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A former Aston Villa employee suggests one £50 million player would jump at the chance to join Unai Emery, and the star in question could be a serious target for the Spaniard as well.

Aston Villa lose four consecutive games after electric start

Emery has endured a last fortnight to forget in the dugout, with his side losing four consecutive games in all competitions and bringing their electric start to 2024/2025 to an end, at least for now.

Aston Villa now told £30m enough to secure January signing ahead of Arsenal

He is seen as a future star in the making, and could be Villa’s this January.

ByBen Browning Nov 16, 2024

Villa were knocked out of the Carabao Cup Last 16 by Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace, who caused an upset in the Midlands, with Emery’s men then traveling to Tottenham for a 4-1 humbling just days later.

Defeats to Club Brugge in the Champions League and Liverpool at Anfield followed soon afterwards, with Villa now ninth in the table and brought crashing back down to Earth after a fairytale start to the new campaign.

“I am happy with the players,” said Emery on Villa’s 2-0 defeat at Liverpool. “We played with the plan we had. To get some points here is very difficult, and maybe we needed more. Even dominating some moments of the match, they were creating some chances in transition, and we have to work to improve it. We conceded two easy transitions for them from corners.

Crystal Palace (home)

23 November

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4 December

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“We also created two good chances from corners, and we competed like we needed to get something but we didn’t get points here. I’m happy with the match we played. We have to try and keep balance and be consistent like we were last year. We are some points under the level we had last year, but the Premier League is very difficult and it’s tight with other teams in the table.

“I want to recover some players. They’re not getting fit like they have to but we are helping those players to get better, to feel better. We have to accept losing here because they are a team that can exploit their potential like they did. After we are coming back from the break, we have to try to be strong.”

Former scout suggests Alex Baena is "eager" to join Aston Villa

Injuries for the likes of Ross Barkley, Matty Cash, Boubacar Kamara, Pau Torres and Jacob Ramsey haven’t exactly helped matters, as Villa cope with a fair few absentees, similar to other elite Premier League sides right now.

The January transfer window could be a solution to add more strength in depth, with Villa reportedly eyeing a move for Villarreal forward Alex Baena.

The Spaniard has impressed in La Liga, and commands a £50 million release clause, with Emery also knowing the player well from his time at Estadio de la Ceramica. Speaking to Villa News this week, ex-Villans scout Bryan King has suggested that Baena would jump at the chance to reunite with Emery in Birmingham.

“I think he’d find it easy to join Villa and come into a club with a manager that he knows,” King said. “Baena has worked with Emery. Therefore, I see no reason why Emery wouldn’t push for that transfer, and tell the club that Baena is a great prospect, a good player, and the player that he wants.

“And as a player who has worked with him, I think he’d be eager to join Villa and continue his career in the West Midlands.”

Pooran, Moeen and Livingstone are other notable movers in the latest ICC rankings

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Feb-2022 Akeal Hosein and Jason Holder have achieved career-best positions in the latest ICC T20I rankings for bowlers, after guiding West Indies to victory in the fifth match against England in Bridgetown.Left-arm spinner Hosein has jumped 15 places to the 18th spot after picking up 4 for 30 in the final T20I. He finished with six wickets in three matches that were considered for the latest update to the rankings. Fast bowling allrounder Holder, who rattled England with four wickets in four balls to finish the series-decider with 5 for 27 and scalped nine in the last three T20Is, has moved up three spots to 23rd with a gain of 20 rating points.Full rankings tables

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The other notable movers in the T20I bowling rankings were Sheldon Cottrell (up 10 places to 31st), Moeen Ali (up three places to 32nd) and Liam Livingston (up 33 places to 68th).Among the batters, Nicholas Pooran has gained eight places to 18th after hitting a total of 113 runs in the three matches – which includes 70 in the third T20I. Brandon King and West Indies captain Kieron Pollard have also gained big in the rankings. King moved up 25 places to 58th, while Pollard jumped 15 places to 60th.Moeen, who scored a match-winning 63 and picked up 2 for 28 in the fourth T20I, has gone up 30 places to be 67th. He has also leapfrogged Glenn Maxwell and Wanindu Hasaranga to the third spot among allrounders.

Manchester City and Pep Guardiola are now leading Liverpool in the race to sign a £100m “magician” in the January transfer window.

Man City back to winning ways after 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest

The reigning Premier League champions got their first win since the end of October on Wednesday evening, defeating Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the Etihad.

Goals from Bernardo Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku brought an end to six defeats in seven, with Guardiola praising Jack Grealish after his first Premier League start since October 5.

Crystal Palace vs Man City

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Juventus vs Man City

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Man City vs Man Utd

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Aston Villa vs Man City

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Man City vs Everton

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“Really good. He played in the middle and was involved in many things. Hopefully in the next games, if I decide to play him in that position, he can be involved in the final third and decisive in goals and assists.

“Our football is always built from the midfield. The quality and they make our tempo and the way we have to play. We control the game, and Jack gave us that pace. When to accelerate and control, he did it really good. I’m so happy for him.

“I know his quality. He has attributes to play holding midfield, keep the ball, break the lines and composure. With the problems that we have in the middle with two holding midfielders injured, Gundo has played an important role for us. Everyone was good.”

Man City readying move to sign "ball-striking monster" to replace Alvarez

Manchester City are looking to bolster their forward line with an exciting addition in January.

ByBen Gray Dec 4, 2024

Ahead of the January transfer window, Guardiola has reportedly demanded up to three Man City signings, with the club willing to be aggressive, and it looks as if that is the case following a brand new transfer update.

Man City leading race to sign Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

According to reports from Spain, Man City are now the new top suitor in the race to sign Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona are also credited with an interest, with previous reports claiming the Reds were in pole position to sign Kvaratskhelia.

However, Man City have now ‘initiated contact with the player’s entourage, positioning itself as one of the main candidates to secure his services in the upcoming transfer market’.

The Sky Blues were linked with Kvaratskhelia, dubbed a “magician”, last year, and it now looks as if he is a major target heading into 2025.

The Georgia international, who doesn’t have a weak foot, can play as a left-winger or second striker and is valued at around £100m, meaning City may have to pay a similar fee to the one that brought Grealish to the Etihad if they want Kvaratskhelia.

Aged 23, Kvaratskhelia has scored 30 goals and registered 29 assists in 104 appearances for Napoli since 2022, and by the looks of things, a move to England could be on the cards in the coming weeks.

Wayne Parnell has been ruled out of the match with a hamstring injury, while Temba Bavuma is fit to play

Mohammad Isam22-Mar-2022Big pictureBefore reaching South Africa, Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal and coach Russell Domingo were confident of notching up a maiden ODI series win here. They started with a big win in the first ODI in Centurion, but the hosts hit back in the second game in Johannesburg. The teams now head to Centurion again for the decider – a first on a Bangladesh tour of South Africa.South Africa have been blowing hot and cold since the start of 2021, winning seven of the 15 ODIs and losing six, with two matches producing no result. It will not be an easy task for Bangladesh to thump South Africa at home; however, it wouldn’t impossible either.A strong bowling performance led by Kagiso Rabada, who picked up a five-for, helped South Africa level the series in the second ODI. Lungi Ngidi too bowled well and so did Wayne Parnell, before injuring his left hamstring. But they might have expected a bit more from the spin duo of Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj.Related

Shakib to stay back for third ODI in face of family health crisis

How Shakib and AB de Villiers boosted Yasir Ali

Quinton de Kock attacked Bangladesh from the word go, and Kyle Verreynne and Temba Bavuma, nursing a hand injury, kept them in the game in the short chase. South Africa will want more from their batters, and not just in runs, but also to take on the Bangladesh bowling attack like de Kock did in the second game.Bangladesh are unlikely to change their playing XI, with the same set of players having featured for the sixth match in a row in Johannesburg. Such consistency in selection is not common with the visitors, and it shows the approach of a captain and a coach who believe in giving enough chances to a player to prove his worth before dropping them after a poor performance.Runs from the likes of Litton Das, Yasir Ali and Afif Hossain have not only eased the pressure on the four senior batters, but has also made Bangladesh a well-rounded batting side. Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan will be manning the top-order fort, while Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah, surprisingly off colour lately, will be expected to provide the flourish in the end.Bangladesh’s bowling has also done the job. Taskin Ahmed will be leading the attack with his accuracy and searing pace. Mustafizur Rahman is the end-overs master, while Shoriful Islam has shown he is adept at both ends of the innings. Mehidy Hasan Miraz is evolving as an allrounder, with Shakib being the backbone of the bowling department.Form guideSouth Africa WLWWW (Last five completed matches; most recent first)
Bangladesh LWLWWKagiso Rabada will once again be key for South Africa•AFP/Getty ImagesIn the spotlightKagiso Rabada, the leader of South Africa’s pace attack, will be expected to do a bulk of the damage to guide the hosts to the series win. The fast bowler rattled the batting line-up in the second ODI, where his first spell extended to seven overs.There is a lot of talk about promoting Afif Hossain up the order, but Bangladesh believe he will be best suited for No 7. It also looks like Afif is getting accustomed to the role now, evident in the way he rescued the team with an unbeaten 93 after the early collapse in Chattogram against Afghanistan, and also after he scored a brisk 72 on Sunday. Though he is usually aggressive, Afif also knows when to curb that instinct for his team.Team newsWayne Parnell has been ruled out of the match with the hamstring injury, which means Marco Jansen might take his place in the side. Captain Temba Bavuma, who injured his hand, is fit to play. South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Janneman Malan, 3 Temba Bavuma (capt), 4 Kyle Verreynne, 5 Rassie van der Dussen, 6 David Miller, 7 Keshav Maharaj, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Tabraiz ShamsiDespite the seven-wicket loss in Johannesburg, Bangladesh are unlikely to change their line-up.Bangladesh: 1 Tamim Iqbal (capt), 2 Litton Das, 3 Shakib Al Hasan, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 5 Yasir Ali, 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Afif Hossain, 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Shoriful Islam, 11 Mustafizur RahmanPitch and conditionsOnly two out of 12 times have teams lost scoring after 300-plus runs batting first at SuperSport Park in Centurion. The third ODI promises to be a run fest. The forecast says there will be no rain on Wednesday.Stats and trivia Both of Kagiso Rabada’s five-wicket hauls in ODIs have come against Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s 314 against South Africa in the first ODI was the first time they scored 300-plus in an ODI when only five bowlers were used by the opposition.Quotes
“If we can handle the first ten overs well, [and] if we don’t give them too many wickets, we can definitely score runs against them in the middle overs.”

Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly growing 'increasingly impatient' with Mason Greenwood and may bench the club's top scorer again.

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Greenwood benched for MarseilleDe Zerbi 'increasingly impatient' with forwardExplanation for decision revealedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Greenwood was not in the starting XI for Marseille's 1-0 loss to Lens on Saturday, but he did come on in the second half. However, the 23-year-old may be among the substitutes again next time out as RMC Sport claim De Zerbi, his staff, and club figureheads are growing tired of his 'nonchalance,' 'attitude' and 'lack of effort'.

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Greenwood is by far and away Marseille's top scorer with 15 goals in Ligue 1 this season, more than double Luis Henrique's tally (seven). But the fact that De Zerbi is willing to drop him again shows the Italian wants more from the ex-Manchester United star, who joined the French giants last summer. It remains to be seen how Greenwood will respond to this, especially amid eye-catching transfer links elsewhere.

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The report adds that there is a 'huge gap' between Greenwood's contribution during Marseille games and his potential. De Zerbi's decision to bench him is said to be a desire to 'prick his pride', with Marseille set to be very attentive to how he responds to this development.

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Second-placed Marseille are away to Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday. Many will eagerly await whether or not Greenwood still start in that crucial clash.

Tournament’s leading wicket-taker says if England play their best they can beat Australia in the final on Sunday

Valkerie Baynes01-Apr-20221:20

Sarah Taylor: Ecclestone is probably the best bowler in the world

Clinching five must-win games to earn the right to defend the World Cup is one thing. Beating Australia – the undefeated, overwhelming favourites who recently thrashed you in a bilateral series – is quite another. But Sophie Ecclestone believes doing just that would be the “perfect end to the season” for England and that her team is capable of pulling off such an upset.”Beating the Aussies in the final, I can’t really put it into words after the Ashes we had,” she said. “I really believe in this group and on our day we can definitely beat the Aussies – we’ve got a great chance.”I know if we play our best cricket and our batters bat the way they can and the bowlers bowl the way they can, we’ve got such a great unit as a team, so we’ll just focus on ourselves and do the best we can.”Ecclestone, the left-arm spinner, went wicketless and conceded 77 runs off her 10 overs when England lost by 12 runs to Australia in the group stage. But she has been instrumental in a remarkable turnaround that saw England qualify for the World Cup final having lost their first three matches.Her career-best 6 for 36 against South Africa – which included her maiden international five-for – has Ecclestone sitting atop the tournament’s leading wicket-takers’ list with 20 at an average of 12.85 and economy rate of 3.40.Still just 22 years old, Ecclestone’s team-mates often say they forget how young she is, given how long she has been a mainstay of the England side. She has already played nearly 100 white-ball matches for her country and four Tests and was first named as the ICC’s No. 1 T20I bowler at the age of 20. During this World Cup she overtook Jess Jonassen, her opposite number in the Australian camp, as No. 1 ODI bowler.Sophie Ecclestone picked up her maiden ODI five-wicket haul in the semi-final against South Africa•Getty ImagesBut a global title has eluded her. A member of the England side which finished runners-up to Australia at the 2018 T20 World Cup and the side which watched India advance at the T20 World Cup when their semi-final was washed out in Sydney two years ago, this is Ecclestone’s first appearance at a 50-over World Cup.”It’s absolutely massive for me personally,” Ecclestone said of reaching Sunday’s final in Christchurch. “I haven’t won a major trophy yet since I started playing for England and I’d really love to win that sooner rather than later. It’s also massive for the group – we’ve shown how good we can be and the girls showed in the 2017 World Cup how good we are. Hopefully we can go out and play our best cricket to prove the side we are.”Ecclestone is a fierce competitor, enjoying a battle with formidable South Africa seamer Shabnim Ismail during the semi-final. It started when Ecclestone hit Ismail for three consecutive fours in the final over of England’s innings, apparently turned verbal when Ismail bowled her with the last ball and ended with a cheeky finger-to-lips “shush” gesture from Ecclestone when Ismail became one of her six wickets.”There were a few verbals when I got out, it was all fun and games on the pitch,” Ecclestone said. “I wanted to get even, so it was quite nice off the pitch afterwards, it’s all fine now. It’s great to have that battle on the pitch and to be fine off the pitch.”To get that first five-for and to bowl as well as I am at the minute, I feel great and have a lot of rhythm, it’s a great feeling for me. I didn’t have a great day out against the Aussies, I think it’s fair to say. To come back the way I did, I’m really proud of myself. The team has fought back as well, it’s been amazing to witness that.”England will likely field five members of their 2017 champion side against Australia, against whom they failed to register a win during their multi-format Ashes series immediately before travelling to New Zealand.Ecclestone put England’s turnaround after that and their poor start to the World Cup down to adopting a fearless attitude when they had nothing to lose.”When we lost three from three, there were a few tears in the changing room after the game, everyone was very disappointed with how we’d gone,” she said. “But I think the turning point was having a few meetings to just say that we had nothing to lose now, so just put what we do in training out into a game and go out with no fear. We still haven’t played our best cricket, so to get through to the final without playing our best cricket is obviously so good to see from this group.”Now, with the World Cup to lose, England will need “no fear” more than ever.

Storm Darragh has soured Merseyside’s collective mood, but Liverpool will still sit at the top of the Premier League table by the end of the weekend.

Such is the strength of Arne Slot’s side, such is the brilliant start to the campaign that has seen Liverpool cede ground in just three of their 14 fixtures thus far.

The table-toppers will now rest and recover ahead of more gruelling action, but there’s an undeniable sense of frustration that the Reds have been prevented from righting the wrongs of midweek, enduring defensive issues in a 3-3 draw at St. James’ Park.

The Merseyside derby will have to wait and perhaps it’s for the best, in some ways. Ryan Gravenberch has been indomitable in the engine room this season but suffered from burnout against Newcastle United.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

14 (14)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

1

Touches*

28.8

73.8

Pass completion

83%

89%

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0.6

0.6

Dribbles completed*

0.9

0.9

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.4

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.9

Total duels (won)*

2.8 (47%)

5.5 (63%)

He’s started every Premier League and Champions League match this season and is widely regarded as one of the highest-performing midfielders in Europe.

It’s no wonder that Real Madrid have caught his scent.

Real Madrid's interest in Ryan Gravenberch

As reported earlier this week, Real Madrid are interested in Gravenberch after the Netherlands midfielder’s stunning start to the season, making major headway since the middling results of 2023/24.

Reports of Madrid’s interest in Gravenberch serve to heighten the concerns around Liverpool’s midfield depth, and though it’s unlikely that FSG would allow the high-flying Dutchman to leave for anything other than a staggering sum, it highlights such fears all the same.

Even so, Liverpool could do with another deep-sitting option in the centre of the park, and might have found the perfect candidate to complete a robust mix of talent.

Liverpool want a new midfielder

According to Spanish sources, Liverpool are interested in signing Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, with the intrigue arising from Los Blancos’ desire to sign Gravenberch in a mammoth deal.

This season, De Jong has been on the fringe due to an injury and consequent complications, but he has a proven record across a span of years and could certainly add a dimension to Slot’s ball-playing system.

A long-time Manchester United target, Gravenberch’s countryman would be a welcome asset to Liverpool’s first team, though whether FSG would agree to the £51m outlay is another matter.

What Frenkie De Jong would bring to Liverpool

There’s no denying that Liverpool looked a bit leggy against a roaring Newcastle side on Wednesday, and Gravenberch’s struggles really did emphasise the need for a foil.

Wataru Endo, 32, has played a bit-part role this term, and though he’s effective in late moments, combative and tough, the Japan star leaves plenty to be desired on the ball. Elsewhere, the young Tyler Morton is a part of the first-team squad but scarcely used. Gravenberch needs support.

And he could find it in compatriot De Jong, who has struggled for fitness and form this season but is known to have one of the richest passing ranges across the continent.

As per FBref, the 27-year-old ranks among the top 1% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 4% for progressive passes, the top 7% for passes attempted and progressive carries and the top 20% for tackles per 90. Quite the dynamic player.

Waxing lyrical about the star’s qualities, former Barca boss Xavi said last season that he’s “one of the best players in the world.”

When fit and firing, this is true. And, moreover, De Jong would be able to assume the role that Gravenberch is playing for Liverpool. The Liverpool sensation ranks among the top 10% of Premier League midfielders this season for passes attempted per 90 and the top 19% for pass completion.

Gravenberch, like De Jong, is an adept driver, penetrating through the centre and influencing attacking transitions with slick and purposeful passing. This is crucial for Slot’s tactical set-up, allowing for sturdy and controlled central play but also providing a switch from which forward transition can be initiated with rapidity.

He’s gone from strength to strength under Slot’s wing and it’s hard to imagine that De Jong wouldn’t at least showcase some impressive qualities within the Anfield brood.

Though he’s struggled for fitness this term, starting just one La Liga fixture, De Jong has completed 224 appearances in total for the Catalan giants, notably lifting one league title and one Copa del Rey trophy.

And last season, across 20 league matches, De Jong not only completed 94% of his passes but averaged 1.1 key passes per game and came out on top in 59% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

Patently, there’s a world-class player in there who could make a real difference to Liverpool’s exploits under Slot’s management going forward.

Of course, as alluded to earlier, there’s no reason why FSG shouldn’t engineer a deal with Barcelona for the midfield maestro even if Gravenberch stays put, as will probably, hopefully, surely, be the case.

Liverpool have a demonstrable title-winning quality about them, having raced into such a commanding lead across the opening months of the campaign.

Transfer Focus

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

But Gravenberch’s perceived burnout against Newcastle calls for further talent to rotate with him and allow for greater depth. Liverpool should make their move in 2025.

Ignored by Klopp: £32m Liverpool flop is now outscoring Salah in 2024

Klopp sold a star at the beginning of his Liverpool era, and now that very flop is outscoring Mohamed Salah in 2024.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 6, 2024

U.S. Men's National Team players take a break from soccer to share their March Madness bracket picks with many picking Duke

USMNT players showcase their college basketball knowledgeStars make surprising Final Four predictionsPlayers reveal their connections to chosen teamsGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

As the NCAA March Madness fever sweeps the nation, USMNT stars Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Tim Ream, and Gio Reyna have joined the excitement by sharing their NCAA tournament predictions. The soccer players, known for their skills on the pitch, were asked who they were supporting during March Madness and a large majority of them picked Duke. Pulisic was among the few who didn't pick the Blue Devils, opting for a surprising choice instead.

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March Madness, the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, is set to take place from mid-March to early April 2025, culminating with the championship game on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The tournament features 68 teams competing in a single-elimination format across multiple rounds. The event is known for its unpredictability, with potential for upsets and Cinderella stories, making it one of the most exciting and widely-followed sporting events in the United States.

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The US Men’s national team are currently preparing for their CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Panama on March 20 with an eye on the final against either Canada or Mexico. Following that, Mauricio Pochettino's group will gather again at the end of the season, where the USMNT face Turkiye and Switzerland on June 8 and 11 as preparations for the 2025 Gold Cup.

Ben Compton also handed call-up after impressive displays for Kent

ESPNcricinfo staff23-May-2022Ollie Robinson will get another opportunity to prove his fitness for a Test recall this summer, after being named in a County Select XI to face the touring New Zealanders in a four-day warm-up at Chelmsford, starting on Thursday.Dom Sibley is the other England Test-capped player in a 12-man squad that will be overseen by Richard Dawson, the ECB’s elite performance pathway coach. Kent’s Ben Compton is also rewarded with a call-up after becoming the leading run-scorer in Division One with 878 at 109.75 since making his debut for the county at Chelmsford in April.Robinson, who burst onto the Test scene with 28 wickets at 19.60 in his maiden home season in 2021, has been plagued by injury and illness since struggling through the fifth Test against Australia at Hobart in January.Related

NZ batters make most of valuable workout, as does Robinson

'Cricket does shoot itself in the foot' – Sussex disappointed with early abandonment

Robinson's lack of appetite raises more doubts about Test recall

Despite travelling to the Caribbean as arguably England’s first-choice seamer, following the omissions of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, Robinson missed all three Tests following a back spasm in the warm-up match in Antigua.He then took five wickets against Middlesex in his first outing of the season, before struggling with food poisoning at Grace Road, in which he at one stage resorted to bowling offspin after being limited to a solitary over in the first innings.However, he found a better rhythm in Sussex’s rain-affected four-day game against the New Zealanders at Hove this week, with 18 economical – albeit wicketless – overs in the tourists’ only innings. Tom Haines, who captained Sussex and made 61 runs for once out in the fixture, has also been included in the squad.”We have selected a strong squad of players who are in form and who deserve the opportunity to test themselves against high-class international opposition,” Dawson said.”Matches like this provide a valuable opportunity to see how the selected players handle a step up from county ranks and I am looking forward to working alongside them.The squad was selected from the pool of available players following consultation with the first-class counties, with the vast majority of players not part of their respective counties’ T20 Blast plans. “I would also like to thank the first-class counties for their collaborative approach during a busy period,” Dawson added.New Zealand’s contingent of IPL players are beginning to link up with the squad, with Devon Conway and Tim Southee having now arrived in the country following their respective teams’ failure to reach the last four, and Kane Williamson due in the coming days after a spell of paternity leave. The new arrivals are expected to play bit-part roles over the coming four days, meaning that the fixture is likely to be downgraded from first-class status.This would be bad news for Compton, who might otherwise have had two last innings to secure the elusive landmark of 1000 runs before the end of May. The last man to achieve the feat was Graeme Hick in 1988, although in 2012, Compton’s cousin Nick reached 1000 runs on June 1, after a rain delay at Worcester had kept him off the field on May 31.County Select XI squad: Jack Blatherwick (Lancashire), Michael Burgess (Warwickshire), Ben Compton (Kent), Ben Gibbon (Worcestershire), Nick Gubbins (Hampshire), Tom Haines (Sussex), Lyndon James (Nottinghamshire), Ryan Patel (Surrey), Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire), Jamie Porter (Essex), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire).

Chelsea further strengthened their title challenge with a 2-1 victory over Brentford that moved them to within two points of leaders Liverpool in the Premier League table.

Despite Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca telling reporters that his side are ‘not ready to compete for the title,’ the victory at Stamford Bridge was Chelsea’s fifth consecutive win in the league and they are currently the league’s most in-form side.

After several windows of splashing the cash, it seems that Maresca has finally found a formula for bringing the best out of the wealth of talent at his disposal.

Chelsea dominated Brentford with 62% possession and 26 goal attempts in a game that should have seen a more comfortable scoreline for the Blues.

Goals from Marc Cucurella and Nicolas Jackson ensured the three points stayed at Stamford Bridge but two of Todd Boehly’s signings in particular are grabbing the headlines for their sensational form this season.

Cole Palmer's season in numbers

Cole Palmer has dazzled since his £40m move from Manchester City back in 2023. The Chelsea playmaker was named Premier League and PFA Young Player of the Year last season after telling GQ magazine that he ‘got persuaded to move to Chelsea’ and wasn’t expecting to leave his boyhood club Manchester City.

Since then, Palmer hasn’t looked back and after amassing 22 goals and 11 assists in his first season at Stamford Bridge, the England star has continued his fine form with 11 goals and six assists already this campaign.

The playmaker has already provided some magical moments in a Chelsea shirt this term, including scoring four first-half goals v Brighton and recently scoring a ‘Panenka’ style penalty against rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

However, it seems that it isn’t just the signing of Palmer that is starting to click at Chelsea and another midfielder in Maresca’s side may be just as big of a factor in Chelsea’s major upturn in form.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

How Enzo Fernandez is proving his price tag

It is fair to say that it has taken a while for midfielder Enzo Fernandez to prove why Chelsea paid £107m back in January 2023. It was only a few months ago that several Chelsea news outlets and fans were calling the Argentine midfielder a ‘waste of money.’

Yet, after a tricky start to the current campaign, Fernandez has now started to show why owner Boehly splashed the cash on the World Cup winner and the midfielder’s performances have been a key factor in driving Chelsea to within touching distance of the summit of the Premier League.

Fernandez has made 20 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea this season and already has 11 goal contributions with three goals and eight assists.

Whilst the importance of Palmer is clear for fans and pundits alike to see, Chelsea boss Maresca will have no doubt seen the growing influence of the Argentine midfielder on his side and the fact he is outperforming Palmer in a number of key metrics.

Fernandez has a higher percentage of shots on target than Palmer and has created almost one goal action per game in his appearances so far this season.

Shots on target

40%

38.9%

Pass completion

82%

74.5%

Goal creating actions

0.93

0.65

Touches

820

798

Tackles won

16

7

Aerial duels won

16.7%

0%

Chelsea are increasingly looking to play through the former Benfica man in midfield, with Fernandez having more touches than Palmer despite playing fewer minutes and having a higher pass completion than his colleague.

Defensively, Fernandez is outperforming Palmer in key areas too, having won nine more tackles and winning significantly more aerial duels.

Winning the Premier League requires special players to come to the fore and with Fernandez and Palmer, Chelsea certainly look to have two in-form talents at present.

Perhaps the Argentine could go on to usurp Palmer as Boehly’s best buy in the near future…

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