Amid rumours that Rayan Ait-Nouri could be on his way to Manchester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers are now reportedly tracking an “interesting name” who could replace the left-back.
Man City advancing in Ait-Nouri deal
Having already lost Matheus Cunha to Manchester United, Manchester’s other club are now aiming to deal Wolves a second transfer blow. According to Fabrizio Romano, City are now advancing their deal to sign Ait-Nouri from the Midlands club with talks already held and the left-back already approving the summer switch.
Given that they spent a large part of the 2024/25 campaign flirting with relegation before Vitor Pereira’s arrival turned things around, there should be major concern around Molineux that Wolves could suffer their worst nightmare without Cunha and Ait-Nouri.
They must get things right in search of replacements this summer. Losing Cunha was always expected after his £63m release clause came to light, but whether Wolves had the same expectation in Ait-Nouri’s case is the big question.
Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha celebrate for Wolves.
Whether caught by surprise or not, they must commence the difficult task of replacing their influential left-back if he joins Manchester City in this summer’s transfer window.
Rayan Ait Nouri in the Premier League
2024/25 stats (via FBref)
Starts
37
Assists
7
Key Passes
46
Ball Recoveries
145
If the Algerian’s influence wasn’t clear, then his numbers should highlight just how important he’s been going in both directions for Wolves. Already without Cunha’s goals, Pereira may now have the task of replacing Ait-Nouri’s creativity and could yet turn towards an “interesting name” to do exactly that in the coming months.
Wolves actively tracking Clement Bischoff
According to Molineux News, Wolves chiefs are now actively tracking Clement Bischoff who sources described as an “interesting name” when speaking to the outlet about the Midlands club’s transfer activity.
The Brondby teenager may be one for the future, but his versatile ability to play as both a left-midfielder and a left-back mirrors that of Ait-Nouri’s. That alone should ensure that he’s among the top candidates to replace Wolves’ star defender in the event that he joins Manchester City.
Described as an “excellent” two-way dribbler when one-on-one by analyst Ben Mattinson, Bischoff looks set to be one to watch this summer. For Wolves, a deal to sign the teenager would represent smart business which considers the short-term needs of Pereira’s side as well as the long-term aim that the manager may have in place for his side.
Romano: Wolves make approach to sign "highly rated" gem wanted in Europe
The Old Gold are making moves for the future…
BySean Markus Clifford May 30, 2025
In terms of replacing Ait-Nouri’s output too, the fact that Bischoff has managed 10 assists in all competitions for Brondby this season suggests that he would be more than capable of replicating the Algerian’s influence.
Manchester United slumped to another defeat in the Premier League this season when they were beaten 4-3 by Brentford in a dramatic clash on Sunday.
The Red Devils have now lost 16 times in the top-flight this term and sit 15th in the table as it stands, winning just ten, and there is no denying that it has a dismal domestic campaign.
Ruben Amorim’s side could still win the Europa League and secure Champions League football for next season, but United will know that they need to improve their domestic form.
On the same day that Manchester United were thrashed by the Bees, Red Devils loanee Antony added another goal to his collection for Real Betis, with the stunner against Espanyol.
The Brazilian forward, who joined Real Betis on loan in the January transfer window, has now scored three goals in his last four appearances for the Spanish side, whilst his parent club continue to struggle.
Antony's impressive form on loan at Real Betis
The left-footed flop started the season with zero goals and zero assists in 12 appearances in the Premier League and the Europa League combined for Manchester United.
Antony, who produced three goals and two assists in 38 matches for the club in the 2023/24 campaign, was allowed to go out on loan in January because he had not performed well enough at the top end of the pitch over the previous 18 months.
Manchester United'sAntonyduring the warm up before the match
Three goals and two assists in 50 games is not a good enough return for an attacking player who reportedly cost the club a fee of £86m from Ajax in the summer of 2022.
Perhaps the weight of that transfer fee has been too much for Antony to carry during his time at Old Trafford because his performances for Real Betis are those of a star who is playing with the weight off his shoulders.
Appearances
13
7
xG
2.66
0.76
Goals
4
3
Big chances created
8
4
Key passes per game
2.5
1.0
Assists
2
2
As you can see in the table above, the Brazil international has made an instant impact in Spain in both LaLiga and the Conference League with his exciting performances at the top end of the pitch.
He has been directly involved in 11 goals in 20 matches, with seven goals and four assists, in those two competitions, which shows that he has provided a huge threat in the final third from a right wing position.
Despite his impressive burst of performances for Real Betis in recent months, Manchester United could find a winger who is miles better than him by landing a player they have an active interest in.
Man Utd preparing bid for Premier League star
According to CaughtOffside, Manchester United are one of the clubs that are interested in a deal to sign Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report claims that fellow Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, and Arsenal are also eyeing up a possible swoop for the Cameroon international ahead of next season.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It states that Newcastle United are also keen on the Bees sensation but his club’s valuation of up to £65m is said to make it a difficult deal for the Magpies to do this summer.
The outlet does, however, reveal that Manchester United are preparing an opening offer to sign the forward from Brentford, although it remains to be seen how much that bid will be, and that they could sell the likes of Jadon Sancho and Antony to fund a deal.
Brentford's BryanMbeumocelebrates scoring their first goal
INEOS and Amorim must push to win the race for his signature, amid competition from the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, because he could come in as a forward who is miles better than Antony.
Why Manchester United sign Bryan Mbeumo
Whilst Antony has caught the eye with his goals and assists for Real Betis since January, the former Ajax star remains an unproven quantity in the Premier League.
As aforementioned, the £86m signing did not provide enough quality, through goals and assists, in the top-flight during his time with Manchester United before being sent out on loan at the start of this year.
Mbeumo, on the other hand, has shown that he has the ability and the consistency to make a big impact in the Premier League, which would make him miles better than Antony has been for the club at that level.
The Brentford star, who has scored 68 goals for the club in all competitions to date in his career, has been in sensational form for the Bees in the current campaign and could be a terrific addition to Amorim’s squad.
No Manchester United player has scored more than eight goals in the Premier League this season, and no Manchester United winger has scored more than seven goals in the division, which illustrates how desperate the Portuguese coach is for an influx of attacking talent in the summer transfer window.
Appearances
35
xG
10.82
Goals
18
Big chances created
16
xA
8.84
Assists
6
As you can see in the table above, the Brentford star has been in incredible form in the top-flight with a return of 24 goal involvements, and more than twice as many goals as any Red Devils star has managed.
Mbeumo, who was once described as “incredible” by reporter Dom Smith, has scored more goals this season than Antony has managed in his last four league campaigns combined (17) for Real Betis, Manchester United, and Ajax.
Brentford's BryanMbeumolooks dejected after the match
This suggests that the £65m-rated star would be miles better for United than Antony has been, or would be next season, because he carries a significantly greater goal threat and has already proven himself in the Premier League.
Therefore, INEOS must ensure that the bid they are reportedly preparing to make is enough to tempt the Bees into cashing in on their star forward, because he has the quality to be an exceptional addition to Amorim’s squad heading into the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.
He'll be amazing with Bruno: Man Utd agree personal terms to sign £53m star
Manchester United are closing in on a “special” star who would thrive alongside Bruno Fernandes.
When the draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League was made, very few people gave Arsenal any hope of defeating Real Madrid.
Alas, here they stand, 90 minutes from a semi-final spot after defeating the great 15-time Champions of Europe, 3-0, in the first leg.
Declan Rice was the hero, crashing home two remarkable free-kicks before Spaniard Mikel Merino added a third to spark chaos inside the Emirates Stadium.
It was Mikel Arteta’s finest night as Arsenal manager and perhaps the club’s finest in Europe. This was a performance that will live long in the memory.
How Declan Rice scored his two free-kicks
Coming into this match, Arsenal’s club-record £105m signing had never scored a direct free-kick in his entire senior career.
Since moving to the Gunners, he has been a regular set-piece taker, racking up numerous assists courtesy of his pinpoint corner kicks. He’s also taken wide-set plays but hasn’t been given the license to shoot from many.
Minutes played
80
Expected Goals
0.47
Goals
2
Expected Assists
0.08
Touches
43
Shots on Target
4
Dribbles (Completed)
1 (1)
Lost Possession
4
Clearances
1
Interceptions
1
That was until Tuesday evening, where the former West Ham man stepped up and had arguably the best two moments of his career to date.
The first free-kick was special, bending and curving the ball around the wall and past Belgian stopped Thibaut Courtois.
If you thought that was a remarkable effort then the second was even better. This time Rice was standing to the left side of the goal and was further out, but that mattered not for the England international.
Up he stepped, thumping the ball viciously beyond the goalkeeper, right into the far corner. It was spellbinding, it was enough to leave most onlookers speechless.
However, speaking in his post-match press conference, taking a shot for the first free-kick was not initially part of the plan.
Why Declan Rice ignored team orders to score his free-kick
Rice is a brutally honest character and in his post-game interview, speaking to the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Wayne Rooney on Amazon Prime, he admitted that the plan wasn’t to take a shot, most notably for his first free-kick.
In fact, he directly ignored instructions from not just skipper Martin Odegaard, but also heralded set-piece coach Nicolas Jover.
“I don’t know if it will ever sink in,” the midfielder began. “I fancied both (free-kicks) and to have the confidence, I am a bit speechless.”
Rice continued: “Martin [Odegaard] was saying to cross, I said it doesn’t make sense to chip it like that. We practice them all the time, (set-piece coach Nicolas) Jover is telling me to cross and it didn’t make sense.”
As a result, a quick comment from Bukayo Saka inspired the 26-year-old to step up and hit it goalbound.
“Bukayo [Saka] said, “If you feel it, go for it”. I looked at the wall and keeper and said I could bend it and that’s what happened.”
Rice also detailed how the second free-kick played out. “We were going to touch and set it, but Mbappe was stood too close. He was in the middle and I just went with it. I practice it a lot. I had the confidence after the first, I had nothing to lose.”
Their new Mesut Ozil: Arsenal preparing bid for "generational" £30m star
The incredible prospect could be something truly special at Arsenal.
The Punjab Kings seamer on how he has approached bowling in this runs-heavy season
Interview by Shashank Kishore and Himanshu Agrawal09-May-2024After a challenging start to IPL 2024, Harshal Patel has come into his own in the last few matches. His upturn in form has mirrored the fortunes of Punjab Kings, his new team, who are still in contention for the playoffs. Currently after 56 matches, only Jasprit Bumrah is ahead of Harshal on the list of top wicket-takers this season . In this interview, Harshal discusses his processes, how perspective is important in analysing bowlers in T20, and what he has done differently of late.How would you define your season so far?
There are still certain aspects that I could have done better in, but overall, if I look at the number of wickets I’ve picked up, and the situations I’ve picked them in and the batters I’ve gotten out, they’ve made an impact on the game. This season, especially, looking purely at numbers is probably not a smart thing to do. So I would still call it an above-average season.Can you pick out an instance from this season where you may have not started well, but your finish gave you a lot of joy?
The 20th over against MI. They were on course to get 210-215, and I bowled I think a five-six run over [seven runs] and picked up two wickets; four of those were byes. That’s just one instance.Even against KKR, where I conceded 48 in three overs, I got Rinku [Singh] out at the right time, which meant there was going to be a new batter. That didn’t make much of a difference because he [Ramandeep Singh] came out and hit a six first ball. But the way the T20 game is evolving, picking up wickets is probably the only way you’re going to make an impact on the game, because you could bowl a brilliant over and if two batters are settled, they will make it up in the next over. I think consistently getting wickets at the right time is very important.Related
Ricky Ponting: 'The default setting now for batting is T20 and everything else works around that'
Dale Steyn and Harshal Patel: 'Let's see them pull the ball, not put their foot down and bully you down the ground'
Rashid Khan: 'If someone is going after me, I'm going to make it super hard for him'
Sunil Narine: the perfect T20 cricketer? It's complicated
Has taking wickets been a lot more challenging this season?
Purely from a wicket-taking point of view, if I have certain deliveries that are working for me, if they’re coming out of my hand well, if I’m bowling them well, and if I’m confident about those deliveries, especially the slower balls, I know I can pick up two or three wickets in an over. For me, it’s all about setting those slower balls up in the right way and executing them when I know the batter could make a mistake and I have a higher chance of forcing an error. So it has not been difficult to pick up wickets. The difficulty comes when I have to contain, because my USP has always been picking up wickets, and that’s an aspect of the game that I’ve been working on.How do you work on it?
I have sort of figured out what I need to do to be able to shut batters down when I need to, and there’s a lot of skill aspects involved in that as well. I’ve been working on those skills consistently from even before the season. I’ve not been able to consistently do it in the game, but I’m on the right path and when it all comes together, I want to be as good as someone like Jasprit [Bumrah], because we keep talking about bowlers going at nine or ten an over and throughout this IPL, there has been one fast bowler [Bumrah] who goes for less than six most of the time. I challenge myself to be as good as him.The slow, dipping yorker is one of your specialties. You mentioned after the CSK game that you weren’t confident of executing it earlier in the season. What changed?
That particular delivery is so difficult to bowl that there’s no real technique to it. It’s all about the feel, so the more you bowl it, the better you get at it. There is a certain conditional aspect to it as well. When the ball starts reversing and I bowl the delivery, it tends to drift away and that makes it even more challenging for the batter to see and hit that. It also allows me to bowl it with a bigger angle into the batter, so it forces them to go through the leg side. And when it drifts away, it almost always misses the bat.If you remember the wicket I got of Shahrukh [Khan] in the Gujarat Titans game, it drifted away quite a bit, so there are conditional aspects to it, but once you get the feel that you are going to execute it, it becomes a lot easier.Harshal on his conversations with Kagiso Rabada: “KG said: ‘You’re executing most of the deliveries. It’s just that one over you’re getting wrong, so just think about how you can get better at that.’ To have that validation is good”•AFP/Getty ImagesIf you look at CSK game, in the 19th over, I probably bowled four of those back to back, and I executed almost every one of them. When it doesn’t come out, I have to go back to the nets and just keep bowling it. I know that when I start executing those deliveries, I will pick up wickets, because I know how to set that delivery up. And when I’m confident about executing it, I know what I need to bowl before that delivery to make it even more effective.You’re at the top of your mark, bowling to MS Dhoni, who has been in terrific hitting form. You get him with the dipping yorker. Did you plan that dismissal?
Before the innings I had planned to go around the stumps to him and bowl a wide yorker, but the way the ball was coming out of my hand and the way it was drifting, I thought, “Okay I’m going to take a chance here.” And if I get him out, the 20th over becomes a lot easier for us. I was pretty confident with my execution. I thought, even if he sees it out of the hand, there’s very little probability of him hitting that for six.Largely, do you feel batters are better prepared against your slower ones these days?
It again comes down to execution, right? Because I’ve proven this over and over: that when I execute [my deliveries successfully], most of the batters can’t hit it. When I’m executing, I know I can bowl six in a row and they still won’t be able to hit. They might get away with one, but they still might not be able to hit more than one. So for me, that delivery is all about execution. And when the conditions allow me to bowl six slower balls, I will bowl six slower balls. I have no shame in being called a spinner who runs fast and bowls offspin, which people have said multiple times – which is absolutely fine.Pat Cummins said earlier this season that if you’re conceding below ten an over, it feels like a job well done.
For sure. The benchmark that you set for bowlers in how you judge them has to be based on context, right? If there’s a bowler who’s bowling two overs upfront in the powerplay and two at the death, you can’t expect him to bowl his four overs for 24 runs. That’s just not practical. The way this season has gone, very high run rates, especially in the powerplay and in the death overs, I would still consider nine to ten an over to be a brilliant spell if you have picked up a couple of wickets at the right time and made sure that instead of getting 220-230, they end up being on 205-210. So making the difference of 10-15 runs in the innings is all that you’re looking for.Harshal dismissed Shahrukh Khan of Gujarat Titans with his trademark slow dipping yorker•Surjeet Yadav/Associated PressLike I’ve said before, how I want to judge my performances is how much impact have I made on the game and the eventual outcome of the game, which is again dictated by a lot of variables. But if I had not picked up that wicket [of Rinku Singh in the KKR game], could [the Punjab Kings batters] have gone on to make 20 more in the chase, even though they got 263 or whatever/ So it’s all about making an impact. When you see the number ten against your economy, it does feel a little weird, but the way the game is evolving, I think the benchmark also has to evolve.So essentially you debrief differently? Let’s say you’ve conceded 48 in three overs but bowled a tight final over and conceded only two runs and picked up a couple of wickets. Traditionally 4-0-50-2 would “look” bad.
Right. When you’ve conceded 48 in three overs, you have made some mistakes, so you still want to look at it and try and get better at it. Could you have conceded, say 38, instead of 48? So it’s all about looking at those small areas where you can get better, but at the same time, you have to be a little brave and say that even though that I may have conceded 48 in four overs, I know that I’ve made an impact on the game.How different has it been being a part of the Punjab Kings set-up as opposed to RCB?
It’s not been that different because I’ve always been someone who keeps to himself. For me, it’s all about my process, how I prepare, whether it’s in practice or when we turn up for the game. Even after the game I have my routines: a preliminary review of what I was able to do and what I was not able to do. For me, it’s a very internal process. The external environment doesn’t really make much of a difference to me, so the transition [of teams] was never very difficult for me.Of course, when you spend three-four seasons with the same players, they know how you like to go about things, so there’s more understanding and empathy if you’ve had a bad day. But even at Punjab, like the first four games I was conceding ten or 11 an over every game and I wasn’t bowling well, but there was the same kind of empathy from my team-mates and the environment was very calm and free. There was no significant change coming from the RCB dressing room to the Punjab dressing room.”When you see the number ten against your economy, it does feel a little weird, but the way the game is evolving, I think the benchmark also has to evolve”•Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty ImagesWhat have you picked up from bowling alongside someone like Kagiso Rabada?
Our fast-bowling unit is pretty tight. Me, KG, Arsh [Arshdeep Singh], Nathan Ellis. Woaksey [Chris Woakes] is again someone whom I have really looked up to in terms of his skills to swing the ball both ways, his ability to land the ball on the right area over and over again. I’ve had a lot of conversations with Woaksey about what he does when things are not going his way. Like, there are days when you turn up on the field and you know you can’t land the ball where you want to land it. I’ve had a great relationship with KG for a while I was with him for three years [at Delhi Capitals].Before and after a game, there’s always some conversation happening around how we can get better as individuals and as a unit. There’s a lot of value in just being able to have those open conversation in the team. And you have that confidence that if I make a constructive criticism, I’m not going be taken out of context and they’re not going to feel bad or take it personally. The same applies to me. That is the camaraderie we have in the bowling unit and it’s a very valuable thing to have.Can you pick out an instance of receiving this constructive feedback about an aspect of your game that you worked on?
KG and I were having a conversation after the third game or fourth game, where I was conceding runs at a high economy. And he said to me, “You are bowling really well, your energy is great on the ground, and you’re executing most of the deliveries that you want to execute. It’s just about that one over that you’re getting wrong, which is reflecting on the scoreboard. So just think about how you can get better at that and not think about anything else.” To have that validation is good, because sometimes you feel, “Yeah, I’m bowling well, but the scorecard doesn’t reflect it, so is it just me who’s thinking that I’m bowling well or am I actually bowling well?” When the validation comes from your peers or your coaches, it’s very valuable in reinforcing the fact that you are actually bowling well and you just need to tighten up a little bit.
New era began with a loss, and focus on bowlers than batting depth – Buttler will have to learn quickly ahead of T20 World Cup
Matt Roller08-Jul-2022It was an incongruous handover. “Today, I start my new life as an England fan,” Eoin Morgan wrote in his programme notes for his old side’s T20I series against India. “I think for now it makes sense to detach myself from the England set-up a little bit, to give Jos [Buttler] and Motty [Matthew Mott, the white-ball coach] some room.”But it was hard to escape Morgan’s presence at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday night. Rather than relaxing at home with a glass of red wine in England’s first game since his international retirement, Morgan was on site in a crisp white shirt, watching on from the Sky Sports “pod” on the boundary edge.At the start of the 12th over, when Chris Jordan returned to bowl his second over, former England batter Nick Knight was thrown on commentary. “Morgan has gone to his most experienced bowler because he knows the importance of this partnership,” he said, before correcting himself: “Buttler, even…” The change of captaincy has loomed for some time, but it will take some getting used to.Related
Buttler soaks up the Baz-buzz as new white-ball reign gets underway
Hardik Pandya shines with bat and ball as India go 1-0 up
Buttler has led England before in white-ball cricket – five times in T20Is and nine times in ODIs – but this was his first game in full-time charge, and represented a reality check as to the scale of the role. He has a significant burden on his workload in this format in particular – opening the batting and keeping wicket as well as now captaining – and this was the first of a dozen games in a 25-day window which will be a significant test.The first obvious difference of the Buttler era was in selection. Morgan prioritised batting depth at all costs throughout his tenure, but under Buttler in the first T20I against India in Southampton, England fielded an extra bowling option compared to the sides they played throughout last year’s World Cup, with Tymal Mills unusually high at No. 9.”That will develop over time,” Morgan said of their balance. “There’s flexibility depending on how we see fit.”But the biggest change was simply his position behind the stumps, rather than in the field. Morgan would typically field at extra cover, giving him easy access to his bowlers throughout an over to discuss plans. “I always felt I wanted to give the bowler clear direction at the top of his mark,” he explained on air.Buttler attacked by using Moeen Ali in the powerplay, and got mixed results•PA Images via Getty ImagesButtler, by contrast, generally opted to leave his bowlers to the task at hand, delegating responsibility to two senior players in Moeen Ali and Jordan when he felt a message needed to be relayed. At times, bowlers appeared isolated: during Matt Parkinson’s second over when deep extra cover, long-off and long-on were in place, there were no red shirts within 20 yards of the bowler.”If you need to talk, it’s easy to just to do the legwork as a wicketkeeper and touch base at the start of overs,” Buttler said. “A lot of the time either Chris Jordan or Moeen Ali is at mid-off or mid-on relaying messages as well. But I like the bowlers to take some ownership; I like them to try and lead that as much as they can.”And of course, doing that legwork, we can have good conversations as to what we’re trying to achieve.”Buttler made several attacking moves, not least opting to dangle the carrot to India in the powerplay by giving the third and fifth overs to Moeen. It was a qualified success: Moeen removed Rohit Sharma with an arm ball which took his outside edge, and had Ishan Kishan caught top-edging a sweep to short fine leg. However, he returned 2 for 26 in the powerplay, being swept for consecutive fours by Rohit and launched over long-on by Deepak Hooda for back-to-back sixes.Buttler had spoken in the build-up about looking to solve England’s death-bowling problems by taking early wickets, and was successful up to a point: the final six overs cost 48 runs as Jordan, in particular, thrived by bowling hard lengths, but India still managed 198 after putting England’s new-ball bowlers under pressure with their early intent.Buttler was bowled first ball as full-time England captain•Getty ImagesWith the bat, England fell a long way short, and Buttler conceded that India’s “fantastic new-ball spell” had changed the game. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh both found prodigious swing with the new ball in stark contrast to England’s seamers; in typical Morgan style, Buttler suggested that might have been different if they had “hit one to the stands to reduce the swing”.Buttler himself is among the world’s most in-form white-ball batter after following up his MVP-winning IPL season with two stunning innings against Netherlands last month. But he could use a score in one of this weekend’s T20Is against India to remove any suggestion that his batting will suffer under the burden of his new role.There was not much he could have done about his first-ball duck on Thursday night at the hands of Bhuvneshwar, whose hooping inswinger tailed in sharply to crash into leg stump. It was his fourth duck in his last seven innings as captain, but there has been no kind of pattern to those dismissals, spread out across a four-year period.Morgan’s one-word description of Buttler’s captaincy at the innings break was “exceptional”, but it will take time for both of them to become used to their respective new roles. They are close friends, and live nearby too, but Buttler’s challenge is to find his own voice and continue England’s evolution; with just over three months until the World Cup, he will have to learn quickly.
Ian Chappell pays tribute to his first touring room-mate Graeme Watson
Ian Chappell25-Apr-2020You never forget your first touring room-mate; it’s not quite a love-of-your-life remembrance but a fond recall.My first room-mate on a five-month tour of Rhodesia (modern-day Zimbabwe) and South Africa in 1966-67 was Graeme Donald Watson. His nickname was Beatle as he wore his hair long like the ‘Fab Four’. He was chosen as the replacement for Doug Walters who was called up for Army national service.Beatle was a genuine allrounder who batted in the top six for Victoria and bowled hit-the-deck-hard medium-fast. Before the tour, I’d played against Graeme, but I really only knew him as a slightly unusual Victorian in that he stayed around for a beer after play.On a five-month tour where you’re regularly cooped up in the same room, you get to know a guy pretty well. The friendship is either a lasting one or it runs out of steam pretty quickly. In our case, it remained firm until Friday, when sadly cancer claimed the Beatle’s life.There are many fond memories of that tour. We shared a lot together including a solid partnership against Eastern Province where we both completed our first centuries for Australia. The match was played at St George’s Park, which was then known as Pollockville because of the presence of the brothers, Peter the fast bowler and Graeme, one of the pre-eminent Test batsmen of the time.The second-innings battle of the Graemes ended with Pollock c Chappell b Watson 120.After commencing his debut Test at Newlands with an impressive half-century, Beatle injured his ankle while bowling and finished up on crutches with his leg in plaster. That resulted in the unusual sight of late-night crutch races being held in the corridors of Deals Hotel in East London, with the other participants being the fully capacitated but slightly inebriated Dave Renneberg, Brian Taber and yours truly.Unfortunately for Beatle injuries dogged his sporting life.I toured with Beatle again in 1972 but by that time I was captain and enjoyed a single room, so he had to make do with second best. He’d been included in the touring party despite suffering a near-death experience after an incident at the MCG in the Rest of the World series of 1971-72.I was batting with Watson when an unintentional beamer from Tony Greig hit him in the nose and he was carted off the ground bleeding profusely. He was extremely unfortunate as Greig’s delivery was affected when his bowling hand hit the stumps and Watson top-edged a ball that would’ve hit him in the chest if his attempted pull shot had missed.By 1972, Chappell was captain and enjoyed a single room, so Watson (back row, extreme left) had to make do with second best•Getty ImagesIt was only on that 1972 tour when I met one of his nurses at a social function that I found out Beatle had actually stopped breathing for a while when he was in hospital. It was typical of Beatle to say very little about the incident; he made light of any injury and at times was too brave for his own good.That serious injury occurred on January 5 but with a fervent desire to be selected for the 1972 tour of England, he defied doctors’ orders and played against South Australia on February 26. In the second innings with a gale blowing in the direction from mid-off to fine leg, I told fast bowler Kevin McCarthy the only option was to operate with a strong leg-side field.A bouncer from McCarthy struck Watson on the side of the head and for a moment my heart sank. Fortunately, it was only a glancing blow and he successfully continued his innings.In another season, he bowled for Western Australia with a broken bone in his leg and Rod Marsh swears that at times he was standing as far back for Beatle as he was for Dennis Lillee.However, there was one injury that did stop him; a broken jaw. A talented dual sportsman, he was in the Melbourne Football Club squad that won the 1964 Victorian Football League grand final. When he suffered two broken jaws in quick succession during the 1965 season, that brought his football career to an abrupt halt. On that South African tour, whenever Keith Stackpole wanted to annoy Beatle, he’d call out, “Hey, glass jaw.”His cricket career involved playing for three states Victoria, WA and New South Wales. During regular drink sessions with a group of mates it was a standard joke to claim that he played with four states – he was selected for Queensland but joined World Series Cricket instead – the same number as he had wives.I was in the official party at his first wedding which was attended by then Australian prime minister Harold Holt. I was unable to attend any of the other ceremonies which was unfortunate because it precluded me from using the hilarious line of England’s fast bowling funnyman John J Warr.When JJ attended England batsman Bill Edrich’s fifth wedding he was asked, “Which side – bride or groom?” Without a flicker of a smile, he answered, “Season’s ticket.”I know his last two wives well, Karina with whom he sired two beautiful girls in Laura and Louisa, and Jan who was at his side when he passed away. Beatle had generously offered a kidney to Jan who needed a transplant, but the dreaded cancer diagnosis put an end to that plan. Fortunately, Jan received a transplant and is now recovering well.Watson had a successful business life after sport, cleverly maximising his qualifications as an architect. He excelled in solutions for sports stadium management and was involved in that capacity in the highly successful Sydney Olympic precinct.His architectural background stood out in the functional design of his house at Burradoo in the NSW Southern Highlands and the farmhouse on his property at Wollombi, just north of Sydney. That was a favourite venue as a ‘male retreat’ and I have fond memories of the sessions enjoyed there with Tabsy and Beatle that made allowances for one female – our dog Bella.Beatle lived a very full life and he was looking forward to caring for Jan in her post-operation period, but unfortunately, the tables were turned and it was she who lovingly cared for him.His last public act was a selfless one as usual. Even in struggling health, he offered to help the Southern Highlands District Cricket Association raise funds for junior development.This culminated in a sold-out dinner in early March which provided much-needed funds for the association. Beatle – with his voice fading – made a fine speech that night, full of common sense and with a vision for the future.It was a long journey from Salisbury (now Harare) to Burradoo, but it was a successful one, with a lot of laughs along the way.
The Los Angeles Dodgers found themselves in a one-out jam with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night as they hung on to a one-run lead. Dodgers closer Tanner Scott got a ground ball for a much-needed shot at a double play, but it was the furthest thing from routine.
Second baseman Tommy Edman fielded the ball hit by Royals rookie Jac Caglianone cleanly and fired it over to Mookie Betts at shortstop for out No. 1. Betts had to turn it as quickly as he could to beat Caglianone to first and stop the tying run from scoring and preserving the win.
The throw to first skipped through the Kauffman Stadium dirt as Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman made a tremendous effort to scoop the ball while keeping his foot on the bag, laying out nearly in the splits for the final out of the game.
He held his glove triumphantly in the air while falling to the ground as the out was called, with the ball poking out of his mitt after the snow-cone catch.
If the ball got by Freeman, that very well could have turned the game from a Dodgers win to a crushing road loss. With the victory, the Dodgers claimed the best record in baseball (52-31) after the previous owner of that honor, the Detroit Tigers, dropped a game to the Minnesota Twins on Friday and fell to 51-32 on the season. And it's all because Freeman stayed in front of the ball.
An unlikely England recall isn’t out of the question for controversial Marseille star Mason Greenwood, according to one of his team-mates, who has vowed to do all he can to help the former Manchester United winger back into the Three Lions reckoning. Greenwood has been in prolific form for the Ligue 1 side again this season and is believed to be keen on return to the England squad.
Greenwood revival in south of France
Greenwood joined Marseille in July last year, leaving Manchester United following charges of attempted rape, assault, and controlling behaviour, which were discontinued after key witnesses withdrew and new material emerged which meant there "was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction." After a successful loan spell at Getafe, Marseille signed him permanently for a reported £26.7 million ($35.3m), with the forward quickly becoming a key player under Roberto De Zerbi.
His career has seen a resurgence, with him becoming Marseille’s top scorer last season and continuing his form into the current campaign. In the recent Champions League clash with Newcastle, Greenwood delivered an excellent performance. He was a constant threat from the right wing, creating four chances and providing the cross for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's first goal as Marseille secured a crucial 2-1 victory.
And USMNT star Timothy Weah, son of former Paris St-Germain, AC Milan and Chelsea striker George, has promised to do all he can to help Greenwood make a remarkable return to to the England team.
Advertisement
AFP
Weah: 'I'm super proud of him'
After the victory over Newcastle, Weah told : "When I speak about Mason it’s a special feeling because it’s very rare in a lifetime that you get to share the pitch with such an amazing player and amazing character. We’ve grown closer since I've joined the team and been here. Hopefully he gets that call-up soon. I’m super proud of him. He's having an amazing season and hopefully I can help him to reach those heights that he's aiming for."
England boss clear on Greenwood position
Greenwood has made just one senior appearance for the England national team when he was brought on as a substitute in a Nations League match against Iceland in September 2020. But there was controversy afterwards, as he was sent home shortly along with team-mate Phil Foden for breaching COVID-19 quarantine rules by bringing female companions back to the team hotel. He has not been called-up to the England squad since.
And while he is eligible to play for Jamaica, he holds hopes he could return to the England set-up, but Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel says he isn’t being considered for selection at the moment. Speaking in September, Tuchel said: "I have not spoken to him until now. I have not spoken to him or his camp. My understanding was that he tries to play for Jamaica so we didn't give it another thought. He was not in the mix at the moment, and he is not in our thoughts for our team."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
AFP
Greenwood 'not wanted' by Jamaica players
Greenwood has also been tipped to switch allegiance to Jamaica after gaining his passport earlier this year. Steve McClaren resigned as Jamaica's head coach after the team failed to secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, following a 0-0 draw with minnows Curaçao earlier this month. However, Jamaica's World Cup dream is not over and can qualify through the inter-confederation play-offs. But former Arsenal youngster Isaac Hayden has slammed the possibility of Greenwood changing his mind and joining up with the Reggae Boyz if they qualify for the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Hayden said: "I've only played for Jamaica for a year, and there was some resistance to me when I started, but I have played 12 games and everyone can see my passion and the way I play the game. The quality of the player, his numbers, what he is producing, is of the highest level. But it comes down to principle and integrity. If players can just rock up because of a World Cup, it would make the whole thing a farce. That would say a lot about the player, and the organisation for allowing that to happen."
Allrounder Flora Devonshire, who is uncapped at ODI level, has been included in New Zealand’s squad for the upcoming women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.Polly Inglis, Bella James and Bree Illing, who have just eight ODIs between them, have also been included for their first World Cup campaigns.Devonshire, a 22-year-old left-arm spinner, made her T20I debut against Sri Lanka earlier this year and was part of the New Zealand A tour of England in June and July. Her inclusion in the 15-player squad meant that fellow left-arm spinner Fran Jonas, who has 26 ODIs to her name, was a notable omission.Related
Sri Lanka select Prabodhani, Dulani for Women's World Cup
Devine to retire from ODIs after the World Cup
Bree Illing and Bella James earn maiden New Zealand contracts
New Zealand Women begin World Cup prep with Chennai camp
“It’s never easy when you have multiple players pushing for the same spot and that of course made for some tough selection calls,” head coach Ben Sawyer said. “Having to leave out the likes of Fran in favour of Flora was a tough decision. We know Fran is a quality player and at 21 we believe she still has her best years in front of her.”Left-arm seamer Illing took four wickets in her first ODI series against Sri Lanka, while James made her ODI debut against Australia late last year. Inglis, who hit an unbeaten 34 off 21 balls in her second outing against Sri Lanka in March, will also provide wicketkeeping back-up to first-choice Izzy Gaze.”I’d like to especially acknowledge the four players set for their first World Cup – they’ve all earned this opportunity and I’m excited to see what impact they can have on the tournament,” Sawyer said. “I’m really pleased with the balance of the squad. I think we’ve got the right mix to tackle what we’ll come up against in terms of conditions and opposition.””Bree puts batters under pressure early with her swing and has great ability with the new ball. Her and Flora have both shown they can consistently bring the stumps into play, which will be effective in the conditions we’re going to face.”Flora’s got an attacking mind and skillset with the bat, which is valuable down the order. Bella’s a versatile batter who can hit 360 degrees around the ground and can bat in most places in the line up.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
“Polly gives us another option with the gloves within the squad, and she possesses great grit and determination, which are qualities that will be important in trying conditions.”The experienced core of the squad includes captain Sophie Devine, who will retire from ODI cricket after the World Cup, Suzie Bates, Lea Tahuhu, Maddy Green and Amelia Kerr.”I can honestly say that in the four world events I’ve been part of with this group, we are the best prepared we’ve ever been,” Sawyer said. “Having no international cricket in our calendar since April has given us the ability to work really hard on our physical skills in particular, which is something that could be the difference in India.”The squad leaves for the UAE on September 13 for a pre-tournament camp, which includes two warm-up matches against England, before heading to India. Their opening World Cup match is against Australia on October 1 in Indore.
New Zealand for Women’s ODI World Cup
Sophie Devine (capt), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu
Hammarby manager Kim Hellberg has now travelled to the UK to hold talks with Swansea City about taking their vacant managerial role, with the Championship side advancing their move during the international break.
Since making the decision to sack Alan Sheehan, Swansea have been linked with moves for a number of names with Hellberg at the very top of their list. Alongside the 37-year-old, former Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick has been linked with the job, whilst Russell Martin is reportedly open to making an unexpected return.
The former Swansea manager has endured a couple of years to forget in the dugout, having been sacked by Southampton in the Premier League and then by Rangers as one of their most unsuccessful managers of all time. Now, he desperately needs his next move to go well.
The Swans could also do with getting things right after sacking Sheehan. They currently sit 18th and seven points above the dropzone. Get things wrong and they face the risk of falling into a relegation battle this season.
With Middlesbrough and Norwich City also on the hunt for new managers, Swansea must also act fast if they are to secure their top managerial target. The last thing they want to do is miss their stop on the managerial merry-go-round in the Championship.
In an ideal world, those in Wales will have their top candidate through the door by the end of the international break and in time to face Bristol City on November 22. Whether that candidate will be Carrick, Martin or Hellberg is the big question.
Swansea advance Hellberg move
According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Hellberg has now travelled to hold talks with Swansea and is now in London as the Wales-based side look to advance their move for the Hammarby boss.
All signs are pointing towards the 37-year-old becoming the next Swansea manager as things stand, although things could still change. And if it is to be the Swede, then those in Wales will be welcoming yet another young manager.
Hellberg has only ever managed two clubs, with his time in Hammarby particularly standing out as a success. It’s there that he has maintained a points per game record of 1.89 across 73 games in charge to take his side into the top two of the Allsvenskan.
The Championship is another challenge entirely, but it’s not the first time that Swansea have thought outside the box when it comes to hiring a manager. They, of course, hired a young Graham Potter in 2018 after he left Swedish club Ostersunds FK.
Manager who called Swansea City fans "fantastic" now open to replacing Sheehan