Bayer Leverkusen's historic unbeaten run was stopped at 462 days as RB Leipzig defeated Xabi Alonso's men 3-2 in Bundesliga.
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Leverkusen's historic Bundesliga streak brokenBlew away a two-goal lead at home to LeipzigLois Openda scored a brace for the visitorsWHAT HAPPENED?
Leipzig refused to be written off even after falling behind by two goals in the first-half. Just before the half-time break they found hope when former Leverkusen midfielder Kevin Kampl reduced the deficit. The goal shifted the momentum, and Leipzig emerged from the dressing room with renewed determination. Lois Openda, who had been relatively quiet in the first half, came alive with a clinical finish just 12 minutes after the restart. And 10 minutes from full-time, he struck again to secure a stunning comeback victory for Leipzig that ended Leverkusen’s long-standing unbeaten run.
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Leverkusen’s defeat is a significant setback for the reigning Bundesliga champions, who had not lost a league match since their 3-0 defeat to Bochum on the final day of the 2022-23 season, a remarkable 462 days ago. Whereas, for Leipzig, this victory extended their unbeaten run in the Bundesliga to 13 matches, a streak that dates back to the previous season.
DID YOU KNOW?
Leipzig’s head coach Marco Rose was sent off during the first half by referee Matthias Jollenbeck after he vehemently protested a challenge by Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah on Openda. However, he did not go back to the locker room and instead sat in an unoccupied seat in the Leverkusen stand. Soon a child came up to him but the manager remained seated and instead struck up a conversation with the fan for the rest of the half.
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Leverkusen will seek to bounce back and re-establish their dominance in the league after the international break when they take on Hoffenheim on September 14 away from home.
David Moyes’ tenure at West Ham United is set to come to an end this summer. It has been a wild ride, with the Scot taking over for a second time in late 2019 to drag the Hammers to Premier League safety.
What followed was truly remarkable, with the former Everton and Manchester United boss guiding the east Londoners into Europe, making the Europa League semi-finals in 2021/22, before famously going all the way a year later in the Europa Conference League, in what is arguably Moyes’ finest hour of his career.
However, things have gone rather stale at the London Stadium; their latest Europa League exit, while representing progress, comes amid another lacklustre Premier League campaign as they struggled to maintain the levels reached in recent seasons.
Therefore, a change in the dugout could well be on the horizon as Moyes’ contract expires this summer, and Football FanCast has taken a look at some of the candidates to take over in 2024/25.
Manager
Current club
Odds
Julen Lopetegui
n/a
15/8
Graham Potter
n/a
4/1
Paulo Fonseca
Lille
6/1
Ruben Amorim
Sporting CP
7/1
Will Still
n/a
8/1
Brendan Rodgers
Celtic
10/1
Gary O'Neil
Wolves
10/1
Michael Carrick
Middlesbrough
10/1
Hansi Flick
n/a
12/1
Thomas Tuchel
Bayern Munich
16/1
1 Julen Lopetegui Free agent (Last job: Wolves)
Ex-Wolves, Sevilla and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui is now reportedly set to take over from David Moyes next season.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the Spaniard has agreed terms to become the Hammers' new boss, with contracts now set to be signed:
Lopetegui was hamstrung financially during his brief yet successful time at Molineux as he steered the club to Premier League safety before making way for Gary O’Neil in the summer.
He would represent a high-profile appointment without the need for a compensation package, and as a Europa League winner with Sevilla, Lopetegui certainly has the pedigree required to succeed Moyes in the London Stadium hot seat.
2 Graham Potter Free agent (Last job: Chelsea)
Chelsea's Graham Potter
Should things break down with Lopetegui, Graham Potter could be the leading candidate, with the 48-year-old having been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023. He was arguably handed a poisoned chalice at Stamford Bridge having earned his stripes at Swansea City and Brighton & Hove Albion, as well as at Ostersunds in Sweden.
He’s been mentioned as a potential Moyes successor but is a man in demand, having recently held talks with Dutch giants Ajax, which reportedly broke down over salary demands. Whether he’d see West Ham as a bigger draw remains to be seen.
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ByCharlie Smith Oct 21, 2025 3 Paulo Fonseca Lille
Lille manager Paulo Fonseca.
Paulo Fonseca has often been linked with Premier League roles, with Spurs and Everton among those in the past to consider hiring the Portuguese manager, who is currently chasing a Champions League place at Lille.
A well-travelled coach with previous stints at FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Roma, his lack of Premier League experience may not be as big a problem compared to some of the alternatives here.
4 Ruben Amorim Sporting CP
Ruben Amorim for Sporting Lisbon
Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim has already had well-publicised talks with West Ham – talks he has since admitted were a “mistake”.
It appears his apology was out of respect for his current club rather than an outright rejection of West Ham, though you would imagine it would be some U-turn to end up signing the dotted line at the London Stadium now. In fact, he has since pledged his future to Sporting.
That said, given his domestic and European success in recent years, it does suggest the Hammers are looking for an exciting appointment.
5 Will Still Free agent (Last job: Stade Reims)
Comfortably the youngest candidate on this list, Will Still has been a trailblazer as manager of Stade Reims in France’s Ligue 1, with his side holding their own in mid-table before he suddenly left his role by mutual consent this week.
Interestingly, Still is a West Ham fan, though whether the likes of David Sullivan will see his short managerial career to date as enough to take the team to the next level is another question.
6 Brendan Rodgers Celtic
Brendan Rodgers.
An experienced boss at Premier League level, Brendan Rodgers was last in the English top flight with Leicester City, who went on to be relegated under Dean Smith.
Having managed in Europe with Celtic and Liverpool, there is no doubting the Northern Irishman’s credentials, but abruptly leaving the Bhoys for a second time may appear unlikely.
7 Gary O’Neil Wolves
Gary O’Neil has impressed since taking over from Julen Lopetegui at Wolves, with the former West Ham midfielder arguably punching above his weight with the Old Gold by keeping them clear of relegation trouble throughout the current campaign.
Having impressed at Bournemouth too, the only question would be whether hiring O’Neil would be seen as a step forward.
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ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 15, 2024 8 Michael Carrick Middlesbrough
Another former West Ham midfielder, Michael Carrick’s first steps into senior management with Middlesbrough have seen some promising signs, with Boro making the Championship play-offs in his first season at the helm. He also guided his team to the Carabao Cup semis this term.
Having also been in caretaker charge of Manchester United, he would appear to be unflustered by the prospect of returning to east London.
9 Hansi Flick Free agent (Last job: Germany)
A Bundesliga and Champions League winner with Bayern Munich, there’s no doubt that Hansi Flick would be a huge coup for the Hammers.
His time as national coach of Germany may persuade the powers that be at the London Stadium that there are better, more reliable options available – but maybe Flick would see West Ham as the right team to rebuild his managerial career at club level.
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ByTom Cunningham Jun 12, 2024 10 Thomas Tuchel Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel
Set to exit Bavaria this summer, Thomas Tuchel has been mentioned as a potential Moyes successor in recent weeks. Another manager who needs no introduction, the Champions League winner could argue he has unfinished business in the Premier League.
This one looks to be on the unlikelier end of the scale, but the Hammers could yet be rewarded for their ambition if they were to hire the former Chelsea boss.
Tendulkar played his part, but India found two unlikely batting heroes to deliver a tense win
The RetroReport by Shashank Kishore10-May-2020Title sponsors have a huge recall value when fans revisit memorable classics. Many Indians still refer to the 1983 World Cup as the Prudential World Cup. The 1987 edition, which India hosted for the first time, is fondly remembered as the Reliance World Cup. The 1985 World Series, made famous by Ravi Shastri and his Audi, is often referred to as the Benson & Hedges World Series. Many years from now, this India v Australia clash will be remembered as Titan Cup fixture in Bangalore.The match had everything. Some fine new-ball bowling from local lads Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad, electric fielding from Ajay Jadeja, a slow-paced but a well-constructed century from Mark Taylor that helped Australia post 215 and a fiery spell from a wiry Glenn McGrath, backed by relentless support from Jason Gillespie, that triggered a top-order wobble. Then there was a collision involving Jadeja and McGrath and, of course, Sachin Tendulkar being at the front and centre of India’s chase.That wasn’t it. There was debatable umpiring and crowd trouble, too, when Mohammad Azharuddin fell to what he felt was a shocking lbw decision, when in reality, he had only himself to blame. India were only three down by then, but the signs were ominous. Memories of Eden Gardens from a few months ago came rushing back. But sanity prevailed and play resumed after a 20-minute delay. The break didn’t change India’s fortunes drastically as they lost Sourav Ganguly almost immediately to a brain freeze from Tendulkar. The Indian captain froze halfway through a second that he wanted, by which time Ganguly had reached a point of no return. The alarm bells were ringing and India’s chances hinged on Tendulkar, like it so often does these days.He batted for a better part of the chase, shelving his natural game in the middle overs for hard-run singles, apart from sweeping and picking left-arm wristspinner Brad Hogg for crucial boundaries to ensure the asking rate never got out of hand. But his dismissal which quickly followed Nayan Mongia’s and Sunil Joshi’s left India at 164 for 8 in pursuit of 216.Enter local boys Anil Kumble and Srinath, with their mums cheering and screaming for every run they scored, every ball they defended and every boundary they hit. The ninth-wicket pair held their nerve, combated the McGrath-Gillespie threat and eventually scripted a great escape. India needed 52 when they joined hands. The stands were starting to thin, but those who stayed back got their monies worth.Kumble is a nudger at the best of times, Srinath a little more eccentric and enterprising. He fancies a good-old slog and when he connects, they sail. It’s this mix of ice and fire that had 40,000 faithfuls biting their fingernails off in the face of an asking rate that had spiralled to over a run-a-ball. As the equation narrowed, the crowd stated to heave. Australia felt the pressure and when it was down to single digits, not even the nerves of the occasion could fray the two local boys, who ensured India ended up winners.As many as six Karnataka players were part of India’s XI in this game. At that World Cup quarter-final game, Venkatesh Prasad was the hero. Here, it was his close friends who became overnight sensations. Joshi strangled Australia in the middle overs with some tight bowling, but the two batsmen – Sujith Somasunder and Rahul Dravid had outings to forget.If facing Brian McMillan and Allan Donald may have been intimidating enough in Hyderabad, Somasunder ran into McGrath here, looking all over the place against the short ball. He was roughed up so much that a sucker ball – an inswinging yorker – had his stumps in a mess. However, these are blips India would want to look at later, for this win came at the right time following a string of ODI failures post their infamous World Cup semi-final, in Singapore, Sharjah, Sri Lanka and Toronto.For Australia, Taylor’s industrious century was some consolation. It was his slow but steady partnership with Steve Waugh that lifted Australia after the innings meandered around the three-run-per-over mark for much of the first half. After Waugh’s dismissal, Michael Bevan added some much needed-urgency, but it felt as if Australia fell much shorter than they would’ve liked to finish with.But, their bowling attack made their total of 215 look bigger. It so happened that they ran into an inspired lower order and Tendulkar, yet again. In Mumbai, at the World Cup, they got away. In Bangalore, they couldn’t pull off a coup.
Over the last decade, Everton’s transfer dealings have left much to be desired, with the Toffees being plunged into financial difficulty as a result of their erratic dealings.
Current boss Sean Dyche has been extremely limited as to who he can bring into the club to help bolster his ranks and prevent the club from losing their ever present Premier League status in the foreseeable future.
James Tarkowski, who arrived at Goodison Park on a free transfer from Burnley in 2022, has arguably been one of the club’s most astute dealings in recent times, starting all 38 league outings this season – featuring in every single minute.
He’s often taken the armband in the absence of club captain Seamus Coleman, with Tarkowski proving to be an integral part of the project that Dyche has started to build since his arrival on Merseyside.
He’s also put an end to the terrible dealings, aiming to recruit younger talents with good potential, transforming them into excellent Premier League players and potentially making the club a hefty profit – with Jarrad Branthwaite the perfect example.
However, the club did endure a turbulent few years in the transfer market, which included the signing of one experienced talent who never hit the heights expected following his big-money move to Everton.
Theo Walcott’s stats at Everton
Signing from Arsenal in January 2018, the Blues thought they had conducted shrewd business with winger Theo Walcott, who had previous Premier League pedigree, spending 12 years at the Emirates prior to his Goodison move.
The then-28-year-old arrived under former boss Sam Allardyce, costing the Toffees a pretty penny, with the club forking out a fee of £20m for his services.
In total, Walcott spent a total of two-and-a-half-years at Everton, managing to score just 11 goals in 85 appearances across all competitions – an average of one goal in every 7.7 matches he featured in.
His best campaign at Goodison came in his first full season with the club, grabbing five goals in his 37 matches, as he only missed one outing throughout the entirety of the league season.
2017/18
14
3
3
2018/19
37
5
2
2019/20
25
2
3
2020/21
1
0
0
However, he would rapidly fall down the pecking order, managing just 26 appearances in the subsequent campaigns, including just one single substitute cameo during the 2020/21 campaign, before returning to Southampton on loan.
He impressed enough during his time at St Mary’s for the Saints, as to sign him permanently the following summer as a free agent, bringing his time on Merseyside to an end.
How much Theo Walcott cost Everton
Upon his move to the club, the Englishman was handed a £120k-per-week deal, as per Capology, which would cost the Toffees somewhere in the region of £2.6m for just his first six months with the Toffees.
The “dreadful” winger, as described by journalist James Corbett, collected £5.2m-per-year in wages alone from the Toffees, making the total expenditure of his stay on Merseyside around £13m, as he spent two and a half years representing the club before his return to the South Coast.
His hefty weekly earnings saw him earn four times more than current Everton first-team member James Garner, who only earns £30k-per-week, despite his 37-game Premier League campaign in 2023/24.
Everton midfielder James Garner.
When coupling his £20m transfer fee to his wages, Everton spent roughly £33m on the now-retired winger – working out to be around £3.3m per goal he scored for the Toffees.
The club would certainly have been glad to see the back of Walcott, with his deal on the whole being a complete disaster.
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The club confirmed that he wouldn’t be staying at Goodison Park.
Declan Rice has revealed his surprise new hobby as the Arsenal and England star makes waves on Instagram.
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Rice launches photography venturePage already has over 40k followersArsenal stars posts photo of KaneWHAT HAPPENED?
Rice has had an eventful start to the new season. Arsenal are currently unbeaten but they had to fight for a draw against Brighton after the Englishman's controversial sending off. He then scored against the Republic of Ireland during the international break and has now set up a new Instagram account that shows the behind-the-scenes of his life.
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The new account gives fans an exciting insight into Rice's life. The first post included photos of England team-mates Harry Kane and Trent Alexander-Arnold as Rice shared some behind-the-scenes snaps from the Three Lions' win over Finland.
DID YOU KNOW?
The page has already gained over 45,000 followers, to go along nicely with the 3.8 million on his regular account. This new page gives fans a much more raw sight of what Rice is like away from football, with another post showing photos from a recent round of golf.
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Rice will miss the north London derby against Tottenham on Sunday as he serves a one-match suspension. He will hope to start when Arsenal take on Atalanta in the Champions League on Thursday.
Broad will miss a home Test for the first time since 2012
George Dobell07-Jul-2020English cricket could be witnessing a changing of the guard with Stuart Broad set to miss out on a place in the first Test against West Indies.Broad, a veteran of 138 Tests and taker of 485 Test wickets, has not missed a home Test since 2012, a run of 51 matches in succession. The last time he missed one – the Edgbaston Test against West Indies – he was rested with the series already won.But England, and their stand-in captain Ben Stokes, are thought likely instead to opt for the pace of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood with James Anderson back with the new ball after suffering injury in South Africa. Chris Woakes is the other player set to be left out from their 13-man squad.England had originally planned to name their Test team on Tuesday evening. But although it is understood the players have been notified of the final XI, the team management reasoned that, with poor weather around and the possibility a bowler could sustain an injury in the lead-up to the match, there was no need to commit to anything at this stage.If Broad is, indeed, left out, there may be a temptation to write his career obituary, but that would be premature. England are set to play six Tests in little more than seven weeks and some rotation of the seam attack is inevitable. There is a decent chance he could return as soon as next week for the second Test at Emirates Old Trafford. He could still become just the fourth seamer to claim 500 Test wickets.ALSO READ: ‘Do it your way’ – Root’s message to StokesHe has been left out before, too. At the end of 2018, he played only one of the Tests on England’s tour of Sri Lanka while he was also omitted from the side for the first Test of the series in the Caribbean 18 months ago. He demonstrated his undimmed enthusiasm for the challenge, though, by tinkering with his technique – in particular, he shortened his run-up and bowled a fuller, more probing line and length – and enjoyed personally successful series against Australia (in which he claimed 23 wickets at a cost of 26.65 apiece) and South Africa (in which he claimed 14 at 19.42). It would probably pay not to write him off now.But this is another sign that England are looking to the future. And while Broad might have struggled to retain his status as a first-choice bowler in overseas conditions, this is the first time in the best part of a decade that he has not been considered among the first-choice attack in England.
“I’ve been dreading it for the last two or three days, telling the unfortunate guys. It’s not a nice conversation to think about”Ben Stokes
It is, perhaps, also an indication that the England management are looking to Wood and Archer, in particular, as the nucleus of the attack that they feel can help them win the Ashes in Australia in around 18 months’ time. Both are blessed with sharp pace and would appear well-suited to the hard wickets anticipated in Australia. Wood also claimed a nine-for in his most recent Test – against South Africa – and took his maiden Test five-for the last time England and West Indies met. Wednesday’s first Test will be their first in the same XI.It might also be relevant that, for the first time in many months, England are blessed with a surfeit of fit, fast bowlers. By the end of the South Africa tour, England were without Anderson and Archer due to injury. Perhaps, had all been available, this decision may have come earlier.Stokes admitted on Tuesday that having five seamers fit and ready to go had presented him with “an absolute nightmare”, and said he would be “dreading” delivering the bad news to the two players that missed out.Mark Wood and Jofra Archer have yet to play a Test together•Getty Images”You can only pick so many but it’s a great place to be,” Stokes said. “To have so many to pick from is great as a team, I’d rather be in this position. With the amount of cricket we’ve got coming in the next seven weeks I think all the guys will get opportunities. That’s a hell of a workload especially taking into consideration the time we haven’t been on the field. You’ve got to realise there’s no cricket behind anybody.”To play six Tests in seven weeks would be a huge ask for any bowler, but if we are going to rotate it’s not going to affect the standard. The guys we’ve got here are all unbelievable and they’ve all put a good case forward.”I’ve been dreading it for the last two or three days, telling the unfortunate guys. It’s not a nice conversation to think about and I can’t wait to give Joe the armband back for that reason, but that is leadership. It’s great to tell guys they’re playing but with that comes the fact that you have to deliver the bad news. It’s never nice.”Stokes also said that the prospect of Wood and Archer bowling together was “exciting”, adding that it would be difficult to leave Wood out given his “transformation” in the past two years.”The transformation of Mark Wood, more from a mental side, has been phenomenal. He’s obviously had his troubles in the past with injuries. I’m so excited with where he’s at with everything – all the worries and troubles that he would have had two or three years ago about his body seem to have just disappeared.”The skills that he possesses are very, very rare to have in a bowler. There’s been a lot of thought put into the team that we’re going to select.”England were also set to confirm that Joe Denly will bat at No. 3, with Zak Crawley at No. 4.Probable England XI for first Test: 1 Dom Sibley, 2 Rory Burns, 3 Joe Denly, 4 Zak Crawley, 5 Ben Stokes (captain), 6 Ollie Pope, 7 Jos Buttler, 8 Dom Bess, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Mark Wood, 11 James Anderson
Fabrizio Romano has provided Leeds United a big transfer boost on a target the 49ers Enterprises are "desperate" to sign once the season is concluded on Sunday.
Leeds vs Southampton playoff final
The Whites and Daniel Farke are preparing for a Championship playoff final at Wembley against Southampton, as both clubs look to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Leeds have actually tasted defeat in both games to Russell Martin’s side in the second-tier, with the Saints winning 2-1 at Elland Road on the final day of the season after winning 3-1 at St Mary’s back in September, with the home fixture certain to have left a sour taste in Leeds' mouths.
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If the Whites manage to get the better of Southampton this weekend, though, then it will help when it comes to transfer targets, such as Borussia Dortmund defender Marius Wolf. It has been claimed that Leeds are looking to sign the experienced right-back if they win promotion back to the top flight and have already made an approach.
Another defensive target is Joe Rodon, with a promising update for Leeds and the 49ers now emerging regarding his future.
Joe Rodon transfer update
Should Leeds win at Wembley this weekend, then loan Rodon would have played a big part for the Whites during his season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
The Wales centre-back has been a regular for Farke at the back, striking up a partnership with fellow countryman Ethan Ampadu, who joined on a permanent transfer last summer.
Leeds defender Joe Rodon.
Promotion to the Premier League will more than likely result in Leeds pursuing Rodon in a permanent deal. In fact, recent reports have claimed that the Whites are "desperate" to sign Rodon on a full-time basis and think he could be a “massive” addition, making him a top target.
Now, Romano has provided an update on the defender's future, saying he is one of a plethora of Spurs players who is “set to leave” this summer.
In the summer, Rodon, on £35,000-per-week, will be into the final 12 months of his Tottenham deal, so a permanent transfer could be on the cards, should things go to plan on Sunday. Rodon has clearly enjoyed his time at Elland Road as well, saying back in March:
“I haven’t had much game time over the last couple of years. But this season, coming in, playing every minute and not looking back, yeah maybe…all I wanted was game time. Now that I’m having that it’s only going to make my confidence grow. I’m enjoying every minute and I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given by the gaffer. Long may it continue.”
Wrexham leapfrogged Stockport County to go top of League One when they beat Shrewsbury 3-0 at home on Saturday.
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Palmer, Lee and Marriott on targetWrexham still unbeaten in the leagueAhead of Stockport atop the tableTELL ME MORE
The home side were the better team from off and had the chance to take the lead after just nine minutes. A scramble after a corner saw Oliver Rathbone scuff his shot and send it straight to James McClean in a dangerous position, but his effort hit the bar.
Just six minutes later, the Red Dragons broke the deadlock as Ryan Barnett took on the ball and passed to Elliot Lee, who knocked it wide to McClean. His deadly ball into the net found Ollie Palmer perfectly placed to find the net.
Lee made sure that the home team went in at the break with a comfortable break when a long run from Barnett went unchallenged before he knocked it into the midfielder's path to roll into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
It was thanks to some hapless Shrewsbury defending that Wrexham managed to knock home their third goal. A terrible clearance from Aristote Nsiala put his team-mates in a rough spot as goalkeeper Toby Savin came rushing out of his box, only for Jack Marriott to beat him to it, knock it past him and send it into the net.
There was no way for Shrewsbury to claw their way back into a game against a much stronger opponent, who now sit top of League One ahead of Stockport County, who have a game in hand.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE MVP
Wrexham midfielder Lee's importance to Phil Parkinson's side cannot be overstated. The 29-year-old stroked home a fine finish to double their lead at the perfect time and was heavily involved as the hosts maintained the pressure.
THE BIG LOSER
It was a woeful Shrewsbury debut for Funso Ojo who was left completely exposed on the left wing. He did nothing to stop Barnett on his run through the Shrewsbury half and gave up far too easily, allowing him to tee up Elliott for the second goal.
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After maintaining their unbeaten start to the league campaign, Wrexham turn their attention to the EFL Trophy. The Welsh club will come up against League Two team Salford on Tuesday.
Joe Denly the continuity selection while Sam Hain and Phil Salt among batting hopefuls who miss out
Matt Roller27-Jul-2020WinnersJoe Denly While it’s no surprise Denly has been picked, given he was sent to the ODI bubble last week, his continued selection across formats remains slightly baffling. He is, no doubt, a perfectly useful one-day batsman, as he showed with two fifties in the South Africa series at the start of the year. But at 34, it seems as though he has little chance of making the cut for the 2023 World Cup, and his inclusion blocks opportunities for several talented young batsmen (see below). His white-ball central contract may be a factor, but his legspin can hardly be relevant given there are three frontline spin-bowling options in this squad.Sam Billings Billings fluffed his lines when he was handed the vice-captaincy in the T20I series in New Zealand, managing 34 runs in five innings, but taking the rest of the winter off seems to have helped him recover from a “tough year”. He is a talented player no doubt, but an average of 22.58 after 12 ODI innings shows he is yet to prove himself at international level. Bairstow seems the more likely option to take the gloves, and at 29, Billings could do with delivering on his promise sooner rather than later.Liam Dawson It can feel like Dawson has been in just about every England white-ball squad over the last five years, but he has somehow only played nine limited-overs internationals to date. He could prove a cunning inclusion on his home ground, with its big square boundaries, and has the chance to prove that at 30 he is an intelligent bowler who can offer the control that younger rivals to the back-up spin role – like Mason Crane and Matt Parkinson – cannot. His 4 for 21 in Friday’s warm-up game sealed his spot in this squad.Reece Topley Topley was on the verge of an England recall in 2018 when he felt a problem in his back following a Lions game, which turned out to be yet another stress fracture – his fifth in the space of four years. But 11 Blast games and two Championship matches later, he is back in the fold and in line to play his first international game since 2016. There is plenty to like about him as a bowler, not least his ability to generate good pace from his 6ft 7in frame, and he provides an option both in the Powerplay and at the death.David Willey Willey had accepted that his international career was probably over last winter after he was left out of the white-ball tours following the agony of his last-minute World Cup omission. He thinks he is back towards his best after watching old footage to tweak his release point, and says that he has his enjoyment back after taking a break from the game. While the 2023 World Cup in India may not be the ideal set of conditions for his new-ball bowling, his inclusion proves he is still in the frame ahead of back-to-back T20 World Cups.LosersSam Hain missed the cut despite his impressive List A record•Getty ImagesBen Duckett Duckett fell off the radar somewhat after he was sent home from a Lions tour in 2017-18 for pouring a drink over James Anderson, but was handed a chance to impress despite a mixed 2019 season with Notts. He hit 68 in England’s first intra-squad warm-up, and had spoken about his significant weight loss during lockdown as proof of his new-found professionalism, but has missed out on the final cut with other middle-order options preferred.Sam Hain Hain has the highest List A average ever, his 59.78 putting him clear of Michael Bevan and Virat Kohli, and he thought he was close to an international call-up after being taken to Mumbai on a spin camp and then on the Lions tour to Australia this winter. But he still finds himself unable to get a game, with James Vince ahead of him in the pecking order for No. 3 options. It may well be that his strike rate (86.46 in his career) counts against him, with England preferring firepower all the way through their batting order.Laurie Evans Evans earned a spot in the training squad on the back of his strong run on the T20 franchise circuit, which was kickstarted by a prolific second season at Sussex in 2018. He went on the Lions tour this winter, hitting 94 in a one-day game, but failed to press on after making a start in all three warm-up games last week. It may well be that aged 32, his best chance has now passed.Phil Salt An ultra-attacking opening batsman, Salt whacked a 58-ball hundred in the Lions’ game against Ireland on Sunday as they chased down 297 with 15.2 overs to spare. But England had seemingly already made up their mind that he wasn’t part of their plans for the series. He was unfortunate (and mildly irritated) to miss out on their winter T20I tour after being an unused squad member against Pakistan at the start of last summer, and despite a prolific Big Bash season he finds himself some way back in England’s long queue of top-order options.Brydon Carse While an inexperienced white-ball bowler – he has only played seven List A games in his career – Carse has impressed England’s management with his physique and pace over the past 12 months, and looked like a potential option to replace Liam Plunkett as a back-of-a-length, middle-overs specialist following a decent Lions tour. But Tom Curran and Saqib Mahmood have been picked as the right-arm seam options, with Richard Gleeson preferred as a reserve.
As of right now, the Chelsea board will be working tirelessly to find the perfect replacement for Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine left the club last week after just one season in charge, which is without doubt a bold decision by Todd Boehly that could cause plenty of backlash.
However, one of the positives of bringing in a new coach is that it would provide an opportunity for some of the struggling players to revive themselves.
One of those is Raheem Sterling, who would massively benefit from a new manager, especially one who plays attacking football.
The latest on Chelsea's hunt for a new manager
As per a report from The Athletic, Chelsea are eyeing a move to make Enzo Maresca their next boss.
It’s reported that the Italian has new become one of two options for the club, with Thomas Frank also in contention for the job.
Leicester manager Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea’s appointment strategy is to find the next best promising manager who can lead a rebuild of the club rather than sign a ready-made boss.
Maresca fits that profile down to a tee, and considering he’s just 44 years of age, he’s the definition of the up-and-coming coach that Chelsea are after.
The latest, according to the Guardian's Jason Steinberg, is that talks happened over the weekend.
Some reports even claim that Maresca, or whoever the Blues decide as their next boss could be in place within the next 24-48 hours.
The Chelsea player who could benefit most
Chelsea’s highest-paid player, Sterling, certainly hasn’t justified his colossal £325k-per-week salary since leaving Manchester City in 2022.
Unfortunately, even though Pochettino was able to take his goal tally from six last season to eight this time around, the England international has been unable to nail down a first-team spot.
Chelsea’s number ten started 22 times in the league last campaign, but towards the end of the season, he lost his place in the side to Mykhalo Mudryk.
Yet over the course of the term, Sterling did show glimpses of his former self, and the arrival of former Manchester City coach Maresca could just help him return to his very best.
21/22
30
13
20/21
28
10
19/20
30
20
18/19
31
17
17/18
29
18
As you can see, the winger joined the Blues as one of the most consistent goal scorers in the Premier League, who often stepped up when his side needed him most, hitting double figures every season from 2017 to 2022.
His run from the 2017/18 campaign to his final season was absolutely incredible, and a player of that pedigree doesn’t just lose their ability to find the back of the net.
Given that Maresca’s style of play is possession dominant, where off-the-ball movement is imperative to the team’s success, Sterling should feel right at home, as it mirrors the side he thrived in under Pep Guardiola. After all, the Foxes boss was the great manager's number 2 for a period of time.
Furthermore, Leicester’s joint-second-highest scorer in 2023/24 was Stephy Mavididi, who operates on the left wing just like Sterling, highlighting that his system is tailor-made for the 29-year-old.
Leicester winger Stephy Mavididi.
Furthermore, the "incredible" boss, as dubbed by Harry Winks, has transformed plenty of declining players this season at Leicester, including Jamie Vardy, Jannik Vestergaard, and the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, which indicates he could get a similar response from the Englishman.
Overall, it’s quite clear that Sterling still has a huge role to play at Stamford Bridge under the right boss, and you can already picture the forward and Cole Palmer combining to replicate his previous relationship with Kevin De Bruyne.
He wants the job: Chelsea could now appoint Madueke's dream manager
The manager is “super keen” to join Chelsea this summer.