All posts by h716a5.icu

No stopping Wasim Jaffer

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

The veteran cracked 178 against his former team Mumbai. In Plate Group, Puneet Bisht rattled off 301 not out, whereas Milind Kumar hit his fifth ton of the season

Deivarayan Muthu31-Dec-2018Saurabh Kumar spins UP to the topAfter topping the Duleep Trophy bowling charts with 19 wickets in three matches, Uttar Pradesh left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar has extended his rich form to become the top wicket-taker among the Elite Group bowlers in Ranji Trophy 2017-18.His 14 wickets against Haryana on a Lahli pitch, which is usually friendlier to the seamers, vaulted his tally to 46 in eight matches this season. Saurabh’s match figures of 14 for 65 is the second best by a UP bowler; Ashish Zaidi had claimed 15 for 192 against Vidarbha in Kanpur in December 1999.On a 20-wicket first day, UP had managed a slender 23-run lead after Saurabh skittled Haryana for 110 in 43 overs. Haryana were bowled out for 129 in even fewer overs (37.2) in their second dig, setting UP a target of 107. Opener Samarth Singh’s unbeaten 53 off 64 balls then ensured his side completed the victory inside two days. UP’s fifth win in eight games took them to the top of the Group C points table.There’s no stopping Wasim Jaffer Featuring in his 145th Ranji match – the joint-most alongside former Madhya Pradesh player Devendra Bundela – Vidarbha professional Wasim Jaffer cracked his 56th first-class hundred, against his former team Mumbai. He had reached the landmark off 85 balls on the first day, peeling off his fastest first-class century against a side that had Jaffer’s nephew Armaan in its ranks during the first half of the season. Anyone fancy stopping Jaffer?The 40-year-old moved to 178 off 196 balls before 22-year-old left-arm spinner Dhrumil Matkar had him caught behind. Matkar pressed on to collect his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, bowling Vidarbha out for 511 on the second day.In response, Mumbai wobbled around the fifties from opener Jay Bista and Shubham Ranjane, closing the day at 169 for 6.Pankaj keeps Puducherry in contention for knockouts Pankaj Singh picked up four wickets in each innings and became the first ever seamer to take 400 or more wickets in the Ranji Trophy. His strikes bowled Puducherry to a bonus-point victory against Manipur, pushing their points tally to 32 in seven games. Uttarakhand currently lead the Plate Group with 37 points in seven matches. Bihar, who amassed 440 for 9 declared against Mizoram in Jorhat in this round, are also in the race, with 27 points from six completed games.Plate Group professionals continue to thriveSikkim’s Milind Kumar and Meghalaya’s Puneet Bisht dominated a runathon in Bhubaneshwar. After Milind hit his fifth century of the season – his 117 contributing to more than 53% of Sikkim’s 219 – Bisht rattled off 301 not out off 293 balls. He struck 48 fours and a six, propelling Meghalaya to 555 for 3 at stumps on the second day.Bisht added 433 for the third wicket at 4.81 per over with opener Raj Biswa, who hit 175 off 321 balls. After doing all the work with the bat for Sikkim, Milind wheeled away for 35 overs with the ball and came away with 2 for 147.Click here for a full list of Ranji scorecards.

'Dhoni set a wrong precedent tonight'

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

A controversial moment. A last-ball six. There was plenty of final-over drama in Jaipur for the cricketing fraternity to talk about on social media

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Apr-2019It was no surprise that MS Dhoni’s 100th win as a captain in the IPL came about via a last-ball finish.

The game was yet another thriller in this IPL 2019 season.

But there was an unexpected twist, with Dhoni walking on to the field during the final over after a contentious no-ball call.

Rajasthan Royals lost the game, but Jofra Archer was among the standout performers. Should he be playing for England at the 2019 World Cup?

But once again, Dhoni and his team had scripted a perfect finish.

What is the longest gap between World Cup matches for any player?

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

And is Rahkeem Cornwall set to become the heaviest Test cricketer ever?

Steven Lynch13-Aug-2019If Rahkeem Cornwall plays against India, will he be the heaviest Test cricketer ever? asked Junior Williams from Trinidad
He’ll certainly be close: the latest estimates put Rahkeem Cornwall’s weight at around 140kgs, or 22 stone (he’s also about 6′ 6″ tall, so among the tallest Test cricketers too). The problem is, it’s not usual for players’ weights to be faithfully recorded, so it’s difficult to be precise.Just about the only contender for Test cricket’s heavyweight championship is the former Australian captain Warwick Armstrong, who was quite svelte when he first toured England, in 1902, but had expanded considerably by the time he led a very strong side immediately after the Great War, winning eight Tests in a row against England in 1920-21 and 1921. Describing the 1921 version of Armstrong, Ronald Mason wrote: “He was an enormous man, huge-shouldered and heavy-hipped; he stood well over six feet and by the year of this his last tour had a disproportionate middle-aged spread. Estimates of his weight vary agreeably from 18 to 22 stone [114-140kgs].” Gideon Haigh, in his excellent biography of “The Big Ship”, says the latter-day Armstrong was “as manoeuvrable in the field as a Pullman carriage”. I did see Armstrong’s shirt when it was displayed in the museum at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and it looked as if it might come in useful as an emergency sail.Since we can’t really be sure, I’d like to declare it a tie between Armstrong and Cornwall!Is it true that Don Bradman averaged 100 in Ashes Tests? Who’s in second place? asked Ricky Dooley from Scotland
Don Bradman didn’t quite manage to average 100 against England, but he still sits comfortably on top of the pile, with 89.78. Of those who had a dozen or more innings in Ashes Tests, the Australian opener Sidney Barnes comes next with 70.50, ahead of the England pair of Herbert Sutcliffe (66.85) and Ken Barrington (63.96). After the Edgbaston Test, Steve Smith had climbed to fifth place with 60.84.If you don’t impose a qualification, there is someone on the list with a three-figure average: Albert Trott made 205 runs in five innings for Australia in 1894-95. Three of them were not out, so he averaged 102.50.What’s the highest identical score by a batsman in both innings of a Test? asked Thanura Perera from Sri Lanka
You’ll probably be pleased to hear that a Sri Lankan holds this particular distinction: against India in Madras in 1982-83, Duleep Mendis hit 105 in the first innings, and followed that up with 105 in the second.The only other man to make an identical three-figure score in both innings of a Test was Misbah-ul-Haq with 101 and 101 not out for Pakistan against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014-15. Here’s the ever-expanding list of those who scored two centuries in the same Test.Anderson Cummins represented Canada in the 2007 World Cup, almost 15 years after he played for the West Indies in the 1992 edition•Getty ImagesLiam Plunkett played in the 2007 World Cup and then in the 2019 edition, after missing 2011 and 2015. Is this the longest gap between World Cup matches for any player? asked Gurdeep Singh from Malaysia
Liam Plunkett actually lies third on this particular list, a few days behind someone else who reappeared in the 2019 World Cup for the first time since 2007 – Shoaib Malik of Pakistan. Lameck Onyango of Kenya (1996 to 2007) and Carl Hooper of West Indies (1992-2003) also missed two World Cups, although the actual time gap between their matches was slightly shorter than for Shoaib and Plunkett.However, the overall leader missed three World Cups: fast bowler Anderson Cummins represented West Indies in the 1992 World Cup, and Canada in 2007, when he was 40. He went four days short of 15 years between World Cup match appearances.I know Sachin Tendulkar is the only man to play 200 Test matches. But who was first to 50, and 100, and 150? asked Pradeep Patel from India
Sachin Tendulkar did indeed become the only player to date to appear in 200 Tests, signing off against West Indies at home in Mumbai in November 2013.The first man to appear in 50 Tests was Syd Gregory, the Australian, who was born in 1870 on the Sydney Cricket Ground, where his father was a groundsman. Gregory reached a half-century of caps in 1909, during the seventh of his eight Test-playing tours of England.England’s Colin Cowdrey was the first to play 100 Tests: he marked the milestone, against Australia at Edgbaston in 1968, by scoring a century.And the first to 150 was Australia’s Allan Border, in the match against New Zealand in Brisbane in 1993-94: he marked the occasion by scoring 105, his 27th and last Test century. At the time, Kapil Dev came next with 127 caps.Finally there’s a clarification on one of last week’s questions:
A few people have queried the answer about only three pairs having bowled unchanged in the fourth innings of a Test, and winning. In trying to condense the question I managed to lose an important stipulation, which was that the bowlers had to have shared all ten wickets. The three shown last week are the only three of those. But there are five other instances (look at the fifth column) of a pair bowling unchanged in a final innings, without taking all ten wickets, usually because of run-outs.Use our feedback form or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Fire returns to Kagiso Rabada's eyes as he seeks to rediscover form

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Pat Cummins was the only seamer to bowl more balls than Rabada in international cricket last year

Firdose Moonda in Cape Town01-Jan-2020While England wait on the fitness of their fastest bowler Jofra Archer, South Africa can relax knowing their own superstar, Kagiso Rabada, is rediscovering his form.Archer barely bowled in training on New Year’s Day due to a sore elbow while Rabada entered it on the back of his best performance of 2019, after taking seven wickets in South Africa’s win at SuperSport Park. There, Rabada played a solid supporting role in the first innings before sparking an England collapse of 6 for 46 against the second new ball in the second innings, where he attacked with intensity and found a hint of swing.ALSO READ: South Africa embrace the struggle to re-embark on road to success”There’s definitely a lot more fire in KG’s eyes at the moment,” said Quinton de Kock, who played franchise cricket with Rabada for several seasons.Rabada’s effort came at the end of his leanest full calendar year in wicket terms since his debut in 2019, with 33 wickets from eight Tests at 27.39. By way of comparison, in 2016, he played nine Tests and took 46 wickets at 23.24 and he claimed more than 50 wickets in both 2017 and 2018.A combination of being overbowled – Rabada played the full IPL in 2019 and returned with a back injury ahead of the Word Cup – and being out of ideas – South Africa did not have a dedicated bowling coach in the Ottis Gibson era – are the likeliest causes of Rabada’s slump, although Vernon Philander believes it was also inevitable, and valuable.”He was going to get a knock at some stage, a dip in form, whatever you want to call it, but the only way to get through it is to go through it yourself,” Philander said. “I am glad he has gone through it because there’s no greater learning than learning yourself. The most important part was for him to go through it and to really feel what it feels like and to now come out and identify what’s going to work for him moving forward.”As an earnest learner, Rabada has been trying to add to his arsenal from a young age. Given his athleticism and his height, pace and bounce come naturally to him and he has spoken about working on the cutter and the inswinging yorker and the IPL provided evidence that he had learnt a lot about bowling both.But at the World Cup and then in India, Rabada looked out of sorts, down on pace, and frustrated. Theories were hatched about how his overuse as an up-and-coming quick was impacting his longevity. Philander didn’t think that was the issue. “The longer you play the more you realise that the simpler you keep it, the more results you will get. He went through that phase where he wanted to try a few things and it didn’t quite worked, and now he has gone back to the old simple self and it seems to be working again.”At SuperSport Park, Rabada’s performance resembled much of what we saw of him from the early days of his career. For the most part, he pitched the ball up on off stump and let the movement he found do the rest. Occasionally, he held his length back but he didn’t overcomplicate his approach. For that, new (old) bowling coach Charl Langeveldt may deserve credit.Langeveldt worked with the South African attack under Russell Domingo between 2015 and 2017 but was dispensed with when Gibson came on board. He was re-recruited to join Mark Boucher’s coaching staff and at the team’s training camp before the series, Rabada said he was looking forward to Langeveldt’s guidance, especially his directness. “Tactically I think he’s really good,” he said. “Technically he doesn’t force things upon you. He’s really simple. He gets to the point. I just like how natural he is. He gets to the point really quickly.”It was also there that de Kock noticed the Rabada of old returning. “At the camp before the first Test, it seemed like he was really excited to get going and play. He was very motivated,” de Kock said.ESPNcricinfo LtdThat may not be the best news for England, especially with the way Archer has begun 2020. But they may be lessons from Rabada’s experience for Archer and they’ve come from a player whose bowling style is not quite the same as theirs but who has years of experience to lean on. Philander warned Archer, who was England’s most expensive bowler at Centurion, that being fast is not enough and being focused is just as important.”Extreme pace is not going to get you across the line. You need to be able to be consistent at what you do. And in international cricket guys will work you out. You can have extreme pace, rush batters and make life uncomfortable for them but at some stage, guys are going to get used to your pace and they are going to be able to play you,” Philander said.”It’s finding what works for you on different surfaces and saying, ‘I can actually hold the game as well, at whatever pace’. You don’t want to be the one guy going at five or six an over and putting the rest of the attack under pressure because you are going at five or six. It’s making sure that you have aggression but also that you can hold the game.”That’s the kind of bowler Rabada is being allowed to develop into because South Africa have found raw pace in other players, like Anrich Nortje, control from Dwaine Pretorius and space in the team for both of them, which allows them to play with four frontline quicks. “We’ve got a nice balance now,” de Kock said. “We’ve got Anna [Nortje], who bowls high 140s and is not really the most pleasant guy to face, then Vern with steady pace, Dwaine, who can hold one side and then KG who is always picking up wickets.”

Liverpool now ready £119m+ offer to sign "spectacular" Salah replacement

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Liverpool face one of their biggest summer windows in recent years and speculation continues to do the rounds surrounding high-profile incomings and outgoings at Anfield.

Liverpool's summer transfer activity set to attract headlines

Arne Slot is edging closer to a Premier League title in his first season in charge on Merseyside, which would be quite the achievement off the back of his arrival from Feyenoord to replace Jurgen Klopp.

However, the Dutchman is aware his side could be set for major alterations this summer. Trent Alexander-Arnold could make a free transfer switch to Real Madrid; something that has created a whiff of bittersweet sentiment among the Reds’ support despite their status as champions in waiting.

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Mohamed Salah

Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are also yet to commit to extensions. Both have been emblematic of the success Liverpool have enjoyed over the last few years, though there has been no official communication that either will be around next season to enjoy the fruits of their labours.

Enduring a mini-goal drought, some suggestions have been floated claiming the latter may be unsettled due to his unresolved situation.

Nevertheless, Slot is confident Salah can return to his clinical form in weeks to come, as he stated: “He (Salah) is completely the same but I know Mo, and you probably know him as well, he lives for goals. It would be weird if he was ‘oh, I’m happy I didn’t score’ but he’s not distracted or like ‘I can’t play football any more’.

Liverpool open talks to sign "superb" £68m replacement for Darwin Nunez

Arne Slot could change up Liverpool’s forward line ahead of next season.

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 5, 2025

“No, Mo knows probably his biggest quality is he can play a poor game and still score a goal. So his head is not all over the place. Not at all.”

All parties are keeping their cards close to their chest as Salah enters the final stretch of his deal, but Liverpool could be in the market for a world-renowned replacement if reports are anything to go by.

Liverpool ready Rodrygo bid as potential Salah replacement

Per developments in Spain, Liverpool have Real Madrid star Rodrygo on their list as a potential Salah replacement and have readied an offer in the region of just over £119 million to sign the Brazil international.

Progress in negotiations could be found in the coming days, while there is also the possibility that further significant changes to their forward line unfold in the summer window.

Mohamed Salah vs Rodrygo – key statistics in 2024/25

Mohamed Salah – Premier League (before Fulham on 06/04/2025)

Chances created

69

Shots on target

56

Successful dribbles

51

Touches in opposition box

321

Rodrygo – La Liga

Chances created

48

Shots on target

18

Successful dribbles

41

Touches in opposition box

128

Liverpool’s pursuit of a striker to replace Darwin Nunez is more or less common knowledge amid links to Alexander Isak and Hug Ekitike, but the fact they are serious about reinforcements out wide does go to show that FSG are putting contingency plans in place should Salah opt not to sign fresh terms at Anfield.

Labelled “spectacular” by Carlo Ancelotti, Rodrygo has registered 13 goals and nine assists in 44 appearances for Real Madrid this campaign.

Reading between the lines, Kylian Mbappe’s position in the limelight alongside Vinicius Junior could play into Liverpool’s hands, even if supporters would rather keep hold of Salah as opposed to entering the market.

Liverpool scouts now keen for Hughes to sign 16 y/o gem ahead of Barcelona

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Turning their attention towards future stars, Liverpool scouts are now reportedly keen for sporting director Richard Hughes to sign one particular 16-year-old gem ahead of Barcelona this summer.

Liverpool could endure summer of change

With Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit now more inevitable than ever and the likes of Andy Robertson and Darwin Nunez struggling for form under Arne Slot, it could be a summer of change at Liverpool. What they will hope to avoid, however, are departures for Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, with a new deal for the former now considered a matter of when and not if, as per David Ornstein.

The Dutchman provided a fresh update on his deal following Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat at the hands of Fulham, telling reporters: “There is progress, yeah. Listen, these are internal discussions and we’ll see.

Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah celebrate for Liverpool

“I love the club, I love the fans and they were there for us again [at Fulham]. We wanted to reward them, but I ask them to be there again on Sunday and make the stadium an amazing venue like always for us.”

Of course, Van Dijk’s main focus will be on ensuring that Liverpool seal the Premier League title once and for all in their remaining seven games. Sat 11 points clear of chasing contenders Arsenal, the Reds need just four wins to secure their crown. Even if doubt began to creep in against Fulham too, the Reds could instantly put that to bed against West Ham United this weekend.

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Meanwhile, once their place at the top of English football is confirmed, their focus will turn towards the summer transfer window. Already, a number of names have threatened to steal the headlines on that front and if reports are anything to go by, those at Anfield are in for a busy few months ahead of next season.

Liverpool battling Barcelona to sign Mederic

Though it’ll be bigger names like Jonathan David and Milos Kerkez who steal the headlines this summer, no matter where they find themselves playing next season, Liverpool are still keeping an eye on welcoming future stars.

According to Africa Foot, as relayed by Sports Witness, Liverpool scouts are now keen for Hughes to sign Obli Kouame Jean Mederic ahead of interest from Barcelona, who want to add him to their famous La Masia academy.

The 16-year-old defender has reportedly been outstanding at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations this month and has done enough to attract the attention of Liverpool, Barcelona, Marseille and Atalanta.

Helping Ivory Coast finish top of their group at the U17 AFCON, Mederic is certainly one to watch at just 16 years old. Liverpool, of course, aren’t afraid to shop around other academies, having welcomed Harvey Elliott from Fulham in the past and – more recently – Rio Ngumoha from Chelsea last summer.

Now, they could get one over on Barcelona by welcoming Mederic at the first chance they get this summer. It’s then that the Ivory Coast defender would join up with the Reds’ academy, before perhaps one day joining the likes of Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate within Slot’s backline.

83% duels lost: Rodgers must axe Celtic flop who was worse than Forrest

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side moved one step closer to clinching a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title when they beat Kilmarnock 5-1 at Parkhead on Saturday.

The Hoops have won the last three league titles, bringing Scotland’s top-flight title back to Parkhead in every single campaign since their city rivals won it in the 2020/21 campaign, and they still have a chance to secure a domestic treble.

They face St. Johnstone, who they lost 1-0 to in the league earlier this month, in the semi-finals of the SFA Cup next weekend, as they look to book a place in the final of the competition.

Celtic, of course, already won the League Cup earlier this season, beating Rangers on penalties in the final, which means that they can clinch a domestic treble by winning the title and the SFA Cup in the next month or so.

Celtic managerBrendanRodgerscelebrates with the trophy after winning the League Cup

With the league almost wrapped up, Rodgers decided to make some changes to his starting line-up for the clash with Kilmarnock on Saturday, to provide some other players with opportunities to impress.

One of those rarely-seen stars to come back into the XI was long-serving winger James Forrest, who went into the match without a single goal in all competitions this season.

James Forrest's performance against Kilmarnock

The 33-year-old forward was selected to start on the right side of the attacking trident for Celtic, as German winger Nicolas Kuhn dropped down to the bench to accommodate him.

It was only his sixth start in the Premiership this season and it was a chance for him to show Rodgers that he deserves more minutes between now and the end of the campaign.

Celtic winger James Forrest.

Unfortunately, Forrest went on to make it 26 matches in all competitions without a goal to show for his efforts at the top end of the pitch, despite Celtic’s dominant performance and 5-1 win.

The Scottish forward, who scored seven goals in 28 games in all competitions in the 2023/24 campaign, had a fairly uneventful time on the field in the win over Kilmarnock, as you can see in the table below.

Minutes

60

Shots

2

Shots on target

0

Pass accuracy

98%

Key passes

0

Successful crosses

0

Successful dribbles

0

Duels won

1/2

Forrest ended his time on the pitch, which lasted 60 minutes, with zero shots on target and zero chances created, although he was slightly unlucky with the latter.

The Celtic academy graduate got in on the right side of the box and fizzed a ball across the face of the goal that a defender in the middle of the goal failed to properly clear, leading to Daizen Maeda scoring a tap in from a yard or two out.

Chalkboard

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Some may argue that Forrest should have an assist for that goal, as it was his ball in that led to Maeda’s shot, but it did not officially count due to the interference from the Killie defender.

The experienced wide man, despite his lack of action outside of his involvement in Maeda’s goal, was not the worst performer on the pitch for the Hoops, though, as Adam Idah failed to take his chance to impress.

Adam Idah's performance against Kilmarnock

The Ireland international came in for just his 16th league start of the season and, like Forrest, had a chance to stake a claim for more minutes in the coming weeks.

Idah had come off the bench to create two chances and one ‘big chance’, winning five of his six duels, in the defeat to St. Johnstone, which convinced Rodgers to bring him in from the start for the clash on Saturday.

However, his performance against Kilmarnock from the start suggests that he is not ready to be Celtic’s go-to man in the number nine position heading into the final weeks of the campaign.

Minutes

60

Shots

0

Dribbles completed

0/1

Key passes

0

Pass accuracy

68%

Possession lost

11x

Duels won

1/6

As you can see in the table above, Idah offered very little in his 60 minutes on the pitch in the 5-1 win, with zero shots and zero chances created for his team, whilst also losing 83% of his duels.

He was even worse than Forrest, who at least completed 98% of his passes and helped to create Maeda’s goal, and must now be ruthlessly ditched by Rodgers for the SFA Cup semi-final clash.

Idah, whose last goal was the strike against Hibernian in March in the clip above, should be taken out of the team after his dismal showing on Saturday.

The Celtic star who should replace Adam Idah

Maeda started on the left flank, and scored, in the win over Hibernian and should be moved into the middle of the front three for the semi-final clash next weekend, replacing Idah in the side.

Daizen Maeda

The Japan international has scored a staggering 31 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for the Scottish giants this season, which shows that he has the quality to be a consistent goal threat for Rodgers and that is why he should move back into the number nine role next time out.

That switch would, of course, open up a position on the left wing for the clash with St. Johnstone in the SFA Cup, and Jota should be given the nod to come in from the start.

The Portuguese forward, who joined the club from Rennes in the January transfer window, has enjoyed a strong return to Parkhead in the last few months.

Jota has scored four goals, created three ‘big chances’, and registered two assists in six starts in the Premiership this year, which shows that he has made a big impact at the top end of the pitch as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Therefore, Rodgers must ruthlessly ditch Idah from the starting XI in order to bring the Portuguese speedster into the side on the left wing, whilst also moving Maeda back into a central position. This could improve Celtic’s attack and give them a greater chance of progressing through to the final of the competition.

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Chelsea can axe Nkunku by unleashing Cobham star who's Tyrique George 2.0

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

As it has been for a number of years, Chelsea’s famous Cobham academy is a conveyor belt for elite talent. The 2010s was perhaps the best era to date for their academy.

They produced currency Premier League stars such as Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ola Aina and Mason Mount, whilst Tammy Abraham, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fikayo Tomori are all plying their trade at AC Milan.

Their current crop of academy talent might end up being better. One of the most highly-rated players in the academy is defender Josh Acheampong, who was one of ten academy stars to make his senior debut in 2024.

Another Cobham graduate who is establishing himself in the Chelsea team under Enzo Maresca is Tyrique George, who has made a big impression so far.

George's Chelsea career so far

It has been a real whirlwind few months for 19-year-old George, who has become an established member of Maresca’s squad after making his debut last August in the Conference League qualifiers.

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He has gone from strength to strength in recent weeks in particular. The London-born winger now has 20 games under his belt for the West London giants, scoring two goals and grabbing four assists, an impressive return so far.

His first strike for the Blues was in the Conference League quarter-final against Legia Warsaw, and he bagged his first goal in the Premier League last weekend too against Fulham. It was a superb finish, unleashing a first-time strike into the bottom left corner after Antonee Robinson’s miscued clearance fell at his feet.

Blues boss Maresca was complimentary of the attacker after his goal against the Cottagers last time out.

He described the winger as “a talent” and said he is “doing well” in the first team at Stamford Bridge.

Tyrique George

It has been a dream start to life as a professional footballer and he could well become the next great Cobham star. However, there is a player in the Chelsea academy who might end up rivalling him for a place in the first team soon.

Chelsea's next exciting academy star

As good as George has been this season, perhaps Jimmy-Jay Morgan will leapfrog him in the first team at some stage.

A centre-forward by trade, the youngster is currently out on loan with League 2 side Gillingham, who are towards the lower end of the table but surely safe from relegation.

It has not been the easiest time of things for Morgan on loan at the Southern outfit. Adapting to senior football for the first time can be a challenge, and he has two goals in 14 appearances for the club so far.

However, despite the lack of goals during his time with the Gills so far, he has some strong underlying numbers, as per Sofascore. For example, Morgan averages 2.3 shots and completes 1.1 dribbles per game.

19-year-old Morgan is clearly a talented forward, as he has shown as a Gillingham player. However, his numbers from his time playing for Chelsea’s U21 side further showcase just how dangerous he can be.

Overall, Morgan’s record for the most senior side of the Cobham academy is impressive. In 34 appearances so far, he has found the back of the net 16 times and has also managed to grab three assists.

EFL Trophy (2023/24)

3

233

1

0

Premier League 2 (2023/24)

14

849

6

1

Premier League 2 playoffs (2023/24)

3

135

1

0

EFL Trophy (2024/25)

3

124

0

0

Premier League 2 (2024/25)

11

442

8

2

Football scout Antonio Mango described Morgan as a player who is “too good for his age”, while Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth has suggested he’s “going to be a hell of a player when he’s older”. Although the weight of goals isn’t necessarily there, his experience playing senior football will have surely taught him plenty.

George has shown there is still a pathway from Cobham into the first team at Stamford Bridge, and perhaps next season, with Nicolas Jackson underperforming and Christopher Nkunku likely on his way out, Morgan can be the man to break into the squad.

Chelsea have signed "future Ballon d'Or winner" who's going to stunt George

Tyrique George could find his first team minutes at Chelsea are halted by the emergence of this sensational forward.

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Liverpool: FSG now looking to sign dream £20m+ Champions League defender

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

An “outstanding” defender who could be ideal for Arne Slot is now high on Liverpool’s transfer radar, according to a report.

Reds set sights on new left-back

Andy Robertson has been a fantastic servant to the Reds, with the Scottish left-back playing a key role in the Premier League title triumph this season, but it appears as though a long-term replacement could be brought in this summer.

Milos Kerkez is among the main targets, given the Hungarian’s impressive performances for AFC Bournemouth this season, while Slot’s side are also in the race for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Rayan Ait-Nouri as a potential alternative.

There will be competition for Kerkez’s signature, however, with Manchester City also keen on the left-back, which means a list of alternative options is being compiled, and a report has now revealed a new target is now on the shortlist.

Liverpool make approach for "exceptional" £30m gem amid Brazilian scouting

The Reds are looking to fend off competition from elsewhere.

BySean Markus Clifford May 3, 2025

According to Anfield Watch, Club Brugge defender Maxim De Cuyper is now high on Liverpool’s transfer radar ahead of the summer transfer window, having scouted the left-back over the course of the last 12 months.

Dubbed a dream target, the Reds and FSG seemingly view De Cuyper as an ideal alternative to Kerkez, having impressed in the Champions League this season, most notably catching the eye by covering the second-most distance for Brugge in the competition.

Maxim de Cuyper for Club Brugge.

Given that players in a Slot system need to work hard off the ball, the 24-year-old could be the perfect addition to the squad, and the fact that he could be available for £21m is also attractive, with Kerkez likely to cost far more.

Not only that, but the Brugge defender is also versatile and able to play at right-back, which also makes him appealing, given that Trent Alexander-Arnold is in line to leave this summer.

"Outstanding" De Cuyper impressing in Belgium

The full-back is yet to prove himself in a major league, but he has certainly caught the eye with his performances in Belgium this season, having received high praise from scout Ben Mattinson, who believes he is now ready to make the move to a bigger club.

Mattinson highlights the Belgian’s attacking capabilities, and he has flourished going forward over the past year, ranking in a high percentile across a number of key metrics.

Statistic

Average per 90

Assists

0.16 (85th percentile)

Shot-creating actions

4.93 (99th percentile)

Progressive passes

7.44 (99th percentile)

De Cuyper has proven he could be ready to make the step-up to a top club this summer, although it may be wise for Kerkez to remain the top target, given that the Bournemouth defender has already proven himself at Premier League level.

Arsenal reopen talks to sign "sensational" target after Berta intervention

by h716a5.icu Uncategorized

Arsenal have reignited discussions over signing a highly-rated previous target with Andrea Berta heavily involved in the decision, according to a report this week.

Arsenal target new forwards for Mikel Arteta this summer

The Gunners are already reliably believed to be closing in on a deal for Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Spain international will be Berta’s first signing of the summer.

Fabrizio Romano: Arsenal submit opening £1m+ offer for "exceptional" gem

The Gunners have made a bid for a Premier League youngster, who is attracting the attention of several clubs.

ByDominic Lund May 13, 2025

As Mikel Arteta prepares to welcome his compatriot to N5, Berta appears set to carry on with his task of improving Arsenal’s squad across the board.

GiveMeSport recently reported that Arsenal could spend up to £300 million on seven new signings under Berta, as the 53-year-old attempts to make a splash over his debut summer at the club.

2. Arsenal

68

3. Newcastle United

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4. Man City

65

5. Chelsea

63

6. Aston Villa

63

7. Nottingham Forest

62

Among the transfer chief’s top priorities is the potential acquisition of two new wingers, one for either side of Arsenal’s front three, and a goalscoring centre-forward.

Arteta is also known to value versatility in his players, leaving little surprise that Arsenal are rumoured fans of Wolves star Matheus Cunha.

The Brazilian has featured in practically every attacking role under Vitor Pereira this term, scoring a career-best 17 goals and bagging a further six assists in the top flight, and his £62.5 million release clause arguably makes him one of the snips of 2025.

However, it is widely believed that Man United are clear frontrunners to sign Cunha, and are working hard on a deal for the ex-Atletico Madrid star as they attempt to beat off competition.

News of the 25-year-old’s future has gone fairly quiet lately, though, which has led to speculation that Arsenal could hijack United’s move for Cunha.

Arsenal reignite Matheus Cunha discussions with Andrea Berta involved

According to journalist Dean Jones, writing for GiveMeSport, Arsenal have indeed “reignited” interest in Cunha.

Berta is said to be heavily involved in this call, prompting Arsenal “conversations” to “reopen” over signing Cunha, even if there are still some reservations in some sectors of the Emirates Stadium hierarchy.

Lauded for his “sensational” footballing IQ, it is clear to see why Berta remains keen on a swoop for the South American, but GMS also report that United can still be seen as pole position suitors, as Cunha is believed to be very keen on a move to Old Trafford.

The unpredictable nature of transfers these days means you cannot completely rule Arsenal out until the ink is dry on Cunha’s contract with United, so this story could be one to keep tabs on as we fast approach the first window’s opening on June 1.

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