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George and Brewer star with the ball as the Bears dominate at Chelmsford

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay27-Apr-2025Emily Arlott’s maiden List A hundred spearheaded a stirring Warwickshire fightback as they recovered from 22 for five to overcome Essex for their first win in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup women’s competition.The 27-year-old seamer flourished with the bat, hitting 130 from 141 balls and sharing century partnerships with both Chloe Brewer (44 from 75) and Charis Pavely (31 from 40) to propel the Bears to 289 all out at Chelmsford.Essex seamer Eva Gray returned career-best figures of five for 62 – but the home side’s tally of 32 wides did them no favours and they were bowled out for 181 in response, despite half-centuries from Grace Scrivens and Cordelia Griffith.Left-armer Katie George and medium-pacer Brewer picked up three wickets apiece as Essex were dismissed with 11 overs unused.Essex’s decision to bowl after winning the toss appeared to be more than vindicated when Gray wrecked the visitors’ top order by capturing four wickets in the space of 10 balls.Sterre Kalis was first to depart, lbw playing across the line to Kate Coppack before Amara Carr’s diving catch behind the stumps removed Davina Perrin, while George and Abbey Freeborn were both castled by inswingers from Gray.Nat Wraith also fell cheaply, caught at slip, but Brewer – who survived a difficult chance to cover from her second ball – led the Bears’ counter-attack, driving sweetly through the off side and injecting the innings with momentum.However, she was gradually overtaken by her partner, who punched Coppack for four over midwicket to reach her half-century and continued to accelerate after Brewer’s departure as she and Pavely shared another three-figure stand.Dropped at mid-on on 85, Arlott maintained focus and advanced to her century before dispatching Sophia Smale for three successive boundaries and thrashing a huge leg-side six off Gray as the Warwickshire total passed 250.Arlott eventually became Gray’s fifth victim, bowled attempting to paddle, but the damage had already been done and Issy Wong’s belligerent unbeaten 29 from 14 ensured the Bears finished on a high, with 16 coming from the final over.Wong struck with the ball when Essex launched their reply, nipping one back to clatter into Jo Gardner’s off stump, but Scrivens kept the scoreboard ticking over with a lively knock of 53 from 76.Warwickshire’s spinners struck twice in successive overs, with Scrivens edging behind off Pavely and Jodi Grewcock bowled by Georgia Davis, although Griffith took up the baton with gusto, hammering Davis down the ground for the only six of the innings.But Griffith shed partners at regular intervals, with Brewer pouching a trip of catches off George (three for 38) at midwicket and then claiming two wickets in three balls herself as Essex’s lower order fell apart.Four wickets went down for a single run, including that of Griffith for a creditable 72 from 76 and Brewer (three for 18) wrapped up Warwickshire’s success by trapping Munro leg before.

Cremonese head coach Davide Nicola remains unwavering in his trust in "fighter" Jamie Vardy as the striker prepares for his first start since joining the Serie A club in the summer. He came off the bench as Inter claimed a dominant 4-1 victory last week, but his coach was positive about his impact and feels he makes the team more threatening even though he is yet to find the net across two substitute appearances.

Inter run riot as Vardy adapts to Serie A

Inter dominated Cremonese with a convincing win at San Siro, displaying relentless attacking intent and fluidity throughout. Vardy was introduced just before the hour mark in an effort to spark a comeback, but despite his earnest movement and brief flashes of urgency in link-up play, he once again finished the match without either a goal or an assist, extending his frustrating search for a breakthrough in Serie A. 

Coach Nicola, however, remains optimistic about the English striker, describing Vardy as "a fighter" and expressing hope that a turnaround is near. The Italian manager was quick to praise Vardy for his contribution to the team's only goal against Inter, despite the striker's ongoing personal drought. Nicola emphasised that Vardy's presence and constant pressure in the penalty area were instrumental in creating the space needed for the goal.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportCoach Davide Nicola optimistic about Vardy's resurgence

Cremonese had enjoyed a surprisingly positive start to the season, making the defeat to Inter their only loss so far. In a post-match interview, Nicola reflected on his team's six-game run in the league while reassuring supporters that it's only a matter of time before Vardy returns to his goal-scoring form.

"I don't need to look at the result of a match to be more or less confident. I analyse it every time I start working with a team and I focus on the final objective. This start is thanks to both the players and the moments in which we met certain teams, as well as the situations we were able to exploit," he said. "I'm certainly not the one discovering Vardy; he's shown he's a fighter, and it's no coincidence that by filling the penalty area more, we managed to score. The break will allow us to further improve our physical condition until we can get everyone up to the same level."

Vardy chose Serie A adventure after Leicester exit

Vardy joined the Italian side on a free transfer after his long period at Leicester ended last season. While the Foxes were relegated from the Premier League, Vardy departed as a club legend with 200 goals in 500 matches before being snapped up by the newly-promoted Serie A side. He featured in the third league game of the season, coming off the bench for the last 30 minutes as Cremonese drew 0-0 with Hellas. The 38-year-old missed out on the next two games before his substitute role against Inter.

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Getty Images SportCremonese's challenging path forward

Cremonese arrived this season as newly promoted and have shown flashes of resilience, but their defeat to Inter exposed gaps in depth and consistency. Vardy remains a focal point despite his goal drought, and Nicola believes continued trust in him and the squad will pay off over time. With the international break providing time to regroup, Cremonese must stabilise defensively before their next fixture against Udinese on October 20.

Liverpool versus Everton is always a tasty affair at Anfield in the Premier League.

Today’s lunchtime Merseyside Derby was no different as Arne Slot’s Reds raced into a two-goal lead, before the Toffees fought back courtesy of an Idrissa Gueye screamer beating Alisson.

In the end, Everton just didn’t have enough to equalise in the 2-1 defeat, with Beto struggling severely in the first half, before David Moyes put him out of his misery at the half-time mark.

Beto's struggles at Anfield in numbers

Everton were always going to struggle to impose themselves on the contest, coming up against a hostile Anfield atmosphere.

Indeed, looking at the overall match numbers, Slot’s Reds would dominate the possession with 58% of the ball, as Beto ended up being very much of a bystander in a first half that saw Liverpool accelerate into a two-goal advantage.

While Hugo Ekitike was confidently adding to his early Premier League goal tally with this instinctive finish, Beto was attempting to scrap his way into the fierce contest, but the 27-year-old was ultimately far too passive.

Beto would only complete two accurate passes all match, as per Sofascore, while only successfully winning two aerial duels as an isolated figure in Moyes’ attack.

In matches to come, Moyes could potentially have a rethink as to who he starts as the leading man in the Toffees attack, with Thierno Barry also fading in and out of the hotly-contested affair when coming on for the Portuguese striker.

It wasn’t just the attack that would receive pelters at the final whistle, though, with an experienced Everton defender now looking to be on borrowed time under the Scotman after suffering a 2-1 loss to their arch rivals.

The 6/10 star on borrowed time under Moyes

Everton were dealt a two-goal sucker punch in the first half as Liverpool’s fast-paced play on the ball constantly caught out a slow Toffees defence.

Michael Keane definitely struggled in this regard throughout, with the former Burnley man failing to keep tight to Ekitike before he sealed the win for the Reds deep into the first half.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

40

Accurate passes

27/32 (84%)

Clearances

4

Interceptions

2

Tackles

1

Total duels won

3/6

As noted above, Keane would only win 50% of his six duels during the hotly contested clash, with the experienced centre-back also only winning two tackles to try and keep a free-flowing Liverpool attack at bay.

It does only feel like a matter of time before the 6-foot-3 stalwart is out of Moyes’ starting XIs for good, with Jarrad Branthwaite nearly back up to full fitness, further troubling the 32-year-old’s long-term minutes in the main lineup.

After all, Moyes will see that he’s upgraded and progressed his side in the forward department, with faces such as Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall undoubtedly offering up plenty of quality, even if Beto disappeared at Anfield.

Moreover, it appears that the Toffees already have an experienced head in the heart of defence that still has the legs to perform at the highest level in James Tarkowski, with the Everton captain winning eight duels when giving his all, despite the devastating final outcome.

While Keane would be gifted a 6/10 post-match rating by Liverpool World’s Will Rooney, it is now nine seasons and down for the 32-year-old in an Everton shirt, with a permanent change in defence perhaps now needed.

After failing to close down some seriously threatening Liverpool attackers and be authorative in the Merseyside Derby, his long-term minutes in the Toffees main XI week in week out must soon be up, especially when Branthwaite returns.

Moyes' own Richarlison: Everton are brewing a "menacing" new forward

Everton are redefining their attacking quality with David Moyes back at the helm.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 19, 2025

West Ham United officially confirmed that Graham Potter had been relieved of his duties at the London Stadium on Saturday, less than 24 hours after his pre-match press conference ahead of the Everton match.

The Hammers did not waste much time in finding a replacement for the English head coach, though, as Nuno Espirito Santo was unveiled later on in the day.

Sacked by Nottingham Forest earlier this season, after a breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis, the Portuguese boss steps straight in for the game against the Toffees on Monday night.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Forest boss will be hoping to instantly win the supporters over in his first game, and he should drop Max Kilman from the side in order to do that.

Why Max Kilman should be dropped

West Ham splashed a whopping £40m fee to sign the English central defender from Premier League rivals Wolves in the summer of 2024, hoping to improve their backline.

Unfortunately, the Hammers ended the season with 62 goals conceded in 38 league games. Kilman, per Sofascore, ended the campaign with a worrying four errors that led to shots and two errors that led to goals for the opposition, which shows that he was prone to making mistakes at the back.

So far this season, Kilman has started all five games in the league and West Ham had conceded the most goals in the division (13) before Saturday’s matches.

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

The left-footed defender has lost 56% of his ground duels in the top-flight this season, per Sofascore, and has not looked assured at all in the heart of the defence, which is why Nuno must drop him from the XI for the trip to the Hill Dickinson.

Such has been the nature of his poor performances, West Ham Transfers – a fan account with over 77k followers – posted on X that Kilman is “worse than Roger Johnson”, which led to many supporters replying in agreement, illustrating how a section of the fanbase feel about the defender.

The West Ham player who should replace Max Kilman

In order to keep the balance of the team, the new West Ham boss should bring Igor Julio into the starting line-up for his debut for the club in the left-sided centre-back role.

Whether Nuno goes with a back three or a back four, a left-footed centre-back will be needed for balance when playing out from the back, which is why the Brighton loanee could slot in as a replacement for Kilman.

The Brazilian star, who was hailed as an “animal” by former coach Inigo Calderón, played for Brighton in the League Cup against Oxford earlier this season and showcased his aggressive defending.

Minutes

90

Clearances

6

Blocks

1

Tackles won

4

Dribbled past

0x

Ground duels won

6/7

Aerial duels won

1/2

As you can see in the table above, Igor won seven of his nine duels, including six of his seven ground duels, and this suggests that he could be much stronger than Kilman, who has been dominated on the deck this season, at the back for the Hammers.

The left-footed defender was also unbeaten in all three of the Premier League matches that he featured in for Brighton in the second half of last season, including a win against Spurs and draws with Arsenal and Aston Villa.

Igor, who started ten times in the top-flight last term, is a dominant defender who has Premier League experience under his belt, which is why Nuno should not have any concerns about throwing him straight into the action against West Ham.

Given how bad the defence has been this season, and how some supporters have viewed Kilman’s performances, bringing the Brazilian titan into the team to lead the Hammers to a defensive masterclass against Everton could instantly get fans onside for Nuno.

Roy Keane had absolutely no sympathy for Rory McIlroy, who was on the receiving end of abuse at the Ryder Cup in New York last month. Team Europe claimed an impressive 15-13 win over Team USA but insults were aimed at McIlroy and Shane Lowry over the weekend at Bethpage Black, yet no-nonsense man Keane pulled no punches in his assessment of the abuse sent in the direction of the Irish golfers.

Getty Images SportThere was a hostile atmosphere in New York

Team Europe knew to expect plenty of abuse from the hostile American home support in New York. Indeed, tempers threatened to spill over as Tommy Fleetwood was involved in a heated exchange with Bryson DeChambeau which stemmed from a caddie incident on the 15th hole.

And McIlroy and Lowry in particular were targeted by US fans with the pair involved in foul-mouthed rants at the crowd, while one fan was removed from the course over the weekend. McIlroy appeared visibly vexxed owing to some of the vitriol aimed his way from supporters.

In addition, McIlroy's wife, Erica Stoll, appeared to be struck by a beer thrown from the crowd, which understandably left the Irish golfer furious. While the golfing world pulled together to condemn the abuse, Keane had a different viewpoint as he pulled no punches on his assessment of the unsavoury scenes in New York.

Advertisement'Upset by a few Yanks?'

Keane was dismissive of the relentless abuse Team Europe received during the Ryder Cup, and insisted there was no chance of Team USA mounting a Sunday comeback, telling Stick to Football via balls.ie: "So, you tell me. I'm no expert in golf – I don't play but I watch the sport.

"You're saying the pressure on these players because some people were shouting? Become a footballer and go to Leeds or Anfield on a Tuesday night, let me tell you.

"These guys play in big tournaments every week. All of a sudden, they're going to be upset by a few Yanks? You've got McIlroy, McIlroy's won all the big prizes. Do you think he's going to be upset by a few people? It's ridiculous!

"Of course they [knew abuse was coming]. They've built it up for the last six months, 'Wait til you come to America.' Of course they knew they were going to get abused!

Getty Images SportKeane questioned why wives and girlfriends were in attendance

Keane went on to question why the players' wives and girlfriends were on the course when they knew they were going to be on the receiving end of abuse in New York, adding: "And then they get upset because of their partners…let me tell you what I would say to my partner.

"If I was a golfer, and my partner was getting abuse, I'd say to my partner, or my wife, or my girlfriend, 'Just stay in the hotel, love. I'll see you tonight when I get back. You don't come to the other tournaments, but guess what? You get a new outfit and come to the Ryder Cup!'

"You've got a new outfit, a new belt, and then I'm getting loads of stick? Well, go home! I guarantee you they're going back to a nice hotel, they're not in a camp, in a tent."

Former Ryder Cup hero Andrew Coltart warned that wives and girlfriends were going to come in for abuse at the competition, previously stating: "So for Bethpage Black, I offered up the suggestion that it might not be a great idea to go out there and they can watch it from a room where it's safe and secure."

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'He shouldn't be swearing either, should he?'

It was clear that Keane had no time for complaints about the abuse the players and their partners received at the Ryder Cup, while he aimed a further dig at McIlroy. McIlroy had previously been a guest on the Stick to Football podcast and recounted a story of how his hero at the time, Keane, turned him down for an autograph when he was a kid.

Keane took the chance to aim another dig at McIlroy, adding: "Well, he shouldn't be swearing either, should he? I didn't see him signing autographs after, by the way! All those little kids waiting for him!"

Keane had a reputation for one of football's hard men during his playing career, and still holds the record for the most red cards in English football having been dismissed 13 times as a player. The 54-year-old spent the bulk of his career with Manchester United but also turned out for Celtic, Nottingham Forest and Cobh Ramblers.

Shubman Gill, meanwhile, felt the damp conditions in Mumbai made batting tough

ESPNcricinfo staff06-May-20253:18

Mumbai collapse shows middle-order vulnerabilities

After a chaotic game that went down to the last ball, giving both teams a chance to recover from mistakes they made, Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya was the one ruing the turn of events. He felt that more than Tilak Varma’s dropped catch off Shubman Gill (on 35, he made 43), the three no-balls – two from him and one from Deepak Chahar in the final over – were a “crime” and they cost them victory.Hardik bowled two no-balls in the eighth over, which went for 18. But crucially, defending 14 in the final over, Chahar bowled a no-ball at a vital juncture as MI lost a rain-affected thriller against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Mumbai.”The catches didn’t really cost us. We were very clinical with that,” Hardik said after MI’s three-wicket defeat. “Maybe definitely with the no-balls, with my no-ball and even the last [over] no-ball.Related

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“That, in my eyes, indeed it’s a crime, and most often than not it kind of bites you. It definitely did to us, but at the same point of time, really happy with the boys giving their 120% and making sure that we were in the game and not giving up.”Sent into bat, MI huffed and puffed their way to 155 for 8, despite a half-century from Will Jacks. They lost 6 for 58 in the last 9.3 overs. But the bowlers brought the team back brilliantly in wet conditions and got praise from the captain.”It was definitely not a 150 wicket. I think it was a 175 [surface],” Hardik said. “We were definitely short in batting by 20-25 runs or maybe 30 runs if you would have batted well. But I think credit to the bowlers, they kept fighting and they kept bowling at the right areas.”In the first innings, the ground was not wet. Post that, throughout the whole innings, the ball kept getting wetter. I don’t know if it helped us or not helped us, but yeah, it was difficult. Rain kept coming in. It’s always not really ideal to have a stoppage and start again and have a stoppage. But the game goes on.”

“There was wind and a little bit of rain and just the atmosphere was such, it felt like a Test match for the first four to five overs. We just had to play proper, normal cricket and once the powerplay was over, we thought now we will try to play our normal game a little bit more”Shubman Gill

Gill, meanwhile, said the conditions at the start of GT’s chase “felt like a Test match” with the fast bowlers getting plenty of movement. There was a strong wind blowing while the rain made batting hard work.”The game plans were definitely different when we were playing in the powerplay. There was wind and a little bit of rain and just the atmosphere was such, it felt like a Test match for the first four to five overs,” Gill said. “We just had to play proper, normal cricket and once the powerplay was over, we thought now we will try to play our normal game a little bit more. But the rain kept coming in.”It’s not easy in a T20 match, if there is such a long break to be able to come back and start the game.”After a tough powerplay where GT managed just 29 runs, Gill and Jos Buttler settled the nerves with a 72-run second-wicket stand. Gill and Sherfane Rutherford also had a quick stand, but GT lost four wickets for 13 runs in 15 balls, which pegged back their momentum and also pushed them behind the DLS par score when the players went off the field at around midnight.4:13

Should Hardik have bowled MI’s final over?

What were the feelings like in the GT camp at that stage?”A lot of emotions, most of them were frustrating, because at one point we were such ahead in the game,” Gill said. “Then, I think, four overs of play, 20 [13] runs for four wickets, it felt like one of those Test match sessions, which don’t go your way. That period was quite frustrating, but I think the universe gave us one more chance, and everything worked out well for us.”Gill also heaped praise on Rashid Khan, who finished with figures of 1 for 21, just days after going for 50 runs in three overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).”It’s not easy for him coming back from an injury,” Gill said. “But the way he’s been working hard in the nets, and I think the way he bowled today, is a great sign for us.”

Barcelona are finalising plans to play a friendly match in Peru this December to offset the financial loss from their cancelled Miami fixture against Villarreal. The proposed game, worth up to €7-8 million, comes after La Liga and organisers Relevent pulled the plug on the U.S. match, a blow to Barca’s global expansion and revenue strategy.

Barcelona explore Peru friendly after Miami cancellation

The Catalan giants are negotiating a lucrative offer to play in Peru in late December after the club’s planned Miami fixture against Villarreal was officially cancelled. According to , the potential friendly would generate between €7-8 million, providing a much-needed financial boost amid the club’s ongoing efforts to stabilise revenue streams.

Barcelona had been scheduled to face Villarreal at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on December 20, but the event organisers, Relevent Sports, withdrew due to “uncertainty in Spain.” La Liga and Relevent confirmed the match would not take place, citing a lack of preparation time and growing political instability, while Barcelona described it as a “missed commercial opportunity.”

The club had also rejected a separate offer to play in Libya earlier this month, which could have generated an additional €5m, due to safety concerns. Now, the club see the Peru proposal as an ideal alternative to recover lost income, especially after another financial setback from the Miami cancellation.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFinancial motives drive Laporta’s decision

Club president Joan Laporta personally addressed the players, manager Hansi Flick, and sporting director Deco at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper training complex, confirming the club’s willingness to accept the Peru offer. During the meeting, Laporta highlighted the match’s financial significance, especially in light of reduced commercial revenues this season.

The friendly would take place after Barcelona’s final La Liga fixture of 2025, originally set to be the Miami encounter with Villarreal on December 20, and before the league’s Christmas break. The club are consulting the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) to ensure the date aligns with the players’ collective bargaining agreement regarding the official start of the holiday period.

If approved, the trip would mark Barcelona’s second exhibition abroad in December, following their 2023 friendly in the United States against Club America. The South American market, particularly Peru, represents a strong commercial opportunity for the club’s global brand strategy and one that fits perfectly with Laporta’s renewed push to strengthen ties across Latin America.

Wider impact on La Liga’s global ambitions

The decision to cancel the Miami fixture has reignited debate over La Liga’s internationalisation strategy, a key project championed by Javier Tebas. The league president criticised the cancellation as “narrow-minded,” accusing Spanish football authorities and Real Madrid in particular of “blocking progress” in taking competitive fixtures abroad.

Barcelona, meanwhile, have sought to maintain their own commercial momentum through friendlies and global tours. The Peru proposal illustrates how the club are bypassing traditional barriers to secure financial stability independently of La Liga’s initiatives. The €8m payday would not only cover the lost Miami revenue but also strengthen Barca’s cash flow ahead of an expensive 2026 campaign, which will include the reopening of the newly-renovated Camp Nou.

For a club still recovering from years of financial turbulence, opportunities like this remain critical. Despite improved sponsorship income and Champions League qualification, the Blaugrana club continue to navigate tight economic margins, and every global engagement is carefully evaluated for its commercial return.

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Getty Images SportBarcelona’s South American trip gathers momentum

The friendly in Peru would cap off Barca’s 2025 calendar year and could be scheduled just days after their final La Liga fixture against Villarreal at La Ceramica. While the precise date remains under discussion, internal approval appears likely, given the club’s positive financial projections and the absence of major scheduling conflicts.

If confirmed, it will be Barcelona’s first-ever senior appearance in Peru, a country with a passionate fanbase and strong ties to Spanish football. The match is expected to draw significant local attention, with organisers anticipating a sell-out crowd and major television coverage across South America.

Barcelona’s first competitive match of 2026 is set for January 3 or 4 against Espanyol at Cornella-El Prat, meaning players would have a short window for rest before the season resumes.

A report emerged earlier this week that claimed that Celtic were set to complete a deal to sign Bobby Clark from RB Salzburg in the January transfer window.

It was said that the Hoops were on course to tie up a £6m move for the former Liverpool starlet, who is currently on loan at Derby County in England.

However, CeltsAreHere have since reported that there has not been any contact over a deal for Clark, which suggests that the Scottish Premiership giants are not on the verge of securing his signature.

Why Celtic should not sign Bobby Clark

Celtic should avoid a deal to sign Bobby Clark for £6m in January, as they appear to be doing with CeltsAreHere’s latest update, because he has struggled for form since leaving Liverpool in the summer of 2024.

Clark joined Salzburg for £10m from the Premier League giants and was sent out on loan to Derby this summer after a disappointing debut campaign in Austria.

Appearances

17

8

Starts

7

5

Goals

1

0

Key passes per game

0.6

0.4

Assists

0

0

Tackles + interceptions per game

0.8

1.1

Duel success rate

35%

35%

As you can see in the table above, the 20-year-old midfielder has scored one goal and failed to provide any assists at league level since the start of last season, losing 65% of his defensive duels in that time too.

These statistics suggest that he would not add any immediate quality to the Celtic squad, offensively or defensively, which is why the club should not pay £6m to sign him in January.

Chalkboard

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

On top of concerns over his form, Celtic should not sign Clark from Salzburg because they already have their own version of him in Arne Engels.

Why Arne Engels is a Bobby Clark-type player

Per FBref, Clark was the fourth-most statistically comparable central midfielder to Engels in the 2024/25 campaign in the Champions League.

The chart above shows that they both excelled in similar areas of the game, hence the comparison, but the Belgium international was significantly more effective as a creative force for his team, with more assists and xAG per 90.

Engels, who was signed from Augsburg for a club-record £11m fee, is also similar to Clark in terms of the kind of signing he was, as a young player who was brought in to develop and improve in value, as Salzburg attempted to do with the Englishman.

The 22-year-old starlet enjoyed a strong first season with the Scottish giants. He scored ten goals and provided 13 assists in 52 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, although eight of those goals came from the penalty spot.

U23 scout Antonio Mango claimed that Engels is “going to thrive” at Parkhead, but his form has taken a turn for the worse in the 2025/26 campaign.

The Belgian whiz has no goals and one assist in 12 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which shows that his form in front of goal has suffered a dip, much like Clark’s since his move to Salzburg.

This is another reason why the Hoops do not need to sign the Derby County loanee in January, because they already have a young and promising central midfielder who is in need of a turnaround in form to get his career back on track.

Celtic paid £11m to sign Engels, which is £5m more than they may have to pay to sign Clark, and Brendan Rodgers should currently be looking at ways to get the midfield talent back to his very best at Parkhead so that £11m does not become a wasted investment.

Celtic dud who should be in "bottom end of League One" is on borrowed time

This Celtic attacker is now on borrowed time at Parkhead ahead of the January window.

ByDan Emery Oct 16, 2025

Therefore, the Premiership champions should focus on reviving the Belgian star’s career at Parkhead instead of splashing £6m on another underperforming young midfielder.

Zak Foulkes and Adi Ashok have also been handed their first deals while Ish Sodhi and Ajaz Patel drop off the list

Andrew McGlashan03-Jun-2025Wicketkeeper-batter Mitchell Hay and allrounder Muhammad Abbas are among four new names on New Zealand’s central contracts list for 2025-26 after making an impact in white-ball cricket over the past year.Fast bowler Zak Foulkes and legspinner Adi Ashok have also earned their first deals among the 20 names on national retainers.As he had indicated recently, Kane Williamson has not taken a contract along with Devon Conway, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Lockie Ferguson. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said discussions “are ongoing” around their casual playing arrangements.Related

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From last year’s group, Ish Sodhi, Ajaz Patel and Josh Clarkson have dropped off along with the retired Tim Southee.Among the new faces, Hay made an unbeaten 99 against Pakistan during the ODI series earlier this year and Abbas struck the fastest half-century on ODI debut with his 24-ball effort in the same series.Foulkes has ten T20I caps and earned his ODI debut against Sri Lanka last year. Ashok made his three international appearances back in 2023 but was part of the squad against Pakistan in March and has recently impressed on the New Zealand A tour of Bangladesh, where he claimed 5 for 54 in the first four-day game.Kane Williamson is among the players to not take a central contract•Ryan Pierse/Getty ImagesThe contracts list was drawn up by a panel including head coach Gary Stead, who has stepped down from the white-ball job with a decision expected shortly over whether he will continue as the Test coach.New Zealand have a light Test schedule in the next contract cycle with two matches in Zimbabwe (which aren’t part of the World Test Championship) from late July and three home games against West Indies before Christmas. Next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka will be one of the main focuses.”The contracts with Mitch, Muhammad, Adi and Zak reflect the incredible talent coming through our system,” Scott Weenink, the NZC CEO, said. “These players have shown they can compete at the highest level, and their hunger to represent the Blackcaps is exciting. The list captures the depth and versatility of our talent pool.”New Zealand Men central contracts 2025-26Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Will Young

Toni Kroos has criticised Hansi Flick’s tactical setup in Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid, questioning the German coach’s choice of centre-backs and failure to contain Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. The former Real Madrid star also highlighted the loss of Inigo Martinez as a key factor behind Barca’s defensive struggles at the Bernabeu.

Kroos questions Flick’s defensive setup in El Clasico

Barcelona’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu has reignited debate over Flick’s tactical approach. The German coach, who watched from the stands due to suspension, saw his side outpaced and outclassed by Madrid's forwards, with Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham on target in a statement win for Los Blancos.

While the Catalan giants showed promise in possession, their defensive structure crumbled under Madrid’s high tempo and direct transitions. Former World Cup winner Kroos voiced his surprise at Flick’s decision to start Eric Garcia alongside Pau Cubarsi, instead of opting for the more physical Ronald Araujo, a player known for his speed and strength in one-on-one duels. 

AdvertisementGetty/GOALGarcia start called out by ex-Madrid midfielder

Speaking on his podcast , Kroos explained that Barcelona’s defensive setup made little sense given Madrid’s attacking threat, singling out Flick’s centre-back selection as a major flaw.

“In the centre of defence, I don't understand why Garcia is playing,” Kroos said. “Football-wise, he’s slightly better than Araujo, but Araujo has the physical strength to chase down opponents more, especially when you're defending so high up the pitch. He would have been the ideal player for that style of play and that opponent.”

The ex-Los Blancos midfielder went on to emphasise how Barca’s lack of pace at the back played straight into Madrid’s hands. “When you have Mbappe and Vinícius up against you, you need someone who can match that pace,” he added. “Araujo can do that. I was very surprised by his absence.”

Indeed, Barcelona’s defenders struggled to contain the electric duo throughout the game, with Vinicius repeatedly stretching the backline and Mbappe exploiting the spaces behind. Flick’s decision to leave out Araujo left many fans and pundits baffled, with Kroos’s comments echoing a growing sense that Barca’s defensive organisation cost them dearly.

Loss of Inigo Martinez still haunting Barcelona

Beyond the tactical choices, the 35-year-old also pointed to a broader structural problem in Barcelona’s defence: the failure to replace Inigo Martinez, who joined Al-Nassr in the summer.

“I already mentioned it at the time: Inigo Martinez was very important,” Kroos noted. “Last year, he was Barca's centre-back with the best ball distribution. He wasn’t the fastest, but he was an excellent defender and had great build-up play. Against Real Madrid, his absence was noticeable when the team suffered under their high press. They didn’t replace him, and that’s taking its toll.”

Kroos did, however, acknowledge the difficult circumstances Flick faced on the night, adding: “It’s fair to say that Barça arrived very weakened: from the goalkeeper to the coach. They were missing key players like Raphinha, Dani Olmo and Lewandowski.”

His assessment underlined how Flick’s Barcelona remain a work in progress this season, capable of dominating possession but still searching for balance, particularly in defence.

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Getty Images SportPost-match El Clasico chaos and Flick’s next steps

Tensions boiled over after the final whistle, as several Madrid players confronted Lamine Yamal in a heated exchange. Dani Carvajal told the 18-year-old: “You speak too much. Speak now,” referring to Yamal’s pre-match Twitch comments joking that “Real Madrid steal.” The incident quickly escalated, with Vinícius Jr. and Jude Bellingham joining the fray before officials intervened to separate the sides.

The defeat leaves Barca five points adrift of league leaders Real, forcing Flick to reassess his defensive options and tactical setup. The German coach has acknowledged the loss of Martinez as a major blow and is expected to shuffle his backline in upcoming fixtures. Barcelona now turn their attention to their next La Liga clash against Elche, hoping to regain momentum before the international break. With injuries still mounting and tensions rising, Flick’s immediate task will be restoring belief in a squad that remains talented but fragile after a bruising Clasico setback.