Everton struck gold on ace who’s now worth 6x more than Doucoure

In recent times, Everton have had to work on a shoestring budget given their FFP troubles, with most signings either on free transfers or low transfer fees.

The FFP issues have allowed boss Sean Dyche to work closely with his squad, creating a tight-knit group that can fight relegation despite their points deduction this season.

Everton manager Sean Dyche.

Players such as Jarrad Branthwaite and Jordan Pickford have been crucial in the defensive third for the Toffees, with Dyche's side currently boasting the best defensive record of any side outside the Premier League's top four.

The duo have both been named in Gareth Southgate's latest England squad – reflecting their sensational displays for the club so far in what has been a tricky campaign for the club.

However, in the near future, the pair might be joined by a Toffees teammate within the England setup after his impressive season under Dyche.

James Garner's stats at Everton

Since arriving at Goodison Park during the summer of 2022, midfielder James Garner has impressed in multiple different positions under Dyche.

He's often been utilised at right-back and right-midfield before finally cementing his place in the Toffees' midfield alongside Idrissa Gueye, with Abdoulaye Doucoure playing slightly further forward.

Everton midfielder James Garner.

The former Manchester United youngster has made 51 appearances since his switch to Goodison, scoring twice including a stunner in the Carabao Cup tie against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

His stats this season are very impressive, with the former Nottingham Forest loanee averaging 1.6 interceptions per game in the Premier League this season – a figure that ranks him within the top 7% of all midfielders in Europe's top five leagues this season.

Garner also averages 2.6 tackles per 90 this season, with the midfielder demonstrating his ball-winning qualities in the middle of Dyche's side.

The 23-year-old has also excelled in possession for the Toffees, averaging 3.6 progressive passes per game with the midfielder racking up two assists in the Premier League so far this campaign.

James Garner's market value in 2024

Garner joined the club for £9m back in the summer of 2022 from fellow Premier League side Man United, with the midfielder once having a big future at Old Trafford.

Nearly two years on from his arrival in the North West, Garner now has a market value of €30m (£25m), with the 23-year-old currently worth just over six times more than in-form teammate Doucoure, who's value sits at €5m (£4m) – as per CIES Football Observatory.

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While at 31, Doucoure's age may be a factor in that minimal market value, the expectation would have been that a player who has netted six league goals this season would be one of the most valuable members of the squad, yet it is Garner who is seemingly on the rise.

The "exceptional" midfielder, as dubbed by former Premier League 'keeper Paul Robinson, has been key to Dyche's side this campaign as they look to avoid relegation to the Championship.

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With Garner only being 23, he has a huge future ahead of him at Goodison Park, with the versatile talent for sure in line to receive a senior England call-up in the near future.

Gabriel Sara e Eder viajam; veja possível escalação do São Paulo

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo treinou na manhã desta terça-feira (4), pelo manhã no CT da Barra Funda, em preparação para enfrentar o Racing (ARG), nesta quarta-feira, às 19h, na Argentina. Depois da atividade, a equipe viaja apara Buenos Aires.

Confira marcas importantes atingidas por Crespo no São Paulo

As novidades ficam por conta do meia Gabriel Sara e do atacante Eder. Ambos estavam lesionados, se recuperaram e foram relacionados para a partida válida pelo torneio continental.

VEJA A POSIÇÃO DO SÃO PAULO NA LIBERTADORES

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Sara estava fora do time desde o jogo contra o Novorizontino, no começo de março. Revelado na base são-paulina, ele estava reclamando de dores na coxa. direita. Já Eder teve um incômodo na coa esquerda e esteve fora desdeo duelo contra o Santo André, dia 23 de abril.

Crespo deve escalar a mesma equipe que venceu o Rentistas, do Uruguai, no Morumbi. Com o retorno de Léo, suspenso, quem pode perder a vaga no time titular é Bruno Alves. Sendo assim, a zaga deve ser a mesma que enfrentou o Corinthians, com Arboleda, Miranda e Léo.

Com isso, um possível time do São Paulo tem:Volpi, Arboleda, Miranda e Léo (Bruno Alves); Daniel Alves, Luan, Liziero, Benítez e Reinaldo; Luciano e Pablo.

O Tricolor vem em grande fase na temporada, sendo líder do Grupo E da Libertadores, com seis pontos conquistados. O time venceu o Sporting Cristal por 3 a 0, fora e o Rentistas, por 2 a 0, no Morumbi.

Farke must ease Summerville blow by unleashing £25k-p/w Leeds star

Leeds United have a chance to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup as they travel from Yorkshire to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this evening.

The Whites overcame Plymouth Argyle, after extra-time, in the last round to set up this tie against the Premier League outfit, who lost the League Cup final to Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday.

Daniel Farke's side are currently vying for promotion back to the top-flight as they sit second in the Championship table, following on from their 3-1 win over Leicester City on Friday night.

Daniel Farke.

It remains to seen whether they see tonight's match as a welcome distraction or one that could knock their momentum in the league. The answer to that could be found in the German head coach's team selection if he does or does not rest a number of key players.

However, the former Norwich City boss could be forced to drop some of his key performers due to a number of injury issues picked up since the last match.

Latest Leeds team news

Farke revealed in his pre-match press conference that three of his attacking players may not be available for the trip to Stamford Bridge this evening.

Star winger Crysencio Summerville rolled his ankle and the manager has claimed that the Dutch gem "might" not be fit to face the Blues in the FA Cup.

The former Feyenoord youngster is not the only potential absentee for the Whites, though, as Patrick Bamford has minor calf and ankle injuries that he is currently dealing with.

His absence would come as a blow for the side as it would limit the head coach's options at the top end of the pitch. He has also been in fantastic form of late, with two goals in his last two league appearances, and could have been a difference-maker with his quality in front of goal.

Farke has also revealed that Georginio Rutter has a hip flexor problem that means that he will be forced to make a late decision on his involvement in the match.

23/24 Championship

Georginio Rutter

Appearances

33

Goals

Six

Assists

12

Big chances created

20

Key passes per game

2.2

Sofascore rating

7.37

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the French magician has been in fantastic form for Leeds in the second tier this season, particularly as a creative threat for the side, which is why it would also be a blow to lose him for this clash with Chelsea.

The manager may not want to risk any of those three players if they injuries to deal with as he may not want to cause further injury issues for them ahead of crucial Championship matches for the sake of a cup game.

With this in mind, Summerville must now be risked and should be left out of the squad, or on the bench, to avoid losing him for a longer period of time.

Whilst not starting the Dutchman is not ideal, given his form this season, Farke could ease the blow by unleashing Jaidon Anthony from the start.

Crysencio Summerville's electric form

The 22-year-old star has been a fantastic performer for Leeds throughout the Championship season so far as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

Crysencio Summerville.

He has racked up 15 goals from an Expected Goals of 12.09 across 31 appearances in the second tier, which shows that the talented whiz has been ruthless in front of goal as a finisher.

Summerville has rarely missed a good opportunity to find the back of the net, as shown by his overperformance in comparison to the quality of chances, and is currently the top scorer within the squad.

The Whites star has also provided creativity for his teammates with 9.42 Expected Assists and eight assists, along with 16 'big chances' created and 2.9 key passes per game.

This suggests that his fellow attackers have let him down at times as they have not made the best of the opportunities that he has been able to create for them in the Championship.

Only Rutter (12) has provided more assists than Summerville for Leeds, whilst no player within the squad has produced more goals and assists combined than the Dutch gem (23) has so far.

Why Jaidon Anthony could ease Summerville blow

The Whites swooped to sign Anthony on loan from Bournemouth last summer but the English winger has not had too many chances to impress.

Summerville's electric form has prevented the Cherries ace from starting matches on a regular basis but that does not mean that he is not an excellent option for Farke to call upon.

The £25k-per-week wizard has only started two of his 23 appearances in the Championship – scoring one goal. However, he started both games against Plymouth in the fourth round and caught the eye on the left wing.

Jaidon Anthony

Vs Plymouth (4th round + replay)

Minutes played

172

Goals

One

Chances created

Eight

Big chances created

One

Dribbles completed

Three

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Anthony provided a big threat as both a scorer and a creator in those two matches and was unfortunate not to register an assist from the eight chances that he created for his teammates.

The talented gem, who was once hailed as "first-class" by ex-boss Scott Parker, also showcased his attacking quality in the Championship for Bournemouth during the 2021/22 campaign, as they won promotion to the Premier League.

He scored eight goals, provided seven assists, and created 18 'big chances' in 45 appearances in the second tier for the Cherries as they finished second.

Leeds winger Jaidon Anthony.

The 24-year-old ace ranked within the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers within the division for Expected Assisted Goals (0.25) per 90, and the top 8% for shot-creating actions (4.26) per 90, which shows that not many players made a greater impact in the final third in his position.

These statistics, and his form in the fourth round of the FA Cup this season, suggest that Anthony does have the quality to make a big impact at the top end of the pitch, as a scorer and a creator, when he is at his best.

Whether or not the young speedster can reach his top form tonight remains to be seen but unleashing him from the start could ease the injury blow to Summerville, should Anthony showcase the best of his abilities.

Man Utd & Nottingham Forest roasted as Brentford release hilarious TikTok including Rishi Sunak, Mark Goldbridge & Tom Hanks clips after 2024-25 Premier League fixtures release

Brentford posted a hilarious TikTok after the release of the 2024-25 Premier League fixtures, poking fun at Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.

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Brentford share hilarious TikTok videoFeatures Sunak, Hanks and GoldbridgePremier League release fixtures for 2024-25 seasonWHAT HAPPENED?

The Bees used different clips of celebrities like Hollywood actor Tom Hanks, Manchester United fan Mark Goldbridge and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to give a glimpse of all of their fixtures to fans. The video came on the social media platform shortly after the Premier League announced the schedule for the upcoming 2024-25 season.

@brentfordfc

Season 4 in the @Premier League 🎬🦁

♬ original sound – Brentford Football Club

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They used Hanks' past video of him speaking about his love for Aston Villa to show their fixture against the Villans while for the Bournemouth clashes, they used Goldbridge's video of him playing FIFA and instructing United players to celebrate in front of The Cherries' fans. A Rishi Sunak clip talking about football and Southampton was used to reveal their matches against the Saints.

DID YOU KNOW?

Brentford also poked fun at Nottingham Forest by including a clip of a VAR review, in reference to their disputes with the Premier League over the implementation of technology in their matches last season. Thomas Frank's side will kick off the new season on Sunday, August 18 against Crystal Palace while they play the final game of the campaign on May 25, 2025, against Wolves.

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The season will begin with Manchester United taking on Fulham at Old Trafford on August 17 while gameweek one will also witness the blockbuster clash between reigning champions Manchester City and Chelsea.

Can T20 World Cup inspire a Maxwell revival?

The Australia allrounder averaged less than six in this year’s IPL but there is a belief he can come good in the Caribbean

Andrew McGlashan24-May-2024One of the more forgettable IPL tournaments with the bat came to end with a lofted drive to long-on. It was Glenn Maxwell’s fourth duck of the season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.”What on earth was that from Glenn Maxwell?,” Kevin Pietersen said on the broadcast. “That there from Maxwell, I’m afraid to say, is not good enough.”It left Maxwell with 52 runs from nine innings (28 of those coming in one knock) and an average of 5.77 in IPL 2024. For those who have played at least nine innings in a season only Sunil Narine (2023) and Daniel Sams (2022) have finished with a lower average and the majority of their innings came in the lower order.Related

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“It was the shot of a guy who had almost had enough of the IPL this year, it’s been a difficult campaign for him, his bowling has been a highlight, his batting has just been poor,” former Australia captain Aaron Finch said on ESPN’s .The season never got going for Maxwell who stepped away from the side midway through the competition having spoken to captain Faf du Plessis and coach Andy Flower before he would likely have been dropped. Had Will Jacks not been recalled for England duty, Maxwell may well not have made the XI in the latter stages as RCB mounted their remarkable run to the knockouts.Players go through peaks and troughs of form, it’s not the end of the world even if Maxwell’s slump is on the more extreme end. If there had been no cricket to follow the IPL for Maxwell it could probably be parked, but that is not the case with the T20 World Cup just days away and him being a pivotal part of Australia’s hopes to adding to their one men’s title in the format from 2021.

He’s going to the World Cup now and I don’t see any reason why he can’t turn this around or turn his own personal form around in the World Cup for Australia and I look forward to watching thatAndy Flower, RCB head coach

There is an it’ll-be-alright-on-the-night view from a number of voices, including the coach Andrew McDonald, when it comes to Maxwell’s form leading into the World Cup. There is some sound logic behind that confidence, for Maxwell is a player capable of the extraordinary.You only have to go back a few months for a recent example. Having suffered concussion falling off the back of a golf cart during the ODI World Cup he returned to compile unbelievable 201 not out against Afghanistan to carry Australia to victory from a lost cause. More recently, albeit in a game of less significance, he thrashed 120 off 55 balls in a T20I against West Indies in Adelaide; last November he made 104 not out off 48 balls against India in Guwahati. In all T20s from the start of 2023 until the beginning of this IPL he made 1200 runs at 30.76 with a strike-rate of 177.25.”I don’t think they’ll be too concerned,” former Australia batter Callum Ferguson said on . “They know what he brings in big tournaments and he does get up for them. It’s a great chance for him now to reset…I’m expecting him to bounce back really hard. He just looked a little indecisive through this IPL which is so unlike Maxi.”It’s not long ago that Glenn Maxwell was producing spectacular T20 innings•Getty ImagesIt was a similar tone struck by Flower. “Maxi’s had a tough season, absolutely, and we know what he can contribute. It’s been a really tough season for him,” he said. “He’s had an amazing couple of years actually. It was a surprise to everyone but I really wish him well.”He’s going to the World Cup now and I don’t see any reason why he can’t turn this around or turn his own personal form around in the World Cup for Australia and I look forward to watching that.”Maxwell continues to have to manage his fitness following the badly broken leg he suffered in late 2022. He has insisted he felt confident coming into the tournament but recently suggested the other off-field commitments of the IPL may have had an impact.”The filming, the ads, and all that sort of stuff takes up so much time and so much energy that I was sort of almost drained, I reckon, before game one,” he said during an interaction with members of his Catch Max fan club. “I probably had about four full days of filming leading into the first couple of games, and just found like I wasn’t able to probably get the same sort of match practice I was able to get in last time.”1:21

Moody on Maxwell’s duck: Reckless cricket and absolute brain fade

There is a degree of uncertainty over how the T20 World Cup will play out tactically. If, as expected, spin plays a key role in the middle overs as it so often does, then Maxwell will have a vital role to play in marshalling the middle order and the phase after the powerplay, which Australia will hope can be dominated by David Warner, Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. Maxwell has a superb T20I record at No. 4 where he averages 34.22 with a strike-rate of 160.44, and has hit four of his five centuries.One positive, alluded to by Finch, is that the bowling continues go well for Maxwell. His offspin has become an integral part of Australia’s white-ball plans. One of the possible combinations they could go with in the Caribbean, and perhaps the most likely, again has him as the second spinner alongside Adam Zampa.While the attention now turns to Maxwell in Australian colours, the other intriguing aspect after his lean season is what comes next in the IPL? There is a mega auction on the horizon and teams will only be able to retain a set number of players beforehand.”The IPL will probably be the last tournament I ever play, as I will play the IPL until I can’t walk anymore,” Maxwell said last year. But will that be for RCB?

How callow South Africa ceded the psychological high ground

Elgar at a loss for answers, as bid to avoid playing by England’s rules backfires

Firdose Moonda12-Sep-2022Lock the drinks cabinet, please. South Africa will not be having any.After the promise of a shot of tequila for every mention of Bazball, South Africa don’t want to hear it anymore. And they’re serious about being sober. “I said I am not speaking about that,” Dean Elgar said, even before the question about how he assessed England’s proactive approach had been fully asked.When it was, he answered. “I actually thought they played relatively good Test cricket. I don’t think they played extraordinary cricket. I thought they played the correct tempo. I didn’t see that B-word coming through at all.”Didn’t see, or didn’t want to see?There is no denying that England played a certain way (whether you want to give it a name or not) throughout this series, and especially in the reduced-to-three-days decider. Ben Stokes confirmed that his message to the team was to “produce a result”, because in the last Test of the summer “nobody wants to see a draw”.That isn’t entirely true. Had South Africa thought it through, they would have realised that playing for a draw, taking four points and closing the gap between themselves and Australia in the World Test Championship table would have been the prudent approach. Instead, they got swept up in the kind of hype they are not used to.South Africa may not even realise it, but they allowed England to control the narrative as their pre-series tequila jokes gave way to a selection blunder at Old Trafford and batting blow-outs not seen in more than a century at The Oval.They also revealed their limited experience in dealing with a savvy media and a boisterous public and you can’t really blame them. Before this series, South Africa had played more than two years of cricket behind either closed doors or tiny crowds, while only three of the current squad had ever played Test cricket in England before. On top of that, no-one anticipated the scale of emotion that would come after the death of Queen Elizabeth II on the first day of the final Test.Kagiso Rabada is one of a handful of South Africans with prior experience of either English or Australian conditions•Getty ImagesBut could it all really be about one silly B-word? Yes, says a man who might know better than most. “Somebody in the press box comes up with Bazball and we know what happens in the English media,” Kevin Pietersen said on Sky Sports in his post-match analysis. “The pen is mightier than the sword and Test teams, touring teams will turn up here and they’ll be thinking about Bazball. Every single player around the world will be talking about Bazball – from India, to New Zealand to Australia. The psychology pre-Ashes is already happening.”It will be the least of South Africa’s concerns as to whether they have done England a favour ahead of next year’s Ashes. Instead, they should focus on the consequences this series defeat will have on their own Test ideology going forward.In this series, they were forced to confront their middle-order shortcomings and make big changes. Rassie van der Dussen (who missed the final Test through injury but had been out of form anyway) and Aiden Markram were swapped out for Ryan Rickelton and Khaya Zondo, but it’s far too early to say whether either man can go on to be the solution South Africa are looking for. But it’s no secret that South Africa need answers, and need them quickly.”It’s a tough one when guys aren’t getting numbers on the board for you,” Elgar said. “Sooner or later, your resources are going to be depleted and we are going to have to look elsewhere. We did the right thing for this Test match. We had to use the resources we had, something different, something new, you don’t know if you don’t give them a try.”But Elgar also continued to throw his weight behind both van der Dussen and Markram, who he thinks can come again. “Aiden has still got a bright future in Test cricket,” Elgar said. “He just needs to get numbers behind his belt and go back to the drawing board. He is still too young and too talented not to be playing this level of cricket. When he gets those opportunities to play a four-day game, he’s got to nail it like he has done in the past when he was left out and he went back home and he nailed four-day cricket, scored a lot of runs and he got his opportunity again.”That is precisely the problem. Even when Markam was the top-scorer in South Africa’s first-class competition, he was not able to translate that form to Test cricket. Since 2018, Markram averages 67.50 from 10 domestic first-class matches, with five centuries. In 18 home Tests in the same period, he averages just over half that: 34.70, with only two hundreds. It’s clear that South Africa’s domestic breeding ground is not producing enough players who can make the step up and Elgar is unsure how best to address the gap.Related

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“I always bank on experience. I know we don’t have that at the Test level. My next best thing is, who do we have in first-class cricket back home, but is that the right solution? We don’t know yet,” he said. “We’ve still got a few months before our next series and we’ve only got a handful of four-day games at home before we leave to Australia. It’s a tough thing now, because the guys have to learn the toughest format without a lot of experienced heads around them, which is always something we were aware of. But those are the cards we’ve been dealt and we’ve got to find a way to ease the blow.”That upcoming assignment includes a run of Tests in Australia’s festive season for the first time since their victorious 2008-09 series. No-one in the current South African squad has any experience of playing a Test in front of a packed MCG or SCG, which will present another challenge. The same three who had experience in England – Elgar, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj, along with Temba Bavuma – are likely to be the only players who have been part of a Test series in Australia before. The scrutiny – remember mint-gate? – will be unending. So how should South Africa avoid making the same mistakes?”We’ve been playing good cricket and we’ve been playing pretty average cricket as a squad, and we need to get that balance right,” Elgar said. “Every Test match is going to be something you have to live and die for. That three-Test match series is going to be huge. We’ve got five massive Tests before June. Even our series against West Indies, we can’t take that lightly. I need the guys to have that mentality going forward.”It sounds a little bit like the way England play, with one-pointed focus on every game as a must-win, but for Elgar’s sake, South Africa should avoid coming up with any catchphrases that define them.

Cricket Australia's grassroots numbers edging closer to the truth

Figures have shown a rise in those involved in the sport ahead of a season likely impacted by Covid-19

Daniel Brettig12-Aug-2020Australian cricket’s grassroots participation numbers are both growing and shrinking at the same time. If that sounds nonsensical at first, on further inspection it is a reflection of the fact that, year by year, Cricket Australia is trying to be more honest with itself about the amount of people actually playing the game in this country.There have been questions around CA’s self-reporting of participation figures for some time, and a less than glowing picture was always able to be found a few centimetres beneath the surface of annual census reports trumpeting participation levels of more than one million and growing every year since 2014. The focus grew more intense last year, however, via an award-winning report on how CA’s numbers were exceedingly rubbery.That episode, on the eve of the Ashes in England, perhaps oversold CA’s desire to obscure the governing body’s true place in the Australian sporting landscape, for under the leadership of the community cricket chief, Belinda Clark, it had been seeking ever more ardently to know better what was “under the hood” of the grassroots engine. Undoubtedly, the contrast between ever larger census figures and grim anecdotes from the heartland was far too divergent for comfort.Hard data over multipliersSo it is that the numbers presented by CA for 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and plenty of squabbling between the governing body and its state association owners, reflect a much more sobering portrait of the game’s size. A far greater emphasis is placed on harder participation data, that gives less weight to more than one million children given tangential exposure to the game through their enrolment in school sport programs that feature cricket.That hard data is, for the most part, more solid than the traditional standard endorsed by CA’s census overseers at Street Ryan Consulting, who have for almost two decades accepted a system whereby numbers of teams are tallied, then player numbers established by multiplying accordingly. Instead, a concerted effort to ensure as many players register for MyCricket as possible, giving them a unique ID number to ensure there is minimal duplication, is squared against the number reached by team tallies and multiplication.As MyCricket is progressively “cleaned up” by adding participants not previously registered or removing any duplicates, other figures, such as indoor cricket and formal school competitions, are only able to be tallied through the former “add up teams and multiply” method.Cricket Australia has worked to provide a more accurate picture of those properly involved in the game•iStock/Getty ImagesThis means that while CA can get a good idea of their number, the same standard cannot be applied to absolutely everything. Ultimately, the most reliable numbers will be those for club registrations provided through MyCricket, and they have improved from 2019 to this year – 282,965 for 2018-19 rising to 295,240 for 2019-20.That final figure is a little more than 27,000 short of the tally pumped out by the teams multiplied method (322,933), which in itself is lower than the teams multiplied method applied last year (365,076). That, then, is how it came to be that Australian cricket’s grassroots numbers are both growing and shrinking at the same time.Squaring the total with the Sport Australia standardOnce other groups are thrown in – about 8000 manual submissions from club cricket, 60,000 in social competitions, 96,000 in school competitions, 165,000 in indoor cricket and just shy of 60,000 for the Cricket Blast junior program – the overall registered participant figure lands on 709,957 for last summer, as opposed to 684,356 for 2018-19.The relative accuracy of this figure stands up when lined up against the extrapolated survey data regularly pumped out by Sport Australia. Its most recent suite of results, which covered the back half of 2019, clocks 224,300 junior participants and 489,900 seniors for a total of around 714,200, so a little more than CA’s own reporting. According to CA’s head of participation, Stuart Whiley, the increase in rigour has been done to ensure the numbers are not just useful as a piece of marketing spin.”As we continue to invest in the technology, more and more of the cricket that’s played is in My Cricket,” he said. “And as people embrace things like online registration, which we made compulsory for juniors last year, that usage lifts up, the quality of the data underneath the numbers is improving substantially. We’re seeing that in how we count and also the quality of information we’re seeing underneath.”We track the Ausplay data as a lot of people do and we do find it interesting. I think what’s important here is the difference in approach. Ausplay take a sample and extrapolate that over the population where from a cricket perspective we’re very much understanding the complete picture. So we’re tracking and counting all the organised cricket that’s played in Australia.”

What of coronavirus?It was widely acknowledged in 2019 that one reason for a substantial drop-off in club participation over the previous years had been the Newlands scandal and its many aftershocks. Equally, the bump for 2019-20 was a logical extension of a year in which cricket watchers had enjoyed a vibrant World Cup and an engrossing Ashes campaign running right up into September, when clubs were casting around for new and renewed registrations: an ideal example of how the shopfront windows draw willing participants deeper into the game.However, this time around there is a whole new set of obstacles provided by Covid-19, including uncertainty about when the game’s Victorian participants can even begin to train again for the season. Clark, based in Melbourne, has been trying to chart a path forward while confined to the home, even as others in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania enjoy far more latitude.”It’s obviously complex and very different, depending on what part of the country you’re in,” Clark said. “And I don’t think anyone’s under any misconception about the fact that this thing can spring up anywhere. So, we have put in place some guidelines in trying to help community clubs deal with the restrictions and the guidelines that are in play. Cricket is fortunately quite a socially distant sport by nature and therefore we don’t have some of the challenges that some of the other codes are having.”However, it is a requirement for our cricket clubs to make sure that they’re applying health and safety appropriately. A good indicator is that some competitions that are already running as winter comps are experiencing an increase in the number of teams. So that tells us that if we can get the restrictions in play, and we can be clear with the guidelines, people are wanting to get outside their homes and reconnect with each other and cricket’s a great way to do that.”‘Will we get full seasons in like last year?’As for whether or not there will be a full season to play, Clark said the best anyone could do was be flexible, including different draws and formats for competitions that need to compete with the work and life demands of community cricketers even at the best of times.”They’re playing cricket in Brisbane in the winter comps at the moment,” Clark said. “They’re gearing up for a full season in Perth and Adelaide and the states that aren’t as impacted. I think if you look at the Victorian situation, I just think we’re going to need to help clubs and associations adapt as the season goes on.”That might be you’ve got a number of draws ready to go, that you’re playing shorter formats and you’re not having to hold people over two weekends, a whole range of things we can do adapt. But will we get full seasons in like last year? I don’t think that’ll be the case across the country but it will be the case in some areas.”Whatever transpires this season, CA, the states and their partners will at least have an ever more truthful set of numbers on which to base their priorities.

Hot Mic Catches Cubs Fan Making Hilariously Wrong Prediction Before OF's Brutal Error

The Chicago Cubs are tied atop the NL Central with the Milwaukee Brewers, with both teams tied for the best record in Major League Baseball. In such a tight a race, every out becomes a little more important. With that, players want to make sure they make every routine play they can in the field.

Well, that's not what Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki did in the first inning of Wednesday afternoon's tilt against the Royals at Wrigley Field. Instead, he looked like a Little Leaguer while dropping what should have been an easy first out of the inning.

What made this mistake even better was that a hot mic caught a fan in the crowd gleefully yelling, "Seiaya all you, baby! Yup, can of corn!" as the ball sailed toward Suzuki. A can of corn, of course means that it's an easy catch to make and one that should be handled as such by a professional baseball player.

Narrator: It wasn't a can of corn.

Not great!

Making things worse for Suzuki was that the Royals scored two runs after that to take an early lead right of the gate. They are currently up 2–1 in what looks like a beautiful day for baseball in Chicago.

Neymar trains despite injury as he defies doctors in desperate bid to play

Neymar has been spotted in Santos training despite reportedly being told by club doctors that he risks worsening his injury. The Brazil icon has a knee issue that will rule him out for the rest of the season if he has surgery. But with the Brazilian outfit in the midst of a relegation battle, the 33-year-old may try and play through the pain to secure his team top-flight safety.

  • Neymar suffers injury setback

    The former Barcelona star has had an injury-hit season, with the veteran only recently returning to action from a hamstring problem. This week, it emerged that Neymar had been struggling with knee discomfort, ruling him out of their 1-1 draw with Internacional on Monday. They currently sit one place above the relegation zone (17th) in the Brasileiro Serie A with three matches remaining. Shortly after picking up that valuable point, Santos manager Juan Pablo Vojvoda revealed what the club have planned for their "leader". 

    He told reporters: "The plan is for him to be in the match against Sport. I have to talk to him, I'm not in his physical presence and I will respect Neymar's decisions. But his commitment is to be there, he always wants to be there. Before the Mirassol game, he felt discomfort in his knee. He also felt it during the game. The following day he was experiencing significant discomfort in that knee. We know we have games every three days. With travel, we'll arrive in Santos tomorrow afternoon… He's a player we need for all three rounds and he'll help us. He's our leader on the field. He'll be there. He felt he wouldn't be able to meet the demands of today's game."

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  • Neymar returns to training

    Footage from Santos has shown that Neymar trained with his team-mates on Wednesday but it is clear he is not at 100 per cent. According to Globo, he has a tear in the meniscus region of his left knee and the medical recommendation is to have an arthroscopy – a minimally invasive surgical procedure that involves inserting a small camera into a joint through a tiny incision. This allows the surgeon to see inside the joint on a video monitor and perform necessary repairs. This injury is said to be causing Neymar 'persistent pain' when exercising but he is considering playing 'in the sacrifice' of Santos. 

  • Neymar walking a fine line

    The report adds that Neymar's knee 'can burst at any major impact' and the doctors are advising that he stop playing/training and undergo an arthroscopy. However, that would end his season, with the Brazilian likely to be out for a month as a result. Incidentally, when Neymar took part in team training, he avoided contact, and he played with support on his left knee. The fear is that if he doesn't rest his knee, this issue could become a lot worse, potentially ruling him out for the start of 2026 and jeopardising his chances of a Brazil national team call-up in March. Despite that, Neymar is reportedly mulling over what to do, as a potential return to the second division beckons.

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    What comes next for Neymar's Santos?

    The former Paris Saint-Germain star, who joined Santos at the start of 2025 after having his Al-Hilal contract cancelled, has had a mixed second spell at his boyhood club so far. The ex-Barca ace has been on the sidelines for lengthy periods and a return of seven goals and three assists in 25 matches in all competitions is nothing special. Moreover, he is out of contract at the end of the year, so if he does have the procedure, Neymar may not play for the club again. While Santos are keen to keep him, that will only likely be possible if they stay in the Brazilian top-flight. Next up, they host Sport Recife on Friday, who are rock bottom of the division. This is, arguably, a must-win game for Santos, particularly as Fortaleza have won two matches in a row and are just one point behind the Brazilian giants. It's crunch time for Santos and Neymar.

Números, carreira e polêmicas; saiba quem é Quique Setién, técnico especulado no Botafogo

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O Botafogo completou um mês sem técnico após a demissão de Tiago Nunes no dia 22 de fevereiro. Entre conversas e especulações, Quique Setién se apresenta como uma opção atraente para o projeto esportivo sob a gestão de John Textor, e pode estar perto de fechar com o clube alvinegro em 2024.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Glorioso agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Botafogo

Pouco conhecido no Brasil, o treinador já comandou Las Palmas, Real Betis e Villa Real. Mas foi pelo Barcelona que o espanhol viveu seu auge na carreira, entre 2019 e 2020. Setién deixou o clube catalão depois de polêmicas com Messi e a marcante derrota de 8 a 2 para o Bayern de Munique, na Champions League.

ESTILO DE JOGO

Quique Setién demorou a deslanchar como treinador, mas surpreende com sua filosofia ofensiva, como John Textor busca. A principal arma de suas equipes no ataque eram as saídas em velocidade, explorando a defesa adversária, tanto no contra-ataque ou ao neutralizar a marcação na pressão. Sempre chegando com muitos jogadores na área para tentar a finalização, e o apoio simultâneo dos laterais dando amplitude ao time.

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Sem a bola, a tática é a rápida recuperação de bola e a marcação na alta pressão. Ou seja, o time avança seu bloco defensivo e promove o encaixe de marcação individual. O 4-3-3 é seu esquema base e os lados do campo são muito importantes. 

NÚMEROS

Em geral, em sua carreira, o treinador de 65 anos, mais venceu do que perdeu. Em 553 jogos, foram 221 vitórias e 185 derrotas. No Barcelona, principal equipe em que treinou, Setién ficou apenas por 25 jogos, com 16 vitórias, quatro empates e cinco derrotas.

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É O BRASA! Coloque R$200 no Brasil contra a Espanha e fature mais de R$640 no Lance! Betting

POLÊMICAS

O principal motivo para a curta passagem pelo clube catalão foi os problemas nos bastidores, especialmente em relação ao craque argentino Lionel Messi. O treinador e o então camisa 10 do Barcelona tiveram desentendimentos no vestiário, segundo o programa ‘Que T’Hi Jugues’, da ‘Cadena SER’.

A história se repetiu no Villareal. De acordo com o jornal espanhol “Marca”, o treinador não estabeleceu bom relacionamento com os líderes do vestiário, que por sua vez reclamavam dos métodos de Setién. 

INTERESSE DO BOTAFOGO

O técnico está sem clube desde setembro do ano passado, e é o preferido de John Textor para assumir o Botafogo. O estilo de jogo do espanhol agrada o dono da SAF e as conversas estão em estágio inicial, segundo o ge.

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