and there is a very high possibility that they will part company once we reach the turn of the year.

"Sensational" £70m player "extremely" keen to join Chelsea as they plot bid

The west Londoners are weighing up a move and have encouragement.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Nov 30, 2024

Maresca candidly admitted in a press conference earlier this season that left-back Ben Chilwell – who’s played just 45 minutes in all competitions this season – was meant to depart in the summer window.

“Hopefully we can give him some minutes tomorrow,” said Maresca on Chilwell before Chelsea’s 5-1 win over Barrow in the Carabao Cup.

Aston Villa (home)

December 1

Southampton (away)

December 4

Tottenham (home)

December 8

Brentford (home)

December 15

Everton (away)

December 22

“The idea for him was to leave. In the moment that he’s here, he’s one of the squad, he’s training. He will be in the squad tomorrow, and hopefully we can give him some minutes.”

According to respected Blues reporter Simon Phillips, Chelsea have spoken to numerous clubs over Chilwell’s transfer in the last few weeks, with sides in England, Italy and Spain all taking a keen interest in the £200,000-per-week defender.

Chelsea are also prepared to sell Carney Chukwuemeka in January, amid rumoured interest from the likes of Barcelona and Milan, but Maresca has confirmed that forward Christopher Nkunku won’t be going anywhere, following reports linking the France international with a mid-season exit.

Chelsea have an abundance of star wingers and attacking midfielders in their squad, leading to uncertainty surrounding the future of Mykhailo Mudryk, despite the Ukraine international’s excellent Conference League performances lately.

“I hear they’re keen to move him on in January,” said well-connected former Premier League scout Mick Brown to Football Insider this week.

“I think they’ve got the makings of a very good team at Chelsea, but he isn’t likely to be a part of that. There isn’t space for him in the team at the moment and I don’t think Maresca has been particularly impressed by him so far.

“But I don’t think they’re likely to make a profit on him or even get their money back, let’s put it that way.”

Harvey Vale looking to leave Chelsea in January

Now, The Athletic has provided another bit of exit news out of the club, as the outlet writes that 21-year-old attacking-midfielder Harvey Vale is looking to leave Chelsea in January.

The Cobham academy graduate, who spent last season on loan at Bristol Rovers, has captained Chelsea’s Under-21s this season and put in an array of top performances at that level – but this is the extent of his action at the club recently.

Making five total senior appearances, Vale’s contract expires next summer, and it is believed the Englishman is seeking new pastures as Vale looks to kickstart his professional career.

The wealth of talent ahead of him in Maresca’s pecking order means that the best next move for him is to find a new club, and this could apparently be as soon as the next transfer window, despite the fact he’s able to leave for free later in 2025.

The more optimistic Everton supporters will claim that Sean Dyche’s system and the club’s success still sit in the melting pot, though the cynics within the broad Toffees camp might point toward a middle-grounded future at best.

Everton have lost one of their past seven Premier League matches after starting the season with four defeats on the trot, but performances have routinely lacked colour and inspiration.

Dyche, at least, has upheld comparatively decent defensive numbers, with the 17 goals conceded from 11 matches so far the second-best from any side in the bottom seven, and the same total as ninth-placed Aston Villa’s.

The gruff-talking manager’s very appointment was built on the pledge that he would give rise to a restored defensive pedigree.

Everton, whose future remains frustratingly nebulous and excitingly uncertain in juxtaposition, have long prided themselves on solidity, preservation in the top flight. Defensive pedigree runs blue through the veins of the Merseyside-sat club.

Everton's defensive pedigree

Say what you want about Everton’s chequered fortunes on the field across the past however many years, but you can’t deny that Goodison Park has fostered some immense defensive talent.

In August 2016, Manchester City completed the £47.5m signing of John Stones, who had been at Goodison Park since he was 18 and became the second-most expensive defender ever, at that point in time.

Previously, Joleon Lescott had changed to a lighter blue hue in joining City back in 2009 for £22m, taking the newly-moneyed outfit to £120m as they rose to indomitable power.

Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka are both iconic names at Everton, distinguished and experienced defenders, while Jarrad Branthwaite looks like the latest prodigy to have been birthed in Finch Farm, arguably the star of Dyche’s squad.

It hasn’t always gone to plan at the rear, though, especially when Stones moved to Manchester. The loss of such a talented player demanded a high-class replacement, but Ashley Williams was anything but.

Everton had a howler with Ashley Williams

Williams, who is now retired and 40 years old, enjoyed a successful Premier League career that found its brightest days with Swansea City, who the Welshman captained and was hailed as “truly one of Swansea City’s greatest players” by Alan Curtis.

Swansea City

352

14

5

31,471′

Stockport County

174

3

2

15,360′

Everton

73

3

3

6,167′

Stoke City

37

1

1

2,958′

Bristol City

33

2

1

2,859′

Having led the Swans from League One to the Premier League, competing across five top-flight campaigns, Everton felt that they were signing an experienced and commanding head, but he fell heavily by the wayside.

Journalist Ben Marlow’s assessment bore echoes of the general consensus: “Thought he would be great for us but turned out to be a total liability. Awful defender.”

Perhaps a tad harsh, but then emotions cloud impartiality when one’s club is concerned, struggling because of the strife of the player. Williams featured 73 times for Everton but indeed failed to inspire the kind of confidence that was ever-present in Wales.

In fairness, he featured prominently after signing for Everton in a deal worth £12m. It was August 2016, and the 31-year-old was indeed lined up to be the perfect Stones heir. Out with the new, in with the old. It was a risk, even for great financial gain.

His first term as a Toffee was decent enough. Williams started 35 Premier League matches as Everton finished seventh under the wing of Ronald Koeman, and though he remarkably averaged 7.9 clearances per game, the one-time Wales international also made three mistakes and only won 52% of his ground duels, which hardly speaks of defensive superiority.

The regression was fast and furious. Williams was relegated to a more bit-part role in 2017/18, starting 20 league fixtures but making even more errors (five, to be precise) and winning 48% of his ground battles.

His final Premier League campaign with Swansea, by the way, saw him command a 65% success rate.

It clearly didn’t have the desired effect, and given that Williams took home £70k per week during his time at Goodison Park, it wasn’t exactly cheap either. That’s a salary packet that, even now, stood as two times what Branthwaite earns while playing for Dyche’s team, with the sinew-framed star on a £35k-per-week pay packet.

Branthwaite, it almost need not be said, is the club’s finest young centre-back since Stones burst onto the scene. The 22-year-old carries the trappings of a world-class titan and will see his team recoup a mammoth sum if he is indeed to be sold in the year ahead.

Concerning Williams – Stoke City swept in and signed the veteran on a season-long loan move in 2018, and it is unclear whether the Potters provided Everton with a portion of his wages, or whether it was the Toffees who leaked money as the veteran plied his trade elsewhere.

Let’s imagine Everton did in fact cover the breadth of Williams’ £3.6m-per-year salary. In conjunction with the £12m transfer fee, this would mean that the Merseysiders suffered financial damages totalling almost £23m for a player who proved to be a disastrous Stones heir.

One to forget about, eh. Williams led a storied career below the clamour of those at the Premier League’s highest echelon; he remains a beloved figure in his homeland and proved to be a strong and inspiring figure for much of his career.

Unfortunately, it didn’t come together at Everton, and considering the £23m that was taken from Everton’s resources, almost half of the fee collected from the decorated Stones’ sale, it’s one that should have been avoided.

Everton must regret selling star who's now worth £45m & outscoring Salah

Everton appear to have offloaded the talent way too prematurely.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 14, 2024

Home side recover from 68 for 6 through Wiese and Roelof van der Merwe but target still not enough

ECB Reporters Network09-Aug-2022Early success with the ball preceded Dawid Malan’s imperious, match-clinching 88 not out as Trent Rockets continued their winning start to the men’s Hundred at the expense of the Northern Superchargers at Headingley.England fringe quick Luke Wood and fellow seamer Luke Fletcher struck twice apiece as Superchargers, invited to bat, slipped to 68 for 6 after 53 balls before a blistering 50 off 27 from David Wiese ensured respectability at 152 for 8. But, at a notoriously fast-scoring venue, it was never likely to be enough – and Rockets won by seven wickets with six balls remaining.Yorkshire’s Malan led the chase on home turf, sharing 86 with opening partner Alex Hales. Malan hit three leg-sixes in his 49-ball innings.Namibian allrounder Wiese walloped five sixes, the majority down the ground, in an entertaining rescue act alongside Roelof van der Merwe, the seventh-wicket pair adding 83 in 44.It came after the home top order subsided against some accurate and aggressive back-of-a-length bowling from Fletcher and left-arm duo Wood and Australian overseas Daniel Sams. Sams secured the pick of the Rockets’ figures with 3 for 31 from 20 balls.Adam Lyth top-edged the fixture’s first ball – a pull at Wood – to short fine leg before captain Faf du Plessis feathered Sams behind to leave the Superchargers at 14 for 2 after eight balls.Michael Pepper, Dwayne Bravo, John Simpson and Adam Hose all then fell after making starts. The latter was stumped by Tom Kohler-Cadmore off Samit Patel’s left-arm spin, a particularly tight call which led to third umpire Steve O’Shaughnessy amusingly exclaiming, “Oh my giddy aunt, that doesn’t help me much” when shown a different replay angle.Wiese was lbw to a Fletcher no-ball on 20, and then caught off the free hit, allowing him to boost the Superchargers.They were missing Harry Brook due to England Lions duty and the injured David Willey, meaning Lyth and Adil Rashid were the only two Yorkshire players in their line-up. Rockets included three in Kohler-Cadmore, Malan and favourite son Joe Root.A 13,836 crowd basked in the glorious Headingley sunshine. They saw Malan, strong on both sides of the wicket, dropped on 9 by Hose at cover off Wiese early in the chase.It was the kind of chance which needed to be taken, as Hales crashed Wiese down the ground for six to end the second set of five at 19 without loss. Already, it was looking a tough road back for the Superchargers.Both Hales and Malan deposited further sixes over midwicket into the Western Terrace, taking the Rockets to 58 after 23.Superchargers hung there and when Hales and Kohler-Cadmore – to Rashid and Ben Raine – both fell in the space of 10 balls, the score became 93 for 2 after 62. However, Malan reached his fifty off 36 balls and ensured there were no surprises with the second-highest individual score in the men’s Hundred.

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Aug-2015The pair brought up a century stand, and went to lunch unscathed, adding 84 in 28 overs as Sri Lanka clawed their way back into the match•AFPIshant Sharma prised out Thirimanne just after lunch, as he was given out caught behind – a decision which did not impress him•AFPMathews steadily made his way towards his sixth Test century•AFPHe reached the landmark off 164 balls but soon fell for 102 to Stuart Binny•AFPMishra combined with Ashwin to clean up the tail dismissing Sri Lanka for 306•AFPDhammika Prasad struck early for Sri Lanka, pegging back KL Rahul’s off stump and reducing India to 3 for 1•AFPHowever, M Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane put on an unbroken 67-run stand that gave India firm control of the game with a 157-run lead at stumps on day three•AFP

The Red Devils put in their worst display of the season as their league title hopes went up in smoke

Manchester United's Women's Super League title hopes are all but over after a 3-1 defeat to a clinical Liverpool on Friday night.

United dominated the vast majority of the first half, with Celin Bizet and Grace Clinton bringing good saves out of Liverpool goalkeeper Rachael Laws.

But the hosts took the lead completely against the run of play when Olivia Smith burned past United's defence and then fired underneath stopper Phallon Tullis-Joyce in the 42nd minute.

Fuka Nagano made it 2-0 when she swept home in style to finish off a rapid counter-attack to stun the visitors in first-half stoppage time.

Things went from bad to worse for United when Gabby George, who had been limping, was taken off early in the second half as their frustrations mounted.

Jayde Riviere then scythed down Cornelia Kapocs in the box and Smith dispatched the resulting penalty in the 67th minute against the shellshocked Red Devils.

Maya Le Tissier buried a clinical finish into the corner one minute from time but it meant little as United lost just their second game of the league season as their seven-match winning run ended.

The result meant United, who still have the division's meanest defence, dropped to third in the table after Arsenal's win at Everton. Marc Skinner's side are now eight points behind league-leaders Chelsea with just six matches remaining.

GOAL rates United's players from Anfield…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Phallon Tullis-Joyce (4/10):

Has had a brilliant season but made an uncharacteristic error for Liverpool's opener and that seemed to open the floodgates for the hosts.

Jayde Riviere (5/10):

Made some good attacking forays into Liverpool's half but gave away a clumsy penalty to put the game out of United's reach.

Maya Le Tissier (7/10):

Fired some nice long balls over the top but she wasn't as assured as usual at the back. Took her goal with aplomb, though.

Millie Turner (5/10):

Didn't do a huge amount wrong but her defence was cut apart too easily when the team looked in control.

Gabby George (5/10):

Sometimes struggled with the pacey Smith and then was taken off before the hour mark with a suspected injury.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportMidfield

Grace Clinton (4/10):

Was a threat in attack early on but maybe could have done a bit more to stop the speedy Smith for Liverpool's first goal. Then faded quite badly.

Dominique Janssen (4/10):

Didn't do a great deal when her team were in the ascendency and lost control as the game wore on.

Ella Toone (4/10):

The England international has been in excellent form of late but that appeared to desert her on Merseyside.

Getty Images SportAttack

Celin Bizet (7/10):

Was United's best and most threatening player in the first half and still was a nuisance in the second.

Elisabeth Terland (5/10):

The former Brighton striker had a quiet game as Liverpool's defence kept her in check. But she needs more service up front.

Leah Galton (4/10):

Was quite anonymous at Anfield and Melvine Malard seemed to do more in her cameo than the experienced forward did in 75 minutes.

Getty Images SportSubs & Manager

Anna Sandberg (7/10):

Had a good tussle with Smith and largely held her own.

Rachel Williams (6/10):

Showed the right attacking intent off the bench.

Hinata Miyazawa (6/10):

Wasn't afraid to try her luck on goal.

Aoife Mannion (6/10):

Was competent enough when called upon.

Melvine Malard (6/A):

Looked lively when she came on and should have started.

Marc Skinner (4/10):

His team looked a confident side for much of the first half and played some eye-catching football but they were hit by two sucker punches out of the blue. There was no real reaction from United in the second half and maybe he should have gone to the bench earlier. Maybe their worst performance of the season.