Everton picked up their first win of the Premier League season against Crystal Palace, with Dwight McNeil’s emphatic double overturning Marc Guehi’s first-half header at Goodison Park.

16th in the standings, maybe it’s not all doom and gloom. Everton have found their feet, perhaps unsteadily, but they now have points on the board after losing their first four matches of the campaign.

McNeil has been monstrous for Sean Dyche, starting to look like a brilliant signing for the Toffees. Believe it or not, though, the transfer in 2022 almost didn’t take place, with Everton eyeing up Morgan Gibbs-White while he was still at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Everton's interest in Morgan Gibbs-White

Just over two years ago, with Frank Lampard at the helm, Everton wanted to sign a new attacking midfielder, having sold Richarlison to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth £60m.

Two weeks later, in July, Everton reportedly saw a £25m offer for Gibbs-White rejected by Wolves, who were holding out for more. The dynamic star had spent the 2021/22 season on loan with Sheffield United in the Championship, excelled, scoring 12 goals and adding ten assists across 37 fixtures.

Later that summer, Nottingham Forest smashed their transfer record in bringing Gibbs-White to the City Ground, signing him for fee rising to £42.5m, which would have taken the lion’s share of Everton’s budget.

Luckily, they went for McNeil instead.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

How Gibbs-White compares to Dwight McNeil in 2024/25

At the end of July 2022, Everton announced the £20m signing of McNeil from Burnley, who had been relegated from the Premier League under Sean Dyche’s leadership.

He ebbed and flowed throughout his first two campaigns on Merseyside but McNeil invariably offers a creative outlet.

Now, though, he’s entering the ascendancy and proving that he has the quality to be a standout player in the English top flight.

Matches (starts)

6 (6)

5 (5)

Goals

3

1

Assists

2

0

Touches*

50.8

53.8

Shots (on target)

1.8 (0.8)

2.2 (1.0)

Pass completion

78%

77%

Big chances created

6

2

Key passes*

3.5

2.4

Dribbles*

1.2

1.4

Ball recoveries*

4.2

5.0

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

2.4

Total duels won*

3.3

6.4

It’s an interesting one. Gibbs-White is an excellent player, with a firm grip on the many facets of the midfield game. He’s more combative than McNeil, sure, but the Everton man is demonstrating a rich vein of prolific form that is helping Everton, a team that struggles for attacking fluency, instrumentally.

We’re still at the early stage of the season, but the former Claret has given his team a platform from which to build on. Of course, Gibbs-White’s prowess has led to him being quirkily dubbed the “Aldi Jude Bellingham” by analyst Raj Chohan, which was a double-edged comment but did emphasise his multi-functionality in the number ten role.

Bellingham needs no introduction; he’s a blue-chip English talent if there ever was one, generational. But it does show that Everton could have got their hands on a talent in the mould of one of the world’s best.

That said, are they really rueing the missed opportunity? They signed McNeil for less than half what Forest paid Wolves – and do you know what? They might just have got the better deal, with McNeil going from strength to rippling strength.

Everton wanted to sign "special" £30m star but are stuck with Lindstrom

Sean Dyche could have signed a talented Championship sensation this summer…

ByRoss Kilvington Oct 1, 2024

“Centralising venues” is a limp explanation for the curious fixture list for India’s tour of South Africa

Firdose Moonda30-Oct-2013During South Africa’s sporting isolation, the marquee fixture of the cricketing summer was a north-south derby: a first-class match between Western Province and Transvaal played in Cape Town over New Year’s. There were times in the last few months when those fixtures were reminisced about with more gusto than usual.The joke was, that if India’s tour to South Africa was cancelled altogether, something along those lines would need to happen again. The people at Newlands won’t find that so funny anymore.Cape Town, which was this week unveiled as third of Lonely Planet’s top 10 cities to visit in 2014, has been snubbed for the India series. It was originally due to host a Twenty20, an ODI and the traditional New Year’s Test but has been left with nothing.It’s a lot less than Cape Town expected, even when the customary January 2 fixture was ruled out because of the window offered by India which ended on December 31, because there was still enough to go around. Not so, Cricket South Africa said.They cited “centralising venues” as the reason for leaving Newlands off an itinerary which has given the Wanderers and Kingsmead an ODI and Test each while allowing Centurion’s SuperSport Park to keep the one game it was initially promised. Had Benoni’s Willowmoore Park or Potchefstroom’s Senwes Park been given the Durban games, “centralising venues” may be believable.South Africa is not a big enough country to have travel times so great they need to be minimised, unless one is driving. Durban is an hour’s flight from Johannesburg, Cape Town is two. Simplifying logistics is nothing more than spin. Cape Town, it seems, was deliberately overlooked.A cynic would assume it was a political decision. The New Year’s Test was forced to be cancelled because India could only spend from December 1 to 31 in South Africa. Officially, they gave three reasons for that. Firstly, the players needed rest before New Zealand; secondly, their players needed to be home to play in the Ranji trophy quarter-finals; and thirdly, their Sahara sponsorship ends on the last day of 2013, so they cannot have a tour which overlaps a period between sponsors.

India in South Africa 2013-14

December 2 – India arrive in South Africa
December 5 – 1st ODI, Johannesburg
December 8 – 2nd ODI, Durban
December 11 – 3rd ODI, Centurion
December 14-15 – Two-day match, Benoni
December 18-22 – 1st Test, Johannesburg
December 26-30 – 2nd Test, Durban

CSA’s president Chris Nenzani repeated the third reason on radio when asked why the New Year’s Test could not happen. When it was first revealed there would be no match in the first week of 2014, whispers began that the BCCI did not want to play in Cape Town to further marginalise CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat. Although not born in Cape Town – Port Elizabeth was where he spent his formative years – Lorgat played there later in his career and it was where his administrative career began.Lorgat has already been sidelined from the tour and cannot deal with the BCCI for as long as he is under investigation from the ICC for his role in David Becker’s statement, and it seems the place where he made his name is being treated in the same way.Whether this kind of isolation will have an effect on the already fractured relationship between the boards is questionable. South African cricket politics, unlike India’s, is not overly geographically polarised, although they have been whispers of a “Cape cabal” on the board, so the decision to leave Newlands off the fixture list cannot impact Lorgat specifically. Rather, it will hurt everyone in South African cricket.No New Year’s Test robs the country of the only opportunity it has to fill a stadium for a Test match. Last summer, the first two days were sold out and there were similar high numbers in past seasons. Western Province CEO Andre Odendaal pointed out that that fixture draws the “highest income from gate takings” for the entire home summer. The players regard it as the highlight of the summer and expressed their dissatisfaction with it being removed even before it was officially announced. At a press conference in the UAE, Graeme Smith said it was a match all the players got “excited about” and they would be gutted if it was not happening.Now they have reason to be even more upset because Cape Town is not getting a game at all and, in a Test sense at least, that seems to be in the interests of fairness. Cape Town has hosted two Tests a summer for the last two seasons and with only five Tests to spread around the same number of venues this season, it seems logical for Newlands to have to relinquish one of its games.But why India, at a peak time when the match could attract large numbers of spectators, rather than an Australia one later in the year, when even Cape Town, as was evident by last February’s fixture against Pakistan, does not have big crowds? Some say it’s because South Africa’s superior record at Newlands – where they have not lost a Test since March 2006 and have only been defeated three times since readmission – makes it a place for opposition to avoid. But if India were concerned about a wicket they would have preferred not to play on the fast, bouncy Wanderers track.

Cape Town had to be sacrificed and it can console itself with the knowledge it will host Australia even as it questions why it did not get an ODI against India, for which there is little sensible explanation.

Cricketing reasons do not seem to be behind this decision. Rather, it’s about keeping people happy. Durban had the Boxing Day Test taken away last year, and did not host a Test at all last summer. It had big plans when told the fixture was reinstated and was allowed to keep the India game, bringing great “relief” to the administrators there.Johannesburg did not host a Test at all the previous time India toured South Africa because the stadium temporarily had its international status revoked by CSA after it was put into administration. It was also allowed to keep its Test this time. The myth about the city being a ghost town over December because its inhabitants flock to the coast is exactly that. Since the 2008 recession many stay in the city and are on the lookout for something to do.So Cape Town had to be sacrificed and it can console itself with the knowledge it will host Australia even as it questions why it did not get an ODI against India, for which there is little sensible explanation. What the Newlands faithful should remember is that they are better off than some smaller venues, because they have not lost everything.Bloemfontein and East London are the venues which were originally scheduled to host matches that will not have any international cricket as per the current schedule. Two of the smaller venues, both said they were disappointed at the outcome but remain hopeful they will be considered should CSA manage to organise a replacement tour.Pakistan, who visited South Africa last summer for three Tests, five ODIs and two T20s and are currently engaged in a series against them in the UAE, have been approached by CSA to play some limited-overs matches in late November. The aim would be to make up for lost revenue from the India series, which has been cut from seven ODIs to three and no longer includes any T20s.The grounds who will not host India will likely be the beneficiaries if Pakistan agree to fill the void and Newlands are first in the queue. “We are encouraged by CSA’s statement that they are working on plans,” Odendaal said. “It was going to be a very special summer and we hope to still have something.” If all else fails, there’s always the big north-south derby to keep in mind.

There will be plenty of debate between now and February 14, but for now, here are 10 talking points to ponder

Peter Della Penna05-Nov-2014West Indies: Implosion versus explosion

The world of West Indies cricket has recently been dominated by off-the-field headlines, which is never a good sign. The squad abandoned its tour of India in a pay dispute over a new collective-bargaining agreement signed by the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) that players say they never saw or approved. The dispute fueled speculation that West Indies wouldn’t make it to the World Cup, but both sides now appear close to a resolution.

Many fans will be watching intently to see if the controversy galvanizes this immensely talented squad, which needs to sharpen its focus if it wants to reach its first World Cup final since 1983.

Afghanistan’s Cup debut

In the past two World Cups, Ireland have been the darling underdog for most neutral fans. In 2015, Afghanistan will be that feel-good story. The first-time entrants already have three World Twenty20 appearances under their belt, but qualifying for cricket’s 50-over showpiece event holds even greater significance.

Twenty20 cricket is often presented as a way to close the disparity between uneven teams and open the door for more upsets because the games are shorter; but Afghanistan have shown it can compete at 50-over level, so if it knocks off some of the big boys Down Under, it won’t be any fluke.

Where there’s an Aussie cricket crowd, a beer snake isn’t too far behind.•AFPCrowds, crowds, crowds … oi, oi, oi!

India’s run to the 2011 title was cheered on vociferously by home fans who were desperate to see the hosts win their first World Cup since 1983 and deliver a first crown to cricket’s greatest modern batting icon, Sachin Tendulkar.

There may not be such a sentimental connection for home fans in Australia this time around (the Aussies won three straight Cups in 1999, 2003 and 2007), but that doesn’t mean there won’t be fun in the stands.

Along with cheering on the home team, Aussies know how to get creative during dull passages of play and boost the crowd atmosphere. That includes making beer snakes, when fans stack all of their empty plastic beer cups together to make a long chain between sections. It’s an amusing sight.Oh, the format

When it comes to the Cricket World Cup-unique format, there is too much emphasis on the final destination than the journey. The format, which gives each country a minimum of six matches to play regardless of whether they advance out of the group stage, discourages the excitement of the early upset, like we saw with India losing to Bangladesh and Pakistan being stunned by Ireland in 2007. Instead, we are given 42 group-stage matches, which may appease TV rights-holders, but it also makes the tournament too predictable.

To give some perspective, in the month it takes the FIFA World Cup to determine a winner, the ICC World Cup is still working through the group stage. The event is a marathon, not just for the players, but also for fans and viewers. It takes a committed soul to stick around for six weeks and still have enough energy to enjoy the final.

Sangakkara’s swan song?

One of cricket’s modern greats, Kumar Sangakkara is beloved by Sri Lankans and non-Sri Lankans alike. This will likely be the 37-year-old’s last ride on the World Cup merry-go-round, along with teammates Tillakaratne Dilshan, 38, and Mahela Jayawardene, 37.

Sangakkara is fourth all-time in runs scored in ODI cricket with 12,857. If he maintains his current average through the World Cup, he will likely pass countryman Sanath Jayasuriya (third overall, 13,430) and Australia’s Ricky Ponting (second, 13,704).

Sri Lanka have played the role of bridesmaids on the big stages, runner-ups at the World Twenty20 in 2009 and 2012 and the World Cup in 2007 and 2011. After finally winning the World Twenty20 crown in April, will the third time be the charm again for Sangakkara at the Cup?

The return of Christchurch

It is no coincidence that the Cricket World Cup kicks off on Feb. 14 in Christchurch, New Zealand. The country’s second-largest city was decimated by a major earthquake in February 2011, killing 185 people. The New Zealand-Sri Lanka opener at the newly certified Hagley Oval will represent a cathartic comeback for Christchurch and its people.

On January 1, 2014, Corey Anderson beat the record for the fastest ODI hundred previously held by Shahid Afridi.•AFP “God Defend New Zealand”

Aside from the joy in seeing cricket come back to Christchurch, hearing New Zealand’s national anthem on a loop during the course of the tournament is something that will be pleasing, Kiwi or not. It’s a lovely blend of melody and lyrics, the first verse sung in Maori and the second in English.

Remember these names: Aaron Finch and Corey Anderson

Two of the tournament’s breakout stars are poised to come from the host countries. Australian opener Aaron Finch burst onto the international scene by setting a Twenty20 international record of 156 runs off 63 balls in 2013 against England and has since followed with four centuries at the top of the order in ODI cricket. Keeping a red-hot bat will do wonders for Australia’s World Cup chances.

Corey Anderson, meanwhile, showed he is a box-office performer in New Zealand’s last home summer. On New Year’s Day, he broke Shahid Afridi’s 18-year-old record for fastest ODI century by notching his first 100 runs in just 36 balls against West Indies. With the ball, he has a knack for taking wickets and is an athletic fielder, making him one of the must-watch players of the Cup.

Not your grandpa’s uniforms

One of the many clichéd knocks on cricket from casual sports fans is that the game literally looks too dull — players dressed in all whites (including sweaters), giving the appearance of grandpa at bingo night.

But for those who may be getting into cricket for the first time, the World Cup will be different, featuring players in colored uniforms that would fit into any other modern-day sport. If anything, some of the kits will be more brash than conservative. Just check out the iconic West Indies uniforms.

Dale Steyn

Another cricket misnomer is the old adage of the sport being a “gentlemen’s game.” When a fast bowler is roaring in, bouncing the ball at a batsman’s head at 95 mph, nothing could be further from the truth.

The perfect example? South Africa’s Dale Steyn, the world’s preeminent pace bowler who currently sits at No. 1 on the ICC’s ODI top bowler rankings. Speed merchants like Steyn are worth their weight in gold, especially with their ability to swing the ball as opposed to bowling dead straight. Intense wicket celebrations only add to Steyn’s spectacle.

اقترب النادي الأهلي من الإعلان رسميًا عن صفقة جديدة في سوق الانتقالات الصيفية، ضمن خطة الإدارة لدعم صفوف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم استعدادًا للموسم الجديد، الذي ينتظر فيه المارد الأحمر تحديات محلية وقارية كبرى.

وكشفت مصادر خاصة لـ بطولات، أن الأهلي أنهى كافة تفاصيل التعاقد مع محمد سيحا، حارس مرمى المقاولون العرب المعار إلى حرس الحدود، بعد سلسلة من المفاوضات شهدت توافقًا تامًا بين جميع الأطراف على البنود المالية وقيمة العقد.

ومن المنتظر أن يوقع محمد سيحا على عقد يمتد لمدة 5 مواسم مع القلعة الحمراء، ليعزز مركز حراسة المرمى في ظل سياسة النادي بتجديد دماء هذا المركز الحيوي استعدادًا للسنوات القادمة.

طالع أيضًا | “القمة 3 مرات”.. أحمد حسن يقترح نظامًا جديدًا للدوري المصري في الموسم المقبل

ويأتي ضم سيحا في إطار تجهيز بديل مستقبلي للحارس حمزة علاء، الذي بات قريبًا من الرحيل عن الأهلي في الميركاتو الصيفي المقبل بحثًا عن فرصة للمشاركة بشكل أساسي، لا سيما في ظل وجود محمد الشناوي كخيار أول في حماية العرين، ومصطفى شوبير كبديل جاهز.

ويُعد محمد سيحا أحد أبرز الحراس الواعدين في الكرة المصرية، وقدم مستويات لافتة هذا الموسم مع حرس الحدود، ما لفت إليه أنظار لجنة التخطيط بالأهلي.

على جانب آخر، يواصل الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي تحضيراته المكثفة لمواجهة سيراميكا كليوباترا، المقرر إقامتها الثلاثاء المقبل، ضمن منافسات الجولة السادسة لمرحلة الحسم من الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وتقام المباراة على استاد المقاولون العرب في تمام الخامسة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة والسعودية، وسط طموحات أهلاوية بمواصلة الانتصارات للحفاظ على حظوظ الفريق في حسم اللقب مبكرًا.

West Ham United scored a much-needed statement win under Julen Lopetegui, reminding the Premier League that they boast one of the finest squads in the division and are capable of poking their way into European contention.

Lopetegui, indeed, inherited a talented squad from David Moyes, but is it so curious that his teachings would take more than a moment to sink into the system?

There’s no denying it was a poor start to the season, but West Ham now have a platform as we step into the October international break, and there will be hope that players such as Mohammed Kudus have hit a vein of form that could now be sustained.

Mohammed Kudus' performance vs Ipswich

Fleet-footed and electric-paced, Kudus showcased many of his usual traits over the opening weeks of the term, but there’s no denying his lack of potency in the final third was weighing him down and adding to the struggles.

He opened his account for the campaign against Ipswich Town at the London Stadium on Saturday, having blanked for goal contributions across the first six fixtures.

The Ghana winger leapt into the air to convert from a rebound and double the Hammers’ lead before the break, proving crucial in the grand scheme given that the Tractor Boys had missed a spate of chances themselves.

Minutes played

86′

Goals

1

Assists

0

Touches

55

Shots (on target)

5 (4)

Accurate passes

28/30 (93%)

Key passes

1

Dribbles (completed)

4 (1)

Total duels (won)

11 (3)

He wasn’t at his barnstorming best, but Kudus could now feel a weight lifted as he bags for the first time under Lopetegui’s wing. Claret & Hugh were certainly coloured impressed, awarding the 24-year-old with an 8/10 match rating and writing: ‘Great anticipation for his goal and generally looked considerably better as did most of the team. Forced a world-class save to deny him a second.’

Now, West Ham need to maintain that revived fluency from Kudus and to do so, Lopetegui might be wise to unleash Carlos Soler from the outset to charge the wide forward up.

Chalkboard

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

How Carlos Soler can help revive Kudus

West Ham signed Soler on a season-long loan move from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer after offloading James Ward-Prowse and Nayef Aguerd. The deal does not include a buy clause.

So far, he’s yet to receive a starting berth in the Premier League, though has entered the fray in the second half across each of the club’s past four fixtures, as well as starting against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup.

Described as an “incredible player” by former coach Raul Martinez, Soler is a talented midfielder with a complete skill set, but his natural-born playmaking does suggest that he could add the impetus and drive for Kudus to reap rewards from.

Kudus has still been a menacing figure, averaging 3.3 dribbles and winning 6.3 duels per game in the English top flight, as per Sofascore. He offers something unique, singular – after all, no Premier League rival even came close to his dribbling success in the Premier League last term.

1.

Mohammed Kudus

West Ham

124

2.

Jeremy Doku

Man City

87

3.

Bruno Guimaraes

Newcastle

72

4.

Ebere Eze

Crystal Palace

69

5.

Luis Diaz

Liverpool

67

The 27-year-old recruit completed 67% of his long balls in Ligue 1 last term – at a rate of 1.2 per game – and this could be something that enhances the overall progression and consequent success of the Ghanaian.

Soler’s ball-playing quality could truly be the key to harnessing the full flight of Kudus’ dribbling prowess – especially with Lucas Paqueta performing below his expected level, averaging only 1.1 key passes per game and losing 63% of his duels.

Therefore, Lopetegui might want to try something new and unleash Soler from the outset after the international break. The Spaniard hasn’t been called up and thus can work under his countryman to fine-tune his qualities ahead of the next phase of Premier League action.

West Ham nearly signed £38m star to partner Bowen but got Kudus instead

West Ham nearly signed an “efficient” partner for Bowen, but ended up with Kudus

ByConnor Holden Oct 6, 2024

da dobrowin： After Tottenham Hotspur’s move to their new stadium back in April 2019, there was a real expectation from the hierarchy and supporters to reach the next level.

da imperador bet： However, five years on, the club are still yet to win a trophy, and still yet to cement themselves as a consistent top-four finisher in the Premier League.

Last season, Ange Postecoglou’s side narrowly missed out on a Champions League place, having to settle for a Europa League spot with the Aussie desperately wanting to go one better this season.

However, after their recent 3-2 defeat to Brighton, work still needs to be done over the ongoing international break to give Spurs the best possible chance of making that progression during 2024/25.

Whilst the start of the new season hasn’t been as many would’ve hoped for, one of the club’s new additions has already made a positive start to life in North London, looking to be worth the huge investment.

Dominic Solanke’s stats at Tottenham Hotspur

After the loss of striker Harry Kane to Bayern Munich last summer, Spurs have been crying out for that central striker who can supercharge their Champions League hopes.

Owner Daniel Levy decided to splash the cash this summer, forking out £65m on Englishman Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth – a deal that broke the club’s transfer record.

The 27-year-old has wasted no time in making an immediate impact at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, registering three goals and two assists in his first eight outings in all competitions.

It appears as though he’s formed an excellent partnership with the in-form Brennan Johnson, teeing the Welshman up for his sixth consecutive goal against the Seagulls last weekend.

His subsequent form in North London has seen Solanke receive his first England call-up in seven years, with the forward hoping he can start from the off when Lee Carsley’s side face Finland on Sunday night.

However, despite his big-money transfer and recent impressive form, he still earns less than one player who failed to make a huge impact after his move to the club a couple of years ago.

The man who earned more than Solanke at Spurs

During the summer of 2022, former Spurs boss Antonio Conte aimed to strengthen his squad in an attempt to push the club further up the Premier League table.

One of the players the Italian decided to bring in was experienced wideman Ivan Perišić on a free transfer after his release from Inter Milan at the end of the 2021/22 season.

His versatility made him a great option as either an attacking midfielder, winger or even as a wing-back if the club utilised a five-back system.

However, ultimately the move was a failure, with the Croatian international making 50 appearances during his 18 months in the first-team in the capital.

For the last six months of his two-year contract, Perisic joined Hajduk Split on loan in his homeland before leaving Postecoglou’s side on a free transfer at the end of his deal.

The 35-year-old earned £180k-per-week during his time at Spurs, as per Capology, a figure two times higher than record-signing Solanke who only earns £90k-per-week.

Tottenham Hotspur’s highest earners (2022/23)

Player

Weekly wage

1) Harry Kane

£200k-p/w

2) Heung-min Son

£190k-p/w

3) Ivan Perišić

£180k-p/w

4) Cristian Romero

£165k-p/w

5) Clement Lenglet

£145k-p/w

Stats via Capology

When combining his total earnings during his time at the club, Perisic pocketed a total of £14.3m in wages alone – an extortionate amount given his lack of impact at N17.

There’s no denying at the time he seemed like a solid piece of business given his experience in Europe’s top five leagues, but unfortunately for both parties, the deal failed to take off, like Conte and co anticipated.

His huge earnings will undoubtedly be a stark reminder for the club to spend the money wisely to prevent a similar scenario from reoccurring later down the line.

Related It's not Moore: Spurs have a £100m star in the making who's like Yamal

Tottenham have a future star in the making under Ange Postecoglou.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Oct 10, 2024

One Rangers player’s performance in the 4-1 defeat to Lyon was lambasted by the watching media on a terrible night at Ibrox for Philippe Clement’s side.

Rangers humbled by Lyon in Europe

The Gers enjoyed seeing rivals Celtic thumped 7-1 by Borussia Dortmund earlier in the week, but the hope was that they could show the Scottish Premiership off in a better light when Lyon made the trip to Ibrox for a Europa League clash on Thursday evening.

Instead, Clement’s side were comprehensively beaten on their own turf, succumbing to a 4-1 defeat and looking another level down in quality from their opponents. Tom Lawrence equalised in the first half, but from that point on, the Ligue 1 outfit pulled clear and deservedly picked up all three points.

It was an awful night for Clement and his players, with the Belgian no doubt likely to find himself under more pressure to keep his job, following a hit-and-miss start to the season across all competitions.

Rangers are already five points adrift of Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race, and only narrowly won 1-0 at home to Hibernian last weekend, with the visitors missing a penalty.

Rangers star's performance vs Lyon slammed

There were so many players who underperformed for the Gers against Lyon, but one individual who has come in for more criticism than most is James Tavernier.

The Rangers captain was miles below his best, with Rangers News even giving him a 2/10 player rating, claiming he was given a “torrid time” throughout the night.

Meanwhile, The Scotsman could only hand him a four, saying: “Missed a very early chance that ought to have put Rangers in front. Struggled to deal with the sheer pace and trickery of the Lyon backline and was beaten by Fofana at the far post for Lyon’s fourth goal. Replaced on hour mark by Kasanwirjo.”

Give Me Sport said there were “question marks” around his defending while Glasgow World handed him a 3/10: “Poor positioning and too slow to react at the back post for Fofana to net Lyon’s fourth. Unable to keep tabs on Fofana and given the run-around all evening.”

Tavernier has been an unbelievable servant for Rangers down the years, producing remarkable levels of consistency and end product going forward, but the negativity towards him after the Lyon defeat feels warranted. The £30,000-a-week ace was so poor that he was substituted on the hour mark, but he still had time to lose possession on 12 different occasions, highlighting his wasteful nature on the ball, which can be punished in European competition.

Tavernier also completed just 70% of his passes and made zero tackles or clearances, as well as being dribbled past once, with his defensive frailties exposed at times. Every player has an off day and this was one such occasion for Tavernier, and the key now is for him to show his leadership and bounce back this weekend, with Rangers hosting St Johnstone in the league on Sunday night.

Minutes played

61

Tackles

0

Clearances

0

Interceptions

1

Dribbled past

1

Possession lost

12

Pass completion rate

70%

At 32, there will inevitably be some supporters who will claim that the Englishman’s best days are now behind him, and it is up to the Gers skipper to prove them wrong.

Captain remains 114 not out after contributions from Bartlett and Renshaw against Yorkshire

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Jul-2022Tom Abell’s third LV= Insurance County Championship century of the season led Somerset to 262 for 5 on the opening day of the match with Yorkshire at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.The skipper ended the day unbeaten on 114, having faced 217 balls and hit 14 fours and 2 sixes. Other important contributions came from Matt Renshaw (43) and George Bartlett (46).Matthew Waite was the pick of the Yorkshire seamers, with 2 for 35 from 16 overs, while former Somerset off-spinner Dom Bess took 2 for 29 from 18.It was decided before the start not to employ the suggested 4.30pm finish on day one because of the forecast extreme heat and to stick to the normal hours of play. In the event, much of the morning session was played under cloudy skies and during the lunch interval it started raining.Somerset had progressed to 25 in the seventh over when Tom Lammonby, on four, edged a drive off Jordan Thompson to Tom Kohler-Cadmore at first slip.Kohler-Cadmore, bound for Somerset next season, was making his first Championship appearance of the summer for Yorkshire following a long battle to overcome the effects of concussion, which saw him sidelined until the Vitality Blast campaign.Renshaw made a confident start and looked in good touch, but began to encounter problems when Waite produced an excellent seven-over spell from the River End. He beat the Australian twice in the 19th over and then pinned him lbw for 43, with a ball that nipped back in his next, before ending the stint, which included four maidens, with figures of 1 for five.Abell spent 29 balls on 11, studiously attempting to lay the foundation for a meaningful first-innings total.By lunch, the Somerset skipper had progressed to 21, with Bartlett unbeaten on 15 in a total of 99 for two from 28 overs.The resumption was delayed until 3.30pm by rain, with 20 overs lost and tea set for 4.30pm.Abell and Bartlett brought up a half-century stand off 67 balls before the latter was dropped on 26 by Kohler-Cadmore, two-handed low to his left off Shannon Gabriel with the score 127 for 2.Abell reached a solid fifty off 101 balls, with his seventh four, a leg-glance off Matthew Revis,By tea, the Somerset pair had added 98 and taken the total to 164 for 2 from 42 overs. Batting was looking comfortable with the sun shining.The final session comprised 34 overs and began at 4.50pm. It saw Bartlett bring up the hundred partnership with a four to fine leg off a loose ball from Bess.Making good use of the square cut, Bartlett hit 8 fours in his 87-ball innings before, with the total on 197, he top-edged a pull shot off Waite to be caught by Revis at long leg.Kohler-Cadmore atoned for his earlier error with a stunning one-handed catch, diving to his left at slip, to help Bess dismiss Lewis Goldsworthy and at 210 for 4, Abell’s staunch work was in danger of being undone. His response was to dig in again on 80 before cutting loose with two swept sixes in the first three overs sent down by off-spinner Jack Shutt.James Rew fell to another sharp Kohler-Cadmore catch off Bess after Abell had reached a 198-ball hundred with a two off his former colleague.

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Feb-2015Ian Bell was more circumspect, gathering runs at a much slower pace.•Getty ImagesThe 172-run partnership was England’s best opening stand in a World Cup•Getty ImagesMoeen made 128, only the second ton by an England batsman in ODIs in New Zealand•Getty ImagesAfter the fall of Moeen’s wicket, England suffered a mini middle-order collapse•Getty ImagesBut Morgan and Buttler helped England scrape past 300•Getty ImagesEngland struck early in their defence, dismissing Calum MacLeod inside three overs•Getty ImagesScotland’s Kyle Coetzer was the only batsman who looked comfortable and scored 71 off 84 balls•Getty ImagesSteven Finn buried the demons of the previous game and wrecked Scotland’s lower middle order, taking 3 for 26, as England registered a 119-run win•Associated Press

Juventus have reportedly adjusted their sights to focus on another Everton ace having decided against chasing the signature of Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the January transfer window.

Everton transfer news

Three games without defeat in the Premier League and new owners on the way, it’s fair to say that things are looking up for Everton. The Toffees will now be desperate to continue that form after the international break when they square off against Ipswich Town in a must-win early relegation six-pointer.

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Secure all three points against Kieran McKenna’s side and any concerns that those in Merseyside are destined for a place in the Championship will become significantly eased, with Sean Dyche’s side instead on their way towards the comforts of mid-table. Suffer defeat, meanwhile, and their recent progress will come to an undeniable halt and rumours over Dyche’s job security will only increase.

Ever since the pending takeover of the Friedkin Group, the former Burnley boss has seemingly been a man under pressure amid reports that the new owners have turned their attention towards the likes of Maurizio Sarri and even Jose Mourinho. But Dyche may not be the only one heading for the exit door.

As per recent reports, Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be on his way out of Goodison Park, with his contract set to expire next summer, but that exit is now unlikely to come courtesy of one European giant.

According to GiveMeSport, Juventus have now ditched their interest in Calvert-Lewin in favour of signing Beto from Everton as early as the January transfer window. The forward only arrived in Merseyside in the summer of 2023, but has failed to make his mark ever since and may now be heading for the exit door in a shock move to one of Italy’s biggest clubs. Falling upwards, Beto’s exit would suit all parties at this stage.

Everton should show Beto the door

Having started none of Everton’s first seven games, if any player needs a move away from Goodison Park it is Beto. The former Udinese striker has simply never looked like taking the reigns from Calvert-Lewin to lead Dyche’s frontline, with just six goals in 43 appearances representing a transfer flop rather than star signing.

Amid such struggles, Juventus’ reported interest has certainly come as a surprise. It must be said that if Beto does manage to seal a move to the Serie A giants after failing to steal the headlines at Everton, it should be seen as his best possible move and one that would see the 26-year-old defy the odds to fail upwards.

The rumours also create further question marks over Calvert-Lewin’s future. The Everton academy graduate, compared to Beto, has the quality to make such a move, yet those in Italy seemingly prefer his deputy rather than signing Dyche’s main man himself.

Whether that twist keeps Calvert-Lewin at Everton remains to be seen, however, as his current contract continues to tick down and the rumours surrounding his future persist ahead of 2025.