West Ham United host Manchester City this afternoon as the Hammers look to climb into the top six whilst City can extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points.
The Irons have all but secured a place in the Europa Conference League but can still overtake Manchester United to record a second consecutive top six finish.
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However, today’s match will be all about one person for the East London club…Mark Noble.
Having made 548 appearances for West Ham, the Hammers’ skipper will wave goodbye to the home supporters one last time before the 35-year-old retires at the end of the season.
Therefore, the midfielder deserves to start in the Premier League one last time for his boyhood club.
On the chalkboard
Granted, it’s not been the most eventful season for Noble despite West Ham’s impressive run to the semi-final of the Europa League whilst battling for a top-six finish once again.
The Englishman has made just nine appearances in the top-flight, starting three with the deep-lying partnership of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek difficult to break apart.
However, the latter was rested for last weekend’s 4-0 victory against Norwich City with Manuel Lanzini taking his place and therefore the Argentine could be set to drop out to allow Noble to start one final time for the Clarets.
On the other hand, Rice could be rested. Either way, the West Ham captain deserves to start.
In an interview with the BBC ahead of this afternoon’s match, Hammers manager David Moyes was full of praise for the £49k-per-week veteran midfielder.
“I’m sure it’ll be hugely emotional for Mark and his family,” he said. “Your career is never that long as a footballer, but to do it at one club is a huge achievement.
“It’s not done by many people, so great credit to Mark and the way he’s conducted himself throughout the career.
“He’s played continuously, at the highest level. He’ll be renowned.”
Set to make his 549th and possibly final West Ham appearance, the Irons captain has been a remarkable servant, staying on with his boyhood club throughout his career with brief loan spells at Hull City and Ipswich Town as a youngster the only exceptions.
Since making his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in 2004, the 35-year-old has gone on to score 62 goals and provide 61 assists for the Hammers and will certainly be a massive miss for the east London outfit.
AND in other news: 11 games, 0 goals: Bilic made “huge mistake” on WHU dud who cost £2.5m per yellow card
The WTC final will be his 50th Test, and winning it might just elevate him alongside the finest of India’s captains
Nagraj Gollapudi07-Jun-20232:57
Rohit: Whichever team uses the conditions better will win
It was about an hour after Ross Taylor had scored the winning runs to help New Zealand win the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021. Virat Kohli, India’s vanquished captain, had finished his media briefings and was on his way back to the hotel, ensconced in the Ageas Bowl. But before going there, he stopped briefly to have a quick word with the pair of Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane.From a distance, you wouldn’t have known what was said, but a vivid image remains even two Junes later. Rohit was lying on the turf, sideways, with his head resting on his crooked elbow. There was an air of ease about him. Nothing about the scene suggested he might have been brooding about his pair of 30s, in what was only his second Test in England after the first in 2014.As Kohli retreated indoors, Rohit returned to resume what he was doing prior to the Indian captain stopping by: playing with Samaira, his daughter, and Aarya, Rahane’s daughter. Two friends with their wives and children milling around on a quiet afternoon.Related
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Compartmentalising has been among Rohit’s big strengths. No doubt, the WTC final loss was painful, but in that moment, maybe he realised switching off and enjoying time with family and friends was healthier than being consumed by the defeat. Rohit would continue to spend ample family time over the following weeks as India moved around England for the Pataudi Trophy.That England trip was transformational for Rohit in many ways: he ended as India’s best batter, and only behind Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow overall. More than the runs, it was the respect he accorded to the conditions. During training, he focused on leaving balls, scolding regular India bowlers in case they fed him hit-me deliveries. Rohit understood India needed to have a good first-innings total to have a shot at victory. He was willing to show the discipline: he was the only Indian batter to face more than 1000 deliveries across the five Tests that summer, including the WTC final. It all came to fruition in that fourth Test, at The Oval, where Rohit scored 127, a match-winning masterpiece as India took the crucial 2-1 series lead.It was Rohit’s first Test century overseas, and remains one of his finest.On Wednesday, Rohit will walk out at The Oval, this time as India’s captain, in another WTC final, against a most familiar foe in Australia. The significance of the moment will not be lost on Rohit – not that he will show it or showboat.Whether it’s at a press conference or on the pitch, Rohit is almost always relaxed and unfazed•ICC via Getty ImagesThe final will also be his 50th Test. A combination of injuries, form, and an impenetrable Indian middle order have all played a role in Rohit not being closer to 100 Tests, alongside his contemporaries Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara. It is a landmark many might have thought inevitable when he first arrived, but the beauty of Rohit is the absence of insecurity. His belief – and he had to teach himself this – in focusing on the moment, and his tactical smarts, allowed Rohit to become a natural leader.Mumbai Indians recognised that in 2013 and appointed him their captain. It was a decision made with the long term in mind. Rohit has since more than proved his worth with five IPL titles, despite often not being the best batter in his teams. But he has also played a role in the development of young players who swarm to him like he is a sage, offering them both calmness and the feeling of lightness. In the pressure of the IPL, both are essential.Being true to yourself has always been Rohit’s mantra, and he wants youngsters to be able to do likewise. Allowing space to a player to grow is another way he leads. At the media briefing on Tuesday, Rohit was asked what his advice to Shubman Gill would be. His answer: just keep batting the way he has in 2023, where he has scored centuries in Test cricket, double-centuries in ODIs and three tons for Gujarat Titans in IPL. It is, Rohit said, “just about giving him more and more confidence”.In many ways, Rohit comes from the MS Dhoni school of captaincy: he believes in the process, too. Mental preparedness, if you listen to Rohit, is the backbone of his success. The one difference between him and Dhoni, though, is Rohit is big on winning “championships”, world titles.And Rohit now faces in front of him the prospect of a lasting success, a legacy-ensuring success, as important as any of India’s previous world titles.Rohit’s match-winning century at The Oval in 2021 remains one of his finest knocks•Getty Images”I’ve gotten the job to make sure that we take Indian cricket forward every time. Whoever it is, whether it’s me or someone else – even the guys before – their role was to take Indian cricket forward and win as many games, as many championships as possible,” Rohit said responding to the kind of legacy he would want to establish.”I want to win games, I want to win championships. That is what you play for. It’ll be nice to win some titles, win some extraordinary series. Having said that, I genuinely feel that we don’t want to put too much pressure on ourselves by thinking, [or] overthinking about these kinds of stuff. So for me, it’ll be nice if I can win one or two championships before I decide to move on from this job.”In 2007, a 20-year-old Rohit won his first world title – the 2007 World T20. Four years later, he was desperate to have missed out on the ODI World Cup win having not put together the form to be part of the squad. In 2013, he won the Champions Trophy, which was the last time India won an ICC title. In the 2019 World Cup, Rohit had a dream individual tournament with five centuries and finished as the tournament’s leading run-maker, but he was gutted as India lost in the semi-final.At the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, his first ICC tournament as captain, his team were brushed aside by a rampaging England in the last four. Rohit became India’s captain across formats last year. All six Tests he has captained so far have come at home, with India winning four and losing one, against Australia.Thus, the WTC final will be his first overseas Test as captain. At 36, winning the WTC final is his shot at creating a true legacy. Losing to Australia doesn’t make India a bad Test team, or Rohit a poor leader. Winning it, though, can become the defining moment of Rohit’s Test career, elevating him alongside the finest of India’s captains.
When Tottenham Hotspur sell a key player for mega money, there is history now to tell us that the cash isn’t always invested very well. Still, Daniel Levy is no longer at Spurs, so things may well change in the future.
After Gareth Bale left north London behind, heading to Real Madrid to the tune of £85m, the ‘Magnificent 7’, as they were infamously known, were not much of a success.
Enter Paulinho, Christian Eriksen, Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli, Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches and Erik Lamela. While the latter scored that ridiculous Rabona goal, the only real success story here was Eriksen, a creative and technical marvel.
Ten years later, it was Harry Kane’s time to leave Spurs. He moved to Bayern Munich for a fee of around £86m, a relative bargain considering what he’s achieved since.
Arguably, like Bale, money was not well spent the summer he departed. The signings of summer 2023 were rather hit or miss. While Dejan Kulusevski arrived permanently, they spent £45m on an inconsistent Brennan Johnson and £50m on an injury-prone James Maddison.
Meanwhile, in 2024 £65m was spent on Dominic Solanke, who also cannot stay fit, while young gems in the form of Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert also joined. Not quite a magnificent seven, but more of an average trio. Gray and Odobert may well come good, but Solanke’s ceiling has likely already been hit.
So, perhaps Thomas Frank and Co will need to look to the academy again, just as they did when handing Kane his debut back in 2011. Once all was said and done, he’d found the net on 280 occasions, leaving as their all-time record goalscorer and Arsenal’s chief nemesis.
His form in Germany since has been nothing short of scintillating.
Harry Kane's season in numbers
Kane does goals. There’s not a whole lot else to say. Even bringing the likes of Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak into the equation, he is currently the best centre-forward in world football. The numbers support that.
While Viktor Gyokeres won the Gerd Muller Trophy at the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony, proclaimed as the best striker of 2024/25, Kane deserved to be in the conversation.
Gyokeres, for context, scored 54 times last season, but Kane ran him close, netting 41 in 51 outings.
Well, in 2025/26, he looks like he’s on track for the best season of his career as he moves into his 32nd year.
If you thought Kane couldn’t get any more ruthless, then think again. This season he has undeniably been the best player in Europe, scoring a mind-boggling 17 goals in nine games.
He’s scoring at a record of a goal every 46 minutes. It’s a level of potency we’ve very rarely ever seen from a striker in the elite game.
Truth be told, it’s peak Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo levels of goalscoring.
Kane has beaten the goalkeeper ten times in five Bundesliga fixtures while in the Champions League, he’s been a demon too, netting four in two matches, including a brace against Chelsea a couple of weeks ago.
The England skipper continued his rich vein of form against Cypriot side Pafos on Tuesday, bagging another two goals. This time he played as a no.10, behind Nicolas Jackson. It had no impact on his ability to score.
Replacing that type of output was always going to be impossible for Spurs. Solanke is a handy striker but he’s always going to be compared to Kane. That’s harsh but it’s the way of the world.
Fortunately, the Lilywhites do have one exciting academy prospect coming through the ranks who looks more exciting than Kane ever did at youth level.
Meet Spurs' most exciting academy talent since Harry Kane
At youth level Kane was impressive, scoring nine goals in 13 official matches for Tottenham Hotspur’s U21 side. Yet, he initially struggled at senior level.
The club’s record scorer didn’t find the net during five matches on loan at Norwich and also found life difficult at Leicester City and Leyton Orient, notching seven across 33 matches during those spells.
Spurs
435
280
England
107
74
Bayern
105
102
Millwall
27
9
Orient
18
5
Leicester
15
2
Norwich
5
0
Nine goals in 29 matches at Millwall was slightly more productive but it wasn’t until 2014/15 where he finally showcased his elite potential.
That term the Englishman registered 31 goals for Spurs and since then, there hasn’t been a single campaign where he’s not scored fewer than 20 across a single season.
Bayern Munich'sHarryKaneduring the warm up before the match
Many have come through the academy since then hoping to emulate that sort of record. The likes of Dane Scarlett, Troy Parrott and Will Lankshear, while still young, did not show enough in their fleeting appearances.
There are still high hopes for Mikey Moore, too. The 17-year-old was compared to Neymar by James Maddison last season and has so much potential.
Yet, the most exciting talent bursting through the ranks is another 17-year-old, Luca Williams-Barnett.
The teenager may be unknown to many supporters but has already made his first-team debut, appearing for the final three minutes of Spurs’ League Cup win over Doncaster Rovers last week.
Those minutes were a fine reward for his remarkable development over the last few years. If Spurs were looking for their own Max Dowman, then they have found it here.
A no.10 by trade, who can also play up top, the talented teen was superb last season, scoring 20 goals and registering a further 12 assists in 23 outings.
He’s begun the 2025/26 term in a similar vein of form with six goals and four assists in eight appearances for the U21s.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
As data analyst Ben Mattinson has outlined, he is “one of England’s best talents at youth level” and he also “scores bangers”.
His hat-trick earlier this season may not have showcased this but it proved he’s usually always in the right place at the right time, influencing play positively.
A goalscorer, a creator, an innate dribbler, Williams-Barnett has all of the tools to thrive at Spurs in the coming years.
However, for Frank, the challenge will be finding him regular minutes now in the Premier League. Their fierce rivals Arsenal, have led the way by giving the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Dowman so many minutes over the last year.
Could Spurs be brewing their own version here? The future certainly looks bright.
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After a couple of handy knocks since joining CSK this season, Ayush Mhatre took his game up a few notches against RCB on Saturday, smashing 94 from 48 balls
Ashish Pant04-May-20251:11
What makes Ayush Mhatre so effective?
Ayush Mhatre is all of 17 years and 292 days, but already has the makings of a top-drawer T20 cricketer. He looks pleasing to the eye, has shots all around the park, and the power game required for a modern-day T20 batter. But what impressed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming the most about Mhatre is the temperament and the composure he displayed at the trials and how he has backed it up at IPL 2025.”He’s got talent. He’s got hand-eye coordination. He’s got a beautiful, silky swing. He’s aggressive. Everything that we like about a modern-day T20 player,” Fleming said about Mhatre at the press conference after CSK lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday night. “But, to me, it’s the temperament and being able to execute in a trial and then on the big stage. That’s what I’m most impressed with.”It’s one thing to have a lot of shots, but to be able to execute that game plan on a big stage in front of some of the biggest players in the world is what I admire.”Related
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In a season where very little has gone CSK’s way, Mhatre has been one of the few positives. He came into the team as a replacement for captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was ruled out five games into the season with an elbow injury. Mhatre’s season debut was also his T20 debut, in the game against Mumbai Indians (MI). He scored a 15-ball 32 in his first match, followed by a 19-ball 30 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).On Saturday, he moved his game up a couple of gears and smashed a 48-ball 94 against RCB, becoming the third-youngest player to score a fifty in the IPL. While his innings did not result in a CSK win, it’s ensured the franchise had a player for the future.”It’s sometimes hard to explain, but there’s just a quality around what he was doing,” Fleming said about Mhatre’s selection as Gaikwad’s replacement. “It’s early days, but we have been very impressed with his skills right from when he trialled and was with us at the early part of the season.
“He was very comfortable right from day one and the team was very comfortable with him. Hopefully, it’s the start of a long relationship”Stephen Fleming on Ayush Mhatre
“We have enjoyed a lot of the shot play from young players in this tournament and we’re delighted that we’ve got one ourselves. So, yes, excited about the future for him.”Despite being with CSK only for the last month or so and despite his young age, Mhatre has fitted into the team well.”We have a pretty relaxed camp, which has always been our style. He has some team-mates [from Mumbai] on the side. [Shivam] Dube, is one that has seen a fair bit of him,” Fleming said. “Again, it comes back to his maturity. He fitted in seamlessly. It’s often not what the team around him does, but it’s just the way that he behaves.”He was very comfortable right from day one and the team was very comfortable with him. Hopefully, it’s the start of a long relationship.”Ayush Mhatre took 26 runs in an over off Bhuvneshwar Kumar•Getty ImagesIn just this last week, IPL 2025 has had two teenagers rip into bowlers of international repute. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 14, had on Monday become the youngest centurion in men’s T20s, while Mhatre fell six short of a century on Saturday. While being fearless is one thing, Fleming has been impressed by the skills that these teenagers possess, and also a little worried for some of the Under-19 opponents these two will come up against in the near future.”It’s amazing, really,” Fleming said. “It’s extraordinary to watch that fearless approach. But you’ve got to have skills as well. And to have the skills that these young players have and to be able to execute them against some of the best bowlers in the world is quite remarkable.”It doesn’t matter whether you’re 14, 18, 21. The innings that we’ve seen being played, particularly by these two youngsters, is just top class. It shows maturity beyond their years, but it shows a skill set that is quite daunting, I think, particularly for bowlers around the world.”I worry a little bit about the Under-19 opposition. They’ll come up against two pretty handy openers when a World Cup comes around. But it’s amazing how much talent and how composed they are.”
Arsenal are reportedly ready to sell £45 million ($60m) star Gabriel Jesus this coming January, though Gunners fans have been told to "expect a quiet January window" after a spending big money over the summer. When Gabriel Jesus joined the Gunners in July 2022, he was billed as the man to restore Arsenal's firepower and spearhead a new era at the Emirates.
Jesus' uncertain future at Arsenal
It was supposed to be a fairytale move, a proven winner swapping Manchester City’s silverware-laden dressing room for Mikel Arteta’s ambitious Arsenal project. Two years later, that dream appears to be crumbling. Injuries, inconsistency, and a ruthless reshaping of Arteta’s attack have left the Brazilian’s Arsenal future hanging by a thread. Reports from now claim that Jesus’ latest appearance, an FA Cup defeat to Manchester United in January, where he tore his ACL, could be his final one in red and white.
In his debut season, he made a bright start, scoring 11 goals across all competitions. But that first-season spark soon faded. Persistent knee problems and a damaging ACL injury in January have since derailed his momentum entirely. The Brazilian has not kicked a competitive ball this season and is now facing the grim prospect of being moved on before he ever truly fulfilled his potential in north London.
AdvertisementAFPGyokeres and Havertz push Jesus out of the picture
In football, time waits for no one, and Arsenal’s summer overhaul has made that crystal clear. Viktor Gyokeres’ blockbuster arrival from Sporting has transformed the frontline, while Kai Havertz’s growing confidence as a No.9 has given Arteta tactical flexibility that doesn’t rely on Jesus. Once the guaranteed starter, the 28-year-old now finds himself surplus to requirements. Arsenal’s attack looks sharper, faster, and more unpredictable, all without him. And with the club reportedly open to offers, the writing appears to be on the wall for Jesus’ Emirates career. Interest is already mounting from Brazil, with Flamengo and Palmeiras both said to be keen on bringing him home. Meanwhile, Everton are said to be weighing up a bold January swoop for the out-of-favour forward. Jesus remains tied to Arsenal until June 2027, but with no sign of a contract renewal and the club looking to balance their books after a lavish summer, a parting of ways seems increasingly inevitable.
'Quiet' winter transfer window looming
According to the report, Arsenal will be taking a conservative approach to the winter window following their £250m ($332m) summer outlay. That record-breaking spending saw eight new faces arrive at London Colney, giving Arteta unprecedented squad depth. But it’s also left the club with a bloated wage bill and little room for manoeuvre under financial fair play regulations and PSR. The Gunners are believed to be focused on consolidating, trimming where possible, and making full use of the talent they already have. Reiss Nelson, Jakub Kiwior, and Albert Sambi Lokonga were all moved out over the summer to ease congestion, but Jesus’ potential departure would be by far the biggest name to go. Selling him could also generate crucial funds to reinvest in next summer’s plans.
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Arsenal look to the future
Even as the club prepares for potential departures, Arsenal’s long-term planning machine keeps whirring. The Gunners have wrapped up the signing of Victor Ozhianvuna, a 16-year-old prodigy from Shamrock Rovers. The Irish teenager, already capped at U15 and U18 level for the Republic of Ireland, will officially join Arsenal in January 2027 when he turns 18. Originally a wing-back, Ozhianvuna’s versatility has drawn rave reviews.
With Brendan Rodgers’ future still up in the air, a fresh update has dropped regarding the situation and Celtic’s board, courtesy of an ex-CEO.
Rodgers delighted after dramatic Celtic win
The Hoops left it very late to win 2-1 away to Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday afternoon, with new signing Kelechi Iheanacho scoring the winning goal from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
Speaking after the game, Rodgers couldn’t hide his delight at the result, as Celtic’s winning mentality shone through, like it so often does.
“It’s a great feeling. It’s been a long two weeks, so to get back out on to the football field – and this is always a tough game here – I’m so pleased for the players.“We weren’t quite in the right fluidity in the first-half. We got into some good areas but we weren’t feeding the wide guys well enough. But I thought in the second half we were much better.
“We started the half really well, got in front, and we had control of the game and had other good chances. They made some really good blocks.
“At 1-0 it can always be in the balance, no matter how much dominance you have, and we got punished from a corner and then they had a wee bit of momentum then with not so long to go. But we stuck at it, we defended the box when he had to, we were really strong and had that Celtic spirit.”
New update on Rodgers' Celtic future
Away from a huge win, though, Rodgers’ future is still a key talking point, and speaking to Football Insider, former Aberdeen chief executive officer Keith Wyness claimed that Celtic’s board will cause huge anger among the fanbase if the manager leaves.
“Now, what I’m hearing from my Celtic contacts is that they’re feeling that the board has become a little bit ivory tower in its view these days. They’re older. They’re used to doing things a certain way, they’re not listening to what they need to do to change, they’re not prepared to change, and there isn’t a hunger and a desire anymore to go forward.
“They’re quite happy with the money in the bank. So that’s what frustrates fans more than anything else when they see their prices going up and they have to fund the season tickets, and they don’t see that being transferred into ambition. It isn’t as though the club’s bust, the very opposite, that’s what frustrates people.
“If Brendan goes, then I think the board will see some real anger, obviously depending on who they bring in. Brendan had managed to win back over a lot of the fans and there’s a lot of sympathy for Brendan in this situation.”
There is no doubt that life under Rodgers isn’t perfect right now, and that he isn’t blameless when it comes to some underwhelming performances, but he still feels like the right man for the job for many fans.
As Wyness alludes to, he wasn’t fully supported financially in the summer transfer window, causing plenty of frustration, so he can only work with the squad he has now.
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Sacking Rodgers would be a big risk by the board, and if that did happen, or if the Northern Irishman leaves, they will have to nail his successor to please the supporters.
New head coach dismisses ‘inspire and entertain’ mantra, with focus on better fitness and more domestic cricket
Valkerie Baynes02-Apr-2025″It’s about winning.” With those three words, uttered 24 hours after being named England Women’s head coach, Charlotte Edwards set out her mission to turn an underperforming team into World Cup contenders within six months.Effectively dispensing with the ‘inspire and entertain’ mantra introduced two years ago by her predecessor, Jon Lewis, Edwards wasn’t afraid to tread into territory that makes some other coaches squeamish. Similarly, she was forthright about the need to hold players accountable for their fitness.”They’ve had this mantra of entertaining and inspiring over the last little bit, and I think it’s probably just changing their focus,” Edwards told reporters at Lord’s on Wednesday. “It’s bottling that entertaining and that aggressive approach, but for me, it’s about their game smarts and their game awareness about winning.”I’m under no illusions. I’ve come into this role, it’s about winning. I think coaches are sometimes too scared to say we want to win. That’s our job. My job is to win games of cricket, and I think it’s how we go and do that now.”That looks different on each given day and I just want to create some intelligent players who win games of cricket for England, and that’s going to be how I’ll go about stuff over the next few weeks, and try and instil that within the players.”Lewis lost his job following the 16-0 Ashes drubbing in Australia in January, which followed a shock group-stage exit at the T20 World Cup last October.Those results brought into question the fitness of some players in the squad, particularly when compared to the fiercely athletic Australian team.”My first week is actually profiling next week, so I’m going to judge for myself about where the team are with their fitness,” Edwards said. “I will make the players more accountable for fitness, so that’s something I’m going to do.”But there’s many aspects to this and I think the results from the winter, although 16-nil, I know that we are closer to that than what that scoreline suggested. I wouldn’t have taken on this role if I didn’t think that, in six months’ time, we could win a World Cup in India. I think we’ve got the playing group to do that.”We’ve got a lot of hard work and we’ve got a lot of honesty in that time before then, but I’m really confident that, given some time with this group, that we can turn things around very quickly.”England’s standards collapsed over the winter, particularly in the T20 World Cup in Dubai•ICC/Getty ImagesThe Ashes proved the final straw for Lewis and Heather Knight, who lost her job as captain, although she will remain available for selection as a player, following a sweeping review into the team’s performances.There had been a sense that Edwards would be reluctant to coach a team containing a core of players she had led as England captain until her retirement in 2016, but she welcomed the opportunity, feeling that enough time had passed.Edwards has stepped down from head coaching roles with Mumbai Indians, Sydney Sixers and Hampshire to fully focus on the England job, having won eight titles in five years at franchise and domestic level.”The great thing now is I’ve worked with them a lot in all the franchise competitions that I’ve worked in,” she said. “They’ve seen a very different person from Lottie the captain to Lottie the coach.”I think I’m a much better coach than I was captain, if I’m honest. There’s been enough time now between me playing with them all and I’m thoroughly looking forward to it. I’ve had some lovely messages from the players over the last 24 hours and I’m just super excited to get there on Monday.”Among Edwards first tasks’ will be to appoint a new captain, which she anticipated doing sooner rather than later after linking up with the team, saying she had a clear idea of her No.1 contender.Related
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In terms of the coaching role, Edwards was the standout candidate, with Clare Connor, Managing Director England Women’s Cricket, confirming that she was appointed without “the normal sort of open-recruitment process” that would be used for a coach at that level.That means the ECB ignored its own pledge to adhere to the Rooney Rule in recruiting head coaches. Under the rule, at least one applicant from black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds are to be interviewed.Connor also revealed that, as a result of the review, the ECB would set out in the coming days to recruit a national selector for the first time since the women’s game became professional in England and Wales. That would feed into a commitment to foster greater links and communication with domestic teams.Centrally contracted England players are expected to be available for the first seven rounds of the domestic 50-over competition, starting on April 19, with a strong emphasis on performance for selection in those games.Jon Lewis and Heather Knight paid the price for England’s poor showing this winter•PA Images via Getty ImagesShe also said players’ physical, mental and overall preparedness to compete at the highest level had been examined.”All of that professional standards, we’ve had some really good feedback on,” Connor said. “The domestic game we got feedback from, and from some notable figures in the world game as well.”Going back to our criteria and the appointment of Lottie, no one knows better what those professional standards need to be now. She’s seen it around the world. We’ve seen it for ourselves, obviously, during the Ashes in the starkest sense.”The pace of change in women’s cricket, it’s been fast and it’s been demanding. I think we’ve supported players well through those last few years. I think one of the things around the professionalisation is making sure that we’re challenging as well as being supportive.”That’s our role, to support players, but also challenge them and support them for successful times, and to perform under pressure.”Edwards believes that a focus on performance at domestic level as a benchmark for national selection will go some way to addressing the England team’s shortcomings in pressure situations, as laid bare in their error-strewn T20 World Cup defeat to West Indies and throughout the Ashes.With home series against West Indies and India this summer before the 50-over World Cup in India from late September and a home T20 World Cup next year, getting that aspect of the game right is crucial, with Edwards putting a strong emphasis on improving in the 50-over format.”We’ve got a lot of young players who, for me, haven’t played enough cricket, so I want them to experience playing more cricket, being put in those situations time and time again and earning your England cap,” Edwards said.”The door is not shut to anyone and that’s going to be a strong message coming out today, but hopefully starting with the county season, that’s going to be a really positive thing.”I’m not going to talk too much about the past. For me it’s all about the future and what I see is that we’ve got a really talented squad and I think we’ve got some of the best players in the world, some really talented high-potential young players, which I’m looking forward to working with.”
GOAL ranks the top three soccer players produced by every state in the South, including Dempsey, Richards and Graham Zusi
Welcome to the South. American soccer, traditionally, has been concentrated in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic states, the Pacific Northwest and California. But there are some ballers from down south, too. Texas, in particular, has delivered top-level talent, with Clint Dempsey, Stu Holden and Omar Gonzalez – all seminal figures in the American game – coming from of the Lone Star State.
The South has contributed plenty. Florida, Alabama, Virginia and Maryland – if we're being a little generous geographically – have all had their part to play in the story of American soccer. And what they perhaps lack in number, they more than make up for with a little bit of southern grit. As Dempsey once said: "You don't know where I'm from, dawg."
Some regions in the U.S. have deeper player pools than others, so who is the best of the best? Which state has been the most fertile ground for developing American soccer talent?
GOAL ranks the top three men's soccer players from each of the 50 states. Next up, the South. Previous: Northeast
AFPAlabama: Chris Richards
Hometown: Birmingham
Clubs played for: Bayern Munich, Hoffenheim, Crystal Palace
USMNT caps: 33
Why he’s No. 1: Richards is proof of how finding the right club can change your career. Hyped by American fans when he joined Bayern Munich in 2018, Richards was too raw to make it in Bavaria at first. A middling loan to Hoffenheim followed, but he has since become a standout under Oliver Glasner for an excellent Crystal Palace team. These days, he's a top name on the teamsheet for the USMNT, too. Certainly, a bigger move is on the way for a real talent.
Runners-up:
2. Tanner Tessmann (Birmingham): Coming into his own at Lyon, but still needs to show he can do it for a full season.
3. Aron Johannsson (Mobile): A dual-national who rather lost his way, Johannsson had all of the talent, but never quite put everything together.
AdvertisementGettyArkansas: Thomas Roberts
Hometown: Little Rock
Clubs played for: FC Dallas, North Texas SX, Columbus Crew 2, Stabaek FC, North Carolina FC
USMNT caps: 0
Why he’s No. 1: Arkansas is home to any number of NFL and NBA stars. Soccer really isn't the state's calling card. Thomas Roberts, now of the USL's North Carolina FC, was a youth national, but is on his sixth club at the age of 24.
Runners-up:
2. Parker Maher (Fort Smith): A brief USL spell but little else for the Missouri State talent.
3. Central Arkansas (Conway): OK, so not an individual player. But shout out to the Bears as the only Division 1 men's college program in the state.
GettyDelaware: Mark McKenzie
Hometown: Bear
Clubs played for: Bethlehem Steel, Philadelphia Union, Genk, Toulouse
USMNT caps: 22
Why he’s No. 1: Where do you want to start? McKenzie is the epitome of an American homegrown centerback in the modern era. He starred for a number of club teams before moving swiftly through college, MLS and then into Europe. These days, he is a regular for Toulouse and a presumptive starter for the USMNT at the World Cup – assuming he stays fit.
Runners-up:
2. Anthony Fontana (Newark): A seasoned journeyman who contributed to a Supporters' Shield win for the Union and flirted with a European career.
3. Rob Smith (Wilmington): One of the original MLS midfielders, Smith played for the Crew and also featured for the U.S. youth national teams.
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GettyFlorida: Graham Zusi
Hometown: Longwood
Clubs played for: Central Florida Kraze, Sporting Kansas City
USMNT caps: 55
Why he’s No. 1: Now we're talking. Florida is a sporting hotbed in general, and it has made a fine contribution to soccer, too. Zusi enjoyed a wonderful MLS career, playing 355 times for Sporting KC, serving as both a winger and right back. His impact at the 2014 World Cup simply cannot be understated, as Zusi provided two assists for a solid USMNT. Seven All-Star appearances, two MLS best XIs, and one of the top assist providers in the league, Zusi had a legendary career.
Runners-up:
2. Dax McCarty (Winter Park): Could have earned the top spot. McCarty was a fantastic MLS journeyman who slotted in wherever he played. A word, in particular, for his marking of Lionel Messi in Atlanta's win over Miami in the 2024 MLS playoffs.
3. Aidan Morris (Fort Lauderdale): Give it a year or two, and Morris might be higher. He had slipped slightly since joining Middlesbrough, but remains a solid performer for the Championship club. The question is: what's next?
India captain says their three allrounders gives them a lot of options
Andrew Fidel Fernando19-Feb-20251:12
Harshit or Arshdeep in India’s XI?
So what if it’s overcast in Dubai? And so what if there’s dew, or a little spice in the deck, or some movement in the air? Whatever this venue throws at India, they have the bowling options to deal with it.So said captain Rohit Sharma, ahead of India’s first match of the Champions Trophy against Bangladesh. This is a venue to which India are well-accustomed, having played nine T20Is here since October 2021. They haven’t played an ODI in Dubai since 2018, but the versatility in their likely XI will put them in a good position to adjust on the fly, according to Rohit.”If it’s going to be overcast, we have the bowling arsenal to combat that,” he said. “If there are overhead conditions helping the bowlers, we have the bowlers to exploit that. And if we bat in those overhead conditions, the batters know exactly what to do.”Among the strengths in this India squad, are the presence of “multi-skilled” cricketers, Rohit said. Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Ravindra Jadeja could potentially all play in the same XI. Without spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who was ruled out through injury, these are bowlers Rohit may lean on through the course of the tournament.Related
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“Those three guys – Jadeja, Axar, and Washy – give us a different dimension to the game, our combination, and our squad, and add a lot of depth. That is why we tried to get players who have two skills rather than one.”One of India’s pure bowling options, however, is wristspinner Varun Chakravarthy. He’s played only one ODI so far, but has an impressive List A record, having claimed 60 wickets from 24 matches at a spectacular average of 14.80. He is a player who deals in subterfuge, Rohit said.”He doesn’t bowl too many variations to us in the nets. He bowls just one type of delivery. Maybe, he doesn’t want to show his variations even to us. But that is a good thing. He has got certain weapons which he wants to just put it out there, when it actually matters. I am more than happy if he wants to do that.”But, he has got something different which is why he is here with us. He has been impressive in the last eight to nine months. That is why we wanted to bring him here and see what he has and what he can do for India on the big stage.”Another player who Rohit will look to, is Mohammad Shami, who only returned to international cricket late last month, after undergoing ankle surgery in early 2024. He only bowled 15.5 overs across the two ODIs he played against England, claiming a wicket in each outing. With Bumrah out, Shami’s form may be especially important to India’s chances.”All we wanted with Shami was to get back to wearing India colours more than anything else. Whether he gets wickets or not was completely immaterial to us [in the England series].”When you talk about a bowler like Shami, who has done the job over the years so many times for us – for them it’s just about getting back into rhythm. Hopefully he can find some rhythm early on in this tournament.”
West Ham United were turned down in the final hours of the summer transfer window after making a last-gasp approach to sign a “leader”, a reporter has revealed.
Igor delighted after signing for West Ham
West Ham’s deadline day was ultimately relatively quiet, with Igor Julio proving to be the only arrival, joining on loan from fellow Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.
Igor chose to move to the London Stadium rather than joining Crystal Palace, which may have caused the knock-on effect of Marc Guehi not signing for Liverpool, with Oliver Glasner always reluctant to sanction a move unless adequate cover was brought in.
Speaking after joining Graham Potter’s side, the Brazilian said: “I am really happy to be here at West Ham United,” said Igor. “It is a big Club, a historic Club, with fantastic support and a special identity. I saw this in Prague during the Europa Conference League final two years ago, and I feel very proud to now be representing the colours.”
Potter needed to get another centre-back through the door to replace the outgoing Nayef Aguerd, who has now signed for Marseille, but the Brighton defender was not the only target, with West Ham also making a last-gasp approach to sign Chelsea’s Axel Disasi.
However, reporter Graeme Bailey has since revealed that Disasi “said no” to a move to the London Stadium, while also shunning interest from the likes of AFC Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ajax to remain at Stamford Bridge.
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It is unclear why the Chelsea centre-back, who is valued at around £25m, was so reluctant to leave, given that there was widespread interest in his signature, and the Frenchman clearly isn’t a part of Enzo Maresca’s plans.
The 27-year-old, who has been described as a “leader” by journalist Nizaar Kinsella, was shipped out on loan to Aston Villa last January, and has failed to make a single appearance for the Blues so far this season.
The fact Igor actually wants to go and play football is an encouraging sign, and there are clear indications he is a more forward-thinking defender, who is comfortable in possession of the ball.
Average per 90 (past year)
Axel Disasi
Igor Julio
Passes attempted
58.50
68.37
Progressive passes
3.31
4.59
Blocks
1.01
2.25
Consequently, West Ham should not be too disheartened by the fact they missed out on the signing of Disasi, and they will be hoping picking up their first clean sheet of the season against Nottingham Forest last time out will be an early turning point.