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Over the last couple of seasons, Everton have had to work on a strict budget given their FFP troubles in recent months, with most signings either on free transfers or low transfer fees.

The FFP issues have given boss Sean Dyche the opportunity to work closely with his squad, putting trust in some of the younger members of the Toffees' first-team squad.

Players such as James Garner and Jarrad Branthwaite have been the main beneficiaries within the Everton squad this season, with the duo cementing their starting positions – making 26 and 24 appearances respectively.

The club have had to sell some of their key assets in recent years to balance the books, with the likes of Richarlison and Anthony Gordon just two examples of players the club have had to sell to try and comply with the Premier League's FFP rules.

Everton have also previously sold a young talent to another Premier League rival, with the club potentially regretting the deal with the player currently excelling in England's top-flight.

Ross Barkley's time at Everton in numbers

Ross Barkley came through the academy at Goodison Park, before making his first-team debut for the club back in 2011 – quickly impressing for the Toffees.

He made 34 appearances during his first full season in the Premier League, scoring six times at the age of just 19 – a staggering achievement for a player of such a tender age.

GK – Tim Howard

RB – Phil Neville

CB – Phil Jagielka

CB – Sylvain Distin

LB – Leighton Baines

CM – Jonny Heitinga

CM – Leon Osman

CAM – Tim Cahill

RM – Jack Rodwell

LM – Ross Barkley

ST – Jermaine Beckford

Barkley consistently featured for the Toffees over the next couple of seasons, with the midfielder going on to make at least 29 appearances in each of the next three campaigns.

His good form at Goodison Park saw him feature for every single age group from U16s to U21s, before the midfielder made his England senior debut in August 2013 during the 4-0 win against Moldova.

He rapidly became a regular within the England setup, with his form internationally and at club level catching the eye of some of Everton's Premier League rivals.

Ross Barkley's stats since leaving Everton

The midfielder secured a £15m move to Chelsea during the January transfer window in 2018 after being sold by Marco Silva, with Barkley signing a five-and-a-half-year deal at Stamford Bridge.

He enjoyed a good full first season in London, with the former Everton man making 48 appearances for the Blues during 2018/19. However, his first full season was the peak of his Chelsea career.

A combination of injury and other players' form in midfield, Barkley found himself with limited game time making 31 appearances with most coming from the substitutes' bench.

He subsequently found himself on loan at Aston Villa during the 2020/21 season, with the highlight of Barkley's season coming in the 7-2 victory over Liverpool – with the former Evertonian on the scoresheet.

However, he couldn't force himself back into the Chelsea first-team, eventually being released to join OGC Nice in Ligue 1. He signed a one-year deal in France, once again failing to find his feet before joining Luton Town last summer.

He's been pivotal in Luton's efforts to survive relegation from the Premier League this season, with his top-flight experience the key.

Barkley's featured 21 times so far this campaign, with the midfielder "not far off player of the season" as stated by Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson and in with an outside chance of making Gareth Southgate's squad for the Euros this summer. It's funny how things can change in such a short period of time.

In 2024, we're now seeing the quality Barkley first showed when he first broke onto the scene at Goodison.

The Premier League is filled with clubs of many different shapes and sizes, but one thing that all 20 teams share is a passion for the game and a real desire to get behind their team, win, lose or draw.

Every club in the top flight has that one song that fans associate with them, from You'll Never Walk Alone for Liverpool to Hi Ho Wolverhampton at Molineux, it really is special.

With that in mind, Football FanCast has created a list featuring the main chant or song for every Premier League club, complete with lyrics.

Arsenal North London Forever

Lyrics: "North London forever,

Run through the stone…"

We're kicking off our list with a chant that booms around the Emirates every matchday.

With the impressive performances on the field this season and the Premier League title well within reach, you can bet that the Arsenal fans will sing this one just that little bit louder from here on in. Taken from Louis Dunford's 'The Angel', Gunners supporters have been belting this anthem out since last season.

Aston Villa Hi Ho Aston Villa

Lyrics (to the tune of Hi Ho Silver Lining): "You're everywhere and nowhere, baby

Though it's obvious…"

This is one that perhaps won't go down well with bitter rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, as both clubs' pre-match and post-match rituals involve singing this at the top of your lungs.

Both sets of fans will argue over who sang it first, but no one really knows the answer.

Bournemouth Boscombe, Back of the Net

Lyrics: "Boscombe,

(Back of the net)…"

Bournemouth aren't exactly blessed with a huge amount of iconic chants, but this song has been around for a long time and is one that the more hardcore fans will recognise and appreciate.

Brentford Hey Jude

Lyrics: "Brentford

Brentford,

Na na na,

Na na na na!

Brentford…"

This is, of course, a popular song that was originally sung by The Beatles.

If you ever rock up to the Gtech Community Stadium, you'll be sure to hear this bellowing out before and after matches, win, lose or draw.

Brighton & Hove Albion Sussex By The Sea

Lyrics: "Now is the time for marching, now let your hearts be gay,

For Sussex by the Sea."

Many football fans perhaps won't look at Brighton as a fanbase with that much passion and aggressiveness, but if you've ever experienced this being bellowed out by 30,000 Seagulls fans prior to kick-off, you may just feel on edge.

Burnley The Burnley Aces

Lyrics: "Oh my lads, you should have seen 'em running,

To see the Burnley Aces…"

Now, this is a song that's iconic among quite a few fan bases, with each having their own rendition.

However, with Burnley, it can be heard home and away, and fits ever so well with the Brunshaw Road.

Chelsea Blue Is The Colour

Lyrics: "Blue is the colour, football is the game

You're welcome any day…"

This is one of the more iconic songs in the list, and matchdays at Stamford Bridge just wouldn't be the same without it.

Although results haven't exactly gone in favour of the Blues at times in the current campaign, as a player, if you're hearing this as you await kick-off, it'll be sure to get you right up for it.

Crystal Palace Glad All Over

Lyrics: "You say that you love me,

So glad you're mine."

Palace fans have been belting out Beatles hit Glad All Over since the late 60s, when it was performed by The Dave Clark Five – who wrote the song – at Selhurst Park. Now a tradition in south London, it has become a staple of the matchday experience.

Everton Spirit of the Blues

Lyrics: "It’s good news for the blues,

Everton, the spirit of the blues…"

As far as classic Everton songs go, there aren't many better than the Spirit of the Blues. Kenny Parry wrote the hit 38 years ago with Billy Kinsley in just one sitting.

Fulham We Are Fulham

Lyrics: "We are Fulham,

F*** Chelsea!"

Fulham aren't known for their wide array of chants, but this one is simple but effective, with a bit of vulgarity in there for good measure, so parental discretion is advised.

Gloucestershire restricted to below-par total before Wayne Madsen leads simple chase

Richard Hobson in Bristol07-Sep-2019

Derbyshire may go into their first Finals Day in a fortnight as rank underdogs, but Essex, Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire will underestimate them at their peril. Victory here in the last of the Vitality T20 Blast quarter-finals was deserved, emphatic, and based on the same hard-nosed template of cricketing nous that has served Gloucestershire themselves over the years.Having restricted the home side to a total some way below par, their prolific top-four batsmen all but knocked off the target of 136 on their own, victory arriving with 17 balls to spare. Billy Godleman, Luis Reece, Wayne Madsen and Leus du Plooy had struck 1,384 runs between them in the North Group stage; they will head to Edgbaston on September 21 with that total now on exactly 1,500.”It is a huge relief, not just to me but to everyone involved with the club,” Madsen admitted after receiving the Man of the Match award for his 47. “It has been a great day for us. We have developed a good culture in T20 and in the last seven or eight games we have really clicked. The supporters deserve this and we will go to Edgbaston with a lot of confidence.”As the 18th and last county to make Finals Day since the competition was inaugurated in 2003, Derbyshire have taken their time to get here. But the club blueprint with a specialist coach for the format in Dominic Cork is sure to be examined by the rest given unprecedented interest in the Blast this season. Spare seats, again, were rare dots in the crowd, and spectators were cramped just as tightly on the balconies of the flats behind the Ashley Down Road end.Godleman wisely chose to field first given the peculiar appearance of the pitch. It was so green the stumps might have been hammered into the wrong part of the square, but he and his bowlers quickly assessed its true, slowish and slightly two-paced character. With the fielding display matching the discipline with the ball, Gloucestershire fell well short of the average first-innings score here this season, of 164.Batsmen received few opportunities to challenge the shorter, straight boundaries, and the wagon wheel deceives because two of the sixes that look the result of fierce return drives were actually top-edged pulls. After a reasonable start, Gloucestershire found themselves strangled by the medium pace of Alex Hughes and Matt Critchley’s wrist spin. They never recaptured any momentum given by their opening pair.Michael Klinger ran into such good form at the end of the South Group stage – 264 runs in four innings – that he claimed to be re-thinking a decision to retire, but his dismissal in the ninth over proved a critical moment and has almost certainly persuaded him that he was right first time. Miles Hammond had already pushed to cover following an enterprising start and James Bracey reverse flipped to short third man, leaving a rebuilding operation once Klinger failed to beat Ravi Rampaul’s throw from the edge of the circle.In fact, Derbyshire conceded only 38 runs in the eight overs immediately on from the Powerplay. Crucially, they continued to make inroads, and the catch by Critchley off his own bowling to remove Jack Taylor was so well-judged and athletic, running back to his right and finally diving to hold the ball one-handed, that he deserved his name twice on the dismissal: ct Critchley b Critchley.Much now hinged on Ian Cockbain, and for all his swings into the leg side, Derbyshire made sure that boundaries never came in clusters. Rampaul was exceptional at the end, changing pace and finding yorker-length, and went above Matt Parkinson at the top of the wicket-taking list for the season when Andrew Tye became his 22nd victim, fittingly to a full-length ball.”I think we needed a minimum of 160,” Klinger admitted. “The pitch played pretty well, the odd one held up but we knew Derbyshire were going to take pace off the ball anyway.” He could only lament the absence of Benny Howell to a serious hamstring injury, though the serious damage had been done by the time their leading exponent of dibbly-dob would have joined the attack.Madsen said as much, modestly deflecting his own sensible effort in praising the explosive start supplied by Godleman and Reece. Having identified the Powerplay overs as the most propitious time to attack, they were so positive that the required rate fell to below a run per ball by the end of the third over, Godleman bringing out the Australian fire in Tye by charging the pace bowler during a short, captivating passage.They fell in successive overs and Madsen was a shade fortunate that his first boundary, with Tye bustling in as Mike Procter used to at the ground, sailed only inches high of cover. From then on, he found leg-side gaps expertly and with the boundaries fully patrolled the singles and hard-run twos made for very easy pickings. That was all Derbyshire needed.Vitality Blast semi-finalsDerbyshire Falcons v Essex EaglesWorcestershire Rapids v Notts Outlaws

Ben Stokes has insisted England “are not, for one minute going to take a backward step” in their remaining World Cup group games, even if their former team-mate Kevin Pietersen believes that Eoin Morgan doing just that during his brief innings was a contributory factor in their 64-run defeat to Australia.Morgan, England’s captain, dismissed a suggestion made by Pietersen on Twitter that he had backed away from Mitchell Starc. “The England captain backing to square leg when Starc bowled his first delivery to him made me think England may have a problem over the next week,” Pietersen wrote. “I hope not, but I’ve not seen a captain show such weakness for a while.””Really? Excellent,” said Morgan with an icy smile when asked about the comments. “It didn’t feel that way at all.”He did, however, accept that confidence may have been dented over the last few days and conceded that his team had “struggled with the basics of what we call our batting mantra”.Defeat at Lord’s – England’s third in seven games in this World Cup – has left them needing to win at least one and possibly both of their final two group matches against India (Sunday) and New Zealand (Wednesday) if they are to qualify for the semi-finals.”I think both this game and the last, we struggled with the basics of what we call our batting mantra,” said Morgan. “You know, strong intent, building partnerships, and doing it in our own way. We haven’t done those things for long enough periods of the game to either chase down 230 or 280 and that’s disappointing.”Confidence is not where it was at the start of the tournament, simply because we started really, really well. I think it’s a matter of rebuilding it. India is going to be a tough challenge on Sunday, as is New Zealand. It’s a matter of going back to our strengths.”It probably was our disappointing performance with the bat. Again we were left short with the basics. To fail to build substantial partnerships is disappointing.”Watch on Hotstar (India only): Highlights of England’s damaging defeat at Lord’sStokes, who has top-scored for England in their last two matches, believes England must stick to the aggressive approach that took them to the top of the world rankings and has called on his team-mates to “dig deep” in those remaining games.”Two back-to-back losses can sometimes make you think differently as a team,” Stokes said. “But we are not going to go away from our method of playing. We just need to adjust to situations and conditions, but we are not for one minute going to take a backward step. Especially in these last two group games.”We have to really dig deep in these last couple of games; not go back on how we know we play well. Everybody’s obviously disappointed in the last two games, but this is our World Cup and we are going to go about it the way we know how we play best.”We know how much the World Cup means to fans. It means a lot to players as well. It’s one of the greatest times to be a cricketer: representing your country at a World Cup.”Watch on Hotstar (India only): Highlights of Aaron Finch’s centuryWhile Stokes accepted that England’s performance in the last couple of games, defeated by Sri Lanka and Australia while chasing apparently modest targets, did not prove it, he suggested the side were far better at adapting to different surfaces and situations than they had been. As a result, he feels confidence will not be hit by the defeats.”We make better decisions now,” he said. “Obviously it doesn’t look that way when we’ve bowled out quite cheaply in the last two games, but we are a very, very confident team in terms of our batting line-up and these last two games aren’t going to knock our confidence at all.”

Daniel Farke made a number of changes to his Leeds United lineup for their last FA Cup match against Peterborough United and it thankfully didn't spectacularly backfire, the Whites smoothly progressing to the next round of the competition owing to a Patrick Bamford beauty in the 3-0 win.

The Leeds boss won't be shaky at the prospect of tweaking his line-up, therefore, for the Plymouth Argyle tie today, with the Championship possibly more of a priority than the cup.

Still, exiting at the hands of Plymouth in front of the Elland Road masses would not be ideal and so the line-up won't be considerably weak.

With that in mind, here is the Leeds predicted XI for the contest against the Pilgrims with seven potential changes present to the team that beat Norwich City 1-0 on Wednesday night…

1 GK – Kristoffer Klaesson

Although Illan Meslier has come back into the side and done a competent job returning from suspension – picking up a clean sheet last game against the Canaries – Farke could well put his faith back in Kristoffer Klaesson after starting him away at Posh in the last round.

The Norwegian shot-stopper kept a clean sheet in that Cup contest, managing to shut out Birmingham City in league action too when selected on New Year's Day. Could he have a hat-trick of clean sheets at the final whistle against the Pilgrims if selected?

2 RB – Jamie Shackleton

With Archie Gray ruled out by Farke yesterday in his post-match press conference, Farke could also rely upon Jamie Shackleton coming back into the side at right-back to fill in for the missing teenage talent.

Shackleton was part of the back four that came away from a tricky game against Peterborough in the last round with a clean sheet, the 24-year-old hoping another effective shut-out is forthcoming against Plymouth.

3 CB – Joe Rodon

Farke could retain Joe Rodon for the game today regardless of games coming thick and fast, the German boss needing a dependable figure at the back in case Plymouth are buoyed on by Leeds fielding a weaker side than usual.

Authoritative as always in the mid-week Norwich win – winning seven duels in total – the Welshman will hope his presence alone at the back can intimidate the visitors going forward to ensure Leeds progress comfortably.

4 CB – Liam Cooper

Ethan Ampadu could, however, be given a breather for the game at Elland Road.

In his place, Liam Cooper could come into the side with Farke knowing that the 32-year-old will put in an accomplished display despite no longer being a fixed first-teamer.

When selected on New Year's Day against Birmingham – wearing the captain's armband no less – the Scotsman was confident at the back with just four misplaced passes all afternoon on top of four duels being won.

5 LB – Junior Firpo

Farke won't want to cause any friction within his camp, sticking by Junior Firpo for the clash today with the ex-Barcelona man enjoying a remarkable resurgence in the Leeds first team recently.

Picking up four assists in his last four Championship games, the re-energised left-back will hope he can add yet another assist to his ever-growing total against Plymouth on the way to a straightforward win.

6 CM – Ilia Gruev

Ilia Gruev's important presence in the Whites starting eleven has gone under-the-radar in the last few games, consistently putting in admirable performances since coming into the first team fold as a result of Ampadu being played at centre-back.

Acting as a brick wall in a holding role, Gruev's calmness playing out from back stood out in the Norwich win also – only misplacing two passes all night, whilst winning five duels to help Leeds keep the Canaries at bay.

7 CM – Glen Kamara

Glen Kamara is also an understated figure in the Whites starting line-up week-in-week-out, excelling alongside Gruev throughout January as Leeds continue to pick up wins.

Winning 100% of his duels against David Wagner's visitors from Norfolk, on top of completing one successful dribble attempt, the Finnish midfielder could be kept in the side against Plymouth as a calm and reliable head.

8 RM – Wilfried Gnonto

Farke could significantly shake up who starts in attack away from sticking by Kamara, Wilfried Gnonto could be preferred at right wing over Daniel James.

James picked up an injury against Norwich after being largely everpresent this season – onto 29 appearances for the campaign so far – and the German manager will know Gnonto can come in and do a job in the Welshman's absence.

The 20-year-old finds himself on the fringes at Elland Road still, but with a positive display against Plymouth today, the Italian attacker could further prove his commitment to the Leeds cause with murmurs of a new contract extension seeing him stay put in West Yorkshire.

9 CAM – Joel Piroe

In and out of the Leeds lineup in recent weeks – owing to Georginio Rutter lighting up the division in the number ten spot ahead of the Whites number seven – Joel Piroe could come back into the first team fold today versus Plymouth.

Piroe has been a victim of other individuals stepping up to the mark away from just Rutter, and kept out of the lineup in the lone striker spot too due to Bamford finding his shooting boots again.

Scoring a last-gasp penalty against Preston North End last weekend off the bench – backing up his "clinical" tag given to him by former Swansea City boss Russell Martin – Farke will hope starting Piroe from the get-go means the ex Swans man is similarly effective over the course of a full game against the Pilgrims.

10 LM – Jaidon Anthony

It would be a ludicrous selection decision for Farke to risk playing Crysencio Summerville today, opting to play Jaidon Anthony instead with the AFC Bournemouth loanee starting in the last round against Peterborough.

The 24-year-old was bright in patches when substituted in place of an injury-stricken James down the right channel last match, but will play on the opposing flank against Plymouth to come in for Summerville.

Managing one key pass in the second half mid-week, Anthony will hope he can be even livelier today to steer Leeds to an easy win over their Championship opponents in the Cup.

At the halfway mark of the season, Everton have been a side desperately seeking improvements in recent campaigns, but things are different this time around. The Toffees, even after a ten-point deduction, look on course to avoid Premier League relegation and perhaps even rise up the table to hand them a comfortable few months under Sean Dyche, who deserves much of the credit.

The Toffees will now hope to continue their good form in the second half of the season, be that with or without January reinforcements. As things stand, Dyche is getting the best out of his current options, and what may help is the planning of Director of Football Kevin Thelwell, who has delivered his verdict on Everton's transfer plan.

Everton transfer news

Whilst those at Goodison Park didn't exactly splash the cash in the summer transfer window, they did at least welcome the likes of Ashley Young, Jack Harrison and Beto to hand Dyche some reinforcements.

And to the former Burnley manager's credit, he has taken full advantage of those additions. In fact, if it wasn't for the points deduction, Everton would be challenging for Europe this term, which is a place they may consistently find themselves in with the planning of Thelwell and the potential new owners.

Gomes returns and 4/10 star is benched in Everton's predicted lineup vs Man City

Andre Gomes could make his first start of the season as Manchester City visit Everton tonight.

ByAdam Scully Dec 27, 2023

The director of football told the club's official website: "As we look to January, I can assure you that, whilst there may not be a great deal of transfer business taking place in the coming weeks, it does not mean the hard work is not continuing.

"But hard work is ongoing to ensure a squad that has performed consistently well this season can continue to evolve and develop this season, in the summer and beyond."

Good news for Everton fans

The secret to success when it comes to recruitment is quite simple – proactive planning. The last thing a club needs is to be left panicking over transfers last minute without a list of options to replace star men. We've seen the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion become the best example of a side with a plan, often replacing stars with those who quickly become even better stars for another bargain deal. If Everton can reach that standard, then they may just find themselves enjoying a similar rise to Roberto de Zerbi's side.

The news that January is unlikely to be a busy month may be a disappointment to some at Goodison Park, but that's the luxury of the side's recent form. Dyche's side are not in desperate need of additions and can instead focus on finding players who would provide the manager with an instant upgrade for the long haul. As the season goes on, the Toffees could get more and more positives to look forward to ahead of a busier summer window.

Pakistan chief selector says Shoaib Malik is in line to lead the team while Umar Akmal may also be given a recall

Umar Farooq26-Feb-2019

Pakistan are likely to rest their captain Sarfaraz Ahmed during the five-match ODI series against Australia starting March 22, with Shoaib Malik in line to lead the team again. Also, chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq told ESPNcricinfo that Umar Akmal may get a recall as the panel looked for a replacement for the injured Mohammad Hafeez.These changes, Inzamam said, were largely to ensure key players don’t break down in the run up to the World Cup, beginning May 2019. “This is my idea [to rest Sarfaraz] and a few others. Our players have been playing for quite long time, Asia Cup [in September 2018], then the series against Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and then straightaway PSL. After PSL there’s no time. There’s the Australia series then there’s Pakistan Cup at home and the England tour.”I don’t think players should play for that long. So I am resting those who are under a lot of stress from last five months and playing in all three formats,” Inzamam said.”If you enter in any event, I have strong belief that you should go with fresh legs, fresh minds, instead of having injuries like stiff backs, shoulder injury, elbow problem or hamstring injury. I don’t think we should enter into such a big tournament like this. We have to enter the tournament with players who are 100% fit and fresh both physically and mentally. Within two months of time, starting from England series, we have to play around 20 to 21 games and it will be a hectic outing to England including practice matches.”Given that schedule, it is understood, lead short-format spinner Shadab Khan may also be given some time off during the Australia series.Meanwhile, the spotlight on Mohammad Amir increased with Inzamam showing concern over his recent form. The left-arm quick has picked up only five wickets in 13 ODIs – averaging 80.80 – since the start of January 2018.Mohammad Amir gets a high-five from a team-mate•AFP

“Amir might not be an automatic selection at this stage but he is a very good bowler and there is no doubt it,” Inzamam said. “Unfortunately, he is not looking in his best form. He has enough time for the World Cup, he will be back in the rhythm.”If a senior bowler like him looks out of form, off-colour, it’s a worry for us, but we still have time for Amir. We still have ten one-dayers and two-three months. Amir can make a comeback. We will give him full chance to make a comeback. He is a big-occasion bowler and we need to have a bowler like him in our armoury.”The other major problem for Pakistan is Hafeez. The allrounder sustained a thumb injury while playing in the PSL last week and is expected to be out for two months. “I am worried about Hafeez’s injury. Doctors are telling me that it will take eight weeks,” Inzamam said.”For the World Cup team, you have been playing for quite some time and there’s not much room to make changes. After Australia series, we have England series, and then practice matches. We can see if Hafeez gets fit by then.”If that doesn’t happen, Inzamam suggested Umar Akmal as a possible option.Umar has been in good form recently, scoring 200 runs in his last five T20s, averaging 66 and striking at 137. But he hasn’t played international cricket since January 2017.”There will be no surprise package and we won’t do any such selection which surprises,” Inzamam said. “I will try to believe in the same team which we have been playing with for quite some time. This is also preparation of World Cup and it’s better to play with the same combination.”There are a few options for us to replace Hafeez, though. Umar Akmal is doing well, we have players in middle-order, we have Hussain Talat who went to South Africa. I wish Hafeez gets fit otherwise we have other options. Umar has performed well so far and we will definitely consider him. It’s a good thing that such tournaments [PSL] have these benefits and you can include them in Pakistan team. An experienced player who has played for us before and is in form, it will be good.”

Sam Curran, Tom Curran and Ben Foakes all commit to The Oval after prominent seasons for England

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Feb-2019

Surrey have secured the continued services of three of the current stars of the England set-up, by confirming contract extensions with Sam Curran, Tom Curran and Ben Foakes.At the age of 20, Sam Curran earned the Man of the Series accolade in last year’s 4-1 Test series win over India, after a series of match-turning performances with both bat and ball.He went on to become the break-out star of last year’s IPL auction, in which he was bought by Kings XI Punjab for Rs7.2 crore (approx. £800,000. His new two-year deal with Surrey will keep him at The Oval at least until the end of the 2020 season.Foakes, like Sam Curran, is currently playing for England in the Test series in the Caribbean, having himself been Man of the Series during England’s 3-0 series win in Sri Lanka before Christmas – his first appearances for England.He has agreed a three-year extension, as has Sam’s brother, Tom, who will link up with England’s white-ball squad in the Caribbean later this month, having enhanced his reputation with some eyecatching performances this winter for Sydney Sixers in this year’s BBL.Sam and Tom Curran made their senior debuts for Surrey in 2015 and 2013 respectively, while Foakes joined the club from Essex in 2015.Director of Cricket Alec Stewart said: “I am very pleased to have extended the contracts of three of our current England players. It’s a credit to everyone at the club that our players want to sign contract extensions and help play a major part in building on the success of last year.”

حسم التعادل الإيجابي المباريات الافتتاحية للدوري الإسباني لموسم 2024-2025، والذي شهد مواجهتين مساء الخميس.

وافتتح أتلتيك بلباو مباريات الدوري الإسباني للموسم الجديد، حيث التقى مع نظيره خيتافي، في مباراة انتهت بهدف لمثله.

وفي ظل الحديث حول اهتمام برشلونة، شهدت المباراة مشاركة نيكو ويليامز مع أتلتيك بلباو.

وقص أوهيان سانسيت شريط أهداف الدوري الإسباني لموسم 2024-2025 في الدقيقة 27، فيما أحرز النيجيري كريسانتوس اوتشي هدف التعادل لخيتافي في الدقيقة 64. أهداف مباراة أتلتيك بلباو وخيتافي

المباراة الثانية كانت لجيرونا الذي كان مفاجأة الليجا في الموسم الماضي ونافس بقوة أمام ريال مدريد وبرشلونة.

اقرأ أيضًا | تفاصيل مشاجرة والد يامال ومحاولة اغتياله.. والقبض على المتورطين

والتقى جيرونا مع ريال بيتيس، وحسمت تلك المباراة أيضًا بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدف لمثله.

وسجل مارك بارترا هدفًا مبكرًا لريال بيتيس في الدقيقة 6، وتمكن جيرونا من التعادل بهدف سجله جابريال أوسي في الدقيقة 72.

وبذلك تحصد أندية ريال بيتيس وخيتافي وجيرونا وأتلتيك بلباو نقطة واحدة مع افتتاحية الدوري الإسباني. أهداف مباراة ريال بيتيس وجيرونا

Portland Thorns head coach Mike Norris has been promoted to Technical Director, opening up the position to new candidates amid their winless start.

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Portland Thorns undergoing touchline shake upHead coach position now openMike Norris promoted to Technical DirectorWHAT HAPPENED?

The Thorns have undergone their worst-ever start to an NWSL season, winless through four matches at a record of 0-1-3. According to The Athletic, changes are now being made in an attempt to get their season back on track. As well as Norris being moved from his position, Rob Gale has been promoted to interim head coach while they search for a permanent appointment.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT THE THORNS SAID

Thorns General Manager Karina LeBlanc has announced there is no timetable for their search for a head coach, rather, they will conduct a lengthy review process for applicants to fill the role. “The results have not gone our way, and in a head coach position, the results do matter,” LeBlanc said on Tuesday afternoon. “But the results that we have, you can’t just pinpoint it on one position.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Thorns rough start to the season hasn't gone over well internally, with fans or with players. USWNT veteran Becky Sauerbrunn sounded off on their disappointing campaign so far after Sunday's loss to the North Carolina Courage.

“It’s hard to find a lot of encouraging things, but what I find encouraging is that people are frustrated,” she said postgame. “People are pissed off that we’re not doing well. We care, and I think that’s really important. So everyone after this game is going to look at themselves – and there’s going to be no finger pointing – we’re going to look at ourselves and figure out what we should have done, or what I should have done better.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR PORTLAND?

Sophia Smith and Co are back in action against the Houston Dash on Saturday evening. They'll look to earn their first victory of the season, while also beginning their permanent head coach search at the same time.