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“If you look back at the short history of this team, I know for a fact that it brings out the best in our guys,” Australia captain said

Andrew McGlashan23-Jun-20241:16

Moody: Haven’t seen an Australian side field so poorly

Mitchell Marsh has backed Australia’s big-game mentality to come to the fore against India after their first-ever defeat to Afghanistan left their T20 World Cup 2024 hopes in jeopardy amid question marks over another lackluster fielding display.Australia have a very short turnaround as they play the day game in St Lucia on Monday – following a finish of close to midnight in St Vincent – and even a victory may not be enough to reach the semi-finals, which shows how quickly a campaign that had been running smoothly can be rocked: had they beaten Afghanistan, progress would have been confirmed along with India.What is close to must-win cricket in World Cups is not a new experience to Australia – they were effectively in that mode for much of the ODI edition last year after a poor start – and Marsh was confident they could dig deep again.Related

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“We have a lot of belief in our group,” Marsh said. “We are a very good cricket team. Yes, tonight we had an off night, but I guess there’s also a positive in the fact that in 36 hours we go again. I think if you look back at the short history of this team, I know for a fact that it brings out the best in our guys, so the boys will certainly be up and about for it.””It’s all about trusting ourselves,” he added. “We’ve got a good bunch of people and I believe our best is up there with the best. So, we need to bring that on whatever day it is in a couple of days’ time and move forward pretty quickly.”For the second time in three matches, Australia were poor in the field with five missed catches – none of which were easy – and a stumping from Matthew Wade, plus some poor groundwork as they were put under pressure by Afghanistan’s running between the wickets.”We certainly pride ourselves on our fielding,” he said. “Can’t question the boys putting in the work. I think it’s no different to any other skill set. We put in the work, we didn’t execute in the field tonight and ultimately it played a part in us losing the game.”I think we don’t want to have too many off nights in the field but I also believe that at our best we’re an unbelievable fielding side so it’s easy to look at tonight and, yes, it was disappointing but ultimately, we have 36 hours to turn it around and I still believe that our best is very good in the field.”In contrast, Afghanistan were excellent, most significantly with Noor Ahmad’s superb catch to remove Glenn Maxwell when he was threatened to guide the chase home.”I think in T20 especially, a short format, where you make those small mistakes, it’s pretty hard for you to come back,” Rashid Khan said. “In ODIs, yes, you have 50 overs where you can have the comeback. But in T20…you don’t have any space where you can come back again into the game. I think fielding plays [as] crucial role as the batting and bowling.”

Newcastle United await Champions League football next season, with the fifth-place Premier League finish in 2024/25 proving huge in the efforts to drive St. James’ Park to the forefront of domestic and European football.

Financially and from a sporting standpoint too, United are in a fantastic position, positioned to sign high-profile targets while keeping their prized assets on Tyneside.

The Times have reported that PIF are willing to make Alexander Isak the highest-paid player in Newcastle’s history to fend off interest from suitors like Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona, and if they succeed, Eddie Howe can turn with greater security toward the wide flanks.

Newcastle open talks for Elanga alternative

While Nottingham Forest’s Anthony Elanga might be the talk of the Toon right now after a £45m offer was rejected earlier this week, the Magpies have actually been reported to have established contacts with an exciting alternative.

Transfer Focus

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

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As per TEAMtalk, Newcastle have been in contact with the representatives of Malick Fofana as they look to cover themselves if unsuccessful in their bid to sign Elanga.

The talented Belgian winger is set to leave Lyon this summer after his side’s relegation to Ligue 2 due to financial difficulties, and a host of suitors, including Chelsea and Liverpool, have emerged.

Fofana is valued at around €50m (£43m), although Lyon’s imperilled position may work to Newcastle’s advantage in building a cheaper package.

Why Newcastle should sign Malick Fofana

While only 20, Fofana has already proved his potential on the major stage, becoming an important player for Lyon – who finished sixth in Ligue 1 last year – after joining from KAA Gent in January 2024.

His return of 11 goals and six assists across the 2024/25 campaign certainly underscores his potential as a high-level winger, especially as he notched nine goal contributions from only 16 starts in the league. Moreover, Fofana played a big role during Lyon’s Europa League campaign, scoring six goals.

Principally left-sided, Fofana scored twice from just two matches as a right winger, also laying on one assist. Given his pace and such fledgling potency, this suggests he could prove an even better signing than Elanga, especially since Forest are looking for something in the region of £60m for the Sweden international.

League Stats 24/25 – Malick Fofana vs Anthony Elanga

Stats (* per game)

Fofana

Elanga

Matches (starts)

29 (16)

38 (31)

Goals

5

6

Assists

4

11

Shots (on target)*

1.1 (0.5)

1.2 (0.6)

Big chances missed

4

6

Pass completion

84%

78%

Big chances created

6

9

Key passes*

0.9

1.3

Dribbles*

0.8

0.7

Tackles*

1.1

0.5

Duels won*

2.9

3.0

Stats via Sofascore

Neither player has perhaps maximised their potential across ball-carrying and creative metrics. Elanga, for example, has named himself “one of the fastest players in the Premier League”, while Fofana ranked among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues last season for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

He also ranked among the top 10% for non-penalty goals scored per 90, emphasising an innate scoring ability that is backed up by a steady stream of creativity.

Elanga, 23, is probably the more polished man, but Fofana’s ceiling stretches higher, and he’s already demonstrated that he has a fleet-footed nature to match.

This two-sided winger could prove a stunning acquisition for a Newcastle side already complete and rounded, just in need of some more depth.

Already noted to be a “game-changer” by journalist Antonio Mango, Fofana is the real deal, and with interest in his services swelling now that Lyon have been relegated from France’s top division, Howe will want to get such a deal done promptly.

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Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jun 25, 2025

While the transfer window is of secondary importance to everyone connected with Liverpool, they have made significant progress on that front courtesy of Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong’s arrivals.

Arne Slot has committed himself to creating a club culture where elite talent can thrive under his stewardship. Their Premier League title victory last season was an example of what can happen when astute tactical ideas and togetherness are mired together with significant on-field talent.

Despite the Reds claiming glory last term, they last made a central midfield signing in 2023, but that could be about to change after Liverpool submitted an official offer for Barcelona star Marc Casado.

Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen are also in the hunt for his signature. Either way, he may be allowed to leave the La Liga giants due to their need to ease their ongoing financial situation.

Marc Guehi and Castello Lukeba are candidates to strengthen Liverpool’s defence, with the former being a well-documented target since the arrival of Wirtz, Frimpong, and Kerkez.

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Liverpool are hoping to sign a new centre-back this summer.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jul 5, 2025

The spine of the Reds’ side is already impressive by anybody’s standard. Still, there may come a time when the likes of Wataru Endo move on to make way for reinforcements of a more youthful complexion to carry the torch forward.

Slot didn’t feel the need to raid the transfer market in his first campaign, other than Federico Chiesa’s arrival. He may now have an opportunity to bring a trusted lieutenant to Anfield if reports are to be believed.

Liverpool leading race to sign Orkun Kokcu

According to CaughtOffside, Liverpool want to sign Benfica midfielder Orkun Kokcu and are the frontrunners, with the Turkey international prefering a move to Anfield despite interest from Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan.

The 24-year-old has previously worked under Slot at Feyenoord and called him “the best coach in the world” in 2024. Intriguingly, his current employers would be willing to let him take on a new challenge if their £35 million valuation is met, and Slot is also keen on a reunion.

Five similar players to Orkun Kokcu (FBRef)

Jack McGlynn

Houston Dynamo

Pedro Vite

Vancouver Whitecaps

Ryotaro Ito

Sint-Truiden

Simone Pontisso

Catanzaro

Alvaro Fidalgo

Club America

Enjoying a productive campaign last term, Kokcu registered 12 goals and 11 assists in 55 appearances for Benfica across all competitions, featuring primarily in centre midfield.

He is also capable of featuring as an attacking midfielder and has a knack for laying opportunities on a plate for his teammates, illustrated by the fact he created 76 chances in the Primeira Liga.

Should Slot look to open the Reds’ chequebook for a midfielder, it makes sense that Kokcu is said to be high on Liverpool’s list given the positive relationship that exists between both parties.

Sri Lanka were 140 for 1 in a chase of 214 but then lost nine wickets for 30 runs

Shashank Kishore27-Jul-2024

Suryakumar Yadav hit a half-century in his first match as India’s permanent T20I captain•Getty Images

India’s new T20I era under Suryakumar Yadav began on a winning note, even if it was jittery at various points in their defence of a big score. A spirited Sri Lankan batting unit, spearheaded by Pathum Nissanka and his free-stroking 79 left an Indian team playing with just five bowling options hanging onto crumbs of hope. One of them was scoreboard pressure. Sri Lanka had nine wickets in hand but they still needed 74 off 36.Nissanka, reprieved a ball earlier by Ravi Bishnoi at deep midwicket, fell to Axar Patel to open the floodgates. India converted that opening into a double-strike when Kusal Perera fell four balls later. It would be the start of a sensational meltdown; Sri Lanka losing 9 for 30 in all to concede a game they would’ve backed themselves to win.Gill and Jaiswal lay down a markerOn match eve, Shubman Gill had acknowledged the need to improve his T20I batting template. On Saturday, he walked the talk, cutting and pulling anything fractionally short to put pressure on the bowlers during the powerplay. Yashasvi Jaiswal was equally aggressive, as India’s new opening partnership turned into a healthy contest of one-upmanship.Jaiswal’s intent upset Sri Lanka and their plans to introduce spin early. He welcomed Maheesh Theekshana with a clean hit for six over long-off and followed it with a ferocious slog sweep for four. In all, India scored 11 fours and three sixes in the powerplay during a 74-run first-wicket stand before Dilshan Madushanka had Gill miscuing a lofted shot to mid-on for a 16-ball 34.SKY offsets Sri Lanka’s double-strikeGill’s wicket was followed by Jaiswal’s off the very next ball for a 21-ball 40, Wanindu Hasaranga having him stumped off a ripping googly. But Suryakumar was quickly into his element, moving inside the line to play the pick-up flick for six from just his fourth ball. He offered a chance on 15 when he top-edged a Madushanka bouncer in the eighth over, only for Asitha Fernando to drop the catch at fine leg. It would prove costly.Suryakumar peppered different arcs on the legside boundary with his plethora of sweeps, punishing Hasaranga and the ambidextrous Kamindu Mendis to raise a half-century stand for the third wicket; Rishabh Pant’s contribution to it a mere 11 runs. Suryakumar soon brought up his half-century off just 22 balls, his second-fastest in T20Is, but fell in an attempt to take on Matheesha Pathirana, who was held back till the 12th over to close out the innings.Matheesha Pathirana got rid of Suryakumar Yadav•Associated Press

Pathirana leads Sri Lanka fightbackIt took Pant a dropped catch – by Asitha at deep square leg – and 15 balls to find his first boundary. His next one, a helicopter shot over midwicket in the 16th over broke a 14-ball boundary-drought following Suryakumar’s dismissal. In fact, Pant barely managed to get out of second gear for much of his innings. Prior to his first six, he scratched his way 20 off 23. He made 29 off the next 10, eventually falling 49 while attempting to takedown Pathirana for a third boundary in a row.Pathirana stuck to a simple mantra of bowling straight and fast, relying on a slight tail in to clean bowl Hardik and Pant, while dismissing Riyan Parag in the same way he did Suryakumar – lbw to a low-arm slinger as they missed full balls. Pathirana finished with 4 for 40 as India finished with 213 after being 135 for 2 after 12 overs.The Nissanka-Mendis turbochargeSri Lanka kickstarted their chase in the third over as both batters got stuck into Axar’s drifters into the stumps. Nissanka cranked it up a notch when he hit Mohammed Siraj for two sixes in the fourth over, ramping him first over third man and then clubbing him over deep midwicket. Sri Lanka raised their fifty off 31 balls.Hardik was welcomed with a bludgeon through point, Ravi Bishnoi swept and reverse-swept with disdain as he kept firing deliveries down leg. When Mendis got inside the line to mercilessly flick Arshdeep Singh into the grass banks in the ninth over, India were nervy. But off the next ball, the batter’s attempt to repeat the shot had him holing out to deep midwicket.Sri Lanka’s counter-punch forced mistakes from India, Nissanka raising his half-century off 34 balls with an overthrow that gave him five runs. Nissanka’s exhibited his full range soon after, reverse-sweeping Axar, pouncing on anything dragged down and even improvising to get inside the line of length balls and swatting them over the ropes. But at 140 for 1, Nissanka chopped on attempting to cut. The slow walk back signalled a job unfinished.Parag justifies selectionSiraj and Arshdeep had two overs apiece. With four overs left and India needing to defend 56, it seemed obvious Suryakumar would turn to his two frontline pacers. Instead he threw the ball to Parag, who had been picked ahead of Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar. And unlike Bishnoi and Axar, Parag slowed it down and gave it a rip.After India got lucky with Dasun Shanaka’s wicket courtesy a run out made possible by Siraj’s athleticism at short third, Parag bowled Kamindu and gave away only five runs at a crunch moment. Then with Sri Lanka in a freewill and all but out needing 44 off six, he was given a second over, when he picked up Theekshana and Madushanka off successive deliveries to seal victory.

With Thierno Barry signed and delivered, Everton have reportedly made their first approach to sign a fresh midfield star in a deal that could be worth £30m this summer.

Thierno Barry: "It's a dream to play in the Premier League"

Kicking off their summer business in style, Everton finally unveiled the arrival of Barry earlier this week. The talented striker has arrived in a deal worth around £27m and should put any concerns over Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s departure to rest. Alongside Beto, the former Villarreal star should provide David Moyes with more than enough firepower.

The new striker expressed his delight after putting pen to paper, telling Evertontv: “I’m very happy. It’s very exciting to be here. I just can’t wait to start and I hope to start very quickly.

“Everton is a big club in the Premier League. They have a good history and good players have played here, like Wayne Rooney and Romelu Lukaku. When I was young I liked to watch these players, now I want to do like these players who have gone before.

“I had good conversations with the manager. He told me I have the quality to play in the Premier League. He wants to do good work with me. He wants to help me on my road and I felt the sincerity with him so that’s why I chose to come here as well.

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Posts 1 ByJoe Nuttall Jul 10, 2025

“For me, it is a dream to play in the Premier League. I think I proved in my career so far that I can adapt. For example, last season I went to LaLiga, which is a top league, and I think I had a good season for my first season. I’m not scared to play here and do the same.”

The Toffees aren’t waiting around to admire their new signing, however. Instead, it’s full steam ahead in pursuit of further arrivals and perhaps even a Premier League rival.

Everton make first £30m John McGinn enquiry

As reported by Wayne Veysey of Football Insider, Everton have now made their first enquiry to sign John McGinn, telling Aston Villa that they’d be willing to pay £30m to welcome the midfielder this summer. Despite reports that the Scotland international is unhappy about his current role under Unai Emery, though, the Villans have swiftly rejected that approach.

Alas, this saga may be far from over. Everton are reportedly still optimistic that they can strike a deal to sign McGinn in the latter stages of the transfer window, especially if Aston Villa welcome a midfield reinforcement of their own.

If their optimism turns into a summer move, then McGinn will be bringing an end to an excellent seven-year spell in the Midlands, in which he has earned plenty of praise.

Emery, among those with plenty of positives to say about his captain, told reporters in 2023: “He is a very good example, of how he is consistent and trying to help and to be an example, a very good example for players. I really, really appreciate a lot as a person how he is, but as a professional, he is fantastic.”

عقد إنزو ماريسكا مدرب تشيلسي، مؤتمراً صحفياً للحديث عن استعدادات فريقه لمواجهة برينتفورد مساء الغد في الجولة الرابعة من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وحول موقف كول بالمر من لقاء الغد قال ماريسكا في تصريحات نقلتها “فوتبول لندن” البريطانية: “لقد شارك بالمر في جلسة التدريبات أمس لأول مرة وليس الحصة التدريبية بالكامل، لدينا حصة تدريبية بعد ظهر اليوم وسنحاول التأكد أنه بخير وإلا سيغيب غداً”.

وأضاف عن بالمر: “إنه يتعافى من إصابة والأمر لا يتعلق بإدارته بل بالتعافي من الإصابة، عندما يكون متاحاً علينا وقتها إدارته نظراً لكثرة المباريات”.

وحول مدة غياب ليام ديلاب عن تشيلسي بعد إصابته قبل التوقف الدولي: “سيغيب ما يتراوح من 10 لـ12 أسبوعاً”.

وفيما يتعلق بلعب ريس جيمس مع منتخب إنجلترا، واصل: “عندما ينضم أي لاعب لمنتخب بلاده يكون جاهزاً للعب الدقائق التي يراها المدرب مناسبة، الأمر ليس بيدي، عندما يكون ريس هنا، نحاول إدارته بأفضل ما نستطيع، يظهر ريس جيمس جاهزيته للعب مباراتين أو ثلاثة أسبوعياً”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. من أجل جوتا.. أمنية غير متوقعة من جون تيري تصدم جماهير تشيلسي

وقال قال ماريسكا: استدعاء كولويل لقائمة دوري أبطال أوروبا يعتمد على مستوى مشاركتنا في دوري الأبطال، إصابة كولويل في الرباط الصليبي الأمامي لذا لن يغيب شهر أو اثنين بل ستة أو سبعة أو ثمانية أشهر، بالتأكيد سيعود لكن هذا ليس مصدر قلق لنا”.

وحول رحيل نيكولاس جاكسون: “الأمر سهل للغاية كونه لاعباً في بايرن ميونخ، أرسلت له رسالة وتمنيت له كل التوفيق، كان يقدم أداء جيد خلال وجوده هنا لذا أتمنى له كل التوفيق”.

وتابع :”أليخاندرو جارناتشو يعمل بشكل جيد، بالتأكيد عليه أن يبذل جهداً لأنه وصل إلى هنا وهو غير لائق تماماً، عليه أن يبذل جهداً، إنه يعمل بشكل جيد وسنرى، نأمل أن نتمكن من منحه دقائق لعب”.

كما أضاف :”لقاء برينتفورد صعب كما العادة، كان الأمر كذلك في المباراتين العام الماضي، الدوري الإنجليزي الأفضل في العالم لأنه صعب ضد أي نادي ونتوقع ذلك غداً”.

وفيما يتعلق ببداية الموسم، قال: “ربما فيما يتعلق باللاعبين، هناك جوانب دائماً يمكننا تحسينها، تحسين اللاعبين غالباً ما يحسن الفريق، نبدأ بإضافة مزيد من الحلول للفريق من حيث البنية والديناميكية، أعتقد أنه لا يزال بإمكاننا إضافة حلول”.

وعن تطور مستوى كوكوريلا قال: “الأمر يتعلق دائماً باللاعبين، مثلما قلنا مع كوكو وإنزو وليفي وآخرين، وضع اللاعبين كان مختلفاً عما هم عليه اليوم، هما يريدون التطور والتعلم، نوفر لهم الأدوات اللازمة لكنهم يتطورون”.

وحول إنزو فرنانديز قال ماريسكا: “عندما تصل من بلد آخر، عليك التكيف وإنزو لاعب جيد واجه صعوبة في بداية الموسم الماضي بشأن ما كنا نطلبه منه لكنه أفضل بكثير عندما أدرك ذلك، إنزو لاعب وسط هجومي وآمل أن يستمر على ذلك”.

وبشأن تقييمه لسوق الانتقالات، تابع ماريسكا: “لدينا تشكيل جيد، قلت إنني معجب بذلك قبل عام في مؤتمر صحفي،منذ ذلك الوقت حاولنا إجراء بعض التغييرات لكن بشكل عام التشكيل جيد جداً”.

وحول خيار اللاعب رقم 9 في تشيلسي أتم ماريسكا: “اللاعب الوحيد هو جويو ويمكن لجواو بيدرو اللعب في هذا المركز، ويمكننا التفكير في تيريك كرقم 9 بعد استهدامه ضد فولهام”.

ورداً على توجيه الاتحاد الإنجليزي 74 تهمة لتشيلسي بسبب انتهاكات مزعومة للوائح الخاصة بالوسطاء: “أعلم من النادي أنهم راضون،ليس لدي فكرة، أريد التركيز على الملعب وهذا أمر أستطيع التحكم فيه واللاعبين غير قلقين من ذلك”.

وختم عن التوقيع مع الأرجنتيني بونانوتي: “هو لاعب جيد، كان يلعب في ليستر سيتي وتواصلت معه هناك ويمكنه مساعدتنا، لدينا العديد من المسابقات والمباريات لذا سيحصل على دقائق لعب”.

The Northern Territory aims to bring Australia back for winter cricket

AAP21-Aug-2024

Darwin last hosted international cricket when Australia played Bangladesh in 2008•Getty Images

The Northern Territory has set its sights on Australia’s white-ball series against South Africa next winter as their chance to end a 16-year wait for international cricket in Darwin.Darwin hosted the last of its four ODIs in 2008. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka also played Tests in the city in 2003 and 2004.Since then, two drop-in wickets have been installed at the ICC-accredited TIO Stadium and the Top End T20 series launched, as part of the all-year Cricket 365 branding in the Territory.The Top End series last week brought in four Big Bash clubs, Tasmania, the ACT and teams from Pakistan and Bangladesh, with eyes to expand further in the future.Ten past or present Test players attended, including the likes of Jhye Richardson playing for the Perth Scorchers, and Marcus Harris with the Melbourne Renegades.But also on the horizon is international cricket, with Australia slated to host South Africa in three ODIs and three T20Is next August, and negotiations ongoing between the NT government and Cricket Australia.”I want that content. I don’t expect all of it, and I don’t expect any of it, but I want some of it – and I’m going after it,” NT Cricket CEO Gavin Dovey told AAP. “We are putting the foundation in place to be ready. We have the infrastructure and it has had exceptional cricket on it [with the Top End series].”It’s not the Big Bash or international cricket, but we have shown we have that calibre of players playing on these wickets. We have the venue and it is ICC-accredited – and we have the weather.”Dovey spent time holding a national team training camp in Darwin in his former life as Australia’s men’s team manager, before taking up the NT role last January.He is keen to make Darwin a consistent option for international fixtures, given only the Territory and North Queensland can host winter matches in Australia and are more likely to be held in the country in 2026.”It makes sense to get some T20s. We’ve never hosted a men’s T20, and there has been over 100 played in Australia,” Dovey said. “I’m not particularly after content every 10 years. I don’t see the legacy in it. Consistent content every year or two would mean kids don’t have to go a decade before they meet their BBL heroes or national heroes.”Dovey’s plan for growth is two-fold, with a desire to expand the Top End series to up to 12 teams, with more Big Bash franchises and overseas sides.Nearly 700,000 people watched this year’s nine-team, 30-match tournament via YouTube, while that number sat at 10.6 million last year once overseas broadcasters were included.Dovey is hopeful of adding teams from New Zealand and Nepal next year, along with the big lure of appealing to IPL franchises.”It’s in an August window where no one else can play. The wickets wouldn’t be like ours with the weather [elsewhere],” he  said. “It’s an incredible window to the subcontinent, where you can’t play easily this time of year either.  The event is awesome and has a point of difference with the international teams.”

Patriots ended their season with a ninth successive defeat, against TKR

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Sep-2024

Dominic Drakes drops a catch•CPL T20/Getty Images

Andre Fletcher, the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots captain, didn’t mince words after his side ended their CPL 2024 campaign with a ninth successive defeat, at the hands of Trinbago Knight Riders in Tarouba.On Sunday alone, they dropped Pooran at least four times after which the TKR batter aced a chase of 194 with an unbeaten 93 off 43 balls. Overall in the tournament, they had dropped at least 23 catches, according to ESPNcricinfo’s logs, which cost them a number of a games, Fletcher has said.”The guys [bowlers] executed well and dropping five catches in a crucial game, especially a world-class player as Pooran…I know, but not many people know, we dropped 28 catches in the tournament,” Fletcher said. “As a fielding team, it’s poor, way below poor. It actually cost us a lot of games, which we lost.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Though the Patriots lurched from one defeat to another after narrowly winning their first game of the season, Fletcher praised his team-mates for having each other’s back through the tournament. Across the last two seasons, Patriots have just two wins to show for in 20 games.”Knowing that it was a bit hard and tough for us losing, but tried to keep the team together as much as possible,” Fletcher said. “We had a lot of team-bonding activities. Yes, as much as we weren’t showing it on the field, but sometimes when teams lose, you tend to have a lot of bickering in the team, but we never had that. We stuck together and we gelled as a team and it’s just sad that the result didn’t show. But I must say that we stick as a family.”Just want to apologise to the St Kitts and Nevis fans. I know you guys are hurt, so am I. Unfortunately we didn’t get it well this year, hopefully, next year it will be better.”Related

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In isolation, Fletcher had a productive tournament with the bat, scoring 318 runs in ten innings at an average of 31.80 and strike rate of just under 150. Along the way, Fletcher became the highest run-getter in the history of the CPL, but Johnson Charles, whose team has made the playoffs, has a chance to surpass him.”I’m very pleased, to be honest, [with my batting],” Fletcher said. “People tend to remember the last thing you do. I really wanted to come out here and show what I’m worth. I’m happy to put on a great total for the team but unfortunately we didn’t get over the line. But that’s how cricket goes at times.”

Chelsea’s pursuit of yet more attacking players this summer suggests Enzo Maresca is looking to challenge for both the Premier League and Champions League next season.

Given their performances at the Club World Cup, where they defeated PSG to win the title, the Blues could be a force to be reckoned with throughout 2025/26.

Alexander Isak has been linked with a move amid the news that he is exploring options away from Newcastle United, with the Blues said to have the budget to lodge such an ambitious swoop.

While a transfer seems unlikely, it would signal another huge statement of intent by the Blues if they managed to land him.

As to a deal to secure the signature of Dutch sensation, Xavi Simons, this move does appear to be close.

Chelsea are closing in on next move

According to Caught Offside, Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement on personal terms with Simons as they seek to sign him from RB Leipzig.

In terms of the fee, the German side are demanding €80m (£70m) to sanction a sale and, given Chelsea’s spending this summer, that shouldn’t pose too much of a problem.

Simons would add something extra to an already stacked Chelsea frontline next term, but imagine how better they would be should Isak secure an unlikely move to London.

Why Chelsea want to sign Xavi Simons

The Dutchman offers plenty of positional flexibility, which is an added bonus for Maresca. Indeed, last term, he played 16 games on the left wing and 15 as an attacking midfielder.

Across those two positions, Simons registered nine and ten goal contributions, respectively, proving that he can shine no matter where he is deployed.

Isak, of course, would operate through the middle as the lone centre-forward, but the Dutch youngster would thrive playing behind the Swede, no doubt about that.

When compared to his positional peers in the Champions League last season, Simons was sublime across several metrics.

Not only did he rank in the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.88), but the 22-year-old also ranked in the top 2% for shot-creating actions (5.91) and in the top 11% for progressive carries (3.22) in Europe’s premier club competition.

Xavi Simons’ stats in the Bundesliga last season

Goals

10

Assists

7

Key passes per game

2

Shots per game

2

Total duels won per game

5.4

Big chances missed

2

Via Sofascore

Producing the goods in the biggest tournament on the continent proves that Simons is a man who would generate plenty of opportunities for Isak should the unthinkable occur.

Indeed, in the Bundesliga, Simons created an impressive 12 big chances for Leipzig, while also averaging two key passes per game.

It is perhaps no wonder that the Dutch starlet has been hailed as a “game-changer” by talent scout Jacek Kulig recently, following a performance for the Netherlands against Spain.

Making a move for Isak would be the cherry on the cake for Maresca this summer. While Liverpool lead the race for the striker, nothing can be counted out at this stage.

Should he have the talents of a player such as Simons operating behind him, Isak would reach new heights at Stamford Bridge; that much is certain.

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Posts ByEmilio Galantini Jul 25, 2025

نجح فريق بيراميدز، في تحقيق فوز صعب على نظيره زد بهدف دون رد، خلال المباراة التي جمعت بينهما اليوم ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

والتقى بيراميدز مع زد ضمن منافسات الجولة السابعة من مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز على أرضية ملعب الدفاع الجوي.

وجاء هدف بيراميدز في الدقيقة 73 من عمر اللقاء، بعد عرضية من محمد الشيبي قابلها مصطفى زيكو برأسية سكنت الشباك.

طالع أيضاً.. لاعب بيراميدز يغيب عن مباراة الفريق المقبلة أمام طلائع الجيش في الدوري

وشهدت المباراة حالة طرد لـ محمد شوقي أحد أعضاء الجهاز الفني لفريق زد، وذلك للاعتراض أكثر من مرة على قرارات حكم المباراة محمد معروف.

بهذا الفوز، يحتل بيراميدز المركز الثالث في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 11 نقطة، بينما يأتي زد بالمركز التاسع، ولديه 9 نقاط. هدف فوز بيراميدز على زد في الدوري المصري